LIBRARY  Of  PRINCnON 
 
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 THE 
 
 CONDENSED    COMMENTARY 
 
 FAMILY  EXPaSIflON 
 
 HOLY  BIBL 
 
 CONTAINING    THE 
 
 ^\\tt)oxi\tit  170:31011  of  tf)c  (BVa  &  jatiu  Ct^itamtntS  ; 
 
 ■WITH 
 
 THE  MOST  VALUABLE  CRITICISMS  OF  THE  BEST  BIBLICAL  WRITERS ; 
 
 PRACTICAL  REFLECTIONS; 
 
 AND    MARGINAL   REFERENCES,   CHRONOLOGY,  INDEXES.  ETC. 
 
 BY  THE 
 
 REV.  INGRAM  COBBIN,  M.A/i 
 
 LONDON: 
 THOMAS  WARD   AND   CO.,  PATERNOSTER   ROW. 
 
PKEFACE. 
 
 Notwithstanding  the  many  excellent  Commentaries  in  existence,  a  work  which  should  embrace  in 
 one  convenient  volume  a  large  mass  of  Notes,  critical  and  explanatory,  with  Marginal  References,  and 
 Reflections  for  family  and  closet  reading,  was  yet  a  desideratum  till  these  pages  made  their  appearance. 
 The  prospective  labour  of  such  a  volume  would  have  deterred  from  an  undertaking  which  a  whole  life 
 could  not  have  accomplished,  but  for  the  helps  obtained  from  those  who  have  executed  works  of  a 
 character  somewhat  similar  ;  for,  here  are  given  results  of  laborious  studies,  occupying  numerous  years, 
 and  the  spirit  of  several  hundred  volumes,  many  of  which  are  large,  scarce,  and  consequently  difficult  to 
 be  obtained,  from  their  price  and  rarity,  and  written  in  a  variety  of  languages.  Many  precious  grains 
 have  been  gleaned  by  others  from  the  entire  store,  and  the  Editor  has  aimed  to  distil  the  essence  of 
 the  whole. 
 
 When  the  Editor  commenced  this  work,  his  intention  was,  not  to  sekct,  but  to  collect,  the  opinions 
 of  emiient  critics  on  the  Scriptures.  Hence,  in  the  earlier  parts,  he  has  given  some  which,  in  a  mere 
 selection,  he  should  have  omitted ;  but,  as  he  proceeded,  he  found  it  necessary  occasionally  to  deviate 
 from  this  plan,  or  he  would  otherwise  have  overstepped  his  bounds.  The  same  reason  obliged  him  to 
 refrain  from  intended  remarks  on  writers  from  whom  he  diifered.  Dr.  Adam  Clarke's  exploded  idea 
 of  the  tempting  serpent  being  the  Ourang  Outang,  had  claimed  his  first  notice  ;  but  he  soon  perceived 
 that  he  must  swell  his  pages  far  beyond  the  prescribed  limits,  if  he  entered  minutely  into  a  number  of 
 criticisms  and  opinions ;  and,  was  therefore  obliged  to  rest  satisfied  with  furnishing  his  readers  with 
 many  opinions  which  he  could  not  justify,  but  which  it  would  have  been  improper  to  omit,  leaving  them 
 to  make  their  own  choice.  These  opinions,  however,  never  relate  to  any  vital  truths.  Hence  they 
 need  not  perplex  any  ;  they  may,  on  the  contrary,  profitably  lead  to  inquiry,  and,  in  many  instances, 
 to  more  correct  views  of  truth.  The  great  essentials  of  salvation  are  so  clearly  revealed,  that  here, 
 happily,  there  need  be  no  difference  but  that  which  the  pride  of  the  human  heart  may  occasion,  by 
 endeavouring  to  throw  a  shade  over  the  lustre  of  the  free  grace  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 The  plan  of  this  work  is  very  advantageous  for  elucidating  Scripture  ;  for  one  writer  explains  what 
 another  passes  by,  and  one  is  more  clear  on  a  passage  than  another ;  one  excels  in  philology,  another 
 in  divinity,  and  another  in  antiquities.  And  though  it  must  needs  be  that,  out  of  such  a  multitude  of 
 commentators,  many  excellent  notes  are  overlooked,  yet  those  which  are  selected  are  such  as  give  the 
 meaning  and  illustration  of  the  passages  tar  more  forcibly  and  clearly  than  any  single  writer,  or  even 
 several  writers,  would  be  likely  to  do.  Indeed,  the  Editor  has  often  found  critics  evading  the  question, 
 and  hcen  forced  from  one  to  another,  till  he  has  discovered  something  like  a  satisfactory  solution  of  a 
 difficult  passage.  And  here  he  may  remark,  that  he  has  made  it  a  rule  to  pass  over  nothing  that  ap- 
 peared difficult  throughout  the  whole  of  the  sacred  pages, — an  unique  feature,  he  believes,  in  this 
 work, — for  it  is  too  common  for  biblical  writers  to  explain  what  may  be  easily  understood,  and  to  omit 
 noticing  many  of  the  most  perplexing  subjects.  Thus  are  the  rays  from  many  luminaries  of  the  church 
 here  concentrated  in  one  focus,  tending  to  throw  together  a  strong  light  upon  difficult  passages, 
 (iii) 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The  notes  have  been  drawn  from  all  sources.  Men  of  no  piety  have  often  thrown  a  beautiful  light 
 upon  a  passage  of  scripture  from  their  superior  strength  of  understanding,  or  knowledge  of  the 
 original;  and  men  wjio  ihayaj'held  glaring  ;fe)Torsj  have,  where  those  errors  have  not  interfered,  ren- 
 dered much  service  to  b'blioal  criticism.  Nor  has  the  meanest  aid  been  de.spised.  The  twinkling  star 
 may  add  its  light  fo  tiis  spleridoi'ir  of  tlie:  night;  and  lience  the  Editor  has  quoted  writers  of  all 
 degrees,  sometimes  prrfftning  info-ior  ones  where  men  of  greater  eminence  were  more  obscure  or  had 
 entirely  passed  over  the  subject  of  i,Vquiry;  Another  advantage  peculiar  to  this  work  is,  that  it  has  no 
 sectarian  clra'rac'.er.  On  the  Gobjcets. that ,<Jivide  bodies  of  genuine  Christians  various  opinions  are 
 sometimes  given,  but  the  validftj'  of  tbeiji  ik'  neve)  (Jiscussed.  Writers  of  all  denominations,  both  at 
 home  and  abroad,  have  been  put  under  contribution,  and  no  party  line  of  distinction  has  been  drawn. 
 The  '  Reflections'  alone  shew  the  sentiments  of  the  Editor ;  and  they,  he  believes,  are  such  as  accord 
 with  the  feelings  and  views  of  devout  men  in  general.  The  method  here  adopted  of  giving  the  op- 
 posing opinions  of  pious  bible  students  on  various  portions  of  holy  writ  must  greatly  tend  to  excite 
 the  attention  of  the  reader,  and  to  elicit  truth  ;  and,  instead  of  shackling  his  mind  with  the  creed  of 
 any  one,  will  leave  him  to  weigh  arguments  and  remarks  for  himself,  and  to  compare  spiritual  things 
 with  spiritual.  If  to  this  it  be  objected,  that,  in  some  cases,  such  a  course  is  likely  to  confuse  the  in- 
 quirer, it  may  be  replied,  that  it  is,  in  general,  only  adopted  in  those  instances  where  the  mind  would 
 in  any  case  be  confused,  and  that,  happily,  they  are  not  essential  truths  which  are  involved  in  per- 
 plexity, though  they  are  all  highly  interesting  and  important. 
 
 The  Editor  must  beg  his  readers  to  remember,  that,  with  a  few  exceptions,  for  the  opinions  given  in 
 the  notes  he  is  not  responsible,  except  it  can  be  proved  that  they  contain  any  dangerous  errors.  Many 
 of  them,  indeed,  are  diametrically  opposed  to  each  other,  and  the  reader  is  left  to  judge  for  himself; 
 but  there  is  a  more  geneial  accordance  among  commentators  than,  on  a  cursory  glance,  may  be  sup- 
 posed. Where  various  opposite  opinions  are  not  stated,  and  but  one  given,  it  usually  implies  that  such 
 opinion  is  the  one  generally  received  among  most,  if  not  all,  of  tlie  principal  commentators. 
 
 A  work  of  this  nature  must  partake  of  the  defects  of  all  human  compositions ;  in  reviewing  its 
 pages,  the  Editor  himself  wishes,  in  some  cases,  that  he  had  omitted  what  he  has  inserted,  and,  in 
 others,  that  he  had  made  additions,  or  improved  his  plan  ;  yet,  as  a  wliole,  he  trusts  it  will  fulfil  the 
 purposes  of  its  compilation. 
 
 In  giving  the  authorities,  the  Editor  has  furnished  those  who  have  a  large  library  with  a  sort  of 
 index  to  guide  them  directly  to  the  original  for  further  and  more  enlarged  information,  while  he  has 
 often  given  greater  satisfaction  to  the  reader  in  stating  the  eminent  source  whence  the  opinion  is 
 derived.  But  here  a  considerable  difficulty  has  occurred,  and  he  has  frequently  found  it  impossible  to 
 decide  on  the  original  claimant  of  a  criticism,  and  has  then  given  the  name  of  the  author  from  whom 
 it  is  obtained.  Greenfield's  '  Comprehensive  Bible'  and  the  '  Pictorial'  are  decidedly  compilations, 
 though  the  original  authors  are  only  incidentally  quoted  ;  so  also  for  the  most  part  is  the  commentary 
 of  Benson.  All  the  commentators  have  drawn  largely  from  the  fathers,  especially  from  St.  Augustine  ; 
 and  most  of  them  have  made  general  property  of  Patrick,  Lowth,  and  Whitby.  Poole  has  exhausted 
 the  old  continental  writers  ;  Henry  has  made  very  free  with  Bishop  Hall  and  others  ;  Scott  and  Ben- 
 son have  enriched  their  pages  abundantly  from  Henry  ;  Gill  has  translated  the  spirit  of  Poole's 
 '  Synopsis,'  but  he  most  generally  gives  his  authorities  ;  Adam  Clarke  and  Davidson  have  been  much 
 indebted  to  all  the  best  critics,  though  the  former  does  not  always  mention  his  obligations,  and  the  latter 
 never ;  but  his  preface  to  his  admirable  '  Pocket  Commentary'  is  an  honest  confession  that  he  pretends  to 
 be  no  more  than  a  compiler;  some  original  thoughts  appear, however,  to  be  scattei-cd  among  his  notes. 
 D'Oyly  and  Mant,  Hewlett  and  Williams,  give  the  names  of  their  authors,  as  in  these  pages.  These 
 facts  may  help  to  prove  to  the  reader,  that,  notwithstanding  the  number  of  commentators  is  great,  yet, 
 if  we  take  the  portions  not  copied  from  each  other,  they  may  easily  be  contained  within  the  compass  of 
 this  volume,  though  the  labour  of  comparing,  and  extracting,  and  discriminating,  is  not  easy. 
 ,(iv) 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 On  the  New  Testament,  the  Editor  has  been  niueh  aided  by  Dr.  Guyse,.a  writer  wliose  estimable 
 paraphrase  is  exceedingly  lucid,  and  from  whom  Dr.  Doddridge  has  evidently  derived  great  advantage. 
 The  latter  has  also  furnished  many  valuable  notes,  as  have  Drs.  Macknight  and  Campbell,  and  Richard 
 Watson,  especially  on  the  Gospels  ;  and  Bloomfield's  '  Critical  Digest'  has  been  of  great  service.  On 
 single  books,  the  Commentary  is  under  obligations  to  a  large  number  of  writers, — the  Editor  may 
 particularize  Dr.  Good,  and  Scott,  the  dissenter,  on  Job  ;  Bishops  Hor.sley,  Home,  and  Maut, 
 and  Drs.  Morison  and  Boothroyd,  and  the  Rev.  William  Walford,  have  assisted  him  much  in  the 
 Psalms.  On  this  and  the  preceding  book  the  Editor  has  bestowed  considerable  labour,  more 
 especially  on  the  Psalms,  because  they  are  the  constant  resort  of  Christians  in  their  closet  meditations. 
 He  is  also  under  great  obligations  to  Holden  on  Proverbs  and  Ecclesiastes ;  Bishop  Lowth  and  Mac- 
 culloch  on  Isaiah  ;  Blaney  on  Jeremiah  ;  Newcome  and  Hutcheson  on  the  Minor  Prophets.  From 
 Stuart,  Haldane,  and  Ritchie,  among  others,  he  has  enriched  the  notes  on  Romans  ;  Dr.  John  Owen  and 
 Professor  Stuart  have  been  valuable  helps  on  the  Hebrews;  and  Manton  and  Jenkyn  on  Jude  ;  and, 
 finally.  Dr.  Woodhouse,  and  Messrs.  Lowman  and  William  Jones  on  the  Revelation.*  Besides  the 
 authors  just  named,  the  work  has  profited  by  the  writings  of  Samuel  Burder,  Calmet,  Bishop  Hall, 
 Harmer,  Dr.  T.  M.  Harris,  Hartwell  Home,  Keith,  Bishop  Newton,  T.  Roberts,  Dr.  Pye  Smith, 
 Dr.  Wells,  and  a  large  number  of  other  writers,  British  and  foreign,  many  of  whom  have  been  imme- 
 diately consulted  ;  a  select  list  of  these  is  subjoined  to  the  volume.  The  Editor  has  also  received  some 
 valuable  hints  from  various  esteemed  clergymen,  dissenting  ministers,  and  laymen,  who  have  con- 
 descended to  take  an  interest  in  his  labours ;  and  more  use  would  have  been  made  of  some  of  their 
 kind  favours  had  time  and  circumstances  allowed. 
 
 It  may  now  be  necessary  to  observe  to  the  reader,  that  he  will  find  an  explanation  of  the  contracted 
 names  in  the  List  of  Authors  referred  to  above;  that  in  the  notes,  the  quoted  words  of  the  text  are  in 
 Italics  :  that,  where  a  sentence  immediately  following  the  quoted  words  of  the  text  is  in  inverted 
 commas,  it  means  another  rendering  of  those  words  by  the  Author  whose  name  follows  in  Italics  :  that, 
 usually,  wiiere  it  is  in  brackets,  it  is  intended  only  for  the  more  learned  reader:  that,  where  several 
 sentences  follow  without  a  name,  they  are  all  by  the  writer  whose  name  is  added  to  the  last  of  them  : 
 that  some  passages,  especially  in  the  New  Testament,  are  explained  by  paraphrase  :  and  that  con- 
 secutive passages  are  sometimes  confirmatory  of  the  former,  sometimes  diti'er  from  it  in  perfect  accord- 
 ance as  to  general  opinion,  and  sometimes  are  decidedly  opposed  :  this  the  reader's  common  sense  will 
 discover,  but  the  observation  is  here  made  to  explain  the  way  in  which  the  Editor  has  found  it  neces- 
 sary to  treat  various  passages,  as  they  did  not  all  admit  of  the  same  mode  of  treatment  with  equal 
 advantage.  The  Notes  partake  of  various  characters  ;  they  are  philological,  chronological,  oriental, 
 excgetical,  as  occasion  seemed  to  require. 
 
 In  the  Reflections  the  Author  has  studied  to  be  shoi't,  and  as  pointed  as  possible,  selecting, 
 generally,  only  those  parts  of  a  chapter  which  seem  best  adapted  for  usefulness.  These  he  has  mostly 
 arranged  under  heads,  which,  from  their  antithetical  or  consecutive  character,  will,  he  hopes,  fix  the 
 attention  and  fasten  on  the  memory.  He  has  also  occasionally  availed  himself  of  the  reflections  of 
 others,  whose  names  are  either  mentioned,  or  referred  to  by  small  letters  appended  to  the  top  of  the 
 last  word  of  the  quotation  ;  for  an  explanation  of  wliich  the  reader  will  look  to  the  end  of  the  List  of 
 Authors. 
 
 In  making  an  Index  to  the  Notes,  the  Editor  has  been  compelled  to  select  only  the  principal ;  as  it 
 
 *  The  notes  on  ttie  prophetical  part  of  the  Revelation  can  only  be  considered  as  mere  hints.  The  student  of  prophecy 
 must  consult  the  numerous  writers  on  the  subject,  of  which  lie  will  find  a  good  list  in  '  A  Practical  Guide  to  the  Prophe- 
 cies,' by  the  Rev.  E.  Bickersteth.  It  would  liave  been  a  wild  attempt,  witiiin  so  limited  a  compass,  to  think  of  settling  or 
 discussing  the  difficult  question  of  the  seals,  on  which  scarcely  no  two  writers  have  totally  agreed,  and  on  which  many  pious 
 and  eminent  men  most  widely  differ.  It  may  be  an  useful  method  of  coming  at  the  views  of  any  single  writer  who  is  fre- 
 quently quoted,  to  read  his  opinions  through  detached  from  all  the  rest. 
 
 (v)  b 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 is  computed  that  there  are  at  least  30,000  containpd  in  the  vo.urae,  it  is  obvious  that  an  index  which 
 should  embrace  the  whole  is  quite  out  of  the  question. 
 
 The  encouraging  notices  of  the  Condensed  Commentaky,  published  in  many  reviews,  under  the 
 direction  of  writers  of  various  denominations,  and  the  cordial  recommendations  of  several  clergymen 
 of  high  reputation,  as  well  as  the  principals  of  most  of  the  dissenting  colleges,  and  other  eminent 
 ministers,  have  been  highly  gratifying  to  the  Editor.  Above  all,  during  the  progress  of  this  Commen- 
 tary, it  lias  been  the  Editor's  constant  prayer,  that  it  may  attract  more  attention  to  the  sacred  volume, 
 promote  the  interests  of  truth,  and  lead  to  the  salvation  of  manv  souls. 
 
 Tlie  work  now  appears  with  some  additional  matter.  The  indexes  are  enlarged,  and  that  to  the 
 contents  of  the  Bible  inserted;  the  latter  will  serve,  in  general,  as  a  substitute  for  a  common-place 
 booii  of  the  scriptures  ;  in  compiling  it,  the  Editor  has  been  indebted  to  the  Bible  commonly  called 
 tlie  '  Breeches  Bible,'  Locke's  '  Common-Place  Book,'  the  '  Porteusian  Index,'  the  index  of  Green- 
 field, and  Talbot's  '  Analysis,'  with  several  minor  works,  one  of  which  is  Clarke  on  the  Promises,  whose 
 texts  and  arrangement  are  nearly  all  included  under  the  proper  head.  A  Scripture  Diary,  directing 
 the  reader  to  a  plan  for  perusing  the  whole  scriptures  yearly,  is  prefixed,  by  the  permission  of  the  Rev. 
 John  Whitridge,  who  is  its  original  author ;  and  in  the  body  of  the  work  more  tlian  a  thousand  notes  have 
 been  inserted  which  had  previously  escaped  notice,  or  have  only  very  recently  been  published  ;  among 
 these  are  many  from  Walford's  valuable  volume  on  the  Psalms,  of  which  the  author  handsomely  per- 
 mitted the  freest  use.  The  errata  of  the  former  impression  have  also  been  carefully  corrected,  in- 
 cluding numerous  scripture  references  in  the  notes,  the  errors  of  which  were  copied  exactly  from  their 
 respective  authors,  and  were  not  before  discovered  ;  in  tliis  part  of  liis  labour  the  Editor  has  greatly 
 been  assisted  by  intelligent  and  industrious  readers. 
 
 And  now  he  cannot  but  express  unfeigned  gratitude  to  Almighty  God  that  he  has  been  permitted 
 to  accomplish  this  work,  often  pursued  amidst  great  bodily  infirmity.  He  only  regrets  that,  in  earlier 
 life,  he  had  not  given  the  Divine  Oracles  tenfold  attention.  The  more  deeply  they  are  studied,  the 
 more  interesting  they  will  be  found  ;  and  he  cordially  joins  in  the  language  of  a  valuable  writer,  who 
 says,  '  The  book  of  God  is  a  most  wonderful  book,  whether  we  consider  the  variety  of  subjects  it 
 embraces,  the  glorious  things  it  brings  to  view,  the  grace  it  reveals,  or  the  benefits  it  confers  upon 
 man.'  In  conclusion,  he  would  also  quote  the  hortatorj-  words  of  another  writer:  'Let  us,  therefore, 
 look  upon  all  the  books  that  compose  this  sacred  volume  as  divinely  inspired,  as  designed,  in  all  respects, 
 to  our  profit  and  edification  ;  let  us  read  and  study  them,  not  as  the  word  of  man,  but,  as  they  are 
 indeed,  the  word  of  God, — that  is,  so  as  to  prize  and  value  them  according  to  their  worth  ;  to  love  and 
 delight  in  them  ;  to  praise  God  for  them  ;  to  meditate  upon  them  as  men,  not  as  children  ;  and  to  con- 
 form our  lives  wholly  to  them.' 
 
 Cambeewell,    Juiie  IS-?.'). 
 
 (v1) 
 
I 
 
 ^INTRODUCTION. 
 
 '  BIBLE,'  is  the  name  applied  by  Ciiristians,  by  way  of  eminence,  to  tlie  collection  of  sacred  writings, 
 or  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 
 
 After  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  the  Babylonish  captivity,  Ezra  collected  as  many  copies  as  he 
 could  of  the  sacred  writings,  and  out  of  them  all  prepared  a  correct  edition,  arranging  the  several  books 
 in  their  proper  order.  These  books  he  divided  into  three  parts  :  I.  The  Law.  IL  The  Prophets. 
 IIL  The  Hagiographia,  i.e.,  the  Holy  Writings.  L  The  Law  contains — 1,  Genesis;  2,  Exodus; 
 3,  Leviticus;  4,  Numbers ;  5,  Deuteronomy.  IL  The  writings  of  the  Prophets  are — 1,  Joshua; 
 2,  Judges,  with  Ruth ;  3,  Samuel ;  4,  Kings ;  5,  Isaiah  ;  6,  Jeremiah,  with  his  Lamentations ; 
 7,  Ezekiel;  8,  Daniel ;  9,  The  twelve  Minor  Prophets  ;  10,  Job;  11,  Ezra;  ]2,Nehemiah;  13,  Esther. 
 III.  The  Hagiographia  consists  of— 1,  The  Psalms  ;  2,  The  Proverbs  ;  3,  Ecclesiastes  ;  4,  The  Song 
 of  Solomon.  This  division  was  made  for  the  sake  of  reducing  the  number  of  the  sacred  books  to  the 
 number  of  the  letters  in  their  alphabet,  which  amount  to  twenty-two.  Afterwards,  the  Jews  reckoned 
 twenty-four  books  in  their  canon  of  scripture  ;  in  disposing  of  which,  the  Law  stood  as  in  the  former 
 division,  and  the  Prophets  were  distributed  into  former  and  latter  :  the  former  prophets  are  Joshua, 
 Judges,  Samuel,  and  Kings;  the  latter  prophets  are  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  Ezekiel,  and  the  twelve  minor 
 prophets.  And  the  Hagiographia  consists  of  the  Psalms,  the  Proverbs,  Job,  the  Song  of  Solomon, 
 Ruth,  the  Lamentations,  Ecclesiastes,  Esther,  Daniel,  Ezra,  the  Chronicles.  Under  the  name  of  Ezra 
 they  comprehend  Nehemiah.  This  order  hath  not  always  been  observed,  but  the  variations  from  it 
 are  of  no  moment.  The  live  books  of  the  law  are  divided  into  forty-five  sections.  This  division 
 many  of  the  Jews  hold  to  have  been  appointed  by  Moses  himself;  but  others,  with  more  probability, 
 ascribe  it  to  Ezra.  The  design  of  this  division  was,  that  one  of  these  sections  migiit  be  read  in  their 
 synagogues  every  Sabbath  day  :  the  number  was  fifty-four,  because,  in  their  intercalated  years,  a  month 
 being  then  added,  there  were  fifty-four  Sabbaths;  in  other  years  they  reduced  them  to  fifty-two,  by 
 twice  joining  together  two  short  sections.  Till  the  persecution  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  they  read  only 
 the  Law  ;  but  the  reading  of  it  being  then  prohibited,  they  substituted  in  the  room  of  it  fifty-four 
 sections  out  of  the  Prophets ;  and  wlien  the  reading  of  the  law  was  restored  by  the  Maccabees,  the 
 section  which  was  read  every  Sabbath  out  of  the  Law  served  for  their  first  lesson,  and  the  section  out 
 of  the  Prophets  for  their  second.  These  sections  were  divided  into  verses ;  of  which  division,  if  Ezra 
 was  not  tlie  author,  it  was  introduced  not  long  after  him,  and  seems  to  have  been  designed  for  the  use 
 of  the  Targumists,  or  Chaldee  interpreters  ;  for  after  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  the  Babylonish 
 captivity,  when  the  Hebrew  language  ceased  to  be  their  mother  tongue,  and  the  Chaldee  grew  into  use 
 instead  of  it,  the  custom  was,  that  the  Law  should  be  read  first  in  the  original  Hebrew,  and  then  in- 
 terpreted to  the  people  in  the  Chaldee  language ;  for  which  purpose  these  shorter  sections  were  very 
 convenient. 
 
 It  is  thought  that  Ezra  published  the  scriptures  in  the  Chaldee  character,  for,  that  language  being 
 generally  used  among  the  Jews,  he  thought  proper  to  change  the  old  Hebrew  character  for  it,  which 
 hath,  since  that  time,  been  retained  only  by  the  Samaritans,  among  whom  it  is  preserved  to  this  day. 
 Prideaux  is  of  opinion  that  Ezra  made  additions  in  several  parts  of  the  Bible,  where  anything  appeared 
 necessary  for  illustrating,  connecting,  or  completing  the  work  ;  in  which  he  appears  to  have  been 
 assisted  by  the  same  Spirit  in  which  they  were  first  written.  Among  such  additions  are  to  be  reckoned 
 (vii) 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the  last  chaptei-  of  Deuteronomy,  wherein  Moses  seems  to  give  an  account  of  his  own  death  and  burial, 
 and  the  succession  of  Joshua  after  him.  To  the  same  cause,  our  learned  author  thinks,  are  to  be 
 attributed  many  other  interpolations  in  the  Bible,  which  created  difficulties  and  objections  to  the 
 authenticity  of  the  sacred  text  no  ways  to  be  solved  without  allowing  them.  Ezra  changed  the  names 
 of  several  places  which  were  grown  obsolete,  and,  instead  of  them,  put  their  new  name  by  which  thev 
 were  then  called  in  the  text.  Thus  it  is  that  Abraham  is  said  to  have  pursued  the  kings  who  caiTied 
 Lot  away  captive  as  far  as  Dan  ;  whereas  that  place  in  Moses'  time  was  called  Laish,  the  name  Dan 
 being  unknown  till  the  Danites,  long  after  the  death  of  Moses,  possessed  themselves  of  it.  The 
 Jewish  canon  of  scripture  was  then  settled  by  Ezra,  yet  not  so  but  that  several  variations  have  been 
 made  in  it.  Malachi,  for  instance,  could  not  be  put  in  the  Bible  by  him,  since  that  prophet  is  allowed 
 to  have  lived  after  Ezra;  nor  could  Nehemiah  be  there,  since  that  book  mentions  (chap,  xii.22)  Jaddua 
 as  high  priest,  and  Darius  Coddamannus  as  king  of  Persia,  who  were,  at  least,  a  hundred  years  later 
 than  Ezra.  It  may  be  added  that,  in  the  first  book  of  Chronicles,  the  genealogy  of  the  sons  of  Zerub- 
 babel  is  carried  down  for  so  many  generations  as  must  necessarily  bring  it  to  the  time  of  Alex- 
 ander ;  and  consequently  this  book,  or  at  least  this  part  of  it,  could  not  be  in  the  canon  in  Ezra's  days. 
 It  is  probable  the  two  books  of  Chronicles,  Ezra,  Nehemiah,  Esther,  and  Malachi,  were  adopted  into  the 
 Bible  in  the  time  of  Simon  the  Just,  the  last  of  the  men  of  the  great  synagogue.  The  Jews,  at  first, 
 were  very  reserved  in  communicating  their  scriptures  to  strangers  ;  despising  and  .shunning  the  Gen- 
 tiles, they  would  not  disclose  to  them  any  of  the  treasures  concealed  in  the  Bible.  We  may  add,  that 
 the  people  bordering  on  the  Jews,  as  the  Egyptians,  Phoenicians,  Arabs,  &c.,  were  not  very  curious  to 
 know  the  law  or  history  of  a  people  whom,  in  their  turn,  they  iiated  and  despised.  Their  first  acquaint- 
 ance with  these  books  was  not  till  after  the  several  captivities  of  the  Jews,  when  the  singularity  of  the 
 Hebrew  laws  and  ceremonies  induced  several  to  desire  a  more  particular  knowledge  of  them.  Jose- 
 plius  seems  surprised  to  find  such  slight  footsteps  of  the  scripture  history  interspersed  in  the  Egyptian, 
 Chaldean,  Phcenician,  and  Grecian  history,  and  accounts  for  it  hence, — that  the  sacred  books  were  not 
 as  yet  translated  into  Greek  or  other  languages,  and  consequently  not  known  to  the  writers  of  those 
 nations.  The  first  version  of  the  Bible  was  that  of  the  Septuagint  into  Greek,  by  order  of  that  patron 
 of  literature,  Ptolemy  Philadelphus  ;  though  some  maintain  that  the  whole  was  not  then  translated,  but 
 only  the  Pentateuch  ;  between  which  and  the  other  books  in  the  Septuagint  version  the  critics  find  a 
 great  diversity  in  point  of  style  and  expression,  as  well  as  of  accuracy. 
 
 Both  Old  and  New  Testaments  were  afterwards  translated  into  Latin  by  the  primitive  Christians  ; 
 and  while  the  Roman  empire  subsisted  in  Europe,  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Latin  tongue, 
 which  was  the  universal  language  of  that  empire,  prevailed  everywhere;  but  since  the  face  of  aftairs 
 in  Europe  has  been  changed,  and  so  many  difl'erent  monarchies  erected  upon  the  ruins  ofthe  Roman 
 empire,  the  Latin  tongue  has,  by  degrees,  grown  into  disuse  ;  whence  has  arisen  a  necessity  of  trans- 
 lating the  Bible  into  the  respective  languages  of  each  people  ;  and  this  has  produced  as  many  different 
 versions  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  modern  languages  as  there  are  different  nations  professing  the  Chris- 
 tian reliirion. 
 
 If  we  inquire  into  the  versions  of  the  Bible  of  our  own  country,  we  shall  find  that  Adelm,  Bishop 
 of  Sherburn,  who  lived  in  709,  made  an  English-Saxon  version  ofthe  Psalms;  and  that  Edfrid,  or 
 Eckert,  Bishop  of  Lindisferne,  who  lived  about  730,  translated  several  of  the  books  of  Scripture  into 
 the  same  language.  It  is  said,  likewise,  that  venerable  Bade,  who  died  in  785,  translated  the  whole 
 Bible  into  Saxon.  But  Cuthbert,  Bede's  disciple,  in  the  enumeration  of  his  master's  works,  speaks 
 only  of  his  translation  ofthe  Gospel,  and  says  nothing  ofthe  rest  ofthe  Bible.  Some  say  that  King 
 Alfred,  who  lived  about  890,  translated  a  great  part  of  the  Scriptures.  We  find  an  old  version  iu  the 
 Anglo-Saxon  of  several  books  of  the  Bible,  made  by  Elfric,  Abbot  of  Malmesbury  :  it  was  published 
 at  Oxford  in  1699.  There  is  an  old  Anglo-Saxon  version  ofthe  four  gospels,  published  by  Matthew 
 Parker,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  1571,  the  author  whereof  is  unknown.  Mr.  Mill  observes,  that 
 this  version  w  as  made  from  a  Latin  copy  of  the  old  Vulgate.  The  whole  Scripture  is  said  by  some  to 
 have  been  translated  into  the  Anglo-Saxon  by  Bede  about  701,  though  others  contend  he  only  trans- 
 lated the  gospels.  We  have  certain  books  or  parts  of  the  Bible  by  several  other  translators  ;  as,  first, 
 the  Psalms,  by  Adelm,  Bishop  of  Sherburn,  cotemporary  with  Bede,  though  by  others  this  version  is 
 attributed  to  King  Alfred,  who  lived  two  hundred  years  later.  Another  version  of  the  Psalms,  in 
 Anglo-Saxon,  was  published  by  Spelman  in  16-10.  Secondly,  the  evangelists,  still  extant,  done  from 
 (viii) 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the  ancient  Vulgate,  before  it  was  revised  by  St.  Jerome,  by  an  author  unknown,  and  published  by 
 Matthew  Parker  in  1571.  An  old  Saxon  version  of  several  books  of  tlie  Bible  made  by  Elfric, 
 Abbot  of  Malmesbury,  several  fragments  of  which  were  published  by  Will.  Lilly,  1638 ;  the  genuine 
 copy  by  Edm.  Thwaites,  in  1699,  at  Oxford. 
 
 The  first  English  Bible  we  read  of  was  that  translated  by  J.  WicklifTe,  about  the  year  1360,  but 
 never  printed,  though  there  are  manuscript  copies  of  it  in  several  of  the  public  libraries.     A  transla- 
 tion, however,  of  the   New   Testament  by   Wickliffe   was  printed  by  Mr.  Lewis  about  1731.     J.  de 
 Trevisa,  who  died  about  1398,  is  also  said  to  have  translated  the  whole  Bible ;  but  whether  any  copies 
 of  it  are  remaining  does  not  appear.     The  first  printed  Bible  in  our  language  was  that  translated  by 
 W.  Tindal,  assisted  by  Miles  Coverdale,  printed  abroad  in  1526 ;  but  most  of  the  copies  were  bought 
 up  and  burnt  by   Bishop  Tunstal  and  Sir  Thomas  More.     It  only  contained  the  New  Testament,  and 
 was  revised  and  republished  by  the  same  person  in   1530.     The  prologues  and  prefaces  added  to  it 
 reflect  on  the  bishops  and  clergy  ;  but  this  edition  was  also  suppressed,  and  the  copies  burnt.     In  1632, 
 Tindal  and  his  associates  finished  the  whole  Bible,  except  the  Apocrypha,  and  printed  it  abroad  ;  but, 
 while  he  was  afterwards  preparing  a  second  edition,  he  was  taken  up  and  burnt  for  heresy  in  Flanders. 
 On  Tindal's  death,  his  work  was.  carried  on  by  Coverdale  and  John  Rogers,  superintendent  of  an  English 
 church  in  Germany,  and  the  first  martyr  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  who  translated  the  Apocrypha, 
 and  revised  Tindal's  translation,  comparing  it  with  the  Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin,  and  German,  and  adding 
 prefaces  and  notes  from  Luther's  Bible.     He  dedicated  the  whole  to  Henry  VIII.  in  1537,  under  the 
 borrowed  name  of  Thomas  Matthews  ;  whence  this  has  been  usually  called  Matthews'  Bible.     It  was 
 printed  at  Hamburg,   and  licence  obtained  for  publishing  it  in  England  by  the  favour  of  Archbishop 
 Cranmer  and  the  Bishops  Latimer  and  Shaxton.     The  first  Bible  printed  by  authority  in  England,  and 
 publicly  set  up  in  churches,  was  the  same  Tindal's  version,  revised  and  compared  with  the  Hebrew, 
 and,  in  many  places,  amended  by  Miles  Coverdale,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Exeter  ;  and  examined  after 
 him  by  Archbishop  Cranmer,  who  added  a  preface  to  it ;  whence  this  was  called  Cranmer's  Bible.     It 
 was  printed  by  Grafton,  of  the  largest  volume,  and  published  in  1540 ;  and,  by  a  royal  proclamation, 
 every  parish  ivas  obliged  to  set  one  of  the  copies  in  their  church,  under  the  penalty  of  forty  shillings 
 a  month  ;  yet,  two  years  after,  the  popish  bishops  obtained  its  suppression  by  the  king.     It  was  restored 
 under  Edward  VI.,  suppressed  again  under  Queen  Mary's  reign,  and  restored  again  in  the  first  year 
 of  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  a  new  edition  of  it  given  in  1562.     Some  English  exiles  at  Geneva,  in  Queen 
 Mary's  reign, — viz.,  Coverdale,  Goodman,  Gilbie,  Sampson,  Cole,  Wittingham,  and  Knox, — -made  a  new 
 translation,  printed  there  in  1560,  the  New  Testament  having  been  printed  in  1557  ;  hence  called  the 
 Geneva  Bible,  containing  the  variations  of  readings,  marginal  annotations,  &c. ;  on  account  of  which  it 
 was  much  valued  by  the  puritan  party  in  that  and  the  following  reigns.     Archbishop  Parker  resolved 
 on  a  new  translation  for  the  public  use  of  the  church  ;  and  engaged  the  bishops,  and  other  learned  men, 
 to  take  each  a  share  or  portion  :  these,  being  afterwards  joined  together  and   printed,  with  short  anno- 
 tations, in  1568,  in  large  folio,  made  what  was  called   the  Great  English  Bible,  and  commonly,  the 
 Bishops'  Bible.     In  1589,  it  was  also  published  in  octavo,  in  a  small,  but  fine  black  letter  ;  and  here  the 
 chapters  were  divided  into  verses,  but  without  any  breaks  for  them,  in  which  the  method  of  the  Geneva 
 Bible  was  followed,  which  was  the  first  English  Bible  where  any  distinction  of  verses  was  made.     It 
 was  afterwards  printed  in  large  fulio,  with  corrections,  and  several  prolegomena,  in  1572  :  this  is  called 
 Matthew  Parker's  Bible.     The  initial  letters  of  each  translator's  name  were  put  at  the  end  of  his  part — 
 e.g.,  at  the  end  of  the  Pentateuch,  '  W.  E.'  for  William   Exon  ;  that  is,  William,  Bishop  of  Exeter, 
 whose  allotment  ended  there  :  at  the  end  of  Samuel,  '  R.  M.'  for  Richard  Menevensis;  or.  Bishop  of 
 St.  David's,  to  whom  the  second  allotment  fell :  and  the  like  of  the  rest.     The  archbishop  oversaw, 
 directed,  examined,  and  finished  the  whole.     This  translation  was  used  in  the  churches  for  forty  years, 
 though  the  Geneva  Bible  was  more  read  in  private  houses,  being  printed  above  twenty  times  in  as  many 
 years.     King  James  bore  it  an  inveterate  hatred  on  account  of  the  notes,  which,  at  the  Hampton  Court 
 conference,  he  charged  as  partial,  untrue,  seditious,  &c.     The  Bishops'  Bible,  too,  had  its  faults.     The 
 king  frankly  owned  that  he  had  seen  no  good  translation  of  the  Bible  in  English  ;  but  he  thought  that 
 of  Geneva  the  worst  of  all.     After  the  translation  of  the   Bible   by   the   bishops,   two  other  private 
 versions  had  been  made  of  the  New  Testament;  the  first  by  Lawrence  Thompson,  from  Beza's  Latin 
 edition,  with  the  notes  of  Beza,  published  in  1582,  in  quarto,  and  afterwards,  in  1589,  varying  very 
 little  from  the  Geneva  Bible  ;  the  second  by  the  papists  at  Rheims,  in  1584,  called  the  Rhemish  Bible, 
 (ix; 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 or  Rlicmish  translation.  These,  finding  it  impossible  to  keep  the  people  from  having  the  Scriptures  in 
 their  vulgar  tongue,  resolved  to  give  a  version  of  their  own,  as  favourable  to  their  cause  as  might  be. 
 It  was  printed  on  a  large  paper,  with  a  fair  letter  and  margin  :  one  complaint  against  it  was,  its  retain- 
 ing a  multitude  of  Hebrew  and  Greek  words  untranslated,  for  want,  as  the  editors  express  it,  of  proper 
 and  adequate  terms  in  the  English  to  render  them  by  ;  as  the  words  azymes,  tunike,  holocaust,  prepuce, 
 pasche,  Sfc:  however,  many  of  the  copies  were  seized  by  the  queen's  searchers,  and  confiscated  ;  and 
 Tliomas  Cartwright  was  solicited  by  Secretary  Wallingham  to  refute  it ;  but,  after  a  good  progress 
 made  therein,  Arciibishop  Whitgift  prohibited  his  further  proceeding,  as  judging  it  improper  that  the 
 doctrine  of  the  church  of  England  should  be  committed  to  the  defence  of  a  puritan,  and  appointed 
 Dr.  Fulkc  in  his  place,  who  refuted  the  Rhemists  with  great  spirit  and  learning.  Cartwright's  refuta- 
 tion was  also  afterwards  published  in  1G18,  under  Archbishop  Abbot.  About  thirty  years  after  tlieir 
 New  Testament,  the  Roman  catholics  published  a  translation  of  the  Old,  at  Douay,  1609  and  IGIO, 
 from  the  Vulgate,  with  annotations,  so  tliat  the  English  Roman  catholics  have  now  the  whole  Bible  in 
 their  motlier  tongue  ;  though,  it  is  to  be  observed,  they  are  forbidden  to  read  it  without  a  licence  from 
 their  superiors.  The  last  English  Bible  was  that  which  proceeded  from  the  Hampton  Court  conference, 
 in  1603  ;  where,  many  exceptions  being  made  to  the  Bisliops'  Biljle,  King  James  gave  order  for  a  new 
 one  ;  not,  as  the  preface  expresses  it,  for  a  translation  altogether  new,  nor  yet  to  make  a  good  one 
 better  ;  or,  of  many  good  ones,  one  best.  Fifty-four  learned  men  were  appointed  to  this  office  by  the 
 king,  as  appears  by  his  letter  to  the  archbishop,  dated  1604  ;  which,  being  three  years  before  the 
 translation  was  entered  upon,  it  is  probable  seven  of  them  were  either  dead  or  had  declined  the  task, 
 since  Fuller's  list  of  the  translators  makes  but  forty-seven,  who,  being  ranged  under  six  divisions, 
 entered  on  their  province  in  1607.  It  was  published  in  1613,  with  a  dedication  to  James,  and  a 
 learned  preface  ;  and  is  commonly  called  King  James's  Bible.  After  this,  all  the  other  versions 
 dropped  and  fell  into  disuse,  except  the  epistles  and  gospels  in  the  Common  Prayer  Book,  which  were 
 still  continued  according  to  the  bishops'  translation  till  the  alteration  of  the  liturgy,  in  1661,  and  the 
 psalms  and  hymns,  which  are  to  this  day  continued  as  in  the  old  version.  The  judicious  Selden,  in  his 
 '  Table  Talk,'  speaking  of  the  Bible,  says,  '  The  English  translation  of  the  Bible  is  the  best  translation 
 in  the  world,  and  renders  the  sense  of  the  original  best ;  taking  in  for  the  English  translation  the 
 Bishops'  Bible  as  well  as  King  James's.  The  translators  in  King  James's  time  took  an  excellent  way. 
 That  part  of  the  Bible  was  given  to  him  who  was  most  excellent  in  such  a  tongue,  (as  the  Apocrypha 
 to  Andrew  Downs  :)  and  then  they  met  together,  and  one  read  the  translation,  the  rest  holding  in  their 
 hands  some  Bible,  either  of  tlie  learned  tongues,  or  French,  Spanish,  or  Italian,  &c.  If  they  found  any 
 fault,  they  spoke  ;  if  not,  he  read  on  '  (King  James's  Bible  is  that  now  read  by  authority  in  all  the 
 churches  in  Britain.)  Notwithstanding,  however,  the  excellency  of  this  translation,  it  must  be  acknow- 
 ledged that  our  increasing  acquaintance  with  oriental  customs  and  manners,  and  the  changes  our  lan- 
 guage has  undergone  since  King  James's  time,  are  very  powerful  arguments  for  a  new  translation,  or  at 
 least  a  correction  of  the  old  one.  There  have  been  various  English  Bibles  with  marginal  references, 
 by  Canne,  Hayes,  Barker,  Scattergood,  Field,  Tennison,  Lloy<l,  Blayney,  Wilson,  &c. ;  but  tlie  best 
 we  have,  perhaps,  of  this  kind,  are  Brown's,  and  Scott's,  and  Bagste'  s  Comprehensive  Bible. — See 
 Suck's  Theol.  Diet. 
 
 (^) 
 
TO  THE  MOST   HIGH   AND    MIGHTY   PRINCE 
 
 JAMES, 
 
 BY    THE    GRACE    OF    GOD, 
 
 KING    OF    GREAT    BRITAIN,    FRANCE,    AND    IRELAND, 
 
 DEFENDER  OF  THE   FAITH,  ETC. 
 
 The  Translators  of  the  Bible  wish  Grace,  Mercy,  and  Peace, 
 through  JESUS  CHRIST  our  Lord. 
 
 G^ 
 
 IREAT  and  manifold  were  the  blessings,  most  dread   Sovereign,  wliich  Almighty  God,  the  Father  of  all 
 
 mercies,  bestowed  upon  us,  the  people  of  ^Ht/Zanrf,  when  first  he  sent  Your  Majesty's  Royal  Person  to  rule 
 and  reign  over  us.  For  whereas  it  was  the  expectation  of  many,  who  wished  not  well  unto  our  Sion,  that  upon 
 the  setting  of  that  bright  Occidental  Star,  Queen  Elizabeth  of  most  happy  memory,  some  thick  and  palpable 
 clouds  of  darkness  would  so  have  overshadowed  this  Land,  that  men  should  have  been  in  doubt  which  way  they 
 were  to  walk  ;  and  that  it  should  hardly  be  known,  who  was  to  direct  the  unsettled  State  ;  the  appearance  of 
 Your  Majesty,  as  of  the  Sun  in  his  strength,  instantly  dispelled  those  supposed  and  surmised  mists,  and  gave 
 unto  all  that  were  well  affected  exceeding  cause  of  comfort ;  especially  when  we  beheld  the  Government 
 established  in  Y'our  Highness,  and  Your  hopeful  Seed,  by  an  undoubted  Title,  and  this  also  accompanied  with 
 peace  and  tranquillity  at  home  and  abroad. 
 
 But  among  all  our  joys,  there  was  no  one  that  more  filled  our  hearts,  than  the  blessed  continuance  of  the 
 preaching  of  God's  sacred  Word  among  us  ;  which  is  that  inestimable  treasure,  which  excelleth  all  the  riches  of 
 the  earth  ;  because  the  fruit  thereof  extendeth  itself,  not  only  to  the  time  spent  in  this  transitory  world,  but 
 directeth  and  disposeth  men  unto  that  eternal  happiness  which  is  above  in  Heaven. 
 
 Then  not  to  suffer  this  to  fall  to  the  ground,  but  rather  to  take  it  up,  and  to  continue  it  in  that  state,  wherein 
 the  famous  Predecessor  of  Your  Highness  did  leave  it :  nay,  to  go  forward  with  the  confidence  and  resolution 
 of  a  Man  in  maintaining  the  truth  of  Christ,  and  propagating  it  far  and  near,  is  that  wbich  hath  so  bound  and 
 firmly  knit  the  hearts  of  all  Your  Majesty's  loyal  and  rehgious  people  unto  You,  that  Y'our  very  name  is  precious 
 among  them  :  their  eye  doth  behold  You  with  comfort,  and  they  bless  You  in  their  hearts,  as  that  sanctified 
 Person,  who,  under  God,  is  the  immediate  Author  of  their  true  happiness.  And  this  their  contentment  doth  not 
 diminish  or  decay,  but  every  day  increaseth  and  taketh  strength,  when  they  observe,  that  the  zeal  of  Your 
 Majesty  toward  the  house  of  God  doth  not  slack  or  go  backward,  but  is  more  and  more  kindled,  manifesting  itself 
 abroad  in  the  farthest  parts  of  Christendom,  by  writing  in  defence  of  the  Truth,  (which  hath  given  such  a  blow 
 unto  that  man  of  sin,  as  will  not  be  healed,)  and  every  day  at  home,  by  religious  and  learned  discourse,  by  fre- 
 quenting the  house  of  God,  by  hearing  the  Word  preached,  by  cherishing  the  Teachers  thereof,  by  caring  for  the 
 Church,  as  a  most  tender  and  loving  nursing  Father. 
 
 There  are  infinite  arguments  of  this  right  christian  and  religious  affection  in  Y'our  Majesty  ;  but  none  is  more 
 forcible  to  declare  it  to  others  than  the  vehement  and  perpetuated  desire  of  accomplishing  and  publishing  of  this 
 work,  which  now  with  all  humility  we  present  unto  Your  Majesty.  For  when  Your  Highness  had  once  out  of 
 deep  judgment  apprehended  how  convenient  it  was,  that  out  of  the  Original  Sacred  Tongues,  together  with 
 comparing  of  the  labours,  both  in  our  own,  and  other  foreign  Languages,  of  many  worthy  men  who  went  before 
 us,  there  should  be  one  more  exact  Translation  of  the  holy  Scriptures  into  the  English  Tongue  ;  Your  Majesty 
 did  never  desist  to  urge  and  to  excite  those  to  whom  it  was  commended,  that  the  work  might  be  hastened,  and 
 that  the  business  might  be  expedited  in  so  decent  a  manner,  as  a  matter  of  such  importance  might  justly 
 require. 
 
 And  now  at  last,  by  the  mercy  of  God,  and  the  continuance  of  our  labours,  it  being  brought  unto  such  a 
 conclusion,  as  that  we  have  great  hopes  that  the  Church  of  England  shall  reap  good  iruit  thereby  ;  we  hold  it 
 our  duty  to  offer  it  to  Your  Majesty,  not  only  as  to  our  King  and  Sovereign,  but  as  to  the  principal  Mover  and 
 Author  of  the  work:  humbly  craving  of  Y'our  most  Sacred  Majesty,  that  since  things  of  this  quality  have  ever 
 been  subject  to  the  censures  of  illmeaning  and  discontented  persons,  it  may  receive  approbation  and  patronage 
 from  .so  learned  and  judicious  a  Prince  as  Your  Highness  is,  whose  allowance  and  acceptance  of  our  labours  shall 
 more  honour  and  encourage  us,  than  all  the  calumniations  and  hard  interpretations  of  other  men  shall  dismay  us. 
 So  that  if,  on  the  one  side,  we  shall  be  traduced  by  Popish  Persons  at  home  or  abroad,  who  therefore  will  malign 
 us,  because  we  are  poor  instruments  to  make  God's  holy  Truth  to  be  yet  more  and  more  known  unto  the  people, 
 whom  they  desire  still  to  keep  in  ignorance  and  darkness  ;  or  if,  on  the  other  side,  we  shall  be  maligned  by  self- 
 conceited  Brethren,  who  run  their  own  ways,  and  give  liking  unto  nothing,  but  what  is  framed  by  themselves, 
 and  hammered  on  their  anvil  ;  we  may  rest  secure,  supported  within  by  the  truth  and  innocency  of  a  good 
 conscience,  having  walked  the  ways  of  simplicity  and  integrity,  as  before  the  Lord ;  and  sustained  without  by 
 the  powerful  protection  of  Your  Majesty's  grace  and  favour,  which  will  ever  give  countenance  to  honest  and 
 christian  endeavours  against  bitter  censures  and  uncharitable  imputations. 
 
 The  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth  bless  Your  Majesty  with  many  and  happy  days,  that,  as  his  heavenly  hand 
 hath  enriched  Your  Highness  with  many  singular  and  extraordinary  graces,  so  You  may  he  the  wonder  of  the 
 world  ni  this  latter  age  for  happiness  and  true  felicity,  to  the  honour  of  that  great  GOD,  and  the  good  of  his 
 Church,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  and  only  Saviour, 
 (xi) 
 
TABLES 
 
 OF 
 
 SCRIPTURE    MEASURES,   WEIGHTS,    AND   COINS. 
 
 BY    RICHARD    CUMBERLAND,    D.D. 
 
 FORMERLY    LORD    BISHOP   OF   PKTERBOROUG J. 
 
 A  MEASURE  is  a  known  quantity  applied  to  another  of  tbu 
 same  kind  that  is  less  known,  to  make  its  dimensions  better 
 known,  by  help  of  numbers  expressing  the  proportion  that  the 
 known  quantity  hears  to  the  unknown.  The  dimensions  to  be 
 measured  arc  tliree  : — 1.3/ere  length,  which  hath  but  one  di 
 mensiun.  2.  Surface,  which  consists  of  length  multiplied  into 
 breadth  ;  so  it  hath  two  dimensions,  as  it  were  interwoven  ;  and 
 this  is  always  measured  by  some  square  surface  already  known, 
 as  by  a  square  foot,  or  a  square  cubit,  or  any  other  square  al- 
 ready known,  by  help  of  ils  side.  Moses  generally  useth  the 
 square  cubit.  3.  SoliJiti/,  or  capac!ti/t  which  hath  three  dimen- 
 sions multiplied  into  each  other, — length,  breadth,  and  height, 
 or  depth.  This  is  measured  by  a  known  cube.  From  solidity 
 ariseth  weight  in  all  sublunary  bodies  ;  and  by  weight  we  mea- 
 sure the  value  of  coins  ;  therefore  I  shall  join  weights  and  coins 
 together  in  the  fourth  table.  X  use  =  to  signify  equal  \  :  :  to 
 t'jrpress  proportion. 
 
 TABLE     I. 
 MEASURES    OF    LENGTH. 
 
 I  express  tht  cuhit  (nid  its  parts,  both  hyinch  measure  aiidbyfoot 
 measure,  which  I  deduce  from,  incheshy  this  proportion  : 
 
 Inrli   Meas.     Foot  Mens. 
 
 As  12.   I.::  21 -ass  =  1-824 
 
 Inch.  Dcf.         Ft.  Dec. 
 
 A  cubit  is  =  to 21  888  =  1-824 
 
 A  span  the  longer  =z  ^  a  cubit...  =  10 "944  ^z  '912 
 A  span  the  less  =  J  of  a  cubit...  —  7-296  =  *608 
 A  hand's  breadth  =  J  of  a  cubit  =  3-684  ~  '304 
 A  finger's  breadth  =  V?  "'"^  cubits:       '912  —     *076 
 
 Measures  of  many  cubits  length  I  express  only  in  foot  measure. 
 
 A  fathom    —  4  cubits  ...  =:    7-296 
 
 Kzekiel'sreed    =  6  cubits  ...  =  10'944 
 
 Schoenus,  the  Egyptian  line  for  land  measure,  "N 
 
 which  I  think  Scripture  useth  to  divide  in-  #        n  \'t 
 
 heritances.      Psalm   xvi.  6,  and  Ixxviii.  55.  ^_q(^_,  i-'q^^ 
 
 They  used  difTerent  lengths  ;  but  the  shortest  i  — ^-  140V-. 
 
 and  most  useful  was     '..  ) 
 
 Herodotus  mentions  a   Scha?nus  just  300  times  as  long.      I 
 
 judge  that  all  the  greater  were  made  in  proportion  to  the 
 
 least. 
 
 The  mile =  4000  cubits  z=  7296  feet. 
 
 Stadium, -j^j  of  their  mile    =    400  cubits  —     729-6 
 
 Parasang,  3  of  their  miles,   =   12,000  cubits  zz  4  English 
 
 miles,  and  580  feet. 
 
 TABLE     IL 
 MEASURES    OF    SURFACE. 
 Moses  hath   described  these  by  square  cubits.      I   here  ex 
 press  them  reduced  to  our  square  feet. 
 
 I.  The  Altar  of  Incense.  Only  two  sides  of  it — viz.,  its 
 length  and  breadth — are  expressed  by  Moses;  each  of  them  is 
 afSrined  to  be  one  cubit.  Yet  he  declares  that  it  was  four 
 square;  whence  we  collect,  tliat  it  was  just  one  square  cubit. 
 See  Exod.  xxx.  2.  Now  one  Jewish  square  cubit  amounts 
 to,  in  surface,  three  English  square  feet,  and  about  forty-seven 
 square  inches. 
 
 II.  The  Table  of  Shewbread.  Exod.  xxv.  23.  It  is  af- 
 firmed to  be  two  cubits  in  length,  and  one  in  breadth.  None 
 doubt  but  it  was  rectangular,  containing  two  Jewish  square 
 cubits.  These  amount  to  above  six  English  square  feet,  and 
 above  half — viz.,  ninety-four  square  inches. 
 
 (xii) 
 
 III.  The  Boards  of  the  Tabernacle,  each  ten  cubits  in  length 
 and  one  and  a  half  in  breadtli,  (Exod.  xxvi.  16,)  being  rect- 
 angular, must  contain  fifteen  square  cubits  Jer/ish,  very  near 
 fifty  square  feet  of  English  measure. 
 
 iV,  The  Mercy-Seat,  whose  surface  is  =  12square  feet  and 
 a  half. 
 
 V.  The  Court  of  the  Tabernacle,  described  Exod.  xxvii.  18, 
 is  found  to  be  just  half  the  Egyptian  aurora,  and  to  contain 
 1  rood,  21  perches,  27  square  feet,  &c.  The  whole  aurora, 
 reduced  to  our  English  measures,  is  3  roods,  2  perches,  55 
 square  feet. 
 
 VI.  The  Suburbs,  or  Glebe  Land,  given  to  each  city  of  the 
 Levites,  (Num.  xxxv.  3,4,5,)  is  determined  to  be  a  square, 
 on  each  of  the  four  sides  of  every  city,  containing  a  million  of 
 Jewish  square  cubits,  or  100  aurora?;  which  amount  to,  in 
 each  square,  76  acres,  1  rood,  20  perches,  80  srjuare  feet. 
 Whence  we  collect,  that  all  the  four  squares  amounted  to  305 
 acres,  2  roods,  1  perch,  beside  51  feet  square. 
 
 TABLE     III. 
 
 MEASURES    OF    CAI'ACITY. 
 
 WiiieRal-     Pints 
 
 Epha,  or  bath     7         4 
 
 Chomer,  Homer  in  our  translation 75         5 
 
 Seah,  }^  of  Epha 2         4 
 
 Hin,  =  ^  of  Epha I         2 
 
 Omer,-^ofEpha  0         6 
 
 Cab,  Vgof  Epha 0         3 
 
 Log,  ^2  of  Eiiha     0         0^ 
 
 Metretes  of  Syria  (Jolui,  ii.  G)  =  Cong,  Rom.   0  7^ 
 
 Cotyla,  Eastern, -jL  of  Epha    0         0.^ 
 
 This  Cotyla  contains  just  10  ounces  avoirdu|)ois 
 water;  Omcr,  100;  Epha.  1000;  Chomer,  10.000. 
 these  weights  all  these  measures  of  capacity  may  be 
 tiously  recovered  very  near  exactness. 
 
 I11.80I 
 ...  15 
 ...  7 
 ...  3 
 ...  I 
 ...0-5 
 ...  10 
 ...  10 
 ...  0 
 ...  3 
 of  rain 
 So  by 
 cxpedi- 
 
 TABLE     IV. 
 
 OF    WEIGHTS 
 
 "i^hts  are  rc- 
 
 The   Jewish    wei 
 
 duced  to  the  standard  grains 
 ofour  Troy  weight;  whereof 
 438  are  ^  to  the  Komau 
 ounce,  and  to  our  ancient 
 English  avoirdupois  ounce. 
 
 Grains.  Dec, 
 
 Shekel  istheorig.  w*....=:2l9 
 
 Bekah,  ^  a  Shekel ^109-5 
 
 Gerah,  Vj^  of  Bekah —  10-95  ...::^1-41437 :: 
 
 Maneh, ::=  100  Shekel  w^-21900  Pence  Dec.  £ 
 Maneh  in  coinrnGO  Sh.  =13140...  =  1697-25=  7 
 Tal.  Sil.  =  3000  Sh.      :^657000  =84862*5=353 
 
 Talent  of  gold  the  same  weight  =5075 
 
 The  golden  Darics(Ezra,  ii.  69)  ^ 
 
 seem  to  be  coins  of  Darius  the  >  =    131*4  1=      1 
 
 Mcde.  They  weighed  12Gerahs  j 
 
 AND    COINS. 
 
 The  value  of  Jewish  and  Ro- 
 man weights  and  coins,  at 
 the  present  rate  of  silver 
 and  gold,  expressed  in 
 pence  and  decimals  of  a 
 penny. 
 
 Penre.    Dec.  b.      n.      q 
 
 .=-28-2875.. 
 
 .  =  141437 =  1 
 
 2 
 
 4     1 
 
 1 
 
 2   !r 
 
 U 
 
 1  i 
 
 E. 
 
 d. 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 inoi.. 
 
 15 
 
 7oh. 
 
 0     4 
 
 ROMAN  MONEY  MENTIONED  IN  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 
 
 pence.  Favthirnfa. 
 
 Denarius,  silver 7  3 
 
 Assis,  copper 0  3 
 
 Assarium     0  1^ 
 
 Quadrans    0  ^ 
 
 A  Mile    0 
 
CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE 
 
 PRINCIPAL   EVENTS   RECORDED   IN   THE   OLD   TESTAMENT, 
 
 WITH  THE  DATES  ADOPTED  BY  CALMET  AND  HALES. 
 
 *,*    The  true  date  of  the  birth  of  Christ  is  four  years  before  the  common  cm,  or  a.d. 
 
 A. 51. 
 
 .4  M 
 
 C«l. 
 
 H«lM 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 100 
 
 3 
 
 101 
 
 129 
 
 201 
 
 130 
 
 230 
 
 9;iO 
 
 930 
 
 9S7 
 
 1487 
 
 1042 
 
 1142 
 
 Frum  the  CreaDon  to  the  Death  of  Nehemiah. 
 
 15.36  2136 
 
 1538 
 1656 
 
 :1657 
 
 1723 
 1770 
 
 1771 
 
 1SI9 
 1849 
 1878 
 1948 
 2006 
 2008 
 2083 
 
 2083 
 
 2091 
 2092 
 
 2094 
 2107 
 
 2256 
 2256 
 
 2237 
 
 2523 
 2857 
 
 2857 
 
 2T94 
 2919 
 3049 
 3289 
 3198 
 2606 
 3258 
 3318 
 
 3333 
 
 3341 
 3342 
 
 3344 
 
 1 
 
 The  Creation   
 
 Fall  of  ,\dam. 
 
 C'tin  boriij  Adam's  first  son     
 
 Abel  born 
 
 Cain  kills  Abel 
 
 Seth  born 
 
 Adam  dies,  aged  930  years      
 
 Enoch  translated  ;  had  lived  S63  years 
 
 Seth  dies,  aged  912  years        
 
 Noah  born         
 
 Noah  informed  of  the  deluge 
 
 Japhet  born,  eldest  son  of  Noah     ... 
 
 Shem  born,  the  second  son  of  Noah 
 
 JMethuselah  dies,  the  oldest  of  men,  aged 
 969  years,  in  the  jear  of  the  deluge. 
 
 Twenty-seventh  day  of  the  second  month 
 Noah  quits  the  ark. 
 
 Heber  born       
 
 Babel  built;  languages  confounded ;  men 
 disperse. 
 
 About  this  time  the  beginning  of  the 
 Assyrian  monarchy  by  Ninirod.  From 
 this  year  to  the  taking  of  Babylon  by 
 Alexander  the  Great  are  1903  years. 
 
 The  Egyptian  empire  begins  about  the 
 same  time,  by  Ham,  the  father  of 
 Mizraim  ;  this  empire  continued  1633 
 years,  till  the  comjuest  of  Egypt  by 
 Cambyses. 
 
 Division  of  the  earth        
 
 Serug  born,  son  of  Reu 
 
 Nahor  born,  son  of  Serug       
 
 Terah  born,  son  of  Nahor       
 
 Haran  born,  son  of  Terah       
 
 Noah  dies,  aged  950  years       
 
 Abram  horn,  son  of  Terah     
 
 Abrara  called  in  Ur  of  the  Chaldees.  He 
 travels  to  Charr^  or  Haran,  of  Meso- 
 potamia. 
 
 Second  calling  of  .\braham  from  Haran. 
 He  comes  into  Canaan  with  Sarai,  his 
 wife,  and  Lot,  his  nephew;  and  dwells 
 at  Sichem. 
 
 The  kings  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  revolt 
 from  Chednrlaomor. 
 
 Melchizedec  blesses  Abram      
 
 The  Lord  makes  a  covenant  with  Abrara, 
 and  promises  him  a  numerous  posterity. 
 
 Ishmael  born,  the  son  of  Abram  and 
 Hagar.     Abram  was  86  years  old. 
 
 The  new  covenant  of  the  Lord  with 
 Abrara  :  God  promises  him  a  numerous 
 posterity  ;  changes  his  name  from 
 Abram  to  Abraham  ;  and  that  of  his 
 wife,  Sarai,  to  Sarah. 
 
 Circumcision  is  instituted. 
 
 (xiii) 
 
 B  C. 
 CiJ. 
 
 4000 
 
 3999 
 3998 
 3871 
 3870 
 3070 
 3013 
 2958 
 2944 
 2460 
 2444 
 2442 
 2344 
 
 2343 
 
 2277 
 2230 
 
 2229 
 
 2181 
 2151 
 2122 
 2052 
 1994 
 1992 
 1917 
 
 1917 
 
 1909 
 1908 
 
 1906 
 1893 
 
 5411 
 
 .5311 
 
 5310 
 5210 
 3181 
 4481 
 3914 
 4269 
 3755 
 3275 
 
 3155 
 3155 
 
 31S4 
 
 2888 
 2554 
 
 2554 
 
 2614 
 2432 
 2362 
 2-283 
 2213 
 2805 
 2153 
 2093 
 
 2078 
 
 2070 
 2089 
 
 2067 
 
 2107 
 
 2115 
 
 2148 
 21.50 
 2168 
 
 2184 
 2187 
 2200 
 
 2208 
 2231 
 
 2245 
 
 2276 
 
 2288 
 2289 
 
 2297 
 2298 
 
 A  M. 
 Hales 
 
 3357 
 
 3338 
 3383 
 3398 
 3399 
 3418 
 
 3433 
 
 3481 
 3495 
 
 3526 
 3539 
 
 From  the  Creation  to  the  Death  of  Neheminh. 
 
 t;.< 
 
 2315   3565 
 
 23H9  3619 
 
 •3674 
 
 2430  I  36S6 
 2433  3689 
 
 2473 
 
 3723 
 
 2513  3763 
 
 3764 
 2514 
 
 2514  3764 
 2353  1 3802 
 
 Sodom,  Gomorrah,  Admah,and  Zeboiim, 
 burnt  by  fire  from  heaven. 
 
 Isaac  born         
 
 Abraham  about  to  offer  his  son  Isaac     ... 
 
 Isaac  marries  Rebekah     
 
 Abraham  marries  Keturah      
 
 Jacob  and  Esau  born,  Isaac  being  sixty 
 years  old. 
 
 Abraham  dies,  aged  1 75  years         
 
 Heber  dies,  aged  464  years     
 
 Isaac  goes  to  Gerar.  God  renews  with 
 him  his  promises  made  to  Abraham. 
 Isaac  covenants  with  Abiraelech,  king 
 of  Gerar. 
 
 Esau  marries  Canaanitish  women 
 
 Ishmael  dies,  the  eldest  son  of  Abraham, 
 aged  137  years. 
 
 Isaac  blesses  Jacob  instead  of  Esau.  Jacob 
 withdraws  into  Mesopotamia  to  his 
 uncle  Laban  ;  marries  Leah,  and  after- 
 wards Rachel. 
 
 Joseph  sold  by  his  brethren,  and  carried 
 into  Egypt. 
 
 Isaac  dies,  aged  1 80  years        
 
 Pharaoh's  dreams  explained  by  Joseph  ; 
 
 Joseph  is  made  governor  of  Egypt- 
 Joseph's  ten  brethren  resort  to  Egypt  to 
 buy  corn.     Joseph  imprisons  Simeon. 
 
 Joseph's  brethren  return  into  Egypt  with 
 their  brother  Benjamin.  Joseph  dis- 
 covers himself,  and  engages  them  to 
 settle  in  Egypt  with  their  father  Jacob, 
 then  laO  years  old. 
 
 Jacob  dies,  aged  147  years       
 
 Joseph  dies,  aged  110  years 
 
 About  this  time  lived  Job,  famous  for  his 
 wisdom,  virtue,  and  patience. 
 
 Aa;on  born,  son  of  Amram  and  Jochebed. 
 
 Moses  born,  brother  to  Aaron  ;  is  ex- 
 posed on  the  banks  of  the  Nile  ;  is  found 
 by  Pharaoh's  daughter, who  adopts  him. 
 
 Moses  goes  to  visit  his  brethren  ;  kills  an 
 Egvptian  ;  retires  into  .Midian ;  marries 
 Zipporah,  daughter  of  Jethro. 
 
 The  ten  plagues  of  Egypt        ...     ...     ... 
 
 Pharaoh  and  his  host  drowned  in  the 
 Red  Sea. 
 
 The  delivery  of  the  law  in  awful  grandeur. 
 
 Construction  of  the  tabernacle,  on  the  first 
 day  of  the  first  month  of  the  second 
 year  after  the  exodus. 
 
 The  Levites  consecrated  to  the  service  of' 
 the  tabernacle  instead  of  the  firstborn 
 of  Israel.  I 
 
 SUion,  king  of  the  Amorites,  refuses  the 
 Israelites  a  passage  through  his  domi- 
 
 1893  20541 
 
 1885 
 
 1852 
 1850 
 1832 
 
 1817 
 1813 
 1800 
 
 1792 
 1769 
 
 1755 
 
 I 
 
 20531 
 2028  I 
 2013 
 2012  •' 
 1993 
 
 1978 
 
 1930 
 1916 
 
 I 
 
 1724 
 
 1712 
 1711 
 
 1703 
 1702 
 
 1695 
 1631 
 
 1570 
 1567 
 
 1885 
 1872 
 
 1846 
 1792 
 
 2337 
 
 1725 
 1722 
 
 1527 
 
 1688 
 
 1487 
 
 1648 
 
 1647 
 
 1 486 
 
 1447 
 
 16091 
 
CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 
 
 A.M. 
 Cal. 
 
 AM. 
 Hales 
 
 2553 
 
 3S02 
 
 3803 
 
 2554 
 
 3804 
 
 2559 
 
 3809 
 
 2560 
 
 3816 
 
 2561 
 
 2591 
 
 3839 
 
 2599 
 
 3847 
 
 2661 
 
 3887 
 
 2679 
 
 3905 
 
 2699 
 
 to 
 2719 
 2752 
 2759 
 
 3955 
 
 to 
 4006 
 4045 
 4052 
 
 2768 
 
 4092 
 
 2771 
 2772 
 
 4095 
 
 2795 
 2799 
 
 4118 
 4140 
 
 2717 
 
 4158 
 
 2823 
 2830 
 2840 
 
 41H4 
 4171 
 4181 
 
 3029 
 
 4421 
 
 3046 
 
 4438 
 
 3049 
 
 4441 
 
 Frnm  the  CreBtioa  to  the  Dcatli  of  Ncheroiali. 
 
 Dions.    Moses  attacks  him,  and  con- 
 
 qiitTS  his  country. 
 Og,  king  of  Basliaa,  attacks  Israel,  but  is 
 
 defeated. 
 Israel  encamps  in  the  plains  of  Moab. 
 Balak,  king  of  i\Ioab,  sends  for  Balaam. 
 Israel  seduced  to  fornication,  and  to  the 
 
 idolatry  of  Baal-Peor. 
 War  against  the  Mldianites. 
 Distribution  of  the   countries   of   Sihon 
 
 and  Og  to  the  tribes  of  Reuben  and 
 
 Gad.  and  the  half-tribe  of  iVIanasseh. 
 Moses  dies,  being  120  years  old. 
 Joshua  succeeds    him  ;    sends    spies    to 
 
 Jericho. 
 
 The  people  pass  the  Jordan     
 
 .lericho  taken. 
 
 War  of  the  five   kings   against   Gibeon. 
 
 Joshua   defeats    them ;    the    sun    and 
 
 moon  stayed. 
 War  of  Joshua  against  the  kings  of  Canaan 
 
 six  years. 
 Joshua    divides    the    conquered    country 
 
 among  Judah,  Ephraim,  and  the  half- 
 tribe  of  Manasseh. 
 Joshua  distributes  the  country  to  Benja- 
 min, Simeon,  Zebulun,  Issachar,  Asher, 
 
 Naphtali,  and  Dan  ;  receives  his  own 
 
 portion     at     Timnath-serah,    on    the 
 
 mnuutain  of  Gahash. 
 Joshua  dies,  aged  1 10  years. 
 After  his  death,  the  elders  govern  about 
 
 eighteen  or  twenty  yeai'S,  during  which 
 
 time  happen  the  wars  of  Judah  with 
 
 Adoni-hezek. 
 Anarchy,  during  which  some  of  the  tribe 
 
 of  Dan  conquer  the  city  of  Laish. 
 Servitude  of  the  Israelites  under  Cushan- 
 
 Rishathaim,  king  of  Mesopotamia,  eight 
 
 years. 
 Otbniel  delivers  them ;  he  defeats  Cushan- 
 
 Rishathaim  y    and  judges   the   people 
 
 forty  years. 
 Second  servitude,  under  Eglon.  king  of 
 
 Moab,  about  sixty-two  years  after  the 
 
 peace  of  Othniel. 
 Ehud  delivers  them,  after  about  20  years. 
 Third  servitude  of  the  Israelites,  under 
 
 the  Philistines.  Shamgar  delivers  them ; 
 
 year  uncertain. 
 Fourth   servitude,  under  Jabin,  king  of 
 
 Hazor.      Deborah   and    Barak  deliver 
 
 them,  after  twenty  years. 
 Fifth  servitude,  under  the  Midianites    ... 
 Gideon  delivers  Israel;  he  governs  them 
 
 nine  years — from  2759  to  2768. 
 Abimelech,  son  of  Gideon,  made  king  of 
 
 Shechem. 
 
 Abimelech  killed,  after  three  years 
 
 Tola,  judge  of  Israel,  after  Abimelech  ; 
 
 governs  twenty-three  years. 
 Jair  judges  Israel ;  governs  22  years 
 Sixth  servitude, 'under  the  Philistines  and 
 
 the  Ammonites. 
 Jephthah  delivers   the   Israelites  beyond 
 
 Jorflan. 
 Jephthah  dies  ;  Ibzan  succeeds  him 
 
 Ibzandies;  Elon  succeeds  him       
 
 Elondies;  Abdon  succeeds  him     
 
 B.C. 
 
 Cal. 
 
 1447 
 
 1446 
 1441 
 
 1440 
 1439 
 
 1409 
 1401 
 1339 
 1321 
 
 1281 
 
 1248 
 1241 
 
 1232 
 
 1229 
 
 1228 
 
 1205 
 1201 
 
 1183 
 
 1177 
 1170 
 1160 
 
 B.C. 
 Hales 
 
 1009 
 
 1608 
 
 1607 
 1602 
 
 1596 
 
 1572 
 1564 
 1524 
 1506 
 
 1426 
 
 to 
 1406 
 1366 
 1359 
 
 1319 
 
 1316 
 
 1293 
 1271 
 
 1253 
 
 1247 
 1240 
 1230 
 
 2843 
 
 2849 
 
 2867 
 to 
 
 2887 
 2888 
 
 2909 
 
 2919 
 2941 
 2947 
 
 2949 
 
 4229 
 4189 
 4209 
 
 4269 
 
 4301 
 
 4311 
 
 2951 
 2956 
 
 2971 
 2981 
 
 2988 
 2989 
 
 2990 
 
 4340 
 
 4341 
 
 4361 
 4375 
 
 4381 
 
 FiofD  the  Cre&tioD  to  the  Dealh  of  Nehcminh. 
 
 2991 
 
 3000 
 
 3026 
 3029 
 
 4384 
 4391 
 
 4420 
 4421 
 
 Abdon  dies  ;  the  high  priest  Eli  succeeds 
 as  jiiilge  of  Israel. 
 
 Seventh  servitude,  under  the  Philistines, 
 forty  years. 
 
 Samuel  horn      
 
 Under  hi^  judicature  God  raises  Samson, 
 born  ^849. 
 
 After  defending  Israel  twenty  years,  Sam- 
 son kiUs  himself. 
 
 War  between  the  Philistines  and  Israel. 
 
 The  ark  of  the   Lord    taken    by   the 
 
 Philistines.     Death  of  the  high  priest 
 
 Eli.     He  governed  Israel  forty  years. 
 Saui  appointed  king,  and  consecrated  in 
 
 an  assembly  of  the  people  at  IMizpah. 
 
 He  reigned  forty  years. 
 
 Birth  of  David,  son  of  Jesse 
 
 David  anointed 
 
 Samuel   dii-s,  aged  9S.     He  had  jud^^ed 
 
 Israel  twenty-one  years  before  the  reign 
 
 of  Saul.     He  lived  thirty-eight  years 
 
 afterwards. 
 War    of    the    Philistines   against    Saul. 
 
 Saul  consults  the  witch  of  Endor,  loses 
 
 the  battle,  and  kills  himself. 
 Ishbosheth,   son  of  Saul,    acknowledged 
 
 king  ;    reigns   at    Muhanaim,    beyond 
 
 Jordan. 
 David  acknowledged  king  by  Judah  ;  is 
 
 consecrated   a  second  time  ;    reigns  at 
 
 Hebron. 
 War  between  Ishbosheth  and  David  four 
 
 or  five  yeai'S. 
 David  acknowledged  king  over  all  Israel ; 
 
 consecrated  a  third  time  at  Hebron. 
 
 Solomon  born 
 
 Absalom's  rebellion  against  David 
 
 Absalom  killed  by  Joab. 
 Rehoboam  born,  son  of  Solomon. 
 Adonljah  aspires  to  the  kingdom.     David 
 
 causes  his  son  Solomon  to  be  crowned. 
 
 Solomon  proclaimed  king  by  all  Israel. 
 David   dies,  aged  seventy  years,   having 
 
 reigned  seven   years   and    a  half  over 
 
 Judah,   at   Hebron  ;    and    thirty-three 
 
 years  over  all  Israel,  at  Jerusalem. 
 Solomon   reigns    alone,    having    reigned 
 
 about  six  months  in  the  life- time  of  his 
 
 father  David.     He  reigned  forty  years. 
 Adonijah  slain. 
 Abiathar  deprived  of  the  office  of  high 
 
 priest.   Zadok  in  future  enjoys  it  alone. 
 Solomon  marries  a  daughter  of  the  king 
 
 of  Eg)'pt. 
 Solomon  lays  the  foundation  of  the  tem- 
 ple, second  day  of  the  second  month 
 
 (May.) 
 Temple  finished,  being  seven  years  and  a 
 
 half  in   building ;    and   dedicated    the 
 
 year  following. 
 Jeroboam,  son  of  Nebat,  rebels  against 
 
 Solomon.     He  flies  into  Egypt. 
 
 Solomon  dies    
 
 Rehoboam  succeeds  him  ;    alienates  the 
 
 Israelites,  and  occasions  the  revolt  of 
 
 the  ten  tribes.     Jeroboam,  the  son  of 
 
 Nebat,  acknowledged  king  of  the  ten 
 
 tribes. 
 
 B.C 
 
 Cal. 
 
 KINGS  OF  JUDAH.— 388  Yeare. 
 
 Rehoboam  intends  to  subdue  the  ten  tribes, 
 but  forbears;  reigned  seventeen  years. 
 
 Rehoboam  dies;  Abijam  succeeds  him; 
 reigns  three  years. 
 
 Abijam  dies;  Asa  succeeds  him     
 
 (xiv) 
 
 971 
 
 990 
 
 3029 
 
 4421 
 
 954 
 
 973 
 
 951 
 
 970 
 
 3050 
 
 4443 
 
 KINGS  OF  ISRAEL.— 254  Yearsi. 
 
 Jeroboam,  son  of  Nebat,  the  first  king  of 
 Israel ;  that  is,  the  revolted  ten  tribes. 
 
 Jeroboam  dies ;  Nadab,  his  son,  succeeds  ; 
 reigns  two  years. 
 
 1152 
 
 II51 
 1113 
 1112 
 
 1091 
 
 1081 
 1059 
 1053 
 
 1051 
 
 1049 
 1044 
 
 1029 
 1019 
 
 1012 
 nil 
 
 1010 
 
 BC. 
 
 Hale. 
 
 1182 
 1222 
 1202 
 
 1142 
 
 1110 
 1100 
 
 1071 
 
 1070 
 
 1050 
 1036 
 
 1030 
 
 1009 
 
 1027 
 
 1000 
 
 1020 
 
 974 
 
 971 
 
 991 
 
 990 
 
 971 
 
 990 
 
 950 
 
 968 
 
CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Cal. 
 
 3055 
 
 3080 
 
 3090 
 3097 
 3106 
 
 3112 
 
 3115 
 
 1  the  Creaikm  to  the  Death  of  Nchemiah. 
 
 KINGS  OF  JUDAH — 388. 
 
 Jehoshaphat  born,  son  uf  Asa... 
 
 4482 
 
 4507 
 
 3119   4515 
 3120 
 
 3126 
 3140 
 3165 
 
 3194 
 3221 
 
 3246 
 
 4522 
 
 4602 
 
 4654 
 
 3262  1 4670 
 
 3278 
 
 4701 
 
 Jetoram  born,  son  of  Jehoshaphat 
 
 Asa  dies,  having  reigned  forty-one  years. 
 
 Juhoshapbat  succeeds  Asa       
 
 Ahaziab  born,  son  of  Jehoram  and  Atba- 
 
 buh,  and  giiindson  of  Jehoshaphat. 
 Jehoshapbat  nominates  his  son  Jehoram 
 
 king ;  makes  bim  his  viceroy. 
 
 Jehoshapbat  invests  bis  son  Jehoram  with 
 the  royal  dignity. 
 
 Jehoshapbat  diesj  reignefl  twenty-five 
 years ;  Jehoram  succeeds. 
 
 Jehoram  dies  ;  reigned  four  years. 
 
 Ahaziab  reigns  but  one  year 
 
 Ahaziab  slain  by  Jehu      
 
 Athaliih  kills  all  the  royal  family;  she 
 usurps  the  kingdom.  Joash  is  pre- 
 served, and  kept  secretly  in  the  temple 
 six  years. 
 
 Jehoiada,  the  high  priest,  sets  Joash  on 
 the  throne  of  Judah,  and  slays  Atba- 
 liab.     Joasb  reigns  forty  years. 
 
 Amaziab  born,  son  of  Joash 
 
 Hazael  drains  Jerusalem  of  its  wealth    ... 
 Joash    dies  ;     Amaziab    succeeds    bim  ; 
 
 reigns  twenty-nine  years. 
 Uzziahj  or  Azariah,  born^  son  of  Amaziab. 
 
 Auiaziah  dies     
 
 Uzziab,  or  Azariah,  succeeds  him;  reigns 
 
 fifty-two  years. 
 Isaiah   and    Amos    prophesy    in    Judah 
 
 under  this  reign. 
 Jotbam  born,  sou  of  Uzziah    
 
 Uzziab  dies;  Jotbam,  bis  son,  succeeds; 
 
 reigns  sixteen  years. 
 Isaiah  and  Hosea  continue  to  prophesy. 
 
 Jotbam  dies;  Ahaz  succeeds  him  ;  reigns 
 sixteen  years. 
 
 Ahaz,  king  of  Judah,  dies,  leaving  his 
 son,  Hezekiah,  on  the  throne. 
 
 Hezekiah's  sit-koess.  Isaiab  fortels  bis 
 cure  ;  gives  bim  as  a  sign  the  shadow's 
 return  on  the  dial  of  Ahaz. 
 
 (XV) 
 
 B.C. 
 Cal. 
 
 B  c. 
 
 H«Us 
 
 A.M. 
 Cal. 
 
 A.M. 
 Hales 
 
 945 
 
 3054 
 3074 
 3075 
 
 3079 
 
 4445 
 
 4468 
 
 to 
 4469 
 
 920 
 910 
 903 
 
 929 
 
 3080 
 U086 
 
 4473 
 
 894 
 
 3107 
 
 888 
 885 
 
 904 
 
 3108 
 
 4504 
 
 881 
 830 
 
 896 
 
 3120 
 
 874 
 
 889 
 
 860 
 
 3148 
 
 835 
 
 3165 
 
 4561 
 
 806 
 
 809 
 
 3181 
 
 779 
 
 3222 
 3232 
 
 4618 
 
 3233 
 
 4641 
 
 3243 
 
 4651 
 
 754 
 
 757 
 
 3245 
 
 4653 
 
 738 
 
 741 
 
 4675 
 
 722 
 
 710 
 
 3265 
 3280 
 
 4683 
 4690 
 
 From  the  Creation  to  the  Death  of  Nehemiah. 
 
 KINGS  OF  ISRAEL.— 254  Years. 
 
 Nadab  dies ;  Baasha  succeeds  bim ;  reigns 
 twenty  years. 
 
 Baasha  dies  ;  Elah,  bis  son,  succeeds  tim ; 
 ;j;ns  two  years. 
 
 Elah  killed  by  Zimri,  who  usurps  the 
 kingdom  seven  days. 
 
 Omri  besieges  Zimn  in  Tirzah;  he  burns 
 himself  in  the  palace. 
 
 Omri  prevails  over  Tibni ;  reigns  alone  in 
 the  thirty-first  year  of  Asa. 
 
 Omri  builds  Samaria ;  makes  it  his  capital. 
 
 Omri  dies 
 
 Abab,  his  son,  succeeds ;  reigns  twenty- 
 two  years. 
 
 The  prophet  Elijah  in  the  kingdom  of 
 Israel. 
 
 Abab  wars  against  Ramotb-gilead ;  is 
 killed  in  disguise. 
 
 Ahaziab  succeeds  ;  reigns  two  years. 
 
 Ahaziab  falls  from  tlie  platform  of  his 
 bouse;  is  dangerously  wounded. 
 
 Ahaziab  dies;  Jehoram,  his  brother,  suc- 
 ceeds bim. 
 
 Jehoram  marches  with  Ahaziah  against 
 Ramotb-gilead;  is  dangerously  wound- 
 ed, and  carried  to  Jezreel, 
 
 Jehu  rebels  against  Jehoram  ;  kills  him. 
 Jehu  reigns  twenty-eight  years. 
 
 Jehu  dies ;  his  son,  Jehoahaz,  succeeds 
 him;  reigns  seventeen  years. 
 
 Jeho:ihaz  dies;  Joash,  or  Jehoash,  suc- 
 ceeds him. 
 
 Elisha  dies  about  this  time, 
 
 Joash  dies  ;  Jeroboam  II.  succeeds  him  ; 
 reigns  forty-one  years. 
 
 The  prophets  Jonah,  Hosea,  and  Amos, 
 in  Israel,  prophesy  in  this  reign. 
 
 Jeroboam  IT.  dies;  Zachariab,  bis  son, 
 succeeds  him ;  reigns  six  months ;  or 
 perhaps  ten  years. 
 
 Here  the  chronology  is  perplexed. 
 
 Zachariah  killed  by  Shallum,  after  reign- 
 ing six  months, 
 
 Shallum  reigns  one  month ;  is  killed  by 
 Menahem,  who  reigns  ten  years. 
 
 Menahem  dies  ;  Pekaiah,  his  son,  suc- 
 ceeds , 
 
 Pekaiah  assassinated  by  Pekah,  son  of 
 Remaliah,  who  reigns  twenty-eight 
 yeai-s.  The  text  allows  twenty  years 
 only;  but  we  must  read  twenty-eight 
 years.  His  reign  began  in  the  52ud 
 of  Azariah,  (2  Kings,  xv.  27,)  and 
 ended  in  the  I'Jth  of  Ahaz,  (2  Kings, 
 xvii.  1,)  which  includes  28  years. 
 
 Tiglath-pileser  enters  the  land  of  Israel, 
 takes  many  cities  and  captives,  chiefly 
 from  Reuben,  Gad,  and  the  half-tribe 
 of  IManasseh,  The  first  captivity  of 
 Israel. 
 
 Hosea,  son  of  Elah,  slays  Pekah,  and 
 usurps  the  kingdom. 
 
 Sbalnianeser  besieges  Samaria;  takes  it, 
 after  three  years'  siege  ;  carries  beyond 
 the  Euphrates  the  tribes  that  Tiglath- 
 pileser  had.  not  already  carried  into 
 captivity  ;  the  ninth  year  of  Hoshea ; 
 of  Hezekiah  the  sixth  year. 
 
 946 
 926 
 925 
 
 1 
 921 
 
 920 
 914 
 
 893 
 
 8S0 
 
 852 
 835 
 
 819 
 
 778 
 
 768 
 767 
 757 
 755 
 
 735 
 
 720     721 
 
CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 
 
 A.^r- 
 
 Cal. 
 
 3306 
 3329 
 3361 
 
 3363 
 3076 
 3394 
 
 4715 
 4737 
 
 4770 
 
 4772 
 
 4783 
 
 I 
 
 4803 
 
 3395 
 3398 
 
 3402 
 
 4825 
 
 4806 
 
 3405 
 
 i  the  Creation  to  the  Death  of  Nehcmiah. 
 
 4812 
 
 3406 
 
 3410 
 3414 
 3416 
 
 4814 
 
 4821 
 4823 
 
 4825 
 
 JUDAH  alone. 
 
 Hezekiah  dies ;  Manasseh  succeeds  him ; 
 reigns  fifty-five  years, 
 
 Manasseh  taken  by  the  Chaldeans,  and 
 carried  to  Babylon, 
 
 Manasseh  dies.  He  returned  into  Judea 
 some  time  before,  but  the  time  is  not 
 exactly  known. 
 
 Ammon  succeeds  him  ;  reigns  two  years. 
 
 .\ranion  dies  ;  Josiah  succeeds  him 
 
 Zepbauiah  prophesies. 
 
 Jeremiah  I)egins  to  prophesy,  in  the  13th 
 year  of  the  reign  ()f  Josiah, 
 
 Joel  prophesies  under  Josiah 
 
 Josiah  opposes  the  expedition  of  Necho, 
 king  of  Egypt,  against  Carchemish  ; 
 is  mortally  wounded,  and  dies  at  Jeru- 
 salem. Jeremiah  composes  lamentations 
 on  his  death. 
 
 Jehoabaz  is  set  on  the  throne  by  the 
 people  ;  but  Necho,  returning  from 
 Carchemish,  d. poses  him,  and  installs 
 Eliakim,  or  Jehoiakim,  his  brother, son 
 of  Josiah,  who  reigns  eleven  years. 
 
 Habakkuk  prophesies  under  his  reign    ,.. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar  besieges  antl  takes  Car- 
 chemish ;  comes  into  Palestine ;  be- 
 sieges and  takes  Jerusalem ;  leaves 
 Jehoiakim  there  on  condition  of  paying 
 him  a  large  tribute. 
 
 Daniel  and  nis  companions  led  captive  to 
 Itabylon. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar's  dream  of  a  great  statue 
 explaiued  by  Daniel. 
 
 Jehoiakim  revolts  against  Nebuchadnezzar. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar  sends  an  army  from 
 Chaldea,  Syria,  and  Moab,  which 
 ravages  Judea,  and  brings  away  3023 
 Jews  to  Babylon,  in  the  seventh  year  of 
 Jehoiakim. 
 
 Cyrus  burn,  son  of  Carabyses  and  Mandane. 
 
 Jehoiakim  revolts  a  second  time  against 
 Nebuchadnezzar  ;  is  taken,  and  put  to 
 death  ;  reigned  eleven  years. 
 
 Jehoiakin,  or  Coniah,  or  Jeconiah,  suc- 
 ceeds. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar  besieges  him  in  Jerusa- 
 lem, and  takes  him  after  he  had  reigned 
 three  months  and  ten  days.  He  is 
 carried  to  Babylon,  with  pait  of  the 
 people.    IMordecai  is  among  the  captives. 
 
 Zedekiah,  his  uncle,  is  left  at  Jerusalem 
 in  his  place,  and  reigns  eleven  years. 
 
 Ezekiel  begins  to  prophesy  in  Chaldea  ... 
 
 Zedekiah  revolts  agamst  the  Chaldeans... 
 
 Jerusalem  taken  on  the  ninth  day  of  the 
 fourth  month  (July),  the  eleventh  ye.ir 
 of  Zedekiah. 
 
 Zedekiah,  endeavouring  to  fly  by  night,  is 
 taken,  and  brought  to  Riblah  to  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar. His  eyes  are  put  out, 
 and  he  is  carried  to  Babylon. 
 
 Jerusalem  and  the  temple  burnt     
 
 The  Jews  of  Jerusalem  and  Judah  carried 
 captive  beyond  the  Euphrates.  Some 
 poor  only  left  in  the  land. 
 
 694 
 661 
 639 
 
 696 
 674 
 641 
 
 6371    639 
 
 624 
 606 
 
 605 
 602 
 
 598 
 
 595 
 
 594 
 
 390 
 
 586 
 584 
 
 628 
 
 608 
 
 586 
 
 605 
 
 599 
 
 597 
 
 590 
 
 588 
 
 A.M. 
 Cal. 
 
 3417 
 
 3419 
 
 3432 
 3444 
 
 586 
 
 3445 
 3446 
 
 3448 
 3449 
 3450 
 3456 
 3457 
 
 3475 
 3484 
 
 3487 
 
 34S8 
 3489 
 
 3519 
 
 3531 
 3537 
 
 3538 
 3550 
 
 3580 
 
 4827 
 
 4840 
 4842 
 
 4850 
 
 4853 
 4860 
 
 4S58 
 4875 
 
 4882 
 
 4948 
 
 4951 
 4895 
 
 4926 
 
 4947 
 4954 
 
 4967 
 
 4991 
 
 From  the  Creation  to  the  Denth  of  Nehcmiah. 
 
 Jeremiah  carried  into  F,i;\'pt  by  the  .Tews 
 after  the  death  of  Gedaliah.  He  pro- 
 phesies in  Eg^-pt. 
 
 Ezekiel  in  Chuhiea  prophesies  against  the 
 captives  of  Judah. 
 
 The  sie^e  of  Tyre  by  Nebuchadnezzar  ; 
 lasted  thirteen  years. 
 
 Obadiah  prophesies  ai^ainst  Idumea. 
 
 T)Te  taken  by  Nebuchadnezzar      
 
 Daniel's  three  compuniuns  cast  into  the, 
 fiery  furnace. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar's  death,  after  reigning 
 forty-three  years  ;  frtim  the  death  of 
 Nabonasiar,  his  father,  who  died  in 
 3399. 
 
 Evilmerodach,  his  son,  succeeds  hira ; 
 reigns  but  one  year. 
 
 Belshazzar,  his  son,  succeeds  him 
 
 Cyi  us  begins  to  appear  ;  he  lilierates  the 
 Persians,  and  takes  the  title  of  king. 
 
 Belshazzar's  impious  feast;  his  death     ... 
 
 Darius  the  Mede  succeeds  Belshazzar    ... 
 
 Daniel  cast  into  the  lions'  den 
 
 Cyrus  takes  Bal)ylon        
 
 He  sets  the  Jews  at  liberty,  and  permits 
 their  return  into  Judeii.  The  first 
 year  of  his  reign  over  all  the  east. 
 
 Cyrus  dies,  aged  seventy  years       
 
 Haggai  begins  to  prnphesy  ;  reproaches 
 the  Jews  for  not  building  the  house  of 
 the  Lord 
 
 About  this  time  Zechariah  begins  to  pro- 
 phesy. 
 
 Htre  end  the  seventy  years  of  captivity. 
 
 The  feast  of  Darius,  or  Ahasuerus;  he 
 divorces  Vashti. 
 
 He  espouses  Esther 
 
 The  dedication  of  the  temple  of  Jeru- 
 salem, rebuilt  by  Zerubbabel. 
 
 Darius,  or  Ahasuerus,  dies  ;  Xerxes  suc- 
 ceeds him. 
 
 Xerxes  dies;  Artaxerxcs  succeeds  him  ... 
 
 He  sends  Ezra  to  Jerusalem,  with  several 
 priests  and  Levites ;  the  seventh  year  of 
 Artdxerxes. 
 
 Ezra  reforms  abuses  among  the  Jews, 
 especially  as  to  their  strange  wives. 
 
 Neheraiah  olitains  leave  of  Artaxeixes  to 
 visit  Jerusalem,  and  to  rebuild  its  gates 
 and  walls, 
 
 Zechariah  prophesies  under  his  govern- 
 ment; also  i\]al:ichi,  whom  several  have 
 confounded  with  Ezra. 
 
 Nehemiah  dies 
 
 End  of  the  Old  Testament  History. 
 
 583 
 
 581 
 
 568 
 566 
 
 555 
 554 
 
 552 
 551 
 550 
 £44 
 543 
 
 525 
 516 
 
 584 
 
 571 
 569 
 
 £61 
 
 558 
 551 
 
 553 
 
 536 
 
 529 
 
 613 
 
 512 
 611 
 
 481 
 
 469 
 463 
 
 462 
 
 450 
 
 420 
 
 46;) 
 
 ^60 
 516 
 
 435 
 
 464 
 457 
 
 444 
 
 4'JO 
 
 (xvi) 
 
THE 
 
 SCRIPTURE    DIARY; 
 
 SELECTIONS    FROM    THE    HOLY    SCRIPTURES,    IN  THE    ORDER    OF    THEIR   HISTORY, 
 
 FOR  DAILY  READING, 
 
 BY    WHICH     THE    PRINCIPAL    PARTS    OF    THE    BIBLE    MAY    BE    HEAD    IN    A    YEAR. 
 
 JANUARY.                                           1 
 
 MARCH, 
 
 DAY 
 
 MORNING. 
 
 EVENING. 
 
 DAY 
 
 HORNING. 
 
 EVENING. 
 
 1 
 
 Gen.  i.  ;  ii.  1-3 
 
 Gen.  ii.  4  to  end 
 
 1 
 
 Exod.  xiv.  19  to  end 
 
 Exod.  XV.  1  to  end 
 
 2 
 
 Gen.  iv.  1  to  end 
 
 Gen.  vi.  I  to  end 
 
 2 
 
 Exod.  xvi.  1  to  end 
 
 Exod.  xvii.  1  to  end 
 
 3 
 
 M;;tt.  i.— iv. 
 
 Matt.  V vii. 
 
 3 
 
 Exud.  xix.  1  to  end 
 
 Exod  XX.  1  to  end 
 
 4 
 
 Gen.  vii .  1  to  end 
 
 Gen.  viii.  1  to  end 
 
 4 
 
 E.xod.  xxii.  1-15,  20-3 
 
 Exod.  xxiii.  1  to  end 
 
 5 
 
 Gen,  ix.J-17 
 
 Gen.  xi.  1-9;  xii.  1-9 
 
 5 
 
 Exod.  xxiv.  1  to  end 
 
 Exod.  xxxi.  1  to  end 
 
 6 
 
 Gen.  xiii.  1  to  end 
 
 Gen.  xiv.  1  to  end 
 
 6 
 
 Exod.  xxxii.  1-24 
 
 Exod.  xxxii.  25-35 ;  xxxiii. 
 
 7 
 
 Gen.  XV.  1-18 
 
 Gen.   xvi.    1-16;    xviii.    1-8, 
 
 7 
 
 Mark  X.  xi. 
 
 Mark  xii.  xiii. 
 
 16-33 
 
 8 
 
 Exod.  xxxiv.  1-28 
 
 Exod.   x.xxiv.   29-35 ;    xxx 
 
 8 
 
 Gen.  xvii.  I  to  end 
 
 Gen.  xxi.  9  to  end 
 
 1-5.20-35 
 
 9 
 
 Gin.  .\xii.  1-19 
 
 Gen.  xxiii.  1  to  end 
 
 9 
 
 Exod.  x.x-xvi.  17;  xl. 
 
 17-38 
 
 Lev.  X.  1  to  end 
 
 10 
 
 Matt.  viii.  ix. 
 
 Mitt.  X.  xi. 
 
 10 
 
 Numb.  ix.  1-14 
 
 Lev.  xvii.  1  to  end 
 
 11 
 
 Gen.  XXV.  7-11,17,18,29-34 
 
 Gen.  xxvi.  1-5,  17-35 
 
 11 
 
 Lev.  xix.  1-18,  23-37 
 
 Lev.  XXV.  1-34 
 
 12 
 
 Gen.  xxvii.  1-29 
 
 Gen.  xxvii.  30  to  end 
 
 12 
 
 Lev.  XXV.  35  to  end 
 
 Lev.  xxvi.  1-20 
 
 13 
 
 Gen.  xxvili.  1  to  end 
 
 Gen.  xxxi.  1-24 
 
 13 
 
 Lev.  xxvi.  21  to  end 
 
 Exod.  xviii.  1-27 
 
 14 
 
 Gen.  xxxi.  25  to  end 
 
 Gen.  xxxii.  1  to  end 
 
 14 
 
 Mjirk  xiv.  XV. 
 
 Mark  xvi.  ;  Lukei. 
 
 15 
 
 Gen.  xxxiii.  1  to  end 
 
 Gen.  XXXV.  1-20 
 
 15 
 
 Norab.  X.  1 1  to  end 
 
 Numb.  xi.  1-23 
 
 16 
 
 Job  i.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  ii.  1  to  end 
 
 16 
 
 Numb.  xi.  24-35  ;  xii. 
 
 1-16 
 
 Numb.  xiii.  1-3,  17  33 
 
 17 
 
 i\!;itt.  xii.  xiii. 
 
 Matt.  xiv.  XV. 
 
 17 
 
 Numb.  xiv.  l-:i9. 
 
 Numb.  xiv.  40-45;  Ps.xc. 
 
 18 
 
 Jot)  lii.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  iv.  1-21;  V.  1,2 
 
 18 
 
 Numb.  XV.  22  to  end 
 
 Nun)b.  xvi.  1-30 
 
 19 
 
 Jul)  V.  3  to  end 
 
 Job  vi.l-L'4 
 
 19 
 
 Numb.  xvi.  31  to  end 
 
 Numb,  xvii.;  xviii.  1-7 
 
 20 
 
 Job  vi.  25-30  ;  vii. 
 
 Job  viii.  I  to  end 
 
 20 
 
 Numb.  XX.  1-21 
 
 Numb.  XX.  22-29;  xxi.  1-1 
 
 21 
 
 Job  ix.  1-31 
 
 Job  ix.  32-35  ;  x. 
 
 21 
 
 Luke  ii.  iii. 
 
 Luke  iv.  v. 
 
 22 
 
 Job  xi.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  xii.  1  to  end 
 
 22 
 
 Numb.  xxi.  19  to  end 
 
 Numb.  xxii.  1  -21 
 
 23 
 
 Job  xiii.  I  to  end 
 
 Job  xiv.  1  to  end 
 
 23 
 
 Numb.  xxii.  22  to  end 
 
 Numb,  xxiii.  1  to  end 
 
 24 
 
 I\latt.  xvi.  xvii. 
 
 Matt,  xviii.  xix. 
 
 24 
 
 Numb.  xxiv.  1  to  end 
 
 Numb   XXV.  1  to  end 
 
 25 
 
 Job  XV.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  xvi.  1  to  end 
 
 25 
 
 Numb,  xxxii.  1-19 
 
 Numb,  xxxii.  20  to  end 
 
 26 
 
 Job  xvii.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  xviii.  1  to  end 
 
 26 
 
 Numb,  xxxiii.  50-56  ; 
 
 xxxiv. 
 
 Numb.  XXXV.  1  to  end 
 
 27 
 
 Job  xix.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  XX.  1  to  end 
 
 1-15 
 
 28 
 
 Job  xxi.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  xxii.  1  to  end 
 
 27 
 
 Deut.  i.  1-21 
 
 Deut.  i.  22  to  end 
 
 ■J9 
 
 Job  xxiii.  I-i7  ;  xxiv.  I 
 
 Job  xxiv.  2  to  end 
 
 28 
 
 Luke  vi.  vii. 
 
 Luke  viii.  ix. 
 
 SO 
 
 Jot)  XXV.  xx^■i. 
 
 Job  xxvii.  1  to  end 
 
 29 
 
 Deut.  ii.  1  -25 
 
 Deut.  ii.  26-37;  iii.  1-17 
 
 31 
 
 Matt.  XX.  x.'ii. 
 
 M.itt.  xxii.  xxiii. 
 
 30 
 31 
 
 Deut.  iii.  18-29  ;  iv.  1 
 Deut.  V.  1-29 
 
 -24 
 
 Deut.  iv.  25  to  end 
 Deut.  V.  30-83;  vi. 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 1 
 
 Jobxxviii.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  xxix.  1  to  end 
 
 1 
 
 Deut.  vii.  1  to  end 
 
 Deut.  viii.  1  to  end 
 
 2 
 
 Job  XXX.  1  to  end 
 
 Jot)  xxxi.  1  to  end 
 
 o 
 
 Deut.  ix.  1-23 
 
 Deut.  ix.  24-29  ;  x. 
 
 3 
 
 Jot)  xxxii.  xxxiii.  1-3 
 
 Job  xxxiii.  4  to  end 
 
 3 
 
 Deut.  xi.  1  to  end 
 
 Deut.  xii.  1  to  end 
 
 4 
 
 Job  xxxiv.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  sxxv.  1  to  end 
 
 4 
 
 Luke  X.  xi. 
 
 Luke  xii.  xiii. 
 
 5 
 
 Job  xxxvi.  1  to  end 
 
 Job  xxxvii.  1  to  end 
 
 5 
 
 Deut.  xiii.  1  to  end 
 
 Deut.  xiv.  1,2,21-29 
 
 6 
 
 Job  xxxviii.  1  -30 
 
 Job   xxxviii.    31-41  ;    xxxix. 
 
 6 
 
 Deut.  XV.  1  to  end 
 
 Deut.  xvi.  1  to  end 
 
 1-12 
 
 7 
 
 Deut.  xvii.  1  to  end 
 
 Deut.  xviii.  1  to  end 
 
 7 
 
 Matt.  xxiv.  XXV. 
 
 Matt.  xxvi.  1  to  end 
 
 8 
 
 Deut.  xix.  1  to  end 
 
 Deut.  XX.  1  to  end 
 
 8 
 
 Job  x.xxix.  14  to  end 
 
 Jot)  xl.  1  to  end 
 
 9 
 
 Deut.  xxvi.  1  to  end 
 
 Deut.  xxvii.  1  to  end 
 
 9 
 
 Job  xli.   1  to  end 
 
 Job  xiii.  1  to  end 
 
 10 
 
 Deut.  xviii.  1-34 
 
 Deut.  xxviii.  35  to  end 
 
 10 
 
 Gen.  xxxvii.  1-22 
 
 Gen.  xxxviii.  23-36;  xxxix. 
 
 11 
 
 Luke  xiv.  xvi. 
 
 Luke  xvii.  xviii. 
 
 1-6. 
 
 12 
 
 Deut.  xxix.  1  to  end 
 
 Deut.  XXX.  1  to  end 
 
 11 
 
 Gen.  xl.  1  to  end 
 
 Gen.  xli.  1-36 
 
 13 
 
 Numb,  xxxvi.  13;  xvii 
 
 12-23 
 
 Deut.  xxxi.  1-21 
 
 12 
 
 Gen.  xli.  37  to  end 
 
 Gen.  xiii.  1-24 
 
 14 
 
 Deut.  xxxi.  22-30  ;  xx-xii.  1-20 
 
 Deut.  xxxii.  21-43 
 
 13 
 
 Gen.  xiii.  25-38,  xliii.  M4 
 
 Gen.  xliii.  15  to  end 
 
 15 
 
 Deut.  xxxii.    44-52  ; 
 
 xxxiii 
 
 Deut.  xxxiii.  18-29;  xxxiv 
 
 14 
 
 Watt,  xxvii.  xxviii. 
 
 Mark  i.  1  to  end 
 
 1-17 
 
 ' 
 
 15 
 
 Gen.  xliv.  1-17 
 
 Gen.  xliv.  18-34;  xiv.  1-15 
 
 16 
 
 Josh.  i.  I  to  end 
 
 Josh.  ii.  1  to  end 
 
 16 
 
 Gen.  xlv.  16-28  ;  xlvi.  1-7 
 
 Gen.  xlvi.  28-34  ;  xlvii.  1-12 
 
 17 
 
 Josh.  iii.  1  to  end 
 
 Josh.  iv.  1  to  end 
 
 17 
 
 Gen.  xlvii.  13  to  end 
 
 Gen.  xlviii.  1  to  end 
 
 18 
 
 Luke  x'x.  XX. 
 
 Luke  xxi.  xxii. 
 
 18 
 
 Gen.  xlix.  1  to  end 
 
 Gen    ).  1  to  end 
 
 19 
 
 Josh.  V.  I  to  end 
 
 Josh.  vi.  1  to  end 
 
 19 
 
 F,xod.  i.  7  to  end 
 
 Exud.  ii.  1  to  end 
 
 20 
 
 Josh.  vii.  1  to  end 
 
 .losh.  viii.  1-29 
 
 20 
 
 Ps.  Ixxxviii. 
 
 Exod.  iii.  1  to  end 
 
 21 
 
 Josh.  ix.  1  to  end 
 
 Josh.  X.  1-27 
 
 21 
 
 Mark  ii.  iii. 
 
 Mark  iv.  v. 
 
 22 
 
 Josh.  X.  28  to  end 
 
 Josh.  xi.  1  to  end 
 
 22 
 
 Exod.  iv.  1-26 
 
 Exod.  iv.  27-31 ;  v. 
 
 23 
 
 Josh.  viii.  30-35;  xxi 
 
 .  1-14 
 
 Josh.  xxii.  15  to  end 
 
 23 
 
 Exod.  vi.  1-13;  vii.  1-13 
 
 Exod.  vii.  14-25;  viii.  1-15 
 
 24 
 
 Josh.  xii.  1-8  ;  xiv.  1- 
 
 15 
 
 Josh.  XV.  1-19 
 
 24 
 
 Exod.  viii.  16-32;  ix.  1-7 
 
 Exod.  Ix.  8  to  end 
 
 25 
 
 Luke  xxiii.  xxiv. 
 
 John  i.  ii. 
 
 25 
 
 Exod.  X.  1-20 
 
 Exod.  xii.  1-20 
 
 26 
 
 Josh.  XX.  xxi.  43-45 
 
 Josh,  xxiii.  1  to  end 
 
 26 
 
 Exod.  X.  21  29;  xl.  1-10 
 
 Exod.  xii.  21  to  enil 
 
 27 
 
 Josh.  xxiv.  1-18 
 
 Josh.  xxiv.  19  to  end 
 
 27 
 
 Exod.  xiii.  1  to  end 
 
 Exod.  xiv.  1-18 
 
 23 
 
 Judg.  i.  1-26 
 
 Judg.  i.  27-36;  ii.  1-13 
 
 28 
 
 Mark  vi.  vii. 
 
 Mark  viii.  ix. 
 
 29 
 
 Judg.  xvii.  1  to  end 
 
 Judg.  xviii.  1  to    ad 
 
 1   30 
 
 Judg.  ii.  14-23;  iii.  1 
 
 4 
 
 Judg.  iii.  5  to  end 
 
THE   SCRIPTURE   DIARY. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 BAY 
 
 MORNING. 
 
 1 
 
 Judg.  iv.  1  to  end 
 
 2 
 
 John  iii.  iv. 
 
 .3 
 
 .ludg.  vi.  1-6;  Ruth  i. 
 
 4 
 
 Ruth  iv.  1-17. 
 
 5 
 
 Judg.  vi.  25  to  end 
 
 6 
 
 Judg.  viii.  29-35;  is.  1-21 
 
 7 
 
 Judg.  X.  1  to  end 
 
 8 
 
 Judg.  xi.  29-40  ;  xii.  1-7 
 
 9 
 
 John  vii.  viii. 
 
 10 
 
 1  Sam  i.  1  to  end 
 
 11 
 
 1  Sam.  iii.  1  to  end 
 
 12 
 
 Judg.  XV.  1-19 
 
 l:i 
 
 Judg.  xvi. ;  XV.  20 
 
 14 
 
 1  Sam.  V.  1  to  end 
 
 13 
 
 1  Sam.  vii.  I  to  end 
 
 Ifi 
 
 John  xi.  xii. 
 
 17 
 
 1  Sam.  ix.  1  to  end 
 
 18 
 
 1  Sam.  xi.  1  to  end 
 
 19 
 
 1  Sam.  xiii.  1  to  end 
 
 20 
 
 1  Sam.  xiv.  24-4!l 
 
 21 
 
 1  Sam.  XV.  24-33  ;  xvi.  1-1 
 
 22 
 
 1  Sam.  xvii.  28-40,53,  36 
 
 23 
 
 John  XV xvii. 
 
 24 
 
 1  Sam.  xviii,  1-4;  Ps.  ix. 
 
 25 
 
 1  Sam.  xviii.  10  to  end 
 
 26 
 
 1  Sam.  xix.  4-17;  Ps.  lix. 
 
 27 
 
 1  Sam.  XX.  24  to  end 
 
 28 
 
 Ps.  xxxiv. 
 
 29  1  Sam.  xxii.  3-19  ;  Ps.  Iii. 
 
 30  John  XX.  xxi. 
 
 31  Ps.  xvii.  cxi. 
 
 Judg.  V.  1  to  end 
 
 John  V.  vi. 
 
 Ruth  ii.  I  to  end 
 
 Judg,  vi.  7-24 
 
 Judg.  vii,  1  to  end 
 
 Judg.  ix.  22  to  end 
 
 Judg.  xi.  1-28 
 
 Judg.  xiii.  1  to  end 
 
 John  ix.  X. 
 
 1  Sam.  ii.  1-21 
 
 Judg.  xiv.  1  to  end 
 
 1  Sam.  ii.  22  to  end 
 
 1  Sara.  iv.  1  to  end 
 
 1  Sam.  vi.  1  to  end 
 
 1  Sam.  viii.  1  to  end 
 
 John  xiii.  xiv. 
 
 1  Sam.  X.  ]  to  end 
 
 1  Sam.  xii.  1  to  end 
 
 1  Sam.  xiv.  1-23 
 
 1  Sara.  XV.  1-23 
 
 1  Sam.  xvii.  1-27 
 
 1  Sam.  xvii.  41-54,  57,  58 
 
 John  xviii.  xix, 
 
 1  Sara,  xviii.  5-9;  xvi.  14-23 
 
 1  Sam.  xix.  13;  P3.  xi. 
 
 1  Sam.  xix.  18-24;  xx.  1-23 
 
 1  Sam.  xxi ;  Ps.  Ivi. 
 
 1  Sam.  xxii.  1,2;  xxiii.16-18; 
 
 Ps.  ex  Iii. 
 Ps.  cix. 
 Acts  i.  ii. 
 Ps.  XXXV.  Ixiv. 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 1  1  Sara.  xxii.  20  23;    xxlii.  I- 
 
 12 ;  Ps.  xxxi. 
 
 2  1  Sara,  ixiii.  29  ;  xxiv. 
 
 3  1  Sara.  XXV.  1-31 
 
 4  1  Sam.  xxvii.  ;  Ps.  cxli. 
 
 5  1  Sam.  xxix.  xxi.  1-25 
 
 6  Acts  iii.  iv. 
 
 7  2  Sam.  i.  1  to  end 
 
 8  2  Sam.  iii.  12  to  end 
 
 9  Ps.  cxxxix. 
 10  2  Sam.  vi.  1-11  ;  Ps.  Ixviii. 
 
 U  2  Sam.  vi.  12-19;    1  Chr.  xv. 
 15-29  ;  xvi.  1-6 
 
 12  Ps.  XLvi.  cvi. 
 
 13  Acts  vii.  viii, 
 
 14  Ps.  ii.  xliv. 
 
 15  Ps.  cxviii,  ex. 
 
 16  Ps.  Ix.  cviii. 
 
 17  Ps.  XI.  xxi. 
 
 18  Ps.  xxxii.  xxxiii. 
 
 19  2  Sam.  xiii,  21-39;  xiv.  1-7 
 
 20  Acts  xi.xii, 
 
 21  2  Sara.  xv.  1-29 
 
 22  2  Sara.  xvi.  1-14;  Ps.  vii. 
 
 23  Ps.  xiii.  xliii.  Iv. 
 
 24  Ps.  cxliii.  cxliv. 
 
 25  2  Sara,  xviii.  1  to  end 
 
 26  2  Sara.  xix.  31-43;  xx.  1-15 
 
 27  Acts  XV.  xvi. 
 
 28  2  Sara.  xxi.  15-22  ;  xxii.  1-20 
 
 29  2Sam.xxiv.  1-17  ;  1  Chr.  xxi. 
 
 17-30;  Ps.  30 
 •.iO       1  Kings  i.  15-40 
 
 JULY. 
 
 1  Ps.  xci.  cxlv. 
 
 2  Ps.  Ixi.  Ixv.  Ixix. 
 
 3  Ps.  Ixxviii,  40  to  end 
 
 4  1  Thes.  i,  ii. 
 
 5  Ps.  xix.  xxiii.  xxiv. 
 
 6  Ps.  ixxxvi.  xcv.  ci. 
 
 7  Ps.  cxxi.  cxxii.  cxxiv.  cxxxi. 
 
 8  Pa.ixxii,;  1  Chr.  xxix.  20-25 
 
 1  Sam.  xxiii.  13-28;  Ps.  liv. 
 
 Ps.  Ivii,  Iviii.  Ixlii. 
 
 1  Sam.  XXV.  32-44;  xxvi. 
 
 1  Sam.  xxviii.  1  to  end 
 
 1  Sam.xxxi.  ;  2Chr.x.  13, 14 
 Acts  v.  vi. 
 
 2  Sara.  ii.  1  to  end 
 2  Sara.  iv.  v.  1-3;  1  Chr.  xiii. 
 
 i-4 
 2  Sam.  V.  4-25  ;  1  Chr.  xiv.  1 7 
 1  Chr.  XV.    1-3,   11-14;    Ps. 
 
 cxxxii. 
 
 1  Chr.  xvi.  7  to  end 
 
 2  Sara.  vi.  20-23;  vii. 
 Acts  ix.  X. 
 Ps.  xxii.  xvi. 
 
 2  Sara.viii.;  1  Kingsxi.  15-20 
 2  Sara.  ix.  x. 
 2  Sam.  xii.  1-15;  Ps- H- 
 p6.  ciii.  ;  2  Sara.  xii.  15  to  end 
 2Sam.xiv.  15-17,8-14,18-33 
 Acts  xiii.  xiv. 
 Ps.  iii.;  2  Sam.  x v.  30-37 
 2  Sara,  xvi,  15-23;    xvii. 
 Ps.  iv.  V.  Ixii. 
 Ps.  Ixx.  Ixxi. 
 2  Sam.  xix.  1-30 
 2  Sara.  XX.  16-22;    xxi.  1-14 
 Acts  xvii.  xviii. 
 2  Sam.  xxii.  21  to  end 
 1  Chr.  xxii.  1-19 
 
 1  Kings  I.  4 1  -  53  ;  I  Chr.  xxviii. 
 1-10 
 
 J  UL  Y  —con  t  m  ued. 
 
 Ps.  xl.  xii. 
 Ps.  Ixxviii.  1-39 
 p8.  vi.  viii.  xii. 
 1  Thes.  iii.  iv. 
 Ps.  xxviii.  xxix.  xxxix. 
 Ps.  civ.  cxx. 
 
 Ps.  cxxxiii. ;  1  Chr.xxix.  1-19 
 
 1  Kin.  ii.  1-11  ;  2  Sura,  xxiii. 
 
 1-7  ;  1  Chr.  xxix.  26-30 
 
 9       2  Chr.  i.  1-6  ;  1  Kings  iii.  3-15 
 10       1  Kin.  V.  1-12  ;  2  Chr.  ii.  3-16 
 
 1  Thes.  V.  vi. 
 
 2  Chr.  V.  vii.  4-7 
 
 2  Chr.  vi.  22  to  end ;  1  Kings 
 
 viii.  50-62 
 Ps.  xcviii. — c 
 2  Chr.  vii.  11-22;  1  Kin.  ix. 
 
 10-14 
 I  Kin^iv.  29-33;  Prov.  i. 
 Prov.  iv.  V. 
 Acts  xix.;  1  Cor.  i. 
 Prov.  vii.  1  to  end 
 Prov.  ix.  X. 
 Prov.  xiii.  xiv. 
 Prov.  xvii.  xviii. 
 Piov.  xxi.  1  to  end 
 Prov.  xxiv.  XXV. 
 1  Cor.  v.  vi. 
 Prov.  xxviii.  xxix, 
 Prov.  xxxi.  I  to  end 
 Eecles.  i.  ii. 
 Eccles.  v.  vi. 
 Eecles.  viii.  ix. 
 Eccles.  xii.  :  1  Kin.  xi.  41-43 
 
 I  Kings  ii.  13-38;  xi.21,22 
 
 1  Kings  v.  1j-I8;  ii.  39-46; 
 
 2  Chr.  ii.  17,  18 
 
 2  Thes.  i.  ii. 
 
 2  Chr.  vi.  1-21 
 
 2  Chr.  vii,  1-10;  Ps.xlvii.  97 
 
 Ps.  cxxxv.  cxxxvi. 
 
 1  Kiugs  X.  14  29  ;  iv.  34;  x. 
 
 1-13 
 Prov.  ii.  iii. 
 Prov.  vi.  1  to  end 
 1  Cor.  ii. — iv. 
 Prov.  viii.  1  to  end 
 Prov.  xi.  xii. 
 Prov.  XV.  xvi, 
 Prov.  xix.  XX. 
 Prov.  xxii.  xxiii. 
 Prov.  xxvi.  xxvii. 
 1  Cor.  vii.  viii. 
 Prov.  XXX.  I  to  end 
 1  Kings  xi.  1-14,  23-40 
 Eccles.  iii.  iv. 
 Eccles.  vii.  1  to  end 
 Eccles.  X.  xi. 
 1  Kings  xii.  1-24 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 1  Cor.  ix.  X.  1  Cor.  xi.  xii. 
 
 2  Chr.  xi,  13-23;  xii.  2-16        1  Kings  xii.  25-33;  xiii. 
 
 2  Chr.  xiii.  1-21 ;    1  Kin.  xiv.   2  Chr.  xiv. ;  1  Kings  xv.  9-16 
 3-8 
 
 2  Chr.  XV. ;  1  Kin.  xv.  16-22 
 1  Kings  xvi.  1  to  end 
 
 2  Chr.  xviii.  I,  2; 
 
 Ps.  Ixxxli. 
 Pa.  cxv.  xlvi. 
 
 xix.  1-7 
 
 1  Cor.  xiii.  xiv. 
 
 I  Kings  xvii.  1  to  end 
 
 1  Kings  xix.  1  to  end 
 
 1  Kings  xxi.  1  to  end 
 
 2  Kings  i.  ii. 
 2  Kings  iv.  1  lo  end 
 
 2  Kings  vi.  1-23 ;  1  Chr.  xxi.  2  Kings  vi.  24-33  ;  vh. 
 Acts  XX. ;   I  Tira.  i.  1  Tim.  ii.  iii. 
 
 2  Kin.  viii.  1-6;    2  Chr.  xxii.    2  Kiugs  viii.  7-15  ;  ix. 
 1-9 
 
 1  Kings  xiv.  XV.  25  to  end 
 
 1  Kings  xxii.   41-47;   2  Chr. 
 
 xvii.  2-19 
 
 2  Chr.  xix.  8-11;  xx.  1-26 
 
 2  Chr.  XX.  27-37 ;  1  Kin.  xxii. 
 
 45,50 
 I  Cor.  XV.  xvi. 
 1  Kings  xviii.  1  to  end. 
 1  Kings  XX.  I  to  end 
 
 1  Kings  xxii.  1-40 
 
 2  Kings  iii.  1  to  end 
 2  Kings  v.  1  to  end 
 
 IV 
 
 2  Kings  X.  1-28;  2  Chr.  xxiii. 
 
 2  Kin.  xii.  1-21 ;  2  Chr.  xxiv. 
 
 1-15 
 
 1-27 
 
 18 
 
 2  Kings  I.  30-36;  xiii. 
 
 I  Kings  xiv.  ;  2  Chr.  xxv. 
 
 19 
 
 2  Chr.  xxvi.  1-15;  Joel  i. 
 
 Joel  ii .  iii. 
 
 20 
 
 2Ch.x.\vi.  16-22;Is.  i.  1; 
 
 vi. 
 
 Isa.  ii.  iii.  1-13 
 
 21 
 
 Isa.  iv.   v.  ;   2  Chr.  xxvi. 
 
 22 
 
 2  Kings  xiv.  23-27  ;    Hos.  i. 
 
 23 
 
 1  ;  ii. 
 
 22 
 
 1  Tim.  iv.— vi. 
 
 Titus  i.  ii. 
 
 23 
 
 Amos  i.  ii. 
 
 Amos  iii.  iv. 
 
 24 
 
 Amos  v.  vi. 
 
 Amos  vii. ;  Jonah  i. 
 
 25 
 
 Jonah  ii, — iv. 
 
 2  Kin.  xiv.  2^;  Amos  viii.  ix. 
 
 ■26 
 
 2  Kings  xiv,;   Ho3.  iv. 
 
 2Kin.xv.8.33;  2Ch.xxvii.  1 
 
 27 
 
 Micah  i.  ii. 
 
 2  Kings  xvi.  1-5  ;  Isa.  vii. 
 
 28 
 
 Isa.  viii.  ix. 
 
 Isa.  X.  1-4  ;  xvii. 
 
 29 
 
 Titus  iii.  ;  2  Cor.  i. 
 
 2  Cor.  ii.  iii. 
 
 30 
 
 2Chr.  xxviii.  4-19;  Obad 
 
 Isa.  i.  2  to  end 
 
 31 
 
 2  Kings  xvi.  6-9  ;  Isa.  xxviii. 
 
 2  Chr.  xxviii.  20-25 ;  2  Kin. 
 
 xvi.  10-18 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 1  Hosea  v.  and  vi. 
 
 2  2  Chr.  XXX.  1  to  end 
 
 3  Isa.  xvi.  ;  aud  Mic.  iii.  iv. 
 
 4  Mic.  vii. ;  Isa.  xvii. 
 
 5  2  Cor.  iv.  v. 
 
 6  Nah.  ii.  iii.  ;  Isa.  xxiii. 
 
 7  Isa,  xi.  xii. 
 
 8  l*a.  xxiv.  xxv. 
 
 9  Isa.  xxii.  1-14  ;  xxii. ;  2  Chi 
 
 xxxii.  1-8 
 
 10  Isa.  XXX.  xxxi. 
 
 11  Isa.  xxxiii.  xxxiv. 
 
 2  Chr.  xxix.  3  to  end 
 
 2  Chr.  xxxi. ;  Isa.  xv. 
 
 Mic.  V.  and  vi. 
 
 Isa.  xix.  ;  Nah.  i. 
 
 2  Cor.  vi.  vii. 
 
 Isa.  X.  5  to  end 
 
 Isa.  xiii.  xiv.  1-27 
 
 Isa.  xxvi.  xxvii. 
 
 2  Kin.  xviii.    13-16;  Isa.  xx. 
 
 xxix. 
 2  Kin,  XX.  1-11  ;  Is,  xxxii. 
 Is.  XXXV.  xxxviii.  9-20 
 
THE  SCRIPTURE   DIARY. 
 
 SEPTEMBER— condnMPrf. 
 
 12 
 13 
 
 14 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 n 
 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 27 
 
 28 
 
 29 
 30 
 
 2  Cor.  viii.  ix. 
 
 2  Kin.  XX.  12-19;  2Ch.xxxii. 
 
 9-22 
 Pa.  xliv.  ;  2  Kin.  xix.  8-19 
 Ps.  !xxv.  Ixxvi. ;  2  Kin.  xix. 
 
 36,  37 
 Isa.  xlii.  xliii. 
 Isa.  xlvi.  xlvi. 
 Isa.  xlix.  1 
 2  Cor.  xii.  xiii. 
 Isa.  liii.  liv. 
 Isa.  Ivii.  Ivlli. 
 Isa.  Ixi.-lxiii. 
 
 Isa.  kvi.2  Clir.  xxxii.  27-33- 
 Hos.  ix.-xi. 
 
 Hos.  xiv. ;  2  Kin.  xvii.  5-23. 
 Rom.  ii.  iii. 
 Is.  xxii.  15-25;  2  Clir.  sxxiii. 
 
 11-20 
 2  Kin.  xxi.  19-26;  xxu.  62; 
 
 2  Chr.  xxxiv.  3-7 
 Jcr.  iii.  1-5  ;  2  Oil.  xxxiv.  8-32 
 Zeph.  iii.  ;  2  Kin.  xxiii.  4-20 
 
 2  Cor.  X.  xi. 
 
 2  Kin.  xviii.  17-37;  xix.  1-7 
 
 Ps.  Ixxiii.  ;  2  Kin.  xix.  20-35. 
 Isa.  xl.  xli. 
 
 Isa.  xliv.  XIV. 
 
 Isa.  xlvii.  xlviii. 
 
 Isa.  li.  Iii. 
 
 Rom.  i.  1  to  end 
 
 Isa.  Iv.  Ivi. 
 
 Isa.  lix.  Ix. 
 
 Isa.  Ixiv.  Ixv. 
 
 2  Kin.  xvii.  3,  4  ;  Hos.  vii.  viii. 
 
 Hos.  xii.  xiii. 
 
 2  Kin. xviii.  9-12;  xxi.  1-16 
 
 Rora.  iv.  1  to  end 
 
 2Kin.x.\i.  17-18;  xvii.  24-41 
 
 Jer.  i.  ii. 
 
 Zepb.  i.  ii. 
 
 2Ch.  XXXV.  1-19;  Jer.  iii.  6  25 
 
 NOVEARER. 
 
 EVENING. 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 1 
 
 Jer.  iv.  V. 
 
 2 
 
 Hab.  ii.  iii. 
 
 3 
 
 1  Cor.  V.  vi. 
 
 4 
 
 Jer.  ix.  X. 
 
 5 
 
 Jer.  xii.;  2  Cbr.  xxxv. 20-27 
 
 6 
 
 Jer.  xiv.  xv. 
 
 7 
 
 Jer.  xviii.  xix. 
 
 8 
 
 Jer.  ixvi.  xlvi.  1-12 
 
 9 
 
 Jer.  xxxvi.  1-8  ;  xiv. 
 
 10 
 
 Rom.  viii.  1  to  end 
 
 11 
 
 Jer.  xxxvi.  9  to  end 
 
 Jer. 
 
 12  Jer.  xxiii.  1  to  end 
 
 13  Jer.  xxiv.  xxix.  1-14 
 
 14  Jer.  xxxi.  1  to  end 
 
 15  Jer.  xlviii.  1  to  end 
 
 16  Jer.  1.  1  to  end 
 
 17  Rom.  X.  1  to  end 
 
 18  2  Chron.  xxxvi.   11-21 
 
 xxxvii.  1-4 
 
 19  Jer. xxxiii.  x-xxvii.  5. 
 
 20  Jer.  xxxiv.  11-21;  xxxvii.  11- 
 
 21 
 
 21  Jer.  xxxix.  3, 10-14;  111.  5-16, 
 
 24-27 
 
 22  Ps.  Ixxxiii.  xciv. 
 
 23  Lam.  ii.  1  to  end 
 
 24  Rom.  xii.  1  to  end 
 
 25  Dan.  i.  8-21  ;  Ezek.  i. 
 
 26  Ezek.  iv.  v. 
 
 27  Ezek.  viii.ix. 
 
 28  Ezek.  xii.  xiii. 
 
 29  Ezek.  xvl.  1  to  end 
 aO  Ezek.  xviii.  1  to  end 
 31  Rom.  xiv.  1  to  end 
 
 Jer.  vi. ;  Hab.  i. 
 Jer.  vii.  viii. 
 
 1  Cor.  vii. 
 Jer.  xi-  1  to  end 
 
 2  Kin.  xxiii.  31-37  ;  Jer.  xiii. 
 Jer.  xvi.  xvii. 
 
 Jer.  XX-  xxii.  1-23 
 Jer.  XX.XV.  25 
 2Kin.xxiv.l-4;  2  Cb.  xxxvi. 
 
 6,  7  ;  Deu.  i.  17 
 Rom.  ix.  1  to  end 
 2  Kin-  xxiv.  1-9;  Jer.  xxii. 
 
 24-30 
 2  Kin.  xxiv.   10-16  ;  2  Chr. 
 
 xxxvi.  9,  10;  Jer.  Hi.  1-3 
 Jer.  xxix.  15-32  ;  xxx. 
 Jer.  xxvii.  xxviii. 
 Jer.  xlix.  1  to  end 
 Jer.  li.  1  to  end 
 Rom.  xi.  1  to  end 
 Jer.  xxxiv.  1-10;  ixxii. 
 
 Jer.  xlvii.  xxxvii.  6-10 
 Jer.  xxi.  xxxviii. 
 
 Ps.  Ixxix.  Ixxiv. 
 
 Lam.  i.  ii. 
 Lam.  iv.  v. 
 Rom.  xiii.  1  to  end 
 Ezek.  ii.  iii. 
 Ezek.  vi.  vii. 
 Ezek.  X.  xi. 
 Ezek.  xiv.  xv. 
 Ezek.  xvii.  1  to  end 
 Ezek.  xix.  xx. 
 Rom.  XV.  1  to  end 
 
 1  Ezek.  xxi.  xxii. 
 
 2  Ezek.  xxix.  1- 16 ;  xxx.  20-26 
 
 3  2  Kings  XXV.  22  ;  Jer.  xl. 
 
 4  Jer.  xliii. ;  xlvi.  13-28 
 
 5  Ezek.  xxxiii.  21-33;  xxv. 
 
 6  Ezek.  xxviii,  xxxii. 
 
 7  Rom.  xvi.  1  to  end 
 
 8  Ezek.  xxxv.  xxxvi- 
 
 9  Ezek.  xxxix.  1  to  end 
 10  Ezek.  xliv-  1  to  end 
 n  Ezek.  xlvii.  xxx. 
 
 12  Dan.  iii.  I  to  end 
 
 13  Dan.  vii.  ;  Ps.  exxxvii. 
 
 14  Acts  xxii.  I  to  end 
 
 15  Ps.  xxxvii.  Ixvii. 
 
 16  Ps.  xiii. — XV.  xxv. 
 
 17  Ps.  txxxix.  1  to  end 
 
 18  Dan.  v.  1  to  end 
 
 19  Ps.  cii.;  Dan.  vi. 
 
 20  Ez.  iii.  1-7;  Ps.  cvii. 
 
 21  Acts  xxiv.  xxv. 
 
 22  Ps.  cxvi.  cxvii.  cxxv.  cxxvii. 
 
 23  Ps.  Ixxxiv.  Ixvi. ;  Ez.  iv.  1-5 
 
 24  Dan.  xi.  1  to  end 
 
 25  Ez-v.2;  Hag.i.  12-15;  ii.1-9 
 
 26  Zecb.  ii. — iv. 
 
 27  Ez.vi.  1-13  ;  Ps.l38 ;  Zecb. vii. 
 
 28  Acts  xxvii.  xxviii. 
 
 29  Ps.  xlviii.  Ixxxi.  cxlvi. 
 
 30  Ez.  iv.  6-23;  Esth.  i.  1-12 
 
 Ezek.  xxiv.  1  to  end 
 
 Ezek.  xxxi.;  2  Kin.  xxv.  23-26 
 
 Jer,  xii-  xlii. 
 
 Jer.  xliv.  Iii.  28-30 
 
 Ezek.  xxvi.  xxvii. 
 
 Ezek.  xxxiii.  1-20;  xxxiv. 
 
 Acts  xxx.  I  to  end 
 
 Ezek-  xxxvii.  xxxviii. 
 
 Ezek.  xliii.  I  to  end 
 
 Ezek.  xiv.  xlvi. 
 
 Dan.  ii.  1  to  end 
 
 Dan.  iv.;  Jer.  Iii.  30-34- 
 
 Ps.  cxxx.  Ixxx.  Ixxvii. 
 
 Acts  xxiii.  1  to  end 
 
 Ps.  xlix.  Iii.  1.  X. 
 
 Ps.  xxvi.  xxvii.  xxxvi. 
 
 Ps.  xcii.  xciii.  csxiii. 
 
 Dan-  viii-  ix. 
 
 Ez.  i.  1-4;  Ps.  cxxvi.  Ixxxv. 
 
 Ps.  Ixxxii.  cxi. — cxiv. 
 
 Acts  xxvi.  1  to  end 
 
 Ps.  128,  134;  Ez-  iii-  8-13 
 
 Ez.  iv.  24  ;  Ps.  exxi.x.;  Dan.x. 
 
 Dan.xii. ;  Ez.v.l;  Has.i.l-ll 
 
 Zecb.  i.;  Hag.  ii.  10-23 
 
 Zecb.  V.  vi.  ;  Ez.  v.  3  to  end 
 
 Zecb.  viii.;  Ez.  vi.  14  to  end 
 
 Gal.  i — iv. 
 
 Ps.  cxlvii cl.  [ii.  15-20 
 
 Ez. vii.  6-28;  viii.  15-36;  Est. 
 
 1-17 
 
 Ez.  ix.  X. 
 
 Zecb.  xi-  xii. 
 
 Estber  ii.  21-23;  iii. 
 
 Esther  vii.  viii. 
 
 Gal.  V.  vi. ;  2  Tim.  i.  ii. 
 
 Neb.  ii.iv. 
 
 Neb.  vii.  1-7;  viii. 
 
 Neb.  iv.  24  to  end 
 
 Neh-xi.  1-4,22-24 
 
 Neb.  xii.  38-47 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  1-16 
 
 Epb.  iv.  vi. ;  Pbil.  i.  ii. 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  35-48 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  65-80 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  97-100 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  129-144 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  161-176 
 
 Mai.  ii-  1  to  end 
 
 Col.  iv. ;  Phil.;Heb.i. 
 
 Neb.  xiii.  4-22 
 
 Mai.  iii. ;  Neb.  xii.  22-26 
 
 Heb-  X   xii. 
 
 1  Peter  i V. 
 
 1  John  i — V. 
 
 Rev.  i.  ii. 
 
 Rev.  V vii. 
 
 Rev.  xi.— xiii. 
 
 Rev.  xiii-  1  to  end 
 
 Rev.  xvi.  1  to  end 
 
 Rev.  xix.  1  to  end 
 
 Rev.  xxi-  1  to  end 
 
 DECEiMBER. 
 
 Zecb.  ix.  X. 
 
 Zecb.  xiii.  xiv. 
 
 Estb.  iv.  vi. 
 
 Estb.  ix.  X.;  Neb.  i._ 
 
 2  Tim.  iii.  iv. ;  Eph.  i.  iii. 
 
 Neb.  V.  vi. 
 
 Neb.  ix.  1  to  end 
 
 Neb.  X.  28  to  end 
 
 Neb.  xii.  1-9,  27-37 
 
 Neb.  xiii.  1-3;  Ps.  i. 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  17-30 
 
 Pbil.  iii.  iv- ;  Col.  i.  iii. 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  49-64 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  81-96 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  101-128 
 
 Ps-  cxix.  145-160 
 
 l\Ial.  i.  1  to  end 
 
 Mai.  iii-  1-15 
 
 Heb.  ii.  vi. 
 
 Neb.  xiii. 23-31;  Ma.iii.lfi-18 
 
 Heb.  vii.  ix. 
 
 Heb.  xiii.  ;  Jam.  i. — v. 
 
 2  Pet.  i iii.  ;  Jude 
 
 2  John  ;  3  John 
 Rev.  iii.  iv. 
 Rev.  viii.  ix. 
 Rev-  xii.  1  to  end 
 Rev-  xiv.  XV. 
 Rev.  xvii.  xviii. 
 Rev.  XX.  1  to  end 
 Rev.  xxii.  1  to  end 
 
NAMES    AND     ORDER 
 
 OF   ALL   THE 
 
 BOOKS    OF   THE    OLD    AND    NEW    TESTAMENT, 
 
 THE  NUMBER  OF  THEIR  CHAPTERS. 
 
 THE   BOOKS   OF   THE   OLD   TESTAMENT. 
 
 GENESIS  hath  Chapters 
 EXODUS 
 LEVITICUS.. 
 NUMBERS     .. 
 DEUTERONOMY 
 
 JOSHUA 
 
 JUDGES 
 
 RUTH      
 
 I.  SAMUEL   ... 
 
 II.  SAMUEL... 
 
 I.  KINGS        ... 
 
 II.  KINGS      ... 
 L   CHRONICLES 
 
 liapters 
 
 ..     50 
 
 II.   CHRONICLES      ... 
 
 ..     36 
 
 DANIEL 
 
 12 
 
 ..     40 
 
 EZRA       
 
 ..     10 
 
 ROSEA 
 
 ;4 
 
 ..    27 
 
 NEHEMIAH 
 
 ,.     13 
 
 JOEL        
 
 3 
 
 ..     36 
 
 ESTHER        
 
 ..     10 
 
 AiMOS       
 
 9 
 
 ..    34 
 
 JOB     
 
 ..     42 
 
 OBADIAH     
 
 1 
 
 ..    24 
 
 PSALMS 
 
 ..  150 
 
 JONAH    
 
 4 
 
 ..     21 
 
 PROVERBS 
 
 ..     31 
 
 MICAH 
 
 7 
 
 ..       4 
 
 ECCLESIASTES 
 
 ..     12 
 
 NAHUM 
 
 3 
 
 ..     31 
 
 SONG   OF  SOLOMON 
 
 ..      8 
 
 HABAKKUK        ... 
 
 3 
 
 ..     24 
 
 ISAIAH 
 
 ..    66 
 
 ZEPHANIAH       ... 
 
 3 
 
 22 
 
 JEREMIAH 
 
 ..    52 
 
 HAGGAI        
 
 2 
 
 ..     25 
 
 LAMENTATIONS      ... 
 
 5 
 
 ZECHARIAH       ... 
 
 14 
 
 S 
 
 ..    -29 
 
 EZEKIEL       
 
 ..    48 
 
 MALACHI     
 
 4 
 
 THE   BOOKS   OF   THE   NEW   TESTAMENT. 
 
 MATTHEW  hath  Chapters...  28 
 
 MARK     16 
 
 LUKE       24 
 
 JOHN 21 
 
 THE  ACTS    28 
 
 EPISTLE  TO  THE  ROMANS  16 
 
 L  CORINTHIANS     16 
 
 IL   CORINTHIANS 13 
 
 GALATIANS       6 
 
 EPHESIANS 
 
 PHILIPPIANS       
 
 COLOSSIANS 
 
 L  THESSALONIANS... 
 IL  THESSALONIANS 
 
 I.  TIMOTHY 
 
 IL  TIMOTHY        
 
 TITUS       
 
 PHILEMON    
 
 ...     6 
 
 TO  THE  HEBREWS 
 
 .     13 
 
 ...     4 
 
 EPISTLE  OF  JAMES      . 
 
 .      5 
 
 ...     4 
 
 L  PETER       
 
 .       5 
 
 ..     5 
 
 IL  PETER    
 
 .      3 
 
 ...     3 
 
 L  JOHN 
 
 5 
 
 ..     6 
 
 II.  JOHN       
 
 1 
 
 ...     4 
 
 III.  JOHN      
 
 1 
 
 ...     3 
 
 JUDE       
 
 .       i 
 
 ...     1 
 
 REVELATION    
 
 .    22 
 
 IXX) 
 
'  '.  ''iLiJ^SyhA'^h'^^  'df  ^iflSlMldME  V3E<GEX&3riIO&'. 
 
 TAMAHINIJ 
 
 vvii.t)  i;i!.\ri:s 
 
 'I'.ll.UI 
 MKION'S 
 
THE     FIRST  "b'OOK     OF     iVlO^"'i^S, 
 
 ^\ 
 
 GEN  E:B.L'S. 
 
 I*- 
 
 V  v.- 
 
 GENESIS,  (called  in  the  Hebrew,  jrrKTa,  or,  in  the  beginning;  in  the  Septuagint, or  Greek  vsa-siotj  l|EV€J!5fiiji«u'/a*J*i, ) 
 the  beginning  or  original,  that  is.  of  the  woild.  The  history  begins  -1004  years  before  the  ete^_nan-^rra. "^Gsrlesis  :s 
 continued  to  the  death  of  Joseph,  about  713  years  after  the  deluge,  or  2369  from  the  creation.  "'fSS'Sfid  the  four 
 following  books  form  the  Pentateuch,  or  five  Books  of  Moses.  Jews,  Greeks,  and  Christians  have  ascribed  these  books 
 to  Moses.      Our  Lord  evidently  refers  ta  them  as  his  writings — Luke,  xvi.  '29  ;  Mark,  xii.  26  ;  John,  v.  46,  47.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  The  creation  of  heaven  and  earth,  3  of  the  light,  6 
 of  the  Jirmament,  9  of  the  earth  separated  from  the 
 waters,  11  and  made  fruitful,  W  of  the  sun,  moon, 
 and  stars,  20  of  Jish  and  fowl,  24  of  beasts  and 
 cattle,  26  of  man  in  the  image  of  God.  29  Also  the 
 appointment  of  food. 
 
 TN  the  '  beginning  ^  God  created  the  heaven 
 -•-  aiid  the  earth. 
 
 2  And  the  earth  was  without  form  and  void  ; 
 and  darkness  ttas  upon  the  face  of  the  deep. 
 ""  And  the  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon  the  face 
 of  the  waters. 
 
 3  ''  And  God  said,  '  Let  there  be  light :  and 
 there  was  light. 
 
 4  And  God  saw  the  light,  *hat  it  icas  good  : 
 and  God  divided  f  the  light  trom  the  darkness. 
 
 o  And  God  called  the  light  '  Day,  and  the 
 darkness  he  called  Night,  f  And  the  evening 
 and  the  morning  were  the  first  day. 
 
 6  t  And  God  said,  ^  Let  there  be  a  f  firma- 
 ment in  the  midst  of  the  waters,  and  let  it 
 divide  the  waters  from  the  waters. 
 
 7  And  God  made  tlie  firmament,  "and  divided 
 the  waters  which  ivere  under  the  firmament 
 from  the  waters  which  were  '  above  the  firma- 
 ment :  and  it  was  so. 
 
 8  And  God  called  the  firmament  Heaven. 
 And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were  the 
 second  day. 
 
 9  t  And  God  said,  '  Let  the  waters  under  the 
 heaven  be  gathered  together  unto  one  place, 
 and  let  the  dry  land  appear  :  and  it  was  so. 
 
 10  And  God  called  the  dry  li/iid  Earth  ;  and 
 the  gathering  together  of  the  waters  called  he 
 
 oj.hnl  1,2. 
 
 Heb.  1.  10. 
 4  Ps.  9.  3   & 
 
 S3.  C.  «.  S9. 
 
 11,1^  &10-;. 
 
 2J.  &  l;)B  5. 
 
 &  M6.  6.  Is. 
 
 «.  24.  Jer, 
 
 10.  \2.k  SI. 
 
 l5.Zech.l^. 
 
 1.  ^cts  14. 
 
 15  &  17-  24. 
 
 Col.!.lC,l7. 
 
 Heb.  11.  3. 
 
 Hev.   4.  11. 
 
 >k  10.  6. 
 c  Ps.  S3.  6. 
 
 Is.  40. 13.14. 
 ■  I  I's.  33  9. 
 c  2  C.r.  4.  0. 
 t  Heb.  be- 
 
 tJceen    the 
 
 I  g'll  and 
 
 bftiecf/i  the 
 
 dnrk'..t,. 
 /Ps.  74.  16. 
 
 &  l'J4.  20. 
 t  Heb.   .ind 
 
 wo,,.i„:i  l/,e 
 m"riiinsu'is. 
 ;?.I..b37.  18 
 
 Ps.  i:>lj.  5. 
 
 Jei.  111.  12. 
 
 &  .'il.  15. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 c.r/,n  »,<.««. 
 h  Piov  R.28. 
 i  Ps.  119.4 
 A  J.>b  26.  10. 
 
 &  *l.  S.  Pa. 
 
 33.  7.  &  95. 
 
 5.  &  104.  9. 
 
 &  1S6.  6. 
 
 Pi-ni-.  8.  29. 
 
 .ler  5.  22. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  5. 
 I 
 
 B.C.  4004. 
 
 1  Heb.  6.  7. 
 t  Heb.  tfn- 
 dfT  f/raa. 
 mLuke  t.-M. 
 
 nDcut.4.i9. 
 Ps.  74.  10. 
 &  1.16  7. 
 
 t  Heb.  be- 
 Iwfen  the  dny 
 and   belunea 
 itie  night, 
 
 0  Ps.  74  17. 
 ?i  lO-I.  19. 
 
 p  Ps.  136.  7, 
 
 8,  9.  &  148. 
 
 .3,  5, 
 t  Heb.  far 
 
 ll<t   rH/<  0/ 
 
 the  day. 
 q  Ps   S.  3. 
 r  Job  38.  7. 
 t  Jer.  SI.  35. 
 
 (2Esil.6.47. 
 iiOr,crw/'i''ii/. 
 t  Heb.  ii>,il. 
 t  Heb.  let 
 
 f  Heb./ic. 
 e/  ihtjttma- 
 menl  afhta- 
 
 u  cli'.  6.  20.  & 
 7  t4.&a,19. 
 Ps.  104.  26 
 
 Seas :  and  God  saw  that  it  was  good. 
 
 11  And  God  said.  Let  the  earth  '  bring  forth 
 t  grass,  the  herb  yielding  seed,  and  the  fruit 
 tree  yielding  '"  fruit  after  his  kind,  whose  seed 
 15  in  itself,  upon  the  earth :  and  it  was  so. 
 
 12  And  the  earth  brought  forth  grass,  and 
 herb  yielding  seed  after  his  kind,  and  the  tree 
 yielding  fruit,  whose  seed  uas  in  itself,  after 
 his  kind  :  and  God  saw  that  it  was  good. 
 
 13  And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were 
 the  third  day. 
 
 14  f  And  God  said,  Let  there  be  "  lights  in 
 the  firmament  of  the  heaven  to  divide  f  the  day 
 from  the  night ;  and  let  them  be  for  signs,  and 
 °  for  seasons,  and  for  days,  and  years  : 
 
 13  And  let  them  be  for  lights  in  the  firma- 
 ment of  the  heaven  to  give  light  upon  the 
 earth  :  and  it  was  so. 
 
 16  And  God  I" made  two  great  lights;  the 
 greater  light  fto  rule  the  day,  and  ■■  the  lesser 
 Ught  to  rule  the  night :  he  made  ''  the  stars  also. 
 
 17  And  God  set  them  in  the  firmament  of  the 
 heaven  to  give  light  upon  the  earth, 
 
 18  And  to  'rule  over  the  day  and  over  the 
 night,  and  to  divide  the  light  from  the  dark- 
 ness :  and  God  saw  that  it  ira.s  good. 
 
 19  And  the  evening  and  the  morning  were 
 the  fourth  day. 
 
 20  And  God  said,  '  Let  the  n  aters  bring  forth 
 abundantly  the  ||  moving  creature  that  hath 
 flife,  and  ffowl  that  may  fly  above  the  earth 
 in  the  fopen  firmament  of  heaven. 
 
 21  And  "  God  created  great  whales,  and  every 
 living  creature  that  moveth,  which  the  waters 
 brought  forth  abundantly,  after  their  kind,  and 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I. — 1.  T/ie  beginning  is  supposed  by  some  Dot  to 
 signify  the  commencement  of  the  work  of  creation,  but  only  the  time 
 when  the  materials  were  formed  out  of  which  the  world  was  made  ;  and, 
 on  this  hypothesis,  they  overthrow  the  objections  of  modern  geologists 
 to  the  Mosaic  account  of  the  creation, — they  argruing,  from  appearances 
 of  the  earth,  that  it  must  be  much  older  than  Moses  stales. —  Williams. 
 God,  cribN,  the  plural,  ^ti,  mightu.  implying,  in  the  opinion  of  most 
 eminent  divines,  a  plurahty  of  persons  in  theGodliead. — Adam  Clarke. 
 And  yet  tliese  are  one.  as  the  verb  is  singular,  and  the  reading  might 
 literajiy  he.Gods  HE  created. — Editor.  The  heavens,  [the  Heb.  is  plural] 
 the  whole  solar  s)  stem  ;  the  ea/-//i,  all  that  belongs  to  the  solid  and 
 fluid  parts  of  the  world,  with  the  surrounding  atmosphere. — A.  Clarke. 
 The  heacena  and  the  earth,  the  whole  visible  world.  Heavens,  from 
 a  word  which,  in  Arabic,  signifies  height.— Patrick.  2.  Without 
 farm  and  void  expresses  confusion  and  disorder.  —  Pat.,  A.  Clarke. 
 Desolate  and  waste. — Boothropd.  Without  plants,  trees,  or  animals. — 
 Pat.  Moved,  as  a  dove  brooding. — farchi.  *  Dove-like  sat'st  brood- 
 ing.*— Milton.  3.  Let  there  he  light,  noticed  by  Laitginus  as  a  truly 
 lofty  expression.  Light,  those  particles  of  matter  which  we  call  fire. 
 — Pat.  4.  Divided,  distinguished. — Boulhr.  5.  Dat/,  'the  bustler;' 
 from  a  Hebrew  word  denoting  tumult,  because  of  the  tumult  in  the 
 air,  when  the  sun  shines,  like  that  of  the  sea. — Parkhurst,  □\  Night, 
 Parkhurst  gives  the  meaning  of  the  Heb.  word,  fhe  deviatrix,  (see 
 Lexicon,  bb,)  because,  he  says,  the  dark  condensed  air  lias  an  influence 
 in  producing  the  circular  course  of  the  earth.  It  might  be.  according 
 to  Gill,  because  there  was  a  vicissitude  at  night  from  Ught  to  dark- 
 ness. 'And  the  evening /idrf  iee/i.and  the  morning  had  been,'  not  were. 
 — Boothr.  Evening  and  morning — darkness  was  before  light,  therefore 
 the  evening  is  put  first.  The  Jews  began  their  large  day  at  evening, 
 (Lev.  xxiii.  33.)  Evening  and  morning  signify  a  day  comprehending 
 1 
 
 the  night.— /tinswor/A.  6.  A  firmament,  or  an  expanse.— A/on/u7!«.'. 
 Something  stretched  out  and  spread,  like  a  curtain,  tent,  or  canopy.— 
 Gill.  The  place  occupied  by  the  whole  solar  system.— .•!.  Clarke.  The 
 whole  ether  in  which  the  orbs  of  heaven  revolve.  Such  the  word  im- 
 ports, ver.  15,17;  and  Dan.  xii.  i.—Satcliffe.  What  we  usually  call  the 
 atmosphere.  A  sphere  of  air  and  vapour  which  surrounds  our  globe, 
 and  supports  a  considerable  body  of  water.— U'i/.  The  whole  space 
 which  surrounds  the  earth,  even  to  the  fixed  stars  which  are  set  in  Ihc 
 firmament.— Sco/(.  Divide  the  waters,  the  waters  in  the  clouds  from 
 the  waters  in  the  springs  and  rivers.- P<l^  1 0.  Earth,  from  a  Hebrew 
 word  signifjuig  low,  infevior.  Seas,  from  a  Hebrew  word  signifymg 
 tamultuous  motion.— Par.  14.  Lights,  a  word  literally  mraning/rom 
 light,  i.  e.,  luminous  /lodies  made  out  of  light,  (ver.  3,)  and  communi. 
 eating  light  to  us.— Gilt,  Par.  '  Light  hearers.'  A  different  word  from 
 that  rendered  'light' in  ver.  2.— Greenfield.  5i^M.s,  of  Weather  ;  seasons, 
 summer,  &c. ;  darjs,  by  a  circular  motion  in  twenty-four  hours  ;  years, 
 by  annual  motion".  16.  Two  great  lights,  the  sun  and  moon.  The  sun, 
 according  to  Newton,  900,000  times  bigger  than  the  earth.  The  moon 
 containing  1,400,000  square  miles  on  its  surface.— Gi//.  These  being 
 objects  of  worship  amoog  the  heathen,  Moses  specifies  the  purposes 
 for  which  they  were  created.— Tou'nsCTirf.  The  stars  also,  the  rest  of 
 the  planets  and  their  attendants.— Pof.  Reads  better  '  with  the  stars 
 aiso.'—Oreenf.  20.  Moving  creature— Qshes,  in  the  Hebrew,  are 
 called  moving  or  '  creeping'  creatures.— Pat.  ylnrf /die/— according  to 
 chap.  U.  19,  these  were  made  out  of  earth  j  the  reading  should  be, '  let 
 the  fowl  fly  above  the  e.irth.'— Gill.  Made  out  of  such  matlcr  as  was 
 mixed  with  the  waters.— Pu(.  21.  Wha!es—the  Hebrew  may  mean 
 any  large  aquatic  or  amphibious  animals.— Hewlett.  W'hales  are 
 here  particularized,  being  different  from  fish  in  general,  since  they 
 suckle  their  young,  and  also  respire  by  means  of  lungs.— Pic(oriu( 
 
God  blesses  his  works. 
 
 atHmv^i  lU 
 
 The  first  sabbath. 
 
 every  winged  fowl  after  his  kiiid'j  wi;d*Gk)^  saj^' 
 that  it  ivas  good.  ,"'.•'•    *'.''! 
 
 22  And  God  blessed  them,sayin£;i^'''Be'friUtful*, 
 and  multiply,  and  fill  the  waters  iri;{iie/sea;s,i 
 and  let  fowl  multiply  in  the  earth.;    .'  ;  /  •  ■,  /';' 
 
 23  And  the  eveninj5.nn4-the  inprning  .w^re 
 
 the  fifth  day.  •.''•.*•:;':     •':'.';' 
 
 24  If  And  God  said;  liett^ife'eaVth  brifiglfttrCh- 
 the  living  creature  after  his  kind,  cattle,  and 
 creeping  thing,  and  beast  of  the  earth  after  his 
 kind  :  and  it  was  so. 
 
 25  And  God  made  the  beast  of  the  earth  after 
 his  kind,  and  cattle  after  their  kind,  and  every 
 thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth  after  his 
 kind  :  and  God  saw  that  it  was  good. 
 
 26  1[  And  God  said, "  Let  us  make  man  in  our 
 image,  after  our  likeness  :  and  ^  let  them  have 
 dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the 
 fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  the  cattle,  and  over  ail 
 the  earth,  and  over  every  creeping  thing  that 
 creepeth  upon  the  earth. 
 
 27  So  God  created  man  in  his  own  image,  *in 
 the  image  of  God  created  he  him  ;  °  male  and 
 female  created  he  them. 
 
 28  And  God  blessed  them,  and  God  said  unto 
 them,  ^  Be  fruitful,  and  nmltiply,  and  replenish 
 the  earth,  and  subdue  it :  and  have  dominion 
 over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of 
 the  air,  and  over  every  living  thing  that  fmoveth 
 upon  the  earth. 
 
 29  t  And  God  said,  Behold,  I  have  given  you 
 every  herb  f  bearing  seed,  which  is  upon  the 
 face  of  all  the  earth,  and  every  tree,  in  the 
 which  is  the  fruit  of  a  tree  yielding  seed  :  ^  to 
 you  it  shall  be  for  meat. 
 
 30  And  to  ^  every  beast  of  the  earth,  and  to 
 every  '^  fowl  of  the  air,  and  to  every  thing 
 that  creepeth  upon  the  earth,  wherein  there 
 is  t^'fp)  i  have  given,  every  green    herb   for, 
 
 ^cli.5.  1.  & 
 
 9.6.  Ps.  100. 
 
 3.  Ecclea.7. 
 
 29.  Wis.  2. 
 
 •n.  Acta  17. 
 
 20,  2S,  -iO. 
 
 I  Cor.  11.7. 
 
 Epii.  4,  24. 
 
 Col,  8.  10. 
 
 Jam.  3.  9. 
 w  cli.  f).  2. 
 
 Ps.  8  6. 
 I  I  Cor.  1 1.7. 
 a  ch.  5.  2. 
 
 Mai,  2.  15. 
 
 Mat.  19.  4. 
 
 IMark  10.  6. 
 ficli.  9.  1,7. 
 
 Lev.  26,  9. 
 
 Ps.  127.S.  & 
 
 1 28.  3,  +. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 CTetjirth. 
 
 t  Heb  *ef<t- 
 
 ing  tivi. 
 C  vh.  9.  3. 
 
 Job  36   SI. 
 
 Ps.  104.    14. 
 
 i5.  &  136 
 
 25.  &  1 10  7. 
 
 Acts  14,  17. 
 dps.  115   1.% 
 
 16.  fc  147.  9. 
 »  Job  33.  41. 
 
 t  Heb.  1  liv- 
 ing soul. 
 
 ,IJ,C.40l>l. 
 
 /Ps.  104.24. 
 ,'F.eclas.  39. 
 Iti.  I  Tim. 
 4.4. 
 
 «  Ps,  Xi.  6 
 t  Kx.  20.  II. 
 
 .^  31.  17. 
 
 Dent    5,  11. 
 
 Hob  4.  4 
 c  Neh.  0    14. 
 
 Is.  .'iS.  13. 
 t  Heb.    err- 
 
 aled  to  make, 
 dch.  I.  1. 
 
 Ps.  90.  1,2, 
 f  oh.  1.    12. 
 
 Ps.  104.  14. 
 /Job  33.26, 
 
 27,23. 
 ^  ch.  3.  23. 
 II  Or,  a  mitt 
 
 tehich  Wfitf 
 
 upfrom,  tj-c-. 
 t  Hebduitof 
 
 rfi?  ff  round. 
 Ach.3-19,2.^ 
 
 P.S.  103.  U, 
 
 Eccles.r2,7, 
 
 Is.  ()4.  8. 
 
 Ecclu8.17.1. 
 
 1  Cor.  15.47. 
 t  .lob  33.  4 
 
 2  Esd.  3.  S. 
 A.-ts  17.  25, 
 
 k  rh.  7.  92. 
 
 Im.  S  22. 
 /  ICor.l5,4.V 
 n>  ch.  13,  10. 
 
 IS.5I.S. 
 
 Eiek.28.13. 
 
 Joel  2.  S. 
 rich.  8.24. 
 ocli,  4.  16. 
 
 •»Kiu.l9,I2. 
 
 Eiek.  27.23. 
 p  ver.  15, 
 
 2  Esd.  3.  6. 
 7  Ezck.31.  8. 
 r  ch.  3.  22. 
 
 Prov.  3.  18. 
 
 Hi  11.  30. 
 
 Rev.  2.  7. 
 
 22.  2,  14. 
 
 meat :  and  it  was  so. 
 
 31  And  *^God  saw  every  thing  that  he  had 
 made,  and,  behold,  it  was  very  good.  And  the 
 evening  and  the  morning  were  the  sixth  day. 
 
 CHAP.  IL 
 
 L   The  Jirst  sabbath.     4    The  manner  of  the  creation* 
 , ',  8    The  filanting  of  the  garden  of  Edvn,    10  and  the 
 '  river  thereof      17    The  tree  of  knowledge  only  for- 
 bidden-   19,  20  The  namin;/  of  the  creatures.    21   The 
 making  of  womajt,  and  institution  ofmarriagt. 
 
 T^HUS    the    heavens    and    the    earth    were 
 -*•    finished,  and  ^  all  the  host  of  them. 
 
 2  ^  And  on  the  seventh  day  God  ended  his 
 work  which  he  had  made ;  and  he  rested  on  the 
 seventh  dayfromall  hiswork  which  he  hadmade. 
 
 3  And  God  '^blessed  the  seventii  day,  and 
 sanctified  it :  because  that  in  it  he  had  rested 
 from  all  his  work  which  God  f  created  and  made. 
 
 4  1**  These  are  the  generations  of  the  heavens 
 and  of  the  earth  when  they  were  created,  in  the 
 day  that  the  Lord  God  made  the  earth  and 
 the  heavens. 
 
 5  And  every  ^  plant  of  the  field  before  it  was 
 in  the  earth,  and  every  herb  of  the  field  before 
 it  grew  :  for  the  Loan  God  had  not  'caused  it 
 to  rain  upon  the  earth,  and  there  was  not  a 
 man  ^  to  till  the  ground. 
 
 6  But  II  there  went  up  a  mist  from  the  earth, 
 and  watered  the  whole  face  of  the  ground. 
 
 7  And  the  Lord  God  formed  man  f  of  the 
 •'dust  of  the  ground,  and  'breathed  into  his 
 ^  nostrils  the  breath  of  life  ;  and  •  man  became 
 a  living  soul. 
 
 8  H  And  the  Lord  God  planted  "^  a  garden 
 °  eastward  in  **  Eden  ;  and  there  ^  he  put  the 
 man  whom  he  had  formed. 
 
 9  And  out  of  the  ground  made  the  Lord  God 
 to  grow  '^  every  tree  that  is  pleasant  to  the 
 sight  and  good  for  food  ;  "  the  tree  of  life  also 
 
 Bible.  24.  Cattle,  tame  beasts  ;  creeping  thing,  short-legged  crea- 
 tures or  reptiles;  and  beasts  of  the  earth,  wild  beast^. — Pat.  Ttie  latter 
 were  uorier  tlic  restraint  of  man  while  he  was  obedient. — Wil.  Rep- 
 tiles and  inferior  animals  are  mentioned,  because  worshipped  by  the 
 EE:yptians,  and  to  shew  the  superiority  of  the  God  of  Israel. — Towns. 
 26.  Let  Hs— the  ancient  Christians  looked  upon  this  as  clearly  proving 
 a  plurality  of  persons  in  the  Godhead.  Some  have  thought  it  merely 
 the  language  of  royalty;  but  kings  did  not  use  the  plural  in  ancient 
 times,  (see  Gen.  xli.  41,  44  ;  Ezra,  vi.  8  ;"  Dan.  vi.  26.) — Fat.  Man, 
 DIN.  Adam,  or  earthly  man  ;  from  a  word  signifying  red  mould  or 
 eartli.— j4i7i.5.  Probably  the  flesh  tint  peculiar  to  man,  and  not  the 
 colour  of  the  earth. — Hew.  Image,  likeness,  two  words  expressing  the 
 same  thing,  «  resemblance  oi Go^. — Pat.  27.  Male  a?id  female— E\e 
 was  virtually  in  Adam  at  his  first  formation. —  Wil.  2Q.  For  meat — 
 the  Jews  are  of  opinion  that  the  first  man  might  not  eat  flesh,  but  it 
 was  granted  to  the  sons  of  Noah. — Gill.  30.  Green  herb  for  meat  -, 
 hence  some  think  that  animals  were  nft  originally  carnivorous.  The 
 heathen  had  such  a  tradition.  The  formation  of  wild  beasts  seems  to 
 contradict  this  ;  but  some  animals,  even  in  one  generation,  will  have 
 their  structure  in  part  altered  by  their  food. — Wil.,  A.  Clarke,  Ed. 
 
 Chap.  II.— 1.  Host,  the  starry  heavens,  (Deut.  iv.  19;  x^-ii.S;  Isa. 
 xx.xiv.  4  ;  Ps,  xxxiii,  6.)— Poole,  Sut.  Also,  the  angels,  (1  Kings, 
 xxii.  19;  2  Chron.xviii.  18;  Luke,  ii.  13.)--Gill,  Poole.  2,  Endedhis 
 work,  just  when  the  sixth  day  was  completed,  and  the  seventh  com- 
 menced.— Scott.  All  creatures  in  heaven  and  earth,  including  the 
 celcbtial  constellatinns.  Rested,  rather  '  ceased  ;'  for  the  Hebrew  word 
 P2\D',  is  not  opposed  to  weariness,  but  to  action. — Hew.  3.  Blessed, 
 when  (iod  blesses,  it  isunderstood  he  communicates  good. — A.  Clarke. 
 Sanctified  it,  appointed  it  in  his  mind  to  be  separated  from  others  for 
 holy  service. — Gill.  Created  and  made,  '  created  to  act.* — Patrick. 
 4.  Generations,  the  real  and  true  account  of  the  0)-/>i«. — Scott.  In  the 
 dai/,  '  at  what  time.' — Boothr.  5.  To  till  the  ground;  therefore  its 
 cultivation  was  alone  by  Almighty  power. — Gill.  G.  A  7nist,  'a 
 flood.' — Geddes.  Buta  flood  had  risen  out  of  the  earth. — Boothr.  The 
 Septuagint,  or  Greek  translation,  reads  nrfjtj,  '  a  fountain,*  or '  spring.' 
 7.  Of  life,  Heb.  □"n,  souls,  lives,  designating  man's  ever-living  spirit. 
 — Sut.     A   living  soul,  'a  living   person.' — Boothr.  S.  Eden,  the 
 
 woTt\  signifies  pleasure  or  delight. — A.  Clarke.  9.  The  tree  of  life,  as  a 
 sacramental  pledge  of  immortality,  provided  man  continued  obedient. 
 — Scott.    Probably  both  the  emblem  and  means  of  a  perpetual  life; 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  L  —  L  Behold  here  the  origin  of  all 
 things.  The  universe  was  not  eternnl.  No  chance  could  stake 
 creation  into  its  beautiful  order.  In  the  creation  of  man  he 
 is  reminded  of  bis  dignity,  for  God  made  him  '  after  his  own 
 image  ;'  he  is  a  spark  of  that  life-giving  sun  that  vivifies  the 
 universe.  He  is  wiser  than  the  beasts  of  the  earth,  or  the  fowls 
 of  the  heaven.  And  besides  knowledge,  in  bis  original  state, 
 he  had,  to  the  fullest  extent,  dominion  and  purity.  Even  in 
 its  fallen  state,  the  soul  exhibits  majesty  in  ruins.  How 
 criminal  are  those  that  neglect  this  noblest  part !  He  is  also 
 reminded  of  bis  inferiority,  for  be  was  formed  of  the  earth  ; 
 and  how  foolish  are  creatures  of  dust  to  be  vain  ! 
 
 IL  See  the  benevolence  of  the  Creator.  How  kind  was  be  to 
 form  creatures  in  a  state  of  happiness,  to  furnish  tbem  with  a 
 well-spread  earth  as  their  table,  and  to  accommodate  the  world 
 with  everything  that  can  be  conducive  to  the  comfort  of  man  ! 
 The  selfish  man  is  truly  unlike  the  God  in  whom  be  lives,  and 
 moTOS,  and  has  las  being. 
 
 HI,  We  are  here  reminded  0^  that  new  creation  in  which  God 
 
 puts  forth  a  yet  greater  energy  than  he  did  in  making  the  world 
 out  of  chaos.  In  the  formation  of  all  things  he  had  only  pas- 
 sive matter,  out  of  which  be  produced  order  and  beauty ;  but 
 in  new-creating  the  soul,  be  has  to  meet  w^itb  the  stern  re- 
 sistance of  a  diabolical  spirit.  \et  all  resistance  is  weakness 
 when  he  speaks  ;  and  be  is  daily  and  hourly  exhibiting  the 
 most  wonderful  proofs  of  bis  new  creation.  Goa  said,  '  Let 
 there  be  light,'  and  there  was  light  ;  and  many  can  now  say, 
 '  God,  who  commanded  the  light  to  shine  out  of  darkness, 
 hath  shined  into  our  hearts,  to  give  us  the  light  of  the  know- 
 ledge of  the  glory  of  God,  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ.'  Are 
 we  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus  ? 
 
 IV.  Vet  again  shall  be  a  further  display  of  the  Divine  power, 
 when  there  shall  be  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth  wherein 
 dwelleth  righteousness,  and  He  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne 
 shall  say,  *  Behold,  I  make  all  things  new,'  What  a  state  of 
 happiness  will  that  be,  which  shall  never  be  marred,  and 
 where  the  beauty  of  God's  moral  creation  will  be  reflected 
 back  upon  his  own  glorious  self  for  ever  and  ever ! 
 
© 
 
 a 
 e 
 
 eg 
 
 B5 
 
The  tree  of  knozvledtje  for  bidden. 
 
 GENESIS,  III. 
 
 T/ie  serpent  deceiveih  Eve. 
 
 in  the  midst  of  the  garden,  *■  and  the  tree  of 
 knowledge  of  good  and  evil. 
 
 10  And  a  river  went  out  of  Eden  to  water  the 
 garden  ;  and  iVoni  thence  it  was  parted,  and 
 became  into  four  heads. 
 
 1 1  The  name  of  the  first  is  ^  Pison  :  that  is  it 
 which  compasseth  "  the  whole  land  of  Havilah, 
 where  there  is  gold  ; 
 
 12  And  the  gold  of  that  land  is  good  :  "  there 
 is  bdellium  and  the  onyx  stone. 
 
 13  And  the  name  of  the  second  river  25  Gihon: 
 the  same  is  it  that  compasseth  the  whole  land 
 of  f  Ethiopia. 
 
 14  And    the   name   of    the    third    river    is 
 * "  Hiddekel  :  that  is  it  which  goeth  ||  tovvard 
 
 the  east  of  Assyria.  And  the  fourth  river  is 
 Euphrates. 
 
 !5  And  the  Lord  God  took  ||  the  man,  and 
 ''put  liim  into  the  garden  of  Eden  to  dress  it 
 and  to  keep  it. 
 
 10  And  the  Lord  God  commanded  the  man, 
 saying,  Of  every  tree  of  the  garden  f  thou 
 mayest  freely  eat: 
 
 17^  But  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good 
 and  evil,  ^  thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it :  for  in  the 
 day  that  thou  eatest  thereof  ^  f  thou  shalt 
 surely  die. 
 
 18  1[  And  the  Lord  God  said.  It  is  not  good 
 that  the  man  should  be  alone ;  ^  I  will  make 
 ''  him  an  help  f  meet  for  him. 
 
 19  ^  And  out  of  the  ground  the  Lord  God 
 formed  every  beast  of  the  field,  and  every  fowl 
 of  the  air  ;  and  ^  brought  them  unto  ||  Adam  to 
 
 n.  c.  *ix4. 
 
 f  ver.  17. 
 
 I  Ecclus.  24. 
 25. 
 u  ch.  23.  16. 
 
 J-  Dan,  10.4. 
 
 \\Oi-,ei,:,hP,uii 
 
 II  Or,  ^dnm. 
 y  ver.  9. 
 t  Heb.  eating 
 thou  thalt 
 
 n  ch.  S.   1,  3, 
 
 11,  17. 
 
 2  Esd.  3.  7. 
 6ch.  3.3,  10. 
 
 Kom.  6.  23. 
 
 I  Cor.15.66. 
 
 Jam.  1.  15. 
 
 1  Johii5.JlJ. 
 t  Heb.  dj/i/.f 
 
 thoH  Shalt 
 
 die. 
 c  ch.  3.  12. 
 
 I  Cor.  1 1,  f. 
 
 I  Tim-2.i:i 
 d  Ecelus.!lti. 
 
 24. 
 
 t  Heb.  aa  be- 
 fore hull. 
 e  ch.  1,20,24. 
 /  Ps.  8.  6. 
 
 Seech. 0.20. 
 II  Or,  (Ac  man- 
 
 gc\\.   IS.  12. 
 1  Sam.  26.12. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 b-iilded. 
 h  Pro.  18.  22. 
 
 Heb,  13.  4. 
 i  cb.  29    11. 
 
 Judg.  9.   2. 
 
 2Sw 
 
 1.5.  I. 
 
 1ft  10.  13. 
 
 Eph.  5.  3(1. 
 t  Heh.  him. 
 k  1  Cor.  M.S. 
 t  Heb.  !^h. 
 i  ch.  31.  13. 
 
 Ps,  iS.  ill. 
 
 Mat.  10.  5. 
 
 Mark  111.7. 
 
 1  Cor.  6.  16. 
 
 Eph.  5.  31. 
 
 I  ch.  3.  7, 
 
 10,  U. 
 >i  Ex.  32  25- 
 
 Is   I?.  3, 
 
 Rev.  12.  0. 
 &  20  2. 
 b  Mat.  10.16. 
 2  Cor.  11.  3. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ven, 
 because,  ^c. 
 
 see  wliat  he  would  call  them  :  and  whatsoever 
 Adam  called  every  living  creature,  that  -was 
 the  name  thereof. 
 
 20  And  Adam  f  gave  names  to  ail  cattle,  and 
 to  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  to  every  beast  of  the 
 field  ;  but  for  Adam  there  was  not  found  an 
 help  meet  for  him. 
 
 21  And  the  Lokd  God  caused  a  ^  deep  sleep 
 to  fall  upon  Adam,  and  he  slept :  and  he  took 
 one  of  his  ribs,  and  closed  up  the  flesh  instead 
 thereof ; 
 
 22  And  the  rib,  which  the  Lord  God  had 
 taken  from  man,  f  made  he  a  woman,  and 
 ^  brought  her  unto  the  man. 
 
 23  And  Adam  said,  This  is  now  •  bone  of  my 
 bones,  and  flesh  of  my  flesh  :  she  shall  be  called 
 fWoman,  because  she  was  •=  taken  out  off  Man. 
 
 24  '  Therefore  shall  a  man  leave  his  father 
 and  his  mother,  and  shall  cleave  unto  his  wife  : 
 and  they  shall  be  one  flesh. 
 
 25  "'  And  they  were  both  naked,  the  man  and 
 his  wife,  and  were  not  "  ashamed, 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  The  serpent  deceiveth  Eve.  6  Man's  shameful  fall. 
 9  God  arrahjneth  tluni.  14  The  serpent  is  cursed, 
 15  T/te  promised  seed.  16  The  punishment  of  man- 
 kind. 21  Their  first  clothing.  22  Their  casting 
 out  of  paradise, 
 
 I^OW  ^  the  serpent  was  ^  more  subtil  than 
 ■^^  any  beast  of  the  field  which  the  Lord  God 
 had  made.  And  he  said  unto  the  woman, 
 fYea,  hath  God  said,  Ye  shall  not  eat  of  every 
 tree  of  the  garden  ? 
 
 strong:lyindicated,  chap.  iii.  22. — A.Ctarke.  The  tree  of  knowledge,  be- 
 cause by  abstaining  from  it  the  knowledge  of  good  would  be  enjnye(i ; 
 hy  eating,  the  knotv/edge  of  evil. — Scott.  10.  A  river,  generally  thouglit 
 the  Euphrates. — Gill;  but  cannot  be  known,  because  the  confluence 
 of  waters,  and  breaking  open  of  the  deep,  altered  the  course  of  rivers. 
 — Nic/tols'  Conf.  with  a  Tlieist.  12.  Gold,  ojiyx — these  being  found 
 in  Arabia,  have  been  considered  as  guides  to  Eden.— Gi//.  14.  The 
 fourtli  river,  the  four  are  supposed  to  have  been  Euphrates,  Tigris, 
 Phasis,   and  Araxes. — Greenfield.  15.  To  dress  and  to  keep  it — not 
 
 for  toil,  but  for  recreation  and  pleasure. — Gill.  17.  Die,  or  be  subject 
 to  all  the  evils  of  mortality.— He w/e?^  The  literal  Hebrew,  as  in 
 the  margin,  gives  the  idea  of  man  then  beginning  to  be  in  a  dying 
 ^state,  which  should  inevitably  end  in  death.  The  punishment 
 must  not  be  measured  by  the  simple  action ;  that  was  only  the 
 test  of  obedience ;  any  other  test  would  have  done.  It  was  the 
 disobedience,  and  not  the  eating  the  fruit,  that  ruined  Adam.  Surely 
 this  demand  from  his  bountiful  Creator  was  not  too  much.  —  Ed. 
 2! .  A  deep  sleep,  *  an  ecstasy.' — Septintgint.  22.  The  rib — made  he 
 
 a  ivommi — she  was  not  made  out  of  Adam's  head,  to  top  him  ;  nor  out 
 of  his  feet,  to  be  trampled  on  by  him  ;  but  out  ol  his  side,  to  be  equal 
 with  him  ;  under  his  arm,  to  he  protected ,  and  near  his  heart,  to  be 
 beloved. — Matthew  Henry.  Woman,  in  Hebrew,  is  literally,  she-man. 
 — A.  C.  23.  Naked — and  were  not  ashamed — clothes  are  the  ensigns  of 
 our  sin,  and  covers  of  our  shame  ;  to  be  proud  of  them  is  as  great  folly 
 as  for  a  beggar  to  be  proud  of  his  rags,  or  a  thief  of  his  halter. — Trnpp, 
 
 Chap.  III. — 1.  The.  serpent~\}o\%  passage  is  involved  in  great  diffi- 
 culties, and  commentators  have  exhau'^ted  notes  and  conjectures  upon 
 it.  They  are  chiefly  comprehended  in  some  of  the  following  remarks  : 
 — The  serpent,  or  rather,  in  Hebrew,  'that  serpent.* — Dutght.  The 
 Samaritan  copy,  instead  of  irrT3,  '  a  serpent,'  reads  U^riD,  '  a  liar.*  As 
 the  Heb.  XDW^  may  mean  afiying  serpe/it  of  a  luminous  appearance,  it 
 might  have  been  one  of  tliese  whom  Satan  chose  for  his  purpose,  and 
 which  might  the  more  easily  seduce  Eve,  under  the  idea  ot  Jiis  being 
 one  of  the  seraphim. — Pat.,  Fawkes.  Satan,  who  sometimes  assumes 
 the  form  of  an  angel  of  light,  probably  did  so  in  this  case,  and  was  the 
 more  likely  to  beguile  Eve.—Saurin,  Tenison.  What  St.  Paul  says 
 (2  Cor.  xi.  14)  of  *Satan  being  transformed  into  an  angel  of  light,' 
 seems  to  give  some  countenance  to  this  notion  ;  for,  I  think,  we  read 
 of  no  instance  of  this  kind  in  all  the  Bible,  unless  we  allow  of  it  here. 
 And  yet  St.  Paul  seems  to  speak  of  it  as  a  well-known  thing :  so  that, 
 probably,  this  might  be  the  current  interpretation  of  this  difficult  piece 
 of  history  in  St.  Paul's  time. — Peters.  There  Eire  several  objections 
 against  a  serpent  being  employed,  and  it  was  most  likely  au  ouran- 
 outang,  that  creature  being  wiser  than  any  beast  of  the  field.  — 
 A.  Clarke.  Dr.  C/ujfre's  conjecture  is  generally  exploded.— £rf.  Satan 
 was  the  real  agent  in  this  case,  who  spoke  by  liis  organ  ;  as  in  the  days 
 of  Christ,  the  unclean  spirit  employed  the  tongues  of  possessed  persons. 
 The  serpent  was  only  the  instrument ;  Satan  is,  therefore,  called  the 
 serpent,  &c.,  Rev.  xii.  y—\2.~Scott.  Satan  was  the  rt-al  tempter ;  (see 
 John,  viii.  44  ;  compare  1  John,  iii.  S.)    The  word  iDrT3,  'serpent,'  is 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IL  —  L  The  Divine  institution  of 
 the  Sabbath,  if  properly  observed.,  must  afford  the  highest  mental 
 joy  and  satisfaction.  We  cannot  look  at  this  (air  world,  even 
 disfigured  as  it  is  by  sin,  without  everywhere  beholding 
 marks  of  the  wisdom,  power,  and  goodness  of  God,  in  it3 
 creation  and  preservation  ;  and  the  mind  that  beholds  it  with 
 devout  admiration  enters  into  the  very  feeUngs  of  the  Creator 
 himself,  who  pronounced  all  his  works  '  very  good.' 
 
 'These,  as  they  change,  Almighty  Fattier,  the.-^e 
 Are  but  the  varied  God.     The  rolling  year 
 Is  full  of  thee!' 
 
 II.  God  requires  nothing  from  hi.^  creatures  but  what  is  most 
 reasonable.  He  condescended  to  make  the  creature  to  be 
 obedient  to  him  :  and  was  it  unreasonable  that  man  should  be 
 obedient  to  his  Creator  ?  'I'he  infidel  heart  may  find  fault  with 
 the  test  by  which  man  fell,  but  the  fault  was  not  in  him  wlio 
 commanded,  but  in  him  who  disobeyed.  And  still  does  the 
 rebellious  heart  of  man  rise  up  against  the  lawful  claims  of 
 God.  What  he  prohibits  and  requires,  manifests  but  a  regard 
 for  the  welfare  of  his  creatures.  He  forbids  nothing  that  can 
 make  them  truly  happy  ;  he  requires  nothim:;  that  it  unreason- 
 3 
 
 able.  But  offenders  would  fain  throw  the  blame  from  them- 
 selves, and  accuse  their  Creator.  *  Are  not  my  ways  equal  V 
 saith  the  Lord  ;  '  are  not  your  ways  unequal  V 
 
 III.  The  bounty  of  God  renders  the  disobedience  of  man  the 
 more  aggravating.  Here  is  an  Eden  for  him  to  enjoy,  with 
 fruits  tempting  his  taste,  all  but  one  at  his  disposal  ;  flowers 
 regaling  his  senses,  and  luxurious  streams  purling  at  his  feet ; 
 he  is  honoured  with  naming  tlie  creatures,  and  having  domi- 
 nion over  them  ;  and,  laslly,  that  nothing  might  be  wanted  to 
 complete  his  happiness,  a  help-meet  is  provided  to  share  in 
 his  enjoyments,  and,  by  her  beauty  and  love,  to  make  bim 
 complete  in  happiness.  God  himself  is  ever  ready  to  hold 
 intercourse  with  hira,  and  seems  to  bend  down  frora  heaven, 
 and  delight  to  gaze  on  and  dwell  with  his  finished  creature. 
 To  sin,  by  disobedience,  after  this,  was  aggravating  indeed  ! 
 And  man  is  still  the  same.  The  Lord  daily  loadeth  us  with  his 
 benefits  ;  he  maketh  his  sun  to  shine  on  the  evil  and  the  good, 
 on  the  just  and  on  the  unjust.  But,  while  *  tiie  ox  knoweth 
 his  owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib,'  this  ungrateful  crea- 
 ture forgets  the  hand  that  feeds  him,  and  the  arm  that  holds 
 him  up.  Surely,  'it  is  of  the  Lord's  mercies  we  are  not 
 consumed,  because  his  compassions  fail  not.* 
 
Plan's  shameful  foil. 
 
 GENESIS,  III. 
 
 Man  is  cast  out  of  paradise. 
 
 2  And  the  woman  said  unto  the  serpent,  We 
 may  eat  of  the  fruit  of  the  trees  of  the  garden  . 
 
 S  '^  But  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree  which  is  in  the 
 midst  of  the  garden,  God  hath  said,  Ye  shall 
 not  eatofit,  neither  shall  ye  touch  it,lest  ye  die. 
 
 ■4  "^  And  the  serpent  said  unto  the  woman,  Ye 
 shall  not  surely  die  : 
 
 5  For  God  doth  know  that  in  the  day  ye  eat 
 thereof,  then  ^  your  eyes  shall  be  opened,  and 
 ye  shall  be  as  gods,  knowing  good  and  evil. 
 
 6  And  when  the  woman  saw  that  the  tree 
 fvas  good  for  food,  and  that  it  ivas  f  pleasant 
 to  the  eyes,  and  a  tree  to  be  desired  to  make 
 one  wise,  she  took  of  the  fruit  thereof,  ''and  did 
 eat,  and  gave  also  unto  her  husband  with  her ; 
 ^  and  he  did  eat. 
 
 7  And  ^  the  eyes  of  them  both  were  opened, 
 'and  they  knew  that  they  were  naked  ;  and  they 
 sewed  fig  leaves  together,  and  made  themselves 
 II  aprons. 
 
 8  And  they  heard ''' the  voice  of  the  Lord  God 
 walking  in  tiie  garden  in  thef  cool  of  tlie  day  : 
 and  Adam  and  his  wife  '  hid  themselves  from 
 the  presence  of  the  Lord  God  amongst  the 
 trees  of  the  garden. 
 
 9  And  the  Lord  God  called  unto  Adam,  and 
 said  unto  him.  Where  art  thou  ? 
 
 10  And  he  said,  I  heard  thy  voice  in  the  gar- 
 den, "'  and  I  was  afraid,  because  1  teas  naked ; 
 and  I  hid  myself. 
 
 1 1  And  he  said.  Who  told  thee  that  thou  wast 
 naked  ?  Hast  thou  eaten  of  the  tree,  whereof 
 I  commanded  thee  that  thou  shouldest  not  eat*? 
 
 12  And  the  man  said,  "The  woman  whom  thou 
 gavest  to  be  with  me,  she  gave  me  of  the  tree, 
 and  I  did  eat. 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  God  said  unto  the  woman. 
 What  is  this  that  thou  hast  done?  And  the 
 woman  snid,  **  The  serpent  beguiled  me,  and  I 
 did  eat. 
 
 d  yet.  13. 
 2  C. I.  11.3 
 1  Tim.2.U. 
 
 e  ver.  7. 
 Acta  26.  I 
 
 ^Ecclus.  25. 
 94. 
 I  Tim.  2  14. 
 
 g  ver,  13. 17. 
 
 h  ver.  5. 
 
 i  ch.  2.  85. 
 
 II  Or,  tfilnfft 
 tog'rdftlioul. 
 Ar  Juh  .«.  I. 
 f  Hob.  icind. 
 
 i  Jf.bfll.  2%. 
 
 AuK.s  9.  3. 
 
 m  ch.  2.  ^h. 
 Ex,  .1.  6. 
 lJohn3  20. 
 
 .lob  :(|.  r« 
 Prov  28.13 
 
 ft  ver.  4, 
 2  Cnr.  1 1   3. 
 lTiin.2.  II. 
 
 ■  B.  €.4001, 
 
 r  Ex.  21.  29, 
 
 32. 
 7  Is.  65.  25. 
 
 Mic.  7.  17. 
 r  .Mat  ;i  7.  & 
 
 13,  38,  8c  2.i. 
 
 3.1,  Jtihn  8. 
 
 44.  Acls  13- 
 
 10.    I  Juliu 
 
 3  8. 
 tpB.  132.  n. 
 
 Is.  7.  14. 
 
 Mic.  5  3. 
 
 Mat.l.23.;5. 
 
 I,u.  I..-!!.;!!, 
 
 35,  Gal. 4  4. 
 t  Rom.  16  2a 
 
 Col.  2.  15. 
 
 Heb    2.  14. 
 
 I  .lohn  5,  5. 
 
 Rev.12,7,17. 
 M  Ps.   4^.  6 
 
 Is  13.y  &21. 
 3.Johii|l3  21. 
 
 rriin.2  Ij. 
 w  ch.  4.  7, 
 ||Or,*i./y>f//ti 
 
 thy  hriabaiid. 
 X  iCor.  II  3, 
 
 &U.:^4    Ep. 
 
 5.  22.2;l,  24. 
 
 I  Tiui  2.11, 
 
 12    Tit,  2  5. 
 
 I  Pe  3.1.5.6. 
 5  I  Sii  15.23. 
 s  ver.  6, 
 ich.  2.  17. 
 !■  Ecclefl.  t,?, 
 
 3,  Is, 
 
 ]{D) 
 
 8,  20. 
 
 .  .I..b  ,=),  .. 
 
 Kccle^  2.L^3. 
 ./.Inb  M.  40 
 t  lleb.  cau^r 
 
 to  bud. 
 f  Ps.  104.  14. 
 /Eccles.  1. 
 
 IS.  2  Thes. 
 
 S,  10. 
 g  ch.  2.  7. 
 A  Job  21.  26. 
 
 fc  »1.  15. 
 
 Ps    l(H.  gfl. 
 
 Ecfles  3.S0. 
 
 &  12.  7. 
 
 Kooi.  5.  12. 
 
 Heb.  9.  27. 
 f  Heb. 
 
 II  That  ifi, 
 
 ver-  5. 
 Like  Id.  19, 
 12,  »c  47.12, 
 I3.Jer.22. 
 
 itch.  2.  9. 
 /rh  1,2  * 
 
 ).2lI 
 
 14  And  the  Lord  God  said  r  unto  the  serpent. 
 Because  thou  hast  done  this,  thou  art  cursed 
 above  all  cattle,  and  above  every  beast  of  the 
 field  ;  upon  thy  belly  shalt  thou  go,  and  '^  dust 
 shalt  thou  eat  all  the  days  of  thy  life  ; 
 
 13  And  I  will  put  enmity  between  thee  and 
 the  woman,  and  between  '  thy  seed  and  "her 
 seed  ;  *  it  shall  bruise  thy  head,  and  thou  shalt 
 bruise  his  heel. 
 
 16  Unto  the  woman  he  said,  I  will  greatly 
 multiply  thy  sorrow  and  thy  conception  ;  "in 
 sorrow  thou  shalt  bring  forth  children  ;  "^  and 
 thy  desire  shall  he  ||  to  thy  husband,  and  he 
 shall  ^  rule  over  thee. 
 
 17  And  unto  Adam  he  said,  ^  Because  thou 
 hast  hearkened  unto  the  voice  of  thy  wife,  ^  and 
 hast  eaten  of  the  tree,  ^  of  which  I  commanded 
 thee,  saying.  Thou  shalt  not  eat  of  it :  '^  cursed 
 is  the  ground  for  thy  sake  ;  *"  in  sorrow  shalt 
 thou  eat  of\i  all  the  days  of  thy  life  ; 
 
 18  ^  Thorns  also  and  thistles  shal!  itf  bring 
 forth  to  thee  ;  and  ^  thou  shalt  eat  the  herb  of 
 the  field  ; 
 
 19  ^  \\\  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat 
 bread,  till  thou  return  unto  the  ground  ;  for 
 out  of  it  wast  thou  taken  :  ^  for  dust  thou  art, 
 and  ^  unto  dust  shalt  thou  return. 
 
 20  And  Adam  called  his  wife's  name  t||  Eve; 
 because  she  was  the  mother  of  all  living. 
 
 21  Unto  Adam  also  and  to  his  wife  did  the 
 Lord  God  make  coats  of  skins,  and  clothed 
 them. 
 
 22  %  And  the  Lord  God  said, '  Behold,  the 
 man  is  become  as  one  of  us,  to  know  good 
 and  evil :  and  now,  lest  he  put  forth  his  hand, 
 ■  and  take  also  of  the  tree  of  life,  and  eat,  and 
 live  for  ever: 
 
 23  Therefore  the  Lord  God  sent  him  forth 
 from  the  garden  of  Eden,  '  to  till  the  ground 
 from  whence  he  was  taken. 
 
 ambiguous,  and  may  denote  one  who  uses  serpentine  art.=;  to  beguile 
 and  deceive.  Tlip  tempter  mi-ht  be  called  a  serpent,  not  from  assum- 
 ing thcform,  but  only  imitating  the  subtlety  of  tbat  creature— BooMr. 
 Mure  subtil,  ratlier  means  of  a  more  gentle,  familiar,  and  insinuating 
 nature.  Hence,  it  is  thought  by  some,  that  the  serpent  went  erect 
 before  the  fall,  and  that,  by  its  soiiability  and  its  then  attractive 
 beauty,  it  had  gained  the  londne-s  of  our  first  parents,  especially  of 
 Eve,  which,  after  the  fall,  was  reversed  by  the  sentence,  '  I  will  pnt 
 enmity,'  Sic.—Fnwcet.  And  he  .9«»rf— several  critics  doubt  whether  or 
 jiot  this  was  with  an  audible  voice  ;  but  as  tlie  Orientals  give  voice 
 and  speech  to  all  the  parts  of  nature,  they  imagine  that  all  this  means 
 no  more  than  that  the  serpent  suggested  what  follows  bv  his  actions. 
 —S.oFtiwkes,  &c.  Ye'i,  hath  Gorf  5'/iW— severalJewish  and  Christian 
 critics,  from  the  abniprness  of  this  speech,  imagine  it  is  the  continua- 
 tion of  some  previous  discourse.  Hath  he  said  ve  shall  not  eat  P— ex- 
 pressing  surprise,  and  is  to  this  purport.  '  Can  this  be  possible  ?  WTiat 
 endcun  it  answer?  For  what  purpose  weretJicse  fruits  created  but  to 
 be  eaten  by  you  ?'  5.  Your  eyes  shall  he  opened,  '  you  shall  discover 
 an  abundance  of  things  wherenf  you  are  now  ignorant.*  As  gods, 
 WT(bti,  like  unto  us,  the  angels  of  God,  .sometimes  called  gods.— /*«^, 
 Gill.  7.  Were  opened,  they  soon  saw  their  folly.— P«/.  Knew— 
 7j'/A-frf—tbey  had  lost  tbeir  innocence.-,^.  Clarke.  Sewed— X\\c  viord 
 simply  means  '  to  join'  or  '  fasten,'  probably  by  twisting  the  leaf-stems. 
 — Pict.  Bib.  Fig  ieares.  which  are  very  broad  in  the  eastern  countries. 
 8.  The  voice  of  the  Lord— for  God  is  a  Spirit,  and  was  not  pfrsonnlhf  to 
 be  seen.  Probably  be  had  been  accustomed  to  speak  to  our  first  pa- 
 rents in  the  evening  breeze.— .-l.  Clarke.  The  wretched  transercssor, 
 Adam,  instead  nf  retiring  to  repose,  thought  that  he  heard  the  voice  of 
 the  great  Creator  in  the  eveninir  breeze,  whispering  to  his  troubled  con- 
 science  the  enormity  of  his  crime.  Walking— xhi?,  word  is,  in  the  He- 
 brew, applied  to  somid,  (E.xod.  xix.  19,)  and  is  expressive  of  its  ap- 
 proaching nearer  and  nearer.— Pa/.  Thus  God  answered  Job  nnt  of 
 the  whirlwmd.— P(n"c.  Rather,  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God  -,  the  Eter- 
 nal  Word  is  here  meant,  who  appeared  in  a  human  form,  the  pledge  of 
 his  future  incarnation.— Gf/^.  Some  visible  tokens  of  the  Lord's  pre- 
 sence, perhaps  in  human  form,  are  here  intimated.  In  the  cool  of  the 
 drip— ^his  was  probably  one  time  of  accustr-med  worship,  when  tokens 
 of  GoriN  presence  appeared.— Sco«.  Hid  themselve.s— there  might  be 
 a  terrible  appearance  of  the  Shecbinah,  or  Divine  Presence,  which, 
 from  its  fiery  hue,  alarmed  our  first  parents.— Pa/.  g.  Where  art 
 thou  .?— '  Alas  !  for  thee,'  as  some  render  the  words,  '  how  miserableis 
 thy  plight  \'—Gilt.  What  is  the  cause  of  this  sudden  and  wonderful 
 4 
 
 change  ? — Poole.  How  art  thou  fallen  ? — Hew.  1 1 .  Naked,  or,  that 
 thy  nakedness,  which  was  thy  glory,  is  become  thy  shame.— Poo/e. 
 12 — U.  And  the  man  said — the  woman  said — the  Lord  God  said — if  we 
 understand  the  previous  conversation  as  the  tempter's  suggestions, 
 and  Eve's  reflections,  and  the  descent  and  sentence  of  Jehovah,  as  ex- 
 pressing, in  an  historical  narrative,  the  revealed  will  ot  God  to  punish 
 and  yet  be  merciful,  it  is  neither  improper  nor  repugnant  to  scripture 
 usage.  The  history  of  ihe  fall  and  of  our  Lord's  temptation  strikingly 
 agree;  if  the  latter  be  literally  true,  so  may  the  former;  and  if  our 
 Lord's  temptation  may  be  explained  as  the  suggestions  of  the  tempter 
 to  his  mind,  so  may  this. — Boothr.  And  ditat — addressed  to  the  old 
 serpent,  and,  in  a  trope,  representing  that  Satun  should  feed  on  the 
 vices,  frailties,  and  follies  of  mankind. — Mede.  Plainly  figurative,  to 
 express  a  state  of  peculiar  degradation  and  suffering. — JDwight.  Many 
 divines,  however,  reject  the  above  valuable  and  reasonable  oi»inions, 
 and  understand  the  whole  literally,  as  in  the  following  remark  ;— There 
 was  a  visible  punishment  <m  the  serpent,  but  the  curse  was  peculiarly 
 on  the  tempter. — Scott.  The  serpent,  perhaps,  formerly  moved  in  a 
 more  erect  posture,  but  was  doomed  to  lick  the  dust. — Gill.  Changed 
 from  a  flaming  seraph  into  a  foul  creeping  serpent. — Pal.  Probably 
 his  original  residence  and  food  were  in  the  tiees,  but  now  he  is  de- 
 graded to  the  earth. — Wil.  Both  the  beast  and  devil  are  here  ad- 
 dressed.— Ains.  Tlie  serpent,  also,  hath  his  part  in  the  punishment, 
 because  instrumental  to  the  devil.  —  Trapp ;  so  Poole,  Hew.,  Re. 
 former^s  Bible.  15.  Thi/  seed  and  her  seed,  literally  with  regard  to 
 serpents;  and  especially  Christ,  the  seed  of  the  woman,  and  wicked 
 angels,  and  men.— Gilt.  He  chiefly  meant  Satan's  seed.- Pc/.  Bible. 
 The  seed  of  the  tempter,  and  Uie  seed  of  the  woman. — Boo/hr.  Thy 
 head,  thy  power. — Pat.  His  heel,  bis  human  or  lower  nature  shall  be 
 filled  with  aupuish  and  distress. — Watts.  xy.  Cursed— it  shall  not 
 bring  forth  so  easily  nor  so  plentifully  as  it  did,— Pu/.,  except  thorns 
 and  weeds. — Heir.  18.  The  herb,  in  opposition  to  the  delicious 
 fruits  of  Eden.— Gill.  20.  £'?'e— the  Hebrew  means  life.— Hew. 
 i!l.  Skins,  probably  from  beasts  s;icrificed  by  divine  aitpointment.— 
 Scott.  22.  As  n??(?o/w.s— generally  understood  as  a  sarcasm,  to  con- 
 vince Adam. — Gilt.  Not  so,  for  God  would  not  so  treat  so  dreadful  a 
 catastrophe.— .4.  Clarke.  It  is  conjectured  by  a  learned  writer  that 
 the  passage  should  read,  '  the  man  who  was  like,'  Sec. ;  and  that  the 
 determination  to  remove  him  from  the  tree  of  life  was,  that  he  might 
 not  eat  and  live  for  ever  in  that  miserable  condition.  Mr.  Henry  in- 
 terprets  it.  that  Adam  having  taken  of  the  tree  of  knowledge,  he  was 
 put  out,  lest  he  should  take  of  the  other  tree,  and  so  defy  the  divine 
 
The  birth  of  Cain  and  Abel. 
 
 GENESIS,  IV. 
 
 The  curse  of  Cain. 
 
 24  So  he  drove  out  the  man  ;  and  he  placed 
 "at  the  east  of  the  garden  of  Eden  "Cherubhns, 
 and  a  flaming  sword  which  turned  every  way, 
 to  keep  the  way  of  the  tree  of  life. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  The  birth,  trade,  and  religion  of  Cain  and  Abel. 
 8  The  mvrdcr  of  Abel.  11  The  curse  of  Cain. 
 17  Enoch  the  first  city.  19  Lamec.h  and  his  tivo 
 wives.     25    The  birth  of  Svth,  26  and  Enos. 
 
 \  ND  Adam  knew  Eve  bis  wife  ;  and  she 
 •^^  conceived,  and  bare  ||  Cain,  and  said,  I 
 lave  gotten  a  man  from  the  Lord. 
 
 2  And  she  again  bare  bis  brother  f  Abel.  And 
 Abel  was  f  a  keeper  of  sheep,  but  Cain  was  "  a 
 tiller  of  the  ground. 
 
 3  And  t  in  process  of  time  it  came  to  pass, 
 that  Cain  brought  ^  of  the  fruit  of  the  ground 
 an  offering  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 4  And  Abel,  he  also  brought  of  ^  the  firstlings 
 of  his  t  flock  and  of  the  fat  thereof.  And  the 
 Lord  had  ^  respect  unto  Abel  and  to  his  offer- 
 ing: 
 
 5  But  unto  Cain  and  to  his  offering  he  had 
 not  respect.  And  Cain  was  very  wroth,  *and 
 his  countenance  fell. 
 
 6  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Cain,  Why  art  thou 
 wrotli?  and  why  is  thy  countenance  fallen? 
 
 7  If  thou  doest  well,  slialt  thou  not  ||  be  ac- 
 cepted ?  and  if  thou  doest  not  well,  sin  lietb 
 at  the  door.  And  ||  unto  thee  shall  be  his  de- 
 sire, and  thou  sbalt  rule  over  him. 
 
 8  And  Cain  talked  with  Abel  his  brother : 
 and  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  were  in  the 
 
 7J  ch.  2.  8. 
 .  Ps,  1I>1.  4. 
 Heb.  I.  7. 
 
 II  That  i: 
 
 t  Vioh-Hebd. 
 
 t  Heb.  a 
 Peder. 
 a  ch.  3.  23. 
 Ci  9,  20. 
 t  Heb.  at  Ih,- 
 
 b  Nu.  18.  "l2. 
 
 e  Nu.  18.  17. 
 Prov.  a,  9. 
 t  Heb.  tlifi-p, 
 
 d  hVj.  U.4 
 
 /Wis.  10.  3. 
 
 Mat.  23.  35. 
 
 IJohn.*?.  12. 
 
 Jude  II. 
 ff  Ps.  9.  12. 
 h  John  8.  44, 
 
 tHeb.  bloods. 
 iHeb.  12  24. 
 Kev.  0,  lU. 
 
 \tOc,fiavenf 
 excelli-'ic'i  i 
 Heb.  11.^4. 
 
 11  Or,  s-./yVc/ 
 nnU,  thet. 
 ch.  3.  16. 
 
 cir.  3875. 
 
 gr filler  than 
 thai  it  may 
 
 m  ch.  9.  C. 
 Num.  S."!. 
 19,  2I,:>7. 
 
 ;>  2  Kin. 
 
 IS 
 
 2.S.  &  24 
 
 :'(i. 
 
 .Icr.  23 
 
 JIV 
 
 St  52,  3. 
 
 cir.  3675.     | 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 Chartorh 
 
 •J  Ps.  49, 
 
 11. 
 
 field,  that  Cain  rose  up  against  Abel  his  bro- 
 ther, and  ^slew  him. 
 
 9  If  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Cain,  ^  Where  is 
 Abel  thy  brother?  And  he  said,  ^  1  know  not : 
 Am  I  my  brother's  keeper? 
 
 10  And  he  said,  What  hast  thou  done?  the 
 voice  of  thy  brother's  f  blood  '  crieth  unto  me 
 from  the  ground. 
 
 1 1  And  now  art  thou  cursed  from  the  earth, 
 which  hath  opened  her  mouth  to  receive  thy 
 brother's  blood  from  thy  hand ; 
 
 12  When  thou  tillest  the  ground,  it  shall  not 
 henceforth  yield  unto  thee  her  strength  ;  a  fugi- 
 tive and  a  vagabond  sbalt  thou  be  in  the  earth. 
 
 13  And  Cain  said  unto  the  Lord,  ||  My  pu- 
 nishment is  greater  that  I  can  bear. 
 
 14  ^  Behold,  thou  hast  driven  me  out  this  day 
 from  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  and  '  from  thy  face 
 shall  I  be  hid  ;  and  I  shall  be  a  fugitive  and  a 
 vagabond  in  the  earth  ;  and  it  shall  come  to 
 pass,  "^  that  every  one  that  findeth  me  shall 
 slay  me. 
 
 15  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Therefore 
 whosoever  slayeth  Cain,  vengeance  shall  be 
 taken  on  him  "  sevenfold.  And  the  Lord  "  set 
 a  mark  upon  Cain,  lest  any  finding  him  should 
 kill  him. 
 
 16  t  And  Cain  ^went  out  from  the  presence 
 of  the  Lord,  and  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Nod,  on 
 the  east  of  Eden. 
 
 17  And  Cain  knew  his  wife;  and  she  con- 
 ceived, and  bare  f  Enoch  :  and  he  builded  a 
 city,  '^  and  called  the  name  of  the  city,  after 
 the  name  of  his  son,  Enoch. 
 
 sentence,  flattering  himself  that  he  should  live  for  ever.  24.  Drove 
 o(((— the  word  used  by  the  Hebrews  for  puttijig  away  in  divorces  ;  put 
 him  away  from  his  presence. — Put.  Cherubuns,  ^c,  fire,  say  some  ; 
 angels,  say  others  ;  thunder  and  lightning,  say  others  ;  cherubims  and 
 seraphims,  says  Patrick,  so  interpreting  the  word  for  flaming  sword. 
 Angelic  guards,  with  a  visible  appearance,  Eind  the  similitude  of  a  flam- 
 ing sword. — Scott. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  Cain,  signifies  acquisition  or  possession. — Hewlett. 
 From  the  Lord,  miT  Dt*  ID^N,  '  a  man,'  the  '  Lord  ;*  so  numerous  dis- 
 tingiiiehed  critics.— Gi//.  Hence  it  is  supposed,  that  Eve  thought  she 
 had  borne  the  promised  seed. — Hew  2.  Attain  bare,  'added  to  bear;' 
 so  many  learned  men  render  \t.—GiU.  As  it  is  not  said  she  again  con- 
 ceived.  Dr.  A,  Clnrke  conchides,  with  some  reason,  that  Cain  and  Abel 
 were  twins.  3.  Fruit.  4.  Firstlings — Cain  offered  to  God  merelyaslhe 
 God  oi  Nature  ;  Abel  offered,  by  faith  in  the  atonement,  tu  the  God  of 
 Grace.  See  Heb.  xi.4. — Ed.  7.  Doest  w^ll — if  tliou  offerest  what  is 
 right,  and  in  a  right  way.— Gi//.  Sin  lieih,  is  near,  ever  ready  to  tempt 
 to  greater  wickeilness. — Heir.  If  thou  doest  not  well,  by  what  expia- 
 tion is  thy  sin  purged?  it  still  lieth  at  thy  door.— Sherlock.  Sin  lies  at  the 
 door  of  conscience. — Gill,  some  render  the  words,  '  a  sin-offering 
 lieth,'  &c.,  and  though  he  had  sinned,  by  looking  to  that,  by  faith, 
 he  mJEiht  still  find  pardon  and  acceptance. — Gill:  so  also  Ainsworth, 
 A.  Clarke,  Kennicotf,  Li^ht foot,  Poole,  it  undoubtedly  means,  that 
 iniquity  should  be  visited  on  himself  and  cliildren,  as  the  events  proved. 
 — Sut.  The  Targums  paraphrase  it,  '  thy  sin  isreserved  to  the  day  of 
 judgment ;'  or,  lies  at  the  door  of  the  grave,  reserved  to  that  day  ;  as 
 Jar.  Shall  rule  over  /tim— the  most  common  interpretation  of  this  is, 
 that  Abel  was  still  ready  to  obey  Cain  as  his  elder  brother,  and  there- 
 fore he  had  no  cause  for  jealousy. — So  Poole,  Gill,  Scott,  Boothroyd, 
 
 A.  Clarke.  8.  Slew  him — painters  describe  this  as  done  with  a  club  ; 
 the  Jews  described  it  as  with  a  stone.  Milton  adopts  the  latter — 
 '  Smote  him  into  the  midriff  with  a  stone.'  13.  My  punishment,  ^c. 
 — some  read,  '  my  sin  is  greater  than  can  bo  forgiven.' — ^oMichaeiis. 
 But  Cain  seemed  more  concerned  about  his  suffering  than  his  sin.— 
 Gill.  '  Is  my  sin  too  great  to  be  forgiven  ?' — So  A.  Clarke.  But  this 
 agrees  not  with  the  spirit  of  Cain. —  Wit.  And  the  sacred  writers  re- 
 present Cain,  not  as  penitent,  but  as  wicked,  ( l  John.  iii.  12.) — Boothr. 
 14.  Every  one — though  few  persons  are  mentioned  in  scripture,  num- 
 bers might  have  existed  at  this  time.  In  eighty  years,  36"  children 
 spraug  from  two  persons,  in  England,  as  stated  by  Bishop  Patrick. 
 Seth  was  born  in  the  130th  year  of  Adam,  and  he  was,  therefore,  now 
 not  far  from  that  age.  '  Every  one,'  that  is,  some  one. — GUI.  Shalt 
 slay  me,  shall  be  desirous  of  putting  me  to  death. — Hew.  It  should 
 rather  be,  'Now,  therefore,  let  it  be,  that  any  one  that  finds  me  may 
 kill  me.'  Cain  being  desirous  of  death. — Lightf.  15.  Vengeance — 
 it  should  seem  as  if  God  would  not  grant  his  wish,  that  he  might  be 
 punished  the  more  severely  in  his  conscience,  and  be  a  living  monu- 
 ment to  men  of  God's  displeasure. — Ed.  A  mark,  or  rather,  gave 
 him  a  token  that  he  should  not  be  slain. — Boothr.,  so  Shuckford  a.nd 
 M.Good.  If  any  mark  was  on  Cain,  such  as  a  despairing  countenance, 
 men  must  have  had  some  secret  impression  that  God  had  punished 
 him,  and  they  need  not — Ed  l6.  The  presence,  or,  'from  before 
 
 the  face  of  Jehovah ;'  that  is.  from  the  place  of  God's  word  and  public 
 worship,  which,  in  likelihood,  was  held  by  Adam,  the  father,  who  had 
 taught  his  children  how  to  serve  the  Lord. — Ains.  Nad,  that  is, '  wan- 
 dering,' or  '  exile  ;'  hence,  the  place  received  its  name  from  its  tenant. 
 — Pat.,  Gill,  Boothr.  17 .  finocA, '  instructed,"  dedicated' to  the  true 
 God,  says  A.  Clarke,  as  a  sign  of  his  repentance.    But  this  is  not  war- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  I.  The  history  of  the  fall 
 of  man  is  wrapped  up  in  much  mystery;  perhaps  to  check  our 
 vain  and  rash  curiosity  respecting  the  origin  of  evil.  It 
 is,  however,  but  too  certain  that  sin  has  entered  into  the 
 Ti-orld,  and  to  no  other  cause  can  we  properly  and  primarily 
 trace  our  miseries.  We  shall  find,  sooner  or  later,  that  sin 
 and  sorrow  are  inseparably  connected  together. 
 
 II.  Let  «>•■  learn  to  beicare  of  the  deceptidns  of  the  tempter. 
 In  the  first  transgression  he  represented  God  as  unreasonable 
 in  his  demands,  and  the  consequences  of  violating  bis  com- 
 mands as  mere  threats,  which  he  would  never  execute.  And 
 still  he  urges  sinners  to  disobedience,  by  teaching  them  to 
 trifle  with  the  law  of  God,  and  by  representing  him  as  over- 
 looking their  crimes,  or  as  so  merciful  that  he  will  never 
 punish  the  transgressor. 
 
 III.  Sin  always  piodures  shame — Adam  was  naked  and  hid 
 himself.  Both  our  first  parents  were  ready  to  shift  off  their 
 transgression  ;  Adam  on  our  mother  Eve,  and  Eve  on  the  ser- 
 
 pent.    Matthew  Henry  here  ohserves,  '  that  sin  is  a  brat  fhat 
 
 noliody  will  own Those  that  are  willing  enough  to  take 
 
 thb  pleasure  and  profit  of  sin  are  backward  enough  to  take  the 
 blame  and  shame  of  it.' 
 
 IV.  Ho2v  prompt  was  God  in  the  exercise  of  his  grace. 
 Though  our  first  parents  were  expelled  from  Eden,  as  a 
 punishment,  yet  they  were  not  shut  out  in  despair;  for  even 
 now  was  the  first  gospel  promise  given  of  the  seed  of  the 
 woman  bruising  the  serpent's  head,  and  of'  Christ's  coming 
 to  defeat  this  deep-laid  design  against  the  honour  of  God  in 
 the  world.  Till  this  promise  was  given,  there  could  not  be 
 the  least  hope  of  salvation  for  fallen  man,  whose  condition 
 was  not  only  deplorable,  but  desperate,  and,  in  all  appear- 
 ance, remediless;  but,  by  this  first  display  of  Divine  grace, 
 a  door  of  hope  was  opened,  and  Satan's  kingdom  began  to  be 
 broken  and  demolished!'  'O  give  thanks  to  Kim  who 
 remembered  us  in  our  low  estate,  for  his  mercy  endureth  for 
 ever !' 
 
The  birth  of  Seth  and  JSnos. 
 
 GENESIS,  V. 
 
 The  genealogy  of  the  patriarchs. 
 
 18  And  unto  Enoch  was  born  Irad  :  and  Irad 
 begat  Mehujael :  and  Mehujael  begat  Methu- 
 sael :  and  Methusael  begat  f  Laniecb. 
 
 19  IT  And  Lamech  took  unto  him  two  wives  :' 
 the  name  of  the  one  was  Adah,  and  tlie  name 
 of  the  other  Zillah. 
 
 20  And  Adah  bare  Jabal :  he  was  the  father 
 of  such  as  dwell  in  tents,  and  of  such  as  have 
 cattle. 
 
 21  And  his  brother's  name  iras  Jubal :  he 
 was  the  '  father  of  all  such  as  handle  the  harp 
 and  organ. 
 
 22  And  Zillah,  she  also  bare  Tubalcain,  an 
 t  instructer  of  every  artificer  in  brass  and  iron  : 
 and  the  sister  of  Tubalcain  teas  Naamah. 
 
 23  And  Lamech  said  unto  his  wives,  Adah 
 and  Zillah,  hear  my  voice ;  ye  wives  of  Lamech, 
 hearken  unto  my  speech :  for  ||  I  have  slain  a 
 man  to  my  wounding,  and  a  young  man  ||  to 
 my  hurt : 
 
 24  '  If  Cain  shall  be  avenged  sevenfold,  truly 
 Lamech  seventy  and  sevenfold. 
 
 25  1[  And  Adam  knew  his  wife  again  ;  and 
 she  bare  a  son,  and  '  called  his  name  f  |i  Seth  : 
 For  God,  said  she,  hath  appointed  me  another 
 seed  instead  of  Abel,  whom  Cain  slew. 
 
 26  And  to  Seth,  "  to  him  also  there  was  born 
 a  son ;  and  he  called  his  name  f  Enos :  then 
 began  men  ||  "  to  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1    The  genealogi/,  aye,  and  death  of  the  patriarclis  from 
 Adam  tinto' Noah.     24    The  godliness  aud  transla- 
 tion of  Enoch. 
 THIS  is  the  "book  of  the  generations  of 
 Adam.    In  the  day  that  God  created  man; 
 in  '■  the  likeness  of  God  made  he  him  ; 
 
 2  '  Male  and  female  created  he  them  ;  and 
 blessed  them,  and  called  their  name  Adam,  in 
 the  day  when  they  were  created. 
 
 3  H  And  Adam  hved  an  hundred  and  thirty 
 
 t  Heb.  Lt- 
 
 II  Or,  /  mM 
 
 ',Jll"Z"d" 
 
 *c. 
 II  Or.  m  my 
 
 hurt. 
 s  ver.  15. 
 
 887* 
 
 (  ch.  5,  S. 
 tHrh  Sfitlh 
 [i  Tliat  is, 
 
 appuiuttd, 
 
 or,  J>"t. 
 37C9. 
 •(  ch,  6.  6. 
 tHeb.&iyiA. 
 11  Or,  ti  call 
 
 theinselves 
 
 />V  the  nnnir 
 u/theLORD. 
 IB  I  Kin.  18. 
 
 24.  Pa.  1 16. 
 
 17.     Joel  2. 
 
 32.     Zecli. 
 
 S  9.    1  Cor. 
 
 1.2. 
 
 ■1004. 
 a  1  Clir.  1.  1. 
 Lulce3.  36. 
 
 »ch.  1.86. 
 
 VVisd,  2,  28. 
 
 Fi.h-  4.  24. 
 
 Col.  a.  III. 
 cell    1.  27. 
 
 B.C.  8874. 
 
 d  cb.  4.  25. 
 e  1  Cbr.  1. 1, 
 
 /ch.  1,29, 
 
 ff  cb.  3.  19. 
 
 Heb,  9.  27. 
 
 3769. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 3541. 
 
 t  Heb../erfd, 
 
 3392. 
 IJudel4.  15. 
 
 years,  and  begat  a  son  in  his  own  likeness,  after 
 his  image  ;  and  '•  called  his  name  Seth  : 
 
 4  "  And  the  days  of  Adam  after  he  had  be- 
 gotten Seth  were  eight  hundred  years:  ''and 
 he  begat  sons  and  daughters  : 
 
 o  And  all  the  days  that  Adam  lived  were  nine 
 hundred  and  thirty  years :  ^  and  he  died. 
 
 6  And  Seth  lived  an  hundred  and  five  years 
 and  '■  begat  Enos  : 
 
 7  And  Seth  lived  after  he  begat  Enos  eight 
 hundred  and  seven  years,  and  begat  sons  and 
 daughters : 
 
 8  And  all  the  days  of  Seth  were  nine  hundred 
 and  twelve  years  :  and  he  died. 
 
 9  1[  And  Enos  lived  ninety  years,  and  begat 
 f  Cainan  : 
 
 10  And  Enos  lived  after  he  begat  Cainan 
 eight  hundred  and  fifteen  years,  and  begat  sons 
 and  daughters  : 
 
 1 1  And  all  the  days  of  Enos  were  nine  hun- 
 dred and  five  years  :  and  he  died. 
 
 12  1  And  Cainan  lived  seventy  years,  and 
 begat  t  Mahalaleel : 
 
 13  And  Cainan  lived  after  he  begat  Mahala- 
 leel eight  hundred  and  forty  years,  and  begat 
 sons  and  daughters : 
 
 14  And  all  the  days  of  Cainan  were  nine 
 hundred  and  ten  years :  and  he  died. 
 
 15  H  And  Mahalaleel  lived  sixty  and  five 
 years,  and  begat  f  Jared  : 
 
 16  And  Mahalaleel  lived  after  he  begat  Jared 
 eight  hundred  and  thirty  years,  and  begat  sons 
 and  daughters  : 
 
 1 7  And  all  the  days  of  Mahalaleel  were  eight 
 hundred  ninety  and  five  years :  and  he  died. 
 
 18  H  And  Jared  lived  an  hundred  sixty  and 
 two  years,  and  he  begat  '  Enoch  : 
 
 19  And  Jared  lived  after  he  begat  Enoch  eight 
 hundred  years,  and  begat  sons  and  daughters  : 
 
 20  And  all  the  days  of  Jared  were  nine  hun- 
 dred sixty  and  two  years :  and  he  died. 
 
 ranted  by  his  scripture  character,  (1  John,  iii.) — Ed.  Rather,  'trained 
 up'  in  the  practices  of  wiclted  Cain. — Gilt.  19.  Two  wives— it  was 
 one  of  Cain's  race  who  first  transfjressed  the  law  of  marriage.  Hitherto, 
 one  man  had  but  one  wife,  but  Lamech  took  two.  From  the  begin- 
 ning it  was  not  so,  (.Matt.  xL\.  5.)  20.  The  father,  that  is,  the  first, 
 or  the  founder ;  a  Hebrew  mode  of  expression. — Boothr.  The  first 
 inventor  of  tents. — Pat.  21.  Father — harp  and  organ — inventor  of 
 instrumental  music,  both  stringed  and  wind  instruments.  —  GUI. 
 Organ,  '  pipe.' — Boothr.  22.  In  brass  and  iron — this  implies  the 
 fusion  of  ores.  For  instructer  the  Margin  reads,  '  a  whetter;'  hence 
 rt  is  inferred,  tliat  he  it  was  who  first  also  made  sharp  instruments. — 
 Gill,  Wil.  Native  copper  and  native  iron  must  be  meant ;  the  art  of 
 separating  the  metals  was  not  then  kaG^T\.~Pict.  Bib.  23.  To  my 
 wounding,  'I,  being  wounded,  have  slain  a  man.' — Houbigant.  'J, 
 indeed,  being  wounded,  have  slain  a  man  :  and,  being  assaulted,  a 
 young  man.'— BooMr.  The  speech  of  Lamech  is  an  apology  for  com- 
 mitting homicide  in  his  own  defence.— Lou-^A.  24.  7/  Cain,  S[c. — if 
 the  death  of  Cain,  who,  without  any  just  cause,  had  slain  his  brother, 
 was  to  be  avenged  seven  times,  surclv  his  would  be  seventy-seven 
 times.  This  was  to  soothe  his  wives,  who  might  fear  retaliation  upon 
 him.— Boothr.  Lamech  (being  a  descendant  of  Cain,  his  wives  might 
 perhaps  fear  that  the  death  of  Abel  would  he  avenged  on  him)  says, 
 '  Have  I  slain  a  man  to  my  wounding,  and  a  young  man  to  my  hurt?' 
 that  is.  *  I  have  not  killed  a  man  that  I  shonkl  l)e  wounded,  nor  a  young 
 man  that  1  should  be  hurt.'— So  Shock/.  25.  Seth,  '  put,  placed, 
 Bct.'— GiV/.  One  who  is  put,  or  substituted,  in  the  room  of  another.— 
 Hew.        26.  Enos,  that  is,  weak,  feeble,  frail,  mortal,  or  miserable. — 
 
 Gilt.  To  cull  upon,  '  to  be  called  hy.^—Piscator,  Shuck/.,  Boothroyd. 
 Hence,  devout  men  were  called  sons  of  God,  or  worshippers  of  Jeho- 
 vah.— Boothr.  Some  here  read,  'to  call  in  the  name  of  the  Lord;' 
 that  is,  to  call  upon  God  in  the  name  of  the  Messiah,  or  through  the 
 Mediator. — Gill.  Others  read,  *  begun  profanely,^  and  hence  infer  the 
 origin  of  idolatry. — So  most  of  the  Jewish  Doctors.  Maimonides  reads, 
 '  to  fall  away  from  the  Lord.'  To  this  it  is  objected,  that  this  would 
 not  be  calling  upon  Jehovah,  but  upon  their  idols. —  Wil.  Most  likely, 
 however,  men  did  not  become  idolators  but  by  degrees  ;  and,  at  first, 
 mi.\ed  the  worship  of  idols  with  that  of  Jehovah. — Ed.  The  Septua- 
 gint  reads,  *  This  man  hoped  to  be  called  after  the  name  of  the  Lord 
 God,' — presumed  to  claim  the  honours  of  Deity. 
 
 Chap.  V.  — Some  think  this  chapter  should  begin  with  verse  25  of 
 chap.  iv.  1.  The  book,  '  the  register.' — -■!.  Clarke.  Generations  o/ 
 Adam — persons  born  of  him,  including,  from  Seth  to  Noah,  ten  genera- 
 tions. S.  An  hundred  and  thirty — the  Septuagint  reads,  two  hundred 
 and  thirty,  This  variation  in  dates  between  the  Hebrew  andthe  Greek 
 translation  is  very  common.  It  will  be  given  in  future  as  it  occurs,  but 
 it  is  not  easy  to  account  for  it.  It  must,  however,  be  remembered,  that 
 the  Greek  is  hut  a  translation,  and  there  might  be  some  mistakes  by 
 the  translators,  or  inaccuracy  in  the  copies,  the  changes  of  letters 
 nearly  alike  often  causing  mistakes  in  figures.  Of  the  two,  it  is  better 
 to  keep  to  the  original  Hebrew. — Ed.,  Scott.  His  own  likeness,  not 
 that  of  God,  in  which  Adam  was  created. — Gill.  4.  Eight — seven  in 
 Sept.  6.  An  hundred — two  hundred  in  Sept.  9  Ninety — a  hun- 
 dred and  ninety  in  Sept.  10.  Eight — seven  in  Sept.  13.  Eight— 
 seven  in  Sepf.      15.  Si>^y— an  hundred  and  sixty  in  Se/)^       iti.  Eight 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  I.  Observe  the  difference 
 between  that  worship  which  is,  and  is  not,  acceptable  to  God. 
 The  one  is  offered  by  a  righteous,  the  other  by  a  wiclied  man. 
 The  one  is  the  mere  homage  of  rational  nature  to  God,  the 
 great  Creator,  without  any  reference  to  transgression  and 
 pardon  ;  and  the  otlier  is  tlie  qenuine  avowal  of  guilt,  and  the 
 need  of  Divine  mercy  through  the  great  atoning  sacrifice. 
 
 II.   Behold,  here,  one  of  tlie  first  fruits  of  sin  : — sin,  when  it 
 
 was  conceived,  'brought  forth  deatli.'    Such  still  is  sin;  death 
 
 is  in  its  train.    It  often  slays  the  body,  and  is  the  murderer  of 
 
 the  transgressor's  soul;  destroying  his  peace  here,  and  his 
 
 6 
 
 hopes  of  happiness  in  the  world  to  come. 
 
 III.  Remark,  that  God  sees  all  sin.  No  human  eye  beheld 
 Cain  when  he  slew  his  brother ;  but  God  saw  liim.  O,  trans- 
 gressor, beware  !  the  eye  of  God  is  upon  thee.  Not  only 
 murder,  but  every  other  sin,  and  even  the  sin  of  the  thoughts, 
 is  known  and  observed  by  him,  W  hat  need  have  we  then  to 
 '  stand  in  awe,  and  sin  not ;'  and  to  pray,  '  Search  me.  O  God,_ 
 and  know  my  heart;  try  me,  .and  know  my  ways,  and  see  if 
 there  be  any  evil  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  ever- 
 lasting." 
 
The  godliness  and  translation  of  Enoch. 
 
 GENESIS,  VI. 
 
 The  wickedness  oj'i/ic  icorld. 
 
 21  t  And  Enoch  lived  sixty  and  five  years, 
 and  begat  f  Methuselah  : 
 
 2-2  And  Enoch  ''  walked  with  God  after  he 
 begat  Methuselah  three  hundred  years,  and 
 begat  sons  and  daughters  : 
 
 23  And  all  the  days  of  Enoch  were  three 
 hundred  sixty  and  five  years  : 
 
 24  And  '  Enoch  walked  with  God :  and  he 
 was  not  ;  for  God  took  him. 
 
 25  And  Methuselah  lived  an  hundred  eighty 
 and  seven  years,  and  begat  f  Lamech  : 
 
 26  And  Methuselah  lived  after  lie  begat  La- 
 mech seven  hundred  eighty  and  two  years,  and 
 begat  sons  and  daughters  : 
 
 27  And  all  the  days  of  Methuselah  were  nine 
 hundred  sixty  and  nine  years  :  and  he  died. 
 
 28  H  And  Lamech  lived  an  hundred  eighty 
 and  two  year.s,  and  begat  a  son  : 
 
 29  And  he  called  his  name  t||  Noah,  saying. 
 This  same  shall  comfort  us  concerning  our 
 work  and  toil  of  our  hands,  because  of  the 
 ground  "which  the  Lokd  hath  cursed. 
 
 ;30  And  Lamech  lived  after  he  begat  Noah 
 five  hundred  ninety  and  five  years,  and  begat 
 sons  and  daugliters  : 
 
 31  And  all  the  days  of  Lamech  were  seven 
 hundred  seventy  and  seven  years  :  and  he  died. 
 
 32  And  Noah  was  five  hundred  years  old  : 
 and  Noah  begat  "  Shem,  Ham,  °  and  Japheth. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  The  wivhednes^s  of  the  wi>Hd,  ivhich  provoked  God^s 
 wrath,  and  caused  the  Jiond.  8  Noah  jindeth  grace. 
 14    The  order,  form,  and  design  of  the  ark. 
 
 AND  it  came  to  pass,  °  when  men  began  to 
 multiply  on  the  face    of  the  earth,  and 
 daughters  were  born  unto  them, 
 
 2  That  the  sons  of  God  saw  the  daughters  of 
 men  that  they  were  fair ;  and  they  ''took  them 
 wives  of  all  which  they  chose. 
 
 tGr.  J/aUo. 
 
 mil. 
 k  ch.  fi.  9.  & 
 
 17.  I.  Si  21. 
 I    411.     2  Kin. 
 
 20.  X     Ps. 
 
 16.  8.  &  116. 
 
 9.  &  W8.  1. 
 
 Mic.  C.  8. 
 
 Mai  2.  B. 
 i2K[n.2.U. 
 
 EccluB.  44. 
 
 16.Kt49.  14. 
 
 Heb.  II.  5. 
 3130. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 Lenieth. 
 
 294R. 
 t  Gr.  N''e. 
 
 Luke  3.  36. 
 
 Heb.  11.7. 
 
 1  Pet.  X  20. 
 II  That  is, 
 
 r«/,itr,com- 
 fort, 
 m  ch.  S.  17. 
 
 &i.  11. 
 
 n  ch.  G-  10. 
 
 o  Ch.  10.  ai. 
 
 a  ch.  1 .  28. 
 Esd.  S.  7. 
 
 c  Gal,  .-i.  16, 
 17.    I  Pel  3. 
 
 d  Ps.  78  29. 
 
 t,  Or.     the 
 
 ginotiun  .- 
 The  Hebrew 
 
 fiethiir. I  on- 
 ly th^  imn^i- 
 nntioii,  but 
 also  IhepuT- 
 poses  and  de- 
 
 ecU.  8.91. 
 
 Deu.  29.  19. 
 
 Piov.  6.  18. 
 2  Es(i.  S.  8. 
 
 Mat.  15.  19, 
 t  Heb.   #itTy 
 
 2443. 
 /See  Nu,2S. 
 
 19.    I  Sara. 
 
 13.  11,29. 
 
 2  Sam.  24. 
 
 Iti.  Mai, 3.6. 
 
 Jam.  1,  17. 
 ff  Is.  63.  10. 
 
 Eph.  4.  30. 
 t  HPb  from 
 
 rua>i    H/ifu 
 
 beast, 
 h  ch.  19.  19. 
 
 Ex.  33.  12. 
 
 13,  16,  17. 
 
 Luke  1.  30. 
 
 Acts  7.  46. 
 ich.7.  I. 
 
 Ezek. 14.14., 
 
 2ci.Ecclus. 
 
 44.17.  Ro.l. 
 
 17.  Heb.  11. 
 
 7.2Pet.9.5. 
 
 Il  OT,upTighi. 
 
 h  ch.  5.  22. 
 /  ch  5.  32. 
 
 nch.  7.  1.  fc 
 
 10.  9.  &  13 
 
 13.2Chr.  34. 
 
 27.  Luke  1. 
 
 6.    R.im.  2. 
 
 13.  k  3.  19. 
 n  Ezel:,S.17. 
 
 &  28.  16. 
 
 Hab.2,S,17. 
 
 .  ch.  18.  21. 
 
 Ps.  14.  2.  *i 
 
 S3.  13,  14. 
 
 &  53.  2,  3. 
 p  Jer.  51.  13. 
 
 Ezek,7.  2,3. 
 
 6,  Amos  8.2. 
 
 1  Pet.  4.  7. 
 q  ver.  17.      II 
 
 3  And  the  Lord  said,  *"  My  spirit  shall  not 
 always  strive  with  man,  ^  for  that  he  also  is 
 flesh  :  yet  his  days  shall  be  an  hundred  and 
 twenty  years. 
 
 4  There  were  giants  in  the  earth  in  those 
 days;  and  also  afterthat,  when  the  sons  of  God 
 came  in  unto  the  daughters  of  men,  and  they 
 bare  children  to  them,  the  same  became  mighty 
 men  which  weie  of  old,  men  of  renown. 
 
 5  If  And  God  saw  that  the  wickedness  of  man 
 was  great  in  the  earth,  and  that  \\  every  ^ima- 
 gination of  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  was  only 
 evil  f  continually. 
 
 6  And  ''  it  repented  the  Lord  that  he  had  made 
 man  on  the  earth,  and  it  ^  grieved  him  at  his  heart. 
 
 7  And  the  Lord  said,  1  will  destroy  man 
 whom  I  have  created  from  the  face  of  the  earth; 
 t  both  man,  and  beast,  and  the  creeping  thing, 
 and  the  fowls  of  the  air  ;  for  it  repenteth  me 
 that  I  have  made  them. 
 
 8  But  Noah  ^  found  grace  in  the  eyes  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 9  IT  These  «?e  the  generations  of  Noah  : 
 *  Noah  was  a  just  man  and  \\  perfect  in  his  ge- 
 nerations, and  Noah  ''  walked  with  God. 
 
 10  And  Noah  begat  three  sons,  'Shem,  Ham, 
 and  Japheth. 
 
 11  The  earth  also  was  corrupt  *"  before  God, 
 and  the  earth  was  "filled  with  violence. 
 
 12  And  God  "^  looked  upon  the  earth,  and,  be- 
 hold, it  was  corrupt ;  for  all  flesh  had  corrupted 
 liis  way  upon  the  earth. 
 
 13  And  God  said  unto  Noah.^  The  end  of  all 
 flesh  is  come  before  me  ;  for  the  earth  is  filled 
 with  violence  through  them  ;  '*  and,  behold,  1 
 will  destroy  them  ||  with  the  earth. 
 
 14  t  Make  thee  an  ark  of  gopher  wood  ; 
 t  rooms  shalt  thou  make  in  the  ark,  and  shall 
 pitch  it  within  and  without  with  pitch. 
 
 Or,/rum  the  earth.     \  Heb.  netts. 
 
 — seven  in  Sept.  21.  Sixty — an  hundred  and  sixty  in  Sept.  22.  Three 
 — twio'iu  Sept.  24.  Walked,  a  tinnrative  description  of  communion 
 with  God. — Scott.  Took  him,  '  had  taken  him  away.* — Boothr.  He 
 wa-s  translated,  soul  and  body,  (see  Heb.  xi.  5.) — Gill.  25.  Eighty- 
 seven — sixty-seven  in  Sept.  26.  Seven  hundred  eighty  and  two  years 
 — eight  hundred  and  two  years  in  Sept.  27.  Methuselah — this  was 
 the  oldest  man  spoken  of, — Gill ;  but  it  does  not  follow  that  he  was  the 
 oldest  man  that  ever  lived. — Sir  T.  Brown.  28.  Eighty  and  two — 
 eighty-eieht  in  Sept.  29.  Nonh,  that  is,  *  rest  and  comfort.'— Gi7/. 
 'Comforter.'  —  Boothr.  30.  Ninety  and  Jive  —  sixty-five  in  Sept. 
 31.  Seven  hundred  seventy  and  seven  years — according  to  the  Sept.,  he 
 lived  but  seven  hundred  and  fifty- three.  32.  Shem,  Ham,  and  Japheth 
 — Ham  was  the  younger  son  {Gen.  ix.  24) ;  Japhetlj,  though  mentioned 
 last,  was  the  eldest  nf  the  three  ('cliap.  x.  21) ;  Shem  is  first  named  as 
 being:  the  chief  subject  of  the  following  history. — Gill,  Hew, 
 
 Chap.  VI. — 2.  The  softs  of  God — the  posterity  of  Seth,  who  were 
 called  by  the  name  of  the  Lord,  (chap.  iv.  26.] — Gilt.  Upright  and 
 true  men.  —  Pict.  Bib.  See  Deul.  xiv.  1.  Earthly  princes — princes, 
 judges,  and  chiefs  being  called  '  gods.* — Heiv.,  Wit.  The  word  so 
 used,  Exod.  xxii.  8,  9,  28  j  sec  1  Sam.  ii.  25  ;  Ps.  Ixxxii.  1,  and  cxxxviii.  1. 
 — Hew.  That  they  were  angels  is  a  mere  fiction,  discarded  by  the  best 
 commentators. —  Ed.  Daughters  of  men — apostate  and  unbelieving 
 women, — Pict.  Bih.  Wines  of  all  which  they  chose— \\\^  powerful 
 princes  seized  the  daughters  of  the  poor,  and  committed  violence  upon 
 them  at  pleasure. — So  Boothr.,  Stit.,  Wall.  The  sons  of  Seth  inter- 
 married with  the  Cainites.— So  Hew.,  Gill,  Scott.  3.  Strive — by 
 preaching,  disputing,  convincing,  in  the  mouths  of  my  servants,  and 
 by  checks  of  conscience. — Trapp.     '  I  will  not  sufi'er  my  laws  and  ad- 
 
 monitions to  be  any  longer  trampled  upon. — Faw.  •!  will  never  pro- 
 nonnce  judgment  on  man  unwarned;  they  arc  but  flesh  ;  their  days 
 shall  be  120  years.' — So  Drs.  Geddes  and  Boothr.  4.  Giants,  '  lawless 
 warriors.' — Boothroyd.  C''?C3,  ntphalim,  from  bC3,  'he  fell.' — Gill, 
 A.  Clarke.  Either  alluding  to  falling  from  religion, — Gill,  A.  Clarke; 
 or  causing  their  fear  to  fall  vpo7i  men;  or,  rather,  l)ecausc  they  felt 
 upon  men  with  great  violence. — Gill.  It  denotes  such  persons  as  fall 
 upon  or  attack  others  uDJustly. — Boothr.  Hence,  perhaps,  not  so 
 much  bulk  and  stature  as  renown  seems  intended. — Ed.  It  is  never 
 safe  to  understand  the  word  as  me;ining  large  stature,  unless  the  con- 
 text  fixes  that  signification.  In  the  present  word  the  leading  idea  is 
 'apostasy,'  sustained  by  violence  and  oppression. — Pict.  Bib.  The 
 Sept.  reads,  fi-iavrei,  'earth-born,'  which  seems  a  proper  distinction 
 from  'sons  of  God.' — A.  Clarke.  Became  mighty  men — men  of  renown 
 — from  the  combination  of  influences  resulting  from  their  parentage, 
 they   became   conquerors   and   chiefs. — Pict.  Bib.  6.    Repented— 
 
 ^j-!>t'<>rf— language  accommodated  to  our  infirmities.— ScoW.  God's 
 repenting  is  not  a  change  of  his  will,  but  his  work. — Gataker.  Q.  Per. 
 feet— not  with  a  sinless  perfection,  but  a  perfection  of  sincerity . — Heu\, 
 Gill.  Geiierations,  rather  here  must  mean  *  events'  which  occurred  in 
 his  days,  since  no  genealugj'  is  given. — Boothr.  14.  Aii  o)-A-— ihe 
 word  ark  means  a  chest;  but  the  original  is  expressive  of  a  large 
 vessel  ov  ship. — Boothr.  A  sort  of  flat-bottomed  chest. — Gill.  'A  vessel,' 
 having  any  hollow  place  capable  of  holding  persons  or  things. — A.  C. 
 Gopher  wood — this  wood  is  not  known,  and  is  variously  interpreted  ; 
 but  many  think  it  was  the  cypress. — So  Fuller,  Bochnrt,  Evelyn'. 
 This  tree  is  not  liable  to  rot.  and  was  anciently  used  for  ship  building. 
 —A.  Clarke.    Rooms,  'nests,'  or  little  apartments.— Pug-niniw.  Mont. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.— I.  JFe  see  here  the  wisdom  ajtd 
 providence  of  God  in  prolonging  the  lii^es  of  the  patriarchs.  By 
 this  means,  the  world  was  rapidly  peopled,  and,  before 
 writing  was  invented,  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  and  of 
 the  origin,  fall,  hopes,  and  duties  of  man,  together  with  other 
 interesting  facts  of  the  first  ages,  were  handed  down,  with 
 perfect  accuracy,  to  the  last  generation  before  the  flood. 
 Adam  prohably  knew  Methuselah,  and  Methuselah,  Shem. 
 
 IL  Jf'e  are  led  to  observe^  that  the  most  vigorous  must  fall  at  last 
 7 
 
 under  the  stroke  of  death.  'And  he  died,' must  be  vrritten  in 
 the  history  of  every  human  being — young  and  old,  high  and 
 low,  rich  and  poor.  Is  it  possible,  then,  to  read  this  chapter 
 without  solemn  reflections  on  the  evil  of  sin— on  man's  frailty — 
 on  the  myriads  of  mortals  mingled  with  the  dust  in  the  suc- 
 ceeding shorter  generations  of  mankind — on  our  own  inevitable 
 mortality — on  a  preparation  for  eternity — and  the  immense 
 value  and  vast  importance  of  an  interest  in  that  Saviour  who 
 is  *  the  resurrection  and  the  life'? 
 
Noah  entereth  into  the  ark. 
 
 GENESIS,  VII. 
 
 The  heijinning  uflhefioo 
 
 15  And  this  is  the  fashion  which  thou  shall 
 make  it  of :  The  length  of  the  ark  shall  be  three 
 hundred  cubits,  the  breadth  of  it  fifty  cubits, 
 and  the  height  of  it  thirty  cubits. 
 
 16  A  window  shalt  thou  make  to  the  ark,  and 
 in  a  cubit  shalt  thou  finish  it  above  ;  and  the 
 door  of  the  ark  shalt  thou  set  in  the  side  there- 
 of ;  with  lower,  second,  and  third  stories  shalt 
 thou  make  it. 
 
 17  'And,  behold,  I,  even  I,  do  bring  a  flood 
 of  waters  upon  the  earth,  to  destroy  all  flesh, 
 wherein  is  the  breath  of  hfe,  from  under  heaven ; 
 and  every  thing  that  is  in  the  earth  shall 
 die. 
 
 18  But  with  thee  will  I  establish  my  cove- 
 nant ;  and  '  thou  shalt  come  into  the  ark,  thou, 
 and  thy  sons,  and  thy  wife,  and  thy  son's  wives 
 with  thee. 
 
 19  And  of  every  living  thing  of  all  flesh, '  two 
 of  every  sort  shalt  thou  bring  into  the  ark,  to 
 keep  them  alive  with  thee  ;  they  shall  be  male 
 and  female. 
 
 20  Of  fowls  after  their  kind,  and  of  cattle 
 after  their  kind,  of  every  creeping  thing  of  the 
 earth  after  his  kind,  two  of  every  sort  "  shall 
 come  unto  thee,  to  keep  them  alive. 
 
 21  And  take  thou  unto  thee  of  all  food  that 
 is  eaten,  and  thou  shalt  gather  it  to  thee  ;  and 
 it  shall  be  for  food  for  thee,  and  for  them. 
 
 22  "  Thus  did  Noah  ;  '  according  to  all  that 
 God  commanded  him,  so  did  he. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  Nimh,  teith  his  fiimilij,  and  the  living  creatures,  mtcr 
 into  the  ark.  17  The  beginnitig,  increase,  and  con- 
 tinuance of  the  Jiooii. 
 
 A  ND  the  LoKD  said  unto  Noah,  °  Come  thou 
 ■^  and  all  thy  house  into  the  ark  ;  for  ''  thee 
 have  I  seen  righteous  before  me  in  this  gene- 
 ration. 
 
 2  Of  every  '  clean  beast  thou  shalt  take  to 
 thee  by  f  sevens,  the  male  and  his  female  :  ''and 
 of  beasts  that  are  not  clean  by  two,  the  male 
 and  his  female. 
 
 3  Of  fowls  also  of  the  air  by  sevens,  the  male 
 
 r  ver,  13. 
 ch.  7.4,21, 
 22,  S3. 
 8  Pet.  2.  5. 
 
 Kch.  7.3,  IS. 
 Seect).£.19. 
 
 uHeb.  U.7. 
 $«e  Ex.  40. 
 
 X  ch.  7.  5,  0, 
 
 2349. 
 
 aver.  7  13. 
 Mjil.  24  3^. 
 Liike  17  2fJ. 
 Heb.  II.  7. 
 
 1  I'et.  3,  2Lf. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  5. 
 6  ch,  fi.  Jl. 
 
 Ps  31.  18. 
 
 19.  Prov.  in. 
 
 9.  2  Pet. 2.9. 
 c  ver.  8. 
 
 Lev.  ch.M. 
 t  Heb.   «iren 
 
 t  Heb. 
 b/ul  oiif. 
 f  ch.  6.  22. 
 
 I  Or,  nn  the 
 ntalh  day. 
 
 h  eh.  9.  2. 
 
 Pinv.  3.  28. 
 
 Kick  .20. 19. 
 t  Ut.Jh„d- 
 
 ich.  |'.7S<9. 
 
 2.  Ps  78.23. 
 Avec.  4,  17. 
 /ver.  1.7. 
 
 ch.  ti.  18. 
 
 Heb.  11.  7. 
 
 1  Pet.  3.  20, 
 
 2  Pet  2  5. 
 
 t  Heb.  »i«5. 
 n  ch.  6.  20. 
 
 9  »-"•  2. 3 
 p  ver.  4.  ic. 
 
 and  the  female  ;  to  keep  seed  alive  upon  the 
 face  of  all  the  earth. 
 
 4  For  yet  seven  days,  and  I  will  cause  it  to 
 rain  upon  the  earth"  forty  days  and  forty  nights  ; 
 and  every  living  substance  that  I  have  made 
 will  I  f  destroy  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 
 3  •■  And  Noah  did  according  unto  all  that  the 
 Lord  commanded  him. 
 
 0  And  Noah  was  six  hundred  years  old  when 
 the  flood  of  waters  was  upon  the  earth. 
 
 7  H  ^  And  Noah  went  in,  and  his  sons,  and  his 
 wife,  and  his  sons' wives  with  him,  into  the  ark, 
 because  of  the  waters  of  the  flood. 
 
 8  Of  clean  beasts,  and  of  beasts  that  are  not 
 clean,  and  of  fowls,  and  of  every  thing  that 
 creepeth  upon  the  earth, 
 
 9  There  went  in  two  and  two  unto  Noah  into 
 the  ark,  the  male  and  the  female,  as  God  had 
 commanded  Noah. 
 
 10  And  it  came  to  pass  ||  after  seven  days, 
 that  the  waters  of  the  flood  were  upon  the 
 earth. 
 
 11  H  In  the  six  hundredth  year  of  Noah's  life, 
 in  the  second  month,  the  seventeenth  day  of 
 the  month,  the  same  day  were  all  the  '■foun- 
 tains of  the  great  deep  broken  np,  and  the 
 II' windows  of  heaven  were  opened. 
 
 12  ^  And  the  rain  was  upon  the  earth  forty 
 days  and  forty  nights. 
 
 13  In  the  selfsame  day  '  entered  Noah,  and 
 Shem,  and  Ham,  and  .laplieth,  the  sons  of  Noah, 
 and  Noah's  wife,  and  the  tin-ee  wives  of  his 
 sons  witli  them,  into  the  ark  ; 
 
 14  ""  They,  and  every  beast  after  his  kind,  and 
 all  the  cattle  after  their  kind,  and  every  creep- 
 ing thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth  after  his 
 kind,  and  every  fowl  after  his  kind,  every  bird 
 of  every  f  sort. 
 
 15  And  they  "went  in  unto  Noah  into  the 
 ark,  two  and  two  of  all  flesh,  wherein  is  the 
 breath  of  life. 
 
 16  And  they  that  went  in,  went  in  male  and 
 female  of  all  flesh,  °  as  God  had  commanded 
 
 I  him  :  and  the  Lokd  shut  him  in. 
 
 I    17  P  And  the  flood  was  forty  days  upon  the 
 
 15.  T/te  length,  about  500  feet,  nearly  as  long  as  St.  Paul's  ;  breadth, 
 100  feet. —  if'il.  450  feet  long,  75  feet  wide,  and  45  high. — .i.  Ctarke. 
 81,072  tons  burden. — .-irbuthnot.  42,413  tons. —  Halen.  But  he  reckons 
 it  would  carry  as  ranch  as  eighteen  ef  our  largest  ships  of  war.  16.  A 
 window,  a  roof  or  deck. — Schutten.s,  Geddes,  A.  Ctarke.  A  small  sky- 
 light, out  of  which  the  birds  were  sent.  — H'i/.  17.  A  flood — traditions 
 of  this  have  been,  or  are,  among  the  Egyptians,  the  Chaldeans,  the 
 Greeks,  the  Romans  (see  Lucian  and  Ocirfi,  the  Chinese,  the  American 
 tribes,  the  Brahmins,  &c. — Gitt,  18.  My  covenant — meaning  here,  his 
 promise  rather  than  any  compact ;  so  used,  Numb,  xviii.  19  ;  xxv.  12. 
 — Poole.  19.  Of  ei-ert/  Itpini^  Ihin^ — learned  men  have  shewn  the 
 capability  of  the  ark  for  its  purpose. — Wit. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  1.  Righteous,  v,ith  the  righteousness  of  faith,  (Heb. 
 xi.  7,1  evidenced  by  true  holiness. — Benson.  2.  Every  clean  beast — 
 probably  those  not  rapacious,  and  appointed  for  sacrifice. — Scott.  As 
 flesh  was  not  used  for  food  before  tlie  flood,  this  distinction  must  have 
 been  made  for  sacrifices. — Boothr.    By  sevens — Heb.  rn?11C   nyilD, 
 
 'seven  seven,*  that  is.  of  each  sex. —  Wit.  3.  Fowls,  by  sevens,  for 
 the  same  reason  as  beasts. — Gilt.  The  seventh  has  been  supposed  for 
 sacrifice;  no  doubt  some  were  allowed  in  the  number  to  supply  for  that 
 purpose  ;  but  God  seems  to  have  honoured  the  number  seven  in  his 
 word,  perhaps  with  reference  to  his  sacred  day  of  rest. — Ed.  7.  Be. 
 rouse  of  the  waters — Heb.  ^o  '3DO,  '  from  the  face  of  the  waters.' — 
 Pop.,  Mont.  Or,  rather,  '  before  the  waters.' — Schmidt.  Before  they 
 came  to  any  height. — Gilt.  9.  Went  in.  by  special  instinct,  not  taken 
 in. — .iuslin.  11.  Si.r  /iirndredtb  year — 1656  jears  from  the  creation. 
 — Hen.  Second  mont/i — the  Jews  diff'er  respecting  the  month,  as  they 
 sometimes  reckoned  the  beginning  of  the  year  in  sprint;,  and  some- 
 times in  autumn  ;  but  critics  generally  name  Marchcsvan,  answering 
 to  a  part  of  October  and  November. — Gill.  i-'OHH^ain*,  '  cataracts, ' 
 Sept.  The  abyss  of  waters,  supposed,  by  philosophers,  to  be  in  the 
 centre  of  the  earth. — King*s  'Morsels  of  Criticism.*  Windows — the 
 aqueous  vapours  in  the  air  were  precipitated. — .4.  Clarke.  14.  bD 
 F]]D,  of  '  every  wing  j'  with  featliers,  as  birds ;  or  skin,  as  bats. — Ains. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI I.  In  this  chapter,  we  have 
 
 a  powerful  proof  how  much  God  abhors  uncleannrss.  Whe- 
 ther the  powerful  offered  violence  to  the  weak,  or  the  off- 
 spring of  Seth  allowed  their  passions  only  to  guide  them  in 
 choosing  their  partners  in  life,  we  have,  in  hoth  instances,  a 
 lesson  on  purity  which  Divine  Providence  has  read  in  the 
 flood,  that  should,  indeed,  teach  us,  that  God  '  is  of  purer  eyes 
 than  to  behold  iniquity,'  and  warn  us  to  '  stand  in  awe,  and 
 sin  not.' 
 
 II.  (Ft  see  here  how  precious  holy  men  are  in  the  siglit  of  the 
 Lord.  God  would  take  care  of  Noah  when  he  destroyed  the 
 world  :  so  will  he  do  with  his  saints,  and  gather  them  all 
 safely  in  Christ  before  the  earth  and  all  the  works  that  are 
 therein  shall  he  hurned  up. 
 
 III.  We  may  also  observe,  tiie  benefit  of  being  connected,  even 
 
 8 
 
 by  liuman  lies,  with  men  that  fear  God.  Noah's  preservation 
 secured  his  family.  JMany  a  family,  in  which,  as  in  this,  all 
 are  not  pious  members,  are  greatly  indebted  to  the  prayers 
 and  piety  of  their  relatives,  and  especially  of  devout  parents, 
 whom  God  blessing,  a  blessing  is  secured  to  them.  Noah's 
 ark  represents  Christ,  the  refuge  from  the  storm  of  Divine 
 wrath,  which  shall  ere  long  again  destroy  the  world.  It  may 
 also  typify  the  church,  in  wliich  is  a  mixture  of  persons  in  the 
 present  state,  both  good  and  bad,  and  teach  us,  that  shelter 
 for  time  in  the  church  does  not  secure  us  against  the  ven- 
 geance of  Divine  justice  in  eternity.  To  any  of  Noah's  family 
 who  did  not  love  God,  this  was  only  a  reprieve  ;  but  '  sen- 
 tence against  an  evil  work'  would,  in  the  end,  take  place,  and 
 be  but  the  more  aggravated  from  past  abused  privileges  and 
 instances  of  mercy. 
 
The  waters  asswaye. 
 
 GENESIS,  VIII. 
 
 The  raven  and  the  dove. 
 
 earth  ;  and  the  waters  increased,  and  bare  up 
 the  ark,  and  it  was  lift  up  above  the  earth. 
 
 18  And  the  waters  prevailed,  and  were  in- 
 creased greatly  upon  the  earth  ;  ''  and  the  ark 
 went  upon  the  face  of  the  waters. 
 
 19  And  the  waters  prevailed  exceedingly 
 upon  the  earth  ;  'and  all  the  high  hills,  that 
 were  under  the  whole  heaven,  were  covered. 
 
 20  Fifteen  cubits  upward  did  the  waters  pre- 
 vail ;  and  the  mountains  were  covered. 
 
 21  '  And  all  flesh  died  that  moved  upon  the 
 earth,  both  of  fowl,  and  of  cattle,  and  of  beast, 
 and  of  every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon 
 the  eartl),  and  every  man  : 
 
 22  All  in  '  whose  nostrils  was  fthe  breath  of 
 life,  of  all  tliat  was  in  the  dry  land,  died. 
 
 23  And  every  living  substance  was  destroyed 
 which  was  upon  the  face  of  the  ground,  both 
 man,  and  cattle,  and  the  creeping  things,  and 
 the  fowl  of  the  heaven ;  and  they  were  de- 
 stroyed from  the  earth  :  and  "  Noah  only  re- 
 mained alive,  and  they  that  M'(7'e  with  him  in 
 the  ark. 
 
 24  "  And  the  waters  prevailed  upon  the  earth 
 an  hundred  and  fifty  days. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  7IiP  waters  asstcaiip.  4  The  ark  resteth  on  Ararat. 
 7  The  raven  and  the  dove.  15  Noah,  htimj  rom- 
 mnnded,  18  riocth  forth  of  the  ark.  tiO  Nv  hulldeth 
 an  altar,  and  offireth  sacrifice,  21  which  God  ac- 
 ceptetk,  and  promt sHh  to  curse  the  earth  no  more. 
 
 A  ND  God  '  remembered  Noah,  and  every 
 -'-^  living  thing,  and  all  the  cattle  that  iras 
 with  him  in  the  ark  :  '■  and  God  made  a  wind 
 to  pass  over  the  earth,  and  the  waters  asswaged 
 
 2  "  The  fountains  also  of  the  deep  and  tlie 
 windows  of  heaven  were  stopped,  and  '^  the 
 rain  from  heaven  was  restrained  ; 
 
 3  And  tlie  waters  returned  from  off  the  earth 
 t  continually  :  and  after  the  end  "  of  the  hun- 
 dred and  fifty  days  the  waters  were  abated. 
 
 4  And  the  ark  rested  in  the  seventh  month, 
 on  the  seventeenth  day  of  the  month,  upon  the 
 mountains  of  Ararat. 
 
 qVt.  IIM.26. 
 
 P8.  104.6. 
 Jer.  3.  -JS. 
 
 f  eh.  6-  13. 
 
 17.  ver.  •!. 
 
 Job  93. 16  2 
 
 Esd.:i  g.lil. 
 
 Wis.  10  4. 
 
 Mat   2.1  3<J. 
 
 I.iike  17,27. 
 
 2  Pet.  3,  6. 
 ( ch.  2  7. 
 t  Heb.  //»• 
 
 llTHllflt    llf 
 
 Ihf  spirit  'if 
 
 I'fe. 
 
 cum  pared 
 
 nf  thia 
 chap. 
 
 fi  cli,  19.  20. 
 Ex.  2.  'is. 
 1  bam. 1.19. 
 
 rcli.7.  II. 
 d  Job  38.  S7. 
 
 f  Ileb.  in  gn- 
 
 ii,//  iind  rf- 
 
 e  ch.  7.  a*. 
 
 B  C. 2319, 
 t  Heb.  ('"T" 
 
 f  Heb.  in  ij<,- 
 U,gf..rll<  4- 
 reliiTiiiii^. 
 
 e  ch.  7.  18. 
 
 5  And  the  waters  f^^^creased  continually 
 until  the  tenth  month  :  in  the  tenth  months  on 
 the  first  day  of  the  month,  were  the  tops  of  the 
 mountains  seen. 
 
 6  t  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  forty 
 days,  that  Noah  opened  ''the  window  of  the 
 ark  which  he  had  made  : 
 
 7  And  he  sent  forth  a  raven,  which  went  forth 
 t  to  and  fro,  until  the  waters  were  dried  up 
 from  off  the  earth. 
 
 8  Also  he  sent  forth  a  dove  from  him,  to  see 
 if  the  waters  were  abated  from  off  the  face  of 
 the  ground  ; 
 
 9  But  the  dove  found  no  rest  for  the  sole  of 
 her  foot,  and  she  returned  unto  him  into  the 
 ark,  for  the  waters  ivere  on  the  face  of  the 
 whole  earth  :  then  he  put  iorth  his  hand,  and 
 took  her,  and  f  pulled  her  in  unto  him  into  the 
 ark. 
 
 10  And  he  stayed  yet  other  seven  days  ;  and 
 again  he  sent  forth  the  dove  out  of  the  ark  ; 
 
 i  1  And  the  dove  came  in  to  him  in  the  even- 
 ing ;  and,  lo,  in  lier  mouth  ivas  an  olive  leaf 
 pluckt  off :  so  Noah  knew  that  the  waters  were 
 abated  from  off  the  earth. 
 
 12  And  he  stayed  yet  other  seven  days  ;  and 
 sent  forth  the  dove  ;  which  returned  not  again 
 unto  him  any  more. 
 
 13  IF  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  six  hundredth 
 and  first  year,  in  the  first  7no/tt/i,  the  first  da?/ 
 of  the  month,  the  waters  were  dried  up  from 
 off  the  earth  :  and  Noah  removed  the  coverimj: 
 of  the  ark,  and  looked,  and,  beliold,  the  face  of 
 the  ground  was  dry. 
 
 14  And  ill  the  second  month,  on  the  seven  and 
 twentieth  day  of  the  month,  was  the  earth  dried 
 
 15  f   And  God  spake  unto  Noah,  sayini;, 
 
 \G  Go  forth  of  the  ark,  ^  thou,  and  thy  wife, 
 and  thy  sons,  and  thy  sons'  wives  with  thee. 
 
 17  Bring  forth  with  thee  ^  every  living  thing 
 that  is  with  thee,  of  all  flesh,  both  of  fowl,  and 
 of  cattle,  and  of  every  creeping  thing  tliat 
 creepeth  upon  the  earth  ;  that  they  may  breed 
 abundantly  in  the  earth,  and  '  be  fruitful,  and 
 multiply  upon  the  earth. 
 
 18.  Prevailed,  '  ^rew  strone  and  mighty,'  asthe  Hebrew  signifies. — 
 Pnt.  \Q.  Hif^h  hills— \\er\CQy  hills  did  not  originate  with  the  flood. — 
 Gill.  Under  the  whole  heai-ei)~X.\\\?,  proves  tliat  the  deluge  was  uni- 
 versal.— Willitughby.  20.  Fifteen  cubits — above  eight  yards. — Scott. 
 The  mountains  were  covered — cimfirmecl  by  shells,  skeletons  of  fish, 
 &c.,  being  now  found  in  the  highest  mountains. — Green/.  21.  And 
 enert/  man — computed,  by  some  skilful  calculators,  at  eleven  thousand 
 millions  ;  some  far  exceed,  and  say,  eighty  thousantt  millions. — Shuck/. 
 '  Physica  Sncra.''  Others  even  say,  two  millions  ot  millions.  The 
 general  opinion  is,  that  the  amount  must  have  been  vastly  superior  to 
 that  of  subsequent  ages. —  Wil.  22.  In  the  dry  land — Iienceitis  con- 
 cluded, that  water  anmials  were  not  required  to  be  preserved  in  the 
 ark. — A.  Clarke.  23.  Was  destroyed— this  was  universal ;  for  moose- 
 deer,  natives  of  America,  have  been  found  huiied  in  Ireland ;  elephants, 
 in  England;  cnicoriiles,  in  the  heart  of  Germany;  and  shell  fish,  in 
 inland  counties  of  England. — Green/.  24.  The  waters  prevniled— thin 
 is  mentioned  several  times,  and  significantly  expresses  the  gradual 
 rising  of  the  waters  higher  and  higher. —  Lorimer^s  E-ram,  o/  Ptre 
 Siinon'.t  '  Crit.  Hist.'  Drs.  Halley  and  Whiston  attribute  the  deluge  to 
 the  intluence  of  a  comet  passing  near  the  earth;  bpit  7>(r/f,  in  his 
 '  ChriatiaD  Philosopher,*  well  remarks,  that  there  is  a  chemical  process 
 
 in  nature  by  which,  if  God  pleased,  the  very  gases  of  the  atmobphere 
 might  be  converted  into  water. 
 
 Chap.  VIII. —  1.  Hememhered,  he  cannot  foi'get,  but  this  is  spoken 
 after  the  manner  of  men. — Gill.  It  is  one  of  those  modes  of  speaking 
 which  convey  a  great  fulness  of  meaning.  It  is  expressive  of  tender 
 mercy,  of  covenant  mercy,  and  of  mercy  after  a  strong  expression  of 
 displeasure. — Ful.  A  wind — a  gentleman  who  had  been  bathingin  the 
 Tigris  came  out  as  the  samiel,  a  hot  wind,  passed  over  it,  and  he  and 
 his  dress  were  dried  in  a  moment. — A.  Clarke.  4.  AraiiU,  situated  in 
 the  Greater  Armenia.  39o  30'  N.  Lat.,  and  40'>  30'  E.  Limg.  The  Turks, 
 Armenians,  and  Persians,  all  unite  in  the  tradition  f)f  Noah's  ark  having 
 rested  there.  It  is  L^dO  feet  liigher  than  Mont  lilanc.  The  summit  is 
 described  by  Pm/es.sor  Parrot,  who  actually  ascLTided  it  in  1830,  as 
 being  l6o  feet  in  circumference. — Home,  on  Findm^s  Landscape  lUus. 
 o/  the  Bible.  It  has  two  heads,  and  perhaps  the  ark  rL-sted  between 
 these. — Porter.  5.  The  tenth  rnonfh,  the  tenth  from  Marchesvan,  an- 
 swering to  July  and  August. — Jar.,  Light/.  11.  Olinelea/  '  branuii,'  as 
 rendered  Neh.  viii.  ir>. — Ains.  The  olive  tree  grows  in  theRedSta.  and 
 continnes  green  under  water. — Pliny,  Hist.  Nat.  13.  The  first  month 
 — critics  think  this  was  the  first  civil,  and  nut  sacred,  month,  named 
 Tizri,  answering  to  part  of  September  and  part  of  October.      14.  Hecond 
 
 Rf.flf.ctions    on    Chap.    VII 1.    A   greater   desolation. 
 
 than  tiiat  of  the  flood  shall,  ere  lonfj,  overwhelm  the  earth,  when 
 not  a  i-'estige  shall  remain.  '  The  earth,  and  all  the  works  that 
 are  therein,  shall  be  burnt  up.' 
 
 II.  But  therf  is  also  an  arh  of  safety  provided  against  that 
 awful  catastrophe,  and  thut  ark  i<i  Christ.  Therp  is  salvation 
 in  no  other  ;  '  for  there  is  no  other  name  under  heaven,  given 
 among  men,  whereby  we  may  he  saved.' 
 
 III.  Noah  believed  God,  and  took  refuge  in  the  ark,  *  and  the 
 Lord  shut  him  in.'  So  is  the  believer  in  Christ  secured  in 
 him.  No  storm  of  Divine  wrath  shall  ever  fall  upon  his  head  ; 
 for  '  there  is  now  no  condomiimion  to  lliem  that  are  in  Clirist 
 
 9 
 
 Jesus.'  Matthew  Henry  remarks,  '  God  put  Adam  into  para- 
 dise, hut  he  did  not  shut  him  in,  and  so  he  threw  himself 
 out;  but  when  he  put  Noah  into  the  ark,  and  so  when  he 
 brings  a  soul  to  Christ,  he  insures  his  salvation  :  it  is  not  in 
 our  own  keeping,  but  in  the  Mediator*s  hand.' 
 
 IV.  The  patriarch  took  his  faniilg  with  him  into  the  ark. 
 Have  we  aimed  to  take  our  children  and  relatives  to  Christ  ? 
 Surely,  he  is  most  inhuman  who  would  quietly  see  them 
 perish  in  the  flood  or  the  flames ;  but  what  are  those  who  call 
 themselves  Christians,  and  yet  never  employ  the  least  effort 
 to  save  their  kindred  from  everlasting  destruction  ? 
 
God  blesseth  Noah. 
 
 GENESIS,  IX. 
 
 The  covenant  of  the  rainbow. 
 
 ,  and 
 
 18  And   Noah  went  forth,  and  his  son; 
 his  wife,  and  his  sons'  wives  with  him  : 
 
 19  Every  beast,  every  creeping  thing,  and 
 every  fowl,  and  whatsoever  creepeth  upon  the 
 earth,  after  their  f  kinds,  went  forth  out  of  the 
 ark. 
 
 20  t  And  Noah  builded  an  altar  unto  the 
 Lord  ;  and  took  of  '  every  clean  beast,  and  of 
 every  clean  fowl,  and  offered  burnt  offerings  on 
 the  altar. 
 
 21  And  tlie  Lord  smelled  '  a  f  sweet  savour  ; 
 and  the  Lord  said  in  his  heart,  I  will  not  again 
 '"  curse  the  ground  any  more  for  man's  sake  ; 
 II  for  the  "  imagination  of  man's  heart  is  evil 
 from  his  youtli ;  °  neither  will  I  again  smite  any 
 more  every  thing  living,  as  I  have  done. 
 
 22  ''t  While  the  earth  remaineth,  seed-time 
 and  harvest,  and  cold  and  heat,  and  summer 
 and  winter,  and  ""day  and  night  shall  not  cease. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  God  blesseth  Noah.  4  Blood  and  murder  are  for- 
 bidden. 8  God's  covenant,  \Z  signified  ht/ the  rain- 
 bow. 18  Noah  replenisheth  the  world,  '20  plant ith  a 
 vineyard,  21  is  drunken,  and  mocked  of  his  son, 
 25  curseth  Canaan,  26  blesseth  Slicm,  27  prayeth 
 for  Japheth,  29  and  dieth. 
 
 A  ND  God  blessed  Noah  and  his  sons,  and 
 -^*-  said  unto  them,  °Be  fruitful,  and  multiply, 
 and  replenish  the  earth. 
 
 2  ■■  And  the  fear  of  you  and  the  dread  of  you 
 shall  be  upon  every  beast  of  the  earth,  and 
 upon  every  fowl  of  the  air,  upon  all  that  moveth 
 vpon  the  earth,  and  upon  all  the  fishes  of  the 
 sea  ;  into  your  hand  are  they  delivered. 
 
 3  "  Every  moving  thing  that  liveth  shall  be 
 meat  for  you  ;  even  as  the  ■'  green  herb  have  I 
 given  you  '  all  things. 
 
 4  '  But  flesh  with  the  life  thereof,  uhich  «.« 
 the  blood  thereof,  shall  ye  not  eat. 
 
 5  And  surely  your  blood  of  your  lives  will  I 
 
 B  C.  2348. 
 
 B,  C.2»I8. 
 
 
 
 tr  EX-31.-2S. 
 
 h  ch.  4.  9,  III 
 
 Ps  9.  12. 
 
 .'  Acts  17,2G. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 k  Ex  21.  IL'. 
 14,   Lev  24. 
 
 /Bmi/ia. 
 
 17.       Matt. 
 
 2G.5>.  Rev, 
 
 ts,  lu. 
 
 I  ch.  I,  27. 
 
 ALevch.ll. 
 
 m  ver.  I,  19 
 
 &  ch.  1.  28. 
 
 /  lev.  1.  9 
 
 Kzttk. 211,41. 
 
 8  Cor.  2. 15. 
 
 Eph.  5.  2. 
 t  Heb.  a  m- 
 
 vmirofrfU. 
 
 -.  ch.  6.  19. 
 0  Is,  W.  9. 
 
 m  ch.  3    17. 
 
 &ti.  17. 
 
 pPs.  145,9. 
 
 II  Or,  thouffh. 
 
 n  ch.  6.  5. 
 
 Job  14.4  & 
 
 IS,  l\.     Ps. 
 
 5\.h.     Jet. 
 
 17.9      Mat. 
 
 13.19.  Rom. 
 
 5l!.M,9. 
 
 1.21  &3e3. 
 
 ocb.9.ll,i5. 
 
 p  Is.  5*.  8. 
 
 t  Heb.  ^. 
 
 tift  all  the 
 
 dii  i/s  of  tlie 
 
 enrth 
 
 T  ch.  17.  11. 
 
 qJer.  33. 
 
 :.'0,  -25. 
 
 s  Rev.  4. 3. 
 
 a  ch.  1.  2*1. 
 
 vt-r  7,  19. 
 
 /  Ecclus.  43. 
 
 ch. 10.  32 
 
 11,12. 
 
 A  ch.  1.  g8. 
 
 Hos.  2.  18. 
 
 c  Deut.  f«. 
 
 ■1  Ex.  28.  12. 
 
 15.  &  14.3, 
 
 9.  11.    Acta 
 
 10.  12, 13. 
 d  ch.  I.  29. 
 
 Lev.  2G.  42, 
 45.Eiek.l6, 
 60. 
 
 e  Ro.  U.   M, 
 
 20.      1  Cor. 
 
 10.23,26. 
 
 Col    2.  16, 
 
 ITim.  4.3.4. 
 
 wch.  17.  13, 
 
 ^  Le.  17.  U\ 
 
 19. 
 
 11,14.  Re  19 
 
 2t5.  Deiitl* 
 
 23.     1  Sam. 
 
 14  31.   Arts 
 
 15.20,29. 
 
 require  ;  ^'at  the  hand  of  every  beast  will  I  re- 
 quire it,  and  ''  at  the  hand  of  man  ;  at  the  hand 
 of  every  '  man's  brother  will  1  require  the  life 
 of  man. 
 
 6  "^  Whoso  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall 
 his  blood  be  shed  :  'for  in  the  image  of  God 
 made  he  man. 
 
 7  And  you,  *"  be  ye  fruitful,  and  multiply ; 
 bring  forth  abundantly  in  the  earth,  and  mul- 
 tiply therein. 
 
 y  t  And  God  spake  unto  Noah,  and  to  his 
 sons  with  him,  saying, 
 
 9  And  I,  "  behold,  I  establish  °  my  covenant 
 with  you,  and  with  your  seed  after  you  ; 
 
 10  ^  And  with  every  living  creature  that  w 
 with  you,  of  the  fowl,  of  the  cattle,  and  of  every 
 beast  of  the  earth  with  you ;  from  all  that  go 
 out  of  the  ark,  to  every  beast  of  the  earth. 
 
 1 1  And  *^  1  will  establish  my  covenant  with 
 you  ;  neither  shall  all  flesh  be  cut  off  any  more 
 by  the  waters  of  a  flood  ;  neither  shall  there 
 any  more  be  a  flood  to  destroy  the  earth. 
 
 1-2  And  God  said,  ^  This  is  the  token  of  the 
 covenant  which  I  make  between  me  and  you 
 and  every  living  creature  that  is  with  you,  for 
 perpetual  generations  : 
 
 13  I  do  set  'my  bow  in  the  cloud,  and  it  shall 
 be  for  a  token  of  a  covenant  between  me  and 
 the  earth. 
 
 14  *  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  I  bring 
 a  cloud  over  the  earth,  that  the  bow  shall  be 
 seen  in  the  cloud  : 
 
 15  And  "  I  will  remember  my  covenant,  which 
 is  between  me  and  you  and  every  living  crea- 
 ture of  all  flesh  ;  and  the  waters  shall  no  more 
 become  a  flood  to  destroy  all  flesh. 
 
 16  And  the  bow  shall  be  in  the  cloud  ;  and  I 
 will  look  upon  it,  that  I  may  remember  *  the 
 everlasting  covenant  between  God  and  every 
 living  creature  of  all  flesh  that  is  upon  the  earth. 
 
 17  And  God  said  unto  Noah,  This  is  the  token 
 
 month—see  chap.  vii.  11,  note.  20.  An  attar~\his  is  the  first  men- 
 tion  of  an  altar,  but.  no  doubt,  it  was  coeval  with  the  rite  of  sacri- 
 fice.—  Boothr.  Bumt'OffeniifiS,  named  in  the  Hebrew,  gjioloth^ 
 'ascensions,'  for  they  went  up  iu  fire  to  the  Lord,  except  the  skin. 
 Why  called  burnt-offering:s,  see  Lev.  vi.  9.  They  are  called  in  Greek, 
 holocausts,  'whole  burnt-offerings,'  and  prefigured  Christ's  bodv. 
 offered  up  to  God  for  us,  (Heb.  x.G— 10.)— /Iifw.  21.  '  And  Jehovah 
 accepted  the  offerings.*  —  A  sweet  savour,  *  the  pacifying  odour.' — 
 Boothr.  Only  so,  because  typifying  the  sacrifice  of  Christ,  and  ex- 
 pressing the  grateful  love  of  Noah.— Seo«.  Even  as  perfume  is  grate- 
 ful to  the  senses,  tliis  sacrifice  is  represented  as  grateful  to  God.— £</. 
 For  the  imagination,  '  although  the  imagination?— .4.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  1.  Blessed  iVouA- renewed  the  old  blessing,  made  chap. 
 i.  2S.—Puole.  Pat.,  Ains.  2.  The  fear  of  .vow- probably  before  the 
 fall  the  beasts  yielded  voluntary  obedience,  but  now  compulsory. — 
 Scott.  ^.  Meat  for  you — perhaps  the  flood  had  made  the  vegetable 
 world  less  nutritive,  and  hence  the  grant  of  flesh. — A.  Clarke.  4.  Flesh 
 ti-ith  the  life — there  are  two  views  of  this  prohibition  :  one  considers 
 it  permanent,  and  the  other  temporary.  Blood  was  not  eaten  under  the 
 law,  because  it  pointed  to  the  blood  to  be  shed  for  atonement.  Blood 
 is  not  to  be  eaten  now,  because  it  represents  the  blood  which  hus  been 
 shed  for  the  remission  of  sins. — A.  Clarke.  Our  having  been  redeemed 
 with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  Christians  are  prohibited  the  use  of 
 blood.  (Acts,  XV.  29.}— Slit.  Blood  is  not  to  be  eaten  from  the  living 
 creature,  which  was  an  ancient  practice  of  luxury  or  cruelty. — Poole. 
 This  practice  is  to  be  found  still  among  the  Abyssinians.  who  cut 
 steaks  from  their  live  cattle  as  they  want  them.— Bcuce.  The  meaning 
 is.  that  a  creature  designed  for  food  should  be  properly  killed.— Gi//. 
 T^is  prohibition  is  repeated  Lev.  xvii.,  Deut.  xii.,  and  being  connected 
 with  murder  in  the  next  verse,  naay  teach  us  not  to  imitate  the  wild 
 beasts,  who  lick  the  blood  with  their  prey.— Su^    The  law  prohibited 
 
 blood  as  food  in  reference  to  the  great  atonement,  '  but  now  the  great 
 and  true  sacrifice  is  offered,  the  obligation  of  the  law  ceoseth  witli  the 
 reason  of  it.' — Hew.  G.  Whoso  sheddeth  bluod,  wilfully,  for  casual 
 murder  is  excepted,  (Numb.  x.\xv.  31  ;  Deut.  six.  4.) — Poole.  By  man 
 shall  his  blood  be  shed — this  is  not  among  those  Jewish  laws  which  are 
 abrogated  ;  it  was  God's  command  to  Noah. — Ed.  Hence  we  infer, 
 that  wilful  murder  should,  in  all  cases,  be  punishable  with  death. 
 Are  not  duellists  guilty  of  this  sin'?— Scott.  This  writer  conjectures, 
 that  the  lenity  shewn  to  Cain  emboldened  the  old  world  to  commit 
 murder,  and  hence  this  law.  9.  Covenant,  (see  note.  chap,  vi,  18.) 
 here  means  '  promise.'  for  the  beasts  were  not  capable  of  engaging  in 
 covenant,  according  to  its  general  term. — Poole.  Some  understand 
 the  word  as  here  signifying  a  *  contract ;'  in  which  case,  we  must  un- 
 derstand man,  on  his  part,  as  covenanting  on  behalf  of  the  beast. — Ed. 
 The  word  JV\2  is  from  13,  a  word  signifying  *  to  cleanse,"  or  '  purify  ;* 
 whence  the  accompanying  sacrifice  was  called  &  purifier. — Par.,  A.  C. 
 13.  Set  my  bow,  or  ratlier,  '  I  have  set.'  The  bow  was  not  then  fir&t 
 set  in  the  clouds,  but  only  first  set  as  a  token. — War.  The  rainbow, 
 being  produced  by  the  refraction  of  the  sim's  rays  on  drops  of  rain, 
 must  have  existed  from  the  creation.  It  was  not  now  created  or 
 caused,  but,  appearing  from  natural  causes  in  the  heavens,  was  given 
 as  a  sign,  that  as  sure  as  that  should  a])pear  from  time  to  time,  so  sure 
 should  the  word  be  which  promised  there  should  be  no  more  deluge  of 
 the  world. — So  .-I.  Clarke.  Dr.  Burnet  thought  that  there  was  no  rain 
 before  the  flood  ;  Whisfon,  that  there  were  no  heavy  showers  so  as  to 
 cause  a  rainbow.  The  Jewish  writers  take  two  sides  on  this  question. 
 15.  A  flood  to  destroy  all  flesh — besides  the  organic  remains  of  a  former 
 world,  the  Mosaic  account  of  the  deluge  is  strikingly  confirmed  by 
 traditions,  which  have  prevailed  among  the  Eg>'ptians,  Assyrians, 
 Greeks,  Persians,  Hindoos,  Birmans,  Chinese,  Goths,  Druids,  Mexicajis, 
 Peruvians,  Brazilians,  American  Indians,  Otaheitans,  Sandwich  Is- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  _  I.  God  remembered  Noah 
 in  the  ark  ;  and,  Christian,  he  remembers  you  in  every  storm. 
 He  never  forgets  his  people,  though,  alas  !  they  too  often  for- 
 get him. 
 
 II,  God's  remembrance  of  us  shoulU  call  forth  the  most  lively 
 exercises  of  (gratitude.  When  Noah  was  preserved  and  deli- 
 vered, he  built  an  altar  to  the  Lord.  Has  God  remembered 
 you  in  mercy  1  then  remember  him  in  gratitude — say,  '  Bless 
 10 
 
 the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits  !' 
 
 Ill-  Let  Jis  admire  the  injin/te  condcsctnsion  of  God,  that  even 
 our  expressions  of  gratitude,  poor  and  feeble  as  they  are, 
 offered  up  through  Christ,  who  gave  himself  once  for  all  a 
 sacrifice  of  a  '  sweet  smelling  savour,'  meet  with  acceptance 
 before  him,  and  are  grateful  to  him,  as  to  us  are  grateful  the 
 odours  of  the  sweetest  perfomes.  What  an  encouragement  to 
 prayer  and  praise ' 
 
Noah  curseth  Canaan. 
 
 GENESIS,  X. 
 
 JS'imrod  the  first  monarch. 
 
 of  the  covenant,  which  I  have  estahUshed  be- 
 tween me  and  all  flesh  that  is  upon  the  earth. 
 
 18  U  And  the  sons  of  Noah,  that  went  forth  of 
 the  ark,  were  Shem,  and  Ham,  and  Japheth ; 
 'and  Hani  is  the  father  off  Canaan. 
 
 19  ''  These  are  the  three  sons  of  Noah :  '  and 
 of  them  was  the  wliole  earth  overspread. 
 
 •20  And  Noah  began  to  be  "  an  husbandman, 
 and  he  planted  a  vineyard  : 
 
 21  And  he  drank  of  the  wine,  ^  and  was 
 drunken ;  and  he  was  uncovered  within  his  tent. 
 
 •22  And  Ham,  the  father  of  Canaan,  saw  the 
 nakedness  of  his  father,  and  told  his  two 
 brethren  without. 
 
 '2.3  '^  And  Shem  and  Japheth  took  a  garment, 
 and  laid  it  upon  both  their  shoulders,  and  went 
 backward,  and  covered  the  nakedness  of  their 
 father;  and  their  faces  ivere  backward,  and 
 they  saw  not  their  father's  nakedness. 
 
 24  And  Noah  awoke  from  his  wine,  and  knew 
 what  his  younger  son  had  done  unto  him. 
 
 •25  And  he  said,  ''  Cursed  be  Canaan  ;  ''  a  ser- 
 vant of  servants  shall  he  be  unto  his  brethren. 
 
 26  And  he  said,  '  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God 
 of  Shem  ;  and  Canaan  shall  be  ||  his  servant. 
 
 27  God  shall  |{  enlarge  Japheth,  ^  and  he  shall 
 dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem  ;  and  Canaan  shall 
 be  his  servant. 
 
 28  H  And  Noah  lived  after  the  flood  three 
 hundred  and  fifty  years. 
 
 J-ch.  10.0. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 Cttenaati. 
 t)  ch.  5  33- 
 i  ch.  10,  33. 
 
 1  Che.  1.  I, 
 
 &.Z. 
 a  ch,  3.  19, 
 
 23.  &  4  -.; 
 
 Prov.  12  II 
 &Prov.  20.1. 
 
 ICur.  10,12. 
 
 d  ))ea.27.l6. 
 
 c  Josh.  9.23 
 
 1  Kin,  9.  20, 
 
 SI. 
 
 /Ps.  M4.  15. 
 
 Heb.  11.  10. 
 
 II  Or,  ,t,m., 
 to  them. 
 
 II    Or,  per- 
 suade. 
 
 g  Eph.2.  13. 
 14.  &  3.  0. 
 
 ach.  9.  1,7, 
 19. 
 
 b  I  Chr.  15, 
 
 ;  Ps.  72.  10, 
 Jer.  2.  10. 
 &  25.  22. 
 Zepli   3.  II. 
 1  I  Clir.  I  K. 
 &c. 
 
 >r.  16.  16. 
 Mic.  7.  2. 
 /ch.  (>.  II. 
 
 29  And  all  the  days  of  Noah  were  nine  hun- 
 dred and  fifty  years  :  and  he  died. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 I  The  generations  of  Noah.  2  The  sons  of  Japheth. 
 6  The  sons  of  Ham.  8  Nimrod  the  first  monarch. 
 21    The  sons  of  Shem. 
 
 'M'OW  these  are  the  generations  of  tlie  sons 
 -^*  of  Noah,  Shem,  Ham,  and  Japheth  :  "  and 
 unto  them  were  sons  born  after  the  flood. 
 
 2  ^  The  sons  of  Japheth  ;  Gomer,  and  Magog, 
 and  Madai,  and  Javan,  and  Tubal,  and  Meshech, 
 and  Tiras. 
 
 3  And  the  sons  of  Gomer ;  Ashkenaz,  and 
 Riphath,  and  Togarmah. 
 
 4  And  the  sons  of  Javan  ;  Elishah,  and  Tar- 
 shish,  Kittim,  and  ||  Dodanim. 
 
 5  By  these  were  "  the  isles  of  the  Gentiles 
 divided  in  their  lands ;  every  one  after  his 
 tongue,  after  their  families,  in  their  nations. 
 
 6  H  "^  And  the  sons  of  Ham  ;  Gush,  and  Miz- 
 raim,  and  Phut,  and  Canaan. 
 
 7  And  the  sons  of  Cush  ;  Seba,  and  Havilah, 
 and  Sabtali,  and  Raamah,  and  Sabtechah  :  and 
 the  sons  of  Raamah  ;  Sheba,  and  Dedan. 
 
 8  And  Cush  begat  Nimrod  :  he  began  to  be 
 a  mighty  one  in  the  earth. 
 
 9  He  wasa  mighty  "hunter'^before  the  Lord; 
 wherefore  it  is  said.  Even  as  Nimrod  the  mighty 
 hunter  before  the  Lord. 
 
 landers,  hc.—H.  Home.  19.  Of  them  was  the  whole  Earth  overspread 
 — Shem's  race  had  the  fairest  portions  of  Asia,  Armenia,  Mesopotamia, 
 Assyria,  Media,  Persia,  &c.,  extending  to  the  Ganges  and  China. 
 Ham's  had  the  scorching  regions  in  the  south  of  Asia.  The  first  great 
 empires  of  Assyria  and  Egypt  were  founded  by  tlie  descendants  of 
 Ham;  Africa  is  also  called  the  land  of  Ham  in  several  places  in  the 
 Paalms.  The  descendants  of  Japheth  possessed  all  Europe,  the  islands 
 in  the  Mediterranean,  Asia  Minor,  the  northern  parts  of  Asia,  and 
 America.  Shem  signifies  ?iame  or  renown;  Ham  or  Cham,  swarthy 
 black,  deepblnck;  and  J  Apheth,  the  enlarger.— A.  Clarke,  Culmet.  From 
 the  signification  of  Hani's  name  it  would  appear,  that  his  complexion 
 was  originally  extremely  dark,  and  that  his  descendants  might  take 
 it  from  him  rather  than  from  climate ;  the  latter  would,  however, 
 probably  strengthen  and  deepen  it. — Ed.  20.  Began,  in  sacred  writ, 
 often  means  to  continue,  (so  Mark,  xi.  15  ;  Luke,  xii.  1.) — Porter.  An 
 husbandman,  Heb.,  'a  man  of  tlie  earth,' a  man  dealing  in  the  earth.— 
 Henry.  21.  Drunken — Noah  ha\ir.g  but  just  begun  to  express  the 
 juice  of  the  grape,  was  perhaps  not  aware  of  its  strength. — So  many 
 Commentators.  24.  His  younger  son,  Heb.,  'bis  son,"  ITDpn,  'the 
 younger  or  little  one ;'  hence  Canaan  is  thought  by  many  to  be  chiefly 
 intended,  for  Ham,  probably,  was  not  the  youngest  son,  being  silways 
 named  second.  Canaan,  perhaps,  first  saw  and  tuld  his  father. — Ben. 
 25.  Cursed  be  Canaan — why  Canaan  ?  '  he  was  not  even  the  eldest,  but 
 the  fourth  son  of  Ham.'  The  truth  is,  that  neither  Ham  nor  Canaan 
 suflered  under  this  curse,  but  it  looked  forward  to  the  wicked  part  of 
 his  posterity,  which  would  consummate  the  wickedness  thus  mani- 
 fested by  their  parent.  This  was  a  curse  on  the  Canaanites,  whose 
 wickedness  being  foreseen,  God  commanded  Noah  to  denounce  them, 
 and  Moses  wrote  the  fact  to  encourage  the  Israelites  in  warring  against 
 them. — New.  A  servant  of  servants,  the  vilest  and  worst  of  servants  ; 
 so  in  Eccles.  i.  2,  *  vanity  of  vanities,'  is  the  greatest  vanity;  and  else- 
 where, '  king  of  kings'  is  put  for  the  chief  of  kings.— Poft/e.  The  en- 
 slaved Africans  have  been,  and  still  are,  bought  and  sold  like  beasts. — 
 Greene.  27.  God  shall  enlarge  Japheth — if  by  this  is  meant  ins  famify, 
 it  was  verified,  for  he  had  seven  sons,  while  Shem  had  but  five,  and 
 Ham  four.  If  territory  is  meant,  it  is  equally  verified,  for  not  only 
 Europe,  but  Asia  Minor,  Media,  part  of  Armenia,  Iberia,  and  the  vast 
 regions  of  the  north,  anciently  inhabited  by  the  Scytliians,  and  now  by 
 
 the  Tartars,  fell  to  his  posterity.  Dwelt  in  the  tents  of  Shem— God  or 
 Japheth  may  be  meant ;  the  original  favours  the  former.  This  was  ful- 
 filled,  iu  the  one  sense,  when  the  Shechinah  dwelt  in  the  tabernacle  and 
 temple  ;  and  in  the  other  sense,  when  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  de- 
 scendants  of  Japheth,  conquered  Judea,  &c. ;  and  again  spiritually, 
 when  Japheth's  posterity  became  Israelites  by  imth.~Neii\  Canaan 
 shall  be  his  servant,  is  said  both  with  respect  to  Shem  and  Japheth  ■ 
 and  the  descendants  of  C'^maan  have  been  under  subjection  to  those  of 
 Shem  and  Japheth  through  many  generations.  2h.  Three  hundred  and 
 Jifty  years,  reaching  to  the  5«th  of  Ahraham,  and  so  easily  transmitting 
 the  revelation  made  to  Adam  down  to  Abraham. — Bens. 
 
 Chap.  X.  — This  chapter  has  been  marked  by  some  commentators 
 as  unprofitable  for  family  reading;  it  may,  however,  be  read  with  its 
 brief  notes,  as  they  occur,  on  the  several  verses,  and  would,  in  that 
 case,  serve  to  shew  to  children  and  servants  that  even  those  portions 
 of  God's  word  which  may  appear  the  most  uninteresting,  when  care- 
 fully looked  into  and  understood,  are  of  great  importance. —  Ed.  i.  The 
 generations,  •  the  geneatogj-.'— Gi7/.  This  chapter  is  one  of  the  most 
 valuable  records  of  antiquity  ;  it  explains  what  all  profane  historians 
 were  ignorant  of— -the  origin  of  nation^.— TI'u^,  2.  iJ/og-o^— supposed, 
 on  the  authority  of  Josephus,  to  be  the  father  of  the  Scythians :  a 
 northern  people  bearing  his  name  are  mentioned,  Ezek.  xxxviii.  2,  15. 
 — Gill.  Madai — from  him  the  country  Media  took  its  name,  where  his 
 children  settled.  Javan,  plat. ted  himself  in  Greece,  whence,  by  an 
 easy  transition  of  the  Hebrew  name  7V,  came  '  Ion, 'and  hence,  lonians. 
 — Pat.  5.  Isles,  do  not  mean  here  .spots  surrounded  with  water,  for 
 the  Hebrews  called  all  places  beyond  the  Mediterranean,  i^Ies,  as 
 Greece,  Italy,  &c.  The  word  sometimes  means  '  countries,'  as  in  Job, 
 xxii.  30 ;  Isa.  XX.  6,  and  so  should  be  rendered  here.  Gentiles—beaXhens 
 and  strangers  to  religion.— Gi7/.  6.  Ham,  signifies  burnt  or  black, 
 a  name  significant  of  the  regions  allotted  to  his  family.  The  Cushites, 
 descendants  of  Cush,  had  the  hot  southern  regions  of  Asia  ;  the  sons  of 
 Canaan,  Palestine  and  Syria  ;  and  those  of  Mizraim,  Egj'pt  and  Lybia, 
 in  Afnc&.—Greenf.  s.  Nimrod— his  name  signifies  a 'rebel,' from 
 no.  'he  rebelled.'— .4.  Clarke.  9.  A  mighty  hunter,  -jiyat  K1.V.170V, 
 •a  hunting  giant,'  in  Sept.;  or  rather,  'mighty  in  hunting.'— /'ai. 
 Perhaps  of  wild  beasts,  but  it  may  mean,  figuratively,  a  tyrant,  op- 
 pressing the  people.— Scan.  Synop.    The  Scripture  applies  the  term  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX.  —  L  Row  precious  is  the  life  of 
 •nan,  for  God  has  set  the  guard  of  a  severe  sentence  against 
 the  murderer,^  to  protect  it  from  the  attacks  of  rage  or 
 malice  ;  and  if  so,  how  much  more  precious  is  his  soul !  This, 
 indeed,  the  gospel  teaches  us,  for  it  is  provided  to  .secure  to 
 us  '  everlasting  life,'  adapted  to  the  nnwasting  duration  of  the 
 human  spirit,  and  this  life  is  to  be  had  through  Christ  Jesus, 
 who,  in  the  plenitude  of  his  love,  redeeioed  the  guilty,  and 
 gave  his  life  a  ransom  for  many. 
 
 11.  Though  God  has  promised  no  more  to  destroy  the  world  by 
 a  flood,  yet  he  has  in  reserve  other  storehojtses  of  destruction  ;  and 
 this  theatre,  which  has  been  the  scene  of  far  greater  wicked- 
 II 
 
 ness  than  ever  the  old  world  witnessed — for  on  this  the  Sou 
 of  God  himself  was  murdered — shall  be  wrapped  in  flames, 
 and  dissolved  like  wax.  Happy  he  who,  when  God  shall 
 come  to  judge  the  world,  shall  be  enabled  to  rejoice  in  a  new 
 heaven  and  a  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness  . 
 
 III.  //(  the  sentence  on  Canaan,  and  its  subsequent  fulfilmfnt, 
 we  see  the  Jiddity  of  God  to  his  word ;  and  while  this  may  teach 
 the  believer  to  rejoice  in  his  promises,  it  should  alarm  the 
 guilty  at  bis  threatenings ;  for  though  sentence  against  an 
 evil  work  may  not  be  executed  speedily,  yef  it  shall  at  length 
 be  executed,  and  not  one  jot  or  tittle  of  the  Divine  word  shall 
 pass  awaj  xuitil  all  be  fulfilled. 
 
The  sons  of  Shein. 
 
 GENESIS,  XI. 
 
 The  building  of  Bahel. 
 
 10  *  And  the  beginning  of  Tiis  kingdom  was 
 t  Babel,  and  Erech,  and  Accad,  and  Calneli,  in 
 the  land  of  Shinar. 
 
 11  Out  cf  that  land  ||  went  forth  Asshur,  and 
 builded  Nineveh,  and  ||  the  city  Rehoboth,  and 
 Calah, 
 
 12  And  Resen  between  Nineveh  and  Calah : 
 the  same  is  a  great  city. 
 
 13  And  Mizraini  begat  Ludim,  and  Anamim, 
 and  Lehabim,  and  Naphtubim, 
 
 14  And  Pathrnsim,  and  Caslubim,  C"  out  of 
 whom  came  Philistim,)  and  Capbtorim. 
 
 15  H  And  Canaan  begat  f  Sidon  his  firstborn, 
 and  Heth, 
 
 16  And  tlie  Jebusite,  and  the  Amorite,  and 
 the  Girgasite, 
 
 17  And  the  Hivite,  and  the  Arkite,  and  the 
 Sinite, 
 
 18  And  the  Ari'adite,  and  the  Zemarite,  and 
 the  Hamathite :  and  afterward  were  the  families 
 of  the  Canaanites  spread  abroad. 
 
 19  '  And  the  border  of  the  Canaanites  was 
 from  Sidon,  as  thou  comest  to  Gerar,  unto 
 jGaza;  as  thou  goest,  unto  Sodom,  and  Gomor- 
 rah, and  Adniah,  and  Zeboim,  even  unto  Lasha. 
 
 20  These  are  the  sons  of  Ham,  after  their 
 families,  after  their  tongues,  in  their  countries, 
 and  in  their  nations. 
 
 21  IT  Unto  Shem  also,  the  father  of  all  the 
 children  of  Eber,  the  brother  of  Japheth  the 
 elder,  even  to  him  were  children  born. 
 
 22  The  ''  children  of  Shem  ;  Elam,  and  Asshur, 
 and  t  Arphaxad,  and  Lud,  and  Aram. 
 
 23  And  the  children  of  Aram  ;  Uz,  and  Hul, 
 and  Getlier,  and  Mash. 
 
 24  And  Arphaxad  begat  f  '  Salah  ;  and  Salah 
 begat  Eber. 
 
 25  "'  And  unto  Eber  were  born  two  sons  :  the 
 
 1 
 
 C. 
 
 cir 
 
 2-J19. 
 
 ^  M 
 
 e.  5.  C 
 
 t  fir 
 
 Itabi, 
 
 Inn . 
 
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 :ut 
 
 utoy/j 
 
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 ttrn-fi   vf 
 
 the  c 
 
 'a- 
 
 a.  c.  2if*r. 
 
 11  Tltat  is, 
 
 icli    13.  !■:. 
 U,  15.  17 
 &  li    18— 
 21.     Niitn. 
 34.  S— 12. 
 .I.)S.  12.  7, 
 
 a. 
 
 I  Hpb. 
 J.-.-../1. 
 
 *  1  Chr.  1. 
 17.  Stc. 
 \  HeV>.  ^r- 
 
 jtactttiitd. 
 
 t  Hcb. 
 Sh-lnh. 
 fell.  U.  12. 
 1  Clir.  1. 
 
 19. 
 
 3247. 
 
 «  ver.   1. 
 0  cli,  9.  19. 
 
 t  Heb.ip'jri//. 
 cir.  22*7. 
 
 It  Or,  enil- 
 
 v/crf,  lu  ell. 
 
 IS.  II. 
 
 2  Sam.  6.2. 
 
 witli  1  Che. 
 
 IS  6. 
 t  Heb.  «  m«« 
 
 tnid  tn  h<t 
 
 ,„:gl.b»ur. 
 t  Hell.  6iir« 
 
 Dmn  ti>  a 
 
 burnrng. 
 
 1  Deu.  1.  SS. 
 
 name  of  one  was  ||  Peleg ;  for  in  his  days  was 
 the  earth  divided  ;  and  bis  brother's  name  teas 
 Joktan. 
 
 2G  And  Joktan  begat  Almodad,  and  Sheleph, 
 and  Hazannaveth,  and  .Terah, 
 
 27  And  Hadoram,  and  Uzal,  and  Diklah, 
 
 28  And  Obal,  and  Abimael,  and  Sheba, 
 
 29  And  Ophir,  and  Havilah,  and  Jobab ;  all 
 these  were  the  sons  of  Joktan. 
 
 30  And  their  dwelling  was  from  Mesha,  as 
 thou  goest,  unto  Scphar  a  mount  of  the  east. 
 
 31  These  are  the  sons  of  Shem,  after  their 
 families,  after  their  tongues,  in  their  lands,  after 
 their  nations. 
 
 32  "  These  are  the  families  of  the  sons  of 
 Noah,  after  their  generations,  in  their  nalions  : 
 "  and  by  these  were  the  nations  divided  in  the 
 earth  after  the  flood. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 I  One  language  in  the  world.  3  The  building  of  Bahel, 
 5  The  confusion  of  tongues.  10  The  generations  of 
 Shenu  27  T'he  generations  of  Tvrah  the  father  of 
 Abram.     31    Tcrah  goeth  from  Ur  to  Ha  ran. 
 
 A  ND  the  whole  earth  was  of  one  f  language, 
 -^^  and  of  one  -f  speech. 
 
 2  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  journeyed 
 
 II  from  the  east,  that  they  found  a  plain  in  the 
 land  of  Shinar  ;  and  they  dwelt  there. 
 
 3  And  I  they  said  one  to  another,  Go  to,  let 
 us  make  brick,  and  fburn  them  throughly. 
 And  they  had  brick  for  stone,  and  slime  had 
 they  for  niorter. 
 
 4  And  they  said.  Go  to,  let  us  build  us  a  city 
 and  a  tower,  ^  whose  top  mat/  reach  unto  hea- 
 ven ;  and  let  us  make  us  a  name,  lest  we  be 
 scattered  abroad  upon  the  face  of  the  whole 
 earth. 
 
 the  hunting  of  men  by  persecution,  oppression,  tyranny,  (Jer.  xvi.  iG ; 
 Lam.  iii.  62  ;  iv.  J8;  Prov.i.  17,  \S.)—Ains.  10.  Ba6e/—tliough  Baby- 
 lon is  by  some  writers  said  to  be  built  by  Semiramis,  tlie  wife  of  NJnus, 
 and  others  by  Ninus  himself,  yet  tlie  truest  account  is,  that  it  wf\s 
 built  by  Belus~the  same  with  Nimrod.  II.  Asshur— Josep/i us  says 
 that  Asshur,  the  son  of  Shem,  built  Nineveh,  and  gave  the  name  of 
 Assyrians  to  tliose  that  were  subject  to  him.  Nineveh,  called  by  the 
 Greeks,  Ninus.  Ninus,  according  to  Diodorus  Siculus,  was  the  first 
 king  of  the  Assyrians,  to  whom  he  ascribes  the  building  of  this  citv, 
 and  so  this  city  was  called  after  him  ;  or  it  derived  its  name  from  the 
 beauty  of  it,  the  word  signifying  *  a  beautiful  habitation.'  18.  After- 
 wards t/ie  families  of  the  Canaanites  spread  abrond — not  only  the  eleven 
 here  mentioned,  but  two  more  not  mentioned,  the  Canaanites  properly 
 so  called,  and  the  Perizzites ;  these  families  first  dwelt  in  one  place, 
 but,  increasing  greatly,  they  separated,  and  in  time  possessed  the 
 country  from  Idumea  and  Palestine  to  the  mnuth  of  the  Orontes  ; 
 whence,  after  seven  hundred  years,  five  families  were  expelled  for 
 their  sins,  and  to  make  way  for  Israel.  21.  Shem,  signifies  '  renown.' 
 The  finest  regions  cf  upper  and  middle  Asia  were  allotted  to  his  family, 
 as  Armenia,  Media,  Persia,  &c. ;  but  his  chief  renown  was  from  being 
 the  lineal  ancestor  of  the  promised  se^A.—Greenf.  Eber,  was  the 
 great  grandson  of  Shem,  and  is  here  mentioned  by  anticipation  :  from 
 him  sprung  the  Hebrews,  from  whom  the  Messiah  was  to  cnme. — Gill. 
 25.  Divided,  among  the  three  sons  of  Noah  and  their  posterities  ;  their 
 language  was  divided,  and  that  obliged  them  to  divide  and  separate  in 
 bodies  which  understood  one  another ;  hence,  the  age  in  which  this 
 
 event  occurred  was  called,  by  the  Jews,  the  age  of  division. — Gill. 
 The  event  here  mentioned  took  place  subsequont  to  the  confusion  of 
 tongues,  which  is  yet  to  be  related. — Ful.  29.  Ophir — from  this 
 man's  land,  in  India,  Solomon's  ships  fetched  gold,  &c.,  (2  Chron.ix. ; 
 1  Kings,  ix.)  32.  Families,  great  'tribes.'  For  the  better  unrier- 
 strinding  of  this  chapter  compare  with  it  1  Chmn.  i.  4—24. — Poule. 
 
 Chap.  XI. — 1.  Earth  is  often  put  for  its  inhabitants,  as.  Gen.  vi,  11  ; 
 I  Chron.  xvi.  23  ;  Ps.  xxxiii.  6.~~Poole.  Of  one  Inuijunfre—tfiovght  to 
 have  been  Hebrew.  The  pro])er  names  in  Scripture  prove  it  was  the 
 original  language.  It  is  supposed  that  at  the  confusion  of  tongues  it 
 remained  wltli   the  family  of  Eber  only. — A.  Clarke.  2.  Shinar, 
 
 which  comprehends  the  country  of  Eden. — Hew.  3.  Brick  for  stone, 
 and  slime  hud  then  for  morter — Diodorus  Sir.idiis  says,  from  Ctesias, 
 that  the  walls  of  Babylon  weie  built  of  bricks,  cemented  with  bitu- 
 men ;  and  heathen  authors  confirm  this.  Josephus  also  speaks  of  it, 
 and  this  sort  of  pitch  still  remains.  Rauwolff,  in  his  Travels,  says, 
 •Near  the  briiige  over  tlie  Euphrates  where  Babylon  stood. arc  several 
 heaps  of  Babylonian  pitch,  which  is  in  some  places  grown  so  hard  that 
 you  may  w.ilk  over  it ;  but  in  others,  that  which  hath  been  lately 
 brought  over  thither  is  so  soft  that  you  may  see  every  step  you  make 
 in  it.'  4.  A  tower — the  Targuras  assert  that  this  was  for  idolatrou.s 
 worship.  Mai/  reach  unto  hearieii — an  usual  hyperbole  lo  express 
 great  height,  found  both  in  Scripture  and  in  many  classical  works ; 
 (see  also  Dent.  i.  29;  ix.  1.) — Poole,  Ged.  A  name,  i.  e.,  a  great  name. 
 Compare  2  Sam.  vii.  9,  with  1  Chron.  xvii.  8;  see  also  Isa.lxiii.  12.  U; 
 Dan.  ix.  15.     They  sought  to  found  a  glorious  empire  and  capital. — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chat.  X 1.  Malthew  Poole  justly  ob- 
 serves in  his  Annotations,  that  though  this  chapter  may  seem 
 lo  some  unprofitable,  consisting  almost  wholly  of  genealogies, 
 yet  it  had  indeed  great  and  manifold  uses.  1.  To  shew  the 
 true  original  of  the  several  nalions,  about  which  all  other 
 authors  write  idly,  fabulously,  and  falsely,  and  thereby  to 
 manifest  the  prudence  of  God  in  the  government  of  the  world 
 and  church,  and  the  truth  and  authority  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
 tures. 'J.  To  discover,  and  distinguish  from  all  other  nations, 
 tliat  people  or  nation  in  which  God's  churcb  was  to  be.  and 
 from  which  Christ  was  to  come.  3.  That  Noah's  prophecy 
 concerning  his  three  sons  might  be  better  understood,  and  the 
 accomplishment  of  it  made  evident.  4.  To  explain  divers 
 prophetical  predictions,  and  other  passages  of  scripture. 
 '  Without  this  genealogy,'  says  Mr.  Fuller,  *  we  should  not 
 12 
 
 have  been  able  to  ascertain  the  fulfilment  of  Noah's  prophecy.' 
 II.  And  is  there  not  matter  enough  lire  to  afford  us  some  useful 
 moral  improvement  9  '  As  all  mankind  are  of  one  family,  and 
 nearly  related  in  Adam  and  Noah,  how  reasonable  is  it  that 
 we  should  love  and  do  good  to  eacii  otlier  !  Whenever  we 
 behold  a  human  being,  whatever  be  his  language  and  garb,  or 
 wherever  he  was  born,  we  should  recognise  a  relation,  and 
 behave  to  him  accordingly.  As  God  "  lias  made  of  one  blood 
 all  nations  upon  the  face  of  the  earth,'"  and  as  Jesus  Chnst  is 
 the  Saviour  of  the  world,  without  distinction  of  '*  .Tew  or 
 Gentile,  Barbarian  or  Scythian,  bond  or  free,''  we  sliould  learD 
 to  imitate  his  benevolence,  and  neither  to  despise,  oppress,  or 
 war  with  any  of  mankind,  with  some  of  whom  we  may  meet 
 in  the  world  of  bliss  ;  who,  redeemed  by  his  blood,  shall  join 
 with  us  in  the  song  ot  Moses  and  the  Lamb.'  ^ 
 
The  generations  of  Sketn,  ifc. 
 
 GENESIS,  XII. 
 
 yVi«  yeneratioiis  aj  1  trail. 
 
 5  ^  And  the  Lord  came  down  to  see  the  city 
 and  the  tower,  which  tlie  children  of  men 
 builded. 
 
 (i  And  the  Lord  said.  Behold, '  the  people  is 
 one,  and  they  have  all  ''one  language  ;  and 
 this  they  begin  to  do  :  and  now  notliing  will  be 
 restrained  from  them,  which  they  have  °  ima- 
 gined to  do. 
 
 7  Go  to,  '  let  us  go  down,  and  there  confound 
 their  language,  that  they  may  ^  not  understand 
 one  another's  speech. 
 
 8  So  ''  the  Lord  scattered  them  abroad  from 
 thence  '  upon  the  lace  of  all  the  earth :  and 
 they  left  off  to  bnikl  the  city. 
 
 9  "Therefore  is  the  ]iame  of  it  called  ||  Rabel ; 
 '  because  the  Lord  did  there  confound  the 
 language  of  all  the  earth  :  and  from  thence  did 
 the  LoKD  scatter  them  abroad  upon  the  face  of 
 all  the  earth. 
 
 lot'  These  are  the  generations  of  Sliem  ; 
 Shem  ivas  an  hundred  years  old,  and  begat 
 Arphaxad  two  years  after  the  flood  : 
 
 1 1  And  Shem  lived  after  he  begat  Arphaxad 
 five  hundred  years,  and  begat  sons  and 
 d.iughters. 
 
 12  And  Arphaxad  lived  five  and  thirty  years, 
 "  and  begat  Salah  : 
 
 13  And  Arphaxad  lived  after  he  begat  Salah 
 four  hundred  and  three  years,  and  begat  sons 
 and  daughters. 
 
 14  And  Salah  lived  thirty  years,  and  begat 
 Eber  : 
 
 15  And  Salah  lived  after  he  begat  Eber  four 
 hundred  and  three  years,  and  begat  sons  and 
 daughters. 
 
 IG  "  And  Eber  lived  four  and  thirty  years,  and 
 begat  "  Peleg : 
 
 1 7  And  Elier  lived  after  he  begat  Peleg  four 
 hundred  and  thirty  years,  and  begat  sons  and 
 daughters. 
 
 18  And  Peleg  lived  thirty  years,  and  begat 
 Reu: 
 
 1!)  And  Peleg  lived  after  he  begat  Reu  two 
 hundred  and  nine  years,  and  begat  sons  and 
 daughters. 
 
 li.  c, 
 
 cir.  2:M7. 
 
 6  cb.  18.  ::l. 
 
 c  rh.  9.  IS. 
 
 Acts  17.  26. 
 d  vcr.  1. 
 
 /cli.  1.26. 
 
 I'!.  ■:.  *. 
 
 ArWi  1,5.6. 
 t;  rh.  4.>,  i:l. 
 
 I)c.it.'.'8.|a. 
 
 ."cr.  3.  15. 
 
 I  rli    10.  2.^, 
 
 i|   I'b^t  is, 
 
 ft  W'is.  10.  5. 
 1  C.11. 11.23. 
 
 m  See  Luke 
 3.36. 
 
 >  CaUed, 
 Luke  3.  35, 
 
 Phutcc. 
 
 p Luke  3  35 
 Sarttch. 
 
 7  Luke3.31, 
 Tfiora, 
 
 S(W6. 
 ■  Josh. 24  2. 
 '  Chr.  I.  26. 
 
 J  rh.  17.  15. 
 
 Ift  20.  12. 
 /ch.22.  20. 
 
 »ch.  16.1,2 
 &  13.11,12 
 »cb.  12.  I. 
 
 r  Neh.  9.7 
 Judith5.  7. 
 .Acts  7.  4. 
 
 t/cli.  10.  19. 
 
 cir.  1923. 
 
 1921. 
 1  ch.  15.  7. 
 Neh.  9.  7. 
 Is.  41.2. 
 .Acts  7.  3. 
 lleb.  11.8. 
 
 •20  And  Reu  lived  two  and  thirty  years,  and 
 begat  ''  Serug  : 
 
 21  And  Reu  lived  after  he  begat  Serug  two 
 hundred  and  seven  years,  and  begat  sons  and 
 daughters. 
 
 22  And  Serug  lived  thirty  years,  and  begat 
 Nahor : 
 
 23  And  Serug  lived  after  he  begat  Nahor  two 
 hundred  years,  and  begat  sons  and  daughters. 
 
 24  And  Nahor  lived  nine  and  twenty  years, 
 and  begat  ''  Terah  : 
 
 25  And  Nahor  lived  after  he  begat  Terah  an 
 hundred  and  nineteen  years,  and  begat  sons 
 and  daughters. 
 
 26  And  Terah  lived  seventy  years,  and  'begat 
 Abram,  Nahor,  and  Haran. 
 
 27  t  Now  these  are  the  generations  of  Terah  : 
 Terah  begat  Abram,  Nahor,  and  Haran  ;  and 
 Haran  begat  Lot. 
 
 28  And  Haran  died  before  his  father  Terah 
 in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  in  Urof  tlie  Chaldees. 
 
 29  And  Abram  and  Nahor  took  tliem  wives  : 
 the  name  of  Abram's  wife  was  '  Sarai  ;  and  tlie 
 name  of  Nahoi's  wife,  '  Milcali,  tlie  daugliterof 
 Haran,  the  father  of  Milcah,  and  the  father  of 
 I scab. 
 
 30  But  "  Sarai  was  barren  ;  she  had  no  child. 
 
 31  And  Terah  "  took  Abram  his  son,  and  Lot 
 the  son  of  Haran  his  son's  son,  and  Sarai  his 
 daughter  in  law,  his  son  Abram's  wife  ;  and 
 they  went  forth  with  them  from  "  Ur  of  the 
 Chaldees,  to  go  into  '  the  land  of  Canaan  ;  and 
 they  came  unto  Haran,  and  dwelt  there. 
 
 32  And  the  days  of  Terah  w'ere  two  hundred 
 and  five  years  :  and  Terah  died  in  Haran. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  God  cdlh  th  Abram,  and  bhs^cth  him  with  a  promise 
 of  Christ.  4  He  depart  tth  with  Lot  from  Haran.  6 
 He  journet/eth  through  Connan,  7  wiiich  is  prwuisf.d 
 him  in  a  visioti.  10  He  is  driven  hy  a  famine  into 
 Egypt.  1 1 .  Fear  mahefh  him  fi'ign  his  Jrife  to  he  his 
 sister.  14  Pharaoh,  having  taiie7i  iter  from  him,  bt/ 
 ptajues  is  compelled  to  restore  Iter. 
 
 I^OW  the  "  Lord  had  said  unto  Abram,  Get 
 ■'-^    thee  out  of  thy  country,  and    from   thy 
 
 Poole.    And  universal  monarchy  to  subdue  the  rest  of  mankind. — Ful. 
 
 5.  Cnmf  doivn,  a  mode  of  expressing  God's  perfect  knowlcdtje  of  hu. 
 man  affairs. — Hew.  Children  of  men,  ^  term  distinguishing  men  in 
 general  from  'the  sons  of  God.'   wlio  were  truly  religious. —  Gill. 
 
 6.  This  they  l/egin  to  do,  implying  this  was  only  part  of  a  plan  for  uni. 
 ver.sal  empire,  and  an  id'»latrous  establishment.— /JiV*.  Biblia.  Aothing 
 leill  he  restrained — the  words  may  be  rendered  '  shall  they  not  be  re- 
 strained ?' — Gilt.  ".  Go  to — an  obsolete  phrase,  used  by  early  En- 
 glish writers,  signifying  *  come.' — Poole.  'The  Hebrew  is  nin,  habiih, 
 and  signifies  come,  moke  preparation. — A.  Clarke.  Let  ns  go  down — 
 this  phrase  suggests  to  us  more  persons  than  one  in  the  Godhead. — 
 Pat.  Confound  their  language — there  is  scarcely  a  great  nation  in  the 
 world  but  what  has  its  own  language  ;  the  dividing  of  languages  was 
 therefore  the  dividing  of  nations,  and  so  a  bar  to  tlie  whole  world  being 
 under  one  government. — Ful.  8.  The  city — Herodotus  tells  us  it 
 was  a  furlong  in  length,  or  6fiO  feet,  thus  exceeding  in  height  the 
 greatest  of  the  Egyptian  pyramids  by  1,"9  feet,  though  less  at  the  basis 
 by  33  feet.  It  consisted  of  eight  square  towers  one  above  another, 
 gradually  decreasing  in  breadth,  which,  with  the  winding  ascent  on 
 the  outside,  gave  it  the  resemblance  of  a  pyramid,  as  Strnbo  calls  it; 
 on  this  ascent  carriages  could  even  turn,  owing  to  its  great  breadth. — 
 Univer.  Hist.     Taylor  reckons  it  was  300  feet,  which  is  l60  feet  higher 
 
 than  the  cross  of  St.  Paul's.      Jerome  says  il  I'.ad  four  miles  of  road  in 
 the  winding  ascent.  9.  Babel,  from  *}2,  bal,  to  mingle,   confound, 
 
 destrot/. — A.  Clarke.  11.  Shem  lived  after.  §-c.,  so  lh:it  he  lived  al- 
 
 most all  the  time  of  Abram.  17 .  Eber  lived,  S/r.  ;  he  was  the  longest- 
 lived  of  all  the  patriarchs  born  after  the  flood.— Poo/f.  26.  .ibram, 
 Nahor,  and  Haran — Abram  is  first  named  in  order  of  dignity,  for 
 Haran  was  probably  the  eldest,  because  Nahor  maiTied  his  daughter; 
 and  Nahor  the  second.— Pon/e.  If  Abram  was  born  when  Terah  was 
 but  70  years  old,  he  must  have  been  135  when  Terah  died  ;  whtreas 
 we  find,  Acts,  vii.  4,  that  he  was  only  ;5,  when,  after  that  event,  he 
 set  out  for  Canaan.— Fu/.  28.  C/r—see  vcr.  31.  29.  Nahor'swife, 
 Milcah,  daughter  of  Haran— sach  marriages  uf  uncles  and  nieces  be- 
 ing permitted  then'  (Exod.  vi.  20,)  though  alterwaros  forbidden,  (Lev. 
 xviii.  12,  14,)  the  church  being  much  enlarged.— /'oo/t.  31.  Ur  of 
 the  Chaldees,  supposed  to  have  been  a  city,  Irom  what  Isaiah  says  of 
 the  Chaldeans,  chaji.  xxiii.  13  ;  but  Mr.  Taylor  douhts  this,  because  it 
 is  nowhere  in  Scripture  called  a  city,  and  because  it  is  mostly  com- 
 bined with  the  word  land,  or  country,  or  district. — Tai/lor^s  Calmet. 
 Ur  was  in  Mesopotamia,  that  part  of  it  next  to  Assyria  being  called  the 
 land  of  the  Chaldeans ;  hence  these  are  spoken  of  as  the  same  by  Ste- 
 phen, Acts.  vii.  2,  4. — Gill. 
 Chap.  XII.— 1.  Had  said— in  Acts,  vii.,  we  learn  that  this  call  was 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI I.  How  hard  is  the  natural 
 
 heart,  that  even  the  most  awful  judgments  of  God  rruihe  no  impres- 
 sion upon  it !  While  yet  the  events  of  the  flood  were  newly 
 impressed  upon  the  minds  of  men,  we  find  them  departing 
 from  the  pure  spirit  of  religion,  and  the  world  again  divided 
 between  the  numerous  '  sons  of  men,'  and  the  select  '  sons  of 
 God.'  And  so  it  is  now  ;  and,  notwithstanding  every  warning, 
 he  that  is  unjust  will  be  unjust  still,  and  he  that  is  filthy  will  be 
 filthy  still,  unless  Divine  grace  mightily  interpose, — until  that 
 hour  when  the  voice  shall  be  heard — '  Behold,  I  come  quickly  ;' 
 and  a  worse  confusion  shall  overtake  sinners  than  that  nt  the 
 13 
 
 confusion  of  tongues,  when  they  shall  cry,  '  Rocks,  fall  on  us, 
 and  hills,  cover  us,  and  hide  us  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb  I' 
 II.  In  tlie  worst  of  times  God  has  a  people  for  himself;  '  the 
 generations  of  Shem'  remain,  and  he  will  have  a  seed  to 
 serve  him.  'I'o  what  family  do  we  belong  1  Can  we  claim 
 kindred  by  faith  with  that  honoured  man  for  whose  sake  a 
 long  line  of  ancestry  is  here  recorded,  that  he  may  be  intro- 
 duced to  our  notice,  who  is  the  father  of  the  iaithfu!  >.  Happy 
 they  whose  names  are  inscribed  in  that  spiritual  family,  for 
 '  so  then  they  which  be  of  faith  are  blessed  with  faithiul 
 Abraham  !  * 
 
Canaan  promised  to  Abram. 
 
 GENESIS,  XII. 
 
 He  is  driven  by  a  famine  into  Egypt. 
 
 kindred,  and  from  thy  father's  house,  unto  a 
 land  that  I  will  shew  thee  : 
 
 2  ^  And  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation, 
 ^  and  I  will  bless  thee,  and  make  thy  name 
 great  ;  "^  and  thou  shalt  be  a  blessing  : 
 
 3  ^  And  I  will  bless  them  that  bless  thee,  and 
 curse  him  that  curseth  thee  :  •"  and  in  thee  shall 
 all  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed. 
 
 4  So  Abram  departed,  as  the  Lord  had  spoken 
 unto  him  ;  and  Lot  went  with  him  :  and  Abram 
 was  seventy  and  five  years  old  when  he  de- 
 parted out  of  Haran. 
 
 5  And  Abram  took  Sarai  his  wife, and  Lot  his 
 brothers  son,  and  all  their  substance  that  they 
 had  gathered,  and  ^  the  souls  that  they  had 
 gotten  ''  in  Haran  ;  and  they  went  forth  to  go 
 into  the  land  of  Canaan  ;  and  into  the  land  of 
 Canaan  they  came. 
 
 6  U  And  Abram  'passed  through  the  land  unto 
 the  place  of  Sichem,  ^  unto  the  plain  of  Moreh. 
 '  And  the  Canaanite  was  then  in  the  land. 
 
 7  '"  And  the  Lord  appeared  unto  Abram,  and 
 said,"  Unto  thy  seed  will  I  give  this  land  :  and 
 there  buildedhean  °  altar  unto  the  Lord,  who 
 appeared  unto  him. 
 
 8  And  he  removed  from  thence  unto  a  moun- 
 tain on  the  east  of  Beth-el,  and  pitched  his  tent, 
 havintj  Beth-el  on  the  west,  and  Hai  on  the 
 east :  and  there  he  builded  an  altar  unto  the 
 Lord,  and  ^  called  upon  tlie  name  of  tlie  Lord. 
 
 9  And  Abram  journeyed,  t  **  going  on  still  to- 
 ward the  south. 
 
 10  \  And  there  was  '  a  famine  in  the  land  : 
 and  Abram  *  went  down  into  Egypt  to  sojourn 
 there  ;  for  the  famine  teas '  grievous  in  the  land. 
 
 b  ch.  17.  6. 
 
 «£  18-  19. 
 
 Deut.  26.  S. 
 
 I  Km.  3.  8. 
 c  ch.  2<.  35. 
 d  ch.  ^.  4. 
 
 Gal.  -A.  14. 
 t  ch.  27.  29, 
 
 Ex.  £3.  22. 
 
 >'um.  2-1  9. 
 /ch    IS.  IS. 
 
 &  is.   IB.  & 
 
 26.4.   Ps.7*i 
 
 17.     Acts  .S. 
 
 86,  Gal.S.ti. 
 
 ^  ch.  1*.  14. 
 h  ch.  II  31. 
 
 k  Deo.  II  a 
 .I..dg  7.  I 
 
 /ch  1()  If 
 ID   U  13.  ; 
 
 tn  ch.  17.  I 
 
 U7 
 
 p  Cli.  IS,  4. 
 t  Heb.  m 
 
 ymmtymg. 
 q  ch.  U.S. 
 r  ch.20.  1. 
 
 *Pb.  105  13 
 /  ch.  43.  1. 
 
 given  in  Mesopotamia  before  Abram  dwelt  in  Chairan  ;  if  so,  the  had 
 is  propeily  inserted.— Hc7i.  Far  the  Hebrew  has  no  pluperfect  tense  ; 
 but  if  we  think  with  Or.  Hnles,  thar  this  was  a  new  appearance,  the 
 had  is  not  necessary.— TrfV.  Get  thee  oh^— the  original  is,  'go  thou 
 thyself,*  even  though  thy  family  lingerbehind.— H'lV.  ib'lb,  vade  tibi, 
 get  thee  gone  with  all  speed.— //frt.  2.  /  wUt  make  of  tffee— this  so- 
 Tereign  choice  of  God  was  to  prevent  the  universal  prevalence  o(  ido- 
 latry, and  to  reserve  a  remuant  to  receive  God's  oracles. — Srott. 
 3.  In  thee,  that  is,  in  his  seed,  as  in  chap.  xxii.  18,  and  which  is  inter- 
 preted of  Christ,  Acts,  iii.  25  ;  Gal.  iii.  8,  \6.~Gitt.  St.  Paul  says  that 
 God  spake  in  the  singular  number,  not  of  many,  but  of  One,  that 
 is,  of  Christ. — Sut.  Cininaii,  from  Ca.nna.n  the  son  of  Ham,  lies  be- 
 tween the  Mediterranean  west,  mountains  of  Arabia  east,  of  Lebanon 
 and  Phoenicia  north.  Length,  fmm  Dan  to  Beersheba,  20()  miles  ; 
 breadth,  from  Mediterranean  to  eastern  borders,  ninety  miles. — Grer-nf. 
 5.  The  souls,  318  /jTSf);?.^— see  chap.  xiv.  U. — Ain.s.  6.  Sichem,  after- 
 wards called  Shechem,  from  a  prince  of  that  name  in  the  time  of  Jacob. 
 — Gilt.  The  plain,  generally  supposed  to  mean  nn  nnk,  or  grove  of 
 oaks. — Scott.  The  Cannanite  was,  ^c,  that  is.  the  land  was  inhabited 
 by  the  descendants  of  Canaan.— .4.  Clarke.  This  land  belonged  to  the 
 posterity  of  Shem,  but  Canaan's  oflfspring  seized  upon  it  and  held  it,  as 
 they  did  in  the  times  of  Moses.— Gt7/.  Africa  was  their  lot  as  the  de- 
 scendant-' of  Ham,  hut  they  had  stopped  on  the  road  in  the  best  of 
 lands.—  Silt.  Thus,  they  had  already  taken  possession  of  the  land  pro- 
 mised to  Abram  — Wit.     Dr.  Pridenux  takes  this  to  be  an  annotation 
 
 Mcb.  20.  n. 
 
 Jt  21).  7. 
 
 Tch.sa.'i.is. 
 
 Seech. 26.7. 
 
 rh.  Srt,  18. 
 IClii- 16.21 
 
 1 1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  was  come 
 near  to  enter  into  Egypt,  that  he  said  unto 
 Sarai  his  wife.  Behold  now,  I  know  that  thou 
 art  "  a  fair  woman  to  look  upon  : 
 
 1*2  Therefore  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  the 
 Egyptians  shall  see  tbee,  that  they  shall  say. 
 This  is  his  wife :  and  they  ^  will  kill  me,  but 
 they  will  save  thee  alive. 
 
 13  "  Say»  I  pray  thee,  thou  art  my  sister: 
 that  it  may  be  well  with  me  for  thy  sake  ;  and 
 my  soul  shall  live  because  of  thee. 
 
 14  1[  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  Abram 
 was  come  into  Egypt,  the  Egyptians  y  beheld 
 the  woman  that  she  2vas  very  fair. 
 
 15  Tlie  princes  also  of  Pharaoh  saw  her,  and 
 commended  her  before  Pharaoh  :  and  the  wo- 
 man was  ^  taken  into  Pharaoh's  house. 
 
 16  And  he  '^  entreated  Abram  well  for  her 
 sake  :  and  he  had  slieep,  and  oxen,  and  he 
 asses,  and  menservants,  and  maidservants,  and 
 she  asses,  and  camels. 
 
 17  And  tlie  Lord  ^  plagued  Pharaoh  and  his 
 house  with  great  plagues  because  of  Sarai 
 Abram's  wife. 
 
 18  And  Pharaoh  called  Abram,  and  said, 
 •^What  is  this  that  thou  hast  done  unto  me  V 
 why  didst  thou  not  tell  me  that  she  was  thy 
 wife  ? 
 
 19  Why  saidst  thou,  She  is  my  sister?  so  I 
 might  have  taken  her  to  me  to  wife  :  now  there- 
 fore behold  thy  wife,  take  her^  and  go  thy  way. 
 
 20  ''  And  Pliaraoh  commanded  his  men  con- 
 cerning him  :  and  they  sent  him  away,  and  his 
 wife,  and  all  that  he  had. 
 
 of  Ezra,  or  some  other  inspired  writer,  who  inserted  the  passage  after 
 the  Canaanites  were  extirpated  by  Joshua,  the  Canaanites  then,  of 
 course,  not  being  in  the  land.  7.  The  Lord  appeared  unto  Abrnm  — 
 the  religion  of  the  primitive  world  is  founded  on  the  appearances  of 
 God  or  Messiah,  the  angel,  to  man. — Snt.  8.  Bethel,  so  called  after- 
 wards by  Jacob,  but,  at  this  time,  it  was  Luz,  (tien.  xxviiL  19.) — GUI. 
 Called  vpo7i  the  name,  '  invoked  in  the  name.' — Shuck/.  Abram  was 
 even  now  tau'j:hT  to  worship  God  through  the  .M<diatnr. — A.Clarke. 
 1(1.  Into  Egtipt.fiir  the  /'/m/zie- Egypt  was  not  affected  like  Cimaan 
 fur  want  of  rain,  the  overflowing  of  the  river  Nile  being  its  cliief  cause 
 of  harvest. — Ful.  W.  A  fair  woman — Sarai  was  now  at  least  sixty- 
 five,  but  men  and  women  then  arrived  more  slowly  at  perfection,  and 
 she  was  still,  probably,  in  her  vigour. — A.  Clarke.  13.  My  sister — 
 this  was  true  in  one  sense,  (see  chap.  xx.  12., — Gill.  Aiiram  here 
 wished  Sarai  to  suppress  a  part  of  the  truth. — A.  Clarke.  15.  Pha- 
 
 raoh— it  is  generally  thought  that  Pharaoh  was  a  common  name  of  the 
 kings  of  Egypt,  and  continued  to  be  so  to  the  time  if  Ezekiel ;  as  Pto- 
 lemy was  some  time  after,  and  as  Cresar  with  the  Romans.  —  Gill. 
 Taken  —  the  word  implies  that  it  was  by  constraint,  and  not  with 
 Abram's  and  her  own  consent.  Pharaoh's  hmtse,  house  of  his  women, 
 where  they  were  purified  and  prepared  for  the  king's  presence  and  so- 
 ciety, as  Est.  ii.  8,  9.— Poole.  I6.  Sheep  and  oxen,  rathtr,  'flocks 
 and  herds,'  goats  being  included  under  the  former  ^erm.—A.  Clarke; 
 and  bulls  and  cows  only  under  the  latter,  (see  Lev.  xxii.  2A.)—WH. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.   XII T.  God's  callhig  Abram  teas 
 
 altogether  an  act  of  grace.  He  took  him  from  among  a  race  of 
 idolaters,  and  distinguished  bim  above  all  the  men  on  the  face 
 of  the  earth.  Surely  this  was  sovereignty— rich  and  free 
 grace.  So  he  often  shews  his  sovereignty  in  calling  indivi- 
 duals surrounded  with  worldly  connexions,  devoted  to  folly 
 and  sin,  and  living  *  without  God  in  the  world.'  He  says  by 
 the  voice  of  his  Spirit  and  Word— *  Get  thee  out,'  and  they 
 *  forsake  all  and  follow  him.' 
 
 II.  When  God  calls  a/u/  by  his  grace,  he  calls  them  to  separate 
 themselves  from  the  ungodly.  Nor  indeed  can  they  feel  them- 
 selves liappy  in  their  society.  When  Abram  became  ac- 
 quainted with  the  true  God,  how  could  he  dwell  any  longer 
 among  idolaters?  *  What  fellowship  hath  light  with  dark- 
 ness ?'  They  who  are  called  *  outof  darkness  into  marvellous 
 light'  have,  indeed,  often  to  make  great  sacrifices  in  the  cutting 
 oft  earthly  ties  and  endeared  connexions  ;  but  faith  overcomes 
 every  difficulty  ;  it  brings  distant  objects  near,  gives  a  '  sub- 
 stance' to  '  things  hoped  for,'  and  is  '  the  evidence  of  things 
 not  seen.'  This  divine  principle  was  the  main  spring  of  the 
 14 
 
 great  patriarch's  movements.  By  faith,  Abram,  when  be  was 
 called  to  go  out  into  a  place  which  he  should  after  receive  for 
 an  inheritance,  obeyed  ;  and  he  went  out,  not  knowing  whither 
 he  went.  '  By  faith  he  sojourned  in  the  land  of  promise  as 
 in  a  strange  country,  dwelling  in  tabernacles  with  Isaac  and 
 .Tacob,  the  heirs  with  him  of  the  same  promise.  For  he  looked 
 for  a  city  which  hath  foundations,  whose  builder  and  maker 
 is  God* 
 
 III.  Those  who  are  called  of  God  become  hlessedj  and  are  made 
 hlessinqs.  It  is  then  they  become  possessors  of  all  *  spiritual 
 blessings'  in  Christ,  and  their  lives  and  actions  render  them 
 blessings  to  the  world.  In  what  a  putrified  state  would  so- 
 ciety be  but  for  the  existence  of  genuine  Christians  !  They 
 are  '  the  salt  of  the  earth.'  Behold  Ahram  entering  Canaan  ; 
 and  here,  probably  in  the  face  of  another  race  of  idolaters,  he 
 builds  an  altar  to  God.  Let  us  never  be  ashamed  of  acknow- 
 ledging wiiose  we  are,  and  whom  we  serve  ;  and,  wherever 
 we  go,  let  us  think  of  the  souls  committed  to  our  care,  and 
 build  our  family  altar  to  the  honour  of  Him  who  will  guide  us 
 by  his  counsel,  and  afterwards  receive  us  into  glory. 
 
Abf  am  returns  out  of  Egypt. 
 
 GENESIS,  XIII. 
 
 Lot  goeth  to  Sodom. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Ahram  and  Lot  return  out  of  Erji/pt.  7  Bi/  disagree- 
 ment the//  part  asunder.  10  Lot  goeth  to  wicked 
 Sodom,  14  God  reneweth  the  promise  to  Ahram. 
 18  He  rfmovtth  to  Hebron^  and  there  buHhth  an  altar. 
 
 AND  Abram  went  up  out  of  Egypt,  he,  and 
 his  wife,  and  all  that  he  liad,  and  Lot  with 
 him,  "  into  the  south. 
 
 2  ^  And  Abram  icas  very  rich  in  cattle,  in 
 silver,  and  in  gold. 
 
 a  And  lie  went  on  his  journeys  "^  from  the 
 south  even  to  Beth-el,  unto  the  place  where 
 his  tent  had  been  at  the  beginning,  between 
 Beth-el  and  Hai  ; 
 
 4  Unto  the  '^  place  of  the  altar,  which  he  had 
 made  there  at  the  first  :  and  there  Abram 
 '  called  on  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 5  H  And  Lot  also,  which  went  with  Abram, 
 had  flocks,  and  herds,  and  tents, 
 
 6  And  Uhe  land  was  not  able  to  bear  them, 
 that  they  might  dwell  together  :  for  their  sub- 
 stance was  great,  so  that  they  could  not  dwell 
 together. 
 
 7  And  there  was  ^  a  strife  between  the  herd- 
 men  of  Abram's  cattle  and  the  lierdmen  of  Lot's 
 cattle  :  ^  and  the  Canaanite  and  the  Perizzite 
 dwelled  then  in  the  land. 
 
 8  And  Abram  said  unto  Lot, '  Let  there  be  no 
 strife,  1  pray  thee,  between  me  and  thee,  and 
 between  my  herdmen  and  thy  herdmen  ;  for 
 we  ief  brethren. 
 
 9  ''  Is  not  the  whole  land  before  thee  ?  sepa- 
 rate thyself,  I  pray  thee,  from  me  :  '  if  thou  ivilt 
 take  the  left  hand,  then  i  will  go  to  the  right ; 
 
 b  ch.  2i.  55. 
 Ps.  112.3. 
 I'rov.lU.aa. 
 
 ^  ch,  26.  20. 
 
 .■  I  Cor  6  7. 
 t  Heh.  men 
 
 hrelhrpii  : 
 Seech,n.27, 
 
 HI.  Kx.a.la. 
 
 Pa.  133.  I. 
 
 Acts  7.  26. 
 k  ch.  21).  15. 
 
 ft  34.  10. 
 /Rnm.li.lS. 
 
 Heb    12.  It. 
 
 Jam,  '.i.  IT. 
 
 m  ch.  19.  17. 
 
 Deut.  34,  3. 
 
 Ps.  107.34. 
 n  ch.  19.  2lj 
 
 2.5. 
 o  ch.  2.  10. 
 
 Is.  51.  3. 
 p  ch.  14.  2, 
 
 8.  &  19.  22. 
 
 g  ch,  19.29. 
 
 cir.  1917. 
 
 r  ch.  14.  12. 
 
 &  19.1. 
 
 •2  Pet.  2.7,8. 
 J  ch.  IS.  2(1. 
 
 Eztfk.lb.49. 
 
 a  Pet.  2.7,8. 
 /ch.  6.  n. 
 «  ver.  II. 
 w  ch.  28.  11. 
 xch.  12.7  Sc 
 
 15.  18.  &  17. 
 
 8.  Si  24.  7. 
 
 &  96.  4 . 
 
 Num.34. 12. 
 
 Deut.  34.  4. 
 
 Acts  7.  5. 
 v9Chr  2{\ 
 
 7.  Ps.37.22, 
 
 29,  &  112.2. 
 z  ch.  IS.  5.  & 
 
 22  17. &  26 
 
 4.  &  28.   14. 
 
 St  .32-  12. 
 
 Ex.  32.  13. 
 
 Num  23.10. 
 
 Deut,  1    10. 
 
 I  Kin.  4.  20. 
 
 lChr,27.23. 
 
 18,48.19.  Je 
 
 3;).-'2.  Rom 
 
 4,  16,  17,18. 
 
 Heb.  11.12. 
 n  rh.  14.  13. 
 t  Heh  )'t'ii>a. 
 b  cli.35,  27. 
 
 &  37.  14. 
 
 ov'ii  thou  depart  to  the  right  hand,  then  I  will 
 go  to  the  left. 
 
 10  And  Lot  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  beheld 
 all  "the  plain  of  Jordan,  that  it  H?a5well  watered 
 everywhere, before  the  Lord  "destroyed  Sodom 
 and  Gomorrah,  ^  eve}i  as  the  garden  of  the 
 Lord,  like  the  land  of  Egypt,  as  thou  comest 
 unto  ^  Zoar. 
 
 1 1  Then  Lot  chose  him  all  the  plain  of  Jordan; 
 and  Lot  journeyed  east  :  and  they  separated 
 themselves  the  one  from  the  other. 
 
 1'2  Abram  dwelled  in  the  land  of  Canaan, 
 and  Lot  *"  dwelled  in  the  cities  of  the  plain,  and 
 '  pitched  his  tent  toward  Sodom. 
 
 13  But  the  men  of  Sodom  '  were  wicked  and 
 '  sinners  before  the  Lord  exceedingly. 
 
 14  *|f  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Abram,  after 
 that  Lot  "  was  separated  from  him,  Lift  up  now 
 thine  eyes,  and  look  from  the  place  where  thou 
 art  "  northward,  and  southward,  and  eastward, 
 and  westward : 
 
 1 5  For  all  the  land  which  thou  seest,  *  to  thee 
 will  I  give  it,  and  ^  to  thy  seed  for  ever. 
 
 16  And^  I  will  make  thy  seed  as  the  dust  of 
 the  earth  :  so  that  if  a  man  can  number  the 
 dust  of  the  earth,  then  shall  thy  seed  also  be 
 numbered. 
 
 17  Arise,  walk  through  the  land  in  the  length 
 of  it  and  in  the  breadth  of  it ;  for  I  will  give  it 
 unto  thee. 
 
 18  Then  Abram  removed  his  tent,  and  came 
 and  *  dwelt  in  the  f  plain  of  Mamre,  ^  which  is 
 in  Hebron,  and  built  there  an  altar  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 Chap.  XIII. — 1.  The  south,  the  southern  part  of  Canaan,  whence  he 
 came,  (Gen.  xii.  9,)  which,  in  Scripture,  is  called  simply  the  sduth, 
 (Josh.  X.  40,  and  11,  l6,)  otherwise,  he  went  rather  into  the  north. — 
 Poole.  2.  VeT'j  rich,  'very  heai'i/,*  so  the  Hebrew  signifies,  for  riches 
 are  a  burden  ;  there  is  a  burden  of  care  in  getting  them,  fear  in  keep- 
 ing them,  temptation  in  using  them,  and  a  burden  of  account  to  be 
 given  up  concerning  them. — Hen.  3.  Beth-el,  so  named  afterwards 
 by  Jacob.  Moses  used  the  names  by  which  jilaces  were  known  when 
 he  wrote.     Bethel  was  twelve  miles  from  Jerusalem. — Cat.  6.  The 
 
 land  was  not  able  to  hear  them,  it  could  not  furnish  them  with  sufficient 
 pasturage  for  their  flocks  and  herds,  they  were  so  numerous.  /.  A 
 
 strife,  probably  about  pasturage  and  watering  places. — Gilt.  10.  Unto 
 Zoar — Boothroyd  transposes  this  verse,  so  as  to  shew  that  Zoar  was 
 not  a  city  of  Egypt,  which  may  be  understood  by  our  translation,  but 
 a  city  of  the  plain.  The  plain  of  Jordan,  called  so  from  the  river 
 Jordan,  which  there  divided  into  little  streams,  which,  having  no  vi- 
 sible outlet,  insinuated  themselves  into  the  earth,  and  made  it  very 
 fruitful.  This  lovely  plain  afterwards  became  a  filthy  lake,  (Gen.  xix.) 
 — Poole.  As  the  garden  of  the  Lord — things  most  excellent  are  often 
 expressed  by  the  addition  of  the  name  of  God  or  Lord. — Gill.  Dr. 
 Boothroyd  thinks  that  here  is  a  reference  to  Paradise,  which  was  well 
 
 watered.  11.  Lot  chose  him  all  the  plain — sensual  choices  are  sinful 
 choices,  and  seldom  speedwell. — Hen.  13.  W«'e  icicA' erf,  see  their 
 chief  sins,  Ezek.  svi.  49,  51). — Trnpp.  Sinners  before  the  Lord,  '  to 
 Jehovah,'  meaning  very  grievous  Eind  open  sinners. — Ains.  15.  For 
 ever — the  word  rendered  'for  ever,'  does  not  always  signify  eternity, 
 but  a  long  continuance,  as  is  evident  from  Gen.  xvii.  13,  and  xlviii.  4  ; 
 Exod.  xxi.  6  ;  Ps.  cxxxii.  14,  &c. — Poole.  A.  t'/orAe understands  'for 
 ever,'  D^IS*  1^,  to  the  end  of  the  present  dispensation  ;  that  Abram's 
 posterity  should  enjoy  the  land  till  Christ  should  come  in  the  flesh. 
 11).  As  the  dust — when  Moses  wrote  the  history,  these  predictions  had, 
 in  part,  been  fulfilled,  but  what  incalculable  multitudes  have  since 
 sprung  from  him  !  Besides  the  nations  of  JuJah  and  Israel,  his  de- 
 scendants by  Esau  and  Ishmael,  and  the  sons  of  Keturah,  have  been 
 astonishingly  numerous. — Scott.  Especially  this  may  respect  all  the 
 spiritual  seed  uf  Abram,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  as  they  will  be  in  the 
 spiritual  reign  of  Christ,  (see  Hos.  i.  10,  11.) — Gill.  18.  hi  the  plain 
 of  Mamre,  or,  '  by  the  oak  of  Mamre.' — A.  Clarke.  The  word  is  in  the 
 pi.  oaks,  and  is  taken  by  many  for  an  oaken  grove.  Mamre  was  a 
 man's  name,  (see  next  chap.  ver.  13.)  In  Hebron,  or  rather  by  or  near 
 Hebron. — Put. 
 
 IV.  Though  we  may  he  called  by  Divine  grace,  we  are  not  to 
 expect  freedom  from  troulde.  Banyan's  lines  are  quaint,  but 
 truly  characteristic  of  the  good  man's  lot  in  this  world  : — 
 
 '  The  Christian  man  is  seldom  long  at  ease. 
 For  when  one  trouble  duth  him  leave,  another  doth  him  seize.' 
 
 Here,  as  Henry  observes,  we  see  *  it  is  possible  for  a  man 
 to  be  in  the  way  of  duty,  and  in  the  way  to  happiness,  and 
 yet  meet  with  great  troubles  and  disappointments.' 
 
 V.  Those  who  are  called  by  Divine  grace  will  always  find  it 
 the  stfest  way    to  display  their  character^  and  fearlessly,  in  the 
 
 face  of  every  difficulty,  to  hold  fast  their  integrity.  Abram's 
 timidity  had  nearly  brought  him  and  Sarai  into  circumstances 
 of  the  most  shocking  kind.  Happily,  as  Scott  remarks,  '  God 
 protects  his  people,  notwithstanding  their  infirmities  ;  takes 
 better  care  of  them  than  they  do  of  themselves,  and  over- 
 rules all  things  for  their  good ;  yet  they  shall  not  escape  rebuke, 
 even  from  those  who  are  in  other  respects  their  inferiors,  when 
 they  act  inconsistently  with  their  character  and  profession.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIIL — I.  Though  few  rich  men 
 enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  there  are  some  that  do  enter  fhire. 
 It  IS  only  when  they  press  the  soul  down  to  earth  that  riches 
 have  an  evil  tendency;  rightly  used,  they  may  be  a  great 
 blessing  to  ourselves  and  others,  God,  however,  has  not 
 tnought  proper  in  general  to  bestow  them  upon  his  people  in 
 15 
 
 great  abundance,  and  hence  he  answers  one  of  their  daily 
 prayers,  '  lead  us  not  into  temptation.'  The  most  painful  in- 
 stances are  on  record  of  the  snares  of  riches,  and  f  ven  of  their 
 closing  the  once  generous  hand,  and  hardening  the  once  tender 
 heart.  But  God  gave  Abram  great  faith,  and  with  this  he 
 was  capable  of  enjoying  great  riches.  Amidst  all  his  wealth 
 he  was  obedient  to  God,  submissive  to  his  will,  and  studious 
 to  maintain  the  honour  of  his  name  in  the  world.  O  that  our 
 rich  men  were  all  like  him — rich  in  faith  and  good  works ; 
 what  blessings  would  they  prove  both  to  themselves  and  to 
 all  around  them ! 
 
 II.  In  this  world  it  is  very  difficult  to  live  in  peace  with  all  men  ; 
 but  Abrarns  example  is  the  most  effectual  way  to  accoinplish  it. 
 AVe  often  triumph  in  yielding  ;  and  at  all  events  the  man  of 
 strife  is  the  greatest  suflerer,  for  the  storm  rages  in  his  bosom, 
 while  all  is  calm  in  the  man  of  peace.  How  lovely  and  placid 
 is  the  picture  of  the  patriarch,  as  we  see  him  in  the  con- 
 descending act  of  reasoning  with  his  junior  and  inferior — 'Let 
 there  be  no  strife,  I  pray  thee,  between  me  and  thee,  and 
 between  my  herdsmen  and  thy  herdsmen,  for  we  be  brethren, 
 
 III.  Pleasant  things  in  this  world  are  not  always  best  for  us. 
 Lot  found  it  so.  This  should  teach  us  not  always  to  judge  of 
 things  by  outward  appearances,  and  should  reconcile  us  to  tin* 
 leadings  of  Providence,  when  he  casts  our  lot  in  places  and  cir- 
 cumstances which  we  shouldnotbe  disposed  to  choose.  Surely, 
 
The  battle  of  four  kings  against  Jive. 
 
 GENESIS,  XIV. 
 
 Lul  is  taken  prisoner. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  T/ie  battle  of  four  kings  agilhist  fitc 
 taken  prisoner.  14  Abram  rescuet/i  h 
 chizedek   biesseth    Abram.      20 
 
 I  Lot  is 
 ,=■,.  bim.  18  Mrl- 
 Ahram    giveth  him 
 
 ft  Olesset/i  AOram.  :iu  .'iirrain  givtcn  nii 
 tithe.  22  The  rest  of  tbe  spoil,  his  partners  havin^ 
 had  their  portions,  lie  restoreth  to  the  king  of  Sodom. 
 
 AND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  days  of  Anira- 
 phel  king  "  of  Sliinar,  Arioch  king  of 
 Ellasar,  Ctiedorlaomer  king  of  ''  Elam,  and 
 Tidal  king  of  nations  ; 
 
 2  That  these  made  war  with  Bera  king  of 
 Sodom,  and  with  Birsha  king  of  Gomorrah, 
 Shinab  king  of '  Admah,  and  Sliemeber  king  of 
 Zeboiim,  and  the  king  of  Bela,  which  is  ''  Zoar. 
 
 .'5  All  these  were  joined  together  in  the  vale 
 of  Siddini,  °  which  is  the  salt  sea. 
 
 4  Twelve  years  "■  they  served  Chedorlaomer, 
 and  in  tlie  thirteentli  year  they  rebelled. 
 
 5  And  in  the  fonrteenth  year  came  Chedor- 
 laomer, and  the  kings  tliat  vere  with  him,  and 
 smote  ^  the  Rephaims  ''  in  Ashteroth  Ivarnaim, 
 and  '  the  Zuzims  in  Ham,  '  and  the  Emims  in 
 II  Shaveli  Kiriathaim, 
 
 6  '  And  the  Horites  in  their  mount  Seir,  unto 
 II  El-paran,  which  is  by  the  wilderness. 
 
 7  And  they  returned,  and  came  to  Enmishpat, 
 which  is  Kades-h,  and  smote  all  the  country  of 
 the  Amalekites,  and  also  the  Amorites,  that 
 dwelt  "'  in  Hazezon-tamar. 
 
 8  And  there  went  out  the  king  of  Sodom,  and 
 the  king  of  Gomorrah,  and  the  king  of  Admah, 
 and  the  king  of  Zeboiim,  and  the  king  of  Bela 
 (the  same  is  Zoar  ;)  and  they  joined  battle  with 
 them  in  the  vale  of  Siddim  ; 
 
 9  With  Chedorlaomer  the  king  of  Elam,  and 
 with  Tidal  king  of  nations,  and  Amraphcl  king 
 
 B  C. 
 
 B,  C. 
 
 cir.  UI17. 
 
 cir.  I'll:!. 
 
 ■i  ch.  113. 
 
 -o-h.  Ifl.  17, 
 
 riii. 
 
 ^.  VLT.  Ii;,2l. 
 
 rtrh.  111.  in. 
 
 S:  11-  ■^. 
 
 h  Is.  11.   11. 
 
 7  cli.  12.  .'>, 
 
 rch.  l.S.  12. 
 
 c  Pen.  29,23, 
 
 B  ch.  13.  IS. 
 
 '/ch,  19.22. 
 
 «neiil.3.17. 
 
 N(jm.34.I2. 
 
 Jf.f;li..S.  le. 
 
 M  Ch.  13,  fl. 
 
 Ps.  K»7.  .SJ. 
 ff.\\.  9.26. 
 
 II  Or, 
 Ud  forth. 
 
 cir.  1913. 
 
 li.Or, 
 
 iiiilrurtrd. 
 
 u>  ch.  iri.  3. 
 
 i'  cli.  15.  20. 
 
 &17.  12.27. 
 
 Dent.  3.  n. 
 
 Eccles.  2,  7. 
 
 AJosti.  VIA. 
 
 X  Dfut.M  1. 
 
 U  13.  li. 
 
 Judg.  IS  29 
 
 i  Deut.  2. 20. 
 
 jf  Is.  41.  2,  a. 
 
 A  Dent.  2.10. 
 
 tl  Or,  the 
 
 ptain  ./Ki- 
 Tiaihnim. 
 
 I  cer.  11,  12. 
 
 I  Deut.  2.  12, 
 
 \\Or,lhe  ],lain 
 
 of  Paran. 
 rh.2l.21. 
 
 aJadg.  II. 
 
 Numb  12. 
 
 M.     1  Sam. 
 
 16.  &  I.S.  3. 
 
 Ifi.  6. 
 
 w2Chr.20.2. 
 
 b  Heb.  7.  1. 
 
 c2.Sa  18,18. 
 
 .(  Ehfb.  7.  1. 
 
 ^Ps.  110.  t. 
 
 Heb.  6.  6. 
 
 /  Mio.  C.  fi 
 
 Acts  16.  17. 
 
 Kuth  3.  10. 
 
 2  Sam.  2.  £. 
 
 of  Shinar,  and  Arioch  king  of  Ellasar;  four 
 kings  witli  five. 
 
 10  And  the  vale  of  Siddini  ivasfitllof"  slime- 
 pits  ;  and  the  kings  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
 fled,  and  fell  there  ;  and  they  that  remained 
 fled  °  to  the  mountain, 
 
 11  And  they  took  ''all  the  goods  of  Sodom 
 and  Gomorrah,  and  all  their  victuals,  and  went 
 their  way. 
 
 12  And  they  took  Lot,  Abram's  "^  brother's 
 son,  ■"  who  dwelt  in  Sodom,  and  his  goods,  and 
 departed. 
 
 13  If  And  there  came  one  that  had  escnjied, 
 and  told  Abram  the  Hciirew  ;  for  '^  he  dwelt  in 
 the  plain  of  Mamre  the  Amorite,  brother  of 
 Eshcol,  and  brother  of  Aner:  '  and  these  trere 
 confederate  with  Abram. 
 
 14  And  when  Abram  heard  that  "his brother 
 was  taken  captive,  he  ||  armed  his  ||  trained 
 servants,  *  born  in  his  own  liouse,  tlu'ee  hun- 
 dred and  eighteen,  and  pursued  (hem  ^  unto 
 Dan. 
 
 15  And  he  divided  himself  against  them,  he 
 and  his  servants,  by  night,  and  ^  smote  tbem, 
 and  pursued  them  unto  Hobah,  which  is  on  tho 
 left  hand  of  Damascus. 
 
 16  And  he  brought  back  ''  all  the  good.s  and 
 also  brought  again  his  brother  Lot,  and  his 
 goods,  and  the  women  also,  and  the  people. 
 
 17  H  And  tlie  king  of  Sodom  "  went  out  to 
 meet  hiin  '' after  his  return  from  the  slaughter 
 of  Chedorlaomer,  and  of  tlie  kings  that  trcre 
 with  him,  at  tlie  valley  of  Shaveh,  which  is  the 
 ^  king's  dale. 
 
 18  And  '^  Melchizedek  king  of  Salem  brought 
 forth  bread  and  wine  :  and  he  was  ''the  priest 
 of  ^  the  most  high  God. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. — 1.  Naflnns,  Goim,  which,  perhaps,  is  tlie  name  nf  a 
 place  or  cuntry,  so  called  from  people  of  divers  nations  dwelling  there. 
 2.  King;,  a  name  piven  by  Moses  to  the  chief  governors  of  a  city  or 
 province.  3.  Which  is  the  salt  sen,  which  now  is,  though,  when  ihis 
 battle  was  foufrht,  it  was  not  so. — Puole.  10.  Slimepits — asphaltos, 
 or  ftiVwrnen,  a  liquid  of  a  pitchy  nature,  abounded  there. — .4.  Clarke, 
 Gill.  This  sub.-tance  still  abounds  m  those  parts. — Greenf.  The  kings — 
 felt  there— this  is  not  to  be  UTiderstood  of  the  kings  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
 morrah, for  it  is  certain  that  they  were  preserved  alive,  at  least  the 
 king  of  Sodom,  for  we  hear  nf  him  afterwards,  (ver.  17,  21,)  but  of 
 their  suldiL-rs. — Gill.  The  kinp,  mentioned  ver.  1".  mitcht,  however,  be 
 tlie  successor  of  the  one  who  fou^bt. — Ed.  13.  The  Hebrew— <le. 
 scended  remotely  from  Ebcr,  and  reviving  his  memoiy  by  keeping  up 
 the  same  religion. — Poole.  15.  Dinided  hiinnclf,  to  smite  them  in 
 the  night  from  different  quarters,  and  so  strike  terror  into  them. — 
 Poole.  13.  Melchizfdek — see  Heb.  vii.  1 — 10.  There  are  many  opi- 
 nions about  Melcliizedek  ;  the  chief  are: — (i.)  He  was  Shem,  so  say 
 the  Jews;  but  Shem's  geneaJngy  was  well  known,  and  Levi  was  de- 
 scended from  him  a.s  well  as  from  Abram. — Put.,  Scotf.  Besides,  what 
 should  Sliem  do  in  Canaan,  which  land  fell  to  Ham? — Trnpp.  (ii.)  The 
 moj-t  received  opinion  is,  that  he  was  a  Canaanitish  prince  who  reigned 
 in  Salem,  and  kept  up  the  true  religion  there  ;  but,  then,  why  did 
 Abram  have  altars  of  his  own,  and  not  attend  those  of  Melchizedek, 
 wlio  was  greater  than  he? — Hen.  (iii.)  He  was  the  Scin  of  God; 
 in  favour  of  this  opinion  it  may  be  observed,  that  no  mere  man 
 ciinid  be  said  to  be  without  father  or  mother,  &c  ,  (Ileb.  vii.  n,l  or 
 greater  than  Abram  in  the  things  of  God ;  or  Christ  a  priest  after 
 the  order  of  a  mere  man. — Hen.  Another  writer  says — (i.)  Tliere  is 
 evidently  a  myi^tery  connected  with  Melchizedek,  which  does  not  be- 
 long to  any  mere  human  type,  (ii.)  Messiah's  goings  forth  were  from 
 old,  from  everlasting,  and  this  was  a  coming  forth  in  person,  in  visible 
 
 humanity,  (iii.)  Melchizedek  is  spoken  of  in  direct  contrast  to  mortal 
 men,  (Heb.  vii.  8.)  (iv.)  The  Apostle  Paul  completely  identifies  the 
 person  of  Melchizedek  with  that  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  he  says, 
 '  He  of  whom  these  things  are  spoken,'  he,  '  for  it  is  evident  tliat  our 
 Lord  sprang  out  of  Judah,'  &c.  Now  our  Lord  is  here  clearly  referred 
 to;  and  yet,  'He  of  whom,'  Sic,  is  never  once  mentioned,  except 
 where  it  is  said,  that  Melchizedek  was  made  like  the  Son  of  God. 
 Whatever  had  been  spoken,  had  been  spi>kcn  of  Melchizedek,  so  that, 
 not  only  the  scope  of  the  argument,  hut  its  very  phrave()logy,  identifies 
 him  with  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  (v.)  The  unearthly  origin  of  Melchi. 
 zedck  is  confirmed  by  the  ra^i?,  '  order,*  according  to  which  it  was  his 
 purpose  to  fulfil,  in  due  time,  the  work  of  the  priesthood — viz.,  not  as 
 a  mere  man,  not  fs  a  priest  of  the  tribe  of  Aaron,  but  as  the  perfect 
 Hip;h  Priest,  whose  ministrations  should  supersede  the  then  apjjroach- 
 ing  intermedial  economy,  and  abolish  its  shadowy  and  mortal  types. 
 (vi.)  That  his  having  neither  beginning  of  days  nor  end  of  life  is,  ac- 
 cording to  the  plan,  purpose,  or  design  of  Jeliovah,  that  he  should  lie 
 an  ever. living  Higli  Priest,  to  make  intercession  for  his  people,  it  being 
 expressly  testified,  that  he  livelh  and  ahideth  n  priest  cuntinunlli,. 
 (vii.)  Melchizedek  appeared  under  the  titles  of  King  ot  Righteousness 
 and  King  ot  Peace,  as  declarative  of  his  holy  and  beneficent  character, 
 and  iif  the  nature  of  that  kingdom  which,  at  his  prf  dieted  advent,  he 
 would  establish  in  the  world.  (viii.)  MelcJiizedek  received  tithes  in 
 acknowledgment  of  his  divine  authority  and  absolute  dominion,  (ix.) 
 He  dispensed  bread  and  wine,  not  as  mere  refreshments,  nor  as  a  sa- 
 crifice, as  the  papists  insist,  but  as  an  emblematical  representatitTn  of 
 his  propitiatory  offering,  by  which  Abram  was  instructed  concerning 
 the  means  of  human  redemptinn,  as  significantly  set  ff^rth  in  those  ele- 
 ments.— These  views  are  ably  argued  by  the  ingenious  and  talented 
 author  of  a  small  volume,  entitled,  'Melchizedek.*  Some  objections 
 to  the  latter  opinion  are — 'That  the  apostle  would  never  in  that  case 
 
 had  Lot  prayed  for  the  Divine  direction,  from  wiint  afterwards 
 occurred,  he  would  never  have  chosen  the  'well-watered' 
 plain.  We  are  never  more  safe  than  when  we  leave  ourselves 
 to  the  guidance  of  infinite  wisdom  and  unerring  love.  God 
 knows  what  evils  lie  in  the  way,  which  he  sometimes  hedges 
 up  evpn  'with  tliorns'  to  prevent  us  from  forcing  our  steps 
 throush  it.  Then  let  us  submit  to  the  decisions  of  his  provi- 
 dence, and  lie  passive  in  his  hand. 
 
 '  O,  who  so  wise  to  choose  our  lot 
 And  regulate  our  ways  !' 
 
 IV.    God  ddiffhts  to  visit  those  ivho  most  faith  fullif  serve  him. 
 Kow  often  he  repeats  his  visits  to  Abram,  renews  his  promises, 
 16 
 
 and  shews  him  the  goodly  land.  It  was  long  before  his  seed 
 took  possession  of  it,  but  his  faith  realized  nil  that  God  pro- 
 mised, and  this  enabled  him  to  enjoy  all  as  tbotjgh  he  had  all 
 in  actual  possession.  Not  less  to  us  are  given  'exceeding 
 great  and  precious  promises.'  Promises  are  things  not  in 
 hand,  but,  like  bills  on  a  sure  firm,  they  answer  tlie  same  pur- 
 pose. How  it  cheers  tlie  Christian's  heart  wJjo  knows  that  no 
 good  thing  shall  fail  of  all  that  the  Lord  his  God  iialb  spoken 
 to  him,  for  '  the  promises  are  all  yea  and  amen  in  Christ  Jesus, 
 Some  indeed  are  realized  here,  and  these  are  enough  to  ensure 
 the  performance  of  the  rest,  when  the  believer,  enjoying  his 
 final  possessions,  shall  say.^'  Lo,  this  is  our  God  !  we  have 
 waited  ibr  him  ;  we  will  be  glad,  and  rejoice  in  his  salvation.' 
 
Melckizedek  blesseth  Abiani. 
 
 GENESIS,  XV. 
 
 Ahram  justified  by  faith. 
 
 19  And  he  blessed  him,  and  said.  Blessed  be 
 Abram  of  the  most  higli  God,  ^  possessor  of 
 heaven  and  earth  : 
 
 20  And  "  blessed  be  the  most  high  God,  which 
 hath  delivered  thine  enemies  into  thy  hand. 
 And  lie  gave  him  tithes  '  of  all. 
 
 '21  And  the  king  of  Sodom  said  unto  Abram, 
 Give  me  the  f  persons,  and  take  the  goods  to 
 thyself. 
 
 2'2  And  Abram  said  to  the  king  of  Sodom,  I 
 '  have  lift  up  mine  hand  unto  the  Lord,  the 
 most  high  God,  '  the  possessor  of  heaven  and 
 earth, 
 
 23  That  "  I  will  not  take  from  a  thread  even 
 to  a  shoelatchet,  and  that  I  will  not  take  any 
 thing  that  is  thine,  lest  thou  shouldest  say,  I 
 have  made  Abram  rich  : 
 
 24  Save  only  that  which  the  young  men  have 
 eaten,  and  the  portion  of  the  men  "  which  went 
 with  me,  Alier,  Eshcol,  and  Mamre ;  let  them 
 take  their  portion. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  God  encourageth  Ahram,  2  Abram  complaineih  for 
 want  of  an  heir.  4  God  promistth  him  a  son,  and  a 
 midtiplying  of  his  svcd,  6  Abrnm  is  justijie.d  by 
 faitlu  7  Canaan  is  promised  again,  and  conjirmed 
 by  a  sign,  12  and  a  vision. 
 
 k  Kx.  6.  8. 
 
 Dan.  Vi.  7 
 
 Rev. 10.5,  fi. 
 /  ver.  19. 
 
 Ch.  21.33- 
 m  So  Est.  9. 
 
 15,  16. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir,  1913. 
 
 u  Dao.  111.  I. 
 
 Acta  10.  10, 
 
 II. 
 b  cli.  26.  24. 
 
 Dao.  10.  I  J. 
 
 I.u,l.l3,30. 
 c  Ps.  3.  y.  & 
 
 5.  Vi    &  M. 
 
 II.  &  f'l.  4. 
 
 &  119.  114. 
 d  Vs.    Ifi.  b. 
 
 St   ^.    II. 
 
 I'ruv.  IMS. 
 »  .\ct«  7.5. 
 /ch.  14   II. 
 
 !■>  & 
 
 10.  II. 
 
 ych 
 
 ,3u',2l. 
 
 h  H, 
 
 47.  4, 
 
 ■  .Ipr 
 
 ■iS.?,' 
 
 *  rh 
 
 2->    17, 
 
 Kx. 
 
 32.   \'X 
 
 Deu 
 
 .  1.  10. 
 
 Sc  U 
 
 .  22. 
 
 ICli 
 
 .27  23. 
 
 Hoii 
 
 .  4.  1;*. 
 
 Hel) 
 
 II.  12, 
 
 See  ch.  13, 
 
 16. 
 
 /Itoin.lS.JI, 
 
 22.  Gal-3.6. 
 
 Jam 
 
 9.  9S. 
 
 m  rs 
 
 lUti.Sl, 
 
 1  ch. 
 
 2.  1. 
 
 och.  1 1.28,31. 
 
 p  P». 
 
 103. 
 
 42, 14. 
 
 Rom 
 
 .  4.  13. 
 
 7  See 
 
 rh,  24. 
 
 13,14, Jiidg. 
 
 li    17 
 
 37 
 
 1  Sa. 
 
 4  5,111. 
 
 •JKi 
 
 1.  20.  s. 
 
 A  FTER  these  things  the  word  of  the  Lord 
 -^^  came  unto  Abram  '^  in  a  vision,  saying, 
 ^  Fear  not,  Ai:»ram  :  I  am  thy  '^  shield,  and  thy 
 exceeding  ^  great  reward. 
 
 2  And  Abram  said,  Lord  God,  what  wilt  thou 
 give  me,  '^  seeing  I  go  childless,  and  the  steward 
 of  my  house  is  this  Eliezer  of  Damascus? 
 
 3  And  Abram  said.  Behold,  to  me  thou  hast 
 given  no  seed  :  and,  lo,  *"  one  born  in  my  house 
 is  mine  heir, 
 
 4  And,  behold,  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  him,  saying.  This  shall  not  be  thine  heir; 
 but  he  that  ^  shall  come  forth  out  of  thine  own 
 bowels  shall  be  thine  heir. 
 
 5  And  he  brought  him  forth  abroad,  and  said, 
 Look  now  toward  heaven,  and  ""tell  the  '  stars, 
 if  thou  be  able  to  number  them:  and  he  said 
 unto  him,  ''So  shall  thy  seed  be. 
 
 C>  And  he  ^  believed  in  the  Lord  ;  and  he 
 ""  counted  it  to  him  for  righteousness. 
 
 7  And  he  said  unto  him,  I  am  the  Lord  that 
 "  brought  thee  out  of  °  Ur  of  the  Chaldees,  ^  to 
 give  thee  this  land  to  inherit  it. 
 
 8  And  he  said.  Lord  God,  **  whereby  shall  I 
 know  that  I  shall  inherit  it? 
 
 9  And  he  said  unto  him.  Take  me  an  heifer 
 of  three  years  old,  and  a  she  goat  of  three  years 
 
 liave  said,  that  Melchizedek  was  made  "  like  to  the  Son  of  God,"  or 
 that  Christ  was  constituted  "  a  priest  after  the  order  of  Melchizedek," 
 or  that  he  was  a  type  ot  himself.  Melchizedek  was  king  of  Salem,  but 
 Christ  never  reigned  as  a  temporal  prince.' — Scolt.  Some  of  these  ob- 
 jections have  bfcn  answered  as  follows  :— To  the  first  it  is  replied,  that 
 supposing  Melchizedek  to  be  a  mere  man,  a  mortal  possessed  of  a  fallen 
 nature,  involves  a  great  perplexity  when  he  is  said  to  be  '  like  the  Son 
 of  God  ;'  but,  taking  this  to  be  the  Son  of  God  himself,  the  e.\pre&sion, 
 *  made  like,'  may  be  admitted,  because,  with  the  identity  there  was  a 
 difTerence :  for  here  the  human  form  was  assumed,  afterwards  it  was 
 begotten.  Further,  the  leading  features  of  correspondence  between 
 Melchizedek  and  Christ  justify  the  expression,  '  after  the  order,'  &c. 
 Either  the  argument  is,  that  as  Melchizedek  was  not  begotten  of  man, 
 &c.,  so.  in  Christ,  we  have  just  such  an  '  uncreated,  ever-living  High 
 Priest,'  &c.  ;  or  else,  as  the  genealogy  of  Melchizedek  is  not  known, 
 nor  any  mention  made  of  the  commencement  and  expiration  of  his 
 otBce,  in  consequence  of  which  he  is  understood  to  have  a  perpetual 
 priesthood,  so  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  we  have  just  such  an  uncreaterl, 
 ever-living,  and  ever-officiating  High  Priest.  The  last  objection  is  met 
 in  the  particular,  marked  above  with  the  number  (vii.)— See  jT/i?^r/«'- 
 zedek.  Among  those  who  consider  Melchizedek  to  have  been  a  pious 
 king  and  type  of  Christ,  are—Trtijip,  Poole,  Pat.,  J.  Owen,  Gilt,  Scutt, 
 FnL,  Boothr.,  A.  Clarke,  Bensnn,  and  Wil.  But  all  are  not  agreed 
 that  he  was  a  Canaanite,  Dr.  Owen  supposing  him  to  be  one  of  the 
 children  of  Japheth,  who  was  to  be  persuaded  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of 
 Shem.  Among  those  who  favour  the  opinion  of  Melchizedek  being 
 Christ  are,  Ridley,  Hunter,  and  M.  Henry.  The  first  of  these  says, 
 'The  apostle's  description  is  rather  applicable  to  a  divine  person  than 
 a  mere  man.'  The  second,  '  It  must  be  admitted  that  there  are  circum- 
 stances,  both  in  the  history  and  tlie  apnstoHcal  application  of  it,  which 
 sufficiently  warrant  such  an  interpretation.'  The  tliird  observes,  '  It 
 is  hard  to  think  that  any  mere  man  should  be  said  to  be  without  fa- 
 ther,' Sic.  King  of  Salem,  of  Jerusalem,  called  Salem,  (Ps.  Ixxvi.  2.) 
 — Poole,  A.  Clarke.  But  the  Salem  here  named  must  have  been  near 
 Sodom,  and  lay  in  the  way  between  Damascus  and  Sodom,  whereas 
 Jerusalem  was  in  a  contrary  situation.— iJoc/i.  Jerovie  relates  that 
 Salem  was  a  town  near  Scythopolis,  and  takes  it  to  be  mentioned  as 
 Shalem,  Gen.  x.xxiii.  18,  and  Salim,  John.  iii.  23.  —  So  Pat.,  Gill. 
 It).  Blessed  him,  this  was  part  of  the  priest's  ofiice,  (Numb.  vi.  23— 2(j.) 
 20.  And  he  gave  him  tithes  of  all — not  Melchizedek  to  Abram,  but 
 Abram  to  Melchizedek.  (Heb.  vii.  4.)— Gill.  22.  Lift  up  mine  hand 
 — the  primitive  mode  of  swearing  till  the  time  of  circumcision,  when 
 Ihe  hand  was  laid  on  the  part  circumcised.  23.  Frojna  thread,  clearly 
 a  proverbial  mode  of  expression.— .4.  Clarke.  Shoe-latchet  —  shoe- 
 latchets  were  used  to  fasten  the  ancient  sandals  to  the  feet.— Orient. 
 Lit..  No.  45. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  1.  The  word  of  the  Lord,  Christ,  the  essential  word  in 
 human  foTm.—GilL  The  glorious  person  nf  the  Messiah.— Swi.  A  vi- 
 .non— God  revealed  bis  will  to  the  patriarchs  &c.  in  various  ways  : — 
 (i.)  By  the  personal  appearance  oi  the  afterwards  incarnate  Saviour, 
 (ii.)  By  a«  audible  voice,  (iii.)  By  visions,  (iv.)  Ey  the  ministry  of 
 angels  in  human  forms,    (v.)  By  the  agency  of  the  Spirit  of  God  on  the 
 
 mind.~A.  Clarke.  Fear  wof— Abram  might  fear  lest  the  remaining 
 armies  of  the  four  kings  should  rally  again  and  rniu  him.  —  Hen. 
 2.  Seeing  I  go  childless,  '  what  pleasu;e  can  I  take  in  other  gifts,  see- 
 ing the  promised  seed  is  withheld?'— i^oo^e.  'What  pleasure  in  tem- 
 poral blessings,  when  1  have  none  to  inherit  them,  from  whom  might 
 spring  the  promised  Messiah  ?'—Gi7/.  Though  we  must  never  com- 
 plain of  God,  yet  we  have  leave  to  complain  to  him.  True  believers 
 sometimes  find  it  hard  to  reconcile  God's  promises  and  his  providences 
 when  they  seem  to  disagree. — Hen.  3.  Shall  be  my  heir — it  is  still 
 a  custom  in  India  that,  in  default  of  children,  and  sometimes  where 
 there  are  hneal  descendants,  the  master  of  a  family  adopts  a  slave  for 
 his  heir.— Forbfs^  Orient.  Mem.  6.  Beliered  God,  as  promising- 
 Christ. — Ful.  There  was  no  act  in  the  case  but  that  of  the  mind  and 
 heart ;  no  u-ork  of  any  kind.  Hence  the  doctrine  of  jubtification  by 
 faith  without  the  merit  of  works. — A.Clarke.  Cou7ited,  'reckoned,' 
 or  'imputed,'  as  translated  Rom.  iv.  10,  22. — Poole.  Far  righteous- 
 ness— this  is  urged  in  the  New  Testament  to  prove  that  we  are  justified 
 by  faith  without  the  works  of  the  law,  (Rom.  iv.  3 ;  Gal.  iii.  6  ;)  for 
 Abram  was  so  justified  while  he  was  yet  uncircumcised.  A  fiducial 
 practical  acceptance  of.  and  dependence  upon,  God's  promise  of  grace 
 and  glory,  in  and  through  Christ,  is  that  which,  according  to  the  tcnour 
 of  the  new  covenant,  gives  us  a  right  to  all  the  blessings  contained  in 
 that  promise.  All  believers  are  justified  as  Abram  was,  and  it  was  his 
 faith  that  was  counted  to  him  for  righteousness.— Ht7^.  It  is  evident, 
 from  the  apostle's  reasoidng,  that  Abram's  faith  hath  a  special  respect 
 to  the  promised  seed,  and  to  salvation  by  him  ;  and,  therefore,  though 
 in  himself  a  sinner,  and  his  very  faith  itself  not  free  from  defect,  he 
 was  nrrouutrd  righteous,  and  dealt  with  as  if  he  had  personally  per- 
 formed a  perfect  righteousness  ;  being  '  made  the  righteuusaess  of  God 
 in  Christ.'— ico^^  Faith  is  counted  lor  righteousness  ;  n<»t,  however, 
 as  a  righteous  act,  or  on  account  of  any  inherent  virtue  contained  in 
 it,  but  in  respect  of  Christ,  on  whose  righteousness  it  terminates. — 
 Calmn's  Instit.,  b.  iii.,  ch.  U,  5  7-  It  was  not  the  mere  act  of  Abram's 
 faith,  but  the  object  of  it ;  not  the  promise  he  believed,  but  what  was 
 premised,  which  was  Abram's  righteousness;  his  faith  received  even 
 Christ  and  his  righteousness  ;  this  was  imputed  to  him.  without  works, 
 and  whilst  he  was  an  uncircumcised  persori,  for  a  proof  of  which  the 
 apustle  produces  this  passage,  Kom.  iv.  3,  10,  22 — 24. — Evan.  Synop. 
 Christ  is  called  Jehovali  our  righteousness  ;  and  how  so,  but  by  means 
 of  that  imputation  dwelt  on  by  the  apostle,  Rom.  iv. ;  adding,  after 
 all,  what  is  here  said  of  Abram  is  not  '  written  for  his  sake  alone,  that 
 it  was  imputed  to  him,  but  for  us  also,  to  whom  it  shall  be  imputed, 
 if  we  believe  on  him  that  raided  up  Jesus,'  &c.  (Rom.  iv.  24.)  '  If 
 Adam's  sin  be  mine,  though  1  committed  it  not,  why  should  it  seem 
 so  strange  that  the  merit  of  Christ's  entire  obedience  should,  by  the 
 like  means,  be  mine,  though  I  wrought  it  not?'  (see  Rom.  v.  19;  2 Cor. 
 v.  ig.)  '  If  he  hath  wTonged  thee  aught,  reckon  that  to  me,'  said 
 Paul  to  Philemon,  concerning  Onesimus,— saith  Christ  to  his  Father, 
 concerning  us.—Trapp.  8.  Lord  God,  mrT  ''^IN,  '  my  Lord  Jehovah.' 
 Adunai  is  the  word  which  the  Jews  substitute,  in  reading,  for  Jehovah, 
 thinking  it  impious  to  pronounce  the  holy  name.  *  Adonai'  signifies, 
 my  director,  basis,  supporter,  prop,  or  stay.         9.  Take  me  a  heifer. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIV. —L  How  early  war  began  to 
 scourge  the  earth  f  Surely,  as  it  springs  from  sin,  so  it  is  one 
 of  the  most  striking  emblems  of  sin.  Destruction  and  misery 
 Bre  in  its  ways  ;  hence  it  is  well  described  by  an  old  divine  as 
 '  the  slaughter-house  of  mankind,  and  the  hell  of  the  present 
 world.'     '  Give  peace  in  our  time,  O  Lord.' 
 
 IL    Those  who  reside  among  the  witktd  miist  suffer  by  the  asso- 
 ciation.    So  did  Lot. 
 17 
 
 in.  Wiiether  Melchizedek  be  a  type  of  Christ,  or  whether 
 an  assumed  form  of  humanity,  we  learn  the  interesting  fact, 
 that  in  him  was  displayed  the  singular  priesthood  of  our  great 
 High  Priest,  who  is  '  a  priest  for  ever.'  Let  us  come  then  to 
 him  now  as  the  church  did  of  old  ;  let  us  come  with  all  our 
 daily  guilt  and  infirmities,  looking  to  him  who  '  ever  liveth  to 
 make  intercession  for  us.' 
 
Canaan  again  promised. 
 
 GENESIS,   XVI. 
 
 Sural  gireth  Hagur  to  Ahram. 
 
 old,  and  a  ram  of  three  years  old,  and  a  turtle- 
 dove, and  a  young  pigeon. 
 
 10  And  lie  took  unto  him  all  these,  and  'di- 
 vided them  in  the  midst,  and  laid  each  piece  one 
 against  another :  but  '  the  birds  divided  he  not. 
 
 U  And  when  the  fowls  came  down  upon  the 
 carcases,  Abram  drove  them  away. 
 
 12  And  when  the  sun  was  going  down,  '  a 
 deep  sleep  fell  upon  Abram  ;  and,  lo,  an  horror 
 of  great  darkness  fell  upon  him. 
 
 13  And  he  said  unto  Abram,  Know  of  a  surety 
 "  that  thy  seed  shall  be  a  stranger  in  a  land  that 
 is  not  tbeir's,  and  shall  serve  them  ;  and  "  they 
 shall  afflict  them  four  hundred  years  ; 
 
 14  And  also  that  nation,  whom  they  shall 
 serve,  '  will  I  judge  :  and  afterward  '  shall  they 
 come  out  with  great  substance. 
 
 15  And  ^  thou  shalt  go  °  to  thy  fathers  in 
 peace ;  ''  thou  shalt  be  buried  in  a  good  old  a;^ 
 
 IG  But  '  in  the  fourth  generation  they  shall 
 come  hither  again :  for  the  iniquity  "■  of  the 
 Amorites  "  is  not  yet  full. 
 
 17  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  the  sun 
 went  down,  and  it  was  dark,  behold  a  smoking 
 furnace,  and  f  a  burning  lamp  that  'passed  be- 
 tween those  pieces. 
 
 18  In  the  same  day  the  Lord  *made  a  cove- 
 nant with  Abram,  saying,  "  Unto  thy  seed  have 
 I  given  this  land,  from  the  river  of  Egypt  unto 
 the  great  river,  the  river  Euphrates: 
 
 19  The  Kenites,  and  the  Kenizzites,  and  the 
 Kadmonites, 
 
 20  And  the  Hittites,  and  the  Perizzites,  and 
 the  Rephaims, 
 
 21  And  the  Amorites,  and  the  Canaanites, 
 and  the  Girgashites,  and  the  Jebusites. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1    Sarai,  heing  harrt-n,  givetk  Hagar  to  Abram.     4  Ha- 
 gar,  being  a ffiicted  for  despising  her  niiatrtss,  runneth 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  1913. 
 
 rJer.  34.18, 
 19. 
 
 t  Gen.  5.  31 
 Jub  4.  I.-*. 
 
 "  Ex-  \2.  AO. 
 
 Ps.  105.  23. 
 
 Acts  7.6. 
 v>  Ex.    I.  11. 
 
 Ps.  105,  25. 
 
 jEx.  C,  6 
 Deut    6.->? 
 
 V  Kx.  |->.3P. 
 Ps.  1u5.  37. 
 
 :  Job  5.  ?«. 
 
 a  Acts  I3:W. 
 
 6  cli.  2.1.  8. 
 
 c  V^x.  1-2.  W. 
 
 d  I  Kiu.  21, 
 
 •id. 
 f  Dan.  9.  23 
 
 Mat, -iS.  32. 
 
 ITbeb.i.ie. 
 
 tHcbo/um;. 
 
 rjcr.  34.  IS, 
 19. 
 
 ff  ch.  31.  7. 
 
 h  ch  12,7.  tt 
 l.S.  IS.  &£ti 
 •I.  Kx,  23. 
 81.  Num. 
 .S<1.3.  Deut 
 1.  7.  8c  It. 
 ■2A.  &  31.  4. 
 Ja&h.  I.  4 
 1  Kill,  1  21 
 2Clir,0  26. 
 NpIi  9  8 
 Ps.  105.  II. 
 I*.  27.  12. 
 
 arh.  15.  2,3. 
 b  ch.  21.  9. 
 c  Gal.  4.  24, 
 d  ch.  30.  3. 
 e  ch.   20.  18. 
 
 &  30.  3. 
 
 I  Sa.  1 ,  5,  6. 
 /"So  ch.  30 
 
 3,  9 
 t  Heb.  l>f 
 
 liuUded  bh 
 
 k.r.  ^ 
 
 ?  ch.  3.   17. 
 
 1911. 
 h  ch.  12.  5. 
 
 I  2  Sam.  6 
 16.  PrnT 
 SO.  21,  23. 
 
 *  ch.  31.  53. 
 I  Sa.  24. 12. 
 
 /  Prov.  15  1. 
 
 I  Pot.  3  7. 
 I"   Job    2,   6. 
 
 Pa,  1116.  41, 
 
 42.    Jer.  38. 
 
 5. 
 
 t   Heb.  that 
 
 n'hii?li  is 
 
 gw.d  in 
 
 Ihirif  fyet. 
 
 \   Heb.   c/~ 
 
 jiiCtrd  hi-r. 
 H  Ex.  i.  16 
 »  ch,  2.^.  18. 
 ;'  Ex.  \5.  22, 
 
 y  Tit.  2,  9. 
 1  Pet.  2.  18. 
 
 r  ch.  17.  20 
 h  2\.  13.  & 
 25.  12. 
 
 nway.     7  An  angel  sendeth  her  hack  to  submit  hersdf, 
 1 1  and  telk'th  her  of  htr  child.     15  Islnnael  is  horn. 
 
 lyr  OW  Sarai  Abrani's  wife  ^  bare  him  no  diil- 
 ■^*  dren :  and  she  had  an  handmaid,  ^  an 
 Egyptian,  whose  name  teas  '^  Hagar. 
 
 2  -^  And  Sarai  said  unto  Abram,  Behold  now 
 the  Lord  ^'hath  restrained  me  from  bearing  :  f 
 pray  thee,  'go  in  unto  my  maid;  it  may  be 
 tliat  I  may  f  obtain  chiUh-en  by  her.  And 
 Abram  ^hearkened  to  the  voice  of  Sarai. 
 
 3  And  Sarai  Abram's  wife  took  Hagar  her 
 maid  the  Egyptian,  after  Abram  ^  had  dwelt 
 ten  years  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  gave  her 
 to  her  husband  Abram  to  be  his  wife. 
 
 4  If  And  he  went  in  unto  Hagar,  and  she  con- 
 ceived :  and  when  she  saw  that  she  had  con- 
 ceived, her  mistress  was  *  despised  in  her  eyes. 
 
 5  And  Sarai  said  unto  Abram,  My  wrong  be 
 upon  thee  :  I  have  given  my  maid  into  thy 
 bosom  ;  and  when  she  saw  that  she  had  con- 
 ceived, I  was  despised  in  her  eyes:  ^the  Lord 
 judge  between  me  and  thee. 
 
 6  '  But  Abram  said  unto  Sarai,  ""  Behold,  thy 
 maid  is  in  thy  hand  ;  do  to  her  fas  it  pleaseth 
 thee.  And  when  Sarai  f  dealt  hardly  with  her, 
 "  she  fled  from  her  face. 
 
 7  ^  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  found  her  by 
 a  fountain  of  water  in  the  wilderness,  "  by  the 
 fountain  in  the  way  to  ^Shur. 
 
 8  And  he  said,  Hagar,  Sarai's  maid,  whence 
 camest  thou  ?  and  whither  wilt  thou  go  ?  And 
 she  said,  I  flee  from  tlie  face  of  my  mistress 
 Sarai. 
 
 9  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  her. 
 Return  to  thy  mistress,  and  ''  submit  thyself 
 under  her  hands. 
 
 10  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  her, 
 '  I  will  multiply  thy  seed  exceedingly,  that  it 
 shall  not  be  numbered  for  multitude. 
 
 ^c. — e--ery  animal  to  be  sacrificed  under  the  Mosaic  law  is  here  named  ; 
 a  proof  that  God  gave  Abram  an  epiiome  of  that  law  afterwards  more 
 fully  revealed,  the  essence  of  which  consisted  in  its  sacrijices,  which 
 typified  the  Lamb  of  God.— -^.  Clarke.  10.  Divided  them — the  lorm 
 of  covenanting  required  that  the  persons  concerned  should  pass  be- 
 tween the  parts  of  the  sacrifice;  perhaps  intimating,  that  he  who 
 broke  the  covenant  might  expect,  in  like  manner,  to  be  cut  asunder  by 
 the  avenging  sword  of  Justice. — ^cott.  12.  Great  darkness — a  .sig- 
 nification of  tlie  distressed  and  doleful  condiiioii  of  Abram's  seed. — 
 Poole.  13.  Sh'tll  serve  them,  'shall  make  them  to  serve.'— Pa^. 
 
 Four  hundred  years,  which  bcg^an  when  Ishmael  mticked  Isaac,  thirty 
 years  after  the  promise.  This  promise  was  430  years  before  the  law, 
 (Gal.  iii.  17.)  and  430  years  after  it  Israel  came  out  of  Egypt,  (Exod. 
 xii.  41.) — Airis.  So  soon  as  Abram's  seed  was  born,  he  began  to  be 
 aflSicted,  and  that  by  one  of  Egyptian  extraction. — Ful.  15.  Go  to 
 tht/  fathers — Ae  buried— tvio  things  niarked  here  ;  as  bis  body  was  not 
 interred  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  fathers,  the  text  must  imply,  (i.)  that 
 his  soul  sliould  be  associated  with  them  in  pnradise,  the  place  of  sepa- 
 rate spirits — a  promise  of  immortality.  By  the  fathers  may  be  under- 
 stood the  patriarchs  who  died  in  the  Lord.  (ii.J  The  body  should  be 
 buried. — Sut.,  A.  Clarke,  so  also,  Trapp.  Gilt.  l6.  Iniguitt/  of  the 
 
 Amorites  —  the  most  powerful  nation  of  Canaan  put  for  all.— Gill. 
 
 A  smoking  furnace — a  burning  l/tmp—the  former  sjgrniiying  Israel's 
 misery  in  the  iron  furnace  of  Egypt,  as  it  is  called,  Jer.  xi.  4;  and 
 the  latter  noting  their  dehveiancc,  or  tight  shining  out  of  darkness. — 
 Poole,  so  Ful.  18.  Made  a  cin'enant—the  original  signifies  to  cut  a 
 
 covenant. — A.  Clarke.  The  river  of  Ei^ypt,  the  Nile. — Gitl.  Not  the 
 Nile,  for  the  Israelites  never  enjoyed  all  the  land  of  Egypt  on  this  side 
 the  Nile. — Pat.  The  river  called  Sichor,  on  the  border  of  Egypt,  near 
 tlie  li^thmus  of  Suez,  (see  Josh.  xiii.  3.) — A.  Clarke.  Some  think  the 
 Nile  is  not  here  meant,  but  a  little  river  running  through  the  desert 
 between  Palestine  and  Egypt.— So  Prid.  But  that  seems  to  have  been 
 but  a  branch  of  the  Nile.  The  Nile  was  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
 land  of  Canaan,  and  the  river  Euphrates  the  eastern,  in  its  utmost 
 extent,  in  the  times  of  David  and  Solomon,  (2  Sam.  viii.  3;  1  Kings, 
 iv.  21.)— CiV/. 
 
 Chap.  XVI.  —  1.  An  handmaid — nodonbt  she  had  many,  but  this  was 
 the  principal. — Gill.  An  Egyptian,  probably  given  to  Sarai  by  Pha- 
 raoh, (chap.  xii.  16.)  —  Trapp,  Gitl,  Sut,  2.  /  may  obtain  children  by 
 her — the  children  of  a  bond  slave  were  reckoned  the  children  of  a  mis- 
 tress. Sarai's  eagerness  to  have  a  child  was  the  desire  of  being  the 
 mother  of  the  Messiah. — Collier.  6,  Dealt  hardly — the  term  implies 
 stripes  and  hard  usage. — A.  Clarke.  7-  'The  angel  of  the  Lord — here 
 is  the  first  mention  of  an  angel's  appearance.    The  manner  of  his  speak- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV. —1.  Here  is  the  father  of  the 
 faithful  weak  in  faith.  If  he  had  not  feared,  God  would  not 
 have  said  to  him,  '  Fear  not.'  If  his  heart  had  not  failed,  or 
 been  in  danger  of  failing,  he  would  not  liave  come  with  a  cor- 
 dial to  his  relief.  Faith  he  nevertheless  had.  He  *  saw  the 
 day  of  Jesus,  and  was  glad.'  He  believed  that  He  was  to  come 
 who  was  to  bless  all  nations,  but  the  promise  was  so  long 
 delayed,  how  or  when  was  it  to  be  accomplished  1  No  wonder, 
 then,  if  believers  are  sometimes  like  their  patriarch  -,  the  same 
 infirm  nature  belongs  alike  to  them,  but  it  is  their  comfort  too 
 that  Abrarn's  God  is  their  God,  and  they  have  the  same  source 
 of  consolation  and  support  in  the  time  of  need. 
 
 II.  Behold  here  seasonable  promises  to  support  drooping  faith. 
 *  Fear  not,  I  am  thy  shield,  and  thine  exceeding  great  reward.' 
 And  wliat  God  was  to  Abram  he  is  to  all  his  spiritual  seed-  a 
 shield  to  protect  from  harm,  a  reward  which  secures  to  them 
 the  possession  of  all  good  things,  and  all  that  he  has  promised 
 shall  in  due  time  be  realized. 
 IS 
 
 HI.  Again,  behold  faith  in  lively  exercise,  and  the  benefits 
 resulting  from  it.  '  Abram  believed,  God,  and  it  was  counted 
 to  him  for  righteousness.'  So  is  faith  in  Christ  counted  for 
 righteousness  to  us;  not  the  act  of  believing,  for  there  is 
 nothing  meritorious  in  believing  the  truth  ;  and  if  we  say  that 
 this  act  appropriates  Christ  with  the  benefits  of  his  salvation, 
 there  is  nothing  meritorious  in  receiving  and  putting  on  (he 
 Lord  Jesus  ;  it  is  the  robe  of  his  righteousness  which  covers 
 our  guilt,  and  it  is  thus  that,  '  being  justified  by  faith,  we  have 
 peace  with  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 
 
 IV.  Those  who  place  full  confidence  in  God  by  believing  his 
 word,  may  expect  to  be  favoured  with  yet  larger  discoveries  of  his 
 grace,  'lo  Abram  was  revealed  the  promise  of  that  fair  land 
 which  should  be  given  to  his  seed  ;  and  those  that  exercise 
 daily  faith  in  the  Divine  purposes  and  promises  shall  see  them 
 more  largely  developed,  and  have  brighter  and  brighter  views 
 of  that '  good  land  which  is  yet  afar  oH. ' 
 
Ishmael  is  born. 
 
 GENESIS,  XVI!. 
 
 Circumcision  instituted. 
 
 11  Anil  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  her, 
 Behold,  thou  art  with  child,  and  shall  bear  a 
 son,  'and  shalt  call  his  name  ||  Ishmael;  be- 
 cause the  Lord  hath  heard  thy  affliction. 
 
 12  '  And  he  will  be  a  wild  man  ;  his  hand 
 icill  be  against  every  man,  and  every  man's 
 hand  against  him  ;  "  and  he  shall  dwell  in  the 
 presence  of  all  his  brethren. 
 
 13  And  she  called  the  name  of  the  Lord  that 
 spake  unto  her.  Thou  God  seest  me  :  for  she 
 said.  Have  I  also  here  looked  after  him  "  that 
 seeth  me  ? 
 
 14  Wherefore  the  well  was  called  '  ||  Beer- 
 lahai-roi ;  behold,  it  is  '  between  Kadesh  and 
 Bered. 
 
 15  H  And  °  Hagar  bare  Abrara  a  son:  and 
 Abram  called  his  son's  name,  which  Hagar 
 bare,  '  Ishmael. 
 
 16  And  Abram  was  four  score  and  six  years 
 old,  when  Hagar  bare  Ishmael  to  Abram. 
 
 CHAP.  xvn. 
 
 1  Gud  reneweth  the  covenant.  5  Abram  his  name  is 
 chamied  ill  token  of  a  greater  blessing.  10  Circum- 
 cision is  instituted.  15  Sarai  her  name  is  changai, 
 and  she  blessed.  \7  Isaac  is  promised,  23  Abraham 
 and  Ishmael  are  cireumcised. 
 
 \  ND  when  Abram  was  nhiety  years  old  and 
 -^  nine,  the  Lord  "  appeared  to  Abram,  and 
 said  unto  him,  ''  I  am  tlie  Almighty  God ; 
 '  walk  before  me,  and  be  thou  ||  "^  perfect. 
 
 2  And  I  will  make  my  covenant  between  me 
 and  thee,  and  "  will  multiply  thee  exceedingly. 
 
 3  And  Abram  '  fell  on  his  face :  and  God 
 talked  with  him,  saying, 
 
 4  As  for  me,  behold,  my  covenant  is  with  thee, 
 and  thou  shalt  be  ^  a  father  of  f  many  nations. 
 
 n.  c.  1911.   j 
 
 rh. 
 
 17.  19 
 
 Mat 
 
 1.  21 
 
 Lu. 
 
 .13,31 
 
 That  IS, 
 
 ('l„d 
 
 ihall 
 
 lifar 
 
 rl>. 
 
 >1.20. 
 
 Cll. 
 
 25.  18. 
 
 V  ch   2-),  62. 
 '  U^.  ( I . 
 (I  That  is, 
 the  wfU  of 
 
 l,im  that  l,v- 
 tth  ail. J 
 jpef/i  me. 
 z    Num.    13 
 
 l$9S 
 rtch.  Vi.  I. 
 b  ch.  as.  3. 
 
 ft:  35.  II. 
 
 Ex.  6.  8. 
 
 Deut.IO.l7. 
 -.ch.  5.  :2. 
 
 fe  4fl.  15.    1 
 
 Kin.  ■>.  A.K 
 
 S  33  2  Kin. 
 
 ■iu.  .S. 
 
 II  Or,  upright, 
 
 doh.'fi.  9,' 
 
 Deut  18.  13. 
 
 Job  I.  1. 
 
 ^fat.  5.  48. 
 ech.  12.  2. 
 
 N:  \X   10.  & 
 
 22.  17. 
 /ver.  17. 
 g  Koii).4.11, 
 
 12,  16. 
 
 Gal   3.  29. 
 t  Heb.  mul- 
 
 tiliuU  t>/ua- 
 
 B.  C.  1898. 
 
 h  Neh.  9.  7. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 /ether  ff  a 
 great  mutti- 
 
 i  Kom.  4.  17. 
 k  ch.  35.  1 1. 
 
 /  ver.  lb, 
 Ch.  35.  11. 
 
 Mat.l.6,&c. 
 
 mGal.3.  17. 
 
 .-.  ch.  25   24. 
 
 fc  23.  13. 
 
 H^b.  II.  16. 
 
 0  iloin.9.  8. 
 
 p  ch.  12.  7. 
 
 It  13.  15, 
 
 Ps. 105.9,11. 
 
 |-Heb.  (./  % 
 
 soj'iurniiigs. 
 
 q  ch.  23.  4. 
 
 &  28.  4. 
 
 T  Ex.  6.  7. 
 
 Lc-v.  2(}.  12 
 
 Deut.  4,  S7. 
 
 Sc  U.  2.  «c 
 
 2(3.  13.  &  39. 
 
 13. 
 
 «  Acts  7.  8. 
 
 t  Acts  7.  8. 
 
 Roin.  4.  11 
 
 t  Heb.  a  tou 
 
 of  eight 
 
 diiyt. 
 
 u  Lev.  12.  3. 
 
 Ltike  2.21. 
 
 J'lhn  7    22. 
 
 Phil.  S.  5. 
 
 >^  Ki.  4.  24. 
 
 5  Neither  shall  thy  name  any  more  be  called 
 Abram,  but  "^  thy  name  shall  be  ||  Abraham; 
 '  for  a  father  of  many  nations  have  I  made  thee. 
 
 6  And  I  will  make  thee  exceeding  fruitful, 
 and  I  will  make  ^nations  of  thee,  and  '  kings 
 shall  come  out  of  tliee. 
 
 7  And  I  will  "^  establish  my  covenant  between 
 me  and  thee  and  thy  seed  after  thee  in  their 
 generations  for  an  everlasting  covenant,  "to  be 
 a  God  unto  thee,  and  to  °  thy  seed  after  thee. 
 
 8  And  ^  I  will  give  unto  thee,  and  to  thy  seed 
 after  thee,  the  land  f^  wherein  thou  art  a 
 stranger,  ail  the  land  of  Canaan,  for  an  ever- 
 lasting possession  ;  and  *■  I  will  be  their  God. 
 
 9  H  And  God  said  unto  Abraham,  Thou  shalt 
 keep  my  covenant  therefore,  thou,  and  thy  seed 
 after  thee  in  their  generations. 
 
 10  This  is  my  covenant,  which  ye  shall  keep, 
 between  me  and  you  and  thy  seed  after  thee  ; 
 ^  Every  man  child  among  you  shall  be  circum- 
 cised. 
 
 11  And  ye  shall  circumcise  the  flesh  of  your 
 foreskin ;  and  it  shall  be  '  a  token  of  the  cove- 
 nant betwixt  me  and  you. 
 
 12  And  t  he  that  is  eight  days  old  "  shall  be 
 circumcised  among  you,  every  man  child  in 
 your  generations,  he  that  is  born  in  the  house, 
 or  bought  with  money  of  any  stranger,  which 
 is  not  of  thy  seed. 
 
 13  He  that  is  born  in  thy  house,  and  he  that 
 is  bought  with  thy  money,  must  needs  be  cir- 
 cumcised :  and  my  covenant  shall  be  in  your 
 flesh  for  an  everlasting  covenant. 
 
 14  And  the  uncircumcised  man  child  whose 
 flesh  of  his  foreskin  is  not  circumcised,  that  soul 
 
 shall  be  cut  off  from  his  people  ;  he  hath 
 broken  my  covenant. 
 
 ing  in  ver.  10,  shews  it  was  that  divine  personage  called  *  the  angel  of 
 the  covenant.' — So  Gilt,  Fttf.,  Hen.,  A.  Clarke.  11.  I.shmael,  formed 
 of  two  Hebrew  word-^,  which  signify,  he  heard,  and  Goi>, '  because  the 
 Lord  hath  heard  thy  affliction.' — A.  Clarke,  12.  A  wild  man,  pro- 
 perly, a  wild  ass  man,  '  as  wild  as  a  wilda^s.' — Boch.  'I  he  Arab  tribes, 
 descended  frnm  Islimael,  answer  this  character  to  the  present  day. 
 They  are  hardy,  untamed  freebooters,  living  in  hostility  with  all  men, 
 defying  the  nio&t  powerful,  anii  ntver  conquered. — See  Xew.  It  has 
 been  the  common  interest  of  martkind  to  extirpate  them  ;  but  though 
 almi  st  every  noted  coi.queror,  Persian,  Grecian,  Roman,  Tartar,  or 
 Turkisli,  luith  pushed  his  conquests  to  their  borders,  or  even  beyond 
 them,  into  Egv  pt  or  Arabia  Ftli.x,  not  ine  has  ever  been  able  to  subdue 
 these  Ishmaelitei?,  or  deprive  them  of  their  freedom. — Brown.  He  shall 
 dwelt,  'he  shall  tabernacle,'  or  'dwell  in  tents,'  Heb. — Gill.  The 
 country  cif  Ishmatl's  ilescendants  stretches  from  Aleppo  to  the  Arabian 
 Sea.  and  from  Egypt  to  the  Persian  Gulph.  It  is  1800  miles  long,  and 
 gno  broad.— .4.  Clarke.  13.  Hare  1  here  looked,  5c.,  that  is,  'have  I 
 found  Gud  here  also  in  the  wilderness,  as  I  have  done  oft  before  in  my 
 mantel 's  house  ?' — Trapp.  '  Have  I  here  seen  the  back  part  of  hira 
 that  sceth  me?'  So  it  might  be  read,  for  the  word  is  much  the  same 
 with  that  Exod.  xxxiii.  23  ;  or,  *  Have  I  seen  him  that  sees  me  ?* — Hen. 
 Chap.  XVII. —  I.  The  Almighty  God— some  would  render  it  'all- 
 sufficient  ;'  and  others,  '  all-bountiful ;'  but  the  usual  sense  is  most  ap- 
 propriate to  that  in  the  places  where  it  occurs.— Boo^/tr.  Walk  before 
 me,  ^jD'S'l'jnnn,  'set  thyself  to  walk,'  be  firmly  purposed. — A.  Clarke. 
 Go  on  to  walk  by  faith.  Be  thou  perfect,  upright  and  sincere. — Gill. 
 '  Do  not  waver  and  i:ecline.' — Scott.  '  Have  recourse  no  more  to  unbe- 
 lieving expedients  ;  keep  the  path  of  uprightness,  and  leave  me  to  fulfil 
 ray  promise  in  the  time  and  manner  that  seem  good  to  me.* — Ful. 
 *  Walk,  and  be  tliou  peifcct,' till  thou  hast  completed  thy  faith  and 
 obedience.  Make,  'establish'  and  *  perform  ;'  for  it  was  made  before. — 
 Pat.  4.  Father  af  viany  nations,  as  he  was  of  many  Arabian  nations, 
 and  of  the  Turks  in  the  line  of  Ishmael  ^  and  of  the  Midianites  and 
 
 others  in  the  line  of  his  sons  by  Keturah  ;  and  of  the  Israelites  in  the 
 line  of  Isaac  ;  as  well  as  of  the  Edomites  in  the  line  of  Esau  ;  find,  in 
 a  spiritual  sense,  the  father  rf  nil  that  believe  in  all  nations.— G'i//. 
 .').  Abram,  '  a  high  father.' — Pat.,  Gilt.  Abraham,  'the  father  of  a  mul- 
 titude ;'  Ham  being  put  for  Hamon,  by  the  figure  called  Apocope, 
 usual  in  proper  names. — Pat.,  Poole.  "J.  An  everlasting  covenant — 
 '  everlasting  must  be  understood  according  to  the  nature  of  the  subject; 
 used  about  present  thinLrs,  or  outward  privileges,  it  means,  unalterable 
 while  the  same  state  nf  things  continues;  but  when  it  relates  to  inward 
 spiritual  blessings,  or  the  concerns  of  a  future  state,  it  seems  gene- 
 rally, if  not  always,  to  deofte  eternal  duration. — Scott.  We  have  a 
 limited  signification  of  the  term,  Exotl.xxi.  6;  a  serrnnt  for  ever,  is 
 till  the  year  of  Jubdee. — Pat.  Sometirnes  the  word  means  '  many 
 ages,'  and  sometimes  '  a  man's  life,'  (see  Dent.  xv.  17  ;  I  Kings,  ix.  3.) 
 — Poole.  8.  An  everlasting  po.isession,  upon  condition  of  their  obe- 
 dience to  God,  as  is  oft  exprtssed. — Poole.  The  opinion  of  Gill  is,  that 
 the  Israelites  will  yet  be  re-^tored  to  their  own  land,  and  possets  it  to 
 the  end  of  the  world.  lO.  Hl^  covenant — by  a  figure  of  speech,  called 
 a  metonymy,  circumcision  is  here  called  the  covenant,  because  it  is 
 the  condition,  sign,  or  seal  of  it;  the  pledge  of  God's  promise,  and 
 man's  duty ;  so  the  cxp,  that  is,  thb  wine,  is  called  the  New  Testament 
 in  Christ's  blood.  CLuke,  xxii.20  ) — Poole,  11.  Circumcise — cutting 
 off  the  foreskin  seems  to  have  been  intended  as  an  intimatiuu  that 
 sinful  nature  Is  propagated  with  the  human  species,  and  this  depravity 
 must  be  mortilied  or  destroyed  by  believers.  In  them,  the  '  heart  is 
 circumcised  to  love  the  Lord,'  and  rebellion  and  enmity  are  gradually 
 destroyed  out  of  it  by  sanctifying  grace.  This  observance  was  the 
 sacrament  of  regeneratinn,  'the  seal  of  the  righteousness  of  faith,' 
 (Rom.  iv.  11,)  for  the  circumcision  of  the  heart  is  an  inward  seal 
 that  the  sinner  is  justified  by  faith,  as  Abraham  was.  —  Scott. 
 12.  Eight  daps  old — because  of  the  child's  weakness. — Poole.  14.  Cut 
 f;/f— the  simplest  and  plainest  meaning  of  the  phrase  seems  to  be,  that 
 such  should  be  cut  off  and  deprived  of  all  civil  and  religious  privileges 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVI I.    IF^;  nlwai/s  err  when  we 
 
 endeavour  to  force  providence.  One  false  step  embitters  many 
 hours  of  our  future  lives.  Sarai  soon  had  cause  to  repent  of 
 her  impatience,  and  of  submitting  to  the  guidance  of  her  own 
 feeble  reason.  *  It  is  good  that  a  man  should  both  patiently 
 wait,  and  quietly  hope,  for  the  salvation  of  the  Lord.' 
 
 II.  God  regards  the  oppressed.  Let  cruel  and  arbitrary 
 masters  and  mistresses  bear  this  in  mind  ;  for  if  servants  have 
 to  perform  towards  them  duties  of  fidelity  and  obedience, 
 they  have  also  to  perform  the  duties  of  justice  and  kindne.ss. 
 
 III.  ffhat  a  striking  proof  is  the  character  of  Ishmat-rs  pos- 
 ttrify  if  the  Divine  irspinitton  of  the  Hohj  Scriptures!     Who 
 
 19 
 
 but  God  could  have  predicted,  when  Ishmael  was  about  to  be 
 born,  that  such  would  be  bis  character,  as  here  recorded,  and 
 that  of  those  who  should  descend  from  hira  ?  Who,  when  the 
 mighty  potentates  of  the  earth  prepared  their  armies  to  subdue 
 this  people,  could  have  reckoned  upon  less  tban  their  entire 
 extirpation  \  \\  herever  we  turn  our  eyes  we  see  the  Bible 
 illustrated  ;  if  we  look  within,  and  scrutinize  our  own  hearts, 
 a  we  look  around  and  study  mankind,  or  if  we  contemplate 
 with  a  pious  eye  the  historical  pages  ot  long  by-gone  centuries. 
 Let  this  book,  then,  be  our  study,  oar  guide,  our  comfort,  for 
 
 it  is  '  THE  W^ORD  OF  GoD.' 
 
Isaac  is  promised. 
 
 GENESIS,  XVIII. 
 
 Three  angels  come  to  Abraham. 
 
 15  f  And  God  said  unto  Abraham,  As  for 
 Sarai  thy  wife,  thou  shall  not  call  her  name 
 Sarai,  but  ||  Sarah  shall  her  name  be. 
 
 16  And  I  will  bless  her,  '  and  give  thee  a  son 
 also  of  her:  yea,  I  will  bless  her,  and  fshe  shall 
 be  a  mother  '  of  nations  ;  kings  of  people  shall 
 be  of  her. 
 
 17  Then  Abraham  fell  upon  his  face,  'and 
 laughed,  and  said  in  his  heart.  Shall  a  childhe 
 born  unto  him  that  is  an  hundred  years  old? 
 and  shall  Sarah,  that  is  ninety  years  old,  bear? 
 
 18  And  Abraham  said  unto  God,  O  that 
 Ishmael  miglit  live  before  thee  I 
 
 1 9  And  God  said,  '  Sarah  thy  wife  shall  bear 
 thee  a  son  indeed  ;  and  thou  shall  call  his  name 
 Isaac  :  and  I  will  establish  my  covenant  with 
 him  for  an  everlasting  covenant,  and  with  his 
 seed  after  him. 
 
 20  And  as  for  Ishmael,  I  have  beard  thee  : 
 Behold,  I  have  blessed  him,  and  will  make  him 
 fruitful,  and  ^  will  multiply  him  exceedingly  ; 
 '  twelve  princes  shall  he  liegct,  ''  and  I  will 
 make  bin:  a  great  nation. 
 
 21  But  my  covenant  will  I  establish  with 
 Isaac,  ^  which  Sarah  shall  bear  unto  thee  at 
 this  set  time  in  the  next  year. 
 
 22  And  he  left  off  talking  with  him,  and  God 
 went  up  from  Abraham. 
 
 23  H  And  Abraham  took  Ishmael  his  son, 
 and  all  that  were  born  in  his  house,  and  all 
 that  were  bought  witli  his  money,  every  male 
 among  the  men  of  Abraham's  house  ;  and  cir- 
 cumcised the  flesh  of  their  foreskin  in  the  self- 
 same day,  as  God  had  said  unto  him. 
 
 24  And  Abraham  was  ninety  years  old  and 
 nine,  when  he  was  circumcised  in  the  flesh  of 
 his  foreskin. 
 
 25  And  Ishmael  his  son  «•«.<  tliirtecn  years 
 old,  when  he  was  circumcised  in  the  flesh  of 
 his  foreskin. 
 
 26  In  the  selfsame  day  was  Abraham  circum- 
 cised, and  Ishmael  his  son. 
 
 27  And  '  all  the  men  of  his  house,  born  in 
 the  house,  and  bouglil  with  money  of  the 
 stranger,  were  circumcised  with  him. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 
 X  ch.  ItH,   10 
 t  Heb.  ilit 
 thrill  leeomc 
 
 H  ch.  3ri    11. 
 
 Gal   4   31. 
 
 1  Pet.  S.  6, 
 I  ch    18.  12. 
 
 &  21.  6. 
 
 a  ch.  18.  10. 
 !<  srl.  «. 
 
 c  ch.  m.  \-: 
 
 16. 
 d  ch.  21.  le 
 
 ech.  21.  a. 
 
 c  ch.  19.  I. 
 1  Pet.  *,  9. 
 
 d  ch.  19.  8. 
 Si  13  Jl. 
 
 f  JuilS.  6.  IS. 
 
 S:  i:i  \S. 
 \  Hell.  il'<y. 
 /Judg.-h-  ft. 
 
 Pa.  10*.  15. 
 e  ch.  19.  8. 
 
 &  33.  10. 
 t  Heb.  voH 
 
 huve  patted. 
 
 1  Heb.  ;/«.- 
 
 /  ch.  ';■!.  67. 
 
 A  ver.  i*. 
 
 /2Kin'1.16. 
 
 mch.  17.  19, 
 21.  &  21.  2. 
 Rom.  9.  9. 
 
 .  ch.  17.  17. 
 
 Horn.  4.  19. 
 
 Hob.  11.  11, 
 
 12,  19. 
 1  ch.  SI.  &5. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 1  .ihraham  entettaineth  three  angels.  8  Sarah  is  re~ 
 provcit  for  lauijliing  at  the  strunt/e  promise.  17  The 
 distruiiion  of  Sodum  is  reveated  to  Abraham. 
 23  Abraham  mahtth  inttrcessioii  for  the  men  thireof. 
 
 AND  the  Lord  appeared  unto  him  in  the 
 -^*-  '  plains  of  Mamre  :  and  he  sat  in  the  lent 
 door  in  the  heat  of  the  day  ; 
 
 2  ''  And  he  lift  up  his  eyes  and  looked,  and, 
 lo,  three  men  stood  by  him  :  ''and  when  he 
 saw  t/ieni,  he  ran  to  meet  tliem  from  the  lent 
 door,  and  bowed  himself  toward  the  ground, 
 
 3  And  said.  My  Lord,  if  now  I  have  found 
 favour  in  thy  sight,  pass  not  away,  1  pray  tliee, 
 from  thy  servant : 
 
 4  Let ''  a  little  water,  I  pray  you,  be  fetched, 
 and  wash  your  feet,  and  rest  yourselves  under 
 the  tree : 
 
 5  And  '  I  will  fetch  a  morsel  of  bread,  and 
 ■f' comfort  ye  your  hearts;  after  that  ye  shall 
 pass  on  ;  *  for  therefore  fare  ye  come  to  your 
 servant.  And  they  said.  So  do,  as  thou  hast 
 said. 
 
 6  And  Abraham  hastened  into  the  tent  unto 
 Sarah,  and  said,  f  Make  ready  quickly  three 
 measures  of  fine  meal,  knead  it,  and  make 
 cakes  upon  the  hearth. 
 
 7  And  Abraham  ran  unto  the  herd,  and  fetcht 
 a  calf  tender  and  good,  and  gave  it  unto  a 
 young  man  ;  and  he  hasted  to  dress  it. 
 
 8  And  •■  he  took  butler,  and  milk,  and  tlie  calf 
 which  he  had  dressed,  and  set  it  before  them  ; 
 and  he  stood  by  them  imdcr  the  tree,  and  they 
 did  eat. 
 
 !)  t  And  they  said  unto  him,  Where  is  Sarah 
 thy  wife?     And  he  said.  Behold,  'in  the  tent. 
 
 10  And  he  said,  I  ''  will  certainly  return  unto 
 thee  '  according  to  the  time  of  life  ;  and,  lo, 
 '"  Sarah  thy  wife  shall  have  a  son.  And  Sarah 
 heard  it  in  the  tent  door,  which  was  behind 
 him. 
 
 11  Now  °  Abraham  and  Sarah  u-ere  old  and 
 well  stricken  in  age  -,  and  it  ceased  to  be  with 
 Sarah  °  after  the  manner  of  women. 
 
 with  the  Israelites  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  be  reckoned  as  hea- 
 thens,— Gill;  or  rather,  an  untimely  and  violent  death,  to  be  inflicted 
 by  the  magistrate,  as  may  be  gathered  from  Exnd.  \\s\.  14,  and  only 
 on  such  as  should  wilfully  neRU-t  this  duty,  for  it  was  neglected  by  the 
 IsraeUtes  f<T  forty  years  together  in  the  Wilderness,  (Josh.  v.  7.)  with- 
 out any  token  of  God's  displeasure  for  it. — Poole.  It  is  a  dangerous 
 thing  to  make  light  of  divine  instirutions,  and  to  live  in  the  neglect  of 
 them.  —  Hen.  15.   .Sarat,   signifies    *my  princess;'   confining  her 
 
 dominion  to  one  family.  Sarah,  '  a  princess,'  without  restriction. 
 17.  Laughed — not  through  unbelief,  as  Sarah  did,  (ehap.  xviii.  12,  13.) 
 as  appears  from  Rom.iv.  19,  20;  it  was  holy  admiration  and  rejoic- 
 ing, and  Gcd  could  see  the  difference. — Poole,  Gilt.  18.  Mii^/tt  lire, 
 the  life  of  grace  here,  and  of  elory  hereafter. — Trapp.  It  is  the  duty  of 
 parents  to  pray  for  alt  their  children.  19.  Isaac,  'laughter,'  because 
 Abraham  rejoiced  in  spirit  when  his  son  was  promised  him. — Hen. 
 25.  Thirteen  t/eays  old — the  Arabs  to  this  day  circumcise  their  children 
 at  thirteen  years  of  age. — Hew. 
 
 Ch.\p.  XVIII. —  1.  He  sat  in  the  tent  door,  waiting  for  strangers 
 ^hich  might  pass,  for  whom  no  public  places  were  provided ;  and 
 hence,  hospitable  persons  received  them  into  their  houses. — Poole. 
 Thus  Homer  describes  the  hospitable  Axylus,  Iliad,  VI. : — 
 
 '  Fast  by  the  road,  his  ever  open  door 
 Obliged  the  wealthy,  and  relieved  the  poor.' 
 
 -Pope. 
 
 In  the  heat  of  the  day.  when  travellers  sought  for  places  of  refresh- 
 ment.— Pitt.  For  the  purposeof  enjoying  the  refreshing  air. — A.Clarke. 
 2.  He  lift  up  his  eyes  atid  looked — ia  eastern  language,  '  to  lift  up  the 
 
 Reflections   on  Chap.   XVII I.    0   the  blessedness  of 
 
 those  mho  '  imlk  before  God !'  for  ■  the  Lord  giveth  grace  and 
 he  givetli  glory,  and  no  good  thing  will  he  withhold  from 
 them  that  walk  uprightly.' 
 
 II.    Those  who  negleet  divine  ordinances  ent  themselves  off  from 
 the  enjoyment  of  every  covenant  blessing.     How  important  "then 
 is  it  that  we  should  walk  '  in  all  the  commandments  and  onli- 
 nances  of  the  Lord  blameless." 
 20 
 
 eyes*  does  not  mean  to  look  upwards,  but  to  look  directly  at  an  object, 
 and  that  earnestly. — Rofterts.  TAref  men,  three  *  angels  in  the  sliape 
 of  men,'  (Heb.  xiii.  2.) — Pat,  Stood  by  him,  ratVier,  'were  standing 
 over  against  him,'  or  he  need  not  have  run  to  meet  them. — A.  Clarke. 
 3.  My  Lord,  '  Adonai,'  nut '  Jcliovah  ;'  for  Abraham  knew  thcs^e  per- 
 sons only  as  men  of  respectability.  This  person  is  afierwards  called 
 'Jehovah,'  and  is  nnderstotid  by  the  fathers  to  be  Christ;  they  will 
 not  allow  that  Jehovah  ever  lent  his  name  to  an  angel. — Sut.  4.  Wash 
 your  feet— a.  practice  usual  in  those  parts,  (chap.  xix.  2;  xxiv.  32; 
 sliii.  24  ;  John,  xiii.  4,  5  ;  1  Tim.  v,  10;)  being  used  to  travel  bare, 
 footed,  or  only  with  sandals  to  cover  and  secure  the  bottom  of  their 
 feet. — Poole.  5.  For  thei-efore  ore  ye  come — for  rest  and  refreshment. 
 This  hospitality  coatinues  among  the  Arabs  to  the  present  day. — Hnr. 
 6.  Three  measures,  about  two  gallons  and  a  half. — Cumh.  Three 
 pecks. — Ahis.  Make  cakes  upon  the  hfnrth—Rauwotff,  the  traveller, 
 has  ob-erved,  that  cakes  are  frequently  baked,  in  Arabia,  on  tlie  ground, 
 heated  by  fire,  covering  them  with  ashes  and  coals,  and  turning  them 
 several  times  until  they  are  done.  8.  Butter,  'cream.* — Jar.  He 
 stood  by  them — the  greatest  personages  in  the  eastern  countries  used  to 
 wait  upon  iheir  guests  ;  and  Dr.  Shaw  tells  us,  in  his  Travels,  that  the 
 higliest  persons  think  it  no  disgrace  to  engage  in  menial  enploymeots. 
 The  greatest  prince  will  assist  in  husbandry,  and  kill  a  lamb;  his 
 princess  will  dress  it;  and  when  a  guest  enters,  tiie  master  is  the  first 
 to  wash  his  feet;  and  he  accounts  it  a  breach  of  respect  to  sit  down 
 with  his  guests,  butstanils  up  and  serves  them.  Videut,  'assumed  to 
 eat,'  Targ.  As  they  assumed  real  bodies,  capable  of  talking  and 
 walking,  why  not  of  eating  and  drinking  }^GiU.     10.  The  time  of  life — 
 
 III.   A  good  man  must  look  after  the  eternal  interests' of  all  that 
 
 are  under  his  roof  in  conneaiun  wifk  his  famifi/.  Tlie  souls  of 
 his  servants  ouijiit  to  be  as  much  Iiis  care  as  the  souls  of  his 
 children.  And  great  is  their  privilege  who  are  under  his 
 roof,  and  enjoy  the  benefits  of  divine  ordinances:  hut  great 
 too  is  their  responsibility;  and  the  greater  their  privileges,  if 
 misimproved,  the  greater  will  be  their  everlasting  ruin. 
 
Thr.  destruction  of  Sodom  revealed. 
 
 GENESIS,  X15i. 
 
 Abraham  interccdeth  for  Sodom. 
 
 M  Therefore  Sarah  ''laughed  within  herself, 
 saying,  ■■  After  I  am  waxed  old  shall  I  have 
 [ileasure,  my  'lord  being  old  also? 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Abraham,  Where- 
 fore did  Sarah  laugh,  saying.  Shall  I  of  a  surety 
 bear  a  child,  which  am  old  ? 
 
 14  "  Is  any  thing  too  hard  for  the  Lord?  '  At 
 the  time  appointed  I  will  return  unto  thee,  ac- 
 cording to  the  time  of  life,  and  Sarah  shall  have 
 a  son. 
 
 15  Then  Sarah  denied,  saying,  I  laughed  not 
 for  she  was  afraid.     And  he  said.  Nay ;  but 
 thou  didst  laugh. 
 
 16  1  And  the  men  rose  up  from  thence,  and 
 looked  toward  Sodom  :  and  Abraham  went 
 with  them  "  to  bring  them  on  the  way. 
 
 17  And  the  Lord  -said,  "Shall  I  hide  from 
 Abraham  that  thing  which  I  do  ; 
 
 18  Seeing  that  Abraham  shall  surely  become 
 a  great  and  mighty  nation,  and  all  the  nations 
 of  the  earth  shall  be  "  blessed  in  him? 
 
 19  For  I  know  him,  'that  he  will  command 
 his  children  and  his  houshold  after  him,  and 
 they  shall  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord,  to  do 
 jnstice  and  judgment;  that  the  Lord  may 
 bring  upon  Abraham  that  which  he  hath  spoken 
 of  him. 
 
 ■20  And  the  Lord  said.  Because  '  the  cry  of 
 Sodom  and  Gomorrah  is  great,  and  because 
 their  sin  is  very  grievous  ; 
 
 ■21  "I  will  go  down  now,  and  see  whether 
 they  have  done  altogether  according  to  the  cry 
 of  it,  which  is  come  unto  me  ;  and  if  not,  ''  I 
 will  know. 
 
 '2-2  And  the  men  turned  their  faces  from 
 thence,  '■"and  went  toward  Sodom:  but  Abra- 
 ham "^  stood  yet  before  the  Lord. 
 
 'J.S  If  And  Abraham  "  drew  near,  and  said, 
 '  Wilt  thou  also  destroy  the  righteous  with  the 
 wicked  ? 
 
 •24  ^  Peradventure  there  be  fifty  righteous 
 within  the  city  :  wilt  thou  also  destroy  and 
 not  spare  the  place  for  the  fifty  righteous  that 
 are  therein  ? 
 
 ;-  oh,  17.  17. 
 ^  I.uke  1.19, 
 r  I  I'et,  3. 6. 
 
 «  .for   32.  17, 
 Zooh   6    ri. 
 Mat,  3   9, 
 &  19.  26. 
 Luke  1,  37, 
 
 /  oh.  17.  21. 
 i-oi-    1(1. 
 2  Kin  4  16. 
 
 I.  Ho.  IS  24. 
 
 3  John  ti. 
 10  Ps.  2.i,  II, 
 
 Amos  S,  7. 
 
 Johal£>.  15, 
 
 111  &  r<.  7, 
 .l..Rh  -J-l  15 
 Klihes.  b.  4. 
 
 I  .'h.  11    5 
 E.-t.  3.  S. 
 
 b  Deut  8.  2 
 .It  13.  3. 
 .Iosh.2^.^8 
 I.uke  Iti  1.1 
 2Cor  11  11. 
 oh.  19.  1. 
 
 Iver.  1. 
 Heb.lO,  22.  I 
 
 /Nu.  Ifi.  S-J. 
 
 ■2  Sara.  24. 
 
 17. 
 ff  Jer.  5.  1. 
 
 b  Job  8.  20. 
 
 Is.  3.  111.11. 
 I  Job  8.  3.  & 
 
 34.  17.     P,. 
 
 53.  I1.&<I4. 
 
 2.  Ko.  3.  6. 
 A  Jer.  5.  1. 
 
 Ezek  .-22.80. 
 
 II  oh.  3.  19. 
 Job  4.  19. 
 Koolos,  12, 
 7,     1  Cor, 
 
 2  Cor, 
 
 •25  That  be  far  from  thee  to  do  after  this 
 manner,  to  slay  the  righteous  with  the  wicked  : 
 and  '■  that  the  righteous  .'■.hould  be  as  the 
 wicked,  that  be  far  from  thee  : '  Shall  not  the 
 Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ? 
 
 '26  And  the  Lord  said,  ^  If  I  find  in  Sodom 
 fifty  righteous  within  the  city,  then  I  will  spare 
 all  the  place  for  tlieir  sakes. 
 
 27  And  Abraham  answered  and  said,  'Behold 
 now,  I  have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto  the 
 Lord,  which  am  °'  but  dust  and  ashes  : 
 
 28  Peradventure  there  shall  lack  five  of  the 
 fifty  righteous :  wilt  thou  destroy  all  the  city 
 for  lack  q/five  ?  And  he  said.  If  I  find  there 
 forty  and  five,  I  will  not  destroy  it. 
 
 29  And  he  spake  unto  him  yet  again,  and 
 said,  Peradventure  there  shall  be  forty  found 
 there.  And  he  said,  I  will  not  do  it  for  forty's 
 sake. 
 
 30  And  he  said  u7ito  him.  Oh  let  not  the  Lord 
 be  angry,  and  I  will  speak  :  Peradventure  there 
 shall  thirty  be  found  there.  And  he  said,  I 
 will  not  do  it,  if  I  find  thirty  there. 
 
 31  And  he  said,  Behold  now,  I  have  taken 
 upon  me  to  speak  unto  the  Lord  :  Perad- 
 venture there  shall  be  twenty  found  there. 
 And  he  said,  I  will  not  destroy  it  for  twenty's 
 sake. 
 
 32  And  he  said,  "  Oh  let  not  the  Lord  be 
 angry,  and  I  will  speak  yet  but  this  once  : 
 Peradventure  ten  shall  be  found  there.  °  And 
 he  said,  I  will  not  destroy  it  for  ten's  sake. 
 
 38  And  the  Lord  went  his  way,  as  soon  as 
 he  had  left  communing  with  Abraham  :  and 
 Abraham  returned  unto  his  place. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 1  Lot  enterfainttk  two  anc/ils.  4  The  vicious  Sodorn- 
 itts  are  stricken  with  blindness.  12  Z.ot  is  se7it  for 
 saft'ty  into  the  mouyitains.  18  He  ohtaineth  have  to 
 00  into  Zoar.  24  Sodom  atid  Gotnor rah  are  destroyed. 
 26  hoi's  wife  is  a  pillar  of  salt.  30  Lot  dwilhth  in  a 
 cat'f.    31  The  ince&tiious  oriyinalofMoabandAninnon. 
 
 AND  there  ^  came  two  angels  to  Sodom  at 
 -^^  even  ;  and  Lot  sat  in  the  gate  of  Sodom  : 
 
 thought  to  mean  nine  months  from  the  present  time.  12.  Laughed 
 within  herself — Heb.  'in  her  heart;'  that  is,  she  secretly  derided  it. — 
 Poole.  13.  The  Lord,  Heb.,  m^^  U.  Ls  anpthing,  Sfc.,  some  read, 
 '  Is  anything  hidden  from  the  Lord  ?'  as  alluding  to  Sarah's  laughter. 
 17.  Shall  J  hide  ?  that  is,  '  I  will  not  hide.'  A  question  is  often  asked 
 in  Scripture  when  an  affirmative  is  meant. — A.  Clarke.  19.  I  know 
 him — God  hath  a  quick  eye  to  see  our  good  works. — Tmpp.  21.  /  ivill 
 go  rfoicn— not  literally,  says  Hewlett,  it  is  a  figurative  form  of  expres- 
 sion, applicable  to  humaii  conduct.  Literally,  says  Gill,  having 
 here  assumed  human  form.  Whether  they  have  done,  ^c,  Heb.  'have 
 made  a  full  end.' — Gill.    'Whether  they  have  made  a  consummation 
 
 or  accomplishment;*  that  is,  whether  they  have  filled  up  the  measure 
 of  their  sins,  (corap.  chap.  xv.  I6;  Matt,  xsiii.  32;  James,  i.  15.) — 
 Poole.  22.  The  men,  that  is,  two  of  them  ;  the  third  remained,  who 
 is  called  'the  Lord,'  mn\ — Poole,  Gill,  A.Clarke.  Some  understand 
 by  the  words,  the  act  of  i>raying. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  —  1.  Sat  in  the  gate — 'a  magistrate,  no  dotibt,'  sajs 
 Sutcliffe,  'for  the  wicked  accuse  him  of  making  himself  a  judge,  or 
 elder.  The  main  gate  of  a  city  was  the  usual  place  of  administering 
 justice.'  This  idea  is  adopted  from  Jarchi,  and  other  Jews.  Gill 
 thinks  that  the  passage  alluded  to  in  favour  of  it,  (ver.  9,)  militates 
 against  it,  and  observes,  '  he  sat  there  to  observe  strangers,  and  invite 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap,  Will I.  How  amiable  is  hos- 
 pitality/ Abraham  and  Sarah  here  commend  themselves  to  us 
 ■while  viewing  this  beautiful  picture  of  their  primitive  man- 
 ners. Modern  ceremonies  and  customs  have  much  impaired 
 this  excellence  among  us.  How  different  is  this  from  the 
 extravagant  occasional  hospitality,  if  it  may  be  so  called, 
 which  fashion  has  introduced  even  into  religious  society, 
 where  the  enjoyments  of  friendly  intercourse  are  destroyed 
 in  the  hustle  of  strange  or  numerous  associates,  and  where 
 luxury  has  established  expenses  that  mii;bt  well  be  spared, 
 and  custom  led  to  hours  fatal  to  domestic  order  and  religious 
 habits,  especially  in  large  cities.  Christianity  does  not  de- 
 stroy, it  only  regulates,  hospitality;  hence  the  exhortation  of 
 the  writer  to  the  Hebrews  immediately  associated  with  that 
 to  brotherly  love,  '  Be  not  forgetful  to  entertain  strangers  j 
 for  thereby  some  have  entertained  angels  unawares.' 
 
 II.  Hoiv  delightful  soever  may  be  intercourse  ainono  friends,  yet 
 how  infinitely  superior  does  the  devout  mind  find  the  enjoyment  of 
 intercoi/rse  with  God!  Here  we  behold  Abraham  treated  as 
 •  the  friend  of  God,'  tlie  Lord  condescending  to  commune  with 
 him  *  face  to  face.'  Alas,  how  many  in  their  ignorance  and 
 infatuation  love  '  the  praise  of  men  more  than  the  praise  of 
 
 God!'  To  be  commended  as  gay  companions  is  all  their  de- 
 light, and  they  have  their  poor  reward  in  the  transient  praise 
 passing  through  breath  as  vain  as  their  own  ;  but  they  would 
 be  ashamed  of  the  commendation  which,  coming  home  to  the 
 heart  of  the  sincere  and  consistent  believer,  affords  to  him  a 
 pleasure  to  which  the  worldling  is  an  utter  stranger.  *  I  know 
 him  that  he  will  command  his  children  and  his  household  after 
 him,  and  they  shall  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord,  to  do  justice 
 and  judgment.' 
 
 III.  One  great  use  which  the  good  vian  makes  of  his  intercourse 
 with  God  is  to  plead  for  his  fellow  mortals.  Abraham  entertained 
 hopes  that  the  whole  population  of  the  guilty  cities  of  the 
 plain  would  yet  be  spared,  if  fifty,  if  forty-five,  ifforty,  if 
 thirty,  if  twenty,  if  even  ten  righteous  might  be  found  there. 
 How  compassionate  was  that  heart  which  urged  these  petitions, 
 and  bow  condescending  that  adorable  Being  who  deigned  to 
 listen  to  them  !  Let  us  learn  from  the  one  to  pray  '  for  all 
 men,' and  '  especially  for  those  of  the  household  of  faith,'  and 
 from  the  other  to  '  come  with  holy  boldness  to  the  throne  of 
 grace.*  *  O  thou  that  hearest  prayer,  unto  thee  shall  all  ilesb 
 come !' 
 
The  Sodomites  stricken  with  blindness. 
 
 GENESIS,  XIX. 
 
 Lot  is  sent  out  of  Sodom. 
 
 and  ^  Lot  seeing  them  rose  up  to  meet  them  ; 
 and  he  bowed  himself  with  his  face  toward  the 
 ground  ; 
 
 2  And  he  said.  Behold  now,  my  lords,  ""  turn 
 in,  I  pray  yon,  into  your  servant's  house,  and 
 tarry  all  night,  and  "^  wash  your  feet,  and  ye 
 shall  rise  up  early,  and  go  on  your  w^ays.  And 
 they  said,  ^  Nay  ;  but  we  will  abide  in  the 
 street  all  night. 
 
 3  And  he  pressed  upon  them  greatly ;  and 
 they  turned  in  unto  him  and  entered  into  his 
 house;  *"  and  he  made  them  a  feast,  and  did 
 bake  unleavened  bread,  and  they  did  eat. 
 
 4  1[  But  before  they  lay  down,  the  men  of  the 
 city,  even  the  men  of  Sodom,  compassed  the 
 house  round,  both  old  and  young,  all  the 
 people  from  every  quarter : 
 
 5  ^  And  they  called  unto  Lot,  and  said  unto 
 him.  Where  ore  the  men  which  came  in  to  thee 
 this  nighty  ■*  bring  them  out  unto  us,  that  we 
 *  may  know  them. 
 
 6  And  ^  Lot  went  out  at  the  door  unto  them, 
 and  shut  tlie  door  after  him, 
 
 7  And  said,  I  pray  you,  brethren,  do  not 
 so  wickedly. 
 
 8  '  Behold  now,  I  have  two  daughters  which 
 have  not  known  man  ;  let  me,  I  pray  you, 
 bring  them  out  unto  you,  and  do  ye  to  them 
 as  is  good  in  your  eyes :  only  unto  these  men 
 do  nothing ;  "'  for  therefore  came  they  under 
 the  shadow  of  my  roof. 
 
 9  And  they  said,  Stand  back.  And  they  said 
 again.  This  one  fellow  "came  in  to  sojourn, 
 "and  he  will  needs  be  a  judge:  now  will  we 
 deal  worse  with  thee,  than  with  them.  And 
 they  pressed  sore  upon  the  man,  even  Lot,  and 
 came  near  to  break  the  door. 
 
 10  But  the  men  put  forth  their  hand,  and 
 pulled  Lot  into  the  house  to  them,  and  shut 
 to  the  door. 
 
 1 1  And  they  smote  the  men  ^  that  were  at  the 
 door  of  the  house  with  blindness,  both  small 
 and  great  :  so  that  they  wearied  themselves  to 
 find  the  door. 
 
 12  If  And  the  men  said  unto  Lot,  Hast  thou 
 here  any  besides  ?  son  in  law,  and  thy  sons, 
 and  thy  daugliters,  and  whatsoever  thou  hast 
 in  the  city,  *•  bring  them  out  of  this  place  : 
 
 13  For  we  will  destroy  this  place,  because 
 the  '  cry  of  them  is  waxen  great  before  the 
 
 c  Heb.  13.  2, 
 d  cb.  IS.  4. 
 
 e  See  Lake 
 2  k  23. 
 
 /ch.  IS.  B. 
 
 A  Ju<lg.  19. 
 
 22. 
 i  cli.  4.  1. 
 
 Rom.  1.21, 
 
 87    JudeT. 
 k  Judg.  19. 
 
 S3. 
 
 I  See  Judges 
 19.  2V 
 
 "1  See  cl>. 
 18   5. 
 
 n  S  Pet.  2. 
 7,8. 
 o  Ex.  2.  li. 
 
 See  S  Kin 
 8.  18.  Acta 
 13.  11. 
 
 ■>Pet.2  7,9. 
 ■  ch.  18.  20. 
 
 t  Mat.  I.  18. 
 u  Num.  16. 
 
 21,  43. 
 i-   Kx.  9.  21. 
 
 Lukel7.2S. 
 
 &  24.  II. 
 
 y  Num.  16. 
 
 24,  au. 
 
 Rev.  19.  •!. 
 t  Heb.  aT4 
 
 found. 
 II  Or,  pu- 
 
 nithmetil. 
 z  Wis.  19.  6. 
 
 a  Lil.  \S.  13 
 Ho.  9. 15,16. 
 6  Pa.  34.  2-i. 
 
 d  ver.  26. 
 Mat.  24.  16, 
 
 Luke  9.  62. 
 Phil.   3.  13. 
 
 /Job  49  8,9. 
 Pi.  145.  19. 
 f  Heb.  /Aj/ 
 
 e  See  ch.  32. 
 
 25,  26. 
 
 Kx.   32.  10. 
 
 Dent.  9.  II, 
 
 Mark  6,  b. 
 h  eh.  13.  10. 
 
 &  14.2. 
 n  That  is, 
 
 littlf. 
 
 ver.  20. 
 t  Heb.  sine 
 /orth. 
 I  Deut  29  ^a. 
 
 Is.  13.  19. 
 
 Jer  20     16. 
 
 $t  50.  40. 
 
 Eick.16  49, 
 
 50    Hos.  II. 
 
 8.    Am.>s4. 
 
 II.       Zeph. 
 
 2  9,     Luke 
 
 17.  2''. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  6. 
 
 Jude7. 
 A  <h.  14.  3. 
 
 Pb    107.  31. 
 /  Wisd.lO,  7, 
 
 Lu.  17.  32, 
 
 face  of  tlie  Lord  ;  and  '  the   Loud  hath  sert 
 us  to  destroy  it. 
 
 14  And  Lot  went  out,  and  spake  unto  his 
 sons  in  law,  '  which  married  his  daughters,  and 
 said,  "  Up,  get  you  out  of  this  place  ;  for  the 
 Lord  will  destroy  this  city.  "  But  he  seemed 
 as  one  that  mocked  unto  bis  sons  in  law. 
 
 15  H  And  when  the  morning  arose,  then  the 
 angels  hastened  Lot,  saying,  -  Arise,  take  thy 
 wife,  and  thy  two  daughters,  which  f  are  liere  ; 
 lest  thou  be  consumed  in  the  ||  iniquity  of  the 
 city. 
 
 16  And  ^  while  he  lingered,  tho  men  laid  hold 
 upon  his  hand,  and  upon  the  hand  of  his  wife, 
 and  upon  the  hand  of  his  two  daughters  ;  *'the 
 Lord  being  merciful  unto  him  :  ^  and  they 
 brought  him  forth,  and  set  him  without  the  city. 
 
 17  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  had 
 brought  them  forth  abroad,  that  he  said,  "^  Es- 
 cape for  thy  life  ;  ^  look  not  behind  thee,  neither 
 stay  thou  in  all  the  plain  ;  escape  to  the  moun- 
 tain, lest  thou  be  consumed. 
 
 18  And  Lot  said  unto  them,  Oh,  ^  not  so,  my 
 Lord  : 
 
 19  Behold  now,  thy  servant  hath  found  grace 
 in  thy  sight,  and  thou  hast  magnified  thy 
 mercy,  winch  thou  hast  shewed  unto  me  in 
 saving  my  life  ;  and  T  cannot  escape  to  the 
 mountain,  lest  some  evil  take  me,  and  I  die. 
 
 20  Behold  now,  this  city  is  near  to  flee  unto, 
 and  it  is  a  little  one  :  Oh,  let  me  escape  thither, 
 {is  it  not  a  little  one  ?)  and  my  soul  sliall  live. 
 
 21  And  he  said  unto  him.  See,  '  I  have  ac- 
 cepted \  thee  concerning  this  tiling  also,  that  I 
 will  not  overthrow  this  city,  for  the  which  thou 
 hast  spoken. 
 
 22  Haste  thee,  escape  thither ;  for  ^  I  can- 
 not do  any  thing  till  thou  be  come  thither. 
 Therefore  ^  the  name  of  tlie  city  was  called 
 II  Zoar. 
 
 23  t  The  sun  wasf  risen  upon  the  earth  when 
 Lot  entered  into  Zoar. 
 
 24  Then  '  the  Lord  rained  upon  Sodom  and 
 upon  Gomorrah  brimstone  and  fire  from  the 
 Loud  out  of  heaven  ; 
 
 25  And  he  overtiirew  those  cities,  and  all  the 
 plain,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  cities,  and 
 ^  that  which  grew  upon  the  ground. 
 
 20  1  But  liis  wife  looked  back  from  behind 
 him,  and  she  became  '  a  pillar  of  salt. 
 
 tbcm  into  his  house,  that  they  mi^lit  not  fait  into  the  hands  of  the 
 wicked  Sodomites.'  Thisopinionis  espoused  by  PooU\  Pat.,  A.  Clarke, 
 and  Ben.  Fullfr  thinks  he  left  the  wicked  city  to  spend  an  hour  in 
 reiiremtnt  at  the  ^ate  ;  but,  certainly,  a  place  fif  somiich  business  and 
 parsing  was  not  the  place  for  retirement. — Ed.  As  the  gate  was  the 
 place  of  JQJicature,  as  markets  were  held  there,  and  philosophers  lec- 
 tured there.  Buothroyd  thinks  Lot  went  for  the  purpose  of  impai  ting 
 i'T  receiving  instruction.  But  from  his  tixing  upon  the  stranger?,  and 
 bringing  thcni  with  him  to  his  house,  it  does  not  appear  that  his  atten- 
 tion  was  so  engaged;  the  idea  of  hospitable  intentions  seems  most 
 natural,  both  from  the  custom  of  the  times  and  from  the  connexion. — 
 Ed.  4.  Cumpnssed  the  house — this  conveys  the  most  forcible  idea  of 
 the  extreme  wickedness  of  Sodom. — Scott.  5.  Know  them,  rather, 
 'abuse  them.' — Poole.  Mentioned  in  Lev.  xviii.  22  ;  Rom.i.  24.  27; 
 Judg.  xix.  '22. —Poole,  Sut.  6.  At  the  door.  nriD,  'door  way.*  Shut 
 the  door,  ribl,  'the  leaf  of  the  door.' — Gveevf.  9.  He  will  needs  he  a 
 judge,  T21DMJ  TCDiIJ'.  '  in  jud-ing,  he  will  judge  ;'  he  will  take  upon  him 
 this  office,  if  let  alone,  and  continue  it  at  pleasure. — Gill.  11.  With 
 A/(«rf» ess— probably  by  a  str<  ke  uf  that  lightning  by  which  tliey  were 
 destroyed  on  the  following  day. —  Wil.  The  Hebrew  word  ^etms  to  be 
 compounded  from  an  Arabic  one,  which  signifies  *a  flash  of  light.' — 
 Ged  By  causing  deep  darkness,  (Wisd.  xix.  17.)  Dimness  of  sight, 
 (2  Kings,  vi.  18.) — Sut.  14.  Married — Heb.,  '  took,'  or  'were  taking,' 
 or  '  about  to  take  ;'  that  i.'.  to  espout^e  or  to  marry. — Poole.  '  Were  to 
 marry.' — ^■'1/5.  I5.  Whichare  here — Fuller  thinks,  that  two  daugh- 
 ters were  actually  married,  and,  being  absent  with  their  husbands, 
 perished.  So  others  suppose.  But  this  phrase,  says  Poole,  *may  be' 
 applied  to  the  daughters  by  way  of  distinction  from  their  spouses  or 
 husbands  ;  thst  is,  *  tarry  no  longer  for  thy  sons-in-law,  but  take  thy 
 dau§:htcrswliich(ue/o»nrf  with  thee.'  20.  A  ^tff/e one,  and  probably 
 00 
 
 inferring  it  was,  therefore,  less  depraved — A.  Clarke.  24.  Brimstone 
 andjire — most  probably  nitrous  particles  precipitated  from  the  atmo- 
 sphere, ignited  by  lightning,  and  communicating  to  the  asplialtos, 
 or  bitumen,  which  abounded  in  that  country.  —  A.Clarke.  The 
 Lord^rom  the  Lord — these  words  have  been  quoted  in  proof  of  a 
 plurality  in  the  Godhead  ;  but  A.  Clarke  considirs  the  proof  as  too 
 vague  to  argue  the  doctrine  from  it.  In  Sciipture  phraseology  the 
 noun  is  often  repeated  for  the  pronoun,  as  in  chap.  ii.  20  ;  I  Sam.  xii.  II; 
 Zech.  i.  16;  particularly  Exod.  x.xiv.  3;  Hos.  i.  7;  Zech.  x.  12.— Coc. 
 25.  He  overlhi-ew  those  f(7 t>s— probably  by  volcanic  eruption  and  earth- 
 quake, in  addiiii'n  to  the  desccntling  fire.  So  Strubo  ascribes  the  pre- 
 sent  lake  to  volcanic  eruptions  and  earthquakes.— GiY/.  All  the  plain, 
 the  lake  Asphaltes,  or  Dead  Sea,  or  Salt  Sea,  which  now  txcupies  the 
 spot,  is  repre'-ented  by  travellers  as  about  thirty  miles  long,  and  ten 
 broad.  Madden,  one  of  our  most  recent  traveUers,  rei^resmts  the 
 water  as  extremely  cold,  and  its  tnste  '  most  detebtable.'  It  is  alt-o 
 very  buoyant.  The  waters  have  likewise  a  poisunoiis  irritating  effect 
 on  wounds.  He  confirms  the  statements  long  beloie  made  hy  others, 
 that  no  living  creature  is  to  be  lound  in  ihc  Dead  Sea.  He  found,  in- 
 deed, several  fresh-water  shells,  and  the  pu'rid  remains  of  some  small 
 tish.  on  the  shore,  but  thinks  they  were  cariicddown  fnm  the  Jordan. 
 There  is  no  visible  outlet  to  this  lake,  and  yet  the  Jordan  is  coiitinually 
 flowing  into  it;  and  Shaw  calculates  that  it  daily  sends  irito  it  six  mil- 
 lions and  ninety  thousand  tons  if  water,  and  ytt  there  is  never  any 
 visible  increase.  Ciuiteaubrinud,  indeed,  asserts  that  there  is;  but 
 Madden  contradicts  him.  26.  ..-I  pillar  of  salt — (.1-)  A  mass  of  rock- 
 salt;  or,  (ii.)  enveloped  in  sulphuric  matter,  she  was  'indurated,  or 
 petrified  ;'  or,  (iii.)  she  was  '  an  lmpcrish;ible  memorial,'  as  an  everlast- 
 ing covenant  is  called  '  a  covenant  uf  salt,'  iNumb.  xviii.  19-}— -4.  C, 
 Poole.    Buothroyd  says,  *  like  a  pillar  ol  salt,'  suppl>  ing  the  poiticle  of 
 
The  original  of  Moah  and  Amnion. 
 
 GENESIS,  XX. 
 
 Abraham  rhnieth  his  wife. 
 
 27  T  And  Abraham  gat  up  early  in  the  morn- 
 ing to  the  place  where  ""  he  stood  before  the 
 Lord  : 
 
 28  And  he  looked  toward  Sodom  and  Gomor- 
 rah, and  toward  all  the  land  of  the  plain,  and 
 beheld,  and,  lo,  "  the  smoke  of  the  country 
 went  up  as  the  smoke  of  a  furnace. 
 
 29  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  God  de- 
 stroyed the  cities  of  the  plain,  that  God  "  re- 
 membered Abraham,  and  sent  Lot  out  of  the 
 midst  of  the  overthrow,  when  he  overthrew  the 
 cities  in  the  which  Lot  dwelt. 
 
 30  II  And  Lot  went  up  out  of  Zoar,  and 
 ''  dwelt  in  the  mountain,  and  his  two  daughters 
 with  him  -,  fur  he  feared  to  dwell  in  Zoar  :  and 
 he  dwelt  in  a  cave,  he  and  his  two  daughters. 
 
 31  And  the  firstborn  said  unto  the  younger. 
 Our  father  is  old,  and  there  is  not  a  man  in  the 
 earth  'to  come  in  unto  us  after  the  manner  of 
 all  the  earth  : 
 
 32  Come,  let  us  make  our  father  drink  wine, 
 and  we  will  lie  with  him,  that  we '  may  preserve 
 seed  of  our  father. 
 
 3-3  And  they  made  their  father  drink  wine 
 that  night  :  and  the  firstborn  went  in,  and  lay 
 with  her  father  ;  and  he  perceived  not  when 
 she  lay  down,  nor  when  she  arose. 
 
 34  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that 
 the  firstborn  said  unto  the  younger.  Behold,  I 
 lay  yesternight  with  my  father  :  let  us  make 
 him  drink  wine  this  night  also  ;  and  go  thou  in, 
 and  lie  with  him,  that  we  may  preserve  seed 
 of  our  father. 
 
 35  And  they  made  their  father  drink  wine 
 that  night  also  :  and  the  younger  arose,  and 
 lay  with  him;  and  he  perceived  not  when  she 
 lay  down,  nor  when  she  arose. 
 
 36  Thus  were  both  the  daughters  of  Lot 
 with  child  by  their  father. 
 
 37  And  the  firstborn  bare  a  son,  and  called 
 his  name  Moab  :  'the  same  is  the  father  of  the 
 Moabites  unto  this  day. 
 
 38  And  the  younger,  she  also  bare  a  son,  and 
 called  his  name  Ben-ammi  :  '  the  same  is  the 
 father  of  the  children  of  Ammon  unto  this  day. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 I  Abraham  sojoumeih  at  Gerar,  2  denitth  his  wife,  and 
 loseth  her.   3  Abimelech  is  reproved  fur  her  in  a  dream. 
 
 I  ch.  g.  1. 
 IS.  ss. 
 
 p  ver.  17,  19. 
 
 ^cli.16.  2,  4. 
 oil.  38.  8,  9. 
 Deut.  25.  5. 
 
 1897. 
 Deut.  2.  9. 
 
 B.C. 
 air.  1899. 
 
 t  ch.  IG.7,11. 
 c  ch.  26.  fl. 
 
 d  ch.  12.   13, 
 &  26.  7. 
 
 /Ts.  105.  U, 
 >.»ob  a-J.  15. 
 h  ver,  7. 
 
 f  Heb.  mar- 
 ried  t'l  an 
 hmband. 
 
 Ar  2  Kin. 20.3. 
 
 2  Cor.  1.12. 
 [|  Or,  „mp(,- 
 
 ctlit,  or  ji/t- 
 
 ;ch.  SI.  7  & 
 Sh.b.  Bs.Si- 
 2*.  1  Saul 
 25.  26,  31. 
 
 m  ch.  39.  9 
 Lev.  6.  2. 
 Ps-  51.  i 
 
 n  1  Sain.  7. 5. 
 2  Kin- 5  II. 
 
 j..b  ta.  s. 
 
 J.i.  5  li,  15. 
 
 lJoliii516 
 o  ch.  2.  17 
 p  Is'uni.  16. 
 
 32,33. 
 
 y  ch.  26.  10 
 Ex.  .32.  21. 
 Josh.  7.  25, 
 
 t  ch.   12.  18. 
 
 Ps.  36.  I. 
 
 Prov,  16  6. 
 t  ch.  12.  12. 
 
 &  26.  7. 
 II  See  ch.  II. 
 
 29. 
 
 9  He  rebuketh  Abraham,  14  resturelh  Sarah,  16  and 
 reproveth  her.     1 7  He  is  healed  by  Abraham' s  prayer, 
 
 A  ND  Abraham  journeyed  from  °  thence  to- 
 -'-^  ward  the  south  country,  and  dwelled  be- 
 tween ''Kadesh  and  Shur,  and  "^sojourned  in 
 Gerar. 
 
 2  And  Abraham  said  of  Sarah  his  wife,  *"  She 
 is  my  sister  :  and  Abimelech  king  of  Gerar 
 sent,  and  "  took  Sarah. 
 
 3  But  '  God  came  to  Abimelech  ^in  a  dream 
 by  night,  and  said  to  him,  i"  Behold,  thou  art 
 but  a  dead  man,  for  the  woman  which  thou 
 hast  taken  ;  for  she  15  f  a  man's  wife. 
 
 4  But  Abimelech  had  not  come  ntnr  her  : 
 and  he  said.  Lord, '  wilt  thou  slay  also  a  righte- 
 ous nation? 
 
 5  Said  he  not  unto  me.  She  is  my  sister?  and 
 she,  even  she  herself  said.  He  is  my  brother  : 
 'in  the  ||  integrity  of  my  heart  and  innocency 
 of  my  hands  have  I  done  this. 
 
 6  And  God  said  unto  him  in  a  dream,  Yea,  I 
 know  that  thou  didst  this  in  the  integrity  of  thy 
 heart  ;  for  '  I  also  withheld  thee  from  sinning 
 "'  against  me  :  therefore  suffered  I  thee  not  to 
 touch  her. 
 
 7  Now  therefore  restore  the  man  his  wife  ; 
 "  for  he  is  a  prophet,  and  he  shall  pray  for  thee, 
 and  thou  shalt  live  ;  and  if  thou  restore  her 
 not,  "know  thou  that  thou  shalt  surely  die, 
 thou,  ''and  all  that  are  thine. 
 
 8  Therefore  Abimelech  rose  early  in  the  morn- 
 ing, and  called  all  his  servants,  and  told  all 
 these  things  in  their  ears  :  and  the  men  were 
 sore  afraid. 
 
 9  Then  Abimelech  called  Abraham,  and  said 
 unto  him.  What  hast  thou  done  unto  us?  and 
 what  have  I  off'ended  thee,  'that  thou  hast 
 brought  on  me  and  on  my  kingdom  a  great  sin  ? 
 thou  hast  done  deeds  unto  me  ■■  that  ought  not 
 to  be  done. 
 
 10  And  Abimelech  said  unto  Abraham,  What 
 sawest  thou,  that  thou  hast  done  this  thing  ? 
 
 1 1  And  Abraham  said,  Because  I  thought. 
 Surely  '  the  fear  of  God  is  not  in  this  place  ; 
 and  '  they  will  slay  me  for  my  wife's  sake. 
 
 12  And  yet  indeed  "she  is  my  sister  ;  she  is 
 the  daughter  of  my  father,  but  not  the  daughter 
 of  my  mother  ;  and  she  became  my  wife. 
 
 comparison.  Some  assert  that  the  Hebrew  word,  2'5i3i  never  means 
 •a  pillar,  statue,  or  monument,'  but  simply,  'lix'cd,  ])]nced,  or  sta- 
 tioned;* and  hence  they  infer,  that  Lot's  wife  remained  fixed  on  tlie 
 bitumen,  and  so  was  burnt  or  sufTutated. — Duthe.  Le  Clerc,  Rosenm. 
 Joseplius  asserts,  that  the  pillar  coii'inucd  to  bis  time,  and  he  saw  it. 
 2S.  The  synnke  f\f  a  furnnce — Tacittif:  speaks  of  the  remains  of  anc'ent 
 cities  on  tliis  spot,  which  had  been  formerly  destroyed  by  lightning ; 
 and  Strabo,  another  historian,  says,  '  there  are  many  indicati"ns  that 
 fire  has  been  over  this  country.'  31.  In  the  earth,  *in  that  land,' as 
 the  word  may  be  rendered.— Poo/e.  37.  Monb,  '  the  begotten  of  my 
 lather.' — Trupp,  Poole.  33.  Ben  ammi,  '  the  son  of  my  people,' — 
 I'Oftle. 
 Chap.  XX.  —  1 .  Gerar,  a  city  of  Arabia  Petreea,  under  a  king  of  the 
 
 Philistines,  south  of  Judab,  and  not  far  from  Gaza.— Green/.  i.And 
 tool!  Sora/i— Sarah  must  have  lost  much  of  her  beauty  at  ninety,  but 
 probably  she  was  still  '  very  fair.'  (chap.  xii.  U,)  and,  from  the  wealth 
 of  Abraham,  Abimelech  wislied  for  an  alliance. — A.  Clarke.  4.  But 
 Abimelech,  ftc— This  clause  in  the  history  is  to  prevent  any  presuming 
 that  Isaac  was  not  the  puie  offspring  of  Abraham  a-,  God  had  pro 
 mised.— Pno/e.  7.  A  pro/jAe^— Abraham  is  the  first  man  in  Scripture 
 dignified  with  this  title.— Gi«.  A.  Clarke  observes  that  the  proper 
 ideal  meaning  of  the  word  «'i3,  is,  to  prtn/,  entrent,  make  siippliciition, 
 see  1  Sam.  x.',  and  the  case  of  the  prophets  of  Baal,  1  Kings,  xviii., 
 where  by  prophesying  is  meant  prayer  and  supplication.  Fuller  un- 
 derstands the  word  as  signifying  one  who  had  special  intercourse  with 
 heaven.— So  also  Pat.  and  Scott.    The  title  was  also  given  to  men  emi- 
 
 Kkflections  on  Chap.  XIX.  —  I.  Thix  chapter  f/ives  us  a 
 di.seovery  of  the  wickedness  of  the  u-iched.  Wiiat  are  mankind 
 when  left  to  themselves,  without  the  influences  of  pure  and 
 undefiled  religionl 
 
 IL  //  shews  us  the  crtent  of  sin  into  which  even  a  goodmanviai/ 
 fall.  *  Righteous  Lot,'  whoso  soul  was  *  vexed  from  day  to 
 day'  with  the  iniquities  which  abounded  around  him,  yet  con- 
 tinued to  dwell  among  these  ungodly — to  form  alliances  with 
 them  for  his  children— offered  even  to  commit  sin  against  God 
 by  violating  the  chastity  of  his  daughters,  rather  than  to 
 violate  the  hospitable  laws  of  men — and  finally  committed,  and 
 that  twice,  both  drunkenness  and  incest !  '  Lord,  what  is 
 man  !'  Such  instances  should  teach  us  the  danger  of  intimate 
 association  with  a  world  lying  in  wickedness,  the  rashness 
 of  finally  denouncing  many  Christians  whose  conduct  often 
 23 
 
 astounds  us,  and  the  necessity  of  increasing  circumspection 
 lest  we  fall  into  like  snares,  and,  in  the  end,  prove  apostates 
 instead  of  backsliders.  Let  us  each  pray,  '  hold  thou  me  up, 
 that  my  footsteps  slip  not.' 
 
 in.  Ifhat  an  awful  lesson  do  we  here  learn  from  the  destruction 
 of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  !  and  yet  it  exhibits  Dut  a  faint  emblem 
 of  the  destruction  which  shall  come  upon  the  whole  world  oC 
 the  ungodly  at  the  last  great  day— that  day  of  the  Lord  which 
 shall  come  as  a  thief  in  the  night;  in  the  which  the  heavens 
 shall  pass  away  with  a  great  noise,  and  the  elements  shall  melt 
 with  fervent  heat;  the  earth  also,  and  the  works  that  are  therein, 
 shall  be  burned  up.  '  Seeing  then  that  all  these  things  shall  he 
 dissolved,  what  manner  of  persons  ought  we  to  be  in  all  lioly 
 conversation  and  godliness  1' 
 
The  birth  of  Isaac. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXI. 
 
 Hagar  and  Ishmael  castfurlh. 
 
 13  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  ''  God  cansed 
 me  to  wander  from  my  father's  house,  that  1 
 said  unto  her.  This  is  thy  kindness  which  thou 
 shall  shew  unto  me  ;  at  everyplace  whither  we 
 shall  come,  ''  say  of  me.  He  is  my  brother. 
 
 14  And  Abimelech  "  took  sheep,  and  oxen, 
 and  menservants,  and  womenservants,  and  gave 
 them  unto  Abraham,  and  restored  him  Sarah 
 his  wife. 
 
 15  And  Abimelech  said.  Behold,  'my  land  is 
 before  thee  :  dwell  f  where  it  plcaseth  thee. 
 
 IG  And  unto  Sarah  he  said,  Behold,  I  have 
 given  ''thy  brother  a  thousand  pieces  of  silver  : 
 ° behold,  he  is  to  thee  ''a  covering  of  the  eyes, 
 unto  all  that  are  with  thee,  and  with  all  other  : 
 thus  she  was  reproved. 
 
 1 7  t  So  Abraham  °  prayed  unto  God  :  and 
 God  healed  Abimelech,  and  his  wife,  and  his 
 maidservants  ;  and  they  bare  children. 
 
 18  For  the  Lobd  'had  fast  closed  up  all  the 
 wombs  of  the  house  of  Abimelech,  because  of 
 Sarali  Abraham's  wife. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  fsanc  is  born.  4  i/ft  is  circumcised.  6  Sarah*sjoi/. 
 9  Haffar  and  /s/imntl  are  cast  fort/i.  15  Hayar  in 
 distress.  17  Tlic  anqct  comfortitlt  her.  22  Ahimc- 
 Icch^s  covenant  with  Ahraliam  at  Beer-sheba. 
 
 \  ND  the  Lord  "visited  Sarah  as  he  had 
 '^*-  said,  and  the  Lord  did  unto  Sarah  *"  as  he 
 had  spoken. 
 
 2  For  Sarah  °  conceived,  and  bare  Abraham  a 
 son  in  his  old  age,  ''  at  the  set  time  of  which 
 God  had  spoken  to  him. 
 
 3  And  Abraham  called  the  name  of  his  son 
 that  was  born  unto  him,  whom  Sarah  bare  to 
 him,  "  Isaac. 
 
 4  And  Abraham  '  circumcised  his  son  Isaac 
 being  eight  days  old,  ^  as  God  had  commanded 
 him. 
 
 5  And  "  Abraham  was  an  hundred  years  old, 
 when  his  son  Isaac  was  born  unto  him. 
 
 G  IF  And  Sarah  said,  '  God  hath  made  me  to 
 
 laugh,  so  that  all  that  hear '  will  laugh  with  me. 
 
 7   And  she  said.  Who  would  have  said  unto 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  18y^. 
 
 X  ch.  l?    I, 
 9,  II,  ?<o. 
 Heb.  LI.  S. 
 
 If  ch.  \->.  13. 
 I  ch.  12.  16. 
 
 t  Heh.  n. 
 
 :  ch.  -26.  II. 
 i  ch.  2*.  C5. 
 
 /ch.  12.  17. 
 
 »  ch.  17.  la 
 
 «cl8.  lit,  II. 
 
 Gal.  4.  S3. 
 
 28. 
 c  Acta  7   S. 
 
 Gal.  4    2^.'. 
 
 Hcb.  11.11. 
 d  ch.  17.21. 
 
 ech.  17.  19 
 
 /Acts  7.  8. 
 
 i'  ch.  17.  10, 
 12. 
 
 i'  Pa.  12fl.  S. 
 
 !•.  54.   1. 
 
 Gal.  *.  97. 
 h  Lukcl.&8) 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  1897. 
 
 /  ch.  18.  II, 
 12. 
 
 mcb.  16.  1. 
 
 '■ch.  16.  15. 
 
 0  Gal.  t.  ?9. 
 
 cir.  IS92. 
 
 p  GaL  *.  30. 
 
 Sec  ch.  25. 
 
 6.  &S6.  C,7. 
 
 r  vcr.  18 
 rli.  16.  10. 
 &  IV.  2"). 
 
 w  vcr.  IS. 
 xNu.  22.31. 
 
 Sec  2  Kin. 
 
 6.  17,  18, 2t\ 
 
 Luke  3».  16, 
 
 31. 
 
 Abraham,  that  Sarah  should  have  given  chil- 
 dren suck?  '  for  I  have  born  him  a  son  in  his 
 old  age. 
 
 8  And  the  child  grew,  and  was  weaned:  and 
 Abraham  made  a  great  feast  the  satne  day  that 
 Isaac  was  weaned. 
 
 9  t  And  Sarah  saw  the  son  of  Hagar  "  the 
 Egyptian,  "which  she  had  born  unto  Abraham, 
 "mocking. 
 
 10  Wherefore  she  said  unto  Abraham,  'Cast 
 out  this  bondwoman  and  her  son  :  for  the  son 
 of  this  bondwoman  shall  not  be  heir  with  my 
 son,  even  with  Isaac. 
 
 1 1  And  the  thing  was  very  grievous  in  Abra- 
 ham's sight ''because  of  his  son. 
 
 12  If  And  God  said  unto  Abraham,  Let  it  not 
 be  grievous  in  thy  sight  because  of  the  lad, 
 and  because  of  thy  bondwoman  ;  in  all  that 
 Sarah  hath  said  unto  thee,  hearken  unto  hev 
 voice  ;  for  'in  Isaac  shall  thy  seed  be  called. 
 
 13  And  also  of  the  son  of  the  bondwoman 
 will  I  make  'a  nation,  because  he  is  thy  seed. 
 
 14  And  Abraham  rose  up  early  in  the  morn- 
 ing, and  took  bread,  and  a  bottle  of  water,  and 
 gave  it  unto  Hagar,  putting  it  on  her  shoulder, 
 and  the  child,  and  'sent  her  away;  and  she  de- 
 parted, and  wandered  in  the  wilderness  of 
 Beer-sheba. 
 
 15  And  the  water  was  spent  in  the  bottle,  and 
 she  cast  the  child  under  one  of  the  shrubs. 
 
 16  And  she  went,  and  sat  her  down  over 
 against  him  a  good  way  off,  as  it  were  a  bow- 
 shot :  for  she  said.  Let  me  not  see  the  death  of 
 the  child.  And  she  sat  over  against  hiin,  and 
 lift  up  her  voice,  and  wept. 
 
 17  And  "  God  heard  the  voice  of  the  lad  ;  and 
 the  angel  of  God  called  to  Hagar  out  of  heaven, 
 and  said  unto  her.  What  aileth  thee,  Hagar? 
 fear  not  ;  for  God  hath  heard  the  voice  of  tlie 
 lad  where  he  is. 
 
 18  Arise,  lift  up  the  lad,  and  hold  him  in  thine 
 hand  ;  for  "  I  will  make  him  a  great  nation. 
 
 19  And  '  God  opened  her  eyes,  and  she  saw 
 a  well  of  water ;  and  she  went,  and  filled  the 
 bottle  with  water,  and  gave  the  lad  drink. 
 
 nent  for  eloquence  and  literary  abilities  ;  Aaron,  Moses'  spokesman,  is 
 so  called,  Exod.  iv.  l6. ;  vii.  1. — Grecnf.  I6.  Brother,  a  sharp,  cnt- 
 tinf?  expression,  putting  her  in  miiiil  and  upbraiding  her  with  her 
 equivocation  and  dissimulation. — Gi'l.  .4  thnusaud pieces  of  sitrer,  or 
 shekels,  wonh  perhaps  half  a  crown  of  our  money,  amounting  in  all 
 to  125/. — GUI.  A  covering — He,  Abraham,  her  husband  {brottter  up- 
 braidinply  used),  must  be  to  her  for  a  covering  for  the  eyes,  that  is,  she 
 must  look  at  no  other,  nor  desire  to  he  looked  at  by  any  other. — So 
 Hen.  But  there  are  other  renilcrings.  '  Behold,  it  is  for  a  veil  to  cover 
 thine  eyes,  that  men  may  not  sec  thee,  and  lust  after  tby  beauty.' — 
 Hout).  So  ,-1.  Clarke  agrees.  '  //,  the  one  thousand  shekels,  is  to  thee 
 for  a  covering  to  buy  a  veil.'  '  1  have  given  to  thy  brother  a  thousand 
 pieces  of  silver  to  purchase  veils  for  tbce  and  for  all  thy  attcnilants : 
 for  every  one  that  is  married.' — Ged.  The  5pp/Mn^(n/ renders  the  latter 
 clause  Kai  TTLivTa  a\fj(?eu.Toi/,  *  and  in  all  things  speak  the  truth.'  To 
 the  latter  rendering,  it  is  objected,  that  veils  were  not  then  any 
 peculiar  mark  of  a  married  woman  ;  but  this  is  unnecessary,  for 
 Abimelech  might  mean  that,  to  prevent  such  mistakes  in  future,  let 
 married  women  conceal  their  beauty.    It  is  thought  more  difficult  to 
 
 account  for  Sarah  being  reproved  by  this,  but  it  might  be  a  hint  to 
 teach  her  not  so  openly  to  display  a  tempting  countenance,  and  tho 
 reproof  may  be  understood  as  couched  in  the  appellation  of  brother 
 given  to  her  husband. —  Kd.     Reprored,  or  'instructed.' — Fat. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  3.  Isnitc,  'laughter,'  on  account  of  his  laughing  for 
 joy  at  the  promise  made  him.  6.  Laugh  with  me — rejoice  with  her. 
 8.  Weaned — from  3  Mac.  vii.  27,  and  2  Chron.xxxi.  16,  A.  t.V(irAre infers 
 that  the  Jews  weaned  their  children  at  three  years  old.  9.  Mocking, 
 called  persecution.  Gal.  iv.  29.  The  Hebrew  may  be  renilered,  beating 
 him.  as  used  2  Sam.  ii.  14. — Poole.  14.  Bread — water — these  denote 
 provisions  of  any  kind,  (Isa.  iii.  !  ;  xxxvi.  16.)  A  bottle — a  skin  bottle, 
 made  of  the  skin  of  anardmal. — Buothr.  The  child,  or  r.ither  *  lad,'  or 
 'youth.' — Greenf.  Ishmael  was  thirteen  when  he  was  circumcised,  which 
 was  before  Isaac  was  born  ;  he  is  therefore  thought  to  have  been  sixteen 
 years  old  at  this  time.— //eu-.  The  sense  is,  that  Abraham  placed  the 
 provisions  on  Hagar's  shoulder,  and  delivered  the  child  into  her  hands, 
 15.  She  caJ!t  tlie  child,  ib'H  Ti^  "iViUm,  'and  she  sent  the  lad  under  one 
 of  the  shrubs' — viz.,  to  screen  him  from  heat. — A.  Clarke.  Being  weary 
 and  thirsty,  he  could  walk  no  longer. — Gill.     God  opened  her  eyes — 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.  XX I.  Honest  dealmy   in  all 
 
 things  is  the  best  to  pass  comfortably  throui/h  the  world.  Subtle 
 policy  may  suit  tbe  vvorldllnR,  but  it  must  in  tbe  end  make 
 tlie  good  man  ashamed  of  himself.  It  is  not  consistent  with 
 that  character  of  inteRtity  which  he  professes,  and  may  in  some 
 cases  bring  a  great  disgrace  upon  himself  and  the  cause  of 
 religion  ;  in  all  cases,  if  he  reflects  upon  it,  it  must  reproach 
 him,  and  wound  his  con.science.  .Here  his  crooked  policy 
 brought  tbe  patriarch  again  into  great  difficulty,  from  which 
 nothing  but  an  extraordinary  interposition  of  Providence  could 
 rescue  hint.  Thus  a  pious  expositor  remarks,  '  Man's  wisdom 
 leads  him  into  a  pit,  and  God's  wisdom  must  draw  him  out.' 
 
 n.  It  is  no  excuse  for  us  with  God  that  others  have  led  us  into 
 24 
 
 sin.  Though  Abraham  spread  tbe  snare  unwittingly  by  his 
 foolish  agreement  with  Sarah,  to  preserve  her  from  the  bands 
 of  tyrant  princes,  yet  as  Abimelech  fell  into  it  by  his  own  act 
 he  is  made  accountable,  and  but  narrowly  escapes.  His  sin 
 was  but  a  sin  of  ignorance,  and  yet  it  had  nearly  proved  fatal. 
 O  Iiow  awful  is  the  thought  of  being  suddenly  cut  otf,  even 
 while  committing  a  sin  of  ignorance  !  What  need  have  we  to 
 pray,  '  Who  can  understand  his  errors  ?  cleanse  thou  me  from 
 secret  faults  !' 
 
 III.  It  was  Abimelech's  mercy  that  Abraham  could  become  hit 
 intercessor ;  and  it  is  our  mercy  that,  '  if  any  man  sin,  there  is 
 an  advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous,  and 
 he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins.' 
 
AbimeU'ch's  covenant  tvitli  Al'i  nham. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXII. 
 
 The.  trial  of  Abraham's  faith. 
 
 20  And  fioil  'was  with  tlie  lad  ;  and  he  grew, 
 and  dwelt  in  the  wilderness,  ^  and  became  an 
 archer. 
 
 '21  And  ho  dwelt  in  the  wilderness  of  Paran  : 
 and  his  mother  "took  him  a  wife  ont  of  the 
 Mnd  of  Egypt. 
 
 2-2  H  And  it  came  to  pass  at  that  time,  that 
 ''  Abimelech  and  Phichol  the  chief  captain  of 
 his  host  spake  nnto  Abraham,  saying,  °  God  is 
 with  tliee  in  all  that  tliou  doest : 
 
 '23  Now  therefore  ■'swear  unto  me  here  by 
 God  t  that  thou  wilt  not  deal  falsely  with  me, 
 nor  with  my  son,  nor  with  my  son's  son  :  liiit 
 according  to  the  kindness  that  I  have  done  unto 
 thee,  thou  shalt  do  mito  me,  and  to  the  land 
 wherein  thou  hast  sojourned. 
 
 24  And  Al)raham  said,  I  will  swear. 
 
 25  And  Abraham  reproved  Abimelech  be- 
 cause of  a  well  of  water,  which  Abimelech's 
 servants  "had  violently  taken  away. 
 
 20  And  Abimelech  said,  I  wot  not  who  hath 
 done  this  thing  :  neither  didst  thou  tell  me, 
 neitlier  yet  heard  I  (;/"//,  but  to  day. 
 
 27  And  Abraliam  took  sheep  and  oxen,  and 
 gave  them  unto  Abimelech  ;  and  both  of  them 
 'made  a  covenant. 
 
 28  And  Abraham  set  seven  ewe  lambs  of  the 
 flock  by  themselves. 
 
 29  And  Abimelech  said  unto  Abraham,^  What 
 mean  these  seven  ewe  lambs  which  thou  hast 
 set  liy  themselves  ? 
 
 30  And  he  said.  For  these  seven  ewe  lambs 
 .shalt  thou  take  of  my  hand,  that  ''they  may  be 
 a  witness  unto  me,  that  I  have  digged  this  well. 
 
 31  Wherefore  he  '  called  that  place  ||  Beer- 
 sheba  j  because  there  they  sware  both  of  them. 
 
 V  ell.  i^.  13. 
 ;  ch.  10.  12. 
 
 /-  cli  2(1.  -3 
 .V  'ili.  2li. 
 c  ch.  SO,  2 
 
 1    Siun.  21. 
 21. 
 
 tllob.  i/z/ioi/ 
 ./..,//  /.> 
 uut'i  ute. 
 
 a  See  cli.  26. 
 15,  IS,  2I», 
 21,  22. 
 
 /cli.  20  31. 
 
 r  eh.  CO.  33. 
 II  Th.it  U, 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  1U91. 
 
 II  Or,  live. 
 
 k  oh.  t.  20, 
 
 1  Detit.^-iJ?, 
 Is.  -10   2H. 
 
 1H72, 
 
 J.,>    .J.:(. 
 
 fllCnr  10,13, 
 
 Hc'h.  11.  17. 
 
 Jam.   1.  12. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.7. 
 t  »eb.  4e- 
 
 h„ld  me. 
 h  Heh  11,17. 
 e2Clir.  :f.  1. 
 
 32  Thus  they  made  a  covenant  at  Hecr-sheha: 
 them  Abimelech  rose  up,  and  Phichol  the  chief 
 captain  of  his  host,  and  they  returned  into  the 
 land  of  the  Philistines. 
 
 33  IT  And  Abraham  planted  a  ||  grove  in 
 Beer-sheba,  and  ''  called  there  on  the  name  of 
 the  Lord,  'the  everlasting  God. 
 
 34  And  Abraham  sojourned  in  the  Philistines* 
 land  many  days. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 I  Abraham  is  tempted  to  offer  Isnnc,  3  lie  (jlvelh  proof 
 of  his  fuifh  and  obedience,  H  The  aneiel  stuyeih  htm. 
 13  Isaac  is  exchanged  leith  a  mm..  14  The  place  is 
 called  Jehoeah-jireh-  15  Abraham  is  hkssed  ayaiv. 
 20    The  generation  of  Nahvr  vnto  Rebeknh. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  these  thing.s  that 
 ^-^  ^Gotl  (lid  tempt  Abraham,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Abraham  :  and  he  said, f  Behold,/; ere  I  am. 
 
 '2  And  he  said.  Take  now  thy  son,  ^  thine  only- 
 sow  Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest,  and  get  thee  'into 
 the  land  of  Moriah  ;  and  offer  him  there  for  a 
 burnt  offering  upon  one  of  the  mountains  wliich 
 I  will  tell  tlice  of. 
 
 3  t  And  Abraham  rose  up  early  in  the  morn- 
 ing, and  saddled  bis  ass,  and  took  two  of  bi.s 
 young  men  with  him,  and  Isaac  iiis  son,  and 
 clave  the  wood  for  the  burnt  offering,  and  rose 
 up,  and  went  unto  the  place  of  whicli  God  had 
 told  him. 
 
 4  Tlien  on  the  third  day  Abraham  lifted  up 
 his  eyes,  and  saw  the  place  afar  off. 
 
 5  And  Abraham  said  unto  his  young  men. 
 Abide  ye  here  with  the  ass  ;  and  1  and  the  la(l 
 will  go  yonder  and  worship,  and  come  again  to 
 you. 
 
 wonls  meanin:?  only  that  God  directed  her  to  a  well.— .4.  Clarke. 
 20.  An  archer,  a  skilful  hunter  of  beasts,  and  warriur  with  men  ton, 
 accoiding-  to  'he  prediction,  (chap.  xvi.  \'l.) — I'ooie.  21.  Wilderness 
 if  Hnnin,  so  called  from  Paran,  a  city  in  Arabia  Petraea;  it  reached 
 from  the  wihk  rness  of  Shur  to  Mount  Sinai.  22,  Abivielfch,  king  of 
 lierar,  I'chap.  xx.)  Phiehol,  general  of  his  army.  2ji.  Reproved, 
 '  e.^pobtuiaicd  \\\t\\.^— Booth  r,  Bi'cnnse  of  it  icfll — wells  nf  water  were 
 scarce,  and  valuable  for  the  use  <-f  the  flocks.— .St'/*?/,  Ed.  33.  A  gron', 
 '  tamarisk  trees,'  so  ^iDt^  means,  and  this  species  of  tiee  is  common  in 
 Egypt  and  ccuntrles  adjacent. — Mich.  To  shelter  his  tent,  and  form 
 a  shade  for  sacred  worship. — Seott.  Not  so  much  for  shade  as  fur 
 retirement;  hut  pro\es,  being  abused  in  the  strvice  of  superstition, 
 were  afterwards  abolished,  (see  Deut.  xii.'2;  xvi.  21.)— i'oo/c.  On  the 
 name — the  inseitinn  of  the  i  before  CO  should  here  be  rendered,  'in 
 the  name;'  without  it,  it  would  be,  'an  the  name,'  and  setms  to  have 
 
 been  u'-ed  to  express  worshipping  through  a  mediator  j  so  false  gods 
 were  used,  (1  Kings,  xviii.26.) — See  A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXil.— 1.  Tempt,  'tried  or  explored,'  that  is,  sounded  the 
 depth  and  measured  the  height  of  his  servant's  faith. — tJereey,  Take 
 jioiv  thy  srm— the  (Tder  in  which  these  words  arc  placed  in  the  original 
 p-rfidually  increases  the  seisp,  and  raises  the  passions  higher  and  higher. 
 '  Take  n')\v  thy  son,  thine  only  son,  whom  thou  love-t,  even  Isaac.'— 
 War.  2.  Muriith,  Mount  Moriah,  on  which  Solomon  built  the  temple, 
 and  im  one  part  whereof.  Mount  Calvary,  Christ  suffered,  (*:ee2  Chron. 
 iii.  1  ) — Welts.  4.  The  third  day — the  deliverance  of  Isaac  on  this 
 day  was  doubtless  typicnl  of  Christ's  resurrection  from  the  dead  on 
 the  third  day,  for  from  the  time  tl  e  command  was  fjiven  Isaac  was 
 reckoned  by  Abraham  hut  as  one  dead,  from  whence  he  received  him 
 in  a  figure  on  this  day,  (Heb.  xi.  ig.)—Gill.  5.  The  lad,  '  the  young 
 man,'  for  the  same  word  is  used  for  the  two  young  men  in  this  verse. 
 
 Ri FLECTIONS  ON  CiiAP.  XXI.—  I.  Isnnc's  birth,  recorded 
 ill  this  cliapter,  is  another — among  the  fiequi-nt  examples  wo 
 have  in  Scripture  \ilslory—of  t'le  insta/ics  nf  God's  faithful- 
 ness to  his  promisis.  The  soul  tlnit  trusts  in  iiim  can  scarcely 
 cast  his  eye  over  a  cliapter  witliout  findini^  soine  fresh  in- 
 stance of  God's  fidelity  to  inspire  fresh  confidence.  They 
 that  believe  in  him  shall  never  be  ashamed. 
 
 II.  Abraham's  cireufncision  of  Isaac  is  another  jiroof  of  his 
 obedience.  Abraham  was  strong  in  faith,  and  he  was  also 
 prompt  in  answering  the  Divine  commands.  Thus  we  see 
 that  faith  and  obedience  go  hand  in  bund,  and  that  the  more 
 thH  former  is  in  exercise,  the  more  brightly  the  latter  will 
 shine.  'Faith,  if  it  have  not  works,  is  dead,  being  alone; 
 for  as  ihe  body  without  the  spirit  is  dead,  so  faith  without 
 ^  jfks  is  dead  also.' 
 
 ill.  IshniiuTs  mockery  of  Isaac  is  a  specimen  of  the  enmity 
 which  the  children  of  this  world  have  to  the  heirs  of  promise. 
 For  '  if  ye  be  Christ's,  then  are  ye  Abraham's  seed,  and  heirs 
 according  to  the  promise.'  •  Now  we,  brethren,  as  Isaac  was, 
 are  the  ciiildreu  of  the  promise.  But  as  then,  he  that  was 
 born  after  the  fiesli  persecuted  Iiim  that  was  born  after  the 
 spirit,  even  so  is  it  now.'  Thanks  be  to  a  kind  and  indulgent 
 providi  nee  that  the  a^es  of  intolerance  are  past,  and  that  we 
 live  where  the  law  protects  us  from  sanguinary  rulers  and  in- 
 jurious neiglibours;  but  the  einnily  of  the  depraved  heart 
 against  true  religion  is  still  the  same,  and  'as  then,  he  that 
 \vas  born  after  tije  flesh  persecuted  him  that  was  born  after 
 the  spirit,  even  so  it  is  now  .'  but  it  is  confined   to  mockery, 
 
 which  to  some  is  a  severe  trial,  and  often  puts  the  sincerity  of 
 the  follower  of  Christ  to  the  test.  *  God's  favourites,' says 
 Mr.  Henry,  'are  the  world's  laughing  stocks.* 
 
 IV.  llaijafs  preservation  in  the  loilderness  reminds  us  that  the 
 widow-ivomaii  and  the  orjihan  ehdd  are  the  objects  of  the  Divine 
 care, — that  the  ears  of  a  merciful  God  are  ever  open  to  tlie  cry 
 of  the  distressed  who  look  to  him,  and  his  eyes  beliold  them 
 in  llieir  most  desolate  condition.  Ishmael  at  least  had  learnt 
 to  call  upon  Abraham's  God ,  and  he  did  not  call  in  vain.  '  God 
 is  our  refuge  and  strength,  a  very  present  Iielp  in  trouble.' 
 
 V.  Abimelech's  servaids  (piarrelUng  about  the  well  shew  tts  how 
 much  servants  by  their  ill  tempers  may  affeit  the  peace  of  their 
 masters,  and  even  endanger  their  comfort  among  their  neigh- 
 bours. Society  is  so  linked  together,  from  the  liighest  to  the 
 lowest  members,  that  the  derangement  of  one  link  may  be  in- 
 jurious to  others, 
 
 VI.  Abimelecli's  desire  to  form  a  league  with  Abraham  re- 
 minds us,  that  notwithstanding  there  is  that  in  religion  which 
 offends  the  world,  there  is  net^ertheless  that  in  the  ht,ncst  and 
 upright  ^followers  of  God'  which  cominvnds  it  to  every  man's 
 eonsciejicej  and  makes  them  often  r/rsirons  of  their  favour  ami 
 friendship.  It  is  truly  shocking  where  underhanded  dealing 
 and  inconsistency  in  professors  liave  the  opposite  tench'ncy, 
 and  lead  the  world  to  say,  '  l.'eware  of  that  man,  for  iie 
 professes  religion  !'     '  See  that  ye  walk  circumspectly.' 
 
 VII.  Beershi'ltn,  with  its  grove,  was  an  e.vtimjile  of  the  devoted?iess 
 of  Abraham  to  his  Goil.  W  herever  hi'  went  he  carried  his  reU- 
 gion  witli  iiinu    Let  us  dwell  nowhere  without  an  altar  for  God. 
 
Abraham  is  again  hlesscil. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXIII. 
 
 The  death  of  Sarah. 
 
 6  And  Abraliam  took  the  Nvood  of  the  burnt 
 offering,  and  •'  laid  it  npon  Isaac  his  son  ;  and 
 he  toolc  tlie  fire  in  his  hand,  and  a  knife  ;  and 
 they  went  both  of  them  together. 
 
 7  And  Isaac  spake  unto  Abraham  his  father, 
 and  said.  My  father:  and  be  said,  f  Here  ami, 
 my  son.  And  lie  said.  Behold  the  fire  and  the 
 wood  :  but  where  is  the  ||  lamb  for  a  burnt 
 
 offering?  ^    ,      -11 
 
 8  And  Abraham  said.  My  son,  God  will  pro- 
 vide himself  a  lamb  for  a  burnt  offering  :  so  they 
 went  both  of  them  together.         ,.,„,,     , 
 
 9  And  they  came  to  the  place  which  God  had 
 told  him  of;  and  Abraham  built  an  altar  there, 
 and  laid  the  wood  in  order,  and  bound  Isaac 
 his  son,  and  °  laid  him  on  the  altar  upon  the 
 
 wood.  ,.     ,    u-     1      J 
 
 10  And   Abraham  stretched  forth  his  hand, 
 
 and  took  the  knife  to  slay  his  son. 
 
 1 1  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  called  unto 
 him  out  of  heaven,  and  said,  Abraham,  Abra- 
 ham :  and  he  said,  Here  am  I. 
 
 1-2  And  he  said,  '  Lay  not  thine  hand  upon 
 the  lad,  neither  do  thou  any  thing  unto  him  : 
 for  ^  now  I  know  that  tliou  fearest  God,  seeing 
 tliou  hast  not  witliheld  tliy  son,  thine  only  son 
 from  me.  .  , 
 
 13  And  Abraham  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and 
 looked,  and  behold  behind  him  a  ram  caught 
 in  a  thicket  liy  his  horns  :  and  Abraham  went 
 and  took  the  ram,  and  offered  him  up  for  a 
 burnt  offering  in  the  stead  of  lus  son. 
 
 14  And  Abraham  called  the  name  of  that 
 place  II  Jehovali-jireh  :  as  it  is  said  to  this  day 
 In  the  mount  of  the  Lord  it  shall  be  seen. 
 
 1.3  If  Ami  the  augel  of  the  Lord  called  unto 
 Abraham  out  of  heaven  tlie  second  time, 
 
 IG  And  said,  "  By  myself  have  I  sworn,  sjiith 
 the  Lord,  for  because  thou  hast  done  this  thing, 
 and  hast  not  withiield  thy  sou,  thine  only  sou  : 
 
 17  That  in  blessing  1  will  bless  thee,  and  in 
 multiplying  I  will  multiply  thy  seed  '  as  the 
 stars  of  the  heaven,  'and  as  the  sand  which  !s 
 upon  the  sea  t  shore  ;  and  '  thy  seed  shall  pos- 
 sess ■"  the  gate  of  his  enemies  -,  _ 
 
 18  "And  in  thy  seed  shall  all  the  nations  of| 
 
 B.C.  1S72. 
 
 d  John  19. 1 7. 
 
 t  H.b.  B«- 
 h;t,i  me. 
 
 !|  Or,  tiJ. 
 
 DC 
 
 cii-.  IIITS. 
 
 Heb.  11.17. 
 Jam.  S.  21. 
 
 /  I  Sam    15. 
 22. 
 
 .Mic.  6.7,8. 
 ti  rh.  26.  5. 
 .!am.  2.  23. 
 
 a  ver.  a,  10. 
 ch.  86.  5. 
 
 pch.al.3l. 
 
 5cb   11.29. 
 
 Jub  I.  I. 
 •  Job  32.  2. 
 
 I  ch   24.  15. 
 I  Called, 
 Rom.  9.  10, 
 Rtbecca, 
 
 II  That  15. 
 T/u-   LOUD 
 XBtH  let.  or, 
 
 A  rs.  \oy  9 
 
 Erdus.  U. 
 
 21.  I.iikfl  I. 
 
 7,-l.    Hcb.  0 
 
 13,  II. 
 i  ch.  15.  5. 
 
 ler.  3.1.  22. 
 fr  ch  13  10. 
 t  Hcb.  /.;'. 
 /  ch.  21.  Cn. 
 ,n  Mic  I.  9 
 ..  ch.  12   3. 
 
 &  13.  IS.  .<■ 
 
 26.  4.      Kc- 
 
 cl.ii  41  22- 
 
 AcU  3.  25. 
 
 fial.  J.  8,9, 
 
 16,  IB. 
 
 ■  Josh  IJ. 15. 
 
 JuJg.  1.  1". 
 b  ch.  13.  \S. 
 
 ver.  19. 
 
 c  ch.  17.  8. 
 1  Clir  29.15 
 Ps  10.''.  12 
 Hcb.  11.  9, 
 13. 
 
 (i  Acts  7.  5. 
 
 t  Heb.  a 
 
 rrimt  „/ 
 0..1. 
 <  Ch.  13.  2.  & 
 H  11.8124. 
 35. 
 
 tlie  earth  be  blessed  ;    °  because    thou    hast 
 obeyed  my  voice. 
 
 1 9  So  Abraham  returned  unto  his  young  men, 
 and  they  rose  up  and  went  together  to  ''  Beer- 
 sheba  ;  and  Abraham  dwelt  at  Beer-sheba. 
 
 20  1  And  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things, 
 that  it  was  told  Abraham,  saying.  Behold, 
 ">  Milcah,  she  hath  also  born  children  unto  thy 
 brother  Nahor  ; 
 
 ■21  '  Huz  his  firstborn,  and  Buz  his  brother, 
 and  Kemnel  the  father  '  of  Aram, 
 
 ■2i  And  Cliesed,  and  Hazo,  and  Pildash,  and 
 Jidlaph,  and  Bethuel. 
 
 ■2S  And  '  Bethuel  begat  "  Rebekah  :  these 
 eight  Milcah  did  bear  to  Nahor,  Abraham's 
 brother. 
 
 •24  And  his  concubine,  whose  name  was  Keu- 
 mah,  she  bare  also  Tebah,  and  Gaham,  and 
 Thahash,  and  Maachah. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIIL 
 
 I    Tlie  age  and  death  of  Sarah.     2    The  ,:urchase  of 
 Machpelah,    19  u-liere  Surah  was  burled. 
 
 AND  Sarah  was  an  hundred  and  seven  and 
 twenty  years  old  :  these  were  the  years  of 
 the  life  of  Sarah. 
 •2  And  Sarah  died  in  °  Kirjath-arba;  the  same 
 is  "  Hebron  in  tlie  land  of  Canaan  :   and  Abra- 
 ham came  to  mourn  for  Sarah,  and  to  weep  for 
 
 her.  .         ,    .        ,  . 
 
 3  1  And  Abraham  stood  up  from  before  his 
 dead,  and  spake  unto  the  sous  of  Ileth,  saying, 
 
 4  '  I  am  a  stranger  and  a  sojourner  with  you  : 
 J  give  me  a  possession  of  a  buryiugplace  with 
 you,  that  I  may  bury  my  dead  out  of  my  sight. 
 
 5  And  the  children  of  Heth  answered  Abra- 
 ham, saying  unto  him, 
 
 6  Hear  us,  my  lord:  thou  art  f  a  mighty 
 prince  among  us  :  in  the  choice  of  our  sepul- 
 chres bury  thy  dead  ;  none  of  us  shall  withhold 
 from  thee  his  sepulchre,  but  that  tliou  mayest 
 bury  thy  dead. 
 
 7  And  Abraham  stood  up,  and  bowed  himsell 
 to  the  people  of  the  land,  eccn  to  the  children 
 
 of  Heth.  _  •        Tf, 
 
 8  And  he  communed  with  them,  saying,  it  it 
 
 Joseph,,.,  H,i„ks  Isaac  was  now  twenty-five  r"!" .^ °"  "f  f j  J"  ''^"^ 
 it  vion  Im„c-a.  fleiire  of  Christ,  who  carried  his  cross,  (John.  xix. 
 
 being  taken,  the  cities  must  be  in  possession  also— f^f.    The  Vpf. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII. -I.  We  have  here  a  rnnarh- 
 aUe  tried  of  faith.  Many  behevers  find  it  hard  to  give  up  Iheir 
 only  Isaacs,  and  some  have  tlared  to  repine,  and  nearly  broken 
 their  hearts  under  the  trial.  It,  indeed,  requires  great  faith  to 
 trust  God  where  wo  cannot  trace  him  ;  to  say  with  Job, 
 •  Though  he  sUiy  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him.  But  taitli,  like 
 Eold  niust  he  tried,  and  it  is  for  the  great  Refiner  to  choose 
 in  what  way  and  manner  he  will  put  it  to  the  prool.  Our 
 Isaacs  may  be  required  of  us  to  shew  whether  we  love  them 
 more  than  an  earthly  object  ought  to  he  loved.  God  will 
 have  the  whole  heart,  and  he  has  a  right  to  what  he  claims. 
 When  he  makes  the  demand,  it  is  our  duty  to  submit,  ami  to 
 say    '  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done.'  . 
 
 ii  We  liave  here  a  remarhalh  instance  of  obedience.  It  is  easy 
 to  go  where  God  commands,  if  the  way  be  smooth  and  pleasant ; 
 but  if  he  calls  for  us  to  tread  in  a  rugged  road,  then  is  the  time 
 to  shew  the  genuine  natureof  our  obedience.  I  hat  obedience 
 which  springs  from  faith  will  go  through  fire  and  through  water 
 26 
 
 I,..  „>.,o  r-ilies  18. /n(*»s«(i,iiihisprincipalsee<i,  the  Messiah, 
 fhTshould  sprirlg  from  him,  fcal.  iii.  16,)-G.7/.  Be  W««erf,  13T;nn, 
 ishall  bless  thcnTselves,  or  count  themselves  blessed    m    him.  - 
 
 ''"r'uxr  XXIir  —1.  /Ii  1,'mdred  and  seren  and  twenty  years  old— 
 Sarah  is  the  only  woman  whc.se  entire  age  is  set  down  in  Scripture  — 
 Pat  TcnZ  to  ,„o,„-,>-AI,raham,  perhaps,  for  'he  sake  of  hi, 
 
 flcJcks  wa^  sciourning  at  Bcer-sheba.  while  Sarah  was  at  Hebron.- 
 G  ?  •  TWs  i. lea  is  adopted  by  A.  Clarke.  Not  so  :  ,"»e  phra^-e  is  a 
 Hebraisrn  and  equivalent  to  the  past  tense.  •  mourned.;- H<ic.  Mourn 
 "'^;*-tho  two  words  intimate  that  he  was  nota  ormal  motirner 
 ta  tomorrow  was  real.-H«..  3.  Stood  up  having  P'-Af b  y^» 
 on  the  ground,  pensive  and  mourning,  as  was  the  custom,  (Job,  u.  13.) 
 
 when  God  calls,  and  readily  sacrifice  everything  to  ''is  will. 
 This  is  a  high  a  tainment;  but  in  proportion  as  taith  is  in  e.t- 
 ercise  so  wdl  be  the  e.xercise  of  holy  obedience.  Not  a  mur- 
 muring word  <lo  we  find  that  Abraham  uttered.  God  com- 
 manded, and  he  obeyed.  TI,„,  T  =  .,nc  WIS  such  we 
 III  m  have  here  a  remarkable  t,,pe.  1  hat  saac  n  .13  SUCH  we 
 are  waranted  in  saying  from  the  language  ol  the  writer  to  the 
 Hebrews  who  exhibits  him  as  a  type  of  the  resurrection.  But 
 vnes  foil  to  represent  in  perfection  the  great  antitype  Jesus 
 rhiist  ami  in  this  case,  while  Isaac  is  virtually  esteemed 
 dead  and  0  restored  to  life  by  the  sudden  and  seasonable  pro- 
 vLio'n  of  the  sacrificed  lamb,  the  animal  is  also  exhibited  as 
 vision  o  uio  taketh  away  the  sin 
 the  emblem  ol  tnac  i^.imu  cpi  i^<u,<.  ,■„- _ii  wi..,.,  w,» 
 of  the  world  •  and  who  was  olTered  up  once  tor  all.  \\  hen  wo 
 contemplate  the  love  of  God  in  this  astonishing  "■■'"^^"f,'™;,^^'"^ 
 may  «"u  adopt  the  admiring  language  of  the  apostle-' He  that 
 Trnfred  not  his  own  Son,  bvit  freely  ,  elivered  l"'"'  P '°%",^  ""• 
 ho  V  shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely  give  us  all  things  1 
 
Saru/t  is  buried  at  Machpelah. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXIV. 
 
 Abrahiim  swearcth  his  scniant. 
 
 be  your  mind  that  I  should  bury  my  dead  out 
 of  my  sight ;  hear  me,  and  intreat  for  me  to 
 Ephron  the  son  of  Zohar, 
 i)  That  he  may  give  me  the  cave  of  Mach- 
 pelali,  which  he  hath,  wliich  (s  in  the  end  of 
 his  field  ;  for  f  as  much  money  as  it  is  worth 
 he  shall  give  it  nie  for  a  possession  of  a  bury- 
 ingplace  amongst  you. 
 
 10  And  Ephron  dwelt  among  the  children  of 
 Heth  :  and  Ephron  the  Hittite  answered  Abra- 
 ham in  the  f  audience  of  the  cliildren  of  Heth, 
 even  of  all  that  '  went  in  at  the  gate  of  his  city, 
 saying, 
 
 11  ^  Nay,  my  lord,  hear  me  :  the  field  give  I 
 thee,  and  the  cave  that  is  therein,  I  give  it 
 thee  ;  in  the  presence  of  the  sons  of  my  people 
 give  I  it  thee  :  bury  thy  dead. 
 
 12  And  Abraham  bowed  down  himself  before 
 the  people  of  the  land. 
 
 13  And  he  spake  unto  Ephron  in  the  audience 
 of  the  people  of  the  land,  saying,  But  if  thou 
 icilt  f/ive  it,  I  pray  thee,  hear  me  :  I  will  give 
 thee  money  for  the  field  ;  take  it  of  me,  and  I 
 will  bury  my  dead  there. 
 
 14  And  Ephron  answered  Abraham,  saying 
 unto  him, 
 
 13  Mylord,hearken  unto  me:  the  XaaAigworth 
 four  hundred  ^  shekels  of  silver  ;  what  is  that 
 betwixt  me  and  thee  ?  bury  therefore  thy  dead. 
 
 16  And  Abraham  hearkened  unto  Ephron; 
 and  Abraham  '  weighed  to  Ephron  the  silver, 
 which  he  had  named  in  the  audience  of  the 
 sons  of  Heth,  four  hundred  .shekels  of  silver, 
 current  money  with  the  merchant. 
 
 17  1  And  ''  the  field  of  Ephron,  which  icas  in 
 Machpelah,  which  was  before  Manire,  the  field, 
 and  the  cave  which  was  therein,  and  all  the 
 trees  that  were  in  the  field,  that  were  in  all  the 
 borders  round  about,  were  made  sure 
 
 18  Unto  Abraham  for  a  possession  in  the  pre- 
 sence of  the  children  of  Heth,  before  all  that 
 went  in  at  the  gate  of  bis  city. 
 
 19  And  after  this,  Abraham  buried  Sarah  his 
 wife  in  the  cave  of  the  field  of  Machpelah  be- 
 fore Marare  :  the  same  is  Hebron  iu  the  land 
 of  Canaan. 
 
 20  And  the  field,  and  the  cave  that  is  therein, 
 '  were  made  sure  unto  Abraham  for  a  posses- 
 sion of  a  buryingplace  by  the  sons  of  Heth. 
 
 t  Heb.  full 
 
 t  Heb.  cur,. 
 
 /  ch.  31    20, 
 
 ■>i. 
 
 Kutb  4.  4. 
 g  Sce'iS.im. 
 
 :;•!.  -21—2+. 
 
 /  See  Ruth 
 4.7.  B,  9,  10. 
 Jer.  32,  10, 
 
 8<  21.  5. 
 t  Heb.  i?«,;. 
 
 6  ch.  13.  2. 
 
 vei-.  35. 
 
 I'».  112.  3. 
 
 I'rov.  10.22. 
 c  ch.  15.  2. 
 d  ver.  10. 
 
 ch  as.  *,5,6. 
 e  ch.  47.  29. 
 
 1  Che.  20. 
 
 24. 
 
 I..im.  5   0. 
 /rh.  14.  22. 
 
 Dout   fi.  1.1 
 
 Jojh.  2.  12. 
 
 '  cli    20.  3.', 
 
 f*  27.  40 
 
 29- 
 
 Kx. 
 
 31.1li.D«ut- 
 
 h  ch.  28  2. 
 I  ch.  12.  1. 
 
 h  Ex.  30.  15. 
 
 Ezek.«.12. 
 
 ^,-h.  12-  1,7. 
 
 1  Jer.  32,  9. 
 
 I  ch.  12.7.  Si 
 
 13.  15- &  lf>. 
 
 18.  &  17.  S. 
 Ki.  S*.  13, 
 Deut.l  ti.  K 
 34.  4. 
 Acts  7    3. 
 m  Kx  2.S.l.'0, 
 
 4  cli.2.'.  9  R; 
 ■19     »».    Si. 
 32.ik5».  13. 
 Acts  7.  16. 
 
 ■i3.  &  S3.  2. 
 
 Heb    I     14. 
 
 n  Josh.  2.17, 
 
 I  ver.  2. 
 
 I  Or,  and. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Abraham  swearcth  tits  servant.  10  The  servant's 
 journey:  VZ  His  prayer  :  14  His  siyn,  15  Rehe- 
 kah  meetetti  Iilm,  18  J'uljittt  t/i  his  sif^n,  22  receivetk 
 jeicels ,  2'<i  shew  th  her  kindred,  25  a?ul  inviteth  him 
 liome.  26  Tlie  servant  btesseth  God.  28  Lahan  en- 
 tertaintth  him.  34  Ttie  servant  stuweth  his  messai/a, 
 50  Laban  and  Bethuet  approve  it.  58  Rebekah  con- 
 stntettt  to  go.     62  haac  ineeteth  tier. 
 
 AND  Abraham  °  was  old,  ararff  well  stricken 
 ■'^  in  age  :  and  the  Lord  ''  had  blessed  Abra- 
 ham in  all  things. 
 
 2  And  Abraham  said  "unto  his  eldest  servant 
 of  his  house,  that  '•ruled  over  all  that  be  had, 
 °  Put,  I  pray  thee,  thy  hand  under  my  thigh  : 
 
 3  And  I  will  make  thee  'swear  by  the  Lord, 
 the  God  of  heaven,  and  the  God  of  the  earth, 
 that  ^  thou  shalt  not  take  a  wife  unto  my  son 
 of  the  daughters  of  the  Canaanites,  among 
 whom  I  dwell  -. 
 
 4  ''  But  thou  shalt  go  '  unto  my  country,  and 
 to  my  kindred,  and  take  a  wife  unto  my  son 
 Isaac. 
 
 5  And  the  servant  said  unto  him,  Peradven- 
 ture  the  woman  will  not  be  willing  to  follow 
 me  unto  this  land  :  must  1  needs  bring  thy  son 
 again  unto  the  land  from  whence  thou  camest? 
 
 6  And  Abraham  said  unto  him,  Beware  thou 
 that  thou  liring  not  my  son  thither  again. 
 
 7  H  The  Lord  God  of  heaven,  which  '  took 
 me  from  my  father's  house,  and  from  the  land 
 of  my  kindred,  and  which  spake  unto  me,  and 
 that  sware  unto  me,  saying,  '  Unto  thy  seed 
 will  I  give  this  land  ;  "  he  shall  send  his  angel 
 before  thee,  and  thou  shalt  take  a  wife  unto 
 my  son  from  thence. 
 
 8  And  if  the  woman  will  not  be  willing  to 
 follow  thee,  then  "  thou  shalt  be  clear  from  this 
 my  oath  :  only  bring  not  my  son  thither  again. 
 
 9  And  the  servant  put  his  hand  under  the 
 thigh  of  Abraham  his  master,  and  sware  to  him 
 concerning  that  matter. 
 
 10  1[  And  the  servant  took  ten  camels  of  the 
 camels  of  his  master,  and  departed  ;  °  ||  for  all 
 the  goods  of  his  master  were  in  his  hand  :  and 
 he  arose,  and  went  to  Mesopotamia,  unto  ''  the 
 city  of  Nahor. 
 
 1 1  And  he  made  his  camels  to  kneel  down 
 without  the  city  by  a  well  of  water  at  the  time 
 
 —  Gi//.  Son.'i,  often  denotes  remote  descendants. — Boottir.  9.  For  a 
 possession  of  a  buriiin^plaee — it  is  remarkable,  that  the  first  purchase 
 of  possession  mentioned  in  Scripture  was  a  place  to  bury  in,  not  to 
 build  in. — Trapp.  lo.  At  the  gate,  where  all  public  business  was 
 transacted;  and  Ephron  was,  probably,  a  judge. — HeuK  11.  Give  1, 
 this  was  not  generosity,  but  an  interested  form  of  politeness  usual  in 
 the  east. — Pict.  Bib.  13.  Wilt  give  it — these  words  are  supplied  by 
 
 A.Clarke,   'wilt  sell  it.'  lit.  Four  hundred  shekels — the  Hebrew 
 
 means  '  to  weigh,*  for  money  was  not  then  coined,  but  the  precious 
 metals  passed  by  weight.  A  shekel  is  about  half  an  ounce. — Seott. 
 Reckoning  a  shekel  athalf.a-crown.the  amount  paid  was  fifty  pounds. 
 — Gilt.  A.  Clarke  makes  the  shekel  worth  three  shillings;  he  also 
 thinks  that  metal  by  weight,  and  not  coin,  was  here  paid.     Calmet 
 
 observes,  that  the  practice  of  weighing  money  Is  general  in  Syria, 
 Egypt,  and  all  Turkey.  20.  Made  sttre — for  a  possession — here  was 
 an  exercise  of  faith,  a  believing  that  the  laud  would  at  last  belong  to 
 his  posterity,  as  God  had  promised. — Ful. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  —  2.  His  eldest  sei-vont,  'the  elder  of  his  house.' 
 Sept.  The  steward. — Pat.  Under  my  thigh — this  had  respect  to  cir- 
 cumcision, the  sign  of  God's  covenant. — A.  Clarke.  Rather,  to  the 
 promised  Messiah  that  should  spring  from  Abraham.  3.  Daughters 
 of  the  Canaanites,  idolators,  who  were  to  be  dispossessed,  4.  To 
 my  kindred,  where  true  religion  was,  'in  some  sort,  preserved.— ./I.  C. 
 And  the  family  sprung  from  Shem,  who  was  blessed  of  God.  10.  City 
 of  Nahor — Abraham's  brother  ;  Haron  was  the  city.  11.  Camels  to 
 kneel,  which  they  do,  when  laden  and  unladen,  and  for  rest.     This  is 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap,  XXIII I.  Here  is  the  beautiful 
 
 Sarah,  the  dtliyht  of  princes,  chanyed  into  an  odious  corpse,  and 
 Abraham  negotiates  for  a  place  to  bury  her  out  of  his  sight. 
 Beauty  at  best  is  but  evanescent.  The  frail  flower  is  often 
 cut  ofl"  by  a  sudden  blast  j  here  it  ripens  and  drops  its  leaves, 
 but  it  turns  to  corruption.  So  '  all  flesh  is  as  grass,  and  all  the 
 goodUness  thereof  is  as  the  flower  of  the  held.  The  grass 
 withereth,  the  flower  fade'h.'  Why  should  any  be  vain  of 
 what  is  at  most  hut  a  mere  shadow  1  It  is  the  beauty  of  the 
 soul  that  alone  siiall  continue  ;  the  beauty  of  holiness;  this  is 
 the  beauty  of  angels  ;  and  without  it  we  must  appear  all  de- 
 formity in  the  sight  of  a  holy  God. 
 
 II.  Let  us  prepare  for  separation  frtnn  the  most  belovtd  objects 
 on  earth;  we  must  be  takeu  away  from  them,  or  they  iVom  us. 
 •27 
 
 But  we  shall  not  be  separated  eternally  from  our  fellow- 
 believers  ;  and  this  is  an  encouraging  consideration,  urging  us 
 to  be  '  Ibllowers  of  them  who,  through  faith  and  patience,  in- 
 herit the  promises.' 
 
 III.  Let  us  remember  that  though  we  are  even  richly  allied  as 
 Surah,  the  purchased  burial-place  must  at  last  be  our  only  piossession 
 on  earth.  How  does  this  consideration  decrease  the  value  of 
 bouses  and  lands  !  aud  instead  of  making  the  accumulation  of 
 earthly  treasures  our  main  pursuit,  we  are  thus  continually 
 admonished,  by  the  removal  of  the  honourable  and  wealthy 
 from  all  the  scenes  of  their  greatness,  that '  the  fashion  of  this 
 world  passeth  away,'  and  that  we  ought  not  to  lose  a  moment 
 in  laying  up  for  ourselves  '  treasures  in  heaven.  Let  us,  there- 
 fore, seek  first  the  kingdom  of  Uod  and  his  righteousness.' 
 
licbehah  meetclk  the  servant. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXIV. 
 
 lie  sheweth  his  message. 
 
 of  the  evening,  even  the  time  f  ''  tliat  women  go 
 out  to  draw  wiiler. 
 
 12  And  he  said, '  O  Lokd  God  of  my  master 
 Abraliam,  I  pray  thee,  '  send  me  good  speed 
 this  day,  and  shew  kindness  unto  my  master 
 Aliraliam. 
 
 1 3  Behold, '  I  stand  here  by  the  well  of  water  ; 
 and  "  the  daughters  of  the  men  of  the  city  come 
 out  to  draw  water  : 
 
 14  And  let  it  come  to  pass,  that  the  damsel 
 to  whom  I  shall  say,  Let  down  thy  pitcher,  I 
 pray  thee,  that  I  may  drink  ;  and  she  shall  say. 
 Drink,  and  I  will  give  thy  camels  drink  also  : 
 let  the  same  be  she  that  thou  hast  appointed 
 for  thy  servant  Isaac  ;  and  "  thereby  shall  I 
 know  that  thou  hast  shewed  kindness  unto  my 
 master. 
 
 15  1  And  it  came  to  pass,  before  he  had  done 
 speaking,  that,  behold,  Rebekah  came  out,  who 
 was  born  to  Bcthuel,  son  of  "  Mllcab,  the  wife 
 of  Nahor,  Abraham's  brother,  with  her  pitcher 
 upon  her  shoulder. 
 
 16  And  the  damsel  '' icos  f  very  fiiir  to  look 
 upon,  a  virgin,  neither  had  any  man  known  her  : 
 and  she  went  down  to  the  well,  and  filled  her 
 pitcher,  and  came  up. 
 
 17  And  the  servant  ran  to  meet  her,  and  said, 
 Let  me,  I  pray  thee,  drink  a  little  water  of  thy 
 pitcher. 
 
 18  ^  And  she  said.  Drink,  my  lord  :  and  she 
 hasted, and  let  down  her  pitcher  upon  her  hand, 
 and  gave  him  drink. 
 
 19  And  when  she  had  done  giving  him  drink, 
 she  said,  I  w  ill  draw  water  for  thy  camels  also, 
 until  they  have  done  drinking. 
 
 20  And  she  hasted, and  emptied  her  pitcher 
 into  the  trough,  and  ran  again  unto  the  well  to 
 draw  water,  and  drew  for  all  his  camels. 
 
 21  And  the  man  wondering  at  her  held  his 
 peace,  to  wit  whether  "  the  Lord  had  made  liis 
 journey  prosperous  or  not. 
 
 22  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  the  camels  had 
 done  drinking,  that  the  man  took  a  golden 
 ■^  II  earring  of  half  a  shekel  weight,  and  two 
 bracelets  for  her  hands  of  ten  shekels  weight  of 
 gold; 
 
 23  And  said.  Whose  daughter  art  thou?  tell 
 me,  I  pray  thee  :  is  there  room  in  thy  father's 
 house  for  us  to  lodge  in  ? 
 
 24  And  she  said  unto  him,''  I  am  the  daughter 
 of  Bethuel  the  son  of  Milcah,  which  she  bare 
 unto  Nahor. 
 
 25  She  said  moreover  unto  him.  We  have 
 both  straw  and  provender  enough,  and  room  to 
 lodge  in. 
 
 26  And  the  man  ''  bowed  down  his  head,  and 
 worshipped  the  Lord. 
 
 27  And  he  said,  °  Blessed  he  the  Lord  God  of 
 my  master  Abraham,  who  hath  not  left  desti- 
 tute my  master  of  'his  mercy  and  his  truth  :  1 
 heiiif/ \n  the  way,  the  Lord  ^led  me  to  the 
 house  of  my  master's  brethren. 
 
 28  And  the  damsel  ran,  and  told  the»iof\\ex 
 
 w/iic/i  drnw 
 watet  go 
 
 q  Ex.  2.  IR. 
 
 I  Bam.  g.ll. 
 r  ver.  27.  ch. 
 
 26.  21.  &  28. 
 
 13.  &  ^i  y. 
 
 Ex.  3.  c,,  15. 
 »  Neh    I.  11. 
 
 Ph.  3: 
 
 .  4.1. 
 
 I.  cli 
 
 IT  6ee  Jiidg. 
 6.  17,37. 
 I  Snni  6  7. 
 &  H.  8.  & 
 21)7.  I  Mac. 
 5.  W. 
 
 r  cli.  11-  29. 
 &  2>.  23. 
 
 V  cli.  20.  7. 
 t  Heb.  g"'jd 
 
 !  1  Pet.  9.  8. 
 
 A  Ex. 32  2,3. 
 
 U.  3.  ID,  SO, 
 
 21.      Ezck. 
 
 16.  11,  12. 
 
 1  Pet.  3.  3. 
 I  Or,  yicel 
 
 /.,r  ,»,  firt- 
 
 keutt. 
 
 d  vep.  52. 
 Ex.  4.  31. 
 
 f  Ex.  IS.  10. 
 
 Until  i.  li. 
 
 1  Sam.   2J. 
 
 82,    39.      2 
 
 Sam.  IS.  28. 
 
 l.uke  I.  68 
 /  ch.  32.  10. 
 
 I's.  98.  3. 
 i'  vcr.  4S. 
 
 J.„lg.l 
 
 k  ch.  13    2+. 
 Judg  19.21. 
 
 ;  .I.il.  23.  12 
 
 J. .111!  1.  SA. 
 
 K|.h.  6.  a, 
 6,7. 
 
 w  ver.  I. 
 ch.  13.  8. 
 
 7  ver.  4 
 r  ver.  5. 
 
 s  ver.  7 
 Ich    17.  I. 
 
 c  ver.  12. 
 w  ver.  13. 
 
 mother's  house  these  things. 
 
 29  K  And  Rebekah  had  a  brother,  and  Ins 
 name  uas  ''  Laban  :  and  Laban  ran  out  unto 
 the  man,  unto  the  well. 
 
 30  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  saw  the  car- 
 ring  and  bracelets  upon  his  sister's  hands,  and 
 when  he  heard  the  words  of  Rebekah  his  sister, 
 saying,  Tlius  spake  the  man  unto  me  ;  that  he 
 came  unto  the  man  ;  and,  behold,  lie  stood  by 
 the  camels  at  the  well. 
 
 31  And  he  said,  Come  in,  '  thou  blessed  of 
 the  Lord  ;  wherefore  standest  thou  without 'i* 
 for  I  have  prepared  the  house,  and  room  for 
 the  camels. 
 
 32  t  And  the  man  came  into  the  house  :  and 
 he  ungirded  his  camels,  and  '  gave  straw  and 
 provender  for  the  camels,  and  water  to  wash 
 ins  feet,  and  the  men's  feet  lha.1  ivere  with  him. 
 
 33  And  there  was  set  meat  before  him  to  eat : 
 but  he  said,  '  I  will  not  eat,  until  I  have  told 
 mine  errand.     And  he  said.  Speak  on. 
 
 34  And  he  said,  I  am  Abraham's  servant. 
 
 35  And  the  Lord  "'  hath  blessed  my  master 
 greatly  ;  and  he  is  become  great :  and  he  hath 
 given  him  Hocks,  and  herds,  and  silver,  and 
 gold,  and  menservants,  and  maidservants,  and 
 camels,  and  asses. 
 
 3G  And  Sarah  my  master's  wife  °  bare  a  son 
 to  my  master  when  she  was  old  :  and  "  unto 
 him  hath  he  given  all  that  lie  hath. 
 
 37  And  my  master  ''  made  me  swear,  saying. 
 Thou  shalt  not  take  a  wife  to  my  son  of  the 
 daughters  of  the  Canaanites,  in  whose  land  I 
 dwell  : 
 
 38  '  But  thou  shalt  go  unto  my  father's  house, 
 and  to  my  kindred,  and  take  a  wife  unto  my  .son. 
 
 39  '  And  I  said  unto  my  master,  Peradventure 
 the  woman  will  not  follow  me. 
 
 40  '  And  he  said  unto  me.  The  Lord,  '  before 
 whom  I  walk,  will  send  liis  angel  with  thee,  and 
 prosper  thy  way  ;  and  thou  shalt  take  a  wife  for 
 my  son  of  my  kindred,  and  of  my  father's  house  : 
 
 41  "  Then  shalt  thou  be  clear  from  this  my 
 oath,  when  thou  comest  to  my  kindred  ;  and  if 
 they  give  not  thee  one,  thou  shalt  be  clear  from 
 my  oath. 
 
 42  And  I  came  this  day  unto  the  well,  and 
 said,  "  O  Lord  God  of  my  master  Abraham,  if 
 now  thou  do  prosper  my  way  which  I  go  : 
 
 43  "Behold,  I  stand  by  the  well  of  water  ;  and 
 it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  when  the  virgin  cometh 
 forth  to  draw  water,  and  I  say  to  her.  Give  me, 
 I  pray  thee,  a  little  water  of  thy  pitcher  to  drink; 
 
 44  And  she  say  to  me.  Both  drink  thou,  and 
 I  will  also  draw  for  thy  camels  :  let  the  same 
 be  the  woman  whom  the  Lord  hath  appointed 
 out  for  my  master's  sou. 
 
 45  '  And  before  1  had  done ''  speaking  in  mine 
 heart,  beliold,  Rebekah  came  forth  with  her 
 pitcher  on  her  shoulder  ;  and  she  went  down 
 unto  the  well,  and  drew  water :  and  I  said 
 unto  her.  Let  me  drink,  I  pray  thee. 
 
 46  And  she  made  haste,  and  let  down  her 
 
 not  natural  to  them  ;  they  are  taught  it. — Gill.  To  draw  water — the 
 Arabian  women,  after  their  domestic  labours,  set. out  with  a  pitcher  or 
 Koat-skin,  and.  tying  their  sucicing  children  behind  them,  trudge  two 
 or  ttiree  miles  for  water. — Shaw's  Trav.  So  Hmner  speaks  nf  meeting 
 a  girl  before  the  city,  drawing  or  fetcliing  water. — Odi/ss.  io.  v.  10<K 
 20.  Jtito  the  trough— there  are  wells  in  I'trsia,  and  Arabia,  and  io  the 
 Indies,  with  trouglis  of  stone  by  their  side. — Chardin.  22.  Earriug, 
 a  jewel  for  the  forehead;  so  translated  Ezek.  xvi.  12.  'Nose  jewel.' 
 Jun.,  Trcm.  *Nosc  ring.* — A.  Clarke.  Bracelets  of  tett  shekels 
 u-cigtit,  about  six  ounces,  —  Ben.  These  were  of  great  weight. 
 28 
 
 Cliardm  says,  the  bracelets  of  the  women  in  Asia  are  more  like  mana- 
 cles than  bracelets,  some  being  as  large  as  the  finger ;  and  the  arm  is 
 sometimes  covered  with  them  from  the  wrist  to  the  elbow. — Har., 
 vol.  iv.,  p.  421.  Priflrau.r  reckons  these  jewels  worth  twenty-tivc 
 pounds.  28.  Her  mttthrr's  house — hence,  some  infer  that  Bethuel 
 was  dead  ;  but  this  might  not  be,  as  Asiatic  women  liave  apartments 
 peculiar  to  tiicmselve^.  A.  Clarke  thinks  that  Bcthuel  was  dead,  as 
 Laban  conducted  ad  Uie  business;  but  Gilt  observes,  he  was  cer- 
 tainly alive,  from  ver.  .^»o.  Seolt,  however,  leckons,  that  the  Bethuel 
 of  ver.  50  was  a  younger  biother.    Certainly,  in  ver.  03  and  55,  no 
 
The  message  approved. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXIV. 
 
 Itehehah  consenteth  to  go. 
 
 pitcher  from  her  shoulder,  and  said,  Drink,  and 
 I  will  give  thy  camels  drink  also  :  so  I  drank, 
 and  she  made  the  camels  drink  also. 
 
 47  And  I  asked  her,  and  said.  Whose  daughter 
 art  thou  ?  And  she  said.  The  daughter  of 
 Betluiel,  Nahor's  son,  whom  Milcah  bare  unto 
 him  :  and  I  "put  the  earring  upon  her  face, and 
 the  bracelets  upon  her  hands. 
 
 48  *  And  I  bowed  down  my  head,  and  wor- 
 shipped the  LoiUi,  and  blessed  the  Lord  God 
 of  my  master  Abraham,  which  had  led  me  in 
 the  right  way  to  take  ''  my  master's  brother's 
 daughter  unto  his  son. 
 
 49  And  now  if  ye  will '  deal  kindly  and  truly 
 with  my  master,  tell  me  :  and  if  not,  tell  me  ; 
 that  I  may  turn  to  the  right  hand,  or  to  the  left. 
 
 50  Then  Laban  and  Bethuel  answered  and 
 said,  "■  Tlie  thing  proceedetb  from  the  Lord  : 
 we  cannot  '■'  speak  unto  thee  bad  or  good. 
 
 51  Behold,  Rebekah  'is  before  thee,  take  her, 
 and  go,  and  let  her  be  thy  master's  son's  wife, 
 as  the  Loud  hath  spoken. 
 
 5'2  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Abraham's 
 servant  heard  their  words,  he  ^  worshipped  the 
 ljoaD,botviitg  himself  to  the  earth. 
 
 53  And  the  servant  brought  forth  f  ■•  jewels 
 of  silver,  and  jewels  of  gold,  and  raiment,  and 
 gave  them  to  Rebekah  :  he  gave  also  to  her 
 brother  and  to  her  mother  '  precious  things. 
 
 54  And  they  did  eat  and  drink,  he  and  the 
 men  that  irere  witli  him,  and  tarried  all  night ; 
 and  tliey  rose  up  in  the  morning,  and  he  said, 
 '  Send  me  away  unto  my  master. 
 
 55  And  her  brother  and  her  mother  said.  Let 
 the  damsel  abide  witli  us  ||  a  few  days,  at  the 
 least  ten  ;  after  that  she  shall  go. 
 
 50  And  he  said  unto  them.  Hinder  me  not, 
 
 :  Fiek.   16. 
 n,  12. 
 
 d  Pa. US.  23 
 
 1.  31.  21, 
 /ch.  20.  IS. 
 
 g  ver.  86. 
 
 t  Hell.  r«- 
 
 setit. 
 h  K-x.  3.  22. 
 
 &    II.   2.  & 
 
 12.  35. 
 i  2  Chr.  21. 
 
 3.  Ezra  1  C. 
 
 A  V6P.  50,  & 
 69. 
 
 II  Or,  a  fill 
 year,  or  ten 
 mtinths. 
 Judg.  14.  d. 
 
 m  ch.  17.  16. 
 ft  Ch.  2'2.   17. 
 
 ich.  10,  1-1, 
 &  -'5.  II. 
 
 \\Ov,t.,pTn,j. 
 j>  Josh.  1.  8. 
 
 Ps.  1.2.^77. 
 
 13.  tii   IIU. 
 
 15  &113.5. 
 
 q  Joe.  15  18. 
 
 seeing  the  Lord  liatb  prospered  my  way;  scna 
 me  away  that  I  may  go  to  my  master. 
 
 57  And  they  said,  We  will  call  the  damsel, 
 and  enquire  at  her  month. 
 
 58  And  they  called  Rebekah,  and  said  unto 
 her,  Wilt  thou  go  with  this  man?  And  she  said 
 I  will  go. 
 
 59  And  they  sent  away  Rebekah  their  sister^ 
 and  '  her  nurse,  and  Abraham's  servant,  and  his 
 men. 
 
 60  And  they  blessed  Rebekah,  and  said  unto 
 her.  Thou  art  our  sister,  be  thou  "'  the  mother 
 of  thousands  of  millions,  and  "  let  thy  seed  pos- 
 sess the  gate  of  those  which  hate  them. 
 
 61  t  And  Rebekah  arose,  and  her  damsels^ 
 and  they  rode  upon  the  camels,  and  followed 
 the  man  :  and  the  servant  took  Rebekah,  and 
 went  his  way, 
 
 62  And  Isaac  came  from  tne  way  of  the  "  well 
 Lahai-roi ;  for  he  dwelt  in  the  south  country. 
 
 63  And  Isaac  went  out  ||  ^  to  meditate  in  the 
 field  at  the  eventide  :  and  he  lifted  up  Ins  eyes, 
 and  saw,  and,  behold,  the  camels  were  coming. 
 
 64  And  Rebekah  lifted  up  her  eyes,  and  when 
 she  saw  Isaac,  **  she  lighted  off  the  camel. 
 
 65  For  she  had  said  unto  the  servant.  What 
 man  is  this  that  walketh  in  the  field  to  meet 
 us?  And  the  servant  had  said,  It  is  my 
 master  :  therefore  she  took  a  veil,  and  covered 
 herself. 
 
 (yi)  And  the  servant  told  Isaac  all  things  that 
 he  had  done. 
 
 67  And  Isaac  brought  her  into  his  mother 
 Sarah's  tent,  and  took  Rebekah,  and  she  be- 
 came his  wife  ;  and  he  loved  her :  and  Isaac 
 ^  was  comforted  after  his  mother's  death. 
 
 mention  is  made  of  the  father,  which  seems  to  justify  the  opinions  re- 
 Rtjectiiig  his  lieing  tiead. — Ed.  47.  Put  the  enrring  upon  her  face, 
 vr  nose;  tliis  was  a  jewel  which  hung  from  the  forehead  upon  a  lace 
 or  ribband,  between  the  eyes,  down  upon  tlie  nose. — Gill.  Shaw  says, 
 nose  jewels  ai-e  f-till  in  use  with  the  Levant  Arabs.  Rnuwolff,  who 
 travelled  through  Mi'so|)otamia  in  1574,  saw  women  with  silver  and 
 gold  rings  in  one  of  their  nostrils.  Iti  Egypt  they  wear  nose  jewels. 
 —■PitVs  Mnhomvtunism.  Small  gold  rings  in  their  right  nostrils. — 
 Egmonfs  Trav.  f)'3.  Jeivt/s,  'vessels  or  instruments.' — -J.  Clarke. 
 And  raiment — the  Arabs  still  have  the  marriage  contract  pieviously 
 made  among  the  parents,  in  which  they  settle  the  particular  sum 
 which  tlie  bridegroom  settles  on  the  bride,  the  change  of  raiment,  the 
 quantity  of  jewels,  and  the  number  of  slaves  to  attend  her  on  her 
 marriage. — Shaw.  rir\^'0,  '  the  jirecious  fruits  of  the  land,'  fDeut. 
 xxxiii.  13.  14.)  or  other  rare  and  excellent  tilings. — Poule.  55.  A  few 
 days,  n\Dy  l^t  D^Q\  '  days  or  ten ; *  tlie  word  translated  '  days '  is  some- 
 times put  for  a  )  ear. — Ben.  A  year  or  ten  mouths,  Marg.  Or,  a 
 ■week  or  ten  days. — .1.  Clarke.     Jewish  writers  say,  it  was  customary 
 
 for  a  virgin  to  have  twelve  months  allowed  her  to  procure  ornaments. 
 — GiU,  59.  Htr  ?i7trse — nurses  were  formerly  in  high  esteem;  the 
 nurse  in  an  eastern  family  is  an  important  personage.  In  Syria,  she 
 is  a  sort  of  secimd  parent.  She  always  accompanies  the  bride  to  her 
 husband's  house,  and  ever  remains  there,  an  honoured  character, — 
 Sit'ge  uf  Acre.  60.  Blessed  Bebekah  —  nuptial  benedictions  were 
 used  by  the  Jews,  Greeks,  and  Romans. — ScL  Our  aister,  or  near 
 cousin  ;  such  relations  called  one  another  brothers  and  sisters.— /*ai. 
 Gftte,  an  emblem  of  dominion,  as  the  giving  up  the  key  with  us. — 
 Pict.  Bib.  t)4.  She  Uj^hted — women  still  shew  this  respect  to  men. 
 N ielmhr  s&ys,  'that  an  Arabian  lady  whom  he  met  in  the  desert  of 
 Sinai  retired  irum  the  road,  and  let  her  servant  lead  the  canu-l  till  he 
 and  his  companiuns  had  passed.  65.  Ciwered  herself— {he  heathen 
 brides  were  covered  with  a  veil  when  conducted  to*  their  intended 
 husbands. — Ruseum.  67.  Surah^s  tent,  which,  according  to  eastern 
 custom,  was  di--tiiict  from  Abraham's,  and  was  unoccupied,  Sarah 
 being  dead. — So  Grcenf. 
 
 REFLECTIONS  ON  Chat.  XXIV.  —  I.  We  see  here  the  quali- 
 f  cations  of  a  good  father,  whose  first  anxiety  is  for  the  everlast- 
 ing welfare  of  bis  children.  Abraliam,  before  be  died,  wished 
 to  see  Isaac  united  with  a  worshipper  of  the  true  God,  and 
 tbere  was  nothing  he  more  dreaded  than  bis  taking  a  wife  of 
 (be  daughters  of  Canaan.  He  knew  tbut  iie  would  be  involved 
 in  wretchedness,  and  that  on  bis  children  would  be  entailed 
 the  curse  of  Canaan.  lie  knew  also  the  danger  of  a  lieatiien 
 wife  drawing  bis  heart  away  from  bis  God,  and  leading  into 
 those  snares  which  would  prove  bis  misery.  How  much  those 
 parents  have  to  reproach  tbemselves  with,  who  have  studied 
 more  how  their  children  could  form  wealthy  alliances  in  the 
 world  than  bow  ibey  could  manai^e  to  introduce  them  to  those 
 whom  they  might  hope  to  see  help  meets  for  them  in  the  way 
 to  heaven  ! 
 
 II.  We  see  here  the  nunUfications  of  a  <jood  servant.  How 
 diligently  he  performetf  bis  business  !  How  deeply  be  felt  for 
 the  interest  ot  bis  master!  What  prudence  distinguished  bis 
 conduct!  In  what  a  devotional  spirit  be  pursued  all  his  con- 
 cerns !  He  performed  no  mere  '  eye-service,*  but  did  *  the 
 will  of  God  from  the  bean.' 
 
 III.  We  see  here  the  qualifications  for  a  good  wife.  Rebekali 
 was  lovely  in  person,  but  many  have  beautiful  bodies  with 
 dufurmed  tempers  and  minds.      Kebekab  appears  all  beauty, 
 
 29 
 
 amiable,  condescending,  industrious,  and  modest ;  and  she 
 would  not  have  been  a  fit  wife  for  Isaac,  if  she  bad  not  also 
 been  pious.  'I'be  manners  of  the  east  are  indeed  primitive, 
 and  a  great  contrast  from  ours  ;  but  good  sense  will  prove 
 wbich  are  most  calculated  to  promote  domestic  happiness. 
 Henry  makes  this  reflection  :  — '  What  a  degenerate  age 
 do  we  live  in,  in  which  appear  all  the  instances  of  pride, 
 luxury,  and  laziness  —  tbe  reverse  of  llebekab's  character, 
 whose  daughters  few  are  ;  those  instances  of  goodness  wbich 
 were  then  an  honour  are  now  in  contempt.'  But  luxury,  and 
 pride,  and  indolence,  have  now  much  more  increased,  and  it 
 requires  superior  virtue  and  grace  to  overcome  tbe  evils  of 
 modern  training.  That  system  of  education  is  truly  most  de- 
 fective wiiich  fits  young  females  for  elegant  trifling  only, 
 instead  of  teaching  them  those  domestic  duties  wbich  will 
 make  them  useful  mothers  and  wives,  and  qualify  them  for 
 whatever  changes  in  circumstances  may  come  upon  them 
 amidst  tbe  vicissitudes  of  life. 
 
 IV.  We  see  here  the  qiudlficat Ions  of  a  good  htishand.  Isaac, 
 who  bad  always  been  submissive  to  tbe  guidance  of  a  father 
 who  feared  God,  doubtless  gave  a  ready  consent  to  the  opinion 
 which  decided  against  bis  taking  a  wife  from  among  the  Ca- 
 naanites.  When  Kobekah  was  brought  to  him,  he  was  not  found 
 ill  ;uiy  of  tbe  haunts  uf  disi.ipation,  but  in  tbe  acts  of  niedita- 
 
The  death  of  Abraham. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXV. 
 
 The  death  of  Ishmael. 
 
 CHAP.   XXV. 
 
 1  T/ie  sons  of  Abraham  hy  Keturah.  5  The  dlviawn 
 of  bis  QOods.  7  His  aqe,  and  death.  9  His  burial. 
 12  The  f/cncrations  of  hhinael.  17  Hif  a  :e,  and 
 death  19  Isaac  prat/eth  fur  Rtbekah,  befnif  barren. 
 22  The  children  strive  in  her  womb.  2-1  The  birth  of 
 Esau  and  Jacob.  27  Their  difference.  29  Esau 
 selleth  his  birthright. 
 
 'T'HEN  again  Abraham  took  a  wife,  and  her 
 ■*-    name  was  Keturah. 
 
 2  And  °  she  bare  him  Ziniran,  and  Jokshan, 
 and  Medan,  and  Midian,  and  Ishljak,  and  Shuah. 
 
 3  And  Jokshan  begat  Sheba,  and  Dedan. 
 And  the  sons  of  Dedan  were  Asshurim,  and 
 Letushini,  and  Leummim. 
 
 4  And  tlie  sons  of  Midian  ;  Ephah,  and 
 Epher,  and  Hanoch,  and  Abidali,  and  Eldaah. 
 All  these  were  the  children  of  Keturah. 
 
 5  1  And  ■■  Abraham  gave  all  that  he  had  unto 
 Isaac. 
 
 6  But  unto  the  sons  uf  the  concubines,  which 
 Abraham  had,  Abraham  gave  gifts,  and  "^  sent 
 them  away  from  Isaac  his  son,  while  he  yet 
 lived,  eastward,  unto  '^  the  east  country. 
 
 7  And  these  are  the  days  of  the  years  of 
 Abraham's  life  which  he  lived,  an  hundred 
 threescore  and  fifteen  years. 
 
 8  Then  Abraham  gave  up  the  ghost,  and 
 '  died  in  a  good  old  age,  an  old  man,  and  full 
 of  years  ;  and  '  was  gatliered  to  bis  people. 
 
 9  And  ^  his  sons  Isaac  and  Ishmael  buried 
 him  in  the  cave  of  Machpelat.,  in  the  field  of 
 Ephron  the  son  of  Zohar  the  Hittite,  which  is 
 before  Mamrc  : 
 
 10  ''The  field  which   Abraham  purchased  of 
 the  sons  of  Heth  :  '  there  was  Abraham  buried 
 and  Sarah  his  wife. 
 
 11  f  And  it  came  to  pass  after  the  death  of 
 Abraham,  that  God  blessed  his  son  Isaac ;  and 
 Isaac  dwelt  by  the  '  well  Lahai-roi. 
 
 12  t  Now  tliese  are  the  generations  of  Ish- 
 mael, Abraham's  son,  '  whom  Hagar  the  Egyp- 
 tian, Sarah's  handmaid,  bare  unto  Abraham  : 
 
 13  And  "'  these  are  the  names  of  the  sons  of 
 Ishmael,  by  their  names,   according  to  their 
 
 dJudg  6  3 
 
 ih.  15.  15. 
 
 *  ^9  29. 
 /cli    Xi.  29. 
 
 &  4P  33. 
 g  ch.  rl5.  29. 
 
 &  50.  13. 
 
 »  Ch.  83.  16. 
 i  cb.  49.  SI. 
 
 k  cU.  10.  U. 
 i^  3+.  02. 
 
 I  ch.  16.  15. 
 
 cir.  1800. 
 
 ra  I  Chr.  1 
 
 29. 
 
 11  Or,  HaiUiI, 
 1  Olir.  i.sy. 
 
 Ph.  7S.  0.1. 
 q  Ch.  16.  12. 
 
 r  M«l.  1.  5. 
 
 lRi7. 
 i  ch.  £2.  23. 
 *  ch   2i  29- 
 
 i*  1  Chr  5  20 
 2Clir  33.13 
 F.iia  S.  2S 
 
 10  Horn.  9.  lu 
 
 T  1  Snm.  9.9 
 St  III  22. 
 
 V  oh.  17.  16. 
 &  24.  60. 
 
 I  a  ch.  27.29. 
 Mil.  1.  3. 
 
 generations :  the  firstborn   of  Ishmael,  Neba- 
 joth  ;    and  Kedar,  and  Adbeel,  and  Mibsain, 
 
 14  And  Mishma,  and  Dumali,  and  Massa, 
 
 15  II  Hadar,  and  Tema,  Jetur,  Naphisb,  and 
 Kedemah  : 
 
 IG  These  are  the  sons  of  Ishmael,  and  tliese 
 are  their  names,  by  their  town.s,  and  by  their 
 castles ;  "  twelve  princes  according  to  their 
 nations. 
 
 17  And  these  are  the  years  of  the  life  of  Ish- 
 mael, an  hundred  and  thirty  and  seven  years: 
 and  °  he  gave  up  the  ghost  and  died  ;  and  wa.s 
 gathered  unto  his  people. 
 
 18  *■  And  they  dwelt  from  Havilah  unto  Shur, 
 that  is  before  Egypt,  as  thou  goest  toward 
 Assyria:  o«rf  he  fdied  ''in  the  presence  of  all 
 his  brethren. 
 
 19  t  And  these  are  the  generations  of  Isaac, 
 Abraliam's  son  :  '  Abraham  begat  Isaac  : 
 
 20  And  Isaac  was  forty  years  old  when  he 
 took  Rebekah  to  wife,  "the  daughter  of  Bethuel 
 the  Syrian  of  Padaii-aram,  'the  sister  to  Laban 
 the  Syrian. 
 
 21  And  Isaac  intrcated  the  Lord  for  his  wife, 
 because  she  tvas  barren  :  "  and  the  Lord  was 
 intrcated  of  him,  and  "  Rebekah  his  wife  con- 
 ceived. 
 
 22  And  the  children  struggled  together  within 
 her  ;  and  she  said,  If  it  be  so,  why  am  I  thus? 
 *  And  she  went  to  inquire  of  the  Lord. 
 
 23  And  the  Lord  said  unto  her,  'Two  nations 
 are  in  thy  womb,  and  two  manner  of  people 
 shall  be  separated  from  tliy  bowels  ;  and  '  the 
 one  people  shall  be  stronger  than  the  other 
 people ;  and  "  the  elder  shall  serve  the  younger. 
 
 24  1  And  when  her  days  to  be  delivered  were 
 fulfilled,  behold,  there  were  twins  in  her  womb. 
 
 25  And  the  first  came  out  red,  ''all  over  like 
 an  hairy  garment ;  and  they  called  his  name 
 Esau. 
 
 2f)  And  after  that  came  his  brother  out,  and 
 ■^  his  hand  took  hold  on  Esau's  heel  ;  and  ''  his 
 name  was  called  Jacob  :  and  Isaac  was  three- 
 score years  old  when  she  bare  them. 
 
 27    And  the  boys  grew :   and  Esau  was  '  a 
 
 Chap.  XXV. — 1.  Keturah — the  peneral  opinion  amnn;; commentators 
 Is,  that  she  was  probably  the  chief  among  tlie  hanilmaids  born  in 
 Abraham's  house.  The  Jews  and  Jewish  critics,  as  also,  after  them, 
 a  writer  in  the  '  Bibliotheea  Biblia,*  tliink  this  was  Hapar,  who  re- 
 turned after  Sarah's  death,  and  whose  name  was  changed,  agreeable 
 to  a  custom  of  taking  new  names  when  favoured  with  new  blessings. 
 But  I'f/trick  rightly  observes,  that  no  account  is  given  of  .Vhraliam's 
 having  more  concubines  than  one,  unless  Keturah  was  distinct  from 
 Hagar,  and  yet  concubines  are  mentioned.  Dr.  Cl'tyton  thinks  this 
 is  out  of  chronological  order,  and  that  Keturah  was  Abraham's  con. 
 cubine  long  before  Sarah's  death.  Gill  thinks  this  probable,  as 
 she  is  called  his  concubine,  1  Chrou.  i.  32.  which  she  would  not  have 
 been  if  married  after  Sarah's  death.  A,  f..'/ar/:e  follows  these  opinions; 
 but  Fuller  properly  corrects  tliese  views,  and  observes,  that  this  does 
 not  mean  that  she  was  not  Abraliam's  lawful  wife,  but  only  occupied 
 a  less  honourable  situation.  See  note  on  ver.  6  ;  and  Scufi  asserts, 
 that  the  original  reads,  'And  Abraham  added,  and  took  a  wife.' 
 Gill  and  Clarke  also  dwell  on  Abraham's  age ;  but  Patrick  observes, 
 that  even  in  our  generations  men  have  becime  fathers  when  past 
 eighty,  and  why  not  Abraham  at  one  hundred  and  forty  ?  4.  Midian, 
 from  whom  sprang  the  Midianitcs  in  the  suutliern  part  of  Arabia 
 Felix. — Pat.  6.  Cnnciibines,  so  Keturah  is  called,  1  Chron.  i.  32; 
 tliese  were  wives,  but  their  children  did  nut  inherit.— Pm(.  8.  Gare 
 up  the  g/ioet,  as  this  translation  implies,  a  viiltintnri/  resignation  of 
 life.  A.  Clarke  considers  the  phraseology  as  applicable  only  to  Him 
 who  'pare  himself  for  us  ;'  and  as  the  original  word  yi3*  is  from  a  root, 
 nj,  which  signifies  to  eea.te  from  breatlurt^,  or  to  expire,  wherever  it 
 occurs,  it  would  be  better  to  render  it  '  to  expire.'  Man  having  for- 
 feited his  life,  has  become  liable  to  death,  but  Christ  had  power  to  lay 
 
 down  his  life,  and  power  to  take  it  up  again.  None,  therefore,  but 
 Jesus  '  gave  up  the  Ghost,'  *  dismissed  or  delivered  up  his  own  spirit.' 
 Fall  of  ye'irs — 'of  years  is  added  by  our  translators;  it  may  meaa 
 satisfied,  *a  satisfied  man,'  'full  of  all  good." — Tarp.  of  Jon.  Ga. 
 thrred  to  his  people,  a  Hebrew  exiiression  for  buried.  Ihe  Hebrews 
 had  family  vaults  often  hewn  out  of  solid  rocks,  where  generations  ia 
 succession  were  deposited. — Hew.  16.  Castles,  fortified  places,  to 
 which  they  resorted  from  their  tents  in  the  fields  when  in  danger, 
 (Isa.  xlii.  11.) — Pat.  The  original,  rnT^i  rather  means  'shepherds' 
 cots,'  surrounded  with  enclosures,  to  prevent  cattle  from  straying. — 
 Mich.,  Hoseiun.  To  this  latter  opinion  it  may  reasonably  be  objected, 
 that  as  the  root,  T^D.  denotes  order  and  regularity,  and  that  as  the  word 
 here  is  connected  with  towns,  castles  seem  the  more  natural  rendering. 
 —  Kd.  A.  Clarke,  however,  considers  these  '  towns*  as  only  places  of 
 encampment  common  to  tlie  Arabs,  and  the  *  towers'  as  '  mountain 
 t'lps,'  'fortified  rocks,'  and  '  forties^es.*  Princes,  heads  of  several 
 tiibes  or  clans. — luck.  25    Esau,  'hairy.' — Hew.      'Covered.' — 
 
 lioothr.  Most  commentators  derive  this  from  the  Heh.  rill?3?,  to  make; 
 hence  they  infer,  that  it  means  intide,  perfected,  from  Esau  being 
 strong  and  robust,  and  covered  with  hairs,  like  a  vigorous  full  grown 
 man.  A  manly  child. — Trapp.  Rather  like  a  man  than  a  babe. — .4ins. 
 Full  of  hairs  when  born,  as  others  at  man's  estate. — Pat.  Made, 
 reared  already. — Heji.  Born  more  like  a  man  than  a  child. — Gilt. 
 Probably  he  had  his  name  from  his  appearing  to  be  more  perfect, 
 robust,  ^c,  than  his  brother. — A.  Clarke,  ujy  means  a  species  of 
 caterpillar,  hence,  from  his  being  hairy,  iry//i'r*/r.»  offers  as  a  conjec- 
 ture, that  his  name  may  signify,  'my  cateTjiiilar.'  26.  Jacob,  ^jTy, 
 'the  heel,'  hence  Jacob,  'a  heeler,'  (chap. .\xvii.  36.1  Hence  the  verb 
 to  supplant,  to  throw  down  by  triiipingupthe  heels. — Par. 
 
 tion  and  prayer  ;  perliaps  at  thfi  moment  imploring  tlie  Divine 
 blessing  on  his  intended  union.  As  ;in  affectionate  son,  lie  iiad 
 loved  -A  tender  mother  ;  and  when  united  to  Rebekah,  siio  was 
 no  less  the  object  of  his  sincere  atiectiou,  an  aftection  which, 
 from  her  disposition,  she  no  doubt  returned  iu  u  manner  cal- 
 30 
 
 eulated  to  cement  their  union.  TJius  ends  this  beautiful  exhi- 
 bition of  family  piety,  such  as  niiyht  be  expected  to  be  tlie  re- 
 sult when  God  said  of  the  head  of  it,  '  I  ktum'  him  that  ho  will 
 command  his  children  and  his  household  after  him.  and  they 
 shall  keep  ihe  way  of  the  Lord,  to  do  justice  and  judsnieut. 
 
God  blesseth  Isaac. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXVI. 
 
 His  great  prosperit;/. 
 
 cuniiiug  luiiiter,  a  man  of  the  field  ;  and  Jacob 
 was  'a.  jilaiii  man,  ^dwelling  in  tents. 
 
 '28  And  Isaac  loved  Esau,  because  f  lie  did 
 ''  eat  of  his  venison  :  '  but  Rebekali  loved  Jacob. 
 
 29  1[  And  Jacob  sod  pottage  :  and  Esau  came 
 from  the  field,  and  he  ivas  faint ; 
 
 30  And  Esau  said  to  Jacob,  Feed  me,  1 
 pray  thee,  f  with  that  same  red  pottage ;  for 
 
 I  am  faint :    therefore    was   his   name   called 
 
 II  Edom. 
 
 31  And  Jacob  said,  Sell  me  this  day  thy  birth- 
 right. 
 
 32  And  Esau  said.  Behold,  I  am  fat  the  pomt 
 to  die  :  and  what  profit  shall  this  birthright  do 
 to  me  ? 
 
 33  And  Jacob  said.  Swear  to  me  this  day  ; 
 and  he  sware  unto  him  :  and  ''  he  sold  his  birth- 
 right unto  Jacob, 
 
 34  Then  Jacob  gave  Esau  bread  and  pottage 
 of  lentile.s  ;  and  '  he  did  eat  and  drink,  and 
 rose  up,  and  went  liis  way  :  thus  Esau  despised 
 his  birthright. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 1  Isaac  because  of  famine  went  to  Girar.  2  God  in- 
 structeth,  undhlesseth  liim.  7  He  is  reproved bi/  Abl~ 
 meteeh  for  denying  his  wife.  12  He  yroweth  rich. 
 18  Heillffitelli  Eseh,  Sitna/i,  and  Retaibotli.  23  Abi- 
 meleeji  maketh  a  covenant  with  him  at  Beer-shcba. 
 34  Esau's  wives. 
 
 A  ND  there  was  a  famine  in  the  land,  beside 
 ■^^  '  the  first  famine  that  was  in  the  days  of 
 Abraham.  And  Isaac  went  unto  ''  Abimelech 
 king  of  the  Philistines  unto  Gerar. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  appeared  unto  him,  and  said. 
 Go  not  down  into  Egypt ;  dwell  in  '  the  land 
 which  I  shall  tell  thee  of : 
 
 3  "i  Sojourn  in  this  land,  and  "  I  will  be  with 
 thee,  and  '  will  bless  thee  ;  for  unto  thee,  and 
 unto  thy  seed,  ^  I  will  give  all  these  countries, 
 and  I  will  perform  ''  the  oath  which  I  sware 
 unto  Abraham  thy  fatlier  ; 
 
 4  And  '  I  will  make  thy  seed  to  multiply  as 
 the  stars  of  heaven,  and  will  give  unto  thy  seed 
 all  tliese  countries  ;  'and  in  thy  seed  shall  all 
 the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed  ; 
 
 3  '  Because  that  Abraham  obeyed  my  voice. 
 
 H.  c. 
 
 B.  C.  1S17.  <,ir.  laul 
 
 /.i..b  1. 1,  e. 
 
 Sc  -i  3. 
 
 P«  S--  S7. 
 ir  Hcb.  CI.  9. 
 t  Heb.  vc'ii- 
 
 kvas   ill 
 hit  mmith. 
 
 It  cli    «7.  19, 
 25,  31. 
 
 i  Ob.  27.  6. 
 
 t  Hub.  v>W, 
 fliit  red, 
 wilb  tbat 
 red  pottTige. 
 
 II  That  Ls 
 red. 
 cir.  1805. 
 
 1  Frclc'S.  H, 
 15  Ts  2i  IS. 
 I  Cor  15,32 
 
 cir.  1801. 
 I  ch.  12.  10. 
 
 d  ch.  20.  1. 
 
 I's.  89.   12. 
 
 Hbb.  M.  9. 
 c  ch.  23.  15. 
 /ch.  12.  1. 
 e  ch.  13.  15. 
 
 &  15.  13. 
 h  ch.  22.  16. 
 
 Ps.  105.  9. 
 t  ch,  15,  5. 
 
 &  22.  17. 
 
 k  ch.  12.3. 
 &  22.  18. 
 
 ri  ch.  12,  13 
 &  20.  2,  13, 
 .1  Pro  29. 25. 
 
 ;i  ch.  20.  9. 
 
 7  P8.  105  15 
 
 tHBb./»u>.,i, 
 r  Mat,  13   S. 
 
 Mark  *,  8. 
 3  vcr,  3. 
 
 ch,2+  1,33. 
 
 Job  42.  12. 
 t  ch.  2+.  .15, 
 
 P«.  112.3. 
 
 Pniv.lo  22. 
 t  Hcb.  we„l 
 
 going. 
 II  Or,  kite- 
 
 baiidri/. 
 u  ch-  37.  II. 
 
 ICcclcs,  4.  4. 
 w  cU.  21.  30. 
 
 j/ch.  £1.  SI. 
 
 and  kept  my  charge,  my  commandments,  my 
 statutes,  ami  my  laws. 
 
 6  I  And  Isaac  dwelt  in  Gerar: 
 
 7  And  the  men  of  the  place  asked  him  of  his 
 wife  ;  and  ■"  he  said.  She  is  my  sister :  for  "he 
 feared  to  say.  She  is  my  wife  ;  lest,  said  he,  the 
 men  of  the  place  should  kill  me  for  Rebekah  ; 
 because  she  °  was  fair  to  look  upon. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  had  been 
 there  a  long  time,  that  Abimelech  king  of  the 
 Philistines  looked  out  at  a  window,  and  saw, 
 and,  behold,  Isaac  was  sporting  with  Rebekah 
 his  wife. 
 
 9  And  Abimelech  called  Isaac,  and  said. 
 Behold,  of  a  surety  she  is  thy  wife  :  and  how 
 saidst  thou.  She  is  my  sister  ?  And  Isaac  said 
 unto  him.  Because  I  said.  Lest  I  die  for  her. 
 
 10  And  Abimelech  said.  What  is  this  thou 
 hast  done  unto  us?  one  of  the  people  might 
 lightly  have  lien  with  thy  wife,  and  ■■  thou 
 shouklest  have  brought  guiltiness  upon  us. 
 
 1 1  And  Abimelech  charged  all  his  people, 
 saying.  He  that  ■*  toucheth  tliis  man  or  his  wife 
 shall  surely  be  put  to  death. 
 
 12  Then  Isaac  sowed  in  that  land,  and  f  re- 
 ceived in  the  same  year  '  an  hundredfold  :  and 
 the  Lord  '  blessed  him  : 
 
 13  And  the  man  'waxed  great,  and  f  went 
 forward,  and  grew  until  he  became  very  great: 
 
 14  For  he  had  possession  of  flocks,  and  pos- 
 session of  herds,  and  great  store  of  ||  servants  : 
 and  the  Philistines  "envied  him. 
 
 15  For  all  the  wells  "which  his  father's 
 servants  had  digged  in  the  days  of  Abraham 
 his  father,  the  Philistines  had  stopped  them, 
 and  filled  them  with  earth. 
 
 16  And  Abimelech  said  unto  Isaac,  Go  from 
 us  ;  for  '  thou  art  much  mightier  than  we. 
 
 17  H  And  Isaac  departed  thence,  and  pitched 
 his  tent  in  the  valley  of  Gerar,  and  dwelt  there. 
 
 18  And  Isaac  digged  again  the  wells  of  water, 
 which  they  had  digged  in  the  days  of  Abraham 
 his  father ;  for  the  Philistines  had  stopped 
 them  after  the  death  of  Abraham:  ''and  he 
 called  their  names  after  the  names  by  which 
 his  father  had  called  them. 
 
 29.  Sod,  an  old  word,  meaning  'to  simmer.'  30.  Red  pottage — Shaw 
 says,  lentiles  made  a  pottage  or  soup  of  a  chocolate  colour,  and  are 
 much  used  in  the  east.  Edom,  '  red  ;'  Esau  derived  this  name  from  sell- 
 ing his  birthright  for  the  red  pottage.  Hence,  the  city  and  country 
 called  Edom.  and  by  the  Greeks,  Idumea,  bordering,  towards  the  south, 
 upon  Judea,  Arabia,  and  Egypt.— i't/^  31.  Bii-thrLght,  this  had  divers 
 privileges,  ti.)  Dignity  and  autliority  over  his  brethren,  (Gen.  iv.  "; 
 xxvii.  29.  37;  .xli.v.  3  )  fii.)  A  double  portion,  (Deut.  x.\i.  17  ;  I  Chron. 
 V.  1.)  (iii.)  A  special  bles.sing  from  his  father,  (Gen.  xxvii.  4.)  (iv.) 
 The  priesthood  in  his  father's  absence,  and  after  his  death,  (Numb, 
 viii.  16,  17,  &c.)  (v.)  The  firstborn  was  a  special  type  hotti  of  Christ, 
 who  was  to  he  a  firstborn,  and  of  the  church,  which  is  called  God's 
 firstborn,  as  Exod.  iv.  22,  and  of  the  great  privileges  of  the  church, 
 particularly  of  adoption  and  eternal  life,  (.see  Heb.  xii.  23.)  Esau  is, 
 therefore,  called  profaue,  for  slighting  his  privilege,  Heb.  xii.  l6. — 
 Poote. 
 
 Chap.   XXVI.  —  1.  Abimelech  —  a  name  common  to  the  kings  of 
 Gerar,— S««. ,'  as  Ceesar,  to  the  Roman  emperors. — Hen.    This  was. 
 
 probably,  son  of  the  one  mentioned  chap.  xx.  2, — Poole,  Pat. ;  as  it 
 occurred  nearly  one  hundred  years  after. — Hen.  2.  Go  not  down  into 
 E^lipt,  as  his  father  had  done  in  a  like  case,  lest,  perhaps,  he  should 
 thiiik  of  continuing  there.— (V(7/.  3.  /  will  give  all  these  countries, 
 for  thee  to  enjoy,  and  thy  seed  to  possess. — Poole.  7.  She  is  my  sister — 
 the  son  here  manifests  the  same  frailty  as  his  father  had  done.  Let 
 us  copy  our  fathers'  virtues,  but  avoid  their  ha.\\Hes.—Boothroyd. 
 8.  Sporting,  or  '  laughing;'  the  same  word  from  which  Isaac  had  his 
 name. — Hew.  lo.  Hove  brought  guiltiness  upon  us — it  was  not  for- 
 gotten how  they  had  before  been  punished  in  a  like  case. — Poole,  Pat. 
 11.  Toucheth,  'hnrteUi,'  or  'injureth.'  12.  An  hundredfold — this 
 
 was  a  singular  blessing  after  so  great  a  dearth.— I('j7.  18.  Had 
 stopped  them,  out  of  envy  to  Isaac,  for  had  he  not  been  near  the  spot, 
 they  would  have  used  them  themselves.— Gi//.  A'i>4«/i/-,  the  traveller, 
 informs  us,  that  the  Turks  pay  the  Arabs  not  to  destroy  the  wells  Hiat 
 lie  in  the  route  of  the  pilgrims  from  Egypt  and  Syria  to  Mecca.  As  a 
 mode  of  taking  vengeance,  D'Herbelot  states,  Uiat  a  rebel,  in  the  tenth 
 century,  filled  up  all  the  pits  with  sand  which  had  been  dug  on  the  road 
 
 REFLrcTtONS  ON   CtlAP.  XXV I.    The  scenes  of  life  are 
 
 continually  shifting.  Here  is  Abraham  taking  another  wife, 
 having  another  family,  settling  his  children,  and  then  dying. 
 And  here  is  the  death  of  Ishmael,  together  with  the  ge.aeis.- 
 tions  of  Is;iac.  This  is  a  picture  of  the  world  still,  and  thus 
 '  one  generation  passoth  away  and  another  generation  cometh.' 
 We  are  going  through  like  scenes  ;  let  us,  like  the  patriarch, 
 sojourn  here  '  as  in  a  strange  country,'  looking  '  lor  a  city 
 which  liath  foundations,  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God.' 
 
 II.  Amidst  all  the  chauf/es  of  the  world  God  is  unrhnngtalile. 
 Here  is  tlie  covenant  God  of  Abraham  and  his  seed  blessing 
 his  son  Isaac.  Whatever  passes  away,  we  are  here  again 
 reminded  tliat  his  promise  never  fads,  and  his  covenant  is 
 '  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure.* 
 81 
 
 III.  It  is  pleasing  to  see  pious  sons  following  the  steps  of  their 
 pious  fathers.  Tlie'se  are  tlie  hopes  of  the  church  ;  the  seed 
 which'  shall  serve  God  when  time  with  their  parents  is  no 
 more.  '  0  that  God  would  multiply  in  the  families  ot  his 
 servants  many  more  Isaacs  whom  he  will  deign  to  bless !' 
 
 IV.  It  is  equally  painful  to  see  the  children  of  pious  parents 
 despising  their  privdet/es  and  forfeiting  their  blessings.  How 
 many  a  profane  Esau  sells  his  birthright  for  a  mess  of  pottage  1 
 The  birthright  was  '  typical  of  spiritual  privileges,  which 
 Ilsau  despised.'  On  which  we  may  remark  with  Henry, 
 that  '  it  is  egregious  folly  to  part  with  our  interest  in  God,  ami 
 Christ,  and  lieaven,  for  the  riches,  honours,  and  ple-asures  of 
 this  world  :  as  ill  a  bargain  as  his  that  sold  a  birthright  for  a 
 dish  of  brotli.' 
 
Abimelech's  covenant  with  Isaac. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXVII. 
 
 Isaac  sendeth  Esau  for  venison: 
 
 19  And  Isaac's  servants  digged  in  tlic  valley, 
 and  found  there  a  well  of  f  springing  water. 
 
 '2'0  And  the  herdmen  of  Gerar  '  did  strive 
 with  Isaac's  herdmen,  saying.  The  water  is 
 our's :  and  he  called  the  name  of  the  well 
 II  Esek  ;  because  they  strove  witli  him. 
 
 21  And  they  digged  another  well,  and  strove 
 for  that  also  :  and  he  called  the  name  of  it 
 II  Sitnah. 
 
 22  And  he  removed  from  thence,  and  digged 
 another  well  ;  and  for  that  they  strove  not ; 
 and  he  called  tlie  name  of  it  ||  Rchoboth  ;  and 
 he  said.  For  now  the  Lord  hath  made  room 
 for  us,  and  we  .shall  "be  fruitful  in  tlie  land. 
 
 23  And  he  went  up  from  thence  to  Beer- 
 sheba. 
 
 24  And  the  Lord  appeared  unto  him  the 
 same  night,  and  said,  '■  I  am  the  God  of  Abra- 
 ham thy  father :  °  fear  not,  for  '■  I  nm  with 
 thee,  and  will  bless  thee,  and  multiply  thy 
 seed  for  my  servant  Abraham's  sake. 
 
 25  And  be  '  builded  an  altar  tlicre,  and 
 ''  called  upon  the  name  of  the  Loud,  and 
 pitched  bis  tent  there :  and  there  Isaac's 
 servants  digged  a  well. 
 
 26  f  Then  Abimelech  went  to  him  from 
 Gerar,  and  Ahuzzath  one  of  bis  friends,  ^  and 
 Phichol  the  chief  captain  of  his  army. 
 
 27  And  Isaac  said  unto  them.  Wherefore 
 come  ye  to  me,  seeing  '■  ye  hate  me,  and  have 
 '  .sent  me  away  from  you? 
 
 28  And  they  said,  f  We  saw  certainly  that  the 
 Lord  '  was  with  thee  :  and  we  said.  Let  there 
 be  now  an  oath  betwixt  us,  evi-n  betwixt  us 
 and  thee,  and  let  us  make  a  covenant  with  tliee  ; 
 
 29  t  That  thou  wilt  do  us  no  hurt,  as  we  have 
 not  touched  thee,  and  as  we  have  done  unto 
 thee  nothing  but  good,  and  have  sent  thee 
 away  in  peace :  '  thou  art  now  the  blessed  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 30  "'  And  he  made  them  a  feast,  and  they  did 
 eat  and  drink. 
 
 31  And  they  rose  up  betimes  in  the  morning, 
 and  "sware  one  to  another:  and  Isaac  sent 
 them  away,  and  they  departed  from  him  in 
 peace. 
 
 32  And  it  came  to  pass  the  same  day,  that 
 Isaac's  servants  came,  and  told  him  concerning 
 the  well  which  they  had  digged,  and  said  unto 
 him.  We  have  found  water. 
 
 33  And  he  called  it  ||  Shebah:  °  therefore  the 
 name  of  the  city  is  \\  Beer-sheba  unto  this  day. 
 
 34  H  '■  And  Esau  was  forty  years  old  when  he 
 
 \\\^h  living. 
 ;ch,  21.25. 
 
 ,  I]  That  is, 
 I    Cuuteiiliuii. 
 
 n  ch,  17  fi.  A 
 5:.'.  Ex.  1.7. 
 
 b  ,li.  17.  7.  & 
 SI.  !•>  &2S 
 l.t.  ExR.li. 
 Arts  7.  %± 
 
 r  rti.  t.i.  I. 
 
 d  vei-,  .S,  -1. 
 
 .  cli.  12.  7. 
 
 K  1:1.  l!t. 
 /Pfl-  110.  17 
 
 AJtiHg.  II.' 
 
 7  ch.  27.  «. 
 «t  28.  I,  S. 
 t  Heb.  bttter 
 nrtt  o/ipiril. 
 
 i  Prov.27.I. 
 J:im,  ♦.  14, 
 ■  t:h.  25.  27, 
 
 rf  vcr.  27. 
 fh.4S,:P,  1, 
 fc  49.  2S. 
 I)eut.  :'3. 
 
 t  Il.-b.  ifeit^ji 
 fw  law. 
 I  .h    81.82, 
 
 2a. 
 
 .  vcr.  13. 
 
 t  Hi-b    7/ 
 //, halt. 
 
 •Sc. 
 
 (ih.  24  31 
 P».  115.  IS 
 
 f-tT.*. 
 
 m  ch.  19.  9. 
 
 li  vet.  t. 
 
 .ch.8I.ai. 
 
 h  ch   25.  25 
 
 1  Tlu-it   is, 
 
 h  ch.  9.  25. 
 
 an  -mlh. 
 
 Deut.  27.18 
 
 o  ch.ii.  SI. 
 
 /  ch.  M-  9. 
 
 1  Thnt  19, 
 
 1  Sam.  B5. 
 
 th,^  XB^tt  of 
 
 21..    JiSaiii 
 
 Ihe  t.„lh. 
 
 14.  P.    aiiit 
 
 17!lli. 
 
 27.  25. 
 
 .  ch.  Mi.  2. 
 
 took  to  wife  Judith  the  daughter  of  Beeri  the 
 Hittite,  and  Bashcmatb  the  daughter  of  Eloii 
 the  Hittite  : 
 
 35  Which  ''were  fa  grief  of  mind  unto  Isaac 
 and  to  Rebekah. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 1  Unnc  seiidetJi  Esau  for  venijinii.  6  Rihe/tfi/i  instrrir/tth 
 Jitcoh  to  obtain  the  btessint/.  ]5  Jacob  umli  r  tin'  per- 
 son of  Esau  obtaim-t/t  it.  30  Esuu  tiriiit/it/i  a  nisott. 
 y3  Isaac  tretnbtrt/i.  34  Esau  com/itaiiitt/i,  a/at  lit/ 
 importunift/  ohtainuth  a  bb-ssini/.  41  lie  t/ireatcNct.'t 
 Jacob.      42  litbtka/i  disa/  poiiUtth  it. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pas.s,  that  when  Lsaac  was 
 ■'-^  old,  and  "his  eyes  were  dim,  so  that  be 
 could  not  see,  he  called  Esau  his  eldest  son, 
 and  said  unto  him.  My  son  :  and  ho  said  im(o 
 him.  Behold,  here  am  I. 
 
 2  And  he  said,  Beliold  now,  I  am  old,  I 
 ''  know  not  the  day  of  my  death  : 
 
 3  "  Now  therefore  take,  I  pray  thee,  tliy 
 weapons,  thy  quiver  and  thy  bow,  and  go  out 
 to  the  field,  and  f  take  me  some  venison  ; 
 
 4  And  make  me  savoury  moat,  such  as  I 
 love,  and  bring  it  to  me,  that  I  may  eat;  that 
 my  soul  ''may  bless  thee  before  I  die. 
 
 .5  And  Rebekah  heard  when  Isaac  .spake  to 
 Esau  his  son.  And  Esau  went  to  the  field  to 
 hunt  /or  venison,  and  to  bring  it. 
 
 G  H  And  Rebekah  spake  unto  .Tacob  her  son, 
 saying.  Behold,  I  beard  thy  father  speak  unto 
 Esau  thy  brother,  saying, 
 
 7  Bring  me  venison,  and  make  me  .savoury 
 meat,  that  I  may  eat,  and  bless  thee  before  the 
 Lord  before  my  death. 
 
 8  Now  therefore,  my  son,  °  obey  my  voice 
 accorthug  to  that  which  I  command  thee. 
 
 9  Go  now  to  the  flock,  and  fetcli  me  from 
 thence  two  good  kids  of  the  goats ;  and  I  will 
 make  them  'savoury  meat  for  thy  father,  such 
 as  he  loveth  : 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  bring  it  to  thy  father,  that 
 le  may  cat,  and  that  he  "may  bless  thee  before 
 
 his  death. 
 
 1 1  And  Jacob  said  to  Rebekah  his  mother. 
 Behold,  ''  Esau  my  brother  is  a  hairy  man,  aiul 
 I  am  a  smooth  man  : 
 
 12  My  fiither  pcradventure  will  '  feel  nicaiid 
 I  shall  seem  to  him  as  a  deceiver  ;  and  I  shall 
 bring  '  a  curse  upon  me,  and  not  a  blessing. 
 
 13  And  bis  mother  said  unto  him,  '  Upon  ine 
 be  thy  curse,  my  son  :  only  obey  my  voice,  and 
 go  fetch  me  them. 
 
 14  And  he  went,  and   fetched,  and  brought 
 
 to  Mecca.  24.  /  am  the  God  of  Abrnham — though  Abraham  was  tlead 
 as  to  his  body,  yet  he  was  alive  in  his  soul ;  for  God  is  not  the  God  of 
 the  dead,  hut  of  the  living,  (Matt.  xxii.  32.J— GiV/.  26.  rhichul — frnm 
 the  distance  of  time,  a  son  of  the  Phichol  named  chap.  xxi.  ;  though 
 some  think  it  a  name  of  office,  the  word  signifying,  *  the  mouth  of  all  ;* 
 but  this  is  not  likely,  he  being  called  chief  captain. — Giit.  34.  Hittite 
 —the  Hittites  were  the  worst  of  the  Canaanites,  (Ezek.  xvi.  3.) — Poole. 
 Chap.  XXVII.  — 1.  Old,  11?  or  13;;  and  Jacob.  57  or  77.— .4.  Clarke. 
 3.  Weapon.'!,  ^'js,  signifies  vessels  OTinstrumeatsofniiy  kind. — Pa^.,Mont. 
 Perhaps  here,  htintin/^-speor,  javelin,  sword,  fyc.  Quirer,  >?n,  from 
 ron.  '  to  hang,'  or  *  suspend.' — A.  Clarke,  ipafmipav,  Sept. ;  phnrrtram, 
 Vutg.,  'a  quiver.'    Some  understand  *a  sword.' — Pat.        4.  Savour// 
 
 vital,  for  a  self  indulgent  meal. — Scotf.  ftather  for  a  fresh  proof  of 
 filial  duty. — Hen.  To  make  him  more  cheerful,  and  litter  fcr  pronounc- 
 ing the  prophetical  benediction. — Poole.  Probably  as  a  religious  cere- 
 mony, used  on  solemn  occasions  of  making  covenants,  &c — So  A.  C. 
 Bless  thee — a  blessing  bestowed  by  the  patriarchs  on  tlieir  children, 
 and  often  in  the  spirit  of  prophecy. — Gill.  As  the  priests  blessed  the 
 people,  (Gen.  xiv.  iQ;  Numb.  vi.  23— 27,)  .so  the  patriarchs  their  chil- 
 dren, as  an  inheritance  by  testament,  (Heb.  xii.  17,)  being  done  in 
 faith,  (Heb.  xi.  20,  21,  and  xii.  17.) — Aiiis.  7.  Venison,  docs  n<'t  al- 
 ways mean  the  flesh  of  deer,  but  other  animals  killed  in  hunting. — Hew. 
 13.  Upon  me — a  speech  of  her  faith  to  encourage  him. — Ain.s.  She 
 meant,  there  is  no  danger. — Pat.    she  would  stand  between  him  and 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVL  — I.  Good  mm  are  under 
 the,  guidance  of  God's  providence,  andf  submittiwi  to  his  t/uiitancr, 
 ttiei/  are  sure  to  prosper.  No  one  can  calculate  the  evils  which 
 might  have  ensued  had  Isaac  disoheyed  the  command  of  God, 
 while  his  ready  obedience  ensured  him  innumerable  blessings. 
 '  Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord.' 
 
 11.  Bad  men  take  their  ouoi  coarse  and  procure  their  own  ruin. 
 '  And  tlie  way  of  transgressors  is  liard.'  Esau  perhaps  formed 
 some  great  alliances  ;  but,  in  yoking  himself  with  the  accursed 
 .seed  of  the  Canaanites,  he  brouglit  the  curse  of  Cjod  upon 
 himself  and  his  posterity,  and  became  the  father  of  a  race  of 
 idolaters.  This  son  of  a  pious  falher  has  but  too  often  been 
 32 
 
 imitated.  How  many  young  men  who  had  been  better  in- 
 structed, like  Esau,  have  thrown  oil' all  the  restraints  of  religion, 
 and  rushed  into  the  society  of  the  most  abandoned,  as  though 
 they  were  resolved  to  defy  God,  and  to  stifle  all  the  remon- 
 strances of  conscience.  Let  young  men,  the  offspring  of  pious 
 parents,  beware  how  they  forsake  the  guides  of  their  youth, 
 and  the  God  of  their  father.  Esau's  wicked  course  grieved 
 his  pious  parents,  and  so  does  tlie  course  of  all  wicked 
 children.  They  c:iiinot,  without  pain  of  heart,  quietly  see 
 them  going  headlong  in  the  broad  road  that  leadeth  to  destruc- 
 tion. '  A  wise  son  nr.iketh  a  glad  father,  but  a  foolish  sou  19 
 the  heaviness  of  his  mother.* 
 
Jacoh  obtaineth  the  b/esshitj. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXVII. 
 
 Esau  ol'taincth  a  bicssiny. 
 
 them  to  his  mother:  and  liis  inothcT  ""matle 
 savoury  meat,  such  as  liis  lather  loved. 
 
 15  And  RebeUah  took  f"  goodly  raiment  of 
 her  eldest  son  Esau,  which  were  witli  her  in 
 the  house,  and  put  tlicm  upon  Jacob  her 
 younger  son : 
 
 16  And  she  put  the  skins  of  the  kids  of  the  i 
 goats  upon  liis  hands,  and  upon  the  smooth  of 
 his  neck  : 
 
 17  And  she  gave  the  savoury  meat  and  the 
 bread,  which  she  had  prepared,  into  the  hand 
 of  her  son  Jacob. 
 
 18  t  And  he  came  unto  his  father,  and  said. 
 My  father  :  and  he  said,  Here  am  I ;  who  art 
 
 V.  c. 
 
 cir.  ITIJil, 
 
 m  vcr.  1.9. 
 t   Heb.  de- 
 liraUt. 
 H  ver.  27. 
 
 thou. 
 
 my  sun  i 
 
 19  And  Jacob  said  unto  his  father,  I  am  Esau 
 thy  firstborn  ;  I  have  done  according  as  tliou 
 badest  me  :  arise,  I  pray  thee,  sit  and  eat  of  my 
 venison,  °  that  tliy  soul  may  bless  me. 
 
 20  And  Isaac  said  unto  his  son.  How  is  if 
 that  thou  hast  found  it  so  quickly,  my  son  ? 
 And  he  .said.  Because  the  Loud  thy  God 
 brought  it  f  to  me. 
 
 '21  And  Isaac  said  unto  .Tacob,  Come  near, 
 I  pray  thee,  that  I  ''  may  feel  thee,  my  son, 
 whether  thou  be  my  very  son  Esau  or  not. 
 
 '22  And  Jacob  went  near  unto  Isaac  his  father; 
 and  he  felt  liim,  and  said.  The  voice  is  Jacob's 
 voice,  but  the  hands  are  the  hands  of  Esau. 
 
 '23  And  he  discerned  him  not,  because  ''  his 
 hands  were  hairy,  as  his  brother  Esau's  hands : 
 so  he  blessed  him. 
 
 '24  And  he  said,  Art  thou  my  very  son  Esau? 
 And  be  said,  I  am. 
 
 2j  And  lie  said.  Bring  it  near  to  me,  and  I 
 will  eat  of  my  son's  venison,  '  that  my  soul  may 
 bless  thee.  And  he  brought  it  near  to  him, 
 and  he  did  eat :  and  he  brought  him  wine,  and 
 he  drank. 
 
 26  And  his  father  Isaac  said  unto  him.  Gome 
 near  now,  and  kiss  me,  my  son. 
 
 27  And  he  came  near,  and  kissed  him  :  and 
 he  smelled  the  smell  of  his  raiment,  and  blessed 
 him,  and  said,  See,  'the  smell  of  my  son  is  as  the 
 smell  of  a  field  which  the  Lord  hath  blessed  : 
 
 28  Therefore  '  God  give  thee  of  "  the  dew  of 
 heaven,  and  "  the  fatness  of  the  earth,  and 
 "  plenty  of  corn  and  wine  : 
 
 29  ''  Let  people  serve  thee,  and  nations  bow 
 down  to  thee  :  be  lord  over  thy  brethren,  and 
 "  let  thy  mother's  sons  bow  down  to  thee  : 
 "  cursed  he  every  one  that  curseth  thee,  and 
 blessed  be  he  that  blesseth  thee. 
 
 30  1  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  soon  as  Isaac 
 had  made  an  end  of  blessing  Jacob,  and  Jacob 
 was  yet  scarce  gone  out  from  the  presence  of 
 Isaac  his  father,  that  Esau  his  brother  came  in 
 from  his  hunting. 
 
 31  And  he  also  had  made  savoury  meat,  and 
 brought  it  unto  his  father,  and  said  unto  his 
 father,  Let  my  father  arise,  and  ''eat  of  his  son's 
 venison,  that  thy  soul  may  bless  me. 
 
 t  Heb.  U/ar 
 
 (Hcb   M.SII. 
 «  Deut.  33. 
 
 13,  28. 
 
 2  Sam. 1.21. 
 w  ch.  45  IS. 
 X  Deu.33  2S. 
 vch.  9  2j.  & 
 "  23.  23. 
 2  Ch.  49.  9. 
 n  Ch.  12.  8. 
 
 Num.  24.  9. 
 
 n.  C. 
 
 sir.   t7C0. 
 
 t  !Ieb.  iTcrn- 
 t/<rf  will,  a 
 ffi'fal  Ire'ii' 
 Itti'ig  great- 
 
 h- 
 
 t  lleb, 
 hxiHted. 
 
 H  Thrvf  is,  a 
 /  ch.  25.  a3 
 
 a  Fuiailcd, 
 2  Sam. 8. 14. 
 vci'.  29. 
 
 Heb.  11.20. 
 II  Or,  of  the 
 fuln.,,. 
 
 I  cb.  25.  23. 
 Obad.  18. 
 19,  20, 
 
 ,„2Ki-8.  20. 
 Hch.37.4,  8. 
 
 och   50,3,1, 
 
 '" 
 l/>  ObaJ,  10. 
 
 5  I'B,  W. 
 
 32  And  Isaac  his  father  said  unto  him,  Who 
 art  thou  ?  And  he  said,  I  am  thy  son,  thy 
 firstborn  Esau. 
 
 33  And  Isaac  f  trembled  very  exceedingly, 
 and  said,  Who?  where  is  he  that  hath  f taken 
 venison,  and  brought  it  me,  and  I  have  eaten 
 of  all  before  thou  earnest,  and  have  blessed 
 him  ?  yea,  ^  and  he  shall  be  blessed. 
 
 34  And  when  Esan  heard  the  words  of  his 
 father,  ''he  cried  with  a  great  and  exceeding 
 bitter  cry,  and  said  unto  his  father,  Bless  me, 
 even  me  also,  O  my  father, 
 
 35  And  he  said.  Thy  brother  came  with  sub- 
 tilty,  and  hath  taken  away  thy  blessing. 
 
 36  And  he  said,  "  Is  not  he  rightly  named 
 11  Jacob  ?  for  he  hath  su]iplanted  me  these  two 
 times  :  'he  took  away  my  birthright ;  and,  be- 
 hold, now  he  hath  taken  away  my  blessing. 
 And  he  said.  Hast  thou  not  reserved  a  blessing 
 for  me  ? 
 
 37  And  Isaac  answered  and  said  unto  Esan, 
 ^  Behold,  I  have  made  him  thy  lord,  and  all  his 
 brethren  have  1  given  to  him  for  servants;  and 
 "■with  corn  and  wine  have  I  ||  sustained  him  : 
 and  what  .shall  I  do  now  unto  thee,  my  son? 
 
 88  And  Esau  said  unto  his  fiitber.  Hast  thou 
 but  one  blessing,  my  father?  bless  me,  even  me 
 also,  O  my  father.  And  Esau  lifted  up  his 
 voice,  'and  wept. 
 
 39  And  Isaac  his  father  answered  and  said 
 unto  him.  Behold,  ''  thy  dwelling  shall  be  ||  the 
 fatness  of  the  earth,  and  of  the  dew  of  heaven 
 from  above ; 
 
 40  And  by  thy  sword  shalt  thou  live,  and 
 '  shalt  serve  thy  brother;  and  "  it  shall  come 
 to  pass  when  thou  shalt  have  the  dominion,  that 
 thou  shalt  break  his  yoke  from  off  thy  neck. 
 
 41  IF  And  Esau  "hated  Jacob  because  of  the 
 blessing  wherewith  his  father  blessed  him :  and 
 Esau  said  in  his  heart,  "The  days  of  mourning 
 for  my  father  are  at  hand;  ''then  will  I  slay  my 
 brother  Jacob. 
 
 42  And  these  words  of  Esau  her  elder  son 
 were  told  to  Kcbekah :  and  she  sent  and  called 
 Jacob  her  younger  son,  and  said  unto  him.  Be- 
 hold, thy  brother  Esau,  as  touching  thee,  doth 
 ''comfort  himself, /j(/;7JOSiH(7  to  kill  thee. 
 
 43  Now  therefore,  my  son,  obey  my  voice; 
 and  arise,  ilee  thou  to  Laban  my  brother  "■  to 
 Haran ; 
 
 44  And  tarry  with  him  a  few  days,  until  thy 
 brother's  fury  turn  away  ; 
 
 45  Until  thy  brother's  anger  turn  away  from 
 thee,  and  he  forget  that  which  thou  hast  done 
 to  him  :  then  1  will  send,  and  fetch  thee  from 
 thence:  why  should  I  be  deprived  also  of  you 
 both  in  one  day  ? 
 
 46  And  Rebekah  said  to  Isaac,  '  I  am  weary 
 of  my  life  because  of  the  daughters  of  Heth  : 
 'if  Jacob  take  a  wife  of  the  daughters  of  Heth, 
 such  as  these  which  are  of  the  daughters  of 
 the  land,  what  good  shall  my  life  do  me  ? 
 
 all  danger. — Ben.  15.  Goodli/  raiment — Heb.  'garments  of  desire;* 
 Sept.,  •  a  goodly  robe.'  Such,  perhaps,  as  the  priest,  after  the  law, 
 ministered  in,  (E.'iocl.x.xviii.  2,  3,4,)  and  probably  used  by  the  firstborn 
 before  the  law.— .-liHs.  More  probably  a  hunting  dress,  which  smelt 
 strongly  of  the  field. — Wit.  Some  suppose,  family  garments  laid  up  in 
 scented  chests.  The  easterns  perfumt-d  their  garments,  and  do  so  still. 
 — Hew.  House — tent  and  hou-e  are  interchangeable  terms  in  the  east. 
 — So  Pict.  Bit).  l6.  SA-i/w— goat's  hair,  in  hot  countries,  is  much 
 lilte  that  of  men.— Bor,  27.  Smell  of  a  field—Plimj  observes,  it  is 
 the  sign  of  a  fruitful  soil  when  the  land,  after  ploughing,  emits  an 
 agreeable  smell. — A'a^  Hint.,  lib.  xvii.,  cap.  5.  The  parched  herbage  of 
 the  eastern  deserts  and  uncultivated  plains  is  oft.-n  exceedingly  fra- 
 33 
 
 grant. — Pict.  Bit).  28.  Tlte  dew — as  there  was  little  rain  in  Judea, 
 it~  lack  was  supplied  by  heavy  dews ;  the  expressions  here  used  signify 
 all  the  blessings  of  a  plentiful  country.— .-1.  Clarke.  29.  Let  people 
 seme  Mce— fulfilled  in  the  days  of  the  judges  when  the  Canaanites 
 were  conqucrtd  and  became  tributary  to  the  Israeliles;  and  still  more, 
 when  the  Phili~lines  and  others  became  subject  to  David.— Cii(.  40.  Hv 
 tlm  sa'ord—\i\  hunting  and  predatory  excursions.- .-J.C/arAe.  i\.Datjs 
 of  mourning— ^n  oriental  expression  in  anticipation  of  the  death  of  an 
 aged  parent.— Pic<.  Bih.  46.  Dauiflders  of  Hetli,  wliom  Esau  had 
 married,  (cliap.  xxvi.  34,  35.)  Tliough  this  was  true,  Rebekah  con- 
 ceals the  true  reason  of  her  acting,  not  to  distress  JsaacStack/touse. 
 
The  vision  of  Jacob's  ladder. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXVIII. 
 
 Jacob's  vow. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 I   Isaac  blesseth  Jacob,  and  seyulit/i  him  to  Patlan-aram. 
 
 6  Esan  imirrieth  Mahalath  the  dau(jhler  of  Ishmad. 
 10  The  vision  of  Jacob's  ladder.  18  The  stone  of 
 Beth-el.     20  Jacob's  vow. 
 
 AND  Isaac  called  Jacob,  and  '  blessed  him, 
 and  charged  him,  and  said  unto  him, 
 '  Thou  shalt  not  tal^e  a  wife  of  the  daughters 
 of  Canaan. 
 
 2  '  Arise,  go  to  ''  Padan-aram,  to  the  house 
 of  '  Betbuel  thy  mother's  father ;  and  take  thee 
 a  wife  from  thence  of  the  daughters  of  '  Laban 
 thy  mother's  brother. 
 
 3  '^  And  God  Ahnighty  bless  thee,  and  make 
 thee  fruitful,  and  multiply  thee,  that  thou 
 mayest  be  t  a  multitude  of  people  ; 
 
 4  And  give  thee  ''  tlie  blessing  of  Abraham, 
 to  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  with  thee  ;  that  thou 
 mayest  inherit  the  land  f' wherein  thou  art  a 
 stranger,  which  God  gave  unto  Abraham. 
 
 5  And  Isaac  sent  away  Jacob  :  and  he  went 
 to  Padan-aram  unto  Laban,  son  of  Bethuel  the 
 Syrian,  tlie  brother  of  Rcbekah,  Jacob's  and 
 Esau's  mother. 
 
 G  IF  When  Esau  saw  that  Isaac  bad  blessed 
 Jacob,  and  sent  him  away  to  Padan-aram,  to 
 take  liim  a  wife  from  thence  ;  and  that  as  he 
 blessed  him,  he  gave  him  a  charge,  saying, 
 Tliou  shalt  not  take  a  wife  of  the  daughters  of 
 Canaan  ; 
 
 7  And  that  Jacob  obeyed  his  father  and  his 
 mother,  and  was  gone  to  Padan-aram  ; 
 
 8  And  Esau  seeing  '■  tliat  the  daughters  of 
 Canaan  f  pleased  not  Isaac  his  father  ; 
 
 9  Then  went  Esau  unto  Ishmacl,  and  took 
 unto  the  wives  which  be  bad  '  Malialath  the 
 daughter  of  Ishmael  Abraham's  son,  "'  lire  sister 
 of  Nebajoth,  to  be  his  wife. 
 
 10  t  And  Jacob  "  went  out  from  Beer-sheba, 
 and  went  toward  °  Haran. 
 
 1 1  And  he  lighted  upon  a  certain  place,  and 
 tarried  there  all  night,  because  the  sun  was  set ; 
 and  he  took  of  the  stones  of  that  place,  and  put 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.  C. 1760. 
 
 cir.  1700. 
 
 p  ch.  41.  1. 
 
 Job  33.  13. 
 
 o  John  1.51. 
 
 Heb.  1.  14. 
 
 1700. 
 
 rch.35.1.  & 
 
 a  cU.  27.  ^-8. 
 
 48.3. 
 
 ..  cb.  26.  31. 
 
 i  cb.  2*.  S. 
 
 f  ch.  13.  15. 
 
 &  35.  12. 
 
 cno9.12,12. 
 
 d  ch.  25,  atl. 
 
 e  ch.  2'i.  23. 
 
 N  ch.  13.  16. 
 
 /ch.  21.29. 
 
 t  Heb.  break 
 
 furlh. 
 
 irch.  i.ru. 
 
 ?cl».  17. 1,6. 
 
 Deut.l2.-iU. 
 xrh.  12.3.  & 
 
 18.  18.  (ti2. 
 
 IS.  b  26.  4. 
 
 t  Helt.  an  at 
 
 u&eevcr.20, 
 
 temlAy  ,■/ 
 
 21.     ch.20. 
 
 prople. 
 
 S*.  R:3I.3. 
 
 A  cli.  12.  S. 
 
 ;  ch.  48.  16. 
 
 P9.  121.5,7, 
 
 (  Ut^b.o/O.j, 
 
 8. 
 
 i  Cl>.  17.  9. 
 
 a  ch.  35.  6. 
 
 6Deut.31.6. 
 
 Josh.  1.  5. 
 
 1  Kin.  8.57. 
 
 Heb-  IS.  f). 
 
 c  Nu.23.  ly. 
 
 d  Exod.3.5. 
 
 Jo9b.  S.  15. 
 
 *ch.  31.  13, 
 
 -VS.  &  35.  11 
 
 /  Lev.  S.  10, 
 
 II,  12. 
 
 Num.  7.  1. 
 
 f  Judir.1.23. 
 26.    H09.4 
 
 A  ch.  2*.  3. 
 
 \h. 
 
 Ri  26.  35. 
 
 [|Tliat  H,thf 
 
 t  Heb.  were 
 
 houte  of 
 
 evil  m  ihM 
 
 G,.d. 
 
 P'/r^,  *c. 
 
 h  ch.  31.  I;l. 
 
 cii.  1760. 
 
 JiiHg.ll.Sc 
 
 /  ch.  sr,.  3. 
 
 2S;im.l5.S 
 
 she  iscuned 
 
 i  ver-  15. 
 
 Bayhemalh. 
 
 A  1  Tim.C.S 
 
 m  ch.25. 13. 
 
 i  JudK.ll.3l 
 
 »  Ho9. 12.12. 
 
 8  Sitm.  10. 
 2*.  31). 
 
 oCalled.Acts 
 
 mreH.26.i7 
 
 7.2,ChaTTan. 
 
 2  Sam.  15. 8 
 
 2  Kin.  5.  17 
 
 ..ch.S5.7,U 
 
 (.Lev.27.a> 
 
 them  for  his  pillows,  and  lay  down  in  that 
 place  to  sleep. 
 
 12  And  he  ''dreamed,  and  behold  a  ladder 
 set  up  on  the  earth,  and  tlie  top  of  it  reached 
 to  lieaven  :  and  behold  "i  the  angels  of  God 
 ascending  and  descending  on  it. 
 
 1^3  '  And,  behold,  the  Lord  stood  above  it, 
 and  said,  '  I  am  the  Lord  God  of  Abraham 
 thy  fiitlier,  and  the  God  of  Isaac  :  '  the  land 
 whereon  thou  liest,  to  thee  will  I  give  it,  and 
 to  thy  seed  ; 
 
 14  And  "  thy  seed  shall  be  as  the  dust  of  the 
 earth,  and  thou  shalt  t spread  abroad  ""to  the 
 west,  and  to  the  east,  and  to  the  north,  and  to 
 the  south  :  and  in  thee  and  "^  in  thy  seed  shall 
 all  the  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed. 
 
 15  And,  behold,  ''  I  a}H  with  thee,  and  will 
 keep   thee  in  all  places  whither  thou  goest, 
 
 and  will  "  bring  thee  again  into  this  land  ;  for 
 ■■I  will  not  leave  thee,  'until  I  have  done  t/iat 
 which  I  have  spoken  to  tbee  of. 
 
 16  II  And  Jacob  awaked  out  of  his  sleep,  and 
 he  said.  Surely  the  Lord  is  in  ^  this  place ; 
 and  I  knew  it  not. 
 
 17  And  he  was  afrai-d,  and  said.  How  dreadful 
 is  this  place!  this  as  none  other  but  the  house 
 of  God,  and  tliis  is  the  gate  of  heaven. 
 
 18  And  Jacob  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
 and  took  tlie  stone  that  be  had  put  for  his 
 pillows,  and  "■  set  it  up  for  a  pillar,  '  and  poured 
 oil  upon  the  top  of  it. 
 
 19  And  he  called  the  name  of  ''that  place 
 II  Beth-el:  but  the  name  of  that  city  !ca6ca//erf 
 Luz  at  the  first. 
 
 20  "  And  Jacob  vowed  a  vow,  saying.  If 'God 
 will  be  with  me,  and  will  keep  me  in  this  way 
 that  I  go,  and  will  give  me  '  bread  to  eat,  and 
 raiment  to  put  on, 
 
 21  So  tliat  '  I  come  again  to  my  father's  house 
 in  peace  ;  ""  then  shall  the  Lord  be  my  God  : 
 
 22  And  this  stone,  which  I  have  set  for  a 
 pillar,  "  shall  be  God's  house  :  °  and  of  all  that 
 thou  shalt  give  me  I  will  surely  give  the  tenth 
 unto  thee. 
 
 Crap.  XXVIII. — l .  Blesied  him — renewed  and  contirraed  the  blessing. 
 — Pat.  a.  A  multitude  of  people,  C'D37  "sHp^.  or,  'church  of  jjcoples  ;' 
 referring,  no  doubt,  to  tlie  Jewish  church  in  the  Wilderness. — A,  C". 
 
 9.  Unto   Ishmael  —  the  house   of  Ishmael,   for   he   was   dead. —  Gilt. 
 
 10.  Jacob  went — he  was  alone,  not  from  poverty,  but  for  secrecy,  to 
 escape  Esau. — Ed.  \\.  A  certain  place — he  had  travelled  forty-eight 
 miles,  the  distance  from  Beer-sheba  to  Luz,  or  Bethel. — Bunting's 
 Travels.  His  pillows,  covered  partly,  no  doubt,  by  his  garments ;  an 
 usual  way  of  sleeping  in  the  east. — K'il.  i2.  A  ladder^an  emblem 
 v( providence  i  a  type  of  Clirist,  in  whom  both  worlds  meet. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 The  dream  was  to  comfort  Jacob,  by  shewing  him  the  care  of  Heaven 
 over  him. — Sut.  18.  Set  it  up  for  a  pillar,  upon  other  stones  heaped 
 up. — Pat.  This  was  a  practice  among  the  patriarchs,  erecting  memo- 
 rials of  God's  goodness;  but  afterwards  it  was  abused  by  the  heathen, 
 and  the  abuse  of  it  was  forbidden  by  God,  (Lev.xxW.  I ;  Deut.  vii.  5, 
 and  xn.  3.)~Poole,  Ed.  ig.  Lnz,  'a  hazel  tree;'  probably  such 
 trees  grew  there.— Sco/^  Some  render  tlie  word  'almond,'  from  the 
 Arabic.  22.  God's  liouse — a  place  for  prayer,  where  God's  presence 
 would  be. — Poole.  A  tenth — tithes,  in  their  origin,  were  u  sort  of 
 eucharistic  offering  to  God. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVII I.    We  owiht  at  all  times 
 
 to  make  preparation  for  death,  hut  esiiiclalli/  so  when  qrcij  hairs 
 come  upon  us.  AVho  can  tell  the  aay  ot  his  death  7  It  is 
 wisely  hidden  from  us,  that  we  may  habitually  set  our  house 
 in  order,  and  live  as  those  who  are  looking  for  a  better  world. 
 Especially  should  we  be  concerned  for  the  spiritual  happiness 
 of  our  children,  as  Isaac  was  that  he  might  bless  his  son  before 
 he  died. 
 
 II.  Z.et  those  who  despise  spiritual  blessings  beware  lest  the 
 moment  should  arrive  when  it  shall  tie  too  late  to  seek  salvation. 
 It  is  not  for  any  human  being  to  limit  the  mercy  of  God,  or  to 
 say  how  far  a  sinner  may  go  in  sin  and  yet  be  saved  ;  but  the 
 experiment  is  a  fearful  one,  and  the  liour  may  come,  when, 
 like  many  others,  the  sinner  may  die,  despairing  that  the 
 blessing  is  lost.  But  the  believer  in  Christ  may  reioice  that 
 he  need  never  apply  for  a  blessing  in  vain.  His  father  has 
 bestowed  it,  and  yet  has  it  still  to  bestow  ;  '  Blessed  he  the 
 God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  .Tesus  Christ,  who  hath  blessed 
 us  with  all  spiritual  blessings,  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ.' 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.   XXVIII.  —  I.    How  careful  were 
 
 the  patriarchs  in  the  marriaiies   of  their  children.     This   should 
 
 teach  Christian  parents  to  watch  over  their  otFspring,  that  they 
 
 form  no  connexions  merely  to   please  their  eye  or  fill  their 
 
 34 
 
 purses,  while  they  may  endanger  the  safety  of  their  souls. 
 And,  indeed,  young  persons  professing  godliness  may  here 
 think  on  the  incongruity  of  unions  with  those  that  are  un- 
 godly. '  How  can  two  walk  together,  except  they  be  agreed  V 
 How  could  they  bow  at  the  same  altar,  or  train  up  their 
 children  in  the  same  way  1  What  communion  of  mind  or 
 heart  can  there  be  in  heterogeneous  unions  !  ■  What  fellow- 
 ship hath  light  with  darkness  1' 
 
 II.  Bad  men,  havinp  committed  themselves  in  one  step,  go  on 
 frombadto  worse. — Esau  perhaps  thought  to  please  his  father  by 
 
 marrying  a  daughter  of  the  race  of  Ishmael ;  but  he  had  already 
 had  two  wives,  and  his  third  was  but  an  aggravation  of  folly, 
 when  he  united  himself  to  a  family  '  whom  God  had  rejected.' 
 
 III.  They  that  fear  God  shall  be  the  oljects  of  his  speci(d  care 
 and  protection.  So  was  Jacob.  The  man  whose  heart  was 
 prepared  to  build  God  an  altar,  was  the  man  whom  God 
 delighted  to  protect  and  visit.  Christian,  how  intricate 
 soever  may  be  your  lot,  and  painful  for  a  while  your  reverses 
 and  wanderings,  he  shall  give  his  angels  charge  coticerning  you 
 to  keep  you  in  all  your  ways.  If  you  have  no  companion  but 
 your  pilgrim's  staft",  and  but  a  stone  for  a  pillow,  your  slumbers 
 shall  be  sweet,  while  you  have  a  covenant  Jehovah  for  your 
 God,  who  has  said,  '  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee.' 
 
Jacob  taketh  acquaintance  of  Rachel. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXIX. 
 
 He  covenanteth  for  her. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 Jacob  coyjteth  to  the  wdl  of  Harail.  9  He  taketh  ac- 
 i^uaintance  of  Rachel.  13  Lahan  entertaineth  him, 
 la  Jacob  covenanteth  for  Rachel.  23  He  is  deceived 
 with  Leah.  28  He  murrietli  aho  Rachel,  andserveth 
 for  her  seven  years  more.  32  Leah  beareth  Revhen, 
 03  Simeon,  34  Levi,  35  and  Juduh. 
 
 THEN  Jacob  f  went  on  his  journey,  "and 
 came  into  tlie  land  of  the  f  people  of  the 
 east. 
 
 2  And  he  looked,  and  behold  a  well  in  the 
 field,  and,  lo,  there  uere  three  flocks  of  slieeji 
 lying  by  it ;  for  out  of  that  well  they  watered 
 the  flocks :  and  a  great  stone  u'as  upon  the 
 well's  mouth. 
 
 3  And  thither  were  all  the  flocks  gathered  : 
 and  they  rolled  the  stone  from  the  well's  mouth, 
 and  watered  the  sheep,  and  put  the  stone 
 again  upon  the  well's  mouth  in  his  place. 
 
 4  And  Jacob  said  unto  them,  My  brethren, 
 whence  be  ye?  And  they  said.  Of  Haran  are  we. 
 
 5  And  he  said  unto  them.  Know  ye  Laban  the 
 son  of  Nahor?    And  they  said,  We  know  him. 
 
 G  And  he  said  unto  them,  f  ''  Is  he  well  ? 
 And  they  said,  He  (swell  :  and,  behold,  Rachel 
 his  daughter  cometh  with  the  sheep. 
 
 7  And  he  said,  Lo,  f ''  ■»  y^'  l"g^  *^^y' 
 neither  is  it  time  that  the  cattle  should  be 
 gathered  together  :  water  ye  tlie  sheep,  and  go 
 and  feed  them. 
 
 8  And  they  said.  We  cannot,  until  all  the 
 flocks  be  gathered  together,  and  till  they  roll 
 the  stone  from  the  well's  mouth ;  then  we 
 water  the  sheep. 
 
 9  t  And  while  he  yet  spake  with  them, 
 '  Rachel  came  with  her  father's  sheep  :  for  she 
 kept  them. 
 
 10  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  .Tacob  saw 
 Rachel  the  daughter  of  Laban  his  mother's 
 brother,  and  the  sheep  of  Laban  his  mother's 
 brother,  that  Jacob  went  near,  and  ^  rolled  the 
 stone  from  the  well's  moutli,  and  watered  the 
 flock  of  Laban  his  mother's  brother. 
 
 1 1  And  Jacob  °  kissed  Rachel,  and  lifted  up 
 his  voice,  and  wept. 
 
 12  And  Jacob  told  Rachel  that  he  was  'her 
 father's  brother,  and  that  he  was  Rebekah's 
 son  :  ^  and  she  ran  and  told  her  father. 
 
 13  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Laban  heard 
 the  t  tidings  of  Jacob  his  sister's  son,  that  •■  he 
 ran  to  meet  him,  and  embraced  him,  and  kissed 
 him,  and  brought  him  to  his  house.  And  he 
 told  Laban  all  these  things. 
 
 14  And  Laban  said  to  him,  '  Surely  thou  art 
 my  bone  and  my  flesh.  And  he  abode  with 
 him  t  the  .space  of  a  month. 
 
 lo  H  And  Laban  said  unto  Jacob,  Because 
 thou  art  my  brother,  shouldest  thou  therefore 
 
 B.C. 
 ■ir.  1760- 
 
 +Heb.  lift  i>p 
 
 Ail  fe^l. 
 a  Num.  23.7. 
 
 Hos.  12. 1>. 
 t  Heb.  cftif- 
 
 t  Htb.     Is 
 tliere  pmac 
 to  him  f 
 
 6  cb.  -13.  27. 
 
 t  Hi-b.  y,t 
 tfif  dny  is 
 gieat. 
 
 *  ch.  33. 4.  & 
 45. 14,  lb. 
 
 /ch.  13.3.  & 
 14.  14,  16. 
 
 >  Heb.  hmr 
 ixg. 
 A  ch.  24.  29. 
 
 i  ch.  9.  £3. 
 
 Judg.  9.  2. 
 
 2  S«m.  5.  I. 
 
 8e  19.  12,  IS. 
 t  Heb.  n 
 
 manth  of 
 
 daifi. 
 
 B.C. 
 Ctr.  17tO 
 
 h  cb.  31.41. 
 2  8aiii.3.14. 
 
 t  cb.  .30.  g( 
 Hos.  12. 
 
 1753. 
 rfi  JaOg.15.1. 
 
 1  Jud;,'.  1-1. 
 10. 
 Julin2. 1,2 
 
 tHeb.,.(« 
 
 ..  ver.  20. 
 
 Deal  21.15. 
 q  ch.30.  26. 
 
 &3I.  41. 
 
 Hos.  12.  12. 
 r  Vs.  127.  3. 
 .  ch.  30.  I. 
 
 cir.  1752. 
 [I  That  is, 
 
 I  Ex.  S.7.'& 
 4.  31. 
 
 Deut.  26.  7. 
 Ps.  26.  19. 
 &  106.  44. 
 
 cir.  1751. 
 
 il  Tliat  is, 
 hfarinp. 
 Cir.  1750. 
 
 serve  me  for  nought  ?   tell  me,  what  shall  thy 
 wages  be f 
 
 16  And  Laban  had  two  daughters  :  the  name 
 of  the  elder  iias  Leah,  and  the  name  of  the 
 younger  icas  Rachel. 
 
 17  Leah  was  tender  eyed;  but  Rachel  was 
 beautiful  and  well  favoured. 
 
 18  And  Jacob  loved  Rachel;  and  said,  'I 
 will  serve  thee  seven  years  for  Rachel  thy 
 younger  daughter. 
 
 19  And  Laban  said.  It  is  better  that  I  give 
 her  to  thee,  than  that  I  sliould  give  her  to 
 another  man  :  abide  with  me. 
 
 20  And  Jacob  '  served  seven  years  for  Ra- 
 chel ;  and  they  seemed  unto  him  but  a  few 
 days,  for  the  love  he  had  to  her. 
 
 21  If  And  Jacob  said  unto  Laban,  Give  me 
 my  wife,  for  my  days  are  fulfilled,  that  I  may 
 ■"  go  in  unto  her. 
 
 22  And  Laban  gathered  together  all  the  men 
 of  the  place,  and  "  made  a  feast. 
 
 23  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  evening,  that 
 le  took  Leah  his  daughter,  and  brought  lier  to 
 
 him  ;  and  he  went  in  unto  her. 
 
 24  And  Laban  gave  unto  his  daughter  Leah 
 Zilpah  his  maid/br  an  handmaid. 
 
 25  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  in  the  morning, 
 behold,  it  was  Leah  :  and  he  said  to  Laban, 
 What  is  this  thou  hast  done  unto  me  ?  did 
 not  I  serve  with  thee  for  Rachel?  wherefore 
 then  hast  thou  beguiled  me? 
 
 26  And  Laban  said,  It  must  not  be  so  done 
 in  our  f  country,  to  give  the  younger  before 
 the  firstborn. 
 
 27  °  Fulfil  her  week,  and  we  will  give  thee 
 this  also  for  the  service  which  thou  shalt  serve 
 with  me  yet  seven  other  years. 
 
 28  And  Jacob  did  so,  and  fulfilled  her  week  : 
 and  he  gave  him  Rachel  his  daughter  to  wife 
 also. 
 
 29  And  Laban  gave  to  Rachel  his  daughter 
 Bilhah  his  handmaid  to  be  her  maid. 
 
 30  And  he  went  in  al.'io  unto  Rachel,  and  he 
 ''  loved  also  Rachel  more  than  Leah,  and  served 
 with  him  ''  yet  seven  other  years. 
 
 31  H  And  when  the  Lord  'saw  that  Leah 
 was  hated,  he  'opened  her  womb  :  but  Rachel 
 was  barren. 
 
 32  And  Leah  conceived,  and  bare  a  son,  and 
 she  called  his  name  ||  Reuben :  for  she  said, 
 Surely  the  Lord  hath  '  looked  upon  my  afflic- 
 tion ;  now  therefore  my  husband  will  love  me. 
 
 33  And  she  conceived  again,  and  bare  a  son  ; 
 and  said,  Because  the  Lord  hath  heard  that  J 
 was  hated,  he  hath  therefore  given  me  this  son 
 also  :  and  she  called  his  name  ||  Simeon. 
 
 34  And  she  conceived  again,  and  bare  a  son  ; 
 and  said.  Now  this  time  will  my  husband  be 
 
 Chap.  XXIX.  —  1.  Went  on  his  joitrnert — the  mar^nal  reading:  is 
 forcible  :  it  signifies,  he  tripped  along  witl;  liirht  feet. — Sut .  Expressing 
 bis  cheerfuiness  i.tf  mind  afterhis  vision. — Poole,  Gilt,  A.  Clarke.  East 
 ^the  land  of  Mesopntamla,  or  Syria,  lay  east  of  Canaan,  (Isa.  i.x.  12.) — 
 Gilt.  2.  A  great  stone,  §-c. — wells  are  covered  up  in  Arabia,  and 
 other  places,  to  preserve  them  from  sand  scattered  by  the  wind.— 
 Chardin.  6.  Is  he  well,  *is  peace  unto  him,'  17  ClSt-^n,  meaning, 
 among  the  Hebrews,  does  he  enjoy  prosperity  and  happiness  ? — Gilt, 
 A.  Clarke.  S.  Alt  tlie /locks  tie  f,rathered~tUe  well  was  not  opened  till 
 the  flocks  were  all  collected,  that  it  might  continue  open  as  little  time 
 as  possible. — Har.  0-  She  kept  them — Shatv  says,  it  is  still  customary 
 for  the  chlMreii  of  the  greatest  emir  to  attcndth'eir  flncks.  U.  Kissed 
 Rachel — the  custom  ot  friends  at  meeting,  as  ver.  13;  chap,  xxxiii.4  ; 
 Exod.  iv.  a";  xviii.  7;  and  at  parting,  as  Ruth,  i.  14;  1  Sam.  xx.  41 ; 
 1  Kings,  xix.  20. — Poole.  !4.  Mi/  lione  and  mr/  Jtesh—A  Hebrew  ex- 
 pression for  near  relationship. — Hew.  17.  Leah  teas  tender  eyed — 
 blear  or  red-eyed. — Gilt.  Her  c>es  were  beautiful. — Onkelos,  Her 
 chief  beauty  was  in  her  soft  eyes,  but  Rachel  was  beautiful  in  shape, 
 person,  mien,  gait,  and  in  countenance. — A.  Clarke.  In  countenance, 
 shape,  stature,  and  complexion.— tfiV/.  It^.  7  u-ill  serre— among  the 
 3.i 
 
 easterns,  the  bridegroom,  in  a  manner,  purchases  the  woman  he  wishes 
 to  marry,  with  cattle,  money,  or  servitude. — See  Elpliinston^s  Cabut. 
 It  was  then  customary,  (see  chap,  xxxiv.  12;  Exod.  xxii.  17;  1  Sam. 
 xviii.  25  ;  2  Sara.  iii.  14  ;  Hosea,  iii.  2.)  21.  Give  me  my  wife,  by  pro- 
 mise and  contract,  (see  Matt.  i.  18, 19  ;  Luke,  ii.  5.]— Poole.  22.  ilnde 
 a  feast— this  was  the  regular  mode  of  recognising  the  marriage. — Scott. 
 23.  In  the  eeetiing — the  occasion  of  the  deceit  was  the  custom  of  those 
 times  to  bring  the  bride  veiled  to  her  husband,  and  in  the  dark. — 
 Poole.  24.  For  on  liandoiaid — none  but  the  poorest  in  the  east  many 
 without  a  female  slave,  there  being  no  hired  servants. — Char.  Slaves 
 so  given  were  the  exclusive  property  of  tlie  wife. — A.  Clarke.  26.  It 
 must  not  be  so  done — the  Hindoos  retain  the  same  law  to  this  day. — 
 HaUicd^s  Gentoo  Code.  27.  Fulfil  her  week — the  seven  days  usually 
 devoted  to  the  feast,  as  Judg.  xiv.  12,  15,  17. — Poole,  Gilt.  28.  Attd 
 he  gave  him  Rachel — the  marriage  with  two  sisters  was  afterwards 
 expressly    forbidden,    (Lev.   xviii.  18.)  31.    Hated,  less    loved; 
 
 so  used,  see  Deut.  X-\i.  15;  Matt.  vi.  24,  and  x.  37;  compared  with 
 Luke,  xiv.  26  ;  John,  xii.  25. — Poole.  32.  Reuben — hoping,  per- 
 haps, he  was  the  promised  seed. — Gilt.  33.  Simeon, '  perceived,' or 
 *  understood.' 
 
Birth  of  Levi,  §-e. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXX. 
 
 Birth  of  Joseph. 
 
 joined  unto  me,  because  I  have  born  him  three 
 sons  :   tliorcfore  was  his  name  called  ||  Levi. 
 
 3j  And  she  conceived  again,  and  bare  a  son  : 
 and  she  said,  Now  will  I  praise  the  Lord  : 
 therefore  she  called  his  name  "HJudah;  and 
 t  left  bearing. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 1  liachd,  ill  grief  for  iter  harreitnesSy  giveth  Bil/iah  her 
 vmitl  unto  jcicufi.  5  S/ic  beareth  Dan  and  Nitp/itali. 
 9  Lea/t  giveth  Ziljiah  her  maid,  xchohearetit  Gadand 
 Astter.  15  Beiiheu  findetli  mandiiLkes,  with  whie/i 
 Leah  huijtth  her  hiislxindof  Rachel.  17  heak  beareth 
 Issacfiar,  Zibidun,  and  Dinah,  22  Racliel  beareth 
 Joseph.  2o  Jueob  desireth  to  depart.  27  Labun. 
 stai/eth  him  on  a  new  covejiant.  37  Jacobus  potict/, 
 wlterebij  lie  Iterame  rieh. 
 
 A  ND  when  Rachel  saw  that  °  she  bare  Jacob 
 ^  no  children,  Rachel   ■>  envied  her  sister; 
 
 and  said  unto  Jacob,  Give  me   children,  '^  or 
 
 else  I  die. 
 
 2  And  Jacob's  anger  was  kindled  against 
 Rachel:  and  he  said,  •'vJm  I  in  God's  stead, 
 who  hath  withheld  from  thee  the  fruit  of  the 
 womb  ? 
 
 3  And  she  said.  Behold  °my  maid  Bilhah,  go 
 in  unto  her;  'and  she  shall  bear  upon  my 
 knees,  ^  that  I  may  also  f  have  children  by  her. 
 
 4  And  she  gave  him  liilhah  her  handmaid  ""to 
 wife  :  and  Jacob  went  in  unto  her. 
 
 5  And  Bilhah  conceived,  and  bare  Jacob  a 
 son. 
 
 6  And  Rachel  said,  God  hath  'judged  me, 
 and  hath  also  heard  my  voice,  and  hath  given 
 me  a  son  :   therefore  called  she  his  name  ||  Dan. 
 
 7  And  Bilhah  Rachel's  maid  conceived  again, 
 and  bare  Jacob  a  second  son. 
 
 8  And  Raciiel  said,  With  f  great  wTestlings 
 have  I  wrestled  with  my  sister,  and  I  have  pre 
 vailed  ;  and  she  called  his  name  ||  '^  Naphtali. 
 
 9  When  Leah  saw  that  she  had  left  bear- 
 ing, she  took  Zilpah  her  maid,  and  '  gave  her 
 Jacob  to  wife. 
 
 10  And  Zilpah  Leah's  maid  bare  Jacob  a  son. 
 
 1 1  And  Leah  said,  A  troop  Cometh  :  and  she 
 called  his  name  |j  Gad. 
 
 12  And  Zilpah  Leah's  maid  bare  Jacob  a 
 second  son. 
 
 13  And  Leah  said,  f  Happy  am  I,  for  the 
 daughters  "'  will  call  me  blessed  :  and  she  called 
 his  name  ||  Asher. 
 
 14  f  And  Reuben  went  in  the  days  of  wheat 
 
 cir.  !719. 
 f  >fat.  I.  2. 
 I)  Tliiit  is, 
 
 cir.  1749. 
 ell. 2ft- SI. 
 
 '.  cii.  :i7.  n. 
 
 ri  ell.   16.  I. 
 
 1  Sain.  I.  5 
 
 fch. 
 
 Ml.  ra. 
 
 J..I*  S.  12. 
 
 ff  I'll. 
 
 IG.  2. 
 
 H.-l 
 
 .  k 
 
 4...;/ 
 
 till  hrr 
 
 rrh. 
 
 ill.  3, 
 
 t.  Ml 
 
 22. 
 
 cu. 
 
 17«S. 
 
 D  Tlmt  is, 
 cir.  1747. 
 
 Heb.  arfit 
 li.,,,  ,f 
 0.d. 
 oh.  93.  6. 
 
 i;  'riiat  is,  mtf 
 
 lerpillhia. 
 k  Called, 
 Mat.  4.  13, 
 .Xejihtlut- 
 lim. 
 
 cir.  17-19. 
 t  ver.  4. 
 cir.  1718- 
 
 tl  Tliat  in, 
 II  iTiioji,  or. 
 
 Is.  65.  II. 
 
 cir.  17-17. 
 t  Hi-b.  in  m.i, 
 
 I'lipjiiiieu. 
 ni  I'l-ii.  .Sl-28, 
 
 Luke  1.  48. 
 !1  That  is, 
 
 ttnjipj/. 
 
 I  That  is, 
 
 <IteHli„g. 
 r  CillcJ, 
 
 Mat.  -1-  13, 
 
 Z.UIm. 
 
 cir.  17-15. 
 
 H  That  is, 
 
 J"-ll« 1. 
 
 J  cli,  »-  1. 
 
 1  Sam.  1.19. 
 
 r  ch.  29.  31. 
 
 cir-  1740- 
 
 <  1  Sam-  1-6- 
 
 Is.  -1.  1. 
 
 I. like  1.  25. 
 n  Th-rt  is, 
 
 adding. 
 t  Ch.  36-  17- 
 
 i<  ch.24.  51, 
 
 56. 
 10  ch.  IS.  S3- 
 
 &  31.  5a 
 .r  ch.  2U.20, 
 
 J(ch.39.  3,  5. 
 
 6  ch.  31.  6, 
 38,  39.  40. 
 Mat.  24. 15. 
 Tit-  2-  10- 
 
 lian'est,  and  found  mandrakes  in  the  field,  and 
 brought  them  unto  his  mother  Leah.  Then 
 Rachel  said  to  Leah,  "  Give  me,  I  pray  thee, 
 of  thy  son's  mandrakes. 
 
 15  And  she  said  unto  her,  "  Is  it  a  small  mat- 
 ter that  thou  hast  taken  my  husband?  and 
 wouldest  thou  take  away  my  son's  mandrakes 
 also  'i  And  Rachel  said.  Therefore  he  shall  lie 
 with  thee  to  night  for  thy  son's  mandrakes. 
 
 IG  And  Jacob  came  out  of  the  field  in  the 
 evening,  and  Leah  went  out  to  meet  him,  and 
 said,  Thou  must  come  in  unto  me  ;  for  surely 
 I  have  hired  thee  with  my  son's  mandrakes. 
 And  he  lay  with  her  that  night. 
 
 17  And  God  hearkened  unto  Leah,  and  she 
 conceived,  and  bare  Jacob  llie  fifth  son. 
 
 18  And  Leah  said,  God  hath  given  me  my 
 hire,  because  I  have  given  my  maiden  to  my 
 husband  :  and  she  called  his  name  ij  Issachar. 
 
 lU  And  Leah  conceived  again,  and  bare  Jacob 
 the  sixth  son. 
 
 20  And  Leali  said,  God  liatli  endued  nie  with 
 a  good  dowry  ;  now  wili  my  liusband  dwell 
 with  me,  because  I  have  born  him  six  sons  : 
 and  she  called  his  name  {{  'Zebulun. 
 
 21  And  afterwards  she  bare  a  daughter,  and 
 called  her  name  ||  Dinah. 
 
 22  1!  .'Vnd  God  ''remembered  Rachel,  and  God 
 hearkened  to  her,  and  '  opened  her  womb. 
 
 23  And  .she  conceived,  and  bare  a  sun  ;  and 
 said,  God  hath  taken  away  'my  reproach  : 
 
 24  And  she  called  his  name  ||  Joseph  ;  and 
 said,  'The  Loud  shall  add  to  me  another  son 
 
 2o  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Rachel  had 
 born  Joseph,  that  Jacob  said  unto  Labaii, 
 "Send  me  away,  that  1  may  go  unto  "mine 
 own  place,  and  to  my  country. 
 
 2G  Give  ii>e  my  wi\es  and  my  children,  "for 
 whom  I  have  served  thee,  and  let  me  go :  for 
 thou  knowest  my  service  which  1  have  done 
 thee. 
 
 27  And  Laban  said  unto  him,  I  pray  thee,  if  I 
 have  found  favour  in  thine  eyes,  turrij  :  for  *'  I 
 have  learned  by  experience  that  the  Lokd  hath 
 blessed  me  "  for  thy  -sake. 
 
 28  And  he  said,  °  Appoint  nie  thy  wages,  and 
 I  will  give  it. 
 
 29  And  he  said  unto  him,  •■  Thou  knowest 
 how  I  have  served  thee,  and  how  thy  cattle 
 was  with  me. 
 
 31.  Levi,  'Joined,'  in  more  fervent  affection.  35.  Judiih— she  praised 
 Cod  before,  but  nowninrc  solemnly.— i'oo/e.  Left  bearing,  for  a  time, 
 as  she  had  more  cliildrcn. — Hew. 
 
 Chap.  XXX-  — 3-  Bear  upon  nnj  A-nees—an  ellilisis;  a  cliild  which 
 may  be  laid  upon  my  knees,  wliich  I  may  bring  up  as  my  own,  [see 
 chap-  1-  23  ;  Isa-  Ixvi.  12.)— Poole.  The  Chaldee  paraphrase  is,  '  And  I 
 sliall  be  a  nurse.'  6.  Ditn,  intimating,  'God  has  given  sentence  for 
 me.' — Poole.      '  Hath   decided   my   cause.' — Hew.  8.  With   great 
 
 ierestlin!;.s,  'with  divine  and  vehement  wrestlings.' — .-tins.  'By  the 
 intwisted  agency  and  operation  of  God,  lam  iutwisted  with  my  sister ;' 
 niy  family  is  interwoven  with  her.-.—Prtr.  Naplituti—sbe  having 
 wrestled  with  God  in  fervent  prayer-— Poo/t^-  11.^  troop  comet  ft,  or 
 good  luck  Cometh-— i'un/f.  Gad,  ■  prosperity-'— BooWir-  13.  As/iur, 
 •  in  or  for  my  happiness ;'  this  child  shall  add  to  my  happiness-— Gi«. 
 
 14-  Mandralces — Pliny  speaks  of  mandialie  apples,  about  the  size  of  fil- 
 berts, good  to  eat,  and  of  pleasant  smell ;  but  critics  have  not,  in  gene, 
 ral,  decided  what  these  were-  They  are  supposed  to  have  been  some 
 fruit  wliieh,  it  was  imagined,  would  aid  in  increasing  offspring- — Ed. 
 The  Hebrew  word  means  'love  apples-' — Evan.  Si/nop.  18-  Isnueltar, 
 as  in  Margin,  or,  '  tliere  is  a  reward.'— Gi//-  2U-  Born  Jtitn  six  sons — 
 many  sons  are  a  woman's  honour  in  the  east,  and  none,  a  disgrace. — 
 Pict.  Bill.  Zebulun— X\i\s  name  e-\pressed  the  hope  that  her  husband 
 would  dwell  with  her  constantly-  '21-  I>(na/i— this  name  intimated 
 that  God  had  decided  in  her  favoui  -—  Gilt.  23-  My  reproaelt — the 
 intense  dcsii  e  of  the  Hebrew  women  for  children  was  the  hope  of  bear- 
 ingthe Messiah- — Green/.  'Be fruitful  and  multiply,'  was  the  blessing 
 of  Gud  ;  barrenness,  therefore,  was  reckoned  a  reproach- — Hew.  24-  .Jo- 
 seph— e-\prcssive  of  her  faith  that  God  would  add  to  her  offspring — Gilt, 
 
 REFi-ECTinNs  ON  CiiAP.  XXIX.  —  We  learn  two  important 
 truths  from  tliis  chapter  ;_L  That  genuine  love  for  an  object 
 trill  bear  us  up,  through  all  dllficvlties,  to  secure  its  po.^session. 
 lieholil  the  love  of  J-.icob  for 'Kacliel !  '  Jacob  served  seven 
 years  for  Rachel,  and  tliey  seemed  unto  him  but  a  few  days, 
 tor  the  love  he  had  to  her.'  If  love  to  a  creature  like  our- 
 selves may  have  so  powerful  an  influence  over  the  heart,  why 
 need  we  marvel,  then,  on  observing  llie  inliuence  of  the  love 
 which  our  Divine  Saviour  proUuces  in  the  soul?  '  llie  love 
 ofClirist  constraineth  us,'  says  an  apostle.  This  sacred  prin- 
 ciple, operating  as  the  mainspring  of  action  in  the  soul,  car- 
 ried the  apostles,  the  primitive  Christians,  and  the  martyrs, 
 through  Hoods  of  tribulation,  and  furnaces  heated  seven  times 
 3'j 
 
 hotter  than  usual.  Do  we  love  Christ  ?  We  should  then 
 reckon  no  act  of  sell-denial  too  great,  if  called  upon  to  make 
 it  for  iiim — no  sacrifice  too  great  to  possess  him  as  our  own. 
 
 11.  That  u-e  are  often  reminded  of  our  sins  iti  our  punishmejits. 
 Though  Chid  loves  his  children,  yet  he  will  correct  them,  and 
 make  ilieni  feel  their  errors  and  follies.  Jacob  might  have 
 safely  trusted  the  birthriglit  with  God,  when  Ksau  had  fool- 
 ishly and  slightingly  cast  it  away ;  hut  he  adopted  those  frau- 
 dulent schemes  which  now,  and  in  tlje  supposed  loss  of 
 .Joseph,  were  practised  upon  him.  How  must  his  heart  have 
 reproached  him  on  this  occasion,  to  be  thus  caught  in  his  own 
 net!  Honest  dealings  are  always  the  best,  and  we  may  siilely 
 trust  tlie  consequences  with  God. 
 
Jacob's  policy. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXI. 
 
 He  departeih  secretly. 
 
 30  For  it  ivas  little  wliicli  tlioii  hadst  bcforp 
 I  came,  and  it  is  tiaw  f  increased  unto  a  multi- 
 tude ;  and  the  Lord  liatli  blessed  tliee  f  since 
 my  coming :  and  now  wlien  shall  I  ''  provide 
 for  mine  own  house  also  V 
 
 31  And  he  said,  What  shall  I  pcive  thee? 
 And  Jacob  said.  Thou  shalt  not  give  me  any 
 thing :  if  thou  wilt  do  this  thing  for  me,  I  will 
 again  feed  and  keep  thy  flock  : 
 
 Hi  I  will  pass  through  all  thy  flock  to  day, 
 removing  from  thence  all  the  speckled  and 
 spotted  cattle,  and  all  the  brown  cattle  among 
 the  sheep,  and  the  spotted  and  speckled  among 
 the  goats  :  and  ''  of  stick  shall  be  my  hire. 
 
 ver,  43, 
 t  Hell.  «/  »f 
 
 t  Hel).  /'-- 
 Ex.  13.  14. 
 
 33  So  shall  my  "  righteousness  answer  for  me | » p.?.  37.  c. 
 f  in  time  to  come,  when  it  shall  come  for  my 
 hire  before  tliy  face  ;  every  one  that  is  not 
 speckled  and  spotted  among  the  goats,  and 
 brown  among  the  sheep,  that  shall  be  counted' 
 stolen  with  me. 
 
 34  And  Laban  said.  Behold,  I  would  it  might! 
 be  according  to  thy  word.  | 
 
 35  And  he  removed  tliat  day  the  he  goats , 
 that  wera  ringstraked  and  spotted,  and  all  the' 
 she  goats  that  were  speckled  and  spotted,  and 
 every  one  that  had  some  white  in  it,  and  all: 
 the  brown  among  the  sheep,  and  gave  ihern^ 
 into  the  hand  of  bis  sons.  ' 
 
 30  And  be  set  three  days'  journey  betwixt; 
 himself  and  Jacob  :  and  Jacob  fed  the  rest  of  | 
 Laban's  flocks.  i 
 
 37  TAnd  Macob  took  him  rods  of  green  pop-  |/seecii.  ai 
 lar,  and  of  the  hazel  and  chesnut  tree  ;   audi  *"'"' 
 pilled  white  strakes  in  them,  and   made  tbe| 
 
 white  appear  which  was  in  the  rods.  I 
 
 38  And  he  set  the  rods  which  he  had  pilled  | 
 before  the  flocks  in  the  gutters  in  the  watering; 
 troughs  when  the  flocks  came  to  drink,  that 
 they  should  conceive  when  they  came  to  drink. 
 
 39  And  the  flocks  conceived  before  the  rods. 
 
 gvrr.SO. 
 
 h  ch.  IS.  2. 
 &  S-1. .«.  & 
 20.  13,  M. 
 
 '.  -li.  .1.  o 
 
 c  nf.i.?S.54. 
 t  Heb.  «* 
 
 tinrl  llir  liny 
 h'furt. 
 1  Sam. 19.7. 
 d  rli.  2«.  15. 
 2(»,  21,It  3?. 
 (I. 
 
 and  brought  forth  cattle  ringstraked,  speckled, 
 and  spotted. 
 
 40  And  Jacob  did  separate  the  lambs,  and  set 
 the  faces  of  the  flocks  toward  the  ringstraked, 
 and  all  the  brown  in  the  flock  of  Laban  ;  and 
 he  put  his  own  flocks  by  themselves,  and  put 
 them  not  unto  Laban's  cattle. 
 
 41  And  it  came  to  pass,  whensoever  the 
 stronger  cattle  did  conceive,  that  Jacob  laid 
 the  rods  before  the  eyes  of  the  cattle  in  the  gut- 
 ters that  they  might  conceive  among  the  rods. 
 
 42  But  when  the  cattle  were  feeble,  be  put 
 them  not  in  :  so  the  feebler  were  Laban's,  and 
 the  stronger  Jacob's. 
 
 43  And  the  man  ^  increased  exceedingly,  and 
 "  bad  much  cattle,  and  maidservants,  and  men- 
 servants,  and  camels,  and  asses. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 1  Jacob  upon  dispUasurc  fh-parteth  Sicretlif.  ]9  Rachel 
 sfeaieth  her  fafhir's  iniiujes.  22  LnJian  pursufth 
 afttr  him,  26  ««'/  ctnnphiiiu'th  of  Vie  wrong.  J34 
 Rachel's  policy  to  hide  the  images.  oG  Jncuh's  com- 
 plaint of  Laban.  43  The  covenant  of  Laban  and 
 Jacob  at  Galeed. 
 
 \  ND  he  heard  the  words  of  Laban's  sons, 
 ■^^  saying,  Jacob  hath  taken  away  all  that 
 was  our  father's  ;  and  of  that  which  was  our 
 father's  hath  be  gotten  all  this  "  glory. 
 
 •2  And  Jacob  beheld  ''  the  countenance  of 
 Laban,  and,  behold,  it  was  not  'toward  him  f  as 
 before. 
 
 3  And  the  Lor.D  said  unto  Jacob,  ''  Return 
 unto  the  land  of  thy  fathers,  and  to  thy  kin- 
 dred ;  and  I  will  be  with  thee. 
 
 4  And  Jacob  sent  and  called  Rachel  and 
 Leah  to  the  field  unto  his  flock, 
 
 5  And  said  unto  them,  "  I  see  your  father's 
 countenance,  that  it  is  not  toward  me  as  be- 
 fore ;  but  the  God  of  my  father  ''  hath  been 
 with  me. 
 
 30.  Since  my  corninfr,  literally,  'through  my  feet.'  Boot/iroi/d  reads, 
 'through  my  labour.'  33.  When  it  shall  came — Poole  reads,  in 
 parentlieRis,  '  when  thou  shalt  come  upon  my  hire,'  or  '  reward,' 
 that  is,  'to  see  whether  I  have  any  other  cattle  than  belong  to  mc, 
 ray  righteousness  shall  appear  in  the  colour  of  the  cattle  allotted  to 
 
 me.'         3".  Pitied  while  s^r«A-fs— this  was  a  mere  prejudice  of  the 
 ancient  shepherds.    The  rods,  however  they  were  peeled,  could  not 
 produce  these  effects  on  the  cattle.    It  was  God,  therefore,  who  blessed 
 iiim  with  substance. — Std. 
 Chap.  XXXI.  — I.  G(ory— riches,  called  glory,  (chap.  .\lv.  13;  Ps. 
 
 RF.rr.ECTTONS  ON  CnAP.  XXX.  —  I.  /ra  the  huilding  vp  of 
 Jacoh's  family,  and  in  his  general  prosperity,  we  see  the  hand  of  the 
 ciwcnaut-keejiing  God.  Jacob  had  not  even  long  to  wait  for  the 
 first  earne.sts  of  God's  promise,  and  they  were  lieaped  upon 
 Lim  in  almndance.  It  required  the  greatest  faith  when  aged 
 Abraham  could  see  bis  numerous  seed,  wlien  as  yet  he  had  no 
 ofTspring,  and  was  himself  the  very  aged  husband  of  the  aged 
 .Sarah  ;  and  even  though  the  extraordinary  birth  of  Isaac 
 occurred  as  God  had  said,  it  was  still  an  exercise  of  great  faith 
 to  see  how,  from  his  loins,  his  seed  should  be  'as  the  sand 
 which  is  upon  the  sea  shore.'  IJut  wlien  .lacob  saw  so  many 
 sons  springing  up  before  him.  how  must  it  have  elated  his 
 heart,  and  when,  in  addition,  he  '  increased  exceedingly,'  in 
 what  bright  characters  must  he  have  read  the  terms  of  the 
 covenant  renewed  to  bim  at  Bethel,  and  confirming  the  bless- 
 ing of  his  father  Isaac—'  God  Almighty  bless  thee,  and  make 
 thee  fruitful,  and  multiply  thee,  that  thou  mayest  be  a  multi- 
 tude of  people.'  Could  the  solitary  Jacob  have  reckoned  upon 
 so  soon  becoming  such  a  troop  when  he  fled  from  his  brother, 
 and  reposed  upon  the  stone  at  Bethel  ^  Could  he  have  sup- 
 posed that  a  few  short  years  only  of  his  life  would  pass  away 
 and  he  would  be  surrounded,  not  only  with  a  numerous  off- 
 spring, but  with  '  much  cattle,  and  maid-servants,  and  men- 
 servants,  and  camels,  and  asses'  ?  Let  Christians  look  hack 
 to  their  first  starting  in  life— to  the  trials  they  have  been 
 called  to  sustain — to  the  goodless  and  mercy  which  has  fol- 
 lowed them,  and  they  must  say,  '  He  is  faithful  who  hatli 
 promised.'  Earthly  comforts  may,  indeed,  have  failed,  and  the 
 promise  is  not  made  to  us  as  to  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob, 
 of  numerous  oilspring,  or  a  huid  of  abundance,  but  yet  there  is 
 a  covenant  of  grace  made  for  all  believers,  and  blessings 
 secured  in  that  covenant  ;  here  all  things  are  wisely  ordered, 
 and  on  this  the  Christian,  when  he  dies,  is  willing  to  lay  his 
 37 
 
 hand  and  say,  '  He  is  able  to  do  for  us  exceeding  abundantly 
 above  all  that  we  can  ask  or  think.' 
 
 II.  Li  the  prosperity  of  Lnban  for  Jacobus  sake,  we  see  what  ft 
 blessing  to  a  family  are  those  who  truhj  fear  and  serve  God.  •  I 
 pray  thee,'  said  Laban  to  Jacob,  '  if  1  have  found  favour  in 
 thine  eyes,  tarry  ;  for  I  have  learned,  by  experience,  that  the 
 Lord  hath  blessed  me  for  thy  sake.'  It  is,  however,  to  be 
 lamented,  that  many  servants,  under  the  cloak  of  religion,  do 
 but  deceive  their  masters,  and,  instead  of  being  blessings, 
 abuse  their  misplaced  confidence,  and  so  bring  religion  and 
 religious  servants  into  contempt.  Happy  is  he  whose  con- 
 science will  bear  him  witness  that  he  is  a  '  good  and  faithful 
 servant.' 
 
 III.  hi  the  success  of  Jacob  in  obtaining  the  reward  nfhis  ser- 
 vices, we  see  a  lesson  taught  us,  in  the  interposition  of  Providence 
 in  his  behalf,  that  masters  oui/ht  to  give  their  Just  dues  to  those  who 
 serve  them  fuithfidhj.  \\  hat'ever  may  be  said  of  the  contrivance 
 of  Jacob  respe'cting  the  flocks,  or  the  practice  of  eastern  shep- 
 herds, it  is  obvious,  from  the  extraordinary  success  of  Jacob's 
 scheme,  that  the  hand  of  God  was  in  it ;  and  more  obvious 
 from  the  vision  w  hich  Jacob  afterwards  saw,  in  which  the 
 angel  declared,  '  I  have  seen  all  that  Laban  doeth  unto  thee.' 
 Laban  was  a  hard  master  ;  he  had  contrived  to  secure  long 
 services  from  Jacob  for  his  two  daughters,  and  when  be  gave 
 him  wages  he  was  always  shuffling,  and  changed  them  no  less 
 than  '  ten  times.'  But  he  who  is  the  God  of  the  pious  servant 
 as  well  as  of  the  pious  master,  saw  the  oppression  to  which 
 Jacob  was  subjected,  and,  as  it  were,  undertook  himself,  from 
 Laban's  property,  to  pay  him  his  just  wages.  Can  we  do 
 better  than  trust  our  concerns  in  the  hands  of  our  heavenly 
 Lord  and  Master?  for  '  the  righteous  Lord  doeth  righteous- 
 ness ;  his  countenance  doth  behold  the  upright.' 
 
Laban  pursueth  after  Jacob, 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXI. 
 
 and  complaineth  of  the  wrong. 
 
 6  And  ^  ye  know  that  with  all  my  power 
 1  have  served  your  father. 
 
 7  And  your  father  hath  deceived  me,  and 
 ''  changed  my  wages  '  ten  times  ;  but  God 
 ''  suffered  him  not  to  luirt  me. 
 
 8  If  he  said  thus,  '  The  speckled  shall  be  thy 
 wages ;  then  all  the  cattle  bare  speckled  :  and 
 if  he  said  thus.  The  ringstraked  shall  be  thy 
 hire  ;  then  bare  all  the  cattle  ringstraked. 
 
 9  Thus  God  hath  "  taken  away  the  cattle  of 
 your  father,  and  given  them  to  me. 
 
 10  And  it  came  to  pa.ss  at  the  time  that  the 
 cattle  conceived,  that  I  lifted  uji  mine  eyes, 
 and  saw  in  a  dream,  and,  behold,  the  |{  rams 
 which  leaped  upon  tlie  cattle  were  ringstraked, 
 speckled,  and  grisled. 
 
 1 1  And  "  the  angel  of  God  spake  unto  me  in 
 a  dream,  sai/in<j,  Jacob :  And  I  said.  Here 
 am  I. 
 
 12  And  he  said.  Lift  up  now  thine  eye.s, 
 and  see,  all  the  rams  which  leap  upon  the 
 cattle  are  ringstraked,  speckled,  and  grisled  : 
 for  °  I  have  seen  all  that  Laban  doeth  unto 
 thee. 
 
 13  I  am  the  God  of  Beth-el,  ''where  thou 
 anointedst  tlie  pillar,  aiul  where  thou  vowedst 
 a  vow  unto  me :  now  ■*  arise,  get  thee  out  from 
 this  land,  and  return  unto  the  land  of  thy  kin- 
 dred. 
 
 14  And  Kachel  and  Leah  answered  and  said 
 unto  him,  '  Is  there  yet  any  portion  or  inherit- 
 ance for  us  in  our  father's  liouse  ? 
 
 15  Are  we  not  counted  of  him  strangers?  for 
 '  he  hath  sold  us,  and  hath  quite  devoured  also 
 our  money. 
 
 IG  For  all  the  riches  which  God  hath  taken 
 from  our  father,  that  is  our's,  and  our  children's  : 
 now  then,  whatsoever  God  liath  said  unto 
 thee,  do. 
 
 17  t  Then  Jacob  rose  up,  and  set  his  sons 
 and  his  wives  upon  camels  ; 
 
 18  And  he  carried  away  all  his  cattle,  and 
 all  his  goods  which  he  had  gotten,  the  cattle 
 of  his  getting,  wliich  he  had  gotten  in  Padan- 
 aram,  for  to  go  to  Isaac  his  father  in  the  land 
 of  Canaan. 
 
 19  And  Laban  went  to  shear  his  sheep  :  and 
 Rachel  had  stolen  tlie  f  images  that  were  her 
 father's. 
 
 20  And  Jacob  stole  away  f  unawares  to  La- 
 ban the  Syrian,  in  that  he  told  him  not  that  he 
 fled. 
 
 21  So  he  fled  with  all  that  he  had  ;  and  he 
 rose  up,  and  passed  over  the  river,  and  "  set 
 his  face  toward  the  mount  Gilead. 
 
 22  And  it  was  told  Laban  on  the  third  day 
 that  Jacob  was  fled. 
 
 23  And  he  took  "  his  brethren  with  him,  and 
 pursued  after  him  seven  days'  journey  ;  and 
 they  overtook  him  in  the  mount  Gilead. 
 
 24  And  God  >'  came  to  Laban  the  Syrian  in  a 
 dream  by  night,  and  said  unto  him.  Take  heed 
 that  thou  "  speak  not  to  Jacob  f  either  good  or 
 bad. 
 
 25  t  Then  Laban  overtook  Jacob.  Now  Jacob 
 
 ir  ver.  3S,  3y, 
 
 4'>,  41. 
 
 rh.  3(1.  29. 
 /.  ver-  41. 
 .■  Nu.  14.  22. 
 
 Neh.  4.  12. 
 
 Job  19.  3. 
 
 Zech.  S.  23. 
 ft  oh.  80.  6. 
 
 Ps.  10.i.  14. 
 I  ch.  30.  32. 
 
 t  llcb, 
 
 /,..,.l„„,. 
 
 Judg.  17.5. 
 
 ISam.n.lS. 
 
 Mos.  3.  4. 
 /  ch.  ai.  2. 
 (   Hcb.  tlifl 
 
 hr^Tt  of  La- 
 
 6iu. 
 
 l.uked.  SI 
 i3 
 
 V  ch.  20.  3. 
 Job  33.  15. 
 Mat.  1.  20. 
 
 I  eh.  24.  50. 
 t  Heb./r™, 
 
 t  H.b.  hast 
 ilolen  me. 
 
 b  ver.  55. 
 
 Ruth  I.  9, 
 
 II. 
 
 I  Kiu.  19. 
 
 20. 
 
 Acts  20.  37. 
 c  1  S.i.  13. 13, 
 
 2Clir.  16.9. 
 d  ver.  5:). 
 
 di.  2».  IS. 
 e  ver.  24. 
 
 /ver.  19. 
 Judg.18.24. 
 
 C  See  ch.44. 
 
 g 
 
 t  ncb./,-(l. 
 
 I  Hob./r». 
 
 iKx.22. 10, 
 S.C. 
 *  El.  22.  12 
 
 had  pitched  his  tent  in  the  mount :  and  Laban 
 with  his  brethren  pitched  in  the  mount  of 
 Gilead. 
 
 26  And  Laban  said  to  Jacob,  What  hast  thou 
 done,  tliat  thou  hast  stolen  away  unawares  to 
 me,  and  '  carried  away  my  daughters,  as  cap- 
 tives taken  with  the  sword  ? 
 
 27  Wherefore  didst  thou  flee  away  secretly, 
 and  t  steal  away  from  me  ;  and  didst  not  tell 
 me,  that  I  raiglit  have  sent  thee  away  with 
 mirth,  and  with  songs,  with  tabret,  and  with 
 harp  ':* 
 
 28  And  hast  not  suffered  me  ''to  kiss  my 
 .sons  and  my  daughters  ?  '  thou  hast  now  done 
 foolishly  in  so  doing. 
 
 29  It  is  in  the  power  of  my  hand  to  do  you 
 hurt  :  but  the  ''  God  of  your  father  spake  unto 
 me  "  yesternight,  saying.  Take  thou  heed  that 
 thou  speak  not  to  Jacob  either  good  or  bad. 
 
 30  And  now,  thougit  thou  wonkiest  needs  be 
 gone,  because  thou  sore  longedst  after  thy  fa 
 ther's  house,  yet  wherefore  hast  thou  '  stolen 
 my  gods  'i 
 
 31  And  Jacob  answered  and  said  to  Laban, 
 Because  I  was  afraid  :  for  1  said,  Peradventure 
 
 I  thou  vvouldest  take  by  force   thy   daughters 
 I  from  me. 
 
 32  With  whomsoever  thou  findest  thy  gods, 
 *let  him  not  live  :  before  our  brethren  discern 
 thou  what  K<  thine  with  me,  and  take  it  to  thee. 
 For  Jacob  knew  not  that  Rachel  had  stolen 
 them. 
 
 33  And  Laban  went  into  Jacob's  tent,  and 
 into  Leah's  tent,  and  into  the  two  maidser- 
 vants' tents  ;  but  he  found  them  not.  Then 
 went  he  out  of  Leah's  tent,  and  entered  into 
 Rachel's  tent. 
 
 34  Now  Kachel  bad  taken  the  iniage.s,  and 
 put  them  in  the  camel's  furniture,  and  sat  upon 
 them.  And  Laban  f  searched  all  the  tent,  but 
 found  them  not. 
 
 35  And  she  said  to  her  father.  Let  it  not  dis- 
 please my  lord  that  I  cannot  ''  rise  up  before 
 thee  ;  for  the  custom  of  women  is  upon  me. 
 And  he  searched,  but  found  not  the  images. 
 
 36  K  And  Jacob  was  wroth,  and  chode  with 
 Laban  :  and  Jacob  answered  and  said  to  La- 
 ban, What  is  my  trespass  ?  what  is  my  sin, 
 that  thou  hast  so  hotly  pursued  after  me  ? 
 
 37  Whereas  thou  hast  f  searched  all  my  stuff, 
 what  hast  thou  found  of  all  thy  houshold  stutf  ? 
 set  it  here  before  my  brethren  and  thy  bre- 
 thren, that  they  may  judge  betwixt  us  both. 
 
 38  This  twenty  years  have  I  been  with  thee  ; 
 thy  ewes  and  thy  she  goats  have  not  cast  their 
 young,  and  the  rams  of  thy  flock  have  I  not 
 eaten. 
 
 39  '  That  which  was  torn  of  beasts  I  brought 
 not  unto  thee  ;  I  bare  the  loss  of  it ;  of  ^  my 
 hand  didst  thou  require  it,  whether  stolen  by 
 day,  or  stolen  by  night. 
 
 40  Thus  I  was  ;  in  tlie  day  the  drought  con- 
 sumed me,  and  the  frost  by  night  ;  and  my 
 sleep  departed  from  mine  eyes. 
 
 41  Thus  have   I  been  twenty  years  in  tliy 
 
 xlix.  16;  Isa.  l.wi.  12,  compared  with  Isa.  L\.  6.)  being  tlie  subjects  ami 
 occasion  of  glory  to  their  possessors. — Poole.  7.  Ten  times,  *  ofttiraes,' 
 (see  Lev.  .\xvi.  26 ;  Numb.  xiv.  22  ;  1  Sam.  i.  8 ;  Job,  xix.  3.)~-Poole. 
 12.  Gristed,  having  white  hail  spots. — A.  Cturke.  15.  Our  money — 
 Heb.  'silver,'  meaning  price;  Jacob  paid  him  hy  labour.— Boo/Ar. 
 \^.  Images — Heb.  'teraphim,'  made  like  men  or  angels;  in  ver.  30, 
 termed  *  gods.*  Household  gods,  to  protect  the  house.  It  has  been 
 conjectured,  that  Rachel  t'  lok  these  to  prevent  Labau's  consulting  them 
 to  find  Jacob's  route  ;  or  from  veneration  for  them  ;  or  to  take  off  her 
 father  from  worshipping  tlicm  ;  or  to  enrich  herself,  U  made  of  precious 
 38 
 
 metals  ;  or  to  keep  as  remembrancers. — Gill.  20.  Utole  tuvati  un- 
 awares— Heb.  'stole  away  the  heart  of  Laban,'  his  cattle  and  goods. — 
 Gill.  21.  TIte  rirer,  Euphrates,  which  lay  between  Mesopotamia  and 
 Chaldea,  (Gen.  xv.  IS.)— Poole.  24.  Good  or  bad — neither  promises 
 nor  threats  to  return. — Poole,  29.  Tlie  God  uf  your  father — hence, 
 he  disowns  God  as  his  God. — Poole.  And  he  adhered  to  the  gods 
 of  his  grandfather  Tcrah,  from  whnm  Abraham  departed. — Gilt. 
 34.  Camel's  furniture — probably  a  piece  of  serge,  six  ells  long,  called 
 an  tiiran,  thrown  over  the  saddle,  and  used  as  a  mattress  at  lught. — 
 liar.        40.  Tfie  drouslit—tlie  frost — "At  night  we  foiuid  the  Mrcitiiu: 
 
Tlie  coveitant  of  Lahan  and  Jacob. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXII. 
 
 Jacob's  vision  at  Mahanaim. 
 
 house  ;  I  '  served  thee  fourteen  years  for  thy 
 two  daughters,  and  six  years  for  thy  cattle  : 
 and  ">  thou  hast  changed  my  wages  ten  times. 
 
 4-2  °  Except  the  God  of  my  fatlier,  the  God 
 of  Abraham,  and  "  the  fear  of  Isaac,  had  been 
 with  me,  surely  thou  hadst  sent  me  away  now 
 empty.  ■'  God  hath  seen  mine  affliction  and 
 the  labour  of  my  hands,  and  ''  rebuked  thee 
 yesternight. 
 
 4.3  If  And  Laban  answered  and  said  unto 
 .lacob,  r/icse  daughters  are  my  daughters,  and 
 these  children  are  my  cliildreu,  and  these  cattle 
 are  my  cattle,  and  all  that  thou  seest  is  mine  ; 
 and  what  can  I  do  this  day  unto  these  my 
 daughters,  or  unto  their  children  which  they 
 have  born  ? 
 
 44  Now  therefore  come  thou,  ''let  us  make  a 
 covenant,  I  and  thou  ;  '  and  let  it  be  for  a  wit- 
 ness between  me  and  thee. 
 
 45  And  Jacob  '  took  a  stone  and  set  it  up_/o?' 
 a  pillar. 
 
 4!)  And  Jacob  said  unto  his  brethren,  Gather 
 stones  ;  and  they  took  st{)nes,  and  made  an 
 heap :  and  they  did  eat  there  upon  the  heap. 
 
 47  And  Laban  called  it  ||  Jegar-sahadutha : 
 but  Jacob  called  it  ||  Galeed. 
 
 48  And  Laban  said,  "  This  heap  (s  a  witness 
 between  me  and  thee  this  day.  Therefore  was 
 the  name  of  it  called  Galeed  ; 
 
 49  And  ^  II  Mizpali ;  for  he  said.  The  Lord 
 watch  between  me  and  thee,  when  we  are  ab- 
 sent one  from  another. 
 
 .50  If  thou  sbalt  afflict  my  daughters,  or  if 
 thou  shalt  take  other  wives  beside  my  daugh- 
 ters, no  man  is  with  us;  see,  God  is  witness 
 betwixt  me  and  thee. 
 
 •51  And  Laban  said  to  Jacob,  Behold  this 
 heap,  and  behold  this  pillar,  which  I  have  cast 
 betwixt  me  and  thee  ; 
 
 52  This  heap  be  witness,  and  this  pillar  be 
 witness,  that  I  will  not  pass  over  this  heap 
 to  thee,  and  that  thou  shalt  not  pass  over  this 
 heap  and  this  pillar  unto  me,  for  harm. 
 
 53  The  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of 
 Nahor,  the  God  of  their  father, 'judge  betwixt 
 us.  And  Jacob  "  sware  by  '  the  fear  of  his  fa- 
 ther Isaac. 
 
 54  Then  Jacob  ||  offered  sacrifice  upon  the 
 mount,  and  called  his  brethren  to  eat  bread  : 
 and  they  did  eat  bread,  and  tarried  all  night  in 
 the  mount. 
 
 55  And  early  in  the  morning  Laban  rose  up, 
 and  kissed  his  sons  and  his  daughters,  and 
 ''  blessed  them  :  and  Laban  departed,  and  '  re- 
 turned unto  his  place. 
 
 B.C.  r:.io. 
 
 /  cli.  29.  ?7, 
 
 2S. 
 
 m  ver,  7. 
 ;,  Ps.l31.1,S. 
 o  ver.  53. 
 
 Is.  «.  13. 
 
 /)  ch.  29.  32. 
 
 Ex.  3.  7. 
 7  I  Chr.  12. 
 
 17.    Jude9. 
 
 ■  ch.  2G.  2.S 
 rJiisli.  24.27. 
 
 [I  Tbati-sCf 
 hffip  of  wit- 
 WW.,  Cliald 
 
 II  That  is.  Hit 
 he;,,  „/  wit- 
 ness. Heb. 
 
 H  Josli.24.27. 
 
 1- JllllR.  II. 
 
 29.     1  Sam. 
 
 7.5. 
 l!  Tliat  IS,  a 
 
 lifirfnii,  or 
 
 tentfrhttfuer. 
 
 cli.  21.23. 
 ver.  .12. 
 
 I  Or,  liHUit 
 be-istt. 
 
 I  cli.  28.  1. 
 cl>.  IS.  33. 
 &  311.  25. 
 
 I  Ps.  91.  II 
 Heb.  I.  N. 
 
 A  .Tosh-.l.  U. 
 
 Ps.  I  OS.  21. 
 
 &  113.  2. 
 
 Luke  2.  13. 
 li  That  is, 
 
 two     llMfty 
 
 or  camp3. 
 c  cli.  33.  14, 
 
 IG. 
 rf  ch.  36. 6, 7, 
 
 8.  Deul.2..5. 
 
 Josh.  24.  4. 
 t  Heb.>W. 
 r  ProT.  15.1. 
 
 t   Heb.   /  on: 
 /cm  tliaii  oil, 
 
 .1  ch.  24.  27. 
 o  Job  8.  7. 
 
 7  Hos.  10.14. 
 t  Heb.  upon. 
 
 r  ch.  2S.  13, 
 14,  15. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXII. 
 
 I  Jacol/s  vision  at  JMahanalm.  3  His  messaije  to  Esau. 
 6  He  is  afraid  of  Esau's  comiiif/.  9  He  prayetlt  for 
 deUverance.  13  He  seiidetli  a  present  to  Esau. 
 24  He  wrestleth  with  an  angel  at  Peniel,  where  he  is 
 called  Israel.     31  He  halteth. 
 
 A  ND  Jacob  went  on  his  way,  and "  the  angels 
 ■'-^  of  God  met  him. 
 
 •2  And  when  Jacob  saw  them,  he  said.  This  is 
 God's  '■  host  :  and  he  called  the  name  of  that 
 place  II  Mahanaim. 
 
 3  And  Jacob  sent  messengers  before  him  to 
 Esau  his  brother  "  unto  the  land  of  Seir,  •■  the 
 t  country  of  Edom. 
 
 4  And  he  commanded  them,  saying,  "  Thus 
 shall  ye  speak  unto  my  lord  Esau  ;  Thy  servant 
 Jacob  saith  thus,  I  have  sojourned  with  Laban, 
 and  stayed  there  until  now : 
 
 5  And  '  I  have  oxen,  and  asses,  flocks,  and 
 menservant.s,  and  womenservants  :  and  I  have 
 sent  to  tell  my  lord,  that  ^  I  may  find  grace  in 
 thy  sight. 
 
 6  1  And  the  messengers  returned  to  Jacob, 
 saying,  We  came  to  thy  brother  Esau,  and  also 
 '■  he  Cometh  to  meet  thee,  and  four  hundred 
 men  with  him. 
 
 7  Then  Jacob  was  greatly  afraid  and  ■  dis- 
 tressed ;  and  he  divided  the  people  that  iras 
 with  him,  and  the  flocks,  and  herds,  and  the 
 camels,  into  two  bands  ; 
 
 8  And  said,  If  Esau  come  to  the  one  company, 
 and  smite  it,  then  the  other  company  which  is 
 left  shall  escape. 
 
 9  t "  And  Jacob  said,  »  O  God  of  my  father 
 Abraham,  and  God  of  my  father  Isaac,  the 
 Lord  "'  which  saidst  unto  me.  Return  unto 
 thy  country,  and  to  thy  kindred,  and  I  will 
 deal  well  with  thee  : 
 
 10  t  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  least  of  all  the 
 "mercies,  and  of  all  the  truth,  which  thou  hast 
 shewed  unto  thy  servant ;  for  with  °  my  staff'  I 
 passed  over  this  Jordan ;  and  now  I  am  become 
 two  bands. 
 
 1 1  ''  Deliver  me,  I  pray  thee,  from  the  hand 
 of  my  brother,  from  the  hand  of  Esau  :  for  I  fear 
 him,  lest  he  will  come  and  smite  me,  and  ''  the 
 motbertw'ith  the  children. 
 
 12  And  'thou  saidst,  I  will  surely  do  thee 
 good,  and  make  thy  seed  as  the  sand  of  the 
 sea,  which  cannot  be  numbered  for  multitude. 
 
 1.3  1  And  he  lodged  there  that  same  night  ; 
 and  took  of  that  which  came  to  his  hand  "a 
 present  for  Esau  his  brother  ; 
 
 14  Two  hundred  she  goats,  and  twenty  he 
 goats,  two  hundred  ewes,  and  twenty  rams. 
 
 as  piercingly  cold  as  it  was  distressfully  hot  in  tlie  day  time.'— Co/. 
 CampbelVs   Travels  in  illesopotamirt.  42.   Fettr — see  note,  ver.   53. 
 
 47.  J^-gnr.srtAorfHf/ia— Syriac, 'the  heap  of  testimony.'  Galeed— H^h. 
 '  the  heap  of  witness.'— Pu/.  49.  Mizpah,  '  a  watch-tower.'  53.  The 
 fear  of  his  father  y  that  is,  'the  religion  of  his  father.' — Snt.  '  Ti:  K 
 REVF.RED  One  of  his  father  Isaac.'— iJo'*(/(r.  54.   They  did  eut 
 
 bread — covenants  of  friendship  were  anciently  ratified  by  the  parties 
 eating  and  drinking  together.  It  was  in  the  nature  of  a  love  feast.— Hra. 
 
 Chap.  XXXII. — I.  Angels,  ^^i^h^,  'messengers.'  Met  him,  in  glori- 
 ous forms,  as  they  often  appeared  to  the  patriarchs. — Ben.  Whether 
 in  a  vision  ^y  day,  or  a  dream  by  ni^ht,  is  uncertain. — Hen.  2.  God's 
 host,  so  called  for  their  number,  order,  obedience,  strength.  Sec. — 
 Trapp.  Mahanaim,  '  two  hosts  or  camps  ; '  the  angel's  one,  and  Jacob's 
 the  other. — .-I.  Clarke.  3.  Edom,  perhaps  called  so  liere  by  anticipa- 
 tion.— Gill.  10,  Worth?/  of  the  least  of  all  the  mercies,  or,  *  I  am  less 
 than  all  thy  mercies.'    C'TCnn  730  'nrip.— So  Pag.,  Drvsius,  Schmidt, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXL— I.  The  treatment  of  Jacob 
 by  Laban.  wbile  he  was  with  him,  reminds  us  that  we  must 
 often  look  for  ill  rewards  for  good  services.  This  is  the  way  of 
 the  world,  and  it  were  to  be  wished  that  it  were  not  sometimes 
 the  way  of  those  who  are  called  the  religious  world,  and  of 
 those  who  are  even  good  people.  But  these  painful  facts  do 
 but  prove  the  necessity  of  having  '  a  conscience  void  of  offence 
 towards  God  and  towards  man,'  and  this  will  extract  much  of 
 the  venom  proceeding  from  tlie  sting  of  ingratitude.  The 
 good  man  may  rejoice  that  he  serves  no  fickle,  no  hardhearted, 
 no  frowning  master,  and  that  what  reward  soever  he  may  re- 
 39 
 
 ceive  on  earth,  to  him  belongs  the  promise — *  great  is  your 
 reward  in  heaven.' 
 
 n.  The  treatment  of  .Tacob  by  Laban,  wlien  he  overtook 
 liim  on  liis  departure,  shews  the  continued  care  of  God's  pro^ 
 vidence  over  them  who  faithfully  serve  hhn.  He  interposes  in 
 behalf  of"  his  servant— sends  him  away  under  his  guidance — 
 warns  Laban  to  do  him  no  harm,  and  constrains  the  pursuing 
 enemy  to  return  under  a  covenant  of  peace.  So  true  is  it  that, 
 *  when  a  man's  ways  please  the  Lord,  he  maketb  even  his 
 ei  emies  to  be  at  peace  with  him.' 
 
Jacob  ivrestlcth  ivil/i  an  angel. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXIII. 
 
 lie  is  called  Israel 
 
 15  Thirty  milch  camels  with  their  colts,  forty 
 kine,  and  ten  bulls,  twenty  she  asses,  and  ten 
 foals. 
 
 16  And  he  delivered  them  into  the  hand  of 
 his  servants,  every  drove  by  themselves  ;  and 
 said  unto  his  servants,  Pass  over  before  me, 
 and  put  a  space  betwixt  drove  and  drove. 
 
 1 7  And  lie  commanded  the  foremost,  saying. 
 When  Esau  my  brother  meeteth  thee,  and 
 asketh  thee,  saying.  Whose  art  thou  ?  and 
 whither  goest  thou  ?  and  whose  are  these  be- 
 fore thee  ? 
 
 18  Then  thou  shalt  say,  T/iei/  be  thy  servant 
 Jacob's  ;  it  is  a  present  sent  unto  my  lord 
 Esau  :  and,  behold,  also  he  is  behind  us. 
 
 19  And  so  commanded  he  the  second,  and 
 the  third,  and  all  that  followed  the  droves,  say- 
 ing. On  this  manner  shall  ye  speak  unto  Esau, 
 when  ye  find  him. 
 
 20  And  say  ye  moreover,  Behold,  thy  servant 
 Jacob  is  behind  us.  For  he  said,  I  will  '  ap- 
 pease him  with  the  present  that  goeth  before 
 me,  and  afterward  I  will  see  his  face  ;  perad- 
 venture  he  will  accept  fof  me. 
 
 21  So  went  the  present  over  before  him  :  and 
 himself  lodged  that  night  in  the  company. 
 
 22  And  he  rose  up  that  night,  and  took  his 
 two  wives,  and  his  two  womenservants,  and 
 his  eleven  sons,  "  and  passed  over  the  ford 
 Jabbok. 
 
 23  And  he  took  them,  and  f  sent  them  over 
 the  brook,  and  sent  over  that  he  had. 
 
 2i  1  And  Jacob  was  left  alone  ;  and  there 
 *  wrestled  a  man  with  him  uutil  the  f  breaking 
 of  the  day. 
 
 23  And  when  he  saw  that  he  prevailed  not 
 against  him,  he  touched  the  hollow  of  his  thigh  ; 
 and  '  the  hollow  of  Jacob's  thigh  was  out  of 
 joint,  as  he  wrestled  with  him. 
 
 26  And  ^he  .said,  Let  me  go,  for  the  day 
 breaketh.     And  he  said,  °  I  will  not  let  thee 
 
 t  Hel.  I 
 Job  i2. 
 
 tv  puif. 
 
 I  Hos.l?.S,4. 
 Eph.  li  IJ. 
 t  Uob.  «*- 
 
 Iftemoriitiiff. 
 
 V  See  Matt. 
 
 2«.  41. 
 
 2  C.t.  1S.7. 
 :  Sec  Luke 
 
 24.    28. 
 «  Hos.  12.'). 
 
 6  cli.  35.  to. 
 
 2Kiii.i7.M. 
 Ij  Tliut  is,  a 
 
 ^,^,/ 
 
 c  Hos.  1 2.3,4- 
 d  cli.  25.  SI. 
 &  'Si.  33. 
 
 e  Jiidp.  13. 
 
 Tliat  is,lh^ 
 •'.ceorGofi. 
 /fti.  Hi.  13. 
 Ks.  '24.  11. 
 &;  Sa.  20. 
 \K-ut.5.24. 
 
 Si  13.  :^. 
 
 Is.  fi.  5, 
 
 h  cl) 
 
 18.2.  & 
 
 c 
 
 L-Il. 
 
 ns.  28. 
 
 d 
 
 vh 
 
 '15.  14, 
 
 go,  except  thou  bless  me. 
 
 27  And  he  said  unto  him,  What  is  thy  name  ? 
 And  he  said,  Jacob. 
 
 28  And  he  said,  ''  Thy  name  sliall  be  called 
 no  more  Jacob,  but  ||  Israel :  for  as  a  jirince 
 hast  thou  '^^  power  with  God  and  ''  with  men, 
 and  hast  prevailed. 
 
 29  And  Jacob  asked  /lim,  and  said.  Tell  7>ie, 
 
 I  pray  thee,  thy  name.  And  he  said,  '  Where- 
 fore is  it  t/iat  thou  dost  ask  after  my  name  ? 
 And  he  blessed  him  there. 
 
 30  And  Jacob  called  the  name  of  the  place 
 
 II  Peniel  :  for  '  I  have  seen  God  face  to  face, 
 and  my  life  is  preserved. 
 
 31  And  as  he  passed  over  Penuel  the  sun 
 rose  upon  him,  and  he  halted  upon  his  thigh. 
 
 32  Therefore  the  children  of  Israel  eat  not 
 o/'the  sinew  which  shrank,  which  is  upon  the 
 hollow  of  the  thigh,  unto  this  day  :  because 
 he  touched  the  hollow  of  Jacob's  thigh  in  the 
 sinew  that  shrank. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIII. 
 
 1  T/ie  kin/lncss  of  Jacob  and  Esau  at  their  mrfifinr;, 
 17  Jacob  comeik  to  Succot/i.  18  .It  Shalcin  lie  hny- 
 cth  a  Jivld,  and  hiildtth  an  alttir  called  El-tlvht- 
 hnuL 
 
 AND  Jacob  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  looked, 
 •^*-  and,  behold,  ^  Esau  came,  and  with  bini 
 four  hundred  men.  And  he  divided  the  chil- 
 dren unto  Leah,  and  unto  Rachel,  and  unto 
 the  two  handmaids. 
 
 '2  And  he  put  the  handmaids  and  their  chil- 
 dren foremost,  and  Leah  and  her  children  after, 
 and  Rachel  and  Joseph  hindermost. 
 
 3  And  he  passed  over  before  them,  and 
 ^  bowed  himself  to  the  ground  seven  times, 
 until  he  came  near  to  his  iSrother. 
 
 4  "^  And  Esau  ran  to  meet  him,  and  embraced 
 him,  ^  and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  Idssed  him  : 
 and  they  wept. 
 
 5  And  he   lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  saw   the 
 
 Gill,  and  A.  Clarke.  Two  bands,  or  two  troops,  or  companies. — Poole. 
 15.  Mitch  camels,  niuch  valued  in  the  cast,  from  their  giving  much 
 milk. — Orient.  Lit.,  No.  9'i.  18.  A  present — if,  in  the  eabt,  a  favour 
 is  to  be  solicited,  or  peace  made,  or  an  interview  desired,  a  present  is 
 sent  to  prepare  the  way. — Rob.  "id.  Accept  of  vie,  Heb.  '  lift  up  my 
 face  or  countenance,'  now  dejected  frnm  his  displeasure. — Poole. 
 24.  A  m«;i— called  after,  and  by  the  prophet  Hosea,  '  God,*  and  an 
 '  angel,'  (ver.  28 — 30 ;  Hos.  xii.  3,  4.)  Christ,  as  he  appeared  to  Abra* 
 ham,  (chap,  xviii.  2,  22.)  The  angel  that  redeemed  Jacob,  (chap. 
 xlviii.  I6.)  Christ  in  the  form  of  a  man. — Ains.,  A.  Clarke.  The  Eter- 
 nal Word,  or  Son  of  God,  who  often  appeared  in  human  shape  before 
 he  assumed  human  nature.— Uen.,  so  Gill,  Saurin.  Boothroi/d  and 
 Hunter  think  this  was  a  dream,  and  that  Jacob  would  not,  in  a  solitary 
 place,  have  wrestled  all  night  with  a  man;  but  if  faith  was  in  exercise, 
 what  courage  would  not  that  inspire,  and  it  is  obvious  that  he  saw  the 
 divine  character  of  the  person  he  endeavoured  to  retain,  or  he  would 
 not  have  been  so  earnest  in  imploring  a  bles;-iug,  (ver.  26  ;)  besides,  it 
 seems  unlikely  that  Jacob  would  halt  from  mere  wrestling  in  a  vision. 
 —Ed.  '  If  it  was  not  a  vision,  then,'  says  Boothroyd,  '  it  is  figurative, 
 and  wrestling  e.\prcssive  of  Jacob's  fervent  prayer.'  The  halting  on  his 
 thigh  must,  then,  if  we  adopt  this  view,  be  figurative  also,  and  expres- 
 sive of  the  humility  of  his  mind  afier  gaining  the  blessing.—jErf. 
 Dr.  Hunter  conjectures,  that  wrestling  might,  in  the  oriental  style, 
 express  earnest  prayer,  and  the  touching  of  the  thigh  be  a  sign  'to 
 express  approbation  of  his  faith,  fortitude,  and  i>erseverancc,  and  to 
 convince  him  of  his  inferiority  and  weakness,'  and  that  this  was  'a 
 
 mystical  representation  and  expression  to  instruct  men  in  the  nature 
 of  prayer.'  Tjvi/;/;  views  this  as  *a  proper  combat ;'  GfV/ says  it  was 
 '  real  and  corporeal  nn  the  part  of  both  ;'  and  Fuller,  '  a  literal  trans- 
 action,'  considering  it  as  '  the  same  Divine  personage'  who  appeared 
 at  Bethel  and  Padan-aram,  '  who,  bein^  in  the  form  of  God,  again 
 thought  it  no  usurpation  to  appear  as  God.'  A.  Clarke  has  a  curious 
 notion,  that  it  was  the  spiritual  form  operating  upon  Jacob's  body! 
 and  he  rejects  the  idea  of  Christ's  assuming  human  forms,  arguing  on 
 the  difficulty  of  dispersing  the  matter  in  a  moment :  but  philosopliy  has 
 nothing  to  do  witli  that  which  is  supernatural  and  miraculous. — Ed. 
 25.  Out  of  joint,  '  hung  loose.' — AiJis.  *  Benummed,'  Gr.  'Strained.* 
 ~~Gcd.  28.  Israel,  'a  prince  of  God.* — Gill.  Rather,  *  he  saw  God,' 
 from  iL"l>t,  'a  man,*  Hi^l,  '  he  saw,'  ^m,  '  God.' — A.  Clarke.  Hast  thou 
 power,  ffc.,  *  because  thou  hast  had  power  with  God,  thou  shalt  prevail 
 also  with   men.'  —  Houb.,   Dathe,   Rosenm.;    adopted    by  A.    Clarke. 
 
 29.  Wherefore,  %c.,  '  canst  thou  be  ignorant  who  1  am?' — A.  Clarke. 
 
 30.  Penie/— in  ver.  31,  Penuel,  *  the  face  of  God.'— G(7/.  The  Greek 
 expounds  it,  '  the  shape  of  God.' — Ains. 
 
 Chap.  XXXI II. — 3.  Seven  times,  perhaps  means,  'many  times.' — Gill. 
 4.  Kissed  hint— this  custom  is  common  in  Persia  and  Hindostan. — 
 Porter,  Ward.    The  Nasoretic  Bible  marks  the  word  with  points,  thus, 
 
 inplDM,  wliich  A.  Clarke,  who  expresses  a  cordial  feeling  for  Esau, 
 represents  as  so  distinguished  according  to  the  Jewish  writers,  to  shew 
 Ebau's  chtnif^e  and  his  great  sincerity  ;  he  ought,  in  fairness,  to  have 
 added,  asTrapp  and  Gill  inform  us,  that  the  Jewish  writers  are  divided 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXIL  —  I.  iFe  see  here,  that 
 God's  providential  care  is  ever  over  his  people.  We  know  not 
 how  much  we  owe  to  the  interposition  of  invisible  angels. 
 l'erh;\ps,  when  our  spirits  enter  into  the  eternal  world,  we 
 shall  be  astonished  at  tbeir  numbers,  and  their  activity  in 
 attendance  on  the  servants  of  God.  '  Are  they  not  all  minis- 
 tering spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  to  them  who  shall  be 
 heirs  of  salvation  V 
 
 II,  We  are  further  instructed  that.  While  we  trust  in  God*s 
 providence  in  all  cases  of  difficult?/,  we  ought  to  use  every  prudent 
 means  to  secure  our  safety.  Although  the  apostle  Paul  had  di- 
 vine assurances  of  the  protection  of  himself  and  the  crew  in 
 the  shipwreck,  yet,  when  the  mariners  were  about  to  escape  in 
 40 
 
 the  boat,  he  said,  '  Except  these  abide  in  the  ship  ye  cannot 
 be  saved.'  So  Jacob  here  uses  all  prudent  precautions  under 
 the  alarming  appearances  of  the  approach  of  his  offended  bro- 
 ther Esau.  While  we  trust  providence,  let  us  learn  never  to 
 tempt  providence. 
 
 III.  Jf^e  learn  the  efficacy  of  prayer,  in  connexion  with  the  use 
 of  means  for  our  preservation.  Not  oidy  in  seasons  of  extre- 
 mity, but  at  all  times — every  day,  every  hour— we  ought  to 
 look  up  to  God  for  preservation.  And  we  have  here  a  beau- 
 tiful and  simple  model,  expressive  of  faitli  in  God's  promises 
 . — of  humility,  of  gratitude.  Our  prayers,  loo,  should  be 
 earnest,  patient,  and  persevering,  like  Jacob's  \  and  they  shall, 
 like  his,  at  length  terminate  with  the  blessing. 
 
Juculi  Cometh  to  Siiccotli. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXIV. 
 
 Dinah  is  ravishtdhy  Sltechem. 
 
 women  and  the  children  ;  and  said,  Who  arc 
 those  t  with  thee?  And  he  said,  Tlie  children 
 '  which  God  hath  graciously  given  thy  servant.! 
 
 6  Then  tlie  handmaidens  came  near,  they  and 
 their  children,  and  they  bov»-ed  themselves. 
 
 7  And  Leah  also  with  her  cliildren  came  near, 
 and  bowed  tliemselves  :  and  after  came  Joseph 
 near  ami  Raciiel,  and  they  bowed  themselves. 
 
 8  And  he  said,  f  What  meanest  tliou  by  '  all 
 tills  drove  which  I  met?  And  he  said.  These 
 are  ^  to  find  grace  in  the  sight  of  my  lord. 
 
 9  And  Esau  said,  I  have  enough,  my  brother  ; 
 f  keep  that  thou  liast  unto  thyself. 
 
 10  And  Jacob  said,  Nay,  I  pray  thee,  if  now 
 I  have  found  grace  in  thy  sight,  tlien  receive 
 my  present  at  my  hand  :  for  therefore  I  ''have 
 seen  thy  face,  as  though  I  had  seen  the  face  of 
 God,  and  thou  wast  pleased  witli  me. 
 
 11  Take,  I  pray  thee,  'my  blessing  that  is 
 brought  to  thee  ;  because  God  hath  dealt  gra- 
 ciously with  me,  and  because  I  have  f  enougli. 
 ^  And  lie  urged  liini,  and  he  took  it. 
 
 I -2  And  lie  said,  Let  us  take  onr  journey, 
 and  let  us  go,  and  I  will  go  before  thee. 
 
 13  And  he  said  unto  him,  My  lord  knovveth 
 that  the  children  are  tender,  and  the  flocks 
 and  herds  with  young  are  with  me  :  and  if 
 men  .should  overdrive  them  one  day,  all  the 
 flock  will  die. 
 
 14  Let  my  lord,  I  pray  thee,  pass  over  be- 
 fore his  servant:  and  I  will  lead  on  softly,  f  ac- 
 cording as  the  cattle  that  goeth  before  me  and 
 tlie  children  be  able  to  endure,  until  1  come 
 unto  my  lord  '  unto  Seir. 
 
 1.5  And  Esau  said.  Let  me  now  f  leave  with 
 thee  some  of  the  folk  tliat  are  with  me.  And 
 he  said,  f  What  needeth  it  ?  "'  let  me  find  grace 
 in  the  siglit  of  my  lord. 
 
 16  IT  So  Esau  returned  that  day  on  his  way 
 unto  Seir. 
 
 17  And  Jacob  journeyed  to  °  Succoth,  and 
 built  him  an  house,  and  made  booths  for  his 
 cattle :  therefore  the  name  of  the  place  is 
 called  II  Succoth. 
 
 18  IT  And  Jacob  came  to  °  Shalem  a  city  of 
 y  Sheclieni,  which  (,«  in  the  land  of  Canaan, 
 when  he  came  from  Padan-aram  ;  and  pitched 
 his  tent  before  the  city. 
 
 19  And  ''he  bought  a  parcel  of  a  field,  where 
 he  had  spread  his  tent,  at  the  hand  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  II  Hamor,  Shechem's  father,  for  an  hun- 
 
 It  C,  I7-.J9. 
 t  tlub./uf/ue. 
 ^  rh.  4fl.  9. 
 
 Ps.  \-n.  3. 
 
 Is.  ».  18. 
 
 t  Hi-b.  rrhni 
 is  utt  Ihn  I 
 band  t'l  Ihee? 
 
 /  cli.  .S2.  Hi. 
 
 3  ch.  3i.  3. 
 
 \Heh.btthr,i 
 t;  tlin^  tital 
 is  thiiw. 
 
 h  ch.  .«.  .1. 
 
 2  Siun.S.IS. 
 
 8t  M.  2l,:;fi, 
 
 32.  Mm.  18. 
 
 10. 
 i.Iiulg.  1.15. 
 
 1  Sam.  25. 
 27.  &  30.  -JIJ. 
 
 2  Kin.  5.15. 
 t  Hi'lj.  oH 
 
 (/iti.</«. 
 l'liil.1.  IS. 
 A  2  Kin. 5. 23. 
 
 n.  C.  17:'!l. 
 
 t  Heb.  fjc- 
 Ci'Ttlitig  to 
 
 thtfOHl   „f 
 
 the  Kurh.Scc. 
 
 n„d  o.c.„<J. 
 
 i»g  til  the 
 fiiiil  nf  the 
 
 children. 
 I  Oh.  .-,2.  3. 
 t  Heb.  «/, 
 
 or,  place. 
 )  Heb. 
 
 IVherefiiri. 
 
 Is  thinf 
 m  ch,  34.  II 
 
 ft  47.  25. 
 
 Huth  2.  13, 
 
 II  Oi-,  hiiilii. 
 
 r  ch.  33.  7. 
 
 11  That  is, 
 Grid  the  U  id 
 of  hriiet. 
 
 c\v.  1733. 
 nch.  30.  21 
 6  rit.  2.  5. 
 
 c  ch.  0,  2. 
 
 Juilg.  14.  1. 
 rf  cb.  21).  2. 
 t  Heb.  hum- 
 
 hli'd  her. 
 
 Deut.22.29. 
 
 t  Hch.  /(.  (/,-: 
 heiirt  iif  the 
 diims,-l: 
 See  Is.  UI.2, 
 Hns.  2.  14. 
 
 «JuJg  14.2, 
 
 f\  Sam.  10. 
 27.  2  Sam. 
 13.  22. 
 
 21. 
 
 h  .IoBh.7. 15. 
 .Iiulg.  -^0.  ti, 
 Deut.23.17. 
 2  Sam.  13. 
 12. 
 
 /.  ch.  13.  19. 
 
 &  20.  15. 
 (  ch.  42.  34. 
 
 n  Josh. 13. 
 
 a?.  Jiids-S. 
 
 5.  Ps.  CO.  (3. 
 
 II  That  ia, 
 
 boftla. 
 
 0  J..hi.  :i.  23. 
 
 II  Culleti, 
 
 Acts  7.  10, 
 
 Suchf,,,. 
 
 /jJofih.  2-1.  \. 
 
 Judff.  9.  I. 
 
 i7J.>sh.?4.S2. 
 
 John  4.  5.       1 
 
 il  Called, 
 
 .Acts  7.  10, 
 
 EmmoT. 
 
 .  22.  IG, 
 Oeut. 
 
 I  Sam.  18. 
 26. 
 
 II  See  2  Pnm 
 13,  24,  .'^c. 
 
 dred  ||  pieces  of  money. 
 
 20  And  he  erected  there  an  altar,  and  "■  called 
 it  II  El-elohe-Isra«l. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 1  DlnaJt  is  ravished  hij  Stii:c}icm.  4  He  suethto  marrtj 
 her,  13  Tilt:  sotis  of  Jacob  offir  tlif  coitdiiion  of  cir- 
 cumciaion  to  the  S/tec/iemitcn.  20  Iltniniv  untl  Shi - 
 cheiii  pei-auade  t/iem  to  acct'pt  it.  2.j  IVie  sons  of 
 Jficoh  itpou  /hat  adcaiitagf  slnij  thcin,  27  mttt  npuil 
 their  citi/.     30  Jaeoh  rcproveth  Siiilion  find  Levi. 
 
 A  ND  "Dinah  the  daughter  of  Leah,  whicli 
 ■^  she  bare  unto  Jacob,  ''  went  out  to  see  the 
 daughters  of  the  land. 
 
 2  And  when  Shechem  the  son  of  Hamor  the 
 Hivite,  prince  of  the  country,  '  saw  her,  he 
 •'  took  her,  and  lay  with  lier,  and  f  defiled  her. 
 
 3  And  his  soul  clave  unto  Dinah  the  daughter 
 of  Jacob,  and  he  loved  the  damsel,  and  .spake 
 t  kindly  unto  the  damsel. 
 
 4  And  Shechem  ''spake  unto  his  father  Ha- 
 mor, saying.  Get  me  this  damsel  to  wife. 
 
 3  And  Jacob  heard  that  he  had  defiled  Dinah 
 his  daughter:  now  his  sous  were  witli  his 
 cattle  in  the  field  :  and  Jacob  ""held  his  peace 
 until  they  were  come. 
 
 6  li  And  Hamor  the  father  of  Shechem  went 
 out  unto  Jacob  to  commune  with  him. 
 
 7  And  the  sons  of  Jacob  came  out  of  the  field 
 when  they  heard  it:  and  the  men  were  grieved, 
 and  they  ^  were  very  wroth,  because  he  ''  had 
 wrought  folly  in  Israel  in  lying  with  Jacob's 
 daughter  ;  'which  thing  ought  not  to  be  done. 
 
 8  And  Hamor  communed  with  them,  saying. 
 The  soul  of  my  son  Shechem  longeth  for  your 
 daughter  :  I  pray  you  give  her  him  to  wife. 
 
 9  And  make  ye  marriages  with  us,  and  give 
 your  daughters  unto  us,  and  take  our  daughters 
 unto  you. 
 
 10  And  ye  shall  dwell  with  us  :  and  '•  the 
 land  shall  be  before  you  ;  dwell  and  '  trade  ye 
 therein,  and  "  get  you  possessions  tliereiu. 
 
 1 1  And  Shechem  said  unto  her  father  and 
 unto  her  brethren,  Let  me  find  grace  in  your 
 eyes,  and  what  ye  shall  say  unto  me  1  will  give. 
 
 12  Ask  me  never  so  much  "dowry  and  gift, 
 and  I  will  give  according  as  ye  shall  say  unto 
 me  :  but  give  me  the  damsel  to  wife. 
 
 13  And  the  sous  of  Jacob  answered  Shecliem 
 and  Hamor  his  father  °  deceitfully,  and  said, 
 because  he  had  defiled  Dinah  their  sister  : 
 
 14  And  they  said  unto  them.  We  cannot  do 
 
 about  it,  some  thinking  tlic  points  were  to  marlt  Esau's  iiisittceritii  in 
 kissinp  his  brother  when  he  liatert  him.  Most  Christian  c  mnieiitators, 
 liowever,  view  Esau's  conduct,  on  this  occasion,  as  proceeding  from  a 
 softened  heart.  9.  7  tittve  enougli,  *  I  have  much,'  n  '?  m*.  ^  est  milii 
 tnultiiirt.' — I'tig.,  I^lont.,  Dntsiits.  10.  Beceiee  mi/  present — in  eastern 
 countries  the  acceptance  of  a  present  by  a  superior  secures  his  friend- 
 ship, but  his  rejeclion  exposes  to  danger. — A.  Chtrke.  The  face  ofGutl 
 — D^n^M  may,  according  to  many,  signify  liere,  '  g"ds  or  princes  ,*  but 
 Williums  observes,  he  was  a  prince  in  reality.  Trapp  and  Aiimwort/i 
 interpret  it,  that  he  saw  God's  face  in  this  unexpected  kindness.  Wil- 
 Hums  says,  it  was  a  higli  eastern  compliment.  11.  Mij  btessinfr,  'my 
 present,*  (see  1  Sam.  xxv.  2".) — Pitt.  See  also.  1  Sam.  xxx.  21),  and 
 Josh.  XV.  19.  1/.  Jacob  joitrneiieii  to  Siiceiilli — some  tiiink  lie  had 
 reasons  for  not  goinp:  to  Seir,  but  Gill  thinks  this  might  be  alter  lie  had 
 been  tliere.  18.  hlialemsume  think  this  the  place  called  Salim, 
 John,  iii.  23:  and  Sychar,  John,  iv.  3.  Others  read  the  passajre,  'he 
 came  safe  or  whole  to  the  city  of  Shechem.' — Poole.    A.  Vlnrke  traiis- 
 
 latts  D?^  here,  'in  peace'  or  'in  safpty;'  so  do  Ains.  and  Bootlir. 
 19.  For  tin  linniiretl  pieces  fjf  mintetj — tile  Heb.  HTi'lTp  nxOl.  signifies, 
 '  for  a  hundred  lainhs  :'  it  may  .signify  either  Ittmtjs,  given  in  way  of 
 exchange  for  it,  or,  pieces  of  money,  which  seems  more  probable,  botli 
 by  comparing  Acts,  vii.  l6,  and  because  money  was  come  into  use  in 
 th.it  phice  and  time,  (Gen.  xvii.  12,  13,  and  xxiii.  16,  and  xlvii.  i6,) 
 which  were  called  Unnbs,  possibly  irom  the  figure  of  a  lamb  stampL-d 
 upon  the  coin,  as  the  Athenian  money  was  called  ox  for  the  like 
 reasiiu. — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XXXl  V. — 1.  Ditiiih — went  out — Josephus  BTiys,  it  was  a  festival 
 day.  To  see,  'look  about  her,'  as  the  Itebiew  imjiorts. — Pol.  Tlie 
 /«/(rf,  of  Canaan. — Gill.  2.  Defiletl  her,  Heb.  'humldeii  or  afflictul 
 her.'  3.  Uftlu  the  diimset,  17  i'S.  'to  the  heart'  of  her. — Seelilitrff., 
 GUI,  A.  Clarke.  7.  In  Israel,  ''JN'lld,  '  against  Israel.' — So  various 
 foreign  critics,  and  Ains.,  and  A.  Clarke.  12.  Dowrij — the  dowry 
 
 was  what  a  man  gave  to  a  woman  at  her  maniage. — Cifl.  Daughters 
 aie  among  the  riches  of  the  Arabs. — De  la  Roquets  Voyage.     Anil  gift 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch,vp.  XXXIII 1. The  conduct  of  Esau, 
 
 on  this  occasion,  should  shame  those  Christians  who  never  can  for- 
 give an  injury.  It  seems  probable  that  Esau  was  sincere  ;  and 
 especially  as  he  afterwaids  lived  nei[;Lbourly  with  Jacob. 
 Kven  worldlings  are  often  to  be  reconciled — Iiow  much  more 
 ought  Christians  to  forgive  ofTending  brethren  ;  and  especially 
 their  oft'eiiding  relatives.  Jacob,  however,  acted  the  part 
 which  the  oftender  ought  in  all  cases  to  imitate — he  used  every 
 method  to  effect  reconciliation.  In  reading  this  iritere,sting 
 narrative,  let  us,  then,  learn  to  forgive  one  another.  And  1^■e 
 41 
 
 have  a  higher  motive  than  the  mere  example  which  is  here 
 set  before  us,  when  we  remember  how  mucii  we  have  offended 
 God,  and  liow  much  '  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  bath  forsiven 
 us.' 
 
 II.  The  conduct  of  Jacob,  when  he  had  fixed  his  hahitatiim., 
 renews  in  our  recollectitms  the  couliinted  reiiord  which  the  prlri- 
 archs  had  to  the  worship  of  God.  '  He  erected  there  an  altar.' 
 Wherever  we  go.  let  us  do  so  likewise,  remembering  the 
 Divine  promise,  '  Wherever  two  or  three  are  met  together  m 
 my  name,  there  am  1  in  the  midst  of  them.' 
 
 G 
 
The  sons  of  Jacob  slay  the  Shechemites. 
 
 this  thing,  to  give  our  sister  to  one  that  is  un. 
 circumcised  ;  for  ''  that  were  a  reproach  unto  us : 
 13  But  in  this  will  we  consent  unto  you  :  If 
 ye  will  be  as  we  be,  that  every  male  of  you  bt 
 circumcised  ; 
 
 16  Then  will  we  give  our  daughters  unto  you 
 and  we  will  take  your  daughters  to  us,  and  we 
 will  dwell  with  you,  and  we  will  become  one 
 people. 
 
 17  But  if  ye  will  not  hearken  unto  us,  to  be 
 circumcised  ;  then  will  we  take  our  daughter, 
 and  we  will  be  gone. 
 
 18  And  their  words  pleased  Hamor,  and  She- 
 chem  Hamor's  son. 
 
 19  And  the  young  man  deferred  not  to  do 
 the  thing,  because  he  had  delight  in  Jacob's 
 daughter  :  and  he  was  ''  more  honourable  than 
 all  the  house  of  his  father. 
 
 20  f  And  Hamor  and  Shechem  his  son  came 
 unto  the  gate  of  their  city,  and  communed 
 with  the  men  of  their  city,  saying, 
 
 21  These  men  are  peaceable  with  us  ;  there- 
 fore let  them  dwell  in  the  land,  and  trade 
 therein ;  for  the  laud,  behold,  it  is  large  enough 
 for  them  ;  let  us  take  their  daughters  to  us  for 
 wives,  and  let  us  give  them  our  daughters. 
 
 22  Oidy  herein  will  the  men  consent  unto  us 
 for  to  dwell  with  us,  to  be  one  people,  if  every 
 male  among  us  be  circumcised,  as  they  are 
 circumcised. 
 
 2.3  Shall  not  their  cattle  and  their  substance 
 and  every  beast  of  thcir's  be  our's?  only  let  us 
 consent  unto  them,  and  they  will  dwell  with  us. 
 
 24  And  unto  Hamor  and  unto  Shechem  his 
 son  hearkened  all  that  '  went  out  of  the  gate 
 of  his  city  ;  and  every  male  was  circumcised, 
 all  that  went  out  of  the  gate  of  his  city. 
 
 2.5  t  And  it  came  to  pass  on  tlie  third  day, 
 when  they  were  sore,  that  two  of  the  sons  of 
 Jacob,  ^  Simeon  and  Levi,  Dinah's  brethren, 
 took  eacli  man  his  sword,  aud  came  upon  the 
 city  boldly,  and  slew  all  the  males. 
 
 20  And  they  slew  Hamor  and  Shechem  his 
 son  with  the  ffige  of  the  sword,  and  took 
 Dinah  out  of  Shechem's  house,  and  went  out. 
 
 27  The  sons  of  Jacob  came  upon  the  slain, 
 and  spoiled  the  city,  because  they  had  defiled 
 their  sister. 
 
 28  They  took  their  sheep,  and  their  oxen, 
 and  their  asses,  and  that  which  was  in  the  city, 
 and  that  which  was  in  the  field, 
 
 29  And  all  their  wealth,  and  all  their  little 
 
 GENESIS. 
 bTc.      I 
 
 1-       ITJ.T 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 God  scndeth  Jacob  to  Jitth-rl. 
 
 q  I  Cl.r.  *.  3, 
 
 ch.'-'S.  19. 
 cli.  2S.  \X 
 cli.  S7.  43. 
 
 [r-h.  IS.  19. 
 Josli.  2*.I5. 
 ch.  31.  19, 
 »4.  Josh. 
 '-4.  %  ^. 
 I  Sam.  7.  S. 
 A  Ex.  19.  10. 
 
 i;rh.3>.7,'>4. 
 
 Pfl.  107.  ti. 
 'i  rh.  S8.  20, 
 
 &  31.  3,  4:;. 
 
 *  Jf>Bh,2+  26. 
 Judg.  9.  6. 
 
 i  Ex.  15.  16. 
 
 *   ?S.  27.  ft 
 
 "A.  24. 
 
 neut.II.25. 
 
 Josh.».9.  & 
 
 5.  r.  I  Sam. 
 
 M.   15. 
 
 2rhr.U.I+. 
 m  (Th.28.  19. 
 
 22. 
 
 X  Eccles.5.4-. 
 
 II  Thftt  is, 
 Tht  Gnd  f./ 
 li'th-fl. 
 ch.  2M.  IS. 
 
 P  ch.  2*.  59. 
 
 That  in, 
 tkf    onh    of 
 
 ones,  and  tlieir  wives  took  they  captive,  and 
 spoiled  even  all  that  was  \\\  the  house. 
 
 30  And  Jacob  said  to  Simeon  and  Levi,  ^  Ye 
 liave  "  troubled  me  "^  to  make  me  to  stink 
 among  the  inhabitants  oi'  the  land,  among  the 
 Canaaiiites  and  the  Pcrizzites  :  'and  \  being 
 few  in  number,  they  shall  gather  themselves 
 together  against  me,  and  slay  me  ;  and  I  shall 
 be  destroyed,  I  and  my  house. 
 
 31  And  they  said,  Should  he  deal  with  our 
 sister  as  with  an  harlot? 
 
 CHAP.  XXXV. 
 
 I  God  sendtth  Jticnh  to  Bcth-A.  2  ITc  pvrpcfh  his 
 house  of  idols.  6  He  huildetli  an  altar  at  BttU-tl. 
 8  Dt-horah  ditth  at  Allnn-hachuth.  y  Gnd  hhss-(h 
 Jacob  at  Btth-cL  16  liarhd tniivtilith  of  Bcnjumtn, 
 anil  ditth  in  the  way  to  Edar.  22  lijuhfit  litth  tcifli 
 lidhah.  23  TUe  sons  of  J.uob.  27  Jacob  comcth 
 to  Isaac  at  Hebron.  23  The  ape,  death,  and  burial 
 of  Isaac. 
 
 AND  God  said  unto  Jacob,  Arise,  go  up  to 
 -'-*-  "  Beth-el, and  dwell  there  :  and  make  there 
 an  altar  unto  God,  **  that  ap])pared  unto  thee 
 "  when  thou  fleddest  from  the  face  of  Esau  thy 
 brother. 
 
 2  Then  Jacob  said  unto  his  *^  houshold,  and 
 to  all  that  were  with  him,  Put  away  ^  the 
 strange  gods  that  are  among  you,  and  'be 
 clean,  and  change  your  garments  : 
 
 3  And  let  us  arise,  and  go  up  to  Beth-el ;  and 
 I  will  make  there  an  altar  unto  God,  ^  who 
 answered  me  in  the  day  of  my  distress,  ''and 
 was  with  me  in  the  way  which  I  went. 
 
 4  And  they  gave  unto  Jacob  all  tlie  strange 
 gods  which  irere  in  their  liand,  and  all  t/wir 
 '  earrings  which  ivere  in  their  ears  ;  and  Jacob 
 hid  them  under  ^  the  oak  which  teas  by  She- 
 chem. 
 
 3  And  they  journeyed:  and  'the  terror  of 
 God  was  upon  the  cities  that  were  round  about 
 them,  and  they  did  not  pursue  after  the  sons 
 of  Jacob. 
 
 6  t  So  Jacob  came  to  ""  Luz,  which  is  in  the 
 land  of  Canaan,  that  is,  Beth-el,  he  and  all 
 the  people  that  irere  with  him. 
 
 7  And  he  "  built  there  an  altar,  and  called  the 
 place  II  El-beth-el  :  because  "  tliere  God  ap- 
 peared unto  him,  when  he  fied  from  the  face 
 of  his  brother. 
 
 8  But  P  Deborah  Rehekah's  luirse  died,  and 
 she  was  buried  beneath  Beth-cl  under  an  oak  : 
 and  the  name  of  it  was  called  ||  Allon-bachuth. 
 
 — d"wry  went  to  the  parents,  gifts  to  the  kindred.— Pu(.  23.  Be 
 ours,  by  intermarriage  or  conquest.— GzV/.  94.  Every  vinle—Wns  is 
 an  illustration  of  the  pnssire  obedience  practised  under  despots  in 
 eastern  countries. — A.  Clarke.  25.  Simeon  and  htvi,  children  of 
 Leah,  as  well  as  Pinah.  The  elder  brother,  Reuben,  was  not  in  the 
 plot.  The  mnffs,  grown  up,  the  little  ones  being  captives,  (ver.  29.) — 
 Gill,  Sut.  27.  Because  they  /tad  defiled  their  sistei — the  Orientals 
 
 consider  themselves  especially  bound  to  avenge  the  violation  of  a 
 sister.— Orient.  Cust.,  No.  640  ;  Orient.  Lit,,  No.  96.  This  is  ascribed 
 to  all,  as  probably  expressing  their  approval  of  it.— Pa;.  31.  As  icith 
 It  harlot— from  this  Scott  infers,  she  was  not  forced,  but  seduced  ;  but 
 ver  2  plainly  declares  she  was.  Bp.  Kidder  says,  the  word  in  ver.  2 
 intimates  viole7ice  and  her  disscJit ;  and  Boothroyd,  'it  exculpates 
 Dinah  from  all  hlatne.' 
 
 Chap.  \XW. —  \.  Beth-el,  twenty. eight  miles  from   Shechem.— 
 
 Bnnt.  Trav.  Jacob  was  warned  to  go  t<i  Bethel,  to  escape  the  dan- 
 gers and  fears  arising  from  tlie  late  cruel  transactions.  2.  Thestmnge 
 ^orf5,  ID^n  TI^M, 'the  gods  of  the  strangers,' or  'foreigners;*  that  is, 
 the  Shechemites,  who  were  heathen,  and  which,  in  the  shai)e  of 
 images,  were  probably  found  amongst  the  late  spoils. — Oill,  A,  Clarke. 
 Some  have  thought  tiiey  might  be  the  tt^raphim  sliler.  by  Racliel,  or 
 images  brought  by  Jacob's  Syrian  servants.  Change  your  gnmients,» 
 custom  e.\pressive  of  purity  of  heart. — Pat.  4.  Earrings,  marked  with 
 symbols  of  their  idols,  and  worn  in  honour  of  them,  {see  Judg.  vi;i. 
 24.) — Poole,  Put.  Some  eastern  earrings  are  worn  as  talismans  or 
 charms,  with  mysterious  characters  on  them. — Char.  5.  The  terror 
 of  God,  a  supernatural  awe  — A .  Clarke.  God  struck  them  with  a  great 
 panic,  from  what  had  happened  to  the  Shechemites. — Gill.  6.  Lnz 
 — see  chap,  xxviii  19.  8.  Undt^r  an  nitk — the  dead  were  often  buried 
 under  trees,  (see  1  Sam.  xxxi.  13.J — Gill. 
 
 Retlections  on  Chap.  XXXIV.  —  I.  Young  people  may 
 here  learn  the  necessity  of  caution  Tcspecting  the  society  in  which 
 they  mitu/le.  What  sad  effects  sprung  out  of  Dinah's  visits  to 
 the  daughters  of  Canaan  !  Dinah  lost  her  honour,  and  many, 
 by  such  associations,  have  lost  their  religion.  It  is  sometimes 
 dangerous  even  to  go  and  '  see.' 
 
 II.    How    awfally    the    most   sacred   ordinances    are  sometimes 
 
 abused/     Dinah's  brethren  made  the  seal  of  their  relii^ion  the 
 
 cloak  for  the  most   treacherous  and   cruel  designs  ;  and  the 
 
 Shechemites  were  merely  influenced  by  selfish  purposes  iu 
 
 42 
 
 submitting  to  it.  Some  of  the  most  scandalous  transactions 
 have  taken  place  under  cover  of  submission  to  those  sacred 
 ordinances  which  God  has  instituted  in  bis  church  ;  and,  while 
 suspicion  has  been  lulled  asleep,  religion  has  been  disgraced. 
 After  the  barbarous  proceedings  of  Simeon  and  Levi,  how 
 natural  was  it  for  tlie  Ciinaanites  to  cry  out  against  the  wor- 
 shippers of  the  true  Gud  ;  and,  in  all  such  cases  of  deception, 
 the  way  of  truth  is  sure  to  be  evil  spoken  of,  JMay  we  have 
 grace  to  be  *  blameless  and  harmless,  the  sons  of  God,  without 
 rebuke,  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  perverse  nation  !' 
 
Death  uf  Miichel. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXVI. 
 
 Esau's  tlirce  loives. 
 
 9  1  And  ''God  appeared  unto  Jacob  again, 
 when  he  came  out  of  Padan-aram,  and  blessed 
 hhn. 
 
 10  And  God  said  unto  him,  Thy  name  is 
 Jacob:  'thy  name  shall  not  be  called  any 
 more  Jacob,  '  but  Israel  shall  be  thy  name  : 
 and  he  called  his  name  Israel. 
 
 1 1  And  God  said  unto  him,  *  I  am  God  Al- 
 mighty :  be  fruitful  and  multiply  ;  "  a  nation 
 and  a  company  of  nations  sliall  be  of  thee,  and 
 kings  shall  come  out  of  thy  loins  ; 
 
 12  And  the  land  "  which  I  gave  Abraham  and 
 Isaac,  to  thee  I  will  give  it,  and  to  thy  seed 
 after  thee  will  I  give  the  land, 
 
 13  And  God  '  went  up  from  him  in  the  place 
 where  he  talked  with  him. 
 
 14  And  Jacob  ""set  up  a  pillar  in  the  place 
 where  he  talked  with  him,  even  a  jiillar  of 
 stone  :  and  he  poured  a  drink  offering  thereon, 
 and  he  poured  oil  thereon. 
 
 15  And  Jacob  called  the  name  of  the  place 
 where  God  spake  with  him,  '  Beth-el. 
 
 16  If  And  they  journeyed  from  Beth-el ;  and 
 there  was  but  fa  little  way  to  come  to  Ephrath  : 
 and  Rachel  travailed,  and  she  had  hard  labour. 
 
 17  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  she  was  in  hard 
 labour,  that  the  midwife  said  unto  her.  Fear 
 not ;  "  thou  shalt  have  this  son  also. 
 
 18  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  her  soul  was  in 
 departing,  (for  she  died)  that  she  called  his 
 name  ||  Beu-oni :  but  his  father  called  him 
 II  Benjamin. 
 
 19  And  "  Rachel  died,  and  was  buried  in  the 
 way  to  '  Ephrath,  which  is  Bethlehem. 
 
 •20  And  Jacob  set  a  pillar  upon  her  grave  : 
 that  is  the  pillar  of  Rachel's  grave  ''  unto  this 
 day. 
 
 21  f  And  Israel  journeyed,  and  spread  his 
 tent  beyond  "  the  tower  of  Edar. 
 
 22  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Israel  dwelt 
 in  that  land,  that  Reuben  went  and  'lay  with 
 Bilhah  his  father's  concubine  :  and  Israel  heard 
 it.     Now  the  sons  of  Jacob  were  twelve  : 
 
 23  The   sons   of  Leah ;    *  Reuben,   Jacob's 
 
 ch.  17.  B. 
 ch.  3-2.  28. 
 
 <ch.  17.  I. 
 
 &  4S.  -S,  4. 
 
 Ex.  6.  3. 
 ■<  ch.  17.  5, 
 
 6,  16.  »<  'Jfl. 
 
 3.  8c  +8.  4. 
 
 w  ch.  1?.  7. 
 Ik  13.  13.  ft 
 26.  3,  4.    & 
 ^8.  13. 
 
 I  ch.  17.  22. 
 
 t  lleb   a 
 little  piVce 
 „fgr«,md. 
 a  Kiu.  5. 19. 
 
 .  ch.  30.  2J. 
 1  Sain.4.20 
 dr.  1729. 
 
 il  That  Is, 
 the (tf.ii  "fttitj 
 
 II  Tl.at'i., 
 
 thi-tiiu  tiftltf 
 
 rii/lit  luiud. 
 b  ch.  46.  7. 
 c  Kuth  I.  2 
 
 8c  4.  1 1 . 
 
 Mic.  5.  2. 
 
 Mat.  2.  6. 
 d  1  Satn.  10. 
 
 •>.    2  Sain. 
 
 18.18. 
 <^  Mic.  4.  8. 
 
 /ch.  49.  4. 
 I  Chr.  .5.  1. 
 See  2  Sam 
 16.22.  &  20. 
 3.1  Cm. .1.1. 
 r  ch.  ^0.  8. 
 Ex.  1.  2. 
 
 hch.  1S.18. 
 &  23.  2,  l!l. 
 J..S.  14.  \h. 
 He  15.  13. 
 
 1716. 
 
 k  ch.  15.  15. 
 ft  25.  8. 
 Sn  ch.  2.'..9. 
 «c  18.  31. 
 
 dr.  1796. 
 a  ch.  85. ;  0. 
 b  ch.  26.  »1. 
 
 cir.  I7C0. 
 d  ch.  28.  9. 
 
 dr.  1740. 
 t  Hcb.  i»i<(, 
 
 lirstborn,  and   Simeon,  and   Levi,  and  Judah, 
 and  Is.sachar,  and  Zebulun  : 
 
 24  The  sons  of  Rachel;  Joseph,  and  Benja- 
 min : 
 
 25  And  the  sons  of  Bilhah,  Rachel's  hand- 
 maid ;  Dan,  and  Naphtali  : 
 
 2(j  And  the  sous  of  Zilpah,  Leah's  handmaid  : 
 Gad,  and  Asher  :  these  arc  the  sons  of  Jacou, 
 which  were  born  to  him  in  Padau-aram. 
 
 27  If  And  Jacob  came  unto  Isaac  his  father 
 unto  "  Mamre,  unto  the  '  city  of  Arbah,  which 
 is  Hebron, where  Abraham  and  Isaac  sojourned. 
 
 28  And  the  days  of  Isaac  were  an  hwidred 
 and  fourscore  years. 
 
 29  And  Isaac  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  died, 
 and  ■■'  was  gathered  unto  his  people,  bcinr/  old 
 and  full  of  days  :  and  '  his  sons  Esau  and  Jacob 
 buried  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVI. 
 
 1  EsmCs  three  wives.  6  His  reniovii:g  to  mount  Stir. 
 9  His  sons.  15  TItt  dukes  which  descendeti  of  his 
 sons.  20  The  sons  find  dukes  of  Seir.  24  Anah 
 Jiniletli  mules.  31  The  kings  of  Edom.  40  The 
 dukis  that  descended  of  Esau. 
 
 IVTOW  these  are  the  generations  of  Esau, 
 -'-'    °  who  is  Edom. 
 
 2  '■  Esau  took  his  wives  of  the  daughters  of 
 Canaan  ;  Adah  the  daughter  of  Elon  the  Hit- 
 tite,  and  "  Aholibamah  the  daughter  of  Anah 
 the  daughter  of  Zibeon  the  Hivite  ; 
 
 3  And  ''  Bashemath  Ishmael's  daughter,  sister 
 of  Nebajoth. 
 
 4  And  "  Adah  bare  to  Esau  Eliphaz  ;  and 
 Bashemath  bare  Reuel ; 
 
 5  And  Aholibamah  bare  Jeush,  and  Jaalam, 
 and  Korah  :  these  are  the  sons  of  Esau,  which 
 were  born  unto  him  in  the  land  of  Canaan. 
 
 6  And  Esau  took  his  wives,  and  his  sons,  and 
 his  daughters,  and  all  the  f  persons  of  his 
 house,  and  his  cattle,  and  all  his  beasts,  and 
 all  his  substance,  which  he  had  got  in  the  land 
 of  Canaan  ;  and  went  into  the  country  from 
 the  face  of  his  brother  Jacob. 
 
 9.    when  he  came  out,  '  when  he  was  come   out.'  10.    Isrnet,   a 
 
 confii-ming  of  the  name  given,  chap.  xx.Kii.  28. — Patrirk.  11.  A  com- 
 p'tiiTf  tif  nations,  '  a  church  of  nations.' — ff'iliiiims.  Comjiare  cliap. 
 xxviii.  3,  *a  multitude,' or  '  congregation  of  people.'  1(5.  A  little 
 will — the  word  rniD  is  Ih-iught  rather  to  mean,  'a  land  measure.' 
 — A.  Clarke.  Perhaps  a  mile;  so  e-xplained  hy  the  Cliulttee  para- 
 phrase. Ephrath,  or  Bethlehem,  (ver.  19;)  it  was  twelve  miles  from 
 B.  thel, — Bunting's  Travels  ;  and  a  mile  from  Bethlehem  ;  hence  called 
 Bethlehem   Ephratah.— .Wc.      V.   2.— Gill.  20.    A  pillir—stacicnt 
 
 m'.numents  were  heaps  of  stones,  or  rude  stones  singly  set  up.  That 
 which  is  now  called  Rachel's  pillar  is  modern. — .4.  Clarke.      21.  Edar, 
 
 a  mile  south  from  Bethlehem. — Biinling^s  Travels.  22.  His  father's 
 concubine,  called  his  wile,  chap.  xxx.  4;  and,  by  the  law  of  those 
 times,  was  truly  so. — Patrick.  26.  In  Padan-aram,  all  hut  Ben- 
 jamin, who  was  born  in  Canaan,  (ver.  16,  17  ;)  but  that  is  ascribed  to 
 all,  which  belonged  to  the  greatest  part. — Poole.  29.  Isaac  gttve  up 
 tite  ghost — inserted  here  by  anticipation,  for  he  lived  tiAelve  yeai-s  after 
 Jc^cph  had  been  sold.  He  lived  the  longest  of  all  the  patriarchs— five 
 years  longer  than  Abraham. — Scott,  Hen. 
 
 Chap.  XXXVI. — I.  Tlie  generations  of  Esau — inserted  to  shew  the 
 effect  of  his  father's  blessing,  (chap,  xxvii.  39.)— Poo/e,  Pat.  To  en- 
 able the  Israelites  to  treat  them  as  brethren,  and  not  to  invade  their 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  X.XXV This  chapter  furiiislies 
 
 us  with  a  lecture  upon  death.  It  records — I.  The  death  of 
 Dcliorah,  Rebekah's  nurse.  She  was  ar  old  and  faithful  ser- 
 vant ;  and  how  much  she  was  lamented  by  the  whole  family 
 may  be  easily  supposed,  when  the  oak  under  which  she  was 
 buried  was  called  Allon-bachuth  —  '  The  oak  of  weeping.' 
 G»'od  and  faithl'ul  servants  are  valuable,  and  their  names 
 ou-ht  t(j  be  liad  in  remembrance. 
 
 II.  The  death  of  Rachel.  And  how  did  she  die  1  She  had 
 earnestly  desired  children,  and  her  heart  rose  in  rebellion 
 aiiiiinst  God  that  she  had  not  her  desire;  and  now,  having 
 one,  Joseph,  to  adil  to  her  happiness,  and  to  whom  siie  hoped 
 more  would  be  added,  she  has  also  a  Benoni — a  son  of  sorrow — 
 brought  forth  in  sorrow — and  she  dies  !  God  is  at  all  times 
 tlie  best  judge  of  what  is  fit  for  us.  Let  us  not  murmur  at  his 
 dispensations,  for  our  gratified  desires  often  prove  our  greatest 
 griefs.  Jacob  rears  a  pillar  to  the  memory  of  his  Rachel,  for 
 we  are  not  forbidden  to  have  such  memorials  of  affection  ; 
 but  the  hest  monument  is  the  remembrance  of  our  piety-this 
 continues  when  heaps  of  stones  and  marble  sepulchres  are  no 
 more.  We  love  the  mtmes  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob — 
 these  are  their  imperishable  monuments.  '  The  righteous 
 sliall  be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance.' 
 43 
 
 III.  The  death  of  Lol.c.  He  died  in  a  good  old  age,  the 
 fruit  of  a  life  of  temperance  and  piety  ;  while  wicked  men 
 may  be  said  often,  from  their  intemperate  and  abandoned 
 habits,  not  to  live  out  '  half  their  days.'  He  died  forty  years 
 after  he  had  set  his  house  in  order  and  blessed  his  sous,  sliew- 
 ing  the  habitually  prepared  state  of  his  mind  for  his  final 
 change.  He  died  after  living  many  years  in  a  state  of  blind- 
 ness ;  but,  cut  off  from  active  life,  the  man  who  '  went  out  in 
 the  field  to  meditate  at  eventide,'  had  never-failing  sources  of 
 consolation  within  his  own  bosom,  where  God  was  his  che- 
 rished guest,  dwelling  in  his  heart  by  faith  ;  and  doubtless 
 the  loss  of  temporal  sight  was  amply  made  up  by  a  vision  of  a 
 belter  country  than  that  typical  land  which  was  Sowing  with 
 milk  and  honey.  He  lived  longer  than  Jacob  after  him,  or 
 Abraham  before  him,  though  they  were  both  very  old  ;  hut 
 yet  he  died  !  This  is  the  end  of  this  world's  history  : — '  i\lau 
 dieth  and  wasteth  away;  yea,  man  giveth  up  the  ghost,  and 
 where  is  he  ?'  lie  died — but  not  '  as  a  fool  dieth' — and  his  re- 
 mains rec  ived  the  last  respectful  attentions  of  his  sons,  Esau 
 and  Jacob.  It  was  as  much  their  honour  as  their  duty  to  be 
 mourning  sons  over  the  grave  of  such  a  father.  Thus,  his 
 soul  was  '  gathered'  to  the  righteous,  and  his  body  was  laid 
 where  Abraham  and  Sarah  were  buried. 
 
The  Si»is  and  dukes  of  Sfh-. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXVI. 
 
 'J'/ir  hivi/s  of  E'lom 
 
 7  *■  For  their  riches  were  more  than  that  they 
 might  dwell  together  ;  and  ^  the  land  wherein 
 they  were  strangers  couUi  not  bear  them  be- 
 canse  of  their  cattle. 
 
 8  Thus  dwelt  Esau  in  "^  mount  Seir :  '  Esau 
 is  Edom. 
 
 9  t  And  these  are  the  generations  of  Esau 
 the  father  off  the  Edomites  in  mount  Seir: 
 
 10  These  are  the  names  of  Esau's  sons; 
 '  Eliphaz  the  son  of  Adah  the  wife  of  Esau, 
 Reuel  the  son  of  Bashemath  the  wife  of  Esau. 
 
 1 1  And  the  sons  of  Eliphaz  were  Teman, 
 Omar,  ||  Zepho,  and  Gatam,  and  Kenaz. 
 
 12  And  Timna  was  concubine  to  Eliphaz 
 Esau's  son  ;  and  she  bare  to  Eliphaz  '  Amalek : 
 these  tcere  the  sons  of  Adah  Esau's  wife. 
 
 13  And  these  are  the  sons  of  Reuel  ;  Nahath, 
 and  Zerah,  Shammah,  and  Mizzah  :  these  were 
 tiie  sons  of  Bashemath  Esau's  wife. 
 
 I  1  T  And  these  were  the  sons  of  Aholibamah, 
 tlie  daughter  of  Anah  the  daughter  of  Zibeon, 
 Esau's  wife  :  and  she  bare  to  Esau  Jeush,  and 
 Jaalam,  and  Korah. 
 
 13  1  These  ivere  dnkes  of  the  sons  of  Esau  : 
 the  sons  of  Eliphaz  the  firstborn  .w?i  of  Esau  ; 
 duke  Teman,  duke  Omar,  duke  Zepho,  duke 
 Kenaz, 
 
 16  Duke  Korah,  duke  Gatam,  nnc/ duke  Ama- 
 lek :  these  are  the  dukes  that  came  of  Eliphaz 
 in  the  land  of  Edom  ;  these  were  the  sons  of 
 Adah. 
 
 17  II  And  these  arc  the  sons  of  Reuel  Esau's 
 son  ;  duke  Nahath,  duke  Zerah,  duke  Sham- 
 inah,  duke  Mizzah  :  these  arc  the  dukes  that 
 came  of  Reuel  in  the  land  of  Edom  ;  these  are 
 the  sons  of  Bashemath  Esau's  wife. 
 
 18  t  And  these  are  the  sons  of  Aholibamah 
 Esau's  wife  ;  duke  Jeush,  duke  Jaalam,  duke 
 Korah  :  these  were  the  dnkes  that  came  of 
 Aholibamah  the  daughter  of  Anah,  Esau's  wife 
 
 19  These  are  the  sons  of  Esau,  who  is  Edom, 
 and  these  are  their  dukes. 
 
 'iO  H  "■  These  are  the  sons  of  Seir  "the  Horite, 
 who  inhabited  the  land;  Lotan,  and  Shobal, 
 and  Zibeon,  and  Anah, 
 
 •21  And  Dishon,  and  Ezer,  and  Dishan  :  these 
 are  the  dukes  of  the  Horites,  the  children  of 
 Seir  in  the  land  of  Edom. 
 
 ■2-2  And  the  children  of  Lotan  were  Hori  and 
 II  Hemam  ;  and  Lotan's  sister  ivas  Timna. 
 
 ■23  And  the  cliildren  of  Sliobal  were  these  ; 
 II  Alvan,  and  Manahath,  and  Ebal,  ||  Shepho, 
 and  Onam. 
 
 /"cb.  IS.6,ll. 
 J  cli.  IT.  3. 
 
 '<  ch.  32. 3. 
 
 Deut.  2.  5. 
 
 Josh.  ■i4.  -1. 
 i  ver.  I. 
 
 'i  I  Chr.l.S.i 
 Ac. 
 
 lEi.  1-.S.I1. 
 1  S.!)!!.  16.2, 
 
 1  air.  I.4i>. 
 
 'i  Or,  .s'/.r;j/ii, 
 
 iChr.  I.-IO. 
 
 I  Or.^nirnm 
 
 1  Clir.  i.n 
 
 I  Or.  .f-itrt,, 
 I  'Jhr.  l.ti 
 
 7  I  Chr.l.5(\ 
 H.,.l.iJ  Pai. 
 
 Alter  his 
 deatli  \vas 
 tiu  Aristo- 
 cmcy, 
 Ex.  15.  1.5. 
 
 cir.  1*96. 
 
 1  Chi.  1.51. 
 
 24  And  these  are  the  children  of  Zibeon  ; 
 both  .Ajah,  and  Anah  :  this  iras  that  Anah  that 
 found  "  the  mules  in  the  wilderness  as  he  fej 
 the  a.sses  of  Zibeon  his  father. 
 
 25  And   the   children  of  Anah  were  these 
 Dishon,  and  Aholibamah  the  daughter  of  Anah. 
 
 '26  And  these  are  the  children  of  Dishon  ; 
 II  Hemdan,  and  Eshban,  and  Ithran,  and 
 Cheran. 
 
 27  The  children  of  Ezer  are  these  ;  Bilhan. 
 and  Zaavau,  and  ||  Akan. 
 
 28  The  children  of  Dishan  are  the.se  ;  Uz, 
 and  Aran. 
 
 29  These  are  the  dukes  that  came  of  the  Ho- 
 rites ;  duke  Lotan,  duke  Shobal,  duke  Zibeon, 
 duke  Anah, 
 
 30  Duke  Dishon,  dnke  Ezer,  duke  Dishan  : 
 these  are  the  dukes  that  came  of  Hori,  among 
 their  dukes  in  the  land  of  Seir. 
 
 31  t  And  ''these  are  the  kings  that  reigned 
 in  the  land  of  Edom,  before  there  reigned  any 
 king  over  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 32  And  Bela  the  son  of  Beor  reigned  in  Edom  : 
 and  the  name  of  his  city  iias  Dinhabah. 
 
 33  And  Bela  died,  and  Jobab  the  son  of 
 Zerah  of  Bozrah  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 84  And  Jobab  died,  and  Husham  of  the  land 
 of  Teinani  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 35  And  Hn.sham  died,  and  Hadad  the  .son  of 
 Bedad,  who  smote  Midian  in  the  field  of  Moab, 
 reigned  in  his  stead  :  and  the  name  of  his  city 
 was  Avith. 
 
 36  And  Hadad  died,  and  Samlah  of  Masrekah 
 reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 37  And  Samlah  died,  and  Saul  of  Rehoboth 
 />)/  the  river  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 38  And  Saul  ilicd,  and  Baal-hanan  the  son  of 
 Achbor  reigned  in  bis  stead. 
 
 39  And  Baal-hanau  the  son  of  Achbor  died, 
 and  ''  Hadar  reigned  in  his  stead  ;  and  the  name 
 of  his  city  icas  Pan  ;  and  his  wife's  name  was 
 Mchctabel,  the  daughter  of  Matred,  the  daugh- 
 ter of  Mezahab. 
 
 40  And  these  are  the  names  of  "^  the  dukes 
 that  came  of  Esau,  according  to  their  families, 
 after  their  places,  by  their  names  ;  dnke  Tim- 
 nah,  duke  ||  Alvah,  duke  Jethcth, 
 
 41  Duke  Aholibamah,  duke  Elah,  duke  Pinon, 
 
 42  Dnke  Kenaz,  dnke  Teman,  duke  Mibzar, 
 
 43  Duke  Magdiel,  duke  Irani :  these  he  the 
 dukes  of  Edom,  according  to  their  habitations 
 in  the  land  of  their  possession  :  he  is  Esau  the 
 father  of  f  the  Edomites. 
 
 land,  (see  Deut.  xxiii.  7.) — Poole.  Edom.  surnamctl  Edom,  cliai). 
 XXV,  30.  7.  For  tfiotr  ric/ies,  ^-o, — so  Aliraham  and  Lot,  (cliap.  .\iii. 
 6.)  15.  Vtikcs,  iincrowneil  S'jvereigris. — lien  Melectt.  Hiads  or  go- 
 vernors of  families. — Jitr.  Caiitain><  of  a  thousand  men. — .1.  Cturkc. 
 vJl.  ?Iules — the  fuUnwing  interpretations  liavc  been  Riven  to  this  word, 
 whieh,  occurring:  in  this  place  only,  is  doubtful : — (i.)  He  found  out 
 the  mode  of  breeding  mules;  but  to  this  it  is  objected,  1.  Umt  t*!jr3,  he 
 found,  never  sii-nifies  he  iiweuted,  but  rather,  he  mei  ivitli.  2.  ll'.at 
 another  word,  Q'TID,  is  used  for  mules,  and  not  cn%  that  in  the  text. 
 3.  That  Anah  fed  «.sses  for  his  father,  but  no /lo'-se.v.  4.  That  there  were 
 no  mules  before  the  days  of  David.  Some  read,  (ii-)  He  found  woters 
 in  the  wilderness,  ajid  some  say,  '  hot  waters  ;'  but  tlien  there  mu^t  be 
 a  change  made  in  the  points  or  letters,  for  which  there  is  no  authority. 
 Some  read,  (iii.)  Might//  ones,  or  giiints — the  Ewim,  with  whom  Anah 
 
 fonsftt,  a  flock  stealing  people,  (Deut.  ii.  10 — 12.)  He  found,  it  is  ob- 
 served, is  used  in  many  passages  to  express  the  sudden  onset  to  holtte, 
 (Gen.iv.  M;  Numb.  xxxv.  27;  Judg.  i.  5;  1  Sam.  xxxi.  3 ;  1  King:s, 
 xiii.  24  ;  2  Chron.  xxii.  8 ;  Ps.  xxi.  8;  Isa  x.  10.)  (iv.)  Some  think 
 that  that  which  he  found  was  an  useful  herb  or  plant.  A.  Ctnrfie  fa- 
 vours the  first  opinion  ;  Sutcliffe  favours  the  second,  as  does  Boothr., 
 who  observes,  that  assies  are  very  sagacious  in  discovering:  water.  The 
 Choldee,  Snmnritnn,  and  Bochort,  support  the  third.  M'ufffiKeil  was 
 tlte  advocate  of  the  fourth.  ;U.  Before  there  reigned — this  is  thought 
 by  some  to  have  been  addcil  by  some  inspired  writer  after  ttie  time  of 
 Moses;  or  it  might  fairly  be  applieil  to  Moses,  as  a  chief  gineinur, 
 (see  Deut.  xxxiii.  5,)  or  he  mit;ht  wri'e  this  imder  the  spirit  tf  pro- 
 phecy, (see  Deut.  xvii.  14,  15.) — Poole. 
 
 Rfflf.ctions  on  Chap.  XXXVI.  —  I.  How  little  honour 
 /loes  the  Scripture  put  uiton.  mere  earthhj  titles  and  distinetious. 
 when  not  worn  hi/  tto}  e  tclio  have  feared  God  t  Tiie  sacred  writers 
 seem  to  liave  hastened  over  them,  as  if  glad  to  dismiss  that 
 part  of  their  subject  as  quickly  as  possible.  Tbey  were  of  as 
 little  protit  on  earth  as  the  reading  of  their  names  in  their 
 :;enealogy.  Yet  the  very  circumstance  of  this  hasty  record  of 
 the  great  ones  of  tlie  earth  teaches  several  useful  lessons  to 
 tiie  pious  and  reflective  mind  :  that  the  possession  of  the  good 
 tliini;s  of  this  world  is  no  proof,  of  ils<'lf,  of"  the  favour  of  (jod. 
 44 
 
 — that,  conseriuently,  tlie  being  poor  is  no  sign  of  the  want  of 
 that  favour, — that  the  dignity  is  short-lived,  indeed,  wliicli  is 
 only  written  in  the  earth,  and  that  that  portion  is  not  to  be  co- 
 veted whicli  is  included  merely  in  this  world. 
 
 11.  How  mttch  more  ennobled  are  tl/ey  whose  'names  are  writ- 
 ten in  heaven* — whose  'record  is  on  high,'  in  'the  J.anih's 
 book  of  life' — who  are  made  'kings  and  priesis  unto  God,' 
 and  shall  reign  with  him  tor  ever!  Were  every  prince  that 
 ever  reigned  on  earth  to  wear  a  star  of  honour,  and  were 
 every  star    bright   as  the  material  sun,  bow  would   all  this 
 
Joseph  is  hated  of  his  hrithr 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXVI I. 
 
 He  is  sold  to  the  IshmeeUtes. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVII. 
 
 1  Jtiseph  is  hated  uf  /lii  hrdlircn,  5  His  two  (freanis. 
 1'3  Jacub  seudittt  him  to  vi:iit  tiis  bixthrcii.  18  His 
 hrcthrtn  conspire  his  dtatli.  21  ll'^ub'n  saret/i  him. 
 20  T/nj/  sell  him  to  t/te  Ishmn'tites.  31  His  father, 
 deceived  bi/  the  blood//  coat,  mourtietli  for  him,  36  He 
 is  sold  to  Potiphar  in  Ef/j/pt, 
 
 A  ND  Jucob  dwelt  in  the  laiiiJ  f "  wherein  liis 
 -^*-  fatlier  was  astranger.in  the  land  of  Canaan. 
 
 '2  These  oj'e  the  generations  of  Jacob.  Joseph, 
 heinff  seventeen  years  old,  was  feeding  the 
 flock  with  his  bretlnxMi ;  and  the  lad  vias  with 
 the  sons  of  Billiah,  and  witli  tlie  sons  of  Zilpah, 
 his  father's  wives  :  and  Joseph  brought  unto 
 his  father  ''  their  evil  report. 
 
 3  Now  Israel  loved  Joseph  more  tlian  all  his 
 children,  because  he  was  '  the  son  of  his  old 
 age  :  and  he  made  him  a  coat  of  iiian^  \\  colours. 
 
 4  And  when  ids  brethren  saw  that  their  fa- 
 ther loved  him  more  than  all  his  bretliren,  they 
 ''  hated  him,  and  could  not  speak  peaceably 
 unto  him. 
 
 5  f  And  Joseph  dreamed  a  dream,  and  he 
 told  it  his  brethren  :  and  they  hated  him  yet 
 the  more. 
 
 C  And  he  said  unto  them.  Hear,  I  pray  you, 
 this  dream  wliicli  I  have  dreamed  : 
 
 7  For,  "  behold,  we  were  binding  sheaves  in 
 the  field,  and,  lo,  my  sheaf  arose,  and  also  stood 
 upright  ;  and,  behold,  your  sheaves  stood  round 
 about,  and  made  obeisance  to  my  sheaf. 
 
 8  And  his  brethren  said  to  him,  Shalt  thou 
 indeed  reign  over  us?  or  shalt  thou  indeed 
 have  dominion  over  us  ?  And  they  hated 
 him  yet  the  more  for  his  dreanui  and  for  his 
 words. 
 
 9  H  And  he  dreamed  yet  another  dream,  and 
 told  it  his  brethren,  and  said.  Behold,  I  have 
 dreamed  a  dream  more  ;  and,  behold,  ''the  sun 
 and  the  moon  and  the  eleven  stars  made  obei- 
 sance to  me. 
 
 10  And  he  told  it  to  his  father,  and  to  his 
 brethren  :  and  his  father  rebuked  him,  and  said 
 unto  him,  What  is  this  dream  that  thou  hast 
 dreamed  ?  Shall  I  and  thy  mother  and  ^  thy 
 brethren  indeed  come  to  bow  down  ourselves 
 to  thee  to  the  earth  ? 
 
 1 1  And  ^  his  brethren  envied  him  ;  but  his 
 father  '  observed  the  saying. 
 
 1'2  H  And  his  bretliren  went  to  feed  their  fa- 
 ther's flock  in  Shechem. 
 
 18  And  Israel  said  unto  Joseph,  Do  not  thy 
 brethren  feed  thejiuck  in  Sliecheni  ?  come,  and 
 I  will  send  thee  unto  them.  And  he  said  to 
 him.  Here  am  I. 
 
 t  Heb.  "fhu 
 J.M,.,\,  •..,- 
 
 (I  ch.  17.  8 
 Bt  as.  1.  & 
 gd.  \.  &  S<>. 
 7.  Heb. M. ft, 
 17.;9. 
 
 I  b  I   S,iin.  ?. 
 
 I    22,  23,  -a. 
 
 I 
 
 I  e  ch.  M.  iO. 
 
 I  II  Or,  p,Vo. 
 
 </cIi.  27.  *1 
 &  «  23. 
 
 p  cli.  42.  fl,  9. 
 &  «.  20.  & 
 44.  U. 
 
 Dan.  7.  2S. 
 Luko  2.  19, 
 
 B.  C.  I72'.P. 
 
 I  H.-b.  'ifll't 
 ,,,..„  „/  Mj 
 
 L-h.  2!i.  6. 
 4  cb.  35.  27. 
 
 13. 
 
 »  1  Sam.  I 'I. 
 1.  Ps.3l.l3 
 ti  .37.  12,  3:i, 
 &  gv.  21. 
 Matt.  27.  1 
 Mark  U.  I. 
 JobnII..',. 
 Ants  23.  12, 
 
 t  Hcb.  m<M,, 
 ufd„a.,>. 
 
 'I  Pi-ov.  t.  n, 
 
 16.  &  G.  17. 
 &  27.  4. 
 
 p  cb.  43.  22. 
 
 T  See  ver  2R, 
 3tj. 
 «  Jer.  8.  22. 
 
 eh.  4.  10. 
 v.^r.  20. 
 .lub  10.  IS. 
 
 14  And  he  said  to  him.  Go,  I  pray  thee,  f  see 
 whether  it  be  well  with  tliy  brethren,  and  well 
 with  the  flocks  ;  and  bring  me  word  again.  So 
 he  sent  him  out  of  the  vale  of  '  Hebron,  and  he 
 came  to  Shechem. 
 
 15  H  And  a  certain  man  found  him,  and,  be- 
 hold, he  was  wandering  in  the  field  :  and  the 
 man  asked  him,  saying.  What  seekest  thou? 
 
 10  And  he  said,  I  seek  my  brethren  :  '  tell  me, 
 I  pray  thee,  where  they  feed  their  flocks. 
 
 17  And  the  man  said.  They  are  departed 
 hence  ;  for  I  heard  tliem  say.  Let  us  go  to 
 Uuthan.  And  Joseph  went  after  his  brethren, 
 and  found  them  in  "'  Dothau. 
 
 18  And  when  they  .saw  him  afar  off,  even  be- 
 fore he  came  near  unto  them,  "  they  conspired 
 against  him  to  slay  him. 
 
 19  And  they  said  one  to  another.  Behold, 
 this  f  dreamer  cometh. 
 
 20  "  Come  now  tlierefore,  and  let  us  slay  him, 
 and  cast  him  into  some  pit,  and  we  will  say, 
 Some  evil  beast  hath  devoured  him  :  and  we 
 shall  see  what  will  become  of  his  dreams. 
 
 21  And  '  Reuben  heard  it,  and  he  delivered 
 him  out  of  their  hands;  and  said,  Let  us  not 
 kill  him. 
 
 22  And  Reuben  said  unto  them.  Shed  no 
 blood,  but  cast  him  into  this  pit  that  is  in  the 
 wilderness,  and  lay  no  hand  upon  him ;  that  he 
 miglit  rid  him  out  of  their  hands,  to  deliver  him 
 to  his  father  again. 
 
 23  K  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joseph  was 
 come  unto  his  brethren,  that  they  stript  Joseph 
 out  of  his  coat, /iis  coat  oi  many  \\  colours  thai 
 was  on  him  ; 
 
 4  And  they  took  him,  and  cast  him  into  a 
 pit :  and  the  pit  was  empty,  there  was  no  water 
 in  it. 
 
 25  '  And  they  sat  down  to  eat  bread  :  and  they 
 lifted  u|i  their  eyes  and  looked,  and,  behold,  a 
 company  of  '  Ishmeelites  came  from  Gilead 
 with  their  camels  bearing  spicery  and  "  balm 
 and  myrrh,  going  to  carry  it  down  to  Egypt. 
 
 2()  And  Judah  said  unto  his  brethren.  What 
 profit  is  it  if  we  slay  our  brother,  and  '  conceal 
 his  blood  ? 
 
 27  Come,  and  let  us  sell  him  to  the  Ishmeel- 
 ites, and  "  let  not  our  hand  be  upon  him  ;  for 
 he  is  ""  our  brother  and  '  our  flesh.  And  his 
 brethren  f  were  content. 
 
 28  Then  there  passed  by  "  Midianites  mer- 
 chantmen ;  and  they  drew  and  lifted  up  Joseph 
 out  of  tlie  pit,  "and  sold  Joseph  to  the  Islimcel- 
 ites  for  i'  twenty  pieces  of  silver ;  and  they 
 brought  Joseph  into  Egypt. 
 
 Chap.  XXXVII.  —  1.  The  land,  ^c— Isaac  was  not  a  stranger  in 
 Canaan,  fcjr  he  was  born  and  lived  there.—//™'.  Literally,  'the  land 
 of  his  father's  sojourniiiBS.'— II';7.  '  In  which  liis  father  dwelt,'  Sept. 
 2.  The  generations  o/J./i-u/y-fn/rirA- thinks  the  last  chapter  should  end 
 here,  after  having  recorded  Jacob's  Kcnerations.  Boothroyd  rentiers 
 it,  '  This  is  the  history  of  what  now  bi-fei  Jacob;'  to  the  same  purport, 
 Bef.  Bib.,  A.  Clarke,  Scott,  and  Sut.  3.  The  son  nf  his  old  age— not 
 so  much  so  as  Benjamin  ;  and  therefore  some  read  it,  *  the  son  or  dis- 
 ciple of  elders;'  that  is,  a  wise  and  prudent  man.— So  Onkelos.  •  He 
 was  a  wise  son  to  him.'  Ahendana  says,  a  son  was  often  used  as  the 
 companion  and  suipnrt  of  an  aged  parent,  and  he  bore  the  name  giien 
 in  our  translation. —Gi7/.  A  coat  ofmani/  colours,  or,  a  coat  of  pieces. 
 —Seotl.  Probably  formed  of  different  pieces,  and  of  different  colours. 
 —Doothr.  Patcliwork.— Pic*.  Bih.  Some  think,  wrought  with  threads 
 of  divers  colours;  others,  made  up  with  patches  of  various  colours. 
 Braunius  understands,  a  long  garment,  somewhat  resembling  our 
 moi  ning  gowns,  wilh  coloured  facings  at  tlie  culi's,  and  coloured  border. 
 —I'at.  Such  vestures  ol  diilinction  are  stiU  worn  m  Persia,  India,  and 
 China.— /I.  Clarke.  4.  Could  not  speak  peacealili/— give  him  the 
 usual  salutation  of  peace.— .-1.  Clarke.        10.  Shall  I,  .5-0.- Jacob  here 
 
 understood  the  meaning  of  tlie  dream— the  snn  being  the  head  of  the 
 family;  the  moon,  his  wife;  the  eleven  stars,  Joseph's  brethren, 
 12.  Flock  in  Shechem — flocks  were  removed  from  place  to  place  for  pas.' 
 turage.  Khechem  was  no  less  than  sixty  miles  Irom  Hebron,  where 
 Jacob  now  dwelt.  14.  Whether  it  he  tee//- having  reast  n  to  fear, 
 from  the  foraier  treatment  of  the  Shechemites.  17.  iity^/ian— aceoid. 
 ing  to  some,  lour,  to  others,  eight,  miles  from  Shechem.  22.  This  pit 
 — a  dry  pit,  dug  to  collect  rain  water,  (ver.  24.)  25.  .,4  compami — 
 what  are  called  caravans,  travelling  together  on  account  of  roliljers. 
 Dr.  Clarke,  the  traveller,  says,  '  Along;  the  valley  we  beheld  a  company 
 of  [shmaelites  coming  from  Gilead,  as  in  the  days  of  Reuhcn  and  Juitah, 
 with  their  camels,  bearing  spicery,  and  balm,  and  myrrh,  who  would 
 gladly  have  purchased  another  Joseph,  and  conveyed  him  as  a  slave 
 into  Egypt.'  28.  Midianites — Ishmeelites — being  near  neighbours, 
 they  might  travel  in  company.- 6'i«.  The  truth  seems  to  be,  they 
 were  Ishmeeliles  who  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Midian.  From  Jutlges, 
 viii.  22—24,  both  names  were  applied  to  the  same  people.— //«r.  The 
 descendants  of  Ishmael,  Miihan,  Medan,an.l  tlieoUier  sonsof  Kelurah, 
 uniting  together,  engaged  in  this  traffic— Sco«.  Twentij  pieces— U 
 shekels,  about  three  ptmnds  sterling,  according  to  some,  and  twenty. 
 
 splendour  fade,  if  collected   tosetlicr,  before  the  innumerable  I  God  and  Saviour.  This  honour  hare  all  his  saints.    '  Praise  yo 
 company  of  the  redeemed,  ma,le  glorious  in  the  glory  of  their  I  the  Lord.' 
 4."< 
 
Birth  of  Er,  Onan,  and  Shelah. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXVIII. 
 
 Tamar  deceiveth  Judah. 
 
 29  IT  And  Reuben  returned  unto  the  pit  ;  and 
 behold,  Joseph  was  not  in  the  pit ;  and  he 
 ■^  rent  his  clothes. 
 
 30  And  he  returned  unto  his  brethren,  and 
 said.  The  child  •■  is  not ;  and  I,  whither  shall  1 
 go? 
 
 31  And  they  took  "Joseph's  coat,  and  killed 
 a  kid  of  the  goats,  and  dipped  the  coat  in  the 
 blood  ; 
 
 32  And  they  sent  the  coat  of  many  colours, 
 and  they  brought  it  to  their  father ;  and  said. 
 This  have  we  found  :  know  now  whether  it  be 
 thy  son's  coat  or  no. 
 
 33  And  he  knew  it,  and  said,  It  is  my  son's 
 coat ;  an  'evil  beast  hath  devoured  him  ;  Joseph 
 is  without  doubt  rent  in  pieces. 
 
 34  And  Jacob  *  rent  his  clothes,  and  put 
 sackcloth  upon  his  loins,  and  mourned  for  his 
 son  many  days. 
 
 35  And  all  his  sons  and  all  his  daughters 
 "  rose  up  to  comfort  him  ;  but  he  refused  to  be 
 ccmiforted  ;  and  he  said,  For  '  I  will  go  down 
 into  tlie  grave  unto  my  son  mourning.  Thus 
 his  father  wept  for  him. 
 
 3G  And  '  the  Midianites  sold  him  into  Egypt 
 unto  Potipbar,  an  f  officer  of  Pharaoh's,  and 
 •■  I)  captain  of  the  guard. 
 
 CHAP.   XXXVIII. 
 
 I  Jiulah  hci.ellith  Er,  Onan,  and  S/iela/i.  6  Er  mar- 
 rifth  Tumar.  8  The  trrspass  of  Oniin,  1 1  Tamar 
 sluyeth  for  Shiiah.  lH  She  dm  ivtth  Judah.  27  5At 
 hearelh  fivins,  Pharez  and  Zarah. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  at  that  time,  that  Judah 
 -'*-  went  down  from  his  brethren,  and  "  turned 
 in  to  a  certain  Adullamite,  whose  name  was 
 llirah. 
 
 •2  And  Judah  ^  saw  there  a  daughter  of  a  cer- 
 tain Canaanite,  whose  name  was  ^  Shuah  ;  and 
 he  took  her,  and  went  in  unto  her. 
 
 3  And  she  conceived,  and  bare  a  son  ;  and 
 he  called  his  name  ''  Er. 
 
 4  And  she  conceived  again,  and  bare  a  son  ; 
 and  she  called  bis  name  'Onan. 
 
 5  And  she  yet  again  conceived,  and  bare  a 
 son  ;  and  called  his  name  '^ Shelah  :  and  he  was 
 at  Chezib,  when  she  bare  bim. 
 
 r>  And  Judah  ^  took  a  wife  for  Er  his  firstborn, 
 whose  name  wiis  Tamar. 
 
 7  And  *■  Er,  Jndal}"s  firstborn,  was  wicked  in 
 the  sight  of  the  Loud  ;  '  and  tlie  Lord  slew  liim. 
 
 8  And  Judah  said  unto  Onan,  Go  in  unto  '  thy 
 
 rf  ch.  I?.  13. 
 36.  Jtfr.  31 
 
 A  2  Sam.  12. 
 17. 
 
 ch.  45.  Sfl 
 «( 1^1.  29,  SI. 
 
 k  cli.  39.  I. 
 
 t  Hel,  «"- 
 «r.r/,  ..  But 
 the    n.iid 
 doth    Bi!{- 
 i.ify    ..ol 
 o„lv  c... 
 nncli,  but 
 also  nlintu' 
 brrtni,.,, 
 C'lirliert, 
 and  i-jfici^i. 
 Ks;.  I.  in. 
 
 t  Hfb.   cl.i-J 
 of  tl-r 
 .l,.ugU,,- 
 
 I  Or,  chir/ 
 
 b  ch.  ai.  2. 
 IChr. '2.3 
 
 d  eh.  4rt.  12. 
 >mn.20.l9. 
 
 oil-,  r.n. 
 
 /ch.  46.  12. 
 Mum.2li.*ill. 
 
 J  ch.  21.81. 
 
 /,  ill.  40,  12. 
 
 Niiin.2r..li(. 
 
 Chr.  2   3. 
 A  I  •put  25.  li. 
 
 Mai.  22,  24. 
 
 L  Deut.  25.  fi. 
 
 I  Hcb.  H"n 
 
 }:it  i. 
 
 the 
 
 niet  "t  the 
 
 Lord. 
 
 n  ch.-16.  12. 
 Num  26.1? 
 .  Ruth  I.  13. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 ilni/t  tprnt 
 
 !'  2  Sain.  l.-l. 
 
 .S9. 
 
 J-jd^'.  11.  I. 
 '  Judith  in..s. 
 
 <  Prnv   7,12. 
 I  Hob.  the 
 
 or,  ../  £,..,- 
 .M>". 
 /  vcf,  11.  2C. 
 
 I  Hpb.  a    *,.; 
 •1/  the  goiitn. 
 
 II  Or.  " 
 
 brotlier's  wife,  and  marry  her,  and  raise  up  seed 
 to  tliy  brother. 
 
 9  And  Onan  knew  that  the  seed  should  not 
 be  '  bis  ;  and  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  went  in 
 unto  his  brother's  wife,  that  he  spilled  it  on  the 
 ground,  lest  that  he  should  give  seed  to  his 
 brother. 
 
 10  And  the  thing  which  he  did  fdispleased 
 the  Lord  :  wherefore  he  slew  "'  bim  also. 
 
 1 1  Tlien  said  Judah  to  Tamar  his  daughter 
 in  law,  "  Remain  a  widow  at  thy  father's  house, 
 till  Shelah  my  son  be  grown  :  for  be  said.  Lest 
 peradventure  he  die  also,  as  his  brethren  did. 
 And  Tamar  went  and  dwelt  °in  her  father's 
 house. 
 
 12  IF  And  fin  process  of  time  the  daughter  of 
 Shuah  Judah's  wife  died  ;  and  Judah  ''  v  as  com- 
 forted, and  went  up  unto  his  sheepshearers  to 
 Timnath,  he  and  his  friend  Hirah  the  Adul- 
 lamite. 
 
 13  And  it  was  told  Tamar,  saying.  Behold 
 thy  father  in  law  goeth  up  ''  to  Timnath  to  shear 
 his  sheep. 
 
 14  And  she  'put  her  widow's  garments  oflF 
 from  her,  and  covered  her  with  a  vod,  and 
 wrapped  herself,  and  'sat  in  fan  open  place, 
 which  is  by  the  way  to  Timnath  ;  for  slie  saw 
 '  tliat  Shelah  was  grown,  and  she  was  not  given 
 unto  him  to  wife. 
 
 13  When  Judah  saw  her,  he  thought  her  ^o  ie 
 an  harlot  ;  because  she  had  covered  her  face. 
 
 16  And  he  turned  unto  her  by  the  way,  and 
 said,  Go  to,  1  pray  thee,  let  me  come  in  unto 
 thee  ;  (for  he  knew  not  that  she  was  his  daugh- 
 ter in  law.)  And  she  said.  What  wilt  thou  give 
 me,  that  thou  mayest  come  in  niito  me  ? 
 
 17  And  he  said,  "  I  will  send  tlut  a  kid  from 
 the  flock.  And  she  said,  "  Wilt  thou  give  tne 
 a  pledge,  till  thou  send  it  ? 
 
 18  And  he  said.  What  pledge  shall  I  give 
 thee  '<  And  she  said,  ^  Thy  signet,  and  thy 
 bracelets,  and  thy  stafl'  that  is  in  thine  hand. 
 And  he  gave  it  her,  and  came  in  unto  her,  and 
 she  conceived  by  him. 
 
 19  And  she  arose,  and  went  away,  and  '  laid 
 by  her  vail  from  her,  and  put  on  the  garments 
 of  her  widowhood. 
 
 20  And  Judah  .sent  the  kid  by  the  hand  of  his 
 friend  the  Adullamite,  to  receive  /";>  pledge 
 from  the  woman's  hand  :  but  he  found  her  not. 
 
 •21  Then  be  asked  the  men  of  that  place,  say- 
 ing. Where  is  the  harlot,  that  was  ||  openly  by 
 
 five  shillings  according  to  others.  32.  And  they  hronpht  it,  '  and 
 cimimanded  those  who  hrought  it  to  their  father  to  say.  This,'  *1:c. — 
 B:ii>thr.  33.  Rfnt  in  pinct'ti — Boothyoi/ft  reads,  '  torn,  torn  in  pieces 
 is  my  son  Joseph.*  34.  Jitnt  his  clutht^s — tliis  ancient  expression  of 
 crief  consisted  in  cutting  a  slit  in  the  right  side  of  the  upper  garment, 
 and  rending  it  a  hand's  breadth. — Levi.  Siirkcltith — this  was  jnourn- 
 irit^. — Cnl.     It  was  a  coarse  cluth,  made  of  camel's  hair.  36.  An 
 
 njficer,  whose  office  it  was  to  appreliend  and  punish  criminal  persons, 
 (see  chap.  xl.  3:  Jer.  x.\'.\ix.  9;   Marie,   vi,  27.) — Piiote.     Fh'traiiU — 
 Josephns  sa>s,  this  word,  in  the  Egyptian  language,  signified  'a  king.' 
 Chap.  XXXVIII.  —  \.  At  that  time — the  period  previous  tu  Joseph's 
 
 heing  sold. — Attenezva.  Adulliimite,  an  inhabitant  of  AduUam,  a  city 
 which  afterwards  fell  to  the  tribe  of  Judah,  in  the  cave  of  which,  David 
 hid. — Gill.  8.  Seed  to  thy  brother — this  is  the  first  instance  nf  a 
 custom  which,  under  tlie  Divine  sanction,  became  part  of  the  Jewish 
 law. —  Wit.  18.  Signet — this  was  usually  a  precious  stone. — Sut. 
 It  was  probably  anciently  suspended  from  the  neck  hy  a  ribband  ;  for 
 the  Arabs,  whose  customs  have  scarcely  changed  for  two  thousand 
 years,  now  wear  it  so. — Hew.  The  ancient  Hebrews  wore  their senfs,  or 
 •  si;;nets,'  ip  rings  on  their  fingers,  or  in  bracelets  on  their  arms,  as  is 
 now  the  custom  iii  the  ea.=.t,  (Cant.  viii.  6.. — Cttt.  Bracelets — rendered 
 by  different  critics,  a  '  girdle,'  '  cloak,'  '  scarf,'  '  handkerchief,*  '  fillet.* 
 
 RprLFCTiONS  ON  CiiAP.  XXXVII.— I.  From  what  we 
 have  read,  we  learn  hnii>  unwise  it  is  of  parents  to  pre  fr  one  child 
 beiiontlanut'ter.  It  is,  indeed,  natural  to  love  tiie  amiable  and 
 obedient  more  tljan  those  wiio  are  the  contrary  ;  but  to  shew 
 any  distinction  can  only  engender  strife.  And,  moreover,  it  is 
 dangerous  to  do  it,  inasmuch  as  children  that  are  idols  often 
 become  dieir  parent's  plagues,  or  are  taken  away  from  them. 
 >,'o  child  or  relative  must  occupy  that  place  iu  the  heart  which 
 belongs  entirely  to  God. 
 
 II.  That  it  is  thcpuinftd  httofmnmj  a  pious  parent  to  be  troubled 
 vith  his  children.  Where  this  arises  liom  stern  conduct,  wliich 
 repels  their  affections,  or  from  fondness,  wdiich  spoils  them, 
 anil  allows  them  to  have  their  own  way,  the  parent  is  to  blame, 
 and  receives  the  fruits  of  his  own  ill-judged  severity  or  unqua- 
 4() 
 
 lilied  love.  Where  it  occurs — which  is  not  often  the  case — 
 without  these  causes,  he  has  then  a  solace  in  a  review  of  his 
 own  conduct,  and  can,  with  more  confidence,  commit  his  dis- 
 tressed case  to  God,  who  can  *  turn  the  hearts  of  the  disobe- 
 dient to  the  wisdom  of  the  just.' 
 
 III.  Jacob  erred  in  his  cieessiue  prief for  Joseph,  for  that  which 
 he  considered  would  be  a  weight  of  sorrow  that  would  crush 
 him  into  the  grave,  ultimately  proved  one  of  the  greatest  of 
 blessings,  in  the  preservation  of  himselt  and  all  his  family.  In 
 the  must  dark  and  cloudy  day ,  and  under  the  most  complicated 
 and  trying  circumstances,  scripture  and  experience  prove  to 
 the  believer,  that  '  all  thitu(S  work  together  ibr  good  to  them 
 that  love  God  ;  to  them  that  are  the  called  according  to  Lis 
 purpose.' 
 
Tamar  heareth  twina. 
 
 GENESIS,  XXXIX. 
 
 Josejih  is  fdhclij  arcaseiJ. 
 
 the  way  side  ?    And  they  said.  There  was  no 
 harlot  in  this  place. 
 
 22  And  he  returned  to  Judah,  and  said,  I 
 cannot  find  lier  ;  and  also  the  men  of  the  place 
 said,  that  there  was  no  harlot  in  this/^/nce. 
 
 23  And  Judah  said.  Let  her  take  it  to  her, 
 lest  we  fbe  shamed:  behold,  I  sent  this  kid, 
 and  thou  hast  not  found  her. 
 
 24  t  And  it  came  to  pass  about  three  months 
 after,  that  it  was  told  Judah,  saying,  Tamar 
 thy  daughter  in  law  hath  '  played  the  harlot; 
 and  also,  behold,  she  is  with  child  by  whore- 
 dom. And  Judah  said.  Bring  her  forth,  "and 
 let  her  be  burnt. 
 
 23  When  she  was  brought  forth,  she  sent  to 
 her  father  in  law,  saying.  By  the  man,  whose 
 these  are,  am  1  with  cliild :  and  she  said, 
 •'  Discern,  I  pray  thee,  whose  are  these,  '^  the 
 signet,  and  bracelets,  and  staff. 
 
 2G  And  Judah  ''  acknowledged  them,  and 
 said,  "  she  hath  been  more  righteous  than  I  ; 
 because  that  '  I  gave  her  not  to  Shclali  my  son. 
 And  he  knew  her  again  ^no  more. 
 
 27  1  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  time  of  her 
 travail,  tliat,  behold,  twins  were  in  her  womb. 
 
 28  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  she  travailed, 
 that  the  one  put  out  his  hand  :  and  the  mid- 
 wife took  and  bound  upon  his  hand  a  scarlet 
 thread,  saying.  This  came  out  first. 
 
 20  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  drew  back  his 
 hand,  that,  behold,  his  brother  came  out :  and 
 she  said,  ||  How  hast  thou  broken  forth  ?  this 
 breach  he  upon  thee  ;  therefore  his  name  was 
 railed  ||  ''  Pharez. 
 
 30  And  afterward  came  out  his  brother,  that 
 had  the  scarlet  thread  upon  his  hand  :  and  his 
 name  was  called  Zarah. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIX. 
 
 1  Joseph  advanced  in  Potiphar^s  house.  "7  Heresrstcfh 
 /lis  7mstri'ss's  temptation.  13  He  is  falsely  accused. 
 20  He  is  cast  in  prison.    21  God  is  with  him  there. 
 
 AND  Joseph  was  brought  down  to  Egypt ; 
 and  "  Potiphar,  an  officer  of  Pharaoh,  cap- 
 tain of  the  guard,  an  Egyptian,  *■  bought  him 
 of  the  hands  of  the  Ishmeelites,  which  had, 
 brought  him  down  thither. 
 
 2  And  ■■  the  Lord  was  with  Joseph,  and  he 
 was  a  prosperous  man  ;  and  he  was  in  the 
 house  of  his  master  the  Egyptian. 
 
 3  And  his  master  saw  that  the  Lord  was 
 with  him,  and  that  the  Lord  ^  made  all  that 
 he  did  to  prosper  in  his  hand. 
 
 4  And  Joseph  "found  grace  in  his  sight,  and 
 he  served  him :  and  he  made  him  "■  overseer 
 
 d  ch.  37   Sf. 
 
 1  Sum.  24. 
 17 
 
 /.<■!.    II. 
 
 g  .r..l,  34.  31, 
 
 t  Heb.  he- 
 teinyl. 
 cir.  1727. 
 
 :  Judg  19  2. 
 
 l  Or.  Tn,T 
 f.urha.l 
 
 That  IB, 
 a  hmck. 
 <  cli    40.  1' 
 Num.lJti.'.;! 
 1  Che.  2.  ' 
 Mat.  I.  8. 
 
 I  cli  37.  315 
 I's.  III'.  17 
 ,  ch.  37,  2S. 
 
 ,:  rer.  21. 
 
 th.  21.  22. 
 
 B<  26.  24,  2S. 
 
 8c  28.  i:>. 
 1  Sum    16 
 
 18.  &  I  HI.  14. 
 
 2rt.    Acts  7. 
 
 9. 
 .i  P«.  1.3. 
 -  ch    19.  3. 
 
 &   19.  19. 
 
 /Gen' 2*4  2, 
 
 A  1  Sum.  IG. 
 
 I  ch,  21)  6. 
 Lfv,  6,  2. 
 2  Sam.  12, 
 
 t  Heb.  /jreat. 
 
 ,  Ex.  23.  I, 
 Pb.  1211.  .3. 
 
 over  his  house,  and  all  that  he  had  he  put  into 
 his  hand. 
 
 5  And  it  came  to  pass  from  the  time  that  he 
 had  made  him  overseer  in  his  house,  and  over 
 all  that  he  had,  that  ^  the  Lord  blessed  tlie 
 Egyptian's  house  for  Joseph's  sake  ;  and  tlie 
 blessing  of  the  Lord  was  upon  all  that  he  had 
 in  the  house,  and  in  the  field. 
 
 6  And  he  left  all  that  he  had  in  Joseph's  hand  ; 
 and  he  knew  not  ought  he  had,  .save  the  bread 
 which  he  did  eat.  And  Joseph  "  was  a  goodly 
 person,  and  well  favoured. 
 
 7  II  And  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things, 
 that  his  master's  wife  cast  her  eyes  upon 
 Joseph  ;   and  she  said,  '  Lie  with  me. 
 
 8  But  he  refused,  and  said  unto  his  master's 
 wife.  Behold,  my  master  wotteth  not  what  is 
 with  me  in  the  house,  and  he  hath  committed 
 all  that  he  hath  to  my  hand  ; 
 
 9  There  is  none  greater  in  this  house  than 
 I ;  neither  hath  he  kept  back  any  thing  from 
 me  but  thee,  because  tliou  art  his  wife :  'how 
 then  can  I  do  this  great  wickedness,  and  '  sin 
 against  God  ? 
 
 10  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  she  spake  to 
 Joseph  day  by  day,  that  he  hearkened  not 
 unto  her,  to  lie  by  her,  or  to  be  with  her. 
 
 11  And  it  came  to  pass  about  this  time,  that 
 Joseph  went  into  the  house  to  do  his  business; 
 and  there  ivas  none  of  the  men  of  the  house 
 there  within. 
 
 12  And  ""she  caught  him  by  his  garment, 
 saying.  Lie  with  me  :  and  he  left  his  garment 
 in  her  hand,  and  fled,  and  got  him  out. 
 
 13  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  she  saw  that 
 he  had  left  his  garment  in  her  hand,  and  was 
 fled  forth, 
 
 14  That  she  called  unto  the  men  of  her  house, 
 and  spake  unto  them,  saying,  See,  he  hath 
 brought  in  an  Hebrew  unto  us  to  mock  us  ; 
 he  came  in  unto  me  to  lie  with  me,  and  I  cried 
 with  a  t  loud  voice  : 
 
 15  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  heard  that 
 I  lifted  up  my  voice  and  cried,  that  he  left  his 
 garment  with  me,  aod  fled,  and  got  him  out. 
 
 It)  And  she  laid  up  his  garment  by  her,  until 
 his  lord  came  home. 
 
 17  And  she  "spake  unto  him  according  to 
 these  words,  saying.  The  Hebrew  servant, 
 which  thou  hast  brought  unto  us,  came  in  unto 
 me  to  mock  me  : 
 
 18  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  I  lifted  up  my 
 voice  and  cried,  that  he  left  his  garment  with 
 me,  and  fled  out. 
 
 19  And  it  came   to  pass,  when  his  master 
 
 24.  Bring  her  forth,  to  the  ma-^istrate. — Poole.  The  heads  of  tribes 
 had  the  power  of  punishing:  (If  linquents. — Sut.  Be  burnt — the  former 
 punishment  for  adultery. — Ben.  Some  think  branded  was  only  in 
 tended. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIX.  —  1.  Pbttrnoh—the  name  of  all  the  Ef^yptian  kings 
 for  1400  years  — Sut.  6.  A  pnodli/  person — his  beauty  is  celebrated 
 by  all  the  Persian  poets. — A-  Clarice.  Q.  This  great  wieliedness — the 
 words  are  emphatical  in  the  original — '  This !  this  wickedness  !  this 
 
 great  one!* — Gill.  12.  Left  his  gnrnieni  —Totl'^har  has  often  been 
 thought  harsh  and  unjust  in  his  treatment  of  Joseph  ;  but  Salt,  in  his 
 ToyHg-e /o /I/i^.i5i«i",  mentions  a  custom  there,  wliicb  might  possibly 
 have  prevailed  in  Egypt,  and  which,  in  that  case,  v -o,,  d  justify  liis  pro- 
 cedure according  to  the  evidence  ;  '  for  there,'  he  says,  '  it  requires  no 
 further  evidence  to  be  adduced,  if  a  man,  i^.lter  being  once  laid  hold 
 of,  runs  away  and  leaves  his  garment  behind,'  13.  Garment — the 
 hyke,  or  mantle,  which,  being  locse,  might  easily  be  siized. — Bootkr. 
 
 RFFLfCTiONs    ON  Chap.  XXXVIII.  —  I.  WcHaveliere  an 
 
 awful  picture  of  the  horrible  depravity  of  the  human  heart.  Judah, 
 the  son  of  wrestling  Jacob,  marrying  an  accursed  Cannanite — 
 his  children  giving  themselves  up  to  (io  such  '  evil  in  the  sight 
 of  the  Lord,'  that  they  were  cut  ofl'in  his  judgments.  His  aban- 
 doned conduct  with  his  daughter-in-law,  and  her  unchaste 
 deportment  towards  hira,  and  his  unmerciful  feelings  towards 
 her,  when  he  had  committed  the  same  sin  himselt.  Surely, 
 *  the  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately 
 wicked  !' 
 
 II.  We  have  here,  also,  a  striking  display  of  the  soviTeignty  of 
 47 
 
 Divine  grace ;  for  here  God  exhibits  to  us  the  corrupt  line  of 
 descent  whence  proceeded  the  Saviour  of  men,  wlio  sprang 
 from  Judah  and  Pharez.  It  was  fit,  indeed,  that  abody  should 
 be  prepared  for  him,  but  while  he  partook  of  flesh  and  blood, 
 he  was  yet  'the  holy  thing;'  and  his  birth  in  this  line  mag- 
 nifies the  riches  of  Divine  grace  towards  the  vilest  of  crea- 
 tures. While  we  see  the  Son  of  Gad  so  bumbling  himself 
 in  taking  '  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh,'  we  can  but  exclaim— 'It 
 is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ 
 Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners,' 
 
Pharaoh's  butler  and  baker  in  prison. 
 
 GENESIS,  XL. 
 
 Joseph  interpreteth  their  dreams. 
 
 heard  the  words  of  his  wife,  wliicli  she  spake 
 unto  him,  saying,  After  this  manner  did  tliy 
 servant  to  me  ;  tliat  his  "  wrath  was  liindled. 
 
 •20  And  Josepli's  master  toolv  him,  and  ''  put 
 him  into  the  ''  prison,  a  place  where  tlie  lying's 
 prisoners  tvere  bound :  and  lie  was  tliere  in  the 
 prison. 
 
 ■Jl  1l  But  the  Lord  was  with  Josepli,  and 
 t  sliewed  him  mercy,  and  '  gave  him  favour  in 
 tlie  siglit  of  tlie  l;eeper  of  the  prison. 
 
 •2'2  And  tlie  keeper  of  the  prison  '  committed 
 to  Joseph's  hand  all  the  prisoners  that  were  in 
 the  prison  ;  and  whatsoever  thej  did  there,  he 
 was  the  doer  of  it. 
 
 '23  The  keeper  of  the  prison  looked  not  to 
 any  thing  that  was  under  his  hand  ;  because 
 '  the  Lord  was  with  him,  aijd  that  which  he 
 did,  the  Loud  made  it  to  prosper. 
 
 CHAP.  XL. 
 
 1    T'le  butter  and  haher  of  Pharaoh  in  prison,   4  Joseph 
 hath  charge  of  them.    5  He  interpreteth  their  cinanis. 
 20  They  eome  to  pass  aecoidinij  to  his  intlTprUaiion, 
 23  The  ingratitude  of  tlie  butler. 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things,  </ia< 
 -^~*-  the  "  butler  of  the  king  of  Egypt  and  his 
 baker  had  offended  their  lord  the  king  of  Egypt. 
 'X    And    Pharaoh  was   ''  wroth   against  two  oj 
 his  otficers,  against  the  chief  of  the   butlers, 
 and  against  the  chief  of  the  bakers. 
 .3  °  And  he  put  them  in  ward  in  the  house  of 
 the  captain  of  the  guard,  into  the  prison,  the 
 place  where  Josepli  was  bound. 
 
 4  And  the  captain  of  the  guard  charged 
 Joseph  with  them,  and  he  served  them  :  and 
 tliey  continued  a  season  in  ward. 
 
 5  f  .\nd  they  dreamed  a  dream  both  of  them, 
 each  man  his  dream  in  one  night,  each  man 
 according  to  the  interpretation  of  his  dream, 
 the  butler  and  the  baker  of  the  king  of  Egypt, 
 which  ircre  bound  in  the  prison. 
 
 G  And  Joseph  came  in  unto  them  in  the 
 morning,  and  looked  upon  them,  and,  behold, 
 they  iri:re  .sad. 
 
 7  And  he  asked  Pharaohs  officers  that  were 
 with  him  in  the  ward  of  his  lord's  house,  say 
 ing.  Wherefore  f  look  ye  so  sadly  to  day  I 
 
 0  Prov.  6. 3-1, 
 
 33. 
 ji  l*s.  10.-). IS. 
 
 1  IVt  -J.  ly, 
 •J  See  til. It 
 
 3    l.j.  i,.  I. 
 
 U. 
 
 tnti, 
 
 ■  KX..S2I.& 
 II.  3.  3(  1^ 
 .So.  I's  lIHi. 
 .1(5  Pniv.in. 
 7.  l>;ii.  l.'l 
 Acts7.9,I0 
 
 r  cli.  40.  3,^. 
 
 ch-.  1720. 
 iN«h.  1.11. 
 
 b  I'to.  16   II 
 
 c  c\\   39.  I'O, 
 
 f  Hob.  arc 
 
 n.  C 
 
 cir.  1718. 
 
 <t  cli.  -11.  15. 
 n  See  ell.  U. 
 
 IG   n:ii,    2. 
 
 II,  2ti,  47. 
 
 /ver.  IS. 
 ch.  -If.  I-*, 
 •^6   Ju'l^.  7 
 1 1.    Pan.  :>. 
 oG   ^1.  I  LI. 
 
 y  c.'i.  11.  2G, 
 
 /i  9  Kill.  95. 
 
 ?7.  I's.  3   3. 
 
 Jer.  oi.  31. 
 [1  Or,  r«A<.;i. 
 
 ISiiiii.^O.ll, 
 15.  2Siini  0. 
 I.  ii\iii.)!.7. 
 
 t  Hell.  in™i 
 
 „rrim«„i,. 
 
 ttir  wurll  I.J 
 a  biiltff,  or, 
 zo'A. 
 ...  ver-  V2. 
 
 ..llieo/V. 
 
 8  And  they  said  unto  him,  •'We  have  dreamed 
 a  dream,  and  there  ;'*  no  interpreter  of  it.  And 
 Joseph  said  unto  them,  ''  Do  not  interpretations 
 beloiiij  to  God?   tell  me  t/ieiii,  I  pray  you. 
 
 9  And  the  chief  butler  told  liis  dream  to 
 Joseph,  and  said  to  him.  In  my  dream,  behold, 
 a  vine  was  before  me  ; 
 
 10  And  in  the  vine  were  three  branches:  and 
 it  was  as  though  it  budded,  and  her  blossoms 
 shot  forth  ;  and  the  clusters  thereof  brought 
 forth  ripe  grapes  : 
 
 11  And  Pharaoh's  cup  teas  in  my  hand  :  and 
 
 I  took  the  grapes,  and  pressed  them  into  Pha- 
 raoh's cup,  and  I  gave  the  cup  into  Pharaoh's 
 hand. 
 
 1-2  And  Joseph  said  unto  him,  '  This /.v  the 
 interpretation  of  it :  The  three  branches  ^  are 
 three  days : 
 
 13  Yet  within  three  days  shall  Pharaoh 
 ''  II  lift  up  thine  head,  and  restore  thee  unto 
 thy  place  :  and  thou  shall  deliver  Phaiaoh's 
 cup  into  his  hand,  after  the  former  maimer 
 when  thou  wast  his  butler. 
 
 14  But  t'  think  on  me  when  it  .shall  be  well 
 with  thee,  and  '  shew  kindness,  I  pray  thee, 
 unto  me,  and  make  mention  of  me  unto  Pha- 
 raoh, and  bring  me  out  of  this  house  : 
 
 lo  For  indeed  I  was  stolen  away  out  of  the 
 land  of  the  Hebrews  :  '  and  here  also  have  I 
 done  nothing  that  they  should  put  me  into  the 
 dungeon. 
 
 16  When  the  chief  baker  saw  that  the  inter- 
 pretation was  good,  he  said  unto  Joseph,  I  also 
 was  in  my  dream,  and,  behold,  /  had  three 
 
 II  white  baskets  on  my  head  : 
 
 17  And  in  the  uppermost  basket  there  was 
 of  all  manner  of  fbakemeats  for  Pharaoh  ;  and 
 the  birds  did  eat  their,  out  of  the  ba.sket  upon 
 my  head. 
 
 18  And  Joseph  answered  and  said,  ""  This  is 
 the  interpretation  thereof  :  The  three  baskets 
 are  three  days  : 
 
 19  "  Yet  within  three  days  shall  Pharaoh 
 II  lift  up  thy  head  from  off  thee,  and  shall  hang 
 thee  on  a  tree  ;  and  the  birds  shall  eat  thy 
 flesh  from  off  thee. 
 
 20  f  And  it  came  to  pass  the  third  day,  which 
 
 20.  Prison — ITeh.  '  the  round  house  or  tower.'     T/ie  kiiif^^s  prisoners — 
 such  as  were piiilty  (^f  high  treason. — Gifl. 
 
 Ch.vp.  XL.  —  2.  TIte  chief  of  tite  Itutlers,  or,  cup-bearer  to  the  king:, 
 (ver.  13.) — Pat.  Of  the  l/fikers — the  Hebrew  word  is  HDW.  'cook,' — 
 Bootltr.  ;  or  *  confectioner.'  5.  Dreamed  a  dream — these  were  extra* 
 ordinary  dreams,  for  providential  purposes.' — .4.  Clarke.  II.  Pressed 
 them — the  Egyptians  drank  no  wine,  because  it  was  fermented  liquor, 
 but  they  took  tliejuice  ot  the  grape.  The  chief  buUer,  therefore,  who, 
 in  his  dream,  sees  the  customs  of  real  life,  does  not  pour  the  wine,  but 
 mixes  the  juice  of  ripe  grapes  with  water. — Mich.  12.  Are  three  dai/s, 
 '  sit^nifii  three  days.'  The  Hebrew  has  no  word  to  express  '  to  sif;uily.' 
 Hence,  "this  is  my  body;'  that  is,  *  denotes  or  sitruijies  my  body.'— 
 Baothr.,  A.  Clarke.  13.  Lift  up  thine  liead,  or  'recliou  thy  liead.' — 
 I'note.  'Call  thee  to  account.' — Law.  '  Decide  concerning  thee.' — 
 Btjot/tr.  In  ver.  22,  the  chief  baker  is  said  to  have  been  Itan'^ed,  but 
 this  was  usually  done  among  the  ancient  Egvpt'ans  after  tjetteading. 
 
 ■when  they  were  suspended  by  the  hands,  or  on  h  loks. — See  A.  Clarke. 
 The  ancients  kept  reckoainicsoi  their  servants  with  pegs,  or  natls,wliich 
 were  used  in  a  perforated  biiard,  and  removed  from  hole  to  hole  accord- 
 ing to  the  merit  of  their  services.  These  pegs,  or  nails,  were  called 
 heads ;  hence,  some  have  supposed  reference  is  here  made  to  this 
 custom. — See  Trein.,  Bih.  Bib.  Perhaps  the  allusion  is  merely  meta- 
 phorical, and  expressive  of  joy,  as  holding  down  the  head  is  nf  grief, 
 (see  Jer.  lii.  31.} — So  Oreerif.  15.  'i'he  dungeon — the  lowest  and 
 darkest  place  in  the  prison,  under  ground. — Put.  l6.  Itn  my  head — 
 Herodotus  has  observed,  that  in  Egypt  men  carry  burthens  on  their 
 heads.  Olearius  found  in  Persia  that  it  was  the  custom,  at  grand  cntcr- 
 tainnients,  for  the  servants  to  biiitg  in  the  dislus  on  their  hearis. 
 17.  Bakeuieats,  'pastry.' — Gilt.  19.  Lift  vp  thij  liead  from  o_ff  thee, 
 
 *  order  thee  to  be  beheaded,'  Targ.  of  Jon.  '  Bring  thee  to  trial.' — 
 -■1.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XXXIX We  may  notice  several 
 
 things  recorded  of  Joseph  in  this  chapter  : — I.  Uls  prospcriti/. 
 'rhoui;li  a  slave  in  the  house  of  Potipliar,  yvt  every  thing  pros- 
 pered in  his  hand.  God  can  bless  his  people  in  every  state, 
 and  in  every  changing  scene  of  life  ;  and  he  can  make  them  a 
 blessing  to  others,  as  '  the  Lord  blessed  the  Egyptian's  house 
 for  Joseph's  sake.' 
 
 II.  His  chastity.  The  passions  of  youth  are  frequently 
 awfully  unrestrained,  and,  submitting  to  tlieir  guidance,  they 
 hurry  them  on  impetuously  in  the  broad  road  that  leadeth  to 
 destruction.  But  here  we  have  an  example  of  the  controlling 
 iiiHuence  of  Divine  grace,  where  it  takes  possession  of  the 
 
 heart.     What  a  repulse  to  the  tempter  was  the  question 
 
 '  IIow  can  I  do  this  great  wickedness  and  sin  against  God  V 
 
 III.  His  disgrace.  Innocence  is  not  always  a  shield  against 
 the  darts  nf  the  wicked.     The  innocent  Joseph  suffered  under 
 
 48 
 
 false  accusation — so  did  his  Saviour,  and  so  may  many  of  his 
 sincere  followers.  IJut  tliese  are  only  trials  of  faith  and 
 patience.  Trials  are  not  intended  to  last  always,  and  tln^  season 
 shall  come  when  the  clouds  which  glnoin  the  liorizon  shall  he 
 scaitereri,  and  God  shall  bring  forth  bis  people's  judgment  as 
 the  light,  and  their  '  righteousness  as  the  noon-day.' 
 
 IV.  His  consolations.  Joseph — cast  into  prison,  enjoying 
 the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience  and  Ihe  favour  of  his  Gixl  — 
 still  prospered.  Potiphar's  wife  liad  done  her  worst,  and  his 
 deceived  master  had  thrown  him  into  a  dungeon,  where,  loaded 
 with  fetters,  *  the  irons  entered  into  his  soul,'  (Ps.  cv.  18;) 
 but,  where  man  was  unnjeroiiul.  '  the  Lord  sheweil  liim  mercy, 
 and  gave  hira  favour  in  the  sight  of  the  keeper  of  the  prison,' 
 who  knocked  offhis  letters,  set  him  at  large  within  the  prison 
 walls,  and  made  him  deputy  keeper.  '  \\  ho  is  he  that  caj 
 harm  you,  if  yc  be  followers  of  that  wliicli  is  gooil  V 
 
Pharaoh's  dreams. 
 
 genl;3is,  xli. 
 
 Joseph  interjjreteth  them. 
 
 was  Pharaoli's  '  birthday,  that  he  ""made  a  feast 
 unto  all  his  servants:  and  he  '  |]  lifted  up  the 
 head  of  the  chief  butler  and  of  the  chief  baker 
 amonf^  his  servant-s. 
 
 21  And  he  '  restored  the  chief  butler  unto  his 
 butlership  afcain  ;  and  '  he  gave  the  cup  into 
 Pharaoh's  hand  : 
 
 2'2  But  he  '  hanged  the  chief  baker :  as  Jo- 
 seph had  interpreted  to  them. 
 
 23  Yet  did  not  the  chief  butler  remember 
 Joseph,  but  "  forgat  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XLI. 
 
 1  Pi'taraoh's  two  drratns.  25  Joseph  intcrpretrtti  tltcni. 
 33  He  giveth  Plianioh  counsel.  38  Joseph  is  nd- 
 vanied.  oO  He  bef/itttth  Manasseli  and  Epiiraim. 
 54    The  ftnn/fie  bi-cjiuneth. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  two  full 
 •^^  years,  that  Pharaoh  dreamed  :  and,  behold, 
 he  stood  by  the  river. 
 
 2  And,  behold,  there  came  up  out  of  the  river 
 seven  well  favoured  kine  and  fatfleshed  ;  and 
 they  fed  in  a  meadow. 
 
 .3  And,  behold,  seven  other  kine  came  up  after 
 them  out  of  the  river,  ill  favoured  and  lean- 
 fleshed  ;  and  stood  by  the  other  kine  upon  the 
 blink  of  tlio  river. 
 
 4  And  the  ill  favoured  and  leanfleshed  kine 
 did  eat  up  the  seven  well  favoured  and  fat  kine. 
 So  Pharaoh  awoke. 
 
 .5  And  he  slept  and  dreamed  the  second  time : 
 and,  behold,  seven  ears  of  corn  came  up  upon 
 one  stalk,  frank  and  good. 
 
 6  And,  behold,  seven  thin  ears  and  blasted 
 with  the  east  wind  sprung  up  after  them. 
 
 7  And  the  seven  thin  ears  devoured  the  seven 
 rank  and  full  ears.  And  Pharaoh  awoke,  and, 
 behold,  it  iias  a  dream. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning  °  that 
 his  spirit  was  troubled;  and  he  sent  and  called 
 for  all  ''  the  magicians  of  Egypt,  and  all  the 
 "wise  men  thereof:  and  Pharaoh  told  them 
 his  dream  ;  but  there  was  none  that  could 
 interpret  them  unto  Pharaoh. 
 
 9  1  Then  spake  the  chief  butler  unto  Pha- 
 raoh, saying,  I  do  remember  my  faults  this  day  : 
 
 10  Pharaoh  was  ''wroth  vvitli  his  servants, 
 °and  put  me  in  ward  in  the  captain  of  the 
 guard's  bouse,  both  me  and  the  chief  baker: 
 
 1 1  And  '  we  dreamed  a  dream  in  one  night, 
 1  and  he  ;  we  dreamed  each  man  according 
 to  the  interpretation  of  his  dream. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  17H. 
 
 o  ^rat.  I'l   (5 
 
 p  Mark  li  1*1. 
 
 q  ver.  l.H.  19. 
 
 Mat.-ib.  19 
 
 J  Neh. 
 
 I. 
 
 ujob  19.  14. 
 Ps,  SI.  I-J. 
 Eccles.O. 
 
 t  Heb  fal. 
 
 I,  Dan,  2.  1. 
 &  *.  5,  19. 
 
 b  Ex,  7.  11, 
 
 22   Is.  99. 
 
 H.   Dan.  1. 
 
 90.  8c  2,  2. 
 
 «.4.  ;. 
 c  illal.  2    1. 
 
 dch.  40  2,  3 
 t  ch.39.  20. 
 
 /ch.  40.  5. 
 
 e;  ch.  V.  3ii. 
 A  ch.  40.  19. 
 &c. 
 
 /  Dan  2. ; 
 t  Heb,   m 
 
 Daa.  5.  16. 
 
 II  Or,  when 
 
 IhuH    li'-arr,l 
 
 a  liream  tituii 
 
 C'liiJl     inter- 
 
 prtil  It. 
 
 0  Dan,  2.  30. 
 
 Acts  3.  12, 
 
 2  Cor.  3   5. 
 
 p  oh,  40  9 
 
 Dan.  2.  22. 
 
 Sf<.47,&4  -2. 
 
 q  vei-.   1. 
 
 of  them. 
 
 II  Or,  imalt 
 
 I  Pan.  2 
 29,  45,  : 
 
 12  And  t?iere  ttuis  there  with  us  a  young 
 man,  an  Hebrew,  *  servant  to  the  captain  of 
 the  guard;  and  we  told  him,  and  he  ''inter- 
 preted to  us  our  dreams  ;  to  each  man  accord- 
 ing to  his  dream  he  did  interpret. 
 
 13  And  it  came  to  pass,  '  as  he  interpreted  to 
 us,  so  it  was  ;  me  he  restored  unto  mine  office, 
 and  him  he  hanged. 
 
 14  K  ''  Then  Pharaoh  sent  and  called  Joseph, 
 and  they  '  f  brought  him  hastily  "out  of  the 
 dungeon  :  and  he  shaved  himself,  and  changed 
 his  raiment,  and  came  in  unto  Pharaoh. 
 
 13  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  I  have 
 dreamed  a  dream,  and  there  is  none  that  can 
 interpret  it :  "  and  I  have  heard  say  of  thee, 
 that  II  thou  canst  understand  a  dream  to  inter- 
 pret it. 
 
 16  And  Joseph  answered  Pharaoh,  saying, 
 °  It  is  not  in  me  :  ■'  God  shall  give  Pharaoh  an 
 answer  of  peace. 
 
 17  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  '■  In  my 
 dream,  behold,  I  stood  upon  the  bank  of  the 
 river  : 
 
 18  And,  behold,  there  came  up  out  of  the 
 river  seven  kine,  fatfleshed  and  well  favoured  ; 
 and  they  fed  in  a  meadow : 
 
 19  And,  behold,  seven  other  kine  came  up 
 after  them,  poor  and  very  ill  favoured  and 
 leanfleslied,  such  as  I  never  saw  in  all  the  land 
 of  Egypt  for  badness  ; 
 
 20  And  the  lean  and  the  ill  favoured  kine  did 
 eat  up  the  first  seven  fat  kine  : 
 
 21  And  when  they  had  f  eaten  them  up,  it 
 could  not  be  known  that  they  had  eaten  them ; 
 but  they  were  still  ill  favoured,  as  at  the  begin- 
 ning.    So  I  awoke. 
 
 22  And  I  saw  in  my  dream,  and,  behold, 
 seven  ears  came  up  in  one  stalk, full  and  good: 
 
 23  And,  behold,  seven  ears,  ||  withered,  thin, 
 and  blasted  with  the  east  wind,  sprung  up 
 after  them  : 
 
 24  And  the  thin  ears  devoured  the  seven 
 good  ears  :  and  '  I  told  this  unto  the  magi- 
 cians ;  but  there  was  none  that  could  declare 
 it  to  me. 
 
 23  II  And  Joseph  said  unto  Pharaoh,  The 
 dream  of  Pharaoh  ?,'!  one  :  '  God  hath  shewed 
 Pharaoh  what  he  is  about  to  do. 
 
 26  The  seven  good  kine  are  seven  years ; 
 and  the  seven  good  ears  are  seven  years  :  the 
 dream  is  one. 
 
 Chap.  XLI. — I.  The  river,  the  Nile;  called  simply  the  river  becau.^e 
 of  its  eminency. — Poole.  2.  Well  favoured  kine — the  buifalo  is  almost 
 amphibious  in  K^rypt ;  riurinpthe  heat  of  the  day,  &ucli  as  are  not  used 
 in  husbandry  recline  in  the  water,  immersed  all  but  the  head.  These 
 were  the  kine  Pharaoh  beheld. — JoUiffe^s  Let.  from  Pal.  Fed  in  a 
 meadow,  rather,  '  fed  on  the  achu,'  the  reeds  which  prow  on  the  banks 
 of  the  Nile. —  Wall.  5.  Sei'en  ears — irprm  one  stalk- — Tat/lor  gives  a 
 specimen  of  this  corn,  from  a  plant  grown  in  England. — Fragments, 
 147.  6.  Blasted  with  the  east  wind — the  east  wind  is  more  pernicious 
 in  Egypt  than  in  other  pla'es,  because  it  comes  through  the  vast  de- 
 serts of  Arabia. — Pat.         8.  Magicians,  men  who  interpreted  abstruse 
 
 subjects. — A.  Clarke  :  and  understood  hieroglyphics  ;  and  their  sacred 
 rites. — Boothr.  As  their  mysteries  had  degenerated  into  magic,  they 
 received  the  name  of  magicians. — Orient.  Lit.  Wise  men,  probably 
 philosophers. — Pat.,  A.  Clarke.  14.  Dungeon — some  thiuk  that  he 
 was  in  the  lowest  and  darkest  part  of  the  prison  ;  but  Poole  thinks  a 
 part  is  here  put  for  the  whole,  for,  being  entrusted  with  the  affairs  of 
 the  prison,  he  could  not  manage  them  in  the  dungeon,  (see  chap. 
 xxxix.  21 — 23.)  16.  It  is  not  in  me,  that  is,  he  had  no  such  power  in 
 himself  ;  it  was  the  gift  of  God.  Oad  .shall /ni'e— some  read,  '  May  God 
 give,'  &c. — Gill.        25.  Is  one,  one  and  the  same. — Hew. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XL.  —  I.  We  see  here  the  uncertainty 
 of  human  greatness.  Those  who  are  rich  to-day  are  poor  to- 
 morrow :  those  who  enjoy  the  highest  distinctions  in  the  land, 
 are,  in  a  moment,  cast  down  :  the  objects  of  envy  one  day,  may 
 become  the  objects  of  pity  the  next.  Let  us,  therefore,  learn 
 to  seek  that  honour  which  comelh  from  God. 
 
 II.  We  see  the  overruling  providence  of  God,  even  in  the  trans- 
 actions of  wicked  men.  I^haraoli's  degradation  of  his  servants  is 
 to  make  way  for  tlie  elevation  of  Joseph.  In  much  of  this 
 history  we  have  a  most  striking  ilhistvation  of  that  promise, 
 '  Surely  the  vs-rath  of  man  shall  praise  him,  and  the  remainder 
 of  wrath  he  will  restrain.' 
 
 III.  We  see  also  an  e.Thibition  of  human  nature  in  one  of  its 
 most  common  traits — ingratitude.  iSJo  doubt  hut  the  kind  heart 
 of  Joseph  had  soothed  the  suft'erings  of  many  of  the  prisoners 
 
 49 
 
 committed  to  his  care,  and,  before  be  interpreted  the  butler's 
 dream,  and  relieved  his  depressed  spirits  by  the  cheering  news 
 of  his  deliverance,  he  had  poured  balm  into  his  wounded 
 heart.  He  who  so  loved  and  feared  God  had  doubtless  told 
 bim  of  the  blessedness  of  those  in  every  state  who  made  him 
 their  trust,  and  had  aimed  to  loosen  the  fetters  both  of  his 
 body  and  soul :  '  Yet  did  not  the  chief  butler  remember  Joseph, 
 but  forgat  him.'  Ungrateful  man  !— a  picture  of  too  many 
 around  us,  who  cringe  to  us  in  the  day  of  their  adversity,  and 
 forget  us  in  their  prosperity.  A  picture,  too,  of  ourselves, 
 who,  when  raised  from  the  pit  of  adversity,  are  often  but  too 
 insensible  of  the  Divine  goodness,  and  forget  to  propose  the 
 inquiry,  '  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits 
 toward  me  V 
 
Joseph  yiveth  Pharaoh  counsel. 
 
 GENESIS,  XLI. 
 
 The  famine  commenceth. 
 
 27  And  the  seven  thin  and  ill  favoured  kine 
 that  came  up  after  them  are  seven  years  ;  and 
 the  seven  empty  ears  blasted  with  the  east 
 wind  shall  be  '  seven  years  of  famine. 
 
 28  "  This  is  the  thing  which  I  have  spoken 
 unto  Pharaoh  :  What  God  is  about  to  do  he 
 sheweth  unto  Pharaoh. 
 
 29  Behold,  there  come  '  seven  years  of  great 
 plenty  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt: 
 
 30  And  there  shall  ''arise  after  them  seven 
 years  of  famine  ;  and  all  the  plenty  shall  be 
 forgotten  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  and  the  famine 
 '  shall  consume  the  land  ; 
 
 31  And  the  plenty  shall  not  be  known  in  the 
 land  by  reason  of  that  famine  following  ;  for  it 
 shall  be  very  f  grievous. 
 
 32  And  for  that  the  dream  was  doubled  unto 
 Pharaoh  twice  ;  it  is  because  the  °  thing  is 
 II  established  by  God,  and  God  will  shortly 
 bring  it  to  pass. 
 
 33  Now  therefore  let  Pharaoh  look  out  a 
 man  discreet  and  wise,  and  set  him  over  the 
 land  of  Egypt. 
 
 34  Let  Pharaoh  do  this,  and  let  him  appoint 
 II  officers  over  the  land,  and  ''  take  up  the  fifth 
 part  of  the  land  of  Egypt  in  the  seven  plenteous 
 years. 
 
 35  And  '^let  them  gather  all  the  food  of  those 
 good  years  that  come,  and  lay  up  corn  under 
 the  hand  of  Pharaoh,  and  let  them  keep  food 
 in  the  cities. 
 
 36  And  that  food  shall  be  for  store  to  the 
 laud  against  the  seven  years  of  famine,  which 
 shall  be  in  the  land  of  Egypt  ;  that  the  land 
 f  perish  not  through  the  famine. 
 
 37  t  And  "  the  thing  was  good  in  the  eyes  of 
 Pharaoh,  and  in  the  eyes  of  all  his  servants. 
 
 38  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  his  servants.  Can 
 we  find  such  a  one  as  this  is,  a  man  ' in  whom 
 the  Spirit  of  God  is  ? 
 
 39  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  Foras- 
 much as  God  hath  shewed  thee  all  this,  there 
 is  none  so  discreet  and  wise  as  thou  art  : 
 
 40  ^  Thou  shalt  be  over  my  house,  and  ac- 
 cording unto  thy  word  shall  all  my  people  fbe 
 ruled  :  only  in  the  throne  will  I  be  greater 
 than  thou. 
 
 41  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  See,  I 
 have  "set  thee  over  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 42  And  Pharaoh  '  took  off  his  ring  from  his 
 hand,  and  put  it  upon  Joseph's  hand,  and  ^  ar- 
 rayed him  in  vestures  of  ||  fine  linen,  '  and  put 
 a  gold  chain  about  his  neck  ; 
 
 (  3  Kin.  8.  I 
 '(  ver.  25. 
 
 X  ver.  47. 
 !/  ver.  54. 
 
 )Heb,  fie^vy. 
 
 I  Nam.  23. 
 
 19.    la.  46. 
 
 LO,  U. 
 I  Or.  prfipar 
 
 Id  vf  God. 
 
 i  Prov.  6.  6, 
 7,8. 
 
 t  Heb.  kenot 
 
 tPs.  105.  19. 
 
 .\ct8  7,  10. 
 
 /Nam.  S7. 
 19.Job32.8. 
 Trov.  2.  6. 
 Dao.4.B,IS 
 &  J.  II,  14. 
 8c  6.  3. 
 
 ff  Pa,  lOj.  21, 
 
 22.  I  Mac  2. 
 
 bS.  Acts  7. 
 
 lu. 
 t  Heb.  6« 
 
 atmtd,  or, 
 
 A  Dan.  6.  3. 
 
 i'  Est,  3.  10.- 
 &  H.  2,  8. 
 A  Est.  8. 15. 
 II  Or,  <.7*. 
 t  Dan.  5.7,29. 
 
 ;i  ch.  22,  17, 
 Judg,7.  12. 
 I  Sam.  13^. 
 Pa.  78.  27. 
 
 4  ch.  ^6.  20. 
 &48.  5. 
 
 II  Or,  prinee, 
 ver.  45. 
 SSam  S.18 
 
 cir.  1712. 
 !l  Thut  is, 
 /orf^ttliitg , 
 
 frmlful. 
 r  ch.  49.  22. 
 
 t  Vs.  105.  in. 
 Acta  7.  II. 
 
 t  Heb.  M 
 wh^ei'i  was. 
 ti  ch   42    G 
 &  47.14,  24. 
 
 X  Dout  9,28. 
 
 43  And  he  made  him  to  ride  in  the  second 
 chariot  which  he  had  ;  '"  and  they  cried  before 
 him,  II  t  Bow  the  knee  :  and  he  made  him 
 ruler  "  over  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 44  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  I  am 
 Pharaoh,  and  without  thee  shall  no  man  lift 
 up  his  hand  or  foot  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 45  And  Pharaoh  called  Joseph's  name  ||  Zaph- 
 nath-paaneah  ;  and  he  gave  him  to  wife  Ase- 
 nath  the  daughter  of  Poti-pherah  ||  priest  of 
 On.  And  Joseph  went  out  over  all  the  land 
 of  Egypt. 
 
 46  f  And  Joseph  was  thirty  years  old  v/hen 
 he  °  stood  before  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt.  And 
 Joseph  went  out  from  the  presence  of  Pharaoh, 
 and  went  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 47  And  in  the  seven  plenteous  years  the 
 earth  brought  forth  by  handfuls. 
 
 48  And  he  gathered  up  all  the  food  of  the 
 seven  years,  which  were  in  the  land  of  Egypt, 
 and  laid  up  the  food  in  the  cities  :  the  food 
 of  the  field,  which  ivas  round  about  every  city, 
 laid  he  up  in  the  same. 
 
 49  And  Joseph  gathered  corn  ''  as  the  sand  of 
 the  sea,  very  much,  until  he  left  numbering  ; 
 for  it  iras  without  number. 
 
 50  '■  And  unto  Joseph  were  born  two  sons 
 before  the  years  of  famine  came,  which  Asenath 
 the  daughter  of  Poti-pherah  ||  priest  of  On  bare 
 unto  him. 
 
 51  And  Joseph  called  the  name  of  the  first- 
 born II  Manasseh  :  For  God,  said  he,  hath  made 
 me  forget  all  my  toil,  and  all  my  father's  house. 
 
 )2   And  the  name   of  the  second  called  he 
 Ephraim  :   For  God  hath  caused  me  to  be 
 '  fruitful  in  the  land  of  my  affliction. 
 
 53  t  And  the  seven  years  of  plenteousness, 
 that  WLS  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  were  ended. 
 
 54  '  And  the  seven  years  of  dearth  began  to 
 come,  '  according  as  Joseph  had  said  :  and  the 
 dearth  was  in  all  lands  ;  but  in  all  the  land  of 
 Egypt  there  was  bread. 
 
 55  And  when  all  the  land  of  Egypt  was  fa- 
 mished, the  people  cried  to  Pharaoh  for  bread: 
 and  Pharaoh  said  unto  all  the  Egyptians,  Go 
 unto  Joseph  ;  what  he  saith  to  you,  do. 
 
 56  And  the  famine  was  over  all  the  face  of 
 the  earth  :  And  Joseph  opened  f  all  the  store- 
 houses, and  "  sold  unto  the  Egyptians  ;  and  the 
 famine  waxed  sore  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 57  '  And  all  countries  came  into  Egypt  to 
 Joseph  for  to  buy  coi'n ;  because  that  the 
 famine  was  so  sore  in  all  lands. 
 
 30.  Sevenpeavs  of  famine — Justin,  in  extracts  from  Pompeitts^s  historical 
 work,  has  preserved  the  record  of  this,  (lib,  xx.xvi.,  cap.  2.)  34.  The  fifth 
 part — the  king's  usual  tribute  was  probably  a  tenth,  but  the  fifth  was, 
 most  likely,  no  great  demand  in  years  of  plenty. — Poole.  40.  Be 
 over  my  house,  '  be  the  chief  minister  at  court,'  for  that  is  meant  by  his 
 house. — Pat.  Shall  all  mi/  people  be  ruled — Heb.  '  shall  all  my  people 
 kiss.*  The  Easterns  kiss  what  comes  from  the  hand  of  a  superior ; 
 thus,  they  kiss  a  firman  from  the  Grand  Seignior.  The  orders  of  Jo- 
 seph were  to  be  received  with  the  greatest  respect. — Har.  See  Ps. 
 ii.  12.  42.  Took  off  his  ring,  that  is,  'his  signet.*  In  the  ring  is 
 generally  a  seal,  in  which  the  name  of  the  sovereign  is  engraved. — 
 Von  Hammer,  Gorei-nment  of  the  Turkish  Empire.  In  token  of  the 
 dignity  to  which  lie  was  preferred,  and  that  he  might  seal  letters  pa- 
 tent. Fine  linen,  in  garments  made  of  this,  great  men  only  were 
 clothed.— /"of.  The  byssus  of  Egypt,  made  of  the  finest  cotton,  still 
 worn  by  the  great. — Rosenm.  'Muslin.' — Boothr.  Solomon  was  so 
 arrayed,  .i  gold  chain,  another  token  of  the  highest  dignity,  (see  Dan. 
 V.  16.) — Pat.  43.  Cried  before  him — proclamations  of  praise  before 
 great  personages,  when  appearing  in  public,  are  common  throughout 
 India.—  Dubois^s  Descrip.  of  People  of  India.        44.  1  am  Pharaoh,  or, 
 
 '  1  am  king  ;'  the  name  being  that  of  office. — Gill.  Lift  vp  his  hand  or 
 foot,  a  proverbial  speech  for  transacting  public  affairs.  45.  Zaph- 
 nalh-paaneah,  '  a  revealer  of  secrets.'  Pharaoh  gave  Joseph  this  new 
 name  as  a  foreigner,  and  as  a  mark  of  distinction.  Nebuchadnezzar 
 did  the  same  in  Babylon,  (Dan.  i.  /,) — Pat.  Similar  to  that  of  prime 
 minister  in  England. — Cot.  Com.  The  Mogul  never  advances  any  man 
 but  he  gives  him  a  name.  Priest  of  On — priests  were  anciently  the 
 prime  men  of  the  kingdom. — Pat.  And,  in  some  measure,  hereditary 
 princes  next  to  the  kings. — Orient.  Lit.  On,  or  *  Onii  i'  the  same  with 
 Aven,  (Ezek.  XXX.  1/,)  about  twenty-two  miles  from  Memphis.  It  is 
 since  called  Heliopotis,  and  so  translated  here  by  the  Sept. — Gill.  Over 
 all  the  land,  to  find  the  best  places  for  stores. — Gill.  46.  Thirty 
 years  old—so  he  had  been  out  of  his  country  thirteen  years,  for  he  was 
 seventeen  years  old  when  he  was  sold,  (chap,  xxxvii.  2.) — Pat.  54.  In 
 all  lands,  adjoining  to  Egypt,  as  Syria,  Arabia,  Palestine,  Canaan,  SiC. 
 56.  The  face  of  the  earth,  the  land  of  Egypt, — Gill,  for  the  original  ja 
 i'lNn  *3D  b^y  '  all  the  face  of  that  land.'  57.  All  countries  came  into 
 
 Egypt — there  had  not  been  rain  enough  to  swell  the  Nile  for  Egypt, 
 and  the  same  causes  would  operate  in  neighbouring  countries. — See 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 RErLECTioss  ON  Chap.  XLI 1.  We  have  here,  Joseph's 
 
 deliverance.     God's  movements  are  often  slow  and  complicated, 
 but  they  always  accomplish  his  purposes  of  mercy.     He  saw 
 fit  to  try  Joseph  ;   but,  while  he  made  him  to  pass  through 
 50 
 
 fire  and  through  water,'  be  brought  him  forth  at  last  '  info  a 
 wealthy  place.' 
 
 II.  Joseph's  eialtntion  followed  his  long  season  of  adversity. 
 Honour  upon  honour  was  conferred  upon  him.     Was  there 
 
Jacob  sends  his  ten  sons  into  Eyypt. 
 
 GENESIS,  XLII. 
 
 Imprisonment  of  Joseph's  brethren. 
 
 CHAP.  XLII. 
 
 I  Jacob  sendeth  his  ten  sons  to  hui/  corn  in  Egypt.  16 
 Tliey  arc  iiitprisoiudby  Joseph  for  spiis.  18  They 
 art  set  at  liberty,  on  contiitiojt  to  bring  Benjamin. 
 21  7'hey  iiuve  remorse  for  Joseph.  2-4  Sint'Ofi  is 
 kept  for  a  pledye.  25  They  return  with  corti,  and 
 their  money.  29  Tlieir  relation  to  Jacob.  26  Jacob 
 ref-useth  to  send  Botjamin. 
 
 NOW  when  "  Jacob  saw  that  there  was  corn 
 in  Egypt,  Jacob  said  unto  his  sons.  Why 
 do  ye  loolc  one  upon  anotlier? 
 '2  And  he  said.  Behold,  I  have  heard  that 
 there  is  corn  in  Egypt  :  get  you  down  thither, 
 and  buy  for  us  from  thence  ;  that  we  may 
 ^  live,  and  not  die. 
 
 3  t  And  Josepli's  ten  brethren  went  down  to 
 buy  corn  in  Egypt. 
 
 4  But  Benjaniin,  Joseph's  brother,  Jacob  sent 
 not  with  his  bretliren  ;  for  he  said,  "  Lest  per- 
 adventure  mischief  befall  him. 
 
 5  And  the  sons  of  Israel  came  to  buy  corn 
 among  those  tliat  came  :  for  the  famine  was 
 ■■in  tlie  land  of  Canaan. 
 
 6  And  Joseph  icas  the  governor  °  over  the 
 land,  and  he  it  teas  that  sold  to  all  the  people 
 of  the  land  :  and  Josepli's  brethren  came,  and 
 '  bowed  down  themselves  before  him  with  their 
 faces  to  the  earth. 
 
 7  And  Joseph  saw  Iiis  brethren,  and  he  knew 
 them,  but  made  himself  strange  unto  them, 
 and  spake  f  roughly  unto  them  ;  and  he  said 
 unto  them.  Whence  come  ye?  And  they  said. 
 From  the  land  of  Canaan  to  buy  food. 
 
 8  And  Joseph  knew  his  brethren,  but  they 
 knew  not  him. 
 
 9  And  Joseph  ^  remembered  the  dreams 
 which  he  dreamed  of  them,  and  said  unto 
 them.  Ye  are  spies  ;  to  see  the  nakedness  of 
 the  land  ye  are  come. 
 
 10  And  they  said  unto  him.  Nay,  my  lord, 
 but  to  buy  food  are  thy  servants  come. 
 
 11  We  are  all  one  man's  sons  ;  we  are  true 
 men,  thy  servants  are  no  spies. 
 
 12  And  he  said  unto  them.  Nay,  but  to  see 
 the  nakedness  of  the  land  ye  are  come. 
 
 13  And  they  said.  Thy  servants  are  twelve 
 brethren,  the  sons  of  one  man  in  the  land  of 
 Canaan  ;  and,  behold,  the  youngest  is  tliisday 
 with  our  father,  and  one  ''  is  not. 
 
 14  And  Joseph  said  unto  them.  That  is  it 
 that  I  spake  unto  you,  saying.  Ye  are  spies 
 
 15  Hereby  ye  shall  be  proved  :  '  By  the  life 
 of  Pharaoh  ye  shall  not  go  forth  hence,  except 
 your  youngest  brother  come  hither. 
 
 16  Send  one  of  you,  and  let  him  fetch  your 
 
 1707. 
 Acts  7.  ri 
 
 6  ch.  *S.  9. 
 1*3,  113    17. 
 l3.  3H.  1. 
 
 d  Act«7.  11. 
 ech.  11.  41. 
 
 /ell.  S7.  7. 
 
 t  Heb,  Anrrf 
 
 Lam.  5.  7, 
 See  cli.  4i. 
 20. 
 
 t'  See  1  Sam. 
 
 I.  56.  &  17. 
 5b.    Judilli 
 
 II.  7. 
 
 B.  C.  1707. 
 t  Heh.b<,wid 
 
 t  Heb. 
 gatlitred. 
 
 i  Lev.  »5  13. 
 :<eli.  3.  la. 
 
 /  ver.  lit. 
 cli,  1,1.  5.  & 
 4-1.  2.1. 
 
 njob  36.6,9. 
 Hos.5.  15. 
 
 p  cli.  9  5- 
 1  Kin.  2. 32. 
 SClir  e4.22 
 P.s.  rt.  l->- 
 Luke  11.50, 
 51. 
 
 t  Hi-b.n>.  in. 
 lerj.reter 
 was  belireeti 
 
 q  Mat.  5.  14- 
 Roiii.  12.17, 
 20,  21. 
 
 t  Heb.  toeiit 
 f.„k. 
 
 f  Hell,  with 
 u,  hnrd 
 
 brother,  and  ye  shall  be  f  kept  in  prison,  that 
 your  words  may  be  proved,  whether  there  be 
 any  truth  in  you  :  or  else  by  the  life  of  Pha- 
 raoh surely  ye  are  spies. 
 
 17  And  he  f  put  them  all  together  into  ward 
 three  days. 
 
 18  And  Joseph  said  unto  them  the  third  day. 
 This  do,  and  live  ;  ^for  I  fear  God  : 
 
 19  If  ye  6e  true  77ieH,  let  one  of  your  brethren 
 be  bound  in  the  house  of  your  prison  :  go  ye, 
 car'y  corn  for  the  famine  of  your  houses  : 
 
 20  But  'bring  your  youngest  brother  unto 
 me  ;  so  shall  your  words  be  verified,  and  ye 
 shall  not  die.     And  they  did  so. 
 
 21  II  And  they  said  one  to  another,  ""  We  are 
 verily  guilty  concerning  our  brother,  in  that 
 we  saw  the  anguish  of  his  soul,  when  he  be- 
 sought us,  and  we  would  not  hear  ;  "  therefore 
 is  this  distress  come  upon  us. 
 
 22  And  Reuben  answered  them,  saying, 
 °  Spake  I  not  unto  you,  saying.  Do  not  sin 
 against  the  child;  and  ye  would  not  hear? 
 therefore,  behold,  also  his  blood  is  ''required. 
 
 23  And  they  knew  not  that  Joseph  under- 
 stood them;  for  f  he  spake  unto  them  by  an 
 interpreter. 
 
 24  And  he  turned  himself  about  from  them, 
 and  wept ;  and  returned  to  them  again,  and 
 communed  with  them,  and  took  from  them 
 Simeon,  and  bound  him  before  their  eyes. 
 
 25  H  Then  Joseph  commanded  to  fill  their 
 sacks  with  corn,  and  to  restore  every  man's 
 money  into  his  sack,  and  to  give  them  provi 
 sion  for  the  way  :  and  ''  thus  did  he  unto  them 
 
 26  And  they  laded  their  asses  with  the  corn, 
 and  departed  thence, 
 
 27  And  as  '  one  of  them  opened  his  sack  to 
 give  his  ass  provender  in  the  inn,  he  espied  his 
 money  ;  for,  behold,  it  icas  in  his  sack's  mouth. 
 
 28  And  he  said  unto  his  brethren.  My  money 
 is  restored  ;  and,  lo,  it  is  even  in  my  sack  : 
 and  their  heart  f  failed  them,  and  they  were 
 afraid,  saying  one  to  another.  What  is  this  tliat 
 God  hath  done  unto  us? 
 
 29  II  And  they  came  unto  Jacob  their  father 
 unto  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  told  him  all  that 
 befell  unto  them  ;  saying, 
 
 30  The  man,  ivho  is  the  lord  of  the  land, 
 'spake  t  roughly  to  us,  and  took  us  for  spies 
 of  the  country. 
 
 31  And  we  said  unto  him.  We  are  true  men  ; 
 we  are  no  spies  : 
 
 32  We  be  twelve  brethren,  sons  of  our  father ; 
 one  is  not,  and  the  youngest  is  this  day  with 
 our  father  in  the  land  of  Canaan. 
 
 Chap.  XLII. — 1.  Saw,  'understood.'  This  is  a  Hebrew  idiom,  to  put 
 the  operaiion  of  tlie  senses  for  tliose  of  tlie  TX\\nA.—Bot}thr.  6.  Bowed 
 down—not  only  bowed  the  knee,  like  the  Egyptians,  but  prostrated 
 their  whole  bodies,  like  the  Easterns  ;  thus  fulfilling  his  dream  of  their 
 sheaves  making  obeisance  to  his  sheaf,   (chap,  .x.xxvii.   7.)  —  GiU. 
 
 8.  Knew  itis  brethren,  having  been  erown  men  when  they  parted  from 
 him. — Ed.  They  knew  not  him,  being  altered  in  person  from  a  boy, 
 dressed  in  splendid  robes,  and  speaking  the  Egyptian  language.— (?;». 
 
 9.  Ye  are  spies— the  Arabs,  to  this  day.  use  such  practices  merely  to 
 ascertain  the  strength  of  their  neighbours,  and  the  practicability  of  the 
 tribes  to  which  they  belong  either  driving  out  or  plundering  the  inha- 
 bitants.—Green/.  It  is  common  with  the  Arabs  to  take  travellers  for 
 spies,  and  so  to  make  this  a  pretence  for  extonion.— Shaw's  Trun. 
 11.  One  mim's  sons,  a  proof  they  were  not  spies,  as  no  man  would  so 
 expose  all  iiis  sons.— Pat.  We  do  not  belong  to  different  tribes,  and 
 one  family  only  would  nut  attack  a  kingdom.— /I,  Clarke.  13.  Are 
 twelve  brethren,  rather,  were  should  be  here  supplied. — Gill.        15.  By 
 
 the  life  of  Pharaoh.  '  as  Phaiaoh  liveth.' — Boothr. ;  so  A.  Clarke.  The 
 Persians  swear  by  the  king  s  head. — Thevenot's  Trav.  This  was  not 
 strictly  an  oath,  but  a  solemn  protestation,  as  1  Sam.  XX.  3. —  Wil. 
 18.  I  fear  God,  and  therefore  would  not  be  cruel  and  unjust. — Gilt. 
 25.  Their  sacks,  'their  vessels.' — .i.  Clarke.  Probably  woollen  bags, 
 or  baskets,  lined  with  leather,  to  prevent  wet  from  injuring,  and  sand 
 from  mixing,  with  the  corn. — Char.  26.  They  laded  their  n.'ises — each 
 had  one  at  least. — Gilt.  More  probably  there  were  scores  or  hundreds, 
 to  bear  supplies  fur  so  large  a  family.  27.  His  iv(cA-— the  word  is  dif- 
 ferent here  from  ver.  25  ;  there  it  is,  Dn'''7D,  '  vessels,'  here  pTl\  and  so 
 in  the  verses  following.  The  former  held  the  purchased  wheat,  and 
 their  things  made  up  in  parcels,  and  were  large ;  the  pM?,  sak,  was 
 small,  and  used  fur  provender  for  the  ass  during  tlie  journey. — Char. 
 The  inn,  '  lodging-place.'  They  have  no  inns  in  the  east.  Travellers 
 generally  lodge  in  ihe  open  air  near  some  fountain,  where  there  is  pas- 
 ture and  water.  32.  Our  father — the  true  reading  seems  to  have 
 been  int?  ^2N,  '  one  father.' — Boothr. 
 
 ever  a  more  beautiful  illustration  of  the  promise,  '  Tbem  that 
 honour  me,  I  will  honour'  !  Earthly  elevation  does  not,  how- 
 ever, always  follow  the  afflictions  of  God's  faithful  servants, 
 but  they  shall  nevertheless  he  highly  exalted.  '  God  shall 
 wipo  away  all  tears  from  oS' all  faces' — they  shall  be  placed  at 
 51 
 
 the  right  hand  of '  the  King  of  Kings  and  Lord  of  Lords' — . 
 they  shall  wear  '  white  robes,'  and  cany  palms  in  their  hands — 
 they  shall  be  made  'kings  and  priests  unto  God,'  and  *  reign 
 with  him  for  ever  and  ever.' 
 
Jacob  is  persuaded  to  send  Benjamin. 
 
 33  And  the  man,  the  lord  of  the  country, 
 said  unto  us,  '  Hereby  shall  I  know  that  ye 
 are  true  men;  leave  one  of  your  brethren  here 
 with  me,  and  take  food  for  the  famine  of  your 
 housholtls,  and  be  gone  : 
 
 34  And  bring  your  youngest  brother  unto  me  : 
 then  shall  I  know  that  ye  are  no  spies,  but 
 that  ye  arc  true  men :  so  will  I  deliver  you 
 your  brother,  and  ye  shall  "  tratfick  in  the  land. 
 
 35  t  And  it  came  to  pass  as  tliey  emptied 
 their  sacks,  that,  behold,  "  every  man's  bundle 
 of  money  was  in  his  sack  :  and  when  both  they 
 and  their  father  saw  the  bundles  of  money, 
 they  were  afraid. 
 
 36  And  Jacob  their  father  said  unto  them.  Me 
 have  ye  ''bereaved  of  my  children  :  Joseph  is 
 not,  and  Simeon  is  not,  and  ye  will  take  Ben- 
 jamin aira;/  :  all  these  things  are  against  me. 
 
 87  And  Reuben  spake  unto  his  father,  saying. 
 Slay  my  two  sons,  if  I  bring  him  not  to  thee  : 
 deliver  him  into  my  hand,  and  I  will  bring  him 
 to  thee  again. 
 
 38  And  he  said,  My  son  shall  not  go  down 
 with  you  ;  for  Miis  brother  is  dead,  and  he  is 
 left  alone:  'if  mischief  befall  him  by  the  way 
 in  the  which  ye  go,  then  shall  ye  ''  bring  down 
 my  gray  hairs  with  sorrow  to  the  grave. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIII. 
 
 I  Jacob  is  hnrdhj  persuaded  to  send  Benjamin.  15 
 Joseph  enterluinelh  Ins  brethren.  »1  He  maketh  than 
 a  fea^t. 
 
 AND  the  famine  was  'sore  in  the  land. 
 2   And   it   came    to   pass,  when   tliey  had 
 eaten  up  the  corn  which  they  had  brought  out 
 of  Egypt,  their  father  said  unto  them,  Go  again, 
 buy  us  a  little  food. 
 
 3  And  Jndah  spake  unto  him,  saying.  The 
 man  fdid  solemnly  protest  unto  us,  saying.  Ye 
 shall  not  see  my  face,  except  your  *•  brother  ie 
 with  you. 
 
 4  If  thou  wilt  send  our  brother  with  us,  we 
 will  go  down  and  buy  thee  food  : 
 
 5  But  if  thou  wilt  not  send  him,  we  will  not 
 go  down  :  for  the  man  said  unto  us.  Ye  shall 
 not  see  my  face,  except  your  brother  be  with 
 you. 
 
 6  And  Israel  said,  Wlierefore  dealt  ye  so  ill 
 with  me,  as  to  tell  the  man  whether  ye  had  yet 
 a  brother  ? 
 
 7  And  they  said.  The  man  f  asked  us  straitly 
 
 GENESIS,  XLIII. 
 
 Josrpli  eidertuineth  his  brethren. 
 
 u  ch.  Si.  10. 
 
 H  cli.  «.  1-1. 
 
 :  ver  13    & 
 cli.  :!7.  .3. 
 
 t  Heb,  jiTo- 
 l^iliHg   fro- 
 Irtleii. 
 
 I>  cli.  42.  SO. 
 &  44  L'3. 
 
 B.  C.  1707. 
 
 tHebmor.U 
 (  Heb   i.iow 
 
 c  ch.  U.  32. 
 Pliilem.  IS. 
 
 II  Or,  lieSce 
 
 I'lov   m  lb 
 f  Lli.37.  25. 
 
 jcr.  s.  as. 
 
 t:  Ralli.  4.1U- 
 II  Or.  o..rf  ;, 
 >u  /  hum 
 
 *  i-li.  24. 8.  & 
 ;i!i  1.  (^44  I 
 
 t  lleb.  kilt  a 
 k<lti;ff. 
 ISlilll  23.11. 
 
 t  Hub.  *al. 
 
 t  Hfb.  Tolt 
 
 of  our  State,  and  of  our  kindred,  saying.  Is  your 
 father  yet  alive  V  have  ye  another  brother  ? 
 and  we  told  him  according  to  the  f  tenor  of 
 these  words :  f  could  we  certainly  know  that 
 he  would  say.  Bring  your  brother  down? 
 
 8  And  Judah  said  unto  Israel  his  father.  Send 
 the  lad  with  me,  and  we  will  arise  and  go  ;  that 
 we  may  live,  and  not  die,  both  we,  and  thou, 
 and  also  our  little  ones. 
 
 9  I  will  be  surety  for  him  ;  of  my  hand  .shall 
 thou  require  him  : "  if  1  bring  him  not  unto  thee, 
 and  set  him  before  thee,  then  let  me  bear  the 
 blame  for  ever : 
 
 10  For  except  we  had  lingered,  surely  now 
 we  had  returned  ||  this  second  time. 
 
 11  And  tlieir  fatiier  Israel  .said  unto  them.  If 
 it  must  be  so  now,  do  this ;  take  of  the  best 
 fruits  in  the  land  in  your  ve.sseks,  and  ''  carry 
 down  the  man  a  present,  a  little  '  balm,  and 
 a  little  honey,  spices,  and  myrrh,  nuts,  and 
 almonds  : 
 
 12  And  take  double  money  in  your  hands  ; 
 and  the  money  '  that  was  brought  again  in  the 
 month  of  your  sack.s,  carry  it  again  in  your 
 hand  ;  peradventure  it  iras  an  oversight ; 
 
 13  Take  also  your  brother,  and  arise,  go  again 
 unto  the  man  : 
 
 14  And  God  Almighty  give  you  mercy  before 
 the  man,  that  he  may  send  away  your  other 
 brother,  and  Benjamin.  *  ||  If  1  be  bereaved  vf 
 my  children,  I  am  bereaved. 
 
 15  t  And  the  men  took  that  present,  and 
 they  took  double  money  in  their  hand,  and 
 Benjamin  ;  and  rose  up,  and  went  down  to 
 Egypt,  and  stood  before  Joseph. 
 
 16  And  when  Joseph  saw  Benjamin  with 
 them,  he  said  to  the  ''ruler  of  his  house,  Bring 
 these  men  home,  and  fslay,  and  make  ready  ; 
 for  these  men  shall  f  diue  with  me  at  noon. 
 
 17  And  the  man  did  as  Joseph  bade  ;  and  the 
 man  brought  the  men  into  Joseph's  house. 
 
 18  And  the  men  were  afraid,  because  they 
 were  brought  into  Joseph's  house  ;  and  they 
 said.  Because  of  the  money  that  was  returned 
 in  our  sacks  at  the  first  time  are  we  brought  in  ; 
 that  he  may  fseek  occasion  against  us,  and  fall 
 upon  us,  and  take  us  for  bondmen,  and  our 
 asses. 
 
 19  And  they  came  near  to  the  steward  of 
 Joseph's  house,  and  they  communed  with  him 
 at  the  door  of  the  house. 
 
 37.  Ml/  two  sons,  rattier,  'two  of  hi.4  sons.'  since  tie  liad  four,  (cliap. 
 xlvi.  9.) — Gill.  His  words  are,  doubtless,  pledges  of  filial  affection  ;  he 
 could  not  suppose  tiis  fattier  would  add  to  tlie  calamities  of  tlie  family 
 by  tlieir  deatti.— Sm<.  33.  Le/t  u/one— tlic  only  surviving  cliJd  of 
 Rachel. 
 
 Chap.  XLIII.— 8.  The  hid— it  is  not  iV,  lart,  but  IS:,  r/oiith,  or  !/oung 
 man,  for  Benjamin  was  at  least  twenty-four  years  of  age  now. — A.  C. 
 11.  A  present— iiersons  never  appear  in  the  east  before  a  superior  with- 
 out a  present.— 0)-iM(.  Wus/.     See  Prov.  xviii.  16.     The  Oest  fiaits— 
 
 tlie  productions  of  the  mountainous  parts  of  Canaan  would  difTer  greatly 
 from  those  of  l:gypt,  which  is  fiat  and  annually  inundated. — Scott. 
 Balm,  rather,  '  balsam.' — Boeh.;  or  'rosin,'  of  which  there  was  great 
 quantity  about  Gitead.  (Jer.  vni.  22.) — Gill.  Myrrh, '  mastich.' — Bach, 
 Nuts,  pistachio  nuts,  peculiar  to  Judea  and  Syria. — Poole.  l6.  .'tt 
 noon — the  time  for  the  more  solemn  meal  in  the  east,  as  siipiier  at 
 evening  time  was  among  the  Romans. — Poole.  18.  Afrnid — Jonepli^s 
 house — it  not  being  the  custom  in  the  east  to  admit  persons  into  the 
 interior  part  of  the  house,  tiiey  feared  some  plot. — Bootltr.      Oecusiun 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLII.  —  This  ciiapter  presents  us 
 with — I.  Jaeob^s  sons  in  trouble.  The  part  wliicb  Joseph  acted 
 reminds  us  that  a  reckoning-day  will  come  to  all  transgressors  ; 
 aud  frequently  does  it  come  even  in  the  present  world.  Con- 
 science may,  for  a  while,  and  even  for  years,  be  stifled  ;  but 
 it  will  at  last  speak  out,  and  the  offender  must  hear  its  alarm- 
 ing reminiscences.  Let  us  hasten  to  tlie  Friend  of  sinners 
 before  it  be  too  late,  and  then  siiall  the  charges  of  this  accuser 
 be  in  vain.  The  believer  has  always  a  reatly  answer — *  I  am, 
 indeed,  a  sinner  ;  but  Christ  is  my  Saviour.'  The  unbeliever 
 must  be  '  silent  in  darkness,'  and  bear,  at  length,  the  ceaseless 
 gnawings  of  tliat  '  worm  which  dieth  not,'  and  the  burnings  of 
 that '  fire  which  shall  not  be  consumed.'     Observe  here  — 
 
 II.  Jacob  himself  in  trouble.  Famine  in  his  family  ;  Simeon 
 detained  a  prisoner  in  Egypt ;  and,  in  addition  to  the  loss  oi 
 52 
 
 Joseph,  Benjamin  is  now  to  be  separated  from  him.  The  pious 
 and  alTectionate  Joseph  would,  no  doubt,  have  gladly  spared 
 his  father  tliis  pain;  but  his  proud  bretiiren  needed  humbling; 
 and,  as  they  had  discovered  symptoms  of  repentance,  his  con- 
 duct was  well  adapted  to  keep  it  alive  in  their  souls.  All 
 this  time  he  loved  even  his  offending  brethren,  as  well  as  his 
 affectionate  father.  To  Jacob  and  his  brethren  all  this  was 
 involved  in  mystery,  and  they  wrote  bitter  things  against  them- 
 selves. But  tlie  time  approached  when  the  mystery  should  be 
 developed.  Thus  mysterious  are  the  dispensations  of  the  Al- 
 mighty, and  often 
 
 '  Behind  a  frowning  providence 
 He  hides  a  smiling  face.' 
 But  wait  a  little  while  :  '  He  hath  done  all  things  well.'  '  \\  hat 
 thou  linnwest  not  now,  thou  shall  know  hereatier.' 
 
He  muhilh  tlimi  ii  feint. 
 
 GENESIS,  XLIV. 
 
 Joseph  detains  his  brethren. 
 
 9.0  And  said,  O  sir,  '  f  we  came  indeed  down 
 at  tile  first  time  to  buy  food  : 
 
 21  And  'it  came  to  pass,  when  we  came  to 
 the  inn,  that  we  opened  our  sacV.s,  and,  behold, 
 every  man's  money  icas  in  the  mouth  of  his 
 sack,  our  money  in  full  weight  :  and  we  have 
 brought  it  again  in  our  hand. 
 
 22  And  other  money  have  we  brought  down 
 in  our  hands  to  buy  food  :  we  cannot  tell  who 
 put  our  money  in  our  sacks. 
 
 23  And  he  said.  Peace  he  to  you,  fear  not : 
 your  God,  and  the  God  of  your  father,  hath 
 given  you  treasure  in  your  sacks :  f  I  had  your 
 money.   And  he  brought  Simeon  out  unto  them. 
 
 24  And  the  man  brought  the  men  into  Joseph's 
 house,  and  '  gave  them  water,  and  they  washed 
 their  feet ;  and  he  gave  their  asses  provender. 
 
 25  And  tliey  made  ready  the  present  against 
 Joseph  came  at  noon  ;  for  they  heard  that  they 
 should  eat  bread  there. 
 
 26  t  And  when  Joseph  came  home,  they 
 brought  him  the  present  which  was  in  their 
 hand  into  the  house,  and  "'  bowed  themselves 
 to  him  to  the  earth. 
 
 27  And  he  asked  them  of  their  f  welfare,  and 
 said,  ^  Is  your  father  well,  the  old  man  "  of 
 whom  ye  spake  ?    Is  he  yet  alive  ? 
 
 28  And  they  answered.  Thy  servant  our  father 
 is  in  good  health,  he  is  yet  alive.  "  And  they 
 bowed  down  their  heads,  and  made  obeisance. 
 
 29  And  he  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  saw  his 
 brother  Benjamin, ''  his  mother's  son,  and  said. 
 Is  this  your  younger  brother,  ■*  of  whom  ye 
 spake  unto  me?  And  he  said,  God  be  gracious 
 unto  thee,  my  son. 
 
 30  And  Joseph  made  haste  ;  for  '  his  bowels 
 
 t  <-Ik42  3,  10. 
 t  Heb.  cow. 
 iiig  diiwi  we 
 
 t  Heb. 
 came  lu  I 
 
 t  ch.  18.  4.  & 
 2i.  32. 
 
 JO. 
 
 t  Heb.  pi-ocf 
 eh.  .S7.  1.1. 
 
 t  Heb.  Is 
 there  ;wice 
 I;  .v«i,r/n. 
 tber  f 
 
 t,  ch.  i-i.  11, 
 13. 
 
 o  ch.37.7, 10 
 
 ;i  ch.  35.  17, 
 q  Ch.  42.  13. 
 
 B.  C.  1707. 
 
 1  ch.  42.  24. 
 (  ver.  25. 
 
 <  ch.  46,  3-1. 
 Jix.  8.  26, 
 
 X  ch.  45.  22. 
 
 1  Heb.  drinl^ 
 hrgHu;  See 
 Hag.'l.  6. 
 Juhu  2  10. 
 
 did  yearn  upon  his  brother  :  and  he  sought 
 where  to  weep  ;  and  he  entered  into  his  cham- 
 ber, and  '  wept  there. 
 
 31  And  he  washed  his  face,  and  went  out,  and 
 refrained  himself,  and  said.  Set  on  '  bread. 
 
 32  And  they  set  on  for  him  by  himself,  and 
 for  them  by  themselves,  and  for  the  Egyptians, 
 which  did  eat  with  him,  by  themselves  :  be- 
 cause the  Egyptians  might  not  eat  bread  with 
 the  Hebrews  ;  for  that  is  "  an  abomination  unto 
 the  Egyptians. 
 
 33  And  they  sat  before  him,  the  firstborn 
 according  to  his  birthright,  and  the  youngest 
 according  to  his  youth  :  and  the  men  marvelled 
 one  at  another. 
 
 34  And  he  took  aiid  sent  messes  unto  them 
 from  before  him :  but  Benjamin's  mess  was 
 *  five  times  so  much  as  any  of  thcir's.  And 
 they  drank,  and  f  were  merry  with  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIV. 
 
 I  Joseph's  polici/  to  stay  his  liTetlirtn.     14  Judah's  hum- 
 ble stippfication  to  Joseph. 
 
 A  ND  he  commanded  f  the  steward  of  his 
 -'^  house,  saying.  Fill  the  men's  sacks  with 
 food,  as  much  as  they  can  carry,  and  put  every 
 man's  money  in  his  sack's  mouth. 
 
 2  And  put  my  cup,  the  silver  cup,  in  the  sack's 
 mouth  of  the  youngest,  and  his  corn  money. 
 And  he  did  according  to  the  word  that  Joseph 
 had  spoken. 
 
 3  As  soon  as  the  morning  was  light,  the  men 
 were  sent  away,  they  and  their  asses. 
 
 4  And  when  they  were  gone  out  of  the  city, 
 and  not  i/et  far  off,  Joseph  said  unto  his  stew- 
 ard, Up,  follow  after  the  men  ;  and  when  thou 
 
 aguhtst  us,  ^T'';^  bb^PtTt,  *  roll  on  us.' — Gltt.  The  metaphor  is  from 
 wrestlers,  who  roll  on  their  conquered  antagonist.  —  .-I.  Cliirke. 
 24.  Wittei — washed  their  feet — as  usual  in  the  east  after  travelling,  and 
 when  about  to  eat. — Gill.  26.  Bttwed  t/temsetnes — the  eleven  biethren, 
 now  together,  as  in  the  dream,  (see  chap.  x.K.\vii.  9  ;  xlii.  6.)  29.  God 
 he  grneious.  ^-c,  a  mode  ot  salutation  in  Asia. — Char.  Employed  by 
 superiors  and  aged  persons. — .4.  Clarke.  31.  Bread,  that  is,  'provi- 
 sions.'—  H  it.  32.  Fur  the  Egyptians — by  themselves — though  orders 
 were  given  that  all  people  should  obey  Joseph,  yet  he  would  not  force 
 the  Egyptians  against  their  mind.  Spirits  truly  generous  hate  to  im- 
 pose.— Hen.  Not  e<tt— not  from  pride,  but  custom  ;  for  tliey  worshipped 
 the  creatures  the  Hebrews  ate,  and  dressed  their  food  in  a  different 
 way.  In  like  manner,  the  Egyptians  would  not  eat  with  the  Grecians. 
 — Ponle.  Thus  the  Hindoos  hold  the  cowsacred.  and  look  with  horror 
 on  Christians  who  eat  of  it,  considering  every  vessel  as  defiled  which 
 they  use  in  eating. — Reports  of  Vanish  MissiDnaries.  The  Hebrews 
 were  also  shepherds,  and  the  Egj  ptians.  having  been  plundered  by 
 ^ome  wild  tribes  of  that  description,  held  them  all  in  abhorrence.  Jo- 
 sephus  relates,  that  200,000  Phoenician  shepherds  had  been  driven  out 
 
 of  Egypt  by  King  Amasis,  after  cruelly  oppressing  the  country  259 
 years.  34.  Seat  messes — the  Egyptians  were  distinguished  by  sober- 
 ness and  frugality.  They  even  ate  and  drank  under  the  regulation  of 
 the  laws,  and  their  very  kings  permitted  the  quality  and  proportion  of 
 their  eatables  and  liquids  to  be  prescribed  them. — Rullin.  Among  the 
 ancients,  each  one  had  a  dish  to  himself.  It  was  the  custom  for  great 
 men  to  honour  their  favourites  by  sending  such  dishes  as  were  first 
 served  to  themselves.  Joseph  did  so  with  his  brethren  ;  but.whereas  even 
 the  Egyptian  kings,  according  to  Herodotus,  had  but  a  double  mess  at 
 public  feasts,  Henjamin  received  five  time.-,  more  than  the  rest,  which 
 must  have  astonished  them  all. — Biiit.  Bib.  Were  merry — the  Hebrew 
 olt  signifies,  '  tit  be  drunk,*  but  oft  times  it  is  only  to  *  drink  liberally/ 
 (see  Cant.  v.  1  ;  Hag.  i.  6  ;  John,  ii.  10.) — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XLIV. — 2.  Put  my  cup — the  word  signifies  a  kind  of  goblet, 
 for  it  gives  the  idea  of  a  little  hill. — Gill.  An  embossed  cup,  or  a 
 bowl  or  goblet  with  a  great  belly. — Pat.  A  splendid  cup,  decorated 
 with  devices.  In  these  cups  the  Egyptians  fancied  they  could  divine, 
 by  various  refractions  of  light  on  the  mouldings.  Sometimes  they  put 
 polished  trinkets  into  the  water,  still  the  more  to  vary  the  light. — Sut. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLIII I.  We  have  here  beau- 
 tiful practical  illustrations  of  resiynalion  and  integrity  in  Jacob. 
 'If  I  am  bereiived  of  my  children,'  said  the  venerable  man,  '  I 
 am  bereaved.'  But  go;  submit  to  God's  will — trust  yourselves 
 in  the  hands  of  God  Almighty.  '  God  Almiglity  give  you  mercy 
 before  the  man!'  That  adorable  and  sublime  name,  which 
 many  profanely  and  thoughtlessly  use,  spoken  devoutly  by 
 Jacob,  was  as  a  rock  on  which  his  aged  frame  could  lean,  now 
 nature  was  shaken  and  the  heart  was  ready  to  fail.  He  v\as 
 also  careful  to  restore  the  money  whicli  seemed  to  have  been 
 mistakenly  placed  in  the  sacks  ;  '  Carry  it  again,'  said  he,  '  in 
 your  hand.'  No  good  man  can  take  the  least  advantage  of  an- 
 other, or  profit  by  any  mistake  he  has  made  in  a  way  of  trade 
 or  commerce.  This  will  be  his  constant  prayer—'  Let  inte- 
 grity and  uprightness  preserve  me.' 
 
 II.  W  e  have  a  siriking  proof  of  the  connexion  between  sin 
 and yuilt  iu  Joseph's  brethren.  'Tliey  wera  afraid,  because 
 they  were  brought  into  Joseph's  house.'  The  men  who 
 bad  plotted  against  their  brother  now  feared  a  plot  against 
 themselves.  They  read  the  heart  of  the  governor  in  their 
 own  hearts.  Their  consciences  reproached  them  every 
 moment  for  the  black  transactions  of  by-gone  days.  O 
 what  a  torment  is  a  guilty  conscience  !  \\  hat  can  be  worse 
 than  sin  lying  on  the  conscience  unpardoned  1  And  what  need 
 have  we  individually  to  look  to  the  blood  of  Christ,  which 
 53 
 
 alone  can  take  away  guilt,  and  to  cry  out  as  David, 'Have 
 mercy  upon  me,  O  Lord,  according  to  thy  loving  kindness  ; 
 and  according  to  the  multitude  of  thy  tender  mercies,  blot  out 
 my  transgressions.' 
 
 III.  We  have  a  fine  exhibition  of  forc/iveness  and  brotherly 
 kindness  in  Joseph.  The  steward,  under  his  authority,  first 
 saluted  them  with  peace.  He  himself,  after  first  inquiring 
 for  his  aged  father,  tenderly  saluted  his  beloved  brother, 
 Benjamin  ;  and,  in  the  fulness  of  his  heart,  was  obliged  to 
 retire  from  the  public  chamber,  to  pour  cut  his  tears  of 
 love  and  joy  in  secret.  And  having  washed  away  his  tears 
 from  his  face,  he  cheered  their  hearts  with  a  feast,  and 
 shewed  his  ibndness  for  his  own  brother  by  a  mess  of  great  dis- 
 tinction. Thus  the  hearls  that  were  sad  were  made  merry.  Had 
 Joseph  thrown  his  brethren  into  a  dungeon,  and  bound  them 
 as  he  had  been  bound,  or  sold  them  as  he  had  been  sold,  they 
 would  most  of  tliem  have  deserved  it ;  but  then  he  had  lost  all 
 the  delights  of  his  kind  retaliation,  and  had  never  enjoyed  the 
 luxury  on  which  his  heart  now  feasted.  There  is  no  pleasure 
 in  w-rath,  but  there  is  much  in  forgiveness.  He  saw  that  his 
 brethren  were  humbled  and  contrite,  and  hoped  that  his  kind- 
 ness would  not  now  be  thrown  away  upop  them.  And  this  is 
 our  great  duty,  '  Be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  tender  hearted, 
 forgiving  one  another,  even  as  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  hath 
 forgiven  you.' 
 
Supplication  ofJudah 
 
 GENESIS,  XLIV. 
 
 and  his  brethren. 
 
 dost  overtake  them,  say  unto  them.  Wherefore 
 have  ye  rewarded  evil  for  good  V 
 
 5  Is  not  this  it  in  which  my  lord  drinketh, 
 and  whereby  indeed  he  ||  divineth  ?  ye  have 
 done  evil  in  so  doing. 
 
 6  t  And  he  overtook  them,  and  he  spake 
 unto  them  these  same  words. 
 
 7  And  they  said  unto  him.  Wherefore  saith 
 my  lord  these  words?  God  forbid  tliat  thy 
 servants  should  do  according  to  this  thing  : 
 
 8  Behold,  "  the  money,  which  we  found  in  our 
 sacks'  mouths,  we  brought  again  unto  thee  out 
 of  the  land  of  Canaan  :  how  then  should  we 
 steal  out  of  thy  lord's  house  silver  or  gold  ? 
 
 9  With  whomsoever  of  thy  servants  it  be 
 found,  ^  both  let  him  die,  and  we  also  will  be 
 my  lord's  bondmen. 
 
 10  And  he  said.  Now  also  let  it  be  according 
 unto  your  words  :  he  with  whom  it  is  found 
 shall  be  my  servant ;  and  ye  shall  be  blameless. 
 
 1 1  Then  they  speedily  took  down  every  man 
 his  sack  to  the  ground,  and  opened  every  man 
 his  sack. 
 
 12  And  he  searched,  and  began  at  the  eldest, 
 and  left  at  the  youngest :  and  the  cup  was 
 found  in  Benjamin's  sack. 
 
 13  Then  they  '  rent  their  clothes,  and  laded 
 every  man  his  ass,  and  returned  to  the  city. 
 
 14  IT  And  Judah  and  his  brethren  came  to 
 Joseph's  house  ;  for  he  ivas  yet  there  :  and  they 
 ■•fell  before  him  on  tlie  ground. 
 
 13  And  Joseph  said  unto  them,  Wliat  deed  is 
 this  that  ye  have  done  ?  wot  ye  not  that  such 
 a  man  as  I  can  certainly  ||  divine  V 
 
 16  And  Judah  said,  What  shall  we  say  unto 
 my  lord?  what  shall  we  speak?  or  how  shall 
 we  clear  ourselves  ?  God  hath  found  out  the 
 ini(iuity  of  thy  servants  :  behold,  "  we  are  my 
 lord's  servants,  both  we,  and  Ac  also  with  whom 
 the  cup  is  found. 
 
 17  And  he  said,  'God  forbid  that  I  should  do 
 so :  but  the  man  in  whose  hand  the  cup  is 
 found,  he  shall  be  my  servant ;  and  as  for  you, 
 get  you  up  in  peace  unto  your  father. 
 
 18  t  Then  Judah  came  near  unto  him,  and 
 said.  Oh  my  lord,  let  thy  servant,  I  pray  thee, 
 speak  a  word  in  my  lord's  ears,  and  ^  let  not 
 thine  anger  burn  against  thy  servant :  for  thou 
 art  even  as  Pliaraoh. 
 
 ■  ph.  37.  59. 
 3+  Num.14. 
 6.  2  Sam.  1. 
 
 Ij  Or.  m"ke 
 trial  vet.  fi. 
 
 ch.46.  19. 
 
 n  ch.  37.  33. 
 
 0  ch-4S.  35, 
 38. 
 
 t  Heb.  fi'iti 
 mil  fathgr. 
 
 Rx'.  te.  a. 
 
 Jnb  SI.  20. 
 Pa  116  3. 
 &  119.  M3 
 
 19  My  lord  asked  his  servants,  saying,  Have 
 ye  a  father,  or  a  brother  ? 
 
 ■20  And  we  said  unto  my  lord,  We  have  a 
 father,  an  old  man,  and  ''  a  child  of  his  old  age,  a 
 little  one  ;  and  his  brother  is  dead,  and  he  alone 
 is  left  of  his  mother,  and  his  father  loveth  him. 
 
 '21  And  thou  saidst  unto  thy  servants,  'Bring 
 him  down  unto  me,  that  I  may  set  mine  eyes 
 upon  him. 
 
 •22  And  we  said  unto  my  lord,  Tlie  lad  cannot 
 leave  his  father  :  for  (/'  he  should  leave  his  fa- 
 ther, his  father  would  die. 
 
 •23  And  thou  saidst  unto  thy  servants,  '  Ex- 
 cept your  youngest  brother  come  down  with 
 you,  ye  shall  see  my  face  no  more. 
 
 •24  And  it  came  to  pass  when  we  came  up 
 unto  thy  servant  my  father,  we  told  him  the 
 words  of  my  lord. 
 
 23  And  '  our  father  said,  Go  again,  and  buy 
 us  a  little  food. 
 
 26  And  we  said.  We  cannot  go  down  :  if  our 
 youngest  brother  be  with  us,  then  will  we  go 
 down:  for  we  may  not  see  the  man's  face,  ex- 
 cept our  youngest  brother  be  with  us. 
 
 27  And  thy  servant  my  father  said  unto  us, 
 Ye  know  that  '"my  wife  bare  me  two  sons: 
 
 28  And  the  one  went  out  from  me,  and  I 
 said,  "Surely  he  is  torn  in  pieces  ;  and  I  saw 
 him  not  since  : 
 
 29  And  if  ye  °  take  this  also  from  me,  and 
 mischief  befall  him,  ye  sliall  bring  down  my 
 gray  hairs  with  sorrow  to  the  grave. 
 
 30  Now  therefore  when  I  come  to  thy  servant 
 my  father,  and  the  lad  be  not  with  us  ;  seeing 
 that  '  his  life  is  bound  up  in  the  lad's  life  ; 
 
 31  It  shall  come  to  pass,  when  he  seeth  that 
 tlie  lad  is  not  u'itli  us,  that  he  will  die  :  and 
 thy  servants  shall  bring  down  the  gray  hairs  of 
 thy  sen'ant  ourfatlier  with  sorrow  to  the  grave. 
 
 32  For  thy  servant  became  surety  for  the  lad 
 unto  my  father,  saying, ''  If  I  bring  him  not  unto 
 thee,  then  I  shall  bear  the  blame  to  my  father 
 for  ever. 
 
 33  Now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  '  let  thy  ser- 
 vant abide  instead  of  the  lad  a  bondman  to  my 
 lord  ;  and  let  the  lad  go  up  with  his  brethren. 
 
 34  For  how  shall  I  go  up  to  my  father,  and 
 the  lad  be  not  with  me?  lest  peradventure  I 
 see  the  evil  that  shall  f  come  on  my  father. 
 
 5.  Divineth — Taylor  supposes  this  to  have  been  a  cup  of  office.  Lurian 
 raUies  the  Egyptians  for  makinf?  a  divuiity  of  a  cup.  There  has  been 
 a  notion  in  the  East,  that  there  was  a  cup,  by  looking  into  which  the 
 whole  world  was  seen,  and  all  the  things  wliich  were  then  doing  in  it. 
 An  Arab  toUl  yorden.  the  traveller,  he  knew  what  sort  of  people  he 
 and  his  companions  were,  for  he  bad  consultud  his  cup.  So  Joseph  af- 
 fected divination.  Calvin  blames  Joseph  for  professing  himself  a  ma- 
 gician, and  considers  liim  guilty  of  profaning  the  gift  of  the  Spirit, 
 liut  Williams  suggests  it  might  have  been  a  present  from  Pharaoh, 
 given  him  to  divine,  though  not  so  used  by  bira.  This,  however,  seems 
 improbable,  after  Pharaoh  knew  by  his  straightforward  acknowledg- 
 ment that  he  consulted  none  but  God.  Bp.  M'ilson  suggests  the  omis- 
 sion of  the  stop  at  divineth  ;  but  this  seems  forced.  Bnolhrayd  reads 
 it,  'Is  it  not,  8ic  ,  and  for  w'hich  he,  indeed,  will  make  inquiry?' 
 Henrj/  says  the  original  may  be  rendered,  'fi>r  which  he  would  search 
 thoroughly,'  So  the  Pict.  Bib.  prefers  'for  which  he  would  carefully 
 inquire.'    Poole  interprets  it,  '  conceruing  which  he  can  or  would  cer- 
 
 tainly divine.'  q,  d.  'Did  you  think  that  you  could  deceive  my  mas- 
 ter?' Scott  observes,  'Joseph  probably  meant  that,  by  dioination,  he 
 had  discerned  who  had  stolen  his  cup  ;  which  be  could  not  have  done 
 had  be  divined  by  m^ans  of  the  cu/i:  and  the  words  might  be  ren. 
 dered  "that  about  which  he  hath  used  divination."  '  It  is  not,  how- 
 ever, certain  that  divination  is  meant,  as  the  original  word  is  used 
 sometimes  for  accurate  investigation  or  diligent  observation.  12.  In 
 Beiijamin^s  sack — Joseph  seems  to  liave  been  desirous  of  ascertaining, 
 beyond  doubt,  how  his  brethren  stood  affected  to  Benjamin,  Jacob's 
 present  favourite,  and  to  their  father,  on  bis  account. — Scott.  16.  And 
 Judah  said — to  attempt  to  eulogize  this  speech  must  be  unnecessary. 
 It  has  been  admired  by  all  critics  as  one  of  the  finest  specimens  of 
 simple  eloquence  that  is  to  be  found  on  record.  God  hath  ftnind  out — 
 do  they  mean  to  confess  the  theft  ?  Certainly  not.  But  there  was  a 
 worse  crime  that  haunted  them,  and  they  ci>uld  not  conceal  their  an. 
 guisb. — Wit.  18.  Even  as  Pharaoh — that  is,  equally  to  be  respected 
 and  feared. — Scott. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLIV.  —  I.  What  a  panful  com- 
 panion is  ffw'tt.  How  it  makes  the  heart  frequently  write  bitter 
 tlnnijs  against  itself.  It  may,  indeed,  for  awhile,  be  hardened, 
 and  instances  have  occurred  of  this  hardness  continuing  to  the 
 dying  moment  ;  but  in  most  cases  conscience  will  speak  out, 
 especially  in  those  who  have  been  religiously  instructed  ;  and 
 then,  indeed,  it  may  well  be  asked,  '  a  wounded  spirit  wbo  can 
 bear  V 
 
 II.  How  tiecessari/  are  frequent  tests  of  repentance.     Perliaps 
 
 .Joseph's  brethren  might  have  seemed  tobim  too  ligbt-hearted 
 
 fnr  such  guilty  men,  while  they  were  enjoying  the  pleasures  of 
 
 bis  feast,  and  he  therefore  wished  to  make  yet  another  trial  of 
 
 34 
 
 their  spirits.  IMany  seem  for  a  moment  to  repent  when  the 
 afflictions  of  life  press  heavily  upon  them,  and  then  tliey  mourn 
 for  their  transgressions;  but  when  freed  from  their  suiferings, 
 they  forget  their  past  oflences,  and  are  as  ready  as  before  to 
 sin  again.  Hence.  God  deals  with  us  as  Joseph  with  his 
 brethren,  in  order  to  try  our  hearts  and  humble  us,  and  bring 
 us  into  a  right  frame  to  hear  the  news  of  pardon. 
 
 III.  How  lovely  is  that  repentance  which  is  ijenuine.  And  surely 
 if  Joseph's  heart  was  touched — as  the  opening  of  the  next 
 chapter  informs  us — with  the  melting  language  of  Judah,  and 
 the  contrition  of  his  brethren.,  bow  must  pure  spirits  delight 
 in  beholding  the  posture  of  every  penitential  hearti     There  is 
 
Joseph  maketh  himself  known. 
 
 GENESIS,  XLV. 
 
 He  scndeth  for  his  father. 
 
 CHAP.  XLV. 
 
 I  Joseph  miikrili  himself  inown  to  his  brethren.  5  He 
 comforteth  them  in  God's  providence.  9  He  sendeth 
 for  his  father.  \Q  Pharaoh  eonfiivieth  it.  21  Jo- 
 seph fnrnishetli  them  for  their  journet/,  and  exhorteth 
 them  to  concord.     25  Jacob  is  revived  with  the  news. 
 
 THEN  Joseph  could  not  refrain  himself  be- 
 fore all  them  that  stood  by  him ;  and  he 
 cried.  Cause  every  man  to  go  out  from  me. 
 And  there  stood  no  man  with  him,  while  Joseph 
 made  himself  known  unto  his  brethren. 
 
 2  And  he  t  wept  aloud:  and  the  Egyptians 
 and  the  house  of  Pharaoh  heard. 
 
 3  And  Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren,  °  I  am 
 Joseph  ;  doth  my  father  yet  live  ?  And  his 
 brethren  could  not  answer  him  ;  for  they  were 
 
 II  troubled  at  his  presence. 
 
 4  And  Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren,  Come 
 near  to  me,  I  pray  you.  And  they  came  near. 
 And  he  said,  I  am  Joseph  your  brother,  'whom 
 ye  sold  into  Egypt. 
 
 5  Now  therefore  '^be  not  grieved,  fnor  angry 
 with  yourselves,  that  ye  sold  me  hither:  "^  for 
 God  did  send  me  before  you  to  preserve  life. 
 
 6  For  these  two  years  halh  the  famine  been 
 in  the  land  :  and  yet  there  are  five  years,  in  the 
 which  there  shall  neither  be  earing  nor  har- 
 vest. 
 
 7  And  God  sent  me  before  you  f  to  preserve 
 you  a  posterity  in  the  earth,  and  to  save  your 
 lives  by  a  great  deliverance. 
 
 8  So  now  it  was  not  you  that  sent  me  hither, 
 bnt  God  :  and  he  hath  made  me  "  a  fatlier  to 
 Pharaoh,  and  lord  of  all  his  house,  and  a  ruler 
 throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 9  Haste  ye,  and  go  up  to  my  father,  and  say 
 unto  him.  Thus  saith  thy  son  Joseph,  God  hath 
 made  me  lord  of  all  Egypt :  come  down  unto 
 me,  tarry  not : 
 
 10  And  ''thou  shalt  dwell  in  the  land  of 
 Goshen,  and  thou  shalt  be  near  unto  me,  thou, 
 and  thy  children,  and  thy  children's  children, 
 and  thy  Hocks,  and  thy  herds,  and  all  that  thou 
 hast : 
 
 1 1  And  there  will  I  nourish  thee  ;  for  yet 
 there  are  five  years  of  famine  ;  lest  thou,  and 
 thy  houshold,  and  all  that  thou  hast,  come  to 
 poverty. 
 
 12  And,  behold,  your  eyes  see,  and  the  eyes 
 of  my  brother  Benjamin,  that  it  is  ^my  mouth 
 that  speaketh  unto  you. 
 
 13  And  ye  shall  tell  my  father  of  all  my  glory 
 in  Egypt,  and  of  all  that  ye  have  seen  ;  and  ye 
 
 t  Hub  s-t 
 forth  1,11 
 
 Num."l4. 
 a  ActB  7.  1 
 
 tOr,frrr/^cd 
 Job  1.  5.  & 
 23  ir..  :\Iat 
 II. -jn, Mark 
 6.  ;>o 
 
 l>  cli.  ;17.  2S. 
 
 c  Is.  At)  2. 
 
 2  Cor.  2.  7 
 t  Hel..  nri- 
 
 ther  1^.1  tlirr 
 
 htQ 
 
 igpT  II, 
 
 H  ch.  50.  2(1. 
 Fs.  ]05.   10, 
 17.     See 
 S  Sam.  16 
 10,  U.Acta 
 4,  2+. 
 
 t  Ileb.  to  jiiit 
 >r  J,.,.,  a 
 
 e  cb.  41.  \?: 
 Ju<ig.  17.10. 
 Job  29.  16. 
 
 /ch.47.  1. 
 
 s;  cli.  42.  : 
 
 /.  Acts  7.  14. 
 
 t  Heb.  i.a. 
 jl,">d  III  the 
 
 riiet  I'J  I'iifl- 
 
 \  Cb.  27.  28. 
 Num.18.12, 
 
 t  Heb. /f^io( 
 yriiij  ei/e 
 
 t  Heb.mo»a. 
 Num.  3. 16. 
 
 t  Heb.  car- 
 Tying. 
 
 I  Job  29.  £4. 
 I's.  I2fi.  1. 
 Luke  24.11, 
 
 shall  haste  and  ^  bring  down  my  father  hither. 
 
 14  And  he  fell  upon  his  brother  Benjamin's 
 neck,  and  wept ;  and  Benjamin  wept  upon  his 
 neck. 
 
 15  Moreover  he  kissed  all  his  bretnren,  and 
 wept  upon  them :  and  after  that  his  brethren 
 talked  with  him. 
 
 16  1  And  the  fame  thereof  was  heard  in  Pha- 
 raoh's house,  saying,  Joseph's  brethren  are 
 come  :  and  it  f  pleased  Pharaoh  well,  and  his 
 servants. 
 
 1 7  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Joseph,  Say  unto 
 thy  brethren.  This  do  ye  ;  lade  your  beasts, 
 and  go,  get  you  unto  the  land  of  Canaan  ; 
 
 18  And  take  your  father  and  your  housholds, 
 and  come  unto  me  :  and  I  will  give  you  the 
 good  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  ye  shall  eat 
 '  the  fat  of  the  land. 
 
 19  Now  thou  art  commanded,  this  do  ye; 
 take  you  wagons  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  for 
 your  little  ones,  and  for  your  wives,  and  bring 
 your  father,  and  come. 
 
 20  Also  t  regard  not  your  stuff ;  for  the  good 
 of  all  the  land  of  Egypt  is  your's. 
 
 21  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  so  :  and 
 Joseph  gave  them  wagons,  according  to  the 
 f  commandment  of  Pharaoli,  and  gave  them 
 provision  for  the  way. 
 
 22  To  all  of  them  he  gave  each  man  changes 
 of  raiment ;  but  to  Benjamin  be  gave  three 
 hundred  pieces  of  silver,  and  '  five  changes  of 
 raiment. 
 
 23  And  to  his  father  he  sent  after  this  man- 
 ner;  ten  asses  f  laden  with  the  good  things  of 
 Egypt,  and  ten  she  asses  laden  with  corn  and 
 bread  and  meat  for  his  father  by  the  way. 
 
 24  So  he  sent  his  brethren  away,  and  they 
 departed :  and  he  said  unto  them,  See  that  ye 
 fall  not  out  by  the  way. 
 
 25  t  And  they  went  up  out  of  Egypt,  and 
 came  into  the  land  of  Canaan  unto  Jacob  their 
 father, 
 
 26  And  told  him,  saying,  Joseph  is  yet  alive, 
 and  he  is  governor  over  all  the  land  of  Eg3'pt. 
 '  And  f  Jacob's  heart  fainted,  for  he  believed 
 them  not. 
 
 27  And  they  told  him  all  the  words  of  Joseph, 
 which  he  had  said  unto  them  :  and  when  he 
 saw  the  wagons  which  Joseph  had  sent  to  carry 
 him,  the  spirit  of  Jacob  their  father  revived  : 
 
 28  And  Israel  said.  It  is  enough  ;  Joseph  my 
 son  is  yet  alive  :  I  will  go  and  see  him  before 
 I  die. 
 
 Chap.  XLV. —  l.  Could  not  refrain — very  emphatic;  signifying,  he 
 could  not  force  nature  any  longer  to  act  a  feigned  part. — So  .-1.  Clnrke. 
 3.  7  am  Joseph — they  knew  him  only  by  his  Egyptian  name,  Z^plinath- 
 Paaneah. — Hen.  6.  Earing — the  old  English  word  means  ploughing 
 and  sowing,  from  the  Latin,  aro. — Hew.  8.  Father — a  name  of 
 office  ;  perhaps  means  first  minister  of  state. — Orient.  Lit.  10.  Goshen — 
 a  part  of  Egypt,  between  the  Nile  and  the  Red  Sea. — Sut.  Bordering 
 uptin  Canaan,  well  watered,  and  fit  for  cattle;  therefore,  most  proper 
 for  the  Israelites;  distant  from  court,  and  in  sight  of  the  promised 
 land. — Poole.  12.  Hit/  mouth  that  spenketh—noX.  by  an  intcrprcfer. — 
 Poole.  14.  Fell  upon  his  neck — probably  means  kissing  the  neck. 
 Kissing  the  beard,  neck,  and  shoulders,  is  an  Asiatic  custom  to  tliis 
 day. — A.  Clarke,  Shaw,  Har.  When  people  meet,  after  long  absence, 
 they  fall  on  each  other's  shoulder  or  neck,  and  kiss  or  smell  the  part  — 
 Rob.         18.  The  fat  of  the  land — the  choicest  fruits.     Fat  is  often  put 
 
 for  the  best  of  any  sort,  fNumb.  xvili.  12,  29;  Deut.  xxxii.  14;  Ps. 
 Ixiii.  5,  and  cslvii.  14.} — Poole.  19.  Wagims — wheel  carriages. — 
 A.  Clarke.  The  people  of  Canaan  clearly  used  only  beasts  to  convey 
 things. — Booihr.  20.  S^i<^— furniture. — Hew.  Probably  alludes  to 
 the  earthenware  and  other  cumbersome  things. — Boothr.  It  may  also 
 include  agricultural  utensils  and  other  implements.  —  A.  Clarke. 
 22.  Raiment,  fl^'D'O—refers  to  the  upper  garment.— Boo^Ar.  Present- 
 ing garments  is  one  of  the  modes  of  complimenting  persons  in  the 
 East. —  Orient.  Lit.  Three  hundred  piVcfs  —  between  30^  and  40/. 
 English. — Gill.  23.  Meat — from  "rw^,  to  prepare.  Prepared  meat. 
 In  Asiatic  countries  they  prepare  meat  by  potting. — See  A.  Clarke. 
 24.  Fall  not  out — the  Hebrew  may  be  rendered  '  be  not  afraid.' — Hew. 
 '  Quarrel  not,'  that  is,  do  not  provoke  one  another  by  recriminations 
 about  me. — Boothr, 
 
 no  weeping  in  heaven  ;  hut '  there  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one 
 sinner  that  repenteth.'  And  how  does  the  Friend  of  sinners 
 behold  such  an  object? — *a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O 
 God,  thou  wilt  not  despise.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLV 1.  How  much  genuine  ten- 
 derness manifests  itself  in  a  pious  heart.  Wen  of  unfeeling  dis- 
 positions shew  very  little  of  the  spirit  of  godliness  ;  true  reli- 
 gion makes  the  heart  tender.  But  what  was  the  tenderness 
 of  Joseph  to  '  the  kindness  and  love  of  God  our  Saviour  V 
 bo 
 
 '  The  bruised  reed  he  will  not  break,  the  smoking  flax  he  will 
 not  quench.'  How  kind  are  bis  words  to  the  penitent  who 
 submits  to  his  authority  — 
 
 *  His  heart  is  made  of  tenderness. 
 
 His  bowels  melc  with  love.* 
 
 II.  Did  Joseph   load  his  repenting  brethren    with  favours,  how 
 
 much  more  does  the  gracious  Saviour  bestuw  abundance  of  benefits 
 
 upon  the  repenting  sinner.     We  admire  Joseph's  forgiveness, 
 
 hut  let  us  tliink  of  His  who  will  'abundantly  pardon,'  cr,  as 
 
Jacob  goes  into  Efjypt. 
 
 GENESIS,  XLVI. 
 
 Joseph  meetnlh  Jacob. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVI. 
 
 1  Jacob  is  comforted  hij  God  at  Brcr-shcha  :  5  Thence 
 he  with  his  conipavj/  poeth  info  Eof/pt.  8  T/ic  nu7n- 
 her  of  his  family  t'/iat  went  into  Egypt.  28  Joseph 
 mceteth  Jarob.  31  He  instrueteih  his  brethren  how 
 to  answer  to  Pharaoh. 
 
 AND  Israel  took  his  journey  with  all  that 
 he  had,  and  came  to  '  Beer-sheba,  and  of- 
 fered sacrifices  ''unto  the  God  of  his  father  Isaac. 
 
 2  And  God  spake  unto  Israel  "  in  the  visions 
 of  the  night,  and  said,  Jacob,  Jacob.  And  he 
 said,  Here  am  I. 
 
 3  And  he  said,  I  am  God,  ^  the  God  of  thy 
 father  :  fear  not  to  go  down  into  Egypt ;  for  I 
 will  there  •  make  of  thee  a  great  nation  : 
 
 4  '  I  will  go  down  with  thee  into  Egypt;  and 
 
 I  will  also  surely  ^  bring  thee  up  again :  and 
 ''  Josepli  shall  put  his  hand  upon  thine  eyes. 
 
 5  And  '  Jacob  rose  up  from  Beer-sheba  :  and 
 the  sons  of  Israel  carried  Jacob  their  father, 
 and  their  little  ones,  and  their  wives,  in  the 
 wagons  'which  Pharaoh  had  sent  to  carry  him. 
 
 6  And  they  took  their  cattle,  and  their  goods, 
 which  they  had  gotten  in  the  land  of  Canaan, 
 and  came  into  Egypt,  '  Jacob,  and  all  his  seed 
 with  him  : 
 
 7  His  sons,  and  his  sons'  sons  with  him,  his 
 daughters,  and  his  sons'  daughters,  and  all  his 
 seed  brought  he  with  him  into  Egypt. 
 
 8  IF  And  "'these  are  the  names  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  wliich  came  into  Egypt,  Jacob 
 and  his  sons  :  "  Reuben,  Jacob's  firstborn. 
 
 9  And  the  sons  of  Reuben  ;  Hanoch,  and 
 Phallu,  and  Hezron,  and  Carmi. 
 
 10  t  And  °  the  sons  of  Simeon  ;  ||  Jemuel, 
 and  Jamin,  and  Chad,  and  ||  Jachin,  and  ||  Zo- 
 har,  and  Sliaul  the  son  of  a  Canaanitish  woman. 
 
 1 1  t  And  the  sons  of  '  Levi  ;  ||  Gershon, 
 Kohath,  and  Merari. 
 
 12  t  And  the  sons  of '' Judah  ;  Er,  and  Onan, 
 and  Shelah,  and  Pliarez,  and  Zarah :  but '  Er 
 and  Onan  died  in  the  land  of  Canaan.  And 
 'the  sons  of  Pharez  were  Hezron  and  Hamul. 
 
 13  lI'And  the  sons  of  Issachar ;  Tola,  and 
 
 II  Phuvah,  and  Job,  and  Shimron. 
 
 14  T  And  the  sons  of  Zebulun  ;  Sered,  and 
 Elon,  and  Jahleel. 
 
 15  These  be  the  sons  of  Leah,  which  she 
 bare  unto  Jacob  in  Padan-aram,  with  his 
 daughter  Dinah :  all  the  souls  of  his  sons  aud 
 his  daughters  were  thirty  and  three. 
 
 16  t  And  the  sons  of  Gad;  "  Ziphion,  and 
 Haggi,  Shuni,  and  ||  Ezbou,  Eri,  aud  jj  Arodi. 
 and  Areli. 
 
 17  t  '  And  the  sons  of  Asher  ;  Jimnah,  and 
 Ishuah,  and  Isui,  and  Beriah,  and  Serah  their 
 sister :  and  the  sons  of  Beriah  ;  Heber,  and 
 Malchiel. 
 
 1705. 
 
 1  ch,  21.  31. 
 
 .■«.  A  :,'S   10 
 6  ch   2(i-  21. 
 
 2.5   «:2S   13 
 
 &  .31.  42. 
 c  ch.  \:>.  1. 
 
 -I.-b  3:1.  14, 
 
 13. 
 
 d  ch.  23.  13 
 
 «  ch.  12-  2- 
 
 Deut.  -6  5 
 
 f  ch    28.  15 
 
 &  43    21 . 
 
 g  cli    15,  IG 
 
 ',11    la,24 
 
 Ex.3. 8 
 
 '.  ch.  50.  1. 
 
 Acn  7.  IS 
 
 /  Deut.  26.  5. 
 Josli.  2<1.  4. 
 Ps.  103.23. 
 II.  S3.  4. 
 
 1  N«in.?6  5. 
 1  Chr.  6.  1. 
 
 0  Fx.  6.  IS. 
 
 1  Chr.  4  21. 
 [I  Or,.Vri»mrf. 
 II  Or,  Jur.A. 
 II  Or,  Zrrih, 
 
 I  Chr.  4  21. 
 p  1  Chr.  6.  I, 
 
 Irt. 
 i;  Or,  Oir- 
 
 th'.m. 
 J  1  Cl,r.  8.  3. 
 
 &  4.  21. 
 r  ch.  38.  3, 7, 
 
 10 
 *  ch.  3*.  2lt. 
 
 1  Chr.  2.  5. 
 MCl.t.  7.  1. 
 
 «  Nu.  26.  15, 
 
 KC.  Zrphnt, 
 
 X  1  Chr.7.30. 
 
 B.  C.  1706. 
 V  ch.   3"!.    Ill 
 
 d  "Sum.  26. 
 
 3.1,  ^hirnm. 
 '  Nu.  26.  .39, 
 
 S/„.pAnm. 
 
 1  Chr  7.  12, 
 
 SUnpp.m. 
 II   H..,.l,„™, 
 
 NiiHi  26.39 
 /■ICIir.T  12. 
 
 Or,.S7,.</, 
 
 Nu 
 
 26.42 
 
 H  I  Ch: 
 
 h  ch,  30.5,7. 
 
 «  ch.  29.  29. 
 
 /Dcut.tO.22. 
 See  AcU  7 
 
 ich.  SI.  81. 
 di.  47.  1. 
 
 t  Hcb.  rtcv 
 .,-  ™«  if 
 entile. 
 
 18  'These  are  the  sons  of  Zilpah,  '  wliom 
 Laban  gave  to  Leah  his  daughter,  and  these 
 she  bare  unto  Jacob,  even  sixteen  souls. 
 
 19  The  sons  of  Rachel "  Jacob's  wife ;  Joseph, 
 and  Benjamin. 
 
 20  t '' And  unto  Joseph  in  the  land  of  Egypt 
 were  born  Manasseh  and  Ephraim,  which  A.se- 
 nath  the  daughter  of  Potipherah  ||  priest  of  On 
 biire  unto  him. 
 
 21  f  '  And  the  sons  of  Benjamin  were  Belaii, 
 and  Becher,  and  Ashbel,  Gera,  and  Naaman, 
 *  Ehi,  and  Rosh,  "  Muppim,  and  ||  Huppim, 
 and  Ard. 
 
 22  These  are  the  sons  of  Rachel,  which  were 
 born  to  Jacob  :  all  the  souls  were  fourteen. 
 
 23  t  '  And  the  sons  of  Dan  ;  |j  Hushim. 
 
 24  f  ^  And  the  sons  of  Naphtali ;  Jahzeel, 
 and  Guni,  and  Jezer,  and  Shillem. 
 
 25  ''  These  are  the  sons  of  Bilhah,  '  which 
 Laban  gave  unto  Rachel  his  daughter,  and  slie 
 bare  these  unto  Jacob :  all  the  souls  were 
 seven. 
 
 26  ^  All  the  souls  that  came  with  Jacob  into 
 Egypt,  which  came  out  of  his  f  loins,  besides 
 Jacob's  sons'  wives,  all  the  souls  tvere  three- 
 score and  six  ; 
 
 27  And  the  sons  of  Joseph,  which  were  born 
 him  in  Egypt,  were  two  .souls :  '  all  the  souls 
 of  the  house  of  Jacob,  which  came  into  Egypt, 
 were  threescore  and  ten. 
 
 28  If  And  he  sent  Judah  before  him  unto 
 Joseph,  '"  to  direct  his  face  unto  Goshen  ;  and 
 they  came  °  into  the  land  of  Goshen. 
 
 29  And  Joseph  made  ready  his  chariot,  and 
 went  up  to  meet  Israel  his  father,  to  Goshen, 
 and  presented  himself  unto  him  ;  and  he  "fell 
 on  his  neck,  and  wept  on  his  neck  a  good  while. 
 
 30  And  Israel  .said  unto  Joseph,  '  Now  let 
 me  die,  since  I  have  seen  thy  face,  because 
 thou  art  yet  alive. 
 
 31  And  Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren,  and 
 unto  his  father's  house,  "*  I  will  go  up,  and  shew 
 Pharaoh,  and  say  unto  him.  My  brethren,  and 
 my  father's  house,  which  were  in  the  land  of 
 Canaan,  are  come  unto  me  ; 
 
 32  And  the  men  are  shepherds,  for  f  their 
 trade  hath  been  to  feed  cattle  ;  and  they  have 
 brought  their  flocks,  and  their  herds,  and  all 
 that  tliey  have. 
 
 33  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  Pharaoh 
 shall  call  you,  and  shall  say,  '  What  is  your 
 occupation? 
 
 34  That  ye  shall  say.  Thy  servants'  'trade 
 haili  been  about  cattle  '  from  our  youth  even 
 until  now,  botli  we,  and  also  our  fathers  :  that 
 ye  may  dwell  in  tlie  land  of  Goshen  ;  for  every 
 .shepherd  is  "  an  abomination  unto  the  Egyp- 
 tians. 
 
 Chap.  XLVI.  —  3.  /  am  God — Vnn,  *I  am  the  Michtv  Onk.' — 
 Boothr.  Fear  not  to  ^o — he  might  fear,  because  Abraham  had  been 
 injured  there,  (chap.  xii.  15.) — Hew.  Because  Isaac  was  forbidden  to 
 go,  (chap.  x.Kvi.  1,  2.)  He  might  call  to  mind  the  prophecy,  (chap. 
 XV.  \Z.)—GiU.  4.  Bring  thee — thy  posterity,  which  arc  a  part  of 
 thyself. — Porite.  Put  tiis  tinnd  iiptin  thine  eyes — close  them  up  when 
 dead.  This  was  a  custom  among  the  Greeks,  Romans,  and  jews. — 
 Gill.  7.  His  daughters — he  had  but  one  ;  but  the  plural  is  here  used 
 for  the  singular :  or  else  his  grand  daughter  is  included. — Pat.  27.  All 
 the  souls  nf  the  hottse  of  Jacob — Jacob  himself,  with  Joseph  and  his  two 
 sons,  added  to  the  sixty  six  mentioned,  make  the  seventy.  —  Gill. 
 28.  Direct  his  face — request  Joseph  would  meet  him  there. — linothr. 
 
 34.  Eeery  shepherd  is  an  abomination — every  foreign  shepherd.  The 
 Arabian,  or  Phcenician,  shepherds  had  entered  Egypt,  burnt  theircities, 
 ^c,  and  set  up  pastor-kings. — Gilt.  Dr.  Liiihtfaot  thinks  that  the 
 Egyptians,  having  been  plagued  for  Abraham  and  Sarah's  sake,  made 
 a  law,  that,  in  future,  none  should  eat  or  drink  with  Hebrews,  or  fo- 
 reign shepherds.  Many  suppose  the  Egyptians  abhorred  the  Hebrews 
 because  of  their  eating  beasts  which  they  worshipped.— Gr//  objects  to 
 this,  observing,  '  the  Egyptians  in  those  times  did  eat  the  flesh  of  slain 
 beasts.'  (chap,  xliii.  I6.  32.)  Tacitus,  the  Roman  historian,  in  an  after- 
 period,  certainly  made  this  complaint  of  the  Jews  : — 'They  sacrificed 
 the  ram,  in  order  to  insult  Jupiter  Ammon,  and  the  ox,  which  the 
 Egyptians  worship  under  the  name  of  Apis.* 
 
 the  words  may  read,  '  will  multiply  to  pardon.*  He.  truly,  not 
 only  wipes  away  the  tear  from  the  eye,  and  heals  the  broken 
 spirit,  but  he  clotiies  us  with  the  garments  of  salvation,  and 
 adorns  us  with  the  beauties  of  holiness.  Happy  they  who  have 
 these  evidences  of  his  loving-kindness,  better  than  life  itself! 
 They  may,  indeed,  go  on  their  way  rejoicing. 
 5G 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLVI.  —  I.  Those  who  truty  trust 
 and  fear  God  are  vnder  his  guidance.  '  The  steps  of  a  good  man 
 are  ordered  by  the  Lord,'  and  our  roncerns  never  go  on  so  well 
 as  when  we  submit  to  him.  Where  may  we  not  venture  to  go, 
 if  we  feel  assured  tliat  God  is  our  guide  ?  This  is  all  we  want 
 to  bless  us  in  our  removals,  '  I  will  go  down  with  thee.* 
 
lie  i/ivcl/t  his  brclhren  hubitulion,  l^'C. 
 
 GENESIS,  XLVII. 
 
 Ife  f/ellelh  cd  the  E(/i/ptians'  nioneii. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVII. 
 
 1  Jitsqih  jyrcxrntef/t  five  of  hiti  hrc'hrcii,  7  and  hln 
 Jiilhr,;  lufoie  rila'r,iilh.'  II  Hi:  i,h;th  t^'ilii  hiihitu- 
 i'lnn  taut  muinfiitanie.  13  lit-  t/tllLl/i  tiU  titt;  Et/i/p- 
 titinr.'  )itimt:i/,  Iti/AciV  futtic,  ]i<  t/icir  litnils  to  Plut- 
 r<lo/i.  22  The  l'rit:>ts^  lunil  iva:i  nut  himtjtit.  23  //c 
 iMdIi  t.'ic  IiiikI  tu  till  III  fill- a  fifth  purl.'  2S  Jaiol's 
 offi:  29  Ih  su'ciifcth  Joiitpli  to  bmij  h'lnwUh  /tit, 
 Juiliti-n. 
 
 nj^HEN  Josepli  '  came  and  told  Pliaraol;,  and 
 *■  said,  My  fatliei'  and  my  bretliren.and  their 
 flocks,  and  their  lierds,  and  all  that  they  have, 
 are  come  out  of  the  land  of  Canaan  ;  and,  be- 
 hold, they  are  in  ''  tjio  land  of  Goshen. 
 
 2  And  he  took  some  of  his  brctliren,  even  five 
 men,  and  '^  incsented  them  unto  Pliaraol). 
 
 3  And  Pharaoh  said  nnto  his  brethren, ''  What 
 is  your  occupation  ?  And  they  said  unto  Pha. 
 raoh,  "^  Thy  servants  are  sheplierds,  both  we, 
 and  also  our  fatliers. 
 
 4  They  said  moreover  unto  Pharaoh,  •■  For  to 
 sojourn  in  the  land  are  we  come  ;  for  thy  ser- 
 vants.have  no  pasture  for  their  flocks  ;  ^  for  the 
 famine  is  sore  in  tlie  land  of  Canaan  :  now 
 therefore,  we  pray  thee,  let  thy  servants 
 ''dwell  in  the  land  of  Goshen. 
 
 3  And  Pliarauh  spake  unto  Joseph,  saying. 
 Thy  father  and  thy  brethren  are  come  unto 
 thee  : 
 
 (i  '  The  land  of  Egypt  is  before  thee  ;  in  the 
 best  of  the  land  make  thy  father  and  brethren 
 to  dwell  ;  ''in  the  land  of  Goshen  let  them  dwell : 
 and  if  tliou  knowest  anij  men  of  activity  among 
 them,  tlien  make  them  rulers  over  my  cattle. 
 
 7  And  Joseph  brought  in  Jacob  his  father, 
 and  set  him  before  Pharaoh  :  and  Jacob  blessed 
 Pharaoh. 
 
 8  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Jacob,  f  How  old 
 art  thou '? 
 
 9  And  Jacob  said  unto  Pharaoh,  '  The  days 
 of  the  years  of  my  pilgrimage  «)-e  an  himdrcd 
 and  thirty  years :  "  few  and  evil  have  the  days 
 of  the  years  of  my  life  been,  and  "  have  not 
 attained  unto  tlie  days  of  the  years  of  the  life 
 of  my  fathers  in  the  days  of  their  pilgrimage. 
 
 10  And  Jacob  "  blessed  Pliaraoli,  and  went 
 out  from  before  Pharaoh. 
 
 1 1  t  And  Joseph   placed  his  father  and  his 
 
 ITIIO. 
 a  cb.  1(i.  31. 
 
 6  eh.  1.5.  10 
 
 &  v..  s. 
 
 c  Acls  7.  13. 
 
 /cli.  IS.  IS. 
 Deilt.-J6.  & 
 
 ff  cli.  -IS.  1. 
 Acls  7.  U. 
 
 t  Hd>    /. 
 
 Id 
 
 7111 
 
 III/  ai 
 
 lt,r 
 
 </„/M 
 
 i.t 
 
 tl.r 
 
 l/r.ir 
 
 -f 
 
 II.' 
 
 !■(■■ 
 
 1  H 
 
 I<  II 
 
 «, 
 
 1-1 
 
 •  b   11 
 
 1. 
 
 h  Or^a-inVt- 
 ll>-  child  is 
 wnrUlicd. 
 
 1  Hi'l'.  nc- 
 c'ltdit.g  lt> 
 Ihr  lillle 
 
 cli.  50.  21. 
 r  cli.  *l.  30. 
 
 Afta  7.  1 1 . 
 I  til.  41.  .'iO. 
 
 .(  Kzia 
 
 7-2* 
 
 l|(»i-./' 
 
 ni.cri 
 
 2  ban 
 
 .S,I3 
 
 brethren,  and  gave  them  a  possession  in  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  in  the  best  of  the  land,  in  the 
 land  of  Kameses, ''  as  Pliaraoh  had  coinnianded. 
 1-2  And  Joseph  nourished  his  fatiier,  and  his 
 brethren,  and  all  his  father's  houshold,  with 
 bread,  ||  f  according  to  t/ieir  families. 
 
 13  1[  And  l/iere  teas  no  bread  in  all  the  land  ; 
 for  the  famine  leas  very  sore,  ""so  that  the  land 
 of  Egypt  and  all  the  land  of  Canaan  fainted 
 by  reason  of  the  famine. 
 
 14  'And  Joseph  gatliered  up  all  the  money 
 that  was  found  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  in 
 the  land  of  Canaan,  for  the  corn  which  they 
 bought :  and  Josejih  brouglit  the  money  into 
 Pharaoh's  house. 
 
 Ij  And  when  money  failed  in  the  Land  of 
 Egypt,  and  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  all  the 
 P^gyptians  came  unto  Joseph,  and  said.  Give 
 us  bread  :  for  '  why  sliould  v.e  die  in  thy  pre- 
 sence'■'  for  the  money  faileth. 
 
 IG  And  Joseph  .said.  Give  your  cattle;  and 
 I  will  give  you  for  your  cattle,  if  money  fail. 
 
 17  And  they  brouglit  their  cattle  unto  Jo- 
 seph :  and  Joseph  gave  them  bread  in  cxclianne 
 for  horses,  and  for  the  flocks,  and  for  the  cattle 
 of  the  herds,  and  for  tlie  asses:  and  he  ffed 
 them  with  bread  for  all  their  cattle  for  that 
 year. 
 
 18  When  that  year  was  ended,  tliey  came 
 unto  him  the  second  year,  and  said  unto  him. 
 We  will  not  hide  it  from  my  lord,  how  that  our 
 money  is  spent ;  my  lord  also  hath  our  herds 
 of  cattle  ;  there  is  not  ought  left  in  the  sight 
 of  iny  lord,  but  our  bodies,  and  our  lands  : 
 
 19  Wherefore  .shall  we  die  before  thine  eyes, 
 botli  we  and  our  land  ?  buy  us  and  our  land"  for 
 bread,  and  we  and  our  land  will  be  servants 
 unto  Pliaraoh  :  and  give  ns  seed,  that  we  niav 
 live,  and  not  die,  that  the  land  be  not  desolate. 
 
 '20  And  Josepli  bought  all  the  land  of  Egypt 
 for  Pliaraoli ;  for  the  Egyptians  sold  every  man 
 his  field,  because  the  famine  prevailed  over 
 them  :  so  the  land  became  Pharaoh's. 
 
 '21  And  as  for  the  people,  he  removed  them 
 to  cities  from  one  end  of  tlie  borders  of  Egypt 
 even  to  the  other  end  thereof. 
 
 2-2  "  Only  the  land  of  the  ||  priests  bought  he 
 not ;  for  the  priests  had  a  portion  assigned  them 
 
 Chap.  XLVII.— 0.  Men  of  uctivity— strong  in  body,  and  sUilfiil  in 
 managing  flocks.  Itiilers  over  my  c«///e— licncc,  Pliaraoh  had  boih 
 sheplierds  and  flotH^s;  and,  therefore,  it  must  be  inferred,  that  the 
 Eg:ypti;ins  of  those  times  did  not  abstain  from  eating  animals.— Gi//. 
 A-  Ctarke  observes,  that  '  nrpo  s.gnifies  not  only  citttli^,  but  piiasts- 
 aioiis,  or  proprrti/,  because  in  ancient  times  these  were  the  chief  pro- 
 perty.' He,  thciefoic.  infers,  that  Jacob's  family  were  appointed  oi'cr- 
 seers  ot  doiiifstic  conccius,  while  Joseph  attended  tliose  of  the  stale, 
 and  that  he  (Fliarauh)  would  not  have  his  chief  ofiicer  and  favourite's 
 relatives  perlorm  the  meanest  offices  in  the  land.  But  this  conjecture 
 is  certaiidy  not  supportcil  liy  what  Is  said  in  chap.  .\ivi.  31  to  3i.—  li{l. 
 Pittvicli  says,  'The  eastern  liings  raised  part  of  their  revenue  from 
 cattle;  and  so  did  the  Ejcyptian,  who  had  some  prime  officers  to  over- 
 see the  lower  sort  of  shci)herds.  The  Arabians,  Plia-mcians,  and 
 Ethiopians,  were  either  an  iil  sort  of  people,  or  forbidden  by  the  law  of 
 Ef?ypt  to  enter  and  trade  there  ;  but  not  all  shepherds  were  an  abomi- 
 nation.' But  vei.  34  of  the  last  chapter  certainly  says  as  much,  and 
 evidently  intimates,  that,  for  some  reason  or  other,  the  employment, 
 
 like  certain  employments  in  modern  countries,  was  associated  with 
 contempt  — Ed.  'Peihaps.'  says  Scott,  'shepherds  were  held  in  alio, 
 mination  in  Egypt  only  as  a  low  and  vulgar  set  of  men,  compared  with 
 princes,  sages,  and  soldiers.'  7.  Btesaed  Plmraoh~-\o  bless,  means 
 to  speak  good  to  a  person.  He,  perhaps,  saluted  him  with  *  Peace  be 
 unto  ihee.' — A  clmkc.  11.  itfo/icseA- — which  was  part  of  the  land  of 
 Goshen,  or  which,  in  the  days  of  Moses,  took  its  name  from  a  city  built 
 there  for  Pharaoh. — J'lit.  16.  Vino-  riiltte — which  were  probably  re- 
 turned afterwards  for  agricultural  purposes, — A.  Ci.irke.  Or  might 
 have  been  purehased  again  after  having  them  on  credit,  and  paid  out 
 of  the  fitnr  paits  of  produce  belonging  to  the  people. — Ed.  ]/.  Wi'-lt 
 l/i-eiid  for  till  tUfiv  cuttle — that  is.  *  in  exchange  for.' — Hew.  19.  Die — 
 u-e  inid  our  liiiti/ — land  is  said  to  die  when  it  lies  nntilled  and  oeso. 
 late. — Jior/i.  Wc  rnid  our  litud  will  tie  .icrriiiitu — they  would  hold  their 
 land  of  Phaiaoh.  and  he  tenants  to  him. — Gitt.  21.  To  cities — that 
 they  might  he  conveniently  fed  where  the  corn  was  laid  u|). — .-!.  Clurke. 
 22.  The  titnd  ijf  tlie  priests  Itiiitt^lit  lie  not — they  were  in  no  necessity  Vti 
 sell  their  lands,  having  their  diet  continually  from  the  king. —  Put. 
 
 II.  We  sec  here  the  iirmlual  increase  of  ihe  promised  seed.  It 
 now  amounted  to  the  number  of  seventy  :  this,  indeed,  was 
 small  compared  with  the  promise,  hut  it  was  tlie  earnest  of 
 greater  things,  wliicli  were  afterwards  accomplislied.  Let  us 
 not  be  discouraged  from  the  small  number  of  God's  people  ; 
 they  are  increasing,  ,niul  will  increase.  And  let  tins  sliniultiio 
 us  in  all  endeavours  to  advance  the  Saviour's  kingdom,  that 
 he  who  multiplied  .Abraham's  seed  according  to  the  flesli,  will 
 iissuredly  fulfil  all  tliat  he  has  promised,  and  multiph;  the  spi- 
 ritual seed  of  Israel  to  '  a  number  which  no  man  can  number.' 
 
 III.  Yovnii  men  who  ure  clcculcd  in  life  are  liere  taur/ht  nut  to 
 
 forget  their  parents.  Jacob  «  as  not  poor,  but  he  was  far  infe- 
 rior to  Joseph  ;  but  Joseph  was  neither  ashamed  of  him  nor 
 of  his  bietliren.  Never  did  Archbishop 'I'illotson  appear  more 
 truly  dignified  than  when,  \\Lile  Dean  of  Canterbury,  he  ran 
 to  meet  his  father,  who  was  dressed  in  a  humble  garb,  and, 
 falling  on  his  knees  before  all  his  servants,  according  to  liie 
 custom  of  those  diiys,  asked  his  father's  blessing.  This  was  a 
 trait  of  lilial  affection  and  humility  which  gave  him  a  monil 
 dignity  far  superior  to  any  of  the  honours  earth  can  bestow. 
 The  child  who  attends  to  the  command — '  Honour  thy  father 
 and  thy  mother,'  claims  ready  respect  from  aU. 
 1 
 
Jacob's  age. 
 
 GENESIS,  XLVIII. 
 
 He  blesseth  Manasseh  and  Ephraim. 
 
 of  Pharaoh,  and  did  eat  their  portion  which 
 Pharaoh  gave  them  :  wherefore  they  sold  not 
 their  lands. 
 
 23  Then  Joseph  said  unto  the  people,  Behold, 
 I  have  bought  you  this  day  and  your  land  for 
 Pharaoh  :  lo,  here  is  seed  for  you,  and  ye  shall 
 sow  the  land. 
 
 24  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  increase, 
 that  ye  shall  give  the  fifth  part  unto  Pharaoh, 
 and  four  parts  shall  be  your  own,  for  seed  of 
 the  field,  and  for  your  food,  and  for  them  of 
 your  housholds,  and  for  food  for  your  little  ones. 
 
 •25  And  they  said,  Thou  hast  saved  our  lives  : 
 '  let  us  find  grace  in  the  sight  of  my  lord,  and 
 we  will  be  Pharaoh's  servants. 
 
 26  And  Joseph  made  it  a  law  over  the  land 
 of  Egypt  unto  this  day,  that  Pharaoh  should 
 have  the  fifth  part;  '  e.\cept  the  land  of  the 
 II priests  only,  which  became  not  Pharaoh's. 
 
 27  t  And  Israel  '  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Egypt, 
 in  the  country  of  Goshen  ;  and  they  had  pos- 
 sessions therein,  and  *  grew,  and  multiplied  ex- 
 ceedingly. 
 
 28  And  Jacob  lived  in  the  land  of  Egypt 
 seventeen  years:  so  f  the  whole  age  of  Jacob 
 was  an  hundred  forty  and  seven  years. 
 
 29  And  the  time  ^  drew  nigh  that  Israel  must 
 die  :  and  he  called  his  son  Joseph,  and  said 
 unto  him.  If  now  I  have  found  grace  in  thy 
 sight,  '  put,  I  pray  thee,  thy  hand  under  my 
 thigh,  and  ''  deal  kindly  and  truly  with  me  ; 
 '  bury  me  not,  I  pray  thee,  in  Egypt : 
 
 30  But  '  I  will  lie  with  my  fatliers,  and  thou 
 shalt  carry  me  out  of  Egypt,  and  *  bury  me  in 
 their  buryingplace.  And  he  said,  1  will  do  as 
 thou  hast  said. 
 
 31  And  he  said.  Swear  unto  me.  And  he 
 sware  unto  him.  And  •■  Israel  bowed  himself 
 upon  the  bed's  head. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVIII. 
 
 1  Joseph  with  his  sons  visittth  his  si<  k  father.  2  Jacob 
 strengtheneth  himself  to  hiss  theni.  3  He  repeateth 
 the  promise,  6  He  tnktth  Ephratm  and  Manasseh  as 
 his  oivn.  7  He  tel/tth  Joseph  of  his  7nother^s  grave. 
 9  He  blisseth  Ephruim  and  Mujtasseh.  17  He  pre- 
 ferreth  the  younger  hefort  the  elder.  21  He  prophe- 
 sietk  thtir  return  to  Canaan. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things,  that 
 ■^*-  one  told  Joseph,  Behold,  thy  father  is 
 sick :  atid  he  took  with  him  his  two  sons,  Ma- 
 nasseh and  Ephraim. 
 
 X  cb.  33.  15. 
 
 If  ver.  2S. 
 
 |1  Or,  pr'mctt 
 vcT    22 
 ver.  It. 
 
 cb.  46.  3. 
 
 1099. 
 
 t  lleb.  the 
 d<if/(  of  the 
 
 Irfe. 
 
 See  ver  9. 
 b  So  Oeut. 
 SI     \\. 
 I  Kin.  2.  I. 
 
 c  ch.  24.  2. 
 
 d  ch.  24.  45. 
 
 *  So  ch.  50. 
 
 25. 
 /2  Sam.  19. 
 
 37. 
 S  ch   49.  29 
 
 &  50.  5,  13. 
 
 h  ch.  4M.  S. 
 I  Kin  1.47 
 Ueb.  11.21. 
 
 J  ch.  2S.  iS, 
 19.  flc  35.  6, 
 9,  &c. 
 
 c  ch.  41.  50. 
 8t  -16.  ^0. 
 
 Josh,  I  a.  7. 
 
 &I4.  4. 
 
 d  ch.  S5.  9, 
 16,  19. 
 
 /ch,  27,  4. 
 
 a  ch.  27.  1. 
 tHeb.Awrv 
 
 Is,  6.  10.  'Jt 
 
 .W  I. 
 h  ch.  27.  27. 
 
 /Heb.  11.21 
 m  ch.  17.  I. 
 
 2  And  one  told  Jacob,  and  said.  Behold,  thy 
 son  Joseph  coineth  unto  thee  :  and  Israel 
 strengthened  himself,  and  sat  upon  the  bed. 
 
 3  And  Jacob  said  unto  Joseph,  God  Almighty 
 appeared  unto  me  at "  Luz  in  tlie  land  ot  Ca- 
 naan, and  blessed  me, 
 
 4  And  said  unto  me.  Behold,  I  will  make 
 thee  fruitful,  and  multiply  thee,  and  1  will 
 make  of  thee  a  multitude  of  people  ;  and  will 
 give  this  land  to  thy  seed  after  thee  ^for  an 
 everlasting  possession. 
 
 5  1  And  now  thy  '^  two  sons,  Ephraim  and 
 Manasseh,  which  were  born  unto  thee  in  the 
 land  of  Egypt  before  I  came  unto  thee  into 
 Egypt,  are  mine  ;  as  Reuoen  and  Simeon,  they 
 shall  be  mine. 
 
 6  And  thy  issue,  which  thou  begettest  after 
 them,  shall  be  thine,  and  shall  be  called  after 
 the  name  of  their  brethren  in  their  inheritance. 
 
 7  And  as  for  me,  when  I  came  from  Padan, 
 ''  Rachel  died  by  me  in  the  land  of  Canaan  in 
 the  way,  when  yet  there  icas  but  a  little  way 
 to  come  unto  Ephrath  :  and  I  buried  her  there 
 in  the  way  of  Ephrath  ;  the  same  is  Beth-lehem. 
 
 8  And  Israel  beheld  Joseph's  sons,  and  said, 
 Who  are  these  ? 
 
 9  And  Joseph  said  unto  his  father,  ^  They  are 
 my  sons,  whom  God  hath  given  me  in  i\\\?.  place. 
 And  he  said,  Bring  them,  I  pray  thee,  unto  me, 
 and  ^  I  will  bless  them. 
 
 10  Now  ^the  eyes  of  Israel  were  fdim  for 
 age,  so  that  he  could  not  see.  And  he  brought 
 them  near  unto  him;  and  ^  he  kissed  them, 
 and  embraced  them. 
 
 11  And  Israel  said  unto  Joseph,  '  I  had  not 
 thought  to  see  thy  face  :  and,  lo,  God  hath 
 shewed  me  also  thy  seed. 
 
 V2  And  Joseph  brought  them  out  from  be- 
 tween his  knees,  and  he  bowed  himself  with 
 his  face  to  the  earth. 
 
 13  And  Joseph  took  them  both,  Ephraim  in 
 his  right  hand  toward  Israel's  left  hand,  and 
 Manasseh  in  his  left  hand  toward  Israel's  right 
 hand,  and  brought  them  near  unto  him. 
 
 14  And  Israel  stretched  out  his  right  hand, 
 and  laid  it  upon  Ephraim's  head,  who  was  the 
 younger,  and  his  left  hand  upon  Manasseh's 
 head,  ''  guiding  his  hands  wittingly  ;  for  Manas- 
 seh was  the  firstborn. 
 
 15  H  And  '  he  blessed  Joseph,  and  said,  God, 
 "^  before  whom  my  fathers  Abraham  and  Isaac 
 
 24.  The  fifth  part — the  land  voluntarily  sold  by  the  people,  Joseph 
 fanned  to  the  occupiers  apain  at  a  crown  rent  of  a  filth  part  of  the  pro- 
 duce. Thus  he  strengthened  the  authority  of  the  king,  and  secured  the 
 people  from  further  exaction.— i/«/e5.  31.  Botved  Ai/H-se//— to  Joseph, 
 in  acknowledgment  of  his  kindness.  (See  the  dream,  chap,  xx.wii. 
 g,  ]0.) — Whist.  He  laiil  himself  down  on  his  pillow,  wearied. — Stack., 
 A.  Clarke.  Bowed  in  snlenin  worship,  in  gratitude  to  God.— Gi7/.  Ex- 
 pressing his  willingness  tn  leave  the  wurld. — Scott.  Upon  the  bed's 
 head— it  is  not  obvious  what  is  meant  by  this,  the  bed  being  only  a 
 mat  or  cushion,  and  no  bedstead  ;  but  the  same  word  means  staff,  which 
 has  generally  a  head.  So  the  Sept.,  quoted  in  Heb.  xi.  21,  *  Jacob 
 worshipped,  leaning  upon  the  top  of  his  staff.* — Wit.    But '  that  re- 
 
 fers,' says  Gilf,  *  to  another  thing  at  another  time,  to  chap.xlviii.  15, 1 6; 
 nor  is  there  any  necessity  here  to  alter  the  word  "a  bed"  to  "a  staff," 
 which  is  contrary  to  all  the  Tnrguvts  and  the  Talmud,  seeing  this  is 
 not  the  place  the  apostle  refers  to.' 
 
 Chap.  XLVIII. — 2.  Strengthened  Atmse//— exerted  his  strength. — 
 Kidd.,  Gill.  5.  Are  mine — '  I  adopt  tliem  into  my  own  family.' — A. 
 Cl'trke.  'They  shall  be  reckoned  as  if  I  had  begotten  them. '—Pa/.  As 
 lieuhen  and  Simeon — even  as  his  eldest  sons,  with  distinct  duties  and 
 portions. — GUI.  7.  The  .<!ame  is  Beth-lehem — this  name  was  not  given 
 till  after  Moses,  and  is,  therefore,  thought  to  have  been  inserted  here 
 by  Ezra.  14.  Upon  Ephraim^s  head — this  is  the  first  time  we  read  of 
 this  custom,  which  was  always  used  in  giving  blessings  and  designing 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XLVII We  bave  in  this  chapter, 
 
 I.  An  old  man's  estimate  of  life.  It  is  a  pilgrimage.  Jacob  bad 
 moved  from  place  to  place,  and  there  are  few  in  this  world 
 that  are  not  Uke  him,  while  there  is  not  one  who  is  not  travel- 
 ling to  the  eternal  world;  every  day  he  takes  a  number  of 
 steps  which  bring  him  nearer  to  his  journey's  end.  '  Few  and 
 evil,'  said  Jacob.  '  have  the  days  of  the  years  of  my  life  been.' 
 He  was  a  hundred  and  thirty  years  old.  and  yet  he  numbered 
 his  whole  life  by  days,  and  tliese  he  considered  as  '  few.'  It 
 is  a  common  error  to  reckon  on  them  as  many  ;  but  while  man's 
 life  is  now  much  abridged,  few  ever  reach  its  limited  extent ; 
 and  when  reached,  then  numbers  see,  with  the  deepest  regret, 
 *bat  their  days  have  been  *few,'  for  they  have  passed  unno- 
 58 
 
 ticed  and  unimproved.  Lord  of  our  time  !  '  so  teach  us  to 
 number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom.* 
 We  see  here — 
 
 II.  A  young  man*s  diligence  in  business.  Joseph,  in  his  ele- 
 vated station,  acted  the  part  of  a  good  steward.  Many  young 
 men  are  ruined  by  sudden  riches  and  exaltation  ;  and,  by  indo- 
 lence and  luxury,  they  soon  become  impoverished  and  dis- 
 graced ;  and  great  is  tlieir  tall,  sinking  them  even  lower  than 
 their  original  station.  Let  all  who  profess  the  name  of  Christ 
 remember  that  diligence  in  business  is  one  of  the  duties  en- 
 joined in  his  word,  and  is  not  incompatible  with  fervency  of 
 spirit  in  serving  the  Lord. 
 
Jacob  calleth  his  sons. 
 
 GENESIS,  XLIX. 
 
 and  blesseth  them. 
 
 dill  walk,  the  God  which  fed  me  all  my  life 
 long  unto  this  day, 
 
 Iti  The  Angel  "which  redeemed  me  from  all 
 evil,  bless  the  lads;  and  let  °my  name  be 
 named  on  them,  and  the  name  of  my  fathers 
 Abraham  and  Isaac  ;  and  let  them  f  grow  into 
 a  multitude  in  the  midst  of  the  earth. 
 
 17  And  when  Joseph  saw  that  his  father  'laid 
 his  right  hand  upon  the  head  of  Ephraim,  it 
 II  displeased  him  :  and  he  held  up  his  father's 
 hand,  to  remove  it  from  Ephraim's  head  unto 
 Manasseh's  head. 
 
 18  And  Joseph  said  unto  his  father,  Not  so, 
 my  father :  for  this  is  the  firstborn  ;  put  thy 
 right  hand  upon  his  head. 
 
 19  And  his  father  refused,  and  said,  ^  I  know 
 it,  my  son,  I  know  it :  he  also  shall  become  a 
 people,  and  he  also  shall  be  great :  but  truly 
 ■■  his  younger  brother  shall  be  greater  than  he, 
 and  his  seed  shall  become  a  f  multitude  of 
 nations. 
 
 20  And  he  blessed  them  that  day,  saying,  'In 
 thee  shall  Israel  bless,  saying,  God  make  thee 
 as  Ephraim  and  as  Manasseh :  and  he  set 
 Ephraim  before  Manasseh. 
 
 21  And  Israel  said  unto  Joseph,  Behold,  I 
 die:  but  '  God  .shall  be  with  you,  and  bring 
 you  again  unto  the  land  of  your  fathers. 
 
 22  Moreover  "  I  have  given  to  thee  one  por- 
 tion above  thy  brethren,  which  I  took  out  of 
 the  hand  *  of  the  Amorite  with  my  sword  and 
 with  my  bow. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIX. 
 
 1  Jacob  calltfh  his  sq7is  to  bless  them.  3  Their  bbssin;, 
 in  paTticidar.  29  Hb  chargeth  them  about  his  buriuL 
 33  Hf  dieth. 
 
 AND  Jacob  called  unto  his  sons,  and  said, 
 Gather   yourselves  together,  that  I  may 
 
 li  ch.  2S.  1i 
 t<£  31  11,  i: 
 
 ■:4    Ps    M 
 
 ■12.  h  \-2\. 
 ..  Aiufs  9.1: 
 
 Aitb  15  I 
 t  Heb.  <u 
 
 /ij/iM  do    ii 
 
 Nu 
 
 1  ■2<,--iA, 
 
 p  ver.  14, 
 ll   was    evil 
 
 r  Num.  1 .  33, 
 ?o.  A  -2.  !«), 
 2l.Deut.a3. 
 17.  hcv.  7. 
 6,  8 
 
 t  IIeb,/u/- 
 
 /,  ^a  Ruth  4. 
 II,  12. 
 
 /  ch.  46  4. 
 &  JO.  24. 
 
 «Jnsh.'24.S2. 
 1  Cl.r.  b  '1 
 Joliu  4    b. 
 
 X  ch.  15    16. 
 
 Josh.  17.14, 
 
 B.  C.  I6b9. 
 
 .-  Dcut  33  I 
 
 Ainos  3.  7 
 !,  Deut  4.3U. 
 
 Xuia  2'1  14. 
 
 Is.-2,2.  ft  a9. 
 
 IJ,  Jer.23  "JO 
 
 Diin   a.   '2S, 
 
 as.    Acts  t. 
 
 17.  Heb  I  2. 
 c  Pa  »1.  II. 
 d  ch  -29  32. 
 "Deut. 21  17. 
 
 Ps.  7S.  fll. 
 t  Heb.  douui 
 
 th..u  earel. 
 f  1  Chr.  5,  1. 
 ■4  ch.  35. 22. 
 
 I  Chr.  5.  I. 
 
 neut.27.20. 
 
 curie  A  li 
 
 '.  ch.29.  3S, 
 
 Pi.iv.  18  9. 
 [,  Or,  thtir 
 sipurdi   are 
 
 in  Pa.  20.  9. 
 
 (  pli.  5.  II. 
 '.  Ps.  16.  9. 
 
 &  .30.  12.  & 
 
 57-  8. 
 ',  ch    34.  2fi. 
 II  Or,  huuglifd 
 
 P  Josh.  19.1. 
 
 S.  21.  5,  6, 
 
 7,  1  Chr.  i. 
 
 24,  39. 
 y  ch.  29.35. 
 
 Deut  33,  7. 
 r  Ps.  18.  40. 
 1  ch.  27   29. 
 
 I  Cbr-  5.  2. 
 (  Hus.  5.  14. 
 
 Rev,  5.  5. 
 i(  Pi-'um.  23. 
 
 24.  It  24.  9 
 X  Mum    24. 
 
 17.  .ler.  30 
 I  Zech  10 
 
 II 
 
 y  Ps.  60, : 
 
 Deut 
 /,  Is.  2  2.  &  1 
 ;J0,3I,32. 
 
 "tell  you  that  which  shall  befal  you  ^  in  the 
 last  days. 
 
 2  Gather  yourselves  together,  and  hear,  ye 
 sons  of  Jacob  ;  and  '^  hearken  unto  Israel  your 
 father. 
 
 3  If  Reuben,  thou  art  ^  my  firstborn,  ray  might, 
 "and  the  beginning  of  my  strength,  the  excel- 
 lency of  dignity,  and  the  excellency  of  power: 
 
 4  Unstable  as  water,  f  •"  thou  shalt  not  excel ; 
 because  thou  ^  wentest  up  to  thy  father's  bed  ; 
 then  defiledst  thou  it :  ||  he  went  up  to  my 
 couch. 
 
 3  f  *"  Simeon  and  Levi  are  *  brethren  ;  ||  ''  in- 
 struments of  cruelty  are  in  their  habitations. 
 
 6  O  my  soul,  '  come  not  thou  into  their  se- 
 cret ;  ^*  unto  their  assembly,  "  mine  honour,  be 
 not  thou  united  :  for  "  in  their  anger  they  slew^ 
 a  man,  and  in  theu:  selfwill  they  ||  digged  down 
 a  wall. 
 
 7  Cursed  be  their  anger,  for  it  was  fierce ; 
 and  their  wrath,  for  it  was  cruel :  ^  I  will  divide 
 them  in  Jacob,  and  scatter  them  in  Israel. 
 
 8  1i  **  Judah,  thou  art  he  whom  thy  brethren 
 shall  praise  :  '  thy  hand  shall  be  in  the  neck  of 
 thine  enemies  ;  '^  thy  father's  children  shall  bow 
 down  before  thee. 
 
 9  Judah  is  '  a  lion's  whelp  :  from  the  prey, 
 my  son,  thou  art  gone  up  :  ''he  stooped  down, 
 he  couched  as  a  lion,  and  as  an  old  hun  ;  who 
 shall  rouse  him  up  'f 
 
 10  *  The  sceptre  shall  not  depart  from  Judah, 
 nor  ^  a  lawgiver  '^  from  between  his  feet,  ^  until 
 Shiloh  come  ;  ^  and  unto  him  shall  the  gather- 
 ing of  the  people  be. 
 
 1 1  "-^  Binding  his  foal  unto  the  vine,  and  his 
 ass's  colt  unto  the  choice  vine  ;  he  washed  his 
 
 a  Is  II.  l.&bS.  U.  Ezek  21  27-  Dan  9  2J  Mat-  21  9  I.o.  I  32,33- 
 1.  10  &  42-  1,4.  &  49.  6,7,^2,23.  &  53.  4,  5.  &.  60  1,3,4,5  Hiig  2.  7.  Lu.  8. 
 c  2  Kin.  18.32. 
 
 men  to  office,  (see  Numb,  xxvii.  18,  23;  Deut.  xxxiv.  9;  Matt.  xix. 
 13,  15.)  ]6.  The  Angel,  ^t-.— "jN^n  "|«7Qn,  the  Messenger,  the  Re- 
 
 deemer, or  kinsmtm  :  the  Per-.on  naoied  iu  the  law  uf  MoseS)  to  redeem 
 hack  the  iDheritance. — A.  Clarke.  Chribt,  termed  an  angel,  (Exod. 
 xxiii.  20,)  and  the  aneel  ot  the  covenant,  (Mai.  iii.  1;)  Jacob's  Re- 
 deemfir,  a  ti'le  appropriated  by  Gud  himself.  (Isa.  xliii.  14,  and  xlvii  4.) 
 — Ben.  Christ,  the  angel  of  the  covenant,  is  he  that  redeems  us  Jrom 
 all  evil,  (2  Tim  iv.  IH.; — Hen.  A  mufdlude — and  they  increased  more 
 than  any  of  the  other  tribes :  even  in  the  times  uf  Moses  the  number 
 of  thi  m  was  85, 200  men,  fit  fur  war,  {Nuuib.  xxvi.  34,  37.) — Gill. 
 22.  One  portion— Geddfs  conjectures  that  the  allusion  here  is  to  She- 
 chem,  that  being  the  original  word,  rendered  portion;  and  that  the 
 piece  of  land  bought  from  Haraor  had  been  taken  by  the  Amorites,  and 
 recovered  by  the  arms  of  Jacob.     This  idea  is  adopted  by  Scott. 
 
 Chap.  XLIX.— 1.  \yhat  shall  befall,  ^c— the  condition  of  your  pns- 
 terity  in  future  times. — Pat,  3.  Reuben,  ^c. — the  style  now  becomes 
 Kublime,  because  prophetical. — Pat.  Firsthurn — and  so  entitled  lo  a 
 double  portion,  the  pries^thood,  and  the  chief  authority;  but  the  first 
 was  given  to  Joseph,  the  secuml  to  Levi,  and  the  third  to  Judah,  be- 
 cause of  Reuben's  incest.  Seldeu,  however,  &ays,  the  priesthood  was 
 not  confined  to  the  firstborn  before  the  law.  JJi/  lui ffht—hesoil^:n  in 
 full  vigour.  The  beginning,  or  first  fruits,  t^c.  The  excellency  of  dig- 
 nity— having  the  pre-eminence,  or  rather  greatest  pos.sessions.  Power, 
 •authority.'  4.  Unstable, ^c. — theHebrew  word  IHD  signifies  'haste;' 
 hence,  perhaps,  it  refers  to  water  poured  out,  denoting  Reuben's  losses. 
 — Pat.  It  has  the  meaning  of  dissolute,  debauched,  and  licentious,  in 
 Judg.  ix.  4  ;  Zeph.  iii.  4  ;  Jer.  xxiii.  14,  32  ;  xxix.  23. — A.  Clarke.  Not 
 excel — they  neither  excelled  in  det-ds  nor  numbers. — Put.  M'enlest  up 
 — among  the  Easterns,  at  one  end  of  each  chamber  is  a  little  gallery, 
 raised  several  feet  above  the  floor,  with  a  bahisirade  in  fi  out,  and  a  few 
 steps  to  ascend;  here  they  place  their  beds.— A/umi'a-Tr«f.  5.  Brethren 
 — meaning  alike  in  disposition. — Pat.  Habitations — this  sentence  is 
 rendered  by  the  Sept.,  auii€T€\€ijav  adiKiav  tf  atpeo-euf  at/Tojv,  '  they  have 
 accomplished  the  iniquity  ui  their  purpose.'  Boothroyd  reads,  'they 
 accomphshed  by  violence  their  schemes.*     Dr.  Ifuretl,  '  they  have  exe- 
 
 cuted their  violent  stratagems.'  6.  Secret,  'plot.' — Hew.  'Secret 
 place,' or  'closet.' — Pat.  A  man,  tJ^N,  'a  i.ohle,'  '  an  honourable  man.' 
 — .4.  Clarke.  'A  great  man.'— P«^.  Selfwill,  psi,  '  pleasure.'— .4. 
 Clarke.  '  Humour.'  Digged  down  a  wall — broke  into  Famor's  house, 
 —Pat.  A.  Clurke  reads,  *  murdered  a  prince,'  suhstituting  1©,  'a 
 prince,*  for  niu,  'a  wall.*  ".  Dimde  them — the  Le\'ites  were  i-cat- 
 tered  through  all  the  tr.bes,  and  .vimenn's  lot  lay  nut  together  —Hen. 
 8.  Judah— ah'tll  pvni.'it— J uda.h  sii;iiities /jcaise;  and  the  tribi.-  stiould  be 
 so  eminent  that  it  should  be  praised.— P(/^,  A.  Clurke.  In  the  neck — 
 fulfilled  Judg  i.,  and  in  David,  Ps.  xviii.  40.  Treading  on  the  neck  of 
 a  vanquisheti  foe  has  been  a  very  common  practice. — Hew.  9.  A 
 lion's  whelp — a  lion  is  the  hiero;,Hyphic  for  strength  and  valour. — Wit 
 Gone  up— alluding  to  the  satiated  lion  returning  from  the  plain  to  tht 
 mountains. — Boch.  Couc/ierf- expresses  the  ease  of  Judah  after  beinn 
 victorious.  Who  shall  rouse — alter  his  conquests  none  shall  disturh 
 him.  10.  Sceptre,  SfC. — signifying  there  sl.ould  continue  a  form  ol 
 government  in  this  tiibe  till  the  ccjming  of  the  Messiah.— Pu^  The 
 word  is  sometimes  translated  'rod,'  but  it  implies  civil  authority,  (Isa. 
 xiv.  5.; — Sut.  The  head  of  evci")' tribe  exercised  anthority  in  it;  this 
 authority  never  ceased  or  was  su'^peuded,  like  the  kingly  authority,  till 
 the  Messiah  came,  when  the  Jews  were  dispersed,  and  it  cea-ed  for 
 ever. — Evun.Synop.  There  is  no  need  to  understand  idil\  sciptre^  of 
 royal  power  exclusively ;  the  sense  is,  '  Judah  shall  enjoy  authority,  as 
 one  01  the  tribes  of  Isi  ael,  shall  live  under  his  own  laws,  and  shall  have 
 judges  of  his  own  offspring  to  eiif<<ne  them.' — Boothr.  LuugiveTf 
 'ruler'  or  '  magistrate.' — Scott.  It  may  be  read,  *  or  a  lawtriver.'— 
 Gill.  The  Jews  had  no  other  Lawgiver  than  Moses  ;  hence,  the  word 
 is  read  iu  the  Chnldee,  '  a  scribe ,'  m  Syrinc,  '  a  teacher ;'  by  the  Sept., 
 *  a  kader.'  Shiloh — '  He  who  is  sent,'  *  the  Seed,'  '  the  Peaceable,'  or 
 '  Prosperous  One.'  AH  agree  the  Messiah  was  intended,  wlio  was  sent 
 into  the  world,  as  the  promised  Seed,  to  he  the  '  Pnnce  of  Peace.' — 
 Scott.  The  gathering — Abarbinel  him.^elf  expounds  it,  '  the  penple  of 
 the  nations  shall  be  gathered  to  wurship  Him  ;*  i.e.,  the  Messiah. — Pat. 
 '  The  expectations  of  the  people.' — So  Chandler,  alter  Jewish  versions. 
 11.   Unto  the  vine — expressive  of  the  fertility  of  the  country. — Pat, 
 
 Reflections  ON  Ckap.  XLVIII Notice  here,  I.  Joseph's 
 
 affectionate  atteution  to  his  aged  father  on  his  sick  bed.  Visits  to 
 the  sick  are  profitable  :  they  teach  us  the  vanity  of  the  world, 
 remind  us  of  our  own  mortality,  and  endear  to  us  that  Sa- 
 viour who  •  hath  brought  life  and  immortality  to  light  by  the 
 Gospel.' 
 
 II.  Jacob's  blessing  of  Ephraim  and  Manasseh.  And  here  we 
 learn  the  value  of  spiritual  above  temporal  blessings.  The 
 69 
 
 sons  of  the  greatest  subject  in  Egypt  might  have  looked  for  the 
 most  exalted  honours  the  world  could  bestow,  had  ihey  re- 
 solved to  make  Egypt  their  resting  place,  but  they  are  here 
 incorporated  whh  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and  their  lot  is  cast 
 among  the  favoured  people  of  God.  Jacob  blessed  them  under 
 the  inspiration  of  the  spirit  of  prophecy  ;  and  we  here  see  that 
 God's  blessings  are  not  to  be  estimated  by  the  bestowment  of 
 earthly  greatness,  but  by  giving  us  a  lot  among  his  people. 
 
The  twelve  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 GENESIS,  L. 
 
 Death  of  Jacob. 
 
 garments  in  wine,  and  his  clothes  in  the  blood 
 of  grapes  : 
 
 12  His  ''  ey3s  shall  be  red  with  wine,  and  his 
 teeth  white  with  milk. 
 
 13  ^  °  Zebulun  shall  dwell  at  the  haven  of  the 
 sea  ;  and  he  shall  be  for  an  haven  of  ships  ; 
 and  his  border  shall  he  unto  Zidon. 
 
 14  f  Issachar  is  a  strong  ass  couching  down 
 between  two  burdens : 
 
 15  And  he  saw  that  rest  teas  good,  and  the 
 land  that  it  loas  pleasant ;  and  bowed  '  his 
 shoulder  to  bear,  and  became  a  servant  unto 
 tribute. 
 
 16  1l  ^  Dan  shall  judge  his  people,  as  one  of 
 the  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 1 7  ''  Dan  shall  be  a  serpent  by  the  way,  f  an 
 adder  in  tlie  path,  that  biteth  the  horse  heels, 
 so  that  his  rider  shall  fall  backward. 
 
 18  '  I  have  waited  for  thy  salvation,  O  Lord. 
 
 19  t  '  Gad,  a  troop  shall  overcome  him  :  but 
 he  shall  overcome  at  the  last. 
 
 20  H  '  Out  of  Asher  his  bread  shall  he  fat, 
 and  he  shall  yield  roj'al  dainties. 
 
 21  11  "■  Napbtali  is  a  hind  let  loose  :  he  givetli 
 goodly  words. 
 
 22  t  Joseph  is  a  fruitful  bough,  eiTn  a  fruitful 
 bough  by  a  well ;  whose  f  branches  run  over 
 the  wall : 
 
 23  The  archers  have  °  sorely  grieved  him, 
 and  shot  at  him,  and  hated  him  ; 
 
 24  But  bis  °  bow  abode  in  strength,  and  the 
 arms  of  his  bands  were  made  strong  by  the 
 hands  of  ''  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob  ;  ('  from 
 thence  '  is  the  shepherd,  "  the  stone  of  Israel :) 
 
 25  '  Even  by  the  God  of  thy  father,  who  shall 
 help  thee  ;  "  and  by  the  Almighty,  "  who  shall 
 bless  thee  with  blessings  of  heaven  above, 
 blessings  of  the  deep  that  lieth  under,  blessings 
 of  the  breasts,  and  of  the  womb: 
 
 26  The  blessings  of  thy  father  have  prevailed 
 
 19.  Josh.19. 
 10,  II. 
 
 AJiidg.lS,-:-, 
 t  Heb.  .... 
 urroaiuahe. 
 
 i  Ps.  ?5  6, 
 &  119  ICC, 
 174   Is.Vo  II. 
 
 Jl  Dbii.  as. in 
 I  Chr.  5.  IS. 
 
 ;  Don.  S.<l.2t. 
 Josli.  19.  it. 
 
 t  Hob. 
 
 n  eh.  37.  *. 
 
 Sil.  Itc42  2l 
 Ph.  MS.  13- 
 o  J.'b  ■m.  20 
 l'«.  37.  15. 
 
 pPs  132.2.5 
 7  rh.  I.S    It. 
 
 fi  -17.  12.  & 
 
 bi>.  21. 
 r  Ps.  SO.  1. 
 <  I«.  S.S.   10. 
 rrh  28.  13, 
 
 21.  kX:  3. 
 
 8c  43  23. 
 H  ch.  17.  I. 
 
 &  .15.  II. 
 X  Dcu  33. 13. 
 
 vOevi.  ::3. 15 
 
 Hub.  3.  b 
 :  Deu.33.16. 
 
 a  Jade  50. 
 21.25,  Ezek. 
 22. 2.5.  27. 
 
 6  Num.  23. 
 24. 
 
 Esth  S.  11 
 EieV.Sg.lO 
 Zuch.  14.  I, 
 
 r  cb.  1.5.    15. 
 
 jcli.  23.19. 
 
 S:  J5,  9. 
 Iicb   35.  29. 
 
 .)  ch.  16.  4. 
 I>  2  Kin.  13. 
 
 above  the  blessings  of  my  progenitors  ^  unto 
 the  utmost  bound  of  the  everlasting  hills : 
 '  they  shall  be  on  the  head  of  Joseph,  and  on 
 the  crown  of  the  head  of  him  that  was  separate 
 from  his  brethren. 
 
 27  t  Benjamin  shall  "ravin  as  a  wolf:  in  the 
 morning  he  shall  devour  the  prey,  '■  and  at 
 night  he  shall  divide  tlie  spoil. 
 
 28  K  All  these  are  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel : 
 and  this  is  it  that  their  father  spake  unto  them, 
 and  bles.sed  them  ;  every  one  according  to  his 
 blessing  he  blessed  them. 
 
 29  And  he  charged  them,  and  said  unto  them, 
 I  '  am  to  be  gathered  unto  my  people  :  ''  bury 
 me  vvitli  my  fathers  "  in  the  cave  that  is  in  the 
 field  of  Epbron  tlie  Hittite, 
 
 30  In  the  cave  that  is  in  the  field  of  Mach- 
 pelah,  which  is  before  Mamre,  in  the  land  of 
 Canaan,  '  whicli  Abraham  bought  with  the  field 
 of  Ephron  the  Hittite  for  a  possession  of  a  bury- 
 ingplace. 
 
 31  *  There  they  buried  Abraham  and  Sarah 
 his  wife  ;  ''  there  tliey  buried  Isaac  and  Re- 
 bekah  his  wife  ;  and  there  I  buried  Leah. 
 
 32  The  purchase  of  the  field  and  of  the  cave 
 that  is  therein  leas  from  the  children  of  Heth. 
 
 33  And  when  Jacob  had  made  an  end  of 
 commanding  his  sons,  he  gathered  up  his  feet 
 into  the  bed,  and  yielded   up  the  ghost,  and 
 
 was  gathered  unto  his  people. 
 
 CHAP.  L. 
 
 1  T/ie  mourning  far  Jacob.  4  Jotteph  getteth  leave  of 
 P liar uoh  to  go  to  bury  him.  7  The  fumral.  \b  Juseph 
 cinnfortcth  his  hrethrniy  who  craved  his  pardon. 
 22  Hi',  age.  23  He  seetfi  the  third  generation  of  his 
 sons.  24  He  prophesieth  unto  his  brethren  of  their 
 rttitrn.  25  He  taketh  an  oath  of  them  for  his  bones. 
 26  He  dieth,  and  is  ihistcd* 
 
 AND  Joseph  "  fell  upon  his  father's  face,  and 
 '^*-   ''  wept  upon  him,  and  kissed  him. 
 
 Wa-tlied-fiis  garments — an  hyperbole  setting  forth  abandance.  12.  Bed 
 with  H'tn^— expressive  of  its  generous  nature. — Gil!.  Dr.  Castell  would 
 read,  'his  eyes,  or  his  coiintcnancp,  should  lie  brighter  and  more  shin- 
 ing: than  wine.* — Pat.  Whit/-  with  millc— dQnoting:  the  fruitfulncss  of 
 the  land,  which  should  feed  grea''  flocks. — Gilt,  Pat.  13.  Haven  of 
 the  sea — Tiberius,  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  called  also,  Genesaret. — Gift. 
 Zidon — thccountry  of  Zidon  ;  i.e.,  Phoenicia. — Bnch.  14.  Strong  as.i — 
 expressive  of  lustic  labours.  Tn-n  burdens — lying'  down  and  rising 
 up  with  ease,  with  its  load  on  both  *-ides.— Pnf.,  Gill.  Lis'ht/tiot  thinks 
 it  refers  to  the  two  kingdoms  between  which  it  lay,  Phoenicia  and  Sa- 
 maria. 15.  Re'-t  ivns  fi^ond— their  re.^dm^-plticp,  the  country  that  fell 
 to  'heir  share.  Thcv  wuhl  love  husbandry  rather  than  merchandize. 
 — Pat.  Bowed  his  shoulder — labouredon  the  land. — GUI,  Pat.  Tribute — 
 paying  this  to  redeem  themselves  from  the  wars. — Pnt.  The  Hebrew 
 probably  means  'a  watering  pot,'  suitable  to  the  employment  of  hus- 
 bandmen in  hcit  eountri"s. — Herder.  i6.  Dnn,  signifies 'judging  ;' 
 though  the  son  of  a  cmcubine,  yet  Dan's  posterity  slionld  bo  governed 
 by  a  head,  as  the  other  tribes. — Put.  1".  A  serpent — managing  his 
 wars  by  subtleti/  rather  than  by  open  hostility,  f Jiidg.  xviii.  2^.) — Bneh. 
 18.  TF(zt7(?rf— a  pious  ejaculation.  This  is  thought  generally  to  be  a 
 pause  of  the  good  patriarch,  exhausted  by  exertion,  and  longing  for  de- 
 liverance.—Pa^,  Hen.,  Gin,  A.Clarke.  19-  Gad,  'atmop.'  The 
 preiliction  is,  that  this  tribe  should  be  sunoiinded  by  enemies,  but 
 should  subdue  them  at  last,  (see  Juiig.xi.  32,33.)  20.  H\^  /tread  shall 
 be  fat  \  that  is,  his  food.  (chap.  .\xi.  14.)  Fat,  'excellent.'  Royal 
 dainties — choicest  fruits,  fit  for  kings.        21.  A  hind — expressive  of  the 
 
 love  of  liberty. — Pat.  Bachart  reads,  'Naphtali  is  a  well  spread  tree, 
 which  putteth  forth  well  spread  branches;'  agrceintr  with  i\\eSept., 
 and  Chaldee  Paraphrase,  alluding  to  the  fecundity  of  the  tribe,  which, 
 in  250  years,  increased  to  SO.ooo.— Hric.  Patrick  prefers  our  own  ver- 
 sion, especially  as  several  tribes  were  even  more  prolific,  (Numb.  i.  23, 
 2",  29,  31,  39.)  22.  A  fruitful  bovplt,  or  younc  plant,  springing  up, 
 as  he  had  done, to  greatness  in  ashort  time;  thenamemcans  'increase.* 
 Both  his  sons  became  numerous,  and  the  heads  of  two  tribes. — 
 Patrick,  Gill.     By  n  u-c//— the  most  fruitful  are  near  the  watt  r. — Gill. 
 
 23.  Ambers — the  Hebrew  signifies  those  who  were  masters  in  shooting', 
 denoting  the  skilful  in  doing  mischief.    Such  were  Jo'-eph's  brethren. 
 
 24.  His  bow,  ^c. — a  metaphor  taken  from  well-made  bows,  which, 
 though  often  hcnt,  never  breik.  Joseph's  calm  fortitude  never  forsook 
 him. — Pat.,  Gilt.  From  thence,  §■(?.— from  the  God  of  Jacub,  Joseph 
 was  sent  as  the  shepherd,  to  feed  his  family  in  Egj'pt,  and  to  he  a  stone 
 to  support  it.— Gill.  25.  Heaven  abore—his  posterity  should  be 
 planted  in  a  soil  enjoying  dew  and  rain. — Pat.  Deep—*  rivers,'  'foun- 
 tain?,' 'springs,'  Breasts — womb;  a  Ihriving  progeny,  vast  increase 
 of  cattle. — Pat.,  Gill.  26.  Above — progenitors— {i  )  In  extent,  (ii.) 
 In  clearness,  (iii.)  In  nearness. — Pnole.  Ererlastin^  hills — perpetuity 
 js  expressed  in  Scripture  by  the  durablcness  of  mountains. ^Pn?.  Sepa- 
 rate  ;  either  by  voiv  or  digjiift/.  27.  Ratnn  as  a  u'o//— expressive  of  a 
 warlike  tribe.  This  tribe  nvercame  their  brethren  in  two  battles, 
 though  they  had  16  to  1  against  them,  (Judg.  xx.  15 — 25.) — Boch. 
 Devour — divide — indicating  spoils. — Pat. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLIX — I.  Let  us  herp  reflect,!.  On 
 Jacob  blessing  his  sons.  It  must  have  been  a  sublime  sight  to 
 see  the  venerable  patriarch  reclined  on  bis  couch,  with  !iis 
 numerous  offspiing  aioundbira, listening,  with  intense  anxiety, 
 to  the  words  that  dropped  from  his  venerable  lips,  while  his 
 a;ed  countenance  was  lit  up  with  tiie  beams  of  inspiration. 
 And  that  pause— how  solemn,  how  afl'ecting,  liow  instructive  ! 
 *  I  have  waited  for  thy  salvation,  O  Lord  !'  said  the  reverend 
 raan,  as  if  he  saw  it  approaching,  was  ready  to  embrace  it,  and 
 just  interrupted  the  solemn  process  which  occupied  his  atten- 
 tion, to  express  his  readiness  to  depart,  as  soon  as  bis  work 
 was  done.  '  It  is  the  character  of  a  livihg  saint,'  says  Henry, 
 '  that  he  waits  for  the  salvation  of  the  Lord.  Christ,  as  our 
 way  to  heaven,  is  to  be  icaitedon ;  and  heaven,  as  our  rest  in 
 Christ,  is  to  be  tcnifcd  for.  It  is  the  comfort  of  a  dgino  saint 
 60 
 
 thus  to  have  waited  for  the  salvation  of  the  Lord,  for  then  he 
 shall  have  what  he  has  been  waiting  tor.' 
 
 II.  Let  us  reflect  on  Jurob's  death.  How  resigned!  how 
 happy  !  how  honourable  !  Some  jjre  afraid  to  speak  of  tlieir 
 end  ;  but  !ie  calmly  viewed  liis  tomb,  and  was  ready  to  commit 
 his  body  to  the  dust.  *  Bury  me,'  said  he,  •  with  my  fathers,* 
 and  then,  placing  himself  in  a  dying  position,  be  expired  !  and 
 '  was  gathered  unto  his  people.'  And  where  were  they  1  and 
 where  is  he  7  '  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,'  are  '  in  the  king- 
 dom of  God.'  God  is  still  their  God  ;  but  '  he  is  not  the  God 
 of  the  dead,  bat  of  the  living.'  In  the  celestial  world,  Jacob 
 beholds  his  'salvation  ;'  and  there  shall  all  that  believe  with 
 faithful  Abraham,  and  wrestle  with  praying  Jacob,  cease  from 
 their  labours,  and  dwell  fur  ever  in  the  rest  that  remaineth  fox 
 the  people  of  CJod. 
 
The  burial  of  Jacob. 
 
 GENESIS,  L. 
 
 Death  of  Joseph. 
 
 2  And  Joseph  commanded  his  servants  the 
 physicians  to  "^  embalm  his  father  :  and  the  pliy- 
 sicians  einbahiied  Israel. 
 
 3  And  forty  days  were  fulfilled  for  him  ;  for 
 so  are  fulfilled  the  days  of  those  which  are 
 embalmed  :  and  the  Egyptians  f"  mourned  for 
 him  three  score  and  ten  days. 
 
 4  And  when  the  days  of  his  mourning  were 
 past,  Joseph  spake  unto  "  the  house  of  Pharaoh, 
 saying.  If  now  I  have  found  grace  in  your 
 eyes,  speak,  I  pray  you,  in  the  ears  of  Pharaoh, 
 saying, 
 
 5  ''  My  father  made  me  swear,  saying,  Lo,  I 
 die  :  in  mv  grave  ^  which  I  have  digged  for  me 
 in  the  land  of  Canaan,  there  shalt  thou  bury 
 me.  Now  therefore  let  me  go  up,  I  pray  thee, 
 and  bury  my  father,  and  I  will  come  again. 
 
 6  And  Pharaoh  said,  Go  up,  and  bury  thy 
 father,  according  as  he  made  thee  swear. 
 
 7  1  And  Joseph  went  up  to  bury  his  father : 
 and  with  him  went  up  all  tlie  servants  of  Pha- 
 raoh, the  elders  of  his  house,  and  all  the  elders 
 of  the  land  of  Egypt, 
 
 8  And  all  the  house  of  Joseph,  and  his  bre- 
 thren, and  his  father's  house:  only  their  little 
 ones,  and  their  flocks,  and  their  herds,  they  left 
 in  the  land  of  Goshen. 
 
 9  And  there  went  up  with  him  both  chariots 
 and  horsemen :  and  it  was  a  very  great  com- 
 pany. 
 
 10  And  they  came  to  the  threshingfloor  of 
 Atad,  which  is  beyond  Jordan,  and  there  they 
 ■^  mourned  with  a  great  and  very  sore  lamenta- 
 tion :  '  and  he  made  a  mourning  for  his  father 
 seven  days. 
 
 1 1  And  when  the  inhabitants  of  the  land,  the 
 Canaanites,  saw  the  mourning  in  the  floor  of 
 Atad,  they  said,  This  is  a  grievous  mourning 
 to  the  Egyptians :  wherefore  the  name  of  it 
 was  called  |{  Abel-niizraim,  which  is  beyond 
 Jordan. 
 
 12  And  his  sons  did  unto  him  according  as 
 he  commanded  them  : 
 
 13  For  '  his  sons  carried  him  into  the  land  of 
 Canaan,  and  buried  him  in  the  cave  of  the  field 
 of  Machpelah,  which  Abraham  '  bought  with 
 
 c  ver.  2fi. 
 
 2Chr  16  H. 
 
 Mat   2tt   12. 
 
 Mark  14.  S. 
 
 &  l-i.  I. 
 
 I.iike  -i*   I. 
 
 Jolui  1-'.  7. 
 
 &  1 9.  30.  M. 
 i  H€b.  wpl 
 d  Num.  2U. 
 
 ■i9.  Deu.  34- 
 
 e  Esth.  4,  S. 
 
 s  2  Clir  I 
 14  U  gs 
 Iti.  Mat.; 
 
 *?Sam.  I. 
 
 17. .Art.;  s. 2. 
 1  I  .Sam.  31. 
 
 l:*. 
 
 J..b  2    13. 
 
 Arh.  49.  29, 
 nil. 
 Acts  7.  16. 
 
 tHeb. 
 diarged. 
 
 ij  ch.  45.  5, 
 
 r  Ppu.3-2-''.j. 
 
 .I..b34.  -9 
 
 Kam.  13  I 'J 
 
 Heb.  Ill  Ml. 
 
 2  Kin. -.7. 
 t  Ps.  56  3. 
 
 Is.  Ill   7. 
 r  cli.  45.  5, 7. 
 
 Acts  3   13, 
 
 1-1.  15. 
 H  r-h,  47.  12. 
 
 Mat,  5.  44. 
 f  Hfh.  /■ 
 
 r'./i 
 
 ttU. 
 
 X  Job  42.  10. 
 ^  Num.  32, 
 
 :  r-h.  so.  S. 
 t  Heb.  borite. 
 
 ',  rh    15.  14. 
 
 &  16.  4.  & 
 
 4S  21.    Ex. 
 
 S.  16,  17. 
 
 Heb.  11.22. 
 t  ch.  15.  14. 
 
 &  26.  3.  & 
 
 35.  12,  fe 
 
 46.  4, 
 c  Ex,  13.  19 
 
 Josh.  24.32. 
 
 Acts  7.  16. 
 d  ver.  2. 
 163o. 
 
 the  field  for  a  possession  of  a  buryingplace  of 
 Ephron  the  Hittite,  before  Mamre. 
 
 14  H  And  Joseph  -eturned  into  Egypt,  he,  and 
 
 his  brethren,  and  all  that  went  up  with  him  to 
 
 I  bury  his  father,  after  he  had  buried  his  father. 
 
 13  1  And  when  Joseph's  brethren  saw  that 
 their  father  was  dead,  '"  they  said,  Joseph  will 
 peradventure  hate  us,  and  will  certainly  requite 
 us  all  the  evil  which  we  did  unto  him. 
 
 16  And  they  f  sent  a  messenger  unto  Joseph, 
 saying.  Thy  father  did  command  before  he  died, 
 saying, 
 
 17  So  shall  ye  say  unto  Joseph,  Forgive,  I 
 pray  thee  now,  the  trespass  of  thy  bretliren, 
 and  their  sin  ;  "  for  they  did  unto  thee  evil : 
 and  now,  we  pray  thee,  forgive  the  trespass  of 
 the  servants  of  "the  God  of  thy  father.  And 
 Joseph  wept  when  they  spake  unto  him. 
 
 18  And  his  brethren  also  went  and  '  fell  down 
 before  his  face  ;  and  they  said.  Behold,  we  be 
 thy  servants. 
 
 19  And  Joseph  said  unto  them,  ^  Fear  not : 
 'for  om  I  in  the  place  of  God? 
 
 '20  '  But  as  for  you,  ye  thought  evil  against 
 me;  but  '  God  meant  it  unto  good,  to  bring  to 
 pass,  as  il  is  this  day,  to  save  much  people  alive. 
 
 21  Now  therefore  fear  ye  not :  "  I  will  nourish 
 you,  and  your  little  ones.  And  he  comforted 
 them,  and  spake  f  kindly  unto  them. 
 
 22  1i  And  Joseph  dwelt  in  Egypt,  he,  and  his 
 father's  house :  and  Joseph  lived  an  hundred 
 and  ten  years. 
 
 23  And  Joseph  saw  Ephraim's  children  '  ot 
 the  third  f/encration :  'the  children  also  of 
 Machir  the  son  of  Manasseh  'were  f brought 
 up  upon  Joseph's  knees. 
 
 24  And  Joseph  said  unto  his  brethren,  I  die: 
 and  '  God  will  surely  visit  you,  and  bring  you 
 out  of  this  land  unto  the  land  ''which  he  sware 
 to  Abraham,  to  Isaac,  and  to  Jacob. 
 
 25  And  'Joseph  took  an  oath  of  the  children 
 of  Israel,  saying,  God  will  surely  visit  you,  and 
 ye  shall  carry  up  iny  bones  from  hence. 
 
 26  So  Joseph  died,  being  an  hundred  and  ten 
 years  old  :  and  they  ''  embalmed  him,  and  he 
 was  put  in  a  coffin  in  Egypt. 
 
 Chap.  L, — 2,  Fmbalm— in  this  the  Efryptians  excelled.  It  was  dime 
 by  extracting  the  brain  thri-'USjh  the  nostrils  with  a  crooked  iron  ;  the 
 bowels  were  also  taken  out  and  waslied  with  palm  wine  perfumed,  and 
 the  inside  havinfj  been  tilled  up  with  pure  myrrh  and  cassia  powdered, 
 and  other  odours,  except /ranA-incense,  it  was  sewed  up  again.  It  was 
 then  salted  with  nitre  seventy  days,  washed  again,  rolled  up  in  fine 
 linen,  and  besmeared  with  gum  resembling  glue;  afterwards,  it  was 
 put  into  a  wooden  coffin,  made  in  the  shape  and  likeness  of  a  man,  and 
 placed  in  a  repository  in  the  house,  where  it  was  set  upright  a^rain^t 
 the  wall. — Hfrad.  Embalming  was  done  by  the  physicians.  Among 
 the  preat,  the  expense  was  300L — Cai.  3.  Thrfe  score  and  ten  days — 
 during  the  time  of  embalming  him,  4.  Joseph  t,-]yiike,  ^c. — probably 
 because  it  was  the  custom  in  Egypt,  as  afterwards  in  Persia,  that  no 
 man  might  appear  before  the  king  in  a  mourning  habit,  (Esth,  W.  2,) — 
 Gilt,  7.  Elders — not  designating  age, but  dignity  and  rank. — Boot/tr. 
 9,  A  very  great  cftmpany — oat  of  respect  to  Joseph,  who  had  saved  the 
 nation. — So  A.  Clarke.         10.  T/ires/dngJloor  of  Atad — 240  miles  from 
 
 On,  where,  perhaps,  Josejih  lived ;  and  40  or  50  from  Hebron,  where 
 Jacob  was  buried. — (iilt.  Threshing  floors  were  in  the  open  air,  and  it 
 was  usual  to  make  a  heiige  of  tnoriis  ab'-ut  thetn ;  the  name,  beinjj  ex- 
 pressive of  this,  is  thought,  by  Gilt,  to  be  that  of  the  place  ;  but  Clarke 
 supposes  that  Atad  was  'a  great  farmer,'  or  'chief  of  some  clan  or 
 tribe,'  Sore  lamentation — the  transports  of  grief  in  Asia,  especially 
 among  the  women,  and  on  occasions  of  death,  are  ungoverned,  exces- 
 sive, and  outrageous.  The  cries  of  a  family,  on  such  an  occasion,  may 
 be  heard  twenty  doors  off,  Tliis  continues  forty  days, — C/iar.  19.  In 
 the  place  of  God? — this  is  either  a  question,  ■  How  should  I  interfere? 
 the  matter  lies  between  God  and  you  ;'  or  an  affirmative  proposition, 
 '  In  the  order  of  Providence,  I  am  where  God  would  have  me  to  be.* — 
 So  A.  Clarke.  26,  So  Joseph  dled—heiore  the  birth  of  Moses,  64 
 years;  before  the  e-Kodus  of  Egypt,  144,  He  lived  in  Egypt  ftrll  93 
 years  ;  a  slave  and  prisoner,  13,  a  prince  and  ruler,  so,  under  several 
 monarchs. — Hunter.  Put  in  a  co^/t— this  was  a  mark  of  great  dis- 
 tinction.— Pict.  Bib. 
 
 Reflectio.vs  on  Chap.  L.  —  We  bnve  here,  I.  The  funeral 
 nf  Jacob.  We  may  suppose,  with  Henry,  that  good  old  Jacob 
 had  carried  himself  so  well  among  the  Egyptitins  as  to  gain  aQ 
 universal  esteem.  Consistent  piety  ahvays  ensures  respect. 
 He  was  beloved  for  bis  own  sake,  as  a  good  and  venerable 
 man,  and  for  the  sake  of  his  e.'icellent  son,  who  trod  closely  in 
 his  steps.  "W  hen  those  die  whose  boary  beads  are  crowned 
 with  rigbteou-ness,  the  world  suffers  a  great  loss,  whether 
 tbey  know  it  or  not.  Their  piety,  connected  with  the  wisdom  of 
 experience,  renders  them  invaluable  as  i'riends,  counsellors, 
 and  neighbours ;  tbey  are  the  lights  of  the  world.  We  have  also. 
 
 II.  Tlie  death  of  Joseph.  We  have  seen  his  character:  one 
 more  lovely  was  never  exhibited — the  most  dutiful  of  sons, 
 the  most  forgiving  of  brothers,  the  most  faithful  of  servants  ; 
 virtuous  in  temptation,  patient  in  adversity,  condescending 
 in  prosperity  ;  lovely  in  person,  but  more  lovely  in  mind; 
 wise,  prudent,  kind,  affectionate,  pious.  His  end  was  calm, 
 and  his  faith  in  the  Divine  promises  unshaken,  while  he 
 'made  mention  of  the  departure  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 gave  commandment  concerning  his  bones.'  '  Mark  the  perfect 
 man,  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is 
 peace.' 
 
 61 
 
THE     SECOND     BOOK     OF     MOSES, 
 
 EXODUS. 
 
 [The  Hebrew  name  of  tliis  book  is  Sepher  Shemoth,  or,  the  hook  be5;inning  with  the  names  of  the  Children  of  Israel  who 
 came  out  of  Egypt;  but  the  name  usually  given  to  it  is  adopted  from  the  Greek,  us  used  in  the  Septuagint,  E^o^og. 
 ExoDL's  signifies  the  going  out,  or  departure — because  the  book  treats  of  the  children  of  Israel  leaving  Egypt,  and  the 
 consequences  resulting  from  tliat  event.  It  gives  the  history  of  145  years,  from  the  death  of  Josepli  to  the  consecration 
 of  the  tabernacle.  This  book  shews  tlie  exact  fulfilment  of  the  prophecies  and  promises  delivered  to  Abraham,  Gen.  xv. 
 5,  16;  Exod.  xii.  35.36,  40,41.  Moses  was  its  author — see  Mark,  xii.  26.  The  references  to  it  in  the  New  Testa- 
 ment, as  a  book  of  Divine  authority,  are  numerous — see  John,  vi.  31,  32,  49  ;  Acts,  vii.  *24,  30  ;  ]  Cor.  x.  2,  3,  4,  7 ; 
 Heb.  ix.  2,  19,  22;  xi.  23,  24,  29.;  'xii.  18,  20,  4 ;  1  Pet.  ii.  9.] 
 
 CHAP.  1. 
 
 1  The  children  of  Israel,  after  Joseph's  death,  do  mul- 
 tiply. 8  The  more  theg  are  oppressed  hy  a  new  kino, 
 the  more  they  multiply.  15  The  godliness  of  the  inid- 
 wiveSy  in  saving  the  men  children  alive.  22  Pharaoh 
 commandeth  the  male  children  to  be  cast  into  the  river. 
 
 "jVrOW  "these  are  the  names  of  the  children 
 -*-'  of  Israel,  which  came  into  Egypt;  every 
 man  and  his  houshold  came  with  Jacob. 
 
 2  Reuben,  Simeon,  Levi,  and  Judab, 
 
 3  Issachar,  Zebulun,  and  Benjamin, 
 
 4  Dan,  and  Naphtali,  Gad,  and  Asher. 
 
 5  And  all  the  souls  that  came  out  of  the 
 t  loins  of  Jacob  were  ^  seventy  souls :  for  Jo- 
 seph was  in  Egypt  already. 
 
 6  And  '^  Joseph  died,  and  all  his  brethren, 
 and  all  that  generation. 
 
 7  t*^  And  the  children  of  Israel  were  fruitful, 
 and  increased  abundantly,  and  multiplied,  and 
 waxed  exceeding  mighty  ;  and  the  land  was 
 filled  with  them. 
 
 8  Now  there  '  arose  up  a  new  king  over 
 Egypt,  which  knew  not  Joseph. 
 
 9  And  he  said  unto  his  people,  Behold,  'the 
 people  of  the  children  of  Israel  are  more  and 
 mightier  than  we: 
 
 10  ^  Come  on,  let  us  ""deal  wisely  with  them; 
 lest  they  multiply,  and  it  come  to  pass,  that, 
 when  there  falleth  out  any  war,  they  join  also 
 unto  our  enemies,  and  fight  against  us,  and  so 
 get  them  up  out  of  the  land. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  they  did  set  over  them  task- 
 masters '  to  afllict  thorn  with  their  ■*  burdens. 
 And  they  built  for  Pharaoh  treasure  cities, 
 Pithom  '  and  Raamses. 
 
 12  f  But  the  more  they  afflicted  them,  the 
 more  they  multiplied  and  grew.      And  they 
 
 a  Gen. «.  8. 
 ch.  6.  14. 
 
 Peut  I0.-22. 
 cGen.50.  as. 
 Acts  7.  15. 
 
 I6S5. 
 
 rf  Gen.  46.  S. 
 
 Ueut.Sti.  5 
 
 I's.  1U5.  at. 
 
 Acts  7-  17- 
 
 e  Acts  7.  18. 
 /Pa.  105.24. 
 
 g  Ps.  10.  2. 
 
 fc  83.  S,  4. 
 ft  Job  r..  13. 
 
 I'i.   105.  25. 
 
 Pro  V.  16.25. 
 
 *«  2I.S0. 
 
 AcU  7.  19. 
 i  Gen.  IS.  IS. 
 
 ch.  .S.  7. 
 
 Deut.  26.  6. 
 Ach.  a.  11. 
 
 &  5.  4,  S. 
 
 Ps.  91.  6. 
 /Gen. 47.  n. 
 t  Heb.    And 
 
 n.  Ihfu  of- 
 fii<Udthr'n, 
 
 tiplicd,  ^c 
 
 m  <h.  5  23. 
 *<Q  9. Num. 
 2U  1,^  AcU 
 7-  19,  34. 
 
 »  Ps.  81.  6. 
 
 Cir,  1635. 
 "Prov.  16.6. 
 
 ;.  nan.-l.  Ifi, 
 IH.  die.  13. 
 Aot«  b.  20. 
 
 7  SecJoBh.2. 
 ■i.&c,2?>am. 
 17.  19,  20. 
 
 'Prov.11.18. 
 ^k•cle8.  8. 
 VI.  IS..S.IO. 
 Heb.  ti.  10. 
 
 $  .Sep  1  Sam. 
 2:ih  2.Sain 
 
 7.  II,  i:t.  -r,, 
 
 29.  1  Kin,  2. 
 34.  St  U..SS. 
 Ps    137.   1, 
 rir.  1573, 
 (  Acts  7.  19. 
 
 were  grieved  because  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 13  And  the  Egyptians  made  the  children  of 
 Israel  to  serve  with  rigour : 
 
 14  And  they  ""made  their  lives  bitter  with 
 hard  bondage,  "in  morter,  and  in  brick,  and  in 
 all  manner  of  service  in  the  field:  all  their  ser- 
 vice, wherein  they  made  them  serve,  was  with 
 rigour. 
 
 15  H  And  the  king  of  Egypt  spake  to  the 
 Hebrew  midwives,  of  which  the  name  of  the 
 one  teas  Shiphrah,  and  the  name  of  the  other 
 Puah: 
 
 16  And  he  said,  When  ye  do  the  office  of  a 
 midwife  to  the  Hebrew  women,  and  see  them 
 upon  the  stools;  if  it  be  a  son,  then  ye  shall 
 kill  him:  but  if  it  be  a  daughter,  then  she  shall 
 live. 
 
 17  But  the  midwives  °  feared  God,  and  did 
 not  ^  as  the  king  of  Egypt  connnanded  them, 
 but  saved  the  men  children  alive. 
 
 18  And  the  king  of  Egypt  called  for  the  mid- 
 wives,  and  said  unto  them.  Why  have  ye  done 
 this  thing,  and  have  saved  the  men  children 
 alive  ? 
 
 19  And  ^  the  midwives  said  unto  Pharaoh, 
 Because  the  Hebrew  women  are  not  as  the 
 Egyptian  women  ;  for  they  are  lively,  and  are 
 delivered  ere  the  midwives  come  in  unto  them. 
 
 20  '  Therefore  God  dealt  well  with  the  mid- 
 wives:  and  the  people  multiplied,  and  waxed 
 very  mighty. 
 
 21  And  it  came  to  pas.«,  because  the  midwives 
 feared  God,  ^  that  he  made  them  houses. 
 
 22  And  Pharaoh  charged  all  his  people,  say- 
 ing, *  Every  son  that  is  born  ye  shall  cast  into 
 the  river,  and  every  daughter  ye  shall  save 
 alive. 
 
 NoTBS  o\-  Chap.  I.— 7-  Fniiiful.  Tic.  'like  fruitful  trees,'  as  tlie 
 word  sie^nifies.  Increased — i:?"!!!?*,  'increased  like  fishes.'  as  tlie 
 orig:inal  implies. — A.  Clarke,  Gill.  Jixceetlhif!  mi!:^hti/,liir^'Mii02,  'ex- 
 ceedingly exceedingly.' — Wil.  'Superlatively  superlatively.'— .4.  C. 
 In  215  years  they  hecame  6ofi,000,  besides  women  and  children,  (chap, 
 xii.  37.)— Pat.  The  land,  Goshen.— Fa(.,  GUI.  8.  A  neiv  king— pro- 
 bably  Ranieses  Mianmm,  who  begun  a  new  dynasty,  a.m.  2427. — 
 So  A  Clarke.  But  f-^ffter  thinks  he  was  of  the  old  one.  Knew  not,  re- 
 garded not  Joseph  nor  his  family.— P«/.,  Gill.  g.  More  and  mightier— 
 this  was  to  excite  the  Et^yptians,  though,  individually,  they  might 
 be  more  robust  and  strong.  .  10.  Le.st  they  viuUiply—yex  more  and 
 mote. — Gill.  II.  Taskjnnstcra,  DTO  niC.  '  princes'  or  '  masters  of 
 
 tvihute.'—Png.,  Mont.  Men  who  had  power  to  lay  on  heavy  taxes, 
 and  exact  them.— Gi//.  Trennnre  eifits,  '  store  cities,'  'public  grana- 
 ries.'— ./I.  Clarke.  Whether  granaries  or  depositories  f-T  other  richer 
 does  rot  appear.— TKjV,  Perhaps  they  were  fortified  places. —.Sro//. 
 Many  think  the  Israelites  built  the  pyramids;  Josephus  decidtdlvas. 
 serts  it ;  but  as  the  principal  are  of  stone,  and  the  IsraeUtes  made 
 bricks,  Hnles  confines  their  labours  to  the  brick  pyramids  only. 
 12.  Multiplied  and  grew,  i*iD\  broke  out  like  water  after  beint;  pent 
 up,  which  then  spreads  with  greatforce.— Trem.,Pa(.,Gi7/.  14.  Morter, 
 — T^na  may  be  rendered.  '  m  clay.'— Hcm-,  it  is  generallv  rendered 
 'bitumen,*  or  '  asphaltns.'  (see  Gen.  vi  14  ;  xi.  3.1— n'j7. "  ]  ft.  He- 
 brew midwives— Henri/  thinks  that  these  were  Egyptian  women  em- 
 62 
 
 ployed  by  the  Hebrews,  as  the  king  would  never  have  thought  of  em- 
 ploying those  of  their  own  people.  But  from  their  fearing  God,  Scottf 
 with  more  probability,  infers  they  were  Hebrew  women.  i8.  See 
 them  vpon  the  stnols,  'see  them  delivered,' Se/)/.  '  See  them  by  the 
 stone  troughs,'  in  which  the  new-born  infants  were  washed.  [D']3K» 
 from  pN,  '  a  stone.']— C  Tnylor,  Frag,  tii  Cnl.  Stools,  about  sixteen 
 inches  in  height,  are  literally  used  among  the  Hlndnos,  or,  in  lieu  of 
 them,  a  rice  mortar  turned  upside  down,  or  a  bag  filled  with  sand  — 
 Ho/i.  19.  Are  not  as  the  Egyptian — they  are  labi'rious,  live  in  the 
 air,  and  are  temperate. — Hew.  Lively — the  Hcbrev/  may  also  signify 
 'midwives,'  implyinir,  they  could  perform  the  office  themselves. — 
 Kinichi.  21.  Houses — gave  them  a  nimierons  riff-ipring,  caMed  hou.Kfx, 
 Gen.  XXX.  30 ;  Deut,  x.w.  Q;  Rufh,  iv.  ^  ;  or,  perhaps,  '  increased  their 
 estate,'  2  Sam.  vii.  11;  Ps.  cxiii.  Q.—Pfif.,  so  Poofe.  22.  Into  the 
 riffr — A.  Clarke  thinks  that  Pharaoh  intended  an  offering  of  the  in- 
 fants  to  the  Nile,  a  sacred  river.  Sutcliffe  supposes  it  was  that  the 
 land  might  not  be  polluted  wiih  blnod.  So  Elijah  took  !he  prophets 
 of  Baal  to  the  brook  and  slew  them.  In  many  parts  of  Africa  th'.s 
 custom  is  observed.  Infanticide  has  been  often  practised  In  many 
 countries,  Persia,  China,  India,  and  the  Smith  Seas,  so  that  the  com- 
 mand appears  by  no  means  extranritiiiary.  —  Wil.  Hence  the  Hebrew 
 women  must  have  been  preferred  for  their  bsauity.  This  Jaw  was, 
 probably,  but  of  short  duration. — Boolhr. 
 
Birth  of  Moses. 
 
 EXODUS,   II. 
 
 Hefleeth  into  Egypt. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Moses  is  horn,  3  ajtd  in  an  arh  cast  info  tJteJiaf/,^. 
 5  He  is  found,  and  brovuht  up  hi/  Pharaoh's  daw/hter. 
 11  He  'shi';efh  an  Etiyptian.  13  He  reproveth  an 
 Hebrew.  IbHefieetelhintoMidian.  2]  HernarriUh 
 Zipporah.  '22  Gershom  is  horn.  23  God  respect:lh 
 the  Isradites'  cry. 
 \  ND    there  went  °a  man  of  the  house  of 
 
 -^  Levi,  and  took  to  tcife  a  daughter  of  Levi. 
 
 2  And  the  woman  conceived, and  bare  a  son: 
 and  ''  when  .she  saw  him  that  he  was  ii  goodly 
 child,  she  hid  him  three  months. 
 
 3  And  wlien  slie  could  not  longer  hide  him, 
 she  took  for  him  an  ark  of  bulrushes,  and 
 daubed  it  with  slime  and  with  pitcli,  and  put 
 the  child  therein  ;  and  she  laid  it  in  the  flags 
 by  the  river's  brink. 
 
 4  "^  And  his  sister  stood  afar  off,  to  wit  what 
 would  be  done  to  him. 
 
 5  II  And  the  ■'daughter  of  Pharaoh  came  down 
 to  wash  herself  at  the  river  ;  and  her  maidens 
 walked  along  "by  the  river's  side;  and  when 
 she  saw  the  ark  among  the  flags,  she  sent  her 
 maid  to  fetch  it. 
 
 6  And  when  she  had  opened  it,  she  saw  the 
 child  :  and,  behold,  the  babe  wept.  And  she 
 had  compassion  on  him,  and  said,  This  is  one 
 of  the  Hebrews' children. 
 
 7  Then  said  his  sister  to  Pharaoh's  daughter. 
 Shall  I  go  and  call  to  thee  a  nurse  of  the 
 Hebrew  women,  that  she  may  nurse  the  child 
 for  thee  ? 
 
 8  And  Pharaoh's  daughter  said  to  her.  Go. 
 And  the  maid  went  and  called  the  child's 
 mother. 
 
 9  And  Pharaoh's  daughter  said  unto  her. 
 Take  this  child  away,  and  nurse  it  for  me,  and 
 I  will  give  thee  thy  wages.  And  the  woman 
 took  the  child,  and  nursed  it. 
 
 10  And  the  child  grew,  and  she  brought  him 
 unto  Pharaoh's  daughter,  and  he  became  '  her 
 son.  And  she  called  his  name  ||  Moses  :  and 
 she. said.  Because  I  drew  him  out  of  the  water. 
 
 1 1  t  And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  'when 
 Mo.ses  was  grown,  that  he  went  out  unto  his 
 brethren,  and  looked  on  their  ^  burdens  :  and 
 
 a  ch.  0   so. 
 1  Chr.i'i,  U 
 
 c  cli.  IS.  ?0. 
 Num.  26. 
 
 «  AC18  7.  21 
 II  Th%t  is, 
 
 /Acts  7.23. 
 24,  Heh,  11. 
 ■:4,  25,  26. 
 
 h  Acti  7.  24. 
 Acts  7.  26. 
 
 *  Acts  7.  tl, 
 
 m  Gen.  24. 
 
 11.  8c  29  2. 
 «  ch.  3.  1. 
 II  Or,  princK. 
 
 A-1  Gen.  41. 
 
 4-1. 
 '.  Gen.  21.11 
 
 N  29    10. 
 
 1  Sam  .9. 11 
 
 p  Gen  .29. 10. 
 
 q  Num  10. 
 29  called 
 also  J,^tt,ro 
 or  .Iflker. 
 Cli.3.1.&4. 
 18.  8il8.  I, 
 8iC. 
 
 f  Gen  31.51. 
 
 &  43  25. 
 M  ch.  i.  25. 
 
 8i  IS.  2. 
 II  That  is,  Ii 
 
 hfre. 
 I  eh.  18.  3. 
 H  Acts  7.  29 
 
 Heb.  11.  13, 
 
 14. 
 r  ch.  7.  7. 
 
 Acts  7.  30. 
 y  Num.  so- 
 le. Deut.26. 
 
 7.  ?s,  12.  5. 
 I  Gen.  18.  20. 
 
 ch.  3-  9.  fe 
 
 22  23,  27. 
 
 Deut.24.15. 
 
 Jam.  5.  4. 
 a  ch.  6.  5. 
 
 he  spied  an  Egyptian  smiting  an  Helirew,  one 
 of  his  brethren. 
 
 12  And  he  looked  this  way  and  that  way, 
 and  when  he  saw  that  there  was  no  man,  he 
 ■■slew  the  Egyptian,  and  hid  him  in  the  sand. 
 
 13  And  '  when  he  went  out  the  second  day, 
 behold,  two  men  of  the  Hebrews  strove  toge- 
 ther :  and  he  said  to  him  that  did  the  wrong. 
 Wherefore  smitest  thou  thy  fellow  ? 
 
 14  And  he  said,  ''  Who  made  thee  f  a  prince 
 and  a  judge  over  us?  intendest  thou  to  kill  me, 
 as  thou  killedst  the  Egyptian  ?  and  Moses 
 feared,  and  said.  Surely  this  thing  is  known. 
 
 15  Now  when  Pharaoh  heard  this  thing,  he 
 sought  to  slay  Moses.  But  '  Moses  fled  from 
 the  face  of  Pharaoh,  and  dwelt  in  the  land  of 
 Midian  :  and  he  sat  down  by  "'  a  well. 
 
 16  "  Now  the  II  priest  of  Midian  had  seven 
 daughters  :  °  and  they  came  and  drew  umter. 
 and  filled  the  troughs  to  water  their  father's 
 flock. 
 
 17  And  the  shepherds  came  and  drove  them 
 away:  but  Moses  stood  up  and  helped  them, 
 and  ''watered  their  flock. 
 
 IS  And  when  they  came  to  ''  Reuel  their 
 father,  he  said.  How  is  it  that  ye  are  come  so 
 soon  to  day  ? 
 
 19  And  they  said.  An  Egyptian  delivered  us 
 out  of  the  hand  of  the  .sliepherds,  and  also 
 drew  water  enough  for  us,  and  watered  the 
 flock. 
 
 20  And  he  said  unto  his  daughters.  And 
 where  is  he  ?  why  is  it  that  ye  have  left  the 
 man?  call  him,  that  he  may  'eat  bread. 
 
 21  And    Moses  was  content  to    dwell  with 
 and  he  gave    Moses  '  Zipporah  his 
 
 the  man 
 
 daughter. 
 
 22  And 
 
 his  name 
 
 she  bare  hijn  a  son,  and  he  called 
 I '  Gershom  :  for  he  said,  I  have  been 
 "  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land. 
 
 23  HAnd  it  came  to  pass  "in  process  of  time, 
 that  the  king  of  Egypt  died  :  and  the  children 
 of  Israel  ^sighed  by  reason  of  the  bondage,  and 
 they  cried,  and  '  their  cry  came  up  unto  God 
 by  reason  of  the  bondage. 
 
 24  And  God  "  heard  their  groaning,  and  God 
 
 Chap.  II. — 1.  A  daughter  of  Levi,  'his  father's  sister.'  (chap.  vi.  20,) 
 in  Scripture  laiigrtiage  often  meaning  a  relation. — Hut.  Gitt  under- 
 stands this  literally.  2.  Bare  a  son — not  her  firstborn.  Miriam  and 
 Aaron  were  older,  (ver.  4,  chap.  vii.  7.)  —  U'lV,  Goodlr/,  *  exceeding 
 fair,'  (Acts,  vii.  20.)  3.  Bulrushes,  the  papyrus  nr  reed  of  the  Nile, 
 of  the  ligneous  parts  of  which  small  vessels  were  inade. — Gitl.Bonthr. 
 By  the  river's  brink,  to  save  liim  frnm  the  stream,  or  to  suckle  him  at 
 night, — Pat. ;  or  place  him  near  the  spot  visited  by  the  princess. — 
 A.  Clarke.  5.  To  icos^,  for  purification, — P«^,  or  for  pleasure. — Gill. 
 Perhaps  by  plunging  into  the  river,  an  idolatrous  rite  practised  in  after 
 times  on  the  rising  of  the  Nile. — Har.  Probalily  her  clothes,  not  un- 
 usual in  ancient  times  with  kings'  daughters,  (Homer's  Odyss.  6-) — 
 A.Clarke.  IQ.  Moses,  TT^'^,  '  to  draiv  out  of  WAter,'  (2  Sam.  .xxii.  17  ; 
 Ps.  xviii.  16  ;  Isa.  Ixiii.  11.) — Pat.,  Gill.  11.  /n  those  days — io  .Scrip- 
 ture language,  this  means  very  remote  from  prior  events. — Boothr. 
 Grown — Moses  was  forty,  (Acts,  vii.  23.)  An  Egyptian,  one  of  the 
 task-masters. — Jar.         Vl.  Slew — the  Hebrew  was  probably  'killed,' 
 
 and,  io  avenging  his  death,  Moses  followed  the  Noaliic  precept. — ■ 
 A.  Clarke.  13.  Strove  together — dtairXuKTifo/icvofc,   'striking  with 
 
 violence,' or  '  inflicting  wounds  on  each  other,'  Sept.  15.  To  slay 
 Moses — the  ancient  laws  of  Egypt  made  his  deed  death.  Midian — so 
 called  from  Midian,  a  sou  ol  Abraham  by  Kelurah,  (Gen.  xxv.  2.) — 
 .-].  Clarke.  A  country  in  Arabia  Petrffia,  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the 
 Red  .Sea,  not  far  from  Mount  Sinai  ;  still  called  by  the  Arabs  the  land 
 of  Midian  or  Jethro. — Greenf.  16.  TAe  priest,  irtD  may  also  mean 
 prince. — A.  Clarke.  They  came  and  drew,  probab  ly  wilh  servants  to 
 attend  them. — Pat.  The  young  women  laboured, — A.  Clarke.  To 
 water. — See  Gen.  xxix.  9.  IS.  Rcuel,bii^V^.  called  liaguel.  Numb. 
 X.  29  ;  the  3?  {ain)  having  various  sounds,  but  the  Hebrew  is  the  same 
 in  both  places. — A.  Clarke.  The  priest  of  Midian  is  called  Jethro, 
 chap.  iii.  1  ;  Reuel  is  therefore  thought  to  have  been  his  lather,  and 
 grandfather  of  these  young  women. — Pat.  Grandfatheis,  or  ancestors, 
 are  called  fathers,  [2  kings,  xiv.  3  ;  xvi.  2  ;  xviii.  3.)  20.  Bread,  'iood.' 
 22.  Gershom,  '  a  desolate  stranger.' — Ains. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  In  this  chapter  we  may  read, 
 I.  An  epitome  of  the  history  of  mankind,  '  And  Joseph  died,  and 
 all  his  brethren,  and  all  that  generation.'  Such  is  the  concluding 
 statement  of  all  history.  Princes  come  to  dust :  in  this  manner 
 the  dearest  ties  of  nature  are  snapped  asunder,  and  race  after 
 race  are  swept  away  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  We  cannot  travel 
 far  but  we  probably  tread  on  the  dust  of  millions,  who,  in  very 
 distant  ages,  have  been  deposited  where  now  commerce  and 
 pleasure  hold  their  active  reign.  Everything  witiiin  us  and 
 around  us,  the  pages  of  profane  and  sacred  history,  alike  teach 
 us  that  man  is  mortal.  It  will  soon  be  said  of  our  friends,  our 
 brethren,  and  ourselves,  'all  that  generation  are  gone.'  Our 
 first  concern  should  then  he  to  obtain  the  pardon  of  our  sins, 
 through  the  atoning  blood  of  Jesus,  which  alone  can  take  away 
 the  sting  of  death,  and  to  look  to  it  that  we  are  interested  in 
 63 
 
 him  whose  gracious  lips  have  said,  'Because  I  live,  ye  shall 
 live  also.'     We  have  here  also, 
 
 II.  An  early  sample  of  the  persecution  of  tlie  church  of  God. 
 Pharaoh  employed  the  most  subtle  and  tremendous  eiforts  to 
 crush  the  seed  of  Abraham  ;  but  the  more  he  opposed,  tlie 
 more  they  prospered.  From  that  time  to  this  no  weapon  that 
 lias  been  formed  against  this  church  has  ever  prospered.  It 
 has  survived  the  ruins  of  dynasties  aud  nations,  and  defied  the 
 malice  of  ages.  No  weapon  that  is  formed  against  it  shall 
 prosper  :  not  even  the  gates  of  hell  shall  prevail  against  it. 
 God  will  multiply  the  seed  of  Israel,  till  his  name  shall  be 
 known  upon  earth,  and  his  '  saving  health  among  all  nations.' 
 In  accordance  with  this  belief,  let  us  pray — *  The  Lord  make 
 his  people  a  thousand  times  so  many  more  as  they  be.' 
 
God  appeareth  to  Moses. 
 
 EXODUS,  III. 
 
 The  name  of  God, 
 
 ^  remembered  his  *"  covenant   with    Abraham, 
 with  Isaac,  and  with  Jacob. 
 25  And  God  •*  looked  upon  the  children  of 
 Israel,  and  God  f*"'  had  respect  unto  tlum. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  Moses  keepethjethro'sfoch.  2  God  appeareth  to  him 
 in  a  burning  bush.  9  He  stndeth  him  to  ddiver  Israel. 
 14  The  name  of  God.     15  His  message  to  Israel. 
 
 "VrOW  Moses  kept  the  flock  of  Jethro  his 
 -L^  father  in  law,  '•"  the  priest  of  Midian  :  and 
 he  led  the  flock  to  the  backside  of  the  desert, 
 and  came  to  ""  the  mountain  of  God,  even  to 
 Horeb, 
 
 2  And  '^  the  angel  of  the  Lord  appeared  unto 
 him  in  a  flame  of  fire  out  of  the  midst  of  a 
 bush:  and  he  luoked,  and,  behold,  the  bush 
 burned  with  fire,  and  the  bush  was  not  con- 
 sumed. 
 
 3  And  Moses  said,  1  will  now  turn  aside,  and 
 see  tliis  "^ great  sight,  why  the  bush  is  not  burnt. 
 
 4  And  when  the  Lord  saw  that  he  turned 
 aside  to  see,  God  called  ''  unto  him  out  of  the 
 midst  of  the  bush,  and  said,  Moses,  IMoses. 
 And  he  said,  Here  am  I. 
 
 5  And  he  said.  Draw  not  nigh  hither:  ''put 
 off"  thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet,  for  the  place 
 whereon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground. 
 
 6  Moreover  he  said,  ^  I  am  the  God  of  thy 
 father,  the  God  of  Abraliam,  the  God  of  Isaac, 
 and  the  God  of  Jacob.  And  Moses  liid  his 
 face  ;  fur  ''he  was  afraid  to  look  upon  God. 
 
 7  IF  And  the  Lokd  said,  1  have  surely  seen 
 the  aftliction  of  my  people  which  are  in  Egypt, 
 and  '  have  heard  their  cry  ''  by  reason  of  their 
 taskmasters  ;  for  >  1  know  their  sorrows  ; 
 
 8  And  ">  I  am  come  down  to  "deliver  them 
 out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,  and  to  bring 
 them  up  out  of  that  land  "  unto  a  good  land 
 and  a  large,  unto  a  land  ''flowing  with  milk 
 and  honey  ;  unto  the  place  of  the  Canaanites, 
 and  the   Hittites,  and  the  Amorites,  and  the 
 
 6  .h.  6    !). 
 
 I's     1.^3    8, 
 
 •!■»    &  lOli. 
 
 Ah. 
 t-Gen.  11.14. 
 
 &  46,  1 
 d  ch.4.  31, 
 
 1  Sam.]  n. 
 
 2  Sam.  Iti. 
 12.  Luke  1, 
 
 1491. 
 a  ch.  3.  16. 
 
 b  th.  19.  .'i. 
 1  KJu.)9.8. 
 
 c  Deu  33.16. 
 Is   63   0. 
 Acts  7.  30. 
 
 rfPs,  Ul  2. 
 Acts  7.  31. 
 
 «Peut,SS  16 
 /ch.   ly.l'i 
 
 Josh.  5.  15. 
 
 Arts  7  S3 
 ff  Geu.'2S  1.1 
 
 ver.l.Tcli*. 
 
 5  M.it.  22. 
 .•«.Mnrkl2. 
 SO.  Luke  20. 
 37.  Acts  7. 
 
 h  S..  I  Kin. 
 
 1!".  13.  Is.  6. 
 
 1,5.  Nell  n. 
 
 9.Ps  IOli.44. 
 
 Acts  7.  34. 
 i  i-h.  2.S3,24. 
 Ach.  I.  II. 
 f  Gun.  IS.'Jl, 
 
 ch.  2.  2i. 
 rn  Get).  1 1.*^, 
 
 7.  &  m.  21. 
 
 6  5it.  ?I. 
 
 ti  ell.  (3.  ti,8. 
 
 &  12  51. 
 '.  Deur.1.25. 
 
 &  ft,  7.  8,  S. 
 ji  ver   17.rh, 
 
 l.S.f),  8(33.8. 
 
 Nni>i.l.S27, 
 
 Dfut.  WJ.9, 
 
 15     J..T.    II. 
 
 ft.  &  32.  22. 
 
 KiL'k.  20.1). 
 a  Gen. 15.  IS. 
 
 ch    1.11,13, 
 1 1,  2--'. 
 
 "  See  ch.  6. 
 IS.  I  Sam. 
 la.  IS,  Is.  6. 
 5,S.  Joi.1.6. 
 
 J-  Gen.  31  3 
 Detit.3l.?3. 
 Josh.  I.  b. 
 Rom.  8.81. 
 
 7  ch.  f..  3. 
 J..I111  !>)  LS. 
 2  for.  I  20, 
 HlI..  lA.  H. 
 Htv.  1.  4. 
 
 :  Ps.  1.15.  13 
 Ucs.  i>.  5. 
 
 b  Gen..50.-24. 
 cli.2,2.^<.&-V, 
 3l.Lu.L6S. 
 
 c  Gen.  15.14, 
 16.  ver.  8. 
 
 Perizzites,  and  the  Hivites,  and  the  Jcbusites. 
 
 9  Now  therefore,  behold, '  the  cry  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  is  come  unto  me  :  and  I  have 
 also  seen  the  "  oppression  wherewith  the  Egyp- 
 tians oppress  them. 
 
 10  *  Come  now  therefore,  and  1  will  send  thee 
 unto  Pharaoh,  that  thou  mayest  bring  forth  my 
 people  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt. 
 
 1 1  K  And  Moses  said  unto  God,  "  Who  atn  I, 
 that  1  should  go  unto  Pharaoh,  and  that  I 
 .should  bring  forth  the  children  of  Israel  out  of 
 Egypt  y 
 
 12  And  he  said,  ^  Certainly  1  will  be  with 
 thee  ;  and  this  shaft  be  a  token  unto  thee,  that 
 I  have  sent  thee  :  When  thou  hast  brought 
 forth  the  people  out  of  Egypt,  ye  shall  serve 
 God  upon  this  mountain. 
 
 13  And  Moses  said  unto  God,  Behold,  iche/i 
 I  come  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  shall 
 say  unto  them.  The  God  of  your  fathers  hath 
 sent  me  unto  you  ;  and  they  shall  say  to  me, 
 What  is  his  name  ?  what  shall  I  say  unto  them  ? 
 
 14  And  God  said  unto  Moses,  I  AM  THAT 
 I  AM  :  and  he  said.  Thus  shalt  thou  say  unto 
 the  children  of  Israel,  ''  I  AM  hath  sent  me 
 unto  you. 
 
 15  And  God  said  moreover  unto  Moses,  Thus 
 shalt  thou  say  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  The 
 Lord  (iod  of  your  father>=,  the  God  of  Abra- 
 ham, the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob, 
 hath  sent  me  unto  you  :  this  is  "  my  name  for 
 ever,  and  this  is  my  memorial  unto  all  genera- 
 tions. 
 
 16  Go,  and  °  gather  the  elders  of  Israel  toge- 
 ther, and  say  unto  them.  The  Lord  God  of 
 your  fathers,  the  God  of  Abraham,  of  Isaac, 
 and  of  Jacob,  appeared  unto  me,  saying,  ''  1 
 have  surely  visited  you,  and  seen  that  which  is 
 done  to  you  in  Egypt: 
 
 17  And  1  have  said,  •■  I  will  bring  you  up  out 
 of  the  affliction  of  Egypt  unto  the  land  of  the 
 Canaanites,  and  the  Hittites,  and   the  Amor- 
 
 25.  Had  respect,  'knew,*  ^^^^.— p,i^.,  Mont..  Trem.,  Pise.      It  means 
 'approved,*  'owned  them.' — Gill,  so  A,  ('Inrke. 
 
 Chap.  III.~1.  Jethro— Geddea  concludes  Raguel  was  the  father  of 
 Jethro,  whose  daog-hter  Moses  married,  and  that  Hdbab  was  most  jiro- 
 bably  the  son  of  .Tethro,  who  accompanied  the  Israelites  through  the 
 wilderness.  Compare  chap.  iii.  1  -,  iv.  18.  and  Numb.  x.2(j.—  SoBo(>t/ii: 
 C/ffr;te  thinks  that  Reuel.or  Raguel.was  the  father  of  Jelhro,  and  Zip- 
 porah,  not  the  daughter,  but  sister  of  Jethro,  and  that  father-in-law 
 here  should  be  read  hrotherinliiw,  rcferrinji  to  Gen,  .\x.\iv.  9;  Deut. 
 vii.  3  ;  Josh,  xxiii.  12 ;  where  the  word  sigrnifies  to  contract  nffinitii  6// 
 marriage.  Mountain  of  God,  so  called  from  its  great  hcigrht,  lefty 
 mountains  being  called  '  mountains  ot  God  ;'  or  because  of  the  Divine 
 appearance  subsequently  on  it.  //orci— Horeb  and  Sinai  were  two 
 summits  of  the  same  mountain.— -Pu^  Sheep  delight  to  feed  on  moun- 
 tains.— Gi//.  2.  The  Angel  of  the  Lord  the  Shechinah.— Pa«.  The 
 Angel  of  God's  presence,  the  eternal  ViorA.^Gill.  Not  a  created 
 Angel,  but  called  Jehovah,  (ver.  4.)  therefore  the  Angel  of  the  Cove- 
 nant, Christ.— .4.  Clarke,  Hall,  Poole,  Ains.  No  augel.  without  bia-;- 
 phemy,  could  take  the  titles,  (vcr.  6.)— Stack.  5.  Shoes,  'sandals.* 
 
 — Boothr.    The  ancient  priests  officiated  barefoot.— S«^      It  is  an  act 
 of  reverence  still  in  the  East.— .^.  Clarke.        6.  The  God  of  thy  father, 
 
 i5l'.— so,  he  was  the  God  of  Noah,  and  of  atl  the  patriarchs ;  but  liere 
 the  Israelites  are  reminded  of  the  promises  made  to  Abraham,  haac, 
 and  Jacob,  respecting  Canaan  and  the  ble<>scd  seed. — Put.,  Scott.  Gill. 
 7.  /  h'lre  sure/p  seen,  '•TVii.'^  HNI.  '  seeing,  I  have  seen.' — Ains.,  Poole, 
 A.  Clarke,  8.  Large,  compared  with  Goshen.  Flouing,  Sfr.,  pro- 
 vcrbial  and  hyperbolical  latiguage,  setting  forth  the  great  affluence  of 
 good  things.  Milk  and  honey,  are  still  thechief  dainties  of  the  Arabs. — 
 Gill.  12.  A  token,  God's  presence,  or  the  burning  bush. — A.  Clarke. 
 Serving  God  on  Horeb. — Pat.,  QUI,  Boothr.  This,  the  burning  bush,  to 
 encourage  him  to  hegin,  worshipping  at  Hoi  eh  afterwards  to  cin/iVm 
 him. — Ains.  13.  His  nninc— probably  the  Israelites  had  become  idola- 
 trous, and,  like  the  Egyptians,  had  many  gods;  they  would  therefore 
 want  the  name  of  Moses'  God. — So^.  Clarke.  U.  /  am  that  I  nm,  XVTM^ 
 riTlM  IITN.  Kgo  sum  i/ui  sum,  '  I  am  who  I  am,'  Viilg.  L-fui  etjui  6  ilv, '  I 
 am  he  who  exists,*  *>^(.  '  I  am  because  I  am.' — Banthr.  '1  will  be 
 what  I  will  be.' — M'il.  The  religion  of  name*  arose  from  an  idolatrous 
 polytheism  ;  and  the  name  here  given,  which  implies  eternity,  and  self- 
 existence,  directly  o|iposi's  that  superstition. —  Wnrburtmi.  13.  This 
 is  mji  name — the  name  of  xy\7V,  Jehovah,  translated  Lmd,  from  mn, 
 '  to  1)6,'  '  subsist,'  signifies, '  He  who  is,  or  subsists  :'  from  this  came  the 
 heathen  Jove. — So  Greenf.     I6.  Visited — see  prediction.  Gen.  i.  24. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II. — I.  Hoio  remarhahle  is  the  care 
 ef  God  over  infants.  Parents  have  reason  for  the  greatest  grati- 
 tude tlint  they  are  not  often  left  childless  from  the  dangers 
 which  their  htlle  ones  have  escaped ;  but  the  eye  that  watched 
 over  the  infant  beauty  among  the  reeds  of  the  Nile,  every- 
 where watches  over  them.  Accidents  indeed  do  occur,  but 
 comparatively  how  few,  and  these,  perhaps,  among  other 
 causes,  to  teach  us  gratitude  for  the  many  preservations. 
 Every  day  that  an  infant  is  preserved  from  danger,  demands 
 from  the  parent  a  new  song  of  praise — '  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my 
 soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  henefits.' 
 
 II.  How  lovely  is  benevolence,  and  especially  in  the  female  cha- 
 racter. It  adds  a  mild  lustre  to  the  most  delicate  and  elegant 
 form  and  face.  Pharaoh's  daughter  at  once  commends  herself 
 to  our  hearts,  when  she  says,  'Take  this  child  away,  and  nurse 
 it  for  me.'  But  this  was  a  heathen  princess;  how  then  can  a 
 C4 
 
 Christian  be  unkind  and  hard-hearted  "*  '  Put  on,  therefore,  as 
 tiie  elect  of  God,  holy  and  beloved,  bowels  of  mercies.' 
 
 III.  How  common  is  inqrutitude,  evtit  for  the  greatest  services. 
 Moses  had  relieved  the  Israelites  from  perhaps  the  most  bar- 
 barous of  their  cruel  masters  ;  and  yet  his  very  interpositiou 
 on  their  behalf  was  tauntingly  spoken  of,  when  he  remon- 
 strated with  them  for  quarrelHng  with  each  other.  We  mnst 
 often  expect  unkind  returns  from  men,  but  '  God  is  not  un- 
 righteous to  forget  our  works  of  faith  and  labours  of  love.' 
 And  in  all  that  IMoses  did  and  suffered  for  Israel,  he  acted  for 
 this  ungrateful  people  with  an  eye  of  faith,  directed  to  the 
 God  of  Israel.  By  faith  Moses,  when  lie  was  come  to  years, 
 refused  to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter;  choosing 
 rather  to  sufler  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy 
 the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season,  for  he  had  respect  unto  the 
 recompence  of  reward.' 
 
God  give th  signs  to  Moses. 
 
 EXODUS,  IV. 
 
 Aaron  is  appointed  to  assist  hint. 
 
 ites,  and  the  Perizzites,  and  tlie  Hivites,  and 
 the  Jebusiles,  unto  a  land  flowing  with  mill; 
 and  honey. 
 
 18  And  "i  they  shall  hearken  to  thy  voice  : 
 and  '^  thou  shall  come,  thou  and  the  elders  of 
 Israel,  unto  the  king  of  Egypt,  and  ye  shall 
 say  unto  him.  The  Lord  God  of  the  Hebrews 
 hath  'met  with  us:  and  now  let  us  go,  we 
 beseech  thee,  three  days'  journey  into  the  wil- 
 derness, that  we  may  sacrifice  to  the  Lord  our 
 God. 
 
 19  H  And  I  am  sure  that  the  king  of  Egypt 
 *  will  not  let  you  go,  ||  no,  not  by  a  mighty 
 hand. 
 
 20  And  I  will  "  stretch  out  my  hand,  and 
 smite  Egypt  with  'all  my  wonders  which  I  will 
 do  in  the  midst  thereof:  and  'after  that  he 
 will  let  you  go. 
 
 21  And  '  I  will  give  this  people  favour  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Egyptians  :  and  it  shall  come  to 
 pass,  that,  when  ye  go,  ye  shall  not  go  empty : 
 
 •22  ■"  But  every  woman  shall  borrow  of  her 
 neighbour,  and  of  her  that  sojourneth  in  her 
 house,  jewels  of  silver,  and  jewels  of  gold,  and 
 raiment  :  and  ye  shall  put  t/iem  upon  your 
 sons,  and  upon  your  daughters;  and  "  ye  shall 
 spoil  II  the  Egyptians. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Moseses  rod  is  fur/ted  into  a  serpent.  6  His  hand  is 
 leprous.  10  He  is  loth  to  he  sent.  14  Aaron  is  ap- 
 pointed to  assist  him.  18  Moses  d'parteth  frumJcthro. 
 21  God^s  7nessaye  to  Pharanfi.  24  Z'pporuh  cireum- 
 ciseth  her  som.  27  Aaron  is  sent  to  meet  Moses. 
 31  The  people  helieveth  them. 
 A  ND  Moses  answered  and  said,  But,  behold, 
 
 -^^  tbey  will  not  believe  me,  nor  bearken  unto 
 
 my  voice  :  for  they  will  say,   the  Lord  hath 
 
 not  appeared  unto  thee. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  What  is  that 
 in  thine  hand?     And  he  said,  "A  rod. 
 
 3  And  he  said,  Cast  it  on  the  ground.  And 
 he  cast  it  on  the  ground,  and  it  became  a  ser- 
 pent ;  and  Moses  fled  from  before  it. 
 
 4  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Put  forth 
 thine  hand,  and  take  it  by  the  tail.  And  be 
 put  forth  his  hand,  and  caught  it,  and  it  became 
 a  rod  in  his  band  : 
 
 3  That  tbey  may  "^  believe  that  "^  the  Lord 
 God  of  their  fathers,  the  God  of  Abraham,  the 
 
 /Num  23  3, 
 4,  IS,  ItJ. 
 
 ?  ch,  5.  2-  & 
 
 iilju,„j  h.md. 
 h  ch,  6,  6.  6( 
 
 7.  5  jfcg.ia. 
 
 i  ch.  7.  3.  (It 
 
 II.    y,   Dr-Ut. 
 
 6.  22,   Noh. 
 
 9.1U  Ps.105, 
 
 27.8c  135.9 
 
 Jer.  »2.  aO. 
 
 Acts  7-  36. 
 
 Seech.  7.to 
 
 ch.  13. 
 A-ch.  1:^  .11 
 /  i-h.  11.3,  & 
 
 I 'J  :tti 
 Pk.  Kit),  41, 
 
 .  lii.  ' 
 
 m  Gen.  I. 
 ,    U.  ch.ll.2. 
 
 n  Job  27.  17. 
 Piov.l3.2-i. 
 
 I,  Or,  Es>,i>t. 
 
 a  ver.  17.20 
 
 h  ch.  19.  9. 
 cch.  3.  15. 
 
 d  Num.  12. 
 10. 2  Kin.  5. 
 27. 
 
 Pciit,3-3,39 
 Num  12.13, 
 1+  2  Kin. 5. 
 U.Mav.S.S. 
 
 t  Heb.  a  man 
 ./word,. 
 
 t  Heb.  since 
 t/Pitfrdat/^ 
 nor  since  the 
 third  dfii/. 
 
 g  ch.  e.  {•?.. 
 .ler.  1.  6. 
 
 h  Pa.  91.  9, 
 
 t  Is.  50.  4. 
 Jet.  1.  19- 
 Mat.  10.19 
 Markl3.ll. 
 Luke  12. 1 1, 
 12.&2I.  U, 
 15, 
 
 A  See  Joofth 
 1.3, 
 
 II  Or,  should- 
 
 I  ver.  27. 
 1  Sam.  10. 
 S,  3,  5. 
 
 m  ch.  7.  1,  2, 
 
 1  Num.25. 
 
 38  fc  23.  5, 
 
 12,  16. 
 
 Dent, 18.1ft 
 
 Is    51    16. 
 
 Jer.  1.  9. 
 -.  Deut.5.3l. 
 
 p  ch.  *.  1, 
 IS.  19. 
 
 God   of  Isaac,  and   the  God   of  Jacob,   bath 
 appeared  unto  thee, 
 
 G  t  And  the  Lord  said  furthermore  unto 
 him,  Put  now  thine  hand  into  thy  bosom. 
 And  he  put  his  hand  into  bis  bosom  :  and 
 when  he  took  it  out,  behold,  bis  band  was 
 leprous  '^  as  snow. 
 
 7  And  he  said,  Put  thine  band  into  thy 
 bosom  again.  And  he  put  his  hand  into  bis 
 bosom  again;  and  plucked  it  out  of  his  bosom, 
 and,  behold,  ^it  was  turned  again  as  bis  other 
 flesh. 
 
 8  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  tbey  will  not 
 believe  thee,  neither  hearken  to  the  voice  of 
 the  first  sign,  that  tbey  will  believe  the  voice 
 of  the  latter  sign. 
 
 9  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  they  will  not 
 believe  also  these  two  signs,  neither  hearken 
 unto  thy  voice,  that  thou  sbalt  take  of  the 
 water  of  the  river,  and  pour  it  upon  the  dry 
 land:  and  ""the  water  which  thou  takest  out  of 
 the  river  f  shall  become  blood  upon  the  dry 
 land. 
 
 10  f  And  Moses  said  unto  the  Lord,  O  my 
 Lord,  I  inn  not  f  eloquent,  neither  f  heretofore, 
 nor  since  thou  bast  spoken  unto  thy  servant : 
 but  ^  I  am  slow  of  speech,  and  of  a  slow  tongue. 
 
 1 1  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  ^  Who  hath 
 made  man's  mouth  ?  or  who  maketh  the  dumb, 
 or  deaf,  or  the  seeing,  or  the  blind  ?  have  not  I 
 the  Lord  ? 
 
 12  Now  therefore  go,  and  I  will  be  '  with  thy 
 mouth,  and  teach  thee  what  thou  shall  say. 
 
 1 3  And  he  said,  O  my  Lord, ''  send,  I  pray  thee, 
 by  the  hand  of  him  whom  thou  ||  wilt  send. 
 
 14  And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled 
 against  Moses,. and  he  said.  Is  not  Aaron  the 
 Levite  thy  brother?  I  know  that  he  can  speak 
 well.  And  also,  behold,  'he  cometh  forth  to 
 meet  thee:  and  when  he  seeth  thee, be  will  be 
 glad  in  his  heart. 
 
 15  And  "'thou  shalt  speak  unto  him,  and 
 "put  words  in  his  mouth  :  and  I  will  be  with 
 thy  mouth,  and  with  his  mouth,  and  °  will  teach 
 you  what  ye  shall  do. 
 
 16  And  he  shall  be  thy  spokesman  imto  the 
 people  :  and  he  shall  be,  even  he  shall  be  to 
 thee  instead  of  a  moutli,  and  ''thou  sbalt  be  to 
 him  instead  of  God. 
 
 18.  Three  day s^  journey,  to  Mount  Sinai,  which  was  three  dav^' journey 
 the  shortest  way. — Gill.  IQ.  No,  not  by  a  mighty  hand,  S^l.  «'"'  /^'i. 
 Sept.;  7iisi — except,  or  unless,  byamiglity  hand. — P<ifr-t  Gill,  A.  Cltir/ce, 
 Wii.  That  is,  unless  the  force  of  miracles  be  exhibited. — Huub.  By 
 cuttingoff  all  the  firstborn, — Pat.  22.  Borrow,  ^i^iu,  ask,  pray,  peti- 
 tion,retjuest,  demand,  require.  See  Josh.  xv.  18;  Judg.v.25.  AiTeuet, 
 •she  shall  ask,'  Sept.  The  word  means  ask  one  to  gi'^e.  Soused, 
 Ps.  ii.  8. — Shuck/.  Hence  there  was  no  fraud. — Scott.  The  women  of 
 Israel  were  much  emiiloyed  as  servants  in  the  houses  ofthe  Egyptians; 
 and  that  nation  worshipped  their  gods  with  their  persons  decorated 
 with  jewels.  It  was  usual  for  servants  to  receive  a  present  at  the  ex- 
 piration of  their  servitude. — Sut.  When  tlie  children  uf  Israel,  who  were 
 much  mixed  with  the  Egyptians,  were  about  to  depart,  they  asked  for 
 these  articles,  and.  glad  to  cinciliate  their  favour,  and  to  see  them 
 depMTt.  after  what  had  occurred,  the  Egyptians  freely  guve  them.— Jus., 
 Shiifk/.,  Hales.  Giving,  receiving,  and  asking  for  presents  i-i  common 
 in  the  e-ist,  and  no  mark  ot  degradation  or  meanness.  See  1  Kings, 
 X.  13. — Har.  The  men  were  also  to  borrow,  (Exod.  xi.  2.)  Jewels 
 of  silver.  ?fc.,  or,  '  vessels  of  silver,'  &c.,  cups,  dislies,  &c.—  Pi/t  .  Gill. 
 Also  instruments,  weapons.—^.  Clarke.      Spoil,    Sfc,   by   their   own 
 
 consent. — Put.  Empty  Egypt. — Kiddt^r.  And  justly,  for  their  hard 
 services  were  never  paid:  this  would  help  in  travelling,  and  erect  the 
 tabernacle.  —  Gill.  The  word  implies  no  injustice,  and  is  used  by 
 Laban's  daughters,  (Gen.  xxxi.  l6.) — Wil. 
 
 Chap.  IV. — 2.  A  rod,  n'iO,  a  staff',  as  Gen.  xxxviii.  18  j  an  instru- 
 ment which  shepherds  used  to  guide  their  sheep  with.  (Lev.  x.\vii.  32.) 
 With  it  Mftses  now  led  Jethro's  fluck, — Ains.  10.  Not  eloquent, 
 D''"liTlD'«Nb,  'not  amanof  words.*— P//g-.,  Jl/o«/.,  j4(«s.,  Gill,  A.Clarke. 
 How  does  this  agree  with  Acts,  vii.  1:2?  Ans.  When  acting. as  God's 
 messenger,  his  word  was  with  power;  he  was  then  a  man  mighty  in 
 words  and  deeds. — So.-I.  Clarki^.  Slow  uf  speech,  luxi'ni^wi'o?,  Sept. 
 '  Of  a  slender  voice,'  or,  'speaking  with  hesitation  and  interruption  of 
 vuice. '~Sco/(.  13.  Send,  ^c.—nbvn  T2  ND  nblD,  'send  now,  by  the 
 hand  thou  wilt  send.' — A.  Clarke.  'By  wiiom  thou  shouldst  send.'— 
 Ains.  'Send  a  person  better  qualified  than  lam.' — Boothr.  Trpoxeiptaat 
 dwafi^vov  aWou,  ov  aTTotneXeff,  '  Elect  another  powerful  nerson  whom 
 thou  wilt  send.' — A.  Clarke.  14.  Speak  well,  in*  lit,  *  in  speaking, 
 sjieak.'— P('/?.,  Mont.  Speak  very  freely,  fluently,  in  an  eloquent 
 manner. —  Gill.  I6.  Instead  nf  God — that  is,  '  as  the  Oracle  of  God.* 
 — See  Bryant.     '  Deliver  what  I  communicate  to  thee.' — So  A.  Clarke, 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  IIL  —  I.  The  bush,  burning  with 
 fire,  and  *  not  consumed,'  lias  always  been  considered  as 
 a  striking  emblini  of  the  suff<ring  Isradites  in  Etji/pt,  a/id  of  the 
 prrsecutfd  church  of  God  in  all  ages.  But  God  is  in  the  midst 
 of  the  bush.  The  churcli  has  often  burned,  but  it  has  not 
 been  destroyed.  Its  individual  members  have  many  times 
 been  enveloped  in  Hames,  but  they  have  reahzed  the  langija'.^e 
 ofthe  prophet,  '  When  thou  walkest  through  the  hre  thou 
 shall  not  be  burned,  neither  sliaU  the  flame  kindle  uponthet;.' 
 65 
 
 II.  Duties  are  sometimes  difficult,  hut  if  God  calls  to  them  he 
 IV ill  qualify  to  perform  them.  '  Every  valley  shall  be  exalted, 
 and  every  mountain  and  bill  shall  be  made  low.'  Even  Pha- 
 raoh shall  not  stand  before  the  man  commissioned  by  the  great 
 •  I  AM.*  *  I  will  be  with  ihee,'  is  a  warrant  for  any  under- 
 taking. We  might  accomplish  much  greater  things  if  we  had 
 more  faith  in  the  promises  of  God  ;  and  when  we  feel  the  sti- 
 mulus of  tliese  promises  more  powerfully,  we  shall  accomplish 
 not  merely  the  emancipation  of  a  people,  but  of  a  world  ! 
 
Moses  returns  to  Egypt. 
 
 EXODUS,  V. 
 
 Moses  and  Aaron  deliver  their  message. 
 
 17  And  thou  slialt  take  'this  rod  in  thine 
 hand,  wherewith  tliou  shalt  do  signs. 
 
 18  IF  And  Moses  went  and  returned  to  f.Iethro 
 his  father  in  law,  and  said  unto  him.  Let  me 
 go,  I  pray  thee,  and  return  unto  my  brethren 
 which  are  in  Egypt,  and  see  vvhetlier  they  be 
 yet  alive.  And  Jethro  said  to  Moses,  Go  in 
 peace. 
 
 19  And  the  Lord  said  unto  IMoses  in  Midian, 
 Go,  return  into  Egypt:  for  'all  the  men  are 
 dead  which  sought  thy  life. 
 
 •20  And  Moses  took  his  wife  and  his  sons,  and 
 set  them  upon  an  ass,  and  he  returned  to  the 
 land  of  Egypt :  and  Moses  took  '  the  rod  of 
 God  in  his  hand. 
 
 21  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  When 
 thou  goest  to  return  into  Egypt,  see  that  thou 
 do  all  those  '  wonders  before  Pharaoh,  which  I 
 have  put  in  thine  hand:  but  "  I  will  harden  his 
 heart,  that  he  .shall  not  let  the  people  go. 
 
 22  And  thou  shalt  say  unto  Pharaoh,  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord,  '  Israel  is  my  son,  'even  my 
 firstborn  : 
 
 23  And  I  say  unto  thee.  Let  my  son  go,  that 
 he  may  serve  me :  and  if  thou  refuse  to  let  him 
 go,  behold,  ^  I  will  slay  thy  son,  even  thy  first- 
 born. 
 
 24  t  And  it  came  to  pass  by  the  way  in  the 
 inn,  that  the  Lord  '  met  him,  and  sought  to 
 I"  kill  him. 
 
 2.5  Then  Zipporah  took  ''a  sharp  ||  stone,  and 
 cut  oft'  the  foreskin  of  her  son,  and  f  cast  it  at 
 his  feet,  and  said,  Surely  a  bloody  husband  art 
 
 Mat.  g.  20. 
 
 I  ch.  3.  20. 
 u  ch.  7.  3, 
 
 13.  &  9.  12. 
 
 S5.  ft  II).  1. 
 
 &  H   ». 
 
 Dent.  2.  .30 
 
 Jnsh-  U.20 
 
 Is.  6.S    17. 
 
 Ji.hn  12..W. 
 
 Rnm,  9.  18. 
 X  Has,  n.l- 
 
 Rom.  9.  ■!. 
 
 2  Cor.  6  Is. 
 y  Jer.  31.  9 
 
 J«m.   1.  18. 
 .-ch.  11.5. 
 
 &  12.  29. 
 
 I  Num.  2S. 
 22. 
 
 ft  Gen.lT.I't.. 
 c  Josh -5. 2,3 
 
 II  Or,  fci./c. 
 t  Heb.  made 
 
 it  touch. 
 
 d  ver.  14. 
 I  ch.  3. 1. 
 
 /"ver.  15,  16 
 ;  ;'  ver.  8,  9. 
 
 *  cli    3,  19. 
 
 ver,  S.  9. 
 /ch.  3.  16. 
 t,»  ch.  2.  £5. 
 
 &3.  7. 
 «  Gen  2t.26. 
 
 ch.  12.  27. 
 
 IChr, 29.20. 
 
 thou  to  me. 
 
 2G  So  he  let  him  go:  then  she  said,  A  bloody 
 hu.sband  thou  art,  because  of  the  circumcision. 
 
 27  t  And  the  Loud  said  to  Aaron,  Go  into 
 the  wilderness  ''  to  meet  Moses.  And  he  went, 
 and  met  him  in  °  the  mount  of  God,  and  kissed 
 him. 
 
 28  And  Moses  'told  Aaron  all  the  words  of 
 the  Lord  who  had  sent  him,  and  all  the  ^  signs 
 which  he  had  commanded  hiin. 
 
 29  t  And  Mosesand  Aaron  ""went  and  gathered 
 together  all  the  elders  of  the  children  of  Israel : 
 
 30  '  And  Aaron  spake  all  the  words  which 
 the  Lord  had  .spoken  unto  Moses,  and  did  the 
 signs  in  the  sight  of  the  people. 
 
 31  And  the  people  'believed:  and  when 
 they  heard  that  the  Lord  had  '  visited  the 
 children  of  Israel,  and  that  he  "'  had  looked 
 upon  their  affliction,  then  "  they  bowed  their 
 heads  and  worshipped. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Pharaoh  chideth  Moses  and  Aaron  for  iheir  messape, 
 5  He  increascth  the  Israelite's  task.  15  He  ducketh 
 thtir  cunipl lints.  19  Thei/  cry  out  upon  Mosts  and 
 Aaron.     22   Moses  rnmplaincth  to  God. 
 
 A  ND  afterward  Moses  and  Aaron  went  in, 
 •^~*-  and  told  Pharaoh,  Thus  saith  the  Loud 
 God  of  Israel,  Let  my  people  go,  that  they 
 may  liold  ^  a  feast  nnto  nie  in  tlie  wilderness. 
 
 *2  And  Pharaoh  said,  ^  Who  is  the  Lord  that  I 
 should  obey  his  voice  to  let  Israel  go  ?  I  know 
 not  the  Lord,  *^  neither  will  1  let  Israel  go. 
 
 Bonthr.  20.  Upon  an  ass — the  Sept.  read  '  asses.*  21 .  7  will  harden — 
 the  Hebrew  words  used  on  this  occasion  often  signify  a  bare  permis- 
 sion, and  the  translation  should  have  been,  '  I  shall  suffer  his  heart  to 
 be  hardened.' — Univ.  Hist. ;  so  Boot hr.  See  Gen.  xxiv.  1/.  Pharaoh, 
 left  to  his  own  bent,  made  his  own  heart  stubborn,  'chap.  ix.  34  ) — 
 Boothr.  22.  Firstborn,  most  dear  above  all  people,  as  the  first  born 
 commonly  among  children,  Gcd  having  adopted  them  as  his  peculiar 
 people.  Thus  God  speaks  of  David,  (Ps.  Ixxxix.  2/.) — Pat,  24.  Inn, 
 properly,  resting  place. — Shvckf.  To  kill  Aim,  the  child,  say  some,  fnr 
 in  Gen.  xvii.  14,  the  uncircumcised  child  was  to  he  cut  off  from  his 
 people.  Moses  neglecting  this,  exposed  the  child  to  be  cut  off. — A.  C. 
 To  icill  Moses,  who,  for  neglect  of  circumcising  his  son,  was  guilty  of 
 cutting:  off,  by  the  law  of  God,  fGen.  xvii.  14.) — Ains.,  Poole,  Gill.  So 
 Patrick  a-nd  Boothrnr/d  think  verses  25  and  26  ought  immediately  to 
 follow  verse  20,  which  would  clearly  point  out  Moses  rather  than  the 
 child.  Bp.  Halt  thinks  some  sudden  disease  assSiWed  Moses.  Brt/nnt 
 is  of  opinion  that  Moses'  Cuthite  wife  had  been  a  hindrance  to  the  per- 
 formance of  the  rite,  but  seeing  her  husband  in  danger,  she  hastily 
 performed  it,  saying,  *  a  bloody  husband.'  &c.  There  being  no  ante- 
 cedent, makes  the  passage  difficult.  The  cutting  off,  in  Gen.  xvii., 
 after  all,  may  only  mean  deprivation  of  privileges,  and  not  of  life ; 
 ranking  among  the  heathen.  The  displeasure  of  God  here  is  of  an 
 extraordinary  kind,  whether  applied  to  parent  or  child,  but  the  passage 
 in  Genesis  certainly  applies  rather  to  the  uncircumcised  child  than  to 
 the  parent ;  the  placing  the  verses  as  suggested  by  Patrick  and  Buothr. 
 
 can  alone  make  the  punishment  applicable  to  Moses,  except  that  he 
 would,  as  every  parent  must,  have  been  punished  in  the  death  of  his 
 offspring  from  an  awful  neglect  of  a  sacred  command.  —  See  Evan. 
 Si/nop.  25.  A  sharp  stone,  a  Hint  with  a  keen  edge  ;  commonly  used 
 by  the  Jews  and  other  nations  on  these  occasions. — Rosenm.  A  bloody 
 hashand,  as  above,  the  language  of  rcproac/t. — Bri/.,  Sut.  Some  think 
 the  language  of  affection,  as  having  anew  espoused  her  husband  by 
 having  circumcised  her  son. — Scott.  'J  blood-bought  husband,'*  affec- 
 tionately expressed. — So  Ged.,  Boothr.  '  Thou  art  to  me  a  joyful  dr. 
 ctancised  so«.' — Mede,  Unit.'.  Hist.  Some  make  Zipporah  to  call  the 
 cliild  her  husband,  agreeably  to  a  custom  of  the  Jews,  but  mn,  the 
 word  used  here,  means  son-in-law,  as  1  Sam.  xviii.  ]S,  if  not  used  for 
 husband,  and  does  not  clear  up  the  difficulty.  26.  Because  of  the 
 circmncisinn — the  Hebrew  is  circutncisions,  that  is,  of  her  two  sons ; 
 perhaps  both  now  circunicir^ed.  though  not  so  expressed. — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  V. — 1.  Hold  a  fensf,  or  t^ffer  a  sacrifice,  (so  ver.  3,  and  chap. 
 X.  9,)  for  both  went  together,  and  a  good  part  of  many  sacrifices  was 
 spent  in  feasting,  before  the  Lord,  and  unto  the  honour  of  the  Lord* 
 (see  Dent.  xii.  6,  7. 1 1.  !-■) — Poole.  The  ivilderness,  of  Sinai,  at  Horeb* 
 out  of  the  way  of  distiu-bance  by  the  Egyptians. ^Gi7/.  2.  Who  is  the 
 Lord? — '  1  am  sovereign  lord  of  Egypt,  and  1  own  no  superior  here.' — 
 Poole.  This  was  a  name  he  never  heard  before,  and,  being  pronounced, 
 proves  it  was  not  ineffable,  or  unlawful  to  be  pronounced,  as  say  the 
 Jews. — Gill.  He  owned  no  gods  but  those  of  Egypt. — So  ,4.  Clarke. 
 The  mythology  of  the  GentUes  supposed  every  city  and  country  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV. —  I.  We  may  here  remark  on 
 the  evidence  of  miracl'S.  By  these,  Moses'  divine  mission  was 
 to  be  attested.  So  also  was  the  divine  mission  of  Christ.  Thus 
 the  law  and  the  gospel  alike  received  the  divine  impress,  as 
 comint;  from  on  high.  Infidels  ask  for  the  same  evidence  now  ; 
 but  would  they  believe  \  It  was  at  ihe  first  establishment  of 
 the  law  and  the  gospel  that  God  especially  wrought  those 
 miracles,  which,  being  well  attested,  would,  in  all  ages,  bear 
 testimony  to  his  truth.  But  if  he  thus  condescended  to  stamp 
 them  with  indubitable  authority  for  the  sake  of  man,  he  is  not 
 to  be  expected  to  work  such  miracles  every  day.  And  if  be 
 did,  would  not  many,  like  the  scribes  and  pharisees  of  old, 
 in  the  blindness  of  their  hearts,  attribute  them  to  any  cause 
 rather  than  the  Great  First  Cause,  and  still  continue  unbe- 
 lievers? '  If  they  hear  not  Moses  and  the  prophets,  neither 
 will  they  he  persuaded  though  one  rose  from  the  dead.'  Yet 
 if  there  are  no  miracles  of  a  like  kind  now  with  those  wrought 
 by  Moses,  and  by  Christ  and  his  apostles,  there  are  still  mira- 
 culous evidences  enough  to  support  the  truth  of  revelation. 
 What  if,  the  existence  of  the  Jews  as  a  distinct  nation  among 
 all  nations,  as  recorded  in  the  predictions  of  their  own  oracles, 
 but  a  standing  miracle  to  teach  the  whole  world?  What  is 
 the  preservation  of  the  Scriptures,  for  thousands  of  years, 
 amidst  so  many  efforts  to  destroy  them — while  the  most  pre- 
 
 cious  manuscripts  of  antiquity  have  been  lost  for  ever — but  a 
 standing  miracle  of  the  care  of  God  over  tbeir  hallowed  pages  ? 
 What  is  the  uniform  effect  produced  by  ihe  preaching  of  the 
 Gospel  in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  which  no  other  means 
 could  accomplish,  but  a  standing  miracle  performed  on  the 
 dark,  rebellious,  obstinate  mind,  by  the  same  Si-irit  which  at 
 the  first  creation  said,  '  Let  there  be  light,  and  there  was 
 light'?  What,  in  fact,  is  every  renewed  man,  but  a  standing 
 miracle  of  the  Divine  origin  of  the  Word  of  God,  from  its 
 transforming;  power  upon  his  heart  and  life?  What  is  the 
 gradual  fulfilment  of  prophecy  in  the  decrease  of  error  and 
 superstition,  and  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  among  all  nations, 
 but  a  standing  miracle  now  worked  before  our  eyes  ?  It  is  not 
 tlie  want  of  evidence,  but  the  proneness  to  unbelief,  which 
 prevents  men  from  receiving  '  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.* 
 
 11.  NVe  may  remark  furthpr,  on  the  importance  of  ordinances. 
 God  marks  their  neglect.  That  ungodly  men  should  neglect 
 ihem  is  not  surprising  ;  but  that  any  professing  to  know  God 
 should  pretend  to  rise  superior  to  them,  and  be  guilty  of  the 
 neglect  of  thera,  is  truly  lamentable.  Such  neglect  will  meet 
 with  severe  chastisement  in  this  world,  or  awful  punishment 
 in  the  next,  and  generally  ends  in  apostasy.  '  Let  biro  that 
 thinketb  he  standeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall.' 
 
The  Israelites'  task  increased. 
 
 EXODUS,  VI. 
 
 God  reneu'elh  his  promise. 
 
 3  And  they  said,  ^  The  God  of  the  Hebrews 
 hath  met  with  us :  let  us  go,  we  pray  thee, 
 three  days'  journey  into  tlie  desert,  and  sacri- 
 fice unto  the  Loud  our  God  ;  lest  he  fall  upon 
 us  with  pestilence,  or  with  the  sword. 
 
 4  And  the  king  of  Egypt  said  unto  them. 
 Wherefore  do  ye,  Moses  and  Aaron,  let  the 
 people  from  their  works?  get  you  unto  your 
 *■  burdens. 
 
 ,5  And  Pharaoh  said.  Behold,  the  people  of 
 the  land  now  are  '  many,  and  ye  make  them 
 rest  from  their  burdens. 
 
 6  And  Pharaoh  commanded  the  same  day 
 the  "  taskmasters  of  the  people,  and  their 
 officers,  saying, 
 
 7  Ye  sliall  no  more  give  the  people  straw  to 
 make  brick,  as  heretofore :  let  them  go  and 
 gather  straw  for  themselves. 
 
 8  And  t\ie  tale  of  the  bricks,  which  they  did 
 make  heretofore,  ye  sliall  lay  upon  them  :  ye 
 shall  not  diminish  ou</kt  thereof :  for  they  b 
 idle  ;  therefore  they  cry,  saying.  Let  us  go  and 
 sacrifice  to  our  God. 
 
 9  t  Let  there  more  work  be  laid  upon  the 
 men,  that  they  may  labour  therein  ;  and  let 
 them  not  regard  vain  words. 
 
 10  H  And  the  taskmasters  of  the  people  went 
 ont,  and  their  officers,  and  they  spake  to  the 
 people,  saying,  Thus  saith  Pharaoh,  I  will  nol 
 give  yon  straw. 
 
 1 1  Go  ye,  get  you  straw  where  ye  can  find  it : 
 yet  not  ought  of  yoiir  work  shall  he  diminished. 
 
 12  So  the  people  were  scattered  abroad 
 throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt  to  gather 
 stubble  instead  of  straw 
 
 13  And  the  taskmasters  hasted  thetn,  saying. 
 Fulfil  your  works,  t/oiir  f  daily  tasks,  as  when 
 there  was  straw. 
 
 14  And  the  officers  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
 which  Pharaoh's  taskmasters  had  set  over 
 them,  were  beaten,  and  demanded.  Wherefore 
 have  ye  not  fulfilled  your  task  in  making  brick 
 both  yesterday  and  to  day,  as  heretoforeV 
 
 1 5  1[  Then  the  officers  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 came  and  cried  unto  Pharaoh,  saying,  Where- 
 
 B,  C.  H'JI. 
 d  ch.  3    13. 
 
 S  ch.  I.  II 
 
 ltr,.fa,l„s 
 
 t  Hel).  to 
 
 Xtillk. 
 
 Gen.  M  .SO 
 I  Sum.  ISA 
 &  27.  \i 
 2Si„ii  111  (J. 
 
 t  Hob.  rf'7('- 
 hnst  imf  lie. 
 
 Ach.   II.   I. 
 
 fc  l-i.  3l,:i3, 
 39. 
 II  Or.JEHO- 
 
 e  Oe.i    17.1. 
 
 &  :-5.  II.  & 
 
 4  a   .S. 
 d  ch.  3.  li. 
 
 Ps.  1,8-  -1.  Ik 
 
 fore  dealest  thou  thus  with  thy  servants? 
 
 16  There  is  no  straiv  given  unto  thy  servants, 
 and  they  say  to  us.  Make  brick  :  and,  behold, 
 thy  servants  are  beaten  ;  but  the  fault  is  in 
 thine  own  people. 
 
 17  But  he  said.  Ye  are  idle,  ye  are  idle: 
 therefore  ye  say,  Let  us  go  and  do  sacrifice  to 
 the  Lord. 
 
 1 8  Go  therefore  now,  and  work  ;  for  there 
 shall  no  straw  be  given  you,  yet  shall  ye  de- 
 liver the  tale  of  bricks. 
 
 19  And  the  officers  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 did  see  that  they  were  in  evil  case,  after  it 
 was  said.  Ye  shall  not  minish  oicfjht  from  your 
 bricks  of  your  daily  task. 
 
 20  f  And  they  met  Moses  and  Aaron,  who 
 stood  in  the  way,  as  they  came  forth  from 
 Pharaoh : 
 
 21  '•  And  they  said  unto  them,  The  Loed 
 look  upon  you,  and  judge ;  because  ye  have 
 made  our  savour  f  to  be  abhorred  in  the  eyes 
 of  Pharaoh,  and  in  the  eyes  of  his  servants,  to 
 put  a  sword  in  their  hand  to  slay  us. 
 
 22  And  Moses  returned  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 said.  Lord,  wherefore  hast  thou  so  evil  entreated 
 this  people?  why  is  it  tliat  thou  hast  sent  me? 
 
 23  For  since  I  came  to  Pharaoh  to  speak  in 
 thy  name,  he  hath  done  evil  to  this  people ; 
 t  neither  hast  thou  delivered  thy  people  at  all. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  God  reneiceth  his  promise  h/  his  name  JEH  0  VAH. 
 14  The  ptneah'iy  of  lieuhen,  15  of  Siniion,  \6  of 
 Levi,  of  IV horn  came  Aluses  and  Aarofi. 
 
 T^HEN  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Nowshalt 
 -■-  thou  see  what  I  will  do  to  Pharaoh  :  for 
 ''with  a  strong  band  shall  he  let  them  go,  and 
 with  a  strong  hand  ^  shall  he  drive  them  out  of 
 his  land. 
 
 2  And  God  spake  unto  Moses,  and  said  unto 
 him,  I  aj7i  \\  the  Lord  : 
 
 3  And  I  appeared  unto  Abraham,  unto  Isaac, 
 and  unto  Jacob,  by  the  iiame  q/'*^God  Almighty, 
 but  by  my  name  ^JEHOVAH  was  I  not  known 
 to  them. 
 
 have  its  own  god  or  goddess.  3.  Three  days*  jonrnft/,  the  distance 
 to  Horeh. — Sut.  Distances  in  countries  where  there  are  no  public 
 mads  are  calculated  hy  the  time  spent  in  travelling. — Boothr.  4.  Let^ 
 '  to  hinder  ;'  an  old  Saxon  word.  h.  Are  manif — he  probably  feared  that, 
 if  released  from  labour,  they  would  unite  in  a  lebellion.— (J(7/.  6.  Tnsk- 
 masters — njfirers — ihe  former,  Egyptians,  (chap.  i.  11,  13  ;i  the  latter, 
 Hebrews,  (ver.  Hof  thischap.)  Ihese  taskmasters  were  similar  in  cha- 
 racter to  the  slave-drivers  of  the  West  Indies;  they  often  appear  on 
 the  monuments  armed  with  fnrniiilKble  whips,  and  the  slaves  crouch 
 before  them  in  tenor. — See  CitUiinnd^s  Rerherches  sur  les  Artes,  ^c,  de 
 VEgnpte,  The  officers  were,  probably,  like  the  chiefs  or  overseers  of 
 trades,  common  in  the  east,  and  answerable  for  their  conduct. — Green/., 
 Nieh.     See  ver.   10,  note.  7.  Slmw  to  make  brick— Wvq  Egyptian 
 
 ]iyramid  of  nnbiirnt  brick  seems  to  be  made  of  the  earth  brought  by  the 
 Nile  ;  it  is  mi.ted  up  with  chopped  straw  in  order  to  bind  the  clay  to- 
 gether, as  they  now  make  unbnrnt  bricks  in  Egypt  and  in  the  east. — 
 Pocock.  8.  The  tale  uf  the  bricks— hence  it  seems  their  daily  task 
 was  such  a  number  of  bricks.  10.  Officn's — these  were  secretaries  or 
 clerks,  who  took  an  account  of  all  public  and  piiva'e  revenues.  They 
 are  ron'^tantly  exhibited  on  Egyptian  monuments,  and  marked  by  the 
 artists  as  very  shrewd  and  cunning. — See  Cfiil/iund.  \\,  Get  ijou 
 straw — the  king  provided  it  before.        12.  Stubble,  left  in  the  fields 
 
 after  tiie  corn  was  gathered.  Beii  Metech  and  Khnchi  say  the  word 
 means  '  small  straw,'  or  *  small  sticks;'  and  if  so,  tliis  was  for  fuel.— 
 Gill.  The  Egyptians  cut  ofif  the  ears  and  left  the  straw. — See  CaiUiaud. 
 14.  Beaten,  probably  bastinadoed,  tlie  common  puni'^hmentin  Egypt  to 
 this  day. — A.  Clarke.  The  usual  punishment  for  negligent  slaves  was 
 to  extend  the  unfortunate  wretch  at  fnll  length,  with  his  face  to  the 
 ground;  his  hands  and  feet  were  held  by  his  fellow-captives,  and  an 
 executioner  beat  him  with  rods  until  the  anger  of  the  overseer  was 
 satisfied, — See  Caifliaud.  In  Persia  persons  ot  all  ranks  are  beaten  by 
 order  of  their  superiors  ;  and  China  is  said  to  be  governed  by  the  stick. 
 —Pict.  Bib.        22.  E}Hl  entreated,  or  '  afilicted.'— Gi7^ 
 
 Chap.  VI.— 1.  With  a  strong  hand,  nplH  TS,  'because  of  a  strong 
 hand.' — Jar.  This  means  sovereign  power. — Evan.  Synvp.  3.  Je- 
 hovah  was  I  not  known — hut  this  name  was  known,  (see  Gen.  xv.  6 — 8j 
 xxvi.  2,  24 ;  xxviii,  13.)  Hence  Locke  renders  it,  'Was  I  not  also  made 
 known  unto  them?'  The  negative  particle  H'j  is  thus  read  interroga- 
 tively.— Ed.  Williams  says,  *  How  does  the  God  of  Israel  make  him- 
 self known  as  Jehovah  ?  "  Jkhovah  is  known  by  the  judgment  which 
 he  executeth,"  (Ps.  ix.  I6;  cv.  7;)  therefore,  in  executing  signal  judg- 
 ments, to  shew  his  supremacy,  it  is  often  repeated,  "they  shall  know 
 that  I  am  Jehovah,"  (see  chap.  vii.  5,  17  ;  xx.  2.)  The  patriarchs  had 
 not  seen  *'  his  marvellous  works  in  Egypt,  nor  his  wonders  in  the  land 
 
 Reflfctions  on   Chap.  V L  In  the  lancjitage  of  Pharaoh 
 
 we  see  that  of  every  ungodly  man — *  Wbo  is  the'LoVd,  ibat  I 
 should  ol>ey  hira  ?'  Some  aru  daring  enough  to  express  such 
 language  with  the  tongue,  but  thousands  utter  it  with  tbeir 
 hearts.  Those  who  despise,  neglect,  and  oppose  the  sacred 
 authority  of  God's  word,  and  disregard  his  commandments, 
 virtually  adopt  this  awful  language  of  Pharaoh.  Are  any  in  our 
 own  family  so  hardened  ?  May  the  Spirit  of  God  subdue  their 
 rebellious  spirits,  and  turn  the  heart  of  stone  to  a  heart  of 
 flesh,  and  so  cause  them  to  walk  in  his  statutes,  and  to  keep 
 bisjudgments,  and  do  them  ! 
 
 II.  In  the  bondage  of  the  hradites  in  Enm)t,  we  see  the  state  of 
 07 
 
 God's  people  before  he  dilivcrs  them.  They  are  in  bondage  of 
 spirit ;  they  labour  for  a  hard  master  ;  they  are  the  '  servants 
 of  sin,'  *  tied  and  bound  with  the  chains  of  their  sins.'  With 
 this  they  remain  even  contented  till  God  calls  them  to  shake 
 off  tbeir  toils  and  serve  him.  By  his  miraculous  power  alone 
 they  must  be  delivered,  and  brought  into  '  the  glorious  liberty 
 of  the  sons  of  God.' 
 
 III.  In  the  covdiict  of  Moses  in  appealing  to  God  in  his  per- 
 ph.ritt/,  we  are  instructed  to  cast  our  bvrdms  on  ihe  LorJ.  Prayer 
 is  the  best  relief  in  all  our  labours,  difficulties,  and  afttictions. 
 And  we  do  not  call  upon  a  God  that  cannot  help  us.  but  a  God 
 hearing  and  answering  prayer. 
 
The  genealogies  of  lieuben,  §-c. 
 
 4  *  And  I  have  also  established  my  covenant 
 with  them,  '  to  give  them  the  land  of  Canaan, 
 the  land  of  their  pilgrimage,  wherein  they  were 
 strangers. 
 
 5  And  «  I  have  also  heard  the  groaning  of  the 
 children  of  Israel,  whom  the  Egyptians  keep  in 
 bondage  ;  and  I  have  remembered  my  covenant. 
 
 6  Wherefore  say  unto  the  children  of  Israel, 
 •>  I  am  the  Lord,  and  '  I  will  bring  you  out 
 from  under  the  burdens  of  the  Egyptians,  and 
 I  will  rid  you  out  of  their  bondage,  and  I  will 
 '  redeem  you  with  a  stretched  out  arm,  and 
 with  great  judgments  : 
 
 7  And  I  wiir  '  take  you  to  me  for  a  people, 
 and  '"  I  will  be  to  you  a  God :  and  ye  shall 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord  your  God,  which 
 brinaeth  you  out  "  from  under  the  burdens  of 
 the  Egyptians. 
 
 8  And  I  will  bring  you  in  unto  the  land,  con- 
 cerning the  which  1  did  t°  swear  to  give  it  to 
 Abraham,  to  Isaac,  and  to  Jacob ;  and  I  will 
 give  it  you  for  an  heritage  :  I  um  the  Lord. 
 
 9  If  And  Moses  spake  so  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel:  ''but  they  hearkened  not  unto  Moses 
 for  t  anguish  of  spirit,  and  for  cruel  bondage. 
 
 10  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 1 1  Go  in,  speak  unto  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt, 
 that  he  let  the  children  of  Israel  go  out  of  his 
 land. 
 
 1 2  And  ISIoses  spake  before  the  Lord,  saying, 
 Behold,  the  children  of  Israel  have  ^  not  heark- 
 ened unto  me  ;  how  then  shall  Pharaoh  hear 
 me,  'who  am  of  uncircumcised  lips? 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  unto 
 Aaron,  and  gave  them  a  charge  unto  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  and  unto  Pharaoh  king  of 
 Egypt,  to  bring  the  children  of  Israel  out  of 
 the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 14  t  These  bi:  the  heads  of  their  fathers' 
 houses  :  '  The  sons  of  Reuben  the  firstborn  of 
 Israel ;  Hanoch,  and  Pallu,  Hezron,  and  Canui : 
 these  be  the  families  of  Reuben. 
 
 1.5  'And  the  sons  of  Simeon;  .Tenniel,  and 
 Jamin,  and  Ohad,  and  Jachin,  and  Zohar,  and 
 Shaul  the  son  of  a  Canaanitish  woman :  these 
 are  the  families  of  Simeon. 
 
 IG  1  And  these  arc  the  names  of  "  the  sons 
 of  Levi  according  to  their  generations  ;  Ger- 
 shon,  and  Kohath,  and  Merari :  and  the  years 
 of  the  life  of  Levi  were  an  hundred  thirty  and 
 seven  vears. 
 
 17  "  the  sons  of  Gershon  ;  Libni,  and  Shimi, 
 according  to  their  families. 
 
 18  And  ^  the  sons  of  Kohath;  Amram,  and 
 Izhat,  and  Hebron,  and  Uzziel :  and  the  years 
 of  the  life  of  Kohath  were  an  hundred  thirty 
 
 EXODUS,  VII. 
 
 Moses  encouraged  to  go  to  Pharaoh. 
 
 ?  ch.  2.  24. 
 
 ft  vpr  2,  R,29 
 .  .-h.  3.  17.  & 
 7, 1  Deu  26. 
 
 5  Ps  81.  6. 
 
 6  l:i6.IJ,12. 
 Arh.  15.  IS. 
 
 Deut.  7.  8. 
 
 IChr.lT.'JI. 
 
 Neh  1.  10, 
 /  ne«it.4-!;0. 
 
 &  7  6  &  14 
 
 2.  &  2ti.  IS 
 
 2  Sam  7.-:-l. 
 m  Gen.  17-7, 
 
 8   ch. 29.45, 
 
 46  Deul.29. 
 
 13  Rev.  21. 
 
 7. 
 N  ell.  S.  4,  5 
 
 Ps.  SI.  ti. 
 f  Heb  Uftiip 
 
 my  /,o.,d. 
 
 SeeGen  H. 
 
 22.     Deut. 
 
 S2.  40, 
 (.Geo   15-lS- 
 
 A  26  3  »:  28- 
 
 13,  .V  35   12, 
 ;.  ch.  5.  21. 
 t  Heb,  Ann- 
 
 J  ver,  9, 
 
 i<  Geo  46.11. 
 Num  S.  17. 
 lChr.6,1,16. 
 
 :  1  Clir.  6. 
 19.  &23.21. 
 
 I.  ch.  2.  1,2. 
 Num.2&  5B. 
 
 6  Nnm  16  J. 
 I  Clir,  6,  37, 
 38, 
 
 ■  Lev,  10-4, 
 Num,  8  SO. 
 cir,  15S0, 
 
 rfRuth4  19, 
 
 20.  1  Chr  2. 
 
 10, Mat. I  4. 
 
 Lev,  10.  1, 
 
 Num,  3   2, 
 
 &  26,  60, 
 
 I  Chr.  6.  8. 
 
 f>c  24.  1. 
 ^Num.  26. 
 
 II. 
 
 g  Num.  25, 
 7,  II,  Josh, 
 24.83. 
 
 i  ch,  7,  4  & 
 
 12,  17.  51, 
 
 Num,  SS.  1. 
 
 1491, 
 
 k  ch,  5.  1,  3. 
 
 &  7.  10. 
 /  «er.  IS, 
 
 ch.  32.  7,  ft 
 
 83.  I. 
 
 r«.  77.  20, 
 
 n  ver,  8. 
 
 1  Tec    II. 
 ch.  7.  8. 
 
 12. 
 \.  10. 
 
 Jer,  I,  10, 
 &ch,4,  IG, 
 
 and  three  years. 
 
 1 9  And  ^  the  sons  of  'Merari  ;  Mahali  and 
 Mushi :  these  are  the  familes  of  Levi  accord- 
 ing to  their  generations. 
 
 •20  And  "  Amram  took  him  Jochebed  his 
 father's  sister  to  wife  ;  and  she  bare  him  Aaron 
 and  Moses  :  and  the  years  of  the  life  of  Amram 
 were  an  hundred  and  thirty  and  seven  years. 
 
 •21  1[  And  ''the  sons  of  Izliar ;  Korah,  and 
 Nepheg,  and  Zithri. 
 
 •l-l  And  '  the  sons  of  Uzziel ;  Mishael,  and 
 Elzaphan,  and  Zithri. 
 
 •2.3  And  Aaron  took  him  Elisheba,  daughter 
 of  ''  Amminadab,  sister  of  Naashon,  to  wife ; 
 and  she  bare  him  "  Nadab,  and  Abihu,  Eleazar, 
 and  Ithamar. 
 
 24  And  the  '  sons  of  Korah  ;  Assir,  and  El- 
 kanah,  and  Abiasaph  :  these  are  the  families  of 
 the  Korhites. 
 
 25  And  Eleazar  Aaron's  son  took  him  one  of 
 the  daughters  of  Putiel  to  wife  ;  and  ^she  bare 
 him  Phinehas :  these  are  the  heads  of  the  fa- 
 thers of  the  Levites  according  to  their  families. 
 
 26  These  are  that  Aaron  and  Moses,  '■  to 
 whom  the  Lord  said.  Bring  out  the  children 
 of  Israel  from  the  land  of  Egypt  according  to 
 their  '  armies. 
 
 27  These  are  they  which  '  spake  to  Pharaoh 
 king  of  Egypt,  '  to  bring  out  the  children  of 
 Israel  from  Egypt :  these  are  that  Moses  and 
 Aaron. 
 
 28  1[  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  day  when 
 the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  in  the  land  of 
 Egypt, 
 
 29  That  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 ■"  I  am  the  Lord  :  "  Speak  thou  iinto  Pharaoh 
 king  of  Egypt  all  tliat  I  say  unto  thee. 
 
 30  And  Moses  said  before  the  Lord,  Behold, 
 °  I  am  of  uncircumcised  lips,  and  how  shall 
 Pharaoh  hearken  unto  me  ? 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  Moacs  is  encourmjtd  to  go  to  Pharaoh.  7  His  age. 
 8  His  rod  is  turned  into  a  S"rpriit.  1 1  T/ie  sorcerers 
 do  thf  like,  V^  Pharaoh's  heart  is  hardened.  14  God's 
 message  to  Pharaoh.  19  The  river  is  turned  into 
 blood. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lono  said  unto  Moses,  See,  I  have 
 -^^  made  thee  "  a  god  to  Pharaoh  :  and  Aaron 
 thy  brother  shall  be  "  thy  prophet. 
 
 2  Thou  '^shalt  speak  all  that  1  command 
 thee  :  and  Aaron  thy  brother  shall  speak  unto 
 Pharaoh,  that  he  send  the  children  of  Israel 
 out  of  his  land. 
 
 ;3  And  **  I  will  harden  Pharaoh's  heart,  and 
 "multiply  my  *"  signs  and  my  wonders  in  the 
 land  of  Egypt. 
 
 of  Ham,"  (Ps.  cv.  27.)  To  know  God  by  his  name  Jr.nnvAH  was  to 
 witness  a  display  ol  his  power  and  plory.'  8.  I  did  swenr,  or  Mift 
 up  my  hand.'  n*  pN  'nWlI33.  '  l''"">'i  mnm/m  meum.' — Pag.,  Mont. 
 This  was  the  gesHire  used  in  swearing,  (Gen.  xiv.  22.)  g.  Fur  an- 
 guish ofsp}rit,  rm  nUpr?,  'f'>r  shortness  of  breath  ;'  being  so  pressed 
 with  labour  that  thev  had  scarcely  time  to  breathe.— GiW,  so  J.  Clarke. 
 12.  Uncircumcised  lips,  meaning:  he  wanted  eloquence;  the  Hebrews 
 calling  those  parts  uncircumcised  which  were  inept  for  their  intended 
 use,  {see  Jer.  vi.  lO;  ix.  '2IJ;  Acts,  vii.  51.)  14.  Heads,  ''1C^*^,  'chiefs,' 
 ■or  •  captains.'—.^.  Clarke.  16.  The  life  of  Le'n—he  survived  Joseph 
 tventy-seven  years,  though  much  tlie  elder.    The  ages  of  these  only 
 
 are  recorded. — Pat.  20.  His  father^s  sister,  yrvn— Poole.  A.  Clarke, 
 and,  after  hnn,  Williams  and  SutcUffe,  say,  cousin,  a.i\^  not  sister,  the 
 word  being  so  used  Jer.  xxxii.  8  ;  but  Patrick  and  Gill  coufirra  the 
 reading  of  the  test  by  referring  to  Numb,  xxvi,  59,  where  she  ts  ex- 
 pressly said  to  be,  *l'5*n3,  '  the  daughter  of  Levi,'  born  to  him  in  Egypt. 
 Poole,  however,  observes,  that  niecps  are  often  called  daughters. 
 Boothroyd  reads,  '  Jochebed,  liis  uncle's  daughter.'  So  the  Greek  and 
 Syriac.  23.  Elisheba,  '  Elizabeth.'  Sept.  The  Greeks  altered  names 
 for  the  sake  of  euphony,  or  at,'reeahle  pronunciation. — So  Sut. 
 
 Chap.  Vil.— 1.  Made   thee  a   g-orf— endowed   him  with  paramount 
 authority. — So  Scott.     *  Invested  thee  with  godlike  powers  tu  save  aud 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  I.  How  condescending  is  God, 
 who  so  often  repeats  his  promises  to  his  servants.  He  knows  their 
 weaknesses  and  their  discouragements,  and  be  meets  them 
 again  and  again,  leaving  not  the  shadow  of  ground  for  doubt. 
 Amidst  iheir  groanings,  be  prepares  them  a  goodly  inheritance, 
 for  which  thpir  discipline  sbouhl  qujilify  them  ;  and  '  the  heirs 
 of  the  promise'  have  their  inheritance  even  confirmed  by  the 
 ottth  of  an  unchans^eable  God;  so  that  there  is  '  strong  conso- 
 
 lation'  for  those  *  who  have  fled  for  refuge,  to  lay  hold  upon  the 
 hope  set  before  us.' 
 
 II.  Vet,  even  amidst  the  strongest  encouragements,  owr  hearts  are 
 too  prone  to  fairit.  '  Anguish  of  spirit'  overcomes  us.  If  Pha- 
 rauh  provoked  God  by  his  obstinacy,  Israel  were  not  less  pro- 
 voking by  their  unbelief.  Yet  bow  he  endured  with  his 
 people  !  and  still  he  bears  with  them,  and  listens  to  every 
 <ri-o:m. 
 
The  age  of  Moses. 
 
 EXODUS,  VII. 
 
 The  river  is  turned  into  blood. 
 
 4  But  Pharaoh  shall  not  hearken  unto  you, 
 ^  that  I  may  lay  my  hand  upon  E<,'ypt,  and 
 bring  forth  mine  armies,  and  my  people  the 
 children  of  Israel,  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  ^  by 
 great  judgments, 
 
 3  And  the  Egyptians  'shall  know  that  I  am 
 the  Lord,  i^hen  I  ^  stretch  forth  mine  hand 
 upon  Egypt,  and  bring  out  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael from  among  them. 
 
 6  And  r^Ioses  and  Aaron  '  did  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  them,  so  did  they 
 
 7  And  Moses  was  ""fourscore  years  old,  and 
 Aaron  four  score  and  three  years  old,  when 
 they  spake  unto  Pharaoh. 
 
 8  1[  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
 unto  Aaron,  saying, 
 
 9  When  Pharaoh  shall  speak  unto  you,  say- 
 ing, ^  Shew  a  miracle  for  you  :  then  thou  shalt 
 say  unto  Aaron,  °  Take  thy  rod,  and  cast  it  be- 
 fore Pharaoh,  and  \i  shall  become  a  serpent. 
 
 10  If  And  Moses  and  Aaron  went  in  unto 
 Pharaoh,  and  they  did  so  *"  as  the  Lord  had 
 commanded :  and  Aaron  cast  down  his  rod 
 before  Pharaoh,  and  before  his  servants,  and  it 
 **  became  a  serpent. 
 
 11  The.u  Pharaoh  also  'called  the  wise  men 
 and  '  the  sorcerers  :  now  the  magicians  of 
 Egypt,  they  also  '  did  in  like  manner  with  their 
 enchantments. 
 
 I'2  For  they  cast  down  every  man  his  rod, 
 and  they  became  serpents  :  but  Aaron*s  rod 
 swallowed  up  their  rods. 
 
 13  And  he  hardened  Pharaoh's  heart,  that  he 
 hearkened  not  unto  them  ;  "as  the  Lord  had 
 said. 
 
 l-t  1[  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  ^  Pha- 
 raoh's heart  is  hardened,  he  refuseth  to  let  the 
 people  go. 
 
 15  Get  thee  unto  Pharaoh  in  the  morning; 
 lo,  he  goeth  out  unto  the  water  ;  and  thou 
 shalt  stand  by  the  river's  brink  against  he  come  ; 
 and  ^  the  rod  which  was  turned  to  a  serpent 
 shalt  thou  take  in  thine  hand. 
 
 i  ver.  17. 
 ch,  8.  22.  & 
 14   1,  18. 
 Ps   9.  16. 
 
 k  th.  3.  L'O. 
 
 1491, 
 
 ;Jl.  7.  Acra 
 7.  23,  30. 
 
 .,  To   7.  II. 
 Ji.lui  ?.  18. 
 ^  6   3it. 
 .  ch.  4.  2,17. 
 
 q  ch.  4.  3. 
 
 T  Gen.  41.8. 
 
 I  ch.  4.  21. 
 ver.  4. 
 
 j-ch.8.  15. 
 &  10,   1,  20, 
 
 y  ch.  4.  2,  3 
 
 &  ver.  10. 
 
 z  ch  3.  18. 
 a  ch  3.  12. 
 18.  Sc  5.  1,3. 
 
 b  ch.  5,  2. 
 ver.  5, 
 
 c  ch   4.  9. 
 '/Rev.lG.4,6. 
 
 /•ch.  B.  5,  6, 
 16,  &9.  22, 
 Mil  12,21, 
 &  14.  21,26. 
 
 f  Heb.  ?a- 
 
 their  Katrrt. 
 
 g  ch,  17.  5. 
 
 h  Ps   7S    41 
 &  103.  29. 
 
 k  vpr    II. 
 Wisd.17.7. 
 
 IG  And  thou  shalt  say  unto  him,  '  The  Lord 
 God  of  the  Hebrews  hath  sent  me  unto  thee, 
 saying.  Let  my  people  go,  ^  that  they  may  serve 
 me  in  the  wilderness:  and,  behold,  hitherto 
 thou  wouldest  not  hear. 
 
 17  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  In  this  *"  thou  shalt 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord  :  behold,  I  will  smite 
 with  the  rod  that  is  in  mine  hand  upon  the 
 waters  which  are  in  the  river,  and  '^  they  shall 
 be  turned  ^  to  blood. 
 
 18  And  the  fish  that  is  in  the  river  shall  die, 
 and  the  river  shall  stink  ;  and  the  Egyptians 
 shall  ^  lotlie  to  drink  of  the  water  of  the  river. 
 
 19  %  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  Say 
 unto  Aaron,  Take  thy  rod,  and  •'stretch  out 
 thine  hand  upon  the  waters  of  Egypt,  upon 
 their  streams,  upon  their  rivers,  and  upon  their 
 ponds,  and  upon  all  their  f  pools  of  water,  that 
 they  may  become  blood  ;  and  that  there  may 
 be  blood  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  both 
 in  vessels  of  wood,  and  in  vessels  of  stone. 
 
 20  And  Moses  and  Aaron  did  so,  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  ;  and  he  ^  lifted  up  the  rod,  and 
 smote  the  waters  that  zvere  in  the  river,  in  the 
 sight  of  Pharaoh,  and  in  the  sight  of  his  ser- 
 vants ;  and  all  the  ^  waters  that  were  m  the 
 river  were  turned  to  blood. 
 
 21  And  the  fish  that  ivas  In  the  river  died  ; 
 and  the  river  stank,  and  the  Egyptians  'could 
 not  drink  of  the  water  of  the  river ;  and  there 
 was  blood  throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 22  ''  And  the  magicians  of  Egypt  did  so  with 
 their  enchantments :  and  Pharaoh's  heart  was 
 hardened,  neither  did  he  hearken  unto  them  ; 
 '  as  the  Lord  had  said. 
 
 23  And  Pharaoh  turned  and  went  into  his 
 house,  neither  did  he  set  his  heart  to  this  also. 
 
 24  And  all  the  Egyptians  digged  round  about 
 the  river  for  water  to  drink  ;  for  they  could  not 
 drink  of  the  water  of  the  river. 
 
 2o  And  seven  days  were  fulfilled,  after  that 
 the  Lord  had  smitten  the  river. 
 
 to  de^^troy.' — Sut.  Prophet,  '  interpreter'  or  '  spoke.sman,'  as  chap.  \v. 
 IG. — Poole.  5.  Know,  by  dreadful  judgments,  that  Jehovah  is  '  Lord 
 of  the  whole  earth.' — Scott.  ^.  A  serpent,  vir^,  used  Ps.  Ix.xiv.  13; 
 Isa.  xxvii.  1  ;  li.  9  ;  Job,  vii.  12.  Some  large  Vreature,  aquatic  or  am- 
 phibious.—  A.Clarke.  A  'dragon'  or  'great  serpent.'  —  Poole.  A 
 'crocodile,'  to  whose  jaws  Pharaoh  had  exposed  the  Israelitish  infants. 
 — Light/.  11.  M'ise  men,  '  cunniugmen.' — Fat.  '  Sorcerer?,' D'EITD. 
 those  who  retreat  hidden  things. — .4.  Clnrke.  Derived  from  a  wurd 
 signifying  'to  delude  the  sight  with  false  appearances.'  Magicians — 
 men  who,  by  evil  arts,  performed  amazing  things  ;  as,  afterwards, 
 Simon  Magus  and  Eiymas.  The  principal  were  Jannes  and  Jambres, 
 C2Tim.iii.  8.)  Enchunlments—z^^^T^b.  from  lir?'?.  'to burn  j'  signifying, 
 incantariiins  by  lu-tral  fires,  incene^e,  &c.  Real  serpents  were,  doubt- 
 le^s,  produced,  either  by  juggling  or  diabolic  agency. — So  A.  Clarke. 
 12.  Became  serpents — seemed  to  be  so. — Jos.  But  A.  Clarke  thinks 
 these  were  real  serpents,  and  not  to  suppose  so  seems  to  contradict 
 what  is  said, — '  Aaron's  rod  swallowed  up  their  rods  ;'  unless  we  may 
 interpret  it,  that,  by  dazzling  the  eyes,  the  seeming  serpents  were  pro- 
 duced, and  then  the  rods  appeared  rods  again  ;  which,  to  shew  ttie  in- 
 ferii  rity  of  the  magicians,  were  swallowed  up  by  the  7'orf  of  Aaron.  As 
 this  was  a  miracle,  it  was  even  greater  that  a  rod  should  swallow  a  rod, 
 than  a  serpent  a  serpent;  and  if  the  serpent  of  Aaron  had  swa'lowed 
 the  serpent  of  the  m-igicians,  why  is  it  said  that  the  rod  swallowed  up 
 tfierudsf — Ed,  Gilt.  Some  of  tlie  Jewi-h  writers  held  this  opinion, 
 nnd  among  them  Jurchi.  Or,  Aaron's  rod,  transformed  into  a  real  ser- 
 pent, might,  after  their  illusions  vanished,  swallow  up  the  rods  of  the 
 inagifinus,  wliirh  never  were  otherwise  than  rnds  only  in  appearance. 
 —Gilt.  13.  .iiid  he  hardened  Phnraofrs  heart —  TT^^r)  lb  plH'*!  —  it 
 should  be,  'and  the  iuart  of  Pharaoh  was  hardened.' — Hales.  14.  Pha- 
 raolCs  heart  is  h-ivdened — a  diflferent  word  ib  here  used  from  that  in  ver. 
 13;  here  it  is,  i^D.  '  lieavy,'  'stupid.'  '  insensible.'— U'i7.  15.  Goeth 
 out  unto  the  it'«fer— perhaps  to  pay  his  devotions  to  the  Nile, — Poole, 
 Pat.,  or  for  bathing  only  — A.  Clarke.  The  ancient  Jews  thought  he 
 was  a  magician,  and  divined  by  the  water. — A- Clarke.  The  riper — 
 Inr,  in  fact,  E^rypt    possesses  no   other.— /'iW.  Bib  17.    Tamed  to 
 
 blood— this  is  the  first  of  the  ten  glagues.    B/ood— literally,  say  some. 
 
 'Not  in  appearance,  but  in  reality.' — So  A.  Clarke.  Pharaoh  had 
 stained  the  waters  with  the  blond  of  infants;  now  they  are  changeil 
 into  blood  for  his  punishment. — Sut.  'So  as  to  resemble  blood,' say 
 others.  Eastern  travellers  say,  the  Nile  turns  red  in  July,  the  winds 
 bearing  the  red  dust  into  it.  So  that,  perhaps,  the  miracle  consisted  in 
 producing  the  same  effect  at  an  unusual  season  of  the  year,  and  de- 
 stroying the  fish. — Mich.,  Dathe.  If  the  miracle  consisted  in  an  un- 
 usual descent  of  rain  in  Abyssinia,  so  as  to  cause  the  overflowing  of 
 the  Nile  at  an  unusual  time  of  the  year,  the  water  would  gradually 
 become  pure  ;  and  this  is  not  improbable,  as  we  do  not  read  of  any 
 application  fmm  Pharaoh  to  remove  this  plague. — Boothr.  The  waters 
 became  red  like  blood  ;  the  Hebrews  often  describe  similarity  by  iden- 
 tity.— Pict.  Bih.  18.  Shall  lothe — the  Nile  water  is  most  delicious  ; 
 hence,  there  is  a  peculiar  force  in  these  word-; — they  shall  Infhe  to  drink 
 of  that  water  which  they  used  to  prefer  to  all  the  water  in  the  universe. 
 — Hnr.  Ttie  Egyptians  honoured  the  Nile  with  a  religious  reverence  ; 
 they  must,  therefore,  have  felt  astonishment  and  liorror  at  the  pollution 
 of  its  streams. — Bryant.  To  this  day,  they  call  it  holy,  blessed,  sacred ; 
 and  mothers  bathe  their  infants  in  it,  believing  it  has  a  divine  virtue.— 
 Volney.  The  punishment  which  this  plague  inflicted  upon  the  Egypt- 
 ians, discovered  to  them  the  baseness  of  th-^se  elements  which  they 
 reverenced,  and  the  insufficiency  of  the  gods  in  which  they  trusted. — ■ 
 Oripnt.  Lit.  19.  Vessels  of  stone — filtering  vessels  are  considered 
 valuable  acquisitions  in  Egypt,  the  water  of  the  Nile  being  very  thick 
 and  muddy. — Theeenot.  21.  The  fish — dterf— the  natives,  of  tlie  river 
 were,  in  some  degree, estecmid  sacred.  In  many  parts,  the  people  did 
 not  feed  upon  them.—  Herod.  The  priests  never  tasted  fish  — Clemens^ 
 lib.  vii.  While  held  sacred  by  some,  fish  was,  however,  the  principal 
 subsistence  of  the  many.  This  miracle,  therefore,  struck  both  at  their 
 idolatry  and  their  support. — Pict.  Bib.  22.  Did  so— hy  the  aid  of  the 
 devil. — Poole.  Uy  sometrick.  —Sut.  Much  morelikely. — Ed.  Whence 
 came  the  water  to  shew  their  art  in  ?  either  hy  rain, from  Goshen,  from 
 the  pits  digged,  or  some  branch  of  the  Nile. — Poole.  Ver.  24  is  a  suffi- 
 cient answer. — Ed.  24.  Digged— for  water — wells  came  not  within 
 Moses*  commission,  (ver.  17,  ig,  20.) — Poole. 
 
 REFtEnioNs  ON  Chap.  VIT L  In  the  conduct  of  Pha- 
 raoh and  his  magicians  we  see  the  obstinacy  of  the  human  heart 
 in  resisting  the  evidences  of  true  religion.     '  And  this  is  the  con- 
 69 
 
 demnation,  that  light  is  com.e  into  the  world,  and  men  loved 
 darkness  rather  than  light,  because  their  deeds  were  evil.' 
 IT.  In  the  gradation  of  plagues  hrouglit  upon  Pharaoh  we 
 
Frogs  are  sent. 
 
 EXODUS,  VIII. 
 
 The  dust  is  turned  into  lice. 
 
 A' 
 
 CHAP.  VllT. 
 
 1  Frogs  are  sent.     8  Pharaoh  sueth  to  Moses,    12  and 
 
 Moses  by  prauer  removetk  thtm  away.  16  The  dust  is 
 
 turned  into  lice,  which  the  mafficians  could  not  do. 
 
 t>0  The  swarms  offies.      25  Pharaoh  incUneth  to  let 
 
 the  people  go,  32  IfJit  yet  is  hardtned. 
 
 ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  Go  unto 
 
 ^   Pharaoh,  and  say  unto  him,  Thus  saith  the 
 
 Lord,  Let  my  people  go,  ^  tliat  they  may  sen-e 
 
 me. 
 
 2  And  if  thou  *>  refuse  to  let  them  go,  behold, 
 I  will  smite  all  thy  borders  with  ^  frogs  : 
 
 3  And  the  river  shall  bring  forth  frogs  abun- 
 dantly, which  sliall  go  up  and  come  into  thine 
 house,  and  into  ^  tliy  bedchamber,  and  upon 
 thy  bed,  and  into  the  house  of  thy  servants, 
 and  upon  thy  people,  and  into  thine  ovens, 
 and  into  thy  ||  kneadingtroughs  : 
 
 4  And  the  frogs  shall  come  up  both  on  thee, 
 and  upon  thy  people,  and  upon  all  thy  servants. 
 
 5  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  Say 
 unto  Aaron,  ""  Stretch  forth  thine  hand  with 
 tby  rod  over  the  streams,  over  the  rivers,  and 
 over  the  ponds,  and  cause  frogs  to  come  up 
 upon  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 ti  And  Aaron  stretched  out  his  hand  over  the 
 waters  of  Egypt  ;  and  *■  the  frogs  came  up,  and 
 covered  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 7  ^  And  the  magicians  did  so  with  their  en- 
 chantments, and  brought  up  frogs  upon  the 
 land  of  Egypt. 
 
 8  H  Then  Pharaoh  called  for  Moses  and 
 Aaron,  and  said,  ^  Intreat  the  Lord,  that  he 
 may  take  away  the  frogs  from  me,  and  from 
 my  people  ;  and  I  will  fet  the  people  go,  that 
 they  may  do  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 0  And  Moses  said  unto  Pharaoh,  ||  Glory 
 over  me  :  ||  when  shall  I  intreat  for  thee,  and 
 for  thy  servants,  and  for  tby  people,  f  to  de- 
 stroy the  frogs  from  thee  and  thy  houses,  that 
 they  may  remain  in  the  river  only? 
 
 10  And  he  said,  ||  To  morrow.  And  he  said. 
 Be  it  according  to  thy  word  :  that  thou  mayest 
 
 b  rli.  7.  M. 
 c  Hlv.  10  13 
 
 d  Va.  105.  SO. 
 
 /Ps.  78.  M. 
 &.  IW.  30. 
 
 yell.  7.  11. 
 \Vi9d.l7.7. 
 
 A  ih ,  9,  S8. 
 St  10.  17. 
 Num.  21.  7 
 I  Kin. 13.  6. 
 Acts  8.  S4. 
 
 y  Or,  have 
 this  honour 
 nverynt,  ^C. 
 
 II  Or,ayainMt 
 
 t  Heb.  to  cut 
 
 II  Or,  againtl 
 /»  morrow. 
 
 ich.  0.  I'l. 
 Deut.33-36 
 2  Sam  7^, 
 IChr.  17.20. 
 Ps.  86.  8. 
 Is.  46.  9. 
 Jer.  10.6,7. 
 
 k  ver.  30. 
 ch.  9  aa  Si 
 
 10.  IS.  *  y-i 
 
 11.  Jam.  5. 
 16,17,18. 
 
 /Ecrles.S.n. 
 m  rh.  ;.  M. 
 
 pl.ukelOia. 
 Wisd.17.7 
 
 y  iPnm.  6  a, 
 9.  Ps.  9.  S. 
 M-itl.l2.'28. 
 f.oka  n.so. 
 
 *  cli.  7.  15. 
 
 lure  nf  noi- 
 pome 
 beasts,  &c. 
 
 know  that  ^  there  is  none  like  unto  the  Lord 
 our  God. 
 
 11  And  the  frogs  shall  depart  from  thee,  and 
 from  tby  houses,  and  from  thy  servants,  and 
 from  tby  people  ;  they  shall  remain  in  the  river 
 only. 
 
 12  And  Moses  and  Aaron  went  out  from 
 Pharaoh  :  and  Moses  ^  cried  unto  the  Lord 
 because  of  the  frogs  which  he  had  brought 
 against  Pharaoh. 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  did  according  to  the  word 
 of  Moses  ;  and  the  frogs  died  out  of  the  houses, 
 out  of  the  villages,  and  out  of  the  fields. 
 
 14  And  they  gathered  them  together  upon 
 heaps  :  and  tlie  land  stank. 
 
 15  But  when  Pharaoh  saw  that  there  was 
 '  respite,  "' he  hardened  his  heart,  and  heark- 
 ened not  unto  them  ;  as  the  Lord  had  said. 
 
 16  H  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Say 
 nnto  Aaron,  Stretch  out  thy  rod,  and  smite 
 the  dust  of  the  land,  that  it  may  become  lice 
 throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 17  And  they  did  so  ;  for  Aaron  stretched  out 
 his  hand  with  his  rod,  and  smote  the  dust  of 
 the  earth,  and  "it  became  lice  in  man,  and  in 
 beast ;  all  the  dust  of  the  land  became  lice 
 throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 18  And  °the  magicians  did  so  with  their 
 enchantments  to  bring  forth  lice,  but  they 
 P could  not  :  so  there  were  lice  upon  man,  and 
 upon  beast. 
 
 19  Then  the  magicians  said  unto  Pharaoh, 
 This  is  ''  the  finger  of  God  :  and  Pharaoh's 
 ■"heart  was  hardened,  and  he  hearkened  not 
 unto  them  ;  as  the  Lord  had  said. 
 
 20  1  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  'Rise 
 up  early  in  the  morning,  and  stand  before  Pha- 
 raoh ;  lo,  be  Cometh  forth  to  the  water;  and 
 say  unto  him.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  '  Let  my 
 people  go,  that  they  may  serve  me. 
 
 21  Else,  if  thou  wilt  not  let  my  people  go, 
 behold,  I  will  send  ||  swarms  of  flies  upon  thee, 
 and  upon  thy  servants,  and  upon  thy  people, 
 
 Cbap.  VTII. — 2.  .Smi7c,  means  sometimes  *to  kil!,'  but  here,  to  afflict 
 g-nVcoifs/i/,  (see  Ps.lxxviii.  45.  )—Poo/(?.  3.  (Second  Pi.  a  cue.)  Frogs 
 — some  say  the  word  C^y"FiD2  signifies  a  large  Eg-yptian  fish  or  croco- 
 dile ;  but  such  a  creature  could  nut  invade  and  attack  them  as  after- 
 wards  related. — Gill.  Frogs,  if  produced  in  a  perfect  state,  were  a  re- 
 markahlc  miracle;  it  also  appeared  in  the  impulse  given  to  the  crea. 
 tares  to  quit  the  water  for  places  not  their  natural  residence. — Scrip. 
 Iftiis.  Though  watery  places  naturally  produce  these  creatures,  yet 
 not  in  such  vast  quantities. — Gift.  Ocen.s— these,  in  the  east,  are  often 
 dug  in  the  ground,  in  which  is  placed  an  earthen  pot,  and  the  dough  is 
 stuck  around  the  inside  to  bake,  the  pot  being  first  made  h"t.  Thus, 
 the  frogs  easily  got  into  the  ovens.— See  .4.  Clnrke.  WiUimns  says, 
 •not  when  heated,  to  be  sure.'  But  why  not?  the  whole  was  super- 
 natural, the  frogs  were  super-abundant,  and  this  added  to  their  annoy- 
 ance, frogs  being  stewed  with  their  bread, — Ed.  Frogs  were  sacred 
 animals. — Wit.  How  must  they  then  have  felt  mortified  to  be  annoyed 
 with  their  divinities  \—Ed.  KnendingtrfnighH~\nu\\}s  of  dough,  as 
 the  Greek,  and  as  the  word  seems  to  mean,  Exod.  xii.  3i.—Ains. 
 7.  Did  so.  by  the  aid  of  the  devil. —Poo/e.  A  little  sleight  of  hand  was 
 all  that  was  necessary,  because  frogs  io  abundance  were  at  hand. — So 
 A.  Clarke,  which  is  most  probable.  8.  Intreat  the  Lord— Pharaoh 
 begins  now  to  know  the  Lord  by  his  judgments,  wh^m  he  knew  not 
 before.— G(7^  Take  aivaif  the  frogs— here  the  magicians  were  foiled, 
 they  could  go  no  further  than  God  permitted.— IIV^/s.  9-  Glory  over 
 me—^b'S  ")N2n7T.  (i.)  '  Appoint'  or  *  order'  when  1  shall  pray  for  thee.— 
 Onk.  So  the  Sept.,  rnfui  Trpin-  fie  ttotc,  &c.  Equivalent  to  '  command 
 me.*  or  "fix  your  own  time,' — Wit.  (ii.)  '  Deal  honourably  with  me.* — 
 Geddes.  (hi.)  '  Boast  thyself  of  me,  as  one  who  can,  by  God's  power, 
 do  for  thee  what  thy  magicians  eannol.' — Poole.  A.  Clarke  prefers  the 
 first  as  most  natural ;  and  the  language  was  calculated  best  to  convince 
 Pharaoh  that  there  was  nothing  casual  in  this  plague.  12.  To-morrow, 
 — why  not  now?  Either  Pharaoh  might  hope  they  would  yet  depart 
 without  Moses*  aid,  or  might  not  suppose  he  could  get  lid  of  the  frogs 
 
 sooner. — Poole.  16.  Lice,  Wy^,  (Third  Plague,)  the  annoying 
 vermin  usually  so  called. — Bach.,  Pat.  Gnats,  o-xvi^et.— So  the  Sept. 
 The  Greek  translators  lived  in  Egypt,  and  were  most  likely  to  under- 
 stand the  original  terms.— Beo^/ir.  Of  this  opinion  were  Orig-cn  and 
 Jerome  ;  so  are  Gesen.,  Pict.  Bib.,  Sic.  Perhaps,  rather,  a  worm  called 
 tarrantes,  which  crawled  on  the  ground,  was  troublesome  at  night,  and 
 armed  with  a  burning  sting. — Hnr.  Most  likely  the  tick,  which,  ia 
 some  parts,  buries  itself  in  the  human  body.  The  Hebrew  word  ap- 
 plies to  it,  for  it  is  a  /t>ed  insect,  wliich  buries  its  trunk  and  head  in 
 the  flesh. — So  .4.  Clarke.  Both  lice  and  gnats  abound  in  Egypt;  the 
 miracle  consisted  in  producing  extraordinary  swarms,  and  that,  per- 
 haps, at  an  unseasonable  time. — ^o  Plot.  Bid.  }S.  Did  so — endea- 
 voured to  do  so.  Thus,  to  enter  (Matt.  vii.  13.)  is  put  for  striinng  to 
 enter,  (Luke,  xiii.  24.) — Poole.  They  could  not — they  might,  by  sleight 
 of  hand,  stibstitiite  serpents  for  rods,  colour  the  water  red,  and  intro- 
 duce frogs,  when  there  were  plenty  at  hand  ;  but  here  they  were  de- 
 pendent upon  the  operations  of  the  atmospliere,  where  they  could  not 
 deceive.  — Srr/;j.  Illus.  19.  The  Jinger  of  God— thin,  certainly  implies 
 an  acknowledgment  that  the  performances  of  the  magicians  were  but 
 the  jugglings  ot  men.     It  is  strange,  however,  that  they  could  not  see 
 
 *  the  finger  of  God'  in  the  other  plagues,  which,  from  their  extent,  were 
 beyond  the  powers  of  juggling.  Some  think  this  confession  was  made 
 to  detract  frfmi  the  skill  of  Moses  and  Aaron. — Ed.  A.  Clarke  is  of 
 opinion,  that  they  thought  Moses  and  Aaron  jugglers  before,  but  now 
 saw  God  at  work.  And  Pharaoh's  heart — better  rendered, 'ye<  Pha- 
 raoh's heart.' — Hew.  21.  Swarms  ofjiies,  (Fourth  Plague,)  llffrT, 
 from  31?,  '  he  mingled.'  A  mixture  of  insects  and  flies,  (seePs.Lxxviii. 
 45,)  as  bees,  wasps,  gnats,  hornets,  &c.    The  Septuagint  has  nwofivia, 
 
 *  the  dog-fly'  or  '  zimb ;'  this  insect  being  a  torment  to  dogs,  which  the 
 Egyptians  venerated.  This  reading  is  preferred  by  Bochart.  Calmet 
 suggests,  that  these  insects  might  have  been  bred  in  the  putrid  frogs. 
 Boothroyd  reads,  after  the  Kabbinical  writers,  '  swarms  o(  beetles.* 
 Geddes  also  reads  beetles,  a  sort  of  which,  )n  the  houses  of  Alexandria, 
 
 see  the  Divine  patience  and  forbearance  towards  obstinate  sin}iers. 
 Tbey  have  admonition  upon  admonition,  evidence  upon  evi- 
 dence, '  line  upon  line,  and  precept  upon  precept  :*  so  that,  in 
 the  great  and  terrible  day,  when  God  shall  judge  the  world  in 
 righteousness,  both  from  the  light  of  nature  and  from  the  evi- 
 70 
 
 dence  of  revelation,  the  impenitentsinner  shall  be  left  without 
 
 excuse.  jMay  God  preserve  us  from  shutting  our  eyes  against 
 the  jight,  and  hardening  our  hearts  against  hira,  for  *  whoever 
 hardened  himself  against  the  Lord  and  prospered  ?* 
 
The  plague  of  flies. 
 
 EXODUS,  IX. 
 
 The  murrain  of  beasts. 
 
 and  into  thy  houses :  and  the  houses  of  the 
 Egyptians  shall  be  full  of  swarms  of  flies,  and 
 also  the  ground  whereon  they  are. 
 2-2  And  "  I  will  sever  in  that  day  the  land  of 
 Goshen,  in  which  my  people  dwell,  that  no 
 swarms  ofy/('es  shall  be  there  ;  to  the  end  thou 
 mayest  know  that  I  am  the  Lord  in  the  midst 
 of  the  eartli. 
 
 23  And  I  will  put  fa  division  between  my 
 people  and  thy  people  :  ||  to  morrow  shall  this 
 sign  be. 
 
 24  And  the  Lord  did  so  ;  and  ''there  came 
 a  grievous  swarm  of  flies  into  the  house  of 
 Pharaoh,  and  into  his  servants'  houses,  and 
 into  all  the  land  of  Egypt :  the  land  was  || cor- 
 rupted by  reason  of  the  swarm  of  flies. 
 
 25  t  And  Pharaoh  called  for  Moses  and  for 
 Aaron,  and  said,  Go  ye,  sacrifice  to  your  God 
 in  the  land. 
 
 26  And  Moses  said.  It  is  not  meet  so  to  do; 
 for  we  shall  sacrifice  ''  the  abomination  of  the 
 Egyptians  to  tlie  Lord  our  God  :  lo,  shall  we 
 sacrifice  the  abomination  of  the  Egyptians  be- 
 fore their  eyes,  and  will  they  not  stone  us? 
 
 27  We  will  go  ^  three  days'  journey  into  the 
 wilderness,  and  sacrifice  to  the  Lord  our  God, 
 as  "  he  shall  command  us. 
 
 28  And  Pharaoh  said,  I  will  let  you  go,  that 
 ye  may  sacrifice  to  the  Lord  your  God  in  the 
 wilderness ;  only  ye  shall  not  go  very  far  away : 
 ''  intreat  for  me. 
 
 29  And  Moses  said,  Behold,  I  go  out  from 
 thee,  and  I  will  intreat  the  Lord  that  the 
 swarms  of  flies  may  depart  from  Pharaoh,  from 
 his  servants,  and  from  his  people,  to  morrow : 
 but  let  not  Pharaoh  °  deal  deceitfully  any  more 
 in  not  letting  the  people  go  to  sacrifice  to  the 
 Lord. 
 
 30  And  Moses  went  out  from  Pharaoh,  and 
 ^intreated  the  Lord. 
 
 31  And  the  Lord  did  according  to  the  word 
 
 M  ch.  9.  4,  6, 
 26.  fc  111.  2:J. 
 &  II-  6,7.  & 
 12.  IX 
 
 t  Heb.  n  rp- 
 drjnjititit. 
 1!  Or,  bji  ('.- 
 
 X  Ps   78  Vi. 
 St  105.  31. 
 Wiaa.16.9. 
 
 H  Or, 
 lifslri't/ed. 
 
 yGen.«.32. 
 &  46.  34. 
 Deut-  7.  25, 
 26.  &  12.  31. 
 
 =  cb.  3.  18. 
 a  eh.  3.  12. 
 
 ch.  9   28. 
 I  Kill.  13.6. 
 
 6  ch.  8.  2. 
 t  ch.  7.  4. 
 
 of  Moses  ;  and  he  removed  the  swarms  of  flies 
 from  Pharaoh,  from  liis  servants,  and  from  his 
 people ;  there  remained  not  one. 
 32  And  Pharaoh  "  hardened  his  heart  at  this 
 time  also,  neither  would  he  let  the  people  go. 
 
 CHAP.    IX. 
 
 1  The  mwrain  of  beasts.  8  T/ie  phttjve  of  boils  and 
 blains.  13  His  messaf/e  about  the  hail.  22  The 
 plague  of  hail.  27  Pharauh  autlh  to  Mosls,  35  but 
 yd  is  hardened. 
 
 T^HEN  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  *  Go  in 
 -■-  unto  Pharaoh,  and  tell  him,  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  of  the  Hebrews,  Let  my  people  go, 
 that  they  may  serve  me. 
 
 2  For  if  thou  ''refuse  to  let  them  go,  and  wilt 
 hold  them  still, 
 
 3  Behold,  the  "^hand  of  the  Lord  is  upon  thy 
 cattle  which  is  in  the  field,  upon  the  horses, 
 upon  the  asses,  upon  the  camels,  upon  the 
 oxen,  and  upon  the  sheep  :  there  shall  be  a 
 very  grievous  murrain. 
 
 4  And  '^  the  Lord  shall  sever  between  the 
 cattle  of  Israel  and  the  cattle  of  Egypt  :  and 
 there  shall  nothing  die  of  all  that  is  the  chil- 
 dren's of  Israel. 
 
 S}  And  the  Lord  appointed  a  set  time,  saying. 
 To  morrow  the  Lord  shall  do  this  thing  in  the 
 land. 
 
 6  And  the  Lord  did  that  thing  on  the  mor- 
 row, and  "^  all  the  cattle  of  Egypt  died  :  but  of 
 the  cattle  of  the  children  of  Israel  died  not  one. 
 
 7  And  Pharaoh  sent,  and,  behold,  there  was 
 not  one  of  the  cattle  of  the  Israelites  dead. 
 And  ^  the  heart  of  Pharaoh  was  hardened,  and 
 he  did  not  let  the  people  go. 
 
 8  IF  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses  and  unto 
 Aaron,  Take  to  you  handfuls  of  ashes  of  the 
 furnace,  and  let  Moses  sprinkle  it  toward  the 
 heaven  in  the  sight  of  Pharaoh. 
 
 9  And  it  shall  become  small  dust  in  all  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  and  shall  be  ^'  a  boil  breaking 
 
 bite  the  human  race,  and  devour  even  books,  clothes,  plants,  &c.  Be 
 it  observed 'flies  is  not  in  the  original,  but  the  supplied  word  should 
 probably  be  beetles  ;  for,  in  Ps.  Ixxviii.  45,  these  swarms  are  described 
 as  '  devouring-,' which  is  not  applicable  to  flies. — Pict.Bib.  22.  / 
 will  serer,  ''jvbtiTt,  *  I  will  marvellously  sever  or  separate.' — Ainu.,  Vulg. 
 The  Sept.  read,  irapo.bo^aaw,  '  I  will  render  illustrious  the  land  uf 
 Go.-^hen.'  This  distinction,  Patrick  observes,  was  the  more  remark- 
 able, as  Goslien  abounded  in  cattle,  the  dung  of  which  favoured  the 
 breeding  of  flies.  23.  A  division,  rnD,  'a  redemption' or  '  deliver- 
 ance.' A  wall  of  partition  to  preserve  the  Israelites.  24.  The  Lord 
 did  so  ;  not  by  Moses,  but  directly. — Poole.  The  land  tvas  corrupted — 
 the  air  rendered  pestilential,  everything  was  spoiled,  and  many  of  the 
 inhabitants  probably  stung  to  death,  (l^s.  Ixxviii.  45.) — Gill,  A.  Clarke. 
 26.  Ttte  uhomiTiation — tliat  whicii  tlie  Egyptians  abhor  to  kill. — Poole. 
 A  Roman  but  killed  a  cat.  when  even  the  princes  could  not  save  him 
 fiorn  being  sacrificed  by  the  furious  multitude. — Diod.  Sic.  The  Egypt- 
 ians worshipped  a  ram  under  Ihe  name  oi  Jove,  ?lx\6  a  calf  or  bull 
 under  that  of  Apis.  Hence,  the  Jews  ofTered  what  the  Egyptians  wor- 
 shipped.— Sut.,  Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  IX. — 3.  Horses — with  these  Egypt  abounded.  Asses — used  for 
 carrying  burdens.  Camels — valuable  to  traverse  the  desert  for  com- 
 mercial purposes.  Oxen — to  plough.  Sheep— used  for  wool,  and  to 
 trade  with. — Gill.  The  EKVptJans  had  an  idolatrous  reverence  fur 
 lions,  wolves,  dogs,  cats,  apes,  and  goats,  and  a  still  higher  reverence 
 for  the  OS  or  steer,  the  cow  antl  heifer,  and  the  ram.  This  judgment 
 was,  therefore,  \ery  significant  in  its  import.    The  Egyptians  saw  the 
 
 representatives  of  their  deities  sink  before  the  God  of  the  Hebrews. 
 There  is  also  reason  to  think  that  both  the  camel  and  ass  were  held 
 sacred  ;  hence,  it  is  said,  '  upon  their  gods  also  the  Lord  executed  judg- 
 ments,' (Numb,  xxxiii.  4  ;  Exod.  xii.  12  ;  xviii.  U.) — Bryant.  Mun-ain, 
 ■yji — A.  Clarke  defines  this  disease  as  known  amongst  us;  but  Booth- 
 royd  renders  it  'mortality,'  it  not  being  possible  to  describe  the  disease 
 here  mentioned,  and  A.  Clarke  approves  of  the  word.  The  Greek  has 
 Cai'ciTOi,  '  death.'  This  was  the  Fifth  Plague.  6.  All  the  cattle— & 
 great  number  of  every  sort;  for  this  is  often  the  whole  import  of  all  in 
 Hebrew. — See  Walls^  Crit.  Notes.  Or  it  might  mean  those  in  the 
 fields ;  or  if  they  died,  those  afterwards  destroyed  might  have  been  had 
 of  the  Israelites. — Picf.  Bib.  8.  Ashes  of  the  furnace — 'the  brick- 
 kiln.'— Boothr.  That  fiery  furnace  which,  in  Scripture,  was  used  as 
 the  type  of  all  the  Israelites'  slavery.  It  also  alluded  to  a  cruel  rite 
 among  the  Egyptians;  they  had  several  cities  in  which  they  sacrificed 
 men  of  bright  hair  and  different  complexions  from  the  Egyptians,  and 
 it  is  thought  the  Israelites  were  among  those  who  were  burnt  alive  ou 
 a  high  altar,  and  thus  sacrificed  for  the  good  of  the  people.  At  the 
 close  of  the  sacrifice,  the  priests  scattered  the  ashes  of  the  victims  in 
 the  air,  probably  to  secure  a  blessing  wherever  they  went.  Thus, 
 Moses  scattered  the  ashes  of  the  furuace.  that  wherever  they  lighted 
 they  might  prove  a  curse  to  this  infatuated  people.— Br_j/a«i.  g.  A 
 boil,  (Sixth  Plagle,)  'aburning  scab.'— Poo/e.  *An  ulcerous  inflam- 
 mation,' called,  in  Deut.  xxviii.  27,  '  the  ulcer  of  Egypt,'  supposed  now 
 to  be  the  species  of  leprosy  called  elephantiasis.  The  disease  probably 
 belonged  to  the  country,  but  coming  now,  and  coming  so  generally. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII Several  things  are  obvious 
 
 in  this  chapter — L  That  God  can  use  the  meanest  instrumejtts  to 
 do  his  work.  When  he  gives  the  word,  even  frogs,  lice,  and 
 flies  are  his  armies.  It  is  only  owinc;  to  his  goodness  that  these 
 creatures  and  insects  are  not  much  more  annoying  than  they 
 are,  and  especially  in  hot  countries.  We  should  think  of  the 
 goodness  of  God  in  the  absence  of  evils,  as  well  as  in  the 
 bestowment  of  blessings. 
 
 11.  That  God  can  hmnble.  the  proudest  spirit.  Here  is  Pha- 
 raoh, who  said,  '  Who  is  the  Lord?'  now  imploring,  *  Intreat 
 the  Lord'  in  my  behalf.  How  many  such  spirits  have  been 
 brought  low  by  the  chastening  hand  of  God,  and  those  persons 
 have  implored  their  ministers  to  pray  for  them,  who  before 
 71 
 
 despised  both  them  and  their  God. 
 
 III.  That  the  proud  heart  may  be  humbled  for  a  season,  and  yet 
 not  chant/ed.  '  But  when  Pharaoh  saw  there  was  respite,  he 
 hardened  his  heart.'  Oh,  how  many  awful  instances  of  this 
 kind  are  continually  occurring  !  They  pour  out  a  prayer  when 
 God's  chastening  is  upon  them  ;  but  wlien  the  stroke  of  the 
 rod  is  removed,  they  return  again  to  their  iniquities. 
 
 IV.  That  in  all  calamities,  God  praciously  marks  his  people  for 
 preservation.  Sometimes  his  providential  care  is  conspicuous 
 over  them  in  temporal  preservation  ;  but,  in  every  event, 
 there  is  a  division  placed  between  them  and  the  world.  '  The 
 eyes  of  the  Lord  are  over  the  righteous,  and  his  ears  are  open 
 to  their  prayers.' 
 
The  plague  of  boils  and  blains. 
 
 EXODUS,  IX. 
 
 Thunder,  hail,  and  fire. 
 
 forth  with  blains  upon  man,  and  upon  beast, 
 throughout  all  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 10  And  they  took  ashes  of  the  furnace,  and 
 stood  before  Pharaoh  ;  and  Moses  sprinkled  it 
 up  toward  heaven  ;  and  it  became  ""a  boil  break- 
 ing forth  with  blains  upon  man,  and  upon  beast. 
 
 U  And  the  'magicians  could  not  stand  be- 
 fore Moses  because  of  tlie  boils  ;  for  the  boil 
 was  upon  the  magicians,  and  upon  all  the 
 Egyptians. 
 
 12  And  the  Lord  hardened  the  heart  of  Pha- 
 raoh, and  he  hearkened  not  unto  them  ;  '  as 
 the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  Moses. 
 
 13  t  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  '  Rise 
 up  early  in  the  morning,  and  stand  before  Pha- 
 raoh, and  say  unto  him,  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  of  the  Hebrews,  Let  my  people  go,  that 
 they  may  serve  me. 
 
 14  For  I  will  at  this  time  send  all  my  plagues 
 upon  thine  heart,  and  upon  thy  servants,  and 
 upon  thy  people  ;  "'  that  thon  mayest  know 
 that  there  is  none  like  me  in  all  the  earth. 
 
 15  For  now  I  will  "stretch  out  my  hand,  that 
 I  may  smite  thee  and  thy  people  witli  pesti- 
 lence ;  and  thou  shalt  be  cut  off  from  the  earth. 
 
 16  And  in  very  deed  for  °  this  cause  have  I 
 fraised  thee  up,  for  to  shewn*  thee  my  power; 
 and  that  my  name  may  be  declared  throughout 
 all  the  earth.  , 
 
 17  As  yet  exaltest  thou  thyself  against  my 
 people,  that  thou  wilt  not  let  them  go? 
 
 18  Behold,  to  morrow  about  this  time  I  will 
 cause  it  to  rain  a  very  grievous  hail,  such  as 
 hath  not  been  in  Egypt  since  the  foundation 
 thereof  even  until  now. 
 
 19  Send  therefore  now,  onif  gather  thy  cattle, 
 and  all  that  thou  hast  in  the  field  ;  for  upon 
 every  man  and  beast  which  shall  be  found  in 
 the  field,  and  shall  not  be  brought  home,  the 
 hail  shall  come  down  upon  them,  and  they  shall 
 die. 
 
 20  He  that  feared  the  word  of  the  Lord 
 among  the  servants  of  Pharaoh  made  his  ser- 
 vants and  his  cattle  flee  into  the  houses  : 
 
 21  And  he  that  f  regarded  not  the  word  of 
 the  Lord  left  his  servants  and  his  cattle  in  the 
 field. 
 
 22  If  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Stretch 
 forth  thine  hand  toward  heaven,  that  there  may 
 
 ich.S.  13,15. 
 2  Tim.  3.  9. 
 
 oRom.  9. 17. 
 
 •See  ch.  14 
 
 17  Fro.lti.'l. 
 
 I  Pet.  2   9. 
 t  Heb,  m^dt 
 
 thee  tiand. 
 
 t  I!eh  letitnt 
 f,<,  htnri  »„- 
 /o.  ch.7.  a3 
 
 B   C  1491. 
 ,1  Rev.  16.21. 
 
 7  Josh.  10  11. 
 Ps  18  IS.lte 
 71.47. &1"S, 
 -Si.  Jlc  I4S.9. 
 Is.  30.  30. 
 Kieli,3S.22, 
 KeT.  8. 7. 
 
 jch   8.  22. 
 .^  9-  4,  6,  tt 
 10  2.1.  &  II 
 7.  J<<  12    IS, 
 I8S2.  IS,  19 
 
 /(■h.  10.  16, 
 
 -<20hr.l2t). 
 Ps.  129.  4 
 ik  145   17. 
 Lam.  I.  18 
 linn.  9.  14 
 
 ich.S.  3,23 
 n  10.  17, 
 Acts  8,  24, 
 
 1  Heb.  voicei 
 nfOiid. 
 Ps.  29.3, 4. 
 
 ylKin.R22. 
 *i  Ps.143.6, 
 Ii.  I.  15. 
 
 ;  Ps.  24   1. 
 
 I  Cor. 10.26. 
 
 28. 
 a  Is.  26.  10. 
 
 iRtith  1.92. 
 it  2.  23. 
 
 t  llcb.  hid- 
 ilt'i,  or. 
 
 t  Heb.  hti  Ihf 
 h'tnd"/  .V'- 
 ir,.  <:l..4  13 
 
 be  ''hail  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  upon  man, 
 and  upon  beast,  and  upon  every  herb  of  the 
 field,  throughout  tlie  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 23  And  Moses  stretched  forth  his  rod  toward 
 heaven:  and  ''  the  Lord  sent  thunder  and  hail, 
 and  the  fire  ran  along  upon  the  ground  ;  and 
 the  Lord  rained  hail  upon  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 24  So  there  was  hail,  and  fire  mingled  with 
 the  hail,  very  grievous,  such  as  there  was  none 
 like  it  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt  since  it  became 
 a  nation. 
 
 25  And  the  hail  smote  throughout  all  the 
 land  of  Egypt  all  that  was  in  the  field,  both 
 man  and  beast;  and  the  hail ''smote  every  herb 
 of  the  field,  and  brake  every  tree  of  the  field. 
 
 26  '  Only  in  the  land  of  Goshen,  where  the 
 children  of  Israel  irere,  was  there  no  hail. 
 
 27  If  And  Pharaoh  sent,  and  called  for  Moses 
 and  Aaron,  and  said  unto  them,  '  I  liave  sinned 
 this  time  :  "  the  Lord  is  righteous,  and  I  and 
 my  people  are  wicked. 
 
 28  "  Intreat  the  Lord  (for  it  is  enough)  that 
 there  be  no  more  f  mighty  thunderings  and 
 hail ;  and  I  will  let  you  go,  and  ye  shall  stay 
 no  longer. 
 
 29  And  Moses  said  unto  him.  As  soon  as  I 
 am  gone  out  of  the  city,  I  will  '  spread  abroad 
 my  hands  unto  the  Lord  ;  and  the  thunder 
 .shall  cease,  neither  shall  there  be  any  more 
 hail  ;  that  thou  mayest  know  how  that  the 
 '  earth  !s  the  Lord's. 
 
 30  Hut  as  for  thee  and  thy  servants,  *I  know 
 that  ye  will  not  yet  fear  the  Lord  God. 
 
 31  .\iid  the  fiax  and  the  barley  was  smitten  : 
 "for  the  barley  was  in  the  ear,  and  the  flax  was 
 boiled. 
 
 32  But  the  wheat  and  the  rye  were  not  smit- 
 ten :  for  they  were  f  not  grown  up. 
 
 33  And  Moses  went  out  of  the  city  from 
 Pharaoh,  and  '  spread  abroad  his  hands  unto 
 the  Lord  :  and  the  thunders  and  hail  ceased, 
 and  the  rain  was  not  poured  upon  the  earth. 
 
 3-t  And  when  Pharaoh  saw  that  the  rain  and 
 the  hail  and  the  thunders  were  ceased,  he 
 sinned  yet  more,  and  hardened  his  heart,  he 
 and  his  servants. 
 
 35  And  ''  the  heart  of  Pharaoh  was  hardened, 
 neither  would  he  let  the  children  of  Israel  go  ; 
 as  the  Lord  had  spoken  f  by  Moses. 
 
 marked  God's  hand  in  it. — So  Buothr.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  dis- 
 order of  an  vncornmim  kind. — A.  Clarke.  10.  It  tierrtme  a  boil — God 
 multiplying:  the  dubt,  and  heating  it,  and  then  dispersing  it  over  the 
 land, — Punle,  This  '  boil.'I'niU.  was  an  indication  ot  leprosy.  Lev.  xiii. 
 18,  20,  and  2  King^,  \x.  7,  is  called  '  the  boil*  or  *  botch  o(  Egypt.'  Job 
 had  the  same  disease.  It  denotes  some  inflamed  swelling,  ami  ending 
 in  an  ulcer. — Pict.  Bib.  It  was  probably  elephantiasis. — Gfs.  14.  On 
 thine  lieart, 'on  thyself;'  "Tl";  is  idiomatically  used  as -[irD3.—Uoo/Ar. 
 
 15.  Foi-now — and  thou  stialt  he  cut  oJf\^-c. — these  words' are  not  to  be 
 rendered  in  the  future,  but  in  the  imperfect  or  preterpluperfect  tense, 
 •for  when  novv  I  stretched  out  my  hand,'  or,  'if  now  I  had  stretched 
 out  my  hand  to  smite  thee  and  thy  people  with  pestilence' — that  is, 
 when  he  smote  the  cattle,  he  could  as  wt-U  have  smitten  him  and  his 
 people — 'thou  hadstbeen.or  wouldst  have  been,  cut  off  from  the  earth.' 
 
 16.  For  this  cause  hare  /,  fyc,  or,  '  but  truly  or  verily,'  instead  of  smit- 
 ing thee  with  the  pestilence,  and  cutting  thee  off  out  of  the  land  of  the 
 living,  '  I  have  raised  thee  up,'  made  thee  to  sltin/i,  "rrnoyn.  '  stare 
 fecite' — Pag.,  Mont., — to  continue  in  being ;  *I  have  preserved  thee 
 from  perishing  by  the  former  plagues,  and  have  reserved  thee  fur  sorer 
 punistinicnts.'  Mit  power,  in  working  miracles,  inliictiug  judgments, 
 liC.—Gill.  All  tlie  earth,  'all  this  land.'— .J.  Clarke.  1/.  Emllest 
 thou  tliysetf,  ^oyi  'j^'linDO  'TTll''.  *  dost  thou  still  tread  upon  ray  people  ?' 
 
 — Jar.,  Gill.  18.  Rain  a  vert/  grievous  hnil,    (Sevkwth   Plagije,) 
 
 this  must  have  been  incredible  to  an  Eg\  ptiau,  for  in  Egypt  there  fell 
 no  rain,  the  want  of  which  was  supplied  by  dews  and  the  overfiowmg 
 of  the  Nile.  This  calamity,  coming  towards  the  time  of  barley  harvest, 
 mu>t  have  produced  both  alarm  and  distress. — Bryant.  20.  Feared — 
 some  might  be  proselytes,  and  others  have  a  servile  fear,  23.  The 
 'ire  ran — hot  thunder  bolts,  which  struck  their  flocks,  {Ps,  Ix.xviii.  48,) 
 — Gill.  The  Hebrew  is  remarkable,  ri:,-!,^  ITN  Y'''^'"''''  ''*"''  ^^^  '^re 
 walked  upon  the  earth,'  gradually  devouring  in  'its  progress. — So  A. 
 Clarke.  25.  Erery  tree;  and  the  vines  and  fig-trees,  (Ps,  hvxviii.  47, 
 and  cv.  33,)  27,  /  have  sinneit  this  tiitie — his  first  confession,  but 
 only  from  fright. — I5i7/,  28,  Mighty  thunderings,  □Tt'tm  n"?;?.  'voices 
 of  God.' — Mont.  That  is,  '  superlatively  loud  thunder.'  The  Hebrews 
 append  the  name  of  God  to  his  more  magnificent  works ;  thus,  high 
 mountains  are  '  mountains  of  God,'  ^c. — So.4.  Clarke,  Ed.  29.  Spread 
 abroad  my  hands — the  ancient  posture  of  supplication. — Pat.  31.  Bar- 
 ley— the  wheat  and  rye  are  not  mentioned,  but,  in  Egypt,  barley  is 
 reaped  in  March,  and  wheat  in  April.  The  barley  was,  therefore,  in 
 the  ear,  but  the  wheat  not  grown  up. — Hales.  Boiled — assuming  a 
 roundish  form, — .Scrip.  Illus.  32,  Rye,  riOOD,  o\vp<i,  Sept.,  probably 
 '  spelt,'  but  it  does  nut  appear  that  this  grain  now  exists  in  Egypt. — 
 Pict.  Bib. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX — L  God  increased  his  pvnish- 
 metits  as  Ptiaraok  renewed  his  ohstiaaci/;  and  every  rebellious 
 sinner  aiiainst  him  will  find,  in  the  end,  that  if  he  wiU  not 
 bend  under  God's  hand,  he  must  break.  'He  heapeth  up 
 wrath  at^ainst  the  day  of  wrath,' 
 
 II.  We  see  God's  retributive  justice  in  the  punishments  of  Pha- 
 raoh and  his  people.  The  measure  they  meted  was  measured 
 to  them  again.  They  had  made  the  Israelites  slaves  at  their 
 72 
 
 kilns,  and  their  very  ashes  are  now  turned  into  the  instruments 
 of  vengeance.  Can  we  do  better,  when  we  are  injured,  than 
 to  leave  our  cause  in  the  hands  of  a  righteous  God  ?  He  may 
 make  our  persecutors  the  monuments  of  his  mercy,  and  then 
 they  will  repent  ;  but  if  not,  we  have  his  word  to  still  our 
 stormy  passions — '  Vengeance  is  mine,  and  I  will  repay,  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 III.  /(  mai/  he  hoped  that  there  were  some  of  Pharaoh's  servants 
 
The  plague  of  locusts. 
 
 EXODUS,  X. 
 
 The  plague  ofdarknesi. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  God  threltmeth  1o  send  loaists.  1  Pharaoh ,  moreii  hy 
 his  seri-imts,  iwlinetli  to  let  the  Isra:lites  (jo.  12  The 
 pliqiit'  of  the  lo  lists.  11)  Pharaoh  sueth  to  Moses. 
 21  '  The' iila:iue  of  darhiuss.  24  Pharaoh  suelh  unto 
 Moses,  27  but  yet  is  hardened. 
 
 AND  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go  in  unto 
 Pliaraoli :  "for  1  have  hardened  his  heart, 
 and  the  heart  of  his  servants,  "  that  I  might 
 sliew  tliese  my  signs  before  liiui  : 
 ■2  And  tliat  ■■'  tlioii  niayest  tell  in  the  ears  of 
 thy  son,  and  of  thy  sons  son,  what  things  I 
 have  wrought  in  Egypt,  and  my  signs  which  I 
 have  done  among  tiiem  ;  that  ye  may  know 
 how  tliat  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 3  And  Moses  and  Aaron  came  in  unto  Pha- 
 raoh, and  said  unto  him.  Thus  saitli  the  Lord 
 God  of  the  Hebrews,  How  long  wilt  thou 
 refuse  to  ''  humble  thyself  before  me  ?  let  my 
 people  go,  that  tliey  may  serve  me. 
 
 4  Else,  if  thou  refuse  to  let  my  people  go, 
 behold,  to  morrow  will  I  bring  the  "locusts 
 into  thy  coast : 
 
 5  And  they  shall  cover  the  fface  of  the  earth, 
 that  one  cannot  be  able  to  see  the  earth  :  and 
 '  they  shall  eat  the  residue  of  that  which  is 
 escaped,  which  remaineth  unto  you  from  the 
 hail,  and  shall  eat  every  tree  which  growetU 
 for  you  out  of  the  field  : 
 
 6  And  they  ^  shall  fill  thy  houses,  and  the 
 houses  of  all  thy  servants,  and  the  houses  of  all 
 the  Egyptians  ;  which  neither  thy  fathers,  nor 
 thy  fathers'  fathers  have  seen,  since  the  day  that 
 they  were  upon  the  earth  unto  this  day.  And 
 he  turned  himself,  and  went  out  from  Pharaoh. 
 
 7  And  Pharaoh's  servants  said  unto  him.  How 
 long  shall  this  man  be  'a  snare  unto  us?  let 
 the  men  go,  that  they  may  serve  the  Lord 
 their  God  :  knowest  thou  not  yet  that  Egypt 
 is  destroyed  ? 
 
 8  And  Moses  and  Aaron  w^re  brought  again 
 unto  Pharaoh  :  and  he  said  unto  them.  Go, 
 serve  tlie  Lord  your  God  :  hut  f  who  a?-e  they 
 that  shall  go  ? 
 
 9  And  Moses  said.  We  will  go  with  our 
 young  and  with  our  old,  with  our  sons  and 
 with  our  daughters,  with  our  flocks  and  with 
 our  herds  will  we  go  ;  for  '  we  juiist  hold  a 
 feast  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 10  And  he  said  unto  them.  Let  the  Lord  be 
 so  with  you,  as  I  will  let  you  go,  and  your 
 little  ones:  look  to  it;  for  evil  is  before  you. 
 
 11  Not  so ;  go  now  ye  that  are  men,  and  serve 
 the  Lord;  for  that  ye  did  de.sire.     And  they 
 
 ch.  .1.  -21. 
 &T.  14 
 ich.  7.  i. 
 
 :  Deut.  +. 
 Ps  41.  1. 
 
 71.  18.  8:7 
 
 d\  Kin.  81. 
 
 yft.  2Clir.  7, 
 
 II,  &  34.  27. 
 
 Jnb  42.  0. 
 
 Jer.  US.  18. 
 
 Jam.  4.  10. 
 
 1  Pet.  5.  e. 
 e  Pi-o  30.  27. 
 
 Wisd.  16.9. 
 
 Rev.  9.  3. 
 f  Heb.  rye. 
 
 ver.  15. 
 reh.  9.  32. 
 
 Juel  1.  4.  & 
 
 2.  2a. 
 
 sell. 8.3,  51. 
 
 I  ch.  23.  33. 
 Josh.  23.13. 
 1  Sa.  18  21. 
 Eccles.7.26. 
 1  Cor.  7. 85. 
 
 t  Heb.  w/.», 
 and  tr/iu,  ^'c. 
 
 mPa.  76. 46 
 &  105.  ». 
 
 t  Heb.  ftni- 
 teued  t;  roll. 
 q  ch.  9.  27. 
 
 ■  ch.  9,  2.3. 
 IKiu.  13.  6. 
 
 t  Heb./ui/- 
 
 /Juel  2.  20. 
 wch.  4.  21. 
 &  11.  lU. 
 
 t  Heb. IhnI 
 one  m»}/«i 
 dur^.^^en. 
 
 y  Ps.  105.28. 
 Wisd.  17.2, 
 BiC. 
 
 I  ch.  8.  22. 
 Wind.  18.1. 
 
 a  ver.  S. 
 b  ver.  10. 
 
 f  Heb.  into 
 our  b<i,idi. 
 
 were  driven  out  h'oni  Pharaoh's  presence. 
 
 12  H  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Mose.s, '  Stretch 
 out  thine  hand  over  the  land  of  Egypt  for  the 
 locusts,  that  they  may  come  up  upon  the  land 
 of  Egypt,  and  '  eat  every  herb  of  the  land,  even 
 all  that  the  hail  hath  left. 
 
 13  And  INIoses  stretched  forth  his  rod  over 
 the  land  of  Egypt,  and  the  Lord  brought  an 
 east  wind  upon  the  land  all  that  day,  and  all 
 tliat  night ;  and  when  it  was  morning,  the  east 
 wind  brought  the  locusts. 
 
 14  And  "'  the  locusts  went  up  over  all  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  and  rested  in  all  the  coasts  of 
 Egypt :  very  grievous  were  they ;  "before  them 
 there  were  no  such  locusts  as  they,  neithet 
 after  them  shall  be  such. 
 
 13  For  they  °  covered  the  face  of  the  whole 
 earth,  so  that  the  land  was  darkened  ;  and 
 they  ''  did  eat  every  herb  of  the  land,  and  all 
 the  fruit  of  the  trees  which  the  hail  had  left : 
 and  there  remained  not  any  green  thing  in  the 
 trees,  or  in  the  herbs  of  the  field,  through  all 
 the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 16  H  Then  Pharaoh  f  called  for  Moses  and 
 Aaron  in  haste  ;  and  he  said,  ■•  I  have  sinned 
 against  the  Lord  your  God,  and  against  you. 
 
 17  Now  therefore  forgive,  I  pray  thee,  my 
 sin  only  this  once,  and  '  intreat  the  Lord  your 
 God,  that  ho  may  take  away  from  me  this 
 death  only. 
 
 18  And  he  'went  out  from  Pharaoh,  and  in- 
 treated  the  Lord. 
 
 19  And  the  Lord  turned  a  mighty  strong 
 west  wind,  which  took  away  the  locusts,  and 
 t  cast  them  '  into  the  Red  sea  ;  there  remained 
 not  one  locust  in  all  the  coasts  of  Egypt. 
 
 20  But  the  Lord  "hardened  Pharaoh's  heart, 
 so  that  he  would  not  let  the  children  of  Israel 
 
 go- 
 
 21  U  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  "  Stretch 
 out  thine  hand  toward  heaven,  that  there  may 
 be  darkness  over  the  land  of  Egypt,  feven 
 darkness  tvhich  may  be  felt. 
 
 22  And  Moses  stretched  forth  his  hand  to- 
 ward heaven ;  and  there  was  a  ''  thick  darkness 
 in  all  the  land  of  Egypt  three  days  : 
 
 23  They  saw  not  one  another,  neither  rose 
 any  from  his  place  for  three  days :  '  but  all  the 
 children  of  Israel  had  light  in  their  dwellings. 
 
 24  t  And  Pharaoh  called  unto  Moses,  and 
 '  said.  Go  ye,  serve  the  Lord  ;  only  let  your 
 flocks  and  your  herds  be  stayed :  let  your  ''little 
 ones  also  go  with  you. 
 
 23  And  Moses  said.  Thou  must  give  f  us  also 
 
 Chap.  X. — 4.  Locusts,  (Eighth  Plague,)  these  resemble  grass- 
 hoppers in  form.  Thevenot  describes  them  obscuiing:  the  air  in  vast 
 clouds,  extending  fifteen  or  eighteen  miles  in  lengtli,  and  from  nine  to 
 twelve  in  breadth.  In  two  hours  they  devour  the  corn  where  they 
 settle,  and  produce  a  famine.  They  devour  vegetation  to  the  bark  and 
 root,  so  that  it  is  a  long  lime  before  it  can  be  renewed.  When  they 
 repose  at  iiiKht,  they  cover  the  earth  tV>ur  inches  deep  or  more.  Ihe 
 Egyptians,  especially,  trusted  in  Hercules  to  drive  these  away.  Here 
 again  they  were  taught  the  folly  of  relying  on  their  gods. — Le  Bruyn, 
 Russell's  Aleppo,  Bryant.  6.  Fill  thy  houses — they  entered  into  our 
 hou-es  and  bed-chambers,  like  so  many  thieves. — Shawns  Trorels. 
 Q.  With  our  young  and  witfi  our  old — this  must  appear  reasonable  to 
 the  Egyptians,  because  it  was  their  own  custom  in  their  religious  as- 
 semblies.— .4.  Ctftriie.  13.  An  east  wind — as  locusts  already  existed 
 in  abundance  in  Ethiopia,  &c.,  God  had  but  to  command  their  move- 
 ments, and  not  to  create  them  for  the  purpose.    The  miracle  was  in 
 
 bringing  them  to  the  appointed  time. — So  A.  Clarice.  The  Sept.  read 
 '  tile  south  wind,'  which  Ve  Dieu  and  Bochart  approve ;  and  the  latter 
 supposes  these  locusts  were  brought  by  a  south  wind  from  Ethiopia, 
 which  lay  to  the  south  of  Egypt/ind  where,  in  the  spring,  as  now, 
 were  numbers  of  them.  19. Wstvind — Heb.  D'  mi,  *thewindof 
 the  sea,'  of  the  Mediterranean,  b.owing  thence,  which  lay  to  the  west 
 of  it,  as  the  Red  Sea  did  to  the  east.— GiV/.  21.  XiarAviess,  {Ninth 
 Plagu'k.)  the  Egyptians  esteemed  the  sun  the  soul  of  the  world,  and 
 it  was  supposed,  with  the  moon,  to  rule  all  things. — Hoin.  Odiiss.  12, 
 lOy,  S;c.  The  people  were,  therefore,  doomed  to  a  judicial  darkness. 
 An  apposite  plague. — Bryant.  May  be  felt — that  which  caused  it, 
 namely,  gross  vapours,  and  thick  clouds.  23.  Saw  not  one  another — 
 this  does  not  necessarily  imply  total  inaction,  but  cessation  from  ordi- 
 nary business.  The  servants  probably  groped  about  for  food  for  them- 
 selves and  masters.— Le  Clerc.  24.  Be  stayed — as  a'pleilge  of  return- 
 ing.—GiH. 
 
 who  realt!/ feared  the  Lord  iitaon^  those  that  escaped  this  punish- 
 ment. There  were  saints  in  Caesar's  household,  and  wiiy  may 
 there  not  have  heen  saints  in  the  house  of  Pharaoh  ?  It  is 
 obvious,  however,  that  some,  at  least,  believed  in  the  threat- 
 eniogs  ot  God's  servants,  while  some  believed  not.  It  is  good 
 lo  stand  in  awe  of  God's  word,  and  these  reaped  the  advantage 
 73 
 
 of  it.  Thus  belief  and  unbelief  unaer  the  gospel  are  awfully 
 great  in  their  consequences  ;  for,  says  the  apostle,  '  We  are 
 unto  God  a  sweet  savour  of  Christ,  in  them  that  are  saved  and 
 in  them  that  perish  ;  to  the  one  we  are  the  savour  of  death 
 unto  death,  and  to  the  other  the  savour  of  life  unto  life,  and 
 who  is  sufficient  for  these  things'!' 
 
Death  of  the  firstborn  threatened. 
 
 EXODUS,  XL,  XII. 
 
 The  beginning  of  the  year  changed. 
 
 may 
 
 sacrifices   and   burnt   ofFeriniis,   that  we 
 sacrifice  unto  the  Lord  our  God. 
 
 26  Our  cattle  also  sliall  go  with  us  ;  there 
 shall  not  aii  hoof  be  left  behind  ;  for  thereof 
 must  we  take  to  serve  the  Lord  our  God  ;  and 
 we  know  not  with  what  we  must  serve  the 
 Lord,  until  we  come  thither. 
 
 27  H  But  the  Lord  '  hardened  Pharaoh's 
 heart,  and  he  would  not  let  them  go. 
 
 28  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  him.  Get  thee 
 from  me,  take  heed  to  thyself,  see  my  face  no 
 more  ;  for  in  that  day  thou  seest  my  face  thou 
 shalt  die. 
 
 29  And  Moses  said.  Thou  hast  spoken  well, 
 ■•  I  will  see  thy  face  again  no  more. 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 1  God's  message  to  the  Tsrailihs  to  borrow  jervfb  of  their 
 neighbours.  4  Moses  threatenetli  Pharaoh  u'ilh  the 
 death  ofthejirstborn. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Yet  will  I 
 -'*•  bring  one  plague  more  upon  Pharaoh, 
 and  upon  Egypt  ;  afterwards  he  will  let  you 
 go  hence  :  "  when  he  shall  let  you  go,  he  shall 
 surely  thrust  you  out  hence  altogether. 
 
 2  Speak  now  in  the  ears  of  the  people,  and 
 let  every  man  borrow  of  his  neighbour,  and 
 every  woman  of  her  neighbour,  ''jewels  of 
 silver,  and  jewels  of  gold. 
 
 3  '  And  the  Lord  gave  the  people  favour  in 
 the  sight  of  the  Egj-ptians.  Moreover  the 
 man  ''  Moses  irns  very  great  in  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  in  the  sight  of  Pharaoh's  servants,  and 
 in  the  sight  of  the  people. 
 
 4  And  Moses  said.  Thus  saith  the  Lord, 
 *  About  midnight  will  I  go  out  into  the  midst 
 of  Egypt : 
 
 5  And  'all  the  firstborn  in  the  land  of  Egypt 
 shall  die,  from  the  firstborn  of  Pharaoh  that) 
 
 rfHeb.  n.27- 
 
 g  ch.  12.  SO 
 Amos  b-  1' 
 Wisd.  18. 
 
 'i  ch.  8.  28. 
 i  Josh.  10.  SI 
 
 I  cli.  I».  SI. 
 33.  3;'. 
 
 *  eh.  3.  2S. 
 &  IS.  36. 
 
 c  ch.  3.  21. 
 &  12.  SO. 
 Pfi.  106.  16. 
 
 d2Sain  7.y. 
 Eslh.  9.  -1. 
 Ecdus.-I^.l. 
 
 «  ch.  12.  12, 
 2.3.  2P. 
 Amos  5.  17. 
 
 (  Hob.ff,a(i< 
 
 n:  thy  fei-t. 
 
 So  Judg.  ■!. 
 
 10.  fc  8.  6 
 
 1  Kill   20. 
 
 10.  2  Kin. 
 
 3.  9. 
 t  Heb.  hrat 
 
 of  atign. 
 t  Ch.  3.   19.  & 
 
 7.t.  &  10  1. 
 m  ch.  7.  3. 
 n  ch.  10.  20, 
 
 S7.  Rom.  2 
 
 5.  fc  9.  S2 
 
 I  ch.  13.  *. 
 Deut.  16.1. 
 
 sitteth  upon  his  throne,  even  unto  the  firstborn 
 [of  the  maidservant  that  is  behind  the  mill; 
 and  all  the  firstborn  of  beasts. 
 
 6  ^  And  there  shall  be  a  great  cry  throughout 
 all  the  land  of  Egypt,  such  as  there  was  none 
 like  it,  nor  shall  be  like  it  any  more. 
 
 7  ''  But  against  any  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 '  shall  not  a  dog  move  his  tongue,  against  man 
 or  beast :  that  ye  may  know  how  that  the  Lord 
 dolli  put  a  difl'erence  between  the  Egyptians 
 and  Israel. 
 
 8  And  'all  these  thy  servants  shall  come 
 down  unto  me,  and  bow  down  themselves  unto 
 me,  saying.  Get  thee  out,  and  all  tlie  people 
 fthat  follow  thee  :  and  after  that  I  will  go  out. 
 And  he  went  out  from  Pharaoh  in  fa  great 
 anger. 
 
 9  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  '  Pharaoh 
 .shall  not  hearken  unto  you;  that  "'my  won- 
 ders may  be  multiplied  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 10  And  Moses  and  Aaron  did  all  these  won- 
 ders before  Pharaoh  :  "and  the  Lord  hardened 
 Pharaoh's  heart,  so  that  he  would  not  let  the 
 children  of  Israel  go  out  of  his  land. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 I  The  beginnirtei  of  the  year  is  changed.  3  The  pass- 
 over  is  iiislitiited.  11  The  rite  of  the'  passover. 
 15  UfilcareTicd  bread.  29  The  frstbnnt  are  stain. 
 31  T'he  Israilitis  are  driven  ortt  nf  the  land.  ^1  They 
 come  to  Succoth.     43    The  ordinance  of  the  passover. 
 
 \  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  Aaron 
 -'^  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  saying, 
 
 2  'This  month  .«/(«//  be  unto  you  the  begin- 
 ning of  months  :  it  i/iall  be  the  first  month  of 
 the  year  to  you. 
 
 3  i;  Speak  ye  unto  all  the  congregation  of 
 Israel,  saying,  In  the  tenth  day  of  this  mouth 
 they  shall  take  to  them  every  man  a  ||  lamb, 
 
 29.  I  will  see  thy  face  again  no  more — conditional  language  ;  except 
 sent  tor.— Gilt.  Probably  the  last  time  he  ever  did  see  Pharaoh,  and 
 what  is  related  in  chap.  xi.  4,  S,  might  have  occurred  on  this  occasion. 
 —So  A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XI. — 1.  The  Lord  said—' had  said'  say  some,  referring  to  the 
 last  time  he  went  to  Pharaoh.— CiH.  2.  Borrou — '  ask."  See  notes 
 on  chap.  iii.  22.  3.  Favour— so  the  Egjptians  willingly  granted  what 
 was  asked,  and  perhaps  they  were  influenced  by  God's  judgments, 
 seeing  he  worked  so  powerfully  in  their  behalf.  —  Ed.  The  man 
 Moses  was  very  grea/— renowned  for  the  wonders  he  had  done— Gill. 
 6.  (Tevth  Plague.)  First  born  shall  rfie— here  was  an  awlul  retalia- 
 tion for  murdering  the  male  children  of  the  Hebrews.— £ii.  Behind 
 the  >/ii«— female  ser^'ants  had  to  grind  the  corn  with  a  hand-mill, 
 which  consisted  of  two  stones  laid  one  on  another,  the  uppermost 
 
 having  a  handle  turned  by  the  w<imen,  between  whom  the  stones  were 
 placed. — Chard.,  Shaiv.  6.  A  great  cry — the  Egyptians  were  frantic 
 in  their  grief. — Herod.  7-  -^  dog  more  his  tongue — proverbial. — Hew. 
 Or  a  figurative  expression,  signUying,  no  one  should  do  any  harm  to 
 them.— Gi/(.  Scott. 
 
 Ch.\p.  XII. — 2.  The  beginning  of  months — 'the  chief  of  months.' — 
 Mattltews,  Boothr.  They  had  hitherto  begun  their  year  from  the  be- 
 ginning of  September,  i>ut  henceforward  they  must  begin  from  the 
 middle  of  March,  at  least  in  all  iheir  ecclesiastical  computations. — Hen. 
 3.  Tenth  day — in  after  times  they  began  to  prepare  on  the  thirteenth 
 day,  but  this,  being  the  first  passover,  required  more  time. — A.  Clarke. 
 A  lamb — TW  signifies  a  kid  as  well  as  a  lanth,  (Numb.  XV.  11  ;  Deut. 
 xiv.  4  ;)  and  either  might  be  taken,  (see  ver.  5.) — Pat.  House — Israel 
 was  divided  into  twelve  tribes,  those  tribes  into  families,  the  families 
 
 Reflections  on  Ciup.  X.  —  I.  We  may  wonder  at  the 
 hardness  of  Pharaoh's  heart,  that  such  a  succession  of  plagues 
 did  not  subdue  him  ;  but  what  are  the  hearts  of  men  in  genci-al 
 till  tliey  are  softened  by  Divine  yrace'/  In  all,  there  is  a  blind 
 understanding  to  enlighten,  and  a  perverse  will  to  bring  '  into 
 captivity  to  the  obedience  of  Christ.'  Sinners  are  not  without 
 monitors.  Are  they  not  warned  by  the  voice  of  conscience  ; 
 by  the  thunders  of  the  law  ;  by  the  language  of  the  Gospel ;  by 
 the  judgments  sometimes  exhibited  around  them  ;  by  the  hair- 
 breadth escapes  which  befal  themselves;  by  the  miserable 
 death-beds  of  some  of  their  companions  ;  or  the  stupid  end  of 
 others  dying  without  hope? 
 
 IL  In  Pharaoh's  conduct  we  also  behold  tlie  usual  equivoca- 
 tion and  procrastination  of  men  in  the  things  that  relate  to  tlieir 
 peace.  Repenting,  and  recanting,  and  clelaying.  This  is  a 
 fearful  state.  It  is  sporting  with  God  ;  and  the  presumption 
 IS  repeated,  till,  Uke  moths  that  play  about  the  candle,  the 
 foolish  creatures  perish  in  the  flame.  They  harden  their 
 hearts,  till,  at  length,  God  himself  hardens  them— that  is,  he 
 gives  them  up  to  themselves,  and  leaves  them  for  ever  in  their 
 wretched  state.  '  And  in  them  is  fulfilled  the  prophecy  of 
 Esaias,  which  saith.  By  hearing  ye  shall  hear,  and  shall  not 
 understand  ;  and  seeing  ye  shall  see,  and  shall  not  perceive. 
 For  this  people's  heart  is  waxed  gross,  and  their  ears  are  dull 
 of  hearing,  and  their  eyes  have  they  closed  ;  lest  at  any  time 
 74 
 
 Ihey  should  see  with  their  eyes,  and  hear  with  their  ears,  and 
 should  understand  with  their  hearts,  and  should  be  converted, 
 and  I  should  heal  them.' 
 
 III.  While  we  view  the  obstinacy  and  rebellion  of  others, 
 let  us  admire  that  grace  which  has  made  us  to  differ.  Had  we  been 
 left  to  ourselves,  we  should  have  been  like  them.  To  *  the 
 God  of  all  grace'  be  then  the  glory  of  our  salvation,  both  now 
 and  for  ever.     Amen. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI 1.    Tixe  state  of  that  man  is 
 
 truly  awful,  who,  after  many  repeated  strokes,  is  left  to  but  one  re- 
 maining stroke.  That  stroke,  if  not  effectual,  is  the  prelude  to 
 destruction.  If  it  do  not  humble  his  proud  heart,  and  subdue 
 his  rebellious  will,  it  will  prove  the  winding  up  of  his  cala- 
 mities. Moses,  from  this  time,  will  offer  no  more  prayers  for 
 Pharaoh's  relief — the  judgment  will  be  most  destructive,  and 
 the  final  catastrophe  near  at  hand.  '  If,'  says  Henry,  '  men 
 will  not  improve  the  gradu.il  advances  of  Divine  judgments, 
 they  must  thank  themselves  if  they  find,  in  the  issue,  that  the 
 worst  was  reserved  for  the  last.' 
 
 II.  In  this  last  judgment,  God  made  a  striking  distinction  between 
 his  people  and  iiis  enemies ;  and  so  shall  it  be  at  the  last  great 
 day.  As  God  put  a  difference  between  the  Egyptians  and 
 Israel,  so  shall  he  tlien  put  a  difference  between  them  that 
 serve  him  and  them  that  serve  him  not.  '  The  Lord  grant  that 
 we  mav  find  mercy  of  the  Lord  in  that  day.'     Amen. 
 
Instilutiun  of  the  passover. 
 
 EXODUS,  XII. 
 
 The  unleavened  bread. 
 
 according  to  the  house  oi  their  fathers,  a  lamb 
 for  an  house  : 
 
 4  And  if  the  houshold  be  too  little  for  the 
 lamb,  let  him  and  his  neiglibour  next  unto  his 
 house  take  it  according  to  the  number  of  the 
 souls  ;  every  man  according  to  his  eating  shall 
 make  your  count  for  the  lamb. 
 
 5  Your  iamb  shall  be  "  without  blemish,  a 
 male  f  of  tlie  first  year:  ye  sliall  take  it  out 
 from  the  sheep,  or  from  the  goats  : 
 
 6  And  ye  shall  keep  it  up  until  the  "^four- 
 teenth day  of  the  same  month  :  and  the  whole 
 assembly  of  the  congregation  of  Israel  shall 
 kill  it  t  in  the  evening. 
 
 7  And  they  shall  take  of  the  blood,  and  strike 
 it  on  the  two  side  posts  and  on  the  upper  door 
 post  of  the  houses,  wherein  they  shall  eat  it. 
 
 8  And  they  shall  eat  the  flesh  in  tliat  night, 
 roast  with  fire,  and  ^  unleavened  bread  ;  and 
 with  bitter  herbs  they  shall  eat  it. 
 
 9  Eat  not  of  it  raw,  nor  sodden  at  all  with 
 water,  but  "roast  rcith  fire  ;  his  head  with  his 
 legs,  and  with  the  purtenance  thereof. 
 
 10  '  And  ye  shall  let  nothing  of  it  remain 
 until  the  morning  ;  and  that  which  remaineth 
 of  it  until  the  morning  ye  shall  burn  with  fire. 
 
 1 1  IT  And  thus  shall  ye  eat  it ;  ivith  your 
 loins  girded,  your  shoes  on  your  feet,  and  your 
 staff  in  your  hand  ;  and  ye  shall  eat  it  in  haste : 
 'it  is  the  Lord's  passover. 
 
 12  For  I  ''  will  pass  through  the  land  of  Egypt 
 this  night,  and  will  smite  all  the  firstborn  in 
 the  land  of  Egypt,  both  man  and  beast ;  and 
 '  against  all  the  ||  gods  of  Egypt  I  will  execute 
 judgment :  '  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  the  blood  shall  be  to  you  for  a  token 
 upon  the  houses  where  ye  are :  and  when  I 
 see  the  blood,  I  will  pass  over  you,  and  the 
 plague  shall  not  be  upon  you  f  to  destroy  yow, 
 when  I  smite  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 14  And  this  day  shall  be  unto  you  '  for  a 
 memorial ;  and  ye  shall  keep  it  a  "'  feast  to  the 
 Lord  throughout  your  generations ;  ye  shall 
 keep  it  a  feast  "  by  an  ordinance  for  ever. 
 
 15  "Seven  days  shall  ye  eat  unleavened  bread ; 
 even  the  first  day  ye  shall  put  away  leaven  out 
 of  your  houses :  for  whosoever  eateth  leavened 
 bread  from  the  first  day  until  the  seventh  day, 
 ''  that  soul  shall  be  cut  off  from  Israel. 
 
 b  Lev.  22 
 
 19,  20,21. 
 
 Mal.1.8,  14. 
 
 Heb.  9.  U. 
 
 1  I'et.  I.  19. 
 f  Heb.  10/1 
 
 „/„  ge..r. 
 
 Lev.2;i.  12. 
 c  Lev.  2.S.  5. 
 
 Num.  9.  3. 
 
 &  23.  16. 
 
 I>eut.  16. 
 
 1.  6. 
 t  Heb.  bi- 
 
 tuten  tUe  tv)o 
 
 iich.31.25. 
 Deut.  16.3. 
 Num.  9.  II. 
 1  Cor  5.  8. 
 
 e  Deul.  16. 7. 
 
 fch.23-  18- 
 &  34.  \ld. 
 
 7  Lev.  23.  7, 
 S,  Nuiii.23. 
 IS,  25. 
 
 A  c4i.  11.4,5. 
 AmoB  5. 17. 
 
 i  Num  SS.4 
 II  Or.  pri.,r... 
 
 th.  21,  ti.  g: 
 
 22.  2S. 
 
 Ps.  82  1.  6. 
 
 Joliu  10.34, 
 
 3:,. 
 *  ch.  6.  2. 
 
 tHeb./oro 
 licilruelicn. 
 
 t  ch.  n.  9. 
 
 m  Lev.  23.4, 
 5. 2  Kin  .23. 
 21. 
 
 H  ver.24,  43. 
 &  ch.  13.10. 
 
 11  ch.l3.  6,7. 
 &  23.  I.',.  & 
 34.  18,  25. 
 Lev.  23.5,6. 
 Num. 28  17 
 Deut  16.  3, 
 8.  ICor.  5. 
 7. 
 
 ;»  Gen. 17. 14. 
 Num.  9. 13 
 
 I  Ex.  2.3.  15. 
 &  34.  18. 
 Deut.  16.3 
 1  Cor.5.7,M 
 
 o  Num  9.13. 
 
 X  ver.  3. 
 
 Num.  9.  4. 
 
 Josh.  5.  10. 
 
 2  Kin.  23. 
 
 21.   Lira  G. 
 
 20.  Mat. 26. 
 
 18,lS.Mark 
 
 14.  12-16. 
 
 Luke  22.  7. 
 
 &c. 
 
 II  Or,  /ltd. 
 j/ Heb.  11.28. 
 :  ver.  7. 
 
 b  Eielc.  9.  6. 
 
 Rev.  7.  3. 
 
 &  9.  4. 
 c  2  Sam.  24. 
 
 16.  I  Ci>r. 
 
 10.  10   Heb. 
 
 n.28. 
 
 ech.  13  8,14. 
 Deul.  32.  7. 
 Josh.  4.  6. 
 Ps.  78.  6. 
 
 /ver.  11. 
 
 16  And  in  the  first  day  there  shall  be  ''an 
 holy  convocation,  and  in  the  seventh  day  there 
 shall  be  an  holy  convocation  to  you  ;  no  man- 
 ner of  work  shall  be  done  in  them,  save  that 
 which  every  f  man  must  eat,  that  only  may  be 
 done  of  you. 
 
 17  And  ye  shall  obsen'e  the  feast  of  un- 
 leavened bread  ;  for  'in  this  selfsame  day  have 
 I  brought  your  armies  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt: 
 therefore  shall  ye  observe  this  day  in  your 
 generations  by  an  ordinance  for  ever. 
 
 18  t '  In  the  first  month,  on  the  fourteenth 
 day  of  the  month  at  even,  ye  shall  eat  un- 
 leavened bread,  until  the  one  and  twentieth 
 day  of  the  month  at  even. 
 
 19  '  Seven  days  shall  there  be  no  leaven  found 
 in  your  houses :  fur  whosoever  eateth  that 
 which  is  leavened,  "  even  that  soul  shall  be  cut 
 off  from  the  congregation  of  Israel,  whether  he 
 be  a  stranger,  or  born  in  the  land. 
 
 '20  Ye  shall  eat  nothing  leavened ;  in  all  your 
 habitations  shall  ye  eat  unleavened  bread. 
 
 '21  If  Then  Moses  called  for  all  the  elders  of 
 Israel,  and  said  unto  them,  '  Draw  out  and 
 take  you  a  ||  lamb  according  to  your  families, 
 and  kill  the  passover. 
 
 22  ^  And  ye  shall  take  a  bunch  of  hyssop, 
 and  dip  it  in  the  blood  that  is  in  the  bason,  and 
 ^  strike  the  lintel  and  the  two  side  posts  with 
 the  blood  that  is  in  the  bason ;  and  none  of 
 you  shall  go  out  at  the  door  of  his  house  until 
 the  morning. 
 
 23  "  For  the  Lord  will  pass  through  to  smite 
 the  Egyptians ;  and  when  he  seeth  the  blood 
 upon  the  lintel,  and  on  the  two  side  posts,  the 
 Lord  will  pass  over  the  door,  and  '  will  not 
 suffer  '  the  destroyer  to  come  in  unto  your 
 houses  to  smite  _yo«. 
 
 24  And  ye  shall  observe  this  thing  for  an 
 ordinance  to  thee  and  to  thy  sons  for  ever. 
 
 25  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  ye  be 
 come  to  the  land  which  the  Lord  will  give 
 you,  ''  according  as  he  hath  promised,  that  ye 
 shall  keep  this  service. 
 
 26  °  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  your 
 children  shall  say  unto  you,  What  mean  ye  by 
 this  service  ? 
 
 27  That  ye  shall  say,  '  It  (s  the  sacrifice  of 
 the    Lord's   passover,  who   passed   over   the 
 
 into  houses,  and  the  houses  into  particular  persons,  (Numb.  i. ;  Josh, 
 vii.  14.) — Ains.  4.  According  to  the  nvmher — these  were  never  fewer 
 than  ten,  and  were  often  twenty. — Jasephus.  7.  Uppei-  door  post — 
 called  lintel,  ver.  23,  and  has  it^  name  from  the  Hebrew,  'looking 
 out,'  for  there  was  a  window  over  the  rinor;  and  in  Eg}!)!,  as  now  in 
 Arabia,  there  were  windows  over  the  doors  of  houses.  'The word,' 
 says  Sctitndter,  '  signifies  either  a  lintel,  or  a  little  window  over  the 
 door,'  through  which  it  might  be  seen  who  called  or  knocked. — Gill. 
 8.  Roast— the  Jews  usually  lioiled  their  flesh;  it  is  therefore  thought 
 this  command  was  given  in  opposition  to  the  practice  of  the  Egyptians, 
 who  ate  raw  flesh,  in  honour  of  Osiris.  Un/fftfened—Ptyji:},  from  nsrD, 
 to  squfeze  or  compress,  the  bread  so  prepared  being  lieory.  Bread, 
 'cakes.'— See  A.  Clarke.  The  reason  was.  because  they  were  in  hasle, 
 and  could  not  stay  to  leaven  the  dough  that  was  in  their  troughs ;  and 
 was  significative  of  the  unleavened  bread  of  sincerity  and  truth,  with 
 which  the  true  passover  lamb  is  to  be  eaten,  in  opposition  to  the  leaven 
 of  error,  hypocrisy,  and  malice,  (1  Cor.  v.  r,  8.)  Bitter  herbs,  'wild 
 lettuces,'  so  the  Vulgate  Latin;  these  are  very  bitter.  '  Horehound 
 aod  endive.'— Tarff.  of  Jon.  9.  Raui—\n  opposition  to  the  Egyptian 
 manners,  who  pulled  their  sacrifices  to  pieces  and  ate  them  raw. — 
 Young.  Purtenance,  '  with  its  inwards,'  ^2^^p  bn.— Poj?.  These  were 
 rrasted,  that  no  divination  might  be  used  with  them. — Young.  10.  Let 
 nottting~-remnin~tn  prevent  the  putrefaction  in  so  hot  a  country.  It 
 v/as  not  fit  a  tiling  offered  to  God  should  be  subjected  to  corruption. — 
 So.'!.  Clarke.  11.  Loins  girded— lout^  eastern  garments  tucked  in 
 their  girdle  for  the  better  convenience  of  travelling. — A.  Clarice.,  Gill. 
 Sttues,  or  sandals,  on;  which  used  to  be  put  off  at  feasts,  to  have  their 
 feet  washed.— Gi//.  SVay— the  Easterns  always  travel  with  a  staff. — 
 Chard.  Passoi>er — this  should  be  pronounced  as  two  words,  having 
 its  name  from  the  angel  passing-over  the  houses  of  the  Israelites, where 
 the  blood  was  sprinkled,  when  the  angel  slew  the  first-born  of  the 
 Egyptians.— So.-l.tVarAs.  12.  The  gods— 'ftinces.'—Boolhr.  'Idols,' 
 75 
 
 (Numb,  x.xxiii.  4  ;  Isa.  xi-x.  1 ;)  supposing  'n^K,  'gods,'  to  be  an  error 
 for  'bn?*,  '  tents  or  habitations,'  it  may  read  '  and  on  all  the  tents  or 
 habitations  of  Egypt,'  &c.  The  parallel  in  Numb,  xxxiii.  4,  however, 
 reads  '  gods.' — Gill,  Houb.,  A.  Clarke.  13.  .4  token — a  sign  of  the 
 
 Lord's  making  good  his  promises  to  them. — Gill.  I  will  pass  over  you 
 — 2K£7ra(rw  I'/nar,  '  I  will  cover  or  shelter  you.' — ^ept.  H.  For  eeer — 
 unto  the  end  of  the  Jewish  economy,  until  Christ,  the  true  Passover, 
 be  sacrificed. — Gill.  Because  the  representative  of  the  Lamb  of  God, 
 whose  mediation  endurcth  while  ^('me  l7*f(/'^JS/5,  and  through  whose 
 merits  salvation  is  throughout  eternity. — .4.  Clarke.  lo.  Seeen  days — 
 in  remembrance  of  their  being  confined  to  such  bread  of  necessity  for 
 many  days  after  they  came  out  of  Egypt. — Hen.  Cut  o/?— be  disfran- 
 chised as  an  Israelite,  or  excluded  from  church  privileges,  or  be  exe- 
 cuted by  the  magistrate. — Gill.  See  on  Gen.  xvii.  14.  A.  Clarke 
 excludes  the  last  opinion.  The  Greek  is  '  destroyed.'  Most  think  it  a 
 punishment  by  the  hand  of  God,  and  not  of  man  — Pat.  It).  Coneo- 
 cation  —  l^lpo,  a  word  of  the  same  import  as  the  Greek  eKKKnaia, 
 usually  rendered  church,  or  a  called  assembly. — So  Boutlir.,  A.  Clarke. 
 21.  The  passover — the  animal  sacrificed  on  the  occasion  got  the  name 
 of  the  institution  itself. — So.'l.  Clarke.  22.  Hyssop,  'marjoram.'— 
 Kimchi.  Rosemary. — Pise.  Hyssop  is  usually  pieferred,  the  sound  of 
 the  word  m;.*,  ezoi.seemingtojustify  theconclusion. — Gill.  ^6.When 
 your  children — parents  were  bound  to  take  their  children  to  the  temple 
 at  twelve  years  of  age,  where  they  would  ask  the  meaning  of  this  fes- 
 tival :  and  at  the  passover,  the  eldest  person  at  the  table  taught  the 
 younger  persons  the  reason  of  it. — Pat.  27.  The  sacri/ice  of  the 
 Lord's  passoeer — there  was  much  of  Gospel  in  this  ordinance,  (see 
 Heb.  iv.  2;  2  Cor.  ill.  13.)  (i.)'The  Lanilt  was  typical,  (1  Cor.  v.  7.) 
 1.  The  Lamb  of  God,  (John,  i.  29.)  2.  It  was  to  be  a  male  of  the  first 
 year,  in  its  prime  ;  Christ  oftered  himself  in  the  midst  of  his  days,  em- 
 blematical of  his  power  to  help.  3.  To  he  without  blemi.^h,  (see  1  Pet. 
 i.  19,)  deooting  the  purity  of  Christ.    4.  To  be  set  apart  four  dayi 
 
The  firstborn  are  slain. 
 
 EXODUS,  XII. 
 
 Departure  of  the  Israelites. 
 
 houses  of  the  children  of  Israel  in  Egypt,  when 
 he  smote  the  Egyptians,  and  delivered  our 
 houses.  And  the  people  ^  bowed  the  head 
 and  worshipped. 
 
 28  And  the  children  of  Israel  went  away,  and 
 'did  as  the  Lord  had  commanded  Moses  and 
 Aaron,  so  did  they. 
 
 29  H '  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  at  midnight 
 '  the  Lord  smote  all  the  firstborn  m  the  land 
 of  Egypt,  '  from  the  firstborn  of  Pharaoh  that 
 sat  on  his  throne  unto  the  firstborn  of  the  cap- 
 tive that  was  in  the  f  dungeon  ;  and  all  the 
 firstborn  of  cattle. 
 
 30  And  Pharaoh  rose  up  in  the  night,  he,  and 
 all  his  servants,  and  all  the  Egyptians  ;  and 
 there  was  a  "'  great  cry  in  Egypt ;  for  there  was 
 not  a  house  where  there  was  not  one  dead. 
 
 31  t  And  "  he  called  for  Moses  and  Aaron  by 
 night,  and  said.  Rise  up,  and  get  yon  forth 
 from  among  my  people,  °  both  ye  and  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel ;  and  go,  serve  the  Lord,  as  ye 
 have  said. 
 
 3'2  ''  Also  take  your  flocks  and  your  herds,  as 
 ye  have  said,  and  be  gone;  and''  bless  me  also. 
 
 33  '  And  the  Egyptians  were  urgent  upon  the 
 people,  that  they  might  send  them  out  of  the 
 land  in  haste  ;  for  they  said,  '  We  be  all  dead 
 men. 
 
 84  And  the  people  took  their  dough  before  it 
 was  leavened,  their  |]  kneadingtroughs  being 
 bound  up  in  their  clothes  upon  their  shoulders. 
 
 3,1  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  according 
 to  the  word  of  Moses  ;  and  they  borrowed  of 
 the  Egyptians  'jewels  of  silver,  and  jewels  of 
 gold,  and  raiment : 
 
 36  "  And  the  Lord  gave  the  people  favour  in 
 the  siglit  of  the  Egyptians,  so  that  they  lent 
 luito  them  such  things  as  they  required.  And 
 *  they  spoiled  the  Egyptians. 
 
 37  IF  And  ''  the  children  of  Israel  journeyed 
 from  *  Rameses  to  Succoth,  about  '  six  hun- 
 dred thousand  on  foot  that  were  men,  beside 
 children. 
 
 38  And  f  a  mixed  multitude  went  up  also  with 
 them  ;  and  flocks,  and  herds,  even  very  much 
 cattle. 
 
 icb.  W.i. 
 
 k  Ntim  8.17, 
 tt.-^l.  4.  Ps 
 ;rt  51  &  lo.'<. 
 :iG.  &  i2h.S. 
 k  laa.  lU. 
 
 /  cli.  4. 23. 
 
 &    11..'!. 
 
 Wis.  13.  II. 
 t  Heb.  /lu'itt 
 ofthtpU. 
 
 I>  cli.  10.  S6. 
 q  Goii.27.3*. 
 
 [!  Or,  liovgh. 
 ch,  S.  3. 
 
 t  cli   3.  2S. 
 
 t<  ell.  3.91. 
 &  1 1.  S. 
 
 j-Cen.l5.I4. 
 
 oh   a.  H2. 
 
 I's.  105.  :*7. 
 J  Nu.:«  3,  b. 
 s  Gen. 47.  II. 
 a  Gen    12.  H 
 
 &  46.  :i. 
 
 ch.  38   2fi. 
 Num.  l.-lii. 
 &  II.  ^1. 
 tlTeb.rt-.»-a/ 
 
 (>  ch.  6.  t.  & 
 II.  L&  ver. 
 33. 
 
 c  Gen.  15.13. 
 Acts  7.  6. 
 Gal.  3.  17. 
 
 d  ch   7.  4. 
 &  ver.  51. 
 
 t  Heb.it  in'jfAf 
 '■/  obierva- 
 
 /Xum.g.ll. 
 
 Joliuia.  33, 
 36. 
 I  *  ver.  6. 
 Num.  9.  13. 
 t  Meb.  d,,  il. 
 t  Num.  9.  U. 
 
 FH  Num.  9. 
 I4.it  l.'J.  l\ 
 lti,aal.3.^. 
 
 39  And  they  baked  unleavened  cakes  of  the 
 dough  wliich  they  brouu;ht  forth  out  of  Efj:;ypt, 
 for  it  was  not  leavened  ;  because  ^  they  were 
 thrust  out  of  Egypt,  and  could  not  tarry,  neitlier 
 had  they  prepared  for  themselves  any  victual. 
 
 40  H  Now  tlie  sojourning  of  the  children  of 
 Israel,  who  dwelt  in  Egypt,  ivas  *^  four  liundred 
 and  thirty  years. 
 
 41  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  the  four 
 hundred  and  thirty  years,  even  the  selfsame 
 day  it  came  to  pass,  that  all  '^  the  hosts  of  the 
 Lord  went  out  from  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 4t2  It  IS  t '^  ^  night  to  be  much  observed  unto 
 the  Lord  for  bringing  them  out  from  the  land 
 of  Egypt :  this  is  that  night  of  the  Lord  to  be 
 observed  of  all  the  children  of  Israel  in  their 
 generations. 
 
 43  1l  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses  and 
 Aaron,  This  is  ^  the  ordinance  of  the  passover : 
 There  shall  no  stranger  eat  thereof: 
 
 44  But  every  man's  servant  that  is  bought  for 
 money,  when  thou  hast  ^circumcised  him,  then 
 shall  he  eat  thereof. 
 
 4j  ^  A  foreigner  and  an  hired  servant  shall 
 not  eat  thereof. 
 
 46  In  one  house  shall  it  be  eaten  ;  thou  shall 
 not  carry  forth  ought  of  the  flesh  abroad  out 
 of  the  house  ;  '  neither  shall  ye  break  a  bone 
 thereof. 
 
 47  ^  All  the  congregation  of  Israel  shall 
 t  keep  it. 
 
 48  And  '  when  a  stranger  shall  sojourn  with 
 thee,  and  will  keep  the  passover  to  the  Lord, 
 let  all  his  males  be  circumcised,  and  then  let 
 him  come  near  and  keep  it ;  and  he  shall  be  as 
 one  that  is  born  in  the  land  :  for  no  uncircum- 
 cised  person  shall  eat  thereof. 
 
 49  "*  One  law  shall  be  to  him  that  is  home- 
 born,  and  unto  the  stranger  that  sojourneth 
 among  you. 
 
 50  Thus  did  all  the  children  of  Israel;  as  the 
 Lord  commanded  Moses  and  Aaron,  so  did 
 they. 
 
 31  °  And  it  came  to  pass  the  selfsame  day, 
 that  the  Lord  did  bring  the  children  of  Israel 
 out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  °  by  their  armies. 
 
 before,  noting  the  designation  of  Christ  as  a  Saviour.  5.  To  he  ulnin 
 and  roasted,  expressive  tif  Christ's  sufferinfrs.  6.  Killed  b;i  the  whale 
 congreg'ttiofi,  between  the  two  evening-*,  between  three  and  six,  de- 
 noting Chri.st's  suffering  in  the  evening  of  times,  (Heb.  ix.  26;  i.  2  ; 
 1  Pet.  i.  19.  20;)  and  about  the  same  time  that  the  Paschal  Lamb  died, 
 at  the  ninth  hour,  (Matt,  .\xvii.  46— 50.)— //en.,  Ai?is.  7.  Not  a  bone  to 
 be  broken,  fulfilled  in  Christ,  'John,  xix.  33—36,)  denoting  his  unbroken 
 strength,  (ii.)  The  sprinkling  of  the  bloud  was  typical— I.  Noting  the 
 application  of  the  merits  oi  Christ  to  our  souls.  (Rom.  v.  ii.)  2.  It 
 was  to  be  sprinkled  with  a  bunch  uf  hr/.tsop,  emblem-itical  of  faith,  by 
 which  the  benefits  of  Christ's  blood,  in  his  promises,  are  applied  to  us. 
 3.  Upon  the  door  posts,  ntJting  that  we  are  to  make  an  open  profession 
 of  our  faith  in  Christ.  4.  Upon  the  lintel  nnd  side  posts,  but  not  upon 
 the  threshold,  cauUnning-  us  not  to  trample  under  foot  the  blood  of  the 
 covenant,  (Heb.  x.2p.)  5.  It  was  the  means  of  preserving  the  Israelites 
 from  destruciinn.  So  the  blond  of  Christ,  sprinkled  on  the  ciuiscience, 
 preserve'5  fMm  the  wrath  of  G«>d,  Stc  (Rom.  viii.  t.)  (iii.)  The  sob  mn 
 eating  of  the  I  imb  was  typical  of  our  gospel  duty  to  Christ.  1.  Tlie 
 Pa>chal  Lamb  was  killed  not  to  be  looked  uptm  only,  but  to  be  fed 
 upon.  (See  John,  vi.  53,  54.)  2.  To  be  nil  eaten;  so  we  must  receive  a 
 whole  Christ,  Christ  and  his  yoke,  Christ  and  his  cross,  as  well  as 
 Christ  and  his  crown.  3.  There  was  to  be  no  delay,  ^o-d«j/ Christ  is 
 offered,  and  must  be  accepted  without  delay.  4.  To  be  eaten  with  bitter 
 herbs  -,  wc  must  feed  upon  Christ  with  sorrow  and  brokenncss  of  heart, 
 in  remembrance  of  sin  :  Christ  will  then  be  sweet  to  us  if  sin  be  bitter. 
 5.  In  a  departing  posture  ;  tlie  Israelices  shook  off  Pharaoh's  yoke  :  so 
 must  we  the  rule  and  dominion  of  sin  -.  forsnke  all  for  Christ,  (Heb. 
 Xiii.  13,  14.)  (iv.)  The  feast  of  unleavened  bread  was  typical  of  the 
 Christian  life,  (l  Cor.  v.  7,  8.)  Having  received  Christ— 1.  We  must 
 keep  a  feast  in  holy  joy,  continually  delighting  in  Christ.  If  believers 
 have  not  a  continual  feast,  it  is  their  own  fault.  2.  It  must  be  a  feast 
 of  unleavened  bread,  kept  in  chai-ity  and  sincerity.  3.  It  was  to  be  an 
 ordinance  for  ever  ;  as  long  as  we  live  we  must  feed  upon  Christ.— 
 Hen.  29.  Firstborn— ti%  there  was  not  a  house  in  which  there  was 
 not  one  dead,  we  cannot  take  this  altogether  literally,  unless  we  con- 
 sider the  term  as  hyperbolical.  It  Ib  therefore  thought  that  the  word 
 76 
 
 must  be  taken  in  a  more  enlarged  sense,  as  expressive  of  the  •  chiei,' 
 '  most  excellent,'  *  best  beloved,'  &c..  (^ee  the  use  of  ihe  term,  Col.  1. 
 15;  Rom.  viii.  29;  Rev.  i.  5;  Jer.  xxxi.  9;  Exnd.  iv.  22;  Mic.  vi.  7; 
 Zech.xii.  10;  Heb.  xii.23.)— So  .-I.  Clarke.  M.  A  gTe«^  cry— the  Egypt- 
 ians in  their  grief  howled,  whipped,  beat,  and  tore  themselves.--Z>rod. 
 Sic.,  Herod.  Not  a  house — rather,  *  a  family. '~/fo«6.  34.  Doui^h — 
 the  original  more  frequently  ma^ws  flour  than  '  dough.' — Hew.  K/iead- 
 ingfruugbs— these,  among  the  Arah3,  are  only  smail  wooden  bowls. — 
 Shaw.  Their  clothes — their  outer  garment,  called  the  Hylce,  or  '  loose 
 wrappers,'  still  worn  by  the  Moors  and  Arabs.  37.  Rameses — pro- 
 bably the  principal  city  in  Goshen,  to  erect  which  the  Israelites  hart 
 been  employed.— He«'.  Sucmth  ;  so  named  by  anticipation ;  the  word 
 signifies  '  tents,'  or  '  tabernacles,'  and  the  place  took  its  name  from 
 the  Israelites  first  encamping  there. — Gill.  It  was  eight  miles  from 
 Rameses.— SM»/i/?g-.  Bryant  makes  it  thirty  miles  from  Rameses; 
 and  observes,  *  the  name  signifies  an  enclosure,  consisting  of  pens  and 
 booths  for  cattle.*  It  was,  therefore,  pntbably  built  lor  a  receptacle  in 
 which  the  Egyptians  secured  and  fodilered  iheir  flocks  and  herds  during 
 the  iiiundatiiin  of  the  Nile. — Clurke  fnllows  GilL  33.  A  mixed  multi- 
 tude— perhaps  proselytes  anrl  Egyptians,  intermarried  with  the  Israel- 
 ites.— Pat.  40.  Four  hundred  nnd  thirty  yetirs  —  iu  Gen.  xv.  13,  400 
 years  are  mentioned,  but  ihe  texts  are  thus  reconciled  :  it  was  400  years 
 from  Ishmael's  mocking  Isaac,  hut  from  the  commencement  of  their 
 journeying,  whin  Abraham  entered  Canaan,  it  was  430.— H'i/.  Abra- 
 ham entered  Canaan  tweniy-five  years  before  the  birth  of  Isaac,  (Gen 
 xii.  4  ;  xvii.  1 — 21.)  Isaac  was  60  when  Jacob  was  born,  (Gen.  xxv. 
 26.)  Jacob  went  into  Eg\  pt  at  i:iO,  (Gen.  xlvii.  9,)  which  years  amount 
 to  215.  Jac'b  and  his  lamilv  remained  in  Egypt  215  more,  which 
 make  430.— See  Dr.  Kennirut,  Diss,  on  Heb.  Teat.  41.  Hosts  of  the 
 Lord — the  Lord  was  become  their  king,  and  now  led  them  forth  as  their 
 captain-general.  —  Pat.  43.  Stranger,  a  heathen.- G(//.  45.  ,4 
 foreigner — 2U?in.  fiom  3C\  'to  sit  down,'  or  'dwell;'  one  merely 
 traflgcking.  46.  Neither  shall  ye  break  a  bone— there  was  no  time 
 for  that. — So  H.  Clarke.  51.  ./Irmies- cnNSS.from  M2S,  'to  assemble, 
 '  meet  together  ' 
 
The  firstborn  sanctified  to  God. 
 
 EXODUS,  XIII. 
 
 The  firstlings  of  beasts  set  apart. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  The  firsthom  are  sanctified  to  God.  3  Thu  memorial 
 of  (he  passover  is  commanded.  11  The  firstlings  of 
 beasts  are  set  apart.  17  Tlie  Israelites  i,o  out  of  Ei/i/pt, 
 and  carry  Joseph's  I  ones  with  them.  20  T/iey  come  to 
 Etham,  21  Gud  guideth  thein  by  a  pittur  of  a  cloud, 
 and  a  pillar  uf  fire. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^*-  *2  ^  Sanctity  unto ine  all  the  firstborn,  what- 
 soever openetli  the  womb  among  the  children 
 of  Israel,  both  of  man  and  of  beast ;  it  is  mine. 
 
 3  If  And  Moses  said  unto  the  people,  ^  Re- 
 member this  day,  in  which  ye  came  out  from 
 Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  f  bondage  ;  for  '^  by 
 strength  of  hand  the  Lord  brought  you  out 
 from  this  place :  "^  there  shall  no  leavened 
 bread  be  eaten. 
 
 4  "  This  day  came  you  out  in  the  month 
 Abib. 
 
 5  t  And  it  shall  be  when  the  Lord  shall 
 '  bring  thee  into  the  land  of  the  Canaanites,  and 
 the  Hittites,  and  the  Amorites,  and  the  Hivites, 
 and  the  Jebusites,  which  he  ^  sware  unto  thy 
 fathers  to  give  thee,  a  land  flowing  with  milk 
 and  honey,  ^  that  thou  shalt  keep  this  service 
 in  this  month. 
 
 6  '  Seven  days  thou  shalt  eat  unleavened 
 bread,  and  in  the  seventh  day  shall  he  a  feast 
 to  the  Lord. 
 
 7  Unleavened  bread  shall  be  eaten  seven 
 days  ;  and  there  shall  ''  no  leavened  bread  be 
 seen  with  thee,  neither  shall  there  be  leaven 
 seen  with  thee  in  all  thy  quarters, 
 
 8  H  And  thou  shalt  •  shew  thy  son  in  that  day, 
 saying.  This  is  done  because  of  that  which  the 
 Lord  did  unto  me  when  I  came  forth  out  of 
 Egypt. 
 
 9  And  it  shall  be  for  ™a  sign  unto  thee  upon 
 thine  hand,  and  for  a  memorial  between  thine 
 eyes,  that  the  Lord's  law  may  be  in  thy  mouth  : 
 for  with  a  strong  hand  hath  the  Lord  brought 
 thee  out  of  Kgypt. 
 
 10  "  Thou  shalt  therefore  keep  this  ordinance 
 in  his  season  from  year  to  year. 
 
 1 1  If  And  it  shall  be  when  the  Lord  shall 
 bring  thee  into  the  land  of  the  Canaauites,  as 
 
 u  ver  1?,  13, 
 l,ichaj..9, 
 3lt.  ttSl.  19, 
 Lev.  •>:.  -26. 
 Num.  S.  IS. 
 8(8.  IP,  17. 
 h  18.  15. 
 Dcut. 15.19 
 Luke  'i.  as. 
 
 b  ch.  \-i.  42. 
 Deut.  Iti.  3. 
 
 t  Iltjb.  ter- 
 
 VilltlS. 
 
 p  ch.5S.  15. 
 ^  34.  18. 
 Deut.  Id.  1. 
 
 h  cli.  12.  25, 
 36. 
 
 I  ver.  14. 
 cb.  1^;.  26. 
 
 ni See  ver. 16 
 ch.  12.  M. 
 Num.  15.39 
 Deuf.6.9  & 
 11.18  Prov. 
 1.9.1s  .19.16. 
 Jer.  2u',  24. 
 Wat.  23.  5. 
 
 N  ch.  12.  U, 
 
 a  ver.  2.  ch. 
 
 e-i-ag  &.s.i. 
 
 19.  Lev.  27. 
 26.  Num.  8. 
 17.  &I8.  \h. 
 Deut.|.'..l!>. 
 Baek.M  30. 
 t  HBb.    ciiu^e 
 
 p  ch.  :U.  20. 
 
 Num. 18.15, 
 
 16. 
 II  Or,  kid. 
 
 Ir5. 
 r  ch.  12.  2S. 
 
 Deut.  6.  2(1. 
 
 J.igh  4.b,2l. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 X  ch.  U    II, 
 
 12. Num.  14. 
 
 1—4. 
 ./  Deu. 17.16. 
 X  ch.  14.  a. 
 
 Num.33.  6, 
 
 &c. 
 II  Or,   b]/five 
 
 a  Gen. 50.25. 
 
 Josh.  24,32. 
 
 Acts  7.  16. 
 b  Num.33  6. 
 c  ch.  N    19, 
 
 24    &40  38. 
 
 Num.9.  15, 
 
 tt  lU  at.  & 
 
 U.  1-1. 
 
 Deut.  1.33 
 
 Neh.  9    12, 
 
 19.Ps78.ll. 
 
 &99.7.ati05. 
 
 39.  Is.  *.  5. 
 
 1  Cor.  10. 1. 
 
 he  sware  unto  thee  and  to  thy  fathers,  and  shall 
 give  it  thee, 
 
 1*2  °  That  thou  shalt  f  set  apart  unto  the  Lord 
 all  that  openeth  the  matrix,  and  every  firstling 
 that  Cometh  of  a  beast  which  thou  hast  ;  the 
 males  shall  be  the  Lord's. 
 
 13  And  ''every  firstling  of  an  ass  thou  shalt 
 redeem  with  a  ||  lamb  ;  and  if  thou  wilt  not 
 redeem  it,  then  thou  shalt  break  his  neck  ; 
 and  all  the  firstborn  of  man  among  thy  chil- 
 dren ''shalt  thou  redeem. 
 
 14  *if  ■■  And  it  shall  be  when  thy  son  asketh 
 thee  fin  time  to  come,  saying,  What  is  this? 
 that  thou  shalt  say  unto  him,  ^  By  strength  ot 
 hand  the  Lord  brought  us  out  from  Egypt, 
 from  the  house  of  bondage  : 
 
 \d  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Pharaoh  would 
 hardly  let  us  go,  that  *  the  Lord  slew  all  the 
 firstborn  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  both  the  first- 
 born of  man,  and  the  firstborn  of  beast :  there- 
 fore I  sacrifice  to  the  Lord  all  that  openeth 
 the  matrix,  being  males  ;  but  all  the  firstborn 
 of  my  children  I  redeem. 
 
 1()  And  it  shall  be  for  "  a  token  upon  thine 
 hand,  and  for  frontlets  between  thine  eyes:  for 
 by  strength  of  hand  the  Lord  brought  us  forth 
 out  of  Egypt. 
 
 17  II  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Pharaoh  had  let 
 the  people  go,  that  God  led  them  not  through 
 the  way  of  the  land  of  the  Philistines,  although 
 that  was  near  ;  for  God  said,  Lest  peradventure 
 the  people  ^  repent  when  they  see  war,  and 
 ^they  return  to  Egypt: 
 
 18  But  God  Med  the  people  about,  through 
 the  way  of  the  wilderness  of  the  Red  sea ;  and 
 the  children  of  Israel  went  up  ||  harnessed  out 
 of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 19  And  Moses  took  the  bones  of  Joseph  with 
 him  :  for  he  had  straitly  sworn  the  children  of 
 Israel,  saying,  °  God  will  surely  visit  you  ;  and 
 ye  shall  carry  up  my  bones  away  hence  with  you. 
 
 'JO  t  And  ^  they  took  their  journey  from  Suc- 
 coth,  and  encamped  in  Etham,  in  the  edge  of 
 the  wilderness. 
 
 21  And  "  the  Lord  went  before  them  by  day 
 in  a  pillar  of  a  cloud,  to  lead  them  the  way  ; 
 
 Chap.  XITI.  —  \.  Sanctify,  "Onp,  'consecrate,'  'separate,*  'set 
 apart.* — A.  Ctnrke.  The  firstborn  were  to  be  solemnly  dedicated  to 
 Gi'ri,  in  coinmemoration  of  the  destruction  of  the  firstborn  of  Egypt, 
 and  a  price  was  to  be  appointed  to  be  paiit  for  their  redemption. — 
 Scntt.  5.  7'he  land  of  the  Canaanites,  fyc. — there  were  ^even  nations 
 in  the  land  of  Cannan,  one  ot  which  was  called  Canaanites ;  the  Gir- 
 gashites  and  Perizzites  are  not  here  named,  but  are  in  the  Sept.,  (see 
 Deut.  vii.  1.) — Gill.  Q.  It  shull  be  for  a  sign  unto  thee — these  are  the 
 words  of  the  Isfaelitish  parent  to  his  son,  telling  him  this  feast  would 
 refresh  his  memory,  as  the  ring  upon  the  hand,  or  any  memorandum 
 placed  before  the  eye.  See  the  hke  phrases,  Prov,  i.  9;  iii.  3.  The 
 Jews  understood  thi-  literally,  and  hence  tlieir  phylacteiies. — Gill,  Ed. 
 The  Jewish  phxiacterjes  were  little  boxes,  or  rolls  of  parchment,  in 
 which  were  wriitcn  certain  words  of  the  law.  These  tliey  wore  on 
 their  foreheads,  and  on  the  wrist  of  the  left  arm.  The  passages  written 
 on  them  were,  chap.  xiii.  2—10,  ii— 16  ;  Deut.  vi.  4—9  ;  xi.  13—21.— 
 Put.,  Cat.  10.  From  yenr  to  year,  HO^Q*  D'O'O,  'from  days  to  days  ;' 
 but  days,  in  Hebrew,  are  often  put  for  a  complete  year,  (see  Gen.  iv. 
 3;  Lev,  xxv.  29;  Amos,  iv.  4.)  12.  Set  apart — see  mnrg.     'Cause it 
 
 to  pass,"  not  through  the  fire,  as  that  verb  is  used,  Deut.  xviii.  10; 
 2  Kings,  xvi.  3  ;  but  under  the  rod,  as  more  fully  expressed,  Lev. 
 xxvii.32, — Poole.        13,  Of  an  ass — ass  is  probablyput  here  for  all  un- 
 
 clean beasts,   (see  Numb,  xviii.  15.)— (7(7/.  \9.  Harnessea,  CCOn, 
 
 or  'armed,' — Poole.  Not  probable. — Ed.  Or,  '  girt  about  tlie  loins.' 
 — Onk.,  Pag.,  Gill.  'By  fives,'  five  in  a  rank,  or  in  five  squadrons, 
 marching  out  in  regular  order.  But  five  in  a  rank,  for  60(),imjo  men, 
 w<uild  make  the  front  and  the  rear  sixty  miles  distant  fmni  each  other. 
 — Gilt.  A.  Clarke  thinks  the  word  means  no  more  than  marching  in 
 an  orderly  manner,  as  it  signifies  'to  array,*  'set  in  order,*  S:c. — Cara- 
 vans, in  the  east,  consist  of  an  assemblage  of  travellers,  who  unite  in 
 large  bodies  to  traverse  the  deserts  for  ccmimercial  or  other  purposes, 
 and,  by  thus  uniting,  they  aim  to  secure  thL-mselves  against  the  attacks 
 of  the  Arabs,  They  are  conducted  hy  five  officers,  one  at  the  head,  the 
 captain  of  the  march,  the  captain  of  the  stop  or  rest,  the  captain  of  the 
 distribution,  and  the  paymaster  or  treasurer,  who  keeps  a  journal  of 
 the  progress  of  the  caravan.  The  word  CIDOn  signifies  'five,'  {chap. 
 xiii.  19  ;)  and  if  we  observe  this  ordinary  usage  of  eastern  caravans,  it 
 may  explain  the  whole  difficulty. — Hew.  By  a  slight  change,  the  word 
 may  mean  fifties,  and  the  Israelites,  in  after  times,  so  divided  their 
 troops.  (2  Kings,  i.  9,  \\.)~Pococke,  Mich.,  Rosenm.  21.  The  Lord, 
 'the  Shechinah,'  (chap,  iii,  2.)— Pat.  A  pillar  of  clojtd—this  was  a 
 shelter  from  the  scorching  sun  in  a  sandy  desert,  where  there  was 
 scarcely  any  scieen  ;  see  the  allusion  in  Isa.  iv.  5,  6 ;  see  Numb.  x.  34, 
 and  xiv.  14  ;  Ps.  cv,  39. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XII The  grand  subject  of  this 
 
 chapter  is  the  Pass-over. — I.  It  reminds  us  of  the  only  way  of 
 escape  from  evrlasting  destruction.  *  Christ,  our  Pass-over,  is 
 sacrificed  for  us.*  When  the  destroying  angel  shall  visit  the 
 angodly,  nothing  will  be  a  protection  but  having  '  the  precious 
 blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  Lamb  without  spot  and  without 
 blemish,'  sprinkled  on  our  hearts. 
 
 n.  It  reminds  us  of  our  duty  in  commemorating  the  death  of 
 Christ.  How  can  Christians  live  in  the  neglect  of  so  inipor- 
 77 
 
 tant  an  ordinance  as  the  Lord's  Supper?  If  we  believe  that 
 we  are  saved  from  wrath  through  Christ,  surely  it  is  most  un- 
 grateful not  to  regard  the  command,  '  This  do  in  remembrance 
 of  me.'  Let  us  put  away  our  sins,  and  come  hither  to  express 
 our  obligations  to  that  precious  Lamb  who  '  loved  us,  and 
 gave  himself  for  us.'  'Therefore,  let  us  keep  the  feaist,  not 
 with  old  leaven,  neither  with  the  leaven  of  malice  and  wicked- 
 ness, but  with  the  unleavened  bread  of  sincerity  and  truth.' 
 
Pharaoh  pursueth  the  Israelites. 
 
 EXODUS,  XIV. 
 
 Passage  throvgh  the  Red  Sea. 
 
 and  by  night  in  a  pillar  of  fire,  to  give  them 
 light ;  to  go  by  day  and  night : 
 
 2-2  He  took  not  away  the  pillar  of  the  cloud 
 by  day,  nor  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night,  from 
 before  the  people. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  God  instructeth  the  Israelites  in  their  journey.  5  Pha- 
 raoh pursueth  nfter  them.  10  The  Israelites  murmur. 
 13  Moses  comforteth  them.  15  God  instructeth  Moses. 
 19  The  chjud  removeth  behind  the  camp.  21  The  Is- 
 raelites pass  through  the  Red  sea ^  23  wltich  drotoneth 
 the  Egyptians. 
 
 AND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  '  that 
 they  turn  and  encamp  before  ''  Pi-hahiroth,  be- 
 tween '  Migdol  and  the  sea,  over  against  Baal- 
 zephon  :  before  it  shall  ye  encamp  by  the  sea. 
 
 3  For  Pharaoh  will  say  of  the  children  of 
 Israel,  ^  They  are  entangled  in  the  land,  tlie 
 wilderness  hath  shut  them  in. 
 
 4  And  "  I  will  harden  Pharaoh's  heart,  that  he 
 shall  follow  after  them  ;  and  I  '  will  he  honoured 
 upon  Pharaoh,  and  upon  all  his  host ;  ^  that 
 the  Egyptians  may  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 And  they  did  so. 
 
 5  t  And  it  was  told  the  king  of  Egypt  that 
 the  people  fled  :  and  "  the  heart  of  Pharaoli  and 
 of  his  servants  was  turned  against  the  people, 
 and  they  said.  Why  have  we  done  this,  that  we 
 have  let  Israel  go  from  serving  us? 
 
 0  And  he  made  ready  his  chariot,  and  took 
 his  people  witli  him  : 
 
 7  And  be  took  '  six  hundred  chosen  chariots, 
 and  all  the  cliariots  of  Egypt,  and  captains  over 
 every  one  of  them. 
 
 8  And  the  Lord  '■  hardened  the  heart  of  Pha- 
 raoh king  of  Egypt,  and  he  pursued  after  tlie 
 children  of  Israel :  and  '  the  children  of  Israel 
 went  out  with  an  high  hand. 
 
 9  But  the  "■  Egyptians  p\irsued  after  them, 
 all  the  horses  and  chariots  of  Pharaoh,  and  his 
 horsemen,  and  his  army,  and  overtook  them 
 encamping  by  the  sea,  beside  Pi-hahiroth,  be- 
 fore Baal-zeplion. 
 
 10  U  And  when  Pharaoh  drew  nigh,  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  lifted  up  their  eyes,  and,  behold, 
 the  Egyptians  marched  after  them  ;  and  they 
 were  sore  afraid  :  and  the  children  of  Israel 
 "cried  out  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  °  And  they  said  unto  Moses,  Because  there 
 tvere  no  graves  in  Egyjit,  hast  thou  taken  ns 
 away  to  die  in  the  wilderness?  wherefore  hast 
 thou  dealt  thus  with  us,  to  carry  us  forth  out 
 of  Egvpt  ? 
 
 12  'Is  not  this  the  word  that  we  did  tell  thee 
 
 ch.  1.1.  IS. 
 
 b  Num.  83,7. 
 
 Jer.  44.  I. 
 
 »ch.  •!.  21. 
 
 tt  7.  S. 
 /til.  9.  16. 
 
 ver.  17.  18. 
 
 Rom.  9.  17, 
 
 i-i,  2S. 
 y  ch.  7.  5. 
 
 /ch.6.  1.  h 
 IS.  n. 
 Num.  33. 3. 
 
 1  Josh.  24.  7. 
 Neh.  9.  9. 
 PS.M.17.& 
 
 ?  2  Chr.  90. 
 15.17.  lsA\. 
 10. 13,  U. 
 
 htife  iffn  the 
 
 t..  ti..y,  4-r. 
 
 r  ver.  2h. 
 Deu.!.3n.& 
 3.  -i-l.ik  2(1.4, 
 Josli.  tO.I4, 
 A^i.  &  •:?3.  3. 
 iiClir.ail.20. 
 Neh  4.  20. 
 Is.  31.-1. 
 
 I  Is.  30.  15. 
 
 (  ver.  21,  26. 
 ch.  7.  19. 
 
 ch.  7.  3. 
 '  ver.  4. 
 
 y  Ter.  4. 
 
 :ch.  13.21. 
 «t  23.  VO.  fit 
 S>34  Num. 
 2(P.  16.  Isa. 
 63.9. 
 
 .  See  Is.  8. 
 I*.  2  Cor. 
 4.3. 
 
 c  Pb.  66. 6. 
 
 d  ch.  Ifl.  fl, 
 JoslvS  Ifi* 
 4.  23  Neh, 
 9  II.  Ps.  74 
 13  9*  III6.9. 
 Si  III.  S. 
 Is.  63    12. 
 
 e  ver.  29. 
 ch.  15.  19. 
 >-iim.  33.  B. 
 Ph.  66.  6.  & 
 7ft.  IS.  Is  6:1, 
 13.  iCnr.lO. 
 I.  Meb.  n 
 
 /Hal).  3.  10. 
 
 g  See  Ps.  77 
 17,  &c. 
 
 I  Or,  nod 
 g„hr.,v,l,,. 
 
 in  Egypt,  saying.  Let  us  alone,  that  we  may 
 serve  the  Egyptians?  For  it  had  been  better 
 for  us  to  serve  the  Egyptians,  than  that  we 
 should  die  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 13  t  And  Moses  said  unto  the  people,  '^  Fear 
 ye  not,  stand  still,  and  see  the  salvation  of  the 
 Lord,  which  he  will  shew  to  you  to  day  :  ||  for 
 the  Egyptians  whom  ye  have  seen  to  day,  ye 
 shall  see  tliem  again  no  more  for  ever. 
 
 14  '  Tlie  Lord  shall  fight  for  you,  and  ye 
 shall  *hold  your  peace. 
 
 15  1  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Where- 
 fore criest  thou  unto  me?  speak  unto  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  that  tliey  go  forward  : 
 
 16  But  *  lift  thou  up  thy  rod,  and  stretch 
 out  thine  hand  over  tlie  sea,  and  divide  it :  and 
 the  children  of  Israel  sliall  go  on  dry  ground 
 through  the  midst  of  the  sea. 
 
 17  And  I,  beliold,  I  will  "liarden  the  hearts 
 of  tlie  Egyptians,  and  tiiey  shall  follow  them: 
 and  I  will  ^got  me  iionour  upon  Pharaoh,  and 
 upon  all  his  host,  upon  his  chariots,  and  upon 
 his  horsemen. 
 
 18  And  the  Egyptians  ^  shall  know  that  I  am 
 the  Lord,  when  1  have  gotten  me  honour  upon 
 Pharaoh,  upon  his  chariots,  and  upon  his  liorse- 
 men. 
 
 19  1[  And  tlie  angel  of  God,  ^  which  went 
 before  the  camp  of  Israel,  removed  and  went 
 behind  them  ;  and  the  pillar  of  the  cloud  went 
 from  before  their  face,  and  stood  behind  them: 
 
 20  And  it  came  between  the  camp  of  the 
 Egyptians  and  the  camp  of  Israel ;  and  *  it  was 
 a  cloud  and  darkness  to  them,  but  it  gave  light 
 by  night  to  these  :  so  that  tlie  one  came  not 
 near  the  other  all  the  night. 
 
 21  And  Moses  ''stretclied  out  his  hand  over 
 the  sea;  and  the  Lord  caused  the  sea  to  go 
 back  by  a  strong  east  wind  all  that  night,  and 
 ■^  made  the  sea  dry  landy  and  the  waters  were 
 •^  divided. 
 
 22  And  '^  the  children  of  Israel  went  into  the 
 midst  of  the  sea  upon  tlie  dry  ffroutid:  and  the 
 waters  were  'a  wall  unto  them  on  their  right 
 hand,  and  on  their  left. 
 
 23  IF  And  the  Egyptians  pursued,  and  went 
 in  after  them  to  the  midst  of  the  sea,  ei^eti  all 
 Pharaoh's  horses,  his  chariots,  and  his  horse- 
 men. 
 
 24  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  in  the  morning 
 watch  ^  the  Lord  looked  unto  the  host  of  the 
 Egyptians  through  the  pillar  of  fire  and  of  the 
 cloud,  and  troubled  the  host  of  the  Egyptians, 
 
 2o  And  took  otF  their  chariot  wheels,  ||  that 
 they  drave  them  heavily :  so  that  the  Egyptians 
 
 Ap'Unroffire — tlii^  g'ave  light,  when  it  wa**more  convenient,  in  the  heat 
 nf  the  desert,  to  travel  at  nifflit,  and  it  shone  when  the  moon  shune 
 not. — Gill.  It  also  veiled  them  from  the  eyes  nf  their  enemies. — Sanrin. 
 Chap.  XIV.— 2.  Pi-/inhirot/i,  riiyTyTT"^,  'the  month,  strait,  or  bay  of 
 Chiroth.' — A.  Cl'irkff  Or,  Hirotk,  two  great  mountains,  between  which 
 they  inarched.    Miednl,  a  city  in  Egypt,  (Jer.  xliv.  I.)  4.  His  hosf, 
 
 a  numerous  hereditary  mintia,  having  lands  and  other  privdeges. — 
 Pict.  Bib.  y.  Six  hundred — chariots — where  could  he  get  his  hfTses 
 after  the  plague?  .dins.  Th^se  only  were  kilied  that  were  in  the  lield. 
 (chap.  ix.  3.) — Pnole.  8.  An  /iiirh  Awnrf— proverbial,  meaning,  '  tri- 
 umphantly.* — Hew,        ^l.  Bi/  u  strong  east  wind— this  gulph  lies  from 
 
 north  to  south  ;  nothing  could  better  divide  it  in  the  middle  than  an 
 east  wind  ;  and  tin's,  preserving  a  body  of  water  on  each  side,  above 
 and  below  that  division,  cutting  it  like  cuttin;r  a  line.  It  would  also 
 dry  and  harden  the  bottom  for  walking  on  it.— r«;,,  Poole.  24.  Morn, 
 ing  wtitch,  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morniiiE',  25.  Henxily — the 
 sands  of  the  oozy  sea-bnttom  took  off  the  wheels,  and  the  wind  sink- 
 ing, the  waters  returned.  Providence  thus  used  natural  mean*;  for  ac- 
 complishing a  great  purpose.  But  'his  tide  could  not  be  restrained 
 without  a  miracle. — CuL  A  miracle  does  not  always  consist  in  doing 
 violence  to  the  laws  of  nature,  but  the  most  natural  things  become 
 miracles  when  they  are  obedient  to  the  voice  uf  any  one  who  wishes 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap-  XIII.— I.  Nothing  is  more  ob-  II.  We,  like  the  Israelites,  are  travellinjj  through  a  wilder- 
 
 vious,    from   the    whole   tenour  of  Scripture,  than   that  God  ness;  the  world  is  our  journeying-place,  beset    with    many 
 
 expects  f/ratitut/e  in  riturn  fur  his  fai'otirs.     Here   the  firstborn  dangers  ;  hut  let  jis  rejoice  that  Israel's  God  is  our  i/nidr.     If  we 
 
 ■were  to  be  consecrated  to  him,  as  a  perpptual  memorial  of  the  submit  to  his  direction,  he  will  assuredly  go  before  us  ;  no 
 
 escape  from  the  destroying  annel.     Especially  should  we  re-  real  evil  shall  be'al  us.     Every  believer  may  say  with  Asaph, 
 
 meraher  God's  chief  mercy,  and  the  deliverance  which  Christ  '  Thou  shalt  guide  me  with  thy  counsel,  and  afterwards  receive 
 
 has  effected  for  us,  and  consecrate  both  ourselves  and  our  me  to  glory.' 
 children  to  his  service. 
 78 
 
The  Egyptians  are  drowned. 
 
 said,  Let  us  flee  from  the  face  of  Israel ;  for  the 
 Lord  ^fighteth  for  them  against  the  Egyptians. 
 
 26  If  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses, '  Stretch 
 out  thine  hand  over  the  sea,  that  tiie  waters 
 may  come  again  upon  the  Egyptians,  upon 
 their  chariots,  and  upon  their  horsemen. 
 
 27  And  Moses  stretched  forth  his  hand  over 
 the  sea,  and  the  sea  ^  returned  to  iiis  strength 
 when  the  morning  appeared;  and  the  Egyp- 
 tians fled  against  it;  and  the  Lord  ^fo^'^r- 
 threw  the  Egyptians  in  the  midst  of  the  sea. 
 
 28  And  "'  the  waters  returned,  and  °  covered 
 the  chariots,  and  the  horsemen,  «Mc/all  the  host 
 of  Pharaoh  that  came  into  the  sea  after  them  ; 
 there  remained  not  so  much  as  one  of  them. 
 
 29  But  °  the  children  of  Israel  wall^ed  upon 
 dry  land  in  the  midst  of  the  sea ;  and  the 
 waters  were  a  wall  unto  them  on  their  right 
 hand,  and  on  their  left. 
 
 30  Tlius  the  Lord  ^  saved  Israel  that  day  out 
 of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians ;  and  Israel  "*  saw 
 the  Egyptians  dead  upon  the  sea  shore. 
 
 31  And  Israel  saw  that  great  f  ^vork  which 
 the  Lord  did  upon  the  Egyptians :  and  the 
 people  feared  the  Lord,  and  '  believed  the 
 Lord,  and  his  servant  Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  Moses*  song.  22  The  people  want  water.  23  The 
 waters  at  Marah  are  bitter.  25  A  trte  swetteneth 
 them.  27  At  Elim  are  twelve  wellsj  and  seventy 
 palm  trees. 
 
 T^HEN  sang  **  Moses  and  the  children  of  Is- 
 -'-  rael  this  song  unto  the  Lord,  and  spake, 
 saying,  I  will  ^  sing  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  hath 
 triumphed  gloriously:  the  horse  and  his  lider 
 hath  he  thrown  into  the  sea. 
 
 2  The  Lord  is  my  strength  and  "^  song,  and 
 he  is  become  my  salvation  :  he  is  my  God,  and 
 I  will  prepare  him  "^  an  habitation ;  my  *  father's 
 God,  and  I  ^will  exalt  him. 
 
 3  The  Lord  is  a  man  of  ^  war:  the  Lord  is 
 his  ^  name. 
 
 4  *  Pharaoh's  chariots  and  his  host  hath  he 
 cast  into  the  sea  :  ^  his  chosen  captains  also  are 
 drowned  in  the  Red  sea. 
 
 5  '  The  depths  have   covered  them  :  ^  they 
 
 EXODUS,  XV. 
 
 The  song  of  Moses. 
 
 ver.  II. 
 vcr.  16. 
 
 /ch.15.  1,7, 
 t  Heb.  *hiioh 
 
 ifeut.  Il.t 
 
 Pb.  78.  5M. 
 
 Neh.  9.  II. 
 
 Heb.  II. '29. 
 m  Hab.  3.  8, 
 
 13. 
 n  Ps.  lOG.U. 
 
 q  Ps  59.  10. 
 
 h  5y.  in. 
 
 t  Heb.  hand. 
 
 -eh. 4.  31. 
 &  19   9, 
 Ps.  lOfi,  12 
 Jobu  2.  II. 
 &  11.  45. 
 
 a  Jodg-  5.  1. 
 
 2  bnm.22.1 
 
 1'8.  liili.  13. 
 
 Wisd.IO.2U. 
 6  vet.  21. 
 c  Deu.  IU2I. 
 
 Ps.  I 
 
 22.  3.  &  59 
 17.  &  62.  6 
 &  109  1  & 
 lis.  W  & 
 140  7,  Is. 12, 
 2.  Hab.  3. 
 Ifl,  19. 
 
 dGen.2S.21, 
 22.2  Sam. 7. 
 .5.  Ps.  I.S2  5. 
 
 ech.3  15,16. 
 /  2  Sara   22. 
 47.  Ps.  99  5. 
 fc  118   2S. 
 Is.  25.  i. 
 
 f  Ps.  2-1.  8. 
 Rev.  19.  II. 
 
 h  ch.  6.  3. 
 Pa.  83.   18. 
 
 I  ch.  14.  28. 
 
 k  ch.  14    7. 
 
 /  cli.  H.  2a. 
 
 77»Neh.9.1l, 
 
 p  Ps.  59.  13. 
 q  Is.  5.  i4. 
 
 8t  47.  14. 
 rch,   14    21. 
 2.'-^ani.22-16. 
 
 Job  4.  9, 
 
 2Thes.2.8. 
 <  Ps.  78.    13. 
 
 Hab.  3  ID. 
 I  Judg.  5.3(1 
 H  Geii.4M.2;. 
 
 Is,  53.  12. 
 
 Luke  II  22. 
 I10r,rep(iwe«. 
 I  ch.  14.  21. 
 
 Pa.  147.  IS. 
 y  ver.  5. 
 
 ch.  14.  28. 
 r2Sam.7  22 
 
 1  Kin.S,  23 
 Ps.7l.  19.  & 
 86.8.&  89  6. 
 
 8.  Jer.  10.6. 
 &  49.  19. 
 
 Li  Or,  i..iyht!i 
 
 o.i«  f 
 a  Is.  6.  3. 
 b  Ps.  77.  14. 
 c  vei".  6. 
 d  Ps    77.  15, 
 
 20.  &78.  5J. 
 
 &  SO.  1.  & 
 
 1U6  9.  Is.tJS. 
 
 12,  13.  Jer. 
 
 2.6. 
 e  Pr.  78.  51. 
 /Num.  14. 
 
 14.  Deut.  2 
 
 25.  Josh.  2. 
 
 9.  to. 
 
 ff  Ps.  48.  6. 
 /i  Gen. 36.  40. 
 (  Deut.  2.  4. 
 k  Num.  22.3. 
 
 Hab.  3.  7. 
 /  Josh.  5.  1. 
 niDeat  2.25. 
 
 &  11.25. 
 
 Josh.  2.  9. 
 *i  1  Sam.  25. 
 
 37. 
 o  ch.  19  5. 
 
 Deut.  32  9. 
 
 2  Sam. 7-23. 
 Ps.74.2.  Is 
 43.l,3.&51. 
 
 10.  Jer.  31. 
 ll.Tit.2.14. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  9. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  1. 
 p  Ps.  44.  2. 
 
 &  80.  8. 
 q  Ps.  78.  54. 
 r  Pb.  10.  16. 
 
 &  29.    10.  & 
 
 146.  10. 
 
 Is.  57.  15. 
 ich.  14.  23. 
 
 Prov.21.31. 
 
 sank  into  the  bottom  as  a  stone. 
 
 6  "  Thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  is  become  glori- 
 ous in  power:  thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  hath 
 dashed  in  pieces  the  enemy. 
 
 7  And  in  the  greatness  of  thine  "^  excellency 
 thou  hast  overthrown  them  that  rose  up  against 
 thee:  thou  sentest  forth  thy  wrath,  tvhich 
 P  consumed  them  **  as  stubble. 
 
 And  ■"  with  the  blast  of  thy  nostrils  the 
 waters  were  gathered  together,  '"  the  floods 
 stood  upright  as  an  heap,  «;u/  the  depths  were 
 congealed  in  the  heart  of  the  sea. 
 
 9  '  The  enemy  said,  I  will  pursue,  I  will  over- 
 take, I  w'ill  "  divide  the  spoil  ;  my  lust  shall  be 
 satisfied  upon  them  ;  1  will  draw  my  sword,  my 
 hand  shall  ||  destroy  them. 
 
 10  Thou  didst ""  blow  with  thy  wind,  ^  the  sea 
 covered  them:  they  sank  as  lead  in  the  mighty 
 waters. 
 
 11  ^  Who  is  like  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  among 
 the  II  gods  ?  who  is  like  thee,  "  glorious  in  ho- 
 liness, fearful  in  praises,  ^  doing  wonders  ? 
 
 12  Thou  stretchedst  out  "  thy  right  hand,  the 
 earth  swallowed  them. 
 
 13  Thou  in  thy  mercy  hast  ■*  led  forth  the 
 people  which  thou  hast  redeemed  :  thou  hast 
 guided  them  in  thy  strength  unto  ^  thy  holy 
 habitation. 
 
 14  ^  The  people  shall  hear,  and  be  afraid: 
 ^  sorrow  shall  take  hold  on  the  inhabitants  of 
 Palestina. 
 
 15  ^  Then  *  the  dukes  of  Edom  shall  be  amaz- 
 ed ;  ''  the  mighty  men  of  Moab,  trembling  shall 
 take  hold  upon  them ;  ^  all  the  inhabitants  of 
 Canaan  shall  melt  away. 
 
 16  ""  Fear  and  dread  shall  fall  upon  them  ;  by 
 the  greatness  of  thine  arm  they  shall  be  as  still 
 "as  a  stone  ;  till  thy  people  pass  over,  O  Lord, 
 till  the  people  pass  over,  °  which  thou  hast  pur- 
 chased. 
 
 1 7  Thou  shalt  bring  them  in,  and  ^  plant  them 
 in  the  mountain  of  thine  inheritance,  in  the 
 place,  O  Lord,  tvhich  thou  hast  made  for  thee 
 to  dwell  in,  i?i  the  **  Sanctuary,  O  Lord,  which 
 thy  hands  have  established. 
 
 18  ""The  Lord  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 19  For  the  Miorse  of  Pharaoh  went  in  with 
 
 to  employ  them  to  establish  any  doctrine.  Moses  required  a  wind  to 
 favour  his  passag:e  ;  he  hart  predicted  that  he  shnuld  pass  with  safety. 
 The  event  justified  the  prediction.  How  could  he  possibly  know  that 
 a  wind  would  come  which  should  consolidate  the  depth  of  the  sea  pre- 
 cisely at  the  time  of  its  reflux?  How  could  he  assure  himself  that  Pha- 
 raoh and  his  court  would  be  hardy  enough  to  follow?  and,  abuve  all, 
 that  the  waters  would  return  precisely  at  the  time  when  they  might 
 swallow  up  the  tyrant  and  all  those  undrr  his  command  ?—Sa?(/-in. 
 Modern  travellers  give  instances  of  such  effects  by  the  wind,  but  they 
 certainly  do  not  destroy  the  miracle,  taken  in  all  its  circumstances  ;  and 
 it  may  be  that  the  very  circumstance  of  the  wind  sometimes  producing 
 this  effect  made  Pharaoh  enter  the  sea  in  the  more  fearless  manner, 
 and  thus  completed  his  <le^truction. — Ed.  The  tide  is  rapid  in  the  Red 
 Sea.  Fureriis,  a  traveller,  quoteci  by  RosenmuUer,  says,  that  he  and  a 
 companion  crossed  a  part  near  the  shore  over  a  shallow,  but  at  great 
 risk,  for  the  water  increased  so  ranch  faster  than  was  expected,  that, 
 before  they  could  get  out,  it  was  up  to  their  armpits.  The  passage  of 
 the  Israelites  is  four  leagues  across.— Bruce.  28.  All  the  host,  fifty 
 thousand  horse,  and  two  hundred  thousand  foot.— Jos.  29.  0«  their 
 right  hand  and  on  their  left — this  shews  it  was  no  advantage  taken  of 
 ebb  tide,  or  the  water  would  have  been  but  on  one  side. — Jenkins. 
 30.  Dead  upon  the  sea  shore — from  these  they  might  be  supplied  with 
 riches,  clothing,  and  arms,  to  meet  their  enemies  in  the  wilderness. — 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  I.  Then  saiig  Moses  and  the  children,  Sfc. — the  Israelites 
 sang  in  companies,  and  the  one  company  often  answered  another. 
 This  song — the  oldest  poetical  composition  extant  in  the  world. — Loivth. 
 
 This  song  has  been  deservedly  admired  for  the  boldness  of  the  ima- 
 gery, the  sublimity  of  the  sentiments,  and  the  dignity  of  the  style.  Al- 
 luded to  Rev,  XV.  2,  4. — Boothr.  2.  The  Lord — the  original  word, 
 here  translated  'the  Lord,' is  'Jab,*  which  seems  to  have  the  same 
 meaning  as  Jkhovah,  and  to  be  derived  from  the  >ame  root;  some 
 think  it  is  merely  a  contraction  of  it. — Scott.  Prepare  him  an  habita- 
 tion, a  place  for  his  service  and  worship. — Poole.  '  I  will  build  him  a 
 tabernacle.'— H^«/es.  im3i>*1,  Sofao-oj  avTov,'l  will  glorify  him,'  Sept. 
 'Him  will  I  extol.' — Boothr.  'Make  him  my  habitation.' — See  Par. 
 'Make  him  my  dwelling-place,  my  home,'  (Ps.  xc,  1;  xci.  I.) — Wil. 
 3.  The  Lord  is  a  man  of  war,  'mighty  in  battle  is  Jehovah.' — Bontfir. 
 6.  Thy  right  hand,  'thy  omnipotence.' — A.  Clarke.  8.  Blast  of  thy 
 nostrils— a.  beautiful  metaphor;  the  powerful  wind  whicli  caused  the 
 sea  to  go  back,  considered  as  an  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God,  is  said 
 to  be  only  the  breath  of  his  nostrils.  Congealed,  'condensed  in  the 
 midst.'— HeH'.  As  if  they  were  frozen.  11.  The  gods,  'the  mighty 
 ones,'  '  the  mighty  angels  who  excel  in  strength,'  or,  '  the  mighty  ones 
 of  the  earth.' — Gill.  Or  it  may  be  '  among  the  idol  gods  of  Egypt ;'  so 
 some  think.  Fearful  in  praises,  'awful,'  'praiseworthy,'  'working 
 wonders.'  12.  The  earth  sivallowed  them — they  were  as  completely 
 destroyed  as  if  the  earth  had  covered  them. — Bootlir.  The  sea  is  in 
 the  depths  of  the  narth.— Patrick.  13.  Thy  holy  habitation,  that  is, 
 Canaan. — Poole.  The  words  are  a  prediction. — A.  Clarke.  14.  Pa- 
 lestina, a  name  derived  from  the  Philistines,  a  people  who  migrated 
 from  Egypt,  and  were  the  most  valiant  people  in  the  parts  where  the 
 Israelites  were  to  go. — Home,  Pat.  17.  Mountain — Moses  foresaw, 
 by  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  that  God  would  place  hiS  habitation  upcu 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIV.  —  I.  How  often  are  God's 
 people  taught  the  necessity  of  faith  and  patience  under  difficulties. 
 It  is  right  '  to  cry'  then  '  unto  the  Lord,'  but  not  to  doubt  or 
 murmur.  We  are  not  now  to  expect  miracles,  but  he  often 
 delivers  his  people  even  by  extraordinary  providences.  Only 
 79 
 
 let  us  'stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord.* 
 
 II.  Those  sinners  who  persevere  in  their  obstinate  ways  must 
 expect,  in  the  end^  to  meet  with  inevitable  ruin.  '  He  that,  being 
 otten  reproved,  hardeneth  his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  de- 
 stroyed, and  that  without  remedy.' 
 
The  hitter  waters  of  Mar  ah. 
 
 EXODUS,  XVI. 
 
 Quails  are  sent. 
 
 his  chariots  and  with  his  horsemen  into  tlie  sea, 
 and  'the  Loud  brought  again  the  waters  of  the 
 sea  upon  them  ;  but  the  children  of  Israel  went 
 on  dry  /and  in  tlie  midst  of  tlie  sea. 
 
 '20  1  And  Miriam  "  the  prophetess,  '  the  sister 
 of  Aaron,  ''  tooli  a  timbrel  in  her  hand  ;  and  all 
 the  women  went  out  after  her  '  with  timbrels 
 and  with  dances. 
 
 21  And  Miriam  "  answered  tliem,  ''  Sing  ye  to 
 the  Lord,  for  he  hath  triumphed  gloriously; 
 the  horse  and  his  rider  hath  he  thrown  into  the 
 
 22  So  Moses  brought  Israel  from  the  Red  sea, 
 and  they  went  out  into  the  wilderness  of  Shur ; 
 and  they  went  three  days  in  the  wilderness,  and 
 found  no  water. 
 
 23  H  And  when  they  came  to  •"  Marah,  they 
 could  not  drink  of  the  waters  of  Marah,  for  they 
 were  bitter:  therefore  tlie  name  of  it  was  called 
 li  Marah. 
 
 24  And  the  people  "  murmured  against  Moses, 
 saying.  What  shall  we  drink? 
 
 23  And  he  ''cried  unto  the  Lord;  and  the 
 Lord  shewed  him  a  ^  tree,  ^  u-hicli  when  he  had 
 cast  into  the  waters,  the  waters  were  made 
 sweet;  there  he  '  made  for  them  a  statute  and 
 an  ordinance,  and  there  '  he  proved  them, 
 
 26  And  said,  '  If  thou  wilt  diligently  hearken 
 to  the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy  God, and  wilt  do 
 that  which  is  right  in  his  sight,  and  wilt  give 
 ear  to  his  commandments,  and  keep  all  his  sta- 
 tutes, I  will  put  none  of  these  "'  diseases  upon 
 thee,  which  I  have  brought  upon  the  Egyp- 
 tians: for  I  am  the  Lord  "  that  healeth  thee. 
 
 27  t  °  And  they  came  to  Elim,  where  were 
 twelve  wells  of  water,  and  threescore  and  ten 
 palm  trees :  and  they  encamped  there  by  the 
 waters. 
 
 CHAP.  XVL 
 
 1  The  hrarUtcs  come  to  Shi.  2  T/iei/  mvrmur  for 
 want  of  hrtarl.  4  God  promisdh  them  h read  from 
 heaven.  11  Quails  are  xent,  \A  mnl  manna.  16  The 
 orderinq  of  mnnna.  26  //  icas  not  to  he  found  on 
 the  sablat'h.     32  An  oimr  of  it  is  preserved. 
 
 \  ND  tliey  "  took  tlieir  journey  from  Elim, 
 -^  and  all  the  congregation  of  the  chikiren 
 of  Israel  came  unto  the  wilderness  of  ''  Sin 
 which  is  between  Elim  and  Sinai,  on  the  fif- 
 teenth day  of  the  second  month  after  their  de- 
 parting]: o'lt  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 2  And  the  whole  congregation  of  the  children 
 of  Israel  "  murmured  against  Moses  and  Aaron 
 
 B.C.  M91.         B.C.  1491 
 
 II  Jtid^.  1.4. 
 
 1  Sail. .10  5. 
 
 jr  Num.  to 
 
 V  1  Sam.  19. 
 6. 
 ;.ludgll.34. 
 
 II  Tliat  is, 
 b'ttfrnfat. 
 Until  1.  VO. 
 
 e  cli.  16.  2. 
 &  17.  3. 
 
 /cli    U.  10. 
 f<  17.4 
 Vf..:.0.  1.^ 
 
 g  Ecclus.38. 
 
 3  Snm.6.16 
 Ps.08   n, 
 ■a.  &  149.  3 
 fc  150.  4. 
 1  lS«ni.l8.7 
 
 »ver. 
 
 . 
 
 <•  Gen. 
 8i2o. 
 
 16,7 
 18. 
 
 /Ph.  78.  24, 
 25  Sc  105  41). 
 .Inlin  (i.  31, 
 :f2-  1  Cor. 
 lu.  3. 
 
 II  Heb.  the 
 portion  of  n 
 dni/  ill  hit 
 ditif. 
 
 I'rov.  30.  K 
 Mat.  6.   n. 
 
 pell.  15.^5 
 Deut.9,9,Hi 
 
 h  See  ver.25?. 
 Lev.  25,21. 
 
 I  See  ^-er.lS, 
 13  &  cli.ti.7. 
 Num.  16.28, 
 ^9,30. 
 
 fcSecver.lO 
 Is  S5.  2,  & 
 411.  r..  Jnlin 
 II.  4,  40. 
 
 /  Nu.  16.11. 
 
 /.Si 
 
 e  2  Kin. 
 2.21.&4  41. 
 Si'e  Josli. 
 24.  25. 
 k  cli.  16.  4. 
 Deii.fl?.  16. 
 
 jiidg.s  n. 
 
 &  3.  1.4. 
 Ps    60.  10. 
 
 &  81.  7. 
 /  Dout.7.I2, 
 
 l.'j. 
 -.1  Oeiit.  83. 
 
 27,  60. 
 I,  ch.23.  Sfi. 
 
 ?B   41.3,4 
 
 fc  lt«.  .H. 
 
 &  147.  3. 
 o  Num.::3.  0. 
 
 (1  Sm  1  Sam. 
 H,  7. 1,n.  HI. 
 16. Horn. 13. 
 
 1491. 
 1  Num.  33. 
 lu,  11. 
 
 ■  ch.  15.  24. 
 Ps  lOH.  25. 
 1  Cor.10.10. 
 
 o  ver.  7, 
 
 ch.  13   21. 
 
 Num.16  19 
 
 1  Kin  9. 10, 
 
 11. 
 p  ver.  S. 
 
 q  ver.  6. 
 
 r  ver.  7- 
 
 r  Nu.  11.31, 
 P6.79  27,28 
 &  105.  40. 
 
 in  the  wilderness : 
 
 3  And  the  children  of  Israel  said  unto  them, 
 •^  Would  to  God  we  had  died  by  the  hand  of 
 the  Lord  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  '^'when  we  sat 
 by  the  flesh  pots,  and  when  we  did  eat  bread 
 to  the  full;  for  ye  have  brought  us  forth  into 
 this  wilderness,  to  kill  this  whole  assembly  with 
 hunger. 
 
 4  f  Then  said  the  Lord  unto  Moses,  Behold, 
 I  'vill  rain  *"  bread  from  heaven  for  you  ;  and  the 
 people  .shall  go  out  and  gather  fa  certain  rate 
 every  day,  that  I  may  ^  prove  them,  whether 
 they  will  walk  in  my  law,  or  no. 
 
 5  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  on  the  sixth 
 day  tbey  shall  prepare  that  which  they  bring 
 in ;  and  ^  it  shall  be  twice  as  much  as  they  ga- 
 ther daily. 
 
 6  And  Moses  and  Aaron  said  unto  all  the 
 children  of  Israel,  *  At  even,  then  ye  shall  know 
 that  the  Lord  hath  brought  you  out  from  the 
 land  of  Egypt: 
 
 7  And  in  the  morning,  then  ye  shall  see  ''  the 
 glory  of  the  Lord;  for  tliat  he  heareth  your 
 murmurings  against  the  Lord  :  and  '  what  are 
 we,  that  ye  murmur  against  us? 
 
 8  And  Moses  said.  This  shall  be^  when  the 
 Lord  shall  give  you  in  the  evening  flesh  to  eat, 
 and  in  the  morning  bread  to  the  full  ;  for  that 
 the  Lord  heareth  your  murmurings  which  ye 
 murmur  against  him  :  and  wliat  are  we?  your 
 murmurings  are  not  against  us,  but  "'against 
 the  Lord. 
 
 9  H  And  M&ses  spake  unto  Aaron,  Say  unto 
 all  the  congregation  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
 "  Come  near  before  the  Lord  :  for  he  hath 
 heard  your  murmurings. 
 
 10  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  Aaron  spake  unto 
 the  whole  congregation  of  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael, that  they  looked  toward  the  wilderness, 
 and,  behold,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  *  appeared 
 in  the  cloud. 
 
 1 1  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 12^1  have  heard  tlie  murmurings  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel :  speak  unto  them,  saying,  ■*  At 
 even  ye  shall  eat  flesh,  and  '  in  the  morning  ye 
 shall  be  filled  with  bread  ;  and  ye  shall  know 
 tliat  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 13  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  at  even  "the 
 quails  came  up,  and  covered  the  camp  :  and  in 
 the  morning  *  the  dew  lay  round  about  the  host. 
 
 14  And  when  the  dew  that  lay  was  gone  up, 
 behold,  upon  the  face  of  the  wilderness  there 
 
 Mount  Sion.  20.  The  prophetess— so  called  because  she  had  a  gift  of 
 composing  hymns  in  praise  of  the  Divine  Majesty,  to  whicti,  some- 
 times, prnphe'-ying  is  applied  in  Scripture,  (I  Sam.  x.  5,  6.) — I'nt. 
 Ti/nftr*'/— the  tympanum  of  the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans,  and  the 
 instrument  called  by  us  the  lambouiine. — Bur.,Ernn.  Syjjop.  2'2.Shnr, 
 still  called  Sdur.Shnw.  It  divifies  Egypt  fmm  Palestine.  At  b.  th 
 sides  of  the  Red  Sea  it  is  called  Etham.—Hnles.  23.  Were  hitter— 
 Dindnrtis  Sictilus,  Strabo,  and  Flint/,  agree  there  were  lakes  of  bitter 
 ■water  in  the  parts  where  the  Israelites  m'w  were. — ^hnckf.  Modern 
 travellers  say,  there  is  now  a  well  of  water  at  a  place  named  Howard, 
 which  they  take  to  be  Marah,  the  waters  of  which  arc  far  too  bitter  to 
 drink.  25.  A  tree — a  single  tree  could  not  of  itself  sweetc-n  a  flow  of 
 water ;  therefore  the  operation  was  miraculous  —Gill.  He  proved  them, 
 ^HDJ.  'he  proved  him,''  Moses.  —  Pug.,  Mont.  'Them.*  —  Bnalhr. 
 27.  Tweli'e  ivflLs — the  grnve  of  Elim  yet  remains,  and  its  twelve  foun- 
 tains have  neither  increased  nor  diminished  in  number  since  the  days 
 
 of  Moses. — Bn/nnt. 
 
 CirAP.  XVI."—  1.  Wilderness  of  Sin— it  still  bears  the  same  name.— 
 Shaw.  2.  Murmured,  for  want  of  bread.  The  dough  they  brought  out 
 of  Kgypt  ceased,  on  which,  and  the  unleavened  cakes,  they  had  lived 
 thirty  days. — GiU.  3.  Flesh  pats — discontent  magnifies  what  is  past, 
 and  vilifies  what  is  present. — Hen.  It  can  hardly  he  thought  strictly 
 true,  that,  in  their  hard  bonday:e,  they  haa  often  flesh  in  their  pots, 
 and  leisure  to  CAt  it. — Gill.  They  were,  however,  probably  fed  in  com- 
 panies, from  large  b^ilers ;  but  their  discontent  now  about  meat  was 
 without  reason,  as  tlicy  had  plenty  of  flocks  and  herds. — So  A.  Clarke. 
 4.  Gather  a  certain  rate  everi/  dat/,  10V1  DV  131,  '  the  thing  of  the  day 
 in  its  day.' — Pag.,  Mont.  The  bread  dai/  hp  day,  to  which  our  Lord 
 probably  alludes,  when  he  taught  his  disciples  ro  pray — '  give  us  this 
 day  our  daily  bread.'  13.  Quails,  'locusts.'— /*«/.  When  the  south 
 wind  begins  to  blow  in  Egypt,  these  migratory  birds  visit  that  count--y 
 in  great  numbers.    This  happens  in  spring,  the  time  mentioned  whea 
 
 Reflections  on    Chap.    XV T.    In  our  passage  throut/h 
 
 this  world  we  may  find  fre<juent  occasions  for  extraordinary  (grati- 
 tude to  God.  Let  us  watch  his  mercies,  and  we  sholl  never 
 want  a  new  soHfj  of  praise.  We  have,  indeed,  always  a  sub- 
 ject, but  our  hearts  are  oi'ten  like  untuned  in.'^tnjments. 
 
 II.  The  hradite  must  sometimes  meet  with  a  biiti  r  dramjht  in  fii.t 
 juiirneyings,  but  it  is  his  mercy  to  have  a  God  who  can  make  the 
 80 
 
 hitter  sweet.  One  *  exceedingly  great  and  precious  promise,' 
 applied  by  faith  to  the  heart,  can  often  extract  the  bitterness 
 from  the  most  unpleasant  draught,  and  prove  to  our  nffiictions 
 what  the  tree  was  to  the  waters  of  Marah.  *  There  is,'  says 
 one,  *  a  tree  of  life  at  hand,  wiiose  "  leaves  are  for  the  healing 
 of  the  nations,"  and  wiiich  can  sweeten  every  bitter  draught 
 of  life.     Our  crosses  are  all  sweetened  by  the  cross  of  Christ. 
 
The  ordering  of  manna. 
 
 EXODUS,  XVII. 
 
 The  people  murmur  for  water. 
 
 lay  "  a  small  round  tiling,  as  small  as  the  hoar 
 frost  on  the  ground. 
 
 13  And  when  the  children  of  Israel  saw  it, 
 Ihey  said  one  to  another,  |{  It  is  manna :  for 
 (hey  wist  not  what  it  was.  And  Moses  said 
 unto  them, '  This  is  the  bread  which  the  Lord 
 Aath  given  you  to  cat. 
 
 16  i  This  is  the  thing  which  the  Lord  hath 
 commanded.  Gather  of  it  every  man  according 
 to  his  eating, ''  an  omer  f  for  every  man,  accoril- 
 iiifj  to  the  number  of  your  f  persons  ;  take  ye 
 every  man  for  thrm  which  arc  in  his  tents. 
 
 1  7  And  the  ciiildren  of  Israel  did  so,  and  ga- 
 thered, some  more,  some  less. 
 
 18  And  when  they  did  mete  iVwith  an  omer, 
 '  he  that  gathered  nuich  had  nothing  over,  and 
 he  that  gathered  little  had  no  lack  ;  they  ga- 
 thered every  man  according  to  his  eating. 
 
 19  And  Moses  said,  Let  no  man  leave  of  it 
 till  the  morning. 
 
 20  Notwithstanding  they  hearkened  not  unto 
 Moses  ;  but  some  of  them  left  of  it  until  the 
 morning,  and  it  bred  worms,  and  stank :  and 
 Moses  was  wroth  with  them. 
 
 21  And  they  gathered  it  every  morning,  every 
 man  according  to  his  eating :  and  when  the  sun 
 waxed  hot,  it  melted. 
 
 22  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  on  the  sixth 
 day  they  gathered  twice  as  much  bread,  two 
 omers  for  one  man :  and  all  the  rulers  of  the 
 congregation  came  and  told  Moses. 
 
 23  And  he  said  unto  them.  This  is  that  which 
 the  Lord  hath  said.  To  morrow  is  "  the  rest  of 
 the  holy  sabbath  unto  the  Lord  :  bake  that 
 which  ye  will  bake  to  day,  and  seethe  that  ye 
 will  seethe  ;  and  that  which  remaineth  over  lay 
 up  for  you  to  be  kept  until  the  morning. 
 
 24  And  they  laid  it  up  till  the  morning,  as 
 Moses  bade:  and  it  did  not  ''  stink,  neither  was 
 there  any  worm  therein. 
 
 25  And  Moses  said.  Eat  that  to  day  ;  for  to 
 day  is  a  sabbath  unto  the  Lord  :  to  day  ye 
 shall  not  find  it  in  tlie  field. 
 
 26  '  Six  days  ye  shall  gather  it  ;  but  on  the 
 seventh  day,  which  is  the  sabbath,  in  it  there 
 shall  be  none. 
 
 27  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  there  went  out 
 some  of  the  people  on  the  seventh  day  for  to 
 gather,  and  they  found  none. 
 
 ..  Niim.U.7, 
 
 Dent.  8.  S. 
 
 Nell.  9.16. 
 
 Ps.  7S.  24. 
 
 &  103.  \0. 
 
 Wis.  ia.20. 
 II  OT,irhath 
 
 r'li.  for  il 
 
 isapititiDH, 
 I  John  6.31, 
 
 4!1,  53. 
 
 1  Cor.  10.  S. 
 
 ,;  rtr.  36. 
 t  Heb.  ht/  the 
 ]>i>lI,ov  AraJ. 
 t  Heb.  lutiU. 
 
 I  Gen.  2.  3 
 ch.  20.  S.  & 
 
 SI.  i.^  lt;^5 
 
 3.  Lev.83.3. 
 
 £/2Kin.  1". 
 14.  Ps.  7S 
 10,22. &  106. 
 
 e  rfnm.  II. 
 7,8. 
 
 /  Heb.  9,  4. 
 
 f  ch.  25.  16, 
 
 21.  &  40.20. 
 
 Num.  17.10. 
 
 Dent.  10.  5. 
 
 1  Kin,  8.  9. 
 A  Nu.33.  38. 
 
 Peut.8.2.:l. 
 
 Keh.  9.  20, 
 
 21.  John  6. 
 
 31,  49. 
 .Josh  5.  12. 
 
 Neb.  a.\5. 
 
 I  ell.  16,  1. 
 Num.33. 12, 
 14 
 
 b  Num.  20. 
 3,  4. 
 
 cDeut.G.lfi. 
 
 r«.  78.  IS, 
 
 41.  Is.  7.12. 
 M;it.  4.  7. 
 1  C.r.  10.  9. 
 d  cli.  16   2. 
 
 28  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  How  long 
 ^  refuse  ye  to  keep  my  commandments  and  my 
 laws  ? 
 
 29  See,  for  that  the  Lord  hath  given  you  the 
 sabbath,  therefore  he  giveth  you  on  the  sixth 
 day  the  bread  of  two  days  ;  abide  ye  every 
 man  in  his  place,  let  no  man  go  out  of  his  place 
 on  the  seventh  day. 
 
 30  So  the  people  rested  on  the  seventh  day. 
 .31   And  the  house  of  I.srael  called  tlie  name 
 
 thereof  Manna :  and  "  it  iras  like  coriander 
 seed,  white;  and  the  taste  of  it  tvas  like  wafers 
 made  with  honey. 
 
 32  H  And  Moses  said.  This  is  the  thing  which 
 the  Lord  commandeth,  Fill  an  omer  of  it  to  be 
 kept  for  your  generations  ;  that  they  may  see 
 the  bread  wherewith  I  have  fed  yon  in  the 
 wilderness,  when  I  brought  you  forth  from  the 
 land  of  Egypt. 
 
 83  And  Sloses  said  unto  Aaron, '  Take  a  pot, 
 and  put  an  omer  full  of  manna  therein,  and  lay 
 it  up  before  the  Lord,  to  be  kept  for  your  ge- 
 nerations. 
 
 34  As  the  Lord  commanded  Moses,  so  Aaron 
 laid  it  up  ^before  the  Testimony,  to  be  kept. 
 
 35  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  eat  manna 
 ''  forty  years,  '  until  they  came  to  a  land  inha- 
 bited ;  they  did  eat  manna,  until  they  came 
 unto  the  borders  of  the  land  of  Canaan. 
 
 36  Now  an  omer  is  the  tenth  part  of  an 
 ephah, 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  Tlie  people  mwmur  for  water  at  liephidim.  5  God 
 sendcth  him  for  ivat<r  to  the  rock  in  Horeb.  8  Ama- 
 hk  is  overcome  by  the  holding  up  of  Moses^  hands. 
 15  Moses  buildeth  the  altar  Ji  hovah-nissi» 
 
 A  ND  °  all  the  congregation  of  the  children 
 ■^■*-  of  Israel  journeyed  from  the  wilderness  of 
 Sin,  after  their  journeys,  according  to  the  com- 
 mandment of  the  Lord,  and  pitched  in  Rephi- 
 dim  :  and  there  was  no  water  for  the  people  to 
 drink. 
 
 2  ^  Wherefore  the  people  did  chide  with  Mo- 
 ses, and  said,  Give  us  water  that  we  may  drink. 
 And  Moses  said  unto  them,  Why  cliide  ye 
 with  me?  wherefore  do  ye  ^  tempt  the  Lord? 
 
 3  And  the  people  thirsted  there  for  water ; 
 and  the  people  ^murmured  against  Moses, and 
 said,  Wherefore  is  this  that  thou  hast  brought 
 
 they  were  sent  to  the  camp  rf  Israel.— Kflr.  14.  A  synnH  rnmid  thinp, 
 like  a  drop  of  frozen  dew. — Pat.  It  fell  during'  the  nig-ht  after  the  dew, 
 and  upon  the  bed  of  dew  there  was  a  bed  of  manna.  The  sun  dissolved 
 it.  Sheltered  from  its  rays,  it  became  hardened,  and  fit  for  grinding 
 and  making  into  cakes.— Sai/rin,  15.  It  is  manna,  'ii^T^  \'0.  Some 
 modern  travellers  mention  a  similar  thing  which  they  have  seen  near 
 the  spnt  here  alluded  to,  and  which  was  gathered  from  below  the  tama- 
 risk trees.  It  is,  however,  very  doubtful  if  it  he  the  same  thing  ;  if  it 
 is,  the  seasonable  and  extraordinary  supply  f'T  such  a  multitude  will 
 not  dn  away  with  the  miracle.  W'bat  has  been  called  a  honey  dew, 
 falling  nn  certain  trees,  and  on  the  grass,  is  nothing  more  than  the 
 bursting  of  the  sweet  sap  from  the  leaves  of  those  trees  by  the  exces- 
 sive heat  of  the  sun.— Erf.,  Sut.  Boothroi/d  says,  'the  manna  ap- 
 pears to  have  been  unknown  to  the  Israelites,  and  hence  we  may  infer, 
 that  it  was  something  different  from  what  is  now  called  manna.  Com- 
 pare  Deut.  viii.  3,  l6.  It  was  produced  by  Divine  power,  and  in  such 
 quantities  as  cannot  be  accounted  for  by  natural  causes.'  As  this  was 
 rained  from  heaven.  A.  CUirkfi  also  infers  it  was  a  supernatural 
 supply,  and  that  if  ir  had  been  otherwise  they  must  have  bad  it  for  a 
 month  before.  The  question.  What  is  this  f  seems  to  imply,  that  the 
 food  was  a  new  thing  to  the  Israelites.     Boothroyd  here  reads  as 
 
 the  margin,  *  What  is  this  ?' observing,  that  our  common  version  is 
 absurd  and  contradictory.  The  Septuagint  drops  the  original  words, 
 and  reads,  '  they  said  one  to  another,  'What  is  it?'  Jnsephus  concurs 
 in  this.  l6.  An  omer,  about  three  quarts  Enelish.— P«r.  17.  Some 
 more,  some  less,  as  much  as  would  be  sufficient  for  their  families,  ac- 
 cording as  they  were  larger  or  less.— ^«^  34.  The  testimony,  *  the 
 ark,'  called  the  ark  (jf  the  testimon;*,  (chap.  xxv.  1(5,)  and  here,  byway 
 of  abbreviation,  the  testimony,  or  witiie.ts,  because  in  it  were  the 
 tables  of  the  covenant,  or  thelaw  of  God,  which  was  a  testimony  of 
 God's  authority  and  will,  and  of  man's  subjection  and  duty,  or  of  the 
 covenant  made  between  God  and  man,  (see  Dent.  x.  5,  and  xxxi.  26.) 
 —Poole.  It  was  laid  up,  of  course,  when  the  ark  was  made,  as  it  was 
 a  little  time  after  this.— <?/7^.  35.  Kut  manna  forty  yenrs— it  is  cal- 
 culated that  the  Israelites  consumed  94,4(56  bushels  of  manna  every 
 day,  and,  in  forty  years,  1379,203,600  bushels!  36.  Now  an  omer— 
 A.  Clarke  would  place  this  immediately  after  ver.  18.  An  ephah, 
 seven  gallons  two  quarts  and  half.a-pint,  wine  measure.  Six  gallons 
 three  pints  and  three  solid  inches,  corn  measure, — Cumherlnnd. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.— 1.  Rpphidim,  the  plain  before  Horeb.— Sw/.     A  place 
 westward  of  Sinai.— GiW.      2.  Tempt,  'distrust.'— iJooMr. 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  XVI. _L  AU  true  Israelites  are 
 here  taught  to  trust  in  God  for  their  daily  bread.  He  who  sup- 
 plied Israel  in  the  wilderness  can  still  supply  tbem.  '  I  once 
 was  young,'  says  David,  '  and  now  am  old,  yet  have  I  not  seen 
 the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging  bread.' 
 
 II.  j4ll  God*s  spiritual  Israel  are  here  reminded  that  they  have 
 food  to  eat  which  the  world  hnows  not  of  It  is  theirs  by  faith  to 
 81 
 
 feed  on  '  the  true  bread  which  cometh  down  from  heaven.' — 
 '  I  am  that  bread,'  says  Christ.  He  is  '  the  bread  of  Hfe/  and 
 tliere  is  no  spiritual  life  without  this  food.  Wliat  the  manna 
 was  to  the  hungry  IsraeUtes,  Christ  is  to  the  spiritual  man- 
 sweet  and  precious.  May  we,  by  faith,  feed  on  tliis  bread  ot 
 lieaven  from  day  to  day,  and  live  for  ever. 
 
The.  rock  of  Horeb. 
 
 EXODUS,  XVIII. 
 
 Jetliro  Cometh  to  Moses. 
 
 *l 
 
 us  up  out  of  Egypt,  to  kill  us  and  our  children 
 and  our  cattle  vvitli  thirst? 
 
 4  And  Moses  "^  cried  unto  the  Lord,  saying, 
 ■What  shall  I  do  unto  this  people  ?  they  be 
 almost  ready  to  'stone  me. 
 
 3  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  ^  Go  on 
 before  the  people,  and  take  with  thee  of  the 
 elders  of  Israel ;  and  thy  rod,  wherewith  ^  thou 
 smotest  the  river,  take  in  thine  hand,  and  go. 
 
 6  '  Behold,  I  will  stand  before  thee  there  upon 
 the  rock  in  Horeb ;  and  thou  shall  smite  tlie 
 rock,  and  there  shall  come  water  out  of  it,  that 
 the  people  may  drink.  And  Moses  did  so  in 
 the  sight  of  the  elders  of  Israel. 
 
 7  And  he  called  the  name  of  the  place 
 '  II  Massah,  and  ||  Meribah,  because  of  the  chid- 
 ing of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  because  they 
 tempted  the  Lord,  saying.  Is  the  Lord  among 
 us,  or  not  r 
 
 8  H  '  Then  came  Amalet,  and  fought  with 
 Israel  in  Rephidim. 
 
 9  And  Moses  said  unto  "  Joshua,  Choose  us 
 out  men,  and  go  out,  fight  with  Amalek  :  to 
 morrow  I  will  stand  on  the  top  of  the  hill  with 
 "  the  rod  of  God  in  mine  hand. 
 
 10  So  Joshua  did  as  Moses  had  said  to  him, 
 and  fought  with  Amalek  :  and  Moses,  Aaron, 
 and  Hur  went  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill. 
 
 1 1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Moses  °  held  up 
 his  hand,  that  Israel  prevailed  :  and  when  he 
 let  down  his  hand,  Amalek  prevailed. 
 
 12  But  Moses'  hands  wei-e  heavy  ;  and  they 
 took  a  stone,  and  put  it  under  him,  and  he  sat 
 thereon  ;  and  Aaron  and  Hur  stayed  up  his 
 hands,  the  one  on  the  one  side,  and  the  other 
 on  the  other  side  ;  and  his  hands  were  steady 
 until  the  going  down  of  the  sun. 
 
 13  And  Joshua  discomfited  Amalek  and  his 
 people  with  the  edge  of  the  sword. 
 
 14  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  ■'  Write 
 this  fur  a  memorial  in  a  book,  and  rehearse  it 
 in  the  ears  of  Joshua:  for  ''  I  will  utterly  put 
 out  the  remembrance  of  Amalek  from  under 
 heaven. 
 
 15  And  Moses  built  an  altar,  and  called  the 
 name  of  it  ||  Jehovah-nissi : 
 
 16  For  he  said,  ||  Because  f  the  Lord  hath 
 sworn  that  the  Lord  will  have  war  with  Amalek 
 from  generation  to  generation. 
 
 B.  c.  Mm. 
 
 B.C.  1491. 
 
 «ch.  11.  ]5. 
 
 /I  Sam.  3(1. 
 
 6.  Jolin  ft. 
 
 a  ch.  2.  16. 
 
 59.  &  10. SI. 
 
 &  3.  1 
 
 i»Eiek.2.  6. 
 
 b  Ps.  44.  1, 
 
 &77,I4,  15. 
 
 h  ch.  7.  20. 
 
 f<  79,  -1.  & 
 
 Num.20.  8. 
 
 1115.5.43.  & 
 
 1U6.  2,  8. 
 
 i  Nu.  %.  10, 
 
 11.  P9.78. 
 
 I5.20.&10S. 
 
 c  ch.  1.  26. 
 
 41.8c  IN. 8. 
 
 Wis.l.11.4-. 
 
 1  Cor.  10.  4. 
 
 d  Acta  7. 29. 
 
 e  ch.  2.  22. 
 
 II  That  ie, 
 
 a  il'onger 
 
 there. 
 
 k  Nu.  20.  IS. 
 Ps.  HI.  7.  & 
 95,  8.  Htfb. 
 3.  S. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 my  Qud  is 
 an  help. 
 
 II  Tliat  is, 
 
 IniUitioii. 
 
 11  That  is, 
 
 chiding, or, 
 
 strife. 
 
 IG^xi  36.12. 
 
 Nuin.24.20. 
 
 Deut.25  17. 
 
 /ch.  3.  1,12. 
 
 1  Sam. 15. 2. 
 
 Wisd.  11.3. 
 
 m  Called  Je- 
 
 *iu,  Acts  7. 
 
 45.Heb.4.8. 
 
 n  ch.  4.  20. 
 
 J  Gen.  14.17. 
 
 itc  18.  2.  8c 
 
 19. 1.  1  Kio. 
 
 0  Jam.  6. 16. 
 
 2.  19. 
 A  Gen.  29,13. 
 
 &33.4. 
 
 t  Heb.p'nce. 
 
 Gen.  43.  27. 
 
 2Sam.ll.7. 
 
 t  Heb./ounrf 
 
 litem. 
 
 Gen.  44.31. 
 
 Num.2u.l4. 
 
 p  ch.  S-l.  27. 
 
 tPs.78.  42.& 
 
 7  Nu.  24.  20. 
 
 81.7.SC  U« 
 
 Deut.25. 19. 
 
 10.  &  107.2. 
 
 1  Sam.15,3, 
 
 7- fc  30.1.17. 
 
 A  Gen.  14,  20. 
 
 2  Sam  .8  12. 
 
 2.Sa.  18.  eS. 
 
 Ezra  9.  14. 
 
 I.ukel.  68. 
 
 II  That  is. 
 
 12  Chr.  2.5. 
 
 the  LORD 
 
 P9.  95.  3.  & 
 
 mV  liannrr  : 
 
 97.  9.&135. 
 
 See  JudR.e. 
 
 5. 
 
 21. 
 
 m  ch.  1.  10, 
 
 li  Or,  17/. 
 
 Ifi  22-  &  5,2, 
 
 7,R(  14.9,19. 
 
 M  of 
 
 t  1  Sam.  2.3. 
 
 Amalek  is 
 
 Ne.  9.10,1(5, 
 
 agniiiit  lite 
 
 29.  Job  40. 
 
 throne  oftiif 
 
 11,  12. 
 
 LOUD. 
 
 Ps.  31.  23. 
 
 therefore, 
 
 &  U9,  21. 
 
 &c. 
 
 Luke  1.51. 
 
 i  Hch.  the 
 
 0  Dcut   12.7. 
 
 hnwt  MftO'i 
 
 1  Chr.29.22 
 
 tlif  fhriini'  of 
 
 I  Cor.  10.  IS, 
 
 thf  UJRD. 
 
 21,31. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 1  Jethro  hringeth  to  Moses  tils  wife  and  tivo  sans.  7  Moses 
 entirtahitth  lain.  13  Jethro' s  counsel  is  accepted, 
 27  Jetliro  deparietli. 
 
 Vy  HEN  °  Jethro,  the  priest  of  Midian,  Moses' 
 '  '     father  in  law,  heard  of  all  that  "God  had 
 
 done  for  Moses,  and  for  Israel  bis  people,  and 
 
 that  the  Lord  had  brought  Israel  ont  of  Egypt; 
 i  Then  Jethro,   Moses'  father  in  law,  took 
 
 Zipporah,  Moses'  wife, '  after  he  had  sent  her 
 
 back, 
 
 3  And  her  ■*  two  sons;  of  which  the  "name 
 of  the  one  was  \\  Gershom  ;  for  he  said,  I  have 
 been  an  alien  in  a  strange  land  : 
 
 4  And  the  name  of  the  other  was  \\  Eliezer ; 
 for  the  God  of  my  father,  said  he,  was  mine 
 help,  and  delivered  me  from  the  sword  of 
 Pharaoh  : 
 
 5  And  Jethro,  Moses'  father  in  law,  came  with 
 his  sons  and  his  wife  unto  Moses  into  the  wil- 
 derness, where  he  encamped  at  '  the  mount  of 
 God: 
 
 6  And  he  said  unto  Moses,  I  thy  father  in 
 law  Jethro  am  come  unto  thee,  and  thy  wife, 
 and  her  two  sons  with  her. 
 
 7  H  And  Moses  i-'  went  out  to  meet  his  father 
 in  law,  and  did  obeisance,  and  ^  kissed  him  ; 
 and  they  asked  each  other  of  their  f  welfare ; 
 and  they  came  into  the  tent. 
 
 8  And  Moses  told  his  father  in  law  all  that 
 the  Lord  had  done  unto  Pharaoli  and  to  the 
 Egyptians  for  Israel's  sake,  and  all  the  travail 
 that  had  f  come  upon  them  by  the  way,  and 
 how  the  Lord  '  delivered  them. 
 
 !)  And  Jethro  rejoiced  for  all  the  goodness 
 which  the  Lord  had  done  to  Israel,  whom  he 
 had  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians. 
 
 10  And  Jethro  said,  '  Blessed  he  the  Lord, 
 who  hath  delivered  you  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
 Egyptians,  and  out  of  the  hand  of  Pharaoh,  who 
 hath  delivered  the  people  from  under  the  hand 
 of  the  Egyptians. 
 
 1 1  Now  I  know  that  the  Lord  is  '  greater 
 than  all  gods  :  "for  in  the  thing  wherein  they 
 dealt  "  proudly  he  was  above  them. 
 
 12  And  Jethro,  Moses'  father  in  law,  took 
 a  burnt  offering  and  sacrifices  for  God  :  and 
 Aaron  came,  and  all  the  elders  of  Israel,  to  eat 
 bread  with  Moses'  father  in  law  °  before  God. 
 
 6.  Horeb,  the  general  name  of  the  mountain,  and  Sinai  that  of  its  summit. 
 — Hales.  The  rock — Thevenot  and  Shaw  speak  of  the  rock  at  Rephidim 
 as  bearing  all  the  marks  of  this  miracle  to  this  day,  having  several 
 holes  out  of  which  the  water  gushed,  and  a  channel  about  two  inches 
 deep  and  twenty  wide.  But  it  is  strongly  suspected  by  some  modem 
 travelters,  that  these  are  but  the  works  of  some  monks,  who  have  long 
 inhabited  a  convent  not  far  distant.  7.  Tempted,  *  provoked.' — Hew. 
 Doubted  his  will  and  power. — Rosenm.  8,  Amalek — these  Amalek- 
 ites  were  the  descendants  of  Amalek,  a  son  of  Eliphaz.  the  son  of 
 Esau,  by  Timna,  the  concubine  of  Eliphaz,  (Gen,  xxxvi,  12.)  They  at- 
 tacked the  Israelites  probably  from  hopes  of  plunder, — So  A.  Clarice. 
 They  were  rather  the  descendants  of  Cush,  and  the  same  with  those 
 mentioned,  Gen.  xiv,  7. — Gill.  11.  Held  vp  his  hand,  he  held  it  up 
 in  prayer,  and  God  regarded  his  intercession . — Boollir.  It  is  also  likely 
 he  held  the  rod  of  God  in  his  hand  as  an  ensign  to  the  people. — A.  C. 
 
 12.  Hur — Josephus  says  he  was  the  husband  of  Miriam.  14.  Write 
 this — this  is  the  first  mention  of  writing. — Scott.  Antiquarians  have 
 proved,  that  si.icteen  letters  existed  before  the  dispersion  of  the  tribes 
 at  Babel,  .4  book,  called  the  wars  of  the  Lord. — Sut.  Put  out  the 
 remembrance  of  Amalek — accomplished  by  Saul,  412  years  after, 
 (1  Sam,  XV,  3.) 
 
 Chap,  XVIII. — "2.  Sent  her  back — it  is  uncertain  when  Moses  sent 
 her  back  ;  but  probably  he  sent  her  back  at  her  own  desire,  when  she 
 saw  how  difficult  his  work  was  iiitely  to  be  in  Egypt,  (see  chap,  iv,  26,) 
 — Pat.  5,  His  sons  and  his  wife — that  is,  *  Moses's.* — Gill.  6.  .ind 
 he  said  unto  Noses,  I,  ^c. — ^:m,  *  I,'  is  corrupted  from  n^n,  'behold,' 
 agreeably  to  the  Greek  and  Syriac  versions.  Kennicott  therefore  reads, 
 'And  it  was  told  to  Moses,  Behold,  thy  father-in-law,  Jethro,  is 
 come.'  12.  Jethro — took  a  burnt. offering — Jethro,    as  an  ancient 
 
 priest  of  the  Lord,  officiated  in  these  sacrifices,  in  which,  though  not 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.\p.  XVII.  —  I.  We  are  authorized,  by 
 ihe  lanijuaiie  of  inspiration.,  to  view  the  smitten  rock  as  Christ. 
 'This  rock,'  says  Ainsworth.'  'signified  Christ,  and  is  there- 
 fore called  a  spiritual  rock,'  (1  Cor.  x.  4.)  He  being  smitten 
 with  Moses'  rod,  and  bearing  the  curse  of  the  law  for  our  sins  ; 
 and,  by  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  crucified  among  his 
 people,  (Gal.  iii.  1,)  from  him  iloweth  the  spiritual  drink 
 wherewith  all  believing  hearts  are  refreshed,  (John,  vii.  37; 
 Isa.  liii.  1—3.) 
 
 II.  He  have  here  a  strihinc/  instance  of  the  effiaacy  of  prayer. 
 There  is  no  victory  to  be  obtained  over  our  spiritual  enemies 
 82 
 
 without  this.  We  must  look  to  the  strong  for  strength,  and 
 then  we  shall  come  oli' '  more  than  conquerors,  through  Him 
 that  hath  loved  us.' 
 
 III.  /Cf  are  also  reminded  of  the  duty  of  qratitude—^  duty  often 
 enforced  in  God's  word,  both  hy  example  and  precept.  Have 
 we  obtained  signal  mercies  from  God,  let  us  write  tliem  down 
 in  a  book  ;  if  not  in  a  diary,  with  pen  and  ink,  yet  never  let 
 them  be  obliterated  from  the  pages  of  our  memory  ;  and  let  us 
 raise  the  altar,  inscribed  with  the  language  of  gratitude,  to  Him 
 who  deserves  all  our  praise,  .Teiiovaii  Nissi,  '  the  Lord  is  my 
 banner. ' 
 
Jethro's  counsel  to  Moses. 
 
 EXODUS,  XIX. 
 
 The  people  come  to  Sinai. 
 
 13  %  And  it  came  to  pass  on  tlie  morrow, 
 that  Moses  sat  to  judge  the  people  :  and  the 
 people  stood  by  Moses  from  the  morning  unto 
 the  evening. 
 
 14  And  when  Moses'  father  in  law  saw  all 
 that  he  did  to  the  people,  he  said,  What  is  this 
 thing  that  thou  doest  to  the  people?  why  sittest 
 thou  thyself  alone,  and  all  the  people  stand  by 
 thee  from  morning  unto  even  ? 
 
 \5  And  Moses  said  unto  his  father  in  law, 
 Because  ^  the  people  come  unto  me  to  enquire 
 of  God  : 
 
 16  When  they  have  ''a  matter,  they  come 
 unto  me  ;  and  1  judge  between  f  one  and  ano- 
 ther, and  I  do  '  make  them  know  the  statutes  of 
 God,  and  his  laws. 
 
 17  And  Moses'  father  in  law  said  unto  him, 
 The  thing  that  thou  doest  is  not  good. 
 
 18  t  Thou  wilt  surely  wear  away,  both  thou, 
 and  this  people  that  is  with  thee  :  for  this  thing 
 is  too  heavy  for  thee;''tliou  art  not  able  to 
 perform  it  thyself  alone. 
 
 19  Hearken  now  unto  my  voice,  I  will  give 
 thee  counsel,  and  '  God  shall  he  with  thee  :  Be 
 thou  "  for  the  people  to  Godward,  that  thou 
 uiayest  ^  bring  the  causes  unto  God  : 
 
 20  And  thou  shalt  ^  teach  them  ordinances 
 and  laws,  and  shalt  shew  them  ^  the  way  wherein 
 they  must  walk,  and  '^  the  work  that  they 
 must  do. 
 
 2 1  Moreover  thou  shalt  provide  out  of  all  the 
 people  ^  able  men,  such  as  '^  fear  God,  '^  men  of 
 truth,  '^hating  covetousness  ;  and  place  such 
 over  them,  to  he  rulers  of  thousands,  and  rulers 
 of  hundreds,  rulers  of  fifties,  and  rulers  ofl 
 tens: 
 
 22  And  let  them  judge  the  people  '"at  all 
 seasons:  ^and  it  shall  be  that  every  great 
 matter  they  shall  bring  unto  thee,  but  every 
 small  matter  they  shall  judge  :  so  shall  it  be 
 easier  for  thyself,  and  ^  they  shall  bear  the 
 burden  with  thee. 
 
 23  If  thou  shalt  do  this  thing,  and  God  com- 
 mand thee  so,  then  thou  shalt  be  '  able  to  en- 
 dure, and  all  this  people  shall  also  go  to  *=  their 
 place  in  peace. 
 
 24  So  Moses  hearkened  to  the  voice  of  his 
 father  in  law,  and  did  all  that  he  had  said. 
 
 25  And  '  Moses  chose  able  men  out  of  all 
 Israel,  and  made  them  heads  over  the  people, 
 rulers  of  thousands,  rulers  of  hundreds,  rulers 
 of  fifties,  and  rulers  of  tens. 
 
 p  Lev.  21.12. 
 Num.  15,34. 
 
 q  ch.  23.  7. 
 &  24.  14. 
 Deut.  17.  3. 
 2  Sam.  15,3. 
 
 Jib  31-  ]fi. 
 
 Acts  18. 15. 
 1  Cor.  6.  1. 
 t  Heb.  a 
 ni»'<(i/i<t  All 
 
 r  Lev.  2-1  15. 
 
 Num. 15  33. 
 
 &  27.  0,  Str. 
 
 &  36.6,7,3,9. 
 t  Heb.  F<id' 
 
 iiiffthuu  wilt 
 
 fade. 
 1  Num.  11. 
 
 14",  17 
 
 Deu.  1.9,12. 
 t  ch.  3.  12. 
 u  ch.  i.  \l). 
 
 &  20.  19. 
 
 Deut.  5.  5 
 z  Num.27,5 
 VDeu.  4   1,5. 
 "  &  5.  1.  &  6. 
 
 l,2.Sc7.  n. 
 P3.  143.  3. 
 
 Deut.  I.  IS. 
 
 6  ver,  2.>. 
 Dent.  1.  IS. 
 
 16.  Si  16. 18. 
 L'Clir.  19. 
 5—1(1. 
 Acts  6.  3. 
 
 cGen. -12.  IS. 
 
 2  fiam.2:i.3. 
 
 2Chr.  19.9. 
 liEzek.  IS.H. 
 f  Deu.  16.19. 
 /  ver.  26. 
 §■  ver.  26, 
 
 Lev.  24.  11. 
 
 Num.  15.33. 
 
 «t  27.  2.  & 
 
 SB.I.Ueu.l. 
 
 17.  &  17.  8. 
 A  Nu.  11.17. 
 
 I  TCP.  19. 
 
 h  Gen.  IS, 33. 
 8c  30.  25. 
 cli.  16.  20. 
 2  Sam.  19. 
 39. 
 
 >  Num.  lu. 
 29,30. 
 
 cch.3.  1.12. 
 d  ch.  20.21. 
 
 Acta  7.  3S. 
 t  ch.  3.  4. 
 /"Deu.  29.  2. 
 5  Deu.  32.11. 
 
 Is.  ti3.  9. 
 
 Kev.  12. 14. 
 /jDeu.  5.  2. 
 r  Dc"i.  4.  50. 
 
 &7.<i.  &  H. 
 
 2,21.  8i:26. 
 
 15.  ?i:32.8, 
 fl.  1  Kin.  8. 
 53.  Ps.  1:J5. 
 4.  Can.S.12. 
 Is.  *l.8.  & 
 4S.].Jer.lO. 
 
 16.  Mai.  3. 
 
 17.  Tit.2.14. 
 h  ch   9   29. 
 
 Deu.  10,  li. 
 
 Job  41.  11 
 
 Ps.  2+.  1.  fc 
 
 50.12.  1  Cor. 
 
 I  n.  26, 2S. 
 ;Deu.3S.2,3, 
 
 4.  lPet.2.5, 
 
 9.  Rev.  1.6. 
 
 &  5.  lu.  & 
 
 20.  6. 
 t.1  Lev  ,20.24, 
 
 26.  Deut.  7- 
 
 6.  &  26.  19. 
 
 «c  28.  9. 
 
 I9.  62.  12. 
 
 t  Cor.  3.  17. 
 
 1  The5.5,27. 
 n  ch,  24.3,7. 
 
 Dent.  5.27. 
 
 &  20.  17. 
 n  ver.  IG. 
 
 ch.90.2l.& 
 
 24-   15,  16. 
 
 Deut.  4.  II. 
 
 Ps.  18.  11, 
 
 12,  &97.  2. 
 
 Mat.  17.5. 
 j<  Deu.  4.  12. 
 
 36.  John  12. 
 
 29,  30. 
 7  ch.  It.  31. 
 r  Lev.  11.44, 
 
 ■15.  Heb.  10 
 
 22. 
 *  ver.  14. 
 
 Gen.  3.^.2. 
 
 Lev.  15.  5. 
 
 26  And  tliey  '"judged  the  people  at  all  sea- 
 sons :  the  "hard  causes  they  brought  unto 
 Moses,  but  every  small  matter  they  judgeo 
 themselves. 
 
 27  IT  And  Moses  let  his  father  in  law  depart ; 
 and  °  he  went  his  way  into  his  own  land. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I  The  people  come  to  Sinai.  3  GofVs  message  by  Moses 
 iinto  the  people  out  of  the  mount,  8  7'he  people's  an- 
 swei'  returned  again.  10  The  people  are  prepared 
 against  the  third  day.  12  The  mountain  must  not  be 
 touched.  16  The  fearful  presence  of  God  upon  the 
 mount. 
 
 TN  the  third  month,  when  the  children  of 
 -*-  Israel  were  gone  forth  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  the  same  day  °  came  they  into  the 
 wilderness  of  Sinai. 
 
 2  For  they  were  departed  from  ''  Rephidim, 
 and  were  come  to  the  desert  of  Sinai,  and  had 
 pitched  in  the  wilderness ;  and  there  Israel 
 camped  before  "  the  mount. 
 
 3  And  ^  Moses  went  up  unto  God,  and  the 
 Lord  "^  called  unto  him  out  of  the  mountain, 
 saying.  Thus  shalt  thou  say  to  the  house  of 
 Jacob,  and  tell  the  children  of  Israel ; 
 
 4  *■  Ye  have  seen  what  I  did  unto  the  Egyp- 
 tians, and  hou'  ^  I  bare  you  on  eagles'  wings, 
 and  brought  you  unto  myself. 
 
 3  Now  ••  therefore,  if  ye  will  obey  my  voice 
 indeed,  and  keep  my  covenant,  then  '  ye  shall 
 be  a  peculiar  treasure  unto  me  above  all 
 people  :  for  ''  all  the  earth  is  mine  : 
 
 6  And  ye  shall  be  unto  me  a  '  kingdom  of 
 priests,  and  an  "  holy  nation.  These  are  the 
 words  which  thou  shalt  speak  unto  the  children 
 of  Israel. 
 
 7  1  And  Moses  came  and  called  for  the  elders 
 of  the  people,  and  laid  before  their  faces  all 
 these  words  which  the  Lord  commanded  him. 
 
 8  And  "all  the  people  answered  together,  and 
 said,  All  that  the  Lord  hath  spoken  we  will 
 do.  And  Moses  returned  the  words  of  the 
 people  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 9  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Lo,  I  come 
 unto  thee  "  in  a  thick  cloud,  ''  that  the  people 
 may  hear  when  I  speak  with  thee,  and  ''  believe 
 thee  for  ever.  And  Moses  told  the  words  of 
 the  people  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 10  1[  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go  unto 
 the  people,  and  '  sanctify  them  to  day  and  to 
 morrow,  and  let  them  'wash  their  clothes, 
 
 1 1  And  be  ready  against  the  third  day  :  for 
 
 t}f  Israel,  he  had  fu'llowship  with  Israel.— S^o/^.  It  is  believed  that  he 
 was  a  priest  of  the  true  God,  and  maintained  the  true  religion,  being 
 descended  from  Midian,  son  of  Abraham  and  Keturah.  Moses  docs 
 not  conceal  his  alliance  with  Jethro's  family,  but  invites  him  to  offer 
 sacrifices,  on  his  arrival  in  the  camp,  as  one  who  adored  the  same  God, 
 (see  ver.  II,  \1.)—Cnt.  18.  Wenr  awuy — Moses  in  giving  advice,  and 
 the  people  in  waiting  for  his  decisions  on  their  different  causes.— £rf. 
 19-  T^o  Godward,  'do  thou  interpret  the  will  of  God  to  the  people. — 
 Ftitrkes.  20.  Ordinances,  matters  of  religion, '  laws,'  civil  matters  of 
 justice  and  charity. —  Wells. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.— 1.  The  same  day,  UteraUy,  '  that  day.'  '  On  the  first 
 day.' — Boothr.  3.  Went  up  to  God,  into  the  mount  of  God,  to  the 
 place  where  God  had  now  fixed  his   cloudy  pillar.  4.  On  eagles* 
 
 uings,  safely  oat  of  the  reach  of  danger,  and  strongly  against  all  oppo- 
 sition.— Poole.  (See  note,  Deut.  xxxii.  11.)  6.  A  kingdom  of  priests — 
 in  regard— 1.  of  their  separation  from  the  world.  2.  Consecration  to 
 God.  3.  Privileges,  honour,  safety,  liberty  of  approaching  God.— 
 Poole.  10.  Sanctify  f/icjn— Moses  was  to  order  certain  ablutions,  and 
 to  separate  the  people  for  the  solemn  transaction.— SooMr.  The  ex- 
 ternal washing  was  agreeable  to  that  state  of  the  church,  and  by  it 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIIl.  —  I.  We  may  here  perceive 
 the  pleasures  of  social  piety.  How  delightful  the  harmony  which 
 subsisted  between  Moses  and  his  father-in-law  !  How  plea- 
 sant the  union  of  their  pious  hearts  while  Moses  related  all 
 that  God  had  done  lor  him  and  Israel !  The  eye  of  the  one 
 beamed  with  pleasure  in  lellins  what  God  had  done,  and  the 
 eye  of  the  other  in  heurini;.  Tliey  looked  love  and  joy  at  each 
 other.  Have  we  never  felt  the  same  in  our  intercourse  witii 
 dear  Christian  friends,  while  we  have  mutually  unveiled  our 
 hearts,  and  told  what  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done  for  us, 
 '  wiiereof  we  are  glad' '! 
 
 II.  We  may  here  learn  the  benefit  of  civil  government.  Good 
 83 
 
 magistrates  are  a  blessing  to  society.  The  people  would 
 '  wear  away'  in  feuds  and  complaints,  and  under  the  unavoid- 
 able delays  of  justice,  without  those  wise  regulations  by  which 
 their  causes  are  determined  in  all  well-ordered  governments. 
 It  is,  however,  lamentable,  that  the  corrupt  propensities  of 
 men  have  too  often  made  law  anything  but  equity,  and  the 
 attainment  of  justice  the  road  to  ruin.  The  Christian,  never- 
 theless, has  a  last  resource— he  can  go  to  the  Supreme  Judge 
 and  Lawgiver,  and  lay  his  cause  before  him  ;  here  he  shall  ob- 
 tain relief,  and  that  sweet  peace  of  conscience,  under  the 
 wounds  of  injustice,  which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor 
 take  away. 
 
The  people  sanctified  at  Sinai. 
 
 EXODUS,  XX. 
 
 The  ten  commandments. 
 
 the  third  day  the  Lord  '  will  come  down  in 
 the  sight  of  all  the  people  upon  mount  Sinai. 
 
 12  And  thou  shalt  set  bounds  unto  the  people 
 round  about,  saying.  Take  heed  to  yourselves, 
 that  ye  go  not  up  into  the  mount,  or  touch  the 
 border  of  it :  "  whosoever  toucheth  the  mount 
 shall  be  surely  put  to  deatli  : 
 
 13  There  shall  not  an  hand  touch  it,  but  he 
 shall    surely    be    stoned,    or   shot    through 
 whether  it  be  beast  or  man,  it  shall  not  live  : 
 when  the  ||  *  trumpet  soundeth  long,  they  shall 
 come  up  to  the  mount. 
 
 14  f  And  Moses  went  down  from  the  mount 
 unto  the  people,  and  ''  sanctified  the  people  ; 
 and  they  washed  their  clothes. 
 
 15  And  he  said  unto  the  people,  ^  Be  ready 
 against  the  third  day :  '  come  not  at  your 
 wives. 
 
 16  1  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  third  day  in 
 the  morning,  that  there  were  ''  thunders  and 
 lightnings,  and  a  "  thick  cloud  upon  the  mount, 
 and  the  ''  voice  of  the  trumpet  exceeding  loud  ; 
 so  that  all  the  people  that  was  in  the  camp 
 "  trembled. 
 
 1 7  And  "■  Moses  brought  forth  the  people  out 
 of  the  camp  to  meet  with  God  ;  and  they  stood 
 at  the  nether  part  of  the  mount. 
 
 18  And  ^  mount  Sinai  was  altogether  on  a 
 smoke,  because  the  Lord  descended  upon  it 
 "  in  fire  :  'and  the  smoke  thereof  ascended  as 
 the  smoke  of  a  furnace,  and  '  the  whole  mount 
 quaked  greatly. 
 
 19  And  '  when  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  sound- 
 ed long,  and  wa.\ed  louder  and  louder, '"  Moses 
 
 t  ver.  113,  18. 
 en.  *4.  5. 
 Deui.  S3,  i. 
 
 II  Or,  cornel. 
 X  Ter.  16, 19. 
 
 tl  ver.  10 
 :  ver.  II. 
 rt  1  Sam.  SI. 
 
 ■1.5.  Zeeli  7. 
 
 3.  I  Cnr.7,5 
 b  Pi.  ;-.  IS. 
 
 Heb.  l-J   IS, 
 
 li>.  Kcvl.ii. 
 
 &8.5.  St  II. 
 
 19. 
 c  ver  9. 
 
 ch.  40.  34. 
 
 2  Chr.  r».  U. 
 dRev.  I.  10. 
 
 &  4.  1. 
 Heb.  12.21. 
 /Dea.  4-  JO. 
 ffDeu.  4.  11. 
 
 &  :a.  3. 
 
 Judg.  3.  5. 
 
 IN.  m.  7,  8. 
 
 Is.  G.  4. 
 
 Hab.  3.  S. 
 A  ch.  3.  2.  & 
 
 24.I7.erhr. 
 
 7.  1,2,  .3, 
 iHeD.  I&.  17- 
 
 P«.  144.  5, 
 
 Uev.  15.  8. 
 k  Ps.  ^,  8. 
 
 ft  77.  18.  & 
 
 114.  7. 
 
 Jer.  4.  24. 
 
 Heb.  V. 
 
 .  13. 
 I  Heb. 12.21. 
 
 t  Heb.  con- 
 
 (w(. 
 u  See  ch,3.5. 
 
 1  Sam.  6.19. 
 
 p  Lev.  10.  3 
 
 n  2  Sam.  6. 
 7,8. 
 
 a  Deu.  5.  22. 
 b  Lev.  26  1, 
 
 I.H.  Deu.  5. 
 
 6    Ps.  81. 
 
 10.  Hoa.  IS. 
 
 4. 
 c  i-h.  13.  3. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 <t  Deut,  6.  7. 
 
 &  6.  14. 
 
 2  Kill.  17. 
 
 35.  Jet.  25. 
 
 6.  &  35.  15. 
 «  Lev.  26.  1. 
 
 Drat.  4. 16. 
 
 &5.8.&27. 
 
 15.  Ps.  97.7. 
 
 spake,  and  °  God  answered  him  by  a  voice- 
 ■20  And  the   Loud  came  down  upon  mount 
 
 Sinai,  on  the  top  of  the  mount :  and  the  Lord 
 
 called  Moses  np  to  the  top  of  the  mount;  and 
 
 Moses  went  up. 
 '21   And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses.  Go  down, 
 
 t  charge  the  people,  lest  they  break  through 
 
 unto  the   Lord  "  to  gaze,  and  many  of  them 
 
 perish. 
 •22  And  let  the  priests  also,  which  come  near 
 
 to  the   Lord,  ''sanctify  themselves,   lest  the 
 
 Lord  ''  break  forth  upon  them. 
 
 23  And  Moses  said  unto  the  Lord,  The 
 people  cannot  come  up  to  mount  Sinai :  for 
 thou  chargedst  us,  saying,  '  Set  bounds  about 
 the  mount,  and  sanctify  it. 
 
 24  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Away,  get 
 thee  down,  and  thou  shalt  come  up,  thou,  and 
 Aaron  with  thee :  but  let  not  the  priests  and 
 the  people  break  through  to  come  up  unto  the 
 Lord,  lest  he  break  forth  upon  them. 
 
 2j  So  Moses  went  down  unto  the  people, 
 and  spake  unto  them. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  TVie  ten  commandments.  18  The  people  are  afraid. 
 20  Mosts  comforteth  thtm.  22  Idolatry  is  forbidden. 
 24  Ofivhat  sort  the  altar  shoxdd  be. 
 
 \  ND  God  spake  °  all  these  words,  saying, 
 ■^^  2  ''  I  mn  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  have 
 brought  thee  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  "^  out 
 of  the  house  off  bondage. 
 
 3  ^  Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me. 
 
 4  "  Thou  shalt  not  make  unto  thee  any  graven 
 image,  or  any  likeness  of  ani/  thing  that  is  in 
 
 they  were  tanght  to  cleanse  their  inward  man.— Poo/e.  V2.  Bounds^ 
 by  drawing  a  line,  throwing  up  a  fosse  or  ditch,  laying  up  heaps  of 
 stone  or  sand,  or  bushes  and  branches  of  trees,  which  trrew  thick  tliere, 
 and  hence  the  name  Sinai,  or  '  bush.* — Gill.  By  this  symbuHcal  in- 
 junction God  designed — (i.)  To  restrain  boid  and  curious  inquiries  into 
 the  things  of  God.  (ii.)  To  impress  a  dread  and  reverence  of  the  Di- 
 vine  Majesty  and  law.  (iii.)  To  prepare  and  inure  the  people  to  the 
 obedience  of  God's  commands,  (iv.)  To  make  them  sensible  of  their 
 own  impurity  and  infirmity,  and  of  their  absolute  need  of  a  Mediator, 
 through  whom  they  might  have  access  to  God,  (see  Gal.  iii.  19.)— 
 Poole.  13.  There  shall  not  nn  hand  toxic  h  it — 11, '  Aim.*  not  the  mountain, 
 but  the  presumptuous  man. — So  A.  Clarke.  *  Let  nut  an  hand  touch 
 Ai>n,'  'but  let  him  surely  be  stoned.' — Boothr.  Slont^d—the  offender 
 was  stripped  when  within  four  cubits  of  the  place  of  execution,  leaving 
 only  a  front  covering.  His  arms  were  bound,  and  he  was  led  to  the 
 fatal  place,  which  was  an  eminence,  twice  a  man's  height.  The  wit- 
 nesses were  the  first  executioners,  who  generally  pulled  off  their  clothes. 
 One  of  them  threw  him  down  violently  upon  his  loins.  If  he  rolled 
 upon  his  breast,  he  was  turned  upon  his  loins  again,  and  if  he  died  by 
 the  fall  there  was  an  end  ;  but  if  not,  the  other  witnesses  took  a  great 
 stone  and  dashed  it  upon  his  breast,  as  he  lay  on  his  back  ;  and  then, 
 if  he  was  not  dispatched,  ail  the  people  that  stood  by  threw  stones  at 
 him,  till  he  died.— Leu-is.  18.  The  Jire— the  Schechinah  came  down 
 into  the  thick  cloud,  (ver.  0,  ifi.)  20.  Came  down— in  ver.  18,  '  de- 
 scended ;'  this,  therefore,  means,  the  Schechinah  settled  there  to  speak 
 unto  the  people.— Pu/.  21.  To  gaze,  to  see  if  they  could  observe  any 
 similitude  or  likeness  of  God  ;  this  was  prohibited,  the  J<ord  knowing 
 
 the  vanity  of  their  minds.— GiV/.  22.  The  priests— for  though  the 
 Aaronical  priesthood  was  not  yet  appointed,  it  is  certain  that,  as  there 
 were  sacrifices  before,  so  there  were  priests  to  offer  them,  wliich  were 
 cither  the  firstborn,  who  were  consecrated  to  God,  and  did  execute  the 
 oflice  of  priests,  as  may  be  gathered  from  chap.  xiii.  1'2,  and  xxiv.  5  ; 
 Num.  iii.  12,  and  viii.  26  ;  or  some  other  persons  appointed  by  God  for 
 doing  that  work,  till  the  office  was  settled  in  Aaron's  family,— Poo/e. 
 Some  understand  here  the  seventy  elders,  or  presbyters,  who  were 
 mostly  the  firstborn,  and,  consequently,  priests  by  the  rights  of  birth. 
 The  Levites  were  afterwards  substituted.  (Num.  iii.  12,  13.)  23.  !<anc- 
 tify  it — any  person  or  thing  was  sanctified  that  was  separated  from 
 all  profane  or  common  use,  and  devoted  to  sacred  purposes. — So  A.  C. 
 Chap.  XX.  —  2.  The  Lord  thy  God,  that  is,  there  is  only  one  God. 
 one  Supreme  and  Almighty  Beinsr,  endued  with  all  perfections,  by 
 whom  all  things  are  made  and  governed,  and  upon  whom  their  continu- 
 ance depends.— Joriin.  This  may  be  inferred,  by  reason,  fmm  tlic 
 unity  of  design  and  operation  in  the  surrounding  universe. — Fnwkes. 
 It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  each  individual  is  here  addressed,  that 
 each  might  feel  liis  personal  obligations. — So  A.  Clarke.  3.  No  other 
 Gmls,  '  being  Jehovah,  thy  Elohim,  thou  shalt  not  accept  of  angel, 
 spirit,  or  idul,  as  thy  advocate  or  god.' — Siit.  Before,  and  long  after, 
 the  giving  of  the  law,  the  generality  of  the  world  believed  there  were 
 many  gods  that  governed  the  world,  and  were  fit  objects  of  devotion. 
 — Seeker.  4.  .inv  graven  image — the  Hebrew  word  properly  signifies, 
 '  a  statue,  made  of  woud  or  stone.' — I'nt.  The  papists  evade  the  pre- 
 cept by  saying,  that  we  must  not  make  the  image  of  another  god; 
 therefore,  we  may  worship  titular  deities  ! — Sut.      Amj  likeness— W\q 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIX.  — I.  There  is  no  true  piety 
 tvithout  obedience.  This  was  the  duty  and  test  of  Israel  under 
 the  law,  and  it  is  so  under  tlie  Gospel.  If  we  have  promises 
 lo  believe,  w'e  have  also  precepts  to  obey.  'Ye  are  my 
 friends,'  said  the  Saviour,  '  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command 
 you.* 
 
 IT.  In  all  our  approaches  to  God,  he  requires  the  utmost  purity 
 und  reverence.  He  '  is  of  purer  eyes  than  to  behold  iuiquity,' 
 and  he  is  '  greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  assembly  of  the  saints, 
 Bod  to  be  had  in  reverence  of  all  them  that  are  about  him.' 
 
 III.  Ifthegivimj  of  the  law  was  awful,  what  shall  the  final 
 avenging  of  it  be,  '  when  the  Lord  shall  come  to  execute  judg- 
 laent  upon  all,  and  to  convince  all  that  are  ungodlv  among 
 them  of  all  their  ungodly  deeds  which  they  have  un?odIy  com- 
 mitted, and  of  all  their  hard  speeches  which  ungodly  sinners 
 have  spoken  against  him'  \  Happy,  then,  shall  they  be  who 
 can  look  on  the  Jmlge  as  their  friend,  when  that  prediction 
 shall  be  veriHed  in  all  its  awful  grandeur,  '  Behold,  he  cometh 
 with  clouds,  and  every  eye  shall  see  him  ;  and  all  kindreds  of 
 Ihe  earth  shall  wail  because  of  him.' 
 84 
 
 IV.  Let  us  bless  God  for  that  mild  dispensation  which  it  is  our 
 hapjyiness  to  enjoy.  Adore  bim  for  the  influences  of  his  Spirit 
 to  purify  our  hearts,  and  for  that  *  one  Mediator  between  God 
 and  man,  tlie  man  Christ  Jesus  ;'  through  whom  we  may  ap- 
 proach God  without  fear  and  trembling;  *  for  ye  are  not  come 
 unto  the  mount  that  might  be  touched,  and  that  burned  with 
 fire;  nor  unto  blackness  and  darkness  and  tempest,  and  the 
 sound  of  a  trumpet,  and  the  voice  of  words  ;  which  voice  they 
 that  heard  intreated  that  the  word  should  not  be  spoken  to  them 
 any  more  :  (for  they  could  not  endure  that  which  was  com- 
 manded ;  and  if  so  much  as  a  beast  touch  the  mountain,  it 
 should  be  stoned  or  thrust  through  with  a  dai't  ;  and  so  terrible 
 was  the  sight,  that  Moses  said,  I  exceedingly  fear  and  quake  :) 
 but  ye  are  come  unto  IVIount  Sion,  and  unto  the  city  of  the 
 living  God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable 
 company  of  angels,  to  the  general  assembly  and  church  of  the 
 firstborn,  which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to  Got!,  the  Judge 
 of  all,  and  to  thespiritsof  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to  Jesus, 
 the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  sprink- 
 ling, tiiat  Bpeaketh  better  things  llian  that  of  Abel.' 
 
2''he  ten  comiitand/nents 
 
 EXODUS,  XX. 
 
 heaven  above,  or  that  is  in  the  earth  beneath,    b.  c.  moi 
 or  that  is  in  the  water  under  the  earth  : 
 
 5  ^  Thou  shalt  not  how  down  thyself  to  them, 
 nor  serve  them  :  for  1  the  Loud  tliy  God  am 
 ^  a  jealous  God,  ^visiting  the  iniquity  of  the 
 fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and 
 fourth  generation  of  them  that  hate  me  ; 
 
 6  And  ^  shewing  mercy  unto  thousands  of 
 them  that  love  me,  and  keep  my  command- 
 ments. 
 
 7  ^  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord 
 thy  God  in  vain  ;  for  the  Lord  '  will  not  hold 
 him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name  in  vain. 
 
 8  "'Remember  the  sabbath  day,  to  keep  it 
 holy. 
 
 9  °  Six  days  shalt  thou  labour,  and  do  all  thy 
 work  : 
 
 10  But  the  °  seventh  day  is  the  sabbath  of 
 the  Lord  thy  God :  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do 
 any  work,  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter, 
 thy  manservant,  nor  thy  maidservant,  nor  thy 
 cattle,  ^  nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within  thy 
 gates  : 
 
 1 1  For  ^  in  six  days  the  Lord  made  heaven 
 and  earth,  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is,  and 
 rested  the  seventli  day  :  wherefore  the  Lord 
 blessed  the  sabbath  day,  and  hallowed  it. 
 
 12  H  ■■  Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother: 
 that  thy  days  may  be  long  upon  the  land 
 which  the  Loud  thy  God  giveth  thee. 
 
 13  'Thou  shalt  not  kiU. 
 
 14  '  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery. 
 
 15  "  Thou  shalt  not  steal. 
 
 16  "Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against 
 thy  neighbour. 
 
 17  ^  Thou  shalt  not  covet   thy  neighbour's 
 
 l/ch  93  2*. 
 J..sh.23  7. 
 '2  Kill.  17  35, 
 Ifi.  4i.  15, 
 19. 
 g  eh.  SI-.  U- 
 Deut.  4.  24. 
 &  6.  15. 
 Jusli.->4.19. 
 Nah.  I,  2. 
 /.  ch.  SI   7. 
 \je:v.  2(1.  5. 
 &  26.  39.  H) 
 Num  14.1S, 
 as.  1  Kill. 
 21.  29.  Job 
 5.  4.  &  21. 
 
 10.  PS.79.S. 
 «i  t09  4.  Ir. 
 1 4  L'O,  2 1 .  & 
 
 I    05.  6,  7.  Jcr. 
 I    2.  y.  &  32. 
 
 IS 
 I  ch.  SI.  7. 
 
 Peut.  7.  9. 
 
 Pa.  S9.  34. 
 
 Rom.  11.29. 
 4  ch.  23.  1. 
 
 Lpp.  19.  12. 
 
 Deu.  5.  n. 
 
 Ph.  15.  4. 
 
 Mat.  5.  33. 
 I  Mic  6.  II. 
 m  ch.SI.  13, 
 
 11.  Lev.  19. 
 S,  SO.  &  26. 
 2.  Deut.  5. 
 12. 
 
 n  ch-  23.  12. 
 
 tc  31.  15   & 
 
 M  21    Lev. 
 
 2.1.3  Ezek. 
 
 20.12.  Luke 
 
 13.  14. 
 o  Gen.  2.  9,3. 
 
 ch,  16.  26. 
 
 &  31.  15. 
 pNeh.I3.  16, 
 
 17,  19,  19. 
 7  (fen.  2  2. 
 T  ch    23.  26. 
 
 Lev.  19.  3. 
 
 Deu.  5.  16. 
 
 JiT.  35.  7, 
 
 IS,  19.  Mat. 
 
 19.  Mark  7. 
 
 1 0.8c  lU.  19. 
 
 Luke  18.20. 
 
 Eph.  6.  2. 
 
 t  Deu.  5.  17.  Mat.  6.21.  Hnm-  13.9.  (Deut.  5. 18.  Mat.  5.  27.  «  I-ev.  19  II.  Deut. 
 b.  19.  Mat.  I'J,  18.  Rnin,  13.9.  1  TheB.4.  6.  wch.  2S  1.  Deut.  5.  20.  &  19.  16.  Mat, 
 19.13.  xDeH.5.  21.  Mic.  2.  2.  Hat..2.  9.  Luke  12.  15.  Acts20.33.  Rotn.7.7.  &  13.  9. 
 Eph.  5.3,5,   Heb.  13.3. 
 
 B.  C   I4D1. 
 
 y  Job  31.  9. 
 
 Prov  6    29. 
 
 Jer.  .■-..  S. 
 
 Mat.  5.  28 
 =  Heb.  ii.lS. 
 u  Rev.  1.  10, 
 
 12. 
 b  ch.  19.  18. 
 
 c  Dent  5,  27. 
 
 &  18.  16. 
 
 Gal.  3.  19, 
 
 20.  Heb. 
 
 12.  19. 
 d  Deu.  3.  25. 
 
 20.  Is.'4ir 
 
 10,  13. 
 /Gen.  22.  1. 
 
 Deu.  13.3. 
 ff  Deu.  4.  10. 
 
 &  6.  2fc  10. 
 
 i2.&17.  13, 
 
 19.  &  19.20. 
 ft  28.  £S. 
 Prov.  3.  7. 
 &  16,  6.  Is. 
 8.  13. 
 
 k  rh    19.  16. 
 
 Deut.  5   5. 
 
 I  Kin.  8. 12. 
 i  Deu.  4.  36. 
 
 Neb.  9.  13. 
 k  ch.32.  1,2, 
 
 4.  1  Sam.  5. 
 
 4,  5.  2  Kin. 
 
 17,33.  Ezek, 
 
 20.  39  Ife  43. 
 8,  Dan.  S. 
 4,  23.  Zeph. 
 1.  5.  2  Cor 
 6.  14,  15,  16. 
 
 I  Lev.  1.  2 
 Deu.  12.  5 
 
 21. 
 
 :  14. 
 
 23.  8i  16-6. 
 11.  &  26  2. 
 
 1  Kin.  S.-13, 
 &9.  3. 
 
 2  Chr.  6.  6- 
 &  7-  16-  fc 
 12.13.  Ezra 
 
 6.  12.  Neb. 
 1.  9.  Ps.74. 
 
 7,  Jer.  7. 
 10,  12. 
 
 n  Gen-  12.  2. 
 Deui.7.  13. 
 
 o  Deut.  27. 5. 
 Josh.  8.  31- 
 1  Mac.  4  47. 
 
 t  Heb.  build 
 
 them 
 
 Pith 
 
 Idolatry  forbidden, 
 
 'house,  ''thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbour's 
 wife,  nor  his  manservant,  nor  his  maidservant, 
 nor  his  ox,  nor  his  ass,  nor  any  thing  that  is 
 thy  neighbour's. 
 
 18  If  And  "^  all  the  people  *  saw  the  thunder- 
 ings,  and  the  lightnings,  and  the  noise  of  the 
 trumpet,  and  the  mountain  ^smoking:  and 
 when  the  people  saw  it^  they  removed,  and 
 stood  afar  off. 
 
 19  And  they  said  unto  Moses,  "^  Speak  thon 
 with  us,  and  we  will  hear;  but  "^let  not  God 
 speak  with  us,  lest  we  die. 
 
 20  And  Moses  said  unto  tlie  people,  *  Fear 
 not:  *"for  God  is  come  to  prove  you,  and 
 ^  that  his  fear  may  be  before  your  faces,  that 
 ye  sin  not. 
 
 21  And  the  people  stood  afar  off.  and  Moses 
 drew  near  unto  "  the  thick  darkness  where 
 God  was. 
 
 22  \  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Thus 
 thou  shalt  say  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  Ye 
 have  seen  that  I  have  talked  with  you  '  from 
 heaven. 
 
 23  Ye  shall  not  make  '■with  me  gods  of 
 silver,  neither  shall  ye  make  unto  you  gods  of 
 gold. 
 
 24  IT  An  altar  of  earth  thou  shalt  make  unto 
 me,  and  shalt  sacrifice  thereon  thy  burnt  offer- 
 ings, and  thy  peace  offerings,  '  thy  sheep,  and 
 thine  oxen  :  in  all  "'  places  where  I  record  my 
 name  I  will  come  unto  thee,  and  I  will  "  bless 
 thee. 
 
 25  And  °  if  thou  wilt  make  me  an  altar  of 
 stone,  thou  shalt  not  ]  build  it  of  hewn  stone  : 
 for  if  thou  hft  up  thy  tool  upon  it,  thou  hast 
 polluted  it. 
 
 26  Neither  shalt  thou  go  up  by  steps  unto 
 mine  altar,  that  thy  nakedness  be  not  dis- 
 covered thereon. 
 
 original  means  a  picture  drawn  on  a  wall  or  flat  surface. — Pat.  In 
 heaven  above,  §-r.— there  appears  here  especially  to  be  a  reference  to  the 
 infatuated  idolaters  of  Eg>-pt,  whom  the  Israelites  had  seen  worship 
 objects  in  heaven,  earth,  and  water.— .Erf.  The  Israelites  were  prone 
 to  this  symbolical  worship. — Bryant,  5.  Visiting,  'punishing.'  The 
 crime  mentioned  is  idolatry  -,  for  this  offence,  what  judgments  felt  on 
 the  Israelites  !—ZJ(yo//ir.  *  Vi--iting*  is  often  used  in  Scripture  for  the 
 most  marked  and  severe  punishment.  '  Shall  I  not  visit  for  these  things  ? 
 saith  the  Lord,'  Sec— Ed,  Upon  the  c/(iWcf«— having  before  them  the 
 example  of  their  fathers'  punishment  for  their  transgressions,  the  sins 
 of  the  children  become  the  more  aggravated,  and  shall  be  accordingly 
 punished. — Evan.  St/nop,  This  is  to  be  understood  with  an  exception 
 *^>f  penitent  chiUlren,  as  appears  from  Erelc.  xviii. ;  and  if  any  such  be 
 temporally  punished  for  their  father^'  sins,  God  will  abundantly  re- 
 compense it  to  them  some  other  way.  But,  if  children  tread  in  their 
 fathers' sinful  steps,  it  is  but  just  that  they  should  partake  of  their 
 plagues. — Poole.  6.  Unto  thousands,  of  generations, — Gill,  A.Clarke, 
 7.  In  vain,  *  in  a  falsehood.* — Bfj-  Law.  '  In  a  light  and  trifling  way.* 
 — Gill.  This  command  forbids  false  oaths,  and  needle--s  and  common 
 ones. — Seeker.  8.  Keep  it  holy — not  only  abstracted  from  worldly 
 business,  but  devoted  to  sacred  purposes. —  Wil.  12.  Loni;  upon  the 
 land — a  national  obedience  to  this  precept  would  preserve  the  nation 
 in  the  land  of  Canaan  from  generation  to  generation,  (Ezek.  xxii.  7.) — 
 Hallet,  This  is  the  first  command  to  which  God  has  annexed  a  pro- 
 mise, (Eph.  vi.  2  ;)  and  the  observance  of  it  has  been  attended  with  a 
 divine  blessing. — Boothr.    It  must  be  remembered,  that  all  commands 
 
 of  God  must  be  obeyed  before  those  of  \)^xenis,— Fleetwood.  13.  Not 
 kill—the  words  are  better  rendered  in  an  old  translation,  'do  no  mur- 
 der.' for  the  life  of  a  man  may  be  taken  away  without  committing: 
 murder  —Fau'Arpjf.  14.  Adultery— \.\i\^  is  only  named,  but  all  kinds 
 of  filthiness  are  included,  (Matt.  v.  27.)  15.  Steal,  or  by  deceit  or 
 violence,  (Eph  iv.  28.)  16.  False  witness,  including,  not  only  per- 
 jury, but  slander,  backbiting,  false  accusation,  and  the  like.  17-  Covet, 
 may  signify  the  deliberate  purpose  of  deceitfully  or  violenHy  taking 
 away  another  man's  property,  or  the  greedy  desire  of  what  is  another 
 man's. — Poole.  No  such  restriction  is  to  be  found  in  the  ordinances 
 of  the  wisest  ancient  lawgivers,  because  the  thoughts  and  desires  of 
 the  heart  are  not  cognizable  by  human  tribunals. — Hates.  18.  Saw, 
 'heard.'— Bww^Ar.  'Seeing'  being  the  principal  sense,  is  frequently 
 put  for  the  rest ;  and  this  may  be  read,  *  they  sensibly  perceived,'  &c. 
 20.  To  prove  you,  whether  you  will  be  such  as  you  pretend,  (chap. 
 xix.8.)  22.  Seen,  'perceived.'  23.  Wdh  me— inver.3,  it  is^^D"??, 
 '  before  me  ;'  here,  TIN.  '  "I'A  me.*  No  emblems  or  represtutatives  of 
 God  to  keep  these  grand  events  in  memory;  nothing  but  a  plain  altar 
 must  be  made  at  which  to  worship  him.— So  A.  Clarke.  25.  Not — 
 of  henm  stone— x\o  time  was  to  be  wasted  to  rear  costly  altars  in  their 
 wandering  state.  The  altar,  cosUy  ornot,  was  nothing;  it  was  only 
 the  place.— So  .-J.  Clarke.  This  command  was,  probably,  to  prevent 
 persons  from  making  images  in  -i^XQue.—Mmmonides.  26.  Thy  naked- 
 vess — loose  garments  were  now  used,  which  might  fly  open  ;  to  prevent 
 which,  the  priests  were  commanded  to  use  linen  breeches.— Gi7/. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XX.  —  I.  If  the  ten  commandments 
 were  universally  regarded,  what  a  happy  world  would  this  be  !  How 
 admirably  are  they  adapted  to  advance  the  honour  of  God,  and 
 promote  the  happiness  of  man  !  If  all  mankind  were  to  obey 
 them,  everytiiing  in  the  world  would  be  in  its  right  place. 
 Surely  '  the  law  is  holy,  and  the  commandment  holy,  and  just, 
 and  good.' 
 
 II.  As  the  moral  law  is  supremely  excellent,  it  correspond.*^  with 
 the  renewed  nature  of  every  bdlever.  It  is  only  tiie  rebellious 
 corrupt  nature  of  man  that  can  despise  God's  holy  law.  The 
 great  Apostle  says,  'I  delight  in  the  law  of  God,  after  the 
 inner  man.'  The  inner  renewed  man  cannot  but  love  what  is 
 spiritually  good  :  Christ  walked  by  this  law,  and  so  must  we, 
 if  we  would  walk  like  Christ. 
 
 III.  Huw  infatuated  are  those  who,   while  they  proftss  to  love 
 
 God,  speak  irreverently  of  his  commandments  !  Because  the  lavf 
 is  against  transgressors,  this  does  not  make  it  evil  ;  the  law 
 which  aims  at  our  good  cannot  deserve  our  censure;  the 
 declaimers  aRainst  the  law  should  rather  declaim  against  those 
 corruptions  which  induce  man  to  violate  the  law.  This  was 
 the  apostle's  lamentation — *  I  see  another  law  iu  my  members 
 warring  against  the  law  of  my  mind,  and  bringing  me  into  cap- 
 tivity to  the  law  of  sin  which  is  in  my  members.  Oh,  wretched 
 man  that  I  am  !  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this 
 death  ]'  The  moral  law  was  given  by  God's  own  mouth,  and, 
 proceeding  directly  from  him,  it  was  good,  and  must  for  ever 
 remain  so.  It  was  not  peculiar  to  the  Mosaic  dispensation, 
 and  done  away  along  with  that  dispensation,  as  were  the 
 rituals  of  the  ceremonial  law,  wliich  were  but  *  shadows  of 
 good  things  to  come,'  the  substance  of  which  was  to  be  looked 
 
Lavisfor  menservants,  §'c. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXI. 
 
 For  stealers  of  men,  Sfc. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  Laws  for  menservants.  5  For  the  servant  whose  ear 
 is  bortd.  7  For  u'omenservarits.  I'J  For  man- 
 slaughter. 16  Fur  stealers  of  imn,  n  For  cursers 
 of  parents.  18  For  smiters.  22  For  a  hurt  by 
 chance.  28  For  an  ox  that  goret/i.  33  Fur  him 
 that  is  an  occasion  of  harm. 
 
 NOW  these  are  the  judgments  which  thou 
 shalt '  set  before  them. 
 
 2  ■■  If  thou  buy  an  Hebrew  servant,  six  years 
 he  shall  serve  :  and  in  the  seventh  he  shall  go 
 out  free  for  nothing. 
 
 3  If  he  came  in  f  by  himself,  he  shall  go  out 
 by  himself:  if  he  were  married,  then  his  wife 
 shall  go  out  with  him. 
 
 4  If  his  master  have  given  him  a  wife,  and 
 she  have  borne  him  sons  or  daughters  ;  the  wife 
 and  her  children  shall  be  her  master's,  and  he 
 shall  go  out  by  himself. 
 
 5  "  And  if  the  servant  t  shall  plainly  say,  1 
 love  my  master,  my  wife,  and  my  children ;  I 
 will  not  go  out  free  : 
 
 i>  Then  his  master  shall  bring  lum  unto  the 
 •■  judges  ;  he  shall  also  bring  him  to  the  door, 
 or  unto  the  door  post  ;  and  his  master  shall 
 '  bore  his  ear  through  with  an  aul ;  and  he 
 s'.;all  serve  him  for  ever. 
 
 7  IT  And  if  a  man  'sell  his  daughter  to  be  a 
 maidservant,  she  shall  not  go  out '■'as  the  men- 
 servants  do. 
 
 8  If  she  t  please  not  her  master,  who  hath 
 betrothed  her  to  himself,  then  shall  he  let  her 
 be  redeemed :  to  sell  her  unto  a  strange  nation 
 he  shall  have  no  power,  seeing  he  hath  dealt 
 deceitfully  with  her. 
 
 9  And  if  lie  have  betrothed  her  unto  his  son, 
 he  shall  deal  with  her  after  the  manner  of 
 daughters. 
 
 10  If  he  take  him  another  ivife ;  her  food, 
 her  raiment,  ''  and  her  duty  of  marriage,  shall 
 he  not  diminish. 
 
 11  And  if  he  do  not  these  three  unto  her, 
 then  shall  she  go  out  free  without  money. 
 
 1'2  t '  He  that  smiteth  a  man,  so  that  he  die, 
 shall  be  surely  put  to  death. 
 
 ly  And  '  if  a  man  lie  not  in  wait,  but  God  '  de- 
 liver /liin  into  his  hand  ;  then  "'  I  will  appoint 
 thee  a  place  whitlier  he  shall  flee. 
 
 14  But  if  a  man  come"  presumptuously  upon 
 his  neighbour,  to  slay  him  with  guile ;  °  thou 
 
 ich.  24.  3,V 
 
 Deut.  4.  14. 
 
 «c  6    1. 
 6  Lev. -23. 39, 
 
 4U.  41. 
 
 Deu.  15.12, 
 
 J.T.  M.  14. 
 t  Hcb.  v>ilh 
 
 hit  bodi/. 
 
 c  Ileut.  IS. 
 
 16,  17. 
 t  Hel».  taifing 
 
 thatttay. 
 
 d  ch.  12.  1-2. 
 &  22.  3,  2S. 
 
 /Neh.  5.5. 
 g  ver.  2,  S. 
 
 t  Hcb.  Afrri/ 
 
 h  I  Cor.  7.  5. 
 i  fieii.  n.  6. 
 
 Lev.  21,  17. 
 
 Num  S.'i.SO, 
 
 31.  Mat.  26. 
 
 52. 
 h  Nu.35.  22. 
 
 Deu.l!l.4,5, 
 I  I  Saul.  24. 
 
 4,  10,  IS. 
 mNu.  S5.ll. 
 
 I>eut.  19.3. 
 
 Josh.  20.  2. 
 .,  Nil.  1,^.30. 
 
 fc  35.  20. 
 
 Deu.  ly  11, 
 
 12.  Hcb.  10. 
 
 26. 
 o  1  Kin.  2. 
 
 ■2S— JH. 
 
 2Kiu.ll.l5. 
 
 p  Deu.  21.  7. 
 7  Geu.  37.2S. 
 r  ch.  22.  4. 
 
 *  Lev.  20.  9 
 Prov.20.20. 
 Mat.  15.4 
 Mark  7.  10 
 
 |lOr,ret.i/e/A 
 
 II  Or,  Ai'x 
 neighltoiir. 
 
 t  S  Sam.  3. 
 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 Geo.  4.  15, 
 24. 
 
 Kom.  13.4. 
 u  Lev.  25. 
 45,  46. 
 
 1  ver.  SO. 
 Deu,  22.  18, 
 19. 
 
 V  Lev.  24,20. 
 
 ■  Deu,  19  21. 
 
 Mat.  5.  .-IS. 
 
 may 
 
 shalt  take  him  from  mine  altar,  that  : 
 die. 
 
 15  t  And  he  that  smiteth  his  father,  or  his 
 mother,  shall  be  surely  put  to  death. 
 
 16  K  And  ""he  that  stealeth  a  man,  and  '  sell- 
 eth  him,  or  if  he  be  '  found  in  his  hand,  he 
 shall  surely  be  put  to  death. 
 
 17  H  And  'he  that  ||  curseth  his  father,  or  his 
 mother,  shall  surely  be  put  to  death. 
 
 18  1  And  if  men  strive  together,  and  one 
 smite  II  another  with  a  stone,  or  with  his  fist, 
 and  he  die  not,  but  keepeth  his  bed  : 
 
 19  If  he  rise  again  and  walk  abroad  'upon 
 his  staff,  then  shall  he  that  smote  him  be  quit: 
 only  he  shall  pay  _/oc  f  the  loss  of  his  time,  and 
 shall  cause  him  to  be  thoroughly  healed. 
 
 20  t  And  if  a  man  smite  his  servant,  or  his 
 maid,  with  a  rod,  and  he  die  under  his  hand  ; 
 he  shall  be  surely  f  punished. 
 
 •21  Notwithstanding,  if  he  continue  a  day  or 
 two,  he  shall  not  be  punislied  :  for  "  he  is  his 
 money. 
 
 22  t  If  men  strive,  and  hurt  a  woman  with 
 child,  so  that  her  fruit  depart  from  her,  and 
 yet  no  mischief  follow :  he  shall  be  surely 
 punished,  according  as  the  woman's  husband 
 will  lay  upon  him  ;  and  he  shall  ''  pay  as  the 
 judges  determine. 
 
 23  And  if  an;/  mischief  follow,  then  thou 
 shalt  give  life  for  life, 
 
 24  ^  Eye  for  eye,  tooth  for  tooth,  hand  for 
 hand,  foot  for  foot, 
 
 2,5  Burning  for  burning,  wound  for  wound, 
 stripe  for  stripe. 
 
 2(j  U  And  if  a  man  smite  the  eye  of  his  ser- 
 vant, or  the  eye  of  his  maid,  that  it  perish  ;  he 
 shall  let  him  go  free  for  his  eye's  sake, 
 
 27  And  if  he  smite  out  his  manservant's  tooth, 
 or  his  maidservant's  tooth  ;  he  shall  let  him  go 
 free  for  his  tooth's  sake. 
 
 28  t  If  an  ox  gore  a  man  or  a  woman,  that 
 they  die  :  then  '  tlie  ox  shall  be  surely  stoned, 
 and  his  flesh  shall  not  be  eaten  ;  but  the  owner 
 of  the  ox  shall  be  quit. 
 
 2!)  But  if  the  ox  were  wont  to  push  with  his 
 iiorn  in  time  past,  and  it  hath  been  testified  to 
 bis  owner,  and  he  hath  not  kept  him  in,  but 
 that  he  hath  killed  a  man  or  a  woman  ;  the  ox 
 shall  be  stoned,  and  his  owner  also  shall  be  put 
 to  death. 
 
 CnAP.  XXI,  —  1.  Judgments,  or  judicial  laws,  to  govern  the  judges. 
 — Poole.  They  are  fifty-seven  in  number ;  they  are  the  laws  of  patri- 
 archal society  here  arranged,  4.  The  wife — iier  children  shttll  be  her 
 master^g — the  wife  here  alluded  to  was  a  Gentile  bondmaid  before,  in 
 her  master's  service  ;  it  might  bea  child  by  a  Caiiaanitish  woman, — 
 Pat.,  A.  Clarke.  6.  Judges,  WTVJUrf  bti — Trpoj  to  Kpnrjptov  Qeov,  '  to 
 the  judgment  of  God/  Sept.  Or.  to  the  civil  magistrates,  often  called 
 Elotiim,  and  understood  here  by  most  commentators.     An  aul,  or 
 
 'needle,'  Targ.  of  Son.  For  evei — it  may  mean  here  only  for  a  long 
 time,  (chap.  xii.  14.)  The  jubilee  is  an  exception  made  by  God  to  this 
 law,  (Lev.  XXV,  40;  Dent.  .\v.  1/.) — Poole.  S.A  strange  nation — 
 another  f.iraily  or  tribe  ;  for  it  was  in  no  case  lawful  to  sell  a  Hebrew 
 to   any  heathen   nation.  —  Pat.  \".Cursettt,    'revileth.' — Poole. 
 
 24.  Et/e  for  eye — the  offender  might  make  pecuniary  satisfaction. — 
 Bp.  Kidder.  This  does  not  warrant  private  revenge,  but  was  to  be 
 decided  by  the  judges. — Sut.    The  spirit  only,  and  not  the  letter  of  this 
 
 for  in  Christ ;  but  it  was,  and  mast  remain,  the  unerring  rule 
 of  rectitude  for  all  the  intelligent  creatures  of  God  in  this 
 lower  world  :  '  we  know  that  the  law  is  good,  if  a  man  use  it 
 lawfully,' 
 
 IV.  Beit  remembered,  with  grief,  shame,  and  humilittj,  that  we 
 have  all  broken  the  law,  and  are  therefore  liable  to  condiinnatiwi. 
 From  the  corruption  of  our  natures,  which  did  not  originally 
 belong  to  us,  we  are  all  unable  perfectly  to  keep  it.  But  this 
 does  not  weaken  its  authority.  Can  the  transgressor  say  it 
 is  not  proper  and  right  1  then,  in  breaking  it,  he  is  without 
 excuse  ;  so  shall  every  transgressor  be,  who  is  not  secured 
 against  the  judgment  to  come,  and  '  the  wicked  shall  be  silent 
 in  darkness.' 
 
 V.  As  we  are  all  violators  of  God's  law,  we  must  see  the  value 
 of  a  deliverer  from  the  penalties  which  it  injlicts  on  the  offtnder. 
 We  must  not  measure  our  offences  against  the  law  of  God,  as 
 we  would  offences  against  the  laws  of  men.     There  is  an  infi- 
 
 nite  disproportion  between  creatures  and  the  Creator,  and  the 
 offence  of  a  roan  against  God  becomes  therefore  an  enormous 
 offence.  But  oh,  bow  gloriously  are  the  divine  wisdom, 
 mercy,  and  grace,  illustrated  in  Him  who,  by  his  death  and 
 obedience  in  the  room  and  stead  of  the  offender,  has  '  finished 
 transgression,  made  an  end  of  sin,  made  reconciliation  for 
 iniquity,  and  brought  in  an  everlasting  righteousness!'  This 
 righteousness  is  *  to  all,  and  upon  all,  them  that  believe.' 
 For  Christ,  having  kept  the  whole  law,  both  shewed  the  pos- 
 sibility of  its  being  kept  in  human  nature,  and  so  vindicated 
 the  reasonableness  of  God's  commands,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
 manifested  his  great  love  in  standing  in  our  law  place  and 
 stead,  fulfilling  all  righteousness,  and  so  making  it  practicable 
 for  us  to  accept  of  him  as  our  surety,  that  we  might  not  perish 
 under  the  frowns  of  justice  for  ever.  '  Christ  hath  delivered 
 us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for  us.' 
 
Divers  laws  and  ordinances. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXII. 
 
 Divers  laws  and  ordinances. 
 
 30  If  there  be  laid  on  him  a  sum  of  money, 
 then  lie  shall  give  for  °  the  ransom  of  his  life 
 whatsoever  is  laid  upon  liim. 
 
 31  Whether  he  have  gored  a  son,  or  have 
 gored  a  daughter,  according  to  this  judgment 
 shall  it  be  done  unto  him. 
 
 3-2  If  the  ox  shall  push  a  manservant  or  a 
 maidservant ;  he  shall  give  unto  their  master 
 ''  thirty  shekels  of  silver,  and  tlie  "  ox  .shall  be 
 stoned. 
 
 33  t  And  if  a  man  shall  open  a  pit,  or  if  a  man 
 shall  dig  a  pit,  and  not  cover  it,  and  an  ox  or 
 an  ass  fall  therein  ; 
 
 34  The  ovmer  of  the  pit  shall  make  it  good, 
 and  give  money  unto  the  owner  of  them  ;  and 
 the  dead  beast  shall  be  his. 
 
 35  t  And  if  one  man's  ox  hurt  another's,  that 
 he  die  ;  tlien  they  .shall  sell  the  live  ox,  and 
 divide  the  money  of  it ;  and  the  dead  ox  also 
 they  shall  divide. 
 
 36  Or  if  it  be  known  that  the  ox  hath  u.sed  to 
 push  in  time  past,  and  his  owner  hath  not  kept 
 him  in  ;  he  shall  surely  pay  ox  for  ox  ;  and  the 
 dead  shall  be  his  own. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  Of  theft.  5  Of  damage.  7  Of  trespasses.  14  Of 
 b'orrowinn.  \6' Of  fornication.  18  Of  witchcraft. 
 19  Of  heastinlity.  20  Of  idolatry.  21  Of 
 strangers,  widows,  and  fatherless.  25  Of  usury. 
 2B  Of  fikdgcs.  28.  Of  reverence  to  magistrates. 
 29    Of  the' first  fruits. 
 
 IF  a  man  shall  steal  an  ox,  or  a  1|  sheep,  and 
 kill  it,  or  sell  it ;  he  shall  restore  five  oxen 
 for  .m  ox,  and  "  four  sheep  for  a  sheep. 
 
 2  t  If  a  thief  be  found  ''breaking  up,  and  be 
 smitten  that  he  die,  there  shall  '  no  blood  be 
 shed  for  him. 
 
 3  If  the  sun  be  risen  upon  him,  there  shall  he 
 blood  shed  for  him  ;  for  he  should  make  full 
 restitution  ;  if  he  have  nothing,  then  he  shall 
 be  ''sold  for  his  theft. 
 
 4  If  the  theft  be  certainly  '  found  in  his  hand 
 alive,  whether  it  be  ox,  or  ass,  or  sheep ;  he 
 shall  ''restore  double. 
 
 5  1 1f  a  man  shall  cause  a  field  or  vineyard  to 
 be  eaten,  and  shall  put  in  his  beast,  and  shall 
 feed  in  another  man's  field  ;  of  the  best  of  his 
 own  field,  and  of  the  best  of  his  own  vineyard, 
 
 Mat.  -iC.  15. 
 Phil   y.  7. 
 c  vt'r.  ^. 
 
 «2Sa.  12.  6. 
 
 I.iike  19.  8. 
 
 See  Pro.  6. 
 
 31. 
 
 5Mat.24.4S. 
 e  Nu.  35.  27. 
 
 d  ch.  21.  2. 
 0  ch.  21.  16. 
 
 /Seever.1,7- 
 Prov.  6. 31. 
 
 h  ch.  SI.  6. 
 ft  Tcr.  28. 
 
 Dcut.26. 1 
 2Chc.l9.lu. 
 
 A  Heb.  6.  16. 
 
 ..I  Dr'ut.  22. 
 
 2fi,  29. 
 f  l!..b.t/'^i>fi. 
 
 Gcii.  2:^.  16. 
 n  Gen- 34. 12. 
 
 Deu  22.29. 
 
 1  Sam.  IB. 
 
 o'iev.  19.26, 
 31.  &  20  27. 
 Deu.  IS.  10, 
 11.  ISaui. 
 23.3,9. 
 
 shall  he  make  restitution 
 
 6  H  If  fire  break  out,  and  catch  in  thorns,  so 
 that  the  stacks  of  corn,  or  the  standing  corn,  or 
 the  field,  be  consumed  therewith ,-  he  that 
 kindled  the  fire  shall  surely  make  restitution. 
 
 7  f  If  a  man  shall  deliver  unto  his  neighbour 
 money  or  stuff  to  keep,  and  it  be  stolen  out  of 
 the  man's  house  ;  ^  if  the  thief  be  found,  let 
 him  pay  double. 
 
 8  If  the  thief  be  not  found,  then  the  master 
 of  the  house  shall  be  brought  unto  the  "judges, 
 .to  see  whether  he  have  put  his  hand  unto  his 
 neighbour's  goods. 
 
 9  For  all  manner  of  trespass,  ivhether  it  be  for 
 ox,  for  ass,  for  sheep,  for  raiment,  or  for  any 
 manner  of  lost  thing,  which  another  cballengeth 
 to  be  his,  the  '  cause  of  both  parties  shall  come 
 before  the  judges  ;  and  whom  the  judges  shall 
 condemn,  he  shall  pay  double  unto  liis  neigh- 
 bour. 
 
 10  If  a  man  deliver  unto  his  neighbour  an 
 ass,  or  an  ox,  or  a  sheep,  or  any  beast,  to  keep  ; 
 and  it  die,  or  be  hurt,  or  driven  away,  no  man 
 seeing  it: 
 
 1 1  Then  shall  an  '■  oath  of  the  Lord  be  be- 
 tween them  both,  that  he  hath  not  put  his 
 hand  unto  his  neighbour's  goods ;  and  the 
 owner  of  it  shall  accept  thereof,  and  he  shall 
 not  make  it  good. 
 
 12  And  '  if  it  be  stolen  from  him,  he  shall 
 make  restitution  unto  the  owner  thereof. 
 
 13  If  it  be  torn  in  pieces,  then  let  him  bring 
 it  for  witness,  aH(/ lie  shall  not  make  good  that 
 which  was  torn. 
 
 14  t  And  if  a  man  borrow  onght  of  his  neigh- 
 bour, and  it  be  hurt,  or  die,  the  owner  thereof 
 beinri  not  with  it,  he  shall  surely  make  it 
 good. 
 
 15  But  if  the  owner  thereof  be  with  it,  lie 
 shall  not  make  it  good  :  if  it  be  an  hired  thing, 
 it  came  for  his  hire. 
 
 16  1[  And"  if  a  man  entice  a  maid  that  is  not 
 betrothed,  and  lie  with  her,  he  shall  surely  en- 
 dow her  to  be  his  wife. 
 
 17  If  her  father  utterly  refuse  to  give  her  unto 
 him,  he  shall  f  pay  money  according  to  the 
 "  dovsTy  of  virgins. 
 
 18  V  °  Thou  shaft  not  suffer  a  witch  to  live. 
 
 law,  was  observed,  by  a  suitable  compensation.     So  also  the  Greeks  is  set  on  fire  before  tiie  autumnal  rains,  and  then  great  damage  may  be 
 
 and  Romans  understood  \t.—Seldon,  Pict.  Bid.        32.  Thirty  shekels—  done  by  carelessness. — Har.  12.  Shalt  make  re^titutian,  because  it 
 
 about  41.  lo.t.  argues  neglect. — Poole.      l6.  Niii  betrothed — but  if  she  was,  her  crime 
 
 Crap.  XXII. — \ .  Five  oren— four  sheep — men's  substance  then  cnn-  was  death.  (Dent.  xxii.  23.) — Poole.         18.  .4  u-iteh — it  is  believed, 
 
 sisted  in  these  ;  they  were  exposed,  and  easily  stolen,  and  therefore  the  by  many  writers,  that  these  actually  possessed  the  power  of  diving 
 
 penalty  was  high. — Pat.,  Gill.     6.  I/fire — in  the  east,  the  dry  herbage  into  futurity,  &c. — So  Poole,  Hen.,  Scott,  A.  Clarke.    But  there  cannot 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI.—  I.  Notice  here,  God's  rare 
 of  servants.  '  He  hath  made  of  one  blood  servants  as  well  as 
 masters.'  "While,  therefore,  he  provided  laws  to  secure  the 
 ohedience  of  servants  to  masters,  he  took  the  greatest  care  to 
 prevent  masters  from  oppressing  their  servants.  These  regu- 
 lalions  are  equally  enforced  in  the  Gospel,  and  by  the  more 
 persuasive  molive  of  the  love  of  Christ,  whose  laws,  as  his 
 followers,  we  are  bound  to  obey.  '  Servants,  be  obedient  to 
 them  that  are  your  masters  according  to  the  flesh,  witli  fear 
 and  trembling,  in  singleness  of  your  heart,  as  unto  Christ, 
 doing  the  will  of  God  from  the  heart;  with  good  will  doing 
 service,  as  to  the  Lord,  and  not  to  men  ;  knowing  that  what- 
 soever good  thing  any  man  doeth,  the  same  shall  he  receive  of 
 the  Lord,  whether  he  be  bond  or  tree.  And,  ye  masters,  do 
 the  same  things  unto  them,  forbearing  threatening  ;  knowing 
 that  your  Master  also  is  in  heaven ;  neither  is  there  respect 
 of  persons  with  him.' 
 
 II.  Notice  again,  the  hounden  duties  of  children.     To  strike  a 
 
 parent,  or  to  reyile  a  parent,  were  reckoned  among  the  greatest 
 
 of  crimes.      Throughout  the   whole  scriptures   the  parental 
 
 authority  is  peculiarly  guarded,  and,  as  we  have  seen  in  the 
 
 87 
 
 previous  chapter,  was  even  made  the  subject  of  one  of  the 
 commandments.  It  must,  however,  always  be  understood 
 tiiat  there  is  one  authority  still  higher,  and  that  if  parents  so 
 far  forget  themselves  as  to  oppose  that  authority,  and  urge 
 their  children  to  do  the  like,  they  cannot,  without  involving 
 botli  themselves  and  their  children  in  the  most  awCul  respon- 
 sibility, stand  between  their  children  and  God.  He  is  their 
 supreme  Lord. 
 
 III.  'police,  v>\^o,  the  duties  of  man  towards  man.  The  laws 
 here  enforced  are  founded  upon  the  golden  rule — to  do  to  others 
 as  we  would  they  should  do  unto  us.  Here  is  no  quib'ding; 
 it  is  all  straightforward  equity,  descending  even  to  the  injury 
 of  a  man's  ox  from  the  incaution  of  bis  neighbour.  The  more 
 we  reflect  upon  these  laws,  the  more  they  deserve  our  admi- 
 ration ;  *  they  are,'  as  Clarke  observes,  '  as  remarkable  for  their 
 justice  and  prudence,  as  for  their  humanity.' 
 
 IV.  The  God  by  whom  tltese  laws  were  dictated  is  our  Sovereign, 
 and  will  be  our  Jiidge.  Let  us  rejoice  in  his  rule,  and  delight 
 in  his  authority.  '  O  Lord  our  God,  other  lords  beside  thee 
 have  bad  dominion  over  us  ;  but  by  thee  only  will  we  make 
 mention  of  thy  name.' 
 
Divers  laws  and  ordrnanres. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXIII. 
 
 Divers  laws  attd  ordinances. 
 
 19  t'' Whosoever  lieth  with  a  beast  shall 
 surely  be  put  to  death. 
 
 20  %  ''  He  that  sacrificetli  unto  any  god,  save 
 unto  the  Lord  only,  he  shall  be  utterly  de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 211'  Thou  shalt  neither  vex  a  stranger,  nor 
 oppress  him :  for  ye  were  strangers  in  the  land 
 of  Egvpt. 
 
 22  1'  Ye  shall  not  afllict  any  widow,  or  fa- 
 therless child. 
 
 23  If  thou  afflict  them  in  any  wise,  and  they 
 '  cry  at  all  unto  me,  I  will  surely  "  hear  their 
 
 cry  ; 
 
 24  And  my  "  wrath  shall  wax  hot,  and  I  will 
 kill  you  with  the  sword  ;  and  ''  your  wives 
 shall  be  viidows,  and  your  cliildren  fatherless. 
 
 2.5  K  '  If  thou  lend  money  to  ant/  of  my 
 people  that  is  poor  by  thee,  thou  shalt  not  be 
 to  hiiu  as  an  usnrei,  neither  shalt  thou  lay 
 upon  him  usury- 
 
 20  "  If  thou  "at  all  take  thy  neighbour's  rai- 
 ment to  pledge,  thou  shalt  deliver  it  unto  him 
 by  that  the  sun  goeth  down  : 
 
 27  For  that  in  his  covering  only,  it  is  his 
 raiment  for  his  skin  :  wherein  shall  he  .sleep  ? 
 and  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  he  ■•  crieth 
 unto  me,  that  I  will  hear  ;  for  1  am  '^  gracious. 
 
 28  t ''  Thou  shalt  not  revile  the  ||  gods,  nor 
 curse  the  ruler  of  thy  people. 
 
 29  1  Thou  .shalt   not   delay    io  offer  f  °  the 
 first  of  thy  ripe  fruits,  and'  of   thy  f  liquors 
 '  the  firstborn  of  thy  sons  shalt  thou  give  unto 
 me. 
 
 30  ^  Likewise  shalt  thou  do  with  thine  oxen, 
 and  with  thy  sheep  :  ''  seven  days  it  shall  be 
 with  his  dam  ;  on  the  eighth  day  thou  shalt 
 give  it  me. 
 
 31  If  And  ye  .shall  he  '  holy  men  unto  me  : 
 "■  neither  shall  ye  eat  any  flesh  that  is  torn 
 of  beasts  in  the  field  ;  ye  shall  cast  it  to  the 
 dogs. 
 
 7,  8.  Dent. 
 13.  1,  2,  5, 
 
 6,  9,  IS,  14. 
 15.  &  17.  v, 
 3,  5.  I  Mac 
 2.  21. 
 
 T  ch.  2-1.  9. 
 
 Lev.  19, 3S 
 
 &  23.  35 
 
 Deu  10. 19. 
 
 Jec.  7  6. 
 
 Zech.  7.  10 
 
 Mai.  3.  .S. 
 t  Deu.  10.18 
 
 &  24.  17-  & 
 
 27.  19.  Ps. 
 
 9».  n.  Is.  1. 
 
 17,23.  &  10. 
 
 2.  Ejcl.->e. 
 
 7.  Zerh.  7. 
 ID.  Joiu.  1. 
 
 /  Deu.  1.1.  9. 
 
 Si  24    \b. 
 
 .).,l.  3.^.  9. 
 
 Luke  18.  7. 
 w  ver.  23. 
 
 Job  31.  28. 
 
 Ps.  IS   8.  Kt 
 
 145.  19. 
 
 .lani.  5.4. 
 X  Job  31.  S3, 
 
 P. 
 
 109.  9. 
 .  5.  3. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 1  Of  slander  and  false  tcitness.  3,  6  Of  justice.  4 
 OfcharitahleJiess.  10  Of  the  year  of  rest.  12  Of 
 the  sabbath.  13  Of  idolatrij.  14  Of  the  tkne 
 feasts.  18  Of  the  blood  and  the  fat  of  the  sacrifice. 
 20  An  angel  is  promised,  with  a  hltssing,  if  thnj  obey 
 him. 
 
 THOU  "  shalt  not  ||  raise  a  false  report :  put 
 not  thine  hand  with  the  wicked  to  be  an 
 "unrighteous  witness. 
 
 2  *ii  *^  Thou  shalt  not  follow  a  multitude  to  do 
 evil  ;  ''  neither  shalt  thou  \  speak  in  a  cause  to 
 decline  after  many  to  wxQ^i  judgment : 
 
 3  t  Neither  shalt  thou  countenance  a  po.or 
 man  in  his  cause. 
 
 4  If  "^  If  thou  meet  thine  enemy's  ox  or  bis 
 ass  going  astray,  thou  shalt  surely  bring  it 
 back  to  him  again. 
 
 5  nf  thou  see  the  ass  of  him  that  batcth 
 thee  lying  under  bis  burden,  ||  and  wouldest 
 forbear  to  help  him,  thou  shalt  surely  help 
 with  him. 
 
 6  ^  Tliou  shalt  not  wrest  the  judgment  of  thy 
 poor  in  his  cause. 
 
 7  ^  Keep  thee  far  from  a  false  matter  ;  '  and 
 the  innocent  and  righteous  slay  thou  not :  for 
 ^  I  will  not  justify  the  wicked. 
 
 S  t  And  '  thou  shalt  take  no  gift :  for  the 
 gift  blindeth  f  the  wise,  and  pervertetb  the 
 words  of  the  righteous. 
 
 9  t  Also  ""  thou  shalt  not  oppress  a  stranger : 
 for  ye  know  the  f  heart  of  a  stranger,  seeing 
 ye  were  strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 10  And  "six  years  thou  shalt  sow  thy  land, 
 and  shalt  gather  in  the  fruits  thereof: 
 
 1 1  Rut  the  seventh  i/ear  thou  shalt  let  it  rest 
 and  lie  still  ;  that  the  poor  of  thy  people  may 
 eat :  and  what  they  leave  the  beasts  of  the 
 
 C  vvr.  2.  ^ 
 
 Di-u.  L*7. 19.  Job  SI.  13,  2i.  Eccles.  6.  8.  Is.  10.  1,  2.  Jer.  5.  28.  &  7.  6.  Amos  5.  12. 
 Mai. 3.  6.         A  Tcr.   1.   Lev.  19.    II.  Lake  3.  14.    Eph.  4    S5.  i  Deu.  27.  2b.  Pi. 
 
 91.   '21.   Pro.  17.    15,  26.  Jer.  7    6.    Mat.  27    4  *  ch.  3i.  7.   Rom.  1.  l8  /  Deu. 
 
 16.  19.  1  Sam.  8.3.  &  12.3.  2Chr.  19.7.  Ps.  26.  10.  Pro.  15  27.  U  17.  B,93.  &  29,4. 
 Is.  I.  23.  &  5.  23.  &  3:t.  12.  Eiek.  22.  12.  Amos  5.  12.  Ecclus.  20.  29.  Acta  2*.  26. 
 t  Kfh.  thftf'wg.  m  ch  22.  21.  Deo.  10.  19.  &  24.14,  17.  8(27.  19.  Pb.  S'l.  6.  Eick. 
 22  7.  Mai.  3.  5.        *  Heb.  $oul.        n  Lev.  '25  S,  4. 
 
 Lev.  19.  IC, 
 Ps.  15.  3.  & 
 101.  5.  Pro. 
 
 10.  IS.  See 
 2  6ain.  19. 
 27   with 
 
 16.  3. 
 
 b  rh.'2il.  Ifi. 
 l>eu.  19.16, 
 
 17,  13.  r«, 
 35.  11.  Pio 
 19.  5,  9.  2S 
 Ik  24.  28. 
 .See  I  Kin. 
 21.  10.13. 
 iMut    26  59, 
 CO,  61.  Acts 
 6.  II,  13 
 
 C  Gen.  7.  1. 
 &  19.  4,  7. 
 ch  38.  1.2. 
 Josh.  24.15. 
 1  Sam.15.9. 
 IKiii  19.10. 
 Job  31.  34. 
 Prn    I.  10. 
 
 11,  \h.  it  4. 
 H.  Mat  27. 
 24,-26  :tlaik 
 15.15.  l,uke 
 
 d  ver.  6,  7. 
 
 Lev. 19. 15. 
 
 Deu.  L  17. 
 
 Ps.  72.  8. 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 #I><-ut.22.  I. 
 
 Job  31.  29- 
 
 Pro.  24.  17. 
 
 «c25.  21. 
 
 Mat.  5.  4i. 
 
 Rom.  12,20. 
 
 ITheH.5.1.'). 
 /Deu.  22-4. 
 II  Or,  w\tt 
 
 thou  ttaie  U 
 
 htlp  A  im  f 
 
 or.  Olid 
 
 vonUfMl 
 
 ceatf  III  Irnvr 
 
 thy  busi. 
 
 ■     lliW 
 
 oilh 
 
 be  a  greater  absurdity  than  to  suppose  that  the  secrets  of  God's  pur- 
 poses,  concealed  in  his  own  bosom,  should  cither  be  AnoH-7i  or  guessed 
 by  familiar  spirits.  Their  pretensinns  were  profane,  and  therefore  it 
 ■was  they  were  punished,  f-T  pretendinff  to  pry  into  the  secrets  of  the 
 Most  High.— /Trf.  The  orisrinal  is  nCTTS'D.  *  a  female  juirgler,'  'a  de- 
 ceiver.*—Sm(.  The  principal  dcsig:n  of  the  institution  of  the  Hebrew 
 government  was  to  put  a  stop  to  idnlatry  and  its  mischiefs.  All  man- 
 ner of  witchcraft  was  a  practice  of  itlolatry ;  for  they  pretended  to  a 
 knowledfre  and  power  above  human,  by  virtue  of  supernatural  powers 
 received  from  their  idols.  Now  this  verTr'  profession  was  an  overt  act 
 of  idolatrj-,  that  is,  of  high  treason,  in  the  Hebrew  grnvernment ;  and 
 whether  such  declaration  were  true  or  false,  tlie  treason  was  the  same ; 
 for  it  openiy  denied  Jehovah  to  be  the  one  true  God,  as  it  asserted  the 
 power  of  idols,  and  it  was  so  very  apt  to  corrupt  weak  minds,  eaperly 
 fond  of  knowing  things  to  come.— Lowinan.  J9.  Beast,  a.  crime 
 practised  in  Egypt  in  modern  times.— Non»i7ji*s  Travels.  27-  Wherein 
 shall  he  sleep  f— the  Arab's  hi/ff,  or  outer  garment,  is  his  bed.  So  the 
 upper  garment  of  the  Israelites  was  a  large  square  cloth,  which  folrted 
 round  the  whole  bodv,  and  served  the  poor  as  a  bed-covering  during 
 the  night.— Orient.  Lit.        28.  The  gods,  Mhe  judges,'  as  chap.  xxi.  6. 
 
 — Ai7is.  'The  magistrates,'  (see  Acts,  xxiii.  3,  4,  5;  Exod.  vii,  1  ; 
 Ps.  I.\.\xii.  6;  John,  x-  34,  35  ;  compare  Eccles.  x.20  ;  Jude,  8.) — Pnoltf, 
 Without  doubt,  *  the  judges.* — Pat.  'Magistrates,'  as  explained  by  the 
 latter  part  of  the  verse.— Sw/.  '  Ci\il  magistrates,'  'the  judges  of  the 
 land.' — Gill.  'The  judges.' — Boothr.  Dr.  Clarke  understands  it, 
 '  Thou  shalt  not  revile  the  true  God,  nor  curse  the  ruler,  Sec,  who  de- 
 rives his  authority  from  God.*  The  second  member  of  the  verse,  in- 
 stead of  explaining  the  first,  is  thus  made  distinct  from  it,  and  cer- 
 tainly seems  unnecessary  but  as  Dr.  Clarke  interprets  it.  29.  The 
 first  of  thy  Wpe /ruiVs,  which  were  used  by  the  priests. — Scott.  The 
 firstborn — not  in  kind,  but  by  paying  a  price  of  redemption.  —  .S'«(. 
 30.  Eighth  rfay— not  sooner,  becausiC  it  was  then  tender  and  imperfect, 
 and  not  fit  fur  offering,  but  it  might  be  offered  afterwards,  (see  Lev. 
 xxii.  27,)  even  till  it  was  a  year  old. — Poole.  31 .  Fiesh  torn  of  /,easts, 
 —both  because  the  blood  was  in  it,  and  it  was  devoured  by  unclean 
 creatures. — Pat. 
 
 Chap.  XXIII.— 2.  Neither  shalt  thou,  SfC;  'nor  shall  ye,  when  ye 
 have  to  answer  in  a  cause,  incline  to  the  multitude,  so  as  to  swerve 
 from  the  truth.' — Boothr.  3.  Counterutnce  a  poor  man,  prefer  his 
 
 cause,  when  the  richer  man's  cause  is  more  just. — Poole.  II.  Hestp 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII. — I.  We  have  here  the 
 laws  of  restitution  ;  and  they  are  worthy  of  our  approval  and 
 admiration.  *  IMoses,'  says  Scott,  '  had  a  right  to  say,  Keep, 
 therefore,  and  do  them,  for  this  is  your  wisdom  and  under- 
 standtni;  in  the  sic;ht  of  all  the  nations,  which  shall  hear  all 
 these  statutes,  and  say,  Surely  tliis  great  nation  is  a  wise  and 
 underslandini;  people  ;  and  what  nation  is  there  so  great,  tliat 
 hath  statutes  and  judgments  so  righteous,  as  all  this  law  which 
 I  set  before  you  this  day  \  '  Nay,  were  he  on  earth  at  present, 
 he  might  safely  make  the  same  challenge,  in  respect  to  the 
 municipal  laws  of  any  country  in  the  world  ;  and  a  full  inves- 
 tigation of  the  suhject  would  evince,  that  the  laws  enacted  by 
 him  were  ur.iformly  more  wise,  equitable,  humane,  mild,  and 
 salutary  in  their  tendency,  than  the  complex  body  of  laws  of 
 the  most  civilized  nations;  even  of  those  where  Christianity 
 has  most  flourished.  For  the  laws  of  Moses  bear  the  evident 
 stamp  of  a  divine  original :  human  laws  are  invariably  tarnished 
 88 
 
 by  the  infirmities  and  passions  of  our  fallen  nature. 
 
 II.  \yiiat  a  painful  view  does  this  chapter  pire  vs  of  human  na- 
 iure  !  '  I'nclean,  unclean  !'  Thefts,  fornications,  presumption, 
 beastliness,  idolatry,  oppression,  insubordination. — the.se  are 
 among  the  catalogue  of  crimes  which  proceed  '  out  of  the  heart 
 of  man.'  \\  hat  a  horrible  picture!  How  wonderful  is  that 
 grace  which  can  renew  our  natures,  and  make  us  '  meet  to  be 
 partakers  of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light!*  *  Know 
 ye  not,'  says  the  Apostle  to  the  Corinthians,  '  that  the  un- 
 righteous shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God  f  lie  not  de- 
 ceived :  neither  fornicators,  nor  idolaters,  nor  adulterers,  nor 
 effeminate,  nor  abusers  of  themselves  with  mankind,  nor 
 thieves,  nor  covetous,  nor  drunkards,  nor  revilers,  nor  extor- 
 tioners, shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.  And  such  were 
 some  of  you  :  but  ye  are  washed,  but  ye  are  sanctified,  but  ye 
 are  justified  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit 
 of  our  God.' 
 
Divers  laws  and  oi'diriances . 
 
 EXODUS,  XXIII. 
 
 Divers  laws  and  ordinances. 
 
 field  shall  eat.     In  like  manner  tliou  shall  deal 
 with  thy  vineyard,  and  with  thy  ||  oliveyard. 
 
 12  °  Six  days  thou  shalt  do  thy  work,  and  on 
 the  seventh  day  thou  shalt  rest :  that  thine  ox 
 and  thine  ass  may  rest,  and  the  son  of  thy 
 handmaid,  and  the  stranger,  may  be  refreshed. 
 
 13  And  in  all  things  that  1  have  said  unto 
 you  ''  be  circumspect :  and  ''  make  no  mention 
 of  the  name  of  other  gods,  neither  let  it  be 
 heard  out  of  thy  mouth. 
 
 14  t  "^  Three  times  thou  shalt  keep  a  feast 
 unto  me  in  the  year. 
 
 15  "  Thou  shalt  keep  the  feast  of  unleavened 
 bread :  (thou  shalt  eat  unleavened  bread  seven 
 days,  as  I  commanded  thee,  in  the  time  ap- 
 pointed of  the  mouth  Abib  ;  for  in  it  thou 
 camest  out  from  Egypt:  *  and  none  shall  ap- 
 pear before  me  empty  :) 
 
 16  "  And  the  feast  of  harvest,  the  first-fruits 
 of  thy  labours,  which  thou  hast  sown  in  the 
 field :  and  "  the  feast  of  ingathering,  which 
 in  in  the  end  of  the  year,  when  thou  hast 
 gathered  in  thy  labours  out  of  the  field. 
 
 17  ^  Three  times  in  the  year  all  thy  males 
 shall  appear  before  the  Lord  God. 
 
 18  ^  Thou  shalt  not  ofTer  the  blood  of  my 
 sacrifice  with  leavened  bread  ;  neither  shall 
 the  fat  of  my  ||  sacrifice  remain  until  the 
 morning. 
 
 19  ^The  first  of  the  firstfruits  of  thy  land 
 thou  shalt  bring  into  the  house  of  the  Lokd 
 thy  God.  ^  Thou  .shalt  not  seethe  a  kid  in  his 
 mother's  milk. 
 
 20  IT  "^  Behold,  I  send  an  Angel  before  thee, 
 to  keep  thee  in  the  way,  and  to  bring  thee  into 
 the  place  which  I  have  prepared. 
 
 21  Beware  of  him,  and  obey  his  voice,  "*  pro- 
 voke him  not ;  for  he  will  "^  not  pardon  your 
 transgressions  :  for  ^  my  name  is  in  him. 
 
 2*2  But  if  thou  shalt  indeed  obey  his  voice, 
 and  do  ail  that  I  speak  ;  then  ^  I  will  be  an 
 enemy  unto  thine  enemies,  and  {{  an  adversary 
 
 g  Gen.  12.  3.  Deut.  30,  7.  Jer.  30-  20.      |i  Or,  /  irill  affl,ct  them  I 
 
 B.  C.  1191. 
 
 II  Or,  oUms 
 
 och.?-J.S,  9. 
 
 Deut.  5.  13. 
 
 Luke  \^.\\. 
 p  Deul.  *.9. 
 
 JobIi.  22.  5. 
 
 Ps.  39    1, 
 
 E|ili   5.  15. 
 
 I  Tmi.l  16. 
 q  Num.  32. 
 
 3S.  Deut. 12. 
 
 3.  Josh,  23. 
 
 7-  Fs.  16.  4 
 
 Ho8.  2.  17. 
 
 Zech.  13.  2. 
 r  ch.  St.  23. 
 
 Lev.  23.  4 
 
 Deut. 10. 16. 
 tcb.  12.  15. 
 
 &  13.  6.  & 
 
 34.  IS    Lev. 
 
 23.  0.  Deut. 
 
 16  3. 
 /  ch.  34.  20. 
 
 Deut. 16.16. 
 
 Ecclus.  35. 
 
 4. 
 u  ch.  31,  22. 
 
 Lev.  23.  10. 
 T  Deut.  16. 
 
 13. 
 V  ch.  31.  23. 
 
 Deut. 16. 16. 
 =  ch.  12.  8. 
 
 &  34. 23. 
 
 Lev. 
 
 .  It. 
 
 Ifi.4. 
 II  OTj/eutt. 
 a  ch    22  29 
 
 &  34.  26. 
 
 Lev   23.  10, 
 
 17.Xuiii.l8. 
 
 12,  13  Den. 
 
 26.  jO.Neh. 
 
 10   3h. 
 b  ch.  34.  26. 
 
 Deut  14. SI. 
 c  ch.  14.  19 
 
 &  32.  34.  & 
 
 3.1.  2. 14. 
 
 Nura.20.16. 
 
 Josh.  5    13. 
 
 &  6.  2.  Pb. 
 
 91.  11.  Is. 
 
 63.9. 
 d  Num.  14. 
 
 11.  Ps,  78. 
 
 40,56.  Eph. 
 
 4.  SO.    Heb. 
 
 8.  10,  16. 
 e  ch.  32.  34. 
 
 N'um,l4  35. 
 
 Deut. 18.19. 
 
 Josh.  24.19. 
 
 Jer    5.  7. 
 
 Heb.  3.  II. 
 
 1  J.ihnS.16. 
 /IB.  9.6.  Jer. 
 
 23.  6.  JnhB 
 
 19.  .10,  3j*. 
 lut  afflict  Viet. 
 
 h  ver.  20.  ch. 
 
 33.  2. 
 i  Josh.  24.  8, 
 
 11. 
 k  eh.  2:1 
 /  Lev.  ]<i.  .1. 
 
 Deut. 12.30, 
 
 31. 
 m  ch,  34,  13. 
 
 Num.  33 .52. 
 
 De^t.  7    5, 
 
 25.  &  12.  3. 
 n  Deut.6.!3. 
 
 &  10.  12,20. 
 I    &  I).  13,14. 
 
 &  13.4  Josh. 
 
 22.  5.  &  24 
 
 I+,  15,  21, 
 
 24.  I  Sam. 
 
 7.  3.  &  12. 
 
 20,  24.^:at. 
 4.  10. 
 
 0  Deut.  7. 13. 
 
 8t  28.  5,  8. 
 p  ch.  15.  26. 
 
 Deut.  7  15. 
 q  Deut.  7  14. 
 
 &2d.  4.  Job 
 
 21.  10.  MaL 
 
 3.  10,  II. 
 
 r  Geo.  2S.  S. 
 
 &  S5.  29. 
 
 I  Chr.23,  1. 
 
 Job  5.  26. 
 
 &  42-17.  Ps. 
 
 55.  23.at  90. 
 
 10. 
 <  Gen.  35.  S. 
 
 ch. 15.14, 16. 
 
 Deut.  2. 25. 
 
 &  11.  25. 
 
 Josh.2  9,n. 
 
 1  Sam    14. 
 
 15,  2  Chr. 
 
 14.  11, 
 t  Deut.  7.23. 
 t  Heb.  uecfi. 
 
 Ps.  18.  4ii. 
 uDeu.  7,2H. 
 
 Josh.  24. IL', 
 i  Wisd.l2-y. 
 M  Deu.  7.  ^2. 
 xGeii.  15.8 
 
 Num.  34. 3. 
 
 Deut.  IL 
 
 24.  Josh.  1. 
 
 4.  1  Kin.  4. 
 21,24.  Ps. 
 72.8. 
 
 t/  Josh. 21.44. 
 
 Judg.  I.  4. 
 
 &  11.  SI. 
 >  ch.  SI.  12, 
 
 15.Deii.7.2. 
 
 a  tfh.  34.  12. 
 Deut.  7.  16. 
 &  19.  30. 
 Josh.  23.13. 
 Judg.  2.  3. 
 I  Sa.  18.21. 
 Fs.  106.  36. 
 
 unto  thine  adversaries, 
 
 23  *'  For  mine  Angel  shall  go  before  thee, 
 and  '  bring  thee  in  unto  the  Amorites,  and  the 
 Hittites,and  the  Perizzites,  and  the  Canaanitcs, 
 the  Hivites,  and  the  Jebusites  :  and  I  will  cut 
 them  oft'. 
 
 24  Thou  shalt  not  ^  bow  down  to  their  gods, 
 nor  serve  them,  '  nor  do  after  their  works  : 
 "'  but  thou  shalt  utterly  overthrow  them,  and 
 quite  break  down  their  images. 
 
 25  And  ye  shall  "serve  the  Lord  your  God, 
 and  °he  .shall  bless  thy  bread,  and  thy  water; 
 and  ^  I  will  take  sickness  away  from  the  midst 
 of  thee. 
 
 26  II  *■  There  shall  nothing  cast  their  young, 
 nor  be  barren,  in  thy  land  :  the  number  of  thy 
 days  I  will  '' fulfil. 
 
 27  I  will  send  ^my  fear  before  thee,  and  will 
 *  destroy  all  the  people  to  whom  thou  shalt 
 come,  and  I  will  make  all  thine  enemies  turn 
 their  f  backs  unto  thee. 
 
 28  And  "  I  will  send  hornets  before  thee, 
 which  shall  drive  out  the  Hivite,  the  Canaauite, 
 and  the  Hittite,  from  before  thee. 
 
 29  *  I  will  not  drive  them  out  from  before 
 thee  in  one  year ;  lest  the  land  become  deso- 
 late, and  the  beast  of  the  field  multiply  against 
 thee. 
 
 30  By  little  and  little  I  will  drive  them  out 
 from  before  thee,  until  thou  be  increased,  and 
 inherit  the  land. 
 
 31  And  ^  I  will  set  thy  bounds  from  the  Red 
 sea  even  unto  the  sea  of  the  Phihstines,  and 
 from  the  desert  unto  the  river  :  for  I  will 
 ^  deliver  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  into  your 
 hand ;  and  thou  shalt  drive  them  out  before 
 thee. 
 
 32  ^  Thou  shalt  make  no  covenant  with  them, 
 nor  with  their  gods. 
 
 33  They  shall  not  dwell  in  thy  land,  lest 
 they  make  thee  sin  against  me  :  for  if  thou 
 serve  their  gods,  *  it  will  surely  be  a  snare  unto 
 thee. 
 
 from  perfect  tillage.  Intended  to  shew  that  God  was  the  original  pro- 
 prietor of  the  land;  to  teach  dependence  on  his  providence,  and  to 
 make  the  land  more  fruitful  afterwards. — Gill.  15.  0/  unleavened 
 bread,  or  Pa^si>ver,  in  remenilirance  of  coming  out  of  Egypt.  16.  Of 
 harvest,  or  Penteco>;t,  to  commemorate  the  entrance  into  the  land  of 
 promise.  Ofiji^atherivg,  afterwards  called  '  the  feast  of  tabernacles,* 
 in  remembrance  of  God's  protection  forty  years,  while  dwelling  in 
 tents  in  the  wilderness, — t'nlendar  of  the  Jews.  18.  Not  offer,  ^c. — 
 this  was  ordained  before,   [chap.  sii.  10,  14,  15.)  19.  Seethe  a  kid, 
 
 *  boil  •  it,  or  *  roast'  it. — Snt.  Lest  the  dam  should  be  injured,  and  her 
 life  endangered  by  the  young  not  drawing  her  milk. — Geddes.  Op- 
 posed to  a  super's titious  custom  of  the  heathen,  who  sprinkled  their 
 S'il  with  this  liquor  to  make  it  fruitful.— .S/je/jcer.  Merely  a  liumane 
 precept,  to  prevent  the  feelings  being  accustomed  to  so  unnatural  a 
 practice.— .4.  Clarke.  20.  An  Angel— Christ,  the  angel  of  the  cove- 
 nant.— Poole.  Not  a  created  angel,  but  the  uncreated  one. — Gill. 
 Most  probably  the  Messiah. — Boothr.  The  great  angel  of  the  covenant, 
 the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  dwelt  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
 bodily. — A.  Clarke.  Christ,  the  angel  of  the  covenant,  as  may  be  ga- 
 tliered  from  the  following  words. — Sut.  The  Son  of  God,  the  angei  of 
 the  covenant,  for  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness  are  said  to  tempt 
 Christ;  and  we  may  as  well  suppose  him  God's  Messenger,  and  the 
 church's  Redeemer,  before  his  incarnation,  as  the  Lamb  slain  from  the 
 foundation  of  the  world.  And  we  may  the  rather  think  he  was 
 pleased  to  undertake  the  deliverance  and  conduct  of  Israel,  because 
 they  were  typical  of  his  great  undertaking. — Hen.  When  we  recollect 
 the  many  Scriptures  which  call  an  angel  that  appeared  to  the  people  of 
 God  by  the  names  Jkhovah,  and  Ef-uniM,  that  is,  God,  we  can  hardly 
 doubt  who  this  angel  was,  who  had  power  on  earth  to  forgive  or  not 
 to  forgive,  and  in  whom  was  the  name  of  Jehovah.— Sco//.  *  I  am 
 afraid  to  a.ssert  it,  because  it  seems  dangerous,  to  call  the  eternal  Son 
 of  God  simply  an  angel,  i.e.,  a  minister,  or  messenger,  without  any 
 6uch  addition  as  that  in  Mai.  iii.  8,  *'  the  angel  of  the  covenant."    For 
 
 so  he  was  at  his  incarnation,  of  which  he  there  speaks  ;  before  which 
 I  dare  not  ascribe  to  him  such  ministerial  works  as  these,  of  bringing 
 the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egj'pt,  and  going  before  them  to  lead  them 
 the  way  to  Canaan.  This  was  properly  the  work  of  an  angel,  to  whom 
 Moses  attributes  it,'  {Numb.  x.x.  Hi.) — Pat.  Some  commentators  think 
 that  this  angel  was  Joshua,  some  Moses,  some  the  cloud,  some  the 
 providence  of  God  ;  but  by  far  the  majority,  Christ.  21.  He  will  not 
 pardon,  he  is  not  a  man  to  be  trifled  with.  Were  he  man  or  angel,  he 
 could  not  pardon  sin. — A.  Clarke.  My  name  is  in  him — that  is,  my 
 peculiar  name,  Jehovah. — Wil.  According  to  John,x.  38,  the  divine 
 nature  or  essence  is  in  him,  (see  Jer.  xxiii.  6  ;  Is.  xlii.  8;  ^ohn,  v.  23.) 
 The  word  'name,'  is  often  put  for  the  thing  or  being,  whether  it  be 
 human  or  divine,  {Deut.  xxviii.  58;  Ps.  xx.  1  ;  cxv.  1  ;  Is.  xxx.  27; 
 Acts,  i.  15;  Rev.  iii.  4;  xi.  13.) — Poole.  28.  Horwe/s,  asort  of  wasps 
 — Gill.  Consternation,  terror. — Geddes.  As  we  do  not  read  in  the 
 sequel  of  hornets  annoying  the  Canaanites,  various  kinds  of  evils  seem 
 to  be  understood. — Rcsenm.,  so  Boothr.  The  words  ought  literally  to 
 be  understood  ;  many  things  happened  which  are  not  mentioned. — 
 Boch.  Jewish  writers  say  that  many  Canaanites  were  forced  to  quit 
 their  country,  being  annoyed  by  hornets ;  and  those  who  remained 
 were  so  stung  in  their  faces  and  eyes  that  they  could  not  see  to  strike 
 a  stroke,  whence  Joshua's  words  were  fulfilled,  (xxiv.  12.) — Pat.  See 
 also  Deut.  vii.  20.  Fear  is  mentioned  in  a  preceding  verse,  and  there- 
 fore  the  hornets  were  no  emblem.  Instances  of  whole  nations  having 
 been  driven  from  their  countries  by  insects  and  other  small  animals, 
 are  mentioned  by  several  ancient  writers.  According  to  Julian  Hist, 
 of  Animals,  h.  xi.  c.  28,  the  Phasalians,  a  people  descended  from  the 
 Canaanites,  were  forced  to  leave  their  habitation  by  wasps. — See  Boch.. 
 Hiernzoic,    b.  U.  chap.  13,  ver.  4.  31.  Sea   of  the   Philistines — the 
 
 Mediterranean,  on  whose  coast  the  land  of  the  Philistines  lay.  Desert, 
 of  Egypt  or  Arabia,  (see  Gen.  xvi.  7  J  Exod.  xv.  22.)  iiiyer,  Euphrates 
 (Deut.  i.  7  ;  xi.  24  j)  called  the  river  by  way  of  eminency. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIII I.  We  are  here  taught  beasts.     O  that  men  would  take  this  blessed  book,  with  its 
 
 to  seek  the  welfare  of  our  fellow -men.     Not  to  slander,  not  to  act  laws,  as  their  guide  ;  they  would  then  never  injure  each  other, 
 
 unjustly,  not  to  take  vengeance  on  an  enemy,  not  to  oppress,  and  would  be  truly  happy  in  themselves. 
 
 not  to  be  inhospitable,  nor  uncharitable   nor  cruel,  even  to  our  II.  We  are  here  taught  nspect  to  all  GorTs  ordinances.  Some 
 
 89  N 
 
Moses  goeth  up  into  the  mount. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXIV.,  XXV. 
 
 The  glory  of  God  appeareth. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Moses  is  called  up  into  the  mountain.  3  The  people 
 promise  obedience.  4  Moses  huildeth  an  altar,  and 
 twelve  pillars.  6  He  sprinklcth  the  blood  ufthe  cove- 
 nant. 9  The  glori/  of  God  appeareth.  14  .'iaron 
 a7id  Hur  have  the  charge  of  the  people.  15  Moses 
 goeth  into  the  mountain,  where  he  continueth  forty 
 days  and  forty  nights. 
 
 AND  he  said  unto  Moses,  Come  up  unto 
 the  Lord,  thou,  and  Aaron, "  Nadab,  and 
 Abihu,  ^  and  seventy  of  the  elders  of  Israel ; 
 and  worship  ye  afar  oflf. 
 
 2  And  Moses  "  alone  shall  come  near  the 
 Lord:  but  they  shall  not  come  nigh;  neither 
 shall  the  people  go  up  with  him. 
 
 3  t  And  Moses  came  and  told  the  people  all 
 the  words  of  the  Lord,  and  all  the  judgments: 
 and  all  the  people  answered  with  one  voice, 
 and  said,  ^  All  the  words  which  the  Lord  hath 
 said  will  we  do, 
 
 4  And  Moses  "  wrote  all  the  words  of  the 
 Lord,  and  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and 
 builded  an  altar  under  the  hill,  and  twelve 
 *■  pillars,  according  to  the  twelve  tribes  of 
 Israel. 
 
 5  And  he  sent  young  men  of  the  children  of 
 Israel,  which  offered  burnt  offerings,  and  sacri- 
 ficed peace  offerings  of  oxen  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 6  And  Moses  ^  took  half  of  the  blood,  and 
 put  it  in  basons  ;  and  half  of  the  blood  he 
 sprinkled  on  the  altar. 
 
 7  And  he  "  took  the  book  of  the  covenant, 
 and  read  in  the  audience  of  the  people  :  and 
 they  said,  '  All  that  the  Lord  hath  said  will 
 we  do,  and  be  obedient. 
 
 8  And  Moses  took  the  blgod,  and  sprinkled 
 it  on  the  people,  and  said.  Behold  ^  the  blood 
 of  the  covenant,  wliich  the  Lord  hath  made 
 with  you  concerning  all  these  words. 
 
 9  H  Then  '  went  up  Moses,  and  Aaron,  Na- 
 dab, and  Abihu,  and  seventy  of  the  elders  of 
 Israel  : 
 
 10  And  they  "saw  the  God  of  Israel  :  and 
 there  was  under  his  feet  as  it  were  a  paved 
 
 ch.  28.  I. 
 Lev.  10. 1,2. 
 dch.  1.5 
 Wum.M.IG. 
 
 vcr.  13,  15, 
 
 d  rcr.  7. 
 ch    ly.  S. 
 Deut.  5.  ?7 
 GM..'S.I9.L'0, 
 
 t-  Deut.  31. y 
 
 /Gen.SS.  18. 
 if.  31.  45. 
 
 g-Heb.O.  IP 
 
 A  Hpb.  9-  20. 
 
 it  13   211 
 
 1  I'et.  1.  2. 
 I  ver.  1- 
 m  See  G^n. 
 
 32.30.  ch.3. 
 
 6.  Judg   13. 
 
 2:;.  Is.6.l,5. 
 
 with  ch  33. 
 
 20-  '23. 
 
 John  I.    IS 
 
 lTim.6.  16 
 
 IJohu-lia 
 
 B.  C.  M9I. 
 
 i  E2ek.  1.26. 
 &  lU.  I. 
 Kev.  4.  3. 
 •  Mat.  17.  2. 
 J  ch.  19.  21. 
 f  ver.  10. 
 ch.  33.  20. 
 Geu.  16.  13, 
 &  32-  30. 
 Deut. -1.. S3. 
 Jndg.  13.23. 
 Gen.31  Si 
 ch.  18.  12. 
 1  Cor.m.lS. 
 ver.2,15,18. 
 /ch.  31.  18. 
 &32.1fi,  Ifi. 
 Deut.  5.  22. 
 I  ch.  .32.  17. 
 S(  32.  U 
 o  vet.  2. 
 
 r  ch.  3.  2. 
 fc  10.  18. 
 Ucut.  1  36. 
 Heb.  12.13, 
 29. 
 
 1  ch.  34.  29. 
 Deut.  0.  9. 
 
 \  Heb.  tah» 
 
 |]  Or,  hrave 
 
 ach.3.'i&.2I 
 1  Chr.  29.  3 
 5,  9,  II. 
 V;zia  2.  OS. 
 &  3.  5.  & 
 7.  It;.  Nell. 
 ll.2-2t:or, 
 a  12,  8t9.7. 
 
 work  of  a  "  sapphire  stone,  and  as  it  were  the 
 "  body  of  heaven  in  his  clearness. 
 
 11  And  upon  the  nobles  of  the  children  of 
 Israel  he  "^laid  not  his  hand  :  also  **  they  saw 
 God,  and  did  ''eat  and  drink. 
 
 12  If  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  •''  Come 
 up  to  me  into  the  mount,  and  be  there  :  and  I 
 will  give  thee  *  tables  of  stone,  and  a  law,  and 
 commandments  which  I  have  written ;  that 
 thou  mayest  teach  them, 
 
 13  And  Moses  rose  up,  and  "his  minister 
 Joshua  :  and  Moses  '"  went  up  into  the  mount 
 of  God. 
 
 14  And  he  said  unto  the  elders.  Tarry  ye  here 
 for  us,  until  we  come  again  unto  you  :  and, 
 behold,  Aaron  and  Hur  a?-e  with  you  :  if  any 
 man  have  any  matters  to  do,  let  him  come  unto 
 them. 
 
 15  And  Moses  went  up  into  the  mount,  and 
 ^a  cloud  covered  the  mount. 
 
 16  And  ^' the  glory  of  the  Lord  abode  upon 
 mount  Sinai,  and  the  cloud  covered  it  six  days : 
 and  the  seventh  day  he  called  unto  Moses  out 
 of  the  midst  of  the  cloud. 
 
 17  And  the  sight  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
 teas  like  '""  devouring  fire  on  the  top  of  the 
 mount  in  the  eyes  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 18  And  Moses  went  into  the  midst  of  the 
 cloud,  and  gat  him  up  into  the  mount :  and 
 "  Moses  was  in  the  mount  forty  days  and  forty 
 nights. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1  What  the  Israelites  must  off er  for  the  niahing  of  the 
 tabernacle,  10  The  form  of  the  ark.  17  The  mercy 
 sent,  with  the  cheruhims.  'J.3  The  tui>le,  with  the  fur- 
 jiitiire  thtriof.  31  The  candlestick,  with  the  instru- 
 ments thereof. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^^    2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  that 
 they  t  bring  me  an  ||  offering  :  "  of  every  man 
 that  giveth  it  willingly  with  his  heart  ye  shall 
 take  my  offering. 
 
 3  And  this  is  the  offering  which  ye  shall  take 
 of  them  ;  gold,  and  silver,  and  brass. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  — 6.  Young  men,  of  the  firstborn,  who  were  entiUed  to 
 assist  at  the  altar. — Sut.  The  choicest  persons,  whether  firstborn  or 
 others,  who  had  been  appointed  to  minister  unto  God. — I'at.  It  mat- 
 ters not  whether  they  were  firstborn  or  others,  it  is  sufficient  that  they 
 were  appointed  and  authorized  for  the  priest's  service,  not  without 
 God's  direction. — Poole.  Burnt-offerings  —  they  generally  consisted 
 of  sheep  and  goats,  (Lev.  i.  10,)  and  were  usually  consumed  by  fire. 
 Peace  offerings,  of  bullocks  or  goats,  (see  Heb.  ix.  Ip.)  The  blood  was 
 poured  out  before  the  Lord,  and  the  priests  and  people  feasted  on  tlie 
 flesh.— -4.  Clarke.  6.  hi  ttasons,  to  sprinkle  the  people.  On  the  altar — 
 representing'  the  Lord,  one  of  the  parties  covenanting,  and,  there- 
 fore, sprinkled  with  blood,  as  a  ratification  on  his  part. — Gilt.  7-  The 
 book  of  the  covenant — God's  laws,  given  in  the  three  preceding  chap- 
 ters, to  which  the  people  had  given  assent ;  also  God's  promises. — 
 GUI.  10.  Saw  the  God  of  Israel — not  any  visible  resemblance,  which 
 is  expressly  denied,  Deut.  iv.  15 ;  l  Tim.  vi.  l6;  and  was  refused  to 
 Moses  when  he  desired  it,  (chap,  xxxiii.  18,  20  ;)  and  therefore,  surely, 
 would  never  be  granted  to  the  elders  of  Israel ;  but  some  glorious  ap- 
 pearance or  token  of  God's  special  presence,  or  rather,  the  second  per- 
 son in  the  Trinity,  who  now  shewed  himself  in  a  human  and  glorious 
 
 shape,  as  a  testimony  of  his  future  incarnation. — Poole,  so  Gill.  They 
 had  some  glimpse  of  his  glory  in  light  and  fire,  though  they  saw  no 
 manner  of  *  similitude,*  and  Ids  Being  '  no  man  hath  seen,  or  can  see,' 
 (1  Tim.  vi.  l6.)— He/i.  They  saw  the  glory  of  the  God  of  IsraeL— So 
 the  Chaldee  expounds  it;  so  A.  Clarke,  Sut.  *To  see  God,'  in  Oriental 
 language,  is  *  to  see  any  symbol  of  his  presence;'  the  Septungint, 
 therefore,  paraphrases  thus,  'And  they  saw  the  place  where  the  God 
 of  Israel  stood.'  There  was  a  sensible  mark  of  ihe  Divine  presence.-— 
 Hew.  *  And  they  saw  *  a  glorious  appearance"  of  the  Gud  of  Israel.* — 
 Boothr.  '  A  most  resplendent  manifestation  of  the  Divine  glory,'  and 
 not  a  human   form. — Scott.  11.  Laid  not  his  hand — inflicted   no 
 
 punishment,  (Neh.  xiii,  21  ;  Ps.lv.  20;)  notwithstanding  tlie  prohibi- 
 tions {chap.  xix.  21 — 24 ;  xxiv.  2.)  against  any  of  them  attempting  to 
 ascend  the   mount. —  W  jV,  12.  Tables   of  stone,    that   the  precepts 
 
 might  be  preserved  in  perfection  to  future  ages.  15.  Moses  went — 
 the  Sept.  read  Joshua  in  addition  ;  yet,  from  chap,  xxxii..  Joshua  re- 
 mained with  the  elders. — Sut.  18.  Forty  days — six  of  these  were 
 passed  in  preparation,  Jo.shua  being  with  Moses,  who  did  eat  of  the 
 manna  and  drink  of  the  brook  mentioned  Deut.  ix.  21. — Hen.,  Sut. 
 Chap.  XXV. —  3.  Brass,  'copper,'  for  brass  is  a  factitious  metal. 
 
 of  the  institutions  here  commanded  ceased  with  the  dispen- 
 sation to  which  they  peculiarly  belonged ;  but  the  keeping  of 
 the  sabbath,  as  a  portion  of  the  moral  law,  remains  a  continual 
 injunction,  and  is  imperative  upon  tis  as  long  as  the  world 
 stands. 
 
 Ill,  We  are  also  taught  reliance  on  the  Divine  guidance  and 
 providence.  The  great  Angel  of  the  covenant  goes  before  his 
 people  to  lead  them  to  the  promised  land.  Under  his  care, 
 *  no  weapon  that  is  formed  against  them  shall  prosper.'  He 
 will  keep  them  in  all  their  ways,  and  they  shall  finally  attain 
 the  end  of  their  faith,  even  the  salvation  of  their  souls. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIV. — I.  Israel  were  a  people 
 in  covenant  with  God.  Have  we  joined  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in 
 an  everlasting  covenant  ?  Have  we,  by  faith,  laid  hold  on  its 
 90 
 
 blessings,  and,  in  consequence,  are  we,  under  the  influences 
 of  that  faith,  fulfdling  the  duty  which  devolres  upon  us,  to 
 glorify  God  in  our  bodies  and  spirits,  which  are  his  1 
 
 II.  Mow  precious  is  that  blood  which  has  ratified  the  new  cove- 
 nant!— not  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  but  the  precious 
 blood  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  of  '  a  lamb  without  spot 
 and  without  blemish.' 
 
 III.  //"  we  truly  enter  into  covenant  with  God,  then  we  may  ex- 
 pect thai  he  will  hold  intercourse  with  us.  He  will  manifest  him- 
 self unto  us,  as  he  doth  not  unto  the  world.  Though  we  cannot 
 see  him  with  the  natural  eye,  we  shall  by  faith  behold  his 
 glory,  and  have  some  s^veet  anticipation  that  we  shall  at  last 
 be  with  him,  and  '  see  him  as  he  is.' 
 
The  form  of  the  ark. 
 
 EXODUS.  XXV. 
 
 The  table,  §-c. 
 
 4  And  blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet,  and  |j  fine 
 linen,  and  goats'  hair, 
 
 o  And  ranis'  skins  dyed  red,  and  badgers'  skins, 
 and  shitlim  wood, 
 
 6  *"  Oil  for  the  light,  "^  spices  for  anointing  oil, 
 and  for  '^  sweet  incense, 
 
 7  Onyx  stones,  and  stones  to  be  set  in  the 
 ''ephod,  and  in  the  *"  breastplate. 
 
 8  And  let  them  make  me  a  ^'  sanctuary  ;  that 
 h  I  may  dwell  among  them. 
 
 9  '  According  to  all  that  I  shew  thee,  after 
 the  pattern  of  the  tabernacle,  and  the  pattern 
 of  all  the  instruments  thereof,  even  so  shall  ye 
 make  it. 
 
 10  1[  ^  And  they  shall  make  an  ark  o/shittim 
 wood  :  two  cubits  and  a  half  shall  he  the  length 
 thereof,  and  a  cubit  and  a  half  the  breadth 
 thereof,  and  a  cubit  and  a  half  the  height 
 thereof. 
 
 1 1  And  thou  shalt  overlay  it  with  pure  gold, 
 within  and  without  shalt  tliou  overlay  it,  and 
 shalt  make  upon  it  a  crown  of  gold  round 
 about. 
 
 12  And  thou  shalt  cast  four  rings  of  gold  for 
 it,  and  put  them  in  the  four  corners  thereof; 
 and  two  rings  shall  be  in  the  one  side  of  it,  and 
 two  rings  in  tlie  other  side  of  it. 
 
 13  And  thou  shalt  make  staves  of  shittim 
 wood,  and  overlay  them  with  gold. 
 
 14  And  thou  shalt  put  the  staves  into  the 
 rings  by  the  sides  of  the  ark,  that  the  ark  may 
 be  borne  with  them. 
 
 15  '  The  staves  shall  be  in  the  rings  of  the 
 ark  :  they  shall  not  be  taken  from  it. 
 
 IG  And  thou  shalt  put  into  the  ark  ^  the  tes- 
 timony which  I  shall  give  thee. 
 
 17  And  "thou  shalt  make  a  mercy  seat  of 
 pure  gold  :  two  cubits  and  a  \\d\{  shall  be  the 
 length  thereof,  and  a  cubit  and  a  half  the 
 breadth  thereof. 
 
 18  And  thou  shalt  make  two  cherubims  of 
 gold,  o/"  beaten  work  shalt  thou  make  them,  in 
 the  two  ends  of  the  mercy  seat. 
 
 19  And  make  one  cherub  on  the  one  end, 
 and  the  other  cherub  on  the  other  end  :  even 
 
 W  Or,  tUh. 
 Gtu.  41.42. 
 
 6cli.27.  20. 
 celt.  30.  23. 
 d  ch.  30.  3i. 
 
 e  ch.  29.  4, 6. 
 ff\i.  29.  15. 
 g  ch.36.  1,3, 
 
 4.  Lev.  4.G. 
 
 &  lU-  4.  & 
 
 21.  12.  Heb. 
 
 y.  1,2. 
 h  ch    29.  45, 
 
 iKin.f;.  13, 
 
 •2  Cor.  6.  16. 
 
 Heb,  3  6. 
 
 Rev.  21.  3, 
 i  ver.  40. 
 Ach.3;.  I. 
 
 Deut,  10.3. 
 
 Heb.  9.  4. 
 
 I  1  Kin.  8.  8, 
 
 m  ch.  16.  34. 
 &  31.  IS. 
 Deiit.  10.2, 
 5.  &  31.  2<i. 
 
 1  Kin.  8.  9. 
 
 2  Kiu.  11. 
 12.  Heb.  9. 
 4, 
 
 II  ch  87-  6. 
 Rom.  3.  25. 
 Heb.  9.  5. 
 
 scat. 
 
 .  1  Kin.  ft.  7. 
 lChr.2S.lb. 
 Heb.  9.  5. 
 
 pch.  2C.  34. 
 q  vex.  16. 
 
 .■  rh.  ■?fl  4-2, 
 4.3.  &  30.  6. 
 
 36.  Lev.  lij. 
 ■:  Num.  17. 
 4. 
 
 i  Num.  7.89. 
 I  Sam.  4. -1. 
 
 2Kiii  lit  ir. 
 Ps.  HO.  i.Ht 
 9(1.  1.  Is. 
 
 37.  16. 
 (ch.  37.  10. 
 
 1  Kill,  7.48. 
 
 2  Chr.  4.  8. 
 Heb.  9.  2. 
 
 J  ch.S7.  10. 
 Num.  4.  7. 
 
 !(  Or,  to  pour 
 Oft  ^Dilh<ll. 
 
 X  ch.  37  17. 
 1  Kin.  7.49. 
 Zech,  4.  2. 
 Heb.  9.  2. 
 Rev-  I.  12. 
 &  4.  b. 
 
 II  of  the  mercy  seat  shall  ye  make  the  cheru- 
 bims on  the  two  ends  tliereof. 
 
 20  And  °  the  cherubims  shall  stretch  forth 
 their  wings  on  high,  covering  the  mercy  seat 
 with  their  wings,  and  their  faces  shall  look  one 
 to  another ;  toward  the  mercy  seat  shall  the 
 faces  of  the  cherubims  be. 
 
 2!  ^  And  thou  shalt  put  the  mercy  seat  above 
 upon  the  ark  ;  and  ''  in  the  ark  thou  shalt  put 
 the  testimony  that  I  shall  give  thee. 
 
 22  And  "■  there  I  will  meet  with  thee,  and  I 
 will  commune  with  thee  from  above  the  mercy 
 seat,  from  ^between  the  two  cherubims  which 
 are  upon  the  ark  of  the  testimony,  of  all  things 
 which  I  will  give  thee  in  commandment  unto 
 the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 23  H  *  Thou  shalt  also  make  a  table  o/*  shittim 
 wood  :  two  cubits  shall  be  the  length  thereof, 
 and  a  cubit  the  breadth  thereof,  and  a  cubit 
 and  a  half  the  height  thereof. 
 
 24  And  thou  shalt  overlay  it  with  pure  gold, 
 and  make  thereto  a  crown  of  gold  round  about. 
 
 25  And  thou  shalt  make  unto  it  a  border  of 
 an  hand  breadth  round  about,  and  thou  shalt 
 make  a  golden  crown  to  the  border  thereof 
 round  about. 
 
 26  And  thou  shalt  make  for  it  four  rings  of 
 gold,  and  put  the  rings  in  the  four  corners  that 
 are  on  the  four  feet  thereof. 
 
 27  Over  against  the  border  shall  the  rings  be 
 for  places  of  the  staves  to  bear  the  table. 
 
 28  And  thou  shalt  make  the  staves  o/" shittim 
 wood,  and  overlay  them  with  gold,  that  the 
 table  may  be  borne  with  them. 
 
 29  And  thou  shalt  make  "  the  dishes  thereof, 
 and  spoons  thereof,  and  covers  thereof,  and 
 bowls  thereof,  ||  to  cover  withal :  of  pure  gold 
 shalt  thou  make  them. 
 
 30  And  thou  shalt  set  upon  the  table  ""shew- 
 bread  before  me  ahvay. 
 
 31  f  "^  And  thou  shalt  make  a  candlestick  of 
 pure  gold  :  o/'beaten  work  shall  the  candlestick 
 be  made  :  his  shaft,  and  his  branches,  his  bowls, 
 his  knops,  and  his  flowers,  shall  be  of  the  same. 
 
 32  And  six  branches  shall  come  out  of  the 
 
 4.  Fine  linen,  X2X2,  or  XD*)D.  may  mean  '  cotton.'  Gnnts'  hair,  or  '  goats' 
 sicins.'  5.  Badgera*  skins — it  is  much  doubted  whether  these  were 
 skins  of  the  beast  so  called.— Gi//.  '  Seal  skins.'— iJoo^Ar.  The  Hebrew, 
 perhaps,  means  a  colour,  and  that  the  skins  were  dyed  blue.  See  fhe 
 Sept.  and  Syriac.  Most  likely  the  original  means  a  colour,  and  that 
 it  was  purple.— So  Pict.  ISih.  Shittim  wood,  should  rather  be  written 
 •  setim'  or  '  sethim  wood.' — Hew.  It  is,  doubtless,  a  species  of  white 
 thorn,  or  the  Spina  jEffi/ptica,  which  grows  abundantly  about  Mount 
 Sinai.  The  tree  nf  all  deserts  from  the  northernmost  parts  of  Arabia  to 
 the  extremity  of  Ethiopia.  It  is  said  to  be  durable  and  light,  two 
 valuable  properties  for  the  ark,  table,  and  boards  of  the  tabernacle. — 
 Boothr.  6.  Oil,  'oil  olive;*  perhaps  brought  from  Egypt.  Spices — 
 such  as  pure  myrrh,  sweet  cinnamon,  sweet  calamus,  and  cassia.  In- 
 cense, as  stacte,  onycha,  and  galbanum.  7.  Onyx  stones,  so  called 
 from  resembling  the  nail  of  a  man's  finger. — GUI.  Ephod,  a  short 
 straight  coat,  without  sleeves,  put  upon  the  high  priest's  garments  to 
 keep  them  close  to  him. — Br.  Bib,  It  covered  the  back,  breast,  and 
 belly,  and  was  open  at  the  sides.  It  was  united  at  the  shoulders,  and 
 probably  without  sleeves. — A.  Clarke.  8.  A  sanctuary — OlpQ,  from 
 fip,  '  to  sanctify'  or  '  make  holy.'  A  holy  place  to  dwell  in,  and  so 
 called  from  his  dwelling  in  it, — Gill,  and  because  no  uncircumcised  or 
 unclean  person  might  enter  it  without  profanation. — Pat.  A  place  of 
 public  and  solemn  worship.— Pfto/p.  The  tabernacle  was  a  type  of 
 Christ,  '  in  whom  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodUy ;  cf 
 the  church  of  God,  which  is  a  spiritual  house  ;  of  every  true  believer, 
 who  is  a  habitation  for  God,  through  the  Spirit ;  and  of  heaven,  where 
 the  presence  of  God  is  visibly  displayed,  and  where  he  dwells  among 
 his  angels  and  redeemed,  and  accepts  their  holy  worship. — Scott. 
 9.  7  shew  thee — whatever  is  done  in  God's  service,  must  be  done  by  his 
 direction,  and  not  otherwise. — Hen.  10.  An  nrk,  or  *  little  chest.' 
 or  *  coffer.'  Two  cubits — a  cubit,  21  inches. — Bp.  Cumb.  The  ark  was, 
 therefore,  about  4  feet  4  inches  long,  2  feet  seven  inches  wide,  and 
 2  feet  7  inches  deep. —  Hew.  11.  A  crown,  '  a  cornice'  or  *  rim'  of 
 massy  gold. — Pyle.  A  *  border,*  square-shaped,  raised  above  the  rest 
 of  the  ark,  both  for  ornament,  and  for  fastening  the  covering  of  the  ark 
 to  it. — Pnole.  l6.  T/ie  testimony — the  tables  of  the  law  are  called  the 
 *J1 
 
 testimony,  because  God  did  in  them  testify  his  will. — Hew.  17.  A 
 mercif-seat,  or  '  propitiatory,'  which,  from  the  dimensions,  was  the 
 covering  of  the  ark,  upon  which  God  is  said  to  sit.  whence  the  ark  is 
 called  God's  foot-stool.  This  covering  is  a  manifest  type  of  Christ, 
 who  is  therefore  called  i\a.<nnpiov,  the  propitiation,  or  propitiatory, 
 (Rom.  iii.  25  ;  1  John,  ii,  2,  and  iv.  10 ;)  because  he  interposes  himself 
 between  God,  our  judge,  and  the  law,  by  which  we  all  stand  condemned 
 and   accused,   [Gal.  iii.   10 — 13.)  18.  Cherubijns,  figures  of  human 
 
 shape,  in  which  alone  the  angels  used  to  appear  ;  but  tliey  had  wings, 
 to  signify  their  expedition  in  God's  work  and  messages.— Poo/e.  Their 
 shape  is  unccitaiu. — Pat.,  WelLf,  Fawkes.  Of  beaten  work — beaten 
 with  the  hammer,  out  of  one  continued  piece  of  gold.  20.  Toward 
 
 the  mercy  scat  shall  the  faces — towards  Christ,  the  true  propitiatory, 
 which  mystery  they  desire  to  look  into,  (I  Pet.  i.  12.) — Poole.  Mercy 
 seat,  niDD,  from  1D3  '  to  cover,'  or  '  to  overspread  j'  because,  by  an  act  of 
 pardon,  sins  are  represented  as  being  covered,  so  that  justice  sees  them 
 no  more. — So  A.  Clarke.  24.  Crown,  '  moulding,*  or  *  beading.' — 
 Hew.  29.  Dishes,  probably  to  hold  the  shew-bread.  Spoons — rather 
 '  vials'  or  '  cups*  for  the  incense.  So  tlie  Sept,  Out<TKai,  '  incense-pots.* 
 Covers,  with  which  the  loaves  and  the  incense  were  covered.  Bowls, 
 for  the  wine  used  in  the  sacrifices. — Pat.,  Wells,  Kidder,  Boothroyd. 
 30.  Shew-bread,  □"'^D  Cn?,  '  bread  of  faces,*  or  '  of  the  presence  ;'  so 
 called,  because  constantly  placed  in  God's  presence.  The  bread  was 
 divided  into  twelve  loaves,  one  for  every  tribe ;  and  they  were,  in  their 
 name,  presented  to  God  in  the  nature  of  an  offering,  acknowledging 
 all  their  food  as  coming  from  him. — Poole.  These  cakes  were  set  in 
 two  rows  upon  the  table,  and  stood  there  a  week,  bemg  renewed  every 
 sabbath  ;  the  old  ones  were  eaten  by  the  priests,  and  new  ones  set  be- 
 fore the  Lord. — Gill.  The  table  with  the  shew-bread  is  called  '  the 
 table  of  the  Lord,'  fMal.  i.  7;)  and  the  bread,  '  his  meat,'  (Mai.  i.  12.) 
 — Sauriyi.  31.  A  candlestick,  rather  '  candelabrum,'  or  '  lamp-bearer/ 
 — Pict.  Bib.  This  had  one  shaft  of  six  branches,  at  equal  distances, 
 each  one  adorned  with  flowers  like  lilies,  gold  knobs,  after  the  form  of 
 an  apple,  and  smaller  ones  resembling  an  almond.  Upon  the  extremi- 
 ties of  the  branches  were  seven  golden  lamps,  which  were  fed  with 
 pure  olive  oil,  and  hghted  everj'  evening  by  the  priests  on  duty.    The 
 
The  golden  candlestick. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXVI. 
 
 The  curtains  of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 sides  of  it  ;  tliree  branches  of  the  candk'stick 
 out  of  the  one  side,  and  three  branches  of  the 
 candlestick  out  of  the  otiier  side  ; 
 
 33  Three  bowls  made  like  unto  almonds,  icith 
 a  knop  and  a  flower  in  one  branch  ;  and  three 
 bowls  made  like  almonds  in  the  other  branch, 
 ivith  a  knop  and  a  flower :  so  in  the  six  branches 
 that  come  out  of  the  candlestick. 
 
 34  And  in  the  candlestick  shall  be  four  bowls 
 made  like  unto  almonds,  with  their  knops  and 
 their  flowers. 
 
 35  And  there  shall  be  a  knop  under  two 
 branches  of  the  same,  and  a  knop  under  two 
 branches  of  the  same,  and  a  knop  under  two 
 branches  of  the  same,  according  to  the  six 
 branches  that  proceed  out  of  the  candlestick. 
 
 36  Their  knops  and  their  branches  shall  be  of 
 the  same  :  all  of  it  shall  be  one  beaten  work  oj 
 pure  gold. 
 
 37  And  thou  shalt  make  the  seven  lamps 
 thereof:  and  ^  they  shall  ||  light  the  lamps 
 thereof,  that  they  may  ^  give  light  over  against 
 tit. 
 
 38  And  the  tongs  thereof,  and  the  snufF-dishes 
 thereof,  shall  be  o/"pure  gold. 
 
 39  0/"a  talent  of  pure  gold  shall  he  make  it, 
 with  all  these  vessels. 
 
 40  And  °  look  that  thou  make'them  after  their 
 pattern,  fwhich  was  shewed  thee  in  the  mount. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 I  The  ten  curtains  of  the  tahemavle.  7  The  elevnt  cur- 
 tains of  (toots'  hair.  14  The  covirin;/  of  rams'  .hirta, 
 15  The  boards  of  the  tuber  imclcy  with  tlitir  snchfts  and 
 bars.  31  The  vail  for  the  ark,  \HJ  The  hmiijinfffor 
 the  door. 
 
 IVrOREOVERnhou  shalt  make  the  taber- 
 ^■*-  nacle  tvith  ten  curtains  of  fine  twined 
 linen,  and  blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet :  with 
 cherubims  f  of  cunning  work  shalt  thou  make 
 them. 
 
 *2  The  length  of  one  curtain  shall  be  eight 
 and  twenty  cubits,  and  the  breadth  of  one  cur- 
 
 ych   27.  SI. 
 
 &  80    S. 
 
 Lev.  24.3,V. 
 
 3Chr.l3  li 
 II  Or,  ciiu»e 
 
 to  ascmd. 
 I  Num.  8.  2. 
 t  Heb    the 
 
 foct  of  it. 
 
 u  ch.  26.  SlI. 
 Xum.  8.  4 
 IChr  28  H, 
 lU  Acw  7. 
 11.  Heb.fl.S 
 
 t  Heb.  leki-h 
 
 etiutui  tu  tr». 
 
 tHeb. 
 the  uork  of 
 a  c'inning 
 umrftinait,  or 
 eiabroid- 
 
 \  Heb.  in  fht 
 rem"i"drr, 
 l>r,  turpiuM- 
 
 tain  four  cubits  :  and  every  one  of  the  curtains 
 shall  have  one  measure. 
 
 3  The  five  curtains  shall  be  coupled  together 
 one  to  another ;  and  other  five  curtains  shall 
 be  coupled  one  to  another. 
 
 4  And  thou  shalt  make  loops  of  blue  upon 
 the  edge  of  the  one  curtain  from  the  selvedge 
 hi  tlie  coupling ;  and  likewise  shalt  thou  make 
 in  the  uttermost  edge  of  a«o</ie;-  curtain,  in  the 
 coupling  of  the  second. 
 
 5  Fifty  loops  shalt  thou  make  in  the  one  cur- 
 tain, and  fifty  loops  shalt  thou  make  in  the 
 edge  of  the  curtain  that  is  in  the  coupling  of 
 the  second  ;  that  the  loops  may  take  hold  one 
 of  another. 
 
 G  And  thou  shalt  make  fifty  taches  of  gold 
 and  couple  the  curtains  together  with  the 
 taches  :  and  it  shall  be  one  tabernacle. 
 
 7  t  And  ''  thou  shalt  make  curtains  of  goats' 
 hair  to  be  a  covering  upon  the  tabernacle : 
 eleven  curtains  shalt  thou  make. 
 
 8  The  length  of  one  curtain  shall  be  thirty 
 cubits,  and  the  breadth  of  one  curtain  four 
 cubits  :  and  the  eleven  curtains  shall  be  all  of 
 one  measure. 
 
 9  And  thou  shalt  couple  five  curtains  by 
 themselves,  and  six  curtains  by  themselves, 
 and  shalt  double  the  sixth  curtain  in  the  fore- 
 front of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  make  fifty  loops  on  the 
 edge  of  the  one  curtain  that  is  outmost  in  the 
 coupling,  and  fifty  loops  in  the  edge  of  the 
 curtain  which  coupleth  the  second. 
 
 1 1  And  thou  shalt  make  fifty  taches  of  brass, 
 and  put  the  taches  into  the  loops,  and  couple 
 the  II  tent  together,  that  it  may  be  one. 
 
 12  And  the  remnant  that  remaineth  of  the 
 curtains  of  the  tent,  the  half  curtain  that  re- 
 maineth, shall  hang  over  the  backside  of  the 
 tabernacle. 
 
 13  And  a  cubit  on  the  one  side,  and  a  cubit 
 on  the  other  side  f  of  tliat  which  remaineth  in 
 the  length  of  the  curtains  of  the  tent,  it  shall 
 
 candle-tick  was  placed  in  the  holy  place,  an(^  served  to  illumine  the 
 altar  of  incense  and  the  table  of  shew  bread,  which  stood  iu  the  same 
 chamber.— C«/.  The  i^ojd  knops,  or  knobs,  were,  according  to  some, 
 in  the  form  of  pomegranates. — GUI.  39.  A  tutent  vf  pure  gttld — ac- 
 cording to  some,  about  5250/.  sterling ;  according  ta  Bp.  Cumberlimd, 
 5067/.  3s.  lOrf. ;  according  to  Pfidmu.r.  7013/.  40.  After  their  pat- 
 
 tern— nothing  was  left  to  the  will,  humour,  and  fancy  of  men. — Gilt. 
 Chap.  XXVI.— 1.  Tabernacle,  piU'^TI,  '  the  dwelling,'  or  '  habita- 
 
 tation,'  '  the  dwelling  place  of  God.'  Cunning  work,  ln'n — probably 
 a  sort  of  diaper,  in  which  the  figures  appear  perfect  on  both  sides. — 
 A.  t'turke.  '  Cunning. 'in  the  time  of  our  translators,  meant  '  skilful.' 
 — Hew.  4.  Loops,  rit'd^  or  '  eyelet  boles.'  —  Gill.  6.  Tavhes,  or 
 '  huoks,'  or  buttons,'  which  were  put  into  the  loops  to  fasten  the  cur- 
 tahis. — Foule.  'Clasps.' — Gilt.  7.  Of  goate'  tinir, spun  {chap.  xxxv. 
 26}  and  woven  into  a  stuff  like  our  camlet. — Fotjte.  There  were  four 
 sets  of  curtains,  fine  linen,  goats'  hair,  rams'  skins  dyed  red,  and  bad- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXV We  learn  in  this  chapter, 
 
 I.  That  we  ought  to  contribute  freeli/  and  liberally  for  the  main- 
 lenance  of  divine  ordinances.'  The  interests  of  religion  must  be 
 maintained  in  the  world,  and  who  are  to  be  e.Tpccted  to  maintain 
 them,  but  those  who  enjoy  them  ?  It  is  a  distinguished  favour 
 whererer  God  erects  his  tabernacle  among  men,  and  the  con- 
 tinuance of  the  means  of  grace  should  be  our  sincere  concern. 
 God  has  indeed  shewn  liberality  towards  us,  for  he  has  not 
 spared  his  own  Son  for  our  redemption.  He  who  feels  the  force 
 of  this  truth  must  feel  his  obligations  to  his  bountiful  Bene- 
 factor, and  be  solicitous  that  at  all  times  there  shouldbe  a  sanc- 
 tuary near  him  where  his  name  is  recorded.  God  did  not  force 
 the  Israelites,  for  he  loves  the  generous  and  spontaneous  flow  of 
 gratitude  to  him.  If  any  Israelite  were  insensible  of  the  vast 
 favours  he  had  received  and  enjoyed,  such  an  one  might  with- 
 hold his  hand.  '  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  Speak  unto 
 the  children  of  Israel,  that  they  bring  me  an  offering  ;  of  every 
 man  that  giveth  it  willingly  with  his  heart,  ye  shall  take  my 
 offering.'  So  the  Lord  speaks  by  his  apostle  in  the  New  Tes- 
 tament gospel.  '  Every  man,  according  as  he  purposeth  in  his 
 heart,  so  let  him  give;  not  grudgingly  or  of  necessity  ;  for  God 
 loveth  a  cheerful  giver.'     We  learn  further, 
 
 II.  That  Gud  is  particularly  jealous  of  the' honour  of  his  ordi- 
 nances. He  admits  of  no  human  encroachment.  Twice  have 
 we  the  order  in  this  chapter  :    '  According  to  all  that  I  shew 
 
 thee,  after  the  pattern  of  the  tabernacle  and  the  pattern  of  all 
 the  instruments  thereof,  even  so  shall  ye  make  it.'  Human 
 inventions  are  not  admitted  into  holy  things.     We  learn, 
 
 III.  That  Christ  is  the  sum  and  substance  of  all  the  ordinances. 
 We  should  understand  but  little  of  the  meaning  of  the  things 
 here  recorded  but  as  they  are  explained  in  the  New  Testa- 
 ment. There  we  learn  that  God  is  to  be  worshipped  in  Christ, 
 '  the  true  tabernacle  which  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  man.' 
 '  The  ark  typified  the  same  Divine  Person  in  the  dignity  and 
 purity  of  his  nature,  being  made  of  wood  incorruptible,  cover- 
 ed with  pure  gold.'  '  The  mercy-seat,  or  propitiatory.'  says 
 Henry,  '  is  applied  to  Christ,  whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be 
 a  PROPITIATION,  through  faith  in  his  blood,  for  the  remission 
 of  sins  that  are  past :  hence  we  learn  that  Christ  was  the  true 
 mercy-seat,  the  thing  signitied  by  it  to  the  ancient  believers; 
 and  as  God  shewed  himself  between  the  cherubim,  over  this 
 propitiatory  or  mercy-seat,  so  it  is  said  God  was  in  Christ, 
 reconciling  the  world  unto  himself.'  The  shew-bread  was  to 
 exhibit  the  various  provisions  of  God's  house,  adapted  to  every 
 tribe  of  the  spiritual  IsraeL  Christ  hath  a  table  in  his  king- 
 dom, at  which  all  his  saints  shall  for  ever  eat  and  drink  with 
 him.  The  candlestick  sets  before  us  the  churches  which  hold 
 forth  the  word  of  life,  the  light  shining  in  a  dark  place,  and, 
 '  behold,  the  Son  of  man  walks  in  the  midst  of  the  seven  golden 
 candlesticks.' 
 
The  hoards  of  the  tahernacle. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXVII. 
 
 Tlie  vail  for  the  ark. 
 
 hang  over  the  sides  of  tlie  tabernacle  on  this 
 side  and  on  that  side,  to  cover  it. 
 
 14  And  °  thou  shall  nialce  a  covering  for  the 
 tent  of  ranis'  skins  dyed  red,  and  a  covering 
 above  o/"  badgers'  skins. 
 
 15  1  And  thou  shall  make  boards  for  the 
 tabernacle  (i/'shiltini  wood  standing  up. 
 
 16  Ten  cubits  shall  he  the  length  of  a  board, 
 and  a  cubit  and  a  haXi  shall  he  the  breadth  of 
 one  board. 
 
 17  Two  f  tenons  sAa/^  there  ie  in  one  board, 
 set  in  order  one  against  another :  thus  shall 
 thou  make  for  all  the  boards  of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 18  And  thou  shall  make  tlie  boards  for  thel 
 tabernacle,  twenty  boards  on  the  south  side 
 southward. 
 
 19  And  thou  shall  make  forty  sockets  of 
 silver  under  the  twenty  boards ;  two  sockets 
 under  one  board  for  his  two  tenons,  and  two 
 sockets  under  another  board  for  his  two 
 tenons. 
 
 20  And  for  the  second  side  of  the  tabernacle 
 on  the  north  side  there  shall  he  twenty  boards  ; 
 
 21  And  their  forty  sockets  of  silver;  two 
 sockets  under  one  board,  and  two  sockets 
 under  another  board. 
 
 22  And  for  the  sides  of  the  tabernacle  west- 
 ward thou  shall  make  six  boards. 
 
 23  And  two  boards  shall  thou  make  for  the 
 corners  of  the  tabernacle  in  the  two  sides. 
 
 21  And  they  shall  be  f  coupled  together 
 beneath,  and  they  shall  be  coupled  together 
 above  the  head  of  it  unto  one  ring  :  thus  shall 
 it  be  for  Ihein  both  ;  they  shall  be  for  the  two 
 corners. 
 
 23  And  they  shall  be  eight  boards,  and  their 
 sockets  of  silver,  sixteen  sockets ;  two  sockets 
 under  one  board,  and  two  sockets  under  ano- 
 ther board. 
 
 26  t  And  thou  shall  make  bars  of  shitlim 
 wood  ;  five  for  the  boards  of  the  one  side  of 
 the  tabernacle, 
 
 27  And  five  bars  for  the  boards  of  the  other 
 side  of  the  tabernacle,  and  five  bars  for  the 
 boards  of  the  side  of  the  tabernacle,  for  the  two 
 sides  westward. 
 
 28  And  the  middle  bar  in  the  midst  of  the 
 boards  shall  reach  from  end  to  end. 
 
 t  H.-b. 
 
 Acta  7.  44. 
 Heb.  8.  5. 
 !  eh.  3fi.  33. 
 Lev.  Hi,  2 
 2Chr.3.  N. 
 Mat  y7.  51. 
 Hel),  9.  3. 
 
 fch.: 
 
 ffLev 
 Heb 
 
 .  16  2 
 
 9.  2, 3 
 
 A  ch, 
 Heb 
 
 2r>.2l. 
 
 2fl. 
 9    5. 
 
 .  ell. 
 k  ch. 
 
 411.  '22. 
 ■J.  2. 
 
 b  See  Num. 
 
 lb.  39. 
 
 29  And  tliou  shall  overlay  the  boards  with 
 gold,  and  make  their  rings  of  gold /or  places 
 for  the  bars :  and  thou  shall  overlay  the  bars 
 with  gold. 
 
 30  And  thou  shall  rear  up  the  tabernacle 
 "^  according  to  the  fashion  thereof  which  was 
 shewed  thee  in  the  mount. 
 
 3 1  1[  And  °  thou  shall  make  a  vail  q/"blue,  and 
 purple,  and  scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen  of  cun- 
 ning work  :  with  cherubims  shall  it  be  made  : 
 
 32  And  thou  shall  hang  it  upon  four  pillars  of 
 shittim  wood  overlaid  with  gold  :  their  hooks 
 shall  be  o/'gold,  upon  the  four  sockets  of  silver. 
 
 33  T  And  thou  shall  hang  up  the  vail  under 
 the  laches,  that  thou  mayesl  bring  in  thither 
 within  the  vail  '  the  ark  of  the  testimony  :  and 
 the  vail  shall  divide  unto  you  between  ^  the 
 holy  place  and  the  most  holy. 
 
 34  And  ''  thou  shall  put  the  mercy  seal  upon 
 the  ark  of  the  testimony  in  the  most  \io\y  place. 
 
 33  And  '  thou  shall  set  the  table  without  the 
 vaii,  and  '■  the  candlestick  over  against  the 
 table  on  the  side  of  the  tabernacle  toward  the 
 south  :  and  thou  shall  put  the  table  on  the 
 north  side. 
 
 36  And  '  thou  shall  make  an  hanging  for 
 the  door  of  the  tent,  of  blue,  and  purple,  and 
 scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen,  wrought  with 
 needlework. 
 
 37  And  thou  shall  make  for  the  hanging  ^  five 
 pillars  o/ shittim  ivond,  and  overlay  them  with 
 gold,  and  their  hooks  shall  he  cyf  gold  :  and 
 thou  shall  cast  five  sockets  of  brass  for  them. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 1  The  altar  of  hurni  offering,  with  the  vessch  thereof. 
 9  The  court  of  the  tabernacle  iuch>sed  with  hanyivgs 
 and  pillars.  18  The  vieasure  of  the  court.  20  The 
 oil  fur  the  lamp. 
 
 A  ND  thou  shall  make  "  an  altar  of  shittim 
 ■^-^  wood,  five  cubits  long,  and  five  cubits 
 broad  ;  the  altar  shall  be  foursquare  :  and  the 
 height  thereof  shall  be  three  cubits. 
 
 2  And  thou  shall  make  the  horns  of  Jt  upon 
 the  four  corners  thereof :  his  horns  shall  be  of 
 the  same  :  and  ''  thou  shall  overlay  it  with  brass. 
 
 3  And  thou  shall  make  his  pans  to  receive 
 his  ashes,  and  his  shovels,  and  his  basons,  and 
 
 gers'  skins,  which  was  the  outer  covering,  and  rendered  the  whole  im- 
 pervious to  the  rain.— W'lV.  1/.  Two  tenons.  niT  'DID,  'two  hands,' 
 to  enter  into,  lay  hold  on,  and  fasten  in  mortises.  —  Montanus,  Gilt, 
 19.  Sockets.  ^y\^,  '  bases.'— Pflyr.,  Mont.,  Pise.  These  were  properly 
 the  foundation  of  the  tabernacle  on  which  it  was  settled.  These 
 sockets  were  the  mortises  for  the  two  tenons  of  each  board  or  plank  to 
 be  placed  in,  and  were  as  broad  as  the  plank,  and,  joining  each  other, 
 made  one  entire  basis  for  the  whole  structure. — GUI.  Each  socket 
 weighed  a  talent,  that  is,  about  a  hundred  weight.  These  sockets 
 were  placed  in  rows  upon  the  ground,  forty  on  the  south,  forty  on  the 
 north,  twelve  on  the  west,  and  two  at  each  comer  on  the  west  end. — 
 Scott,  29.  Orerla// — with  gold ;  probably  thick  leaf  gold. — Williams. 
 Rings,  'staples.* — Hew.  32.  Hooles,  DrPII — Kf0a\idef,  'capitals,' 
 Sept.  36.  An  hinging,  '  covering.*  Jarchi  calls  it  '  a  veil  ;*  and 
 this  was  instead  of  a  tloor  to  the  tabernacle,  and  divided  the  holy  place, 
 
 into  which  only  the  priests  might  enter,  from  the  place  where  the 
 people  stood  and  worshipped. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XXVll.  —  \.  An  uUar,  not  that  for  incense,  but  another  for 
 sacrifices.  2.  Horns — the  horns  were  ornamental  turrets,  which  pre- 
 vented the  victims  from  falling  off;  and  to  these  they  were  sometimes 
 bound  when  about  to  be  sacrificed. — Sut.  They  were  elevated  above 
 the  body  of  the  altar  in  form  either  of  pyramids  or  spires,  or  rather  of 
 horns,  as  the  word  signifies  ;  nor  is  there  any  necessity  of  departing 
 from  the  proper  signification. — Poole.  In  the  form  of  horns. — Witsivs, 
 Le  Clerc,  Spencer,  Boothr.  3.  Pans,  large  brazen  dishes  placed 
 under  the  altar  to  receive  the  ashes  from  the  grating. — So  A.  Clarhe. 
 Rather  to  gather  them  up  after  they  had  fallen. — Gill.  Shoaels,  '  scut- 
 tles' to  take  away  the  ashes. — A.  Clorke.  Rather  to  throw  them  up 
 together  to  be  put  into  the  pans. — Gill.  Basons,  to  receive  the  blood 
 of  the  sacrifices,  in  order  to  its  being  sprinkled  ;  the  word  vnp"rtD  is 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVI.  —  We  may  observe  in  this 
 chapter — I.  The  costly  materials  of  the  tahernacle.  '  Fine  twined 
 linen,  and  blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet,'  executed  '  in  cun- 
 ning work,'  '  sockets  of  silver,'  *  rings  of  gold,'  '  pillars  over- 
 laid witli  gold,'  and  the  like,  formed  part  of  the  work  of  the 
 tabernacle.  Doubtless  this  was  to  impress  the  mind,  under 
 that  dispensation,  that  God  was  to  be  served  with  the  best, 
 and  that  there  should  be  no  parsimony  in  the  free-will  offer- 
 ings of  bis  people. 
 
 II.  The  i^eil.    This  was  to  impress  reverence  upon  the  minds 
 
 of  tlie  people,  and  teach  them  that  men  are  not  to  rush  into  tiie 
 
 Divine  presence  as  the  unthinking  horse  into  the  midst  of  the 
 
 '  *ttle;  for  '  God  is  greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  assembly  of  the 
 
 93 
 
 saints,  and  to  be  had  in  reverence  of  all  them  that  are  about 
 him.'  It  was  to  check  presumption,  and  warn  men  against 
 prying  curiously  into  what  God  has  not  thought  proper  to  re- 
 veal. It  mystically  taught  the  darkness  of  that  dispensation, 
 in  which  the  mysteries  of  redemption,  now  made  so  plain  to 
 us,  were  concealed.  When  Christ  died,  the  veil  was  rent,  and 
 we  now  have  '  boldness  to  enter  into  the  holiest  by  the  blood 
 of  Jesus,  by  that  new  and  living  way  which  he  hath  conse- 
 crated for  us,  through  the  veil,  that  is  to  say,  his  flesh.'  Having, 
 therefore,  a  High  Priest  over  the  house  of  God,  let  us  draw 
 near  with  a  true  heart,  in  full  assurance  of  faith,  having  our 
 hearts  sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience,  and  our  bodies 
 washed  with  pure  water. 
 
The  court  of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXVIII. 
 
 Aaron  appointed  to  the  priesthood. 
 
 liis  fleshhooks,  and  his  firepans  :  all  the  vessels 
 thereof  thou  shall  make  of  brass. 
 
 4  And  thou  shall  make  for  it  a  grate  of  net- 
 work of  brass ;  and  upon  the  net  shalt  thou  make 
 four  brasen  rings  in  tlie  four  corners  thereof. 
 
 5  And  thou  shalt  put  it  under  the  compass 
 of  the  altar  beneath,  that  the  net  may  be  even 
 to  the  midst  of  the  altar. 
 
 6  And  tliou  shalt  make  staves  for  the  altar, 
 staves  ofshittim  wood,  and  overlay  them  with 
 brass. 
 
 7  And  the  staves  shall  be  put  into  the  rings, 
 and  the  staves  sliall  be  upon  the  two  sides  of 
 the  altar,  to  bear  it. 
 
 8  Hollow  with  boards  shalt  thou  make  it : 
 ■^  as  t  it  was  shewed  thee  in  the  mount,  so  shall 
 they  make  it. 
 
 9  f  And  ''  thou  shalt  make  the  court  of  the 
 tabernacle  :  for  the  south  side  southward  there 
 shalt  be  hangings  for  the  court  of  fine  twined 
 linen  of  an  hundred  cubits  long  for  one  side  : 
 
 10  And  the  twenty  pillars  thereof  and  their  1 
 twenty  sockets  shall  be  q/' brass  ;  the  liooks  of 
 the  pillars  and  their  fillets  sha/l  be  o/"  silver. 
 
 1 1  And  likewise  for  the  north  side  in  length 
 there  shall  be  hangings  of  an  hundred  cubits 
 long,  and  his  twenty  pillars  and  their  twenty 
 sockets  <)/■  brass  ;  the  hooks  of  the  pillars  and 
 their  fillets  o/"  silver. 
 
 12  1  And  for  the  breadth  of  the  court  on  the 
 west  side  shall  be  hangings  of  fifty  cubits:  their 
 pillars  ten,  and  their  sockets  ten. 
 
 13  And  the  breadth  of  the  court  on  the  east 
 side  eastward  shall  be  fifty  cubits. 
 
 14  The  hangings  of  one  side  of  the  ffale  shall 
 be  fifteen  cubits  :  their  pillars  three,  and  their 
 sockets  three. 
 
 .5  And  on  the  other  side  shall  he  hangings 
 fifteen  ciibils :  their  pillars  three,  and  their 
 sockets  three. 
 
 16  H  And  for  the  gate  of  the  court  shall  be 
 an  hanging  of  twenty  cubits,  of  blue,  and  pur- 
 ple, and  scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen,  wrought 
 with  needlework  :  and  their  pillars  shall  be 
 four,  and  their  sockets  four. 
 
 17  All  the  pillars  round  about  the  court  shall 
 be  filleted  with  silver  ;  their  hooks  shall  be  of 
 silver,  and  their  sockets  of  brass. 
 
 18  t  The  length  of  the  court  .^hnll  be  an 
 hundred  cubits,  and  the  breadth  f  fifty  every 
 
 t  Heb ./!//, 
 buJiflt/. 
 
 t  Heb    to  o 
 eend  up. 
 
 fch.  26.  31, 
 
 33. 
 S  rh.  ai.  8. 
 
 1  Sam.  3.  3. 
 
 2Chr.l3.ll. 
 A  ch.  2S.  I.S. 
 
 fit  -29.  a.  -ifl. 
 
 .3.i;.fe 
 
 16.3-t.  h 
 9.  Num  18 
 23.  &  19. '21. 
 I  Sam.  SO. 
 25. 
 
 I  Num.  18  7. 
 Kc.-lus.  4.1. 
 li.  Heb.  5. 
 1,  4. 
 
 T.s. 
 e  ch.  31.  I 
 fit  S6    1. 
 
 11  Or.etnbroi-  I 
 tbred.  I 
 
 where,  and  the  height  five  cubits  o/fine  tvrined 
 linen,  and  their  sockets  o/' brass. 
 
 19  All  the  vessels  of  the  tabernacle  in  all  the 
 service  thereof,  and  all  the  pins  thereof,  and 
 all  the  pins  of  the  court,  shall  be  of  brass. 
 
 20  t  And  °  thou  shalt  command  the  children 
 of  Israel,  that  they  bring  thee  pure  oil  olive 
 beaten  for  the  light,  to  cause  the  lamp  f  to 
 burn  always. 
 
 21  In  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation 
 'without  the  vail,  which  is  before  the  testi- 
 mony, ^  Aaron  and  his  sons  shall  order  it  from 
 evening  to  morning  before  the  Lokd  :  ''  it  shall 
 be  a  statute  for  ever  unto  their  generations 
 on  the  behalf  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 1  Aaron  and  his  sons  are  set  apart  for  the  pritst^s 
 office.  2  Holt/  garments  arc  appointed.  6  The  ephod. 
 15  The  breastplate  tvith  twJve  jirccious  stones.  GO 
 The  U rim  and  Thmiimim.  31  The  robe  of  the  ephody 
 with  pomegranates  amlhelh.  06  The  plate  of  the 
 mitre.  39  The  embroidered  euat.  40  The  garments 
 for  Aaron  $  sons. 
 
 \  ND  take  thou  unto  thee  "  Aaron  thy  bro- 
 -^*-  ther,  and  his  sons  with  him,  from  amon^ 
 the  children  of  Israel,  that  he  may  minister  unto 
 nie  in  the  priest's  office,  eveii  Aaron,  Nadab 
 and  Abihu,  Eleazarand  Ithamar,  Aaron's  sons. 
 
 2  And  ^  thou  shalt  make  holy  garments  for 
 Aaron  thy  brother  for  glory  and  for  beauty. 
 
 3  And  ''thou  slialt  speak  unto  all  that  are 
 wise  hearted,  *^  whom  I  have  filled  with  the 
 spirit  of  wisdom,  that  they  may  make  Aaron's 
 garments  to  consecrate  him,  that  he  may  mi- 
 nister unto  nie  in  the  priest's  office. 
 
 4  And  these  are  the  garments  which  they 
 shall  make  ;  ^  a  breastplate,  and  *"  an  ephod, 
 and  ^a  robe,  and  ''a  broidered  coat,  a  mitre, 
 and  a  girdle  :  and  they  shall  make  holy  gar- 
 ments for  Aaron  thy  brother,  and  bis  sons,  that 
 he  may  minister  unto  me  in  the  priest's  office. 
 
 5  And  they  shall  take  gold,  and  blue,  and 
 purple,  and  scarlet,  and  fine  linen. 
 
 G  H  '  And  they  shall  make  the  ephod  o/'gold, 
 o/'blue,  and  of  purple,  of  scarlet,  and  fine 
 twined  linen,  with  cunning  work. 
 
 7  It  shall  have  the  two  shoulderpieces  thereof 
 joined  at  the  two  edges  thereof ;  and  so  it  shall 
 be  joined  together. 
 
 8  And  the  ||  curious  girdle  of  the  ephod,  which 
 
 from  a  word  pit,  signifying:  '  to  sprinkle,'  or  *  disperse.' — Sut.,  A. 
 i'larke.  Fleshhook.isee  the  same  word,  3^1Q,  1  Sam.  ii.  13  ;  it  is, 
 therefore,  rightly  translated. — So  ^.  Clarke.  Jsot  such  as  were  used 
 )()  take  tlesh  nut  of  the  pot,  (;  Sam.  U.  13,)  for  there  could  be  no  use 
 for  such  at  the  altar  of  bunit-ofl'ering,  but  were  to  stick  into  the  flesh, 
 ;iiid  turo  it  upon  the  coals,  to  hasten  the  burning  of  it.— Gilt.  It  was, 
 probably,  a  three- pronged  fork,  the  prongs  being  like  hooks  recurved. 
 — A.  Clarke,  (iitl.  Firepans,  a  kind  of  censers,  in  which  coals  of  fire 
 were  taken  oflf  from  the  altar  of  burnt-offering,  and  carried  to  the  aliar 
 of  incense.  4.  A  grate,  or  *  sieve,'  as  in  Amos,  ix.  9  ;  it  was  a  plate 
 of  brass  with  holes  in  it,  tn  let  through  the  remaining  blood  or  ashes 
 of  the  sacrifice. — Gill.  Netivork,  '  lattice- work.' — Hew.  Four  brasen 
 rings,  by  whicli  the  grate  was  fastened  with  chains  to  the  four  horns 
 of  the   altar. — Gill.  p.  T/ie  court,    encompassing  the   tabernacle, 
 
 (chap.  xl.  33.)  in  the  midst  whereof  was  the  altar  of  sacrifices,  upon 
 which  the  offi-rings  were  burnt  in  the  open  air. — Poole.  This  court 
 was  made  with  pillars,  posts,  and  hangings,  the  latter  about  three  yards 
 high.  The  tabernacle  was  double  the  height,  and  visible  from  without. 
 The  length  of  the  court  was  about  fifty-eight  yards,  and  half  that  in 
 
 breadth. — A.  Clarke,  so  Scott.  It  was  about  fifty  yards. — Gill.  19.  Pins, 
 or  '  stakes,'  wherewith  the  curtains  were  fastened  to  the  ground. — Br. 
 Bib.  20.  Beaten,  not  squeezed  out,  but  such  as  ran  out  when  bruised. 
 — Pat.  It  is  now  called  '  culd  drawn.' — Hew.  21.  Of  the  congrega- 
 tion, so  called,  because  the  people  used  there  to  meet  God  and  each 
 other,  (see  chap.  xxv.  22;  Num.  xvii,  4.) — Poole.  A  statute,  '  an 
 established  law'  or  '  ordinance.' — Hetv. 
 
 Chap.  XXVIII.  —  1.  Mayvmiister,  in  the  priest's  cflSce  ;  before  this 
 time,  every  master  of  a  family  was  a  priest,  and  might  and  did  offer 
 sacrifice. — A.  Clarke.  2.  Holy  garments — whatever  was  separated 
 from  common  uses,  and  consecrated  to  the  immediate  service  of  God, 
 was  called  HOLY. — Scott.  3.  Wise  hearted,  possessed  of  extraordi- 
 nary skill  in  any  art.  The  spirit  of  uisdum,  HIT  here  signifies  '  a  gift 
 of  God,'  whereby  those  who  had  it  skilfully  performed  their  work. — 
 Pat.  4.  Mitre,  a  kind  of  '  bonnet,'  or  '  cap,'  for  the  coviring  of  the 
 head.— /'oo/e.  6.  Ephod,  or  '  upmost  coat,'  without  sleeves,  which 
 was  like  cloth  of  gold,  and  was  girded  unto  him,  whertin  was  the 
 breastplate  with  the  twelve  stones,  which  was  tied  about  with  the 
 chains  to  two  onyx  stones,  and  beneath  with  two  laces.— Poo/e,  Br. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.^p.  XXVII.  —  I.  In  all  these  ritual  in-  II.  Let  us  rejoice  in  a  dispensation  in  which  there  is  now  no 
 
 siitutions  we  may  observe  the  shadows  of  Qood  things  to  eome.    The  boundary  placed  for   the   ivorshippers.     The  wall  is  all  broken 
 
 altar  which  sanctifieth  every  gift  is' Christ;  for  we  can  offer  down,  and  gone  to  ruin  ;  but  tne  worshippers  whom  God  ap- 
 
 up  nothing  acceptable  to  God  but  by  Jesus  Christ.  The  burnt-  proves  still  remain.     In  every  place  lie  hears  all  them  that  call 
 
 offering  is  Christ,  who  *  hatli  loved  us,  and  hath  given  himself  upon  the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity  and  trulli  •  and  wherever  his 
 
 for  us — an  ofl'ering  and  a  sacrifice  to  God,  for  a  sweet  smelling  people  meet  to  pray,  he  meets  to  bless, 
 savour.' 
 
 94 
 
The  ephod. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXVIII. 
 
 The  robe  of  the  ephod. 
 
 is  upon  it,  shall  be  of  the  same,  according  to 
 the  work  thereof;  even  of  gold,  of  blue,  and 
 purple,  and  scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen. 
 
 9  And  thou  shalt  take  two  onyx  stones,  and 
 grave  on  them  the  names  of  the  children  of 
 Israel : 
 
 10  Six  of  their  names  on  one  stone,  and  the 
 other  six  names  of  the  rest  on  the  other  stone, 
 according  to  their  birth. 
 
 1 1  '  With  the  work  of  an  engraver  in  stone, 
 like  the  engravings  of  a  signet,  shalt  thou  en- 
 grave the  two  stones  with  the  names  of  the 
 children  of  Israel :  thou  shalt  make  them  to 
 be  set  in  ouches  of  gold. 
 
 1-2  And  thou  shalt  put  the  two  stones  upon 
 the  shoulders  of  the  ephod  for  stones  of  me- 
 morial unto  the  children  of  Israel  :  and  '  Aaron 
 shall  bear  their  names  before  the  Lord  upon 
 his  two  shoulders  "for  a  memorial. 
 
 13  H  And  thou  shalt  make  ouches  oygold  ; 
 
 14  And  two  chains  o/"pure  gold  at  the  ends; 
 of  wreathen  work  shalt  thou  make  them,  and 
 fasten  the  wreathen  chains  to  the  ouches. 
 
 15  H  And  "  thou  shalt  make  the  breastplate 
 of  judgment  with  cunning  work  ;  after  the 
 work  of  the  ephod  thou  shalt  make  it ;  of 
 gold,  of  blue,  and  of  purple,  and  of  scarlet, 
 and  of  fine  twined  linen,  shalt  thou  make  it. 
 
 16  Foursquare  it  shall  be  beinri  doubled  ;  a 
 span  shall  be  the  length  thereof,  and  a  span 
 shall  be  the  breadth  thereof. 
 
 1 7  °  And  thou  shalt  f  set  in  it  settings  of 
 stones,  even  four  rows  of  stones  :  the  first  row 
 shall  be  a  ||  sardius,  a  topaz,  and  a  carbuncle  : 
 this  shall  be  the  first  row. 
 
 18  And  the  second  row  shall  be  an  emerald, 
 a  sapphire,  and  a  diamond. 
 
 19  And  the  third  row  a  ligure,  an  agate,  and 
 an  amethyst. 
 
 20  And  the  fourth  row  a  beryl,  and  an  onyx, 
 and  a  jasper  :  they  shall  be  set  in  gold  in  their 
 t  inclosings. 
 
 21  And  the  stones  shall  be  with  the  names 
 of  the  children  of  Israel,  twelve,  according  to 
 their  names,  like  the  engravings  of  a  signet ; 
 every  one  with  his  name  shall  they  be  accord- 
 ing to  the  twelve  tribes. 
 
 22  t  And  thou  shalt  make  upon  the  breast- 
 plate chains  at  the  ends  of  wreathen  work  of 
 pure  gold. 
 
 23  And  thou  shalt  make  upon  the  breastplate 
 two  rings  of  gold,  and  shalt  put  the  two  rings 
 on  the  two  ends  of  the  breastplate. 
 
 24  And  thou  shalt  put  the  two  wreathen 
 chains  of  gold  in  the  two  rings  which  are  on 
 
 /  ver.  29 
 ch.  39.  7. 
 
 m  See  Josh. 
 4,7. 
 Zech.  6.  14. 
 
 o  ch.  39.  10, 
 
 &c. 
 t  iit:h,jni  in 
 
 iijiUuiat  of 
 
 ttone. 
 II  Or,  rvbij. 
 
 t  Heb 
 fillinti 
 
 p  ver.  12. 
 
 y  Lev.  9.  8. 
 Xum.27  21 
 Deut.  33.  8 
 1  Sam. -29.6. 
 Bzra  2.  63. 
 Neb.  7.  65. 
 Ecdus.  4o 
 10. 
 
 11  Or,  tliirlt. 
 
 I  ch.  39  SO. 
 Zech.  14.20. 
 F.ccliu.  4a. 
 
 the  ends  of  the  breastplate. 
 
 25  And  the  other  two  ends  of  the  two  wreathen 
 chains  thou  shalt  fasten  in  the  two  ouches, 
 and  put  theyn  on  the  shoulderpieces  of  the 
 ephod  before  it. 
 
 26  t  And  thou  shalt  make  two  rings  of  gold, 
 and  thou  shalt  put  them  upon  the  two  ends  ol 
 the  breastplate  in  the  border  thereof,  which  is 
 in  the  side  of  the  ephod  inward. 
 
 27  And  two  other  rings  of  gold  thou  shalt 
 make,  and  shalt  put  them  on  the  two  sides  of 
 the  ephod  underneath,  toward  the  forepart 
 thereof,  over  against  the  other  couphng  thereof, 
 above  the  curious  girdle  of  the  ephod. 
 
 28  And  they  shall  bind  the  breastplate  by  the 
 rings  thereof  unto  the  rings  of  the  ephod  with 
 a  lace  of  blue,  that  it  may  be  above  the  curious 
 girdle  of  the  ephod,  and  that  the  breastplate  be 
 not  loosed  from  the  ephod. 
 
 29  And  Aaron  shall  bear  the  names  of  the 
 children  of  Israel  in  the  breastplate  of  judg- 
 ment upon  his  heart,  when  he  goeth  in  unto 
 the  holy  place,  ■'for  a  memorial  before  the 
 Lord  continually. 
 
 30  1[  And  ''  thou  shalt  put  in  the  breastplate 
 of  judgment  the  Urim  and  the  Thummim  ;  and 
 they  shall  be  upon  Aaron's  heart,  when  he  goeth 
 in  before  the  Lord  :  and  Aaron  shall  bear  the 
 judgment  of  the  children  of  I,<;rael  upon  his 
 heart  before  the  Lord  continually. 
 
 31  IT  And  'thou  shalt  make  the  robe  of  the 
 ephod  all  of  h\ue. 
 
 32  And  there  shall  be  an  hole  in  the  top  of  it, 
 in  the  midst  thereof:  it  shall  have  a  binding  of 
 woven  work  round  about  the  hole  of  it,  as  it 
 were  the  hole  of  an  habergeon,  that  it  be  not 
 rent. 
 
 33  f  And  beneath  upon  the  |{  hem  of  it  thou 
 shalt  make  pomegranates  of  blue,  and  of  purple, 
 and  of  scarlet,  round  about  the  hem  thereof; 
 and  bells  of  gold  between  them  round  about : 
 
 34  A  golden  bell  and  a  pomegranate,  a  golden 
 bell  and  a  pomegranate,  upon  -he  hem  of  the 
 robe  round  about. 
 
 35  '  And  it  shall  be  upon  Aaron  to  minister  : 
 and  his  sound  shall  be  heard  when  he  goeth 
 in  unto  the  holy  place  before  the  Lord,  and 
 when  he  cometh  out,  that  he  die  not. 
 
 36  H  And  '  thou  shalt  make  a  plate  of  pure 
 gold,  and  grave  upon  it,  lifie  the  engravings  of 
 a  signet,  HOLINESS  TO  THE   LORD. 
 
 37  And  thou  shalt  put  it  on  a  blue  lace,  that 
 it  may  be  upon  the  mitre  ;  upon  the  forefront 
 of  the  mitre  it  shall  be. 
 
 38  And  it  shall  be  upon  Aaron's  forehead 
 
 Bib.  Ephods  were  worn  by  the  inferior  priests,  but  they  were  only  of 
 linen.— 5«i.  12.  Bear  ^Aeic  names,  into  the  Holy  of  Holies.  An  evi. 
 dent  type  of  Christ's  entering  into  heaven,  with  the  names,  and  in  the 
 stead,  of  his  people,  the  true  Israel,  upon  his  shoulders,  and  presenting 
 them  to  his  Father  with  acceptance. — Poole.  13.  Ouches,  '  sockets.' 
 — Gilt.  Or  '  mounting.^,'  in  which  the  onyx  stones  were  set. — Hew. 
 15.  Breastplate,  a  double  piece  of  cloth,  a  span  square,  richly  wrought, 
 and  fastened  with  chains  of  gold  to  the  ephod  upon  the  breast.  In  it 
 were  twelve  precious  stones,  emblems  of  the  divers  exceUcnces  of  the 
 members  of  the  church  of  Christ.— Sui.  Of  judgment— so  called,  be- 
 cause the  high  priest  wore  it  on  his  breast  when  he  went  into  the  holy 
 place  to  ask  counsel,  or  to  leam  the  judgment  of  GoA,—Heu\,  and 
 thence  the  Israelites  were  to  expect  and  receive  their  judgment  and  the 
 mind  of  God  in  all  those  weighty  matters  of  war  and  peace  wherein 
 they  consulted  God  for  direction.— Poufc.  Cunning  work  —  Geddes 
 reads,  'fancy  work.'  19.  ti^ure— what  this  was  is  uncertain,  but 
 probably  a  jacinth.— BrouniiM,  Ains.  30.  (/rim— T*iimmim— men- 
 tioned, with  its  uses,  Numb,  .xxvii.  21 ;  1  Sam.  xxviii.  6  ;  Deut.  xxxiii. 
 8i  Judg.  XX.  28.  The  Hebrew  means  '  light,"  and  'perfection,'  or, 
 '  the  shining'  and  '  the  perfect.'  '  Manifestation'  and  '  truth.'  Sept. 
 It  was  something  material,  for  it  was  put  in  the  brea.stplate. — Evan. 
 Sj/nop,  As  Moses  had  no  order  for  making  it,  some  infer  it  was  the 
 95 
 
 work  of  God  himself.— ^^in^.  Probably  Moses  wrote  upon,  or  wove  the 
 words  into  the  breastplate.— Hen.  Most  likely  the  precious  stones  in 
 the  high  priest's  breastplate,  because,  where  the  stones  are  mentiooeri, 
 nothing  is  said  of  the  Unm  and  Thummim;  and  where  the  Urim  and 
 Thummim  are  observed,  no  notice  is  taken  of  the  stones. — Gill.  Jose- 
 phns  is  of  this  opinion.  How  God  spoke  by  Urim  and  Thummim  iS 
 only  conjecture  from  Jewish  fables.  31.  The  robe,  worn  next  under 
 the  ephod,  and  girded  with  the  curious  girdle. — Puole.  It  was  woven 
 throughout,  and  without  seam. — Jos.  32,  Habergeon,  *a  corselet,'  or 
 '  coat  of  mail.' — Gill.  33.  Pomegranates,  round  and  yellow,  the  size 
 and  shape  of  hens*  eg^- — Jar.  34.  A  golden  bell,  ^c. — probably 
 only  the  figure  of  a  bell. — Hew.  A  real  bell, — Cal.,  without  doubt, 
 from  the  next  verse. — Ed.  35.  His  sound — at  the  doors  of  the  tents 
 of  grandees  was  usually  placed  some  sonorous  body,  to  give  notice  of 
 the  approach  of  any  one.  Thus  the  King  of  Kings  would  not  be  ap- 
 proached vrithout  the  sign  of  his  greatness. — So  A.  Clarke.  Thus,  the 
 people  might  pray  without,  while  they  knew  the  priest  offered  incense 
 within,  (Luke,  i.  9, 10.)  Probably  referred  to  in  Ps.  Ixxxix.  15. — Evtin, 
 St/nop.  36.  .i  plate,  V^'S.  'a  flower,'  or  like  form. — So  A.  Clarke.  *A 
 petal,'  so  the  Sept. ;  and  it  is  certain  it  represented  the  form  of  some 
 beautiful  flower. — Holiness  to  the  Lohd,  to  remind  Aaron  that  he 
 was  to  minister  in  holy  things  before  a  holy  God ;  to  remove  sin  by 
 
T'he  garments  for  Aaron's  sons. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXIX. 
 
 Consecration  of  the  priests. 
 
 that  Aaron  may  "  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  holy 
 things,  which  the  children  of  Israel  shall  hallow 
 in  all  their  holy  gifts  ;  and  it  shall  be  always 
 upon  his  forehead,  that  they  may  be  "  accepted 
 before  tlie  Lord. 
 
 39  1  And  thou  shall  embroider  the  coat  of 
 fine  linen,  and  thou  shalt  make  the  mitre  of 
 fine  linen,  and  thou  shalt  make  the  girdle  of 
 needlework. 
 
 40  H  '  And  for  Aaron's  sons  thou  shalt  make 
 coats,  and  thou  shalt  make  for  them  girdles, 
 and  bonnets  shalt  thou  make  for  tbeni,  for 
 glory  and  for  beauty. 
 
 41  And  tiiou  shalt  put  them  upon  Aaron  thy 
 brother,  and  his  sons  with  him  ;  and  shalt 
 'anoint  them,  and  f  consecrate  them,  and 
 sanctify  them,  that  they  may  minister  unto  me 
 in  the  priest's  office. 
 
 42  And  thou  shidt  make  them  "linen breeches 
 to  cover  f  their  nakedness ;  from  the  loins  even 
 unto  the  thighs  they  shall  f  reach  : 
 
 43  And  tliey  shall  be  upon  Aaron,  and  upon 
 his  sons,  when  they  come  in  unto  the  taber- 
 nacle of  tlie  congregation,  or  when  they  come 
 near  ^  unto  the  altar  to  minister  in  the  holy 
 place  ;  that  they  '  bear  not  iniqiiity,  and  die  : 
 ■"  it  shall  be  a  statute  for  ever  unto  him  and  his 
 seed  after  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 1  The  sacr{fice  and  crrejuonies  of  crnisecrattna  the 
 priests,  iii  Tlie  contimml  burnt  offcrinn.  ib  God's 
 promisi-  to  dwdl  nmon;/  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 AND  this  is  the  thing  that  thou  shalt  do 
 unto  them  to  hallow  them,  to  minister 
 unto  me  in  the  priest's  office :  "  Take  one 
 young  bullock,  and  two  rams  without  blemish, 
 
 •2  And  ■•  unleavened  bread,  ajid  cakes  un- 
 leavened tempered  with  oil,  and  wafers  un- 
 leavened anointed  with  oil :  of  wbeaten  flour 
 shalt  thou  make  them. 
 
 3  And  thou  shalt  put  them  into  one  basket, 
 and  bring  them  in  the  basket,  with  the  bullock 
 and  the  two  rams. 
 
 I.e 
 «c  22. 
 
 .  !0.  17, 
 
 Num.  18,  1 
 Is.  5,1.  n. 
 Eze.  4.  *1. 5, 
 6.  John  t. 
 29.  Heb.  9. 
 S8.  1  Pet.  2. 
 24. 
 w  Lev  1.  4. 
 
 Is.  5G  7. 
 »  ver.  4. 
 
 ch.  :iy  27, 
 28,  jy,  41. 
 EzeR.  41. 
 17,  16. 
 
 a  ch.  39.  2S. 
 
 Lev.  e.  10. 
 
 k  16  4. 
 
 Eiek.44.1fl 
 1  Heb,  fi^.li 
 
 of  (hej'r  na. 
 
 kedj:*U. 
 t  Heb   A*-. 
 b  ch.  20.  26. 
 c  Lev.5  1,17 
 
 &20.  19,20. 
 
 &  22.  9, 
 
 b  Lev.  9.4. & 
 6.20,21,22. 
 
 c  cli.  40.  19. 
 
 Lev.  8.  6. 
 
 Heb.  10.29. 
 d  ch.  28.  2. 
 
 Lev.  8.  7. 
 
 e  ch.  28.  8. 
 /"Lev.  8.  9. 
 
 J  ch.  29.  41. 
 &  80.  25, 
 Lev, 8,12  ft 
 10,  ;.  &  21. 
 10.  Num. 
 
 as,  2i. 
 
 A  LeT.  8.  13. 
 
 >  Num.  18.  7. 
 
 t  Hch  fill  Iht 
 
 hand  of. 
 I(  Ch.  2.1.  41. 
 
 Lev,  8.  22, 
 
 &c.  Heb.  7. 
 
 28. 
 
 (Lev.  1   ' 
 &  S.  14. 
 
 0  Lev.  3,  3- 
 
 'J  It  Beemeth 
 by  Analo- 
 niy,And  the 
 Hebrew 
 Ditctors,  t,^ 
 be  the  Tjtid- 
 
 p  Lev,  4.  11, 
 12,  21, 
 Heb.  13,  11. 
 
 q  Lev.  S.  18. 
 Lev  1.4—9. 
 
 4  And  Aaron  and  his  sons  thou  shalt  bring 
 unto  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation, "^  and  shalt  wash  them  with  water. 
 
 3  ''  And  thou  shalt  take  the  garments,  and 
 put  upon  Aaron  the  coat,  and  the  robe  of  the 
 ephod,  and  the  ephod,  and  the  breastplate,  and 
 gird  him  with  "the  curious  girdle  of  the  ephod  : 
 
 6  '  And  thou  shalt  put  the  mitre  upon  his 
 head,  and  put  the  holy  crown  upon  the  mitre. 
 
 7  Then  shalt  tliou  take  the  anointing  "oil, 
 and  pour  it  upon  his  head,  and  anoint  him. 
 
 8  And  '■  thou  shalt  bring  his  sons,  and  put 
 coats  upon  them. 
 
 9  And  thou  shalt  gird  them  with  girdles, 
 Aaron  and  his  sons,  and  f  put  the  bonnets  on 
 them  :  and  '  the  priest's  othce  shall  be  their's 
 for  a  perpetual  statute  :  and  thou  shalt  f  '■  con- 
 secrate Aaron  and  his  sons. 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  cause  a  bullock  to  be 
 brought  before  the  tabernacle  of  the  congrega- 
 tion :  and  '  Aaron  and  his  sons  shall  put  their 
 hands  upon  the  head  of  the  bullock. 
 
 1 1  And  thou  shalt  kill  the  bullock  before  the 
 Lord,  by  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation. 
 
 12  And  thou  "shalt  take  of  the  blood  of  the 
 bullock,  and  put  it  upon  "  the  horns  of  the 
 altar  with  thy  finger,  and  pour  all  the  blood 
 beside  the  bottom  of  the  altar. 
 
 13  And  "thou  shalt  take  all  the  fat  that 
 covereth  the  inwards,  and  ||  the  caul  that  is 
 above  the  liver,  and  the  two  kidneys,  and  the 
 fat  that  is  upon  them,  and  burn  them  upon  the 
 altar. 
 
 14  But  '  the  flesh  of  the  bullock,  and  his  skin, 
 and  his  dung,  shalt  thou  burn  with  fire  without 
 the  camp  :  it  is  a  sin  offering. 
 
 13  1I''Thou  shalt  also  take  one  ram;  and 
 Aaron  and  his  sons  shall  '  put  their  hands  upon 
 the  head  of  the  ram. 
 
 1()  And  thou  shalt  slay  the  ram,  and  thou 
 shalt  take  his  blood,  and  sprinkle  it  round 
 about  upon  the  altar. 
 
 making  atonement,  and  to  teach  the  people  the  wa>*  of  holiness.  In 
 this,  he  was  the  tj-pe  of  our  great  Higtl  Priest,  who  was  '  holy,  harm- 
 less, and  nndcfiled.* — Bonlhr.  as.  Bear  the  imquiftj,  that  is,  the  sin 
 of  the  holy  or  separated  things,  offerings,  or  sacrifices,  Aaron  was  the 
 type  of  the  Redeemer,  and  is,  therclore,  represented  as  bearing  the  sins  of 
 the  people. — So  .i.  Cturke.  40.  Ilonnets,  more  properly  turbans, — Pict. 
 Bih.  41.  Consecrate  them — consecration  consisted  in  investing  them 
 with  the  garments,  and  anointing  them  with  oil ;  for  this  phrase  does 
 not  intend  the  whole  of  that  consecration,  only  anotli-r  branch  of  it. 
 it  is  CT  PN  nN'??3\  literally  rendered,  *  fill  the  hand,*  that  is,  with  sa. 
 criflces  to  he  offered  by  tliem,  (chap.  X-vLt,  1,  24 ;  2  Chron.  xiii,  9.)— 
 Gill.  42,  Linen  breeches — rather  '  drawers,'— Pfc(,  Bib.,  that  purity 
 and  decency  might  distinguish  tiod's  worship,  in  opposition  to  heathen 
 worship,  in  which  the  priests  often  engaged  naked. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Ch.\p,  XXIX, — 7 .  Pour  it  itpim  his  head—t\\\s  signified  that  every 
 excellency  of  the  priest  must  come  from  God,  and  represented  the  gilts 
 and  graces  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  (see  Isa,  Ixi,  1  ;  John,  iii.  2/.)  The  oil 
 was  only  sprinkled  on  the  priests,  and  applied  to  their  right  ears, 
 thumljs,  and  toes,  and  their  garments,  (ver.  21),  21 ;  Lev.  viii.  30  ;)  but 
 
 it  was  poured  out  upon  the  head  only  of  the  high  priest,  fPs.  cxxxiii,  2,1 
 who  herein  was  a  type  of  Christ,  anointed  above  his  fellows,  ^Ps.  xiv. 
 7  1  Heb.  i.  9.)  10.  Put  their  hands,  to  signify  they  offered  it  lor  their 
 own  sins,  (see  Lev.  xvi.  21,)  to  acknowledge  they  deser\'ed  the  death 
 inflicted  on  the  animal  for  tlieir  sakes  ;  to  testify  their  faith  in  the  future 
 sacrifice  of  Christ,  upon  whom  their  sins  were  to  he  laid,  and  by  whose 
 blood  they  were  expiated. — Poole.  14.  Burn — it  is  a  sin  o^'ering ;  or. 
 as  the  original,  '  it  is  sin,'  riNtcrt.  This  implied  that  it  must  be  treated 
 with  abhorrence,  and  consumed  by  the  fire,  which  represented  tiie 
 justic*  of  God,  as  if  it  were  sin  itself.  Thus  Christ  *  was  made  sin  for 
 us,*  &c.  The  same  word  is  used,  Lev,  iv,  3,  Dan.  ix,  24,  in  the  Hebrew : 
 Rom,  viii,  3 ;  2  Cor,  v,  21  .Scott.  So  the  wrath  of  God  being  poured 
 like  fire  upon  Christ  when  he  suffered,  allusion  is  made  to  this  in  Heb, 
 xiii,  11,  12, — Gill.  There  was  a  law  that  that  sin-ofTcring  whose  hloiiil 
 was  not  carried  into  the  tabernacle,  which  was  the  case  here,  should 
 not  be  burnt,  but  eaten,  (Lev.  vi.  30,  and  x.  18.)  But  that  ci-ncernitl 
 the  people,  not  the  priests,  who  did  not  eat,  but  burnt  their  own  sin- 
 offerings,  (Lev.  iv,  3,  12.)  16,  Sprinkle — u/jout  the  attar,  signifying 
 that  not  only  our  persons,  but  our  very  altars  and  sacrifices,  and  best 
 
 ■Reflections  on  Chap.  XXA'III.  —  Behold  Iiore,  'the 
 great  High  Priest  of  our  profession,'  typically  set  forth — I.  In 
 his  purity.  The  high  priest  was  clothed  with  holy  garments  ; 
 so  was  our  High  Priest;  '  holy,  harmless,  undefiled.  and  sepa- 
 rate from  sinners.'  Glory  and  beauty  were  both  exhibited  in 
 Him  who  is  '  the  brightness  of  the  P'ather's  glory,  and  the  ex- 
 press image  of  his  person.* 
 
 II.  Our  great  High  Priest  is  here  set  forth  in  his  intercessory 
 character.  He  bears  the  names  of  his  people  on  his  heart  con- 
 tinually. The  smallest  tribe  was  not  omitted,  nor  is  the 
 humblest  believer  beneath  the  notice  of  our  glorious  Inter- 
 cessor; and  it  is  our  consolation  that  '  he  ever  liyeth  to  make 
 intercession  for  us,* 
 
 III.  Our  great  High  Priest  is  here  set  forth  as  our  Prophet, 
 as  well  as  Priest  ;  having,  through  the  Urim  and  I'hummim, 
 the  power  of  making  known  the  mind  of  God  in  all  difficult 
 
 96 
 
 cases.  '  This  oracle,'  says  Henry,  '  was  of  great  use  to  Israel : 
 Joshua  consulted  it,  (Num.  xxvii.  21,)  and,  it  is  likely,  the 
 .Judges  after  him.  It  was  lost  in  the  captivity,  and  never  re- 
 trieved after,  though,  it  should  seem,  it  was  expected,  (Kara, 
 ii.  6:), )  But  it  was  a  shadow  of  good  things  to  come,  and  the 
 substance  is  Christ.  He  is  our  oracle.  By  him,  God,  in  these 
 last  days,  makes  known  himself  and  his  mind  to  us,  (Heb.  i. 
 1,  2  ;  John,  i,  18, )  Divine  revelation  centres  in  him,  and 
 comes  to  us  through  him.  He  is  the  Light,  the  true  Light,  the 
 faithlul  Witness,  the  Truth  itself,  and  from  him  we  receive 
 the  spirit  of  truth,  who  leads  into  all  truth.  The  joining  of 
 the  breastplate  to  the  ephod  notes  that  his  prophetical  office 
 was  founded  on  his  priesthood  ;  and  it  was  by  the  merit  of  his 
 death  that  he  purchased  this  honour  for  himself,  ana  this  fa- 
 vour for  us.  It  was  the  '  Lamb  that  had  been  slain,'  that  was 
 worthy  to  'take  the  book,' and  '  to  open  the  seals.'  (Rev.  v,  9.) 
 
The  burnt  offering. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXIX. 
 
 The  offering  of  atonement. 
 
 17  And  thou  shalt  cut  the  ram  m  pieces,  and 
 wash  tlie  inwards  of  him,  and  his  legs,  and  put 
 tliem  unto  his  pieces,  and  ||  unto  his  head. 
 
 18  And  tliou  shalt  burn  tlie  whole  ram  upon 
 the  altar :  it  is  a  burnt  offering  unto  the  Lord  : 
 it  is  a  '  sweet  savour,  an  offering  made  by  fire 
 unto  the  Lord. 
 
 19  li'And  thou  shalt  take  the  other  ram; 
 and  Aaron  and  his  sons  shall  put  their  hands 
 upon  the  head  of  the  ram. 
 
 'JO  Then  shalt  thou  kill  the  ram,  and  take  of 
 his  blood,  and  put  it  upon  the  tip  of  the  right 
 ear  of  Aaron,  and  upon  the  tip  of  tlie  right  ear 
 of  his  sons,  and  upon  tlie  thuTnb  of  their  right 
 hand,  and  upon  the  great  toe  of  their  right  foot, 
 and  sprinkle  the  blood  upon  the  altar  round 
 about. 
 
 21  And  thou  slialt  take  of  the  blood  that  is 
 upon  the  altar,  and  of  "  the  anointing  oil,  and 
 sprinkle  it  upon  Aaron,  and  upon  his  garments, 
 and  upon  his  sons,  and  upon  the  garments  of 
 his  sons  with  him  :  and  "  he  shall  be  hallowed, 
 and  his  garments,  and  his  sons,  and  his  sons' 
 garments  with  him. 
 
 •1-2  Also  thou  shalt  take  of  the  ram  the  fat  and 
 the  rump,  and  the  fat  that  covereth  the  inwards, 
 and  the  caul  above  the  liver,  and  the  two  kid- 
 neys, and  the  fat  that  is  upon  them,  and  the 
 right  shoulder  ;  for  it  is  a  ram  of  consecration  : 
 
 23  "  And  one  loaf  of  bread,  and  one  cake  of 
 oiled  bread,  and  one  wafer  out  of  the  basket  of 
 the  unleavened  bread  that  is  before  the  Lord 
 
 24  And  thou  shalt  put  all  in  the  hands  of 
 Aaron,  and  in  the  hands  of  his  sons  ;  and  slialt 
 {{  ^  wave  them  for  a  wave  offering  before  the 
 Lord. 
 
 25  '  And  thou  shalt  receive  them  of  their 
 hands,  and  burn  them  upon  the  altar  for  a  burnt 
 offering,  for  a  sweet  savour  before  the  Lord  : 
 it  is  an  offering  made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 26  And  thou  shalt  take  "  the  breast  of  the 
 ram  of  Aaron's  consecration,  and  wave  it  for 
 a  wave  offering  before  the  Lord  :  and  ''  it  shall 
 be  thy  part. 
 
 27  And  thou  slialt  sanctify  "  the  breast  of  the 
 wave  offering,  and  the  shoulder  of  the  heave 
 offering,  which  is  waved,  and  which  is  heaved 
 up,  of  the  ram  of  tlie  consecration,  even  of  that 
 which  is  for  Aaron,  and  of  that  which  is  for  his 
 sons : 
 
 28  And  it  shall  be  Aaron's  and  his  sons'  ^  by 
 a  statute  for  ever  from  the  children  of  Israel : 
 for  it  is  an  heave  offering :  and  "  it  shall  be  an 
 heave  offering  from  the  children  of  Israel  of 
 the  sacrifice  of  their  peace  offerings,  even  their 
 heave  offering  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 29  1  And  the  holy  garments  of  Aaron  '  shall 
 be  his  sons'  after  him,  ^  to  be  anointed  therein, 
 
 [I  Or,  iipan. 
 
 t  ver.  3. 
 Lav.  tt.  2S. 
 
 B  ver.  I 
 Hcb.  9.  22. 
 
 11  Or,  (AcjAc 
 
 ,,.  »,,<//„ 
 
 .y  Lev.  7.  30. 
 
 i  Lbv.  S.  38. 
 
 c  Lev.  7.  31, 
 31  Num.  IS. 
 n,IS.  Deu. 
 13.  3. 
 
 d  Lev.  10.15. 
 
 /Num.  20. 
 
 2C,  28. 
 g  Num  18.8 
 
 &  3,'i.  2:1. 
 
 B.C.  L49L 
 
 f  Heb.  ho  0/ 
 
 A  Nu.  20.  28. 
 i  Lev.  8.  35. 
 it  9.  1,8. 
 
 .M  Lev.  10. 
 U,  15,  17. 
 
 p  Ex  40.  12 
 Lev  8.  a3, 
 34.  3G. 
 
 ■  ch-  30.  26, 
 28,29.8140 
 
 I  ch.  30.  29. 
 Mat.  23.  19 
 
 H  Nam. 28  3. 
 
 IClir.  10  4(1. 
 
 2  Che  2.1  & 
 
 13.11.(t31  3, 
 
 Kara  3   3. 
 wSee  Dau  9. 
 
 27.  8:  12.  II. 
 1-  2  Kia    16. 
 
 i5.E2ek.46. 
 
 13,  14,  IS. 
 
 !/  1  Kin.  18. 
 29,  36. 
 2Kiu. 16.15. 
 Ezra  9.  1,5. 
 Ps.  141.  2 
 Dan.  9.  21. 
 
 »  ver.  33. 
 
 ch   30.  8. 
 
 Num  28  6. 
 
 Dan  S.  II, 
 
 12,  13. 
 a  ch   25.22 
 
 &  30.  6,  36. 
 
 Num  17.4. 
 II  Or,  Israel. 
 b  ch.  40.  .S4. 
 
 IKin.  8.11. 
 
 2Chr.  5.  14 
 
 &  7.  1.2,3. 
 
 Ezek,  43.  .V 
 
 Hag.  2.7,9. 
 
 Mai.  3.  1. 
 c  Lev.  21.15. 
 
 fc  22.  9,  16. 
 
 and  to  be  consecrated  in  them 
 
 30  And  t "  that  son  that  is  priest  in  his  stead 
 shall  put  them  on  '  seven  days,  when  he  conieth 
 into  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  to 
 minister  in  the  holy  place. 
 
 31  f  And  thou  shalt  take  the  ram  of  the  coi> 
 secration,  and  '  seethe  his  flesh  in  the  holy 
 place. 
 
 32  And  Aaron  and  his  sons  shall  eat  the  flesh 
 of  the  ram,  and  the  '  bread  that  is  in  the  basket, 
 by  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 33  And  ""  they  shall  eat  those  things  where- 
 with the  atonement  was  made,  to  consecrate 
 and  to  sanctify  them;  "but  a  stranger  shall 
 not  eat  thercif,  because  they  are  holy. 
 
 34  And  if  ought  of  the  flesli  of  the  consecra- 
 tions, or  of  the  bread,  remain  unto  the  morning, 
 then  °  thou  shalt  burn  the  remainder  with  fire  : 
 it  shall  not  be  eaten,  because  it  is  holy. 
 
 35  And  thus  shalt  thou  do  unto  Aaron,  and 
 to  his  sons,  according  to  all  things  which  I 
 have  commanded  thee  :  ''seven  days  shalt  thou 
 consecrate  theif.. 
 
 36  And  thou  shalt  ''  offer  every  day  a  bullock 
 for  a  sin  offering  for  atonement :  and  thou  shalt 
 cleanse  the  altar,  when  thou  hast  made  an 
 atonement  for  it,  'and  thou  shalt  anoint  it,  to 
 sanctify  it. 
 
 37  Seven  days  thou  shalt  make  an  atonement 
 for  the  altar,  and  sanctify  it  ;  'and  it  shall  be 
 an  altar  most  holy  :  '  whatsoever  touclieth  the 
 altar  shall  be  holy. 
 
 38  t  Now  this  !s  that  which  thou  shalt  offer 
 upon  the  altar ;  "  two  lambs  of  the  first  year 
 "■  day  by  day  continually. 
 
 39  The  one  lamb  thou  shalt  offer  "  in  the 
 morning ;  and  the  other  lamb  thou  shalt  offer 
 at  even  : 
 
 40  And  with  the  one  lamb  a  tenth  deal  of 
 flour  mingled  with  the  fourth  part  of  an  bin  of 
 beaten  oil ;  and  the  fourth  part  of  an  liin  of 
 wineyo;-  a  drink  oftering. 
 
 41  And  the  other  lamb  thou  .shalt  'offer  at 
 even,  and  shalt  do  thereto  according  to  the 
 meat  offering  of  the  morning,  and  according  to 
 the  drink  offering  thereof,  for  a  sweet  savour, 
 an  offering  made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 42  This  shall  he  "  a  continual  burnt  oft'ering 
 throughout  your  generations  at  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation  before  the  Lord  : 
 "  where  I  will  meet  you,  to  speak  there  unto 
 thee. 
 
 43  And  there  I  will  meet  with  the  children  of 
 Israel,  and  ||  the  tabernacle  ^  shall  be  sanctified 
 by  my  glory. 
 
 44  And  I  will  sanctify  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation,  and  the  altar :  I  will  '  sanctify 
 
 .servicer,  need  the  sprinkling  of  Christ's  blood  to  render  them  accept- 
 able to  God. — I'oole.  18,  A  burnt  offering — the  other  sacrifices  were 
 prescribed  by  express  laws,  but  the  burnt  offering  was  voluntary,  (Lev. 
 i.  3.)  No  part  of  this  was  to  be  eaten  by  the  priest  or  offerer,  but  all 
 was  tfi  belong  to  the  Lord  ;  representing  the  true  believer's  entire  de- 
 dication of  himself  to  God.  A  sweet  savour,  mrrj  H'l.  '  a  savour  of 
 rest,'  as  representing  Christ,  who  offered  up  himself.— /"oo/e.  *  A  smell 
 of  rest,' — Mont..  Pise,  or  as  the  Sept,,  '  for  a  smell  of  sweet  savour,' 
 or  '  a  sweet  smelling  savour,'  which  phrase  the  apostle  makes  use  of. 
 and  applies  to  the  sacrifice  of  Christ,  (Eph.  v.  2.)— Gill.  20.  Tip  of 
 the  right  ear,  gfc. — applied  to  the  ear  to  signify  the  attention  the  priests 
 should  give  to  the  commands  of  God ;  to  the  thumbs,  to  shew  that  they 
 were  to  do  his  work  in  the  best  manner ;  and  to  the  toes,  expressive  of 
 their  obligation  to  walk  in  his  ways, — Scott.  22.  The  ruvtp — eastern 
 travellers  inform  us  this  is  a  precious  part  of  the  eastern  sheep.  It  will 
 often  weigh  from  ten  to  fifteen  pounds,  and  is  frequently  ricd  in  a  little 
 cart  behind  the  animal  to  relieve  him  of  its  weight. — Russell's  History 
 of  Aleppo.  24.  A  uai'e  ojfering— the  rabbis  leil  us  the  wave-offering 
 was  waved  up  and  down,  and  east,  west,  north,  and  south,  to  signify 
 that  all  things  by  ri^ht  belong  to  Him  who  fills  all  space  ;  whereas  the 
 97 
 
 heave-offerings  mentioned  in  ver,  27,  were  only  lifted  towards  heaven, 
 in  token  of  being  devoted  to  God, — Fawkes.  33,  A  stronger,  one 
 who  is  not  of  the  priestly  race, — Poole.  34,  Burn  the  remainder, 
 that  it  might  not  be  treated  with  contempt,  or  used  for  superstitions 
 purposes, — Gill.  37,  Shalt  fie  holy — none  but  holy  persons,  and  things 
 offered,  were  sanctified  by  being  laid  on  the  altar ;  hence  it  was  greater 
 than  the  gift,  (Matt,  xxiii,  19,) — Poole.  38,  Two  lambs,  typical  of 
 Christ,  the  Lamb  of  God.  who  continually  takes  away,  day  by  day,  the 
 sins  of  his  people, — Gill.  These  lambs  were  offered,  morning  and 
 evening,  from  the  settlement  in  the  promised  land  till  the  destruction 
 of  Jerusalem  by  the  Romans, — A.  Clarke.  Their  cessation  was  a  token 
 of  the  perfect  atonement  of  Christ,  which  made  them  needless  and  use- 
 less, 40,  .i  tenth  deal,  about  three  quarts,  wine  measure.  An  hin, 
 about  five  quarts. — Gill.  A  drink  offering — Jarchi  says  the  wine  was 
 put  into  two  silver  basons,  and  flowed  out  through  two  nostril  like 
 holes  on  the  altar;  this  may  signify  the  blood  of  Christ  shed  for  sins, 
 or  the  plentiful  manifestation  of  his  love  in  his  offering,  and  the  accept, 
 ahlcness  of  it  to  God.  Hence  wine  is  said  to  cheer  both  God  and  man, 
 (Judg,  ix.  13,)  alluding  to  the  libation  of  wine  in  sacrifices.— Gi//. 
 
The.  altar  ofincensp.. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXX. 
 
 The  ransom  of  souls. 
 
 also  both  Aaron  and  his  sons,  to  minister  to 
 me  in  the  priest's  office. 
 
 45  t  And  '^  I  will  dwell  among  the  children  of 
 Israel,  and  will  be  their  God. 
 
 46  And  they  shall  know  that  *"  I  am  the  Lord 
 their  God,  that  brought  them  forth  out  of  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  that  1  may  dwell  among  them  : 
 I  am  the  Lord  their  God. 
 
 CHAR  XXX. 
 
 1  The  altar  of  incense.  11  The  ninsom  of  souls.  M  The 
 hrnsen  lav^r.  22  The  holy  a/whttirig  oil.  3-4  The 
 composition  of  the  ptrfume. 
 
 A  ND  thou  shalt  make  ^  an  altar  •*  to  burn  in- 
 -^^  cense  upon  :  of  shittim  wood  shalt  tliou 
 make  it. 
 
 2  A  cubit  shall  be  the  length  thereof,  and  a 
 cubit  the  breadth  thereof;  foursquare  shall  it 
 be  :  and  two  cubits  shall  be  the  height  thereof: 
 the  horns  thereof  shall  be  of  the  same. 
 
 3  And  thou  shalt  overlay  it  with  pure  gold, 
 the  t  top  thereof,  and  the  f  sides  thereof  round 
 about,  and  the  horns  thereof;  and  thou  shalt 
 make  unto  it  a  crown  of  gold  round  about. 
 
 4  And  two  golden  rings  slialt  tliou  make  to 
 it  under  the  crown  of  it,  by  the  two  t  corners 
 thereof,  upon  the  two  sides  of  it  shalt  thou 
 make  it ;  and  they  shall  be  for  places  for  the 
 staves  to  bear  it  withal. 
 
 5  And  thou  shalt  make  the  staves  o/* shittim 
 wood,  and  overlay  them  with  gold. 
 
 6  And  thou  shalt  put  it  before  the  vail  that  is 
 by  the  ark  of  the  testimony,  before  the  '^  mercy 
 seat  tliat  is  over  the  testimony,  where  I  will 
 meet  with  thee. 
 
 7  And  Aaron  shall  burn  thereon  f*' sweet  in- 
 cense every  morning:  when  "he  dresseth  the 
 lamps,  he  shall  burn  incense  upon  it. 
 
 8  And  when  Aaron  ||  f  I'ghteth  the  lamps  fat 
 even,  he  shall  burn  incense  upon  it,  a  perpetual 
 incense  before  the  Lord  throughout  your  ge- 
 nerations. 
 
 9  Ye  shall  offer  no  'strange  incense  thereon, 
 nor  burnt  sacrifice,  nor  meat  offering  ;  neither 
 shall  ye  pour  drink  offering  thereon. 
 
 10  And  '''Aaron  shall  make  an  atonement 
 upon  the  horns  of  it  once  in  a  year  with  the 
 blood  of  the  sin  offering  of  atonements  :  once 
 
 d  Ex.  ■?.^-  8 
 Lev.  26.  12 
 Zech.2.  la 
 John  U.I 7, 
 23.  2  Cor.  6 
 16.  R«!V. -il. 
 3. 
 
 t  ch.  20.  2. 
 
 It  ch.  37  95. 
 
 )t  -10.  5. 
 6  Sep  v'jr.  7 
 
 8.  lU 
 
 I,ev.  4  7,19. 
 
 Rev.  8.  3. 
 
 \  Heb.  rntif. 
 \  Heb.  valU. 
 
 \Het>.incrnte 
 oftfiieet. 
 
 d  ver.  34. 
 I  Sam.g.SR, 
 1  nir.-23.!3 
 Luke  1.  9. 
 
 rr.h.  27.  21. 
 
 II  Or,  ttlMh 
 
 up. 
 \We\i.cauteth 
 
 Ui  oMcend. 
 }  Ueb. 
 
 S  Sam.2+.2. 
 f  Heb.  th^n 
 
 that  are  til  be 
 
 numf.frtd. 
 
 See  Nu.  31. 
 
 5L). 
 1  Job  S3.  24. 
 
 fc  36    ]8. 
 
 Pa.  49.  7. 
 
 Mat.  20.39. 
 
 WarklO.45. 
 
 I  Tim.  S.  6. 
 
 I  Pet.  I.  IS, 
 
 19. 
 k  2  Sam.  24. 
 
 15. 
 /Mat.  17.24, 
 m  Lev  27.25. 
 
 Num.  3  47. 
 
 Ezek  15.12 
 1  ch.  38.  26. 
 o  Job  S4    Ifl. 
 
 El>hes  6.  ('. 
 
 Col.  3.  25. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 u,..lt.,.l!,. 
 t  Heh. 
 
 p  ver.  12. 
 y  ch.  38.  25 
 
 r  ch.  39    8. 
 I  Kiu.  7.33. 
 
 u  ch.  40.  31. 
 32.  Ps.2(i  0 
 Is.  52,  II. 
 John  13   10. 
 Heb.  lU.S-J. 
 
 in  the  year  shall  he  make  atonement  upon  it 
 tliroughout  your  generations  :  it  is  most  holy 
 unto  the  Lord, 
 
 1 1  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 12  '^  When  thou  takest  the  sum  of  the  cliil- 
 dren  of  Israel  after  f  their  number,  then  shall 
 they  give  every  man  '  a  ransom  for  his  soul  unto 
 the  Lord,  when  thou  nnmberest  them  ;  that 
 tliere  be  no  ''plague  among  them,  when  ihou 
 numberest  them. 
 
 13  '  This  they  shall  give,  every  one  that 
 passeth  among  tliem  that  are  numbered,  half  a 
 shekel  after  tlie  shekel  of  the  sanctuary :  ('"  a 
 shekel  is  twenty  gerahs :)  "  an  half  shekel  shall 
 be  the  offering  of  tlie  Lord. 
 
 14  Every  one  that  passeth  among  them  that 
 are  numbered,  from  twenty  years  old  and  above, 
 shall  give  an  offering  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 15  The** rich  shall  notfgive  more,  and  the 
 poor  shall  not  f  give  less  than  halfa  shekel,  when 
 thei/  give  an  offering  unto  the  Lord,  to  make 
 an  ''atonement  for  your  souls. 
 
 IG  And  thou  shalt  take  the  atonement  money 
 of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  '^  shalt  appoint  it 
 for  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation ;  that  it  may  be  ""  a  memorial  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel  before  the  Lord,  to  make  an 
 atonement  for  your  souls. 
 
 17  If  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 18  "Thou  shalt  also  make  a  laver  of  brass, 
 and  his  foot  a/so  oy  brass,  to  wash  wit/ial:  and 
 thou  shalt  ^  put  it  between  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation  and  the  altar,  and  thou  shalt 
 put  water  therein. 
 
 19  For  Aaron  and  his  sons  "shall  wash  their 
 hands  and  their  feet  thereat: 
 
 20  When  they  go  into  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation,  they  shall  wash  with  water,  tliat 
 they  die  not ;  or  when  they  come  near  to  the 
 altar  to  minister,  to  burn  offering  made  by  fire 
 unto  the  Lord: 
 
 21  So  they  shall  w^ash  their  hands  and  their 
 feet,  that  t!iey  die  not  :  and  '"  it  shall  be  a  sta- 
 tute for  ever  to  them,  ei^c7i  to  him  and  to  his 
 seed  throughout  their  generations. 
 
 22  t  Moreover  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses, 
 saying, 
 
 3  Take  thou  also  unto  thee  ^  principal  spices. 
 
 Chap.  XXX. — 1.  To  hum  inrfn^e— this  was  incense  of  spices,  and 
 was  necessary  to  remove  the  ill  smeiU  from  the  sanctuary,  occasioned 
 by  the  sacrifices,  and  to  denote  the  acceptableness  of  the  service  of  the 
 sanctuary  to  God. — Gill.  Incense  signifies  the  prayers  of  God's  peo- 
 ple, (Ps.  cxli.  2,  Rev.  viii.  3.)  which  are  not  acceptable  to  God  except 
 they  be  offered  upon  the  true  altar,  Christ. — Poole.  This  was,  there- 
 fore, also  typical  of  his  intercession,  which  is  unto  God  '  of  a  sweet 
 Bmelliiig  savour.* — Hen.  ".  Aaron  shall  burn — incense — this,  in  after 
 times,  was  done  by  a  common  priest,  who  obtained  this  service  by  lot, 
 as  wctind  in  the  times  of  Zacharias,  (Luke,  i.  g.) — Gill.  10.  An  atone- 
 ment— once  in  the  i/ertr— on  the  day  of  expiation,  (Lev.  xvi.  19 ;  Num. 
 xxix.  7;)  to  denote  that  the  prayers  of  the  saints  are  acceptable  to  Gud 
 no  otherwise  but  through  the  blood  of  Christ,  who  was  offered  for  the 
 expiation  of  our  sins.  12.  A  r«nsofn.  a  certain  price  for  the  redemption 
 of  their  lives,  whereby  they  acknowledged  the  right  and  power  which 
 God  had  over  their  lives,  that  they  had  forfeited  them  by  their  sins,  and 
 that  it  was  God's  mercy  to  continue  their  lives  to  them.  This  pay- 
 ment was  not  made  at  this  time  only,  nor  every  year,  hut  upon  emi- 
 nent occasions,  when  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  (which  is  the  end 
 and  use  of  this  collection)  or  temple  required  it,  as  may  be  gathered 
 from  2  Kings,  xii.  4,  compared  with  2  Chron.  xxiv.  6.  Compare  Neh. 
 X.  32  ;  Matt.  xvii.  24.    It  might  also  be  laid  out  in  repairs,  or  for  other 
 
 services  of  the  sacred  edifice. — Poole.  No  plague — preserve  their  lives 
 from   plagues   and   disease. — Hew.      *  No  fall,'    Sept.  13.  Half  a 
 
 shekel,  ahout  fouiteen-pence. —  Gill.  Gerahs — a  gerah  was  about  three 
 halfpence  of  our  money.  ShaU  be  the  nfferinf^ — tj'pical  of  the  ransom- 
 price  of  souls  by  Christ,  which  is  not  silver  or  gold,  but  his  precious 
 blood,  his  life,  himself. — GUI.  The  Sept.  read,  to  't\^i■t(Tv  tow  ithpcix^i^ov, 
 '  half  of  the  half-shekel.'  15,  The  rich — the  poor — theii"  souls  lieing 
 alike,  the  same  ransom  price  was  given  for  them.  Hut  one  price  is  paid 
 for  all  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord,  '  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.' — Gill. 
 17.  The  Lord  spake — from  the  frequent  repetition  of  this  phrase,  it  is 
 supposed  that  it  precedes  fresh  commands  given  at  so  many  different 
 times.  19.  Shall  wash,  to  signify  their  natural  impurity  and  unwor- 
 thiness,  and  their  need  of  washing  with  the  blood  and  spirit  of  Christ. 
 — Poole.  The  priests,  though  washed  at  their  consecration,  were  to 
 wash  their  hands  and  feet  every  time  they  officiated,  on  pain  of  death  ; 
 intimating  the  continual  guilt  they  contracted  in  their  daily  employ- 
 ments  and  converse  with  the  world.  (John,  xiii.  1 1 .) — Sut.  20,  Die 
 
 not— the  command  was  evident  and  easy,  and,  tlierefore,  the  disobedi- 
 ence was  worse,  arguing  presumption,  rebellion,  and  contempt.  ^- 
 Poole.  Sin  exposes  to  death,  and  the  blood  of  Christ  is  the  only  pre- 
 ventive against  eternal  death. —  Gill,  Ed.  21.  A  statute  for  ever,  as 
 long  as  the  Jewish  economy  lasted. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXIX.  —  L  In  these  sacrifices  we  see 
 the  great  evil  of  sin.  They  shewed,  by  their  frequent  repetition, 
 that  '  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats  could  not  take  away  sin,' 
 that  yet  another  atonement  must  be  made,  and  a  greater  and 
 more  perfect  sacrifice  was  necessary. 
 
 IL  The:/  also  pointed  to  the  sacrifice  which,  in  the  fulness  of 
 time,  was  to  be  offered  up  once  for  all.  And  in  every  one  was  a 
 silent  voice,  teaching  the  doctrine  of  imputation  ;  the  trans- 
 ferring the  guilt  of  the  sinner  to  the  sacrifice,  and  saying, '  Be- 
 98 
 
 hold  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketb  away  the  sin  of  the  world  ! ' 
 111.  They  also  exhibited  in  type  all  true  believers,  jtresentiug 
 their  bodies  as  a  consecrated  offering  to  God.  *  A  hving  sacrifice, 
 holy,  acceptable  unto  God'.*  Instead  of  offering  up  animal 
 victims,  those  who  are  under  the  influence  of  Uivine  grace 
 now  present  to  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  a  far  more  accept- 
 able sacrifice  of  gratitude  than  any  offered  under  the  law  ;  and 
 every  offering  of  the  body  and  Houl  is  to  God  '  a  sweet  smell- 
 ing savour,*  through  Christ. 
 
The  anointing  oil. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXI. 
 
 Observation  of  tfie  sabbath  commanded. 
 
 of  pure  ^  myrrh  five  lumdrcd  s/ie/iels,  and  of 
 sweet  cinnamon  half  so  much,  even  two  hun- 
 dred and  fifty  shekels,  and  of  sweet  '  calamus 
 two  hundred  and  fifty  shekels, 
 '24  And  of  "cassia  five  hundred  shekels,  after 
 the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary,  and  of  oil  olive  an 
 '•  hill : 
 
 25  And  thou  shalt  make  it  an  oil  of  holy  oint 
 ment,  an  ointment  compound  after  the  art  of 
 the  II  apothecary  :  it  shall  he  '^  an  holy  anoint- 
 ing oil. 
 
 26  •'  And  thou  shalt  anoint  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation  therewith,  and  the  ark  of  the 
 testimony, 
 
 27  And  the  table  and  all  his  vessels,  and  the 
 candlestick  and  his  vessels,  and  the  altar  of 
 incense, 
 
 28  And  the  altar  of  burnt  offering  with  all  his 
 vessels,  and  the  laver  and  his  foot. 
 
 29  And  thou  shalt  sanctify  them,  that  they 
 may  be  most  holy  :  "  whatsoever  toucheth  them 
 shall  be  holy. 
 
 80  '  And  thou  shalt  anoint  Aaron  and  his 
 sons,  and  consecrate  them,  tliat  the;/  may  minis- 
 ter unto  me  in  the  priest's  office. 
 
 31  And  thou  shalt  speak  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel,  saying,  This  shall  be  an  holy  anohiting 
 oil  unto  me  thronghont  your  generations. 
 
 32  Upon  man's  flesh  shall  it  not  be  poured, 
 neither  shall  ye  make  ani/  other  like  it,  after 
 the  composition  of  it :  *"'  it  is  holy,  and  it  shall 
 be  holy  unto  you. 
 
 33  •"  Whosoever  compoundeth  any  like  it, 
 or  whosoever  putteth  anti  of  it  upon  a  stranger, 
 '  shall  even  be  cut  off'  from  his  people. 
 
 34  T  And  the  Loud  said  unto  Moses, '  Take 
 unto  thee  sweet  spices,  stacte,  and  onyclia, 
 and  galbanum ;  these  sweet  spices  with  pure 
 frankincense :  of  each  shall  there  be  a  like 
 weight : 
 
 35  And  thou  shalt  make  it  a  perfume,  a  con- 
 fection '  after  the  art  of  the  apothecary,  f  tem- 
 pered together,  pure  and  holy  : 
 
 30  And  thou  shalt  beat  some  of  it  very  small, 
 and  put  of  it  before  the  testimony  in  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregation,  "'  where  I  will  meet 
 with  thee  :  "  it  shall  be  unto  you  most  holy. 
 
 37  And  as  for  the  perfume  which  thou  shalt 
 make,  °  ye  shall  not  make  to  yourselves  accord- 
 ing to  the  composition  thereof:  it  shall  be 
 unto  thee  holy  for  the  Lord. 
 
 1/  Ps.  15.  8. 
 
 I'lo.  7.  17. 
 ;C.iiit.  -Hi 
 
 Jcr.  6.  20. 
 
 a  Pa.  45,  8. 
 
 U  Or,  jipT- 
 
 c  cli.  37.29. 
 
 Nuin..S.'i.25. 
 
 Ps.  89.  20. 
 
 &  133  2. 
 d  ch.  40.  9. 
 
 Lev.  8.  10. 
 
 Num.  7.  1. 
 
 /ch.  29.7, 
 ike.  I,ev.  g 
 VI,  30. 
 
 J  ver.  25, 37. 
 
 t  neb.M/frd. 
 Lev.  2.  13. 
 
 n  ch.  29.  12 
 J.ev.  16.  2. 
 
 I  ver.  32. 
 ch.  29.  37. 
 Lev.  2.  3. 
 o  ver.  32. 
 
 B.  C.U9I. 
 p  ver   33. 
 
 a  ch.  35.  30. 
 
 &  .%.  1. 
 b  1  Chr.2  20. 
 
 ch-  85.31. 
 IKiil.  7.K 
 
 :  ch.  28.  3. 
 &  35.  10,35. 
 &36.  1. 
 
 /ch.  36.  8. 
 
 ^  ch.  37.  1. 
 A  ch.  37.  6. 
 fHeh.r^wjsf, 
 
 1  ch.  37.  10. 
 4  ch.  37.  17. 
 
 Ich.  38.  1. 
 
 m  ch.  33.  3. 
 
 n  ch  39.  1, 
 ♦  I.Num-J. 
 6,  0,  &c. 
 
 1.  SO.  25, 
 .  &  37.29. 
 p  ch,  30.  31. 
 Si  37.  29. 
 
 J  Lev.  19.  3. 
 30.  &  26.  2. 
 Ezek.20.12, 
 20.  &  41.24. 
 
 ■  ch.  20.  8. 
 Deu.  5.  12. 
 Ezek,20. 12 
 ch.  .-i.').  2. 
 Nuiil  15.35. 
 
 38  ''  Whosoever  shall  make  like  unto  that,  to 
 smell  thereto,  shall  even  be  cut  off  from  his 
 people. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 1  Biznhel  and  Aholinh  are  cnllnd  and  made  meet  for  the 
 work  of  the  taberiiaele.  12  Ttie  ohstyvation  of  the 
 sabbath  is  again  commanded.  18  Moses  reeeiveth 
 ttie  two  tables. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 ■'-^  2  "  See,  I  have  called  by  name  Bezalee. 
 the  ■'son  of  Uri,  the  son  of  Hur,  of  the  tribe 
 of  Judah  : 
 
 3  And  I  have  "  filled  him  with  the  spirit  of 
 God,  in  wisdom,  and  in  understanding,  and  in 
 knowledge,  and  in  all  manner  of  workman- 
 ship, 
 
 4  To  devise  cunning  works,  to  work  in  gold, 
 and  in  silver,  and  in  brass, 
 
 5  And  in  cutting  of  stones,  to  set  them,  and 
 in  carving  of  timber,  to  work  in  all  manner  of 
 workmanship. 
 
 6  And  I,  behold,  I  have  given  with  him  ''Aho- 
 liab,  the  son  of  Ahisamach,  of  the  tribe  of  Dan  : 
 and  in  the  hearts  of  all  that  are  "  wise  hearted 
 I  have  put  wisdom,  that  they  may  make  all 
 that  I  have  commanded  thee  ; 
 
 7  ''  The  tabernacle  of  tlie  congregation,  and 
 ^  the  ark  of  the  testimony,  and  >■  the  mercy  seat 
 that  is  thereupon,  and  all  the  +  furniture  of  the 
 tabernacle, 
 
 8  And  '  the  table  and  his  furniture,  and  '  the 
 pure  candlestick  with  all  his  furniture,  and  the 
 altar  of  incense, 
 
 9  And  ■  the  altar  of  burnt  off'eringwith  all  his 
 furniture,  and  "'  the  laver  and  his  foot, 
 
 10  And  "  the  cloths  of  service,  and  the  holy 
 garments  for  Aaron  the  priest,  and  the  garments 
 of  his  sons,  to  minister  in  the  priest's  oflice, 
 
 1 1  "And  the  anointing  oil,  and  ''  sweet  incense 
 for  the  holy  2ilace  :  according  to  all  that  I  have 
 commanded  thee  shall  they  do. 
 
 12  1  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses, 
 saying, 
 
 13  Speak  thou  also  unto  the  children  of  Israel, 
 saying,  ''  Verily  my  sabbaths  ye  shall  keep  : 
 for  it  16-  a  sign  between  me  and  you  throughout 
 your  generations  ;  that  ye  may  know  that  I  am 
 the  Lord  that  doth  sanctify  you. 
 
 14  ■■  Ye  shall  keep  the  sabbath  therefore  ;  for 
 it  is  holy  unto  you  :  every  one  that  defileth  it 
 shall  surely  be  put  to  death  :  for  '  whosoever 
 
 25.  Anointing  oil — thi.s  was  also  poured  upon  kings,  prophets,  and 
 juiices,  when  appointed  to  ttieir  oflice. — Sut.  It  signified  the  Spirit  of 
 God  and  his  graces,  that  oil  of  gladness  with  which  his  people  are 
 anointed,  and  is  that  anointing  which  teacheth  all  thiugs.  (see  Ps.  xlv.  7 ; 
 Isa.  Ixi.  1,  3;  Acts,  X.  3S;  1  John,  ii.  20,  27.)  26.  Anoint  the  taber- 
 nnrle — typical  either  of  Christ  in  his  human  nature,  the  true  tabernacle, 
 or  of  the  church  and  people  of  God,  who  are  an  holy  tabernacle,  or 
 temple,  of  the  I^ord. — Gill.  And  lite  ark,  signifying  the  separation 
 and  sanctification  of  these  things  fnr  the  service  of  God. — Poole. 
 31.  TUrougliout  your  generations— Poole  supposes,  with  the  Jewish 
 writers,  that  the  oil  was  made  but  once,  and  that  by  Moses.  Gill 
 thinks  that  what  was  made  was  only  enough  for  present  use,  and, 
 for  aught  that  is  said,  it  might  be  made  again,  in  hke  manner,  for 
 
 sacred  uses.       32.  Upon  mmi^s  flesti,  as  was  usual  at  feasts  in  the 
 eastern  countries,  (see  Ps.  xxiil.  5  ;  Luke,  vii.  46.) — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XXXI. — 3.  The  spirit  of  God,  *  a  spirit  of  God,*  an  usual  He- 
 braism for  a  distinguished  genius. — Hew.  As  this  term  has  other 
 higher  significations,  and  is  here  obviously  confined  in  its  meaning  to 
 the  exercise  of  natural  genius,  Boiithroyd  has  properly  rendered  it 
 'an  excellent  spirit.'  6.  1  hore  put  wisdom — a  Hebrew  pleonasm. 
 *  In  the  mind  of  eveiy  man,  who  is  already  wise,  I  have  put  more  wis- 
 dom.'— Hew.  13.  Verily  my  sitl/l)ittlis  lie  shall  kee]) — the  law  of  the 
 Sabbath  had  been  given  before  any  other  law,  by  way  of  preparation, 
 (Exod.  xvi.  23.)  It  had  been  inserted  in  the  body  of  the  moral  law,  in 
 the  fourth  commandment ;  it  had  been  annexed  to  the  judicial  law, 
 (chap,  xxiii,  12,  13  ;)   and  here  it  is  added  to  the  first  part  of  the  cere- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XX.\. —  I.  We  Iiere  learn  tlie  duty 
 of  dailn  prayer,  and  that  prayer  can  only  ascend  to  God  as  it 
 is  perfumed  with  the  much  incense  of  the  Saviour's  merits. 
 Hence  we  ofter  all  our  supplications,  remembering  that  our 
 Intercessor  always  appears  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us. 
 
 II.  Il'eare  tauijtU  constantly  to  provide  for  maintaimng  tlie  cause 
 of  God.  '  Money,'  says  Henry,  •  can  inake  no  atonement  for 
 tlie  soul,  but  it  may  he  used  to  the  honour  of  Him  who  made 
 the  atonement.'  Shall  we  do  nothing  for  Him  wlio  has  done 
 so  much  for  us  ?  His  claims  are  small,  while  our  obUgations 
 are  infinitely  great;  'for  the  redemption  of  the  soul  is 
 99 
 
 precious.'      '  He  gave  Inmstif  for  us,  to  redeem  us  from  all 
 iniquity.' 
 
 III.  We  learn  that  we  ouyitt  at  all  times  to  approach  God  with 
 purity  of  heart.  Tiiis  can  only  be  done  by  coming  anew  by 
 faith  to  the  Fountain  opened  for  sin  and  for  uncleanness.  Tiius 
 must  every  spiritual  priest  undergo  '  tlie  washing  of  regene- 
 ration and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,'  to  fit  him  to  ofler 
 acceptable  sacrifices  to  God,  and  so  shall  he  '  wasii  his  hands 
 and  his  feet.'  '  I  will  wash  my  hands  in  innocency,  and  so 
 will  I  compass  thine  altar,  O  Lord.' 
 
The  people  mahe  a  yoldcn  calf. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXII. 
 
 Gofl  IS  angered  thereby. 
 
 doeth  any  work  therein,  that  soul  shall  be  cul 
 off  from  among  his  people. 
 
 15  '  Six  days  may  work  be  done  ;  but  in  the 
 "seventh  is  the  sabbath  of  rest,  jholy  to  the 
 Lord  :  whosoever  doeth  a)iy  work  in  the  sab- 
 bath da)',  he  shall  surely  be  put  to  death. 
 
 10  Wherefore  the  children  of  Israel  shall 
 keep  the  sabbath,  to  observe  the  sabbath 
 throughout  their  generations,ybr  a  perpetual 
 covenant. 
 
 17  It  Z5  *  a  sign  between  me  and  the  children 
 of  Israel  for  ever :  for  *'  in  six  days  the  Lokd 
 made  heaven  and  earth,  and  on  the  seventh  day 
 lie  rested,  and  was  refreshed. 
 
 IS  H  And  he  gave  unto  Moses,  when  he  had 
 made  an  end  of  communing  with  him  upon 
 mount  Sinai,  ^  two  tables  of  testimony,  tables  of 
 stone,  written  with  the  finger  of  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXII. 
 
 I  Tlie  people^  in  the  absence  of  Moses,  cause  Aaron  to 
 make  a  Lulf.  7  God  is  angcr-dtherchi/.  H  At  the 
 inlreatt/ of  Moses  he  is  app-asfd.  15  Moses  com^th 
 down  with,  the  tables.  19  He  breaketh  them.  20 
 He  destroyith  the  calf.  22  Aaron's  excuse  for  him- 
 self, 25  Moses  caust^th  the  idolaters  to  be  slain.  30 
 lie  praytth  for  the  people. 
 
 AND  when  the  people  saw  tliat  Moses  ''de- 
 layed to  come  down  out  of  the  mount,  tlie 
 people  gathered  themselves  together  unto 
 Aaron,  and  said  unto  him,  ^  Up,  make  us  gods, 
 which  shall  ^  go  before  us  ;  for  as  for  this 
 Closes,  the  man  that  brought  us  up  out  of  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  we  wot  not  what  is  become  of 
 him. 
 
 2  And  Aaron  said  unto  them,  Break  off  the 
 •*  golden  earrings,  which  are  in  the  ears  of 
 your  wives,  of  your  sons,  and  of  your  daughters, 
 and  bring  than  unto  me. 
 
 3  And  all  the  people  brake  off  the  golden 
 earrings  which  were  in  their  ears,  and  brought 
 them  unto  Aaron. 
 
 4  ^  And  be  received  them  at  their  band,  and 
 fashioned  it  with  a  graving  tool,  after  he  had 
 
 /  cli.  20.  9. 
 
 u  Gen.  2.  2. 
 
 cli.  16.  ^3. 
 
 &  20.  10. 
 t  Heb.  hati- 
 
 fietM. 
 
 T  ver.  13. 
 
 KBek.liil.l2, 
 
 :  ch  2-1.  12. 
 lt»2.  15, 16. 
 &  m.  S8,  29. 
 Ueu.  -1  i:i 
 &  5  2i.  fe 
 9.  Ill,  M 
 2  Cor.  3.  3. 
 
 1491. 
 a  ch.  24.  IS. 
 D.-ut  9.  9. 
 
 6  Acts  7.  10. 
 e  ch.  IS.  -Jl. 
 
 d  jiuiK.s.e-i, 
 
 25, 1'G,  27. 
 
 Dull-  U.  Hi. 
 Jutlg  17.  3, 
 i-1  Kin.  12 
 19.  Nth  a. 
 19  ffi.  1D6, 
 IJ.  Is.-lGti. 
 Arts.  7.  41. 
 Kom,  I.  2J. 
 
 /  Lev.  23.  2, 
 
 4.,  2i,  S7. 
 2Kin.|i>.20. 
 2  Clir.  3U.  5. 
 
 A  Deu.  9. 12. 
 ver.  I.  ch. 
 33.  I.  Dau. 
 
 Jiitl?  2.  19. 
 Hos.  9.  9. 
 t  cli.  -M.  3, 
 
 m  ch.  S3.  3, 
 
 5.  &  ft4.  9. 
 
 Deut    9.  6, 
 
 IS.  &  31.  27. 
 
 2Chr..1U.  8. 
 
 Is.  48.  4. 
 
 ActH7.  61. 
 n  Deut.  9. 
 
 14,  19. 
 o  cl..  22.  24 
 y  Ku.  11.  12. 
 
 7  Deu.  9.  19, 
 
 2ij,  27,  an, 
 
 yj    IV  7-1  1. 
 
 2.  «£  lJ6.2:i. 
 
 f  Hel).  Me 
 fiicf  o/Hia 
 LORD. 
 
 i:\.  Dtu.  9. 
 -.'S.&32.  27. 
 
 /  tu 
 
 22.16. 
 
 H.b.  ti  13, 
 ri  Gen.  12  7. 
 Ik  13.  \h.  (i< 
 15.  7,  18  Sc 
 26.  4.  He  -'M 
 13.  &35.  It, 
 12. 
 
 made  it  a  molten  calf:  and  they  said.  These  be 
 tliy  gods,  O  Israel,  wliich  brought  thee  up  out 
 of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 5  And  when  Aaron  saw  if,  he  built  an  altar 
 before  it  ;  and  Aaron  made  ""  proclamation,  and 
 said,  To  morrow  is  a  feast  to  the  Lokd. 
 
 6  And  they  rose  up  early  on  the  morrow, 
 and  offered  burnt  offerings,  and  brought  peace 
 oflPerings  ;  and  the  ^  people  sat  down  to  eat  and 
 to  drink,  and  rose  up  to  play. 
 
 7  H  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  '•  Go, 
 get  thee  down  ;  for  thy  people,  which  thou 
 broughtest  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  '  have 
 corrupted  themselves : 
 
 8  They  have  turned  aside  quickly  out  of  the 
 way  which  ''  I  commanded  tliem  :  they  have 
 made  them  a  molten  calf,  and  have  worshipped 
 it,  and  have  sacrificed  thereunto,  and  said, 
 '  These  be  thy  gods,  O  Israel,  which  have 
 brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 9  And  the  Lokd  said  unto  Moses,  '"  I  have 
 seen  this  people,  and,  behold,  it  is  a  stiff'necked 
 people  : 
 
 10  Now  tiierefore  "let  me  alone,  that  ''my 
 wrath  may  wax  hot  against  them,  and  that  I 
 may  consume  them  :  and  ''  I  will  make  of  thee 
 a  great  nation, 
 
 1 1  *•  And  Moses  besought  f  the  Lord  Ins  God, 
 and  said,  Lord,  why  doth  tliy  wratli  wax  hot 
 against  thy  people,  whicli  thou  hast  brought 
 forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  with  great  power, 
 and  with  a  mighty  hand  y 
 
 1*2  '  Wherefore  should  the  Egyptians  speak, 
 and  say.  For  mischief  did  he  bring  them  out, 
 to  slay  tliem  in  the  mountains,  and  to  consume 
 them  from  the  face  of  tlie  earth  ?  Turn  from 
 thy  fierce  wrath,  and  '  repent  of  this  evil  against 
 thy  people. 
 
 13  Remember  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Israel, 
 thy  servants,  to  whom  thou  ^  swarest  by  thine 
 own  self,  and  saidst  unto  them,  "  I  will  nnilti- 
 ply  your  seed  as  the  stars  of  heaven,  and  all 
 this  land  that  I  have  spoken  of  will  I  give  unto 
 your  seed,  and  they  shall  inherit  it  for  ever. 
 
 monial  law,  because  the  observation  of  the  Sabbath  is  the  hem  of  the 
 whole  law. — Hen.  18.  Of  testimony — a  testimony  of  the  will  of  God. 
 — Gill.  Written  with  the  finder  of  God,  by  God  himself,  and  by  no 
 agent  or  instrument.— Gi7/.  All  the  letters  eut  by  God  himself.— .4.  C. 
 The  Holy  Spirit  may  be  meant. — Scott.  By  the  operation  of  God's 
 power,  just  as  we  use  our  fingers  to  work. — I'at.  With  the  power  and 
 Spirit  of  Gori,  {comp.  Matt.  xii.  18.)  Not  bv  any  art  of  m:in. — Poole. 
 We  are  only  to  understand  that  God  dictatLd  tu  Moses  this  c(»mpcndium 
 of  his  laws,  or  commanded  him  to  write.  Moses  merely  used  this  form 
 of  speech  to  indicate  tlic  sanctity  of  the  laws  engraven  on  the  tables. — 
 Rosenm. 
 
 Chap.  XXXII.  — 1.  Gods,  *  images,'  nr  'representations  of  God,'— 
 Ains.t  Poole,  Gill;  or '  a  God,' *  a  sacred  symbol  of  God.'— Ph/.  2.  The 
 golden  ean-inffs,  commonly  used  by  the  Eastern  people,  and  often  su- 
 perstitiously,  [Gen.  xxxv.  4;  Judg.  viii.  24.)  Aaron  proposed  this  to 
 cool  their  idolatrous  desires.  3.  All  the  people — all  used  for  many. 
 Brake  off,  §-c.— this  was  ingratitude  to  God,  who  had  transferred  these 
 jewels  from  the  Egyptians  to  them,  (chap.  xii.  35,  36  ;J  which,  there- 
 fore, God  upbraids  them  with,  (Ezck.  xvi.  11,  &c.)  Their  ears,  the 
 men's  ears,  for  the  word  has  a  masculine  sign  ;  hence  it  seems  the 
 men  were  more  set  upon  idolatry  than  the  women,  for  the  women  re- 
 tained their  earrings.— Poof e.    In  the  Eastern  couutries,  men  used  to 
 
 wear  gold  in  their  cars;  this  may  be  confirmed  from  Judg.  viii.  21. 
 The  men  took  otT  their  earrings,  and  persuaded  their  wives  and  chil- 
 dren to  do  so. —  Gill.  4.  Fashioned  it— he  nielteil  the  metal,  cast  it 
 ill  a  mould,  and,  with  a  to  d,  shaped  it  like  a  calf.— Poo/e.  The  words 
 may  be  read,  '  he  received  it  at  tticir  hands  ;  and  they  formed  it  in  a 
 mould,  and  they  made  a  mi'ltcn  calf;  and  they  said, This  is  thy  god,  O 
 Israel  ! ' — Shuck/.,  or,  *  he  received  thcn^  at  their  hand,  and  tied  thtm 
 up  in  a  bag,  or  linen  cloth,  or  napkin,  or  pnr-c,  and  made  a  molten 
 chU  of  them.'  Fur  tliis  use  of  the  Hebrew  verb  or  noun,  see  2  Kings, 
 V.  23.  Compare,  also,  Judg.  viii.  24,  and  Isa.  xlvi.  6. — Hou-cl,  Poole, 
 Borh.  It  has  been  thought  this  was  an  imitation  of  the  Egypt  ian  Apis 
 or  Osiris.— G(7/,  A.  Vlnrke.      See  Ezek.  xx.  8;  xxiii.  8.  5.  To   the 
 
 Lord,  '  to  Jehovah  ;'  which  makes  it  probable  that  the  people  designed 
 to  worship  the  true  God  in  this  cAf.— Poole.  6.  To  eat  and  to  drink, 
 of  the  peace  offering'^,  of  wlucli  they  had  a  part,  according  to  God's 
 riirei'tioiis.  Androseup  to  plinj,  to  express  their  jny  by  music,  (iancing, 
 and  other  signs  of  mirih.— P'(/.  It  is  thought,  hy  some,  that,  after  the 
 manner  f)f  thcEtcyptian-i,  they  indulged  in  every  t-pccics  of  wantonness 
 and  excess.— 0/i>n(.  Cost.,  A.  Clarke.  According  to  St.  Paul,  they 
 committed  fornication,  (i  Cor.  x.  S.)—Sut.  9  Stiffnecked,  amelaphor 
 from  those  beasts  that  will  not  bei.d  their  necks  to  receive  the  yoke 
 or  bridle.       10.  Let  me  alone,  'hinder  me  not  by  thy  prayers.*— Poo/e. 
 
 Reflections    on  Chap.  XXXI I.  God  always  raises  up 
 
 instruments  to  do  his  work,  Wlienever  he  pleases  he  can  fjive 
 wisdom  and  skill.  Thus  be  builds  up  and  beautifies  bis  church. 
 *  He  gave  some  prophets,  and  some  pastors,  and  some  teachers, 
 and  some  evangelists,  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints  for  the 
 work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Cbrist.' 
 
 11.  God  is^tulous  of  the  honour  of  his  sabbaths.  lie  has  given 
 us  six  days  tor  secular  work,  and  surely  the  seventh  ought  to 
 belong  to  him.  It  is  in  every  respect  a  merciful  rest,  and  is 
 good  for  the  body  as  well  as  for  the  soul.  Even  the  tabernacle 
 must  not  be  expedited  by  working  on  the  sabbath;  sluinie, 
 100 
 
 then,  to  those  who  expedite  the  building  of  sliips,  and  the 
 making  of  warlike  utensils,  on  the  day  sacred  to  the  God  of 
 tove  and  peace. 
 
 III.  God,  who  wrote  his  hiw  on  the  tahLs  of  stone,  can  write 
 that  law  on  our  hearts.  And  there  his  Spirit  does  inscribe  it  in 
 every  true  believer.  May  he  mercifully  write  it  in  our  hearts, 
 atid  may  we  aim  more  and  more  to  ilUistrate  it  in  our  lives. 
 I  he  Saviour  was  the  ten  commandnieuts  personified,  and  the 
 moie  we  copy  the  fair  precepts  of  God's  law,  the  more  we 
 shall  be  like  him  whose  meat  aud  drink  was  to  do  the  will  of 
 Ills  Father  in  heaven. 
 
Moses  destroyeth  the  golden  calf. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXIII. 
 
 The  people  are  punished. 
 
 14  And  the  Lord  "  repented  of  the  evil  which 
 
 he  thought  to  do  unto  his  people, 
 
 16  t  And  "  Moses  turned,  and  went  down 
 from  the  mount,  and  the  two  tables  of  the  tes- 
 timony were  in  his  hand :  the  tables  were 
 written  on  botli  their  sides  ;  on  the  one  side 
 and  on  the  other  tvere  they  written. 
 
 16  And  the  ^tables  tvere  the  work  of  God, 
 and  tiie  writing /ra^  the  writing  of  God,  graven 
 upon  the  tables. 
 
 17  And  when  Joshua  heard  the  noise  of  the 
 people  as  they  shouted,  he  said  unto  Moses, 
 There  is  a  noise  of  war  in  the  camp. 
 
 18  And  he  said,  II  is  not  the  voice  of  them 
 that  sliout  for  mastery,  neither  is  it  the  voice 
 of  them  that  cry  for  f  being  overcome :  but  the 
 noise  o(  them  that  sing  do  I  hear. 
 
 19  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  soon  as  he  came 
 nigh  unto  the  camp,  tliat  ^  he  saw  the  calf,  and 
 the  dancing:  and  Moses' anger  waxed  hot,  and 
 he  cast  the  tables  out  of  his  hands,  and  brake 
 them  beneath  the  mount. 
 
 tiO  "  And  he  took  the  calf  which  they  had 
 made,  and  burnt  it  in  the  fire,  and  ground  it  to 
 powder,  and  strawed  it  up(jn  the  water,  and 
 made  the  children  of  Israel  drink  of  it, 
 
 21  And  Moses  said  unto  Aaron,  ^  What  did 
 this  people  unto  thee,  that  thou  hast  brought 
 so  great  a  sin  upon  them? 
 
 *22  And  Aaron  said.  Let  not  the  anger  of  my 
 lord  wax  hot :  ^  thou  knowest  the  people,  that 
 tliey  are  set  on  mischief. 
 
 23  For  they  said  unto  me,  "^  Make  us  gods, 
 which  shall  go  before  us:  for  as  for  this  Moses, 
 the  man  tiiat  brought  us  up  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  we  wot  not  what  is  become  of  him, 
 
 24  And  I  said  unto  them,  Whosoever  hath 
 any  gold,  let  them  break  it  off.  So  they  gave 
 it  me  :  then  I  cast  it  into  the  fire,  and  there 
 ®  came  out  this  calf. 
 
 2.5  t  And  when  Moses  saw  that  the  people 
 were  '  naked  ;  (for  Aaron  ^  had  made  tliem 
 naked  unto  Meu"  shame  among  f  their  enemies:) 
 
 26  Then  Moses  stood  in  the  gate  of  the  camp, 
 and  said,  Who  is  on  the  Lord's  side?  let  him 
 come  unto  me.  And  all  the  sons  of  Levi 
 gathered  themselves  together  unto  him. 
 
 B.  C.IWl. 
 
 wDeu.as.ao 
 
 y  Sa.  2+.  16. 
 
 I  Chr.21.15. 
 
 I'b.  106.  45. 
 
 Jer,  IS.  8. 
 
 (fe  26.  13,  19. 
 
 Joel  2.  13. 
 
 Jonati  3.)0. 
 
 &  4,  •>. 
 r  Deu.9.  15. 
 y  ch.  31.  13. 
 
 t  Heh. 
 
 cc\i.  H.  n. 
 
 &  15,  24    8c 
 
 le.  y,  211,28. 
 
 «(   17.  2,  4. 
 d  ver.  I, 
 
 i  Nu.  25.  n, 
 12,  13.  Deu. 
 13.6—11. 
 fc  33.  9.  10. 
 1  Sa  15.  18, 
 22.  Pr.-'l.a 
 Zech.  13  3. 
 Mat.  10.37. 
 
 II  Or,  .4nd 
 
 ClI-irCTHlt 
 
 yiiuTtflvcs  to 
 d-it/  to  ll,e 
 LORD,  be- 
 caiiae  cvfry 
 <»u»  hatli 
 bi-eu  ngaiiiil 
 
 ift  hii 
 
 brotht'T,  dc 
 t  Heb.  F,n 
 i/oiir  handt 
 It  I  Sam.  12. 
 •2i\  23. 
 Luke  15. IR 
 /  2Sa,  IG  l-J. 
 
 5    1.T 
 
 Nu  25.13 
 
 Dei 
 
 9.  18. 
 
 •h  2  ,  . 
 P  Ps,  09.  28 
 
 H<iin,  9.  S. 
 ?  Ps,  56-  8.& 
 
 139,  16. 
 
 Dan.    12.   \. 
 
 Pliil.  4.3. 
 
 Rev,  3.  5. 
 
 &   13.  8.  K( 
 
 17.  8.  &  2(1. 
 
 12,  15.  &21. 
 
 27.  &22.19. 
 ■  Lev.  23.  SO. 
 
 Ezek.  18.  4. 
 *  ch.  33.  2, 
 
 U,  &c. 
 
 Num  20.16, 
 /  Deu.  32  35. 
 
 Amos  3. 14 
 
 Horn  2.5,6. 
 I  2  Sa.  12.  9 
 
 Acts  7.41. 
 
 h  Gen.  12.  7 
 ch.  32.  13. 
 
 27  And  he  said  unto  them,  Tlius  saith  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel,  Put  every  man  his  sword 
 by  his  side,  and  go  in  and  out  from  gate  to 
 gate  throughout  the  camp,  and  ''slay  every 
 man  his  brother,  and  every  man  his  companion, 
 and  every  man  his  neighbour. 
 
 28  And  the  children  of  Levi  did  according  to 
 the  word  of  Moses  :  and  there  fell  of  the  people 
 that  day  about  three  thousand  men. 
 
 29  *  II  For  Moses  had  said,  f  Consecrate  your- 
 selves tu  day  to  the  Lord,  even  every  man 
 upon  his  son,  and  upon  his  brother;  that  he 
 may  bestow  upon  you  a  blessing  this  day. 
 
 30  1[  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow, 
 that  Moses  said  unto  the  people,  ^  Ye  have 
 sinned  a  great  sin  :  and  now  1  will  go  up  unto 
 the  Lord;  '  peradventure  I  shall  '"make  an 
 atonement  for  your  sin. 
 
 31  And  Moses  "returned  unto  tne  Lord, 
 and  said.  Oh,  this  people  have  sinned  a  great 
 sin,  and  have  "made  them  gods  of  gold. 
 
 32  Yet  now,  if  thou  wilt  forgive  their  sin — ; 
 and  if  not,  ^blot  me,  I  pray  thee,  ''out  of  thy 
 book  which  thou  hast  written. 
 
 33  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  '  Whoso- 
 ever hath  sinned  against  me,  him  will  1  blot 
 out  of  my  book. 
 
 34  Therefore  now  go,  lead  the  people  unto 
 the  place  of  which  I  have  spoken  unto  thee: 
 "behold,  mine  Angel  shall  go  before  thee: 
 nevertheless  '  in  the  day  when  1  visit  I  will 
 visit  their  sin  upon  them. 
 
 35  And  the  Lord  plagued  the  people,  because 
 "  they  made  the  calf,  which  Aaron  made. 
 
 CHAP.    XXXIIL 
 
 I  The  Lord  rcfustth  to  go  as  lie  had  promised  with  the 
 people.  4  The  people  viunnnr  thereat.  7  The  talnr- 
 nacle  is  removed  out  of  the  camp.  9  The  Lord  talk- 
 cth  familiarly  with  Moses.  12  Muses  de^ireth  to  Ste 
 the  glory  of  God. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Depart, 
 -^^  and  go  up  hence,  thou  ^  and  tlie  people 
 which  thou  hast  brought  up  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  unto  the  land  which  I  sware  unto 
 Abraham,  to  Isaac,  and  to  Jacob,  saying, 
 '*  Unto  thy  seed  will  I  give  it : 
 
 J4.  Repented—GoA  changes  his  methods  of  acting  with  men,  which  are 
 expressed  in  Scripture  by  'repenting:,'  heing  similar  to  wiiat  men  do 
 when  they  repent. — Gill.  15.  On  both  their  sides,  'on  the  right  hand 
 and  on  the  left  within.' — Poole,  Gill.  The  tables  being  folded  up  and 
 shut  like  a  book  when  laid  in  the  ark. — Witsitis.  ly.  Brake  them — 
 
 this  was  not  the  effect  of  sinful  pa.ssion,  but  under  a  Divine  influence, 
 since  we  never  read  he  was  blamed  fur  this  action,  though  afterwards 
 oniered  to  make  two  tables  like  them. — Gill.  By  this  sign,  he  shewed 
 that  the  covenant  made  between  God  and  them  was,  by  their  sin, 
 broken. — Povle.  20.  The  water,  the  brook  that  descended  out  of  the 
 mount,  (Dent.  ix.  21  ) — GUI.  22.  On  mischirf,  3?13,  'm  mala,*  'are 
 in  wickedness.' — Mont.,  Trem.,  Pise,  'Bent  upon  wickedness.'  — 
 Poole.  24.  Came  out  this  calf,  that  is,  they  afterwards  made  it  into 
 a  calf. — Poole,  Shuck/.     By  chance. — Gill.         25.  Naked,  stripped  of 
 
 their  ornaments,  of  their  innucency,  and  of  their  defence,  in  the  favour 
 of  God. — Poole.  Open  to  the  scorn  of  their  enemies. — Pat.  '  Naked,* 
 ndt  in  a  corporal  sen^e,  but  rather  in  their  souls. — Gill.  Some  suppose 
 literally  naked,  after  the  manner  of  many  idolators. — Green/.  27.  From 
 ^ate  to  gate — this  was,  probably,  an  entrenched  camp,  with  two  gules 
 or  outlets,  and  the  Levites  were  to  pass  through,  and  slay  the  otFeuders. 
 — A.  Clarke.  Slfti;  every  man  his  brother,  every  principal  offender, 
 without  indulgence,  though  brother,  companion,  or  neighbour.  — 
 Poole.  The  crime  of  the  offenders  was  capital. — Boothr.  29.  Co7i- 
 seerate  yourselves — '  to  day  have  ye  initiated  yourselves  In  the  service 
 of  the  Lord.'— Geddes.  32.  Blot  me,  '  let  me  die.'  Here  is  an  allu- 
 sion to  tlie  custom  of  registtring  the  people,  as  in  Num.  i.,  in  Kzra,  and 
 Neheraiah,  and  blotting  them  out  as  they  died. — Pyle. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXXII. — I.  How  profusely  do  men 
 spe^nd  their  wealth  for  their  vanities  !  The  votaries  of  pleasure 
 shew  no  parsimony.  Whatever  be  their  idol,  they  saciiiice 
 freely  to  it.  Do  we  shew  a  proportiomible  zeal  in  advancing 
 the  interests  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion"! 
 
 II.  \fhat  degrading  evasions  do  men  employ  to  extenuate  their 
 follies  and  sins  /  '  Then  I  cast  it  into  the  fire,  and  there  came 
 out  this  calf.'  Sin  will  admit  of  no  apology  ;  hence,  those 
 who  attempt  to  vindicate  it,  make,  at  the  best,  but  awkward 
 pleas,  some  of  which  would,  in  any  other  cause,  appear  of  the 
 most  ludicrous  character.  But  here  the  subject  is  too  serious 
 to  admit  of  any  other  expression  than  that  of  pity  or  grief  j 
 and  though  we  may  palliate  sin,  God  cannot.  He  is  '  of  purer 
 eyes  than  to  behold  iniquity.* 
 101 
 
 III.  What  a  mercy  it  is  tvhen  sinners  find  an  intercessor  with 
 God  f  Moses  stood  between  God  and  Israel ;  and  so  Christ 
 stands  between  God  and  us.  '  We  have  an  advocate  with  the 
 Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous.'  Let  us  look  to  him  ;  his 
 pleas  shall  prevail.  '  Father,'  said  he,  at  the  tomb  of  Lazarus, 
 *  I  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  beard  me.  I  knew  that  thou 
 hearestme  always.'  Yes,  and  the  pleas  of  our  Intercessor  must 
 prevail.  The  Father  is  always  well-pleased  with  him  for  his 
 righteousness' sake  ;  and  though  we  have  oiTended,  yet  on  the 
 prevaleucy  of  his  intercession,  be  can  and  will  again  be  pleased 
 with  us.  Blessed  Saviour,  be  thou  our  advocate,  and  may  thy 
 Holy  Spirit  plead  in  us  by  helping  us  to  pray,  whilst  thou  art 
 pleading  for  us,  and  presenting  the  virtues  of  thy  merits  before 
 the  eternal  throne  ! 
 
The  tabernacle  is  removed. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXIV. 
 
 The  glory  of  God. 
 
 2  '  And  I  will  send  an  angel  before  tliee ; 
 '  and  1  will  drive  out  the  Canaanite,  the  Amor- 
 ite,  and  the  Hittite,  and  the  Perizzite,  the 
 Hivite,  and  the  Jebusite  : 
 
 3  "  Unto  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey : 
 '  for  I  will  not  go  up  in  the  midst  of  thee  ;  for 
 thou  art  a  ^  stiflFnecked  people :  lest  ''  I  con- 
 sume thee  in  the  way. 
 
 4  t  And  when  the  people  heard  these  evil 
 tidings,  '  they  mourned  :  'and  no  man  did  put 
 on  him  his  ornaments. 
 
 5  For  the  Lord  had  said  unto  Moses,  Say 
 unto  the  children  of  Israel,  '  Ye  are  a  stiff- 
 necked  people :  I  will  come  up  "'  into  the 
 midst  of  thee  in  a  moment,  and  consume  thee: 
 therefore  now  put  off  thy  ornaments  from  thee, 
 that  I  may  °  know  what  to  do  unto  thee. 
 
 6  And  the  children  of  Israel  stripped  them- 
 selves of  their  ornaments  by  the  mount  Horeb. 
 
 7  And  Moses  took  the  tabernacle,  and  pitched 
 it  without  the  camp,  afar  off  from  the  camp, 
 °  and  called  it  the  Tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation. And  it  came  to  pass,  that  every  one 
 which  ^ sought  the  Lord  went  out  unto  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  which  ivas 
 without  the  camp. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Moses  went  out 
 unto  the  tabernacle,  that  all  the  people  rose 
 up,  and  stood  every  man  ''  at  his  tent  door, 
 and  looked  after  Moses,  until  he  was  gone 
 into  the  tabernacle. 
 
 9  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  Moses  entered  into 
 the  tabernacle,  the  cloudy  pillar  descended, 
 and  stood  at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle,  and 
 the  L  ORD  '  talked  with  Moses. 
 
 10  And  all  the  people  saw  the  cloudy  pillar 
 stand  at  the  tabernacle  door :  and  all  the 
 people  rose  up  ajid  '  worshipped,  every  man  in 
 iiis  tent  door. 
 
 1 1  And  '  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  face  to 
 face,  as  a  man  speaketh  unto  his  friend.  And 
 he  turned  again  into  the  camp  :  but  "  his  ser- 
 vant Joshua,  the  son  of  Nun,  a  young  man, 
 departed  not  out  of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 \i  1[  And  Moses  said  unto  the  Lord,  See, 
 '  thou  sayest  unto  me.  Bring  up  this  people  : 
 and  thou  hast  not  let  me  know  whom  thou  wilt 
 send  with  me.       Yet  thou  hast  said,  '  I  know 
 
 B.  C.  1191, 
 
 B.C.  1491. 
 
 c  ch.  32.  34. 
 
 jtc  ;u.  11. 
 
 ;  ch.  34.  9. 
 
 (.'Di-u.  7.  S-J. 
 
 JoBb.  24.11. 
 
 a  Ps.  25  4.S. 
 
 27.  n.&8li 
 
 e  ch.  3.  8. 
 
 11.  &  119. 
 
 /ver.  15.17. 
 
 ai. 
 
 gc\\.  32   9  & 
 
 A  PfU   9   -2^ 
 
 31.  9    Deu. 
 
 29.  Joel  2. 
 
 y.  6,  13. 
 
 17- 
 
 Ach.  23.  21. 
 
 cell.  is.':i  & 
 
 &  3-i.  \0 
 
 40.  .■«— 3S. 
 
 Num. 16.21, 
 
 Is    M.  9. 
 
 \5. 
 
 d  Deu.  3.  20. 
 
 i  Num.  I4.I, 
 
 Josh.  21.  41 
 
 as. 
 
 fc  22.  4.Vi 
 
 kl.ev.\0.&. 
 
 23.  1.  Pa. 
 
 2  Stt.  19.  21 
 
 95.  11. 
 
 I  Km -21.27. 
 
 "  ver  3. 
 
 S  Kin.  19.  1. 
 
 Ch,  34.  9. 
 
 Eslli.  4.  lA 
 
 /Nu.  H.  14. 
 
 Eira  a.  3 
 
 y  ch.  34,  lU. 
 
 Job  1.20.  Si 
 
 pLUt.  4   7, 
 
 2,  12. 
 
 34.  2Sam. 
 
 Is  3i.  n. 
 
 7.23.  1  Km, 
 
 Eit.-k.24.IT. 
 
 a   53    Ps. 
 
 S3.  &  sa  16. 
 
 147.  20. 
 
 /  vw   3. 
 
 h  Gou,  19.21 
 
 in  See  Num. 
 
 Jam.  5,  10. 
 
 16,  45,  4*. 
 
 i  ver.  12. 
 
 1.  Dcuu  8.  8. 
 
 Ps.   139.  23. 
 
 '.  ch.  29.  42, 
 
 k  ver.  20. 
 
 '13. 
 
 lTim,6  16, 
 
 /<:h,3l  5,li,7. 
 
 Jur.  31.  14. 
 
 y  View.  4,  29 
 
 2  Sam. 21.1. 
 
 m  Umu.9.15, 
 
 Iti,  H. 
 
 n  K.T.i.  -1.  4, 
 
 16. 
 
 q  >'iuu.  10. 
 
 0  Gtsn.  32.311. 
 
 27. 
 
 Ife.i,  5,  24. 
 
 Jmlg.  6  ■2:i 
 
 Ki  1.^.22    U. 
 
 6  5.  Her.  1. 
 
 le,  17.  Sec 
 
 ch.  24.  10. 
 
 pifi.  2   21. 
 
 rch.  25.2;'. 
 
 ./P^.  yi.1.1. 
 
 8i  3r     IS. 
 
 Pa.  ys  ;. 
 
 xch.  4.31. 
 
 r  ver.  £0. 
 
 John  1.  18. 
 
 (  Gen  32.  5ll. 
 
 Num    Vi.>. 
 
 Dl-u.31.  HI 
 
 u  ch.  24   13. 
 
 X  ch.  32  Rl. 
 
 a  vfti-.  17. 
 
 Gen.  18.  I!>. 
 
 Ps.l.R.  Jer. 
 
 1   b.  John 
 
 a  ch.  33.  IC, 
 
 10.  11.  15. 
 
 ly.  Deut. 
 
 2  Tim.  2.19. 
 
 10.  1. 
 
 thee  by  name,  and  thou  hast  also  found  grace 
 in  my  sight. 
 
 13  Now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  '  if  I  have 
 found  grace  in  thy  sight,  "  shew  me  now  thy 
 way,  that  I  may  know  thee,  that  I  may  find 
 grace  in  thy  sight :  and  consider  that  this 
 nation  is  ^  thy  people. 
 
 14  And  he  said,  "  My  presence  shall  go  ivith 
 thee,  and  I  will  give  thee  "^  rest. 
 
 15  And  he  said  unto  him,  "  If  thy  presence  go 
 not  ivith  me,  carry  us  not  up  hence. 
 
 16  For  wherein  shall  it  be  known  here  that  I 
 and  thy  people  have  found  grace  in  thy  sight? 
 'is  it  not  in  that  thou  goest  with  us?  so  *shall 
 we  be  separated,  I  and  thy  people,  from  all  the 
 people  that  are  upon  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 
 17  And  the  Loud  said  unto  Moses, '' I  will 
 do  this  thing  also  that  thou  hast  spoken  :  for 
 '  thou  hast  found  grace  in  my  sight,  and  I  know 
 thee  by  name. 
 
 18  And  he  said,  I  beseech  thee,  shew  me 
 ^  thy  glory. 
 
 19  And  he  said,  '  I  will  make  all  my  good- 
 ness pass  before  thee,  and  I  will  proclaim  the 
 name  of  the  Loud  before  thee  ;  '"  and  will  be 
 "  gracious  to  whom  I  will  be  gracious,  and  will 
 shew  mercy  on  ivhoni  I  will  shew  mercy. 
 
 20  And  he  said.  Thou  canst  not  see  my  face : 
 for  °  there  shall  no  man  see  me,  and  live. 
 
 •21  And  the  Lord  said.  Behold,  tlicre  is  a 
 place  by  me,  and  thou  shalt  stand  upon  a 
 rock : 
 
 22  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  while  my  glory 
 passeth  by,  that  I  will  put  tliee  ''in  a  clift  of 
 the  rock,  and  will  ''  cover  thee  with  my  hand 
 while  I  pass  by  : 
 
 23  And  I  will  take  away  mine  hand,  and  thou 
 shalt  see  my  back  parts  :  but  my  face  shall 
 'not  be  seen. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 The  tnhlcs  are  rrnrwed.  5  T/ie  name  of  Me  LOUD 
 proclaimed,  8  Moses  inlreateth  God  fo  i/o  with 
 them.  10  Goil  ina/ieth  a  covenant  with  them,  repcat- 
 inr/  certain  duties  of  the  frst  table.  28  Moses  after 
 forty  days  in  the  mount  cometh  down  with  the  tables. 
 29  Hi^  face  shineth,  and  he  covereth  it  with  a  veil. 
 
 ND  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  °  Hew  thee 
 two   tables  of  stone  like  unto  the  first : 
 
 A 
 
 Chap.  XXXIIT. — 2.  An  Angel — as  God  says  in  the  next  verse,  '  I  will 
 not  go  up,' it  is  obvious  this  was  not  the  aneel  of  the  covenant,  in 
 whom  was  the  name  of  God. — so  Gill,  A.  Clarke,  Sut,  3.  Milfc  and 
 fi'iw//—see  note  lui  cliap.  iii.  8.  4.  His  ointnnents — it  is  still  custo- 
 mary in  the  east  to  put  off  the  outward  garments  in  time  of  mourning. 
 —Pitts.  ".  The  tabermmle,  riiv  tj  iTKtuiiv  uvtou,  '  his  tent,'  Sept.  The 
 tabernacle,  so  called,  was  not  yet  ercted.  Dr.  Clarke,  therefore,  thinks 
 this  was  the  tent  of  Mnses,  which  was  before  in  the  camp,  to  which  the 
 congregation  came  for  judgment ;  and  where,  no  doubt,  God  frequently 
 came  with  his  sirvant.  Gill  thinks  this  was  a  temporary  tabernacle. 
 1 1 .  Face  tn/iice,  freely,  familiarly,  and  immediately,  and  not  as  he  did 
 to  other  prophets,  in  dreams  or  visions. — Ben.  12.  Bt/  naine — it 
 was  a  great  mark  of  favour  wlien  eastern  monarchs  spoke  to  their  at- 
 
 tendants by  name. — Calm.  13.  Thy  way,  the  way  in  which  he  should 
 lead  his  people. — Pat.  14.  My  presenee — ')'2^>  >2C,  'my  faces  shall 
 go.* — Mont.  Manifestations  of  my  grace  and  goodness. — A.  Clarke. 
 15.  Up  hence,  fri»m  the  muunt  to  the  laud  of  Canaan. — Gill.  ip.  To 
 whom  1  will  be  gracious — see  Reflection  III.  22,  23.  My  glnry — back 
 parts — '  It  shall  come  to  pass,  wliile  my  glory  passeth  by^  that  I  will 
 put  thee  in  a  clift  of  the  rock,  and  will  cover  thee  with  my  hand  while 
 I  pass  by,'  (that  my  essential  unrobed  glory  may  not  overwhelm  thee;) 
 'and  I  will  take  away  mine  hand,  and  thou  shalt  see  MnM~riM,  that 
 vhich  I  shall  be  hereafter,'  (or  my  future  manifestation  in  glorified  hu- 
 manity  :)  'but  my  face'  (uuincarnate  Deity)  'shall  not  be  seen,'  — 
 Elijah,  pp.  169,  170. 
 
 Reflections  ov  Chap.  XXXIIT.— S'/n  in  Go'Vs  pmplc,  as 
 irill  fis  in  others,  is  o/icai/s  followed  by  the  Divine  disphasure. 
 God  now  frowned  upon  "this  *  stiff-necked  people,*  thougb  he 
 did  not  *  consume  tliem.'  They  lost  the  ftuV/e/ice  of  being  the 
 peculiar  people  of  God.  fur  they  %vpre  committed  to  the  general 
 care  of  his  providence,  rather  than  guided  by  the  special 
 favour  of  the  Angel  of  the  covenant.  In  the  former  chapter  he 
 spoke  distantly  of  them,  and  said  to  I\Ioses,  'thy  people,' 
 instead  of  usini,'  the  endeaiing  language,  '  wy  people';'  and  we 
 are  informed  '  that  the  Lord  plagued  the  people,  because  they 
 made  tlie  calf,  which  Aaron  made.*  To  enjoy  the  light  of 
 God's  countenance,  we  must  walk  in  the  light  of  his  law. 
 
 II.  Sin  m7ist  he  repented  of;  and  if  wc  sincerely  repent  of  our 
 sins^  the  best  evidence  we  can  (five  of  our  repentance  is  to  forsake 
 them,  and  humble  ourselves  before  God.  O  let  us  beware  of  har- 
 102 
 
 dening  our  hearts,  lest  God  should  in  judgment  leave  them 
 hardened. 
 
 III.  All  true  penitents  tf ill  find  that  our  God  is  a  merciful  God. 
 Infidels,  who  are  monuments  of  his  sparing  mercy  every  day, 
 and  of  his  patience  and  long-suffering,  would  represent  him 
 as  a  tyrant;  but  his  word,  and  those  who  know  his  word, 
 describe  him  as  the  very  opposite.  Hear  him  saying.  '  1  will 
 be  gracious  to  whom  I  will  be  gracious,  and  I  will  shew  mercy 
 on  whom  I  will  shew  mercy.'  *  As  if  he  had  said,'  observes 
 Scott,  '  I  will  pardon  what  sinners  I  please  ;  nor  shall  any 
 degree  of  guilt  bar  this  exercise  of  my  mercy.'  That  he  should 
 pardon  any  is  an  act  of  his  grace,  seeing  that  all  have  forfeited 
 his  favoiir;  but  'where  sio  has  abounded,  grace  much  more 
 abounds. 
 
The  tables  are  renewed. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXIV. 
 
 The  duties  of  the  people  7'epeated. 
 
 ''and  I  will  write  upon  t/iese  tables  the  words 
 that  w^ere  in  the  first  tables,  which  thou  brakest. 
 
 •2  And  be  ready  in  tlie  morning,  and  come  up 
 in  the  morning  unto  mount  Sinai,  and  present 
 thyself  there  to  me  '^in  the  top  of  the  mount. 
 
 3  And  no  man  shall  "^  come  up  with  thee, 
 neither  let  any  man  be  seen  throuj^liout  all  the 
 mount  ;  neither  let  the  flocks  nor  herds  feed 
 before  that  mount. 
 
 4  1[  And  he  hewed  two  tables  of  stone  like 
 unto  the  first ;  and  Moses  rose  up  early  in  the 
 morning,  and  went  up  unto  mount  Sinai,  as  the 
 Lord  had  commanded  him,  and  took  in  his 
 hand  the  two  tables  of  stone. 
 
 5  And  the  Lord  descended  in  the  cloud,  and 
 stood  with  him  there,  and  "  proclaimed  the  name 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 6  And  the  Lord  passed  by  before  him,  and 
 proclaimed,  The  Lord,  The  Lord  'God,  mer- 
 ciful and  gracious,  longsutfering,  and  abundant 
 in  ^  goodness  and  '"  truth, 
 
 7  '  Keeping  mercy  for  thousands,  ^  forgiving 
 iniquity  and  transgression  and  sin,  and  '  that 
 will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty ;  visiting  the 
 iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children,  and 
 upon  the  children's  children,  unto  the  third  and 
 to  the  fourth  f/eneratioiu 
 
 8  And  Moses  made  haste,  and  ^  bowed  his 
 head  toward  the  earth,  and  worshipped. 
 
 9  And  he  said.  If  now  1  have  found  grace  in 
 thy  sight,  0  Lord, "  let  my  Lord,  I  pray  thee,  go 
 among  us  ;  for  "*  it  is  a  stiff'necked  people  ;  and 
 pardon  our  iniquity  and  our  sin,  and  take  us 
 for  ^  thine  inheritance. 
 
 10  1  And  he  said,  Behold,  ^  I  make  a  cove- 
 nant :  before  all  thy  people  I  will  'do  marvels, 
 such  as  have  not  been  done  in  all  the  earth,  nor 
 in  any  nation:  and  all  the  people  among  which 
 thou  art  shall  see  the  work  of  the  Lord  :  for  it 
 is  ^a  terrible  thing  that  I  will  do  with  tliee. 
 
 1  ]  '  Observe  thou  that  which  I  command  thee 
 this  day  :  behold,  "  I  drive  out  before  thee  the 
 Amorite,  and  theCanaanite,  and  the  Hittite,and 
 the  Perizzite,  and  the  Hivite,  and  the  Jebusitc. 
 
 12  "Take  heed  to  thyself,  lest  thou  make  a 
 covenant  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  land 
 whitiier  thou  goest,  lest  it  be  for^a  snare  in 
 the  midst  of  thee  : 
 
 13  But  ye  shall  ^  destroy  their  altars,  break 
 their  f  images,  and  ^  cut  down  their  groves  : 
 
 14  For  thou  shalt  worship  ^no  other  God; 
 for  the  Lord,  whose  ^  name  is  Jealous,  is  a 
 •* jealous  God  : 
 
 \b  *"'  Lest  thou  make  a  covenant  with  the  in- 
 habitants of  the  land,  and  they  '^go  a  whoring 
 after  their  gods,  and  do  sacrifice  unto  their 
 gods,  and  one  ^  call  thee,  and  thou  ^  eat  of  his 
 sacrifice ; 
 
 e  ch.  33.  19. 
 
 _  um.l+.17. 
 /.\u.  1  J.  IS. 
 
 2Chr.30  9. 
 
 Neh.  9.  17. 
 
 Ps.S6.  15. He 
 
 iat.8.&  HI. 
 
 4-  &  U2.  4. 
 
 &    116.  5.  & 
 
 1 15.  6,  Joel 
 
 %  13. 
 y  I's.  31.  19. 
 
 ftom.  2.  4. 
 '.   I's.  07.   10. 
 
 &   li>H.  4. 
 i  rli.  ail.  6. 
 
 Di-ii.  5,  10. 
 
 Ps   B6.  15. 
 
 .U:v    32    18. 
 
 Daii.  9.  *. 
 r  V».  IW3.3.& 
 
 r.-l.i.t.  Lia.9. 
 
 a.  Eph.4.32 
 
 1  John  1.9. 
 f  ch.S3.7,2i. 
 
 Josh    24.19. 
 
 Job  10.  14. 
 
 Mic,  6.  11. 
 
 IVah.  1.  3. 
 m  ch  *.  31 . 
 /.  ch,  33.  13, 
 
 16. 
 
 0  eh.  33.  3. 
 p  Deu.  32.  9. 
 
 Pfi.  '^8.  9.  & 
 
 33   12  &7S. 
 
 62.  X.  9*.  14. 
 
 Jcr  10.  16. 
 
 Zech.  2-  12, 
 q  Deut-  5.  2. 
 
 tc  ^9.  12,  14. 
 r  Deu.  4.  32 
 
 2  Sam. 7  23. 
 Ps.  77.  lt,& 
 7B    \2.  & 
 U7.  20 
 
 »  Deu.  10,21 
 
 Ps.  145.  6. 
 
 Is    6i,  3, 
 t  Deu.  h   32. 
 
 &  e  :i,  25  Si 
 
 12.  as,  32.  & 
 
 28.  I. 
 
 K  ch.  3.1  2. 
 X  c\\.  iZ.  32. 
 
 Deut.  7.  2. 
 
 Jmlg.  2.  2. 
 y  ch.  23.  33. 
 :  ch.  23.  24. 
 
 Deu.  12.3. 
 
 Juds  2.  a. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 itillurl. 
 
 1  Deu.  7.  fi- 
 fe 12.  2. 
 Ju.lg.  6.25 
 2  Kin.  IS,  i. 
 8(  23.  U- 
 2Chr.  31.  1 
 h  .-{4    3,  4- 
 
 b  ch.20,3,5. 
 c  So  Is.  9.  6. 
 
 &  57,  15- 
 d  ch.  20.  5. 
 e  ver  12. 
 /-Deu.  31.16. 
 '  Ju-Ig  2-  17- 
 
 Jer.  3   9. 
 
 Kzek.  6  9. 
 g  Num.  25,2 
 
 ICor  10  27 
 A  Ps. 106.23. 
 
 1  Cor.  8.  4, 
 
 7,  10. 
 
 B.C.  1491. 
 
 ."  Deu    7.  3. 
 
 I  Kill.  112. 
 
 Ezra  y,  2. 
 
 Neh.  13.25. 
 k  Nu.2o.  1,2. 
 
 1  Km.  11.4. 
 /  ch   32.  8. 
 
 Uv.  19.  4. 
 m  ch.  12.15, 
 
 &  23.  15. 
 
 o  ch,  13  2,12- 
 &  22.  29. 
 Erek.44..%, 
 Luke  2.  23. 
 
 p  ch.  13.  13- 
 Nuin.lS.la. 
 II  Or,  kid. 
 
 q  eh.  23.  15. 
 
 Dl-u,  lii  Ifi 
 
 Is^ftm  9,7,9, 
 
 2  Sam   24. 
 
 24. 
 rch.  20.  9-  & 
 
 23.  12.  &35- 
 
 2    Deut.  &. 
 
 12.1.i.  Luke 
 
 13    14. 
 »ch.  23    16 
 
 Deu.  10.  10, 
 
 13 
 t  Hell.  rr,-o~ 
 
 luti.m  of  Ihc 
 
 rch  23  14, 
 17.  Deal. 
 16.  iti 
 
 II  ch.  sa.  ?. 
 
 Lev. 18.  24. 
 
 Deul.  7.  I. 
 
 Ps.  73.  55. 
 
 &  80.  8. 
 X  Deut.  12. 
 
 20,  &  19  8, 
 jSeeGeu.Sfi. 
 
 5  2Chr.I7. 
 
 lO.Pro  :6  7. 
 
 Acts  18.  10. 
 s  ch.  23.  18 
 a  ch.  12.  10. 
 
 6  ch.  23.  19. 
 Deu.  20.  2, 
 
 ■  Ch.  23.  19. 
 Deu   14.21. 
 
 ch.a4    18. 
 Deu.  9.  9, 
 18. 
 /ver.  1. 
 ch.31.  1S.& 
 32-  Hi.  Deu. 
 4,  13.  &  10 
 2,  4. 
 t  Heb.uorifi, 
 
 5  eh.  32.  15. 
 
 16  And  thou  take  of  *  their  daughters  unto 
 thy  sons,  and  their  daughters  ^  go  a  whoring 
 after  their  gods,  and  make  thy  sons  go  a 
 whoring  after  their  gods. 
 
 17  '  Thou  shalt  make  thee  no  molten  gods, 
 
 18  If  The  feast  of  "'unleavened  bread  shalt 
 thou  keep.  Seven  days  thou  shalt  eat  un- 
 leavened bread,  as  I  commanded  thee,  in  tiie 
 time  of  the  montli  Abib  :  for  in  the  "  month 
 Abib  thou  camest  out  from  Egypt. 
 
 19  "All  that  openeth  the  matrix  is  mine  ;  and 
 every  firstling  among  thy  cattle,  whether  o"^  or 
 sheep,  that  is  male. 
 
 20  But  ''the  firstling  of  an  ass  thou  shalt  re- 
 deem with  a  II  lamb  :  and  if  thou  redeem  him 
 not,  then  shalt  thou  break  his  neck.  All  the 
 firstborn  of  thy  sons  thou  shalt  redeem.  And 
 none  shall  appear  before  me  ''  empty. 
 
 21  ^  ""Six  days  tliou  shalt  work,  but  on  the 
 seventli  day  thou  shalt  rest  :  in  earing  time 
 and  in  harvest  thou  shalt  rest. 
 
 22  \  ^  And  tliou  shalt  observe  the  feast  of 
 weeks,  of  the  firstfrnits  of  wheat  harvest,  and 
 the  feast  of  ingathering  at  the  f  year's  end. 
 
 2.3  ^  '  Thrice  in  the  year  shall  all  your  men- 
 children  appear  before  the  Lurd  God,  the  God 
 of  Israel. 
 
 24  For  I  will  *"  cast  out  the  nations  before 
 thee,  and  ^enlarge  thy  borders:  ^neither  shall 
 any  man  desire  thy  land,  when  thou  shalt  go 
 up  to  appear  before  the  Lord  thy  God  thrice 
 in  the  year. 
 
 5  ^  Thou  shalt  not  offer  the  blood  of  my 
 sacrifice  with  leaven  ;  "^  neither  shall  the  sacri- 
 fice of  the  feast  of  the  passover  be  left  unto 
 the  morning. 
 
 26  **  The  first  of  the  firstfrnits  of  thy  land  thou 
 shalt  bring  unto  tlie  house  of  the  Lord  thy 
 God.  ""  Thou  shalt  not  seethe  a  kid  in  his 
 mother's  milk. 
 
 27  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Write 
 thou  "^  these  words  :  for  after  the  tenor  of  these 
 words  I  have  made  a  covenant  with  thee  and 
 with  Israel. 
 
 28  '^  And  he  was  there  with  the  Lord  forty 
 days  and  forty  nights  ;  he  did  neither  eat  bread, 
 nor  drink  water.  And  *'he  wrote  upon  the 
 tables  the  words  of  the  covenant,  the  ten 
 t  commandments. 
 
 29  1[  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Moses  came 
 down  from  mount  Sinai  with  the  ^  two  tables 
 of  testimony  in  Moses'  hand,  when  he  came 
 down  from  the  mount,  that  Moses  wist  not  that 
 ^  the  skin  of  his  face  shone  while  he  talked 
 with  him. 
 
 30  And  when  Aaron  and  all  the  children  of 
 Israel  saw  Moses,  behold,  the  skin  of  his  face 
 shone  ;  and  they  were  afraid  to  come  nigh  him. 
 
 CnAp.  XXXIV. — Q.  And  the  ho rd  passed  bi/ — and  proclaimed,  the 
 Lord,  ^c. — Dr.  Clarke  sugg'ests  it  would  read  better,  '  and  the  Lord 
 passed  by  before  him,  and  proclaimed,  Jehovah' — that  is,  shewed 
 Moses  fully  what  is  implied  in  this  august  name.  The  Lord,  the 
 Lord  God,  merciful  and  gracious,  ^c. — these  are  his  perfections,  as 
 they  are  seen  in  the  subsequently  manifested  Messiah. — Ed.  These 
 glorinus  titles  and  attributes  are  those  back  parts  of  God,  (chap, 
 xxxiu.  23.)  None  can  see  more  than  these  and  live;  and  we  need  see 
 no  more  than  these  that  we  may  Mve.—Trapp.  j.  For  t/i'iu.-ifinds, 
 '  to  a  thousand  generations. '—7?f)(»Mr.  Bi/  no  means  clear  the  guilty — 
 all  this  mercy  and  erace  consist  with  the  most  entire  hatred  tif  moral 
 evil,  and  the  most  absolute  determination  to  punish  it ;  indeed,  the  ho- 
 liness and  justice  of  God  are  a  part  of  his  goodness  and  love,  consi- 
 dered in  their  exercise  towards  all  his  rational  creatures,  through, 
 out  universal  space  and  everlasting  duration.— 5co^i.  Geddes,  by  a 
 trifling  alteration  in  ttte  original,  reads,  '  acquitting  him  who  is  not 
 innocent.*   The  Sept.  is,  Kat  ov  xaOaptet  tov  evoxov, '  and  he  doth  not  pu- 
 
 rify  the  guilty.'  The  two  last  words  are  supplementary,  and,  there- 
 fore,  in  italics  ;  and  if  we  supply  for  *  the  guilty,'  '  the  wicked,'  that  is, 
 '  the  impenitent,'  if  we  fail  of  the  precise  sense,  we  shall  have  one  in 
 perfect  harmony  with  the  Scripture. —  Wil.  lo.  A  terrible  thing — ■ 
 explained  ver.  11.  17-  Molten  gods — these  included  graven  images, 
 and  are  particularly  mentioned,  because  it  is  probable  they  were  chitfly 
 such  as  the  Canaanites  worshipped,  and  especiatly,  because  the  calf  the 
 Israelites  had  lately  made  and  worshipped  was  a  molten  one. — GUI. 
 21.  In  earing  time  a}id  in  harvest,  '  in  the  times  of  pl"Ughing  and  reap- 
 ing;* for  though  they  miglit  require  haste  and  expediUon,  jet  the  Sab- 
 bath was  not  to  be  broken  on  account  of  them. — Gill.  26.  Not  seethe 
 a  kid — see  note  on  chap,  xxiii.  IQ.  2g.  The  skin  of  his  face  shone,  pp, 
 *  was  homed,'  Vulg.  The  root  means,  to  shine  out,  to  dart  forth,  as 
 horns  from  the  head  of  an  animal. — A.  Clarke.  '  Darted  out  rays.' — 
 Gill.  'Shot  forth  radiant  beams  of  light.'— i'ar.  Heuce  the  Italian 
 painters  represent  MojiCs  with  illuminated  horns,  according  to  the 
 Vulgate  which  they  read. — Pyley  fict.  Bib. 
 
The  sabbath. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXV. 
 
 Tht  offerings  ofthepeoph. 
 
 31  And  Moses  called  unto  them  ;  and  Aaron 
 and  all  the  rulers  of  the  congregation  returned 
 unto  him  :  and  Moses  talked  with  them. 
 
 32  And  afterward  all  the  children  of  Israel 
 came  nigh  :  '  and  he  gave  them  in  command 
 ment  all  that  the  Lord  had  spoken  with  him 
 in  mount  Sinai. 
 
 33  And  till  Moses  had  done  speaking  with 
 them,  he  put  ^  a  vail  on  his  face. 
 
 34  But  '  when  Moses  went  in  before  the 
 Lord  to  speak  with  him,  he  took  the  vail  off, 
 until  he  came  out.  And  he  came  out,  and 
 spake  unto  the  children  of  Israel  thiit  which  he 
 was  commanded. 
 
 35  And  the  children  of  Israel  saw  the  face  of 
 Moses,  that  the  skin  of  Moses'  face  shone  :  and 
 Moses  put  tlie  vail  upon  liis  face  again,  until 
 he  went  in  to  speak  with  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXV. 
 
 1  Tlie  sabhnth.  4  The  free  pifts  for  the  tahernacle, 
 20  The  readiness  of  the  peiipie  lo'tiffer.  SO  Bezuleel 
 and  Aholiah  are  caUed  to  the  work. 
 
 AND  Moses  gathered  all  the  congregation  of 
 the  children  of  Israel  together,  and  said 
 unto  them,  "  These  are  the  words  which  the 
 Lord  hath  commanded,  that  ye  should  do 
 them. 
 
 2  ^  Six  days  shall  work  be  done,  but  on  the 
 seventh  day  there  shall  be  to  you  tai\  holy 
 day,  a  sabbath  of  rest  to  the  Lord:  whosoever 
 doeth  work  therein  shall  he  put  to  death. 
 
 3  °  Ye  shall  kindle  no  fire  throughout  your 
 habitations  upon  the  sabbatli  day. 
 
 4  1  And  Moses  spake  unto  all  the  congrega- 
 tion of  the  children  of  Israel,  saying,  ''  This  is 
 the  thing  which  the  Lord  commanded,  saying, 
 
 5  Take  ye  from  among  you  an  offering  unto 
 the  Lord  :  "  whosoever  is  of  a  willing  heart,  let 
 him  bring  it,  an  offering  of  the  Lord  ;  gold, 
 and  silver,  and  brass, 
 
 6  And  blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet,  and  fine 
 linen,  and  goats'  hair, 
 
 7  And  rams'  skins  dyed  red,  and  badgers' 
 skins,  and  shittim  wood, 
 
 8  And  oil  for  the  light,  '  and  spices  for  anoint- 
 ing oil,  and  for  the  sweet  incense, 
 
 9  And  onyx  stones,  and  stones  to  be  set  for 
 the  ephod,  and  for  the  breastplate. 
 
 A2Ccir.3  13. 
 (2Cor.3.  16. 
 
 '  fh.  20.  9. 
 !v  .SI.  It,  IS. 
 Lev.  S.1  S. 
 Niiin  14.1.', 
 
 K:C     PcU.  5. 
 
 12.  r.uk.; 
 l:i    I*, 
 t  Heb. 
 
 c  ch.  IC.  SS. 
 
 /cli   85.  0. 
 
 B.  C.  1191. 
 g  ch.  31.  C, 
 
 ft  ch.  S6    1, 
 2,  Ac. 
 
 *  ch.  25.  23. 
 
 /  ch.  25   30. 
 
 Lev.  24.5,0. 
 m  ch  25.  .SI, 
 
 &c. 
 
 "  ch.  30.  S3 
 t>  ch,  .30.  St. 
 
 J  ch.  27.  1. 
 
 I  ch.  SI.  10 
 ft  39.  1,41 
 
 /vor.  5,22.26, 
 20.  ch.  25.2. 
 fcSfi.  2. 
 
 1  Chr.  28.2, 
 9,  81  29.  9. 
 Eira7.  27. 
 
 2  Cor.  8.  12. 
 &  9.  7. 
 
 10  And  '  every  wise  hearted  among  you  shall 
 come,  and  make  all  that  the  Lord  hath  com- 
 manded ; 
 
 1 1  ■•  The  tabernacle,  his  tent,  and  his  covering, 
 his  tache.s,  and  his  boards,  his  bars,  his  pillars, 
 and  his  .sockets, 
 
 12  '  The  ark,  and  the  staves  thereof,  with  the 
 mercy  seat,  and  the  vail  of  the  covering, 
 
 13  The  '  table,  and  liis  staves,  and  all  his  ves- 
 sels, '  and  the  shewbread, 
 
 14  "  The  candlestick  also  for  the  light,  and 
 his  furniture,  and  his  lamps,  with  the  oil  for 
 the  light, 
 
 13  "And  the  incense  altar,  and  his  staves, 
 °  and  the  anointing  oil,  and  ''  tlie  sweet  incense, 
 and  the  hanging  for  the  door  at  the  entering  in 
 of  the  tabernacle, 
 
 16  "I  The  altar  of  burnt  offering,  with  hisbrasen 
 grate,  his  staves,  and  all  his  vessels,  the  laver 
 and  his  toot, 
 
 17  '  The  hangings  of  the  court,  his  pillars,  and 
 their  sockets,  and  the  hanging  for  the  door 
 of  the  court, 
 
 18  The  pins  of  the  tabernacle,  and  the  pins  of 
 the  court,  and  their  cord.s, 
 
 19  '  Tlie  cloths  of  service,  to  do  service  in  the 
 holy  place,  the  holy  garments  for  Aaron  the 
 priest,  and  the  garments  of  his  sons,  to  minister 
 in  the  priest's  office. 
 
 20  K  And  all  the  congregation  of  tlie  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  departed  from  the  presence  of 
 Moses. 
 
 21  And  they  came,  every  one  '  whose  heart 
 stirred  him  up,  and  every  one  whom  his  spirit 
 made  willing,  and  they  brought  the  Lord's 
 offering  to  tlie  work  of  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation,  and  for  all  his  service,  and  for  the 
 holy  garments. 
 
 22  And  they  came,  both  men  and  women,  as 
 many  as  were  willing  hearted,  and  brought 
 bracelets,  and  earrings,  and  rings,  and  tablets, 
 all  jewels  of  gold  :  and  every  man  that  offered 
 offered  an  offering  of  gold  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 23  And  "  every  man,  with  whom  was  fotmd 
 blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet,  and  fine  linen, 
 and  goats'  hair,  and  red  skins  of  rams,  and 
 badgers'  skin.s,  brought  them. 
 
 24  Every  one  that  did  offer  an  offering  of  .sil- 
 ver and  brass  brought  the  Lord's  offering  :  and 
 
 CnAP.  XXXV. — 3.  Kindle  no/ire — Sutclijfe  speaks  of  fires  bein^  ne- 
 cessary to  the  colder  regions  of  Europe,  especially  f^-r  our  little  infants 
 and  sick  people  ;  it  must,  however,  be  recollected,  that  the  winter  in 
 Judea  is  also  very  cold.  Hence,  we  must  limit  the  commands  of  the 
 text  as  applicable  to  needless  fires. — Ed.,  so  Bnnttir.  Commentators 
 understand  this  as  a  prohibition  of  doing  any  tabernacle  work  on  that 
 day,  such  as  heating  tools  or  melting  metals.  The  sacred  festivals 
 would  happen  on  the  Sabbath,  and  on  that  day  the  Paschal  Lamb 
 might  require  roasting. — So  Gilt.  Henri/,  Scott.     The  Jews  will  not 
 
 dress  victuals   on   the   Sabbath. — A.  Clarke.  19.  The  pins   of  the 
 
 tobemaele,  to  fasten  it  m  the  ground.  19.  Cloths  of  servire,  to 
 wrap  lip  the  vessels  of  the  tabernacle  when  removed  from  place  to 
 place,  (see  chap  xxxi.  lO;)  or  the  priests'  vestments,  in  which  they 
 did  their  service. —  Gill.      Probably,   aprons,   towels,   and   such   like. 
 
 21.  n'hose  heart  stirred  ttim   up,  literally,   'was  lifted  up.' — A.  Clarice. 
 
 22.  Tftbleta — here  commentiitors  differ.  The  tablet  was.  probably,  a 
 girdle  worn  round  the  bosom. — Biich.,  Mont,     '  Lockets.' — Geddes. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXIV.  —  I.  We  have  here  a  full 
 and  glorious  development  of  the  perfections  of  Jehovah  ;  but  these 
 perfections  are  most  strikingly  exhibited  in  the  person  and 
 work  of  tlie  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     Here  '  mercy  and  truth  meet 
 together,  rigliteousness  and  peace  have  kissed  each  other.' 
 As  one  of  our  Christian  poets  finely  expresses  it — 
 '  Here  the  whole  Deity  is  known. 
 Nor  dares  the  creature  guess 
 Which  of  the  glories  brightest  shine, 
 The  justice  or  the  grace.' 
 II.   When  God  has  given  its  a  sense  of  returning  favour,  and  we 
 can  trust  that  he  ha.t  pardoned  our  sins  through  a  Mediator,  we  are 
 under  bonnden  ohligations  to  go  and  sin  no  more.     So  he  said  to 
 the  woman  in  the  gospel ;  so  he  speaks  in  his  gospel  to  every 
 104 
 
 pardoned  sinner  now  ;  and  so  he  spoke  to  Israel  of  old.  Every 
 fresh  sin,  after  God  has  displayed  his  readiness  still  to  forgive, 
 is  an  aggravation  of  guilt,  and,  where  persevered  in,  proves 
 tliat  the  soul  is  under  the  ruinous  dominion  of  that  master 
 whose  wages  is  death. 
 
 III.  TIte  more  intercourse  we  have  tvith  God,  the  more  manifest 
 will  it  appear.  So  Moses'  face  shone  when  he  descended  from 
 the  mount.  The  Christian  character  shines  brightest  in  holi- 
 ness ;  this  is  the  shining  which  it  reflects  from  the  face  of 
 Deity.  It  is  thus,  by  devout  meditation  on  liis  word,  where 
 he  manifests  his  glory,  that  we  imbibe  his  spirit,  and  become 
 more  and  more  like  him  :  '  we  all,  with  open  face,  beliobling, 
 as  in  a  glass,  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are  changed  into  the  same 
 image,  from  glory  to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.* 
 
Bezaleel  and  Aholiab  called. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXVI. 
 
 Tlie  curtains  of  the  cherubims. 
 
 every  man,  with  wliom  was  found  sliittim  wood 
 for  any  work  of  the  service,  brought  it. 
 
 25  And  all  the  women  that  were  "  wise 
 hearted  did  spin  with  their  hands,  and  brought 
 that  which  they  had  spun,  buth  of  blue,  and  of 
 purple,  and  of  scarlet,  and  of  fine  linen. 
 
 26  And  all  the  women  whose  heart  stirred 
 them  up  in  wisdom  spun  goats' /««(>. 
 
 27  And  '"  the  rulers  brought  onyx  stones,  and 
 stones  to  be  set,  for  the  ephod,  and  for  the 
 breastplate ; 
 
 28  And  ''  spice,  and  oil  for  the  light,  and  for 
 the  anointing  oil,  and  for  the  sweet  incense. 
 
 29  The  children  of  Israel  brought  a  ^  willing 
 oiferiug  unto  the  Loud,  every  man  and  woman, 
 whose  heart  made  them  willing  to  bring  for  all 
 manner  of  work,  which  the  Lord  had  com- 
 manded to  be  made  by  the  hand  of  Mose.s. 
 
 30  H  And  Moses  said  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel,  See,  °  the  Lord  hath  called  by  name 
 Bezaleel  the  son  of  Uri,  the  son  of  Hur,  of  the 
 tribe  of  Judah  ; 
 
 31  And  he  hath  filled  him  with  the  spirit  of 
 God,  in  wisdom,  in  understanding,  and  in  know- 
 Jedge,  and  in  all  manner  of  workmanship  ; 
 
 32  And  to  devise  curious  works,  to  work  in 
 gold,  and  in  silver,  and  in  brass, 
 
 33  And  in  the  cutting  of  stones,  to  set  them, 
 and  in  carving  of  wood,  to  make  any  manner 
 of  cunning  work. 
 
 34  And  he  hath  put  in  his  heart  that  he  may 
 teach, /^o^/t  he,  and  ''Aholiab,  the  son  of  Ahisa- 
 mach,  of  the  tribe  of  Dan. 
 
 33  Them  hath  he '  filled  with  wisdom  of  heart, 
 to  work  all  manner  of  work,  of  the  engraver, 
 and  of  the  cunning  workman,  and  of  the  em- 
 broiderer, in  blue,  and  in  purple,  in  scarlet,  and 
 in  tine  linen,  and  of  the  weaver,  even  of  them 
 that  do  any  work,  and  of  those  that  devise 
 cunning  work. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVI. 
 
 I  I'liF  nffiTintjs  are  ddivered  to  the  worhnen,  5  The 
 lib  rciHty  of  the  p'.Ojde  is  restrained.  8  The  curtains 
 of  cherubims.  14  The  curtains  of  (/oats^  hair.  19 
 The  covering  of  shins.  20  The  hoards  with  their 
 sachets.  31  The  bars.  35  TIte  vail.  37  The 
 hanyintf  for  tlie  door. 
 
 'T'HEN  wrought  Bezaleel  and  Aholiab,  and 
 ■*■  every  "  wise  hearted  man  in  whom  the 
 Lord  put  wisdom  and  understanding  to  know 
 how  to  work  all  manner  of  work  for  the  service 
 of  the  '■  sanctuary,  according  to  all  that  the 
 Lord  had  commanded. 
 
 2  And  Moses  called  Bezaleel  and  Aholiab, 
 and  every  wise  hearted  man,  in  whose  heart 
 the  Lord  had  put  wisdom,  even  every  one 
 '  whose  heart  stirred  him  up  to  come  unto  the 
 work  to  do  it : 
 
 3  And  they  received  of  Moses  all  the  offering, 
 which  the  children  of  Israel  "  had  brought  for 
 the  work  of  the  service  of  the  sanctuary,   to 
 
 tell  58  3  S: 
 31  6  &3'. 
 I.  S  Kill  23. 
 
 1 1  Chr.StI  C. 
 Ezra  2.  (i». 
 
 y  ch.  30  i'6 
 
 :  ver.  31. 
 cli.31.3,  6. 
 IKiii.  7.H. 
 2Chr.  2  1*. 
 Is.  23.  2fi. 
 
 >  ch.  28.  3. 
 &3I.  6.  & 
 35.  10,  35. 
 
 c  ch.35.2.?6. 
 1  Chr.  SB.S. 
 
 g  ch.  26.  6. 
 
 make  it  loithal.     And  they  brought  yet  unto 
 him  free  offerings  every  morning. 
 
 4  And  all  the  wise  men,  that  wrought  all  the 
 work  of  the  sanctuary,  came  every  man  from 
 his  work  which  tliey  made  ; 
 
 5  1[  And  they  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 °  The  people  bring  much  more  than  enough  for 
 the  service  of  the  work,  which  the  Lord  com- 
 manded to  make. 
 
 6  And  Moses  gave  commandment,  and  they 
 caused  it  to  be  proclaimed  throughout  the 
 camp,  saying.  Let  neither  man  nor  woman 
 make  any  more  work  for  the  offering  of  the 
 sanctuary.  So  the  people  were  restrained  from 
 bringing. 
 
 7  For  the  stuff  they  had  was  sufficient  for  all 
 the  work  to  make  it,  and  too  much. 
 
 8  1  '  And  every  wise  hearted  man  among 
 them  that  wrought  the  work  of  the  tabernacle 
 made  ten  curtains  f/f  fine  twined  linen,  and 
 blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet  :  u-iih  cherubims 
 of  cunning  work  made  he  them. 
 
 9  The  length  of  one  curtain  teas  twenty 
 and  eight  cubits,  and  the  breadth  of  one 
 curtain  four  cubits  :  the  curtains  wet'e  all  of 
 one  size. 
 
 10  And  he  coupled  the  five  curtains  one 
 unto  another  :  and  the  other  five  curtains  he 
 coupled  one  unto  another. 
 
 1 1  And  he  made  loops  of  blue  on  the  edge  of 
 one  curtain  from  the  selvedge  in  the  coupling  : 
 likewise  he  made  in  the  uttermost  side  of  an- 
 other curtain  in  the  coupling  of  the  second. 
 
 12  ^  Fifty  loops  made  he  in  one  curtain,  and 
 fifty  loops  made  he  in  the  edge  of  the  curtain 
 wliich  was  in  the  coupling  of  the  second  :  the 
 loops  held  one  curtain  to  another. 
 
 13  And  he  made  fifty  taches  of  gold,  and 
 coupled  the  curtains  one  unto  another  with 
 the  taches  :  so  it  became  one  tabernacle. 
 
 14  1''  And  he  made  curtains  of  goats'  hair 
 for  the  tent  over  the  tabernacle  :  eleven  cur- 
 tains he  made  them. 
 
 1.5  The  length  of  one  curtain  was  thirty 
 cubits,  and  four  cubits  was  the  breadth  of 
 one  curtain  :  the  eleven  curtains  were  of  one 
 size. 
 
 16  And  he  coupled  five  curtains  by  them- 
 selves, and  six  curtains  by  themselves. 
 
 17  And  he  made  fifty  loops  upon  the  utter- 
 most edge  of  the  curtain  in  the  coupling,  and 
 fifty  loops  made  he  upon  the  edge  of  the 
 curtain  which  coupleth  the  second. 
 
 18  And  he  made  fifty  taches  of  brass  to 
 couple  the  tent  together,  that  it  might  be 
 one. 
 
 19  '  And  he  made  a  covering  for  the  tent  o/" 
 rams'  skins  dyed  red,  and  a  covering  of  bad- 
 gers' skins  above  that. 
 
 20  t  '  And  he  made  boards  for  the  tabernacle 
 q/'shittim  wood,  standing  up. 
 
 Chap.  XXXVI.— This  chapter  shews  that  the  work  was  executed,  as  is  remarked  by  Dr.  Clarke.    There  is  nothing  in  it  needing  explanation 
 which  has  not  been  noticed  in  the  notes  on  tlie  preceding  chapters. 
 
 \ 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXV — I.  We  may  here  remark, 
 that  those  who  hare  a  sense  of  God's  pardoning  merry,  are  hound 
 practically  to  manifest  tlieir  gratitude  to  him.  So  the  woman 
 whose  sins  were  forgiven  expended  the  costly  ointment  about 
 her  Saviour;  and  because  her  '  many'  sins  were  forgiven,  she 
 loved  '  much.' 
 
 n.  We  may  here  observe,  the  various  ways  in  vhich  we  may 
 manifest  our  i/ratitnde,  and  promote  the  cause  of  God.  Here  some 
 10-, 
 
 brought  their  jewels,  some  their  fine  linen,  and  some  their 
 wood.  The  women  spun,  the  rich  brought  the  most  precious 
 articles,  and  the  poor  according  to  their  means.  Thus,  by  the 
 weaUh  of  some,  the  talents  of  others,  and  tbe  prayers  and  ex- 
 ertions of  all,  may  tbe  glorious  edifice  be  erected,  tbe  limits  of 
 wbicb  shall  be  the  world,  and  tbe  wiiole  earth  shall  become  a 
 tabernacle  or  temple  for  the  habitation  of  the  Divine  gloiy. 
 
The  boards,  vail,  ^-'^ 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXVII. 
 
 The  ark  and  mercy-seat. 
 
 21  The  length  of  a  board  was  ten  cubits, 
 and  the  breadth  of  a  board  one  cubit  and 
 a  half. 
 
 22  One  board  had  two  tenons,  equally  dis- 
 tant one  from  another  :  thus  did  he  make  for 
 all  the  boards  of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 23  And  he  made  boards  for  the  tabernacle  ; 
 twenty  boards  for  the  south  side  southward  : 
 
 24  And  forty  sockets  of  silver  he  made  under 
 Ihe  twenty  boards ;  two  sockets  under  one 
 board  for  his  two  tenons,  and  two  sockets 
 under  another  board  for  his  two  tenons. 
 
 25  And  for  the  other  side  of  the  tabernacle, 
 which  is  toward  the  north  corner,  he  made 
 twenty  boards, 
 
 26  And  their  forty  sockets  of  silver ;  two 
 sockets  under  one  board,  and  two  sockets 
 under  another  board. 
 
 27  And  for  the  sides  of  the  tabernacle  west- 
 ward he  made  six  boards. 
 
 28  And  two  boards  made  he  for  the  corners 
 of  the  tabernacle  in  the  two  sides. 
 
 29  And  they  were  f  coupled  beneath,  and 
 coupled  together  at  the  head  thereof,  to  one 
 ring  :  thus  he  did  to  both  of  them  in  both  the 
 comers. 
 
 3Q  And  there  were  eight  boards  ;  and  their 
 sockets  ivere  sixteen  sockets  of  silver,  f  under 
 every  board  two  sockets. 
 
 31  f  And  he  made  '  bars  of  shittim  wood  ; 
 five  for  the  boards  of  the  one  side  of  the 
 tabernacle, 
 
 32  And  five  bars  for  the  boards  of  the  other 
 side  of  the  tabernacle,  and  five  bars  for  the 
 boards  of  the  tabernacle  for  the  sides  westward. 
 
 33  And  he  made  the  middle  bar  to  shoot 
 through  the  boards  from  the  one  end  to  the 
 other. 
 
 34  And  he  overlaid  the  boards  with  gold, 
 and  made  their  rings  o/" gold  to  he  places  for 
 the  bars,  and  overlaid  the  bars  with  gold. 
 
 35  U  And  he  made  "  a  vail  of  blue,  and 
 purple,  and  scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen  : 
 with  cherubims  made  he  it  of  cunning  work. 
 
 36  And  he  made  thereunto  four  pillars  of 
 shittim  toood,  and  overlaid  them  with  geld  : 
 their  hooks  were  of  gold  ;  and  he  cast  for  them 
 four  sockets  of  silver. 
 
 37  IT  And  he  made  an  "  hanging  for  the 
 tabernacle  door  of  blue,  and  purple,  and  scar- 
 let, and  fine  twined  linen,  f  of  needlework  ; 
 
 38  And  the  five  pillars  of  it  with  their  hooks  : 
 and  he  overlaid  their  chapiters  and  their  fillets 
 with  gold  :  but  their  five  sockets  ivere  of 
 brass. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVII. 
 
 I  The  ark.  6  T/ic  in^rci/ scat  with  c'leruhims.  iO  The 
 table  with  his  vessels.  17  The  candh-.'ifirk  with  his 
 lumps  ami  instruments.  25  The  attar  of  incatse. 
 29    T/ie  anointing  oil  and  sweet  incense. 
 
 AND  Bezaleel  made  "  the  ark  of  shittim 
 ■'^  wood :  two  cubits   and   a    half  was  the ' 
 
 (  H..b.  Vpn 
 
 l^'Cltftl  tln- 
 
 /  cli.  £6.  20, 
 
 t  Heb.  IJtK 
 aork  r,f  <i 
 
 enibroidefer. 
 
 II  Or,  out  •>/, 
 
 [I  Or,  out  of. 
 
 length  of  it,  and  a  cubit  and  a  half  the  bieadth 
 of  it,  and  a  cubit  and  a  half  the  height  of  it : 
 
 2  And  he  overlaid  it  with  pure  gold  within 
 and  without,  and  made  a  crown  ot  gold  to  it 
 round  about. 
 
 3  And  he  cast  for  it  four  rings  of  gold,  to  lie 
 set  by  the  four  corners  of  it ;  even  two  rings 
 upon  the  one  side  of  it,  and  two  rings  upon  the 
 other  side  of  it. 
 
 4  And  he  made  staves  of  shittim  wood,  and 
 overlaid  them  with  gold. 
 
 5  And  he  put  the  staves  into  the  rings  by  the 
 sides  of  the  ark,  to  bear  the  ark. 
 
 6  t  And  he  made  the  ''  mercy  seat  of  pure 
 gold  :  two  cubits  and  a  half  wtis  the  length 
 thereof,  and  one  cubit  and  a  half  the  breadth 
 thereof. 
 
 7  And  he  made  two  chernbims  of  gold, 
 beaten  out  of  one  piece  made  he  them,  on  the 
 two  ends  of  the  mercy  seat ; 
 
 8  One  cherub  ||  on  the  end  on  this  side,  and 
 another  cherub  ||  on  the  other  end  on  that 
 side  :  out  of  the  mercy  seat  made  he  the 
 cherubims  on  the  two  ends  thereof. 
 
 9  And  the  cherubims  spread  out  their  wings 
 on  high,  ojirf  covered  with  their  wings  over  the 
 mercy  seat,  with  their  faces  one  to  another : 
 even  to  the  mercy  seatward  were  the  faces  of 
 the  cherubims. 
 
 10  t  And  he  made  'the  table  o/"  shittim 
 wood  :  two  cubits  was  the  length  thereof,  and 
 a  cubit  the  breadth  thereof,  and  a  cubit  and  a 
 half  the  height  thereof: 
 
 1 1  And  he  overlaid  it  with  pure  gold,  and 
 made  thereunto  a  crown  of  gold  round  about. 
 
 12  Also  he  made  thereunto  a  border  of  an 
 hand  breadth  round  about  ;  and  made  a  crown 
 of  gold  for  the  border  thereof  round  about. 
 
 13  And  he  cast  for  it  four  rings  of  gold,  and 
 put  the  rings  upon  the  four  corners  that  were 
 in  the  four  feet  thereof. 
 
 14  Over  against  the  border  were  the  rings,  the 
 places  for  the  staves  to  bear  the  table. 
 
 15  And  he  made  the  staves  of  shittim 
 wood,  and  overlaid  them  with  gold,  to  bear  the 
 table. 
 
 16  And  he  made  the  vessels  which  were 
 upon  the  table,  his  ''  dishes,  and  his  spoons, 
 and  his  bowls,  and  his  covers  ||  to  cover  withal, 
 of  pure  gold. 
 
 17  f  And  he  made  the  'candlestick  of  pure 
 gold  ;  if  beaten  work  made  he  the  candle- 
 stick ;  his  shaft,  and  his  branch,  his  bowls, 
 his  knops,  and  bis  flowers,  were  of  the  same  : 
 
 18  And  six  branches  going  out  of  the  sides 
 thereof ;  three  branches  of  the  candlestick 
 out  of  the  one  side  thereof,  and  three  branches 
 of  the  candlestick  out  of  the  other  side 
 thereof : 
 
 19  Three  bowls  made  after  the  fashion  of 
 almonds  in  one  branch,  a  knop  and  a  flower  ; 
 and   three  bowls  made  like  almonds  in  ano- 
 
 Chap.  XXXVII. — This  chapter  is  a  mere  repetition,  but  there  are  no  thus  larpely  and  repeatedly  descrihed  ;  and,  moreover,  Moses  thus 
 vain  repe'  itions  in  Scripture.  The  Israelites  could  not  see  these  arti-  took  care  to  sh  ew  that  they  were  careluUy  made  as  God  had  com- 
 cles,  which  were  accessible  only  to  the  priests,  and  hence  they  were    manded. — Hen. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVI.  —  I.  Ma;/  we  not  hope  that 
 there  shall  be  a  time  when  there  shall  be  more  than  enough  for  the 
 promotion  of  God's  cause  througtiout  the  world?  As  yet,  indeed, 
 we  are  far  from  that  desirable  state  of  things  in  the  church  ; 
 yet  it  is  pleasing  to  see  that  many  more  are  adding  continually 
 to  the  number  of  donors  to  the  God  of  Israel,  gratefully  re- 
 turning him  back  tbat  which  is  his  own.  May  we  '  be  stead- 
 fast, unmoveable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
 106 
 
 forasmuch  as  we  know  that  our  labour  shall  not  be  in  vain  in 
 the  Lord.' 
 
 II.  If  Christians  only  find  means,  God  ivill  find  instruments,  tf, 
 flo  the  work.  When  the  Israelites  brought  the  materials,  God's 
 instructed  agents  were  all  ready  to  work  them  up.  We  shall 
 be  sure  to  find  ministers,  if  Christians  will  find  means.  May 
 we,  according  to  nur  ability,  aid  in  tlie  increase  of  skilful  la- 
 bourers, and  so  shall  the  Lord  prosper  our  handywork. 
 
The  altar  of  incense. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXVIII. 
 
 The  altar  of  lurnt-offering. 
 
 ther  branch,  a  knop  and  a  flower  :  so  through- 
 out the  six  branches  going  out  of  the  candle- 
 stick. 
 
 20  And  in  the  candlestick  were  four  bowls 
 made  like  almonds,  his  knops,  and  his  flowers  : 
 
 21  And  a  knop  under  two  branches  of  the  same, 
 and  a  knop  under  two  branches  of  the  same,  and 
 a  knop  under  two  branches  of  the  same,  ac- 
 cording to  the  six  branches  going  out  of  it. 
 
 22  Their  knops  and  their  branches  were  of 
 the  same  :  all  of  it  was  one  beaten  work  of 
 pure  gold. 
 
 23  And  he  made  his  seven  lamps,  and  his 
 snuffers,  and  bis  snuffdishes,  o/pure  gold. 
 
 24  Of  a  talent  of  pure  gold  made  he  it,  and 
 all  the  vessels  thereof. 
 
 23  1  '  And  he  made  the  incense  altar  o/shit- 
 tim  wood  :  the  length  of  it  was  a  cubit,  and 
 the  breadth  of  it  a  cubit ;  it  was  foursquare  ; 
 and  two  cubits  was  the  height  of  it ;  the  horns 
 thereof  were  of  the  same. 
 
 2G  And  he  overlaid  it  with  pure  gold,  both 
 the  top  of  it,  and  the  sides  thereof  round  about, 
 and  the  horns  of  it :  also  he  made  unto  it  a 
 crown  of  gold  round  about. 
 
 27  And  he  made  two  rings  of  gold  for  it  under 
 the  crown  thereof,  by  the  two  comers  of  it, 
 upon  the  two  sides  thereof,  to  be  places  for 
 the  staves  to  bear  it  withal. 
 
 28  And  he  made  the  staves  of  shittim  wood, 
 and  overlaid  them  with  gold. 
 
 29  T  And  he  made  ^  the  holy  anointing  oil, 
 and  the  pure  incense  of  sweet  spices,  according 
 to  the  work  of  the  apothecary. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVIII. 
 
 I    The  altar  of  burnt  ojfirinrj.    8  The  laver  of  brass. 
 9  The  court.     21   The  sum  of  that  t/ie  people  offered. 
 
 \  ND  °  he  made  the  altar  of  burnt  offering  of 
 -^  shittim  wood  :  five  cubits  was  the  length 
 thereof,  and  five  cubits  the  breadth  thereof  ;  it 
 icas  foursquare  •  and  three  cubits  the  height 
 thereof. 
 
 /cb.  30.  1. 
 
 jch.  30.  S3, 
 
 6  ch 
 
 30 
 
 18. 
 
 il  Or 
 
 braien 
 
 1  Heb. 
 
 nltcn<bU 
 bif  (riii/p 
 1  Sam. 2 
 
 .as 
 12 
 
 ccb. 
 
 V7. 
 
 9. 
 
 2  And  he  made  the  horns  thereof  on  the  foui 
 comers  of  it ;  the  horns  thereof  were  of  tlie 
 same  :  and  he  overlaid  it  with  brass. 
 
 3  And  he  made  all  the  vessels  of  the  altar, 
 the  pots,  and  the  shovels,  and  the  basons,  an/l 
 the  fleshhooks,  and  the  firepans:  all  the  vessels 
 thereof  made  he  o/"  brass. 
 
 4  And  he  made  for  the  altar  a  brasen  grate 
 of  network  under  the  compass  thereof  beneath 
 unto  the  midst  of  it. 
 
 3  And  he  cast  four  rings  for  the  four  ends  of 
 the  grate  of  brass,  to  be  places  for  the  staves. 
 
 6  And  he  made  the  staves  of  shittim  wood, 
 and  overlaid  them  with  brass. 
 
 7  And  he  put  the  staves  into  the  rings  on  the 
 sides  of  the  altar,  to  bear  it  withal ;  he  made 
 the  altar  hollow  with  boards. 
 
 8  II  And  he  made  ''  the  laver  o/ brass,  and  the 
 foot  of  it  of  brass,  of  the  ||  lookingglasses  of  the 
 women  f  assembling,  which  assembled  at  the 
 door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 9  1  And  he  made  '  the  court :  on  the  south- 
 side  southward  the  hangings  of  the  court  ivere 
 of&ne  twined  linen,  an  hundred  cubits  : 
 
 10  Their  pillars  were  twenty,  and  their  brasen 
 sockets  twenty  ;  the  hooks  of  the  pillars  and 
 their  fillets  were  of  silver. 
 
 11  And  for  the  north  side  the  hangings  were 
 an  hundred  cubits,  their  pillars  were  twenty, 
 and  their  sockets  of  brass  twenty  ;  the  hooks 
 of  the  pillars  and  their  fillets  o/ silver. 
 
 12  And  for  the  west  side  tcere  hangings  of 
 fifty  cubits,  their  pillars  ten,  and  their  sockets 
 ten  ;  the  hooks  of  the  pillars  and  their  fillets 
 «/■  silver. 
 
 13  And  for  the  east  side  eastward  fifty  cubits. 
 
 14  The  hangings  of  the  one  side  of  the  gate 
 were  fifteen  cubits ;  their  pillars  three,  and  their 
 sockets  three. 
 
 13  And  for  the  other  side  of  the  court  gate, 
 on  this  hand  and  that  hand,  were  hangings  of 
 fifteen  cubits  ;  their  pillars  three,  and  their 
 sockets  three. 
 
 Chap.  XXXVIII.  — 8.  Lookingglassps—TMyv:!,  from  HNH,  to  see,  look 
 at.  The  eastern  mirrors  were  anciently  made  of  metal,  and  so  they 
 are  to  this  day.  Dr.  Shuic  says,  that  lookingglasses  are  still  part  of 
 the  dress  of  tiie  Moorish  women  in  Barbary,  that  they  hang  them  con- 
 stantly upon  their  breasts,  and  do  not  lay  them  aside  even  in  the  midst 
 of  their  most  laborious  employments. — Par.  The  Indians,  to  this  day, 
 have  mirror.s  m  ade  of  brass  weil  polished,  which  clearly  represent  the 
 comijlexinu. — .'l;;reement  of  Customs  between  the  East  Indians  oiid 
 Jews.  They  were  made,  at  a  very  early  period,  of  mi.\ed  metal,  parti- 
 cularly of  tin  and  cupper;  and,  at  length,  even  silver  mirrors  became 
 so  common  that  they  were  used  by  the  servant  girls. — Pliny.  That  the 
 Israeiitish  women  should  have  them  is  not  surprising,  for  tlie  Egyptian 
 women  always  carried  mirrors  when  they  went  to  tlieir  temples.  Tlie 
 women  assemtding — which  assembled  at  the  dooi — Poole  says,  it  seems 
 to  note  a  company  of  religious  women,  who,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  dc. 
 voted  themselves  to  the  service  of  God,  in  or  about  the  tabernacle,  by 
 
 fasting,  prayer,  &c.,  (see  1  Sam.  ii.  22,  and  Luke,  ii.  3;.)  Dr.  Clarke 
 thinks  these  were  female  door-keepers,  such  as  are  named  I  Sam.  ii.  22, 
 and  that  they  kept  watch  in  companies,  which  successively  consecrated 
 their  mirrors  on  this  occasion, — Gill,  and  some  others,  think,  that  these 
 were  of  the  women  in  general,  who  came  in  great  numbers,  and  beset 
 the  door  of  the  tent  where  Moses  was,  that  he  might  take  their  offer- 
 ings at  their  hands.  Boothroyd  reads,  after  Luther  and  Mathews, '  and 
 he  made  the  laver  of  brass,  and  its  cover  of  brass,  under  the  inspection 
 of  the  women  who  ministered  at  the  door  of  the  convention  tent.* 
 '  Women,'  he  remarks,  *  washed  the  feet  of  men  as  a  part  of  their  occu- 
 pation, (see  1  Sam.  xxv.  41 ;  Luke,  vii,  44 ;  and  1  Tim.  v.  10.)'  Some 
 might  attend  for  this  purpose  at  the  convention  tent  of  Moses,  (chap. 
 x.xxiii.  7—11,)  and  they  might  be  consulted  in  some  things,  as  best 
 knowing  the  uses  for  which  they  were  made.  To  suppose  the  laver 
 was  made  of  the  little  brass  mirrors  of  the  women  who  served  at  the 
 convention  tent  is  not  probable,  nor  the  sense  of  the  term  riN"ltD2, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVII.  —  We  cannot  read  tbis 
 chapter  without  valuable  instruction.  I.  //  reminds  us,  in  the 
 mrrcy  seat,  of  the  propitiation  for  our  sins,  which  is  Christ. 
 Tlirough  liim  God  is  ready  to  hold  communion  with  us,  and 
 accept  us.  Let  us  flee  to  the  mercy- seat,  and  put  our  trust 
 unfler  the  shadow  of  his  wings. 
 
 II,  It  reminds  us,  in  the  shew-bread,  of  the  true  bread  that 
 Cometh  down  from  heaven.  All  spiritual  pnests  have  now  a 
 table  ;  but  at  it  they  feast  on  '  the  bread  of  life.'  As  Henry 
 observes,  '  Though  here  was  a  table  furnished,  it  was  only  with 
 shew -bread ;  bread  to  be  looked  upon,  not  to  he  fed  upon,  while 
 it  was  on  this  table,  and  afterwards  only  by  the  priests  ;  but 
 to  the  table  Christ  has  spread  in  the  new  covenant,  all  true 
 Christians  are  invited  guests,  and  to  them  it  is  said.  Eat,  O 
 friends ;  come,  cat  of  my  bread.'  What  the  law  gave  but  a  sight 
 of  at  a  distance,  the  gospel  gives  the  enjoyment  of,  and  a 
 hearty  welcome  to. 
 
 III.  ft  reminds  us,  in  the  golden  candlestick,  of  the  light  of  reve- 
 
 107 
 
 lation  shining  amongst  us.  In  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel, 
 we  have  a  precious — a  golden  candlestick.  Blay  we  walk  in 
 its  light,  and  it  wdl  guide  us  to  the  light  of  immortality  !  There 
 more  splendour  than  our  imaginations  can  conceive  of,  will 
 burst  upon  our  astonished  view.  We  see  everything  now,  in 
 comparison,  but  dimly,  for,  as  the  pious  author  just  quoted 
 remarks,  '  God's  manifestations  of  himself  in  this  world  are 
 but  candle-light,  compared  with  the  day-light  of  the  future 
 state." 
 
 IV.  Lastly.  It  reminds  us,  in  the  incense  altar,  of  the  duty  of 
 prayer,  and  the  continual  intercession  of  Christ.  This  altar  was 
 '  overlaid  with  pure  gold,'  had  a  crown  of  gold,  and  rings  of 
 gold  ;  from  all  which,  we  learn,  to  quote  the  words  of  pious 
 Henry  once  more,  that  '  God  is  the  best,  and  we  must  serve 
 him  with  the  best  we  have  ;  but  the  best  we  can  serve  him 
 with,  in  his  courts  on  earth,  is  but  as  In-ass,  compared  lyith  the 
 gold,  the  sinless  and  spotless  perfection  with  which  his  saints 
 shall  serve  him  in  his  holy  place  above.* 
 
The  sum  of  the  offerings. 
 
 EXODUS,  XXXIX. 
 
 IG  All  the  hangings  of  the  court  round  about 
 icere  of  fine  twined  linen. 
 
 1 7  And  the  .sockets  for  the  pillars  were  of 
 brass  ;  the  hooks  of  the  pillars  and  their  fillets 
 o/"  silver  ;  and  the  overlaying  of  their  chapiters 
 of  silver ;  and  all  the  pillars  of  the  court  icere 
 filleted  with  silver. 
 
 18  And  the  hanging  for  the  gate  of  the  court 
 was  needlework,  of  blue,  and  purple,  and 
 scarlet,  and  tine  twined  linen :  and  twenty 
 cubits  u-as  the  length,  and  the  height  in  the 
 breadth  was  five  cubits,  answerable  to  the 
 hangings  of  the  court. 
 
 19  And  their  pillars  were  four,  and  their 
 sockets  of  brass  four ;  their  hooks  of  silver, 
 and  the  overlaying  of  their  chapiters  and  their 
 fillets  o/" silver. 
 
 20  And  all  the  ''  pins  of  the  tabernacle,  and 
 of  the  court  round  about,  were  ofbrass. 
 
 21  f  This  is  the  sum  of  the  tabernacle,  even 
 of  '  the  tabernacle  of  testimony,  as  it  was 
 counted,  according  to  the  commandment  of 
 Moses, ybr  the  service  of  the  Levites,  "^by  the 
 hand  of  Ithamar,  son  to  Aaron  the  priest. 
 
 22  And  *  Bezaleel  the  son  of  Uri,  the  son  of 
 Hur,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  made  all  that  the 
 Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 23  And  with  him  was  Aholiab,  son  of  Ahisa- 
 mach,  of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  an  engraver,  and 
 a  cjnning  workman,  and  an  embroiderer  in 
 bine,  and  in  purple,  and  in  scarlet,  and  fine 
 linen. 
 
 24  All  the  gold  that  was  occupied  for  the 
 work  in  all  the  work  of  the  holy  place,  even 
 the  gold  of  the  offering,  was  twenty  and  nine 
 talents,  and  seven  hundred  and  thirty  shekels, 
 after  ■■  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary. 
 
 25  And  the  silver  of  them  that  were  numbered 
 of  the  congregation  was  an  hundred  talents, 
 and  a  thousand  seven  hundred  and  threescore 
 and  fifteen  shekels,  after  the  shekel  of  the 
 sanctuary  : 
 
 26  '  A  bekah  for  f  every  man,  that  is,  half  a 
 shekel,  after  the  sliekel  of  the  sanctuary,  for 
 every  one  that  went  to  be  numbered,  from 
 twenty  years  old  and  upward,  for  '  six  hundred 
 thousand  and  three  thousand  and  five  hundred 
 and  fifty  men. 
 
 27  And  of  the  hundred  talents  of  silver  were 
 cast  '  the  sockets  of  the  sanctuary,  and  the 
 sockets  of  the  vail ;  an  hundred  sockets  of  the 
 hundred  talents,  a  talent  fur  a  socket. 
 
 28  And  of  the  thousand  seven  hundred 
 seventy  and  five  shekels  he  made  hooks  for 
 the  pillars,  and  overlaid  their  chapiters,  and 
 filleted  them. 
 
 29  And  the  brass  of  the  offering  was  seventy 
 
 (7. : 
 
 W.  2. 
 
 s.  & 
 
 S  Clir.  24  6, 
 Ai'ts  7.  44. 
 
 C.Vm,,-  4. 
 2S,  3S. 
 
 3Cli.  31.2,  fi 
 
 4  ch.  SO.  IS, 
 84.  l.er.  5. 
 15.  fc  27  3, 
 25.  Num  3 
 47.  &  18.16 
 
 i  ch   SO.  tS, 
 
 15. 
 tUeb.«f«(f 
 
 /  ch.  26.  1*1, 
 ■-'5,  32. 
 
 c  ob.  '^9.  4. 
 d  ch,  28.  fi. 
 
 II  Or,  Tiiliy. 
 
 The  ephod. 
 
 talents,  and  two  thousand  and  four  hundred 
 shekels. 
 
 30  And  therewith  he  made  the  sockets  to  the 
 door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and 
 the  brasen  altar,  and  the  brasen  grate  for  it, 
 and  all  the  vessels  of  the  altar, 
 
 31  And  the  sockets  of  the  court  round  about, 
 and  the  sockets  of  the  court  gate,  and  all  the 
 pins  of  the  tabernacle,  and  all  the  pins  of  the 
 court  round  about. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIX. 
 
 I  Tlic  cloths  of  service  ami  hoh/  qarmcnts.  2  The 
 ephod.  8  Th'ebrrastphite.  'i'i  The  robe  of  the  ephod. 
 27  The  coots,  mitrt,  ajid  f/irdh  of  fine  linen.  ;,0 
 The  plate  of  the  holy  croten.  32  j^ll  is  victced  and 
 approved  by  Moses. 
 
 A  ND  of  °  the  blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet, 
 -'^  they  made  ^'  cloths  of  service,  to  do  service 
 in  the  heAy  place,  and  made  the  holy  garments 
 for  Aaron  ;  '■'as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 2  "^  And  he  made  the  ephod  o/" gold,  blue,  and 
 purple,  and  scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen. 
 
 3  And  they  did  beat  the  gold  into  thin  plates, 
 and  cut  it  into  wires,  to  work  it  in  the  blue, 
 and  in  the  purple,  and  in  the  scarlet,  and  in 
 the  fine  linen,  teilh  cunning  work. 
 
 4  Tliey  made  shoulderpieces  for  it,  to  couple 
 it  together :  by  the  two  edges  was  it  coupled 
 together. 
 
 5  And  the  curious  girdle  of  his  ephod,  that 
 teas  upon  it,  icas  of  the  same,  according  to  the 
 work  thereof;  of  gold,  blue,  and  purple,  and 
 scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen ;  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  Moses. 
 
 C  t "  And  they  wrought  onyx  stones  inclosed 
 in  ouches  of  gold,  graven,  as  signets  are  graven, 
 with  the  names  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 7  And  he  put  them  on  the  shoulders  of  the 
 ephod,  that  the;/  should  be  stones  for  a  '  memo- 
 rial to  the  children  of  Israel ;  as  the  Lokd 
 commanded  Moses. 
 
 8  \  ^  And  he  made  the  breastplate  o/" cunning 
 work,  like  the  work  of  the  ephod  ;  o/gold,  blue, 
 and  purple,  and  scarlet,  and  fine  twined  linen. 
 
 9  It  was  foursquare  ;  they  made  the  breast- 
 plate double  :  a  span  was  the  length  thereof, 
 and  a  span  the  breadth  thereof,  being  doubled. 
 
 10  I*  And  they  set  in  it  four  rows  of  stones; 
 the  first  row  teas  a  ||  sardius,  a  topaz,  and  a 
 carbuncle  :  this  was  the  first  row. 
 
 1 1  And  the  second  row,  an  emerald,  a  sap- 
 phire, and  a  diamond. 
 
 12  And  the  third  row,  a  figure,  an  agate,  and 
 an  amethyst. 
 
 13  And  the  fourth  row,  a  beryl,  an  onyx,  and 
 a  jasper  :  they  lucre  inclosed  in  ouches  of  gold 
 in  their  inclosings. 
 
 which  is  everywhere  else  rendered"  siejht."  •  24.  All  the  gold— \t  vg 
 reckon,  with  Dr.  Cr/mAer/anrf,  that  a  talent  of  silver  was  3.53/.  lis.  loirf., 
 and  the  value  of  the  gold  (ourJeen  times  that  of  silver,  the  talent  being 
 worth  506;/.  3,1.  \{id.,  the  whole  sum  of  gold  expended  in  the  taber- 
 nacle was  14S,719i.  sterling.  25.  The  silrer  of  them  that  were  num. 
 bered,  (chap.  x.\.\.  12—15.)  made,  of  our  money,  according  to  Brere- 
 wood,  37,721/.  l/s.  6d.  26.  A  tfektih—a  half  shekel  was  so  called,  from 
 rpl,  to  dieide,  because  it  was  a  shekel  divided  into  two  parts.— Gi7(. 
 t-ur  nix  ttujidred  thuiiaaiid,  ^c. — so  Oiat,  from  sLx  mcnths  ago,  since 
 they  left  Egypt,  there  was  an  mciease  of  3550  of  the  age  specified,  (see 
 
 chap.  .\ii.  37.) — Gill.  17.  An  hundred Rockefs,  at  353/.  lis,  a  socket. 
 —  Com*.  29.  Brass  of  the  offering — by  Paris  weight,  this  was  6177 
 pounds  10  ounces  2  drachms  and  64  grains.  This  might  be  had  from 
 the  neighbouring  mountains  of  Arabia,  where,  it  is  said,  the  metals  of 
 brass  and  iron  were  first  iog.—Srhenfzer,  Gdl. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIX.— 3.  Into  thin  plates— hence  it  is  inferred  by  Patrick, 
 Fuwki's,  tfc,  that  the  art  of  drawing  gold  into  wire  was  not  known. 
 But  wires  were  not  wanted  to  embroider  the  cpbod,  ajul  such  narrow 
 filaments  as  are  here  described  were  more  suitable,  and  more  orna- 
 mental.— Hew. 
 
 Eefleciioxs  on   Chap.   XXXVIIl.  —  In  this  chapter  we  III.  TAc  coar/ o/</ie  fnfcrnacfe,  limited  in  its  e.xtent,  but  now 
 
 may  reflect  upoa—I.  The  altar  of  burnt-offering,  and  ibiiii  on  thrown  open  for  every   spiritual  worshipper  tbrough  Jesus 
 
 Him  who  was  both  the  altar  and  the  atonement.  Christ.     *  Tbe  church  here  on  earth  is  but  the  court  of  God's 
 
 II.  The  hiver ;  and  think  on  the  necessity  of  '  regeneration,  liouse,  and  happy  they  that  tread  these  courts,  and  flourish  in 
 
 and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;' without  which  we  can-  them;  but  through  these  courts  we  are  passing  to  tlie  holy 
 
 not, as  spiritual  priests,  offer  up  sacrifices,  *holy  and  acceptable  place  above.    "  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell"  in  that  bouse  ol 
 
 unto  God  tlirough  .Tesus  Christ.'  God,  "  they  will  be  still  praising"  him.' 
 1U8 
 
The  breastplate  and  rube. 
 
 EXODUS,  XL. 
 
 The  tabernacle  is  finished. 
 
 14  And  the  stones  were  according  to  the 
 names  of  the  children  of  Israel,  twelve,  accord- 
 ing to  their  names,  like  the  engravings  of  a 
 signet,  every  one  with  his  name,  according  to 
 the  twelve  tribes. 
 
 13  And  they  made  upon  the  breastplate 
 chains  at  the  ends,  of  wreathen  work  of  pure 
 gold. 
 
 16  And  they  made  two  ouches  of  gold,  and 
 two  gold  rings  ;  and  put  the  two  rings  in  the 
 two  ends  of  the  breastplate. 
 
 1 7  And  they  put  the  two  wreathen  chains  of 
 gold  in  the  two  rings  on  the  ends  of  the  breast- 
 plate. 
 
 18  And  the  two  ends  of  the  two  wreathen 
 chains  they  fastened  in  the  two  ouches,  and 
 put  them  on  the  shoulderpieces  of  the  ephod, 
 before  it. 
 
 19  And  they  made  tv\'0  rings  of  gold,  and  put 
 the7n  on  the  two  ends  of  the  breastplate,  upon 
 the  border  of  it,  which  was  on  the  side  of  the 
 ephod  inward. 
 
 20  And  they  made  two  other  golden  rings, 
 and  put  them  on  the  two  sides  of  the  ephod 
 underneath,  toward  the  forepart  of  it,  over 
 against  the  other  coupling  thereof,  above  the 
 curious  girdle  of  the  ephod. 
 
 21  And  they  did  bind  the  breastplate  by  his 
 rings  unto  the  rings  of  the  ephod  with  a  lace 
 of  blue,  that  it  might  be  above  the  curious 
 girdle  of  the  ephod,  and  that  the  breastplate 
 might  not  be  loosed  from  the  ephod ;  as  the 
 Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 2-2  t '  And  he  made  the  robe  of  the  ephod  of 
 woven  work,  all  q/blue. 
 
 23  And  there  was  an  hole  in  the  midst  of  the 
 robe,  as  the  hole  of  an  habergeon,  with  a  band 
 round  about  the  hole,  that  it  should  not  rend. 
 
 24  And  they  made  upon  the  hems  of  the 
 robe  pomegranates  of  blue,  and  purple,  and 
 scarlet,  a/id  twined  linen. 
 
 25  And  they  made  '  bells  of  pure  gold,  and 
 put  the  bells  between  the  pomegranates  upon 
 the  hem  of  the  robe,  round  about  between  the 
 pomegranates ; 
 
 26  A  bell  and  a  pomegranate,  a  bell  and  a 
 pomegranate,  round  about  the  hem  of  the  robe 
 to  minister  in ;  as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 27  If '  And  they  made  coats  of  fine  linen  of 
 woven  work  for  Aaron,  and  for  his  sons, 
 
 28  ■"  And  a  mitre  of  fine  linen,  and  goodly 
 bonnets  of  fine  linen,  and  °  linen  breeches  of 
 fine  twined  linen, 
 
 29  °  And  a  girdle  of  fine  twined  linen,  and 
 blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet,  of  needlework  ; 
 as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 30  H  '■  And  they  made  the  plate  of  the  holy 
 crown  o^pure  gold,  and  wrote  upon  it  a  writing, 
 like  to  the  engravings  of  a  signet,  HOLINESS 
 TO  THE  LORD. 
 
 .31  And  they  tied  unto  it  a  lace  of  blue,  to 
 fasten  it  on  high  upon  the  mitre  ;  as  the  Lord 
 
 p  ch.  2S. : 
 37. 
 
 <j  ver.  42,  AR. 
 
 I  Heb.  ai  ifi- 
 sjjiea. 
 
 i  Ler.  9.  2-2, 
 23.  Num.  e. 
 23  Jos.92.6. 
 2  S.im.6.l8. 
 IKiu  fi-14 
 2  Chr.S0.27. 
 
 «ph.  12.2. 
 
 &  13. 'I. 
 b  ver.  !7.  & 
 
 CD.  26.  1,30. 
 
 ever.  21. 
 
 cli.  2C.  .S3. 
 
 Num.  4.  5. 
 d  ver    22 
 
 ch.  2(i-  35. 
 e  ver.  S 
 
 ch.  2.5.  ."to. 
 
 Lev.  24.5,6. 
 t  Heb.  (/.«  «r- 
 
 drrlH^ 
 
 /ver.  m. -.IS. 
 
 commanded  Moses. 
 
 32  H  Thus  was  all  the  work  of  the  tabernacle 
 of  the  tent  of  the  congregation  finished :  and 
 the  children  of  Israel  did  ''according  to  all  that 
 the  Lord  commanded  Moses,  so  did  they. 
 
 33  t  And  they  brought  the  tabernacle  unto 
 Moses,  the  tent,  and  all  his  furniture,  his 
 taches,  his  boards,  his  bars,  and  his  pillars,  and 
 his  sockets, 
 
 3-t  And  the  covering  of  rams'  skins  dyed  red, 
 and  the  covering  of  badgers'  skins,  and  the 
 vail  of  the  covering, 
 
 35  The  ark  of  the  testimony,  and  the  staves 
 thereof,  and  the  mercy  seat, 
 
 36  The  table,  and  all  the  vessels  thereof,  and 
 the  shewbread, 
 
 37  The  pure  candlestick,  with  the  lamps 
 thereof,  even  with  the  lamps  to  be  set  in  order, 
 and  all  the  vessels  thereof,  and  the  oil  for 
 light, 
 
 38  And  the  golden  altar,  and  the  anointing 
 oil,  and  f  the  sweet  incense,  and  the  hanging 
 for  the  tabernacle  door, 
 
 39  The  brasen  altar,  and  his  grate  of  brass, 
 his  staves,  and  all  his  vessels,  the  laver  and  his 
 foot, 
 
 40  The  hangings  of  the  court,  his  pillars,  and 
 his  sockets,  and  the  hanging  for  the  court  gate, 
 his  cords,  and  his  pins,  and  all  the  vessels  oi 
 the  service  of  the  tabernacle,  for  the  tent  o' 
 the  congregation, 
 
 41  The  cloths  of  service  to  do  service  in  tU 
 holy  place,  and  the  holy  garments  for  Aaron 
 the  priest,  and  his  sons'  garments,  to  minister 
 in  the  priest's  ofiice. 
 
 42  According  to  all  that  the  Lord  com- 
 manded Moses,  so  the  children  of  Israel '  made 
 all  the  work. 
 
 43  And  Moses  did  look  upon  all  the  work, 
 and,  behold,  they  had  done  it  as  the  Lord  liad 
 commanded,  even  so  had  they  done  it :  and 
 Moses  '  blessed  them. 
 
 CHAP.  XL. 
 
 1  The  tabernacle  is  commanded  to  be  reared,  9  and 
 anointed.  13  Aaron  and  his  sons  to  be  sanctified. 
 16  Muses  performeth  all  tilings  accordingly.  34  A 
 cloud  covertth  the  tabernacle. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^  2  On  the  first  day  of  the  °  first  month  shalt 
 thou  set  up  ''  the  tabernacle  of  the  tent  of  the 
 congregation. 
 
 3  And  "  thou  shalt  put  therein  the  ark  of  the 
 testimony,  and  cover  the  ark  with  the  vail. 
 
 4  And  ■'  thou  shalt  bring  in  the  table,  and 
 "  set  in  order  f  the  things  that  are  to  be  set  in 
 order  upon  it  ;  'and  thou  shalt  bring  in  the 
 candlestick,  and  light  the  lamps  thereof. 
 
 5  ^And  thou  shalt  set  the  altar  of  gold  for 
 the  incense  before  the  ark  of  the  testimony, 
 and  put  the  hanging  of  the  door  to  the  taber- 
 nacle. 
 
 Chap.  XL.— 2.  First  day— first  monllt,  of  the  second  year  after  their  tabernacle,  which  had  a  tent  or  covering  over  M.—Oill.  3.  Witti  the 
 coming  out  of  E°:ypt. — Poole.  They  had  spent  about  six  months  in  vail,  which  separated  the  Most  Holy  place  from  the  sanctuary.  This 
 making  the  tabernacle. — A.  Clarice.    The  tabernacle  of  the  tent— the    was  not  over  the  ark,  but  before  it,  and  covered  it  from  the  sight  of  the 
 
 Reflections   on  Chap.  XXXIX I.   We  may  notice  the 
 
 despatch  used  in  comph.tino  the  work  of  the  tabernacle.  God's 
 work  is  important  work.  The  King's  business  requireth  haste. 
 Were  there  more  hands,  more  hearts,  and  more  purses  at  work, 
 how  much  sooner  might  we  expect  to  see  the  tabernacle  of 
 God  built  amon^  men. 
 
 11.  In  doinq  God's  work  as  he  commands  us,  we  may  expect 
 lOi) 
 
 his  blessing.  Moses,  as  the  minister  and  prophet  of  the  Lord, 
 pronounced  his  benediction — 'Moses  blessed  them.'  "This 
 blessing,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,'  observes  the  excellent 
 Henry,  '  was  wages  enough  for  all  their  work.'  Those  whom 
 God  employs  be  will  bless  ;  and  those  whom  be  blesseth, 
 they  are  blessed  indeed.  The  blessing  be  commands  is  '  life  for 
 everiuora. ' 
 
The  tabernacle  is  reared. 
 
 EXODUS,  XL. 
 
 Il  is  filled  ivitli  tlieijlory  of  God. 
 
 6  And  thou  shalt  set  the  altar  of  the  burnt 
 offering  before  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  tent  of  the  congregation. 
 
 7  And  ''  thou  shalt  set  the  laver  between  the 
 tent  of  the  congregation  and  the  altar,  and 
 shalt  put  water  therein. 
 
 8  And  thou  shalt  set  up  the  court  round 
 about,  and  hang  up  the  hanging  at  the  court 
 gate. 
 
 9  And  thou  shalt  take  the  anointing  oil,  and 
 'anoint  the  tabernacle,  and  all  that  is  therein, 
 and  shalt  hallow  it,  and  all  the  vessels  thereof: 
 and  it  shall  be  holy. 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  anoint  the  altar  of  the  burnt 
 offering,  and  all  his  vessels,  and  sanctify  the 
 altar  :  and  '  it  shall  be  an  altar  f  most  holy. 
 
 1 1  And  thou  shalt  anoint  the  laver  and  his 
 foot,  and  sanctify  it. 
 
 12  'And  tliou  shalt  bring  Aaron  and  his  sons 
 unto  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation, and  wash  tliem  with  water. 
 
 13  And  thou  shalt  put  upon  Aaron  the  holy 
 garments,  ""  and  anoint  him,  and  sanctify  him  ; 
 that  he  may  minister  unto  nie  in  the  priest's 
 office. 
 
 14  And  thou  shalt  bring  his  sons,  and  clothe 
 them  with  coats  : 
 
 15  And  thou  shalt  anoint  them,  as  thou  didst 
 anoint  their  father,  that  they  may  miiuster  unto 
 me  in  the  priest's  office  :  for  their  anointing 
 shall  surely  be  °  an  everlasting  priesthood 
 throughout  their  generations. 
 
 16  Thus  did  Moses  :  according  to  all  that  the 
 Lord  commanded  him,  so  did  he. 
 
 17  t  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  first  month 
 in  the  second  year,  on  the  first  day  of  the  month, 
 that  the  °  tabernacle  was  reared  up. 
 
 18  And  Moses  reared  up  the  tabernacle,  and 
 fastened  his  sockets,  and  set  up  the  boards 
 thereof,  and  put  in  the  bars  thereof,  and  reared 
 up  his  pillars. 
 
 19  And  he  spread  abroad  the  tent  over  the 
 tabernacle,  and  put  the  covering  of  the  tent 
 above  upon  it ;  as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 20  t  And  he  took  and  put  ""the  testimony 
 into  the  ark,  and  set  the  staves  on  the  ark,  and 
 put  tlie  mercy  seat  above  upon  the  ark  : 
 
 21  And  he  brought  the  ark  hito  the  taber- 
 nacle, and  '■  set  up  the  vail  of  the  covering,  and 
 covered  the  ark  of  the  testimony ;  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  Moses. 
 
 22  II '  And  he  put  the  table  in  the  tent  of  the 
 
 B.C. 1491,     1 
 
 U    C.  1490, 
 
 t  ver.  4. 
 
 h  ver.  30. 
 ch.  31).  19. 
 
 1  ch.  26.  35. 
 
 a  ver,  -1. 
 ch.  25.  37. 
 
 .  ch.  30.  26. 
 
 V  ver.  5. 
 ch.  30.  6. 
 
 .-  ch.  SO.  7. 
 
 *  ch.  29.  36, 
 37. 
 t  Heb.  hiU- 
 
 a  ver.  B. 
 ch.  86.  30. 
 
 b  ver.  6. 
 
 I  Lev.  8.  1- 
 13. 
 
 c  ch.  29,  S8, 
 He. 
 
 ■1  ch.  SS.  »I 
 
 ivcr.  7. 
 ch.  30.  18. 
 
 p  ch,  26.  16 
 
 /  ver.  «. 
 oh.  27.9,16, 
 
 jch.29  «. 
 
 Lev.  16.2, 
 
 Num.9.  1 .5. 
 
 1  Kill  S.  10, 
 
 n.2Chr,.'i. 
 
 13.  &  7.  2. 
 
 Is.  6.  \. 
 
 Hag.  2,  7.9 
 
 ll.-v.  H.  8. 
 h  Lev.  16.2, 
 
 1  Kin. 8. 11. 
 
 2rhr  5  H 
 i  Num. 9.  17. 
 
 k  10.  11. 
 
 Neh.  9,  19. 
 
 t  Hvh.jouT- 
 k  Num.  9. 
 
 congregation,  upon  the  side  of  the  tabernacle 
 nortliward,  without  the  vail. 
 
 23  ''And  he  set  the  bread  in  order  upon  it 
 before  the  Lord  ;  as  the  Lord  had  commanded 
 Moses. 
 
 24  1[  'And  he  put  the  candlestick  in  the  tent 
 of  the  congregation,  over  against  the  table,  on 
 the  side  of  the  tabernacle  southward. 
 
 25  And  "he  lighted  the  lamps  before  the  Lord, 
 as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 26  H  'And  he  put  the  golden  altar  in  the  tent 
 of  the  congregation  before  the  vail  : 
 
 27  ^And  he  burnt  sweet  incense  thereon  ;  as 
 the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 28  If  "And  he  set  up  the  hanging  at  the  door 
 of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 29  ''And  he  put  the  altar  of  burnt  offering  by 
 the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  tent  of  the 
 congregation,  and  °  offered  upon  it  the  burnt 
 offering  and  the  meat  offering ;  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  Moses. 
 
 30  1  ''And  he  set  the  laver  between  the  tent 
 of  the  congregation  and  the  altar,  and  put 
 water  there,  to  wash  withal. 
 
 31  And  Moses  and  Aaron  and  his  sons  washed 
 their  hands  and  their  feet  thereat : 
 
 32  When  they  went  into  the  tent  of  the  con- 
 gregation, and  when  they  came  near  unto  the 
 altar,  they  washed  ;  '  as  the  Lord  commanded 
 Moses. 
 
 33  'And  he  reared  up  the  court  round  about 
 the  tabernacle  and  the  altar,  and  set  up  the 
 hanging  of  the  court  gate.  So  Moses  finished 
 the  work. 
 
 34  t  ^  Then  a  cloud  covered  the  tent  of  the 
 congregation,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled 
 the  tabernacle. 
 
 35  And  Moses  ''  was  not  able  to  enter  into 
 the  tent  of  the  congregation,  because  the  cloud 
 abode  tliereon,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled 
 the  tabernacle. 
 
 36  '  And  when  the  cloud  was  taken  up  from 
 over  the  tabernacle,  the  children  of  Israel 
 fvvent  onward  in  all  their  journeys  : 
 
 37  But ''  if  the  cloud  were  not  taken  up,  then 
 they  journeyed  not  till  the  day  that  it  was 
 taken  up. 
 
 38  For  '  the  cloud  of  the  Lord  was  upon  the 
 tabernacle  by  day,  and  fire  was  on  it  by  night, 
 in  tlie  sight  of  all  the  house  of  Israel,  through- 
 out all  their  journeys. 
 
 officiating  priests. — Bouthr,        34.  A  cloud  roi-ered — this  cloud  had,  for    and  a  glorious  light  by  night,  till  the  Israelites  entered  Canaan. — 
 some  time,  rested  on  the  tent  of  Moses,  but  on  the  tabernacle  being    Fawkes. 
 completed,  it  rested  on  that,  where  it  continued  as  a  cloud  by  day, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XL Observe,  I.    The  taifemacle, 
 
 heint/  completed,  v^as  consecrated  fur  liis  service.  God  is  a  holy 
 God,  and  tbe  place  where  be  dwells  must  be  holy. 
 
 1 1.  JV/tfit  t/ie  tabernacle  was  set  up,  *  t/ie  (/hri/  of  ttie  Lord  filed 
 iV.'  So,  when  tbe  true  laberDacle  was  pitched,  there  was  seen 
 ■  the  glory,  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace 
 and  truth."  So  does  '  the  High  and  Lofty  One,  who  inhabiteth 
 eternity,'  condescend  to  dwell  in  every  humble  and  renewed 
 
 heart.  So  will  he  be  present  in  all  places  where  his  name  is 
 recorded  ;  and  so  in  the  celestial  state,  when  all  the  true 
 worshippers  of  God  shall  assemble  in  one  vast  congregation  ; 
 '  He  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  shall  dwell  among  them.'  Then 
 shall  the  voice  from  heaven  proclaim,  '  ISehold.the  tabernacle 
 of  God  is  with  men,  and  he  will  tlwell  with  them,  and  they 
 shall  be  his  people,  and  God  himself  shall  be  with  them,  and 
 be  their  God. 
 
 110 
 
THE    THIRD     BOOK     OF     MOSES, 
 
 LEVITICUS. 
 
 [Tn;s  book  is  a  record  of  the  priesthood  of  Aaron  and  liis  sons,  who  were  of  the  tribe  of  Levi.  The  Jews  call  it  after  the  first 
 word  with  which  it  begins,  but  the  Septuagint,  AtviTiKov,  and  the  Latins,  Leviticus.  Jiishop  Usher  and  others  suppose 
 that  .all  the  laws  contained  in  Leviticns  were  delivered  in  about  a  month,  and  hence  it  does  not  admit  of  a  chronological 
 arrangement,  like  the  historical  books.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  continuation  of  the  former  history,  from  the  rearing  of  the 
 tabernacle  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Sinai,  to  the  numbering  of  the  people.  It  was  from  the  mercy  seat  that  God  gave  out 
 these  oracles.  There  is  much  of  the  Gospel  shadowed  forth  in  these  pages,  and  if  we  read  them  in  connexion  with  the 
 Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  we  shall  find  considerable  pleasure  and  profit  in  observing  how  the  substance  corresponds  with 
 the  shadow.  Here  is  Christ,  and  there  is  Christ ;  His  '  glory  gilds  the  sacred  page.'  Christians  should,  however, 
 beware  of  not  indulging  in  fanciful  speculations  on  what  is  here  recorded,  but  let  them  cautiously  take  the  sacred 
 commentators  as  their  guide.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  book  was  written  by  Moses.  See  Matt.  vui.  4  ;  John 
 viii.  5;  compared  with  Lev.  xiv.  2,  and  xx.  10.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1    Tlic  hunit  nfferintfs.     3  Of  the  herd,  10  of  the  flocks, 
 13  of  the  fowls. 
 
 AND    the   Lord  "  called  unto  Moses,  and 
 spake  unto  him  ''  out  of  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation,  saying, 
 
 2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say 
 unto  them,  "  If  any  man  of  you  bring  an 
 offering  unto  the  Lord,  ye  shall  bring  your 
 offering  of  the  cattle,  eiyen  of  the  herd,  and  of 
 the  flock. 
 
 3  If  his  offering  be  a  burnt  sacrifice  of  the 
 herd,  let  him  offer  a  male  ''  without  blemish  : 
 he  shall  offer  it  of  his  own  voluntary  will  at 
 the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation 
 before  the  Lord. 
 
 4  "  And  he  shall  put  his  hand  upon  the  head 
 of  the  burnt  offering  ;  and  it  shall  be  '  accepted 
 for  him  ^  to  make  atonement  for  him. 
 
 5  And  he  shall  kill  the  ^  bullock  before  the 
 Lord  :  '  and  the  priests,  Aaron's  sons,  shall 
 bring  the  blood,'  and  sprinkle  the  blood  round 
 about  upon  the  altar  that  is  by  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 6  And  he  shall  flay  the  burnt  offering,  and 
 cut  it  into  his  pieces. 
 
 7  And  the  sons  of  Aaron  the  priest  shall  put 
 fire  upon  the  altar,  and  '  lay  the  wood  in  order 
 upon  the  fire  : 
 
 8  And  the  priests,  Aaron's  sons,  shall  lay 
 the  parts,  the  head,  and  the  fat,  in  order  upon 
 the  wood  that  is  on  the  fire  which  is  upon  the 
 altar : 
 
 9  But  his  inwards  and  his  legs  shall  he  wash 
 in  water :  and  the  priest  shall  burn  all  on  the 
 
 iEx.  40.  »1, 
 ■A5   Num. 
 
 d  Ex.  12.  5. 
 
 ch.  3.  1.  8c 
 
 23.  2l>,  21. 
 
 Deu. 15.21. 
 
 Mai.  I.  1+. 
 
 Eph.  6.  27. 
 
 Heb.  y.  14. 
 
 1  Pet.  1.19. 
 f  cb. 4    15.& 
 
 3.2,S.1S.&  fl. 
 
 14-,  22.  &  16. 
 
 21.  Ex.  29. 
 
 10,  15,  19. 
 /■ch.  22.21, 
 
 "  27.  la.  56.  7. 
 
 Horn.  12.  I. 
 
 Phil.  ^.  IH. 
 !J  ch.  4.211,26, 
 
 31,35.  St9  7. 
 
 &  16.24.Nu. 
 
 15.25.2Chr. 
 
 29.  23,  24. 
 
 Rom.  5  li- 
 ft Mich.  6  6. 
 i  2  Chr.  35. 
 
 11.  Heb.  10. 
 11. 
 
 A  ch.  3.  8. 
 Heb.  12.24, 
 1  Pet.  1.2. 
 
 /Gen.  22.9. 
 
 B.  C.  1190. 
 
 (iGen.  1^.21. 
 Rzek.20.2S, 
 41.2  Cor.  2- 
 15.  Eph. 5.2. 
 Phil.  4.  13. 
 
 1  ver.  3. 
 
 p  ch.  5.  7. 
 «(  12.  a. 
 I.uke  2.  21 
 
 Or.  p'lHch 
 Kff  th<'  hi;,d 
 triththen<,tL 
 
 II  Or,  IhffiW, 
 Iknar. ' 
 q  Ch.  6.  10. 
 
 altar,  to  he  a  burnt  sacrifice,  an  offering  made 
 by  fire,  of  a  "  sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 10  IT  And  if  bis  offering  he  of  the  flocks, 
 namely,  of  the  sheep,  or  of  the  goats,  for  a 
 burnt  sacrifice  ;  he  shall  bring  it  a  male  "  with- 
 out blemish. 
 
 1 1  "  And  he  shall  kill  it  on  the  side  of  the 
 altar  northward  before  the  Lord  :  and  the 
 priests,  Aaron's  sons,  shall  sprinkle  his  blood 
 round  about  upon  the  altar. 
 
 12  And  he  shall  cut  it  into  his  pieces,  with 
 his  head  and  his  fat :  and  the  priest  shall  lay 
 them  in  order  on  the  wood  that  is  on  the  fire 
 which  is  upon  the  altar  : 
 
 13  But  he  shall  wash  the  inwards  and  the 
 legs  with  water  :  and  the  priest  shall  bring  it 
 all,  and  burn  it  upon  the  altar  :  it  is  a  burnt 
 sacrifice,  an  offering  made  by  fire,  of  a  sweet 
 savour  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 14  U  And  if  the  burnt  sacrifice  for  his  offer- 
 ing to  the  Lord  he  of  fowls,  then  he  shall 
 bring  his  offering  of  ^  turtledoves,  or  of  young 
 pigeons. 
 
 15  And  the  priest  shall  bring  it  unto  the 
 altar,  and  ||  wring  off  bis  head,  and  burn  it  on 
 the  altar  ;  and  the  blood  thereof  shall  be  wrung 
 out  at  the  side  of  the  altar  : 
 
 16  And  he  shall  pluck  away  his  crop  with 
 II  his  feathers,  and  cast  it  ^  beside  the  altar  on 
 the  east  part,  by  the  place  of  the  ashes  : 
 
 17  And  he  shall  cleave  it  with  the  wings 
 thereof,  hut '  shall  not  divide  it  asunder  :  and 
 the  priest  shall  burn  it  upon  the  altar,  upon 
 the  wood  that  is  upon  the  fire  :  '  it  is  a  burnt 
 sacrifice,  an  offering  made  by  fire,  of  a  sweet 
 savour  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 Notes  on  Crap.  I.  —  1.  Called  unto  Moses,  wlio  stood  without, 
 waiting  for  God's  call,  (Exod.  xl.  35.)  Out  of  tlie  tabernacle,  from  the 
 mercy-seat.— Poofe.  2.  An  offering,  pip.  from  n;?,  '  to  approach," 
 an  introductory  offering,  or  offering  of  access,  in  allusion  to  the  pre- 
 sent which  is  always  required  in  being  introduced  to  a  superior  in  the 
 east. — Greenf.  3.  A  burnt  sacrifice — burnt  sacrifices  were  so  called, 
 
 because  wholly  burnt  on  the  altar.  The  priest  had  the  skin  only  for 
 performing  the  sacrifice,  (chap.  vii.  8.) — Jennings.  This  was  the  atone- 
 ment for  sin  in  general,  signifying  the  total  consumption  of  our  cor- 
 rupt affections,  and  consecration  of  our  services,  (Rom.xii.  1.)  — 
 Leifchild.  4.  Put  ftis  tiand  upon  the  tieitd — by  this  action  he  owned 
 he  had  sinned  and  deserved  to  die,  as  the  creature  he  brought  was 
 about  to  do,  and,  if  done  profitably,  that  he  expected  pardon  of  sin 
 through  the  great  sacrifice  that  was  a  type  of.  —  Gill,  A.  Clarke. 
 6.  Flay — the  Rabbins  say,  the  offerer  did  so ;  the  priests  and  Levites 
 certainly  did,  and  the  priest  had  the  skin,  as  above.  See.also,  2Chron. 
 xxix.  34.  The  red  heifer  was  the  only  sacrifice  not  flayed.  All  was 
 consumed,  (see  Nam.  xix.) — So  A.  Clarke.  7.  Put  fire — the  fire  of 
 the  altar  originally  came  down  from  heaven,  and  consumed  the  sacri- 
 fice, which  was  a  token  of  God's  acceptance  nf  it,  {see  chap.  ix.  24  ; 
 1  Kings,  xviii.  23,  24,  39  ;  1  Chron.  xxi.  26  ;  2Chron.  vii.  1.)  This  fire 
 was  kept  burning  continually  on  the  altar,  (chap.  vi.  12,  13.) — Gill.  To 
 pat  fue,  therefore,  meant,  increasing  the  fire  by  fresh  wood, — Sut.,  or, 
 
 it  may  read,  '  dispose  the  fire,'  '  blow  it  up. '~Poo/tf.  Lati  the  t/'oorf — 
 the  wood  for  the  sacrifice  was  an  offering  of  the  people,  lirought  to  the 
 temple  at  times  appointed,  {Neb.  x.  34,  and  xiii.  31,)  where  was  aplace 
 called  D'Syn  MDIUS  '  the  wood  room,'  or  '  wood  chamber.'  9.  His 
 inwards  and  his  legs  shall  he  wash — denoting  the  internal  purity  of 
 Christ's  heart,  and  the  external  holiness  of  his  life  and  conversation, 
 and  the  saint's  purification  by  him,  both  in  heart  and  life. — Gill.  A 
 sweet  savour — so  Christ's  offering  of  himself,  as  here  typified,  (Eph. 
 V.  2.)  A  burnt  sacrifice — ^b^,  from  rT73?,  'to  ascend,'  because  this  of- 
 fering ascended,  as  it  were,  to  God,  in  flame  and  smoke.— Grpfn/. 
 1 1 .  Northward — hereby  was  figured  that  Christ,  our  sin-oflfering,  should 
 be  killed  by  the  priests  in  Jerusalem  and  Mount  Sion,  which  was  on 
 the  sides  of  the  north,  (Ps.  xlviii.  2,)  crucified  on  Mount  Calvary,  which 
 was  on  the  north-west  side  of  Jerusalem. — Ains. ;  so  Paule,  wiio  adds, 
 that  this  also  '  seems  to  have  been  the  largest  and  most  convenient 
 place  for  that  work.'  Perhaps  this  dhection  was  given  to  oppose  ido- 
 iators,  who  sacrificed  to  the  sun  three  times  in  the  day,  killing  the 
 sacrifice  in  the  morning  on  the  east  side,  at  mid-day  on  the  south,  and 
 at   evening   on    the    west. — Babingtnn.  14.  Turtle   doves  —  young 
 
 pigeons — these  birds  were  preferred,  being  fit  representations  of  Christ's 
 chastity,  and  meekness,  and  gentleness,  for  which  these  birds  are  re- 
 markable.— Poole. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  I.  The  doctrineof  atonement  for 
 sin  seems  to  he  a  common  sentiment  among  the  human  race.      How 
 111 
 
 depraved  soever  they  may  he,  how  deeply  soever  they  may  be 
 sunk  in  ignorance,  yet  throughout  all  the  world  the  doctrine 
 
The  meat  offering. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  II. 
 
 The  salt  of  the  meat  offering. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  The  meat  offering  ofjiovr  with  oil  arid  inccjtse,  4  either 
 baken  in  the  oven,  5  or  on  a  plate,  7  or  in  a  fri/intf- 
 pnn,  12  or  of  the  Jirstfruits  in  the  ear.  13  The  salt 
 of  the  intat  offering. 
 
 A  ND  when  any  will  offer  "  a  meat  offering 
 -^*-  unto  the  Lord,  his  offering  shall  be  of 
 fine  flour ;  and  he  shall  pour  oil  upon  it,  and 
 put  frankincense  thereon  : 
 
 2  And  he  shall  bring  it  to  Aaron *s  sons  the 
 priests  :  and  he  shall  take  thereout  his  handful 
 of  the  flour  thereof,  and  of  tlie  oil  thereof,  with 
 all  the  frankincense  thereof;  and  the  priest 
 shall  burn  '*  the  memorial  of  it  upon  the  altar, 
 to  be  an  offering  made  by  fire,  of  a  sweet 
 savour  unto  the  Lord  : 
 
 3  And  '^  the  remnant  of  the  meat  offering 
 shall  be  Aaron's  and  his  sons'  :  •'  it  is  a  thing 
 most  holy  of  the  offerings  of  the  Lord  made 
 by  fire. 
 
 4  IT  And  if  thou  bring  an  oblation  of  a  meat 
 offering  baken  in  the  oven,  it  shall  be  un- 
 leavened cakes  of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil, 
 or  unleavened  wafers*'  anointed  with  oil. 
 
 5  1  And  if  thy  oblation  be  a  meat  offering 
 baken  \\  in  a  pan,  it  shall  be  of  fine  fiour  un- 
 leavened, mingled  with  oil. 
 
 G  Tliou  shalt  part  it  in  pieces,  and  pour  oil 
 thereon  :  it  is  a  meat  offering. 
 
 7  H  And  if  thy  oblation  be  a  meat  offering 
 baken  in  the  fryingpan,  it  shall  be  made  (>/*fine 
 flour  with  oil. 
 
 8  And  thou  shalt  bring  the  meat  offering  that 
 is  made  of  these  things  unto  the  Lord  :  and 
 
 1  ch.  6.  It. 
 
 i^  'A  17. 
 Num.  15.4. 
 
 h  ver.  9.  & 
 ch.  '>.  \2.  fc 
 
 6.  15.  &  !M. 
 
 7.  In.  06    9. 
 
 16.  Acts  10. 
 4 
 c  ch.  7.  9.  & 
 l».  |o,  i;i. 
 Kcclus.  7. 
 31. 
 
 d  v.\.  wj.  :i7. 
 
 Nu; 
 
 .  IS. 
 
 /vers. 
 gV.x.  29.  IS. 
 
 I 
 
 i  ch  e  i:. 
 
 See.Mnt  16 
 Vi  Marks. 
 I-M.iilvel^. 
 1.  IC..r.:>.fi. 
 Gal.  h.  9. 
 k  Kx.  ?.'.  29 
 ch.SJ,U>,ll. 
 
 t  Heb.fl 
 
 ■:tj,d. 
 
 MlaiV  f).  49 
 
 C'l.  -i,  *;. 
 
 m  Num.13. 
 
 j'?Kin,4  i: 
 .,  ver.  I. 
 
 when  it  is  presented  unto  the  priest,  he  shall 
 bring  it  unto  the  altar. 
 
 9  And  the  priest  shall  take  from  the  meat 
 offering  *"  a  memorial  thereof,  and  shall  burn 
 j7  upon  the  altar  :  it  is  an  ^offering  made  by 
 fire,  of  a  sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 10  And  ^  that  which  is  left  of  the  meat  offer- 
 ing shall  be  Aaron's  and  his  sons' :  it  is  a  thing 
 most  holy  of  the  offerings  of  the  Lord  made 
 by  fire. 
 
 11  No  meat  offering,  which  ye  shall  bring 
 unto  the  Lord,  shall  be  made  with  '  leaven  : 
 for  ye  shall  burn  no  leaven,  nor  any  honey,  in 
 any  offering  of  the  Lord  made  by  fire. 
 
 12  1''  As  for  the  oblation  uf  tlie  first  fruits,  ye 
 shall  ofter  them  unto  the  Lord  :  but  they  shall 
 not  t  be  burnt  on  the  altar  for  a  sweet  savour. 
 
 13  And  every  oblation  of  thy  meat  offering 
 'shalt  thou  season  with  salt;  neither  shalt 
 thou  suffer  "'  the  salt  of  tlie  covenant  of  thy 
 God  to  be  lacking  from  thy  meat  offering  : 
 "with  all  tliine  offerings  thou  shalt  ofier  salt. 
 
 14  And  if  thou  ofter  a  meat  ofiering  of  thy 
 firstfruits  unto  the  Lord,  "  thou  shalt  offer  for 
 the  meat  ofiering  of  thy  firstfrnits  green  ears  of 
 corn  dried  by  the  fire,  even  corn  beaten  out  of 
 ''  full  ears. 
 
 1  j  And  '^  thou  shalt  put  oil  upon  it.  and  lay 
 frankincense  thereon  :  it  is  a  meat  oftering. 
 
 IG  And  the  priest  shall  burn  "^  the  memorial 
 of  it,  part  of  the  beaten  corn  thereof,  ?iwA part 
 of  tlie  oil  thereof,  with  all  the  frankincense 
 thereof:  it  is  an  ofiering  made  by  Are  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 Chap.  II. —  1.  .^  meat-offering — the  Hebrew  word  rTTT^'D,  'a  meat 
 offering,'  may  be  derived  from  nns.  to  hring,  or  offer,  and  so  it  is  a  name 
 common  to  offerings  of  any  iort ;  or  from  rP;n,  lorecreate  and  delig-ht, 
 it  being  of  a  sweet  savour  to  tiie  Lord,  as  otiier  offerings  were.  Others 
 derive  it  from  n;o.  a  root  not  in  use,  which,  in  theChaldee,  signifies  a 
 gift,  or  present,  and  is  so  used.  Gen.  xxxii,  13.  20. — GUI.  The  term 
 should  rather  he  translated,  a  wheat  offering,  or  bread  offering,  as  use 
 bas  now  restrained  the  word  meat,  to  flesh  only. — Ains.^Wtlla.  There 
 were  five  kinds  of  these  offerings— simple  flour,  oven  cakes,  cakes  of 
 the  fire-plate,  cakes  of  the  frying-pan,  and  green  ears  of  corn. — Ctil. 
 There  were  some  meat-offorings  that  were  only  appendi.ves  to  the 
 burnt-offerings ;  as  that  which  was  offered  with  the  daily  sacrifice, 
 {E.\od.  xxi.\.  3S,  20,)  and  with  the  peace-offerings.  And  these  had 
 drink-offerings  joined  with  them,  (see  Num.  xv.  -j,  ",  9.  lu.)  But  the 
 iaw  here  concerns  those  meat-offerings  that  were  offered  hy  themselre-i, 
 whenever  a  man  saw  cause  thus  to  express  his  devotion.    The  first 
 
 iffcrings  we  read  of  in  Scripture  were  of  this  kind,  (Gen.  iv,  3.) — Hen. 
 
 I'he  salt,  oil,  and  incense,  were  designed  to  render  the  offerings  more 
 inflammable,  and  the  odour  more  grateful. —iJoo/Ar.  The  meat-offer- 
 ing was  not  offered  by  way  of  atonement ;  it  was  merely  an  expres- 
 sion of  gratitude  to  God  for  the  proiluce  of  the  land  ;  and  hence  it  had 
 no  blood  in  it. — A.  Clarke.  These  offerings  were  regarded  as  substi- 
 tutes for  animal  sacrifices,  and  were  in  favour  of  the  poor  who  might 
 not  he  able  to  afford  living  victims.  The  por.r  were  even  allowed  to 
 bring  fiue  flour  as  a  sin-offering,  although  in  general  the  shedding  of 
 
 blood  seems  to  have  been  considered  as  essentially  connected  with  the 
 punishment  of  sin. — Pict.  Bih.  'i.  His  haudfut — the  rest  was  reserved 
 for  the  priest,  but  none  of  the  frankincense,  as  he  could  not  use  it  to 
 advantat^e. — .So  A.  Clarke.  4.  Wafers — a  custom  now  exists  among 
 the  .'Vrahs  of  heating  a  stone  pitcher  with  fire  inside,  and  when  it  is 
 hot,  they  lay  on  a  sort  of  thick  batter,  made  of  meal  and  water,  which 
 becomes  instantly  baked,  and  is  as  thin  as  a  wafer.  6.  Part  it — part 
 being  given  to  God,  and  part  to  the  priests.  11.  A'o  leaven,  to  re- 
 mind them  of  their  deliverance  out  c  f  Egypt,  and  signify  what  Christ 
 should  be,  and  that  they  should  be,  pure  and  free  from  all  error,  hypo- 
 crisy, mal'ce,  or  wickedness,  (see  Matt.  xvi.  12;  Mark,  viii.  15;  Luke, 
 xii.  1  ;  1  Cor.  V.  8  ;  Gal.  v.  9.)  Nor  any  honey — in  opposition  to  the 
 sarrifices  of  the  Gentiles,  in  which  honey  was  much  used.  12.  The 
 oblation  0/  the  first  fruits,  ye  shall  offer,  leaven,  or  htmey,  which  were 
 offered  and  accepted  in  that  case,  (Lev.  xxiii.  17  ;  aChron.  xxxi.  .^,)but 
 reserved  for  the  priests,  (Num.  xviii.  9;  Dent,  xviii.  4.)  —  Fnole. 
 13.  Salt — this  signified  the  purity  and  perfection  that  should  be  ex- 
 tended through  the  divine  service. — A.  Clnrke.  The  good  savour  of 
 piety.  Of  the  covenant — it  was  a  figure  of  the  fidelity  of  God  to  man. 
 — Sut.  A  symbol  of  the  perpetuity  of  the  covenant.  It  was  frequently 
 used  in  covenants,  among  men,  as  a  symbol  of  friendship  and  fidelity. 
 —  Wells.  14.  Green  ears  o/ror;?— parcheit  corn  is  a  species  of  food 
 still  in  use  among  the  poor  in  Pales!  ine  and  Egypt.  The  God  of  Israel 
 is  here  represented  as  partaking  with  the  poor  in  the  humblest  of  their 
 repasts. —  Wil. 
 
 has  prevailed.  It  has  been  handed  down  from  the  earliest  ages, 
 and  has  not  been  discarded.  Men  universally  acknowledge  by 
 this  that  they  are  sinners,  and  that  they  need  an  atonement. 
 Superstition  bas  added  its  inventions  to  the  Jewish  rites,  and 
 nearly  or  entirely  extirpated  them  ;  and  men,  becoming  gross 
 in  their  imaginations,  have  *  changed  the  glory  of  the  incor- 
 ruptible God,  mto  an  image  made  like  to  corruptible  man,  and 
 to  four-footed  beasts,  and  creeping  things  ;'  and  even  human 
 victims  have  bled  in  thousands  at  the  shrines  of  bloody  deities; 
 but,  amidst  all,  the  great  lesson  of  the' atonement  is  taught  in 
 the  anxious  question,  *  Shall  I  cive  my  first-born  for  my  trans- 
 gression, the  fruit  of  my  body  for  the  sin  of  my  soul?* 
 
 II  This  atonement  is  here  set  firth  in  embhins  siipiifi/ing  the 
 precious  blood- shfdding  of  the  Son  of  God.  Of  him  who  was 
 '  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  and  separate  from  sinners.'  On 
 this  great  sacrifice  we  must  rely,  if  we  would  ever  hope  for 
 the  pardon  of  our  sins. 
 
 *  My  faith  would  lay  her  hand 
 
 On  that  dear  head  of  thine  ; 
 While  like  a  penitent  I  stand. 
 
 And  there  confess  my  sin.' 
 
 III.    TTie  rick  ami  the  poor  must  all  apply  for  pardon  at  the  smne 
 source.     The  slain  beast,  and  the  turtle  doves  and  pigeons,  did 
 112 
 
 but  typify  tlie  same  offering,  and  both  were  offerings  of  a 
 sweet-smelling  savour,  as  was  the  offering  of  Christ.  The 
 song  of  heaven  celebrates  but  one  sacrifice — '  Worthy  is  the 
 Lamb  that  was  slain.' 
 
 Rkflixtions  on  Chap.  II.  — I.  The  continual  bounties  of 
 our  God  demand  our  continmd  expressions  of  gratitude.  ]3o  we 
 give  him  the  meat-offering,  and  acknowledge  the  hand  that 
 first  gives  it  to  us?  Let  us  remember,  that  we  must  bring  it 
 to  the  priest  and  the  altar,  and  tliat  our  offerings  can  only  be 
 acceptable  through  Christ  -,  that  '  whatsoever  we  do  in  word 
 and  in  deed,  we  may  do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
 giving  thanks  to  God  and  the  Father  by  bini.' 
 
 II.  It  is  nmfirhable  how  careful  God  is  of  his  poor  throughout 
 all  his  dispensations.  The  Scripture  abounds  with  promises  to 
 the  poor.  The  Saviour  recommended  attention  to  the  poor, 
 aud  here  the  Levitical  law  provided  that  they  should  not  be 
 overlooked  in  the  humblest  offering  of  gratitude.  If  you  can- 
 not bring  the  finest  of  the  tlour,  tl)e  green  ears  of  parched  corn 
 will  not  be  refused.  The  widow's  mite  was  as  acceptable^ 
 cast  into  the  treasury  of  the  temple,  as  were  the  onyx  stones 
 and  stones  to  be  set,  for  the  ephod  and  for  the  breast-plate, 
 brought  by  the  rulers  at  the  erection  of  the  tabernacle. 
 
The  meat  offering  of  the  herd. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  III.,  IV. 
 
 The  sin  offiring  of  ignorance. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 eiilier 
 
 1  The  meatoffering  nflhc  hml,  6  of  the  floch,  7 
 a  lamb,  \2  or  n  gont, 
 
 AND  if  his  oblation  be  a"  sacrifice  of  peace 
 oflcring;,  if  he  offer  it  of  the  herd  ;  whether 
 it  be  a  male  or  female,  he  shall  offer  it  ''  with- 
 out blemisli  before  the  Lord. 
 
 2  And 'he  shall  lay  his  liand  upon  the  head 
 of  his  offering,  and  kill  it  at  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation  :  and  Aaron's 
 sons  tlie  priests  shall  sprinkle  the  blood  upon 
 the  altar  round  about. 
 
 3  And  be  shall  offer  of  the  sacrifice  of  the 
 peace  offering  an  offering  made  by  fire  unto 
 the  Lord  ;  ''  the  ||  fat  that  covereth  the 
 inwards,  and  all  the  fat  that  is  upon  the 
 inwards, 
 
 4  And  the  two  kidneys,  and  the  fat  that  is  on 
 them,  which  is  by  the  flanks,  and  the  ||  caul 
 above  the  liver,  with  the  kidneys,  it  shall  he 
 take  away. 
 
 5  And  Aaron's  sons  '  shall  burn  it  on  the 
 altar  upon  the  burnt  sacrifice,  which  is  upon 
 the  wood  that  is  on  the  fire  :  it  is  an  offering 
 made  by  fire,  of  a  sweet  savour  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 6  1  And  if  his  offering  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace 
 offering  unto  the  Lord  be  of  the  flock  ;  male 
 or  female,  Hie  shall  offer  it  witliout  blemish. 
 
 7  If  he  offer  a  lamb  for  his  offering,  then  shall 
 he  offer  it  before  the  Lord. 
 
 8  And  he  shall  lay  his  hand  upon  the  head  of 
 his  offering,  and  kill  it  before  the  tabernacle 
 of  the  congregation  :  and  Aaron's  sons  shall 
 sprinkle  the  blood  thereof  round  about  upon 
 the  altar. 
 
 9  And  he  shall  offer  of  the  sacrifice  of  the 
 peace  offering  an  offering  made  by  fire  unto  the 
 Lord  ;  the  fat  thereof,  and  the  whole  rump, 
 it  shall  he  take  off  hard  by  the  backbone  ; 
 and  the  fat  that  coveretli  the  inwards,  and  all 
 the  fat  that  is  uuon  the  inwards. 
 
 I!.  C.  UilO,     I  B.  C.  HCO. 
 
 .  ch.  7.  M, 
 29.  &  T2:i\. 
 
 ch.  1.1.5. 
 Ex.  H'X  lu. 
 
 d  Ex.29.  13, 
 22.  ch.4  S,9. 
 >|  Or,  tuet. 
 
 II  Or,  midriff 
 
 DI-KT   ttie 
 
 liver,  and 
 dtftr  the 
 
 e  ch.  6.  I2. 
 Ex.  2y.  13. 
 
 /vor.  1,  8iC. 
 
 if  Seech.  21. 
 
 6,  8,  17,  21, 
 
 22.  &  22. 25. 
 
 Ezek.  41  7. 
 
 Mai. 1.7,12. 
 A  ver.  I,  7, 
 
 &c. 
 
 (cli.7.  21,25. 
 
 1  S.-im.2.15. 
 
 8  Cl>r.  7.  7. 
 k  ch.  6    18  8; 
 
 7.  36  &  17. 
 
 7    &  23.  1-1. 
 
 .  15. 
 cniiipaie 
 with  Deut. 
 
 32.  11.  Neh. 
 8.  10. 
 
 m  Gen.  9.  +. 
 ch.  7.  2.^,2li. 
 »t  17.  10,  U. 
 Deu.  12. 16. 
 1  Sam.  14. 
 
 33.  Ezek. 
 ■M.  7,  15. 
 
 n  ch 
 
 5. 
 
 15, 
 
 17. 
 
 Num. 
 
 lb. 
 
 9.'.. 
 
 .Vc 
 
 1  Sa.  H.27 
 
 Pb 
 
 19 
 
 12. 
 
 Sch 
 
 8. 
 
 1?. 
 
 10  Anrl  the  two  kidneys,  and  the  fat  that  is 
 upon  them,  which  is  by  the  flanks,  and  the 
 caul  above  the  liver,  with  the  kidneys,  it  shall 
 he  take  away. 
 
 1 1  And  the  priest  shall  burn  it  upon  the  altar  . 
 it  is  ^  the  food  of  the  ofl'ering  made  by  fire  unto 
 the  Lord. 
 
 12  1[  And  if  his  offering  Z^e  a  goat,  then  ''he 
 shall  offer  it  before  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  he  shall  lay  liis  hand  upon  the  head 
 of  it,  and  kill  it  before  the  tabernacle  of  tlie 
 congregation  :  and  the  sons  of  Aaron  shall 
 sprinkle  the  blood  thereof  upon  the  altar 
 round  about. 
 
 14  And  he  shall  offer  thereof  his  offering, 
 even  an  offering  made  by  tire  unto  the  Lord  ; 
 the  fat  that  covereth  the  inwards,  and  all  the 
 fat  that  is  upon  the  inwards, 
 
 15  And  the  two  kidneys,  and  the  fat  that  is 
 upon  them,  which  is  by  the  flanks,  and  the 
 caul  above  the  liver,  with  the  kidneys,  it  shall 
 he  take  away. 
 
 16  And  the  priest  shall  burn  them  upon  the 
 altar:  it.  is  the  food  of  the  offering  made  by 
 fire  for  a  sweet  savour  :  *  all  the  fat  is  the 
 Lord's. 
 
 17  It  shall  be  a  ^perpetual  statute  for  your 
 generations  throughout  all  your  dwellings,  that 
 ye  eat  neither  '  fat  nor  "^  blood. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  The  sin  offering  of  iffnora^icey  Sfor  tfie priest,  ISfor 
 the  congrt'gaiion,  22  for  the  rider ,  27  for  any  of  the 
 people, 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 ■^*-  2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  ray- 
 ing, "  If  a  soul  shall  sin  through  ignorance 
 against  any  of  the  commandments  of  the  Lord 
 concerning  things  which  ought  not  to  be  done, 
 and  shall  do  against  any  of  them  : 
 
 3  '^  If  the  priest  that  is  anointed  do  sin  ac- 
 cording to  the  sin  of  the  people  ;  then  let  him 
 bring  for  his  sin,  which  he    hath    sinned,  "^  a 
 
 Chap.  IIT. —  1.  Pence  offering,  D'D^ir,  'pay-offerings,'  *a  sacrifice 
 of  payments.*  or  of  *  pacifications,'— .i4/«.s.  Some  make  the  original 
 word  '  retribution.' — Hen.  '  Thank-offering.' — Coverdule.  '  Eucha- 
 ristic' — Gi'ddes.  'Feast  sacrifice.* — Mich.,  Boothr.  'A  sacrifice  of 
 peace,' or 'peaces.* — Scott.  The  consequence  of  Christ's  sacrifice  is 
 peace  here,  and  eternal  peace  hereafter. — Gill.  From  ub'Vt  to  make 
 whole,  entire,  complete. — Par.  By  these  offerings,  what  was  lacking 
 was  now  made  up,  and  the  broken  covenant  was  now  made  whole. 
 After  this  offering,  the  breach  was  reconciled,  and  there  was  peace, 
 (see  Eph.  ii.  14—19.) — So  A.  Clarke.  Here  was  an  eminent  type  of  tlie 
 peace  and  reconciliation  of  God  with  man,  throui^h  the  deatli  of  the 
 Prince  of  Peace,  of  Him  who  is  our  peace,  (Eph.  ii.  14  ;)  for  it  must  be 
 particularly  observed,  that  of  these  sacrifices,  both  God  and  man,  both 
 priest  and  people,  were  to  partake,  (see  chap.  vii.  11,  &c. ;  compare 
 Rom.  V.  1,10;  2  Cor.  V.  18,19;  Eph.  ii.  14— 1? ;  Col.  i.  2<i.)~Par. 
 These  peace-offerings  were  often  made  in  trouble,  (Judg.  xx.  26  ;  xxi.  4 ; 
 I  Chron,  xxi.  26.)  As  the  burnt  offering  figured  our  reconciliation  to 
 God  by  the  dca'h  of  Christ,  and  the  vient-offering  our  sanctification  in 
 him  before  God,  so  tills  peace  offering  signified  both  Christ's  oblation 
 of  himself,  whereby  he  became  our  peace  and  our  oblation  of  praise, 
 (Acts,  xiii,  47;  Heb.  v.  9,  and  ix,  20.) — Ains.  2.  Kill  it  at  the  duor — 
 hence,  the  parties  killed  the  animal,  and  the  priests  only  sprinkled  its 
 blood,  and  burnt  the  fat  with  the  daily  burnt-offerings,  the  priests  and 
 offerers  afterwards  feasting  togetlier.— So  Scott.  g.  The  whole  rump, 
 it,  ^c,  '  the  large  fat  tad  entire,  taken  off  close  to  the  rump.' — Boothr. 
 The  tail  of  a  Syrian  sheep  will  weigh  50  pounds  ;  and,  from  its  great 
 use  and  delicacy,  could  be  no  unworthy  offering. — Pict.  Bib.  11.  Fond 
 of  the  offering — so  called,  because  it  fed  the  holy  fire. — Hen.  17.  Eat 
 neither  fat  nor  blood — the  blood  was  forbidden  lor  the  same  reason  that 
 
 the  fat  was,  because  it  was  God's  part  of  every  sacrifice.  The  heathen 
 drunk  the  blood  of  their  sacrifices ;  hence  we  read  of  their  drink-offer- 
 ings of  blood,  (fs.  xvi.  4;)  but  God  would  not  permit  the  blood  that 
 made  atonement  to  be  used  as  a  common  thing,  (Heb.  x.  29-)— Hen. 
 The  heathen  also  ate  the  fat  of  their  offerings.— S«^  The  fat  is  not 
 wholesome  in  those  hot  countries,  and  Mr.  Street  considers  the  prohi- 
 bition to  have  reference  to  health. 
 
 Chap.  IV.— 2.  7/0  soul,  '  if  any  person  sin.*  The  soul  is  the  agent, 
 the  body  only  the  instrument,— .Sco/£.  It  is  not  sin  if  it  be  not,  some 
 way  or  other,  the  soul's  act.  Hence,  it  is  called  the  sin  of  the  soul, 
 (Mic.  vi.  7,)  and  it  is  the  soul  that  is  injured  by  it,  (Prov.  viii.  36.)— 
 Hen.  Through  ignorance,  or  'error,'  either  not  knowing  the  fact  to 
 be  sinful,  (see  ver.  13,  14.)  or  not  considering  it,  but  rashly  and  unad- 
 visedly falling  into  sin,  through  the  power  of  some  sudden  passion  or 
 temptation,  as  the  Hebrew  signifies,  (Ps.  cxix.  67  j  compare  Job.  xix. 
 4;  Ps.  xix.  13.) — Poole.  Against  imy  of  thf  coynmandments — 'sin  is 
 the  transgression  of  the  law,'  the  Divine  law.  The  sins  here  men- 
 tioned, are,  (i.)  Overt  acts,  for  atonement  was  made  once  a  year  for 
 other  sins,  which  included  such  as  sinful  thoughts,  words,  SiC.  They 
 are  (ii.)  Sins  of  commission,  which  ought  not  to  be  done,  (iii.)  Siiu^  oj 
 ignorn7ice~t\\e  presumptuous  offcntler  was  to  be  cut  off  for  his  con- 
 tempt of  the  law  and  the  I.aw-niaker,  and  there  remained  no  sacrifice 
 for  the  sin,  (Heb.  x,  26,  27  ;  Num.  xv.  30.)— He».  3.  The  priest  that 
 is  anoi7ited—thB.t  is,  the  high  priest,  who  only,  of  all  the  priests,  was 
 constantly  anointed  at  the  entrance  of  his  office. — Pat.  His  ayioiiitinfr 
 is  mentioned,  because  he  was  not  complete  high  priest  till  he  wks 
 anointed. — Poole.  Tlie  Sept.  read, '  the  high  priest.*  According  to  the 
 sin  of  the  people,  'so  as  to  bring  guilt  on  the  people.'  The  priest's  lips 
 were  to  keep  knowledge,  and  if  he  led  the  people  astray  the  sin  was 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  I,  The  greatest  blessing  we  can 
 enjoy  is  peace  with  God.  To  have  him  for  our  enemy  is  misery 
 indeed  ;  but  to  know  that  he  is  our  friend  is  a  continual  feast. 
 This  is  the  blessedness  of  those  who  are  confidently  enabled 
 to  trust  in  the  merits  of  the  Divine  Redeemer.  'Being  justified 
 by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ.' 
 
 II.  As  often  as  we  wouhi  renew  our  sense  of  the  Divine  favour, 
 113 
 
 or  express  our  gratitude  for  it^  we  must  renew  our  confession  of 
 sins,  and  our  expressions  of  reliance  on  the  atonement,  ll'iro  the 
 offerer  was  to  lay  his  hand  on  the  head  of  the  offering,  in  token 
 of  confessing  that  his  own  desert  was  death;  and  here  the 
 spiritual  eye  saw  the  efficacy  of  a  Divine  atonement,  God 
 is  only  well  pleased  with  us  for  the  righteousness*  sake  of  Miia 
 who  died  on  Calvary. 
 
The  sin  offering  for  the  congreyation. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  IV. 
 
 For  the  ruler. 
 
 young  bullock  without  blemish  unto  the  Lono 
 for  a  sin  oPferin<;. 
 
 4  Anil  he  shall  brine;  the  bullock  ^  unto  the 
 door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation 
 before  the  Lord  ;  and  shall  lay  bis  hand  upon 
 the  bullock's  head,  and  kill  the  bullock  before 
 the  Lord. 
 
 5  And  the  priest  that  is  anointed  "  shall  take 
 of  the  bullock's  blood,  and  bring  it  to  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation  : 
 
 6  And  the  priest  shall  dip  his  finger  in  the 
 blood,  and  sprinkle  of  the  blood  seven  times 
 before  the  Lord,  before  the  vail  of  the  sanc- 
 tuary. 
 
 7  And  the  priest  shall  '  put  some  of  the 
 blood  upon  the  boms  of  the  altar  of  sweet 
 incense  before  the  Lord,  which  is  in  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation ;  and  shall 
 pour  ^  all  the  blood  of  the  bullock  at  the  bot- 
 tom of  the  altar  of  the  burnt  offering,  whicli 
 is  at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation. 
 
 8  And  he  shall  take  off  from  it  all  the  fat  of 
 the  bullock  for  the  sin  offering  ;  the  fat  that 
 covercth  the  inwards,  and  all  the  fat  that  is 
 upon  the  inwards, 
 
 9  And  the  two  kidneys,  and  the  fat  that  is 
 upon  them,  wiiich  ;>  by  the  flanks,  and  the 
 caul  above  the  liver,  with  the  kidneys,  it  shall 
 he  take  away, 
 
 10  ''  As  it  was  taken  off  from  the  bullock  of 
 the  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings  :  and  the  priest 
 shall  burn  them  upon  the  altar  of  the  burnt 
 offering. 
 
 1 1  '  And  the  skin  of  the  bullock,  and  all  his 
 flesh,  with  his  head,  and  with  his  legs,  and  his 
 inwards,  and  his  dung, 
 
 1'2  Kven  the  whole  bullock  shall  he  carry 
 forth  t  without  the  camp  unto  a  clean  place, 
 '  where  the  ashes  are  poured  out,  and  '  burn 
 him  on  the  wood  with  fire  :  t  where  the  ashes 
 are  poured  out  shall  he  be  burnt. 
 
 13  H  And  ■"  if  the  whole  congregation  of 
 Israel  sin  through  ignorance,  "  and  tlie  thing 
 be  hid  from  the  eyes  of  the  assembly,  and 
 they  have  done  somewhat  against  any  of  the 
 commandments  of  the  Lord  concerning  things 
 whi-ih  should  not  be  done,  and  are  guilty  ; 
 
 14  When  the  sin,  which  they  have  sinned 
 against  it,  is  known,  then  the  congregation 
 shall  oft'er  a  young  bullock  for  the  sin,  and  bring 
 him  before  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 15  And  the  elders  of  the  congregation  "shall 
 lay  their  hands  upon  the  head  of  the  bullock 
 
 rfch.  I,  3.  4. 
 
 «  ch.  16.  14. 
 Num.  19.  4 
 
 ^cli.  S.  15. 
 &9  d.&16. 
 
 g-  cb.  6.  9. 
 
 i  Kx.  2'.>.  U. 
 Num.  19.  5. 
 
 r'iHi;>. 
 
 *.•!..  6.  n. 
 
 I  Hcb.  IS.Il. 
 t  Heb.  at  tt,t 
 
 ;">""■"?  ""' 
 
 nf  Ih^  nshft. 
 m  Num.  15. 
 
 81.  Josh.  7. 
 
 11. 
 n  ch.  5,  2,  3, 
 
 .1,  17. 
 
 q  ver.  3. 
 
 r  Num.  15. 
 35.  nan.  9. 
 2i.  R'un.  5. 
 II.  Heb.  2. 
 17.  fc  10. 
 10,  1 1,  1-2. 
 IJnlm  1.7. 
 *2.  2. 
 
 y  ch.  3.  S. 
 
 X  fcr.  20, 
 Nuin.ld.28. 
 
 a  rer.  g. 
 Num.  15.87. 
 1  Heb.  nnif 
 
 t  Heb.  jieopU 
 u/  the  land. 
 
 before    the  Lord  :    and  the  bullock  shall    be 
 killed  before  the  Lord. 
 
 16  ^  And  the  priest  that  is  anointed  shall  bring 
 of  the  bullock's  blood  to  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation  : 
 
 1 7  And  the  priest  shall  dip  his  finger  in  some 
 of  the  blood,  and  sprinkle  it  seven  times  before 
 the  Lord,  even  before  the  vail. 
 
 18  And  he  .shall  put  some  of  the  blood  upon 
 the  horns  of  the  altar  which  is  before  the 
 Lord,  tliat  is  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation, and  shall  pour  out  all  the  blood  at  the 
 bottom  of  the  altar  of  the  burnt  offering, 
 which  is  at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation. 
 
 19  And  he  shall  take  all  his  fat  from  him, 
 and  burn  it  upon  the  altar. 
 
 ■JO  And  ho  shall  do  with  the  bullock  as  he  did 
 '•  with  the  bullock  for  a  sin  offering,  so  shall  he 
 do  with  this :  '  and  the  priest  shall  make  an 
 atonement  for  them,  and  it  shall  be  forgiven 
 them. 
 
 21  And  he  shall  carry  forth  the  bullock  with- 
 out the  camp,  and  burn  him  as  he  burned  the 
 first  bullock  :  it  is  a  sin  offering  for  the  con- 
 gregation. 
 
 22  t  When  a  ruler  hath  sinned,  and  'done 
 somewhat  through  ignorance  against  any  of 
 the  commandments  of  the  Lord  his  God  con- 
 cerning things  which  should  not  be  done,  and 
 is  guilty  ; 
 
 23  Or  '  if  his  sin,  wherein  he  hath  sinned, 
 come  to  his  knowledge  ;  he  shall  bring  his 
 offering,  a  kid  of  the  goats,  a  male  without 
 blemi.sh  : 
 
 24  And  "he  shall  lay  his  hand  upon  the  head 
 of  the  goat,  and  kill  it  in  tlie  place  where  they 
 kill  the  burnt  offering  before  the  Loud  :  it  is  a 
 sin  offering. 
 
 25  '  And  the  priest  shall  take  of  the  blood  of 
 the  sin  offering  with  his  finger,  and  put  it  upon 
 the  horns  of  the  altar  of  burnt  offering,  and 
 shall  pour  out  his  blood  at  the  bottom  of  the 
 altar  of  burnt  ofi'eriiig. 
 
 20  And  he  shall  burn  all  his  fat  upon  the 
 altar,  as  ^  the  fat  of  the  sacrifice  of  peace  offer- 
 ings :  '  and  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement 
 for  him  as  concerning  his  sin,  and  it  shall  be 
 forgiven  him. 
 
 27  t  And  "  if  t  any  one  of  the  f  common 
 people  sin  through  ignorance,  while  he  doeth 
 somewhat  against  any  of  the  commandments 
 of  the  Lord  concerning  things  which  ought 
 not  to  be  done,  and  be  guilty ; 
 
 heinous.— Bot>/Ar.  A  pmtng  buUork—as  valuable  an  offering  as  th^t 
 for  the  whole  congregatioD,  (ver.  14  ;)  whereas,  for  any  other  ruler,  or 
 conmnn  person,  '  a  kid  of  the  goat^'  should  serve,  (ver.  23,  '2S.)  This 
 int.mated  the  greatness  of  the  guilt  of  the  sin  of  a  high  priest. — Hm. 
 For  It  fiin  fifferinf^,  or  '  for  sin  ;*  the  sin-offering  is  called  sin  itself,  and 
 so  is  Christ,  the  antitype  of  it,  {2  Cor.  V.  21.)— G(7/.  Commentators 
 disagree  respecting  the  signification  of  nN'j;rT,  *a  sin-ofiering,*  and 
 D1D{<,  rendered  'a  trespass-offering,'  (chap.  vii.  37,1  hut  probably  the 
 latter  was  for  sins  of  tyiiiis^^ression^  and  the  former  for  those  of  07;j(a'- 
 aioti,  and  for  duties  imperfectly  discharged.  Sin-offerings  had  respect 
 to  the  whole  congregation,  but  trespass-offerings  were  presented  for 
 individuals. — See  Gyotius.  The  Sept.  and  New-Testament  -writers 
 translate  the  Heb.  riNCrt,  by  ajuapria,  which  is  from  ufiapjeoit  '  to  miss 
 ft  mark,'  *  to  deviate  ;'  hence,  here  is  meant  a  deviation  from  the  Di- 
 vine law. — See  Par.  5.  To  [or  intol  the  tahernaele— this  was  not 
 allowed  in  other  sacrifices,  and  shewed  the  diligence  on  the  priest's 
 part,  and  the  favour  on  God's,  in  obtaiuing  the  expiation  of  this  sin. — 
 Poole.  6.  Seren  times — see  ver.  1".  Seven  is,  among  the  Hebrews, 
 called  'the  number  of  perfection  ;'  it  is  used  to  denote  completeness, 
 fulness,  or  perfection.  Sometimes  it  means  a  large  number.— *7ree7i/. 
 12.  Without  the  camp — signifying  (i.)  the  horrible  nature  of  sin,  espe- 
 cially in  high  and  holy  persons  j  or  'ii.)  the  removing  the  guilt  of  that 
 114 
 
 sin,  and  the  duty  of  keeping  it  in  future  out  of  the  camp ;  or  that  Christ 
 should  suffer  without  the  gate,  as  he  did,  (see  Heb.  xiii.  II,  12.) — 
 Poole.  It  may  also  typify  Christ's  suffering  for  the  Gentiles,  who  were 
 without  the  camp,  as  well  as  for  the  Jews. — .Jen.  13,  Jf  the  whole 
 congregation — this  is  the  law  for  expiating  the  guilt  of  a  national  sin, 
 by  a  sin-offering.  If  the  leaders  of  the  people,  through  mistake  con- 
 cerning the  law,  caused  them  to  err,  an  offering  must  be  brought,  that 
 wrath  might  not  come  on  the  whole  congregation. — Hen.  An  instance 
 of  the  whole  sinning  in  this  way  happened  1  Sam.  xiv.  32. — Srolt. 
 1".  Sei'en  limes,  being  a  number  of  perfection,  because,  when  God  had 
 made  the  world  in  six  days,  he  rested  the  seventh  ;  so  this  signified  the 
 perfect  satisfactinn  Christ  made,  and  the  complete  cleansing  nf  the 
 souls  of  the  faithful  by  it,  (see  Heb.  x.  14.)  18.  Upon  the  horns— if 
 
 they  did  not  forsake  their  sins,  this  blood  would  be  a  witness  against 
 them,  and  perpetuate  its  memory,  (see  Jer.  xvii.  J.) — Scott.  Pour  out 
 the  blood,  in  opposition  to  the  Zabii,  who  ate  it,  imagining  it  to  be  the 
 food  of  the  gods,  and  that  they  thus  held  communion  with  them. — 
 So  Green/.  22.  A  ruler — the  word  N'*j;3,  rendered  'ruler,'  frequently 
 AenofeaWie  head  of  o  trihe  ;  but  the  Jews  understand  it  to  mean  the 
 president  of  the  sanhedrim,  or  national  council. — Scott.  27,  Sin 
 
 through  ignorance — even  sins  of  ignorance  need  to  be  atoned  for  by 
 sacrifice. 
 
Sin  of  concealment. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  V. 
 
 The  trespass  offering. 
 
 28  Or'' if  his  sin,  whicli  he  hatli  sinned,  come 
 to  his  knowledge  :  then  he  sliall  bring  his 
 offering,  a  kid  of  the  goats,  a  female  without 
 blemish,  for  his  sin  which  he  hath  sinned. 
 
 29  '  And  he  shall  lay  his  hand  upon  the  head 
 of  the  sin  offering,  and  slay  the  sin  offering  in 
 the  place  of  the  burnt  offering. 
 
 30  And  the  priest  shall  take  of  the  blood 
 thereof  with  his  finger,  and  put  it  upon  the 
 horns  of  the  altar  of  burnt  offering,  and  shall 
 pour  out  all  the  blood  thereof  at  the  bottom  of 
 the  altar. 
 
 31  And  ''he  shall  take  away  all  the  fat 
 thereof,  "  as  the  fat  is  taken  away  from  off  the 
 sacrifice  of  peace  offerings  ;  and  tlie  priest  shall 
 liurn  it  upon  the  altar  for  a  f  sweet  savour  unto 
 the  Lord  ;  '■'  and  the  priest  shall  make  an  atone- 
 ment for  him,  and  it  shall  be  forgiven  him. 
 
 32  And  if  he  bring  a  lamb  for  a  sin  offering, 
 "  he  sliall  bring  it  a  female  witliout  blemisli. 
 
 33  And  he  shall  lay  his  hand  upon  the  head 
 of  the  sin  offering,  and  slay  it  fur  a  sin  offering 
 in  the  place  where  they  kill  the  burnt  offering. 
 
 34  And  tlie  priest  .shall  take  of  the  blood  of 
 the  sin  offering  with  Ills  finger,  and  put  it  upon 
 the  horns  of  the  altar  of  burnt  offering,  and 
 shall  pour  out  all  the  blood  thereof  at  the 
 bottom  of  the  altar  : 
 
 35  And  he  shall  take  away  all  the  fat  thereof, 
 as  the  fat  of  the  lamb  is  taken  away  from  tlie 
 sacrifice  of  the  peace  offerings  ;  and  the  priest 
 shall  burn  tliem  upon  the  altar, '  according  to 
 tlie  offerings  made  by  fire  unto  the  Loud  : 
 •^  and  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement  for 
 his  sin  that  he  hath  committed,  and  it  shall  be 
 forgiven  him. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  He  that  sintteth  in  concealing  his  hiowledt/e^  2  in 
 iovchiwi  an  unclean  Uiiitg,  4  or  in  making  an  oaUt, 
 6  His  trespass  nffiring,  of  the  jiochy  7  offowh^  \\  or 
 ofjlimr.  14  TUe  trespass  offering  in  sacrilege,  17  and 
 in  sins  of  ignorance. 
 
 A  ND  if  a  soul  sin,  °  and  hear  the  voice  of 
 ■^  swearing,  and  is  a  witness,  whether  he 
 hath  seen  or  known  of  it;  if  he  do  not  utter 
 it,  then  he  shall  '  bear  his  iniquity. 
 
 2  Or  "if  a  soul  touch  any  unclean  thing, 
 whether  it  be  a  carcase  of  an  unclean  beast,  or 
 a  carcase  of  unclean  cattle,  or  the  carcase  of 
 unclean  creeping  things,  and  ;/'  it  be  hidden 
 from  him  ;  he  also  shall  be  unclean,  and 
 ''  guilty. 
 
 .3  Or  if  he  touch  "  the  uncleanness  of  man, 
 whatsoever  uncleanness  it  be  that  a  man  shall 
 
 d  ch.  a.  H. 
 ■  ch.  3.  3, 
 
 /Kx   90.  IS 
 
 .1.9. 
 
 er.  :J(5. 
 
 /See  I  Sam. 
 
 Acts  23. 12. 
 S  See  ftlaL'k 
 6.83. 
 
 h  ch.  16   21. 
 &  2ti.  V\ 
 Nuin   5,  7. 
 Ezra  lu.  11, 
 12. 
 
 ich.  12  8. 
 &  14.  21. 
 
 +  Heb.  hii 
 hand  cn„„<'t 
 reach  la  the 
 aajicieii't/ 
 ./,  /a,„b. 
 
 k  ch.  I.  H. 
 
 b  ver.  17, 
 ch.  7.  IS.  k 
 17.  16.  (t  in. 
 8.  &  20.  17 
 Num.  B.  IS, 
 
 c  ch.  11.  21, 
 88.31.  30 
 Nuin  19.11, 
 13,  16, 
 
 .  ch.  22.  11, 
 
 .■  EZLT  10, 
 10. 
 
 be  defiled  withal,  and  it  be  hid  from  him ;  when 
 he  knoweth  of  it,  then  he  shall  be  guilty. 
 
 4  Or  if  a  soul  swear,  pronouncing  with  his 
 lips  '  to  do  evil,  or  ^  to  do  good,  whatsoever  it 
 be  that  a  man  shall  pronounce  with  an  oath, 
 and  it  be  hid  from  him  ;  when  he  knoweth  of 
 it,  then  he  shall  be  guilty  in  one  of  these. 
 
 5  And  it  shall  be,  when  he  shall  be  guilty  in 
 one  of  these  thirti/s,  that  he  shall  *■  confess  that 
 he  hath  sinned  in  that  thine/ : 
 
 G  And  he  shall  bring  his  trespass  offering 
 unto  the  Lord  for  his  sin  which  he  hath  sin- 
 ned, a  female  from  the  flock,  a  lamb  or  a  kid  of 
 the  goats,  for  a  sin  oft'ering ;  and  the  priest  shall 
 make  an  atonement  for  him  concerning  his  sin. 
 
 7  And  'if  f  he  be  not  able  to  bring  a  lamb 
 then  he  shall  bring  for  his  trespass,  which  he 
 hath  committed,  two  '  turtledoves,  or  two 
 young  pigeons,  unto  the  Lord  ;  one  for  a  sii 
 offering,  and  the  other  for  a  burnt  offering. 
 
 ■8  And  he  sliall  bring  them  unto  the  priest 
 who  shall  offer  that  which  is  for  the  sin  offer- 
 ing first,  and  '  wring  off  his  head  from  his  neck 
 but  shall  not  divide  it  asunder  : 
 
 9  And  he  shall  sprinkle  of  the  blood  of  the 
 sin  offering  upon  tlie  side  of  the  altar ;  and 
 '"the  rest  of  the  blood  shall  be  wrung  out  a 
 the  bottom  of  the  altar  .  it  is  a  sin  ofl'ering. 
 
 10  And  he  shall  orter  the  second  for  a  burnt 
 offering,  according  to  the  ||  "  manner  :  °  and 
 the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement  for  him  for 
 his  sin  which  he  hath  sinned,  and  it  sliall  be 
 forgiven  him. 
 
 lit  But  if  he  be  not  able  to  bring  two  turtle- 
 doves, or  two  young  pigeons,  then  he  that  sin- 
 ned shall  bring  for  his  offering  the  tenth  part 
 of  an  ephah  of  fine  flour  for  a  .sin  oft'ering;  ''he 
 shall  put  no  oil  upon  it,  neither  shall  he  put 
 any  frankincense  thereon  :  for  it  is  a  sin  offer- 
 ing. 
 
 12  Then  shall  he  bring  it  to  the  priest,  and 
 the  priest  shall  take  his  handful  of  it,  "^  even  a 
 memorial  thereof,  and  burn  it  on  the  altar, 
 '  according  to  the  offerings  made  by  fire  unto 
 the  Lord  :  it  is  a  sin  offering. 
 
 13  "  And  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement 
 for  him  as  touching  his  sin  that  he  hath  sinned 
 in  one  of  these,  and  it  shall  be  forgiven  him  : 
 and  '  the  remnant  shall  be  the  priest's,  as  a 
 meat  offering. 
 
 14  U  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 15  "  If  a  soul  commit  a  trespass,  and  sin 
 through  ignorance,  in  tlie  holy  things  of  the 
 Lord  ;  then  "  he  shall  bring  for  his   trespass 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  \.  And  if  a  soul,  ?,-c.,  'the  voice  of  swearing,' n?t^  bip. 
 literally  *tlie  voice  of  an  oatli  ;*  ^wvnf  opmanov,  Sept.  'And  if  a  person 
 have  iieard  tiie  words  of  an  adjuration  ;  and  if,  being  a  witness,  lie  will 
 not  declare  what  he  hath  seen  or  known,  he  hath  sinned  and  brought 
 on  himself  iniquity.' — Booltir.  A  man  in  a  court  of  justice,  though  he 
 did  not  sware  falsely,  yet  not  declaring  what  he  knew,  was  guilty  of 
 a  preat  sin. — So  Scott,  and  so  commentators  in  general.  2.  Touch  an// 
 unclean  tiling — the  daily  impurities  were  cleansed  by  washing,  and  by 
 the  evening  sacrifice,  but  the  law  here  respected  a  man's  approach  to 
 the  sanctuary,   or  the  eating  of  holy  things.— .Su/c^/e.  i.  Swear, 
 
 rashly  to  himself  or  his  neighbour,  (see  1  Sam.  x-xv.  22  j  Acts,  xxiii.  12.  j 
 — Poole.        6.  Trespass  o^'ering — DMJS  signifies  also  trespass,  as  riNTLn, 
 
 '  sin. offering,'  signifies  sin,  a  strong  proof  that  the  guilt  was  typically 
 translated  to  the  innocent  animal. — Scott.  11.  Ko  oil — neither  fronk. 
 incense — because  it  was  a  sio. offering,  expressive  of  the  loathsomeness 
 of  sin,  and  must  not  be  made  grateful  to  the  taste  or  smell. — So  Hen. 
 15.  A  trespass — in  tlie  holy  tttin^s — the  Sept.  read,  7T\(i/i/ieAeiar,  which 
 signifies  some  fraud ;  as  suppose  he  had  ignorantly  made  use  of  the 
 tithes,  or  first-fruits,  or  firstborn  of  his  cattle,  or,  what  it  should  seem 
 by  chap.  .\.\ii.  14 — 16,  is  principally  meant  here,  had  eaten  any  of  those 
 parts  of  the  sacrifices  which  were  appropriated  to  the  priests  ;  this  wa^ 
 a  trespass,  committed  through  mistake  or  forgctfnlness,  or  from  want 
 of  care  or  zeal ;  if  it  had  been  done  in  contempt,  the  ofi"ender  had  died, 
 {Heb.  X.  28.)— Hm. 
 
 REFLtcTioNs  ON  CiiAP.  IV.  —  I.  It  19  an  atfpcting  thought 
 in  how  many  wags  mag  we  sin  against  God  t  '  Who  can  under- 
 stand liis  errors  V 
 
 II.  Our  sins  of  ignorance  need  an  atonement,  for  all  sin  must 
 be  offensive  to  God;  and  we  may  rejoice  tliat,  'if  any  man 
 .sin,  there  is  an  advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the 
 righteous,  and  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins.' 
 
 III.  Jlonigh  all  sin  is  abominahle,  the  sins  of  ministers  are  of 
 
 1 15 
 
 the  most  aggravating  character.  They  are  likely  to  have  an 
 awful  influence  on  all  around  ;  they  must  contirm  the  unbe- 
 liever in  his  infidelity,  stagger  the  weak  and  wavering,  pain 
 the  hearts  of  tiie  pious,  and  so  deeply  wound  the  cause  ot 
 Christ.  Yet,  where  there  is  true  repentance  and  faith,  the 
 precious  blood  of  Christ  meets  this  extremity  of  guilt,  and 
 '  cleanseth  from  all  sin.' 
 
Ti-ciipass  i.fferiiuj  for  sins  done  wittuxjli).  LEVITICUS,  VI. 
 
 Laws  for  the  meat  offering. 
 
 unto  the  Lord  a  ram  without  blemish  out  of 
 the  flocks,  with  thy  estimation  by  shekels  of 
 silver,  after  >'  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary,  for  a 
 trespass  offering : 
 
 16  And  he  shall  make  amends  for  the  harm 
 that  he  hath  done  in  the  holy  thing,  and  ^  shall 
 add  the  fifth  part  thereto,  and  give  it  unto  the 
 priest :  °  and  tlie  priest  shall  make  an  atone- 
 ment for  him  with  the  ram  of  the  trespass 
 offering,  and  it  shall  be  forgiven  him. 
 
 17  IF  And  if  a  ''soul  sin,  and  commit  any  of 
 these  things  which  are  forbidden  to  be  done  by 
 the  commandments  of  the  Lord  ;  "  though  he 
 v\ist  it  not,  yet  is  he  ■^  guilty,  and  shall  bear  his 
 iniquity. 
 
 18  '  And  he  sliall  bring  a  ram  without  blemish 
 out  of  the  tlock,  with  thy  estimation,  for  a  tres- 
 pass offering,  unto  the  priest :  ''and  the  priest 
 shall  make  an  atonement  fur  him  concerning 
 his  ignorance  wherein  he  erred  and  wist  it  not, 
 and  it  shall  be  forgiven  him. 
 
 19  It  is  a  trespass  offering:  *lie  hath  cer 
 tainly  trespassed  against  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  The  trcf-pass  nff^r'nui  for  sins  Jmic  u-iltiiir/Jt/.  8  T/ie 
 law  of  Che  bur'iU  ulf'iViii;/,  Uaiiii  of  the  meat  off,rlny. 
 19  the  offerini/'ul  the  consecration  of  a  priest.  24 
 The  law  of  the  sin  ufferiny. 
 
 AND  the  LoBD  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 •2  If  a  soul  sin,  and  °  commit  a  trespass 
 against  the  Lord,  and  ''  lie  unto  his  neighbour 
 in  that  'which  was  delivered  him  to  keep,  or 
 in  II  t  fellowship,  or  in  a  thing  taken  away  by 
 violence,  or  hath  ''  deceived  his  neighbour  ; 
 
 3  Or  '  have  found  tliat  which  was  lost,  and 
 lieth  concerning  it,  and  'sweareth  falsely;  in 
 any  of  all  these  that  a  man  doeth,  sinning 
 therein  : 
 
 4  Then  it  shall  be,  because  he  hath  sinned, 
 and  is  guilty,  that  he  shall  restore  that  which 
 he  took  violently  away,  or  tlie  thing  which  he 
 hath  deceitfully  gotten,  or  that  which  was  de- 
 livered him  to  keep,  or  the  lost  thing  which  he 
 found, 
 
 5  Or  all  that  about  which  he  hath  sworn 
 falsely  ;  he  shall  even  ^  restore  it  in  the  prin- 
 cipal, and  shall  add  the  fifth  part  more  thereto, 
 and  give  it  unto  him  to  whom  it  appertaineth, 
 II  t  hi  the  day  of  his  trespass  offering. 
 
 6  And  he  shall  bring  his  trespass  offering 
 unto  the  Lord,  ''  a  ram  without  blemish  out  of 
 the  flock,  with  thy  estimation,  for  a  trespass 
 
 H  Ex.  30.  13 
 ch.  -iT.  Si. 
 
 i  rli.  6.  5.  & 
 2-2.  i+.  )t27 
 13,  I5,?7,3I 
 Num.  5.  7. 
 
 .  til.  i.  L'O. 
 
 c  vcr.  15. 
 
 cli.  4.  2,  IS, 
 
 22,  27.  PS. 
 
 19-  12. 
 
 I.uke  12.-18. 
 d  ver.  1.  8. 
 4  vcr.  15. 
 
 g  EirAlO.2 
 
 D.  C.  l-ltw, 
 i  ch.  4.  -JG. 
 
 1  Or./'jr  llie 
 
 «  ch.  Id.  *. 
 Kx-  2S.  y, 
 40,  -il,4:t. 
 F,Mk.+l.l7 
 13. 
 
 Ich.  I.  16. 
 m  Kzek.  41. 
 
 Num.  S.  0. 
 
 6ch.lD.  n. 
 
 .■\cfg  5.  4. 
 
 Col.  .3.  9. 
 c  Kx-'?».7.10. 
 II   (Ir,  indtal- 
 
 t  Heb.  pot- 
 (.■«.  ./I/.. 
 
 J  P.C1V.  -Zt- 
 
 28.  &  26.19. 
 *  Dcu.  23.  I, 
 
 2.  3. 
 fy.x.  22.  II. 
 
 ch.  19.  12. 
 
 J.T.  7.  9. 
 
 Zech.  5.  4. 
 
 ^  ch.  5    10 
 Num.  5.  : 
 2SiUi.l2.  6. 
 I.uke  19. 11. 
 
 n  Or,  <»  Iht 
 da,  "/'." 
 biiu!  /m„d 
 eu.llii. 
 
 t  Hcb.  1/.  the 
 doy  <ifhii 
 
 h  ch.  5.  15. 
 
 r  ch.  2.  1. 
 Num.  Ij. 
 
 q  Ch.  2.  B,  9. 
 
 ch.  5.  3. 
 t;»ck.-14.29. 
 I  Tcr.  2fi. 
 ch-IO  12,13 
 Num. 18.10. 
 
 /cli.2    II. 
 u  Nuui.  18. 
 
 9,  10. 
 X  vcr.  25. 
 
 ch  2.3.&7. 
 
 I.  F.«od. 
 
 29.37. 
 <i  ver.  2D. 
 
 Num.ln.lO 
 I  ch  8.  17. 
 
 ■  ch.  22.  3, 
 4,  5,  0,  7. 
 E..  29.  37. 
 
 offering,  unto  the  priest : 
 
 7  '  And  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement 
 for  him  before  the  Lord  :  and  it  shall  be  for- 
 given him  for  any  thing  of  all  that  he  hath 
 done  in  trespassing  therein. 
 
 8  IF  And  the  Loud  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 9  Command  Aaron  and  his  sons,  saying.  This 
 iS  the  law  of  the  burnt  offering  :  It  is  the  burnt 
 offering,  ||  because  of  the  burning  upon  the 
 altar  all  night  unto  the  morning,  and  the  fire  of 
 the  altar  shall  be  burning  in  it. 
 
 10  ■■  And  the  priest  shall  put  on  his  hnen  gar- 
 ment, and  his  linen  breeches  shall  he  put  upon 
 his  flesh,  and  take  up  the  ashes  which  the  fire 
 hath  consumed  with  the  burnt  offering  on  the 
 altar,  and  he  shall  put  them  '  beside  the  altar. 
 
 1 1  And  "'  he  shall  put  off  his  garments,  and 
 put  on  other  garments,  and  carry  forth  the 
 ashes  without  the  camp  "  unto  a  clean  place. 
 
 1-2  And  the  fire  upon  the  altar  shall  be  burn- 
 ing in  it ;  it  shall  not  be  put  out :  and  the 
 priest  shall  burn  wood  on  it  every  morning, 
 and  lay  the  burnt  offering  in  order  upon  it; 
 and  he  shall  burn  thereon  "  the  fat  of  the  peace 
 offerings. 
 
 13  The  fire  shall  ever  be  burning  upon  the 
 altar  ;  it  shall  never  go  out. 
 
 \i  i'  And  this  is  the  law  of  the  meat  offer- 
 ing :  the  sons  of  Aaron  shall  offer  it  before  the 
 Lord,  before  the  altar. 
 
 13  And  he  shall  take  of  it  his  handful,  of  the 
 flour  of  the  meat  offering,  and  of  the  oil  thereof, 
 and  all  the  frankincense  which  is  upon  the 
 meat  offering,  and  shall  burn  it  upon  the  altar 
 for  a  sweet  savour,  even  the  ''  memorial  of  it, 
 unto  the  Lord. 
 
 IG  And  'the  remainder  thereof  shall  Aaron 
 and  his  sons  eat :  '  with  unleavened  bread  shall 
 it  be  eaten  in  the  holy  place  ;  in  the  court  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  they  shall 
 eat  it. 
 
 1 7  '  It  shall  not  be  baken  with  leaven.  "  I 
 have  given  it  unto  them  for  their  portion  of  my 
 offerings  made  by  fire  ;  '  it  is  most  holy,  as  is 
 the  sin  offering,  and  as  the  trespa.ss  ottering. 
 
 18  ''  All  the  males  among  the  children  of 
 Aaron  shall  eat  of  it.  '  It  shall  he  a  statute 
 for  ever  in  your  generations  concerning  the 
 offerings  of  the  Lord  made  by  fire  :  °  every 
 one  that  toucheth  them  shall  be  holy. 
 
 1 9  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Mose.s,  saying, 
 '20  ^  This  is  the  offering  of  Aaron  and  of  his 
 
 sons,  which  they  shall  offer  unto  the  Lord  in 
 
 Chap.  VI.— 2.  Against  the  Lord— so  called,  because  a  violation  of 
 human  society,  of  which  Gul  i,  the  author,  because  it  was  a  secret  sin, 
 seen  by  God  alone,  and  because  Gud's  name  was  abused  in  it  by  per- 
 jury. To  keep,  in  trust.  In  fellowship,  '  commerce,"  or 'trading,' 
 •  partnership."  By  violence,  force  used  in  secret.  Deceived,  got  any. 
 thing  by  circumvention.— Pon?e.  4.  He  sliiill  restore,  on  voluntary 
 confession,  or  else,  on  conviction  without  it,  he  was  to  pay  double, 
 see  Exod,  xxii.  7— g.)— Gill.  S.  And  the  Lord  spoke— a.  new  sectiiin 
 '.icre  begins  in  the  Hebrew  copies.- OiVi.  9.  Command  Aiircn—fhe 
 preceding  parts  contain  instructions  to  llie  people,  here  the  priests  are 
 laught.— Seo«.  The  law  of  the  burnt  ofering—the  sacrifices  had  been 
 before  prescribed,  now  he  conies  to  the  manner  of  them,  (see  Exod. 
 xxix.  38.)  10.  Linen— see  Exod.  xxviii.  39.  40.  12.  Not  6e  put  out- 
 the  Srst  lire  coming  down  from  heaven,  (chap.  ix.  24,)  was  to  be  per- 
 
 petually  preserved,  that  there  might  be  no  temptation  to  offer  strange 
 fire,  and  that  they  might  learn  to  expect  the  acceptance  of  all  their  sa- 
 crifices from  God's  mercy  and  grace,  signified  by  the  usual  token  of  his 
 favour  in  tho  descending  fire. — Poole.  The  Jews  tell  us,  that  the  fire 
 upon  the  altar  never  did  go  out  till  the  e.Tptivity  in  Babylon. — Hen. 
 The  henthen  imitated  this ;  the  vestals  at  Rome  loolicd  after  the  eternal 
 fire,  and  the  Greeks  kept  up  a  perpetual  fire  at  Delphi.  The  Persians, 
 also,  preserved  a  continual  fire. — Boch.,  Orient.  Cast.,  No.  5],  14.  The 
 meat  offering — this  law,  delivered  chap,  ii.,  is  here  repeated,  to  ma](e 
 seme  additions.  18.  Everr/  one  that  toucheth  them  shall  be  holtf — 
 trip"  cm  yj'  "llL'i^  bD,  '  all  that  toucheth,'  &c. — .iins.  Persons,  priests, 
 and  those  wUhout  defilement ;  or,  rather,  things,  (see  ver.  27,  28.) 
 which  were  not  again  to  be  put  to  common  use. — Poole.  The  Sept. 
 read,  •  wliosoever  toucheth  them  shall  be  sanctified."     He  shall  piuify 
 
 llrn.ECTiONS  ON  Chap.  V L  TI'c  out/hi,  on  all  occusions, 
 
 to  t^stifi/  aqainst  sin.  And  liere  we  may  take  sliame  and  con- 
 fusion of  face  to  ourselves,  that  we  have  been  verily  guihy  of 
 neglect  in  many  instances  in  which,  perhaps,  we  might  have 
 done  it  to  advantage.  Lord,  lay  not  this  sin  to  our  charge  for 
 Christ's  sake  ! 
 
 II.  Let  us  beware  of  approaching  Goii  with  our  mintls  and 
 consciences  liefilcd.  '  if  I  regard  iniijuily  in  my  heart,  the  Lord 
 will  not  hear  me.'  Let  us  go  coutinually  to  the  'blood  of 
 116 
 
 sprinkling,'  that  we  may  be  cleansed  from  all  the  fil'.hiness  we 
 max  have  contracted  in  this  defiling  world. 
 
 IIL  Let  us  b' ware  {f  to itiihohiing  from  God  what  is  his  due. 
 No  ceremonial  law  noiv  binds  us  to  any  obligation,  but  the 
 law  of  love  to  Christ  does.  '  How  much  owest  thou  unto 
 thy  Lord?'  How  much  owest  thou  to  his  sanctuary — to  his 
 ministers— to  his  poor?  Save  us,  O  Lord,  iiom  the  sin  of 
 withholding  from  thee  what  is  in  an  especial  manner  thino 
 own. 
 
The  lair  of  the  sin  offsiing. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  VII. 
 
 T/ie  law  of  the  pence  offering. 
 
 the  day  when  he  is  anointed  ;  the  tenth  part 
 of  an  "  epliah  of  fine  flour  for  a  meat  ottering 
 perpetual,  half  of  it  in  the  morning,  and  half 
 thereof  at  nijjiht. 
 
 21  In  a  pan  it  shall  he  made  with  oil  ;  ami 
 tvhen  it  is  baken,  thou  shall  bring  it  in  :  and 
 the  baken  pieces  of  the  meat  offering  shalt  thou 
 offer  for  a  sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 2-2  And  the  priest  of  his  sons  ■"  that  is  anointed 
 in  his  stead  shall  offer  it ;  it  is  a  statute  for  ever 
 unto  the  Lord  ;  "it  shall  be  wholly  bnnit. 
 
 23  For  every  meat  oflFering  for  the  priest  shall 
 be  wholly  burnt :  it  shall  not  be  eaten. 
 
 24  H  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 25  Speak  unto  Aaron  and  to  his  sons,  saying, 
 '  This  is  the  law  of  the  sin  ottering  :  <=  In  the 
 [dace  where  the  burnt  offering  is  killed  shall 
 the  sin  offering  be  killed  before  the  Lord  :  "it 
 is  most  holy. 
 
 26  '  The  priest  that  offerelh  it  for  sin  shall 
 eat  it :  '  in  the  holy  place  shall  it  be  eaten,  in 
 the  court  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 27  '  Whatsoever  shall  touch  the  flesh  thereof 
 shall  be  holy  :  and  when  there  is  sprinkled  of 
 the  blood  thereof  upon  any  garment,  thou 
 slialt  wash  that  whereon  it  was  sprinkled  in  the 
 holy  place. 
 
 28  But  the  earthen  vessel  wherein  it  is 
 sodden  "'  shall  be  broken  :  and  if  it  be  sodden 
 in  a  brasen  pot,  it  shall  be  both  scoured,  and 
 rinsed  in  water. 
 
 29  "  All  the  males  among  the  priests  shall  eat 
 thereof :  °  it  is  most  holy. 
 
 30  ''  And  no  sin  oflfering,  whereof  ant/  of  the 
 blood  is  brought  into  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation  to  reconcile  withal  in  the  holy 
 place,  shall  be  eaten  :  it  shall  be  burnt  in  the 
 fire. 
 
 CHAP.  vn. 
 
 1  The  law  of  the  trespass  offering,  \l  and  of  the  peace 
 ojfil'inys^  V2  whether  it  he  foT  a  ttmyihsijiving ,  16  or 
 a  t'ou',  or  a  freewill  offtring.  t2"2  Tlie  fat,  26  and 
 the  btijod,  are  forbiddat.  28  The  priests*  portion  in 
 the  peace  oJfertni;s, 
 
 T  IKEWISE  "  this  is  the  law  of  the  trespass 
 -^  offering  :  ''  it  is  most  holy. 
 
 2  "  In  the  place  where  they  kill  the  burnt 
 offering  shall  they  kill  the  trespass  offering  ; 
 and  the  blood  thereof  shall  he  sprinkle  round 
 about  upon  the  altar. 
 
 3  And  he  shall  offer  of  it  "  all  the  fat  thereof ; 
 the  rump,  and  the  fat  that  covereth  the  inwards, 
 
 4  And  the  two  kidneys,  and  the  fat  that  i\s  on 
 them,  which  is  by  the  flanks,  and  the  caul  that 
 is  above  the  liver,  with  the  kidneys,  it  shall  he 
 take  away  : 
 
 5  And  the  priest  shall  burn  them  upon  tlie 
 altar  for  an  offering  made  by  fire  unto  the 
 Lord  :  it  is  a  trespass  offering. 
 
 B.  C.  HiW. 
 c  Kj.  16.  S(i. 
 
 /•cli.  i.  2. 
 l;  ch.  1,  :i.  5, 
 
 II,  &  4-  '^i. 
 
 29,  *!. 
 ;■  ver.  17. 
 
 ch.  21.  22. 
 
 ■  cli.  10.  17, 
 18  Num. IS. 
 •I,  10.  T.zeh 
 
 I  Bi.  29.  .S7. 
 &  SO.  SSI. 
 
 mrli-  11.33. 
 &  15.  12. 
 
 n  vcr.  18. 
 
 Num.lS.lO. 
 o  ver.  25. 
 pell  *,  7,  11, 
 
 12,  18,21   fc 
 
 111.  IS  &  16. 
 
 57.  Heb. 13 
 
 11. 
 
 1—7. 
 (.  rh    6    17, 
 
 25.  &  21.  22. 
 cch    1.  3,  5, 
 
 n.  fc  1.  24, 
 
 29,83. 
 
 HI,  U,  15, 
 16.  &4.*;,  9. 
 Es.  29    13. 
 
 •  ch.  6.  le, 
 
 17,  18. 
 
 Num.  IS. 
 
 9,  10. 
 ^ch.  2.  3. 
 ~  ch.  6.  25, 
 
 26.  &  U.  13. 
 
 4  ch.  2.  3,10 
 .Xiiiii.  18  9. 
 Ezck.H.29. 
 
 U  Or.  CI  ll,e 
 Jl'tt  f'late, 
 ur,  tticc. 
 
 ch.  3.  1.  i 
 22.  18,  21. 
 
 m  Num.  18. 
 8,  II,  19. 
 
 0  ch.  19.  0, 
 7,  8. 
 
 p  Num.  18. 
 
 27. 
 7  ch.  11.  10, 
 
 11,  41.  & 
 
 19.7. 
 
 .  ch.  15.  S. 
 iGcu.  17.  14 
 
 6  °  Every  male  among  the  priests  shall  eat 
 thereof:  it  shall  be  eaten  in  the  holy  place : 
 'it  is  most  holy. 
 
 7  As  the  sin  offering  is,  so  is  ^  the  trespass 
 offering :  there  is  one  law  for  them  :  the  priest 
 that  maketh  atonement  therewith  shall  have  it. 
 
 8  And  the  priest  that  offereth  any  man's  burni 
 offering,  even  the  priest  .shall  have  to  himself 
 the  skin  of  the  burnt  ottering  which  he  hath 
 offered. 
 
 9  And  i"  all  the  meat  offering  that  is  baken  in 
 the  oven,  and  all  that  is  dressed  in  the  frying- 
 pan,  and  II  in  the  pan,  shall  be  the  priest's  that 
 ott'ereth  it. 
 
 10  And  every  meat  offering,  mingled  with  oil, 
 and  drj%  shall  all  the  sons  of  Aaron  have  one 
 as  much  as  another. 
 
 1 1  And  '  this  is  the  law  of  the  sacrifice  of 
 peace  offerings,  which  he  shall  ofJfer  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 12  If  he  offer  it  for  a  thanksgiving,  then  he 
 shall  otter  with  the  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving 
 unleavened  cakes  mingled  with  oil,  and  un- 
 leavened wafers  ''  anointed  with  oil,  and  cakes 
 mingled  with  oil,  of  fine  flour,  fried. 
 
 13  Besides  the  cakes,  he  shall  offer  for  Ids 
 offering  '  leavened  bread  with  the  sacrifice  of 
 thanksgiving  of  his  peace  offerings. 
 
 14  And  of  it  he  shall  otter  one  out  of  the 
 whole  oblation  for  an  heave  offering  ruito 
 the  Lord,  "'  and  it  shall  be  the  priest's  that 
 sprinkleth  the  blood  of  the  peace  offerings. 
 
 15  "And  the  flesh  of  the  sacrifice  of  his  peace 
 otteiings  for  thanksgiving  .shall  be  eaten  the 
 same  day  that  it  is  offered  ;  he  shall  not  leave 
 any  of  it  until  the  morning. 
 
 16  But  "  if  the  sacrifice  of  his  ottering  he  a 
 vow,  or  a  voluntary  offering,  it  shall  be  eaten 
 the  same  day  that  he  offereth  his  sacrifice  : 
 and  on  the  morrow  also  the  remainder  of  it 
 shall  be  eaten  : 
 
 1 7  But  the  remainder  of  the  flesh  of  the  sacri- 
 fice on  the  third  day  shall  be  burnt  with  fire. 
 
 18  And  if  any  of  the  flesh  of  the  sacrifice  of 
 his  peace  offerings  be  eaten  at  all  on  the  third 
 day,  it  shall  not  be  accepted,  neither  shall  it  be 
 "■  imputed  unto  him  that  offereth  it :  it  shall  be 
 an  ''  abomination,  and  the  soul  that  eateth  of  it 
 shall  bear  his  iniquity. 
 
 19  And  the  flesh  that  toucheth  any  unclean 
 </jMi_<7  shall  not  be  eaten  ;  it  shall  be  burnt  with 
 fire  :  and  as  for  the  flesh,  all  that  be  clean  shall 
 eat  thereof 
 
 20  But  the  soul  that  eateth  o/the  flesh  of 
 the  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  that  pertain 
 unto  the  Lord,  '  having  his  uncleaniiess  upon 
 him,  even  that  soul  'shall  be  cut  off  from  his 
 
 ]  people. 
 
 21  Moreover  the  soul  that  shall  touch  any 
 
 himself  before  he  touch  them,  (see  ver.  27,  and  E.'cnd.  xxix.  37.) — Ains. 
 21.  BnUen,  or  '  fried.* — Poole.  28.  Sodften — no  oblation  was  roasted 
 except  the  paschal  lamb. — Scott.  Brorien,  that  it  might  not  afterwards 
 be  put  to  cnmmon  uses. 
 
 Chap.  VII. — 8,  The  skin — Pained  conjectures  that  it  is  probable  that 
 
 himself  and  wife,  which  ever  after  belonged  to  the  priests  from  the 
 whole  Inirnt-ofieiingrs. — Gill.  15.  Not  leane,  S(C. — because  in  such  a 
 hot  country  it  was  apt  to  putrify  ;  this  would  have  been  improper  for 
 that  which  was  holy. — So  Greenf.  16.  A  voluntury  offering,  without 
 any  obligation,  from  the  mere  mr>tion  of  the  mind. — GUI.      20.  Enteth, 
 
 Adam  offered  the  first  sacrifice,  and  that  God  gave  him  tne  skins  for    knowingly  ;  for  if  it  were  done  ignorantly,  a  sacrifice  was  accepted  for 
 
 RfflfctIONS  on  Chap.  VI.  — I.  Let  ns  bless  God  that  there 
 is  mere;/  even  for  wilfid  transgressions  against  his  rii]hteons  hiu\ 
 Here,  on  decided  proois  of  repentance,  the  sinner  was  for- 
 given. Truly  '  there  is  forgiveness  with  God,  that  he  may  he 
 feared,'  and  *  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanselli 
 from  all  sin.' 
 
 U.  L,et  us  constantly  remember,  that  while  God  is  mfrciful  to- 
 wards the  sinner,  he  has  an  eternal  abhorrence  of  sin.  The  fire 
 117 
 
 was  kept  continually  burning  upon  the  altar,  shewing  God's 
 continual  wrath  against  sin  ;  and  the  sacrifices  were  conti- 
 nually ofiered,  to  shew  that  sin  could  only  be  taken  away  from 
 the  sinner  by  the  sacrifice  of  the  Son  ot"God.  Let  us  then  daily 
 plead  the  efticacy  of  His  blood  who  '  suflered  without  ihe 
 camp,'  and  daily  keep  alive  the  fire  of  sacred  devotion  on  the 
 altar  of  our  hearts,  offering  up  acceptable  sacrifices  to  God, 
 through  Jesus  C'hrJ«*  ' 
 
Fat  and  blood  are  forbidden. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  VHI. 
 
 Consecration  uf  Aaron  and  his  sons. 
 
 I  ch.  12,S.  13, 
 
 &  15. 
 '.  ch.  11.84, 
 
 28. 
 
 w  Ezek.t.U. 
 *  ver.  20. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ch.  17.  15. 
 Deu.  K.^1. 
 Ezek  ♦.  It. 
 &  U.  31. 
 
 :  Gen.  y.  4. 
 ch  3-  17.  h 
 17.  H>— U. 
 
 unclean  thing,  as  '  the  uncleanness  of  man,  or 
 any  "  unclean  beast,  or  any  "  abominable  un^ 
 clean  thimj,  anil  eat  of  the  flesh  of  the  sacri- 
 fice of  peace  offerings,  which  pertain  unto  the 
 Lord,  even  that  soul  '  shall  be  cut  off  from  his 
 people. 
 
 22  IT  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses, 
 saying, 
 
 23  Speak  unto  the  children  of  I.srael,  saying, 
 '  Ye  shall  cat  no  manner  of  fat,  of  ox,  or  of 
 sheep,  or  of  goat, 
 
 24  And  the  fat  of  the  f  bca.<;t  that  dieth  of 
 itself,  and  the  fat  of  that  wliich  is  torn  with 
 beasts,  may  be  used  in  any  other  use  :  but  ye 
 shall  in  no  wise  eat  of  it. 
 
 2o  Tor  whosoever  eateth  the  fat  of  the  beast, 
 of  wliich  men  offer  an  ofl'ering  made  by  fire 
 unto  tlie  Loud,  even  the  soul  that  eateth  it 
 shall  be  cut  of!'  from  his  people. 
 
 2G  '  Moreover  ye  sliall  eat  no  manner  of 
 blood,  whether  it  be  of  fowl  or  of  beast,  in  any 
 of  your  dwellings. 
 
 27  Whatsoever  soul  it  be  that  eateth  any 
 manner  of  blood,  even  that  soul  shall  be  cut 
 off  from  his  people. 
 
 28  H  And  the  Loud  spake  unto  Moses,  say- 
 ing. 
 
 29  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Lsrael,  saying, 
 °  He  that  offereth  tlie  sacrifice  of  his  peace 
 ofl'erings  unto  the  Lord  shall  bring  his  oblation 
 unto  the  Lord  of  the  sacrifice  of  liis  peace 
 offerings. 
 
 30  ^  His  own  hands  .shall  bring  the  offerings 
 of  the  Lord  made  by  tire,  the  fat  with  the 
 breast,  it  shall  he  bring,  that  '  the  breast  may 
 be  wavedyor  a  wave  offering  before  tlie  Lord. 
 
 31  ■'And  the  priest  shall  burn  the  fat  upon 
 the  altar:  "but  the  breast  shall  he  Aaron's  and 
 his  sons'. 
 
 32  And  '  the  right  shoulder  shall  ye  give 
 unto  the  priest  for  an  heave  offering  of  the 
 sacrifices  of  your  peace  offerings. 
 
 33  He  among  the  sons  of  Aaron,  that  offereth 
 the  blood  of  the  peace  offerings,  and  the  fiit, 
 shall  have  the  right  shoulder  for  his  part. 
 
 34  For  *  the  wave  breast  and  the  heave 
 shoulder  have  I  taken  of  the  children  of  I.srael 
 from  off  tlie  sacrifices  of  their  peace  offerings, 
 and  have  given  tliein  unto  Aaron  the  priest 
 and  unto  his  sons  by  a  statute  for  ever  from 
 among  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 3j  t  This  is  the  portion  of  the  anointing  of 
 Aaron,  and  of  tlie  anointing  of  his  soils,  out  of 
 the  offerings  of  the  Lord  made  by  fire,  in  the 
 day  when  he  presented  them  to  minister  unto 
 the  Lord  in  tlie  priest's  office  ; 
 
 36   Which  the  Lord  commaiuled  to  be  given  !/.ch.8.i-',fio. 
 them  of  the  children  of  Israel,  "in  the  day  that'  fs. '^"-  "■ 
 
 c  Ex.  29,  2t. 
 
 27.  ch.  8.27. 
 
 8t  »   21. 
 
 Nuni.fi.  20 
 <i  oh.  S.  5,11, 
 
 16. 
 e  ver.  SI. 
 
 1/  ver.  S4. 
 ch.  9.  21. 
 Xuiti.  G.  20. 
 
 ch.  10.  14, 
 15.  Niinn. 
 13.  18,  1*1. 
 Deu.  13.  3. 
 
 Ex.  29.  I, 
 
 2,  3 
 
 K.x  2S.2, 1. 
 Kx.  30.  2t 
 
 /Ex  29.  5. 
 g  Ex.  28.  4. 
 
 *  Ex.  28  37, 
 t  Ex.  30.  26, 
 
 m  ch  21.  10, 
 12.  K^.  29. 
 7-  &  30.  .30. 
 Pa.  133.  2. 
 
 he  anointed  them,  by  a  statute  for  ever  through 
 out  their  generations. 
 
 37  This  is  the  law  '  of  the  burnt  offering,  '  a' 
 the  meat  offering, '  and  of  the  sin  offering, '"  and 
 of  the  trespass  oft'ering,  "  and  of  the  consecra- 
 tions, and  "  of  the  sacrifice  of  the  peace  offer- 
 ings ; 
 
 38  Which  the  Loud  commanded  Moses  in 
 mount  Sinai,  in  the  day  that  he  commanded 
 the  children  of  Israel  '"  to  offer  their  oblations 
 unto  the  Lord,  in  the  wilderness  of  Sinai. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  Moses  cansecrateth  Aaron  and  his  sons.  14  Their 
 sin  offering.  18  Their  Imrnt  offWintf.  22  The  ram 
 of  consecrations.  31  The  place  and  time  of  t/teir 
 consecration. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying 
 ■'-^  2  "  Take  Aaron  and   his  sons  with  him, 
 and  ''the  garments,  and  ^  the  anouUing  oil,an(l 
 a  bullock  for  the  sin  offering,  and  two  rams,  and 
 a  ba,sket  of  unleavened  bread  ; 
 
 3  And  gather  thou  all  the  congregation  to- 
 gether unto  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation. 
 
 4  And  Moses  did  as  the  Lord  commanded 
 him  ;  and  the  assembly  was  gathered  together 
 unto  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation. 
 
 5  And  Moses  said  unto  the  congregation, 
 ''  This  is  the  thing  which  the  Lord  commanded 
 to  be  done. 
 
 6  And  Moses  brought  Aaron  and  his  sons, 
 °  and  washed  them  \\  ith  water. 
 
 7  'And  he  put  upon  him  the  •■"  coat,  and  girded 
 him  with  the  girdle,  and  clothed  him  with  the 
 robe,  and  put  the  e])hod  upon  him,  and  he 
 girded  him  with  the  curious  girdle  of  the 
 ephod,  and  bound  it  unto  him  tlierewith. 
 
 8  And  he  put  the  breastplate  upon  hiin  :  also 
 he  *'put  in  the  breastplate  the  Urim  and  the 
 Thummim. 
 
 9  'And  he  put  the  mitre  upon  his  head  ;  also 
 upon  the  mitre,  even  upon  his  forefront,  did  he 
 put  tlie  golden  plate,  the  holy  crown  ;  as  the 
 Lord  '  commanded  Moses. 
 
 10  'And  Moses  took  the  anointing  oil,  and 
 anointed  the  tabernacle  and  all  that  was 
 therein,  and  sanctified  them. 
 
 1 1  And  he  sprinkled  thereof  upon  the  altar 
 seven  times,  and  anointed  the  altar  and  all  his 
 vessels,  both  the  laver  and  his  foot,  to  sanctify 
 them. 
 
 12  And  he  "'poured  of  the  anointing  oil  upon 
 Aaron's  head,  and  anointed  him,  to  sanctify 
 him. 
 
 13  "And  Moses  brought  Aaron's  sons,  and 
 put  coats  upon  them,  and  girded  them  with 
 
 it,  {chap.  V.  2.) — Poote. 
 Gen.  Ix.  4 
 
 26.  No  manner  of  blood  —  see  notes  od    compliance  with  the  orders  received  on  Mount  .Sinai,  and  have  mostly 
 
 been  explained  on  Exod.  x.vviii.,  xxix.        3.  Alt  the  coiigre/^ulion— the 
 Chap.  VIII. — 2.  Take  Aaron  and  his  sons — these  directions  are  in    elders  and  principal  men,  who  represented  the  people ;  for  the  court 
 
 Reflections  on  Chat.  VII I.   Ife  ma;/ observe  hire,  thai 
 
 God  continually  took  care  to  provide  for  his  ministirs  who  served 
 at  the  altar.  Tbey  had  many  perquisites,  and  God  has  slill 
 left  it  in  command,  that  they  wlio  preach  the  gospel  should 
 live  by  the  gospel.  Ministers,  who  forsake  their  prospects  in 
 the  world  to  serve  at  the  altar,  must  not  be  left  in  circum- 
 stances of  need.  We  learn,  from  the  seventh  verse,  that  the 
 priest  nho  did  the  duty  received  the  reward.  Is  not  this  a 
 serious  hint  to  sinecurists  ?  And  may  we  not  also  gather  spi- 
 ritual consolation  from  it,  thai  the  more  we  do  for  God,  the 
 more  will  be  repay  us  ?  Jlen  may  be  unrighteous,  but  to  none 
 of  bis  servants  is  God  unrigliteous,  *o  forget  tbeir  '  works  of 
 118 
 
 faith  and  labours  of  love.' 
 
 II.  /fe  see  continwdhj  in  the  Levitical  rites  the  uniform  necessity 
 of  holiness  in  all  our  approaches  to  a  holy  God.  Let  us  take  care 
 of  nil  uncleanness  ;  for  though  we  may  partake  of  God's  ordi- 
 nances with  our  hearts  and  hands  deeply  defiled,  if  our  sin  be 
 not  atoned  for  by  a  sacrifice  infinitely  more  efficacious  than  at 
 the  legal  sacrifices,  our  souls  must  be  cut  off,  and  the  righteot 
 Lord  shall  say  unto  us,  though  we  wrap  ourselves  up  in  ou 
 privileges,  *  Depart  from  me,  I  know  ye  not,  ye  workers  c 
 iniquity.'  O  Lord,  take  from  us  the  iniquity  of  our  bol ) 
 things,  for  Christ's  sake.     Amen. 
 
Their  burnt  offering. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  IX. 
 
 The  place  oftht.ir  consecration. 
 
 girdles,  and  f  put  bonnets  upon  them  ;  as  tlic 
 Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 14  "And  he  brouglit  the  bullock  for  the  sin 
 offering:  and  Aaron  and  his  sons  ''laid  their 
 hands  upon  the  head  of  the  bullock  for  the  sin 
 offering. 
 
 15  And  he  slew  it;  ''and  Moses  took  the 
 blood,  and  put  it  upon  the  horns  of  the  altar 
 round  about  with  his  finger,  and  purified  the 
 altar,  and  poured  the  blood  at  the  bottom  of 
 the  altar,  and  sanctified  it,  to  make  reconcilia- 
 tion upon  it. 
 
 16  'And  he  took  all  the  fat  that  was  upon  the 
 inwards,  and  the  caul  above  tlie  liver,  and  tlie 
 two  kidneys,  and  their  fat,  and  Moses  burned 
 it  upon  the  altar. 
 
 17  But  tlie  bullock,  and  his  hide,  his  flesh, 
 and  his  dung,  he  burnt  with  fire  without  the 
 camp  ;  as  the  Lord  'commanded  Moses. 
 
 18  K  'And  he  brought  the  ram  for  the  burnt 
 offering :  and  Aaron  and  his  sons  laid  their 
 hands  upon  the  head  of  the  ram. 
 
 19  And  he  killed  it;  and  Moses  sprinkled 
 the  blood  upon  the  altar  round  about. 
 
 20  And  he  cut  the  ram  into  pieces ;  and 
 Moses  burnt  the  head,  and  the  pieces,  and 
 the  fat. 
 
 21  And  he  washed  the  inwards  and  the  legs 
 in  water  ;  and  Moses  burnt  the  whole  ram 
 upon  the  altar :  it  rvas  a  burnt  sacrifice  for  a 
 sweet  savour,  and  an  offering  made  by  fire 
 unto  the  Lord  ;  "  as  the  Lord  commanded 
 Moses. 
 
 22  t  And  "  he  brought  the  other  ram,  the 
 ram  of  consecration  ;  and  Aaron  and  his  sons 
 laid  their  hands  upon  the  head  of  the  ram. 
 
 23  And  he  slew  it ;  and  Moses  took  of  the 
 blood  of  it,  and  put  it  upon  the  tip  of  Aaron's 
 right  ear,  and  upon  the  thumb  of  his  right  hand, 
 and  upon  the  great  toe  of  his  right  foot, 
 
 24  And  he  brought  Aaron's  sons,  and  Moses 
 put  of  the  blood  upcn  the  tip  of  their  right  ear, 
 and  upon  the  thumbs  of  their  right  hands,  and 
 upon  the  great  toes  of  their  right  feet :  and 
 Moses  sprinkled  the  blood  upon  the  altar  round 
 about. 
 
 23  ^And  he  took  the  fat,  and  the  rump,  and 
 all  the  fat  that  icas  upon  the  inwards,  and  the 
 caul  above  the  liver,  and  the  two  kidneys,  and 
 their  fat,  and  the  right  shoulder  : 
 
 26  ^  And  out  of  the  basket  of  unleavened 
 bread,  that  was  before  tlie  Lord,  he  took  one 
 unleavened  cake,  and  a  cake  of  oiled  bread, 
 and  one  wafer,  and  put  them  on  the  fat,  and 
 upon  the  right  shoulder  : 
 
 27  And  he  put  all  '■  upon  Aaron's  hands,  and 
 
 o  V.x  29  10 
 Eiek  43.1y. 
 p  ch.  4.  4. 
 
 J  F,«.  59. 15, 
 36.  cli.  4.  7. 
 KKek4.-l.20, 
 L'li.  Heb.  9. 
 
 22. 
 
 a.C.  1190. 
 1  Ex.  29.  24. 
 
 Rx.  29.  21. 
 Ik  30.  30. 
 Nuul.  3.  3. 
 
 f  Ex.  99.  30, 
 3.'i.Ezek.43. 
 25,  20. 
 
 /.  Xwm.  3.  7. 
 &.  9.  10. 
 Den.  n.  1. 
 I  Kin    2.  S. 
 
 X  Ex.  99.  as. 
 
 =  Ex.  29.  24, 
 Sic. 
 
 4  rh.  4.  3.  & 
 
 rt.  14. 
 Ex.  29.  1. 
 c  ch.  8.  18. 
 
 \d  ch.  4  9.S. 
 Ezm  6  17. 
 &  U)    19. 
 
 upon  his  sons'  hands,  and  waved  them  for  a 
 wave  offering  before  the  Lord. 
 
 28  "  And  Moses  took  them  from  off  their 
 hands,  and  burnt  them  on  the  altar  upon  the 
 burnt  offering :  they  xvere  consecrations  for  a 
 sweet  savour :  it  is  an  oft'eriiig  made  by  fire 
 unto  the  Lord. 
 
 29  And  Moses  took  the  breast,  and  waved  it 
 for  a  wave  offering  before  the  Lord  :  for  of  the 
 ram  of  consecration  it  was  Moses'  ''  part ;  as 
 the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 30  And  ''Moses  took  of  the  anointing  oil, 
 and  of  the  blood  which  uas  upon  the  altar, 
 and  sprinkled  it  upon  Aaron,  and  upon  his 
 garments,  and  upon  his  son.s,  and  upon  his 
 sons'  garments  with  him  ;  and  sanctified  Aaron, 
 and  his  garments,  and  his  sons,  and  his  sons' 
 garments  with  him. 
 
 31  IT  And  Moses  said  unto  Aaron  and  to  his 
 sons,  •'  Boil  the  flesh  at  the  door  of  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregation  :  and  there  eat  it 
 with  the  bread  that  is  in  the  basket  of  conse- 
 crations, as  I  commanded,  saying,  Aaron  and 
 his  sons  shall  eat  it. 
 
 32  "And  that  which  remaincth  of  the  flesh 
 and  of  tlie  bread  sliall  ye  burn  with  fire. 
 
 33  And  ye  shall  not  go  out  of  the  door  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  in  seven 
 day.s,  until  the  days  of  your  consecration  be  at 
 an  end:  for  'seven  days  shall  he  consecrate 
 you. 
 
 34  ^As  he  hath  done  this  day,  so  the  Lord 
 hath  commanded  to  do,  to  make  an  atonement 
 for  you. 
 
 35  Therefore  shall  ye  abide  at  the  door  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  day  and 
 night  seven  days,  and  '■keep  the  charge  of  the 
 Lord,  that  ye  die  not :  for  so  I  am  commanded. 
 
 36  So  Aaron  and  his  sons  did  all  things 
 which  the  Lord  commanded  by  the  hand  of 
 Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  The  first  off'iriii;!S  of  Aaron ^  for  himself  and  the 
 people.  8  The  sin  offering^  Viand  tlie  bitrtit  offering 
 for  himself.  15  The  offerings  for  the  people.  23 
 Moses  and  Aaron  bless  the  people.  24  Fire  Cometh 
 from  the  Lord,  upon  ttie  altar. 
 
 A  ND  "  it  came  to  pa.ss  on  the  eighth  day, 
 -^*-  that  Moses  called  Aaron  and  his  sons, 
 and  the  elders  of  Israel ; 
 
 2  And  he  said  unto  Aaron,  ''  Take  thee  a 
 young  calf  for  a  sin  offering,  "  and  a  ram  for  a 
 burnt  offering,  without  blemish,  and  offer  them 
 before  the  Lord. 
 
 3  And  unto  the  children  of  Israel  thou  shalt 
 speak,  saying, ''  Take  ye  a  kid  of  the  goats  for 
 
 would  hold  but  a  few  of  the  many  thousands  of  Israel. — Hen.      15.  He  as  Aaron  and  his  sons  could  not  go  out  of  the  court  for  seven  days.-- 
 
 slew  it — Moses  slew  the  sacrifices,  (Exod.  xxix.  1 1 ;)  yet,  in  general,  Siit.        33.  Sei'en  rf«?/s— this  perfect  numher  of  the  Hebrews  implied  a 
 
 the  ottercr  seems  to  have  killed  his  own  sacrifices.— Sco«.        31 .  At  perfect  and  full  consecration.— Ji.  Clarke.    See  note  on  chap.  iv.  1 7. 
 the  dooi^-the  Sept,  read,  '  in  the  court  j'  this  appears  the  true  reading:. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.ap.  VIII.  _  I.  Observe  here.  That  Cod 
 has  chosen  for  his  ministers  men  of  lihe  infirmities  and  passions 
 with  others.  Hence  the  necessity  of  providing  an  atonement 
 for  sin,  and  of  tbe  act  of  purification,  which  availed  to  cleanse 
 the  soul,  if  performed  with  the  eye  of  faith  directed  to  '  the 
 fountain  opened  for  sin  and  for  uncleanness.'  It  is  by  an  ex- 
 perimental knowledse  of  their  own  guilt  and  pollution,  and  of 
 the  way  in  which  God  has  provided  for  the  spiritual  necessi- 
 ties of  men,  that  ministers  give  proof  they  are  qualified  to 
 minister  in  holy  things.  How  can  they  direct  to  a  Saviour 
 who  have  themselves  never  felt  their  need  of  Him  ? 
 
 II.  Observe,  That  ministers  should  l,e  the  oracles  of  God,  bear- 
 ing on  their  breasts  the  Urini  and  Tbummim— light  and  per- 
 119 
 
 fection  ;  ready  to  furnish  information  to  every  serious  inquirer, 
 and  to  point  outwliat  is  tiie  mind  and  will  of  God  in  matters 
 of  religion. 
 
 III.  Tliat  Holiness  to  the  Lord  should  he  a  distinginshing  cha- 
 racteristic of  the  yninistcrs  of  God,  for  this  was  written  on  the 
 forefront  of  the  mitre,  and  it  was  to  be  always  on  Aaron's  fore- 
 head, (Exod.  xxviii.  36,  &c.) 
 
 IV.  That  those  ministers  whom  God  appoints  he  has  anointed 
 with  his  Holy  Spirit,  without  whose  influences  and  teaching 
 nothing  wise,  good,  or  holy,  can  be  expected  to  proceed  from 
 minds  naturally  dark,  evil,  and  corrupt.  May  the  great  Head 
 of  the  church  raise  up  multitudes  of  such  ministers  to  teach 
 and  bless  his  church  ! 
 
The  offerings  for  Aaron. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  X. 
 
 Fire  is  sent  vpon  the  altar. 
 
 /ver.  0.  S3. 
 Ex.  29.  43. 
 
 a  sin  offering  :  and  a  calf  and  a  lamb,  both  of 
 the  first  year,  without  blemish,  for  a  burnt 
 offering  ; 
 
 4  Also  a  bullock  and  a  ram  for  peace  offer- 
 ings, to  sacrifice  before  the  Lord  ;  and  °  a 
 meat  offering  mingled  with  oil :  for  '  to  day 
 the  Lord  will  appear  unto  you. 
 
 5  II  And  they  brought  that  which  Moses 
 commanded  before  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation :  and  all  the  congregation  drew  near 
 and  stood  before  the  Lord. 
 
 6  And  Moses  said,  Tliis  is  the  thing  which 
 the  Lord  commanded  tliat  ye  should  do  :  and 
 ^  the  glory  of  tlie  LoRD.sliall  appear  unto  you. 
 
 7  And  Moses  said  unto  Aaron,  Go  unto  the 
 altar,  and  ''  offer  thy  sin  offering,  and  thy  burnt 
 offering,  and  make  an  atonement  for  thyself, 
 and  for  the  people  :  and  '  offer  tlie  offering  of 
 the  people,  and  make  an  atonement  for  them  ; 
 as  the  Loud  commanded. 
 
 8  t  Aaron  tlierefore  went  unto  the  altar,  and 
 slew  the  calf  of  the  sin  offering,  which  was  for 
 himself. 
 
 !)  'And  the  sons  of  Aaron  brought  the  blocd 
 unto  him  :  and  he  dipped  his  finger  in  the 
 Mood,  and  '  put  it  upon  the  horns  of  the  altar, 
 and  poured  out  the  blood  at  the  bottom  of  the 
 altar  : 
 
 10  *"  But  the  fat,  and  the  kidneys  <ind  the 
 caul  above  the  liver  of  the  sin  offering,  he 
 burnt  upon  the  altar;  "as  the  Lord  connnanded 
 Moses. 
 
 11  "And  the  flesh  and  the  hide  he  burnt  with 
 fire  without  the  camp. 
 
 12  And  he  slew  the  burnt  offering;  and 
 Aaron's  sons  presented  unlu  him  the  blood, 
 ''which  he  sprinkled  round  about  upon  the 
 altar. 
 
 13  ''And  they  presented  the  burnt  offering 
 unto  him,  with  the  pieces  thereof,  and  the 
 head  :  and  he  burnt  them  upon  the  altar. 
 
 14  ''And  he  did  wash  the  inwards  and  the 
 legs,  and  burnt  them  upon  the  burnt  offering 
 on  the  altar. 
 
 1.5  T  'And  he  brought  the  people's  offering, 
 and  took  the  goat,  which  ruas  the  sin  offering 
 for  the  people,  and  slew  it,  and  offered  it  for 
 sin,  as  the  first. 
 
 16  And  he  brought  the  burnt  offering,  and 
 
 Fjt.  M.  1« 
 
 A  oil.  4   P. 
 I  SamJ.U 
 Hcb.  5.  a.& 
 7.27  &9-7. 
 
 ich.«.16,20 
 M*.  S.   1. 
 
 ;■  rti    I.. '5,  St 
 H,  19. 
 
 ij  rh.  8    2ft 
 
 1  VT.  ». 
 14      S    10 
 Hel.   2.  17 
 &  b.a. 
 
 «  vcr.  '1. 
 
 cl.-  2.  1,2. 
 t  llel..yjl/ed 
 
 l'i>h»nd  nut 
 
 <.fil. 
 J  Ex.  29.  39. 
 Vcli.S,l,8(C. 
 
 •■t.  29.  24, 
 F.  oh.  7  Sui 
 ,  32,  33, 
 
 6Num  6  23. 
 Deu.  21.  .'.- 
 Luke  24.^9. 
 
 •  vrr.  6. 
 Num. 14. 10. 
 «t  It).  19,42. 
 
 d  G.'h.  4. 
 Judg.  6. 
 
 1  Kin.lH*?. 
 2Chr.  7.  1. 
 Vn.  29  3 
 
 2  M.-io.  2  10, 
 II 
 
 f  1  Kin.  Ifl. 
 S9.  2Chr  7. 
 S.Kzra3.H. 
 
 n  rh.  16.  !.& 
 
 22  9,  Num. 
 
 3  3,4  fc2b. 
 
 61.  1  Chr. 
 
 21.  2. 
 b  ch.  16.  12. 
 
 Num. 16.18. 
 c  Ex.  39.  9. 
 
 d  oh.  9.  24. 
 NuuKieS.^. 
 2  Sam.  6,  7. 
 
 «F,«.19  22(li 
 29.1.3.ch.21. 
 6,  17,  81. 
 Is.  52.  11. 
 Eiek.  29.41, 
 &  42.  13. 
 
 offered  it  '  according  to  the  ||  manner. 
 
 17  And  he  brought  "the  meat  offering,  and 
 f  took  an  handful  thereof,  and  burnt  it  upon 
 the  altar,  "  beside  the  burnt  sacrifice  of  the 
 morning. 
 
 18  He  slew  also  the  bullock  and  the  \amfur 
 'a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  which  icas  for 
 the  people  :  and  Aaron's  sons  presented  unto 
 him  the  blood,  which  he  sprinkled  upon  the 
 altar  round  about, 
 
 19  And  the  fat  of  the  bullock  and  of  the  ram, 
 the  rump,  aiul  that  which  covereth  the  inu-ards, 
 and  the  kidneys,  and  the  caul  above  the  liver: 
 
 '20  And  they  put  tlie  fat  ujion  the  breasts. 
 '  and  he  burnt  the  fat  upon  the  altar  : 
 
 21  And  the  breasts  and  tb.e  right  shoulder 
 Aaron  waved  'for  a  wave  offering  before  the 
 Lord  ;  as  Moses  commanded. 
 
 22  And  Aaron  lifted  up  bis  hand  toward  the 
 people,  and  ''  blessed  them,  and  came  down 
 from  oft'ering  of  the  sin  oft'ering,  and  ttie  burnt 
 offering,  and  peace  offerings. 
 
 23  And  Moses  and  Aaron  went  into  the  ta- 
 bernacle of  the  congregation,  and  came  out, 
 and  bles.sed  the  people  :  """and  the  glory  of  the 
 Lord  appeared  unto  all  the  people. 
 
 24  And  ''  there  came  a  fire  out  from  before 
 the  Loud,  and  consumed  upon  the  altar  the 
 burnt  oft'ering  and  the  fat :  wliich  when  all  the 
 people  saw,  "  they  shouted,  and  fell  on  their 
 faces. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  Nudab  ami  Abihu,  for  offering  of  Strange  Jirc,  are 
 Imrnt  bij  fire.  6  Aanm  mid  his  sons  are  forbidden 
 to  mourn  for  them.  8  The  priests  arc  forbidden  wine 
 w/ten  tlify  are  to  go  into  the  tabernacle.  12  The  lata 
 of  eating  the  holy  things,  16  Aaron*s  excuse  for 
 transgressing  thereof, 
 
 A  ND  ^  Nadab  and  Abihu,  tlie  sons  of  Aaron, 
 -^~*-  ''took  either  of  tliem  his  censer,  and  put 
 fire  therein,  and  put  incense  thereon,  and  of- 
 fered '^  strange  fire  before  the  Lord,  which  he 
 commanded  them  not, 
 
 2  And  there  •'  went  out  fire  from  the  Lord, 
 and  devoured  them,  and  they  died  before  the 
 Lord 
 
 3  Then  Moses  said  unto  Aaron,  This  is  it 
 that  tiie  Loud  spake,  sayinp;,  I  will  be  sancti- 
 fied in  them  '^  that  come  nigh  me,  and  before 
 
 CnAP.  IX. — 7.  For  thyself— m  other  religrions  we  find  the  priests,  but 
 especially  the  hig:h  priest,  claiming'  to  themselves  perfect  Iioliness  of 
 rharacter,  and  exacting  fronr,  the  people  such  veneration  and  distinc- 
 tion as  if  they  were  soniethinfj  more  than  men.  Here  their  sins  must 
 be  expiated  as  well  as  tlie  meanest  of  the  people. —  WiUnuijhhy.  24.  A 
 fire — eiihcr  from  the  holy  of  holies,  or  from  that  glory  which  now  ap- 
 peared, and  sent  out  flashes  of  fire  which  burnt  up  the  sacrifice.— Pu'. 
 This  fire  was  a  manifest  token  of  God's  acceptance  of  their  services,  as, 
 afterwards,  nf  Solomon's  sacrifice,  2Chron.  vii.  I ;  and  Elijah's,  1  Kings, 
 xviii.  30.  The  learned  Bp.  Pntrick  has  a  very  probable  conjecture, 
 that  Moses  and  Aaron  staid  in  the  tabernacle  till  it  was  time  to  offer 
 the  eoenirii:  siirn'Jice,  which  Aaron  did  ;  but  it  is  not  mentioned,  be- 
 cause it  was  dune  of  course,  and  that  was  it  which  the  fire  that  came 
 out  from  the  Lord  consumed. — Hen. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  1.  Toofr, 'snatched.*— So  some.  In  a  brisk  frolicsome 
 way,  without  reverence.  Strange  fire — Nadab  and  Abihu,  proud  of 
 their  new  honours,  hastened,  without  orders,  to  burn  incense.     And 
 
 then  their  oflTerings/rflng-e^rcisthe  same  with  offering- .strange  incense, 
 which  is  expressly  forbidden,  (Exod.  xxx.  Q.)  Mos-es,  probably,  kept 
 the  prepared  incense,  (Exod.  xxxix.  as,)  and  they  having  but  common 
 incense,  their  smoke  was  from  a  strange  fire.  The  priests  were  to 
 burn  incense  only  when  it  was  their  lot,  (Luke,  i.  9.)  and,  at  this  time 
 it  was  not  theirs. — Hen.  They  did  that  whicli  their  father,  by  office, 
 ought  to  have  done  at  such  a  solemn  time.  They  each  took  a  censer, 
 whereas,  incense  was  to  be  offered  only  by  one.  They  fetched  their 
 fire  from  without,  and  not  from  the  altar. — Ad.  Lyt.  Probably,  the 
 fire  was  from  that  with  which  the  peace-offering  was  boiled. — Hen. 
 Some  think,  from  the  9th  verse,  they  had  drank  too  freely  at  the  feasts. 
 — ;*«/.,  Grni^es.  2.  Fi?-e,  a  flash  of  lightning,  often  called  'the  fire 
 of  the  Lord,*  to  denote  its  awful  effcets. — So  Rusenm.  Perhaps,  the 
 fire  which  consumed  the  offerings. — Evan.  Synop.  Devoured,  'de- 
 stroyed their  lives,'  for  their  bodies  and  garments  were  not  consumed, 
 {ver.  4,  5  ;)  thus  the  sword  is  said  to  *  devour,'  (2  Sam.  ii.  26.)  Light* 
 ning  often  kills  persons  without  any  hurt  to  their  bodies  or  garments. 
 
 Retlections  on  Chap.  IX.  —  L  Behold  the  superiority  of 
 oftr  High  Priest  to  that  of  the  Jetrish  dispensation.  Aaron  had 
 sins  to  atone  for  belonging  to  himself,  before  he  could  offer 
 sacrifices  for  the  people  ;  but  our  High  Priest  was  '  holy,  harra- 
 les.s,  undetiled,  and  separate  from  sinners,'  and  needed  no  such 
 atonement.  Hence,  when  be  was  cut  off,  it  was  not  for  him- 
 self, but  for  his  people. 
 
 IL  When  Aaron  had  offered  vp  the  sacrifices,  he  blessed  the 
 people;  so  did  Christ  his  disciples;  when  he  ascended  upon 
 high,  '  he  lifted  up  his  hands  and  blessed  them  :'  and  now  he 
 [20 
 
 is  ever  blessing  them  ;  and  they  are  not  a  (ew — not  the  congre- 
 gation of  one  nation  only,  but  *  in  Him  shall  all  the  nations  or 
 the  earth  be  blessed.* 
 
 IIL  God  shewed  his  approval  of  the  sacrifices  of  the  High 
 Priest,  and  so  is  be  well  pleased  for  the  Saviour's  righteous- 
 ness' sake.  If  we  see  the  glory  of  God,  as  he  displays  it  in  the 
 work  of  redemption,  and  feel  assured  that  our  services  are 
 accepted  by  him,  we  owe  all  to  the  ministrations  of  our  great 
 High  Priest. 
 
The  law  of  calbirj  the  holy  things. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XI. 
 
 The.  sin  offering. 
 
 all  tlie    people    I   will    be  '  glurilied.     ^  And 
 Aatoii  field  liis  peace. 
 
 4  And  Jloses  called  Mishael  and  Elzaphan, 
 the  sons  of  ''  Uzziel  the  uncle  of  Aaron,  and 
 said  unto  them,  Come  near,  '  carry  your 
 brethren  from  before  the  sanctuary  out  of  the 
 camp. 
 
 5  So  they  went  near,  and  carried  them  in 
 tlieir  coats  out  of  the  camp  ;  as  Moses  had 
 said. 
 
 6  And  Moses  said  unto  Aaron,  and  unto 
 Eleazar  and  unto  Ithamar,  his  sons,  ''  Uncover 
 not  your  heads,  neither  rend  your  clothes  ;  lest 
 ye  die,  and  lest  '  wrath  come  upon  all  the 
 jieople :  but  let  your  brethren,  the  whole 
 iionsc  uf  Israel,  bewail  the  burning  which  the 
 Lonn  hatli  kindled. 
 
 7  '"  .\nd  ye  sliall  not  go  out  from  the  door  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  lest  ye  die  : 
 "  for  tlie  anointing  oil  of  the  Lord  is  upon 
 yon.  And  they  did  according  to  the  word  of 
 Moses. 
 
 8  1  And  the  Lokd  spake  unto  Aaron,  saying, 
 
 9  °  Do  not  drink  wine  nor  strong  drink,  thou, 
 nor  thy  sons  with  thee,  when  ye  go  into  the 
 taliernacle  of  the  congregation,  lest  ye  die  :  it 
 shall  be  a  statute  ior  ever  throughout  your 
 generations : 
 
 10  And  that  ye  may  ^  put  difference  between 
 holy  and  unholy,  and  between  unclean  and 
 clean  ; 
 
 1 1  ''  And  that  ye  may  teach  the  children  of 
 Israel  all  the  statutes  which  the  Lord  hath 
 spoken  unto  them  by  the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 1-2  T  And  Moses  spake  unto  Aaron,  and  unto 
 Eleazar  and  unto  Ithamar,  his  sons  that  were 
 left.  Take'  the  meat  offering  that  remaineth  of 
 tlie  offerings  of  the  Lord  made  by  fire,  and  eat 
 it  without  leaven  beside  tlie  altar:  for'iti's 
 most  holy  : 
 
 13  And  ye  shall  eat  it  in  the  holy  place,  be- 
 cause it  is  thy  due,  and  thy  sons'  due,  of  the 
 sacrifices  of  the  Lord  made  by  fire  :  for  '  so  I 
 am  commanded. 
 
 14  And  "  the  wave  breast  and  heave  shoulder 
 shall  ye  eat  in  a  clean  place  ;  thou,  and  thy 
 sons,  and  thy  daughters  with  thee  :  for  they  be 
 
 B.  C.N90. 
 
 f  Is.  ^9.  3. 
 
 K/ek  t'8.:«. 
 
 .tohii  13.  31, 
 
 32.  {^  1-1.13. 
 
 SThes.1.10. 
 g  Ps.  ay.  9. 
 It  Kx.  6.  IS, 
 
 •2-i,  Num.  3. 
 
 19,  3U. 
 i  Luke  7.  12. 
 
 Acts  5.  B,  9, 
 
 10.  &  8.  :;. 
 
 k  Ex.  33.  5. 
 cli,  IS.  45. 
 &  -n.  I,  III. 
 
 K;(ek.:i  1.  IG, 
 
 17. 
 /Num,H)-2'?, 
 
 .10.  Josh  7.1. 
 
 &  -^1.  13,2U. 
 
 2  Sam  .2 1.1. 
 mch.  SI.  12. 
 
 n  Ex.  28  41. 
 ell.  3. 30. 
 
 0  Kzek.14. 
 21.  I.iike  I. 
 13.  ITim.3. 
 3.  Tit.  1.7. 
 
 pch.  11.  47. 
 
 &  21).  25. 
 
 Jer.  13.  19. 
 
 Ezck.  22.26. 
 
 &  '11.  23. 
 Q  n<.-ii.  24.8. 
 
 Kfh.  8. 2,  S, 
 
 X  rh.  7. 
 30,  31. 
 
 ycli.O.  S,  15. 
 
 u  Ex.  29.  24, 
 2r,,  27. 
 rli.  7.31,3*. 
 Num.  13.11 
 
 B.C.  1190.  I  thy  due,  and  thy  sons' due,  u-ZncA  are  given 
 out  of  the  sacrifices  of  peace  offerings  of  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 13  "The  heave  shoulder  and  the  wave  breast 
 shall  they  bring  with  the  offerings  made  by 
 fire  of  the  fat,  to  wave  it  for  a  wave  offering 
 before  the  Lord  ;  and  it  shall  be  thine,  and  thy 
 sons'  with  thee,  by  a  statute  for  ever ;  as  the 
 Lord  hath  commanded. 
 
 16  If  And  Moses  diligently  sought  ■'  the  goat 
 of  the  sin  oftering,  and,  beliold,  it  was  burnt  ; 
 and  he  was  angry  with  Eleazar  and  Ithamar,  the 
 
 Isons  of  Aaron  which  were  left  alive,  saying, 
 
 17  "^  Wherefore  have  ye  not  eaten  the  sin 
 oftering  in  the  holy  place,  .seeing  it  is  most 
 holy,  and  God  hath  given  it  you  to  bear  the 
 iniquity  of  tlie  congregation,  to  make  atone- 
 ment for  them  before  the  Loan  ? 
 
 18  Behold,  "  the  blood  of  it  was  not  brought 
 in  witliiu  the  holy  -place  :  ye  should  indeed 
 have  eaten  it  in  tlie  holy  jjlace,  i"  as  I  com- 
 manded. 
 
 19  And  Aaron  said  unto  Moses,  Behold,''  this 
 day  have  they  offered  their  sin  offering  and 
 their  burnt  offering  before  the  Lord;  and  such 
 things  have  befallen  me  :  and  if  I  had  eaten 
 the  sin  offering  to  day,  ''  should  it  have  been 
 accepted  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  ? 
 
 •20  And  when  Moses  heard  that,  he  was  con- 
 tent. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 i  What  beofifs  may^  4  and  tvhat  maif  iwt  he  eatt?i. 
 9  What  Jishis.  13  What  Jhwh.  29  The  creepimj 
 things  which  are  unclean, 
 
 Sl  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  to 
 ■^^   Aaron,  saying  unto  thetn, 
 
 2  Speak  unto  the  cliildren  of  I.srae],  sayin;:, 
 °  These  are  the  beasts  which  ye  shall  eat  anionj^ 
 all  the  beasts  that  are  on  the  earth. 
 
 3  Whatsoever  parteth  the  hoof,  and  is  cloven- 
 footed,  and  cheweth  the  cud,  among  the  be;ASts, 
 that  shall  ye  eat. 
 
 4  Nevertheless  these  shall  ye  not  eat  of  them 
 that  chew  the  cud,  or  of  them  that  divide  the 
 hoof :  as  the  camel,  because  he  cheweth  the 
 cud,  but  divideth  not  the  hoof;  he  is  unclean 
 unto  you. 
 
 d  Jer.  6.  20, 
 &  IV.  \i. 
 
 Mill.  1, 
 13 
 
 ri  Tleii.  14.  4 
 Acts  10.12 
 
 —Poole.  3.  Held  Ins  peace,  nrw  DT'1,  literally,  'was  dumb,*  or 
 '  silent.'  through  excessive  grief,  and  in  submission  to  God,  (see  Isa. 
 .\lvii.  5;  i.am.  ii.  10;  conipare  Ps.  xx.xi.x.  9  ;  Ezek.  xxiv.  l".) — WiL, 
 J'oiile.  6.  Uncover  not  pour  heads,  as  mourners  sometimes  did,  by 
 going  bareheaded,  (chap.  xiii.  45  ;  Ezek,  xxiv.  ly,  '23  ;)  nr  by  shaving', 
 (Job,  1.  20  :  Jer.  vii.  29.  and  xli.  5;  Ezek.  xliv.  20;  Mich.  i.  16.}  JVei- 
 tfier  rt-nd,  give  no  signification  of  sorrow. — Poole.  Tliey  were  so  pro- 
 hibited, not  to  reflect  on  the  Divine  goodness,  nor  to  suffer  their  impor- 
 tant services  to  be  imerrupted. — Scott.  g.  Do  not  drink — see  notes 
 on  ver.  1 .  Palm  wine  is  said  to  have  been  common  in  those  countries, 
 and  it  is  highly  intoxicating.— //ch'.  Lest  ye  rfiV— do  that  for  which 
 God  will  cut   you   off. —Hm.  10.  Holu   and  unholi/— persons   and 
 
 things,  which  Nadah  and  Abihn  did  not. —Poole.  14.  A  clean  place— 
 in  any  dwelling  or  place  in  the  camp  free  fmm  ceremonial  defilement. 
 —Poole.    The  Sept.  read,  '  in  tlie  holy  place.'  17.  Where/nre,  i^c.  ? 
 
 — a  goat  was  to  be  sacrificed  for  a  sin  offering  for  the  peoide,  (chap. 
 ix.  15,}  and  the  law  was,  that  if  the  blood  were  brought  intn  the  holy 
 
 place,  as  that  of  the  sin-offering  for  the  priest  was,  then  the  flesh  was 
 to  be  burnt  without  the  camp ;  otherwise,  it  was  to  be  eaten  by  the 
 priest,  in  the  holy  place,  (chap.  vi.  30.)  Kow,  the  blood  of  this  goat 
 was  not  brought  into  the  holy  place,  and  yet  it  seems  it  was  bu'-nt 
 without  the  camp. — Hen.  19.  //  I  had  eiitm — as  Aaron  could  ixit 
 have  eaten  with  calmness  and  cheerfulness,  he  doubted  if  sucli  a  ser- 
 vice could  have  been  acceptable. — Scott. 
 
 Chap.  XI. — 2.  These  aye  the  beajits — they  are  not  particularly  men- 
 tioned here,  but  they  are  in  Deiit.  xiv.  4,  5.  Which  ye  .shall  eat — there 
 were  several  reasons  for  these  restrictions,  among  which  are — (i.)  To 
 separate  between  the  Jews  and  other  nations,  (ii.)  For  the  preserva- 
 tion of  health,  some  of  the  creatures  prohibited  not  being  fit  food  for  a 
 people  obnoxious  to  leprosy,  (iii.)  For  moral  signification,  to  teach 
 them  to  abhor  impurity,  manifest  in  the  nature  and  habits  of  some  of 
 these  proiiibited  creatures. — So  Poole.  3.  Parteth  the  honf,  into 
 
 two  hoofs  or  claws. — So  the  Sept.  See  Dent,  xiv,  6.  Cheireth — this, 
 in  the  original,  signifies  the  bringing  the  meat  up  into  the  mouth  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.  ^I.  We  ouf^ht  to  approach  the 
 hobf  God,  in  oil  our  sacred  engagements,  with  the  most  profound 
 reverence,  and  with  the  strictest  regard  to  the  injunctions  of  his 
 word.  Let  us  beware  of  oifering  strange  fire  upon  God's  altar, 
 and  recollect  that  he  is  '  greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  assembly 
 of  his  saints,  and  to  be  had  in  reverence  of  all  them  that  are 
 round  about  him.'  iiishop  Hall  well  observes,  '  It  is  a  dan- 
 gerous thing,  in  tlie  service  of  God.  to  decline  from  his  own 
 institutions  :  we  have  to  do  with  a  God  who  is  wise,  to  pre- 
 scribe Ins  own  worship;  just,  to  require  what  he  has  pre- 
 scribed; and  powerful,  to  revenge  what  he  has  not  prescribed.* 
 
 II.  When  Godafjiicts  us,  we  ought  to  be  sileiit;  not  that  we 
 should  not  speak  to  others,  but  we  ought  nottomuniuiraKainst 
 121 
 
 him.  Solemn  and  affecting  providences  sometimes  afflict  the 
 most  holy  and  the  most  eminent  men  :  but '  Shall  not  the  Judge 
 of  all  the  earth  do  right  V  The  proper  spirit,  on  all  occasions. 
 is  that  of  submission  to  our  heavenly  Father.  'I  was  dumb,  I 
 openednot  my  mouth,  because  thou  didst  il.* 
 
 III.  Mosts  bore  with  Aarons  injirniilij  in  the  performance  of  his 
 office,  when  it  was  obvious  it  did  not  proceed  from  irreverence.  So 
 does  a  gracious  God  ;  and  it  is  a  mercy  that  Ise  does,  or,  vcere 
 our  infirmities  in  holy  things  to  be  severely  marked,  'who 
 could  stand?'  '  Our  unfitness  for  duty,'  says  Ilenry,  '  when  it 
 is  natural,  and  not  sinful,  will  have  great  allowances  made  for 
 it;  and  God  will  have  mercy,  and  not  sacrifice.' 
 
Of  beasts  Sfc.  which  may. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XI. 
 
 and  which  may  not,  be  eaten 
 
 5  And  the  coney,  because  he  cheweth  the 
 cud,  but  divideth  not  the  hoof;  he  is  unclean 
 unto  you. 
 
 6  And  the  hare,  because  he  cheweth  the  cud, 
 but  divideth  not  the  hoof;  he  is  unclean  unto 
 you. 
 
 7  And' the  swine,  though  he  divide  the  hoof, 
 and  be  clovenfooted,  yet  he  cheweth  not  the 
 cud  ;  '  he  is  unclean  to  you. 
 
 8  Of  their  flesh  shall  ye  not  eat,  and  their 
 carcase  shall  ye  not  touch  ;  ''  they  are  unclean 
 to  you. 
 
 9  t  °  These  shall  ye  eat  of  all  that  are  in  the 
 waters  :  whatsoever  hath  fins  and  scales  in  the 
 waters,  in  the  seas,  and  in  tlie  rivers,  them  shall 
 ye  eat. 
 
 10  And  all  that  have  not  fins  and  scales  in  the 
 seas,  and  in  the  rivers,  of  all  that  move  in  the 
 waters,  and  of  any  living  thing  which  is  in  the 
 waters,  they  shall  be  an  •'abomination  unto 
 you  : 
 
 11  They  shall  be  even  an  abomination  unto 
 you  ;  ye  shall  not  eat  of  their  flesh,  but  ye 
 shall  have  their  carcases  in  abomination. 
 
 c  Is.  65.  4.  & 
 68.  S,  17. 
 
 d  Is.  52.  II. 
 
 See  Mai.  15. 
 11.20.  Mark 
 7.  -2,  15,  18- 
 Acte  10.  14, 
 15.  8c  15.89. 
 Horn  14.14. 
 17.  I  Cor,  fi 
 *?.  Col-  2.  16, 
 21.  Heb.  S. 
 lit. 
 eDeut.  14.9. 
 
 A  Mat.  3.  4. 
 Mark  I.  6. 
 
 12  Whatsoever  hath  no  fins  nor  scales  in  the 
 waters,  that  shall  be  an  abomination  unto  you. 
 
 13  H  •■■  And  these  are  thuj  wliich  ye  shall  have 
 in  abomination  among  the  fowls  ;  they  shall  not 
 be  eaten,  they  are  an  abomination  :  the  eagle, 
 and  the  ossifrage,  and  the  ospray, 
 
 14  And  tlie  vulture,  and  the  kite  after  his 
 kind  ; 
 
 13  Erery  raven  after  his  kind  ; 
 
 16  And  the  owl,  and  the  night  hawk,  and  the 
 cuckow,  and  the  hawk  after  his  kind, 
 
 1 7  And  the  little  owl,  and  the  cormorant,  and 
 the  great  owl, 
 
 18  And  the  swan,  and  the  pelican,  and  the 
 gier  eagle, 
 
 19  And  the  stork,  the  heron  after  her  kind, 
 and  the  lapwing,  and  the  bat. 
 
 20  All  fowls  that  creep,  going  upon  all  four, 
 shall  be  an  abomination  unto  you. 
 
 21  Yet  these  may  ye  eat  of  every  flying  creep- 
 ing thing  that  goeth  upon  all  four,  which  have 
 legs  above  their  feet,  to  leap  withal  upon  the 
 earth  ; 
 
 22  Even  these  of  them  ye  may  eat  ;   '■  the 
 
 che»  It  again.— .4ins.  5.  Coney,  or  '  rabbit.' —  W/f.    The  -jerboa.' 
 
 —Doch.,  Boothr.  Perhaps  lEIE  means  the  •  bear  mouse,'  a  kind  of 
 animal  not  larger  than  a  hedgehog,  resembling  a  mouse  and  a  bear. 
 This  animal  abounds  in  those  countries,  and  dwells  in  the  caverns  of 
 the  rocks  and  caves  of  the  earth.— So  Jerome,  cited  by  Bochart.  This 
 description  agrees  with  Bruce's  account  of  the  aslikoko,  which,  in 
 Arabia  and  Syria,  is  called  '  Gannim  Israel,'  or  Israel's  sheep  ;  perhaps, 
 because  it  frecjuents  tlie  rocks  of  Horeh  and  Sinai,  where  the  children 
 of  Israel  made  their  forty  years'  peregrinatii.n.  The  word  also  occurs. 
 Dent.  .XIV.  7;  Ps.  civ.  IS;  Prov.  xx.\.  26. —  See  Harris's  Xat.  Hist. 
 0.  The  hare—T\^ryti  occurs  chap.  vi. ;  Dent.  xiv.  7.  Bochart  supposes 
 the  name  is  derived  from  m«,  '  to  crop,'  and  n':,  '  the  produce  of  the 
 ground,'  these  animals  being  remarkable  for  devouring  young  plants 
 and  herbage.  It  was,  perhaps,  pronounced  unclean  from  its  lascivious 
 habits.  Moess  says,  this  animal  chews  the  cud,  which  our  hares  do 
 not,  but  it  may  be  a  variety  of  the  species.— Harris.  The  animals 
 translated  'coney'  and  'hare'  may,  probably,  include  a  variety  of 
 species,  four  or  five  sorts  of  these  animals  being  used  for  food  in  the 
 ea.st.— See  Har.,  vol.  iii.  pp.  316-320,  edit.  18l6  i  and  A.  Clarke  in  loco. 
 7-  He  cheweth  not  the  cud— and.  a  Icarocd  physician  (Scheuch:er)  ob- 
 serves, that  so  perfect  a  chyle  cannot  then  be  elaborated  by  them  as  by 
 those  that  chew  the  cud,  and  therefore  their  flesh  is  less  wholesome. 
 The  swine,  also,  live  on  the  most  filthy  food,  and  hence,  the  eating  of 
 their  flesh  must  produce  mauy  inconveniences  to  the  body,  as  scor- 
 butic and  leprous  diseases.  9.  Hath  fins  and  sc«;ra— fins  to  fishes 
 are  like  wings  to  birds,  and  oars  to  boats,  with  which  they  move 
 swiftly  from  place  to  place ;  and  scales  protect  them  ;  and  such  fishes, 
 being  much  in  motion  and  so  well  covered,  are  less  humid,  and  more 
 solid,  and  substantial,  and  wholesome,  than  others.  10.  ,Vo//as— such 
 as  worms  and  horse-leeches,  &c.,  sea  beasts,  Sic.—Gill.  13.  Eaete, 
 -liro,  from  a  verb  signifying  'to  lacerate' or  'tear  in  pieces.— T..1/. 
 Harris.  This  is  a  bird  of  prey,  was  sacred  to  the  heathen  gods,  and, 
 having  hard  flesh,  is  not  fit  for  food,  and  on  these  accounts,  perhaps, 
 forbidden  to  be  eaten.— Gi«.  Ossi/r(//»e— C^:  also  occurs  Deut.  .xiv.  12. 
 The  Hebrew  denotes  '  to  crush,'  ■  to  break.'  Some  read  '  vulture ;' 
 others, 'the  black  eagle;' others, 'the  falcon.'  There  is  a  kind  of  eagle 
 which  breaks  the  bones  of  its  prey  after  it  has  eaten  the  flesh.  Ospraii, 
 rr:ir  also  occurs  Deut.  xiv.  12.  gcnerallv  supposed  to  be  the  '  black 
 '  eagle.'  14.  Vulture,  nxn,  from  the  root  •  to  fly.'  Bochart  conjec- 
 tures it  may  be  from  riNT,  'to  see,'  'T  et  1  permutatis,  quia  sunt  liters 
 similes.'  There  seems  no  necessity  for  this,  for  if  the  bird  of  prey  be 
 ikeen-sighted,  it  is  also  swift  to  dart  on  the  wing.  Gill  propose.s  to 
 transpose  the  sentence,  and  read,  ■  the  kite  and  the  vulture,'  the  kite 
 not  being  so  remarkable  for  sight  as  the  vulture  •,  and  Dr.  Clarke  ob- 
 serves, that  the  kite  is  remarkable  for  sailing  or  gliding  through  the 
 air.  The  kite—rrtt  occurs,  also,  Dent.  xiv.  13  ;  Job,  xxviii.  7.  Bochart 
 supposes  this  to  be  the  ■  merlin,'  celebrated  for  its  sharp-sightedness; 
 and  this  faculty  is  referred  to  in  Job,  where  the  word  is  rendered 
 '  vulture.'  Parkhurst  derives  this  word  from  mn,  '  to  covet,'  which 
 may  express  the  ravenous  disposition  of  the  bird.  He  prefers  render- 
 ing rr«.  '  a  vulture.'  15.  Raren  —  yyS  occurs,  also,  Gen.  viii.  7; 
 Deut.  XIV.  14:  1  Kings,  xvii.  4,  6;  Job,  xxxviii.  41  ;  Ps.  cxlvii,  9  ;  Prov. 
 XXX.  17;  Cant.  v.  11  ;  Isa.  xxiv.  11.— 7'.  M.  Harris.  l6.  The  owl, 
 mS'n  ni,  ■  the  daughter  of  vociferation.'  The  Sept.,  Vulgate  Latin, 
 Oriental  Versions,  §c.,  here  understand  '  the  ostrich;'  which  is  pre- 
 ferred by  Gill,  A.  Clarke,  and  Boothr.  The  flesh  of  this  creature  is 
 <tty.  and  it  is  said  to  eat  its  own  excrements.  The  word  occurs  Deut. 
 XIV.  15;  Job,  XXX.  29;  Isa.  xiii.  21 ;  xxxiv.  13;  xliii.  20;  Jer.  1.  39; 
 Lam.  IV.  3  ;  and  Mic.  i.  s.—T.  31.  Harris.  The  night  hawk,  C-Dnn, 
 from  Dlpn,  '  to  cast,'  '  pluck,'  or  •  force  ofl''  or  '  away.'  Occurs,  also, 
 Deut.  XIV.  15.  Probably  some  kind  of  owl,  and,  considering  the  radical 
 miport  of  Its  Hebrew  name,  very  likely  that  mentioned  by  Hasselquist, 
 of  the  size  of  the  common  owl,  being  very  ravenous  in  Syria,  and  in 
 the  evenings,  if  the  windows  are  left  open,  flying  into  houses  and  kill- 
 ing infants  unless  they  are  CM-efuIly  watched.'— Pnr.  The  cuckow— 
 122 
 
 FirTO  occurs  here  only.      The  Sept.  render  it  '  a  sea-gull.' — So  Ains., 
 Boch.,  A.  Clarke.     Dr.  Sliaw  thinks  it  means  the  'rhaad'  or  'saf-saf,' 
 a  granivorous  and  gregarious  bird,  which  wants  the  hinder  toe.    But 
 the  bird  here  mentioned  is  a  bird  of  prey,  and  does  not  agree  with  the 
 desciiption  of  Shaw.    The  root  of  the  word  means  '  to  waste,'  '  con- 
 sume away,'  and,  therefore.   Parkhurst  considei-s  the  *  sea-gull'  or 
 '  mew'  to  be  here  intended,  and  to  be  so  called  *  on  account  of  its  lean, 
 ness,  slenderness,  or  small  quantity  of  flesh  in  proportion  to  its  appa. 
 rent  size.'    The  hawk,  1*3,  from  rHi],  '  to  shoot  forth'  or  '  rush  ;'  from 
 its  rapid  flight,  or  shoottng  awai/  in  flying.     Occurs  Deut.  xiv.  15  ;  Job, 
 xxxLX.  2ti.       1".  The  little  owl,  DID.  from  nc3,  '  to  cover'  or  'veil,'  the 
 owl  constantly  hiding  itself  io  the  day-time.    Occurs  Deut.  xiv.  I6  ;  Ps. 
 cii.  6. — Par.    'The  horned-owl.' — Mich.     'The  onocratalus,' a  kind  of 
 pelican,  for  the  Hebrew  name  signifies  '  cup,'  and  the  pelican  is  re- 
 markable for  a  pouch  or  hag  under  the  lower  jaw. — Boch.    '  The  cor- 
 morant.'— Geddes.     The  cormorant — ~lblD  occurs  again  Deut.  xiv.  17; 
 the  root  means  '  to  ca-st  down'  or  '  aw  ay  ;'  this  bird  darts  down  very 
 rapidly  on  its  prey. — T.M.Harris.    Gcrfrfe*  renders  it 'sea-gull,' and 
 observes,  '  that  this  is  a  plunging  bird,  I  have  no  doubt.'    It  is,  doubt- 
 less,  the  bird  called  the  '  plungeon*  or  '  diver,'  which,  when  it  sees  its 
 prey  in  the  water,  flies  to  a  considerable  height,  then  collects  its  wings 
 close  to  its  sides,  and  darts  down  like  an  arrow. — So  Boch.,  Par.,  and 
 A.  Clarke.      The  great  owl,   FIIIT:'.   from  f]^l,   which   also   signifies 
 'twilight.'  (Deut.xiv.  16;  Isa.  x-x-xiv.  11.)    Supposed  to  denote  a  spe- 
 cies of  owl,  from  flying  about  at  tw.light,  q.  d.,  the  twilight  bird;  but 
 more  probably  it  means  some  kind  of  water  fowl  resembling  the  ibis. 
 — Par.    'The  ibis.'  —  Boothr.     The  S^/i^  read,  (/3ir  'ibis.'  both  here 
 and  in  Isaiah.         18.  The  swan,  .liDlL'jn — also  Deut.  xiv.  16  ;  in  the 
 30th  ver^e,  the  same  word  is  rendered  '  mole,'  and  ranked  among  the 
 names  of  reptiles,  and  here  among  those  of  water  birds     Some  trans- 
 late it  here,  '  bat.'       The  Sept.  render  it  here,  Trop^iipiwi-a,  or  '  the 
 purple  bird,'  probably    the    flamingo;   and    Dent.,   i/Jiy,    'the  ibis.' 
 Michaelis  conjectures  that  the  word  may  mean  'the  goose,'  as  the  root 
 CTT}  signifies  '  to  blow,'  and  that  bird  makes   a  hissing  noise.      The 
 pelican,  riMp.  occurs  also  Deut.  xiv.  17;  Ps.  cii.  6;  Isa.  xxxiv.  11 ;  and 
 Zeph.  ii.  14.    Rendered  by  the  Se/>^  TTtXcKav, 'the  pelican.'     Dr.  Shaw 
 observes,  that  the  pouch  of  this  bird  is  a  repository  fur  its  food,  and 
 that  it  feeds  its  young  by  squeezing  this  bag;  hence  the  error  of  feed 
 ing  them  with  its  blood.    To  this  throwing  up  is  attributed  the  Hebrew 
 name  here,  from  Np,  •  to  vomit.'     Some  call  the  bird  here  probably  in- 
 tended, pelecanus  onocratalus. — So  Hnssettjuist.      Michaelis  is  of  the 
 same  opinion. — See  Par.,  T.  M,  Harris.      Bochart  is  of  opinion  this 
 should  be  '  the  bittern.'     The  gier  eagle.  Dm,  occurs  Deut.  xiv.  17,  a 
 sort  of  vulture. — So  Boch.,  Shaw.    The  root  means  '  to  embrace,'  '  sur- 
 round closely,'  and  also  '  to  move'  or  '  yearn,'  as  the  bowels  in  tender 
 affection  ;  and  the  bird  here  designed  is  evidently  marked  by  tender- 
 ness for  its  young.       19.  The  stork,  rtTCrf,  occurs  Deut.  xiv.  18  ;  Job, 
 x-x-xi-x.  13,  and  in  some  under-mentioned  passages.    We  learn  from  the 
 scripture  passages  in  which  this  word  is  used,  that  the  bird  here  in- 
 tended is  a  bird  of  passage,  (Jer.  viii.  7,J  that  it  has  large  wings, 
 (Zech.  V.  9.)  that  it  builds  in  fir  or  cedar  trees,  (Ps.  civ.   17,)  and  all 
 these  circumstances  agree  to  the  stork,  which  appears  to  have  had  the 
 name  from  its  remarkable  affection  to  its  young,  and  its  kindness  in 
 tending  and  feeding  its  parents  when  grown  old.      The  root  is  IDH, 
 '  readily  overflowing;'  and  hence  is  the  noun,  abundant  goodness  or 
 kindness. — Par.     The  heron,  nc^fr*.  occurs  Deut.  xiv.  18.    The  root  n3K 
 signifies  '  to  snuff,'  as  in  anger,  and  hence  the  name  of  the  bird,  fro  m 
 its  being  soon  angry. — So  Boch.,  lollciwcd  by  Gill,  Par.,  and  .4.  Clarke. 
 The  lapwing — riD'DTT.  occurs  also  Deut.xiv.  18.     The  Sept.  render 
 it  tTTOTra  —  hence  it  is  probably  the  '  hoopoe,'  a  very  beautiful,  but 
 rnost  unclean  and  filthy  species  of  bird. —  T.  M.  Harris.      The  bat, 
 FlVoi'.  Ki'KTepir. —  Boch.     A  mouse  with  wings,   which  flies  in  the 
 night. — Kimchi.      20.  .ill  fowls  that  creep,  or  rather,  '  every  crecpiD£ 
 thing  that  flies;'  as  flies,  bees,  wasps,  hornets.  SiC.—Gill. 
 
Of  beasts  §-c.  which  mny. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XI. 
 
 nnd  which  may  not,  be  eaten. 
 
 locust  after  his  kind,  and  the  bald  locust  after 
 his  kind,  and  the  beetle  after  his  kind,  and  tlie 
 grasshopper  after  his  kind. 
 
 '23  But  all  other  flying  creeping  things,  which 
 have  four  feet,  shall  be  an  abomination  unto 
 you. 
 
 24  And  for  these  ye  shall  be  unclean  ;  wlio- 
 soever  toucheth  the  carcase  of  them  shall  be 
 unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 '25  And  whosoever  beareth  oui/ht  of  the  car- 
 case of  them  '  shall  wash  his  clothes,  and  be 
 unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 '26  r/ie  ca/cases  of  every  beast  which  divideth 
 the  hoof,  and  is  not  clovenfooted,  nor  cheweth 
 the  cud,  ace  unclean  unto  you  :  every  one  that 
 toucheth  them  shall  be  unclean. 
 
 '27  And  whatsoever  goeth  upon  his  paws, 
 among  all  manner  of  beasts  that  go  on  all 
 four,  those  are  unclean  unto  you :  whoso 
 toucheth  their  carcase  shall  be  unclean  until 
 tlie  even. 
 
 •2y  And  he  that  beareth  the  carcase  of  them 
 shall  wash  his  clothes,  and  be  unclean  until  the 
 even  :   they  are  unclean  unto  you. 
 
 '29  H  These  also  shall  be  unclean  unto  you 
 among  the  creeping  things  that  creep  upon  the 
 earth  ;  the  weasel,  and  "^  the  mouse,  and  the 
 tortoise  after  his  kind, 
 
 30  And  the  ferret, and  the  chameleon,  and  the 
 lizard,  and  the  snail,  and  the  mole. 
 
 31  These  are  unclean  to  you  among  all  that 
 creep  :  whosoever  dotli  touch  them,  when  they 
 be  dead,  shall  be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 3'2  And  upon  whatsoever  any  of  them,  when 
 they  are  dead,  doth  fall,  it  shall  be  unclean  ; 
 whether  it  be  any  vessel  of  wood,  or  raiment, 
 or  skin,  or  sack,  whatsoever  ves.sel  it  be, 
 wherein  any  work  is  done,  '  it  must  be  pu; 
 into  water,  and  it  shall  be  unclean  until  the 
 even  ;  so  it  shall  be  cleansed. 
 
 33  And  every  earthen  vessel,  whereinto  atiy 
 of  them  falletli,  whatsoever  is  in  it  shall  be 
 unclean  ;  and  ""  ye  shall  break  it. 
 
 34  Of  all  meat  which  may  be  eaten,  that  on 
 which  such  water  cometh  shall  be  unclean  : 
 and  all  drink  that  may  be  drunk  in  every 
 such  vessel  shall  be  unclean. 
 
 35  And  every  thiiti/  whereupon  any  part  of 
 their  carcase  falleth  shall  be  unclean ;  whether 
 
 B.  C.  nSO.         B,  C.  1 1911. 
 
 i  ch.  14.  8. 
 
 Num.iy.lO, 
 82,  &31.  S4. 
 
 m  ch.  6.  28. 
 &  15.  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  a  ga 
 tauten. 
 
 n  ch.  17.  15. 
 &  22.  S. 
 Den.  14.21. 
 Ezek.  4.  14, 
 «c  4-1.  31. 
 
 t  Heb.  rfort 
 Jeet. 
 
 o  ch.  20.  2.1. 
 t  Heb.  »ouU. 
 
 I  Thes.  4.7. 
 1  Pet.  1.  15, 
 
 q  Ex.6.  7. 
 r  Ter.  'H. 
 
 it  be  oven,  or  ranges  for  pots,  they  shall  be 
 broken  down  :  for  they  are  unclean,  and  shall 
 be  unclean  unto  you. 
 
 36  Nevertheless  a  fountain  or  pit,  fuiAere/n 
 there  is  plenty  of  water,  shall  be  clean  :  but 
 that  which  toucheth  their  carcase  shall  be  un- 
 clean. 
 
 37  And  if  any  part  of  their  carcase  fall  upon 
 any  sowing  seed  which  is  to  be  sown,  it  shall 
 be  clean. 
 
 38  But  if  a7ty  water  be  put  upon  the  seed, 
 and  a7iy  part  of  their  carcase  fall  thereon,  it 
 shall  be  unclean  unto  you. 
 
 39  And  if  any  beast,  of  which  ye  may  eat, 
 idle;  he  that  toucheth  the  carcase  thereof  shall 
 
 be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 40  And  °  he  that  eateth  of  the  carcase  of  it 
 shall  wash  his  clothes,  and  be  unclean  until 
 the  even  :  he  also  tliat  beareth  the  carcase  of 
 it  shall  wash  his  clothes,  and  be  unclean  until 
 the  even. 
 
 41  And  every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth 
 upon  the  earth  shall  be  an  abomination  ;  it 
 shall  not  be  eaten. 
 
 4'2  Whatsoever  goeth  upon  the  belly,  and 
 whatsoever  goeth  upon  all  four,  or  whatsoever 
 t  hath  more  feet  among  all  creeping  things 
 that  creep  upon  the  earth,  them  ye  shall  not 
 eat  ;  for  they  are  an  abomination. 
 
 43  °  Ye  shall  not  make  yourf  selves  abomi- 
 nable with  any  creeping  thing  that  creepeth, 
 neither  shall  ye  make  yourselves  unclean  with 
 them,  that  ye  should  be  defiled  thereby. 
 
 44  For  1  am  the  Lokd  your  God  :  ye  shall 
 therefore  .sanctify  yourselves,  and  ''  ye  shall  be 
 holy  ;  for  I  atn  holy  :  neither  shall  ye  defile 
 yourselves  with  any  manner  of  creeping  thing 
 that  creepeth  upon  the  earth.  • 
 
 45  ■'  For  I  am  the  Lord  that  bringeth  vou  up 
 out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  to  be  your  God  :  'ye 
 shall  therefore  be  holy,  for  I  atn  holy. 
 
 46  This  is  the  law  of  the  beasts,  and  of  the 
 fowl,  and  of  every  living  creature  that  moveth 
 in  the  waters,  and  of  every  creature  that  creep- 
 eth upon  the  earth  : 
 
 47  '  To  make  a  difference  between  the  un- 
 clean and  the  clean,  and  between  the  beast 
 that  may  be  eaten  and  the  beast  that  may  not 
 be  eaten. 
 
 22,  Locust,  miM,  probably  derived  from  n21,  a  root  which  signifies 
 
 •  to  multiply,'  Ike,  because  of  the  immense  swarms  of  these  animals. 
 There  are  various  species  of  them,  and  Bochart  enumerates  ten  dif- 
 ferent kinds  mentioned  in  scripture. — T.  M.  Harris.  After  his  bind — 
 this  phrase  signifies  the  whole  entire  species. — Gill.  The  bald  lonist, 
 D3?7D,  derived  from  ^z:,  and  so  called  from  its  rugged  form. — Scheuch- 
 zer,  A.  Clarke,  T.  M.  Harris.  It  is  rather  from  the  Chaldee,  where  the 
 word  signifies  '  to  swallow,'  'devour,' and  '  consume.'— Gi7/,  The 
 beetle,  ?3"in,  derived,  perhaps,  from  yT\,  and  b^l.  '  the  foot,'  denoting 
 the  nimblL-ness  of  its  mntions.  It  is  generally  agreed  among  critics, 
 that  what  we  call  the  beetle  is  not  here  meant,  aud  that  probably  a 
 sort  of  locust  was  intended. — So  Kivichi,  Booh.,  ^c.  The  grasshopper, 
 2jn.  occurs  Num.  xiii,  33  ;  2  Chron.  vii.  13  ;  Eccles,  xii.  5  j  and  Isa, 
 xl.  22,  In  Chronicles  it  is  rendered  'locust.'  Critics  trace  the  word 
 ro  the  Arabic  Chaguha,  *  to  veil,*  because  clouds  of  locusts  otten  veil 
 the  light  of  the  sun,  27.  His  paws,  VD3,  '  the  palms'  of  his  hands ; 
 such  creatures  whose  feet  are  nut  uividtd,  as  apes,  lions,  bears,  wolves, 
 foxes,  dogs,  cats,  &c.—Gill.         29,  Weasel,  -fin,   the   root  signifying 
 
 *  to  creep  in.'  It  seems  to  have  its  name  from  its  insidious  creeping 
 manner.  There  is  a  species  of  this  animal  called,  in  La'.in,  fura,  from 
 fur,  '  a  thief.'  As  the  mole  creeps  or  burrows  under  the  earth,  Baeh'trt 
 thinks  that  animal  is  here  intended.— P^r,,  A.  Clarke.  Blouse,  laDl?, 
 occurs  1  Sam,  vi.  4,  5.  II,  18;  Isa.  Ixvi,  17,  This  is  generally  su|i- 
 posed  to  mean  the  field  mouse. — T.  M.  Harris.  Tortoise,  2^,  the  root 
 signifies  '  to  swell,'  and  hence  most  critics  prefer  rendering  this,  '  toad,' 
 I'r.  .Shate  thinks  it   is   a  kind  of  lizard,  called  in  Arabic,  '  dab,'  or 
 
 dhab.'    With  this  idea  the  Sept.  agree,  30,  Ferret,  rtp^H,  from 
 
 ?^«,  '  to  moan'  or  *  groan.'  This  creature  is  generally  thought  to 
 mean  a  kind  of  'lizard,'  or  'newt,'  which  makes  'adolciul  cry,' — Par., 
 «o  Boch.,  Geddee,  and  T,  M.  Harris.     Chameleon,  f"    nrfiliably  a  spe- 
 
 cies of  lizard  called  the  *  warral,'  or  *  guaril,'  remarkable  for  its  vigotir 
 in  destroying  serpents.  The  root  signifies  '  to  be  strong,'  or  '  vigorous,' 
 Lizard,  rTt<'.0?.  Bocluirt  takes  it  to  be  that  kind  which  is  reddish,  lies 
 close  to  the  earth,  and  is  venemous,  Unait,  TClDn,  a  kind  of  lizard. 
 The  Chaldee  means  '  to  prostrate  ;'  perhaps  the  animal  is  so  called 
 from  its  prostrate  form,  owing  ti>  its  short  legs,  Bochart  thinks  the 
 kind  called  '  huluka,'  by  the  Arabs,  is  here  meant,  it  chiefiy  lives  in 
 sand.— i'ur,,  A.  Clarke.  The  mole,  naiDJH,  The  learned  Bochart 
 proves  this  to  mean  'the  chameleon.'  'Ihe  root  D1U3  signifies  'to 
 breathe  out,'  and  this  lizard  has  remarkable  large  lungs,  and  is  perpe- 
 tually gapping  for  breath.  In  ver.  IS  is  a  bird  so  called,  35.  Ranges — 
 the  scarcity  of  fuel  in  the  east  induces  the  people  to  be  very  careiid  in 
 using  it,  Rauii'olf  gives  the  lollo^ving  account  of  their  management ; 
 — '  They  make  in  their  tents  or  houses  a  hole  about  a  foot  and  a  half 
 deep,  wherein  they  put  their  earthen  pipkins,  or  pots,  with  the  meat  in 
 them,  closed  up.  Three  fourths  they  lay  about  with  stones,  leaving 
 the  fourth  part  open,  through  which  they  fling  in  their  dtied  dung, 
 which  burns  immediately.  Thus  the  pot  is  heated,'  Harnter  con- 
 siders these  as  the  ranges  for  pots,  which,  when  unclean,  were  to  be 
 broken  down,  36,  Nevertheless  a  fountain — this  exeepti'>n  was  per- 
 haps made  because  of  the  abundance  of  water,  which  could  not  easily 
 be  affected,  or,  because  of  the  scarcity  of  pools,  of  which  none  could 
 be  spared.  Which  loucheth  their  carcase,  '  he  Uiat  toucheth  their  car- 
 case ill  the  midst  of  these  waters  shall  be  unclean.'  44.  .Sanctify/ 
 yOMrie/fe.v— separate  themselves  from  all  other  people,  and  be  di>tinct, 
 by  uMng  a  different  diet,  as  their  Lord  and  God  was  different  Irom  all 
 others, — Gilt.  47,  Between  the  unclean  and  the  clean,  *  between 
 wholesome  and  uuwholevome;'  as  understood  by  Dr.  James,  the  phy- 
 sician, who  considered  that  God  had  respect  to  the  health  of  the  Jews 
 in  prohibiting  the  creatures  called  unclean. 
 
The  purification  of  women. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XII.,  XIII 
 
 Laws  concerning  the  leprosy. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1   Tlic  purification  of  women  after  chUdbirt/i.     6  Jltr 
 offtrint/s  for  iter  purifying, 
 
 \  ND  the  LoKD  .spake  unto  i\Iose.s,  saying, 
 -'^  2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  say- 
 ing. If  a  °  woman  have  conceived  seed,  and 
 born  a  man  child  :  then  ''  she  shall  be  unclean 
 seven  days ;  '  according  to  the  days  of  the 
 separation  for  her  infirmity  shall  she  be  uiv 
 clean. 
 
 3  And  in  the  ■"  eighth  day  the  flesh  of  his 
 foreskin  shall  be  circumcised. 
 
 4  And  she  shall  tlien  continue  in  the  blood 
 of  her  purifying  three  and  thirty  days ;  she 
 shall  touch  no  hallowed  tiling,  nor  come  into 
 the  sanctuary,  until  the  days  of  her  purifying 
 be  fulfilled.  " 
 
 J  .But  if  she  bear  a  maid  child,  then  she  shall 
 be  unclean  two  weeks,  as  in  her  separation  : 
 and  she  shall  continue  in  the  blood  of  her 
 purifying  threescore  and  six  days. 
 
 6  And  ""when  the  days  of  her  purifying  are 
 fulfilled,  for  a  son,  or  for  a  daughter,  she  shall 
 bring  a  lamb  f  of  the  first  year  for  a  burnt  offer- 
 ing, and  a  young  pigeon,  or  a  turtledove,  for  a 
 sin  offering,  unto  tlie  door  of  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation,  unto  the  priest: 
 
 7  ^Vho  shall  offer  it  before  the  Lord,  and 
 make  an  atonement  for  her  ;  and  she  shall  be 
 cleansed  from  the  issue  of  her  blood.  This  is 
 the  law  fur  her  that  hatli  born  a  male  or  a 
 female. 
 
 <|  ch.  15.  19 
 4  Luke  8.22. 
 c  cli.  15.  19 
 
 dGeii.  17.12. 
 Luke  1.  59. 
 &  2.  21. 
 Johu  7.  -2, 
 
 33. 
 
 Heb.  a  «ui 
 ofl,li:jnr. 
 
 B.  C.  1490. 
 
 /cli.  5.7. 
 Luke  2.  -i 
 
 )  Heb.  her 
 liitiidjind  Hilt 
 iiij/icie>iei/ 
 
 or. 
 
 S  Ch.  4.  26. 
 
 il  Or,  iieglt- 
 
 a  Deu.  S.27. 
 
 Is.  8.  17. 
 6  Deu.  17.  S, 
 
 y  ""And  iff  she  be  not  able  to  bring  a  lamb, 
 then  she  sliall  bring  two  turtles,  or  two  young 
 pigeons  ;  the  one  for  the  burnt  offering,  and 
 the  other  for  a  sin  offering  :  ^  and  tlie  priest 
 shall  make  an  atonement  for  her,  and  she  shall 
 be  clean. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  The  laws  and  tokens  ivhcrtby  the  priest  is  to  be  guided 
 in  discerniny  the  kprosi/. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
 -^^  Aaron,  saying, 
 
 2  When  a  man  shall  have  in  the  skin  of  his 
 flesh  a  II  rising,  ''a  scah,  or  bright  spot,  and  it 
 be  in  the  skin  of  his  flesh  like  the  plague  of  le- 
 prosy ;  ^  then  he  shall  be  bronght  unto  Aaron 
 the  priest,  or  unto  one  of  his  sons  the  priests  : 
 
 3  And  the  priest  shall  look  on  the  plague  in 
 the  skin  of  the  flesh  :  and  when  the  hair  in  the 
 plague  is  turned  white,  and  the  plague  in  sight 
 be  deeper  than  the  skin  of  his  flesh,  it  is  a 
 plague  of  leprosy:  and  the  priest  sliall  look  on 
 liini,  and  pronounce  him  unclean. 
 
 4  if  the  bright  spot  be  white  in  the  skin  of  his 
 flesh,  and  in  sight  be  not  deeper  than  the  skin, 
 and  the  hair  thereof  be  not  turned  white;  then 
 the  priest  sliall  shut  up  him  that  hath  the 
 plague  seven  days : 
 
 5  And  the  priest  shall  look  on  him  the 
 seventh  day  :  and,  behold,  //"the  plague  in  his 
 sight  be  at  a  stay,  and  tlie  plague  spread  not 
 in  the  skin  ;  then  the  priest  shall  shut  him  up 
 seven  days  more : 
 
 ,  6  And  the  priest  shall  look  on  him  again  the 
 
 CirAP.  XU.  —  -.  If  fi  woman — there  are  natural  reasons  for  the  prc- 
 cejjts  liere  given,  and  piopriety  ictiuires  that  they  should  be  observed. 
 — BoofhT.  Then  she  shttll  be  unclean— this  ceremonial  uncleanness, 
 which  the  law  laid  women  under,  was  to  signify  the  pollution  of  sin 
 which  we  are  all  conceived  and  born  in,  (Ps.  li,  5.) — Hen,  5.  Tico 
 weeks — tlie  time  appointed  for  the  female  child  was  double,  for  by  that 
 sex  sin  first  entered,  but  in  Christ  this  stipma  is  removed.— Urntt. 
 8.  T/ie  burnt  offering,  in  thnnkf  illness  to  God  for  his  mercy  to  her. — Hen. 
 Not  in  gratitude,  for  it  would  tlien  have  been  a  pf ace-offering ;  but  a 
 fmrnt-ojfering  implied  a  solemn  dedication  of  both  mother  and  infant 
 unto  (iod.  A  sin  offering,  to  mal\c  atonement,  and  to  bring  sin  to  re- 
 racmbraucp,  that  it  might  he  repented  of  and  cxi)iated. —Sco/^ 
 
 Chap.  XHI.  —  2.  Leprosy — a  distemper  most  frequent  in  Egrjiit, 
 Syria,  &c.,  known  also  among  the  Greeks,  who  note  that  it  was  not  so 
 properly  a  disease  as  a  detilemcnt  or  distemper  in  the  skin;  whence, 
 Christ  is  not  said  to  heal,  but  to  cleanse  the  lepers.  This  distemper 
 being:  extremely  filthy,  and  of  an  inicctious  nature,  it  was  provided 
 against,  that  we  miffht  be  instructed  to  avoid  converse  with  such 
 wicked  persons  as  miglit  be  likely  to  infect  us. — Poole.  This  is  not  the 
 same  with  the  disease  usually  so  called,  though  some  have  thought 
 
 otherwise,  it  being  rather  an  uncleanness  than  a  disease,  and  the 
 business  of  a  priesat,  and  not  of  a  physician,  to  attend  to. — Gill.  What- 
 ever diseases,  in  some  respects  like  tliat  here  described,  had  been  kjiown 
 in  other  nations,  it  is  evident  that  this  disease  was,  in  a  4: rcat  measure, 
 peculiar  to  Israel ;  it  is  called  '  the  plague  of  leprosy,'  which  implies, 
 that  it  was  generally,  if  not  always,  inflicted  by  the  immediate  judg- 
 ment of  Gotl.—Svoti.  The  Heb.  TOi;?,  the  root  being  yi:j.  It  occurs 
 not  as  a  verb  in  the  Bible,  but  the  ideal  meaning  seems  to  he  *  to 
 smite'  or  '  strike,*  as  with  some  venemims  or  infectious  matter. — Pa>\ 
 Tliis  also  stnmgly  favours  the  idea  of  this  leprosy  being  a  scourge  im- 
 mediately from  the  hand  of  GoA.—Ed.  Stochins  derives  the  word 
 from  the  Arabic,  signifying  '  to  prostrate,'  *  to  cast  down  ;*  and  in 
 Ethiopic,  *  to  cause  to  cease,'  because  it  prostrates  the  strength  of  the 
 man,  and  makes  him  desist  from  work  and  labnur.  The  Greek  name, 
 Xejrpu,  seems  to  have  been  given  to  this  distemper  on  account  of  those 
 thin  white  scales  {Aemda)  which  usually  appeared  on  the  bodies  of 
 the  leprous,  and  with  which  they  were  sometimes  so  overspread  as  to 
 look  like  snow. — Par.  It  does  not  appear  to  have  been  infectious,  as 
 many  suppose;  but  as  ceremonial  pollution  was  communicated  to  ajl 
 who  touched  the  leper,  he  was  excluded  from  the  society  of  the  people. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ciiai'.  XT. — I.  Goirs  care  of  his  people 
 extends  to  their  most  minute  concerns.  Henry  somewbere  ob- 
 serves, that  tbey  cannot  put  a  morsel  of  food  into  their  mouths 
 till  God  first  puts  it  into  their  iiands.  There  was  kindness  not 
 only  in  the  prescribing  of  what  the  Israelites  were  to  eat,  buf 
 even  in  the  prohibitions,  llie  food  prohibited  being  unwhole- 
 Bome.  Those  wlio  fear  God  will  thus  learn  in  everything  to 
 give  thanks  to  the  kind  Donor,  who  has  both  provided  and 
 prescribed  what  is  good  for  iliem  ;  and  in  those  prohibitions 
 which  are  of  a  perpetual  kii:d,  they  will  see  wisdom  and 
 goodness  ;  for  the  intemperate  frequently  do  not  live  out  half 
 their  days. 
 
 II.  We  should  he  thnnhfid  for  the  liberty  which  we  now  erijoy. 
 These  laws  were  not  of  perpetual  obligation  ;  some  of  the  food 
 prohibited  might  especially  be  so  on  account  of  the  country  in 
 which  the  Israelites  resided  ;  but  we  may  partake  of  whatever 
 is  sold  at  the  shambles,  calling  nothing  common  nor  unclean  ; 
 so  that  while  we  learn  much  to  guide  us  in  our  food  from  these 
 directions,  we  nevertheless  may  use  our  own  liberty.  Let  us 
 therefore  give  thanks  for  our  freedom,  and  whether  we  eat  or 
 drink,  or  whatever  we  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God. 
 
 III.  Let  us  ahvai/s  remanher  that  God  has  put  a  difference  be- 
 tween Israelites  and  others.  Let  these  laws  leach  us  to  sanctify 
 ourselves,  and  to  rememher.  that  what  others  may  allow  them- 
 selves to  partake  of,  we  ought  not  to  enjoy.  There  is  a  gross 
 food  for  the  soul  as  well  as  for  the  body,  and  '  lie  that  is  spi- 
 ritual jud;',cih  all  things,  though  lie  himself  is  ludgod  of  no  man.' 
 
 IJI 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XII,  —  I.  We  are  hfre  reminded  of 
 our  native  depravity.  *  Behold,  I  was  shapen  in  iniquity,  and 
 in  sin  did  my  mother  conceive  me.'  This  is  the  dreadful  con- 
 sequence of  the  fall.  Let  this  humble  tiie  proud  heart,  and 
 urge  us  to  seek,  by  faith,  '  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  the 
 renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.' 
 
 IL  If  sin  entei-ed  into  the  worldby  uwman^  and  hy  woman  we  are 
 born  sinners,  let  it  also  he  remembered  that  by  woman  came  the 
 Saviour,  The  Son  of  God  condescended  to  be  born  of  a  virgin, 
 and  thus  has  removed  the  woman's  stigma,  and  alleviated  the 
 sorrow  which  was  the  sentence  entailed  upon  her  by  trans- 
 gression. As  she  presses  her  sinful  infant  to  her  bosom,  let 
 her  think  of  her  sinless  Saviour— that  '  seed  of  the  woman' 
 who  has  bruised  the  serpent's  head  ;  let  her  remember  the 
 joyous  message  of  the  angel  to  the  shepherds,  '  Fear  not,  for 
 behold,  I  bring  you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  shall  be 
 to  all  people  ;  for  unto  you  is  born  this  day,  in  the  city  of 
 David,  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord.' 
 
 Ill,  Nrw  mercies,  and  especially  such  as  that  of  being  preserved 
 in  child-hearintj,  demand  the  renewed  dedication  ofbodi/,  sovhand 
 spirit,  unto  God.  The  mother  ought  then  to  feel  that  she  is 
 not  her  own,  and  to  present  her  body  a  living  sacrifice,  holy 
 and  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  a  reasonable  service,  and 
 also  to  dedicate  her  otfjipring  to  him,  that  at  the  last  she  may 
 return  them  as  his  own,  and  say,  with  sacred  and  heavenly  joy, 
 '  Lord,  here  am  I.  and  the  children  whom  thou  hast  given  me.' 
 
Jmws  conccrninri  the  leprosy. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XIII. 
 
 Laws  concerniixj  the  leprosy. 
 
 seventh  day  ;  and,  behold,  if  the  plague  he 
 somewhat  dark,  and  the  plague  spread  not  in 
 the  skin,  the  priest  shall  pronounce  him  clean : 
 it  14-  but  a  scab :  and  he  °  shall  wash  his 
 CiOthes,  and  be  clean. 
 
 7  But  if  the  scab  spread  much  abroad  in  the 
 skin,  after  that  he  hath  been  seen  of  the  priest 
 for  his  cleansing,  he  shall  be  seen  of  the  priest 
 again  : 
 
 8  And  if  the  priest  see  that,  behold,  the  scab 
 spreadeth  in  the  skin,  then  the  priest  shall  pro- 
 nounce him  unclean  ;  it  is  a  leprosy. 
 
 9  II  When  the  plague  of  leprosy  is  in  a  man, 
 then  he  .shall  be  brought  unto  the  priest ; 
 
 10  ■'  And  the  priest  shall  see  him  .-  and,  be- 
 hold, if  the  rising  be  white  in  the  skin,  and  it 
 have  turned  the  hair  white,  and  there  be  fquick 
 raw  flesh  in  the  rising  ; 
 
 11  It  is  an  old  leprosy  in  the  skin  of  his  fiesh, 
 and  the  priest  shall  pronounce  him  unclean, 
 and  shall  not  shut  him  up  :  for  he  is  unclean. 
 
 12  And  if  a  leprosy  break  out  abroad  in  the 
 skin,  and  the  leprosy  cover  all  the  skin  of  him 
 that  hath  the  plague  from  his  head  even  to  his 
 foot,  wheresoever  the  priest  lookcth  ; 
 
 I;3  Then  the  priest  shall  consider:  and,  behold, 
 »ythe  leprosy  have  covered  all  his  flesh,  he  shall 
 pronounce  him  clean  that  hath  the  plague  :  it 
 is  all  turned  white  :  he  is  clean. 
 
 14  But  when  raw  flesh  appeareth  in  him,  he 
 shall  be  unclean. 
 
 15  And  the  priest  shall  see  the  raw  fiesh,  and 
 pronounce  him  to  be  unclean  :  for  the  raw 
 fiesh  is  unclean  :  it  is  a  leprosy. 
 
 16  Or  if  the  raw  flesh  turn  again,  and  be 
 changed  unto  white,  he  shall  come  unto  the 
 priest ; 
 
 17  And  the  priest  shall  see  him  :  and,  behold, 
 if  the  plague  be  turned  into  white  ;  then  the 
 priest  shall  pronounce  him  clean  that  hath  the 
 plague  :  he  is  clean. 
 
 18  11  The  flesh  also,  in  which,  even  in  the  skin 
 thereof,  was  a  "  boil,  and  is  healed. 
 
 If)  And  in  the  place  of  the  boil  there  be  a 
 white  rising,  or  a  bright  spot,  white,  and  some- 
 what reddish,  and  it  be  shewed  to  the  priest ; 
 
 20  And  if,  when  the  priest  seeth  it,  behold,  it 
 he  in  sight  lower  than  the  skin,  and  the  hair 
 thereof  be  turned  white  ;  the  priest  shall  pro- 
 nounce him  unclean  :  it  is  a  plague  of  leprosy 
 broken  out  of  the  boil. 
 
 21  But  if  the  priest  look  on  it,  and,  behold, 
 there  he  no  wliite  liairs  therein,  and  if  it  be  not 
 lower  than  the  skin,  but  he  somewhat  dark  ; 
 then  the  priest  shall  shut  him  up  seven  days : 
 
 22  And  if  it  spread  much  abroad  in  the  skin, 
 then  the  priest  shall  pronounce  him  unclean  : 
 it  is  a  plague. 
 
 23  But  if  the  bright  spot  stay  in  his  place, 
 and  spread  not,  it  is  a  burning  boil  ;  and  the 
 priest  shall  pronounce  him  clean. 
 
 24  IT  Or  if  there  be  a7iy  flesh,  in  the  skin 
 whereof  there  is  f  a  hot  burning,  and  the  quick 
 flesh  that  burneth  have  a  white  bright  spot, 
 somewhat  reddish,  or  white  ; 
 
 d  Num.  12. 
 
 2  Kiu,  .'t  ?7. 
 •J  Chr,56  ■.'((. 
 f  Heb.  (/>« 
 gtiicheiiinff 
 uritving 
 
 t  Heb.  o 
 
 t  Keb.  htad 
 it  pilled. 
 
 25  Then  the  priest  shall  look  upon  it :  and, 
 behold,  if  the  hair  in  the  bright  spot  be  turned 
 white,  and  it  he  in  sight  deeper  than  the  skin  ; 
 it  !*■  a  leprosy  broken  out  of  the  burning : 
 wherefore  the  priest  shall  pronounce  him  un- 
 clean :  it  is  the  plague  of  leprosy. 
 
 2G  But  if  the  priest  look  on  it,  and,  behold, 
 there  he  no  white  hair  in  the  bright  spot,  and  it 
 he  no  lower  than  tlie  othfr  skin,  but  he  some- 
 what dark  ;  then  the  priest  shall  shut  him  up 
 seven  days : 
 
 27  And  the  priest  shall  look  upon  him  the 
 seventh  day  :  and  if  it  be  spread  much  abroad 
 in  the  skin,  then  the  priest  shall  pronounce  him 
 unclean  :  it  is  tlie  plague  of  leprosy. 
 
 28  And  if  the  bright  spot  stay  in  his  place, 
 and  spread  not  in  the  skin,  but  it  be  somewhat 
 dark  ;  it  is  a  rising  of  the  burning,  and  the 
 priest  shall  pronounce  him  clean  :  for  it  is  an 
 inflammation  of  the  burning. 
 
 29  1|  It  a  man  or  woman  tiave  a  plague  upon 
 the  head  or  the  beard  ; 
 
 30  Then  the  priest  shall  seethe  plague:  and, 
 behold,  if  it  be  in  sight  deeper  than  the  skin  ; 
 and  there  be  in  it  a  yellow  thin  hair  ;  then  the 
 priest  shall  pronounce  him  unclean  :  it  is  a  dry 
 scall,  even  a  le]irosy  upon  the  head  or  beard. 
 
 31  And  if  the  priest  look  on  the  plague  of  the 
 scall,  and,  behold,  it  he  not  in  sight  deeper  than 
 the  skin,  and  that  there  is  no  black  hair  in  it  ; 
 then  the  priest  shall  shut  up  him  that  hath  the 
 plague  of  the  scall  seven  days  : 
 
 32  And  in  the  seventh  day  the  priest  shall 
 look  on  the  plague  :  and,  behold,  if  the  scall 
 spread  not,  and  there  be  in  it  no  yellow  hair, 
 and  the  scall  he  not  in  sight  deeper  than  the 
 skin  ; 
 
 33  He  shall  be  shaven,  but  the  scall  shall  he 
 not  shave ;  and  the  priest  shall  shut  up  him 
 that  hath  the  scall  seven  days  more  : 
 
 34  And  in  the  seventh  day  the  priest  shall 
 look  on  the  scall :  and,  behold,  if  the  scall  be 
 not  spread  in  the  skin,  nor  he  in  sight  deeper 
 than  the  skin  ;  then  the  priest  shall  pronounce 
 him  clean  :  and  he  shall  wash  his  clothes,  and 
 be  clean. 
 
 35  But  if  the  seal]  spread  much  in  the  skin 
 after  his  cleansing ; 
 
 36  Then  the  priest  shall  look  on  him  :  and, 
 behold,  if  the  scall  be  spread  in  the  skin,  the 
 priest  shall  not  seek  for  yellow  haii' ;  he  is  un- 
 clean. 
 
 37  But  if  the  scall  be  in  his  sight  at  a  stay, 
 and  that  there  is  black  hair  grown  up  therein  ; 
 the  scall  is  healed,  he  is  clean :  and  the  priest 
 shall  pronounce  liim  clean. 
 
 38  If  If  a  man  also  or  a  woman  have  in  the 
 skin  of  their  fiesh  bright  spots,  even  white 
 bright  spots  ; 
 
 39  Then  the  priest  shall  look  :  and,  behold, 
 ly  the  bright  spots  in  the  skin  of  their  fiesh  be 
 darkish  white  ;  it  is  a  freckled  spot  that  grow- 
 eth  in  the  skin ;  he  is  clean. 
 
 40  And  the  man  whose  f  hair  is  fallen  off  his 
 head,  he  is  bald  ;  yet  is  he  clean. 
 
 as  well  as  from  the  house  of  the  Lord.  lo.  Quick  raw  /?m7i— indi- 
 cating a  sliarp  corrosive  humour,  breaking  through  the  skin  in  a  par- 
 ticular part.  13.  If  tlie  lepmsii  hnfr  covered  all  /lis  fiesh,  lie  shall 
 prnitaitnce  him  clean— hence,  this  leprosy  was  distinguished  from  a 
 disorder  called,  indeed,  the  leprosy,  hut  of  anolhcr  nature,  which  freely 
 broke  out  in  a  white  scurf  all  over  the  body,  but  without  the  raw  flesh  ; 
 the  former  rendered  the  person  unclean,  but  the  latter  did  not. — Srutt. 
 Dr.  Mead  is  of  opiuion  that  two  species  of  disease  are  here  described  ; 
 125 
 
 one  in  which  the  skin  was  ulcerated,  so  that  the  live  flesh  appeared 
 underneath  ;  the  other,  in  which  tht-re  was  an  efflorescent  appearance 
 on  the  surface  of  the  skin,  wliich  also  became  rough,  and  in  a  manner 
 scaly.  From  this  distinction,  he  thinks,  the  former  disease  was  con- 
 tagious, and  the  latter  not.  For  scales  like  bran,  dry  and  light,  do  not 
 penetrate  the  skin ;  but  it  is  purulent  matter,  discliarged  from  ulcers, 
 which  infects  the  surface  of  the  body. — Medica  Sncra,  p.  14.  28.  A 
 rising  of  the  burnins — this  should  have  been  rendered,  •  it  is  a  mark 
 
Laws  concerninr/  the  leprosy. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XIV. 
 
 Laws  concerning  the  leprosy. 
 
 41  And  he  tliat  hath  his  hair  fallen  off  from 
 the  part  of  his  head  ton  ard  his  face,  he  is  fore- 
 head bald  :  yet  is  he  clean. 
 
 42  And  if  there  be  in  the  bald  head,  or  bald 
 forehead,  a  white  reddish  sore  :  it  is  a  leprosy 
 sprung  up  in  his  bald  head,  or  his  bald  fore- 
 head. 
 
 43  Then  the  priest  shall  look  upon  it :  and, 
 behold,  if  the  rising  of  the  sore  be  white  red- 
 dish in  his  bald  head,  or  in  his  bald  forehead, 
 as  the  leprosy  appeareth  in  the  skin  of  the 
 flesh; 
 
 44  He  is  a  leprous  man,  he  is  unclean  :  the 
 priest  shall  pronounce  him  utterly  unclean ; 
 his  plague  is  in  his  head. 
 
 45  And  the  leper  in  whom  the  plague  is,  his 
 clothes  shall  be  rent,  and  his  head  bare,  and  he 
 shall  ''put  a  covering  upon  his  upper  lip,  and 
 shall  cry,  *  Unclean,  unclean. 
 
 46  All  the  days  wherein  the  plague  sliall  be 
 in  him  he  shall  be  defiled  ;  he  is  unclean  :  he 
 shall  dwell  alone;  '•without  the  camp  shallhis 
 habitation  be. 
 
 47  1  The  garment  also  that  the  plague  of 
 leprosy  is  in,  whether  it  be  a  woollen  garment, 
 or  a  linen  garment ; 
 
 48  Whether  it  be  in  the  waqi,  or  woof;  of 
 linen,  or  of  woollen  ;  whether  in  a  skin,  or  in 
 any  f  thing  made  of  skin  ; 
 
 49  And  if  the  plague  be  greenish  or  reddish 
 in  the  garment,  or  in  the  skin,  either  in  the 
 warp,  or  in  the  woof,  or  in  any  f  thing  of  skin  ; 
 it  is  a  plague  of  leprosy,  and  shall  be  shewed 
 unto  the  priest : 
 
 50  And  the  priest  shall  look  upon  the  plague, 
 and  shut  up  it  that  hath  the  plague  seven  days : 
 
 51  And  he  sliall  look  on  the  plague  on  the 
 seventh  day :  if  the  plague  be  spread  in  the 
 garment,  either  in  the  warp,  or  in  the  woof,  or 
 in  a  skin,  or  m  any  work  that  is  made  of  skin  ; 
 the  plague  is  '  a  fretting  leprosy  ;  it  is  unclean. 
 
 52  He  shall  therefore  burn  that  garment, 
 whether  warp  or  woof,  in  woollen  or  in  linen, 
 or  any  thing  of  skin,  wherein  the  plague  is : 
 for  it  is  a  fretting  leprosy  ;  it  shall  be  burnt  in 
 the  fire. 
 
 A  Num.  5.  a 
 Sc  V!.  M. 
 S  Kin.  7.  3. 
 fl<  \'J.  h. 
 2Clic,S6.2l. 
 Luke  17.12. 
 
 t  Heb.  K^k 
 
 i  Heb.  wbe- 
 ther  If  be 
 bald  i,.  the 
 head  tlifreuf, 
 or  in  the 
 
 ftirrhead 
 ttiereof. 
 
 Mark  l.-liv 
 J4.  Luke  'j 
 i-i,  14.  &  17, 
 
 t  Or,  (par. 
 r'tvt. 
 frNuin.  19.C. 
 e  Heb.  9.  19. 
 dP..  51.7. 
 
 53  And  if  the  priest  shall  look,  and,  behold, 
 the  plague  be  not  spread  in  the  garment,  eitherin 
 the  warp,  or  in  the  woof,  or  in  any  thing  of  skin  ; 
 
 34  Then  the  priest  shall  command  that  they 
 wash  the  tiling  wherein  the  plague  is,  and  he 
 shall  shut  it  up  seven  days  more  : 
 
 55  And  the  priest  shall  look  on  the  plague, 
 after  that  it  is  washed  :  and,  behold,  if  the 
 plague  have  not  changed  his  colour,  aiid  the 
 plague  be  not  spread ;  it  is  unclean  ;  thou 
 shalt  burn  it  in  the  fire ;  it  u-  fret  inward, 
 t  xchether  it  be.  bare  within  or  without. 
 
 56  And  if  the  priest  look,  and,  behold,  the 
 plague  be  somewhat  dark  after  the  washing  of 
 it ;  then  he  shall  rend  it  out  of  the  garment,  or 
 out  of  the  skin,  or  out  of  the  warp,  or  out  of 
 the  woof: 
 
 57  And  if  it  appear  still  in  the  garment,  either 
 in  the  warp,  or  in  the  woof,  or  in  any  thing  of 
 skin  ;  it  IS  a  spreading  plague :  thou  shalt 
 burn  that  wherein  the  plague  is  with  tire. 
 
 58  And  the  garment,  either  warp,  or  woof,  or 
 whatsoever  thing  of  skin  it  be,  which  thou  shalt 
 wash,  if  the  plague  be  departed  from  them, 
 then  it  shall  be  washed  the  second  time,  and 
 shall  be  clean. 
 
 59  This  IS  the  law  of  the  plague  of  leprosy  in 
 a  garment  of  woollen  or  linen,  either  in  the 
 warp,  or  woof,  or  any  thing  of  skins,  to  pro- 
 nounce it  clean,  or  to  pronounce  it  unclean. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  The  ritts  and  sacrijices  in  changing  of  the  leper, 
 33  The  siyns  of  leprosy  in  a  house.  43  The  cleans- 
 ing of  that  house, 
 
 A  ND  tlie  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^*-  2  This  shall  be  the  law  of  the  leper  hi  the 
 day  of  his  cleansing :  He  ^  shall   be  brought 
 unto  the  priest : 
 
 3  And  the  priest  shall  go  forth  out  of  the 
 camp  ;  and  the  priest  shall  look,  and.  behold, 
 i/the  plague  of  leprosy  be  healed  in  the  leper; 
 
 4  Then  shall  the  priest  command  to  take  for 
 him  that  is  to  be  cleansed  two  ||  birds  alive  and 
 clean,   and   ^  cedar   wood,   and  "^  scarlet,  and 
 
 hyssop  : 
 
 or  scar  of  burning:;'  for  when  a  burning  is  healed,  it  leaves  only  a 
 mark  or  scar,  not  a  rising  or  tumour.— //cic  42.  Reddish— the  word 
 aim  me^ns  veri/  shinirig. —Scott.  45.  His  clothes  shall  be  Tent,  as 
 one  in  mourniog:.  His  hend  bare — the  ordinary  bonnet  or  turband 
 omitted— ,4.  Clarke.  The  Hebrew  rTlD.  sigrni6es  '  free,'  which  some 
 imagine  implies  that  he  should  forbear  to  cut  or  shave  his  hair.  This 
 was  a  mark  of  sorrow.  And  another  was  that  of  putting  a  rnvering 
 upon  his  upper  lip,  which  was  performed  either  with  the  hand,  or  by 
 throwing  the  skirt  of  their  garments  over  their  heads.  This  was  to 
 preserve  passengers  from  legal  impurity,  and  from  catching  the  di^ease 
 by  infection. —  Willonshby.  Geddes,  instead  of  covering,  ^c,  reads, 
 '  a  bandage  about  his  chin.'  which  Dr.  Clarke  also  prefers,  his  jaws 
 being  tied  up  with  a  linen  cloth,  after  the  same  manner  in  which  the 
 Jews  bind  up  the  dead.  47.  The  garment  also   that  the  pluf^ue  of 
 
 leprosy  is  in  —  Scott  sfkyn,  'the  leprosy  in  garments  was  evidently 
 supernatural,  and  peculiar  to  the  Israelites.'  On  this  subject,  Calmet 
 informs  us,  divines  are  m  iich  disagreed.  From  the  relation  i  if  travellers 
 in  the  east,  the  common  leprosy  may  be  communicated  by  such  means. 
 
 This  kind  of  infection  gradually  corrodes  even  the  texture  of  the  gar- 
 ment, and  is  much  dreaded  in  nil  countries  subject  to  the  plague,  and 
 by  all  persons  exposed  to  it  by  attendance  on  purulent  disorders. — 
 Scrip.  Jllus.  Dr.  Clarke  thinks  that  animalculee  bred  in  the  ganuents, 
 and  fretted  them  like  moths.  Michnelis  learnt,  from  a  dealer  in  wool, 
 that  the  wool  of  sheep  which  die  of  disease,  if  it  has  not  been  shorn 
 from  the  animal  while  living,  is  unfit  fur  cloth,  and  liable  to  what 
 Moses  here  describes. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. — 2.  Of  his  cleansing  —  his  ceremonial  purification. — 
 Scott.  4.  Two  birds — many  copies  read  'sparrows.' — Sttt.  Two  of 
 any  sorts  of  birds. — GilL  Two  small  clean  birds,  of  any  kind,  as  the 
 original  term  signities.— Boo(/n-.  The  one  to  represent  Christ  as  dying 
 for  his  sins,  the  other  to  represent  him  as  rising  again  lor  his  purifica- 
 tion or  justification.— .i^ires.,  Poole.  Alive — shewing,  perhaps,  the  living 
 Redeemer,  the  Mediator,  that  has  life  in  himself  and  for  his  people. 
 Clean,  may  denote  the  purity  and  holiness  of  Christ,  and  so  his  fitness 
 to  be  a  sacrifice. — Gill.  Cedar  wood— a.  stick  of  cedar,  to  which  the 
 hyssop  and  one  of  the  birds  were  tied  by  a  scarlet  Uii  ead.— J^oo/e.  Tlie 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XUI.  —  J.The  leprosy  is  a  lively 
 emblem  of  sin  in  our  natures.  *  We  are  altogether  as  an  unch-an 
 thing.'  There  is  a  secret  infection  in  our  natures,  spreading 
 throughout  all  the  powers  of  our  souls,  breaking  out  in  the 
 actions,  contaminating  those  around  us.  and  rendering  us  unfit 
 for  the  society  of  the  blessed  and  the  enjoyment  of  God. 
 
 II.  As  the  lipfT  had  to  mourn  and  to  cry,  '  Unclean,  unclean  .'' 
 so  should  ivf  muurn  our  depravity,  and  humble  ourselves  both  in  the 
 sight  of  God  and  men.  '  Behold,  I  am  vile,  what  shall  I  answer 
 thee  ;  I  will  lay  my  hand  upon  my  mouth.'  '  (Jod  be  merciful 
 to  me,  a  sinner.-  Such  must  he  the  language  of  him  who  feels 
 that  spiritual  leprosy,  '  the  plague  of  his  own  heart.' 
 
 III,  No  Jewish  forms  could  cure   the   leprosu,   neither  can   any 
 
 l-2(> 
 
 outward  ceremonies  rnnove  the  leprosy  of  the  heart.  How  good  and 
 excellent  soever  they  may  be,  neither  charitable  actions  nor 
 religious  duties  can  take  away  the  defdement  of  our  natures  ; 
 if  we  want  them  cleansed  we  must  apply  to  some  other  source, 
 for 
 
 *  The  leprosy  lies  deep  within.' 
 
 IV.    JVliat  the  law  could  not  do,  the  gospel  can;  it  cam  remove 
 our  lejrrosy.    So  Christ  cleansed  the  lepers  that  applied  to  bim, 
 and  so  Lis  precious  blood  now  *  cleanseth  from  all  sin.' 
 '  Jesus,  my  God,  thy  blood  alone 
 Hath  power  sufficient  to  atone  ; 
 Thy  blood  can  make  me  white  as  snow. 
 No  Jewish  forms  could  cleanse  me  so.' 
 
The  rites  and  sarrifices 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XIV. 
 
 ill  cleansing  oj  the  lepers. 
 
 o  And  tlie  priest  shall  command  that  one  of 
 the  birds  be  killed  in  an  earthen  vessel  over 
 running  water : 
 
 6  As  for  tlie  living  bird,  he  shall  take  it,  and 
 the  cedar  v^ood,  and  the  scarlet,  and  the  hys- 
 sop, and  shall  dip  them  and  the  living  bird  in 
 the  blood  of  the  bird  t/iat  was  killed  over  the 
 running  water : 
 
 7  And  he  shall  '  sprinkle  upon  him  that  is  to 
 be  cleansed  from  the  leprosy  'seven  times,  and 
 shall  pronounce  him  clean,  and  shall  let  the 
 living  bird  loose  finto  the  open  field. 
 
 8  And  he  that  is  to  be  cleansed  ^  shall  wash 
 his  clothes,  and  shave  oft'  all  his  hair,  •'  and 
 wash  himself  in  water,  that  he  may  be  clean  : 
 and  after  tliat  he  shall  come  into  the  camp,  and 
 '  shall  tarry  abroad  out  of  his  tent  seven  days. 
 
 9  But  it  shall  be  on  the  seventli  day,  that  he 
 shall  shave  all  his  hair  oft'  his  head  and  his 
 beard  and  liis  eyebrows,  even  all  his  hair  he 
 shall  sliave  oft':  and  he  shall  wasli  his  clothes, 
 also  he  sliall  wash  his  flesh  in  water,  and  he 
 shall  be  clean. 
 
 10  And  on  the  eighth  day  'he  shall  take  two 
 he  lambs  without  blemish,  and  one  ewe  lamb 
 f  of  the  first  year  without  blemish,  and  three 
 tenth  deals  of  fine  flour  for  '  a  meat  offering, 
 mingled  with  oil,  and  one  log  of  oil. 
 
 1 1  And  the  priest  that  inaketh  him  clean 
 shall  present  the  man  that  is  to  be  made 
 clean,  and  those  tilings,  before  tlie  Lord,  at 
 the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation: 
 
 12  And  the  priest  shall  take  one  he  lamb, 
 and  '"  offer  him  for  a  trespass  offering,  and  the 
 log  of  oil,  and  "wave  them  /iw  a  wave  off'ering 
 before  the  Lord  : 
 
 13  And  he  shall  slay  the  lamb  °  in  the  place 
 where  he  shall  kill  the  sin  offering  and  the 
 burnt  offering,  in  the  holy  place:  for''as  the 
 sin  off'ering  is  the  priest's,  so  is  the  trespass 
 off'ering  :  ■*  it  is  most  holy  : 
 
 14  And  the  priest  shall  take  some  of  the 
 blood  of  the  trespass  off'ering,  and  ibe  priest 
 shall  put  ii'upon  the  tip  of  the  right  ear  of 
 him  that  is  to  be  cleansed,  and  upon  the  thumb 
 of  his  right  hand,  and  upon  the  great  toe  of  his 
 right  foot : 
 
 15  And  the  priest  shall  take  some  of  the  log 
 of  oil,  and  pour  it  into  the  palm  of  his  own  left 
 hand  : 
 
 16  And  the  priest  shall  dip  his  right  finger  in 
 the  oil  tliat  is  in  his  left  hand,  and  shall  sprinkle 
 
 *•  Heh.  9.  13. 
 
 /2Khi.  5. 
 10,  14. 
 
 t  Heb.  iipait 
 
 Iliejifld. 
 g  ch.  13.  6. 
 ■     h.  n.  25. 
 
 I. like  5.  14. 
 
 +  1  lei.,  //o- 
 duu-^hur  of 
 
 HI  Ch.  S.2.16. 
 
 &  11.  6.  7. 
 n  Ei.  89.  SI. 
 
 I  F.I.  29.  II. 
 ch.  I,  5,  II. 
 &  4.  4,  24. 
 
 q  ch.  2.  S.  & 
 7.  6.  &  21. 
 
 ■  Ex.  29.  20. 
 ch.  8.  23. 
 
 (ch.5.  I, 
 &  12.7. 
 
 t  Heb.  ;.!> 
 hand  reach 
 
 t  Heb.  /„ 
 
 w  ch.  12.  8 
 &I5. 14,  Ij 
 
 of  the  oil  with  his  finger  seven  times  before  the 
 Lord  : 
 
 1  7  And  of  the  rest  of  the  oil  that  is  in  his 
 hand  shall  the  priest  put  upon  the  tip  of  the 
 right  ear  of  him  that  is  to  be  cleansed,  and 
 upon  the  thumb  of  his  right  hand,  and  upon 
 the  great  toe  of  his  right  foot,  upon  the  blood 
 of  the  trespass  offering  : 
 
 18  And  the  remnant  of  the  oil  that  is  in  the 
 priest's  hand  he  shall  pour  upon  the  head  of 
 him  that  is  to  be  cleansed  :  'and  the  priest 
 shall  make  an  atonement  for  him  before  the 
 Lord. 
 
 19  And  the  priest  shall  offer  '  the  sin  offering, 
 and  make  an  atonement  for  him  that  is  to  be 
 cleansed  from  his  uncleanness  ;  and  afterward 
 he  shall  kill  the  burnt  offering : 
 
 ■20  And  the  priest  sliall  ott'er  the  burnt  offer- 
 ing and  the  meat  offering  upon  the  altar  :  and 
 the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement  for  him,  and 
 he  shall  be  clean. 
 
 •21  And  "if  he  he  poor,  and  f  cannot  get  so 
 much  :  then  he  shall  take  one  \am\)for  a  tres- 
 pass offering  f  to  be  waved,  to  make  an  atone- 
 ment fur  him,  and  one  tenth  deal  of  fine  flour 
 mingled  with  oil  for  a  meat  off'ering,  and  a  log 
 of  oil ; 
 
 •ii  "^  And  two  turtledoves,  or  two  young 
 pigeons,  such  as  he  is  able  to  get  ;  and  the 
 one  shall  be  a  sin  off'ering,  and  the  other  a 
 burnt  offering. 
 
 •23  *  And  he  shall  bring  them  on  the  eighth 
 day  for  his  cleansing  unto  the  priest,  unto  the 
 door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation, 
 before  the  Lord. 
 
 •24  'And  the  priest  shall  take  the  lamb  of  the 
 trespass  offering,  and  the  log  of  oil,  and  the 
 priest  shall  wave  them  for  a  wave  off'ering 
 before  the  Lord  : 
 
 •2.3  And  he  .shall  kill  tiie  lamb  of  the  trespass 
 offering,  ^  and  the  priest  shall  take  some  of  the 
 blood  of  the  trespass  off'ering,  and  put  it  upon 
 the  tip  of  the  right  ear  of  him  that  is  to  be 
 cleansed,  and  upon  the  thumb  of  his  right  hand, 
 and  upon  the  great  toe  of  his  right  foot : 
 
 26  And  the  priest  shall  pour  of  the  oil  into 
 the  palm  of  his  own  left  hand  : 
 
 27  And  the  priest  shall  sprinkle  with  his  right 
 finger  some  of  the  oil  that  is  in  his  left  hand 
 seven  times  before  the  Lord  : 
 
 28  And  the  priest  shall  put  of  the  oil  that  is 
 in  his  hand  upon  the  tip  of  the  right  ear  of  him 
 
 nice  or  resin  of  cedar,  togretber  with  hyssop,  were  reckoned  medicinal 
 11  cutaneous  diseases ;  and  hyssop  was  used  medicinally  to  dissolve 
 .pots,  and  recover  the  colour  of  the  skin. — Heu\  These  could  not, 
 'lowever,  be  employed  on  this  occasion  but  typically,  because  the  per- 
 on  was  already  healed.— £rf.  Cedar  seems  to  be  chosen  to  note  that 
 he  person  was  already  healed  from  that  putrefaction  or  corruption 
 ^hich  his  leprosy  had  brought  upon  him,  that  kind  of  wood  being:,  in 
 1  manner,  incorruptible.  And  sntrht—a.  thread  of  wool,  of  a  scarlet 
 colour.  (Heb.  ix.  19,!  to  represent  both  the  leper's  sinfulness,  (Isa.  i.  18,) 
 and  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  the  happy  change  of  the  leper's  colour  and 
 complexion,  which  before  was  wan  and  loathsome,  now  sprightly,  and 
 beautiful,  and  florid.— Poo/c,  Henry.  Hi/smp — chosen  partly  for  its 
 fraKrant  smell,  which  signified  the  cure  "of  the  leper's  ill  scent,  and 
 partly  for  conveiiiency  in  the  use  of  sprinkling,  fsee  Exod.  xii.  22.) 
 6.  Command— be  killed— he  did  not  kill  it  himself,  because  it  was  not 
 properly  a  sacrifice,  as  being  killed  without  the  camp,  and  not  in  the 
 place  for  sacrifices ;  and  if  it  hart  been,  it  might  he  killed  by  another. 
 In  an  earthen  vessel  itver  running  water  :  that  is,  '  over  running  water 
 put  in  an  earthen  vessel.'— Puo//'.  It  is  literally,  lirini;,  that  is,  spring 
 water,  and,  being  put  in  an  earthen  vessel,  the  bird  was  killed  over  thi 
 water,  and  the  instrument  was  dipped  in  the  mixed  blood  and  water. 
 Spring  water  was  the  purest  and  fittest  for  a  ceremony  of  purification. 
 — So  A.  Clarke.  The  blood  of  the  bird  and  the  water  were  mixed  to- 
 gether partly  for  the  conveiiiency  of  sprinkling,  and  partiv  to  signify 
 Chri.st,  who  came  by  water  &nd  blood,  (1  John,  v.  6.)  "The  running 
 water,  that  is,  spring  or  river  water,  by  its  liveliness  and  motion,  did 
 1'27 
 
 fitly  signify  the  restoration  of  liveliness  to  the  leper,  who  was,  in  a 
 manner,  dead  with  his  leprosy.— Pou/c.  6.  .Ind  the  living  bird  in  the 
 i/onrf— perhaps  intimating  that  the  merits  of  Christ's  death  was  that 
 which  made  his  resurrection  elTectual  for  our  justification.— Henri?. 
 7.  Set'cn  (imes— to  signify  his  perfect  cleansing  and  restoration  to  all 
 his  former  privileges.  Compare  chap,  iv,  17,  and  vii.  15,  16,  and  x. 
 18,  ig.  Let  the  living  bird  too.vr- signifying  the  leper's  release  from 
 all  restraint. — Poole.  See  beginning  of  note  on  ver.  4.  8.  All  his 
 hair— that  the  water  might  reach  all  his  body.  Out  of  his  tent,  lest 
 any  lurking  infection  might  remain,  and  endanger  his  wife  and  chil- 
 dren.—P«^  10.  He  shall  take  two  he  tatnbs,  Sfc. — the  sin  offering 
 was  for  his  impurity,  the  guilt  (or  trespass  offering)  for  his  guilt,  and 
 the  wheaten  offering  (or  meat  offering)  in  gratitude  for  the  removal  of 
 his  disease.— Boo/Ar.  Three  tenth  deals;  that  is,  three  tenth  parts  of 
 an  ephah,  or  three  omers,  one  of  which  was  as  much  or  more  than  a 
 man  could  eat  in  a  day.  Cl7ie/oij— about  half-a-pint.—G'i//.  W.Maketh 
 him  c/ean— ceremonially,  for  the  healing  is  ascribed  to  God,  (ver.  13.) 
 12.  For  a  trespass  offering — to  teach  them  that  sin  was  the  cause  of 
 leprosy  aod  of  all  diseases.— Poo/e.  13.  Trespatys  offering,  or  'guilt 
 
 offering.'— BooMr.  14.  Tfie  nght  ear — to  signify  he  was  free  to  hear 
 God's  word  in  the  appointed  places,  from  which  he  was  before  ex- 
 cluded. The  thumb— to  signify  he  might  touch  any  person  or  thing 
 without  defiling  it.  The  great  toe — to  signify  he  might  go  whither  he 
 pleased.  17.  Upon  the  blood  of  the  trespass  offering,  '  upon  the  place 
 of  that  blood,'  as  it  is  expressed  ver.  28  ;  that  is,  as  the  blood  was  put 
 in  those  places  so  shall  the  oil  be.— Poo/e.    This  seems  to  have  been 
 
The  signs  of  leprosy  in  a  house. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XIV. 
 
 Cleansing  of  that  house. 
 
 that  is  to  be  cleanser),  and  upon  the  thumb  of 
 his  right  hand,  and  \ipon  the  great  toe  of  his 
 right  foot,  upon  the  place  of  the  blood  of  the 
 trespass  offering : 
 
 •29  And  the  rest  of  the  oil  that  is  in  the 
 priest's  hand  he  shall  put  upon  tlie  head  of 
 him  that  is  to  be  cleansed,  to  make  an  atone- 
 ment for  him  before  tlie  Lord. 
 
 .30  And  lie  shall  offer  the  one  of  "the  turtle- 
 doves, or  of  the  young  pigeons,  sucli  as  he  can 
 get; 
 
 .*)!  Einn  such  as  he  is  able  to  get,  the  one 
 fur  a  sin  offering,  and  the  other  for  a  burnt 
 offering,  with  tlie  meat  offering  :  and  tlie  priest 
 shall  make  an  atonement  for  him  that  is  to  be 
 cleansed  before  the  Loud. 
 
 3-2  Thit;  is  the  law  of  him  in  whom  is  the 
 plague  of  leprosy,  whose  hand  is  not  able  to 
 get  ^' thitt  irliiih  pertnincth  to  his  cleansing. 
 
 3.3  K  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
 unto  Aaron,  saying, 
 
 34  °  Wlien  ye  be  come  into  the  land  of  Ca- 
 naan, which  I  give  to  you  for  a  possession,  and 
 
 I  put  the  plague  of  leprosy  in  a  house  of  the 
 land  of  your  possession  ; 
 
 35  And  he  that  owiieth  the  house  shall  come 
 and  tell  the  priest,  saying.  It  seemeth  to  me 
 there  is  as  it  were  ■"  a  plague  in  the  house  : 
 
 3G  Then  the  priest  shall  comniand  that  tliey 
 
 II  empty  the  house,  before  the  priest  go  info  it 
 to  see  ttie  plague,  that  all  that  ix  in  the  house 
 be  not  made  unclean  :  and  afterward  tlie  priest 
 .shall  go  in  to  see  the  house: 
 
 37  And  he  sluill  look  on  ihe  plague,  and,  be- 
 hold, i/tlie  plague  he  in  the  walls  of  the  house 
 witli  hollow  strakes,  greenish  or  reddish,  whicli 
 in  sight  nrc  lower  than  the  wall ; 
 
 38  Then  the  priest  shall  go  out  of  the  house 
 to  the  door  of  the  house,  and  shut  up  the  house 
 seven  days : 
 
 39  And  the  priest  shall  come  again  the  sevcntli 
 day,  and  shall  look:  and,  behold,  ift\\e  plague 
 be  spread  in  the  walls  of  the  house  ; 
 
 ■10  Tlien  the  priest  sliall  command  that  they 
 take  away  the  stones  in  whicli  the  |dague  is, 
 and  they  shall  cast  them  into  an  unclean  place 
 without  tlie  city : 
 
 41  And  he  shall  cause  the  house  to  be  scraped 
 within  round  about,  and  they  sliall  pour  out 
 the  dust  that  they  scrape  off  without  the  city 
 into  an  unclean  place  : 
 
 42  And  they  sliall  take  other  stones,  and  put 
 them  in  the  place  of  those  stones  ;  and  he 
 shall  take  other  niorter,  and  shall  plaister  the 
 house. 
 
 ;  fipii.  i;.s. 
 
 Deii.7. 1.  «t 
 »1.  V). 
 
 rt  Pi».  J»l.  10. 
 Prn  .1.  SS. 
 
 th'ill  cotiit 
 in,  tec. 
 
 Ch.  IS.  il. 
 r  vcr.  34. 
 
 m  Dmi.  24.  S. 
 
 I  Meb    i',lht 
 drtif  ff  tilt 
 
 in  III'  d'ly  lit 
 the  clam. 
 
 43  And  if  the  plague  come  again,  and  break 
 out  in  the  house,  after  that  he  hath  taken 
 away  tlie  stones,  and  after  he  hath  scraped  the 
 house,  and  after  it  is  plaistered  ; 
 
 44  Then  the  priest  shall  come  and  look,  and, 
 behold,  ;7"  the  plague  be  spread  in  tlie  house,  it 
 is 'a,  fretting  leprosy  in  the  house:  it  is  uiv 
 clean. 
 
 4o  And  he  shall  break  down  the  house,  the 
 stones  of  it,  and  the  timber  thereof,  and  all 
 the  morter  of  the  house ;  and  he  .shall  carry 
 them  forth  out  of  the  city  into  an  unclean 
 place. 
 
 46  Moreover  he  that  goeth  into  the  house  all 
 the  while  that  it  is  shut  up  shall  be  unclean, 
 until  the  even. 
 
 47  And  he  that  lieth  in  the  house  shall  wash 
 his  clothes  ;  and  he  that  eateth  in  the  house- 
 shall  wash  his  clothes. 
 
 48  And  if  the  priest  f  shall  come  in,  and  look 
 upon  it,  and,  behold,  tlie  plague  hath  not  .spread 
 in  the  house,  after  the  house  was  plaistered  : 
 then  the  priest  shall  pronounce  the  house  clean,, 
 because  the  plague  is  healed. 
 
 49  And  'he  shall  take  to  cleanse  the  house 
 two  birds,  and  cedar  wood,  and  scarlet,  and 
 hy.ssop  : 
 
 50  And  he  shall  kill  the  one  of  the  birds  in 
 an  earthen  vessel  over  running  water  : 
 
 51  And  he  shall  take  tlie  cedar  wood,  and  the 
 hy.ssop,  and  the  scarlet,  and  the  living  bird,  and 
 dip  tlii'in  in  the  blood  of  the  slain  bird,  and  in 
 tlie  running  water,  and  sprinkle  the  house  seven 
 times  : 
 
 52  And  he  .shall  cleanse  the  house  with  the 
 blood  of  the  bird,  and  with  the  running  water, 
 and  with  the  living  bird,  and  with  the  cedar 
 wood,  and  with  the  hyssop,  and  with  the 
 scarlet : 
 
 53  But  he  shall  let  go  the  living  bird  out  of 
 the  city  into  the  open  fields,  and  ^  make  an 
 atoncnient  for  the  house :  and  it  shall  be 
 clean. 
 
 54  This  is  the  law  for  all  manner  of  plague 
 of  leprosy,  and  "  scall, 
 
 55  And  for  the  '  leprosy  of  a  garment,  ''  and 
 of  a  house, 
 
 50  And  '  for  a  rising,  and  for  a  scab,  and  for 
 a  bright  spot : 
 
 57  To  "'  teacli  f  when  it  is  unclean,  and  when 
 it  is  clean  :  this  is  the  law  of  leprosy. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  T/te  iincleannrss  oj'  intn  in  their  issues.  13  TVift 
 clfnnsi/iff  oftlicm.  19  The  unchaitness  nf  women  in. 
 their  isarus.     28   Tlieir cleansing. 
 
 a  token  of  forgiveness  by  the  blood,  and  of  healing:  by  the  oil. — Pat. 
 32.  Of  him  in  whom  is  the  plague  0/  leprosi/ — Di\  H'irris,  the  author  of 
 Observations  on  the  Old  Testament,  a>ks,  '  Was  not  ttic  leprosy  in  the 
 Jewish  s-tate  a  punishment  which  God  reserved  to  himself  for  thfse 
 whose  sins  had  escaped  the  eye  if  civil  government  ?  and  was  not  the 
 cure  of  it,  for  this  reason,  reserved  to  himself,  and  perlormed  by  liis 
 priests?*  34.  1  put  the  plague  »/  leprosy  in  a  house — hence,  Jewish 
 writers,  and  some  Christian  critics,  as  Bp.  Kidder,  suppose  that  this 
 was  a  supernatural  disorder,  and  sent  as  a  judgment  on  the  people  for 
 their  sins  in  Canaan  :  but  J)r.  Clarke  here  observes,  that  God  is  often 
 represented  in  scripture  as  doing  what  he  only  permits.  —  So,  also, 
 Fawkes.      Michaetis  remarks,   that  leprosy  in  a  house  seems,   in  its 
 
 nature  and  symptoms,  very  similar  to  what  we  call  *  saltpetre  walls.* 
 3fi.  That  all  that  is  in  the  house  he  not  made  vnrlenn — Buuthrnyd,  as 
 Geddes,  a->ks.  "  how  could  the  priest's  going  into  the  house  make  any- 
 thing unclean  ?'  The  mcaninti'  is,  that  though  the  walls  of  the  house 
 might  be  infected,  yet  its  contents  were  not  lor  that  defiled.  He  there- 
 fore renders  the  passaee,  *  for  not  anything  which  is  in  the  liouse  shall 
 be  unclean.'  4,'i.  He  shall  break  do'in  ihe  house— such  a  house  was 
 injurious  to  tlie  health  of  the  inhabitants,  especially  if,  as  some  con- 
 jecture, tliere  was  a  nitrous  or  vitriolic  exudation  breaking  from  the 
 slorjes  through  the  i)lai5ter. — See  Roscnm.;  adopted,  also,  by  lioothr. 
 and  others. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIV.  —  I.  AVe  are  again  reminded 
 tbat  there  is  a  cure  even  for  the  leprosy  of  sin,  and  that  that  cure  is 
 effected  hi/  the  hloofl  of  Christ.  This  talres  away  both  the  guilt 
 and  the  pollution  ot  tlie  conscience,  whicli  was  intimated  when 
 from  the  Saviour's  wounded  side  there  came  forthwith  blood 
 and  water  ;  and  Iience  the  soul  tbat  is  pardoned  is  also  sancti- 
 lied,  and  so  raadf  meet  for  the  service  of  God,  and  for  asso- 
 •ciation  witli  iiis  holy  ones. 
 128 
 
 II.  The  Iprous  house,  with  its  entire  removal,  reminds  vs  of  the 
 removal  which  jnust  takcplare  in  our  sinful  tcnenieid  ofclai/.  '  The 
 sin  and  corruption  in  our  mortal  bodies,' says  Henry,  'are  like 
 this  leprosy  ;  after  all  our  pains  in  scraping  and  plastering,  we 
 shall  never  be  quite  clear  of  it  till  the  earthly  house  of  this 
 tabernacle  be  dissolved  and  taken  down  ;  when  we  are  dead 
 we  shall  be  free  from  sin,  and  not  till  then.' 
 
r 
 
 The  uncleanness  of  men. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XV. 
 
 The  uncleanness  of  women. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  to 
 •^*-   Aaron,  saying, 
 
 2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say 
 unto  them,  "  When  any  man  hath  a  ||  running 
 issue  out  of  his  &esh,  because  of  his  issue  he  is 
 unclean. 
 
 3  And  this  shall  be  his  uncleanness  in  his 
 issue :  whether  his  flesh  run  with  his  issue,  or 
 his  flesh  be  stopped  from  his  issue,  it  is  his  un- 
 cleanness. 
 
 4  Every  bed,  whereon  he  lieth  that  hath  the 
 issue,  is  unclean  :  and  every  f  thing,  whereon 
 he  sitteth,  shall  be  unclean. 
 
 5  And  whosoever  toucheth  his  bed  shall  wash 
 his  clothes,  '•  and  bathe  himself  in  water,  and 
 be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 6  And  he  that  sitteth  on  an;/  thing  whereon 
 he  sat  that  hath  the  issue  shall  wash  his  clothes, 
 and  bathe  himself  in  water,  and  be  unclean 
 until  the  even. 
 
 7  And  he  that  toucheth  the  flesh  of  him  that 
 hath  the  issue  shall  wash  his  clothes,  and  bathe 
 himself  in  water,  and  be  unclean  until  the 
 even. 
 
 8  And  if  he  that  hath  the  issue  spit  upon  him 
 that  is  clean  ;  then  he  shall  wash  his  clothes, 
 and  bathe  himself  in  water,  and  be  unclean 
 until  the  even. 
 
 9  And  what  saddle  soever  he  rideth  upon  that 
 hath  the  issue  shall  be  unclean. 
 
 10  And  whosoever  toucheth  any  thing  that 
 was  under  him  shall  be  unclean  until  the  even ; 
 and  he  that  beareth  any  of  those  things  shall 
 wash  his  clothes,  and  bathe  himself  in  water, 
 and  be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 1 1  And  whomsoever  he  toucheth  that  hath 
 the  issue,  and  hath  not  rinsed  his  hands  in 
 water,  he  shall  wash  his  clothes,  and  bathe 
 himself  in  water,  and  be  unclean  until  the 
 even. 
 
 12  And  the  °  vessel  of  earth,  that  he  toucheth 
 which  hath  the  issue,  shall  be  broken  :  and 
 every  vessel  of  wood  shall  be  rinsed  in  water. 
 
 13  And  when  he  that  hath  an  issue  is  cleansed 
 of  his  issue  ;  then  ^  he  shall  number  to  himself 
 seven  days  for  his  cleansing,  and  wash  his 
 clothes,  and  bathe  his  flesh  in  running  water, 
 and  shall  be  clean. 
 
 14  And  on  the  eighth  day  he  shall  take  to 
 him  '  two  turtledoves,  or  two  young  pigeons, 
 and  come  before  the  Lord  unto  the  door  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and  give 
 them  unto  the  priest : 
 
 15  And  the  priest  shall  offer  them,  ''the  one 
 for  a  sin  offering,  and  the  other  /or  a  burnt 
 offering  ;  *  and  the  priest  shall  make  an  atone- 
 ment for  him  before  the  Lord  for  his  issue. 
 
 16  And  '■if  any  man's  seed  of  copulation  go 
 out  from  him,  then  he  shall  wash  all  his  flesh 
 in  water,  and  be  unclean  until  the  even.. 
 
 17  And  every  garment,  and  every  skin,  where- 
 on is  the  seed  of  copulation,  shall  be  washed 
 with  water,  and  be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 a  ch.  29.  4. 
 
 Num.  5.  2. 
 
 2  Sam.;1.29. 
 
 Mat.  9.  2<l. 
 
 Mark  5.  25. 
 
 I.uke  S-  4d 
 linr,  r(„„,i.,s 
 
 0/  (/.e  rea.t. 
 
 b  ch.  It.  25. 
 b  17.  15. 
 
 cch.fi.  2fl. 
 &1 1.32,33. 
 
 d  ver.  2fi. 
 ch.  U.  8. 
 
 a  ch.  \t.  Id, 
 31. 
 
 *  ch.  22.  4. 
 Deu.  23. 10. 
 
 B.  C.  1190. 
 I  Sam. 21. 4 
 
 t  Heb.  m  her 
 trpartitivi. 
 
 n  Mat.  9.  20. 
 Mark  5  25. 
 Luke  3.  43. 
 
 och.  11.  47 
 Deu.  24.  8. 
 Ezek.44  23. 
 
 p  Num.  5  3. 
 
 &  19.  IS,  20. 
 
 Ezek.  .5.11. 
 
 8:23.  38. 
 9  vex.  2. 
 ver.  16. 
 
 *  ver.  19. 
 (  ver.  25. 
 u  ver.  21. 
 
 18  The  woman  also  with  whom  man  shall  lie 
 with  seed  of  copulation,  they  shall  both  bathe 
 themselves  in  water,  and  '  be  unclean  until  the 
 even. 
 
 19  T  And  '  if  a  woman  have  an  issue,  and  her 
 issue  in  her  flesh  be  blood,  she  shall  be  f  put 
 apart  seven  days  :  and  whosoever  toucheth  her 
 shall  be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 20  And  every  thing  that  she  lieth  upon  in  her 
 separation  shall  be  unclean  :  every  thing  also 
 that  she  sitteth  upon  shall  be  unclean. 
 
 21  And  whosoever  toucheth  her  bed  shall 
 wash  his  clothes,  and  bathe  himself  m  water, 
 and  be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 22  And  whosoever  toucheth  any  thing  that 
 she  sat  upon  shall  wash  his  clothes,  and  bathe 
 himself  in  water,  and  be  unclean  until  the 
 even. 
 
 23  And  if  it  be  on  her  bed,  or  on  any  thing 
 whereon  she  sitteth,  when  he  toucheth  it,  he 
 shall  be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 24  And  '  if  any  man  lie  with  her  at  all,  and 
 her  flowers  be  upon  him,  he  shall  be  unclean 
 seven  days ;  and  all  tlie  bed  whereon  he  lieth 
 shall  be  unclean. 
 
 25  And  if  "a  woman  have  an  issue  of  her 
 blood  many  days  out  of  the  time  of  her  separa- 
 tion, or  if  it  run  beyond  the  time  of  her  separa- 
 tion ;  all  the  days  of  the  issue  of  her  unclean- 
 ness shall  be  as  the  days  of  her  separation : 
 she  shall  be  unclean. 
 
 26  Every  bed  whereon  she  lieth  all  the  days 
 of  her  issue  shall  be  unto  her  as  the  bed  of  her 
 separation:  and  whatsoever  she  sitteth  upon 
 shall  be  unclean,  as  the  uncleanness  of  her 
 separation. 
 
 27  And  whosoever  toucheth  those  things  shall 
 be  unclean,  and  shall  wash  his  clothe.s,  and 
 bathe  himself  in  water,  and  be  unclean  until 
 the  even. 
 
 28  But  "  if  she  be  cleansed  of  her  issue,  then 
 she  shall  number  to  herself  seven  days,  and 
 after  that  she  shall  be  clean. 
 
 29  And  on  the  eighth  day  she  shall  take  unto 
 her  two  turtles,  or  two  yoqng  pigeons,  and 
 bring  them  unto  the  priest,  to  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 30  And  the  priest  shall  ofi^er  the  one  fur  a. 
 sin  offering,  and  the  other  for  a  burnt  offering ; 
 and  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement  for  her 
 before  the  Lord  for  the  issue  of  her  unclean- 
 ess. 
 
 31  Thus  shall  ye  "separate  the  children  of 
 Israel  from  their  uncleanness  ;  that  they  die 
 not  in  their  uncleanness,  when  they  ''defile  my 
 tabernacle  that  is  among  them. 
 
 32  "I  This  is  the  law  of  him  that  hath  an  issue, 
 ■■and  of  him  whose  seed  goeth  from  him,  and 
 is  defiled  therewith  ; 
 
 33  '  And  of  her  that  is  sick  of  her  flowers, 
 and  of  him  that  hath  an  issue,  of  the  man, '  and 
 of  the  woman,  "and  of  him  that  lieth  with  I  er 
 that  is  unclean. 
 
 Chap.  XV. — 2.  A  running  issue — some  think  a  criminal  disease  is  here  meant,  and  others,  only  the  effect  of  debility. — Ed. 
 
 MID.  from  331,  'to  ride,'  means,  *a  litter,'  or  'coiine.' — Har. 
 
 9.  Suddlf, 
 
 Refi.fctions  on  Chap.  XV.  —  1.  We  ham  from  this  chapter  to  promote  purity  of  heart  and  life — to  prevent  sin,  and  so  to  pre- 
 
 how  much  the  holy  God  hates  impurity.    The  impure  were  not  serve  from  sorrow  here  and  misery  hereafter. 
 
 allowed  to  enter  his  sanctuary,  nor  shall  any  ever  enter  his  HI.   Webehotd.  with  delight,  tlie  provision  of  atonnnent,  not  only 
 
 holy  place  on  high  but  *  the  man  that  hath  clean  hands  and  a  for  those  whose  sins  are  of  a  less  aggravated  nature  than  others,  but 
 
 pure  heart.'  even  fur  the  vilest  of  sinners.  These  typical  ceremonies  point  as 
 
 II.  We  see  that  every  part  of  His  diuiat  institutes  was  designed  to  the  blood  of  Christ  for  justification,  and  to  his  grace  for 
 
 129  s 
 
Manner  of  entering  into  the  holy  place . 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XVI. 
 
 The  sin  offering  for  the  people. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  Horn  the  higli  priest  must  enter  into  the  holy  place. 
 11  27ie  sin  off^rinci  for  liimS-lf.  15  The  sin  offering 
 forthepeopk.  '20tliescapei/oat.  29  The  i/earli/ feast \ 
 of  the  expiations.  I 
 
 AND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  after  °  the 
 death  of  the  two  sons  of  Aaron,  when  they  | 
 offered  before  the  Lord,  and  died  ;  I 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Speak  unto 
 Aaron  thy  brother,  that  he  i"  come  not  at  all 
 times  into  the  holy  place  within  the  vail  before 
 the  mercy  seat,  which  is  upon  the  ark  ;  that 
 he  die  not  :  for  °  I  will  appear  in  the  cloud 
 upon  the  mercy  seat. 
 
 3  Tlius  shall  Aaron  ^  come  into  the  holy 
 place  :  °  with  a  young  bnllock  for  a  sin  offer- 
 ing, and  a  ram  for  a  burnt  offering. 
 
 4  He  shall  put  on  '  the  holy  linen  coat,  and 
 he  shall  have  the  linen  breeches  upon  his  flesh, 
 and  shall  be  girded  with  a  linen  girdle,  and 
 with  the  linen  mitre  shall  he  be  attired  :  these 
 are  holy  garments  ;  therefore  ^  shall  he  wash 
 his  flesh  in  water,  and  so  put  them  on. 
 
 .5  And  he  shall  take  of  ''  the  congregation 
 of  the  children  of  Israel  two  kids  of  the  goats 
 for  a  sin  offering,  and  one  ram  for  a  burnt 
 offering. 
 
 6  And  Aaron  shall  offer  his  bullock  of  the  sin 
 offering,  which  is-  for  himself,  and  '  make  an 
 atonement  for  himself,  and  for  his  house. 
 
 7  And  he  shall  take  the  two  goats,  and  pre- 
 sent them  before  the  Lord  at  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 8  And  Aaron  shall  cast  lots  upon  the  two 
 goats  ;  one  lot  for  the  Lord,  and  the  other  lot 
 for  the  t  scapegoat. 
 
 9  And  Aaron  shall  bring  the  goat  upon  which 
 the  Lord's  lot  ffell,  and  offer  him  for  a  sin 
 offering. 
 
 10  But  the  goat,  on  which  the  lot  fell  to  be 
 the  scapegoat,  shall  be  presented  alive  before 
 the  Lord,  to  make  'an  atonement  with  him, 
 and  to  let  him  go  for  a  scapegoat  into  the 
 wilderness. 
 
 11  And  Aaron  shall  bring  the  bullock  of  the 
 sin  offering,  which  is  for  himself,  and  shall 
 make  an  atonement  for  himself,  and  for  bis 
 house,  and  shall  kill  the  bullock  of  the  sin 
 offering  which  m  for  himself: 
 
 12  And  he  shall  take  '  a  censer  full  of  burn- 
 
 ft  Ex.  30.  10. 
 cli   23.27. 
 Heb.  9.  T.fc 
 
 10,  19. 
 
 e  Ej.  25.  22. 
 Si  41).  3t 
 I  Kin.  8.10, 
 
 11,  12. 
 
 rl  Heb.  9.  7, 
 
 12,  24,  25. 
 -  ch.  i.  3. 
 
 r  Es.  29.  39, 
 ■12,  43.  ch  6. 
 It',  Eiek.W. 
 17,  IS. 
 
 ASpc  rh.  4. 
 
 M    Ni 
 
 .  2fl. 
 
 Clir29. 
 21.  Ezra  fi. 
 17  E*(:k.45. 
 2i,  23. 
 
 Il.-b.  J 
 9.  7  ' 
 
 I  Heh. 
 
 B.  C.  1 190. 
 ..  Ex.  30-  St. 
 
 7,  19,  16 
 Kev  8.  3.4 
 Ex.  25.  21. 
 
 p  ch.  i.  5. 
 Heb.  9.  13, 
 2.^.  &  10.  4. 
 
 q  ch.  4   6. 
 
 ;  eh.  10.  1. 
 
 Num.l6.lh, 
 (  46.  Rev.8.5. 
 
 /  See  Ei.  29 
 Se.Eiok.ij, 
 18.  Heb.  9. 
 
 I  See  Et. 
 31.3.  Luke 
 I.  10. 
 
 *  Ex.  90.  10. 
 ch.  4.7,  19 
 Heb.  9.  22, 
 
 j(Eiek.4.3.20 
 
 t  Heb.  a  mo 
 ofojiportw 
 
 ing  coals  of  fire  from  off  the  altar  before  the 
 Lord,  and  his  hands  full  of  "'  sweet  incense 
 beaten  small,  and  bring  it  within  the  vail : 
 
 13  "And  he  shall  put  the  incense  upon  the 
 fire  before  the  Lord,  that  the  cloud  of  the  in- 
 cense may  cover  the  °  mercy  seat  that  is  upon 
 the  testimony,  that  he  die  not : 
 
 14  And  ''he  shall  take  of  the  blood  of  the 
 bullock,  and  ''sprinkle  it  with  his  finger  upon 
 the  mercy  seat  eastward  ;  and  before  tlie  mercy 
 seat  shall  he  sprinkle  of  the  blood  with  his 
 finger  seven  times. 
 
 \5  1'  Then  shall  he  kill  the  goat  of  the  sin 
 offering,  that  is  for  the  people,  and  bring  his 
 blood  '  within  the  vail,  and  do  with  that  blood 
 as  he  did  with  the  blood  of  the  bnllock,  and 
 sprinkle  it  upon  the  mercy  seat,  and  before 
 the  mercy  seat ; 
 
 10  And  he  shall  '  make  an  atonement  for  the 
 holy  place,  because  of  the  uncleanness  of  the 
 children  of  Israel,  and  because  of  their  trans- 
 gressions in  all  their  sins  :  and  so  shall  he  do 
 for  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  that 
 t  remaineth  among  them  in  the  midst  of  their 
 uncleanness. 
 
 1 7  "  And  there  shall  be  no  man  in  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregation  when  he  goeth  in  to 
 make  an  atonement  in  the  holy  place,  until  he 
 come  out,  and  hiive  made  an  atonement  for 
 himself,  and  for  his  household,  and  for  all  the 
 congregation  of  Israel. 
 
 18  And  he  shall  go  out  unto  the  altar  that  !» 
 before  the  Lord,  and  '  make  an  atonement 
 for  it ;  and  .shall  take  of  the  blood  of  the  bnl- 
 lock, and  of  the  blood  of  the  goat,  and  put  it 
 upon  the  horns  of  the  altar  round  about. 
 
 19  And  he  shall  sprinkle  of  the  blood  upon 
 it  with  his  finger  seven  times,  and  cleanse  it, 
 and  *'  hallow  it  from  the  uncleanness  of  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 20  1  And  when  he  hath  made  an  end  of  '  re- 
 conciling the  \\o\y  place,  and  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation,  and  the  altar,  he  shall  bring 
 the  live  goat : 
 
 21  And  Aaron  shall  lay  both  his  hands  upon 
 the  head  of  the  live  goat,  and  confess  over  liim 
 all  the  iniquities  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 all  their  transgressions  in  all  their  sins, "  put- 
 ting them  upon  the  head  of  the  goat,  and 
 shall  send  him  away  by  the  hand  of  fa  fit  man 
 into  the  wilderness : 
 
 Chap.  XVI.— 1.  A/ler  the  death,  ^c— hence  Gill  thinks  this  chapter 
 should  immediately  folluw  the  tenth,  and  Clnike  follows  this  opinion. 
 2.  Not  at  all  times — within  tlic  vail  none  must  ever  come,  hiit  the  high 
 priest  only,  and  he  but  one  day  in  the  year,  and  with  great  ceremony 
 and  caution.— H'Vi.  That  he  die  not,  for  his  presumption.  In  the 
 cloud,  of  gh'ry,  which  used  to  cover  the  mercy-seat,  or  rather,  the 
 cloud  of  incense  mentioned  ver.  \3.— Poole.  The  latter  is  preferred  by 
 Orton  and  Boothy.  3.  Thus  shall  Aaron  come  into  t/te  hnli/  place — 
 the  day  that  Mo?cs  descended  from  the  mount,  and  obtained  a  pardon 
 for  the  revolted  nation,  was  yc.irly  observed  as  a  day  of  atonement. 
 During  seven  days  the  high  priest  prepared  himself  for  it.  Each  of 
 these  seven  days  he  did  the  work  of  the  inferior  priests  about  the  sa- 
 crifices, incense,  I'^-c,  inuring  himself  to  the  sacred  service.  The  fes- 
 tival was  observed  with  the  greatest  solemnity.  The  high  priest,  being 
 purified,  put  off  his  splendid  costume,  and,  patting  on  his  white  robes, 
 proceeded  to  the  solemn  duties  of  the  day. — Sut.,  Hen.  4.  Linen — not 
 the  glorious  robes,  because  this  was  aday  of  humiliation.  8.  Two^oats; 
 some  think  goats  were  chosen  for  the  sin-offering  because  bytheun- 
 savoriness  of  their  smell  theotfensivenessof  sin  is  represented.  Others 
 think,  because  it  was  said  that  the  demons,  which  the  heathens  then 
 worshipped,  often  appeared  to  their  worshippers  in  the  form  of  goats, 
 God  therefore  obliged  his  people  to  sacrifice  goats,  that  they  might 
 never  be  tempted  to  sacrifice  to  goats. — Hen.  The  scapegoat,  bw^V, 
 from  ly, '  goat,'  and  bw, '  to  go  away,*  so  the  Sept.  and  the  Vulg. ;  or '  to 
 
 dismiss.' — A.Clarke.  Both  the  goats  typified  Christ, — the  one  in  his 
 death  and  passion  for  us,  and  the  other  in  his  resurrection  for  our  de- 
 liverance. One  animal  could  not  have  answered,  for  the  goat  that  was 
 killed  could  not  be  made  alive. — A.  Clar/te.  See  Heb.  ix.  " — 12,  and 
 24 — '26.  9.  Fell — Heb.  'went  up'  out  of  the  ves--el  into  which  the 
 lots  were  put.  and  out  of  which  they  were  brought  up.  —  Poole. 
 14.  Upon  the  mercy-seat,  or  rather,  '  ^«H-nrrf«  the  mercy-.seat.' — Hen. 
 To  teach  us,  tliat  God  is  merciful  to  sinners  only  through  and  for  the 
 blood  of  Christ.  Eastward — with  his  face  eastwards,  or  upon  the 
 eastern  part  of  it  towards  the  people,  who  were  in  the  court,  which  lay 
 eastward  from  the  holy  of  holies,  which  was  the  most  western  part  of 
 the  tabernacle.  This  signifieil  that  the  high  priest,  in  this  act,  repre- 
 sented the  people,  and  that  God  accepted  it  on  their  behalf. — Poote. 
 And  before,  on  the  ground. — Poole,  Boothr.  20.  Reconciling — the 
 same  word  before  translated  *  make  atonement,'  and  it  signifies  to 
 cover  or  hide. — Scott.  21.  Lai/  hotli  his  hands — see  note  on  Exod. 
 xxi-x.  10,  and  Lev.  i.  4.  Iniquities.  711313?,  ' perverseness,'  'depravity,' 
 from  rnV,  '  to  turn  out  of  its  proper  course,'  'to  distort,'  '  pervert.' — 
 Par.  Transgressions,  D'yuJD,  from  S?U3D,  '  to  pass,'  evidently  signify- 
 ing the  passing  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  law. — Ed.  Sins,  riNTDn, 
 from  MlDn,  'to  deviate  from,'  or  'miss  a  scope,'  or  'aim.' — Par. 
 Strongly  expressive  of  sin  being  a  falling  short  or  aside  from  the  Di- 
 vine glory. — Ed.  In  the  wilderness — signifying  the  removal  of  their  sins 
 far  away,  both  from  the  people  and  out  of  God's  sight. — Poote. 
 
 sanctification  ;  and  thougli  it  may  be  said  of  us,  '  Such  were    each  pray,  *  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God,  and  renew  a 
 some  of  you,'  even  we  may  enjoy  the  experience  of  that  pro-    right  spirit  within  me.* 
 mise,  '  From  all  their  filthiness  will  I  cleanse  them.'     Let  us 
 130 
 
The  feast  of  the  expiations. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XVII.  The  Mood  of  slain  beasts  to  be  ojjcred. 
 
 22  And  the  goat  shall  ''  bear  upon  him  all 
 their  iniquities  unto  a  land  f  not  inhabited  : 
 and  he  shall  let  go  the  goat  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 23  And  Aaron  shall  come  into  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregation,  "  and  shall  put  off 
 the  linen  garments,  which  he  put  on  when  he 
 went  into  the  holy  place,  and  shall  leave 
 them  there  : 
 
 24  And  he  shall  wash  liis  flesh  with  water  in 
 the  holy  place,  and  pnt  on  his  garments,  and 
 come  forth, ''  and  ofl'er  his  burnt  offering,  and 
 the  burnt  offering  of  the  jicople,  and  make  an 
 atonement  for  himself,  and  for  the  people. 
 
 25  And  '  the  fat  of  the  sin  offering  shall  he 
 burn  upon  the  altar. 
 
 26  And  he  that  let  go  the  goat  for  the  scape- 
 goat shall  wash  liis  clothes,  '  and  bathe  his 
 flesh  in  water,  and  afterward  come  into  the 
 camp. 
 
 27  ^  And  the  bullock  yb?'  the  sin  offering,  and 
 the  goat_/br  the  sin  offering,  whose  blood  was 
 brought  in  to  make  atonement  in  the  holy 
 place,  shall  one  carry  forth  without  the  camp  ; 
 and  they  shall  burn  in  the  fire  their  skins,  and 
 their  fle.sh,  and  their  dnng. 
 
 28  And  he  that  bnrneth  them  shall  wash  his 
 clothes,  and  bathe  his  flesliin  water,  and  after- 
 ward he  shall  come  into  the  camp. 
 
 29  H  And  this  shall  be  a  statute  for  ever  unto 
 yon  :  that  ^  in  the  seventh  month,  on  the  tenth 
 day  of  the  month,  ye  shall  afflict  your  souls, 
 and  do  no  work  at  all,  whether  it  be  one  of  your 
 own  country,  or  a  stranger  that  sojourneth 
 among  you  : 
 
 30  For  on  that  day  shall  the  priest  make  an 
 atonement  for  you,  to  '  cleanse  yon,  that  ye 
 may  be  clean  from  all  your  sins  before  the 
 Lord. 
 
 31  '  It  shall  be  a  sabbath  of  rest  unto  you, 
 and  ye  shall  afflict  your  souls,  by  a  statute  for 
 ever. 
 
 32  '  And  the  priest,  whom  ho  shall  anoint, 
 and  whom  he  shall  f ""  consecrate  to  minister 
 in  the  priest's  office  in  his  father's  stead,  shall 
 make  the  atonement,  and  "  shall  put  on  the 
 linen  clothes,  even  the  holy  garments  : 
 
 33  And  °  he  shall  make  an  atonement  for  the 
 holy  sanctuary,  and  he  shall  make  an  atone- 
 ment for  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation, 
 and  for  the  altar,  and  he  shall  make  an  atone- 
 
 /eU.  15.  6. 
 
 ^  ch.  ^.  1?, 
 21.  &  6.  30, 
 Hub.  13.  II. 
 
 B.  C.  UilO. 
 
 b  Is.  53.  11, 
 
 IrJ.  John  1. 
 
 29.  Heb.  9. 
 
 28.  1  Pet.  2. 
 
 2t. 
 t  Heb.  of 
 
 /,  Ex.  30.  10. 
 ch.  2S.  27. 
 Num.  20  7. 
 Is.  58.  ,1.  5. 
 Dan.  10,  9, 
 12. 
 
 .  I's.  61.2. 
 
 .Ter.  33.  8. 
 
 Eph.  6.  20. 
 
 Heb.  P.  1.3, 
 
 14, &  10.1,2. 
 
 1  John  1.7, 
 
 9. 
 h  ch.  2S.  S2. 
 
 I  ch.  4.  S,  5, 
 
 16. 
 t  Heh,  flit 
 
 hit  hand. 
 ■«  Ex.  29.20, 
 
 30  Num.20, 
 
 26,  2S, 
 M  ver.  4. 
 
 over.  6,  16, 
 
 q  Ex.  30   10 
 Heb.  9.7,25. 
 
 I  See  rieut. 
 12.5,  1.5,21. 
 
 6  Deu.  12.  5 
 6,  13,  H, 
 
 cnnm..5.  13 
 liGen.  17.M 
 
 «  Gen. 21. 33 
 
 31.  54. 
 Deu.  12   2. 
 lKin.14.23. 
 2Kin    16.4. 
 &  17    10. 
 2Chr.  2fi.4. 
 Eiek  20.28. 
 &  22.  9. 
 /cU.  3.  S. 
 
 p  Ex,  29.  13. 
 eh.  5.  5,  II, 
 16,  &  4.  31. 
 Num. 13. 17. 
 
 h  Deu. .32.17. 
 
 2Clir, 11.15. 
 
 rs.  106.  37. 
 
 I  Cor.  10.20. 
 
 Itev.  9  20. 
 i  Ex.34.  15. 
 
 ch.  20.  5. 
 
 Deu.  31.  16. 
 
 Ezek.  23.  B. 
 
 h  ch.  1.  2,  3. 
 
 m  Gen.  9.  4 
 eh,  3.  17.  ft 
 7.  26,  27.  & 
 19.  26.  Deu 
 12.  16,  23.  & 
 15.  23.  1  Sa. 
 t  \.  33. 
 Ezek.  44.'7. 
 
 nient  for  the  priests,  and  for  all  the  people  of 
 the  congregation. 
 34  ''  And  this  .shall  be  an  everlasting  statute 
 onto  you,  to  make  an  atonement  for  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  for  all  their  sins  ''  once  a  year. 
 And  he  did  as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  Tlie  Wood  of  all  slain  beasts  must  be  offered  to  the 
 Lord  lit  t/ie  door  of  the  tabernaeU.  7  '1 /icy  must  not 
 offer  to  deeds.  10  All  eating  of  blood  is  forbidden, 
 15  and  all  that  dietli  alone,  or  is  torii. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 ^^  2  Speak  unto  Aaron,  and  unto  his  sons, 
 and  unto  all  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say  unto 
 them  ;  This  is  the  thing  which  the  Lord  hath 
 commanded,  saying, 
 
 3  What  man  soever  there  be  of  the  house  of 
 Israel,  '  that  killeth  an  ox,  or  lamb,  or  goat,  in 
 the  camp,  or  that  killeth  it  out  of  the  camp, 
 
 4  '■  And  bringeth  it  not  unto  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  to  offer  an 
 offering  unto  the  Lord  before  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  Lord  ;  blood  shall  be  "  imputed  unto  that 
 man  ;  he  hath  shed  blood  ;  and  that  man  '^  shall 
 be  cut  off  from  among  his  people  : 
 
 5  To  the  end  that  the  children  of  Israel  may 
 bring  their  sacrifices,  "  which  they  ofTer  in  the 
 open  field,  even  that  they  may  bring  them  unto 
 the  Lord,  unto  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation,  unto  the  priest,  and  offer 
 them^r  peace  offerings  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 C  And  the  priest  '  shall  sprinkle  the  blood 
 upon  the  altar  of  the  Lord  at  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and  "  burn  the 
 fat  for  a  sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 7  And  they  shall  no  more  offer  their  sacri- 
 fices ''  unto  devils,  after  whom  tliey  '  have  gone 
 a  whoring.  This  shall  be  a  statute  for  ever 
 unto  them  throughout  their  generations. 
 
 8  H  And  thou  shalt  say  unto  them,  Whatso- 
 ever man  there  be  of  the  hou.se  of  Israel,  or 
 of  the  strangers  which  sojourn  among  you, 
 ^  that  offereth  a  burnt  offering  or  sacrifice, 
 
 9  And  '  bringeth  it  not  unto  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  to  offer  it  unto 
 the  Lord  ;  even  that  man  shall  be  cut  off  from 
 among  his  people. 
 
 10  ^ '"  And  whatsoever  man  there  he  of  the 
 house  of  Israel,  or  of  the  strangers  that  so- 
 
 26.  Sh(dl  wash  his  clothes — being:  ceremonially  defiled  by  the  touch  of 
 the  goat. — Gill.  29.  Afflict  your  souls,  '  yourselves.' — Poole.  By  hu- 
 miliation, repentance,  and  corporal  fasting.^GiV;.  *Ye  shall  humble 
 your  souls.' — Bootltr. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.— 3.  Thiit  killeth,  for  sacrifice,  (ver.  4.)  4.  Unto  the 
 door — in  opposition  to  tlie  heathen,  who  sacrificed  in  ail  places  j  to  cut 
 off  occasions  of  idolatry,  to  prevent  any  usurpation  of  the  priest's 
 office,  and  to  signify  that  God  would  accept  of  no  sacrifices  but  through 
 Christ,  and  in  the  church,  of  which  the  tabernacle  was  a  type,  (Heb. 
 i.x.  11,)  and  according  to  liis  own  prescript.  God  sometimes  dispensed 
 with  this  law,  (1  Sam.  vii.  9;  xi.  15,  &c. ;  Mai.  i.  II;  John,  iv.  21,24.) 
 — Poole.  While  the  Jews  were  in  the  Wilderness,  they  were  to  eat  no 
 meat  at  their  private  tables  but  that  whereof  they  had  first  sacrificed  to 
 God  at  the  tabernacle ;  but  this  command  was  dispensed  with  when 
 they  came  into  the  land,  and  their  dwellings  were  remote  from  the  ta- 
 bernacle, so  that  they  could  not  come  up  every  day  to  sacrifice,  (Deut. 
 
 xii.  21  ;)  they  were  then  to  go  Ihrice  a  year. — Cudworth.  Blood  shall 
 be  imputed,  because  he  shed  that  blood  which  was  typically  the  price 
 by  which  men's  lives  were  ransomed. — Poole.  5.  Offer  in  the  open 
 
 field,  which  was  done  before  the  tabernacle  was  crecterl.  —  Hill. 
 7.  Devils,  aname  given  to  idols,  {2Chron.  xi.  15;  Deut.  xxxii.  17;  Ps. 
 cvi.  37;  I  Cor.  X.  20  ;  Rev.  ix.  20.)— Poole.  The  shockhig  idolatry  has 
 been  committed  of  literally  worshipping  devils.  When  Columbus  dis- 
 covered Hisp;iniola,  he  found  the  inhabitants  worshippers  of  images 
 they  called  Zemes,  which  were  in  the  likeness  of  painted  devils.  At 
 Calicut  and  Pegu,  in  the  East  Indies,  and  in  other  parts,  they  sacrifice 
 to  the  devil.  Yet,  probably,  idols  are  here  meant.  The  word  here 
 used  signifies  '  goats,'  DTyiB.  Uterally,  'hairy  ones;'  and  these  crea- 
 tures were  worshipped  by  the  Egyptians,  and  might  be  by  the  Israelites. 
 — Gill,  Bib.  Bib.  The  Egyptians  worshipped  Pan  under  the  form  of  a 
 goat,  which  is  here  alluded  tu.—Boathr.  7.  A  whoring  —  utolatry 
 is  viewed  as  spiritual  adultery,— Oi/( ;  especially  as  that  crime  was 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVI.  —  I.  In  the  preparations  for 
 the  day  of  atonement,  we  learn  the  humiliation  of  the  Son  of  God 
 to  become  the  Saviour  of  men.  In  order  to  make  atonement,  not 
 for  himself,  but  for  us,  lie  put  ofi'  the  robe  of  his  glory,  and 
 '  humbled  himself,'  while,  white-robed  in  innocence,  he  pre- 
 sented Ins  precious  blood  '  for  us  men  and  for  our  salvation.* 
 
 II.  In  the  sacrifice  made  on  this  occasion  we  learn  that  sin  is 
 only  pardoned  t/trouffh  tile  sacrifice  of  Christ.  No  merit  of  the 
 creature  can  make  atonement ;  it  is  througli  tlie  great  atoning 
 sacrifice  that  was  set  fortli  on  this  day  we  can  alone  obtain  liie 
 Divine  favour.  He  was  the  slain  goat  and  the  scape-goat,  suf- 
 131 
 
 fering  for  our  sins,  and  for  ever  taking  them  away.  '  He  died 
 for  our  sins,  and  rose  again  for  our  justification.*  And  now, 
 God  is  gracious  to  the  sinner  that  comes  to  this  atonement  by 
 faith;  be  will  cast  all  our  sins  '  into  tlie  depths  of  the  sea,' 
 and  '  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west,  so  far  will  be  remove 
 our  transgressions  from  us. ' 
 
 III.  In  the  entrance  into  tlie  holy  place,  we  also  behold  the  Saviour 
 entered  in  virtne  of  his  own  blood,  '  into  heaven  itself,  there  to  ap- 
 pear in  the  presence  of  God  for  us.*  And  there  he  offers  tip 
 the  sweet  and  continual  incense  of  bis  merits,  and  always 
 pleads  in  our  behalf. 
 
All  eating  of  blood  forbidden. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XVIII. 
 
 Unlawful  marriaget. 
 
 journ  among  you,  that  eateth  any  manner  of 
 blood  ;  "  I  will  even  set  my  face  against  that 
 soul  that  eateth  blood,  and  will  cut  him  off 
 from  among  his  people. 
 
 11  "For  the  life  of  the  flesh  is  in  the  blood  : 
 and  I  have  given  it  to  you  upon  the  altar  ''  to 
 make  an  atonement  for  your  souls  :  for  ■*  it  is 
 the  blood  that  maketh  an  atonement  for  the 
 soul. 
 
 12  Therefore  I  said  unto  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael, No  soul  of  you  shall  eat  blood,  neither 
 shall  any  stranger  that  sojourneth  among  you 
 eat  blood. 
 
 13  And  whatsoever  man  there  be  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  or  of  the  strangers  that  sojourn 
 among  you,  t  which  '  hunteth  and  catcheth  any 
 beast  or  fowl  that  may  be  eaten  ;  he  shall  even 
 '  pour  out  the  blood  thereof,  and  '  cover  it  with 
 dust. 
 
 1 4  "  For  it  is  the  life  of  all  flesh  ;  the  blood 
 of  it  is  for  the  life  thereof:  therefore  1  said 
 unto  the  children  of  Israel,  Ye  shall  eat  the 
 blood  of  no  manner  of  flesh  :  for  the  life  of  all 
 flesh  is  the  blood  thereof:  whosoever  eateth 
 it  shall  be  cut  off'. 
 
 15  "  And  every  soul  that  eateth  f  that  which 
 died  (f  itself,  or  tliat  which  was  torn  with 
 beasts,  ivhether  it  be  one  of  your  own  country, 
 or  a  stranger,  '  he  shall  both  wash  his  clothes, 
 'and  bathe  A i'mif/^' in  water,  and  be  unclean 
 until  the  even  :  then  shall  he  be  clean. 
 
 16  But  if  he  wash  them  not,  nor  bathe  his 
 fiesh  ;  then  °  he  shall  bear  his  iniquity. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 I  Unlaioftd  mnrriages.      19  Unlawful  lusts, 
 
 AND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^■^  2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 say  unto  them,    "  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 3  ^  After  the  doings  of  the  land  of  Egypt, 
 wherein  ye  dwelt,  shall  ye  not  do  :  and  ^  after 
 the  doings  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  whither  I 
 bring  you,  shall  ye  not  do  :  neither  shall  ye 
 walk  in  their  ordinances. 
 
 4  ''  Ye  shall  do  my  judgment?,  and  keep  mine 
 ordinances,  to  walk  therein  :  I  am  the  Lord 
 your  God. 
 
 5  Ye  shall  therefore  keep  my  statutes,  and 
 my  judgments:  "  which  if  a  man  do,  he  shall 
 
 B.  C.  I  Wit. 
 
 ..  ch.  2it3.5, 
 
 6.  &  S6.   17. 
 
 Jer.  4-1.   n 
 
 Ezel*.  14.  8 
 
 &  ir..  7- 
 a  ver.  14. 
 p  M.it.  26.28. 
 
 Mark  II. 24 
 
 Kom.3.  S5. 
 
 &  b.  9. 
 
 Eph,  I.  7. 
 
 Col.  1.14,20. 
 
 Heb.  13.  12. 
 
 1  Pet.  I.  g 
 
 1  John  I   7. 
 
 Rev.  I.  6. 
 q  Heb.  9.  2S. 
 
 t  Ileb.  that 
 
 hu'ilrth  any 
 
 hiinliai;. 
 r  ch.  7.  26. 
 *  Deii.  Vi  16, 
 
 24.8:15.^3. 
 I  Ezek  24.  7. 
 "  ver.  U,  12. 
 
 Gen.  9.  4. 
 
 Deu.  12.23. 
 
 X  Kx.  P2.S1. 
 cb.  22.  8 
 Dell.  It.2l. 
 Kzttk.  4.  14. 
 *  44,  31. 
 
 a  ver.  4. 
 
 V.\.  6-  7. 
 
 ct)    il.  Vi.fi 
 
 I'J,  4,  lii,.-il 
 
 &  '2^^.  7. 
 
 Eiek-  20   !,, 
 
 7.  19,  20. 
 b  Kick.aO  7, 
 
 S.  h  2:1.  8. 
 c  Ex.  23  -24, 
 
 cb,  SO,  e.i. 
 
 Den.  12.  4. 
 30.  31. 
 d  Di'u.  4.  1, 
 2.  fc  6.  1. 
 Eiek.20  19. 
 
 B.  C.  MOO. 
 
 tf  K7ek.20.1l, 
 
 i;J,  21. 
 
 Luke  10.28. 
 
 Roio.  10.5 
 
 Gal-  3.  12. 
 /Kx-  6.  2,6. 
 
 ■>y-  Mal.3.6. 
 t  Heb.  re- 
 
 maiader  of 
 
 hiijieih. 
 g  ch.  20.  II. 
 h  Ueii.49.  4. 
 
 ch.  20.  n. 
 
 Ueii.  22.80. 
 f*  27.  20, 
 Erek.22.10. 
 Amos  2.  7. 
 
 1  Cor.  6.  I. 
 I  cli.  20.  17. 
 
 2  Sam.  13. 
 JL'.Ezek.22. 
 U 
 
 11. 
 
 N  eh.  20.  21. 
 
 Mat-  14.  4. 
 
 See  Deut. 
 
 26  5.  Mat. 
 
 22.9t.Mark 
 
 12    19. 
 "  Ch.  20.  U. 
 
 II   Or,  on« 
 
 Ex   26.  3. 
 }'  I  Sam.  1.6, 
 
 8. 
 •I  cb.  20,  IS. 
 
 K»elc.  18.  6. 
 
 &  22.  10. 
 r  cb.  80.  10. 
 
 Ex.  20.  IV. 
 
 Deu.  b.\^h 
 
 22.  22,  Pro. 
 
 6,  29,  S2. 
 
 ^ral.  3  5. 
 
 Mat.  6.  ST. 
 
 Bom.  2, 22. 
 
 I  Cor.  0.  9. 
 
 Hob.  13.  4. 
 
 live  in  them  :  ^  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 6  IT  None  of  you  sliall  approach  to  any  that 
 is  t  near  of  kin  to  him,  to  uncover  their  naked- 
 ness :   I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 7  ^  The  nakedness  of  thy  father,  or  the  naked- 
 ness of  thy  mother,  shall  thou  not  uncover  : 
 she  is  thy  mother ;  thou  shalt  not  uncover  her 
 nakedness, 
 
 8  *"  The  nakedness  of  thy  father's  wife  shalt 
 thou  not  uncover :  it  is  thy  father's  naked- 
 ness. 
 
 9  '  The  nakedness  of  thy  sister,  the  daughter 
 of  thy  father,  or  daughter  of  thy  mother, 
 whether  she  he  born  at  home,  or  horn  abroad, 
 even  their  nakedness  thou  shalt  not  uncover, 
 
 10  The  nakedness  of  thy  son's  daughter,  or 
 of  thy  daughter*s  daughter,  even  their  naked- 
 ness thou  shalt  not  uncover  :  for  their's  is  thine 
 own  nakedness. 
 
 11  The  nakedness  of  thy  father's  wife's  daugh- 
 ter, begotten  of  thy  father,  she  is  thy  sister, 
 thou  shalt  not  uncover  her  nakedness. 
 
 12  ^  Thou  sha)t  not  uncover  the  nakedness  of 
 thy  father's  sister  :  she  is  thy  father's  near 
 kinswoman. 
 
 13  Thou  shalt  not  uncover  the  nakedness  of 
 thy  mother's  sister  :  for  she  is  thy  mother's 
 near  kinswoman, 
 
 14  '  Thou  shalt  not  uncover  the  nakedness 
 of  thy  father's  brother,  thou  shalt  not  approach 
 to  hi.s  wife  :  she  is  thine  aunt. 
 
 15  *"  Thou  shalt  not  uncover  the  nakedness 
 of  thy  daughter  in  law  :  she  is  thy  son's  wife; 
 thou  shalt  not  uncover  her  nakedness. 
 
 IG  "  Tiiou  shalt  not  uncover  the  nakedness 
 of  thy  brother's  wife  ;  it  is  thy  brother's  naked- 
 ness. 
 
 17  °  Tliou  shalt  not  uncover  the  nakedness 
 of  a  woman  and  her  daughter,  neither  shall 
 thou  take  her  son's  daughter,  or  her  daughter's 
 daughter,  to  uncover  her  nakedness  ;  for  they 
 are  her  near  kinswomen  :   it  is  wickedness. 
 
 18  Neither  shalt  thou  take  ||  a  wife  to  lier 
 sister,  ''  to  vex  Aer,  to  uncover  her  nakedness, 
 beside  the  other  in  her  life  time. 
 
 19  **  Also  thou  shalt  not  approach  unto  a  wo- 
 man to  uncover  her  nakedness,  as  long  as  she 
 is  put  apart  for  her  uncleanness. 
 
 20  Moreover  '  thou  shalt  not  lie  carnally  with 
 thy  neighbour's  wife,  to  defile  thyself  with  her. 
 
 often  connected  with  idolatrous  rites. — Buch.  10.  Eateth  blood — 
 ceremonially  forbidden,  since  the  Gentiles  drank  the  blood  of  their 
 enemies,  and  offered  libations  of  it  to  their  idols,  {Gen.  ix. ;  Vs.  xvi.  4.) 
 — Sut.  God  would,  by  this  prohibition,  preserve  the  hcnour  of  the 
 atonement  he  had  chosen.  But  the  blood  of  beasts  is  now  no  longer 
 the  ransom,  but  Christ's  blood  only,  and  there  is  now  not  that  reason 
 for  abstaining  from  blood  there  was  then.— H^n.  Blood  is  a  gross  nu- 
 triment, and  chiefly  eaten  by  savage  and  barbarous  nations  ;  and  surely 
 there  is  as  little  propriety  in  eating  blood  as  necessity  iu  doing  it. — 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.— 2.  The  Lord  your  God—*  the  Lord  that  has  a  right  to 
 rnle  all ;  your  God  that  has  a  right  to  rule  you.'— Ken.  *  By  redeem- 
 ing yon  from  Egyptian  bondage,  I  am  beccme,  in  an  especial  manner, 
 your  God,  and  have  a  right  to  give  you  laws,  to  which  all  human  cus- 
 toms must  yield,' — Put.  3.  The  doings  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  where 
 they  had  learnt  many  of  their  evil  practices,  both  idolatrous  and  im- 
 moral ;  among  other  things,  the  Egyptians  allowed  incestuous  mar- 
 riages.— Gill.  6.  Nfar  o/A:i»— some  reasons  against  parties  marry- 
 ing are  founded  on  nature,  as  uncle  and  niece,  &c. ;  it  was  different 
 with  respect  tn  biothers  and  sisters,  for  Adam's  sons  must  marry  their 
 own  si->ters  ;  but  it  was  requisite  it  should  be  made  a  positive  law,  un- 
 tawfttl  and  detestable,  for  the  preventing  of  sinful  familiarities  among 
 young  persons  so  nearly  connected  and  brought  up  together,  and  to 
 
 prevent  families  being  isolated  from  generation  to  generation. — Hen. 
 /.  Thy  father — th/f  mother — such  marriages  were  in  fashion  among  the 
 Indians,  Arabs,  Persians,  &c. — Poole,  Bib.  Bib.  8.  Father's  wife,  a 
 
 step-mother. — Gill.  10.  Thy  son^s  daughter — no  mention  is  made  of 
 a  man's  own  daughter,  because,  say  the  Jews,  as  marriage  with  grand- 
 children was  forbidden,  that  with  children  was  necessarily  included. — 
 Lewis.  14.  Thine  oun/— by  the  Jewish  law,  an  uncle  could  marry  a 
 niece,  though  an  aunt  could  not  marry  her  nephew;  fur,  in  the  latter 
 case,  the  superiority  of  the  man  over  the  woman  would  suffer,  and  the 
 order  of  nature  be  inverted,  which  does  not  happen  in  the  former. — 
 Prideaux.  l6.  Thy  brother's  wife — that  is,  unless  he  dies  without 
 
 issue,  (Deut.  xxv.  5.) — Gilt.  By  parity  of  reason,  twosisters  could  not 
 marry  the  same  man. — Ber.  18.  A  wife  to  her  sister,  to  vex  her — no 
 man  wa.s  to  take  two  sisters,  as  Jacob  had  formerly  done. — Lewis,  Pat., 
 Hen.,  Gill,  Scott,  A.  Clarke.  The  sense  rather  is,  'thou  shalt  not  take 
 one  Woman  to  another,*  else  here  were  a  tautology  of  ver.  l6;  and  lest 
 he  should  vex  her,  is  also  more  likely  to  happen  from  marrying  a 
 stranger  than  a  sister. — Poole.  On  the  contrary  it  may  he  urged, 
 sisters  would  be  more  apt  to  quarrel. — Gill.  If  the  sister  of  the  wife  be 
 taken  for  the  concubine,  or  secondary  wife,  nothing  can  be  more  vexing 
 in  her  life,  or  as  long  as  she  lives. — Hen.  Some  think  polygamy  is 
 here  forbiuden.  This  precept  evidently  limits  a  man's  marrying  a 
 wife*s  sister  while  she  lived,  but  docs  not  prohibit  him  from  doing  it 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVII.  —  I.  Let  tis  rejoice  that  under  ritual  sacrifices,  holy  and  acceptable  unto  God.' 
 
 the  gospel  dispensation  thtrt  is  no  restriction  as  to  the  place  for  of-  II.  Althomih  there  he  now  no  restriction  us  to  food,  everything 
 
 fering  spiritual  sicrifces.     Wherever  the  Christian  goes,  to  tde  ceremonial  being  done  away,  we  must  never  forget  that  *  the  blood 
 
 remotest  boundaries  of  the  world,  in  Christ  he  has  an  altar  of  Christ  is  precious,'  and  reverence  it  as  the  price  paid  for 
 
 and  a  true  tabernacle,  and  through  him  he  ma>  '  offer  up  spi-  our  redemption. 
 132 
 
Unlawful  lusts. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XIX. 
 
 A  repetition  of  sundry  laws. 
 
 21  And  thou  shall  not  let  any  of  thy  seed 
 •pass  through  the  fire  to  '  Molech,  neither  shall 
 thou  "  profane  the  name  of  thy  God  :  I  am  the 
 Lord. 
 
 22  •  Thou  shall  not  lie  with  mankind,  as  with 
 womankind  :  it  is  abomination. 
 
 23  '  Neither  shall  thou  lie  with  any  beast  to 
 defile  thyself  therewitli  :  neither  shall  any  wo- 
 man stand  before  a  beast  to  lie  down  thereto  : 
 it  is  '•  confusion. 
 
 24  °  Defile  not  ye  yourselves  in  any  of  these 
 things  :  ''  for  in  all  these  the  nations  are  defiled 
 which  I  cast  out  before  you  : 
 
 25  And  '  the  land  is  defiled  :  therefore  I  do 
 "■  visit  the  iniquity  thereof  upon  it,  and  the  land 
 itself  "vomiteth  out  her  inliabitanls. 
 
 26  '  Ye  shall  therefore  keep  my  statutes  and 
 my  judgments,  and  shall  not  commit  any  of 
 these  abominations  ;  neither  any  of  your  own 
 nation,  nor  any  stranger  thalsojourneth  among 
 you  : 
 
 27  (For  all  these  abominations  have  the  men 
 of  the  land  done,  which  were  before  you,  and 
 the  land  is  defiled  ;) 
 
 28  That  ^  the  land  spue  not  you  out  also, 
 when  ye  defile  it,  as  it  spued  out  the  nations 
 that  were  before  you. 
 
 29  For  whosoever  shall  commit  any  of  these 
 abominations,  even  the  souls  thai  commit  them 
 shall  be  cut  otT  from  among  iheir  people. 
 
 30  Therefore  shall  ye  keep  mine  ordinance, 
 "  that  ye  commit  not  any  one  of  these  abomi- 
 nable customs,  which  were  committed  before 
 you,  and  that  ye  '  defile  not  yourselves  there- 
 in :  '  '.  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 A  repttition  of  sundry  laws, 
 
 A  ND  the  LoKD  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^*^  2  Speak  unto  all  the  congregation  of  the 
 children  of  Israel,  and   say  unto   them,  "  Ye 
 shall  be  holy  :  for  I  the  Lord  your  God  am 
 holy. 
 
 3  U  "'  Ye  shall  fear  every  man  his  mother,  and 
 his  father,  and  °  keep  my  sabbaths  :  I  am  the 
 
 B.  C.  1190. 
 
 B.C.  1490. 
 
 *  ch.  20.  2. 
 
 d  Ex.  20.  4. 
 
 ':  Kin.  16.3. 
 
 ch.  26    1. 
 
 &  21.6.  & 
 
 1  Cor.lO.N 
 
 23.  10.  Jer. 
 
 lJohn5.2l. 
 
 19.5.  F.zek- 
 
 f  Ex.  3t.  17. 
 
 •2U  3l,&a3. 
 
 Deu.  27.  15. 
 
 37,  .S9. 
 
 /ch.  7.  16. 
 
 M  Kill.  11.7, 
 
 33.  Ciilled, 
 
 Arts  7.  33, 
 
 Afoloch. 
 
 u  ch    19.  12. 
 
 &21I.3.&21. 
 
 6.  &  212.  2,32. 
 
 Eztk  36.20, 
 
 kc.  Mai.  1. 
 
 X  ch.  S(i.  13. 
 
 Rom.  1.27. 
 
 I  Cnr.  6.  9. 
 
 1  Tim  1.10. 
 
 y  cli.  20.  15. 
 
 16.  Ex.  22. 
 
 19. 
 
 z  ch.  20.  12. 
 
 a   vcr.  30. 
 M;U.  15.  19, 
 19,20.  M&rlc 
 7.  21,22,23, 
 I  Cor  3   17. 
 
 r  ch.  PS.  22. 
 
 Deu  2*.  19, 
 20,21.  Ruth 
 2.  IS,  16. 
 
 6  rh.  20  23. 
 
 Deu.  18.  12. 
 
 c  Num.  S5. 
 
 h  Ex.  20.  15. 
 
 SI  Jer.  2.  7. 
 
 fc  22.1,7,10. 
 
 U  16.  18 
 
 Deu.  5.  19, 
 
 Ezek.se  17 
 
 i  ch.  6    2 
 
 d  Pg.  89.  32. 
 
 Eph.  4.  25. 
 
 IB.  26.  21. 
 
 Col.  3.  9. 
 
 Jer.S.  9,  29. 
 
 *  Ex.  20.  7. 
 
 &.9.  9.  S  It. 
 
 ch.6.  3. 
 
 10.  &  23   8, 
 
 Deu.  5.  11. 
 
 Hob.  2.  13- 
 
 Mat.  6.  .S3. 
 
 &8. 13.& 
 
 Jam.  5.  12. 
 
 9.  9. 
 
 ;ch.  IS.  SI. 
 
 «  Yer.  28. 
 
 m  EccluB.lO. 
 
 /  ver  5,  30, 
 
 6.  Mark  10. 
 
 ch  .20.22,23. 
 
 19.  1  TheB. 
 
 ff  ch    20.  22. 
 
 4    6. 
 
 Jer.  9    19. 
 
 n  Den  24   14, 
 
 Eiek.36.iS, 
 
 15   Mai  5.5. 
 
 17. 
 
 T..b.  4.  11. 
 
 A  ver.  3  26. 
 
 Jam.  5.  4. 
 
 ch    20.  2X. 
 
 ..  Deu.  27.lfl 
 
 Dhu.  18.  9 
 
 Kom.  14.13. 
 
 i"  ver   2*. 
 
 ,.  ver.  32. 
 
 oh.  25.  17. 
 
 k  vpr.  2,  4. 
 
 Gen.  42    Ifl. 
 
 Ecrlea.  5.  7, 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  17. 
 
 7  Ex.  23,  2.9, 
 
 Deu.  1.17. 8t 
 
 16.  19   &27. 
 
 19.  Pb.82.2. 
 
 Pro.  24.  23. 
 
 Jam.  2.  9. 
 
 r  Ex.  93.  i. 
 
 a  ch.  II  44. 
 
 P8.  15.  3.  & 
 -•JO.  20.  Pro 
 
 h  20.  7,  26. 
 
 11.  13,  &20, 
 
 1  Pet.  1.  16. 
 
 It).    Ezek, 
 
 22.9. 
 
 *  Ex    23.  1.7 
 
 b  T,x.  20.  12. 
 
 IKin  21   1.1 
 
 r  Ex.  20.  8. 
 
 Mat.  26.60, 
 
 &3I.  IS. 
 
 61.  &  27.  i. 
 
 Lord  your  God. 
 
 4  1''  Turn  ye  not  unto  idols,  "  nor  make  to 
 yourselves  molten  gods  i  I  am  the  Lord  your 
 God. 
 
 3  t  And  '  if  ye  offer  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offer- 
 ings unto  the  Lord,  ye  shall  offer  it  at  your 
 own  will, 
 
 6  It  shall  be  eaten  the  same  day  ye  offer  it, 
 and  on  the  morrow  :  and  if  ouglit  remain  until 
 the  third  day,  it  shall  be  burnt  in  the  fire. 
 
 7  And  if  it  be  eaten  at  all  on  the  third  day, 
 it  is  abominable  ;  it  shall  not  be  accepted. 
 
 8  Therefore  every  one  that  eateth  it  shall  bear 
 his  iniquity,  because  he  hath  profaned  the  hal- 
 lowed  thing  of  the  Lord  :  and  thai  soul  shall 
 be  cut  off  from  among  his  people. 
 
 9  t  And  ^  when  ye  reap  the  harvest  of  your 
 land,  thou  shall  not  wholly  reap  the  corners  of 
 thy  field,  neither  shall  Ihou  gather  tlie  glean- 
 ings of  thy  harvest. 
 
 10  And  thou  shall  not  glean  thy  vineyard, 
 neither  shall  thou  gather  every  grape  of  thy 
 vineyard  ;  thou  shall  leave  them  for  the  poor 
 and  stranger  :  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 11  t  *"  Ye  shall  not  steal,  neither  deal  falsely, 
 '  neither  lie  one  to  another. 
 
 12  T  And  ye  shall  not  'swear  by  my  name 
 falsely,  '  neitlier  shall  thou  profane  the  name 
 of  thy  God  :  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 13  If  "'  Thou  shall  not  defraud  thy  neighbour, 
 neither  rob  him  :  "  the  wages  of  him  that  is 
 hired  shall  not  abide  with  thee  all  night  until 
 the  morning. 
 
 14  1  Thou  shall  not  curse  the  deaf,  °  nor  put 
 a  slumblingblock  before  the  blind,  but  shall 
 ■"fear  thy  God  :   I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 15  1  ''  Ye  shall  do  no  unrighteousness  in 
 judgment  :  thou  shall  not  respect  the  person 
 of  the  poor,  nor  honour  the  person  of  the 
 mighty  :  but  in  righteousness  shall  thou  judge 
 thy  neighbour, 
 
 I G  t '  Thou  shall  not  go  up  and  down  as  a 
 talebearer  among  tliy  people  :  neither  shall 
 thou  'stand  against  the  blood  of  thy  neigh- 
 bour: I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 ^vhen  his  wife  was  dead. — Boothr.  'i\.  Seed,  'children,'  fDeut. 
 xviii.  10.)  Fitss  thrmtgh  the  fire  to  Mnlech — T^O.  sigrnifies  *kinp,*  or 
 '  governor.'  Probably  this  idol  represented  the  stm,  fire  lieing  used. — 
 A.  Clarke.  It  was  the  idtil  of  the  Ammonites  ;  the  Rabbis  say  it  was  of 
 brass,  and  that,  being  made  burning  hot,  infants  were  thrown  into  its 
 arms  and  consumed,  amidst  the  noise  of  drums  and  other  instruments. 
 — See  Cut.  See  2  Kings,  iii.  2"  ;  2  Chron.  xxviii.  3  ;  Ps,  cvi.  37.  3S  ; 
 Isa.  Ivii,  5,  There  was  also  a  kind  of  lustration  or  consecration  of  the 
 children,  by  mak'ng  them  pass  between  two  great  fires,  which  seems  to 
 be  here  meant. — Poole.  The  Jewish  writers  remark,  that  burning  and 
 passing  through  are  used  promiscuously.  See  2  Kings,  xvi.  3,  com- 
 pared with  2Chron.  xxviii.  3  ;  and  also  Ezek.  xvi,  20,  21,  The  word 
 fire  is  supplied  here  from  Deut,  xviii,  10, — Gill.  Baal  and  Molech  seem 
 to  have  been  the  same;  called  Baal-Penr,  Num,  xxv.,  and  Ps.  cvi. 
 36 — 39.    With  some  variations,  the  same  idol  was  worshipped  by  the 
 
 heathens  under  the  names  of  Mars,  Saturn,  and  the  Sun, — Sutcliffe. 
 23,  Stand  before  a  beast — a  practice  in  Egypt  when  a  goat  was  wor- 
 shipped,— Strabo.  Herod.,  Euterpe  Jive,  1,  2,  c,  46, 
 
 Chap,  XIX,  —  ^.  I  nm  the  Lord  your  God,  'I,  Jehovah,  your  God,' 
 so  rommand — so  vcr.  14,  18,  25,  30,34, — According  to  Boothr.  4,  IdolSj 
 □V?N.  'phantoms,'  'things  of  nought,'  'vanities.'  A  word  of  con- 
 tempt, as  well  as  execration. — Scott.  7-  ^/''  be  eaten  at  all  on  the 
 third  dnp  it  is  ahontinahle — Christ  rose  tlie  third  day,  and  '  saw  no  cor- 
 ruption,' and  to  keep  the  flesh  of  any  sacrifice  till  tlie  third  day  would 
 have  endangered  it^  corruption,  and  been  contrary  to  the  typical  mean- 
 ing of  that  appointment. — Scott.  12.  I  nvi  the  Lord — 'I,  Jehovah, 
 forbid  it.* — Boothr.  So  chap,  xviii.  6.  14.  Deaf— blind — all  injuries 
 are  here  forbidtlcn  to  be  done  to  the  dt  fenceless. — Poole,  Jortin.  16.  A 
 tnte-bearer,  Vdi.  The  word  used  signifies  a  merchant  or  pctUar,  whose 
 business  affords  him  the  opportunity  of  carrying  tales  from  house  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIII.  — I.  How  awfully  disgusting 
 and  stupid  are  the  customs  and  practices  of  men  itot  guided  by  the 
 light  of  revelation .'  'J'he  wisest  of  people,  in  other  respects, 
 have  encourai;ed  practices  of  various  kinds,  wliich  liuinan  na- 
 ture, enlightened  by  one  glimpse  of  revelation,  views  with 
 astonishment  and  shuddering.  How  niucli  does  society  owe 
 to  llie  sacred  influence  of  divine  truth  !  Well  might  the 
 Psalmist  say,  '  Thy  word  is  very  pure,  iherefore  doth  thy  ser- 
 vant love  it.' 
 
 II,  Let  sinners  behold  the  abhorrence  with  which  sinful  habits 
 are  viewed  by  a  holy  God,  and  tremble  at  the  consequences.  \Vhen 
 we  think  of  much  of  that  dreadful  iniquity  which  exists  even 
 in  the  most  Christian  lands,  do  we  not  see  a  reason  why  they 
 should  vomit  out  their  inhabitants?  Can  we  not  account  for 
 plagues,  pestilences,  earthquakes,  and  destructive  wars  !  '  The 
 Lord  hath  a  controversy  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth ,'  and 
 lue  scenes  and  punisbmeats  of  accursed  Canaan  and  revolting 
 133 
 
 Israel  are  from  time  to  time  repeated.  Let  the  hardened  sin- 
 ner remember  that  liis  evil  practices  must  for  ever  separate 
 him  from  the  company  of  ptire  spirits  and  a  holy  God.  But 
 '  blessed  are  they  that  do  his  commandments,  that  they  may 
 have  right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through  the 
 gates  into  the  city.  For  without  are  dogs,  and  sorcerers,  and 
 whoremongers,  and  murderers,  and  idolafors,  and  whosoever 
 loveth  and  maketh  a  lie,'  Vet  even  such  may  obtain  mercy 
 through  the  blood  of  Christ.  O,  let  the  sinner  flee  instantly 
 to  him,  and  hear  the  gentle  voice  which  speaks  in  '  the  glo- 
 rious gospel  of  the  blessed  God,*  *  Neither  do  I  condemn  ibee  j 
 go,  and  sin  no  more,* 
 
 *  To  the  dear  fountain  of  thy  blood. 
 Incarnate  God,  I  lly  ; 
 There  let  me  cleanse  my  spotted  soul 
 From  crimes  of  deepest  die.' 
 
A  repetition  of  sundry  laws. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XIX. 
 
 A  repetition  of  sundry  laws 
 
 17  H  '  Thou  shall  not  hate  thy  brother  in 
 thine  heart :  "  thou  shalt  in  any  wise  rebuke 
 thy  neighbour,  ||  and  not  suffer  sin  upon  him. 
 
 18  t '  Thou  slialt  not  avenge,  nor  bear  any 
 grudge  against  the  children  of  thy  people, 
 '■  but  thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself: 
 I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 19  1  Ye  shall  keep  my  statutes.  Thou  shalt 
 not  let  thy  cattle  gender  with  a  diverse  kind  : 
 '■  thou  shalt  not  sow  thy  field  with  mingled 
 seed :  °  neither  shall  a  garment  mingled  of 
 linen  and  woollen  come  upon  thee. 
 
 20  f  And  whosoever  lieth  carnally  with  a 
 woman,  that  is  a  bondmaid,  ||t  betrothed  to 
 an  husband,  and  not  at  all  redeemed,  nor  free- 
 dom given  her;  Hfshe  shall  be  scourged; 
 they  shall  not  be  put  to  death,  because  she 
 was  not  free. 
 
 '21  And  ''he  shall  bring  his  trespass  offering 
 unto  the  Lord,  unto  tlie  door  of  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregation,  even  a  ram  for  a 
 trespass  offering. 
 
 2-2  And  the  priest  .shall  make  an  atonement 
 for  him  with  the  ram  of  the  trespass  offering 
 before  the  Lord  for  his  sin  which  he  hath 
 done  :  and  the  sin  which  he  hath  done  shall 
 be  forgiven  him. 
 
 ■23  1  And  when  ye  shall  come  into  the  land, 
 and  shall  have  planted  all  manner  of  trees  for 
 food,  then  ye  shall  count  tlie  fruit  thereof  as 
 uncircumcised  :  tliree  years  shall  it  be  as  un- 
 cireumcised  unto  you  :  it  sliall  not  be  eaten  of. 
 
 •24  But  in  the  fourth  year  all  tlie  fruit  tliereof 
 shall  be  f  holy  '  to  praise  the  Lord  ivithal. 
 
 2.J  And  in  the  fifth  year  shall  ye  eat  of  the 
 fruit  thereof,  that  it  may  yield  unto  you  the 
 increase  thereof:  I  atn  tlie  Lord  your  God. 
 
 26  T  ^  Ye  shall  not  eat  any  thing  with  the 
 
 B.  C.  H90. 
 
 B   C    M'.iU. 
 
 1  Johii.2  9, 
 
 e  Men    Ih. 
 
 It.  &  i.  15. 
 
 10,  11,  U. 
 
 .  Ecclus.19. 
 
 1  Sam.   15. 
 
 13.  Mat.  18. 
 
 23.  a  K^n. 
 
 15. Luke  17- 
 
 17.  17.  &2I. 
 
 a.  Gal.  6.  1. 
 
 6  2CKr.S9. 
 
 F.pli.5.  11. 
 
 6    Mai.  3.:. 
 
 I  Tim.  5  20. 
 
 /ch.  21.  5. 
 
 2  Tim.  4.  2. 
 
 Jer  9.  26. 
 
 Til.  1.  13. 
 
 &  -Ifl   37. 
 
 &  2.   15 
 
 la    15.  2. 
 
 1  Or,  Ihnt 
 
 j.h.  21.5. 
 
 thi'i  (rear  not 
 
 Dea-  U.  1. 
 
 $i-fi.rhim: 
 
 Jer.  16.  6. 
 
 See  Rom  1. 
 
 &  18.  37. 
 
 32.  I  Cor.  5. 
 
 ADeu.  23.17. 
 
 2.    lTim.5. 
 
 1  Heb.  VTQ. 
 
 22.  2  John 
 
 f.nc. 
 
 11. 
 
 j:  2  Sam.  13. 
 22    Pro.  20 
 22.  Bom.  12. 
 
 i  ver.  3. 
 cli.  26.  2. 
 AEccIes.S.I. 
 
 17,  19. 
 
 I  Ex.  22.  13. 
 
 Gal.  5.  20. 
 
 cli  20.  e.27. 
 
 Kph.  4-  31. 
 
 Deu.  IH.IO 
 
 1  I'et.  2.  I. 
 
 1  Sam  28.7. 
 
 Jam.  5.  y. 
 
 lClir.IO.l3. 
 
 0  Mat.  5,  43. 
 
 Is.  8.  19. 
 
 "  &  2£.  39. 
 
 Acts  Iti.  16 
 
 Kom.  13.  9. 
 
 n.  Pro.  20.:9. 
 
 Gal.  5.  14. 
 
 1  Tim   5.1. 
 
 J«m.  2.  8. 
 
 n  ver  14. 
 
 :  Dbu.  22. 
 
 0,  10. 
 o  Dpu.  22.11. 
 
 0  Ex.  2S,  21. 
 
 &  23.  9. 
 
 i;  Or,  abuted 
 
 II  Or,  opprttt. 
 
 bv  a'ly. 
 
 P  Ex.  IJ.  43, 
 
 t  "Heb.  «v 
 
 49. 
 
 proachtdhy, 
 
 nr,/..rm»u. 
 
 9  Deu.  10  19. 
 
 B  Or,  thev. 
 
 t  Hcb.  there 
 
 tf,..U  U  a 
 
 tcourifii,t{. 
 
 b  ch.  5.  15. 
 
 at6.  6. 
 
 r  ver.  15. 
 
 »  ncu.25.  IS. 
 
 15.  P.O.  II. 
 
 1.  &  to    11 
 
 &  20.  10. 
 
 t  Heb.  «(uiiN 
 
 t  Ilcb.  h^li- 
 
 n^»  «/ 
 
 priti$ra  la 
 
 /cli.  IS,  4.5 
 
 the  LORD. 
 
 I»iMi.  1  5,0 
 
 cDeu.  12.17, 
 
 fid.  \.  &  C. 
 
 lit.  Prov.  3. 
 
 2;.. 
 
 9. 
 
 i/cli.  17.  10, 
 
 9tr.  Deut. 
 
 12.23. 
 
 blood  :  "^  neither  shall  ye  use  enchantment,  nor 
 observe  times, 
 
 27  '  Ye  shall  not  round  the  corners  of  your 
 heads,  neither  shalt  thou  mar  the  corners  of 
 thy  beard. 
 
 '28  Ye  shall  not  ^  make  any  cuttings  in  your 
 flesh  for  the  dead,  nor  print  any  marks  upon 
 you  :   I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 20  I"  Do  not  t prostitute  thy  daughter,  to 
 cause  her  to  be  a  whore  ;  lest  the  land  fall  to 
 whoredom,  and  the  land  become  full  of  wick- 
 edness. 
 
 30  t  *  Ye  shall  keep  my  sabbaths,  and  ^  re- 
 verence my  sanctuary  :   I  «/«  tlie  Lord. 
 
 31  H' Regard  not  them  tliat  have  familiar 
 spirits,  neither  seek  after  wizards,  to  be  defiled 
 by  them  :   I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 3*2  t '"  Tbou  shalt  rise  up  before  the  hoary 
 head,  and  honour  the  face  of  the  old  man,  and 
 "  fear  thy  God  :   I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 33  H  And  "^  if  a  stranger  sojourn  with  thee  in 
 your  land,  ye  shall  not  ||  vex  him. 
 
 34  ^  But  the  stranger  that  dwelleth  with  you 
 shall  be  unto  you  as  one  born  among  you,  and 
 '  thou  shalt  love  him  as  thyself;  for  ye  were 
 strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt:  I  am  the  Lord 
 your  God. 
 
 3j  11  *"  Ye  shall  do  no  unrighteousness  in  judg- 
 ment, ill  mcteyard,  in  weigiit,  or  in  measure. 
 
 36  ^  Just  balances,  just  jweights,  a  just  ephah, 
 and  a  just  hin,  sliall  ye  have  :  I  am  the  Lord 
 your  God,  which  brought  you  out  of  the  land 
 of  Egypt. 
 
 37  '  Therefore  shall  ye  observe  all  my  statutes, 
 and  all  my  judgments,  and  do  them  :  I  am  the 
 Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 1   0/  him  that  givcth  of  his  seed  to  Molech,     4  Of  him 
 
 house.^GiV/,  so  also  Kidder.  17-  TCot  suffer  sin  upon  him,  may  be 
 rendered,  'thou  shalt  not  bear  sin  for  him,'  or  'for  his  sake;*  'thou 
 shalt  not  make  thyself  guilty  of  his  sin,  as  tiiou  wilt  do  if  thou  dost  not 
 rebuke  him  for  his  sin.^— Poole,  so  Pat.  IQ.  With  a  direrse  kind — 
 this,  and  the  other  prohibitions  immediately  following,  seem  not  only 
 To  forbid  unnatural  practices,  but  also  heathen  cu^toms,  to  keep  the 
 Israelites  distinct;  for  Uic  Zabians  and  Amorites  sowed  dried  grapes 
 with  their  wheat,  from  a  superstitious  notion  that,  otherwise,  they 
 should  have  bad  crops.  The  moral  taught  was,  not  to  mix  with  Gen- 
 tile nations. — Pat.,  Pyle,  Hut.,  Spencer.  Several  critics  observe,  that 
 the  Heb.  laiDyiD.  translated  '  linen'  and  '  wnollen.'  signifies  something 
 oi  a.  splendid  patrhwork ;  and  it  is  observed  by  Dr.  J.  It.  Forsfer,  the 
 traveller,  that  it  answers  to  an  Ejryptian  word,  shmitnt's,  which  signi- 
 fies a  gaudy  or  costly  vesture  of  different  coloured  wool  or  cotton, 
 which  the  Egyptians  appropriated  to  their  gofls.  If  so,  the  reason  for 
 this  prohibiliou  is  quite  plain. — Ed.  23.  Three  years,  to  grow  to 
 perfection,  and  become  wholesome,  and  render  the  first  fruits  fit  for 
 offering  to  God. — Gill.  Uncircumcised,  not  fit  for  use, — Gilt;  for  what- 
 ever was  unfitfor  use  was  accounted  uncircumcised. — Scott.  26  With 
 the  filood.  Din  bS',  '  super  sanguine.' — Mont.  '  Upon,  over,  or  by  the 
 blood.'  This  law  seems  different  from  that  in  Gen.  ix.  4,  and  from 
 those  in  Lev.  iii.  17,  and  vii.  26,  and  xvii.  13;  and,  probably,  has  re- 
 spect to  an  idolatrous  practice  of  the  Zabians,  who  took  blood  to  be  the 
 fi>od  of  devils,  and  who  used  to  eat  the  blood  of  a  slain  beast  as  they 
 sat  round  the  vessel  in  which  it  was  put,  fancying  that  this  gave  them 
 communion  with  devils  an<l  knowledge  of  future  things. — Gilt.  Booth- 
 roifd,  instead  of  '  with  the  blood,'  reads,  '  upon  the  mountains.*  D'lrrn, 
 instead  of  Din,  for  this  was  an  idolatrous  crime,  (Ezek.  xviii.  6.)  and 
 is  not  forbidden  e.\cept  here.  He  justifies  his  reading  by  the  Stpt., 
 which  is  cTTi  7u>v  ipeuiv.  Enchnntment,  ITTn^n  MX  the  root  MTT:  sig- 
 nifies '  serpent,'  and  hence  Gill,  whose  opinion  is   espoused   by  Dr. 
 
 Clarke,  thinks  that  divination  by  serpents  is  here  intended.  Obserre 
 titnex,  superstitiously,  by  the  observation  of  the  clouds,  or  stars,  or 
 otherwise;  by  esteeming  some  days  lucky,  others  unlucky. — Poole. 
 27.  lioitnd  the  corners — the  Hebrew  translated  *  corners,' signifies,  also, 
 '  the  extremity  of  anything.'  and  the  meaning  is,  they  were  not  to  cut 
 their  hair  equal  behind  or  before,  as  the  worshippers  of  the  stars  and 
 planets,  particularly  the  Arabians,  did.  Some  tliink  it  refers  to  a  cus- 
 t<mi  of  the  Gentiles  of  cutting  their  hair  round,  and  throwing  it  into 
 the  sepulchres  of  their  friends,  as  an  offering  to  appease  the  infernal 
 gods. — S.  Burder.  Dr.  Clarke  thinks  the  reference  may  be  to  the 
 Egj'ptian  custom  of  shaving  the  chin  in  mourning,  which  was  left  un- 
 shaven at  other  times.  28.  Cuttings — which  the  Gentiles  commonly 
 did  in  their  idol  worship  and  mournings. — Poole.  In  mourning,  the 
 Egyptians  wounded  and  cut  the  car,  the  arms,  the  forehead,  nose,  and 
 hands. — Herod.  The  Carthaginians  tore  their  hair  and  mouths,  and 
 beat  their  breasts.  The  Roman  women  tore  their  cheeks.  Marks — 
 tlK*  Gentiles  imprinted  the  mark  of  an  idol  on  themselves  to  shew  they 
 were  his  servants. — Gill.  29.  Not  prostitute  thy  daughter,  as  the 
 fientiles  frequently  did,  for  the  honour  of  some  of  their  idols. — Poole. 
 31.  Fnmiliar  ypirits,  '  necromancers.' — Geddes.  EiyctarpinvOot,  evi- 
 dently ■  ventriloquists.'  The  Hcb.ni3M  is  derived  from  an,  '  to  swell,' 
 '  heave,*  '  distend.' — Par.  Hence  a  bowl  with  a  great  belly,  a  bottle,  a 
 ju^. — Ai7i<!.  Because  the  belly  of  the  ventriloquist,  in  practising  his 
 art,  was  inflated. — Hew.  35.  Mcteyard — in  measuring  liquids,  or 
 
 grain,  &c. — Poole.  It  rather  respects  length,  in  contradistinction  to 
 quantity. — Hew.  Anything  that  is  measured  by  rod  or  line,  by  the 
 yard  <jr  ell.  36.  Weights,  '33M.  '  stones,*  for  those  were  formerly  used 
 in  weighing. — Gill.  Hence  the  English  weight,  'the  stone.* — Ed. 
 Maimanides  says,  the  Jews  were  not  to  make  their  weights  of  any 
 metal,  lest  it  should  rust  and  become  liglit,  but  of  polished  rock. 
 
 Refi.fctio\s  on  Chap.  XIX. — I.  Moses  teas  tn publish 
 all  these  Imvs  '  unto  all  the  congregation  of  the  cfnhlrtn  of  Israel.' 
 It  behoves  us  carefully  to  study  the  laws  of  God  ;  ancl  no  indi- 
 vidual, in  a  Christian  country,  can  be  free  from  the  awful  re- 
 sponsibility of  neglecting  them.  They  demand  our  scrutiny 
 as  well  as  our  obedience,  and  ij^norance  will  be  no  apology  for 
 our  breaking  them,  when  we  have  'line  upon  line,  and  pre- 
 cept upon  precept.'  Henry  has  here  a  remark  worthy  of 
 notice,  llmt,  '  even  in  the  darker  ages  of  the  law,  that  religion 
 could  not  be  of  God  which  boasted  of  ignorance  as  its  mother.' 
 
 II.  It  is  impussihle  to  read  these  laws  and  rrjicct  upon  them 
 131 
 
 tcithoiit  adminitiun.  The  heathen,  acting  not  agreeably  to  the 
 light  of  conscience,  but  of  corrupted  human  nature,  practised 
 those  evils  which  degraded  man,  and  placed  him  on  a  level 
 with  the  beast ;  but  the  law  of  God  was  adapted  to  ennoble 
 his  nature,  and  to  raise  hitn  both  in  the  scale  of  intellect  and 
 humanity.  Under  the  clearer  light  of  Christianity,  and  en- 
 forced by  the  all-constraining  motive  of  the  love  of  Christ, 
 whatever  here  relates  to  love  to  God  or  our  neighbour  is  still 
 set  before  us,  and  in  proportion  as  pure  religion  influences  our 
 hearts  will  be  manifest  in  our  practice,  so  that  we  shall  observe 
 all  the  statutes  and  judgments  of  the  Lord,  and  do  them. 
 
Priests'  mourning. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XX. 
 
 Blemished  priests  forbidden  to  minister. 
 
 that  favoureth  such  a?i  one.  G  Of  going  to  iinzarth. 
 7  Of  sanctificatiort.  9  Of  him  that  cursdh  his 
 parents.  10  Of  arlultiri/.  11,  14i  17,  19  Of  incest 
 13  Of  sodomy.  15  Ofbeastiality.  IS  Ofunchan- 
 mss.  22  Obedience  it  required  with  holiness.  27 
 Wizards  must  be  put  to  death. 
 
 \  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 ■^^  2  °  Again,  tnou  shalt  say  to  the  cliildren 
 of  Israel,  ''  Whosoever  he  be  of  the  children  of 
 Israel,  or  of  the  strangers  that  sojourn  in  Israel, 
 that  giveth  ani/  of  his  seed  unto  Molech  ;  he 
 shall  surely  be  put  to  death  :  the  people  of 
 the  land  shall  stone  him  with  stones. 
 
 3  And  '  I  will  set  my  face  against  that  man, 
 and  will  cut  him  off  from  among  his  people  ; 
 because  he  hath  given  of  his  seed  unto  Molech, 
 to  "^  defile  my  sanctuary,  and  "  to  profane  my 
 holy  name. 
 
 4  And  if  the  people  of  the  land  do  any  ways 
 hide  their  eyes  from  the  man,  when  he  giveth 
 of  his  seed  unto  Molech,  and  'kill  him  not: 
 
 5  Then  ^  I  will  set  my  face  against  that  man, 
 and  i*  against  his  family,  and  will  cut  him  off, 
 and  all  tliat  '  go  a  whoring  after  him,  to  com- 
 mit whoredom  with  Molech,  from  among  their 
 people. 
 
 6  11  And  '  the  soul  that  turneth  after  such  as 
 have  familiar  spirits,  and  after  wizards,  to  go  a 
 whoring  after  them,  I  will  even  set  my  face 
 against  that  soul,  and  will  cut  him  off  from 
 among  his  people. 
 
 7  H  '  Sanctify  yourselves  therefore,  and  be  ye 
 holy  :  for  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 8  "And  ye  shall  keep  my  statutes,  and  do 
 them  :  °  I  am  the  Lord  which  sanctify  you. 
 
 9  1°  For  every  one  that  curseth  his  father  or 
 his  mother  shall  be  surely  put  to  death  :  he 
 hath  cursed  his  father  or  his  mother ;  ''  his 
 blood  shall  be  upon  him. 
 
 10  IT  And  ■"  the  man  that  committeth  adultery 
 with  another  man's  wife,  even  he  that  com- 
 mitteth adultery  with  his  neighbour's  wife,  the 
 adulterer  and  the  adulteress  shall  surely  be 
 put  to  death. 
 
 1 1  '  And  the  man  that  lieth  with  his  father's 
 wife  hath  uncovered  his  father's  nakedness  : 
 both  of  them  shall  surely  be  put  to  death  ; 
 their  blood  shall  be  upon  them. 
 
 12  'And  if  a  man  lie  with  his  daughter  in 
 law,  both  of  them  shall  surely  be  put  to  death  : 
 •  they  have  wrought  confusion  ;  their  blood 
 shall  be  upon  them. 
 
 13  "If  a  man  also  lie  with  mankind,  as  he 
 lieth  with  a  woman,  both  of  them  have  com- 
 mitted an  abomination :  they  shall  surely  be 
 put  to  death  :  their  blood  shall  be  upon  them. 
 
 14  ^  And  if  a  man  take  a  wife  and  her  mother, 
 it  is  wickedness  :  they  shall  be  burnt  with  Are, 
 both  he  and  they  ;  that  there  be  no  wickedness 
 among  you. 
 
 »ch.  18.21. 
 
 6  oh.  18.  21. 
 Deu,  12.31. 
 &  19.  n. 
 2  Kin  17.17. 
 &  2.S.  U). 
 2Clir.  S.-J  6 
 Jer.  7,  31  8c 
 
 a;  a.i, 
 
 E2ck.20  20, 
 31. 
 c  cli.  17.  10. 
 
 'lV.2Pk.hM. 
 &  aa.  38, 39. 
 «  ch.  18.  21. 
 
 /Dent,  17. 
 
 2,  3,  ."i. 
 S  ch.  17.  10. 
 
 A  Kx.  20.  5. 
 
 ch.  17.  7. 
 
 (rh.  11.  «. 
 
 &  19.  2. 
 
 1  Pet.  1.  16. 
 m  ch.  19. 37. 
 
 n  Ee.  31.  13. 
 
 ch.  21.  S. 
 
 Eiek.37.28. 
 It  Ex.  31.17. 
 
 Deu.27.  16. 
 
 Pro.  20.  20. 
 
 Mat.  15-  4 
 p  ver.  11,  12, 
 
 13,  16.27. 
 
 2. Sam.  1.16. 
 q  ch.  18.  20. 
 
 Deu.  22.  22. 
 
 Johu  3. 4,  5. 
 
 cb.  19.8. 
 Deu.  27.23. 
 
 .  ch.  18.  25. 
 Deu.  23.  17. 
 SeeGeu.19. 
 b.  JuAg.  19. 
 22. 
 
 X  ch.  18.  17. 
 Deu.  27. 23. 
 
 z  oh.  IS.  9. 
 Deu  27.22. 
 See  Geii.20. 
 
 I  ch.  18,  19. 
 See  ch.  15. 
 24. 
 
 t  Heh.  a 
 itparnlion. 
 
 /■ch.  18.  26 
 &  19.  37. 
 
 h  ch,  18.  3, 
 24,  30. 
 
 I  ch,  19.  27. 
 Deu.  9  5. 
 
 h  Ex.  3.  17. 
 Si  6.  8. 
 
 I  ver.  20. 
 Ex.  19.  .5.& 
 S3.  16.  Peu 
 7.  6.  &  14.  2. 
 1  Kin.  8,  53. 
 
 mch.  II.  47. 
 Deu.  U.  4. 
 
 nch.  U.  43. 
 
 .  ver.  7. 
 ch.  19.  2 
 1  Pet   1.  16. 
 
 p  ve 
 
 2*. 
 
 TllUB  2  H. 
 «  ch.  19   31. 
 
 Ei.  22.  18. 
 
 Deu.  18.  10, 
 
 II.  I  Sam. 
 
 28.  7,  8. 
 r  ver.  9. 
 
 15  '  And  if  a  man  lie  with  a  beast,  he  shall 
 surely  be  put  to  death  :  and  ye  shall  slay  the 
 beast. 
 
 16  And  if  a  woman  approach  unto  any  beast, 
 and  lie  down  thereto,  thou  shalt  kill  the  woman, 
 and  the  beast :  they  .shall  surely  be  put  to 
 death  ;  their  blood  shall  be  upon  them. 
 
 17  "And  if  a  man  shall  take  his  sister,  his 
 father's  daughter,  or  his  mother's  daughter,  and 
 see  her  nakedness,  and  she  see  his  nakedness ; 
 it  is  a  wicked  thing;  and  they  shall  be  cut  off 
 in  the  sight  of  their  people:  he  hath  uncovered 
 his  sister's  nakedness  ;  lie  shall  bear  bis  ini- 
 quity. 
 
 18  "  And  if  a  man  .shall  lie  with  a  woman 
 having  her  sickness,  and  shall  uncover  her  na- 
 kedness ;  he  hath  f  discovered  her  fountain, 
 and  she  hath  uncovered  the  fountain  of  her 
 blood  :  and  both  of  them  shall  be  cut  off'  from 
 among  their  people. 
 
 19  '' And  thou  shalt  not  uncover  the  naked- 
 ness of  thy  mother's  sister,  nor  of  thy  father's 
 sister:  "for  he  uncovereth  his  near  kin  :  they 
 shall  bear  their  iniquity. 
 
 20  ^  And  if  a  man  shall  lie  with  his  uncle's 
 wife,  he  hath  uncovered  his  uncle's  nakedness: 
 they  shall  bear  their  sin  ;  they  shall  die  child- 
 less. 
 
 21  °  And  if  a  man  shall  take  his  brother's 
 wife,  it  is  f  an  unclean  thing :  he  hath  unco- 
 vered his  brother's  nakedness ;  they  shall  be 
 childless. 
 
 22  f  Ye  shall  therefore  keep  all  my  'statutes, 
 and  all  my  judgments,  and  do  them  :  that  the 
 land,  whither  I  bring  you   to  dwell   therein, 
 
 spue  you  not  out. 
 
 23  ^  And  ye  shall  not  walk  in  the  manners  of 
 the  nation,  which  I  cast  out  before  you  :  for 
 they  committed  all  these  things,  and  '  therefore 
 I  abhorred  them. 
 
 24  But  '  I  have  said  unto  you,  Ye  shall  in- 
 herit their  land,  and  I  will  give  it  unto  you  to 
 possess  it,  a  land  that  floweth  with  milk  and 
 honey:  I  am  the  Lord  your  God,  '  which  have 
 separated  you  from  other  people. 
 
 23  ""Ye  shall  therefore  put  difference  between 
 clean  beasts  and  unclean,  and  between  unclean 
 fowls  and  clean  :  "  and  ye  shall  not  make  your 
 souls  abominable  by  beast,  or  by  fowl,  or  by 
 any  manner  of  living  thing  that  ||  creepeth  on 
 the  ground,  which  I  have  separated  from  you 
 as  unclean. 
 
 26  And  ye  shall  be  holy  unto  me  :  °  for  I  the 
 Lord  am  holy,  and  ■■  have  severed  you  from 
 other  people,  that  ye  should  be  mine. 
 
 27  H  ^  A  man  also  or  woman  that  hath  a  fa- 
 miliar spirit,  or  that  is  a  wizard,  shall  surely  be 
 put  to  death  :  they  shall  stone  them  with 
 stones  :  '  their  blood  shall  be  upon  them. 
 
 Chap.  XX. — 2.  Again,  thou  shalt  stv— punisliif  ent  of  the  crimes  be- 
 fore forbidden  is  now  fixed.  Molech— see  note  on  chap,  xviii.  21. 
 Stone  Aim— see  note  on  Exod.  xix.  is.  6.  After  wizards,  to  go  a 
 whoring— this  expression  proves  that  consulting  with  men  or  women 
 who  practise  or  pretend  to  witchcraft,  in  any  form,  is  a  real  act  of  ido- 
 latry, and  of  worshipping  the  devil.— Sco«.  9.  For. '3,  'surely,'  as 
 in  Job,  viii.  6  ;  xx.  20.— Poole.  Curseth— the  original  '•j'v  also  signifies, 
 '  to  speak  contemptuously'  and  ■  disrespectfully.'—/!.  -Clarke.  But  not 
 every  perverse  expression  is  meant,  but  bitter  reproaches  or  impreca- 
 tions.—Fooie.  His  blood,  S(c  —he  is  guilty  of  his  own  death,  his  exe- 
 cutioners are  free.— ScoC.  14.  Burnt— a  higher  punishment  than 
 stoning,  as  that  was  higher  than  strangling.  The  malefactor  was  set 
 in  dung  up  to  his  itnees,  and  then  a  cloth  tied  about  his  neck,  which 
 was  drawn  by  the  two  witnesses  till  they  made  his  mouth  gane,  into 
 135 
 
 which  they  poured  hot  melted  lead,  which  ran  down  his  throat  and 
 burnt  his  bowels  ;  so  the  Tatmudists.  But  there  is  no  good  authority 
 for  it,  the  word  for  burning  being  the  same  that  is  used  for  burning 
 with  fire  and  fagot. — Pat.,  so  Gill.  Scott  suggests  that  the  criminal 
 was  probably  first  stoned,  as  in  the  case  of  Achan  ;  and  Clarke,  that 
 he  was  oa\y  branded.  The  original  is  ^Tpm*  TCNa.  16.  A  woman  ap- 
 proach—see note  on  chap,  xviii.  23.  20.  Childless— the  most  pro- 
 bable meaning  of  which  is,  that  their  oflfspring  shall  be  but  bastards,  anrl 
 therefore  excluded  from  the  congregation  of  the  Lord.— Poo/e.  Jarchi 
 and  others  interpret  this,  that  the  children  should  die  and  be  buried 
 before  these  parents,  which  was  reckoned  a  great  punishment,  (sec 
 Jer.  xxii.  30.) — Gill.  2\.  His  brother's  wife — see  note  on  chap, 
 
 xviii.  16.       24.  T/iat  floweth— see  note  on  Exod.  iii.  e. 
 
A  repetition  of  sundry  laws. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XX. 
 
 A  repetition  of  sundry  laws. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 ]   Of  the  priests^  mourning.    6  Of  their  holiness.     8  Of 
 
 t/uir  estimation.     7,  13  Of  their  marriaues.     17  Tit 
 
 priests  that  have  blemishes  must  not  minister  in  the 
 
 sanctuary. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Speak  unto 
 
 -'^  the  priests  the  sons  of  Aaron,  and  say  unto 
 
 them,  '  There  shall   none   be   defiled  for  the 
 
 dead  among  his  people  : 
 
 2  But  for  his  kin,  that  is  near  unto  him,  that 
 is,  for  his  mother,  and  for  his  father,  and  for  his 
 son,  and  for  his  daughter,  and  for  his  brother, 
 
 3  And  for  his  sister  a  virgin,  that  is  nigh  unto 
 liim,  which  hath  had  no  husband  ;  for  her  may 
 he  be  defiled. 
 
 4  But  II  he  shall  not  defile  himself,  beintj  a 
 chief  man  among  his  people,  to  profane  himself, 
 
 5  '■  They  shall  not  make  baldness  upon  their 
 head,  neither  shall  they  shave  off  the  corner  of 
 their  beard,  nor  make  any  cuttings  in  their 
 flesh. 
 
 6  Tliey  shall  be  holy  unto  their  God,  and 
 "'not  profane  the  name  of  their  God  :  for  the 
 offerings  of  the  Lord  made  by  fire,  and  ''the 
 bread  of  their  God,  they  do  offer :  therefore 
 they  shall  be  holy. 
 
 7  "  They  shall  not  take  a  wife  that  w  a  whore 
 or  profane ;  neither  shall  they  take  a  woman 
 '  put  away  from  her  husband  :  for  he  is  holy 
 unto  his  God. 
 
 8  Tliou  shalt  sanctify  him  therefore  ;  for  he 
 offereth  the  bread  of  thy  God  :  he  shall  be 
 holy  unto  thee  :  'for  I  the  Lord,  which  sanc- 
 tify you,  am  holy. 
 
 9  1''  And  the  daughter  of  any  priest,  if  she 
 profane  herself  by  playing  the  whore,  she  pro- 
 faneth  her  father :  she  shall  be  burnt  with  fire. 
 
 10  '  And  he  that  is  the  high  priest  among  his 
 brethren,  upon  whose  head  the  anointing  oil 
 was  poured,  and  '  that  is  consecrated  to  put  on 
 the  garments,  '  .shall  not  uncover  his  head,  nor 
 rend  his  clothes  ; 
 
 1 1  Neither  shall  he  "  go  in  to  any  dead  body, 
 nor  defile  himself  for  his  father,  or  for  his 
 mother ; 
 
 12  "  Neither  shall  he  go  out  of  the  sanctuary, 
 nor  profane  the  sanctuary  of  his  God  ;  for  "  the 
 crown  of  the  anointing  oil  of  his  God  is  upon 
 him  :  I  a/n  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  ■■  he  shall  take  a  wife  in  her  \'irginity. 
 
 >  Riek.  «. 
 85. 
 
 „  Or.  fieinff 
 
 among  liit 
 
 people,  he 
 
 ihall,,oiHe. 
 file  him.elf 
 
 forhiswi/e, 
 
 Ac.  See 
 EiekJi4.I6, 
 
 17. 
 b  rh.  19.  g7, 
 
 8S.    Deut. 
 
 li.  1.  Ezek 
 
 44.  20. 
 o  ch.  18  81. 
 
 fc  \9.  12. 
 d  See  ch.  3. 
 
 II. 
 
 /  .See  Dent. 
 8t.  1,  t. 
 
 ^  ch.  90. 7,  8 
 taeii.S8.» 
 
 i  El.  S9.  89, 
 
 30  ch.  S.  12. 
 
 ft  16   33. 
 
 Nt«„..15.85. 
 fr  Kx.  28   8. 
 
 ch.  16.  32. 
 I  ch.  10.  6. 
 
 ■  ch.  10.  3. 
 Num.  16.5. 
 P!  6*.  4. 
 Or.  food, 
 ch.  3.  II. 
 
 xch.8.3,10. 
 
 It  6.  I7.?9llc 
 
 7.  I.&24.9. 
 
 Num.  18  9 
 y  ch.  22.  lu, 
 
 ll,l2.Num 
 
 18.  19. 
 »  ver.  12. 
 
 :  Ex.  2fi-  3-*. 
 Nnm.lw.32. 
 Deut.  15.19. 
 
 14  A  widow,  or  a  divorced  woman,  or  profane, 
 or  an  harlot,  these  shall  he  not  take  :  but  he 
 shall  take  a  virgin  of  his  own  people  to  wife. 
 
 13  Neither  shall  he  profane  his  seed  among 
 his  people  :  for  'i  I  the  Lord  do  sanctify  him. 
 
 1 G  U  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  say- 
 ing, 
 
 17  Speak  unto  Aaron,  saying.  Whosoever /ie 
 be  of  thy  seed  in  their  generations  that  hath 
 any  blemish,  let  him  not  '  approach  to  offer  the 
 II  bread  of  his  God. 
 
 18  For  whatsoever  man  he  be  that  hath  a 
 blemish,  he  shall  not  approach  :  a  blind  man, 
 or  a  lame,  or  he  that  hath  a  flat  nose,  or  any- 
 thing 'superfluous, 
 
 19  Or  a  man  that  is  brokenfooted,  or  broken- 
 handed, 
 
 20  Or  crookbackt,  or  ||  a  dwarf,  or  that  hath 
 a  blemish  in  his  eye,  or  be  scurvy,  or  scabbed, 
 or  '  hath  his  stones  broken  ; 
 
 21  No  man  that  hath  a  blemish  of  the  seed  of 
 Aaron  the  priest  shall  come  nigh  to  "  offer  the 
 offerings  of  the  Lord  made  by  fire  :  he  hath  a 
 blemish  ;  he  shall  not  come  nigh  to  oflFer  the 
 bread  of  his  God. 
 
 22  He  shall  eat  the  bread  of  his  God,  both  of 
 the  "  most  holy,  and  of  the  ''  holy. 
 
 23  Only  he  shall  not  go  in  unto  the  vail,  nor 
 come  nigh  unto  the  altar,  because  he  hath  a 
 blemish;  that  'he  profane  not  my  sanctuaries : 
 for  I  the  Lord  do  sanctify  them. 
 
 24  And  Moses  told  it  unto  Aaron,  and  to  his 
 sons,  and  unto  all  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 I  T/te  priests  in  their  uncleanness  miist  abstain  from  the 
 hilly  tUinys.  6  How  they  ahail  he  cfeansed.  10  ff'ho 
 o/the  priest's  holts'"  may  tat  of  the  holv  thinys.  17  The 
 sacrijices  mvst  be  without  bltinish.  26  The  nqe  of  tike 
 sacrifice.  29  The  law  of  eating  the  sacrijice  of 
 thanksgiiiing. 
 
 /^  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^^  2  Speak  unto  Aaron  and  to  his  sons,  that 
 they  "  separate  themselves  from  the  holy  things 
 of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  that  they  ^  pro- 
 fane not  my  holy  name  in  those  things  which 
 they  *~  hallow  unto  me  :   I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 3  Say  unto  them.  Whosoever  he  he  of  all  your 
 seed  among  your  generations,  that  goeth  unto 
 the  holy  things,  which  the  children  of  Israel 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  — 1.  Defiled  for  the  dead,  by  touching,  entering  the 
 house  where  the  dead  body  lay,  foUnwinc  the  corpse,  or  mourning. — 
 Pat.  2.  His  kin—to  be  understood  of  common  priests  ;  the  high 
 priest  might  not  mourn  for  either  of  these.  4.  A  chii-f  man,  that  is, 
 as  a  priest,  for  the  context  speaks  only  of  priests.— G(//.  Boothroj/d 
 understands  this  of  two  cases  in  contrast ;  in  the  one,  the  priest  may 
 perform  funeral  duties  for  a  deceased  sister,  in  the  other,  not  j  he, 
 therefore,  supplies  a  word  which  he  supposes  to  have  been  dmpped,  and 
 reads,  To^i  7?3  [n'??^'']  Nt3T2*  ttb^,  'but  if  she  have  a  husband  among 
 his  people,  be  shall  not  defile  himself,'  K-c.  5.  Make  baldnt^^s — for  so 
 the  Egyptians  annually  worshipped  Osiris,  that  they  might  bewail  the 
 miserable  misfortune  of  their  king,  by  depriving  themselves  of  the  orna- 
 ment of  hair,  &.c.—Jul.  Furmicus,  quoted  by  Pat.;  see  note  on  chap. 
 xix.  27.        7.  For  he  ia  holy,  ^c. — Boothroyd  iicre  reads  the  plarAl  thet/. 
 
 9.  The  daughter  of  any  priest— ^e  dishonoured  herself,  and  disho- 
 noured her  father,  here  called  profaning.— /*«;.  This  severity  was  from 
 regard  to  the  dignity  of  the  priest'hood,  and  to  deter  from  the  usages  of 
 heathen  priests,  who.  in  their  rite^,  prostituted  their  wives  and  daugh- 
 ters.— Pyle.  10.  The  high  priest — this  is  the  first  time  the  terra  is 
 used  ;  it  is  emphatic, '  that  priest,  the  great  one.' — A.  Clarke.  Uncover, 
 lay  aside  his  mitre,  or  shave  his  head. — Jennings.  14.  A  widow — ex- 
 cept the  widow  of  his  predecessor,  as  some  gather  from  Ezek.  xliv.  22, 
 but  that  place  speaks  only  of  the  common  priest. — Poole.  17.  Any 
 
 blemish — the  Jewish  priests  were  t>-pes  of  Christ,  who  is  without  spot 
 and  blemish. — Gill.  20.  The  last  exception  in  this  verse  is  read  by 
 seme,  '  having  a  hernia,'  or  '  rupture.' 
 
 Chap.  XXll.  —  2.  That  they  srparate  themselves — Boothroyd  reads, 
 '  when  they  are  to  abstain,'  which  is  better  sense. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XX.  —  I.  The  law  was  full  of  penal- 
 ties, and  a  dispensation  of  death,  but  the  yospel  is  a  dispensation  of 
 mercy  and  of  life ;  yet  greater  will  be  the  crime  of  those  who 
 die  impenitent  under  such  a  dispensation  of  grace — a  dispen- 
 sation in  which  God  appears  '  so  rich  in  mercy.' 
 
 II.  7'hc  criim s  forbitiden  to  the  Jews,  and  provided  against  by 
 atcful  punishments,  were  those  common  to  the  heathen^  arid  exhibit 
 clearly  the  state  of  those  nations  which  God  determined  to  extirpate. 
 Who  shall  then  dare  impugn  his  conduct?  He  has  ever  shewn 
 that  he  is  '  holy,  just,  and  true.* 
 
 Rf.flecttons  on   Chap.    XXI J.  Here  we  see  t/ie  pattern 
 
 136 
 
 for  the  ministers  nf  God.  They  are  not  to  defile  themselves  ; 
 and  they  are,  in  all  cases,  to  be  patterns  of  holiness,  and  are 
 to  exhibit  patience  and  resignation  under  the  greatest  suffer- 
 ings, and  amidst  the  domestic  deprivations  to  which  they  are 
 liable.  How  can  they  consistently  preach  that  to  others  which 
 they  do  not  practise  themselves  1 
 
 II.  Here  we  are  also  reminded  of  the  great  High  Priest  of  our 
 profession,  in  whom  was  shewn  a  perfect  priesthood,  *  For  such 
 an  High  Priest  became  us,  who  was  holy,  harmless,  undefiled, 
 and  separate  from  sinners.* 
 
HoiD  the  priests  shall  he  cleansed. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XXIH. 
 
 The  sacrifices  to  be  without  blemish. 
 
 hallow  unto  the  Lord,  "'  having  his  uneleaiiness 
 upon  him,  that  soul  sliall  be  cut  otl'  from  my 
 presence  :  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 4  What  man  soever  uf  the  seed  of  Aaron  is  a 
 leper,  or  liatli  ''a  f  running  issue  ;  lie  shall  not 
 eat  of  the  holy  things,  ^  until  he  be  clean.  And 
 ^  whoso  toucheth  any  thing  tk(tt  is  unclean  by 
 the  dead,  or  ''  a  man  whose  seed  goeth  from 
 him ; 
 
 ,  5  Or  '  whosoever  toucheth  any  creeping  thing, 
 whereby  he  may  be  made  unclean,  or  '  a  man 
 of  whom  he  may  take  uncleanness,  whatsoever 
 nncleanness  he  hath  ; 
 
 6  The  soul  wliicli  hath  touched  any  such 
 shall  be  unclean  imtil  even,  and  shall  not 
 eat  of  the  holy  things,  unless  he  '  wash  his 
 flesli  with  water. 
 
 7  And  vvlien  the  sun  is  down,  he  shall  be 
 clean,  and  shall  afterward  eat  of  the  holy 
 things  ;  because  "it  is  his  food. 
 
 8  "  That  which  dieth  of  itself,  or  is  torn  with 
 beasts,  he  shall  not  eat  to  defile  himself  there- 
 with :   I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 9  They  shall  therefore  keep  mine  ordinance, 
 °  lest  tliey  bear  sin  for  it,  and  die  therefore,  if 
 they  profane  it :   I  the  Lord  do  sanctify  tliem 
 
 10  ''There  shall  no  stranger  eat  of  the  holy 
 thing :  a  sojourner  of  the  priest,  or  an  hired 
 servant,  shall  not  eat  of  the  holy  thing. 
 
 11  But  if  the  priest  buy  nni/  soul  tv%ith  his 
 money,  he  shall  eat  of  it,  and  lie  that  is  born  in 
 his  house  :  ''they  shall  eat  of  his  meat. 
 
 12  If  the  priest's  daughter  also  be  married 
 unto  t  a  stranger,  she  may  not  eat  of  an  offer- 
 ing of  the  holy  tilings. 
 
 1.3  But  if  the  priest's  daughter  be  a  widow,  or 
 divorced,  and  have  no  child,  and  is 'returned 
 unto  her  fatlier's  house,  'as  in  her  youth,  she 
 sliall  eat  of  her  father's  meat :  but  there  shall 
 no  stranger  eat  thereof. 
 
 14  f  '  And  if  a  man  eat  of  the  holy  thing  un- 
 wittingly, then  he  .shall  put  the  fifth  part 
 thereof  unto  it,  and  shall  give  it  unto  the  priest 
 vvitli  the  holy  thing. 
 
 15  And  "they  shall  not  profane  the  holy 
 things  of  the  children  of  Israel,  which  they 
 offer  unto  the  Lord  ; 
 
 16  Or  II  suffer  them  '  to  bear  the  iniquity  of 
 trespass,  when  they  eat  their  holy  things:  for 
 I  the  Lord  do  sanctify  tlieni. 
 
 17  H  And  the  Lord  .spake  unto  Moses,  say- 
 ing. 
 
 18  Speak  unto  Aaron,  and  to  his  sons,  and 
 unto  all  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say  unto 
 them, ''  Whatsoever  he  be  of  the  house  of  Israel, 
 or  of  the  strangers  in  Israel,  that  will  offer  his 
 oblation  for  all  his  vows,  and  for  all  his  freewill 
 offerings,  which  tliey  will  otl'er  unto  the  Lord 
 for  a  burnt  offering  ; 
 
 19  '  y«  shall  offer  at  your  own  will  a  male 
 
 pch.  15.  2. 
 t  Heb.  run- 
 ,.i:.j  ..J  ihe 
 
 fQh.  14.  2. 
 
 Ik  15    13. 
 ^  Num.  19. 
 
 11,2-2. 
 /.  ch    1.5.  16. 
 <  ch.  11.  21, 
 
 13,  M. 
 *  cli.15.7,19. 
 
 a  Dpiit.  15 
 
 21.  &  17.  I. 
 
 MhI.  1.8,14. 
 
 Eph  5.  27. 
 
 Heb    9.  H. 
 
 I  Pet  I.  V.I. 
 b  cli  3.  1,  6. 
 t-  ch.  7.  Ifi 
 
 Num.15  :1.S 
 
 Dcut  23  21. 
 
 93-  Ps.  131.8 
 
 &  65.  1 . 
 
 Ecclea.  5.  4, 
 
 Or, 
 
 'Utl. 
 
 d  ver.  2>t 
 iMal.  I.  8. 
 
 II  Or,  hid. 
 /ch.  21.  18, 
 
 ch.  SI. 
 Vum. 18.11, 
 3. 
 
 lix.  22.  31 
 li.  17.  15 
 >:2ck.44.Si 
 
 22,  32. 
 ;'  See  ISam. 
 
 «JI„.m, 
 
 ,  Num 
 
 11,  13. 
 
 tch.  10.  U 
 Num.lS.ll, 
 
 ^  Wum,  15. 
 
 1.5,  IG. 
 A  ch.  21.6,17 
 
 Mill.  I.  14. 
 
 I  Or,  Lidf. 
 tliemt.'trft 
 u>,</,  V,e  i,,!- 
 r"i.v  ■'/!"•■ 
 jinii  III  ilieii 
 
 X  vei.  9. 
 
 II  Or,  .ht 
 
 /  Ueut.  22,  C. 
 m  Ch.  7.  12. 
 
 Ps.   107.  22. 
 
 &  116.  17. 
 
 Amos  4.  5. 
 
 o  ch.  19.  37. 
 
 Num.15  40. 
 
 Deut.  4.  4U 
 t)  cb.  IS.  21. 
 
 y  ch.  10.  3. 
 
 Mat.  6.  9. 
 
 I.hke  11    2. 
 r  ch.  2-1.  8. 
 *  Ex.  6.  7. 
 
 ch.  11.  45. 
 
 h  19   36.  & 
 
 25,as  Num. 
 
 15.41. 
 
 without  blemish,  of  the  beeves,  of  the  sheep 
 or  of  the  goats. 
 
 20  "^  Hut  whatsoever  hath  a  blemish,  that 
 shall  ye  not  offer:  for  it  shall  not  be  accept- 
 able  for  you. 
 
 21  Aiui  ''  whosoever  offereth  a  sacrifice  of 
 peace  ofi'erings  unto  the  Lord  ''  to  accomplish 
 his  vow,  or  a  freewill  offering  in  beeves  or 
 II  sheep,  it  shall  be  perfect  to  be  accepted  ; 
 there  shall  be  no  blemish  therein. 
 
 •22  "^  Blind,  or  broken,  or  maimed,  or  having  a 
 wen,  or  scurvy,  or  scabbed,  ye  shall  not  offer 
 these  unto  the  Lord,  nor  make  '^  an  offering 
 by  fire  of  them  upon  the  altar  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 23  Either  a  bullock  or  a  ||  lamb  that  hath  any 
 thing  ""superfluous  or  lacking  in  his  parts,  that 
 mayest  thou  offer  _/</r  a  freewill  ofi'ering;  but 
 for  a  vow  it  shall  not  be  accepted. 
 
 24  Ye  shall  not  offer  unto  the  Lord  that 
 which  is  bruised,  or  crushed,  or  broken,  or  cut ; 
 neither  shall  ye  make  any  offeriny  thereof  in 
 your  land. 
 
 25  Neither^ from  a  stranger's  hand  shall  ye 
 offer  '■  the  bread  of  your  God  of  any  of  these  ; 
 because  their  '  corruption  is  in  them,  and 
 blemishes  be  in  thsm :  they  shall  not  be  ac- 
 cepted for  you. 
 
 26  1  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  say- 
 
 i'lg. 
 
 27  "^  When  a  bullock,  or  a  sheep,  or  a  goat,  is 
 brought  forth,  then  it  shall  be  seven  days  under 
 the  dam  ;  and  from  the  eighth  day  and  thence- 
 forth it  shall  be  accepted  for  an  offering  made 
 by  fire  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 28  And  ivhelher  it  be  cow  or  ||  ewe,  ye  shall 
 not  kill  it  '  and  her  young  both  in  one  day. 
 
 29  And  «vhen  ye  will  "'  offer  a  sacrifice  of 
 thanksgiving  unto  the  Lord,  offer  it  at  your 
 own  will. 
 
 30  On  the  same  day  it  shall  be  eaten  up  ;  ye 
 shall  leave  "none  of  it  until  the  morrow:  I  am 
 the  Lord. 
 
 31  "Therefore  shall  ye  keep  my  command- 
 ments, and  do  them :  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 32  ■'  Neither  shall  ye  profane  my  holy  name  ; 
 but  "■  I  will  be  hallowed  among  the  children  of 
 Israel :   I  am  the  Lord  which  '  hallow  you, 
 
 33  'That  brought  you  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  to  be  your  God:  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 I  The  fiasts  of  the  LnrJ.  3  The  sahhath.  4  The 
 passo'vtT.  9  The  shtaf  o/Jirstfruits.  15  The  feu  at 
 of  Pentecost.  22  Glaninys  til  be  left  for  the  pour. 
 23  The  feast  of  trumpits.  26  The  day  of  atonement. 
 SJ  Tlie  feast  of  tabernacles. 
 
 AND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 say  unto  them,  Concernimj  °  the  feasts  of  the 
 
 10.  Strnn^ee,  "n,  one  not  of  the  family  of  the  prie.st. — Gtlt.  133  is  '  fo- 
 reigner.'— See  Par.  12.  1/  the  priest^s  dnughtcr  itl..iii  tie  married  to  it 
 stranger,  ^e.,  she  lost  her  right  to  eat  of  thiise  holy  things  which  she 
 did  partatte  of  while  she  remained  a  part  of  lier  father's  family. — Pat. 
 IS.  Vau's— freewill  offerings — the  Jews  distinguished  between  a  vow 
 and  a  freewill  offering  ;  every  vow  is  a  freewill  offering,  but  eveiy  free- 
 will offering  is  not  a  vow. — Gill.        20.  Hath  a  blemish — it  was  fit  that 
 
 everything  employed  for  God's  honour  should  be  the  best  of  the  kind. — 
 Hen.  23.  A  bnllock — the  word  means  '  a  young  btill,^  for  the  male, 
 unless  a  bull,  was  blemisheil.  28.  It  and  her  i/uimg—the  practice 
 might  seem  cruel  and  unfeeling,  and  might,  perhaps,  refer  to  some 
 pagan  superstition. — Scott. 
 
 Chap.  X.Xlll.  —2.  Feasts,  <^3•^'^.     All  critics  agree  that  this  should 
 be  rendered  '  assemblies,'  for  they  are  not  all  feasts  specified  here  ;  the 
 
 Retlections  on  Chap.  XXII I.   With  lehat  solemn  awe 
 
 and  purity  of  Itenrt  should  we  approach  tlir  most  holy  God  f  '  If,' 
 says  Henry,  '  this  law  afforcLs  a  solemn  lesson  to  ministers  of 
 the  sanctuary,  it  is  not  less  instructive  to  prolessors  of  reli- 
 gion.' '  I  will  wash  mine  bands  in  iiinocency,  so  will  i  com- 
 pass thine  altar,  O  Lord.' 
 
 II.  He  should  not  be  sathfed  itith  formal  services,  but  present 
 137 
 
 to  God  the  most  unbroken  devotions.  '  We  must  serve  the  Lord,' 
 says  Scott,  '  with  the  best  of  all  we  have  and  are  ;  yet  if 
 there  be  a  willing  mind,  and  an  upright,  bumble,  thankful 
 heart,  with  a  simple  dependence  on  the  unblemished  sacrifice 
 of  Christ,  our  imperfect  oblations  will  net  be  rejected  of  God, 
 and  will  be  useful  to  our  fellow-creatures.' 
 
The  feasts  of  the  Lord. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XXIII. 
 
 The  day  of  atonement. 
 
 Lord,  which  ye  shall  i"  proclaim  to  lie  holy 
 convocations,  even  these  air  niy  feasts. 
 
 3  '  Six  (lays  shall  work  be  done  :  but  the 
 seventh  day  !»■  the  sabbath  of  rest,  an  holy 
 convocation  ;  ye  shall  do  no  work  therein:  it 
 is  the  sabbath  "of  the  Lord  in  all  your  dwell- 
 ings. 
 
 4  H  ■•  These  are  the  feasts  of  the  Lord,  even 
 holy  convocations,  which  ye  shall  proclaim  in 
 their  seasons. 
 
 5  "  In  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  first  month 
 at  even  is  the  Lord's  passover. 
 
 C  And  on  the  lifteenth  day  of  tlie  same 
 month  is-  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread  unto 
 the  Lord:  seven  days  ye  must  eat  unleavened 
 bread. 
 
 7  ''  In  the  first  day  ye  shall  have  an  holy 
 convocation  :  ye  shall  do  no  servile  work 
 therein. 
 
 8  But  ye  shall  offer  an  offering  made  by  fire 
 unto  the  Lord  seven  days  :  in  the  seventh  day 
 is  an  holy  convocation  :  ye  shall  do  no  servile 
 work  thtrvin. 
 
 9  H  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 10  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say 
 unto  them,  ^  When  ye  be  come  into  the  land 
 which  I  give  unto  you,«and  shall  reap  the 
 harvest  thereof,  then  ye  shall  bring  a  ||  f  sheaf 
 of  "  the  firstfruits  of  your  harvest  unto  the 
 priest : 
 
 1 1  And  he  shall  '  wave  the  sheaf  before  the 
 Lord,  to  be  accepted  for  you  :  on  the  morrow 
 after  the  sabbalh  the  priest  shall  wave  it. 
 
 12  And  ye  shall  offer  that  day  when  ye  wave 
 the  sheaf  an  he  lamb  witliout  blemish  of  the 
 first  year  for  a  burnt  offering  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 13  '  And  the  meat  offering  thereof  shall  be 
 two  tenth  deals  of  fine  tlonr  mingled  with  oil, 
 an  offering  made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord  for  a 
 sweet  savour  :  and  the  drink  offering  thereof 
 shall  be  of  wine,  the  fourth  part  of  an  bin. 
 
 14  And  ye  shall  eat  neither  bread,  nor  parched 
 corn,  nor  green  ears,  until  the  selfsame  day 
 that  ye  have  brought  an  offering  unto  yonr 
 God  :  it  shall  be  a  statute  for  ever  throughout 
 your  generations  in  all  your  dwellings. 
 
 15  t  And  '  ye  shall  count  unto  yon  from  the 
 morrow  after  the  sabbath,  from  tlie  day  that  ye 
 brought  the  sheaf  of  the  wave  offering;  seven 
 sabbaths  shall  be  complete  : 
 
 IG  Even  unto  the  morrow  after  the  seventh 
 sabbath  shall  ye  number  "'  fifty  days  ;  and  ye 
 shall  offer  "  a  new  meat  oti'ering  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 17  Ye  shall  bring  out  of  your  habitations  two 
 wave  loaves  of  two  tenth  deals  :  they  shall  be 
 of  fine  flour ;  they  shall  be  bakeu  with  leaven  ; 
 they  are  °  the  firstfruits  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 18  And  ye  shall  offer  with  the  bread  seven 
 lambs  without  blemish  of  the  first  year,  and 
 
 B.  c  1  tyii. 
 
 h  Ex.  3-_'  5. 
 2Kin.UI20 
 IV  81.3 
 
 c  E.x.9y.9.& 
 ■>^  I2.«(31. 
 13.  8<a4.2I. 
 ch  19.  S, 
 Deul.  5-  13 
 Luke  13.14 
 
 ./  ver.  ?.  ST. 
 
 '  Ex,  1-2  6. 
 
 N,  IS  ac  IS. 
 
 \  10.  &  23 
 15  &.%!.  18. 
 Niim.'>2.3, 
 6i2d  16,  17.  I 
 n.nt  16  1- 
 S.Jusli  3.10 
 
 /Ft.  12.  IB 
 iVuiu  23.18, 
 
 p  ch.l  2.1,-2S. 
 Num.28.3ll. 
 
 g  Ft. 23.  10, 
 19  &St  22, 
 26.Nitiii  1.^ 
 2.  IS.  Sc  2fl. 
 26  Deul.  11. 
 9  .lnsli.3.1.V 
 
 t  Hel>.  .IF,,',. 
 /.  Hon,.  II. 
 16.  IC 
 
 ?'i.  Jill 
 
 m.  Hev.l4. 
 
 «  ch   5.  14, 
 15,  16 
 
 fill.  25.  8. 
 Ks.  34.  22 
 l)(!ut.  16.0. 
 
 m  Acta  S.  I 
 Num.28 
 
 i  Ex  2S.  16, 
 
 HI.  ^22  29. 
 fc34  2V.  20. 
 Nuni  13.17. 
 fc  iS.  26. 
 Peut   26.  I. 
 
 II  Num.  29.1. 
 X  ell  2.3.  0. 
 
 rt  ch,  20.  3, 
 b,  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  reit. 
 
 b  Kx.  23.  16. 
 Num.29.I2. 
 Deut  16.13. 
 K/ia  3.  4. 
 Nell.  B-  11. 
 Zech  14.16. 
 I  Esd,3  51. 
 John  7.  2- 
 
 oue  young  bullock,  and  two  rams  :  they  shall 
 be  fir  a  burnt  offering  unto  the  Lord,  with 
 their  meat  offering,  and  their  drink  offerings 
 even  an  offering  made  by  fire,  of  sweet  .savour 
 unto  the  Lord. 
 
 19  Then  ye  shall  sacrifice  ''one  kid  of  the 
 goats  for  a  sin  offering,  and  two  lambs  of  the 
 first  year  for  a  sacrifice  of  ''  peace  offering.s. 
 
 20  And  the  priest  shall  wave  them  with  the 
 bread  of  the  firstfruits_/ij»'  a  wave  ottering  be- 
 fore the  Lord,  with  the  two  lambs  :  '  they  shall 
 be  holy  to  the  Lord  for  the  priest. 
 
 21  And  ye  shall  proclaim  on  the  selfsame 
 day,  that  it  may  be  an  holy  convocation  unto 
 yon  :  ye  shall  do  no  servile  work  therein :  it 
 shall  be  a  statute  for  ever  in  all  your  dwellings 
 throughout  your  generations. 
 
 22  1  And  '  when  ye  reap  the  harvest  of  your 
 land,  thou  .shalt  not  make  clean  riddance  of 
 the  corners  of  thy  field  when  thou  roapest, 
 '  neither  shalt  thou  gather  any  gleaning  of 
 thy  harvest :  thou  shalt  leave  them  unto  the 
 poor,  and  to  the  stranger  :  I  am  the  Lord 
 your  God. 
 
 23  U  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Aioses,  say- 
 ing. 
 
 24  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  saying. 
 In  the  "  seventh  montli,  in  the  first  ilay  of  the 
 month,  shall  ye  have  a  sabbath,  'a  memorial  of 
 blowing  of  trumpets,  an  holy  convocation. 
 
 2.5  Ye  shall  do  no  servile  work  therein  :  but 
 ye  shall  offer  an  offering  made  by  fire  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 26  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  JIoses,.saying, 
 
 27  ^Also  on  the  tenth  day  of  this  seventli 
 month  there  shall  be  a  day  of  atonement :  it 
 shall  be  an  holy  convocation  unto  yon  ;  and 
 ye  shall  afflict  your  souls,  and  olier  an  ottering 
 
 nade  by  fire  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 28  And  ye  shall  do  no  work  in  that  .same 
 day  :  for  it  is  a  day  of  atonement,  to  make  an 
 atonement  for  yon  before  the  Lord  yonr  God. 
 
 29  For  whatsoever  soul  il  be  that  shall  not  be 
 afflicted  in  that  same  day,  'he  shall  be  cut  ott' 
 from  among  his  people. 
 
 30  And  whatsoever  soul  it  be  that  doeth  any 
 work  in  that  same  day,  '  the  same  soul  will  I 
 destroy  from  among  his  people. 
 
 31  Ye  shall  do  no  manner  of  work  :  it  shall 
 be  a  statute  fur  ever  throughout  your  genera- 
 tions in  all  your  dwellings. 
 
 32  It  shall  be  unto  yon  a  sabbath  of  rest,  and 
 ye  shall  afflict  your  souls  :  in  the  ninth  day  of 
 the  montli  at  even,  from  even  unto  even,  shall 
 ye  f  celebrate  your  sabbalh. 
 
 .33  IT  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 34   Speak  unto  the  cliildren  of  Israel,  saying, 
 
 ■■  The  fifteentli  day  of  this  seventh  month  shall 
 
 be  the  feast  of  tabernacles_/y?' seven  days  unto 
 
 the  Lord. 
 
 day  of  atonement  was  a  fast;  and  the  word  coiiceniiriff,  siipiilieri  by 
 our  tran?lators,  is  quite  superfluous. — See  Pu/.,  Pt/h,  Gil'-,  Srull.  The 
 .•nstitution  of  religious  festivals  was  a  salutary  display  of  Divine  wis- 
 dom. They  diverted  the  people  from  all  tlic  idleucsa  and  unbounded 
 wickedness   attendant  on  the   Gentile  feasts. — Sut.  10.  A  aliftif, 
 
 rather  '  oiner,'  as  in  the  margin.  It  is  supposed  that  some  h  irlvy, 
 Iiavinj^  been  reaped  and  dried  by  the  fire,  was  made  into,  fine  flour, 
 ciioiii^h  to  fill  an  omer,  and  annually  presented  in  the  name  of  the 
 vholfc  nation,  when  put  in  possession  of  Canaan,  with  a  sacrifice,  a 
 meat  offering,  and  a  drink   dflVring. — Scott.  14.  Parchud  ctirn — 
 
 grt-en  ^.o.s-— the  Arabs  in  the  Holy  Land  make  stdl  an  agrrceable  food 
 of  these — So  H't^sf^l'titist.  Ifi.  Fiffi/  dtii/s — the  ne.\r  day  after  the 
 
 seventh  sabbath,  or  week,  madejust  fitly  days  ;  from  which  this  feast 
 was  called  Pentecmt,  and,  in  the  Old  Testament,  the  feiist  of  wfrks, 
 (E.^od.  xx.\iv.  22.)— Pat.  24.  In  the  t.eventh  »/ioh//(— the  month  Tisri, 
 or  Soteniber. — Gill.  Blotvinfr  uf  tntmpels~it  is  not  easy  to  tell  of 
 138 
 
 what  this  was  a  memorial.  It  seems  probable,  that  as  this  was  the 
 beginning  of  the  Jewish  civil  year,  and  as  all  naliuns  rejoiced  at  the 
 commencement  of  a  new  year,  God  ordained  this  great  rejuiciug  among 
 bis  people  in  honour  of  himself  upon  tlie  first  day  of  the  first  new  moon, 
 which  was  to  be  continued  every  first  dny  of  the  month,  that  he  might 
 preserve  them  from  the  worship  of  the  mfttm,  and  make  them  sensible 
 that  he  alone  gave  good  years,  and  renewed  his  mercies  from  year  to 
 year,  and  from  month  to  month. — Pat.  The  blowing  at  the  fcHst  of 
 trumpets  was,  however,  not  in  a  common  way,  as  on  the  first  day  of 
 every  month,  hut  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  both  in  Jerusalem  and 
 all  the  cities  of  Israel. — Poole.  27.  Dai/  of  ntonemtnt — see  notes  on 
 chap.  xvi.  34.  Fefi.'it  of  ta/teniactes — so  called,  because  kept  under 
 green  tents  or  arbours. — Cruden.  This  preserved  the  memory  of  God's 
 miracles  when  he  protected  Israel  in  the  Wilderness,  and  preserved 
 them,  without  houses,  in  the  cold  of  winter  and  heat  of  summer. — Put, 
 In  the  month  I'isri,  in  those  pai-ts,  men  were  wont  to  quit  their  taber- 
 
The  feast  of  tabernacles. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XXIV. 
 
 The  shew  bread. 
 
 35  On  the  first  day  shall  be  an  holy  convoca- 
 tion :  ye  shall  do  no  servile  work  tliereiii. 
 
 3G  Seven  days  ye  shall  otfer  an  oflerin<;  made 
 by  fire  unto  the  Lokd  ;  "  on  the  eighth  day 
 shall  he  an  holy  convocation  unto  you  ;  and  ye 
 shall  offer  an  otiering  made  by  fire  unto  the 
 Loud:  it  is  a  f'' solemn  assembly;  and  ye 
 shall  do  no  servile  work  therein. 
 
 37  "  These  are  the  feasts  of  the  Lokd,  which 
 ye  shall  proclaim  to  be  holy  convocations,  to 
 otter  an  ofi'ering  made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord, 
 a  burnt  offering,  and  a  meat  offerijig,  a  sacrifice, 
 and  drink  offerings,  every  thing  upon  his  day  : 
 
 38  '  Beside  the"  sabbaths  of  the  Lokd,  and 
 beside  your  gifts,  and  beside  all  your  vows,  and 
 beside  all  your  freewill  offerings,  which  ye  give 
 unto  tile  Lokd. 
 
 3!)  Also  in  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  seventh 
 month,  when  ye  have  "^gathered  in  the  fruit  of 
 tiie  land,  ye  shall  keep  a  feast  unto  the  Lord 
 seven  days  :  on  the  first  day  s/iitll  lie  a  sab- 
 bath, and  on  the  eighth  day  shall  be  a  sabbath. 
 
 40  And  ''ye  shall  take  you  on  the  first  day 
 the  t  boughs  of  goodly  trees,  branches  of  palm 
 trees,  and  the  bows  of  thick  trees,  and 
 willows  of  the  brook  ;  '  and  ye  shall  rejoice 
 before  the  Lord  your  God  seven  daj's. 
 
 41  ''And  ye  shall  keep  it  a  feast  unto  the 
 Lord  seven  days  in  the  year.  It  shall  be  a 
 statute  for  ever  in  your  generations  :  ye  shall 
 lelebrale  it  in  the  seventh  month. 
 
 4i!  '  Ye  shall  dwell  in  booths  seven  days ;  all 
 that  are  Israelites  born  shall  dwell  in  booths  : 
 
 43  "  That  your  generations  may  know  that 
 I  made  the  children  of  Israel  to  dwell  in 
 booths,  when  I  brought  them  out  of  the  land 
 of  Egypt :   I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 44  And  Moses  "declared  unto  the  children 
 of  Israel  the  feasts  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  The  oil  for  the  Jam]  s.  5  Tne  shewl^eitd.  ]0  Shelo- 
 mith's  son  Uosphemith.  13  The  law  of  hlusphmny. 
 17  Of  murder,  18  Ofdainaye.  23  2%e  blusphemir 
 is  stoned. 
 
 t  ITob.  dav 
 of  rftlnn,,!. 
 
 d  Deu   16.  8. 
 2  Clw  7.  9 
 ^■cI1   8.  18 
 Joel  I.  14  & 
 2   15. 
 
 ;  ver.  2.  ♦. 
 
 S  Ex,  23.  Ifi. 
 Deu.  IC.  U 
 
 h  Nt-h  8.15. 
 tIIcb./M.,l. 
 
 h  Nuin-  2<J. 
 1;   Nell.  8 
 
 /  Neh.  8.  14, 
 15,  16. 
 
 b  Hx.  .11.8. 
 &  m.  37. 
 
 e  Num.  4.  7. 
 
 1  Clir  9  .12. 
 
 2  Clir.  2.  4. 
 
 f\  Sam.  21. 
 
 6.  .Mat    12. 
 
 4.  Mark  2 
 
 26.  Luke  6. 
 
 4. 
 g  Kx.  29.  33 
 
 cli.  8.  3.  b 
 
 21. -i*. 
 
 I  ver.  16. 
 J<ib  I.S.n 
 
 (  Xu.  15.  31. 
 t  Heb.  tu  ex- 
 
 ii.i;  I'l  ll>f 
 
 lord: 
 
 m  Ex.  18  15, 
 16.  Num. 
 27.  5.  &  ae. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 ■^-^  2  "  Command   the  children  of  Israel,  that 
 they  bring  unto  thee  pure  oil  olive  beaten  for 
 the  light,  f  to  cause  the  lamps  to  burn  con- 
 tinually. 
 
 3  Without  the  vail  of  the  testimony,  in  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  shall  Aaron 
 order  it  from  the  evening  unto  the  morning 
 before  the  Lord  continually  :  it  shall  be  a 
 statute  for  ever  in  your  generations. 
 
 4  He  shall  order  the  lamps  upon  ^  the  pure 
 candlestick  before  the  Lord  continually. 
 
 5  IT  And  thou  shall  take  fine  flour,  and  bake 
 twelve  '  cakes  thereof:  two  tenth  deals  shall 
 be  in  one  cake. 
 
 6  And  thou  shalt  set  them  in  two  rows,  six 
 on  a  row,  ■>  upon  the  pure  table  before  the 
 Lord. 
 
 7  And  thou  shalt  put  pure  frankincense  upon 
 each  row,  that  it  may  be  on  the  bread  for  a 
 memorial,  even  an  offering  made  by  fire  unto 
 the  Lord. 
 
 8  "  Every  sabbath  he  shall  set  it  in  order 
 before  the  Lord  continually,  being  taken  from 
 the  children  of  Israel  by  an  everlasting  cove- 
 nant. 
 
 9  And  '  it  .shall  be  Aaron's  and  his  sons' ; 
 ^and  they  shall  eat  it  in  tlie  holy  place  :  for  it 
 is  most  holy  unto  him  of  the  offerings  of  the 
 Lord  made  by  fire  by  a  perpetual  statute. 
 
 10  H  And  the  son  of  an  Israelitish  woman, 
 whose  father  icas  an  Egyptian,  went  out 
 among  the  children  of  Israel  :  and  this  son  of 
 the  Israelitish  ivoynan  and  a  man  of  Israel 
 strove  together  in  the  camp  ; 
 
 1 1  And  the  Israelitish  woman's  son  '■  blas- 
 phemed the  name  of  the  L  ORD,  and  '  cursed. 
 And  they  ''  brought  him  unto  Moses  :  (and  his 
 mother's  name  u-us  Shelomith,  the  daughter  of 
 Dibri,  of  the  tribe  of  Dan  :) 
 
 12  And  they  '  put  him  in  ward,  f ""  that  the 
 mind  of  the  Lord  might  be  shewed  them. 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 14  Bring  forth  him  that  hath  cursed  without 
 the  camp  ;  and  let  all  that  heard  him  "  lay  their 
 
 nacles  and  go  into  their  houses. — GUI.  40.  Boughs,  nD.  '  fruit,'  as 
 in  the  mitygin  ;  brauches  with  tlie  fruit  ou  them,  (see  2  Kui{^,  xix.  30.) 
 — Poole.  Goodly — nn  may  also  signify  '  large*  and  '  well  spread,' 
 'trees  with  broad  leapex ;'  aA  Hottijigei-  oh^eTveri,  '  such  as  the  branches 
 of  palm  trees.'  The  Jews  think  '  the  citron'  was  intendeii.  Thick 
 trees — such  as  arc  shady  ;  the  Jews  take  these  for  myrtles.  Willows — 
 perhaps  these  served  to  bind  the  rest  together.  It  is  evident,  from 
 Neh.  viii.  15,  that  the  boughs  were  cut  for  booths,  and  not  to  carry  in 
 the  hand. — Fat.  "MTt  y?  'ID  literally  reads,  '  of  the  fruit  of  the  beau- 
 tifnl  tree,' or  '  of  the  tr  ee  of  beauty,'  meaning  the  citron  tree. — Pur. 
 U  is  certain  that  the  tradition  amniig  the  Jews  favours  this  opinion, 
 for  both  in  Germany  and  England  they  endeavour  to  get  a  citron 
 bough  for  this  fe.slival. — Pat.,  Par.  -  -       -      -. 
 
 Chap.  X.XIV. — 2.  Pure  olire  oil — see  note  on  Exod.  sxv:i.  20. 
 5.  T'oelfe  cakes — see  note  on  Exod.  xxv.  30.  These  were  about  the 
 size  of  peck  loaves.    They  were  taken  off  by  the  priests,  and  eaten  at 
 
 the  end  of  every  week,  and  replaced  by  new  ones.  Tliey  were,  pro- 
 bably, made  ot  manna  when  in  the  wUderness. —  Wall.  Two  teuth 
 deals — so  that  one  of  these  cakes  was  as  much  as  two  men  could  eat 
 of  bread  in  one  day. — Gill.  6.  Sir  ott  a  row — one  bt/  another,  not 
 
 upon. — Trapp.  Upright,  as  must  appear  from  the  dimensions  of  the 
 table. — Boot/ir.  7.  Ou  the  bread,  or  '  for  the  bread,'  instead  of  it, 
 and  to  be  burned  on  the  altar. — Gill,  Bootltr.  8.  Deiui^  taken  from, 
 
 '  receiving  it  from.' — Buolhr.  10.  -in  E^n/ptian — one  who  prubably 
 followed  the  Israelites  from  Egypt  and  became  a  prosrlyte. —  IVells. 
 11.  Blasphetned,  3p3,  'bored  it  through,'  '  goieu  it,' '  pierced  it.' — 
 Trapp.  The  name,  '  of  the  Lord*  is  here  supplied;  hence  some  have 
 conjtctured  he  might  use  the  name  of  a  heathen  god,  which  was  a 
 high  crime,  but  this  could  not  be  called  blaspheming,  anil  therefore  the 
 translation  appears  most  natural  — Ed.  14.  Lap  their  hands — the 
 
 Jews  say  this  was  equivalent  to  saying.  '  thy  blood  be  upon  thine  own 
 head,  and  we  not  punished  for  tliy  death,  whicli  thou  hast  been  the 
 
 Refi.ectiovs  on  Cinp.  XXITI.  —  I.  The  frcqmnt  repetition 
 of  the  command  to  observe  God's  sabbath  shews  how  much  stress  he 
 laid  on  heepinff  lioly  that  day.  This,  wbicli  was  incorporated 
 into  the  moral  la^v,  is  of  eternal  obligation,  and  it  is  wise  as 
 well  as  good — adapted  to  save  the  soul  as  well  as  to  ease  the 
 body  of  man.  Without  it,  men,  intoxicated  by  pleasure,  and 
 given  up  to  their  sordid  concerns,  would  bave  no  pattern  be- 
 fore them  of  devout  men  seeking  a  preparation  for  eternity  ; 
 and  morals  as  well  as  relii^ion  are  at  a  low  ebb  where  God's 
 sabbaths  are  disregjirded,  either  by  individuals,  communities, 
 or  nations.  God's  people  must  be  a  boly  people,  and  there- 
 fore tbey  must  have  their  boly  convocations. 
 
 If.  The  estalilishmcnt  of  the  Jewish  feasts  may  shew  us  the  obli- 
 gation which  devolves  upon  us  ever  to  keep  in  mind  the  manifold 
 mercies  of  God.  The  passover,  to  commemoiate  the  deliver- 
 139 
 
 ance  from  E:;ypt,  urges  upon  us  never  to  forget  that  '  Christ, 
 our  Passover,  was  sacrificed  for  us.'  The  harvest  feast  en- 
 forces gratitude  for  our  daily  bread  ;  the  feast  of  trumpets  re- 
 minds us  that  we  should  mark  the  mercies  of  God  in  every 
 returning  year  ;  the  day  of  atonement  teaches  us  to  mourn  for 
 sin  as  well  as  to  rejoice  in  Christ  Jesus  :  '  jMourning  for  sin,' 
 says  Scott, '  makes  way  for  heavenly  joy  ;  and  from  his  depth 
 of  humiliation  the  Christian  soars  nearer  heaven,  and  leaves 
 the  world  further  and  further  beneath.'  And,  finally,  the 
 feast  of  tabernacles  should  call  to  our  recollection  that  w^e  are 
 pilgrims  and  strangers  upon  earth  ;  that  we  dwell  here  in 
 tabernacles  ;  that  this  is,  therefore,  not  our  rest  ;  and  that  we 
 must  look  for  our  borne  only  in  the  celestial  Canaan,  where 
 there  are  •  everlasting  babitalions.' 
 
The  hao  of  bUispheinij,  murder,  §'c. 
 
 ll;viticus,  xxv. 
 
 The  jubilte  in  the  JiJ'tiet/i  year. 
 
 hands  upon  his  head,  and  let  all  the  congrega- 
 tion stone  liim. 
 
 15  And  thou  shall  speak  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel,  saying,  Whosoever  curseth  his  God 
 "shall  hear  his  sin. 
 
 16  And  he  that  ■' blasphenieth  the  name  of 
 the  Lord,  he  shall  surely  be  put  to  death,  nnd 
 all  the  congregation  shall  certainly  stone  him  : 
 as  well  the  stranger,  as  he  that  is  born  in  the 
 land,  when  he  blasphenieth  the  name  of  the 
 LOUD,  shall  he  put  to  death. 
 
 17  1''  And  he  that  f  killeth  any  man  shall 
 surely  be  put  to  death. 
 
 18  '  And  he  that  killeth  a  beast  shall  make  it 
 good  ;  f  beast  for  beast. 
 
 19  And  if  a  man  cause  a  blemish  in  his 
 neighbour ;  as  '  he  hath  done,  so  shall  it  be 
 done  to  him  ; 
 
 20  Breach  for  breach,  eye  for  eye,  tooth  for 
 tooth  :  as  he  hath  caused  a  blemish  in  a  man, 
 so  shall  it  be  done  to  him  ac/aht. 
 
 •21  'And  he  that  killeth "  a  beast,  he  shall 
 restore  it :  "  and  he  that  killeth  a  man,  he 
 shall  he  put  to  death. 
 
 22  Ye  shall  have  '  one  manner  of  law,  as  well 
 for  the  stranger,  as  for  one  of  your  own  country  : 
 for  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 23  1  And  Moses  spake  to  the  children  of 
 Israel,  ''  that  they  should  bring  forth  him  that 
 had  cursed  out  of  the  camp,  and  stone  him  with 
 stones.  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  as  the 
 Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 I    T!ie  sabbath  of  the  sevmth  year.    8  The  juhllec  in  the 
 fif'tielh  year.      14  Of  oppression.      18  A  blessinp  nf 
 obedience.      2."J    The   redemption   of  land.      29    Of 
 houses.     35   Compassion  of  the  poor.     39    The  usatf^ 
 of  bondmen.     47    The  redemption  of  servants. 
 
 A' 
 
 ND  the  Loud  spake  unto  Moses  in  mount 
 ^   Sinai,  saying, 
 
 2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say 
 unto  them,  When  ye  come  into  the  land  wliich 
 I  give  you,  then  shall  the  laud  f  keep  "  a  sab- 
 bath unto  the  Lord. 
 
 3  Six  years  tlioii  shalt  sow  thy  field,  and  six 
 years  thou  shalt  prune  thy  vineyard,  and  gather 
 in  the  fruit  thereof; 
 
 4  But  in  the  seventh  year  shall  be  a  sabbath 
 of  rest  unto  the  land,  a  sabbath  for  the  Lord  : 
 
 ■>ll    17. 
 Num.  O.tH 
 ;-  1  Klii.ai. 
 
 IS.  Milt.  12 
 S\.  MHi-k3 
 23.  Jiim.  S. 
 
 9  Fx.  21.  \i. 
 
 Num.3r)3l. 
 
 Deii.  19.  II, 
 
 I-?. 
 f  Heb.  smit- 
 
 tlh  the  life 
 
 rVer.  21. 
 t  Heb.  lt/4 
 
 for  /ift. 
 I  Ex.21.  24. 
 
 Deu.  19.21. 
 
 nut.  5.  S3. 
 
 &  7.2. 
 
 t  Heb.  rest. 
 a  V.X.  '23.10. 
 See  ch.  £6. 
 
 ^\,  as. 
 
 2Clir.3C.2l. 
 
 t  Heb.  of 
 
 t    Heb,  lo;tt 
 
 d  Tb   61.2,  Ki 
 0:i.  \.  Jer 
 31.  S,  15,  17. 
 Luke  4.  iy. 
 
 /l  tCT.   10. 
 cb.  27.  2t. 
 Num.  36,4 
 
 i  ver.  17. 
 ch.  I'.),  13. 
 I  bnm  IS  .-{, 
 ♦.  Mic,  2  2 
 I  Cor.  6.  8. 
 
 4  ch.  27.  IH, 
 
 ■iS. 
 
 m  ver,  4.r 
 cb.  19.  11, 
 
 tliou  shalt  neither  sow  thy  field,  nor  prune  thy 
 vineyard. 
 
 5  ''  Tliat  which  groweth  of  its  own  accord  of 
 thy  harvest  thou  shalt  not  reap,  neither  gather 
 the  grapes  f  of  thy  vine  undressed  :  for  it  is  a 
 year  of  rest  unto  the  land. 
 
 G  And  tiie  sabbath  of  the  land  shall  be  meat 
 for  you  ;  for  thee,  and  for  thy  servant,  and  for 
 tliy  maid,  and  for  tliy  hired  servant,  and  for  thy 
 stranger  tltat  sojournetii  with  thee, 
 
 7  And   for  thy  cattle,  and  for  the  beast  that 
 \are  in  thy  land,  shall  all  the  increase  tliereof 
 
 be  meat. 
 
 8  H  And  thou  shalt  number  seven  sabbaths  of 
 years  unto  thee,  seven  times  seven  years  ;  and 
 the  space  of  the  seven  sabbaths  of  years  shall 
 be  unto  thee  forty  and  nine  years. 
 
 9  Then  shalt  thou  cause  the  trumpet  fof  the 
 jubilee  to  sovmd  on  the  tenth  (.iaif  of  the  seventh 
 month, ''in  the  day  of  atonement  shall  ye  make 
 the  trumpet  sound  throughout  all  your  land. 
 
 10  And  ye  sliall  hallow  the  fiftieth  year,  and 
 '' proclaim  liberty  throughout  o// the  land  unto 
 all  the  inhabitants  thereof:  it  shall  be  a  jubilee 
 unto  you  ;  "^"  and  ye  shall  return  every  man 
 unto  his  possession,  and  ye  shall  return  every 
 man  unto  his  family. 
 
 11  A  jubilee  shall  that  fiftieth  year  be  unto 
 you:  'ye  shall  not  sow,  neither  reap  that 
 which  groweth  of  itself  in  it,  nor  gather  the 
 f/rapes  in  it  of  tliy  vine  undressed. 
 
 12  For  it  is  the  jubilee  ;  it  shall  be  holy  unto 
 you  :  ^ye  shall  eat  the  increase  thereof  out  of 
 the  field. 
 
 13  ''  In  the  year  of  this  jnbilee  ye  shall  return 
 every  man  unto  his  possession. 
 
 14  And  if  tliou  sell  ought  unto  thy  neighbour, 
 or  bnyest  oiujhi  of  thy  neighbour's  hand,  *  ye 
 shall  not  oppress  one  another  : 
 
 15  ''  According  to  the  nnmber  of  years  after 
 the  jubilee  thou  .shalt  bny  of  thy  neighbour,  and 
 according  unto  the  number  of  years  of  the  fruits 
 he  shall  sell  unto  thee  : 
 
 16  According  to  the  multitude  of  years  thou 
 shalt  iucrea.se  the  price  thereof,  and  according 
 to  the  fewness  of  years  thou  shalt  diminish  the 
 price  of  it :  for  accordimj  to  the  number  o/"Me 
 years  of  tlie  fruits  doth  he  sell  onto  thee. 
 
 1 7  '  Ye  shall  not  therefore  oppress  one 
 another;  ""but  thou  shalt  fear  thy  God  :  for  I 
 am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 cause  of  to  thyself.'— P(7/.  20.  Eye  for  eye  — see  note  ou  E.xod. 
 XXi.  24. 
 
 Chap.  XXV.  —  \.  In  moiuit  Sinni,  *  near  ;•  so  the  Hebrew  particle  1 
 is  sometimes  usfd,  (Gen.  .x.x.xvii.  13  ;  Josh.  v.  13;  Judg.  viii.  5  ;  2Chron. 
 xxxiii.  20  ;  compared  with  2   King^^.  xxi.  i8.)—Pvole.  2.  The  land 
 
 keep  a  sabbath— d^  rest  from  tillage,  as  afterwards  expIaincd.—G///. 
 4.  Neither  anw—the  very  existence  of  this  law  is  a  proof  when  it  was 
 Riven;  the  Mosaic  miracles  were  fully  believed,  and  what  lawgiver 
 but  one  divinely  authorized,  or  what  nation  but  one  convinced  that  a 
 Divine  authority  ha<l  dictated  this  law.  and  a  Divine  Providence  would 
 ^uard  them,  would  otherwise  have  submitted  to  it  ? — Grave.'i.  Q.  Jii- 
 fiilee,  from  Viin,  '  lo  brin^  back,'  '  restore,'  *  return,'  because,  at  this 
 time  men  were  returned  to  their  estates  and  families. — (iill.  The  word 
 ^3V,  which  we  translate  'jubilee'  in  the  next  verses,  is  not  in  the 
 Hebrew,  but  nyTiHt  a  word  which,  in  the  marf^in,  we  translate,  '  loud 
 of  sound,'  for  the  trumpet  was  blown  after  a  difterent  manner  at  this 
 time  than  upon  other  occasions,  that  every  one  might  understand  the 
 
 meaning  of  it.  To  sound — in  the  Hebrew  the  word  is,  'cause  it  to 
 pass,'  that  it  might  be  heard  everywhere  throughout  the  land  ;  so  the 
 literal  translation  may  be,  '  thou  shalt  cause  to  pass  the  trumpet  Inud 
 of  sound.' — Pat.  This  great  festival  was  to  remind  the  .lew>  of  their 
 Egyptian  servitude,  and  to  jirevent  them  imposing  the  like  on  their 
 brethren. — Hew.  The  question  has  often  been  discussed,  whether  the 
 jubilee  was  in  the  forty  ninth  or  fiftieth  year.  It  was  after  seven  re- 
 turns of  the  sabbatical  year  had  been  completed,  notice  was  to  be 
 given,  on  the  evening  of  tlie  day  of  atonement,  for  the  observance  of 
 the  year  of  jubilee.  This  absolutely  dcciiles  that  tlie  jear  of  jubilee 
 was  not  the  same  as  the  seventh  sabbatical  year,  but  the  year  aftcr- 
 w-irds,  that  is,  tlie  fifth'th  and  not  the  forty-ninth  year. — Scott. 
 11).  Unto  alt  the  inhabitants— snch  as  were  Israefitrs ;  i)rincipally  to 
 all  servants,  and  to  the  poor,  who  now  were  acquitted  from  all  their 
 debts,  and  restored  to  thrir  possessions.  11.  Ye  shall  not  sow,  though 
 a  jubilee  come  immediately  after  a  seventh  year,  in  which  this  was 
 also  forbidden. — Poole.         15.  According  to  the  number  of  years— oa 
 
 RcFi.i-CTiONS  ON  Chap.  XXIV. — I.  The  knnps  and  shew 
 bread  placed  before  the  Lord  continually  wen:  typical  of  the  gospel, 
 which,  when  it  shf)ne  to  enlighten  the  church ^  superseded  the  ante- 
 type  The  people  supplying  the  oil  may  serve  to  remind  us 
 of  our  duty  to  keep  this  lamp  burning  in  the  church.  The 
 shew  broad,  wliilo  it  mi^lit  typify  the  various  provisions  of 
 God's  house,  mipht  also  shew  the  provision  made  for  the 
 minisif-rs  of  God,  and  Uken-ise  their  interest,  as  well  as  the 
 140 
 
 people,  in  the  spiritual  things  of  God. 
 
 IL  In  the  account  of  the  hlasphemcTy  we  see  the  consequences  of 
 Israelites  being  unequally  yoked  with  worlJly  idolators.  Can  they 
 wonder  if  their  children,  having  one  parent  devoted  to  tlie 
 world,  follow  the  natural  bent  of"  their  inclinations,  and  imbibe 
 evil  rather  than  pood  ?  and  should  tliey  not  treniide  at  the 
 thought  of  their  olTspring  heconiing  bold  blasphemers,  and  at 
 last  sufffring  iIr-ii  awful  punishment  \ 
 
i  blessing  of  obedience. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XXV. 
 
 Compassion  of  the  poor. 
 
 18  1°  Wherefore  ye  shall  do  my  statutes, 
 and  keep  my  jii(l(;;ments,  and  do  them;  "and 
 ve  shall  dwell  in  the  land  in  safety. 
 
 19  And  the  land  .shall  yield  her  frnit,  and  ''ye 
 shall  eat  your  fill,  and  dwell  therein  in  safety. 
 
 20  And  if  ye  shall  say,  "*  What  shall  we  eat 
 the  seventh  year?  behold,  ' we  shall  not  sow, 
 nor  gather  in  our  increase  : 
 
 21  Then  1  will  'command  my  ble.s.sing  upon 
 you  in  the  sixth  year,  and  it  shall  bring  forth 
 i'rnit  for  three  years. 
 
 t22  '  And  ye  shall  sow  the  eighth  year,  and 
 eat  vf'  of  "old  fruit  until  the  ninth  year;  until 
 iier  fruits  come  in  ye  shall  eat  of  the  old  store. 
 
 23  f  The  land  shall  not  be  sold  ||  ffoi"  ever: 
 for  '  the  land  ('*■  mine  ;  for  ye  are  '  strangers 
 and  sojourners  with  me. 
 
 24  And  in  all  the  land  of  your  possession  ye 
 shall  grant  a  redemption  for  the  land. 
 
 25  1!  '■  If  thy  brother  be  waxen  poor,  and  hath 
 sold  away  some  of  his  possession,  and  if  "any 
 of  his  kin  come  to  redeem  it,  then  shall  he  re- 
 deem that  which  his  brother  sold. 
 
 20  And  if  the  man  have  none  to  redeem  it, 
 and  t  himself  be  able  to  redeem  it ; 
 
 27  Then  ^  let  him  count  the  years  of  the  sale 
 thereof,  and  restore  the  overplus  unto  the  man 
 to  whom  he  sold  it ;  that  he  may  return  unto 
 his  possession. 
 
 28  But  if  he  be  not  able  to  restore  ;'/  to  him, 
 then  that  which  is  sold  .shall  remain  in  the 
 hand  of  him  that  bath  bought  it  until  the  year 
 of  jubilee  :  '  and  in  the  jubilee  it  shall  go  out, 
 and  he  .shall  return  unto  his  possession. 
 
 29  And  if  a  man  sell  a  dwelling  house  in  a 
 walled  city,  then  he  may  redeem  it  within  a 
 whole  year  after  it  is  sold  ;  ivithin  a  full  year 
 may  he  redeem  it. 
 
 30  And  if  it  be  not  redeemed  within  the  space 
 of  a  full  year,  then  the  house  that  is  in  the 
 walled  city  sliall  be  established  for  ever  to  him 
 that  bought  it  throughout  bis  generations  :  it 
 shall  not  go  out  in  the  jubilee. 
 
 31  But  the  houses  of  the  villages  which  have 
 no  wall  round  about  them  shall  be  counted  as 
 the  fields  of  the  country  :  f  they  may  be  re- 
 deemed, and  they  shall  go  out  in  the  jubilee. 
 
 32  Notwithstanding ''  the  cities  of  the  Levites, 
 and  the  bouses  of  the  cities  of  their  possession, 
 may  the  Levites  redeem  at  any  time. 
 
 .■)3  And  if  |{  a  man  purchase  of  the  Levites, 
 then  the  house  that  was  sold,  and  the  city  of 
 his  possession,  ".shall  go  out  in  the  year  ofjii- 
 bilee :  for  the  houses  of  the  cities  of  the  Levites 
 are  their  possession  among  the  children  of 
 Israel. 
 
 34  But  '  the  field  of  the  suburbs  of  their  cities 
 may  not  be  sold;  for  it  is  their  perpetual  pos- 
 session. 
 
 35  K  And  if  thy  brother  be  waxen  poor,  and 
 
 o  ih.  13.  37. 
 '-  i-h.  2G.  f). 
 
 Ven.  IS.  10. 
 
 Ps.  4.  8. 
 
 I'rov.  !..«. 
 
 JiT.  S.H.  6. 
 ;■  cU.  yii   5. 
 
 27,  -'^. 
 7  IVIiit.  6.25, 
 
 31. 
 r  ver.  4,  5 
 .  Di'ii.  2N.  S. 
 
 See  Ex.  10. 
 
 12. 
 
 li  Oi-.  /o  he 
 
 t  Hcl.  /.,r 
 
 jc  r>(ni.32.4.S. 
 2Chr.7.20. 
 
 Ps. 
 
 1. 
 
 IS.  & 
 3.  2. 
 II  I  Chr.  29. 
 
 11. 
 I  Ruth  2.  20. 
 
 fe  4  4.  6. 
 a  See  Kuth 
 
 .S.  2,  9,  12. 
 
 Jer.  32.  7,8. 
 t  Heb   4.! 
 
 hnnd  hnlh 
 
 f..u„d  ...Ji. 
 
 t    Ilel>    re- 
 
 ij  Pee  Num. 
 .*l^.  2.  Josh. 
 21.  2,  &c. 
 
 /See  Acts*. 
 36,37. 
 
 B.  C.  H91. 
 
 t  Heb.  A,s 
 li<n,d  fiiileir.. 
 
 t   Heb. 
 ttreiii/thfn 
 
 n  Dell  t.5. 7. 
 S.  PS..17  2fi. 
 ^  41.  I.  & 
 112.1,  9. 
 Pro.  bt.  31. 
 J-tike  6.  36. 
 Arts  11.29 
 Hmii.  12.18 
 l.l.,b.,3  17. 
 
 A  blx    22    2.'i. 
 
 I>cu,2:i.  ly 
 
 Neh.  .5.  7. 
 
 r«.  IS.  5. 
 
 Pin.  28.  9. 
 
 K/ok.  18  8. 
 
 13,  17.  &22. 
 
 12. 
 i  ver.  17. 
 
 Nell.  h.  9. 
 k  ell.  22- 32, 
 
 SI. 
 /  Kx.  21.  2. 
 
 lieu.  15.  12. 
 
 1  Kin.  9.22. 
 
 2  Kill.  4.  I. 
 Neh.  5.  5. 
 Jer.  .34.  1  ^ 
 
 t  Heb.  jerie 
 
 thi/nelf  Kill, 
 
 htm  mitli  llir 
 
 tervici',  ^c. 
 
 ver.  46. 
 
 Ex.  1.  14. 
 
 Jer.  25.   14. 
 
 &  27.  7    8t 
 
 SO.  8. 
 m  Ex   91.  3. 
 M  Ter.  28. 
 V  ver.  5.T. 
 
 Knui.  B.  22. 
 
 I  Cor.  7  23. 
 t  Heb.  toi/A 
 
 ll,e  ,„l,afa 
 
 hoiiffjit'in. 
 p  Epb.  6.  9. 
 
 Col.  4    I. 
 y  ver,  46. 
 
 Ex.  1.  13. 
 ver.  17. 
 
 Ex.  1.17.21. 
 
 Dell.  25. 18. 
 
 Mai    3.  5. 
 
 Ik.  56.  3,  6 
 
 iriM  /Arm. 
 
 ver.  39. 
 u  ver.  43. 
 1  Heb.  his 
 
 hniid  ubiain. 
 
 ^c.  ver.  26. 
 .r  ver.  25, 55. 
 
 a  Job  7.  1. 
 Tn.  16.  14. 
 &  21.  16. 
 
 t fallen  in  decay  with  thee:  then  thou  shall 
 t  ^  relieve  biin  :  //in,  t/ioiii/h  he  be  a  stranger, 
 or  a  sojourner ;  that  he  may  live  with  thee. 
 
 86  •■  Take  thou  no  usury  of  him,  or  increase  : 
 but  '  fear  thy  God  ;  that  thy  brother  may  live 
 with  thee. 
 
 37  Thou  shalt  not  give  biin  thy  money  upon 
 usury,  nor  lend  him  thy  victuals  for  increase. 
 
 38  '  I  am  the  Lord  your  God,  which  brought 
 you  forth  out  of  the  laud  of  Egypt,  to  give  you 
 the  land  of  Canaan,  and  to  be  your  God. 
 
 39  H  And  '  if  thy  brother  that  dwelleth  by 
 thee  be  waxen  poor,  and  be  sold  unto  thee; 
 thou  shalt  not  f  compel  him  to  serve  as  a 
 bondservant : 
 
 40  But  as  an  hired  servant,  and  as  a  so- 
 journer, he  shall  be  with  tliee,  and  .shall  serve 
 thee  unto  the  year  of  jubilee  : 
 
 41  And  then  shall  he  dcjiart  from  thee,  both 
 he  and  his  children  '"  with  him,  and  shall  return 
 unto  bis  own  family,  and  "  unto  the  possession 
 of  his  fathers  shall  be  return. 
 
 42  For  they  are  °niy  servants,  which  I  brought 
 forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt :  they  shall  iiot 
 be  sold  fas  bondmen. 
 
 43  ^  Thou  shalt  not  rule  over  him  ''  with 
 rigour  ;  but  '  shalt  fear  thy  God. 
 
 44  Both  thy  bondmen,  and  thy  bondmaids, 
 which  thou  shalt  have,  shall  he  of  the  heathen 
 that  are  round  about  yon  ;  of  them  shall  ye 
 buy  bondmen  and  bondmaids. 
 
 45  Moreover  of  '  the  children  of  the  strangers 
 that  do  sojourn  among  you,  of  them  shall  ye 
 buy,  and  of  their  families  that  are  with  you, 
 which  they  begat  in  your  land  :  and  they  shall 
 be  your  possession. 
 
 46  And  '  ye  shall  take  them  as  an  inheritance 
 for  your  children  after  you,  to  inherit  them  for 
 a  possession  ;  f  they  shall  be  your  bondmen 
 for  ever  :  but  over  your  brethren  the  children 
 of  Israel,  "  ye  shall  not  rule  one  over  another 
 with  rigour. 
 
 47  1  And  if  a  sojourner  or  stranger  f  wax  rich 
 by  thee,  and  *  thy  brother  that  divelleth  by  him 
 wax  poor,  and  sell  himself  unto  the  stranger 
 or  sojourner  by  thee,  or  to  the  stock  of  the 
 stranger's  family  : 
 
 48  After  that  he  is  sold  he  may  be  redeemed 
 again  ;  one  of  his  brethren  may  >'  redeem  him  : 
 
 49  Either  his  uncle,  or  his  uncle's  son,  may 
 redeem  him,  or  any  that  is  nigh  of  kin  unto 
 him  of  his  family  may  redeem  him  ;  or  if  "  he 
 be  able,  he  may  redeem  himself. 
 
 50  And  he  shall  reckon  with  him  that  bought 
 him  from  the  year  that  he  was  sold  to  him  unto 
 the  year  of  jubilee  :  and  the  price  of  his  sale 
 shall  be  according  unto  the  number  of  year.s, 
 "  according  to  the  time  of  an  hired  servant  shall 
 it  be  with  him. 
 
 51  If  there  be  yet  many  years  behind,  accord- 
 
 Ihe  same  principle  our  leaseholds  arc  purchased.— itrf.  26.  Uimself 
 be  utile,  with  wliat  he  had  gutten  of  his  own  since  the  time  of  sale,  for 
 he  might  unt  horrow  and  redeem.  30,  II  shall  not  go  out  in  llie 
 
 julnlee — for  houses  were  not,  like  lands,  the  gift  of  God,  and  held  under 
 him,  hut  were  built  by  men,  and  were  their  ;;hsolute  property.  32.  At 
 any  time— if  Dot  within  the  year,  even  years  after,  and  any  time  before 
 the  jubilee.  33.    Purc/iase  t^f  t/ie  Lei'iles — if  a   common  Israelite 
 
 made  such  a  purchase  then  it  was  redeemable,  but  if  a  Levite  pur- 
 chased of  a  Levite,  then  it  was  absolutely  irredeemable. — Gill,  from 
 Jar.  Bootliroyd  reads  as  the  margin,  *  And  if  one  of  the  Levites  have 
 redeemed,  then  the  house,'  &c.,  and  he  observes,  if  one  Levite  had 
 redeemed  the  house  sold  by  iinotlier,  the  former  should  retain  it  till 
 the  jubilee,  when  it  should  return  to  the  owner.  34.  Tlie  field  of  the 
 8uhutbs—maii  not  be  so/rf— the  suburbs  reached  2000  cubits  on  every 
 
 i4i 
 
 side  of  the  Levites*  cities,  (Num.  xxxv.  5,)  in  which  they  had  fields  to 
 Keep  their  cattle,  and  these  belonged  to  them  in  common  ;  every  Levite 
 had  a  particular  field  to  himself  as  his  own  property,  for  which  reai,on 
 it  might  not  he  sold. — Hill.  36.  No  uaurtj,  either  for  money  or 
 victuals,  (ver.  37.)  Thus  far  this  law  binds  still,  but  could  never  he 
 thought  binding  where  money  is  borrowed  for  purchase  of  lands, 
 trades,  &c..  for  there  it  is  reasonable  that  the  lender  share  in  the  profit 
 The  law  here  is  for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  to  whom  it  is  sometimes  as 
 great  a  charity  to  lend  freely  as  to  give. — Hen.  39.  .4  bondserrant — 
 such  were  the  heathens,  and  bought  of  them,  or  taken  in  war  and  made 
 slaves.  51.  According  unto  ttiem  —  say.  for  example,  there  were 
 twenty  years  till  the  jubilee,  when  bought,  and  the  man  had  received 
 twenty  pieces  of  money ;  if  he  were  redeemed  ten  years  before,  he  must 
 pay  ten  for  his  icdemption,  and  so  on. — GUI. 
 
4  blessing  and 
 
 iii<j  unto  thein  he  shall  ^ive  again  the  price 
 oi  liis  redemption  out  of  the  money  that  he 
 was  bought  for. 
 
 5-2  And  if  there  remain  but  few  years  unto 
 the  year  of  jubilee,  then  he  shall  count  with 
 him,  and  according  unto  his  years  shall  he 
 yive  him  again  the  price  of  his  redemption. 
 
 53  And  as  a  yearly  hired  servant  shall  he 
 be  with  him  :  and  'the  other  shall  not  rule 
 with  riironr  over  him  in  thy  sight. 
 
 34  And  if  he  be  not  redeemed  ||  in  these 
 years,  then  Mie  shall  go  out  in  the  year  of 
 jubilee,  both  he,  and  his  children  with  him. 
 
 55  For  ""  unto  me  the  children  of  Israel  are 
 servants;  they  are.  my  servants  whom  I 
 brought  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt:  1  am 
 the  Loud  your  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 1  Of  idnlfitr>/,  2  Rvlifjinnsnfss.  3  A  bhsshit/  to 
 th*m  that  k.rp  the  cumiu(iu,hnrnts.  14  A  curse  to 
 those  tkiit  l>rtak  them.  40  God  promiseth  to  rt- 
 mtml'cr  t/um  that  rc/w  ut. 
 
 YE    shall  make   you   °  no  idols  nor  graven 
 image,   neither   rear  you  up  a   ||  standing 
 image,  neither  shall  ye  set  u^  any   ||  f  image 
 of  stone  in  your  land,  to  bow  down  unto  it : 
 (or  I  urn  the  Louu  your  (jod. 
 •2    1  ^  Ye    shall    keep    my    sabbaths,  and    re- 
 erence  my  sanctuary  :   I  am  the  Lord, 
 
 3  H*"  If  ye  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  keep  my 
 commandments,  ami  do  them  ; 
 
 4  "^  Then  I  will  give  you  rain  in  due  season, 
 ^aud  the  land  shall  yield  her  increase,  and  the 
 trees  of  the  field  shall  yield  their  fruit. 
 
 5  And  f  your  threshing  shall  reacli  unto  the 
 vintage,  and  the  vintage  shall  reach  unto  the 
 sowing  time:  and  ^' ye  shall  eat  your  bread 
 to  the  full,  and  "  dwell  in  your  land  safely. 
 
 6  And  '  I  will  give  peace  in  the  land,  and 
 ^  ye  shall  lie  down,  and  none  shall  make  you 
 afraid  :  and  1  will  f  rid  '  evil  beasts  out  of  the 
 laud,  neither  shall  '"  the  sword  go  through  your 
 .and. 
 
 7  And  ye  shall  chase  your  enemies,  and  they 
 shall  fall  before  you  by  the  sword. 
 
 8  And  "  five  of  you  shall  chase  an  hundred, 
 and  an  hundred  of  you  shall  put  ten  thousand 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XXVL 
 
 a  curse  proposed. 
 
 Ot,  h>/thfie 
 ■nivalis. 
 
 .  VLT.  41. 
 
 Ex. 21. 2,3. 
 )  ver.  *2. 
 
 n  En.sn.-i.B. 
 
 Hen  o  U  Sc 
 l(..i!-2  St  27. 
 15.  Pa.  97  7. 
 
 I.  Or,  i>.Unr. 
 
 R  Or,  Jig-red 
 
 t  II eb  It  ttone 
 of  }iicture. 
 
 b  cli.  19.  :•■ 
 Ucu.  n.i:1. 
 11,  15.*  23. 
 
 1- 
 d  Is.  30.  V3 
 
 Eie.  .-H.  ifi, 
 
 Joel2:iJ.,.'+. 
 I!  Pa    ti7.  6. 
 
 ,V  85.   13. 
 
 Eie.  3V  •-'7. 
 
 Ik  Se    3il. 
 
 Zccli.8.  13 
 /■Anio-n.l.S 
 if  ch.  2.H.   19, 
 
 Deti.  11.15. 
 
 .roel  i.  19, 
 
 aii. 
 
 h  ell.  25    18, 
 
 Jn\)  II     18. 
 
 Exe.  3hJ5, 
 
 27,  2rt. 
 I  I  Chr.  2* 
 
 P8.29.  11.& 
 
 M7.  li. 
 
 Is   \5.  7. 
 
 H.'tu  2.  9. 
 A  J.ib  II.  I». 
 
 P9.  3.  5.  fc 
 
 +   H     Is.  ai. 
 
 9.  Jer.  fkl. 
 
 lU.  Eze.  34. 
 
 25.  Hos.  2. 
 
 19.  Zepli.  3. 
 
 13. 
 t  Heb  cniite 
 
 to  cfisr. 
 
 /  2  Kill.  17. 
 
 «  Ex.  9   25 
 2Kiti.IS.33. 
 
 ;» (it'll  17.*i.7. 
 Neh  9.  23. 
 Ps.  IU7,  38. 
 
 7  ch.  i5.  S2. 
 
 &  39.  4.^.. 
 
 Josh.  23.19. 
 
 P«.  76.  3. 
 
 Exe.  37.  3C, 
 
 27,3rt.  Kev. 
 
 21.  3. 
 
 I  cli.  20.  33. 
 
 Deu.  33.  19. 
 r3  Cur.  6.  16. 
 
 I  E«,  6.  7. 
 
 Jer.  7.  23. 
 
 &  II.  4.  & 
 
 30.  22.  Eze 
 
 II. -20.  &3C. 
 
 S3. 
 
 0  ch.  25.  38, 
 
 43,  Sh. 
 X  Jer.  2.  SO. 
 
 Kie.  34-  27. 
 y  Deii.3S,l5. 
 
 I.am.  3.  17. 
 
 Mftl.  2.  2. 
 
 ;  ver.  43. 
 
 2Kiii. 17.15. 
 
 f  Heb.  upon 
 
 a  Dfn.  28.fi5. 
 U6, 67.  &  33. 
 S5.  Jer.  15. 
 
 A  neii.2S.33, 
 c  1  SAm  2.-  3 
 d  J)eii.3S..'tf, 
 
 51.  Job  31. 
 
 9.  Jer.  5. 
 
 17    St  13.  13. 
 
 Mic  H.  15. 
 .Th  17.  10. 
 rVeu.2S.i:>. 
 
 J\i6i!.-2.  14. 
 
 Jer.  19   7. 
 H  Ps    106  41. 
 h  ver.  ;  6. 
 
 Ps.  53.  5, 
 
 Pro.  3B.  1. 
 I  I  Sam.  i.  5. 
 
 Ps.  Il9.lt>l 
 
 Pro.  24.  1(5. 
 h  Is.  25.  II. 
 
 gc  36  5. 
 
 Eirk.  7.24 
 
 &  SO.  6 
 /  Dfii.  38.23. 
 m  Ps.  137.  I. 
 
 Ib.  49.  *. 
 n  Deu.  II  17 
 
 ft  2H.  Ij*. 
 
 Hap.  I 
 
 n./>, 
 
 «/-« 
 
 25    Kiek  5, 
 
 24. 
 
 17  A  11.  l.^. 
 
 ..  I)pu..'??.2 
 
 n  Eie.  11.17. 
 
 ■2  Kin.  17  ■: 
 
 Deu.Si.Si" 
 
 Kk'W   5    1 
 
 Josh.  33.  in. 
 
 ft  U.   15. 
 
 i  to  flif^ht  :  and  your  enemies  shall  fall  before 
 you  by  the  sword. 
 
 9  For  I  will  "have  respect  unto  you,  and 
 I"  make  you  fruitful,  and  multiply  you,  and 
 establish  my  covenant  willi  you. 
 
 10  And  ye  shall  eat  ''old  store,  and  bring 
 forth  the  old  because  of  the  new. 
 
 1 1  '  And  I  will  set  my  tabernacle  among 
 you  :  and  my  soul  shall  not  ''abhor  you. 
 
 1-2  'And  1  will  walk  among  you,  and  "will 
 be  your  God,  and  ye  shall  be  my  people. 
 
 13  "■  I  am  the  Lord  your  God,  which  brought 
 you  fortli  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  that  ye 
 should  not  be  their  bondmen  ;  "  and  I  have 
 broken  the  bands  of  your  yoke,  and  made  you 
 go  upriglit. 
 
 14  II  "  But  if  ye  will  not  hearken  unto  me, 
 and  will  not  do  all  tliese  commandments  ; 
 
 15  And  if  ye  shall  'despise  my  statutes,  or 
 if  your  soul  abhor  my  Judgments,  so  that  ye 
 will  not  do  all  my  commandments,  but  that  ye 
 break  my  covenant : 
 
 K)  I  also  will  do  this  unto  you  ;  I  will  even 
 appoint  t  over  you  "  terror,  ''  consumption,  and 
 the  burning  ague,  that  shall  '  consume  the 
 eyes,  and  cause  sorrow  of  heart :  and  ''  ye  shall 
 sow  your  seed  in  vain,  for  your  enemies  shall 
 eat  it. 
 
 17  And  ■■  1  will  set  my  face  against  you,  and 
 'ye  shall  be  slain  before  your  enemies  :  ^  they 
 that  hate  yon  shall  reign  over  you  ;  and  "  ye 
 shall  flee  when  none  pursueth  you. 
 
 18  And  if  ye  will  not  yet  for  all  this  hearken 
 unto  me,  then  I  will  punish  you  '  seven  times 
 more  for  your  sins. 
 
 1!)  And  i  will  '  break  the  pride  of  your  power; 
 and  I  '  will  make  your  heaven  as  iron,  aud  yout 
 eartli  as  brass  : 
 
 20  And  your  "'  strength  shall  be  spent  in 
 vain  :  for  "  your  land  shall  not  yield  her  in 
 crease,  neither  shall  the  trees  of  the  laud  yield 
 their  fruits. 
 
 ■21  t  Aud  if  ye  walk  ||  contrary  unto  me,  and 
 will  not  hearken  unto  me  ;  I  will  bring  seven 
 times  more  plagues  upon  you  according  to 
 your  sins. 
 
 •22  "  I  will  also  send  wild  beasts  among  you, 
 which  shall  rob  you  of  your  children,  and  de- 
 
 CiiAp.  XXVI.  — 1.  A'o  ido!.i,  'things  of  naught,"  Hel:.  •Cancel 
 i(\„)s  •—Oedden,  Bnothr.  '  Stones  of  adiiraiion."  .Swrmc.  The  original 
 may  alo  siirnify  •  a  painted  stone,'  like  one  of  the  numerous  obeli>ks 
 in  t'gypt,  which  were  covered  with  hieroglvphics,  and  creeled  in  honour 
 of  their  gods.        3.  Shilutes,  ri~T<.  from  pn.  '  to  describe.'  •  m.irk,'  or 
 
 •  trace  out;'  hence,  a  statute  is  an  ordinance  or  appointment  mailied 
 out  aud  defined.       Cinnmiitidmenls,   niSQ.  fiom  mS,   '  to  command,' 
 
 •  order,'  '  ordain.'— /''iv.  SVu/iifw  imply  a  traced  out  copy  of  conduct, 
 commmidmmts  the  ohligation  of  obeying  them.— So  A.  Clarke.  4.  Ilmn 
 in  due  scjtson— they  seldom  had  rain  in  Cauaan  and  Syna  exceiit  in 
 spring  and  autumn  ;  if  eitlier  failed,  the  year  was  conseiiuertly  barren. 
 —  Hen:  .■>.  Reach  viito  the  vinlnge—Oxcre  should  be  such  plentiful 
 harvests  of  barley  and  wheat  in  March  as  would  employ  them  in 
 threshing  tlicm  out  unto  the  vintage  in  July,  (fee  Amos,  ix.  13.)— Gi//. 
 e  Five  ahall  ehase  an  hundred— a.  carxaia  number  for  an  uncertain.— 
 Pnnle.  See  Josh.  X.viii.  10 ;  Judg.  iii.'21  ;  vii.2-2;  XV.  15;  2Sam.xMll.S. 
 J  Mil  coivii./nf  — that  made  at  Sinai,  or  the  covenant  of  increase 
 made  with  their  ancestors.— GiH.         10.  Eat  old  store— corn,  perhaps, 
 
 three  years  old  ;  sucli  plenty  would  they  have  that  it  would  be  so  long 
 consuming,  iirin^ /oi7A //if  I'/rf,  out  of  their  barns  and  granaric,  to 
 muke  roi  m  for  the  new. — Citl.  13.  Bands  of  your  yake — like  that  on 
 the  neck  of  the  ox,  which  causes  the  animal  to  hang  down  his  head, 
 and  deprives  him  much  of  liberty  and  power. — So  HeuK  15.  Judg. 
 
 meats,  D'TQC^.  from  IDCHJ,  '  to  di!.cern,'  'determine,'  '  regulate,'  '  di- 
 rect.*— Par.  Those  things  which  distinguish  correctly  between  vice 
 and  virliie. — So  .i.  Clarke.  I6.  Terror — not  of  mind,  but  some  sud- 
 den, hasty,  terrible,  distemper;  perhaps  the  pestilence,- fi'i//.  or  the 
 falling  sickness. —  l*at.  Conmnnption,  nE?niD,  a  kind  of  atrophy,  of  a 
 wasting  and  consuming  rature. — A.  Clarke,  Gill.  Burning  ague, 
 iKTfpLi,   '  the  jaundice,'  Sept.  18.  Seeen   times   more — a  ^ripture 
 
 phrase  for  accumulated  punishment.  19-  .is  iron— neither  dew  nor 
 
 rain  should  descend  from  iheuce  to  make  the  earth  fruitful.  As  brass — 
 so  that  iis  iiarcheil  surface  should  not  admit  cf  the  >eed  being  cast  into 
 it.  21.  t'oatrnry,   *  careless'   or  '  heedless.'       Seren    times  more — 
 
 greater  and  sorer  punishments  still.—  Gi/t.  22.  Wild  heusts — shall 
 rob — cold  drives  tlie  wolf  from  the  northern  region  in  quest  of  food ; 
 
 REFf.FCTioNS  ON'  Chap.  X\V I.  How  imich  are  the  Sirlp- 
 
 tiiT:S  civTi/ir/ii  re  ojipvstd  to  tyranny!  There  were,  indeed, 
 slaves  of  the  heathen  nations,  hut  these  were,  by  a  special 
 J^ivine  commission,  doomed  to  punishment;  and  even  then, 
 the  lieathen  slaves  ot  a  Jewish  master  were  bettered  in  tlieir 
 condition,  and  might  happily  become  proselytes.  But  the 
 people  under  the  especial  care  of  God  were  never  to  oppress 
 each  other. 
 
 II.  How  glorious  a  deliverance  is  tiijajicd  by  the  ytar  of  Jtthilee  ! 
 O  reader  !  the  Rreat  day  of  atonement  has  opened  the  way  foi 
 your  spiritual  deliverance  from  the  bondage  of  sin.  '  Behold, 
 14-2 
 
 now  is  the  accepted  time  ;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation  !' 
 The  inspired  prophet  has  depicted  your  Redeemer  as  '  pro- 
 claiming liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison 
 doors  to  them  that  are  bound,  and  this  is  the  acceptable  year 
 oi'lhe  Lord.'    '  The  gospel  triimpet«oiinds,  and  all  the  endsol 
 the  earth  shall  see  the  salvation  of  God.' 
 '  Ye  slaves  of  sin  and  heli 
 Your  liberty  receive, 
 And  safe  in  Jesus  dwell. 
 And  blest  in  Jesus  live  ! 
 The  >ear  of  Jubdee  is  come, 
 Return,  je  ransomed  sinners,  home!' 
 
Promise  of  remembrance 
 
 LEVITICUS.  XXVI. 
 
 to  them  that  7'epent. 
 
 stroy  your  cattle,  and  make  yuu  few  in  num- 
 ber ;  and  ''  your  hiylt  ways  shall  be  desolate. 
 
 'J*3  And  it"  ye  '^  will  not  be  reformed  by  me 
 by  these  things,  but  will  walk  contrary  unto 
 me  ; 
 
 -1\  '  Then  will  I  also  walk  contrary  unto 
 you,  and  will  iiunish  you  yet  seven  times  for 
 your  sins. 
 
 25  And  '^  I  will  bring  a  sword  upon  you,  that 
 shall  avenge  the  quarrel  of  /«//  covonatit  :  and 
 when  ye  are  gathered  togetlier  within  yom- 
 cities,  *  1  will  send  the  pestilence  among  you  ; 
 and  ye  shall  be  delivered  into  the  hand  of  tiie 
 enemy. 
 
 26  *'  ^iwrf  when  I  have  broken  the  staff  of  your 
 bread,  ten  women  shall  bake  your  l)read  in 
 one  oven,  and  they  shall  deliver  you  your 
 liiead  again  by  weight  :  and  '^  ye  shall  eat, 
 and  not  be  satisfied. 
 
 -21  And  -'if  ye  will  not  for  all  this  hearken 
 unto  me,  but  walk  contrary  unto  me  ; 
 
 •28  Then  I  will  walk  contrary  unto  you  also 
 "  in  fury  ;  and  I,  even  I,  will  cliastise  you 
 seven  times  for  your  sins. 
 
 29  ^  And  ye  shall  eat  the  flesh  of  your  sons, 
 and  tlie  flesh  of  your  daughters  shall  ye  eat. 
 
 30  And  ^  I  will  destroy  your  high  places, 
 and  cut  down  your  images,  and  '^  cast  your  car- 
 cases upon  the  carcases  of  your  idols,  and  my 
 soul  shall  '^  abhor  you. 
 
 31  *"  And  I  will  make  your  cities  waste,  and 
 ^  bring  your  sanctuaries  unto  desolation,  and 
 I  will  not  smell  the  savour  of  your  sweet 
 odours. 
 
 32  ^  And  I  will  bring  the  land  into  desolation  : 
 and  your  enemies  which  dwell  therein  shall  be 
 ^  astonished  at  it. 
 
 33  And  '  I  will  scatter  you  among  the  hea- 
 then, and  will  draw  out  a  sword  after  you  :  and 
 your  land  shall  be  desolate,  and  your  cities 
 waste. 
 
 34  ^  Then  shall  the  land  enjoy  her  sabbaths, 
 as  long  as  it  lieth  desolate,  and  ye  be  in  your 
 enemies'  land  ;  even  then  shall  tlie  land  rest, 
 and  enjoy  her  sabbaths. 
 
 35  As  long  as  it  lieth  desolate  it  shall  rest; 
 because  it  did  not  rest  in  your  'sabbaths,  when 
 ye  dwelt  upon  it. 
 
 36  And  upon  them  that  are  left  alive  of  you 
 
 B.  c.  IWI. 
 
 •i  rhr.  15.5 
 Isu  SA.  8. 
 Lam.  1.  4-. 
 Zech.  7.  N, 
 q  Jer.  S-  3U. 
 
 1^  J 
 
 1108  4,6 — 
 
 *E^Lk  .5.  17. 
 «(  0.  H.  & 
 11.17.8:29, 
 8.  it  Sa.  2. 
 
 /Xum.H.i? 
 
 Detit,t;S,21. 
 
 Jer.   U.   !2, 
 
 &  :»4.  10.  & 
 
 ■^9,  17,  18. 
 
 Aini..B4.IO 
 ti  Ps.  103.  ](3 
 
 Isa.  3.  1. 
 
 E;iek.  4.  16. 
 
 fc  5.  16.  h 
 
 U    13. 
 -r  l3.  9.  20. 
 
 Mif.  6    M. 
 
 H<ig.  1.6. 
 y  ver.21  21. 
 
 z  Is.  59.  IS. 
 fc  68.  3.  & 
 66.  15.  Jer 
 21.5.  Eiek. 
 5.  l.S,  15.  & 
 
 8.  18. 
 
 a  r>eu.2fi.5S 
 9  Kin.  6.  ^y 
 Ezek.5.  10. 
 Lain.  4.  10. 
 Bar.  2.  3. 
 
 b  2  Chr.il  3, 
 ■V,  7.    Is  ?7. 
 
 9.  F./ek.  6. 
 3.4,5,6,13 
 
 c'iKiii.<;S20. 
 
 2  Chi.  34  .'! 
 rf  Lev.  2l>,  23. 
 
 Pa    78.  59. 
 
 &  89.  38. 
 
 Jer  14  l!l. 
 e  Neh.  2.  3. 
 
 J.T    4.  7. 
 
 Eitek.  6.  6. 
 /  Ps    74.  7. 
 
 Laiii-  L   10. 
 
 K-/«k.  9.  G. 
 
 &2I.  7. 
 3  Jer.  9   11- 
 
 fc25.  U.  1«. 
 h  Deu  ^'8  37 
 
 1  Kio.  9.8. 
 
 Jei.   IS.  16. 
 
 &  19  8. 
 
 Eiek  5.  l.-i 
 /  De.it.  4.  27. 
 
 8t  28.  (U. 
 
 Ps.  -14.  1 1 
 
 9.  16. 
 
 Ezok  li.ia. 
 
 &  20    23. 
 
 ^  22.   15. 
 
 Zfch  7.  U. 
 4  2Chr.3ti.2l. 
 t  vh.  25.  2. 
 
 Job  15  21. 
 Prnv.2S,  1. 
 tHcb.'/riie,. 
 
 o  la.  10.  4. 
 SecJ.iHt,'?. 
 
 14    \:>.  Ili. 
 pJofiU   7.  12, 
 13    Judg,2. 
 
 yDeut.  4.27. 
 fa  28.  65 
 Neh.  1.  9. 
 Jer.  .3.  23. 
 &29.  12,  ir 
 Ezek.4,  17. 
 &  6,  9.  & 
 20.43  8t24 
 23.  &15.  10 
 &  .S6.  31. 
 Hr.8.  5,  15 
 Zech.lO.  9 
 
 r  Num.  5.  7. 
 I  Kin.  8-33, 
 35,47.  Neh. 
 9.  2.    Dan. 
 
 9.  -S,  4. 
 Prov.28.13. 
 Luke  15.  18. 
 
 1  John  1.  9. 
 J  Sue  Jer    6 
 
 10.  &  9.  25, 
 26.    Ezek. 
 44.  7.    Acts 
 7.  51.  Rom 
 2.  29.  Col. 
 
 2  11. 
 
 /  1  Kin.  51. 
 
 29.  2  Chr. 
 
 12  6,  7,  12. 
 
 &  32   26.  & 
 
 S3.  12,  13. 
 H  Ex.  2.  2*. 
 
 &  6.  5.   Ps. 
 
 106.  45. 
 
 F.zek.lS.fiii. 
 xPs.  I3Q.  23 
 U  ver.  34.  35 
 X  ver.  15. 
 
 1  D<?ut4  31, 
 2  Kill.  13. 
 i3.    Horn. 
 II    2. 
 
 £i  nom.  II. 
 
 28. 
 c  ch,  22.  33. 
 
 fi  25.  38. 
 rf  Ps.  98.  2. 
 
 Frek   20.  9, 
 
 U.  22. 
 
 f  th.  27.  34 
 Dent.  6.  I 
 &,  12.  I.  «: 
 33.  4.  John 
 1.  17. 
 
 fch.  25.  1. 
 
 ■"  I  will  send  a  faintness  into  their  hearts  in 
 the  lands  of  their  enemies  ;  and  "  the  sound 
 of  a  f  shaken  leaf  shall  chase  tlieni  ;  and  they 
 shall  flee,  as  fleeing  from  a  sword  ;  and  they 
 shall  fall  when  none  pursueth. 
 
 37  And  *'  they  shall  fall  one  upon  another, 
 as  it  were  before  a  sword,  when  none  pursueth: 
 and  ^ye  .shall  have  no  power  to  stand  before 
 your  enemies. 
 
 38  And  ye  shall  perish  among  the  heatlien, 
 and  the  land  of  your  enemies  shall  eat  you  up. 
 
 3f>  And  they  that  are  left  of  you  ''  sliall  pine 
 away  in  their  iniquity  in  your  enemie.s'  lands  ; 
 and  also  in  the  iniquities  of  their  fathers  shall 
 they  pine  away  with  them. 
 
 40  '  If  they  shall  confess  their  iniquity,  and 
 the  iniquity  of  their  fathers,  with  their  trespass 
 which  they  trespassed  against  me,  and  that 
 also  they  have  walked  contrary  unto  me; 
 
 41  And  that  I  also  have  walked  contrary  unto 
 them,  and  have  brought  them  into  the  land  of 
 their  enemies;  if  then  their  '^  uncircnmcised 
 hearts  be  '  humbled,  and  they  then  accept  of 
 the  punishment  of  their  iniquity  : 
 
 4'2  Then  will  I  "  remember  my  covenant  with 
 Jacob,  and  also  my  covenant  with  Isaac,  and 
 also  my  covenant  with  Abraham  will  1  remem- 
 ber ;  and  I  will  ^  remember  the  land. 
 
 43  ^  The  laud  also  shall  be  left  of  tliem,  and 
 shall  enjoy  her  sabbaths,  while  she  lieth  deso- 
 late without  them  :  and  they  shall  accept  of 
 the  puni.shnient  of  tlieir  iniquity  :  because, 
 even  because  they  ^despised  my  judgments, 
 and  because  their  soul  abhorred  my  statutes. 
 
 44  And  yet  for  all  that,  when  they  be  in  the 
 land  of  their  enemies,  *  I  will  not  cast  them 
 away,  neither  will  I  abhor  them,  to  destroy 
 them  utterly,  and  to  break  my  covenant  witli 
 theni:  for  I  (it?t  the  Lord  their  God. 
 
 45  But  I  will  ""  for  their  sakes  remember  the 
 covenant  of  their  ancestors,  "^  whom  1  brought 
 forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  'Mn  the  sight  of 
 the  heathen,  that  I  might  be  their  God  :  1  am 
 the  Lord. 
 
 46  ^  These  are  the  statutes  and  judgments 
 and  laws,  which  the  Lord  made  between  him 
 aiul  the  children  of  Israel  •"  in  mount  Sinai  by 
 the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 and  thirst,  in  the  droughty  summers,  attracts  the  lion  to  the  river. — 
 Snt.  Shall  be  desolate,  having  few  travellers  and  people,  for  fear  of  the 
 beasts.  24.  Walk  cuntrarr/,  '  carelessly'  or  '  hciUIessly,*  '  Witii  you' 
 or  'towards  yu;*  *I  will  put  yon  out  of  my  care  and  protection," — 
 Poole.  25.  The  quarrel,  'the  violation.' — Geddex.  26.  Brulceii  the 
 s^ijf— deptived  them  of  bread,  the  staff  of  \\\c.—  Gill.  Ten,  '  a  great 
 many,'  as  the  number  ten,  in  scripture,  signifies,  (1  Sam.  i.  8;  Job, 
 xi.x.  3.)  Women  shall  bake — making  and  baking  bread  has  usually 
 been  the  work  of  women  in  eastern  countries. — Gill.  Ynnr  bread  in 
 one  oven — in  ancient  times  an  oven  was  designed  only  to  serve  a  single 
 family,  and  to  bake  fnr  Ihem  no  more  than  the  bread  of  one  day,  and 
 this  usage  still  continues  in  some  places  in  the  east.  There  were  also 
 anciently  public  bakehouses. — Har.  Tlie  words  mean,  '  there  shall  be 
 such  a  scarcity,  that  a  small  oven  i^h:ill  be  ^uiiicient  to  bake  bread  fnr 
 ten  families, — Pat.,  or  mnny  families,  as  above  interpreted.  29.  The 
 Jlesh  of  your  son*— fulfilled  at  the  siege  uf  Samaria,  (2  Kings,  vi.  2y,) 
 and  of  Jerusalem  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  (Lam.  iv.  10,)  and  at  the  last 
 siege  of  Jerusalem  by  Titus,  mentioned  by  Jonephns. — Gill.  30.  HiijA 
 places,  where  they  built  altars  and  offered  sacrifices  in  imitation  of  ihe 
 heathen. — Gill.    Their  supposed  proximity  to  the  residence  of  the  gods 
 
 was  one  reason  of  this. — Hew.  Your  images,  DD'3'On,  from  7?Dn,  or, 
 in  Pnrkhurst,  Dn,  '  temples  of  the  sun.' — Le  Clerc.  '  Iniagt-s  of  the 
 sun.' — Mont.  Your  idols,  DD^'^lSj.  from  '73 — the  noun  y^y  signifies 
 '  dung*  or  'ordure;'  'dungy  goiis,'  a  term  of  great  contempt. — Par. 
 31.  Sanctuaries  unto  deso/atiun—lUc  first  built  by  Solomon,  and  de- 
 stroyed by  Nebuchadnezzar ;  the  second  rebuilt  by  Zcrubbabel,  adorned 
 by  Herod,  and  reduced  to  ashes  by  Titus  Vespasian.  34.  Enjoy  her 
 sabbaths — this  was  tlie  case  during  the  seventj'  years'  captivity  in 
 Babylon,  which  some  say  was  because  they  had  neglected  seventy 
 sabbatical  years,  {.'•ee'iChron.  x.x.\vi.  21,) — Gill,  for  there  were  490  years 
 from  Saul  to  the  Babyloni>h  captivity,  in  which  there  would  be  seventy 
 sabbatical  years.— i/o«6.  38.  Eat  you  ^^/)— lost  iu  the  indiscriminate 
 multitude  of  other  nations.  Remarkably  fulfilled  in  the  loss  of  the  ten 
 tribes  —Hew.  41.  Uncircamcised  hearts,  *  haidencd,'  '  impenitent.* 
 —Berrirnan.  Accept  of  the  punishment  of  their  iniquity,  'shall  then 
 atone  for  their  iniquity.' — Uuub.  45.  For  their  sakes — more  literally, 
 '  in  their  hehdlt.^— Scott.  46.  Laws,  flTin,  from  rn\  '  to  direct.'  '  put 
 straight'  or  *  even,'  '  guide,'  '  aim  ;'  a  law  is,  therefore,  a  directory. — 
 Par.     Kevelation  throughout  is  to  direct  men  to  heaven. 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  XXVI.— I.  God^  in  his  wisdom  and 
 ffoodnessy  has  einployei  the  most  powrful  incentives  in  enforcing 
 obedience  to  his  sacred  commmdments.  He  has  set  before  us 
 good  and  evil — life  and  death.  He  has  encouraged  by  the 
 most  alluring  rewards,  and  deterred  by  the  most  tremendous 
 threatenings.  This  was  not  peculiar  to  tbe  infuncy  of  the 
 cliurch,  tor  he  still  acts  in  the  same  manner,  and  addresses  us 
 in  lantjuage  which  draws  motives  from  everything  wuhin  us 
 143 
 
 and  around  us,  which  appeals  to  every  faculty  of  the  soul,  and 
 every  feeling  of  the  heart.  But  the  most  powerful  motive  in 
 the  heart  of  a  Christian  is  that  of  love—'  The  love  of  Christ 
 coustrainetb  us.* 
 
 •  Love  makes  our  cheerful  feet 
 In  swilt  obedience  move.* 
 
 Here  is  the  principle  which  causes  a  beautiful  reaction.  Christ 
 
The  estimation  ofvotvs. 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XXVII. 
 
 Wo  devoted  thing  redeemable. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII, 
 
 1  lie.  that  rjiakcth  a  siiitjular  vow  muf^t  he  i/ie  Lords. 
 2  The  estimntion  of  the  person.  Q  Of  a  iMnsf  t/iveit 
 by  vow.  14  Of  a  hoitse.  16  Of  a  Jield,  and  the  rt' 
 demption  tltermf.  28  iVo  devoted  thint/  may  be  re- 
 deemed.     32   The  tithe  may  7wt  be  changed. 
 
 AND  tlie  Lord  spake  imto  Moses,  saying, 
 -'*-  •!  Speak  unto  tlie  cliildren  of  Israel,  and 
 say  unto  tliem,  "  When   a  man  shall  make  a 
 singular  vow,  the  persons  .«A«//  befot  the  Lord 
 by  thy  estimation. 
 
 .1  And  tliy  estimation  shall  be  of  the  male 
 from  twenty  years  old  even  unto  sixty  years 
 old,  even  thy  estimation  shall-  he  fifty  shekels 
 of  silver,  ^  after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary. 
 
 4  And  if  it  be  a  female,  then  thy  estimation 
 shall  be  thirty  shekels. 
 
 b  And  if  jt  be  from  five  years  old  even  unto 
 twenty  years  old,  then  thy  esthimtion  shall  be 
 of  the  male  twenty  shekels,  and  for  the  female 
 ten  shekels. 
 
 6  And  if  it  be  from  a  month  old  even  unto 
 five  years  old,  then  thy  estimation  shall  he  of 
 the  male  five  shekels  of  silver,  and  lor  the  fe- 
 male thy  estimation  shall  be  three  shekels  of 
 silver. 
 
 7  And  if  it  he  from  sixty  years  old  and  above  ; 
 if  it  be  a  male,  tlien  thy  estimation  shall  he 
 fifteen  shekels,  and  for  the  female  ten  shekels. 
 
 8  But  if  he  be  poorer  tlian  thy  estimation, 
 then  lie  shall  present  himself  before  the  priest, 
 and  the  priest  shall  value  him  ;  according  to 
 his  ability  that  vowed  shall  the  priest  value 
 him. 
 
 9  And  if  it  be  a  beast,  whereof  men  bring  an 
 offering  unto  the  Lord,  all  that  ««;/  man  giveth 
 of  such  unto  the  Loiin  shall  be  holy. 
 
 10  He  shall  not  alter  it,  nor  change  it,  agood 
 for  a  bad,  or  a  bad  for  a  good  :  and  if  he  .shall 
 at  all  change  beast  for  beast,  then  it  and  the 
 exchange  thereof  shall  be  holy. 
 
 1 1  And  if  it  be.  any  unclean  beast,  of  which 
 they  do  not  offer  a  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord, 
 then  he  shall  present  the  beast  before  the 
 priest : 
 
 12  And  the  priest  shall  value  it,  whether  it 
 be  good  or  bad  :  f  as  thou  valuest  it,  who  art 
 the  priest,  so  .shall  it  be. 
 
 13  '  But  if  he  will  at  all  redeem  it,  then  he 
 .shall  add  a  fifth /(a;/  thereof  unto  thy  estima- 
 tion. 
 
 14  H  And  when  a  man  shall  sanctify  his  house 
 
 .  Num.  6.  2. 
 Sef  Jtidg. 
 11  3ll,Mr.;19. 
 ISam.  1.11, 
 2S. 
 
 t  ll«t>. 
 
 linn.Opriftl, 
 ic 
 c  Ter.  15,  19. 
 
 I  Of.  the 
 
 /Trr.  IS. 
 
 A  ree.  2B. 
 iNiiin  18.11. 
 >:xek.4H  ^. 
 
 If  rh,  25.  10. 
 Jii. 
 I  ver.  19. 
 
 A  El.  SO.  13 
 Num.  S.  47 
 fc  18.  16. 
 Eiek.45  12. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 F.s 
 
 .  13.  2, 
 
 to  be  holy  unto  the  Lord,  then  the  priest  shall 
 estimate  it,  whether  it  be  good  or  bad  :  as  the 
 priest  shall  estimate  it,  so  shall  it  stand. 
 
 13  ''And  if  he  that  sanctified  it  will  redeem 
 his  house,  then  he  shall  add  the  fifth  part  of 
 the  money  of  thy  estimation  unto  it,  and  it 
 shall  be  liis. 
 
 IG  And  if  a  man  .shall  sanctify  unto  the  Loud 
 some  part  of  a  field  of  his  possession,  then 
 thy  estimation  .shall  be  according  to  the  seed 
 thereof :  ||  an  homer  of  barley  seed  shall  be 
 rallied  at  fifty  shekels  of  silver. 
 
 17  If  he  sanctify  his  field  from  the  year  o(  ju- 
 bilee, according  to  thy  estimation  it  shall  stand. 
 
 18  But  if  he  sanctify  his  field  after  the  jubilee, 
 then  the  puest  shall  "reckon  unto  him  the 
 money  according  to  the  years  that  reinaiii,even 
 unto  the  year  of  the  jubilee,  and  it  shall  be 
 abated  from  tliy  estimation. 
 
 19  '  And  if  he  that  sanctified  the  field  will  in 
 any  wise  redeem  it,  then  he  shall  add  the  fifth 
 part  of  the  money  of  thy  estimation  unto  it, 
 and  it  shall  be  assured  to  him. 
 
 20  And  if  he  will  not  redeem  the  field,  or  if 
 he  have  sold  the  field  to  another  man,  it  shall 
 not  be  redeemed  any  more. 
 
 ■21  But  the  field,  ^  when  it  goeth  out  in  the 
 jubilee,  shall  lie  holy  unto  the  Lord,  as  a  field 
 ''  devoted  ;  '  the  possession  thereof  shall  be 
 the  priest's. 
 
 •22  And  if  a  man  sanctify  unto  the  Lord  a 
 field  which  he  hath  bought,  w  Inch  is  not  of  the 
 fields  of  '  his  possession  ; 
 
 23  '  Then  the  priest  shall  reckon  unto  him 
 the  worth  of  thy  estimaliuii,  even  unto  the  year 
 of  the  jubilee  :  and  he  shall  give  thine  estima- 
 tion in  that  day,  as  a  holy  thing  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 24  "'  In  the  year  of  the  jubilee  the  field  shall 
 return  unto  him  of  wliom  it  was  bought,  even 
 to  him  to  whom  the  possession  of  the  laud  did 
 belong. 
 
 25  And  all  thy  estimations  shall  be  according 
 to  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary  :  "  twenty  geralis 
 shall  be  the  shekel. 
 
 20  K  Only  the  f  "  firstling  of  the  beasts,  which 
 should  be  the  Lord's  firstling,  no  man  shall 
 sanctify  it  ;  whether  it  be  ox,  or  sheep  :  it  is 
 the  Lord's. 
 
 27  And  if  it  be  of  an  unclean  beast,  then  he 
 shall  redeem  it  according  to  thine  estimation, 
 ■■  and  shall  add  a  fifth  part  of  it  thereto :  or  if 
 
 Chap.  XXVII. — 2.  ./i  .«ni»t//ir  "oic, '  an  esperial  vow.* — Wit.  Avow 
 was  made  frnm  extraordinary  zeal  and  love  to  God.  As  the  temple 
 service  was  allotted  to  the  Leviles,  persons  thus  devoted  could  only  be 
 employed  in  menial  services.  These  were  probably  the  Net/iintm,  or 
 dedicated  pers  ms,  who,  along  with  the  Gibeonites.  are  mentioned. 
 Josh.  ix.  2/  :  1  Cliron.  ix.  'i.—Srott.  A  man  mi(;lit  devote  himself  or 
 his  children  to  the  Lord,  but  in  some  cases  they  mifrht  be  redeemed  ;  see 
 
 the  verses  which  follow.  .3.  Fifty  shelce/s,7t.  10s. 'Iff.  4.  TJiirty  shekels, 
 it.  \Qs.  5rf.  6.  Twenty  stieliels.  3/.  Ten  stte/eets.  It.  10.«.  6rf.  6.  J*i>c 
 sfie/{e/s,  15s.  Ttiree  slte/fets,  9s.  The^e  prices  were  (ixed  accorriinff  to 
 the  value  of  the  labour  the  person  could  perform. — .1 .  Itnfnnstm.  Put.. 
 Kit.  l6.  An  /lonter  of  Ifirfey—a'^  much  land  as  an  homer  would  sow 
 shall  be  rated  at  titty  shekels  —Pat.  22.  His  possession,  *  his  patri- 
 mony.'— Puote.        26.  No  nuin  shull  snneti/y  it,  it  being  already  sane- 
 
 loves  us,  and  we  love  Christ  ;  and  the  result  must  be  holy 
 obedience.     '  If  ye  love  me,  keep  my  commandments.' 
 
 *  Talk  they  of  morals,  O  thou  lileeding  Love  1 
 Thou  Maker  of  new  morals  to  mankind. 
 The  grand  morality  is  love  of  Thee.' 
 
 II.  fTe  see  enow/h  of  the  fnlfilment  of  tlie  Divine  promises  and 
 threateninys  to  con  firm  our  miiids  in  the  truth  of  all  that  God  has 
 spoken.  \Vhile  Israel  served  God  there  was' victory  over  their 
 enemies,  fniitfulness  in  the  field,  and  peace  throughout  the 
 land.  When  Israel  no  longer  regarded  God's  commands,  then 
 the  besom  of  destruction  swept  through  their  territories,  and 
 finally  their  land  became  desoVale.  and  thev  were  scattered 
 through  the  world,  a  proof  to  the  infidel  (if  he  would  think)  of 
 144 
 
 the  truth  of  revelation,  and  a  warning  to  all  the  disobedient. 
 Kven  in  the  present  state,  by  the  keeping  of  God's  commantl- 
 ments,  there  is  an 'exceeding  great  reward,' in  a  peace  wliich  tlie 
 world  cannot  give  nor  take  away  ;  and  in  their  violation  there 
 is  misery  begun,  for  '  the  way  of  transgressors  is  hard.'  Hul 
 it  is  in  the  world  to  come  that  the  reward  and  the  punishment 
 will  be  fully  developed — the  one  in  '  a  far  more  exceeding  ana 
 eternal  weight  of  glory,'  and  the  other  in  the  tortures  of'  the 
 worm  tliat  dieth  not,'  and  of  '  the  Hre  that  is  not  consumed.' 
 liut  God  loves  to  reward  rather  than  to  punish  ;  if  Israel  w  ill 
 confess  their  iniquity,  and  the  iniquity  of  their  fathers,  then 
 will  he  remember  hia  covenant  with  .Tacob  ;  and  still  lie  ad- 
 dresses every  sinner,  '  Repent,  and  turn  from  all  your  trans- 
 gressions, and  so  iniquity  shall  not  be  your  ruin.' 
 
The  tithe  of  the  landy 
 
 LEVITICUS,  XXVII. 
 
 and  of  the  herd 
 
 it  be  not  redeemed,  then  it  shall  be  sold  ac- 
 cording to  thy  estimation. 
 
 28  ''  Notwithstanding  no  devoted  thing,  that 
 a  man  shall  devote  unto  the  Lord  of"  all  that 
 he  hath,  both  of  man  and  beast,  and  of  the  field 
 of  his  possession,  shall  be  sold  or  redeemed: 
 every  devoted  thing  is  most  holy  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 29  ^  None  devoted,  which  shall  be  devoted  of 
 men,  shall  be  redeemed  ;  but  shall  surely  be 
 put  to  death. 
 
 30  And  ^all  the  tithe  of  the  land,  whether  of 
 the  seed  of  the  land,  or  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree, 
 is  the  Lord's  :  it  is  holy  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 Josh.  6.  17, 
 in,  19. 
 
 r  Nuin,  21. 
 2,  3. 
 
 f  Gen.  28.22. 
 Num. 18.21, 
 24-  2  Chr. 
 31  5,  6,  12. 
 Neh.  13.12. 
 Mai.  3  8.10. 
 
 37.  Mic.  7. 
 14. 
 
 y  eh.  26.  46 
 
 31  *  And  if  a  man  will  at  all  redeem  our/ht  of 
 his  tithes,  he  shall  add  thereto  the  fifth  pari 
 thereof. 
 
 32  And  concerning  the  tithe  of  the  herd,  or 
 of  the  flock,  eveti  of  whatsoever  "  passeth  under 
 the  rod,  the  tenth  shall  be  holy  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 33  He  shall  not  search  whether  it  be  good  or 
 bad,  ^  neither  shall  he  change  it :  and  if  he 
 change  it  at  all,  then  both  it  and  the  change 
 thereof  shall  be  holy  ;  it  shall  not  be  redeemed. 
 
 34  ^  These  are  the  commandments,  which  the 
 
 j  Lord  commanded  Moses  fur  the  children  of 
 Israel  in  Mount  Sinai. 
 
 tified  by  a  previous  law,  (Exod.  xiiT.2.) — Gill.  28.  No  devoted  thinfr-^ 
 mrr  denotes  total  separation  of  a  thing  or  person  from  their  former 
 state.  Anythineso  separated  was  incapable  of  redemption. — Pur.  The 
 Sept.  render  the  word  'anathema.*  But  such  vow  could  not  be  valid 
 if  contrary  to  the  law,  and  required  deep  rej)entance.— Sco/^.  The 
 cnnsecratinn  here  spoken  of  was  for  sacred  uses,  under  pain  of  a  curse. 
 —  Wiitertiind.  29.  None  devoted,  'not  anything:  devoted.' — Boothr. 
 This  applies  only  to  persons  taken  in  war. — Houb.,  Rosenm.  The  Jewish 
 law  g:ives  no  such  power  to  any  man  over  his  dependents.— Son/Ar. 
 nOV  mo  may  only  imply,  *  dying  in  that  devoted  state,'  as  in  Gen.  ii. 
 
 17  ;  Num.  sxvi.  Gb.—Sykes.  Be  put  to  death— not  men  devoted  to  the 
 Lord,  as  ver.  28,  but  to  destruction  and  ruin,  as  all  idolators.  Some 
 h  tve  fancied  from  this,  that  Jephthah,  mistaking  this  law,  sacrificed  his 
 daughter.— Gi7/.  30.  Tit/ie~As  the  priests  and  Levites  had  no  share 
 in  the  division  of  the  land,  except  a  number  of  cities  with  their  suburbs, 
 they  were  supported  by  the  tenth  part  of  the  produce  ;  and  thus  they 
 might  fully  devnte  themselves  to  their  work  without  attending  to  agri- 
 culture.—Lea-ii-.  32.  The  rod—the  Jews,  in  tithing,  caused  all  their 
 cattle  to  pass  through  some  gate,  or  narrow  passage,  where  tlie  tenth 
 was  marked  and  reserved  for  the  priest. — Povle. 
 
 REFt.ECTioNS  ON  Chap.  XXVII. — I.  Lft  US,  a.^  C/iristi(ins 
 honour  thf  Lord  with  our  euhstance ;  and  if,  in  tlie  fulness  ot  our 
 hearts,  we  have  vowed  to  him  in  the  day  of  trouble,  while  we 
 have  looked  for  deliverance,  let  us  '  pay  our  vows  unto  the 
 Lord ;'  if  of  our  property,  as  God  shall  enable  us,  let  us  honour 
 the  Lord  with  our  substance  ;  and  if  of  our  services,  let  us  put 
 our  vows  into  practice,  while  we  say, 
 
 '  All  that  I  am,  and  all  I  have. 
 Shall  be  for  ever  thine  ; 
 
 Whate*er  my  duty  bids  me  give, 
 My  willing  hauds  resign.* 
 
 II.  }V1iile  Gnd  provides  for  the  comfort  of  his  ministers  and 
 their  freedom  from  secular  service,  with  what  devotedness  of  heart 
 our/hi  they  to  lahour  fur  him  !  giving  themselves  *  wholly  to  these 
 things,'  and  studying  that  ibey  may  be  workmen  needing  not 
 to  be  ashamed,  continually  performing  spiritual  services  for 
 ihe  people  of  their  charge,  and  giving  to  each  'a  portion  of 
 meat  in  due  season." 
 
 THE     FOURTH     BOOK     OF     MOSES, 
 
 CALLED 
 
 NUMBERS. 
 
 _This  Book  is  called  Numbers,  from  tlie  numbering  of  the  families  of  Israel  by  Moses  and  Aaron,  at  the  foot  of  Sinai, 
 after  being  there  a  year,  and  in  the  plains  of  Jloab,  near  the  end  of  their  journey.  The  Hebrew  name  is  frequently 
 TaTT,  and  he  spoke,  because  in  the  Hebrew  it  begins  with  these  words;  but  in  our  Hebrew  Bibles  we  generally  find  it 
 named  Ta"T02,  ?«  f/ie  Wilderness,  irom  the  account  which  it  contains  of  the  Israelites  in  the  Wilderness.  From  chap, 
 xxxvi.  13,  Moses  was  its  author.  There  are  eighteen  quotations  from  it  in  the  New  Testament — Matt.  xii.  5;  Luke, 
 ii.  23  ;  John,  iii.  14,  &c.] 
 
 CHAP.   I. 
 
 I  God  catnmandi:tk  Moses  to  number  the  people.  5  T/if 
 princes  of  the  tribes.  17  The  number  of  every  tribe. 
 47  The  hevites  are  exempted  for  the  service  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  "  in  the 
 ■^  wilderness  of  Sinai,  *■  in  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation,  on  the  first  day  of  the  second 
 month,  in  the  second  year  after  they  were  come 
 out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  saying, 
 
 2  "^  Take  ye  the  suiu  of  all  the  congregation 
 of  the  children  of  Israel,  after  their  families,  by 
 the  house  of  their  fathers,  with  the  number  of 
 t/ieir  names,  every  male  by  their  polls ; 
 
 3  From  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all  that 
 are  able  to  go  forth  to  war  in  Israel  :  thou  and 
 Aaron  shall  number  them  by  their  armies. 
 
 4  And  with  you  there  shall  be  a  man  of  every 
 tribe ;  every  one  head  of  the  house  ofhis  fathers. 
 
 I 
 
 Ks.  19    I. 
 
 ch.  10.  n, 
 
 :  Ei.  30.  12. 
 
 &  38.  26. 
 ch-  26.  2, 
 03,  64. 
 2  Sam  .24 .2. 
 1  Chr.  21. 2 
 
 d  ch.  2.  14, 
 
 he  is  called 
 
 Reuel. 
 a  ch.  7.  2, 
 
 I  Chr.  27. 
 
 16. 
 /  F.I.  18.  21, 
 
 25. 
 
 5  1[  And  these  are  the  names  of  the  men  that 
 shall  stand  with  you  :  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben  ; 
 Ehzur  the  son  of  Shedeur. 
 
 6  Of  Simeon ;  Sheluniiel  the  son  of  Zurish- 
 addai. 
 
 7  OfJudah;  Nahshon  the  son  of  Amminadab. 
 
 8  Of  Issachar;  Nethaneel  the  son  of  Zuar. 
 
 9  Of  ZebuUin  ;  Eliab  the  son  of  Helon. 
 
 10  Of  the  children  of  Joseph  :  of  Ephraim  ; 
 Elishama  the  son  of  Ammihud :  of  Manasseh  j 
 Gamaliel  the  son  of  Pedahzur. 
 
 1 1  Of  Benjamin  ;  Abidau  the  son  of  Gideoni. 
 
 12  Of  Dan ;  Ahiezer  the  son  of  Ammishaddai. 
 
 13  Of  Asher;  Pagiel  the  son  of  Ocran. 
 
 14  Of  Gad  ;  Eliasaph  the  son  of''  Deuel. 
 I J  OfNaphtali;  Ahira  the  son  of  Enan. 
 
 16  "  These  were  the  renowned  of  the  congre- 
 'gation,  princes  of  the  tribes  of  their  fathers, 
 '  heads  of  thousands  in  Israel. 
 
 Notes  ov  Chap.  I.— 2.T«i-e.vf '*fS"m— adifferentmusterfronithat  sition  about  the  tabernacle,  and  their  regular  march.— Fatd*?.'!.     The 
 
 inExod.x.\-xviii.26;  that  was  before  the  building  nf  the  tabernacle, which  third  numbering,  on  the  plains  of  Moab,  was  to  apportion  tlie  land.— 
 
 was  set  up  on  the  first  day  of  the  first  month.— Puo/p.     The  Israelites  Hut.     0/  a/;— tlie  divibion  was  into  tribes,  faulilie.,,  (chap.  xx>  i.  5,)  and 
 
 had  been  numbered  to  subscribe  their  half-shekel  towards  the  erection  lesser  families,  called  Wie  Ao.Mp.v.—i'Do/c        3.  Able  to  gn  forth  to  war— 
 
 of  the  tabernacle  but  now,  for  war.— Si;(.     Also  for  their  better  dispo.  tlie  women,  minors,  and  probably  old  men,  were  omitted,  and  also  the 
 
 I4j  u 
 
The  numbering  of  every  tribe. 
 
 NUMBERS,  I. 
 
 Exemption  of  the  Levitts. 
 
 17  If  And  Moses  and  Aaron  took  these  men 
 which  are  expressed  liy  their  names : 
 
 18  And  they  assembled  all  the  congregation 
 together  on  the  first  day  of  the  second  month, 
 and  they  declared  tlieir  pedigrees  after  tlieii 
 families,  by  the  house  of  their  fathers,  accord- 
 ing to  the  nnmber  of  the  names,  from  twenty 
 years  old  and  upward,  by  their  polls. 
 
 19  As  the  Lord  commanded  Moses,  so  he 
 numbered  them  in  the  wilderness  of  Sinai. 
 
 20  And  the  cliildren  of  Reuben,  Israel's  eldest 
 son,  by  their  generations,  after  tlicir  families, 
 by  tlie  house  of  their  fatliers,  according  to  the 
 number  of  the  names,  by  tlieir  polls,  every 
 male  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  al! 
 that  were  able  to  go  forth  to  war  ; 
 
 21  Tliose  tliat  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  uere  forty  and  six 
 thousand  and  five  liundred. 
 
 22  H  Of  tlie  children  of  Simeon,  by  their  ge- 
 nerations, after  their  families,  by  the  house  of 
 their  fathers,  those  that  were  numbered  of 
 them,  according  to  the  number  of  the  names, 
 by  their  polls,  every  male  from  twenty  years 
 old  and  upward,  all  that  were  able  to  go  forth 
 to  war  ; 
 
 23  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Simeon,  were  fifty  and  nine 
 thousand  and  three  hundred. 
 
 24  t  Of  the  children  of  Gad,  by  their  genera- 
 tions, after  their  families,  by  the  house  of  their 
 fathers,  according  to  the  number  of  the  names, 
 from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all  that 
 were  able  to  go  forth  to  war  ; 
 
 25  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Gad,  were  forty  and  five  thou- 
 sand six  hundred  and  fifty. 
 
 26  f  Of  the  children  of  Judab,  by  their  ge- 
 nerations, after  their  families,  by  the  house  of 
 their  fathers,  according  to  the  number  of  the 
 names,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all 
 that  were  able  to  go  forth  to  war ; 
 
 27  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  were  threescore  and  four- 
 teen thousand  and  six  hundred. 
 
 28  H  Of  the  children  of  Issachar,  by  their  ge- 
 nerations, after  their  families,  by  the  house  of 
 their  fathers,  according  to  the  nnmber  of  the 
 names,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all 
 that  were  able  to  go  forth  to  war ; 
 
 29  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Issachar,  locre  fifty  and  four 
 thousand  and  four  hundred. 
 
 30  H  Of  the  children  of  Zebulun,  by  their  ge- 
 neratiojis,  after  their  families,  by  the  house  of 
 their  fathers,  according  to  the  number  of  the 
 names,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all 
 that  were  able  to  go  forth  to  war  ; 
 
 31  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Zebulun,  were  fifty  and  seven 
 thousand  and  four  hundred. 
 
 32  t  Of  the  children  of  Joseph,  namely,  of  the 
 children  of  Ephraim,  by  their  generations,  after 
 their  families,  by  the  house  of  their  fathers,  ac- 
 cording to  the  number  of  the  names,  from 
 twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all  that  were 
 able  to  go  forth  to  war ; 
 
 33  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 
 h  Ek.  3S,  Sfi. 
 S^e  Ex.  1^. 
 s;.  L-ti.  2.3:;. 
 Ik  2ti.  51. 
 
 ch. 
 
 .•I.l. 
 
 h  ch.  2.  S3. 
 
 »  26   62. 
 
 /  E)c.  38-  21. 
 ch.  3-  7,  8. 
 H  4  15.  25, 
 26,  27,  as. 
 
 of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  were  forty   tholts'aiid 
 and  five  hundred. 
 
 34  U  Of  the  children  of  Mauasseh,  by  their 
 generations,  after  tlieir  families,  by  the  house 
 of  their  fathers,  according  to  the  number  of  the 
 names,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all 
 that  w'ere  able  to  go  forth, to  war  ; 
 
 35  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  were  thirty  and  two 
 thousand  and  two  hundred. 
 
 30  1  Of  the  children  of  Benjamin,  by  their 
 generations,  after  their  families,  by  the  house 
 of  their  fathers,  according  to  the  number  of 
 the  names,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward, 
 all  that  were  able  to  go  forth  to  war  ; 
 
 37  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  ivere  thirty  and  five 
 thousand  and  four  hundred. 
 
 38  H  Of  the  children  of  Dan,  by  their  genera- 
 tion,s,  after  their  families,  by  the  house  of  their 
 fathers,  according  to  the  number  of  the  names, 
 from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all  that  were 
 able  to  go  forth  to  war  ; 
 
 39  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  were  threescore  and  two 
 thousand  and  seven  hundred. 
 
 40  t  Of  the  children  of  Asher,  by  their  ge- 
 nerations, after  their  families,  by  the  house  of 
 their  fathers,  according  to  the  number  of  the 
 names,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all 
 that  were  able  to  go  forth  to  war  ; 
 
 41  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Asher,  were  forty  and  one  thou- 
 sand and  five  hundred. 
 
 42  t  Of  the  children  of  Naphtali,  throughout 
 their  generations,  after  their  families,  by  the 
 house  of  their  fathers,  according  to  tlie  number 
 of  the  names,  from  twenty  years  old  and  up- 
 ward, all  that  were  able  to  go  forth  to  war  ; 
 
 43  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  even 
 of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  were  fifty  and  three 
 thousand  and  four  hundred. 
 
 44  *  These  are  those  that  were  numbered, 
 which  Moses  and  Aaron  numbered,  and  the 
 princes  of  Israel,  beine)  twelve  men  :  each  one 
 was  for  the  house  of  his  fathers. 
 
 45  So  were  all  those  that  were  numbered  of 
 the  children  of  Israel,  by  the  house  of  their 
 fathers,  from  twenty  years  old  and  upward,  all 
 that  were  able  to  go  forth  to  war  in  Israel  ; 
 
 46  Even  all  they  that  were  numbered  were 
 •■six  hundred  thousand  and  three  thousand  and 
 five  hundred  and  fifty. 
 
 47  1[  But  '  the  Levites  after  the  tribe  of  their 
 fathers  were  not  numbered  among  them. 
 
 48  For  the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  Mcses, 
 saying, 
 
 49  '  Only  thou  shall  not  number  the  tribe  oi 
 Levi,  neither  take  the  sum  of  them  among  the 
 children  of  Israel : 
 
 50  '  But  thou  slialt  appoint  the  Levites  over 
 the  tabernacle  of  testimony,  and  over  all  the 
 vessels  thereof,  and  over  all  things  that  belonij 
 to  it :  they  shall  bear  the  tabernacle,  and  all 
 the  vessels  thereof;  and  they  shall  minister 
 unto  it,  "and  shall  encamp  round  about  the 
 tabernacle. 
 
 51  °  And  when  the  tabernacle  setteth  forward. 
 
 mixed  multitude  from  Egypt ;  the  calculation  seems  to  iiave  been  in  hundred  thousand — 217  years  before  this,  Jacob's  family  amounted  to 
 
 fifties,  omitting  odd  numbers. — Scutt.        20.  Their  ijeiieratiimn  —  the  alniut  seventy  -five  males,  sixty-eight  males,  in  six  generatiuns,  allow 
 
 persons  begotten  by  Reuben's  immediate  children.— /'oo/e.  46.  Hu-  ing  but  five  sons  in  each  tamily,  will  produce  ),ot)2,5ii((  males.— Au/ 
 
 14(> 
 
The  order  of  ihe  tribes 
 
 NUMBERS,  II. 
 
 in  thtir  tents. 
 
 the  Levites  shall  take  it  down  ;  and  when  the 
 tabernacle  is  to  be  pitched,  the  Levites  shall 
 set  it  up  ;  "  and  the  stranger  that  coineth  nigh 
 shall  be  put  to  death. 
 .5-2  And  the  children  of  Israel  shall  pitch 
 their  tents,  ''  every  man  by  his  own  camp,  and 
 every  man  by  his  own  standard,  throughout 
 their  hosts. 
 
 53  ''  But  the  Levites  shall  pitch  round  about 
 the  tabernacle  of  testimony,  that  there  be  no 
 '  wrath  upon  the  congregation  of  the  children 
 of  Israel  :  'and  the  Levites  shall  keep  the 
 charge  of  the  tabernacle  of  testimony. 
 
 54  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  according 
 to  all  that  the  Lord  commanded  Moses,  so  did 
 they. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 The  order  nf  the  tribes  in  their  tents. 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  unto 
 -^*-    Aaron,  saying, 
 
 2  °  Every  man  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall 
 pitch  by  his  own  standard,  with  the  ensign  of 
 their  father's  house  :  f  >•  far  oft'  about  the  taber- 
 nacle of  tlie  congregation  shall  they  pitch. 
 
 3  And  on  the  east  side  toward  the  rising  of 
 the  sun  shall  they  of  the  standard  of  the  camp 
 of  Judah  pitch  throughout  their  armies  :  and 
 "  Nahshon  the  son  of  Amminadab  shall  he 
 captain  of  the  children  of  Judah. 
 
 4  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  them,  ivere  threescore  and  fourteen 
 thousand  and  six  hundred. 
 
 5  And  those  that  do  pitch  next  unto  him 
 shall  be  the  tribe  of  Issachar :  and  Nathaneel 
 the  son  of  Zuar  shall  be  captain  of  the  children 
 of  Issachar. 
 
 6  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  numbered 
 thereof,  lUcre  fifty  and  four  thousand  and  four 
 hundred. 
 
 7  Then  the  tribe  of  Zebniun  :  and  Eliab  the 
 son  of  Helon  shall  be  captain  of  the  children 
 of  Zebniun. 
 
 8  And  liis  host,  and  those  that  were  numbered 
 thereof,  ivert  fifty  and  seven  thousand  and  four 
 hundred. 
 
 9  All  that  were  numbered  in  the  camp  of 
 Judah  were  an  hundred  thousand  and  four 
 score  thousand  and  six  thousand  and  four  hun- 
 dred, throughout  their  armies.  ''  These  shall 
 first  set  forth. 
 
 10  t  On  the  south  side  sltall  be  the  standard 
 of  the  camp  of  Reuben  according  to  their 
 armies  :  and  the  captain  of  the  children  of 
 Reuben  shall  be  Elizur  the  son  of  Shedeur. 
 
 1 1  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered thereof,  were  forty  and  six  thousand  and 
 five  hundred. 
 
 J  ch.  3.  10, 
 38.  &  13.  2! 
 
 7  vor.  SO. 
 
 r  I.CV.  10-  6 
 ch  8.  I!).  S( 
 Iti  Ail.  &  18 
 &.  I  Sam.  6 
 19. 
 
 r  cli.  3.  7,  8. 
 fc  8.  l^f,  S5, 
 S6.  &  18.  3, 
 4,  5.  h  31. 
 .su,  47. 
 1  Chr.  a 
 32.  2  Chr. 
 IX  10. 
 
 c  rh.  10.  It. 
 Ruth 4  20. 
 1  Chr.  2.10. 
 Mat.  I.  4. 
 Luke  3.  32, 
 33. 
 
 Dpiyc/.ch.l. 
 11  S(7  42, 
 47.  tk  10.20. 
 
 /ch.  ID.  17, 
 21. 
 
 gch.  10.  22. 
 
 12  And  those  which  pitch  by  him  shall  be 
 the  tribe  of  Simeon  :  and  the  captain  of  the 
 children  of  Simeon  shall  be  Sheluraiel  the  son 
 of  Zurishaddai. 
 
 13  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  them,  were  fifty  and  nine  thousand 
 and  tliree  hundred. 
 
 14  Then  the  tribe  of  Gad  :  and  the  captain 
 of  the  sons  of  Gad  shall  be  Eliasaph  the  son  of 
 II  Reuel. 
 
 15  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  them,  uiere  forty  and  five  thousand 
 and  six  hundred  and  fifty. 
 
 16  All  that  were  numbered  in  the  camp  of 
 Reuben  were  an  hundred  thousand  and  fifty 
 and  one  thousand  and  four  hundred  and  fifty, 
 throughout  their  armies.  "  And  they  shall  set 
 forth  in  the  second  rank. 
 
 17  t '  Then  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation 
 shall  set  forward  with  the  camp  of  the  Levites 
 in  the  midst  of  the  camp  :  as  they  encamp,  so 
 shall  they  set  forward,  every  man  in  his  place 
 by  their  standards. 
 
 18  tOn  the  west  side  shall  be  the  standard 
 of  the  camp  of  Ephraim  according  to  their 
 armies :  and  the  captain  of  the  sons  of  Ephraim 
 shall  be  Elishama  the  son  of  Ammihud. 
 
 19  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  them,  were  forty  thousand  and  five 
 hundred. 
 
 20  And  by  him  shall  be  the  tribe  of  Manasseh  ■. 
 and  the  captain  of  the  children  of  Manasseh 
 shall  be  Gamaliel,  the  son  of  Pedahzur. 
 
 21  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  them,  were  thirty  and  two  thousand 
 and  two  hundred. 
 
 22  Then  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  :  and  the  cap- 
 tain of  the  sons  of  Benjamin  shall  be  Abidan 
 the  son  of  Gideoni. 
 
 23  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  them,  icere  thirty  and  five  thousand 
 and  four  hundred. 
 
 24  All  that  were  numbered  of  the  camp  of 
 Ephraim  ivere  an  hundred  thousand  and  eight 
 thousand  and  an  hundred,  throughout  their 
 armies.  ^  And  they  shall  go  forward  in  the 
 third  rank. 
 
 25  H  The  standard  of  the  camp  of  Dan  shall 
 be  on  the  north  side  by  their  armies  :  and  the 
 captain  of  the  children  of  Dan  .■iliall  be  Ahiezer 
 the  son  of  Ammishaddai. 
 
 26  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  them,  were  threescore  and  two  thou- 
 sand and  seven  hundred. 
 
 27  And  those  that  encamp  by  him  shall  be  the 
 tribe  of  Aslier  :  and  the  captain  of  the  children 
 of  Asher  shall  be  Pagiel  the  son  of  Ocran. 
 
 Chap.  TI. — 2.  ShaU  pitch — the  Israelites  encamped  in  four  grand  di-  Houliigant  reads,  '  every  man  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall  pitch  by 
 visions,  with  the  tabernacle  in  the  centre.  Standard — only  four  are  his  own  \ti,  tribe,  or  cnritpany,  under  the  ensign  of  his  father's  house.* 
 mentioned,  those  of  Judah,  Reuben,  Ephraim,  and  Dan. — Scott,  Wil.     17.  Tlie  camp  of  the  Levites  in  the  midst— not  exactly,  but  largely  ;  for 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  I.  In  the  multiplication  of  the 
 Israelites,  while  we  see  the  faithfulness  of  God  to  his  promises  in  what 
 is  past,  we  niai/  also  huh  forward  with  confidence  to  the  future. 
 He  that  multiplied  the  natural  will  multiply  the  spiritual  seed 
 of  Abraham  ;  and  tho  converts  to  the  Redeemer  shall,  erelong, 
 be  numerous  as  the  dew  drops  of  the  morning.  AVhat  an  en- 
 couiagement  to  prayer  and  exertion  in  the  great  cause  of 
 Christian  missions  !  Yes,  tlie  Saviour  sliall  '  see  of  the  travail 
 of  his  soul  and  be  satisfied  ;'  and  'a  multitude  which  no  man 
 can  number,'  shall  at  length  assemble  to  love  and  adore  him, 
 and  swell  the  song  of  praise  to  his  name  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 'I.  In  the  preservatitm  of  so  large  a  multitude  in  the  Wilderness^ 
 wiiat  a  reaion  have  we  at  all  limes  to  put  our  trust  in  the  providen- 
 147 
 
 tial  care  of  God.  It  is  true,  these  were  preserved  by  a  miracle  ; 
 and  miracles,  strictly  speaking,  are  not  wrought  every  day  ; 
 but  the  same  God  tliat  preserved  them  is  still  the  God  of  liis 
 people  ;  and  in  temporals,  as  well  as  in  spirituals,  '  he  is,  and 
 can  do  exceeding  abundant  for  us  above  all  that  we  can  ask  or 
 think.'  The  meanest  and  the  poorest  Christian  may  confi- 
 dently say,  '  He  that  guarded  and  fed  the  thousands  of  Israel 
 in  the  Wilderness  can  guard  and  feed  me.' 
 
 •  Now  nn  his  bounty  I  depend. 
 And  live  from  fear  of  death  secure  ; 
 MaintainL'd  by  such  a  mighty  Friend, 
 I  cannot  want  till  He  is  poor  !' 
 
The  sons  of  Aaron. 
 
 NUMBERS,  III. 
 
 I    B.  C.  M90. 
 
 The  numbering  of  the  Levies. 
 
 I  ch.  !4.  2, 
 
 i.e. 
 
 28  AnJ  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  them,  icere  fort"  and  one  thousand 
 and  five  hundred. 
 
 29  H  Then  the  tribe  of  Naphtali :  and  the 
 captahi  of  the  children  of  Naphtali  shall  be 
 Ahira  the  son  of  Enan. 
 
 30  And  his  host,  and  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  tliem,  were  fifty  and  three  thousand 
 and  four  hundred. 
 
 31  All  they  that  were  numbered  in  the  camp 
 of  Dan  were  an  hundred  thousand  and  fifty 
 and  seven  thousand  and  six  hundred.  "  They 
 shall  go  hindmost  with  their  standards. 
 
 32  f  These  are  those  which  were  numbered 
 of  the  children  of  Israel  by  the  house  of  their 
 fathers  :  '  all  those  that  were  numbered  of  the 
 camps  throughout  their  hosts  u-ere  six  hundred 
 thousand  and  three  thousand  and  five  hundred 
 and  fifty. 
 
 33  But  '  the  Levites  were  not  numbered 
 among  the  children  of  Israel ;  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  Moses. 
 
 34  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  according 
 to  all  that  the  Lord  commanded  Moses  :  '  so 
 they  pitched  by  their  standards,  and  so  they 
 set  forward,  every  one  after  their  families,  ac- 
 cording to  the  house  of  their  fathers. 
 
 CHAP.  IIL 
 
 1  Tlie  sons  of  Aaron.  5  The  Levites  are  given  to  the 
 priests  for  the  service  of  the  taht-niacle,  11  instead  of 
 thejirstborn.  14  The  Let ites are  numbered  by  their 
 families.  21  The  familiis,  number,  and  charge  of 
 the  Gershonitis,  27  of  the  Kohathites,  .3.3  of  the 
 Merarites.  38  The  place  and  charge  of  Moses  and 
 Aaron.  40  The  firstborn  are  freed  by  the  Lecites. 
 44   Tiie  overplus  are  redeemed. 
 
 THESE  also  are  the  generations  of  Aaron 
 and  Moses  in  the  day  that  the  Lord  spake 
 with  Moses  in  mount  Sinai. 
 
 2  And  these  are  the  names  of  the  sons  of 
 Aaron ;  Nadab  the  °  firstborn,  and  Abihu, 
 Eleazar,  and  Ithamar. 
 
 3  These  are  the  names  of  the  sons  of  Aaron, 
 *■  tlie  priests  which  were  anointed,  f  whom  he  J  ei.  ». «. 
 consecrated  to  minister  in  the  priest's  office.      t.Heb.  !.*•« 
 
 4  '  And  Nadab  and  Abihu  died  before  the 
 Lord,  when  they  ottered  strange  fire  before 
 the  Lord,  in  the  wilderness  of  Sinai,  and  they 
 had  no  children  :  and  Eleazar  and  Ithamar 
 ministered  in  the  priest's  oflice  in  the  sight  of 
 Aaron  their  father. 
 
 5  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  sayin 
 
 6  "i  Bring  the  tribe  of  Levi  near,  and  present 
 them  before  Aaron  the  priest,  that  they  may 
 minister  unto  him. 
 
 7  And  they  shall  keep  his  charge,  and  the 
 
 e  Seech.  1- 
 511,  &  S.  11, 
 15,  SI,  26. 
 
 /cU   S.  10 
 &1S.  (3. 
 
 ?  ch.  19.  7. 
 
 1  ver.  38. 
 cli.  1.51.  & 
 16.  40. 
 
 k  r.x.  IS.  2. 
 
 Lev.  27.  26 
 ch  8.  16. 
 Luke  2.  23 
 t  Kb    13  12. 
 IS.  ch  8.17. 
 
 t  Heh. 
 
 TnuiitA. 
 H  Gcn.Ad  11. 
 
 Ex.  6. 16. 
 
 ch.  26.  57. 
 
 1  Chr.  6.  I, 
 
 16.  &  23.  6. 
 
 I  El.  6.  7. 
 
 p  Ex.  6.  13. 
 f  Ex.  6.  10. 
 
 iK'l  },t  fill- 
 ed. 
 
 U90. 
 cLev-.  10.  1. 
 ch.  26.  61. 
 1  Chr.  84.2. 
 
 charge  of  the  whole  congregation  before  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  to  do  '  the  ser- 
 vice of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 8  And  they  shall  keep  all  the  instruments  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and  the 
 charge  of  the  children  of  Israel,  to  do  the  ser- 
 vice of  the  tabernacle. 
 
 9  And  'thou  shalt  give  the  Levites  unto 
 Aaron  and  to  his  sons  :  they  are  wholly  given 
 unto  him  out  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  appoint  Aaron  and  his 
 sons,  ^and  they  shall  wait  on  their  priest's 
 office:  ''and  the  stranger  that  cometh  nigh 
 shall  be  put  to  death. 
 
 1 1  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 12  And  I,  behold,  '  I  have  taken  the  Levites 
 from  among  the  children  of  Israel  instead  of 
 all  the  firstborn  that  openeth  the  matrix  among 
 the  children  of  Israel :  therefore  the  Levites 
 shall  be  mine  ; 
 
 13  Because  '  all  the  firstborn  are  mine  ;  for 
 on  the  day  that  I  smote  all  the  firstborn  in  the 
 laud  of  Egypt  I  hallowed  unto  nie  all  the  first- 
 horn  in  Israel,  both  man  and  beast :  mine  shall 
 they  be  :   I  ayn  the  Lord. 
 
 14  U  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  in  the 
 wilderness  of  Sinai,  saying, 
 
 15  Number  the  children  of  Levi  after  the 
 house  of  their  fathers,  by  their  families : 
 ■"  every  male  from  a  month  old  and  upward 
 shalt  thou  number  them. 
 
 16  And  Moses  numbered  them  according  to 
 the  fw'ord  of  the  Lord,  as  he  was  commanded. 
 
 17  "  And  these  were  the  sons  of  Levi  by  their 
 names;  Gershon,  and  Kohath,  and  Merari. 
 
 18  And  these  are  the  names  of  the  sons  of 
 Gershon  by  their  families ;  "Libni.aiid  Shimei. 
 
 19  And  the  sons  of  Kohath  by  their  families; 
 '  Amram,  and  Izehar,  Hebron,  and  Uzziel. 
 
 20  ''  And  the  sons  of  Merari  by  tlieir  families; 
 Mahli,  and  Mushi.  These  are  the  families  of 
 the  Levites  according  to  the  house  of  their 
 fathers. 
 
 21  Of  Gershon  was  the  family  of  the  Libnite.s, 
 and  the  family  of  the  Shimites  :  these  are  the 
 families  of  the  Gershonites. 
 
 22  Those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  ac- 
 cording to  the  number  of  all  the  males,  from  a 
 moiitli  old  and  upward,  even  those  that  were 
 numbered  of  them  were  seven  thousand  and 
 five  hundred. 
 
 23  '  The  families  of  the  Gershonites  shall 
 pitch  behind  the  tabernacle  westward. 
 
 24  And  the  chief  of  the  house  of  the  father 
 of  the  Gershonites  shall  be  Eliasaph  the  son 
 of  Lael. 
 
 part  marched  next  after  Judah,  (chap.  x.  17,)  and  the  rest  exactly  in 
 the  midst  of  the  camp.— PO(»/e.  34.  Pitched  by  their standni-ds—Viiey 
 are  thought  tn  have  formed  a  square,  each  side  of  which  was  twelve 
 miles,  in  this  order,  also,  they  marched  through  the  Wilderness,  as 
 remarl<ed  by  Stifeli^e. 
 
 Chap.  hi.  —  i .  Generations,  '  descendants.'— ffii/.  Dr.  C/nr/ff  ob- 
 serves, Ihat  Aaron's  family  alone  are  mentioned  here  ;  but  Puole  says, 
 that  Moses'  family  and  children  are  included  under  the  general  name 
 of  the  Amrainite,  (ver.  27.)  The  honour  of  the  priesthood  was  con- 
 ferred on  Aaron  and  his  sons,  those  of  Moses  were  only  common  Le- 
 vites, and,  therefore,  classed  among  them,  (1  Chron.  x.\iii.  14 — 20.) — 
 Scott.        4.  And—\  •  but'  would  be  better  here. — Hew.    In  the  sight — 
 
 under  his  eye  or  direction. — Scott.  6.  Minister  unto  him — the  Le- 
 vites were  to  attend  upon  the  priest,  and  ease  him  in  various  burdens. 
 — Poole.  The  Levites  killed  tlie  sacrifices,  and  the  priests  sprinkled  Ihe 
 blood  and  burned  the  fat  ;  the  Levites  prepared  the  incense,  the  priests 
 burned  it,  (1  Chron.  ix.  26.)~Hen.  They  were  to  keep  the  instru- 
 ments, &c.,  {ver.  8.)  7.  Refore  the  tubemacie — not  officiating  in  it, 
 for  that  belonged  to  the  priests. — Pat.  lo.  Stranger — this  even  in- 
 cludes a  Levite  not  of  the  race  of  Aaron. — Pat.  12.  Instead  of  alt  the 
 Jirstborn — these  were  God's  by  right  of  redemption,  (Exod.  xiii.  12.) 
 God  here  relinquishes  the  claim,  and  appoints  the  tribe  of  Levi  to  he 
 the  dispensers  of  religion  in  their  stead  ;  partly  out  of  respect  to  Moses 
 and  Aaron,  branches  of  this  tribe,  partly  as  a  recompcucc  for  their  zeal 
 
 Rfflectioms  on  Chap.  II I.  We  may  here  observe,  that  they  feel  this  union  ;  it  is  this  which  gives  them  strengtii,  and 
 
 Ihe  tabernacle  was  in  the  midst  of  the  camp,  and  God  in  the  midst  by  the  influence  of  it  they  will  assuredly  effect  far  more  con- 
 
 of  Itis  church.     Wherever  believers  move  in  the  wilderness,  quests  than  have  yet  been  made  from  the  heathen  world.  When 
 
 God  is  with  them.  believers  are  *  one,'  then  the  world  will  believe  in  the  mission 
 
 IL  All  true  h.  lievers,  though  they  march  under  difftrent  banners,  of  the  Son  of  God.    Let  our  prayers  then  ascend  to  the  throne 
 
 are  united  as  one  spij-ilmd  congregation.      It    is    happv   wiien  of  Rrace  '  that  Ihev  uU  mav  be  one.' 
 148 
 
The  charge  of  Muses  and  Aaron. 
 
 NUMBERS,  IV. 
 
 The  ^rstborn  redeemed  by  the  Leviles. 
 
 25  And  "  the  charge  of  the  sons  of  Gershon 
 in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  shall  be 
 '  the  tabernacle,  and  "  tlie  tent,  "■  the  coverin, 
 thereof,  and  ''  the  hanging  for  the  door  of  tlie 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation, 
 
 26  And  '  the  hangings  of  the  court,  and  °  the 
 curtain  for  the  door  of  the  court,  which  is  by 
 tlie  tabernacle,  and  by  tlie  altar  round  about, 
 and  ''  the  cords  of  it  for  all  the  service  thereof 
 
 27  t  ''  And  of  Kohath  icas  the  family  of  the 
 Amraiiiites,  and  the  family  of  the  Izeharites, 
 and  the  family  of  the  Hebronites,  and  the 
 family  of  the  Uzzielites  :  these  are  the  fami- 
 lies of  the  Kohathites. 
 
 28  In  the  number  of  all  the  males,  from  a 
 month  old  and  upward,  were  eight  thousand 
 and  six  hundred,  keeping  the  charge  of  the 
 sanctuary. 
 
 2!)  •'  The  families  of  the  sons  of  Kohath  shall 
 pitch  on  the  side  of  the  tabernacle  southward. 
 
 30  And  the  chief  of  the  house  of  the  father 
 of  the  families  of  the  Kohathites  shall  be  Eli- 
 zaphan  the  son  of  Uzziel. 
 
 31  And  "  their  charge  shall  be  '  the  ark,  and 
 '  the  table,  and  ''  the  candlestick,  and  '  the 
 altars,  and  the  vessels  of  the  sanctuary  where- 
 with they  minister,  and  ''  the  hanging,  and  all 
 the  service  thereof 
 
 32  And  Eleazar  the  son  of  Aaron  the  priest 
 shall  be  chief  over  the  chief  of  the  Levites, 
 and  have  the  oversight  of  them  that  keep  the 
 charge  of  the  sanctuary. 
 
 3:3  1  Of  Merari  was  the  family  of  the  Mahlites, 
 and  the  family  of  the  Mushites  :  these  are  the 
 families  of  Merari. 
 
 3-i  And  those  that  were  numbered  of  them, 
 according  to  the  number  of  all  the  males,  from 
 a  month  old  and  upward,  were  six  thousand 
 and  two  hundred. 
 
 35  And  tlie  chief  of  the  house  of  the  father 
 of  the  families  of  Merari  w(fs  Zuriel  the  son  of 
 Abihail  :  '  these  shall  pitch  on  the  side  of  the 
 tabernacle  northward. 
 
 36  And  t "  tinder  the  custody  and  charge  of 
 the  sons  of  Merari  shall  be  the  boards  of  the 
 tabernacle,  and  the  bars  thereof,  and  the  ])illars 
 thereof,  and  the  sockets  thereof,  and  all  the 
 vessels  thereof,  and  all  that  serveth  thereto, 
 
 37  And  the  pillars  of  the  court  round  about, 
 and  their  sockets,  and  their  pins,  and  their 
 cords. 
 
 38  t  °  But  those  that  encamp  before  the 
 tabernacle  toward  the  east,  even  before  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation  eastward,  shall 
 be  Moses,  and  Aaron  and  his  .sons,  °  keeping 
 the  charge  of  the  sanctuary  ■"  for  the  charge  of 
 the  children  of  Israel ;  and  ''  the  stranger  that 
 Cometh  nigh  shall  be  put  to  death. 
 
 39  '  All  that  were  numbered  of  the  Levites, 
 which  Moses  and  Aaron  numbered  at  the  com- 
 mandment of  the  Lord,  throughout  their  fami- 
 
 rh.  +  15. 
 /  h;x    i5.  10. 
 
 B.  C    1490. 
 
 *  ch.  -i-  •2i, 
 
 25,  26. 
 /  Hx.  25   9. 
 r<  F.%.  26.  1. 
 J-  Ex.  26.  7, 
 
 14. 
 V  Kx   26   .18 
 i  Ex.  27.  9. 
 a  Kx.  27.  16. 
 
 It  Ex.  S5.  (8. 
 c  1  Chr.  26, 
 
 A  Kx.  2-1.  31. 
 .  Ex.  27.  I. 
 
 Ik  3tK  \. 
 k  Ei.  26   82. 
 
 f  Heb.  Ihr 
 ojiH.e  ufthM 
 charge. 
 
 m  Oh.  4.  31, 
 
 «ch. 
 
 1    5a. 
 
 och. 
 
 18.5. 
 
 p  ver 
 
 7.S. 
 
 .;  ver 
 
 10. 
 
 r  See  ch.  26 
 
 X  El.  13    IS. 
 cli.  IS   15. 
 
 :  I.fV  27.  6 
 cli.  13    16. 
 
 lies,  all  the  males  from  a  month  old  and  up- 
 ward, were  twenty  and  two  thousand. 
 
 40  If  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses, '  Num- 
 ber all  the  firstborn  of  the  males  of  the  children 
 of  Israel  from  a  month  old  and  upward,  and 
 take  the  number  of  their  names. 
 
 41  'And  thou  shalt  take  tlie  Levites  forme 
 (I  am  the  Lord)  instead  of  all  the  firstborn 
 among  the  children  of  Israel  ;  and  the  cattle 
 of  the  Levites  instead  of  all  the  firstlings 
 among  the  cattle  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 42  And  Moses  numbered,  as  the  Lord  com- 
 manded him,  all  the  firstborn  among  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel. 
 
 43  And  all  the  firstborn  males  by  the  number 
 of  names,  from  a  month  old  and  upward,  of 
 those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  were  twenty 
 and  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  threescore 
 and  thirteen. 
 
 44  H  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 45  "  Take  the  Levites  instead  of  all  the  first- 
 born among  the  children  of  Israel,  and  the 
 cattle  of  the  Levites  instead  of  their  cattle ; 
 and  the  Levites  shall  be  mine :  I  am  the 
 Lord. 
 
 46  And  for  those  that  are  to  be  "  redeemed  of 
 the  two  hundred  and  threescore  and  thirteen 
 of  the  firstborn  of  the  children  of  Israel,  '  which 
 are  more  than  the  Levites  ; 
 
 47  Thou  shalt  even  take  "  five  shekels  a  piece 
 by  the  poll,  after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary 
 shalt  thou  take  them:  (°  the  shekel  is  twenty 
 gerahs :) 
 
 48  And  thou  shalt  give  the  money,  where- 
 with the  odd  number  of  them  is  to  be  redeem- 
 ed, unto  Aaron  and  to  his  son.s. 
 
 49  And  Moses  took  the  redemption  money 
 of  them  that  were  over  and  above  them  that 
 were  redeemed  by  the  Levites  : 
 
 50  Of  the  firstborn  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 took  he  the  money;  '' a  thousand  three  hun- 
 dred and  threescore  and  five  shekels,  after  the 
 shekel  of  the  sanctuary  : 
 
 51  And  Moses  '^  gave  the  money  of  them  that 
 were  redeemed  unto  Aaron  and  to  his  sons, 
 according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  as  the 
 Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Tlie  age  ri/ifl  time  of  the  Levites'  service.  4  The 
 carriaye  i>f  the  KohathiteSy  when  the  priests  have  taken 
 down  the  tabernacle.  16  The  charge  of  Eleazar. 
 17  The  office  of  the  pritsts.  '21  The  carriage  of  the 
 Gtrshonites.  29  Tltc  carriage  of  the  Mirarites. 
 34  The  number  of  the  Kohathites,  38  of  the  Gershon- 
 ites,  42  and  of  the  Mfrarites. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  unto 
 -^^  Aaron,  saying, 
 
 2  Take  the  sum  of  the  sons  of  Kohath  from 
 among  the  suns  of  Levi,  after  their  laniihes,  by 
 the  house  of  their  fathers. 
 
 for  God,  and  against  idolators,  (see  Exod.  xxii.  26,  29  ;  Deut.  xxxiii.  (ver.  31,)  and  in  Canaan  they  had  twenty-three  cities,  (see  Josh,  xxi.) 
 9-)— Hew.,  Poole.  27.  The  Kohulhite—lhe  Kohathites  had  the  chief  32.  C/itV/— whence  he  is  called  the  second  priest,  (2  Kings,  xxv.  18.)^ 
 place  about   the   tabernacle,  and  the   care  of  the  most  holy  things,     Poole.        42.  Firslbom,  implies  male  throMghout,— Hew. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —I.  ft  is  onr  privilege  that  we 
 have- a  great  High  Priest,  arid  that  his  s<rvanfs  are  nnph>yed  to 
 minister  for  our  bene  ft;  and  to  those  who  truly  derote  themselves 
 to  the  welfare  of  souls,  and  to  keep  the  charge  of  the  congre- 
 gation—apart from  all  secular  interests  by  which  others  are 
 enriched— the  church  of  Christ  owe  the  greatest  obligations, 
 and  such  they  ought  to  esteem  '  highly  in  love  for  their  works' 
 sake.' 
 
 140 
 
 II.  The  redemption  of  the  firstborn  reminds  vs  of  our  great 
 redemption.  We  were  '  devoted  by  sin  to  the  justice  of  Ciod,' 
 but  we  'are  not  redeemed  with  corruptible  things,  as  silver 
 and  gold,'  *  but  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.'  '  Of  what 
 value  is  a  soul  in  God's  account,'  observes  Dr.  Bates,  '  that  he 
 bought  with  his  Son's  blood  the  most  sacred  treasure  of 
 heaven  !' 
 
The  time  of  the  Levites'  service. 
 
 NUMBERS,  IV. 
 
 The  office  of  the  priests. 
 
 3  '  From  thirty  years  old  and  upward  even 
 until  fifty  years  old,  all  ttiat  enter  into  the 
 host,  to  do  the  work  in  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation. 
 
 4  "  This  shall  be  the  service  of  the  sons  of 
 Kohath  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation, 
 about '  the  most  holy  things  : 
 
 3  1  And  when  the  camp  s?tteth  forward, 
 Aaron  shall  come,  and  liis  sons  and  they  shall 
 take  down  ''  the  covering  vt'il,  and  cover  the 
 '  ark  of  testimony  with  it : 
 
 6  And  shall  pnt  thereon  the  covering  of 
 badgers'  skins,  and  shall  spread  over  it  a  cloth 
 wholly  of  blue,  and  shall  put  in  ''  the  staves 
 thereof. 
 
 7  And  upon  the  ^  talile  of  shewbread  they 
 shall  spread  a  cloth  of  blue,  and  pnt  thereon 
 the  dishes,  and  the  spoons,  and  the  bowls,  and 
 covers  to  ||  cover  withal :  and  the  continual 
 bread  shall  be  thereon  : 
 
 8  And  they  shall  spread  upon  them  a  cloth 
 of  scarlet,  and  cover  the  same  with  a  covering 
 of  badgers'  skins,  and  shall  put  in  the  staves 
 thereof. 
 
 9  And  they  shall  take  a  cloth  of  blue,  and 
 cover  the  ''candlestick  of  the  light, 'and  his 
 lamps,  and  liis  tongs,  and  his  snutfdishes,  and 
 all  the  oil  vessels  thereof,  wherewith  they 
 minister  unto  it : 
 
 10  And  they  shall  put  it  and  all  the  vessels 
 thereof  within  a  covering  of  badgers'  skins,  and 
 shall  put  it  upon  a  bar. 
 
 1 1  And  upon  '  the  golden  altar  they  shall 
 spread  a  clotli  of  blue,  and  cover  it  with  a 
 covering  of  badgers'  skins,  and  shall  put  to  the 
 staves  thereof : 
 
 12  And  they  sliall  take  all  the  instruments  of 
 ministry,  wherewith  they  minister  in  the  sanc- 
 tuary, and  put  thiim  m  a  cloth  of  blue,  and 
 cover  them  witli  a  covering  of  badgers'  skins, 
 and  shall  put  them  on  a  bar  : 
 
 13  And  they  shall  take  away  the  ashes  from 
 the  altar,  and  spread  a  purple  cloth  thereon  : 
 
 14  And  they  shall  put  upon  it  all  the  vessels 
 thereof,  wherewith  they  minister  about  it,  even 
 the  censers,  the  fleshhooks,  and  the  shovels, 
 and  the  ||  basons,  all  the  vessels  of  the  altar  ; 
 and  they  shall  spread  upon  it  a  covering  of 
 badgers'  skins,  and  put  to  the  staves  of  it. 
 
 15  And  when  Aaron  and  his  sons  have  made 
 an  end  of  covering  the  sanctuary,  and  all  the 
 vessels  of  the  sanctuary,  as  the  camp  is  to  set 
 forward  ;  after  that,  '  the  sons  of  Kohath  shall 
 come  to  bear  it :  "'  but  they  shall  not  touch 
 any  holy  thing,  lest  they  die.  "  These  thini/s 
 are  the  burden  of  the  sons  of  Kohath  in  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 16  t  And  to  the  otfice  of  Eleazar  the  son  of 
 Aaron  the  priest  pertaineth  °  the  oil  for  the 
 light,  and  the  '' sweet  incense,  and  ''  the  daily 
 meat  offering,  and  the  '  anointing  oil,  0'«i  the 
 oversight  of  all  the  tabernacle,  and  of  all  that 
 therein  is,  in  the  sanctuary,  and  in  the  vessels 
 thereof. 
 
 17  H  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
 unto  Aaron,  saying. 
 
 1  See  cli.  8. 
 21.  1  Chr. 
 23.  3, 24, 27. 
 
 dKx.  26.81. 
 r  Ex.  S5.  10, 
 
 e  Ex.  2.5.  23, 
 ■XI,  30. 
 Lev.  24.6,8. 
 
 h  Ex.  25.31. 
 i  Kx.25.  37, 
 
 I  ch.  7.  9. 
 
 ft  10.  21. 
 
 Deu.  81.  9. 
 
 2Saui.6. 13. 
 
 1  Chr.  15. 
 
 2,  IS. 
 m  2  Siim.  6. 
 
 6,  7.  I  Clir. 
 
 13.  9,  10. 
 «  ch.  3.31. 
 o  Es.  25,  6. 
 
 Lev.  24.  2. 
 p  Ki.  30  34 
 q  F.X,  29.  40. 
 r  Ex.  30.  23. 
 
 (  See  Ex.  19 
 21.  I  Sain. 
 6.  Iti. 
 
 t  Heb.  /"tr.i 
 
 II  Or.  car- 
 X  ch.  3.  25, 
 
 f  Heb.  leer- 
 /.re. 
 
 18  Cut  ye  not  oft'  the  tribe  of  the  families  of 
 the  Kohathites  from  among  the  Levites  : 
 
 19  But  thus  do  unto  them,  that  they  may 
 live,  and  not  die,  when  they  approach  unto 
 '  the  most  holy  things  :  Aaron  and  his  sons 
 shall  go  in,  and  appoint  them  every  one  to  his 
 service  and  to  his  burden  : 
 
 •20  '  But  they  shall  not  go  in  to  see  when  the 
 holy  things  are  covered,  lest  they  die. 
 
 21  K  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 22  Take  also  the  sum  of  the  sons  of  Gershon, 
 throughout  the  houses  of  their  fathers,  by  their 
 families  ; 
 
 23  "  From  thirty  years  old  and  upward  until 
 fifty  years  old  shall  thou  number  them  ;  all 
 that  enter  in  f  to  perform  the  service,  to  do  tlie 
 work  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 24  This  is  the  service  uf  the  families  of  the 
 Gershonites,  to  serve,  and  for  ||  burdens  : 
 
 23  And  *  they  shall  bear  the  curtains  of  the 
 tabernacle,  and  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation, his  covering,  and  the  covering  of  the 
 badgers'  skins  that  is  above  upon  it,  and  the 
 hanging  for  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation, 
 
 26  And  the  hangings  of  the  court,  and  the 
 hanging  for  the  door  of  the  gate  of  the  court, 
 which  is  by  the  tabernacle  and  by  the  altar 
 round  about,  and  their  cords,  and  all  the  in- 
 struments of  their  service,  and  all  that  is  made 
 for  them  :  so  shall  they  serve. 
 
 27  At  the  t  appointment  of  Aaron  and  his 
 sons  shall  be  all  the  service  of  the  sons  of  the 
 Gershonites,  in  all  their  burdens,  and  in  all 
 their  service  :  and  ye  shall  appoint  unto  them 
 in  charge  all  their  burdens. 
 
 28  This  is  the  service  of  the  families  of  the 
 sons  of  Gershon  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation :  and  their  charge  situll  be  under  the 
 hand  of  Itbamar  the  son  of  Aaron  the  priest. 
 
 29  f  As  for  the  sons  of  Merari,  thou  shall 
 number  them  after  their  families,  by  the  house 
 of  their  fathers  ; 
 
 30  '  From  thirty  years  old  and  upward  even 
 unto  fifty  years  old  shall  thou  number  them, 
 every  one  that  enterctb  into  the  f^ervice,  to 
 do  the  work  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congrega- 
 tion . 
 
 31  And  'this  is  the  charge  of  their  burden, 
 according  to  all  their  service  in  the  tabernacle 
 of  the  congregation  ;  "  the  boards  of  the  taber- 
 nacle, and  the  bars  thereof,  and  the  pillars 
 thereof,  and  sockets  thereof, 
 
 32  And  the  pillars  of  the  court  round  about, 
 and  their  sockets,  and  their  pins,  and  their  cords, 
 with  all  their  instruments,  and  with  all  their 
 service  :  and  by  name  ye  shall  ^  reckon  the 
 instruments  of  the  charge  of  their  burden. 
 
 33  This  is  the  service  of  the  families  of  the 
 sons  of  Merari,  according  to  all  their  service,  iu 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  under  the 
 hand  of  Itbamar  the  son  of  Aaron  the  jiriest. 
 
 34  t "  And  Moses  and  Aaron  and  the  chief 
 of  the  congregation  numbered  the  sons  of  the 
 Kohathites  after  their  families,  and  after  the 
 house  of  their  fathers. 
 
 CuAP.  IV. — 3.  From  thirhi — the  I-cvites  were  nambereti  after  three  tabernacle, — Henri/,  and  this  was  the  reason  of  being  numbered  the 
 
 sorts ;  first  at  a  month  old,  when  they  were  consecrated  to  the  Lord  ;  second  time.          10.  A  bur,  ICID,  '  a  kind  of  mat,'  or  '  mattre&s.' — Gitl. 
 
 next  at  twenry-tive  years  old,  when  they  were  appointed  to  ser\e  in  'A  bier,'  or  'bearer.' — Hew.     The  latter  seems  the  must  justifiable 
 
 the  tabernacle  ;  and  at  thirty  years  old  to  bear  the  burdens  of  the  ta-  sense. — See  !20  Pnr.         18.  Cut  ye  not  off—hQ  not  the  cause  of  their 
 
 bernacle. — Ref.  Biti.     As  the  tribe  of  Levi  was  taken  out  of  all  Israel  cutting  off  through  negligence  in  packing  up  the  holy  things,  (see  ver. 
 
 to  be  God's  peculiar,  so  the  viuldle  aged  men  of  that  tribe  were  taken  ly,  20.)— Gi/;. 
 from  among  the  rest  to  be  actually  employed  in  the  service  of  the 
 150 
 
The  number  of  the  Kohathites,  §-r. 
 
 NUMBERS,  V. 
 
 Restitution  for  trespasses. 
 
 83  From  thirty  years  old  and  upward  even 
 unto  fifty  years  old,  every  one  that  entereth 
 into  tlie  service,  fur  the  work,  in  the  tabernacle 
 of  the  congregation  : 
 
 36  And  those  that  were  numbered  of  them 
 by  their  families  were  two  thousand  seven 
 hundred  and  fifty. 
 
 37  These  were  they  that  were  numbered  of 
 the  families  of  the  Kobathites,  all  that  might 
 do  service  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congrega- 
 tion, which  Moses  and  Aaron  did  number  ac- 
 cording to  the  commandment  of  the  Lord  by 
 the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 38  And  those  that  were  numbered  of  the 
 sons  of  Gerslion,  throughout  their  families,  and 
 by  the  house  of  their  fathers, 
 
 39  From  thirty  years  old  and  upward  even 
 unto  fifty  years  old,  every  one  that  entereth 
 into  the  service,  for  the  work  in  the  tabernacle 
 of  the  congregation, 
 
 40  Even  those  that  were  numbered  of  them, 
 throughout  tlieir  families,  by  the  house  of  their 
 fathers,  were  two  thousand  and  six  hundred 
 and  thirty. 
 
 41  ■*  Tiiese  are  they  that  were  numbered  of 
 the  families  of  the  sons  of  Gershon,  of  all  that 
 might  do  service  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation, whom  Moses  and  Aaron  did  number 
 according  to  the  commandment  of  the  Lord. 
 
 42  K  And  those  that  were  numbered  of  the 
 families  of  the  sons  of  Merari,  throughout 
 their  families,  by  the  house  of  their  fathers, 
 
 43  From  thirty  years  old  and  upward  even 
 unto  fifty  years  old,  every  one  that  entereth 
 into  the  service,  for  the  work  in  the  tabernacle 
 of  the  congregation, 
 
 44  Even  those  that  were  numbered  of  them 
 after  their  families,  were  three  thousand  and 
 two  hundred. 
 
 4j  These  be  those  that  were  numbered  of  the 
 families  of  the  sons  of  Merari,  whom  Moses  and 
 Aaron  numbered  '  according  to  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  by  the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 46  All  those  that  were  numbered  of  the  Le- 
 vites,  whom  Moses  and  Aaron  and  the  chief  of 
 Israel  numbered,  after  their  families,  and  after 
 the  house  of  their  fathers, 
 
 47  ''  From  thirty  years  old  and  upward  even 
 unto  fifty  years  old,  every  one  that  came  to  do 
 the  service  of  the  ministry,  and  the  service 
 of  the  burden  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation, 
 
 48  Even  those  that  were  numbered  of  them, 
 
 B  C.  1490  B.  C.  M90. 
 
 gveT.  15,  2i, 
 SI. 
 
 A  ver.  I,  21. 
 
 16.  8e  ch.l2 
 
 11. 
 
 Lev 
 
 Ifi 
 
 9. 
 
 l.PV 
 
 !jl 
 
 1 
 
 Hi,  9 
 
 ti, 
 
 in 
 
 (t   l<». 
 
 II. 
 
 v.\ 
 
 &S1 
 
 lU 
 
 il.cv 
 
 2rt 
 
 11 
 
 \i.  iC^ 
 
 ,t) 
 
 Lev.  6.  2,S. 
 
 /Lev.  5.  b. 
 
 Ik  -.'ti.  ■)». 
 Jiisl).  7     IS 
 
 /*  Lev.  6.  6 
 7.  &  7.  7. 
 
 I  Kjt.  i;9.  22. 
 Lev.  fi.  17, 
 IS,  ^^6.  U  7. 
 6,  7,  9,  10, 
 14.  ch.  18. 
 8,  9,  19. 
 Deu.  18.  S, 
 4.  Ezek.41. 
 ii9,  30. 
 
 A  Lev.  10.13. 
 
 were  eight  thousand  and  five  hundred  and 
 fourscore. 
 49  According  to  the  commandment  of  tlie 
 Loud  they  were  numbered  by  the  hand  of 
 Moses,  ^  every  one  according  to  his  service, 
 and  accordiui;  to  his  burden  :  thus  were  they 
 numbered  of  him,  ^  as  the  Lord  couuuanded 
 Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  The  unrhan  are  removed  out  of  the  camp.  5  Resti- 
 tntinn  is  to  be  made  in  trespasses,  1 1  The  trial  tif 
 jealous}/. 
 
 AND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^^  *J   Command   the  children   of  Israel,  that 
 they  put   out  of  tlie  carnp  every  "  leper,  and 
 every  one  that  hath  an  ^  issue,  and  wiiosoever 
 is  defiled  by  the  ^  dead  : 
 
 3  Both  male  and  female  shall  ye  put  out, 
 without  the  camp  shall  ye  put  them  ;  that  they 
 defile  not  their  camps, 'Mn  the  midst  whereof  1 
 dwell. 
 
 4  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  so,  and  put 
 them  out  witliout  the  camp:  as  the  Lord  spake 
 unto  Moses,  so  did  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 5  H  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying. 
 
 6  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  ^  When  a 
 man  or  woman  shall  commit  any  sin  that  men 
 commit,  to  do  a  trespass  against  the  Lord,  and 
 that  person  be  guilty  ; 
 
 7  '  Then  they  shall  confess  their  sin  which 
 they  have  done  :  and  he  shall  recompense  his 
 trespass  ^  with  the  principal  thereof,  and  add 
 unto  it  the  fifth  part  thereof,  and  give  it  unto 
 him  against  whom  he  hath  trespassed. 
 
 8  But  if  the  man  have  no  kinsman  to  recom- 
 pense the  trespass  unto,  let  the  trespass  be  re- 
 compensed unto  the  Lord,  eroi  to  the  priest  ; 
 beside  ''  the  ram  of  the  atonement,  whereby 
 an  atonement  shall  be  made  for  him. 
 
 9  And  every  ||  *  offering  of  all  the  holy  things 
 of  the  children  of  Israel,  which  they  bring  unto 
 the  priest,  shall  be  his. 
 
 10  And  every  man's  hallowed  things  shall  be 
 his:  whatsoever  any  man  giveth  the  priest, it 
 shall  be  ^  bis. 
 
 1 1  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 12  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say 
 unto  them,  If  any  man's  wife  go  aside,  and 
 commit  a  trespass  against  him, 
 
 13  And  a  man  'lie  with  her  carnally,  and  it 
 be  hid  from  the  eyes  of  her  husband,  and  be 
 kept  close,  and  she  be  defiled,  and  there  be  no 
 
 CiiAP.  V. — 2.  Defiled  by  the  dead,  by  touchiog  them,  (Lev.  xxi.  1; 
 Num.  vi.  6.)  6.  A?ii/  sin  that  men  comjnit,  'a  sin  of  man' — that  is.  a 
 sin  atrainst  man,  if  a  man  overreach  or  defraud. — Hen.  Perhaps  ortii- 
 nary  sins  incident  to  human  nature,  but  not  atrocious  ;  or  sins  of  igno- 
 rance ;  it  may  e-stend  to  thefts  or  frauds. — St.  Augustine.  Boothrni/d 
 thmks  it  is  clear  that  the  law  in  these  verses  is  the  same  with  that  in 
 Lev.  V.  14—16.  from  the  general  tenour  of  both,  and  the  penalty  an- 
 nexed;  but  this  supposes  that  no  person  claims  compensation.  Be 
 guilty,  conscious  of  guilt. — Scott.  10.  Hallowed  things — not  sacri- 
 fices, for  part  of  these  were  God*s,  and  part  the  offerer's ;  but,  for  ex- 
 
 ample, if  a  house  or  its  rent  were  devoted  to  God,  this  was  to  be  the 
 priest's. — Poole.  12.  Wife  go  aside — the  crime  being  detected,  death 
 was  inflicted,  (Lev.  xx.  10  ;)  but  when  the  husband  hail  only  suspicions, 
 he  might  make  this  appeal  to  God. —  Seott.  TlAs  prevented  a  spurious 
 brood  from  the  heathen. — Gili.  From  the  simple  ingredients  there  was 
 no  tendency  to  injure;  the  pnnishment  would  then  come  directly  from 
 God. — Hen.  There  is  no  instance  in  Scripture  of  recurring  to  this 
 ordeal ;  and  the  awful  process  was  enough  to  deter  a  guilty  woman  from 
 venturing  on  it,  in  an  age  of  miracles. — So  Cat.,  Wil.  This  trial  was 
 nut  to  be  used  but  when  the  truth  could  not  be  otherwise  known. — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.— I.  The  sotevin  prohibitions  in 
 this  c/tapter  may  teach  us  not  to  pi-y  profandy  into  holy  thinys. 
 Divine  truth  contains  many  things  which  are  not  explained  ; 
 it  belongs,  therefore,  to  us  to  bow  when  we  cannot  compre- 
 hend, and  to  confess,  *  without  controversy,  great  is  the  mys- 
 tery of  CTodliness.' 
 
 II.  The  allotmenls  of  duty  here  described  may  afford  an  useful 
 lessim  to  the  various  classes  of  persons  employed  to  do  the  work  of 
 God.  Kacb  has  his  appointed  place  and  service  in  the  churcn 
 of  Christ,  and  in  that  place  he  is  both  useful  and  valuable  in 
 the  accomplishment  of  the  great  whole  which  is  to  be  done. 
 The  humblest  village  labourer,  preaching  Christ  to  a  handful 
 151 
 
 of  rustics,  is  no  less  a  servant  of  God  than  he  who  labours  in 
 *  the  great  congregation  ;'  and  the  teacher  who  prepares  even 
 the  infant  mind  to  serve  the  Lord,  though  he  occupies  a  less 
 prominent,  occupies  not  a  less  important  sphere  than  he  who 
 instructs  men  of  ripened  years  and  exalted  station.  Let  this, 
 then,  make  the  exalted  exercise  becoming  humility,  and  let 
 those  in  humble  scenes  of  labour  take  encouragement.  Let 
 each  and  all  harmoniously  unite  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  for- 
 asmuch as  they  know  that  their  labour  is  not  in  vaiu  in  the 
 Lord.  '  Let  nothing  be  done  through  strife  and  vain  glory  ; 
 for  '  the  eye  cannot  say  unto  the  hand,  1  have  no  need  of  ihee ; 
 nor  again,  the  head  to  the  feet,  I  have  no  need  of  you.* 
 
The  trial  of  jealousy. 
 
 NUMBERS,  VI. 
 
 The  law  of  the  Nazarites. 
 
 witness  against  her,  neither  she  he  taken  witii 
 the  manner  ; 
 
 14  And  the  spirit  of  jealousy  come  npon  him, 
 and  he  be  jealous  of  his  wife,  and  she  be  de- 
 filed :  or  if  the  spirit  of  jealousy  come  upon 
 him,  and  he  be  jealous  of  his  wife,  and  she  be 
 not  defiled  : 
 
 15  Then  sliall  the  man  bring  his  wife  unto  the 
 priest,  and  he  shall  bring  her  offering  for  her, 
 the  tenth  part  of  an  ephali  of  barley  meal  ;  he 
 shall  pour  no  oil  upon  it,  nor  put  frankincense 
 thereon;  for  it  is  an  offering  of  jealousy,  an 
 offering  of  memorial,  "  bringing  iniquity  to  re- 
 membrance. 
 
 16  And  the  priest  shall  bring  her  near,  and 
 set  her  before  the  Lord  : 
 
 17  And  the  priest  shall  take  holy  water  in  an 
 earthen  vessel  ;  and  of  the  dust  that  is  in  the 
 floor  of  the  tabernacle  the  priest  shall  take, 
 and  put  it  into  the  water  : 
 
 18  And  the  priest  shall  set  the  woman  before 
 the  Lord,  and  uncover  the  woman's  head,  and 
 put  the  offering  of  memorial  in  her  hands, 
 which  is  the  jealousy  offering  :  aTid  the  priest 
 shall  have  in  his  hand  the  bitter  vrater  that 
 causeth  the  curse  : 
 
 19  And  the  priest  shall  charge  her  by  an  oath, 
 and  say  unto  the  woman.  If  no  man  have  lain 
 with  thee,  and  if  thou  hast  not  gone  aside  to 
 uncleanness  ||  f  u-ith  another  instead  of  thy 
 husband,  be  thou  free  from  this  bitter  water 
 that  causetli  the  curse  : 
 
 '20  But  if  tliou  hast  gone  aside  to  another  in- 
 stead of  thy  husband,  and  if  thou  be  defiled, 
 and  some  man  have  lain  with  thee  beside  thine  i 
 husband  : 
 
 •21  Then  the  priest  shall  "  charge  the  woman 
 with  an  oatli  of  cursing,  and  the  priest  shall 
 say  unto  the  woman,  "  The  Lord  make  thee 
 a  curse  and  an  oath  among  thy  people,  when 
 the  Lord  doth  make  thy  thigh  to  t  rot.  and 
 thy  belly  to  swell  ; 
 
 '■2'2  And  this  water  that  causeth  the  curse 
 '' shall  go  into  thy  bowels,  to  make  thy  belly 
 to  swell,  and  thy  thigh  to  rot :  ''  And  the  wo- 
 man shall  say.  Amen,  amen. 
 
 '23  And  the  priest  shall  write  these  curses  in 
 a  book,  and  he  shall  blot  them  out  with  the 
 bitter  water : 
 
 24  And  he  shall  cause  the  woman  to  drink 
 the  bitter  water  that  causeth  the  curse  :  and 
 the  water  that  causeth  the  curse  shall  enter 
 into  her,  and  become  bitter. 
 
 23  Then  the  priest  shall  take  the  jealousy 
 offering  out  of  the  woman's  hand,  and  shall 
 '  wave  the  offering  before  the  Lord,  and  offer 
 
 .1  1  Kill.  17. 
 18.  Eae.  29, 
 
 t  Or,  being 
 ...  Il.t  ,.,.I..T 
 
 A..  ..J. 
 
 Kom.  7.  2. 
 \  >let>.  undrr 
 till/  livibond. 
 
 t  JoBh.  6-  2G. 
 I  Sam.  II. 
 2t.  Keh.  10. 
 
 ..  Jor.  29.  22. 
 t   Heb./oK. 
 
 ;.  P«.  109.18. 
 J  Deu.  27.l.'i. 
 
 B,  C.  1490. 
 I  Lev.  2.  2,9. 
 
 rDeii.2S.  37. 
 Pa.  as.  9,1 1. 
 Jer.  2*  9.  & 
 29.  18, 22.  & 
 +2,  18. 
 Zech.8.  13. 
 
 .V,.; 
 
 ritft. 
 
 a  Lev 
 
 Judg.  13..'.. 
 
 Acts  21.  23. 
 
 Horn.  1.  1. 
 fcAiTios2.l2. 
 
 Luke  1.  15. 
 
 II  Or,  .Vrt:a. 
 
 t  Heb    ri..f 
 oj  the  urine. 
 
 r  Judg,  13,5. 
 &  16,  17- 
 lS.\m.  1.11, 
 
 Lev.  21.  1 
 2,  11.  ch. 
 
 it  upon  the  altar  : 
 
 2G  '  And  the  priest  shall  take  au  handful  of 
 the  offering,  even  the  memorial  thereof,  and 
 burn  it  upon  the  altar,  and  afterward  shaU 
 cause  the  woman  to  drink  the  water- 
 
 '27  And  when  he  hatli  made  her  to  drink  the 
 water,  then  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that,  if  she 
 be  defiled,  and  have  done  trespass  against  her 
 husband,  that  tlie  water  that  causetli  tlie  curse 
 shall  enter  into  her,  and  become  bitter,  and  her 
 belly  sliall  swell,  and  her  thigh  shall  rot :  and 
 the  woman  '  shall  be  a  curse  among  her  people 
 
 •28  And  if  the  woman  be  not  defiled,  but  be 
 clean  ;  then  .she  shall  be  free,  and  shall  con- 
 ceive seed. 
 
 29  This  is  the  law  of  jealousies,  when  a  wife 
 goeth  aside  to  another  "  instead  of  her  hus- 
 band, and  is  defiled  ; 
 
 30  Or  wlien  the  spirit  of  jealousy  cometh 
 upon  him,  and  he  be  jealous  over  his  wife,  and 
 shall  set  the  woman  before  the  Lord,  and  the 
 priest  shall  execute  upon  her  all  this  law. 
 
 31  Then  shall  the  man  be  guiltless  from  ini- 
 quity, and  this  woman  "  shall  bear  her  iniquity. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1    The  taw  of  the  Nazarites,     22   The  form  of  blessing 
 tlte  peopk\ 
 
 AND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Mose.s,  saying, 
 -'*-  2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Lsrael,  and 
 say  unto  them.  When  either  man  or  woman, 
 sliall  II  "separate  themselves  to  vow  a  vow  of  a 
 Nazaiite,  to  separate  themselves  unto  the  Lord  : 
 
 3  ''  He  shall  separate  himself  from  wine  and 
 strong  drink,  and  shall  drink  no  vinegar  of 
 wine,  or  vinegar  of  strong  drink,  neither  shall  he 
 drink  any  liquor  of  grapes,  nor  eat  moist  grapes, 
 or  dried. 
 
 4  All  the  days  of  his  ||  sep.aration  shall  he  eat 
 nothing  that  is  made  of  tlie  f  vine  tree,  from 
 the  kernels  even  to  the  husk. 
 
 3  All  the  days  of  the  vow  of  his  separation 
 there  shall  no  '  razor  come  upon  his  head  : 
 until  the  days  be  fulfilled,  in  the  which  he  sepa- 
 rateth  himself  unto  the  Lord,  he  shall  be  holy, 
 and  shall  let  the  locks  of  tlie  hair  of  his  head 
 grow. 
 
 6  All  the  days  that  he  separateth  himself 
 unto  the  Lord  ''he  shall  come  at  no  dead 
 body. 
 
 7  "  He  shall  not  make  himself  unclean  for  his 
 father,  or  for  his  mother,  for  his  brother,  or  for 
 his  sister,  when  they  die  :  because  the  f  conse- 
 cration of  his  God  is  upon  his  head. 
 
 8  All  the  days  of  his  separation  he  is  holy 
 unto  the  Lord. 
 
 Bofithr.  22.  Amen — a  Hebrew  word,  explained  in  Greek,  'so  be  it,' 
 (see  1  Cor.  xiv.  l6.}  When  added  at  the  end  of  prayers  or  curses,  it  is 
 an  approbation  or  confirmation,  with  desire  that  the  thing  may  so  be. 
 — Abis.        23.  A  book,  probably  a  tablet.— Pic/.  Bib. 
 
 Chap.  VI. — 2.  A  voix'  of  u  Niixarite,  T13,  '  Nazarite,*  is  from  the  root 
 *lt3.  '  to  separate,*  and  signifies  one  who  is  separated.  To  separate 
 themselves — such  persons  devoted  themselves,  and  set  apart  their  time 
 
 to  serve  the  Lord  in  a  stricter  and  purer  manner  than  others,  and  there- 
 fore  were  had  in  great  account.  (Lam.  iv.  7  ;  Amos,  ii.  11.)  They  were 
 types  of  Christ.  Both  sexes  miglit  malte  this  vow  if  tliey  were  at  their 
 own  disposal :  but  parents  or  husbands  could  disannul  the  vow,  (Num. 
 XXX.  4.)  The  sequestration  might  be  entirely,  or  for  a  time,  (see  Judg. 
 xiii.  5;  xvi.  17;  !  Sam.  i.  11  ;  Lultc,  i.  15.]— Sco/^  Gill,  Poole.  3.  From 
 wine — lest  they  should  either  inflame  or  dispose  him  to  luxury.    6.  The 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V 1.  As  the  unclean  were  to  be  put 
 
 out  oJ  the  camp,  so  nothing  that  defileth  can  be  admitted  into  the 
 church  of  God.  It  may  be  found  in  it  here,  but  in  the  great 
 day  of  scrutiny  it  shall  not  remain  in  it.  '  Blessed  are  they 
 that  do  his  commandments  that  they  may  have  right  to  the 
 tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through  the  gates  into  the  city. 
 For  without  are  dogs,  and  sorcerers,  and  whoremongers,  and 
 murderers,  and  idolators,  and  whosoever  loveth  and  maketh  a 
 lie.' 
 
 1 1 .  W/iatever  wrong  we  have  done  to  others  we  Oiiqht  nevi:r  to  fail 
 132 
 
 to  malie  restitution.  The  Scriptures  are  repeatedly  urging  this 
 upon  u8.  It  is  the  eternal  law  of  justice,  and  therefore  must 
 be  the  law  of  God. 
 
 111.  The  solc7n7t  ordeal  mentioned  in  this  chapter  nmy  remind  us 
 that  God  sees  every  Secret  sin^  that  he  hates  sin,  and  that  he  will 
 punish  sin.  The  transgressor's  sin  will  find  him  out ;  and  if  he 
 mourn  not  bitterly  for  it  now,  while  he  looks  on  him  whom  he 
 has  pierced  by  it,  he  must  mourn  at  tiie  last  where  sorrow 
 shall  never  end. 
 
The  laio  of  the  Nazarites. 
 
 NUMBERS,  VII. 
 
 Form  of  blessing  the  people. 
 
 9  And  if  any  man  die  very  suddenly  by  liiiii 
 and  lie  liatli  defiled  the  head  of  his  consecra- 
 tion;  then  he  shall  shave  '  his  head  in  the  day 
 of  his  cleansing,  on  the  seventh  day  shall  he 
 shave  it. 
 
 10  And  ^  on  the  eighth  day  he  shall  bring  two 
 turtles,  or  two  young  pigeons,  to  the  priest,  to 
 the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  : 
 
 11  And  the  priest  shall  offer  the  one  for  a 
 sin  offering,  and  the  other  for  a  bmnt  offering, 
 and  maUe  an  atonement  for  him,  for  that  he 
 sinned  by  the  dead,  and  shall  hallow  his  head 
 that  same  day. 
 
 12  And  he  siiall  consecrate  unto  the  Lord 
 the  days  of  his  separation,  and  shall  bring  a 
 lamb  of  tlie  first  year  ''for  a  trespass  ottering: 
 but  the  days  that  were  before  shall  f  be  lost, 
 because  his  separation  was  dehled. 
 
 13  II  And  this  is  the  law  of  the  Nazarite, 
 '  when  the  days  of  his  separation  are  fulfilled  : 
 lie  shall  be  brought  unto  the  door  of  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregaticni : 
 
 14  And  he  shall  offer  his  offering  unto  the 
 I-oKD,  one  he  lamb  of  the  first  year  without 
 blemish  for  a  burnt  offering,  and  one  ewe  lamb 
 of  the  first  year  without  blemish  ^  for  a  sin 
 oftering,  and  one  ram  without  blemish  '  for 
 peace  offerings, 
 
 1.5  And  a  basket  of  unleavened  bread, ""  cakes 
 of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil,  and  wafers  of 
 unleavened  bread  "anointed  with  oil,  and  their 
 meat  ottering,  and  tlieir  "  drink  ott'erings. 
 
 16  And  the  priest  shall  bring  </((■»;  before  the 
 Loud,  and  shall  offer  his  sin  offering,  and  his 
 burnt  offering: 
 
 J  7  And  he  shall  offer  the  vam  fur  a  sacrifice 
 of  peace  offerings  unto  the  Loud,  with  the 
 basket  of  unleavened  bread  :  tlie  priest  shall 
 offer  also  his  meat  offering,  and  his  drink  offer 
 hig. 
 
 18  ''And  the  Nazarite  shall  shave  the  head 
 of  his  separation  nt  the  door  of  the  tabernacle 
 of  the  congregation,  and  shall  take  the  hair  of 
 the  head  of  his  separation,  and  put  it  in  the  fire 
 which  is  under  the  sacrifice  of  the  peace  offer- 
 iiigs. 
 
 19  And  the  priest  shall  take  the  ''sodden 
 shoulder  of  the  ram,  and  one  unleavened  cake 
 out  of  the  basket,  and  one  unleavened  wafer, 
 and  'shall  put  ihem  upon  the  hands  of  the 
 Nazarite,  after  tlie  hair  of  his  separation  is 
 shaven  : 
 
 20  And  the  priest  shall  wave  them /bra  wave 
 offering  before  the  Loud:  "this  is  holy  for 
 the  priest,  with  the  wave  breast  and  heave | 
 shoulder:    and  after   that   the   Nazarite   may 
 
 B.  c  iiyii.   I  K.  c.  I lyiF. 
 
 /•Acts  18  18, 
 &  21.  S4. 
 
 e  Lev.  5.  7. 
 fa  14.  V2.  & 
 15.  14,  29 
 
 (  Lev.  9.  82. 
 I  Chr.  as. 
 
 Jnl.i 
 
 U  Lev.  5.  6. 
 t  Heb./.H. 
 
 E.v   2n,  -2. 
 ch    15.5,7, 
 
 17.11. 
 31.  Ifi 
 
 >iit.  s.  7,  in 
 &  iiy   \:v>. 
 
 D.iii.  9.  17. 
 
 I'  «eii.  i:i29. 
 
 V  Ps  4.  e. 
 
 J  Jiihti  14. 
 
 27.  i  Thus. 
 
 3.  16. 
 «  Ocu  Ss.llt. 
 
 2  0111-.  7.  11. 
 
 Is.  43.  7. 
 
 nan-  9.  18, 
 
 10. 
 b  Ps   115.  1-2. 
 
 a  Ex.  40   IS. 
 
 Lev.  6.  lu, 
 
 /ch 
 J/  cli. 
 
 Kzra  li    16 
 Nell.  12.27. 
 Ps.  30.  title. 
 
 drink  wine. 
 
 21  This  is  the  law  of  the  Nazarite  who  hath 
 vowed,  uiid  of  his  offering  unio  the  Lord  for 
 his  separation,  beside  that  that  his  hand  shall 
 get :  according  to  the  vow  which  he  vowed,  .so 
 he  must  do  after  the  law  of  his  separation. 
 
 2211  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Mose.s,  saying, 
 
 23  Speak  unto  Aaron  and  unto  his  sons,  say- 
 ing. On  this  wise  '  ye  shall  bless  the  children 
 of  Israel,  saying  unto  them, 
 
 24  The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  "  keep  thee  : 
 '2d  The   Lord  "  make   his  face   shine   upon 
 
 thee,  and  '  be  gracious  unto  thee  : 
 
 26  ''  The  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon 
 thee,  and  ''  give  thee  peace. 
 
 27  °  And  they  .shall  put  my  name  upon  the 
 children  of  Israel ;  and  i"  I  will  bless  them. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 I  Tlie  offerliiff  of  the  princes  at  the  dedieation  of  the 
 talitriiaelf.  10  Their  several off<riti(/s  at  the  dedica- 
 tion of  the  altar,  89  God  spcuhcth  to  Moses  from 
 the  merci/  seat. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  on  the  day  that  Moses 
 -^*-  had  fully  "set  up  tlie  tabernacle,  and  had 
 inointed  it,  and  sanctified  it,  and  all  the  instru- 
 ments thereof,  both  the  altar  and  all  the  ves- 
 sels thereof,  and  had  anointed  them,  and  sanc- 
 tified them  ; 
 
 2  That  ''  the  princes  of  Israel,  heads  of  the 
 house  of  their  fathers,  who  ivere  the  princes  of 
 the  tribes,  f  and  were  over  them  that  were 
 numbered,  offered  : 
 
 3  And  they  brought  their  offering  before  the 
 Lord,  .six  covered  wagons,  and  twelve  oxen  ; 
 a  wagon  for  two  of  the  princes,  and  for  each 
 one  an  ox  :  and  they  brought  them  before  the 
 tabernacle. 
 
 4  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 5  Take  it  of  them,  that  they  may  be  to  do 
 the  service  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation ;  and  thou  slialt  give  them  unto  the 
 Levites,  to  every  man  according  to  his  service. 
 
 6  And  Moses  took  the  wagons  and  the  oxen, 
 and  gave  them  unto  the  Levites. 
 
 7  Two  wagons  and  four  oxen  '^  he  gave  unto 
 the  sons  of  Gershon,  according  to  their  service  : 
 
 8  ''  And  four  wagons  and  eight  oxen  he  gave 
 unto  the  sons  of  Morari,  according  unto  their 
 service,  "  under  the  hand  of  Ithamar  the  son  of 
 Aaron  the  priest. 
 
 9  But  unto  the  sons  of  Kohath  he  gave  none  : 
 because  '  the  service  of  the  sanctuary  belonging 
 unto  them  ^  was  that  they  should  bear  upon 
 their  shoulders. 
 
 I    10  1  And  the  princes  offered  for  ''  dedicating 
 
 hail'  of  his  hctid  grow — chiefly  as  a  sign  of  mnrtification. — Poole,  Scott. 
 18.  Put  it  in  thejire — Ihe  hair  was  shaven  nff  as  a  token  that  the  vow 
 was  accomplished,  and  was  burnt,  not  on  the  altar,  as  it  he  could 
 make  atonement,  but  under  the  peace-offerings,  implying  the  gracious 
 acc^^ptanccof  such  services  by  a  God  of  peace  and  love. — Hcott.  As  no 
 human  saciilice  could  bu  offered  on  the  altar,  the  Nazarite  offered  his 
 htir  as  a  s;tcrifice. — .-I.  Cluelie.  24 — 26.  The   Lnnl — the  Lord— the 
 
 Xjord — explained  2C"r.  xiii.  14. — Hen.     Considered  as  an  intimation  of 
 
 the  Trinity.    Some  commentators  think  three  forms  arc  here  intended, 
 either  of  which  might  be  used  separately. 
 
 Ch.\p.  VII.— 3.  Wf/yojiA-,  renileied 'Utters,'  (Isa.  l.wi.  20 ;)  by  some, 
 '  coaclies,'  or  '  wagons  yoked,'  or  *  drawn  with  a  yi'kc  of  oxen.^—Gitt. 
 Snpp'iseri  to  have  been  neat  carriagi-s,  such  as  -were  then  used  to  ride 
 ill,  yet  made  very  strong.— Sc-o//.  They  were  covered  to  hitle,  the 
 tilings  being  sacied. — Oill.  8.  Four  tvigojut — to  thesons  of  Meritri — 
 because  they  would  cany  the  boards,  piUars,  &c.,  of  tlie  labernacle, 
 
 Refllctions  on  Ohap.  VI — I.  Erery  Christian  should,  in 
 a  certain  .ve.  se,  be  a  Sazarite.  He  is  not  required  to  be  a  monk  , 
 he  is  to  live  socially,  actively,  and  usefuly  in  tlie  world  ;  but 
 so  to  use  the  world  as  not  to  abuse  it.  Temperance  is  the 
 safest  road  lo  purity,  and  purity  to  happiness  Association 
 Willi  tlu'  world  is  dangerous  to  the  soul.  The  voice  of  inspira- 
 tion calls  to  us,  '  Come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  sepa- 
 nite,  antl  touch  not  the  unclean  tUiny.' 
 163 
 
 n.  [n  the  priesfs  benediction  we  sec  the  Ihssinps  bestowed  nn  the 
 Christian  church.  Spiritual  blessings  are  essentially  the  s-ame 
 now  as  under  the  old  dispensation.  Divine  preservation,  di- 
 vine favour,  divine  mercy,  divine  peace— these  are  all  that  are 
 necessary  to  make  the  soul  happy.  Thus  may  •  th.'  gi-.ice  of 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  love  of  God,  and  the  communion 
 of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  us  all.  Amen." 
 
The  several  offerings  at  the 
 
 NUMBERS,   ri. 
 
 dedicalion  of  the  temple. 
 
 of  the  altar  in  the  day  that  it  was  aiiuiiited, 
 even  the  pvinres  offered  their  offering;  before 
 the  altar. 
 
 1  I  And  the  Lokd  said  inito  Moses,  They 
 shall  offer  their  ottering,  each  prince  on  his 
 day,  for  the  dedicating  of  the  altar. 
 
 1-2  1[  And  lie  that  offered  his  offering  the  first 
 day  was  '  Nahshon  the  son  of  Animinadab,  of 
 the  tribe  of  .Indali  : 
 
 13  And  his  offering  was  one  silver  charger, 
 the  weight  thereof  uits  an  hundred  and  thirty 
 shekels,  one  silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels, 
 after  '  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary ;  both  of 
 thein  were  full  of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil 
 for  a  '  meat  offering  : 
 
 14  One  spoon  of  ten  shekels  of  gold,  full  of 
 "■  incense  : 
 
 1.5  "  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb 
 of  the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering  : 
 
 16  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  ''  sin  offering  : 
 
 17  And  for  ''a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings, 
 two  o.\en,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of 
 the  first  year  :  tliis  was  the  offering  of  Nahshon 
 the  son  of  Amminadab. 
 
 18  t  On  the  second  day  Nethaneel  the  son 
 of  Zuar,  prince  of  Issachar,  diii  offer : 
 
 19  He  oifered  for  his  offering  one  silver 
 charger,  the  weight  whereof  was  an  hundred 
 and  thirty  shikrls,  one  silver  liowl  of  seventy 
 shekels,  after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary  ;  both 
 of  them  full  of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil  for  a 
 meat  offering: 
 
 20  One  spoon  of  gold  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense  : 
 
 21  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering : 
 
 2'2  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering: 
 2.3  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year :    this  was  the  offering  of  Nethaneel 
 the  son  of  Zuar. 
 
 24  H  On  the  third  day  Eliab  the  son  of  Helon, 
 prince  of  the  children  of  Zebulim,  did  offer: 
 
 25  His  offering  was  one  silver  charger,  the 
 weight  whereof  lens  an  hundred  and  thirty 
 shekels,  one  silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels,  after 
 the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary  ;  both  of  them  full 
 of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil  for  a  meat  offering : 
 
 26  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense: 
 
 27  One  young  bullock,  ono  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 tlie  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering: 
 
 28  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering: 
 
 29  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  pe.^ce  offerings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year :  this  was  the  offering  of  Eliab  the 
 son  of  Helon. 
 
 30  H  On  the  fourth  day  Elizur  the  son  of 
 Shedeur,  prince  of  the  children  of  Reuben,  did 
 offer  : 
 
 31  His  offering  was  one  silver  charger  of  the 
 weight  of  an  hundred  and  thirty  skekels,  one 
 silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels,  after  the  shekel 
 of  the  sanctuary ;  both  of  them  full  of  fine  flour 
 mingled  with  oil  for  a  meat  offering : 
 
 32  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense : 
 
 33  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering  : 
 
 m  Ex.  30. 3-]. 
 ..  Lev.  I.S. 
 
 ■'  I.ev.  *  2:*. 
 p  Lev.  3.  I, 
 
 34   One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  .sin  offering  : 
 3a   And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  two 
 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 
 first  year  :   this  was  the  ottering  of  Elizur  the 
 
 son  of  Shedeur. 
 3()  II  On  the  fifth  day  Shelumiel  the  son  of 
 
 Zurishaddai,  prince  of  the  children  of  Simeon, 
 
 ilid  offer  : 
 
 37  His  offering  was  one  silver  charger,  the 
 weight  whereof  was  an  hundred  and  thirty 
 shekels,  one  silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels, 
 after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary ;  both  of  them 
 full  of  fine  Hour  mingled  with  oil  for  a  meat 
 offering  : 
 
 38  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 iircense  : 
 
 39  One  yoimg  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  fur  a  burnt  offering  : 
 
 40  One  Icid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering  : 
 
 41  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year :  this  was  the  offering  of  Sbeluniicl 
 the  son  of  Zurishaddai. 
 
 42  K  On  tlie  sixth  day  Eliasaph  the  .son  of 
 Deuel,  prince  of  the  children  of  Gad,  offered  : 
 
 43  His  ottering  was  one  silver  cliarger  of 
 the  weight  of  an  hundred  and  thirty  shekels,  a 
 silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels,  alter  the  shekel 
 of  the  sanctuary  ;  both  of  them  full  of  fine  flour 
 mingled  with  oil  for  a  meat  offering: 
 
 44  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense  : 
 
 4o  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering  : 
 40   One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering  : 
 
 47  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  off'ering.s,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year :  tliis  was  the  offering  of  Eliasaph  the 
 son  of  Deuel. 
 
 48  II  On  the  seventh  day  Eli-shama  the  son  of 
 .\nnnihud,  prince  of  the  children  of  Ephraim, 
 offered : 
 
 49  His  offering  was  one  silver  charger,  the 
 weight  whereof  was  an  hundred  and  thirty 
 shekels,  one  silver  bowl  of  seventy  .shekels, 
 after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary  ;  both  of 
 them  full  of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil  for  a 
 meat  offering  : 
 
 M  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense  : 
 
 51  Oiie  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  ofiering : 
 
 52  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering  : 
 
 53  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year :  this  teas  the  offering  of  Elishama 
 the  son  of  Ammihud. 
 
 54  t  On  the  eighth  day  offered  Gamaliel  the 
 son  of  Pedahzur,  prince  of  the  children  of  Ma- 
 nasseh  : 
 
 55  His  offering  leas  one  silver  charger  of  the 
 weight  of  an  hundred  and  thirty  shekels,  one 
 silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels,  after  the  shekel 
 of  the  sanctuary ;  both  of  them  full  of  fine  flour 
 mingled  with  oil  fur  a  meat  offering 
 
 56  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense  : 
 
 57  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year  for  a  burnt  offering  : 
 
 (chap.  iv.  31,  32.)  13.  One  silver  chnyper — a  large  dish  or  platter,  I  offerings,  and  to  contain  the  flesh  of  the  saerifices  when  the  priests 
 
 yaJueahout  l6;.  5«. — Poote.    The  chargers  might  be  useful  for  the  meat    feasted   upon   it. — Scotl.      One  niher  buwl,   of  about   HI.  ]5s.~~GiU 
 154 
 
The  offerings  of  the  princes. 
 
 NUMBERS,  VIII.      God sfjea/icth  Co  Mose.sfrum  the  mercy-seut. 
 
 58  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  oticriiig  : 
 
 59  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  ott'erings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year :  tliis  leas  tlie  offering  of  Gamaliel 
 the  son  of  Pedalizur. 
 
 eO  U  On  the  ninth  day  Ahidan  the  son  of 
 Gideoni,  prince  of  tlie  children  of  Benjamin, 
 offered  : 
 
 01  His  offering  teas  one  silver  charger,  the 
 veiglit  whereof  was  an  hnndred  and  thirty 
 sheliels,  one  silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels, 
 after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctnary ;  both  of 
 them  ftiU  of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil  for  a 
 meat  offering : 
 
 62  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shikeh,  full  of 
 incense  : 
 
 fi3  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering  : 
 
 64  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering  : 
 
 65  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year :  this  iras  the  offering  of  Abidan  the 
 son  of  Gideoni. 
 
 66  t  On  the  tenth  day  Ahiezer  the  son  of 
 Ammi.shaddai,  prince  of  the  children  of  Dan, 
 offered : 
 
 67  His  offering  ivas  one  silver  charger,  the 
 weight  whereof  ivas  an  hundred  and  tliirty 
 shekels,  one  silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels, 
 after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary  ;  bntli  of 
 them  full  of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil  for  a 
 meat  offering  : 
 
 68  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense  : 
 
 69  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering  : 
 
 70  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering  : 
 
 71  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year  :  this  was  the  offering  of  Ahiezer  th 
 son  of  Ammi.shaddai. 
 
 7-2  H  On  the  eleventh  day  Pagiel  the  son  of 
 Ocran,  prince  of  the  children  of  ks\\e\;  offered : 
 
 73  His  offering  was  one  silver  charger,  the 
 weight  whereof  teas  an  hundred  and  thirty 
 shekels,  one  silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels, 
 after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary  ;  both  of 
 them  full  of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil  for  a 
 meat  offering  : 
 
 74  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense  : 
 
 75  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering : 
 
 76  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering  : 
 
 77  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 
 r  cli.  I?,  S. 
 II  Tl.nl  ■«, 
 I  Ex.  as.  22. 
 
 I  Ex.25.  87. 
 
 &  M.  25. 
 
 first  year  :  this  was  the  offering  of  Pagiel  the 
 .son  of  Ocran. 
 
 78  t  On  the  twelfth  day  Ahira  the  son  of 
 Enan,  prince  of  the  children  of  Naphtali, 
 offered : 
 
 79  His  offering  was  one  silver  charger,  the 
 weight  whereof  was  an  hundred  and  thirty 
 shtkels,  one  silver  bowl  of  seventy  shekels, 
 after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary  ;  both  of 
 them  full  of  fine  flour  mingled  with  oil  for  a 
 meat  offering  : 
 
 80  One  golden  spoon  of  ten  shekels,  full  of 
 incense  : 
 
 81  One  young  bullock,  one  ram,  one  lamb  of 
 the  first  year,  for  a  burnt  offering  : 
 
 82  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  oftcring  : 
 
 83  And  for  a  sacrifice  of  peace  offerings,  two 
 oxen,  five  rams,  five  he  goats,  five  lambs  of  the 
 first  year  :  this  was  the  offering  of  Ahira  the 
 son  of  Enan. 
 
 84  This  was  the  dedication  of  the  altar,  in 
 tlie  day  when  it  was  anointed,  by  the  princes 
 of  Israel  :  twelve  chargers  of  silver,  twelve 
 silver  bowls,  twelve  spoons  of  gold  : 
 
 85  Each  charger  of  silver  weighing  an  hun- 
 dred and  thirty  shekels,  each  bowl  seventy  : 
 all  the  silver  vessels  weighed  two  thousand  and 
 four  hundred  shekels,  after  the  shekel  of  the 
 sanctuary  : 
 
 86  The  golden  .spoons  were  twelve,  full  of 
 incense,  weighing  ten  shekels  apiece,  after  the 
 shekel  of  the  sanctuary  :  all  the  gold  of  the 
 spoons  lias  an  hundred  and  twenty  shekels. 
 
 87  All  the  oxen  for  the  burnt  offering  were 
 twelve  bullocks,  the  rams  twelve,  the  Iambs  of 
 the  first  year  twelve,  with  their  meat  offering: 
 and  the  kids  of  the  goats  for  sin  offering  twelve. 
 
 88  And  all  the  oxen  for  the  sacrifice  of  the 
 peace  offerings  were  twenty  and  four  bullocks, 
 the  rams  sixty,  the  he  goats  sixty,  the  lambs  of 
 the  first  year  sixty.  This  was  the  dedication 
 of  the  altar,  after  that  it  was  ''  anointed. 
 
 89  And  when  RIoses  was  gone  into  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregation  '  to  speak  with  ||  him. 
 then  he  heard  "  the  voice  of  one  speaking  unto 
 him  from  off'  the  mercy  seat  that  was  upon  the 
 ark  of  testimony,  from  between  the  two  cheru- 
 bims  :  and  he  spake  unto  him. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1    How  the  lamps  are  tn  he  lii/ltteiK     5    Tlie  cnnsecraiiun 
 of  the  Lel-ites.      23  The  age  and  time  of  their  strvic': 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 ■'^  2  Speak  unto  Aaron,  and  say  unto  him. 
 When  thou  "lightest  the  lamps, the  seven  lamps 
 shall  give  light  over  against  the  candlestick, 
 
 85,  All  the  silver  vessels,  §-c.,  amounting  to  about  300/. 
 
 .  jitl  the  gold  of  the  spoons,  about  75/. — Gill. 
 
 Reflectioss  on  Chap.  VII.  —  I.  We  are  here  taught  lihe- 
 rality  in  the  cause  of  God.  It  is  pleasant  to  see  the  poor  cast- 
 ing bis  mite  into  the  treasury;  but  when  we  remember  the 
 snares  of  affluence,  and  how  often  the  rich  are  tempted  to 
 spend  their  money  in  mere  luxuries,  or  set  their  hearts  fixedly 
 upon  their  heaped  stores  and  their  well-filled  coffers,  we  can- 
 not but  view  with  delight  the  liberal  offerings  which  proceed 
 from  them.  All  tlie  offerings  here  were  exactly  the  same, 
 which  may  perhaps  profitably  teach  us— without  literally  at- 
 tending to  the  precedent— that  we  should  avoid  all  ostenta- 
 tious attempts  at  superiority  over  our  brethren-,  and,  as 
 Henry  suggests,  'that  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  hnd  an  equal 
 share  in  the  altar,  and  an  equal  interest  in  the  sacrifices  that 
 were  offered  upon  it.' 
 
 II.  Jfe  are  also  taught  tlie  imprrfectinn  of  all  our  btst  sirtwvfs. 
 1 55  ■  ■ 
 
 '  In  the  midst  of  these  sacrifices,'  observes  the  same  pious 
 author,  '  we  find  a  sin-offering;  since,  in  our  best  services,  we 
 are  conscious  to  ourselves  that  there  is  a  mixture  of  sin,  it  is 
 fit  that  there  should  be,  even  in  our  most  joyful  services,  a 
 mixture  of  repentance.'  And  we  may  further  observe,  wiih 
 the  excellent  Scott,  that  '  all  our  works  of  piety  and  clia- 
 rity  must  be  accompanied  with  a  liiimble  acknon  ledgmeiit  of' 
 our  sinfulness,  and  a  believing  dependence  on  the  sacrifice  of 
 Christ  ;  they  must  spring  from  love  to  God,  gratitude  to  him 
 for  the  blessings  of  redemption,  and  an  unreserved  surrender 
 of  ourselves  to  his  service,  and  a  disposition  to  delight  in 
 doing  his  will,  and  in  rnndering  him  all  the  praise.  Suih  good 
 works  are  "spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable  to  God,  through 
 Jesus  Christ." ' 
 
The  consecration  of  the  Levites. 
 
 NUMBERS,  IX. 
 
 The  time  of  their  serine. 
 
 3  And  Aaron  did  so  ;  he  lighted  the  lamps 
 thereof  over  against  the  candlestick,  as  the 
 LoKD  commanded  Moses. 
 
 4  ''  And  this  work  of  the  candlestick  was  of 
 beaten  gold,  unto  the  shaft  thereof,  nnto  the 
 flowers  thereof,  was  ° beaten  work  :  ''according 
 unto  the  pattern  wliicli  the  Lord  had  shewed 
 Moses,  so  he  made  the  candlestick. 
 
 5  1  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 6  Take  the  Levites  from  among  the  children 
 of  Israel,  and  cleanse  them. 
 
 7  And  thus  shalt  thou  do  unto  thein,  to 
 cleanse  them  :  Sprinkle  "  water  of  purifying 
 upon  them,  and  fMet  them  shave  ail  their  flesh, 
 and  let  them  wash  their  clothes,  and  so  make 
 themselves  clean. 
 
 8  Tlien  let  them  take  a  young  bullock  with 
 ^  his  meat  offering,  even  fine  flour  mingled 
 with  oil,  and  another  young  bnllock  shalt  thou 
 take  fur  a  sin  offering. 
 
 9  ''  And  thou  shalt  bring  the  Levites  before 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  :  '  and  thou 
 shalt  gather  the  whole  assembly  of  the  children 
 of  Israel  together : 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  bring  the  Levites  before 
 the  Lord  :  and  the  children  of  Israel  '  shall 
 put  their  hands  upon  the  Levites  : 
 
 1 1  And  Aaron  sliall  f  offer  the  Levites  before 
 the  Lord /;<;■  an  f  offering  of  the  children  of 
 Israel,  that  f  they  may  execute  the  service  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 12  '  And   the   Levites   shall   lay 
 upon  the  heads  of  the  bullocks:  and  thou  shalt 
 offer  the  one  for  a  sin  offering,  and  the  other 
 
 for  a  burnt  offering,  unto  the   Lord,  to  make 
 an  atonement  for  the  Levites. 
 
 13  And  thou  shalt  set  the  Levites  before 
 Aaron,  and  before  his  sons,  and  offer  them  for 
 an  offering  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 14  Thus  shalt  thou  separate  the  Levites  from 
 among  the  children  of  Israel :  and  the  Levites 
 shall  be  "'  mine. 
 
 15  And  after  that  .shall  the  Levites  go  in  to 
 do  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation :  and  thou  shalt  cleanse  them,  and 
 "offer  them_/b/-  an  offering. 
 
 16  For  they  are  wholly  given  unto  me  from 
 among  the  children  of  Israel ;  "instead  of  such 
 as  open  every  ui>mb,  ercn  instead  of  the  first- 
 born of  all  the  cliildren  of  Israel  have  I  taken 
 them  unto  me. 
 
 17  Tor  all  tlie  firstborn  of  the  children  of  I 
 
 t  Heb.  iiore 
 „jl>,t„s. 
 
 their  handsii  kx.  ss.  w. 
 
 -■  Ex,  25.  18. 
 d  Ex.  25.40. 
 
 •Vc." 
 
 h  See  Ex. ». 
 4.  jk  40.  IS. 
 i  Lev.  8.  3. 
 
 f  Heb.  uace. 
 
 ix.  l.t.  2, 
 
 .  1.S,  15. 
 
 1.  l:i. 
 
 iWc  S.  23. 
 
 '/  ch.  3.  9 
 t  Heb.  givi 
 
 &  lb.  111.  & 
 
 18.  5. 
 
 i  Cbr.  aii. 
 
 »  ver   7. 
 (  ver.  11,  12. 
 
 V  See  cli.  4. 
 
 H  1  ctir.  23. 
 
 3,  *1,  27. 
 t  Heb   /<.  ■(..!, 
 
 the  viTiare 
 
 of.  IX!. 
 
 1  Tim  l.lf. 
 t  Heb.  rffiT,, 
 
 fr:tn  tUt 
 
 «..r/nr,,.f 
 
 the  leroice. 
 
 1  Kx.  12  I, 
 &e.  I.ev.23 
 5,  <-b  IS  lb 
 Ueu.  lb. 1,2 
 
 Israel  are  mine,  lioth  man  and  beast :  on  tlie 
 day  tliat  I  smote  every  firstborn  in  the  land  ol 
 Egypt  I  sanctified  them  for  myself. 
 
 18  And  I  have  taken  the  Levites  for  all  the 
 fir.stborn  of  tlie  children  of  Israel. 
 
 19  And  ''  I  have  given  the  Levites  as  f  a  gift 
 to  Aaron  and  to  his  sons  from  among  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  to  do  the  service  of  the  children 
 of  Israel  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation, 
 and  to  make  an  atonement  for  the  children  of 
 Israel  :  '  that  there  be  no  plague  among  the 
 children  of  Israel,  when  the  children  of  Israel 
 come  nigh  unto  the  sanctuary. 
 
 tiO  And  Moses,  and  Aaron,  and  all  the  con- 
 gregation of  the  children  of  Israel,  did  to  the 
 Levites  according  unto  all  that  tlie  Lord  com- 
 manded Moses  concerning  the  Levites,  so  did 
 tlie  children  of  Israel  unto  them. 
 
 21  '  And  the  Levites  were  purified,  and  they 
 washed  their  clothes  ;  '  and  Aaron  offered  them 
 as  an  offering  before  the  Lord  ;  and  Aaron 
 made  an  atonement  for  them  to  cleanse  them. 
 
 22  "  And  after  that  went  the  Levites  in  to  do 
 their  service  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation before  Aaron,  and  before  his  sons  :  "  as 
 the  Lord  had  commanded  Moses  concerning 
 the  Levites,  so  did  they  unto  them. 
 
 23  1  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Jloses,  say- 
 ing. 
 
 24  This  is  it  that  helongeth  unto  the  Levites: 
 'from  twenty  and  five  years  old  and  upward 
 they  shall  go  in  f  to  wait  upon  the  service  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  : 
 
 25  And  from  the  age  of  fifty  years  they  shall 
 t  cease  waiting  u]iun  the  service  thereof  and 
 shall  serve  no  more  : 
 
 26  But  shall  minister  with  their  brethren  in 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  '  to  keep 
 the  charge,  and  shall  do  no  service.  Thus 
 shalt  thou  do  unto  the  Levites  touching  their 
 charge. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  The  jMissiwcr  is  commanded  aynin.  6  A  second  puss- 
 uver  allowvd  fur  t/um  that  were  unclfari  or  abstnt. 
 15  The  chml guidtth  the  I'tniovinijS  atul  tncumpin^s 
 oftht  Israelites. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Muses  in  the 
 ■^^  wilderness  of  Sinai,  in  the  first  month  of 
 the  second  year  after  they  were  come  out  of 
 the  land  of  Egypt,  saying, 
 
 •2  Let  the  children  of  Israel  also  keep  *  the 
 passover  at  his  appointed  season. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.— 7-  Water  of  purifying,  riNTCn  "'O.  'water  of  sin/  or 
 •water  of  the  sin-oflFering.' — A.  Clarke.  Shave,  signifying  the  cutting 
 off  their  innrdinate  concupiscences. — Poole.  9.  The  whole  assimhiy, 
 often  signifies  the  elders  or  principal  person';  in  the  several  tribes.— 
 Scott.  10.  Put  their  hands,  some  for  the  rest,  probably  the  chiefs  of 
 each  tribe. — Poole.  11.  OJfer  the  Levites^or  an  o_fferin^~tlie  ori- 
 ginal signifies  a  'wave-offering;*  not  that  they  were  actually  waved, 
 but  they  were  presented  to  God  as  the  God  of  heaven,  and  the  Lord  of 
 the  whole  earth,  as  the  wave  offerings  were;  in  calling  them  wave 
 offerings,  it  was  intimated  to  them  that  they  must  continually  lift  up 
 themselves  towards  God  in  his  service — lift  up  their  eyes,  lift  up  tiieir 
 hearts, and  must  move  to  and  fro  with  readiness  in  the  business  oftl.eii 
 profession.  They  were  not  ordained  to  be  idle,  but  to  be  active  and 
 stirring. — Hen. 
 
 Cbap.  IX.— 1.  The  Lord  spake — some  critics  read,  *had  spoken, 'and 
 would  place  the  first  fourteen  verses  at  the  beginning  of  the  book,  he- 
 fore  the  numbering  of  the  people,  2.  The  paasoce^r — as  the  command 
 given  Exod.  xli.  2.^).  referred  the  observance  of  the  pass-over  to  the 
 h:tnd  uf  Canaan,  there  is  a  particular  precept  to  observe  it  in  the  wil- 
 derness.— Buothr.  This  was  the  second  pass-t>ver,  and  many  have 
 suppiistd  that  manna  was  used  instead  uf  unleavened  bread. — Sul. 
 But  they  might  procure  meal  for  this  purpose  from  Midian,  whi-re 
 Moses'  father-in  law  dwelt,  it  being  not  far  from  Sinai,  (see  Exod. 
 iii.  1.) — Poole.  God  gave  particular  orders  to  keep  it,  or  it  should  seem 
 they  had  not,  for  it  was  at  first  appointed  to  be  kept  when  they  should 
 Clime  into  the  land  of  promise. — Hen.  It  is  generally  thought  that  the 
 pass-over  was  not  kept  after  this  time  tillthe  people  arrived  in  Canaan. 
 Perhai)s  this  was, owing  to  the  difficulty  of  procuring  flour. — Scott. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII I.  Consecration  to  the niuiis- 
 
 try  shews  that  it  is  a  serious  work.  ]Ministers  must  be  holy  men 
 of  (iod,  devoted  entirely  to  his  service.  It  ill  suits  them  to 
 miiij^de  with  the  world  ;  and  as  for  indulging  in  the  lusts  oi'  the 
 flesh,  let  it  not  so  much  as  be  named  among  them..  All  (Chris- 
 tians, as  spiritual  prie.sts,  must,  indeed,  be  dead  to  the  woiid; 
 but  to  them,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  should  be  applied  the  words 
 of  the  apostle,  'and  they  that  are  Christ's  have  crucitied  the 
 flesh  n  ith  the  aiVerlions  and  lusts.'  Thev  are  altogether  oflVred 
 156 
 
 to  God,  and  should  altogether  devote  their  services  to  him. 
 
 II.  No  sri'ict'S  that  the  most  holy  men  can  perform  for  God  can 
 be  performed  acccptabltf  hut  through  the  atonement.  So  Aa.roii 
 '  made  an  atonement'  for  the  I.evites  '  to  cleanse  them.'  'i  hat 
 '  precious  blood  of  Christ,'  u  hich  ministers  preach  to  others 
 must  sprinkle  both  their  own  persons  and  services.  Way  the 
 reader  und  writer  be  tlius  '  cleansed  from  sin,  separated  tVom 
 the  world,  iind  presented  to  the  Lord.' 
 
The  passover  again  commanded. 
 
 NUMBERS,  X. 
 
 The  use  of  the  silver  trumpet:/. 
 
 3  In  the  fourteenth  day  of  this  month,  f  at 
 even,  ye  shall  keep  it  in  his  appointed  season  : 
 according  to  all  the  rites  of  it,  and  according 
 to  all  the  ceremonies  thereof,  shall  ye  keep  it 
 
 4  And  Moses  spake  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel,  that  they  should  keep  the  passover. 
 
 6  And  ''they  kept  the  passover  on  the  four- 
 teenth day  of  the  first  month  at  even  in  the 
 wilderness  of  Sinai  :  according  to  all  that  the 
 Lord  commanded  Moses,  so  did  the  children 
 of  Israel. 
 
 6  1  And  there  were  certain  men,  who  were 
 ■^  defiled  hy  the  dead  body  of  a  man,  that  they 
 could  not  keep  the  passover  on  that  day:  ""and 
 they  came  before  Moses  and  before  Aaron  on 
 that  day  : 
 
 7  And  tliose  men  said  unto  him.  We  are  de- 
 filed by  the  dead  body  of  a  man  :  wherefore 
 are  we  kept  back,  that  we  may  not  offer  an 
 offering  of  the  Lord  in  his  appointed  season 
 among  the  children  of  Israel  V 
 
 8  And  Moses  said  unto  them,  Stand  still,  and 
 '  I  will  hear  what  the  Lord  will  command 
 concerning  you. 
 
 9  If  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 10  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  saying. 
 If  any  man  of  you  or  of  your  posterity  shall  be 
 unclean  by  reason  of  a  dead  body,  or  be  in  a 
 journey  afar  off,  yot  he  shall  keep  the  passover 
 unto  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  '  The  fourteenth  day  of  the  second  month 
 at  even  they  shall  keep  it,  and  ^eat  it  with 
 inileavened  bread  and  bitter  kerbs. 
 
 12  "They  shall  leave  none  of  it  inito  the 
 morning,  '  nor  break  any  bone  of  it :  '  accord- 
 ing to  all  the  ordinances  of  the  passover  they 
 shall  keep  it. 
 
 13  But  the  man  that  is  clean,  and  is  not  in  a 
 journey,  and  forbeareth  to  keep  the  passover, 
 even  the  same  soul  '  shall  be  cut  off  from  among 
 his  people  :  because  he  "'brought  not  the  offer- 
 ing of  the  Lord  in  his  appointed  season,  that 
 man  shall  "  bear  his  sin. 
 
 14  And  if  a  stranger  shall  sojourn  among  you, 
 and  will  keep  the  passover  unto  the  Lord  ;  ac- 
 cording to  the  ordinance  of  the  passover,  and 
 according  to  the  maimer  thereof,  so  shall  he 
 do  :  °  ye  shall  have  one  ordinance,  both  for  the 
 stranger,  and  for  him  that  was  born  in  the  land. 
 
 \o  if  And  ''on  the  day  that  the  tabernacle 
 was  reared  up  the  cloud  covered  the  tabernacle, 
 namely,  the  tent  of  the  testimony:  and  '' at 
 even  there  was  upon  the  tabernacle  as  it  were 
 the  appearance  of  fire,  until  the  morning. 
 
 16  So  it  was  alway  :  the  cloud  covered  it  by 
 day,  and  the  appearance  of  fire  by  night. 
 
 17  And  when  the  cloud  'was  taken  up  from 
 
 B.  C.  M90. 
 
 I  rifb    he. 
 /■rtvit  Oil-  lieo 
 
 Es.  M.  6. 
 
 i-li.  5.  8.  Kc 
 19.  n,  16. 
 See  .Tijtin 
 
 18.  ?8. 
 
 d  Ex.  18. 15, 
 
 19,  5fi. 
 ch.  27.  2. 
 
 i  Ex.  19-  4r> 
 John  19.  .'•6 
 k  Ex.  \-i.  4a. 
 
 1  Ren.  17.  It. 
 Ei.  12.  15. 
 m  ver.  7. 
 
 p  Es.40.  H 
 
 >eh    9    12, 
 
 19.  Ps.  78. 
 
 \i. 
 
 1490. 
 
 q  Ex.  13.21. 
 
 r  Ex.  W.  36. 
 ch    10.  II, 
 83,  34.  Ps. 
 SO.  1. 
 
 t  Heb   pru- 
 liiHged. 
 
 I  Ex.  40   36, 
 37. 
 
 A  Jer.  +.  5. 
 Joel  2.  15. 
 
 c  Ex.  18.  2 
 eh.  I.  16. 
 7.  2. 
 
 the  tabernacle,  then  after  that  the  children  of 
 Israel  journeyed  :  and  in  the  place  where  the 
 cloud  abode,  there  the  children  of  Israel  pitched 
 their  tents. 
 
 18  At  the  commandment  of  the  Lord  the 
 children  of  Israel  journeyed,  and  at  the  com- 
 mandment of  the  Lord  they  pitched  :  'as long 
 as  the  cloud  abode  upon  the  tabernacle  they 
 rested  in  their  tents. 
 
 19  And  when  the  cloud  f  ta"'ipd  long  upon 
 the  tabernacle  many  days,  then  the  children 
 of  Israel  '  kept  the  charge  of  the  Lord,  and 
 journeyed  not. 
 
 20  And  so  it  was,  when  the  cloud  was  a  few 
 days  upon  the  tabernacle  ;  according  to  the 
 commandment  of  the  Lord  they  abode  in  their 
 tents,  and  according  to  the  commandment  of 
 the  Lord  they  journeyed. 
 
 ■21  And  so  it  was,  when  the  cloud  f  abode 
 from  even  unto  the  morning,  and  that  the  cloud 
 was  taken  up  in  the  morning,  then  they  jour- 
 neyed :  whether  it  iras  by  day  or  by  night  that 
 the  cloud  was  taken  up,  they  journeyed. 
 
 22  Or  whether  it  were  two  days,  or  a  month, 
 or  a  year,  that  the  cloud  tarried  upon  the  ta- 
 bernacle, remaining  thereon,  the  children  of 
 Israel  "abode  in  their  tents,  and  journeyed 
 not:  but  when  it  was  taken  up,  they  jour- 
 neyed. 
 
 23  At  the  commandment  of  the  Lord  thej' 
 rested  in  the  tents,  and  at  the  commandment 
 of  the  Lord  they  journeyed  :  they  "  kept  the 
 charge  of  the  Lord,  at  tlie  commandment  of 
 the  Lord  by  the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  The  iise  of  the  silver  inimpets.  1 1  The  /srar/ifes 
 remove  from  Sinai  to  Paran.  14  J^tt  or^der  uftlnir 
 march.  29  Hohah  is  intreated  by  Mosts  not  to  lian: 
 them.  3i  Thehlessiny  of  Most s  at  the  removing  and 
 rtfsiiny  of  the  ark. 
 
 y\  ND  tlie  Lord  spake  unto  IMoses,  saying, 
 -^^  2   Make  thee  two  trumpets  of  silver  ;  of  a 
 whole  piece  shalt  thou  make  them  :   that  thou 
 mayest  use  them  for  the  "  calling  of  the  assem- 
 bly, and  for  the  journeying  of  the  camps. 
 
 3  And  when  ^  they  shall  blow  with  them,  all 
 the  assembly  shall  assemble  themselves  to  thee 
 at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 4  And  if  they  blow  btit  with  one  trumpet^ 
 then  the  princes,  which  are  '^  heads  of  the 
 thousands  of  Israel,  shall  gather  themselves 
 unto  thee, 
 
 5  When  ye  blow  an  alarm,  then  **  the  camps 
 that  lie  on  tiie  east  parts  shall  go  forward. 
 
 6  When  ye  blow  an  alarm  the  second  time. 
 
 3.  All  theritps — omitting  some  thing's  peculiar  to  the  first  passover,  as 
 the  haste,  the  girded  loins,  the  shoes,  and  the  staff,  which  were  merely 
 attendant  circumstances  on  their  then  condition. — Poole.  Some  com- 
 mentators think  these  might  still  be  observed  while  they  were  unset- 
 tled. 14.  A  stranger — such  must  become  a  proselyte,  or  not  eat  of 
 the  passover,  (Exod.  xii.  48.)  15.  The  tent  nf  the  testimony — that 
 part  of  the  tabernacle  in  which  the  testimony  was  ;  that  is,  where  the 
 ark  was  in  which  the  law  was  put,  called  the  testimony,  and  this  was 
 the  most  holy  place. — Gill.  19.  The  charge,  '  the  watch,'  Heb.  Some 
 of  the  Levites  were  probably  kept  to  watch  the  rising  of  the  cloud. — 
 
 So  wa. 
 
 Chap.  X. — 2.  Two  trumpets,  for  Aaron*s  two  sons;  the  number  was 
 afterwards  increased  to  120,  as  the  number  uf  the  priests.  (see2Chron. 
 V.  12.) — Poole.  These  trumpet.s  were  chiefly  used  to  proclaim  the  be- 
 ginning of  the  civil  year,  of  the  sabbatical  year,  (Lev.  xxiii.  24  ;  Num. 
 xxi.x.  1,)  and  of  the  jubilee,  (Lev.  xxv.9,  u».) — Cat.  4.  Princes — the 
 twelve  patriarchal  chiefs  of  each  tribe. — Boothr.  Military  princes; 
 there  were  also  the  princes  of  the  congregation,  who  were  judiciary. — 
 Jen.  5.  An  alarm,  7TPT\n.  '  a  broken,  uneven,  and  quavering  sound,' 
 wiiich  is  called  a  tara-tan-tara. — Gill. 
 
 Reft.ections  on  Chap.  I\ I.  We  should  he  concerned  to 
 
 nttejid  to  all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord,  and 
 that  in  a  hhmiless  manner.  It  would  be  well  if  all  Christians 
 feit  a  becoming  anxiety  to  partake  of  the  delightful  ordinance 
 of  the  Lord's  supper.  And  yet  the  conscience  should  be  satis- 
 fied that  we  do  not  profane  holy  things,  and  thus  eat  and  drink 
 unworthily,' and  by  so  doing  eat  and  drink  '  condemnation'  to 
 ourselves. 
 
 Ij7 
 
 II.  How  secure  and  blessed  are  they  who  are  continually  under 
 the  guidance  of  Divine  providuict/  So  were  the  Israelites  in  tiie 
 wilderness,  and  Low  great  were  tbeir  privileges  and  mercies. 
 So  are  all  the  church  of  God,  and  we  are  sure  tu  err  when  we 
 do  not  watch  the  cloud  and  follow  its  movements.  The  good 
 man  is  never  more  safe  and  happy  than  when  he  can  say, 
 'Thou  shalt  guide  me  by  thy  counsel,  and  afterward  receive 
 me  into  glory.' 
 
The  Israelites  remove  to  Paran. 
 
 NUMBERS,  X. 
 
 The  btebsiny  of  Moses. 
 
 then  the  camps  that  lie  'on  tlie  south  side  shall 
 take  their  journey  :  they  shall  Ijlow  an  alarm 
 tor  their  journeys. 
 
 7  But  when  the  congregation  is  to  be  gathered 
 together,  'ye  shall  blow,  bat  ye  shall  not  ^sound 
 an  alarm. 
 
 8  *'  And  the  sons  of  Aaron,  the  priests,  shall 
 blow  with  the  trumpets  ;  and  they  shall  be  to 
 you  for  an  ordinance  for  ever  throughout  your 
 generations. 
 
 9  And  '  if  ye  go  to  war  in  your  land  against 
 the  enemy  that  '  oppresseth  you,  then  ye  shall 
 blow  an  alarm  with  the  trumpets;  and  ye  shall 
 be  '  remembered  before  the  Lord  your  God, 
 and  ye  shall  be  saved  from  your  enemies. 
 
 10  Also  "'in  the  day  of  your  gladness,  and 
 in  your  solemn  days,  and  in  tlie  beginnings  of 
 your  months,  ye  shall  blow  with  the  trumpets 
 over  your  burnt  offerings,  and  over  the  sacri- 
 fices of  your  peace  offerings;  that  they  may  be 
 to  you  "  for  a  memorial  before  your  God :  I  am 
 the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 1 1  t  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  twentieth 
 day  of  the  second  month,  in  the  second  year, 
 that  the  cloud  °  was  taken  up  from  off  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  testimony. 
 
 1-2  And  the  children  of  Israel  took  '' their 
 journeys  out  of  the  ''  wilderness  of  Sinai ;  and 
 the  cloud  rested  in  the  '  wilderness  of  Paran. 
 
 13  And  they  first  took  their  journey  'accord- 
 ing to  the  commandment  of  the  Lord  by  the 
 hand  of  Moses. 
 
 14  t'  In  the  first  place  went  the  standard  of 
 the  camp  of  the  children  of  Judah  according  to 
 their  armies  ;  and  over  his  host  was  "  Nahsbon 
 the  son  of  Amminadab. 
 
 15  And  over  the  host  of  the  tribe  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Issachar  was  Nethaneel  the  son  of 
 Zuar. 
 
 16  And  over  the  host  of  the  tribe  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Zeljuluu  ivas  Eliab  the  son  of  Helon. 
 
 17  And  "the  tabernacle  was  taken  down; 
 and  the  sons  of  Gcrshon  and  the  sons  of  Me- 
 rari  set  forward,  ''  bearing  the  tabernacle. 
 
 18  H  And  '  the  standard  of  the  camp  of  Reu- 
 ben set  forward  according  to  their  armies :  and 
 over  his  host  u'as  Elizur  the  son  of  Shedeur. 
 
 19  And  over  the  host  of  the  tribe  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Simeon  was  Shelumiel  the  son  of  Zu- 
 rishaddai. 
 
 •20  And  over  the  host  of  the  tribe  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Gad  was  Eliasaph  the  son  of  Deuel. 
 '21   And  the  Kohathites  set  forward,  bearing 
 
 B.  C.  1-190. 
 *•  cli.  2.  10. 
 
 /per.  3. 
 S  Joel  J.  1. 
 
 A  eh.  ^\.  6. 
 
 Josh.  6   4. 
 
 I  Chr.  15. 
 
 2i   1  Chr, 
 
 1.1.  12. 
 
 I  Mac   16-8. 
 ■  cli.  31.  6. 
 
 Joslu  6.  5. 
 
 liChr.  13. 
 
 11 
 A.IuJ?.2.  18. 
 
 ^  4.  3.  &  6. 
 
 9    A  lU.  8, 
 
 Vi.  1  Sam. 
 
 IIP    IS.  Pb. 
 
 UW  -12. 
 
 1. 
 
 I's.  1116.  ♦. 
 m  cU.  S9.  I. 
 
 Lev.  23  24. 
 
 lClir.15.2*. 
 
 2  Chr  .MO. 
 
 Jt7.  6.  &29 
 
 26.  Eira  3 
 
 lit.  Neb.  12. 
 
 .Sj.  Pb.  81.3. 
 »  ver  9. 
 
 p  Ex.  40.  3C. 
 
 cti.  2.  9.  16, 
 
 24,  31. 
 1  Kx.  19.  1. 
 
 eh.  1.  1.  & 
 
 9.  5. 
 T  Geu.  91  SI. 
 
 eh.  12.  16  fc 
 
 l.l.  3,  26. 
 
 Dent.  1.  I. 
 •  ver  5,  6. 
 
 ell.  2.  31. 
 /  eh.  2.  3,  9. 
 
 ..eh.  1.7. 
 
 V  eh.  4.  24, 
 
 '31.  &  7.  6, 
 
 ..  ch.4  4,  15. 
 h  7,  9. 
 
 II  That  is,  the 
 Gmhntiitn 
 nitil  ihf  Me- 
 rnrilft:  See 
 vei".  17. 
 eh.  1.51. 
 
 b  eh.  2.  18, 
 
 f  Gen.  12.  7. 
 
 jf  .Iu<l((.1.16 
 
 &  4.  II. 
 AQeii.  .32.12 
 
 Ex.  3.  8.  & 
 
 0.  7,  8. 
 
 i  Job  S9.  15. 
 IclMig.  1.16. 
 '  See  Ex.3.1. 
 
 n.  Deu.  1..S3. 
 
 Ji»h.  .3.  3,4, 
 
 6   Pft.  132.9. 
 
 Jer.  31.  2. 
 
 Eiek.  20   b. 
 .1  Ex.  13.  21, 
 
 Neh.  9.  12, 
 
 19. 
 
 »  Pfl.  08.  I,i 
 &  132.  8. 
 
 the  "sanctuary:  and  ||  the  other  did  set  up  the 
 tabernacle  against  they  came. 
 
 22  II  And  ^  the  standard  of  the  camp  of  the 
 children  of  Ephraiin  set  forward  according  to 
 their  armies  :  and  over  his  host  icas  Elisbama 
 the  son  of  Ammihud. 
 
 2.3  And  over  the  host  of  the  tribe  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Manasseh  wax  Gamaliel  the  son  of 
 Pedahzur. 
 
 24  And  over  the  host  of  the  tribe  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Benjamin  was  Abidan  the  son  of 
 Gideoni. 
 
 25  U  And  '  the  standard  of  the  camp  of  tlie 
 children  of  Dan  set  forward,  trhich  u-as  the 
 rereward  of  all  the  camps  throughout  their 
 hosts  :  and  over  his  host  teas  Ahiezer  the  son 
 of  AmniLshaddai. 
 
 20  And  over  the  host  of  the  tribe  of  the  ctiil- 
 drcn  of  Asher  was  Pagiel  the  son  of  Ocraii. 
 
 27  And  over  the  host  of  the  tribe  of  tlie  cliil- 
 dren  of  Naphtali  teas  Ahira  the  son  of  Enan 
 
 28  f  •'  Thus  icere  the  journeyings  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  according  to  their  armies,  when 
 they  set  forward. 
 
 29  f  And  Moses  said  unto  Hohab,  the  .son  of 
 "^  Ragnel  the  Midianite,  Moses'  fatlier  in  law. 
 We  are  journeying  unto  the  place  of  which  the 
 Lord  said,  '  I  will  give  it  you  :  come  thou  with 
 us,  and  "■■  we  will  do  thee  good  :  for  ''  the  Loiiu 
 hath  spoken  good  concerning  Israel. 
 
 30  And  he  said  unto  him,  1  will  not  go  ;  but 
 I  will  depart  to  mine  own  land,  and  to  my 
 kindred. 
 
 31  And  he  said.  Leave  us  not,  I  pray  thee  ; 
 forasmuch  as  thou  knowest  how  we  are  to  en- 
 camp in  the  wilderness,  and  thou  mayest  be  to 
 us  '  instead  of  eyes. 
 
 32  And  it  shall  be,  if  thou  go  with  us,  yea.  it 
 shall  be,  that  '  what  goodness  the  Lord  .shall 
 do  unto  us,  the  same  will  we  do  unto  thee. 
 
 33  H  And  they  departed  from  '  the  mount  of 
 the  Lord  three  days' journey  :  and  the  ark  of 
 the  covenant  of  the  Lord  '"  went  before  them 
 in  the  three  days'  journey,  to  search  out  a 
 resting  place  for  them. 
 
 34  And  "the  cloud  of  the  Lord  was  upon 
 thein  by  day,  when  they  went  out  of  the  camp. 
 
 35  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  ark  sei  for- 
 ward, that  Moses  said,  °  Rise  up.  Lord,  and 
 let  thine  enemies  be  scattered  ;  and  let  tliem 
 that  hate  thee  flee  before  thee. 
 
 36  And  when  it  rested,  he  said,  Return,  O 
 Lord,  unto  the  f  many  thousands  of  Israel. 
 
 12.  Wilderness  of  Paran.  which  sometimes  si£m5es  that  part  of  the 
 desert  of  Arabia  between  Hazeroth  on  the  west,  and  Mount  Seir  on 
 tlie  ea.st;  and  sometimes  it  al^o  included  all  the  desert  lying  between 
 the  Wilderness  of  sliur  westward,  towards  Egypt  and  Mount  Seir,  in 
 the  land  of  Edom,  e.istward,  between  the  land  of  Canaan  northward, 
 and  the  Red  Sea  southward. — Wells.  This  traclc  was  pointed  out  to 
 prevent  the  Israelites  being  assailed  by  war.— 5ui.  29.  Hobab,  tlte 
 son  of  Ritnuel — called  also  Rcnel,  Exod.  ii.  18,  and  probably  the  same 
 called  Jethro,  Exod.  iii.  1.  it  being  usual  in  Scripture  for  one  person  to 
 have  two  or  three  names. —Foo/e,  so  also  Henrr/,  GilU  and  Scott. 
 Boottiroyd  disputes  this,  Jethro  having;  long  before  gone  to  his  own 
 country.  (E.iod.  xviii.  27.)  He  takes'  Holiab  to  have  been  Jethro's 
 son,  and  grandson  to  Reuel.        31.  Insltitd  of  ei/es— the  cloud  directed 
 
 their  genernl  movements,  but  gave  no  direction  in  minute  particulars. 
 — Poole.  Hobab,  acquainted  with  the  desert  as  a  borderer  on  it,  might 
 have  been  of  great  use  in  guidiiigto  weils,  springs,  and  fuel,  and  ether 
 provisions,  and  guarding  against  marauders,  wild  beasts,  and  ser- 
 pents.—P'l^.,  Hnr.,  Poole.  Some  translate  in  the  past  tense,  as  an 
 acknowledgment  of  Hobab's  past  usefulness. — Sciitt.  32.  The  S'ltne 
 will  we  do  uitto  thee — signifying  that  whatever  they  should  enjoy  in 
 Canaan  he  should  share.  It  appears  that  the  posterity  cf  this  man 
 had  a  settlement  in  Canaan,  {Judg.  i.  16;  iv,  11,  17;  1  Sam.  xv.  ti.) — 
 Gilt.  35.  Rise  rtp.  Lord — they  were  marching  towards  an  enemy's 
 country,  and  their  dependence  was  upon  God  for  success. —  Hen. 
 36.  Return,  or  '  give  rest,*  that  is,  a  safe  and  quiet  place. — Poole. 
 So  Boothroyd  reatls,   '  give  repose.' 
 
 Rffi.ections  on  Ch.4p.  X.^I.  In  tlie  silver  trumpets  we  have 
 an  emblem  of  tlie  Gospel, — pure  in  its  nature  ;  sweet  in  its  sound  ; 
 invitini;us  to  partake  of  its  joys,  and  sounding  an  alarm  against 
 our  spiritual  enemies.  Let  us  see  to  it,  that  our  ministers 
 blow  this  pure  instrument,  and  are  such  as  can  sound  it  in  its 
 sweetness  and  power,  for  '  Blessed  are  the  people  that  know 
 the  joyful  sound,'  which  calls  them  to  watch  and  prav.  But 
 how  dangerous  is  the  slate  of  those  who  are  deluded  by  de- 
 ceptive sounds  which  are  not  gospel— the  easy  prey  of  their 
 spiritual  adversaries,  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil '  '  For 
 158 
 
 if  the  trumpet  give  an  uncertain  sound,  who  shall  prepare 
 himself  for  the  battle  V 
 
 II.  In  the  conduct  of  Moses  to  Hobab,  we  have  an  exomple 
 worthy  of  being  imitated  by  every  Christian.  Destined  himself 
 for  '  a  better  country,  that  is,  a  heavenly,*  he  should  urge  those 
 around  him,  and  especially  those  the  most  closely  united  to 
 him  by  social  bonds,  to  partake  of  his  hopes  and  joys,  and  so 
 finally  to  share  with  him  in  the  felicities  of  the  promised  iu* 
 heritance. 
 
The  people  lust  for  flesh  ■ 
 
 NUMBERS,  XI. 
 
 Seventy  elders  appointed. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 I  Thf  huniimt  at  TaJn  rah  quenched  hy  Mostts^  jiTaijtr. 
 4  The  },eoi>lc  lust  fur  Jit-sh,  and  loathe  luauua.  10 
 Mises  comp/aiucth  of  his  change.  16  God  divideth 
 his  burden  unto  serenttf  elders.  31  Quails  are  yiven 
 in  u-rath  at  Kibroth-ltattaarah, 
 
 A  ND  "when  the  people  ||  complained,  fit 
 -^^  displeased  tlie  Lord  ;  and  the  Lord  heard 
 it ;  ''  and  his  anger  was  kindled  ;  and  the  '  fire 
 of  the  Lord  burnt  among  them,  and  consumed 
 than  that  were  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
 camp. 
 
 'J  And  the  people  cried  unto  Moses  ;  and 
 when  Moses  ■"  prayed  unto  the  Lord,  the  fire 
 f  was  quenched. 
 
 ;l  And  he  called  the  name  of  the  place  ||  Ta- 
 berah  :  because  the  fire  of  the  Lord  burnt 
 among  them. 
 
 4  1  And  the"-'  mixt  multitude  that  ivas  among 
 them  t  fell  alustiiig  :  and  the  children  of  Israel 
 also  f  uept  again,  and  said, ''  Who  shaill  give  us 
 flesh  to  eat  ? 
 
 .3  ^  We  remember  the  fish,  which  we  did  eat 
 in  Egypt  freely  ;  the  cucumbers,  and  the 
 melons,  and  the  leeks,  and  the  onions,  and  the 
 garlick : 
 
 6  But  now  ''  our  soul  is  dried  away  :  there  is 
 nothing  at  all,  beside  this  manna,  before  our 
 eyes. 
 
 7  And  '  the  manna  ivas  as  coriander  seed, 
 and  the  f  colour  thereof  as  the  colour  of 
 '•  bdellium. 
 
 8  And  the  people  went  about,  and  gathered 
 it,  and  ground  it  in  mills,  or  beat  it  in  a  mor- 
 tar, and  baked  it  in  pans,  and  made  cakes  of  it : 
 and  '  the  taste  of  it  was  as  the  taste  of  fresh  oil. 
 
 9  And  "'  when  the  dew  fell  upon  the  camp  in 
 the  night,  tlie  manna  fell  upon  it. 
 
 10  T  Then  Moses  heard  the  people  weep 
 throughout  their  families,  every  man  in  the 
 door  of  his  tent:  and  "  the  anger  of  the  Lord 
 was  kindled  greatly ;  Moses  also  was  dis- 
 pleased. 
 
 1 1  °  And  Moses  said  unto  the  Lord,  Where- 
 fore hast  tliou  afflicted  thy  servant?  and  where- 
 fore have  I  not  found  favour  in  thy  sight,  that 
 thou  layest  the  burden  of  all  this  people  upon 
 me? 
 
 12  Have  I  conceived  all  this  people?  have  I 
 
 <i  Deu,  9  22 
 it  jtere  Lum- 
 
 t  n«h.  itwat 
 ,„il  1..  tte 
 ™r.  of,  lie. 
 
 h  Ps.  78   21. 
 Lev.  Il>.  2. 
 i-h.  16   3.5. 
 2Kin.  1.19. 
 P,=i.  lUC.  IS. 
 
 d  Jam.  5.  m. 
 
 t  Heb.  iuijt. 
 II  Th.it  is,  ^ 
 Deu    9.  22. 
 
 f  Heb.  lifitffi 
 
 II  timl. 
 I  Heb    r,- 
 
 I'irui'it  mid 
 
 f  i's.  "8.  18. 
 '  &  )Uti.  1-1. 
 
 1  Cor.  lu.fi. 
 g  K\.  10.  a. 
 
 /.  ch.  21.  5 
 
 I   F.K.  16.  14, 
 -SI. 
 t  Heb.  r^../- 
 
 (  El.  16.  31. 
 m  Ex   16.  13, 
 
 B  c,  noil. 
 
 /.  Is.  40.  11 
 y  Is   49.  23. 
 
 1  Tlies.2.  7 
 r  Gen.  26.  3. 
 
 «c  30.  24. 
 
 En    13.  6. 
 »Mat,  15.33. 
 
 Mai  k  8.  4. 
 
 "  See  1  Kill. 
 
 19.  4.  Joiiiib 
 
 4.3. 
 ^  Zeph.  3. 13. 
 
 y  See  Ex. 24. 
 1,  9. 
 
 ;  Deu.  10.18. 
 
 Kx.  19  20. 
 A  1  S.iiii.  HI. 
 
 0.  2  Kin.  2. 
 
 13.  Neh.  9. 
 
 20   Is.  44.3. 
 
 Jnel  2.  2rt. 
 c  Ex.  19.  10. 
 
 r  ver    3 
 Acta  7.  39. 
 
 /Ps   7S  29. 
 &  106.  15. 
 t  Heb.  muntli 
 -f-S'i 
 
 li  {ien-  12.  2. 
 V.x.  12  .37. 
 &  :«.  26. 
 ch.  1.  46. 
 
 See  2  Kin. 
 
 7.  2.  Mat. 
 
 '    15  33  Maik 
 
 8.  4.  J.ihn 
 6.  7,  9. 
 
 begotten  them,  that  thou  shouldest  say  unto 
 me,  ''Carry  them  in  thy  bosom,  as  a  ''nursing 
 father  beareth  the  sucking  child,  unto  the  land 
 uliich  thou  '^swarest  unto  their  fathers? 
 
 13  "  Whence  should  I  have  flesh  to  give  unto 
 all  this  people  ?  for  they  weep  unto  me,  saying. 
 Give  us  flesh,  that  we  may  eat. 
 
 14  '1  am  not  able  to  bear  all  this  people 
 alone,  because  it  is  too  heavy  for  me. 
 
 lo  And  if  thou  deal  thus  with  me,  "kill  me, 
 I  pray  thee,  out  of  hand,  if  I  have  found  favour 
 in  thy  sight ;  and  let  me  not  "^  see  my  wretch- 
 edness. 
 
 l(i  K  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Gather 
 unto  me  "seventy  men  of  the  elders  of  Israel, 
 whom  thou  knowest  to  be  the  elders  of  the 
 people,  and  '  officers  over  them ;  and  bring 
 them  unto  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation, 
 that  they  may  stand  there  with  tiiee. 
 
 17  And  I  will  °  come  down  and  talk  with 
 thee  there  :  and  ^  I  will  take  of  the  spirit  which 
 is  upon  thee,  and  will  put  it  upon  them  ;  and 
 they  shall  bear  the  burden  of  the  people  with 
 tliee,  that  thou  bear  it  not  thyself  alone. 
 
 18  And  say  thou  unto  the  people,  ''Sanctify 
 yourselves  against  to  morrow,  and  ye  shall  cat 
 flesh  :  for  ye  have  wept  ''  in  the  ears  of  tlie 
 Lord,  saying.  Who  shall  give  us  flesh  to  eat? 
 °  for  it  was  well  witli  us  in  Egypt :  therefore 
 the  Lord  will  give  you  flesh,  and  ye  shall  eat. 
 
 19  Ye  shall  not  eat  one  day,  nor  two  days, 
 nor  five  day.s,  neither  ten  days,  nor  twenty 
 days  ; 
 
 20  'But  even  a  f  whole  month,  until  it  come 
 out  at  your  nostrils,  and  it  be  loathsome  unto 
 you  :  because  that  ye  have  despised  the  Lord 
 which  IS  among  you,  and  have  wept  before 
 hiin,  saying,  '■'  Why  came  we  furtli  out  of 
 Egypt? 
 
 •21  And  Moses  said,  ''  The  people,  among 
 whom  I  am,  arc  si.\  hundred  thousand  foot- 
 men ;  and  thou  hast  said,  I  will  give  them 
 flesh,  that  they  may  eat  a  whole  month. 
 
 •22  '  Shall  the  flocks  and  the  herds  be  slain 
 for  them,  to  suffice  them?  or  shall  all  the  fish 
 of  the  sea  be  gathered  together  for  them,  to 
 suffice  them  ? 
 
 23  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  ''  Is  the 
 Lord's  hand  waxed  short  ?  thou  shall  see  now 
 
 Ch.\p.  XI. —  1.  Complnined,  'murmured.' — Pnote.  The  ftre  of  the 
 Lord,  'lightninf?,' — Wit.,  or  '  the  saniiel,'  or  'burning  wiud.* — Gill, 
 Hai-.,  or  '  flashes  frnm  the  fiery  pillar.' — Stiickhouse,  Scott.  And  con- 
 sumed, fye. — consumed  part  of  the  camp,  Sept.  rrJp  may  signify  '  any 
 part.' — liouthr.  4.  Mijrt  multitude,  of  Egyptians,  or  otiiers,   who 
 
 joined  tlie  Israelites  with  hopes  of  gain,  and  were  disappointed,  (see 
 E.xod.  xii.  38;  Lev.  x.Kiv.  10,  II.)— Poole.  .44'nm— they  murmured  a 
 twelvemonth  before,  (Exod.  xvi.  2.)  or  it  may  allude  to  ver.  1. 
 Flesh — they  had  cattle  brought  from  Egypt,  but  they  were  chiefly  kept 
 to  breed  in  Canaan,  and  were  but  few  for  so  great  a  multitude,  (see 
 chap.  xi.  20— 22  )  Boothroyd  argues,  from  Exnd.  xii.  38,  that  there 
 could  be  no  want  of  animal  food;  he  therefore  thinks  -injl  denotes  here 
 only  the  flesh  offish,  as  in  Ley.  xi.  11,  and  that  the  next  verse  strengthens 
 his  opinion.  But  query,  V  fish  had  here  been  intended,  would  not  the 
 word  nil,  used  in  ver,  5,  and  which  is  properly  fish,  have  also  been 
 used  in  this  verse,  and  what  need  was  there  then  for  any  distinction? 
 May  not  ver.  5  be  taken  in  this  sense,  '  We  remember  ulso  the  fish,' 
 &c.  ?  It  must  also  be  remembered,  that  the  Israelites  were  not  now 
 allowed  to  eat  flesh,  but  only  their  share  of  the  peace-ofTerings,  (Lev. 
 xvii.  3—5  )  Neitlier  Gill,  Scott,  nor  Clarke  adopt  Boothroyd's  opinion, 
 and  Patrick  and  Poole  think  flesh  here  means  nil  kinds  of  food,  includ. 
 ing  fish,  as  it  is  used  1  Cor.  xv.  39.— £rf.  From  the  Egyptian  mnnu- 
 mentswe  learn  that  their  gardens  were  laid  out  with  great  cai-e.  in  the 
 Dutch  style,  and  had  fruits  in  great  variety  and  abundance.  The  re- 
 presentations of  them  may  well  account  for  the  murmurings  of  the 
 Israelites  in  the  desert.— See  Cnilliuud.  5.  Freely,  or  'gratis.'  It  is 
 probable  that  the  Hebrews  were  permitted,  in  the  earlier  part  of  their 
 time  in  Egypt,  to  fish  in  the  rivers.— ir//.  The  priests  of  Egypt  might 
 not  taste  fish,  but  tlie  common  people  ate  much. — Herod.  In  the  hot 
 sea.son,  the  people  scarcely  eat  anything  but  fish,  with  pulse  and  herbs. 
 — Pucocke.  Cucumbers — Hasselquist  mentions  an  Egyptian  cucuniher, 
 1J9 
 
 called  the  'queen  of  cucumbers,'  which  grows  round  Cairo.  Tlie 
 grandees  eat  it  as  the  most  pleasant  fruit  they  can  flml,  and  that  from 
 which  they  have  the  least  danger  to  apprehend.  Melons,  D'HD  j«,  from 
 n-.Da.  'to  hang  close,'  ur  'cling;'  Uiese  were  probably  water  melons, 
 and  the  Arabians  still  caU  them,  like  the  Hebrews,  hatech.  These  are 
 cultivated  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile,  and  serve  the  Egyptians  for  meat, 
 drink,  and  physic.  The  common  people  scarcely  eat  anything  out 
 these.  This  fruit  likewise  serves  for  drink.— So  Hasselquist.  This  ex- 
 plains the  Israelites'  regretting  the  want  of  this  fruit  m  the  parched 
 wilderness.- Pur.  Leeks,  may  mean  a  plant  of  the  lotus  kind  ;  lotus 
 and  garlic  were  in  high  request  among  the  ancients,  and  used  at  eii- 
 lertainmeuts.- So  Homer.  SueeoiT  or  endive  may  also  be  meant,  for 
 such  vegetables  are  intended  as  grow  promiscuously  wilh  grass,-- 
 r  M  Harris.  Onions,  '  lettuce,' or  '  salads,' which  were  most  excel- 
 lent in  EKyVt.—Ludolphus.  Hnsselquist  says,  '  whoever  has  tasted 
 onions  ill  Egypt,  must  allow  that  none  can  be  had  better  in  any  part  of 
 the  universe.  They  are  sweet  and  soft.'  Vanslel,,  a  UaveUer,  men- 
 tions that  these  onions  were  served  up  as  desserts.  0.  Our  soul, 
 means  here,  'the  animal  frame.'— H'i(.  T-As  conajider,  mii.  lor 
 colour,  for  that  is  black,  but  for  shape  and  figure,— Poo/e.  Bdellium, 
 of  a  pure  white,  and  bright,  like  pearL-Z-u*,  See  Exod.  xvi.  14. 
 8.  Grouiul  i7— when  gathered  it  was  hard,  like  corn.— Gii;,  15.  My 
 
 U'retchedness—Vae  meaning  is,  'that  I  may  not  suffer  such  evils  from  a 
 rebellions  people,'— BnoMir,  Some  MSS.  read,  -their  wretchedness, 
 17  Will  put  it  upon  them— Dr.  Clarke  has  this  query.  Did  not  Moses 
 l.isea  mcasureof  his  gifts  in  this  business?'  and  he  evidenUy  hints  that 
 he  undervalued  them.  He.  however,  stands  alone,  i'udie*  explains 
 the  words,  '  confer  upon  them  some  of  the  same  gifts  which  I 
 stowed  I 
 
 Gill,  and  Scott.        20,  At  your  1 
 it  up  vioienlly. — Pat, 
 
 I  have  be- 
 
 tlie  words,    comer  upon  uieiu  aumv.  ui  mv,  o«...^  t..."  ........  -  •— 
 
 stowed  uTOii  thee,  but  not  lake  away  or  diminish  tt\me.'—i>o  Henry 
 Gilt  and  Scott.       20.  At  your  nostrils,  tiU  you  be  glutted,  and  votrill 
 
Qitails  are  sent. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XIl. 
 
 The  sedilion  of  Miriam  and  Aaron. 
 
 whether  '  my  word  shall  coiiie  to  pass  unto 
 thee  or  not. 
 
 24  t  And  ]\Ioses  went  out,  and  told  the 
 people  tlie  words  of  the  Lord,  and  "gatliered 
 the  seventy  men  of  the  elders  of  the  people, 
 and  set  tlieni  round  about  the  tabernacle. 
 
 2.i  And  the  Lord  "  came  down  in  a  cloud, 
 and  spake  unto  him,  and  took  of  the  spirit  that 
 was  upon  him,  and  gave  it  unto  the  seventy 
 elders  :  and  it  came  to  pas.s,  that,  °  when  the 
 spirit  rested  upon  them,  ""tliey  prophesied,  and 
 did  not  cease. 
 
 ■26  But  there  remained  two  of  the  men  in  the 
 camp,  the  name  of  the  one  was  Eldad,  and  tlie 
 name  of  the  other  Medad  :  and  the  spirit  rested 
 upon  tliem  ;  and  they  were  of  them  that  were 
 written,  but  ''  went  not  out  unto  the  tabernacle : 
 and  they  propliesied  in  the  camp. 
 
 27  And  there  ran  a  young  man,  and  told 
 Moses,  and  said,  Eldad  and  Medad  do  pro- 
 phesy in  tlie  camp. 
 
 28  And  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  the  servant 
 of  Moses,  one  of  bis  young  men,  answered  and 
 said.  My  lord  Moses,  'forbid  them. 
 
 29  And  Moses  said  unto  him,  Enviest  thou 
 for  my  sake?  'would  God  that  all  the  Lonu's 
 people  were  prophet.-:,  and  that  the  Lord 
 would  put  his  spirit  upon  them  I 
 
 30  And  Moses  gat  him  into  the  camp,  he  and 
 the  elders  of  Israel. 
 
 31  t  And  there  went  forth  a  '  wind  from  the 
 Lord,  and  brought  quails  from  the  sea,  and  let 
 them  fall  by  the  camp,  fas  it  were  a  day's  jour- 
 ney on  this  side,  and  as  it  were  a  day's  journey 
 on  the  other  side,  round  about  the  camp,  and 
 as  it  were  two  cubits  high  upon  the  face  of 
 the  earth. 
 
 B.C.  l-inc 
 
 /  oil.  23.  15. 
 
 E2e.  Vi.  25. 
 
 &  ei.  H. 
 m  ver.  16. 
 
 o  See  2  Kin, 
 
 2  15. 
 ;»  See  I  Sam 
 
 I'l.  &,  6,  in    1 
 
 *  Ki.  211,21,  ' 
 
 -'S.  Joeli. 
 
 89   Acts  2. 
 
 17.IS    iCor. 
 
 It    I,  <ie. 
 
 7  S^e  I  Sam 
 
 r  See  Mark 
 9  S».  I.nke 
 9,  Vi.  John 
 3,  211. 
 
 rl  Cor.  U.5 
 
 /  Ex.  111.  13. 
 P».;s  26,27. 
 28.&  HI5W 
 
 It  Thut  is, 
 rUrgmtrt 
 nf  hM. 
 Deu.  9  22. 
 ^  ch.  S.1    I" 
 i  H.-b.  //.^v 
 
 «  F.x    £   21 
 
 b  Kx    15-  20. 
 
 .Mie.  6.4. 
 c  Ren.29.S.1 
 
 ch    II.  I. 
 
 2  Kin  19.4 
 
 1«    .17.  t. 
 
 Kick. 35.12. 
 
 3_!  And  the  people  stood  up  all  that  day,  and 
 all  that  night,  and  all  tlie  next  day,  and  they 
 gathered  the  quails  :  he  that  gathered  least 
 gathered  ten  "  homers  :  and  they  spread  thetn 
 all  abroad  for  themselves  round  about  the 
 camp. 
 
 33  And  while  the  "  flesh  uas  yet  between 
 their  teeth,  ere  it  was  chew  ed,  the  wrath  of  the 
 Loud  was  kindled  against  the  people,  and  the 
 Lord  smote  the  people  with  a  very  great 
 plague. 
 
 34  And  he  called  the  iiiime  of  that  place 
 II  Kibroth-hattaavah  :  because  there  they  bu- 
 ried the  people  that  lusted. 
 
 35  ^  Anil  the  people  journeyed  from  Kibroth- 
 hattaavah  unto  Hazeroth  ;  and  f  abode  at 
 Hazeroth. 
 
 CHAP.  XIL 
 
 1  Gi}d  rhuhth  the  sedition  of  Miriam  and  Aaron 
 10  M!riam\t  Uprosy  is  luahd  at  the  pniyir  of  Mos-s. 
 14  God  ci'jnmaHfLth  her  to  be  shut  out  nf  the  host 
 
 \  ND  Miriam  and  Aaron  spake  against 
 *  *  Moses  because  of  tlie  |j  I'tliiopian  wonian 
 whom  he  had  married:  for  "  lie  had  f  married 
 an  Ethiopian  woman. 
 
 *2  And  they  said.  Hath  the  Loud  indeed 
 spoken  only  by  Moses?  "^  hath  he  not  spoken 
 also  by  us  r*   And  the  Lord  '"heard  it. 
 
 S  (Now  the  man  Moses  u-as  •'  very  meek, 
 above  all  the  men  which  were  upon  the  face  of 
 the  eai'th.) 
 
 4  '^  And  the  Lord  spake  suddenly  unto 
 Moses,  and  unto  Aaron,  and  unto  Miriam, 
 Come  out  ye  three  unto  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation.     And  tliey  three  came  out. 
 
 3  ^  And  the  Lord  came  down  in  the  pillar  of 
 the  cloud,  and  stood  in  the  duor  of  the  taber- 
 
 23.  Htirid  willed  short  ?  '  pnwer  diminisheci.'— Green/.  24.  Went  out, 
 of  tbc  tabernacle,  into  which  he  euterect  to  receive  God's  an*>wers  from 
 the  mercy-seat,  'ch^p.  vii.   89.)  25.  Prophesied,  which   does  not 
 
 always  mean  tr)  foretel ;  they  either  sung  praises  to  Goil,  as  l  Chron. 
 XXV.  1—3,  or  explained  his  laws  in  virtue  of  their  gifts.— G'jV/.  26,  Re- 
 mained—in  tkf  ramp — from  modesty,  want  of  notice  in  time,  or  sick- 
 ness, or  nnrlcanne'is,  or  some  other  urgent  occasion.— Pow^e.  31 .  A 
 wind— ({units— these  birds  return  in  flocks  fiom  their  migrations  into 
 Italy;  but  here  the  miracle  consisted  in  those  immense  flocks  being 
 directed  to  a  particular  spot,  in  the  emerecncv  of  the  people,  by  means 
 of  a  wind  from  the  Lord,*— <?eV/.  These  seem  not  t'»  be  the  quails 
 mentioned  in  Exod.  xvi.,  for  those  were  sent  in  the  Wild  mess  of  Sin, 
 on  the  1 5th  of  the  second  munth,  before  the  ark  arrived  at  Sinai. 
 Hence,  the  people  were  twice  fed  with  quails. —5«f.  A  day's  joumeu, 
 sixteen  or  twenty  miles.— Pui.  Ten  miles.— SA'i«'.  In  a  diameter 
 of  about  twenty  miles,  and  a  circle  of  about  s-xty.— Gill,  Hnr.  It 
 i^  not  necessary  to  suppose  the  whole  ground  was  cnvtre-!,  but  only 
 that  these  creatures  appeared  to  the  extent  described  -Bar.  Th-'o 
 cubits  high— they  lay  one  upon  another.— G///.  'Thev  flew  in  the  air 
 two  cubits  high.*  that  is,  from  the  ground,  r«/?.  This  Patrick  dis- 
 putes, as  the  P>almist  says,  "they  fell  in  the  midst  nf  their  camp.' 
 Hence  he  supposes  locusts  to  be  meant.  As  it  were,  *  at  about.' — 
 Biiothr.  32.  Stood  up,  probably  to  catch  the  flyine  quails. — Har. 
 
 Ten  homers,  'ass  loads;'  or  it  may  signify  'heaps,'  as  in  Exod. 
 Tiii.  U;  Jiidg.  XV.  16;  Hab.  iii.  \S.—Puute.  Spread  them,  to  dry 
 ttiem  in  the  burning  sands,  in  order  to  preserve  them  for  use.  It  is 
 customary  in  some  eastern  parts  to  strip  the  birds  of  their  f^-athers, 
 and  bury  them  in  the  burning  sands  rather  less  than  ten  minutes. — 
 Muillet,  Har.         33.  Plague,  'leanness,'  (Ps.  cvi.  15,)  the  food  being 
 
 deprived  of  its  nourishing  power;  or  surfeit,  or  pestilmce. — Poole. 
 This  mortality  was  most  pr.bably  occasioned  by  the  immoderate  use 
 of  fond. — Henry,  Bont/ir. 
 
 CfiAp.  XII.  —  1.  Miriam — she  is  first  named,  as  chief  instigator  in  the 
 aflf.iir. — Pottle.  Slie  was  now  about  a  iiundred  years  old. — Snt.  Ethio- 
 pian— perhaps  (i.)  Zipporah,  called  in  Hebrew  a  Cushite,  because  she 
 was  a  Midianiie,  Cush  being  used  in  Scripture,  not  for  Etliiopia,  but 
 for  Arabia,  (see  2  Kings,  xix.  9  ;  2  Chron.  xxi.  l6 ;  Ezok.  xxix.  10,  and 
 XXX.  9,  9;  Hab  iii.  ",  &c. ;)  or  ;ii.)  some  other  woman  not  namcii. — 
 Piuile.  Previcms  to  the  arrival  of  Zip|)orah,  Mirim  had  rfi^ned  as 
 lirineess  of  her  brother's  pavili  -n. — Sut.  3.  Mvtk — obliged  to  mcn- 
 tinn  himself  here,  Moses  does  it  in  the  third  pei-son,  as  St.  John,  who 
 sa>  s,  '  the  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved.* — Sot.  The  sacred  writers  often 
 piiiilish  tlicir  own  faults,  and  why  may  they  not  mention  their  virtues? 
 In  this  instance  Moses*  statement  was  extorted  from  him  in  his  own 
 defence.  This  passage  may,  however,  have  been  added  by  some  suc- 
 ceoding  prophet.  Moses  was,  indeed,  sometimes  angry,  as  Exod.  xi. 
 S  :  xvi.  20  ;  xxxii.  19  :  Lev.  x.  l6;  Num.  xvi.  is,  and  xx.  lo.  11,  com- 
 pHied  with  Ps.  cvi.  3-2,  33  ;  yet  he,  in  general,  was  an(;ry  where  Gnd 
 was  oflTended  and  dishonoured,  and  thiv  was  neithrr  unjust  nor  immo- 
 derate an^er. — Poole,  Hew.  His  meekness  is  here  mentioned  as  an  ag- 
 gravation of  the  fault  of  the  offenders,  provoking  the  Divine  displeasure; 
 see  instances  nf  it,  Exod.  xiv.  13;  xxxii.  12, 13,  31 ;  Num.xi.  2  ;  xii.  13  ; 
 xiv,  13,  See  ;  xxi.  7  ;  and  Dcut.  ix.  18,  26. — Hew.  Dr.  Clarke  translates 
 13r,  mi-ek,  'depressed'  or  'afflicted,'  from  n:7,  he  having  so  gieat  a 
 burden  on  his  shoulders.  Williams  understands  it  in  a  like  sense,  and 
 ob-erves,  '  Moses  was  timid  atid  mild  even  to  a  fault  -,*  witness  his  con- 
 duct when  first  called  to  be  Liberator,  see  also  the  precedmc  chajjter. 
 5.  In  the  duor  of  the  tabernacle — the  usual  place  of  judgment. — Sut. 
 
 Rkflfctions  on  Chap.  XI.  —  I.  Let  us  ham  n  t  to  indulye 
 in  a  murmurim/  spirit.  This  is  most  displeasing  to  God  j  and 
 yet,  because  it  is  not  expressly  forbidden  in  the  language  of 
 the  ten  commandments,  how  many  Christians  are  there  who 
 yield  to  Its  influence  !  It  is,  however,  a  breath  of  the  tenth 
 commandment,  for  it  often  arii^es  from  looking  at  theadvan- 
 tages  ol  others  in  preference  to  our  own.  and  so  coveting  what 
 belongs  to  our  neiglibour  ;  and  it  may  frequently  be  a  kind  of 
 idolatry,  and  a  violation  of  the  first  commandment.  We  are 
 too  apt  to  set  our  hearts  upon  low  earthly  idols,  and  to  mur- 
 mur because  we  have  never  bad  them  bestowed  upon  us.  or 
 because  they  have  been  taken  away.  Our  murmuring,  too, 
 must  always  be  mingled  with  ingratitude— and  whafis  there 
 more  base  than  ingratitude  ?  We  never  murmur  without  doing 
 160 
 
 so  in  the  face  of  many  mercies,  and  in  the  absence  of  our  de- 
 serts. May  the  gracious  Lord  pardon  us  in  this  thing,  and 
 teach  us  the  lesson  practised  by  the  holy  apodtle,  '  I  have 
 learned  in  whatsoever  slate  I  am  therewith  to  be  content. 
 
 II.  ffwe.  ohifiin  our  dt-sir  s  in  a  wront/  spirit,  let  us  take  herd 
 that  they  do  not  prove  our  punishment.  God  knows  what  is  best 
 for  us  better  than  we  do  ourselves.  If  we  have  only  what  is 
 necessary  for  life  and  godliness,  we  are  safe  with  God's  bless- 
 ing; but  plenty  and  affluence  may  lead  us  into  many  sniires. 
 a'ld  even  literally  into  the  snares  of  death  ;  and  many  by  them 
 have,  alas!  fallen  into  death  eternal.  May  ours  be  the  pravcr 
 of  Aj^ur,  *  Give  me  neither  poverty  nor  riches,  feed  me  \vitb 
 f(.od  convenient  for  me.'  '  Daily  bread'  and  '  the  bread  of  life* 
 should  be  enough  to  make  every  Christian  happy. 
 
rhe  punishment  of  Miriam. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XIII. 
 
 Men  appointed  to  search  the  land. 
 
 iiacle,  and  called  Aaron  and  Miriam  :  and  they 
 both  came  forth. 
 
 6  And  he  said,  Hear  now  my  words  :  If  there 
 be  a  prophet  among  you,  /  the  Loud  will  make 
 myself  known  unto  him  ^in  a  vision,  and  will 
 speak  unto  him  "  in  a  dream. 
 
 7  '  My  servant  Moses  is  not  so, '  who  is  faith- 
 ful in  all  '  mine  house. 
 
 8  With  him  will  I  speak  ""  month  to  mouth, 
 even  "apparently,  and  not  in  dark  speeches; 
 and  "the  similitude  of  the  Loru  shall  he  be- 
 hold :  wherefore  then  ''  were  ye  not  afraid  to 
 speak  against  my  servant  Moses? 
 
 9  And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled 
 against  them  ;  and  he  departed. 
 
 10  And  the  cloud  departed  from  off  the  ta- 
 bernacle ;  and,  ''  behold,  Miriam  becnine  '  le- 
 prous, white  as  snow  :  and  Aaron  looked  upon 
 Miriam,  and,  behold,  she  uas  leprous. 
 
 1 1  And  Aaron  said  unto  Mose.s,  Alas,  my 
 lord,  I  beseech  thee.  May  not  the  sin  upon  us, 
 wherein  we  liave  done  foolishly,  and  wherein 
 we  have  sinned. 
 
 12  Let  her  not  be  '  as  one  dead,  of  whom  the 
 flesh  is  half  consumed  when  he  cometh  out  of 
 his  mother's  womb. 
 
 13  And  Moses  cried  unto  the  Lord,  saying, 
 Ileal  her  now,  O  God,  I  beseech  thee. 
 
 14  H  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  "  If  her 
 father  had  but  spit  in  her  f;ice,  should  she  not 
 be  ashamed  seven  days?  let  her  be  '  shut  out 
 from  the  camp  seven  days,  and  after  that  let 
 her  be  received  iu  ar/ain. 
 
 15  '  And  Miriam  was  shut  out  from  the  camp 
 seven  days  :  and  the  people  journeyed  not  till 
 Miriam  was  brought  in  affair/. 
 
 16  And  afterward  the  people  removed  from 
 '  Hazeroth,  and  pitched  in  the  wilderness  of 
 Paran. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 I    T/tf  names  of  the  men  who  Wtri  s  nt  to  search  the  land. 
 ■      17    Their  histructwus.      21   Their  acts.      26    Their 
 r.  Lition. 
 
 \  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^*-  2  ^  Send  tiiou  men,  that  thpy  may  search 
 the  land  of  Canaan,  which  I  give  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel  :  of  every  tribe  of  their 
 fathers  shall  ye  send  a  man,  every  one  a  ruler 
 among  them. 
 
 3  And  Moses  by  the  commandment  of  the 
 
 s  Gen.  1ft,  I. 
 
 !«*  4fi.  ■?.  Job 
 
 33    13    Kze. 
 
 I-  I.  Dan. 
 
 a  2.  fc  10. 
 
 8,  16,  17. 
 
 Luke  1.  II, 
 
 22.  ActBlO. 
 
 11,  17.  B£  22 
 
 17,  18- 
 U  Hen.  31.10, 
 
 II.  1  Kiu. 
 
 3.  5.  Mat. 
 
 I    20- 
 i  Ps    105.26 
 h  Heb  3  2,5 
 /  J  Tim.  3. 
 
 15. 
 >n  Ex  33.  1 1 . 
 
 Dei)   34.  10 
 n  I  Cor.  13. 
 
 19. 
 o  Ex.  33.  19 
 p2  Pet  2.  10 
 
 Jtide  8. 
 q  Deti.  2+.  D 
 r  2  Kin   5. 
 
 27    9c   \h.  f, 
 
 8  Chr.  26. 
 
 IS,  20. 
 *  9  Sa.n    Ifl 
 
 19.  &-:4    10 
 
 Pro-  30.  3d. 
 /  Ps.  83.  4. 
 
 rLev,  13,  U. 
 ch.  5.  2,:l, 
 
 ti  Dntl  24-  9 
 2  Clir.  20. 
 20,  21. 
 
 :  ell.  II.  35. 
 &33    18. 
 
 B.  C.  14%. 
 
 A  cb.  12.  16 
 (fc  .^2.  8. 
 Deii.  1.  19. 
 i4  a.  23. 
 
 r  cb    ^\    19 
 I  Cbr.  i.  15. 
 
 .(  ver.  30 
 ^\k    M.fi,30, 
 J.  ah.  14.6, 
 7,  US,  H. 
 -lu.lg.  I.  12. 
 
 «  ver.  16. 
 
 Ex.  17    9. 
 ch.  14.6,30 
 
 g  ver   21. 
 /.  Gen.  14.10 
 
 Judg    1.  9, 
 
 19. 
 
 i  Neb   9.  25, 
 35.  Ez^k. 
 j    *4.  14. 
 *De,i.3l.  6, 
 
 I  cb,  34  3. 
 Josli.  15  I 
 m  .Twsh.  19. 
 
 Lord  sent  them  *•  from  the  wilderness  of  Ta- 
 ran  :  all  those  men  were  heads  of  the  children 
 of  Israel. 
 
 4  And  these  were  their  names  :  of  the  trihe  of 
 Reuhen,  Shammua  the  son  of  Zaccur. 
 
 5  Of  the  tribe  of  Simeon,  Shaphat  the  son  of 
 Hori. 
 
 6  "  Of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  ^  Caleb  the  son  of 
 Jephunneh. 
 
 7  Of  the  tribe  of  Issachar,  Igal  the  son  of 
 Joseph. 
 
 8  Of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  "  Oshea  the  son  of 
 Nun. 
 
 9  Of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  Palti  the  son  of 
 Raphu. 
 
 10  Of  the  tribe  of  Zebulun,  Gaddiel  the  son 
 of  Sodi. 
 
 1 1  Of  the  tribe  of  Joseph,  namely,  of  the  tribe 
 of  Manasseh,  Gaddi  the  son  of  Susi. 
 
 ]'2  Of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  Ammiel  the  son  of 
 Gemalli. 
 
 18  Of  the  tribe  of  Asher,  Sethur  the  son  of 
 Michael. 
 
 U  Of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  Nahbi  the  son  of 
 Vophsi. 
 
 15  Of  the  tribe  of  Gad,  Geuel  the  son  of 
 Machi. 
 
 16  These  are  the  names  of  the  men  which 
 Moses  sent  to  spy  out  the  land.  And  Moses 
 called  ^Osliea  the  son  of  Nun  Jehoshua. 
 
 17  t  And  Moses  sent  tliem  to  spy  out  the 
 land  of  Canaan,  and  said  unto  them,  Get  you 
 up  this  iroy  ^  southward,  and  go  up  into  ^  the 
 mountain  : 
 
 18  And  see  the  land,  what  it  is;  and  the 
 people  that  dwelleth  therein,  whether  they  be 
 strong  or  weal<,  few  or  many  ; 
 
 19  And  what  the  land  is  that  they  dwell  in, 
 whether  it  be  good  or  bad  ;  and  what  cities 
 they  be  that  they  dwell  in,  whether  in  tents,  or 
 in  strong  holds  ; 
 
 20  And  what  the  land  is,  whether  it  be  '  fat 
 or  lean,  whether  there  be  wood  therein,  or  not. 
 And  ''  be  ye  of  good  courage,  and  bring  of  the 
 fruit  of  the  land.  Now  the  time  was  the  time 
 of  the  firstripe  grapes. 
 
 21  H  So  they  went  up,  and  searched  the  land 
 'from  the  wilderness  of  Zin  unto  '"  Rehob,  as 
 men  come  to  Hamath. 
 
 22  And   they  ascended  by  the   south,   and 
 
 6  /,  the  Lord,  will.mnke  tnt/seif  known  unto  him — '  T,  Jehovah,  am 
 wmit  to  make  myseli  Known  to  you.'  7.  iJ/i/  servant,  Sfc. — '  Not  so 
 
 wirti  my  servatit  Moses,  who,  &c. ;  with  him  1  am  wont  to  spcaV,'  &c. 
 — So  reads  Boof/ir.  9.  Hr  dfpnvtpd,  from  the  door  of  the  tabernacle. 
 10,  7Vie  f/owrf  rfc/jar/crf—Poo/e  understands  only  from  that  part  of  the 
 taburnack'  to  that  part  over  the  mercy- seat.  Svott  understands  that  it 
 entirely  disappeared  till  Miriam's  restoratinn.  12.  As  one  dind — 
 
 naturaily,  being-  in  a  putrifit^d  state  j  or  spirimally,  being-  cut  off  from 
 converse,  (Lev.  xiii.  46.) — Poole.  14.  Btit  spit — spitting  before  any 
 one,  or  upon  the  groimd  in  speaking-  of  any  one's  actions,  is,  through 
 the  east,  an  expression  of  e.xtreme  detestation.  Hence  it  is  prescribed 
 as  a  mark  of  di-grace,  (Deut.  xxv.  9.) — Churdin.  The  most  contemp- 
 ttjous,  exasperating,  and  degrading  action  which  one  man  can  do  to 
 another,  is  to  spit  in  his  face  ;  so  a  mas'er  dues  to  his  slave  who  has 
 deeply  offended  him,  and  a  schoolmaster  to  his  scholar,  or  they  di  sire 
 some  one  near  to  do  it  for  them.— flo6.     Be  shut  out — bear  the  sbame 
 
 of  her  sin,  as  a  warning'  to  others. — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XIII.  — 11.  Of  Joseph— of  M'lnns^eh—fhBX  part  of  the  tiibe  of 
 Joseph  which  is  peculiaily  called  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  as  the  otl-er 
 p  irt  was  of  Ephraim,  (ver.  3  )  16.  Oshea,  VV^T^■  J'hoshtin,  yinrp — 
 
 the  first  sig:iiifies  '  save  thou,*  the  second,  '  he  will  save.'  This  was  a 
 prophecy  of  his  succe^'Sion  to  Mo?es  in  the  government,  and  that  God 
 by  his  hands  would  save  the  people. — Smtt,  Poole.  On  this  occa'^i^n 
 the  name  was  an  encouragement  to  him  and  liis  associates  confidently 
 to  expect  protection  and  safety  from  the  Lord.  Je=us  is  the  same 
 name,  of  whom  Joshua  was  an  eminent  t>pe. — Scolt.  IJ.  South- 
 
 ward — this  was  the  dry  and  desert  part  of  Canaan,  (Josh.  xv.  1,.3; 
 Judg.  i.  15.)  hence  they  might  pas^  less  observed.  21.  Zim,  differing 
 from  Sin.  which  was  near  Egypt,  (Exod.  xvi.  1.)  Rehob,  a  city  in  the 
 north-west  part,  (losh.  xix.  28  ;  Judg.  i.  31.)  Hamnth,  in  the  north- 
 east, (Josh.  xix.  35;  Ezek.  xhii.  17.)  22.  And  came,  '  he  came,* 
 Heb.    The  spies  divided  their  work,  and  Caleb  is  here  intended,  (see 
 
 Rfflf.ctions  on  Chap.  XII,—  I  Let  us  beware  of  maiii- 
 ftsting  envy,  jealous  If,  or  hatred,  towards  our  brethren  who  may  be 
 sripfrior  to  Jts  in  rank,  avthority,  talents,  or  infiumce.  I'he  con- 
 sequences of  this  spirit  may  ultimately  return  upon  our  own 
 heads.  It  is  at  all  times  most  unlovely,  and  especially  ought 
 it  never  to  appear  among  the  followers  of  the  meek  and  lowly 
 Jesus.  '  Let  notliing  be  done  through  strife  or  vainglory,' 
 and  '  let  each  esteem  others  better  than  themselves.' 
 
 II.  //  at  any  time  ive  are  inijnstly  calumniated,  we  cannot  do 
 bttt<r  i/iun  leave  our  cast  in  the  hands  oj  God.  It  may  be  that 
 161 
 
 we  may  suffer  from  quarters  we  least  expected  ;  it  may  be  nn 
 equal,  a  guide,  an  acquaintance— one  with  whom  we  took 
 sweet  counsel  together,  and  walked  to  the  bouse  of  God  in 
 company  :  it  may  be  that  he  who  did  eat  of  our  bread  bath 
 lifted  up  ihe  heel  against  us  ;  yet,  amidst  these  painful  pro- 
 vocations, we  should  feel  most  happy  were  we  to  suppress  our 
 natural  feelings  ot  indignation,  possess  our  souls  in  patience, 
 and,  rather  than  take  vengeance,  pray  for  '  our  enemies,  perse- 
 cutors, and  slanderers.'  For,  ere  long,  '  our  righteousne.s3 
 shall  appear  as  the  light,  and  our  judgment  as  the  noon  day.' 
 
 Y 
 
Their  evil  report  of  the  land. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XIV. 
 
 God  threateneth  the  murmurers 
 
 came  unto  Hebron  ;  wliere  "Ahlman,  Shesluii, 
 and  Talmai,  °  the  cliildren  of  Anak,  were. 
 (Now  •'Hebron  was  built  seven  years  before 
 ■i  Zoan  iu  Egypt.) 
 
 23  '  And  they  came  unto  the  ||  brook  of  Esh- 
 col,  and  cut  down  from  thence  a  branch  with 
 one  cluster  of  grapes,  and  they  bare  it  between 
 two  upon  a  staff ;  and  thii/  brought  of  the 
 pomegranates,  and  of  the  figs. 
 
 24  The  place  was  called  the  ||  brook  ||  Esheol, 
 because  of  the  cluster  of  grapes  which  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  cut  down  from  thence. 
 
 25  And  they  returned  from  searching  of  the 
 !aud  after  forty  days. 
 
 26  %  And  they  went  and  came  to  Moses,  and 
 to  Aaron,  and  to  all  the  congregation  of  the 
 children  of  Israel,  'nnto  the  wilderness  of 
 Parau,  to  '  Kadesh  ;  and  brought  back  word 
 unto  them,  and  unto  all  the  congregation,  and 
 shewed  them  the  fruit  of  the  land. 
 
 27  And  tliey  told  him,  and  said.  We  came 
 unto  the  land  wliitlier  thou  seutest  us,  and 
 surely  it  floweth  with  "milk  and  honey;  ^and 
 this  is  the  fruit  of  it. 
 
 28  Nevertheless  '  the  people  he  strong  that 
 dwell  in  the  land,  and  the  cities  are  walled, 
 and  very  great  :  and  moreover  we  saw  '  the 
 children  of  Anak  there. 
 
 29  °  The  Amalekitcs  dwell  in  the  land  of  the 
 south :  and  the  Ilittites,  and  the  .Tebusites, 
 and  the  Amorites,  dwell  in  the  mountains:  and 
 the  Cauaanites  dwell  by  the  sea,  and  by  the 
 coast  of  Jordan. 
 
 50  And  ■•  Caleb  stilled  the  people  before 
 Moses,  and  said.  Let  us  go  up  at  once,  and 
 possess  it;  for  we  are  well  able  to  overcome  it. 
 
 51  'But  the  men  that  went  up  with  him  said, 
 We  be  not  able  to  go  up  against  the  people  ; 
 for  they  are  stronger  than  we. 
 
 32  And  they  •'  brought  up  an  evil  report  of 
 the  land  which  they  had  searched  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel,  saying.  The  land,  through 
 which  we  have  gone  to  search  it,  is  a  land  that 
 eateth  up  tlie  inhabitants  thereof;  and  ''all 
 the  people  that  we  saw  iu  it  are  f  men  of  a 
 great  stature. 
 
 33  And  there  we  saw  the  giants, '  the  sons  of 
 Anak,  which  come  of  the  giants  :  and  we  were 
 in  our  own  sight  ^  as  grasshoppers,  and  so  we 
 were  ''in  their  sight. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 ]  T^te  people  murmvr  at  thf  y/ctrs,  fi  Joshua  and  Cahh 
 labour  to  still  thnn.  11  Gol  t/>r,att>uth  them.  13 
 ]\li)Ses persiuideth  God,  and ul-tuiii'  t/i  pardon.  26  The 
 murmurers  are  deprived  ofenti  riny  into  the  hind.      36 
 
 Judg.  1.  10. 
 "  ver.  m. 
 p  Josli.  21. 
 
 It. 
 q  Vs.  7S   12. 
 
 Is.  19.  II. 
 
 &  30  4. 
 r  l)ea.  1.24. 
 
 Jl  Or,  raUry. 
 
 ch.  32.  9. 
 
 Jinig.  Ifi.4. 
 li  Or.  vallry. 
 II  That  is, 
 
 1  cl'uler  of 
 
 grapPt 
 
 /ch.20.I,IG. 
 &  M2    8.  A 
 
 I.  19.  Jo>ti 
 
 II.  C. 
 
 M  Kx.  3.  8.  & 
 »l.  3 
 jDcu.  I.2.'j 
 
 .  F.r.  17.  fl. 
 cli  11.4-t. 
 Judg.  G.  3. 
 1  ^atn.  1-1. 
 -IS.  &  13.  3, 
 
 ;  ch.  3?.  9. 
 Den  1.  2S. 
 Josli.  M.  8 
 
 t  Heb    men 
 of  tiatiiru 
 
 AD^-o.  1.28. 
 St  2.  JO.  & 
 
 9    8. 
 :c  U.  40.  22. 
 
 I  Sam.  17. 
 
 ft  Kx.  16.  2 
 Ik  17.  3. 
 ch.  16,  At. 
 Pa.  106.  25 
 
 ■^  Sec  rer.  28. 
 
 ait. 
 -i  Nell.  9.  17 
 #  .See  Deul, 
 
 17    Ifi 
 
 Acts  7.  39. 
 /■ch.  )G.  4, 
 
 '.  ch.  13  27. 
 Di-n.  I.  2.1. 
 
 (  Itcu.lO.  Ih. 
 2  ^am.  15- 
 25,2ti  S<8-' 
 W  I  Kin 
 10  n  I's.K, 
 8  &  147.  10, 
 
 11.  IS.6J.4. 
 *  ch.  13.  27. 
 I  Dvu    9.  7, 
 
 2 J,  2t. 
 m  Dcu.  7.  18. 
 
 &  20  3. 
 1  ch.  2i.  8. 
 t  Hcb- 
 
 thaifoiti. 
 
 Ps.   121    5 
 
 Is.  30.2,3. 
 
 .'cr,  48.  45. 
 »  Gen.  48.21. 
 
 Kx.  33.  16. 
 
 Deu.  20.1,3, 
 
 4.8(31    C,8. 
 
 J»8ll.   1.5. 
 
 Judp.  1.22. 
 
 2Clir.l3.12, 
 
 &  15  2. &  20. 
 
 17.  (t  32.  8 
 
 PB.  4ti.  7.11 
 
 IB   41.  10 
 
 AntoB  5.  14. 
 
 Zech.  8.23. 
 p  Ex.  17.  4 
 ■y  Kx.  Iti    ro, 
 
 J(c21.  I»,  17. 
 
 8£  40,  34. 
 
 Lev.  n.  23. 
 
 Ch.t6.l9,42. 
 
 «!  20.  6. 
 r  vpr.2.1. 
 
 IJcu  9  7. 9, 
 
 ■22.  Ps  95  8 
 
 Heb.3.Slt). 
 «  Deu.  t.Si. 
 
 %  'J   '.'S.  Pb. 
 
 78  22,  3i, 
 
 12.  &  ll«C. 
 24- Jnhii  12. 
 S7.  Heb.  3. 
 
 18. 
 
 /  Kx,S2.  10 
 r  Kx.3.'.  I-.'. 
 P«.  1 00.  •^:t. 
 Deti.  9.  26, 
 27,  23.  ft  32. 
 27.  Eie.  20. 
 
 9,  14. 
 
 X  Ei.  15.  14. 
 Josh.  8.  9, 
 
 10.  &  5  I 
 V  Ex-  13.  SI 
 '  K  40.  38. 
 
 ch    10.  S4. 
 Neh.  9,  l>. 
 Pa-  78.  1 4. 
 &  105.  SO. 
 
 7'he  men  ivho  raised  the  evil  report  die  hi/  a  plapue 
 ■40  The  pcoj'le  that  would  invade  the  laud  against  the 
 nill  of  God  are  smittat. 
 
 A  ND  all  the  congregation  lifted  up  tiieir 
 ■^~*-  voice,  and  cried  ;  and  *  the  people  wept 
 that  night. 
 
 2  ^  And  all  the  children  of  Israel  murmured 
 against  Moses  and  against  Aaron  :  and  the 
 whole  congregation  said  unto  them,  Would 
 God  that  we  had  died  in  the  land  of  Egypt!  or 
 ""  would  God  wo  had  died  in  this  wilderness! 
 
 3  And  wherefore  hath  the  Lord  brought  us 
 unto  this  laud,  to  ti^ll  by  the  sword,  that  our 
 wives  and  our  children  should  be  a  prey?  were 
 it  not  better  for  us  to  return  into  Egypt? 
 
 4  And  tliey  said  one  to  another,  *•  Let  us 
 make  a  captain,  and  '^  let  us  return  into  Egypt. 
 
 3  Then  ^  Moses  and  Aaron  fell  on  their  faces 
 before  all  the  assembly  of  the  congregation  of 
 the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 G  H  ^  And  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  and  Caleb 
 the  son  of  Jephunneh,  irhich  were  of  them  that 
 searched  the  land,  rent  their  clothes: 
 
 7  And  they  spake  unto  all  the  company  of 
 the  children  of  Israel,  saying,  *"  The  land,  which 
 we  passed  through  to  search  it,  is  an  exceeding 
 good  land. 
 
 8  If  the  Lono  'delight  in  us,  then  he  will 
 bring  us  into  this  land,  and  give  it  us  ;  ''a  land 
 which  floweth  with  milk  and  honey. 
 
 9  Only  '  rebel  not  ye  against  the  Lord, 
 "' neither  fear  ye  the  people  of  t!ie  land;  for 
 "  they  are  bread  for  us  :  their  f  defence  is  de- 
 parted from  them,  "and  the  Lord  is  with  us- 
 fear  them  not. 
 
 I(»  ^  Rut  all  the  congregation  bade  stone  them 
 with  stones.  And  *"  the  glory  of  the  Lord  ap- 
 peared in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation 
 before  all  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 11  H  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  How 
 long  will  this  people  '  provoke  me?  and  how 
 long  will  it  be  ere  they  '  believe  me,  for  all  the 
 signs  which  I  have  shewed  among  tliem? 
 
 12  I  will  smite  them  with  the  pestilence,  and 
 disinherit  them,  and  *  will  make  of  thee  a 
 greater  nation  and  mightier  than  they. 
 
 13  t  And  "  Moses  said  unto  the  Lord.  Then 
 the  Egyptians  shall  hear  i7,  (for  thou  brought- 
 est  up  this  people  in  thy  might  from  among 
 them ;) 
 
 14  And  they  will  tell  it  to  the  inhabitants  of 
 this  laud  :  '^for  they  have  heard  that  thou 
 Lord  art  among  this  people,  that  tiiou  Lord 
 art  seen  face  to  face,  and  that  *'  thy  cloud 
 standeth  over  them,  and  that  thou  goest  before 
 
 Josh.  xiv.  9;  XV.  13.)— Poo??,  23.  Bare  it  between  ^co— the  grapes 
 of  Egypt  are  very  small, — Har. ;  but  modern  travellers  have  sten 
 grapes  about  the  part  here  visited  which  produce  clusters  of  twenty, 
 five  pounds  weight  or  more.  29.  The  sea — the  western  Canaanites 
 
 dwelt  by  the  Mediterranean,  the  eastern  by  the  Dead  Sea,  or  coast  of 
 Jordtin. —  Gill.  32.  Eateth  up — is   unhealthy  and  destructive, — Le 
 
 Clcfc ;  or  unproductive  of  food.  —  Gill.  Men  of  a  great  stature,  '1C3M 
 rmo,  '  men  of  measures,'  of  a  large  mca-*ure.  —  Mnnt.  33.  Giants, 
 cVd3.  Revelation,  the  pag^an  poets,  and  the  Hindoo  mythology,  are 
 equally  agreed  that  there  existed  a  race  of  men,  many  of  wh"m  ex- 
 
 ceeded nine  feit  in  stature. — Sut. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. — 3.  A  pre^—abu'ied  and  made  slaves. ^GtV/.  4.  A 
 captain — it  seems  one  was  actually  appointed,  (Neh.  ix.  17-1  5.  Fell 
 on  their  faces — to   deprecate  the  Divine  displeasure.  f).  B  rend  fur 
 
 vs—ttiG  wealth  of  the  Canaanites  would  afford  abundant  support. — 
 Scott.  As  ea^y  to  be  consumed  by  them  as  bread  when  eaten.  Their 
 defence  is  departed,  dS;?.  '  their  shadow  ;*  a  metaphor  highly  expressive 
 of  protection  and  support  in  the  sultry  eastern  countries,  (see  Ps.  xci. 
 I;  cxxi.  5;  Isa.  XXX.2.) — Wd.  They  had  no  ciurage  remaining. — 
 Gill.         10.  The  gliiri/ — appeared — he  interposed  by  a  visible  display  of 
 
 REFi.ErTiONs  ON  Chap.  XIII.  —  I.  There  is  a  pood  land  pro- 
 mis'd  to  all  trite  Isnieliffs.  The  heavenly  Canaan' is  '  an  inhe- 
 ritance incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away.* 
 Tberp  are  'fruits  immortal,'  to  feast  the  soul.  There  grows 
 the  tree  of  life,  in  perpetual  verdure  ;  and  there  flows  the  pe- 
 rennial stream  of  the  water  of  life  from  the  throne  of  God  and 
 of  the  Lamb.  It  is  free  from  all  sorrow,  because  the  inhabit- 
 ants arc  free  from  all  sin. 
 
 IT.  jre  should  now  endeavour  to  make  ourselves  acquainted  with 
 this  heovnli/  country.  The  Bible  is  the  map  to  guide  us  on  the 
 162 
 
 road,  and  faith  and  hope  are  good  spies  to  view  this  good  land 
 yet  afar  off".  *  Faith  is  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  and 
 the  evidence  of  things  not  seen,* 
 
 111.  Let  ns  not  be  discouraged  by  difficulties  in  the  way  of  ob- 
 taining this  invabiahle  posstssion.  Tliere  are  difficulties,  but  let 
 us  not  magnify  them,  and  let  us  remember  that  all  must  give 
 way  before  the  promise  and  power  of  God.  *If  God  be  (or 
 us,  HJio  can  be  against  us  V 
 
 '  A  feeble  saint  shall  win  the  day. 
 Though  death  and  hell  obstruct  the  way.* 
 
Moses  obtaineth  pardon. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XIV. 
 
 The  murmurers  are  excluded. 
 
 them,  by  day  time  in  a  pillar  of  a  cloud,  and  in 
 
 a  pillar  of  fire  by  night. 
 
 Jo  H  Now  j/'thou  shall  kill  all  this  people  as 
 one  man,  then  the  nations  which  have  heard 
 the  fame  of  thee  will  speak,  sayinji, 
 
 16  Because  the  Lord  was  not  "  able  to  bring 
 this  people  into  the  land  which  he  sware  unto 
 them,  therefore  he  hath  slain  them  in  the  wil- 
 derness. 
 
 17  And  now,  I  beseech  thee,  let  the  power 
 of  my  Lord  be  great,  according  as  thou  bast 
 spoken,  .saying, 
 
 18  The  Lord  is  °  longsufFering,  and  of  great 
 mercy,  forgiving  iniquity  and  transgression, 
 and  by  no  means  clearing  the  (iiiiltii,  ^visiting 
 the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children 
 unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation. 
 
 19  '  Pardon,  I  beseech  thee,  the  iniquity  of 
 this  people  ''according  unto  the  greatness  of 
 thy  mercy,  and  '  as  thou  hast  forgiven  this 
 people,  from  Egypt  even  ||  until  now. 
 
 '20  And  the  Lord  said,  I  have  pardoned  '  ac- 
 cording to  thy  word  : 
 
 ■21  But  as  truly  as  I  live,  ^  all  the  earth  shall 
 be  filled  with  the  glory  of  the  Lord. 
 
 22  *■  Because  all  those  men  which  have  seen 
 my  glory,  and  my  miracles,  whijli  1  did  in 
 Egypt  and  in  the  wilderness,  have  tempted  me 
 now  '  these  ten  times,  and  have  not  hearkened 
 to  my  voice  ; 
 
 23  '  t  Surely  they  shall  not  see  the  land 
 which  I  sware  unto  their  fathers,  neither  shall 
 any  of  them  that  provoked  me  see  it : 
 
 24  But  my  servant  '  Caleb,  because  he  bad 
 another  spirit  with  him,  and  ""  hath  followed 
 me  fully,  him  will  I  bring  into  the  land  where- 
 into  he  went ;  and  his  seed  shall  possess  it. 
 
 25  (Now  the  Amalekites  and  the  Canaanites 
 dwelt  in  the  valley.)  To  morrow  turn  you, 
 °  and  get  you  into  the  wilderness  by  the  way 
 of  the  Red  sea. 
 
 26  1[  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
 unto  Aaron,  saying, 
 
 27  °  How  long  shall  I  bear  with  this  evil  con- 
 gregation, which  murmur  against  me  ?  ''  1  have 
 heard  the  murmurings  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
 which  they  murmur  against  me. 
 
 28  Say  unto  them,  ■■  As  truly  as  I  live,  saith 
 the  Loud,  '  as  ye  have  spoken  in  mine  ears,  so 
 will  I  do  to  you  : 
 
 29  Your  carcases  shall  fall  in  this  wilderness  ; 
 and  '  all  that  were  numbered  of  you,  according 
 to  your  whole  number,  from  twenty  years  old 
 and  upward,  which  have  murmured  against  me, 
 
 30  Doubtless  ye  shall  not  come  into  the  land, 
 concerni7ig  w\nc\\  I  f  sware  to  make  you  dwell 
 therein, '  save  Caleb  the  son  of  Jephunneh,  and 
 
 !  neu.  9.  s 
 Josh.  7. 9 
 
 nEx.34.  fi.7 
 
 I's.  llW.  8. 
 
 &  145.  9. 
 
 .'on   1.  2. 
 '.  Ex.  20.  5. 
 
 8:  31.7. 
 
 c  Ex.  34  9. 
 d  Ps.  106.45 
 f  Ps.  78  33 
 II  CiT.hUh'rl- 
 
 fVs   105.2:^ 
 Jam    h    If, 
 I  John  5 
 14,  15.  '0 
 
 S  Ps.  72.  19. 
 
 '.  Deo    1.  35 
 
 Ps   95.  II. 
 fa  106  S6. 
 Heb.  3.  17. 
 18 
 1  Gei>.  31,  7. 
 
 *  rh.  .H?.  11. 
 
 F./e   -jn   15. 
 1  Hcb  InLpv 
 
 lee  llic  land. 
 
 I  ne.. 
 
 1   36. 
 II.  6, 
 
 ver.  II 
 Ex.  16   W 
 Mat.  17,  7. 
 p  Ex.  16.  12. 
 
 7  ver.  23. 
 
 ch.  26.  65. 
 
 &  .33.  II. 
 
 Pen.  1.  35. 
 
 Hcb.  S.  17. 
 r  See  Ver.  2 
 
 t  ch.  1.  45. 
 
 &  26.  64. 
 t  Heb.  lifteit 
 
 up  my  lia'<d 
 
 Gen.*14   22. 
 /  ver-  3^ 
 
 rh.  26   65. 
 
 8t  .32.  12. 
 
 Dcu.  1.  36, 
 
 B.  C   1190 
 <  De'J.  1 J9. 
 
 X  Ps  106.  24. 
 
 y  I  Cnr.  10. 
 
 5    Heb.  3. 
 
 17. 
 IJ  Or./c^rf. 
 s  ch.  32.  13 
 
 Ps    li'7.  10. 
 a  See  Deut 
 
 2    14. 
 b  Eze  23.35. 
 
 c  ch    13.  25. 
 
 1490. 
 d  Ps.  PS.  10 
 E2ek.  4.  6. 
 
 <  .See  I  Kill, 
 
 S.  56.  Ps  77. 
 
 8.  &  105.12. 
 
 Heb.  4.  1. 
 ;|  Or,  ntteriug 
 
 "f  my  pHT- 
 
 fch-'iS.  19. 
 tf  ver.  27,29. 
 
 ch .  26    65. 
 
 1  Cor.  111.5, 
 
 h  ch    IS.  31, 
 32. 
 
 n  Cor.1n.10. 
 
 Heb.  3   17. 
 
 Jude  5, 
 *  ch    26   65. 
 
 J"!h.  14  6, 
 
 10. 
 
 2Chi-.21.20. 
 Deu.  1.42, 
 
 ;,  2  Chi.  15, 
 8. 
 
 ver,  43. 
 Deu.  1,  41. 
 
 ch.  21.  3. 
 Judg,  I,  17. 
 
 Joshua  the  son  of  Nun. 
 
 31  "  But  your  little  ones,  which  ye  said  should 
 be  a  prey,  them  will  1  bring  in,  and  they  shall 
 know  the  land  which  "^  ye  have  despised. 
 
 32  But  as  fur  you,  "your  carcases,  they  shall 
 fall  in  this  wilderness. 
 
 33  And  your  children  shall  ||  '  wander  in  the 
 w'ilderness  "  forty  years,  and  ''  bear  your  whore- 
 doms, until  your  carcases  be  wasted  in  the 
 wilderness. 
 
 34  "^  After  the  number  of  the  days  in  which  ye 
 searched  the  land,  even  '' forty  days,  each  day 
 for  a  year,  shall  ye  bear  your  iniquities,  even 
 forty  years,  "  and  ye  shall  know  ||  my  breach  of 
 promise. 
 
 35  '  I  the  Lord  have  said,  I  will  surely  do  it 
 unto  all  '^  this  evil  congregation,  that  are  ga- 
 thered together  against  me  :  in  this  w  ilderness 
 they  shall  be  consumed,  and  there  they  shall 
 die. 
 
 36  •■  And  the  men,  which  Moses  sent  to  search 
 the  laud,  who  returned,  and  made  all  the  con- 
 gregation to  niurmnr  against  him,  by  bringing 
 lip  a  .slander  upon  the  land, 
 
 37  Even  those  men  that  did  bring  up  the 
 evil  report  upon  the  land,  '  died  by  the  plague 
 before  the  Lord. 
 
 38  '  But  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  and  Caleb 
 the  son  of  Jephunneh,  which  were  of  the  men 
 tliat  went  to  search  the  land,  lived  still. 
 
 39  And  Jloses  told  these  sayings  unto  all  the 
 children  of  Israel  :  '  and  the  people  mourned 
 greatly. 
 
 40  -f  And  they  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
 and  gat  them  up  into  the  top  of  the  mountain, 
 saying,  Lo,  "'we  be  here,  and  will  go  up  unto 
 the  place  which  the  Lord  hath  promised  :  for 
 we  have  sinned. 
 
 41  And  Moses  said.  Wherefore  now  do  ye 
 transgress  "  the  commandment  of  the  Lord? 
 but  it  shall  not  prosper. 
 
 42  °  Go  not  up,  for  the  Lord  is  not  among 
 you  ;  that  ye  be  not  smitten  before  your  ene- 
 mies. 
 
 43  For  the  Amalekites  and  the  Canaanites 
 are  there  before  you,  and  ye  shall  fall  by  the 
 sword  :  ''because  ye  are  turned  away  from  the 
 Lord,  therefore  the  Lord  will  not  be  with 
 you. 
 
 44  ^  But  they  presumed  to  go  up  unto  the 
 hill  top  :  nevertheless  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
 of  the  Lord,  and  Moses,  departed  not  out  of 
 the  camp. 
 
 45  '  Then  the  Amalekites  came  down,  and 
 the  Canaanites  which  dwelt  in  that  hill,  and 
 smote  them,  and  discomfited  them,  even  unto 
 '  Hormah. 
 
 his  glory.and  calmed  thetiimiilt  byiuHmidatingthem. — Scott.  18.  By 
 no  means  clearing  tlie  guilty — '  guilty'  is  not  in  the  original ;  the  sense 
 is,  '  who  will  ni't  make  quite  desolate,  though  he  visit,'  &c, — Hew.  See 
 n-'tes  on  Exod.  xxxiv.  7.        21.  Alt  the  earth  shall  be  jilled.  y-iwn  ^3, 
 
 •  all  this  land  shall  be  filled  ;'  accomplished  in  the  preaching  of  Christ 
 and  the  aposiles.— So  .4.  Clarke.  God  here  declared  Uiat,  by  his  fearful 
 de^dings  with  Israel,  he  would  yet  display  his  glory  to  the  world. — 
 Scatt.  As  sure  as  the  kingdom  of  Messiah  should  spread,  so  sure  that 
 provoking  race  should  never  see  Canaan. — Gilt.  Although  the  people 
 shoJld  not  see  the  promised  land,  yet  God  would  be  glorified  among 
 the  nations  in  thpir  just  punishment. — So  Kidder.  24.  Hath  followtd 
 mefatli],  inrw  wS'2'1.  '  he  hath  fulftlled  after  me,'  a  common  Hebraism, 
 meaning,  '  he  hath  followed  in  the  track  of  duty  marked  out  for  him.' 
 —  Wil.,  so  Gilt  and  Scutt.     Clarke  has,  '  Slled.'        25.  B/ie/(— rather, 
 
 *  were  encamped.' — Hew.        33.  Wander,  '  feed'  or  '  graze,'  as  sheep 
 
 in  the  deserts,  or  as  Arabian  shepherds,  who  removed  from  place  to 
 place  to  find  pasture  for  their  flocks.— /■«(.  Bear  your  whoredoms— 
 the  punishment  of  your  idolatries.— G'V;.  34.  My  breach,  'n«l:n. 
 
 •  my  breach'  or  •  disappointment.'  — Heic.  '  The  fury  of  my  anger," 
 Sept.  •  My  indignation.'  — Boo(Ar.  •  My  disannulling.'  Whether, 
 having  pronounced  sentence,  he  would  disannul  it,  or,  while  his  pro- 
 mises stood  firm  to  the  obedient,  the  disobedient  had  no  benefit  in 
 \\\em.— Scott.  Dr.  C/mAe  thinks  similarly,  that  the  words  signify,  that, 
 having  violated  their  engagements,  God  was  no  longer  bound  by  his; 
 and  Hnuiigant  has  a  like  construction  of  the  words,  '  Ye  shall  know 
 that  I  have  broken  covenant  with  you.'  Geddes  reads,  *  and  shall  ex- 
 perience my  aversion.'  Lather,  *  my  provocation.'  Montanus,  *  my 
 frustration.'  Prude  has,  *  your  breaking  off  from  me,'  (sec  Gen.  1  4  ■ 
 Isa.  liii.  11,  and  Ivi.  7,)  or  'my  breaking  off  or  departing  from  you.' 
 
 REri.inlONS   on   Chap.   XIV I.    We  see.  here  that  this  pe- 
 n-ration of  Israelites  were  so  imtmed  with  a  spirit  of  unftelief,  titat 
 ttiey  could  not  brook  tlie  difficulties  in  the  waij  to  Canaan.      Too 
 163 
 
 apt  prototypes  of  numbers  of  Christian  professors,  wbo,  over- 
 come hy  sense,  prefer  the  present  seeming  good,  though  tln-y 
 have  often  found  it  mixed  with  evil,  rather  than  exercise  iuitb 
 
Tkt  law  uf  the  meat  offering. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XV. 
 
 The  laiv  of  the  heave  offering. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 4  Tlielawofthe  vieat  offering  and  the  ilrhik  tiff'triiig. 
 13.29  T/te  stranger  is  undtr  tht  same  l-tw.  17  T/ie 
 linr  of  the  first  of  the  dough  fur  an  heave  offiring. 
 'I'i  The  sacrifice  for  sin  of  linorunce,  80  Tlie  pu- 
 uisiiment  of  presumption.  32  He  that  violated  ttie 
 sabbath  is  stoned.      37     Th^  law  of  fringes. 
 
 ,\  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -'^  2  'Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  anil 
 say   unto   them,    Wlien  ye  be  come  into   the 
 land  of  your  habitations,   which    I  give   unto 
 you, 
 
 0  And  ''  will  make  an  offering  by  fire  unto  the 
 Lord,  a  burnt  oft'ering,  or  a  sacrifice  ""  in  f  per- 
 forming a  vow,  or  in  a  freewill  ottering,  or  ''in 
 your  solemn  feasts,  to  make  a  "  sweet  savour 
 unto  the  Lord,  of  the  herd,  or  of  the  fiock  : 
 
 4  Then  ''shall  he  that  offeretli  his  offering 
 unto  tlie  Lord  bring  *a  meat  ottering  of  a 
 tenth  deal  of  flour  mingled  "  with  the  fourth 
 part  of  an  liin  of  oil. 
 
 5  '  And  tlie  fourth  part  of  an  liin  of  wine  for 
 a  drink  offering  shalt  thou  prepare  with  the 
 burnt  offering  or  sacrifice,  for  one  lamb. 
 
 6  •■  Or  for  a  ram,  tliou  sbalt  prepare  for  a 
 meat  offering  two  tenth  deals  of  flour  mingled 
 w  ith  tlie  third  part  of  an  hin  of  oil. 
 
 7  And  for  a  drink  otTering  thou  slialt  oft'er  the 
 third  part  of  an  hin  of  wine.fy;'  a  sweet  savour 
 unto  the  Lord. 
 
 8  And  when  thou  preparest  a  bullock  for  a 
 burnt  offering,  or  for  a  sacrifice  in  performing 
 a  vow,  or  '  peace  offerings  unto  tlie  Lord  : 
 
 9  Then  shall  he  bring  '"  with  a  bnllock  a  meat 
 offering  of  tlnee  tenth  deals  of  flour  mingled 
 with  half  an  bin  of  oil. 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  bring  for  a  drink  offering 
 half  an  bin  of  wine,  for  an  offering  made  by 
 fire,  "of  a  sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 11  °  Thus  shall  it  be  done  for  one  bullock,  or 
 for  one  ram,  or  for  a  lamb,  or  a  kid. 
 
 12  According  to  the  number  that  ye  shall 
 prepare,  so  shall  ye  do  to  every  one  according 
 to  their  number. 
 
 13  All  that  are  born  of  the  country  shall  do 
 these  things  after  this  niamier,  in  offering  an 
 offering  made  by  tire,  of  a  sweet  savour  unto 
 the  Lord. 
 
 14  And  if  a  stranger  sojourn  with  you,  or 
 whosoever  be  among  you  in  your  generations, 
 and  will  offer  an  offering  made  by  fire,  of  a 
 sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord  ;  as  ye  do,  so  he 
 shall  do. 
 
 15  '' One  ordinance  shall  be  both  for  you  of 
 the  congregation,  and  also  for  the  stranger  that 
 sojourneth  with  yon,  an  ordinance  for  ever  in 
 
 (  ver,  18 
 r,ev.2.S-  10- 
 Dout.  7.  1. 
 
 6  Lev.  1.2,3. 
 
 c  Lev.  "■  I' 
 
 &2-i.  18,-; 
 \  Heb.  vya- 
 
 nliug. 
 
 Lev.  27.  2. 
 d  Lev  23. I 
 
 \%  36.  ch. 
 
 28.  19,  27. 
 
 &  29.  2,  8, 
 
 IS. 
 
 /I.fv.  2.  I. 
 
 &  li.  U 
 ^  Ex.29. 10 
 
 Lev.  23.  IS. 
 A  Lev.  14.  10. 
 
 cl..  23  i- 
 icli.28. -,14 
 t  ch   28.  12. 
 
 H. 
 
 M  Ecclus  &0. 
 IT). 
 
 o  ch.  29. 
 
 Lev.  9    !4, 
 Ki23.  10,  16. 
 
 £  Dev.  4. 13. 
 1  Heb.  frmn 
 
 Ij  Or,  ordi- 
 
 none*. 
 z  Sec  Lev,  4. 
 
 23.  ch   28. 
 
 I.^  Kzra6 
 
 17    &  8.  .35. 
 d  Lev.  4.  20. 
 
 fl  Lev.  4    27, 
 28. 
 
 .1  vcr.  I.^. 
 t  Heb.  *.//.. 
 «  Dcu.  17-  12. 
 
 Pb    10.  13. 
 
 Hch    10. --6. 
 
 I  Pet.  2.  10. 
 \  Heb    Fpi/ft 
 
 on  h  lyh 
 
 hitnd. 
 
 your   generations :    as    ye    are,   so   shall    the 
 stranger  be  before  the  Lord. 
 
 16  One  law  and  one  manner  shall  be  for  you, 
 and  for  the  stranger  that  sojourneth  with  you. 
 
 17  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 18  ''Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 say  unto  them.  When  ye  come  into  the  land 
 whither  I  bring  you, 
 
 19  Then  it  shall  be,  that,  when  ye  eat  of 'the 
 bread  of  tlie  land,  ye  shall  offer  up  an  heave 
 offering  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 :20  '  Ye  shall  offer  up  a  cake  of  the  first  of 
 your  dough  for  an  heave  ott'ering  :  as  ije  do 
 '  the  heave  offering  of  the  threshingfloor,  so 
 shall  ye  heave  it. 
 
 21  Of  the  first  of  your  dough  ye  shall  give 
 niito  the  Lord  an  heave  offering  iii  your  gene- 
 rations. 
 
 22  1  And  "  if  ye  have  erred,  and  not  observed 
 all  these  conimandment.s,  whicli  tlie  Lord  hath 
 spoken  unto  Mose.s, 
 
 23  Even  all  that  the  LqRD  hath  commanded 
 you  by  the  band  of  Moses,  from  the  day  that 
 the  Lord  commanded  Mosei.,  and  hencefor- 
 ward among  your  generations  ; 
 
 24  Then  it  shall  be,  "  if  ouifit  be  committed 
 by  ignorance  f  withomt  the  knowledge  of  the 
 congregation,  that  all  the  congregation  shall 
 offer  one  young  bullock  for  a  burnt  offering, 
 for  a  sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord,  'with  his 
 meat  offering,  and  bis  drink  offering,  according 
 to  the  II  manner,  and  '  one  kid  of  the  goats  for 
 a  sin  offering. 
 
 25  "  And  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement 
 for  all  the  congregation  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
 and  it  shall  be  forgiven  them  ;  for  it  is  igno- 
 rance :  and  they  shall  bring  their  offering,  a  sa- 
 crifice made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord,  and  their  sin 
 offering  before  tlie  Lord,  for  their  ignorance: 
 
 26  And  it  shall  be  fof^iven  all  the  congrega- 
 tion of  the  chihlren  of  Israel,  and  the  stranger 
 that  sojourneth  among  them  ;  seeing  all  the 
 people  were  in  ignorance. 
 
 27  II  And  ''if  any  sonl  sin  through  ignorance, 
 then  he  shall  bring  a  she  goat  of  the  first  year 
 for  a  sin  offering. 
 
 28  °  And  the  priest  shall  make  an  atonement 
 for  the  soul  that  sinueth  ignorantly,  when  he 
 sinuctli  by  ignorance  before  the  Lord,  to  make 
 an  atoneiueut  for  him  ;  and  it  shall  be  for- 
 given him. 
 
 29  ''  Ye  shall  have  one  law  for  him  that  f  sin- 
 neth  through  ignorance,  both  for  him  that  is 
 born  among  the  children  of  Israel,  and  for  the 
 stranger  that  sojourneth  among  them. 
 
 30  il '  But  the  soul  that  doeth  ought  f  pi'e- 
 
 CnAP.  XV.  — 30.  Pre'iumptuou!;}y,  refers  to  .Tggravatcd  siii^, — bias-  I  denotes  a  certain  mnnner  of  sinning,  whatever  tlie  sin  may  he,  in  de- 
 pheming  God's  name,  desijising  his  worshiji,  &c. — Biwthr.     Kather  it  j  siiite  of  God's  command,  and  in  contempt  of  his  Divine  auti  ority. — 
 
 and  patience,  and  *  fiubt  the  good  fight  of  faith,'  that  they  may 
 •lav  hold  on  eternal  lite,'  and  '  inherit  the  promises.' 
 
 II.  l{'e  have  noble  examples  of  genuine  Inlievers  in  Joshua  and 
 Caleb,  whose  reliance  on  Goit's  promises  overcame  alt  thi  ir  fears. 
 They  courageously  faced  their  brethren,  and  resisted  and  con- 
 futed their  arguments.  There  is  no  arguing  a  true  believer 
 out  of  what  he  has  seen  by  faith,  and  there  is  no  deterring  him 
 from  pressing  onward  towards  his  rest.  In  proportion  as  his 
 faith  is  in  exercise  will  be  "nis  ardour  for  the  heavenly  state, 
 and  his  soul,  like  the  well-filled  sails  of  a  vessel  spread  to  llie 
 wind,  must  press  onward  towards  the  desired  haven.  O  th:  t 
 there  wire  in  us  more  of  the  spirit  of  Caleb,  who  thus  followi  d 
 the  Lord  fullg  ' 
 
 III.  Nothing  but  unbelief  shuts  men  out  of  heaven,  'i'his  was 
 the  fruitful  source  of  all  the  murmurings,  rebellions,  and  dis- 
 obedience of  the  Israelites.  This  now  excluded  tlieni  from 
 the  promised  land.    '  St.  Paul,'  as  W  ilson,  the  enunenllv  pious 
 
 Bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man,  observes.  '  makes  use  of  this  pas- 
 sage as  an  argument  to  persuade  Christians  to  believe,  and 
 put  their  trust  in  God,  lest  tiiey  come  short  of  heaven  ior 
 «'ant  of  faitb,  as  these  people  did  of  the  land  o(  Canaan,  wiiich 
 was  a  type  of  heaven.'  Let  us  therefore  take  heed  lest  there 
 be  in  any  of  us  '  an  evil  heart  of  unbebef  in  departing  from  the 
 living  God.'  '  For  we  are  made  partakers  of  Christ,  if  we  hold 
 the  beginning  of  our  confidence  steadfast  unto  the  end.  Wiiile 
 it  is  said,  To-day,  if  ye  will  bear  his  voice,  harden  not  voir 
 hearts,  as  in  the  provocation.  For  some,  when  tliey  h(fd  heard, 
 did  provoke ;  howbeit.  not  all  that  came  out  of  Egypt  by  IMoses. 
 But  with  whom  was  he  giieved  forty  years?  was  it  not  with 
 them  tliat  liad  sinned,  whose  carcases  fell  in  the  Wilderness? 
 And  to  whom  sware  he  that  they  should  not  enter  into  his 
 rest,  but  to  them  that  believefl  not '.  So  we  see  that  they 
 coukl  not  enter  in  because  of  unbelief.* 
 
The  law  of  fringes. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XVI. 
 
 The  rebellion  of  Koritli,  §•»;. 
 
 sumptuously,  whether  he  be  born  in  the   land, 
 or  a  stranger,  the  same  reproacbeth  the  Lord 
 and  that  soul  shall  be  cut  oft'  from  among  his 
 people. 
 
 31  Because  he  hath  ''despised  the  word  of  the 
 Lord,  and  bath  broken  bis  commandment,  that 
 soul  shall  utterly  be  cut  oif ;  ^  his  iniquity  shall 
 be  upon  him. 
 
 32  t  And  wliile  the  children  of  Israel  were 
 in  the  wilderness,  ''  they  found  a  man  tliat  ga- 
 thered sticks  upon  the  sabbatli  day. 
 
 33  And  they  that  found  him  gatheiing  sticks 
 brought  him  unto  Moses  and  Aaron,  and  unto 
 all  the  congregation. 
 
 34  And  they  put  him  '  in  ward,  because  it 
 was  not  declared  what  should  be  done  to  him. 
 
 35  And  the  Loud  said  unto  Moses,  '  The 
 man  shall  be  surely  put  to  death  :  all  the  con- 
 gregation shall  '  stone  him  vvitli  stones  without 
 the  camp. 
 
 36  And  all  the  congregation  brought  him 
 without  the  camp,  and  stoned  him  with  stones, 
 and  he  died;  as  the  Loud  conmianded  Moses. 
 
 87  II  And  the  Loud  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 38  Speak  unto  the  ciiildren  of  Israel,  and  bid 
 "'  them  that  tliey  make  them  fringes  in  the 
 borders  of  tlieir  garments  throughout  their  ge- 
 nerations, and  tliat  they  put  upon  the  fringe  of 
 the  borders  a  ribband  of  blue  : 
 
 39  And  it  sliall  be  unto  yon  for  a  fringe,  that 
 ye  may  look  upon  it,  and  remember  all  the 
 commandments  of  tlie  Lord,  and  do  them  ; 
 and  that  ye  "  seek  not  after  your  own  heart 
 and  your  own  eyes,  after  which  ye  use  °  to  go 
 a  whoring  : 
 
 40  That  ye  may  remember,  and  do  all  my 
 commandments,  and  be  '' holy  unto  your  God. 
 
 41  I  am  the  Lord  your  God,  which  brouglit 
 you  out  of  tlie  land  of  Egypt,  to  be  your  God : 
 I  aj)i  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 I  The  rehellion  of  Korah^  Dathan^  and  Ahiram.  23 
 Moses  stparattfth  the  people  fnnii  the  rehtls'  tents- 
 31  Thv  earth  swnllowtth  up  Knrah,  and  a  Jire  con- 
 sttmtth  oth  rs.  ',^G  The  ccns  rs  are  rescrvrd  to  holy 
 «ve.  41  Fonrtveu  thousand  and  seven  hundred  an 
 sluia  hij  a  pl<iyue  for  imirmuriny  ayainst  Moses  and 
 Aaron.      46  Aaron  by  incense  staytth  the  playui. 
 
 /"J  Sam.  12. 
 '  0,  Piov,  13. 
 
 13. 
 g  Lev   5.  1. 
 
 Kze.  Ih.  iO. 
 
 A  E.\    31.   N. 
 15,  &  35.  % 
 
 lX.Qv.'2i.  12, 
 
 A  Ky  31  14, 
 15. 
 
 (  Lev.  2»  M 
 I  Kill -21. 1-1 
 Acts  7.  ;iS. 
 
 n  gee  Deut. 
 
 99    19. 
 
 .fob  31.  7 
 
 Jet-   9.   14. 
 
 Kzek.  6.  9 
 <>  Ps   7:J.  -37. 
 
 fi   10t>,  39. 
 
 J,im,  '1  4. 
 ;.  Lev.  11.44, 
 
 45    Knnv 
 
 la.l.  Col.  1. 
 
 2-i.  I  Pet.  L 
 
 lo,  10. 
 
 27.  ^. 
 Ecclus.  . 
 13   JiiJe 
 
 t  Heb.  It  is 
 m  iic'i  fur 
 
 d  V,K.  19.  f. 
 e  V\.  29.  i,--). 
 
 cli.   14    14. 
 
 &  3:>.  34. 
 
 /cli.  14.5. 
 &  -iO.  G. 
 
 i  ver  .S. 
 Lev   21  6,7, 
 
 B,  \■^,  15. 
 
 I  Ex.  -19.  I. 
 ch  17.  5. 
 1  Sam. 2  as. 
 Pa.  lO'i.  26. 
 Cli  .3.  111. 
 Lev.  111.  3. 
 fcVl.  17.  IH 
 Eze.  4n  46 
 &4-L15,  lij 
 
 k  1  Sam.  18. 
 23.  In.  7. 18. 
 
 /cli.  3.41, 
 45  &8.  14 
 Deu.  lu.  8. 
 
 TV  OW  "  Korali,  tlie  son  of  Izhar,  tlie  son  of 
 -^^  Kohatii,  the  son  of  Levi,  and  Datiian  and 
 Abirain,  tlie  sons  of  Eiiab,  and  On,  the  son  of 
 Peleth,  sons  of  Reuben,  took  men: 
 
 2  And  tliey  rose  up  before  Moses,  with  cer- 
 tain of  the  children  of  Israel,  two  hundred  and 
 fifty  princes  of  the  assembly,  ''  famons  in  the 
 congregation,  men  of  renown  : 
 
 3  And  ''they  gathered  themselves  together 
 against  Moses  and  against  Aaron,  and  syid 
 unto  them,  f  Ye  take  too  much  upon  you,  see- 
 ing '^  all  tiie  congregation  are  holj'',  every  one 
 of  them,  ''and  the  Lord  is  among  them: 
 wherefore  then  lift  ye  up  yourselves  above  tlie 
 congregation  of  the  LoRDr* 
 
 4  And  when  Moses  heard  it,  '  he  fell  upon 
 his  face  : 
 
 5  And  he  spake  unto  Korah  and  unto  all  his 
 company,  saying,  Even  to  monow  the  Lord 
 will  shew  who  are  his,  and  who  is  ^holy  ;  and 
 will  cause  Jiim  to  come  near  unto  him  :  even 
 him  whom  he  hath  ''  chosen  will  he  cause  to 
 '  come  near  unto  him. 
 
 6  This  do  ;  Take  you  censers,  Korah,  and 
 all  his  company  ; 
 
 7  And  put  fire  therein,  and  put  incense  in 
 them  before  the  Lord  to  morrow  :  and  it  shall 
 be  that  the  man  whom  the  Lord  doth  choose, 
 he  shall  be  holy:  yc  take  too  much  upon  you, 
 ye  sons  of  Levi. 
 
 8  And  Moses  said  unto  Korah,  Hear,  I  pray 
 you,  ye  sons  of  Levi : 
 
 9  Seejiteth  it  but  '' a  small  thing  unto  you. 
 that  the  God  of  Israel  hath  '  separated  you 
 from  the  congregation  of  Israel,  to  bring  you 
 near  to  himself  to  do  the  service  of  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  Lord,  and  to  stand  before  the 
 congregation  to  minister  unto  them  ? 
 
 10  And  he  hath  brought  thee  near  to  him. 
 and  all  thy  brethren  tlie  sons  of  Levi  with 
 thee  :   and  seek  ye  the  priesthood  also  ? 
 
 1 1  For  which  cause  both  tliou  and  all  thy 
 company  are  gathered  together  against  the 
 Lord  :  "'  and  what  is  Aaron,  that  ye  murmur 
 against  him  ? 
 
 1-2  t  And  Moses  sent  to  call  Dathan  and 
 Ahiram,  the  sons  of  Eliab :  which  said.  We 
 will  not  come  up  : 
 
 Pat.  Prnbably  implied  an  utter  contempt,  spnnpin^  fruni  an  idolntrous 
 and  atheistical  mind. — A.  Clarke.  34.  Not  declared  what  should  fie 
 dune—Ue  was  tn  die,  but  Uie  sort  of  death  was  not  named,  {Exod.xxxi. 
 15,  and  XXXV.  2.)  Some  tlunk  the  doubt  was,  whether  feathering  sticks 
 was  a  breach  uf  the  sabbath. — Gill.  3S.  Fringes— the  original  term 
 here  signifies  '  flowers,'  and  that  nsrd  in  Deut.  xxii.  !2,  *  cones,'  whence 
 they  were  in  the  firm  of  conirnt  finwers. — So  Pur.  Fringes  denote  an 
 ornament  resembling  a  flower,  which  bemg  added  to  the  bottom  of  the 
 skirts  of  the  outward  garment,  and  tied  together  in  each  division  of  it 
 by  a  ribband  ur  lace  oi  a  blue  colour,  plucifd  upun  the  frini-es,  would 
 render  the  vvea.rer  conspicuous  amnng  strangers.  Fringe  was  there- 
 fore a  marlt  of  distinction  fnr  Isra-lites,  and  a  remembrancer  to  keep 
 God's  commandments,  fsee  next  verse.) — Scott.  Ihcie  is  no  analogy 
 between  a  lrini;e  and  a  piecept,  but  the  appointment  made  it  a  remem- 
 brancer.— So  Green/. 
 
 Chap.  XVI.—  l.  Knrah,  the  son  of  Izhar—lzhdir,  Korah's  father,  was 
 
 the  second  son  of  Kohath  ;  and  Amram,  Moses  and  Aaron's  father, 
 was  Kohath's  eldest  son  ;  hence  Korah,  and  Moses,  and  Aamn,  were 
 cousins.— P«(.  Took  men— Dr.  A.  Clarke  remarks  to  the  following- 
 purport: — '  Men' is  not  in  the  original;  rrp^T  is  in  the  singnlar,  and 
 therefore  cannot  have  reference  to  Korah,  Dathan,  &c.,  which  would 
 require  the  plural.  The  rebellion  ought,  on  this  account,  to  be  attri- 
 buted to  Korah.  (see  cliap.  xxvii.  3,  and  Jude,  1 1.)  Patrick  interprets 
 the  passage,  '  Korah  took  b"th  Dathan  and  Abiram,  Sic,  that  i=;,  drew 
 tlicm  into  conspiracy  with  him.  Bout hroi/d  rendeTi>  took,  'conspired,' 
 leaning  to  Bp.  Newcome''s  reading,  CfT'.  3^  1'**  t<ike,  ^c— this  waa 
 assailing  both  the  piictthood  and  the  civil  authority. — Srott.  All  ttit 
 congregation  are  holy,  i.e.,  virtually,  'every  man  is  qualified  to  he  his 
 own  priest. '~B/;.  i/"o/-»f.  5.  Are  Ats  — chosen  to  minister  in  holy- 
 
 things.— A'ldrfer.  6.  Take  ye  censers—'  since  ye  will  be  priests,  take 
 ye  censers,  and  act  as  priests  at  your  peril.'— Pcn/f.  "•  i'"?  sons  of 
 Levi— of  which  tribe  Korah  was.  — Gi//.  12.  To  cult  Dathan  and 
 
 RiFLFrTiONS  ON  Chap.  XV.  —  1.  God  is  a  Being  of  infinite 
 ntfrcy,  and  we  havr  an  instance  of  it  in  the  provision  here  made  for 
 sins  of  ignorance.  Infidels  declaim  against  the  God  of  tlie  Bible. 
 Why,  bis  mercy  is  exhibited  in  every  page!  What  hurann 
 laws  allow  even  of  atonement  for  sins  of  ignorance  ?  but  here 
 an  atonement  is  provided,  and  '  the  soul  that  sinneth  igno- 
 ranily,'  *  it  shall  he  t'on;iven  him.'  But  we  must  remember, 
 tiiis  act  of  atonement  pointed  further:  '  Sins  committed  igno- 
 rantly,'  says  Henry,  '  shall  be  forgiven  through  Christ,  the 
 great  Sacrifice  ;  who.  when  he  offered  up  bimselt,  once  'or  all, 
 upon  the  cross,  seemed  to  explain  the  intention  of  I  is  offering 
 in  that  prayer,  *'  Father,  forgive  them,  foi  they  know  not  what 
 thev  do."  ' 
 
 163 
 
 II.  There  is  a  boundary,  beyond  which,  however,  thr  mirvy  of 
 God  does  not  extend.  The  presumptuous  sinner  had  no  re- 
 medy. He  was  cut  otf.  The  sabbath-breaker  was  stoned  lo 
 death.  What  would  have  been  the  fate  of  half  of  our  popula- 
 tion had  they  lived  under  the  law  of  Moses?  But  still  the 
 law  for  observing  the  sabbath  is.  as  a  part  of  God's  moral  pre- 
 cepts, binding,  and  will  ever  remain  &o.  For  this,  and  all 
 other  presumptuous  sins,  may  the  gracious  Lord  lead  the 
 transgressors  to  the  foot  of  the  cross  ere  it  be  too  late  !  For, 
 in  the  plenitude  of  gospel  grace,  '  nil  manner  of  sin  shall  be 
 fiirgiven,'  save  the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  hardens 
 the  heart  against  all  Divine  influences,  and  shuts  it  up  against 
 the  admission  of  repentance  and  faith. 
 
The  people  separated  from  the  rebels. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XVI. 
 
 The  earth  swalloiveth  up  Korah. 
 
 13  "Is  it  a  small  thing  that  thou  hast  brougljt 
 us  up  out  of  a  land  that  flowetli  with  milk  and 
 honey,  to  l^ili  us  in  tlie  wilderness,  except  thou 
 °  mal<e  thyself  altogether  a  prince  over  us? 
 
 14  Moreover  tliou  hast  not  bronglit  us  into 
 ^  a  land  that  floweth  with  milk  and  honey,  or 
 ftiven  us  inheritance  of  fields  and  vineyards: 
 wilt  thou  t  put  out  the  eyes  of  these  men?  we 
 will  not  come  up. 
 
 15  And  Moses  was  very  wroth,  and  said  unto 
 the  Loud,  ''  Respect  not  thou  their  offering  : 
 '  I  have  not  taken  one  ass  from  them,  neither 
 have  I  hurt  one  of  them. 
 
 16  And  Moses  said  unto  Korah,  'Be  thou 
 and  nil  thy  company  '  before  the  Lord,  thou, 
 and  they,  and  Aaron,  to  morrow  : 
 
 17  And  take  every  man  his  censer,  and  put 
 incense  in  them,  and  bring  ye  before  the  Lord 
 every  man  his  censer,  two  hundred  and  fifty 
 censers  ;  thou  also,  and  Aaron,  each  of  you 
 his  censer. 
 
 18  And  they  took  every  man  his  censer,  and 
 put  fire  in  them,  and  laid  incense  thereon,  and 
 stood  in  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation with  Moses  and  Aaron. 
 
 19  And  Korah  gathered  all  the  congregation 
 against  them  unto  the  door  of  the  tabernacle 
 of  the  congregation  :  and  "  the  glory  of  the 
 Lord  appeared  unto  all  the  congregation. 
 
 20  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
 unto  Aaron,  saying, 
 
 •21  'Separate  yourselves  from  among  this 
 congregation,  that  I  may  ''  consume  them  in  a 
 moment. 
 
 22  And  they  '  fell  upon  their  faces,  and  said, 
 O  God,  'the  God  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh, 
 shall  one  man  sin,  and  wilt  thou  be  wroth  with 
 all  the  congregation  ? 
 
 '23  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  say- 
 ing, 
 
 '24  Speak  unto  the  congregation,  saying.  Get 
 you  up  from  about  the  tabernacle  of  Korah, 
 Dathan,  and  Abiram. 
 
 25  A]id  Moses  rose  up  and  went  unto  Dathan 
 and  Abiram  ;  and  the  elders  of  Israel  followed 
 him. 
 
 '26  And  he  spake  unto  the  congregation,  say- 
 ing, '■  Depart,  I  pray  you,  from  the  tents  of 
 these  wicked  men,  and  touch  nothing  of  their's, 
 lest  ye  be  consumed  in  all  their  sins. 
 
 27  So  they  gat  up  from  the  tabernacle  of  Ko- 
 rah, Dathan,  and  Abiram,  on  every  side  :  and 
 Dathan  and   Abiram  came  out,  and  stood  in 
 
 B.  c 
 
 Cir.  1471. 
 
 .  K«.  9.  M. 
 Acts  7,  ?7, 
 
 7  Gtn-  4  4,5. 
 
 r  I  Sam.  19.3. 
 Arts  ?H  aa. 
 
 /  I  Sam.  12. 
 3,7. 
 
 i  ver   42 
 
 Kx.  16  7.111. 
 Lev  9  fi.2a 
 cli.  11.  10. 
 
 X  ver.  45. 
 
 See  Geo.19. 
 
 17,  22, 
 
 Jrr  fil.C. 
 
 Acll  2. 10. 
 
 Rev.  18.  4. 
 ,/  vci*.  45. 
 ■  Kx.  32    10. 
 
 &  33.  5. 
 t  vor.  Vi 
 
 ch.  14.  5. 
 n  rh.  27.  Ifl. 
 
 Job  12    10 
 
 Kcrl<M.I2.7. 
 
 In.  57.  16. 
 
 Zei-1>.  12   1 
 
 Hob.  12.9. 
 
 A  R«i,  10  12, 
 14. K52.il. 
 gCor.e.  17. 
 Ber.  18.  4. 
 
 Kx. 
 
 3.  12. 
 18.22. 
 
 Zech.  3.  9, 
 
 10.  ^  4  9. 
 
 John  5.  36 
 rf  ch.  21-  13. 
 
 Jer.2S.  16. 
 
 Eie.  13.  17. 
 
 John  5.  30 
 
 &  6  :s. 
 t  Heb.  ^t 
 
 everi]  man 
 
 ^  Ex  20.5.1k 
 32.  Al.  Job 
 35.15.  Is- ID 
 3.  Jer.  5  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  cfeale 
 
 Is.  4-'>.  7.' 
 /Job  31.  3. 
 
 U.  28.  21. 
 y  ver.  33. 
 
 Pb.  55.  15. 
 
 A  eh.  56.  10. 
 k  27.  3. 
 Dcu.  11.6 
 rs.  106.  17. 
 
 m  Pee  Lev. 
 
 27  28. 
 „  Pro.  20   2 
 
 Hab.  2.  10. 
 
 'f\\.  17   10 
 &  26.  10 
 Kzek. 11. S 
 
 the  door  of  their  tents,  and  their  wives,  and 
 their  son.s,  and  their  little  children. 
 '28  And  Moses  said,  '  Hereby  ye  shall  know 
 that  the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to  do  all  these 
 works ;  for  I  have  not  done  them  ''of  mine  own 
 mind. 
 
 29  If  these  men  die  f  tlie  connnon  death  of 
 all  men,  or  if  they  be  °  visited  alter  the  visita- 
 tion of  all  men  ;  then  tlie  Lord  hath  nut  sent 
 me. 
 
 30  But  if  the  Lord  f  make  '  a  new  thing,  and 
 the  earth  open  her  mouth,  and  swallow  them 
 up,  with  all  that  ajipertuui  unto  them,  and  they 
 ^  go  down  quick  into  the  pit ;  then  ye  shall 
 understand  that  these  men  have  provoked  the 
 Lord. 
 
 31  f  ''  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  had  made 
 an  end  of  speaking  all  these  words,  that  the 
 ground  clave  asunder  that  uas  under  them  : 
 
 32  And  the  earth  opened  her  mouth,  and 
 swallowed  them  up,  and  their  houses,  and  '  all 
 the  men  that  appertuintd  unto  Korah,  and  all 
 their  goods. 
 
 33  They,  and  all  that  appertained  to  them, 
 went  down  alive  into  the  pit,  and  the  earth 
 closed  upon  them  :  and  they  perished  from 
 among  the  congregation. 
 
 34  And  all  Israel  that  ivrre  round  about  them 
 fled  at  the  cry  of  them :  for  they  said.  Lest  the 
 earth  swallow  us  up  also. 
 
 35  And  there  'came  out  a  fire  from  the 
 Lord,  and  consumed  '  the  two  hundred  and 
 fifty  men  that  offered  incense. 
 
 36  1  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  say- 
 
 i'lg. 
 
 37  Speak  unto  Eleazar  the  son  of  Aaron  the 
 priest,  that  he  take  up  the  censers  out  of  the 
 burning,  and  scatter  thou  the  fire  yonder ;  for 
 "■  they  are  hallowed. 
 
 38  The  censers  of  these  "sinners  against  their 
 own  souls,  let  them  make  them  broad  plates 
 for  a  covering  of  the  altar:  for  tliey  offered 
 them  before  the  Loud,  therefore  they  are  hal- 
 lowed :  °  and  they  shall  be  a  sign  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 39  And  Eleazar  the  priest  took  the  braseu 
 censers,  wherewith  they  that  were  burnt  had 
 offered  ;  and  they  were  made  broad  plates  for 
 a  covering  of  the  altar : 
 
 40  To  be  a  memorial  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel,  ■"  that  no  stranger,  which  /»■  not  of  the 
 seed  of  Aaron,  come  near  to  offer  incense  be- 
 fore the  Lord  :  that  he  be  not  as  Korah,  and 
 
 Ahii-nm.  to  the  court  of  judgment.  UV  u'ill  not  come  up— Ihey  denied 
 Mose>'  authority. — Pitt.  13.  .i  land  thnt  fioweth.  fyc. — though  Efrypt 
 was  a  plentiful  country, it  ncvermentcd  tliis  epithet. — Gill.  It  was  to 
 them  a  place  of  intolerable  slavery. — Poole.  14.  Put  out,  "ip3ri,  '  wilt 
 thou  di^  out?'  so  the  Hebrew  root  ip3  signifies.  H'tV/iu»j.s  and  others 
 undei^tand  this  metaphoiically,  'wiit  th"U  blitid  these  men  by  thine 
 artful  pretensions  ?'  But  may  it  not  allude  to  the  eastern  punishment  of 
 puttiug  out  the  eyes  f  t  rebellion,  as  in  the  case  of  Zedekiah  ?  (2  Kinp-s, 
 xxiv.  20 ;  XXV.  7.)  Though  this  is  sometimes  done  by  drawing  a  hot 
 iron  before  them,  thej-  are  also  sometimes  dug  or  scooped  out. — Ed. 
 15.  Tlieir  offering — the  offering  nf  incense — Scott.  One  «.%,? — such  a.s 
 grindees  and  emperors  accepted  as  presents. — Htr.  \6.  Before  the 
 
 Lord — in  the  court  of  the  taiiernacle,  where,  by  an  extraordinai')'  com- 
 missinn  from  the  Diiine  M^esty,  this  trial  was  to  be  made.— /*«/. 
 This  was  not  exactly  regular,  but  the  sanctuary  could  not  have  con- 
 tained the  company.— Sro?(.  \y.  Erery  mitn  his  cfn-ser- some  thinlt 
 that  so  large  a  ntimber  of  censers  mii-^t  have  been  obtained  among  the 
 precinus  vessels  of  the  Egyptians,— s„„,.i„  :  or  they  might  have  been 
 used  in  the  several  families  bcfnre  the  onier  of  priisthiod  was  set  up  in 
 Aaron's  family.— GiH.  18.  Put  fire,  from  the  altar  of  burnt  offering 
 in  the  court,  (Lev.  i.  5.)— Pu/.  ig.  Korah  gathered  all  the  congrega- 
 tion, •  all  /ii.!  congregation,'  Sept. ;  i.  e.,  '  ail  the  men  of  his  faction.' 
 —Pat.  Tlie  glory  of  the  Lord  appeared— \he  same  glory  that  appeared 
 to  iiistal  Aaron  in  his  office  at  first,  (Lev.  ix.  23,)  now  appeared  to  con- 
 166 
 
 firm  him  in  \\.—lIen.  'Jl.  Thi.i  am^regntion — K'^rah  and  his  com- 
 pany. — Pttt.  The  conpregatioD  of  Israel  whom  Korah  had  got  together, 
 besides  the  two  hundred  and  fiity  men  that  were  at  first  with  him. — 
 Gill.  24.  The  tubernacle—thXs  is  in  the  singular,  but  includes  all  the 
 tents  nf  thc^e  mt*n.  (ver.  26 ;)  or,  perhaps,  they  had  set  up  one  great 
 tabernacle,  to  v  hich  many  resorted,  it  being  tlie  gerlcral  rendezvous  of 
 all  Ihe  party. — Put.  30.  Make  a  Jiew  thing,  K13^  HN'"!!.  '  creattonem 
 crenverit,  '  should  create  a  rreation.' — Png.,  Mn?tf.  What  never  was 
 brfore. —  GUI.  The  pit,  n'^l^tJ.  '  a  cha'.m,'  or  *  pit  nf"  the  earth,'  for 
 their  houses  and  innocent  infants  went  not  to  hell.  —  So  ..4.  Clarke. 
 3'2.  Swallowed  them  up — this  was  not  in  Sicily,  not  in  Italy,  not  in  a 
 country  nndermtned  by  subterranran  fires,  but  in  the  san<ly  desert  of 
 Arabia,  where  rocks  probabl^  form  the  general  under  strata,  and  sand 
 the  upper,  where  earthquakes  are  seldom  known  except  by  repnrt.  and 
 where  little  expectation  of  the  threat  being  accomplished  could  ari'>e  in 
 the  minds  of  the  hearers. — Tiijlur.  All  the  men — On  is  never  men- 
 tioned after  ver.  1 ;  perhaps  he  was  of  no  note,  or  withdrew  from  the 
 conspiracy. — Pat.  Thnt  nppertnined  unto  Korah — we  should  perhaps 
 translate  the  words,  *  the  men  that  were  with  Korah  ;'  this  includes 
 Korah  himself.  All  his  children  were  certainly  not  included.  They 
 probably  yielded  to  the  exhortation  of  Moses ;  we  find  their  genealogy 
 in  1  Chron. — bnurin.  37  Are  hallowed,  or  had  fire  from  the  altar 
 ptit  into  them,  wh»<'h  some  think  sanctified  them  -,  but  the  plain  reason 
 was,  '  because  they  offered  them  before  the  Lord,'  that  is,  they  had  been 
 
A  plaijiie  destroyetk  the  people. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XVII. 
 
 Aaron's  ro<l  Jiourisheth. 
 
 as  his  company  :  as  the  Lord  said  to  him  by 
 the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 41  t  But  on  tlie  morrow  ^  all  the  congrega- 
 tion of  the  children  of  Israel  murmured  against 
 Moses  and  against  Aaron,  saying.  Ye  have 
 killed  the  people  of  the  Lord. 
 
 42  And  it  came  to  pass,  wlien  the  congrega- 
 tion was  gathered  against  Moses  and  against 
 Aaron,  that  they  looked  toward  tlie  tabernacle 
 of  the  congregation:  and,  beliuld,  '  the  cloud 
 covered  it,  and  'the  glory  of  the  Loud  ap- 
 peared. 
 
 43  And  Moses  and  Aaron  came  before  the 
 \,3bernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 44  H  And  the  LoRDspalce  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 45  '  Get  you  up  from  among  tliis  congrega- 
 tion, that  I  may  consume  them  as  in  a  moment. 
 And  "  they  fell  upon  their  faces. 
 
 46  T  And  Moses  said  unto  Aaron,  Take  a 
 censer,  and  put  fire  therein  from  off  the  altar, 
 and  put  on  incense,  and  go  quickly  unto  the 
 congregation,  and  make  an  atonement  for 
 them  :  '  for  there  is  wrath  gone  out  from  the 
 Lord  ;  the  plague  is  begun. 
 
 47  And  Aaron  took  as  Moses  commanded, 
 and  ran  into  the  midst  of  the  congregation  ; 
 and,  behold,  the  plague  was  begun  among  tlie 
 people  :  and  he  put  on  incense,  and  made  an 
 atonement  for  the  people. 
 
 48  And  he  stood  between  the  dead  and  the 
 living  ;  and  the  plague  was  stayed. 
 
 49  Now  they  that  died  in  tlie  plague  were 
 fourteen  thousand  and  seven  hundred,  beside 
 them  that  died  about  the  matter  of  Korah. 
 
 50  And  Aaron  returned  unto  Moses  unto  the 
 door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  : 
 and  the  plague  was  stayed. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIL 
 
 1  j4arnn's  rod  amnng  all  the  rods  nfthe  tribes  only 
 fiourisheth,  10  It  is  left  for  a  monument  ayainst  the 
 rebels. 
 
 ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 2  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 
 A 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  1471. 
 
 jch.  l\   2. 
 Pb.  106.  25. 
 
 T  T^ev.lO.  6. 
 cli.  I    .W  & 
 
 e.  to.  «£  II. 
 3a.  &  18  5. 
 I  Chr   27, 
 8*.  Ps.  106. 
 29. 
 
 a  Ex.  25  22. 
 &  29.  -12.  43. 
 &  30.  3fi, 
 
 A  ch.  16.  5. 
 
 /..rone 
 
 '  Heb.  9.  4. 
 
 /ch.  16  S3. 
 
 t  Heb,  chil- 
 dren u/  re- 
 bel I  inn, 
 
 e  ver.  5. 
 
 take  of  every  one  of  them  a  rod  according  to 
 the  house  of  their  fathers,  of  all  their  princes 
 according  to  the  house  of  their  fathers  twelve 
 rods :  write  thou  every  man's  name  upon  his 
 rod. 
 
 3  And  thou  shalt  write  Aaron's  name  upon 
 the  rod  of  Levi :  for  one  rod  shall  be  for  the 
 head  of  the  house  of  their  fathers. 
 
 4  And  thou  shalt  lay  them  up  in  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregation  before  the  testimony, 
 "where  I  will  meet  with  you. 
 
 5  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  the  man's 
 rod,  ^  whom  I  shall  choose,  shall  blossom  :  and 
 I  will  make  to  cease  from  me  the  murmurings 
 of  the  ciiildren  of  Israel,  '^whereby  they  mur- 
 mur against  you. 
 
 6  t  And  Moses  spake  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel,  and  every  one  of  their  princes  gave  him 
 fa  rod  apiece,  for  each  prince  one,  according 
 to  their  fathers'  houses,  even  twelve  rods  :  and 
 the  rod  of  Aaron  teas  among  their  rods. 
 
 7  And  Moses  laid  up  the  rods  before  the 
 Lord  in  '^  the  tabernacle  of  witness. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  on  the  morrow 
 Moses  went  into  the  tabernacle  of  witness  ; 
 and,  behold,  the  rod  of  Aaron  for  the  house  6\ 
 Levi  was  budded,  and  brought  forth  buds,  and 
 bloomed  blossoms,  and  yielded  almonds. 
 
 9  And  Moses  brougiit  out  all  the  rods  from 
 before  the  Lord  unto  all  the  children  of  I.srael ; 
 and  they  looked,  and  took  every  man  his  rod. 
 
 10  %  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Bring 
 ^  Aaron's  rod  again  before  the  testimony,  to  be 
 kept '"for  a  token  against  the  f  rebels;  ^  and 
 thou  shalt  quite  take  away  their  murmurings 
 from  me,  that  they  die  not. 
 
 J 1  And  Moses  did  so :  as  the  Lord  com- 
 manded him,  so  did  he. 
 
 1-2  And  the  children  of  Israel  spake  unto 
 Moses,  saying.  Behold,  we  die,  we  perish,  we 
 all  perish. 
 
 13  ^  Whosoever  cometh  any  thing  near  unto 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord  shall  die:  shall  we 
 be  consumed  with  dying? 
 
 employed  to  a  holy  n^e  —Pat.        48.  The  plague—most  likely  a  pesti- 
 lential (iisea<;e.  cuminunicated  by  a  blast  of  air. —  H'lV. 
 
 Cbap.  XVII.— I.i4  rod,  rr^rj.  that  'staff*  er  'rod'  which  the 
 princes  carried  in  their  hands  as  tokens  of  thiir  dignity  and  authority, 
 (see  Ni:m.  xxi.  18,  compared  with  Ps.  ex,  2  :  Jer.  Ixviii.  1 6.  17-' — Poole. 
 8.  Was  budded,  ^r. — tlie  case  seems  to  be,  that  in  one  part  of  the  rod 
 were  buds,  sweHinir  and  just  putting:  out,  in  another  part  open  flowers 
 quite  blown,  and  in  others,  full  ripe  fruit ;  now  this  clearly  shewed  it 
 to  be  supernatural,  since  ihe  alracnd  tree,  though  quick  and  early  in 
 its  production  of  bnds  and  flowers,  yet  never  has  those  and  ripe  fruit 
 on  it  at  the  same  time  ;  to  which  may  be  added,  that  this  was  not  the 
 time  of  year  that  the  almond  tree  blossoms  ;  not  the  spring,  but  rather 
 autumn,  as  it  should  seem,  since  it  was  after  the  affair  of  the  spies,  and 
 
 the  murmurs  of  the  people  on  their  report.  The  desien  of  this  was,  to 
 confirm  the  priesthood  in  Aaron's  family,  and  to  slu  w  that  it  would 
 continue  there  in  a  tlourishing-  condition.  lO.   Quite  tttke  away — 
 
 quite  silence  all  the  murmuring^s  of  the  people  with  respect  to  the 
 priesthood,  being  so  fully  convinced  by  this  miracle  of  the  Divine 
 authority  Aaron  and  his  family  had  to  exercise  the  priestly  office. — 
 Gill.  12.  Behold  we  die,  ^c — Moses  having  said  that  the  rod  was 
 
 laid  up  as  a  witness  against  them,  and  that  if  tiiey  murmured  any  more 
 they  deserved  to  be  all  cut  off,  they  seem  to  bee  nvinced  of  their  guilt, 
 and  the  sense  of  these  two  verses  is,  'Some  of  us  died  before,  and  now 
 lately  more  have  perished,  and  we  are  all  in  the  same  danger;  surely 
 we  shall  never  have  done  djing  till  we  be  all  consumed.*- — Pat. 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  XVL  —  I.  IVe  see  hi-re  that  we 
 should  beware  nf  the  spirit  in  which  ive  deal  with  sacred  things* 
 We  should  beware  lest  we  approach  the  presence  of  God  in 
 an  unhallowed  manner,  '  For  God  is  greatly  to  be  feared  in  the 
 assembly  of  his  saints,  and  to  be  bad  in  reverence  of  all  thera 
 that  are  round  about  him.' 
 
 II.  fFhat  awful  judgments  has  Gnd  often  inflicttd  on  the  pro- 
 fane !  If,  in  his  reluctance  to  punish,  he  is  not  doing  it  every 
 day,  still  he  has  given  us  warning  sufficient  to  make  us  '  stand 
 in  awe  and  sin  not.'  Not  only  are  such  instances  recorded  in 
 Scripture,  but  also  in  profane  history,  and  they  occasionally 
 occur  in  the  course  of  our  own  lives.  \Vp  have  s^en  those 
 judgments  inflicted  on  the  rebellious  and  disobedient  that  have 
 constrained  us  to  exclaim,  '  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the 
 hands  of  the  living  God  !' 
 
 III.  Instead  of  munnnririrj  at  the  jndyments  of  the  Almiyhtyy  we 
 should  feel  oiirselve.t  humhltd  by  them,  and  especially  shouhl  we  lo*)k 
 to  the  great  Hhjh  Priest  to  make  intercession  for  us,  that  we  perish 
 not.  We  are  all  sinners.  Wrath  is  declared  against  such  from 
 Heaven.  Multitudes  have  perished  in  their  sins.  But  there 
 IS  One  who  interposes — *  lie  ever  liretb  to  make  intercession 
 
 Ui7 
 
 for  us.'  To  Him  let  us  direct  our  eyes;  the  much  incense  of 
 His  merits  shall  prevail,  and  we  shall  never  perish,  but  have 
 eternal  life. 
 
 RF.FLEcnoNS  ON  Chap.  XVII. — I.  Though  God  might  de^ 
 stray  the  host  of  rebels  against  his  authority^  in  a  moment,  in  his 
 patience  he  bears  with  them,  giving  s?ich  positive  evidence  of  his 
 mind  and  wUl  that  the  sinner  is  left  without  excuse.  If  we  perish 
 by  a  continuance  in  resisting  his  authority,  after  the  clearest 
 proofs  of  the  mind  of  the  Spirit,  our  blood  will  justly  be  on 
 our  own  heads. 
 
 II.  Hoio  much  has  presumption  a  tendency  to  lead  men  to  de- 
 spair !  And  truly,  in  proportion  to  the  guilt  will  be  the  suf- 
 fering of  the  soul,  either  in  this  world  or  the  next.  Happy  is 
 he  who,  though  he  has  sinned  against  God  with  a  high  hand, 
 yet  has  had  his  heart  humbled,  and  in  contrition  has  owned 
 his  sinfulness  ;  for  it  will  be  more  tolerable  at  last  for  the 
 sinners  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  than  for  those  who  have  sin- 
 ned against  the  clearest  light,  yet  have  never  had  their  hearts 
 broken  on  account  of  it,  and  sought  mercy  through  Christ  be- 
 fore itwas  too  late. 
 
The  charije  of  the  priests  and  Levites 
 
 NUMBERS,  XVIII. 
 
 The  Levites"  portion. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 ]    The  charge  of  the  pri-^sf  sand  LiTiti's.    9   T/re  priests" 
 pitrtion.      21   Ttie  i-TiV(.s'  portion.      '2b    The  heart 
 offer  inff  to  the  priests  out  of  the  Levites'  portion. 
 A  ND  the  Lord  said  unto  Aaron, '  Tlimi  and 
 -^*-  thy  sons  and  tliy  father's  house  with  thee 
 shall  i"  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  sanctuary:  and 
 tliou  and  thy  sons  with  thee  shall  bear  the  ini- 
 quity of  your  priesthood. 
 
 2  And  thy  brethren  also  of  the  tribe  of  Levi, 
 the  tribe  of  thy  father,  bring  thou  with  thee, 
 that  they  may  be  "joined  unto  thee,  and  '  mi- 
 nister unto  thee  :  but '  thou  and  thy  sous  with 
 thee  shall  minister  before  the  tabernacle  of 
 witness. 
 
 3  Andfhey  shall  keep  thy  charge,  and  '  the 
 charge  of  all  the  tabernacle  :  *  only  they  shall 
 not  come  nigh  the  vessels  of  the  sanctuary  and 
 the  altar,  ■■  that  neither  they,  nor  ye  also,  die. 
 
 4  And  they  shall  he  joined  unto  thee,  and 
 keep  the  charge  of  tlie  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation, for  all  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  : 
 '  and  a  stranger  shall  not  come  nigh  unto  you. 
 
 5  And  ye  shall  keep  ''  the  charge  of  the  sanc- 
 tuary, and  the  charge  of  the  altar :  '  that  there 
 be  no  wrath  any  more  upon  the  children  of 
 Israel. 
 
 6  And  I,  behold,  Iliave  "  taken  your  brethren 
 the  Levites  from  among  the  children  of  Israel : 
 "  to  you  they  are  given  as  a  gift  for  the  Lord, 
 to  do  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation. 
 
 7  Therefore  "thou  and  thy  sons  with  thee 
 .shall  keep  your  priest's  office  for  every  thing  of 
 the  altar,  and  ""  within  tlie  vail  ;  and  ye  shall 
 serve  :  I  have  given  your  priest's  office  vnto 
 you  as  a  service  of  gift :  and  the  stranger  that 
 Cometh  nigh  shall  be  put  to  death. 
 
 8  IT  And  the  Lord  spake  inito  ."Varnn,  Behold, 
 ''  I  also  have  given  tliee  the  cliarge  of  mine 
 heave  offerings  of  all  the  hallowed  things  of 
 the  children  of  Israel  ;  unto  thee  have  I  given 
 them  'by  reason  of  the  anointing,  and  to  thy 
 sons,  by  an  ordinance  for  ever. 
 
 9  This  shall  be  thine  of  the  most  holy  things, 
 reserved  from  the  fire  :  every  oblation  of  their".s, 
 every  'meat  offering  of  their's,  and  every  'sin 
 offering  of  their's,  and  every  "  trespass  offering 
 of  their's,  which  they  shall  render  unto  me, 
 shall  be  most  holy  for  thee  and  for  thy  sons. 
 
 10  'In  the  most  holy  place  .shalt  thou  cat 
 it;  every  male  shall  eat  it:  it  shall  be  holy 
 unto  thee. 
 
 1 1  And  this  is  thine  ;  '  the  heave  offering  of 
 their  gift,  with  all  the  wave  offerings  of  the 
 children  of  Israel :  I  have  given  them  unto 
 '  thee,  and  to  thy  sons  and  to  thy  daughters 
 with  thee,  by  a  statute  for  ever  :  '  every  one 
 that  is  clean  in  thy  house  sliall  eat  of  it. 
 
 12  ''  All  the  t  hest  of  the  oil,  and  all  the  best 
 of  the  wine,  and  of  the  wheat,  '  the  firstfruits 
 of  them  which  they  shall  offer  unto  the  Lord, 
 them  have  I  given  thee. 
 
 13  And  whatsoever  is  first  ripe  in  the  land, 
 ''which  they  .sliall  bring  unto  the  Lord,  shall 
 be  thine;    "every  one  that  is  clean  in   thine 
 
 c  Set,  Gen. 
 29.  34. 
 </  ch  H.  6.  7 
 
 reh   3  2'., 
 HI.  3(i. 
 g  c)i.  16   if 
 
 i  ch.  S.  10. 
 
 *  Et-  ?7.  gl. 
 
 li  :a.  7. 
 Lev   21  3 
 cli.  S.  2 
 /  ch.  16. 16 
 
 rl.er.6.  le. 
 H,2(i.8c7  6. 
 32.  ch.  5.  9. 
 
 ■  T.x   29  29. 
 fc4y.  13,15. 
 
 I-ev.  2  2,3. 
 &  10  12,  IS. 
 
 r.ev.  4.  22. 
 27.  &  6.  25, 
 
 '.  Lev.  5  1.* 
 7.7  &  111  12 
 fc  H,  13. 
 
 J-  Lev.  6.  Ifi, 
 18,  26,29.  & 
 
 ',  E«.  29.  «•/, 
 ■l**.  Lev.  7. 
 .ill,  34. 
 
 I  Lev  22.  2, 
 3,  11,  12, 1.s. 
 
 A  Ex-  23.  19. 
 Deu  IR.  4 
 Ne,  10.  35, 
 36. 
 
 t  Heh,  fill. 
 vcr.  29. 
 
 e  Ei.  22.  2ft 
 
 d  Ex.  2.'.  29. 
 .^  23.  19  K( 
 31.  26  Lev 
 2.  14,  eh  1.1. 
 19.  Deut. 
 2(i  2. 
 ver.  11. 
 
 I  Lev.  27.  2, 
 6   cli.  3.  47 
 
 n  Ex  29.  26, 
 2S.  Lev.  7. 
 31,  .32,  34. 
 
 II.  27.29. 
 
 Ki  18    1,  2. 
 
 JoBh    13  14, 
 
 3).  A  14.  3 
 
 fk  18.  7. 
 
 rs.  16.  5. 
 
 Ere.  14.  2fi. 
 r  ver,  24,  -.6 
 
 Lev  27.  3(1. 
 
 32.  Neh.  111. 
 
 37. &  12  41 
 
 Heh.  7.  5,8, 
 
 9. 
 *  ch.  3,7,  8. 
 (ch.  1.  51. 
 II  Lev  £2  9. 
 t  lUh.lndir 
 jr  ch.  3.  7. 
 
 house  .shall  eat  of  it. 
 
 14  '  Every  thing  devoted  in  Israel  shall  be 
 thine. 
 
 13  Every  thing  that  openeth  ^the  matrix  in 
 all  flesh,  w'hich  they  bring  unto  the  Lord, 
 whether  it  be  of  men  or  beasts,  sliall  be  thine  - 
 nevertheless  ■■  the  firstborn  of  man  slialt  thou 
 surely  redeem,  and  tlie  firstling  of  unclean 
 beasts  .shalt  thoii  redeem. 
 
 IG  And  those  that  are  to  be  redeemed  from 
 a  month  old  shalt  thou  redeem,  'according  to 
 tliine  estimation,  for  tlie  money  of  five  shekels, 
 after  the  shekel  of  the  sanctuary,  '  which  is 
 twenty  geralis. 
 
 17  '  But  the  firstling  of  a  cow,  or  the  firstling 
 of  a  sheep,  or  the  firstling  of  a  goat,  thou  slialt 
 not  redeem  ;  they  are  holy  :  "'  tliou  shalt 
 sprinkle  their  blood  upon  the  altar,  and  shalt 
 burn  their  fat  for  an  offering  made  by  fire,  for 
 a  sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 18  And  the  flesli  of  them  shall  be  thine,  as 
 the  "  wave  breast  and  as  the  right  shoulder  are 
 thine. 
 
 19  "All  the  heave  offerings  of  the  holy 
 things,  which  the  children  of  Israel  offer  unto 
 the  Lord,  have  I  given  thee,  and  thy  sons  and 
 thy  daughters  witii  thee,  by  a  statute  for  ever  : 
 ■"it  is  a  covenant  of  salt  for  ever  before  the 
 Lord  unto  tliee  and  to  thy  seed  with  thee. 
 
 20  1  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Aaron,  Thou 
 shalt  have  no  inheritance  in  their  land,  neither 
 shalt  tliou  have  any  part  among  them  :  "■  I  am 
 thy  part  and  thine  inheritance  among  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel. 
 
 21  And,  behold, '  I  have  given  the  children 
 of  Levi  all  the  tenth  in  Israel  for  an  inherit- 
 ance, for  their  service  which  they  serve,  even 
 "  the  service  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 22  '  Neither  must  the  children  of  Israel 
 henceforth  come  nigh  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation,  "  lest  they  bear  .sin,  f  and  die. 
 
 23  "  But  the  Levites  sliall  do  the  service  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and  they 
 
 hall  bear  their  iniquity  :  it  .■ihall  be  a  statute 
 for  ever  throughout  your  generations,  that 
 among  the  children  of  Israel  they  have  no  in- 
 heritance. 
 
 24  ''  But  the  tithes  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 which  they  offer  as  an  heave  offering  unto  the 
 Lord,  I  liavc  given  to  the  Levites  to  inherit  : 
 therefore  I  have  said  unto  them,  '  Among  the 
 children  of  Israel  they  shall  have  no  inherit- 
 ance. 
 
 25  1  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Mose.s,  .say- 
 ing, 
 
 26  Thus  speak  unto  the  Levites,  and  say 
 unto  them.  When  ye  take  of  the  children  of 
 Israel  the  tithes  which  I  have  given  yon  from 
 them  for  your  inheritance,  then  ye  shall  offer 
 up  an  heave  offering  of  it  for  the  Lord,  even'  a 
 tenth  part  of  the  tithe. 
 
 27  '■  And  this  your  heave  offering  shall  be 
 reckoned  unto  you,  as  though  it  were  the  corn 
 of  the  threshiugfloor,  and  as  the  fulness  of  the 
 winepress. 
 
 Cn,\p.  XV'III.  —  1.  S/irilt  befjr  /Ac  iniquitti  nf  the  snnctttnry — suffer 
 the  piinibhment  of  all  the  usurpations  or  jjoliutions  of  the  sanctuary,  or 
 the  holy  thing:s,  by  the  Levites  or  people  having  authnrit}'  to  restrict 
 them. — Poole.  10.  In  t/ie  tnnst  holy  place — not  in  the  holy  of  holies, 
 eminently  so  called,  nor  in  the  holy  place,  for  they  were  neither  of 
 ttn-m  places  to  eat  in,  hut  in  the  tent  of  the  congregation,  called  most 
 ho'y  in  comparison  of  the  camp  of  'srael  and  their  tints. — r;i7/.  19.  A 
 eoeentnt  of  .itilf — see  notes  on  Lev.  ii.  13.  20.  No  inheritnnre  in  the 
 '  108 
 
 land — God  havinE  othertwise  provided  for  them,  that  they  might  attend 
 wholly  to  his  service,  and  not  spend  their  time  in  aericulture.  J  «m  thy 
 part — for  they  were  maintained  in  liis  house,  lived  upon  his  altar,  und 
 fed  from  his  table,  as  in  Josh..\iii.  14. — Pat.  22.  Neittier — come  nigh 
 the  tahernacle — they  mii,'lit  come  to  bring  their  sacrifices,  but  not  to 
 do  any  part  of  the  priest's  office. —  f?'V/.  26.  -4  tfulti  part  of  yojtr 
 tittle — thus  the  Levites  paid  tithes  of  their  tithes  to  the  priests. —  Wit. 
 
Tfie  water  of  separation 
 
 NUMBERS,  XIX. 
 
 T/ie  purification  of  the  unclean. 
 
 28  Thus  ye  also  shall  offer  an  heave  offering 
 unto  the  Lord  of  all  your  tithes,  which  ye  re- 
 ceive of  the  children  of  Israel  ;  and  ye  shall 
 give  thereof  the  Lord's  heave  offering  to 
 Aaron  the  priest. 
 
 29  Out  of  all  your  gifts  ye  shall  offer  every 
 heave  offering  of  the  Lord,  of  all  the  f  best 
 thereof,  even  the  hallowed  part  thereof  out 
 of  it. 
 
 30  Therefore  thou  shalt  say  unto  them.  When 
 ye  have  heaved  the  best  thereof  from  it,  ^  then 
 it  shall  be  counted  unto  the  Levites  as  the  in- 
 crease of  the  threshingHoor,  and  as  the  increase 
 of  the  winepress. 
 
 31  And  ye  shall  eat  it  in  every  place,  ye  and 
 your  housholds  :  for  it  is  ^  your  reward  for 
 your  service  in  the  tabernacle  of  the  congre- 
 gation. 
 
 3-2  And  ye  shall  '  bear  no  sin  by  reason  of  it, 
 when  ye  have  heaved  from  it  the  best  of  it : 
 neither  shall  ye  'pollute  the  holy  things  of  the 
 children  of  Israel,  lest  ye  die. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 1  The  watfT  of  separation  made  of  the  a^hts  of  a  red 
 heifer.  II  The  law  for  the  use  of  it  i7i  purification 
 of  the  uncl'ian. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  unto 
 -'^   Aaron,  saying, 
 
 2  This  •(*■  the  ordinance  of  the  law  which  the 
 Lord  hath  commanded, saying,  Speak  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel,  that  they  bring  thee  a  red 
 heifer  without  spot,  wherein  is  no  blemish, 
 *  and  upon  which  never  came  yoke  : 
 
 3  And  ye  shall  give  her  unto  Eleazar  the 
 priest,  that  he  may  bring  her  *■  forth  without  the 
 camp,  and  one  shall  slay  her  before  his  face  : 
 
 4  And  Eleazar  the  priest  shall  take  of  her 
 blood  with  his  finger,  and  °  sprinkle  of  her 
 blood  directly  before  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation  seven  times  : 
 
 5  And  one  shall  burn  the  heifer  in  his  sight  ; 
 ''her  skin,  and  her  flesh,  and  her  blood,  with 
 her  dung,  shall  he  burn  : 
 
 6  And  the  priest  shall  take  "cedar  wood, and 
 hyssop,  and  scarlet,  and  cast  it  into  the  midst 
 of  the  burning  of  the  heifer. 
 
 7  '  Then  the  priest  shall  wash  his  clothes,  and 
 he  shall  bathe  his  flesh  in  water,  and  afterward 
 he  shall  come  into  the  camp,  and  the  priest 
 shall  be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 8  And  he  that  burneth  her  shall  wash  his 
 clothes  in  water,  and  bathe  his  flesh  in  water, 
 and  shall  be  unclean  until  the  even. 
 
 9  And  a  man  that  is  clean  shall  gather  up 
 '  the  ashes  of  the  heifer,  and  \aj  Ihem  up  with- 
 out the  camp  in  a  clean  place,  and  it  shall  be 
 kept  for  the  congregation  of  the  children  of 
 Israel  "".for  a  water  of  separation  :  it  is  a  puri- 
 
 t  Heb./..(. 
 ver.  IS. 
 
 rf^rat.  10.10. 
 
 n  Deu.  ai  9. 
 1  Sam.  6.  7. 
 
 b  l.RV.  ♦.  12, 
 21  Ji  IB. 27. 
 Heb.  13.11. 
 
 ■  Lev.  ♦.  6. 
 9(  16.  14. 19. 
 Heb.  9.  13. 
 
 d  Ex.  29.  14. 
 Lev.  4.  11, 
 
 e  Lev.  14.  4, 
 6,49. 
 
 23. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 ■ii-.  1471. 
 
 <  ver. 
 
 Ifi. 
 
 Lev. 
 
 9.\    1 
 
 ch.5 
 
 :'.  Ik 
 
 9   ti, 
 
 1(1.  St 
 
 31.19 
 
 Lan. 
 
 4.  14 
 
 Has- 
 
 t  Heb 
 
 SOIll 
 
 '<r  >iv 
 
 •1. 
 
 h  ch.  31.  19. 
 
 <n  ver.  9. 
 cb.  8.  7. 
 
 t  Heb.  tluit 
 
 7  ver   9. 
 
 I  Heb    lifu.j, 
 
 ifnl^i  it.ali 
 
 be  ffii'en. 
 
 Gen.  36.  19. 
 r  Pa.  51.  7. 
 
 u  Hag.  8.  K. 
 X  Lev.  15.  5. 
 
 ticatioii  for  sin. 
 
 10  And  he  that  gathereth  the  ashes  of  the 
 heifer  shall  wash  his  clothes,  and  be  unclean 
 until  the  even  :  and  it  shall  be  unto  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  and  unto  the  stranger  that  so- 
 jouriieth  among  them,  for  a  statute  for  ever. 
 
 11  '1  He  that  touclieth  the  dead  body  of  any 
 t  man  shall  be  unclean  seven  days. 
 
 12  '  He  shall  purify  himself  with  it  on  the 
 third  day,  and  on  the  seventh  day  he  shall  be 
 clean  :  but  if  he  purify  not  himself  the  third 
 day,  then  the  seventh  day  he  shall  not  be 
 clean. 
 
 13  Whosoever  toncheth  the  dead  body  of 
 any  man  that  is  dead,  and  pnrifieth  not  himself, 
 '  detileth  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord;  •id  that 
 soul  shall  be  cut  off  from  Israel :  because  "'  the 
 water  of  separation  was  not  sprinkled  upon 
 liini,  he  shall  be  unclean  ;  "  his  uncleanness  is 
 yet  upon  him. 
 
 14  This  is  the  law,  when  a  man  dieth  in  a 
 tent:  all  that  come  into  the  tent,  and  all  that 
 ('«  ill  the  tent,  shall  be  unclean  seven  daj's. 
 
 15  And  every  "open  vessel,  which  hath  no 
 covering  bound  upon  it,  is  unclean. 
 
 16  And  '' whosoever  toncheth  one  that  is 
 slain  with  a  sword  in  the  open  fields,  or  a  dead 
 body,  or  a  bone  of  a  man,  or  a  grave,  shall  be 
 unclean  seven  days. 
 
 17  And  for  an  unclean  pej-son  they  shall  take 
 of  the  f  ashes  of  the  burnt  heifer  of  purifica- 
 tion for  sin,  and  f  running  water  shall  be  put 
 thereto  in  a  vessel  : 
 
 18  And  a  clean  person  shall  take  'hyssop, 
 and  dip  it  in  the  water,  and  sprinkle  it  upon 
 the  tent,  and  upon  all  the  vessels,  and  upon 
 the  persons  that  were  there,  and  upon  him 
 that  touched  a  bone,  or  one  .slain,  or  one  dead, 
 or  a  grave  : 
 
 19  And  the  clean  person  shall  sprinkle  upon 
 the  unclean  on  the  tliird  day,  and  on  the 
 seventh  day  :  'and  on  the  seventli  day  he  shall 
 purify  himself,  and  wash  liis  clothes,  and  bathe 
 himself  in  water,  and  shall  be  clean  at  even. 
 
 20  But  the  man  that  shall  be  unclean,  and 
 shall  not  purify  himself,  that  soul  shall  be  cut 
 off  from  among  the  congregation,  because  he 
 hath  '  defiled  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord  :  the 
 water  of  separation  hath  not  been  sprinkled 
 upon  him  ;  he  is  unclean. 
 
 21  And  it  shall  be  a  perpetual  statute  unto 
 them,  that  he  that  sprinkleth  the  water  of  se- 
 paration shall  wash  bis  clothes  ;  and  he  that 
 toncheth  the  water  of  separation  shall  be  un- 
 clean until  even. 
 
 22  And  "  whatsoever  the  unclean  person 
 toucheth  shall  be  unclean  ;  and  *  the  soul  that 
 toncheth  it  shall  be  unclean  until  even. 
 
 I 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  — ^.  A  red  heifer — the  colour  being  expressly  pointed  bulls  were  sacrificed  to  appease  an  evil  demon  of  the  Egyptians,  called 
 
 out,  has  some  meanitig,  and  [)robably  .signifies  atrocious  guilt,  called  '  Typhnn.* — Spencer.        3.  U7ito  Eleazar — not  to  Aaron,  who  was  Xn 
 
 crimson  and  scirfei. — Scott.     Probably  tbe  true  meaning  was,  tlie  dif-  be  constantly  fit  for  his  work,  whereas  this  service  made  the  priest  mm. 
 
 ficulty  of  procuring  such  an  animal  without  a  spot  of  white  or  black  clean  for  a  season,  (ver.  7.) — Poole.        4.   ■'^eve?i   times — to  mark  the 
 
 upon  some  part  of  it,  so  pointing  out  the  unparalleled  character  of  the  perfection  of  the  atonement. — Sut.        9.  Water  of  separation,  for  the 
 
 Son  of  God. —  Wil.     Probably  in  opposition  to  tbe  Egyptian  snpersti-  cleansing  of  such  a.s  were  separated  from  others  for  their  uncleanness. 
 
 tioD,  which  held  it  sacred.— jl.  Clarke.    The  red  colour  was  because  red  —Gill. 
 
 Rf.flectioss   on    Chap.   XVIIT I.  Men   who  cive  them-  should    pruvidp  ior  the  ministers  of  Christ.     They  who  rpap 
 
 selves  to  the  ministry  ought  not  to  entanr/le  themselves  with  the  af-  from  ihem  spiritual  things,  are  bound  to  give  to  thero  of  their 
 
 fairs  of  this  life.     The  sacred  work  requires  all  their  heart,  and  carnal  tilings. 
 
 soul,  and  mind,  and  strength.  Rlflfctmns  on   Chap.    XIX. —I.    What  fines   this   heifrr 
 
 II.    That  thfif  may   not   cntaju/le  thcmselvrs  with   worldly    con-  typify  but  Christ  our  just  ijjcnt  ion  and  si  met  ifi  rat  ion  !     Here   we 
 
 cems,  it  behoves  the  people  to  provide  sv'-tahly  for  th^irsripi  tort.   God  see  the  atonement  made  in  the  'blood  ot' sprinkling.'  and  here 
 
 was  liberal  to  the  priests,  and  has  thus  taught  how  Christians  is  exhibited  the  sanctifying  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  com- 
 169  z 
 
Death  of  Miriam. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XX. 
 
 Moses  striketk  the  rock  at  Mtribah. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  The  chittirm  of  Israd  cnme  to  Zi'n,  where  Miriam 
 dieth.  2  Tkey  tiinrmur  for  want  of  water.  1  Moses' 
 smitina  the  rock  briiiricth  forth  water  at  Meriba/i. 
 14  MosiS  at  Kudesft  tlefiireih  passat/e  throuyh  Edom, 
 which  is  denied  him.  22  At  mount  Hor  Aaron  re- 
 signetli  his  place  to  Eleazar,  and  ditth. 
 
 THEN  "came  the  children  of  Israel,  eve7i  the 
 whole  congregation,  into  the  desert  of  Zin 
 in  the  first  month  :  and  the  people  abode  in 
 Kadesh  ;  and  ''  Miriam  died  there,  and  was 
 bnried  there. 
 
 2  "  And  there  was  no  water  for  the  congrega- 
 tion :  ''  and  they  gathered  themselves  together 
 against  Moses  and  against  Aaron. 
 
 3  And  the  people  "■  cliode  with  Moses,  and 
 spake.'saying.  Would  God  that  we  had  died 
 '  when  our  brethren  died  before  the  Lord  ! 
 
 4  And  ■=  why  have  ye  brought  up  the  congre- 
 gation of  the  Loud  info  this  wilderness,  that 
 we  and  our  cattle  sliould  die  there? 
 
 5  And  wherefore  have  ye  made  us  to  come 
 up  out  of  Egypt,  to  bring  us  iu  unto  this  evil 
 place  ?  it  is  no  place  of  seed,  or  of  figs,  or  of 
 vines,  or  of  pomegranates  ;  neither  is  there  any 
 water  to  drink. 
 
 6  And  Moses  and  Aaron  went  from  the  pre- 
 sence of  the  assembly  unto  the  door  of  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and  ''  they  fell 
 upon  their  faces  :  and  '  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
 appeared  unto  them. 
 
 7  H  And  tlie  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  say- 
 ing. 
 
 8  '  Take  the  rod,  and  gather  thou  the  assem- 
 bly together,  thou,  and  Aaron  thy  brother,  and 
 speak  ye  unto  the  rock  before  their  eyes  ;  and 
 it  shall  give  forth  his  water,  and  '  t)iou  shall 
 bring  forth  to  them  water  out  of  the  rock  :  so 
 thou  shalt  give  the  congregation  and  their 
 beasts  drink. 
 
 9  And  Moses  took  the  rod  "■  from  before  the 
 Lord,  as  he  commanded  him. 
 
 10  And  Moses  and  Aaron  gathered  the  con- 
 gregation together  before  the  rock,  and  he  said 
 unto  them,  "  Hear  now,  ye  rebels  ;  must  we 
 fetch  you  water  out  of  this  rock? 
 
 :.  IS   80. 
 :'6,  59. 
 
 c  Ex.  17.  1. 
 d  ch.  16.  19, 
 
 »  Ejr.  17.  2. 
 ch.  !♦.  8. 
 
 /ch.  II.  1, 
 :13  &  14.37. 
 (t{  16. 3:;,  3S, 
 
 »  ch.  14.  5.  * 
 16.4,SS,15. 
 i  ch.  14.  10. 
 
 41.  &  114. 
 S.  IB,43.  20. 
 ft  48.  SI. 
 
 o  Ex.  17.  6. 
 Deu-  8,  IS 
 1  Cor.  10.  4. 
 
 p  ch.  27.  14. 
 
 Deu.  1.  Si- 
 ft 3.  26.  & 
 
 32.  51 . 
 •  Lev.  10.  S. 
 
 Eze,  20.  41. 
 
 a.  36.  S3,  i 
 
 83.  16. 
 
 1  Pet  S  15 
 r  Deu.  S3.  8 
 
 Pb.  U5,  S.  fi 
 
 106  32.  fcc. 
 II  That  i», 
 
 ilriff. 
 
 .See  K.  17.7. 
 f  Jiiil;;  11. 
 
 IR,  17. 
 ^Deu   2   4, 
 
 itc    (^  .'3.  7. 
 
 Oha'l  10.12. 
 t  Hcb./™,,.! 
 
 Ex.  18  8. 
 it  Gen.  46.  6 
 
 ActB  7.  IS. 
 u,  Ex.  12.40. 
 X  Ex.  1.  II, 
 
 he.  Deut. 
 
 26.  6.  Acts 
 
 7.  19. 
 y  Ex   2.  23. 
 
 «(  S.  7. 
 ;  Ex.  3.  2  & 
 
 14.  10   A:  VS. 
 
 20.  &  33.  2. 
 I  See  ch.  21. 
 
 22.  Deut.  2. 
 
 4  Deu.  8  6. 
 28 
 
 c  Ju.lg.  11. 
 
 •  Deu.  2.  4, 
 5.  8.  Judg. 
 11.  18. 
 
 11  And  Moses  lifted  up  his  hand,  and  with 
 his  rod  he  smote  tlie  rock  twice  :  and  °  the 
 water  came  out  abundantly,  and  the  congrega- 
 tion drank,  and  their  beasts  also. 
 
 V2  H  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
 Aaron,  Because  ■"  ye  believed  me  not,  to  ■■  sanc- 
 tify me  in  the  eyes  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
 therefore  ye  shall  not  bring  this  congregation 
 into  the  land  which  I  have  given  them. 
 
 13  '  This  is  the  water  of  ||  Meribah  ;  because 
 the  children  of  Israel  strove  with  the  Lord, 
 and  he  was  sanctified  in  them. 
 
 14  t  '  And  Moses  sent  messengers  from  Ka- 
 desh unto  the  king  of  Edoni,  '  Thus  saith  thy 
 brother  Israel,  Thou  knowest  all  the  travel 
 that  hath  f  befallen  us  : 
 
 15  "  How  our  fathers  went  down  into  Egypt, 
 "and  we  have  dwelt  in  Egypt  a  long  time; 
 '  and  the  Egyptians  vexed  us,  and  our  fathers  • 
 
 16  And  ''when  we  cried  unto  tlie  Lord,  he 
 heard  our  voice,  and  '  sent  an  angel,  and  bath 
 brought  us  forth  out  of  Egypt :  and,  hehoUi, 
 we  are  m  Kadesh,  a  city  in  the  uttermost  of 
 thy  border : 
 
 1 7  "  Let  us  pass,  I  pray  thee,  through  thy 
 country  :  we  will  not  pass  through  the  fields, 
 or  through  the  vineyards,  neither  will  we  drink 
 of  the  water  of  the  wells :  we  will  go  by  the 
 king's  hiyh  way,  we  will  not  turn  to  the  right 
 hand  nor  to  the  left,  until  we  have  passed  thy 
 borders. 
 
 18  And  Edom  said  unto  him.  Thou  shalt  not 
 pass  by  me,  lest  I  come  out  against  thee  with 
 the  sword. 
 
 19  And  the  children  of  Israel  said  unto  him. 
 We  will  go  by  the  high  way  :  and  if  1  and  my 
 cattle  drink  of  thy  water,  ''  then  I  will  pay  fur 
 it :  I  will  only,  without  doing  any  thing  ttsi; 
 go  through  on  my  feet. 
 
 •20  And  he  said,  '^  Thou  shalt  not  go  through. 
 And  Edom  came  out  against  him  with  much 
 people,  and  with  a  strong  hand. 
 
 21  Thus  Edom  "^  refused  to  give  Israel  pas- 
 sage through  his  border :  wherefore  Israel 
 °  turned  away  from  him. 
 
 22  t  And   the   children   of   Israel,  even   the 
 
 CnA.p.  XX.  —  1.  The  desert  of  Zin- Snitrin  considers  this  .is  Zin,f^n 
 the  frontiers  of  Irtiimra.  and  the  other  Sin.  near  Ilorcb.  Tlie  name 
 rD,  in  Exod.  xvi.  I,  dift'cring  in  one  letter  from  this,  which  is  VS.  is 
 thought  by  Cnlnft  an<l  others  to  decide  that  they  are  different  spots. 
 Dr.  Clarke,  however,  thinlts  this  not  a  sufficient  ground  for  the  decision, 
 owing  to  the  interchange  which  sometimes  takes  place  in  Hebrew 
 letters,  and  indeed  in  tliosc  of  all  languages.  In  the  first  month, oi\he 
 fortieth  year  of  I-ra.  I'ssojournitifjs.  Moses  gives  the  account  only  of  the 
 two  first  years  and  of  the  last  Alt  above  twenty  years  were  now  con- 
 sumed by  one  disease  or  another. — Pat.  This  long  chasm  in  the  his- 
 tory is  made  because  Moses  did  not  write  as  an  liistoriaii,  but  as  a  legis- 
 lator, recording  more  especially  Gotl's  laws  and  ordinances. — So  .4.  C. 
 Miri'im  died — ffiur  months  btlore  Aaron,  (ver.  23 — 28,)  and  eleven 
 months  before  Moses.  She  was  not  a  cliild  when  Mnses  was  born,  (see 
 Exod.  11.  4,  7,)  hence  she  must  h;tve  been  near  130  years  old. — Pat. 
 2.  No  water — the  waters  of  Horeb  bad  formed  rivulets,  and  had  supplied 
 them  till  they  came  here;  they  now  ceased  to  supply  them  ;  besides, 
 many  springs  were  near,  yet  undiscovered — Sattrin.  This  new  gene- 
 ration were  tbtis  tried,  to  see  if  they  would  behave  better  than  their 
 fathers  in  like  circumstances. — Gill.  Dr.  Walt  thinks  that  the  waters  of 
 Horeb  had  supplied  the  Israelites  on  level  grounds  or  gradual  descents. 
 
 but  DOW  they  came  to  higher  ground,  and  needed  some  other  supply. 
 5.  No  place  o/sred,  or  fit  for  sowing. — Gilt.  8.  The  rurh — the  name 
 of  this  rock  is  different  from  the  former  reek  ;  that  was  ca'lcd  Tzur, 
 this  Selah  ;  that  was  in  Rephidim,  this  in  Kadesh.  9.  From  before  the 
 Lord — it  was  probably  lodged  in  the  sanctuary. — Pat.  10.  Ye  rebels — 
 see  Ps.  cvi.  33.  He  spake  unadvisedly,  perhaps  arrogated  too  much 
 to  himself  and  Aaron,  '  Must  we  fetch  V  Jkc. —  Wittoiif^lihj/.  1 1 .  fie 
 smote  the  rock,  fyc.  Instead  of  speatiini;  to  it,  thus  disobeying  the  Divine 
 orders. — Hen.,  so  also  Scott,  and  A.  Clarke.  Saitrin,  however,  objects 
 to  the  opinion  that  M'lses  sinned  in  striking  the  rock,  observing  that  it 
 was  natural  for  him  to  infer,  when  commanded  to  take  the  rod,  that  he 
 was  to  use  it  as  before.  This  is  confounded  by  some  with  the  event 
 recorded  m  Exod.  xvii.,  but  that  happened  in  the  first  year  of  the 
 journeying  of  the  Israelites,  and  this  near  its  termination.— Suwrirt. 
 13.  To  sanctify  nie,  means  here,  to  manifest  his  own  glory,  as  he  did  by 
 the  miracle  wrought. — Boothr.  14.  Thy  Aro//ier— persons nearofkio 
 called  one  another  brethren,  and  these  two  nations  descended  from 
 two  twin  brothers. — Pat.  17.  The  king's  highway — public  roads  were 
 usually  made  by  the  military,  under  the  king's  authority. — Williams. 
 19.  /  will  pay — an  usual  practice  near  the  Red  Sea,  where  water  is 
 scarce,  and  conveyed  to  purchasers  on  camels. — Gill,  Cat. 
 
 municating  to  the  soul  the  virtue  of  the  Saviour's  blood.  So 
 aro  w-e  taui;ht  by  the  Apostle — '  If  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of 
 goats,  and  the  asbes  of  a  heifer,  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sanc- 
 tified to  the  purifyini;  of  the  flesh,  how  much  more  shall  the 
 blocid  of  Christ,  wlio,  tlirou;;h  the  eternal  Spirit,  offered  him- 
 self, without  spot,  to  God,  purge  our  consciences  from  dead 
 works  to  serve  the  living  and  true  God  ?' 
 
 II.  ire  are  reminded,  too,  of  the  shame  and  ignominy  which  the 
 Saviour  endured  for  vs.     He  who  was  *  without  blemish'  was 
 slain  without  tho  camp— suffered,  as  impure,  without  the  gates 
 170 
 
 of  .Jerusalem,  while  *  he  bore  our  sins,  and  carried  our  sor- 
 rows.' lie  was  consumed  by  the  6re  of  justice;  and  all  this 
 '  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity.'  It  is  this  view 
 of  the  Saviour,  experimentally  and  not  merely  theoretically 
 taken,  which  must  make  the  soul  abhor  sin,  grieve  for  it,  cast 
 itself  wholly  for  justification  and  purification  on  the  great  Sin 
 Offering,  and  fix  in  it  the  firm  determination  which  love  and 
 gratitude  cannot  fail  to  produce,  to  *  go  forth'  with  him  *  with- 
 out the  camp,  bearing  his  reproach.' 
 
Death  of  Aaron. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXI. 
 
 The  plague  of  fiery  serpents. 
 
 whole  congregation,  journeyed  from  '  Kadesli, 
 *and  came  unto  mount  Hor. 
 
 '23  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
 Aaron  in  mount  Hor,  by  the  coast  of  the  land 
 of  Edoni,  saying, 
 
 '2i  Aaron  shall  be  ■'gathered  unto  his  people: 
 for  he  shall  not  enter  into  the  land  which  1 
 have  given  unto  the  cliildren  of  Israel,  because 
 '  ye  rebelled  against  my  t  word  at  the  water  of 
 Meribah. 
 
 25  '  Take  Aaron  and  Eleazar  his  son,  and 
 bring  them  up  unto  mount  Hor: 
 
 26  And  strip  Aaron  of  his  garments,  and  put 
 them  upon  Eleazar  his  son  :  and  Aaron  shall 
 be  gathered  unto  his  people,  and  shall  die 
 there. 
 
 27  And  Moses  did  as  the  Lord  commanded  : 
 and  they  went  up  into  mount  Hor  in  the  sight 
 of  all  the  congregation. 
 
 28  '  And  Moses  stripped  Aaron  of  his  gar- 
 ments, and  put  them  upon  Eleazar  his  son  ; 
 and  '"Aaron  died  there  in  the  top  of  the  mount: 
 and  Moses  and  Eleazar  came  down  from  tlie 
 mount. 
 
 29  And  when  all  the  congregation  saw  that 
 Aaron  was  dead,  they  mourned  for  Aaron 
 "  thirty  days,  even  all  the  liouse  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  hrael  with  some  luss  destroy  the  CanaanitPS  at 
 Hannah,  4  The  people  murmuring  are  playutd  with 
 Jieri/  serpents.  7  They  repenting  are  healed  by  a 
 hrasen  serpent.  10  Sundry  journeys  of  the  IsraeVUtS. 
 2 1   Sikon  is  overcome,  33  aiid  Oy. 
 
 h  Gen.  2S.  8. 
 eh    S7.  13. 
 &  31.  2. 
 Deu.  ^2.  50. 
 
 1  ver.  13. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 moiill,. 
 h  ch   :J3  33 
 
 Peu.  3l'.  50. 
 
 I  Es.  S9.  89, 
 3U. 
 
 '1  Srt  Deut. 
 34.  8. 
 
 «  eh.  83-  40. 
 See  Judg. 
 
 cGen.^8.  S(i 
 Judg.ll.8u, 
 
 II  That  is, 
 utter  de- 
 
 ;  ch    '20.  22. 
 
 8(  33.  41. 
 t/Judg.  II. 
 I     18, 
 ]  (^T ,  grieved 
 t  Heb. 
 
 i)wrteiied. 
 
 Er.  ti.  9. 
 f  Ps.  7«,  in. 
 ft  Ki-  11).  3. 
 
 Bt  17.  8. 
 
 icb.  n.6. 
 
 *  WUd.  16. 
 
 1,6. 
 
 I  Cor.  10.  9. 
 i  Deu.  8.  l.-> 
 
 m  Ps.  ja.  .1-3 
 
 n  Ter.  5. 
 
 A  ND  uhen  ^kingAraJ  the  Canaanite, which 
 -^^  dwelt  in  the  south,  heard  tell  that  Israel 
 came  ""  by  the  way  of  the  spies  ;  then  he  fought 
 against  Israel,  and  took  some  of  tliem  prisoners. 
 
 2  "  And  Israel  vowed  a  vow  unto  the  Lord, 
 and  said.  If  thou  wilt  indeed  deliver  this  peo- 
 ple into  my  hand,  tlien  ''  I  will  utterly  destroy 
 tlieir  cities. 
 
 3  And  the  Lord  hearkened  to  the  voice  of 
 Israel,  and  delivered  up  tlie  Canaanites ;  and 
 they  utterly  destroyed  them  and  their  cities  : 
 and  he  called  the  name  of  the  place  ||  Hormah. 
 
 4  K  And  °  they  journeyed  from  mount  Hor  by 
 the  way  of  the  Red  sea,  to  ''compass  the  land 
 of  Edoni  :  and  the  sou!  of  the  people  was 
 much  II  t  discouraged  because  of  the  way. 
 
 5  And  the  people  *  spake  against  God,  and 
 against  Moses,  '■  Wherefore  have  ye  brought 
 us  up  out  of  Egypt  to  die  in  the  wilderness? 
 for  there  is  no  bread,  neither  is  there  any  water  ; 
 and  '  our  soul  loatheth  this  light  bread. 
 
 6  And  '  the  Lord  sent  'fiery  serpents  among 
 the  people,  and  they  bit  the  people  ;  and  much 
 people  of  Israel  died. 
 
 7  i[  "'  Therefore  the  people  came  to  Moses, 
 and  .said,  We  have  sinned,  for  "we  have  spoken 
 against  the  Lord,  and  against  thee ;  °  pray 
 unto  the  Lord,  tliat  he  take  away  the  serpents 
 from  us.     And  Moses  prayed  for  the  people. 
 
 8  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  make  thee 
 a  fiery  serpent,  and  set  it  upon  a  pole  :  and  it 
 shall  come  to  pass,  that  every  one  that  is  bitten, 
 when  he  looketh  upon  it,  shall  live. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  1.  King  Arad,  rather  'the  King  of  Arad,'  (see  Jo-^h. 
 xii.  14;  Judg.  i.  16.) — Oi/l,  so  Scott.  South — siiuth  of  Canaan.  The 
 way  of  Ihf-  spies,  D'lnH  'the  way  the  spies  went  thirty-eiglit  years  be- 
 fore,* (see  chap.  xiii.  17,  22,  ■29.)~Gill.  It  could  not  be  the  way  of  the 
 spies,  for  the  Israelites  were  now  turning  round  Edom  to  tlie  south- 
 east.— Ke/iiiirott.  By  the  way  of  'Atiaptiin,  Atharim,  so  the  Sept., 
 makiiigthe  word  to  mean  a  place.  Some  suppose  it  signilies  the  spies 
 sent  from  Arad  to  watch  the  Israelites ;  and  some  read,  '  after  the 
 manner  of  the  spies.'  3.  Uttertt/  destroyed,  Din'l,  'anathematized 
 them,'  and  '  devoted  them  to  destruction,'  i'or  they  did  not  actually  de- 
 stroy them  till  Josliua's  time,  (see  Josh.  xii.  14.) — GUI.  so  S/tuck/.,  and 
 A.  t'tarke;  and  tlit?  latter  thinks  tlie  verse  was  added  in  tlie  days  of 
 Joshua.  Scott  thinlcs  the  destruction  was  immediate.  May  not  the  de- 
 struction of  Arad,  mentioned  in  Joshua,  be  considered  as  a  summing 
 up  of  the  whole  conquests  of  Israel  effected  by  degrees,  and  what  should 
 then  prevent  Arad,  as  one  sovereif^n,  or  sovereignty,  being  immediately 
 destroyed,  admitting  only  this  circumstance? — JEtt.  5.  Li'^ht  bread, 
 '  not  satisfying.' — Gilt,  '^p'jpri, '  ^tyissimo.' — Pag.,  Mont.  *  Vitlissimi.* 
 — Trem.,  Pit-c.  '  Very  despicable,' '  exceeding  vile.' — Pat.  Very  empty, 
 Sept.  The  original  is  forcible,  being  doubied.  6.  Fiery  serpents, 
 C'D^1^^T  D'lCnsn,  'literally,  'the  serpents,  the  seraphim,'  'biting  ser. 
 pents,'  Sept.  From  these  animals  being  called  seraphs,  and  serapiis 
 being  described  with  wings,  (Isa.  vi.  2,)  it  has  been  inferred  by  some, 
 that  these  were  flying  .serpents. — Wit.  Herodotus  speaks  oi SHch,  which 
 the  Iris  destroyed  in  multitudes,  and  which,  it  has  been  supposed,  had 
 bat-like  wings.    Paxton  thinks,  that  as  the  word  radically  signifies  '  to 
 
 sparkle,'  '  to  emit  coruscations  of  light,' it  may  allude  to  the  brilliant 
 appearance  of  the  serpent  in  the  sunbeams.  Nietiu/ir,  the  traveller, 
 says,  there  are  at  Basra  a  sort  of  serpents  which  dart  from  branch  to 
 branch  on  the  date  trees,  and  the  modern  Arabs  call  them  Jiying  ser. 
 poits.  Parlthurst  infers  they  were  of  that  species  which,  from  their 
 swift  darting  motion  the  Greeks  call  '  acontias,'  signifying  a  genus  (,f 
 darting  serpents,  and  the  Romans,  'jaculus,'  which  has  the  like  signi- 
 fication,— Boch.  ;  and  otliers  think  the  name  D^DIID  is  given  solely 
 from  the  flaming  effects  of  their  bite.  Bochart  mentions  a  sort  of  ser- 
 pent called  hydras,  because  in  winter  they  lived  in  fens  and  marshes, 
 which  being  dried  up  in  summer,  they  were  called  chersydrus,  because 
 then  they  lived  in  dry  places,  and  in  the  hot  season  had  a  most  sharp 
 stinging  poison,  which  produced  inflammation.  Micliaetis  takes  FITJ) 
 to  be  the  cerustus  or  regulus.  Boottiroyd  says,  he  beUeves  it  to  be  the 
 dipsas,  otherwise  called  prester.  The  Wilderness  through  which  the 
 Israelites  had  passed  was  all  along  infested  with  these  fiery  serpents, 
 as  appears  Deut.  viii.  15;  but  hitherto  God  had  wonderfully  preserved 
 his  people  from  receiving  liurt  by  them,  till  now  that  they  murmured. 
 — Hen.  In  the  part  through  which  the  Isiaclites  are  thought  to  have 
 passed,  when  they  were  bitten  by  serpents,  Burckltardt  observed  the 
 traces  of  great  numbers.  It  is  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  yElanctic 
 Gulph.  Much  people — died;  Soliuus,  an  ancient  writer,  says  of  the 
 Arabian  flying  serpents,  that  the  poison  is  so  quick,  that  death  follows 
 before  pain  can  be  felt.  8.  Make  thee  a  fiery  serpent — Boot/troydsup. 
 plies  '  thejigure  of  a  fiery  serpent.'  .'I  pole — the  word  signifies  such  a 
 pole  as  made  their  ensign  or  banner,  to  which  all  their  army  was  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XX.  —  What  instructive  facts  have 
 we  in  this  clinpter  !  I.  Here  is  Miriam  dyhig,  an  instance  of  the 
 breaches  so  commonly  made  in  families  ;  the  sister  and  bro- 
 thers have  gone  on  far  in  their  pilgrimage,  but  they  are  at 
 length  parted.  Vet  the  death  of  the  one  was  but  a  notice  of 
 that  of  the  others,  for  Aaron  and  Moses  speedily  followed, 
 both  being  tjiken  off  in  tlie  same  year.  Such  breaches  in 
 families  should  lead  survivors  to  the  most  serious  inquiries  as 
 to  their  own  preparaiion  for  death,  and  their  hopes  of  a  glorious 
 immortality  through  Ilim  who  is  '  the  resurrection  and  the 
 life  ;'  Cor  the  messenger  may,  and  often  does,  shortly  return 
 with  the  command,  not  to  be  disobeyed,  '  set  thine  house  in 
 order,  for  tliou  shalt  die,  and  not  live.' 
 
 II.  Here  is  Israel  murmuring.  A  ne^v  race,  but  the  offspring 
 of  degenerate  parents.  The  punishment  inflicted  on  their 
 fathers  made  no  lasting  impression;  in  the  same  circumstances, 
 they  displayed  the  same  spirit  of  rebellion  and  unbelief,  and 
 almost  invoked  the  repetition  of  the  judgment  on  themselves, 
 on  account  of  existing  temporary  inconveniences.  Truly,  this 
 was  an  unbelieving  race,  and  we  may  wonder  at  the  long-suf- 
 fering and  forliearance  of  (jod  towards  them.  And  yet,  let  us 
 171 
 
 turn  our  thoughts  inwards,  let  us  think  of  our  own  murmuiings 
 and  rebellions  ;  surely,  '  it  is  of  the  Lord's  mercies  that  we  are 
 not  consumed,  because  his  compassions  fail  not.' 
 
 III.  Here  is  Moses  sinning.  So  true  is  it,  that '  the  best  men 
 are  but  men  at  the  best.'  The  good  man  who  bad  borne  so 
 much  from  Israel  now  displays  impatience,  anger,  and  unbe- 
 lief, and  even  trespasses  on  the  very  botindaries  of  presump- 
 tion. '  Hear  now,  ye  rebels  ;  must  we  fetch  you  water  out  of 
 this  rock  !'  For  this  one  offence,  for  '  speaking  unadvisedly 
 with  his  lips.'  (Ps.  cvi.  32,  33,)  he  is  excluded  from  Canaan, 
 and  his  honour,  as  the  chosen  captain  of  Israel,  is  taken  from 
 him  and  transferred  to  another.  '  Because  ye  believed  me  not, 
 to  sanctify  me  in  the  eyes  of  the  children  of  Israel,  therefore 
 ye  shall  not  bring  this  congregation  into  the  land  w  hich  I  have 
 given  them.'  See  how  God  observes  sin  in  bis  people  ;  see 
 how  he  punishes  it !  See  how  the  sin  of  a  moment  may  de- 
 stroy the  prospects  of  years,  and  how  necessary  it  is  to  take 
 heed  to  our  ways,  that  we  offend  not  with  our  tongues!  '  O 
 Lord,  if  thou  shouldest  mark  iniquity.  Lord,  who  shall  stand  V 
 Save  us  from  the  sin  of  unbelief,  and  keep  us  hy  thy  mighty 
 power,  '  through  faith  unto  everlasting  salvation.' 
 
The  people  healed  by  a  brasen  serpent.  NUMBERS,  XXI 
 
 Sihon  is  overcome. 
 
 9  And  ■■  Moses  made  a  serpent  of  brass,  and 
 put  it  upon  a  pole,  and  it  came  to  pass,  that  if 
 a  serpent  liad  bitten  any  man,  when  he  beheld 
 the  serpent  of  brass,  he  lived. 
 
 10  H  And  the  children  of  Israel  set  forward, 
 and  ■*  pitched  in  Oboth. 
 
 11  And  they  journeyed  from  Oboth,  and 
 'pitched  at  1|  Ije-abarim,  in  the  wilderness 
 which  is  before  Moab,  toward  the  sunnsnig. 
 
 12  t  'From  thence  they  removed,  and  pitched 
 in  the  valley  of  Zared.  ,     ■    .    j 
 
 13  From  thence  they  removed,  and  pitched 
 on  the  other  side  of  Arnon,  which  is  in  the 
 wilderness  that  cometh  out  of  the  coasts  of  the 
 Amorites  :  for  '  Arnon  is  the  border  of  Moab, 
 between  Moab  and  the  Amorites. 
 
 14  Wherefore  it  is  said  in  the  book  of  the 
 wars  of  the  Lord,  ||  What  he  did  in  the  Red 
 sea,  and  in  the  brooks  of  Arnon, 
 
 15  And  at  the  stream  of  the  brooks  that  goetli 
 down  to  the  dwelling  of  Ar,  "  and  ^\\eth  upon 
 the  border  of  Moab. 
 
 16  And  from  thence  they  went  'to  Beer: 
 that  is  the  well  whereof  the  Lord  spake  unto 
 Moses,  Gather  the  people  together,  and  I  "ill 
 give  them  water. 
 
 17  H  'Then  Israel  sang  this  song,  f  Spring 
 up,  O  well ;  II  sing  ye  unto  it : 
 
 18  The  princes  digged  the  well,  the  nobles  of 
 the  people  digged  it,  by  the  direction  of  '  the 
 lawgiver,  with  their  staves.  And  from  the 
 wilderness  they  went  to  Mattanah  : 
 
 19  And  from  Mattanah  to  Nahaliel :  and 
 from  Nahaliel  to  Bamoth  : 
 
 '2(t  And  from  Bamoth  in  the  valley,  that  is  in 
 
 Pisgah, 
 
 the  t  country  of  Moab,  to  the  top  of 
 which  looketh  "  toward  ||  Jeshimon. 
 
 21  1  And  •>  Israel  sent  messengers  unto  Sihon 
 king  of  the  Amorites,  saying, 
 
 22  '  Let  me  pass  through  thy  land  :  we  will 
 not  turn  into  the  fields,  or  into  the  vineyards  ; 
 we  will  not  drink  of  the  waters  of  the  well : 
 but  we  will  go  along  by  the  king's  high  way, 
 until  we  be  past  thy  borders. 
 
 23  ''  And  Sihon  would  not  suffer  Israel  to 
 pass  through  his  border :  but  Sihon  gathered 
 all  his  people  together,  and  went  out  against 
 Israel  into  the  wilderness  :  "  and  he  came  to 
 Jahaz,  and  fought  against  Israel. 
 
 24  And  'Israel  smote  him  with  the  edge  ot 
 the  sword,  and  possessed  his  laud  from  Arnon 
 unto  Jabbok,  even  unto  the  children  of  Amnion: 
 lor  the  border  of  the  children  of  Ammon  was 
 strong.  .  ,  T        1 
 
 25  And  Israel  took  all  these  cities:  and  Israel 
 dwelt  in  all  the  cities  of  the  Amorites,  in 
 Heshhon,  aud  in  all  the  f  villages  thereof. 
 
 26  For  Heshhon  was  the  city  of  Silion  the 
 king  of  the  Amorites,  who  had  fought  against 
 the  former  king  of  IMoab,  and  taken  all  his  land 
 out  of  his  hanii,  even  unto  Arnon. 
 
 27  Wherefore  they  that  speak  in  proverbs 
 say.  Come  into  Heshhon,  let  the  city  of  Sihon 
 he  built  and  prepared  : 
 
 28  For  there  is  ''a  tire  gone  out  of  Heshhon, 
 a  flame  from  the  city  of  Sihon  :  it  hath  con- 
 sumed "  Ar  of  Moab,aHrf  the  lords  of  ihe  high 
 places  of  Arnon. 
 
 •>'.)  Woe  to  thee,  Moab  !  thou  art  undone,  (J 
 people  of '  Chemosh  :  he  hath  given  his  sous 
 
 When  he  behM-he  K..d-hete  was.  on  the  fare  t>f    ^^l^'^^^;^:^^^^;'^^^^.  1} Moab. "whosc'name  '«as  Vaheb,  in  the  borders 
 
 it?a  most  de'dilLvl  ,nimoie"-Ed'''j)\y\ae&,  in  Eeiieral,  admit  that  the    kinr 
 
 brazen  serpent  »  a.s  a  type  of  Christ,  (see  John.  iii.  14,  15.)     Snur,n.     olthe  land  of  Moab, 
 
 i  the  words  may  be  rendered,  either  against  i 
 
 whose  name  was  Vaheb.  in  the  border 
 
 Scalt  remarks,  there  is  here  no  pronoun  answer. 
 
 however,   explodes   the   idea,   as   does   also  A/Clarke.   though  they    '"^^  «°  ^^^  ""^.Tn  ' 'w;fa^;h7^m",H',l''^Sm 
 
 both  admit  eo.tain  rcse„M,.noe. -^  but  theyboth  revolt  at  the  not,™  ol    t^erefo.e,  t^o  mean^,  jh^^on  eali™l  Suphah.'     In  th.s  he  nearly  follows 
 
 what  the  i 
 
 reads,"'^the'y'came  to'suphah,  and  Ihence  to 
 
 niakinBasfrpennhelypeoftheS.it.ioui-.    If,  however,  the  resemblanre  prinee,  or  plaee 
 
 be  a   an  admitted,  may  it  not  be  reasonably  extended  to  thefullmean.  ''""''■^'•J  O]^-     V"'^^;L*^^rrsay's7thVRedSeaeannotbe  here  meant 
 
 ingof.i/ype;    •  How,' says  Snurin.'couid  the  serpent,  the  emblem  of    the  brook  Arnon.      Arnnicort  saj. ,  lu    ^  _^ ^  ,„...,„  ,,„f,.r„  it. 
 
 the  devil,  serve  for  an  emblem  of  Jesas  Christ,  the  end  of  whosejriinis- 
 
 try  was  to  destroy  the  empire  of  the  devil  ?■  '  It  is,"  says  Dr.  Clarke 
 the  most  e.xcepliouahle  type  that  could  possibly  be  chosen."  But  H  it 
 sius  justly  remark",  ■  it  is  not  more  improper  to  represent  Christ  by 
 a  serpent  than  by  a  wanton  goat,  and  that  as  he  was  made  sin  and  a 
 curse  for  us,  (2  Cor.  v.  21,  Gal.  iii.  13.)  so  "he had  truly  the  figure  ol  a 
 serpent  without  its  pison."'  12.  T*e  valley  of  Zared.  Til  7n:, 
 '  the  brnot!  Zared,'  as  Diiit.ii.  13,  14.  13.  ^rnoti— this  river  boimded 
 the  country  of  the  Moabites  and  of  the  Amorites.— Josep/itis.  14.  The 
 hook  of  the  wars  i  " 
 
 to  commemorate  ....    ^.^...^ — .....  -  ~j    --  .     f.      ^ 
 
 likely  a  heathen  work  quoted  by  Moses,  as  St.  Paul  jjuotcd  the  ti'eek 
 
 by  Suph,  because  that  has  everywhere  else  the  word  for  «J«  before  .t 
 and  it  wks  now  far  off.  It  therefore  means  some  place.  Moses  hav  iiig 
 fed  theTeop°rfrom  the   Red  Sea  to  the  river  Arnon,  just  before    he 
 
 triumphantly  brought  Israel  through  the  Sea  of  Saph,  near  tg>pt,  at: 
 first,  had  now  conducted  him  to  Suph,  near  Anion. 
 '  Jehovah  went  with  htm  to  bupn. 
 And  he  came  to  the  streams  of  Arnoti. 
 
 of  the  Moabites  and  of  the  Amorites.— Josep/iiis.      14.  J«e  T,v,»L>,r,  „vprse  ncarlv  after  Arennirart— 
 
 wars  of  I,:.  Lorrf-probably  a  hook  written  by  the  heathen  Boothrcyd  S.y^s  the  who  e  verse  nearly  after^«  ^^^^  ^ 
 lorate  the  conquests  marie  by  S±oD.--.'lbarh,ne.     Most  ..  ,ehov  ah  came  with  htm  to  suph, 
 
 .).,.„  work  nunted  hv  Moses.  as  St.  Paul  Quoted  the  Greek  Jehoi  an  eame  w  uii  ■  ■■        „,    '    '  ^  „,  Arnon."  • 
 
 And  marched  through  the  streains  of  Arnon.' 
 
 pocis.-Fal.     Perhaps  tiiat  book  which  was  begun  with  the  history-  of  r;,„-*f  tSkeT  the  niisage  to  be  a  proverb.'likc  that  of  •  from  Dan 
 
 the  w.  r  with  the  Amalekites.  (Exod.  xvii.  14.)-//™.     •Thenanjation     f'"f  y;^^';"*l''^\'^^^^^^^  ?mm  Vaheh  untoSuph,  and  unto  the  streams 
 ofthewars,ofthe_Lor.,,hat_^^._.ltew=rs^on^^  l^^'^^^.f^'  ^TTtJuXrrof  Ihe  Lord.pake-^^^^^^ 
 
 under  the  banner  and   direction  of  Jehovah. — Le  Clerc 
 braoces.'  probably  written  liy  Moses  himself  to  direct  Joshua 
 It  may  he  the  same  book  called  the  book  of  Jasher.      '    ^ 
 
 Lightf  from  the  river  Arnou,  they  migl.t  ue  ...  «>"","' \'rthcir"staves^inw''tte 
 
 maybe  the  same  book  cauea  rne  oook  o.  .a...er.-..  .....*ej  jt  -^^J,''^-";/-- ^^^^^^ 
 
 ight,  for  ought  that  appears,  have  b^nme^rriya^nni^^^^^  ?;;jyTa1;^r saVg!  •  Comt%  wellV  th^ 
 
 ■        ■       it  was  a  writing  at  to  saHsfy  us  all.     iin^  ye  a«(o  i<,  or  ^answer  ..no 
 
 *  as  the  margin. 
 ngs  of  praise  alternately,  (see  Exod.  xv.  20.) 
 
 -Ale.aader  o»  the  Canon.     What  he  did.  n21D3  2ni-n«^the  He-    The  "'^'^'^^.^^^J^JJ'f^Ltin?  ■  Spr^g  up.'Tc  ,  the^called  to  the  rest 
 b,-ew  words  are  printed  i.i  the  margin,  oin.t  ing  the  m._  CVmmen-      '\7/J°'?l'"^''_I:j"°«^l^"°o^Agin^ 
 
 army.    The  word  translated  boofi, 
 
 brew,  that  it  is  not  even  necessary  to  supposejhiit  ■ 
 
 'J            ■■igthen«.    commen-  s■^ ''''>^  •^"';;i'»"'  '"■■."'•I'hToti^i'iiaite'rm' signifies  to  sing  in  responses 
 
 tators  have  given  va.ious  interpretations  of  this  difficlt  passage,  and  to  ^ns"-^'  'h^f"-^"  /   ^""""^'SwA  «„V  sMt-M-with  no  more  la- 
 
 conjectures  have  been  exhausted   on  the  possible  cha„pe  of  s.mtlar  f  ."^  "%"J''>rf;;^°VninB  of  a  wel   was  as  gr.  at  a  ceremony  with  the 
 
 letters  in  transcribing,     .iinswnrth  renders  the  words,   -Xahebma  ^""[■-f''-,J^f,."P!"o  tfm.nrt^                                      Chiefs  attended 
 
 •whiriwind,  or  with  a  tempest,  a.id  the  hror.ks  or  the  bournes  of  Arnon  ;■  ?,">"'="**  *,t'rJ^J'^n^,'^n  anffested  on  the  occasion.-So  Williams. 
 
 on  which  he  says.  •  understand,  by  the  wars  of  Sihon  against  Moab,  the  the  ^"^^"'XIl\Zak7n  ,o-^eX-n.ost  commentators  here  understand 
 
 Lord  hath  consumed  Vaheb  in  a  whirlumd.  or  with  a  tnnpest.  the  usual  27-  ^Aet,  //m(  .^en*  ">  P  »'  '("^          j^   ,  ,,^5  ,,rovcrhialists  1'  that  .s,  the 
 
 signification  of  Supbah.and  the   flame  of  .war  ^hath   c^onsumed  Jhe  «J- ATb::s;'eLt;sitirnUnttare  iays,  we're  vety  senteutious.-P»f. 
 
 01  (I  Cuy,  or  piauc,  t*im  viai^'j^  ..^^j.      -  , 
 
 Suphah  .he  name  of  the  country  where  it  was ;  and  the  Hebrew  particle  ing  the  <=™'i;f '''''^™™  "f/f  'l""  been  th'e  work  of  a  Hebrew  poet, 
 
 elh.  is  often  ren.lered  ,,(.     It  is  also  probable,  that  the  war  here  de-  regions      Gf<'''",bi''=^'^^  "'f  '"  ^a  c  been  tr^e  ^.^  ^^^^^^  ^ 
 
 signed   was  that  .,f  Sihon   against  the  Moabites.  mentioned   below,  ^'ho,  after  tl.eoverthow  of  the  cap  U^ot»mo^  had  lormerly 
 
 (vcr.  -iK,  a.id  ascribed  to  the  Lor  J,  because  perfected  by  his  singular  repa.r  it,  as  >h'=^?'.™''^^''    mLht  s  ill  be  made  a  formidable  rival  to 
 
 direction,  for  the  sake  of  the  Israelites,  that  the  country  might  he  pos-  deleated  the  Moabites,  ^"^,^""f IL'  ,  "^j"?,  ,sa,  xU  ii.  U  .  Amos,  i.  7. 
 
 sesscd  by  them  witho..t  taking  it  from  the  Moabites,  which  they  were  Ar.        28.  A  ^"TV''^  ."•"\,"' ^ops  (jcr.  xlvib.  7,  13  ;   1  Kmgs.  xi.  7  ; 
 
 forbidden  to  med.lle  with,'  (Deut.  U.g.)     G.K  adopts  the  same  idea,  ^^.Chemosh.V^^eoAiAV^^no^^^ 
 
 '  what  Sihon,  king  of  the  Amorites, 
 172 
 
 did,  or  the  Loid  by  liim,     Judg.xi.21.) 
 
Og  IS  overcome. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXII. 
 
 Balah's  Jiiit  messai/e  to  Balaam. 
 
 tliat  escaped,  and  liis  daughters,  into  captivity 
 unto  Sihon  king  of  the  Aniorites. 
 
 30  We  have  shot  at  them  ;  Heshbon  is  pe- 
 rished even  '  unto  Dibon,  and  we  have  laid 
 tliem  waste  even  unto  Nophah,  which  reachelh 
 unto  '  Medeba. 
 
 31  If  Thus  Israel  dwelt  in  the  land  of  the 
 Amorites. 
 
 82  And  Moses  sent  to  spy  out  "  Jaazer,  and 
 they  took  the  villages  thereof,  and  drove  out 
 the  Amorites  that  u'ere  there. 
 
 33  1  °  And  they  turned  and  went  up  by  the 
 way  of  Bashan  :  and  Og  the  king  of  Bashan 
 went  out  against  them,  he,  and  all  his  people, 
 to  the  battle  °  at  Edrei. 
 
 34  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  ■"  Fear 
 him  not  :  for  I  have  delivered  him  into  thy 
 hand,  and  all  his  people,  and  his  land  ;  and 
 ''  thou  shalt  do  to  him  as  thou  didst  unto  Sihon 
 king  of  the  Amorites,  which  dwelt  at  Hesh- 
 bon. 
 
 35  '  So  they  smote  him,  and  his  sons,  and  all 
 his  people,  until  there  was  none  left  him  alive  ; 
 ajid  they  possessed  his  land. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  Balak' s first  message  for  Balaam  is  refused.  13  His 
 second  mtssagt  ohtaineth  him.  22  An  angel  Wuuld 
 have  slain  him,  if  his  ass  had  not  saved  him.  3b 
 Balak  mttrtaineth  hiin. 
 
 AND  ^  the  children  of  Israel  set  forward,  and 
 pitched  in  the  plains  of  Moab  on  this  side 
 Jordan  by  Jericho. 
 
 U  Jcr.  48.  18, 
 I  Is.  15.  3. 
 
 1  Deut.  S.  1. 
 &  29.  7. 
 
 7  rer.  2*. 
 Ps    135.  10, 
 1I.&  136.S0. 
 
 r  Deu.  3.  3, 
 
 B.  C.  1 152 
 b  .ludg.  II. 
 c  Ks.  15.  15 
 
 e  Deu.  23-  4 
 
 Josh.  13.  22. 
 
 K  24   9. 
 
 Neh.13.1,2, 
 
 Mic.  6.  5. 
 
 ■?Fet.  'i.  lo 
 
 JuAe  II 
 
 Kev.  2.  14. 
 r  See  ch  1:3 
 ■  7.  Deu.  n. 
 
 4. 
 
 t  ileb  ffie, 
 ^ch.lIS  7. 
 
 h  I  Sam.  9. 
 7,8. 
 
 *2  If  And  ^  Balak  the  son  of  Zippor  saw  all 
 that  Israel  had  done  to  the  Amorites. 
 
 3  And  "^  Moab  was  sore  afraid  of  the  people, 
 because  they  were  many  :  and  Moab  was  dis- 
 tressed because  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 4  And  Moab  said  unto  '^the  elders  of  Midian, 
 Now  shall  this  company  lick  up  all  that  are 
 round  about  us,  as  the  ox  licketh  up  the  grass 
 of  the  field.  And  Balak  the  son  of  Zippor  was 
 king  of  the  Moabites  at  that  time. 
 
 5  ^He  sent  messengers  therefore  unto  Balaam 
 the  son  of  Beor  to  ''  Pethor,  which  is  by  the 
 river  of  the  land  of  the  children  of  his  people, 
 to  call  him,  saying,  Behold,  there  is  a  people 
 come  out  from  Egypt  :  behold,  they  cover  the 
 fface  of  the  earth,  and  they  abide  over  against 
 me  : 
 
 6  Come  now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  ^  curse 
 me  this  people  ;  for  they  are  too  n)ighty  for 
 me  :  peradventure  I  .shall  prevail,  that  we 
 may  smite  them,  and  that  1  may  drive  tliem 
 out  of  the  land  :  for  I  wot  that  he  whom  thou 
 blessest  is  blessed,  and  he  whom  thou  cursest  is 
 cursed. 
 
 7  And  the  elders  of  Moab  and  the  elders  of 
 Midian  departed  with  ^  the  rewards  of  divina- 
 tion in  their  hand  ;  and  they  came  unto  Ba- 
 laam, and  spake  unto  him  the   words  of  Ba- 
 
 lak. 
 
 8  And  he  said 
 night,  and  I  will 
 Lord  shall  speak  unto  me 
 Moab  abode  with  Balaam. 
 
 unto  them,  '  Lodge  here  this 
 
 bring  you  word  again,  as  the 
 
 and  the  princes  of 
 
 reproached  for  not  better  protecting;  hia  people  against  a  petty  Amorite 
 king.  30.  We  have  shot  at  them,  ^c. — '  their  fair  fields  Heshbon  de- 
 stroyed unto  Dibim.' — Boothr. 
 
 CaAP.  XXII.  —  I.  TAe ;j/ai7is  o/3/oa6,  which  had  formerly  belonged 
 to  the  Moabites,  from  whom  it  took  its  uame.  2.  Balak,  v.-ho  was  the 
 Itingof  the  Moabites  at  this  time. — Pat.  4.  Theelders  of  Midian — the 
 Midianites  were  descended  from  Abraham,  by  Keturah,  (Gcn.xxv.2.) 
 The  Moabites— they  were  descended  from  Lot,  (Gen.  xix.  3".)  5.  Ba- 
 laam — he  came  from  the  east,  (chap,  xxiii.  7,)  which  was  infamous  fur 
 soothsayers  and  diviners,  (Isa.  ii.  6.)  He  yet  worshipped  the  true  God, 
 as  others  of  the  heathen  did,  which  appears  from  his  applying  to  God, 
 (ver.  8,)  and  calling  the  Lord  his  God,  (ver.  18  ;)  but  his  worship  was 
 mixed  with  superstition  ;  hence,  his  building  seven  altars,  and  sacri- 
 ficing on  each,  (chap,  xxiii.  l,  2,)  and  his  seeking  for  enchantments, 
 (chap.  xxiv.  l  ;)  lie  had  some  pious  thoughts,  (chap,  xxiii.  it),)  but  his 
 heart  was  unsound,  (2  Pet.  ii.  15,  Jude,  II,)  and  his  inclinations  were 
 contrary  to  his  duty.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  prophet,  (2  Pet.  ii.  i6.} 
 and  in  high  repute. — Bp.  Xeivfon.  A  famous  soothsayer  and  diviner, 
 as  he  is  called  Josh.  xiii.  22.— Pat.  The  son  of  Beor — he  must  have 
 been  a  man  of  some  rank,  by  the  constant  coupling  of  his  name  with 
 that  of  Balaam,  who  always  spoke  of  himself  with  evident  self-com- 
 placency a.s  '  the  son  of  Benr.'  In  2  Pet.  ii.  15,  Beor  is  called  Bosor. 
 The  Latin  Vulgate  reads,  '  Balaam  out  of  Bosor,'  hence,  taking  it  for 
 the  name  of  a  place  ;  but  he  was  of  Pethor. — Balaam,  p.  4.  By  some 
 changes  in  the  Hebrew  letters  and  their  sounds,  Beor  and  Bosor  are 
 the  same  names. — See  Gill  on  2  Pet.  Pethor,  a  city  in  Aram  or  Meso- 
 potamia, (chap,  xxiii.  7;  Deut.  xxiii.  4.)— Pat.  This  is  tl.at  part  v{ 
 Syria  situated  to  the  east  of  the  Euphrates,  called  Aram,  from  Aram,  a 
 son  of  Shem,  (Gen.  x.  22.) — Balaam  By  the  river,  the  Euphrates, 
 commoDly  known  in  these  books  by  the  name  of  the  rivei;  (Gen. 
 
 XV.  18.)— Pat.  So  called  by  way  of  eminence,  it  being  the  largest  in 
 the  country,  and  thence,  in  many  passages,  btyled  the  great  river. — 
 H.  Hunter.  Of  the  land  of  the  children  of  his  people — Dr.  Boothrof/d 
 and  Dr.  Clarke,  after  Houbigant,  contend  that  the  reading  here  should 
 be,  '  the  river  of  the  land  of  the  children  of  Ammon,*  ll'OS',  '  Ammon/ 
 for  lor,  '  his  people.'  This  would  place  it  near  the  ter  ritory  of  Balak  ; 
 but  though  fourteen  Hebrew  MS8.  have  this  reading,  the  author  of 
 Balaam  states,  the  preponderance  of  critical  authority  is  on  the  other 
 siile.  &.  Curse  me  this  people — they  had  an  opinion  in  those  days, 
 which  prevailed  much  in  after  times,  that  some  men  had  a  power,  by 
 the  help  of  their  gods,  to  blast,  not  only  particular  persons,  but  whole 
 armies,  so  that  they  should  not  be  able  to  effect  their  designs.  This 
 was  done  by  imprecation,  sacrifices,  rites,  ceremonies,  charms.  Per- 
 adventure,  'but  I  hope,'  for  the  Hebrew  word  ^"jli^  is  not  a  particle  of 
 doubting,  but  of  hoping. — Pat.,  from  Forsterus.  7-  Rewards  of  divin- 
 ation— i)rcsents  were  given  to  prophets  when  consulted,  (1  Sam.  ix. 
 7,  8.) — Put.  Perhaps  instruments  and  drugs  for  incantation  were  in- 
 cluded, which  were  expensive. — Jarchi,  A.  Clarke.  So  famous  a  sooth- 
 sayer could  not  need  instruments  of  incantation. — Gill.  As  Balaam 
 was  covetous,  and  his  stock  was  continually  exhausting,  these  might  be 
 needed,  and  therefore  prove  acceptable  presents. — Ed.  And  they  came 
 unto  Balaam,  a(ter  a  journey  often  or  twelve  days,  through  the  sandy 
 deserts  of  Aramae. — Balaam.  S.  As  the  Lord  shall  speak — it  sometimes 
 pleased  God  to  reveal  his  mind  even  to  a  wicked  person. — T.  Ruhinson. 
 'Ihe  knowledge  of  God  was  not  altogether  lost  to  other  people,  besides 
 Israel,  as  appears  from  Abimelech,  Job,  Jt-thro,  &c. ;  it  is,  therefore, 
 not  surprising  that  Balaam  had  some  notion  of  him. — H.  Huiiter.  Dr. 
 Clarke  thinks  he  was  once  a  prophet  of  the  true  God.  Scott  supposes 
 Balaam  never  to  have  been  a  prophet  of  the  true  God,  but,  having  some 
 knowledge  of  him,  he  tried  to  render  it  subservient  to  his  purposes. 
 
 Refi-ections  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  We  pass  over  other  mat- 
 ters in  this  chapter  which  have  before  been  noticed,  lamenting 
 over  those  types  of  ourselves,  the  erring  murmuring  Israelites, 
 and  notice  here,  I.  The  jieople  wounded.  This  reminds  us  of 
 the  poisoQ  which  Satan,  the  old  serpent,  has  infused  into  our 
 veins  through  sin.  The  whole  man  is  inflamed  with  the  worst 
 of  passions,  which  hurry  him  to  death;  and  as  the  moment 
 may  be  rapidly  approaching  fraught  with  eternal  death,  not 
 a  moment  must  be  lost  without  a  remedy,  or  we  may  be  undone 
 for  ever. 
 
 II.  Thr  people  penitent.  They  confess,  '  we  have  sinned,* 
 and  they  implore  their  Mediator  to  intercede  fur  them — '  pray 
 unto  the  Lord.'  It  is  only  when  we  are  brought  to  this  state 
 of  mind,  that  we  can  hope  for  relief.  '  l"he  whole  need  not  a 
 physician,  but  they  that  are  sick.* 
 
 III.  The  people  saved ;  not  indeed  all,  for  many  died  in  their 
 unbelief;  but  to  the  penitent  and  humbled  Israelite  a  remedy 
 was  quickly  presented.     We  are  at  once  authorized  by  the 
 
 173 
 
 Saviour  himself  to  refer  this  type  to  bim,  the  great  anti-type  ; 
 for  he  said  to  Nicodemus,  '  as  Closes  lifted  up  the  serpent  in 
 the  Wilderness,  even  so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up  ; 
 that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
 eternal  life.'  *  Certain  it  is,'  says  Trapp,  '  that  this  cure  was 
 not  wrought  by  anything  in  the  nature  of  the  brazen  serpent, 
 but  by  the  institution  and  ordination  of  God,  to  be  also  a  type 
 of  Christ  ;  a  noble  and  notable  figure  of  Christ  lifted  up  on  the 
 cross  (John,  iii.l4),  or  rather  in  his  ordinances,  (Gal.iii.  1.) 
 They  that  looked  upon  their  sores,  and  not  upon  the  sign,  died 
 for  it ;  and  those  that  looked  upon  the  sign,  though  but  with 
 half  an  eye,  were  presently  healed  ;  so  they  that  fix  their  eyes 
 upon  their  sins  only,  and  not  upon  their  Saviour,  despair  and 
 die  ;  but  those  that  look  to  Christ,  being  faithful  in  weakness, 
 though  weitk  in  faith,  are  sure  to  be  saved — it  is  but  look  up, 
 and  live.  Only  look  up  as  they  did  that  were  wounded,  weep- 
 ingly,  wishingly,  pitifully,  cravingly  :  see  and  sigh,  look  upon 
 Him  whom  you  have  pierced — look,  and  live  I' 
 
 \ 
 
halah's  second  messatje  to  Balaam. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXII. 
 
 An  uiiytt  opposttit  ISataam. 
 
 9  '  And  God  came  unto  Balaam,  and  said, 
 What  men  are  these  with  thee  ? 
 
 10  And  Balaam  said  unto  God,  Balak  the 
 son  of  Zippor,  king  of  Moab,  hath  sent  untu 
 me,  sayuiij, 
 
 1 1  Behold,  there  is  a  people  come  out  of 
 Egypt,  which  coveretli  tlie  face  of  the  eaitli  : 
 come  now,  curse  me  theiu  ;  peradventure  f  ' 
 shall  be  able  to  overcome  them,  and  drive 
 them  out. 
 
 12  And  God  said  unto  Balaam,  Thou  shalt 
 not  go  with  them  ;  thou  shalt  not  curse  the 
 people  :  for  '  they  are  blessed. 
 
 13  And  Balaam  rose  up  Iti  the  morning,  and 
 said  unto  tlie  princes  of  Balak,  Get  you  into 
 your  land  :  for  the  Loud  refuseth  to  give  me 
 leave  to  go  with  you. 
 
 14  And  the  princes  of  Moab  rose  up,  and  they 
 went  unto  Balak,  and  said,  Balaam  refuseth  to 
 come  with  us. 
 
 15  IT  And  Balak  sent  yet  again  princes, more, 
 and  more  honourable  than  they. 
 
 16  And  they  came  to  Balaam,  and  said  to 
 him.  Thus  saith  Balak  the  son  of  Zippor, f  Let 
 nothing,  I  pray  tliee,  hinder  thee  from  coming 
 unto  me  : 
 
 17  For  I  will  promote  thee  unto  very  great 
 honour,  and  I  will  do  whatsoever  thou  sayest 
 unto  me  :  "come  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  curse 
 me  this  people. 
 
 18  And  Balaam  answered  and  said  unto  the 
 servants  of  Balak,  "  If  Balak  would  give  me  his 
 house  full  of  silver  and  gold,  "  I  cannot  go  be^ 
 youd  the  word  of  the  Lord  my  God,  to  do  less 
 or  more. 
 
 19  Now  therefore,  I  pray  you,  ^  tarry  ye  also 
 here  this  night,  that  I  may  know  what  tlie 
 Lord  will  say  unto  me  more. 
 
 20  ''  And  God  came  unto  Balaam  at  night, 
 and  said  unto  him.  If  the  men  come  to  call 
 thee,  rise  up,  and  go  with  them  ;  but  'yet  the 
 word  which  I  shall  say  unto  thee,  that  shalt 
 thou  do. 
 
 21  And  Balaam  rose  up  in  the  morning,  and 
 saddled  his  ass,  and  went  with  the  princes  of 
 Moab. 
 
 22  H  And  God's  anger  was  kindled  because 
 he  went :  'and  the  angel  of  the  Loud  stood  in 
 the  way  for  an  adversary  against  him.  Non- 
 he  was  riding  upon  his  ass,  and  his  two  servants 
 were  with  him. 
 
 23  And  '  the  ass  saw  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
 standing  in  the  way,  and  his  sword  drawn  in 
 his  hand  :  and  the  ass  turned  aside  out  of  the 
 way,  and  went  into  the  field  :  and  Balaam 
 smote  the  ass,  to  turn  her  into  the  way. 
 
 t  Ileb.  / 
 •h„a  ,i„nl, 
 i'ljtahlhii: 
 uS"inithiin 
 
 Ich    23.80. 
 Hoiu.ll.'iS. 
 
 t  Hel..  ri' 
 
 1  ch.  -Jl.  IS, 
 
 -  I  Kin   22. 
 U   -IChr. 
 
 q  rer.  9. 
 
 T  ver  lib. 
 ch.  93.  12, 
 26.  k'2i.  \J. 
 
 yJPot.2,  16, 
 
 t  Heb.  v/io 
 h'ul  ridden 
 
 II  Or,  n.,r 
 
 *!.,(■»   lho<l 
 
 W.1SI,  6cc. 
 ;  See  Gen. 
 
 21.  19. 
 
 2Kii..  6. 17. 
 
 I.iike  2-1. 
 
 lO,  31. 
 d  Kx.  Si.  8 
 li  Or,  6<.iMrf 
 
 f,im4»t/. 
 
 f  Hel..  to  I, 
 aa  uiltiert'irif 
 unlv  /A**, 
 
 '•21'et.i;.  M, 
 IS. 
 
 r  1  Sam.  1.^ 
 24, 3U.  Si  2b 
 21.  8  Sam 
 18.  1.^.  3"h 
 ai.  SI,  32. 
 
 t  Heb,  br  evil 
 Ul  lltiHt'Urt 
 
 eGeii.  14   1' 
 /■ch.  21.  13. 
 
 24  But  the  angel  of  the  Lord  stood  in  a 
 path  of  the  vineyards,  a  wall  being  on  this 
 side,  and  a  wall  on  that  side. 
 
 25  And  when  the  ass  saw  the  angel  of  the 
 Lord,  she  thrust  herself  unto  the  wall,  and 
 crushed  Balaam's  foot  against  the  wall :  and 
 he  smote  her  again. 
 
 26  And  the  angel  of  the  Loud  went  further, 
 and  stood  in  a  narrow  'place,  where  loas  no 
 way  to  turn  either  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the 
 left. 
 
 27  And  when  the  ass  saw  the  angel  of  the 
 Lord,  she  foil  down  under  Balaam  :  and  Ba- 
 laam's anger  was  kindled,  and  he  smote  the 
 ass  with  a  staff. 
 
 28  And  the  Lord  "  opened  the  mouth  of  the 
 ass,  and  slie  said  unto  Balaam,  What  have  I 
 done  unto  thee,  that  thou  hast  smitten  me 
 these  three  times? 
 
 29  And  Balaam  said  unto  the  ass.  Because 
 thou  liast  mocked  me  :  1  would  there  were 
 a  sword  in  mine  hand,  "  for  now  would  I  kill 
 thee. 
 
 30  '  And  the  ass  said  unto  Balaam,  A?n  not  I 
 thine  ass,  fupon  which  thou  hast  ridden  ||  ever 
 since  /  was  thine  unto  this  day  ?  was  1  ever 
 wont  to  do  so  unto  thee?     And  he  said,  Nay. 
 
 31  Then  the  Lord  ^opened  the  eyes  of  Ba- 
 laam, and  he  saw  the  angel  of  the  Lord  stand- 
 ing in  the  way,  and  his  sword  drawn  in  his 
 hand  :  and  he  '  bowed  down  his  head,  and 
 II  fell  flat  on  his  face. 
 
 32  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  him. 
 Wherefore  hast  thou  smitten  thine  ass  these 
 three  times?  behold,  I  went  out  f  to  withstand 
 thee,  because  t/it/  way  is  ''  perverse  before  me : 
 
 33  And  the  ass  saw  me,  and  turned  from  me 
 these  three  times:  unless  she  had  turned  from 
 me,  surely  now  also  1  had  slain  thee,  and  saved 
 her  alive. 
 
 34  And  Balaam  said  unto  the  angel  of  the 
 Lord,  '  I  have  sinned  ;  for  I  knew  not  that 
 thou  stoodest  in  the  way  against  me  :  now 
 therefore,  if  it  f  displease  thee,  I  will  get  me 
 back  again. 
 
 35  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  Ba- 
 aam,  Go  with  the  men  :  ''but  only  the  word 
 that  I  shall  speak  unto  thee,  that  thou  shalt 
 speak.  So  Balaam  went  with  the  princes  of 
 Balak. 
 
 36  U  And  when  Balak  heard  that  Balaam  was 
 come,  '  he  went  out  to  meet  him  unto  a  city  of 
 Moab,  'which  is  in  the  border  of  Arnon,  which 
 
 s  in  the  utmost  coast. 
 
 37  And  Balak  said  unto  Balaam,  Did  I  not 
 arnestly  send  unto  thee  to  call  thee?  where- 
 
 g.  God  came,  as  to  Abimelech,  in  a  dream,  (Gen.xx.3  )  13.  The  Lord 
 rejuaelh—\\e  omits,  however,  to  say,  Israel  were  blessed,  and  none 
 could  curse  them,  or  the  temptation  would  have  been  broken  off.— 
 Hen.  15.  I'rincf.i.  mure,  and  more  honoiirahte — imagining:,  proliably, 
 that  Balaam  thouRl.t  himself  slighted.  20.  Rise  up.  and  go,  '  since 
 thouhastsuchamindtiigo,  follow  thy  inclinations.'— Pn(.  21.  Saddled 
 A«  (US— asses  in  the  east  are  larger  tlinn  those  in  Britain,  and  t lie  largest 
 kind  are  used  for  the  saddle.  They  are  oflen  preferred  to  horses  by  the 
 sheiks,  or  relujious  men.— Dr.  Russell.  22.  Because  he  uenf— the 
 Hebrew  is,  '  because  he  went  of  himself. '—SV/ucA/.  The  Arabic  adds, 
 with  a  covetous  design.'— HouJ.  The  words  may  be  rendered,  '  as  he 
 was  going.'l^irr-'D.-AuWii/s,  Gill.  Many  commentators  think  that 
 the  Divine  di  spleasiire  was  manifested  because  Balaam  went  without 
 the  nieu  calling  him,  as  commauded,  (ver.  20.)  The  angel  nfthe  Lord— 
 Henry  seems  to  understand  this  to  mean  acreatedangel.  Dr.  Hunter 
 understands,  the  uncreated  Eternal  Word,  since  he  is  afterwards  said 
 to  exercise  the  prer..gative  o(  Deny,  and  savs,  •  The  word  that  I  shaU 
 speak  unto  thee,  that  thou  shalt  speak.'  •  This  angel  speaketh  as  the 
 Li.rd  himself,  says  .itnsworthy  and  .seemeth  to  be  Christ."  '  This  was 
 the  uncreated  One,' says  Ci«,  -the  Angel  of  Jehovah's  presence,' as 
 174 
 
 appears  from  ver.  35.  23.  The  ass  saiv  the  anget,  which  Balaam  saw 
 not,  because  God  withheld  his  eyes,  as  he  did  the  eyes  of  Daniel's  com- 
 panions, (Dan.  X.  y.) — foole.  27.  Smote — itith  a  sto^'^probubly  the 
 first  strokes  were  with  a  rod,  or  switcli.  but  now,  more  aggravated,  with 
 the  staff  of  divination,  or  magic  wand,  (sec  Hos.  iv.  12.) — Balaam. 
 28.  Opened  the  mouth— this  has  been  the  jest  of  infidels  ;  but,  say  what 
 you  will  uf  the  construction  of  the  ass's  mouth.  Stc,  yit  an  adequate 
 cause  is  assigned  lor  the  effect,  for  it  is  said  expressly,  *  the  Lord  opened.' 
 fiC,  and  no  one  who  believes  a  God  can  doubt  of  bis  having  power  to 
 do  this,  and  much  more.  Some  interpret  tliis  as  a  vision  ;  but  if  the 
 whole  transaction  was  visionary,  no  reason  can  be  given  why  it  was 
 said  particularly.  '  the  Lord,'  &c.  It  is  thought  strange  that  Balaam 
 stionid  express  no  surprise,  tjul  perhaps  he  believed  tliecasteiii  doctrine 
 of  the  transmigration  of  souls  into  the  bodies  of  brutes,  or  he  was  too 
 enraged  to  attend  to  the  wonder.  The  miracle  might  be  calculated  to 
 convince  Balaam  that  the  month  and  tongue  were  under  God's  direc. 
 tinn.  and  that  the  same  power  which  caused  the  dumb  ass  to  speak 
 could  make  him  utter  blessings  contrary  to  his  inclination. — Bp.Xeuton. 
 A.Clarke  shrewdly  remarks  on  this  miracle,  '  when  God  opens  the 
 mouth,  an  ass  can  speak  as  well  as  a  man.'      39.  Kirjnth  hitzoth, '  the 
 
Balak^s  sacrifice. 
 
 NUMBERS.  XXIII. 
 
 J3aluain  a  parable. 
 
 fore  earnest  thou  not  unto  me?  am  I  not  able 
 
 indeed  ^  to  promote  thee  to  honour? 
 
 38  And  Bahiam  said  unto  Balak,  Lo,  I  am 
 come  unto  thee  :  have  I  now  any  power  at  all 
 to  say  any  thing?  ^  the  word  that  God  putteth 
 in  my  mouth,  that  shall  I  speak 
 
 39  And  Balaam  went  with  Balak,  and  they 
 came  unto  j|  Kirjath-huzoth. 
 
 40  And  Balak  offered  oxen  and  sheep,  and 
 sent  to  Balaam,  and  to  the  princes  that  were 
 with  him. 
 
 41  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that 
 Balak  took  Balaam,  and  brought  him  up  into 
 the  'high  places  of  Baal,  that  thence  he  might 
 see  the  utmost  part  of  the  people. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 I,  13,  23  Balak's  sacrifice.     7,  18  Balaani's parahle. 
 
 A  ND  Balaam  said  unto  Balak,  "  Build  me 
 •^^  here  seven  altars,  and  prepare  me  here  I 
 seven  oxen  and  seven  rams. 
 
 2  And  Balak  did  as  Balaam  had  spoken  ;  and 
 Balak  and  Balaam  ''offered  on  every  oXisit  a 
 bullock  and  a  ram. 
 
 3  And  Balaam  said  unto  Balak,  "^  Stand  by 
 thy  burnt  offering,  and  I  will  go  :  peradventure 
 the  Lord  will  con^e  ^  to  meet  me  :  and  what- 
 soever he  sheweth  me  I  will  tell  thee.  And 
 II  he  went  to  an  high  place. 
 
 4  ^  And  God  met  Balaam  :  and  he  said  unto 
 him,  I  liave  prepared  seven  altars,  and  I  have 
 
 /.  ch.23.  go. 
 
 fc  ^4.  13. 
 
 I  Kin.  22. 
 
 14.  2  Chr. 
 
 18.  IS. 
 !l  Or,  a  city 
 
 ofttreelt. 
 
 b  ver.  14,  30. 
 
 I  Or,  hf  afnt 
 
 B.C.  115?. 
 
 /■ver.  16. 
 ch.  22.  35, 
 Deu.  18.  18. 
 Jer.  1.  9. 
 
 f  ver.  19. 
 
 ch.94  3.15, 
 
 23.  Job  !?7. 
 
 I .  fc  29.  I . 
 
 Ps.  78.  2. 
 
 E2ek.  17.2 
 
 Mic.  2.  1. 
 
 Hab.  2.  6. 
 A  ch.  ?2,  6, 
 
 n,  17. 
 i  1  Sam.  17. 
 
 111. 
 *■  l9.  47.  12, 
 
 /  Deu.  33.  29 
 
 m  Ex.  33.  IC. 
 
 Ezra    9.  2. 
 
 Eph.  2.  H. 
 n  Geu.  I3.1C. 
 
 &  22.  17. 
 
 t  Hpb   my 
 j.^j,or,..y 
 
 o  Pa.  116.15 
 
 pch.  29.  II, 
 17.  &  24.  10. 
 
 9  rU    22.  33. 
 
 offered  upon  evert/  altar  a  bullock  and  a  r;iin. 
 3   And  the   Lord  ^put  a  word   in    Balaaiiw 
 mouth,  and  said,  Return  unto  Balak,  and  thus 
 thou  shalt  speak. 
 
 6  And  he  returned  unto  him,  and,  lo,  he 
 stood  by  his  burnt  sacrifice,  he,  and  all  tlie 
 princes  of  Moab. 
 
 7  And  he  ^  took  up  his  parable,  and  said, 
 Balak  the  king  of  Moab  hath  brought  me  from 
 Aram,  out  of  the  mountains  of  the  east,  saying, 
 ^  Come,  curse  me  Jacob,  and  come,  '  defy  Israel. 
 
 8  ''  How  shall  I  curse,  whom  God  hath  not 
 cursed?  or  how  shall  I  defy,  ivhom  the  Lord 
 hath  not  defied  ? 
 
 9  For  from  tlie  top  of  the  rocks  I  see  him, 
 and  from  the  liills  I  behold  him  :  lo,  '  the 
 people  shall  dwell  alone,  and  "shall  not  be 
 reckoned  among  the  nations. 
 
 10  "  Who  can  count  the  dust  of  Jacob,  and 
 the  number  of  the  fourth  pari  of  Israel  ?  Let 
 fme  die  °  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  lei 
 my  last  end  be  hke  his ! 
 
 1 1  And  Balak  said  unto  Balaam,  What  hast 
 thou  done  unto  me?  ''I  took  thee  to  curse 
 mine  enemies,  and,  behold,  thou  hast  blessed 
 them  altogether. 
 
 12  And  he  answered  and  said,  ''  Must  I  not 
 take  heed  to  speak  that  which  the  Lord  hath 
 put  in  my  mouth  ? 
 
 13  And  Balak  said  unto  him,  Come,  I  pray 
 thee,  with  me  unto  another  place,  from  whence 
 
 royal  city.' — GiU.  41.  High  places  —  all  nations  worshipped  their 
 gods  in  hi(;h  places, — Pat.,  they  b^  ing  thought  nearer  heaven.— J5rf. 
 Battl,  "jyi,  signifies  *  he  that  rules  and  subdues,'  '  master,'  '  lord,*  or 
 '  husband.'  Baal,  Bel,  or  Belus,  was  an  idulof  the  Chaidccans,  Phoeni- 
 cians, and  Canaanites.  Baal  probably  represented  ihe  sun. — J.Robinson. 
 Chap.  XXIII. —  1.  Seren  altars — the  heathens  had  a  notion  that  un- 
 equal numbers  please  the  gods.' — Orient.  Cust.  The  institution  of  the 
 Sabbatti  might  make  the  number  seven  sacred  amon?  the  Hebrews, 
 but  with  Balaam,  as  an  astrologer,  perhaps  the  supposed  influences  of 
 the  seven  stars  called  the  Pleiades.  —  Balanm.  The  notion  of  tlie 
 Pleiades  is  quite  gratuitous  and  trifling.  He  oflfered  on  seven  altars 
 because  he  had  seven  sacrifices  lo  ofl'er.  and  he  could  not  conveniently 
 offer  them  on  one. — A.  Clarke.  2.  Balak  and  Balaam  offered — kin^s, 
 in  ancient  times,  were  priests  also,  as  appears  by  Melchizedek;  but 
 perhaps  Balak  ouly  presented  the  sacrifices,  and  Balaam  acted  as  priest. 
 — Pat.  3.  He  went  to  an  high  pl-ire,  'to  aclift  nf  the  rock,'  or  'soli- 
 tary place.' — Ains,     '  He  went  in  anxious  silence.' — Geddes.     Rather, 
 
 *  into  a  valley,' for  he  was  in  a  h'gli  place  when  he  sacrificed;  'into 
 the  plain,'  as  the  Hebrew  word  pmperly  signifies.— /'w^.  '  Into  a 
 grove.'  in  one  of  the  high  places,  where  he  might  be  retired,  or,  per- 
 haps, into  a  cave  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  for  De  Dieu  has  shewn,  from 
 the  use  of  the  word  in  the  Syiiac.  that  *  the  plain' is  meant. — Gilt. 
 
 *  Into  an  open  place,  for  the  word  'r:iD,  in  Syriac  and  Arabic,  denotes 
 a  place  levelled  and  cleared  of  wood. — Boothr.,  Slich.,  Rosenin. ;  see 
 also  Sept.  ~.  His  parahle,  "jiDO.  the  root  signifies  *  to  have  dominion' 
 or '  power.'  and  hence  the  noun  signifies,  *  a  weighty  saying;'  that  is, 
 evidently,  a  saying  of  authority  which  shnuld  govern  the  mind. — Ed. 
 Parable  is  used  in  four  ways;  to  describe,  (1.)  Elevated  and  instructive 
 poetry,  (Ps.  .^lix.  3,  4  ;  Ixxxviii.)  (ii.)  A  proverbial  saying,  {see  I  Kings, 
 ir.  32;  Luke,  iv.  23.)    (iii.)  A  short  comparison,  or  similitude,  (Luke, 
 
 V.  36;  vi.  39  ;  Matt.  xiii.  31,  34.)  (iv.)  Acnntinned  relation  of  feigned, 
 but  possible  facts,  as  our  Lo^d'^  parables. —.^ip.JVeit'fomi?.  Here  is  an 
 oracular  and  prophetic  spcecli,  full  of  weighty  matter. — Poole.  Q.  The 
 people  shall  duell  alone— this  n'm:iT\ia.h\e  prediction  has  been  fulfilled 
 to  the  present  day.  The  Jews  have  stood  alone  in  their  prosperity,  un- 
 muced  with  pagan  nations  ;  in  their  captivity,  *  more  tenacious  of  their 
 own  rites  and  customs  than  at  any  other  times  ;  and  even  now,  while 
 they  are  dispersed  among  all  nations,  they  ytt  live  distinct  and  separate 
 from  all;  trading  only  with  others,  but  eating,  marrying,  and  convers- 
 ing chiefly  among  themselves." — Bp.  Newton.  10.  The  dust,  'the 
 dust  like  seed  of  Jacob.' — Boothr.  The  numberless  people,  as  the  dust, 
 as  promised  to  Abraham,  (Gen.  xiii.  16;  xxviii.  14.)  The  fourth  part— 
 they  were  divided  in  four  camps,  (chap,  ii.) — Poole.  Let  me  die,  §c. — 
 the  prophet  had,  pmbably,  some  foreboding  of  his  coming  to  an  un- 
 timely end. — Sher.  The  words  signify,  '  Let  me  die  in  a  mature  old  age. 
 after  a  liie  of  health  and  peace,  with  my  offspring  flourishing  about  me, 
 as  was  the  lot  of  the  righteous  observers  of  the  law.'  The  righteous, 
 D'1^',  '  the  upright  ones.' — Pag.,  Mont.,  Pi.sc.,  Warburton.  Let  my 
 last  end,  Sfc,  to  antpfia  /xov,  Sept.  This  may  properly  be  rendered,  as 
 in  Ps.  cix.  13,  Dan.  xi.  4.  '  let  my  posterity,' &c.,  —  Sher.,  A.  Clarke  ; 
 or  'those  that  come  after  rae.^—Pat.  As  the  covenant  and  blessing  of 
 God  given  to  Abraham  reached  to  his  posterity,  and  this  might  not  be 
 unknown  to  Balaam,  it  gave  occasion  for  this  wi-h.  Ourtranslation  is, 
 however,  to  be  preferred,  because  it  agrees  best  with  the  u^age  of  Scrip- 
 ture to  repeat  the  same  thing  in  other  words,  and  this  view  will  include 
 the  reward  which  follows  death.— Poole.  It  is  not  certain  that  Balaam 
 had  any  posterity.— GiV/.  Reading  this  as  a  parallel  line  is  to  he  pre- 
 ferred, as  obscurely  referring  to  the  hope  of  another  life. — Boothr..  so 
 Mich.  My  last  end,  '  my  reward,'  Tinnt*,  (see  Prov.  xxiv.20.) — Gilt. 
 11.  .-l/^ogeMer— without  the  admixture  of  a  single  curse.— Wi7.    13.C^h/o 
 
 RrFLEcTioys  on  Chap.  XXII. — Two  prominent  subjects 
 of  reflection  arise  out  of  this  chapter — I.  The  evil  of  covetoiis- 
 ncss.  We  see  here  lialaam  making  effort  upon  effort  to  curse 
 tlie  people  of  whom  God  had  said.  '  thou  shalt  not  curse  the 
 people,  for  they  are  blessed.'  But  he  listens  again  to  the  mes- 
 sengers, be  looks  with  a  longing  eye  on  the  honours  and  riches 
 which  depend  upon  the  act  ;  he  importunes,  or,  as  one  says, 
 '  teases  God;'  he  detains  the  messenger^;,  and  he  finally  goes 
 with  them,  contrary  to  the  Divine  conimand.  The  Apostle 
 Peter  gives  us  a  key  to  this  undecided  conduct  of  Balaam  ;  be 
 says,  'he  loved  the  wages  of  unrighteousness.'  And,  alas  I 
 there  are  still  too  many  like  him  ;  they  have  to  decide  between 
 God  and  the  world,  but  they  halt  between  two  opinions  ;  their 
 temporal  interests  are  often  at  stake  ;  they  cannot  break  off 
 those  worldly  connexions  on  which  so  mucb  depends,  and  so 
 they  sacrifice  those  interests  which  are  eternal.  And  the 
 heart,  once  set  on  money,  gives  up  the  true  God  for  an  idol, 
 for  the  Scriptures  denounce  covetousness  as  idolatry.  *  Ve 
 cannot  serve  God  and  Mammon.'  Let  us  beware,  therefore, 
 of  this  evil,  for  it  approaches  the  heart  in  a  most  attractive, 
 and  often  unsuspicious  form  ;  but  when  the  tempter  approaches 
 in  this  way.  his  language,  if  interpreted,  is  no  less  than  this, 
 17o 
 
 '  all  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  if  tbou  wilt  fall  down  and 
 worship  me.' 
 
 II.  Another  subject  of  reflection  from  this  chapter  is,  The 
 controlling  providence  of  God  over  the  hearts  of  men.  Numerous 
 other  instances  have  occurred  in  the  history  of  the  church  of 
 God,  in  which  it  has  appeared  most  evident  that  the  hearts  of 
 men  are  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord,  and  that  he  turneth  tbem, 
 like  the  rivers  of  water,  whithersoever  he  pleases.  Balaam  is 
 obliged  to  declare,  in  spite  of  all  his  selfish  wishes,  '  If  Balak 
 would  give  me  his  house  full  of  silver  and  gold,  I  cannot  go  be- 
 yond the  word  of  the  Lord  my  God,  to  do  less  or  more.*  \\'hen 
 still  hankering  after  his  hateful  project,  even  the  dumb  ass  iias 
 her  mouth  opened  by  the  Lord,  to  rebuke  the  madness  of  the 
 prophet  ;  and  when  arrived  in  the  presence  of  Balak,  he  is 
 forced  to  say,  *  Lo,  I  am  come  unto  thee  :  have  I  now  any  power 
 at  all  to  say  anything  V  Let  these  facts  comfort  those  who  are 
 labouring  under  any  sort  of  persecution  from  the  machination 
 of  enemies.  '  No  weapon  that  is  formed  against  them  shall 
 prosper,'  and  every  design  of  their  enemies  shall  be  foiled,  as 
 far  as  their  good  is  concerned  ;  nor  shall  their  utmost  efforts  of 
 malice  prevent  Israel,  in  the  end,  from  attaining  the  promised 
 land. 
 
Balaam's  parable. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXIV. 
 
 Balannts  prophecy 
 
 thou  mayest  see  them  :  tliou  shalt  see  but  the 
 utmost  part  of  them,  and  shalt  not  see  them 
 all  :  and  cnrse  me  tliem  from  thence. 
 
 14  1  And  he  bronclit  him  into  the  field  of 
 Zophim,  to  the  top  of  ||  Pi.sgah,  '  and  built 
 seven  altars,  and  offered  a  bullock  and  a  ram 
 on  every  altar. 
 
 15  And  he  said  unto  Balak,  Stand  here  by 
 thy  burnt  offering,  while  I  meet  the  L  OKI) 
 yonder. 
 
 16  And  the  Lord  met  Balaam,  and  'put  a 
 word  in  his  mouth,  and  said,  Go  again  unto 
 Balak,  and  say  thus. 
 
 17  And  when  he  came  to  him,  behold,  he 
 stood  by  his  burnt  offering,  and  the  princes  of 
 Moab  with  him.  And  Balak  said  unto  him. 
 What  hath  the  Lord  spoken? 
 
 18  And  he  took  up  his  parable,  and  said, 
 *  Rise  up,  Balak,  and  hear ;  hearken  unto  me, 
 thou  son  of  Zippor  : 
 
 19  "God  is  not  a  man,  that  he  should  lie; 
 neither  the  son  of  man,  that  he  should  repent : 
 hath  he  said,  and  shall  he  not  do  it  f  or  hath 
 he  spoken,  and  shall  he  not  make  it  good  ? 
 
 20  Behold,  I  have  received  commandment  to 
 bless  :  and  ^  he  hath  blessed  ;  and  I  cannot 
 reverse  it. 
 
 21  ''  He  hath  not  beheld  iniquity  in  Jacob, 
 neither  hath  he  seen  perverseness  in  Israel  : 
 'the  Lord  his  God  is  with  him,  'and  the 
 shout  of  a  king  is  among  them. 
 
 22  ■■  God  brought  them  out  of  Egypt ;  he 
 hath  as  it  were  '  the  strength  of  an  unicorn. 
 
 23  Surely  there  is  no  enchantment  ||  against 
 Jacob,  neither  is  there  any  divination  against 
 Israel :  according  to  this  time  it  shall  be  said  of 
 Jacob  and  of  Israel, ''  What  hath  God  wrought ! 
 
 24  Behold,  the  people  shall  rise  up  "  as  a 
 great  lion,  and  lift  up  himself  as  a  young  lion  : 
 
 hilt. 
 ■  ver.  1,  2. 
 
 (  Jti<lg.2.S0. 
 
 u  I  Ram.  15. 
 
 29.  Mal.3.6. 
 Kom.  11  29. 
 Jamea  1.17, 
 Til.  1.2. 
 
 ;  F.x.  13  21. 
 Sc  29.  4.5,46 
 
 &  :«.  11. 
 
 a  PR.  89    1.1. 
 6  ch  24.  8. 
 r  Deut.  S3. 
 
 17.  Job  39. 
 
 10,  11. 
 II  Or,  ID. 
 
 B.  C.  1452. 
 /Gen.  49.27. 
 
 c  ver.  18. 
 
 ch.  22.  88. 
 I  Kin.  22. 
 
 .  ch.  21.  20. 
 k  ver.  1. 
 
 n  Ch.  S3.  8, 
 
 15. 
 t  Heb.  to  Ih^ 
 
 fiiclmHt' 
 
 mfjitt 
 *  ch.  2.  2, 
 
 *c. 
 cch.  11.  25. 
 
 I  Sam.  10. 
 
 \0  &  19  20, 
 
 23.  2Chr. 
 
 15.  1. 
 d  ch.  28.  7, 
 
 t  Heb   vht, 
 Ami  l|i,  tl/fs 
 ihut,  but 
 iiiiw  open- 
 ed. 
 
 e  See  1  Sam 
 19  24. 
 Ejek.  1.28. 
 Dan  9.  18. 
 8t  10.  15,  16 
 2  Crtr.  12.  2, 
 3,4.  Rev.  I. 
 10,  17. 
 
 '  he  shall  not  lie  down  until  he  eat  q/"  the  prey, 
 and  drink  the  blood  of  the  slain. 
 
 25  IF  And  Balak  said  unto  Balaam,  Neither 
 curse  them  at  all,  nor  bless  them  at  all. 
 
 •26  But  Balaam  answered  and  said  unto  Ba- 
 lak, Told  not  I.  thee,  saying,  ^  All  that  the 
 Lord  speaketh,  that  I  must  do? 
 
 27  t  And  Balak  said  unto  Balaam,  ^  Come,  I 
 pray  thee,  I  will  bring  thee  unto  another  place  ; 
 pcradventure  it  will  please  God  that  thou  may- 
 est curse  me  them  from  thence. 
 
 28  And  Balak  brought  Balaam  unto  the  top 
 of  Peor,  that  looketh  '  toward  Jeshlmon. 
 
 29  And  Balaam  said  unto  Balak,  '  Build  me 
 here  seven  altars,  and  prepare  me  here  seven 
 bullocks  and  seven  rams. 
 
 30  And  Balak  did  as  Balaam  had  said,  and 
 offered  a  bullock  and  a  ram  on  every  altar. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Balaam,  leaving  divinations,  prnp/iesief/i  the  haj.jii- 
 rivss  of  Israel.  10  Balak  in  atiytr  dismisseth  hi, v. 
 15  He  proplusicth  of  the  Star  of  Jacob,  and  the  de~ 
 structiun  of  siime  nations. 
 
 AND  when  Balaam  saw  that  it  pleased  the 
 -^^  Lord  to  bless  Israel,  he  went  not,  as  at 
 "other  times,  t  to  seek  for  enchantments,  but 
 he  set  his  face  toward  tiie  wilderness. 
 
 2  And  Balaam  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  he  saw 
 Israel  *■  abiding  in  his  tents  according  to  their 
 tribes ;  and  ^  the  spirit  of  God  came  upon 
 him. 
 
 3  ^  And  he  took  up  his  parable,  and  said, 
 Balaam  the  son  of  Beor  hath  said,  and  tlie 
 man  f  whose  eyes  are  open  hath  said  : 
 
 4  He  hath  said,  which  heard  the  words  of 
 God,  which  saw  the  vision  of  the  Almighty, 
 •^falling  into  a  tranccy  but  having  his  eyes 
 open  : 
 
 another  place — Balak  thougrht  the  si*ht  nf  so  many  people  mi^ht  dismay 
 Balaam  — Poole.  14.  Pinsnh,  h  high  mountain  in  Moab,  commanding 
 an  extensive  view  of  C^nuan,  (Deut.  iii.  27  ;  xxxiv.  1,  2,  \c.)  On  the 
 side  whither  Balak  brought  Balaam  he  could  not  see  much  of  the  camp 
 of  Israel,  21 .  Iniquity,  '  idolatry.'  Balaam  intimates  that  he  could 
 not  curse  the  people  because  they  were  free  from  idolatry.  Hence,  he 
 afterwards  caused  them  to  be  enticed  to  this  sin,  to  provoke  God  to 
 anger, — Pat,  The  Vulgate  reads,  '  there  is  no  idol  in  Jacob,  nor  simi- 
 litude in  Israel.'  Several  interpreters  read,  'he  does  not  behold  ini- 
 quity in  Jacob,  nor  see  vexation  against  Israel,*  and  '  he  has  nut  beheld 
 wrongoffered  to  Jacob,  nor  will  he  see  any  grievance  dune  to  Israel.' — 
 See  Sept,,  Poole,  Wall,  Hen.  God  had,  indeed,  seen  sin  in  Jacob,  but 
 not  so  as  to  induce  him  to  curse  the  people. — Poole.  The  nation  was 
 B  tjTje  (if  believers,  in  whom  God  beholds  not  iniquity  or  perverseness  ; 
 none  allowed,  none  unrepented  or  unsubdued,  and  none  unpardoned, 
 — Scott.  22,  He  hath— the  strfi?i^fh—XhsLt  is,  Israel,  as  ver.  8,  next 
 chapter. —  Wit.  Unicom — generally  sujiposed  to  be  the  rhinoceros. — 
 Ed.  Bochort  reads,  '  the  speed  and  agility  of  the  roebuck  or  gaze!.' 
 23,  Surelij  therf  is  no  enchnntmerit,  ^c,  '  against  Jacob  there  is  no  en- 
 chantment, against  Israel  no  power  of  divination.* — Bnlnam.  '  Surely 
 there  are  no  omens  in  Jacob,  no  divinations  in  Israel :  at  all  times  it 
 shall  be  told  to  Jacob  and  to  Israel  what  God  is  about  to  do.* — Delgadn. 
 The  meaning  i^,  the  Israelites  have  no  need  of  omens  or  divinations  ; 
 their  God  tells  them,  from  time  to  time,  whatistobefal  them. — Rosenm. 
 According  to  this  time,  Karu  Kaipoi'.  '  when  time  shall  be,'  or  *  up  n  all 
 occasions  ;'  not  only  now,  but  in  future  ages.— Pa/.  What  hnth  God 
 wrought? — an  expression  of  wonder  still  used  in  the  east  when  any- 
 
 thing seems  miraculous, — Hnr.  24.  As  a  g-rett  lion — a  prophecy  of 
 Israel's  future  victories. — Bp.  Neu-ton.  Drink  the  blood — signifying  the 
 completeness  of  their  victories. — Scott. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  —  1.  Asnt  other  times,  cyC3  CrSD.  '  as  at  a  time  in  a 
 time' — Mont.  'At  two  times,*  of  which  see  chap,  xxiii.  3,  15.  'As 
 he  had  done  twice  before.'  To  seek  for  enchantments,  '  for  omens.* — 
 Boothr.  C'Cn;  n^ip?,  *  to  meet  enchantments,' — Pag.,  M;nt  Rather, 
 '  to  meet  seriients.'  One  sort  of  divination  is  called  ophiomancy,  or 
 divining  by  serpents. — GUI.  Had  he  then  been  accustomed  to  go  to 
 meet  serpents  to  draw  auguries  from  those  reptiles'  The  thing  is  nut 
 impossible,  since  from  almost  every  creature  auguries  have  been 
 drawn, — Cat.  Nothing  more  is  meant  by  the  words  than  'the  know, 
 ledge  of  future  events.'— ^4.  Clarke.  2.  The  spirit  of  God.  not  in  his 
 grace,  but  in  his  gifts, — Gill.  A  common  spirit,  the  s-pirit  of  prophecy. 
 '  Have  we  not  prophesied  in  thy  name?'&c, — Trapp.  3.  The  mim 
 trhose  eyes  are  open,  '  whose  eyes  were  shut,  but  imw  open.* — Mont. 
 *  The  man  who've  eye  was  shnt,' — Scott,  so  also  Bp.  Newton,  whu  ob 
 serves,  *  the  word  cniD  is  used  only  here  and  in  Lam.  iii.  8,  and  there 
 it  signifies  '  to  shut.'  4,  Fnlling,  '^D:.  '  by  way  of  prostration,' — Jer^ts. 
 Targ.,  so  A.  Clarkf.  '  Iiitranced.'  —  Boothr.  ¥.v  'vnvw,  'in  sleep,' 
 Sept.  But  having  his  ft/es  open — his  mind  being  then  possessed  of  a 
 clear  apprehension  of  things. — Pat.  The  passage  should  be  rendered, 
 '  falhng,  and  his  e>  es  were  opened,*  alluding  to  what  happened  in  the 
 way,  to  Balaam's  falling  with  his  fallen  ass,  and  then  having  bis  eyes 
 opened. — Bp.  Neu-ton.  The  word  translated  '  open' in  the  former 
 verse  is  different  from  this.    In  ver.  3,  CniDf  iu  this,  ^Vj,  from  Tt^y.—Ed. 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  XXIII.  — I.  God's  people  are  a  pecu- 
 liar peoph'.  They  '  dwell  alone'  from  the  rest  of  the  world. 
 Their  principles,  actions,  motives,  manners,  habits,  customs, 
 worship,  mutual  intercourse,  are  of  a  difierent  character  from 
 those  of  others.  Theworld  around  think  it  strange  of  them  that 
 they  '  run  not  with  them  to  the  same  excess  of  riot,'  speaking 
 evil  of  them.  They  are  '  preserved  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  called.' 
 The  broad  shield  of  the  Divine  protection  is  thrown  over 
 them.  What  can  men  do  against  the  church  of  Christ "?  '  The 
 gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it.'  '  Surely  there  is  no 
 enchantment  against  Jacob,  neither  is  there  any  divination 
 against  Israel  !' 
 
 II.  Let  us  beware  of  abusing  the  truth,  that  God  sees  no  iniquiti/ 
 in  Jacob,  Did  he  not  often  see  sin  in  Israel '!  Did  he  no't 
 often  punish  it  1  Will  be  not  visit  our  '  sins  with  a  rod,  and 
 176 
 
 our  iniquities  with  stripes  V  While  he  often  lets  others  alone 
 in  this  world,  and  *  they  have  more  than  heart  can  wish,'  be 
 says  to  Israel,  '  you  only  have  I  known  of  all  the  lamilies  of 
 the  earth,  therefore  I  will  punish  you  for  all  your  iniquities.* 
 We  are  chastened  of  the  Lord,  that  v,e  should  not  be  con- 
 demned with  the  world.  And  often,  from  our  iniquity  and  per- 
 verseness, we  need  a  repetition  of  the  strokes  of  the  Almighty, 
 and  he  gives  them  to  us,  to  humble  us  and  prove  us,  and  try 
 what  is  in  our  hearts.  Yes,  the  history  of  the  church  of  God 
 painfully  proves  tlmt  God  does  see  sin  in  his  people.  But 
 when  the  sinner  sincerely  repents  and  truly  believes  in  Christ, 
 this  ftlediator  stands  between  him  and  (jod.  Then  his  sin  is 
 not  seen  ;  it  is  as  though  bis  sins  were  blotted  out,  and  cast 
 into  the  depths  of  the  sea.  Lord,  pardon  our  sins,  speak  peace 
 to  our  hearts,  and  help  us  *  to  go,  and  sin  no  more  !' 
 
Balah  dismisseth  Balaam. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXIV.     Balaam  prophesirAh  of  the  Star  of  Jacob. 
 
 5  How  jroodly  are  thy  tents,  O  Jacob,  and 
 thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel ! 
 
 6  As  the  valleys  are  they  spread  forth,  as 
 gardens  by  the  river's  side,  *'as  the  trees  of 
 lign  aloes  ^  whicli  the  Lord  hath  planted,  and 
 as  cedar  trees  beside  the  waters. 
 
 7  He  shall  pour  the  water  out  of  his  buckets, 
 and  his  seed  shall  be  ^  hi  many  waters,  and  his 
 king  shall  be  higher  than  '  Agag,  and  his 
 '■kingdom  shall  be  exalted. 
 
 8  '  God  brought  him  forth  out  of  Egypt  ;  he 
 liath  as  it  were  the  strength  of  an  unicorn  •  he 
 shall  '"  eat  up  the  nations  his  enemies,  and  shall 
 "break  their  bones,  and  ° pierce  tht-m  through 
 with  his  arrows. 
 
 i^  ^He  couched,  he  lay  down  as  a  lion,  and  as 
 a  great  lion  :  who  shall  stir  him  up  ?  *^  Blessed 
 is  he  that  blesseth  thee,  and  cursed  is  he  that 
 curseth  tliee. 
 
 10  t  And  Balak*s  anger  was  kindled  against 
 Balaam,  and  he  'smote  his  hands  together: 
 and  Balak  said  unto  Balaam,  '^  I  called  thee  to 
 nurse  mine  enemies,  and,  behold,  thou  hast 
 altogether  blessed  them  these  three  times. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  now  flee  thou  to  thy  place  :  *  I 
 thought  to  promote  thee  unto  great  honour; 
 but,  lo,  the  Lord  hath  kept  tliee  back  from 
 honour. 
 
 12  And  Balaam  said  unto  Balak,  Spake  I  not 
 also  to  thy  messengers  which  thou  sentest  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 13  "  if  Balak  would  give  me  his  house  full  of 
 silver  and  gold,  I  cannot  go  beyond  the  com- 
 mandment of  the  Lord,  to  do  either  good  or 
 bad  of  mine  own  mind  ;  but  what  the  Lord 
 saith,  that  will  I  speak? 
 
 /Ps.  1.  8. 
 
 .Ter.  17.  8. 
 J  Ps.  10+.  IG. 
 
 A  J.r.  M.  13. 
 
 Kcv.  17.  I. 
 
 15, 
 ■'  1  Sam.  15. 
 
 9. 
 A2Sara.5.!S. 
 
 I  Chr.  II,?. 
 /ch.23  ■-'2 
 rn  ih.  U.S. 
 
 &  23.  21 
 n  Ps.  2.  9. 
 
 .  m. 
 
 Jer.  50    17 
 o  Ps.  45.  5 
 
 Jer.  51)   9. 
 f  Cn.  49.  9. 
 q  Geii.  12.3. 
 
 &  ?7.  -29. 
 
 r  Eze   21  U. 
 
 17.  St.-y  :;t, 
 f  rh.  2.S    n 
 
 F'eu  ?S  4,5 
 
 Jn^h    2+    9. 
 
 10.  Nell.  13 
 
 B   r  1152, 
 
 r  alio  6  5 
 H«?v.  2.  U 
 
 1/  Gen.  44.  I. 
 Dan,  2  28. 
 &  lU.  14. 
 
 X  ver.  3,  4. 
 
 a  Rev.  1.7, 
 
 fi  ^fat.  2.  9 
 
 Kev.  22.  Jii. 
 e  Gen.  19   10. 
 
 Ps  no  2. 
 
 'J  Or.  t'nife 
 thruug/t  thu 
 prU..s  of 
 Moab. 
 2  ?^am.  S  2 
 J.?r    4H  45 
 
 'I  2  s:am  8. 
 14.  Ps.  CO. 
 y,  9,  12 
 
 "  G«n.  49  10 
 
 [|  Of,th'JitU 
 nflli'Tiiationi 
 ihnt  anrred 
 
 ■atf,  Esod. 
 
 Bhall 
 rfi  fa 
 
 17 
 !■  Or, 
 be  (• 
 firttriirlion. 
 Ex.  17.  14. 
 I  i^ani.  15. 
 3.  R, 
 
 I  net:  Kuin. 
 Gen.  I.S.  19. 
 
 II  Or,  h;r 
 /"'.^sliall  it 
 b.:  ei  e  At- 
 llijir  cnrri/ 
 
 Ciptire  ^ 
 fG>;n.  10.  4. 
 Diui.  11.30. 
 
 14  And  Hf)w,  behold,  I  go  unto  my  people: 
 come  therefore,  and  ^  1  will  advertise  thee 
 what  this  people  shall  do  to  thy  people  *'in 
 the  latter  days. 
 
 1.5  ^  "^  And  he  took  up  his  parable,  and  said, 
 Balaam  the  son  of  Beor  hath  said,  and  the 
 man  whose  eyes  are  open  hath  said  : 
 
 10  He  hath  said,  which  heard  the  words  of 
 God,  and  knew  the  knowledge  of  the  most 
 High,  which  saw  the  vision  of  the  Almighty, 
 falling  into  a  trance,  but  having  his  eyes 
 open  : 
 
 17^1  shall  see  him,  but  not  now  :  1  shall  be- 
 hold him,  but  not  nigh  :  there  sliall  come  ''a 
 Star  out  of  Jacob,  and  *^  a  Sceptre  shall  rise  out 
 of  Israel,  and  shall  ||  smite  the  corners  of 
 Moab,  and  destroy  all  the  children  of  Sheth. 
 
 18  And  '^  Edom  shall  be  a  possession,  Seir 
 also  shall  be  a  possession  for  his  enemies;  and 
 Israel  shall  do  valiantly. 
 
 19  ^  Out  of  Jacob  shall  come  he  that  ^slW 
 have  dominion,  and  shall  destroy  him  that  re- 
 maineth  of  the  city, 
 
 20  1|  And  when  he  looked  on  Amalek,  he 
 took  up  his  parable,  and  said,  Amalek  was 
 II  the  first  of  the  nations  ;  but  his  latter  end 
 II  shall  be  that  he  perish  for  ever. 
 
 21  And  he  looked  on  the  Kenites,  and  took 
 up  his  parable,  and  said.  Strong  is  thy  dwelling- 
 place,  and  thou  puttest  thy  nest  in  a  rock. 
 
 22  Nevertheless  f  the  Kenite  shall  be  wasted, 
 II  until  Asshur  shall  carry  thee  away  captive. 
 
 23  And  he  took  up  his  parable,  and  said, 
 Alas,  who  shall  live  when  God  doeth  this! 
 
 24  And  shii>s  shall  come  from  the  coast  of 
 f  Chittim,  and  shall  afflict   Asshur,  and  shall 
 
 6  As  the  valleys  are  tkejj  sprend  forth,  'as  vales  planted  with  groves. 
 — Boothr.  Li^n  aloes,  Xyh7\>i.  often  rendered  'tents,'  as  Gen.  iv.  20; 
 xili.  3  ;  Josh.  vii.21,  &c.  As  tents  were  probably  first  made  of  boughs, 
 the  word  may  be  rendered  '  arbour'  or  '  bower.' — T.  M.  Harris.  *  As 
 tents  which  the  Lord  hath  pitched.* — A.  Clarke.  'As  aloes,'  tlie  word 
 occurs  also  in  Ps.  xlv.  g,  and  Cant.  iv.  M,  but  not  correctly,  for  aloes 
 have  a  bad  smell. — So  Jun.  Trent.,  and  Pise.  The  lign  aloes  have  a 
 \ery  aromatic  and  fragrant  scent.  The  aloes  are  plants,  but  the  li^n- 
 aloes  are  trees.  Isidore  remarks,  that  they  grow  in  Arabia  as  well  as 
 in  India,  and  so  might  be  known  to  Balaam. — Gill.  /.  He  shall  pour 
 water  out  of  his  buckets,  '  water  shall  flow  from  his  dripping  places,' 
 i.e.,  from  his  leaves  and  branches,  which  drink  water  of  the  rain  of 
 heaven,  (Deut.  xi.  11.) — C.  Tat/lor.  'Water  shall  flow  from  the  urn 
 ot  Jacob.' — Boothr.  It  most  probably  alludes  to  a  method  of  watering 
 Used  in  the  east,  similar  to  our  method  of  raising  saud  from  a  river  by 
 a  machine  of  revolving  descending  and  ascending  buckets,  which,  on 
 reaching  the  top,  empty  themselves  as  directed  ;  but  human  feet  there 
 supply  the  place  of  machinery,  after  the  manner  of  dur  treadmill. —  Ed. 
 His  sffd  shall  be  in  many  waters — dwell  in  a  well-watered  land,  (Deut. 
 ^  ill.  7-) — Gill.  This,  perhaps,  alludes  to  the  manner  of  sowing  rice  on 
 wet  mud,  or  even  before  the  water  has  departed.  '  He  shall  have 
 water  enough  to  sow  his  crops.* — Ed.  Higher  than  Agng,  who  might 
 be  the  then  present  king  of  Amalek,  reckoned  one  nf  the  greatest  kings 
 on  the  eaith,  (see  1  Sam.  xv,  j,  s  )  to  which  the  prophecy  might  refer. 
 R.  Unicorn — supposed  to  be  the  rhinoceros.  p.  Who  shall  stir  him  ? — 
 it  would  be  as  dangerous  as  to  rouse  a  Hon  frnm  his  repose.  15.  Ba- 
 l  nam  the  sort  of  Beor  hath  said,  fyr. — this  is  pompous  and  vain;  the 
 True  prophets  of  God  simply  opened  their  commission  with  '  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord.' — Boothr.  i".  /  shall  see  him,  §-c.,  or  rather,  '  1  see  him, 
 but  not  now  ;  I  behold  him,  but  not  nigh,'  the  future  tense  in  Hebrew 
 being  often  put  for  the  present. — Bp.  h'etcton.  To  the  same  purport, 
 A.  Clarke,  and  the  author  of  Balaam.  He  saw  him,  not  as  in  being  at 
 l)resent,  but  to  come  in  future  times.— P^^  He  speaks  of  a  prophetical 
 sight,  like  that  of  Abraham's,  who  saw  Christ's  day.  —  Poole.  He 
 speaks  of  David  and  of  the  Messiah,  of  whose  regal  power  and  victories 
 David  was  a  remarkable  figure. — Hut. 
 
 '  I  see  it,  though  it  will  not  be  now; 
 1  behold  it,  though  the  event  is  not  near.' — Boothr. 
 Balaam  would  see  Hirn,  the  grand  object  to  be  made  known,  but  not 
 at  present;  he  would  contemplate  his  glory,  but  at  a  great  distance.— 
 Scott.  Or,  Balaam,  a  wicked  man,  should  see  Christ,  but  should  not 
 see  him  nigh  ;  nut  bee  him  as  Job,  who  saw  him  as  his  Redeemer. — 
 Hen.  So  shall  every  eye,  and  those  also  that  pierced  him,  (Rev.  i.  7,) 
 hut  not  as  Abraham  saw  him,  and  rejoiced;  nor  as  Job,  (chap.  six. 
 25,  27.) — Trapp.  He,  B  ilaam,  sbnold  see  the  Messiah,  not  spiritually, 
 with  the  eye  of  faith,  nor  corporally,  with  his  bodily  eyes,  in  his  state 
 ot  incarnation,  but  at  the  day  of  judgment;  and  now,  indeed,  he  saw 
 him  by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.— Gf7/.    As  the  language  is  wholly  pro- 
 
 177 
 
 phetic,  and  refers  to  the  future  destinies  of  Israel,  it  is  certainly  wrest- 
 ing it  to  make  it  a  personal  predictinn  relative  to  the  future  state  of 
 Balaam. —  Ed.  A  Star,  in  the  Egyptian  hieroglyphics,  denoted  God, 
 (Amns,  V.  'JS,  26.)  Hence  we  conclude,  that  tlie  metaphor  heie  used 
 by  Balaam  of  a  star  was  of  that  abstruse,  mysterious  kind,  and  so  to  be 
 understood,  and,  consequently,  that  it  related  only  to  Chiist.  the  eter- 
 nal Son  of  God. —  Warh.,  Div.  Leg.  b.  iv,  §  4.  And  a  Sceptre,  §c., '  and 
 a  sceptred  chief  shall  rise  out  of  Israel.* — Boothr.  And  shall  smite  the 
 corners  of  Mualt,  '  the  sides  or  quarters  of  Moab,'  meaning  a  conquest 
 of  the  whole  country. — Ains.  David  did  the  things  here  spoken  of, 
 {2  Sam.  viii.  2 ;  Ps.  Ix.  8,  and  cviii.  9  ;)  and  some  of  the  kings  of  Judah 
 and  Israel  after  him  ;  but  the  Messiah  most  eminently  performed  what  is 
 here  said  in  destroying  the  enemies  r>f  Israel  orof  God's  church. — Poole. 
 And  destroy  alt  the  children  of  Sheth,  'confound.' — Par.  Ttpovofituaei, 
 *  shall  prey  on.'  '  Lead  captive'  or  'spod,*  Sept.  'Bear  rule  over;' 
 Slit'th  seems  to  be  the  name  of  some  unknown  place  or  prince  in  Moab, 
 where  there  were  many  princes,  as  appears  from  Num.xxui.  6;  Amos, 
 ii.  3. — Ponle.  The  Jerusalem  Turgu/n  translates  it,  'the  sons  of  the 
 cast,*  the  Moabitcs  lying  east  of  Judea. — Bp.  Neivtnn.  '  The  Messiah 
 shall  rule  over  all  the  children  of  him  which  descended  frrm  Seth,  the 
 son  of  Adam.'— Hen. ,  Prid.,  Gill.  It  may  refer  to  Christ's  subverting 
 the  strong  foundations  of  the  several  great  monarchies  which  have 
 successively  prevailed  on  earth,  with  that  of  Satan,  the  god  and  prince 
 of  this  world. — Scott.  18.  And  Edom  shall  he  a  possession—lhis  was 
 also  fulfilled  by  David,  (see  2  Sam.  viii.  14.)  who  mentions  in  two  of 
 his  Psalms,  (Ix.  8,  cviii.  9,)  his  conquest  of  Moab  am!  Edom.  6Wr— the 
 name  of  the  mountains  of  Edom.  The  author  of  Balaam  considers 
 David  as  the  only  star,  or  monarch,  here  intended,  in  which  opinion 
 he  is  supported  by  Dathe,  who  expresses  astonishment  that  any  should 
 have  applied  this  prophecy  to  the  Messiah,  for,  in  ver.  14,  'Balaam  said, 
 in  words  obscure  to  Balak,  or  himself,  that  before  he  should  return 
 into  his  country',  lie  would  shew  what  the  Israelitish  people  would  do 
 to  the  Moabites  in  future  times.*  Clarke,  with  many  others,  consi- 
 ders it  as  a  prophecy  of  '  the  universal  sway  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ.' 
 20.  The  first,  in  antiquity  and  courage,  (see  1  Sam.  xxvii.  8,  and  Gen. 
 xiv.  y.)— Boothr.  See  also  Esod.  xvii.  Perish  for  ere?-— a  sentence 
 executed,  in  part,  by  Saul,  (I  Sam.  xv.  7,  8;)  by  David,  (I  Sam.  xv.  8, 
 9;  xxvii.  R,  g  •)  by  further  conquest,  (1  Sam.  xxx.  17;)  and  completed 
 in  the  days  of  Hezekiah,  fi  Chron.  iv.  41—43.)  21.  The  Kenites— 
 
 probably  a  tribe  of  the  Midianites,  (compare  Exod.  iii.  1,  and  Judg,  i. 
 ]6.)~U;),  Newton.  In  a  rot-/:— their  dwelling,  for  security,  was  in 
 rocky  Il|ace^.— GiV/.  22.  Wasted — see  1  Sam.  xv.  6.  As  the  Assy- 
 rians took  captive  various  nations,  these  were  probably  among  them. 
 (sec  2  Kings,  xvi.  g  ;  xix.  12,  13.) — Bp.  Newton.  23.  Who  shall  live— 
 how  miserable  will  the  state  of  the  world  be  ! — Poole,  Pat.  Many  ge- 
 nerations shjJI  before  that  time  moulder  in  the  dust. — Wil.  24.  C/uV- 
 /(m— Kittim  was  the  sonof  Javan,  (Gen.  x.  4,)  and  so  designs  some 
 part  of  Greece.  Asshur — a  part  of  the  Persian  empire,  subdued  by  the 
 2    A 
 
Israel  committeth  idolatry^  §-c. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXV. 
 
 Phinehas  obtaineth  the  priesthood. 
 
 afflict  s  Eber,  and  he  also  shall  perish  for  ever. 
 25  And  Balaam  rose  up,  and  went  and  ^  re- 
 turned to  his  place  :  and  Balak  also  went  his 
 way. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1  Isratl  at  ShiHim  commit  whoredom  and  idolatry. 
 6  Plnnrha^  killeth  Zimriand  Cozbi.  10  God  there- 
 fore qiceth  him  un  everlasting  priesthood.  16  The 
 ' Midianites  an-  to  he  vexed. 
 
 AND  Israel   abode    in  "  Shittim,  and   ^the 
 people  began   to  connnit  whoredom  with 
 the  daughters  of  Moab, 
 
 2  And  "  they  called  the  people  unto  "^  the  sa- 
 crifices of  their  gods  :  and  the  people  did  eat, 
 and  ''bowed  down  to  their  gods. 
 
 .3  And  Israel  joined  himself  unto  Baal-peor  : 
 and  *"  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled  against 
 Israel. 
 
 4  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  ^  Take  all 
 the  heads  of  tiie  people,  and  hang  them  up 
 before  the  Loud  against  the  sun,  *■  that  the 
 fierce  anger  of  the  Loud  may  be  turned  away 
 from  Israel. 
 
 5  And  Moses  said  unto  '  the  judges  of  Israel, 
 ^  Slay  ye  every  one  his  men  that  were  joined 
 unto  Baal-peor. 
 
 6  t  And,  behold,  one  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 came  and  brought  unto  his  lirethren  a  Midian- 
 itish  woman  in  the  sight  of  Moses,  and  in  the 
 sight  of  all  the  congregation  of  the  children  of 
 Israel,  '  who  wvre  weeping  before  the  door  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 7  And  "'  when  Phinehas, "  the  son  of  Eleazar, 
 the  son  of  Aaron  the  priest,  saw  it,  he  rose  up 
 from  among  the  congregation,  and  took  a  jave- 
 lin in  Iiis  hand  ; 
 
 g  Uei).  lO.SI, 
 
 25. 
 h  Seech.  SI. 
 
 Mic.  6    5. 
 b  cli-  SI.  16. 
 
 1  Coi-.  10.  S 
 c  Josli.  2-2. 
 
 17.  P<i.  lOfi 
 
 US.  Hos.  9. 
 
 111. 
 d  Ex.  3-1.  15. 
 
 ir>.  1  Cor. 
 
 III.  20 
 *  Ex    211  S 
 
 fPa.  ive.s'j. 
 
 isf  Dou   4-  S 
 Josh.  28  17. 
 
 i  Kxod.  IS. 
 
 21.  V5. 
 A  Ex.  32.  ?7 
 
 Deu.  13.  6, 
 
 9,  13,  la. 
 
 11  Ph.  100  30. 
 Kcclud.  45. 
 2S.  I  Mac. 
 
 I  Pcii.  -1    3 
 1  Cor.  lu,  y. 
 
 t  Hch.  with 
 
 See  2  Cop. 
 
 11.  *-'. 
 r  Rx.  2<V  5. 
 
 Deu  :!■-*,  16. 
 
 21.   I  Kill. 
 
 H.  -w. 
 
 Ps    78.  .58. 
 
 K7P.  Hi.  38 
 
 Zeph,  I.  IS. 
 
 k  H.  ». 
 s  Mai.  S.  4, 
 
 5.  &  3.  I. 
 E<-oliis.  <\b. 
 2*.  I  Mac. 
 2.  M. 
 
 /  See  I  Chr. 
 
 6.  I,  hr. 
 
 u  Ex.  iO.  IS. 
 
 EocliiB.  4.5. 
 
 24. 
 X  Acts  99. 3 
 
 llnm,  1(1.2 
 V  Holt.  2.  17. 
 
 t  \\f\).h:U$e 
 ofaf.ut.^T. 
 
 s  ch.  31.  S. 
 Josh. 13.21. 
 
 icli.  31.  If.. 
 Ilev.  2.  It. 
 
 8  And  he  went  after  the  man  of  Israel  into 
 the  tent,  and  thrust  both  of  them  through,  the 
 man  of  Israel,  and  the  woman  through  her 
 belly.  So  "  the  plague  was  stayed  from  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 9  And  **  those  that  died  in  the  plague  were 
 twenty  and  four  thousand. 
 
 10  ^  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses.saying, 
 
 1 1  ''  Phinehas  the  son  of  Eleazar,  the  son  of 
 Aaron  the  priest,  hath  turned  my  wrath  away 
 from  the  children  of  Israel,  while  he  was  zeal- 
 ous f  for  my  sake  among  them,  that  I  con- 
 sumed not  the  children  of  Israel  in  '' my  jeal- 
 ousy. 
 
 12  Wherefore  say,  '  Behold,  I  give  unto  him 
 my  covenant  of  peace  : 
 
 13  And  he  shall  have  it,  and  '  his  seed  after 
 him,  even  the  covenant  of  "an  everlasting 
 priesthood  ;  because  he  was  *  zealous  for  his 
 God,  and  ^ made  an  atonement  for  the  children 
 of  Israel. 
 
 14  Now  the  name  of  the  Israelite  that  was 
 slain,  ex^en  that  was  slain  with  the  ISIidianitish 
 woman,  ivas  Zimri,  the  son  of  Sain,  a  prince  of 
 a  t  chief  house  among  the  Simeonites. 
 
 15  And  tlie  name  of  the  Midianitish  woman 
 that  was  slain  was  Cozbi,  the  daughter  of 
 '  Zur  ;  be  was  head  over  a  people,  and  of  a 
 chief  house  in  Midian. 
 
 Ifi  ^  And  the  Loud  spake  unto  Moses,saying, 
 
 17  *  Vex  the  Midianites,  and  smite  them  : 
 
 18  For  they  vex  you  with  their  ^  wiles,  where- 
 with they  have  beguiled  you  in  the  matter  of 
 Pcor,  and  in  the  matter  of  Cozbi,  the  daughter 
 of  a  prince  of  Midian,  their  sister,  which  was 
 slain  in  the  day  of  the  plague  for  Peof  s  sake. 
 
 Macedonians.  (1  Mac.  i.  1.)  Eber,  or  the  Hebrews,  afflicted  by  the 
 Romans.— Gi//.  25.  He  also,  '  they  also.'— BooZ/tr.  Not  Eber,  but 
 his  enemies. — Gill, 
 
 Chap.  XXV.— 1.  Shittim,  in  the  plains  of  Moab,  called  Abel-Shittim, 
 chap.  XKxiii.  49,  but,  for  brevity's  sake,  abridged.  Whoredom  with 
 the  daughters  o/J»fo«A— evidently  by  Balaam's  counsel,  to  make  them 
 lose  the  blessing,  (see  chap.  x.\.\i.  i6.)— Pat.  2.  Thei/  called— thAt 
 is,  the  daughters  of  Moab  called  the  Israehtes,  that,  seeing  they  could 
 neither  injure  them  by  war  nor  witchcraft,  they  might  thus  accomplish 
 their  object.  3.  Joined  himself,  noa\  the  word  signifies  '  to  join 
 
 together.'  It  implies  a  forsaking  God,  to  whom  they  were  and  should 
 have  been  joined,  and  a  turning  to.  embracing-  of,  and  fervent  aflFection 
 after,  this  false  ^oA.—Foole.  Probably  alluded  to  by  the  apostle.  2  Cor. 
 vi.  H.  •  Some  of  the  children  of  Israel  wore  the  badges  of  Baal-Peor,' 
 by  binding  their  heads  with  fillets  to  his  honour.— BooMr.  Baal-peor— 
 the  name  of  an  idol.  '  The  Lord  of  Mount  Peor,*  where  he  was  wor- 
 shipped ;  or  some  great  personage  so  called,  who  was  deified  after  his 
 death  ;  hence  these  Israelites  are  said  '  to  cat  the  sacrifices  of  the  dead,' 
 (Pa.  cvi.  28.)  Pet^r  may  signify  '  opfning  the  mouth,  as  in  prophecy,' 
 &c. — Cat.,  Gill,  Ainu.  Or,  probably,  to  receive  the  victims,  wbetber 
 animals  or  children,  which  were  burnt  to  death  by  the  fire  within  the 
 idol,  whose  mouth  might  be  wide  open. — Par.        4.  Heads,  rulers  of 
 
 thousands  and  hundreds,  who  had  been  guilty,  that  the  people  might 
 fear,  seeing  these  great  men  punished.— Pa?.  Rather  the  judges,  to 
 judge  the  criminals  who  were  to  be  hanged. — Gill.  It  should,  how- 
 ever, be  remembered  that  israel  was  now  a  military  nation,  engaged 
 in  war;  their  magistrates  and  officers  were  the  same  individuals,  and 
 ordered  to  inflict  military  execution  on  the  offenders. —  Wi7.  Be/ore  the 
 Lord,  '  before  the  sanctuary.' — Pat.  5.  Slai/  ye  every  one,  '  cause  to 
 be  slain  by  proper  executioners.' — Gill.  But  the  Hebrew  word  imports 
 killing  with  the  sword.  Every  one  his  men — each  of  the  seven  elders 
 in  his  district. — Pat.  ".  He  rose  up — for,  besides  his  priestly  office,  he 
 was  a  ruler  over  the  Korathites,  and  had  a  civil  authority.  (I  Chron. 
 ix.  20.)     A  javelin,  '  a  hand  pike.'— Gi7/.  8.  The  tent,  nnj/rr,  *  the 
 
 inner  part,'  or  '  bed  chamber  of  the  tent.' — Par.  g.  In  the  plague, 
 may  be  read,  *  during  the  plague.' — Pat.  Ttventy-fnnr  thousand — the 
 apostle  says  2.1,000.  Commentators,  tberclore.  consider  the  other 
 thousand  to  be  tlie  slain  by  the  sword,  which  is  often  called  a  plague. 
 13.  EverlttstinfT  priesthood,  denotes  here,  long  duration.  —  fiaitrin. 
 15.  The  daughter  of  Zur — Dr.  Clarke,  on  the  authority  of  Josephtis, 
 and  from  the  rank  of  the  parties,  considers  there  was  plain  proof  the 
 parties  were  married  ;  but  rank  is  no  protection  against  the  sin  here 
 specified,  and  all  the  principal  commentators  consider  this  womau  as  a 
 harlot.- £d. 
 
 Refi.ectiuns  on  Chap.  XXIV.  —  Viewing  this  chapter  as 
 containing  two  prophecies  of  the  future  state  of  the  churcli, 
 we  may — I.  Contemplate  th<;  certairi  prosperity  a itd  happiness  of 
 the  church.  Look  at  the  numerous  tents  or  tabernacles  where 
 all  true  Israelites  assemble.  God  is  in  the  midst  of  them,  and 
 this  gives  them  *  the  perfection  of  beauty.'  'And  the  Lord 
 will  create  upon  every  dwelling-place  of  Mount  Zion.  and 
 upon  her  assemblies,  a  cloud  and  smoke  by  day,  and  the  shin- 
 ing of  a  flaming  fire  by  nij;ht  i  for  upon  all  the  glory  shall  be  a 
 defence.*  Hence,  the  true  worshippers  of  God  often  realize 
 what  Balaam  was  obliged  prophetically  to  declare,  and  ex- 
 claim, with  delight,  '  how  goodly  are  thy  tents,  O  Jacob,  and 
 thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel!'  Hence,  they  often  say  and  sing 
 from  the  heart,  '  how  amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord  of 
 hosts  ;  a  day  in  thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thousand  !'  And, 
 indeed,  every  domestic  tabernacle  of  the  godly  is  a  poodly 
 sight.  It  is  not  the  abode  of  '  envy,  hatred,  malice,  and  all  un- 
 charitableness  ;'  it  is  not  the  scene  of  'dissipation  and  riot.* 
 It  is  the  abode  of  peace  and  harmony  ;  it  is  the  birth-place  of 
 many  a  kind  scheme  foi  the  poor,  and  needy,  and  desolate,  and 
 of  many  a  noble  plan  for  ameliorating  the  miseries  of  mankind. 
 178 
 
 'The  voice  of  rejoicing  and  salvation  is  in  the  tabernacles  of 
 the  righteous.'  The  promise  of  God  is  there  enjoyed.  '  blessed 
 is  the  man  that  feareth  the  Lord,  that  delightetb  greatly  in  his 
 commandments.*  Thus, '  the  tabernacle  of  the  upright  shall 
 flourish.'     We  may, 
 
 11.  Contemplate,  the  certain  rtdn  of  all  the  enemies  of  the 
 church.  How  proud  soever  they  may  be,  or  exalted,  or  power- 
 ful, or  numerous,  they  shall  all  be  ultimately  swept  away,  like 
 chaflT  before  the  wind.  Their  splendours  must  set  in  darkness, 
 but  '  the  bright  and  tlie  morning  Star'  shall  bless  tlie  world 
 with  his  visit;  and  when  every  earthly  sceptre  is  broken,  tlie 
 '  sceptre'  of  the  Redeemer's  authority,  after  it  has  dashed  his 
 enemies  *  in  pieces,  like  a  potter's  vessel,'  shall  gently  sway 
 over  the  happy  millions  which  must  be  brought  under  its  con- 
 trol. Thus  shall  the  blessed  Saviour,  *  the  Lord  of  all,'  put 
 *  all  his  enemies  under  his  feet.' 
 
 Rffmctions  on  Chap.  XXV.  —  I.  From  the  awful  history 
 in  this  chapter,  we  are  warned  to  guard  against  our  sinful  pas- 
 sions, for  these  may  do  us  infinite  injury,  where  the  open  at- 
 tacks of  adversaries  may  be  in  vain.  '  These  thiuRS  are  written 
 to  the  end  that  we  should  not  commit  fornication  as  some  of 
 
The  sum  of  Tsrael  is  taken 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXVI. 
 
 i>i  the  plains  of  Moab. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 1   The  sum  of  alt  Israel  is  takeJi  in  the  plains  of  Moab. 
 52  7Vie  /aic  of  ilieiiliny  among  them  tlie  inheritance 
 of  the  land,      bl  T/ie  families  and  number  of  tb' 
 Levites.    6.'1  None  were  left  of  them  which  were  num 
 bered  at  Sinai,  but  Caleb  and  Joshua. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  the  plague,  that 
 -^^  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  unto 
 Eleazar  the  son  of  Aaron  the  priest,  saying, 
 
 2  "  Take  the  sum  of  all  the  congregation  of 
 the  children  of  Israel,  ''  from  twenty  years  old 
 and  upward,  throughout  their  father's  house, 
 all  that  are  able  to  go  to  war  in  Israel. 
 
 3  And  Moses  and  Eleazar  the  priest  spake 
 with  tliem  '  in  tlie  plains  of  Moab  by  Jordan 
 near  Jericlio,  saying, 
 
 4  Take  the  sum.  of  the  people,  from  twenty 
 years  old  and  upward  ;  as  the  Lord  ''  com- 
 manded Moses  and  the  children  of  Israel, 
 which  went  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 5  H  °  Reuben,  the  eldest  son  of  Israel  :  the 
 children  of  Reuben  ;  Hanoch,  o/w/jom  comcth 
 the  family  of  the  Hanochites  :  of  Pallu,  the 
 family  of  the  Palhiites  : 
 
 6  Of  Hezron,  the  family  of  the  Hezronites  : 
 of  Carmi,  the  family  of  tlie  Carmites. 
 
 7  These  are  tlie  families  of  the  Reubenites  : 
 and  they  that  were  numbered  of  them  were 
 forty  and  three  thousand  and  seven  hundred 
 and  thirty. 
 
 8  And  the  sons  of  Pallu  ;  Eliab. 
 
 9  And  the  sons  of  Eliab  ;  Nemuel,  and  Da- 
 than,  and  Abiram.  Tliis  is  that  Dathan  and 
 Abiram,  which  were  '  famous  in  the  congrega- 
 tion, who  strove  against  Moses  and  against 
 Aaron  in  the  company  of  Korah,  when  they 
 strove  against  the  Lord  : 
 
 10  '  And  the  earth  opened  her  mouth,  and 
 swallowed  them  up  together  with  Korah,  when 
 that  company  died,  what  time  the  fire  devoured 
 two  hundred  and  fifty  men  :  "  and  they  became 
 a  sign. 
 
 1 1  Notwithstanding  '  the  children  of  Korah 
 died  not. 
 
 1-2  t  The  sons  of  Simeon  after  their  families  : 
 of  ''  Nemuel,  the  family  of  the  Nemuelites  :  of 
 Jamin,  the  family  of  the  Jaminites  :  of  '  Jachin, 
 the  family  of  the  Jachinites  : 
 
 13  Of  "'  Zerah,  the  family  of  the  Zarhites  :  of 
 Shanl,  the  family  of  the  Shaulites. 
 
 14  These  are  the  families  of  the  Simeonites, 
 twenty  and  two  thousand  and  two  hundred. 
 
 15  If  The  children  of  Gad  after  their  families  : 
 of  "  Zephon,  the  family  of  the  Zephonites  :  of 
 Haggi,  the  family  of  the  Haggites  :  of  Shuni, 
 the  family  of  the  Shunites  ; 
 
 16  Of  II  Ozni,  the  family  of  the  Oznites :  of 
 Eri,  the  family  of  the  Erites  :  ^ 
 
 17  Of  °Arod,  the  family  of  the  Arodites  :  ofj 
 
 a  Ex.  so.  I! 
 
 &38.S5,  2li 
 
 ch.  i    2. 
 i  ch.  1.  3. 
 
 c  ver.  63. 
 cli.  -ii  I.  & 
 81.  \i.  &;«. 
 48.  &  35.  I . 
 
 Gon.M.  8. 
 Kx. 6   U. 
 I  Chr.  5.  1. 
 
 q  I  air.  2. 3 
 
 /ch.  16   1,2. 
 
 /rch.  16.32, 
 35. 
 
 rn  Gen   46. 
 lU,  Zjbar. 
 
 iGon.46.16, 
 Hil'hin. 
 
 I  Or,  B;6o,., 
 Gcn.4ti.  16 
 
 -Gen.  46. 13. 
 IChr.  ?.  1. 
 
 M.Iosh.  17.1, 
 1  Chr.  7.  14, 
 
 I  Called, 
 
 Josh.  17.  2. 
 Jiid^.  6.  II, 
 24,  34. 
 
 jch.  27.  1. 
 &30.  11. 
 
 Areli,  the  family  of  the  Arelites. 
 
 18  These  are  the  families  of  the  children  of 
 Uad  according  to  those  that  were  numbered  of 
 them,  forty  thousand  and  live  hundred. 
 
 19  H  ''  The  sons  of  Judah  were  Er  and  Onan  : 
 and  Er  and  Onan  died  in  the  land  of  Canaan. 
 
 20  And  ''  the  sous  of  Judah  after  their  famiUes 
 were  ;  of  Shelah,  the  family  of  the  Shelanites  : 
 of  Pharez,  the  family  of  the  Pharzites :  of 
 Zerah,  the  family  of  the  Zarliites. 
 
 •21  And  the  sons  of  Pharez  were  ;  of  Hezron, 
 the  family  of  the  Hezronites:  of  Hamul,  the 
 family  of  the  Hamulites. 
 
 22  These  are  the  families  of  Judah  according 
 to  those  that  were  numbered  of  them,  three- 
 score and  sL^teen  thousand  and  five  hundred. 
 
 23  K  '  Of  the  sons  of  Issachar  after  their  fami- 
 lies :  of  Tola,  the  family  of  the  Tolaites :  of 
 II  Pua,  the  family  of  the  Punites  : 
 
 24  Of  II  Jashub,  the  family  of  the  Jashubites: 
 of  Shimron,  the  family  of  the  Shimronites. 
 
 25  These  are  the  families  of  Issachar  accord- 
 ing to  those  that  were  numbered  of  them, 
 threescore  and  four  thousand  and  three  hun- 
 dred. 
 
 26  K '  O/'the  sons  of  Zebulun  after  their  fa- 
 milies :  of  Sered,  the  family  of  the  Sardites  : 
 of  Eloii,  the  family  of  the  Elonites  :  of  Jahleel, 
 the  family  of  the  Jahleelites. 
 
 27  These  are  the  families  of  the  Zebulunites 
 according  to  those  that  were  numbered  of 
 them,  threescore  thousand  and  five  hundred. 
 
 28  1 '  The  sous  of  Joseph  after  their  families 
 were  Manasseh  and  Ephraim. 
 
 29  Of  the  sons  of  Manasseh  :  of  "  Machir,  the 
 family  of  the  Machirites  :  and  Machir  begat 
 Gilead :  of  Gilead  come  the  family  of  the 
 Gileadites. 
 
 30  These  are  the  sons  of  Gilead  :  of  *  Jeezer, 
 the  family  of  the  Jeezerites  :  of  Helek,  the  fa- 
 mily of  the  Helekites  : 
 
 31  And  of  Asriel,  the  family  of  the  Asriel- 
 ites  :  and  of  Shechem,  the  family  of  the  She- 
 chemites  : 
 
 32  And  o/'Shemida,  the  family  of  the  Shemi- 
 daites  :  and  of  Hepher,  the  family  of  the  He- 
 pherites. 
 
 33  H  And  ''Zelophehad  the  son  of  Hepher 
 had  no  sons,  but  daughters  :  and  the  names 
 of  the  daughters  of  Zelophehad  were  Mahlah, 
 and  Noah,  Hoglah,  Milcah,  and  Tirzah. 
 
 34  These  are  the  families  of  Manasseh,  and 
 ttiose  that  were  numbered  of  them,  fifty  and 
 two  tliu:!",i)irl  and  seven  hundred. 
 
 35  II  TlieiC  are  tlie  sons  of  Ephraim  after 
 their  families  :  of  Shuthelah,  the  family  of  the 
 Shuthalhites :  of  '  Becher,  the  family  of  the 
 Bachrites  :  of  Tahau,  the  family  of  the  Tahan- 
 ites. 
 
 Chap.  X.KVI.^2.  Take  the  sum — they  were  numbered  twice  before, 
 (Exod.  XXX.  11,  12,  and  Num.  i.  1,  2,)  now  a  third  time,  to  shew  God's 
 fulfilment  of  his  threatonings,  (chap.  xiv.  29.)  and  liis  faitlifulness  in 
 the  increase  of  liis  people.  11).  With  Korah,  •  and  when  this  company 
 died,  a  fire  devoured  Korah  and  the  250  men.'— Boothr.,  after  the  .S«- 
 mnritan.  So  it  is  imphed  Ps.  cvi.  17;  so  also  Gill.  11.  The  children 
 of  Korah  died  7iot — Dathan  and  Abiram,  and  their  '  wives,  sons,  and 
 little  children,'  and  '  the  men  that  appertained  unto  Korah,'  his  parti- 
 
 zans,  were  swallowed  up  ;  but  not  a  word  is  said  in  chap.  xvi.  about 
 the  children  of  Korah,  consequently  this  verse  explains  their  escape. — 
 Ed.  These  children  were  not  in  tlie  counsel  of  their  father,  or  if  so, 
 repented  and  departed  from  him.  There  were  several  of  tliem  singers 
 in  the  time  of  David,  to  whom  the  Psalms  were  sent  to  be  sung. — QUI. 
 14.  Simeonites — these  had  astonishingly  decreased,  37,000,  (compare 
 chap.  i.  22,  23  ;  ii.  12, 13  ;)  they  are  supposed  to  have  died  of  the  plague, 
 inrtuenced  by  the  example  of  Zimri,  who  was  of  that  tribe. — Gill,  Hen. 
 
 tbem  committed,  and  fell,  in  one  day,  three  and  twenty  thou-  and  it  perpetuated  the  holy  fame  of  Eleazar,  and  the  sacred 
 
 sand.'     Let  us,  therefore, 'as  pilgrims  and  strangers,  abstain  honours  of  his  family.    Christians  should  al.ways 'be  zealously 
 
 from  fleshly  lusts,  which  war  anainst  the  soul.'  affected  in  a  good  thing,'  but  more  especially  ministers  ;  and 
 
 II.   We  here  learn  how  much  God  approves  of  zeal  for  his  glory,  by  their  zeal,  how  much  wrath  may  tbey  be  instrumental  in 
 
 and  what  good  it  nuiy  produce.     It  turned  away  God's  wrath,  turning  away  from  a  sinful  nation  ! 
 179 
 
The  mimleriiiij  of  Israel. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXVir. 
 
 The  iiHiiiberiny  of  the  Levites. 
 
 36  And  these  are  the  sons  of  Shuthelah  :  of 
 Eran,  tlie  family  of  the  Eranites. 
 
 37  These  are  the  families  of  the  sons  of 
 Ephiaim  according  to  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  tliem,  thirty  and  two  thousand  and 
 five  hundred.  These  are  the  sons  of  Joseph 
 after  their  families. 
 
 38  H  "  Tlie  sons  of  Benjamin  after  their  fami- 
 lies :  of  Bela,  the  family  of  the  Belaites  :  of 
 Ashbel,  the  family  of  the  Ashbelites  :  of'Ahi- 
 ram,  the  family  of  the  Ahiramites  : 
 
 39  Of '  Shnpham,  the  family  of  the  Shupham- 
 ites :  of  Hupham,  the  family  of  the  Hupham- 
 ites. 
 
 40  And  the  sons  of  Bela  were  ■■  Ard  and 
 Naanian  :  of  Aril,  the  family  of  the  Ardites  : 
 and  of  Naaman,  the  family  of  the  Naamites. 
 
 41  These  are  the  sons  of  Benjamin  after  their 
 families  :  and  they  that  were  numbered  of  them 
 were  forty  and  five  thousand  and  six  hundred. 
 
 42  t "  These  are  the  sons  of  Dan  after  their 
 families  :  of  ||  Shuham,  the  family  of  the  Shu- 
 hamites.  These  are  the  families  of  Dan  after 
 their  families. 
 
 43  All  the  families  of  the  Shuhamites,  ac- 
 cording to  those  that  were  numbered  of  them, 
 ivere  threescore  and  four  thousand  and  four 
 hundred. 
 
 44  t '  Of  the  children  of  Asher  after  their 
 families:  of  Jimna,  the  family  of  the  Jimnites  : 
 of  Jesui,  the  family  of  the  Jesuites  :  of  Beriah, 
 the  family  of  the  Beriites. 
 
 45  Of  the  sons  of  Beriah  :  of  Heber,  the 
 family  of  the  Heberites :  of  Malchiel,  the  fa- 
 mily of  the  Malchielites. 
 
 46  And  the  name  of  the  daughter  of  Asher 
 was  Sarah. 
 
 47  These  are  the  families  of  the  sons  of 
 Asher  according  to  those  that  were  numbered 
 of  them  ;  who  were  fifty  and  three  thousand 
 and  four  hundred. 
 
 48  K "  Of  the  sons  of  Naphtali  after  their 
 families  :  of  Jahzecl,  the  family  of  the  .Tahzeel- 
 ites  :  of  (Juni,  the  fa\nily  of  the  Gunites  : 
 
 49  Of  Jczer,  the  family  of  the  Jezerites  :  of 
 ''  Shillem,  the  family  of  the  Shillemites. 
 
 50  These  are  the  families  of  Naphtali  ac- 
 cording to  their  families:  and  they  that  were 
 numbered  of  them  were  forty  and  five  thousand 
 and  four  hundred. 
 
 51  '  These  u-ere  the  numbered  of  the  children 
 of  Israel,  six  hundred  thousand  and  a  thousand 
 seven  hundred  and  thirty. 
 
 52  U  And  the  Lord  spakeunto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 53  '  Unto  these  the  land  shall  be  divided  for 
 an  inheritance  according  to  the  number  of 
 names. 
 
 a  Gen.  46  21. 
 I  Clir.  7.  6. 
 
 b  Ron  «.2I, 
 £1.1. 
 IChr,  8.  1, 
 
 e  Gen.  46,21, 
 M'ippitn  ^ 
 
 d  1  Clir.  9.  S, 
 AdiUit. 
 
 «Geu,46  23. 
 llOr.WujA.m. 
 
 A  lChr.7.  IS. 
 Shittium, 
 
 B.  C.  1462. 
 
 /  ch.  S3.  M. 
 
 t  Heb.  mul- 
 I'ply  Itis  in- 
 h"itauc'. 
 
 t  Heb.  dtmi- 
 
 m  ch.  SS.  5V, 
 8c  :H.   13. 
 J.>8li   I1.2.S. 
 &  14.  S. 
 
 iRen.  ifi  n 
 K.X  »  16.17, 
 18,19   iChr 
 
 p  ch.  3.  2. 
 
 7  Lev  10.  1, 
 2.  ,:h.  S  A. 
 IChr.  2V.  2. 
 
 ■  Sec  ch.  3. 
 S9. 
 
 i  ch.  18.  SO, 
 2S,  21. 
 Den.  10  9. 
 J.>Bh.  i;l.  1+, 
 »3.  St  14.  ,'<. 
 
 .r  ell  I .  Deu. 
 2.  14,  15. 
 
 r  cb.  14.  58, 
 8!).  I  Cor. 
 10   fi,  6. 
 
 ich.  II.  sa. 
 
 a  ch.  26.  S3. 
 ti9S  I,  II. 
 Josh.  17.  3. 
 
 54  '  To  many  thou  shalt  t  g've  the  more  in- 
 heritance, and  to  few  thou  shalt  f  give  the  less 
 inheritance  :  to  every  one  shall  his  inheritance 
 be  given  according  to  those  that  were  num- 
 bered of  him. 
 
 55  Notwithstanding  the  land  shall  be ""  divided 
 by  lot  :  according  to  the  names  of  the  tribes 
 of  their  fathers  they  shall  inherit. 
 
 56  According  to  the  lot  shall  the  possession 
 thereof  be  divided  between  many  and  few. 
 
 37 1  "And  these  are  they  that  were  numbered 
 of  the  Levites  after  their  families  :  of  Gershon, 
 the  family  of  the  Gershonites  :  of  Kohath, 
 the  family  of  the  Kohathites  :  of  Merari,  the 
 family  of  the  Merarites. 
 
 58  These  are  the  families  of  the  Levites  :  the 
 family  of  the  I.ibnitcs,  the  family  of  the  Hebron- 
 ites,  the  family  of  the  Mahlitcs,  the  family  of 
 the  Mushites,  the  family  of  the  Korathites. 
 And  Kohatn  begat  Amiam. 
 
 59  And  the  name  of  Amram's  wife  iias° 3o- 
 chebed,  the  daughter  of  Levi,  whom  her  vio- 
 ther  bare  to  Levi  in  Egypt :  and  she  bare  unto 
 Amram  Aaron  and  Moses,  and  Miriam  their 
 sister. 
 
 CO  ''  And  unto  Aaron  was  born  Nadab,  and 
 Abihu,  Eleazar,  and  Itliamar. 
 
 61  And  '  Nabab  and  Abihu  died,  when  they 
 offered  strange  fire  before  the  Lord. 
 
 62  '  And  those  that  were  numbered  of  them 
 were  twenty  and  three  thousand,  all  males  from 
 a  month  old  and  upward  :  '  for  they  were  not 
 numbered  among  the  children  of  Israel,  bccan.se 
 there  was  '  no  inheritance  given  them  among 
 the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 63  t  These  are  they  that  were  numbered  by 
 Moses  and  Eleazar  the  priest,  who  numbered 
 the  children  of  Israel  "in  the  plains  of  Moab 
 by  Jordan  near  Jericho. 
 
 64  '  But  among  these  there  was  not  a  man 
 of  thciii  v,-hom  Moses  and  Aaron  the  priest 
 numbered,  when  they  numbered  the  children 
 of  Israel  in  the  wilderness  of  Sinai. 
 
 6j  l''or  the  Lord  had  said  of  them.  They 
 '  shall  surely  die  in  the  wilderness.  And  there 
 was  not  left  a  man  of  them,  ^  save  Caleb  the 
 son  of  Jephunneh,and  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 1  Tlie  ckivqhters  of  ZeJnpht^had  sue  for  an  hiherjtaucc, 
 (J  The  law  of  inhritauces.  12  Moses,  heivy  tohl  of 
 his  death,  siuth  for  a  succissor*  13  Joshua  is  ap- 
 pointeti  to  succeed  hijn. 
 
 'T'HEN  came  the  daughters  of  "  Zelophehad, 
 -•-  the  son  of  Hepher,  the  son  of  Gilead,  the 
 son  of  Machir,  the  son  of  Manasseh,  of  the  fa- 
 milies of  Manasseh  the  son  of  Joseph :  and 
 
 54.  To  mntir/,  Sfc. — to  a  tribe  mere  numerous,  a  greater  part  of  the  live  as  well  as  men  can  do  in  our  country  on  an  estate  of  fifty  or  sixty 
 land,  and  to  a  smaller  tribe,  less. — Gilt.  To  evert/  one  shnll  his  inherit-  pouTuls  a  year. — Lnwmnn,  written  before  1/52.  55.  By  lot — this  di- 
 n/ice fie  ffi'-en— Canaan  contained  about  14. 97(>,Oo6  acres,  which,  divrileil  vision  respected  the  spot,  and  not  the  rjuantity. — Le  Cterc,  Ains. 
 among  600,000  men,  allows  about  twenty-one  acres  and  a  half  to  each,  63.  These  are  they  that  were  numbered — there  were  only  820  fewer  now 
 with  a  remainder  of  l,(J76,oooacresfor  the  princes  of  then  ibe.-^,  the  heads  than  when  numbered  at  Sinai.— BooMr. 
 of  families,  the  Levitical  cities,  aud  other  public  uses  ;  each  man  could 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXVI I.  Here  is  Israel  preserved. 
 
 A  faithful  God  keeping  his  promise,  and  still  multiplving 
 Abraham's  seed.  Notwitlistanding  the  Caitlilessness  of  one 
 race,  another  is  raised  up.  •  A  seed  sliall  serve  liim,  and  it 
 shall  be  counted  to  Iiim  for  a  generation.'  God  will  have  a 
 people  in  the  world.  The  Messiah  '  shall  see  bis  seed.'  and 
 the  day  approaches  when,  according  to  the  promise  of  the 
 same  faithful  .Tebovah,  'men  shall  be  blessed  in  liim  ;  all 
 nations  shall  call  biiu  blessed.* 
 
 II.  Hire  is  Israel  dcslroyid  '  Fur  the  Lord  hml  snid.  11. ev 
 180 
 
 shall  surely  die  in  the  wilderness.  And  there  was  not  a  man 
 left  of  them,  save  Caleb  the  son  of  Jephunneh,  and  Josbua 
 the  son  of  Nun."  What  an  awful  lesson  are  we  here  (aught ! 
 See  the  horrihle  effects  of  unbelief;  it  shut  Canaan  against 
 these  men,  and  it  shuts  multitudes  out  of  heaven. 
 
 '  O  for  a  stronET  and  lasting  faith. 
 To  credit  what  th'  Almighty  saitb  ; 
 T'embrace  the  message  of  his  Son, 
 Aud  call  the  joys  of  heaven  our  own  i' 
 
The  (aw  of  iiihcritdnre. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXVIII. 
 
 The  appointiitcnl  of  Joshua. 
 
 these  are  the  names  of  his  daughters  ;  Mahlah, 
 Noah,  and  Hoglah,  and  Milcah,  and  Tirzah. 
 
 2  And  tliey  stood  before  Moses,  and  before 
 Eleazar  the  priest,  and  before  the  princes  and 
 all  the  congregation,  by  the  door  of  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  congregation,  saying, 
 
 3  Our  father  ^  died  in  tlie  wilderness,  and  he 
 was  not  in  the  company  of  them  that  gathered 
 themselves  together  against  the  Lord  °  in  the 
 company  of  Korah  ;  but  died  in  his  own  sin, 
 and  had  no  sons. 
 
 4  Why  should  the  name  of  our  father  be 
 t  done  away  from  among  his  family,  because 
 he  hath  no  sonV  ''Give  unto  us  therefore  a 
 possession  among  the  brethren  of  our  father. 
 
 5  And  Moses  ''  brought  their  cause  before  the 
 Lord. 
 
 6  t  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses, saying, 
 
 7  The  daughters  of  Zelophehad  speak  right  : 
 '  thou  shalt  surely  give  them  a  possession  of  an 
 inheritance  among  their  father's  brethren  ;  and 
 thou  shalt  cause  the  inheritance  of  their  father 
 to  pass  unto  them. 
 
 8  And  thou  shalt  speak  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel,  saying,  If  a  man  die,  and  have  no  son, 
 then  ye  shall  cause  Ins  inheritance  to  pass  unto 
 his  daughter. 
 
 9  And  if  he  have  no  daughter,  then  ye  shall 
 give  his  inheritance  unto  his  bretlnen. 
 
 10  And  if  he  have  no  brethren,  then  ye  shall 
 give  his  inlieritance  unto  his  father's  brethren. 
 
 11  And  if  his  father  have  no  hretliren,  then 
 ye  shall  give  his  inheritance  unto  his  kinsman 
 that  is  next  to  him  of  his  family,  and  he  shall 
 possess  it :  and  it  shall  be  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel  ''a  statute  of  judgment,  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  Moses. 
 
 12  II  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  ''  Get 
 thee  up  into  this  mount  Abarini,  and  see  the 
 land  which  I  have  given  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel. 
 
 13  And  when  thou  hast  seen  it,  thou  also 
 '  shalt  be  gathered  unto  thy  people,  as  Aaron 
 thy  brother  was  gathered. 
 
 14  For  ye  '  rebelled  against  my  command- 
 ment in  the  desert  of  Zin,  in  the  strife  of  the 
 congregation,  to  sanctify  me  at  the  water  be- 
 
 b  ch.  H.  r!5. 
 
 t  Hell.  .;™i- 
 d  Josli.  17.4. 
 
 3  ch.  35.  89. 
 
 A  ch.  SS.  47. 
 Deu.  3.  ?7. 
 &  .'t3.  49.  & 
 At.  I. 
 
 i'  ch.  20  24, 
 
 2S.  &  -^I.  2. 
 
 Dea.lO.  6. 
 A  ch,  ?0.  12. 
 
 •IV  Deu.  1. 
 
 37.  S(S».  fit. 
 
 Ps.  lOfi.  S-2. 
 
 B.  C.  1152. 
 ;  E.t.  17.  7. 
 
 m  ch.  Ifi.  22. 
 Heb.   12.  a. 
 
 n  Den.  31. 2. 
 I  Sam.B.20. 
 &  tS.  13. 
 2Chr.  I.  10. 
 
 o  1  Kin.  22. 
 
 I7.Zech.lO. 
 
 2.  Mat.  9. 
 
 36.  Mark 
 
 r..  34. 
 ;'Gen.  n-.'W. 
 
 Judg.  3  10 
 
 K:  II .  29 
 
 1  Sam.  16. 
 
 l.'l.  18. 
 7  Dcu.  .34.  9. 
 r  Deo.  31.  7. 
 
 *  See  ch.  11. 
 
 17,  23. 
 
 I  Sam.  ln.6, 
 
 9.  2  Kin.  2. 
 
 1.5. 
 t  .Tosh.  I.  IC, 
 
 17. 
 «  SeeJosh,  9. 
 
 11.  Jud?.  I. 
 
 1.  &20.  IS, 
 
 23,  26 
 
 1  Sam.  23. 
 
 9.  &  311.  7. 
 X  Ex.  2S  .30. 
 jlJrah.  9.  14. 
 
 I  Sam.  22. 
 
 10,  13,  Vj. 
 
 t  Lev.  3.  n. 
 
 fc  21.  6.  9. 
 Mai.  1.7,12. 
 t  Heb.  a 
 ,-,™„  „/ 
 riij/  reit. 
 
 h  Ei.  29.  S8. 
 
 \  Heb.  in  a 
 day. 
 
 fore  their  eyes  :  that  is  the  '  water  of  Meribah 
 in  Kadesh  in  the  wilderness  of  Zin. 
 
 15  K  And  Moses  spake  unto  the  Lord,  saying, 
 
 16  Let  the  Lord,  '"  the  God  of  the  spirits  of 
 all  flesh,  set  a  man  over  the  congregation, 
 
 17  "Which  may  go  out  before  them,  and 
 which  may  go  in  before  them,  and  which  may 
 lead  them  out,  and  which  may  bring  them  in  ; 
 that  the  congregation  of  the  Lord  be  not  °  as 
 .sheep  which  have  no  shepherd. 
 
 18  IT  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Take 
 thee  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  a  man  ''  in  wliom 
 is  the  spirit,  and  '  lay  thine  hand  upon  him  ; 
 
 19  And  set  him  before  Eleazar,  the  priest,  and 
 before  all  the  congregation ;  and  '  give  him  a 
 charge  in  their  sight. 
 
 20  And  '  thou  shalt  put  some  of  thine  honour 
 upon  him,  that  all  the  congregation  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  '  may  be  obedient. 
 
 21  "  And  he  shall  stand  before  Eleazar  C^^e 
 priest,  who  shall  ask  counsel  for  him  "  after  t^<) 
 judgment  of  Urim  before  the  Lord;  ^  at  his 
 word  shall  they  go  out,  and  at  his  word  they 
 shall  come  in,  both  he,  and  all  the  children  of 
 Israel  with  him,  even  all  the  congregation. 
 
 22  And  Moses  did  as  the  Lord  commanded 
 him  :  and  he  took  Joshua,  and  set  him  before 
 Eleazar  the  priest,  and  before  all  the  congre- 
 gation : 
 
 23  And  he  laid,  his  hands  upon  him,  '  and 
 gave  him  a  charge,  as  the  Lord  commanded 
 by  the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIIL 
 
 I  Offerings  are  to  he  observed.  3  The  continual  lumt 
 offering.  9  The  offering  on  the  sahba/fi,  1 1  on  the 
 new  moonSf  16  at  the  jassovtr,  26  in  the  day  ofjirst- 
 fruits. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 -^^  2  Command  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 say  unto  them.  My  offering,  and  '  my  bread  for 
 my  sacrifices  made  by  fire,_/or  f  a  sweet  savour 
 unto  me,  shall  ye  observe  to  offer  unto  me  in 
 their  due  season. 
 
 3  And  thou  shalt  say  unto  them, ''  This  is  tlie 
 offering  made  by  Are  which  ye  shall  offer  unto 
 the  Lord  ;  two  lambs  of  the  first  year  without 
 spotfdayby  day, /o?- a  continual  burnt  offering. 
 
 Chap.  XXVII.  — 3.  His  own  sin — not  in  anyjoiot  rebellion,  but  :n 
 his  own  sio,  which,  thouch  common  to  that  race,  was  punished  inili- 
 Tidually,  and  did  not  cut  off  the  posterity,  (chap.  xiv.  33 ;)  or  else  in 
 his  own  personal  sins,  ftir  death  was  believed  by  the  Jews  to  be  a  pu- 
 nishment inflicted  on  them  for  their  sins. — Poole.  7.  TAe»i— this  is 
 masculine  in  mo^t  of  our  Hebrew  copies,  but  it  is  an  error,  for  ciglity 
 MSS.  have  it  feminine. — So  A.  Clarke.  12.  Abarim,  the  name  of  a 
 riflge  of  mountains  alnnt?  the  ea-stem  const  of  the  Red  Sea,  of  which 
 Mount  Nebo  and  Pis^h  formed  a  part.^5A'iu'.  See  Dent,  xxxii.  49  ; 
 xxxiv.  ].  \B.  In  whom  (s  the  spirit,  of  government,  of  wisdom,  and 
 of  Uie  fear  of  the  Lord,  &c. — Poote.        21 .  Urim—see  notes  on  Exod. 
 
 XKviii.  30.  It  :s  remarkable  that  no  judgment  or  counsel  by  Urim  and 
 Thummim  are  mentioned  after  tlie  tune  of  David.  The  prophets  seem, 
 from  that  time,  to  have  been  God's  oracles. — Hew. 
 
 Chap.  XXVIII.  —  I.  And  the  Lord  spoke — this  chapter  contains  re- 
 petitions of  some  former  laws,  for  they  had  been  generally  discon- 
 tinued thirty,  eight  years;  a  new  generation  had  sprung  up;  God  would 
 renew  the  testimonies  of  his  grace  and  mercy,  and  Israel  was  now 
 abcut  to  enter  that  state  in  which  they  could  be  practised. — Poote. 
 2.  My  offering  and  my  bread,  *  and'  is  not  in  the  original ;  hence  some 
 read,  '  my  oflFering,  my  bread,  my  daily  sacrifices,  which,  properly,  of 
 themselves,  are  ray  own  oblation,  my  daily  bread.' — Pat.    The  sacri- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVII.  —  I.  Observe  here,  the 
 emiity  of  the  Divine  laws.  Nothing  could  be  more  just  than 
 the  decision  in  the  case  of  the  fatherless  daughters.  How 
 happy  would  the  state  of  society  be  if  the  justice  and  equity 
 of  the  Theocracy,  as  far  as  the  administration  of  men  was  con- 
 cerned, were  universally  adopted  as  a  model !  And  by  these 
 records  of  minute  transactions  we  are  taught  to  practise  the 
 same  equity  towards  each  other. 
 
 II.  Observe  the  severity  of  God  against  sin,  Moses  disho- 
 noured him  'in  the  strife  of  the  congregation,'  and  even 
 Moses  must  be  punished.  God  will  not  connive  at  sin  in  his 
 greatest  favourites.  Vet,  though  he  chastises  them  in  this 
 world,  he  will  not  cast  them  off  for  ever  ;  for  Moses,  meekly 
 submitting  to  the  Divine  will,  after  being  gathered  to  his 
 people,  shall  be  honoured  with  the  robes  of  a  glorious  immor- 
 tality, and  share  in  distinctions  beyond  the  common  lot  of  de- 
 parted saints.  But  if  God  frowned  on  sin  in  Moses,  will  he 
 181 
 
 not  chastise  us? 
 
 III.  Observe  the  interest  which  dying  saints  tahe  in  the  prospe- 
 rity of  the  church  of  God.  IVIoses  was  a  true  patriot ;  though  he 
 had  been  often  ill  treated  by  Israel,  still  he  loved  his  country  ; 
 and  he  could  not  better  shew  his  concern  for  it  than,  as  lie 
 nearly  approached  eternity,  bearing  its  interests  on  his  heart 
 before  God. 
 
 IV.  Observe,  as  one  good  man  departs  to  his  eternal  rest,  an- 
 other is  raised  up  when  needed,  and  qualified  to  tahe  his  jtlace. 
 Joshua  is  prepared  to  succeed  Moses.  The  Holy  Spirit  of 
 God  thus  qualifies  one  race  of  pastors  to  succeed  another, 
 under  whose  care  the  people  may  '  go  in  and  out,  and  fiud 
 pasture.' 
 
 V.  Finally,  Joshua  was  a  type  of  Jrsra,  and  what  Moses  did 
 not,  he  was  destined  to  do;  and  under  the  Saviour's  guidance 
 shall  all  the  Israel  of  God  vanquish  every  foe,  and  possess  tbo 
 eternal  inheritance. 
 
The  offering  on  the  sabbalh, 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXIX. 
 
 ami  in  the  day  ofjirsljyuitf. 
 
 4  The  one  lamb  shall  thou  offer  in  the  morn- 
 ing, and  the  other  lamb  shall  thou  offer  f  at 
 even ; 
 
 5  And  "^  a  tenth  part  of  an  cphah  of  flour  for 
 a  '  meat  offering,  niint;led  with  the  fourth  part 
 of  an  "  bin  of  beaten  oil. 
 
 6  It  is  '  s.  continual  burnt  offering,  which  was 
 ordained  in  mount  Sinai  for  a  sweet  savour,  a 
 sacrifice  made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 7  And  the  drink  offering  thereof  shall  be 
 the  fourth  jiart  of  an  bin  for  the  one  lamb . 
 "^in  the  \w\y  plai:e  shall  thou  cause  the  strong 
 wine  to  be  poured  unto  the  LoBD_/br  a  drink 
 offering. 
 
 8  And  the  other  lamb  shall  thou  offer  at 
 even  :  as  the  meat  offering  of  tlie  morning, 
 and  as  the  drink  offering  thereof,  thou  shall 
 offer  il,  a  sacrifice  made  by  fire,  of  a  sweet 
 savour  unto  tlie  Lord. 
 
 9  1[  And  on  the  sabbath  day  two  lambs  of  the 
 first  year  without  spot,  and  two  tenth  deals  of 
 flour^o/-  a  meat  offering,  mingled  with  oil,  and 
 tlie  drink  offering  thereof: 
 
 10  This  is  '' the  burnt  offering  of  every  sab- 
 bath, beside  the  continual  burnt  offering,  and 
 his  drink  offering. 
 
 11  t  And  'in  the  beginnings  of  your  months 
 ye  shall  offer  a  burnt  offering  unto  the  Lord  ; 
 two  young  bullocks,  and  one  ram,  seven  lambs 
 of  the  first  year  without  spot ; 
 
 l'2  And  ^  three  tentli  deals  of  flour/br  a  meat 
 offering,  mingled  with  oil,  for  one  bnllock ; 
 and  two  lentil  deals  of  flour  for  a  meal  offer- 
 ing, mingled  with  oil,  for  one  ram  ; 
 
 13  And  a  several  tenth  deal  of  flour  mingled 
 with  oil  for  a  meat  offering  imlo  one  lamb  ; 
 for  a  burnt  offering  of  a  sweet  savour,  a  sacri- 
 fice made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 1-4  And  their  drink  offerings  shall  be  half  an 
 bin  of  wine  unto  a  bnllock,  and  tlie  third  part 
 of  an  bin  unto  a  rain,  and  a  fourth  part  of  an 
 hill  unto  a  lamb  :  this  is  the  burnt  ottering  of 
 every  month  throughout  the  months  of  the 
 year. 
 
 15  And  '  one  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offer- 
 ing unto  the  Lord  shall  be  offered,  beside  the 
 continual  burnt  offering,  and  his  drink  offering. 
 
 16  ""And  in  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  first 
 month  is  the  passover  of  the  Lord. 
 
 1 7  "  And  in  the  fifteenth  day  of  this  month  is 
 the  feast :  seven  days  shall  unleavened  bread 
 be  eaten. 
 
 18  In  the  "first  day  shall  he  an  holy  convo- 
 cation ;  ye  shall  do  no  manner  of  servile  work 
 therein  : 
 
 19  But  ye  shall  offer  a  sacrifice  made  by  fire 
 for  a  burnt  offering  unto  the  Lord  ;   two  young 
 
 bullocks,  and  one  rain,  and  seven  lambs  of  the 
 first  year :  ■■  they  shall  be  unto  you  without 
 blemish  : 
 
 20  And  their  meat  offering  sAa^/ 6e  o/" flour 
 
 v.\   v>  e. 
 
 c  Kx.  16.  M 
 ch.  15-  4- 
 d  Lev.  -i.  I 
 «  El.  29.  -10 
 /  Ei. »,  il 
 See  .'^mos 
 5.  M. 
 
 i  ch.  10.  10, 
 1  rt.-im.  S0.5. 
 I  Cliri:.-i.Sl- 
 21-lir  s.  ♦, 
 Kiia3   5. 
 Neh.  10  S3 
 I«.  1.  1S,H, 
 Eze.  45.  17. 
 U  40.  6. 
 Hnii.  8.  II 
 Ccl.  3.  16. 
 
 *  ch.  15.  4— 
 IS. 
 
 ■  Ex.  12.  llJ. 
 8i  13.  6. 
 Lev.  23.  3 
 
 I  Ex.  23.  16. 
 lb  31.  22. 
 Lev.  23.  lu. 
 16.  Den.  10. 
 10.  Acts  2. 
 
 ti  Ex.  IS.  6- 
 18.  Lev.  an 
 5  ch.  9.  9. 
 Deu.  11}  1 
 Eie.  15.  21 
 
 .  Le»   83.  6 
 
 >  Ex.  12.  IB 
 Lev.  23.  7. 
 
 p  ver.  SI. 
 I.ev.  22.  20. 
 ch.  2!),  8. 
 Dea.  15.21. 
 
 6ch.  2S.  11. 
 c  ch.  28.  3. 
 
 c  Lev.  16. 2P, 
 I    &  23.  27. 
 
 mingled  with  oil :  three  tenth  deals  shall  ye 
 offer  for  a  bullock,  and  two  tentli  deals  for  a 
 rain  ; 
 
 •2\  A  several  tenth  deal  shall  thou  offer  for 
 every  lamb,  throughout  the  seven  lamlis  : 
 
 2'2  And  '  one  goaiybr  a  sin  offering,  to  make 
 an  atonement  for  you. 
 
 •J3  Ye  shall  offer  these  beside  the  burnt  offer- 
 ing in  the  morning,  which  is  for  a  continual 
 burnt  offering. 
 
 •24  After  this  manner  ye  shall  offer  daily, 
 throughout  the  seven  days,  the  meat  of  the 
 sacrifice  made  by  fire,  of  a  sweet  .savour  unto 
 the  Lord  :  it  shall  be  ottered  beside  the  con- 
 tinual burnt  ottering,  and  his  drink  offering. 
 
 '25  And  '  on  the  seventh  day  ye  shall  have  an 
 holy  convocation  ;  ye  shall  do  no  servile  work. 
 
 26  t  Also '  in  the  day  of  the  firstfruits,  when  ye 
 bring  a  new  meat  offering  unto  the  Loud,  after 
 your  weeks  be  nut,  ye  shall  have  an  holy  con- 
 vocation ;  ye  shall  do  no  servile  work  : 
 
 27  But  ye  shall  offer  the  burnt  offering  for  a 
 sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord;  'two  young  bul- 
 locks, one  ram,  seven  lambs  of  the  first  year ; 
 
 28  And  their  meat  ottering  of  flour  mingled 
 with  oil,  three  tenth  deals  unto  one  bullock, 
 two  tenth  deals  unto  one  ram, 
 
 29  A  several  tenth  deal  unto  one  lamb, 
 throughout  the  seven  lambs  ; 
 
 30  And  one  kid  of  the  goats,  to  make  an 
 atonement  for  you. 
 
 31  Ye  shall  otter  them  beside  the  continual 
 burnt  offering,  and  his  meat  offering,  ("  they 
 shall  be  unto  you  without  blemish)  and  their 
 drink  offerings. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 I  The  nfft'rinr]  at  t/teftjast  of  trumpets,  7  at  t/ie  day  of 
 affiic/inrj  their  soiUs,  13  and  on  tite  eiyjtt  (lays  of  the 
 feast  of  tabernaelcs, 
 
 AND  in  the  seventh  month,  on  the  first  day 
 ■^^  of  the  month,  ye  sliall  have  an  holy  con- 
 vocation ;  ye  sliall  do  no  servile  work  :  °  it  is  a 
 day  of  blowing  the  trumpets  unto  you. 
 
 2  And  ye  shall  otter  a  burnt  ottering  for  a 
 sweet  savour  unto  the  Lord  ;  one  young  bul- 
 lock, one  ram,  and  seven  lambs  of  the  first 
 year  without  blemish  : 
 
 3  And  their  meat  offering  shall  be  of  flour 
 mingled  with  oil,  three  tenth  deals  for  a  bul- 
 lock, and  two  tenth  deals  for  a  ram, 
 
 4  And  one  tenth  deal  for  one  lamb,  through- 
 out the  seven  lambs  : 
 
 3  And  one  kid  of  the  goats  ^w  a  sin  offering, 
 to  make  an  atonement  for  ycni : 
 
 6  Beside  ''  the  burnt  offering  of  the  month, 
 and  his  m<!at  offering,  and  '  the  daily  burnt 
 offering  and  his  meat  offering,  and  their  drink 
 offerings,  ''according  unto  their  manner,  for  a 
 sweet  savour,  a  sacrifice  made  by  fire  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 7  K  And  '  ye  shall  have  on  the  tenth  day  of 
 
 ficcs  were  the  food  of  God,  the  provisions  of  his  house.— Gi/^  4,  One 
 Inmb—the  nther  himit — see  notes  on  E.xod.  .x.xix.  3S.  7.  Strong  wine, 
 131C,  which  signifies  all  strong  drinics,  but  is  put  here  for  the  most 
 famous  wine,  used  only  in  offerings. — Poole.  9.  On  tliesabbntlt  day 
 
 two  lambs,  over  and  aboye  the  daily  offering,  (ver.  10.) — Pat,   On  that 
 
 hallowed  day  we  should  appear  before  the  Lord  with  a  double  devotion. 
 26.  A  new  meat  offering — new  fruits,  two  loaves  made  of  your  new 
 corn,  (Lev.  xxiii.  16.)  Your  weeks — the  seven  weeks  from  the  Pass- 
 over, (Lev.  xxiii.  15.) 
 
 I>FFLirTlONS  ON  Chap.  XXVIII.— I.  We  Jierd  coutlnw  il  Te-  \\.  In  all  the  chaiH/ing  circumstances  of  life  let  us  carry  our  re- 
 pctilinns  to  remind  us  ofnur  duty  ■  and  hence  the  value  of  Uod's  Union  with  us,  as  tlie  Israelites  were  to  do  wlien  they  passed 
 word  and  ordinances  to  u.mIo  what  the  world  does,  and  do,  from  the  wilderness  into  Canaan.  Especially  let  us  be  '  look- 
 under  tlie  influences  of  ihe  Holy  Spirit,  what  the  world  cannot  ing  unto  .lesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith'— the  great 
 do  for  us.  Without  these,  we  should  neglect  to  '  watch  and  atoning  Sacrifice— without  which  all  our  religion  will  be  in 
 pray-'  vain. 
 1P2 
 
The  offerings  at  ihe 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXX. 
 
 feast  of  liihcnincles,  ^'c. 
 
 this  seventh  month  an  holy  convocation ;  and 
 ye  shall  '  afBict  your  souls  :  ye  shall  not  do 
 any  work  therein  : 
 
 8  But  ye  shall  offer  a  burnt  offering  unto  the 
 Lord  /be  a  sweet  savour ;  one  young  bullock, 
 one  ram,  and  seven  lambs  of  the  first  year ; 
 ^  they  shall  be  unto  you  without  blemish  : 
 
 9  And  their  meat  offering  shall  be  of  flour 
 mingled  with  oil,  three  tenth  deals  to  a  bullock, 
 and  two  tenth  deals  to  one  ram, 
 
 10  A  several  tenth  deal  for  one  lamb,  through- 
 out the  seven  lambs  : 
 
 1 1  One  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offering  ; 
 beside  ''the  sin  offering  of  atonement,  and  the 
 continual  burnt  offering,  and  the  meat  offering 
 of  it,  and  their  drink  offerings. 
 
 12  II  And  '  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  seventh 
 month  ye  shall  have  an  holy  convocation  ;  ye 
 shall  do  no  servile  work,  and  ye  shall  keep  a 
 feast  unto  the  Lord  seven  days  : 
 
 13  And  '  ye  shall  offer  a  burnt  offering,  a  sa- 
 crifice made  by  fire,  of  a  sweet  savour  unto  the 
 Lord;  thirteen  young  bullocks,  two  rams,  a;*rf 
 fourteen  lambs  of  the  first  year  ;  they  shall  be 
 without  blemish  : 
 
 14  And  their  meat  offering  .«/(«//  be  o/"  flour 
 mingled  with  oil,  three  tenth  deals  unto  every 
 bullock  of  the  tliirteen  bullocks,  two  tenth 
 deals  to  each  ram  of  the  two  rams, 
 
 15  And  a  several  tentli  deal  to  each  Iamb  of 
 the  fourteen  lambs  : 
 
 16  And  one  kid  of  the  goats  for  a  sin  offer- 
 ing ;  beside  the  continual  burnt  offering,  his 
 meat  offering,  and  his  drink  offering. 
 
 17  f  And  on  the  second  A-^y  ye  shall  offer 
 twelve  young  bullocks,  two  rams,  fourteen 
 lambs  of  the  first  year  without  spot : 
 
 18  And  their  meat  offering  and  their  drink 
 offerings  for  tlie  bullocks,  for  the  rams,  and  for 
 the  lambs,  shall  be  according  to  their  number, 
 '  after  the  manner  : 
 
 19  And  one  kid  of  the  goats  /or  a  sin  offer- 
 ing ;  beside  the  continual  burnt  offering,  and  the 
 meat  offering  thereof,  and  their  drink  offerings. 
 
 20  H  And  on  the  third  day  eleven  bullocks, 
 two  rams,  fourteen  lambs  of  the  first  year  with- 
 out blemish  : 
 
 21  And  their  meat  offering  and  their  drink 
 offerings  for  the  bullocks,  for  the  rams,  and  for 
 the  lambs,  shall  be  according  to  their  number, 
 ■"after  the  manner : 
 
 22  And  one  goat  for  a  sin  offering  ;  beside 
 the  continual  burnt  offering,  and  his  meat  offer- 
 ing, and  liis  drink  offering. 
 
 23  1  And  on  the  fourth  day  ten  bullocks,  two 
 rams,  and  fourteen  lambs  of  the  first  year  with- 
 out blemish  : 
 
 24  Their  meat  offering  and  their  drink  offer- 
 ings for  the  bullocks,  for  the  rams,  and  for  the 
 lambs,  shall  be  according  to  their  number,  after 
 the  manner: 
 
 25  And  one  kid  of  the  goats  ^br  a  sin  offer- 
 
 e  ch.  28.  13. 
 
 ft  l.ev.16.3,5. 
 
 Lnv.  23.  SH 
 neu.  16.  13. 
 Eze.  '13.  fi5. 
 
 /  rer.3.  4,9, 
 Kt.ch  ir..l-2. 
 &  28.  7,  U. 
 
 II    Of,   0/>iT. 
 
 ..  I.OV.  S3  2. 
 
 IChr2;i.3l. 
 
 2  Clir.31.3. 
 
 Ezra  3.  .O 
 
 Nell.  10.  33, 
 
 Is.  1.  11. 
 ;■  Lev.  7.  II, 
 
 Iti.  ^22.  21, 
 
 23. 
 
 .icli.  1.4,  16. 
 8i  7.  -i 
 
 ing  ;  beside  the  continual  burnt  offering,  his 
 meat  offering,  and  his  drink  offering. 
 
 20  H  And  on  tlie  fifth  day  nine  bullock.s  two 
 rams,  a^irffourteen  lambs  of  the  first  year  with- 
 out spot  : 
 
 27  And  their  meat  offering  and  tlieir  drink 
 offerings  for  the  bullocks,  for  the  rams,  and  for 
 the  lambs,  shall  be  according  to  tlieir  number, 
 after  the  manner : 
 
 28  And  one  goat  for  a  sin  offering ;  beside 
 the  continual  burnt  offering,  and  his  meat  offer- 
 ing, and  his  drink  offering. 
 
 29  H  And  on  the  sixth  day  eight  bullocks, 
 two  rams,  and  fourteen  lambs  of  the  first  year 
 without  blemish  : 
 
 30  And  their  meat  offering  and  their  drink 
 offerings  for  the  bullocks,  for  the  rams,  and 
 for  the  lambs,  shall  be  according  to  their  num- 
 ber, after  the  manner : 
 
 31  And  one  goat /<»■  a  .sin  offering;  beside 
 the  continual  burnt  oifering,  his  meat  offering, 
 and  his  drink  offering. 
 
 32  If  And  on  the  seventh  day  seven  bullocks, 
 two  rams,  and  fourteen  lambs  of  the  first  yeai 
 without  blemish : 
 
 33  And  their  meat  offering  and  their  drink 
 offerings  for  the  bullock.s,  for  the  rams,  and  for 
 the  lambs,  shall  be  according  to  their  number, 
 after  the  manner : 
 
 34  And  one  ^oa.\, for  a  sin  offering;  beside 
 the  continual  burnt  offering,  his  meat  offering, 
 and  his  drink  offering. 
 
 35  1[  On  the  eighth  day  ye  shall  have  a  "  so- 
 lemn assembly :  ye  sliall  do  no  servile  work 
 therein  : 
 
 36  But  ye  shall  offer  a  burnt  offering,  a  sacri- 
 fice made  by  fire,  of  a  sweet  savour  unto  tlie 
 Lord  :  one  bullock,  one  ram,  seven  lambs  ot 
 the  first  year  without  blemish  : 
 
 37  Their  meat  offering  and  their  drink  offer- 
 ings for  the  bullock,  for  the  ram,  and  for  the 
 lambs,  shall  be  according  to  their  number, 
 after  the  manner  : 
 
 38  And  one  goat /or  a  sin  offering;  beside 
 the  continual  burnt  offering,  and  his  meat  offer- 
 ing, and  his  drink  offering. 
 
 39  These  ^Ain^,'!  ye  shall  ||  do  unto  the  Lord 
 in  your  "set  feasts,  beside  your  •' vows,  and 
 your  freewill  offerings,  for  your  burnt  offerings, 
 and  for  your  meat  offerings,  and  for  your  drink 
 offerings,  and  for  your  peace  offerings. 
 
 40  And  Moses  told  the  children  of  Israel 
 according  to  .ill  that  the  Lord  commanded 
 Moses. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 1    Vows  are  not  to  be  broken.     3    Tlie  exception  of  a 
 maid's  voir.     6  Of  a   u-ife's.    9  Of  a  wid(m''s,  or 
 tier  titat  is  ifivorced. 
 \  ND  Moses  spake  unto  °  the  heads  of  the 
 
 ■^  tribes  concerning  the  children  of  Israel, 
 
 saying.  This  is  the  thing  winch  the  Lord  hath 
 
 commanded. 
 
 Chap.  XXIX.  —  7.  Affiicf  your  sovls,  'yourselves,'  by  fasting  anrt 
 abstinence,  and  compunction,  and  bitter  sorrow  for  your  sins,  (see 
 Lev.  xvi.  29,  30  ;  xxiii.  27.)  12.^  feast  — the   feast  of  booths   or 
 
 tabernacles,  (Lev.  xxiii.  34,  35  ;  Dent.  xvi.  13.)         3.5,  36.  Eiglilli  day 
 —seiien  (amis— this  was  the  last  and  great  day  of  the  feast,  (John, 
 
 vii.  37.)  yet  the  sacrifices  were  fewer  than  any  other  day,  to  teach  them 
 not  to  trust  to  the  multitude  of  their  sacrifices,  nor  to  expect  remission 
 of  sins  from  them,  but  from  the  one  and  only  sacrifice  of  Christ.— 
 Poole. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIX.  — An  atonement  was  the 
 constant  theme  of  tlie  Levitioal  law,  remindirc;  men  first  ot 
 sin  and  its  deserts,  and  shadowing  forth  Christ,  'tliel.iimb  slain 
 before  the  foundation  of  the  world.'  In  this  shadow  y  gospel, 
 he  appears  '  all  in  all.'  So  lie  is  still.  The  rites  and  cere- 
 J83 
 
 monies  are  finished,  but  he  is  the  consummation  of  the  whole. 
 '  In  the  last  day,  that  great  day  of  tlie  feast,  .lesus  stood  and 
 cried,  saying.  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and 
 drinli.'  Here  alone  can  we  satisfy  the  desires,  and  sl.ike  the 
 thirst,  of  the  immortal  soul. 
 
 \ 
 
Vutfs  are  not  to  he  oronen. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXXI. 
 
 Balaam  is  slain. 
 
 2  '' If  a  man  vow  avow  unto  the  Loud,  or 
 '  swear  an  oath  to  bind  his  soul  with  a  l)ond  ; 
 he  shall  not  f  breali  liis  word,  he  shall  ''  do  ac- 
 cording to  all  that  proceedeth  out  of  his  mouth. 
 
 3  If  a  woman  also  vow  a  vow  unto  the  Lord, 
 and  bind  herself  hy  a  bond,  being  in  her  father's 
 house  in  her  yotith  ; 
 
 4  And  her  father  hear  her  vow,  and  her  bond 
 wherewith  she  hatli  bound  lier  soul,  and  her 
 father  shall  bold  his  peace  at  her :  then  all  her 
 vows  shall  stand,  and  every  bond  wherewith 
 she  liath  bonnd  her  soul  shall  stand. 
 
 5  But  if  her  father  disallow  her  in  the  day 
 that  he  heareth  ;  not  any  of  her  vows,  or  of  her 
 bonds  wherewith  she  hath  bound  her  soul,  shall 
 stand  :  and  the  Lord  shall  forgive  her,  because 
 her  father  disallowed  her. 
 
 6  And  if  she  bad  at  all  an  husband,  when 
 t  she  vowed,  or  uttered  ought  out  of  her  lips, 
 wherewith  she  bound  her  soul  ; 
 
 7  And  her  husband  heard  it,  and  held  his 
 peace  at  her  in  the  day  tliat  he  heard  it :  then 
 her  vows  shall  stand,  and  her  bonds  wherewith 
 she  bound  her  soul  shall  stand. 
 
 8  But  if  her  husband  ''  disallowed  tier  on  the 
 day  that  he  heard  it ;  then  he  shall  make  her 
 vow  which  she  vowed,  and  that  which  she 
 uttered  with  her  lips,  wherewith  she  bound  her 
 soul,  of  none  effect :  and  the  Lord  .shall  for- 
 give her. 
 
 9  But  every  vow  of  a  widow,  and  of  her  that 
 is  divorced,  wherewith  they  have  bound  their 
 souls,  shall  stand  against  her. 
 
 10  And  if  she  vowed  in  her  husband's  house, 
 or  bound  her  soul  by  a  bond  with  an  oath  ; 
 
 1 1  And  her  husband  heard  it,  and  held  his 
 peace  at  her,  ntitl  disallowed  her  not  :  then  all 
 her  vows  shall  stand,  and  every  bond  where- 
 with she  bound  her  soul  shall  stand. 
 
 1-2  But  if  her  luwband  bath  utterly  made  them 
 void  on  the  day  he  heard  tlicni  ;  then  whatso- 
 ever proceeded  out  of  her  lips  concerning  her 
 vows,  or  concerning  the  bond  of  her  soul,  shall 
 not  stand:  her  lui^band  hath  made  them  void; 
 and  the  Lord  shall  forgive  her. 
 
 13  Every  vow,  and  every  binding  oath  to 
 afflict  the  soul,  her  husband  may  establish  it, 
 or  her  husband  may  make  it  void. 
 
 14  But  if  her  husband   altogether  hold   his 
 
 b  Lev 
 
 ■i7  -J 
 
 Den 
 
 23  21 
 
 Judft 
 
 11.30 
 
 »5.  Kccles. 
 
 5.4. 
 
 c  Lev. 
 
 r.  4. 
 
 MHt. 
 
 14.  a 
 
 Acts 
 
 ^i.  14 
 
 t  Heb 
 
 yro- 
 
 Jnue. 
 
 Ks.  55   2rt 
 
 d  Jnh 
 
 j"  n. 
 
 Ps.  9-2.  S.i 
 
 &  5ii. 
 
 1-1.  ft 
 
 6G.  1^ 
 
 1-1.  ft 
 
 \\6.  l-t.  18. 
 
 Nail. 
 
 1.  I.V 
 
 t  Heb.  fiM- 
 volet  IT  ere 
 upon  krr, 
 Ps.  68.  12. 
 
 1  ch.  25.  17 
 6  cli.  87.  13 
 
 a  Iribif,  a  " 
 th'iHtniM  af 
 
 i  Dr-ut,  2(1. 
 IS  JtidL'.-il 
 II.  I  S.1111. 
 27  y.  IKiii 
 II.  I.',,  t(>. 
 
 c  Sec  Jiidi;. 
 6.  1    2,  .-«. 
 
 /.l..«li.  13. 
 
 ir'j'..(ili.  13. 
 
 '  peace  at  her  from  day  to  day  j  then  he  esta- 
 blisheth  all  her  vow.s,  or  all  her  bonds,  which 
 are  upon  her :  he  confirmeth  them,  because  be 
 held  his  peace  at  her  in  the  day  that  he  heard 
 them. 
 
 I J  But  if  he  shall  any  ways  make  them  void 
 after  that  he  hath  heard  them ;  then  he  shall 
 bear  her  iniquity. 
 
 IG  These  are  the  statutes,  which  the  Lord 
 commanded  Moses,  between  a  man  and  his 
 wife,  between  the  father  and  his  daughter, 
 being  yet  in  her  youth  in  her  father's  house. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 I  The-  Midianitcs  are  spoilttl,  and  Balaam  slain. 
 13  Moses  is  wroth  with  the  ojfwers,  fi>r  savinq  the 
 women  alive.  19  Ifuic  the  suhiitrs,  with  ihrir  captives 
 and  spoils  are  to  he  purifird.  25  The  proportion 
 tfherihy  the  prey  is  to  l>e  divided.  48  2V(e  voluntary 
 oblation  unto  the  treasury  of  the  Lord. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 ■^*-  2  "  Avenjie  t!ie  oliiltlreii  of  Israel   of  the 
 Midianites:  afterward  shalt  thou  '' be  gailiered 
 unto  thy  people. 
 
 3  And  Moses  spake  unto  tlie  people,  saying, 
 Arm  some  of  yourselves  nnto  the  war,  and  let 
 them  go  against  the  Midianites,  and  avenge 
 the  Lord  of  Midian. 
 
 4  t  Of  every  tribe  a  thousand,  throughout 
 all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  sliall  ye  send  to  the 
 war. 
 
 3  So  there  were  delivered  out  of  the  thou- 
 sands of  Israel,  a  thousand  of  every  tribe, 
 twelve  thousand  armed  for  war. 
 
 C  And  Moses  sent  them  to  the  war,  a  thou- 
 sand iii  every  tribe,  them  and  Phinehas  the  son 
 of  Eleazar  the  priest,  to  tlie  war,  with  the  holy 
 instruments,  and  "^  the  trumpets  to  blow  in  his 
 hand. 
 
 7  And  they  warred  against  the  Midianites,  as 
 the  Lord  commanded  Moses;  and  ''they slew 
 all  the  ^  males. 
 
 8  And  tliey  slew  the  kings  of  Midian,  beside 
 the  rest  of  them  that  were  slain;  7irtm^/7/,  ^  Evi, 
 and  Rekcm,  and  Zur,  and  llur,  and  Reba. five 
 kings  of  Midian  :  ^  Balaam  also  the  son  of 
 Beor  they  slew  with  the  sword. 
 
 n  And  the  children  of  l.srael  took  all  the 
 women   of    Midian    captives,    and    their   little 
 
 Chap.  XXX.  —  2,  3.  tf  a  mnn  vow — if  n  womnn  r-oK-— the  vows  here 
 are  on  an  infcrinr  scale  to  those  mentioned  Lev.  xxvii. ;  they  respect 
 small  oblation'^,  ab«itinence  from  certain  meats,  or  the  performance  of 
 some  particular  devotion.— S«/.  Not  hn-ak  his  irord,  ^rr  *47.  '  not  pro- 
 fane.'— Gill.  See  Ps.  Iv.  20  ;  l.xxxix.  34.  13.  Hr-r  hushnnd  mny  vutke 
 it  void — the  wife's  person  or  hody  hrin^  tbe  hn.'-b.md's  right,  she  might 
 not  doanythint:  to  the  injury  of  h'^r  body  without  his  consent. — Ponle. 
 15.  Hrr  iniquity,  'his  iniquity,'  St-pt.  If  a  husband  at  first  seemed 
 to  allow  his  wil'e's  vow.  and  afierward>  hindercil  her  from  performing 
 it,  the  guilt  became  his.— .s>o//. 
 
 Chap  XXXI.  —  2.  Avenf^''  the  children  of  Israel  of  the  Midian- 
 ites, for  their  malicions  designs  and  ijractices. — Poole.  Who  enticed 
 them  to  uncleantiess  and  irtnlntry,  and  c.uised  2i,()00  to  be  slain. — Gill. 
 This  was  the  executinn  of  justice  on  a  nation  of  oft'enders. — H.  Hunter, 
 If  Israel  were  punished,  it  was  cfiually  just  to  punish  Midian. — Sut. 
 3.  Avenge  the  Lord  af  Midian,  'avenge  Jehovah  on  the  Midianites.' — 
 Boothr.     God's  great  care  whs  to  avenge  the  Israelites,  and  Moses' 
 
 chief  care  was  to  avenfre  God  nithcr  than  himself  or  the  people. — 
 pMile.  4.  Of  every  trihe  n  thmi-^and — becansc  of  the  zeal  of  all  to  go 
 to  war. —  Pat.  The  Midianites  were  so  e-nfrefiled  by  luxury,  no  greatir 
 iiuniher  was  needt-d. — H.  Hwift-r.  Sixteen  thousand  MidianiH";  cap- 
 tined  proves  they  were  funnidahle,  and  prudence  required  a  larger 
 fiTce  ;  but  a  nation  favoured  of  heaven  bad  a  mncfe  of  fighting  snperi<  r 
 to  all  laws  of  human  prudence  — Saurin.  6.  Phint/tuK—he  was  not 
 ciimniandcr  in-chief,  but  went  wiih  the  holy  i»slntme>its,  by  which 
 some  understand  Urim  and  Thiunmim;  but  these  were,  perhaps,  the 
 trumpits  only.— Gi//.  The  general  was,  most  likely,  Joshua. — Pat. 
 Probably  every  captain  commandtri  his  own  company,  since  Moses 
 addressrd  himself,  in  ver.  U,  to  all  the  officers. — Gill.  7.  All  the 
 
 males,  that  fell  into  their  hands,  f-r.  no  doubt,  nmllitudcs  escaped,  for 
 we  afterwards  read  of  the  Midianiies  as  a  powerful  pe  iple,  and  distress- 
 ing to  Israel  — Gill.  8.  Balaam  also — it  is  conjectured  he  was  slill 
 aiming  to  attain  his  diabolical  ends.  9.  The  women~Dot  all,  tha^ 
 word  IS  not  in  the  text. 
 
 Reflfctions  on   Chap.  XXX I.    Voivs  arc  solemn  things. 
 
 Our  marriage  vows—our  vows,  on  joining  the  people  of  God, 
 that  w«  will  be  the  Lord's— our  vows  in  illness  of  devoting 
 ourselves  more  than  ever  to  his  service  on  our  recovery — our 
 daily  vows  which  ve  sometimes  make  in  the  fervour  of  our 
 hearts ;  they  should  at  all  times  b^  niadp  with  becoming  rever- 
 ence and  caution.  '  Be  not  rash  with  thy  mcutli,  and  let  not 
 thine  heurt  be  hasly  to  utter  any  thing  before  God.'  '  Better 
 is  it  that  tI:ou  sbouldest  uot  vow,  tbau  that  thou  sbouldest  vow 
 and  uot  pav.* 
 J84 
 
 II.  When  we  have  voiced  to  God  we  should  not  foraet  our  solemn 
 ohliyations.  Have  we  vowed  to  join  bis  people  T — let  us  rut 
 neglect  to  do  it.  Have  we  vowed  renewed  devotediiess  to 
 him  on  recovering  from  sickness  \ — let  us  pay  our  vows  in  the 
 Lord's  bouse.  Have  we  taken  upon  us  the  Cbrislian  name 
 and  profession? — then  let  us  remember  that  God's  vows  are 
 continually  upon  us  ;  and  that  we  are  viilually  ple'lped  to  pre- 
 sent our  bodies  living  sacritices,  *  holy  'ind  acceptable  to  God, 
 which  is  our  reasonable  service.' 
 
Purijirn/ioii  af  llic  aiihlicrs,  §T. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXXI. 
 
 The  prey  dii'iilcd. 
 
 ones,  .111(1  ti)uk  the  spoil  of  all  tlit'ir  cattle,  and 
 all  their  floi'ks,  and  all  their  jjoods. 
 
 10  And  they  bnrnt  all  their  cities  wherein 
 they  dwelt,  and  all  their  goodly  castles,  with 
 fire. 
 
 11  And  ''they  took  all  the  spoil,  and  all  the 
 prey,  holli  of  men  and  of  beasts. 
 
 1'2  And  they  bronght  the  captives,  and  the 
 prey,  and  the  spoil,  unto  Moses,  and  Eleazar 
 the  priest,  and  unto  the  congregation  of  the 
 children  of  Israel,  unto  the  camp  at  the  plains 
 of  Moab,  which  arc.  by  Jordan  near  Jericho. 
 
 13  II  And  Moses,  and  Eleazar  the  priest,  and 
 all  the  princes  of  the  congregation,  went  forth 
 to  meet  them  without  the  cainp. 
 
 14  And  Moses  was  wroth  with  the  officers  of 
 the  host,  with  the  captains  over  thousands,  and 
 captains  over  hundreds,  which  came  from  the 
 t  battle. 
 
 15  And  Moses  said  unto  them,  Have  ye 
 saved  'all  the  women  alive  •* 
 
 16  Behold,  ''  these  caused  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael, through  the  '  counsel  of  Balaam,  to  com- 
 mit trespass  against  the  Loud  in  the  matter  of 
 Peor,  and  "'  there  was  a  plague  among  the  con- 
 gregation of  the  Lord. 
 
 17  Now  therefore  "kill  every  male  among 
 the  little  ones,  and  kill  every  woman  that  hath 
 known  man  by  lying  with  fhim. 
 
 18  But  all  the  women  children,  that  have  not 
 known  a  man  by  lying  with  him,  keep  alive  for 
 yourselves. 
 
 19  And  °  do  ye  abide  wilhout  the  camp  seven 
 days  :  whosoever  hath  killed  any  person,  and 
 ''  whosoever  hath  touched  any  slain,  purify 
 holh  yourselves  and  your  captives  on  the  third 
 day,  and  on  the  seventh  day. 
 
 20  And  purify  all  tjour  raiment,  and  all  f  that 
 is  made  of  skins,  and  all  work  of  goats'  hair, 
 and  all  things  made  of  wood. 
 
 21  1  And  Eleazar  the  priest  said  unto  the 
 men  of  war  which  went  to  the  battle.  This  ?.v 
 the  ordinance  of  the  law  which  the  Lord  com- 
 manded Moses ; 
 
 22  Only  the  gold,  and  the  silver,  the  brass, 
 the  iron,  the  tin,  and  the  lead, 
 
 23  Every  thing  that  may  abide  the  fire,  ye 
 shall  make  it  go  through  the  fire,  and  it  sliall 
 be  clean  :  nevertheless  it  shall  be  purified 
 '  with  the  water  of  separation  :  and  all  that 
 abideth  not  the  fire  ye  shall  make  go  through 
 the  water. 
 
 24  ■■  And  ye  shall  wash  your  clothes  on  the 
 seventh  day,  and  ye  shall  be  clean,  and  after- 
 ward ye  shall  come  into  the  camp. 
 
 25  H  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  say- 
 ing, 
 
 26  Take  the  sum  of  the  prey  \  that  was  taken, 
 1<olh  of  man  and  of  beast,  thou,  and  Eleazar 
 the  priest,  and  the  chief  fathers  of  the  congre- 
 gation : 
 
 27  And  '  divide  the  prey  into  two  parts  ;  be- 
 tween them  that  took  the  war  upon  them,  who 
 
 ;  Se..  Ptiit. 
 
 id    1:1 
 
 1  Sam  I5.X 
 '[  oil.  2:»  2. 
 /lit.  21    IV. 
 
 '.  Pi-t.  2.  15 
 
 Rev.  2.  14. 
 m  i-li.  25.  9- 
 
 I  .Iiidg.  21. 
 
 t    Hl!l..  I 
 
 i/tiifr. 
 
 ;.  i-li     19.  n, 
 
 Heb.  .V 
 i/niTO'Vi/, 
 ,.r,  ,.«,.■/  ../■ 
 
 7  rh    19.9, 
 
 I  Heh.  ffllx: 
 oiitivilif. 
 
 t  Sep  T 
 ■17.  fe  . 
 
 „  See 
 — 17. 
 «  Or, 
 
 ver.  12 
 
 ^.  7,  S, 
 
 SI, :»;. 
 rt.  3,  -1. 
 
 1/  Sec  e 
 8,  19. 
 
 went  out  to  battle,  and  between  all  the  congre- 
 gation : 
 
 28  And  levy  a  tribute  unto  the  Loud  of  the 
 men  of  war  which  went  out  to  battle  :  '  one 
 soul  of  five  hundred,  both  of  the  persons,  and 
 of  the  beeves,  and  of  the  asses,  and  of  the 
 sheep  : 
 
 29  Take  it  of  their  half,  and  give  it  unto 
 Eleazar  the  priest,_/o)'  an  heave  ottering  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 30  And  of  the  children  of  Israel's  half,  thou 
 shalt  take  "one  portion  of  fifty,  of  the  persons, 
 of  the  beeves,  of  the  asses,  and  of  the  ||  Hocks, 
 of  all  manner  of  beasts,  and  give  them  unto  the 
 Levites,  "^  which  keep  the  charge  of  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  Lord. 
 
 31  And  Moses  and  Eleazar  the  priest  did  as 
 the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 32  And  the  booty,  beinci  the  rest  of  the  prey 
 which  the  men  of  war  had  caught,  was  .six 
 hundred  thousand  and  seventy  thousand  and 
 five  thousand  sheep, 
 
 33  And  threescore  and  twelve  thousand 
 beeves, 
 
 34  And  threescore  and  one  thousand  asses, 
 
 35  And  thirty  and  two  thousand  persons  in 
 all,  of  women  that  had  not  known  man  by 
 lying  with  him. 
 
 30  And  the  half,  which  was  the  portion  of 
 them  that  went  out  to  war,  was  in  number 
 three  hundred  thousand  and  seven  and  thirty 
 thousand  and  five  hundred  sheep  : 
 
 37  And  the  Lord's  tribute  of  the  sheep  was 
 six  hundred  and  threescore  and  fifteen. 
 
 38  And  the  beeves  tvcre  thirty  and  six  thou- 
 sand ;  of  which  the  Lord's  tribute  was  three- 
 score and  twelve. 
 
 39  And  the  asses  were  thirty  thousand  and 
 five  hundred  ;  of  which  the  Lord's  tribute  was 
 threescore  and  one. 
 
 40  And  the  persons  icere  sixteen  thousand  , 
 of  which  the  Lord's  tribute  mas  thirty  and  two 
 persons. 
 
 41  And  Moses  gave  the  tribute,  irhich  was 
 the  Lord's  heave  otTering,  unto  Eleazar  the 
 priest,  'as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 42  And  of  the  children  of  Israel's  half,  which 
 Moses  divided  from  the  men  that  warred, 
 
 43  (Now  the  half  that  pertained  niito  the 
 congregation  was  three  hundred  thousand  and 
 thirty  thousand  aiul  seven  thousand  and  five 
 hundred  sheep, 
 
 44  And  thirty  and  six  thousand  beeves, 
 
 45  And  thirty  thousand  asses  and  five  hun- 
 dred, 
 
 46  And  sixteen  thousand  persons  ;) 
 
 47  Even  '  of  the  children  of  Israel's  half, 
 Moses  took  one  portion  of  fifty,  Zio//j  of  man 
 and  of  beast,  and  gave  them  unto  the  Levites, 
 which  kept  the  charge  of  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 Lord  ;  as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses. 
 
 48  t  And  the  officers  which  were  over  thou- 
 sands of  the  host,  the  captains  of  thousands. 
 
 37.  Kill  everu  mule,  that  the  nation  might  be  extirpated,  as  far  as  lay 
 in  their  power.— Po/.  The  sword  of  war  should  spare  women  and 
 clnldien,  as  incapable  of  resisting;  but  the  sword  of  Justice  knows 
 no  dutinction  except  (hat  of  guilty  or  nut  guilty,  and  more  or  less 
 Kuilty.— .S'coW.  hill  eriri/  ii'omim— the  prostitutes  of  Baal  peor  must 
 not  be  turned  loose  on  the  Hebrew  camp.—Siit.,  ami  the  mothers 
 miglit  have  again  allured  to  sensual  pleasures  and  idolatry.— i)/;. 
 \V,itsa!i.  18.  Ttie  women  rkildren—lcefp  aiioe— these  could  not  be 
 suupnsed  to  have  been  culpable,  and.  being  brought  up  among  the  Is- 
 raelites, would  not  tempt  them  to  idolatry.  Infidels  have  asserted 
 these  were  kept  for  prostitution,  but  the  whole  tenourof  tlielaw  proves 
 185 
 
 the  contrary. —  Scott.  The  women  children  were  not  reserved  for 
 purposes  of  dehancliery,  but  of  slavery,  then  practised  among  all 
 nations.— JJ/'.  \]'ittsfm..  19.  Purify— tfoitr  cuptices — though  they  were 
 heathens,  yet,  inasmuch  as  they  were  to  be  for  the  service  of  the 
 Israelites,  and  to  be  brought  up  in  their  religion,  they  were  to  be  puri- 
 fied also.  20.  All  raiment — 'your'  is  not  in  the  original,  and  it 
 may  therefore  mean  the  raiment  taken  from  the  dead  bodies  of  the 
 Miiiianites.  Of  gatita''  ttuir,  such  as  the  covering  of  tents,  &c.  Tttin^s 
 vmde  iif  u'litid,  as  beds,  cups,  dishes,  ^c,  all  which  might  be  purified 
 by  washing,  (Lev,  xv,  12.) — GilL  23.  Water  nf  sepnratiitn — see  notes 
 on  chap.  Xix.  9,         34,  And  tttree  scare  and  one  ttiousand  asses — horses 
 
The  pha  of  (he  Reiibenites,  Sfc. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXXII. 
 
 Moses  reproveth  them. 
 
 and  captains  of'  hundreds,  came  near  unto 
 Moses : 
 
 49  And  tliey  said  unto  Moses,  Thy  servants 
 have  taken  the  sum  of  the  men  of  war  which 
 are  under  our  f  charge,  and  there  lacketh  not 
 one  man  of  us. 
 
 iO  We  have  therefore  brou<;ht  an  oblation 
 for  the  Lord,  wliat  every  man  liatli  f  gotten,  of 
 jewels  of  gold,  chains,  and  bracelets,  rings,  ear- 
 rings, and  tablets,  ''  to  make  an  atonement  for 
 our  soids  before  the  Lord. 
 
 51  And  Moses  and  Eleazar  the  priest  took 
 the  gold  of  them,  even  all  wrought  jewels. 
 
 5-2  And  all  the  gold  of  the  f  offering  that 
 they  offered  up  to  tlie  Lord,  of  the  captains 
 of  thousands,  and  of  tlie  captains  of  lunulreds, 
 was  sixteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
 shekels. 
 
 53  {For  ^  the  men  of  war  had  taken  spoil, 
 every  man  for  himself) 
 
 54  And  Moses  and  Eleazar  the  priest  took 
 the  gold  of  the  captains  of  thousands  and  of 
 hundreds,  and  brought  it  into  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation,  ''for  a  memorial  for  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  before  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXII. 
 
 ]  The.  Renhenites  and  Gftdites  sitf  for  tfirir  inheri'wice 
 on  that  side  Jordan.  G  Moses  repnwith  them.  I  (i  TUey 
 offer  him  conditions  to  his  content.  3;3  Moses  assit/n- 
 eth  them  the  hind.     39   Thet/  eonqner  it. 
 
 NOW  the  children  of  Reuben  and  the  chil- 
 dren of  Gad  had  a  very  great  multitude  of 
 cattle  :  and  when  they  saw  the  land  of  "  Jazer, 
 and  the  land  of  Gilead,  that,  behold,  the  place 
 was  a  place  for  cattle  ; 
 
 2  The  children  of  Gad  and  the  children  of 
 Reuben  came  and  spake  unto  Moses,  and  to 
 Eleazar  the  priest,  and  unto  the  princes  of  the 
 congregation,  saying, 
 
 .*)  Ataroth,  and  Dibon,  and  Jazer,  and  ^  Nim- 
 rah,  and  Heshbon,  and  Elealeh,  and  "  Shebam, 
 and  Nebo,  and  "^  Beon, 
 
 4  Even  the  country  "  which  the  Lokd  smote 
 
 t  Heb  f.,md 
 a  Ex.Al    \-', 
 
 \  Hel>.  henve 
 offtri/ig. 
 
 iDeu  SOI*. 
 
 n  eh.  SI  K. 
 Josli.  l3.Sa. 
 2. Sam,  24.^. 
 
 ruh. 
 c  ver.  .SS. 
 
 .Sr/MV.miA. 
 rf  ver.  8S, 
 
 tinnl-mnm. 
 r  ih.  21.24, 
 
 34. 
 
 /ch.  13.3, 
 
 ■JC. 
 g  Ueu.  I    2; 
 h  ch.  13.  24 
 
 31.  I>(..|i(.  1 
 
 24,  2S. 
 
 I  rh    14.  n, 
 21.  Deut.  I. 
 
 r  .li.  14   28. 
 211.  lU-iit.  1. 
 
 lilleii  fiflrr 
 
 I  ch.  14.  :t3, 
 
 31.  "ir.. 
 
 .  rh.  26.  CI, 
 
 P  n»-u  1. 
 
 31. 
 
 7  npii.3(l  17. 
 .lrihh.22.  16, 
 IS.-.'Clu.  7. 
 19.  &  la.  2. 
 
 before  the  congregation  of  Israel,  is  a  land  for 
 cattle,  and  thy  servants  have  cattle  : 
 
 5  Wherefore,  said  they,  if  we  have  found 
 grace  in  thy  sight,  let  this  land  be  given  unti> 
 thy  servants  for  a  possession,  and  bring  us  not 
 over  Jordan. 
 
 6  t  And  Moses  said  unto  the  children  of 
 Gad  and  to  the  children  of  Reuben,  Shall  your 
 brethren  go  to  war,  and  shall  ye  sit  here? 
 
 7  And  wherefore  f  discourage  ye  the  heart 
 of  the  ebildreu  of  Israel  from  going  over  into 
 the  land  which  the  Lord  hath  given  them  ? 
 
 8  Thus  did  your  fathers,  '  when  1  sent  them 
 from  Kadesh-barnea  *  to  see  the  land. 
 
 9  For  '•  when  they  went  up  unto  the  valley 
 of  Eshcol,  and  saw  the  land,  they  discouraged 
 the  heart  of  the  children  of  Israel,  that  tliey 
 should  not  go  into  the  land  which  the  Lord 
 had  given  them. 
 
 10  '  And  the  Lord's  anger  was  kindled  the 
 same  time,  and  be  sware,  saying, 
 
 1 1  Surely  none  of  the  men  that  came  up  out 
 of  Egj'pt,  'from  twenty  years  old  and  upward, 
 shall  see  the  land  wliich  I  sware  uuto  Abra- 
 ham, unto  Isaac,  and  unto  Jacob  ;  because 
 '  they  have  not  t  wholly  followed  me  : 
 
 12  Save  Caleb  the  son  of  Jephunneh  the  Ke- 
 nezite,  and  Joshua  the  sou  of  Nun  :  '"for  they 
 have  wholly  followed  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  the  Lord's  anger  was  kindled  against 
 Israel,  and  he  made  them  "  wander  in  the  wil- 
 derness forty  years,  until  "all  the  generation, 
 that  had  done  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 
 was  consumed. 
 
 14  And,  behold,  ye  are  risen  up  in  your  fa- 
 thers' stead,  an  increase  of  sinful  men,  to  aug- 
 ment yet  the  ''fierce  anger  of  the  Lord  toward 
 Israel. 
 
 1,5  For  if  ye  ''  turn  away  from  after  him,  he 
 will  yet  again  leave  them  in  the  wilderness  ; 
 and  ye  shall  destroy  all  this  people. 
 
 10  If  And  they  came  near  unto  him,  and  said. 
 We  will  build  sheepfolds  here  for  our  cattle, 
 and  cities  for  our  little  ones : 
 
 are  not  mentioned,  not  being  so  well  adapted  for  the  mountainous 
 country  of  Moab. — Sut.  50.  To  mnke  an  ntimement.  for  their  error, 
 noted  ver.  14,  l.'i,  16.  for  a  memorial,  as  ver.  .54,  or  by  way  of  gratitude, 
 as  implied  ver.  4((, — Ponte,  or  to  be  employed  in  that  service  of  God  by 
 wliich  atonement  was  typically  made. — Scott.  52.  Sixteen  tttmtaand 
 seeen  ttundred  and  fifty  shekels— e:ci\\A\  to  37,fifi9/.  I6s.  5rf.,  reckoning 
 the  talent  at  3,0ft0  shekels,  or6,7.'"jO/.  sterling.— .-i.  Clarke. 
 Chap.  XXXIl.  —  1.  Juzet — the  city  and  country  belonging  to  it  were 
 
 near  the  spring  of  tbe  river  .\rnon,  and  there  is  frequent  mention  of  it 
 in  the  book  of  Joshua,  and  in  Isa.  xvi,  8,  9,  and  Jer.  xlviii.  34.  Gilead, 
 a  noble  country,  so  called  from  the  mountain  Gilead,  which  bounded 
 it  on  the  east,  as  Jordan  did  on  the  west,  the  river  Jabbok  on  the 
 south,  and  Mount  Libanus  on  the  north.  .'1  place  of  cattle,  being  fa- 
 mous for  pasture  and  other  grazing  ground.  Here  was  Basban,  &c. — 
 Pat.  12.  The  Kenezitc — so  called  from  Konaz,  his  grandfather,  or 
 one  of  his    eminent   ancestors,   (Josh.  xv.  IT;    1  Chron.  iv.  13—15.) 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.  XXXI I.  If  God  punishes  his 
 
 own  people  for  sin,  so  he  will  severehj  pnnisli  those  who  are  not  his 
 p.ople.  Every  human  being  is  his  rational  creature,  and  ac- 
 countable to  liim,  and  sin  is  abominable  everywhere,  and  in 
 every  one  in  whose  heart  it  is  clierislied,  in  the  eyes  of  the 
 most  holy  God.  The  guilty  Israelites  were  cut  off  for  their 
 sins  in  connexion  witli  tlie  Midianites,  and  now  the  JMidianites 
 are  cut  off.  Judgment,  though  not  immediately  executed, 
 must  at  last  overtake  all  the  impenitent  guilty  :  the  punish- 
 ment was  indeed  severe,  but  the  crime  was  great.  The  Midi- 
 anites deliberately,  artl^ully,  and  maliciously  introduced  un- 
 cleanness  and  idolatry  into  tlie  camp  of  Israel,  that  they  might 
 bring  down  those  curses  upon  the  people  which  15alaam  was 
 unable  successfully  to  invoke,  and  they  were  virtually  the 
 murderers  of  the  twenty-four  thousand  that  perished  on  ac- 
 count of  their  seductive  arts.  Was  not  the  Supreme  Legislator 
 ju.st  in  punishing  such  heinous  offences?  Infidels  may  dare  to 
 call  him  to  an  account,  but  thai  will  not  alter  his  supreme 
 authority.  They  may  declaim  against  the  destruction  of  inno- 
 cent children,  but  they  must  remember  that  Woses  did  not 
 order  this  from  his  own  wisdom  or  for  his  own  pleasure  ;  and 
 we  may  then  ask,  Sliall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right? 
 Let  them  find  fault  with  the  pestilence  that  smites  the  innocent 
 lH(i 
 
 infants  on  their  mother's  lap,  or  the  earthquake  that  swallows 
 them  up  alike  with  the  thousands  of  practical  transgressors 
 that  share  in  tbe  calamity,  liut  the  Supreme  Judge  of  man- 
 kind gives  no  account  to  his  feeble  creatures  of  these  matters, 
 and  we  must  take  the  fact  as  here  recorded,  satisfied  that  a 
 large  portion  of  the  miserable  sufferers  were  miserable  sinners, 
 and  drawing  our  conclusions  from  what  we  can  see,  respecting 
 wdiat  we  cannot  see,  that  'The  I.,ord  is  righteous  in  all  his 
 ways.' 
 
 II.  //'  God  so  punished  the  Midianites,  must  we  not  trevdtle  for 
 the  fate  of  thousands  in  our  oicn  land?  Why  do  magistrates 
 wink  at  abounding  iniquity  ?  \\'hy  suffer  baits  to  be  laid  for 
 unwary  youth  ?  Why  allow  snares  to  arrest  the  feet  of  the 
 passenger  in  all  our  populous  towns  and  cities,  but  especially 
 in  our  metropolis  ?  Notwithstanding  the  number  of  righteous 
 amongst  us,  and  the  amount  of  good  doing  in  our  land,  we  are 
 yet  '  a  people  laden  with  iniquity  ;'  and  it  behoves  all  true 
 patriots  who  are  interested  for  the  purity  of  their  families,  for 
 the  welfare  of  the  nation,  and  for  the  glory  of  God,  to  employ 
 their  best  efforts  to  stem  the  torrents  of  iniquity  in  the  king- 
 dom, and  to  sigh  and  cry  *  for  the  abominations  tliat  be  done  in 
 the  midst  thereof.* 
 
They  offtr  him  conditions. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXXIII. 
 
 He  assiijncth  them  the  land. 
 
 17  But  'we  ourselves  will  go  ready  armed 
 before  the  children  of  Israel,  until  .we  have 
 brought  theui  unto  their  place  :  and  our  little 
 ones  shall  dwell  in  tlie  fenced  cities  because  of 
 tlie  inhabitants  of  tlie  land. 
 
 18  ■'  We  will  not  return  unto  our  houses,  until 
 the  children  of  Israel  have  inherited  every  man 
 his  inheritance. 
 
 19  For  we  will  not  inlierit  with  them  on 
 yonder  side  .lordan,  or  forward  ;  '  because  our 
 inheritance  is  fallen  to  us  on  this  side  Jordan 
 eastward. 
 
 20  H  And  "  Moses  said  unto  them.  If  ye  will 
 do  this  thing,  if  ye  will  go  armed  before  the 
 Lord  to  war, 
 
 21  And  will  go  all  of  yon  armed  over  Jordan 
 before  the  Loiin,  until  he  hath  driven  out  his 
 enemies  from  before  him, 
 
 22  And  "  the  land  be  subdued  before  the 
 Lord  :  then  afterward  *  ye  shall  return  and  be 
 guiltless  before  the  Loud,  and  before  Israel  ; 
 and  '  this  land  shall  be  your  possession  before 
 the  Lord. 
 
 23  But  if  ye  will  not  do  so,  behold,  ye  have 
 siimed  against  the  Lord  :  and  be  sure  "  your 
 sin  will  find  you  out. 
 
 24  ■'  Build  you  cities  for  your  little  ones,  and 
 folds  for  your  slieep  ;  and  do  that  which  hatli 
 proceeded  out  of  your  mouth. 
 
 25  And  the  children  of  Gad  and  the  children 
 of  Reuben  spake  unto  Moses,  saying,  Thy  ser- 
 vants will  do  as  my  lord  comniandeth. 
 
 20  "  Our  little  ones,  our  wives,  our  flocks,  and 
 all  our  cattle,  shall  be  there  in  the  cities  of 
 Gilead  : 
 
 27  •'  But  thy  servants  will  pass  over,  every 
 man  armed  for  war,  before  the  Lord  to  battle, 
 as  my  lord  saith. 
 
 28  So  "  concerning  them  Moses  commanded 
 Eleazar  the  priest,  and  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun, 
 and  the  chief  fathers  of  the  tribes  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel : 
 
 29  And  Moses  said  unto  them,  If  the  children 
 of  Gad  and  the  children  of  Reuben  will  pa,ss 
 with  you  over  Jordan,  every  man  armed  to 
 battle,  before  the  Loud,  and  the  land  shall  be 
 subdued  before  you  ;  then  ye  shall  give  them 
 tlie  land  of  Gilead  for  a  possession  : 
 
 ■  M}9\\.  4.  l-i, 
 
 t  D.MI.  3.  19. 
 Joxh  I.  1 1 
 Ji  4.  12,  13. 
 
 X  rieu.  3.90. 
 
 .lofili.  11.23. 
 
 b  18    I. 
 V  Josh.  23.  *. 
 
 .-  ncii.  3.  !•>, 
 15,  1(1,  18. 
 ,l..sl>.  1.  I.^». 
 
 5  1.1.  8,  32, 
 fc  22.  4,  9. 
 
 a  Gen.  «.  7. 
 
 6  11.  111. 
 Is.  511.  12. 
 
 b  ver.  16,34, 
 
 /neu.3.  12 
 
 —  17    &  29. 
 
 8.  Josh.  12. 
 
 6.  &  IS.  8. 
 
 &22.  4, 
 y  ch.  21.  24, 
 
 33,35. 
 
 h  ch.  33.  45, 
 40. 
 
 i  Deu.  2.  36. 
 ft  vor.  1,  3, 
 
 t  ver.  3, 
 Mmir.ih. 
 m  vei-    24. 
 
 n  Is.  46.  1 
 
 p  ch,  22  41. 
 
 7  Sec  vpr.  3 
 Kx  23.  13 
 Josh.  23.  7 
 
 t  Heb,  thftf 
 Cfllltil  fiij 
 iminrt  l/ic 
 immrt  ff  the 
 Cilifs. 
 
 r  Ueil.50.  23. 
 
 s  Den,  3    12, 
 1.1,15.  Josl,, 
 13  31.  & 
 17,  I. 
 
 /  Den.  3.  It, 
 Josh.  1S..3.I, 
 I  Chr.2.  21. 
 22,  2.^. 
 
 "  Jndg.  10.1-. 
 1  Kiu.V,  13. 
 
 j  30  But  if  they  will  not  pass  over  with  you 
 armed,  they  shall  have  po.ssessions  among  you 
 
 I  in  the  land  of  Canaan, 
 
 I   31    And  the  children  of  Gad  and  the  children 
 
 'of  Reuben  answered,  saying.  As  the  Lord  hatli 
 said  unto  thy  servants,  so  will  we  do. 
 
 32  We  will  pass  over  armed  before  the  Lord 
 into  the  land  of  Canaan,  that  the  possession  of 
 
 [  our  inheritance  on  this  side  Jordan  may  he  ours. 
 
 33  And  '  Moses  gave  unto  them,  eucn  to  the 
 children  of  Gad,  and  to  the  children  of  Reuben, 
 and  unto  half  the  tribe  of  Manasseh  the  son  of 
 Joseph,  ^  the  kingdom  of  Silion  king  of  the 
 Amorites,  and  the  kingdom  of  Og  king  of  Ba- 
 shan,  the  land,  with  the  cities  thereof  in  the 
 coasts,  even  the  cities  of  the  country  round 
 about. 
 
 34  If  And  the  children  of  Gad  built  "  Diboii, 
 and  Ataroth,  and  '  Aroer, 
 
 3j  And  Atroth,  Shophan,  and  '  Jaazer,  and 
 Jogbehah, 
 
 30  And  'Beth-nimrah,  and  Belh-haran,"' fenced 
 cities  :  and  folds  for  sheei). 
 
 37  And  the  children  of  Reuben  "  built  Hesli- 
 bon,  and  Elealeh,  and  Kirjathaim, 
 
 38  And  "  Nebo,  and  ■'  Baal-meon,  C  their 
 names  being  changed,)  and  Shibmah  :  and 
 t  gave  other  names  unto  the  cities  which  they 
 builded. 
 
 39  And  the  children  of  ^  Machir  the  son  of 
 Manasseh  went  to  Gilead,  and  took  it,  and  dis- 
 possessed the  Arsorite  which  iras  in  it. 
 
 40  And  Mo.ses  "  gave  Gilead  unto  Machir  the 
 son  of  Manasseh  ;  and  he  dwelt  therein. 
 
 41  And  '  Jair  the  son  of  Manasseh  went  and 
 took  the  small  towns  thereof,  and  called  them 
 "  Havoth-jair. 
 
 42  And  Nobah  went  and  took  Keiiath,  and 
 the  villages  thereof,  and  called  it  Nobah,  after 
 his  own  name. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXUI. 
 
 1    Two  ami  forfij  jnuiTieris  of  the  hracUhs.       50  The 
 VitnaatiUfS  are  to  be  destroyed. 
 
 'T'HESE  are  tlie  journeys  of  the  children  of 
 ■*-  Israel,  which  went  forth  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt  with  their  armies  under  the  hand  of 
 Muses  and  Aaron. 
 
 ir.  yyt'  oi/rselves — ready  armed — not  all  went,  but  about  40,floo  out  of 
 11)0,000,  which  were  sufficient. — Pat.  The  inhabitants — the  Moabites 
 and  Edomites,  or  other  bordering  people, — i'oole.  20.  Before  the 
 Lord,  before  the  ark,  the  symbol  of  his  presence.  These  two  tribes 
 encamped  before  the  sanctuary,  (chap,  ii.)  When  the  camp  removed, 
 they  marched  before  it,  (chap,  x  ,  see  also  Josh.  iv.  12,  i:<.) — Pat. 
 33.  Half  the  tribe  of  Manasseh — tlie  sons  of  Machir,  the  son  of  Ma- 
 nasseh, had,  by  their  valour,  subdued  a  great  part  of  the  country  where 
 they   settled.  —  Sfurkhouse.  34.  Built,    rather  rebuihled.  —  Hew. 
 
 Reuben  had  the  south-west,  bounded  south  by  the  Arnon,  west  by  the 
 Jordan,  north  and  east  by  the  tribe  of  Gad.  The  latter  tribe  was 
 bounded  west  by  the  Jordan,  north  by  the  haif-tribe  of  Mana^.seh,  east 
 by  the  Amorites,  south  by  the  tribe  of  Reuben.  The  half-tribe  was 
 bounded  south  by  Gad,  west  by  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  with  that  part  of 
 the  Jordan  frora  its  source  to  that  lake,  north  east  by  Mount  I.,ebanon, 
 and  east  by  the  mountains  of  Gilead. — Fawkes.  38.  Their  names 
 being  changed — they  were  the  names  of  gods,  and  as  the  Israelites 
 dared  uot  name  them,  they  were  compelled  to  make  the  alteration. 
 
 (Kx"d.  xxiii.  13.) — Pat.,  Wit.  40.  Unto  Mnrhir,  rather  the  posterity 
 of  Machir. — Siit.  •il.Juir  thr  son  of  Manasseh,    by   his  mother's 
 
 Kide,  otherwise  he  was  of  the  family  of  Judah.  He  seems  to  have  been 
 adopted  by  his  grandfather,  who  was  descended  from  the  son  of  Jo- 
 seph, and  thereforn  he  is  reckoned  as  a  sou  of  Manasseh.  Hczron,  of 
 the  family  of  Judah.  ninriitd  a  daughter  of  Machir,  the  son  of  Ma- 
 nasseh, by  whom  lie  had  a  sun  called  Segub,  who  was  tlie  father  of 
 Jair,  (1  Chron.  ii.  21,  22.)— GiV/,  Com.  from  Henri/  and  Srutt. 
 
 CuAP.  XXXIII.  —  \ .  The  journf.i/s,  forty  two  in  number.  Several 
 things  must  here  be  observed  :  (i.)  Some  of  the  places  named  were  small 
 towns,  others  but  a  rock  or  a  well;  (ii.)  some  places  are  mentioned 
 which  were  before  omitted;  (iii.)  at  some  places  they  rested,  others 
 they  only  passed  ;  the  latter  are  not  named  here,  as  in  chap.  xxi. 
 18 — 20;  (iv.)  some  places  have  different  names,  and  Moses  does  not 
 always  name  the  same  place,  buc  some  one  near  that  named  in  the 
 chapters  before,  for  the  army  extended  far,  and  the  van,  and  rear,  and 
 wings,  might  all  bcatdifTerent  places  ;  (v.)  the  march  was  zig-zag,  and 
 even  retrograde ;  (vi.)  the  distances  of  the  places  from  each  other  were 
 
 Rkflkctions  on  Chap.  XXXII.  —  I.  The  requests  of  the 
 tribes  in  this  chapter  remind  us  of  (Ae  eagerness  with  which  men 
 in  general  seek  after  sensible  enjoyments.  *  A  land  for  cattle'  is  all 
 that  some  covet,  and  when  they  have  got  it,  they  are  in  danger 
 of  caring  little  about  the  interests  of  religion  and  the  privileges 
 of  Canaan.  These  tribes,  too,  chose  a  residence  the  most 
 annoyed  by  enemies,  and  were  among  the  first  to  be  carried 
 away  into  captivity.  We  cannot  do  better  than  to  let  God 
 choose  our  lot. 
 
 II.  The  fidelity  of  Moses  presents  us  with  an  admirahle  f>at- 
 187 
 
 tern  fur  the  condiirt  of  ministers.  When  he  saw  the  longings  of 
 these  people,  he  was  jealous  over  them  with  a  godly  jealousy; 
 he  pointed  out  their  duty  to  be  feliow-lielpers  of  their  brethren, 
 he  warned  them  of  the  danger  of  insincerity,  carnal  security, 
 and  infidelity.  Let  us  remember  his  striking  words,  '  Be  sure 
 your  sin  will  find  you  out.'  Ills  address  had  a  good  effect,  it 
 drew  from  them  a  pledge  of  what  they  ought  to  have  stated 
 before  they  finislied  their  application,  and  thus  has  left  an  en- 
 couragpmtMit  to  ministers  to  'reprove,  rebuke,  and  exhort, 
 with  all  long-suiferiiig  and  doclriiie  ' 
 
7'wo  and  fmli/jouniei/inr/s 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXXIII. 
 
 of  the  Israelili's. 
 
 2  And  Moses  wrote  their  goings  out  accord- 
 ing to  their  journeys  liy  the  commandment  ot 
 tlie  Lord  :  and  tliese  are  tlieir  journeys  ac- 
 cording to  their  goings  out. 
 
 3  And  they  "  departed  from  Rameses  in  ''  the 
 first  month,  on  tlie  fifteentli  day  of  tlie  first 
 month  ;  on  the  morrow  alter  the  passover  tlie 
 children  of  Israel  went  out  "  with  an  high  hand 
 in  the  sight  of  all  the  Egyptians. 
 
 4  For  the  Egyptians  buried  all  their  firstborn, 
 ■"  which  the  Loud  had  smitten  among  them: 
 "  upon  their  gods  also  the  Lord  executed 
 judgments. 
 
 .5  '  And  the  children  of  Israel  removed  from 
 Rameses,  and  pitched  in  Succoth. 
 
 G  And  they  departed  from  ^'  Succoth,  and 
 pitched  in  Ethani,  which  is  in  the  edge  of  the 
 wilderness.' 
 
 7  And  "  they  removed  from  Etham,  and 
 turned  again  unto  Pi-hahiroth,  which  is  before 
 Baal-zepiion  :  and  they  pitched  before  Migdol. 
 
 8  And  they  departed  from  before  Pi-hahiroth, 
 and  '  passed  through  the  midst  of  the  sea  into 
 the  wilderness,  and  went  three  days*  journey 
 in  the  wilderness  of  Etham,  and  pitched  in 
 Marah. 
 
 9  And  they  removed  from  JIarah,  and  '  came 
 inito  Elim  ;  and  in  Elim  u-cre  twelve  fountains 
 of  water,  and  threescore  and  ten  palm  trees; 
 and  they  pitched  there. 
 
 10  And  they  removed  from  Elim,  and  en- 
 camped by  the  Red  sea. 
 
 11  And  tliey  removed  from  the  Red  sea,  and 
 encamped  in  the''  wilderness  of  Sin. 
 
 12  And  they  took  tlieir  journey  out  of  the 
 wilderness  of  Sin,  and  encamped  in  Dophkah. 
 
 13  And  they  departed  from  Dophkah,  and  en- 
 camped in  Alush. 
 
 14  And  they  removed  from  Alush,  and  en- 
 camped at  ■"  Rcphidini,  where  was  no  water 
 for  the  peojile  to  drink. 
 
 15  And  tliey  departed  from  Rephidim,  and 
 pitched  in  the  "uilderness  of  Sinai. 
 
 16  And  they  removed  from  the  desert  of 
 Sinai,  and  pitched  °at  ||  Kibroth-hattaavah. 
 
 17  And  they  departed  from  Kibroth-hattaavah, 
 and ''encamped  at  Hazeroth. 
 
 18  And  tliey  departed  from  Hazeroth,  and 
 pitched  in  ''  Rithmah. 
 
 19  And  they  departed  from  Rithmah,  and 
 pitched  at  Rlmmon-parez. 
 
 20  And  they  departed  from  Rimmon-parez, 
 and  pitched  in  Libnali. 
 
 21  And  they  removed  from  Libnah,  and 
 pitched  at  Rissah. 
 
 22  And  they  journeyed  from  Rissah,  and 
 pitched  in  Kelielathah. 
 
 23  And  they  went  from  Kelielathah,  and 
 pitched  in  mount  Shaplicr. 
 
 24  And  they  removed  from  mount  Sliaphcr, 
 and  encamped  in  Haradah. 
 
 2j  And  they  removed  from  Haradah,  and 
 pitched  in  Maklieloth. 
 
 26  And  they  removed  from  Makheloth,  and 
 encamped  at  Tahath. 
 
 a  Ex.  12.37. 
 
 1491. 
 6  Ex,  12.  2. 
 
 &  13.  4. 
 c  Ex.  14.  8. 
 
 d  Ex.  12.  29 
 
 ,  Ex  12.  12 
 Si  18.  II. 
 Is.  IE).  I. 
 Kev.  12.  8. 
 
 /Ex.  12.37. 
 
 i  Ex.  11.  22. 
 &  la.  ?2, 23. 
 
 .71  Ex.  17.  I. 
 &  19.  2. 
 
 lion. 
 
 n  Ex.  in.  I. 
 &  19.  I,  2. 
 
 -c\\.  11.34. 
 II  Tliiit  in, 
 
 Mr  jrnre. 
 
 „fl,„l. 
 |i  cU.  1 1.  35. 
 
 ti  eh.  12.  1«. 
 1  Mac.fi.  9, 
 Dalluina. 
 
 s  I  l\l.ir.  5  4, 
 
 «™ 
 
 ■  See 
 
 (leii.  36. 
 Il.-u.  10.0, 
 IChr.  1.42 
 /  Oeii.  10.  7. 
 
 ..  Deu.  2.  8. 
 
 I  Kin.  9. 26 
 
 Be  22.  48. 
 
 1IS3. 
 
 w  ell.  20.  1. 
 &  27.  14. 
 
 X'  ell   20.  22. 
 23.8c  21.  4. 
 
 V  ell  20.  2.5, 
 2rt  Deu.  10. 
 0.  Ik  32.  50. 
 
 /:  eh.  21.  10. 
 c  eh.  21.  II. 
 II  Or,  lieapt 
 rl  Cll.  21.  II 
 e  ch.  32.  34. 
 
 r.Ier.4S.22. 
 Eiek.6.  14. 
 
 II  Or,  (/.« 
 ;,(,,-.,.  »/ 
 Shiltiiu. 
 
 i  ell    25    I. 
 Josli.  2.  I. 
 
 Josh.  3.  17. 
 /  Ex.  23.  21. 
 33.  &31.  \-X 
 l>eii.  7.  2,:, 
 He  12.  3. 
 Josti.  11.12, 
 Juclg.  2.  2. 
 
 7  And    they   departed    from   Tahath,   and 
 pitched  at  Tarah. 
 
 28  And  they  removed  from  Tarah,  and 
 pitched  in  Mithcah. 
 
 29  And  they  went  from  Mithcah,  and  pitched 
 in  Hashmonah. 
 
 30  And  they  departed  from  Hashmonah,  and 
 'encamped  at  Moseroth. 
 
 31  And  they  departed  from  Moseroth,  and 
 pitched  in  Bene-jaakan. 
 
 32  And  they  removed  from  '  Bene-jaakan, 
 and  '  encamped  at  Hor-hagidgad. 
 
 33  And  they  went  from  Hor-hagidgad,  and 
 pitched  in  .lotbatliah. 
 
 34  And  they  removed  from  Jotbathah,  and 
 encamped  at  Ebronah. 
 
 35  And  they  departed  from  Ebronah,  "and 
 encamped  at  Ezion-gaber. 
 
 36  And  they  removed  from  Ezion-gaber,  and 
 pitched  in  the  "'  wilderness  of  Zin,  which  /»' 
 Kadesh. 
 
 37  And  they  removed  from  '  Kade.sh,  and 
 pitched  in  mount  Hor,  in  the  edge  of  the  land 
 of  Edom. 
 
 38  And  '  Aaron  the  priest  went  up  into 
 mount  Hor  at  the  commandment  of  the  Lord, 
 and  died  there,  in  the  fortieth  year  after  the 
 children  of  Israel  were  come  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  in  the  first  day  of  the  fifth  month 
 
 39  And  Aaron  was  an  hundred  and  twenty 
 and  three  years  old  when  he  died  in  mount  Hor. 
 
 40  And  'king  Arad  the  Canaanite,  which 
 dwelt  ill  the  south  in  the  land  of  Canaan, 
 heard  of  the  coining  of  the  children  of  I.srael. 
 
 41  And  they  departed  from  mount  °  Hor, 
 and  pitched  in  Zalmonah. 
 
 42  And  they  departed  from  Zalmonah,  and 
 pitched  in  Punon. 
 
 43  And  they  departed  from  Punon,  ami 
 ''  pitched  in  Oboth. 
 
 44  And  '^  they  departed  from  Oboth,  and 
 pitched  in  ||  ''  Ije-abarim,  in  tlie  border  of  Moab. 
 
 45  And  they  departed  from  liin,  and  pitched 
 °  in  Dibou-gad. 
 
 46  And  tliey  removed  from  Dibon-gad,  and 
 encamped  in  Almon'^-diblathaim. 
 
 47  And  they  removed  from  Almon-dib- 
 lathaini,  ^  and  pitched  in  the  mountains  of 
 Abariin,  before  Neho. 
 
 48  And  tliey  departed  fniiii  the  mountains  of 
 Abarim,  and  "  pitched  in  the  plains  of  Moab  by 
 Jordan  near  .lericho. 
 
 49  And  they  pitched  by  Jordan,  from  Beth- 
 jesimoth  even  unto  ||  '  AbeKshittim  in  the 
 plains  of  Moab. 
 
 50  H  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  in  the 
 plains  of  Moab  by  Jordan  near  Jericho,  saying, 
 
 51  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say 
 unto  them,  ''  When  ye  are  passed  over  Jordan 
 into  the  land  of  Canaan  ; 
 
 52  '  Then  yo  sliall  drive  out  all  the  inhabitants 
 of  the  land  from  before  yon,  and  destroy  all 
 their  pictures,  and  destroy  all  their  molten 
 images,  and  rpiite  pluck  down  all  their  high 
 places ; 
 
 various,  some  being  only  four,  some  six,  some  ciplit,  some  twelve,  some 
 sixteen,  and  others  twenty,  twenty  four,  thirty-two,  anrt  even  forty, 
 and  forty-eight  miles  apart ;  (vii.)  those  places  only  seem  to  have  been 
 mentioned  where  the  Israelites  resided  some  time,  and  not  all  the 
 places  where  they  encamped  during  the  forty  years. — Sut.,  W(i//t  n'iL, 
 JTd.,  Buotlir.  2.  Muses  wco/e— hence  it  is  inferred,  that  writing  was 
 :n  common  use  before  he  entered  llie  desert,  unless  he  wrote  after  tiie 
 giviijg  of  the  law.  But  .Snft?'#f  justly  observes,  "it  is  ridiculous  to 
 J  88 
 
 see  every  art  approaching  to  perfection,  and  to  suppose  that  writing 
 was  unknown  till  Moses  entered  the  desert.'  3.  liiimfsi-s,  a  city  in 
 Egypt,  whither  they  repaired,  by  Moses'  order,  from  all  |iarts  of  the 
 land,  (see  Exrid.  .\ii.  37.)— Gill,  I'onle.  Dr.  Shiim  thinks  iliis  place  was 
 the  modern  Cairo.  1 1 .  Sin,  afterwards  called  Sinai,  the  linal  i  being 
 added,  which  sicnifies  ten,  from  the  decalogue,  or  ten  commandments. 
 —Sul.  52.  Pictmes,  Dn'SlTD,  from  n^lD.  '  t'l  resemble  ;'  it  signifies 
 '  images,' '  likenesses,'  or  '  ligures.'— iJi/.i/o':/.  '  Obelisks."— HVi.'fr'nHii. 
 
1g. 
 
 ich 
 
 ■he 
 
 sry 
 
 le  : 
 Je- 
 
 on, 
 
 iOll 
 
 ren 
 
 for 
 iiel 
 
 ren 
 
 ren 
 
 ren 
 
 ren 
 
 ren 
 
 iary 
 ler,' 
 Jea.' 
 mils 
 T  of 
 oco- 
 ene- 
 M— 
 ntly 
 1.3 
 
 '■//le 
 71  ve 
 ml,' 
 Ih© 
 )rn3 
 5  to 
 the 
 inul 
 
J"  iff.  i'jt4Jsai»i  Mov> 
 
 4 
 
 i 
 
The  borders  of  the  lanil. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXXIV. 
 
 The  dividers  of  the  land. 
 
 53  And  j'e  shiil!  dispossess  the  iiihahitants  of 
 the  land,  and  dwell  therein  :  for  I  have  given 
 you  the  land  to  possess  it. 
 
 54  And  '"ye  shall  divide  the  land  by  lot  for 
 an  inheritance  anion<;  your  families  :  and  to 
 the  more  ye  shall  f  give  the  more  inheritance, 
 and  to  the  fewer  ye  shall  f  give  the  less  in- 
 heritance :  every  man's  inheritance  shall  be  in 
 the  place  where  his  lot  falletli  ;  according  to 
 the  tribes  of  your  fathers  ye  shall  inherit. 
 
 5.5  But  if  ye  will  not  drive  out  tlie  inhabitants 
 of  the  land  from  before  you  ;  then  it  sliall  come 
 to  pass,  that  those  which  ye  let  remain  of  them 
 shall  be  "  pricks  in  your  eyes,  and  thorns  in 
 your  .sides,  and  shall  vex  you  in  the  land 
 wherein  ye  dwell. 
 
 56  Moreover  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  I 
 shall  do  unto  you,  as  I  thouglit  to  do  unto 
 them. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 1    The  borders  of  t/ie  land.      Hi  The  names  of  the  men 
 iv'iich  shall  d'nnde  the  land, 
 
 AND  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 2  Command  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 say  unto  tliem.  When  ye  come  into  "  tlie  land 
 of  Canaan;  (this  is  the  land  that  shall  fall  unto 
 you  for  an  inheritance,  even  the  laud  of  Canaan 
 with  the  coasts  thereof:) 
 
 3  Then  '•your  south  quarter  shall  be  from  the 
 wilderness  of  Zin  along  by  the  coast  of  Edom, 
 and  your  south  border  shall  be  the  outmost 
 coast  of '  the  salt  sea  eastward  : 
 
 4  And  your  border  shall  turn  from  the  south 
 ''  to  the  ascent  of  Akrabbim,  and  pass  on  to 
 Ziu  :  and  the  going  forth  thereof  shall  be  from 
 the  .south  °  to  Kadcsh-barnea,  and  shall  go  on 
 to  '  Hazaraddar,  and  pass  on  to  Aznion : 
 
 5  And  the  border  shall  fetch  a  compass  from 
 Azmon  ^  unto  the  river  of  Egypt,  and  the  go- 
 ings out  of  it  shall  be  at  the  sea. 
 
 6  And  as  for  the  western  border,  ye  shall 
 even  have  the  great  sea  for  a  border :  this  shall 
 be  your  west  border. 
 
 7  And  this  sliall  be  your  north  border  :  from 
 the  great  sea  ye  shall  point  out  for  you 
 ''  mount  Ilor: 
 
 8  From  mount  Hor  ye  shall  point  out  i/uur 
 border  '  unto  the  entrance  of  Hamath  ;  and 
 the  goings  forth  of  the  border  shall  be  to 
 !■  Zedad  : 
 
 9  f  And  tlie  border  shall  go  on  to  Ziphron, 
 and  the  goings  out  of  it  shall  be  at  '  Hazar- 
 
 t  Hi-b  mii(, 
 p/j/  ft  i*  i'J 
 Tit'inc- 
 
 lUeb.dirr. 
 nith  ft'i  iu 
 heTilaiicc. 
 
 i  J..sh.'J3.l3 
 .T..dg.  3.  3. 
 Pa.  UI6.  31, 
 36.  See  Ex 
 
 Ezo.  29.  SI 
 
 6  Josh  15.  I 
 See  Eic.47. 
 13,  &c. 
 
 :  Ren.  II.  3 
 Josh,   15.  2 
 
 e  ch-  13.  2G 
 
 &  S->.  K. 
 r  See  Josli, 
 
 15.  3,  -l. 
 
 g  Gen. 15. 18. 
 .losli.  1.^.  !. 
 
 .cli.  13,  21. 
 'i Kin.  14  25. 
 
 /  Eze.47.  17 
 
 m  2  Kin.  23. 
 
 33  Jer.  39. 
 
 5,6. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 thfulder. 
 n  Ueu.  S.  17. 
 
 Josh.  11.  2. 
 
 &  19.  35. 
 
 mat.  I+.  31 
 
 Luke  5.  I. 
 o  ver.  3. 
 
 t>  ver.  1 . 
 Josh.  11.1,2. 
 
 9  eh   32.  33 
 Josh. 112,3 
 
 enan  :  this  shall  be  your  uortli  border. 
 
 10  And  ye  shall  point  out  your  east  bordei 
 from  Hazar-enan  to  Shepham  : 
 
 1 1  And  the  coast  .shall  go  down  from  Shepham 
 "'  to  Riblah,  on  the  east  side  of  Ain  ;  and  the 
 border  shall  descend,  and  shall  reach  unto  the 
 t  side  of  the  sea  "  of  Chinnercth  eastward  : 
 
 12  And  the  border  shall  go  down  to  Jordan, 
 and  the  goings  out  of  it  .shall  be  at  "  the  salt 
 .sea :  this  shall  be  your  land  with  the  coasts 
 thereof  round  about. 
 
 13  And  Moses  commanded  the  children  of 
 Israel,  saying, ''  This  is  the  land  which  ye  shall 
 inherit  by  lot,  which  the  Lord  commanded  to 
 give  unto  the  nine  tribes,  and  to  the  half  tribe  : 
 
 14  ''  For  the  tribe  of  the  children  of  Reuben 
 according  to  the  house  of  their  fathers,  and  the 
 tribe  of  the  children  of  Gad  according  to  the 
 liouse  of  their  fathers,  have  received  their  in- 
 heritance ;  and  half  the  tribe  of  Manasseh 
 have  received  their  inheritance  : 
 
 15  The  two  tribes  and  the  half  tribe  have  re- 
 ceived tlieir  inheritance  on  this  side  Jordan 
 Hen;- Jericho  eastward,  toward  the  sunrising. 
 
 16  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
 
 17  These  are  the  names  of  the  men  which 
 shall  divide  the  land  unto  you  :  '  Eleazar  the 
 priest,  and  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun. 
 
 18  And  ye  shall  take  one  ^prince  of  every 
 tribe,  to  divide  the  land  by  inheritance. 
 
 I!1  And  the  names  of  the  men  are  these: 
 Of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  Caleb  the  son  of  Je- 
 phuiineh. 
 
 20  And  of  the  tribe  of  the  children  of  Simeon, 
 Shemucl  the  son  of  Ammihud. 
 
 21  Of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  Elidad  the  sou 
 of  Cbislon. 
 
 22  And  the  prince  of  the  tribe  of  the  children 
 of  Dan,  Bukki  the  son  of  Jogli. 
 
 23  The  prince  of  tlie  children  of  Josepli,  for 
 the  tribe  of  the  children  of  Manasseh,  Hanniel 
 the  .son  of  Ephod. 
 
 24  And  the  prince  of  the  tribe  of  the  children 
 of  Ephraim,  Kemuel  the  son  of  Shiphtan. 
 
 25  And  the  prince  of  the  tribe  of  the  children 
 of  Zebulun,  Elizaphan  the  son  of  Parnach. 
 
 26  And  the  prince  of  the  tribe  of  the  children 
 of  Issachar,  Paltiel  the  son  of  Azzan. 
 
 27  And  the  prince  of  the  tribe  of  the  children 
 of  Asher,  Ahihud  the  son  of  Shelouii. 
 
 28  And  the  prince  of  the  tribe  of  the  children 
 of  Naphtali,  Pedahel  the  son  of  Ammihud. 
 
 *  Sculptured  stones.* — Boottir.  It  may  mean  in  carved  work  or  em- 
 broidery.—  A.Cturkp.  Temples,  or  houses  of  worship. —  Onkelos. 
 55.  Pricks  in  your  ei/es.  S[c. — a  proverbial  kind  of  speaking. — Htintfir. 
 Grievous  and  mischievous  as  a  wound  in  the  eye,  or  a  thorn  festering 
 in  the  side. — Pat. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIV.  —  2.  Tliis  is  lite  land — thus  distinctly  marked  out 
 that  they  might  not  seek  the  enlargement  of  their  empire  by  wars,  and 
 be  contented  with  their  own  land. — Poole.  It  reached  from  the  river  of 
 Egypt  to  the  Euphrates,  (see  Josh,  i.,)  and  Mount  Lebanon,  and  was 
 circumscribed  south  and  east  by  the  desert,  yet  they  never  properly 
 posses.sed  more  than  from  Dan,  the  colony  in  the  north-ca^t,  Undg. 
 xviii.,)  to  Beersheba.  Some  surrounding  nations  weic  made  tributary, 
 but  never  dispossessed  of  their  country. — Sut.    The  extreme  Iciigtli 
 
 was  1/0  miles,  and  the  width  about  60. — Cal.  3.  Sontti  quarter, 
 riND,  evidently  means  '  the  comer,'  or  '  point,*  whence  the  boundary 
 commences. — Boottir.  It  does  not  appear  strictly  <y  mean  'corner,* 
 nor  liave  the  .Sept.  once  so  translated  it. — Par.  .Salt  sea,  'Dead  Sea.* 
 5.  Ttie  rieer  of  Egppt,  the  Nile. — Cal.  Tliis  is  an  error,  for  tlie  limits 
 of  the  Hebrew  nation  never  extended  so  far ;  we  take  the  river  of 
 Egypt,  therefore,  to  be  the  brook  Besor,  between  Gazor  and  Rhinoco- 
 rnra,  (see  Josh.  xv.  47.1 — Tar/lor's  Culmet.  &.  Ttie  fp-eat  sea,  gene- 
 rally denotes  the  Mediterranean. — Ctil.  1 !.  Ttie  sea  of  Cttinneretti — 
 the  same  with  the  sea  of  Tiberius  and  the  sea  of  Genesaret,  frequently 
 mentioned  in  the  New  Testament. — Gill.  Mentioned  in  Josh.  xii.  3 
 xiii.  27  ;  xix.  35. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XXXIII. — I.  In  Israel's  journey 
 througli  llie  Wditerntss,  we  see  tlie  type  of  tlie  earthly  pilgrhimge. 
 A  pilgrimage  mixed  with  many  menies,  thougli'  tliesouls  of 
 the  people  are  often  '  discouraged  because  of  ihe  way.'  The 
 windings  of  this  wilderness  are  frequently  wearying  and  per- 
 plexing, but,  to  the  true  believer,  they  will  end  in  the  posses- 
 Bion  of  the  promised  land, 
 
 *  Our  journey  is  a  thorny  maze. 
 But  we  march  upwards  still. 
 Forget  the  trouble  of  the  ways, 
 .\nd  leach  at  Ziou's  hill !' 
 189 
 
 II.  In  the  extirpation  of  the  Canaanites  we  see  the  model  of  the 
 betiever^s  duty  with  reyard  to  his  sjiirituat  enemies.  He  is  to  give 
 no  quarter  to  those  *  fleshly  lusts  which  war  against  his  soul,* 
 but  '  to  crucify  the  flesh,  with  the  atiVctions  and  lusts."  The 
 least  indulgence  of  these  will  indeed  prove  pricks  and  thorns 
 in  the  most  tender  part,  and  wound  his  conscience  so  as  to 
 produce  in  the  end  the  most  agonizing  smart.  Thus  must  he 
 '  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,'  that  he  may  '  lay  hold  on  eternal 
 life.' 
 
The  cities  fur  the  Levites. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXXV. 
 
 The  laws  oj  tmti  der. 
 
 29  These   arc   they   wliom   tlie   Lord  com- 
 manded  to   divide   tlie   inlieiitance  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel  in  the  land  of  Canaan. 
 CHAP.  XXXV. 
 
 1  Kiffitt  find  forty  cities  for  the  Lcvifes  wittt  their  s«6- 
 itrhsy  awt  tncuaure  t/terenf,  6  Six  of  them  are  to  be 
 cities  of  refiu/c.  9  The  liiivs  of  inurilcr.  31  No 
 satisfactiiin  for  murder. 
 
 A  ND  the  Loud  .spake  unto  Moses  in  the 
 -'*-  plains  of  Moah  hy  Jordan  near  Jericho, 
 
 saying, 
 •1  '  Command  tlie  children  of  Israel,  that  they 
 give  unto  tlie  Levites  of  the  inheritance  of 
 their  possession  cities  to  dwell  in  ;  and  ye 
 shall  give  also  unto  tlie  Levites  suburbs  for 
 the  cities  round  about  them. 
 
 3  And  tlie  cities  shall  tliey  have  to  dwell  in  ; 
 and  the  suburbs  of  them  shall  be  for  theii 
 cattle,  and  for  tlieir  goods,  and  for  all  their 
 boasts. 
 
 4  And  the  suburbs  of  the  cities,  which  ye 
 shall  give  unto  tlie  Levites,  shall  reach  from 
 the  wall  of  the  city  and  outward  a  thousand 
 cubits  round  about. 
 
 a  And  ye  shall  measure  from  without  the  city 
 on  the  east  side  two  tliuusaiid  cubits,  and  on 
 the  .south  side  two  thousand  cubits,  and  on  the 
 west  side  two  tbonsand  cnbits,  and  on  the  north 
 side  two  thousand  cubits  ;  and  tlie  city  shall 
 he  in  the  midst  :  this  .shall  be  to  them  the 
 suburbs  of  the  cities. 
 
 (i  And  aimmg  the  cities  which  ye  shall  give 
 niito  the  l.cvites  thrre  shall  lie  ''six  cities  for 
 refuge,  wliich  ye  shall  appoint  for  the  man- 
 slayer,  tliat  he  may  flee  thither  :  and  f  to  them 
 ye  sliall  add  forty  and  two  cities. 
 
 7  So  all  the  cities  which  ye  shall  give  to  the 
 Levites  slmll  he  ''  forty  and  eight  cities  :  them 
 shall  ye  <jire  with  their  suburbs. 
 
 8  And  the  cities  wbicli  ye  shall  give  shall  be 
 ''  of  the  possession  of  the  children  of  Israel : 
 °  from  thrm  that  hare  many  ye  sb.all  give 
 many  ;  liut  from  Itiem  Ihnt  hare  few  ye  shall 
 give  few  :  every  one  sliall  give  of  his  cities 
 unto  tlie  Levites  according  to  his  inheritance 
 wliicb  the  inheriteth. 
 
 !)  H  And  the  Lnun  spake  unto  Moses,  saying. 
 In  Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  say 
 
 r.nto  them. '  Wlien  ye  be  come  over  Jordan  into 
 
 the  land  of  Canaan  ; 
 1 1   Then  ^  ye  shall  appoint  you  cities  to  be 
 
 cities  of  refuge  for  you  ;  tliat  the  slayer  may 
 
 Sne  K/.ek. 
 10.  1,  »c.& 
 ■IS.  8,  !tr. 
 
 A  v,.r    1.1. 
 Pen.  i.  II 
 J.>'il..?<i.?.7. 
 8.&21  S,1S, 
 SI,  27,  ^-i, 
 ai.  3S. 
 
 \    Hcb.  'itlOPr 
 ihnHtfilnlit 
 
 c  Josl>.2I,U. 
 
 rf  JoBli.21.3. 
 ch.  9(>   51. 
 
 1  H,.I>.  Ihrt, 
 
 /  Pen.  10.  2. 
 JoBli.  2U.  2 
 
 B.  C.  IWl. 
 
 t  Hel>.  % 
 
 A  Dcii  10.  r,. 
 .losll.  2y.  :l, 
 .1,  b 
 
 A  n,>it.  4.  41 
 Jotiti.  20.  8. 
 
 m  Ri  21.  12. 
 11.  Lpv.2.1 
 17.  Di-ii.l'J. 
 11,  12. 
 
 t  lleb.  iri/A  « 
 
 n  ver.  21 ,  SI, 
 27.  Den  10 
 6.  12.  Josh. 
 80.3,6. 
 
 1  Gfii    4.  S. 
 2Saiii.3.27. 
 ft  20.  10. 
 1  Kin  2  31, 
 .t2. 
 
 flee  thither,  which  killeth  any  person  f  at  uu- 
 aw^ares. 
 
 1'2  ''And  they  .shall  be  unto  you  cities  for 
 refuge  from  the  avenger;  that  the  manslayer 
 die  not,  until  he  stand  before  the  congregation 
 in  judgment. 
 
 13  And  of  these  cities  which  ye  sliall  give 
 '  six  cities  sliall  ye  have  for  refuge. 
 
 14  I"  Ye  shall  give  three  cities  on  this  side 
 Jordan,  and  three  cities  shall  ye  give  in  the 
 land  of  Canaan,  which  shall  be  cities  of  refuge. 
 
 I J  These  six  cities  shall  be  a  refuge,  i»//(  for 
 the  children  of  Israel,  and  '  for  the  stranger, 
 and  for  the  sojourner  among  them  :  that  every 
 one  that  killeth  any  person  unawares  may  flee 
 thither. 
 
 IG  ""And  if  he  smite  him  with  an  instrument 
 of  iron,  so  that  he  die,  he  is  a  murderer :  tlie 
 murderer  shall  surely  be  put  to  death. 
 
 17  And  if  he  smite  him  f  with  tbrosving  a 
 stone,  wherewith  he  may  die,  and  be  die,  he  (.v 
 a  murderer:  the  murderer  shall  surely  be  put 
 to  death. 
 
 18  Or  if  he  smite  him  with  an  hand  weapon 
 of  wood,  wherewith  he  may  die,  and  he  die,  he 
 is  a  murderer:  the  murderer  shall  surely  be  put 
 to  death. 
 
 19  "The  revenger  of  blood  himself  shall  slay 
 the  murderer :  when  he  meeteth  him,  he  shall 
 .slay  him. 
 
 •20  But  "  if  he  thrust  him  of  hatred,  or  hurl  at 
 him  ''by  laying  of  wait,  that  he  die  ; 
 
 '21  Or  ill  enmity  smite  him  with  his  hand, 
 that  he  die  :  he  that  smote  him  sliall  surely 
 be  put  to  death  ;  fur  be  is  a  murderer :  the  re- 
 venger of  blood  shall  slay  the  murderer,  when 
 he  ineclrlb  him. 
 
 22  But  if  he  thrust  him  suddenly  ''  witliont 
 enmity,  or  have  cast  upon  him  any  thing  witli- 
 ont laying  of  wait, 
 
 23  Or  with  any  stone,  wherewith  a  man  may 
 die,  seeing  him  not,  and  cast  it  upon  bini,  that 
 he  die,  and  was  not  his  enemy,  neither  sought 
 his  harm  : 
 
 24  Then  '  the  congregation  shall  judge  be- 
 tween the  slayer  and  the  revenger  of  blood 
 according  to  these  judgments  : 
 
 25  And  the  congregation  shall  deliver  the 
 slayer  out  of  the  hand  of  the  revenger  of  blood, 
 and  the  congregation  shall  restore  hiin  to  the 
 city  of  his  refuge,  whither  he  was  fled  :  and 
 "  he   shall  abide  in  it  unto  the  death  of  the 
 
 Chap.  XX.W.  —  2.  Cities  to  dwell  in,  for  the  accnmmnri.ition  nf  the 
 IjCvitcs.  for  convcniency  of  giving  religious  iiislniction  to  Uie  people 
 in  all  part-s  of  the  land  :  they  mig:ht,  however,  occa<5ionally  riwell  else- 
 where, and  others  miijht  be  tlieir  tenants.  3.  Sul/urbs — the  suhtirlis 
 ot  a.  thousanil  enbits  wnnld  serve  for  pardens  and  cnit  houses  ;  and  tlie 
 larger  suliurh  of  another  thousand,  at  a  ereater  distance,  would  yield 
 pa-stme.  'i'tie  whole  seems  to  have  extended  nearly  three-quarters  of 
 a  mile  on  each  side  of  the  city. — Scott.  These  suburbs  did  not  helonff 
 to  the  Levites  in  common,  hut  were  distributctl  to  tliem  in  convenient 
 proportions.— Poo/c.  Dr.  i'hn-ke  reckons  the  larger  suburb  at  20i)n 
 cubits,  making:  the  whole  3000,  as  do  sfime  of  the  .lewish  writers.  Bp. 
 Cumberlond  reckons  that  the  suburbs  of  a  Levites'  city  amounted  to 
 3n.s  acres,  2  roods  1  perch,  besiiles  57  feet  srpnre. — Gill.  Goods,  the 
 increase  of  their  fi.lds,  olive-yards,  and  vineyards,  (see  Luke,  xii. 
 18,  1*1.) — Gill.  Jnd/or  tlieir  lieiists — horses,  asses,  mules,  and  all  sorts 
 of  living  creatures,  as  the  Hebrew  word  sigiuhes,— i*(/i.,  or  *for  their 
 
 whole  life,'  or  '  livelihood,'  Dn'n  'jd'?.  6.  Six  cities  /or  refuge,  ttoAciv 
 Twi'  ^f^ui^tii'Tiipiut,'. '  cit'cs  of  Itight,'  Sept.  Seethe  allusion,  Heb.  vi.  18. 
 The.se  cities  were  fixed  among  the  Levites,  as  impartial  judues.  as  men 
 likely  to  a.ssuage  the  anpry  man-slayer,  and  to  signify,  that  in  Christ 
 •  only,  whom  they  represented,  sinners  find  refuge.  Jewish  writers  say, 
 the  road  to  these  cities  was  always  kept  in  good  repair,  with  way- 
 posts,  inscribed  Rkpuoe,  wherever  needful.  —  Seott.  12.  The 
 neenffer,  in2,  or  '  ne.vt  kinsman.' — Poole.  He/ore  tlie  eonc^regotion — 
 the  court  of  judicature  in  the  city  of  refuge,  or  in  the  place  where  the 
 fact  took  place, — Gill,  or  in  both  places. — Col.  n.  Three  cities  on 
 this  siile,  ^e.—  lieber,  in  Judea,  opposite  Bezer,  in  the  Wilderness; 
 Shechcm,  in  Mount  Ephraim,  to  Ramoth,  in  Gilead ;  and  Kadesh,  in 
 Mi'unf  Naphtali,  to  (Jolan,  in  Bashan.  16.  //  he  smite,  wilfully. 
 19.  stioll  slini,  hy  himself,  or  hy  the  magistrate,  as  commanded,  (Dent. 
 xix.  12.  13.)  2.5.  Until  the  deoth,  ^r. — to  shew  God's  hatred  of  shed- 
 ding human  blood;  to  preveut  incensing  uf  friends  of  the  deceased  by 
 
 Reilictiovs  on  Chap.  XXXIV.— I.  Itistliebillerer's  hnp- 
 vimss  that  God  fi.res  the  liouads  of  his  hahilulion.  This  slicnlld 
 he  to  us  a  continual  source  of  contentment.  If  we  are  circum- 
 .sci  ihed  by  his  wisiloiu,  we  sball  be  sure  to  be  protectei!  by  bis 
 poiver. 
 
 1 1.   Canaan  icas  included  in  siilnll  /it, 
 Oud  : 
 
 190 
 
 '  A  little  spot  enclosed  hy  grace. 
 Out  of  the  world's  wide  wilderness  !' 
 
 But  to  liim  who  has  enclosed  it,  it  is  the  dearest  spot  on  earth  ; 
 and  truly  ble.st  is  he  wlio  is  found  within  tiiis  enclosure  ;  he, 
 indeed,  has  reason  to  say,  '  the  lines  are  fallen  to  ine  in  plea- 
 ils,  and  so  IS  the  cliurcli  of  saiit  places;  yea,  I  have  a  goodly  heritaae.' 
 
Nu  satisfaction  fur  murder. 
 
 NUMBERS,  XXXVI. 
 
 T/ic  rrr/iilatiiiff  of  marriages. 
 
 high  priest,  'which  was  anointed  with  the  holy 
 oil. 
 
 2G  But  if  the  slayer  shall  at  any  time  come 
 without  the  border  of  the  city  of  his  refuge, 
 wliither  he  was  fled  ; 
 
 27  And  the  revenger  of  blood  find  him  with- 
 out the  borders  of  the  city  of  his  refuge,  and 
 the  revenger  of  blood  kill  the  slayer  ;  f  he  shall 
 not  l)e  guilty  of  blood  : 
 
 28  Because  he  should  have  remained  in  the 
 city  of  his  refuge  until  the  death  of  the  high 
 priest :  but  after  the  death  of  the  high  priest 
 the  slayer  shall  return  into  the  land  of  his  po.s- 
 session. 
 
 29  So  these  thinrfs  shall  be  for  "a  statute  of 
 judgment  unto  you  throughout  your  genera- 
 tions in  all  your  divellings. 
 
 ."30  Whoso  killeth  any  person,  the  murderer 
 shall  be  put  to  death  by  the  '  mouth  of  wit- 
 nesses :  hut  one  witness  shall  not  testify  against 
 any  person  to  cause  him  to  die. 
 
 31  Moreover  ye  shall  take  no  satisfaction  for 
 the  life  of  a  murderer,  whicli  is  f  guilty  of 
 death  :  but  he  shall  l)e  surely  put  to  death. 
 
 ."52  And  ye  shall  take  no  satisfaction  for  him 
 that  is  fled  to  the  city  of  his  refuge,  that  he 
 should  come  again  to  dwell  in  the  land,  until 
 the  death  of  the  priest. 
 
 33  So  ye  shall  not  pollute  the  land  wherein 
 ye  are :  for  blood  *'  it  defileth  the  land  :  and 
 t  the  land  cannot  be  cleansed  of  the  blood  that 
 is  shed  therein,  but  '  by  the  blood  of  him  that 
 .shed  it. 
 
 m  '  Defile  not  therefore  the  land  which  ye 
 shall  inhabit,  wherein  I  dwell :  for  ''  I  the  Lokd 
 dwell  among  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVI. 
 
 I  The  inronvenieticc  of  the  inheritance  of  daupjiters 
 .'i  is  remedied  hif  marrifing  in  ttieir  mm  tribes,  7  test 
 ttte  inlteritance  sitoidd  he  retnnred  fretni  tlie  trihe. 
 JO  Ttte  dnugtUers  of  Zetoptteliad  marri/  ttieir  father^s 
 hrntfiers*  sutts. 
 
 A  ND  the  chief  fathers  of  the  families  of  the 
 -^^  '"'  children  of  Gilead,  the  son  of  Macliir, 
 the  son  of  Mana.sseh,  of  the  families  of  tlie 
 sons  of  .Joseph,  came  near,  and  spake  before 
 Moses,  and  before  the  princes,  the  chief  fathers 
 of  the  cliildren  of  I.srael  : 
 
 2  And  they  said,  '  The  Lord  commanded 
 my  lord  to  give  the  land  for  an  inheritance  by 
 lot  to  the  cliildren  of  Israel;  and  'my  lord 
 was  commanded  by  the  Lord  to  give  the  in- 
 heritance of  Zelopliehad  our  brother  unto  his 
 
 B.  C,   1151. 
 
 n.  c.  i4.=ii. 
 
 t  Rx.  29.  7. 
 
 Lev.  4.3.  & 
 
 21.  10. 
 
 f  Heb,  Hiitn 
 
 whom  they 
 
 thali  be. 
 
 t  Heh.  fw 
 
 blood  fill  all 
 
 l.e  /»  Aim. 
 
 J  Lev.  25  10. 
 
 Ex.  2-i.  a. 
 
 "  cli.  27.  11 
 
 e  ch.  27.  7. 
 
 X  Deu.  17.  C. 
 
 ft  19.  IS. 
 
 Mat.  Ifl.  IC 
 
 •2Cor.l3.  1, 
 Heb.  10.2a 
 
 t  Heb.  he 
 
 rvcv.  i?. 
 
 t  Weh.fnuUy 
 
 Tubit  i.  D. 
 
 t.  die. 
 
 1  Hcb.cfmre 
 
 tn  tfi/v.  ^ 
 
 9  \  Rill   21. 
 
 3. 
 
 A  1  Chr,  ifl. 
 
 V  Pb.  IOC   W. 
 
 22. 
 
 Mic.  4.  II. 
 
 f  Heb    t\frs 
 
 ciuUnoPX- 
 
 p.nluu.Jor 
 
 the  tnnd. 
 
 z  Gen.  9.  6. 
 
 ul,ev   \S.-1!> 
 
 I>eu.21  23 
 
 b  Ex.  29.  45, 
 
 46. 
 
 ich,  27.  1. 
 
 a  ct.  i?6.  29. 
 
 t  Heb-  to 
 
 eoine  that 
 
 ivere  of  tht 
 
 /um.Ues. 
 
 h  cli.  26.  r»s. 
 
 &  .S3.  54.       1 
 
 JnsU.  17.3. 
 
 c  oh. 'J?.  1,7. 
 
 k  rh.  2G.  .S. 
 
 Josli.l7.S,4.  1 
 
 &  83.  SO. 
 
 dauglitcrs. 
 
 3  And  if  they  be  married  to  any  of  the  sons 
 of  the  other  tribes  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
 then  shall  their  inheritance  be  taken  from  the 
 inheritance  of  our  fathers,  and  shall  be  put  to 
 the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  fwhereunto  they 
 are  received  :  so  shall  it  be  taken  from  the  lot 
 of  our  inheritance. 
 
 4  And  when  ''the  jubilee  of  the  children  of 
 Israel  shall  be,  then  shall  their  inheritance  be 
 put  unto  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  whereunto 
 tliey  are  received  :  .so  shall  their  inheritance  be 
 taken  away  from  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  of 
 our  fathers. 
 
 o  And  Mo.ses  commanded  the  children  of 
 I.srael  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  say- 
 ing. The  tribe  of  the  sons  of  Joseph  "hath  said 
 well. 
 
 6  This  is  the  thing  which  the  Lord  doth 
 command  concerning  the  daughters  of  Zolo- 
 phehad,  saying.  Let  them  f  marry  to  whom 
 they  think  best;  'only  to  the  family  of  the 
 tribe  of  their  fathers  .shall  they  marry. 
 
 7  So  shall  not  tlie  inheritance  of  the  children 
 of  Israel  remove  from  tribe  to  tribe  :  for  every 
 one  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall  f  ^  keep 
 himself  to  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  of  his 
 fathers. 
 
 8  And  "  every  daughter,  that  possesseth  an 
 inheritance  in  any  tribe  of  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael, shall  be  wife  unto  one  of  the  family  of 
 the  tribe  of  her  father,  that  the  children  of 
 Israel  may  enjoy  every  man  the  inheritance  of 
 his  fathers. 
 
 9  Neither  shall  the  inheritance  remove  from 
 one  tribe  to  another  tribe  ;  but  every  one  of 
 the  tribes  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall  keep 
 himself  to  his  own  inheritance. 
 
 10  Even  as  the  Lord  commanded  Moses,  so 
 did  the  daugliters  of  Zelopliehad  : 
 
 1 1  '  For  Mahlah,  Tirzah,  and  Hoglah,  and 
 Milcah,  and  Noah,  the  daughters  of  Zelophe- 
 liad,  were  married  unto  tlicir  fatlier's  brothers' 
 sons  : 
 
 12  And  they  were  married  finto  the  families 
 of  the  sons  of  Manasseh  the  son  of  Joseph, 
 and  tlieir  inheritance  remained  in  the  tribe  of 
 the  family  of  their  father. 
 
 13  These  arc  the  commandments  and  the 
 judgments,  which  the  Lord  commanded  by 
 the  hand  of  Moses  unto  tlic  cliildren  of  Israel 
 '  in  the  plains  of  Moab  by  Jordan  near  Je- 
 richo. 
 
 the  appearance  of  the  man-slayer ;  because  the  public  giief  might  allay 
 private  wrath;  and  to  shew  that  the  death  of  Chri>t,  the  true  High 
 Priest,  is  the  only  means  whereby  sins  are  pardoned,  and  sinners  set 
 at  liberty. — Poole.  34.  JJefde  not,  by  such  crimes,  by  conniving  at 
 them,  or  leaving  them  unpunished. —(7(7/. 
 
 Cbap.  XXXVI.  —  3.  T/ieir  infierifnnce  be  taken — it  will  pass  to  their 
 children,  who  wdl  be  of  another  tribe,  on  their  father's  side.— Poo/^. 
 
 7.  Shalt  tceep  himself,  IplT,  '  ahtrretnivt,^ — Mont.,  Jul.,  Trem  ,  or 
 '  cleave'  to  a  wife  in  tiiat  tribe  for  marriage.  See  the  word.  Gen.  ii.  24. 
 
 8.  Stiull  tte  wifetooneo/thefamili/ — to  prevent  a  confusion  in  pro- 
 perty; but  none  but  heiresses  were  tonliuiti  loU.eirown  tribe. — So 
 A.  Clarke.  Many  great  men  and  priests  married  wives  of  other  tribes 
 and  countries. — Bootlir. 
 
 RrrLFrTiONS  on  CtiAr.  XXXV.  _I.  Tlie  ample  proeisimi 
 mode  for  ttie  Invites  plaint,/ provi  s  that  God  regards  ttte  temporal 
 necessities  of  his  minislei-s.  Jf  the  law  was  '  a  slindow  of  good 
 things  to  come,'  it  was  not  only  a  shadow  of  the  gospel  wliich 
 ministers  preacli,  but  of  tbat  support  to  wliich  they  have  a 
 right  to  look  in  preaching  it.  If  they  are  devoted  to  the  sup- 
 port of  the  cburcb,  then  tlie  church  ought  not  to  neglect  their 
 support. 
 
 n.  The  cities  of  refuge  remind  vs  of  tlie  oTdy  refuge  provided 
 fur  peristiing  sinners  to  'flee  from  ttie  wrath  to  corne.'  We  have 
 sinned  against  God,  and  we  can  no  more  undo  our  sin,  as  one 
 remarks,  '  than  the  man-slayer  could  restore  his  neighbour  to 
 life,  though  lie  would  give  all  the  world  to  do  il.'  What 
 191 
 
 then,  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  1  Christ  is  our  refuge.  In  liim 
 only  the  sinner  can  find  safety.  'There  is  therefore  now  no 
 condemnation  to  them  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not 
 after  the  flesh,  hut  after  the  spirit.'  Till  we  believingly  view 
 him,  and  trust  our  souls  entirely  on  his  great  salvation,  we  are 
 every  moment  in  danger.  Death  advances  upon  us,  and  if  we 
 are  slain  before  we  are  in  this  refuge,  we  are  undone  for  ever. 
 But  truly  safe  are  they,  and  they  have  grounds  for  strong  con- 
 solation, in  the  ability  and  willingness  of  Christ  to  save  '  the 
 chief  of  sinners,'  who  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the 
 hope  set  before  them. 
 
 llrri  rnioNs   on    Chap.    XXXVI  —  We   may   with    pro 
 piiety  remark  on  the  occurrences  in  this  chapter  — I.  Tliat  we 
 
THE     FIFTH     BOOK     OF     MOSES, 
 
 DEUTERONOMY. 
 
 [Our  name  for  this  Book  is  derived  from  tlic  Sep/unqintt  wlicre  the  title,  ^iVTfQovofiiov,  signifies,  *  the  second  law,'  it  being 
 a  repetitinnot'  the  laws  and  precepts  already  delivered.  The  Jews  name  it  after  the  Hebrew  words  with  wliich  it  begins, 
 D'"iain  n'?K.  and  some  of  the  Kabbis  call  it  D»T3l  tdd,  '  the  l)Ook  of  the  words.'  It  chiefly  contains  a  conipendiinn  of 
 the  Mosaic  institutes,  with  some  explanatory  additions.  IMoses  wrote  it  in  the  plains  of  Moab,  in  the  last  month  of  his 
 life.  As  Moses'  death  is  here  recorded,  that  part  was,  of  course,  added  by  another  hand,  supposed  to  have  been  K^ra,  or, 
 more  probably,  .loshu.a.  It  is  fiiioted  by  the  ajiostles.  Acts,  iii.  '22  ;  Horn.  xii.  19  ;  Heb.  x.  3tJ ;  Gal.  iii.  10,  Ac.  ;  and  by 
 our  Lord  himself,  Matt,  iv.4,  7,  10;  xviii.  16.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  Moses*  speech  in  tlf  end  of  the  fortieth  year,  hriefii/ 
 rehearsing  the  sturif  6  of  God's  promise^  1.3  nfitivinti 
 them  nfficerSy  X^ofunidinti  the  spies  tn  search  the  hind, 
 34  of  Cod's  anf/er  for  their  incredulity,  41  and  dis- 
 obedience. 
 
 'T'HESE  hr  the  words  which  Moses  spake 
 ■•  unto  all  Israel  "  on  this  side  Jordan  in  the 
 wilderness,  in  the  |)lain  over  af;ainst  ||  the  Red 
 sea,  between  I'araii,  and  Tophel,  and  Laban, 
 and  Hazeioth,  and  Dizahab. 
 
 2  (  There  are  eleven  days'  Journe)/  from  Ho- 
 reb  by  the  way  of  mount  Seir  ^  unto  Kadesh- 
 barnea.) 
 
 3  And  it  came  to  pass  '  in  the  fortieth  year, 
 in  the  eleventh  month,  on  the  first  i/'ii/  of  the 
 month,  t/iiil  Moses  spake  unto  the  children  of 
 Israel,  according  unto  all  that  the  Loud  had 
 given  him  in  commandment  unto  them  ; 
 
 4  '  After  he  had  slain  Silion  the  king  of  the 
 Amorites,  which  dwelt  in  Heslibon,  and  Og 
 the  king  of  Bashan,  which  dwelt  at  A.starotli 
 *  in  Edrei  : 
 
 5  On  this  side  Jordan,  in  the  land  of  Moab, 
 began  Moses  to  declare  this  law,  saying, 
 
 6  The  Lord  our  God  spake  unto  us  '  in  Ho- 
 reb,  saying.  Ye  have  dwelt  long  *  enough  in 
 this  mount : 
 
 7  Turn  you,  and  take  your  journey,  and  go 
 to  the  mount  of  the  Amorites,  and  unto  f  all 
 tlie  places  nigh  thereunto,  in  the  jdain,  in  the 
 hills,  and  in  the  vale,  and  in  the  south,  and  by 
 the  sea  side,  to  the  land  of  the  Canaanitcs,  and 
 unto  Lebanon,  unto  the  great  river,  the  river 
 Euphrates. 
 
 8  Behold,  I  have  f  set  the  land  before  you  : 
 go  in  and  possess  the  land  which  the  Lord 
 sware  unto  your  fathers,  ''  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
 Jacob,  to  give  unto  them  and  to  their  seed 
 after  them. 
 
 9  H  And  '  I  spake  unto  yon  at  that  time, 
 .saying,  I  am  not  able  to  bear  you  myself 
 alone :  I 
 
 rt  .losli    D.  1 , 
 111.  «i  28.  ♦, 
 
 6  Num.  13. 
 ill.  ch.  9.23. 
 
 c  Nu.  33.  SS. 
 1451. 
 
 !  Xn.  21.  33. 
 Josh.  13.  I  i, 
 
 ll.'il. 
 fKx.  J.  1. 
 i/  Sre  Kx.  !*». 
 
 I.  Num.  111. 
 
 II. 
 
 t  Hpb.  nflhii 
 
 I,  Ren. 12.  7, 
 Hi  1.1.  IS  (ic 
 \1.  7,  S  Si 
 2r..  4.  &  28. 
 13. 
 
 i  Kx.  IS.  19. 
 Num.1 1.14. 
 
 A  Gi-ii.  If,.  5. 
 cli.  10.22.  & 
 
 m  Geii.  Ui.  b. 
 
 &  22.  17.  & 
 
 2li.  4.  Kx 
 
 Si.  13. 
 n  I  Kill.  3.  8, 
 
 9. 
 1.  Sec  Kx.  18. 
 
 21.\iitn.tl 
 
 Ifi.  17 
 t  Hell.  Jiir. 
 
 II  F.x.  Ifi.  25. 
 t  Hvb.fdiT. 
 
 7  eh.  Ifi.  IS. 
 John  7.  21. 
 
 r  Lev.  24.  22. 
 
 *Lev.  m.  15. 
 ch.  16.19. 
 ISam.  16.  7 
 Pro.  24.  23 
 Jnni.  2.  I. 
 
 t  Heb.  oc- 
 hmteUdge 
 
 /2Chr.  19.6. 
 II  Kii.  18.  22, 
 2u. 
 
 11911 
 X  Num.  in. 
 12.  ch. 8.15. 
 Jer.  2.  6. 
 
 y  Num.  13. 
 26. 
 
 10  The  Loan  your  God  bath  multiplied  you, 
 and,  behold,  *■  ye  are  this  day  as  the  stars  of 
 heaven  for  multitude. 
 
 1 1  ('  The  Lord  God  of  your  fathers  make 
 you  a  thousand  times  .so  many  more  as  ye  are, 
 and  bless  you,  ■"  as  he  hath  promised  you !) 
 
 12  "  How  can  I  myself  alone  bear  your  cum- 
 brance,  and  your  burden,  and  your  strife? 
 
 l.*!  »f  Take  you  wise  men, and  understanding, 
 and  known  among  your  tribes,  and  I  will  make 
 them  rulers  over  you. 
 
 14  And  ye  answered  me,  and  said.  The  thing 
 which  thou  hast  spoken  is  good  fu>'  fs  to  do. 
 
 13  So  I  took  the  chief  of  your  tribes,  wi.se 
 men,  and  known,  ^  and  f  made  them  heads  over 
 you,  captains  over  thousands,  and  captains  over 
 hundreds,  and  captains  over  fifties,  and  cap- 
 tains over  tens,  and  officers  among  your  tribes. 
 
 16  And  I  charged  your  judges  at  that  time, 
 saying,  Hcar//(tc«!;sc4-  between  your  brethren, 
 and  ''judge  righteously  between  efery  man  and 
 his  'brother, and  the  stranger  that  is  with  him. 
 
 17  'Ye  shall  not  f respect  persons  in  judg- 
 ment ;  but  ye  .shall  hear  the  small  as  well  as 
 the  great ;  ye  shall  not  be  afraid  of  the  face  of 
 man  ;  for  '  the  judgment  is  God's  :  and  the 
 cause  that  is  too  hard  for  you,  "  bring  it  unto 
 me,  and  I  will  hear  it. 
 
 18  And  I  comiuanded  you  at  that  time  all 
 the  things  which  ye  should  do. 
 
 19  T  And  when  we  departed  from  Horeb,  'we 
 went  through  all  that  great  and  terrible  wilder- 
 ness, which  ye  saw  by  the  way  of  the  moun- 
 tain of  the  Aiuorites,  as  the  Lord  our  God 
 commanded  us  ;  and  '  we  came  to  Kadesh- 
 barnea. 
 
 20  And  I  said  unto  you.  Ye  are  come  unto 
 the  mountain  of  the  Amorites,  which  the  Lord 
 our  God  doth  give  unto  us. 
 
 21  Behold,  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  set  the 
 land  before  thee  :  go  up  anil  possess  it,  as  the 
 Lord  God  of  thy  fathers  hath  said  unto  thee  ; 
 '  fear  not,  neither  be  discouraged. 
 
 NoTKS  ON  Cbap.  I.  —  1.  The  Red  sm— tlie  Heb.  MD,  'red,'  is  the  I  ix.  h.]—Bouthr.     This  couM  not  have  been  the  Red  Sea,  not  only  be- 
 name  of  a  town, — A,  Clarke;  perhaps  the  same  with'   Zupli,  (1  Sam.  |  cause  the  word  D',  '  sea,'  is  not  joined  with  it,  as  usual,  but  because 
 
 shnidd  aeeh  for  Divine  direction  in  our  alliances.  The  most  im- 
 portant interests  of  our  lives  are  connected  with  them,  and  if 
 we  err  here,  it  is  likely  to  be  without  a  remedy. 
 
 II.  If  we  have  the  hopes  of  a  hearenli/  inheritance,  let  our  union 
 he  onli/  u-ilh  those  who  an  likely  to  share  it  with  ns.  '  Our  own 
 trihe,  as  distinguished  from'the  world,  should  exclusively 
 share  in  our  best  alfeclions. 
 
 III.  Parents,  in  seehiny  partners  for  their  children,  should  avoid 
 
 192 
 
 doing  violence  to  their  inclinations,  provided  they  are  not  evil. 
 Here  was  latitude  for  the  free  exercise  of  the  tenderest  aifec- 
 tion,  without  which,  no  riches,  no  elevation,  can  render  the 
 marriage  state  happy.  *  Let  them  marry  to  whom  they  think 
 best ;  only  to  the  family  of  the  tribe  of  their  father  shall  thoy 
 marry.'  ('hristian  parents  are  accountable  for  it  if  they  so 
 train  up  their  children  that  they  are  not  lit  to  '  inarrv  in  the 
 Lord.' 
 
Moses'  speech  at  l/ie 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  II. 
 
 end  of  the  fuiliiilt  year. 
 
 22  1  And  ye  came  near  unto  me  every  one 
 of  you,  and  said.  We  will  send  men  before  us, 
 and  they  shall  search  us  out  the  land,  and 
 brin^  us  word  aj;ain  by  what  way  we  must  go 
 up,  and  into  what  cities  we  shall  come. 
 
 23  And  the  saying  pleased  me  well  :  and  °  I 
 took  twelve  men  of  yon,  one  of  a  tribe: 
 
 24  And  ''  they  turned  and  went  up  into  the 
 mountain,  and  came  unto  the  valley  of  Eshcol, 
 and  searched  it  out. 
 
 2j  And  they  took  of  the  fruit  of  the  land  in 
 their  hands,  and  brought  it  down  unto  us,  and 
 brought  us  word  again,  and  said,  "  It  is  a  good 
 land  which  tlie  Lord  our  God  doth  give  us. 
 
 2U  '^  Notwithstanding  ye  would  not  go  up, 
 but  rebelled  against  the  commandment  of  the 
 Lord  your  God  : 
 
 27  And  ye  murmured  in  your  tents,  and  said. 
 Because  the  Lord  "hated  us,  he  hath  brought 
 us  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  to  deliver  us 
 into  the  hand  of  the  Aniorites,  to  destroy  us. 
 
 28  Whither  shall  we  go  up?  our  brethren 
 have  \  discouraged  our  heart,  saying,  '  The 
 people  w  greater  and  taller  than  we  ;  the  cities 
 are  great  and  walled  up  to  heaven  ;  and  more- 
 over we  have  seen  the  sons  of  the  ^  Anakims 
 there. 
 
 29  Then  I  said  unto  you.  Dread  not,  neither 
 be  afraid  of  them. 
 
 30  ''  The  Loan  your  God  which  goeth  before 
 you,  he  shall  tight  for  you,  according  to  all 
 that  he  did  for  you  in  Egypt  before  your  eyes  ; 
 
 31  And  in  the  wilderness,  where  thou  hast 
 seen  how  that  the  Lord  thy  God  '  bare  thee, 
 as  a  man  doth  bear  his  son,  in  all  the  way  that 
 ye  went,  until  ye  came  into  this  place. 
 
 32  Yet  in  tliis  thing  '■'  ye  did  not  believe  the 
 Lord  your  God, 
 
 33  '  Who  wejit  in  the  way  before  you,  ""  to 
 search  you  nut  a  place  to  pitch  your  tents  in, 
 in  fire  by  night,  to  shew  you  by  what  way  ye 
 should  go,  and  in  a  cloud  by  day. 
 
 34  And  the  Lord  heard  the  voice  of  your 
 words,  and  was  wroth,  "  and  sware,  saying, 
 
 33  °  Surely  there  shall  not  one  of  these  men 
 of  this  evil  generation  see  that  good  land, 
 which  I  sware  to  give  unto  your  fathers, 
 
 3()  '  Save  Caleb  the  son  of  Jephunneh  ;  he 
 shall  see  it,  and  to  him  will  I  give  the  land 
 that  he  hath  trodden  upon,  and  to  his  children, 
 because  ^  he  hath  \  wholly  followed  the  Lord. 
 
 37  '  Also  the  Lord  was  angry  with  me  for 
 your  sakes,  saying.  Thou  also  shalt  not  go  in 
 thither. 
 
 38  '  But  .Toshua  the  son  of  Nun,  '  which 
 standeth  before  thee,  he  shall  go  in  thither : 
 "  encourage  him  :  for  he  shall  cause  Israel  to 
 inherit  it. 
 
 39  '  Moreover  your  little  ones,  which  ''  ye 
 said   should    be   a   prey,  and   your  children. 
 
 1490. 
 
 iNiiiii.ia.s. 
 
 h  Num.  IS. 
 22,  :;a,  24. 
 
 <f  Nam. 14. 1. 
 2,  .S,  4.  Ps. 
 IU6.  S4,  25. 
 
 tHeb.iJiWfcc/. 
 
 J.tsh.  2.  n. 
 /Num.  l,t. 
 
 ■2S,  3 1,32,33. 
 
 ch.  9.  1,  2. 
 
 (f  Num. 
 
 2S. 
 
 h  Ex.  14.  14, 
 25.  Neil.  4. 
 
 ■2a. 
 
 Kx.  19.  ■). 
 
 ch.32  M,12 
 
 Is.  Ma.  3,  4. 
 
 &  ta.  9. 
 
 HoH    U.  3 
 
 Sec  on  Acts 
 
 13.  18. 
 A  I'r   1  lie.  24. 
 
 Jude  !>. 
 /  Kk.  13  21. 
 
 Ps.  78.  14. 
 m  Num.  10. 
 
 2:1.  Eztk. 
 
 2U.  6. 
 
 jch  2.  14,15. 
 
 1491. 
 )  Nu.  14.22, 
 23.Pi9o.n. 
 
 \i  Num.  14. 
 
 24,  30. 
 
 Josh.  14.  9 
 7  Nu  14-^4. 
 ,1  Heb  /../- 
 
 tilli^A  to  gn 
 
 '  Nu.  20.  12 
 
 &27.  14.  eh. 
 
 .■1.  26.  &  4. 
 
 21.  *34.4. 
 
 Ps.  toti.  32 
 i  Xu.  II,  3tl 
 t  Kx.  24    13. 
 
 &  33.  11. 
 
 See  1  Sam. 
 
 Il> 
 "  Num.  27. 
 
 IS.  19. 
 
 eh  31.7,23. 
 X  Nu  14.31. 
 V  Nu    14.  3. 
 
 t  Heb.  ye 
 irere  j,re- 
 
 /  Nu.  13.  25. 
 &  20.  I,  22 
 Judg.ll.l7. 
 
 1  Nu.  \\.  25. 
 ch.  1.  40. 
 
 t  Heb.  mm 
 lu  the  Irrail- 
 p  ng  uf  tlie 
 
 d  Geu.  36.  9. 
 Jobh.  24.  4. 
 
 which  in  that  day  "  had  no  knowledge  between 
 good  and  evil,  they  shall  go  in  thither,  and  unto 
 them  will  I  give  it,  and  they  shall  possess  it. 
 
 40  "  But  as  for  you,  turn  you,  and  take  your 
 journey  into  the  wilderness  by  the  way  of  the 
 Red  sea. 
 
 41  Then  ye  answered  and  said  unto  me, ''  We 
 have  sinned  against  the  Loan,  we  will  go  up 
 and  fight,  according  to  all  that  the  Lord  our 
 God  commanded  us.  And  when  ye  had 
 girded  on  every  man  his  weapons  of  war,  ye 
 were  ready  to  go  up  into  the  hill. 
 
 42  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me.  Say  unto 
 them,  ""Go  not  up,  neither  fight ;  for  I  am  not 
 among  you  ;  lest  ye  be  smitten  before  your 
 enemies. 
 
 43  So  I  spake  unto  you  ;  and  ye  would  not 
 hear,  but  rebelled  against  the  commandment 
 of  the  Lord,  and  f ''  went  presumptuously  up 
 into  the  hill. 
 
 44  And  the  Aniorites,  which  dwelt  in  that 
 mountain,  came  out  against  you,  and  chased 
 you,  "  as  bees  do,  and  destroyed  you  in  Seir, 
 even  unto  Horniah. 
 
 45  And  ye  returned  and  wept  before  the 
 Lord  ;  hut  the  Lord  would  not  hearken  to 
 your  voice,  nor  give  ear  unto  you. 
 
 4G  '  So  ye  abode  in  Kadesh  many  days,  ac- 
 cording unto  the  days  that  ye  abode  there. 
 
 CHAP.  IL 
 
 1  The  star;/  is  Civithott-d,  that  the;/  were  not  to  meddle 
 with  the  Edomitrs.  9  wor  with  the  Moal/iteSy  17  nor 
 with  the  AmmoiiileSj  24  but  Sihoit  t/ie  Amoritc  was 
 subdued  Inj  t/ieiii. 
 
 'T'HEN  we  turned,  and  took  our  journey  into 
 •*-  the  wilderness  by  the  way  of  the  Red  sea, 
 °  as  the  Lord  spake  unto  me  :  and  we  com- 
 passed mount  Seir  many  days. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 3  Ye  have  compassed  this  mountain  ''  long 
 enough  :  turn  you  northward. 
 
 4  And  command  thou  the  people,  saying, 
 "^  Ye  are  to  pass  through  the  coast  of  your 
 brethren  the  children  of  Esau,  which  dwell  in 
 Seir  ;  and  they  shall  be  afraid  of  you:  take  ye 
 good  heed  unto  yourselves  therefore  : 
 
 5  Meddle  not  with  them  ;  for  1  will  not  give 
 yon  of  their  land,  f  no,  not  so  much  as  a  foot 
 breadth  ;  ''  because  I  have  given  mount  Seir 
 unto  'Efiau  for  a  possession. 
 
 6  Ye  shall  buy  meat  of  them  for  money,  that 
 ye  may  eat ;  and  ye  shall  also  buy  water  of 
 them  for  money,  that  ye  may  drink. 
 
 7  For  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  blessed  thee 
 in  all  the  works  of  thy  hand  :  he  knoweth  thy 
 walking  through  this  great  wilderness  :  "  these 
 forty  years  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  been  with 
 thee  ;  tliou  hast  lacked  notliing. 
 
 8  '  And  when  we  passed  by  from  our  brethren 
 
 they  were  now  east  ofJorAnn.—Greeiif.        28.  Up  to  heaven— k  strong  hi«  travels,  that  his  companions,  having  attempted  to  rob  a  nnmerons 
 
 ea.stcrn  way  of  .'speaking.— Hnr.         34.  .■(■irf  was  wrotli—i>  is  nnly  by  hive,  exasperated  the  insects,  and  were  attacl<ed  so  furiou.sly,  that 
 
 the  way  of  analrpgy  or  comparison  that  the  n.-iture  and  passions  of  men  men,  horses,  and  asses,  were  compelled  to  flee  in  all  directions. 
 are  ascribed  to  God.        44.  Cliased  you,  us  bees  do — Pnrii  mentions,  in 
 
 iinlielief.     '  Ye  did  not  believe  the  Lord  your  God.'     'Tbiis, 
 says  Henry,   '  (liey  could   not  enter  in  because  of  unbehef. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.4P.  I.— I.  /(  is  rmnd  and  useful  to  re- 
 view tite  way  in  whieli  the  Lord  has  led  us  thrnur;h  the  wihlerncss. 
 
 How  mucb  shall  we  see  in  the  goodness  of  God  to  call  forth  It  was  not  the  breach  of  any  of  the  commands  of  the  law  that 
 our  expressions  of  Riatitude.  and  how  much,  in  our  own  depra-  shut  tliem  out  of  Canaan  ;  no,  not  the  golden  calf ;  but  their 
 vity,  deeply  to  humble  us  and  make  us  lie  low  at  the  foot  of  disbelief  of  that  promise  which  was  typical  of  gospel  grace  :  to 
 the  cross!  signify,  that  no  sin  will  ruin  us  but  unbelief,  which  is  a  sin 
 
 II.    IVe  here  see  what  kept  the  Jsraelitis  out  of  Canaan— iheir    against  the  remedy, 
 rebellious  and  munnuring  spirits,  at  the  bottom  of  wliich  was 
 
 19:j  2  c 
 
The  Moabites  Sfc.  not  to  be  molested. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  II. 
 
 Sihon  the  Amorite  is  subdued. 
 
 the  cliildren  of  Esau,  which  dwelt  in  Seir, 
 through  the  way  of  the  plain  from  i"'  Elatli,  and 
 from  Ezion-galjt'r,  we  turned  and  passed  by  the 
 way  of  the  wilderness  of  Moab. 
 
 9  And  the  Lokd  said  unto  me,  || Distress  not 
 the  Moabites,  neither  contend  with  them  in 
 battle  :  for  I  will  not  give  thee  of  their  land 
 for  a  possession  ;  because  I  have  given  "  Ar 
 unto  '  the  cliildren  of  hoi  for  a  possession. 
 
 10  '  The  Euiinis  dwelt  therein  in  times  past, 
 a  people  great,  and  many,  and  tall,  as  '  the 
 Anakims ; 
 
 1 1  Which  also  were  accounted  giants,  as  the 
 Anakims  ;  but  the  Moabites  call  them  Emims. 
 
 1-2  ""The  Horims  also  dwelt  in  Seir  before- 
 time  ;  but  the  children  of  Esau  f  succeeded 
 them,  when  they  had  destroyed  them  from  be- 
 fore them,  and  dwelt  in  their  ||  stead  ;  as  Israel 
 did  unto  the  land  of  his  possession,  which  the 
 Lord  gave  unto  them. 
 
 13  Now  rise  up,  said  I,  and  get  yon  over 
 "  the  II  brook  Zered.  And  we  went  over  the 
 brook  Zered. 
 
 14  And  the  space  in  which  we  came  "from 
 Kadesh-baruea,  until  we  were  come  over  the 
 brook  Zered,  was  thirty  and  eight  years ; 
 ^  until  all  the  generation  of  the  men  of  war 
 were  wasted  out  from  among  the  host,  ''as  the 
 Lord  sware  unto  them. 
 
 15  For  indeed  the  'hand  of  the  Lord  was 
 against  them,  to  destroy  them  from  among  the 
 host,  until  they  were  consumed. 
 
 16  U  So  it  came  to  pass,  when  all  the  men  of 
 war  were  consumed  and  dead  from  among  the 
 people, 
 
 17  That  the  Lord  spake  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 18  Thou  art  to  pass  over  through  Ar,  the 
 coast  of  Moab,  this  day  : 
 
 19  And  when  thou  coiriest  nigh  over  against 
 the  children  of  Amnion,  distress  them  not,  nor 
 meddle  with  them  :  for  I  will  not  give  thee  of 
 the  land  of  the  children  of  Amnion  any  pos- 
 session ;  because  I  have  given  it  unto  '  the 
 children  of  Lot^o;'  a  possession. 
 
 20  (Tliat  also  was  accounted  a  land  of  giants  : 
 giants  dwelt  therein  in  old  time  ;  and  the  Am- 
 monites call  them  '  Zamzummims  ; 
 
 21  "  A  people  great,  and  many,  and  tall,  as 
 the  Anakims  ;  but  the  Lord  destroyed  them 
 before  them  ;  and  they  succeeded  them,  and 
 dwelt  in  their  stead  : 
 
 22  Ashe  did  to  the  children  of  Esau, '  which 
 dwelt  in  Seir,  when  he  destroyed  *'  the  Horims 
 from  before  them  ;  and  they  succeeded  them, 
 and  dwelt  in  their  stead  even  unto  this  day  : 
 
 2.3  And  "  the  Avims  which  dwelt  in  Hazerim, 
 even   unto   "  Azzah,  ''  the  Caphtorims,  which 
 
 !]  Or,  US'-  »o 
 
 »  Nu.  21. 28. 
 i  Gen.  19  SC, 
 
 tn  ver.  2?. 
 
 Gei».   II.  6. 
 
 tk  36.  «0, 
 1  Iloh.  ifhi^ 
 
 riltit  tfirrn 
 
 (Or, 
 
 n  Nu  5I1S. 
 
 II  Or,  vuU^/f. 
 Nuin.lS.iS 
 o  Nu.  1.1.  26, 
 
 p  Vu.  U  33. 
 
 &  26,  W. 
 fl  Nu.  M.  35. 
 
 ch,  l.M,35. 
 
 ■  Pb 
 
 I.  Ai. 
 
 f.  loti.  :i6. 
 
 I  Gpn.  U.  b, 
 u  St-e  ver.lO 
 
 J  Gen.  36.  9. 
 
 )  Gen  1«  6. 
 Ik  36.  2U— 
 SU.  ver.  12. 
 
 r  J.-sb.  IS.  3, 
 .(  J^r.'>.S.  20. 
 hC.vn  in.H 
 Auiys  9.  7. 
 
 c  Nu.  21.  13, 
 ll.Judg.n. 
 18,  21. 
 
 d  E.T.  15.  14, 
 15.eh.ll.25, 
 Jo9li,2,9,UI, 
 
 /Num.  21. 
 ■21,  2-2 
 Jud'',ll,l!) 
 
 ASecNuSit 
 
 16,  eli-23..S. 
 •1.  Judg.  11. 
 
 17.  IB. 
 
 i  Nu.  21.23 
 *Josh. 11.211. 
 /  Ei.  *,  21. 
 
 e  ell.  7,  2.  & 
 
 SO   16. 
 p  Nu.  21.24. 
 
 ch   2a.  7. 
 
 f  Lev.  27  23. 
 cli.7.  2, -ifl. 
 
 t  Heb.  fverii 
 ctly  '/  ine«, 
 atld  iromrri, 
 lu^d  littU 
 unM. 
 
 *  Gen  S2  22. 
 
 Nu   21.21. 
 
 cb.  S.  16. 
 ,1  ver.  5,9,19. 
 
 came  forth  out  of  Caphtor,  destroyed  them, 
 and  dwelt  in  tlieir  stead.) 
 
 24  t  Rise  ye  up,  take  your  journey,  and 
 °  pass  over  the  river  Anion  :  behold,  I  have 
 given  into  thine  hand  Sihon  tlie  Amorite,  king 
 of  Heshbon,  and  his  land  :  f  begin  to  possess  it, 
 and  contend  with  him  in  battle. 
 
 25  ''  This  day  will  I  begin  to  put  the  dread  of 
 thee  and  the  fear  of  thee  upon  the  nations  that 
 are  under  the  whole  heaven,  who  shall  hear 
 report  of  thee,  and  shall  tremble,  and  be  in 
 anguish  because  of  thee. 
 
 20  f  And  I  sent  messengers  out  of  the  wil- 
 derness of  Kedemoth  unto  Sihon  king  of  Hesh- 
 bon 'with  words  of  peace,  saying, 
 
 27  '  Let  me  pass  through  thy  land  :  I  will  go 
 along  by  the  highway,  I  will  neither  turn  unto 
 the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left. 
 
 28  Thou  shall  sell  me  meat  for  money,  that 
 I  may  eat  ;  and  give  me  water  for  money,  that 
 I  may  drink  :  ^  only  I  will  pass  through  on  my 
 feet; 
 
 29  C"  As  the  children  of  Esau  which  dwell  in 
 Seir,  and  the  Moabites  which  dwell  in  Ar,  did 
 unto  me  ;)  until  I  shall  pass  over  Jordan  into 
 the  land  which  the  Lord  our  God  giveth  us. 
 
 30  '  But  Sihon  king  of  Heshbon  would  not 
 let  ns  pass  by  him  :  for  '  the  Lord  thy  God 
 '  hardened  his  spirit,  and  made  his  heart  obsti- 
 nate, that  he  might  deliver  him  into  thy  hand, 
 as  ajypeareth  this  day. 
 
 31  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me.  Behold,  I 
 have  begun  to  "'  give  Sihon  and  his  land  before 
 thee  :  begin  to  possess,  that  thou  mayest  in- 
 herit his  land. 
 
 32  "  Then  Sihon  came  out  against  us,  he  and 
 all  his  people,  to  fight  at  Jahaz. 
 
 33  And  °  the  Lord  our  God  delivered  him 
 before  us  ;  and  ''  we  smote  hira,  and  his  sons, 
 and  all  his  people. 
 
 34  And  we  took  all  his  cities  at  that  time, 
 and  "i  utterly  destroyed  \  the  men,  and  the 
 women,  and  the  little  ones,  of  every  city,  we 
 left  none  to  remain  : 
 
 35  Only  the  cattle  we  took  for  a  prey  unto 
 ourselves,  and  the  spoil  of  the  cities  which  we 
 took. 
 
 36  '  From  Aroer,  which  is  by  the  brink  of 
 the  river  of  Arnon,  and  from  the  city  that  is 
 by  the  river,  even  unto  Gilead,  there  was  not 
 one  city  too  strong  for  us  :  'the  Lord  our  God 
 delivered  all  unto  ns  : 
 
 37  Only  unto  the  land  of  the  children  of  Am- 
 mon  thou  camest  not,  nor  unto  any  place  of 
 the  river  '  Jabbok,  nor  nnto  the  cities  in   the 
 
 mountains,  nor  nnto  "whatsoever  the   Lord 
 our  God  forbad  us. 
 
 Chap.  11.-9.  Ar,  the  principal  cily  of  the  Moabites.  (Num.  xxi. 
 15,  28.)— ijp,  Kidder.  10,  The  £miwis— mentioned  Gen.  xiv.  5,  12. 
 
 !2.  The  Horims,  or  Horites,  (Gen.  xiv.  6.)  13.  The  brook  Zered,  trans- 
 lated 'the  valley.*  (Num.  xxi.  12;)  the  word  used  signilvins:  both  a 
 valley  and  a  brook.— GiV/.  20.  Zamzummims,  changed  their  names 
 probably  from  Zazims,  (Gen.  xiv.  5.) — Put.  23.  Ai^ittts,  tlie  same 
 with  the  Avites.  who  appear  to  have  inhabited  some  part  of  the  land  of 
 the  Philistines,  (Josh.  xiii.  3.)  The  Cuphtorims—origiDMy  of  EEVpt, 
 (Gen.  X.  li.)— mil.  Cuphlor,  a  city  south  of  Philistia.— Sk(.  26.  Kede- 
 moth, a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  and  given  by  thorn  to  the  Levites 
 in  after  times,  (sec  Num.  xxi.  20.  21-,  Josh.  xiii.  18,  and  xxi.  37.)— Bill. 
 28.  On  viy  feet,  or  '  with  my  footmen*  or  '  company  which  are  on  foot,* 
 
 and  less  mischievous  and  dangerous  than  on  horses. — Poole.  They 
 were  all  fnotmen,  (Num.  xi.  21.) — Gill.  30.  Hardened  his  spirit — gave 
 him  over  to  his  own  inflexible  humour. — Put.  32.  Jahaz,  a  city 
 which  had  been  talicn  from  Moab,  and  fell  again  into  the  same  hands. 
 See  account  o(  it,  Isa.  xv.  4  ;  Jer.  xlviii.  21.  36.  Aroer,  the  principal 
 city  of  Moab,  (see  Jer.  xlviii.  iQ.)—Gilt.  37.  JhAAoA— Gen.xxxii.  22. 
 This  is  now  called  EI  Zerka,  a  river  which  rises  in  the  mount.Mns  in 
 the  south. fast  of  Gilead,  and  falls  into  the  Jordan.  It  divided  the 
 kingdom  of  Bashan  from  that  of  the  Amorites.  Modern  travellers  de- 
 scribe it  as  deep  and  rapid,  with  high  clifft. — Cal.,  Com.  from  Heiirif 
 and  Scott. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chat.  II.— We  have  in  tins  chapter, 
 says  Henry,  I.  Jiltat  nations  hradmust  not  give  an?/  disturbance 
 to.  Not  the  Edomites,  for  they  were  hreth'reiu  'Ihough  they 
 had  been  unkind  to  Israel  in  refusing  them  a  peaceable  passage 
 through  their  country,  yet  lie  calls  them  hnthrm  ;  for,  though 
 our  relations  fail  in  their  duty  to  u.s,  we  must  retain  a  sense  of 
 194 
 
 the  relation,  and  not  be  wanting  in  our  duty  to  them  as  therft 
 is  occasion.  *  Not  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites,'  hecause 
 they  were  the  children  of  Lot,  righteous  Lot,  who  kept  his 
 intepriiy  in  Sodom.  Children  often  fare  the  better  in  this 
 world  for  the  piety  of  tiieir  ancestors. 
 
 H.   With  what  nation  they  slwuld  bcyin  their  conquests.     *  Be- 
 
The  story  of  the  cuiirjntst  of  0(j. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  III. 
 
 The  distribution  of  his  land. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  The  ittory  of  the  conquest  of  Oil  liiiuj  of  Bosluai. 
 11  Tlie  bigness  of  his  bed.  12  Ttte.  distribution  of 
 those  lands  to  the  two  tribts  and  half  20  Masts' 
 prayer  tu  enter  into  the  land.  2{)  He  is  permitted  to 
 see  it* 
 
 'T'HEN  we  turned,  and  went  np  the  way  to 
 -'-    Bashan  :    and   "  Og   the   kins;  of   Bashan 
 
 came  out  against  us,  he  and  all  his  people,  to 
 
 battle  •'  at  Edrei. 
 
 2  And  the  Loud  said  unto  me,  Fear  him  not : 
 for  I  will  deliver  him,  and  all  liis  people,  and 
 his  land,  into  thy  liand  ;  and  tlion  slialt  do 
 unto  liim  as  thou  didst  unto  '  Silion  king  of 
 the  Amorites,  which  dwelt  at  Heshbon. 
 
 3  So  the  Lord  our  God  delivered  into  our 
 hands  Og  also,  the  king  of  Bashan,  and  al!  his 
 people:  •'and  we  smote  him  until  none  was 
 left  to  him  remaining. 
 
 4  And  we  took  all  his  cities  at  that  time, 
 there  was  not  a  city  which  we  took  not  from 
 them,  threescore  cities,  °  all  the  region  of  Ar- 
 gob,  the  kingdom  of  Og  in  Ba.shau. 
 
 o  All  these  cities  ii'ere  fenced  with  high 
 walls,  gates,  and  bars;  beside  unwalled  towns 
 a  great  many. 
 
 6  And  we  utterly  destroyed  them,  as  we  did 
 unto  Silion  king  '  of  Heshbon,  utterly  destroy- 
 ing the  men,  women,  and  children,  of  every 
 city. 
 
 7  But  all  the  cattle,  and  the  spoil  of  the  cities, 
 we  took  for  a  prey  to  ourselves. 
 
 8  And  we  took  at  that  time  out  of  the  hand 
 of  the  two  kings  of  the  Amorites  the  land  tliat 
 was  on  this  side  Jordan,  from  the  river  of 
 Arnon  unto  mount  Hermon; 
 
 9  {Which  s  Hermon  the  Sidonians  call  Si- 
 rion  ;  and  the  Amorites  call  it  "  Shenir  ;) 
 
 10  '  All  tlie  cities  of  the  plain,  and  all  Gilead, 
 and  'all  Bashan,  unto  Salchah  and  Edrei,  cities 
 of  the  kingdom  of  Og  in  Bashan. 
 
 1 1  '  For  only  Og  king  of  Bashan  remained  of 
 the  remnant  of  "'giants  ;  behold,  his  bedstead 
 leas  a  bedstead  of  iron  ;  is  it  not  in  "  Rabbatli 
 of  the  children  of  Animon  ?  nine  cubits  was 
 the  length  thereof,  and  four  cubits  the  breadth 
 of  it,  after  the  cubit  of  a  man. 
 
 12  And  this  land,  trhich  we  possessed  at  that 
 time,  °  from  Aroer,  which  is  by  the  river  Ar- 
 non, and  half  mount  Gilead,  and  '' the  cities 
 thereof,  gave  I  unto  the  Reubenites  and  to  the 
 Gadites. 
 
 13  ■'  And  the  rest  of  Gilead,  and  all  Baslian, 
 beinff  the  khigdom  of  Og,  gave  1  unto  the  half 
 
 r  1  Chr-  2.23. 
 j.T.,sli,  13.13. 
 
 Nil.  32.  39, 
 i2Sam.2i.S. 
 
 /cli.2  24. 
 Ps,   l3o    10, 
 ll,12.fc  l:i6 
 19,  21J.21. 
 
 If  cli.  4.  48. 
 
 Ps.  20.  fi. 
 Ii  1  Chr.  0.23 
 
 »  Josh.  12.5. 
 &  13.  n. 
 
 t  Amos  2.  9. 
 m  Geu.  14.5. 
 II  2  Sam.  12. 
 
 26.Jer49.2. 
 
 Eze.  21 .  20. 
 
 o  cli.  2.  36. 
 
 Josh,  12.  2. 
 fi  Num.  32. 
 
 as  Josh. 1 2. 
 
 6,  &  13.  8, 
 
 q  Josh,  IS. 
 
 ,  11.  3. 
 
 II  111;  uiidtr 
 tlif  tprimja 
 «/ fi.Siili. 
 nr.  Itif  hill 
 
 b  Ntiin,  32. 
 20,  S.C. 
 
 t  Heb.  mill 
 11/ jiiiieer. 
 
 Josh.  22.4. 
 d  Nu.  27.  18. 
 
 ■  r.%.  it.  14 
 
 Ch     t.  30.  & 
 20.  4. 
 /  See  2  Cor. 
 12.  e,  9. 
 
 g  ch.  11.  2. 
 
 *  Ex.  1.1.  11. 
 
 2  Sam. 7. 22. 
 
 PS.71.19.& 
 
 8ii.  8.  &  89. 
 
 6,8. 
 1  Ex.  3.  8. 
 
 ch.  4.  22. 
 
 k  Nil.  20.  12. 
 &  27. 14.  ch. 
 i.  37.  &  31. 
 2.  &  32.  .Tl, 
 52.  »i  31-  4 
 Ps.   Kllj.  32. 
 
 /Xu.  27.  12. 
 
 [I  Or.lhnhUI. 
 
 tribe  of  Manasseh  ;  all  the  region  of  Argoh, 
 with  all  Bashan,  which  was  called  the  land  of 
 giant.s. 
 
 14  '  Jair  the  son  of  Manasseh  took  all  the 
 country  of  Argob  "  unto  the  coasts  of  Gciluiri 
 and  Maachathi ;  and  'called  them  after  his  own 
 name,  Bashan-havoth-jair,  unto  this  day. 
 
 1.5  "  And  I  gave  Gilead  unto  Machir. 
 
 16  And  unto  the  Reubenites  "and  unto  the 
 Gadites  I  gave  from  Gilead  even  unto  the  river 
 Arnon  half  the  valley,  and  the  border  even  unto 
 the  river  Jabbok,  "  which  is  the  border  of  the 
 children  of  Amnion  ; 
 
 17  The  plain  also,  and  Jordan,  and  the  coast 
 thereof,  from  ^  Chinnereth  '  even  unto  the  sea 
 of  the  plain,  °  ccck  the  salt  sea,  ||  under  Ash- 
 doth-pisgah  eastward. 
 
 18  t  And  I  commanded  you  at  that  time, 
 saying.  The  Lord  your  God  hath  given  you 
 this  land  to  possess  it :  ''ye  shall  pass  over 
 armed  before  your  brethren  the  children  of 
 Israel,  all  that  are  f  meet  for  the  war. 
 
 19  But  your  wives,  and  your  little  ones,  and 
 your  cattle,  (fur  I  know  that  ye  have  much 
 cattle,)  shall  abide  in  your  cities  which  I  have 
 given  you  ; 
 
 20  Until  the  Lord  have  given  rest  unto  your 
 brethren,  as  well  as  unto  you,  and  ttntil  they 
 also  possess  the  land  which  the  Lord  your 
 God  hath  given  them  beyond  Jordan  :  and 
 then  shall  ye  '  return  every  man  unto  his  pos- 
 session, which  1  have  given  you. 
 
 21  t  And  ""I  commanded  Joshua  at  that  time, 
 saying.  Thine  eyes  have  seen  all  that  the  Lord 
 your  God  hath  done  unto  these  two  kings  :  so 
 shall  the  Lord  do  unto  all  the  kingdoms  w  hither 
 thou  passest. 
 
 22  Ye  shall  not  fear  them  :  for  "  the  Lord 
 your  God  he  shall  fight  for  you. 
 
 23  And  •■  I  besought  the  Lord  at  that  time, 
 saying, 
 
 24  O  Lord  God,  thou  hast  begun  to  shew 
 thy  servant  ^  thy  greatness,  and  thy  miglity 
 hand  :  for  >>  what  God  is  there  in  heaven  or  in 
 earth,  that  can  do  according  to  thy  works,  and 
 according  to  thy  might? 
 
 25  I  pray  thee,  let  me  go  over,  and  see  '  the 
 good  land  that  is  beyond  Jordan,  that  goodly 
 mountain,  and  Lebanon. 
 
 2G  But  the  Lord  '  was  wroth  with  me  for 
 your  sakes,  and  would  not  hear  me  :  and  the 
 Lord  said  unto  me.  Let  it  suffice  thee  ;  speak 
 no  more  unto  me  of  this  matter. 
 
 27  '  i  \'t  tlipc  up  into  the  top  of  ||  Pisgah,  and 
 
 Chap.  III. —  1.  Edrei,  a  city  in  the  kingdom  of  Og.  4.  Argob,  a 
 small  province  of  the  kingdom  of  Og.  8.  Arnonsae  Num.  x.\i.  13. 
 Hermon,  the  northern  boundary  of  tlie  land  beyond  Jordan,  as  the 
 brook  Arnon  was  the  southern. — Cat.  It  was  a  mountain  of  Gilead, 
 which  ended  where  Lebanon  began.  9.  Siriitn — see  Ps.  xxix.  6. 
 Jarchi  says,  Shenir,  in  the  Canaanitish  language,  signifies  *  snow,'  and 
 hence,  perhaps,  the  name,  from  the  snow  on  the  mountain. — Pat.,  Gilt. 
 il.  A  bedstead,  TTT?,  '  a  coffin.' — Mich.,  so  Boothr.  '  A  duan,'  or  *  sofa,* 
 the  supporters  of  which  might  be  made  of  iron. — Taylor's  Cat.  Park- 
 hurst  reads,  '  the  mattrass  of  Og  was  a  mattrass  of  iron,  '  full  of  small 
 pieces  of  iron,  like  a  coat  of  mail,'  which,  be  says,  must  impress  the 
 mind  with  a  strong  idea  of  the  martial  mnghness  of  that  gigantic 
 prince,  as  having  an  iron  bedstead,  and  not  one  of  wood,  ivory,  or 
 silver.  Thuei/dides  says,  that  when  the  Thebans  took  Plateee,  they 
 made  beds  of  the  brass  and  iron  they  found  there. — Pat.  la  it  not  in 
 Rabbatit — it  might  have  been  seized  as  a  prize,  purchased  of  the  Israel- 
 
 ites as  a  curiosity,  or  Og,  being  wounded,  might  have  fled  to  Rabbath, 
 and  died  on  his  own  bedstead. —  Wil.,  Boothr.  Nine  cubits,  %c. — about 
 fifteen  feet  and  a  half  long,  and  si.'i  feet  ten  inches  broad.  —  Tai/lor's 
 Cat.  This  is  mentioned  to  shew  Og's  stature,  that  those  who  had  not 
 seen  him,  nor  his  bedstead,  and  especially  future  generations,  might 
 see  what  a  terrible  enemy  had  been  overcome. — Pat.  Cubit  n/a  man, 
 the  popular  measure  from  the  elbow  to  the  middle  finger,  about  18 
 inches. — Pict.  Bib.  Boothroijd,  with  many  others,  considers  ver.  9 — 11 
 an  early  interpolation,  not  connected  with  the  narrative.  14.  The 
 country  of  Argob,  or  Tracfioiiitis — the  small  towns  belonging  to  Gilead, 
 {Num."xx.\ii."41.)  Gesliuri — .l/rt«c/i«//ii— litlle  kingdoms  in  Syria,  on 
 which  the  country  of  Argob  bordered,  (see  Josh.  xiii.  13  ;  2  Sam.  iii,  3, 
 and  X.  6,  8,  and  t-v.  B.)—Gill.  17.  Chinnereth — Genesaret  Irained 
 probably  from  the  word. —  Wells.  Ashdoth-pisgah — the  name  of  a  city 
 in  this  country,  signifying  'the  springs  of  Pisgah,'  (Josh.  xiii.  20.) — 
 Pat.,  Wil.        27.  Pisgah— t^e  highest  summit  of  the  ridge  of  Abarim, 
 
 hold,  I  have  begun  to  give  Sihon  and  liis  land  before  thee  : 
 begin  to  possess,  that  thou  mayest  inherit  bis  land.'  The  dis- 
 posal of  kingdoms  is  in  God's  hand  ;  he  putteth  down  one  and 
 setteth  up  another.  The  Israelites  put  all  the  Amorites  to  the 
 sword,  men,  women,  and  children  :  this  they  did  us  the  exe- 
 cutioners of  (jod's  wrath  ;  now  the  measure  of  the  Amorites' 
 19  j 
 
 iniquity  was  full.  Gen.  xv.  16;  and  the  longer  it  was  in  the 
 filling  the  sorer  was  the  reckoning  at  last.  Let  us  beware  of  a 
 course  of  sin  ;  for  it  has  been  well  remarked,  that '  the  way  of 
 sin  is  down  hill.'  Let  us  break  ofl'  with  our  sins,  or  our  sins 
 will  assuredly  at  last  destroy  us. 
 
An  exhortation 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  IV. 
 
 tn  obedience. 
 
 lift  up  thine  eyes  westward,  and  northward,  and 
 southward,  and  eastward,  and  behold  it  with 
 tliine  eyes  :  for  thou  shalt  not  go  over  this 
 Jordan. 
 
 28  But  "  charge  Joshua,  and  encourage  him, 
 and  strengthen  him :  for  he  shall  go  over  before 
 tins  people,  and  he  shall  cause  them  to  inherit 
 the  land  which  thou  shalt  see. 
 
 •Id  So  we  abode  in  °  the  valley  over  against 
 Beth-peor. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1   An  exhtirtdtion  to  ohedicnce,     41   Moses  appoiyitt-th 
 the  i/iree  cities  of  refu;/e  on  that  sidr  Jordan. 
 
 "IVrOW  therefore  hearken,  O  Israel,  unto  °  the 
 -'- '  statutes  and  unto  the  judgments,  which  I 
 teach  you,  for  to  do  t/icm,  that  ye  may  live, 
 and  go  in  and  possess  the  land  which  the  Lokd 
 Uod  of  your  fathers  giveth  you. 
 •2  ^  Ye  sliall  not  add  unto  the  word  which  I 
 command  yon,  neither  shall  ye  diminish  ought 
 from  it,  that  ye  may  keep  the  conunandments 
 of  the  Loud  your  God  which  I  command  you. 
 
 3  Your  eyes  have  seen  what  the  Lord  did 
 because  of  '  Baal-peor  ;  for  all  the  men  that 
 followed  Baal-peor,  the  Lord  thy  God  hath 
 destroyed  them  from  among  you. 
 
 4  But  ye  that  did  cleave  unto  the  Lord  your 
 God  art  alive  every  one  of  you  this  day. 
 
 5  Behold,  I  have  taught  you  statutes  and 
 judgments,  even  as  the  Lord  my  God  com- 
 manded me,  that  ye  should  do  so  in  the  land 
 whither  ye  go  to  possess  it. 
 
 0  Keep  therefore  and  do  them ;  for  this  is 
 ''  your  wisdom  and  your  understanding  in  the 
 sight  of  the  nations,  which  shall  hear  all  these 
 statutes,  and  say.  Surely  this  great  nation  is  a 
 wise  and  understanding  people. 
 
 7  For  ■"  what  nation  is  there  so  great,  who 
 hath  'God  so  nigh  unto  them,  as  the  Lord  our 
 God  is  in  all  </H'ny4'//(rt<  we  call  upon  hini_/o;? 
 
 8  And  what  nation  is  there  so  great,  that  hath 
 statutes  and  judgments  so  righteous  as  all  this 
 law,  which  I  set  before  you  this  day? 
 
 !t  Only  take  heed  to  thyself,  and  ^  keep  thy 
 soul  diligently,  "■  lest  thou  forget  the  things 
 which  thine  eyes  have  seen,  and  lest  they  de- 
 part from  thy  heart  all  the  days  of  thy  life  : 
 but  'teach  them  thy  sons,  and  thy  sons'  sons  ; 
 
 10  Specia/ly  'the  day  that  thou  stoodcst 
 before  the  Lord  thy  God  in  Horeb,  when  the 
 Lord  said  unto  me.  Gather  me  the  people  to- 
 gether, and  I  will  make  them  hear  my  words, 
 that  they  may  learn  to  fear  me  all  the  days 
 that  they  shall  live  upon  the  earth,  and  that 
 they  may  teach  their  children. 
 
 1 1  And  ye  came  near  and  stood  under  the 
 mountain  ;  and  the  '  mountain  burned  with  fire 
 unto   the   t  midst  of  heaven,   with   darknes.s. 
 
 m  Num.  27 
 18.2:1  .-h.  1 
 :iS.  &  31,  ; 
 
 il.ev.  19.  S7. 
 &  ;0.H  &  2-J 
 31-  ch.b.  1. 
 &  S.  1. 
 Eie.  SO.  H. 
 Horn.  10.  5 
 
 b  cti.  12.  S3 
 Jnsli.  I.  7. 
 I'rnv.  SO  e. 
 Ki'clcs.  12. 
 13  Uev.22. 
 18,  lU. 
 
 ilJobsa.  28. 
 Ps  1!>  7.  St 
 111.  10. 
 
 J,  IT 
 
 I  <?en.  18.19. 
 
 cli  67.&1I. 
 
 19.  l'B.76.5, 
 
 e.  Kpli.6.  *. 
 *■  Kx.  19.  9, 
 
 16  &-2y.  IB. 
 
 Heb.  li.  18, 
 
 19. 
 
 /  Kx.  I!).  18. 
 ch.  5.  23. 
 t  Heb.  hrati. 
 
 o  Kx-  90.  2?. 
 lKiu.19  1:. 
 \  Heb    luve 
 
 7  Kx-  34.  2S. 
 T  Et.  24.  12. 
 &3I.  16. 
 
 *  Ex  21.  I. 
 b  ch.  22.  & 
 ch.  23. 
 
 (Josli. 23.11. 
 'I  Is.  40.  18. 
 
 X  Kx.  39  7. 
 1/  Ex.  20. 4, 
 a.  ver.  23. 
 
 cb.  a.  8. 
 
 jKi.ni.  I. S3. 
 
 I  cb.  17.  S. 
 Jib  31.  26, 
 
 k  Gen.  2.  I 
 2Kiii.l7.lii. 
 
 1  Or,  tm- 
 Jmrled, 
 
 111  KiuS.SI. 
 
 Jer.  n.  4. 
 e  Ex.  19.  a. 
 
 cb.  9.29.  & 
 
 32.  9. 
 /Nu.  20-  12. 
 
 ch.  I.  37.  & 
 
 3.26. 
 
 1/  Spc  2  Pet. 
 1.  13,  14.16. 
 A  cb.  3.  37. 
 i  cb.  3.  25. 
 k  vcr.  9. 
 
 /  ver.  16. 
 Ex.  20.  4, 5 
 
 m  Ex.  24. 17. 
 
 ch.  9.  3. 
 
 1«.  is.  14. 
 
 Heb.  12.  29- 
 /)  Ex.  20.  a. 
 
 cb.  6.  15. 
 
 I«.  42.  8. 
 o  ver.  16. 
 
 ;i2Km.  17. 
 17,  &C. 
 
 clouds,  and  thick  darkness. 
 
 12  '"And  the  Lord  spake  unto  you  out  of 
 the  midst  of  the  fire  :  "  ye  heard  the  voice  of 
 the  words,  but  saw  no  similitude;  "f  only  ye 
 heard  a  voice. 
 
 13  ■' And  he  declared  unto  you  his  covenant, 
 which  he  commanded  you  to  perform,  even 
 ''ten  commandments;  and  'he  wrote  them 
 upon  two  tables  of  stone. 
 
 14  1  And  '  the  Lord  commanded  me  at  that 
 time  to  teach  you  statutes  and  judgments,  that 
 ye  might  do  them  in  the  land  whither  ye  go 
 over  to  possess  it. 
 
 15  '  Take  ye  therefore  good  heed  unto  your- 
 selves ;  for  ye  saw  no  manner  of  "  similitude 
 on  the  day  that  the  Lord  spake  unto  you  in 
 Horeb  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire  : 
 
 IG  Lest  ye  ^  corrupt  yourse/i'f.s-,  and  ^make 
 you  a  graven  image,  the  similitude  of  any 
 figure,  "  the  likeness  of  male  or  female, 
 
 17  The  likeness  of  any  beast  that  is  on  the 
 earth,  the  likeness  of  any  winged  fowl  that 
 flietli  in  the  air, 
 
 18  The  likeness  of  any  thing  that  creepeth 
 on  the  ground,  the  likeness  of  any  fish  lluit  is 
 in  the  waters  beneath  the  earth  : 
 
 19  And  lest  thou  "lift  up  thine  eyes  unto 
 heaven,  and  when  thou  seest  the  sun,  and  the 
 moon,  and  the  stars,  even  ''  all  the  host  of 
 heaven,  shouldest  be  driven  to  "^  worship  iIkmu, 
 and  serve  them,  which  the  Lord  thy  God  hath 
 II  divided  unto  all  nations  under  the  whole 
 heaven. 
 
 20  But  the  Lord  hath  taken  you,  and 
 ■^  brought  you  forth  out  of  the  iron  furnace, 
 even  out  of  Egypt,  "  to  be  unto  him  a  people 
 of  inheritance,  as  ye  are  this  day. 
 
 21  Furthermore  'the  Lord  was  angry  with 
 me  for  your  sakes,  and  svvare  that  I  should  not 
 go  over  Jordan,  and  that  I  should  not  go  in 
 unto  that  good  land,  which  tlie  Lord  thy  God 
 giveth  thee/o/'  an  inheritance: 
 
 22  But  *  I  must  die  in  this  land,  ^  I  must  not 
 go  over  Jordan  :  but  ye  shall  go  over,  and  pos- 
 sess '  that  good  land. 
 
 23  Take  heed  unto  yourselves, '  lest  ye  forget 
 the  covenant  of  the  Lord  your  God,  which  he 
 made  with  you,  '  and  make  you  a  graven  image, 
 or  the  likeness  of  any  thin//,  which  the  Lord 
 thy  God  hath  forbidden  thee. 
 
 24  For  "'  the  Loud  thy  God  is  a  consuming 
 fire,  even  "  a  jealous  God. 
 
 25  1  When  thou  shalt  beget  children,  and 
 children's  children,  and  ye  shall  have  remained 
 long  in  the  land,  and  "shall  corrupt //o((;s<7(rs, 
 and  make  a  graven  image,  or  the  likeness  of 
 any  Ihiiiff,  and  ''  shall  do  evil  in  the  sight  of  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  to  provoke  him  to  anger : 
 
 (see  chap,  xxxiv.) — Sut.        20.  Seth-pem — a  house  or  temple  of  Peor ; 
 it  is  likely  a  temple  was  built  here  to  Baal. peor. — Pnt. 
 
 C'HAr.  IV.  —  2.  Not  odd,  .^c. — the  Jews  understand  this  as  prohibit- 
 ing the  alteration  of  the  te.\t  or  letter  of  the  law,  even  in  tlie  least  jot 
 or  tittle.  And  to  their  great  care  and  exactness  we  are  much  indebted, 
 under  Gnd,  for  the  purity  and  integrity  of  the  Hebrew  coAc— Henry. 
 16.  Tltttt  creepetti — the  Egyptians  reverenced  cats,  rats,  and  apes, 
 grubs,  beetles,  birds,  reptiles,  and  fishes ;  descending,  in  insects,  to 
 gnats,  and  auts.— 5ir  JoAw  Marsham,  Lactantiits.       19.  Seest  the  sun — 
 
 this  is  the  Sabiau  worship,  strongly  abhorred  by  Job,  in  chaji.  xxxi.  21) ; 
 a  worship  which  overspread  the  world,  and  still  subsists  in  the  east. 
 The  sun  is  called  the  king  of  heaven,  or  Baal,  the  lord  or  ruler  of  the 
 day ;  the  moon,  (Juno,  or  the  queen  of  heaven,  Jer.  vii.  18,)  is  called 
 Baala,  or  lady  ruling  the  night. — Sut.  Xerxes  worshipped  the  rising 
 sun  just  before  bis  unfortunate  expedition  against  the  Greeks. — Herod. 
 20.  Fiery  furnace — a  phrase  expressive  of  cruel  servitude,  in  which  the 
 Israelites  were  tried,  as  metals  in  a  furnace  for  smelting  iron. — l^nt., 
 Boothr.     Dr.  A.  Clartte  infers  from  this  passage  that  the  Israelites 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  — I.  We  may  here  learn  that 
 believers  advance  by  degrees  towards  the  possession  of  their  inherit- 
 ance. ^  There  are  more  conquests  added  ;  tbus  are  we  daily 
 
 called  to  make  fresh  inroads  upon  our  corruptions  ;  and,  in  tlie    tor  us.     Wiih  such  an  ally  what  need  is  there  lor  loar? 
 
 strength  of  Almighty  srace,  we   shall   he 
 ijuerors  throni;h  him  who  hath  loved  us 
 196 
 
 II.  Past  conquests  are  an  encouragement  for  the  fidure.  Not 
 a  foe  shall  at  last  remain.  When  we  are  on  the  side  of  holiness 
 we  are  on  the  side  of  God,  and  the  Lord  our  God  he  shall  tight 
 
 If 
 
 'more  than   con-     God  be  for  iis,  who  can  be  against  us  ? 
 
Piiuis.'iiiieiit  for  idolatry. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  IV. 
 
 Cities  of  refiKje  appointed. 
 
 iiG  ''  I  call  heaven  and  cai  ill  to  witntvis  n<5aiiist 
 you  tills  day,  tliat  ye  shall  soon  utterly  peiisli 
 from  off  the  land  wlieieiiiito  ye  ^o  over  Jordan 
 to  possess  it ;  ye  shall  not  prolong  your  days 
 upon  it,  but  shall  utterly  he  destroyed. 
 
 ■J7  And  the  Lokd  '  shall  scatter  you  among 
 the  nations,  and  ye  shall  be  left  few  in  number 
 among;  the  heathen,  whither  the  Louu  shall 
 lead  you. 
 
 '28  And  '  there  ye  shall  serve  gods,  the  work 
 of  men's  hands,  wood  and  stone,  ■  which  neither 
 see,  nor  liear,  nor  eat,  nor  smell. 
 
 29  "  15ut  if  from  thence  thou  shalt  seek  the 
 Lono  thy  God,  thou  shalt  find  him,  if  thou 
 seek  him  with  all  thy  heart  and  with  all  thy 
 sou!. 
 
 30  When  thou  art  in  tribulation,  and  all 
 these  things  fare  come  upon  thee,  'even  in 
 the  latter  days,  if  thou  ''  turn  to  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  and  shalt  be  obedient  unto  his  voice; 
 
 31  (For  the  Lord  thy  God  is  "a  merciful 
 God  ;)  he  will  not  forsake  thee,  neither  de- 
 stroy thee,  nor  forget  the  covenant  of  thy 
 fathers  which  he  sware  unto  them. 
 
 ;!2  For" ask  now  of  the  days  that  are  past, 
 which  were  before  thee,  since  the  day  thai 
 God  created  man  upon  the  earth,  and  ash 
 ^  from  the  one  side  of  heaven  unto  the  other, 
 wliether  there  hath  been  any  suck  thinrj  as 
 this  great  thing  ?'*•,  or  hath  been  heard  like  it? 
 
 33  "  Did  ever  people  hear  tlie  voice  of  God 
 speaking  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire,  as  thou 
 liast  heard,  and  live? 
 
 3i  Or  hath  God  assayed  to  go  and  take  him 
 a  nation  from  the  midst  of  another  nation,  ■■  by 
 teinptation.s,  °  by  signs,  and  by  wonders,  and 
 by  war,  and  '  by  a  mighty  hand,  and  ^  by  a 
 stretched  out  arm,  ''and  by  great  terrors,  ac- 
 cording to  all  that  the  Lord  your  God  did  for 
 you  in  Egypt  before  your  eyes  ? 
 
 35  Unto  thee  it  was  shewed,  that  thou 
 niightest  know  that  the  Lord  he  is  God  ; 
 '  there  is  none  else  beside  him. 
 
 30  *■  Out  of  heaven  he  made  thee  to  hear  his 
 voice,  that  he  might  instruct  thee:  and  upon 
 earth  he  shewed  thee  his  great  fire ;  and  thou 
 lieardest  his  words  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire. 
 
 37  And  because  '  he  loved  thy  fathers,  there- 
 
 U.C.  I-I5I. 
 
 B    C.  Nf>l. 
 
 q  ch.  3(1.  18, 
 
 m  Ex,   13.3, 
 
 19.  Is.   1.  2. 
 
 •J,  14. 
 
 ^r^c.  b.  2. 
 
 -i  ch.  7.  1.  & 
 
 9.  1,  4,  5. 
 
 rT.ep.26.3S. 
 
 ch.29(;-J,6*, 
 
 Neh,  I.  8. 
 
 ..  ver    3.'5. 
 
 Josh.  -i.  11. 
 
 *  ch.  28.  6V- 
 
 1  Sa-yti.  jy. 
 
 .fei".  Ifi.  13. 
 
 /  J-s.  11,^.  A, 
 5.  8c  l.H^.lo, 
 
 />I,ev.  22  31. 
 
 IC.  Is.  <^\M. 
 
 &  4(5.  7. 
 
 T.  [rfir    -iti 
 
 q  ch.  5.  16. 
 
 ;w,  40  ch. 
 
 Sc6.  3,  IS.X, 
 
 3(1.  1,  2,  8. 
 
 19.25,23.  «^ 
 
 2Chr.  15  -1. 
 
 aa,  7.  Kjih. 
 
 Neh    1.  0 
 
 (i.  3, 
 
 Is.  55-  6,  7. 
 
 .I.'r.  :;9.  \% 
 
 n,  u. 
 
 r  Num.  35. 
 
 t  IK-ti.  /.",.* 
 
 6,  M. 
 
 fnu,.<l  Ih^^. 
 
 Kn.  IS    H. 
 
 s  ch.  19.  *- 
 
 ch.3l.  17. 
 
 ,r  CJcn.  Ifl.  1. 
 
 ch    31,  '.'9. 
 
 JiT,  23.  -iO. 
 
 Hus.  .S. .'.. 
 
 vJ.'fl-J.  \1. 
 
 z  2Chr..W.9. 
 
 t  Josh.  2y.  8. 
 
 Neh.  y.  31. 
 
 Ps.  116.  5. 
 
 .Tonat.  4.  2. 
 
 <i  Job  8.  «. 
 
 iMat.2t.3l. 
 
 c  Ks  24   II 
 
 &  3-1  :iO. 
 
 ch.  5.  :H,2.3. 
 
 u  cli    3  -JW. 
 
 ■I  ch   7    IP. 
 
 N  :;9   3. 
 
 -■  K\.  7.  3. 
 
 /  Kx-    13.  3. 
 
 .r  Num.  21, 
 
 y  Ex.  6    e 
 
 21.  Ch.  I.  4 
 
 A  ch.  !«.  8. 
 
 &  34.  12. 
 
 «Nu.  21..'«. 
 
 ch.  3.  3,  4, 
 
 t  ch.  .12.39. 
 
 :  Ch.  9.  36. 
 
 1  Siim  2-  2. 
 
 &  3.  12. 
 
 Is. '1.1.  5.  IH, 
 
 t?,>.Mark  \i. 
 
 a  ch.  .S.  9. 
 
 •VJ,  3.'. 
 
 Ps.  133.3. 
 
 h  Kx.  19.  9. 
 
 19.  &t-U  ly. 
 
 22.&21.  IG. 
 
 lleb.  12.  18. 
 /  ch.  10.  15. 
 
 b  ch.  3.  17. 
 
 fore  he  chose  their  seed  after  them,  and 
 "'  brought  thee  out  in  his  sight  with  his  mighty 
 power  out  of  Egypt ; 
 
 38  "  To  drive  out  nations  from  before  thee 
 greater  and  mightier  than  thou  art,  to  bring 
 thee  in,  to  give  thee  their  laiidyb;-  an  inherit- 
 ance, as  it  is  this  day. 
 
 39  Know  therefore  this  day,  and  consider  it 
 in  thine  heart,  that  °  the  Lord  he  is  God  in 
 heaven  above,  and  upon  the  earth  beneath  : 
 there  is  none  else. 
 
 40  ''Thou  shalt  keep  therefore  his  statutes, 
 and  his  commandments,  which  I  command 
 thee  this  day,  ''  that  it  may  go  well  with  thee, 
 and  with  thy  children  after  thee,  and  that  thou 
 mayest  prolong  thy  days  upon  the  earth,  which 
 the  Lord  thy  God  givetli  thee,  for  ever. 
 
 41  t  Then  Moses  'severed  three  cities  on 
 this  side  Jordan  toward  the  sun  rising  ; 
 
 42  "  That  the  slayer  miglit  flee  thither,  which 
 should  kill  his  neiglibour  unawares,  and  hated 
 him  not  in  times  past ;  and  that  fleeing  unto 
 one  of  tliese  cities  he  might  livet 
 
 43  Namely,  '  Bezer  in  tiie  wilderness,  in  the 
 plain  country,  of  the  ReubeniU'S;  and  Uainoth 
 in  Gileiul,of  tlie  Gadites  ;  and  Golan  in  Bashaii, 
 of  the  Maiiassites. 
 
 44  If  And  this  is  the  law  which  Moses  set 
 before  the  children  of  Israel  : 
 
 45  These  are  tlie  testimonies,  and  the  statutes, 
 and  the  judgments,  which  Moses  spake  unto 
 the  children  of  Israel,  after  they  came  forth  out 
 of  Egypt, 
 
 46  On  this  side  Jordan,  "in  the  valley  over 
 against  Beth-peor,  in  the  land  of  Sihon  king  of 
 the  Amorites,  who  dwelt  at  Heshbon,  whom 
 Moses  and  the  children  of  Israel  '  smote,  after 
 they  were  come  forth  out  of  Egypt : 
 
 47  And  they  possessed  his  land,  and  the  land 
 'of  Og  king  of  Raslian,  two  kings  of  the  Amo- 
 rites, which  were  on  this  .side  Jordan  toward 
 the  sun  rising ; 
 
 48  ^  From  Aroer,  which  is  by  the  bank  of  the 
 river  Arnon,  even  unto  mount  Sion,  which  is 
 "  Hermou, 
 
 49  And  all  the  plain  on  this  side  Jordan  east- 
 ward, even  unto  the  sea  of  the  plain,  under  the 
 ''  springs  of  Pisgah. 
 
 were  employed  in  Egypt  in  tending  the  furnaces  for  smelting  of  mclals, 
 a  most  lalioriiuis  occupation  in  a  hot  country.  28.  Ye  shall  seme 
 
 gods— the  heathen  sometimes  compelled  the  captive  Israelites  to  wor- 
 ship their  gods,  a.s  we  read  in  the  third  chap,  of  Daniel.— Pa*.  34.  Temp. 
 <u(io)i,5— tribulations  and  persecutions.  —  Poo/p.  Sigm— works  done 
 by  Moses  as  proofs  of  his  mission,  (Exod.  iv.  1—9,  30,  and  vii,  9.) 
 
 Wonder.i — the  ten  plagues, — Gill.  A  stretched  out  arm — Omuipoteiire 
 e-xerted  in  a  continuation  of  stupendous  miracles, —  A.  Clarke.  B// 
 great  terrors,  tv  opafxaai  jut-^aXotc,  'with  great  or  iinrtentous  sights;' 
 Seitt.,  (Exod.  xiv.  24,  25.)  49.  Springs  of  Pisgah— Aiasirarth  and 
 
 Geddes  consider  the  name  of  a  place  is  here  intended,  and  read  •  Ash. 
 doth-Pisgah.' 
 
 REri.ECTioNs  ON  Chap.  IV Wattliew  Henry  has  so  well 
 
 summed  up  this  chapter,  that  we  caiinol  do  better  than  to 
 condense  bis  remarks — I.  '  Ohserce  w/mt  M„s,s  sai/s,  bi/  way 
 of  cxiiortalion  and  ilirecfion.  He  demands  tlieir  d'iHgeiit  at- 
 lentioii  to  the  word  of  God.  Pie  charges  them  to  keep  the 
 1/ivine  law  pure  and  entire— not  adding  their  inventions,  nor 
 setting  aside  what  God  had  appointed.  He  charges  them  to 
 keep  God's  commandments.  Hearing  must  be,  in  order  to 
 doing;  knowing,  in  order  to  practise.  He  charges  them  to  be 
 very  strict  and  careful  in  their  ohservance  of  the  law—"  Take 
 heed  unto  yourselves."  Those  that  would  be  religious,  must 
 he  very  cautious,  and  walk  circumspectly.  He  charges  them 
 against  idolatry;  and  we  too  must  remember  there  may  be 
 idols  in  the  heart  where  there  are  none  in  tlie  sanctuary.  He 
 charges  them  to  teach  their  children  to  observe  the  law  of 
 God.  He  charges  them  never  to  forget  their  duty.  Though 
 O.id  is  ever  mindful  of  his  covenant,  we  are  apt  to  forget  it ; 
 and  that  is  at  the  botlom  of  all  our  departures  from  God. 
 fare,  aud  caution,  and  holy  watchfulness,  are  the  best  helps 
 against  a  bad  meni.iry. 
 
 II.  •  Observe  what  Muses  sui/s,  by  w.iy  „f  mutivc  and  aruamatl 
 197  ■ 
 
 to-eiiforce  Ills  cx/iurtatlons-  He  urges  the  greatness,  glory,  and 
 Goodness  of  God.  Ho  urges  their  relation  to  this  God.  He 
 urges  the  wisdom  of  being  religious.  He  urges  the  singular 
 advantages  they  enjoyed,  which  made  them  truly  great.  He 
 urges  God's  glorious  appearance  to  thein  at  Mount  Sinai,  in 
 allusion  to  which,  God  is  said  to  shew  himself  for  his  people 
 and  against  bis  and  their  enemies,  (Ps.  xviii.  8,  9.  )  It  might 
 justly  be  expected  they  should  do  more  for  God  than  other 
 people,  since  God  had  done  so  much  for  them.  He  urges 
 God's  gracious  appearance  for  them  in  bringing  them  out  of 
 Egypt,  from  the  iron  furnace,  forming  them  into  a  people,  and 
 then  taking  them  to  be  bis  own  people— a  people  of  inherit- 
 ance, lie  urges  God's  righteous  appearance  against  them 
 sometimes  for  their  sins.  He  urges  the  certain  benefit  and 
 advantage  of  obedience,  "  that  it  may  go  well  with  thee."  If 
 they  kept  God's  precepts,  be  would  undoubtedly  fulfil  bis 
 promises.  He  urges  the  fatal  consequences  of  their  apostasy 
 from  God.  Now  let  all  these  arguments  be  laid  together,  and 
 then  say  whether  religion  has  not  reason  on  its  side?  None 
 cast  off  the  government  of  their  God,  but  those  Ihul  have  first 
 abandoned  the  understanding  of  a  man.' 
 
The  ten  coJiniiandnients. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  V. 
 
 The  law  received  frum  Gud. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Tht  curcjiaiit  In  Hordj.  6  77if  ten  commanclmnits. 
 2'2  At  the  jfeupL^s  refjueat  Moses  neeileth  the  law 
 frum  God, 
 
 AND  Mosos  callfil  all  Israel,  and  said  unto 
 -^^  lliein.  Hear,  O  Israel,  the  statutes  and 
 judgments  wliich  I  speak  in  your  ears  this  day, 
 that  ye  may  learn  them,  and  f  keep,  and  do 
 tlieni. 
 
 2  °  Tlie  Lord  our  God  made  a  covenant  with 
 us  in  Horeb. 
 
 3  The  Loitn  ''made  not  this  covenant  with 
 our  fathers,  bnt  with  us,  even  us,  who  are  all 
 of  us  liere  alive  this  day. 
 
 i  "  The  Lord  talked  with  you  face  to  face  in 
 the  mount  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire, 
 
 J  (•'  I  stood  between  the  Loud  and  vou  at 
 that  time,  to  shew  you  the  word  of  tlie  Lord  : 
 for 'ye  were  afraid  by  reason  of  the  fire,  and 
 went  not  up  into  the  mount  ;)  saying, 
 
 (j  H  'I  am  the  Loud  thy  God,  which  brought 
 Ibee  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  from  the  house 
 off  bondage. 
 
 7  '^  Thou  shalt  have  none  other  gods  before 
 me. 
 
 8  '■  Thou  shalt  not  make  thee  loii/  graven 
 image,  ur  any  likeness  of  niiii  thiiirj  that  /.•.■  in 
 heaven  above,  or  that  ix  in  the  eartli  beneath, 
 or  tliat  is  in  the  waters  beneath  tlie  earth  : 
 
 !)  Thou  shalt  not  bow  down  thyself  unto 
 llieni,  nor  serve  them  :  for  I  the  Loud  thy 
 (iod  am  a  jealous  (iod,  'visiting  the  iniquity 
 of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  nnto  the  third 
 and  fourth  generution  of  them  that  hate  me, 
 
 10  'And  shewing  mercy  unto  thousands  of 
 them  that  love  tne  and  keep  my  command- 
 ments. 
 
 1  I  '  Tliou  slialt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
 Loud  thy  God  in  vain  :  for  the  Loud  will  not 
 hold  him  guiltless  that  taketli  his  name  in 
 vain. 
 
 1-2  '"Keep  the  sabbath  day  to  sanctify  it,  as 
 the  Lord  thy  God  hath  connnandcd  thee. 
 
 13  "Six  days  thou  slialt  labour,  and  do  all 
 thy  work: 
 
 14  But  the  seventh  day  is  the  "sabbath  of 
 the  Loud  thy  God :  in  it  thou  shalt  not  do 
 any  work,  tliou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter, 
 nor  thy  manservant,  nor  thy  maidservant,  nor 
 thine  ox,  nor  thine  ass,  nor  any  of  tliy  cattle, 
 nor  thy  stranger  that  /s  within  tliy  gates  ;  that 
 thy  manservant  and  thy  maidservant  may  rest 
 as  well  as  thou. 
 
 15  ''And  remember  that  thou  wast  a  servant 
 in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  tiial  the  Loud  thy 
 (iod  brought  thee  out  thence  ''  through  a 
 mighty  hand  and  by  a  stretched  out  arm  : 
 therefore  the  Loud  thy  God  commanded  thee 
 to  keep  the  sabbath  day. 
 
 lij  1  '  Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother,  as 
 the  Lord  thy  God  hath  commanded  thee ; 
 '  that  thy  days  may  be  prolonged,  and  tluit  it 
 may  go  well  witli  thee,  in  the  laud  wliich  the 
 Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee. 
 
 l<i  du  them. 
 
 1491 
 .  Kx.  1»  5 
 cb.  -I.  -23. 
 
 E.T.  19.  n, 
 19.  &  90. 'J2. 
 ch.4..S.S.3ti. 
 &  .11.  la. 
 rf  Kx.  20, -il. 
 Qui.  S.  19. 
 
 r  Kx.  19,  16. 
 ft  ?0.    111.  & 
 I    21.  o. 
 
 /  Kx.  90.  2, 
 «;C.  I.CV.26. 
 I.  ch   fi.  4. 
 Ps,  8t.  10, 
 
 I  Heb. 
 
 n.  c.  1151. 
 
 '  K.x.  -20.  13, 
 
 niiit. .',.  21. 
 I  t;x.  21).  11. 
 
 Lukt.  1S,20 
 
 Jam.  2,  II, 
 
 I*  Ex.  211  l,'i. 
 
 Uoiii.  ta.  9 
 
 V  Kx-  20.  Hi. 
 ;  Ex.  20,  17. 
 Rlio   2. 
 
 a  Ex.  24.  12 
 k  3\.  Id. 
 ch.  4.  13. 
 
 IMtt. 
 
 e  Ex.  -^0.  3. 
 
 4  Jor.  S2.  IS. 
 n:ui.  9.  4. 
 
 t  Kx.  PO.  7. 
 I.i-v.  10.  12. 
 M.it.  'j.  33. 
 
 »  Kx   S3.  12. 
 It  3h.  2 
 Exe.  20.  12 
 
 0  cli.  l.'i.  15. 
 k  10  12.  & 
 81.  18,22. 
 
 9  oil  4.  SI, 
 37. 
 
 r  Ex.  eft.  12. 
 
 l.ov    19  3. 
 
 .-h.  27. 16. 
 
 Kpli.  G  2,3. 
 
 ('..1.  3,  20. 
 r  cli.  4.  40. 
 
 rf  ch.  4.  .33. 
 JudK.  13.22 
 
 rch.  18.  ir. 
 t  Hcb.  add 
 
 /ch.  4.  a3. 
 
 '  Kx,  20.  19, 
 Heb.  12. 19. 
 
 I  cb.  .32.  29. 
 Pa.  81,  13, 
 Is,  48.  18. 
 M,it,  23  37 
 l.uke  19,42, 
 
 k  cb.  1 1.  I. 
 
 /  cli.  4.  40. 
 
 n  Ch.  17.  20. 
 
 «i  28.  14. 
 
 Josh.  1 . 7. 
 
 &  23.  6. 
 
 Pro.  4.  27, 
 o  cli.  10.  12. 
 
 Ps,  119   fl, 
 
 .lev,  7,  23 
 
 Luke  I.  6, 
 p  cli.  4,  40. 
 
 17  '  Thou  shalt  not  kill. 
 
 18  "  Neither  shalt  thou  commit  adultery. 
 
 19  "^  Neither  shalt  thou  steal. 
 
 ■20  ''  Neither  shalt  thou  bear  false  witness 
 against  thy  neiglibour. 
 
 •21  ^  Neither  shalt  thou  de.sire  thy  neighbour's 
 wife,  neither  shalt  thou  covet  thy  neighbour's 
 house,  his  field,  or  his  manservant,  or  his  maid- 
 servant, his  ox,  or  his  ass,  or  any  thin//  that  is 
 thy  neighbour's. 
 
 •22  t  These  words  the  Loud  spake  unto  all 
 your  assembly  in  the  mount  out  of  the  midst 
 of  the  lire,  of  the  cloud,  and  of  the  thick  dark- 
 ness, with  a  great  voice  :  and  he  added  no 
 more.  And  °  he  wrote  them  in  two  tables  of 
 stone,  and  delivered  them  unto  me. 
 
 23  ''  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  ye  heard  the 
 voice  out  of  the  midst  of  the  darkness,  (for  the 
 mountain  did  burn  with  fire,)  that  ye  came 
 near  unto  me,  ci-cH  all  the  heads  of  your  tribes, 
 and  your  elders  ; 
 
 24  And  ye  said.  Behold,  the  Lord  our  God 
 hath  shewed  us  his  glory  and  his  greatness, 
 and  "^  we  have  heard  his  voice  out  of  the  midst 
 of  the  fire :  we  have  .seen  this  day  that  (iod 
 doth  talk  with  man,  and  he  ''liveth. 
 
 •2.5  Now  therefore  why  .should  we  die  V  for 
 this  great  fire  will  consume  us:  'if  we  jhear 
 the  voice  of  the  Lord  our  God  any  more:,  then 
 we  .shall  die. 
 
 2(i  '  For  who  is  there  of  a]]  flesh,  that  hath 
 heard  the  voice  of  tlie  living  (iod  speaking  ont 
 of  the  midst  of  the  fire,  as  we  have,  and  lived  ? 
 
 27  (Jo  thou  near,  and  hear  all  that  the  Loud 
 our  God  .shall  say:  and  ^  speak  thou  unto  us 
 all  that  the  Loud  our  God  shall  .speak  unto 
 thee  ;  and  we  will  hear  it,  and  do  it. 
 
 28  And  the  Loud  heard  the  voice  of  your 
 words,  when  ye  spake  nnto  me  ;  and  the  Loud 
 said  unto  me,  I  have  heard  tlie  voice  of  the 
 words  of  this  people,  which  they  have  spoken 
 unto  thee:  ''they  have  well  said  all  that  they 
 have  spoken. 
 
 29  '  ()  that  there  were  such  an  heart  in  them, 
 that  they  would  fear  me,  and  •■  keep  all  my 
 commandments  always,  '  that  it  might  be  well 
 with  them,  and  with  their  children  for  ever! 
 
 30  Go  say  to  them.  Get  you  into  your  tents 
 again. 
 
 31  But  as  for  thee,  stand  thou  here  by  me, 
 '"and  I  will  speak  unto  thee  all  the  command- 
 ments, and  the  statutes,  and  the  judgments, 
 which  thou  shalt  teach  llieui,  that  they  may  do 
 them  in  the  land  which  I  give  them  to  pos- 
 sess it. 
 
 32  Ye  shall  observe  to  do  therefore  as  the 
 Loud  your  (>od  hath  commanded  you:  "ye 
 shall  not  turn  aside  to  the  riglit  hand  or  to  tlie 
 left. 
 
 33  Y'e  shall  walk  in  "all  the  ways  which  the 
 Loud  your  God  hath  commanded  you,  that  ye 
 may  live,  ''and  that  it  may  he  well  with  you, 
 and  th<it  ye  may  prolong  your  days  in  the 
 land  which  ye  shall  possess. 
 
 Cti.U'.  V. —  1.  All  Urnel—^\\  the  elders  and  heads  of  the  tribes,  who  is,  not  with  tliem  only.— Gj7/.        5.  Saying— 'ber^  are  some  sli;^'ht  va- 
 
 were  to  instruct  Ihercst.— /'nf.     As  many  Israelites  as  einild  gt-t  within  riatioiis,  wliieli  shew  that  not  the  letter,  so  mueh  as  the  spirit  of  the 
 
 hearing,— //ein-//;  or  he  might,  at  different  times,  have  rciK-ated  the  law  was  to  be  regarded.- Gra//.         9.  VisUmf^—scG  note  on  Exod. 
 
 following  laws  to  separate  parties.        3.  Not~u-ith  our  fntlti'rs,  that  x.ic.  5. 
 
 HEFLrcTiONS    ON  CiMP.    V. — We  may  again   adopt   the  commnndnK'nts;  ami  we  may  observe — I.  Tlie  neiierul  inlcnt 
 
 remarks  of  the  excellent  Henry,  as  they  are  so  apposite,  on  of  them.      1  hey  were  in  the  nature  of  a  covenant  between  God 
 
 lh.it  iliopler.     '  We  Imve  here  the  second  edition  of  the  ten  and  Isiael;    lijey   were  the  parties   to  this   covenant,     God 
 198 
 
An  erhortdtion 
 
 DEUTERONOMY.  VI. 
 
 to  obedience. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1    The  tnd  of  the  law  is  nbf.dlcnce,     3  An  exhortation 
 thereto. 
 
 "IVrOW  these  are  "the  commandments,  the 
 -^*  statutes,  and  tlie  judgments,  which  the 
 Lord  your  God  commanded  to  teach  you, 
 that  ye  mij^lit  do  them  in  the  land  whither  ye 
 f  go  to  possess  it : 
 
 2  '^  That  thou  mightest  fear  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  to  keep  all  his  statutes  and  his  com- 
 mandments, which  I  command  thee,  thou,  and 
 thy  son,  and  thy  sons'  son,  all  the  days  of  thy 
 hfe  ;   ^  and  that  thy  days  may  be  prolonged. 
 
 3  11  Hear  therefore,  C)  Israel,  and  observe  to 
 do  it;  that  it  may  be  well  with  thee,  and  that 
 ye  may  increase  miii;htily,  ''as  the  Lord  God 
 of  thy  fathers  hatli  promised  thee,  hi  "the  land 
 that  floweth  with  milk  and  honey. 
 
 4  *"  Hear,  O  Israel :  Tlie  Lord  our  God  is 
 one  Lord  : 
 
 5  And  ^  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God 
 ^'with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul, 
 and  witii  all  thy  might. 
 
 6  And  '  these  words,  which  I  command  thee 
 this  day,  sliall  be  in  thine  heart : 
 
 7  And  ^  thou  shalt  f  teach  them  diligently 
 unto  thy  children,  and  shalt  talk  of  them  wlien 
 thou  sittest  in  tiiine  house,  and  wlien  thou 
 walkest  by  the  way,  and  when  thou  liest  down, 
 and  when  thou  risest  up. 
 
 8  ^  And  thou  shalt  bind  them  for  a  sign  upon 
 thine  hand,  and  they  shall  be  as  frontlets  be- 
 tween thine  eyes. 
 
 9  "'And  thou  shalt  write  them  upon  the  posts 
 of  thy  house,  and  on  thy  gates. 
 
 10  And  it  shall  be,  when  the  Lord  thy  God 
 shall  have  brought  thee  into  the  land  which  he 
 sware  nnto  thy  fathers,  to  Abraham,  to  Isaac, 
 and  to  Jacol),  to  give  thee  great  and  goodly 
 cities,  "which  thou  bnildedst  not, 
 
 J 1  And  houses  full  of  all  good  thinrfSy  which 
 thou  filledst  not,  and  wells  digged,  which  tliou 
 
 1  oil.  +.  1.  & 
 5.31.  &  IS. I. 
 
 t  Ili'b.  pail 
 
 b  Ex.  211.  20 
 cii.in  \9.,\:\. 
 Ps  ni.  10. 
 
 &  I2H.  1. 
 Eccles.  12. 
 13. 
 
 c  ch.  4.  4i». 
 Pro.  8.  1, 8. 
 
 .1  Gen.  15.  I 
 
 &  22.  17. 
 e  Ex.  3.  8. 
 
 /  Is.  42.  8. 
 
 Mark  12.20, 
 
 .32.  .Inhn  17. 
 
 3.  1  Cor.  8. 
 
 ■1,  15. 
 -  ch.  10.  12. 
 
 Mat.  22.  37, 
 
 Mark  12.8(1 
 
 Luke  10.27. 
 '.  2  Kill.  23. 
 
 25. 
 .  ch.  II.  18. 
 
 S(32.  46.  Ps. 
 
 37.  31,  & '111. 
 
 fi.  &119.  II, 
 
 93.  Prov.  3. 
 
 3.  Is.  51.  7. 
 h  cli.  4.  9.  ^ 
 
 II,  10.  Pa. 
 
 78.  4,  5.  6, 
 
 Epli.  15    4. 
 t   Heb.   .(.Ac/, 
 
 /  Kx.  13.  9, 
 16  cli.ll.lH 
 Pro.  3.  .S.  U 
 6.  yi.«t7.3. 
 
 «.  L'li.  II  2U 
 Is.  57    8. 
 
 .  .Ios.21.  IS. 
 Ps.    105.  44. 
 
 f  Heb.  bond- 
 
 men,  or, 
 
 tfTvantt, 
 p  ch.  10,  12, 
 
 211.  Sc  13.  4 
 
 Milt.  4.  Ill- 
 Luke  4.  8. 
 r  Ps.  63.  II. 
 
 Is,  45.  -23.  & 
 
 05.  IG.  Jer. 
 
 4.  2.  &  5.  7. 
 
 &  12.  16. 
 
 cli.8.  19. 
 ,&  II.  28. 
 
 Jer.  a.'i.  6. 
 i  cb.  13.  7. 
 (  Ex.  20.  5. 
 
 cb.  4.  24. 
 u  cb.  7.  4.  fe 
 
 n.  17. 
 .r  Mat.  4.  7. 
 
 I.iike  I.  12. 
 j/Kx.  17.2,7. 
 
 Num.  20.  3, 
 
 4.  &21.4,  5, 
 
 1  Cor.  10.  !i. 
 :  ch.  11.  13, 
 
 22.  Ps.  119. 
 
 i, 
 
 1  Ex.  15.26. 
 
 cb.  12.  28. 
 
 &  13.  18. 
 
 r  Ex.  13.  14. 
 t  Heb.  /« 
 
 d  Ex.  3.  19. 
 &  13.  3. 
 
 e  Ex.  7.  fcS, 
 &9  &  10.  & 
 11.  &  1-2 
 
 diggedst  not,  vineyards  and  olive  trees,  which 
 thou  plantedst  not;  "^  when  thou  shalt  have 
 eaten  and  be  full ; 
 
 I'i  77i('/t  beware  k-.st  thou  forget  the  Lord, 
 which  brought  tliee  forth  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  from  the  bouse  of  f  bondage. 
 
 1.3  Thou  shalt  *'fear  the  Lord  tby  God,  and 
 serve  him,  and  ''shalt  swear  by  his  name. 
 
 14  Ye  siiall  not  'go  after  other  gods,  ^^ of  the 
 gods  of  the  people  which  are  round  about 
 you  ; 
 
 15  (For  *  the  Lord  thy  God  is  a  jealous  God 
 among  you)  "lest  the  anger  of  the  Lord  thy 
 God  be  kindled  against  thee,  and  destroy  thee 
 from  off  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 
 1(J  ^\  ^  Ye  shall  not  tempt  the  Lord  j^our 
 God,  -as  ye  tempted  /lim  in  ISIassah. 
 
 17  Ye  siiall  ^  diligently  keep  the  command- 
 ments of  the  Lord  your  God,  and  his  testi- 
 monies, and  his  statutes,  which  he  hath  com- 
 manded thee. 
 
 18  And  thou  °  shalt  do  that  which  is  right 
 and  good  in  the  sight  of  tlie  Lord  :  that  it 
 may  be  well  with  thee,  and  that  thou  mayest 
 go  in  and  possess  the  good  land  which  tlie 
 Lord  sware  unto  thy  fathers, 
 
 19  ^  To  ca.st  out  all  thine  enemies  from  before 
 thee,  as  the  Lord  hath  spoken. 
 
 20  And  "  when  thy  son  asketh  thee  fin  time 
 to  come,  saying.  What  7nean  the  testimonies, 
 and  tlie  statutes,  and  the  judgments,  which  the 
 Lord  our  God  hath  commanded  you? 
 
 ■21  Tben  thou  shalt  say  unto  thy  son,  We 
 were  Pbaraoh's  bondmen  in  Egypt ;  and  the 
 Lord  brought  us  out  of  Egypt  "^  with  a  mighty 
 hand  : 
 
 22  •"  And  the  Lord  shewed  signs  and  wonders, 
 great  and  f  sore,  upon  Egypt,  upon  Pharaoh, 
 and  upon  all  his  houshold,  before  our  eyes  : 
 
 2a  And  he  brought  us  out  from  thence,  that 
 he  might  bring  us  in,  to  give  us  the  land  which 
 he  sware  unto  our  fathers. 
 
 24  And  the  Lord  commanded  us  to  do  all 
 
 Chap.  VI. — 1.  Commandments — moral  law.  Statutes — ceremonial 
 law.  J'*/</c"i<'"^'>'— judicial  law. — Scott.  4.  The  Lord  our  God,  ^c, 
 inn  mn'' i:'n?N  mn\  'Jehovah,  our  God,  one  Jehovah.' — Ed.  'Je- 
 hovah,  our  Elohira,  Jeliovah  is  one.* — Wit.  'Jehovah  is  our  God, 
 Jehovah  is  one.* — Viiringa.  'Jehovah  is  our  God,  Jehovah  alnne  or 
 ontyJ* — Boothr.  'The  Lord  is  our  God,  the  Lord  ouly.' — Orddes. 
 Heu'let  observes,  this  is  taking  an  unwarrantable  liberty  with  the  text, 
 which  is,  literally,  '  Jehovab,  our  Elohim,  is  one  Jehovah.*  Certainly 
 the  rcTuicrinKR  of  Boothrni/d  and  Gedden  do  not  give  that  strong  idea  of 
 the  unity  nf  God  as  the  simple  terms  of  the  original.  Dr.  Clarke  gives 
 various  renderings,  closirif?,  '  or  Jehovah,  who  is  our  God,  is  the  one 
 Being.'  The  Jews  lay  much  stress  on  this  passage,  and  write  it  on 
 their  phylacteries. — Greenf,  These  words  do  not  contradict  the  doe- 
 trine  of  a  Trinity  of  existknces,  commonly  and  conventionally  called 
 persons,  in  the  unity  of  the  Divine  essence,  the  Father,  Word,  and  Holy 
 Spirit,  which  three  are  one,  the  one  God,  the  one  Jehovah,  as  here  ex- 
 pressed, (see  I  John,  v.  7.) — Ed.,  Gill.  This  is  one  of  the  passajces  in 
 the  Old  Testament  which  strongly  expresses  the  un  ity  of  the  Godhead, 
 and  yet,  by  the  expression  of  the  plural  term  cn^Nt  'Elohim,'  fauly 
 admits  the  notion  of  the  Trinity,  which  was,  in  after  times  to  be  more 
 clearly  revealed. — Hew.  5.  With  all  thine  heart,  %c.,  that  is,  with 
 
 a  love  sincere,  strong,  superlative,  intelligent,  and  entire. — Henry. 
 
 7.  Diligently,  cno^iu.  from  H]!!?,  'to  iterate,'  *  repeat,'  'do  again.' 
 
 8.  Upon  thine  hand — the  tephilUn  or  phylacteries  are  of  two  sorts;  one 
 for  the  head,  and  one  for  the  arm.  Those  fastened  to  the  arms  were 
 two  rolls  of  parchment,  written  in  square  letters.  They  were  rolled  up 
 to  a  point  and  enclosed  in  a  sort  of  case  of  black  calf's  .skin.  They  then 
 were  put  upon  a  square  bit  of  tlie  same  leather,  but  something  stifter, 
 whence  hung  a  thong  of  the  same,  of  about  a  finger's  breadth,  and  a 
 cubit  and  a  half  long.  These  rolls  were  placed  at  the  bending  of  the 
 left  arm,  and  after  the  thong  had  made  a  little  knot  in  the  form  of  the 
 letter  %  jod,  it  was  wound  about  the  arm  in  a  spiral  line,  which  ended 
 at  the  top  of  the  middle  finger.— Ca/.  9.  Upon  the  posts— pieces  of 
 parchment,  called  Mezuzoth ;  the  singular,  Mezuza,  signifying  '  the 
 door  of  a  house,'  and  having  two  scripture  portions,  chap.  vi.  4 — 9,  xi. 
 13 — 20,  are  fixed  by  the  Jews  on  the  doors  of  their  houses,  whether 
 parlours,  bed  rooms,  cellars,  SiC. — Attends  Modern  Judaism,  Cal.  These 
 were  anciently  fastened  to  their  gates.  Some  enclosed  them  in  a  case ; 
 or,  writing  them  on  small  rolls,  put  them  into  a  bole  in  the  wall,  after 
 inscribing  on  them  '  Shaddai ;'  and  they  wnnld  Iny  their  hands  on  them 
 as  often  as  they  went  out,  saying,  'the  Lord  preserve  my  going  out 
 and  my  coming  in.' — Lamy  and  Cat.  13.  Sivear  hy  his  name,  to 
 sanction  a  solemji  oath  ;  not  by  any  idol,  for  idols  can  bear  witness  to 
 nothing. — Pat.         l6.  Not  temjd,  *  not  provoke. — Poole. 
 
 himself  published  it,  as  it  were,  face  to  face.  Moses  was  the 
 mediator  of  the  covenant,  and  carried  messages  between  them. 
 Herein  he  was  a  type  of  Christ,  who  stands  between  God  and 
 man,  to  shew  us  the  word  of  the  Lord— a  blessed  Day's-man, 
 that  has  laid  his  band  upon  us  both,  so  that  we  may  both  hear 
 from  God.  and  speak  to  him  without  trembling. 
 
 II.  ^  The  particular  prtrqits  are  repeattd.  Though  they  had 
 been  spoken  before  and  written,  yet  they  are  again  rehearsed  ; 
 for  precept  must  be  upon  precept,  and  line  upon  line,  and  all 
 Httle  enough  to  keep  the  word  of  God  in  our  minds,  and  to 
 preserve  and  renew  the  impressions  of  it.  'llio  words  are 
 somewhat  varied,  for  it  is  more  necessary  that  w«  tie  ourselves 
 to  the  thing  than  to  the  words  unalterably.     The  fourth  com- 
 
 loy 
 
 mandment  has  its  reason  here  annexed, not  from  the  creation  of 
 the  world,  but  from  the  dehverance  out  of  Kgypt,  because 
 that  was  typical  of  our  redemption  by  Jesus  Christ,  in  re- 
 membrance of  which  the  Christian  sabbath  was  to  be  ob- 
 served.   We  may  notice — 
 
 HI.  '  The  settling  of  the  corrcsponde7>ce  between  God  and  Israel, 
 in  consequence  of  the  transactions  at  Mount  Sinni.  Here  the 
 matter  was  settled  by  consent  of  both  parties,  that  God  should 
 from  henceforward  sptak  to  us  by  men  Uke  ourselves — by 
 ]\Ioses  and  the  prophets,  the  apostles  and  evangelists,  whom 
 if  we  believe  not,  neither  would  we  be  persuaded,  though  God 
 should  speak  to  us  as  he  did  to  Israel  at  Mount  Sinai,  or  send 
 expresses  from  beaveii  or  hell.' 
 
Communion  ivilh  the 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  VII. 
 
 nations  is  forbidden. 
 
 these  statutes,  ''to  fear  the  Lord  our  God,  Tor 
 our  good  always,  that  ''  he  might  preserve  us 
 alive,  as  it  is  at  this  day. 
 25  And  '  it  shall  he  our  righteousness,  if  we 
 observe  to  do  all  these  conimandnients  before 
 the  Lord  our  God,  as  he  hath  commauded  us. 
 
 CHAP.   VII. 
 
 1  All  communiun  with  the  nation);  is  forhiddcn^  ifor 
 fear  of  idulutry,  6  for  the  holiness  of  the  people,  9  for 
 tlie  nature  of  God  in  liis  mcrnj  and  jnxtice,  17  for  the 
 assuredness  of  victory  which  God  u'ill  ffive  over  titem. 
 
 WHEN  the  "  Lord  thy  God  shall  bring  thee 
 into  the  land  whither  thou  goest  to  pos- 
 sess it,  and  hath  cast  out  many  nations  before 
 thee,  ''the  Hittites,  and  the  Girgashites,  and 
 the  Aniorites.  and  tlie  Canaanites,  and  the  Pe- 
 rizzites,  and  the  Hivites,  and  the  Jebusites, 
 seven  nations  "  greater  and  mightier  than  thou  ; 
 
 2  And  when  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  '^  dehver 
 them  before  thee  ;  thou  slialt  smite  them,  and 
 "utterly  destroy  them;  'thou  shalt  make  no 
 covenant  with  them,  nor  shew  mercy  unto 
 them  : 
 
 3  "  Neither  shalt  thou  make  marriages  with 
 them  ;  thy  daughter  thou  shalt  not  give  unto 
 his  son,  nor  his  daughter  shalt  thou  take  unto 
 thy  son. 
 
 4  For  they  will  turn  away  thy  son  from  fol- 
 lowing me,  that  they  may  serve  other  gods  : 
 ''so  will  the  anger  of  the  Lord  be  kindled 
 against  you,  and  destroy  tliee  suddenly. 
 
 5  But  tlius  shall  ye  deal  witli  them  ;  ye  shall 
 '  destroy  their  altars,  and  break  down  their 
 t  images,  and  cut  down  their  grove.s,  and  burn 
 their  graven  images  with  fire. 
 
 6  I"  For  thou  art  an  holy  people  unto  the 
 Lord  thy  God  :  '  the  Lord  thy  God  hath 
 chosen  thee  to  be  a  special  people  imto  him- 
 self, above  all  people  that  are  upon  the  face 
 of  tlie  earth. 
 
 7  The  Lord  did  not  set  his  love  upon  you, 
 nor  choose  you,  because  ye  were  more  in 
 number  than  any  people ;  for  ye  were  "'  the 
 fewest  of  all  people  : 
 
 8  But  "  because  the  Lord  loved  you,  and 
 because  he  would  keep  °  the  oath  which  he 
 had  sworn  unto  your  fathers,  ''  hath  the  Loud 
 brought  you  out  with  a  mighty  hand,  and  re- 
 deemed  you  out  of  the  house  of  bondmen. 
 
 K  C.  I'15I. 
 
 f  ver.  2- 
 
 S  cli.  10.  13. 
 
 J..b  S5.  7,s. 
 
 Jer.  32.  39. 
 h  cli.4  I.&8. 
 
 I,  Ps.  41.2. 
 
 Lukel0.2S 
 <  Lf%-.  IS.  5, 
 
 10.3, 
 
 .  rli.  SI    .I. 
 Ts.  U.  a,  3. 
 
 Hc'J.    I. 
 
 .1  ver  53 
 cli.  23,  11. 
 
 eLev.27-2S, 
 29.  Nti,  33. 
 58.cli. 20.10. 
 17.  Josh.  6. 
 17.  &d  21 
 &  !>.  2-1.  % 
 
 10.  2S, -10.  & 
 
 11.  II.  12. 
 rV.K  23  32. 
 
 fc31  12,  l.i. 
 1'.  Jti.lg  8 
 2.  Sre  cl>. 
 20.  Ml,  »c. 
 
 J.idg.  1.  2-1. 
 jf  J.tsli    23. 
 
 12.  I  Kill 
 
 II.  2.  Exra 
 
 9   2. 
 I,  cb.  6   15. 
 .  K«.  23.  2.1. 
 
 &  31.  13. 
 
 eh.  12.2,3. 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 iliitvtf  or, 
 
 ft  Kx.  19.  r,. 
 rli,  14.  2.  ^ 
 I9,r8.r.O. 
 
 J  Is.  49.  7. 
 I  Cor.  1.9. 
 &  10.  13. 
 2Cor.  i.lS. 
 lTUes.5  24. 
 5.  3.3. 
 
 2  Ti.i 
 
 M3. 
 
 2.S 
 
 5.  Jfr. 
 /  V.x.  19.  : 
 .\iiio«  3.  2. 
 I  IV:.  2.  9. 
 
 »  ck.  10.  15. 
 
 ..  Kx.  32.  13. 
 
 Pb.  105  fl,0, 
 
 10.  Luke  I. 
 
 55, 72.  "3, 
 ;.  E«.  13.  3, 
 
 li. 
 
 I  John  1.9. 
 r  K.x.  2tt.  6. 
 
 ch.  5.  10. 
 
 Neh.  I.  5. 
 
 Dan.  9.  4. 
 «  1b.  59.  !8. 
 
 Nftli.  1.  2. 
 /  ch.  :^.  35. 
 
 .1  Lev.  20.  3. 
 ch   2,1.  1. 
 t  llvh.  bg- 
 
 X  P«.  105.  S, 
 9.  I.nke  1. 
 55,  72.  7.3. 
 
 jJolmlV.2l. 
 
 =  ch   28.  4. 
 
 a  Ks.  23.  2C, 
 
 &c. 
 
 ;,  F.«  0  U. 
 &  1.1  26.  ch 
 2«.  27,  60. 
 
 dch.  iS.S.  & 
 19    13  21, 
 
 JiiJg  S,  27. 
 
 V*.  II*.  36. 
 
 /Nu.  33.  53. 
 
 3  ch   SI.  6. 
 t  P».  105.  5. 
 
 from  the  hand  of  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt. 
 
 9  Know  therefore  that  the  Lord  thy  God, 
 he  is  Gou,  ''the  faithful  (iod,  'which  keepeth 
 covenant  and  mercy  with  them  that  love  him 
 and  keep  his  commandments  to  a  thousand 
 generations  ; 
 
 10  And  '  repayeth  them  that  hate  him  to 
 their  face,  to  destroy  them  ;  '  he  will  not  be 
 slack  to  him  that  hateth  him,  he  will  repay 
 him  to  his  face. 
 
 11  Thou  shalt  therefore  keep  the  command- 
 ments, and  the  statutes,  and  the  judgments, 
 which  I  command  thee  this  day,  to  do  them. 
 
 12  K  "  Wherefore  it  shall  come  to  pass,  f  if  ye 
 hearken  to  these  judgments,  and  keep,  and  do 
 them,  that  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  keep  unto 
 thee  '  the  covenant  and  the  mercy  which  he 
 .sware  unto  thy  fathers  : 
 
 1;?  And  he  will  'love  thee,  and  bless  thee, 
 and  multiply  thee :  '  be  will  also  ble.ss  the 
 fruit  of  thy  womb,  and  the  fruit  of  thy  land, 
 tliy  corn,  and  thy  wine,  and  thine  oil,  the  in- 
 crease  of  thy  kine,  and  the  flocks  of  thy  sheep, 
 in  the  land  which  he  sware  nnto  thy  fathers  to 
 give  thee. 
 
 14  Thou  shalt  he  blessed  above  all  people: 
 "  there  shall  not  be  male  or  female  hancu 
 among  you,  or  among  your  cattle. 
 
 Ij  And  the  Lord  will  take  away  from  tlice 
 all  sickness,  and  will  put  none  of  the  ''evil  dis- 
 ea.ses  of  Egypt,  which  thou  kuowest,  upon 
 thee  :  but  will  lay  them  upon  all  them  that 
 hate  thee. 
 
 Hi  And  'thou  shalt  consume  all  the  people 
 which  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  deliver  thee  ; 
 •'  thine  eye  shall  have  no  pity  upon  them  : 
 neither  shalt  thon  serve  their  God  ;  for  that 
 will  he  "■  a  snare  unto  thee. 
 
 17  If  thou  shalt  .say  in  thine  heart.  These  na- 
 tions are  more  than  I  ;  how  can  I  ''  dispossess 
 them  ? 
 
 18  ^  Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  of  them  :  hut 
 shalt  well  ''  remember  what  the  Lord  thy  God 
 did  unto  Pharaoh,  and  nnto  all  Egypt ; 
 
 19  'The  great  temptations  which  thine  eyes 
 saw,  and  the  signs,  and  the  wonders,  and  the 
 mighty  hand,  and  the  stretched  out  arm, 
 whereby  the  Lord  thy  God  brought  thee  out: 
 so  shall  the  Lord  thy  God  do  unto  all  the 
 people  of  whom  thou  art  afraid. 
 
 a.'i.  It  shall  he  our  righteousness — Heb.,  '  righteousness  shall  be  to  us  ;' 
 that  is,  all  covenant  mercies  shall  be  ours. — But.  We  shall  be  pro- 
 nounced truly  righteous  and  holy  persons. — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  VII.—  1.  The  Ihltifes,  ^^.— the  number  and  names  of  these 
 nations  vary  from  those  mentioned  Gen.  xv.  is — 21.  In  a  long  course 
 of  years  some  tribes  would  be  extinct,  some  incorporated  with  others, 
 and  some  would  have  changed  their  names.  But  these  were  the  pos- 
 terity of  the  same  people,  inhabiting  the  same  land.  The  country  of 
 the  Oirgosfiites  was  called,  in  the  time  of  Christ,  the  country  of  the 
 Gcrgesenes,  (Matt.  viii.  2S.) — Scott.  The  Ctmaonites -were  a  particular 
 nation  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  which  had  their  name  from  Canaan  him- 
 self; the  rest  were  called  from  several  sons  of  his.  {see  Gen.  x.  15 — 18.) 
 — out.  2.  Utterly/  destroy  them — this  was  by  God's  authority.  The 
 seven  nations  were  abominably  wicked,  and,  after  long  sparing  them, 
 God  employed  the  Israelites  to  be  their  executioners,  and  they  were 
 actually  punished  themselves  for  sparing  them.     Magistrates  punish 
 
 offenders  against  the  laws,  and  who  shall  dare  find  fault  with  the 
 righteous  Sovereign  of  the  world  for  thus  displaying  his  justice  ? — Ed., 
 see  Scott,  Gitt,  Bp.  Watson,  and  <tn  Essay  on  the  subject  introductory 
 to  Deuteronomy,  by  Wit.  3.  Weillter  shalt  thou  moke  marriages  irith 
 them,  unless  they  became  proselytes,  as  Rahab  and  Ruth. — Gill.  6.  .i 
 special  people,  n^^r*  Aaof  Trcpfoi-iriov,  '  a  peculiar  people,'  '  a  private 
 property.' — So  quoted  from   Se^it.,  1  Pet.  ii.  9. — A.  Ctnrlte.  ".  The 
 
 fewest  of  alt  people — when  (Jod  declared  his  love  to  Abraham  and  his 
 posterity,  he  had  no  children.  (Gen.  xii.  1 — 3;  xv.  1,2;)  and  in  200 
 years  there  were  but  seventy  persons,  iGen.  xlvi.  2".) — Pat.  is.  Vis- 
 eases  (if  Egypt — the  Egyptians  were  subject  to  epidemical  distempers, 
 as  we  find  to  this  day.  In  Moses'  time,  there  was  a  distemper  called 
 '  the  botch  of  Egypt.'  (chap,  xxviii.  27  ;)  and  the  diseases  are  mentioned, 
 chap,  xxviii.  60. — Bryant.  These  were  such  as  leprosy,  itch,  ulcers, 
 (tc. — Gilt.  \9.  Temptations,  'trials.'  —  Aijts.,  Boofhr.      'Miracles' 
 
 wrought  in  Egypt.^Gi/f.      •  Contentions'  between  Jehovah  and  Pha. 
 
 Reflections  ox  Chap.  \1.  —  I.  How  much  are  we  indehted 
 to  the  Scriptures  for  the  hnoicledye  of  Godl  We  cannot  under- 
 stand the  mode  of  his  existence  ';  for  '  wljo  by  searcliing  can 
 find  out  God ';"  but  we  have  enough  of  him  reve:ded  in  tlie 
 sacred  pages  to  induce  us  to  fear  and  love  Iiim.  Can  a  more 
 independent,  pure,  spiritual,  benevolent,  exalted  being  be 
 presented  to  our  imaginations  ?  How  grovelling  are  all  others, 
 compared  witli  '  tlie  Lord  our  God  !' 
 
 II.  It  IS  our  bounden  duty  to  tench  the  sacred  Scriptures  to  our 
 fatnilies,  especially  regarding  our  children.  Here  we  must  exer. 
 200 
 
 cise  judgment  as  well  as  authority.  It  should  be  a  part  of  our 
 study  to  make  them  interesting.  We  should  lead  them  through 
 the  breadths  and  the  lengths  of  the  land,  as  an  old  traveller 
 would  lead  a  stranger  over  a  road  to  him  familiar  and  delight- 
 ful, pointing  out  memorable  spots,  interesting  scenery,  and 
 whatever  can  awaken  attention,  aflford  delight,  and  especisdly 
 raise  the  mind  to  the  great  Fountain  of  being  and  blessedness. 
 'Thus  that  good  thing  which  is  committed  to  us,  we  must 
 carefully  transmit  to  those  that  come  after  us,  that  it  may  bo 
 perpetuated.' 
 
An  exhortation 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  VIII. 
 
 to  obedience. 
 
 I  Nu-  11.80. 
 &  IV.  9,  14, 
 42.  &  16.  S. 
 Josh. 
 
 cli.  hV 
 
 20  '  Moreover  the  Lord  tliy  God  will  send 
 the  hornet  among  them,  until  they  that  are 
 left,  and  hide  themselves  from  tliee,  be  de- 
 stroyed. 
 
 •21  Thou  shalt  not  be  affrighted  at  them  :  for 
 the  Lord  thy  God  is  '  among  you,  "'a  mighty 
 God  and  terrible. 
 
 •2-2  "  And  the  Lord  thy  God  will  f  put  out 
 those  nations  before  thee  by  little  and  little : 
 thou  mayest  not  consume  them  at  once,  lest 
 the  beasts  of  the  field  increase  upon  thee. 
 
 23  But  the  Lord  thy  God  sliall  deliver  them 
 t  unto  thee,  and  shall  destroy  them  with  a 
 mighty  destruction,  until  they  be  destroyed. 
 
 21  And  "  he  shall  deliver  their  kings  into 
 thine  hand,  and  thou  shalt  destroy  their  name 
 ''  from  under  heaven  :  "^  there  shall  no  man  be 
 able  to  stand  before  thee,  until  thou  have  de- 
 stroyed them. 
 
 25  The  graven  images  of  their  gods  'shall  ye 
 burn  with  fire :  thou  '  shalt  not  desire  the 
 silver  or  gold  that  is  on  them,  nor  take  it  unto 
 thee,  lest  thou  be  '  snared  therein  :  for  it  is 
 "an  abomination  to  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 26  Neither  shalt  thou  bring  an  abomination 
 into  thine  house,  lest  thou  be  a  cursed  thing 
 like  it :  but  thou  shalt  utterly  detest  it,  and 
 thou  shalt  utterly  abhor  it ;  'for  it  is  a  cursed 
 thing. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  obedience  in  regard  of  God's  dealing 
 with  tk'in, 
 
 ALL  the  commandments  which  I  command 
 thee  this  day  °  shall  ye  observe  to  do,  that 
 ye  may  live,  and  multiply,  and  go  in  and  pos- 
 sess the  land  which  the  Lord  sware  unto  your 
 fathers. 
 
 2  And  thou  shalt  remember  all  the  way  which 
 the  Lord  thy  God  ""led  thee  these  forty  years 
 in  the  wilderness,  to  humble  thee,  and  '  to 
 prove  thee,  ■'  to  know  what  was  in  thine  heart 
 whether  thou  wouldest  keep  his  command- 
 ments, or  no. 
 
 3  And  he  humbled  thee,  and  °  suffered  thee 
 to  hunger,  and  '  fed  thee  with  manna,  which 
 thou  knewcst  not,  neither  did  thy  fathers 
 know  ;  that  he  might  make  thee  know  that 
 man  doth  ^  not  hve  by  bread  only,  but  ''y  kj^J,'!]^ ,'" 
 every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  Luke  4  4. 
 of  the  Lord  doth  man  live.  I 
 
 (  Heb.  pluck 
 1  Heb  brfore 
 ver.  2. 
 
 ujosh.  10.24, 
 
 25,  42.  &  12. 
 
 1,  &c. 
 p  Ei.  17.  14. 
 
 ch.  9.  14.  & 
 
 25.  19.  &29. 
 
 20 
 
 r  ch.  11.25. 
 
 Josh.  1.5fc 
 
 10.  8.  &  2:1. 
 
 9. 
 ver.  .1. 
 
 Kx.  32.  20. 
 
 ch.  12.  3. 
 
 IChr  14.12. 
 
 Jos.  7.  1,21. 
 
 2M;ic.l2  40 
 /  Jii<lg.8.27. 
 
 Zeph.  1.3. 
 
 I.  ch.  r.  I. 
 
 i  Lev  27.28. 
 ch.  1:1.  17. 
 Josh.  6.  17, 
 18.  &  7.  1- 
 
 I  ch.  t.  I.  I 
 
 5.  32,  .13.  1 
 
 6.  1,  2,  8. 
 
 b  cli.  1.  3.  & 
 
 2.  7.  &  29,  6. 
 
 1*9.  136    16. 
 
 Amos  2.  10. 
 c  Ex.  16   t. 
 
 ch.  13.  3. 
 d  2  Chr.  32. 
 
 31.  Johu2. 
 
 25. 
 I  Kx.  16.2,3. 
 
 h  ch.  29.  5, 
 
 Nch.  9.  21. 
 t  2  Sam. 7. 14 
 
 I's.  S9.  32. 
 
 Pro.  3.  12. 
 
 Ileb.  12.5,6. 
 
 Rev.  3.  19. 
 
 /ch.  11.10, 
 11,  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  •/ 
 olive  tree  of 
 oil. 
 
 m  ch.  33.  25 
 «ch.6.  11,12 
 
 0  ch.  28.  47. 
 !t  02.  15. 
 I'ro   30.  9. 
 Itos.  13.  G. 
 
 p  1  Cor.  4.  7. 
 jPs.  106.  21. 
 
 r  Is.  6.3.  12, 
 
 1.3,  14. 
 
 Jer   2.  6. 
 t  Num.  21.6. 
 
 Hos-  13.  S. 
 /  Num.  20. 
 
 II.  Ps   73. 
 
 15.  &  1 14.  8 
 
 »  ver.  a. 
 Ex.  16.  15. 
 
 .r  Jer.24  5,6. 
 
 Heb.  12.11. 
 1/  ch.  9.  4. 
 
 I  Cor.  4.  7. 
 
 t  Pro.  10.  22 
 Ho9.  2.  9. 
 .  ch.  7. 8,  12 
 
 4  ''  Thy  raiment  waxed  not  old  upon  thee, 
 neither  did  thy  foot  swell,  these  forty  years. 
 
 6  '  Thou  shalt  also  consider  in  thine  heart, 
 that,  as  a  man  chasteneth  his  son,  so  the  Lord 
 thy  God  chasteneth  thee. 
 
 ti  Therefore  thou  .shalt  keep  the  command- 
 nents  of  the  Lord  thy  God,  '  to  walk  in  his 
 ways,  and  to  fear  him. 
 
 7  For  the  Lord  thy  God  bringeth  thee  into 
 a  good  land,  '  a  land  of  brooks  of  water,  of 
 fountains  and  depths  that  spring  out  of  valleys 
 and  hills ; 
 
 8  A  land  of  wheat,  and  barley,  and  vines,  and 
 fig  trees,  and  pomegranates  ;  a  land  f  of  oil 
 olive,  and  honey  ; 
 
 9  A  land  wherein  thou  .shalt  eat  bread  with- 
 out scarceness,  thou  shalt  not  lack  any  thinff 
 in  it ;  a  land  ""  whose  stones  are  iron,  and  out 
 of  whose  hills  thou  mayest  dig  brass. 
 
 10  "  When  thou  hast  eaten  and  art  full,  then 
 thou  shalt  bless  the  Lord  thy  God  for  the 
 good  land  which  he  hatli  given  thee. 
 
 1 1  Beware  tliat  thou  forget  not  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  in  not  keeping  his  commandments,  and 
 his  judgments,  and  his  statutes,  which  I  com- 
 mand thee  this  day : 
 
 12  °  Lest  ic/ien  thou  hast  eaten  and  art  full, 
 and  hast  built  goodly  houses,  and  dwelt  there- 
 in ; 
 
 13  And  u'hen  thy  herds  and  thy  flocks  mul- 
 tiply, and  thy  silver  and  thy  gold  is  multiplied, 
 and  all  that  thou  hast  is  multiplied  ; 
 
 14  '"Then  thine  heart  be  lifted  up,  and  thou 
 ''forget  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  brought  thee 
 forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  from  the  house 
 of  bondage ; 
 
 15  Who  'led  thee  through  that  great  and 
 terrible  wilderness,  '  ivherein  were  fiery  ser- 
 pents, and  scorpions,  and  drought,  where  there 
 was  no  water  ;  '  who  brought  thee  forth  water 
 out  of  the  rock  of  flint ; 
 
 16  Who  fed  thee  in  tlie  wilderness  with 
 "  manna,  which  thy  fathers  knew  not,  that  he 
 might  humble  thee,  and  that  he  might  prove 
 thee,  '  to  do  thee  good  at  thy  latter  end  ; 
 
 17  'And  thou  say  in  thine  heart.  My  power 
 and  the  might  of  fnine  hand  hath  gotten  me 
 this  wealth. 
 
 18  But  thou  shalt  remember  the  Lord  thy 
 God  :  '  for  it  is  he  that  giveth  thee  power  to 
 get  wealth,  °  that  he  may  establish  his  cove- 
 
 raoh,  Moses  and  the  Magicians. — Wil.  20.  Hornet— see  notes  on 
 Exod.  x,\iu.  28.  22.  The  beasts  of  the  field,  l^c- — Huynes  says,  the 
 country  about  Cana  of  Galilee  swarms  with  wild  beasts,  tigers,  leopards, 
 &c. — Har.        26.  An  abomination,  *  an  idol.* — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  VIII. — 2.  Prove,  'try  their  ^aces.' — Gill.  To  know  whiit 
 was  in  thine  heart — discover  to  thyself  and  otliers  that  infidelity,  in- 
 constancy, hypocrisy,  apostasy,  rebellion,  and  perverseness,  which  lay 
 hid  there. — Poole.  3.  Every  word — '  word'  is  not  in  the  original. 
 Bp.  Wilson,  of  Sodor  and  Man,  supplies  'things;'  'by  every  thing 
 which  God  has  ordained  fur  his  nourishment.' — So  Uoo(/ir., 'but  by 
 whatsoever  Jehovah  appointeth.'  4.  Thy  raiment  wa.red  not  old — the 
 Jews  have  a  fabulous  stury  that  the  clothes  grew  with  the  growth  of 
 the  children,  &c.  Divines  difl'er  respecting  the  meaning  of  these  words. 
 Henry  considers  them  as  recording  'a  standing  miracle.'  i'oole  has  a 
 like  idea,  and  so  have  Patrick  and  Gilt,  who  are  followed  by  Scott  and 
 Sutclijfe.  But  as  the  Israelites  probably  brought  much  clothes  from 
 Egypt,  as  they  had  sheep  and  goats,  and  understood  the  art  of  weav- 
 ing, and  as  they  had  frequent  oppoitunitics  of  purchasing  of  the  Arabs, 
 
 others  understand  no  more  by  the  words  than  that  Providence  sup- 
 plied the  Israelites  at  all  times  just  as  they  had  need. — So  A.  Clarke. 
 God  so  amply  provided  for  them  all  the  necessaries  of  life,  that  they 
 were  never  obliged  to  wear  tattered  garments,  nor  were  their  feet  in- 
 jured for  lack  of  shoes  or  sandals.  So  Boothroyd,  the  meaning  is,  God 
 had  provided  them  with  sufficient  clothing.  On  this  side  also,  are,  Le 
 Clerc,  Calmet,  Upanheim,  &c.  7.  A  good  land — all  travellers  agree 
 in  stating  that  the  land  of  Canaan  abounds  in  fountains,  brooks,  depths 
 of  water,  rivers,  beautiful  mountains,  luxuriant  valleys,  and  all  the 
 fruits  and  luxuries  here  described. — So  Sandys,  DonI'dan,  Hasselqaist , 
 Maillet,  Maundrel,  and  Dr.  Shaw.  9.  Whose  stones  are  iron — capa- 
 
 ble of  being  smelted  down  into  iron.  Brass,  riirno,  rather  '  copper,' 
 brass  being  a  factitious  metal. — Scrip,  lllus.,  so  A.  Clarke.  15.  Fiery 
 serpents — Dr.  Shaw  says,  that  the  vipers  were  numerous  as  he  tra- 
 velled in  the  Wilderness  of  Sin,  and  very  dangerous  and  troublesome 
 to  the  Arabs  and  camels.  Scorpions  —  the  scorpion  is  something 
 lilte  a  small  lobster,  with  a  poisonous  sting  in  its  tail. — T.  M.  Harris, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  I.  In  this  chapter  we  have  of  all  iniquity. 
 
 an  awful  example  of  God's  vengeance  against  impenitent  sinners,  II.    Ji'e  have  also  an  encouraging  victv  of  God's  loving  kitidness 
 
 He  is  indeed  merciful  and  gracious,  but  '  he  will  by  no  means  exercised  towards  them  that  serve  him.     How  he  shields  them 
 
 clear  the  guilty.'  Let  the  blaspheming,  unclean,  hardened,  and  with  his  power,  and  loads  them  with  his  promises,  as  though 
 
 impenitent  idolator  of"  this  world  read  of  the  punishment  in-  he  could  not  bestow  enough  upon  them  !    '  Who  is  a  God  like 
 
 flicted  on  the  Canaanites,  and    tremble.     There  is  still  the  unto  our  God  !' 
 same    God  to  punish  him,  and  he  still  has  the  same  hatred 
 
 2111  2  It 
 
The  Israelites  remiiuliJ  of 
 
 DKUTEUONOMY,  IX. 
 
 Iheir  several  rchellit 
 
 nant  which  he  sware  unto  thy  fathers,  as  it  is 
 this  dav. 
 
 19  Ami  it  shall  be,  if  thou  du  at  all  forget  the 
 LoKD  thy  God,  and  walk  after  other  gods,  and 
 serve  them,  and  worship  them,  '  I  testify  against 
 you  this  day  that  ye  shall  surely  perish. 
 
 20  As  the  nations  which  the  Lord  destroy- 
 eth  before  your  face,  '  so  shall  ye  perish  ;  be- 
 cause ye  would  not  be  obedient  unto  the  voice 
 of  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 Mosps  dissuadeih  ilieni  from  the  opinion  of  their  own 
 righieoiisnesa ,  by  rehearsing  their  sei^eral  rchdlions. 
 
 [TEAR,  O  Israel:  Tliou  art  to  "pass  over 
 ^-'-  Jordan  this  day,  to  go  in  to  possess 
 nations  *■  greater  and  mightier  than  thyself, 
 cities  great  and  '  fenced  up  to  heaven, 
 
 2  A  people  great  and  tall,  ''  the  children  of 
 the  Anakini':,  whom  thou  knowest,  and  of 
 whom  thou  hast  heard  so;/.  Who  can  stand 
 before  tlie  ciiildren  of  Anak! 
 
 3  Understand  therefore  this  day,  that  the 
 Lord  thy  God  !s  he  which  "  goeth  over  before 
 thee  ;  «s  a  '  con.suniing  fire  "  he  .shall  destroy 
 them,  and  he  shall  bring  them  down  before  tliy 
 face:  ""so  shall  thou  drive  them  out,  and  de- 
 stroy them  quickly,  as  the  Loud  hath  said 
 unto  tliee. 
 
 4  '  Speak  not  thon  in  thine  heart,  after  that 
 the  Loud  tliy  God  hath  east  them  out  from 
 before  thee,  .saying,  Vm  my  righteousness  the 
 Lord  hath  brought  me  in  to  possess  this  land  : 
 but  '  for  tlie  wickedness  of  tliese  nations  the 
 Lord  doth  drive  tliem  out  from  before  thee. 
 
 5  '  Not  for  thy  righteousncs.s,  or  for  the  up- 
 rightness of  thine  heart,  dost  thon  go  to  pos- 
 sess their  land :  but  for  the  wickedness  of  these 
 nations  the  Lord  thy  God  doth  drive  them  out 
 from  before  thee,  and  tliat  he  may  perform 
 "■  the  word  which  tlie  Loud  sware  unto  thy 
 fathers,  .\braliam,  I.saac,  and  .lacob. 
 
 6  Understand  therefore,  that  the  Lord  thy 
 God  giveth  thee  not  this  good  land  to  possess 
 it  for  tliy  rigliteou.sness;  for  thou  art  "a  stitf- 
 necked  peo|ile. 
 
 7  1  Remember,  niul  forget  not,  how  thou 
 provokedst  tlie  Loud  thy  God  to  wrath  in 
 the  wilderness  :  "  from  the  day  tliat  thou  didst 
 depart  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  until  ye  came 
 unto  this  place,  ye  have  been  rebellious  against 
 the  Lord. 
 
 8  Also  ''in  Horeb  ye  provoked  the  Lord  to 
 wrath,  so  that  the  Loud  was  angry  with  you  to 
 have  destroyed  you. 
 
 b  ch.  4.  sn. 
 &  30.  18. 
 
 c  Dan.  0.  11, 
 
 ll!ii. 
 J  Ex.  It.  I'2, 
 
 'I  cli.  II.  31. 
 .insii,  a.  10. 
 
 &  4.   l!l. 
 bch.\  38.  K 
 
 7.  l.&Il  3.1. 
 c  cli,  I.  S3. 
 d  Num.  IS. 
 
 „cli,  31.  3. 
 
 Josli.  3.  II. 
 /ch.  *,  2*. 
 
 Heb.  12.  29. 
 g  ch.  7.  83. 
 I,  Ei.  23.31. 
 
 ch.  7,  2.1. 
 
 ■  ch   9.  17. 
 Horn.  11.  C, 
 20.  1  Cor. 
 1.  4,7. 
 
 2.1  ch.is.is. 
 /  Tit.  3.  5. 
 
 i.r  Gen.  12.7. 
 &  13.  15  & 
 15.  7.  &  17 
 ».  &2G  4  & 
 23    13. 
 
 ri  vcr.  13. 
 Kx  .32.  9.  & 
 .33. 3.  &  34. 
 
 )  Ex.  11.  11 
 ft  IG.2.&  17. 
 2.  Nil.  11.4. 
 k  20.  2.fc  25. 
 2.ch.3l.27. 
 
 p  Ex.  S2.  4. 
 Pa.  106.  19. 
 
 (  Ex.  19.  17. 
 &  iO.  I.  ill 
 4.  10  &  III, 
 4.  &  18.  10 
 
 X  ch.  31.  29 
 Judg.  2.  17 
 
 r  vcr   0. 
 
 ch-  10.  ir.  f( 
 
 3l.27.-^Iviii- 
 
 17    U. 
 o  Ex.  82.  10. 
 4  ch   29.  20. 
 
 Ps.  9.  5.  & 
 
 109.  IS. 
 Nil.  14.  12. 
 d  Ex.  32.  1.^. 
 
 •  Ex.  19  IS. 
 
 ch.  4.  II    *^ 
 
 A  Ex.32,  10, 
 
 i  Et.  32    14. 
 &  33    17 
 ch.  10    In, 
 I's.  UHi.  23. 
 
 9  ''  When  I  was  gone  up  into  the  mount  to 
 receive  the  tables  of  stone,  eoen  the  tables  of 
 the  covenant  which  the  Lord  made  with  you, 
 then  '  I  abode  in  the  mount  forty  days  and 
 forty  nights,  I  neither  did  eat  bread  nor  drink 
 water : 
 
 10  '  And  the  Loud  delivered  unto  me  two 
 tables  of  stone  written  with  the  finger  of  God  ; 
 and  on  them  teas  written  according  to  all  the 
 words,  which  the  Lord  spake  with  you  in  the 
 mount  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire  '  in  the  day 
 of  the  assembly. 
 
 11  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  forty 
 days  and  forty  nights,  that  the  Loud  gave  nie 
 the  two  tables  of  stone,  even  the  tables  of  the 
 covenant. 
 
 \2  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  "  Arise,  get 
 thee  down  quickly  from  hence;  for  thy  people 
 which  thou  hast  brought  forth  out  of  Egypt 
 have  corrupted  themselves  ;  they  are  '  quickly 
 turned  aside  out  of  the  way  which  1  com- 
 manded them  ;  they  have  made  them  a  molten 
 image. 
 
 13  Furthermore  'the  Lord  spake  unto  me, 
 saying,  I  have  seen  this  people,  and,  behold, 
 '  it  is  a  stiftheckcd  people  : 
 
 14  "  Let  me  alone,  that  I  may  destroy  them, 
 and  ''  blot  out  their  name  from  under  heaven  : 
 °  and  1  will  make  of  thee  a  nation  mightier  and 
 greater  than  they. 
 
 lo  ''So  I  tinned  and  came  down  from  the 
 mount,  and  '  the  mount  hnriied  with  fire  :  and 
 the  two  tables  of  the  covenant  were  in  my  two 
 hands. 
 
 16  And  ■■  I  looked,  and,  behold,  ye  had  sinned 
 against  the  Lord  your  God,  rniti  had  made  you 
 a  molten  calf:  ye  had  turned  aside  quickly 
 out  of  the  way  which  the  Loud  had  com- 
 manded you. 
 
 17  .^iid  I  took  the  two  tables,  and  cast  them 
 out  of  my  two  hands,  and  brake  them  before 
 your  eyes. 
 
 18  And  I  ^fell  down  before  the  Lord,  as  at 
 the  first,  forty  days  and  forty  nights :  I  did 
 neither  eat  bread,  nor  drink  water,  because  of 
 all  your  sins  which  ye  sinned,  in  doing  wickedly 
 in  the  sight  of  the  Loud,  to  provoke  liim  to 
 anger. 
 
 19  ''For  I  was  afraid  of  the  anger  and  hot 
 displeasure,  wherewith  the  Lord  was  wroth 
 against  yon  to  destroy  you.  '  Hut  the  Lord 
 hearkened  unto  me  at  that  time  also. 
 
 20  And  the  Loud  was  very  angry  with  Aaron 
 to  have  destroyed  him  :  and  I  prayed  for 
 Aaron  also  the  same  time. 
 
 Chat.  IX.  —  1.  TAi*  rf«v,  DVn.  '  sliortly,'  '  witliin  a  little  time  ;'  tlie  otliers.        3.  Qitirkh/,  without  great  difficnilty  or  long  wars. — Poole. 
 
 word  (tat/  being:  nften  put  for  time,  as  John,  viii.  56 ;  1  Cor.  iv.  .3  ;  Rev.  5.  T/ie  u-irkrdnrss  of  thrse  mitiims — here  is  the  plain  rcasun  for  the 
 
 xvi.  14  ;"  within  two  months,  for  Moses  spake  this  on  the  first  day  of  fearful  exercise  of  God's  justice. — Ed.        8.  Also  in  Horeh,  '  even  in 
 
 the  eleventh  month,  (chap.  i.  3,)  and  they  passed  over  Jordan  on  the  Horeb,'  where  they  had    seen  the    majesty  of   Jehovah. — Bootlir. 
 
 tenth  day  of  the  first  month,  (see  Josh.  iv.  ly.) — Poole,  so  Pot.,  and  14,  Let  me  alone — say  not  a  word  on  their  behalf,  or  entreat  me  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII,  —  I.  licligion  docs  not  allow 
 of  ant/  selections  in  heepinr/  God's  coinntandnumts — ivt  must  keep  alt, 
 and  our  being  able,  through  infirmities,  to  keep  them  imper- 
 fectly, is  no  excuse  for  wholly  violating  or  neglecting  any  one 
 of  them.  It  is  Christ's  command,  '  If  ye  love  me,  keep  my 
 commandments. ' 
 
 II.  /i  is  good  to  remember  the  leadings  of  Providence  in  dat/s  that 
 etre  past.  Oh  how  much  shall  we  see  to  humble  us,  and  how 
 much  for  which  to  he  grateful  to  God  ! 
 
 III.  Lftus  often  think  on  tliat  ' good  land' which  God  has  pro- 
 rrided  for  all  Irtie  fstaeliles.  This  will  stimulate  us  to  obedience, 
 as  Moses  '  hail  respect  to  the  recompence  of  reward.'     It  will 
 
 202 
 
 solace  us  iimulsl  all  the  trials  of  the  way.  I\]  uch  has  been  said 
 ot  it  in  the  divine  word,  but  our  conceptions  cannot  enter  upon 
 it ;  it  is  like  a  landscape  viewed  at  a  distance,  sometimes  in- 
 deed green,  and  bright,  and  lovely,  but  every  object  is  yet  in- 
 distinct. The  departed  believer  suddenly  enters  upon  it,  and 
 then,  O  how  unbounded  his  prospect,  how  great  the  delight 
 which  shall  burst  upon  his  astonished  view* — and  he  shall  be 
 astonished  and  delighted  for  ever,  and  realize  all  that  tlie  ut- 
 most stretch  of  a  spiritual  imagination  can  supply  from  the 
 sacred  declaration,  '  Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither 
 have  entered  into  theheart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath 
 prepared  for  them  that  love  iiim.' 
 
7  lie  praijer  of  Moses. 
 
 nKUTEKONOMY,  X.     He  reminds  the  people  of  God's  mercies. 
 
 21  And  '  I  took  your  sin,  the  calf  which  ye 
 had  made,  and  burnt  it  with  fire,  and  stamped 
 it,  and  ground  it  very  small,  even  until  it  was 
 as  small  as  dust :  and  I  cast  the  dust  thereof 
 into  the  hrook  that  descended  out  of  the 
 mount. 
 
 •22  And  at  '  Taherah,  and  at  '"  Massah,  and 
 at  "  Kihrotli-hattaavah,  ye  provoked  the  Lord 
 to  wrath. 
 
 23  Likewise  "  when  the  Lord  sent  you  from 
 Kadesh-haniea,  saying.  Go  up  and  possess  the 
 la\Kl  which  I  have  given  you  ;  then  ye  rebelled 
 against  the  commandment  of  the  Lord  your 
 God,  and  ■'ye  believed  him  not,  nor  hearkened 
 to  his  voice. 
 
 •24  '  Ye  have  been  rebellious  against  the 
 Lord  from  the  day  that  I  knew  you. 
 
 ■25  '  Thus  I  fell  down  before  tlie  Lord  forty 
 days  anil  forty  nights,  as  I  fell  down  at  the 
 first ;  because  the  Lord  had  said  he  would 
 destroy  you. 
 
 26  "I  prayed  therefore  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 said,  O  Lord  God,  destroy  not  ihy  people  and 
 thine  inheritance,  which  thou  hast  redeemed 
 through  thy  greatness,  which  thou  hast  brought 
 fortli  out  of  Egypt  with  a  mighty  hand. 
 
 27  Remcmlicr  tliy  servants,  Abraham,  Isaac, 
 and  Jacob  ;  look  not  unto  the  stubbornness  of 
 this  people,  nor  to  their  wickedness,  nor  to 
 their  sin  : 
 
 28  Lest  'the  land  whence  thou  broughtest 
 us  out  say,  "  l?ecause  the  Lord  was  not  ahle 
 to  bring  them  into  the  land  whicli  he  promised 
 them,  and  because  he  hated  them,  he  hath 
 brought  them  out  to  slay  them  in  the  wilder- 
 ness. 
 
 29  ^  Yet  they  are  thy  people  and  thine  in- 
 heritance, wliich  thou  broughtest  out  by  thy 
 mighty  power  and  by  thy  stretched  out  arm. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 I  OofVs  viercy  in  rcstnyinr/  t/ie  ttcotahks^  6  in  cnjitimtivej 
 the  priesthood^  8  in  S'juiratinff  the  tribeof  Let'iy  10  in 
 henrkeniny  unto  Mosis  his  suit  for  the  people.  12  An 
 t.vhortation  unto  obedience. 
 
 A  T  that  time  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  ""  How 
 -^  thee  two  tables  of  stone  like  unto  the  first, 
 and  come  up  unto  me  into  the  mount,  and 
 *■  make  tliee  an  avk  of  wood. 
 
 2  And  I  will  write  on  the  tables  the  words 
 tliatwere  in  tiie  first  tal)les  which  thou  brakest, 
 and  *^  thou  shalt  put  them  in  the  ark. 
 
 3  And  I  made  an  ark  r;/' -^  sbittim  wood,  and 
 ®  hewed  two  tables  of  stone  like  unto  the  first, 
 
 :  Num.  M.I. 
 •n  Xx.  17   7. 
 
 7  cli   31,  27- 
 
 (Gen  41.57. 
 I  Pa  "I  \.  25, 
 
 Num.  H- 16 
 
 I-  ch  t  20. 
 1  Kill  6  .51 
 Noh.  I.  ID. 
 Ts.  95   7. 
 
 r(  Ex.  2.1.  £ 
 10.  (((  37. 
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 /"  Ex.  3-1.  28 
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 'i  K\.  \<l.  17, 
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 i  Kx.  .'H,  29. 
 
 k  Ex.  4f).  20. 
 
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 &3H.  Sd. 
 
 .,  N...n   .1   6 
 
 '  Si  t.  4.  &  e. 
 
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 .■h.  IS.  .-i. 
 U  hcv.  9.  2? 
 Num.C.  :^.-} 
 eh.  SI.  5. 
 <  Num.  19. 
 •H\  21. 
 ch.  18.  1,9. 
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 cli    0.  IS.y.T 
 II  (>r,yo.H.f, 
 
 ilnii*. 
 
 '\W\. 
 <f  Kx    .•^■3.  14. 
 
 ;l:t,  34  fc  3.1. 
 
 17.  ch.  9. 
 
 1ft. 
 1  Ex.3?. 
 &  33.  i. 
 
 jnHTiifi/. 
 
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 b  cli   6   l.-i. 
 
 :ol,. 
 
 ;«. 
 
 n.  Vi.  A. 1(1. 
 ie.5ii.  Mat. 
 22.  37. 
 
 -  th.  G.  9A. 
 
 f  1  K.D.3.2- 
 Ps.  05.  16. 
 Kc  HS.  4. 
 
 ^Gt-n.  14.19. 
 
 .  19.  5. 
 
 iSeeLcv.SG, 
 41   cIi.  3'i  6 
 .ler.  4.  4, 
 Horn.  2.  2>t, 
 29.  Col.  2. 
 II. 
 
 t  ch.  9.  6,  13. 
 
 and  went  up  into  the  mount|  having  the  two 
 tables  in  mine  hand. 
 
 4  And  'he  wrote  on  the  tables,  according  to 
 the  first  writing,  the  ten  fcommaudmeuts, ''whicli 
 the  Lord  spake  unto  you  in  the  mount  out  of 
 the  midst  of  the  fire  ''  in  the  day  of  the  assem- 
 bly :  and  the  Lord  gave  them  unto  me. 
 
 b  And  I  turned  myself  and  '  came  down  from 
 the  mount,  and  '  put  the  tables  in  the  ark 
 which  I  had  made ;  '  and  there  they  be,  as  the 
 Lord  commanded  me. 
 
 6  H  And  the  children  of  Israel  took  their  jour- 
 ney from  Beeroth  '"of  the  children  of  Jaakan  to 
 "  Mosera  :  °  there  Aaron  died,  and  there  he 
 was  buried  ;  and  Eleazar  his  son  ministered  in 
 the  priest's  office  in  his  stead. 
 
 7  ''From  thence  they  jouriieyed  unto  (ind- 
 godah  ;  and  from  Gudgodah  to  Jotbath,  a  land 
 of  rivers  of  waters. 
 
 8  H  At  that  time  ''  the  Lord  separated  the 
 tribe  of  Levi,  '  to  bear  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
 of  the  Lord,  '^  to  stand  before  the  Lord  to 
 minister  unto  him,  and  '  to  bless  in  his  name, 
 uiilo  Ibis  day. 
 
 9  "  Wherefore  Levi  hath  no  part  nor  inherit- 
 ance with  his  brethren;  the  Lord  /s  his  in- 
 heritance, according  as  the  Lord  thy  God  pro- 
 mised him. 
 
 10  And  '  I  stayed  in  the  mount,  according 
 to  the  II  first  time,  forty  days  and  forty  nights  ; 
 and  ''  the  Lord  hearkened  unto  me  at  that 
 time  also,  and  the  Lord  would  not  destroy 
 thee. 
 
 U  'And  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  Arise,  f  take 
 thij  journey  before  the  people,  that  they  may 
 go  in  and  possess  the  land,  which  I  sware  unto 
 their  fathers  to  give  unto  thein. 
 
 12  1  And  now,  Lsrael,  "what  doth  the  Lord 
 thy  God  require  of  thee,  but  "  to  fear  the  Lord 
 thy  God,  "  to  walk  in  all  his  ways,  and  ■'  to  love 
 him,  and  to  serve  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all 
 thy  heart  and  with  all  thy  soul, 
 
 13  To  keep  the  commandments  of  the  Lord, 
 and  his  statutes,  which  I  coiiiuiand  thee  tlus 
 day  ''  for  thy  good  V 
 
 14  Behold,  'the  heaven  and  the  heaven  of 
 heavens  is  the  Lord's  thy  God,  ^  the  earth 
 also.,  with  all  that  therein  is. 
 
 1.5  ^  Only  the  Lord  had  a  delight  in  thy 
 fathers  to  love  them,  and  he  chose  their  seed 
 after  them,  even  you  above  all  people,  as  it  is 
 this  day. 
 
 16  Circumcise  therefore  '  the  foreskin  of  your 
 heart,  ^'nd  he  no  more  '  stiffnecked. 
 
 spare,  and  not  destroy  them. — Gitl.  2.i.  Fm-bj  (t'lifs  tntd  fm-tr/  nights, 
 — some  conclude  that  Moses  fasted  three  times  lortv  days  each,  but  the 
 words  of  Moses  are,  '  Thus  I  fell  down,'  &c.,  meaning  as  hefore  re- 
 lated.—Sfo/(. 
 
 CiiAF.  X. — 3.  An  ai-h—^ee  notes  on  Exod.  x.xv.  10.  6.  Befiroth, 
 
 or  the  wells  of  the  children  of  Jaakan.— fif//.  T/irre  Am-an  died,  at 
 Mosera.  In  Num.  xx.  25,  it  is  said  that  lie  died  at  Mount  Hor;  but 
 Mosera  was  the  top  of  Mount  Hor,  another  part  of  the  same  mountain, 
 as  Horeh  was  of  Sinai.— Po^  Aaron  died  on  Mount  tfor,  and  was 
 buried  there,  when  in  the  desert  of  Mosera. — Gill.  Bnathftiiid  omits 
 ver.  6 — 9.  considering:  them  as  misplaced  ;  so  does  Dr.  Wall.  '  The  an- 
 cient books  being  written  on  strips  of  parchment,  which  were  after- 
 
 wards joined  tntjether,  he  considers  this  a  wron^  strip.  Kennicntt 
 supplies  the  verses  by  a  translation  fioui  the  tiamnritan, — 'and  the 
 children  of  Israel  journeyed  from  Moseroth  and  pitched  in  Bene- 
 .laakan;  from  thence  they  journeyed  and  pitched  in  Hagidgad  ;  from 
 thence  they  journeyed  and  pitched  in  Jotbathah,  a  land  of  rivers  of 
 water;  from  thence  they  journeyed  and  pitched  in  Ebronah  ;  from 
 thence  they  jountcyed  and  pi'ched  in  Ezion-Gaber  ;  from  thence  they 
 journeyed  and  pitched  in  the  Wilderness  of  Zin,  which  is  Kadesh  ;  from 
 thence  they  journeyed  and  pitched  in  Mount  Hor,  and  there  Aaron 
 died.*  This  agrees  with  Num.  xxxiii.  31,  &c.,  with  which  the  other 
 account  is  discordant.  14.  The  heaven   and  the  heaven  of  heavens, 
 
 '  the  liighest  heaven,  and  the  whole  heavens.' — Boothr.      16.  Circtim- 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.ap.  IX.  —  I.  T/nre  nn  rUffiralties  in 
 the  way  to  the  possession  of  the  henvenh,  Ciinium,  Inil  b,J  God's  help 
 tlie  believer  shall  ovtrcome  lh,m  oil.  Every  giant  foe  shall  be  de- 
 stroyed. David's  song  sliould  be  tlie  sons  of  every  Christian, 
 '  Tlie  Loi-il  is  my  light  and  ray  salvation  ;  whom  slionld  I  fear? 
 The  Lord  is  the  strenntb  of  my  life  ;  of  whom  should  I  be 
 afraid  V 
 
 IL  Our  own  rigliipousness  will  never  evtitle  vs  fo  the  henrmti/ 
 possession.  A  few  relleclions  on  our  misdoings  and  short- 
 ■Jtl:) 
 
 comings  cannot  fail  to  lead  us  to  a  very  difteient  estimate  of 
 the  value  of  our  best  works  from  that  whicli  those  who  never 
 reflect  put  upon  tliem.  We  are  all,  indeed,  in  danger  of  look- 
 ing for  justification  in  the  wrong  quarter.  In  the  Lord  alone 
 liave  we  righteousness  and  strength.  The  heavenly  Canaan 
 is  never  earned  i  it  is  a  free  gift.  Humble  dependence  upon 
 1  he  righteousness  of  Cbrist  is  the  only  ground  on  wdiich  we 
 can  ever  hope  to  possess  '  this  good  land.' 
 
An  exhortation  to  obedience. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XI. 
 
 The  study  of  God's  word  required. 
 
 17  For  tlie  Lord  your  God  is  '  God  of  gods, 
 and  "'  Lord  of  lords,  a  great  God,  "  a  mighty, 
 and  a  terrible,  which  "regardeth  not  persons, 
 nor  taketh  reward  : 
 
 18  ''  He  doth  execute  the  judgment  of  the 
 fatherless  and  widow,  and  loveth  the  stranger, 
 in  giving  him  food  and  raiment. 
 
 19  ''Love  ye  therefore  the  stranger:  for  ye 
 were  strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 •20  '  Thou  shalt  fear  the  Loud  thy  God  ;  him 
 shalt  thou  serve,  and  to  him  shalt  thou  '  cleave, 
 '  and  swear  by  his  name. 
 
 21  "  He  is  thy  praise,  and  he  is  thy  God, 
 '  that  hath  done  for  thee  these  great  and  ter- 
 rible things,  which  thine  eyes  have  seen. 
 
 •22  Thy  fathers  went  down  into  Egpyt  'with 
 threescore  and  ten  persons  ;  and  now  the 
 Lord  thy  God  hath  made  thee  '  as-  the  stars 
 of  heaven  for  multitude. 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 1  An  cxlinrtation  id  oht'dirnce,  2  hi/  their  own  experience 
 of  God's  rjreat  irorbs,  8  f>i/  promise  of  God's  ffreat 
 hlessinfjs,  16  and  bij  threaieninps.  18  .-i  car  fid  study 
 is  required  in  God's  words.  2G  T/ie  btessiny  and 
 curse  is  set  before  tliem. 
 
 THEREFORE  thou  shalt  °  love  the  Lord 
 thy  God,  and  ''keep  his  charge,  and  his 
 statutes,  and  his  judgments,  and  his  connnand- 
 nients,  ahvay. 
 
 2  And  know  ye  this  day  :  for  /  spcah  not 
 with  your  children  which  have  not  known,  aiid 
 which  have  not  seen  '  the  chastisement  of  tlie 
 Lord  your  God,  ''  his  greatness,  '  his  mighty 
 hand,  and  his  stretched  out  arm, 
 
 3  '  And  his  miracles,  and  his  acts,  which  he 
 did  in  the  midst  of  Egypt  unto  Pharaoh  the 
 king  of  Egypt,  and  unto  all  his  land  ; 
 
 4  And  wliat  he  did  unto  the  army  of  Egypt, 
 unto  their  horses,  and  to  their  chariots  ;  ^  how 
 he  made  the  water  of  the  Red  sea  to  over- 
 flow them  as  they  pursued  after  you,  and 
 how  the  Lord  hath  destroyed  them  unto  this 
 day; 
 
 5  And  what  he  did  unto  you  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, until  ye  came  into  this  place  ; 
 
 6  And  ''  what  he  did  unto  Dathan  and  Abiram, 
 the  sons  of  Eliab,  the  son  of  Reuben  :  how  the 
 earth  opened  her  mouth,  and  swallowed  them 
 up,  and  their  housholds,  and  their  tents,  and 
 all  the  II  substance  that  ]  was  in  their'posses- 
 sion,  in  the  midst  of  all  Israel  : 
 
 7  But  '  your  eyes  have  seen  all  the  great  acts 
 of  tlic  Lord  which  he  did. 
 
 8  Therefore  shall  ye  keep  all  the  command- 
 ments which  I  counnaud  you  this  day,  that  ye 
 
 B.  C    115I. 
 
 /  Jnsh.22.S2 
 
 Ps    130.  2. 
 
 rian.  8.  -j;. 
 
 N  n.  36. 
 m  Rev.  17. 
 
 K-&  to  lo. 
 1  oh.  '   21 
 
 0  2Clir.l9  7 
 Job  a4.  19. 
 .Acts  to  S4 
 Hnm.  2.  It. 
 G.-vl.  2.  6. 
 Epti.  (J.  9 
 Cot    3.  25. 
 
 I  l>ct   I.  IT. 
 |»  Ta    OS   5. 
 
 fc  llfi.  9. 
 <]  I.rv.  t9  Sa, 
 
 SI. 
 r  .-ti.  C.  t3. 
 
 >tat.  4.  to. 
 
 Ltilie  ^,  8. 
 .  cli.  tt.  K. 
 
 &  13   ]. 
 <Pi.  6S.  11. 
 u  Ex.  15.  2. 
 
 Ps.  22.  3. 
 
 Jcr.  17  II 
 X  t  Sam,  12. 
 
 24.  2Sain  7, 
 
 2»    Ps.  IU6. 
 
 21,  22. 
 y  Gen.  46.27. 
 
 Ex.  t.  5. 
 
 Acts  7.  II. 
 
 1  Gen.  15.  5. 
 ch.  I.  10.  & 
 28.62. 
 
 a  ch.  10  12. 
 lit  30.  16,20. 
 »  Zecli.  3.  7. 
 
 d  ch.  5.  24. 
 «  ch.  7.  19. 
 
 gSx.  14.27, 
 28-  8c  15.  9, 
 hh  fs.  106. 
 
 h  Num.  16  1. 
 .St.  8c  27.  3. 
 P».  106.  17. 
 
 II  Or,  ViviHg 
 
 iiihilanc 
 
 rrhidif'il. 
 
 i.w-.d  llt'm. 
 \  Heb.  was 
 
 Hi  Iheir  ffl. 
 I  ch.  5.  d.  & 
 
 7.  19. 
 
 «  Josh.  1.6.7- 
 /  ch  4  4t  Sc 
 
 6    to.  Pro. 
 
 10.  27. 
 n,  ch.  9.  6. 
 n  Ex.  S.  8. 
 
 q  I  Kin.  9.  3. 
 
 r  ver.  22. 
 ch.  6.  17. 
 rch.  10.  12. 
 
 /  T.cr.  26.  4 
 ch-  2S.  12. 
 
 w  Joel  2.  23. 
 Jam.  5.  7. 
 
 xPs  IM.  14. 
 t  Heb.  aivr. 
 g  ch.  6.  It. 
 
 Joel  2.  to. 
 z  ch.  29.  tfi. 
 
 Job  3t.  27. 
 .>  eh.  8.  19. 
 
 fie  30.  17. 
 
 b  ch.  6.  15. 
 
 cl  Kin, S  35. 
 2Ctic.6.26 
 
 cich.  4.  26. 
 
 8c  S.  19,  20. 
 
 «c  30.  tfl. 
 
 Joiih.  23.  13. 
 
 t.%  16. 
 c  cti.  6.  6.  & 
 
 :«.  46. 
 /ch.  e.  8. 
 
 S  cti.  4.  9,10. 
 Si  6.  7. 
 
 i  ch.  4.  10. 
 &  h.  2.  Pro 
 3  2.  &4.  10. 
 «c  9.  It. 
 
 *  P«  72.  i. 
 
 &  89.  -jg. 
 i  >cr.  13. 
 
 ch.  6.  17. 
 
 n  ch.  10.  20 
 &  30.  20. 
 
 .  ch.  4^  38. 
 &9.  5. 
 
 may  '  be  strong,  and  go  in  and  possess  the 
 land,  whither  ye  go  to  possess  it ; 
 
 9  And  '  that  ye  may  prolong  your  days  in 
 the  land,  ""  which  the  Lord  sware  unto  your 
 fatliers  to  give  unto  them  and  to  their  seed,  "  a 
 land  that  floweth  with  milk  and  honey. 
 
 10  IT  For  the  land,  whither  thou  goest  in  to 
 possess  it,  is  not  as  tlie  land  of  Egypt,  from 
 whence  ye  came  out,  "  where  thou  sowcdst  thy 
 seed,  and  wateredst  it  with  thy  foot,  as  a  gar- 
 den of  herbs  : 
 
 1 1  ■"  But  the  land,  whither  ye  go  to  possess  it, 
 is  a  land  of  hills  and  vallcy.s,  and  drinketh 
 water  of  the  rain  of  heaven  : 
 
 12  A  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  f  careth 
 for :  '  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  thy  God  are 
 always  upon  it,  from  the  beginning  of  the  year 
 even  unto  the  end  of  the  year. 
 
 13  H  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  ye  shall 
 hearken  '  diligently  unto  my  coniinandments 
 which  I  coiniiiand  you  this  day,  'to  love  the 
 Lord  your  God,  and  to  serve  him  with  all 
 your  heart  and  with  all  your  soul, 
 
 14  That  '  I  will  give  you  the  rain  of  your 
 land  in  his  due  season,  "  the  first  rain  and  the 
 latter  riiiii,  that  thou  mayest  gather  in  thy  com, 
 and  thy  wine,  and  thine  oil. 
 
 Ij  "  And  I  will  t  send  grass  in  thy  fields  for 
 thy  cattle,  that  thou  mayest  'eat  and  be  full. 
 
 10  Take  heed  to  yourselves,  ^  that  your  heart 
 be  not  deceived,  and  ye  turn  aside,  and  °  serve 
 other  gods,  and  worship  them  ; 
 
 17  And  then  ^  i\\e  Lord's  wrath  be  kindled 
 against  you,  and  he  '  shut  up  the  heaven,  that 
 there  be  no  rain,  and  that  tlie  land  yield  not 
 her  fruit ;  and  lest  ''  ye  perish  quickly  from  off 
 the  good  land  which  the  Lord  giveth  you. 
 
 18  1  Therefore  'shall  ye  lay  up  these  my 
 words  in  your  heart  and  in  your  soul,  and 
 'bind  them  for  a  sign  upon  your  hand,  that 
 they  may  be  as  frontlets  between  your  eyes. 
 
 19  •■■  And  ye  shall  teach  them  your  children, 
 speaking  of  them  when  thou  sittest  in  thine 
 house,  and  when  thou  w.ilkest  by  the  way, 
 when  thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest  up. 
 
 •20  '•  And  thou  shalt  write  them  upon  the  door 
 posts  of  thine  bouse,  and  upon  thy  gates  : 
 
 •21  That  'your  days  may  be  multiplied,  and 
 the  days  of  your  children,  in  the  land  which 
 the  Lord  sware  unto  your  fathers  to  give 
 them,  ''  as  the  days  of  heaven  upon  the  earth. 
 
 22  t  For  if  '  ye  shall  diligently  keep  all  these 
 commandments  which  I  command  you,  to  do 
 them,  to  love  the  Lord  your  (iod,  to  walk  in 
 all  his  ways,  and  "'  to  cleave  unto  him  ; 
 
 23  Then  will  the  Lord  "  drive  out  all  these 
 
 eise  therefore  the  foreskin  of  i/iiur  heart — this  shews  that  circumcision 
 was  desi^tied  to  teach  tlic  inward  circumcision  of  tlie  heart,  (sec  Rom. 
 ii.  29.)—  Lineman.  1".  Gott  of  gods — of  angels  and  civil  magistrates, 
 sometimes  so  called. — Gill,  .^reward,  'a  bribe.' — Hew.  2i.  Thr/ 
 \irni/ie,  '  tliy  praised  one,'  or  '  thy  praiseworthy  one.' — Trapp. 
 
 C'tiAP.  XI.  — 10.  Wateredst  it  wit/i  ttiii  foot — the  Egyptians  have 
 laige  cisterns  in  which  they  preserve  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water  of 
 Ihe  Nile  to  refresh  their  plants,  as  occasion  may  require.  This  is  done 
 by  striking  out  the  plugs,  and  letting  the  water  run  in  chanucls,  stop. 
 
 ping  and  turning  thera,  with  a  sufficient  qnantity  of  earth,  as  they 
 deem  proper,  by  means  of  the  foot  only,  and  using  the  foot  to  cut  new 
 channels  with  the  mattock.  Another  method  of  watering  in  eastern 
 countries  has  betore  been  noticed,  by  means  of  a  machine  with  wheel 
 and  buckets,  worked  by  the  foot.  14.  The  first  rain,  which  fell  in 
 October,  the  commencement  of  the  Hebrew  civil  year — then  the  seed 
 was  sown.  The  totter  rain — this  fell  about  March,  filling  the  ears,  and 
 invigorating  the  crops. — Har.         \5.  Deceived,  'seduced.' — Hewlett, 
 
 Reflections  on    Chap.    X I.  Hoic  preat  are  the  privi- 
 
 t,'.(/ts  of  those  who  have  God's  taw  and  ministers  .'  May  the  one  be 
 written  and  the  other  be  borne  affectionately  on  our  hearts! 
 I\Iay  we  liave  grace  to  copy  the  one,  and  to  '  esteem  highly  ' 
 tile  other,  as  the  mediums  through  whom  a  gracious  God 
 makes  known  the  purposes  of  his  grace  and  mercy  ! 
 
 11.  Hiw  great  are  our  obligations  to  serve  God  under  the  enjoif- 
 inent  of  these  privileges  !  All,  were  our  religion  frequently  to  fie 
 put  to  the  test,  how  short  it  would  be  of  serving  the  Lord  with 
 204 
 
 all  our  heart  and  with  all  our  soul !  Yet  here  lies  our  chief 
 good.  May  the  good  Lord  enable  us  to  circumcise  our  hearts, 
 and  cleanse  ourselves  from  all  filtliiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit ; 
 to  be  no  more  stitl'-necked,  but  to  humble  ourselves  '  under  the 
 mighty  hand  of  God,'  that  he  may  exalt  us  indue  time  ;'  tohave 
 sympathetic  feelingb  for  the  miseries  of  all  mankiiiil,  and  thus 
 may  we  shew  forth  '  lite  praises  of  him'  who  hath  called  us 
 out  of  darkness  into  marvellous  light. 
 
A  Messing  and  a  curse  proposed. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XII.       The  place  of  God's  service  to  be  kept. 
 
 nations  from  before  you,  and  ye  shall  "  possess 
 greater  nations  and  miglitier  tlian  yourselves. 
 
 24  ■■  Every  place  whereon  the  soles  of  your 
 feet  shall  tread  shall  be  your's  :  ^  from  the  wil- 
 derness and  Lebanon,  from  the  river,  the  river 
 Euphrates,  even  unto  the  uttermost  sea  shall 
 your  coast  be. 
 
 25  '  There  shall  no  man  be  able  to  stand  be- 
 fore you:  for  the  Lord  your  God  shall  "lay 
 the  fear  of  you  and  the  dread  of  you  upon  all 
 the  land  that  ye  shall  tread  upon,  '  as  he  hath 
 said  unto  you. 
 
 26  If  "  Behold,  I  set  before  you  this  day  a 
 blessing  and  a  curse  ; 
 
 27  "  A  blessing,  if  ye  obey  the  commandments 
 of  the  Lord  your  God,  which  I  command  you 
 this  day : 
 
 28  And  a  '  curse,  if  ye  will  not  obey  the  com- 
 mandments of  the  Lord  your  God,  but  turn 
 aside  out  of  the  way  which  I  command  you  this 
 day,  to  go  after  other  gods,  which  ye  have  not 
 known. 
 
 29  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  the  Lord 
 thy  God  hath  brought  thee  in  unto  the  land 
 whither  thou  goest  to  possess  it,  that  thou 
 shalt  put  ''  the  blessing  upon  mount  Gerizim, 
 and  the  curse  upon  mount  Ebal. 
 
 30  Are  they  not  on  the  other  side  Jordan,  by 
 the  way  where  the  sun  goeth  down,  in  the 
 land  of  the  Canaanites,  whicli  dwell  in  the 
 champaign  over  against  Gilgal,  °  beside  the 
 Dlains  of  Moreh  ? 
 
 31  ''  For  ye  shall  pass  over  Jordan  to  go  in  to 
 possess  the  land  which  the  Lord  your  God 
 giveth  you,  and  ye  shall  possess  it,  and  dwell 
 therein. 
 
 32  And  ye  shall  observe  "  to  do  all  the  sta- 
 tutes and  judgments  which  I  set  before  you 
 this  day. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  Monuments  nf  idolatry  are  to  be  destroyed.  5  77i 
 place  of  Gvd  s  service  is  to  be  kept.  15,  23  Blood  is 
 forbidden.  17,  20,  26  Holy  things  must  be  eaten  ii, 
 the  holy  place.  19  The  Levite  is  mtt  to  be  forsaken, 
 29  Idolatry  is  not  to  be  enquired  after. 
 
 "'T'HESE  are  the  statutes  and  judgments, 
 ■*■  which  ye  shall  observe  to  do  in  the  land, 
 which  the  Lord  God  of  thy  fathers  giveth  thee 
 to  possess  it,  ''all  the  days  that  ye  live  upon 
 the  earth. 
 
 2  *^  Ye  shall  utterly  destroy  all  the  places, 
 wherein  the  nations  which  ye  shall  ||  possess 
 served  their  gods,  ''  upon  the  high  mountains, 
 and  upon  the  hills,  and  under  every  green 
 tree: 
 
 3  And  °  ye  shall  f  overthrow  their  altars,  and 
 
 Cll. 
 
 .  I. 
 
 /'J..ph.  I.  S- 
 
 flc  1 1.  <i 
 <1  Hen    15.IS 
 
 Ki.  ■::\.  SI. 
 
 Num.  84.  .S. 
 
 cll.  r.  2*. 
 ch.  2.  23. 
 
 y  ch    28    15. 
 
 ;  ch.  27.  12, 
 IS.  Josh.  8. 
 33. 
 
 i  Gen.  1!.  6. 
 Judg.  7-  I. 
 
 Jch  9.  I. 
 JOKh.  1.  U. 
 
 cch.S.S2. 
 (c  12.  32. 
 
 c  Ex  31. 13. 
 
 ch.  7.  5. 
 II  Or,  i,,he,il. 
 d  ■>  Kill.  16. 
 
 ■I    &  17.  10, 
 
 II.  Jer.  :i  6. 
 «Num.3S.52. 
 
 Juds.  2.  2. 
 t  Hcb.  hreak 
 
 ti  ver.  II. 
 cll.  26.  2. 
 Josh.  9.  27. 
 
 1  Kin.  8.29. 
 
 2  Che.  7. 12. 
 P'l.  78. 68. 
 
 'il.ev.17.3,'1. 
 
 1  vcr.  17.  ch 
 14. 22. 23.  f* 
 li.  19,  20. 
 
 *  ch.  I*.  26 
 
 /  ver.  12.  18. 
 Lev.  23  10. 
 ch.  16.  II, 
 14,  I&.  &26. 
 II.  &  27.  7. 
 
 mjudg.  17. 
 
 o  ver-  6,  14, 
 18,21,26, & 
 ch.  11.23  Sc 
 15.  20.  &  16. 
 2,  &c  fc  17. 
 8.  Ji;  18. 6.  & 
 23  16.  &26. 
 2.  &  31.  11. 
 Josh.  18.  I. 
 I  Kin.  8. 29. 
 Ps.  78.  68. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ihe 
 elMice  of 
 
 1>  ver.  7. 
 
 u  vcr.  22. 
 jf  ch.  14.  5. 
 &  15.  22- 
 
 break  their  pillars,  and  burn  their  groves  with 
 fire  ;  and  ye  shall  hew  down  the  graven  images 
 of  their  gods,  and  destroy  the  names  of  them 
 out  of  that  place. 
 
 4  '  Ye  shall  not  do  so  unto  the  Lord  your 
 God. 
 
 5  But  unto  the  place  which  the  Lord  your 
 God  shall  ^  choose  out  of  all  your  tribes  to  put 
 his  name  there,  even  unto  his  habitation  .shall 
 ye  seek,  and  thither  thou  shalt  come : 
 
 6  And  ^  thither  ye  shall  bring  your  burnt 
 ofFerings,  and  your  sacrifices,  and  your  '  tithes, 
 and  heave  ott'erings  of  your  hand, and  your  vows, 
 and  your  freewill  offerings,  and  the  tirstlings  of 
 your  herds  and  of  your  flocks  : 
 
 7  And  ''  there  ye  shall  eat  before  the  Lord 
 your  God,  and  '  ye  shall  rejoice  in  all  that  ye 
 put  your  hand  unto,  ye  and  your  housholds, 
 wherein  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  blessed  thee. 
 
 8  Ye  shall  not  do  after  all  the  things  that  we 
 do  here  this  daj',  ""  every  man  whatsoever  !.s- 
 right  ill  his  own  eyes. 
 
 9  For  ye  are  not  as  yet  come  to  the  rest  and 
 to  the  inheritance,  which  the  Lord  your  God 
 givetli  yon. 
 
 10  But  vhen  "  ye  go  over  Jordan,  and  dwell 
 in  the  land  which  the  Lord  your  God  giveth 
 you  to  inherit,  and  when  he  giveth  you  rest 
 from  all  your  enemies  round  about,  so  that  ye 
 dwell  in  safety  ; 
 
 11  Then  there  .shall  be  °a  place  which  the 
 Lord  your  God  shall  choose  to  cause  his 
 name  to  dwell  there  ;  thither  shall  ye  bring 
 all  that  I  command  you  ;  your  burnt  offerings, 
 and  your  sacrifices,  your  tithes,  and  the  heave 
 offering  of  your  hand,  and  all  f  your  choice 
 vows  which  ye  vow  unto  the  Lord  : 
 
 12  And  ""ye  shall  rejoice  before  the  Lord 
 your  God,  ye,  and  your  sons,  and  your  daugh- 
 ters, and  your  menservants,  and  your  maidser- 
 vants, and  the  Levite  that  is  within  your  gates  ; 
 forasmuch  as  ''  he  hath  no  part  nor  inheritance 
 with  you. 
 
 13  'Take  heed  to  thyself  that  thou  offer  not 
 thy  burnt  offerings  in  every  place  that  thou 
 seest : 
 
 14  "But  in  the  place  which  the  Lord  shall 
 choose  in  one  of  thy  tribes,  there  thou  shalt 
 offer  thy  burnt  offerings,  and  there  thou  shalt 
 do  all  tliat  I  command  thee. 
 
 Ij  Notwithstanding  'thou  mayest  kill  and 
 eat  flesh  in  all  thy  gates,  whatsoever  thy  soul 
 lusteth  after,  according  to  the  blessing  of  the 
 Lord  thy  God  which  he  hath  given  thee : 
 "  the  unclean  and  the  clean  may  eat  thereof, 
 *  as  of  the  roebuck,  and  as  of  tlie  hart. 
 
 S4.  Uttermost  sea,  'western  sea,' the  Mediterranean;  literally,  'the 
 latter,'  or  'hinder  sea,'  to  distinguisli  it  Irom  the  sea  of  Sodom.— 
 Boothr.  29.  Upon — Gerizim,  ^-c. — see  chap,  xxvii.  12;  to  '  put  the 
 blessing'  signilicd  to  pronounce  it  there.— Tr«/?/j.  30.  Champaign — 
 open  country. 
 
 Chap.  Xll. — 5.  Pat  his  name,  '  set  up  his  worship.'     His  habitation. 
 
 whither  men  were  to  seek  him  by  prayer,  and  inquire  in  matters 
 doubtful.— Ci//.  8.  Ye  shall  ,wt  da  after  all  the  lldiifrs  that  we  do 
 
 here — many  thinfjs,  for  their  rites  weredeticient  in  the  Wilderness,  and 
 the  people  were  excused  for  neglect;  for  instance,  circumcision  was 
 omitted. — So  Hew.  lo.  Eat  flesh — that  is,  the  flesh  of  clean  animals. 
 —Wit. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI.  —  I.  God's  past  dealings  with  us 
 shotdd  constantly  excite  us  to  future  oh  diencc.  His  mercies  should 
 constrain  us  to  love  and  serve  him,  and  bis  judgments  should 
 make  us  fear  to  ofl'end  liim.  In  kindness  to  us,  he  tries  every 
 method  with  our  souls,  and,  as  a  good  physician,  lie  mingles 
 both  sweets  and  bitters  with  our  cup,  all  to  accomplish  one 
 salutary  end. 
 
 _  II.  Our  obedience  is  connected  with  our  ultimate  happiness. 
 Though  we  cannot  get  to  heaven  for  our  obedience,  we  cannot 
 get  there  without  it ;  and  a  life  of  holy  obedience  will  be  likely 
 to  secure  the  sweetest  deatli,  and  the  moat 'abundant  entrance' 
 into  the  promised  Canaan. 
 
 III.   It  is  left  for  us  to  decide  whether  w    wiUobty  n.:d  he  tj  ^srd 
 
 205" 
 
 or  choose  the  paths  of  disobedience  and  be  cursM.  God  does  our 
 wills  no  violence.  He  sets  before  us  both  bis  promises  and 
 bis  threatenings.  He  appeals  to  us  as  rational  creatures,  who 
 can  consult  our  own  ti-mporal  interests,  and  therefore  ought 
 to  consult  our  eternal  interests.  The  Saviour  cast  the  blame  of 
 the  unbeliever  upon  himself;  his  ruin  is  his  own  act,  though 
 it  is  obvious  that  a  believer  s  salvation  is  all  of  grace.  Let  us 
 seriously  consider  bow  awful  it  is  to  have  God's  curse  upon 
 us;  it  may  not  always  blast  our  worUlly  prospects,  for  it  is  not 
 in  this  way  it  is  discovered,  but  it  will  wither  all  genuine 
 hopes  of  the  heavenly  land  ;  while  bis  blessing  will  make  the 
 poorest  man  feel  rich,  and  be  to  him  au  earnest  of  the  heavenly 
 inlierit.ince. 
 
The  Leuile  not  to  be  Jbrsaken. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XII t. 
 
 Entice)  s  to  iduliilry  to  be  stoned. 
 
 16  'Only  ye  shall  not  eat  the  blood;  ye 
 shall  pour  it  upon  the  earth  as  water- 
 
 17  t  Thou  mayest  not  eat  within  thy  gates 
 the  tithe  of  thy  corn,  or  of  tliy  wine,  or  of  thy 
 oil,  or  the  firstlings  of  thy  lierils  or  of  thy  flock, 
 nor  any  of  thy  vows  wliich  thou  vowest,  nor 
 thy  freewill  offerings,  or  heave  offering  of  thine 
 hand  : 
 
 18  '  But  thou  must  eat  them  before  the  Lord 
 thy  God  in  the  place  whicli  tlie  Lord  tliy  God 
 sliall  clioose,  thou,  and  thy  son,  and  thy  daugli- 
 ter,  and  thy  manservant,  and  tliy  maidservant, 
 and  the  Levite  that  is  within  tliy  gates:  and 
 thou  shalt  rejoice  before  the  Lord  thy  God  in 
 all  that  thou  puttest  thine  hands  unto. 
 
 li)  "Take  heed  to  thyself  that  thou  forsake 
 not  the  Levite  fas  long  as  thou  livest  upon 
 the  earth. 
 
 •JO  f  When  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  eidarj;c 
 tliy  border,  ''as  he  bath  promised  thee,  and 
 thou  shalt  say,  I  will  eat  flesh,  because  thy 
 soul  longetli  to  eat  flesh  ;  thou  mayest  eat 
 flesh,  whatsoever  thy  soul  lusteth  after. 
 
 •iX  If  the  place  which  the  Lord  tliy  God  bath 
 chosen  to  put  bis  name  there  be  too  far  from 
 thee,  then  thou  shalt  kill  of  thy  herd  and  of 
 thy  flock,  which  the  Lord  hath  given  tbee,  as 
 I  have  commanded  thee,  and  tbon  shalt  eat  in 
 thy  gates  whatsoever  thy  soul  histetli  after. 
 
 '2'2  '  Even  as  ilie  roebuck  and  the  hart  is 
 eaten,  so  thou  shalt  eat  them  :  the  unclean 
 and  the  clean  shall  eat  o/'thein  alike. 
 
 •J.'J  "i  Only  t  be  sure  that  thou  eat  not  the 
 blood  :  "  for  the  blood  is  the  life  ;  and  thou 
 mayest  not  eat  the  life  with  the  flesh. 
 
 24  Thou  shalt  not  eat  it  ;  thou  shalt  pour  it 
 upon  the  earth  as  water. 
 
 •Jo  Thou  shalt  not  eat  it ;  '  that  it  may  go 
 well  with  thee,  and  with  thy  children  after 
 thee,  ^  when  thou  shalt  do  that  w/iic/i  is  right 
 in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. 
 
 •2(i  Only  Iby  ''holy  things  which  thou  bast, 
 and  '  thy  vows,  tbon  shalt  take,  and  go  unto 
 the  place  wliicli  the  Loud  shall  choose  : 
 
 •27  And  ''  thou  shalt  otl'er  thy  burnt  offerings, 
 the  flesh  and  the  blood,  upon  the  altar  of  the 
 Lord  thy  God  :  and  the  blood  of  thy  .sacriflces 
 shall  be  poured  out  upon  the  altar  of  the  Lord 
 thy  God,  and  thou  shalt  eat  the  flesh. 
 
 •28  Observe  and  hear  all  these  words  which 
 I  command  tbee,  '  that  it  may  go  well  with 
 thee,  and  with  thy  children  after  thee  for  ever, 
 when  thon  doest  t/ittt  which  is  good  and  right 
 in  the  .sight  of  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 '29  1  \Vhen  '"  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  cut  off 
 the  nations  from  before  tbee,  whither  thou 
 goest  to  possess  them,  and  tliuu  f  succeedest 
 them,  and  dwellest  in  their  land  ; 
 
 B.  c.  u&i. 
 
 y  Geu.  9.  4. 
 Lev.  7.  2f>. 
 &  17,  10  ch 
 15.2.1  St 
 vcT.  ■>!,  ■_'+, 
 
 or.  ll.C'. 
 cU.  14.  i3 
 
 (  Hell,  ai: 
 Ihy  d,nj,. 
 
 \l>  fi.-n.l5.1S 
 ^  L'S.  1 1. 
 y.x.  .■«.  2-V. 
 cli.  11.  2-1. 
 t<  111.  d. 
 
 ■  Gl-h.  9.  i. 
 Lev.  17.11, 
 
 Ex.  15.  -.'ll. 
 ch.  13.  IS 
 IKiti.ll  38. 
 h  Num.  :>.  9, 
 10.  &  18.19. 
 1  Sain,  I. 
 :;l,  -ii,  -,'1, 
 
 k  I.CV.I.S.9, 
 l;l,  &  17-U. 
 
 '"  V.K.  23,  23- 
 rti,  19-  I 
 .r.>8li-  23.  i 
 
 t  Heb.  iiiAi- 
 Ti[rtl,nr,piji- 
 inxftt  lliriH. 
 
 »  cl.-  7.   16. 
 t  Heb,  «yl.T 
 
 n  ver.  J, 
 
 Lev.  18.  3, 
 
 26.  30. 
 
 2Kin.l7  1,5 
 t  Heb.  al,< 
 
 thr. 
 
 ^I.ev.  18.21. 
 ft  2(1,  2, 
 rh.  18.  10- 
 Jer.  .32-  .15 
 Kzek.23-37. 
 
 tj  cli.  ♦.  2- 
 .S(  1.3.  18, 
 Josh.  1.  7. 
 Prov.30.  6. 
 Rev.  22.  IS. 
 
 ■J 
 
 <i  Zodi-  10.2- 
 (..M.it- 21.21. 
 3  'niea.2.  9 
 
 c  See  cli-  13 
 22.  Jei-.28  9. 
 .Mat.  ;.  2-2. 
 
 d  oh    8.  2. 
 See  M.-»t  21, 
 
 21.1  Cor. 1 1. 
 
 1 9. 2  Thcsa 
 2.  II.  Rev. 
 13,  I  k 
 
 e2  lvin,23,3, 
 2Clir.31.31, 
 
 /■ch.  10.80. 
 ■  K(  30.  20. 
 i/  ch.  18.  SO 
 
 .lor.  1-1    IT). 
 
 Zcch.  13,  3. 
 t  llvh. iprJKn 
 
 rrv'dl 
 
 21,   I  Cor,  5. 
 
 13. 
 1  ch,    17.  2 
 A.SccGcii.lG 
 
 S.ch.28.M 
 
 I'rov.  5,  20. 
 
 Mic.  7.  5. 
 /lSntii.I8.l. 
 
 3.  d  20.  17. 
 
 30  Take  heed  to  thyself  "  that  thou  be  not 
 snared  f  by  following  them,  after  that  they  be 
 destroyed  from  before  thee  ;  and  that  tbon  en- 
 quire not  after  their  gods,  saying.  How  did 
 these  nations  serve  their  gods  r"  even  so  will  I 
 do  likewise. 
 
 31  "Thou  shalt  not  do  so  unto  the  Lord  thy 
 God  :  for  every  f  abomination  to  the  Lord, 
 which  he  batetb,  have  they  done  unto  their 
 gods  ;  for  ''even  their  sons  and  their  daughters 
 they  have  burnt  in  the  fire  to  their  gods. 
 
 3-2  What  thing  soever  I  command  you,  ob- 
 serve to  do  it :  ''  thou  sbalt  not  add  thereto, 
 nor  diminish  from  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XIIL 
 
 1  Enticers  to  idolatri/j  fi  how  nt'nr  snevcr  unto  tftce, 
 9  are  to  he  stoned  to  dmtti.  12  IduttUnms  cities  arc 
 not  to  he  spared. 
 
 TF  there  arise  among  you  a  prophet,  or  a 
 -'■  "dreamer  of  dream.s,  ''and  giveth  thee  a 
 sign  or  a  wonder, 
 '2  And  ^  the  sign  or  the  wonder  come  to  pas.s, 
 whereof  he  .spake  nuto  tbee,  saying.  Let  us  go 
 after  other  gods,  which  thou  bast  not  known, 
 and  let  us  servo  them  j 
 
 3  Thou  shalt  not  hearken  imto  the  words  of 
 that  prophet,  or  that  dreamer  of  dreams  :  for 
 the  Loan  your  (>od  ''  provctb  yon,  to  know 
 whether  ye  love  the  Lord  your  God  with  all 
 yonr  heart  and  wilb  all  your  soul. 
 
 4  Ye  shall  ''  walk  after  the  Lord  your  God, 
 and  fear  him,  and  keep  his  coniinaiidinent.s, 
 and  obey  bis  voice,  and  ye  shall  serve  liiin,  and 
 'cleave  unto  him. 
 
 5  And  ^  that  pro|ilift,  or  that  dreamer  of 
 dream.s,  shall  be  put  to  death  ;  because  he 
 hath  t  spoken  to  turn  you  away  from  the  Lord 
 your  God,  which  brought  yon  out  of  the  land 
 of  Egypt,  and  redeemed  you  out  of  the  house 
 of  bondage,  to  thrust  thee  out  of  the  way 
 wdiich  the  Lord  thy  God  comnianded  thee  to 
 walk  in.  '■  So  shalt  thou  put  the  evil  away 
 from  the  midst  of  thee. 
 
 6  If  '  If  thy  brother,  the  son  of  thy  mother,  or 
 thy  son,  or  thy  daughter,  or  '  the  wife  of  thy 
 bosom,  or  thy  friend,  '  which  is  as  thine  own 
 soul,  entice  thee  secretly,  saying.  Let  us  go 
 and  serve  other  gods,  which  thou  hast  not 
 known,  thou,  nor  thy  fathers  ; 
 
 7  Namcli/,  of  the  gods  of  the  people  which 
 are  round  about  you,  nigh  unto  tliee,  or  far  off" 
 from  tbee,  from  the  one  end  of  the  earth  even 
 unto  the  other  end  of  the  earth  ; 
 
 8  Thou  shalt  '"  not  consent  unto  him,  nor 
 hearken  unto  him ;  neither  shall  thine  eye 
 pity  him,  neither  shalt  thou  spare,  neither 
 shalt  thou  conceal  him: 
 
 22.  The  unclean  and  the  clean  shall  cat — all  animals  slain  for  food  in 
 the  wilderness  were  ordered  to  be  brcniiht  as  pcace-offLMiiigs  to  the 
 door  of  the  tabernacle;  so  that  the  unclean  were,  in  fact,  at  that 
 time,  forbidden  to  eat  any  Hesh  at  all ;  but  this  restriction  was  taken  otf 
 when  they  entered  nn  the  promised  land. — Scott.  31.  Even  their 
 sons  and  their  daughters  they  have  burnt — this  was  notoriously  prac- 
 
 tised by  the  Carthaginians,  who,  it  is  certain,  derived  it  from  the 
 Phccnicians.  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this  country. — Pnt. 
 
 C'n.xp.  Xlll. —  1.  -'I  jiritphet — one  fhnt  pretends  tri  have  a  messag^e 
 from  God  must  be  lure  designed,  because  there  was  a  constant  suc- 
 cession of  true  prnphits  nniong  the  Jews-  Or  a  dreamer,  who  pretended 
 God  had  revealed  lHni?ell  to  Iiiin  in  a  dream.     Such  there  were  in  Je- 
 
 REFLmioNS  ON  CriAT.  XII.  —  Wemay  see  in  this  eliaplcr 
 an  exhibition  of  true  religion-  If  we  would  practisK  it — 1.  We 
 must  relinquish  all  idolatry.  We  must  give  our  hearts  to  God 
 only. 
 
 II.  JVe  must  sceh  God  /71  his  own  appointed  way ;  dili,o:ently 
 attendini;  upon  the  means  of  grace,  and  approaching  biiu 
 through  the  Sacrihce  with  whicli  he  is  well  pleased. 
 
 III.  We  must  see  that  our  hoi'selti>Uis  attend  llie  nieans  of  (trace 
 as  well  ns  oursclces.  The  souls  of  our  ciiiUlren  and  servauts  are 
 of  ialiiiite  value  as  well  as  our  own  :  if  they  perish  at  last,  let 
 the  rcspousihitity  rest  with  themselves  for  their  own  abiioe  of 
 
 206 
 
 divine  privileges,  and  not  with  those  who  are  set  over  them. 
 
 IV.  We  inu,st  proride  Ji>r  the  ininislers  oj' the  sanctuary.  They 
 are  of  God's  appointment.  'J'hey  labour  for  us,  and  we  out;ht 
 to  labour  in  part  for  them.  They  have  bodies  as  well  as  souls, 
 and  if  they  devote  their  time  to  take  care  of  our  souU,  we 
 ought  to  take  care  of  their  bodies. 
 
 V.  We  must  perset'ere  in  the  ways  of  God,  and  hold  iast  the 
 profession  of  our  faith  without  wavering,  for  it  is  only  '  lie 
 that  endureth  to  the  end  shall  be  saved.' 
 
 VI.  We  must  he  anifiirm  in  our  ohcdince,  so  sllLill  '  we  adorn 
 the  doctriue  of  God  our  Saviour  in  all  things.' 
 
hlohitrons  cities  not  to  he  spared. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XIV.       W/uit  may,  and  u'hat  may  not,  be  eaten. 
 
 9  But  "thou  slialt  surely  kill  him;  °  tliiiie 
 hand  shall  be  first  upon  him  to  put  him  to 
 death,  and  afterwards  the  hand  of  all  tlie  ))eop]e. 
 
 10  And  tlion  shalt  stone  him  witli  stones, 
 that  he  die  ;  because  he  hath  sought  to  thrust 
 thee  away  from  tlie  Lord  thy  God,  which 
 brought  ttiee  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  from  the 
 house  of  t  bondage. 
 
 11  And  ''all  Israel  shall  licar,  and  fear,  and 
 shall  do  no  more  any  such  wickedness  as  this  is 
 among  you. 
 
 12  H  ''  If  tliou  shalt  hear  say  in  one  of  thy 
 cities,  which  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  given 
 thee  to  dwell  there,  saying, 
 
 13  Certain  men,  1]  the  children  of  Belial, '  are 
 gone  out  from  among  you,  and  have  'with- 
 drawn the  inhabitants  of  their  city,  saying, 
 '  Let  us  go  and  serve  other  gods,  which  ye 
 have  not  known  ; 
 
 14  Tlien  .shalt  thou  enquire,  and  make  search, 
 and  ask  diligently  ;  and,  behold,  if  it  he  truth, 
 and  the  thing  certain,  that  such  abomination  is 
 wrought  among  you  ; 
 
 15  Thou  slialt  surely  smite  the  inhabitants  of 
 that  city  with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  "  destroy- 
 ing it  utterly,  and  all  that  is  therein,  and  the 
 cattle  thereof,  with  the  edge  of  the  sword. 
 
 16  And  thou  shalt  gather  all  the  spoil  of  it 
 into  the  midst  of  the  street  thereof,  and  shalt 
 "  burn  with  fire  the  city,  and  all  the  spoil  there- 
 of every  whit,  for  the  Lord  thy  God  :  and  it 
 shall  be  'an  heap  for  ever;  it  shall  not  be 
 built  again. 
 
 1  7  And  '  there  .shall  cleave  nought  of  the 
 II  cursed  thing  to  thine  band  :  that  the  Lord 
 may  °  turn  from  the  fierceness  of  his  anger, 
 and  .shew  thee  mercy,  and  have  compassion 
 upon  thee,  and  multiply  thee,  ''  as  he  hath 
 sworn  unto  thy  fathers  ; 
 
 18  When  thou  shalt  hearken  to  the  voice  of 
 the  Lord  thy  God,  '  to  keep  all  his  command- 
 ments which  1  command  thee  this  day,  to  do 
 that  which  is  right  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord 
 thy  God. 
 
 N  ell.  IT.  5. 
 f>  ch.  17  7. 
 Acts  7.5S. 
 
 ).  ch.  17.13. 
 &  19.  20. 
 
 y  Josh. ea. 
 
 11.  &c. 
 Jildg.  20.  1, 
 
 ||Or,nn.iy;,/, 
 men :  See 
 .lnrlf:.19.2?. 
 INam  2,12 
 &  -'3.  17,  25- 
 
 I  Kii 
 
 21. 
 
 10,  13. 
 
 e  Cnr.  6  15 
 r  1  .Uilui  2. 
 
 111.  JiidelP. 
 i  2  Kiu.  17. 
 
 21. 
 I  vcr.2,  6. 
 
 u  F.x  22   20 
 Lev.  27  2S. 
 
 yJosh.fi.  2S 
 Is,l7.1.&25 
 2.  Jei-.  49.  2. 
 
 !  ch.  7.  26. 
 Jnsh.  6.  IS 
 llOr,  dfiioUii. 
 ,1  Josh.  6.  26. 
 
 6  Gen.  22.17 
 &  2fi.4.21. 
 «i28.  It. 
 
 rch.  12.  25, 
 28,  32. 
 
 a  Rom.  8.16. 
 
 &  9.  8,  26. 
 
 Gal.  3.  20. 
 b  Lev.  19  28. 
 
 &2I.5  Jer. 
 
 IC.  6.  Sill. 
 
 5.  (t  47.  5. 
 
 lTlie».4.1S. 
 c  Lev,  20  26. 
 
 ch.  7.  6,  ft 
 
 20.  IS,  19. 
 
 d  Eipk.  4.H 
 Acu  10.  13, 
 
 II  Or,  li.™, 
 tHeb.tjifAtf. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 I  God's  children  are  not  io  disjif/ure  thtmsclres  in  mourn' 
 iiu{,  3  What  min/,  and  wind  may  not  he  eaten,  4  of 
 hrastSy  9  of  ^fishcs^  U  of  fowls.  21  That  which  dieth 
 of  itself  7nai/  not  be  eaten.  22  Tithis  of  divine  ser- 
 vice. 23  Tithts  and  Jirstlinf/s  of  rejoicing  before  the 
 Lord.     28   The  third  year's  tithe  of  alms  and  charity. 
 
 'VT'E  (ife  ^  the  children  of  the  Lord  your  God  : 
 
 -*-    ^  ye  shall  not  cut  yourselves,  nor  make 
 
 any  baldness  between  your  eyes  for  tlie  dead. 
 
 2  '^  For  thou  art  an  holy  people  unto  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  and  the  Lord  liatli  chosen 
 thee  to  be  a  peculiar  people  unto  himself, 
 above  all  the  nations  that  arc  upon  the  earth. 
 
 3  ^  ''  Thou  shalt  not  eat  any  abominable  tiling. 
 
 4  *"  Tiiese  arc  the  beasts  which  ye  shall  eat : 
 the  ox,  the  sheep,  and  the  goat, 
 
 5  The  hart,  and  the  roebuck,  and  the  fallow 
 deer,  and  the  wild  goat,  and  tlie  ||  tpyg^'"^' 
 and  t!ie  wild  ox,  and  the  chamois. 
 
 6  And  every  beast  that  pavteth  the  hoof,  and 
 cleaveth  the  cleft  into  two  claws,  and  cheweth 
 the  cud  among  the  beasts,  that  ye  shall  eat. 
 
 7  Nevertheless  these  ye  shall  not  eat  of  tliem 
 that  chew  the  cud,  or  of  tliem  that  divide  the 
 cloven  hoof;  as  the  camel,  and  the  hare,  and 
 the  coney  :  for  they  chew  the  cud,  but  divide 
 not  the  hoof;  therefore  they  a?"e  unclean  unto 
 you. 
 
 8  And  the  swine,  because  it  divideth  the 
 hoof,  yet  cheweth  not  the  cud,  it  is  unclean 
 unto  you  :  ye  shall  not  eat  of  their  flesh,  ^nor 
 touch  their  dead  carcase. 
 
 9  1[  ^  These  ye  shall  eat  of  all  that  arc  in  the 
 waters  :  all  that  have  fins  and  scales  shall  ye 
 eat : 
 
 10  And  whatsoever  hath  not  fins  and  scales 
 ye  may  not  eat ;  it  is  unclean  unto  you. 
 
 1 1  t  O/'all  clean  birds  ye  shall  eat. 
 
 12  ^  But  these  are  they  of  which  ye  shall  not 
 eat :  the  eagle,  and  the  ossifrage,  and  the  os- 
 pray, 
 
 13  And  the  glede,  and  the  kite,  and  the  vul- 
 ture after  his  kind, 
 
 remiah'stime,  (Jer.  xxix.  8.) — Vat.  And  gireth  thee  a  sii^n — such  as  an 
 eclipse,  which  miglit  be  foretold.—.,^.  Clarke.  Q.  Kill  him — not  pri- 
 
 vately, but  by  lepal process. — Pnf.  hvaf'ic\\<cv  ai'u77eXe(r,  *  thou  shalt 
 siirely  denounce  him,'  Sept.  Tliy  hand  shall  he  first  7tpon  him — he  was 
 to  be  stoned  to  death,  and  tlie  accuser  was  to  throw  the  first  stone  at 
 him,  together  with  the  witnesses,  (see  chap.  xvji.  7.) — Pat.  13.  The 
 children  0/  Belial,  Vy^bi,  from  '^2.  'not,*  and  "jr", 'profit.'  A  man, 
 useless  both  to  himself  and  others.  A  wicked,  profligate,  aban- 
 doned man. — Storkiuf;,  so  A.  Clarke ;  and  Bunthroyd  reads  '  worthless 
 men.*  There  i?,  however,  another  derivation  not  unlikely,  from  ^^3. 
 *  not,'  and  ^^'^,  or  ^3?,  *  a  yoke,'  denoting  rebels,  under  no  authority  or 
 control;  one  resolved  to  endure  no  subjection.  This  is  preferred  in 
 Taylor's  Calmet.  Kebels  who  cast  ofl"  the  yoke  of  the  Divine  law. — 
 Scott.  Some,  also,  derive  the  name  from  ^'?l,  'not,'  and  Si",  'over,* 
 one  too  arrog-ant  to  endure  a  superior;  but  this  seems  much  less  pro- 
 bable than  the  others,  and  the  most  probable  is  tlie  second.  The  Sept. 
 ifi  7! apavoftoi,  'transgressors  of  the  laws,'  whieh  ereatly  favours  the 
 Becond  definition — Ed.  I5.  Smite  the  inhahitnuts — only  the  guilty. 
 — Poole.  Jerusalem  was  so  destroyed  by  the  Chaldeans,  for  neglect- 
 ing to  put  this  command  into  execution.— //cHr;/. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. — -1.  Cut  yourselves— for  the  dead — this  was  common 
 among  many  nations.  See  note  on  Lev.  xix.  28.  Baldness  between 
 your  ei/es—Harmer  obser\'es,  that  the  easterns  try  to  make  the  eye- 
 brows meetj   it  might,  therefore,  be  a  sign  of  mourning  to  separate 
 
 them.  5.  Rueburk,  >3!?,  'gaze!,'  or  'antelope,'  so  called  from  its 
 beautiful  statelines.s.  7" he  fallow  deer,  nion\  from  l?orT,  '  to  disturb,' 
 '  trouble  ;'  it  evidently  means  the  buffalo. — Par.  Tlie  bufl^aJo  is  a  sullen, 
 malevolent,  and  spiteful  animal,  who  will  pursue  the  unwary  traveller 
 to  death,  particularly  if  clad  in  scarlet. — Shnw.  Some  render  the  word, 
 '  the  wild  beeve.'  The  wild  gont,  1f?N,  '  the  goat  deer,*  a  very  timor- 
 ous and  shy  species.  It  is  mentioned  nowhere  else  in  the  Hebrew 
 Bible.  The  pygarfT,  Tis^^i — the  Hebrew  word  occurs  here  only.  The 
 translation  isfiom  the  Sept.,Tri''}ftpyo<!,  which  signifies'  white  buttocks;* 
 suiiposed  to  be  a  sort  of  deer,  which  has  hnrns  two  feet  long,  and  is 
 twice  the  size  of  the  antelope.— T.  M.  Harris.  The  wildor,  INH— some 
 would  render  this  'buffalo;*  others,  'a  sort  of  large  stag;'  Harris 
 prefers  'the  white  goat  of  the  desert.*  The  chamois,  "ycfi — the  word 
 occurs  here  only.  liiiffon  states,  '  that  the  chamois  inhabits  only  the 
 regions  of  snow  and  ice,  and  cannot  bear  the  heat ;'  the  Alps,  the  Py- 
 renees, the  mountains  of  Greece,  and  the  Islands  of  the  Archipelago, 
 are  '  almost  the  only  places  where  it  is  to  be  fuund.'  Dr.  Shaw  supposes 
 this  to  be  the  giraffe,  but  that  is  a  native  of  the  torrid  zone  ;  but  most 
 likely  an  animal  of  the  goat  kind  is  here  intended  ;  the  word  is  derived 
 from  an  Arabic  root  signifying  '  to  crop  branches,'  'to  browse,'  and 
 the  creature  here  mentioned  evidently  has  its  n^ime  from  its  browsing 
 on  the  shoots  of  trees  and  bushes.— T.  M.  Unrns.  All  the  creatures 
 here  mentioned  are  classed  among  the  goat  and  deer  kind  by  the  learned 
 Bochnrt.         13.  The  glede— Dr,  Clarke  has  riNt,  which  signifies  *a 
 
 Rffi.ections  on  Chap.  XIIL — I.  Observe  that onr  nearest 
 friends  may  often  be  our  yrcaUst  tempters  to  sin.  This  should 
 make  us  stand  on  our  guard  against  our  connexions,  for  sin  is 
 of  an  ensnaring  nature,  and  *  evil  communications  corrupt  good 
 manners.'  Those  especially  who  are  united  to  us  by  the  ties 
 of  blood  and  affection  may  be  employed  by  the  tempter  to 
 lead  us  astray,  but  neither  son  nor  daughler,  nor  wife  nor 
 friend,  must  be  allowed  to  seduce  us  from  holy  obedience  to 
 our  God. 
 
 207 
 
 11.  We  should  be  bold  in  manifestiny  our  indignation  aiiainst 
 sin.  Here  we  are  not  allowed  to  be  half-henrted,  or  to  spare. 
 Blessed  be  God,  we  have  not  to  execute  the  terrible  vengeance 
 commanded  in  the  case  of  idolaters,  but  we  must  both  dare  '  to 
 reprove  and  rebuke'  at  proper  seasons  ;  and.  instead  of  seeing 
 the  awful  end  of  those  who  have  been  our  iriends  a»d  asso- 
 ciates, we  may  thus  be  the  means  of  snatching  them  as  brauds 
 from  the  burning,  and  saving  them  from  everlasting  destruc- 
 tion. 
 
Tithes  of  divine  service,  §T. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XV. 
 
 A  year  of  release  fur  the  poor. 
 
 14  And  every  raven  after  liis  kind, 
 
 15  And  the  owl,  and  the  night  hawk,  and 
 the  cuckow,  and  the  hawk  after  his  kind, 
 
 16  The  little  owl,  and  the  great  owl,  and  the 
 swan, 
 
 17  And  the  pelican,  and  the  gier  eagle,  and 
 the  cormorant, 
 
 18  And  the  stork,  and  the  heron  after  her 
 kind,  and  the  lapwing,  and  the  bat. 
 
 19  And  '  every  creeping  thing  that  flieth  is 
 unclean  unto  you  :  '  they  shall  not  he  eaten. 
 
 £0  But  ofaW  clean  fowls  ye  may  eat. 
 
 21  1  '  Ye  shall  not  eat  (>/'any  thing  that  dieth 
 of  itself:  thou  shalt  give  it  unto  the  stranger 
 that  is  in  thy  gates,  that  he  may  eat  it ;  or 
 thou  mayest  sell  it  unto  an  alien  :  "'  for  thou 
 art  an  holy  people  unto  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 "  Thou  shalt  not  seethe  a  kid  in  his  mother's 
 milk. 
 
 22  °  Thou  shalt  truly  tithe  all  the  increase  of 
 thy  seed,  that  the  field  bringeth  forth  year  by 
 year. 
 
 23  I"  And  thou  shalt  eat  before  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  in  the  place  which  he  shall  choose  to 
 place  his  name  there,  the  tithe  of  tliy  corn,  of 
 thy  wine,  and  of  thine  oil,  and  ''  tlie  firstlings 
 of  thy  herds  and  of  thy  flocks  ;  that  thou  may- 
 est learn  to  fear  the  Lord  thy  God  always. 
 
 24  And  if  the  way  be  too  long  for  thee,  so 
 that  tliou  art  not  aljle  to  carry  it ;  or  'if  the 
 place  be  too  far  from  thee,  which  the  Lord  thy 
 God  shall  choose  to  set  his  name  there,  when 
 the  Lord  thy  God  hath  blessed  thee  : 
 
 25  Then  shalt  thou  turn  it  into  money,  and 
 bind  up  the  money  in  thine  hand,  and  shalt  go 
 unto  the  place  which  the  Lord  thy  God  shall 
 choose : 
 
 26  And  thou  shalt  bestow  that  money  for 
 whatsoever  thy  soul  lusteth  after,  for  oxen,  or 
 for  sheep,  or  for  wine,  or  for  strong  drink,  or 
 for  whatsoever  thy  soul  f  desireth  :  '  and  thou 
 shalt  eat  there  before  the  Lord  thy  God,  and 
 thou  shalt  rejoice,  thou,  and  thine  houshold, 
 
 27  And  '  the  Levite  that  is  within  thy  gates; 
 thou  shalt  not  forsake  him  ;  for  "  he  hath  no 
 part  nor  inheritance  with  thee. 
 
 28  1  '  At  the  end  of  three  years  thou  shalt 
 bring  forth  all  the  tithe  of  thine  increase  the 
 same  year,  and  shalt  lay  it  up  within  thy  gates: 
 
 29  ^  And  the  Levite,  (because  "  he  hath  no 
 part  nor  inheritance  with  thee,)  and  the  stranger, 
 and  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow,  which  are 
 within  thy  gates,  shall  come,  and  shall  eat  and 
 be  satisfied  ;  that  °  the  Lord  thy  God  may 
 bless  thee  in  all  the  work  of  thine  hand  which 
 thou  doest. 
 
 ASeeLev.n. 
 SI. 
 
 ILe».  17. 15. 
 &  '22,  8. 
 Kick.  i.  Xi. 
 
 >  Lev,  ?7.3I). 
 .■li.  12.6,  IT. 
 Neb.  10.37. 
 
 pch,  19.5,6, 
 7.  17,  18. 
 
 7  oil.  l.'i,  10, 
 
 t  Hph.  otiftti, 
 
 (cl>,  1-2,7,  IS. 
 &  1:6.  II. 
 
 /  en.  II.  12, 
 
 IS.  19. 
 "  Nu.  18  SO 
 
 cli.  18.  I,  S. 
 
 jr  ch.  SC>.  12. 
 .\mos  4.  4. 
 
 H  ch.  36.  12. 
 I  ver.  27. 
 ch.  12.  18. 
 
 1  ch.  15.  10. 
 I'ro.  3,9,10. 
 See  ftUl.  S 
 
 n  E<,  21,  2, 
 h  2:1.  10,  II. 
 Lev.  25  2,+, 
 ch.  31.  10. 
 Jer,  SI.  14. 
 
 t  lleb.  >na>- 
 frr  of  the 
 It'idifig  <if 
 kit  hirrA[ 
 
 S  See  ch.  23. 
 SO. 
 
 II  Or,  To  rt« 
 end  Ihnt 
 tlu-re  he  no 
 po'ir  among 
 
 c  Ch.  2S,  8 
 
 ^ch.  28.  13. 
 PCOT.  SS.  7. 
 
 ^UohnS.n. 
 
 h  Lev.  95  3.'.. 
 Mftt.  5,  +9. 
 Lu,6.S4,35. 
 
 (  Heh.  word. 
 (Hcb.Brliuf. 
 
 .  ch.  2S.  51, 
 .%,  I'ro,  9.S. 
 6.  &  28,  92 
 Mat.  so,  15 
 4  ch.  94  l.'i, 
 /  iVlnt  2,'>  41, 
 19. 
 
 fi, ; 
 
 »  C..r.  9. 
 
 ch.  II.  99. 
 c  -24    19. 
 
 "s.  41.  1, 
 i'lov.  22,  0, 
 
 »  Mat .96.1 1. 
 Mark  14,  7. 
 John  l'2.  8. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 I  Tlie  seventh  year  a  year  of  release  for  the  poor.  1  It 
 must  be  no  Lt  of  temtlug  or  f/lvlnt/.  12  An  Hel^rew 
 servant,  16  ecccejit  he  will  vot  depart,  must  in  ttie 
 sevent/i  year  yo  forth  free  and  will  furnished.  19  All 
 firstling  nudes  of  the  cattle  are  to  be  sanctified  unto 
 the  Lord. 
 
 A  T  the  end  of '  evei-y  seven  years  thou  shalt 
 •^*-  make  a  release. 
 
 2  And  thi.s  is  the  manner  of  the  release  : 
 Every  f  creditor  that  lendeth  onght  unto  his 
 neighbour  .shall  release  it ;  he  shall  not  exact 
 it  of  his  neighbour,  or  of  his  brother;  because 
 it  is  called  the  Lord's  release. 
 
 3  *"  Of  a  foreigner  thou  mayest  exact  it  arjain : 
 but  that  which  is  thine  with  thy  brotlier  thine 
 hand  shall  release  ; 
 
 4  II  Save  when  there  shall  be  no  poor  among 
 you  ;  °  for  the  Lord  shall  greatly  bless  thee  in 
 the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee 
 
 for  an  inheritance  to  possess  it : 
 
 5  Only  ''  if  tliou  carefully  hearken  unto  the 
 voice  of  the  Lord  thy  God,  to  observe  to  do 
 all  these  commandments  which  I  command 
 thee  this  day. 
 
 6  For  the  Lord  thy  God  blesseth  thee,  as  he 
 promised  thee :  and  "  thou  shalt  lend  unto 
 many  nations,  but  thou  shalt  not  borrow  ;  and 
 'thou  shalt  reign  over  many  nations,  but  they 
 shall  not  reign  over  thee. 
 
 7  1(  If  there  be  among  you  a  poor  man  of  one 
 of  thy  brethren  within  any  of  thy  gates  in  thy 
 land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee, 
 ^  thou  shalt  not  harden  thine  heart,  nor  shut 
 thine  hand  from  thy  poor  brother  : 
 
 8  ''  But  thou  shalt  open  thine  hand  wide  unto 
 him,  and  shalt  surely  lend  him  suflicient  for 
 his  need,  in  that  whicli  he  waiiteth. 
 
 9  Beware  that  there  be  not  a  t  thought  in 
 thy  ^  wicked  heart,  saying.  The  seventh  year, 
 the  year  of  release,  is  at  hand  ;  and  thine  '  eye 
 be  evil  against  thy  poor  brother,  and  thou  givest 
 him  nought ;  and  '  he  cry  unto  the  Lord 
 against  tliee,  and  '  it  be  sin  unto  thee. 
 
 iO  Tliou  shalt  surely  give  him,  and  "  thine 
 heart  shall  not  be  grieved  when  thou  givest 
 unto  him  :  because  that  "  for  this  thing  the 
 Lord  thy  God  shall  bless  thee  in  all  thy 
 works,  and  in  all  that  thou  puttest  thine  hand 
 unto. 
 
 1 1  For  °  the  poor  shall  never  cease  out  of  the 
 land  :  therefore  I  command  thee,  saying.  Thou 
 shalt  open  thine  hand  wide  unto  thy  brother, 
 to  thy  poor,  and  to  thy  needy,  in  thy  land. 
 
 12  ^  And  ""if  thy  brother,  an   Hebrew  man. 
 
 kite.*  or  '  glede.'  Van  der  Hooght,  Mnntanus,  and  Opitius,  have  riM"!. 
 which  may  signify  '  a  hawk,'  or  '  vulture,'  from  the  acuteness  of  its 
 sight.  21.  A'o(  eat  of  ani/thinff  that  dieth — a  caution  added  to  what 
 
 was  said  Lev.  xi.  39,  40.  Though  they  might  kill  and  eat  any  clean 
 creature,  yet  if  it  died  of  it-^elf  they  might  not  eat,  hecau&e  the  blood 
 was  in  it. — Pat.     Seethe  a  kid — see  note  on  E.\oil.  .\xiii.  19- 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  2.  Exact — tins  law  wa.s  evidently  intended  for  the  re- 
 lief of  the  indigent,  not  for  the  security  of  the  fraudulent. — Scott. 
 
 9.  Tliou  givest  him  nougtit,  because  the  year  of  release  would  quickly 
 come,  when,  if  poor  and  unable  to  pay  him,  he  would  be  obliged  to 
 release  his  debt. — Gill.  12.  And  if  thy  brotlier,  S(C. — slavery  among: 
 other  nations  was  perpetual,  and  the  slaves  were  deprived  of  all  civil 
 rites  and  immunities,  and  nii^'ht  be  tortured  and  put  to  death  at  the 
 pleasure  of  their  masters.  This  was  the  ca.se  among  the  Chaldeans, 
 Egyptians,  Persians,  Greeks,  and  Romans.  How  different  were  the 
 humane  and  equitable  regulations  of  the  Hebrew  legislator ! — Hales. 
 
 Replections  on  Chap.  XIV.  —  I.  The  people  of  God  under 
 bereavements  are  not  to  mourn  like  the  world,  'rliey  have  blessings. 
 hopes,  and  consolations,  which  ought  to  raise  them  far  above 
 others.  Feelings  they  have,  and  affections  loo,  tind  they  ought 
 to  be  of  the  most  tender  kind,  for  religion  has  done  nothing 
 for  us  if  it  has  not  softened  our  hearts  ;  but  tiiey  possess  prin- 
 ciples which  should  control  every  passion  as  well  us  bridle 
 every  lust.  Thev  are,  therefore,  not  to  mourn  as  those  that 
 208 
 
 are  witliout  hope. 
 
 II.  IVe  are  not  iww  to  call  anything  common  or  unclean  tliat  may 
 nourish  us :  but  while  we  partake  "of  Uod's  creatures  without 
 Jewish  restrictions,  let  us  always  do  so  with  thankfulness,  and 
 let  the  abolition  of  these  laws  remind  us  that  the  kingdom  of 
 God  consists  not  in  externals— '  not  in  meats  and  in  drinks, 
 but  in  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.' 
 
Tin:  Ih'breiv  servant's  discharge. 
 
 or  an  Hebrew  woman,  be  sold  unto  thee,  and 
 serve  thee  six  years  ;  then  hi  the  seventh  year 
 thou  slialt  let  him  go  free  from  tliee. 
 
 13  And  wlien  thoii  sendest  him  out  free  from 
 thee,  tliuu  slialt  nut  let  him  fco  away  empty  : 
 
 14  Thou  shall  finiiish  him  liberally  out  of  thy 
 flucl<,  and  ont  of  tliy  floor,  and  out  of  thy  wine- 
 press :  of'  that  wlierewitli  the  Lord  thy  God 
 hatli  'blessed  tliee  thon  shalt  give  unto  him. 
 
 15  And  '  tliuu  shalt  remember  that  thou  wast 
 a  bondman  in  tlie  land  of  Egypt,  and  the  Lord 
 thy  God  redeemed  thee  :  therefore  I  command 
 thee  tins  thing  to  day. 
 
 IG  And  it  shall  be,  Mf  he  say  unto  thee,  1 
 will  not  go  away  from  thee  ;  because  he  lovelh 
 thee  and  thine  liouse,  because  he  is  well  with 
 thee  ; 
 
 17  Then  thou  shalt  take  an  aul,  and  thrust  it 
 througli  his  ear  unto  the  door,  and  ho  shall  be 
 thy  servant  fur  ever.  And  also  unto  thy  maid- 
 servant thou  shalt  do  likewise. 
 
 18  It  shall  not  seem  hard  uuto  thee,  when 
 thou  sendest  him  away  free  from  thee  ;  for  he 
 hatli  been  worth  '  a  double  hired  servant  tu 
 thee,  in  serving  thee  six  years  :  and  the  Lord 
 thy  God  shall  bless  thee  in  all  tliat  thou  doest. 
 
 lot"  All  the  firstling  males  that  come  of  thy 
 herd  and  of  thy  flock  thou  shalt  sanctify  unto 
 the  Lord  thy  God  :  thou  shalt  do  no  work 
 with  the  firstling  of  thy  bullock,  nor  shear  the 
 firstling  of  thy  sheep. 
 
 •20  "  Thou  shalt  eat  it  before  the  Lord  thy 
 God  year  by  year  in  the  place  which  the  Lord 
 shall  choose,  thou  and  thy  houshold. 
 
 21  ''  And  if  there  be  any  blemish  therein,  as 
 if  it  be  lame,  or  blind,  or  have  any  ill  blemish, 
 thou  shalt  not  sacrifice  it  unto  the  Lord  thy 
 God. 
 
 •22  Thou  shalt  eat  it  within  thy  gates  :  '■  the 
 unclean  and  tlie  clean pcJsoK  shall  eat  it  alike, 
 as  the  roebuck,  and  as  the  hart. 
 
 23  °  Only  thou  shalt  not  eat  the  blood  there- 
 of; thou  shalt  pour  it  upon  the  ground  as 
 water. 
 
 CHAP.  XVL 
 
 1  T/te  feast  of  the  pasxovrr,  9  of  weeks,  13  of  talm-na- 
 ctes.  16  Every  nuile  must  offer,  as  tie  is  able,  at  tticse 
 titree  feasts.  18  Of  jiutge's  and  justice.  21  Groves 
 and  iiiuiyes  are  forbidden. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XVI. 
 
 The  fcatit  iff  i/ie  passovcr,  ^yc. 
 
 q  Pro.  10.  22. 
 ch.5.  15. 
 
 t  Pec  Is.  ir,. 
 l'I.&2l.lt). 
 
 .  Kx.  IS.  2. 
 &  84.  19. 
 Lev  27.  S6. 
 Num.  3.  13. 
 
 ^■ch.  12.5,6. 
 7,  17,  8c  14 
 23.  &  16.  II, 
 H. 
 
 y  Lev, 22   20 
 '  ctl    17,   I. 
 
 Ecclus.  S5. 
 
 12. 
 
 B.  C 
 
 1151. 
 
 <|  Ex. 
 
 12.  -2, 
 
 &r. 
 
 h  Kx. 
 
 13-4. 
 
 &  »1 
 
 la. 
 
 c  Kk. 
 
 12.  -29, 
 
 'li. 
 
 .1  Nu 
 
 28. 19. 
 
 -M. 
 
 ■>.  i, 
 
 26. 
 
 /Ex. 
 
 12.  15, 
 
 1D,39.«.  13. 
 
 »,6,7.  &M. 
 
 4  Kx.l-". », 'J. 
 2Clii.35.l3. 
 t  2  Kin   23. 
 
 m  Ex.  12.  6, 
 
 &  13.  6, 
 
 l.ov.  23.  S. 
 \  Hob.  re- 
 
 tlr»inl. 
 
 Lev. 23.  30 
 >i  Kx,  23.  16. 
 
 K'  31 
 
 .  23. 
 
 Num  2M  2*;. 
 Acls2.  1. 
 
 /^BSERVE  the  "  month  of  Abib,  and  keep  the 
 ^-^  passover  unto  the  Lord  thy  God  :  for  ''  in 
 the  month  of  Abib  the  Lord  thy  (jod  brouglit 
 thee  forth  out  of  Egypt  ^  by  night. 
 
 2  Thou  shalt  therefore  sacrifice  the  passover 
 unto  the  Lord  thy  God,  of  the  flock  and  ''  the 
 herd,  in  the  "  ))lace  which  the  Lord  shall 
 choose  to  place  his  name  there. 
 
 3  'Thou  shalt  eat  no  leavened  bread  with 
 it;  seven  days  shalt  thou  eat  unleavened 
 bread  therewitli,  eoen  the  bread  of  ailliction  ; 
 for  thou  earnest  fortli  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt 
 in  haste  :  that  thou  inayest  remember  the  day 
 when  thou  camest  fortli  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt  all  the  days  of  thy  life. 
 
 4  "  And  there  shall  be  no  leavened  bread 
 seen  with  tliee  in  all  thy  coast  seven  days  ; 
 ''  neither  shall  there  any  thinr/  of  the  flesh, 
 which  thou  sacrificedst  the  first  day  at  even, 
 remain  all  night  until  the  morning. 
 
 5  Thou  mayest  not  ||  sacrifice  the  passover 
 within  any  of  thy  gates,  which  the  Lord  thy 
 God  giveth  thee  : 
 
 6  But  at  the  place  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
 shall  choose  to  place  his  name  in,  there  thou 
 shalt  sacrifice  the  passover  '  at  even,  at  the 
 going  down  of  the  son,  at  the  season  that  thou 
 camest  forth  out  of  Egypt. 
 
 7  And  thou  shalt  ''  roast  and  eat  it  '  in  the 
 place  which  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  choose  : 
 and  thou  shalt  turn  in  the  morning,  and  go  unto 
 thy  tents. 
 
 B  Six  days  thou  shalt  eat  unleavened  bread  : 
 and  "'on  the  seventh  day  shall  be  a  f  solemn 
 assembly  to  the  Lord  thy  God  :  thou  shalt  do 
 no  work  therein. 
 
 9  t  "  Seven  weeks  shalt  thou  number  unto 
 thee  :  begin  to  number  the  seven  weeks  from 
 such  time  as  thou  beginnest  <o^>«<  the  sickle 
 to  the  corn. 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  keep  the  feast  of  weeks 
 unto  the  Lord  thy  God  with  ||  a  tribute  of  a 
 freewill  offering  of  thine  hand,  wliich  thou  .shalt 
 give  unto  the  LORD  thy  God,  "according  as 
 the  Lord  thy  God  hath  blessed  thee  : 
 
 11  And  ""thou  shalt  rejoice  before  the  Lord 
 thy  God,  thou,  and  thy  son,  and  thy  daughter, 
 and  thy  manservant,  and  thy  maidservant,  and 
 the  Levite  that  w  within  thy  gates,  and  the 
 
 Chap.  XVI. —  \.Abil> — answering  to  part  of  our  Marcli  and  April,  iircad  unsavoury  and  unwbolesome,  to  remind  them  of  the  miseries 
 the  beginning  of  their  year,  (Exod.  xii.  2.)  It  was  the  montli  in  wliich  endured  in  Egypt. — Poole.  \0.  A  tribute,  rather  '  a  contribution.' — 
 the  Israelites  went  out  of  Egypt.— Gt«.        3.  Tlie  hrenii  of  affiirlion—    Ainu. 
 
 riEFi.r.cTiONS  ON  CiiAP.  XV.  —  I.  We  may  here  usefully 
 adopt  the  thoughts  of  Mr.  Henry  :  —  '  L  Concerning  ttie  re- 
 lease of  debts  ei^eri/  set^en  years.  It  is  supposed  that  the  debtor 
 was  an  Israelite — an  alien  could  not  take  the  benefit  of  this 
 law — and  that  he  was  poor  ;  that  he  did  not  borrow  tor  trade 
 nor  purchase,  but  for  the  subsistence  of  his  family  ;  and  that 
 now  be  could  not  pay  without  reducing  himself  to  poverty  and 
 coming  under  a  necessity  of  seeking  a  livelihood  in  other  coun- 
 tries, which  might  be  bis  temptation  to  revolt  from  God.  The 
 law  is  not  that  the  creditor  sfiall  not  receive  the  debt  if  the 
 debtor,  or  bis  friends  for  him,  can  pay  it,  but  he  shall  not  exnet 
 it  by  a  legal  process.  It  is  altogether  inexcusable,  if  God  has 
 given  us  abundance,  so  that  we  have  not  only  enough,  but  to 
 spare,  and  yet  we  are  rigorous  and  severe  in  our  demands  from 
 our  poor  brethren  ;  for  our  abundance  should  be  the  supply  of 
 their  wants,  that  at  least  there  may  not  be  such  an  inequality 
 as  is  between  two  extremes,  (2  Cor.  viii.  14,  )  'I'hey  mustalso 
 consider  that  the  land  was  Gotl's  gift  to  them,  and  all  their  in- 
 crease was  the  fruit  of  God's  ble.ssing  upon  them  ;  and  there- 
 fore they  were  bound,  in  duty  to  bim,  to  use  and  dispose  of 
 their  estates  as  be  should  order  and  direct  them.  To  be  able 
 to  lend,  and  not  to  have  need  to  borrow,  we  must  look  upon 
 as  a  greitt  mercy,  and  a  good  reason  why  we  should  do  good 
 '20y 
 
 with  what  we  have,  lest  we  provoke  God  to  turn  iho  scales — 
 "  And  tliine  heart  shall  not  be  grieved  when  thou  givest."  Be 
 not  loth  to  part  with  thy  money  on  so  good  an  account,  nor 
 think  it  lost.  Grudge  not  a  kindness  to  thy  brother,  and  dis- 
 trust not  the  providence  of  God,  as  if  ibou  shoiiUlest  want 
 that  thyself  wbicii  thou  givest  in  charity;  but,  on  the  con- 
 trary, let  it  be  a  pleasure  and  a  satisfaction  of  soul  to  thee  to 
 think  that  thou  art  honouring  God  with  tliy  subslanco,  doing 
 good,  making  thy  brother  easy,  and  laying  up  for  thyself  a 
 good  security  for  the  time  to  come. 
 
 II.  *  Concerniny  tlie  release  ofsirvants  after  seven  years^  service. 
 Their  masters  were  to  release  them;  and,  as  they  had  received 
 no  wages,  they  were  to  give  them  something  to  begin  the 
 world  upon.  This  was  to  be  done  in  gratitude  to  God,  who 
 bad  not  only  brought  them  out  of  Egypt,  but  brought  them 
 out  greatly  enriched  with  the  spoils  of  the  Egyptians.  God's 
 tender  care  of  us,  and  kindness  to  us,  obliges  us  to  be  careful 
 of  and  kind  to  those  that  have  a  dependence  upon  us.  They 
 were  also  to  release  tbem  in  gratitude  to  their  servants,  wlio 
 bad  been  worth  a  double  hired  servant.  And  then  we  may 
 expect  family  blessings,  the  springs  of  family  prosperity,  when 
 we  make  conscience  of  our  duty  to  oiu"  family  relations — "The 
 Lord  thy  God  shall  bless  thee  in  all  that  thou  doest."  ' 
 2  K 
 
The  feast  of  tabernacles. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XVII. 
 
 Tlo/iitirs  to  lie  sinin. 
 
 Stranger,  and  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow, 
 that  are  among  you,  in  the  place  which  the 
 Lord  thy  God  hath  chosen  to  place  his  name 
 there. 
 
 12  ''  And  thou  shalt  remember  that  thou  wast 
 a  bondman  in  Egypt :  and  thou  shalt  observe 
 and  do  these  statutes. 
 
 13  1'  Thou  shalt  observe  the  feast  of  taber- 
 nacles seven  days,  after  that  thou  hast  gathered 
 in  thy  t  corn  and  thy  wine  : 
 
 14  And  'thou  shalt  rejoice  in  thy  feast,  thou, 
 and  thy  son,  and  thy  daughter,  and  thy  man- 
 servant, and  thy  maidservant,  and  the  Levite, 
 the  stranger,  and  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow, 
 that  are  within  thy  gates. 
 
 !d  *  Seven  days  shalt  thou  keep  a  solemn 
 feast  unto  the  Lord  thy  God  in  the  place 
 which  the  Lord  shall  choose  :  because  the 
 Lord  thy  God  shall  bless  thee  in  all  thine  in- 
 crease, and  in  all  the  works  of  thine  hands, 
 therefore  thou  shalt  surely  rejoice. 
 
 16  t  "  Three  times  in  a  year  shall  all  thy 
 males  appear  before  the  Lord  thy  God  in  the 
 place  which  he  shall  choose  ;  in  the  feast  of 
 unleavened  bread,  and  in  the  feast  of  weeks, 
 and  in  the  feast  of  tabernacles :  and  '  they 
 shall  not  appear  before  the  Lord  empty  : 
 
 1 7  Every  man  shall  give  f  as  he  is  able,  '  ac- 
 cording to  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  thy  God 
 which  he  hath  given  thee. 
 
 18  t^  Judges  and  officers  shalt  thou  make 
 thee  in  all  thy  gates,  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
 giveth  thee,  throughout  thy  tribes  :  and  they 
 shall  judge  the  people  with  just  judgment. 
 
 19  *Thou  shalt  not  wTest  judgment ;  ''thou 
 shalt  not  respect  persons,  '  neither  take  a  gift : 
 for  a  gift  doth  blind  the  eyes  of  the  wise,  and 
 pervert  the  ||  words  of  the  righteous. 
 
 •20  t  That  which  is  altogether  just  shalt  thou 
 follow,  that  thou  mayest  ''live,  and  inherit  the 
 land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee. 
 
 21  t'Thou  shalt  not  plant  thee  a  grove  of 
 any  trees  near  unto  the  altar  of  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  which  thou  shalt  make  thee. 
 
 22  '  Neither  shalt  thou  set  thee  up  any 
 11  image  ;  which  the  Lord  thy  God  hateth. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1    The  things  sacrificed  must  he  sound.      2   Idfihitert 
 must  be  slain,     8  Hard  controversies  are  to  ht:  dittr- 
 
 q  cli.  15.  15. 
 
 Rx.  93.  16. 
 Lev  JS  S4 
 Nuin.29.12. 
 
 Neh.  8.  9, 
 
 X  Ex.23.  15 
 
 &  31    ill. 
 
 Ecclos.  35. 
 
 4 
 t  Heb  ac- 
 
 corttinff  to 
 
 the  g.fl  of 
 
 his  hand. 
 
 2  Cor.B.li 
 (I  ver.  10 
 J  cti.  I.  16. 
 
 I  Chr  23.  ♦. 
 
 «t  26.  29. 
 
 2Chr. 19.5.8 
 
 <t  Ex  29  «  6, 
 
 I^r.  19  15 
 b  eh.  I.  17. 
 
 Prov.  24.23. 
 c  Fi.  23.  8. 
 
 PrnT.17.2S. 
 
 Kci'Ies.;.". 
 
 Eccliu.  20. 
 
 29. 
 
 It  Or,mattfrt. 
 t  Heb.  Jhi- 
 
 d  Eiek.  18.  ' 
 
 5,9. 
 I-  Ex.  »I.  13. 
 
 IKiii  14.15. 
 
 St  16    33. 
 
 2Km  17.16. 
 
 &  yi.  3. 
 
 2  Chr  33.3. 
 fhev.  26.  1. 
 II  Ur,  tl-itue, 
 
 or,  pillar. 
 
 ich    15   91. 
 Mai.  1  S.IS, 
 
 c  JoBh.  7    11, 
 
 IS.  &i3.  If.. 
 
 Judg.  2  2i>. 
 
 SKiii.ie  12. 
 
 Hos.  8  1. 
 rfch.4.  19. 
 
 Job  31.26, 
 *  Jer.  7.  -i. 
 
 23,  fl  ^  19 
 
 5.  &  3-2.  Sj 
 r  cli.  13.  12, 
 
 Ik 
 
 jpl.ev.24. 14, 
 Ib.ch  is.ia. 
 Josh.  7.  25 
 
 h  Nu,  35.30. 
 ch  19.  15. 
 Mat.  18.  16. 
 John  8  17. 
 2  C<.r.  13.  I 
 J  Tini.5.19 
 Heb.  10. 'JS. 
 ch.  13.  y 
 Acta  /.  68. 
 
 k  ver.  W 
 rh.  13   5.  & 
 19.  19. 
 
 (■irhr.19  10 
 Hagr  S,  II. 
 Mai.  2.  7- 
 
 inSeeEx  21. 
 1.3,  20,  22, 
 2H.  &  22,  2- 
 Num  35  II, 
 16.  19.  ch 
 19.4,10.11 
 
 :  ch,  12.  6. 
 &  19  17. 
 Pa    I>2.  5. 
 
 o  See  Jer. 18. 
 18. 
 
 pch.  19.  17. 
 
 7  Eiek.  44. 
 
 mined  bij  the  fir i'sts  and  jnd jes.  12  The  contemner 
 of  that  determination  lun^t  die.  14  The  ekction,  Ui 
 and  duty  of  a  king, 
 
 T^HOU  *  shalt  not  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord 
 -*-  thy  God  any  bullock,  or  1|  sheep,  wherein 
 is  blemish,  or  any  evil-favouredness:  ibr  that  is 
 an  abomination  unto  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 2  t  ^  If  there  be  found  among  you,  within  any 
 of  thy  gates  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth 
 thee,  man  or  woman,  that  hath  wrought  wick- 
 edness in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  thy  God,  ^'in 
 transgressing  his  covenant, 
 
 3  And  hath  gone  and  served  other  gods,  and 
 worshipped  them,  either  '^  the  sun,  or  moon,  or 
 any  of  the  host  of  heaven,  "  which  I  have  not 
 commanded  ; 
 
 4  ^  And  it  be  told  thee,  and  thou  hast  heard 
 of  ity  and  enquired  diligently,  and,  behold,  it 
 be  true,  a)id  the  thing  certain,  that  such  abo- 
 mination is  wrought  in  Lsrael  : 
 
 5  Then  shalt  thou  bring  forth  that  manor 
 that  woman,  which  have  committed  that  wicked 
 thing,  unto  thy  gates,  even  that  man  or  that 
 woman,  and  ^  shalt  stone  them  with  stones,  till 
 they  die. 
 
 G  *"  At  the  mouth  of  two  witnesses,  or  three 
 witnesses,  shall  he  that  is  worthy  of  death  be 
 put  to  death  ;  but  at  the  mouth  of  one  witness 
 he  shall  not  be  put  to  death. 
 
 7  '  The  hands  of  the  witnesses  shall  be  first 
 upon  him  to  put  him  to  death,  and  afterward 
 the  hands  of  all  the  people.  So  ■•  thou  shalt 
 put  the  evil  away  from  among  you. 
 
 8  1:  '  If  there  arise  a  matter  too  hard  for  thee 
 in  judgment,  "'between  blood  and  blood,  be- 
 tween plea  and  plea,  and  between  stroke  and 
 stroke /being  matters  of  controversy  within  thy 
 gates  :  then  shalt  thou  arise,  "and  get  thee  up 
 into  the  place  which  the  Lord  thy  God  shall 
 choose  ; 
 
 9  And  °  thou  shalt  come  unto  the  priests  the 
 Levites,  and  ^  unto  the  judge  that  shall  be  in 
 those  days,  and  enquire:  ''  and  they  shall  shew 
 thee  the  sentence  of  judgment : 
 
 10  And  thou  shalt  do  according  to  the  sen- 
 tence, which  they  of  that  place  which  the  Lord 
 shall  choose  shall  shew  thee  ;  and  thou  shalt 
 observe  to  do  according  to  all  that  they  inform 
 thee  : 
 
 1 1  According  to   the  sentence  of  the   law 
 
 16,  Three  times  a  pear,  SfC,  in  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread,  or  of  the 
 Passover,  (see  notes  on  Exod.  xii.,)  which  lasted  veveu  days.  The  use 
 of  unleavened  bread  was  then  general  throughout  the  land,  by  which 
 they  who  were  confined  at  home  testified  their  cnncurrcnce  with  those 
 who  ate  the  Passover  at  the  tabernacle.  See  the  g-ospel  meaning  of 
 this  feast,  I  Cor.  v.  7.  In  the  feast  of  weeks— so  called  because  it  was 
 held  seven  weeks  after  the  Passover;  called  also  Pentecost,  because 
 it  was  fifty  days  after  the  Passover,  This  also  lasted  seven  days,  in 
 acknowledgment  of  the  goodness  of  Gud  in  the  completed  corn  harvest. 
 The  feast  of  tabernacles — this  was  in  the  seventh  numth,  and  of  eight 
 days*  continuance,  a  memorial  of  dwelling  in  tabernacles  in  the  Wilder- 
 
 ness.— Jnrfin,  Com.  from  Henry  and  Scott.  18.  Jn  all  thy  gates — the 
 gates  of  cities  were  in  these  days,  and  fur  many  ages  after,  the  places 
 of  judicature  and  common  resort.  Here  the  governors  and  elders  of 
 the  city  went  to  hear  complaints,  administer  justice,  make  conveyances 
 of  titles  and  estates,  and  transact  all  public  affairs.  —  Unif.  Hist. 
 21.  A  grove — because  this  was  the  practice  of  idolators,  and  might  be 
 the  occasion  of  reviving  idolatry,  (Judg.  iii.  7j  1  Kings,  xiv.  23;  xv. 
 13;  xvi.  33,  and  xviii.  19.) — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.— 8.  Too  hard  for  fAce— whether  it  was  wilful  or  casual 
 murder,  whether  punishable  or  pardonable  by  those  laws,  (Exod.  xxi. 
 13,  20,  22,  28,  andxxii,  2;  Num.  xxxv.  11,  16,  19;  Deut.  xix.  4,  10.)— 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVL  —  I  From  the  frequent  stress 
 which  is  laid  upon  the  observance  of  Divine  ordinances  we  may  sec 
 their  great  importance.  They  are  most  valuable  as  a  means  to 
 the  attainment  of  an  end.  Let  us,  however,  not  rest  in  our 
 mere  observance  of  them,  for  *  God  is  a  spirit,  and  they  that 
 worship  him  must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.'  Let  us 
 recollect,  as  Scott  observes,  that  *  every  one  of  our  services 
 must  be  performed  in  communion  with  the  church  of  Christ, 
 aud  in  dependence  on  him  ;  our  temple,  altar,  sacrifice,  and 
 passover,  being  accompanied  with  the  unleavened  bread  of 
 Biocerity  and  truth.' 
 
 IL  JFe  learn  that  mat/istrates  and  judges  are  of  Divine  ajypoint- 
 ment.  This  should  teach  those  who  hold  these  offices  to  re- 
 member whence  they  derive  them,  to  execute  them  with 
 fidelity,  and  to  look  forward  to  that  day  whea  they  themselves 
 210 
 
 must  give  up  their  account  to  God.  This  should  also  make  us 
 grateful  to  God  for  such  appointments,  for  without  them  every 
 thing  would  be  in  confusion  :  the  strong  would  trample  on  the 
 weak,  the  malignant  passions  would  be  continually  in  exercise, 
 without  control — each  one,  under  the  undue  bias  of  his  own 
 mind,  would  be  his  own  magistrate,  and  society  would  be  ever 
 in  a  tempest.  Though,  indeed,  there  are  among  us  many  un- 
 righteous decisions,  and  unnecessary  litigations,  which  ought 
 to  be  prevented  and  checked,  yet  we  have  great  reason  to  bless 
 God  that  there  is  so  much  of  the  scripture  code  mingled  with 
 our  laws  ;  and  it  is  our  duty  daily  to  offer  up  our  prayers  to 
 him  that  he  would  give  increasing  wisdom  to  our  rulers,  that 
 they  may  rule  in  his  fear,  and  work  righteousness,  be  a  '  terror* 
 only  '  to  evil  doers,  and  a  praise  to  them  that  do  well.' 
 
The  election  and  duty  of  a  king. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XVIII. 
 
 The  2»'ifst's  due. 
 
 which  they  shall  teach  thee,  and  according;  to 
 the  judgment  which  they  shall  tell  thee,  thou 
 shalt  do  :  thou  shalt  not  decline  from  the  sen- 
 tence which  they  shall  shew  tliee,  to  the  right 
 hand,  nor  to  the  left. 
 
 12  And  '  the  man  that  will  do  presumptuous- 
 ly, t  and  will  not  hearken  unto  the  priest  'that 
 standeth  to  minister  there  before  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  or  unto  the  judge,  even  that  man  shall 
 die  :  and  '  thou  shalt  put  away  the  evil  from 
 Israel. 
 
 13  "  And  all  the  people  shall  hear,  and  fear, 
 and  do  no  more  presumptuously. 
 
 14  t  When  thou  art  come  unto  the  land 
 which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee,  and  shalt 
 possess  it,  and  shalt  dwell  therein,  and  shalt 
 say,  "  I  will  set  a  king  over  me,  like  as  all  the 
 nations  that  are  about  me  ; 
 
 1  j  Thou  shalt  in  any  wise  set  him  king  over 
 thee,  ''whom  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  choose  : 
 one  '  from  among  thy  brethren  shalt  thou  set 
 king  over  thee  :  thou  mayest  not  set  a  stranger 
 over  thee,  which  is  not  thy  brother. 
 
 16  But  he  shall  not  multiply  "horses  to  him- 
 self, nor  cause  the  people  ''to  return  to  Egypt, 
 to  the  end  that  he  should  multiply  horses: 
 forasmuch  as  '  the  Lord  hath  said  unto  you, 
 ''  Ye  shall  henceforth  return  no  more  that  way. 
 
 17  Neitlier  shall  he  multiply  wives  to  himself, 
 that  "his  heart  turn  not  away  :  neither  shall  he 
 greatly  multiply  to  himself  silver  and  gold. 
 
 18  '  And  it  shall  be,  when  he  sitteth  upon  the 
 throne  of  bis  kingdom,  that  he  shall  write  him 
 a  copy  of  this  law  in  a  book  out  oi^that  which 
 is  before  the  priests  the  Levites  : 
 
 19  And  ''it  shall  be  with  him,  and  he  shall 
 read  therein  all  the  days  of  his  life  :  that  he 
 may  learn  to  fear  the  Loud  his  God,  to  keep  all 
 the  words  of  this  law  and  these  statutes,  to  do 
 them  : 
 
 20  That  his  heart  be  not  lifted  up  above  his 
 brethren,  and  that  he  ■  turn  not  aside  from  the 
 commandment,  to  the  right  hand,  or  to  the 
 left :  to  the  end  that  he  may  prolong  his  days 
 in  his  kingdom,  he,  and  his  children,  in  the 
 midst  of  Israel. 
 
 r  I  am.  15. 
 
 30.  Ezra  10. 
 
 8,  Hos.  4. 4. 
 t  Heb.  not  to 
 
 t  cli.  IS.  5,7, 
 
 I  di   13.  S. 
 
 iich.  IS.  II. 
 ii  19.  20. 
 
 r  I  Sam  6. 
 5,19,20. 
 
 V  See  1  Sam. 
 "9. 15.  &  10. 
 
 24.  &  16  12. 
 
 lChr.22.10. 
 ijer.30.  21. 
 
 a  1  Kiii.4.26. 
 
 8e  10.  36,  28. 
 
 Ps.  20.  7. 
 b  Is.  31.  1. 
 
 Kzek.17.15. 
 c  Ex.  13.  17. 
 
 Nu.  14.3,1. 
 f(  ch   28  (j8. 
 
 H-.s.  U.S. 
 
 See  .ler.  42 
 
 15. 
 e  See  1  Klu. 
 
 11.3,4. 
 
 /2Ki.ll.l2. 
 
 ^cli.Sl.  9, 
 26.  see 
 2Kin.3-2.8. 
 
 It  .losh,  1.8. 
 Ps.  119.  97, 
 
 i  ch,  a.  32. 
 1  Kill.  15.6. 
 
 tt  Num.  18. 
 
 20.  &26.  62. 
 
 cli    10.  9. 
 t  Nu.18.8,9. 
 
 I  Cor.  9.  13 
 
 «E5.  28.  1. 
 
 Num.  3. 10 
 /ch.  10.  8. 
 
 &  17.  12. 
 
 g  Nu  35.2,3. 
 *ch.  12.  5. 
 
 k  2  Chi.  31. 
 
 4.  Neh.  12. 
 
 44,  47. 
 II  Fleb   hit 
 
 ttitrt  by  Ike 
 
 fathers. 
 
 I  Lev.  18.26, 
 27,.30.ch  12. 
 29,  30,31. 
 
 «  T.ev  18.21. 
 
 eh.  12.31. 
 I  T.ev.  19.26, 
 
 31. &  20,27. 
 
 Is.  8.  19. 
 
 o  Lev.  20.27. 
 plSaiii.23.  7. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIll. 
 
 I  Tltc  Liirtl  is  i/ie  priests^  and  Levites'  in/trrifaitce.  3 
 7'/(e  priest's  due.     {>   Ttie  Levitt's  portion.     9    T/ie 
 
 uliomimitiims  of  the  nations  are  to  be  avoided.  15 
 Christ  the  prujiliet  is  to  be  tteard.     20    T/ie  presump~ 
 
 tuous  prophet  is  to  die. 
 
 T^HE  priests  the  Levites,  and  all  the  tribe  of 
 -*•  Levi,  '  shall  have  no  part  nor  inheritance 
 with  Israel  :  they  ''  shall  eat  the  offerings  of 
 the  Lord  made  by  fire,  and  his  inbeiitance. 
 •2  Therefore  shall  they  have  no  inheritance 
 among  their  brethren  :  the  Lord  is  their  in- 
 heritance, as  he  hath  said  unto  them. 
 
 3  IT  And  this  shall  be  the  priest's  due  from 
 the  people,  from  them  that  offer  a  .sacrifice, 
 whether  it  be  ox  or  sheep  ;  and  '^  they  shall 
 give  unto  the  priest  the  slioulder,  and  the  two 
 cheeks,  and  the  maw. 
 
 4  ''  The  firstfruit  a/so  of  thy  corn,  of  th;  wine, 
 and  of  thine  oil,  and  the  first  of  the  fleece  of 
 thy  sheep,  shalt  thou  give  him. 
 
 5  For  "  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  chosen  him 
 out  of  all  thy  tribes,  ''to  stand  to  minister  in 
 the  name  of  the  Lord,  him  and  his  sons  for 
 ever. 
 
 6  1  And  if  a  Levite  come  from  any  of  thy 
 gates  out  of  all  Israel,  where  he  ^  sojourned, 
 and  come  with  all  the  desire  of  his  mind  ''  unto 
 the  place  which  the  Lord  shall  choose  ; 
 
 7  Then  he  shall  minister  in  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  bis  God,  '  as  all  his  brethren  the  Levites 
 do,  which  stand  there  before  the  Lord. 
 
 8  They  shall  have  like  '■  portions  to  eat,  be- 
 side t  that  which  cometh  of  the  sale  of  his 
 patrimony. 
 
 9  t  When  thou  art  come  into  the  land  which 
 the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee,  '  thou  shalt  not 
 learn  to  do  after  the  abominations  of  those 
 nations. 
 
 10  There  shall  not  be  found  among  you  ani/ 
 one  tliat  maketh  his  son  or  his  daughter  ""  to 
 pass  through  the  fire,  °  or  that  useth  divination, 
 or  an  observer  of  times,  or  an  enchanter,  or  a 
 witch, 
 
 11  "  Or  a  charmer,  or  a  con.sulter  with  familiar 
 spirits,  or  a  wizard,  or  a  ''  necromancer. 
 
 Poole.  \&.  Not  multiply  horses  —  in  a  mountainous  country  lilie 
 
 Jude^,  cavalrj'  would  be  of  no  essential  service ;  and  goins?  to  Egypt 
 miglit  make  w?ay  for  the  Israelites  being  again  subjugated  by  the 
 Egyptians,  or,  at  least,  corrupted  by  their  idolatries  and  vices. — 
 Boothr.,  Scott. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII. — 3.  A  sncrijice,  rT21  may  mean  an  animal  sacrificed  to 
 the  Lord,  or  for  cummon  use.  Take  the  latter  sense  here. — So  A.  C. 
 See  Gen.  xliii.  15  ;  Prov.  xvii.  1 ;  Ezek.  xxv.  6.  10.  Pass  through  the 
 Jire — see  notes  on  Lev.  xviii.  21.      Useth  dioina/ioM— attempts  to  dis- 
 
 cover secrets  in  a  supernatural  way ;  as  by  cups,  raking  into  the  bowels 
 of  their  sacrifices,  especially  human  sacrifices.  An  observer  of  times, 
 of  vain  dreams,  clouds,  planets,  or  the  flight  of  birds.  An  enchiinter — 
 one  who  divines  by  serpents.  A  witch — see  notes  on  E.\od.  xxii.  18; 
 one  who  imprecates  evil  on  man  or  beast.  11.  .4  charmer — one  who 
 pretends  to  produce  supernatural  effects  by  words  of  incantation.  A 
 consulter  with  ftimiliitr  spirits,  who  practises  oby  under  the  influence 
 of  an  attendant  evil  genius,  (see  note  on  such.  Lev.  xix.  31 .)  A  ivizard; 
 '  a  knowing  one,*  i;s  the  word  signifies ;  such  an  one  as  we  call  a  cuu- 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.   XVII Here  are  laws   for  the 
 
 people,  and  laws  for  tlie  prince.  \.  Laws  for  the  people.  Under 
 the  Theocracy,  God,  as  the  sovereign  of  his  people,  demanded 
 entire  homage,  the  neglect  of  which  suhjected  the  offender  to 
 extreme  penalties.  The  same  purity  of  worsliip  and  reve- 
 rential regard  to  bim  is  still  expected  fiom  us  under  a  more 
 spiritual  dispensation  ;  but  the  despisers  of  God  are  left  to 
 have  their  punishment  in  another  state.  Magistrates,  as 
 God's  viceserants,  were  also  to  be  respected,  and  a  disregard 
 to  their  decisions  in  justice  n  as  to  subject  the  ofl'ender  to  con- 
 dign punishment.  A  just  administration  of  law  is  a  great 
 blessing;  and  though  judges  may  sometimes  err,  as  Scott  re- 
 marks. '  it  would  be  better  that  an  individual  should  some- 
 times be  aggrieved,  than  that  the  advantages  of  magistracy 
 should  be  abridged.  In  every  state  there  must  be  some  final 
 award  from  which  there  lies  no  appeal,  and  that  must  be  sub- 
 mitted to,  even  though  in  some  cases  it  may  be  uniust.  We 
 must  be  satisfied  that  the  infallible  Judge  of  the  woild  will  at 
 length  set  all  right,  and  effectually  redress  all  those  that  trust 
 211 
 
 in  him.'     Here  are — 
 
 II.  Lams  for  the  prince.  Kings  are  not  without  law.  In  some 
 states,  indeed,  they  are  absolute,  and  masters  of  the  lives  and 
 property  of  their  subjects;  but  in  all  they  are  responsible  to 
 Him  who  is' King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords.'  InaChristian 
 country,  a  sovereign  has  the  advantage  of  the  word  of  God  for 
 his  guide,  and  if  he  takes  this  for  his  rule  he  must  be  a  happy 
 ruler  over  a  happy  people.  Kings  are,  however,  but  '  men  of 
 like  passions  with  ourselves,'  and  the  more  exalted  their  sta- 
 tion the  more  are  tliey  in  danger  of  falling  into  temptations. 
 Hence  they  need  our  continual  prayers,  and  as  our  own  inte- 
 rest is  involved  in  the  wisdom  and  piety  of  our  monarch,  we 
 should  never  forget  to  pray  for  him,  that  God  would  replenish 
 him  with  the  grace  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  that  he  may  always  in- 
 cline to  do  his  will  and  to  walk  in  his  ways.  For  reasons  in- 
 scrutable to  us,  God  may  not  see  fit  always  to  grant  us  the  full 
 extent  of  our  desires,  but  we  know  not  how  far  our  prayers 
 may  beneficially  operate,  and  we  may  be  sure  that  they  shall 
 eventually  return  in  blessings  on  our  own  heads. 
 
Christ  the  pruphtt  is  to  be  heard. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY.  XIX. 
 
 Tlie  cities  of  refuge. 
 
 12  For  all  that  do  these  things  are  an  abomi- 
 nation unto  tlie  Lord  :  and  ''  because  of  these 
 abominations  the  Lord  thy  God  dotli  drive 
 them  out  from  before  thee. 
 
 13  Thou  slialt  be  ||  perfect  with  the  Lord  thy 
 God. 
 
 14  For  these  nations,  wliich  thou  shalt  ||  pos- 
 sess, hearliened  unto  observers  of  times,  and 
 unto  diviners  :  but  as  for  thee,  the  Lord  thy 
 God  hath  not  suffered  thee  so  to  do. 
 
 li  II  '  The  Lord  tliy  God  will  raise  up  unto 
 thee  a  Prophet  from  tbo  midst  of  thee,  of  thy 
 brethren,  like  unto  me  ;  unto  him  ye  shall 
 hearken  ; 
 
 IG  Accordin<;  to  all  that  thou  desiredst  of  the 
 Lord  tliy  God  in  Horeb  Mn  the  day  of  the 
 assembly,  saying,  '  Let  me  not  hear  a>;ain  the 
 voice  of  the  Lord  my  God,  neither  let  me  see 
 this  great  fire  any  more,  that  I  die  not. 
 
 17  And  the  Lonn  said  unto  me,  "  They  have 
 well  spoken  that  wliich  they  have  spoken. 
 
 18  *  I  will  raise  them  up  a  Projihet  from 
 among  their  brethren,  like  unto  thee,  and  '  will 
 put  my  words  in  his  mouth;  'and  he  shall 
 speak  unto  tbeni  all  that  1  shall  command  him. 
 
 i  9  °  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  whosoever 
 will  not  hearken  unto  my  words  which  he  shall 
 speak  in  my  name,  1  will  re(|nire  it  of  bim. 
 
 20  But  ''  the  prophet,  which  shall  presume  to 
 speak  a  word  in  my  naTue,  which  1  have  not 
 commanded  him  to  speak,  or  '  that  shall  speak 
 in  the  name  of  other  gods,  even  that  prophet 
 shall  die. 
 
 !2I  And  if  thou  say  in  thine  heart.  How  .shall 
 we  know  the  word  which  the  Lord  hath  not 
 spoken  ? 
 
 •2-2  ''  When  a  prophet  speaketh  in  the  name 
 of  the  Lord,  '  if  the  thing  follow  not,  nor  come 
 to  pass,  that  is  the  tiling  which  the  Lord  hath 
 not  spoken,  but  the  projibet  hath  spoken  it 
 'presumptuously:  thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  of 
 him. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I    The  cities  of  refuge.     4   The  pricihi^ie  thereof  for  the 
 manslayer.      14   Ttte  lajutmark  is  not  to  be  removed. 
 
 15  Two  witnesses  at  t/ie  ieast.      16    Tlie  punisliment 
 of  a  false  witness. 
 
 vi/"HEN  the  Lord  thy  God  "hath  cut  off 
 ^'     the  nations,  whose  laud  the  Lord  thy 
 
 D.  C.  1451. 
 
 '/  Lev.  18.24, 
 
 II  Or,HJ>riyhf, 
 
 flen.  17.  l". 
 II  Or,  infierit 
 
 ■  ver.  13. 
 .Tnbn  I.  45. 
 
 &  7.  .S7. 
 
 t  Kx.  20.  19. 
 [lotj.  12.  19. 
 
 J  Ter.  15. 
 
 J.1I111  1.45. 
 
 A(-la  3.  22. 
 
 Jii  7.  37. 
 I  Is.  51.  16. 
 
 J.iliii  17.  B. 
 :  John  -l.  23 
 
 ft  9,  28.  & 
 
 12.  tjl.  50, 
 I  AcU  3.  23. 
 
 b  ch.  I.S.  5. 
 Jer.  14.  14, 
 15.ZCC.13.S. 
 
 eh,  13.  1, 8. 
 Jer.  £.  8. 
 
 d  Jer.  £8.  9. 
 <fSeecli.l3.2. 
 
 ■•  Ex  -il  i:l 
 Niiin  .35.10, 
 U  Jos. 20.'-'. 
 
 ;  Num.  35. 
 15.  ch.  4.42 
 
 I  Heb.  fio,,. 
 yfit'rilaii  tin 
 Ihird  dill/. 
 
 f  Heb.  iron. 
 t  HI'S,  iroi.d. 
 t  lieb.JiiJ. 
 
 f    Unh.rmitr 
 liiui  in  l,fi. 
 
 t  Heb.  ,A™ 
 
 t/f4lerdai/  tlie 
 Ifiird  day. 
 
 •fien.  1.1.19. 
 ch.  12.  2ll. 
 
 /Josh.  20. 
 7,3. 
 
 S  Ex.  21.  12, 
 fco.  Xutn, 
 Sj.  Ifi,  24. 
 ch.  27  24 
 Pr<iv.28.I7 
 
 \  Hah. ill  tiff 
 
 h  cli.  13   8. 
 
 &  25.   12. 
 t  Nu.  .S5.  S.1. 
 
 .34.  ch.2l  !i. 
 
 I  Kin. 2.  31. 
 A  ch.  27.  17. 
 
 Job  -4.  2. 
 
 Pi-.iv  22  28. 
 
 Hob.  5.  10. 
 
 God  giveth  thee,  and  thou  fsucceedest  them, 
 and  dwellest  in  their  cities,  and  in  their  houses ; 
 •2  ''  Thou  shalt  separate  three  cities  for  theo 
 in  the  midst  of  thy  land,  which  the  Lord  thy 
 God  giveth  thee  to  possess  it. 
 
 3  Thou  shalt  prepare  thee  a  way,  and  divide 
 the  coasts  of  thy  land,  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
 giveth  thee  to  inherit,  into  three  parts,  that 
 every  slayer  may  flee  thither. 
 
 4  t  And  '  this  is  the  case  of  the  slayer,  which 
 shall  flee  thither,  that  he  may  live  :  Whoso 
 killeth  bis  neighbour  ignurantly,  v\'honi  he 
 hated  not  f  in  time  past  ; 
 
 3  As  when  a  man  goeth  into  the  wood  with 
 his  neighbour  to  hew  wood,  and  his  hand 
 fetcheth  a  stroke  with  the  ax  to  cut  down  the 
 tree,  and  the  fliead  slippeth  from  the  f  helve, 
 and  t  ligbteth  upon  his  neighbour,  that  he  die  ; 
 he  shall  flee  unto  one  of  those  cities,  and  live  ; 
 
 G  '^  Lest  the  avenger  of  the  blood  pursue  the 
 slayer,  while  his  heart  is  hot,  and  overtake 
 him,  because  the  way  is  long,  and  f  slay  him  ; 
 whereas  he  was  not  worthy  of  death,  inasmuch 
 as  he  hated  him  not  f  in  time  past. 
 
 7  Wherefore  I  command  thee,  saying,  Thou 
 shalt  separate  three  cities  for  thee. 
 
 8  And  if  the  Lord  thy  God  ^enlarge  thy 
 coast,  as  he  bath  sworn  unto  thy  fathers,  and 
 give  thee  all  the  land  which  he  promised  to 
 give  unto  thy  fathers  ; 
 
 9  If  thou  shalt  keep  all  these  commandments 
 to  do  them,  which  I  command  thee  this  day, 
 to  love  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  to  walk  ever 
 in  his  ways  ;  '  then  shalt  thou  add  three  cities 
 more  fur  thee,  beside  these  three  : 
 
 10  That  innocent  blood  be  not  shed  in  thy 
 land,  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  iheefor 
 an  inheritance,  and  so  blood  be  upon  thee. 
 
 1 1  1i  But  '  if  any  uiun  hate  his  neighbour,  and 
 lie  in  wait  for  him,  and  rise  up  against  bim,  and 
 smite  him  fuiortally  that  he  die,  and  fleeth 
 into  one  of  these  cities  : 
 
 12  Then  the  elders  of  his  city  shall  send  and 
 fetch  him  thence,  and  deliver  him  into  the 
 hand  of  the  avenger  of  blood,  that  he  may  die. 
 
 13  '■  Thine  eye  shall  not  pity  him,  '  but  thou 
 shalt  put  away  the  tjnilt  ./innocent  blood  from 
 Israel,  that  it  may  go  well  with  thee. 
 
 14  1i  '  Thou  shalt  not  remove  thy  neighbour's 
 
 liingDian.    .i  necromaneer — one  who  inquires  of  the  souls  of  the  dead.—  pounded  of  Christ  alone   in  the  New  Testament,  (Acts,  iii.   22,  and 
 
 Sut.,  Pat.,  Gilt.         13.  Perfect,  '  entire.'— Loieth.         15.  .i  Pmphet—  vii.  3"  ;  see  alsojohn,  i.4.i,  andvi.  14.) — Poute.     The  ancient  Jews  un- 
 
 like  unto  me — tlicse  words  are  chiefly  to  be  understood  of  Christ.     He  derstood  this  te.xt  as  peculiarly  applicable  to  the  Messiah. — Le  Clerc. 
 was  truly  like  Moses  ill  being  a  prophet,  king,  priest,  and  mediator,  in  Chap.  .\IX. — 2.    Three  cities — see    notes    on    chap.  iv.  41—43. 
 
 the  e.\cclleiicy  of  liis  ministry  and  work,  in  the  glory  of  his  miracles,  in  14.  Lantlmnrk  —  landmarks  were  commonly  of  stone,  and  easily  re- 
 
 his  familiar  and  intimate  converge  with  God,  &c.    This  place  is  e.x-  moved.    Their  removal  often  occasioned  bloodshed,  and  was  like  aiter- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVllI.  —  I.  This  chapter  condemns 
 tilt  iynorant  practices  of  those  weak  persons  who  imagine  that  wic/ted 
 people  can  discover  to  them  the  secrets  of  futurity.  Because  out 
 of  many  things  these  profane  creatures  have  sometimes,  by 
 accident,  predicted  the  right,  the  credulous  have  ol'ten  e.\alted 
 their  characters,  and  induced  others  to  become  the  dupes  of 
 their  artifice.  But,  can  it  be  for  a  moment  supposed  that 
 God's  future  designs  respecting  individuals  are  revealed  to 
 any  of  his  creatures  !  It  is,  indeed,  a  mercy  they  are  not : 
 did  we  sometimes  know  our  coming  sorrows,  we  should  sink 
 in  the  prospect ;  when,  by  leaving  our  limes  in  God's  hands, 
 he  gives  us  grace  to  bear  under  them,  and  deUvers  us  out  of 
 them.  Did  we  know  any  future  prosperity  and  e.\allation 
 intended  for  us,  it  would  make  us  impatient  under  our  pre- 
 seiit  lot ;  we  should  be  unfitted  for  the  duties  of  life,  and  as 
 children  longing  for  the  promised  day  of  enjoyment.  And 
 did  we  know  to  what  length  our  days  might  be  protracted,  we 
 should  be  in  danger  of  presuming  and  yielding  our  hearts  to 
 212 
 
 the  influence  of  this  world  ;  for,  even  as  it  is,  men  venture  to 
 reckon  on  long  Hfe  and  future  days,  wiien  tlieir  last  hour  is 
 often  already  on  the  wing.  Hence  we  see  the  folly  of  aiming 
 to  know  what  God  has  concealed,  and  his  wisdom  and  good- 
 ness in  keeping  the  knowledge  of  future  events  in  his  own 
 bosom. 
 
 II.  Let  ns  bless  God  for  a  Prophet  tvho  wiU  teach  aU  that  seek 
 him  in  the  hit/hest  matters  relating  to  their  everlasting  salvation. 
 Christ  is  our  Prophet.  '  God,  who  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers 
 manners  spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers,  by  the  prophets, 
 hath,  in  these  last  days,  spoken  to  us  by  bis  Son ;'  and  He,  now 
 he  has  ascended  into  glory,  has  sent  his  Spirit  to  lead  us  into 
 all  truth.  ]\Iay  we  ever  listen  to  his  voice,  submit  to  his  guid- 
 ance, and  walk  in  the  path  he  has  srt  before  us.  '  Shew  me 
 thy  way,  O  Lord  ;  teacli  me  thy  paths  ;  lead  me  in  thy  truth 
 and  teach  me,  for  thou  art  the  God  of  my  salvation,  and  on 
 thee  would  I  wait  all  the  day.* 
 
The  punishment  of  a  false  witness.  DEUTERONOMY,  XX 
 
 landmark,  which  they  of  old  thne  have  set  in 
 thine  inheritance,  which  thou  shall  inherit  in 
 the  land  that  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee  to 
 possess  it. 
 
 15  1  '  One  witness  shall  not  rise  np  against 
 a  man  for  any  iniquity,  or  for  any  sin,  in  any 
 sin  that  he  sinneth  :  at  the  mouth  of  two  wit- 
 nesses, or  at  the  mouth  of  tlu'ee  witnesses,  shall 
 the  matter  be  established. 
 
 16  1  If  a  false  witness  ""rise  up  against  any 
 man  to  testify  against  him  ||  that  which  is 
 wrouf;  ; 
 
 17  Then  both  the  men,  between  whom  the 
 controversy  is,  shall  stand  before  the  Loud, 
 °  before  the  priests  and  the  judges,  which  shall 
 be  in  those  days  ; 
 
 18  And  the  judges  shall  make  diligent  inqui- 
 sition :  and,  behold,  if  the  witness  be  a  false 
 witness,  and  hath  testified  falsely  against  his 
 brother  ; 
 
 19  "Then  shall  ye  do  unto  liini,  as  he  had 
 thought  to  have  done  unto  his  brother:  so 
 ■' shaft  thou  put  the  evil  away  from  among  you. 
 
 20  ''  And  those  which  remain  shall  hear,  and 
 fear,  and  shall  henceforth  commit  no  more  any 
 such  evil  among  you. 
 
 21  'And  thine  eye  shall  not  pity;  hut  'life 
 sha/l  rjo  for  life,  eye  for  eye,  tooth  for  tooth, 
 hand  for  hand,  foot  for  foot. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  r/te  yriesVs  rxhortfition  to  encourage  the  people  to 
 battle.  5  Tlie  officers'  proclamation  wito  are  to  be 
 dismissed  from  the  war.  10  JIow  to  use  the  cities 
 that  accept  or  rifuse  the  proclamatioit  of  peace.  16 
 What  citits  must  be  devoted.  19  Trees  of  vunCs 
 meat  must  not  be  destroyed  in  the  siege. 
 
 WHEN  thou  goest  out  to  battle  against 
 thine  enemies,  and  seest  "  horses,  and 
 chariots,  and  a  people  more  than  thou,  be  not 
 afraid  of  them  :  for  the  Lokd  thy  God  is  ''with 
 thee,  which  brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt. 
 '2  And  it  shall  be,  when  ye  are  come  uigh 
 unto  the  battle,  that  the  priest  sliall  approach 
 and  speak  unto  the  people, 
 
 3  And  shall  say  unto  them,  Hear,  O  Israel, 
 ye  approach  this  day  unto  battle  against  your 
 enemies:  let  not  your  hearts  f  faint,  fear  not, 
 and  do  not  f  tremble,  neither  be  ye  terrified 
 because  of  them ; 
 
 4  For  the  Lord  your  God  is  he  that  goeth 
 with  you,  '  to  fight  for  you  against  your  ene- 
 mies, to  save  you. 
 
 5  t  And  the  officers  shall  speak  unto  the 
 people,  saying.  What  man  is  there  that  hath  | 
 
 /  Mum  ^■S. 
 .SO.  cli.  17.6 
 Mat.  lU.  16 
 John  8.  17. 
 SCoi".  13.  I 
 
 m  Ps.  87, 12. 
 ass.  II. 
 II  Ot,falii»g 
 
 ■  ch.  17.9. 
 &  21.  5. 
 
 o  Pro. 19.5, 9. 
 
 Dan.  6.  2i. 
 
 Hist.  Siu. 
 
 62. 
 p  rli.lS.  5-  & 
 
 17.7.  fc  21, 
 
 21.  6i22.  21, 
 
 24.  &  24  7. 
 o  ch.  17.  13. 
 
 »  21.21. 
 r  ver.  IS. 
 .  Ej.  21.  23. 
 
 Lev.  21  20. 
 
 Mat.  5.  S8. 
 
 rt  See  Ps.  20. 
 7.  la.  SI.  I. 
 
 6  No.  23.21. 
 ch.SI.6,8. 
 2Clir.l3.12. 
 Hi  32.  7,  3. 
 
 f  Heh.  As 
 
 IrnHrr. 
 t  Heb.  make 
 
 ■ch.  1.30. 
 &  3  22. 
 Josh.  23. 10. 
 
 (/  See  Neh. 
 12,  27. 
 Ps.30,  title- 
 
 t  Heb.  ma./* 
 
 SeeLcv.ls! 
 23,  2+ 
 ch.  28.  30. 
 f  fh.  2*  5. 
 
 /Judg    7   S 
 
 t  Heb.  to  be 
 in  tlie  head 
 oJthepeopU. 
 
 g  2  Sam.  20. 
 18,20. 
 
 i  Jofh.  8.  2. 
 \  Heb.  i^ail. 
 h  Josh.  2-'.  8. 
 
 I  Nuin.21.2, 
 3,  35.  &  33. 
 52.  ch.7.1,2. 
 Joih.ll.l4 
 
 i  m  ch  7  4.  & 
 12.  30,3m. 
 I    IB.  9. 
 
 The  proclamation  of  peace 
 
 built  a  new  liouse,  and  liath  not  '■  dedicated  it? 
 let  him  go  and  return  to  his  house,  lest  lie  die 
 in  the  battle,  and  another  man  dedicate  it. 
 
 6  And  what  man  is  he  that  hath  planted  a 
 vineyard,  and  hath  not  i/et  f  eaten  of  it?  lei 
 him  also  go  and  return  unto  his  house,  lest  he 
 die  in  the  battle,  and  another  man  eat  of  it. 
 
 7  "^  And  what  man  is  there  that  hath  be- 
 trothed a  wife,  and  hath  not  taken  her?  let 
 him  go  and  return  unto  his  house,  lest  he  die 
 in  the  battle,  and  another  man  take  her. 
 
 8  And  the  officers  shall  speak  further  unto 
 the  people,  and  they  shall  say,  '  What  man  is 
 there  that  is  fearful  and  faintliearted  ?  let  him 
 go  and  return  unto  his  house,  lest  his  brethren's 
 heart  f  faint  as  well  as  his  heart. 
 
 9  And  it  shall  be,  when  the  officers  have 
 made  an  end  of  speaking  unto  the  people,  that 
 they  shall  make  captains  of  the  armies  f  to  lead 
 the  people. 
 
 10  IT  When  thou  comest  nigh  unto  a  city  to 
 fight  against  it,  ^  then  proclaim  peace  unto  it. 
 
 11  And  it  shall  be,  if  it  make  thee  answer 
 of  peace,  and  open  unto  thee,  then  it  shall  be, 
 that  all  the  people  that  is  found  therein  shall 
 be  tributaries  unto  thee,  and  they  shall  serve 
 thee. 
 
 12  And  if  it  will  make  no  peace  with  thee, 
 but  will  make  war  against  thee,  then  thou  shall 
 besiege  it : 
 
 13  And  when  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  de- 
 livered it  into  thine  hand.s,  ''  thou  shall  smite 
 every  male  thereof  with  the  edge  of  the  sword  : 
 
 14  But  the  women,  and  the  little  ones,  and 
 '  the  cattle,  and  all  that  is  in  the  city,  even  all 
 the  spoil  thereof,  shall  thou  f  take  unto  thy- 
 self; and  ''thou  shall  eat  the  spoil  of  thine 
 enemies,  which  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  given 
 thee. 
 
 Ij  Thus  shall  thou  do  unto  all  the  cities 
 which  are  very  far  oft'  from  tliee,  which  are 
 not  of  the  cities  of  these  nations. 
 
 16  But  '  of  the  cities  of  these  people,  which 
 the  Lord  thy  God  duth  give  thee  for  an  in- 
 heritance, thou  shall  save  alive  nothing  that 
 breatheth  : 
 
 17  But  thou  shall  utterly  destroy  them; 
 namely,  the  Hiltites,  and  the  Amoriles,  the 
 Canaanites,  and  the  Perizzites,  the  Hivitcs, 
 and  the  Jebusites  ;  as  the  Lord  thy  God  hath 
 commanded  thee  : 
 
 18  That  "'they  teach  you  not  to  do  after  all 
 their  abominations,  which  they  have  done  unto 
 their  gods  ;  so  should  ye  "  sin  against  the  Lord 
 your  God. 
 
 19  H  When  tUou  shall  besiege  a  city  a  long 
 
 ing,  destroying,  or  forging  a  modern  title  deed. — So  A.  Ctarke,  and 
 Kidder.        21.  Eye  for  eye — see  note  on  Exoil.  sxi.  24. 
 
 Ch  \p.  XX.  —  1 .  Hurses  and  ctiariots — the  armies  of  the  Israelites,  at 
 this  time,  were  all  foot,  while  the  Canaanites  and  other  nations  enjoyed 
 the  supposed  advantages  of  chariots  and  horses. — Hew.  5.  Let  liim 
 go  and  return — this  was  allowed  in  those  wars  only  which  were  made 
 voluntarily,  but  not  of  those  which  were  by  the  Divine  commandment, 
 against  the  seven  nations  of  Canaan  and  Amalek,  in  which  every  man 
 
 was  bound  to  engage.— P(!(.  6.  Enten  of  !<— literally,  'profane  it.' 
 During  three  years  the  fruits  were  not  eathered,  in  the  fourth  year 
 they  were  holy  for  the  Levitcs.  in  the  fifth  they  became  common  and 
 pro/rrae,  being  generally  used.— BooMr.  17.  Utterly  destroy  — see 
 
 note  on  cliap.  vii.  2.  Dr.  Clarke  thinks  that  the  destruction  nf  this 
 people  would  have  been  averted  had  they  yielded  to  the  Israelites,  re- 
 nounced idolatry,  and  paid  annual  tribute ;  but  Henry  is  of  opinion, 
 tliat  no  peace  was  to  be  made  with  the  Canaauitish  nations,  which 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIX.  —  In  this  chapter  — I.  We 
 are  again  reminded  of  Christ  our  refuge.  The  way  to  him  is  pre- 
 pareil.  Kvery  facility  is  afforded  to  learn  the  way— 'The 
 word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  mouth  ;'  and  the  ministers  of 
 Christ  stand  as  directors,  urging  sinners  whither  they  may 
 '  flee  irom  the  wrath  to  come.' 
 
 II.  We  are  also  here  reminded  of  the  awful  depravity  of  man  in 
 the  laws  necessary  to  protect  against  his  wickedness.  Here  is  pro- 
 vision made  against  murder — against  fraud — against  perjury. 
 213 
 
 What  is  man!  How  grateful  should  we  be  to  God,  that,  with 
 such  propensities,  human  nature  is  under  so  much  control. 
 Vet,  in  those  parts  where  Christianity  does  not  exist,  how 
 much  does  it  develop  itself  in  these  and  other  respects  equally 
 injurious  to  the  peace  and  happiness  of  society  !  Ilow  much, 
 then,  do  we  owe  to  Christianity,  and  how  great  are  Us  tri- 
 umphs where  it  possesses  an  uncontrolled  sway  1  May  we 
 ever  have  grace  to  reduce  its  noble  precepts  to  practice  ! 
 
The  expiation  vfuiiceriaiit  imttder 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXI.         The  itsaye  of  a  captive  taken  to  wife. 
 
 time,  in  making  war  against  it  to  talie  it,  tliou 
 shall  not  destroy  the  trees  thereof  by  forcing 
 an  ax  against  them  ;  for  tliou  niayest  eat  of 
 them,  and  thou  shalt  not  cut  them  down  (||  for 
 the  tree  of  tlie  field  is  man's  life)  f  to  employ 
 them  m  the  siege  : 
 
 20  Only  the  trees  which  thou  knowest  that 
 they  be  not  trees  for  meat,  thou  shalt  destroy 
 and  cut  them  down  ;  and  thou  shalt  build  bul- 
 warks against  the  city  that  maketh  war  with 
 thee,  until  fit  be  subdued. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 I  TIte  expiation  of  an  uncertain  mnrder,  10  The 
 vsape  of  a  captive  ta/un  to  wife.  15  Tite/tr^tbom  is 
 not  to  be  ilisinherlted  npon  private  tifftction.  IS  j-t 
 %tvbborn  son  is  to  he  stoned  to  death.  22  The  malt- 
 factor  must  not  huny  all  night  on  a  tree. 
 
 TF  one  be  found  slain  in  the  land  which  the 
 -•-  Lord  thy  God  givetli  thee  to  possess  it, 
 lying  in  the  field,  and  it  be  not  known  who 
 hath  slain  him : 
 
 •2  Then  thy  elders  and  thy  judges  shall  come 
 forth,  and  they  shall  measure  unto  the  cities 
 which  are  round  about  him  that  is  slain  : 
 
 3  And  it  shall  he.  that  the  city  ichich  is  next 
 unto  the  slain  man,  even  the  elders  of  that  city 
 shall  take  an  heifer,  which  hath  not  been 
 wrought  with,  and  which  liatli  not  drawn  in 
 the  yoke  ; 
 
 4  And  the  elders  of  that  city  shall  bring  down 
 the  heifer  unto  a  rough  valley,  whicli  is  neither 
 eared  nor  sown,  and  shall  strike  otF  the  heifer's 
 neck  there  in  tlie  valley  : 
 
 5  And  the  priests  the  sons  of  Levi  shall  come 
 near  ;  for  °  them  the  Loud  thy  God  hath  chosen 
 to  minister  unto  him,  and  to  bless  in  the  name 
 of  the  Lord  ;  and  ''by  their  f  word  shall  every 
 coutroversy  and  every  stroke  be  tried: 
 
 t  Heb.  fo  tfo 
 fu,-tn  bejme 
 Ihee. 
 
 t  Heb   i< 
 
 coma  duari. 
 
 12.  14  -'G.  C 
 Mill.  27.  2-1, 
 
 </Jon»}il.H 
 t  Heb.  m  //.'■ 
 
 t  Dfb  t>,akt 
 OC,  lirru 
 
 10. 
 
 Ju(lg.l9  ?A 
 AG«ii.2<J,3S, 
 
 6  And  all  the  elders  of  that  city,  that  are 
 next  unto  the  slain  ?«««,  ""  shall  wash  their 
 hands  over  tlie  heifer  that  is  heheaded  in  t!ie 
 valley  : 
 
 7  And  they  shall  answer  and  say,  Our  hands 
 have  not  shed  this  blood,  neither  have  our  eyes 
 seen  it. 
 
 8  Be  merciful,  O  Lord,  unto  thy  people 
 Israel,  whom  thou  hast  redeemed,  ''and  lay 
 not  innocent  blood  f  unto  thy  people  of  Is- 
 rael's charge.  And  the  blood  shall  be  forgiven 
 them. 
 
 9  So  *^  shalt  thou  put  away  the  (juilt  ©/"inno- 
 cent  blood  from  among  you,  when  thou  slialt 
 do  that  which  is  right  in  the  sight  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 10  1[  When  thou  goest  forth  to  war  against 
 thine  enemies,  and  the  Loud  thy  God  hatli 
 delivered  them  into  thine  hands,  and  tliou  hast 
 taken  them  captive, 
 
 11  And  seest  among  the  captives  a  beautiful 
 woman,  and  hast  a  desire  unto  her,  that  thou 
 wouldest  have  her  to  thy  wife; 
 
 12  Tiien  then  shalt  bring  her  home  to  thine 
 house  ;  and  she  shall  shave  her  head,  and 
 II  f  pare  her  nails  ; 
 
 13  And  she  shall  put  the  raiment  of  her  cap- 
 tivity from  ott'  her,  and  shall  remain  in  thine 
 house,  and  '  bewail  her  father  and  her  mother 
 a  full  month  :  and  after  that  thou  slialt  go  in 
 unto  her,  and  be  her  husband,  and  she  shall  be 
 thy  wife. 
 
 14  And  it  shall  be,  if  thou  have  no  delight  in 
 her,  tiien  thou  shalt  let  her  go  whither  she 
 will  ;  but  thou  shalt  not  sell  her  at  all  for  mo- 
 ney, thou  shalt  not  make  merchandise  of  her, 
 because  thou  bast  ^bumbled  her. 
 
 I o  IT  If  a  man  have  two  wives,  one  beloved, 
 ••and  another  hated,  and  they  have  born  him 
 
 were  to  be  utterly  rnoted  out,  (chap.\-ii.  2.)  19.  The  trep  af  the  field 
 is  miin's  li/e — in  those  times,  when  besiegers  forced  their  way  with 
 battering-rams,  they  had  occasion  for  much  timber  in  carrying'  oa 
 their  sieges  ;  now,  because  in  the  heat  of  war  men  are  not  apt  to  con- 
 sider, as  they  oueht.the  public  good,  it  is  expressly  provided  that  fruit 
 trees  should  not  be  used  as  timber  trees.  All  the  ancient  versions,  the 
 Septua^nt,  Targums,  See,  read,  '  For  is  the  tree  of  the  field  a  man?' 
 or,  *  The  tree  of  the  tield  is  not  a  man,  that  it  should  come  against  thee 
 in  the  siege,  or  retire  from  thee  into  the  bulwark.'  Do  not  brutishly 
 vent  thy  rage  against  the  trees  that  can  do  thee  no  harm.  But  our 
 translation  is  to  be  preferred.— Hra.  The  fruit  trees  of  the  field  were 
 designed  for  the  food  of  man.— So  Hosemn.  and  Le  Clerc. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  I .  J/  a  man  be  found  slain — this  law  was  evidently  to 
 increase  the  horror  of  murder,  and  to  produce  inquiries  and  detection. 
 — Scott.  3.  Take  an  heifer,  as  a  sacrifice   to  make  atonement.^ 
 
 A.  Clarke.  This  was  not  a  sacrifice,  but  a  solemn  protestation  of  the 
 deserts  of  the  murderer,  for  it  was  not  sacrificed  at  the  altar.— Kenry. 
 4.  A  rough  valley,  >n»n  Sn:,  '  a  rapid  stream,'  probably  passing  through 
 a  piece  of  unculti  vatcd  ground.—^.  Clarke.  'An  overflowing  cur- 
 rent.*— Boothr.  *  A  perpetual  stream/  the  channel  of  which  is  never 
 dry,  so  as  to  admit  of  cultivation  ;  for  during  a  part  of  the  year  the 
 beds  of  many  torrents  in  mountainous  countries,  such  as  India  is,  are 
 advantageously  cropped.  The  heifer  was  to  be  slain  so  that  its  blood 
 should  run  instantly  into  the  rapid  rivulet,  and  be  washed  down  the 
 stream . —il/icA .  The  whole  shadowed  forth  the  atonement  and  inter- 
 cession of  Christ,  through  which  iniquity  is  pardoned  by  a  merciful  God 
 to  his  redeemed  people.— Sf'"/^  The  slaying  the  heifer  in  a  cultivated 
 fidd  would  have  polluted  the  ground.— Sm(.  6.  Wash  their  hands— 
 this  was  an  external  sign  of  the  protestation  of  innocence  and  ignorance 
 
 concerning  the  murder. — Scott.  See  Matt,  xxvii.  24.  U.  And  hast 
 II  desire — Poole,  as  the  Jewish  doctors,  understands,  or  'hast  taken 
 delight  in  her,*  and  supposes  that  she  was  'humbled*  when  he  first 
 captured  her,  and  that  such  is  the  meaning  in  ver.  14.  Scott  under- 
 stands otherwise,  and  observes,  *in  case  he  humbled  her,  and  did  not 
 choose  to  continue  her  as  his  wife,  he  must  not  keep  her  as  a  slave  or 
 sell  her.'  This  law  was  evidently  designed  to  prevent  licentiousness 
 among  the  Jewish  soldierj'. — See  Hales.  I2.  S/iatfe  her  head — to  be 
 less  engaging,  or  as  a  token  of  mourning. — Poole,  Gill.  In  token  of 
 renouncing  idolatry. — Poole.  It  was  a  rite  of  cleansing,  (Lev.  xiv.  8, 
 9  ;  Num.  vi.  9 0 — Hew.  Pare  fier  nails — Jewish  writers  interpiet  this 
 in  various  ways—'  dye  her  nails,'  says  one ;  '  let  her  nails  grow,'  says 
 another.  This  reading  is  preferred  hy  Pat.,  Gill,  And  Srott.  A.  Clarke 
 adopts  the  first  opinion  as  probable,  but  that  is  not  in  accordance  with 
 shaving  the  head,  and  putting  off  her  beautiful  garments,  '  the  raiment 
 of  her  captivity,'  &c.,  colouring  the  nails  being  reckoned  an  ornament. 
 Paring  the  nails  in  the  Hebrew,  n^jica  HM  nncjyi,  literally  signifies 
 '  making  them  neat ;'  and  hence  Hewlett  adopts  the  same  opinion  as 
 Clarke.  Query,  If  dying  the  nails  in  a  particular  manner  was  a  custom 
 with  itlolators,  might  not  the  paring  the  nails  have  a  reference  to  the 
 gradual  destruction  of  this  relic  of  their  idolatry  ?—£rf.  13.  Raiment 
 of  her  captivity — it  was  customary  among  the  ancients  for  the  women 
 who  accompanied  their  husbands  or  fathers  to  battle  to  put  on  their 
 finest  dresses  and  ornaments  previously  to  an  engagement,  in  order  to 
 attract  the  notice  of  the  conqueror  if  taken  prisoners. — Orient,  Cast. 
 14.  Humbled  her,  TfPi'lT,  from  T}2T,  'lien  with.'— Par.  Abarbinel  un- 
 derstands this  as  being  done  by  submitting  to  the  conditions  befi;re 
 named  ;  and,  indeed,  the  Hebrew  word  denotes  any  sort  of  affliction. 
 —Pat.        16,  Hated,  '  disliked.'— TTiV.    '  Less  loved,'  (see  Gen.  xxix. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XX. —  I.  ff  the  Israelites  tvere  en- 
 couraged in  their  wars  hij  the  Lord  their' God  being  jvith  them,  so 
 way  the  Christian  rejoice  in  hai^in;;  Alniif/hti/  aid  in  nil  his  spi- 
 ritual conflicts.  Without  this  aid  his  enemies  would  c^rtuinly 
 be  too  powerful  for  him.  But  the  Christian  may  lav  Imld  on 
 the  promise,  *  For  the  Lord  your  God  is  he  tliat  poelli  with 
 you,  to  fight  for  you  against  your  enemies,  and  to  save  you.' 
 
 n.    The  fearfid  and  unhelievinf/  must  not  he  ranked  in  the  armies 
 
 of  the  living  God.    If  we  enlist  under  the  banners  of  the  Captain 
 
 of  our  salvation,  we  must  dt^ny  ourselves,  take  up  our 'cross, 
 
 and  follow  him.     '  He  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more  than 
 
 2U 
 
 me,'  says  the  Saviour,  *  is  not  worthy  of  me  ;  and  he  that  loveth 
 son  or  daughter  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me  ;  and  he 
 that  taketh  not  his  cross,  and  followeth  after  me,  is  not  worthy 
 of  me.  He  that  findeth  liis  life  shall  lose  it,  and  he  that  loseth 
 his  life  for  my  sake  shall  find  it.' 
 
 in.  /re  must  give  no  quarter  to  our  spiritual  enetnies.  Tbey 
 are  the  disturbers  of  our  peace,  and  if  we  do  not  overcome 
 them,  they  will  overcome  us.  But  though  they  are  great  and 
 powerful,  they  shall  fall  before  the  phalanx  of  true  believers, 
 for  '  the  people  that  know  their  God  shall  be  strong,  and  do 
 great  exploits." 
 
The  firstborn  not  to  he  disinherited.  DEUTERONOMY,  XXII. 
 
 Of  htnnnnitij  toward  brethren^ 
 
 children,  both  the  beloved  and  the  hated ;  and 
 rythe  firstborn  son  be  her's  that  was  hated  : 
 
 16  Then  it  shall  be,  '  v/ben  be  maketb  his 
 sons  to  inherit  that  which  he  liatb,  that  he  may 
 not  make  the  son  of  the  beloved  firstborn  be- 
 fore the  son  of  the  hated,  which  is  indeed  the 
 firstborn  : 
 
 17  But  be  shall  acknowledge  the  son  of  the 
 hated  for  the  firstborn,  ^  by  giving  him  a  double 
 portion  of  all  f  that  he  hatli :  for  he  is  '  the 
 beginning  of  bis  strength ;  ""  the  right  of  the 
 firstborn  is  bis. 
 
 18  IF  If  a  man  have  a  stubborn  and  rebellious 
 son,  which  will  not  obey  the  voice  of  liis  fa- 
 ther, or  the  voice  of  his  mother,  and  that,  when 
 they  have  chastened  him,  will  not  hearken 
 unto  them  : 
 
 19  Then  shall  bis  father  and  his  mother  lay 
 hold  on  him,  and  bring  him  out  unto  the  elders 
 of  his  city,  and  unto  the  gate  of  his  place  ; 
 
 20  And  they  shall  say  unto  the  elders  of  his 
 city,  This  our  son  is  stubborn  and  rebellious, 
 he  will  not  obey  our  voice  ;  he  is  a  glutton,  and 
 a  drunkard. 
 
 21  And  all  the  men  of  his  city  shall  stone 
 him  with  stones,  that  he  die:  "so  shalt  thou 
 put  evil  away  from  among  you  ;  °  and  all  Israel 
 shall  hear,  and  fear. 
 
 22  IT  And  if  a  man  have  committed  a  sin 
 **  worthy  of  death,  and  he  be  to  be  put  to 
 death,  and  thou  hang  him  on  a  tree  : 
 
 23  ''  His  body  shall  not  remain  all  night  upon 
 the  tree,  but  thou  sbalt  in  any  wise  bury  him 
 that  day  ;  (for  ""  he  that  is  hanged  is  f  accursed 
 of  God  ;)  that  "  thy  land  be  not  defiled,  which 
 the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee  for  an  inherit- 
 auce. 
 
 CHAP.  xxn. 
 
 1  Of  humanity  toward  brethren.  5  The  sex  is  to  he 
 distinyiiishid  by  appiird.  6  The  dam  is  not  to  be 
 taken  with  her  i/ounr;  ones.     8  The  house  must  have 
 
 :  1  Clir.  5.  3. 
 (V'  -iC.  10. 
 SChi. 11.19, 
 
 tt  See  I  Chr. 
 
 5    I. 
 t  Heb.  thatii 
 
 found  aith 
 
 him. 
 
 /Gen,  49.3. 
 m  Geo.  25. 
 
 31,33. 
 
 •I  ch.  IS   5. 
 
 8r  l!t.IQ,iO. 
 
 &?-'.  21,21 
 >cti.   \S.  11. 
 
 p  ch    19.  6. 
 
 &  ^2.  26. 
 
 Acts  AS.  29. 
 
 ft  25.11,25. 
 
 &  2B.  i  I . 
 7  Jotih  8.59, 
 
 it  lU.  26,  ?7 
 
 Jobn  19.  31 
 r  Gal.  3.  13 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 God: 
 
 See  Num. 
 25.  4. 
 
 2S.im  21.6, 
 J  Lev  18.95 
 Num.S5.34. 
 
 e  Lev  19.19. 
 iHeh./uli.m 
 
 bnttlanents.  9  Confusinv  is  to  be  avoided.  12  Fringes 
 vpon  the  vesture,  13  The  punishment  of  him  that 
 sland'treth  his  wife.  20,22  Ofadidtery,  2b  of  rape, 
 28  and  offorniceition.     'ZO  Incest. 
 
 T^HOU  "shalt  not  see  thy  brother's  ox  or  his 
 -*-  sheep  go  astray,  and  hide  thyself  from 
 them  :  thou  slialt  in  any  case  bring  them  again 
 unto  thy  brother. 
 
 2  And  if  thy  brother  be  not  nigh  unto  thee, 
 or  if  thou  know  him  not,  then  thou  sbalt  bring 
 it  unto  thine  own  house,  and  it  shall  be  with 
 thee  until  tliy  brother  seek  after  it,  and  thou 
 shalt  restore  it  to  him  again. 
 
 3  In  like  manner  sbalt  thou  do  with  his  ass  ; 
 and  so  shalt  thou  do  with  his  raiment;  and 
 with  all  lost  thing  of  thy  brother's,  which  he 
 hath  lost,  and  thou  hast  found,  shalt  thou  do 
 likewise  :   thou  mayest  not  hide  thyself. 
 
 4  t  "^  Thou  shalt  not  see  thy  brother's  ass  or 
 his  ox  fall  down  by  the  way,  and  hide  thyself 
 from  them  :  thou  shalt  surely  help  him  to  lift 
 them  up  again. 
 
 3  1[  The  woman  shall  not  wear  that  which 
 pertaineth  unto  a  man,  neither  shall  a  man  put 
 on  a  woman's  garment :  for  all  that  do  so  are 
 abomination  unto  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 6  IT  If  a  bird's  nest  chance  to  be  before  thee 
 in  the  way  in  any  tree,  or  on  the  ground, 
 whether  they  be  young  ones,  or  eggs,  and  the 
 dam  sitting  upon  the  young,  or  upon  the  eggs, 
 '^  thou  shalt  not  take  the  dam  with  the  young  : 
 
 7  But  thou  shalt  in  any  wise  let  the  dam  go, 
 and  take  the  young  to  thee  ;  ^  that  it  may  be 
 well  with  thee,  and  that  thou  mayest  prolong 
 thy  days. 
 
 8  1  When  thou  buildest  a  new  house,  then 
 thou  sbalt  make  a  battlement  for  thy  roof,  that 
 thou  bring  not  blood  upon  thine  house,  if  any 
 man  fall  from  thence. 
 
 9  t  ^  Thou  sbalt  not  sow  thy  vineyard  with 
 divers  seeds  :  lest  the  f  fruit  of  thy  seed  which 
 
 31  ;  Matt.  vi.  24.)  18.  Stubborn — rebeUious—hy  stubborn,  the  Jews 
 understand  one  who  will  not  do  as  lie  is  bidden;  by  rebellious,  one 
 that  does  what  lie  is  forbidden.  20.  A  glutton,  V^it,  from  "ji,  '  pro- 
 
 fuse,''prodigal.' — Pur.  The  Hebrew  denotes  debauched,  or  ab  m- 
 dnned   to   gluttonous  company.  —  Wil.  21.  ShaH  stone  him — this 
 
 severity  was  n<.t  confined  to  the  Jews.  The  Roman  laws  were  very 
 severe  against  such  children  a?  are  here  described,  and  the  Atbenians 
 pronounced  those  worthy  of  death  that  beat  their  parents,  or  suffered 
 them  to  want  in  old  age. — Pat.  Incorrigible  children  are  delivered 
 over  to  the  magistrates  in  China  — Onent.  Lit.  The  execution  of  the 
 Jewish  law,  under  all  its  regulations,  could  very  seldom  take  place,  and 
 if  evtr  it  did  it  cnuld  not  fail  to  excite  general  attention  and  alarm,  and 
 prove  a  salutary  warning  to  tens  of  thousands. — Scott.  Originally,  the 
 power  of  life  and  death  was  lodged  with  the  father,  but  here  both  parents 
 must  agree  in  bringing  the  child  to  judgment,  and  then,  not  by  their 
 own  will,  bnt  by  the  judgment  of  the  elders,  he  was  to  be  condemned. 
 — Bp.  Watson.  We  have  no  instance  in  Scripture  of  this  law  being 
 put  in  force,  and  its  very  existence  might  act  as  a  preventive. — Wil. 
 22.  Hang  him — this  was  not  done,  as  with  us,  by  the  neck,  but  the  two 
 hands  fi^the  dead  body  were  fastened  together,  and  the  body  was  sus- 
 pended by  them.— So  the  Jewish  writers  ;  see  Gill.  2;i.  Not  remain  all 
 night — that  thy  land  be  not  defiled — which  was  typical  of  the  undefiled 
 inheritance.  It  wtmld  defile,  in  a  natural  sense,  by  putrefaction,  and  in 
 a  ceremonial  sense,  as  every  carcase  was  defiling  if  a  person  but  entered 
 where  it  was,  and  therefore  a  dead  body  was  not  to  be  left  rotting  in 
 
 the  air.  For  he  that  is  hanged  is  accursed  of  God,  having  committed 
 some  foul  sin  which  brought  the  curse  ui  God  upon  him.— Gi7/.  Boutli- 
 royd  reads,  *  accursed  of  God  is  every  one  that  hangcth  on  a  tree.'  In 
 this  he  follows  the  Srpt.,  Trut  KpCjua^ei-or  ent  fi-Xou,  as  we  also  read  Gal. 
 iii.  13.  The  Holy  Spirit  doubtless  dictated  this  expression  in  reference 
 to  him  who  was  made  a  curse  for  us. — Scott.  As  our  blessed  Saviour, 
 while  he  hung  upon  the  cross,  was  made  a  curse  and  an  execration,  so 
 when,  according  to  the  law,  he  was  taken  down  and  buried,  both  he 
 ceased  to  be  a  curse,  and  all  they  that  are  his. — Joh.  Coch. 
 
 Chap.  XXII.  —  5.  Tbe  woman  shull  not  wear,  §c. — in  the  worship  of 
 several  heathen  gods,  men  put  on  female  garments,  and  women  the 
 garments  of  men;  especially  in  the  worship  of  Venus,  women  ap- 
 peared before  her  in  armour,  and  men  in  woman's  apparel.  The 
 words  literally  run  in  the  Hebrew,  '  women  shall  not  put  on  the  armour 
 of  a  man,  ("iia  ^^3,)  nor  a  man  the  stole  of  a  woman.'  So  the  Sept. 
 read  it,  o-ToXnf-  7-  Let  the  dam  go — this  law  might  be  made  to 
 teach  humanity  to  all  the  creatures,  to  prevent  the  extirpation  of  such 
 birds,  and  their  consequent  deficiency  for  man  ;  to  restrain  tlie  greedi- 
 ness of  man,  that  lie  might  leave  some  for  the  advantage  of  (ithers ; 
 and  to  try  the  obedience  of  the  people  on  the  smallest  points,  the  im- 
 portance of  which  they  might  not  uniler?tand. — Poole,  Gill.  Scott,  Stc. 
 8.  Make  a  batflemfnt — the  roofs  of  easttiii  liUll^ta  were  fiat,  and  were 
 used  to  take  the  air,  as  in  a  garden  ;  these  battlements  were,  therefore, 
 essential  to  the  protection  of  human  hfe. — Ed.  Q.  Dirers  seeds — see 
 note  on  Lev.  xix.  19-    The  heathen  sowed  barley  with  dried  grapes,  by 
 
 Reflections  on  Crap.  XXI — I.  ffa  man's  life  be  so  pre- 
 cious in  the  sight  of  Gody  how  ought  he  hims  If  to  estimate  it.  How 
 important  are  its  functions,  till  he  who  breathed  into  man  the 
 breath  of  life  is  pleased  to  withdraw  that  breath  ;  for  how  short, 
 at  best,  is  the  time  allotted  to  man  to  serve  God  in  his  gene- 
 ration and  to  prepare  for  a  better  state  !  How  dreadful  is  the 
 responsibility  of  the  murderer  who  takes  away  this  life,  and 
 of  the  suicide,  if  it  be  possible  that  such  a  being  can  commit 
 the  crime  in  possession  of  his  usual  senses  ! 
 
 II.  If  Christian  e/overnments,  so  calhd,   will  practise  ar/pressive 
 
 wars,  ht  them  see  to  it,  on  the  most  awful  responbibilili/,  that  thnj 
 
 sanction  no  licentiousness  in  their  armies,  and  so  at  the  ja>riod  of 
 
 peace  bring  home  an  army  more  destructive  to  themselves  than 
 
 215 
 
 to  their  enemies,  by  their  bold  attacks  on  morality  and  virtue, 
 and  their  reckless  indulgences  in  every  sort  of  vice.  'J'lie 
 possibility  of  the  occurrence  of  this  circumstance  should  make 
 Christians  dread  war,  and  sincerely  pray,  *  Give  peace  in  our 
 time,  O  Lord.' 
 
 III.  If  undutifulness  to  parents  was  a  crime  under  the  law,  it  is 
 not  less  so  under  the  gospel.  Obedience  to  parents  is  a  part  of 
 the  immutable  law  ot  God,  and  it  is  therefore  urged  among 
 apostolical  precepts.  The  child  who  is  undutiful  must  throw 
 oft' all  the  restraints  of  religion  :  '  Honour  thy  father  and  mo- 
 ther, which  is  the  first  commandment  wiifa  promise.'  '  Chil- 
 dren, obey  your  parents  in  the  Lord,  for  this  is  right.* 
 
Confusion  to  he  avoided. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXIII. 
 
 Of  adultery,  rape,  §-c. 
 
 thou  hast  sown,  and  the  fruit  of  thy  vineyard, 
 be  defiled. 
 
 10  IT  '  Thou  sbalt  not  plow  with  an  ox  and  an 
 ass  together. 
 
 H  H  ^  Thou  shalt  not  wear  a  garment  of  di- 
 vers sorts,  «s  of  woollen  and  hneii  together. 
 
 12  t  Tliou  shalt  make  thee  ''  fringes  upon  the 
 four  t  quarters  of  thy  vesture,  wherewith  thou 
 coverest  thyself. 
 
 13  If  If  any  man  take  a  wife,  and  '  go  in  unto 
 her,  and  hate  her, 
 
 14  And  give  occasions  of  speech  against  her, 
 and  bring  up  an  evil  name  upon  her,  and  say,  I 
 took  this  woman,  and  when  I  came  to  her,  I 
 found  her  not  a  maid  : 
 
 Ij  Tlicn  shall  the  father  of  the  damsel,  and 
 her  mother,  take  and  bring  forth  the  tohens  of 
 the  damsel's  virginity  unto  the  elders  of  the 
 city  in  the  gate  : 
 
 10  And  the  damsel's  father  shall  say  unto  the 
 elders,  I  gave  my  daughter  unto  this  man  to 
 wife,  and  he  hateth  lier  ; 
 
 17  And,  lo,  he  hath  given  occasions  of  speech 
 against  her,  saying,  I  foinid  not  thy  daughter 
 a  maid  ;  and  yet  these  a)  e  the  tokens  of  my 
 daugliter's  virginity.  And  they  shall  spread 
 the  cloth  before  the  elders  of  the  city. 
 
 18  And  tlie  elders  of  that  city  shall  take  that 
 man  and  cliastise  him  ; 
 
 J  9  And  they  shall  amerce  him  in  an  hundred 
 shekels  of  silver,  and  give  them  unto  the  father 
 of  the  damsel,  because  he  hath  brought  up  an 
 evil  name  upon  a  virgin  of  Israel :  and  she 
 shall  be  his  wife  ;  he  may  not  put  her  away  all 
 his  days. 
 
 20  But  if  this  thing  be  true,  and  the  tokens  of 
 virginity  be  not  found  for  the  damsel : 
 
 21  Then  tliey  sliall  bring  out  the  damsel  to 
 the  door  of  licr  father's  house,  and  the  men  of 
 her  city  shall  stone  her  with  stones  tliat  slic 
 die  :  because  she  hath  '  wrought  folly  in  Israel, 
 to  play  the  whore  in  her  father's  house  :  '  so 
 shalt  tliDu  put  evil  away  from  among  you. 
 
 22  K  "'  If  a  man  be  found  lying  witli  a  woman 
 married  to  an  husband,  then  they  shall  both  of 
 them  die,  both  the  man  that  lay  with  the  wo- 
 
 /  SeeSCrtr. 
 6.  14,  15,16. 
 
 A  N,i.  15  38. 
 Mat.  23.  5. 
 tHeb  ioint(i. 
 
 Ren.  89  91 
 .ludj.  15.1. 
 
 '.  Mat.  I.  18 
 19. 
 
 o  ch.  21.  N. 
 f  ver.2?,  22. 
 
 II  Or,  tnif 
 MtToiia  hi/td 
 
 nfhrr. 
 
 2  Sam.  I.t. 
 M. 
 
 ju<ix  yo.  6, 
 
 10    a  Sn.n. 
 13    !;>,  13. 
 
 ;  cii.  IS.  ft. 
 
 ni  [.rv.iHI.lO. 
 John  8.  h. 
 
 1  Kx.  22.  16, 
 
 p  Lev.  18.  8 
 8(20.  It. 
 oil.  27.  a). 
 I  C.-r    5.  I. 
 
 0.  £/e.lG.8. 
 
 mail,  and  the  woman  :  so  shalt  thou  put  away 
 evil  from  Israel. 
 
 ii3  H  If  a  damsel  that  is  a  virgin  be  "  betrothed 
 unto  an  husband,  and  a  man  find  her  in  t!ic 
 city,  and  he  with  her  ; 
 
 •24  Then  ye  shall  brinj^;  them  both  out  unto 
 the  gate  of  that  city,  and  ye  shall  stone  them 
 with  stones  that  they  die  ;  the  damsel,  because 
 she  cried  not,  being  in  the  city  ;  and  the  man, 
 because  he  hath  "  humbled  his  neighbour's 
 wife  :  P  so  thou  shalt  put  away  evil  from  among 
 you. 
 
 2o  t  But  if  a  man  find  a  betrothed  damsel  in 
 the  field,  and  the  man  ||  force  her,  and  lie  with 
 her :  then  the  man  only  that  lay  with  her  shall 
 die  : 
 
 26  But  unto  the  damsel  thou  shalt  do  nothing ; 
 there  is  in  the  damsel  no  sin  tvorthtj  of  dt^atli  : 
 for  as  when  a  man  riseth  against  his  neiglibour, 
 and  slayeth  him,  even  so  is  this  matter: 
 
 '27  For  he  found  her  in  the  field,  and  the  be- 
 trothed damsel  cried,  and  there  was  none  to 
 save  her. 
 
 28  1[ ''  If  a  man  find  a  damsel  that  is  a  virgin, 
 which  is  not  betrothed,  and  lay  hold  on  her, 
 and  lie  with  her,  and  they  be  found  ; 
 
 29  Tiien  the  man  that  lay  with  her  shall  give 
 unto  the  damsel's  father  fifty  shekels  of  silver, 
 and  she  shall  be  his  wife;  'because  he  hath 
 humbled  her,  he  may  nut  put  her  away  all  his 
 days. 
 
 30  U  '  A  man  shall  not  take  his  father's  wife, 
 nor  *  discover  his  father's  skirt. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 I     Who  may  or  may  not  enter  into  the  eongrcgation.     9 
 
 Uncleanness  to  be  avoided  in  t/te  host.       15  Of  the 
 
 futjitive  servant,     M  Of  JiUhiness.      18  Of  abumin- 
 
 able  mcrijiccs*      19  Oftisiiri/.     21  Of  vows.     24  Of 
 
 trespasses. 
 
 TTE  that  is  wounded  in  the  stones,  or  hath 
 -*--■-  his  privy  member  cut  off,  shall  not  enter 
 into  the  congregation  of  tlie  Lord. 
 
 2  A  bastard  shall  not  enter  into  the  congre- 
 gation of  the  Lord  ;  even  to  his  tenth  genera- 
 tion shall  he  not  enter  into  the  congregation  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 wliich  they  signified,  Uieir  vineyards  were  consecrated  to  Ceres  and 
 Bacchus.— /,ou7«r/n,  10.  With  an  o.r  nnd  an  tiss  tat^et/ier,  lest  the 
 ass  should  be  over-worked,— ITiV.,  ^c.  or  it  migrht  be  to  *rt  constantly 
 before  the  people,  by  tliis  .'.ign,  the  le^snn  of  being  equally  ynkeii,  and 
 the  necessary  scparatinn  between  them  and  idolators,  as  it  is  applied  to 
 teach  the  same  lesson  respecting  marrin^e  unions  between  Christians 
 and  ungodly  persons,  (see  2  Cur.  vi.  U.)— So  A.  Citirke  and  Gil/. 
 12.  Fringes  upou  the  four  tiwirters  of  thy  gesture,  *  tie  strings  to  tlie 
 four  corners  of  thy  bed  covering.'— frz-rfrfz-A-,  who  is  follnwed  by  Bonlhr. 
 Patrick  supposes  the  garments  had  four  skirts,  and  these  fringes  were 
 to  be  worn  on  all  as  commanded,  (Num.  xv.  38,  39;)  but  Boot/init/d 
 has  a  different  and  natural  interpretation,  which  seems  to  justify  his 
 rendering  as  above.  He  says  that  Hurmer  has  remarked  tliat  a  wh"le 
 family  often  sleep  in  one  chamber  on  different  beds,  and  these  only 
 covered  with  a  single  rug  ;  hence  he  conceives  these  strings  or  ribbons 
 were  to  tip  the  coverlet  to  the  bed. posts.  13.  //  a  man  take  a  wife, 
 
 %f- — this  law  was  marie  lo  prevent  female  wickedness,  fmm  the  fear 
 of  detection  and  puni'^hmcnt,  and  it  would  prevent  a  hard-hearted  hus- 
 band from  robbing  Ids  injured  wife  of  her  reputation  when  his  affec- 
 tions were  transferred  to  another  object.— Sco/^. 
 
 Chap.  XXIII.  —  i.  Wounded,  Sfc, — this  was  perhaps  designed  to  pre- 
 vent Jewish  parents  from  mutilating  their  children,  according  to  a 
 practice  common  in  those  ages  and  countries;  for  such  persons,  being 
 employed  in  the  houses  of  the  great  and  the  courts  of  princes,  often 
 
 rose  to  the  highest  posts  of  honour  and  authority. — Scott.  Shall  not 
 enter  info  thf  congregation — (i.)  Shall  not  marry  with  Israelites, — so 
 the  Hebrew  doctors,  so  Delptido,  Pat.,  and  Boothr.;  but  this  seems  an 
 unlikely  nnd  unnecessary  prohibition,  (ii.)  Shall  not  hear  any  office 
 in  the  Hebrew  commonwealth  ;  congregation  often  meaning  only  the 
 great  assembly  of  elders  ;  and  a  man  destitute  of  courage,  and  Hable  to 
 be  treated  contemptuously,  was  not  fit  to  join  them.  —  So  (iilL 
 (iii.)  Shall  not  be  naturalized  or  admitted  to  the  rights  of  a  Jewish 
 citizen. — A.  Clarke,  (iv.)  Shall  not  enter  the  inner  court  of  the  sanc- 
 tuary, but  be  contented  to  worship  without ;  but  this  would  be  uncha- 
 ritable.— Delgiido,  adopted  by  Boothr.  (v.)  This  law  probably  related 
 lo  the  priests  only,  and  no  doubt  alluded  to  the  customs  of  some  heathen 
 nations,  whose  priests  were  eunuchs. — See  TertuUian,  Joh.  (icnsitis  de 
 Victimis  Humnnis.  Scott  thinks  the  two  latter  reasons  might  both  be 
 included.  Hewlftt  adopts  tlie  last,  as  docs  the  Editor,  viewing  it  as  a 
 further  illustration  of  the  law  respecting  the  exclusion  of  blemishes 
 from  men  liolding  the  priestly  ofHce.  2.  A  bastard,  "llDC  '  born  ol 
 whoredom  ;'  this  law  was  to  deter  from  it  by  the  consequences  resulting 
 to  the  children  ;  it  is,  however,  commonly  interpreted  by  the  Jews  as 
 one  born  of  the  incestuous  connexions  mentioned  Lev.  xviii.  Jarchi 
 says,  such  could  not  marry  an  Israelitish  woman,  be  admitted  into  the 
 assembly  of  the  elders,  or  bear  any  public  office.  Jephthah  was  the  son 
 of  a  h»rlot,  (Judg.  xi.  I,)  but  the  exception  in  his  case  might  be  owing 
 to  the  badness  of  the  times;  besides,  he  was  not  the  son  of  a  common 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XXII.  —  In  thi.s  chapter  we  are 
 taught — I.  How  to  dnnean  ourselvts  among  vien.  Among  these  we 
 are  to  shew  brotherly  kindness  ;  we  are  to  carry  ourselves  de- 
 cently; and  in  all  the  social  relations  of  life  we  are  to  conduct 
 ourselves  with  virtue  and  integrity.  Were  these  rules  strictly 
 observed,  society  would  be  happy,  and  the  professors  of  reli- 
 gion would  appear  in  their  most  beautiful  attire.  We  are  also 
 taught  — 
 
 21G 
 
 II.  How  to  conduct  ourselves  with  regard  to  irrational  creatures. 
 The  poor  despised  ass,  and  the  insignificant  sparrow,  are  not 
 beneath  the  notice  of  God's  providence,  and  shall  we  then 
 treat  them  with  cruelty  '.  The  creatures  sul!er  enough  from 
 the  miseries  entailed  upon  the  world  by  man,  without  our  add- 
 ing to  those  miseries.  Let  the  goodness  of  God,  therefore, 
 ever  be  our  pattern,  and  let  us  in  all  things  learn  to  be  merci- 
 ful as  our  Father  in  heaven  is  merciful. 
 
Uncleanness  to  he  avoided. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXIV. 
 
 Ofvsvrt/,  Ifc. 
 
 3  °  An  Ammonite  or  Moabite  shall  not  enter 
 into  the  congregation  of  the  Loud  ;  even  to 
 their  tenth  generation  shall  tliey  not  enter  into 
 the  congregation  of  the  Loud  for  ever  : 
 
 4  ''  Because  they  met  you  not  with  bread  and 
 with  water  in  the  way,  when  ye  came  forth  out 
 of  Egypt;  and  "because  they  hired  against 
 thee  Balaam  the  son  of  Beor  of  Pethor  of 
 Mesopotamia,  to  curse  thee. 
 
 5  Nevertheless  the  Lord  thy  God  would  not 
 hearken  unto  Balaam  ;  but  the  Lord  thy  God 
 turned  the  curse  into  a  blessing  unto  thee, 
 because  the  Lord  thy  God  loved  thee. 
 
 6  ''  Thou  shall  not  seeU  their  peace  nor  their 
 f  prosperity  all  thy  days  for  ever. 
 
 7  t  Thou  shall  not  abhor  an  Edomite  ;  "  for 
 he  is  thy  brother :  thou  shall  not  abhor  an 
 Egyptian;  because  'thou  wast  a  stranger  in  his 
 land. 
 
 8  The  children  that  are  begotten  of  them 
 shall  enter  into  the  congregation  of  the  Lord 
 in  their  third  generation. 
 
 n  H  When  the  host  goeth  forth  against  thine 
 enemies,  then  keep  thee  from  every  wicked 
 thing. 
 
 10  l^lf  there  be  among  you  any  man,  that 
 is  not  clean  by  reason  of  uncleanness  that 
 cbancelh  him  by  night,  then  shall  he  go  abroad 
 out  of  the  camp,  he  shall  not  come  within  the 
 camp  : 
 
 1 1  But  it  shall  be,  when  evening  f  Cometh  on, 
 •■he  shall  wash  /litiise/f  with  water:  and  when 
 the  sun  is  down,  he  shall  come  into  the  camp 
 afjfnin. 
 
 )•!  t  Thou  shall  have  a  place  also  without 
 the  camp,  wbilhcr  thou  shall  go  forth  abroad  : 
 
 13  And  thou  shall  have  a  paddle  upon  thy 
 weapon;  and  it  shall  be,  when  thou  fwill  ease 
 thyself  abroad,  thou  shall  dig  therewith,  and 
 shall  turn  back  and  cover  that  which  cometh 
 from  thee  : 
 
 14  For  the  Lord  thy  God  '  walketh  in  the 
 midst  of  thy  camp,  to  deliver  thee,  and  to  give 
 up  thine  enemies  before  thee  ;  therefore  shall 
 thy  camp  be  holy:  that  he  see  notnnclean 
 thing  in  thee,  and  turn  away  from  thee. 
 
 15  t  '  Thou  shall  not  deliver  unto  his  master 
 the  servant  which  is  escaped  from  his  master 
 unto  thee : 
 
 B   C.  Uftl. 
 .Nell. 13. 1,2. 
 
 b  See  ch.  2. 
 
 :  Num.  82. 
 6,6. 
 
 d  Ezra  9.  12. 
 t  Heb,  smd. 
 
 e  r.en.Cf,.  2^, 
 25,  21;. 
 obad.lO.I? 
 
 /Ex   22.  21 
 St  23.  9- 
 I.ev.  19  3\ 
 ch.  10.  Ill 
 
 t  Heb.  n,T>,- 
 l>  Lev.  15.  5, 
 
 lHeb.i*eo<,fi 
 J..r  h.m. 
 
 I  Ex.22.  21. 
 
 II  Or,  ifodunt- 
 
 nl.e 
 
 r,l<).2!>. 
 
 nGen.  19,  ft. 
 2Kin.23.7. 
 
 .  Ejt.  22.  25. 
 l-ev.25.  36, 
 37.  Neh.  5. 
 2,  7.  I's.  15. 
 5.  I.uke  li. 
 Ai,  :w. 
 
 ■  Lev. 
 :u.  Ik 
 
 .N.,m.a0  2. 
 I-,it,u.lS,U. 
 
 (  M«t.  I! 
 M;iil,  2.23. 
 
 thtnj/. 
 It  1  Sam.  30. 
 
 t,  M«t    5.  31 
 &  1".  7. 
 Maik  10. +. 
 
 t  HclK. 
 
 IG  He  shall  dwell  with  thee,  even  among  yon, 
 in  that  place  which  he  .shall  choose  in  one  of 
 thy  gates,  where  it  f  liketh  him  best :  '  thou 
 shall  not  oppress  him. 
 
 )  7  K  There  shall  be  no  ||  whore  "of  the  daugh- 
 ters  of  Israel,  nor  "a  sodomite  of  the  sons  of 
 Israel. 
 
 18  Thou  shall  not  bring  the  hire  of  a  whore, 
 or  the  price  of  a  dog,  into  the  hou.se  of  the 
 Lord  thy  God  for  any  vow  :  for  even  both 
 these  are  abomination  unto  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 19  f  "  Thou  shall  not  lend  upon  usury  to  thy 
 brother ;  usury  of  money,  usury  of  victuals, 
 usury  of  any  thing  that  is  lent  ujion  usury  : 
 
 20  ''Unto  a  stranger  thou  mayest  lend  upon 
 usury  ;  but  unto  thy  brother  thou  .shall  not 
 lend  upon  usury  :  ''  that  the  Lord  thy  God 
 may  bless  thee  in  all  that  thou  settest  thine 
 hand  to  in  the  land  whither  thou  goest  to 
 possess  it. 
 
 21  1 '  When  thou  shall  vow  a  vow  unto  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  thou  shall  not  slack  to  pay  it : 
 for  the  Lord  thy  God  will  surely  require  it  of 
 thee  ;  and  it  would  be  sin  in  thee. 
 
 22  But  if  thou  shall  forbear  to  vow,  it  shall 
 be  no  sin  in  thee. 
 
 23  '  That  which  is  gone  out  of  thy  lips  thou 
 shall  keep  and  perform  ;  even  a  freewill  offer- 
 ing, according  as  thou  hast  vowed  unto  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  which  thou  hast  promised  with 
 thy  mouth. 
 
 24  t  When  thou  comest  into  thy  neighbour's 
 vineyard,  then  thou  mayest  eat  grapes  thy  fill 
 at  thine  own  pleasure  ;  but  thou  shall  not  put 
 any  in  thy  vessel. 
 
 2o  When  thou  comest  into  the  standing  corn 
 of  thy  neighbour,  '  then  thou  mayest  pluck 
 the  ears  with  thine  hand  ;  but  thou  shall  not 
 move  a  sickle  unto  thy  neighbour's  standing 
 corn. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Of  divorce*  6  A  new  marrhd  man  f/octh  not  fo  war. 
 6,  10  Ofpledijes.  7  0/ mansteahrs.  8  Of  leprosy. 
 14  The  hire  is  to  be  given,  16  Of  justice.  19  Of 
 charity. 
 
 TXTHEN    a  "  inan   hath    taken   a  wife,   and 
 
 ''  married  her,  and  it  come  to  pass  that 
 she  find  no  favour  in  his  eyes,  because  he  hath 
 found  f  some  uncleanness  in  her:  tlien  let  hnn 
 
 liarlnt,  nr  of  an  incestuous  person,  but  of  his  father's  concubine. — Gift. 
 With  respect  to  bastards  not  manning:  an  Israelitish  woman,  as  they 
 who  were  Israelites,  were  lorhiriden  tn  intermarry  with  the  Gentiles ;  tViis 
 interpretation  would  leave  them  scarcely  any  opportunity  of  marryin;?, 
 whicii  the  mention  of  posterity  supposes  them  to  do. — Scutt.  To  the 
 tertth  ^eneratinn,  that  is,  never. — Gill.  The  meaning  of  this  prohibition 
 Is,  that  such  persons  are  not  to  be  connected  with  the  priesthood  or 
 with  the  magistracy. — Bp.  Law.  The  word  1100  means  'stranger,'  ur 
 •  alien.' — Mich.,  Waterland.  '  Stranger'  best  agrees  with  the  context. 
 —Pict.  Bib.  3.  An  Ammonite  or  Moabite,  SfC. — these  might  be  pro- 
 selytes, but  for  their  former  impiety  and  wickedness  could  not  hold 
 office  among  the  Israelites. — So  A.  Clnrke.  Some  Jewish  writers  re- 
 strain this  exclusion  to  marriage  ;  so  it  is  understood  by  Gill.  Some 
 think  it  affected  the  males  only,  and  not  the  females,  if  they  were  pro- 
 Belytesses,  as  Ruth  was.  It  does  not,  however,  appear  that  inter- 
 marriages were  particularly  intended. —  Scott.  6.  i\ot  seek  their 
 peace — f"rm  alliances,  carry  on  trade  and  commerce  with  them,  &c. 
 12.  Shalt  hai'c  a  place,  ^c. — this  was  beneficial  to  liealth.  and  besides, 
 they  must  avoid  all  uncleanness,  the  presence  of  tlie  holy  God  being 
 especially  among  them. — Gilt.  15.  Not  deliver  unto  his  master,  ^c. 
 — this  law  was  not  to  protect  slaves  who  had  robbed  or  left  their  mas- 
 ters without  cause,  but  only  the  oppressed. — Scntt.  The  Jewish  writers 
 generally  understand  it  of  the  servants  of  idolaters  fleeing  for  the  sake 
 
 of  religion.  This  opinion  is  adopted  by  Dr.  Clarke.  \7.  There  shall 
 be,  ^-c. — some  understand  this  of  prostitutes,  alter  the  fashion  in  some 
 heathen  temples;  and  it  looks  also  as  if  men,  such  as  are  here  parti- 
 cularized, were  sacred  to  idols,  since  we  read  of  their  houses  which 
 were  by,  or  rather  in,  the  house  of  the  Lord,  (2  Kings,  xxiii.  7.) — Gill. 
 It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  word  here  used,  HMinp,  is  different 
 from  that  which  sometimes  denotes  a  common  prostitute,  which  is  HDl ; 
 it  is  the  same  with  the  masculine  offender  in  this  verse,  differing  only 
 in  gender. — Hew.  18.  Not  brin^  the  hire,  ^c. — this  was  a  custom 
 among  the  idolatrous  nations,  where  prostitutes  dedicated  some  pait 
 of  their  profits  at  the  temples  of  their  pretended  deities.  Tfie  price  of 
 a  dog — any  sacrifice,  as  ftir  instance,  a  Iamb  obtained  in  exchange  for 
 a  dog.  A  dog  is  an  unclean  creature  ;  besides,  it  was  highly  honoured 
 among  the  Egyptians;  the  symbol  of  one  of  their  principal  deities, 
 Anubis,  was  represented  with  a  head  like  that  of  a  dog. — Pat.  The 
 term  '  dog'  appears  here  to  be  used  for  a  wretch  who  hired  himself  for 
 the  wickedness  forbidden  in  the  latter  clause. —  IVil.  24.  Eat  grapes — 
 this  law  was  fur  the  relief  of  poor  travellers  and  weary  labourers. — 
 J-Iejtrp. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV. —  1.  Some  uncleanness — loathsome  distemper,  or  light 
 anrl  unchaste  carriage,  not  amounting  to  adultery,  which  was  to  be 
 punished  with  death. — Poole.  This  licence  was  so  far  abused,  that  tlie 
 Jewisli  doctors  held  that  a  man  might  put  away  his  wife  for  auy  cause. 
 
 i 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIII I.  Cod  was  careful  of  the  11.  If  the  laws  of  kindness  and  liherality  prevuihd  under  the 
 
 purity  of  his  church  and  ministers  of  old,  and  let  us  not  suppose  J'wish  dispeJisation^  not  less  are   they  to  he  practised  noiv.     Itift 
 
 thai  he  is  not  so  now.     Those  who  are  a  disgrace  to  his  cause  Christian  should  be  the  friend  of  the  oppressed  and  tlie  needy, 
 
 must  not  belong  to  the  congregation  of  the  Lord,  till  sin  has  for  how  much  does  he  owe  to  '  the  kindness  and  philanthropy 
 
 been   bitterly  repented  of,   and   sincerely  and   decidedly   le-  of  God  our  Saviour  !* 
 nounced. 
 
 217 
 
 2   F 
 
Of  divorce. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXV. 
 
 Of  justice  and  charity. 
 
 write  her  a  bill  of  f  divorcement,  and  give  it  in 
 her  hand,  and  send  her  out  of  his  house. 
 
 2  And  when  she  is  departed  out  of  his  house, 
 she  may  go  and  be  another  man's  wife. 
 
 3  And  if  the  latter  husband  hate  her,  and 
 write  her  a  bill  of  divorcement,  and  giveth  it 
 in  her  hand,  and  .sendeth  her  out  of  his  house; 
 or  if  the  latter  husband  die,  which  took  her  tu 
 be  his  wife  ; 
 
 4  ''  Her  former  husband,  which  sent  her  away, 
 may  not  take  her  again  to  be  his  wife,  after 
 that  she  is  defiled  ;  for  that  is  abomination 
 before  the  Lobd:  and  thou  shalt  not  cause  the 
 land  to  sin,  which  the  Loed  thy  God  giveth 
 thee /or  an  inheritance. 
 
 of  When  a  man  hath  taken  a  new  wife,  he 
 shall  not  go  out  to  war,  f  neither  shall  lie  be 
 charged  with  any  business :  but  he  shall  be  free 
 at  home  one  year,  and  shall  ''  cheer  up  his  wife 
 which  he  hath  taken. 
 
 6  t  No  man  shall  take  the  nether  or  the  upper 
 millstone  to  pledge  :  for  he  taketh  a  man's  life 
 to  pledge. 
 
 7  H  °  If  a  man  be  found  stealing  any  of  his 
 brethren  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  maketh 
 merchandise  of  him,  or  selleth  him  ;  then  that 
 thief  shall  die  ;  ^and  thou  shalt  put  evil  away 
 from  among  you. 
 
 8  t  Take  lieed  in  ^  the  plague  of  leprosy,  that 
 thou  observe  diligently,  and  do  according  to  all 
 that  the  priests  the  Levites  shall  teach  you:  as 
 I  commanded  them,  so  ye  shall  observe  to  do. 
 
 9  '■Remember  what  the  Lord  thy  God  did 
 '  unto  Miriam  by  the  way,  after  that  ye  were 
 come  forth  out  of  Egypt. 
 
 10  V  When  thou  dost  fiend  thy  brother  any 
 thing,  thou  shalt  not  go  into  his  house  to  fetch 
 his  pledge. 
 
 1 1  Thou  shalt  stand  abroad,  and  the  man  to 
 whom  thou  dost  lend  shall  bring  out  the  pledge 
 abroad  unto  thee. 
 
 1'2  And  if  the  man  be  poor,  thou  shalt  not 
 sleep  with  his  pledge  : 
 
 13  'In  any  case  thou  shalt  deliver  him  the 
 pledge  again  when  the  sun  goeth  down,  that 
 he  may  sleep  in  his  own  raiment,  and  '  bless 
 thee  :  and  ""  it  shall  be  righteousness  unto  thee 
 before  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 14  1  Thou  shalt  not  °  oppress  an  hired  servant 
 that  is  poor  and  needy,  whether  he  be  of  thy 
 brethren,  or  of  thy  strangers  that  are  in  thy 
 
 t  Heb  c»l- 
 tlng  of. 
 
 t  Heb.  u't 
 O.J,  «..,, 
 
 /ch.  ;».  19. 
 
 /i  R«(>  Luke 
 
 17   3;. 
 
 I  Cor    lu  « 
 i  Nu.  1'2.  ig. 
 
 t  Heb.  lf:d 
 0,.  M-ar.  of 
 
 ■">y  """S 
 
 to,  ^. 
 
 k  Ex.  e«.26. 
 
 (Job  S9.  M, 
 
 2  Cor.  9.  IS 
 aTim.l.lft. 
 
 o  Lev.  19.  ^. 
 
 Jer.  22    IS 
 
 Tt.hU  4.  H, 
 
 Jam.  A.  1. 
 t  Heb././i'fA 
 
 hit  $oulunt'. 
 
 i7.  Ps.  SS.  I. 
 
 A  Sfi.  4. 
 p  Jam.  5.  4. 
 y  3  Kill.  14  6. 
 
 2  Chr.-;.'.  4. 
 
 Jp3i.v9..1ii. 
 
 Eaek  I8.-.'U 
 
 r  Ex.  2?.  SI, 
 22.  Pro*.22. 
 22.  le.  1.  23 
 Jer.  5.  28.  fc 
 22.  M.  Ezek. 
 22.  29. 
 Zerh  7.  10. 
 Mai,  3.  5, 
 
 r  Ei.  22,  26. 
 
 I  ver.  22. 
 cli.  16.  12. 
 
 >  Le»-.  19.9, 
 lu.  &23.82. 
 
 *  ch-  15.  10. 
 PH.  41     1. 
 Ptov.l9.l7. 
 
 6....f/i  11 
 after  Hire. 
 
 y  ver.  1,^. 
 
 c  Luliel2.4S. 
 d  Mat.  10.17. 
 
 land  within  tliy  gates  : 
 
 lo  At  his  day  "thou  shalt  give  him  his  hire, 
 neither  shall  the  sun  go  down  upon  it  ;  for  he 
 is  poor,  and  t  setteth  bis  heart  upon  it  :  ''  lest 
 he  cry  against  thee  unto  the  Lord,  and  it  be 
 sin  unto  thee. 
 
 16  ''  The  fatliers  shall  not  he  put  to  death  for 
 the  children,  neither  shall  the  children  be  put 
 to  death  fur  the  fathers  :  every  man  shall  be 
 put  to  death  for  bis  own  sin. 
 
 17  U  '  Thou  shalt  not  pervert  the  judgment 
 of  the  stranger,  nur  of  the  fatherless;  'nor 
 take  the  widow's  raiment  to  pledge  : 
 
 18  But  '  thou  shalt  remember  tliat  thou  wast 
 a  bondman  in  Egypt,  and  the  Lord  thy  God 
 redeemed  thee  thence :  therefore  I  command 
 thee  to  do  this  thing. 
 
 19  U  "  When  thou  cuttestdown  thine  harvest 
 in  thy  field,  and  hast  forgot  a  sheaf  in  the  field, 
 thou  shalt  not  go  again  to  fetch  it :  it  shall  lie 
 for  the  stranger,  for  the  fatherless,  and  for  the 
 widow  :  that  the  Loud  tliy  God  may  '  bless 
 thee  in  all  the  work  of  thine  hands. 
 
 20  When  thou  beatest  thine  olive  tree,  f  thou 
 shalt  nut  go  over  the  boughs  again  :  it  shall  be 
 for  the  stranger,  for  the  fatherless,  and  for  the 
 widow. 
 
 21  When  thou  gatherest  the  grapes  of  thy 
 vineyard,  thou  shalt  not  glean  il  f afterward: 
 it  shall  be  for  the  stranger,  fur  the  fatherless, 
 and  fur  the  widow. 
 
 22  And  '  thou  shalt  remember  that  thou  wast 
 a  bondman  in  the  land  of  Egypt :  therefore  1 
 command  thee  to  do  this  thing. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1  Siriprs  mvKl  not  excefd  furty.  4  Tlte  ox  is  not  to  he 
 muzzlrtl.  5  Of  raising  sted  unto  a  hrolhtr.  1 1  Of 
 the  im/iwde:,t  womtl/i,  13  Of  unjust  U'tiyllts.  17  The 
 mtinori/  of  Antaitk  is  to  be  blotted  out. 
 
 TF  there  be  a  "controversy  between  men,  and 
 ■*-  they  come  unto  judgment,  that  the  jiuliies 
 may  judge  them  ;  then  they  ■>  shall  justily  the 
 righteous,  and  condemn  the  wicked. 
 
 2  And  it  shall  be,  if  the  wicked  man  be 
 '  worthy  to  be  beaten,  that  the  judge  shall 
 cause  him  to  lie  down,  ''and  to  be  beaten  be- 
 fore his  face,  according  to  bis  fault,  by  a  certain 
 number. 
 
 3  "  Forty  stripes  he  may  give  hiin,  aiul  not 
 exceed  :  lest,  if  he  should  exceed,  and   beat 
 
 however  trifling,  (see  Matt.  v.  31,  &c. ;  xix.  3,  fiC.)—Wil.  4.  Man 
 not  take  her  asain — this  would  check  rash  divorces,  secure  the  woman, 
 and  prevent  lending  wives  for  prostitution,  a  practice  among  the 
 Egyptians.— Bp.  Kidder.  She  is  dejileti—lhe  husband  parted  with  her 
 under  that  pretence, —  Wit.,  and  things  furhidden  were  accounted  and 
 called  unclean,  (Judg.  xiii.  7.)~Pt>ole.  6.  .i  mnn^s  life  In  pledge — 
 that  with  which  his  life  Ls  supported  ;  for  if  he  could  not  grind  his  corn 
 his  family  must  starve.  Most  families  among  the  Arabs  still  grind 
 their  wheat  and  barley  at  home,  having  two  portable  millstones  for 
 that  purpose,  the  uppermost  of  which  is  turned  round  by  a  small 
 handle  of  wood  or  iron  placed  in  the  rim  ;  these  stones  might  easily  be 
 taken  in  pledge.— Gi7/.  10.  jVo(  go  into  his  house— ^  merciful  provi- 
 sion for  the  poor,  whose  houses  no  one  might  enter  without  their  con- 
 sent, and  choose  the  pledge,  but  the  lender  was  to  take  what  the  bor- 
 rower could  spare.— Pdf.  12.  Not  sleep  tcith  his  pledge— \t  might  be 
 something  that  he  would  much  need.—  Oitl.  What,  then,  was  the  use 
 of  the  pledge  ?  the  Rabbis  say,  it  prevented  the  debt  from  being  released 
 
 in  the  sabbatical  year. — Fawkes.  Did  not  this  law  preclude  pledging 
 entirely? — .i.  Clarke.  13.  Sleep  in  his  own  raimeiil — the  Arab's  A.vfre, 
 which  is  SIX  yards  long,  and  five  or  six  broad,  serves  for  a  dress  by 
 day  i  and  as  lie  sleeps  in  his  dress,  it  is  a  bed  or  covering  bv  loght. — 
 Oill.  l6.  Not  he  put  to  death — the  Egyptians,   MacedouiHiis,   and 
 
 Amorites,  were  so  cruet  as  to  require  these  rigours.  ShuI'-.  suns  who 
 were  slain  had,  probably,  been  /trivu  to  the  massacteof  Ihe  Gibeonites, 
 (2  Sam.  xxi.  9,  14.) — Sut.  20.  Beatest  thine  olii-e  fr^e— this  is  tlie  way 
 of  gathering  its  fruit,  being  beaten  down  with  long  poles.  The  praclice 
 still  continues  in  the  Holy  Land.— Hwr.  22.  Thou  wast  a  (tondman, 
 
 when  thou  wouldst  have  been  glad  to  have  enjoyed  the  like  favours. — 
 Gili- 
 
 Chap.  XXV.  —  1.  Jnstify  the  righteous,  \p^,'2T\.  from  pi^,  'pronounce 
 just.' — Par.  'J.  lieaten  he/ore  his  fore,  that  the  punishment  might 
 he  inflicted  without  passion  or  partiality. — Poole,  3.  Forty  stripes — 
 that  they  might  not  exceed  this  number  they  made  their  scourges  with 
 three  lashes,  and  thirteen  of  the^ewere  reckoned  for  thirty-nine. — Gill. 
 
 XXIV Tbis  chapter  shews  the 
 
 marriage.    It  is  a  sacred  thing,  not 
 
 Rf.F1.EC1  IONS    ON     CllA 
 
 importance— I.  Of  fidelity 
 
 to  be  trifled  with,"  and  is  fenced  round  by  some  of  the'most 
 
 solemn  commands  in  the  whole  word  of  God. 
 
 II.  Of  kindness  tn  the  poor.  We  must  not  distress  our  poor 
 brethren  when  they  are  involved  in  difficulties,  nor  oppress 
 those  that  are  employed  in  our  service.  The  gospel,  however, 
 requires  mutual  dmies;  they  are  to  be  industrious  aod  diU- 
 gent,  while  we  are  kind  and  forbearing. 
 218  ■ 
 
 111.  Of  equity  to  all.  We  must  deal  honestly  towards  the 
 stranger,  the  iatberiess,  and  the  widow,  and  treat  them  in  all 
 respects  as  we  would  desire  to  be  treated  in  the  same  circum- 
 stances. God  looks  upon  ibem  with  an  eye  of  compassion, 
 and  we  must  be  imitators  of  God.  Jesus  went  about  doing 
 good,  and  so  sought  out  such  objects  for  the  exercise  of  bis 
 kindness  ;  let  us  display  towards  them  justice  and  benevolence 
 at  least,  when  they  he  under  our  immediate  inlluerife  and  no- 
 tice. 
 
Of  unjust  weights. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXVI.  The  memory  of  Amalck  blotted  out. 
 
 him  above  these  with  many  stripes,  then  thy 
 brother  should  "^seem  vile  unto  thee. 
 
 4  U''  Thou  shall  not  muzzle  the  ox  when  he 
 f  treadeth  out  the  corn. 
 
 5  K  "^  If  brethren  dwell  together,  and  one  of 
 them  die,  and  have  no  child,  the  wife  of  the 
 dead  shall  not  marry  without  unto  a  stranger : 
 her  II  husband's  brother  shall  go  in  unto  her, 
 and  take  her  to  him  to  wife,  and  perform  the 
 duty  of  an  husband's  brother  unto  her. 
 
 6  And  it  .shall  be,  that  the  firstborn  which 
 she  beareth  '  sliall  succeed  in  the  name  of  his 
 brother  which  is  dead,  that  '  his  name  be  not 
 put  out  of  Israel. 
 
 7  And  if  the  man  like  not  to  take  his 
 11  brother's  wife,  then  let  his  brother's  wife  go 
 up  to  the  '  gate  unto  the  elders,  and  say,  My 
 husband's  brother  refuseth  to  raise  up  unto  his 
 brother  a  name  in  Israel,  he  will  not  perform 
 the  duty  of  my  husband's  brother. 
 
 8  Then  the  elders  of  his  city  shall  call  him, 
 and  speak  unto  him  :  and  if  he  stand  to  it,  and 
 say,  "  I  like  not  to  take  her ; 
 
 9  Then  shall  his  brother's  wife  come  unto 
 him  in  the  presence  of  the  elders,  and  "  loose 
 his  shoe  from  off  his  foot,  and  spit  in  his  face, 
 and  shall  answer  and  say.  So  shall  it  be  done 
 unto  that  man  that  will  not  "  build  up  his 
 brother's  house. 
 
 10  And  his  name  shall  be  called  in  Israel, 
 The  house  of  him  that  hath  his  shoe  loosed. 
 
 1 1  H  When  men  strive  together  one  with 
 another,  and  the  wife  of  the  one  draweth  near 
 for  to  deliver  her  husband  out  of  the  hand  of 
 him  that  smiteth  him,  and  putteth  forth  her 
 hand,  and  taketh  him  by  the  secrets  : 
 
 12  Then  thou  shalt  cut  off  her  hand,  '  thine 
 eye  shall  not  pity  her. 
 
 13  f  Thou  shalt  not  have  in  thy  bag  f  divers 
 weights,  a  great  and  a  small. 
 
 14  Thou  shalt  not  have  in  thine  house  f  divers 
 measures,  a  great  and  a  small. 
 
 13  But  thou  shalt  have  a  perfect  and  just 
 weight,  a  perfect  and  just  measure  .shalt  thou 
 
 B.C.  1*51. 
 
 /Job  IS.  S. 
 fPror.l2.IO. 
 
 I  Cor.  o.  9. 
 
 I  Tim  5.18. 
 t  Heb.(ArMft- 
 
 fth. 
 
 Hos.  to.  n. 
 
 A  Mat  22.S-1 
 Mark  12.19. 
 I,uke20.28. 
 
 II  Or,  next 
 
 Gen.  39.  8. 
 Ruth  1.  IS, 
 13.  Si  3.  9. 
 
 '  Gen.  38.  9 
 1  Ruth  i.lO 
 
 I  Or,  n'xl 
 /riiirnni'* 
 
 I  Kutll4.l,2. 
 
 l>  ch.  ID.  13. 
 
 g  Lev.  19.35, 
 aii  Pro. II. 1. 
 Ezek.15  10. 
 Mir.  6.  II. 
 
 I  Heb.'i  itODe 
 nnd  I,  it'inf. 
 
 t  Heb.  a™ 
 ep'^uh  and 
 an  ephnk. 
 
 '  Ex.  211.  12. 
 iProv.  II.  I. 
 lTlies.4.  6 
 
 m.  3  18. 
 jrlSaDi.l5  3. 
 
 y  E«.  17.  1-1 
 
 <i  F,x.23    19. 
 
 It  St.  26. 
 
 Num. 18, 19. 
 
 Ch.  16.  III. 
 
 Prov.  S.  9. 
 ich.  M.i. 
 
 r  Hon.  12.12. 
 ctGeii.43.1,2. 
 &  45.  7,  1 1 
 
 have  :  '  that  thy  daj's  may  be  lengthened  in 
 the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee. 
 
 16  For  '  all  that  do  such  thiug.s,  and  all  that 
 do  unrighteously,  are  an  abomination  unto  the 
 Lord  thy  God. 
 
 17  II  '  Remember  what  Amalek  did  unto  thee 
 by  the  way,  when  ye  were  come  forth  out  of 
 Egypt ; 
 
 18  How  he  met  thee  by  the  way,  and  smote 
 the  hindmost  of  thee,  even  all  titat  wereieehXe 
 behind  thee,  when  thou  uast  faint  and  weary  ; 
 and  he  "feared  not  God. 
 
 19  Therefore  it  shall  be,  '  when  the  Lord 
 thy  God  hath  given  thee  rest  from  all  thine 
 enemies  round  about,  in  the  land  which  the 
 Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee  for  an  inheritance 
 to  possess  it,  that  thou  shalt  ''blot  out  the  re- 
 membrance of  Amalek  froiu  under  heaven  ; 
 thou  shalt  not  forget  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVL 
 
 1  The  confession  of  him  that  offtrHh  the  basket  of  first- 
 fruits,  12  Ti I e  prayer  of  him  that  tfiveth  his  third 
 yearns  tithes.  16  The  covenant  between  God  and  the 
 people. 
 
 A  ND  it  shall  be,  when  thou  art  come  in 
 -^^  unto  the  land  wbicli  the  Lord  thy  God 
 giveth  thee  for  an  inheritance,  and  possessest 
 it,  and  dwellest  therein  ; 
 
 2  "  That  thou  shalt  take  of  the  first  of  all  the 
 fruit  of  the  earth,  which  thou  shalt  bring  of  thy 
 land  that  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee,  and 
 shalt  put  it  in  a  basket,  and  shalt  **  go  unto  the 
 place  which  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  choose  to 
 place  his  name  there. 
 
 3  And  thou  shalt  go  unto  the  priest  that  shall 
 be  in  those  days,  and  say  unto  him,  I  profess 
 this  day  unto  the  Lord  thy  God,  that  I  am 
 come  unto  the  country  which  the  Lord  sware 
 unto  our  fathers  for  to  give  us. 
 
 4  And  the  priest  shall  take  the  basket  out  of 
 thine  hand,  and  set  it  down  before  the  altar  of 
 the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 5  And  thou  shalt  speak  and  say  before  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  ^  A  Syrian  ^  ready  to  perish 
 
 Should  seem  vile,  Tlhp^,  from  bbp,  *  be  made  contemptible,'  as  a  linite, 
 or  be  so  iDJured  as  to  produce  deformity. — So  Poole,  Pat.,  Gill,  Scott, 
 &c.  *  Go  away  shamefully  torn  and  mangled,'  Vulg.  '  Be  faint,  lan- 
 guid, and  exhausted.' — Geddes,  so  Boothr.  The  general  use  of  the 
 word  seems  rather  to  justify  our  common  translation. — Ed.  4.  Not 
 
 muzzle  the  ox — it  was  the  custom  with  the  Jews,  and  among  the 
 Egyptians,  Greeks,  and  Romans,  to  use  oxen  in  treading  out  tlicir 
 corn,  either  with  their  feet,  or  by  drawing  a  cart  or  other  instrument  over 
 It.  Some  muzzled  them,  others  covered  their  corn  with  hides,  &c.,  to 
 preserve  it. — Pat.  The  custom  of  thrashing  corn  by  the  trampling  of 
 bullocks  still  prevails  in  the  east.— .Rofi.  This  action  was  symbolical, 
 and  designed  to  teach  kindness  to  servants,  labourers,  and  ministers. 
 — A.  Clarke.  To  make  much  of,  and  support  well,  the  brute  creatures 
 that  serve  us.  It  is  twice  quoted,  to  shew  that  it  is  the  duty  of  people 
 to  maintain  their  ministers  in  comfort,  (1  Cor.  ix.  9,  10.  and  1  Tim.  v. 
 17,  18.) — Hen.  5.  Not  marri/  without  unto  a  stranger — that  is,  any 
 person,  more  especially  Israelite,  is  intended,  not  of  the  husband's  fa- 
 mily ;  that  is,  unless  she  was  refused  by  all ;  the  design  of  the  law 
 being  to  secure  inheritances,  and  continue  them  in  the  families  to  which 
 they  ht^longed.  Her  hus/nmd^s  brother  shall,  ^c,  that  is,  supposing 
 him  to  be  unmarried,  or  else  pnlygamy  would  be  encouraged. — 0*7/. 
 It  is  not  agreed  among  commentators  whether  married  men  were  in- 
 
 cluded in  this  law  or  not. — Scott.  9-  Loose  his  shoe — this  was  to 
 shew  that  he  gave  up  his  right  to  her,  and  that  he  deserved  to  be  re- 
 duced to  the  Btate  of  a  slave,  who  went  barefooted.— GiV/,  Pat.  Spit 
 in  Aw/aci?— generally  understood  to  be  be/ore  his  face,  [V3D1,]  accord- 
 ing to  the  custom  of  the  Arabs  at  the  present  day,  and  expressive  of 
 their  detestation,  [1  with  >3D  appears  to  have  this  signification.]  See 
 Ezek.  xlii.  12;  Josh.  xxi.  44.— //or.  13.  Divers  u-eights,  pMT   pN, 
 
 •  a  stone  and  a  stone,'  as  in  marg. — So  Mont.,  Pise.  Their  weights 
 were  of  stone,  as  formerly  with  us  ;  hence  our  purchase  by  the  stone. 
 They  were  not  to  have  great  weights  to  buy  with,  and  small  to  sell 
 with.— Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XXVI.  —  2.  The  first  of  all  the  fruit — not  merely  after  being 
 first  settled  in  Canaan,  but  every  year.  These  were  distinct  from  those 
 mentioned  Lev.  xxiii.  10,  being  of  all  the  fruits  of  the  earth.  The  Jews 
 say  the  quantity  of  each  was  the  sixteenth  part,  consisting  of  barley, 
 wheat,  olives,  dates,  pomegranates,  figs,  and  grapes.  5.  A  Sj/rian, 
 §e. — Jacob  was  born  in  Canaan,  but  might  have  been  so  called  from 
 his  residence  of  twenty  years  in  Syria,  with  Laban.  So  Christ,  born 
 at  Bethlehi.ni,  was  called  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  where  he  was  brought 
 up. — Pat.  Ready  to  perish — by  Laban's  severity,  Esau's  cruelty,  and 
 the  famine  which  sent  him  to  Egypt. — Hen.,  so  Gilt,  and  Scott.  *  A 
 Syrian  wandering.* — Dathe,  Geddes,  Rosenm.    'A  wandering  Syrian;' 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXV.  —  L  We  ham  h<  re  that  jus- 
 tice should  at  all  times  be  tempered  with  mercy.  Our  military  laws 
 are  much  too  severe,  and  ao  us  no  credit  as  a  Cbristlan  nation. 
 And  if  this  mercy  was  to  be  shewn  in  courts  of  justice,  so  also 
 should  it  teach  preceptors  to  moderate  the  punishment  of  re- 
 fractory pupils,  and  parents  of  refractory  children. 
 
 n .  Christians  should  not  deem  it  beneath  them  to  treat  kindh/  the 
 hrutf  cnalion,  seeing  that  God  himself  has  so  repeatedly  viewed 
 ihe.m  as  worthy  of  his  protection.  They  labour  for  us,  or  protect 
 or  amuse  us,  and  are,  therefore,  worthy  of  their  revrard.  Tliey 
 have  no  tongues  to  complain  of  ill-treatment,  but  their  Creator 
 sees  it,  and  the  brute  in  buman  form  has  no  claim  to  the  cha- 
 racter of  a  Christian.  And,  if  Cliristians  are  not  commanded 
 219 
 
 to  keep  their  ministers  in  splendour,  let  them,  however,  re- 
 member, that  they  are  to  provide  for  them  in  comfort,  and  to 
 shew  them  every  kindness  :  a  lesson  which  they  should  learn 
 as  often  as  ihey  see  the  oxen  labouring  for  the  husbandman. 
 
 in.  Honesty  should  be  strictly  maintained  in  aliovr  commercial 
 intercourse.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  many  who  bear  the  Christian 
 name  are  not  sufficiently  impressed  with  this  truth.  Fami- 
 liarity with  tricks  peculiar  to  different  trades  too  often  renders 
 men  insensible  to  their  baseness  ;  but  divers  or  light  weights, 
 and  divers  or  short  measures,  should  be  held  in  abhorrence. 
 The  prayer  of  every  good  man  should  be,  '  Let  integrity  and 
 uprightness  preserve  me.' 
 
Prayer  on  tjiciiiy  third  year's  tithes.        DEUTERONOMY,  XXVI  I.  The  law  to  be  irritten  upon  stones. 
 
 was  my  father,  and  °  he  went  down  into  Egypt, 
 and  sojourned  there  with  a  '  few,  and  became 
 there  a  nation,  great,  mighty,  and  populous : 
 
 6  And  ^  the  Egyptians  evil  entreated  us,  and 
 afflicted  us,  and  laid  upon  us  hard  bondage  : 
 
 7  And  ''  when  we  cried  unto  the  Loud  God 
 of  our  fathers,  the  Lord  heard  our  voice,  and 
 loolicd  on  our  affliction,  and  our  labour,  and 
 our  oppression : 
 
 8  And  '  the  Lord  brouglit  us  forth  out  of 
 Egypt  with  a  niiglity  hand,  and  with  an  out- 
 stretched arm,  and  '  uitli  great  terribleness, 
 and  witli  signs,  and  witli  wonders. 
 
 9  And  he  hath  brouglit  us  into  this  place, 
 and  hath  given  us  this  land,  even  '  a  land  that 
 floweth  with  milli  and  honey. 
 
 10  And  now,  behold,  I  have  brought  the  first- 
 fruits  of  the  land,  which  thou,  O  Lord,  hast 
 given  me.  And  thou  shalt  set  it  before  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  and  worship  before  the  Lord 
 thy  God  : 
 
 1 1  And  ■"  thou  shalt  rejoice  in  every  good 
 thiiiff  which  the  Loru  thy  God  hath  given 
 unto  tliee,  and  unto  thine  house,  thou,  and 
 the  Levite,  and  the  stranger  that  is  among 
 you. 
 
 I J  •[  When  thon  hast  made  an  end  of  tithing 
 all  the  "  tithes  of  thine  increase  the  third  year, 
 which  is  "the  year  of  tithing,  and  hast  given 
 it  unto  the  Levite,  the  stranger,  the  fatherless, 
 and  the  widow,  that  they  may  eat  within  thy 
 gates,  and  be  filled  ; 
 
 13  Then  thou  shalt  say  before  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  I  have  brought  away  the  hallowed  things 
 out  oi  wine  house,  and  also  have  given  them 
 unto  the  Levite,  and  unto  the  stranger,  to  the 
 fatherless,  and  to  the  widow,  according  to  all 
 thy  commandments  which  thou  hast  com- 
 manded me ;  I  have  not  transgressed  thy  com- 
 mandments, ■' neither  have  I  forgotten  them: 
 
 1 4  ■•  I  have  not  eaten  thereof  in  my  mourning, 
 neither  liave  I  taken  away  oiiijht  thereof  for 
 any  unclean  use,  nor  given  omjht  thereof  for 
 the  dead  ;  hut  I  have  hearkened  to  the  voice 
 of  the  Lord  my  God,  and  have  done  according 
 to  all  that  thou  hast  commanded  me. 
 
 15  'Look  down  from  thy  holy  habitation, 
 fiom  heaven,  and  bless  thy  people  Israel,  and 
 the  land  which  thou  hast  given  us,  as  thou 
 swarest  unto  our  fathers,  a  land  that  floweth 
 with  milk  and  honey. 
 
 16  t  This  day  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  com- 
 manded thee  to  do  these  statutes  and  Judg- 
 ments :  thou  shalt  therefore  keep  and  do  them 
 
 B.  C.  t-15l. 
 
 Geu.'16-1,6 
 AclB  7.  15 
 
 Gen  46  d7 
 ill.  10.  ?-2. 
 '  Ks.  1  II, 
 U. 
 
 1  Ki.  2  23, 
 ■J*,  -^5.  fc  -i. 
 y.  &  4.  31. 
 
 Kx.  Vi.  37, 
 51.  &  IS.  \ 
 14,  llj. 
 
 ,  ch.  \i.  7, 
 
 I-.',  18.  *  10, 
 
 Lev  f7,S0 
 Num.  18.1!*. 
 rh.  14.  ^d. 
 
 j.Ps.lII  111, 
 
 158,  176 
 q  I.eir,  7.  20 
 
 &21.   I,  11, 
 
 Hu>.  g.  t. 
 
 r  In    CI.    IS. 
 Zecll.  2.  1.1 
 
 D.  C.  IViil. 
 r  E».  20.  19 
 
 I  Kx.  6.  7.  .^ 
 19,  i.  ch.  7. 
 0  «(  14.  £. 
 &  2fl.  9. 
 
 .  ch.  4.7,  S 
 
 «(  L'8.  I, 
 
 Ps    14s.  14 
 r  Kx    19  6. 
 
 ill.  7.  0.  at 
 
 as.  9 
 
 I  Pet.  2.  9- 
 
 1  Jo.li.  4.  I 
 4  Jeth  3,  %t 
 
 a  cli    11.29. 
 J0..I1.  S.  SO. 
 
 -/  V.\.  90.  25, 
 Ji»li.9.3l. 
 
 with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul. 
 
 17  Thou  hast  'avouclied  the  Lord  this  day 
 to  be  thy  God,  and  to  walk  in  his  ways,  and  to 
 keep  his  statutes,  and  his  commandments,  and 
 liis  judgments,  and  to  hearken  unto  his  voice  : 
 
 18  And  'the  Lord  hath  avouched  thee  this 
 day  to  be  his  peculiar  people,  as  he  hath  pro- 
 mised thee,  and  that  thou  shouldest  keep  all 
 his  commandments ; 
 
 19  And  to  make  thee  "  high  above  all  nations 
 whicli  he  hath  made,  in  praise,  and  in  name, 
 and  in  honour;  and  that  tliou  mayest  he  'an 
 holy  people  unto  the  Lord  thy  God,  as  he 
 hath  spoken. 
 
 CHAP.  xxvn. 
 
 1  The  people  are  comtnanded  to  write  the  taw  upon  stones, 
 5  and  to  build  an  (dlar  of  whole  stones.  II  T/te  tribes 
 divided  on  Gerizim  and  Ebat.  14  The  curses  pro- 
 nonnc.d  on  mount  Ebal. 
 
 A  ND  Moses  with  the  elders  of  Lsracl  coni- 
 •'*■  manded  the  people,  saying.  Keep  all  the 
 commandments  which  I  command  you  this 
 day. 
 
 2  And  it  shall  be  on  the  day  °  when  ye 
 shall  pass  over  Jordan  unto  the  land  which  the 
 Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee,  that  ''thou  shalt 
 set  thee  up  great  stones,  and  plaister  them 
 witli  plaister : 
 
 3  And  thou  shalt  write  upon  them  nil  the 
 words  of  this  law,  when  thou  art  pg^sed  over, 
 that  thou  mayest  go  in  unto  the  land  which  the 
 Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee,  a  laud  that  floweth 
 with  milk  and  honey  ;  as  the  Lord  God  of  thy 
 fathers  hath  promised  thee. 
 
 4  Therefore  it  shall  be  when  ye  be  gone  over 
 Jordan,  titat  ye  shall  set  up  these  stones, 
 which  I  command  you  this  day,  '  in  mount 
 Ebal,  and  thou  shalt  plaister  them  witli  plaister. 
 
 5  And  there  shalt  thon  build  an  altar  unto 
 the  Lord  thy  God,  an  altar  of  stones  :  ''  thou 
 shalt  not  lift  up  any  iron  tool  upon  them. 
 
 G  Thou  .shalt  build  the  altar  of  the  Lord  thy 
 God  of  whole  stones  ;  and  thou  .shalt  offer 
 burnt  offerings  thereon  unto  the  Lord  thy 
 God: 
 
 7  And  thou  shalt  offer  peace  offerings,  and 
 shalt  eat  there,  and  rejoice  before  the  Lord 
 thy  God. 
 
 8  And  thou  shalt  write  upon  the  stones  all 
 the  words  of  this  law  very  plainly. 
 
 9  H  And  Moses  and  the  priests  the  Lcvites 
 spake  unto  all  Israel,  saying.  Take  heed,  and 
 hearken,  O  Israel ;  "  this  day  thou  art  become 
 
 I  the  people  of  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 He  was  rich  and  prosperous,  and  therefore  not  ready  to  perish. — So 
 Bootttr.  Zvptav  aTre^uAee  6  jraTdp  fiav,  '  my  father  abandoned  Syria,* 
 Sept.  13.  Hntlawed   things,   things   devoted   to   holy  uses.  —  Gtll. 
 
 14.  In  my  mourning,  or  'lamentation,'  for  so  the  Heb.  >3m  signifies. 
 Such  the  Egyptians  made  in  the  harvest  time,  when  tliey  olfered  the 
 first  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  liept  the  feast  of  leis  with  doleful  lamenta- 
 tions. Fur  the  dead — not  offered  any  to  heroes,  particularly  to  Osiris, 
 after  the  manner  of  the  Gentiles. — Fat. 
 
 Chap.  X.WII.  — 2.  And  plaister  tliem  with  plaister,  TlTi  Dn«  miCI, 
 rather  means,  *  cement  them  together  with  mortar  ma^le  of  lime* — 
 Huub.  'Cement  them  with  cement.' — .1.  Clarite.  Patrick  and  Gilt 
 understand  it  as  the  English  translaUon,  and  that  this  was  done  that 
 
 words  might  more  easily  be  written  on  them,  he  more  conspicuous, 
 and  be  more  easily  read.  Befnre  the  use  of  paper,  the  Plicenicians  pnd 
 Egyptians  u^ed  stones  for  writing,  especially  things  for  perpetuity  — 
 So  Pat.  3.  .'ill  the  words — e-xpnsitors  have  several  (^pinions  here, 
 (i.)  All  Deuteronomy.  (ii.)The  precepts  only,  (iii.)  Tlie  ten  com- 
 mandments, (iv.)  The  latter  part  of  this  chapter;  at  least,  the  ten 
 commandments  and  the  great  outlines  of  the  law,  says  Scott.  There 
 were  two  pillars,  they  wrote  the  curses  1  n  the  one,  and  the  bless, 
 ings  on  the  other.  —Sut.  So  Clarke  understands  it.  Most  probably  an 
 abridgment  of  Deuteronomy. — Boothr.  4.  ket  up  these  stones — '  set 
 up'  seems  to  imply  they  were  a  kind  of  pillars. — Pat.  5.  Build  an 
 altar—ia  ordinary  cases,  no  altar  might  be  used  except  the  brasen  one 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXVI I.   JFe  are  here  taught  to 
 
 acknowledije  God  in  all  that  we  tiave.  We  have  nothing  good  but 
 what  flows  from  bis  bounty.  It  is  a  sweetener  to  our  wealth 
 and  our  food  when  we  can  view  all  as  coining  from  a  bountiful 
 father's  hand.  The  ungrateful  mortal  who  never  owns  a  su- 
 perintending Providence  in  bis  concerns,  knows  not  ibe  lu.xury 
 he  feels  who  can  say  from  tlie  heart,  '  Blesa  the  Lord,  O  my 
 soul,  and  forget  not  all  iiia  benefits  !' 
 
 II.  Ot^r  qivinff  oftltanhs  to  God  will  be  the  more  ardent  in  inn- 
 
 2'.'n 
 
 portion  ns  weave  sensible  of  our  oum  origin. 
 us  to  make  him  so  kind   to  us?     Let 
 
 A\  Iiat  was  there  in 
 tliink  of  tlie  rock 
 whence  we  were  liewn,  and  the  hole  of  the  pit  whence  we 
 were  digged.  Let  us  recollect  our  wandering  and  lost  condi- 
 tion— the  children  of  a  fallen  parent  !  Yet  God  hus  remem- 
 bered us,  not  only  in  the  bounties  of  his  providence,  but  in  the 
 riches  of  his  grace;  he  has  '  remembered  us  in  our  low  estate^ 
 for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever.' 
 
The  tribes  dicideil  on  mount  Ebal. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXVIII. 
 
 The  blessings  for  obedience. 
 
 10  Thou  slialt  tlierefore  obey  tlie  voice  of  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  and  do  bis  commandments  and 
 his  statutes,  which  I  command  thee  tliis  day. 
 
 1 1  H  And  Moses  charged  the  people  the  same 
 day,  saying, 
 
 1-2  These  shall  standi' upon  mount  Geiizim 
 to  bless  the  people,  when  ye  are  come  over 
 Jordan  ;  Simeon,  and  Levi,  and  Judah,  and 
 Issachar,  and  Joseph,  and  Benjamin  : 
 
 13  And  ^tliese  shall  stand  upon  mount  Ebal 
 t  to  curse  ;  Reuben,  Gad,  and  Asher,  and  Ze- 
 bnluu,  Dan,  and  Naplitali. 
 
 14  t  And  ''the  Levites  shall  speak,  and  say 
 unto  all  the  men  of  Israel  with  a  loud  voice, 
 
 15  '  Cursed  be  the  man  that  makcth  any 
 graven  or  molten  image,  an  abomination  unto 
 the  Lord,  the  work  of  the  bauds  of  the  crafts- 
 man, and  puttetb  it  in  a  secret  place.  '  And 
 all  tlie  peo|iU'  sliall  answer  and  say.  Amen. 
 
 16  'Cursed  be  he  that  setteth  light  by  his 
 father  or  his  mother.  And  all  tlie  people  shall 
 say.  Amen. 
 
 17  '"  Cursed  be  he  that  removeth  his  neigh- 
 bour's landmark.  And  all  the  people  shall  say. 
 Amen. 
 
 18  "Cursed  be  he  that  maketh  the  blind  to 
 wander  out  of  the  way.  And  all  the  people 
 shall  say,  Amen. 
 
 19  "Cursed  be  he  that  perverteth  the  judg- 
 ment of  the  stranger,  fatherless,  and  widow. 
 And  all  the  people  shall  say,  Anieu. 
 
 20  ''  Cursed  be  he  that  lieth  with  his  father's 
 wife ;  because  he  uncovereth  his  father's  skirt. 
 And  all  the  people  shall  say.  Amen. 
 
 '21  ''  Cursed  be  he  that  lieth  vi'ith  any  manner 
 of  beast.   And  all  the  people  shall  say.  Amen. 
 
 '22  '  Cursed  be  he  that  lieth  with  his  sister, 
 the  daughter  of  his  father,  or  the  daughter  of 
 his  mother.  And  all  the  people  shall  say, 
 Amen. 
 
 *23  "  Cursed  be  he  that  lieth  with  his  mother 
 in  law.     And  all  the  people  shall  say.  Amen. 
 
 24  '  Cursed  be  he  that  smiteth  his  neighbour 
 secretly.    And  all  the  people  shall  say.  Amen. 
 
 23  "  Cursed  be  he  that  taketh  reward  to  slay 
 an  innocent  person.  And  all  the  people  shall 
 say.  Amen. 
 
 26  "  Cursed  be  he  that  confirmeth  not  all  the 
 words  of  this  law  to  do  them.  And  all  the 
 people  shall  say,  Amen. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 1     T/ie  hlessittffs  fur  ufiedience.       15    The   curses  fo 
 disobedience. 
 
 /ell.  11.  in. 
 Jnsii  «  at. 
 
 .lu.lg.  0.  7. 
 
 g  rli.  II.  29. 
 .I..sh.  8.  .S3 
 
 h  ch.SS.  10. 
 Josh.  8.  3.1. 
 Hull.  ».  11 
 ■  Kx  2LI.  4, 
 i^.S.  P(S4.  17. 
 ].ev.iy.4.  & 
 26.  ].  ch.  *. 
 10,-.>S.  &5.8. 
 Is.  44  fl. 
 n.  s.  \9..-2. 
 fi  SL'eNum.'j. 
 1»J  Jet-  ll.f.. 
 1  Col.  14.  111. 
 
 I  V.-..  20.  la. 
 
 i  21.  17. 
 
 I.p 
 
 19.  3. 
 ■h.  21.  18 
 I  ch.  19.  11. 
 Prov.22.28. 
 
 n  Lev.  19.14. 
 
 ..  E.v.  29.  21, 
 •ii'.ch.lu  18. 
 Mai.  3.  5.  & 
 24.  17. 
 
 ;i  Lev.  18.  B. 
 &  2i).  II. 
 ch.  22.  30. 
 
 .;  Lev,  IS  23. 
 &  20.  15. 
 
 -  Lev-  18. 
 
 St  20.  17. 
 
 *  Lev.  18.  17. 
 &  20.  14. 
 
 I  Ex.  90  13. 
 &21.  12,  14 
 Lev,  24.  17, 
 Num  35  31. 
 
 rh. 
 
 11. 
 
 II  K.x.23.7,  8. 
 ch.  I'J    17. 
 fc  16.  ly. 
 Kaek.22.12 
 
 1  E«.  15.  26. 
 Lev.  26.  3. 
 Is.  bb.  i. 
 
 :  ver.  15. 
 Zecll.  I.  6. 
 
 e  Gen.  39.  5. 
 
 /ver.  II. 
 
 Ueu.  22.  17. 
 
 &  49  20. 
 
 ch.  7.  13. 
 
 P8-  107.  33. 
 
 &  127.  3. 
 
 &  128.  3. 
 
 Prov.10  22. 
 
 I  Tim  4.  8. 
 II  Or,  di,\tgh, 
 
 or,  hiifiiti- 
 
 i„0  t.o„gh. 
 a  P.S.  121.  8. 
 
 '.  Lev.  afi  7, 
 8  2  Sam  22. 
 38,  39,  .11. 
 
 I  Ei.  19. 5,  6. 
 
 26.  IS,  19, 1 
 29.  13. 
 
 nNiim  fl  27 
 
 2Chr.7.  14. 
 
 Is.  63.   19. 
 
 Pail.  9.  16, 
 
 19. 
 ::ch.  II.  95. 
 1  ver.  4. 
 
 ch.  30   9. 
 
 Prov  1U.22 
 \\Or,(«r  a-'td . 
 I  Hel).  bells. 
 
 r  Lev.  26.  4. 
 ch.  11.14. 
 y  ch.  14-  29. 
 r  ch.   15.  6. 
 
 A  ND  it  shall  come  to  pass,  "  if  thou  shalt 
 ■^^  hearken  diligently  unto  the  voice  of  the 
 Lord  thy  God,  to  observe  and  to  do  all  bis 
 commandments  which  I  command  thee  this 
 day,  tliat  the  Loud  thy  God  ''will  set  thee  on 
 high  above  all  nations  of  the  earth  : 
 
 2  And  all  the.se  blessings  shall  come  on  thee, 
 and  '^  overtake  thee,  if  thou  shalt  hearken  unto 
 the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 3  "^  Blessed  shall  thou  be  in  the  city,  and 
 blessed  shalt  tliou  be  °  in  the  field. 
 
 4  Blessed  shall  be  'the  fruit  of  thy  body,  and 
 the  fruit  of  thy  ground,  and  the  fruit  of  thy 
 cattle,  the  increase  of  thy  kine,  and  the  flocks 
 of  tliy  sheep. 
 
 5  Blessed  shall  be  thy  basket  and  thy  ||  store. 
 
 6  "  Ble.ssed  shalt  thou  be  when  thou  comest 
 in,  and  blessed  shall  thou  be  when  thou  goest 
 out. 
 
 7  The  Loud  ''.sliall  cause  thine  enemies  that 
 rise  up  against  thee  to  be  smitten  before  thy 
 face  :  they  shall  come  out  against  thee  one  way, 
 and  flee  before  thee  seven  ways. 
 
 8  Tlie  Loud  shall  '  command  the  blessing 
 upon  thee  in  thy  ||  storehouses,  and  in  all  that 
 tliou  '■  settest  thine  band  unto  ;  and  he  shall 
 bless  thee  in  the  land  whicli  the  Lord  thy  God 
 giveth  thee. 
 
 9  '  The  Lord  shall  establish  thee  an  holy 
 people  unto  himself,  as  he  hath  sworn  unto 
 thee,  if  thou  shalt  keep  the  comniandmeuts  of 
 the  Lord  thy  God,  and  walk  in  his  ways. 
 
 10  And  all  people  of  the  earth  shall  see  that 
 thou  art  "'  called  by  the  name  of  the  Lord  ; 
 and  they  shall  be  "  afraid  of  thee. 
 
 1 1  And  "the  Lord  shall  make  thee  plenteous 
 II  in  goods,  in  the  fruit  of  thy  f  body,  and  in 
 the  fruit  of  thy  cattle,  and  in  the  fruit  of  thy 
 ground,  in  the  laud  which  tlie  Lord  sware  unto 
 thy  fathers  to  give  thee. 
 
 12  The  Lord  shall  open  unto  thee  his  good 
 treasure,  the  heaven  ■'  to  give  the  rain  unto  thy 
 land  in  his  season,  and  ''  to  bless  all  the  work 
 of  tliine  hand  :  and  '  thou  shalt  lend  unto  many 
 nations,  and  thou  shalt  not  borrow. 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  shall  make  thee  '  the  head, 
 and  not  the  tail ;  and  thou  shalt  be  above  only, 
 and  thou  shalt  not  be  beneath  ;  if  that  thou 
 hearken  unto  the  commandments  of  the  Loud 
 thy  God,  which  I  command  thee  this  day,  to 
 observe  and  to  do  them  ; 
 
 14  'And  thou  shalt  not  go  aside  from  any 
 of  the  words  which  I  command  thee  this  day, 
 
 at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle,  but  on  this  occasion  they  were  to  offer 
 sacrifice   and  renew  the  covenant. — Scott,  Put.  12.  Upon   mount 
 
 Gerizim,  ^t  niay  mean  by. — A.  Clarke.  See  Josh.  viii.  33.  Gcrizim 
 and  Ebal  are  separated  by  a  narrow  valley,  not  above  a  furlong  broad  ; 
 and  Neapolis,  or  Naplosa,  the  ancient  Sicliem,  is  built  at  the  f<iot  of 
 Mount  Gerizim,  fmm  which  the  blessings  were  pronounced. — Maun- 
 drelt^s  Trav.  Gerizim  is  a  fruitful  hill,  Ebal  a  barren  rocky  hill.  From 
 hill  to  hill  the  shouts  of  the  Levites  could  be  distinctly  heard. — Sut. 
 i5.  Amen,  'true,'  'faithful,'  'certain;'  '  verily,  verily,'  'so  be  it,' '  I 
 believe  it,*  (Num.  v.  22.)— Co/.  Fields  in  the  east  have  not  fences  or 
 hedges,  as  in  England,  hut  a  ridge,  a  stone,  or  a  post ;  and,  conse- 
 quently, it  is  not  very  difficult  to  encroach  on  the  property  of  another. 
 —Ru/,. 
 
 Chap.  XXVIII.  — 3.  Ci;.!/, 'trade.'     i^icW,  'husbandry.'— Ed.    The 
 variety  of  expression  used  here  aud  in  ver.  16,  &c,,  intimates  every  kind 
 
 of  prosperity  or  adversity, — personal,  relative,  and  public— Green/. 
 4.  Fruit  of  thy  body,  that  shall  thrive  and  be  healthy.— GiH.  Of  ttiy 
 grau7id,    'crops.'— Ed.  S.  Basket,    prohiibly   alludes   to  travelling 
 
 basket.— Hur.  Store,  m»lBQ.  '  kneading-troughs,"  or  remaindeis 
 which  may  be  laid  up  f'lr  future  use.- J.  Clarke.  '  Thou  shalt  have 
 abundance  of  f rait  to  fill  thy  basket,  aud  plenty  of  meal  for  thy  knead- 
 inf^-trougfis. — Boothr.  May  mean  leathern  bags,  used  in  travelling, 
 and  the  blessing  here  may  mean  success  in  commerce.— //«»-.  Eastern 
 farmers  have  large  baskets  for  keeping  their  grain.  Corn  is  also  kept 
 in  a  store  made  of  sticks  and  clay  in  a  circular  form.  This  little  build- 
 ing is  always  elevated,  and  near  the  house. — Rob.  6.  Cotuest  in  — 
 goest  ou^— affairs  and  administrations  often  expressed  by  this  phrase, 
 {Num.  xxvii.  17;  Dent.  xxxi.  2;  2Sam.  iii.  25;  2Chron.  i.  10;  Acts, 
 i.  21  ;  ix.  28.)  13.  Ttie  heud — the  chief  of  all  people  in  power,  at  least 
 in  dignity  and  privileges. — Puole.     Not  tlie  tail,  'not  vassals.' — Gitt. 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.    XXVII I.    Lit  us   beware  of 
 
 mnking  lii/lit  (if  God's  hue.  He  has  repeated  it  over  and  over 
 again  ;  and  tliough  we  have  it  not  now  on  the  tables  of  slone 
 or  on  the  pillars  of  stone,  yet  it  is  incorporated  in  the  word  of 
 God,  and  is  written  on  the  heart  of  every  believer. 
 
 II.  Let  us  adore  Him  who  has  delivered  us  from  tlie  curses  of 
 a  violated  law.  To  those  curses  our  consciences  must  say, 
 221 
 
 '  Amen  !'  The  law  is  holy,  just,  and  true,  and  it  ought  to  be 
 strictly  regarded.  We  have  violated  it,  and  must  therefore 
 die  in  despair,  were  not  Christ  our  remedy.  Faith  in  him  de- 
 livers us  from  these  curses;  the  believer  is  now  no  longer 
 •under  the  law'  for  coodemnation,  'but  under  grace;'  for 
 '  Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being 
 made  a  curse  for  us." 
 
The  curses  for  disobediertce. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXVIII. 
 
 The  curses  fur  disobedience. 
 
 to  the  right  hand,  or  to  the  left,  to  go  after 
 other  gods  to  serve  them. 
 
 15  1  But  it  shall  come  to  pass,  "  if  thou  wilt 
 not  hearken  unto  the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  to  observe  to  do  all  his  conimandments 
 and  his  statutes  which  I  command  thee  this 
 clay;  that  all  these  curses  shall  come  upon 
 thee,  and  *  overtake  thee  : 
 
 16  Cursed  shall  thou  he  ^in  the  city,  and 
 cursed  sha/t  thou  be  in  the  field. 
 
 17  Cursed  shnl/  he  thy  basket  and  thy  store. 
 
 18  Cursed  shall  be  the  fruit  of  thy  body,  and 
 the  fruit  of  thy  land,  the  increase  of  thy  kine, 
 and  the  flocks  of  thy  sheep. 
 
 19  Cursed  shall  thou  be  when  thou  comest 
 in,  and  cursed  shall  thou  be  when  thou  goest 
 out. 
 
 '20  The  Lono  shall  send  upon  thee  'cursing, 
 *  vexation,  and  *■  rebuke,  in  all  that  thou  settest 
 thine  band  unto  t  'or  to  do,  until  thou  be  de- 
 stroyed, and  until  thou  perish  quickly  ;  because 
 of  the  wickedness  of  thy  doings,  whereby  thou 
 hast  forsaken  me. 
 
 21  The  Lord  shall  make  '  the  pestilence 
 cleave  unto  thee,  until  he  have  consumed  thee 
 from  off  the  land,  whither  thou  goest  to  pos- 
 sess it. 
 
 2-2  ''  The  Lord  shall  smite  thee  with  a  con- 
 sumption, and  with  a  fever,  and  with  an  inflam- 
 mation, and  with  an  extreme  burning,  and  with 
 the  I)  sword,  and  with  'blasting,  and  with  mil- 
 dew ;  and  they  shall  pursue  thee  until  thou 
 perish. 
 
 23  And  '  thy  heaven  that  is  over  thy  head 
 shall  be  brass,  and  the  earth  that  i*  under  thee 
 shall  be  iron. 
 
 21  The  Lord  shall  make  the  rain  of  thy  land 
 powder  and  dust :  from  heaven  shall  it  come 
 down  upon  thee,  until  thou  be  destroyed. 
 
 25  *  The  Lord  shall  cause  thee  to  be  smitten 
 before  thine  enemies  ;  thou  shall  go  out  one 
 way  against  them,  and  flee  seven  ways  before 
 them  :  and  •■  shall  be  f  removed  into  all  the 
 kingdoms  of  the  earth. 
 
 26  And  '  thy  carcase  shall  be  meat  unto  all 
 fowls  of  the  air,  and  unto  the  beasts  of  the 
 eartli,  and  no  man  shall  fray  them  away. 
 
 27  The  Lord  will  smite  thee  with  '  the  botch 
 of  Egypt,  and  with  '  the  einerods,  and  with  the 
 scab,  and  with  the  itch,  whereof  thou  canst  not 
 be  healed. 
 
 28  The  Lord  shall  smite  thee  with  madness, 
 and  blindness,  and  '"astonishment  of  heart: 
 
 29  And  thou  shalt  "  grope  at  noonday,  as  the 
 blind  gropeth  in  darknes.s,  and  thou  shalt  not 
 
 i  I>ev.26.l-J. 
 Lam  9.  17 
 nail.  9.  II, 
 
 ■er.  e. 
 S  Ter.  3,  ic. 
 
 s  Mai.  S.  S. 
 
 I  Pa n.-^o. 
 
 i,U.I:l. 
 
 Sll.  16. 
 Id,  .111.17,  & 
 61.  Sll.  8t6«. 
 
 »  r 
 
 t  H.-li.  tcAicA 
 ......  muld. 
 
 fjt  lie. 
 
 c  l>!v.?6.25. 
 Jer.  S4.  10. 
 
 /  Lev.  26.19. 
 
 »r.  7. 
 Lev,  211.  17, 
 S7  ch.S2RU, 
 N.  Sy.  17. 
 
 h  ,Ti.r.  1.1.  ♦, 
 
 ft  24.  9. 
 
 Kipk.?.*!  1(1. 
 1  Mel.    /;.ru 
 
 .  1  Sa.  17  41, 
 
 4fi    Ps.79  2 
 
 .ler.  7.  3.1. 
 
 Hi  Id  l.ftSi 
 
 211. 
 t  ver    IS 
 
 Et,  9.  9.  * 
 
 l.'i.  26. 
 1 1  rtain  f>  6. 
 
 P«.  -8.  00. 
 
 1  Jiib  II.  10- 
 Jer.  S    111. 
 
 />  .lob  31.  1. 
 Jer.  12  13 
 Amos  5.  II. 
 Mic.  6.  li 
 Zeph.  1.  13. 
 
 ■/  ell.  20.  6. 
 
 t  Hpb.  Fr»- 
 
 t   Heb.   thai! 
 ni,!  rrlnt 
 la  thrf. 
 
 I  ver.  61. 
 Lev.  26.  10. 
 Jer.  5.  17. 
 
 x2Klii.l7.1, 
 6.  8t  14,  12, 
 1 1.  &  25.  7, 
 ll.SChr. 
 13.  ll.Bi.16. 
 6,  20. 
 
 V  ch.  4.  28. 
 &  ver.  6». 
 Jer.  16.  13 
 
 I  I  Kiu  9  7, 
 8.  Ji-r.  24  9 
 
 Zerh. «.  13 
 '<  P-.  4-1.  14. 
 ft  Mir.  6,  15. 
 
 Ila-i.  I.  6. 
 c  Joel  1.  4. 
 
 d  I.,aiii.  1.  6. 
 Or,  jx-itfu. 
 
 prosper  in  thy  ways :  and  thou  shalt  be  only 
 oppressed  and  spoiled  evermore,  and  no  man 
 ■•ball  save  thee. 
 
 yO  °  Thou  shalt  betroth  a  wife,  and  another 
 man  shall  lie  with  her:  ''thou  shalt  build  an 
 house,  and  thou  shalt  not  dwell  therein  :  ''thou 
 shalt  plant  a  vineyard,  and  shalt  not  f  gather 
 the  grapes  thereof. 
 
 31  Thine  ox  shall  be  slain  before  thine  eyes, 
 and  thou  shalt  not  eat  thereof:  thine  ass  shall 
 be  violently  taken  away  from  before  thy  face, 
 and  t  shall  not  be  restored  to  thee  :  thy  sheep 
 xhalt  be  given  unto  thine  enemies,  and  thou 
 ^halt  have  none  to  rescue  them. 
 
 32  Thy  sons  and  thy  daughters  5A0W  fte  given 
 unto  another  people,  and  thine  eyes  shall  look, 
 and  'fail  u'ith  longiiiif  for  them  all  the  day 
 'ong  :  and  there  shall  be  no  might  in  thine 
 hand. 
 
 .33  '  The  fruit  of  thy  land,  and  all  thy  labours, 
 shall  a  nation  which  thou  knowest  not  eat  up  ; 
 and  thou  shalt  be  only  oppressed  and  crushed 
 alway  : 
 
 34  So  that  thou  shalt  be  mad  'for  the  sight 
 of  thine  eyes  which  thou  shalt  see. 
 
 35  The  Lord  shall  "smite  thee  in  the  knees, 
 and  in  the  Icg.s,  with  a  sore  botch  that  cannot 
 he  healed,  from  the  sole  of  thy  foot  unto  the 
 top  of  thy  bead. 
 
 .36  The  Lord  shall  "  bring  thee,  and  thy  king 
 which  thou  shalt  set  over  thee,  unto  a  nation 
 which  neither  thou  nor  thy  fathers  have  known ; 
 and  '  there  shalt  thou  serve  other  gods,  wood 
 and  stone. 
 
 37  And  thou  shalt  become  'an  astonishment, 
 a  proverb,  "and  a  byword,  among  all  nations 
 whither  the  Lord  shall  lead  thee. 
 
 38  ''  Thou  shalt  carry  much  seed  out  into  the 
 field,  and  shalt  gather  but  little  in  ;  for  '  the 
 locust  shall  consume  it. 
 
 39  Thou  shalt  plant  vineyards,  and  dress 
 them,  but  shalt  neither  drink  of  the  wine,  nor 
 gather  the  grapes  ;  for  the  worms  shall  eat 
 them. 
 
 40  Thou  shalt  have  olive  trees  throughout  all 
 thy  coasts,  but  thou  shalt  not  anoint  thyself 
 with  the  oil ;  for  thine  olive  shall  cast  his  fruit. 
 
 41  Thou  .shalt  beget  sons  and  daughters,  but 
 t  thou  shalt  not  enjoy  them  ;  for  ''  they  shall 
 go  into  captivity. 
 
 42  All  thy  trees  and  fruit  of  thy  land  shall 
 the  locust  II  consume. 
 
 43  The  stranger  that  is  within  thee  shall  get 
 up  above  thee  very  high  ;  and  thou  shalt  come 
 down  very  low. 
 
 This  is  prorerhial. — Pat.  Easfeins  now  spcalt  of  tlieir  depfmlents  as 
 their  tails.— Riifi.  22.  Coitsumpiion,  nSmr.  better  rendered,  '  a  con- 
 miming  disorder.'— Pit'f.  Bill.  See  notes  on  Lev.  xxvi.  16.  With  u 
 /ei'er,  ^c,  '  with  a  fever,  and  with  tlie  ague,  and  with  inflammation.' 
 — Boothr.  Su'ord—mnrg.,  '  drought ;'  this  suits  belter  in  the  con- 
 nexion, and  may  apply  to  tlie  drought  in  human  bodies  from  fever,  Ac, 
 or  in  the  earth.— so  Bmthr.,  Gill.  Blasting— the  blasting  east  wind, 
 that  ruincrt  vegetation,  or  Ihe  awlul,  pestilential,  and  suflTocating  winds. 
 — A.  Clarke.  23.  Tlit/  li^aven — 'Iby,'  that  part  of  the  atmosphere 
 which  was  over  Judea.— GreeTi/,  Brass— hard,  dry.  and  sliiit  up  from 
 giving  rain,  (see  notes  on  Lev.  xxvi.  \S.)— Poole.  Iron,  hiird  as  iron, 
 wholly  incapable  of  cullivation.— Gi-fen/.  24.  Powder  and  dust— 
 
 these  dry  showers  have  been  witnessed  by  various  eastern  travellers. 
 CMinids  of  dust  and  sand  are  raised  into  the  air  a  great  height,  darken- 
 ing the  sun  jnd  every  surrounding  object,  and  following  each  other  in 
 Bwful  succession;  while  the  effect  on  the  eyes,  ears,  nostrils,  and 
 hreath  of  man  and  beast  is  most  distressing,  and  sometimes  fatal.— 
 Herbert.  Rue,  Tourne/nrt,  Buckingham.  25.  Thine  enem.Vs— verilied 
 in  the  Philistines.  Assyrians.  Babylonians,  and  Romans.  26.  Meat 
 
 unto  all  /oicfa— reckoned  a  very  grievous  calamity,  and  was  the  case 
 with  many  Jews  in  the  Antiochiau  persecution,  (Ps.  l.xxix.  2.) 
 2r.  Bo/rA— thought  to  be  the  elephantiasis,  a  sort  of  leprosy,  freqncnt 
 among  the  Egyptians,  (Lev.  xiii.  2.)— Gill.  The  body  becomes  covcicd 
 222 
 
 with  a  foul,  ulcerous,  hardened  skin,  resembling  that  of  an  elephant, 
 and  thence  arise  tumours  and  incurable  sores. — Mirh.  Emcrods, 
 '  piles.' — Gilt.  Scab,  313,  as  the  like  word  in  Arabic  signifies  a  dis- 
 temper in  the  corner  of  the  eye.  Dr.  Clarke  lakes  it  to  be  the  ophtjialmia. 
 28.  Madnetts — blindness — astonishment — '  distraction,  stupidity,  horror.' 
 — Pat.  See  Jer.  xxv.  16,  ifi  ;  Zeph.  i.  17;  Lam.  iv.  14;  Jer.  iv.  9; 
 Ezek.  iv.  17.  29.  Grope  at  noon  dity — proverbial,  signifying  such 
 
 confusion  of  mind  that  a  man  errs  in  the  plainest  things. — Boot/tr. 
 36.  And  thy  king — fulfilled  in  Jchoiachin  and  Zedekiah,  (2  Kings,  xxiv. 
 15  ;  and  xxv.  6,  7.)  Uluitt  serve  other  gods,  which  they  were  obliged  to 
 do  in  Bahjinn. — Gill.  See  Jer.  xliv.  17 — 19.  37.  J  proverb  and  a 
 tit/word~how  common  is  it  to  ask  contemptuously,  '  Do  you  think  I  am 
 a  Jew?' — G'lt  The  Jews  are  despised  among  pnifcssed  Christians, 
 Mahometans,  and  Pagans. — Put.  38.  Muc/t  seed,  ^c— see  Isa.  li. 
 19;  Jer.  xiv.  1—3.  41.  Tliet/  stialt  go  into  captiinty — 2  Kings,  v.  2  ; 
 xiv.  26  ;  XV.  37.  42.  Tliy  trees—see  2  Kings,  viii. ;  Joel,  i.  10,  &c.  ; 
 2  Kings,  xiii.  20;  xxiv.  2  ;  3  Chrou.  xxviii.  5;  Jer.  xii.  12;  xiv.  I. 
 43.  The  stranger  that  is  tcithin  thee— Dr.  Jackson  applies  this  to  Ves. 
 pasian,  who,  from  mean  birlh,  rose  to  the  imperial  dignity,  through  his 
 being  appointed  a  commander  in  Ihe  wars  against  the  Jews.  Manasse/k 
 ben  Israel  interprets  it  of  the  Samaritans. — Gill.  That  even  one  who 
 had  been  a  stranger  and  a  proselyte  in  their  own  country,  should  rise 
 over  Uicm  in  their  captivity.      Sctitt,  with  more  probability,  considers 
 
The.  curses  for  disobedience. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXVIII. 
 
 The  curses  for  disobedience. 
 
 44  °  He  shall  lend  to  thee,  and  thou  shalt 
 not  lend  to  him  :  '  he  shall  be  the  head,  and 
 thou  shall  be  the  tail. 
 
 45  Moreover  ^  all  these  curses  shall  come 
 upon  thee,  and  shall  pursue  thee,  and  overtake 
 thee,  till  thou  be  destroyed ;  because  thou 
 hearkenedst  not  unto  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
 thy  God,  to  keep  his  commandments  and  his 
 statutes  which  he  commanded  thee  : 
 
 46  And  they  shall  be  upon  thee  ■■  for  a  sign 
 and  for  a  wonder,  and  upon  thy  seed  for  ever. 
 
 47  '  Because  thou  servedst  not  the  Lord  thy 
 God  with  joyfulness,  a<id  with  gladness  of 
 heart,  '  for  the  abundance  of  all  things  ; 
 
 48  Therefore  shalt  thou  serve  thine  enemies 
 which  the  Lord  shall  send  against  thee,  in 
 hunger,  and  in  thirst,  and  in  nakedness,  and  in 
 want  of  all  things  -.  and  he  '  shall  put  a  yoke  of 
 iron  upon  thy  neck,  until  he  have  destroyed 
 thee. 
 
 49  "  The  Lord  shall  bring  a  nation  against 
 thee  from  far,  from  the  end  of  the  earth,  "  as 
 sicift  as  the  eagle  flieth  ;  a  nation  whose 
 tongue  thou  shalt  not  f  understand  ; 
 
 50  A  nation  f  of  fierce  countenance,  °  which 
 shall  not  regard  the  person  of  the  old,  nor 
 shew  favour  to  the  young  : 
 
 5!  And  he  shall  ""eat  the  fruit  of  thy  cattle, 
 and  the  fruit  of  thy  land,  until  thou  be  destroy- 
 ed :  which  also  shall  not  leave  thee  either 
 corn,  wine,  or  oil,  or  the  increase  of  thy  kine, 
 or  flocks  of  thy  sheep,  until  he  have  destroyed 
 thee. 
 
 52  And  he  shall  ^  besiege  thee  in  all  thy 
 gates,  until  thy  high  and  fenced  walls  come 
 down,  wherein  thou  trustedst,  throughout  all 
 thy  land  :  and  he  shall  besiege  thee  in  all  thy 
 gates  throughout  all  thy  land,  which  the  Lord 
 thy  God  hath  given  thee. 
 
 5:}  And  ■■  thou  shalt  eat  the  fruit  of  thine  own 
 t  body,  the  flesh  of  thy  sons  and  of  thy  daugh- 
 ters, which  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  given  thee, 
 in  the  siege,  and  in  the  straitness,  wherewith 
 thine  enemies  shall  distress  thee  : 
 
 54  So  that  the  man  that  is  tender  among  you, 
 and  very  delicate,  Miis  eye  shall  be  evil  toward 
 his  brother,  and  toward  '  the  wife  of  his  bosom, 
 and  toward  the  remnant  of  his  children  which 
 he  shall  leave : 
 
 55  So  that  he  will  not  give  to  any  of  them  of 
 the  flesh  of  his  children  whom  he  shall  eat : 
 because  he  hath  nothing  left  him  in  the  siege, 
 and  in  the  straitness,  wherewith  thine  enemies 
 shall  distress  thee  in  all  thy  gates. 
 
 56  The  tender  and  delicate  woman  among 
 you,  which  would  not  adventure  to  set  the  sole 
 
 /ver.  1.1. 
 
 Lain.  I.  5 
 y  Ter.  15. 
 
 Ii  Is.  8.  18. 
 £ick.l4.8. 
 
 ■  Neh   9.  S6, 
 36,37. 
 
 m  Jer.  5.  15. 
 
 k  6.  2;,  a.1. 
 Luke  19. A^. 
 
 n  Jer.  4rt,  HI. 
 
 ft  49.  '^-i. 
 
 Lain    1.  IP. 
 
 Eiek.  17.  S, 
 
 \!.  H..«,8  I. 
 t  Heb.  Acnr. 
 t  Hpb.  Mtrotig 
 
 «f  f«c: 
 
 Prov.  7.  la 
 
 Ecclea.9  I. 
 
 Dan.  3.  23. 
 9  2  Chr    36. 
 
 17.  la.  47.6. 
 p  Yer.  S.1. 
 
 I.S.  1.  7.  & 
 
 62.  8. 
 
 }2Kin.S5. 
 1,2,4. 
 
 I-  Lev  26  2<l. 
 2  Kill  e.yfl, 
 
 £9,.Ier.lS.9 
 Lam.  ■».  20. 
 fc  1.  111. 
 n.-ir  2.  3. 
 \  Heb.  6'«J/. 
 
 I  ch.  I».  9. 
 I  cb.  IS.  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  ajttr. 
 X  Gen.'lS  10. 
 
 t  Heb  caii/i 
 tn  atcntl. 
 
 d  eh.  SO.  9. 
 
 Jer.  .■i2.  41. 
 e  Prov.  I.  20. 
 
 I«.  1.  24. 
 
 /  Lev.  26  ?3. 
 
 cli.4  27,  23. 
 
 i  Lev.26. 36. 
 »  Lev.26.16. 
 
 .,  .let 
 3c9 
 
 4?1 
 ». 
 3. 
 
 7. 
 13. 
 
 och. 
 
 17. 
 
 16. 
 
 of  her  foot  upon  the  ground  for  delicateness 
 and  tenderness,  "  her  eye  shall  be  evil  toward 
 the  husband  of  her  bosom,  and  toward  her  son, 
 and  toward  her  daughter, 
 
 57  And  toward  her  f  young  one  that  cometh 
 out  '  from  between  her  feet,  and  toward  her 
 children  which  she  shall  bear :  for  she  shall 
 eat  them  for  want  of  all  things  secretly  in  the 
 siege  and 'straitness,  wherewith  thine  enemy 
 shall  distress  thee  in  thy  gates. 
 
 58  If  tliou  wilt  not  observe  to  do  all  the 
 words  of  this  law  that  are  written  in  this  book, 
 that  thou  mayest  fear  '  this  glorious  and  fear- 
 ful name,  THE  LORD  THY  GOD  ; 
 
 59  Then  the  Lord  will  make  thy  plagues 
 '  wonderful,  and  the  plagues  of  thy  seed,  even 
 great  plagues,  and  of  long  continuance,  and 
 sore  sicknesses,  and  of  long  continuance. 
 
 60  Moreover  he  will  bring  upon  thee  all  '  the 
 diseases  of  Egypt,  which  thou  wast  afraid  of; 
 and  they  shall  cleave  unto  thee. 
 
 61  Also  every  sickness,  and  every  plague, 
 which  is  not  written  in  the  book  of  this  law, 
 them  will  the  Lord  t  bring  upon  thee,  until 
 thou  be  destroyed. 
 
 62  And  ye  'shall  be  left  few  in  number, 
 whereas  ye  were  '  as  the  stars  of  heaven  for 
 multitude ;  because  thou  wouldest  not  obey 
 the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 63  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  as  the 
 Lord  ■*  rejoiced  over  you  to  do  you  good,  and 
 to  multiply  you  ;  so  the  Lord  °  will  rejoice 
 over  you  to  destroy  you,  and  to  bring  you  to 
 nought ;  and  ye  shall  be  plucked  from  off  the 
 land  whither  thou  goest  to  possess  it. 
 
 64  And  the  Lord  'shall  scatter  thee  among 
 all  people,  from  the  one  end  of  the  earth  even 
 unto  the  other  ;  and  ^  there  thou  shalt  serve 
 other  gods,  which  neither  thou  nor  thy  fathers 
 have  known,  even  wood  and  stone. 
 
 65  And  "  among  these  nations  shalt  thou  find 
 no  ease,  neither  shall  the  sole  of  thy  foot  have 
 rest  :  'but  the  Lord  shall  give  thee  there  a 
 trembling  heart,  and  failing  of  eyes,  and  '  sor- 
 row of  mind  : 
 
 66  And  thy  life  shall  hang  in  doubt  before 
 thee  ;  and  thou  shalt  fear  day  and  night,  and 
 shalt  have  none  assurance  of  thy  life  : 
 
 67  '  In  the  morning  thou  shalt  say.  Would 
 God  it  were  even !  and  at  even  thou  shalt  say. 
 Would  God  it  were  morning!  for  the  fear  of 
 thine  heart  wherewith  thou  shalt  fear,  and  ""  for 
 the  sight  of  thine  eyes  which  thou  shalt  see. 
 
 68  And  the  Lord  "  shall  bring  thee  into 
 Egypt  again  with  ships,  by  the  way  whereof  I 
 .spake  unto  thee,  "  Thou  shalt  see  it  no  more 
 
 it  as  referriog:  to  the  remainders  of  the  conquered  nations  who  were 
 permitted  to  rise  np,  especially  in  the  time  of  the  jiidg^es.  49,  A  na- 
 tion—from  far — Jewish  writers  interpret  this  of  Rome,  f>r  Vespasian 
 brought  fur  his  assistance  many  nations,  or  st)IditTS.  out  of  England, 
 France,  Spain,  and  other  parts  of  the  world,  to  war  with  the  Jews.  As 
 swift  as  the  eitgle — though  used  of  the  Chaldeans  and  Babylonians, 
 (Jer.  iv.  13;  I.am.  iv.  19;  Hab.  i.  8,)  agrees  belter  with  the  Romans, 
 because  of  their  swiftness  of  arrival  ft-om  all  parts,  and  the  force  and 
 impetus  of  their  invading,  besieging,  and  attacking  ;  and  the  eagle  was 
 borne  on  the  Roman  standard. — Gill.  50.  Fierce  countenttnee — in  a 
 war  which  broke  out  between  the  Romans  and  Samnites,  { year  of  Rome 
 412.)  the  latter  attributed  their  defeat,  after  a  desperate  engagement,  to 
 t^e  fierce  luiiks  of  the  Romans. — Hales.  Old  nor  young — the  Romans 
 spared  not  even  the  infants — the  Romans  shewed  mercy  to  no  age. — 
 Josep/ius.  52.  Tht/  ttigtt  and  fenced  watts  come  liou-n— literally  ful- 
 filled  by  Titus,  when  all  the  fortified  places  were  taken,  and  the  walls 
 of  Jerusalem  razed  to  the  ground.— H(■s^  of  Jews.  53.  Eat  ttte  fruit 
 ofltiine  own  Aorfy— fulfilled  2  Kings,  vi.  25,  28,  29;  I, -in.  ii.  20;  iv.  10  ; 
 Sanich,  ii.  3;  and  in  the  Roman  siege.— Gi7/.  54.  His  e-;e  sfiall  be 
 evil,  ^c.^in  every  house  where  there  was  any  appearance  of  food,  the 
 dearest  relatives  fought  each  other  for  it — even  mothers  their  infants. 
 — Jos.  67.  Stie  stialt  eat  Itiem — in  the  siege  of  Samaria,  a  woman 
 2-23 
 
 boiled  her  son,  (2  Kings,  v.  28,  29  ;)  in  the  siege  of  the  Romans,  a  noble 
 woman  did  the  same. — Josephus's  Jewish  Wars,  lib.  vii.  c.  8.  For  want 
 of  (ill  things— for  they  had  devoured  the  leather  of  their  girdles,  of  their 
 shoes,  and  of  their  shields,  and  even  the  stale  dung  if  oxen.— Jo*., 
 lib.  iii.  c.  IS;  lib.  vii.  c.  7.  62.  Few  in  numfjcr  —  the  multitude  of 
 Jews  killed  in  wars  was  equal  to  the  number  of  living  men  in  Israel  in 
 the  time  of  King  David.  In  the  siege  of  Jerusalem,  by  pestilence,  fa- 
 mine, &c.,  eleven  hundred  thousand,  besides  ninety  thousand  carried 
 captive;  for  the  whole  nation  nearly  were  at  the  Passover;  and  after 
 this,  in  the  reign  of  Adrian,  there  were  slain  in  battles  and  skirmishes, 
 five  hundred  and  eighty  thousand,  besides  a  vast  number  that  perished 
 in  other  ways.  An  amazing  number  were  slain  afterwards  in  Spain, 
 France,  and  Germany,  tiaving  been  transported  from  Jerusalem  ;  and 
 though  their  number  equalled  those  that  came  out  of  Egypt,  yet  scarce 
 five  thousand  were  left. — Jos.  63.  Pluc/ied  from  off  the  tond—^ome 
 few  Jews  are  now  there,  but  inherit  no  part.  It  has  chiefly  been  in- 
 habited by  Moors,  Arabs,  Turks,  Greeks,  and  superstitious  Christians. 
 — So  Sandys.  64.  Scatter  thee — tliey  now  swarm  in  many  parts  of 
 the  east,  are  spread  through  most  of  ihe  countries  1  f  Europe  and  Africa, 
 and  several  families  are  in  the  Wist  Indies.  68.  7n(o  Egypt  again, 
 that  is,  into  another  state  of  slavery  and  bondage. — A.  Clar/te.  Or, 
 rather,  sliictly  and  literally  ;  lor  when  Jerusalem  was  taken  by  Titus, 
 
3V((!  people  exhorted  to  obedience.  DEUTERONOMY,  XXIX.         They  are  presented  hefire  the  Lord. 
 
 again :  and  there  ye  shall  be  sold  unto  your 
 enemies  for  bondmen  and  bondwomen,  and  no 
 man  shall  buy  i/ou. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 I  Moses  erhortelh  them  to  obedience,  bi/  tlic  memory  of 
 tfte  works  titey  Iiave  seen.  10  All  are  presented  before 
 the  Lord  to  entir  into  his  covenant.  18  Tlie  fjreat 
 wrath  on  him  ttiai  fiatiereth  himself  in  his  wickedness. 
 29  Secret  ttiinys  belong  unto  God. 
 
 'T'HESE  are  the  words  of  the  covenant, 
 -'-  which  the  Loud  commanded  Moses  to 
 make  with  the  children  of  Israel  in  the  land  of 
 Moab,  beside  °  the  covenant  which  he  made 
 with  them  in  Horeb. 
 
 2  t  And  Moses  called  unto  all  Israel,  and 
 said  unto  them,  ''  Ye  have  seen  all  that  the 
 Lord  did  before  your  eyes  in  the  land  of 
 Egypt  unto  Pharaoh,  and  unto  all  his  servants, 
 and  unto  all  his  land  -, 
 
 3  "  The  great  temptations  which  thine  eyes 
 have  seen,  the  signs,  and  those  great  miracles  : 
 
 4  Yet  ''  the  Lord  hath  not  given  you  an 
 heart  to  perceive,  and  eyes  to  see,  and  ears  to 
 hear,  unto  this  day. 
 
 .5  "  And  I  have  led  you  forty  years  in  the 
 wilderness  :  '  your  clothes  are  not  waxen  old 
 upon  you,  and  thy  shoe  is  not  waxen  old  upon 
 
 d  See  I-!  6.  P. 
 
 10.  ft  fin.  17 
 
 Jolm  8.  ■l:l. 
 
 Acts2R,2P. 
 
 27.  Fpli   A 
 
 IS.  2  Thes. 
 
 2.  II,  12. 
 «c1i.  1.3.  & 
 
 8.  8. 
 fch.S.i. 
 
 17  Pee  Ex.  16 
 I*  cli.s.  3. 
 Fs.78.24,2^. 
 
 A  Nu  21.23, 
 21,r'.'i  rh.i. 
 32.  &  3.  I. 
 
 i  Na.  32.  S3, 
 ch,  312,  13. 
 
 m  Sec  Josh. 
 9.21,23,27. 
 
 \  Hcb  pntt. 
 n  N  eh.  10.29. 
 
 o  ell.  2d.  e. 
 p  Ex.  G.  7. 
 
 thy  foot, 
 (i  ^  Ye  have  not  eaten  bread,  neither  have  ye 
 drunk  wine  or  strong  drink  :    that    ye   might 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 7  And  when  ye  came  unto  this  place,  *■  Sihon 
 the  king  of  Heshbon,  and  Og  the  king  of 
 Bashan,  came  out  against  us  unto  battle,  and 
 we  smote  them  : 
 
 8  And  we  took  their  land,  and  '  gave  it  for  an 
 inheritance  unto  the  Reubenites,  and  to  the 
 Gadites,  and  to  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh. 
 
 9  *■  Keep  therefore  the  words  of  this  covenant, 
 and  do  them,  that  ye  may  '  prosper  in  all  that 
 ye  do. 
 
 10  t  Y'e  stand  this  day  all  of  you  before  the 
 Lord  your  God  ;  your  captains  of  your  tribes, 
 your  elders,  and  your  officers,  with  all  the  men 
 of  Israel, 
 
 1 1  Your  little  ones,  your  wives,  and  thy 
 stranger  that  is  in  thy  camp,  from  "'  the  hewer 
 of  thy  wood  unto  tlie  drawer  of  thy  water  : 
 
 12  That  thou  sliouldest  f  enter  into  covenant 
 with  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  "into  his  oath, 
 which  the  Loud  thy  God  maketh  with  thee 
 this  day : 
 
 13  That  he  may  °  establish  thee  to  day  for  a 
 people  unto  himself,  and  that  he  may  be  unto 
 thee  a  God,  ''as  he  hath  said  unto  thee,  and 
 
 those  above  seventeen  years  of  age  were  sent  by  him  to  the  mines  in 
 Eg:ypt. — Gitl.  No  mitn  sliiitl  ttut/  i/on — rather,  '  until  there  be  no  one 
 to  buy.'  They  were  exposed  to  saie  in  the  public  market,  and  thirty 
 were  bought  for  one  -small  piece  of  money.  Multitudes  were  not  bid 
 for,  and  were  therefore  reserved  for  the  sword,  or  exposed  to  the  ra^e 
 of  wild  beasts  in  the  public  theatres.  Here  are  instances  of  prophecies 
 delivered  above  three  thousand  years  apo,  and  yet  fulfilling  in  the 
 world  at  this  very  time  ;  what  stronger  proofs  can  we  desire  of  the  Di- 
 vine legation  of  Moses? — Up.  Nen-ton. 
 
 Chap.  XXIX.  —  1.  These  are  the  words  of  the  covenant — Cliitke  and 
 Boothrot/d  consider  this  verse  as  properly  connected  with  the  preceding 
 chapter,  and  it  is  so  divided  in  some  Hebrew  Bibles.  To  make.  TM^b, 
 'to  cut,'  alluding  to  the  covenant  sacrifice  divided  on  the  occasion, 
 (Gen.  XV.  18.) — A.  Clarice.  Beside  the  cuvennnt,  ^c. — the  covenant 
 was  hnt  one  in  substance,  but  various  in  the  time  and  manner  of  ils 
 dispensation. — Pnole.  Tlie  covenant  was  the  same,  yet  it  was  a  new 
 promidgation  and  ratification  of  it. — Hen.  This  was  the  same  covenant 
 with  that  in  Horeb ;  but  because  they  had  broken  that,  and  were  just 
 now  entering  into  the  land  of  promise.  Moses  gave  them  a  fuller  ex- 
 planation.— Bp.  Kidder.  The  covenant  made  with  this  new  genera- 
 tion was  suhstantiatly  the  same  as  that  before  ratified  with  their  fathers 
 at  Mount  Sinai.  Here  it  is  proposed,  and  the  consequences  of  violating 
 it  declared  ;  but  a  more  explicit  ratification  of  it  was  afterwards  made 
 from  Mount  Gerizim  and  Mount  Ebal.— Sco/?.  What  is  mentioned 
 here  is  an  tiddttwnal  institntimi  to  the  ten  words  given  on  Horeb,  and 
 the  curses  are  different.— .'I.  Clarke.  '  These  are  the  words,'  &c.,  not 
 what  go  before,  but  follow  after,  in  the  next  chapters,  to  the  end  of  the 
 book,  in  which  are  various  promises  of  grace,  both  with  respect  to  Jews 
 
 and  Gentiles,  intermixed  with  other  things.  This  covenant  was  dil^freni 
 fi'om  tliat  at  Sinai  both  in  stibstance  and  matter,  not  only  including 
 that,  and  being  a  renewal  of  it,  as  is  generally  thought,  but  containing 
 such  declarations  of  grace  which  had  not  been  made  before,  not  only 
 respecting  the  repenting  and  returning  Israehtes,  but  the  Gentiles  also  j 
 for  this  covenant  was  made  with  tlie  stranger  as  well  as  with  Israel, 
 (ver.  11,)  and  relates  to  the  times  of  the  Messiah,  the  call  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles, the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  and  their  return  to  their  own  land  in 
 the  latter  day. — Gill.  The  reader  will  see  there  are  some  shades  of  dif- 
 ference in  the  opinions  of  commentators  on  this  covenant,  but  not  very 
 material  in  general. — Ed.  4.  Yet  the  Lord  hath  not  give^n  ifitn  « 
 heart  to  perceive,  and  ei/es  to  see,  ?)-c. — '  in  seeing  you  have  not  seen, 
 and  perceiving,  you  have  not  perceived  them ;'  'you  have  with  the 
 eyes  of  your  body,  but  not  with  your  minds  and  hearts.*  They  first 
 shut  their  eyes  and  ears,  that  they  might  not  see  and  he^r.  and  would 
 not  understand,  and  then,  by  the  tremendous  and  righteous  judgment 
 of  God,  had  their  eyes  and  ears  closed,  like  those  in  Isaiah's  time. — 
 Poole.  5.  Your  clothes  are  not  waxen  old — some  understand  this 
 literally ;  others  suppose  it  means  that  they  were  never  through  mere 
 poverty  reduced  to  wear  their  clothes  and  sandals  till  they  were  old 
 and  torn ;  in  vindication  of  which  view  it  is  observed,  that  a  miracle  of 
 this  kind  would  not  have  been  so  slightly  passed  over,  and  that  (iod 
 never  works  miracles  except  when  natural  means  fail,  but  they  had 
 flocks  and  herds  to  supply  them  with  wool,  hair,  and  skins. — rict.Bib. 
 6.  Not  eaten  bread,  fyc. — not  commonly,  though  in  passing  some  neigh- 
 bouring country  they  might  purchase  some  occasionally  ;  but  their 
 usual  food  was  manna,  and  drink,  water  from  the  rock ;  so  that  tlie 
 meaning  is,  they  were  constantly  supported  by  a  miraculous  supply 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVIII. — This  chapter  is  na- 
 turally divided  into  two  parts — I.  T/te  blessings  of  obedience. 
 There  is  much  truth  in  the  remark,  that  religion  is  the  best 
 friend  to  outward  prosperity  ;  how  many,  not  under  its  influ- 
 ences, have  squandered  their  property  by  dissipation,  or 
 wasted  it  by  idleness,  or  lost  it  by  those  unwarrantable  specu- 
 lations which  indicated  that  their  hearts  were  set  on  covetous- 
 ness,  and  were  striving  to  add  mine  to  mine,  and  treasure  to 
 treasure.  The  industrious,  unostentatious,  pious  man,  has,  on 
 the  contrary,  been  accumulating  without  grasping  or  parsi- 
 mony ;  and  God  has  often  blessed  him  '  in  basket  and  in  store  ;' 
 and,  to  quote  Henry,  '  Though  temporal  blessings  do  not  take 
 up  so  much  room  in  tlie  promises  of  the  New  Testament  as 
 they  do  in  those  of  the  Old.  yet  it  is  enough  that  otv  Lord 
 Jesus  has  given  us  his  word  that  if  we  seek  first  the  kingdom 
 of  God  and  his  righteousness,  all  other  tilings  shall  be  added 
 •anio  us,  as  far  as  infinite  Wisdom  sees  good,  and  who  can  de- 
 sire It  further  !'  (  Matt,  vi.  33. )  Some  Christians  may  be  kept 
 p<ior  as  a  blessing  ;  their  heavenly  Father  may  see  that  they 
 need  to  walk  in  a  humble  sphere,  and  that  elevation  would  be 
 their  ruin.  Some  may  be  reduced  from  affluence  to  a  scanty 
 pittance,  and  yet  this  may  be  a  blessing  to  humble  them  and 
 try  them,  and  see  if  they  would  '  glorify  God  in  the  fires." 
 And  these  enjoy  God  in  all,  and  bear  testimony  that  '  All 
 things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God  ;'  so  that 
 in  any  way  they  feel  the  enjoyment  of  the  divine  blessing, 
 while  '  the  peace  of  God  keeps  their  hearts  and  minds  through 
 Christ  Jesus.' 
 224 
 
 II.  The  curses  for  disobedience.  These  are  enough  to  make 
 the  heart  quake  to  its  very  centre.  To  think  of  (jod's  curse 
 being  upon  a  man!  —  the  curse  of  the  infinite  (iod  upon  a 
 finite  creature  !  How  blighting  and  withering  to  all  true  hap- 
 piness! The  calm  of  the  man  in  such  a  state,  how  proud  and 
 elevated  soever  he  may  be,  is  but  like  the  quiet  of  the  sense- 
 less oak,  which  shakes  not  a  leaf,  and  rears  its  lofty  head  at 
 the  moment  that  it  is  about  to  be  smitten  by  the  fury  of  the 
 storm.  But  it  is  not  calm  with  all.  The  conscience  will  pre- 
 dict, and  this  oracle  of  the  Almighty  within  will  be  heard ;  and 
 the  sinner  feels  and  sees  the  gathering  curse,  but  closes  his 
 ear,  and  his  eye,  and  averts  his  thoughts,  and  puts  oif  theevil 
 day  till  vengeance  falls  upon  him  to  the  utmost,  and  there  is 
 no  escape.  Such  is  the  consequence  of  continued  disobe- 
 dience. To  the  impenitent  the  gospel  promises  no  hope  :  as 
 it  was  to  the  unbelieving  Jews,  so  it  will  be  to  the  unbeliev- 
 ing Gentiles  ;  '  For  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  descend  from  heaven 
 with  all  his  holy  angels  in  flaming  fire,  to  take  vengeance  on 
 them  that  know  not  God,  and  that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  And  while  we  read  these  curses,  and  see 
 their  exact  fulfilment  in  the  Jews,  we  may  be  assured  that 
 '  every  word  of  God  is  true,'  and  that  he  who  so  exactly  ful- 
 filled all  he  threatened  against  them,  and  is  fulfilling  even  to 
 this  hour  before  our  eyes,  will  in  like  manner  not  sufter  one 
 jot  or  tittle  of  his  threatenings,  anymore  than  of  his  promises, 
 to  fail.  Then  '  kiss  the  Son  lest  he  be  angry,  and  ye  perish 
 from  the  way  when  his  wrath  is  kindled  but  a  little  ;'  but 
 '  111  ssed  are  all  they  that  put  their  trust  in  him.' 
 
Wrath  to  the  imcked. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXX.       Mercies  promised  vnto  the  repentant. 
 
 1  as  he  hath  sworn  unto  thy  fathers,  to  Abra- 
 ham, to  Isaac,  and  to  Jacob. 
 
 14  Neither  with  you  only  '  do  I  make  this 
 covenant  and  this  oatli  ; 
 
 15  But  witli /(!>«  that  standeth  herewith  us 
 this  day  before  the  Lord  our  God,  '  and  also 
 with  him  that  is  not  here  witli  us  tliis  day  : 
 
 16  (For  ye  know  how  we  have  dwelt  in  the 
 land  of  Ejiypt ;  and  how  we  came  through  the 
 nations  which  ye  passed  by  ; 
 
 1 7  And  ye  have  seen  their  abominations,  and 
 their  t  idols,  wood  and  stone,  silver  and  gold, 
 whicli  were  among  them  :) 
 
 18  Lest  there  should  be  among  you  man, 
 or  woman,  or  family,  or  tribe,  '  whose  heart 
 turneth  away  this  day  from  the  Loud  our  God, 
 to  go  and  serve  the  gods  of  these  nations ; 
 "  lest  there  should  be  among  you  a  root  that 
 beareth  ||  tgall  and  wormwood  ; 
 
 19  And  it  come  to  pass,  when  he  heareth  the 
 words  of  this  curse,  that  he  bless  himself  in  his 
 heart,  saying,  I  shall  have  peace,  though  I 
 walk  "in  the  ||  imagination  of  muie  heart,  'to 
 add  t  drunkenness  to  tliirst : 
 
 ■20  ''  The  Lord  will  not  spare  him,  but  then 
 '  the  anger  of  the  Lord  and  "his  jealousy  shall 
 smoke  against  that  man,  and  all  the  curses  that 
 are  written  in  this  book  shall  lie  upon  him,  and 
 the  Lord  ''  shall  blot  out  his  name  from  under 
 heaven. 
 
 ■21  And  tlie  Lord '^  shall  separate  him  unto 
 evil  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  according  to 
 all  the  curses  of  tlie  covenant  that  \  are  written 
 ill  this  book  of  the  law  : 
 
 2-2  So  that  the  generation  to  come  of  your 
 children  that  shall  rise  up  after  you,  and  the 
 stranger  that  shall  come  from  a  far  land,  shall 
 say,  wlien  tliey  see  the  plagues  of  tliat  land,  and 
 the  sicknesses  f  which  tlie  Lord  hath  laid  upon 
 it  ; 
 
 •23  And  that  the  whole  land  thereof  is  brim- 
 stone, ■"  and  salt,  and  burning,  that  it  is  not 
 sown,norbearetb,iior  any  grass  groweth  therein, 
 "like  the  overthrow  of  Sodom,  and  Gomorrah, 
 Admah,  and  Zeboim,  which  the  Lord  over- 
 threw in  his  anger,  and  in  his  wrath  : 
 
 •24  Even  all  nations  shall  say, ''  Wherefore  hath 
 
 B.  C   1131. 
 
 7  Gen.  17.  7. 
 r  Jer.  31.81, 
 
 :12,  ai. 
 
 Htb.3.7,8. 
 
 f  Heb.  dun^^ 
 
 Acts  S.  23 
 Heb.  12.  1.1. 
 
 II  Or,  a  poi- 
 imful  kerb. 
 
 \  Heb.  roi/i. 
 
 w  N*n.  15.  .3P. 
 Eccles.n.9. 
 II  Or,  Ui'h- 
 
 Jer.  3.17.  & 
 
 7.  at. 
 
 .r  Ij.  30.  1. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 drutih^H  lit 
 
 Ihe  Ihirily. 
 'J  Ezek.  II. 
 
 7,3. 
 
 I  Pi.  7*.  I. 
 rt  Ps.  79.  5. 
 
 K/ek. -23.25. 
 b  cli.  9    1-1. 
 c  Mat.  24,51. 
 t  Heb.  U 
 
 wrillen. 
 
 t  Heb.  irlifire- 
 >rUh  the 
 LORD  h„th 
 made  it siyik. 
 
 d  Pa. 107.  M. 
 
 Jer.  17.  6. 
 
 Zeph.  2.  9. 
 e  Geii  I9.-24, 
 
 25.  Jer.  30. 
 
 10. 
 
 /  1  Kin.  9.  8, 
 9.  Jer.  22. 
 8,  9. 
 
 tkrm  any 
 porti'tn. 
 
 t  Heb.  di- 
 vided. 
 
 S  D.in.9.  II, 
 
 y^,  n. 
 
 h  1  Kin.  1-1. 
 15  2Cbr.  7 
 20.  Fs.52  5. 
 Prov.  2.  22. 
 
 I,ev.26.W. 
 
 *  eh.  aa. 
 
 c  cb.  4.  29, 
 30.  I  Kin.E 
 •17,  48. 
 
 d  Neh.  1.  9. 
 
 Is.  65.  7. 
 
 Lam.  3.  40. 
 Joela.12,13. 
 
 ePs.  100  45. 
 
 &  128.  I,  1. 
 
 Jer   29.  II. 
 
 Lam.  3.  -23, 
 
 32. 
 /P«-  117  2. 
 
 Jer.  .-12.  37. 
 
 Ezek.34  13. 
 
 &  30.  21. 
 g  ch.  -28.  64. 
 
 Neb.  I.  9. 
 
 the  Lord  done  thus  unto  this  land?  what 
 meaneth  the  heat  of  this  great  anger  ? 
 
 ■25  Then  men  shall  say,  Becau.se  they  have 
 forsaken  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  God  of  their 
 fathers,  which  he  made  with  them  when  he 
 lirougbt  them  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt : 
 
 ■26  For  they  went  and  served  other  gods,  and 
 worshipped  them,  gods  whom  they  knew  not, 
 and  II  whom  he  had  not  f  given  unto  tliem  : 
 
 ■27  And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled 
 against  this  land,  '■'to  bring  upon  it  all  the 
 curses  that  are  written  in  this  book  : 
 
 28  And  the  Lord  "■  rooted  them  out  of  their 
 land  in  anger,  and  in  wrath,  and  in  great  indig- 
 nation, and  cast  them  into  another^  land,  as  it 
 !-?  this  day. 
 
 29  The  secret  things  belong  unto  the  i^ord 
 our  God  :  but  those  things  which  are  revealed 
 belong  unto  us  and  to  our  children  for  ever, 
 that  we  may  do  all  the  words  of  this  law. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 1  Great  nurcies promistd  uxto  the  repentant.  11  T/ie 
 commandment  is  manifest.  15  Death  and  life  are 
 set  before  than. 
 
 A  ND  °  it  sli-all  come  to  pass,  when  ''  all  these 
 -'"*-  things  are  come  upon  thee,  the  blessing 
 and  the  curse,  whicli  I  have  set  before  thee, 
 and  "^  thou  shalt  call  them  to  mind  among  all 
 the  nations,  whither  the  Lord  thy  God  hath 
 driven  thee, 
 
 2  And  .sbalt  ''  return  unto  the  Lord  thy  God, 
 and  shalt  obey  his  voice  according  to  all  that 
 I  command  thee  this  day,  thou  and  thy  chil- 
 dren, with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy 
 soul ; 
 
 3  "  That  then  the  Lord  thy  God  will  turn  thy 
 captivity,  and  have  compassion  upon  thee,  and 
 will  return  and  'gather  thee  from  all  the  na- 
 tions, whither  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  scattered 
 thee. 
 
 4  ^  If  any  of  thine  be  driven  out  unto  the 
 outmost  parts  of  heaven,  from  thence  will  the 
 Lord  thy  God  gather  thee,  and  from  thence 
 will  he  fetch  thee  : 
 
 3  And  the  Lord  thy  God  will  bring  thee 
 into  the  land  which  thy  fathers  possessed,  and 
 
 from  God. — Pat.  15.  Not  here  icit/i  ns  ttiis  tiaij — your  posterity,  for 
 so  the  covenant  was  made  at  first,  with  Abraham  and  his  seed. — Poiile. 
 18.  Tliiit  beureth  gull,  nr  'bitter  berb.'—Jnrc/ii.  'Hemlock,'  (Hos. 
 X.  4.)  A  gall  is  foimcd  by  insects  on  trunks  of  trees,  &c.;  that  on  the 
 oak  is  used  as  an  astringent  medicine,  and  to  make  ink  ;  some  are  pro- 
 bably bitter. —  Wi/.  Not  animal  gall  is  intended,  but  any  bitter  potion 
 drawn  from  vegetation,  (see  Jer.  Lx.  15;  xxiii.  15;  Amos,  vi.  12.) — 
 Boiithr.  19.  Add  dvttnkcnness  to  tliirst — Patrick  inverts  the  words, 
 
 '  add  thirst  to  drunkenness,'  and  understands  them  as  meaning,  '  add 
 more  sins  to  the  foregoing,'  be  still  inflamed  with  love  to  more  idols. 
 The  words  as  rendered  may  denote  the  natural  progress  and  increasing 
 avidity  of  sinful  passions  and  depraved  inclinations. — Greenf.  22.  The 
 plagues  of  that  /an(Z— in  the  last  destruction  by  the  Romans,  the  whole 
 was  laid  waste  and  deserted  by  its  inhabitants.  23.  Is  brimstone, 
 
 and  salt,  and  tiurning,  or  'is  burnt  up  with  brimstone  and  salt,'  for 
 these  make  land  barren  and  unfruitful. — Pat.  It  is,  then,  evidently  a 
 sort  of  proverbial  mode  of  expressing  barrenness. — Ktl.  26.  Went 
 
 and  served  other  gorls — see  1  Kings,  xi.  33 ;  xii.  28 ;  2  liings,  xvi.  4,  and 
 
 xxi.  3.  28.  Cast  them  into  another  land—the  ten  tribes  were  cast  into 
 Assyria,  and  thence  into  the  cities  of  the  Medes,  the  two  tribes  into 
 the  land  of  Chaldea,  and  now  into  all  lands.— Gi/^.  29.  Secret  things, 
 ^c.—'  these  things  were  secrets  known  to  God  alone,  but  now  they  are 
 revealed  to  us  and  to  our  children.' — Luther.  Some  understand  the 
 words,  '  the  secrets  of  Providence  are  inscrutable,  and  consequently 
 we  should  not  waste  our  time  on  prophetic  calculations  and  mysteries  ; 
 but,  profiting  by  the  truths  plainly  revealed,  give  up  ourselves  to  piety 
 and  practical  righteousness.' — Sut.  God  only  knew  when  theso 
 events  would  take  place,  so  that  it  was  in  vain  for  tliem  to  pry  into 
 them ;  but  his  revealed  law  was  before  them,  and  the  duty  uf  them- 
 selves and  their  children  was  to  obey. — Ed. 
 
 Chap.  XXX.  —  5.  Will  bring  thee  into  the  land — the  opinion  of  some 
 commentators  is,  that  this  was  aecompli-hed  '  by  the  marvellous  muni- 
 ficence of  Darius,  and  of  Cyrus,  his  nephew;'  but  as  the  prophetical 
 denunciations  of  the  two  preceding  chapters  had  their  main  accom  . 
 plishment  in  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  many  others  think  that 
 these  prophetical  promises  are  yet  unaccomplished,  and  that  the  Jews 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIX.  —  I.  All  God's  people  are 
 in  covenant  with  him.  They  are  bound  to  serve  him,  and  he 
 graciously  engages  to  bless  tbem.  He  will  never  fail  to  keep 
 his  covenant ;  it  is  for  them  to  see  to  it  that  they  keep  theirs. 
 '  Every  mercy  which  we  enjoy,'  says  Scott,  '  should  bind  us 
 more  strictly  to  cheerful  obedience  ;  and  every  divine  truth,  if 
 properly  received,  will  have  a  practical  and  holy  effect  upon 
 OS  ;  nor  can  we  expect  to  prosper,  in  the  best  sense,  "  unless 
 we  keep  and  do  the  words  of  his  covenant."' 
 
 11.  Let  us  beware  of  forsaking  the  ways  of  God.  The  pat!i  of 
 sin  is  tlie  path  of  ruin.  He  that  adds  sin  to  sin  rapidly  rushes 
 down  the  steep  of  perdition  ;  and  the  impenitent  sinner,  over- 
 taken with  the  wrath  of  Heaven,  must  sink  beneath  the  weight 
 225 
 
 of  curses  to  the  deepest  woe  of  the  bottomless  pit. 
 
 III.  Let  its  avoiil  vain  speculations,  and  (jive  earnest  heed  to 
 the  thinr/s  which  God  has  revealed.  We  may  spend  our  lives  in 
 dreaming,  instead  of  believing  and  acting  wliat  God  has  re- 
 vealed. Our  ruined  state  by  sin — tlie  way  of  salvation  by 
 Christ — the  necessity  of  a  new  nature — the  importance  of 
 '  holiness,  without  whicli  no  man  can  see  the  Lord' — the  ever- 
 lasting misery  of  the  ungodly,  and  the  eternal  blessedness  of 
 the  righteous  :  these  are  written  so  plainly  in  the  Divine  word, 
 that  he  wiio  runs  may  read.  Let  us  study  them  witli  care  antl 
 prayer,  and  teach  them  to  our  children,  '  that  we  may  do  all 
 the  worils  of  this  law.* 
 
 2  G 
 
The  commandment  is  made  manifest.       DEUTERONOMY,  XXXI. 
 
 Moses  cncouragelh  the  people 
 
 thou  shall  possess  it ;    and  lie  will  do  thee 
 good,  and  multiply  thee  above  thy  fathers. 
 
 6  And  "  the  Lord  thy  God  will  circomcise 
 thine  heart,  and  the  heart  of  thy  seed,  to  love 
 the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  and 
 with  all  thy  soul,  that  thou  niayest  live. 
 
 7  And  the  Lord  thy  God  will  put  all  these 
 curses  upon  thine  enemies,  and  on  them  that 
 hate  thee,  which  persecuted  thee. 
 
 8  And  thou  shall  return  and  obey  the  voice 
 of  the  Lord,  and  do  all  his  commandments 
 which  I  command  thee  this  day. 
 
 9  '  And  the  Lord  thy  God  will  make  thee 
 plenteous  in  every  work  of  thine  hand,  in  the 
 fruit  of  thy  body,  and  in  the  fruit  of  thy  cattle, 
 and  in  the  fruit  of  thy  land,  for  good  :  for  the 
 Lord  will  again  '  rejoice  over  thee  for  good,  as 
 he  rejoiced  over  thy  fathers  : 
 
 10  If  thou  shalt  hearken  unto  the  voice  of 
 the  Lord  thy  God,  to  keep  his  commandments 
 and  his  statutes  whicli  are  written  in  this  book 
 of  the  law,  and  if  thou  turn  unto  the  Lord 
 thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy 
 soul. 
 
 11  If  For  this  commandment  which  I  com- 
 mand thee  this  day,  '  it  is  not  hidden  from 
 thee,  neither  is  it  far  off. 
 
 12  "■  It  is  not  in  heaven,  that  thou  shouldest 
 say.  Who  shall  go  up  for  us  to  heaven,  and 
 bring  it  unto  us,  that  we  may  hear  it,  and  do  it  ? 
 
 13  Neither  is  it  beyond  the  sea,  that  thou 
 shouldest  say,  Who  shall  go  over  the  sea  for 
 us,  and  bring  it  unto  us,  that  we  may  hear  it, 
 and  do  it? 
 
 14  But  the  word  is  very  nigh  unto  thee,  in 
 thy  mouth,  and  in  thy  heart,  that  thou  mayest 
 do  it. 
 
 13  T  See,  "  I  have  set  before  thee  this  day 
 life  and  good,  and  death  and  evil ; 
 
 16  In  that  I  command  thee  this  day  to  love 
 the  Lord  thy  God,  to  walk  in  his  ways,  and  to 
 keep  his  commandments  and  his  statutes  and 
 his  judgments,  that  thou  mayest  live  and  mul- 
 tiply :  and  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  bless  thee 
 in  the  land  whither  thou  goest  to  possess  it. 
 
 17  But  if  thine  heart  turn  away,  so  that  thou 
 wilt  not  hear,  but  shalt  be  drawn  away,  and 
 worship  other  gods,  and  serve  them  ; 
 
 18  °  I  denounce  unto  you  this  day,  that  ye 
 
 '.  ch.  10.  16. 
 Jer.  3?.  39- 
 K2ek.ll.i9 
 &  S6.  26. 
 
 m  Rom.  10, 
 fi.  Sec. 
 
 n  TCr.  I,  19. 
 cb.  n.S6. 
 
 r  P>.  S7.  I. 
 
 b  m.  9. 
 
 John  M.S5 
 
 .1  Riod.  7.  - 
 c\\.  34.  7- 
 
 ft  Nn.  37.  17. 
 1  Kin.  S.  7. 
 
 c  Num.  SO. 
 12.&S7.  1.1- 
 ch.  3.  87, 
 
 d  cb.  9.  3. 
 
 eNu.  ?7.  21. 
 cb.  S.  £6. 
 
 /■ch.  3.  SI. 
 g  Nu.  SI.  24, 
 33. 
 
 i  Josh.  10.0=,. 
 
 lChi.2S.l3. 
 *  cb.  I.  29. 
 
 9t  7.  18. 
 :  ch.  SO.  4. 
 m  Josh    1-5- 
 
 Heb.  13.  5. 
 
 »  ver.  23. 
 ch.  1.  S».  h 
 3.  29.  JoBh. 
 
 shall  surely  perish,  and  that  ye  shall  not  pro- 
 long your  days  upon  the  laud,  whither  thou 
 passest  over  .lordan  to  go  to  possess  it. 
 
 1 9  ''  I  call  heaven  and  earth  to  record  this 
 day  against  you,  that  '^  I  have  set  before  you 
 life  and  death,  blessing  and  cursing:  there- 
 fore choose  life,  that  both  thou  and  thy  seed 
 may  live  : 
 
 20  That  thou  mayest  love  the  Lord  thy  God, 
 ind  that  thou  mayest  obey  his  voice,  and  that 
 thou  mayest  cleave  unto  him  :  for  he  is  thy 
 '  life,  and  the  length  of  thy  days  :  that  thou 
 mayest  dwell  in  the  land  which  the  Lord 
 sware  unto  thy  fathers,  to  Abraham,  to  Isaac, 
 and  to  Jacob,  to  give  them. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXL 
 
 I  Moses  encouragvth  the  people,  7  TJe  encoitrapeth 
 t/os/tna.  9  Mc  delivereth  tlie  Itne  unto  the  priests  to 
 read  it  in  the  seventh  ijear  to  the  peopte.  14  God 
 gieeth  a  charge  to  Joshua^  19  and  a  song  to  testify 
 against  t/ie  peopte.  24  Moses  delivereth  the  l>nok  nf 
 the  law  to  the  Lev'tes  to  hc^-p.  '26  He  maheth  a  pro- 
 testation  to  the  elders, 
 
 AND  Moses  went  and  spake  these  words 
 ■'^  unto  all  Lsrael. 
 
 2  And  he  said  unto  them,  I  °  am  an  hundred 
 and  twenty  years  old  this  day  ;  I  can  no  more 
 •■go  out  and  come  in  :  also  the  Lord  hath  said 
 unto  me,  "^  Thou  .shalt  not  go  over  this  Jordan. 
 
 3  The  Lord  thy  God,  ■'  he  will  go  over  before 
 thee,  a7td  he  will  destroy  these  nations  from 
 before  thee,  and  thou  shalt  possess  them  :  and 
 Joshua,  he  shall  go  over  before  thee,  "  as  the 
 Lord  hath  said. 
 
 4  '  And  the  Lord  shall  do  unto  them  *as  he 
 did  to  Sihon  and  to  Og,  kings  of  the  Amorites, 
 and  unto  the  land  of  them,  whom  he  destroyed. 
 
 5  And  "  the  Lord  shall  give  them  up  before 
 your  face,  that  ye  may  do  unto  them  according 
 unto  all  the  commandments  which  I  have  com- 
 manded you. 
 
 6  '  Be  strong  and  of  a  good  courage,  '  fear 
 not,  nor  be  afraid  of  them  :  for  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  '  he  it  is  that  doth  go  with  thee ;  "  he 
 will  not  fail  thee,  nor  forsake  thee. 
 
 7  t  And  Moses  called  unto  Joshua,  and  said 
 unto  him  in  the  siglit  of  all  Israel,  "  Be  strong 
 and  of  a  good  courage :  for  thou  must  go  with 
 this  people  unto  the  land  which  the  Lord  hath 
 
 win  literally  be  restored  to  their  own  land.  There  is  nothing  in  the 
 present  aspect  of  the  world  to  prevent  such  a  restoration  ;  and  the  pre- 
 sent state  of  Jerusalem,  of  the  neighbouring  eountries,  and  of  the  Jews, 
 among  whom  arc  many  exceedingly  wealthy  and  inflnential,  seems  to 
 indicate  something  like  progress  towards  such  a  return  ;  moreover,  the 
 Jews  still  retain  the  same  attachment  to  their  land,  and,  as  well  as 
 many  Christians,  look  forward  for  the  great  event  of  a  re.storation. — 
 -Ed.  Henry  does  not  speak  decidedly  on  the  restoration,  considering 
 the  prediction  as  fulfilled  in  the  return  from  the  captivity  in  Babylon  ; 
 but  Hales,  Gill,  Scott,  and  Clarke  are  more  explicit.    Keith's  work  on 
 
 the  prophecies  is  also  on  the  same  side.  Ainsieorth  seems  to  confine 
 the  full  accomplishment  to  a  spiritual  gathering,  (John,  xi.  51,  62.) 
 which  falls  short  of  the  promise  in  ver.  5,  which,  however,  he  inter, 
 prets  of  restoring  them  to  the  church,  the  spiritual  land  of  Canaan, 
 (Ps.  Ixix.  36.  37  ;  Ezek.  xxxvi.  8,  11,  12,  24,  28,  &c.)  \\.  Not  hidden, 
 r\v6^2  aS,  *  not  wonderful.'  or  *  beyond  the  capacity.* — Par.  14.  In 
 
 thi/  mouth,  fyc. — made  so  familiar  as  to  afford  a  topic  of  common  dis- 
 course.— Greenf. 
 
 Chap.  XXXI.  —  2.  /can  no  more ^o  ow/ wnrf  come  in,  that  is,  *  I  must 
 retire.' — Ed.    Our  translation  should  have  been,  '  I  shall  do  more  go 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXX. — 1.  Hoa  mercifvl  and  gra- 
 cious is  God,  that  after  so  many  provocations  he  is  ready  to  pardon 
 the  guilty.  The  unbelief,  hard-heartedness,  and  obstinacy  of 
 the  Jews  are  all  here  foreseen  and  foretold;  and  yet  the  mercy 
 of  God,  as  if  in  haste  to  shew  itself,  runs  along  with  the  threat- 
 enings,  and  exhibits  itself,  in  all  its  plenitude,  ages  before  the 
 offending  nation  has  filled  up  the  measure  of  its  iniquity  and 
 returned  to  God  by  repentance.  It  is  nothing  hut  the  unbe- 
 lief of  the  Jews  that  keeps  them  from  the  feast  of  Divine  love. 
 The  moment  the  veil  drops  from  their  understandings,  they 
 will  see  a  Saviour  as  full  of  love  for  them  as  for  us.  Here  is 
 encouragement  for  the  vilest  sinner,  whatever  mercies  he  may 
 have  slighted  and  abused,  to  'return  unto  the  Lord  and  he 
 will  have  mercy  on  him,  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly 
 pardon.' 
 
 II.  The  pardoned  sinner  muist  walk  in  the  ways  of  God's  com- 
 mandments. We  must  have  these  practical  evidences  that  our 
 sins  are  pardoned.  Nothing  can  be  a  greater  proof  oi^  a  har- 
 22f) 
 
 dened  heart,  than  to  sin  that  grace  may  abound. 
 
 III.  God's  commnndments  are  simple  and  easy  to  he  understood. 
 *  Though  there  are  mysteries,  and  deep  ones,  in  the  doctrines 
 of  Divine  truth,  there  are  none  in  the  moral  precepts  here  re- 
 ferred to  ;  nothing  can  be  plainer.*  And  how  simple  is  that 
 great  gospel  commandment,  '  This  is  his  commanrlment,  that 
 we  should  believe  on  the  name  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.'  '  The 
 word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy  mouth  and  in  thy  heart ;  that 
 is,  the  word  of  faith,  which  we  preach,'  says  the  great  Apostle, 
 '  that  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesiis, 
 and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from 
 tlie  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.' 
 
 IV.  Persevering  disobedience  to  God  is  utter  ruin.  Scott  ob- 
 serves, that '  when  eternal  salvation  is  thus  proposed  to  us, 
 and  the  acceptance  or  refusal  of  it  fairly  referred  to  our  choice, 
 nothing  can  prevent  our  felicity  but  our  own  folly  and  wicked- 
 ness ;  and  they  who  refuse  the  offered  grace,  eventually  choose 
 and  love  death  and  perdition   and  are  cruel  to  their  own  souls.' 
 
God's  charge  to  Joshua. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXXI.  Moses  protestation  to  the  elden 
 
 sworn  unto  their  fathers  to  give  them  ;  and 
 thou  shalt  cause  them  to  inherit  it. 
 
 8  And  the  Lord,  °  he  it  is  that  doth  go  before 
 thee;  ''he  will  be  with  thee,  he  will  not  fail 
 thee,  neither  forsake  thee  :  fear  not,  neither  be 
 dismayed. 
 
 9  t  And  Moses  wrote  this  law,  ''and  delivered 
 it  unto  the  priests  the  sons  of  Levi,  '  which  bare 
 the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord,  and  unto 
 all  the  elders  of  Lsrael. 
 
 10  And  Moses  commanded  them,  saying.  At 
 the  end  of  every  seven  years,  in  the  solemnity 
 of  the  '  year  of  release,  '  in  the  feast  of  taber- 
 nacles, 
 
 1 1  When  all  Israel  is  come  to  "  appear  before 
 the  Lord  thy  God  in  the  place  which  lie  shall 
 choose,  "^  thou  shalt  read  this  law  before  all 
 Israel  in  their  hearing. 
 
 \'2  "  Gather  the  people  together,  men,  and 
 women,  and  children,  and  thy  stranger  that  is 
 within  thy  gates,  that  they  may  hear,  and  that 
 they  may  learn,  and  fear  the  Lord  your  God, 
 and  observe  to  do  all  the  words  of  this  law: 
 
 1 3  And  that  their  children,  ^  which  have  not 
 known  any  thing,  °  may  hear,  and  learn  to  fear 
 the  Lord  your  God,  as  long  as  ye  live  in  the 
 land  whither  ye  go  over  Jordan  to  possess 
 it. 
 
 14  t  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  '' Be- 
 hold, thy  days  approach  that  thou  must  die  : 
 call  Joshua,  and  present  yourselves  in  the  ta- 
 bernacle of  the  congregation,  that  '^  I  may  give 
 him  a  charge.  And  Moses  and  Joshua  went, 
 and  presented  themselves  in  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  congregation. 
 
 13  And  ''the  Lord  appeared  in  the  taber- 
 nacle in  a  pillar  of  a  cloud  :  and  the  pillar  of 
 the  cloud  stood  over  the  door  of  the  taber- 
 nacle. 
 
 J  6  1  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Be- 
 hold, thou  shalt  t  sleep  with  thy  fathers ;  and 
 this  people  will  °  rise  up,  and  "^  go  a  whoring 
 after  the  gods  of  the  strangers  of  the  land, 
 whither  they  go  to  be  among  them,  and  will 
 ^  forsake  me,  and  "  break  my  covenant  which  I 
 have  made  with  them. 
 
 17  Then  my  anger  shall  be  kindled  against 
 them  in  that  day,  and  '  I  will  forsake  them, 
 and  I  will  '<  hide  my  face  from  them,  and  they 
 shall  be  devoured,  and  many  evils  and  troubles 
 shall  f  befall  them  ;  so  that  they  will  say  in 
 that  day,  '  Are  not  these  evils  come  upon  us, 
 because  our  God  is  ""not  among  us? 
 
 1 8  And  "  I  will  surely  hide  my  face  in  that 
 day  for  all  the  evils  which  they  shall  have 
 
 o  El.  13.  21, 
 23.  &33.I4. 
 
 p  Josh. 1. 5,9 
 lChr.28.20. 
 
 g  rer.  25. 
 ch.  17.  19. 
 ■  Nu.  4.  15. 
 Josh.  3.  3 
 1  Chr.  15. 
 12,  IS. 
 
 t  ch.  15.  1. 
 I  Le7.  23.34. 
 
 X  Josh.  8.34, 
 35.  2  KiD. 
 23.  2.  Ndh. 
 8.  1,2,3,  &c. 
 
 y  ch.  4.  10. 
 
 ch.  II.  2. 
 
 iP8.78,6,  7. 
 
 6  No.  27. 13. 
 ch.  34.  5. 
 
 :  ver.  23. 
 rfum.27,19. 
 
 t  Heb.  lie 
 
 2Siini.7.12. 
 e  Ex .  32.  6. 
 /Ex.34.  15 
 
 Judg.  3.  17. 
 ff  ch  32.  15. 
 
 Judg.  2.  12 
 
 &  10  6,  13- 
 A  Judg.2.2U. 
 
 i  2  Chr.  15.2. 
 
 *  ch.  32. 20. 
 
 Ps.  104.29. 
 
 I..  8.  17. 
 
 &  64.  7. 
 
 Ejek.39  23. 
 t  Heh.jind 
 
 thtm. 
 
 Neh.  9.  32. 
 /  Judg.  6. 13. 
 m  Nu.l4.  4S. 
 n  ver.  17. 
 
 p  ch.  32.  15. 
 
 Ntfh.  9.  25, 
 26.  Hos.  13. 
 6. 
 q  ver.  16. 
 
 tHeb.  bifirt. 
 
 Hos.  5.  S. 
 &  13.  5,  6. 
 t  Amos  5.25, 
 
 y  TCr.  9 
 
 I  See  2  Kin 
 22.8. 
 
 6  ch.  9.  24. 
 
 &  32.  20. 
 c  Ex.  32.  9. 
 
 ch.  9.  6. 
 
 d  ch.  30.  19. 
 &  32.  I. 
 
 /ch.  28.  15. 
 H  Gen,  49.1. 
 ch.  4.  30. 
 
 wrought,  in  that  they  are  turned  unto  other 
 gods. 
 
 19  Now  therefore  write  ye  this  song  for  you, 
 and  teach  it  the  children  of  Israel  :  put  it  in 
 their  mouths,  that  this  song  may  be  "a  witness 
 for  me  against  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 '20  For  when  I  shall  have  brought  them  into 
 the  land  which  I  sware  unto  their  fathers,  that 
 floweth  with  milk  and  honey  ;  and  they  shall 
 have  eaten  and  filled  themselves,  ''  and  waxen 
 fat ;  "i  then  will  they  turn  unto  other  gods,  and 
 serve  them,  and  provoke  me,  and  break  my 
 covenant. 
 
 21  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  'when  many 
 evils  and  troubles  are  befallen  them,  that  this 
 song  shall  testify  f  against  them  as  a  witness  ; 
 for  it  shall  not  be  forgotten  out  of  the  mouths 
 of  their  seed  :  for  '  I  know  their  imagination 
 '  which  they  f  go  about,  even  now,  before  I 
 have  brought  them  into  the  land  which  I  sware. 
 
 22  f  Moses  therefore  wrote  this  song  the 
 same  day,  and  taught  it  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 23  "  And  he  gave  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  a 
 charge,  and  said,  ^  Be  strong  and  of  a  good 
 courage  :  for  thou  shalt  bring  the  children  of 
 Israel  into  the  land  which  I  sware  unto  them  : 
 and  I  will  be  with  thee. 
 
 24  t  And  it  came  to  pass,-  when  Moses  had 
 made  an  end  of  ^  writing  the  words  of  this  law 
 in  a  book,  until  they  were  finished, 
 
 25  That  Moses  commanded  the  Levites, 
 which  bare  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the 
 Lord,  saying, 
 
 26  "Take  this  book  of  the  law,  '  and  put  it  in 
 the  side  of  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord 
 your  God,  that  it  may  be  there  ''  for  a  witness 
 against  thee. 
 
 27  '' For  I  know  thy  rebellion,  and  thy  "stiGC 
 neck  :  behold,  while  I  am  yet  alive  with  you 
 this  day,  ye  have  been  rebellious  against  the 
 Lord  ;  and  how  much  more  after  my  death  V 
 
 28  t  Gather  unto  me  all  the  elders  of  your 
 tribes,  and  your  officers,  that  I  may  speak  these 
 words  in  their  ears,  ■■  and  call  heaven  and  earth 
 to  record  against  them. 
 
 29  For  I  know  that  after  my  death  ye  will 
 utterly  '  corrupt  yourselves,  and  turn  aside 
 from  the  way  which  I  have  commanded  you  ; 
 and  'evil  will  befall  you  '■'in  the  latter  days  j 
 because  ye  will  do  evil  in  the. sight  of  the 
 Lord,  to  provoke  him  to  anger  through  the 
 work  of  your  hands. 
 
 30  And  Moses  spake  in  the  ears  of  all  the 
 congregation  of  Israel  the  words  of  this  song, 
 until  they  were  ended. 
 
 out  and  come  in  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  said  unto  me,'  &c.  g.  Wrote 
 this  law — the  whole  law  or  doctrine  introduced  in  these  five  books. — 
 Poole,  10.  At  t/ie  end  of  every  sei^en  t/ears — we  read  but  of  four  in- 
 stances of  this  being  attended  to,  (Josh.  viii.  30;  '2  Chron.  xvii.  7; 
 xxxiv.  30  ;  Neh.  viii.  7.)  Those  commentators  are,  however,  too  hasty 
 who  conclude  that  these  were  the  only  instances  in  which  this  was 
 done  :  these  are  only  recorded,  probably,  as  instances  of  the  practice 
 being  restored  after  some  considerable  intermission.  l6.  Sfuilt  sleep, 
 nDTD.  '  lie  down— rest.'— Pwr,  The  death  of  men,  both  good  and  bad, 
 is  often  called  a  sleep,  because  they  shall  certainly  awake  out  of  it  by 
 resurrection,  (see  Ps.  Ixxvi.  5  ;  Dan.  xii.  2  ;  1  Thess.  iv.  13,  &c. ;  2  Pet. 
 iii.  4.) — Poole.  ig.  Write  jje  this  song — the  ancient  laws  were  often 
 celebrated  in  verse,  of  which  there  are  several  instances  mentioned  in 
 Potrick.        22.  T/te  same  rfa^— the  day  the  song  was  taught  him  by 
 
 inspiration. — Gill,  24.  Writing — in  a  book — ancient  writing  was  on 
 vegetable  substances;  either  wood,  made  into  several  leaves,  like  our 
 slate  books,  or  the  tine  inner  bark  of  trees,  rolled,  when  written,  ou  a 
 cylinder;  the  leaf  of  the  palm  tree,  or  the  papyrus,  obtained  from  a 
 bulrush  of  the  Nile;  or  linen.  Writing  was  also  on  metallic  substances, 
 lead,  copper,  brass,  &c. ;  several  tablets  sometimes  made  a  book.  Ani- 
 mal substances  were  likewise  used  ;  skins  and  parchments  were  formed 
 into  rolls  ;  and,  lastly,  there  were  tablets  and  tablet  books  of  ivory. 
 Sometimes  the  wooden  pages  were  waxed  to  receive  the  impression  of 
 the  metal  or  ivory  style  or  pen,  and  sometimes  a  proper  ink  was  used. 
 It  is  believed  that,  from  their  connexion  with  other  nations,  all  these 
 methods  were  in  their  order  of  time  known  to  the  Jews. — Pict.  Bib, 
 30.  This  song — contained  in  the  following  chapter. — Gill. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXI. —  L  /(  /s  a  great  blessimi 
 In  have  God's  law,  and  improve  it.  To  have  it  preached,  anci 
 printed,  and  circulated  among  us.  and  dwelling  in  our  houses 
 ■and  our  memories.  It  is  a  guardian  to  keep  us  from  every 
 hurtful  snare  :  '  Thy  word  have  1  hid  in  my  heart,  that  I 
 mi!;ht  not  sin  against  thee.'  It  is  a  guide  in  every  intricate 
 palli  of  life  :  '  Thy  word  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet,  and  a  light 
 •227 
 
 unto  my  path.'  It  is  a  sweetener  of  all  the  bitters  of  life: 
 *  How  sweet  are  thy  words  unto  my  taste  !  yea,  sweeter  than 
 honey  to  my  mouth.'  It  is  the  best  of  treasures  the  heart  can 
 lay  up  :  '  The  law  of  thy  mouth  is  better  unto  me  than  thou- 
 sands of  gold  and  silver.'  *  Let,  therefore,  the  word  of  Christ 
 dw.'ll  in  you  richly  in  all  wisdom.' 
 
 11.    It  is  an  an.ful  thine/  to  have  God's  htiv,  and  ncghct  it.     To 
 
The  sontj  of  Moses. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXXII. 
 
 Tlif  sojjff  of  Moses, 
 
 CHAT.  XXXll. 
 
 1  Moses"  song,  lohkh  scttith  forth  God's  mervy  and 
 vett'/cfuice.  4()  He  cxhorbth  thi-m  to  svt  their  hearts 
 itpnii  it.  48  God  stntlctii  him  up  to  mount  Ncbo,  to 
 See  the  land,  and  die. 
 
 GIVE  ''ear,  O  ye  heavens,  and  I  will  speak; 
 and    hear,   "O    eartli,    the    words    of    my 
 mouth, 
 
 2  ^  My  doctruie  shall  drop  as  the  rain,  my 
 speech  sliall  distil  as  the  dew,  '^  as  the  small 
 rain  upon  the  tender  herb,  and  as  the  showers 
 upon  the  y;rass  : 
 a  Because  I  will  publish  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  :  "^  ascribe  ye  greatness  unto  our  God. 
 
 4  He  is  "  the  Rock,  ''  his  work  is  perfect  :  for 
 Sail  his  ways  are  judgment :  ''  a  God  of  truth 
 and  *  without  iniquity,  just  and  right  is  he. 
 
 5  f'  They  have  corrupted  themselves,  ||  their 
 spot  is  not  the  spot  of  his  chiklren  :  they  are 
 a  '  perverse  and  crooked  generation. 
 
 6  Do  ye  thus  '"requite  the  Loud,  O  foolish 
 people  and  unwise  V  is  not  he  "  thy  father  that 
 
 B.C    1451. 
 
 I  ch.  4,  26. 
 9t  SO  19.  & 
 31.  2S.  Pb. 
 5U.  4.  Is.  I. 
 2-  Jer.S.ia. 
 &6.  19. 
 
 b  h. 
 
 .   10, 
 
 n .  1  Cor.8. 
 
 Mic.  5.  7. 
 rflChr.29  M. 
 c2  Sum.  22. 
 
 3.  &  S3.  3. 
 
 Ps  18.2,31, 
 
 lS.H:ib.l.l2. 
 f->  Sa.  2:;.31. 
 ff  nail.  4.  37. 
 
 Kev.  15.  3 
 I,  Jer.  lU.  \0. 
 i  J.ib  3-1    10. 
 
 Fs.  9-^  15. 
 \  HLb.  We 
 
 I„UU  eor. 
 
 nip  led  la 
 
 h  hntrlf. 
 k  L-h.  31.  29. 
 II  Or,  that 
 
 tliey  are  not 
 
 l,U  chiUtrai. 
 
 th<At  is  their 
 
 blot. 
 
 I  Mat.  17.17. 
 
 Luke  9.  il. 
 
 Phil.  2.15 
 m  Ps.lie  12. 
 n  Is.  63.  16. 
 
 ik.4-1    S. 
 t  H.;l..  v 
 
 7  tix.  13    11, 
 
 r-i.  II.  I.S 
 
 7S.  S,  4, 
 r  Zeih.  9.2. 
 
 Acts  17.  ^6. 
 t  Geu.  M  8. 
 I  Ex.  IS.  IG. 
 
 k  19.  '>. 
 
 I  Sam.  Id  I. 
 
 Ps    73.  "1. 
 
 t    lU-h-    r,.rd. 
 
 u  cii.  s.  \h. 
 
 Jer.  2.  6. 
 
 Hob.  13.  5. 
 y  Or,  cont- 
 
 patifd  hiiit 
 
 ahoul. 
 arDi.i.  1  Ad. 
 !,  P9.  (7    9. 
 
 Pi  ov.  7.  2. 
 
 '/.■■■h.  2.  3. 
 .-  Kx.  19.  4. 
 
 cli.  1.  31. 
 
 Is.  31.  5.  &• 
 
 vi.  4.  &  ra 
 
 9.  llus.  II. 
 3. 
 a  ch.  X\.  29, 
 Is.  53   H. 
 Eiek.  36.  2. 
 
 hath  "bought  thee?  hath  he  not  ''made  thee, 
 and  established  thee  V 
 
 7  If  Remember  the  days  of  old,  consider  tlie 
 years  of  t  niany  generations  :  ''ask  thy  father, 
 and  he  will  shew  thee  ;  thy  elders,  and  they 
 will  tell  thee. 
 
 8  When  the  Most  High  'divided  to  the  na- 
 tions their  inheritance,  when  he  "  sejiarated  the 
 sons  of  Adam,  he  set  the  bounds  of  the  people 
 according  to  the  number  of  the  children  of 
 Israel. 
 
 9  For  '  the  Lord's  portion  is  his  people  ; 
 Jacob  is  the  f  lot  of  his  inheritance. 
 
 10  He  found  him  "  in  a  desert  land,  and  in 
 the  waste  howling  wilderness  ;  he  ||  led  him 
 about,  he  ^  instructed  liim,  he  ^  kept  him  as  the 
 apple  of  his  eye. 
 
 11  'As  an  eagle  stirreth  up  her  nest,  fluttcr- 
 eth  over  her  young,  spreadeth  aiiroad  lier  wings, 
 taketh  them,  beareth  them  on  her  wings  : 
 
 12  So  the  Lord  alone  did  lead  him,  and  there 
 was  no  strange  god  with  him. 
 
 ,   13  ''  He  made  him  ride  on  the  high  places  of 
 
 Chap.  XXXII.— 2.  My  doctrine  shall  drop,  or  *  let  my  doctrine  drop,' 
 SiC.  for  this  seems  to  be  a  prayer.— i'a^  •».  The  Bock  — the  first 
 time  God  is  so  called  in  Scripture,  intimating  that  God's  unchangeable 
 power,  faithful II e,<.s,  and  love,  as  revealed  in  the  promit^L■d  Saviour, 
 form  an  iramovable  fonndution  on  which  we  may  build  our  hopts  of 
 fehcity  ;  and  that  under  his  protection  we  may  find  refuge  from  all  our 
 enemies,  ami  in  all  troubles,  as  the  rocks  in  those  countries  frequently 
 sheltered  the  inliabitauts  from  the  heat  of  the  sun,  from  impetuous 
 tempests,  and  from  hostile  invasions.— T.  Scutt.  The  word  here  used, 
 IIS.  niay  signiiy  '  origin, '  or  '  fir^t  cause  ;*  hence  Geddes  reads,  '  He  is 
 the  Creator,*  &c.  5.  They  have  corrupted  themselves,  ^c,  ;«"?  1?  nrrc, 
 an  est  ipsi  corruption  non.  —Vitringu,  &c.,)  or  '  Is  there  any  corrup- 
 tion in  him  ?  No.'  Their  sput  is  not  the  spot  of  his  children,  DOTD  y^2, 
 'his  children  are  their  spot,'  that  is,  as  it  may  be  understood,  'the 
 spots  of  the  Jewish  nation,  the  most  wicked  and  vilest  among  them, 
 became  his  children.'— ^i7/.  The  following  different  readings  and  in- 
 terpretations may  help  to  throw  additional  light  on  this  passage:— 
 '  Did  he,'  that  is,  Gud,  the  Rock  before  spoken  of,  '  do  him  any  hurt?' 
 — Mtiimo7iides ;  on  which  Patrick  observes,  the  Hebrew  word  (nntD 
 with  i  after  it)  signifies,  'to  hurt,*  or  'destroy,'  {Num.  xxxii.  !5; 
 1  Sam.  xxiii.  10,)  and  so  the  meaning  is,  'Is  God  to  blame  for  the  evils 
 that  befalhim?'  i.e.  'Lsrael?'  '1  he  answer  follows,  'Their  spot  is  not,' 
 &c. ;  and,  observing  the  Htbrew  accents,  these  words  are  thus  to 
 be  translated,  'No,  his  children  are  their  blot,"  i.e.  'all  the  tvil  that 
 befals  them  is  the  fruit  of  their  children's  wickedness.'  Otikelos 
 translates  it  thus — '  They  corrupted  to  themselves,  not  to  him,  children 
 that  served  idols,'  i.  e.  '  they  hurt  themselves,  nut  God,  when,  leaving 
 him,  the  true  God,  they  turned  to  idols  i*  for  the  word  corrupt  is  com- 
 monly used  in  Scriptuie  where  it  speaks  of  the  sin  of  idt^latry. — Pat. 
 The  Samaritan  version  has,  '  The  sons  of  pollution  ai  e  not  his  children.* 
 Bp.  Luu-th  rendeis  the  passage,  'Their  evil  disposition  hath  corrupted 
 his  children,  which  indeed  aie  no  longer  his.'  The  sense  of  the  Sep- 
 tuagint  and  Syriac  is,  '  They  are  corrupted,  they  are  not  his  ;  (they  are) 
 sons  of  error  or  blemish.'  The  Vhuldrc  Paraphrase  reads,  '  Tht^y  have 
 scattered  or  changed //if/«sc/»t«  «/irf  not  him;  even  the  children  that 
 served  idols  ;  a  generation  tliat  hus  depraved  its  own  works  and  alien- 
 ated  itself.'  Kennirutt  translates  Uie  text,  '  They  are  corrupted,  not 
 his— children  of  pollution.'  Houbigant,  'They  are  corrupt,  they  are 
 not  his  children,  they  are  blotted.*  Scott  is  very  lucid  here;  'The 
 work  of  God  is  perfect,  so  that  sin  and  its  effects  cannot  uriginate  from 
 him.  The  rebellious  Israelites,  therefore,  corrupted  them-sclves,  and 
 must  bear  the  blame  of  their  perverbC  ingratitude.*  Coverdale's  read- 
 ing is  considered  by  Clarke  to  be  the  sense  cf  the  passage — '  The  fro- 
 ward  and  overthwart  generation  have  marred  themselves  to  himward, 
 and  are  not  his  children  because  of  their  deformity.'  Boothroyd  reads 
 wiih  a  striking  antithesis,  observing  the  poetic  form  of  the  original— 
 
 '  Righteous  and  iipright  is  he, 
 Corrupted  are  his  own  polluted  children  ; 
 A  generation  perverse  and  prevaricating.' 
 '  Literally.' he  observes  on  ver.  5,  'his  own  children  have  corrupted 
 themselves  Oy  their  pull  u(  ion,'  (he  takes  ^i  in  a  collective  sense.)  Spot— 
 spots  mean  sins  ;  by  those  men  ai'e  stained  aud  polluted  -,  so  called  in 
 allusion  to  the  spots  of  animals,  as  leopards,  or  to  spots  in  faces  and 
 garments,  through  dut  and  the  like,— G'i7/ ;  or,  in  allusion  to  the  marks 
 which  the  Worshippers  of  particular  idols  had  in  different  parts  of  tlnir 
 bodies.— .4.  Clarke,  so  Babtfrts.  But  nothing  like  this  was  allowed  m 
 Israel ;  they  were  not  to  cut  or  paint  themselves,  as  Mr.  Williams  re- 
 marks ;  and  he  suggests  another  idea  ;  '  they  have  corrupted  them- 
 selves as  flesh  is  conupicd  by  disease  and  de.ith  ;  for  the  word  u>ed 
 for  corruption  is  applied  to  the  change  which  takes  place  in  a  dead 
 body,  iPs.  xvi  10.)  and  is,  in  fact,  onl>  the  universal  prevaleiiceof  that 
 putrefaction  which  first  appears  in  spots.*  The  same  idea  probably 
 occurs  in  Jer.  ii  23.  Their  hlemishcs  are  not  of  that  superiicial  nature 
 as  to  be  washed  out  even  with  nitre  aud  '  with  much  soap,'  but  are  the 
 
 marks  of  putrefaction  ;  *  They  are  a  perverse  and  crooked  generation, 
 of  whose  reform  there  appeared  no  more  hope  than  of  curing  a  bndy 
 already  putrified.*  Dr.  Clarke  brings  Rev.  xx.  4,  to  shew  his  allusion 
 to  idolatrous  marks  in  the  mark  of  the  beast,  and  then,  in  opposition, 
 he  observes,  that  God's  children  have  no  sinful  blots,  their  motto  ia 
 hdlincss  ;  Christ  saves  them  frum  tlielr  sins— Christ  saves  from  the  pa- 
 ramount influence  and  consequences  of  sin  ;  but  *  even  God's  children 
 have  their  blots,'  says  Henry,  '  while  they  are  in  this  imperfect  state  ; 
 for,  if  we  say  we  have  no  s'n,  no  spot,  we  deceive  ourselves.'  *  God's 
 children  have  their  spots  and  blemishes,'  observes Sr(*/^  'but  liabitual 
 nnrepented  sin  is  not  one  of  them.  Though  they  are  wa^hed  from 
 their  sins  by  tlie  blood  of  Christ,  and  are  justified  by  his  rigliteousness, 
 and  so  without  spots,  yet  in  themselves  they  are  not  withnut  spots  or 
 sins,  as  their  confessions  and  complaints,  and  all  experience  'estify. 
 But  the  spots  and  sins  of  wicked  men  are  not  hke  theirs  ;  the  children 
 of  God  sin  through  infirmity  of  the  tlcsh  and  the  force  of  teniptaiii>n  j 
 but  wicked  men,  through  the  malignity  of  their  hearts,  willingly  and 
 purposely.  What  good  men  do  of  this  kind  they  hate ;  but  what  grace- 
 less sinners  do,  they  love.  Saints  do  not  continue  in  sin,  but  ungodly 
 men  do;  gracious  souls  mourn  and  repent  for  sin,  but  unconverted 
 men  are  hardened  in  it. — Gill.  Perverse,  'froward  and  nntractablc.* 
 Crooked,  'irregular  and  distirderly.* — Poole.  6.  Made  thee,  "|1D3?, 
 'advanced  thee,'  so  the  word  may  be  translated. — Kidder.  H.*  Di- 
 vided to  the  nations,  ^c— at  Babel,  among  seventy. two  nations.— Sm^. 
 Set  the  bounds,  ^c,  '  a.-^signed  the  boundaries  of  the  peoples — of  Israel,* 
 signifying  that  the  promised  land  was  allotted  to  the  twelve  tribes. — 
 Hales.  According  to  the  number — when  God  set  bounds  to  other  na- 
 tions, he  allotted  a  land  sufficiently  large  for  the  children  of  Israel. — 
 Boothr.  It  would  seem  the  Canaaitites  gut  this  country  by  conquest, 
 and  by  conquest  they  were  dispossessed. — Wil.  9.  Portion — one  lot — 
 Canaan  was  the  portion  of  Israel,  and  the  land  was  diviifed  by  lot: 
 God  had  also  his  lot  and  portion  out  of  the  wide  world,  namely,  the 
 posterity  of  Jacob. — Ed.  10.  He  found  him,  *  he  sustained  him.* — 
 Houbigant,  Waterland.  Howlimr,  hT,  probably  refers  to  the  hnwiings 
 of  wild  beasts.— Pic/.  Bib.  He  led  him  about,  ^c,  tHDa^DN  fn  ni  33D, 
 '  he  surrounded  or  compassed  him  about.' — Pi-'C.  He  protected  them 
 with  his  power  and  providence.— G(7^  He  instructed  him,  irT3:iT  from 
 *12,  *  made  him  to  understand.' — Pagninus.  Taught  him  the  law,  the 
 knowledge  oi  God,  and  of  the  Messiah. — Gill,  as  Pat.  So  Henry, '  How 
 God  instructed  them  is  explained  in  Neh.  ix.  13,  and  especially  ver.  20  ; 
 rather  he  taught  them  how  to  avoid  dangerous  passes,  and  led  thera 
 through  intricate  ways,  which  would  have  confounded  the  most  con- 
 summate Arab  guides.  For  they  who  could  possibly  direct  a  small 
 caravan,  would  have  been  unequal  to  directing  such  a  host,  with  all 
 its  encumbrances.  Irwin^  the  traveller,  speaks  of  prodigious  bills, 
 with  narrow  paths  nearly  right  up  and  down,  round  which  the  laden 
 camels  had  to  make  an  extensive  circuit ;  and  which  were  passed  over 
 with  real  peril  and  fatigue ;  and  also,  of  level  stony  gri;und,  on  which 
 no  track  was  left,  known  only  by  heaps  of  stones  placed  at  equal  dis- 
 tances by  the  Arabs.  Tlie  stupenduus  march  of  Israel  through  deserts 
 of  a  like  nature,  under  all  attendant  cireumstancos,  required  a  divine 
 interposition. — Harm.  This  view  is  preferred  by  Clnrkf.  1 1 .  As  on 
 eagle,  ^c. — understood  of  the  black  eagle,  which  has  few  young,  and 
 can  attend  thera  with  greater  care  than  the  other  eagles.  She  stirs  up 
 'her  nest' — her  young,  to  provoke  them  to  fly,  and  flutters  over  them 
 with  outstretched  wings,  on  which  she  takes  them  when  tliey  fail 
 through  weakness,  and  supports  them  till  they  recover  strength  again 
 to  commit  themselves  into  the  air. —  Vossius,  Bvchart.  13.  He  made 
 him,  iniD"l*,  '  he  will  cause  him,'  &c.  ;  it  is  a  pro|)hecy. — A.  Clarke. 
 Bide  on  the  high  places— to  live  daintily  and  in  alnmdance,  (see  Hos, 
 X.  11.) — Boch.  'To  subdue  and  conquer,'  (see  Ps.  xlv.  -i ;  Ixvi.  1'2, 
 Rev.  vi.  2;  xiv.  U  ;  xix.  1 1.)— Pat.,  Ptiitle.  '  To  have  dominion  and 
 rule,'  (ver.  26  ;  Ps.  Lxviii.  4.) — Maimonides.  'To  conquer  their  strongest 
 holds,*  which  ofttimes  are  in  the  mountains,  aud  their  cities  fenced 
 with  walls  of  greatest  height  aud  strength,  (Deot.  i.  28,  aud  li.  36,  and 
 
 turn  the  blessing  into  a  curse.     To  make  the  best  of  friends  a  |  sermon  we  have  beard,  must  finally  be  a  tremendous  foe,  if  it 
 swift  witness  :ii,'ainst  as.     Kvery  chapter  we  have  read,  eveiv  I  be  not  a  friend.* 
 
The  son;/  uf  jflose^. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXXIl. 
 
 T/ic  8011(7  of  Moses. 
 
 the  earth,  that  lie  iiiiglit  cat  the  iiicrpase  of 
 tlie  fields;  and  he  made  him  to  suck  ''honey 
 out  of  the  rock,  and  oil  out  of  the  flinty  rock  ; 
 
 14  Butter  of  kiiie,  and  milk  of  sheep,  with  fat 
 of  lamhs,  and  rams  of  the  hrced  of  Bashan,  and 
 goats,  '  with  the  fat  of  kidneys  of  wheat ;  and 
 thou  didst  drink  the  pure  ''  blood  of  the  grape. 
 
 15  11  But  °  Jeshurun  waxed  fat,  and  ''kicked: 
 ^  thou  art  waxen  fat,  thou  art  grown  thick, 
 thou  art  covered  with  fatness ;  then  he  '■for- 
 sook God  which  'made  him,  and  lightly  es- 
 teemed the  '  Rock  of  his  salvation. 
 
 IG  '  They  provoked  him  to  jealousy  with 
 strange  ;/od.t,  with  abominations  provoked 
 they  him  to  anger. 
 
 17  '"They  sacrificed  unto  devils,  ||not  to  God  ; 
 to  gods  whom  they  knew  not,  to  new  gods  that 
 came  newly  up,  whom  your  fathers  feared  not. 
 
 18  "  Of  the  Rock  that  begat  thee  thou  art 
 imniindful,  and  hast  "forgotten  God  that  formed 
 thee. 
 
 in  ''  And  when  the  Lord  saw  if,  he  || abhorred 
 them,  ''  because  of  the  provoking  of  his  sons, 
 a)ul  of  his  daughters. 
 
 ■J(J  And  he  said,  '  I  will  hide  my  face  from 
 them,  I  will  see  what  their  end  shu/l  be :  for 
 they  are  a  very  froward  generation,  '  children 
 in  whom  !s  no  faith, 
 
 •J I  'They  have  moved  me  to  jealousy  with 
 that  which  is  not  God  ;  they  liave  provoked 
 me  to  anger  "  with  their  vanities  :  and  ^  I  will 
 move  them  to  jealousy  with  those  which  arc 
 not  a  people  ;  I  will  provoke  them  to  anger 
 with  a  foolish  nation. 
 
 '2i  For  'a  fire  is  kindled  in  mine  anger,  and 
 l{  shall  burn  unto  the  lowest  hell,  and  ||  shall 
 
 U.  C.  14ol. 
 
 B.C.  M51. 
 
 />  J»b  -i'J.  6. 
 
 Pa,  91.  16. 
 
 2  Is.  26.  15. 
 
 0  Ps  81.  16. 
 S:  117.  11. 
 
 a  Ps.  7.   12, 
 13.  Ezek.5. 
 Itv 
 
 '/t.'en  49  11. 
 
 e  Pl.    an.  5, 
 
 :ili.  Is.  4-1.  2. 
 
 \  Heb,  hurn- 
 
 /  1  S.HU  i  20. 
 
 iuij  e:alt  : 
 
 ffcU.  ;ii.  -io. 
 
 Xl-Ii.  'J.  25. 
 
 Hab.  3.  5. 
 
 b  Ler.  26,22. 
 
 Ps.  17.  10. 
 
 Jei".  :i  7.  & 
 
 3.  7,  '2<i. 
 
 H(»s.  1:1.  6. 
 Ii  i-h.  .11.  llj. 
 
 c  Lam.  1.20. 
 Ezek.7.  15. 
 
 Is.  1.  1. 
 
 2Cor.7.  5. 
 
 tHeb/r„„. 
 
 Is.  51.  13. 
 A  2  Siun.  22. 
 ■17.  Ps.  89. 
 
 Ike  climn- 
 beri. 
 t  Heb, 
 
 ■•6.  tk  Hi,   1. 
 /IKin.M.:;2 
 
 bri-eiiva. 
 (/Kze.  20.13, 
 
 IC..r.l0.2-i. 
 
 14,23. 
 
 '1.  i.er.  17.7. 
 
 Ps,  106.  37. 
 1  C.i  10.20. 
 
 eJer.  19.*. 
 
 Rev.  9.  20. 
 
 /Ps.  140.  8. 
 
 llllr,   wl.ich 
 
 II  Or,  O'tr 
 
 Wire  not 
 
 hif-U  l,n.,d. 
 
 God. 
 
 auil  n-t  the 
 
 ver-  21. 
 
 LlJHDMth 
 
 -.  iB.  17.  10. 
 
 iio,„-i,tllh„. 
 
 (.  Jcr.  2.  3-2. 
 
 ffh.  27.  II. 
 
 f»  .Iudg2  14 
 
 Jer.   1.  22. 
 
 \^^^r,lie*}li'M. 
 
 A  cli.  5.  29. 
 
 Lrttti.  2.  6. 
 
 Ps.  81.  13. 
 
 a  Is.  1.  2. 
 
 &  107.  43. 
 
 r  ih.  3t.  17. 
 
 Luke  19.42. 
 
 i  U.  :1().  9. 
 
 i  Is.  47.  7. 
 
 Mat.  17.  17. 
 
 Luin.  1.  9. 
 
 (  vor.  16. 
 
 k  Lev.  26.  3. 
 
 Ps.  7«,  ?&. 
 
 Jot.li.  23.10. 
 
 »  1  .Sam.  12. 
 
 2  Chr.  2L 
 
 21.   1   Kin. 
 
 2*.  Is.  30. 
 
 16.  l:f,  V6. 
 
 17. 
 
 I's.  ^!     6. 
 
 /  Ps.  11.  12, 
 
 .I.T.  S    h".  & 
 
 Is.  50.  \.  Pi 
 
 |oS,jitU.22 
 
 52.  3. 
 
 .[•mall  2.  8. 
 
 ".  t  Sam.2.2. 
 
 Arts  11,  15. 
 
 'ilSam  4.8. 
 
 X  Hos.  1.  10. 
 
 Jer.  40.  3. 
 
 Koin.  10  l!l. 
 
 "  Is.  I.  10. 
 
 y  Jei.  15.  U. 
 
 II  Or,  is 
 
 »i  17.  + 
 
 worse  than 
 
 Lam.  +.  11. 
 
 the  vine  u/ 
 
 II  Or,  fcutt 
 
 Sfi<Ioni,^-c. 
 
 binned. 
 
 ;»  Is.  58.  4. 
 
 II  Or,  halh 
 
 q  Ps.  140.  3. 
 
 cantutned. 
 
 Rom.  3.  13. 
 
 consume  the  earth  with  her  increase,  and  set 
 on  fire  the  foundations  of  the  mountains. 
 
 23  I  will  '  heap  mischiefs  upon  them  ;  "I  will 
 spend  mine  arrows  upon  them. 
 
 •J4  7'hei/  sh/itl  he  burnt  with  hunger,  and  de- 
 voured with  f  burning  heat,  and  with  bitter  de- 
 struction :  I  will  also  send  ''  the  teeth  of  beasts 
 upon  them,  with  the  poison  of  serpents  of  the 
 dust. 
 
 25  "  The  sword  without,  and  terror  f  within, 
 shall  t  destroy  both  the  young  man  and  the  vir- 
 gin,the  suckling  o/.sowith  the  man  of  gray  hairs. 
 
 26  ''  I  saiil,  I  would  scatter  them  into  corners, 
 I  would  make  the  remembrance  of  them  to 
 cease  from  among  men  : 
 
 27  Were  it  not  that  I  feared  the  wrath  of  the 
 enemy,  lest  their  adversaries  °  should  behave 
 themselves  strangely,  and  lest  they  should 
 ''  say,  II  Our  hand  is  high,  and  the  Loud  hath 
 not  done  all  this. 
 
 28  For  they  «re  a  nation  void  of  counsel, 
 ^  neither  is  there  any  understaiuling  in  them. 
 
 29  ''  O  that  they  were  wise,  that  they  under- 
 stood this,  '  that  they  would  consider  their 
 latter  end ! 
 
 30  How  should  ■■  one  chase  a  thousand,  and 
 two  put  ten  thousand  to  flight,  except  their 
 Rock  '  had  sold  them,  and  the  Lord  had  shut 
 tliein  up  ? 
 
 31  For  ■"  their  rock  is  not  as  our  Rock,  "even 
 our  enemies  themselves  icw;*/ judges. 
 
 32  For  °  their  vine  ||  is  of  the  vine  of  Sodom, 
 and  of  the  fields  of  Gomorrah  :  their  grapes 
 are  grapes  of  gall,  their  clusters  are  bitter  : 
 
 33  Their  wine  is  ''  the  poison  of  dragons,  and 
 the  cruel  ■>  venom  of  asps. 
 
 i 
 
 xxxiii.  29;  Isa.  Iviii.  14.) — Pooler  so  Gill.  Of  the  cnrfh — of  the  land, 
 thelandof  Caoaan.— Gj7/.  That  he  might  eat,  ^c.—Boothr.  reads  here— 
 
 *  He  placed  him  on  a  hilly  region, 
 AJid  made  him  eat  the  produce  of  the  field.* 
 
 Honey  out  of  the  rock — wild  honey,  found  in  the  clefts  of  rocks.— BocA. 
 Mentioned  as  the  finest,  Ps.  Ixxxi.  l6. — Pat.  Rather  honey  pro- 
 duced by  bees  that  collected  it  from  odoriferous  herbs  and  flowers 
 growing  among  the  rocks,  as  in  that  country. — H/ir.  As  oil  mentioned 
 here  is  yielded  by  a  tree,  perhaps  vesetable  honey  is  intended.  That 
 of  the  palm-tree  is  in  high  esteem  in  the  east.  The  Jews  speak  of  fig- 
 tree  honey. — Ejrpos.  lnde.v  to  Bible.  And  oil  otit  of  the  Jimty  rock — 
 understood,  in  a  Uke  way,  'oil  from  the  olive-trees  growing  on  flinty 
 rocks.' — liar,  14.  Ruhls  of  the  breed  of  Bashan — a  country  famous 
 for  excellent  pasture,  [see  Num.  xxxii.  1 — 4.)  The  fat  of  kidnnjs  of 
 wheat — the  Hebrews  call  the  best  of  everything,  the  fat.  Here  is  meant 
 large  and  plump  corn,  affording  great  plenty  of  flour. — Pat.  Dr.  Clarke 
 thinks  the  allusion  is  to  the  fat  w  hich  encloses  ihe  kidney  ;  but  another 
 view  may  be  taken  from  an  expression  in  India,  where  the  best  flour 
 is  called  the  heart,  or  kidney  of  wheat.  —  ForA^s's  Oriental  Mfm. 
 Blood  of  the  grape — so  called  to  indicate  the  colour  of  the  wine. — Har. 
 15.  Jeshurun,  V\'W,  from  "W,  'to  be  upright  and  righteous.*  The 
 name  also  occ  urs  iu  chap,  xxxiii.  5,  26  ;  Isa.  xliv.  2.  The  nation 
 whose  ancestors  were  upright  became  corrupt. — Wit.  So  upright 
 Israel  ought  to  have  been  and  professed  to  be. — Gill.  Waaed  fat — 
 grew  rich. — Onkelos.  Kicked — like  well-fed  and  wanton  cattle. — Poole. 
 Some  render  the  word,  *  the  beloved;'  some  exchange  it  for  *  Israel,' 
 and  some  read  it  'little  Israel.*  Taylor  thinks,  as  'the  upright' 
 would  not  kick,  and  this  ingratitude  belongs  not  to  them,  therefore 
 the  word  rather  expresses  fulness,  completeness,  a  state  of  sleekness, 
 (see  chap,  x.xiii.  5.)  —  See  Taylor^s  Calm.,  Jeshurun.  And  lightly 
 esteemed— hiy^y,  from  ^23,  the  word  signifies  here  'to  esteem  vile.' — 
 Park.  It  signifies  more  than  a  light  esteem  :  it  probably  denotes  the 
 greatest  abhorrence.  Thus  the  Jews  treated  Christ,  the  rock  of  their 
 salvation,  as  the  vilest  being  on  ^BTt\v.—  Vitringa,  Cocceius.  The  Rock 
 of  hia  salvation — this  figure  may  be  better  understood  by  recollecting 
 that  Palestine  being  a  mountainous  country  with  many  rocks,  in  times 
 of  danger  they  retired  to  them,  where  they  found  a  refuge  against  any 
 sudden  eruptions  of  the  enemy,  (see  Judg.  xv.  8;  xx.  47;  1  Sam.  sxii. 
 1;  xxiii.  25;  xxiv.  2,  4,  5.)~Cruden.  i6.  Strange  gods—\\\e  word 
 
 gods  is  not  in  the  original — strange  should  be  'by  others,'  D'")!!- — 
 Cnrreius.  Other  Saviours,  other  Messiahs,  whom  the  Jews  set  up. — 
 Gill.  In  Job,  xix.  27,  the  same  word  is  translated  'another.' — Pat. 
 The  mode  of  expression  is  remarkable.  He  would  not  pollute  his  page 
 by  names  so  obscene.  There  is  the  like  omission  in  2  Chron.  xiv.  3  ; 
 Ps.  xix.  13. — Sut.  17.  Devils,  DniD — iai^uvia,  Sept.;  *  demons,'  (see 
 1  Cor.  X.  20,)  from  ITO,  'to  destroy.'— i?uj'/or/,  Reijieccius,  Patrick. 
 Park  hurst  derives  the  word  from  miT,  'to  pour  forth — to  shed;'  and 
 he  thinks  the  valley  of  Siddim  iGen.  xiv.  3.  8,)  probably  received  its 
 name  from  the  Canaanites  worshipping  idolatrously»  for  it  is  the  very 
 •229 
 
 same  word  which  is  here  used :  a  field,  and  a  breast  that  pours  forth 
 milk,  are  from  the  same  root ;  from  which  he  infers  that  they  paid 
 adoration  to  the  genial  powers  of  nature;  and  hence  the  many- breasted 
 idols  among  the  heathen.  Manasseh  ben  Israel  derives  the  word  as 
 Parkhurst.  19.  And  when  the  Lord  saw  it,  he  abhorred  them,  '  cast 
 them  off.* — Pat.  'Jehovah  saw,  and  he  was  indignant.'  —  Boothr. 
 Because  of  the  provoking,  ^c. — I^DSIT  V32  DyDO.  *  because  of  wrath  or 
 indignation  against  his  sons  and  daughters.' — Maimonides.  Or,  'by 
 reason  of  his  great  and  just  anger  against  them,  he  abhorred,  or  *  repro- 
 bated,* or  *  cast  off,'  his  sons  and  his  daughters.  20.  See  what  their 
 end,  '  their  destruction,'  called  in  the  New  Testament '  the  end  of  the 
 world.* — Gill.  Consider  what  he  should  do  with  them. — Poole.  '  Let 
 others  see,'  as  the  Greek  is,  '  I  will  shew  what  shall  be  to  them  at  the 
 last.' — Ains.  Kai  dti^ut  n  ttiTui  uvtoh  €tz' tax^'^t^v,  Sept.  '  Not  cease 
 my  judgments  till  I  have  made  an  end  of  their  polity  and  government.* 
 — Pat.  Look  on  as  one  unconcerned  until  they  were  bronght  to  the 
 utmost  extremities. — Scott.  In  whom  is  710  faith — D3  y^H  M%  '  no  faith 
 in  Jesus  the  true  Mes^siah,  him  they  disbelieved  and  rejected.* — Gill. 
 'No  fidelity.' — Boothr.  'No  steadfastness.' — A.  Clarke.  They  have 
 broken  covenant  with  him  so  often  they  were  not  to  be  trusted,  (chap. 
 sxxi.  16.]— Pat.  22.  The  lowest  hell— the  deepest  destruction.— IFiV. 
 23.  Arrows,  'judgments.*  (Job,  vi.  4  ;  Ps.  x.xxviii.  2,  3  ;  xci.  5,)  '  pesti- 
 lence,* of  which  the  next  verse  is  exegetical. — C.  Taylor.  24.  Burnt 
 with  hunger,  *  consumed,'  Sept.  Teeth  of  beasts — partly  fulfilled  when 
 thrown  to  the  wild  beasts  in  the  Roman  theatres.— Pa^  26.  Scatter 
 them  into  corners — corner  them,  DITNE;!"*,  drive  them  up  into  a  corner, 
 and  cut  them  off  tcgether. — Gill.  27.  Were  it  not  that  I  feared — 
 '  indignation  fur  the  enemy  deters  me,  lest  their  hands  should  be  alien- 
 ated, and  say.  The  ^t^ength  of  our  hands,  and  not  of  the  Lord's,  hath 
 done  this.'— Houbigant.  29.  O  that  they  were  U'lsf— lODn  lb,  '  O  if 
 
 they  weje  wise.*— Ct/cc.  These  are  the  words  of  Moses  under  a  pro- 
 phetic spirit.— Gi7/.  Latter  end,  cn'inw,  'latter  times.* — A.Clarke, 
 Their  end,  that  judgment  will  overtake  them. — Poole.  The  reference 
 of  this  to  *  death'  is  a  preacher's  accommodation  of  the  text.  —  Ed. 
 30.  Hotv  should  one  chase,  ^c. — whence  should  this  miraculous  change 
 come,  after  the  promise?  (Lev.  xxvi.  8.)  Except  their  Rock  —  God  their 
 refuge.  Had  sold  them — quitted  his  right  and  relation  to  them. — Poole, 
 Pat.  Had  shut  them  up,  '  delivered  them  up.* — Boothr.  DTJDn,  from 
 I^D-  31.  For  their  rock — 'the  heathens'  strength  in  false  gods  is  not 
 Uke  ours  in  the  true  God.* — Ed.  This  is  the  language  of  Moses,  and 
 should  be  in  a  parenthesis. — Boothr.  32.  For  their  fine,  ^c— this  is 
 an  answer  to  '  how  should,' &c.,  (ver.  30,)  and  should  be,  i>ut  their 
 vine,  5-c. :  the  people  of  Israel,  which  I  planted  and  brought  up  as  a 
 choice  vine,  are  now  become  degenerate. — Poole.  The  vine  of  Sodom — 
 understand  by  this  the  sulanus,  or  night  shade,  whose  grapes  yield 
 poison. — Mich.  The  Arabs  call  one  sort  of  night  shade,  comm(»n  in  the 
 east,  by  the  name  of  '  wolf's  grape.' — Exjios.  Index.  Another  sort 
 gruws  in  abundance  near  the  sea  of  Sodom. — Hasselquist.  33.  Thi-tt 
 wine,  'their  system  of  doctrines,'  —  A.  Clarke,  and  heresies. — Ains, 
 Their  best  works. — Trapp,     The  poison  of  dragons — probably  a  species 
 
Moses  exhortcth  the  people. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXXIII. 
 
 He  is  sent  vp  to  mount  Ncho, 
 
 34  Is  not  this  ^  laid  up  in  store  with  me,  and 
 sealed  up  among  my  treasures? 
 
 3j  *  To  me  hclongeth  vengeance,  and  recom- 
 pense ;  their  foot  shall  slide  in  due  time  :  for 
 
 *  the  day  of  their  calamity  is  at  hand,  and  the 
 tilings  that  shall  come  upon  them  make  haste. 
 
 36  "  For   the   Lord  shall  judge   his  people, 
 
 *  and  repent  himself  for  his  servants,  when  he 
 seeth  that  their  f  power  is  gone,  and  ^  there  is 
 none  shut  up,  or  left. 
 
 37  And  he  shall  say,  *  Where  are  their  gods, 
 their  rock  in  whom  they  trusted, 
 
 38  Which  did  eat  the  fat  of  their  sacrifices, 
 and  drank  the  wine  of  tlieir  drink  offerings? 
 let  them  rise  up  and  help  you,  and  be  f  your 
 protection. 
 
 39  See  now  that  °  I,  eren  I,  am  he,  and 
 *•  there  is  no  god  with  me  :  *"  1  kill,  and  I  make 
 alive  ;  I  wound,  and  I  heal  :  neither  is  there 
 any  that  can  deliver  out  of  my  hand. 
 
 40  •"  For  I  lift  up  my  hand  to  heaven,  and  say, 
 
 I  live  for  ever. 
 
 41  *  If  I  whet  my  glittering  sword,  and  mine 
 hand  take  hold  on  judgment ;  *"  I  will  render 
 vengeance  to  mine  enemies,  and  will  reward 
 them  that  hate  me. 
 
 4'2    I   will  make  mine  arrows   ^  drunk  with 
 
 blood,  and  my  sword  shall  devour  flesh  ;  and 
 
 that  with  the  blood  of  the  slain  and  of  the  cap- 
 
 ,  lives,  from  tlie  beginning  of  ^  revenges  upon 
 
 the  enemy. 
 
 43  II  '  Rejoice,  O  ye  nations,  tvith  his  people : 
 fur  he  will  •■■  avenge  the  blood  of  his  servants, 
 and  '  will  render  vengeance  to  his  adversaries, 
 and  "*  will  be  merciful  unto  his  land,  and  to  his 
 people. 
 
 44  1[  And  Moses  came  and  spake  all  the  words 
 of  this  song  in  the  ears  of  the  people,  he,  and 
 
 II  Hoshea  the  son  of  Nun. 
 
 45  And  Moses  made  an  end  of  speaking  all 
 these  words  to  all  Israel : 
 
 46  And  lie  said  unto  them,  "  Set  your  hearts 
 unto  all  the  words  wliich  I  testify  among  yon 
 this  day,  which  ye  shall  command  your  chil- 
 
 I.  C.  H5I. 
 
 r  Job  U.  17. 
 
 Jer.  9.  S->. 
 
 Hos.  13.12. 
 
 Koni.  2.  5. 
 «  Ps.  94    I. 
 
 Ecclus.  2t 
 
 .  Ito 
 
 \2. 
 
 19,  Heb.  10. 
 
 30. 
 /  2  Pet.  2. 3. 
 u  Ps  135,  14. 
 X  Judg.2.I8. 
 
 Ps.  lOiJ.  iS. 
 
 Jcr.  81.20. 
 
 Joel  2.  H. 
 
 2  Mac.  7.  6. 
 t  Heb.  hand, 
 y  1  Kin.  N. 
 
 10.^(21.21. 
 
 2  Kill.  9.  8. 
 
 &  H  30. 
 jJndg.lO  14, 
 
 Jer.  2.  :;8. 
 t  Meb    nn 
 
 hiding  for 
 
 a  Ps.  102  27. 
 
 U.  11.  4.  & 
 
 ■18.  12. 
 i  ch.  4.  .SS. 
 
 Ix  45.  5,  18, 
 
 C   I  ! 
 
 1-2  6. 
 
 2  Kin.  5.  7. 
 
 Job  b.  IS. 
 
 Ps.  C8  20. 
 
 Hnn.  G    1. 
 
 Tobit  l.S.  2. 
 
 Wisd.  10. 
 
 l;l. 
 JGeu.  14.22. 
 
 y.xoA.  6  8. 
 
 Num. 11.30, 
 '  N.  27.  I.& 
 
 M»   .■>.  &  CG. 
 
 16    K/e.  21. 
 
 9.  II).  11,20. 
 f  U.  1.21. 
 
 N.-ib.  I.  2. 
 j7  Jer,  46.  10. 
 /.  Job  13.  24 
 
 Jer.  30.   li. 
 
 I,am.  2.  .■>. 
 li  Or,  Prniie 
 
 nnlioui  :  or, 
 
 Sing  !/f. 
 J  Horn. 15.10. 
 A  Itcv.  C.  10. 
 
 &  !■)    2. 
 I  vet.  41. 
 
 1  Pa.  65.  1. 
 
 .  ch.  6.  e. 
 
 Si  II.  \A. 
 Kzek.4U,  1. 
 
 B.  C.  1451. 
 
 och,  .fO.  19. 
 Ler.  18  5 
 Pro.3  2,  22. 
 &  4.  22. 
 Rom.  10.  5 
 
 9  Num.  3S. 
 47.  48. 
 ch.  31,  1. 
 
 n  Or,itrifeal 
 I  SeeLer.lO 
 
 a  Gen,  49.28. 
 6  Ps.  flO. 
 
 title. 
 1191. 
 c  Ex.  19.  18, 
 
 20.  Judg.  b. 
 
 4,  5.  Hab. 
 
 d  See  Ps.6fl. 
 
 17.  I>an.  7. 
 
 10.  Acts  7. 
 
 63    Gal,  3. 
 
 19  Heb.S,2. 
 
 Her.  6.  II. 
 
 tt  9.   16. 
 t  Heb,  aftc 
 
 of  hw. 
 
 t  Ex.  ly.  b. 
 
 cli.  7.7,  8. 
 
 Pa.  47.  4. 
 
 Hos.  W.  1. 
 
 Mai.  I.  2. 
 /ch,7.  6, 
 
 1  Sam.  2.  9. 
 
 Ps.  50,  5. 
 g  Lu.  10  39. 
 
 Acts  22.  3. 
 h  Prov.  2.  1 . 
 
 John  I.  17. 
 
 &  7,  19. 
 k  Ps.  1 19. 
 
 111. 
 /  See  Gen. 96. 
 
 81.  Judg.9. 
 
 dren  to  observe  to  do,  all  the  words  of  this  law. 
 
 47  For  it  is  not  a  vain  tiling  ior  you  ;  "be- 
 cause it  is  your  life  :  and  through  this  thing  ye 
 shall  prolong  ?/owr  days  in  the  land,  whither  ye 
 go  over  Jordan  to  possess  it. 
 
 48  ''  And  the  Loud  spake  unto  Moses  that 
 selfsame  day,  saying, 
 
 49  Get  thee  up  into  this  "^  mountain  Abarim, 
 unto  mount  Nebo,  which  is  in  the  land  of 
 Moab,  that  is  over  against  Jericho  ;  and  behold 
 the  laud  of  Canaan,  whicli  I  give  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel  for  a  possession  : 
 
 50  And  die  in  the  mount  whither  thou  goest 
 up,  and  be  gathered  unto  thy  people  ;  as 
 ^  Aaron  thy  brother  died  in  mount  Hor,  and 
 was  gathered  unto  his  people  : 
 
 51  Because  *  ye  trespassed  against  me  among 
 the  children  of  Israel  at  the  waters  of  ||  Meri- 
 bah'Kadesh,  in  the  wilderness  of  Zin  ;  because 
 ye  *  sanctified  me  not  in  the  midst  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel. 
 
 52  "  Yet  thou  shalt  see  the  land  before  thee; 
 but  thou  shalt  not  go  thither  unto  the  land 
 which  I  give  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIII. 
 
 1  The  majestij  of  God.      6  The  hlessinps  of  the  twtlve 
 tribes.     26  The  excellency  of  Israel. 
 
 AND  this  is  °  the  blessing,  wherewith  Moses 
 ■^  ^  the  man  of  God  blessed  the  children  of 
 Israel  before  his  death. 
 
 2  And  he  said,  "  The  Lord  came  from  Sinai, 
 and  rose  up  from  Seir  unto  them  ;  he  shined 
 forth  from  mount  Paran,  and  he  came  with 
 ''  ten  thousands  of  saints  :  from  his  right  hand 
 went  f  a  fiery  law  for  them. 
 
 3  Yea,  *^he  loved  the  people  ;  *'all  his  saints 
 are  in  thy  hand  :  and  they  ^'  sat  down  at  thy 
 feet  ;  evert/  one  shall  •*  receive  of  thy  words. 
 
 4  '  Moses  commanded  us  a  law,  ^  even  the 
 inheritance  of  the  congregation  of  Jacob. 
 
 5  And  he  was  'king  in  "' Jeshurun,  when  the 
 heads  of  the  people  and  the  tribes  of  Israel 
 were  gathered  together. 
 
 of  lizard  called  g-eA'/fti  is  here  meant  ;Uiis  creature  is  extremely  vcncmous 
 and  deadly. — Scrip.  Illus.  Of  nsps,  whose  wounds  are  mostly  incurable. 
 — Pat.  34.  Is  not  this,  §c. — that  is,  tlieir  wickedness,  mentioned  be- 
 fore.— Poole,  so  Scott.  The  evil  principles  and  practices  of  the  apostate 
 church,  laid  up  in  rcmembraDce  befnre  God. — Gill.  The  vengeance 
 lie  is  going  to  speak  of  in  the  following  verses. — Pat.  36.  None  shut 
 vp^^in  their  garrisons,  for  defence. —  Welfs.  Boothrof/d,  after  the  Syriac, 
 reads,  *  none  to  succour  and  help  them.'  whicli  signifies  the  same.  It 
 shews  their  wretched  state,  all  cut  off  and  carried  off. — Gill.  39.  /  ^(7/ 
 and  J  ntake  alive,  '  1  preser\'e  alive.' — Boothr.  *  I  have  power  of  death 
 and  life.* — Ains.  *  My  mercy  is  as  great  as  my  justice.'  —  A.  Clarke. 
 40.  Lift  up  mil  hand — a  custom  at  that  time  in  taking  solemn  oaths. — 
 Srott.  42.  From  the   beginjting  of  revenges,  ffc. — viewing  this  as 
 
 prophetic  of  the  vengeance  of  Christ  upon  his  enemies.  Gill  reads  *  of 
 the  enemy,'  after  Papninus,  and  interprets  it '  from  the  time  the  enemy 
 began  to  oppress  the  saints.'  myiD  ITt^lD-  The  words  are,  however, 
 read  in  various  other  ways:  'from  the  hair>'  head'  of  the  enemy. — 
 Park.,  so  Hales,  Lowfh,  Jebh.  From  tlie  '  hairy  crown,'  &c. — Boothr. 
 From  the  '  naked  head,' that  is,  unprctected. — A  Clarke.  44.  Hoshea, 
 the  same  with  Joshua,  whose  name  at  first  was  Iloshea,  (Num.  xiii. 
 16.)        49.  Mountain  AOarim,  *  mount  of  the  passages' — the  passages 
 
 of  entering  the  promised  land. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIII.  —  1.  Moses  the  man  of  God~h^  Moses  is  here  men- 
 tioned in  exalted  terms,  and  in  the  third  person,  whereas  he  used  to 
 speak  of  himself  in  the  first,  it  is  probahle  thai  the  introduction  to  this 
 chapter  was  written  by  some  other  person,  and  that  the  blessings  of 
 the  tribes,  &c.,  to  the  end,  were  pronounced  by  Moses,  and  recorded 
 by  one  who  heard  him. — Kejuiicott.  2.  Came  frum  Sinai,  fyc,  with 
 the  most  dreadful  solemnity,  to  deliver  his  laws,  and  take  his  people 
 into  covenant ,  and  by  the  same  cloud  of  glory  he  conducted  them 
 through  the  Arabian  desert  to  the  wilderness  of  Faran  and  the  borders 
 of  Idumea,  preserving  and  instructing  them. — Pi/le.  He  camewith  ten 
 thousands  of  saints— '  he  came  from  Meribah  Kadesh,*  the  name  of  a 
 place.  The  Hebrew,  XDlp,  is  not '  saints,'  but  *  holiness ;'  saints  would 
 be  another  word,  D''lDlp-  Our  translation,  however,  is  strongly  coun- 
 tenanced by  Acts,  vii.  53  ;  Heb.  ii.  2.— Ed.  A  fiery  laiv—'  a  fire  shone 
 forth  upon  them.' — Ken.,  as  the  Samaritan.  3.  All  his  saints  are  in 
 thy  Art7irf— the  change  of  person  from  his  to  thy  is  very  fre<|uent  in  the 
 Hebrew,  (see  Dan.  iv.  ^A.)~Pat.  'And  he  blessed  all  the  saints,' 
 Syriac,  Samaritan,  Ken.  At  thy  feet~~&s  scholars  used  to  do,  (see 
 Acts,  xxii.  3.)— Gill.  '  They  fell  down  at  his  feet,  and  they  received  of 
 his  words.'— A'en.        5.  King,  that  is,  chief,  leader,  guide.     Monarchy 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXII.  —  I.  How  ijlor'tous  a  Being 
 is  God  f  We  see  much  of  bis  majesty  in  nature,  but  in  the 
 Bible  it  is  exhibited  with  more  surprising  grandeur.  His 
 might,  his  holiness,  his  justice,  his  truth,  make  us  indeed  ex- 
 claim, ■  Ascribe  ye  greatness  unto  our  God  !' 
 
 II.  How  debased  a  being  is  man  !  Corrupt,  spotted  willi  the 
 putrefaction  of  sin,  perverse  and  disorderly,  opposing  God's 
 law,  and  continually  walking  contrary  to  it.  How  ungrateful 
 for  God's  mercies!  how  unmindful  of  the  dealings  of  bis  pro- 
 vidence and  grace!  How  proud  and  haughty  inhis  prosperity, 
 and  how  prone  to  depart  from  God,  the  only  rock  and  refuge 
 of  his  soul! — continually  leaving  the  fouutaiu  of  happiness, 
 and  applying  to  the  broken  cistern. 
 
 III.  Hiiw  mrful  is  the  condition  of  those  who  have  forsaheu  God  ! 
 
 *J3U' 
 
 They  are  under  his  displeasure  ;  his  judgments  are  on  the 
 wing,  like  arrows,  to  strike  them  to  the  heart,  and  the  time 
 hastens  when  they  shall  find  that  it  is  *  an  evil  and  a  bitter 
 thing'  to  forsake  God. 
 
 IV.  HoxD  t/rcat  is  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God,  who  warns 
 men  of  their' tvH  courses,  ami  gives  than  space  for  rcpmlanee .' 
 *  He  is  not  willing  that  any  stiould  perish,'  and  the  first  mo- 
 ment that  the  teiir  of  genuine  repentance  glistens  in  the  sin- 
 ner's eye,  mercy  flows  from  the  Saviour's  heart.  Let  sinners 
 se-k  their  refuge  in  him,  and  bis  judgments  shall  be  turned 
 away,  and  the  destroyers  of  their  souls  shall  no  more  triumph 
 over  them.  '  O  that  they  were  wise,  that  they  understood 
 this,  that  they  would  consider  their  latter  end  !' 
 
The  blessings  of 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXXIII. 
 
 the  twelve  tribes. 
 
 6  II  Let  Reuben  live,  and  not  die 
 not  his  men  be  few. 
 
 7  t  And  tliis  is  the  blessing  of  Judah  :  and  he 
 said,  Hear,  Lord,  the  voice  of  Judah,  and  bring 
 him  unto  his  people:  "let  his  hands  be  suffi- 
 cient for  him;  and  be  thou  «an  lielp  to  him 
 from  his  enemies. 
 
 8  1[  And  of  Levi  he  said,  ^  Let  thy  Thummim 
 and  thy  Urim  be  with  thy  holy  one,  "^  whom 
 thou  didst  prove  at  Massah,  and  with  whom 
 thou  didst  strive  at  the  waters  of  Meribali ; 
 
 9  Who  said  unto  his  father  and  to  his  mother, 
 I  have  not  "^  seen  liim  ;  *  neither  did  he  ac- 
 knowledge his  brethren,  nor  knew  his  own 
 children  :  for  *■  they  have  observed  thy  word, 
 and  kept  thy  covenant. 
 
 10  II  "  They  siiall  teach  Jacob  thy  judgments, 
 and  Israel  thy  law:  ||  "they  shall  put  incense 
 t  before  thee,  ^and  whole  burnt  sacrifice  upon 
 thine  altar. 
 
 1 1  Bless,  Lord,  his  substance,  and  *  accept 
 the  work  of  his  hands :  smite  througii  the  loins 
 of  them  that  rise  against  him,  and  of  them  tliat 
 hate  him,  that  they  rise  not  again. 
 
 1-2  t  And  of  Benjamin  he  said.  The  beloved 
 of  the  Lord  shall  dwell  in  safety  by  him  ;  a7id 
 the  LORD  shall  cover  him  all  the  day  long, 
 and  he  shall  dwell  between  his  shoulders. 
 
 13  5  And  of  Joseph  he  said,  "  Blessed  of  the 
 Lord  be  his  land,  for  the  precious  things  of 
 heaven,  for  ^  the  dew,  and  for  the  deep  that 
 coucheth  beneath, 
 
 14  iWid  for  the  precious  fruits  broitght  forth 
 by  the  sun,  and  for  the  precious  things  f  put 
 
 and  let    n.  ciwi. 
 
 p  Ki.  28.  80. 
 
 7  Et.  17.  7. 
 Num  :;iM3. 
 cli.S.  2,3,16. 
 Ps.  8i.  7. 
 
 r  Gen .29.32. 
 
 IChr. 17-17. 
 
 Job  37.  2+. 
 !  Ex.  S2.  26, 
 
 27,  28. 
 t  See  Jer.  19. 
 
 18.  MaJ.  2. 
 
 5,6. 
 WOryLet  lher» 
 
 lea  eh  f  ^c. 
 •i  Lev.lO.ll. 
 
 c1t.l7.  9.  UP, 
 
 11.  &  24.  8. 
 
 Kzek  44.23, 
 
 '-H  Mai.  2.7. 
 II  Or,  let  them 
 
 }'ut  i'4Ce>iSe. 
 X  Ex.  SO.7,8. 
 
 Num. 10.40. 
 
 1  Pam.S.ga. 
 t  Heb.al  thj/ 
 
 V  Lev.  1.9,13, 
 l7.Ps.SI. 19. 
 Kzek. 43.27. 
 
 1  2  Sam.  94. 
 23  Pn.  20.3. 
 Eiek. 20.10, 
 ■11  &  43.  27. 
 
 a  Geo.  49.25. 
 
 6  Geo.  27.28. 
 
 }  Heb.  thnat 
 forth. 
 
 ■  tHeb.7«"'>i». 
 I  c  Gen  49  96 
 (i  Hab.  3.  6. 
 
 a  Ex.  3.  ?,  1 
 
 Acts7.ri0,3.^i. 
 
 /Gen.49.:i6. 
 
 h  Nu.  23.  22. 
 Pa.  92.  10. 
 \  Heb.  an 
 
 i  I  Kiii.'22. 
 
 II.  Pa.-HS. 
 
 *  Geo. 48.19. 
 
 I  Gen.  49. 13, 
 14,  \5. 
 
 m  Ifl.  2.  3. 
 n  Ps.  4.  5. 
 
 o  See  Josli. 
 
 13.  10,  &c. 
 
 1  Chr.  12.8, 
 
 Sec. 
 p  Num.  93. 
 
 16,  17,  &c. 
 
 (  Heb  cieled. 
 q  Josh.  4. 12. 
 
 rJpsli.19.47. 
 Judg.l8.27. 
 
 forth  by  the  f  moon, 
 
 15  And  for  the  chief  things  of  "the  ancient 
 mountains,  and  for  the  precious  things  ^  of  the 
 lasting  hills, 
 
 16  And  for  the  precious  things  of  the  earth 
 and  fulness  thereof,  and  for  the  good  will  of 
 ''him  that  dwelt  in  the  bush  :  let  the  blessing 
 •"  come  upon  the  head  of  Joseph,  and  upon  the 
 top  of  the  head  of  him  that  was  separated 
 from  his  brethren. 
 
 17  His  glory  is  like  the  ^firstling  of  his  bul- 
 lock, and  his  liorns  are  like  ^  tlie  horns  of 
 t  unicorns :  with  them  '  he  shall  push  the 
 people  together  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  :  and 
 ^  they  are  the  ten  thousands  of  Ephraim,  and 
 they  are  the  thousands  of  Manasseh. 
 
 18  IT  And  of  Zebulun  he  said,  '  Rejoice,  Ze- 
 bulun,  in  thy  going  out ;  and,  Issachar,  in  thy 
 tents. 
 
 19  They  shall  ""  call  the  people  unto  the 
 mountain;  there  "they  shall  offer  sacrifices 
 of  righteousness:  for  they  shall  suck  of  the 
 abundance  of  the  seas,  and  oj  treasures  hid  in 
 the  sand. 
 
 20  IT  And  of  Gad  he  said,  Blessed  be  he  that 
 "  enlargeth  Gad  :  he  dwelleth  as  a  lion,  and 
 teareth  the  arm  with  the  crown  of  the  head. 
 
 21  And  ^he  provided  the  first  part  for  him- 
 self, because  there,  in  a  portion  of  the  lawgiver, 
 ivas  he  f  seated  ;  and  "^  he  came  with  the  heads 
 of  the  people,  he  executed  the  justice  of  the 
 Lord,  and  his  judgments  with  Israel. 
 
 22  H  And  of  Dan  he  said,  Dan  is  a  lion*s 
 whelp  :  *"  he  shall  leap  from  Bashan. 
 
 is  not  always  implied  by  the  term.— Ca/.  Jeshurun—SQC  note  on  chap. 
 xxxii.  15.  6.  Let  Reithen  /ioe— though  a  frontier  tribe,  let  it  not  be 
 ruined  by  its  iieit;hbours,  or  lost  among-  them. — Hen.  '  Let  Reuben 
 live,  and  not  die,  though  his  men  be  few.'— Pf/^.  'Let  Reuben  live, 
 and  not  die  -,  and  Simeon,  let  his  men  be  few.'  So  two  copies  of  the 
 Septuagint,  lollowed  by  Houbigant,  Hewlett,  Boothroyd,  and  Chirke. 
 Simeon  comes  next  in  order  to  Reuben  ;  the  name  occurs  in  some  very 
 ancient  and  valuable  MSS.,  and  being  the  only  one  omitted  in  the 
 chapter,  most  biblical  scholars  suppose  the  clause  applies  to  him.  Not 
 is  not  in  the  original,  and  ought  to  be  rejected. — Pict.  Bib.  Strong 
 expressions  in  Scripture  affirm  and  deny,  {see  Isa.  xxxviii.  1  ;  Num. 
 iv.    19;  Ps,  cxviii.   17,  &c.  &c.) — Ains.  7.  This  is  the  blessing  of 
 
 Judnh — 'and  he  said  this  of  Judah.' — Boothr. ;  to  the  same  purport 
 reads  Dr.  Clarke,  Bring  him  unto  his  people — from  battle  bring  him 
 back  in  safety  ;  or,  from  captivity  restore  him  ;  or — alluding  to  Shiloh, 
 (Gen.  xlix.  10,)  who  may  be  here  called  Judah,  as  springing  from  him, 
 as,  in  other  plaoes,  David — bring  him  to  that  people  given  to  him  ;  or, 
 bring  him  in  as  governor  to  his  people,  who  must  be  subject  to  him, 
 (Gen.  xlix.  8,)  or  rather,  settle  him  in  his  possession,  the  people  here 
 being  put  for  the  land,  as  the  Israelites  are  told  they  should  possess 
 the  nations  of  Canaan,  (Deut.  xi.  23,  &c.) — Poole.  8.  Let  thy  Thum- 
 mim, fyc. — see  note,  Exod.  xxviii.  30.  '  Let  the  tribe  of  Levi  perpetually 
 enjoy  the  priesthood.' — Hew.  '  Let  the  high  priest  ever  be  buth  an  up- 
 right man  and  an  understanding  man.' — So  Bp.  Hall,  Pat.,  Green,  and 
 Bates.  This  has  its  full  accomplishment  in  Jesus  Christ,  our  great 
 High  Priest.— H(?«.  The  Urim  and  Thummim  were  lost  in  the  Baby- 
 Ionian  captivity ;  but  in  our  Holy  One,  our  great  High  Priest,  whom 
 Aaron  and  his  sons  feebly  shadowed  forth,  the  things  signified  remain. 
 — Scott.  Thy  holy  one,  not  Aaron,  but  the  angel  of  the  covenant, 
 with  whom  the  people  strove  at  Massah,  &c.,  (l  Cor.  x.  8 — 12.) — Wil., 
 so  Houb.  and  Ken,  9.  Who  said  unto  his  father,  SjC. — this  respects 
 the  holy  zeal  of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  when,  without  regard  to  relationship, 
 they  spared  not  the  nearest  relations  who  were  haters  of  God. — Hew, 
 See  Exod.  xxxii.  26—28  ;  Lev.  xxi.  11,  12.  Who  executed  the  judgment 
 enjoined  by  God,  without  any  respect  of  persons.  12.  The  beloved — 
 TT,  the  Samaritan  divides  the  words,  and  reads,  n^  T,  ^  the  hand, 
 even  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  shall  puj,  rest  for  safety,  vbr,  upon  him.' 
 Boothroyd  follows  Houbigant,  who  conjectures  vby,  '  by  him,'  or  '  upon 
 him,'  should  be  Tvby,  '  tlie  Most  High;*  and  he  reads— 
 
 *  The  beloved  of  the  Lord  shall  dwell  in  safety. 
 The  Most  High  shall  ever  protect  him.' 
 
 By  him — have  his  lot  nigh  unto  God's  temple.  Mount  Moriah  was  in 
 the  tribe  of  Benjamin.— Poty/^.  Between  his  shoulders — '  on  his  sides 
 or  borders;'  so  the  word  is  translated.  Num.  xxxiv.  ll.  The  temple 
 stood  on  the  borders  of  Benjamin.— Heu'.  He  shall  dwell  in  his  por- 
 tion, or,  between  his  borders ;  so  the  word  is  used  in  Exod.  xxviii.  7 ; 
 Josh.  XT.  8,  10;  Ezek.  xlvii.  1,  2,  Sic.—Poole.  'He,  Jehovah,  shall 
 dwell  among  his  mountains,  in  mount  Zion,  which  belongcth  to  Ben- 
 jamin.'— Boothr.,  so  Dafhe  and  Rosenm.  The  imagery  heie  seems  to 
 refer  to  the  fondness  of  Jacob,  which  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  were  now 
 to  receive  from  their  heavenly  parent. —  Wil.  13.  For  the  precious 
 things  of  heaven — '  with  the  precious  dew  of  the  heavens.'  And  for 
 231 
 
 the  deep,  §-c.— '  and  the  springs  of  the  lowlving  deep.'— Gcdo'es,  fol- 
 lowed exactly  by  Boothr.     '  For'  may  be  read  '  on  account  oL'—Hew. 
 
 14.  Fruits— bi/  the  stm— annual  productions,  as  corn,  barley,  grapes; 
 by  the  moon,  monthly  productions,  as  grass  and  herbs  ;  also  tigs  and 
 olives,  Sic,  of  which  they  had  many  crops  in  a  ye&r.—Durell,  Buothr. 
 
 15.  The  chief  things,  §-c. —  probably  alludes  to  precious  ore.— Hew., 
 Sut.  The  mountains  and  hills  of  Joseph  produced  also  quantities  of 
 grass  and  corn,  vines,  figs,  and  olives, — Gill;  and  timber  trees. — Scott. 
 Such  would  be  the  hills  and  valleys  of  Ephraim,  Samaria,  and  Bashan. 
 — Pyle.  16.  Precious  things  of  the  earth— its  oaks  and  pasturage, 
 and  cattle  that  bred  upon  it,  for  all  of  which  Joseph's  land  was  famous. 
 —Gill.  And  the  good  will,  ^c  — 'and  may  the  favour  of  him  who 
 abode  among  the  briars,'  Scc.—  Geddes.  17-  i-tfie  the  firstling,  ^c. — 
 '  like  that  of  the  choicest  bull.'— .Boo^Ar.  '  The  beauty  of  a  young  bull 
 shall  be  his  beauty.'— Geddes.  This  creature  was  considered  a  sign  rf 
 kingly  power.- GiV^.  Joshua  was  of  Ephraim.  In  Ephraim  was  the 
 royal  city  of  the  ten  tribes.  Of  Manasseh  were  Gideon,  Jcphthah,  and 
 Jair,  ornaments  and  blessings  to  their  country.— //em-^.  Of  unicorns, 
 '  of  the  rhinoceros.'- Gerfrfe*.  His  strength  and  power  shall  be  very 
 great. — Poole.  He  shall  push— overcome  all  in  Ins  way. — Henry.  As 
 horned  beasts  destroy  their  enemies:.  Ends  of  the  earth,  '  extremities 
 of  the  land'  of  Csmaan ;  so  Joshua  smote  thirty-one  kings  of  that 
 country.—  Gill.  18.  Thy  going  out— '  thy  commerce.' —  Boothr. 
 Going  out  to  sea,  to  traffic  in  foreign  parts.  See  Gen.  xlix.  13.  Issa- 
 char in  thi/ tents— where  this  tribe  dwelt  to  tend  their  cattle.  —  Gill. 
 19.  Call,  '\avite.'— Henry,  The  people,  0>oy.  the  gentiles.  So  as  to 
 embrace  the  true  faith.— J.  Clarke.  The  tnountain—the  temple  on  the 
 mountain.- G(7/,  Henry.  They  would  be  zealous  for  the  ordinances  uf 
 God. — Scott.  Sacrifices  of  righteousness,  true  and  unblemished. — Gill, 
 Suck  of  the.  ^r.— grow  rich  by  trading.— Hr'H'..  so  Gill.  The  produce  uf 
 the  shell-fish  called  murex  is  thought  to  bu  lnjie  alluded  to,  so  precious 
 for  the  ancient  purple  dye.  Treasures  hid  tn  the  sand— the  mouths  ot 
 the  river  Belus  were  in  the  limits  of  Zebulun,  from  the  sands  of  which 
 it  is  said  glass  was  first  manufactured.  — P/(«w,  Rusenm.  20.  He 
 dwelleth  as  a  lion,  *  like  a  lioness  he  coucheth.'— ifooMr.  Jrm— strength 
 or  power.  Crown  of  the  head — chief  magiairate  or  prince. — Onkelos, 
 &c.  The  courage  and  fierceness  of  this  tribe  are  particularly  celebrated, 
 (1  Chron.xii.  8.)— TT'iV.  21.  And  he  provided  the  first  part  for  himself— 
 the  first  fruits  of  the  land  of  promise;  the  country  of  Sihon,  whidi 
 was  first  conquered.— Poo/c.  '  And  he  seeth  the  first  parts  allotted  lu 
 himself,'  that  is,  of  the  land.— BooMr.  He  chose  his  inheritance  with 
 the  first  part,  on  this  side  Jordan,  (Num.  xxxii.  \.)— Kidder.  In  apor. 
 tion  of  the  lawgiver,  was  he  seated — the  tribe  of  Gad  was  settled  by 
 Moses  himself,  (Num.  xxxii.  33,)  whereas  the  other  nine  tribes  and  a 
 half  were  settled  by  Joshua.— //rrc.  Came  with,  ^c.  — over  Jordan, 
 armed  to  assist  in  the  conquest  and  subduing  of  the  land  of  Canaan. — 
 Gill.  22.  A  lion's  whelp — courageous  as  a  young  lion, — Onkelos. 
 Samson  was  of  this  tribe.  He  shall  leap  from  Bashan,  '  which  leapeth 
 from  Bashan,'  continuing  the  metaphor. — Poole.  That  is,  '  he  shall 
 spring  like  a  lion  on  his  prey,  and  spread  consternation  arouud  him.* 
 The  tribe  of  Dan  had  no  inheritance  near  Bashan,  but  he  compares 
 them  to  the  lions  which  infested  that  country  .—So  Patrick  and  PooU. 
 
Moses  victvrtli  the  Idnd. 
 
 DEUTERONOMY,  XXXIV. 
 
 ///*'  death  and  huriaf. 
 
 23  t  And  of  Naphtali  lie  said,  O  Naphtali, 
 "satisfied  with  favour,  and  full  with  the  bless- 
 ing of  the  Lord  :  '  possess  thou  the  west  and 
 the  south, 
 
 24  If  And  of  Asher  he  said,  "  Let  Asher  be 
 blessed  with  children  ;  let  him  be  acceptable 
 to  his  brethren,  and  let  him  ""  dip  his  foot  in 
 oil. 
 
 25  II  Thy  siioes  s/fa/Zie'' iron  and  brass;  and 
 as  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be. 
 
 *2G  IT  'There  is  ^  none  like  unto  the  God  of 
 "Jeshurun,  ^  who  rideth  upon  the  heaven  iu 
 thy  help,  and  in  his  excellency  on  tiie  sky. 
 
 ■27  The  eternal  God  is  thy  ^"refuge,  and  un- 
 derneath are  the  everlasting  arms  :  and  "^  he 
 shall  thrust  out  the  enemy  from  before  thee  ; 
 and  shall  say.  Destroy  them, 
 
 28  ^  Israel  then  shall  dwell  in  safety  alone  : 
 ^the  fountain  of  Jacob  shall  be  upon  a  land  of 
 corn  and  wine ;  also  his  ^  heavens  shall  drop 
 down  dew. 
 
 29  •*  Happy  art  thou,  O  Israel  :  '  who  is  like 
 unto  tliee,  ()  people  saved  by  the  Lord,  ''the 
 shield  of  thy  help,  and  who  is  the  sword  of  thy 
 excellency !  and  thine  enemies  '  ||  shall  be 
 found  liars  unto  thee  ;  and  "'thou  shall  tread 
 upon  their  high  places. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 1  Moses  from  mount  Ntho  vieivfth  the  land.  5  He 
 dieth  t/iere.  6  ffis  burial  7  His  age.  8  Thirty 
 days*  monniintf  for  hiin.  9  Joshua  succecdeth  him. 
 10   T/ie  praise  of  Moses. 
 
 A  ND  Moses  went  up  from  the  plains  of 
 -^^  Moab  *  unto  the  mountain  of  Nebo,  to  the 
 top  of  II  Pisgah,  tiiat  is  over  against  Jericho. 
 And  the  Loud  ''  shewed  him  all  tlie  land  of 
 Gilead,  "^  unto  Dan, 
 
 II  Or,  Under 
 sh.iU  bo 
 
 I  Kx.  15.  U. 
 
 I's.  96.  8. 
 
 Jer.  10.  6. 
 a  cli.32.  IS. 
 A  Hb.  G3,  -I. 
 
 H.  I!ab.;t.8. 
 c  P«.  9(1,  I. 
 .i  cli.O.  3,  V,5. 
 
 .-  Xum  2a.  9. 
 
 Jer.  2;(.  6.  ft 
 
 a-i    16. 
 /cli.H.  7,8. 
 i/Gcii.  87.28. 
 
 L-h.   II.  II. 
 
 /*  Ps.144  15. 
 i  2  Sam.7.33. 
 k  IV  115.9, 
 
 ID,  n. 
 
 /  -iSa-  52.  W. 
 Ps  18  +1.  *t 
 r.6.:).8iMI  15 
 
 II  Or,  thalt  he 
 
 >•■  ch.  32.  IS. 
 
 I  Num.  97. 
 12.  &  33.  47. 
 .•h.  S2.  in. 
 
 II  Or^  theliiU. 
 t}  eh.  3.  27. 
 
 2  Rfac.  •>.  4. 
 c  Gen. 14-11. 
 
 e  Judg.l.  16. 
 &  3.  13. 
 2Clir.2fl.I5. 
 
 ^Gen  12  7, 
 tt  13  15.  fi 
 \o.  IK.  «i26 
 3.  &  -iA.  IS. 
 
 jch.3   27. 
 h  32.  5_'. 
 
 A  ch.  32.  ."iO 
 Josh  1.  1,2. 
 
 I*ch.  31.2. 
 
 /  See  Gen. 
 27.  1.  &  4fl- 
 ll}.  Jo8b.ll. 
 
 1151. 
 tHeb.  mo tV 
 
 t  Heb  /«d. 
 m  See  (>eii. 
 
 50.  3,  10. 
 
 Num. 20  29 
 
 K.-<-Ur 
 
 38. 
 
 16,  17. 
 I  Ts.  11.2. 
 
 1)1111.  6.  3. 
 >  Num.  27. 
 
 18,23. 
 
 /)  See  c)i.  19 
 
 15,  18 
 7  Kx.33.  II. 
 
 Nmn-l2.C, 
 
 8.  ch.  5.  4. 
 r  ch    t.  31. 
 
 &  7.  19. 
 
 2  And  all  Naphtali,  and  the  land  of  Epliraim, 
 and  RIaiia.sseh,  and  ail  the  land  of  Judah, 
 *'  unto  the  utmost  sea, 
 
 3  And  the  south,  and  the  plain  of  the  valley 
 of  Jericho,  *"  the  city  of  palm  trees,  unto  Zoar. 
 
 4  And  the  Loud  said  unto  him,  '  This  is  the 
 land  which  I  sware  unto  xVbraham,  unto  Isaac, 
 and  unto  Jacob,  saying,  I  will  give  it  unto  tliy 
 seed  :  ^  I  have  caused  thee  to  see  it  with  thine 
 eyes,  but  thou  shalt  not  go  over  thither. 
 
 5  t  "^  So  Moses  the  sei-vant  of  the  Lord  died 
 there  in  the  land  of  Moab,  according  to  the 
 word  of  the  Loud. 
 
 6  And  he  buried  him  in  a  valley  in  the  land 
 of  Moab,  over  against  Betli-peor  :  but  '  no  man 
 knoweth  of  iiis  sepulchre  unto  this  day. 
 
 7  IT  ■*  And  Moses  was  an  hundred  and  twenty 
 years  old  when  he  died  :  '  his  eye  was  not  dim, 
 nor  his  f  natural  force  f  abated. 
 
 8  If  And  the  children  of  Israel  wept  for  Moses 
 in  the  plains  of  Moab  '"  thirty  days  :  so  tlie 
 days  of  weeping  and  mourning  for  Moses  were 
 ended. 
 
 9  t  And  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  was  full  of 
 the  "spirit  of  wisdom;  for  "Moses  had  laid 
 his  hands  upon  him  :  and  the  children  of  Israel 
 hearkened  unto  him,  and  did  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  Moses. 
 
 10  t  And  there  '"arose  not  a  prophet  since  in 
 Israel  like  unto  Moses,  **  whom  the  Lord 
 knew  face  to  face. 
 
 11  In  all  'the  signs  and  the  wonders,  which 
 the  Loud  sent  him  to  do  in  the  land  of  ^gypt 
 to  Pharaoh,  and  to  all  his  servants,  and  to  all 
 his  land, 
 
 1*2  And  in  all  that  mighty  hand,  and  in  all 
 the  great  terror  which  Moses  shewed  in  tlie 
 sight  of  all  Israel. 
 
 23.  Satisfied  with  favour — have  a  fertile  cnuntry  —  enjoy  the  gospel 
 light,  (Matt.  iv.  13;  ix.  1  ;  xv.  29;  Mark,  U,  l.)— So  A.  Clarke.  The 
 west  and  the  south,  'the  sea  and  the  south.' — Poole.  'The  sea  coast 
 and  the  sonth.'— Bout hr.  The  portion  of  this  tribe  was  from  the  south 
 of  the  city  of  Dan,  to  the  sea  of  Tiberias. — Boch.  It  means  the  plea- 
 sures and  commodities  of  the  west,  or  the  sea  conveyed  by  their  neigh- 
 bours nf  Zebiilun  and  of  the  south. — Ponle.  24.  Let  Asher  be  blessed 
 with  children — and  it  had  53,400  men  of  war,  (Num.  xxvi.  4".)  Blessed, 
 fyc. — see  Ps.  cxxviii.  3,  4.  Dip  his  /not  in  oil — be  planted  in  a  rich 
 soil,  full  of  olive  trees. — Pat.  25.  Shoes — iron  and  brass,  i!fr.  —  '  of  iron 
 and  brass  shall  be  his  bars,  and  his  wealth  shall  be  equal  to  his  days.' 
 Instead  of  wooden  bars,  which  are  common  in  the  east,  his  were  to  be 
 of  iron  and  brass. — Calm.,  Wnterland,  Geddes,  Boothr.  Their  land  on 
 which  they  trod  should  yield  much  iron  and  brass. — Gill.  Greaves, 
 boots,  shoes,  &c.,  of  iron,  brass,  and  tin,  were  used  by  ancient  warriors, 
 and  hence  the  allusion. — A.  Clarke,  Wil.  The  expression  is  merely 
 proverbial,  as  if  a  man  having  to  travel  a  nigged  road  were  prepared 
 with  spiked -soled  shoes,  and  signifies  that  the  Lord  would  prepare  Asher 
 to  meet  all  his  difficulties.— S/'((/^  26.  Who  rideth,  ^c— who  com- 
 mandeth  in  the  heavens  as  well  as  in  the  earth.— Ph/.  KuUng  by  his 
 power  and  pleasure,  as  a  rider  commands  his  horse. — Maimonides.  Jn 
 his  eTcetlenry,  or,  *in  his  magnificence.' — Poole.  2/.  The  eternal  God, 
 Dip 'n'?!^,  the  former  God;  hb  who  was  of  old;  no  new  Deity. — So 
 A.  Clarke.  Thy  refuge — *  thy  habitatinn  or  dwelling  place.'  28.  The 
 fountain  of  Jacob — the  posterity  of  Jacob  shall  possess  a  feriile  country. 
 
 —Pat.,  Gill.  The  fountain  ie  here  put  for  the  river  or  streams  which 
 flow  from  it,  as  Ps.  civ.  10.  As  the  root  is  put  for  the  branch,  2Chron. 
 xxii.  10  ;  Isa.  xi.  10  ;  Rev.  v.  5  ;  so  Jacob  or  Israel  is  often  put  for  the 
 children. — Poole.  It  may  be  read,  '  the  eye  of  Jacob,'  where  they  nnv^f 
 lay  encamped  ;  they  had  their  eye  on  Canaan. — Hen.  The  dt'ws,  from 
 the  fountain  of  Jacob's  blessings;  God  himself  should  descend  upon 
 his  land. — Evan.  Synop.  29.  Found  liars — perhaps  alluding  to  the 
 Gibeonites. — Poole.  Rather  to  their  vain  boastings. — Ed.  Tread  upon 
 //feiV  Atg'A />/a/?fs,  subdue  their  strongest  holds. — Poole.  V-m  tov  Tpax'i- 
 \ov  uuTwv,  upon  their  necks  ;  as  Josh.  x.  24  ;  Sept. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIV.  —  l.Pis^aA— the  highest  point  or  ridge  of  Ncbo,  it 
 being  a  name  for  all  such  peaks. — Hen.  Nebo,  supposed  tt)  be  the 
 highest  mountain  of  the  chain  called  Abarim.  3.  City  of  palm  trees — 
 ancient  writers  inform  us  that  they  grew  in  abundance  there.  Some 
 now  remain,  and  the  cUmate,  boil,  and  water,  are  adapted  for  them. — 
 Shaw.  4.  This  is  the  land — if  Moses  could  sec  Dan  I-aisb  and  the 
 utmost  sea,  the  Mediterranean,  he  could  clearly  see  Lebanon,  for  the 
 border  of  Naphtali  reached  to  the  foot  of  that  mountain,  so  he  conld 
 command  a  view  of  nearly  all  the  promised  land. — Sut.  h.  Mnses 
 diid — this  fact  and  the  whole  chapter  was  probably  written  by  Joshua, 
 or  it  might  be  some  subsequent  writer. — Boothr.  Dr.  Clarke  thinks 
 this  should  be  the  commencement  of  Joshua.  6.  He  buried  him—ihc 
 place  of  interment  was  purposely  concealed,  that  the  Israelites,  who 
 were  continually  prone  to  idolatry,  might  not  be  tempted  to  worship  at 
 his  sepulchre. — T.  Robinson. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXIII.  —  This  chapter  is  divided 
 in  our  Bibles  into  three  beads — I.  '  The  majesti/  of  God.' 
 '  Even  Seir  and  Paran,'  says  Henry,  '  two  mountains  at  some 
 distance,  were  illuminated  by  the  Divine  glory  which  appeared 
 on  Mount  Sinai,  and  retlected  some  of  tbe  rays  of  it.  His 
 attendants  were  also  glorious.  He  came  with  his  holy  my- 
 riads, as  Enoch  bad  long  since  foretold  he  should  come  in  the 
 last  day  to  judge  the  world.  These  were  the  angels,  those 
 chariots  of  God,  in  the  midst  of  which  the  Lord  was  on  that 
 holy  place,  (Ps.  Ixviii.  17.)  They  attended  tbe  Divine  majesty, 
 and  were  employed  as  his  ministers  in-tht*  solemnities  of  the 
 day.  Hence  the  lavp-  is  said  to  be  given  by  the  disposition  of 
 ani;els,  (Acts,  vii.  .^3  ;  Heb.  ii.  2.) 
 
 II.  The  bless inys  of  the  twelve  tribes.  We  can  Only  be  blest 
 as  we  are  brought  into  covenant  with  God.  How  many  mer- 
 cies does  this  secure  !  '  From  this  time  Israel  began  to  rise  in 
 glory  and  immortal  fame.' 
 
 III.  Thr  e.rcellencr/  of  Israel     Tliey  had  a  God  not  like  the 
 
 ■232 
 
 gods  of  the  heathen ;  *  he  was  before  all  worlds,  and  will  be 
 when  time  and  days  are  no  more.'  They  were  a  peculiarly 
 happy  people  in  being  safely  sheltered,  and  supported,  and 
 commanded,  and  protected,  and  provided  for.  and  aided,  and 
 armed,  and  assured  of  victory.  And,  Christian,  God  is  your 
 refuge,  everlasting  arms  are  underneath  you  ;  Christ  is  the 
 Captain  of  your  salvation,  who  '  shall  tlirust  out  the  enemy.' 
 Vou  shall  dwell  in  safety,  '  kept  by  the  mighty  power  of  Ciori.' 
 You  have  '  a  feast  of  fat  things,  and  wine  on  the  lees  well  re- 
 fined.' You  are,  in  fact,  *  a  people  saved  by  the  Lord.'  The 
 Lord  God  himself  is  your  shield,  and  you  shall  finally  tread 
 upon  the  higJi  places  and  necks  of  all  your  spiritual  enemies. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXXIV. —  1.  The  ministt-rs  of  God 
 are  mortal,  and  must  be  taken  atvriy,  how  eminent  soever  their 
 character,  how  extensive  soever  their  usefulness,  how  much 
 soever  beloved  by  the  people  of  their  charge.  '  The  fathers^ 
 where  are  they?  and  the  prophets,  do  they  live  for  ever"!* 
 This  should  make  ministers  diligent  and  serious  in  the  per- 
 
THE    BOOK 
 
 JOSHUA 
 
 [This  book  is  so  called  because  it  relates  the  achievements  of  J.isbua.  It  contains  the  history  of  about  thirty  years,  during 
 wbicli  time  Joshua  commanded  Israel.  It  exhibits  the  faitl)fuliiess  of  God  to  bis  promises,  in  the  conquests  of  the 
 Canaanitish  nations,  and  furnishes  a  correct  view  of  the  promised  land.  It  is  generally  thought  that  Joshua  was  the 
 author,  and  it  seems  probable  from  chap.  xxiv.  -26.  Some  passages  were  evidently  added  after  bis  death.  Compare  chap. 
 X.  13,  with  2  S.am.  i.  18  ;  and  xix.  47,  with  Judg.  xviii.  1,  and  Josh.  xxiv.  29,  30.  The  pages  of  this  book  are  referred 
 to,  Acts.  vii.  45;  xiii.  19  ;  Heb.  xiii.  5;  xi.  30,  31  ;  James,  ii.  25.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 1  T'e  Lord  oppoiiitttk  Jns.'ma  to  su.ceed  Moses. 
 3  T/ie  borders  of  the  prom!  t-d  land.  5,  9  God  pro- 
 miidli  to  assist  Joshua.  8  //tr  giveth  him  instruc- 
 tions, 10  He  prcparith  tf:e  people  to  pass  over 
 Jordan.  12  Josltua  piUtvth  the  two  tribes  and  half 
 in  mind  of  their  promise  to  Moses.  16  Thet/  pro- 
 mise himfculti/, 
 
 lyrOW  after  tlie  death  of  Moses  the  servant 
 -'-^  of  the  Lord  it  came  to  pas.s,  that  the  Lord 
 spake  unto  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  Moses' 
 '  minister,  saying, 
 
 2  ''  Moses  my  servant  is  dead  ;  now  therefore 
 arise,  go  over  this  Jordan,  thou,  and  all  this 
 people,  unto  the  land  which  I  do  give  to  them, 
 even  to  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 3  '  Every  place  that  the  sole  of  your  foot 
 shall  tread  upon,  that  have  I  given  unto  you, 
 as  I  said  unto  Moses. 
 
 "4  d  From  the  wilderness  and  this  Lebanon 
 even  unto  the  great  river,  the  river  Euphrates, 
 all  the  land  of  the  Hittites,  and  unto  the  great 
 sea  toward  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  shall  be 
 your  coast. 
 
 5  °  There  shall  not  any  man  be  able  to  stand 
 before  thee  all  the  days  of  thy  life  :  ''as  I  was 
 with  Moses,  so  ^  I  will  be  with  thee  :  "  I  will 
 not  fail  thee,  nor  forsake  tliee. 
 
 6  '  Be  strong  and  of  a  good  courage  :  for 
 II  unto  this  people  shalt  thou  divide  for  an 
 inheritance  the  land,  which  I  sware  unto  their 
 fathers  to  give  them. 
 
 7  Only  be  thou  strong  and  very  courageous, 
 that  thou  mayest  observe  to  do  according  to 
 all  the  law,  '  which  Moses  my  servant  com- 
 manded thee :  '  turn  not  from  it  to  the  right 
 hand  or  to  the  left  that  thou  mayest  ||  prosper 
 
 ,  Ex.  24.  IS. 
 Deu.  1.  38. 
 >  Ueu.  Si.  5. 
 
 cDrii.  n.2-t 
 cb.  U.  9. 
 
 d  Gen, 15  IS 
 Ex.  23.31. 
 Num.  ai.  3, 
 
 c  Reu.  7.  21. 
 /  E<.  3.  12. 
 
 1/  Dea.  31.  8, 
 23.  ver.  9, 
 17   ch.  3  7. 
 &  6.  27.  Is. 
 43.  2,  5. 
 
 /.  Deu.  31.  6, 
 8.  Heb.  13. 
 5. 
 
 i  Dea.  31.  7, 
 23. 
 
 !]  Or,  Mot, 
 ihnit  cnute 
 th  it  people 
 to  inhfrit  the 
 
 k  Num.  27. 
 23.  Oeu.  SI. 
 7.  ch.  11.15. 
 
 I  Deu.  5.  32. 
 &  28.  14. 
 
 II  Or,  do 
 
 Deu*.  29.  9. 
 
 m  Deu.  17. 
 
 19,  19. 
 „  Vs.  I.  S. 
 
 II  Or,  do 
 
 whcltj,  ver, 
 
 7. 
 o  Deu.  31.  7, 
 
 8.2.3. 
 f  Ps.  27.  1. 
 
 Jer.  1.  8. 
 
 7  ch.  3.  a 
 See  Deu 
 1.&  II 
 
 t  Heh.  mot 
 tholtrd  bi/ 
 
 whithersoever  thou  goest. 
 
 8  •"  This  book  of  the  law  shall  not  depart  out 
 of  thy  mouth  ;  but  "  thou  shalt  meditate  therein 
 day  and  night,  that  thou  mayest  observe  to  do 
 according  to  all  that  is  written  therein  :  for 
 tlien  thou  shalt  make  thy  way  prosperous,  and 
 then  thou  shalt  ||  have  good  success. 
 
 9  "  Have  not  I  commanded  thee  ?  Be  strong 
 and  of  a  good  courage  ;  ''  be  not  afraid,  neither 
 be  thou  dismayed  :  for  the  Lord  thy  God  is 
 with  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest. 
 
 10  t  Then  Joshua  commanded  the  officers  of 
 the  people,  saying, 
 
 1 1  Pass  tlirough  the  host,  and  command  the 
 people,  saying.  Prepare  you  victuals ;  for 
 ''  within  three  days  ye  shall  pass  over  this 
 Jordan,  to  go  in  to  possess  the  land,  which 
 the  Lord  your  God  giveth  you  to  possess  it. 
 
 12  IT  And  to  the  Reubenites,  and  to  the  Gad- 
 ites,  and  to  half  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  spake 
 Joshua,  saying, 
 
 13  Remember  '  the  word  which  Moses  the 
 servant  of  the  Lord  commanded  you,  saying. 
 The  Lord  your  God  hath  given  you  rest,  and 
 hath  given  you  this  land. 
 
 14  Your  wives,  your  little  ones,  and  your 
 cattle,  shall  remain  in  the  land  which  Moses 
 gave  you  on  this  side  Jordan  ;  hut  ye  shall 
 pass  before  your  brethren  f  armed,  all  the 
 mighty  men  of  valour,  and  help  them  ; 
 
 15  Until  the  Lord  have  given  your  brethren 
 rest,  as  he  hath  given  you,  and  they  also  have 
 possessed  the  land  which  the  Lord  your  God 
 giveth  them  :  '  then  ye  shall  return  unto  the 
 land  of  your  possession,  and  enjoy  it,  which 
 Moses  the  Lord's  servant  gave  you  on  this 
 side  Jordan  toward  the  sunrising. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  1.  Joshua,  first  called  ynjin,  *Oshea,'  (Num. 
 xiii.  16,,  and  then  yirin\  *  Jehoshua,*  or  'Joshua,'  signifying  'he  sliall 
 save,'  or  '  the  salvation  of  Jchovali,'  {see  Dote  on  Num.  xiii.  16.) — 
 A.  Clarke.  The  Sept.  gives  a  Greek  lermination  to  the  name,  and  calls 
 Joshua  'Jesus,'   (Acts,  vii.  45,  and  Heb.  iv.  8.)  4.  The  wilderness, 
 
 ofZin,  the  southern  boundary.  Letmnon,  the  noTthera.  Euphrates, 
 ultimately,  the  ea-stern.  The  great  sen,  '  IheMediterranean,' the  western. 
 — Wells.  Hittites — these  only  are  mentioned,  being  the  most  formid- 
 able of  the  nations,  (see  Num.  xiii.  33  ;  xiv.  1  ;  2  Kings,  vii,  6.) — Poole. 
 
 10.  Officers,  nniDUJ,  the  same  word  is  used  Dent.  xvi.  18,  and  is  thera 
 evidently  judicial  officers,  but  here,  more  likely,  captains  or  heraliis. 
 
 Gill,  Cc.l.    These  were  sqabordinate  officers,  to  see  the  business  of  the 
 
 (D'TOEi),)  'judges'  carried  into  effect.— Green/.  11.  Victuals,  mS, 
 
 '  provision,' '  prey  taken  from  the  enemy,'  '  food  taken  in  hunting,'  &c. 
 —.4.  Clarke.  The  manna  also  required  preparation  when  kept.— Su«. 
 Within,  'after.'— IFeHs.  'Three  days  hence.'— Boo^c.  '  For  three 
 days'  march.'— Cat.  H.  Artned,   D'lEDn,    'in    military   order.'— 
 
 Poole.    See  note  on  E.vort.  xiii.  13,  where  it  is  rendered  '  harnessed.' 
 
 formance  of  their  sacred  duties,  and  people  value  their  services 
 while  they  are  with  them.  For  in  this  respect  they  may  all 
 say  as  their  great  jMaster,  '  Yet  a  little  while,  and  ye  sliall  see 
 me  no  more.' 
 
 II.  We  ouijht  to  regret  the  loss  of  the  eminent  servants  of  Christ. 
 We  are  under  great  obligations  to  them.  We  lose  their  coun- 
 sels, their  influence,  their  prayers.  They  were  '  the  chariots 
 of  Israel  and  the  horsemen  thereof.'  Their  example  and  sup- 
 plications protected  the  land  and  strengthened  the  church. 
 We  may  say  at  the  departure  of  every  good  man,  but  espe- 
 cially of  an  eminent  minister,  '  Help,  Lord,  for  the  godly  man 
 ceaseth,  for  the  faithful  fail  from  among  the  children  of  men.' 
 
 III.  JFe  must  admire  the  goodness  of  God  in  raising  up  a  sjtc- 
 
 233 
 
 cession  of  useful  ministTs  in  his  church.  Joshua  succeeded 
 INIoses— .a  man  •  full  of  the  spirit  of  wisdom.'  If  one  burning 
 and  shining  light  is  extinguished,  the  Fountain  of  Light,  '  the 
 Father  of  Lights,'  can  kindle  another.  He  thus  shews  us  that 
 he  is  not  dependent  onJnstruments,  and  that  he  can  carry  on 
 his  cause  and  send  by  whom  he  will  send. 
 
 IV.  Let  us  rejoice  that  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  will  never 
 leave  us.  That  the  '  Prophet  like  unto  Moses'  is  with  his 
 church  in  all  ages  ;  that  we  have  among  us  one  whose  doctrine 
 is  '  more  excellent,'  whose  miracles  are  '  more  illustrious,' 
 whose  communion  with  his  Father  is  '  more  intimate,'  and 
 '  who  ever  lives  to  make  intercession  for  us.' 
 
 2h 
 
Rahab  receiveih  two  spies. 
 
 JOSHUA,  II. 
 
 The  eovenant  between  her  und  them. 
 
 16  f  And  they  answered  Joshua,  saying,  AH 
 that  thnii  cominandest  us  we  will  do,  and 
 whitheisoever  thou  sendest  us,  we  will  go. 
 
 17  According  as  we  hearkened  unto  Moses 
 in  all  things,  so  will  we  hearken  unto  thee  : 
 only  the  Lord  thy  God  '  be  with  thee,  as  he 
 was  with  Moses. 
 
 !8  Whosoever  he  be  that  doth  rebel  against 
 thy  commandment,  and  will  not  hearken  unto 
 thy  words  in  all  that  thou  comniandest  him,  he 
 shall  be  put  to  death  :  only  be  strong  and  of  a 
 good  courage. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  Rahab  rcceivcfh  and  concealeth  tiie  two  spies  sent  from 
 
 S/tittim,     8  T/ie  covenant  hetu-ten  tier  and  titnn,    23 
 
 Their  return  and  relation. 
 
 \  ND  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  ||  sent  °  out  of 
 
 -^  Shittim  two  men  to  spy  secretly,  saying. 
 
 Go  view  the  land,  even  Jericho.     And  they 
 
 went,  and  '  came  into  an  harlot's  house,  named 
 
 ■^  Rahab,  and  f  lodged  there. 
 
 2  And  ''  it  was  told  the  king  of  Jericho,  say- 
 ing. Behold,  there  came  men  in  hither  to  night 
 of  the  children  of  Israel  to  search  out  the 
 country. 
 
 3  And  the  king  of  Jericho  sent  unto  Rahab, 
 saying.  Bring  forth  the  men  that  are  come  to 
 thee,  which  are  entered  into  thine  house  :  for 
 they  be  come  to  search  out  all  the  country. 
 
 4  "  And  the  woman  took  the  two  men,  and 
 hid  them,  and  said  thus.  There  came  men  unto 
 me,  but  I  wist  not  whence  they  were  : 
 
 5  And  it  came  to  pass  about  the  time  of 
 shutting  of  the  gate,  when  it  was  dark,  that 
 the  men  went  out :  whither  the  men  went  I 
 wot  not :  pursue  after  them  quickly  ;  for  ye 
 shall  overtake  them. 
 
 6  But  '  she  had  brought  them  up  to  the  roof 
 of  the  house,  and  hid  them  with  the  stalks  of 
 flax,  which  she  had  laid  in  order  upon  the 
 roof. 
 
 7  And  the  men  pursued  after  them  the  way 
 to  Jordan  unto  the  fords :  and  as  soon  as  they 
 which  pursued  after  them  were  gone  out,  they 
 shut  the  gate. 
 
 8  f  And  before  they  were  laid  down,  she 
 came  up  unto  them  upon  the  roof ; 
 
 9  And  she  said  unto  the  men,  I  know  that 
 the  Lord  hath  given  you  the  land,  and  tliat 
 *  your  terror  is  fallen  upon  us,  and  that  all  the 
 inhabitants  of  the  land  \  faint  because  of  you. 
 
 /  vet.  5. 
 I  Sam  SO. 
 13.  I  Kill. 
 1.37. 
 
 II  Or.  had 
 a  Num.25. 1 
 
 S  Hcb.M.SI. 
 
 Jam.  2.  25. 
 c  Mat.  1.  5. 
 t  Heb.  lay. 
 d  Fb.  127.  1. 
 
 ProT.2I.30. 
 
 See  2  Sam. 
 17.  19,  20. 
 
 /Sen  El.  1 
 17.  2  Sara. 
 
 y  Gen- 35.  5. 
 
 Rx.  2,1.  27. 
 
 Deu.  2.  25. 
 
 &  11.25. 
 t  Heb.  mill. 
 
 Ex.  15.  15. 
 
 B.  C.  1451. 
 
 A  E.V.  II  21. 
 
 ch.  4.  23. 
 i  Num.  21. 
 
 84,  *1,  35. 
 
 k  Ex.  15.  It, 
 
 15. 
 (cb.S.  1.  8" 
 
 7.  5.  Is.  13. 
 
 7. 
 t  Heb.  roie 
 
 "P 
 Deu  4-39. 
 
 '1  See  I  Sam- 
 20.  14,  15, 
 
 See  I  Tiir 
 5.8. 
 V  Ter.  18, 
 
 t  Heb.  In- 
 iliud  of  ffiii 
 
 a  Judg.1.24 
 Mat.  b.  7. 
 
 1.  cb.  C.  23. 
 t  Heb.jfa- 
 llter. 
 
 10  For  we  have  heard  )iow  the  Lobd  '■dried 
 up  the  water  of  the  Red  sea  for  you,  when  ye 
 came  out  of  Egypt ;  and  '  what  ye  did  unto 
 the  two  kings  of  the  Amorites,  tliat  teere  on 
 the  other  side  Jordan,  Sihon  and  Og,  whom  ye 
 utterly  destroyed. 
 
 1 1  And  as  soon  as  we  had  ''  heard  these 
 things,  '  our  hearts  did  melt,  neither  f  did  there 
 remain  any  more  courage  in  any  man,  because 
 of  you  :  for  "'  the  Lord  your  God,  he  (s  God 
 in  hearen  above,  and  in  earth  beneath. 
 
 12  Now  therefore,  I  pray  you,  "swear  unto 
 me  by  the  Lord,  since  I  have  shewed  you 
 kiiidnes.s.  that  ye  will  also  shew  kindness  unto 
 °my  father's  house,  and  ''give  me  a  true 
 token  : 
 
 13  And  that  ye  will  save  alive  my  father,  and 
 my  mother,  and  my  brethren,  and  my  sisters, 
 and  all  that  they  have,  and  deliver  our  lives 
 from  death. 
 
 14  And  the  men  answered  her,  Our  life  ffor 
 your's,  if  ye  utter  not  this  our  business.  And 
 it  shall  be,  when  the  Lord  hath  given  us  the 
 land,  that  ''  we  will  deal  kindly  and  truly  with 
 thee. 
 
 15  Then  she  Met  them  down  by  a  cord 
 through  the  window  :  for  her  house  was  upon 
 the  town  wall,  and  she  dwelt  upon  the  wall. 
 
 16  And  she  said  unto  them.  Get  you  to  the 
 mountain,  lest  the  pursuers  meet  yon  ;  and 
 hide  yourselves  there  three  day.s,  until  the  pur- 
 suers be  returned :  and  afterward  may  ye  go 
 your  way. 
 
 17  And  the  men  said  unto  her,  We  tvill  be 
 '  blameless  of  this  thine  oath  which  thou  hast 
 made  us  swear. 
 
 18  '  Behold,  ivhcn  we  come  into  the  land, 
 thou  shalt  bind  this  line  of  scarlet  thread  in 
 the  window  which  thon  didst  let  us  down  by : 
 "and  thou  shalt  f  bring  thy  father,  and  thy 
 mother,  and  tliy  brethren,  and  all  thy  father's 
 houshold,  home  unto  thee. 
 
 19  And  it  shall  be,  thai  whosoever  shall  go 
 out  of  the  doors  of  thy  house  into  the  street, 
 his  blood  shall  be  upon  his  head,  and  we  will 
 be  guiltless  :  and  whosoever  shall  be  with 
 thee  in  the  house,  "  his  blood  shalt  be  on  our 
 head,  if  ani/  hand  be  upon  him. 
 
 20  And  if  thou  utter  this  our  busine.ss,  then 
 we  will  be  quit  of  thine  oath  which  thou  hast 
 made  us  to  swear. 
 
 Chap.  II. —  \.  Sent  out, 'had  sent.^—Poole,  Patrick.  Shittim— the 
 same  with  Abel -Shittim,  in  the  plains  of  Moab,  where  Israel  now  lay 
 encamped,  (Num.  xxxiii.  49) — Gilt.  Secretti/,  'silently.'  —  Poole. 
 Hnrtot,  nan.  nopi-n, '  a  harlot,'  Sept.  A  real  harlot ;  here  they  went 
 for  concealment,— Poo/e.  '  An  inn  or  tavern  keeper.* — Hew.,  A.Clarke. 
 But  in  those  days  these  were  very  loose  persons,  and  hence  had  this 
 name. — Pat.  This  harlot  was,  probably,  a  woman  formerly  of  ill  fame, 
 but  now  reformed.— Hen,  A  converted  harlot. — Scott.  It  was  usual 
 to  name  people  from  what  they  had  been,  (Matt,  x,  3 ;  xxvi,  6,) — 
 Soothe.  Her  subsequent  marriage  and  issue  in  the  line  of  David  indi- 
 cate that  she  was  no  prostitute.—  Sat.  She  was  admitted  into  the  ge- 
 nealogy to  shew  that  Christ  took  the  nature  of  the  greatest  sinners  to 
 become  the  Saviour  of  the  greatest  sinners, — Sir  G.  Rose.  2.  There 
 came  men  in — the  king's  watch  had  obsened  them,  and  judged  their 
 nation  and  business  by  their  appearance,  4.  Took,  ^c.,  '  had  taken,' 
 — Pat.  5.  /  teot  nut — her  motives  were  pure,  but  her  words  were  not 
 true. — Sut.  Dr.  Witlou^hbt/  supposes  Rahab  received  some  express 
 command  to  act  as  she  did,  because  she  is  reckoned  in  the  Hebrews 
 among  the  worthies,  as  acting  in  faith.  This  clears  her  from  treachery 
 to  her  country,  which  is  his  object,  but  still  does  not  justify  the  means 
 
 she  used,  though  it  shews  the  motive,— £:rf,  6,  Stalks  of  flax, 
 yyn  \"11I?D,  'literally,  'flax  of  the  wood,*  'undressed  flax,'— -BdoMr, 
 This  was  laid  on  the  flat  roof  to  dry,  and  formed  a  good  place  of  con- 
 cealment, Harmer  informs  ns,  from  Shaw  and  Hassel'iuist,  that  the 
 roofs  are  used  for  drying  many  things,  7.  The  fords,  of  Jordan,  which 
 accounts  for  the  way  in  which  the  spies  passed  over. — Gill.  Shut  the 
 pate,  of  the  city,  to  keep  in  the  spies  if  there,  or  shut  out  enemies. — 
 Poole.  9.  /  know — she  had  heard  of  the  fate  of  the  Amorites,  and  be- 
 lieved. What  she  did  was  by  faith  (Heb,  xi,  31,)— Et(,  14.  Our  (t/e 
 for  yourM,  riTO"?  DS'nnr  laiTD].  '  our  souls  in  your  stead  to  die,*— Prtg-,, 
 Mont. ;  or,  '  may  we  perish  if  you  be  not  preserved,* — Poole.  15,  Upon 
 the  wall — perhaps  the  wall  formed  one  side  of  her  house,  and  her 
 window  or  loophole — for  such  were  the  windows  of  the  ancient  houses 
 in  Western  Asia — might  have  been  perforated  through  it,  or  the  roof 
 was  above  xK.^Ed.  16,  The  mot/Ti^im— probably  Quarantania;  to  it 
 joins  the  mountain  of  Adummira,  and  through  it  is  the  road  cut  that 
 leads  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho, — Shaw.  18.  Line,  '  cord,*  or  '  rope.* 
 A  line  twisted  with  various  scarlet  threads.- A'imc/.i.  Perhaps  a  piece 
 of  scarlet  cloth. — A.  Clarke.  Line  of  scarlet  thread,  •  scarlet  coloured 
 rope,* — Boothr, 
 
 REFLECTIONS  ON  Chap.  I I,    God  has  given  Ins  people  a 
 
 glorious  inheritance.     We  now  look  not  for  an  earthly  Canaan, 
 but  a  heavenly. 
 
 II.   n'e  must  contend  for  this  inheritance.     It  is  not  to  be  had 
 without  a  struggle.     '  Fight  the  good  light  of  faith,'  that  ye 
 may  '  lay  hold  on  eternal  life.' 
 234 
 
 III.  We  must  follow  Jesus  as  our  leader,  and  implicitly  submit 
 to  all  his  commainls.  lie  is  no  soldier  who  flinches  in  the  day 
 of  battle.  In  this  conflict  the  most  timid  may  encourage  him- 
 self in  the  Lord  his  dod,  but  '  the  fearful  and  unbelieving' 
 must  look  for  their  awful  doom. 
 
Joshua  comet/i  to  Jordan. 
 
 JOSHUA,  III. 
 
 He  encourageth  the  people. 
 
 21  And  she  said,  According  unto  yonr  words, 
 so  be  it.  And  she  sent  them  away,  and  they 
 departed  :  and  she  bound  the  scarlet  hjie  in 
 the  window. 
 
 '22  And  they  went,  and  came  unto  the  moun- 
 tain, and  abode  there  three  days,  until  the  pur- 
 suers were  returned  :  and  the  pursuers  sought 
 the7n  throughout  all  the  way,  but  found  them 
 not. 
 
 23  t  So  the  two  men  returned,  and  descended 
 from  the  mountain,  and  passed  over,  and  came 
 to  Josluia  the  son  of  Nun,  and  told  him  all 
 ihinr/s  that  befel  them  : 
 
 24  And  they  said  unto  Joshua,  Truly  '  the 
 Lord  hath  delivered  into  our  liands  all  the 
 land  ;  for  even  all  tlie  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
 try do  t  faint  because  of  us. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  Joshua  Cometh  to  Jordan.  2  The  officers  instruct 
 the  people  for  the  passage.  7  The  Lord  etieourapeth 
 .hshua.  9  Joshua  eucourageth  the  people.  14  The 
 waters  of  Jordan  are  divided. 
 
 A  ND  Joshua  rose  early  in  the  morning  ;  and 
 -^^  they  removed  °  from  Shittim,  and  came  to 
 Jordan,  he  and  all  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
 lodged  there  before  they  passed  over. 
 
 2  And  it  came  to  pass  ''  after  three  days,  that 
 the  officers  went  through  the  host ; 
 
 3  And  they  commanded  the  people,  saying, 
 ■^  When  ye  see  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the 
 Lord  your  God,  ''  and  the  priests  the  Levites 
 bearing  it,   then  ye  shall  remove  from  you 
 place,  and  go  after  it. 
 
 4  °  Yet  there  shall  be  a  space  between  you 
 and  it,  about  two  thousand  cubits  by  measure  : 
 come  not  near  unto  it,  that  ye  may  know  the 
 way  by  which  ye  must  go  :  for  ye  have  not 
 passed  this  way  f  heretofore. 
 
 5  And  Joshua  said  unto  the  people, '  Sanctify 
 yourselves :  for  to  morrow  the  Lord  will  do 
 wonders  among  you. 
 
 6  And  Joshua  spake  unto  the  priests,  saying, 
 ^  Take  up  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  and  pass 
 
 »Ex. 23,31. 
 ill    6.2.  & 
 
 t  Hell.  mell. 
 
 h  ch   ♦.  U. 
 
 I  Clir  ■,'9. 
 
 £3.  -^Clir.l. 
 
 1. 
 ■  ch.  1.  D. 
 k  ver.  3. 
 
 icii.i.io,n. 
 
 c  See  Num 
 
 111.  ,SJ. 
 d  I><.'U   31. 
 
 0,  S5. 
 
 •  E».  19.  K. 
 
 I  Heh.  linca 
 ijfsleTtiiitf, 
 and  the  third 
 d->l 
 /Kx.  19.  10, 
 14,  15. 
 Lev.  ■lit   7, 
 Num.1 1.18. 
 oh.  7.  1.1. 
 l.S^uu   ir,.5 
 Joel  -2.   16, 
 g  Num  .1.15. 
 
 TU  Deu.  5  26. 
 
 1  Saul.  17. 
 
 •J6.  a  Kin. 
 
 VJ.  i.  Hos, 
 
 1.  10,  Mat. 
 
 16,  16. 
 
 1  Thes,  1.9. 
 n  En.  S3.  2. 
 
 Deut.  7,  I. 
 
 Ps,  44.  2. 
 o  vei-.  13. 
 
 Mic.  4.  13, 
 
 Zech.  4.  14, 
 
 &e.i. 
 
 p  ch.  4.  2. 
 
 9  ver.  15,  16. 
 
 i  Ps,  7rt,  1.1. 
 &  114,  3. 
 
 r  1  Chr.  12. 
 
 15   .ler.  12. 
 
 5.  &  fO.  19. 
 
 tlcchis.  24. 
 
 26. 
 vch,  4.  18.  & 
 
 5.  1(1,  12. 
 
 over  before  the  people.  And  they  took  up 
 the  ark  of  the  covenant,  and  went  before  the 
 people. 
 
 7  1[  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Joshua,  This 
 day  will  I  begin  to  "  magnify  thee  in  the  sight 
 of  all  Israel,  that  they  may  know  that,  '  as  I 
 was  with  Moses,  so  I  will  be  with  thee. 
 
 8  And  thou  shalt  command  '  the  priests  that 
 bear  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  saying.  When  ye 
 are  come  to  the  brink  of  the  water  of  Jordan, 
 '  ye  shall  stand  still  in  Jordan. 
 
 9  II  And  Joshua  said  unto  the  children  of  Ls- 
 rael.  Come  hither,  and  hear  the  words  of  the 
 Lord  your  God. 
 
 10  And  Joshua  said.  Hereby  ye  shall  know 
 that  ■"  the  living  God  is  among  you,  and  that 
 he  will  without  fail  "  drive  out  from  before  you 
 the  Canaanites,  and  the  Hittitcs,  and  the  Hi- 
 vites,  and  the  Perizzites,  and  the  Girgashites, 
 and  the  Amorites,  and  the  Jebusites. 
 
 1 1  Behold,  tlie  ark  of  the  covenant  of  °  the 
 Lord  of  all  tlie  earth  passeth  over  before  you 
 into  Jordan. 
 
 12  Now  therefore  ■"  take  you  twelve  men  out 
 of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  out  of  every  tribe  a 
 man. 
 
 13  And  it  shall  come  to  pass, '■  as  soon  as  the 
 soles  of  the  feet  of  the  priests  that  bear  the  ark 
 of  the  Lord,  '  the  Lord  of  all  the  earth,  shall 
 rest  in  the  waters  of  Jordan,  that  the  waters  of 
 Jordan  shall  be  cut  off  from  the  waters  that 
 come  down  from  above  ;  and  they  'shall  stand 
 upon  an  heap. 
 
 14  1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  people 
 removed  from  their  tents,  to  pass  over  Jordan, 
 and  the  priests  bearing  the  '  ark  of  the  cove- 
 nant before  the  people  ; 
 
 15  And  as  they  that  bare  the  ark  were  come 
 unto  Jordan,  and  "  the  feet  of  the  priests  that 
 bare  the  ark  were  dipped  in  the  brim  of  the 
 water,  (for  '  Jordan  overfloweth  all  his  banks 
 '  all  the  time  of  harvest,) 
 
 16  That  the  waters  which  came  down  from 
 above  stood  and  rose  up  upon  an  heap  very 
 
 Chap.  III.  —  1.  Kitrly  in  the  morninf; — the  morning  after  the  spies 
 hail  returned. — Gill.  Not  after  the  return  of  the  spies,  as  may  seem  at 
 first  view,  but  after  the  three  days  as  follows,  ver.  2.  The  next  morn* 
 ing:  after  he  had  commanded  the  officers  to  warn  the  host.  Ctime  to 
 Jorditn,  about  seven  miles. — Pat.  3.  Then  ye  sltiill  remove — their 
 usual  signal  for  marching  was  the  cloud,  when  that  was  taken  up, 
 {Num.  i.\.  17,  ^'C. ;)  but  now  the  ark,  the  clouds  of  glory  having  been 
 removed  at  Ilie  death  of  Moses,  and  were  seen  no  more,  as  Al/arhinel 
 and  other  Jewish  writers  observe;  and  therefore  it  was  proper  the 
 Israelites  should  be  made  acquainted  with  this  signal. — Gill.  4.  A 
 space,  because  of  the  majesty  of  Go\i.~~Sut.  Two  thousand  cubits — 
 about  three.qiiarters  of  a  mile. — Scott.  The  river  was  dry  for  many 
 miles  below  where  the  priests  entered. — A.  Clarke.  5.  Joshua  said, 
 '  hail  said.'  8.  aland  still,  till  the  river  was  divided. — Poole.  1 1 .  Be- 
 hold— some  observe  an  accent  in  the  original,  and  infer  it  shotdd  be 
 rendered  more  emphatically, '  Behold  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  even  the 
 
 ark  of  the  Lord,'  or  '  even  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  of  all  the  earth.' — 
 Hen.  Jordan,  rather,  *  the  Jordan,' being  a  river. — Hew.  13.  The 
 wafers  of  Jordan — the  river,  near  the  place  where  the  Israelites  passed, 
 was  a  rapid  stream;  its  depth  is  from  five  to  six  feet,  and  its  breadth 
 about  twenty  yards. — Sut.  The  Israelites  passed  it  when  at  the 
 highest,  and  when  it  might  be  sixty  yards  broad,  and  its  water  much 
 more  impetuous. — Boothr.  15.  Overfloweth — the  snows  melted  at 
 barley  harvest,  and  the  waters  descending  from  Lebanon  and  the 
 neighbouring  mountains  mingled  with  the  springs  of  Jordan. — Pat. 
 This  extraordinary  overflow  was  tlie  probable  reason  why  the  passage 
 was  not  disputed  by  the  Canaanites. — Expos.  Index.  It  seems  to  have 
 taken  place  just  hi  for?  Israel  were  to  pass  over  it,  which  served  to 
 render  the  miracle  more  iiicontestible  and  stupendous.  —  Scott. 
 l6.  Upon  an  heap — the  waters  below  Israel  ran  off  towards  the  Salt  Sea, 
 leaving  the  channel  dry  for  several  miles,  while  those  above  accumu- 
 lated and  stood  like  mountains,  very  far  backward  towards  the  sea  of 
 
 Reflectiohson  Chap.  II.  —  On  the  subjects  in  this  chap- 
 ter Bishop  Hall  has  the  following  striking  remarks  : — I.  '  /(  is 
 a  great  advantage  to  a  Cliristian  to  know  the  fashion  of  Stitan*s 
 onsets,  that  he  may  the  more  easily  compose  himself  to  resist. 
 Many  a  soul  huth  miscarried  through  the  ignorance  of  his 
 enemy,  which  hail  not  perished  if  it  had  been  well  known  that 
 tlie  weakness  of  Satan  stands  in  our  faith. 
 
 II.  '  The  nuretf  of  our  God  doth  not  measure  vs  by  what  we 
 wne.  It  would  be  wide  with  the  best  of  us,  if  the  eye  of  God 
 should  look  backward  to  our  former  estate  ;  tiiere  he  should 
 see  Abraliam,  an  idolater;  Paul,  a  persecutor;  Manasses,  a 
 necromancer  ;  Mary  Magdalen,  a  courtezan  ;  and  the  best  vile 
 enough  to  be  ashamed  of  himself.  Who  can  despair  of  mercy, 
 that  sees  even  Rahab  fetched  into  the  blood  of  Israel  and  line 
 of  (!hrist  1 
 
 III.  ^  Either  faith  or  friendship  are  never  tried  hut  in  extremities. 
 To  shew  countenance  to  the  messengers  of  GotI,  while  the 
 public  face  of  the  state  smiles  upon  us,  is  but  a  courtesy  of 
 
 23j 
 
 course  ;  but  to  hide  our  own  lives  in  theirs,  wheu  they  are 
 persecuted,  is  an  act  that  looks  for  a  reward. 
 
 IV.  'It  had  been  an  ill  nature  in  Ita/iab  if  she  had  been  contint 
 to  be  saced  alone  ;  that  her  love  might  be  a  match  to  her  faith, 
 she  covenants  for  all  her  family,  and  so  returns  life  to  those 
 from  whom  she  received  it.  liui  the  bond  of  nature  and  of 
 grace  will  draw  all  ours  to  the  participation  of  the  same  good 
 with  ourselves. 
 
 V.  '  .411  Rahab's  family  must  be  gathered  into  her  house,  and 
 that  red  cord  which  was  an  instrument  of  their  delivery  must  be  a 
 sign  of  furs.  Behold,  this  is  the  saving  colour.  The  destroy- 
 ing angel  sees  the  door-posts  of  the  Israelites  sprinkled  with 
 red,  and  oasses  lliem  over.  The  warriors  of  Israel  see  the 
 window  of  Uahab  tied  with  red,  and  save  her  family  from  the 
 common  destruction.  If  our  souls  have  this  tincture  of  the 
 precious  blood  of  our  Saviour,  upon  our  doors  or  windows,  we 
 are  safe.' 
 
Twelve  stones  of  Jordan  for  amemorial.  JOSHUA,  IV- 
 
 The  people  pass  over. 
 
 far  froii.  the  city  Adam,  tha    ^s  bf  de     Za.e 
 tan  :  and  tliose  that  came  down     tova  d    he 
 sea  of  the  plam,  even  "  the  salt  sea,  faded,  and 
 wre  cut  otf :  and  the  people  passed  over  right 
 
 Iflnd^the  "priests  that  bare  the  ark  of  the 
 covenant  of  thl  Lokd  stood  firm  -fry  ground  ^^^^  ^  ^^ 
 in  the  midst  of  Jordan, '  and  al    t  <=  J^^^^'''^^    ^u 
 passed  over  on  dry  ground,  nntd  all  the  people 
 were  passed  clean  over  Jordan. 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I    T,r.tr.-  mm  are  appointed  to  take  twdve  stones  for  a 
 
 1    ^"'■'"'.  ™™'   ,  ,';',  a   Tu-dve  oth,r  Mums  are 
 
 memorial  out  oj  Joraan.     »    -'"'"  rp,     ,,,,„,,;„ 
 
 „.,  u,,  in  the  mi,lst  of  JorJan      lOlJ   T^'^'P^f^ 
 pass   over.       U    God   maynlfifh   Joshua.       20    Ihe 
 twdoe  stones  are  pitched  in  Clival. 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  all  tl>e  People 
 
 A  „ere  clean  passed  "over  Jordan,  that  the 
 
 LoKD  spake  unto  Joshua,  saymg, 
 
 2  "  Take  you  twelve  n.en  out  of  the  people, 
 out  of  every  tribe  a  man,  .  - 
 
 3  And  command  ye  them  saymg,  T«keyon 
 hence  out  of  the  midst  of  Jordan    out  of  the 
 
 lace  where  '^  the  priests'  feet  stood  hrm,  welve 
 stones,  and  ye  shall  carry  them  over  w,th  you, 
 and  leave  them  in  ^  the  lodging  place,  where 
 ve  shall  lodge  this  night. 
 ^l  Then  Joshua  called  the  twelve  men,  whom 
 he  had  prepared  of  the  children  of  Israel,  out 
 of  every  tribe  a  man  : 
 5  And  Joshua  said  unto  them.  Pass  over  be 
 fore  the  ark  of  the  Lord  your  God  mto  the 
 n  dst  of  Jordan,  and  take  you  up  every  man  o 
 you  a  stone  upon  his  shoulder,  according  unto 
 [he  number  of  the   tribes  of  the  chddren  of 
 
 TThat  this  may  be  a  sign  among  y""-  (''"' 
 ^when  your  children  a.sk  their  fathers  Un 
 time  to  come,  saying.  What  ,nean  ye  by  these 
 
 stones?  ,  rr,,    ,    f  ,1  p 
 
 7  Then  ye  shall  answer  them,  I  hat  tlie 
 waters  of  Jordan  were  cut  off  belore  the  ark  o 
 The  covenant  of  the  Lord  ;  when  .t  passed 
 over  Jordan,  the  waters  of  Jordan  were  cut  off 
 and  these  stones  shall  be  for  ^  a  memonal  unto 
 the  children  of  Israel  for  ever. 
 
 8  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  so  as  Joshua 
 
 I  h  Num.  S3. 
 1     20.27,26 
 
 rl  ver.  19,  SO. 
 
 a  Ex.  12.  M. 
 
 Num. 16,10. 
 
 Tibenas,  withoia  inundating  the  adjacent  c^ntry^^^^^^^ 
 stopped  their  current,  and  as  the  <le\«""'"6:  *»  _,.,„s.-GiH.  We 
 they  rose  up  on  high,  and  "'^'■'\ZlTLmc  a  nTounU  n,  but  they 
 need  not  suppose  them  to  be  gathered  up  1*^  »  -^"JV^  ^.^.■  ^  „ew 
 flowed  back  towards  the.r  source,  "','',,'^' P™ent  Kround,  over  which 
 direction  to  the  current,  they  covered  the  adjacent  gro^^^  ,^^  ^^^  ^^^^ 
 
 T^^^^f^^T^x^  ^?ji?;srSot-to 
 
 rttr.he"";^ecLrc^aSnV\foLv^lSyjSl^^^ 
 
 R.rLECT.oNS  ON  Chap  III. -We  shaU  l>ere  pursue^  tb« 
 r^floclions  of  Henry  :— I.  The  people  are  directed  to  pLiow  ine 
 «r*  While  we  arl  here,  we  must  expect  and  P-py  tor  un- 
 "Lx  elents,  to  pass  ways  that  we  have  "of,  P»t='-f^^f  J ' 
 and  much  more  when  we  go  bence-our  "•■» V'''""S° '° Vef„re 
 of  the  shadow  of  death  >s  a  way  we  f^^..™'  sone  be^oje, 
 which  makes  it  the  more  formidable.  But  >' ^^  have  the  as 
 surauce  of  God's  presence,  we  need  not  fear ;  that  will  mraisn 
 us  wUh  such  strength  as  we  never  had,  when  we  come  to  do  a 
 
 work  we  never  did.  Cao  tvhTt  nrp 
 
 II.   They  are  coimnanded  to  sanctify  themseves.     See  " '."t  P^« 
 
 parations  we  must  make  to  receive  the  discoveries  of  God  s 
 
 nlory,  and  the  commuincations  of  his  grace. 
 
 III  The  priests  with  the  ark  are  ordered  to  lead  the  van.  Wi- 
 ,„ste.s  mu»t  learn  to  go  belore  in  the  w-ay  of  God,  and  not  to 
 shrink  or  draw  back  when  dangers  are  before  them. 
 
 IV  Joshua  is  maynified  and  made  commander  in  clliej.  home 
 baye'observed  that  it  was  at  the  banks  ot  Jordan  that  God 
 bec^n  to  magnify  Joshua,  and  at  the  same  place  he  began  to 
 matiiify  "ur  Lord  Jesus  as  Mediator  ;  for  John  was  bn,,ti2iing 
 
 •i3(j 
 
 commanded,  and  took  up  twelve  stones  out  of 
 the  midst  of  Jordan,  as  the  Lord  spake  tinto 
 Joshua,  according  to  the  number  of  the  Uibes 
 of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  carried  them  over 
 with  tliem  unto  the  place  where  they  lodged, 
 and  laid  them  down  there.  . 
 
 9  And  Joshua  set  up  twelve  .stones  in  the 
 midst  of  Jordan,  in  the  place  where  the  feet  of 
 the  priests  which  bare  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
 stood  :  and  they  are  there  niito  this  day. 
 
 10  t  For  the  priests  which  bare  tne  ark  stooa 
 in  the  midst  of  Jordan,  until  every  thing  was 
 tinished  that  the  Lord  commanded  Joshua  to 
 speak  unto  the  people,  according  to  all  that 
 Moses  commanded  Joshua:  and  the  people 
 hasted  and  passed  over. 
 
 1 1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  all  the  people 
 were  clean  passed  over,  that  the  ark  of  the 
 
 ILord  passed  over,  and  the  priests,  m  the  pre- 
 sence of  the  people.  „„  ,  ,  ,v„ 
 l'>  And  '-  the  children  of  Reuben,  and  the 
 chndron  of  Gad,  and  half  the  tribe  of  Manasseh, 
 passed  over  armed  before  the  children  of  Israel, 
 as  Mo.ses  spake  unto  them  : 
 
 13  About  forty  thousand  ||  prepared  for  war 
 passed  over  before  the  Lord  unto  battle,  to 
 the  plains  of  Jericho.  ...    ,  ,     , 
 
 14  1  On  that  day  the  Lord  'magnihed  Joshua 
 in  the  sight  of  all  Israel ;  and  they  feared  him, 
 as  they  feared  Moses,  all  the  days  ot  Ins  hie. 
 
 15  And  the  Loan  spake  unto  Joshua,  saymg, 
 IG  Command  tlie  priests  that  bear  ■■  the  ark 
 
 of  the   testimony,  that  they  come  up  out  o! 
 
 Jordan.  ,    ,    ,         .     ,„ 
 
 1 7  Joshua  therefore  commanded  the  priests, 
 sayhig.  Come  ye  up  out  of  Jordan. 
 1  18  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  priests  that 
 bare  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  were 
 'come  up  out  of  tlie  midst  of  Jordan,  and  the 
 soles  of  the  priests'  feet  were  t  lifted  "P  """; 
 the  dry  land,  that  tlie  waters  of  Jordan  returned 
 unto  their  place,  'and  f flowed  over  all  Ins 
 banks,  as  Ihiy  did  before. 
 
 I'J  1  And  the  people  came  up  out  ot  Jc^rtiau 
 on  the  tenth  dai/  of  the  first  month,  and  en- 
 camped   "'in   Gilgal,    in    the   east   border   ot 
 I  Jericho. 
 of  at      Dr  a„r*,.  does  not  think  that  any  agent  was  here  employed, 
 
 wis  ttfteen  furlongs  from  Jordan,  ab.ut  six  miles  9;.^^ ^^PJ]^^] 
 
 -bin^J^^u^^sthey'^^^hr^flir^^-bS^.ced  ,,.f  ■  a  base 
 of  strong  stonework.'        19.  G./^..i-see  note  on  chap.  v.  9. 
 
 by  us  for  the  encouragement  of  our  faith  and  hope  tor  the 
 
 '^"v?' Jordan  is  divided,  and  Isra.l  brought  safely  through  it 
 Tboigh  tht  oppofuion    iven  to  the  -Iv^-'O'-  o.  God  s  peop  e 
 
 ir-e  th:^b::;!;::  :?xs  v^i^dlcrr  b?i^!V^  £i 
 
 low  ;  it  is  all  one  with  the  l.ord.     W  hen  we  h.i  "  ""> 
 pilgHmage  through   this  "■''^'■'■"'^^VA.  '  ,in  'but\  le  ark  of 
 lordan,  between  us  and  the  ''e^'^'y,*-''"'""; .  ;,  : '  h,"  last 
 the  covenant  has  prepared  us  a  way  through  it ,  u  is  the  last 
 enemy  thai  shall  he  destroyed. 
 
 t  H''- 
 
 ptuulua  up. 
 
 t  ch.  3.  15. 
 t  Hcb.  uenl 
 
 m  cli.  5.  9 
 
The  twelve  stones  aj-e  pitched  in  Gilgal, 
 
 JOSHUA,  V. 
 
 Joshua  reneweth  circumcision. 
 
 20  And  "  those  twelve  stones,  which  they 
 took  out  of  Jordan,  did  Joshua  pitch  in  Gilgal. 
 
 21  And  he  spake  unto  the  children  of  Israel, 
 saying,  "  When  your  children  shall  ask  their 
 fathers  fin  time  to  come,  saying,  What  mca  ft 
 these  stones? 
 
 22  Then  ye  shall  let  your  children  know, 
 saying,  ^  Israel  came  over  this  Jordan  on  dry 
 land. 
 
 23  For  the  Lord  your  God  dried  up  the 
 waters  of  Jordan  from  before  you,  until  ye 
 were  passed  over,  as  the  Lord  your  God  did 
 to  the  Red  sea,  **  which  he  dried  up  from  be- 
 fore us,  until  we  were  gone  over : 
 
 24  ^  That  all  the  people  of  the  earth  might 
 know  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  that  it  is  ^mighty  : 
 that  ye  might  ^  fear  the  Lord  your  God  ffo'' 
 ever. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  The  Canaanites  are  afraid.  2  Joshua  rensweth  c'tr- 
 cumcfsion.  10  T/te  passnver  is  kfj>f  at  Gilful. 
 V2  Manna  cetiscth.  10  An  uni/d  appeareth  to 
 JosJnta. 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  all  the  kings  of 
 •^*-  the  Amorites,  which  icere  on  the  side  of 
 Jordan  westward,  and  all  the  kings  of  the  Ca- 
 naanites, °  wiiich  were  by  the  sea,  *■  heard  that 
 the  Lord  had  dried  up  the  waters  of  Jordan 
 from  before  the  children  of  Israel,  until  we 
 were  passed  over,  that  tlieir  heart  melted, 
 "  neither  was  there  spirit  in  them  any  more, 
 because  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 2  t  At  that  time  the  Lord  said  unto  Joshua, 
 Make  thee  || '' sharp  knives,  and  circumcise 
 au;ain  tlie  children  of  Israel  the  second  time. 
 
 8  And  Joshua  made  him  sharp  knives,  and, 
 circumcised  the  children  of  Israel  at  ||  the  hill 
 of  the  foreskins. 
 
 4  And  this  is  the  cause  why  Joshua  did  cir- 
 
 B.  C.  1451. 
 '.  ver.  S. 
 
 t  Heh.  to 
 morrow. 
 
 I  Ex    U,  21 
 
 F  I  Kin.  8. 
 li.  « 
 ?  Kiu.  19. 
 I''.  I's,  1U6 
 
 s. 
 
 i  Ex. 1ft.  m. 
 
 ICIir -^9  Vi. 
 
 Pb.  SS.  1.1. 
 /  Bx     14.  31. 
 
 Derit.  I).  2. 
 
 I'a-  bft.  7. 
 
 Jlt.  It).  7. 
 \  Heb.  all 
 
 dny». 
 
 •I  Nu.  13.  29. 
 
 6  Kx,  15.  14. 
 15   ch   2.  9, 
 lt»,  II.  Ps 
 ■13.6   Ez€k. 
 21.  7. 
 
 c  I  Kin.  10. 
 5. 
 
 II  Or,  knii-et 
 
 •.fftintt 
 d  Ex.  4.25. 
 
 llOr.G.'TrtJ 
 haiiralolh. 
 
 !Nu.  U-  29. 
 &  '2fi  64,  fi5- 
 Ueu.  2.  16. 
 
 /■Nu.  IV.  S3 
 Deu.  I  3.& 
 2.  7,  14. 
 Ps.  95.  10. 
 
 ^Na.  H.  23. 
 Pa.  95.  II. 
 Heb.  3.  11, 
 
 't  Ex.  3.  8. 
 
 iNu.  14.  31. 
 Deut.  1.  39 
 
 ■f  Heb.  tolien 
 the  jifupU 
 
 end  to  be 
 cif'imri'fd. 
 k  See  Gea. 
 
 3-1.  a-'i. 
 
 (Gen,3l.  14. 
 
 I  Sani.U-t). 
 
 .SeeL.-v.l3. 
 
 3  ch,'21.  II. 
 
 F,7ek.2-i  7. 
 
 &  Ti  .-J,  S. 
 
 I  M.IC.4.5S. 
 II  Tliat  ia, 
 
 meh.  4.  19. 
 n  F.X  12.  6. 
 Num.  9.  5. 
 
 cumcise  :  ^  All  the  people  that  came  out  n^ 
 Egypt,  that  ivere  males,  even  all  tlie  men  of 
 war,  died  in  the  wilderness  by  the  way,  after 
 they  came  out  of  Egypt. 
 
 5  Now  all  the  people  that  came  out  were 
 circumcised  :  but  all  the  people  that  were 
 born  in  the  wilderness  by  the  way  ;is  they 
 came  forth  out  of  Egypt,  them  they  had  not 
 circumcised. 
 
 6  For  the  children  of  Israel  walked  ^ forty 
 years  in  the  wilderness,  till  all  the  people  that 
 were  men  of  war,  which  came  out  of  Egypt, 
 were  consumed,  because  they  obeyed  not  the 
 voice  of  the  Lord  :  unto  whom  the  Lord 
 sware  that  ^he  would  not  shew  them  the  land, 
 which  the  Lord  sware  unto  their  fathers  that 
 he  would  give  us,  ^  a  land  that  floweth  with 
 milk  and  honey. 
 
 7  And  '  their  children,  whom  he  raised  up  in 
 their  stead,  them  Joshua  circumci.sed  :  for  they 
 were  uncircumcised,  because  they  had  not  cir- 
 cumcised them  by  the  way. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass,  f  when  they  had  done 
 circumcising  all  the  people,  that  they  abode  in 
 their  places  in  the  camp,  ''  till  they  were  whole. 
 
 9  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Joshua,  This  day 
 have  I  rolled  away  '  the  reproach  of  Egypt 
 from  oft*  you.  Wherefore  the  name  of  the 
 place  is  called  ||  "'  Gilgal  unto  this  day, 
 
 10  \  And  the  children  of  Israel  encamped  in 
 Gilgal,  and  kept  the  passover  "  on  the  four- 
 teenth day  of  the  month  at  even  in  the  plains 
 of  Jericho. 
 
 1 1  And  they  did  eat  of  the  old  corn  of  the 
 land  on  the  morrow  after  the  passover,  un- 
 leavened cakes,  and  parched  corn  in  the  self- 
 same day. 
 
 12  If  And  '^  the  manna  ceased  on  the  morrow 
 after  they  had  eaten  of  the  old  corn  of  the 
 land  ;  neither  had  the  children  of  Israel  manna 
 
 24.  Of  the  earth,  y^nn.  'of  this  land,'  that  is.  of  the  land  of  Canaan. — 
 Wit.  ' 
 
 Chap.V.  —  1.  Amorite — ivestward — to  distinguish  them  from  those 
 eastward,  whom  Moses  had  subdued. — Poute.  These  might  be  the  re- 
 mains of  those  on  the  east. — A.  Clarke.  Hiese  seem  put  for  other  na- 
 tions, beine:  a  principal  nation  and  very  powerful,  {Amos,  ii.  9.) — Gill. 
 1.  Sharp  knires,  Qn;j  mnrr,  '  sharp  stones,'  or  '  fliuts,'  serving  for 
 knives. — Par.  Knives  of  stone. — Mont.,  Pise.  The  Egyptians  used 
 such  knives  for  embalming. — Herod.  The  second  time — not  that  these 
 had  been  circumcised  before,  but  this  was  a  second  circumcision  of  the 
 people  as  a  body  ;  the  other  liaving  occurred  either  in  Egypt  or  at 
 Sinai,  before  they  took  the  Passover,  of  which  no  uncircumcised  person 
 might  eat,  (Exod.  xii,  48.) — Puole.  3.  The  hill  of  the  foreskins — so 
 
 called  from  the  rite  of  circumcision  being  performed  there. — Hew. 
 Perhaps  the  spot  was  an  elevated  one. — Ed.  ",  Thei/had  not  circum- 
 cised Mem— the  reasons  assigned  are.  (i.)  It  was  not  necessary  to  dis- 
 tinguish them  when  separated  in  the  wilderness,  (ii.)  As  circumcision 
 had  a  reference  to  the  promised  possession,  it  was  not  thought  neces- 
 sary till  they  entered  upon  it.  (iii.)  God  favourably  dispensed  with  its 
 omission  on  account  of  the  people's  unsettled  state.  Of  this  opinion  is 
 Gill.  But  this  is  not  satisfactory,  as  they  stopped  occasionally  a  year 
 in  a  place,  and  even  more  time,  (Num.  ix.  22  ;)  therefore,  fiv.)  It  seems 
 to  have  been  a  continued  token  of  God's  displeasure  for  their  unbelief 
 and  murmuring.  Hence  the  parents  weie  not  allowed  to  circumcise 
 their  children,  intimated  in  Num.  xiv.  33,  'Your  children  shall  bear 
 your  whoredoms.' — Hen.  To  this  latter  reason  Gill  object-i,  *  it  was 
 not  probable  that  God  should  prohibit  the  oliservance  of  a  command  on 
 account  of  the  people's  disobedience.'        8.  When  they  had  done — as 
 
 circumcision  might  be  performed  by  any  one,  the  whole  might  soon  be 
 completed. — Scott.  Till  they  were  whole — this  was  au  act  of  great 
 faith  on  the  part  of  Joshua,  and  shewed  a  right  spirit  of  obedience  and 
 trust  in  God  on  the  part  of  the  people,  since  the  rite  must,  without 
 Divine  protection,  have  left  them  a  prey,  if  known,  to  their  enemies,  as 
 in  the  case  of  the  Shechemitcs.— £d.  9.  Rolled  awut/—Gilgal~the 
 literal  meaning  of  Gilgal  being  '  rolling.'— C«/.  The  idea  seems  to  be 
 that  a  heavy  load  of  disgrace  attached  to  them  while  the  ordinance  was 
 neglected,  and  now  that  which  was  even  too  heavy  to  be  lifted  off  was 
 completely  rolled  away. — Ed.  The  reproach  of  Egypt — being  uncir- 
 cumcised, like  the  Egyptians, — Shuckf.,  Wells,  A.  Clarke.  The  re- 
 proach  of  their  Egyptian  bondage  and  idolatrous  customs, — Gill,  Scott ; 
 and  so  being  declared  a  free  people  by  receiving  the  mark  of  the  seed  of 
 Abraham,  and  heirs  of  the  promised  land. — Spencer.  Some  think  the 
 reproach  justly  deserved  for  longing  to  go  back  to  Egypt  is  intended  , 
 others  suppose  that  the  Egyptians  reproached  tlic  Israelites  for  neglect- 
 ing to  practise  what  they  enforced  on  others,  and  that  for  the  neglect 
 of  which  they  despised  others;  others,  that  the  Israelites  were  re- 
 proached l>y  the  Egyptians  with  dwelling  so  long  in  the  wilderness, 
 vainly  hoping  for  the  promised  land  ;  others,  that  the  Israelites  were 
 reproached  with  being  Egyptians,  having,  like  them,  neglected  a  rite 
 adopted  by  all  the  neighbourinjr  nations,  which  were  the  children  of 
 Abraham  by  his  concubines,  and  that  hence  they  were  taken  tor  a  sort 
 of  Egyptians,  (Num.  .x.sii.  5.)  10.  K^pf  the  passofer,  which  was  the 
 
 third  ;  1,  in  Egypt,  (Exod.  xii. ;)  2,  at  Mount  Sinai,  (Num.  ix. ;)  3,  here. 
 ^Poiile.  For  this  the  circumcision  was  preparatory. — Scott.  11.  Of 
 the  old  rorn,  which  the  inhabitants  left  in  their  bams,  having  tied  to 
 their  cities.      And  parched  coi-n — that  year's  corn,  which  was  mot 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV. —I.  We  ounht  gratefully  to 
 remember  the  interpositions  of  God  in  our  behalf.  They  are  too 
 apt  to  slip  out  of  our  memories.  In  how  many  instances  might 
 we  set  up  our  memorials  !  Interpositions  of  providence  and 
 grace  have  continually  been  displayed  towards  us.  They  have 
 not,  indeed,  come  in  the  forms  of  miracles,  and  therefore  they 
 have  too  often  passed  unnoticed,  or  made  but  a  transient  im- 
 pression. We  may  sometimes  profitably  ponder  over  these. 
 Let  faithful  memory  be  called  to  our  aid.  The  seasonable 
 supplies  of  God's  bounties,  singular  preservation  from  extra- 
 ordinary danger,  support  under  trouble,  delivery  out  of  our 
 afliiclioas,  rescue  from  the  pains  of  death,  preservation  from 
 
 temptation,  and  many  matchless  displays  of  Divine  grace,  all 
 these  demand  memorials  to  be  erected  in  our  liearts. 
 
 II.  We  might  to  impress  upon  our  children  the  (/ondness  of  God 
 to  us.  If  he  has  raised  us  from  poverty  to  affluence,  let  us  not 
 be  ashamed  to  tell  them  of  his  goodness  ;  it  will  teach  them 
 humility  and  gratitude.  If  he  has  called  us  by  his  grace,  let 
 us  tell  them  what  great  things  the  IjOrd  has  done  for  us, 
 whereof  we  are  glad.  '  Truth  and  gratitude,'  says  Williams, 
 *  are  best  written  on  the  heart ;  but  better  recorded  in  a  book, 
 or  on  a  stone,  iban  neglected  or  forgotten  ;  and  not  only  should 
 we  remember  them  ourselves,  but  be  careful  to  teach  them  to 
 our  children.* 
 
Jericho  is  shut  vp. 
 
 JOSHUA,   VI. 
 
 7 At'  Cliff  is  compasse't 
 
 any  more  ;  but  tliey  did  eat  of  the  fruit  of  tlie 
 land  of  Canaan  that  year. 
 
 13  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joshua  was 
 by  Jericho,  that  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  and 
 looked,  and,  behold,  there  stood  ''a  man  over 
 against  him  ''  witli  liis  sword  drawn  in  his 
 hand  :  and  Joshua  went  unto  him,  and  said  unto 
 him.  Art  thou  for  us,  or  for  our  adversaries? 
 
 14  And  he  said,  Nay;  hut  as  ||  captain  of 
 the  host  of  the  Lord  am  I  now  come.  And 
 Joshua  '  fell  on  his  face  to  the  earth,  and  did 
 worship,  and  said  unto  him,  What  saith  my 
 lord  unto  his  servant? 
 
 15  And  the  captain  of  the  Loiiu's  host  said 
 unto  Joshua,  '  Loose  thy  shoe  from  off  thy 
 foot ;  for  tlie  place  whereon  tliou  staudest  is 
 holy.     And  Joshua  did  so. 
 
 CHAP.   VI. 
 
 1  Jtrichfi  is  shut  up.  2  God  instructi'th  Jitshiia  ]tnu- 
 to  t/esieffe  it*  12  T/ie  citt/ is  comjxissed.  17  if  must 
 he  accursed.  20  The  undh  fall  down.  22  Rahab  i^ 
 saved.     26  Tiie  builder  of  Jtricho  is  cursed. 
 
 "VrOW  Jericho  f  was  straitly  shut  up  because 
 -'-^  of  the  children  of  Israel  :  none  went  out, 
 and  none  came  in. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Joshua,  See,  '  I 
 have  given  into  thine  hand  Jericlio,  and  the 
 ''  king  thereof,  and  the  migtity  men  of  valour. 
 
 3  And  ye  shall  compass  the  city,  all  t/e  men 
 of  war,  and  go  round  about  the  city  once. 
 Thus  .shalt  thou  do  six  days. 
 
 4  And  seven  priests  shall  bear  before  the  ark 
 ecven  "^  trumpets  of  rams'  horns :  and  the 
 seventh  day  ye  shall  compass  the  city  seven 
 times,  and  "'the  priests  shall  blow  with  the 
 trumpets. 
 
 5  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  when  they 
 make  a  long  blast  with  the  ram's  horn,  and 
 when  ye  hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  all  tlie 
 people  shall  shout  with  a  great  shout ;  and  the 
 wall  of  the  city  shall  fall  down  f  flat,  and  the 
 people  .shall  ascend  up  every  man  straight 
 before  him. 
 
 (i  1  And  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  called  the 
 priests,  and  said  unto  them,  Take  up  the  ark 
 of  the  covenant,  and  let  seven  priests  bear 
 seven  trumpets  of  rams'  horns  before  the  ark 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 7  And  he  said  unto  the  people,  Pass  on,  and 
 compass  the  city,  and  let  him  that  is  armed 
 pass  on  before  the  ark  of  the  Loud. 
 
 <S  ?  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joshua  had 
 spoken  unto  the  people,  that  the  seven  ])riests 
 bearing   the    seven   trumpets   of  rams'  horns 
 
 p  Gen.lH  2. 
 
 k  H2.  it. 
 
 Fx,  -is.  -iS 
 
 Zerh.  I.  8. 
 
 A.-t3  I.  to. 
 7  Nu.  22.  2;1. 
 
 II  Or,  p-.»r, 
 SeeKx,  23 
 yi.  Dan.  Ill 
 l:t.2t   &  I '. 
 
 I.  Rev.  12 
 7.  «■  19    11, 
 
 I I. 
 
 r  Grn.  17.  S. 
 
 i  ilnb.  Aid 
 ihut  up,  nnd 
 wai  tl'iit  lip. 
 
 r  .Spp  -lll'lg. 
 7.  16,  2.>, 
 
 d  Num.  10.8. 
 
 <  Nu.  l( 
 t  ileb  i 
 host. 
 
 \  Heh.  I 
 
 |[Or,  rfp»o/.-rf. 
 Ler.  27.  LN. 
 Mic.  4.  IS. 
 
 g  ch.  2.  4. 
 
 A  Deu.  7.  26. 
 &  13.  17. 
 rl>.  7   1,11, 
 12. 
 
 i  ch.  7.  2S. 
 
 1  Kin.  18. 
 
 17,  18. 
 
 Jonnli  1.12 
 t  Heh.  h„ti. 
 
 h  ver.  5. 
 Heh    ll.no 
 )  Heb.  u,i,l,-i 
 
 passed  on  before  the  Lord,  and  blew  with  the 
 trumpets  :  and  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the 
 Lord  followed  them. 
 
 9  IT  And  the  armed  men  went  before  the 
 priests  that  blew  with  the  trumpets,  "and  the 
 t  rereward  came  after  the  ark,  t/ie  priests  going 
 on,  and  blowing  with  the  trumpets. 
 
 10  And  Joshua  had  commanded  the  people, 
 saying.  Ye  shall  not  shout,  nor  f  make  any 
 noise  with  your  voice,  neither  shall  ani/  word 
 proceed  out  of  your  mouth,  until  the  day  1  bid 
 you  shout ;  then  shall  ye  shout. 
 
 11  So  the  ark  of  the  Lord  compassed  the 
 city,  going  about  it  once  :  and  they  came  into 
 the  camp,  and  lodged  in  the  camp. 
 
 12  t  And  Joshua  rose  early  in  the  morning, 
 'and  the  priests  took  up  the  ark  of  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  seven  priests  bearing  seven  trumpets 
 of  rams"  horns  before  the  ark  of  the  Lord  went 
 on  continually,  and  blew  with  the  trumpets; 
 and  tlie  armed  men  went  before  thorn  ;  but 
 the  rereward  came  after  the  ark  of  the  Lord, 
 the  priests  going  on,  and  blowing  with  the 
 trumpets. 
 
 14  And  the  second  day  they  compassed  the 
 city  once,  and  returned  into  the  camp  :  so  they 
 did  six  days. 
 
 15  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day, 
 that  they  rose  early  about  the  dawning  of  the 
 day,  and  compassed  the  city  after  the  .same 
 manner  seven  times  :  only  on  that  day  they 
 compassed  the  city  seven  times. 
 
 IG  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  .seventh  time, 
 when  the  priests  blew  with  the  trumpets, 
 Joshua  said  unto  the  people,  Shout ;  for  the 
 Lord  hath  given  you  the  city. 
 
 17  f  And  the  city  shall  be  ||  accursed,  tveii 
 it,  and  all  that  are  therein,  to  the  Lord  :  only 
 Rahab  the  harlot  shall  live,  she  and  all  that 
 are  with  her  in  the  house,  because  ''  she  hid 
 the  messengers  that  we  sent. 
 
 18  And  ye,  ''in  any  wise  keep  yourselves 
 from  the  accursed  thing,  lest  ye  make  your- 
 selves accursed,  when  ye  take  of  the  accursed 
 thing,  and  make  the  camp  of  Israel  a  curse, 
 '  and  trouble  it. 
 
 19  But  all  the  silver,  and  gold,  and  vessels  of 
 brass  and  iron,  are  f  consecrated  unto  the 
 Lord  :  they  shall  come  into  the  treasury  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 20  So  the  people  shouted  when  the  priests 
 blew  with  the  trumpets  :  and  it  came  to  pass, 
 when  the  people  heard  the  sound  of  the 
 trumpet,  and  the  people  shouted  with  a  great 
 shout,  that  '  the  wall  fell  down  f  A^ti  so  that 
 
 proper  for  that  use. — Poofe.  13.  Jr/ien  Joshua—the  si,\th  chapter 
 should  have  commenced  here,  it  lieing;  a  new  relation. — .-).  Clarke. 
 Tawnsend  introduces  this  and  the  two  loUowing  verses  between  vt-r. 
 1  and  2  of  the  next  chapter,  making  a  new  section.  Art  thou  for  us — 
 supposing  him  to  he  reconnoitring  the  Israclitish  army ;  or  if  he  were  a 
 champion  like  Goliath,  he  dared  at  once  to  meet  him. — .4.  Clarke,  GUI. 
 \l.  As  captain  of  the  liost — tiiat  is,  of  Israel.  This  was  no  created 
 anpel,  or  Joshua  would  not  have  worshipped  him, — i^a?.,  but  Jesus  our 
 Lord,  who  promised  To  be  the  defender  of  his  people. — Usher.  The 
 angel  who  appeared  to  Mnses  now  appears  to  Joshua,  assumes  the 
 same  exalted  name,  'Jehovah,'  and  challenges  the  same  divine  ho- 
 nours as  tlie  Son  of  God. — Horsier/. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  I.  Xotc  Jericho,  ^r. — this  verse  is  a  parenthesis.  Ver.  2 
 continues  the  account  in  the  preceding  ciiaptor.— (?i-ee«/.  2.  Oiren 
 into  thine  hand  Jericho,  '  into  thy  power.' — Farcer.  We  are  to  sup- 
 pose that  they  had  refused  the  offers  of  peace,  (Deut.  xx.  10.)— Pat. 
 
 4.  Trumpets,  D'bav,  'Jubilee  trumpets.'— ro''errf«;#».  Gilt,  Scott.  See 
 note  on  Lev.  xxv.  9.  The  word  never  signifies  ram. — Par.  In  the 
 next  verse  they  are  called  horns,  probably  from  their  form. — Baothr. 
 
 5.  Flat,  rrnnn,  'subse,*  'under  Itself.' — Pag.,  Mont.  11.  The  rere. 
 ward,  FlDSO.  from  F]C«,  '  to  gather,'  '  collect,'  *  assemble.'— Pwr.  Be- 
 ing opposed  to  the  armed,  this  jirobfibly  means  the  unarmed,— /'oo/c, 
 or  'the  people  tlntt  carried  the  baggage.* — A.  Clarke,  Rather,  the 
 whole  remainder  ol  tlie  people  gathered  together. — Ed.  1".  .iccursed 
 — devoted  to  absolute  destruction. — Up.  Hall.  18.  Keep— from  the 
 accursed  thing,  'abstain  ye  from  what  is  devoted.' — Boothr.  20.  The 
 wall  fell—mo^t  likely  God  used  a  partial  earthquake  to  accomplish  this 
 miracle,  as  he  had  before  made  use  of  such  second  causes  as  were 
 ready  for  his  purpose ;  and  Kimchi  takes  the  word  [ver.  5)  to  mean, 
 that  the  city  should  be  swatlmced  up  in  its  place  under  the  earth.  Gill 
 says,  '  it  was  supernatural,  and  cannot  be  ascribed  to  second  causes ; 
 hut  so  was  the  passage  of  the  Red  Sea,  though  accomplished  by  a 
 
 Refi.fctions  on  Chap.  V.  —I.  Observe  here,  the  alarm  of 
 the  Canaanites  at  the  approach  of  Israel.  It  was  guilt  tlmt  made 
 them  cowards.  When  God's  judgments  approach,  then  it  is 
 that  the  most  hardened  sinners  usually  tremble,  and  when 
 death  comes  ihey  have  no  stay,  ilieir  hearts  faint  within  them. 
 238 
 
 II.  ll^e  can  only  expect  success  ai/ainst  our  spiritual  enemies  bi/ 
 valkina  in  the  uau  of  God's  commandmenls,  and  by  cleansing 
 ourselves  '  from  all  iillhiness  of  the  flesh  and  of  the  spirit 
 
 III.  Cl^rist  is  still  the  Captain  of  his  people,  lie  watches  over 
 his  host,  and  makes  ihem  at  last '  more  than  conquerora.' 
 
Sahab  is  saved. 
 
 JOSHUA,  VII. 
 
 The  Israelites  are  smitten  at  Ai. 
 
 the  people  went  up  into  the  city,  every  man 
 straight  before  him,  and  they  took  the  city. 
 
 21  And  they  '  utterly  destroyed  all  that  was 
 in  the  city,  both  man  and  woman,  young  and 
 old,  and  ox,  and  sheep,  and  ass,  with  the  edge 
 of  the  sword. 
 
 2-2  But  Joshua  had  said  unto  the  two  men 
 that  had  spied  out  the  country,  Go  into  the 
 harlot's  house,  and  bring  out  thence  the  woman, 
 and  all  that  she  hath,  "'  as  ye  sware  unto  her. 
 
 23  And  the  young  men  that  were  spies  went 
 in,  and  brought  out  Rahab,  "  and  her  father, 
 and  her  mother,  and  her  brethren,  and  all  that 
 she  had  ;  and  they  brought  out  all  her  f  kin- 
 dred, and  left  them  without  the  camp  of  Israel. 
 
 24  And  they  burnt  the  city  with  fire,  and  all 
 that  teas  therein  :  °  only  the  silver,  and  the 
 gold,  and  the  vessels  of  brass  and  of  iron,  they 
 put  into  the  treasury  of  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 25  And  Joshua  saved  Rahab  the  harlot  alive, 
 and  her  father's  houshold,  and  all  that  she  had  ; 
 and  ''she  dwelleth  in  Israel  even  unto  this 
 day  ;  because  she  hid  the  messengers,  which 
 Joshua  sent  to  spy  out  Jericho. 
 
 26  H  And  Joshua  adjured  them  at  that  time, 
 saying, ''  Cursed  be  the  man  before  the  Lord, 
 that  riseth  up  and  buildeth  this  city  Jericho  : 
 he  shall  lay  the  foundation  thereof  in  his  first- 
 born, and  in  his  youngest  son  shall  he  set  up 
 the  gates  of  it. 
 
 27  '  So  the  Lord  was  with  Joshua ;  and  *  his 
 fame  was  noised  throughout  all  the  country. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 1    TIte  Israelites  are  smitten  at  Ai.     6  Joshna^s  com- 
 plaint,     10    God  instriu-tetli  him  wfiat  to  do.      16 
 Artian  is  taken  hi/  ttie  lot.     19  His  confession.    22 
 He  and  aU  lie  had  are  destroyed  in  the  valley  of 
 Achiir. 
 "DUT  the  children  of  Israel  committed  a  tres- 
 ^-^  pass  in  the  accursed  thing  :  for  *  ||  Achan 
 
 B.C.  \Vb\. 
 I  Deut.  7.  8. 
 
 m  eh.  2.  U, 
 Heb.  U.31. 
 
 tHeb./in.i- 
 lUt. 
 
 p  See  Mat. 
 I.  5. 
 
 7  I  Kin.  16. 
 
 r  eh.  I.  5. 
 I  ch.  9.  I,  9. 
 
 ■  cli.  S5.  SO. 
 I  Chr.  2.  ;, 
 
 II  Or.Z.m,. 
 1  Chr.  8. 
 
 h  Lev.?fi.17. 
 Deu.  £8. 2d. 
 
 II  Or,  t/i 
 
 Morad. 
 cch.2.9.11. 
 
 Lev. 26.  36. 
 
 Pb.  22.  I*. 
 d  Gen.  S7.29, 
 
 34. 
 
 e  I  Sara  4-12. 
 
 2  Sam.  1.  2. 
 
 h  IS.  19. 
 
 Neh.  9.  1. 
 
 Job  2.  12. 
 /  El.  5.  22. 
 
 SKin.  S.IO 
 
 ft  SeeEx  Sa. 
 12.  Num. 
 14.  13. 
 
 the  son  of  Carnii,  the  son  of  ||  Zabdi,  the  sou 
 of  Zerah,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  took  of  the  ac- 
 cursed thing :  and  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was 
 kindled  against  the  cliildren  of  Israel. 
 
 2  And  Joshua  sent  men  from  Jericho  to  Ai, 
 which  is  beside  Beth-aven,  on  the  east  side  of 
 Beth-el,  and  spake  unto  them,  saying.  Go  up 
 and  view  the  country.  And  the  men  went  up 
 and  viewed  Ai. 
 
 3  And  they  returned  to  Joshua,  and  said  unto 
 him.  Let  not  all  the  people  go  up  ;  but  let 
 t  about  two  or  tliree  thousand  men  go  up  and 
 smite  Ai ;  and  make  not  all  the  people  to  la- 
 bour thither ;  for  they  are  but  few. 
 
 4  So  there  went  up  thither  of  the  people 
 about  three  thousand  men:  ""and  they  fled 
 before  the  men  of  Ai. 
 
 5  And  the  men  of  Ai  smote  of  them  about 
 thirty  and  six  men  :  for  they  chased  them 
 frotn  before  the  gate  even  unto  Shebarini,  and 
 smote  them  ||  in  the  going  down  :  wherefore 
 "^  the  hearts  of  the  people  melted,  and  became 
 as  water. 
 
 6  H  And  Joshua  ''  rent  his  clothes,  and  fell  to 
 the  earth  upon  his  face  before  the  ark  of  the 
 Lord  until  the  eventide,  he  and  the  elders  of 
 Israel,  and  "  put  dust  upon  their  heads. 
 
 7  And  Joshua  said,  Alas,  O  Lord  God, 
 '  wherefore  hast  thou  at  all  brought  this  people 
 over  Jordan,  to  deliver  us  into  the  hand  of  the 
 Amorites,  to  destroy  us?  would  to  God  we 
 had  been  content,  and  dwelt  on  the  other  side 
 Jordan ! 
 
 8  O  Lord,  what  shall  I  say,  when  Israel 
 turneth  their  t  backs  before  their  enemies ' 
 
 9  For  the  Canaaniles  and  all  the  inhabitants 
 of  the  land  shall  hear  of  it,  and  shall  environ 
 us  round,  and  ^  cut  off  our  name  from  the  earth  : 
 and  "  what  wilt  thou  do  unto  thy  great  name  ? 
 
 10  U  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Joshua,  Get 
 
 second  cause.  The  second  cause  was  only  the  instrument  with  which 
 the  Almiffhty  worked.' — Ed.  21.  Deatroyed  all,  being  guilty  of  ca- 
 pital crimes  wliich  deserved  death,  as  idolatry,  incest,  &c. — GUI.  As 
 for  the  infants,  they  were  infected  by  origioal  sin,  and  otherwise  at  the 
 disposal  of  their  Creator. — Poole ;  and  those  who  were  children  were 
 doubtless  early  initiated  in  crime. — Ed.  The  Governor  of  the  world 
 might  have  sect  famine,  pestilence,  earthquake,  deluge,  lightnings,  and 
 tempests  to  be  his  executinners,  and  in  tliese  infants  often  perish,  but 
 he  chose  to  employ  the  sword  of  war,  and  Israel  were  to  be  his  agents. 
 -~Scott.  The  death  of  malefactors,  the  condemnation  of  wicked  men, 
 seem  harsh  to  us,  but  we  must  learn  of  God  that  there  is  a  puni.shing 
 mercy. — HuH.  23.  Brought  out  Rahuh,  before  the  destruction  of  the 
 city,  as  they  resided  on  the  wall,  and  the  sign  was  to  save  them. — Ed. 
 Gill  thinks  that  the  pait  only  where  Rahab's  house  was,  remained. 
 Witltout  the  camp,  till  they  were  cleansed  from  the  impurities  of  their 
 Gentile  state  and  instructed  in  the  Jewish  religion,  and  then  admitted 
 into  the  Jewish  church  in  the  usual  way.  215.  Abjured  them — made 
 the  people  swear  for  the  present  and  succeeding  generations. — Poole. 
 Cursed  be  the  man — it  was  the  custom  of  eastern  nations  to  pronounce 
 curses  on  whoever  should  rebuild  a  demolished  city. — Potter.  Be/ore  the 
 Lord — this  shews  that  the  sentence  was  not  Joshua's,  but  the  Lord's. 
 — Pat.  'Accursed  be  the  man  before  Jehovah,  who  attempteth  to  re- 
 build this  city  Jericho;  with  tlie  loss  of  his  firstborn  shall  he  lay  its 
 foundation,  and  with  the  loss  of  his  youngest  son  shall  he  set  up  its 
 gates.* — Boothr.  Boothroyd^s  clearer  version  implies  that  the  man 
 should  lose  all  his  sons  in  the  course  of  this  forbidden  undertaking  ;  the 
 eldest  when  he  began,  the  rest  in  the  progress  of  the  work,  and  the 
 last  at  its  completion.  See  prediction  fulfilled,  1  Kings,  xvi.  34.— Ptc^ 
 Bib.  This  curse  not  being  a  curse  causeless,  came  to  pass,  (1  Kings, 
 jvi.  34,)  but  we  are  not  to  think  it  made  the  place  the  worse  when'  it 
 was  built,  or  brought  any  hurt  to  them  that  inhabited  it.  Jericho  was 
 afterwards  graced  with  the  presence  of  Elijah  and  EUsha,  and  of  Christ 
 
 himself,  (Luke,  xviii.  35  ;  xix.  1  ;  Matt.  xx.  29.) — Hen.  The  curse  pro. 
 bably  referred  to  the  rebuilding  of  the  walls  and  gates,  and  not  of  the 
 city.— Wi/. 
 
 Chap.  VII. —  1.  The  children  of  Israel — bya  figure  of  speech,  called 
 Synecdoche,  part  taken  for  the  whole,  (see  Gen.  viij.  4  ;  xix.  29 ;  Matt. 
 xxvi.8;  John,  xii.  4.) — Poole.  Because  where  men  are  united  in  a 
 society  they  mutually  partake  of  its  good  or  evil.  In  the  accursed 
 thing — by  talking  of  the  spoils  devoted  to  destruction,  or  to  God's  trea- 
 sur>'. — Put.  Against  the  children  of  Israel — the  guilt  of  an  individual 
 would  be  accounted  a  national  sin  until  detected  and  punished  ;  for 
 they  were  all  one  body,  nor  could  any  part  be  affected  without  the  de- 
 triment and  danger  of  the  whole. — Scott.  2.  Ai,  three  miles  from 
 Jericho,  —  Pat.;  called  Hai,  Gen.  xii.  8,  and  Aijah,  Neh,  xi.  31. 
 4.  They  fled — God  had  forsaken  them. — Pat.  Even  Joshua  seems  to 
 have  formed  his  measures  on  this  occasion  without  asking  counsel  of 
 the  Lord.  It  is  not  improbable  that  those  that  fell  were  guilty  in 
 part.  God's  providence  was  visible  in  the  whole  army  not  going ;  the 
 discomfiture  was  now  the  more  easy  fur  the  enemy,  and  so  much  less 
 terrible  for  the  people. — Poole,  Scott.  5.  Shebarim,  □'~131I>,  '  breaches,' 
 or  '  broken  places ;'  so  called,  because  here  the  Israelitish  lines  were 
 broken.  Gussetius  thinks  it  took  its  name  from  broken  pieces  of  rock 
 scattered  about. — Gill.  Going  down,  of  the  sun,  or  in  Morad.  the  name 
 of  a  place. —  Wit.  Kimehi  says  it  was  a  rie*^cent  bef'Te  Ai.  Hearts 
 — 7tielted—this  shewed  a  want  of  militiiry  order  producing  a  panic. — 
 Mich.  It  was  not  exclusively  so  ;  they  had  been  taught  not  to  rely  on 
 numbers,  and  now  saw  the  promised  aid  withheld,  while  their  ene- 
 mies would  be  encouraged. — Pict.  Bib.  6.  J?f»^— see  note  on  Gen, 
 xx.xvii.  34.  Put  dust — a  ceremony  in  times  of  mourning,  (see  Job,  ii, 
 12  ;  1  Sam,  iv.  12  ;  2  Sam.  i.  2.)  It  was  used  by  other  nations,  (see 
 J(m,  iii,  6 ;  Homer*s  Iliad,  lib.  xviii.  23,  24  ;  jEneid,  xii.  609.)— Gi7/, 
 Pat.,  Hew.  7.  Wherefore — a  confession  of  ignorance, — Pat.  The 
 language  of  distrust  and  unbelief, — Hen.,  Gill,  Scott.        9.  Unto  thy 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  I.  •  By  faith  the  walls  of 
 Jericho  fell  down.'  God  honours  faith  by  ascribing  to  it  lliat 
 which  he  did.  The  people  believed,  and  God  performed. 
 Could  we  thus  exercise  faith  in  him,  '  he  is  able  to  do  ex- 
 ceeding abundantly  above  all  that  we  ask  or  think.' 
 
 II.  The  Israelites,  as  God's  executioners,  '  vtterlr/  destroyed  all, 
 both  youny  and  old.'  Happy  are  those  children  who  have  godly 
 parents!  Had  these  infants  not  been  the  children  of  the 
 wicked  Caoaanites,  but  of  godly  Israelites,  they  had  not  suf- 
 fered in  the  general  calamity.  Wicked  parents  often  bring 
 239 
 
 upon  their  children  both  temporal  and  eternal  destruction. 
 
 Ill,  The  dcstructiijn  of  t/iis  city  miyttt  have  been  a  salutary 
 waminy  to  the  neighbouring  guilty  nations,  had  they  listened  to  the 
 voice  of  God  speaking  by  it.  They  might  have  surrendered  to 
 Israel,  but  they  were  hardened  in  sin.  The  most  striking 
 miracles  alarmed  their  fears,  but  never  softened  their  hearts. 
 Hence  they  were  left,  as  all  hardened  sinners  finally  must  be — 
 surrounded  as  they  are  by  the  providences  and  judgments  of 
 God—'  without  excuse.* 
 
God  instrticteth  Joshua  what  to  do. 
 
 JOSHUA,   VIII. 
 
 Achiin  ii'c.  are  destroye~l. 
 
 thee  lip  ;  wherefore  f  liest  thou  thus  upon  thy 
 face? 
 
 1 1  '  Israel  hath  sinned,  and  they  have  also 
 transgressed  my  covenant  which  I  commanded 
 them  :  ''  for  they  have  even  taken  of  the  ac- 
 cursed thing,  and  have  also  stolen,  and  '  dis- 
 sembled also,  and  they  have  put  it  even  among 
 their  own  stuff. 
 
 1-2  "'Therefore  the  children  of  Israel  could 
 not  stand  before  their  enemies,  but  turned 
 their  backs  before  their  enemies,  because 
 "  they  were  accursed:  neither  will  I  be  witli 
 yon  any  more,  except  ye  destroy  the  accursed 
 from  among  you. 
 
 13  Up,  "sanctify  the  people,  and  say,  ■'Sanc- 
 tify yourselves  against  to  morrow  :  for  thus 
 saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  There  is  an  ac- 
 cursed thing  in  the  midst  of  thee,  O  Israel  : 
 thou  canst  not  stand  before  thine  enemies, 
 until  ye  take  away  the  accursed  thing  from 
 among  you. 
 
 14  In  tlie  morning  therefore  ye  shall  be 
 brought  according  to  your  tribes  :  and  it  shall 
 be,  that  the  tribe  which  ''  the  Lord  taketh 
 shall  come  according  to  the  families  thereof; 
 and  the  family  which  the  Lord  shall  take  shall 
 come  by  housholds ;  and  the  houshold  which 
 the  Lord  shall  take  shall  come  man  by  man. 
 
 15  '  And  it  shall  be,  that  be  that  is  taken  with 
 the  accursed  thing  shall  be  burnt  with  fire,  he 
 and  all  that  he  hath  :  because  he  hath  '  trans- 
 gressed the  covenant  of  tlie  Lord,  and  be- 
 cause he  '  hath  wrought  ||  folly  in  Israel. 
 
 10  K  So  Joshua  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
 and  brought  Israel  by  their  tribes  ;  and  the 
 tribe  of  Judah  was  taken: 
 
 17  And  he  brought  tlie  family  of  Judah  ;  and 
 he  took  the  family  of  the  Zarbitcs :  and  he 
 brought  the  family  of  the  Zarhites  man  by 
 man  ;  and  Zabdi  was  taken  : 
 
 18  And  he  brought  his  houshold  man  by 
 man  ;  and  Achan,  the  son  of  Carmi,  the  son  of 
 Zabdi,  the  son  of  Zerah,  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
 "  was  taken. 
 
 19  And  Joshua  said  unto  Achan,  My  son, 
 '  give,  I  pray  thee,  glory  to  the  Lord  God  of 
 
 t  Heb. 
 i  ver.  1. 
 
 (  See  Acts  6. 
 I,  2. 
 
 Ti  See  Num. 
 
 II    4.'!. 
 
 Judg  2.  14. 
 
 '1  Deii  7.  Sii. 
 ch.  (j.  16. 
 
 '.  Kt.  19.  10. 
 ;'  cli.  3.  ft 
 
 ■  See  I  Sam. 
 14.  SS,  US. 
 
 /  Gen.  34  7. 
 
 Jiiilg.  SO.  B, 
 [I  Or,  icicAitf- 
 
 flMt. 
 
 ■  See ISam. 
 6.  h-  Jei-  i:i. 
 16.  JoliM!). 
 
 K.  C.  MSI. 
 
 y  ^•ll.  .'..6,7 
 "2  Olic.  311 
 
 22.  P.!..^!..! 
 
 Dan  9.  -1. 
 z  I  Sam.  11. 
 
 •13. 
 
 Hph. 
 
 t.,„!(.„. 
 
 t  Hob. 
 
 JiuHreit. 
 
 b  rh.O.  11 
 I  Clir  2 
 Gal.  h    I 
 
 «  Ueu.  17. 
 
 <i  rh  fi.  20. 
 2  Sam.  18. 
 17.  Lam.  3. 
 
 f  l)(^u.  13  17 
 a  Sam.  21. 
 
 11. 
 
 84. 
 
 U.  &'>.  ill. 
 HoK.  2  15. 
 I  That  ifl, 
 
 1  n.Mi,  1.21. 
 \7.1B.&:il. 
 
 Israel,  'and  make  confession  unto  him;  aid 
 '  tell  me  now  what  thou  hast  done  ;  hide  it 
 not  from  me. 
 
 '20  And  Achan  answered  Joshua,  and  said. 
 Indeed  I  have  sinned  against  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel,  and  thus  and  thus  have  I  done  : 
 
 '21  When  I  saw  among  the  spoils  a  goodly 
 Babylonish  garment,  and  two  hundred  shekels 
 of  silver,  and  a  f  wedge  of  gold  of  fifty  shekels 
 weiglit,  then  I  coveted  them,  and  took  them  ; 
 and,  behold,  tliey  are  hid  in  the  earth  in  the 
 midst  of  my  tent,  and  the  silver  under  it. 
 
 '22  If  So  Jo.shua  sent  messengers,  and  they 
 ran  unto  the  tent ;  and,  behold,  it  ivus  hid  in 
 his  tent,  and  the  silver  under  it. 
 
 '2:3  And  they  took  them  out  of  tlie  midst 
 of  tlie  tent,  and  brought  them  unto  Joshua, 
 and  unto  all  the  children  of  Israel,  and  f  'aid 
 them  out  before  the  Lord. 
 
 •24  And  Joshua,  and  all  Lsrael  with  him,  took 
 Achan  the  son  of  Zerah,  and  the  silver,  and  the 
 garment,  and  the  wedge  of  gold,  and  bis  sons, 
 and  his  daughters,  and  his  oxen,  and  his  asses, 
 and  his  sheep,  and  his  tent,  and  all  that  he 
 had  :  and  they  brought  them  unto  °  the  valley 
 of  Achor. 
 
 2o  And  Joshua  said, ''  Why  hast  thou  troubled 
 us?  the  Lord  shall  trouble  thee  this  day.  ''And 
 all  Israel  stoned  him  with  stones,  and  burned 
 them  with  fire,  after  they  had  stoned  them  with 
 stones. 
 
 26  And  they  ■>  raised  over  him  a  great  heap 
 of  stones  unto  this  day.  So  '  the  Lord  turned 
 from  the  fierceness  of  his  anger.  Wherefore 
 the  name  of  that  place  was  called,  '  The  valley 
 (if  II  Achor,  unto  this  day. 
 
 CHAP.  VIIL 
 
 1  God  encovTngcth  Jnsliua.  3  Ttic  strntanem  whereby 
 Ai  was  taken.  29  T/ie  hintj  ilieriof  is  liavyvU. 
 30  Jos/ivn  buihletli  tin  altar,  32  writetli  tlie  law  on 
 stonis,  33  prnpoitmtcth  blcsfin/js  ami  enrsini/s. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  said  unto  Jo.shua,  °  Fear  not, 
 ■'-^  neither  be  thou  dismayed  :  take  all  the 
 people  of  war  with  thee,  and  arise,  go  up  to 
 Ai :  see, ''  I  have  given  into  thy  hand  the  king 
 
 great  ntimp, — rather,  *  for'  or  'on  account  of  thy  great  name,' which 
 was  likely  to  be  blasphemed. — Hete.  16.  Judnh  wits  taken — the  lot 
 drawn  on  which  his  name  was  written,  (see  I  Chron.  x.viv.  7.) — Wil. 
 1/.  Fiimi/i/,  '  families.' — Itonthr.  Not  the  whole  of  each,  but  only  the 
 heads. — Poole,  Kennicott  observes  that  the  tribes  were  first  collected, 
 and  then  one  of  those  tribes,  then  families,  aiitl  one  family  from  them  ; 
 then  the  diflferent  households  of  that  family,  and  one  from  them  ;  then 
 man  by  man  of  that  household,  till  Achan  was  taken.  This  is  sup- 
 poited   by   the   Syrinc.  20.  /  haee  sinneif  —  some   think  Achan's 
 
 rei  eiitance  was  genuine  ;  others  doubt  it,  because  it  was  extorted.  It 
 ecrtiinly  looks  doubtful.— £d.  21.^  f^ootlti/  Bfibylonisit  garment, 
 ■\i'31U  miW.  *  a  splendid  or  costly  robe  ol"  Shiliar.'  Jiabylon  or  Babel 
 was  built  in  the  plain  of  Shinar.— .-1.  Clarke.  Babylon  was  famous  for 
 garments   interwoven  with  pictures  of  divers  colours. — Pliny.     Two 
 
 hundred  shekela  o/silrer,  about  25/. — Gill.  A  teed^e,  wortli  about  75/. — 
 BrerewQod.  IVM.  0«.  lOJrf.— ^.  Clarke.  24.  His  sons,  §-c. — only  to 
 be  spectators,  the  law  would  not  allow  them  to  suffer,  (Dent.  x,\iv.  I6.) 
 — Grotins,  A.  Clarke.  His  children  were  probably  accessories,  and 
 therefore  suffered. — Henrt/,  Gill.  From  ver.  25  they  suffered. — Scott. 
 25.  Stoned  fiirn,  Achan.  Burned  them — his  goods,  including  the  stolen 
 things,  not  his  children. — C.  Tat/lor.  26.  Heap  of  stones — tumuli  of 
 earth  or  of  stones  were  raised  by  the  ancients  on  great  occasions,  as  on 
 Absalom,  (2  Sam.  xviii.  17.) — Siit.  Of  .Achor — though  his  name  was 
 Achan,  henceforth  they  called  him  Acliar,  *  the  troubler  of  Israel.' — 
 Pat.  Many  eminent  critics  think  the  name  throughout  should  be 
 Achar,  and  that  Achan  is  a  mistake  of  the  transcriber. 
 
 CiiAP.  Vlll. —  1.  .ill — commentators  are  not  agreed  whether  all  were 
 employed  or  not,  hut  as  so  large  an  army  must  have  dispirited  the  men 
 
 RpFLErTloNS  ON  CliAP.    VII I.   We  here  see  wliat  misery 
 
 sin  tirini/s  on  a  nation.  And  there  are  sins  enough  in  our  land 
 to  cause  the  righteous  to  mourn  and  to  be  concerned  for  llie 
 lioiiour  of  God's  great  name. 
 
 H.  We  also  see  tlie  proi]ress  of  sin,  I'his,  as  Matthew  Poole 
 remarks,  is  accurately  described  by  Adian;  it  'began  at  his 
 eye,  which  he  permitted  to  gaze  and  fix  upon  the  forbidden 
 tilings.  This  inHamed  liis  desire,  and  made  liim  covet  tliem  ; 
 thai  desire  put  him  upon  action,  and  made  him  take  them; 
 find  having  taken,  resolve  to  keep  them  ;  and  to  that  end  hide 
 them  in  his  tent.' 
 
 III.  Gorf  has  always  ways  and  means  to  delect  the  sinner.  He 
 sees  him  when  he  thinks  no  eye  observes  his  movements,  and 
 niarlvS  how  he  dares  do  iliat  id  his  pre.sence  which  he  durst 
 not  do  before  his  fellow-creatures.  The  sin  lies  for  a  while 
 concealed  and  unknown,  but  it  will  '  find  him  out.'  It  is 
 either  dctertod  by  its  efl'ects,  or  some  passini^  o'-ciirrenre, 
 '240 
 
 and  he  is  brought  to  shame  ;  or  it  is  made  manifest  in  his 
 conscience,  when  it  awakens  as  a  tremendous  witness  against 
 liim  ;  or,  if  concealed  in  quietness  to  the  last  day,  tlien  will  it 
 be  exhibited  before  the  eyes  of  an  assembled  world,  when 
 God's  justice  shall  be  glorified  in  the  punishment  of  the  guilty 
 impenitent. 
 
 IV.  Let  us  confess  our  ;,ins  with  deep  humility,  before  the  heart- 
 searchiny  God.  Oil  the  robbery,  the  injustice,  oi  wiiich  many 
 have  been  guilty,  who  look  with  indignation,  and  perhaps 
 terror,  at  the  crime  ot  Aclian !  Covetousness  iias  urged  many 
 to  take  of  the  accursed  thing,  and  to  heap  up  those  riches 
 which,  wrongly  obtained,  will  ultimately  become  their  curse  ; 
 or  which,  having  drawn  their  hearts  aside  from  God,  are 
 equally  productive  of  evil.  Let  us  make  a  covenant  with  our 
 *-yes  and  our  hearts  for  time  to  come,  and  let  us  confess  cur 
 sins  to  Ilini  who  '  is  faithful  and  just  to  fnrgivo  us  our  sins, 
 and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness.' 
 
God  encourageth  Joshua. 
 
 JOSHUA,  VIII. 
 
 The  destruction  of  Ai. 
 
 of  Ai,  and  his  people,  and  his  city,  and  his 
 land  : 
 •2  And  thou  shall  do  to  Ai  and  her  king  as 
 thoLi  didst  unto  °  Jericlio  and  her  king  :  oidy 
 ''  the  spoil  thereof,  and  tlie  cattle  thereof,  shall 
 ye  take  for  a  prey  nnto  yonrselves  :  lay  thee 
 an  ambush  for  the  city  behind  it. 
 
 3  II  So  Joshua  arose,  and  all  tlie  people  of 
 war,  to  go  up  against  Ai  :  and  Josluia  chose 
 out  tlnrty  thousand  mighty  men  of  valour,  and 
 sent  them  away  by  night. 
 
 4  And  lie  commanded  them,  saying.  Behold, 
 "  ye  shall  lie  in  wait  against  tlie  city,  even  be- 
 hind the  city  :  go  not  very  far  from  the  city, 
 but  be  ye  all  ready  : 
 
 3  And  I,  and  all  the  people  that  are  with  nie, 
 will  approacli  unto  the  city  :  and  it  shall  come 
 to  pass,  when  tliey  come  out  against  us,  as  at 
 the  iirst,  tliat  '  we  will  flee  before  tlieni, 
 
 6  (For  tliey  will  come  out  after  us)  till  we 
 have  t  drawn  them  from  the  city  ;  for  they  will 
 say.  They  flee  before  us,  as  at  the  first :  there- 
 fore we  will  flee  before  them. 
 
 7  Then  ye  shall  rise  up  from  the  ambush, 
 and  seize  upon  the  city  :  for  the  Lord  your 
 God  will  deliver  it  into  your  hand. 
 
 8  And  it  shall  be,  when  ye  have  taken  the 
 city,  that  ye  shall  set  the  city  on  fire  :  accord- 
 ing to  the  commandment  of  the  Lord  shall  ye 
 do.     ^  See,  I  have  commanded  you. 
 
 9  IT  Joshua  therefore  sent  tliem  forth  :  and 
 they  went  to  lie  in  ambush,  and  abode  between 
 Beth-el  and  Ai,  on  the  west  side  of  Ai  :  but 
 Joshua  lodged  that  night  among  the  people. 
 
 10  And  Joshua  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
 and  numbered  the  people,  and  went  up,  he 
 and  the  elders  of  Israel,  before  the  people  to 
 Ai. 
 
 1 1  ^  And  all  the  people,  even  the  people  of 
 war  that  were  with  him,  went  up,  and  drew 
 nigh,  and  came  before  the  city,  and  pitched  on 
 the  north  side  of  Ai  :  now  there  icas  a  valley 
 between  them  and  Ai. 
 
 1'2  And  he  took  about  five  thousand  men, 
 and  set  them  to  lie  in  ambush  between  Beth-el 
 and  Ai,  on  the  west  side  ||  of  the  city. 
 
 13  And  when  they  had  set  the  people,  even 
 all  the  host  that  was  on  the  north  of  the  city, 
 and  t  their  liers  in  wait  on  the  west  of  the  city, 
 Joshua  went  that  night  into  the  midst  of  tlie 
 valley. 
 
 14  i  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king  of 
 Ai  saw  it,  that  they  hasted  and  rose  up  early, 
 and  the  men  of  the  city  went  out  against  Israel 
 to  battle,  he  and  all  his  people,  at  a  time  ap- 
 pointed, before  the  plain  ;  but  he  '  wist  not 
 that  there  were  liers  in  ambush  against  him 
 behind  the  city. 
 
 15  And  Joshua  and  all  Israel  ''  made  as  if 
 they  were  beaten  before  them,  and  fled  by  the 
 way  of  the  wilderness. 
 
 3  2  Sam.  13 
 
 t  fleb   Iheir 
 
 .Tucis.  2n. 
 .'i4.  Kcoles. 
 9.  12. 
 
 i  Judg.  80. 
 36,  Ike. 
 
 m  Num.  31. 
 !^2,  20. 
 
 u  ver.  2. 
 0  Deu.13.  16. 
 
 it  tin.  5. 
 jDfu  21.23. 
 ch.  lU.  27. 
 
 16  And  all  the  people  that  were  in  Ai  were 
 called  together  to  pursue  after  them  :  and  they 
 pursued  after  Joshua,  and  were  drawn  away 
 from  the  city. 
 
 1 7  And  there  was  not  a  man  left  in  Ai  or 
 l?etli-el,  that  went  not  out  after  Israel  :  and 
 they  left  the  city  open,  and  pursued  after 
 Israel. 
 
 18  And  tlie  Lord  said  unto  Joshua,  Stretch 
 out  the  spear  tliat  is  in  thy  hand  toward  Ai  ; 
 for  I  will  give  it  into  thine  liaiid.  And  Josliua 
 stretched  out  tlie  spear  that  he  had  in  Ins  hand 
 toward  tlie  city. 
 
 19  And  the  ambush  arose  quickly  out  of  their 
 place,  and  they  ran  as  soon  as  he  had  stretched 
 out  his  hand  :  and  they  entered  into  the  city, 
 and  took  it,  and  hasted  and  set  the  city  on 
 fire. 
 
 'JO  And  when  the  men  of  Ai  looked  behind 
 them,  they  saw,  and,  behold,  the  smoke  of  the 
 city  ascended  up  to  heaven,  and  they  had  no 
 [•power  to  flee  this  way  or  that  way  :  and  the 
 people  that  fled  to  the  wilderness  turned  back 
 upon  the  pursuers. 
 
 21  And  when  Joshua  and  all  Israel  saw  that 
 the  ambush  had  taken  the  city,  and  that  the 
 smoke  of  the  city  ascended,  then  they  turned 
 again,  and  slew  the  men  of  Ai. 
 
 22  And  the  other  issued  out  of  the  city 
 against  them  ;  so  they  were  in  the  midst  of 
 Israel,  some  on  this  side,  and  some  on  that 
 side  :  and  they  smote  them,  so  that  they  '  let 
 none  of  them  remain  or  escape. 
 
 23  And  the  king  of  Ai  they  took  alive,  and 
 brought  him  to  Joshua. 
 
 24  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Israel  had 
 made  an  end  of  slaying  all  the  inhabitants  of 
 Ai  in  the  field,  in  the  wilderness  wherein  they 
 chased  them,  and  when  they  were  all  fallen  on 
 the  edge  of  the  sword,  until  they  were  con- 
 sumed, that  all  the  Israelites  returned  unto  Ai, 
 and  smote  it  with  the  edge  of  the  sword. 
 
 25  And  so  it  was,  that  all  that  fell  that  day, 
 both  of  men  and  women,  ivcre  twelve  thou- 
 sand, eren  all  the  men  of  Ai. 
 
 26  For  Joshua  drew  not  his  hand  back, 
 wherewith  he  stretched  out  the  spear,  until 
 he  had  utterly  destroyed  all  the  inhabitants 
 of  Ai. 
 
 27  "'  Only  the  cattle  and  the  spoil  of  that 
 city  Israel  took  for  a  prey  unto  themselves, 
 according  unto  the  word  of  the  Lord  which 
 he  "  commanded  Joshua. 
 
 28  And  Joshua  burnt  Ai,  and  made  it  °an 
 heap  for  ever,  even  a  desolation  unto  this 
 day. 
 
 29  ''  And  the  king  of  Ai  he  hanged  on  a  tree 
 until  eventide  :  ''  and  as  soon  as  the  sun  was 
 down,  Joshua  commanded  that  they  should 
 take  his  carcase  down  from  the  tree,  and  cast 
 it  at  the  entering  of  the  gate  of  the  city,  and 
 
 of  Ai,  and  Joshua  designed  to  use  stratagem,  it  is  most  probable,  from 
 ver.  3,  that  Josliua  only  employed  a  select  number.— Erf.  3.  Tliirt!/ 
 thousand— A  larger  army  could  not  have  drawn  out  the  people  of  Ai, 
 who  would  have  feared  their  numbi-rs.— P«^  Instead  of  thirty  thou- 
 sand, read  '  three  thousand  ;'  a  larger  army  could  iMt  lie  in  ambush  a 
 whole  day  between  Bethel  and  Ai.  The  men  of  Ai  were  but  12,000, 
 and  therefore  3,000  was  enough  for  the  ambush.  There  is  certainly  an 
 error  in  transcribing  the  numbers,  as  is  frequently  the  case.— So  Houb., 
 Geddes,  Bdotlir.  8.  Set  the  city  onjire—ncx.  the  whole,  but  enough 
 
 to  make  a  smoke,  for  they  were  first  to  take  the  spoil. — Gill.  12.  And 
 he  toulc,  §-c. — Gilt  understands  that  the  whole  army  were  employed, 
 that  there  were  two  amb\isbcB.  one  of  30,000,  and  one  of  6,000. 
 Dr.  Wall  says,  *  it  seems  strange  that  Joshua,  having  sent  an  ambush 
 of  30,000  that  evening,  should  now  send  5,Ooo  to  the  same  place  on  the 
 241 
 
 same  errand.  It  may,  possibly,  be  a  repetition  of  ver.  3,  and  5,000 
 written  for  30,000.'  The  Septuni-int  has  nothing  of  these  two  verses, 
 exceirt,  having  said  that  the  main  army  was  east  of  the  city,  it  informs 
 us  here  that  the  ambnsh  was  on  the  west.  Ktu  to  eve^pa  tij?  iroAewc 
 OTTO  Da\ca<rnt.  13.  Had  set  the  people— the  army  was  so  posted  that 
 the  most  nnrthern  part  eommandcd  a  view  of  the  ambuscade,  (comii. 
 ver.  ig.)—Boutlir.  Into— the  valley— ta  see  that  the  men  performed 
 their  duty,  or  to  pray.— Gi7(.  17.  Or  Bf/*-W— this  place  is  not  men- 
 tioned in  the  Greek;  and  had  the  men  of  Bethel  pursued,  it  would  have 
 been  said  tley  left  the  cities,  and  not  the  city,  open.— Pilkiiigton. 
 18.  Stretched  out  the  ,t/jear— probably  a  pike  or  lance,  with  a  streamer 
 on  its  point,  which  served  as  a  standard,  and  was  sti-etcheil  out  as  a 
 signal  of  attack  and  of  giving  no  quarter.— Hew.  28.  Itarnt  Ai—he 
 now  set  fire  to  the  whole  city,  which  had  only  been  partially  set  fire  to 
 2  I 
 
Joshua  buildeilt  an  ahoy,  SfT. 
 
 JOSHUA,  IX. 
 
 The  Gibeonites  obtain  a  league. 
 
 j      B-C.  I4dl. 
 
 '  raise  thereon  a  great  heap  of  stones,  that  re- 
 maineth  unto  this  day. 
 
 30  f  Then  Joshua  built  an  aUav  unto  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel  '  in  inoiuit  Ehal, 
 
 31  A.s  Moses  the  servant  of  the  Lord  com- 
 manded the  children  of  Israel,  as  it  is  written 
 in  the  '  book  of  the  law  of  Moses,  an  altar  of 
 whole  stones,  over  which  no  man  hath  lift  up 
 any  iron  :  and  "  they  offered  thereon  burnt  of- 
 ferings niito  the  Loud,  and  sacrificed  peace 
 offerings. 
 
 32  H  And  *  he  wrote  there  upon  the  stones 
 a  copy  of  tlie  law  of  Moses,  which  he  wrote  in 
 the  presence  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 33  And  all  Israel,  and  their  elders,  and  offi- 
 cers, and  their  judges,  stood  on  this  side  the 
 ark  and  on  that  side  before  the  priests  the 
 Levites,  ''  which  bare  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
 of  the  Lord,  as  well  '  the  stranger,  as  he  that 
 was  born  among  them  ;  half  of  them  over 
 against  mount  Gerizim,  and  half  of  them  over 
 against  mount  Ebal  ;  "  as  Moses  the  servant 
 of  the  Lord  had  commanded  before,  that  they 
 should  bless  the  people  of  Israel. 
 
 34  And  afterward  *■  lie  read  all  the  words  of 
 the  law,  '  the  blessings  and  cursings,  according 
 to  all  that  is  written  in  the  book  of  tlie  law. 
 
 35  Tliere  was  not  a  word  of  all  that  Moses 
 commanded,  whicli  Joshua  read  not  before  all 
 the  congregation  of  Israel,  ''  with  the  women, 
 and  tlie  little  ones,  and  °  the  strangers  that 
 t  were  conversant  among  them. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  The  kinrjs  cnmhiiie  against  Israel.  0  The  Gibeonites 
 h//  craft  obffiin  a  league.  16  For  which  they  are  con- 
 dt-mned  to  perpetual  hondape. 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  all  the  kings 
 -^~*'  which  rrcre  on  this  side  Jordan,  in  the 
 hills,  and  in  t!ie  valleys,  and  in  all  the  coasts 
 of  "  the  great  sea  over  against  Lehanon,  ''  the 
 Hittite,  and  the  Ainorite,  the  Canaanite,  the 
 Perizzite,  the  Hivite,  and  the  Jebusite,  heard 
 thereof; 
 
 2  That  they  "^  gathered  themselves  together, 
 to  fight  with  Joshua  and  with  Israel,  with  one 
 
 ■  cli.  7.5(5. 
 &  10.  -JT, 
 
 X  Den  27. 
 8,8. 
 
 V  Deu.SI.  9, 
 jDeti.3I.I2. 
 
 aDeu.n.29. 
 &  87.  1«. 
 
 h  Deu. 31.11. 
 
 Neh.  8.  3. 
 c  Deu.  2S.  2, 
 
 2(t,  21,  ASH. 
 19. 
 
 d  ch.  10. i 
 2  Sum.  y 
 1,2. 
 
 e  ch.  C.  27 
 
 I  Nnm.M.6. 
 )  F.x.  3.  17. 
 &23.  2S. 
 
 h  Ex.  23.  .S?. 
 D.-ut.  7.  2. 
 fit  20.  Ifi. 
 -hi.ll 
 
 Dl-i 
 
 21  Ml 
 
 2  Kill. 10.  5. 
 ft  Den  20.15, 
 
 II  Or    tfin/ 
 rfcrived  thr 
 
 ton  tifllirir 
 
 »  Num.  27. 
 I  21  Is.  30.  I, 
 2.Sce  Juilg 
 I.  1.1  SaiD. 
 22.  10.  &2.S. 
 10,  11.&30. 
 8.  2  Sam.  2. 
 I.  ft  5.  19. 
 
 f  accord. 
 
 3  H  And  when  the  inhabitants  of  *^  Gibeon 
 ^  lieard  what  Joshua  had  done  unto  Jericho 
 and  to  Ai, 
 
 4  They  did  work  wilily,  and  went  and  made 
 as  if  they  had  been  ambas.sadors,  and  took  old 
 sacks  upon  their  asses,  and  wine  bottles,  old, 
 and  rent,  and  bound  up  ; 
 
 5  And  old  .shoes  and  clouted  upon  their  feet, 
 and  old  garments  upon  them  ;  and  all  tlie 
 bread  of  their  provision  was  dry  atid  mouldy. 
 
 (i  And  they  went  to  Joshua  ''unto  the  camp 
 at  Gilgal,  and  said  unto  him,  and  to  the  men 
 of  Israel,  We  be  come  from  a  far  country  : 
 now  therefore  make  ye  a  league  with  us. 
 
 7  And  the  men  of  Israel  said  unto  tlie  ^  Hi- 
 vites,  Peradventure  ye  dwell  among  us  ;  and 
 ^  how  shall  we  make  a  league  with  ycm  ? 
 
 8  And  they  said  unto  Joshua,  '  We  are  thy 
 servants.  And  Joshua  said  unto  them,  Who 
 are  ye  Y  and  from  whence  come  ye '? 
 
 9  And  they  said  unto  him,  ^  From  a  very  far 
 country  thy  servants  are  come  because  of  the 
 name  of  the  Lord  tby  God  :  for  we  have 
 '  heard  the  fame  of  him,  and  all  that  he  did  iu 
 Egypt, 
 
 10  And  ""all  that  he  did  to  the  two  kings  of 
 the  Amorites,  that  ivcre  beyond  Jordan,  to 
 Sihon  king  of  Heshbon,  and  to  Og  king  of  Ba- 
 shan,  which  ivos  at  Ashtaroth. 
 
 1 1  Wherefore  our  elders  and  all  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  our  country  spake  to  us,  saying,  Take 
 victuals  t  with  you  for  the  journey,  and  go  to 
 meet  them,  and  say  unto  them.  We  are  your 
 servants :  therefore  now  make  ye  a  league 
 with  us. 
 
 12  This  our  bread  we  took  hot  for  our  pro- 
 vision out  of  our  houses  on  the  day  we  came 
 forth  to  go  unto  you  ;  but  now,  behold,  it  is 
 dry,  and  it  is  mouldy: 
 
 13  And  these  bottles  of  wine,  which  we  filled, 
 tvere  new  ;  and,  behold,  they  be  rent :  and 
 these  our  garments  and  our  shoes  are  become 
 old  by  reason  of  the  very  long  journey. 
 
 14  And  II  the  men  took  of  their  victuals,  "and 
 asked  not  connstl  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lord. 
 
 before. — Gill.  For  ei^er,  'for  a  long:  time,'  for  it  was  rebuilt,  [Nch. 
 xi.  31.)  30.  In  nioimt  Ehal,  as  commanded.  Dent,  xxvii.  5.  31.  Iron, 
 '  any  tool  ol  iron.* — Old  Engl.  Trans.  32.  I'pim  the  stones,  not  of  the 
 altar,  but  other  stones,  as  Deut.  x.wii.  4. — Gill.  A  cnpij  of  the  law — 
 either  the  five  books  of  Moses,  or  Deuteronomy,  or  tlie  ten  command- 
 ments, or  the  blessings  and  curses,  or  the  words  of  the  covenant,  (see 
 Dent,  xxvii.  3.)— See  Pat.  31.  Rrud/or  '  caused  them  to  be  read.' — 
 Hew.  35.  Conversant — not  merely  the  proselytes  of  rig'hteousness, 
 but  those  of  the  gate,  that  dwelt,  walked,  and  conversed  with  them. 
 —Gill. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  3.  Gibeon — the  Gibeonites  were  descended  from  the 
 Hivites,  and  possessed  four  cities,  Chephirah,  Beeroth,  Kirjathjearim, 
 and  Gibeon  their  capital ;  all  of  which  were  given  to  Benjamin,  except 
 Kirjatli-jcarim,  wliich  fell  to  the  lot  of  Judah.  Gibeon  stood  on  an 
 eminence,  and  was  forty  furlonps  north  from  Jerusalem.  It  is  called 
 Geba,  (2  Sjim.  v.  25.  compared  with  I  Chron.  xiv.  l6.) — Calmet.  Some 
 liave  thought  Gibeon  to  have  been  '  a  royal  city.' — So  Eusebius  and 
 Jerome.  But  Wells  says,  '  we  nowhere  read  in  Scripture  that  it  had  a 
 kins,  and  chap.  x.  2,  it  is  merely  said  to  be  as  one  that  is  a  consider- 
 able city.  It  is,  however,  remarked  by  Poole, thai  D,  '  as,'  may  signify 
 '  the  truth  of  a  lliiiig,'  as  Hos.  iv.  4,  and  v.  10.         4.  Took  old  sacks. 
 
 —according  to  the  custom  of  those  davs,  when  inns  at  regular  stages 
 were  not  known,  and  men  took  provisions  for  a  journey  as  they  do 
 now  for  a  voyage. — Seott.  \yine  hollies,  made  of  goat  skins,  still  used 
 by  the  Arabs  for  keeping  water,  milk,  and  other  liquor.  When  the 
 animal  is  killed  they  cut  off  its  feet  and  its  head,  and  then  draw  it  out 
 of  the  skin,  without  opening  its  belly.  They  afterwards  sew  up  the 
 places  where  the  legs  were  cut  off,  and  the  tail,  and  when  it  is  filled 
 they  tie  it  about  the  neck,  iier//— these  bottles  are  frequently  rent 
 when  old  and  mended. — Sir.  J.  Chnrdin.  5.  Clouted — this  old  Eng- 
 hsh  word  is  from  the  French  clou,  '  a.  nail  ;*  but  nails  driven  into  the 
 soles  is  not  the  meaning  here, — Hew.,  it  is  'often  mended.' — Houh. 
 'Patched.' — A.  Clarke.  'Patched  with  various  pieces  of  leather.' — 
 Gill.  6.  A  far  country — in  fact  it  was  only  nine  miles. — Bunting. 
 Their  ancestors  were,  however,  settlers  from  the  east,  who  followed 
 those  tribes  from  India  which  overran  Canaan  as  well  as  Egypt. — 
 Robinsi>n*s  Theol.  Diet,  /.  How  shall  we  make  a  league,  which  they 
 were  forbid  to  do  with  any  of  the  seven  nations,  (Deut.  vii,  2.) — Gill. 
 Q.  Heard  the  fame — they  say  nothing  of  the  destruction  of  Jericho  and 
 Ai,  and  the  dividing  of  Jordan,  as  if  these  things  had  not  reached  their 
 distant  resilience. — Poole.  14.  Took  of  their  victuals,  to  see  if  they 
 were  in  the  state  described. — Poole,  Gill.      By  way   of  covenant. — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  — We  may  here  model  our 
 reflections  after  Sutcliffe,  whose  thoughts  on  this  chapter 
 are  very  excellent  and  appropriate:—!.  When  sin  is  removed, 
 God  returns  (jraciovsJy  in  his  people.  This  is  encouraging  to  all 
 vrho  forsake  their  sins  and  cultivate  godly  sorrow.  The  lan- 
 guage of  his  grace,  under  the  law  and  the  gospel,  is,  '  Return 
 unto  me,  and  I  will  return  unto  tliee.' 
 
 II.  Amidst  the  busiest  scenes  of  life,  religion  is  not  to  he  neqlected. 
 Joshua  and  his  people  must  have  time'to  observe  God's  laws. 
 'J'he  more  we  are  hurried  with  the  affairs  of  life,  the  more  need 
 242 
 
 have  we  of  the  counteracting  influence  of  religion  to  call  our 
 
 attention  to  the  things  which  relate  to  our  eternal  peace. 
 
 III.  Persons  of  every  rank  and  station  are  nndr  ohltgaiions  to 
 serve  God.  Elders,  officers,  men,  women,  children,  and  strangers, 
 were  here  all  assembled  to  hear  the  word  of  God's  law  and 
 attend  to  the  sacrifices.  '  The  greatest  of  men  are  not  to  think 
 themselves  above  religious  duties;*  and  they  should  remember, 
 that  '  their  example  may  influence  others.'  *  Little  ones,"  too, 
 must  attend;  they  are  the  hopes  of  the  church,  and  should 
 constantly  be  the  objects  of  our  care. 
 
They  are  condemned  to  bondage. 
 
 JOSHUA,  X. 
 
 15  And  Joshua  "  made  peace  with  them,  and 
 made  a  league  with  them,  to  let  them  hve  : 
 and  the  princes  of  the  congregation  sware  unto 
 them. 
 
 16  H  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  three 
 days  after  they  had  made  a  league  witli  them, 
 that  they  heard  tliat  they  were  their  neigh- 
 bours, and  that  tliey  dwelt  among  them. 
 
 17  And  tlie  cliildren  of  Israel  journeyed,  and 
 came  luito  their  cities  on  the  third  day.  Now 
 their  cities  were  ''  Gibeon,  and  Chephirah,  and 
 Beeroth,  and  Kirjath-jearim. 
 
 18  And  the  children  of  Israel  smote  them 
 not,  ''  because  the  princes  of  the  congregation 
 had  sworn  unto  them  by  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel.  And  all  the  congregation  murmured 
 against  the  princes. 
 
 i9  I5nt  all  the  princes  said  unto  all  the  con- 
 gregation, We  have  sworn  unto  them  by  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel :  now  therefore  we  may 
 not  touch  them. 
 
 20  This  we  will  do  to  them  ;  we  will  even 
 let  them  live,  lest  '  wrath  be  upon  us,  because 
 of  the  oath  which  we  sware  unto  them. 
 
 21  And  the  princes  said  unto  them.  Let  them 
 live  ;  but  let  them  be  '  hewers  of  wood  and 
 drawers  of  water  unto  all  tlie  congregation  ;  as 
 the  princes  had  '  promised  them. 
 
 22  If  And  Josliua  called  for  them,  and  he 
 spake  unto  them,  saying.  Wherefore  have  ye 
 beguiled  us,  saying,  "  We  are  very  far  from 
 you  ;  when  "^  ye  dwell  among  us? 
 
 23  Now  therefore  ye  are  '  cursed,  and  there 
 shall  t  none  of  you  be  freed  from  being  bond- 
 men, and  ^  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of 
 water  for  the  house  of  my  God. 
 
 24  And  they  answered  Joshua,  and  said,  Be- 
 cause it  was  certainly  told  thy  servants,  how 
 tliat  the  Lord  thy  God  °  connuanded  his  ser- 
 vant Moses  to  give  you  all  the  land,  and  to  de- 
 stroy all  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  from  be- 
 fore you,  therefore  ^  we  were  sore  afraid  of  our 
 lives  because  of  you,  and  have  done  this  thing. 
 
 25  And  now,  behold,  we  are  '  in  thine  hand  : 
 as  it  seemeth  good  and  riglit  unto  thee  to  do 
 
 >  c)i.  n.  19. 
 
 2  Sam,  '?A  -^ 
 
 ■  See  2  Saul. 
 21.  I,  2,6. 
 Ezek.l7.IH 
 15,  18.  19. 
 Zecti..5  3,1. 
 Mai   s  3. 
 (Deu.29.  II. 
 
 «  ver. 
 
 e.  9. 
 
 X  ver 
 
 16. 
 
 V  Geu.  9.  9'. 
 t  Ht-b.  N"(  A' 
 cut  offfru^n 
 
 :  ver.  21.27 
 
 a  Kx.  23  .T2 
 Deu.7.  1,2 
 
 6  Ex.  15   14. 
 c  Gen.  te.  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  jfai'.', 
 
 or,  delivered 
 
 t„  be. 
 
 1  Cl.r    9.  2. 
 
 Ezra  8.  20 
 (i  ver.  21.23. 
 f  Deu.  12.  5 
 
 b  ch.  8.  22, 
 26,  28. 
 c  eh.  9.  16. 
 
 <i  y.x.  16.  II, 
 
 15.  IG  Deu. 
 
 t  Hel>    citSet 
 ul  the  kiltg- 
 
 Fiue  kings  war  against  Gibeon. 
 
 unto  us,  do. 
 
 26  And  so  did  he  unto  them,  and  delivered 
 them  out  of  the  band  of  the  children  of  Lsrael, 
 that  they  slew  them  not. 
 
 27  And  Joshua  f  made  them  that  day  •"  hew- 
 ers of  wood  and  drawers  of  water  for  the  con- 
 gregation, and  for  tlie  altar  of  the  Lord,  even 
 unto  this  day,  °  in  the  place  which  he  should 
 choose. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  Five  kings  war  against  Gibeon.  6  Joshua  nscuvlk 
 if.  10  Gtid  Jiyhteth  against  them  with  hailstones. 
 12  The  sun  and  moon  stand  still  af  the  word  of 
 Joshva,  \ii  The  Jive  kings  arc  mured  in  a  car*^. 
 21  Thi-i/  are  brought  forth ^  24  scornfully  uscdj  26 
 and  hanged.  28  Steven  kings  more  are  conquered, 
 43  Joshua  returntth  to  Gilgal. 
 
 "IVrOW  it  came  to  pass,  when  Adoni-zedec 
 -*"*  l<iiig  of  Jerusalem  liad  heard  how  Joshua 
 had  taken  Ai,  and  had  utterly  destroyed  it; 
 ^  as  he  had  done  to  Jericho  and  her  king,  so  he 
 had  done  to  ^  Ai  and  her  Vwv/^ ;  and  ''  how  tht? 
 inhaltitants  of  Giheon  had  made  peace  with 
 Israel,  and  were  among  them  ; 
 
 2  That  they  ''feared  greatly,  because  Gibeon 
 !/;a5  a  great  city,  as  one  of  the  f  royal  cities, 
 and  because  it  was  greater  than  Ai,  and  all 
 the  men  thereof  wire  mighty, 
 
 3  Wlierefore  Adoni-zedec  king  of  Jerusalem 
 sent  unto  Holiam  king  of  Hebron,  and  unto 
 Piram  king  of  Jarmuth,  and  unto  Japhia  king 
 of  Lachish,  and  unto  Debir  king  of  Eglon,  say- 
 ing, 
 
 4  Come  up  unto  me,  and  help  me,  that  we 
 may  smite  Gibeon  :  "^  for  it  liath  made  peace 
 with  Joshua  and  with  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 5  Therefore  the  five  kings  of  the  Amorites, 
 the  king  of  Jerusalem,  the  king  of  Hebron,  the 
 king  of  Jarmuth,  the  king  of  Lachish,  the  king 
 of  Eglon,  ''gathered  themselves  together,  and 
 went  up,  they  and  all  their  hosts,  and  en- 
 camped before  Gibeon,  and  made  war  against 
 it. 
 
 6  H  And  the  men  of  Gibeon  sent  unto  Joshua 
 *''  to  the  camp  to  Gilgal,  saying,  Slack  not  thy 
 
 Locke.  In  token  of  unalterable  friendship. — A.  Clitrke.  But  the 
 princes  would  have  provided  a  better  ciitertainnient  for  such  a  purpose  ; 
 the  margrinal  rending  is  therefore  to  be  preferred. — Gill.  \^.  Made 
 pfiicfi^and  a  leii^tc — in  making:  peace,  Hie  parties  must  become  tri- 
 butary, tDeut.  XX.  II;)  but  a  covenant  was  made  on  equal  terms. 
 God's  word  required  tlie  Gibeonites  should  have  their  lives  secured, 
 because  they  accepted  peace  ;  but  after  the  acceptation  of  peace  the 
 same  word  required  they  should  become  tributary,  and  therefore  a  tri- 
 bute of  body  was  <lenianded,  (ver.  21.) — Godwyn.  Some  doubt  whe- 
 ther this  league  wa>  lawful  and  binding  after  what  was  enjninf  d  £xod. 
 xxiii.  32  ;  xxxiv.  12  ;  but  the  law  admitted  of  exceptions  where  there 
 was  no  danger  of  idolatry,  and  the  parties  would  embrace  the  true  re- 
 ligion ;  and  that  this  league  was  lawful  and  obliging  may  be  concluded 
 (i.)  from  Joshua  and  the  princes  confirming  it,  (ver.  19,  20,  22,  23  ;) 
 (ii.)  because  God  punished  its  violation,  (2  Sam.  xxi.  1,;)  (iii.)  because 
 the  destruction  of  all  others  came  upon  them  from  their  hardness  of 
 h'^art.  owing  to  which  they  would  not  make  peace. — Poole.  18.  Mur- 
 innred,  becau'^e  they  were  deprived  of  the  spoil. — Pat.  20.  Because 
 of  the  oath—fox   purjury,  a  breach  of  the  third  command;    a  thing 
 
 highly  displeasing  to  God. — Gill.  21.  Unto  all  the  congregation,  for 
 the  service  of  God  at  the  tabernacle. — Pat.  23.  Cursed — their  degra- 
 dation consisted  in  being  reduced  from  warriors  to  the  work  of  women 
 and  children,  and  entailing  the  same  labour  on  their  posterity  — Hur. 
 Joshua  and  the  princes  had  promised  them  life,  but  no  covenant  was 
 made  against  their  servitude. — Up.  Hall. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  1.  Jerusalem,  is  generally  supposed  to  owe  its  origin  to 
 Melchizedck,  who  is  called  King  of  Salem,  (Gen.  xiv.  IS.)  It  was 
 afterwards  captured  and  fortified  by  the  Jebusite:*.  By  tliem  it  was 
 called  Jehus,  (l  C;hron.  xi.  4.)— C«/.  Joshua  gave  it  to  the  tribe  of 
 Benjamin,  (chap.  x\  iii.  28,1  and  the  Jebusites  had  a  footing  in  it  till  the 
 time  of  David,  (2  Sam.  v.  i ;  see  also  Judg.  i.  21 .)  It  was  situated  on 
 the  frontiers  of  Benjamin  and  Judah  ;  by  Joshua's  division,  Benjamin 
 had  the  most  right  to  it,  but  Judah  had  twice  subdued  it  under  the 
 Judges  and  under  David;  it  however,  at  length,  became  the  metropolis 
 of  the  Jewish  nation,  and  so  common  to  all  Israel. — Jtufjinson's  TheoL 
 Diet.  It  is  thought  the  Israelites  first  called  it  .Jeru'^alem  when  tiiey 
 took  possession  of  it. — Pat.  5.  Fixe  kings  o/  the  Amorites — being  the 
 most  powerful  people,  they  arc  named,  and  perhaps  the  rest  were  under 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  IX Bisliop  Hall  remarks  on  this 
 
 chapter— I.  As  Rahab  saved  her  familg  in  the  midst  ofj.richo, 
 so  these  four  cities  preserved  themselves  in  the  midst  of  Cannon,  and 
 both  of  them  by  btlieving  what  God  would  do.  Tlio  efficacy  of 
 God's  marvellous  works  is  not  in  the  acts  themsnlves,  but  in 
 our  failfi. 
 
 n.  Had  the  Gibeonites  joined  with  the  forces  nf  their  neighbours, 
 tlieg  had  perished  in  the  ciminton  slajightrr.  There  may  1ih  more 
 pleasure,  but  not  so  much  safety,  to  follow  the  multitude.  It 
 is  very  likely  their  neighbours  despised  tlieir  base  submission ; 
 but  wlien  tlie  bodies  of  the  proud  Jehiisites  and  Perizzites  lay 
 strewed  upon  the  earth,  which  were  most  wortliy  of  pcoin  and 
 insult? 
 
 243 
 
 III.  If  the  Gibeonites  had  staid  till  Israel  had  besieged  their  citieSi 
 their  yiihling  had  been  frnitless  ;  flow  thei/  nuike  an  early  peace,  and 
 are  preserved.  There  is  no  wisdom  in  stnying  liil  a  judt^ment 
 come  to  us.  To  solicit  God  betimes,  in  a  manifest  daiigor,  is 
 tlie  best  antidote  for  death. 
 
 \\.  The  sintrme  ofd-afh  was  gone  out  against  all  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  Canaan.  These  Hivites  acknowledge  the  truth  and 
 judgments  of  God,  and  yet  seek  to  escape,  by  a  league  wilb 
 Israek  The  general  denunciations  of  the  vengeance  of  God 
 enwrap  all  sinners;  yet  may  we  not  despiiir  of  mercy.  Let 
 us  come  in  the  old  rags  of  our  vileness  to  llio  true  Joshua,  and 
 make  our  truce  wiili  him— we  may  live,  we  shall  live. 
 
The  sun  and  moon  stand  still. 
 
 JOSHUA,  X. 
 
 TIw  five  kings  are  destroyed. 
 
 hand  from  tliy  servants ;  come  up  to  us  quickly, 
 and  save  up,  and  help  us  :  for  all  the  kings  of 
 the  Amorites  that  dwell  in  the  mountains  are 
 feathered  together  against  us. 
 
 7  So  Joshua  ascended  from  Gilgal,  he,  and 
 "  all  the  people  of  war  with  him,  and  all  the 
 mighty  men  of  valour. 
 
 8  1[  And  the  Lokd  said  unto  Joshua,  'Fear 
 them  not:  for  I  have  delivered  them  into  thine 
 hand  ;  '  there  shall  not  a  man  of  them  stand 
 before  thee. 
 
 9  Joshua  therefore  came  unto  them  suddenly, 
 and  went  up  from  Gilgal  all  night. 
 
 10  And  tlie  Lord  '  discomfited  them  before 
 Israel,  and  slew  them  with  a  great  slaughter  at 
 Giheon,  and  chased  them  along  the  way  that 
 goetli  up  "'  to  Beth-boron,  and  smote  them  to 
 "  Azekali,  and  unto  Makkedali. 
 
 1 1  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  fled  from 
 before  Israel,  and  were  in  the  going  down  to 
 Beth-horon,  °  that  tlie  Lord  cast  down  great 
 stones  from  heaven  upon  tliem  unto  Azekali, 
 and  they  died  :  tliei/  were  more  which  died 
 with  hailstones  tlian  t/iei/  whom  llie  children 
 of  Israel  slew  with  the  sword. 
 
 12  1  Then  s])ake  Joshua  to  the  Lord  in  the 
 day  when  the  Loud  delivered  up  the  Amorites 
 before  the  children  of  Israel,  and  he  said  in  the 
 sight  of  Israel,  ''Sun,  f  stand  thou  still  upon 
 Gibeoii ;  and  thou.  Moon,  in  the  valley  of 
 '  Ajalon. 
 
 13  And  the  sun  stood  still,  and  the  moon 
 stayed,  until  the  people  had  avenged  them- 
 selves upon  their  enemies.  '  Is  not  this  written 
 in  the  book  of  ||Jasliery  So  the  sun  stood  still 
 in  the  midst  of  heaven,  and  hasted  not  to  go 
 down  about  a  whole  day. 
 
 14  And  there  was  'no  day  like  that  before  it 
 or  after  it,  that  the  Lord  hearkened  unto  the 
 voice  of  a  man  :  for  '  the  Lord  fought  for 
 Israel. 
 
 13  H  "  And  Joshua  returned,  and  all  Israel 
 with  him,  unto  the  camp  to  Gilgal. 
 
 If)  But  these  five  kings  fled,  and  hid  them- 
 selves in  a  cave  at  Makkedali. 
 
 17  And  it  was  told  Joshua,  saying.  The  five 
 kings  are  found  hid  in  a  cave  at  Makkedah. 
 
 irh.  lie.      I 
 JuJg.1.  14 
 
 /J(i(l?.'1.15. 
 
 I  Sam.  7. 
 
 Ill,  12.  Ps. 
 
 18.  11.  Is. 
 
 sa.  -21. 
 m  ch.l6.S,S 
 
 n  ch.  15.  35. 
 
 >  ra.  IS.  IS. 
 ll.ScTT  17. 
 IB.  SO.  3t». 
 I->rliifl.  46. 
 S.  Rev.  16 
 21. 
 
 I>  In.  2fi.  21. 
 
 Hab.  3.  II. 
 
 Kcclui.  41). 
 
 4 
 t  Hi.>b.  ht 
 
 7  .'"Jg.  18. 
 
 Or,  lt>f  up- 
 
 t  neu.  1.  SO. 
 vei .  42.  It 
 Ch.  23.  ;t. 
 
 1  Heb.  ri// 
 'J  tlutuit. 
 
 119.  H,  9 
 r»  21,. .%  6. 
 M.il.  4    3 
 1  Deil.  31   6, 
 3.  ch.  1.  0. 
 
 n  I>eii  3.  21. 
 8.  7.  I'J. 
 
 18  And  Joshua  said.  Roll  great  stones  upon 
 the  mouth  of  the  cave,  and  set  men  by  it  for  to 
 keep  them  : 
 
 19  And  Stay  ye  not,  but  pursue  after  your 
 enemies,  and  f smite  the  hindmost  of  them; 
 suffer  them  not  to  enter  into  their  cities  :  for 
 the  Lord  your  God  hath  delivered  them  into 
 your  hand. 
 
 •20  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joshua  and  the 
 children  of  Israel  had  made  an  end  of  slaying 
 them  with  a  very  great  slaughter,  till  tbey 
 were  consumed,  that  the  rest  uhicli  remained 
 of  ihem  entered  into  fenced  cities. 
 
 21  And  all  the  people  returned  to  the  camp  to 
 Joshua  at  Makkedali  in  peace  :  '  none  moved 
 his  tongue  against  any  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 22  Then  said  Joshua,  Open  the  mouth  of  the 
 cave,  and  bring  out  those  five  kings  unto  me 
 out  of  the  cave. 
 
 23  And  they  did  so,  and  brought  forth  those 
 five  kings  unto  him  out  of  the  cave,  the  king 
 of  Jernsalem,  the  king  of  Hebron,  the  king  of 
 Jarmutb,  the  king  of  Lachish,  and  the  king  of 
 Eglon. 
 
 24  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  brought 
 out  those  kings  unto  Joshua,  that  Joshua 
 called  for  all  the  men  of  Israel,  and  said  unto 
 the  captains  of  the  men  of  war  which  went 
 with  bini,  Come  near,  '  put  your  feet  upon  the 
 necks  of  these  kings.  And  they  came  near, 
 and  put  their  feet  upon  the  necks  of  them. 
 
 2j  And  Jo.shua  said  unto  them,  '  Fear  not, 
 nor  be  dismayed,  be  strong  and  of  good  con- 
 rage  :  for  "  thus  shall  the  Lord  do  to  all  your 
 enemies  against  whom  ye  fight. 
 
 2(3  And  afterward  Joshua  smote  them,  and 
 slew  them,  and  banged  them  on  five  trees  : 
 and  tbey  ''  were  banging  upon  the  trees  until 
 the  evening. 
 
 27  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  time  of  the 
 going  down  of  the  sun,  (hat  Joshua  commanded, 
 and  they  '  took  them  down  off  the  trees,  and 
 cast  them  into  the  cave  wherein  they  had  been 
 hid,  and  laid  great  stones  in  the  cave's  mouth, 
 which  remain  unto  this  very  day. 
 
 28  II  And  that  day  Joshua  took  Makkedah, 
 and  smote  it  with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  aud 
 
 their  power.— /"oo/i!,  Pat.,  Gill.  10.  Detli-lwroti,  so  called  bv  anti- 
 cipation, for  there  was  no  such  place  now.  It  was  built  by  s'herah, 
 daughter  or  frrand-rtauplitcr  of  Ephraim,  (1  Chron.  vii.  24.)— Pi/Mc*:. 
 1 1.  C'lst  dou-it  great  stones— ^nrae  suppose  large  hail  is  intended,  oi  hers 
 real  stones.  Under  the  reign  of  Tullus  llo^tilius  a  shower  of  stones 
 fell  on  the  mountain  of  Alba.— Ti7.,  Li>.,  lib.  i.  p.  12,  ^c.  Some  time 
 after  the  battle  of  Alba,  there  were  seen  on  the  same  mountain  a  shower 
 of  stones  which  conlinued  for  two  days  togctlier.  Many  other  in. 
 stances  arc  mentioned  in  history;  and  as  late  as  April  26,  1S03,  several 
 stones,  weighing  from  ten  to  seventeen  pounds  each,  fell  near  I'Aigle 
 In  Normandy. — Htitton's  .ibridg.  fif  Pldlt}s.  Trans. .  Pt.  ^.\i  Httrmer 
 mentions  a  Saracen  army  almost  cut  to  pieces  with  sheets  of  liail. 
 Pecidedly  a  storm  of  hail  is  meant,  so  terrible,  opportune,  and  discri- 
 minate in  its  effects,  as  to  shew  the  hand  of  (jod.  Sir  Rulierl  Wilsim 
 mentions  a  dreadful  hail  storm  in  Asiatic  Turiiey,  in  which  the  hail 
 was  as  big  as  large  walnuts. — Pict.  Bit).  12.  Sun,  stand — the  earth 
 stoi^ped  her  diurnal  motion.  As  Joshua  saw  the  sun  and  mo^n  at  the 
 same  time  it  must  have  been  evening.  As  a  day  was  thus  gamed,  and 
 the  length  of  the  day  in  that  part,  near  the  vernal  equino.x,  was  about 
 thirteen  hours,  .lushua  obtained  about  twentx  -six  hours  of  da\  light  to 
 destroy  his  enemies.  Tat/hr  thinks  it  was  the  light  issuing  from  the 
 sun,  and  not  Ihe  body  ot  the  sun,  that  stood  slill,  or  all  nature  would 
 have  been  deranged.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  the  historians  and 
 poets  of  other  nations  record  such  an  event.  SliiliiM  had  heard  of  it, 
 and  supposed  it  to  have  happened  about  the  lime  of  the  Tlicban  war-, 
 and  the  Chinese  chronology  states,  that  in  the  reign  of  the  Emperor 
 Yao,  the  sun  did  not  set  for  ten  days.  An  imperfect  knowledge  of  the 
 Chniese  may  have  rendered  a  word  'days'  which  should  signify  a 
 shorter  time  ;  for  in  calculating  the  annals,  the  date  of  the  world  cor. 
 responds.— yo/z/or's  C«/mc/,  Siit.  The  facts  are  affirmed  Hah.  iii.  11. 
 The  machine  of  the  universe  is  in  the  hand  of  God  ;  he  can  stop  the 
 nu)lion  of  any  part  or  of  the  whole  of  it.— i)/,.  Walxun.  13.  TAc  Ijijok 
 .J  Jaslier.ur  •.it  rectitude,  il  we  irauslalc  llic  word,  might  have  Ucen 
 244 
 
 some  useful  compcnd  taken  from  Scripture,  or  composed  by  the  wise 
 for  the  regulation  of  justice  and  equity  between  man  and  man. — 
 Alexander  on  tite  Can.  of  Scrip.  The  book  of  the  law.— Tkt^.  Pro. 
 bably  a  public  register,  or  annals,  in  which  memorable  events  were 
 written. — Gitl.  LTpright  or  authentic  rccorils  or  chronicles  ;  probably 
 those  of  the  High  Fricst,  from  which  most  of  the  Old  Testament  history 
 was  compiled  — Wil.  U  may  mean,  say  some,  the  book  of  righteous 
 men,  in  which  their  heroic  deeds  were  recorded. — Pat.  A  collection 
 of  state  poems,  probably  the  same  with  that  book  of  the  wars  of  the 
 Lord,  (Num.  -xxi.  14.) — Hen.  It  was  probably  in  verse,  for  it  is  men. 
 tioned  2  Sam.  i.  1 8,  on  account  of  a  song  made  upon  the  death  of  Saul 
 and  Jonathan  by  king  David,  who  caused  it  to  be  recorded  in  Ihisbook, 
 which  was  not  accounted  sacred,  and  so  not  preserved  with  the  same 
 care  as  the  other  canonical  books. — Grotins.  Perhaps  it  was  a  work  of 
 Joshua's,  re'icmh]tng  Cesar's  Commentaries. — .-I.  Clarke.  In  the  midst 
 of  lieaven — in  the  same  place  where  it  was  when  Joshua  spoke. 
 14.  TAe  Lord  hearkened — hence  Joshua's  words  were  a  pratjer,  and  not 
 a  command,  and  it  is  said,  (ver.  12.)  *  he  spake  to  the  Lord.' — Henry. 
 1.5.  Relumed  —  this  vcrs^e  is  a  manifest  interpolation.  —  l>r.  Wall, 
 Bitothr.  The  Sept.  omit  this  verse,  because  Joshua  did  not  return  till 
 he  had  done  what  follows,  and  the  same  words  are  in  ver.  43.  The 
 meaning  is,  he  was  about  to  return  when  he  heard  of  the  five  kings. — 
 Pat.,  so  Sanrin,  Cal.  16.  Jn  a  care— when  the  Grand  Signior  or. 
 dered  the  Bashaw  of  Damascus  to  make  the  Emir  Facardine  a  prisoner, 
 Facardine  shut  hmiself  up  in  the  hollow  of  a  great  rock,  with  a  small 
 number  of  oflicers,  where  they  were  in  vain  besieged  for  some  months, 
 — Har.  These  places  of  retreat  and  defence  are  often  mentioned  in 
 Sciipture.  21.  None  moved  his  /ojf^'He— supposed  to  be  proverbial; 
 no  hurt  was  done  them  in  word  or  deed. — Gitl.  24,  Upon  the  necks, 
 — an  expression  of  triumph  frequently  used.  When  IHoxippus  had 
 tripped  up  tlic  heels  of  Horratus.  and  thrown  him  violently  on  the 
 ground,  he  put  his  foot  on  his  neck,  drew  out  his  sword,  and  lifting  up 
 his  ciub  would  have  killed  the  champion  had  he  not  been  prevented  by 
 
Sez'en  other  /tingis  are  conquered. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XI. 
 
 Divers  kinr/s  arc  overcome. 
 
 the  king  thereof  he  utterly  destroyed,  them, 
 and  all  the  souls  that  were  therein  ;  he  let 
 none  remain  :  and  he  did  to  the  king  of  Mak- 
 kedah  ''as  he  did  unto  the  king  of  Jericho. 
 
 29  Then  Joshua  passed  from  Makkedah,  and 
 all  Israel  with  him,  unto  Libnah,  and  fought 
 against  Libnah  : 
 
 30  And  the  Lord  delivered  it  also,  and  the 
 king  thereof,  into  the  hand  of  Israel ;  and  he 
 smote  it  with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  all  the 
 souls  that  li'ere  therein  ;  he  let  none  remain 
 in  it ;  but  did  unto  the  king  thereof  as  he  did 
 unto  tlie  king  of  Jericho. 
 
 31  t  And  Joshua  passed  from  Libnah,  and 
 all  Israel  with  him,  unto  Lachish,  and  en- 
 camped against  it,  and  fought  against  it : 
 
 3'2  And  the  Lord  delivered  Lachish  into  the 
 hand  of  Israel,  which  took  it  on  the  second 
 day,  and  smote  it  with  the  edge  of  the  sword, 
 and  all  the  souls  tliat  were  therein,  according 
 to  all  that  he  had  done  to  Libnah. 
 
 33  t  Then  Horam  king  of  Gezer  came  up  to 
 help  Lachish  ;  and  Joshua  smote  him  and  his 
 people,  until  he  had  left  him  none  remaining. 
 
 34  1[  And  from  Lachish  Joshua  passed  unto 
 Eglon,  and  all  Israel  with  him  ;  and  they  en- 
 camped against  it,  and  fought  against  it : 
 
 3.5  And  they  took  it  on  tliat  day,  and  smote 
 it  with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  all  the  souls 
 that  were  therein  he  utterly  destroyed  that 
 day,  according  to  all  that  he  had  done  to 
 Lachish. 
 
 36  And  Joshua  went  up  from  Eglon,  and  all 
 Israel  with  him,  unto  '  Hebron  ;  and  they 
 fouglit  against  it : 
 
 37  And  they  took  it,  and  smote  it  with  the 
 edge  of  the  sword,  and  the  king  thereof,  and 
 all  the  cities  thereof,  and  all  the  souls  that 
 were  therein  ;  he  left  none  remaining,  accord- 
 ing to  all  that  he  had  done  to  Eglon  ;  but  de- 
 stroyed it  utterly,  and  all  the  souls  that  iverc 
 therein. 
 
 38  t  And  Joshua  returned,  and  all  Israel 
 with  him,  to  '  Debir  ;  and  fought  against  it : 
 
 39  And  he  took  it,  and  tlie  king  thereof,  and 
 all  the  cities  thereof;  and  they  smote  them 
 with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  utterly  de- 
 stroyed all  the  souls  that  ivere  therein  ;  he  left 
 none  remaining :  as  he  had  done  to  Hebron, 
 so  ho  did  to  Debir,  and  to  the  king  thereof;  as 
 he  had  done  also  to  Libnah,  and  to  her  king. 
 
 .  See  cli.  Il- 
 ls «■  15.  13. 
 Judg.  l.ll). 
 
 A  Gen. 10. 10. 
 I  cli.  II.  16. 
 
 /  See  cli.  16. 
 IS.  Judg.  1. 
 
 rr  ch.  10.  3. 
 t  ch.  VX  15. 
 
 rfrl.  17.  II 
 .l.,.lB.  1.27. 
 I  Kill.  4.11. 
 
 I,  Geii.  23.17. 
 
 it  sa,  13. 
 
 Judg.  7.  {'2. 
 IS.IDI.  13  5. 
 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 btf  "jtpoijit- 
 
 X  di.  1(1.  B. 
 
 II  Or,  Zidoit 
 
 rnbhab. 
 Jell.  13.9. 
 II  Or,  tail 
 
 pit*. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 bttrningi. 
 
 40  1  So  Joshua  smote  all  the  country  of  the 
 hills,  and  of  the  south,  and  of  the  vale,  and  of 
 the  springs,  and  all  their  kings :  he  left  none 
 remaining,  but  utterly  destroyed  all  that 
 breathed,  as  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  ^com 
 manded. 
 
 41  And  Joshua  smote  them  from  Kadesh- 
 barnea  even  unto  ''  Gaza,  'and  all  the  country 
 of  Goshen,  even  unto  Gibeon. 
 
 42  And  all  these  kings  and  their  land  did 
 Joshua  take  at  one  time,  '  because  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel  fought  for  Israel. 
 
 43  And  Joshua  returned,  and  all  Israel  with 
 him,  unto  the  camp  to  Gilgal. 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 1  Dh'irs  khqs  overcome  at  the  waters  of  Merom. 
 10  Huzor  is  taken  and  hvrnt.  16  .-lil  the  country 
 taken  by  Josltua.     21    Tkc  Anuhims  cut  off. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jabin  king  of 
 ■'-^  Hazor  had  heard  those  thiiif/s,  that  he 
 "  sent  to  Jobab  king  of  Madon,  and' to  the  king 
 ■■of  Shimron,  and  to  the  king  of  Achshaph, 
 
 2  And  to  the  kings  that  were  on  the  north 
 of  the  mountains,  and  of  the  plains  south  of 
 °  Chinneroth,  and  in  the  valley,  and  in  the 
 borders  ''of  Dor  on  the  west, 
 
 3  And  to  the  Canaanite  on  the  east  and  on 
 the  west,  and  to  the  Amorite,  and  the  Hittite, 
 and  the  Perizzite,  and  the  Jebusite  in  the 
 mountains, '  and  to  the  Hivite  under  '  Hermon 
 ^  in  the  land  of  Mizpeh. 
 
 4  And  they  went  out,  they  and  all  their  hosts 
 with  them,  much  people,  i"  even  as  the  sand 
 that  is  upon  the  sea  shore  in  multitude,  with 
 horses  and  chariots  very  many. 
 
 5  And  when  all  these  kings  were  fmet  toge- 
 ther, they  came  and  pitched  together  at  the 
 waters  of  Merom,  to  fight  against  Israel. 
 
 6  t  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Joshua, '  Be  not 
 afraid  because  of  them  :  for  to  morrow  about 
 this  time  will  I  deliver  them  up  all  slain  be- 
 fore Israel  :  thou  shalt  ''  hough  their  horses, 
 and  burn  their  chariots  with  fire. 
 
 7  So  Joshua  came,  and  all  the  people  of  war 
 with  him,  against  them  by  the  waters  of  Merom 
 suddenly  ;  and  they  fell  upon  them. 
 
 8  And  the  Lord  delivered  them  into  the 
 hand  of  Israel,  who  smote  them,  and  chased 
 them  unto  ||  great  Zidon,  and  unto  '  ||  f  Misre- 
 photh-maim,  and  unto  the  valley  of  Mizpeh 
 
 the  king:. — Q.  Curtiiis,  lib.  i.'C.  c.  7.  3~.  The  king  thereof— A  new 
 king;  one  had  been  slain  before,— Pat,  39.  Utterly  destroyed — from 
 Judg.  i.  10,  it  must  have  been  repossessed  by  the  Canaanites.  Joshua, 
 after  destroying  the  places,  left  nn  garrisons;  and  in  several  instances, 
 no  iloubt,  the  scattered  Canaanites  returned  and  put  the  places  in  a 
 state  of  defence.  Hence  the  Israelites  had  again  to  conquer  them. — 
 Cal^  10^"im,  '  brought  them  under  the  anathema  ;'  all  were  not  slain, 
 some  were  reduced  to  slavery. — A,  Clarice,  40.  Left  7ione  remaining — 
 this  system  of  warfare  was  but  a  retaliating  upon  the  Canaanites  their 
 own  barbarities. — See  Adoni-bezek,  (Judg.  i.  7.)  Though  retaliation 
 be  not  allowed  to  us,  it  is  an  essential  feature  of  the  Divine  govern- 
 ment. '  Vengeance  is  mine,  I  wUl  repay,  saith  the  Lord.' — Wit.  Alt 
 that  breathed,  of  mankind,  for  they  kept  tlie  cattle. — Pat,  41.  Goshen, 
 not  that  in  Egypt. — Gilt,  Boothr.  Probably  so  named  by  the  Phcenician 
 or  Canaanitish  pastors,  who  were  driven  out  of  Egypt,  and  before  their 
 
 expulsion  inhabited  that  part  where  the  Israelites  had  dwelt. — Bp, 
 Cumberland.  I  am  of  opinion  that  it  was  the  country  of  the  Geshur- 
 ites,  mentioned  chap.  xiii.  2. — Bootlir. 
 
 Chap.  XI. —  1.  Hazor,  in  Upper  Galilee,  afterwards  given  to  Naph- 
 tali,  (chap.  xi.x.  36.) — Gill,  Boothr,  Madon,  probably  Maron,  in  the 
 land  of  Meraz,  {Judg.  v.  23.) — Cat,  Shimron,  a  place  afterwards  in  the 
 tribe  of  Zebulun,  (chap.  xix.  15.)  Achshaph,  afterwards  belonging  to 
 Ashur,  (chap.  xix.  25.)  2.  Ctiinneroth,  Gcnnesaret. — Pnt,  4,  Cha- 
 riots— these  were  armed  with  iron  hnoks  or  scythes,  to  cut  down  men 
 as  they  went  along. — Gill,  6.  Hough,  "cut  their  hamstrings.' — Pnt. 
 '  Maim  them,'  so  as  to  render  them  unfit  fur  war. — Wit,  Probably  to 
 destroy  them. — A,  Clarke,  The  kings  of  Israel  were  not  to  multiply 
 liorses.— G(7/.  8.  Great  Zidon,  generally  supposed  to  mean  the  famed 
 Sidnn. — See  Gill,  Misrephoth-inaim,  or  *  boilings  of  water  ;'  it  seems 
 as  if  it  was  a  place  of  hot  baths. — Gilt,     *  Die  warme  wasser,'  '  the  hot 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  X.  —  I,  If  we  join  in   league  with  destruction.'  '  Who  can  stand  when  God  appeareth  T'  Heaven 
 
 tlw  people  of  God,  we  shall  he  sure  to  briny  npon  us  the  hatred  and  earth  are  at  his  command  to  accomplish  Ids  designs  and 
 
 of  the  world.    So  the  Gibeonites  provoked  the  vengeance  of  the  to  punish  his  enemies  ! 
 
 five  kings.  IV.  In  our  .spiritual  warfare  ht  us  never  foryet  to  have  recourse 
 
 II.  Union  with  God's  people  will,  in  the  end,  be  found  the  safest  to  prayer.  We  are  not  to  expect  miracles  like  that  of  Joshua, 
 side,  '  Who  shall  harm  you  if  ye  be  followers  of  that  which  but  we  may  expect  that  '  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall 
 is  good  V  renew  their  strength  ;  they  shall  run,  and  not  he  weary  ;  and 
 
 III.  The  fate  of  obstinate  sinners    is  awful,     *  Tlieir  end  is  they  shall  walk,  and  not  faint.' 
 
 246 
 
Hazor  is  taken  and  burnt. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XII. 
 
 Tile  Analtinis  are  cut  off. 
 
 eastward  ;   and    they  smote  them,  until  they 
 left  them  none  remaining. 
 
 9  And  Joshua  did  up.to  them  '"  as  the  Lord 
 bade  liim  :  he  houghed  their  horses,  and  burnt 
 their  chariots  with  fire. 
 
 10  H  And  Josliua  at  that  time  turned  back, 
 and  toolv  Hazor,  and  smote  tlie  lung  tliereof 
 with  tlie  sword  ;  for  Hazor  beforetime  was  the 
 head  of  all  those  liingdonis. 
 
 1 1  And  they  smote  all  the  souls  that  were 
 therein  with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  utterly  de- 
 stroying them  :  there  was  not  f  any  left  to 
 breathe  ;  and  he  burnt  Hazor  with  fire. 
 
 \-l  And  all  the  cities  of  those  kings,  and  all 
 the  kings  of  them,  did  Joshua  take,  and  smote 
 them  with  tlie  edge  of  the  sword,  and  he  utterly 
 destroyed  them,  "as  Moses  the  servant  of  ihe 
 Lord  commanded. 
 
 13  But  as  for  the  cities  that  stood  still  fin 
 their  strength,  Israel  burned  none  of  them, 
 save  Hazor  only;  that  did  Joshua  burn. 
 
 14  And  all  the  spoil  of  these  cities,  and  the 
 cattle,  the  children  of  Israel  took  for  a  prey 
 unto  themselves  ;  but  every  man  they  smote 
 with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  until  they  had  de- 
 stroyed them,  neither  left  they  any  to  breathe. 
 
 15  1[  °  As  tlio  Lord  commanded  Moses  his 
 servant,  so  ""did  Moses  command  Joshua,  and 
 ''so  did  Joshua;  fhe  left  nothing  undone  of 
 all  that  tlie  Loud  commanded  Moses. 
 
 16  So  Joshua  took  all  that  land,  'the  hills, 
 and  all  the  soutli  country,  *and  all  the  land  of 
 Goshen,  and  the  valley,  and  the  plain,  and  the 
 mountain  of  Israel,  and  the  valley  of  the  .same  ; 
 
 1 7  '■Even  from  ||  the  mount  Halak,  that  goeth 
 up  to  Seir,  even  unto  Baal-gad  in  tlie  valley  of 
 Lebanon  under  mount  Hermon  :  and  "all  their 
 kings  he  took,  and  smote  them,  and  slew  them. 
 
 18  II  Joshua  made  war  a  long  time  with  all 
 
 St:M.  Hi,  t; 
 t  Ufb.  ..., 
 Ihrir  licuji. 
 
 »  RJ.  31.  M, 
 
 ;.  Pent.  7.3. 
 9.M..  1.7. 
 
 r  ch.  12.  8. 
 
 t  ell.  iti.'n. 
 
 ( ell-  15.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  Iha 
 
 t„',u>,taln. 
 u  Deu.  7  2t. 
 
 i-li.  1-2.  7. 
 II  Till  1.115. 
 
 B   C.  1150. 
 iCli.9.  3,  7. 
 
 /  Deu.  2.  30. 
 Judlf.  14-1 
 I  Sam,2.;r> 
 IKin.lS.li 
 Horn.  9.  Is 
 
 <■  Xiiin.  13 
 2-.%  .-W. 
 Dl-u    1.28. 
 
 b  I  Sa.  17-  'I 
 c  ch.  15.  -ki. 
 
 ./  Xum.  ai. 
 2,  Ko. 
 
 e  Nn.26.  53. 
 
 cli.U.  &  !.'>. 
 
 8;  16.  &  17. 
 
 H:  (8.  &  10. 
 /cli.  14.  15, 
 
 &  21.  M.  ftc 
 
 22.4.^2.H.l. 
 1115. 
 
 vei-.  19. 
 
 1  Nu.  81.  21. 
 b  Deu.3.H,9. 
 
 cNu.2l.5<l 
 Dcii.  2,  33, 
 3(j.8(3.ti,  10. 
 
 those  kings. 
 
 19  There  was  not  a  city  that  made  peace 
 with  the  children  of  Israel,  save  ^  the  Hivites 
 the  inhabitants  of  Gibeon  :  all  other  they  took 
 in  battle. 
 
 '20  For  *'it  was  of  the  Louu  to  harden  their 
 hearts,  that  they  should  come  against  Israel  in 
 battle,  that  he  might  destroy  them  utterly,  and 
 that  they  might  have  no  favour,  but  that  he 
 might  destroy  them, '  as  the  Lord  commanded 
 Moses. 
 
 •21  IF  And  at  that  time  came  Joshua,  and  cut 
 off  "  the  Anakims  from  the  mountains,  from 
 Hebron,  from  Debir,  from  Anab,  and  from  all 
 the  niDiintains  of  Judali,  and  from  all  the 
 mountains  of  Israel :  Joshua  destroyed  them 
 utterly  with  their  cities. 
 
 2-2  There  was  none  of  the  Anakims  left  in 
 the  land  of  the  children  of  Israel :  only  in 
 Gaza,  ill  ''  Gath,  ^  and  in  Aslidod,  there  re- 
 mained. 
 
 2;j  So  Joshua  took  the  whole  land,  ''  accord- 
 ing to  all  that  the  Loud  said  unto  Moses  ;  and 
 Joshua  gave  it  for  an  inheritance  unto  Israel 
 "according  to  their  divisions  by  their  tribes. 
 '  And  the  land  rested  from  war. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  The  two  hiiiffs  wfiose  countries  Afoscs  took  and  dis- 
 posed of  .  7  The  one  and  thirty  khujs  on  the  ot/tn- 
 side  Jordan  ivhich  Joshua  smote. 
 
 "IVrOW  these  are  the  kin'i:s  of  the  laiul,  which 
 -^^  the  children  of  Israel  smote,  and  pos- 
 sessed their  land  on  the  other  side  Jordan 
 toward  tlie  rising  of  the  sun,  "from  the  river 
 Anion  ^  unto  mount  Hermon,  and  all  the  plain 
 on  the  east : 
 
 2  "^  Sihon  king  of  the  Amorites,  who  dwelt 
 in  Heshbon,  and  ruled  from  Aroer,  which  is 
 
 ■waters.* — Luther.  Very  probably  Sarcpta,  callel  also  Zarephath, 
 »  Kings,  xvii.  Q.)~Cnf.,  Himb.  U.  All  the  smUs—XXiG  childreu  were 
 cut  off  le.-t  they  should  afterwards  lay  claim  to  any  parr  o(  tliis  land  in 
 the  right  of  their  parents.— Hen.  13.  Stood  still  in  their  strength, 
 t3^n  Sv,  '  upon  their  heaps/  '  thtir  hills,'  and  whose  walls  were  not  de- 
 molished.—GiV/.  See  Jer.  xxx.  18,  18.  ,-1  iuTig  tune,  seven  yi-ars  ; 
 collected  from  these  facts  :— Caleb  was  forty  years  old  when  sent  to  spy 
 out  the  land ;  at  the  end  of  the  war  he  was  eishty-tive  ;chap.  xiv.  in  ;) 
 from  85  subtract  "S.  that  is,  40,  his  age  when  be  went  to  Kadcsh- 
 baniea,  and  38  years  spent  afterwards  in  the  wdderness,  and  seven 
 years  remaia  to  conquer  the  land.— 6'u/.      20.  To  harden  tUeir  hearts— 
 
 tliey  had  filled  up  the  measure  of  their  iniquity,  and  were  judicintly 
 Icit  tf)  blindness. — Scott.  23.  Took  the  whale  land — many  Canaaniles 
 abandoned  the  country  and  settled  in  Africa  ;  some  in  Lower  fcgypt, 
 called  the  Nomades,  or  shepherd  kings.  Prucapiiis  menlioiis  two  co- 
 lumns reared  by  these  fugitives  in  the  city  of  Tingis,  the  modern  Tan- 
 giers,  hearing  this  inscription  in  the  Phuenician  characters — '  We  are 
 fugitives  who  fled  from  the  face  of  the  Great  Robber,  Joshua,  the  son 
 of  Niin.'—Boeh.  Different  tribes  are  also  said  to  have  settled  in 
 Greece,  Asia  Minor,  and  the  inlands  of  the  /Egcan  Sea. — See  Sir  Isaac 
 Neivtan's  Chrojwl. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI. — Mr.  Henry  divides  this 
 cJiapter  into  six  parts,  on  which  he  has  some  valuable  re- 
 marks : —  1,  The  confederacy  of  the  northern  croivns  against 
 Israel.  God  hardened  their  liearts  to  begin  the  war,  that 
 Israel  might  be  justified  beyond  exception  iu  destroying  tliem. 
 Sinners  bring  ruin  upon  their  own  heads,  so  that  '  God  will 
 be  justified  when  be  speaks,'  and  they  alone  shall  bear  the 
 blame  for  ever. 
 
 II.  7'Ae  encouragement  which  God  gave  to  Joshua  to  engage 
 them.  '  Be  not  afraid  because  of  ibem.'  Joshua  was  remark- 
 able for  his  courage  ;  it  was  his  master  grace,  and  yet  it  seems 
 he  had  need  to  be  again  and  again  cautioned  not  to  be  afraid. 
 Fresh  danc;ers  and  difficulties  make  it  necessary  to  fetch  in 
 fresh  supports  and  comforts  from  the  word  of  God,  which  we 
 have  always  niph  unto  us,  to  be  made  use  of  in  every  time  of 
 need.  Those  that  have  God  on  their  side  need  not  be  dis- 
 turbed at  the  number  and  power  of  their  enemies  ;  '  more  are 
 they  that  are  with  us  than  they  that  are  against  us ;'  they  have 
 the  hosts  of  the  Lord  thai  have  the  Lord  of  Hosts  engaged  for 
 thorn. 
 
 III.  Joshua^s  victory  over  his  enemirs.  '  So  the  Lord  deli- 
 vered them  into  the  hands  of  Israel.'  They  would  not  deliver 
 themselves  into  the  hands  of  Israel  to  be  made  proselytes  and 
 tributaries,  and  so  offered  up  to  God's  grace,  (Rom.  xv.  16,) 
 and  therefore  God  delivered  them  into  their  hands,  to  be  made 
 sacrifices  to  his  justice  ;  for  God  will  be  honoured  by  us  or 
 upon  us. 
 
 IV.    77/,^    ffd;in.,  of  tite  cities.      'Neither  left    they  any   to 
 1.M6 
 
 breathe,'  that  there  might  be  none  to  infect  tiiem  with  the 
 abominations  of  ('anaan,  and  none  to  disturb  them  in  the  pos- 
 session of  it.  'The  spoil  and  the  cattle  they  took  for  a  prey 
 to  themselves.'  As  they  were  enrulied  with  the  spoil  of 
 their  oppressors  when  they  came  out  of  Egypt,  wherewith  lo 
 defray  tlie  charges  of  their  apprenticesliip  in  the  wilderness, 
 so  they  were  now  enriclied  with  the  spoil  of  their  enemies, 
 for  a  stock  wherewith  to  set  up  in  ihe  laud  of  Canaan.  Thus 
 is  the  wealth  of  the  sinner  laid  up  for  the  just. 
 
 V.  The  destruction  uf  the  Anakims,  IN'ever  let  the  sons  of 
 Anak  be  a  terror  to  the  Israel  of  God,  for  even  their  day  will 
 come  to  have  a  fall.  Giants  are  dwarfs  to  Omnipotence.  ^  et 
 this  struggle  with  the  Anakims  was  reserved  for  the  latter  end 
 of  the  war,  when  the  Israelites  were  become  more  expert  in 
 the  arts  of  war,  and  bad  had  more  experience  of  the  power 
 and  goodness  of  God.  God  sometimes  reserves  the  sharpest 
 trials  of  his  people  by  affliction  and  temptation  for  the  latter 
 end  of  their  days  :  therefore,  '  let  not  him  that  girdeth  on  the 
 harness  boast  as  he  that  puts  it  off.'  Death  is  the  last  enemy 
 that  is  to  be  encouniered,  hut  it  is  to  be  destroyed,  (1  Cor. 
 XV.  '26, )  and  it  is  a  sou  of  Anak  J  thanks  be  to  God,  who  will 
 give  us  the  victory. 
 
 VI.  The  general  conchision  of  the  story  of  this  tear.  All  the 
 promises  God  had  given  to  lUoses  relating  to  this  contjuest 
 were  accomplished  on  his  part.  There  failed  not  one  word. 
 It  we  make  conscience  of  our  duty,  we  need  not  question  the 
 performance  of  the  promise. 
 
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■.  liateiaio^iii-r  Kow.MayJiUJ^. 
 
The  one  and  thirty  kings  smillcn  hi/  Jushtta.     JOSHUA,  XIII.  The  bounds  of  the  land  not  yd  conquered. 
 
 upon  the  bank  of  the  river  Anion,  and  from 
 the  middle  of  tlie  river,  and  from  half  Gilead, 
 even  unto  the  river  Jabbok,  which  is  the 
 border  of  the  children  of  Amnion  ; 
 
 3  And  ••  from  the  plain  to  the  sea  of  Chin- 
 nerotli  on  the  east,  and  unto  the  sea  of  the 
 plain,  ercn  the  salt  sea  on  the  east,  °  the  way 
 to  Beth-jeshimoth  ;  and  from  ||  the  south, 
 under  ||  ''  Ashdoth-pisgah  : 
 
 4  H  And  ^  the  coast  of  Og  king  of  Bashan, 
 which  was  of  ''  tlie  remnant  of  the  giants, '  that 
 dwelt  at  Ashtaroth  and  at  Edrei, 
 
 5  And  reigned  in  '  mount  Hermon,  '  and  in 
 Salcah,  and  in  all  Bashan,  "  unto  the  border  of 
 the  Geshurites  and  the  Maachathites,  and  half 
 Gilead,  the  border  of  Sihon  king  of  Heshbon. 
 
 6  "  Them  did  Moses  the  servant  of  the  Lord 
 and  the  children  of  Israel  smite:  and  "Moses 
 the  servant  of  the  Lord  gave  it  for  apossession 
 unto  the  Reubenites,  and  the  Gadites,  and  the 
 half  tribe  of  Manasseh. 
 
 7  1  And  these  arc  the  kings  of  the  country 
 ''  which  Joshua  and  the  children  of  Israel  smote 
 on  this  side  Jordan  on  the  west,  from  Baal-gad 
 in  the  valley  of  Lebanon  even  unto  the  mount 
 Halak,  that  goeth  up  to  ''  Seir ;  which  Joshua 
 '  gave  unto  the  tribes  of  Israel _/())■  a  possession 
 according  to  their  divisions  ; 
 
 8  '  In  the  mountains,  and  in  the  valleys,  and 
 in  the  plains,  and  in  the  springs,  and  in  the 
 wilderness,  and  in  the  south  country ;  '  the 
 Hittites,  the  Aniorites,  and  the  Canaanites, 
 the  Perizzites,  the  Hivites,  and  the  Jebusites  : 
 
 !'  1  "  The  king  of  Jericho,  one  ;  '  the  king  of 
 Ai,  which  is  beside  Beth-el,  one  ; 
 
 10  '  The  king  of  Jerusalem,  one  ;  the  king  of 
 Hebron,  one  ; 
 
 1 1  The  king  of  Jarinuth,  one  ;  the  king  of 
 Lacliish,  one ; 
 
 1 2  The  king  of  Eglon,  one  ;  '  the  king  of 
 Gezer,  one ; 
 
 13  "The  king  of  Debir,  one;  the  king  of 
 Geder,  one  ; 
 
 14  The  king  of  Hormah,  one  ;  the  king  of 
 Arad,  one  ; 
 
 15  '■The  king  of  Libnah,  one;  the  king  of 
 Adullam,  one ; 
 
 1 6  '  The  king  of  Makkedah,  one  ;  '^  the  king 
 of  Beth-el,  one  ; 
 
 1 7  The  king  of  Tappuah,  one  ;  "  the  king  of 
 Hepher,  one ; 
 
 18  The  king  of  Aphek,  one;  the  king  of 
 II  Lasharon,  one  ; 
 
 19  The  king  of  Madon,  one;  'the  king  of 
 Hazor,  one  ; 
 
 20  The  king  of  ^  Sliimron-meron,  one ;  the 
 king  of  Achshaph,  one  ; 
 
 21  The  king  of  Taanach,  one  ;  the  king  of 
 Megiddo,  one ; 
 
 22  "  The  king  of  Kedesh,  one ;  the  king  of 
 
 rfDeu.  3.  17. 
 
 <  ell.  13.  20. 
 II  Or.rtmo.,. 
 
 II  Or,  thf 
 tprinet  of 
 Piig'ih,  or, 
 Iht  hill. 
 
 /"Deu.  .S.  17. 
 
 ^  Nu  21.3^. 
 
 Deii.3-4, 10. 
 It  Deiit  3. 1 1 . 
 
 ch.  13.  12. 
 i  Dent.  I.  4. 
 k  Peut.  3.  8. 
 (Deu.  S.  10. 
 
 ch.  IS.  II. 
 7nDeu  3,1-1. 
 n  Num.  21. 
 
 24,  S3, 
 o  Num.  .32. 
 
 29,  33.  Deu. 
 
 3.  11,  12. 
 
 ch.  13.  8. 
 
 0  Gen.  14.  C. 
 &  32.  3. 
 Deu. 2.  l.-l. 
 
 r  ch.  11.23. 
 
 *  ch.  10  -10. 
 &  II.  16. 
 
 1  Eiod.  3.  8. 
 Si  23   23. 
 
 ich.  11.  2. 
 *  Gen.  U.  I 
 2.  le.  9.  I. 
 
 lU^. 
 I  Sec  ch.  M. 
 10  &23.  1. 
 
 Deu.  31.  3. 
 ft  Juclg.3-  1. 
 c  Jnel  3.  -1. 
 d  ver.  13. 
 
 2  Saiu  S.3. 
 
 &  13  37,  3H. 
 e  Jer.  2.  18. 
 /Juilg.  3.  3. 
 
 I  Sam.  6.  -1. 
 
 16.  Zeph.2. 
 
 i  ch.  10.  29. 
 
 r  Ch.  10.  2S. 
 it  ch.  P.  17. 
 Ju,l5.  I -■22 
 !l  Kin.  4.10 
 
 I!  Or,  Slinrnnj 
 
 Is.  33.  9. 
 
 /ch.  II.  10. 
 
 14o0. 
 
 5  ch.  II.  1. 
 
 &  19.  15. 
 
 ft  ch.  19.  37. 
 
 '^Deu.  2.  23. 
 
 !|  Or.  /fte 
 ciit'e. 
 h  ch.  19.  SO, 
 iSeeJudg.l, 
 
 A  I  kin.  6.18. 
 
 P«.  83.  7. 
 
 Ezek.  27.  9, 
 1  ch.  12.  7. 
 
 ,  Sec  ch ,  23. 
 13.  Judg.  2 
 
 och.  II.  1,2 
 
 p  Nn.  32.  33 
 Deu.  3.  12, 
 IS,  ch.  22. 
 
 /  Deu    3.  II, 
 
 »  Num.  21. 
 21,  35. 
 
 Jokneam  of  Carmel,  one  ; 
 
 23  The  king  of  Dor  in  the  '  coast  of  Dor, 
 one  ;  the  king  of '  the  nations  of  Gilgal,  one  ; 
 
 24  The  king  of  Tirzah,  one :  all  the  kings 
 thirty  and  one. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  T/ie  bounds  of  the  land  not  yet  conquered.  8  TJie 
 inheritance  of  the  two  tribes  and  half.  14,  33  T/ic 
 Lord  and  his  sacrifices  are  the  inheritance  of  Levi, 
 15  T/ie  bounds  of  the  inherifanee  nf  lienhen.  22  Ba- 
 laam slain.  24  The  boujids  of  the  inheritance  of 
 Gad,  29  and  of  the  half  tribe  of  M'inasseh. 
 
 "|V"OW  Joshua  "was  old  and  stricken  in 
 -'-'  years  ;  and  the  Lord  said  unto  him, Thou 
 art  old  and  stricken  in  years,  and  there  reniain- 
 etli  yet  very  much  land  f  to  be  possessed. 
 
 2  ^  This  is  the  land  that  yet  remaineth  :  '  all 
 the  borders  of  the  Philistines,  and  all ''  Geshuri, 
 
 3  "  From  Sihor,  wliicli  is  before  Egypt,  even 
 unto  the  borders  of  Ekron  northward,  ivhich  is 
 counted  to  the  Canaanite  :  ^ five  lords  of  the 
 Philistines  ;  the  Gazathites,  and  the  Ashdoth- 
 ites,  the  Eshkalonites,  the  Gittites,  and  the 
 Ekronites  ;  also  ^  the  Avites  ; 
 
 4  From  the  south,  all  the  iand  of  the  Ca- 
 naanite.s,  and  ||  Mearah  that  is  beside  the  Si- 
 donians,  >>  unto  Aphek,  to  the  borders  of  '  tlie 
 Amorites  : 
 
 5  And  the  iand  of  '  the  Giblitcs,  and  all  Le- 
 banon, toward  the  .sunrising,  ■  from  Baal-gad 
 under  mount  Hermon  unto  the  entering  into 
 Hamath. 
 
 G  All  the  inhabitants  of  the  hill  country  from 
 Lebanon  unto  "  Misrephoth-maini,  and  all  the 
 Sidonians,  them  "  will  I  drive  out  from  before 
 the  children  of  Israel  :  only  °  divide  thou  it  by 
 lot  unto  the  Israelites  for  an  inheritance,  as  I 
 have  commanded  thee. 
 
 7  Now  therefore  divide  this  land  for  an  inhe- 
 ritance unto  the  nine  tribes,  and  the  half  tribe 
 of  Manasseh, 
 
 8  With  whom  the  Reubenites  and  the  Gadites 
 have  received  their  inheritance,  ''which  Moses 
 gave  them,  beyond  Jordan  eastward,  even  as 
 Mo.ses  the  servant  of  the  Lord  gave  them  ; 
 
 9  From  Aroer,  that  is  upon  the  bank  of  the 
 river  Arnon,  and  the  city  that  is  in  the  midst 
 of  the  river, ''  and  all  the  plain  of  Medeba  unto 
 Dibon  ; 
 
 10  And  'all  the  cities  of  Sihon  king  of  the 
 Aniorites,  which  reigned  in  Heshbon,  unto  the 
 border  of  the  children  of  Ammon  ; 
 
 1 1  '  And  Gilead,  and  the  border  of  the 
 Geshurites  and  Maachathites.  and  all  mount 
 Hermon,  and  all  Bashan  unto  Salcah  ; 
 
 12  All  the  kingdom  of  Og  in  Bashan,  which 
 reigned  in  Ashtaroth  r.nd  in  Edrei,  who  re- 
 mained of  '  the  remnant  of  the  giants  :  "  for 
 these  did  Moses  smite,  and  cast  them  out. 
 
 13  Nevertheless   the   children  of  Israel  ex- 
 
 Chap.  XII.  —  18.  Lasharon,  Sharon.— BooWir.         23.  King  of  the  that  will  do  it,'  aiBnw  '3:«,  that  is,  on  condition  of  their  obcdienre, 
 
 nntions  of  Gilgal — not  the  Gilgal  before  named  ;  hence  the  Sept.  read,  which  must  be  always  understood  ;  Sidon  therefore  remained  uncon- 
 
 'King  of  Gei  of  GalQee.'        2i.  Kings,  'petty  princes,'  as  ancienUy  quered  by  the  Israelites.— (»i7/.    Divide  tlwu  it  luj  lot— "be  \\?^ti  the  com. 
 
 there  were  many  kings  within  the  narrow  limits  of  Britain,  &c.—  mand  of  God  for  so  doing.— Gi7/.     This  division  would  guard  against 
 
 So  GUI.  alliances  with  the  inhabitants,  stimulate  the  Israelites  to  fight  for  their 
 
 Chap.  XIII.  —  1 .  Joshua  was  old — probably  about  a  hundred  years. —  allotments,  and  prevent  much  jealousy  and  contention. — Wil. 
 Pat.        6.  Them  will  I  drive  out— the  original  is  emphatical,  '  It  is  I 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XII.  —  I.   Wliat  Joshua  did  with  the  II.   God's  enemies  are  sure  at  last  to  be  overcome.     If  they  will 
 
 kinijs  of  Canaan  we  must  do  with  our  corruptions.    Contend  with  not  bend  to  bis  authority  they  must  break ;  and  the  solemn  voice 
 
 them  one  after  another  till  none  are  suffered  to  rr  i^n  ;  and,  in  of  his  Omnipotence  shall  at  length  be  heard  pronouncing  the 
 
 this  holy  warfare,  the  same  spirit  that  endowed  jo.>liua  with  sentence,  '  These  mine  enemies  that  would  not  I  should  reign 
 
 courage  and  holiness  will  assist  us.     If  we  oppose  sin,  God  over  them,  bring  them  and  slay  them  before  me." 
 will  subdue  sin. 
 247 
 
The  inheritance  of  Gad  and  Manasseh. 
 
 pelled  *  not  the  Geshurites,  nor  the  Maachath- 
 ites  :  but  the  Geshurites  and  the  Maachathites 
 dwell  among  the  Israelites  until  this  day. 
 
 14  >"  Only  unto  the  tribe  of  Levi  he  gave 
 none  inheritance  ;  the  sacrifices  of  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel  made  by  fire  are  their  inherit- 
 ance, '  as  he  said  unto  them. 
 
 15  f  And  Moses  gave  unto  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  Reuben  inheritance  according  to 
 their  families. 
 
 16  And  their  coast  was  "from  Aroer,  that  is 
 on  the  bank  of  the  river  Arnon,  ''  and  the  city 
 tliat  is  in  the  midst  of  the  river,  '  and  all  the 
 plain  by  Medeba  ; 
 
 17  Heshbon,  and  all  her  cities  that  are  in  the 
 plain  ;  Dibon,  and  ||  Bamoth-baal,  and  Beth- 
 iiaal-meon, 
 
 18  ''And  Jaliaza,  and  Kedemoth,  and  Me- 
 phaath, 
 
 19  °  And  Kirjathaim,  and  '  Sibmah,  and  Za- 
 reth-shahar  in  tlie  mount  of  the  valley, 
 
 20  And  Beth-peor,  and  «  ||  Ashdoth-pisgah, 
 and  Beth-jeshimoth, 
 
 21  ■'  And  all  the  cities  of  the  plain,  and  all 
 the  kinp:dom  of  Sihon  king  of  tlie  Amorites, 
 which  reigned  in  Heshbon,  '  whom  Moses 
 smote  ''  with  tlie  princes  of  IMidian,  Evi,  and 
 Rekem.  and  Znr,  and  Hnr,  and  Reba,  ichich 
 mere  dukes  of  Sihon,  dwelling  in  the  country. 
 
 22  t  '  Balaam  also  the  son  of  Beor,  the 
 II  soothsayer,  did  the  cliildren  of  Israel  slay 
 with  the  sword  among  them  that  were  slain  by 
 them. 
 
 23  And  the  border  of  the  children  of  Reuben 
 was  Jordan,  and  the  border  thereof.  This 
 icas  the  inheritance  of  the  children  of  Reuben 
 after  tlieir  families,  tlie  cities  and  the  villages 
 thereof. 
 
 24  And  Moses  gave  inheritance  unto  tlie 
 tribe  of  Gad,  even  unto  the  children  of  Gad 
 according  to  their  families. 
 
 25  "  And  their  coast  was  Jazer,  and  all  the 
 cities  of  Gilead,  "  and  half  tlie  land  of  the 
 children  of  Amnion,  unto  Aroer  that  is  before 
 "  Rabbah  ; 
 
 26  And  from  Heshbon  unto  Ramath-mizpeh, 
 and  Betouim  ;  and  from  Malianaim  unto  the 
 border  of  Debir ; 
 
 27  And  in  the  valley,  ■■  Beth-aram,  and  Betli- 
 nimrah,  ''  and  Succoth,  and  Zaphon,  tlie  rest  of 
 the  kingdom  of  Sihon  king  of  Heshbon,  Jordan 
 and  his  border,  even  unto  the  edge  '  of  the  .sea 
 of  Chinnereth  on  the  other  side  Jordan  east 
 ward. 
 
 28  This  is  the  inheritance  of  the  children  of 
 Gad  after  their  families,  the  cities,  and  their 
 villages. 
 
 29  1  And  Moses  gave  inheritance  unto  the 
 
 JOSHUA,  XIV. 
 
 The  inheritances  gicen  by  lot. 
 
 I  Xum.  IS. 
 2i>,  23,  2». 
 cb.  I:).  3, 4. 
 
 ch.  IS.  2. 
 b  Nu.  21.28. 
 U.21.S0. 
 
 II  Oc,lhehiffli 
 ,,l.m,  ,/ 
 Biial,  and 
 
 Jl^ial-mffon; 
 
 See  Num. 
 
 30.  38. 
 
 d  Nu  21.  23. 
 
 32.  .37. 
 
 /Nu.  32.  3S. 
 
 5  Deu.  3.  17. 
 
 eh.  12.  3. 
 
 Or,  tprinei 
 
 0/  Pitg'ih. 
 
 ,  «.»■ 
 
 .ill- 
 
 t,  Deu.  3.  lU. 
 
 i  Nu.  51.21 
 mum.  31.1 
 
 I  Nu.  22.  5. 
 
 &  31.  8. 
 
 II  0r,dii'i*i»r. 
 
 n  Compare 
 Nu  21-26, 
 28.  29  with 
 l>eu.  2,  19. 
 «.  Jiidj.  11. 
 in.  15,  &c- 
 
 o2  Sam.  II. 
 I.  &  12.  26. 
 
 />  Nu.  32. 36 
 
 '  half  tribe  of  Manasseh  :  and  this  was  the  pos. 
 session  of  tlie  lialf  tribe  of  the  children  of  Ma- 
 nasseli  by  their  families. 
 
 30  And  tlieir  coast  was  from  Mahanaim,  all 
 Baslian,  all  the  kingdom  of  Og  king  of  Basban, 
 and  '  all  the  towns  of  Jair,  which  are  in  Bashan, 
 threescore  cities  : 
 
 31  And  half  Gilead,  and  '  Ashtaroth,  and 
 Edrei,  cities  of  the  kingdom  of  Og  in  Bashan, 
 were  pertaining  unto  the  children  of  Machir 
 the  son  of  Manasseh,  even  to  the  one  half  of 
 tlie  "  children  of  Machir  by  their  families. 
 
 32  These  are  the  countries  whicli  Moses  did 
 distribute  for  inheritance  in  the  plains  of  Moab, 
 on  the  other  side  Jordan,  by  Jericho,  eastward. 
 
 33  '  But  unto  tlie  tribe  of  Levi  Moses  gave 
 not  any  inheritance  :  the  Loud  God  of  Israel 
 was  their  inheritance,  ''as  he  said  unto  them. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1   Tlicnhie  irihes  and  a  hot/are  to  have  tlieir  inheritance 
 In;  lot.     6  Cateh  hy  privilege  ohtaineth  Hebron. 
 
 yV  ND  these  are  the  countries  which  the 
 -'*-  children  of  Israel  inherited  in  the  land  of 
 Canaan, "  which  Eleazar  the  priest,  and  Joshua 
 the  son  of  Nun,  and  the  heads  of  the  fathers  of 
 the  tribes  of  the  cliildren  of  Israel,  distributed 
 for  inheritance  to  them. 
 
 2  ''  By  lot  rcas  their  inheritance,  as  the  Lord 
 commanded  by  the  hand  of  Moses,  for  the 
 nine  tribes,  and/ii?-  the  Iialf  tribe. 
 
 3  '  For  Moses  had  given  the  inheritance  of 
 two  tribes  and  an  half  tribe  on  the  other  side 
 Jordan  :  but  unto  the  Levites  he  gave  none 
 inheritance  among  them. 
 
 4  For  ■^  the  children  of  Joseph  were  two 
 tribes,  Manasseh  and  Ephraiin  :  therefore  they 
 gave  no  part  unto  the  Levites  in  the  land, 
 save  cities  to  dwell  in,  with  their  suburbs  for 
 their  cattle  and  for  their  substance. 
 
 5  "^  As  the  Lord  commanded  Moses,  so  the 
 I  children  of  Israel  did,  and  they  divided  the 
 .land. 
 
 I  6  1  Then  the  children  of  Judah  came  unto 
 Joshua  in  Gilgal  :  and  Caleb  tlie  son  of  Je- 
 phnnneh  the  '  Kenezite  said  unto  him.  Thou 
 knowest  ^  the  thing  that  tlie  Lord  said  unto 
 Moses  the  man  of  God  concerning  me  and 
 tbee  ''  in  Kadesh-barnea. 
 
 7  Forty  years  old  uns  I  when  Moses  the 
 servant  of  the  Lord  '  sent  me  from  Kadesh- 
 barnea  to  espy  out  the  land  ;  and  I  brought 
 him  word  again  as  it  was  in  mine  heart. 
 
 8  Nevertheless  ^  my  brethren  that  went  up 
 with  me  made  the  heart  of  llie  people  melt : 
 but  I  wholly  '  followed  the  Lord  my  God. 
 
 9  And  Moses  sware  on  that  day,  saying, 
 "  Surely   the   land   "  whereon    thy   feet   have 
 
 ver.  H. 
 Ii.  18.  7. 
 
 0  ^•^l  18  20 
 Deu  Iti.  !». 
 &  18.  1,2. 
 
 (  Num.  31. 
 IT,  16. 
 
 b  Num.  26 
 b  34.  13. 
 
 t  ch.  13.  8, 
 32,  3.1. 
 
 d  Gon.  W.  5. 
 ICIir.5.1,2. 
 
 /■Xu.32.  12. 
 
 »ch.  15.  i; 
 e  Num.  14 
 
 24,  »».  Deu. 
 
 1.36,  38. 
 4  Nu.  13.  --'C 
 
 k  Num.  13. 
 
 31,  32. 
 
 Deu.  1.28. 
 /Nu.  M.  24 
 
 Deu.  1.  3" 
 m  Num.  II. 
 
 23,  24. 
 
 Deu.  1.  36. 
 
 ch.  I.  3 
 li  See  Num. 
 
 13.  22. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  -  5.  Then  difided  the  land— tiye  viorV  bes:an  some  time  remarltable  victoryobtained  byhim  over  tlie  Kenezites.as  the  Romans 
 
 before  at  Gilgal,  and  wa^  finished  some  time  after  at  Shiloh.     It  must  gave  their  great  generals  tiOos  from  the  countries  they  conquered,  as 
 
 have  required  much  time  to  make  all  the  geographical  arrangements. —  .4/ncaitwt,  Germunicus,  ^r. — Hen. 
 Wit.          6.  T/ie  Kenezite — some  think  Caleb  had  this  name  from  some 
 
 Refi-fctions  on  Ch.4p.  XIII.  —  I.  Joshua  is  here  commntuled 
 to  divide  ttie  land  alnad;/  conquereit.  Years  liud  come  upon  him, 
 and  his  work  was  almost  done.  May  not  this  remind  those 
 who  are  advanced  in  life  of  the  necessity  of  setting  their  house 
 in  order  and  leaving  none  of  their  affairs  undone  1  Let  them 
 divide  their  inheritance  ;  and  if  they  have  or  have  not  an 
 cartbly  portion  to  give,  let  them  be  concerned  tliat  those  under 
 their  care  shall  not  fail,  from  their  neglect  of  all  the  means,  to 
 secure  an  everlasting  inheritance. 
 248 
 
 II.  Wf  need  not  care  whether  we  hare  an  inheritance  or  not,  if 
 Hie  God  of  Israel  be  onr  inluritance.  This  is  the  let  of  many 
 devoted  servants  of  God,  hut  they  are  well  provided  lor  who 
 can  say,  'The  Lord  is  mv  portion.'  '  Lord,  let  the  worldling 
 then  be  sent  away  with  some  poor  worldly  triHe  ;  for  my  part, 
 since  thou  hast  made  me  capable  of  heavenly  excellences,  I 
 desire  never  to  he  put  oft'  with  transitory  vanities  ;  my  happi- 
 ness lies  only  in  thyself;  therefore,  wbatevcr  1  enjoy  beside 
 thyself  I  will  take  it  as  a  blessing,  but  not  as  a  portion. 
 
The  borders  of  the  lot  of  Judah. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XV, 
 
 Caleb's  portion  and  conrjue.xt. 
 
 trodden  shall  be  thine  inheritance,  and  thy 
 children's  for  ever,  because  thon  hast  wholly 
 followed  the  Lord  my  God. 
 
 10  And  now,  behold,  the  Lord  hath  kept  me 
 alive,  °  as  he  said,  these  forty  and  five  years, 
 even  since  the  Lord  spake  this  word  unto 
 Moses,  while  the  children  0/ Israel  f  wandered 
 in  the  wilderness  :  and  now,  lo,  I  am  this  day 
 fourscore  and  five  years  old. 
 
 1 1  ''  As  yet  I  «?tt  as  strong  this  day  as  Itvas 
 in  the  day  that  Moses  sent  me  :  as  my  strengtVi 
 was  then,  even  so  is  my  strength  now,  for  war, 
 both  ''  to  go  out,  and  to  come  in. 
 
 1'2  Now  therefore  give  me  this  mountain, 
 whereof  the  Lord  spake  in  that  day  ;  for  thou 
 heardest  in  tliat  day  how  "■  the  Anakims  were 
 there,  and  that  the  cities  trere  great  onrf fenced  : 
 "if  so  be  the  Lord  will  be  with  me,  then  '  I 
 shall  be  able  to  drive  them  out,  as  the  Lord 
 said. 
 
 13  And  Joshua  "  blessed  him,  ''and  gave  unto 
 Caleb  the  son  of  Jephunneh  Hebron  for  an  in- 
 heritance. 
 
 1 4  '  Hebron  therefore  became  the  inheritance 
 of  Caleb  tlie  son  of  Jephunneh  the  Kenezite 
 unto  this  day,  because  that  he  '  wholly  followed 
 the  Lord  God  of  Israel. 
 
 1 5  And  °  the  name  of  Hebron  before  rvas 
 Kirjath-arba  ;  jchich  Arba  was  a  great  man 
 among  the  Anakims.  ^  And  the  land  had  rest 
 from  war. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 I  Tlie  borders  of  the  lot  of  Judah.  \S  Caldi's portion 
 and  conquesi.  16  Otliniel,  for  his  valour,  hatli 
 Achsah,  Caleb's  daiit/hter,  to  wife.  18  She  ohtuin- 
 eth  a  blrssini/  of  her  father.  21  The  cities  of  Judah. 
 6:3   The  Jebusites  not  conquered. 
 
 THIS  then  was  the  lot  of  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  Judah  by  their  families ;  'even 
 to  the  border  of  Edom  the  "^  wilderness  of  Zin 
 southward  was  the  uttermost  part  of  the  south 
 coast. 
 
 ■2  And  their  south  border  was  from  the  shore 
 of  the  salt  sea,  from  the  fti^y  tha'  looketh 
 southward  : 
 
 3  And   it  went  out  to  the  south  side   '  to 
 
 II  Maaleh-acrabbim,  and  passed  along  to  Zin, 
 and  ascended  up  on  the  south  side  unto  Ka- 
 desh-harnea,  and  passed  along  to  Hezron,  and 
 went  up  to  Adar,  and  fetched  a  compass  to 
 Karkaa  : 
 
 4  From  thence  it  passed  ^  toward  Azmon, 
 and  went  out  unto  the  river  of  Egypt ;  and  the 
 goings  out  of  that  coast  were  at  the  sea:  this 
 shall  be  your  south  coast. 
 
 5  And  the  east  border  was  the  salt  sea,  even 
 
 ■  Nu.  I+.  31). 
 14H. 
 
 SI.  7. 
 
 ^Deii.  31.  2. 
 
 r  Num.  IS. 
 23,  33. 
 
 .,  P"!.  18.  .13, 
 
 •M.  &  C0.12 
 
 Unlll.  8.  31 . 
 (ch.  15.  14. 
 
 Ju.ij.  I.-2II 
 .*  ch  ':-2.  6. 
 X  ch.  11'.  37. 
 
 Si  1.5.  13. 
 
 JiKlg.  1.20. 
 
 Sec  ch.  21. 
 
 11,  Vl. 
 
 I  Clic.6.55, 
 
 5G. 
 „ch.  21.  12 
 
 I  M.ic.  2. 
 
 56. 
 
 -•  vet.  8,  0 
 n  Oen.  23  2 
 
 ch.  15.  13. 
 
 ..  Nu,  34.  a 
 *  Nu.  33.  3C 
 
 /ch.  IS.  17. 
 
 if  ch.  7.  2f>. 
 
 h  2  Saiu.  17. 
 17.  1  Kin. 
 
 1  9 
 
 ch    18.  It) 
 
 2  Kin .23  Iti. 
 Jec.  19  2,  6. 
 
 k  ch.  18.  28. 
 Judg  1.21. 
 &  19.  10. 
 
 7  ch.  18    1(1. 
 
 ,1  1  Chr.  13. 
 0. 
 uJuHg    18. 
 
 ;.  Gen.  38.13. 
 Judg.  11.  1 
 
 q  ch.  19.  43 
 
 ■  ver.  47. 
 Num.  34.  e, 
 7. 
 
 (ch.  14.  15. 
 II  Or,  *■■>- 
 
 jntli-artxi. 
 ii  Judg.l.  10, 
 
 20. 
 J  Nu.  13.22. 
 
 V  ch.  10.  39 
 Judg.  i.n 
 
 a  Judff. 
 
 .13. 
 
 6c  3.  9. 
 
 6  Nil.  :y 
 
 .  12. 
 
 cli.  H. 
 
 6. 
 
 unto  the  end  of  Jordan.  And  their  border  iu 
 the  north  quarter  teas  from  tlie  bay  of  the  sea 
 at  the  uttermost  part  of  Jordan  : 
 
 6  And  the  border  went  up  to  °  Beth-liogla, 
 and  passed  along  by  the  north  of  Bcth-arabah  ; 
 and  the  border  went  up  •■  to  the  stone  of  Bohan 
 the  son  of  Reuben  : 
 
 7  And  the  border  went  up  toward  Dcbir 
 from  *^  the  valley  of  Achor,  and  so  northward, 
 looking  toward  Gilgal,  that  is  before  the  going 
 up  to  Adummim,  which  is  on  the  south  side  of 
 the  river :  and  the  border  passed  toward  the 
 waters  of  En-shemesh,  and  the  goings  out 
 thereof  were  at  ''  En-rogel : 
 
 8  And  the  border  went  up  '  by  the  valley  of 
 the  son  of  Hinnom  unto  the  soutli  side  of  the 
 '  Jebusite  ;  the  same  is  Jerusalem  :  and  the 
 border  went  up  to  the  top  of  the  mountain 
 that  lieth  before  the  valley  of  Hinnom  west- 
 ward, which  is  at  the  end  '  of  the  valley  of  the 
 giants  northward : 
 
 9  And  the  border  was  drawn  from  the  top  of 
 the  hill  unto  "'the  fountain  of  the  water  of 
 Nephtoah,  and  went  out  to  the  cities  of  mount 
 Ephron ;  and  the  border  was  drawn  "  to  Baalah, 
 which  is  °  Kirjath-jearim  : 
 
 10  And  the  border  compassed  from  Baalah 
 westward  unto  mount  Seir,  and  passed  along 
 unto  the  side  of  mount  Jearim,  whicli  is  Chesa- 
 lon,  on  the  north  side,  and  went  down  to  Beth- 
 shemesh,  and  passed  on  to  ''  Timiiah  : 
 
 1 1  And  the  border  went  out  unto  the  side  of 
 ''  Ekron  northward  :  and  the  border  was  drawn 
 to  Shicron,  and  passed  along  to  mount  Baalah, 
 and  went  out  unto  Jabneel  ;  and  the  goings 
 out  of  tlie  border  were  at  the  sea. 
 
 12  And  the  west  border  iras  '  to  the  great 
 sea,  and  the  coast  thereof.  This  is  the  coast 
 of  the  children  of  Judah  round  about  according 
 to  their  families. 
 
 13  U  '  And  unto  Caleb  the  son  of  Jephunneh 
 he  gave  a  part  among  the  children  of  Judah, 
 according  to  the  commandment  of  the  Lord 
 to  Joshua,  even  '  ||  the  city  of  Arba  the  father 
 of  Anak,  which  city  is  Hebron. 
 
 14  And  Caleb  drove  thence  "the  three  sons 
 of  Anak,  "  Sheshai,  and  Ahiman,  and  Tahnai, 
 the  children  of  Anak. 
 
 15  And  ''he  went  up  thence  to  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  Debir :  and  the  name  of  Debir  before 
 was  Kirjath-sepher. 
 
 16  H  '  And  Caleb  said,  He  that  smiteth  Kir- 
 jath-sepher, and  taketh  it,  to  him  vfill  I  give 
 Achsah  my  daughter  to  wife. 
 
 17  And  "Otlmiel  the  ''son  of  Kenaz,  the 
 brother  of  Caleb,  took  it :  and  he  gave  him 
 Achsah  his  daughter  to  wife. 
 
 CiiAr.  XV.  —  ^.  Mmdek-ncrabJiim,  *  the  going:  up  or  mount  of  Scor- 
 pions,' from  the  multitude  of  scorpions  that  were  there.  6.  The  stone 
 (tf  Bohan — perhaps  he  performed  some  famous  exploit,  or  was  buried 
 oil  tlie  spot, — l^ut. ;  or  it  was  a  border  mark,  being  the  boundary  be- 
 tween Judah  and  Eenjamiu. — (ii/L  y,  .idummim,  called,  by  the 
 Greeks,  'the  ascent  of  the  red  ones,'  because  of  the  blood  frequently 
 shed  tliere  by  thieves.  It  was  a  town  and  mountain  of  Benjamin,  west 
 of  Jericho.  Some  thinlt  the  scene  ot  the  good  Samaritan  lay  here. — 
 Gitt,  ('at.  Kn-s/iernesfi,  or  'the  tountain  ot  the  sun,'  either  because 
 dedicated  to  the  sun  by  the  Canaanites,  or  from  the  sun's  inllticnce  on 
 its  watei  s.  En-ro^et,  '  the  fountain  of  the  fuller,'  where,  perhaps,  the 
 fullers  cleansed  their  clothes.       8.  Hinnom — infamous  for  tiie  sacrifices 
 
 of  cliildren  to  Moloch.  9-  Kirjiit/i  jearim,  or  '  the  city  of  the  woods,' 
 changed  from  Kirjath-Eaal,  or  'the  city  of  Baal,'  (ver.  (ill;)  probably 
 devoted  to  idolatries,  from  its  woody  situation.  14.  Clnldren  of 
 j4«at— probably  the  identical  men  Caleb  saw,  (Num.  xui.  22.)  15.  Kir- 
 jalh-sepher,  '  the  city  of  books,'  of  the  public  records,  Tiirg.  A  place 
 of  literature.— G(7/.  An  university  among  the  Canaanites,  like  Athens 
 in  Greece.— Hen.  16.  To  him  will  1  give— it  was  customary  in  those 
 times  for  great  men  to  promise  their  daughters  to  any  who  should  per- 
 form an  heroic  deed,  (see  1  Sam.  xvu.  25.)— /I.  Clarke.  My  duughler— 
 it  seems  by  a  concubine,  (1  Chron.  ii.  48,  49.)- Gi«.  17.  The  lirotlier 
 of  Caleti—sa  called,  but  Othniel  was  not  Caleb's  brolhcr,  but  Keuaz, 
 who  was  Othnicl's  father ;  Othniel  and  Achsah  were,  then,  first  cousins. 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.   XIV.  —  L   As  Joshua   rewarded  aw.' Tliere  were,  however,  enemies  lurkini;  about,  who  after- 
 
 CaUh,  so  will  Jesus,  our  Joshua,  reward  all  his  faithful  sjrronts.  wards  became  tliorns  in  Israel's  sides.      But  there  remaineth 
 
 No  one  ever  faithfully  served  him,  and   trusted  to  his  word  '  a  rest  for  ihe  people  of  God,'  where  not  one  enemy  shall  he 
 
 and  promise,  in  vain.  found.     The  weary  warrior  shall  tor  ever  lay  aside  his  sworil, 
 
 II.   The  enemies  of  Israel  being  sididued,  '  the  land  had  rest  from  and  put  on  his  unfading  crown. 
 
 249       ■  2k 
 
The  cities  of  Juduh. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XV. 
 
 The  Jebusites  are  conquered. 
 
 18  "^  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  she  came  unto 
 him,  that  she  moved  him  to  ask  of  her  father  a 
 field  :  and  ''  she  lighted  o^  her  ass  ;  and  Caleb 
 said  unto  her.  What  vvouldest  thou? 
 
 19  Who  answered,  Give  me  a  "  blessing  ;  for 
 thou  hast  given  me  a  south  land  ;  give  me  also 
 springs  of  water.  And  he  gave  her  the  upper 
 springs,  and  the  netlier  springs. 
 
 20  This  is  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  .Tudali  according  to  their  families. 
 
 21  And  the  uttermost  cities  of  tlie  tribe  of 
 the  children  of  Jndah  toward  the  coast  of 
 Edom  southward  wexe  Kabzeel,  and  Eder,  and 
 Jagur, 
 
 22  And  Kinah,  and  Dimonah,  and  Adadah, 
 
 23  And  Kedesli,  and  Hazor,  and  Ithnan, 
 
 24  Ziph,  and  Telem,  and  Healoth, 
 
 25  And  Hazor,  Hadattah,  and  Kerioth,  dtid 
 Hezron,  which  is  Hazor, 
 
 26  Aniam,  and  Shema,  and  Moladah, 
 
 27  And  Hazar-gaddah,  and  Heslinion,  and 
 Beth-palet, 
 
 28  And  Hazar-sluial,  and  Beer-sheba,  and 
 Bizjothjah, 
 
 29  Baalah,  and  lim,  and  Azem, 
 
 30  And  Eltolad,  and  Chesil,  and  Horniah, 
 
 31  And  '^Ziklag,  and  Madmannah,  and  San- 
 sannah, 
 
 32  And  Lebaoth,  and  Shilliim,  and  Ain,  and 
 Rimmon  :  all  tile  cities  are  twenty  and  nine, 
 with  their  villages  : 
 
 33  And  in  the  valley,  *Eshtaol,  and  Zoreah, 
 and  Aslmah, 
 
 34  And  Zauoah,  and  En-gannim,  Tappuab, 
 and  En  am, 
 
 35  Jarmuth.and  Adnllam,  Socoh,and  Azekah, 
 3G  And  Sharaim,  and   Adithaim,  and  Gede- 
 
 rah,  |]  and  Gederothaim  ;  fourteen  cities  with 
 their  villages : 
 
 37  Zenan,  and  Hadashah,  and  Migdalgad, 
 
 38  And  Dileaii,  and  ;\Iizpeh,  ''  and  Joktheel, 
 
 39  Lachish,  and  Bozkath,  and  Eglon, 
 
 40  And  Cabbon,  and  Lahmani,  and  Kithlish, 
 
 41  And  Gederoth,  Beth-dagon,  and  Naamah, 
 and  Makkedah  ;  sixteen  cities  with  their  vil- 
 lages : 
 
 B.C.  1144. 
 c  JuHg.  1.14. 
 -f  Sec  Hen. 
 
 24.  M. 
 
 I  Sam.  25. 
 
 23. 
 e  Gen. 33.11. 
 
 f  Heb.  hf/lh' 
 place  of. 
 
 it  Or,  Jantii 
 
 m  ch. H.  15 
 &  ver.  13. 
 
 2  S«iii..';.6. 
 p  Jiidg.l.2l. 
 
 42  Libnab,  and  Etlier,  and  Ashan, 
 
 43  And  Jiphtali,  and  Asbnah,  and  Nezib, 
 
 44  And  Keilal),  and  Achzib,  and  Mareshali ; 
 nine  cities  with  their  villages  : 
 
 45  Ekron,  with  her  towns  and  her  villages  : 
 
 46  From  Ekron  even  unto  the  sea,  all  that 
 lay  t  near  Ashdod,  witli  their  villages  : 
 
 47  Asbdod  with  her  towns  and  her  villages, 
 Gaza  with  her  towns  and  her  villages,  unto 
 '  the  river  of  Egypt,  and  '  the  great  sea,  and 
 the  border  thereof: 
 
 48  f  And  in  the  mountains,  Shamir,  ami 
 Jattir,  and  Socoh, 
 
 49  And  Daiinah,  and  Kirjath-sannah,  whidi 
 is  Debir, 
 
 50  And  Anab,  and  Eshtemoh,  and  Aiiim, 
 
 51  '  And  Goshen,  and  Holon,  and  Giloli  ; 
 eleven  cities  witli  tlieir  villages  : 
 
 52  Arab,  and  Diiinah,  and  E.shean, 
 
 53  And  II  Janum,  and  Beth-tappuah,  and 
 Aphekah, 
 
 54  And  Ilumtah,  and  ""  Kirjath-arba,  which 
 is  Hebron,  and  Zior ;  nine  cities  with  their 
 villages  : 
 
 55  Maon,  Carmel,  and  Ziph.  and  Juttah, 
 
 56  And  Jezreel,  and  .lokileam,  and  Zanoali, 
 
 57  Cain,  Gibeah,  and  Timnah  ;  ten  cities 
 with  their  villages  : 
 
 58  Halliul,  Beth-znr,  and  Gedor, 
 
 59  And  Maarath,  and  IkHh-anoth,  and  El- 
 tekon  ;  six  cities  with  their  villages: 
 
 60  "  Kirjath-baal,  vvhicli  is  Kirjath-jearim,  and 
 Kabbah  ;  two  cities  with  their  villages  : 
 
 61  In  the  wilderness,  Beth-arabah,  Middiii, 
 and  Secacah, 
 
 62  And  Nibshan,  and  the  city  of  Salt,  and 
 En-gedi ;  six  cities  with  their  villages. 
 
 63  t  As  for  the  Jebusites  the  inhabitants  of 
 Jerusalem,  "the  children  of  Judali  could  not 
 drive  them  out :  ■'  but  the  Jebusites  dwell  with 
 the  children  of  Judah  at  Jerusalem  unto  this 
 day. 
 
 CHAP.  xvr. 
 
 1  Tlie  pentral  hnrdtrs  of  the  sons  of  Joseph.  5  T/ie 
 border  of  the  inlicritance  of  Epiiraim.  10  Tlie  Ca- 
 nuaiiitts  not  coiti^uered. 
 
 — see  Prtt.  18.  A  field — understand  a  considerable  space  of  land. — 
 Sut.  Alishted — an  act  of  reverence  in  the  cast ;  liut  she  more  probably 
 stood  still  and  fixed,  as  the  word  imports,  and  this  stoppage  in  the 
 marriag:e  procession  led  to  an  explanation.  See  the  word  rT3^.  chap. 
 XV.  18  ;  iv.  21  .—Harmer,  wit/i  Clarkf's  Nolfs,  Bust.  '  She  unfastened 
 herself  from  her  ass.* — Mont.  V.ai  n/Bonirev  eK  tow  ovov,  *  she  cried  from 
 oflf  the  ass,'  Sept.  '  She  sif^hed  as  she  sat  upon  the  ass,'  Vulgate. 
 19.  .4  snuf/i  land— so  was  all  the  land  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  ;  it  means 
 •a  dry  land,'  '  a  hill  country,  needy  of  water.' — Gill.  '  Exposed  to  sun 
 and  scorching  winds.' — Put.  Sprinps — land  in  which  Ihev  were. — 
 GitL    Upper — nether — springs  in  the  mountain  and  springs  below,  that 
 
 so  neither  the  rising  ground  nor  the  plain  might  want  water. — Mant. 
 Caleb  obtained  his  inheritance  in  a  peculiar  wny,  and  hence  his  daughter 
 was  allowed  to  inherit,  though  he  had  sons,  (see  Num.  xxvii.  7 — II.) — 
 Scntt.  31.  Xiklag,  in  the  iiands  of  the  king  of  Gath,  in  David's  time, 
 and  given  to  him,  (1  Sam.  xxvii.  6.) — Gill.  32.  Twenty  and  nine — 
 thirty-eight  are  mentioned  ;  twenty. nine  probably  cities,  and  the  rest 
 villages. — Pat.  30.  Fourteen — fifteen  are  mentioned.  Kitnchi  takes 
 the  two  last  to  be  but  one,  Gederah  or  Gederothaim.  49.  Kirjath- 
 sannah,  TToXtv  1p^x^x^xaTbiv^  Sept.,  'the  city  of  learning.'  the  same  as 
 Kirjath-sepher,  (ver.  15.)  63.  The  Jeliusites  dwell,  ^c.— the  strong- 
 hold of  Zion  was  not  taken  till  David's  time,  (2  Sam.  v.  7.) — Wil. 
 
 Reflections  on'  Chap.  XV.  —  Matthew  Ilenry  divides 
 this  chapter  into  three  parts,  and  remarks  as  follows  : — 1.  The 
 bordirs  or  bounds  of  the  inheritance  of  Judah,  .Tudab's  inlierit- 
 ance  bad  its  boundaries  determined.  Though  it  was  a  power- 
 ful, warlike  tribe,  and  had  a  great  interest  in  the  otiier  tribes, 
 yet  they  must  not  therefore  be  left  to  their  own  choice  to  en- 
 large tlieir  possessions  at  pleasure,  but  must  live  so  that 
 their  neighbours  might  hve  by  them.  Those  that  are  placed 
 high,  must  not  thiuk  to  be  '  placed  alone  in  the  midst  of  the 
 earth.' 
 
 II.  The  particular  assr(inmc7it  of  HAiron  and  the  countri/  there- 
 abouts to  Caleb  and  his  famitif.  It  was  given  liim  '  according  to 
 the  commandment  of  the  Lord  to  Joshua.'  Thougli  Caleb,  in 
 his  petition,  had  made  out  a  very  good  title  to  it  by  promise, 
 yet,  because  Cod  bad  ordered  Joshua  to  divide  the  land  by  lot, 
 be  would  not  in  this  single  instance, — no,  not  to  gratify  bis  old 
 friend,  Caleb, — do  otherwise  without  orders  from  God,  whose 
 oracle, .it  is  probable,  he  consulted  upon  this  occasion.  In 
 250 
 
 every  doubtful  case  it  is  very  desirable  to  know  the  mind  of 
 God,  and  to  see  the  way  of  our  duty  plain. 
 
 III.  The  names  of  tlie  several  cities  thai  fell  within  Judah's  lot. 
 Among  these  we  do  not  find  lietbleliera,  for  it  was  but  •  little 
 among  the  thousands  of  Judah.'  Christ  came  to  give  honour 
 to  the  places  he  was  related  to,  not  to  receive  honour  from 
 them.  As  for  Jerusalem,  it  continued  in  the  hands  of  the  Je- 
 busites. '  for  the  children  of  Judah  could  not  drive  them  out.' 
 Had  they  attempted  it  with  vigour  and  resolution,  we  have 
 reason  to  think  God  would  not  have  been  wanting  to  them  to 
 give  them  success  ;  but  they  could  not  do  it  because  they 
 would  not.  Jerusalem  was  afterwards  to  be  the  holy  city,  the 
 royal  city,  the  city  of  the  great  king,  the  brightest  ornament  of 
 all  the  land  of  Israel ;  God  had  designed  it  should  be  so.  It 
 may  therefore  be  justly  looked  upon  as  a  punishment  of  their 
 neglect  to  conquer  other  cities  God  had  given  them  that  they 
 were  80  long  kept  out  of  this. 
 
The  borders  of  the  sons  of  Joseph,  §t. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XVII. 
 
 IVie  lot  of  Manusseh 
 
 t  \Wh.  ueul 
 f.„h. 
 
 cli    18   13. 
 JuJg.  1 .  26. 
 
 1  Chr.  7 
 28.  I  Kii 
 9.  15. 
 d  ch,  17. 
 
 e  Ph.  IS.  13. 
 /'2CLr.  8.  5 
 
 ^  cii    17.7. 
 
 A  ND  the  lot  of  the  children  of  Joseph  f  fell 
 -^^  from  Jordan  by  Jericho,  unto  the  water 
 of  Jericho  on  the  east,  to  the  nilderncss  tliat 
 goeth  up  from  Jericho  throughout  mount 
 Beth-el, 
 
 2  And  goeth  out  from  Beth-el  to  '  Luz,  and 
 passeth  along  unto  the  borders  of  Archi  to 
 Ataroth, 
 
 3  And  goeth  down  westward  to  the  coast  of 
 Japhleti,  ''unto  the  coast  of  Beth-horon  the ,»':];  I'^is 
 nether,  and    to  "^  Gezer :   and    the  goings  out' 
 thereof  are  at  the  sea. 
 
 4  '^  So  the  children  of  Joseph,  Manasseh  and 
 Ephraim,  took  their  inheritance. 
 
 5  H  And  the  border  of  the  children  of  Eph- 
 raim according  to  their  families  was  thus:  even 
 the  border  of  their  inheritance  on  the  east  side 
 was  "  Ataroth-addar,  ''  unto  Beth-horon  the 
 upper ; 
 
 6  And  the  border  went  out  toward  the  .sea  to 
 *  Michmethah  on  the  north  side  ;  and  the  bor- 
 der went  about  eastward  unto  Taanatb-shiloli, 
 and  passed  by  it  on  the  east  to  Janohah  ; 
 
 7  And  it  went  down  from  Janohah  to  Ataroth, 
 •■and  to  Naarath,  and  came  to  Jericho,  and 
 went  out  at  Jordan. 
 
 8  The  border  went  out  from  Tappuah  west- 
 ward unto  the  '  river  Kanah  ;  and  the  goings 
 out  thereof  were  at  the  sea.  Tliis  is  the  inhe- 
 ritance of  the  tribe  of  the  children  of  Ephraim 
 by  their  families. 
 
 9  And  '  the  separate  cities  for  the  children  of 
 Ephraim  were  among  the  inheritance  of  the 
 children  of  Manasseh,  all  the  cities  with  their 
 villages. 
 
 10  '  And  they  drave  not  out  the  Canaaiiites 
 that  dwelt  in  Gezer  :  but  the  Canaaiiites  dwell 
 among  the  Ephraimites  unto  this  day,  and 
 serve  under  tribute. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  The  lot  of  Manasseh.  8  His  coast.  12  The  Ca- 
 naanites  not  driven  out.  14  The  children  of  Joseph 
 obtain  another  tot. 
 
 'T'HERE  was  also  a  lot  for  the  tribe  of 
 -*-  Manasseh  ;  for  he  was  the  "  firstborn  of 
 Joseph  ;  to  wit,  for  ^  Machir  the  firstborn  of 
 Manasseh,  the  father  of  Gilead  :  because  he 
 was  a  man  of  war,  therefore  he  had  "  Gilead 
 and  Bashan. 
 
 2  There  was  also  a  lot  for  "■  the  rest  of  the 
 children  of  Manasseh  by  their  families;  "^for 
 the  children  of  {{  Abiezer,  and  for  the  children 
 of  Helek,  'and  for  the  children  of  Asriel,  and 
 for  the  children  of  Shechem,  ^  and  for  the  chil- 
 dren of  Hepher,  and  for  the  children  of  She- 
 
 Uudg.  1.29. 
 S«e  1  Kill. 
 9.  .6. 
 
 a  Cell.  41.51. 
 &  46.  -iO.  & 
 ■18.  18- 
 
 b  Gen.  50. 
 23  Num. 
 26.  29.  & 
 32.  39,  40 
 lChr.7.  It 
 
 >■  Peu.  3.  15. 
 
 d  Num.  26. 
 
 A  Num.  26. 
 33  &  27.  1. 
 i<(  36.  2. 
 
 k  Num.  27. 
 6,7. 
 
 u  ch.  16.  8. 
 \\Or.  brook  uj 
 
 r„tdl. 
 
 o  ch.  16.  9. 
 
 rJu(ij.l.27, 
 
 28. 
 
 f  1  Chr.  7.1B. 
 II  Nu.  26.30, 
 Jtxtt. 
 /Nu.?6   3J. 
 e  Nu.  26.  S2. 
 
 r  Gen. IS. 19. 
 Num.26.S4, 
 37. 
 
 iiiida :  these  were  the  male  children  of  Manas- 
 seh the  son  of  Joseph  by  their  families. 
 
 .3  H  But '■Zelophebad,  the  son  of  Hepher,  the 
 ^011  of  Gilead,  the  son  of  Machir,  the  son  of 
 Manasseh,  had  no  sons,  but  daughters  :  and 
 these  are  the  names  of  his  daughters,  Mahlah, 
 and  Noah,  Hoglah,  Milcah,  and  Tirzah. 
 
 4  And  they  came  near  before  '  Eleazar  the 
 priest,  and  before  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  and 
 before  the  princes,  saying,  '  The  Lono  com- 
 manded Moses  to  give  us  an  inlieritauce  among 
 our  brethren.  Therefore  according  to  the 
 commandment  of  the  Lord  be  gave  them  an 
 inheritance  among  tlie  brethren  of  their  father. 
 And  there  fell  ten  portions  to  Manasseh, 
 beside  the  land  of  Gilead  and  Bashan,  wliich 
 were  on  the  other  side  Jordan  ; 
 
 6  Because  the  daughters  of  Manasseh  had 
 an  inheritance  among  his  sons  :  and  the  rest 
 of  Manasseh's  sons  had  the  land  of  Gilead. 
 
 7  H  And  the  coast  of  Manasseh  was  from 
 Asher  to  '  Miclnnethah,  that  liuth  before  She- 
 chem ;  and  the  border  went  along  on  the  right 
 hand  unto  the  inhabitants  of  En-tappuah. 
 
 8  Now  Manasseh  had  the  land  of  Tappuah  : 
 but  "'  Tappnali  on  the  border  of  Manasseh  be- 
 longed to  the  children  of  Epliraim  ; 
 
 9  And  the  coast  descended  "  unto  the  ||  river 
 Kanah,  southward  of  the  river:  "these  cities 
 of  Ephraim  are  among  the  cities  of  Manasseh  : 
 the  coast  of  Manasseh  also  was  on  the  north 
 side  of  the  river,  and  the  outgoings  of  it  were 
 at  the  sea  : 
 
 10  Southward  it  icas  Ephraiin's,  and  north 
 ward  it  was  Manasseh's,  and  the  sea  is  his  bor 
 der ;  and  they  met  together  in  Asher  on  the 
 north,  and  in  Issachar  on  the  east. 
 
 1 1  ''  And  Manasseh  had  in  Issachar  and  in 
 Asher  ''  Beth-shean  and  her  towns,  and  Ibleam 
 and  her  towns,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Dor  and 
 her  towns,  and  the  inhabitants  of  En-dor  and 
 her  towns,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Taanach  and 
 her  towns,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Meggiddo 
 and  her  towns,  even  three  countries. 
 
 1-2  Yet '  the  children  of  Manasseh  could  not 
 drive  out  the  inhabitants  o/"those  cities;  but 
 the  Canaanites  would  dwell"  in  that  land. 
 
 13  Yet  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  children  of 
 Israel  were  waxen  strong,  that  they  put  the 
 Canaanites  to  "tribute;  but  did  not  utterly 
 drive  them  out. 
 
 14  '  And  the  children  of  Joseph  spake  unto 
 Joshua,  saying.  Why  liast  thou  given  me  bnt 
 "  one  lot  and  one  portion  to  inherit,  seeing  1 
 am  '  a  great  people,  forasmuch  as  the  Lokd 
 hath  blessed  me  hitherto  ? 
 
 Chap.  XVI. —  !.  CTii'Wrm  o/JosepA— of  Ephraim  and  the  half  tribe 
 of  Manasseh,  here  pat  in  one;  they  had,  indeed,  two  lots,  Ephraim, 
 ver.  5,  and  Manasseh,  chap.  xvii.  1,  but  htre  he  speaks  of  them  in 
 common. — Poole.  Felt,  «5I'\  or  'went  out,'  from  the  pot  or  urn. — 
 Gilt.  10.  Drave  not  out — they  hoped  to  satisfy  the  law  by  putting 
 them  under  tribute  ;  yet,  as  Calvin  thiiiits,  that  made  the  matter  worse, 
 for  it  slievis  they  spared  them  out  of  covetousness,  that  they  miglit  be 
 profited  by  their  labours ;  and  by  dealing  with  them  for  their  tribute 
 they  were  in  danger  of  being  infected  by  their  idolatry. — Henry. 
 
 Chap.   XVII.  —  I.  For  he  teas  ttie firstborn,  and  therefore  ought  to 
 
 have  his  share,  though  Ephraim  was  preferred  before  him.—  Gi/;.  For 
 should  have  been  rendered  though,  the  sense  will  then  he,  that  the  lot 
 of  Manasseh  did  not  come  up  till  after  that  of  Ephraim,  tliough  he  was 
 the  firstborn.      Here  the  prediction  was  literally  fullijler),  that  Ephraim 
 
 should  be  before  Manasseh,  (Gen.  xlviii.  I9,  20.) — Pat.     For  Machir 
 
 if  he  now  lived,  lie  was  200  years  old.— WiY.  He  was  a  man  of  war — 
 he  had  given  great  proofs  of  his  valour,  though  not  recorded.  It  is 
 most  probable  his  name  is  put  here  for  tlie  whole  tribe,  as  in  Judg. 
 V.  U.— Poole.  5.  Teti  portions,  'bin,  ' cords*  or  'cablts,'  the  land 
 used  to  be  measured  hy  these,  as  with  us  by  a  chain, — Par. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap,    XVI.  —  I.    The  inheritance    of  to  us  ai;ai7ist  making  any  compromise  with  the  wortd,     TTiey  did 
 
 Ephraim,  thntiffh  not  so  exactly  defned  as  that  of  the  other  tribes,  '    '  ■    ■—  
 
 U'as,  neverlhi less,  now'h  dejinid  to  shew  it  was  a  fertile  counlri/.       _._  _^  __  .  , 
 
 Such   the  inspired   oracle,  by  Jacob,  foretold   it  should  be.  sin,  tbat  sin  will  be  enough  to  destroy  us.      If  it  cannot  ov"e"r 
 
 Anolber  instance  that  Uod  is  faithful  to  all  tbat  be  has  pro. 
 mised. 
 
 II.   The  conduct  of  the  Ephraimites,  in  pcrmtttiny  the  Canaan- 
 ites in  Gezer  to  dwell  ulnonff  them  by  ]>ayiny  tribute,  is  a  warning 
 •2:.  I 
 
 so   at   their  cost.      The   consequence   was,    that   God   said, 
 '  Ephraim  is  joined  to  idols,  let  him  alone.'     If  we  spare  one 
 
 .f  it  cannot  over- 
 come us  by  a  formidable  and  open  attack,  it  may  easily  subdue 
 us  by  a  league.  There  is  no  remedy  against  the  snares  of  sin 
 but  by  giving  it  no  quarter. 
 
The  lahernaclc  is  set  up  at  Shiloh. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XVIII. 
 
 The  lot  and  bonier  of  Beiijantin. 
 
 15  And  Joshua  answered  them.  If  thou  be  a 
 great  people,  then  get  thee  up  to  the  wood 
 country,  and  cut  down  for  thyself  there  in  the 
 land  of  the  Perizzites  and  of  the  ||  giants,  if 
 mount  Ephraim  be  too  narrow  for  thee. 
 
 16  And  the  cliildren  of  Joseph  said.  The  hill 
 is  not  enough  for  us  :  and  all  the  Canaanites 
 that  dwell  in  the  land  of  the  valley  have  ''  cha- 
 riots of  iron,  both  theij  who  are  of  Beth-shean 
 and  her  towns,  and  they  who  are  ^  of  the  valley 
 of  Jezreel. 
 
 17  And  Joshua  spake  unto  the  house  of  Jo- 
 seph, even  to  Ephraim  and  to  Manasseli,  say- 
 ing. Thou  art  a  great  people,  and  hast  great 
 power  :  thou  shalt  not  have  one  lot  onJy : 
 
 18  But  the  mountain  shall  he  thine  ;  for  it  is 
 a  wood,  and  thou  shalt  cut  it  down  :  and  tlie 
 outgoings  of  it  shall  be  thine  :  for  thou  shalt 
 drive  out  the  Canaanite.s,  "  though  they  have 
 iron  chariots,  and  though  they  be  strong. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 1  T/ie  tahernacit  is  set  up  at  Sliiloh.  2  The  remainder 
 of  the  land  is  d' scribed,  and  divided  into  seven  parts, 
 io  Joshua  dividcth  it  by  bit.  il  The  lot  and  border 
 of  Benjamin.     21    Their  cities, 
 
 A  ND  the  whole  congregation  of  the  chil- 
 -^^  dren  of  Lsrael  assembled  together  "at 
 Shiloh,  and  ''set  up  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation there.  And  the  land  was  subdued 
 before  them. 
 
 2  And  there  remained  among  the  children  of 
 Israel  seven  tribes,  which  had  not  yet  received 
 their  inheritance. 
 
 3  And  Joshua  said  unto  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael, ^  How  long  are  ye  slack  to  go  to  possess 
 the  land,  which  the  Lord  God  of  your  fathers 
 hath  given  you  ? 
 
 4  Give  out  from  among  you  three  men  for 
 each  tribe  :  and  I  will  send  them,  and  they 
 shall  rise,  and  go  through  the  land,  and  de- 
 scribe it  according  to  the  inheritance  of  them  ; 
 and  they  shall  come  agaiti  to  me. 
 
 5  And  they  shall  divide  it  into  seven  parts  : 
 •'  Judali  shall  abide  in  their  coast  on  tlie  soutli, 
 and  "  the  house  of  Joseph  shall  abide  in  their 
 coasts  on  the  norrli. 
 
 6  Ye  shall  tlierel'.ire  describe  the  land  into 
 seven  parts,  and  bring  the  description  hither  to 
 me,  '  tliat  I  may  cast  lots  for  you  here  before 
 t!ie  Lord  our  God. 
 
 7  "  But  the  Levites  liave  no  part  among  you ; 
 for  the  priesthood  of  the  Lord  is  their  inherit- 
 ance :  '■  and  Gad,  and  Reuben,  and  half  the 
 tribe  of  Manasseh,  have  received  their  inherit- 
 ance beyond  Jordan  on  the  east,  wdiich  Moses 
 
 II  Or,  R«- 
 pltaimt, 
 Gen.  14.  5. 
 
 &  15,  20. 
 
 jl  Judg.l  19.  I 
 
 ;  ch.  19.  18. 
 1  Kill.  4.1S. 
 
 a  clK  l!>.  I 
 
 &2I.2. 
 
 2-2.  9.  Jer.7.  t 
 
 1:;. 
 h  Judy.  IS. 
 
 31.  1  Sain. 
 
 1.3,2-1.  <i 
 
 c  Judg.  18. 
 
 h  G'-n  2S.  19. 
 Judg.  I.  23. 
 
 d  eb.  IS.  1 
 ech.  le.  1, 
 
 /eh.  H.  !. 
 &  ver.  10. 
 
 p  ch.  15.  T. 
 
 ^  ch.  15.  G. 
 
 r  ch.  15.  6 
 
 I)  Or,  the 
 pUiin. 
 
 the  servant  of  the  Lord  gave  them. 
 
 8  t  And  the  men  arose,  and  went  away :  and 
 Joshua  charged  them  that  went  to  describe  the 
 land,  saying.  Go  and  walk  tlirough  the  land, 
 and  describe  it,  and  come  again  to  me,  that  I 
 may  here  cast  lots  for  you  before  the  Lord  in 
 Shiloh. 
 
 9  And  the  men  went  and  passed  through  the 
 land,  and  described  it  by  cities  into  seven  parts 
 in  a  book,  and  came  again  to  Joshua  to  the 
 host  at  Shiloh. 
 
 10  1[  And  Joshua  cast  lots  for  them  in  Shiloh 
 before  the  Lord  :  and  there  Joshua  divided 
 the  land  unto  the  children  of  Israel  according 
 to  tlieir  divisions. 
 
 1 1  ^  And  the  lot  of  the  tribe  of  the  children 
 of  Benjamin  came  up  according  to  their  fami- 
 lies :  and  the  coast  of  their  lot  came  forth  be- 
 tween the  children  of  Judah  and  the  children 
 of  Joseph. 
 
 1'2  '  And  their  border  on  the  north  side  was 
 from  Jordan  ;  and  the  border  went  up  to  the 
 side  of  Jericho  on  the  north  side,  and  went  up 
 through  the  mountains  westward  ;  and  the  go- 
 ings out  thereof  were  at  the  wilderness  of 
 Heth-aven. 
 
 1;)  And  the  border  went  over  from  thence 
 toward  Luz,  to  the  side  of  Luz,  '  which  is 
 Beth-el,  southward  ;  and  tlie  border  descended 
 to  Ataroth-adar,  near  the  hill  that  lieth  on  the 
 south  side  '  of  the  nether  Beth-horon. 
 
 14  And  the  border  was  draw-n  thence,  and 
 compassed  the  corner  of  the  sea  soutliward, 
 from  the  hill  that  lieth  before  Beth-horon  south- 
 ward ;  and  the  goings  out  thereof  were  at 
 ■"  Kirjatli-baal,  which  is  Kirjatli-jearim,  a  city 
 of  the  children  of  Judah  :  this  was  the  west 
 quarter. 
 
 15  And  the  south  quarter  was  from  the  end 
 of  Kirjath-jearim,  and  the  border  went  out  on 
 the  west,  and  went  out  to  "  tlie  well  of  waters 
 of  Nephtoah  : 
 
 16  And  the  border  came  down  to  the  end  of 
 the  mountain  that  lieth  before  "  the  valley  of 
 the  son  of  Hinnom,  and  which  is  in  the  valley 
 of  the  giants  on  the  north,  and  descended  to 
 the  valley  of  Hhinom,  to  the  side  of  Jebusi  on 
 the  south,  and  descended  to  ■'  En-rogel, 
 
 17  And  was  drawn  from  tlie  north,  and  went 
 forth  to  En-shemesh,  and  went  forth  toward 
 Geliloth,  which  is  over  ag.iinst  the  going  up 
 of  Adummim,  and  descended  to  ''  the  stone  of 
 Bohan  the  son  of  Reuben, 
 
 18  And  passed  along  toward  the  side  over 
 against  '  ||  Arabah  northward,  and  went  down 
 unto  Arabah : 
 
 13.  Get  thee  up — shew  your  greatness  by  your  exertions. —  Willianis. 
 l6.  Chariots  of  iron — Boothrojjd  differs  from  the  generality  of  inter- 
 preters that  these  were  chariots  armed  with  iron  scythes,  and  thinks 
 the  frame  only  was  made  of  iron.  But  they  must  have  been  some- 
 thing alarminf?,  or  the  Israelites  would  not  have  feared  them  as  they 
 did;  and  this  is  moreover  implied  in  ver.  18. — Ed.  These  chariots  were 
 not  all  of  iron,  but  only  armed  with  it.  They  had  a  kind  of  scythes, 
 two  cubits  long,  fastened  to  long  a.\letrees  on  both  wheels. — Xenop. 
 Quint.  Curt. 
 
 Crap.  XVIII.  — .U  Shilnfi,  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  about  fifteen 
 miles  from  Jerusalem;  more  in  the  heart  of  the  country,  and  more 
 
 convenient  for  the  settled  tribes.  Set  up  the  tabernacle — it  is  sup- 
 posed to  have  been  kept  all  the  time  of  the  wars  at  the  camp  at  Gilgal, 
 but  was  nut  erected  there. — Wall.  The  tabernacle  remained  here 
 about  328  years. — Uslier.  g.  In  a  book,  or  'map.' — Jose/,hus  sAys 
 the  men  understood  geometry,  and  it  is  thought  they  haa  learned  it 
 in  Egypt,  and  so  could  well  survey  the  land.  II.  The  lot — cajne  up — 
 Dr.  Clarhe  conjectures,  the  names  of  tlie  tribes  were  put  into  an  urn, 
 and  the  names  of  the  portions  into  another  urn.  and  thus  they  were 
 drawn  in  pairs.  14.  Tlie  corner  of  ttie  sea  soittliwurd — HMD.  'corner,* 
 means  *  side.'— i'rt^  Rather  '  the  west  quarter.'  as  the  word  is  some- 
 times translated,  for  Dan  lay  between  Benjamin  and  the  Mediterranean 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVII.  —  I.  Too  mauij  are  like  tlie 
 children  of  Joseph,  discontevied  with  their  lot.  They  desired  a 
 lot  in  which  thoy  might  indulge  in  ease  and  luxury.  No,  saith 
 Joshua,  you  must  not  count  upon  that.  '  In  the  sweat  of  thy 
 face  slialt  thou  eat  bread,'  is  a  sentence  in  force  even  in  Canaan 
 itself  He  retorts  their  own  argument  that  tbey  were  a  great 
 people.  U  so,  you  are  the  better  able  to  help  yourselves,  and 
 ■252 
 
 have  the  less  reason  to  expect  help  from  others.  If  thou  hast 
 many  mouths  to  be  tilled,  thou  hast  twice  as  many  heads  to  be 
 employed  ;  earn,  and  then  eat. 
 
 II.  Indolence  will  nevir  pain  us  the  best  possession.  The  whole 
 tenour  of  Scripture  is,  liibour  and  reward— fight  and  conquer. 
 •  Be  not  slothlul,  hut  followers  of  them  who  through  faith  and 
 patience  inherit  the  promises.* 
 
The  lot  of  Simeon. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XIX. 
 
 The  lots  of  Zebulun,  Issachar,  &,c. 
 
 19  And  the  border  passed  along  to  the  side 
 of  Beth-hoglah  northward  :  and  the  outgoings 
 of  the  border  were  at  tlie  north  f  bay  of  the 
 salt  sea  at  the  south  end  of  Jordan :  this  was 
 the  south  coast. 
 
 '20  And  Jordan  was  the  border  of  it  on  the 
 east  side.  This  was  the  inlieritance  of  the 
 children  of  Benjamin,  by  the  coasts  thereof 
 round  about,  according  to  their  families. 
 
 21  Now  the  cities  of  the  tribe  of  the  children 
 of  Benjamin  according  to  tlieir  families  were 
 Jericho,  and  Beth-hoglali,  and  the  valley  of 
 Keziz, 
 
 22  And  Beth-arabah,  and  Zemaraim,  and 
 Beth-el, 
 
 2.3  And  Avim,  and  Parah,  and  Ophrah, 
 
 24  And  Cbephar-haammonai,  and  Ophni,  and 
 Gaba  ;  twelve  cities  with  their  villages  : 
 
 25  Gibeon,  and  Ramah,  and  Beeroth, 
 
 26  And  Mizpeh,  and  Cliephirah,  and  Mozah, 
 
 27  And  Rekem,  and  Irpeel,  and  Taralah, 
 
 28  And  Zelab,  Eleph,  and  '  Jebusi,  which  is 
 Jerusalem,  Gibeath,  and  Kirjath  ;  fourteen 
 cities  with  their  villages.  Tliis  is  the  inherit- 
 ance of  the  children  of  Benjamm  according  to 
 their  families. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 1  The  lot  of  Simeon,   10  of  Zcbntioiy   M  of  Issachar, 
 •J4  ofAsher,   32  of  Nuphlali,   40  of  Dan.       49  The 
 children  of  Israel  give  an  inlieritance  to  Joshna. 
 
 A  ND  the  second  lot  came  forth  to  Simeon, 
 -'*•  even  for  the  tribe  of  the  children  of  Si 
 meon  according  to  their  families  :  "  and  their 
 inheritance  was  within  the  inheritance  of  the 
 children  of  Judah. 
 
 2  And  ''  they  had  in  their  inheritance  Beer- 
 sheba,  and  Sheba,  and  Moladah, 
 
 3  And  Hazar-shual,  and  Balab,  and  Azem, 
 
 4  And  Eltolad,  and  Bethul,  and  Hormah, 
 
 5  Aird  Ziklag,  and  Beth-marcaboth,  and 
 Hazar-susah, 
 
 6  And  Beth-lebaoth,  and  Sharuhen  ;  thir- 
 teen cities  and  their  villages  : 
 
 7  Ain,  Remmon,  and  Ether,  and  Ashan  ;  four 
 cities  and  their  villages  : 
 
 8  And  all  the  villages  that  were  round  about 
 these  cities  to  Baalath-beer,  Ramath  of  the 
 south.  This  is  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  of 
 the  children  of  Simeon  according  to  their 
 families. 
 
 9  Out  of  the  portion  of  the  children  of  Judah 
 was  the  inheritance  of  the  children  of  Simeon  : 
 for  the  part  of  tlie  children  of  Judah  was  too 
 much  for  them :  '  therefore  the  cliildren  of 
 Simeon  had  tlieir  inheritance  within  the  inhe- 
 ritance of  them. 
 
 10  U  And  the  third  lot  came  up  for  the  children 
 
 t  Heb. 
 tmifjug. 
 
 B.  C   MW. 
 
 d  Geu.49  13. 
 :  ch.  12.  a.'. 
 
 I  Or.  it/..i/. 
 ii  dr„m. 
 
 /ch.  11.  8. 
 Jade.  1'  31. 
 
 t  Heb.  Tim, 
 2Sam.5.ll. 
 
 a  Geu.  S8.  5. 
 Judg.  1.  31. 
 Mic.  I.  14. 
 
 of  Zebulun  according  to  their  families  :  and  the 
 border  of  their  inheritance  was  unto  Sarid  : 
 
 1 1  ''And  their  border  went  up  toward  the  sea, 
 and  Maralah,  and  reached  to  Dabbasheth,  and 
 
 cached  to  the  river  that  is  °  before  Jokneam  ; 
 
 12  And  turned  from  Sarid  eastward  toward 
 the  sunrising  unto  the  border  of  Chisloth-tabor, 
 and  then  goeth  out  to  Daberath,  and  goeth  up 
 to  Japhia, 
 
 13  And  from  thence  passeth  on  along  on  the 
 east  to  Gittah-heplier,  to  Ittah-kazin,  and  goeth 
 out  to  Remmon-ljinethoar  to  Neah  ; 
 
 14  And  the  border  compasseth  it  on  the  north 
 side  to  Hannathon  :  and  tlie  outgoings  thereof 
 are  in  the  valley  of  Jiphtbah-el : 
 
 15  And  Kattath,  and  Naballal,  and  Shiniron, 
 and  Idalah,  and  Beth-lehem :  twelve  cities 
 with  their  villages. 
 
 10  This  is  the  inlieritance  of  the  children  of 
 Zebulun  according  to  their  families,  these 
 cities  with  their  villages. 
 
 17  T  And  the  fourth  lot  came  out  to  Issachar, 
 for  tlie  children  of  Issachar  according  to  their 
 families. 
 
 18  And  their  border  was  toward  Jezreel,  and 
 Chesulloth,  and  Shunem, 
 
 19  And  Haphraim,  and  Shihon,  and  Anaha- 
 rath, 
 
 20  And  Rabbith,  and  Kishion,  and  Abez, 
 
 21  And  Remeth,  and  En-gannim,  and  En- 
 haddah,  and  Beth-pazzez  ; 
 
 22  And  the  coast  reacheth  to  Tabor,  and 
 Shahazimah,  and  Beth-shemesh  ;  and  the  out- 
 goings of  their  border  were  at  Jordan  :  sixteen 
 cities  with  their  villages. 
 
 23  This  is  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  Issachar  according  to  their  families, 
 the  cities  and  their  villages. 
 
 24  H  And  the  fifth  lot  came  out  for  the  tribe 
 of  the  children  of  .\slier  according  to  their 
 families. 
 
 25  And  their  border  was  Helkath,  and  Hali, 
 and  Beten,  and  Achsbaph, 
 
 2G  And  Alammelecli,  and  Amad,  and  Mish- 
 eal  ;  and  reacheth  to  Carinel  westward,  and 
 to  Shihor-libnath  ; 
 
 27  And  turneth  toward  the  sunrising  to  Beth- 
 dagon,  and  reacheth  to  Zebulun,  and  to  the 
 valley  of  Jiphthah-el  toward  tlie  north  side  of 
 Beth-emek,  and  Neiel,  and  goeth  out  to  Cabul 
 on  the  left  hand, 
 
 •28  And  Hebron,  and  Rehob,  and  Hammon, 
 and  Kanah,  '  even  unto  great  Zidon  ; 
 
 29  And  then  the  coast  turneth  to  Ramah,  and 
 to  the  strong  city  f  Tyre ;  and  the  coast  turneth 
 to  Hosah  ;  and  the  outgoings  thereof  are  at  the 
 sea  from  the  coast  to  °  Acbzib  : 
 
 Sea.  —  Wells,  ^13\  •  from  the  sea,' — Mnsitis ;  or  *  from  the  west.' — 
 Nolftins.  21.  Jericho,  which,  though  the  walls  had  fallen,  is  supposed 
 to  liave  had  some  houses  remaining. — So  Put. 
 
 Chap.  XI.K.  —  9.  Out  of  the  portion  of  ttie  cliildren  of  Judah — on  the 
 first  survey  of  the  land  it  was  thought  liir^er  than  it  was,  and  on  a 
 more  strict  survey,  the  part  allotted  to  Judab  was  both  larger  than 
 could  be  spared  and  than  they  needed.    Simeon  had  therefore  an  in- 
 
 heritance here,  and  thus  the  prophecy  was  fulfilled,  (Gen.  xlix.  ".)— 
 Hen.  18.  B'jcrffr— the  word  '  border'  or  '  boundary,'  is  not  simply  to 
 be  understood  of  the  boundary  line,  but  also  of  all  the  towns  and  lands 
 which  it  circumscribes.  It  may  mean  '  district'  or  '  territory.'— i/f«i. 
 29.  Tijre,  •y.i,  'rock.'  It  probably  does  not  mean  the  famous  Tyre,  but 
 a  fortress  on  a  high  rock.— Gi«.  It  is  named  Zor,  as  the  Hebrew,  by 
 Corerdale,  Cranmer,  ^c. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVllI.  —  1.  Thefirst  care  of  Joshua, 
 7tow  the  tribes  bifjan  to  settle  in  Canaan,  was  to  set  up  the  tabernacle 
 amonfj  them.  AVherever  we  go,  our  first  concern  should  be 
 about  enjoying  the  ordinances  of  God.  '  It  was,'  says  Henry, 
 '  a  good  presat;e  of  a  comfortable  settlement  in  Canaan,  when 
 the  first  care  was  to  see  the  ark  well  settled,  as  sooq  as  there 
 was  a  safe  place  ready  to  settle  in.' 
 
 II.  Joshua  had  here  occasion  to  reprove  some  of  the  tribes  of 
 negligence  in  taking  possession  of  their  inheritance.  '  How  long 
 253 
 
 are  ye  .slack  ?'  '  God  by  his  grace,"  says  the  same  writer,  '  has 
 given  us  a  title  to  a  good  laud,  tiie  heavenly  Canaan,  but  we 
 are  slack  to  take  possession  ;  we  enter  not  into  that  rest  as  we 
 might,  by  faith,  and  hope,  and  htily  joy ;  we  live  not  in  heaven 
 as  we  might,  by  setting  our  affections  on  things  above,  and 
 liaving  our  conversation  there.  How  long  shall  it  be  thus  with 
 us  1  How  long  shall  we  thus  stand  in  our  own  light,  and  for- 
 sake our  own  mercies  for  lying  vanities  '.' 
 
Tlie  lots  of  Naphlah  and  Dan. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XX. 
 
 Six  cities  of  rcfiiye  appointed. 
 
 30  Uminah  also,  and  Aphek,  and  Rehob : 
 twenty  and  two  cities  witli  their  villages. 
 
 31  This  is  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  Asher  according  to  their  families, 
 these  cities  witli  their  villages. 
 
 3'2  1  The  sixth  lot  came  out  to  the  children 
 of  Naphtali,  even  for  tlie  children  of  Naphtali 
 according  to  their  families. 
 
 83  And  their  coast  was  from  Heleph,  from 
 Allon  tu  Zaanannim,  and  Adami,  Nekeb,  and 
 Jabneel,  unto  Lakum ;  and  the  outgoings 
 thereof  were  at  Jordan  : 
 
 34  And  then  "  the  coast  turneth  westward  to 
 Aznoth-tabor,  and  goeth  out  from  thence  to 
 Hukkok,  and  reacheth  to  Zebulun  on  the  south 
 side,  and  reacheth  to  Asher  on  the  west  side, 
 and  to  Judah  upon  Jordan  toward  the  sun- 
 rising. 
 
 35  And  the  fenced  cities  are  Ziddim,  Zer, 
 and  Hammath,  Kakkath,  and  Chinnereth, 
 
 30   And  Adamah,  and  Ramah,  and  Hazor, 
 
 37  And  Kedesh,  and  Edrei,  and  En-hazor, 
 
 38  And  Iron,  and  Migdal-el,  Horem,  and 
 Beth-anath,  and  Beth-shemesh  ;  nineteen  cities 
 with  their  villages. 
 
 ;i9  This  is  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  Naphtali  according  to  their  families, 
 the  cities  and  their  villages. 
 
 40  t  And  the  seventh  lot  came  out  for  the 
 tribe  of  the  children  of  Dan  according  to  their 
 families. 
 
 41  And  the  coast  of  their  inheritance  was 
 Zorah,  and  Eshtaol,  and  Ir-shemesh, 
 
 42  And  '  Shaalahbin,  and  Ajalon,and  Jethlah, 
 
 43  And  Elon,  and  Thimnathah,  and  Ekron, 
 
 44  And  Eltekeh,  and  Gibbethon.and  Baalath, 
 4.5  And  Jehud,  and  Bene-berak,  and  Gath- 
 
 rinnnon, 
 
 4fi  And  Me-jarkon,  and  Rakkon,  with  the 
 border  ||  before  ||  Japho. 
 
 47  And  '  the  coast  of  the  children  of  Dan 
 went  out  too  little  for  them  :  therefore  the 
 children  of  Dan  went  up  to  fight  against  Le- 
 shem,  and  took  it,  and  smote  it  with  the  edge 
 of  the  .sword,  and  possessed  it,  and  dwelt 
 therein,  and  called  Leshem,  '  Dan,  after  the 
 name  of  Dan  their  father. 
 
 48  This  is  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  Dan  acccirding  to  their  families, 
 these  cities  with  their  villages. 
 
 49  K  When  they  had  made  an  end  of  divid- 
 ing the  land  for  inheritance  by  their  coasts,  the 
 children  of  Israel  gave  an  inheritance  to  Joshua 
 the  son  of  Nun  among  tliem  : 
 
 50  According  to  the  word  of  the  Lord  they 
 
 ftDe\i.33.-:3. 
 
 Judg.  I.S5. 
 
 II  Or.  ™«r 
 
 11  Or,  Jo]i]in 
 Acts  f).  ;^6 
 
 A  See  Jude 
 18 
 
 I  Judg.  19. 
 
 Ex.  SI  13 
 Num.  35  6, 
 II,  U.  r>tu. 
 19.  2,  3. 
 
 c  Nu.  S5.  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  tane- 
 
 tiricd. 
 t  cl>.  21.  32. 
 
 1  Chr.  6.  76 
 /cli   21.  21. 
 
 2Ctir.  to.  I. 
 g  cli.  U.  15 
 
 K2I.  II,  13. 
 A  Luke  l.3y. 
 i  Deu   4.  43 
 
 ch,  21.  3G, 
 
 I  Clir.  6.7ft. 
 frch.  21.  3ft- 
 
 l  Kin.  22.3, 
 I  ch.  21.  27. 
 
 gave  him  the  city  which  he  asked,  even  "'  Tim- 
 nath-"serah  in  mount  Ephraim  :  and  he  built 
 the  city,  and  dwelt  therein. 
 51  "These  are  the  inheritances,  which  Elea- 
 zar  the  priest,  and  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  and 
 the  heads  of  the  fathers  of  the  tribes  of  the 
 children  of  Israel,  divided  for  an  inheritance 
 by  lot  ''in  Shiloh  before  the  Lord,  at  the  door 
 of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation.  So  they 
 made  an  end  of  dividing  the  country. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 I   God  commandithj  7  and  ifie  children  of  Israel  ap- 
 point the  six  cities  of  refvije, 
 
 T^HE  Lord  also  spake  unto  Joshua,  saying, 
 ■*-    '2  Speak  to  the  children  of  Israel,  saying, 
 "  Appoint  out  for  you  cities  of  refuge,  whereof 
 I  spake  unto  you  by  the  hand  of  Moses  : 
 
 3  That  the  slayer  that  killeth  any  person 
 unawares  and  unwittingly  may  flee  thither : 
 and  they  shall  be  your  refuge  from  the  avenger 
 of  blood. 
 
 4  And  when  he  that  doth  flee  unto  one  of 
 those  cities  shall  stand  at  the  entering  of '"  the 
 gate  of  the  city,  and  shall  declare  his  cause  in 
 the  ears  of  the  elders  of  that  city,  they  shall 
 take  him  into  the  city  unto  them,  and  give  him 
 a  place,  that  he  may  dwell  among  them. 
 
 5  "  And  if  the  avenger  of  blood  pursue  after 
 him,  then  they  shall  not  deliver  the  slayer  up 
 into  his  hand  ;  because  he  smote  his  neighbour 
 unwittingly,  and  hated  him  not  beforetime. 
 
 6  And  he  shall  dwell  in  that  city,  ''  until  he 
 stand  before  the  congregation  for  judgment, 
 and  until  the  death  of  the  high  priest  that  shall 
 be  in  those  days  :  then  shall  the  slayer  return, 
 and  come  unto  his  own  city,  and  unto  his  own 
 house,  unto  the  city  from  whence  he  fled. 
 
 7  1  And  they  f appointed  'Kedesh  in  Ga- 
 lilee in  mount  Naphtali,  and  'Shechem  in 
 mount  Ephrahn,  and  '■'  Kirjath-arba,  which  is 
 Hebron,  in  ''  the  mountain  of  Judah. 
 
 8  And  on  the  other  side  Jordan  by  Jericho 
 eastward,  they  as.signed  '  Bezer  in  the  wilder- 
 ness upon  the  plain  out  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben, 
 and  '  Ramoth  in  Gilead  out  of  the  tribe  of 
 Gad,  and  '  Golan  in  Bashan  out  of  the  tribe  of 
 Manasseh. 
 
 9  '"  These  were  the  cities  appointed  for  all 
 the  children  of  Israel,  and  for  the  stranger  that 
 sojourneth  among  thoni,  that  whosoever  killeth 
 any  person  at  unawares  might  flee  thither,  and 
 not  die  by  the  hand  of  the  avenger  of  blood, 
 "  until  he  stood  before  the  congregation. 
 
 Chap.  XX. —  1.  Cities  of  refii!;e—SQe  notes  on  Num.  xxxv.  6,  8:c.  but    some   suppose   that  Caleb   had   something  in  lieu  of  it.—  Gilt. 
 
 (^.Be/ore   tlie  congreftatinn — "in  Ihe  court  of  judicature,  {sec  Num.  g.  TAese  Mere  (/le  ciVicv— they  were  all  occupied  by  the  Levites,  so  that 
 
 xxxv.  24,  25.)        7.  Kirjiif/t-fif/m— this  was  given  to  Caleb,  {chap.  xiv.  the  refugees  might  enjoy  religious  instruction— iJuoMr. 
 13,  14.)     The  Jews  think  he  had  only  the  villages  and  fields  around  it. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIX. —  I.  God's  promises  are  here 
 alt  completed  rtspectine)  the  good  land.  I'lie  Israelites  had  a  wil- 
 derness to  traverse,  trials  to  endure,  enemies  to  subdue,  faith 
 and  hope  to  exercise,  and  patience  long  put  to  the  test  ;  but 
 they  bad  their  inheritance  at  last.  A  few  more  trials, — a  few 
 more  steps  on  the  pilgrimase  of  tlie  wiUlerness, — a  few  more 
 conquests,— a  few  more  wishful  glances  of  faith,  -and  the  be- 
 liever shall  now  as  assuredly  enter  into  his  heavenly  rest,  '  for 
 He  is  faithful  who  has  promised.' 
 
 II.  Joshua  dis/ila;/ed  tlie  greatest  disinterestedness  of  conduct. 
 He  coveted  no  great  things  for  himself,  and  he  did  'not  settle 
 down  till  he  saw  all  the  tribes  safely  settled  in  their  inherit- 
 ance. '  But,'  says  Ihe  e.xcellent  Scott,  •  .lesus  has  far  outdone 
 all  others  in  lliis  and  in  every  other  respect  ; "  though  be  was 
 '254 
 
 rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  he  became  poor,  that  we,  through  his 
 poverty,  might  be  made  rich."  He  would  not  enter  upon  ids 
 inheritance  till,  by  bis  obedience  unto  death,  he  had  secured 
 tlie  eternal  inheritance  for  all  his  people  !  nor  will  be  account 
 his  own  glory  completed  until  every  ransomed  sinner  is  put  in 
 possession  of  bis  heavenly  rest.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XX. — Matthew  Henry  here  re- 
 marks— I.  As  S0071  as  God  had  yiven  ihe  Israelites  cities  of  rest, 
 he  hade  iliem  appoint  cities  of  refueje.  And  it  intimates"  what 
 God's  spiritual  Israel  have  and  shall  have  in  Christ  and  heaven, 
 not  only  rest  to  repose  themselves  in,  but  refuge  to  secure 
 themselves  in. 
 
 II.  Tliesc  cities  would  iml  have  been  so  often  mentioned  if  they 
 were  not  designed  to  ti/pifi/  the  relief  which  ttie  gospel  provides  for 
 
Eight  and  forty  cities 
 
 JOSHUA,  XXI. 
 
 (liven  lo  the  Levitcs. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  Eight  and  forty  aths  tjivcn  hy  lot,  out  of  the  other 
 tribts,  unto  the  Levites.  43  God  gave  the  land,  and 
 rent  unto  the  Israelites,  according  to  hh  promise, 
 
 T^HEN  came  near  the  heads  of  the  fathers  of 
 -*-  the  Levites  unto  "  Eleazar  tlie  priest,  and 
 unto  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  and  unto  the 
 Iieads  of  the  fathers  of  the  tribes  of  tlie  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  ; 
 
 '2  And  tliey  spake  unto  them  at  ■>  Shiloh  in 
 the  land  of  Canaan,  saying,  ''  The  Lono  com. 
 manded  by  the  hand  of  Moses  to  give  us  cities 
 to  dwell  in,  with  the  suburbs  thereof  for  our 
 cattle. 
 
 3  And  the  children  of  Israel  gave  unto  the 
 Levites  out  of  their  inheritance,  at  the  com- 
 mandment of  the  Lord,  these  cities  and  their 
 suburbs. 
 
 4  And  the  lot  came  out  for  the  families  of 
 the  Kohathites  :  and  ''  the  children  of  Aaron 
 tlie  priest,  which  were  of  tlie  Levites,  °  had  by 
 lot  out  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  out  of  the 
 tribe  of  Simeon,  and  out  of  the  tribe  of  Benja- 
 min, thirteen  cities. 
 
 5  And  '  the  rest  of  the  children  of  Kohath 
 had  by  lot  out  of  the  families  of  the  tribe  of 
 Ephraim,  and  out  of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  and  out 
 of  tlie  half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  ten  cities. 
 
 ()  And  ^  the  children  of  Gershon  had  by  lot 
 out  of  the  families  of  the  tribe  of  Issachar,  and 
 out  of  the  tribe  of  Asher,  and  out  of  the  tribe 
 of  Naphtali,  and  out  of  the  half  tribe  of  Ma- 
 nasseh in  Bashau,  thirteen  cities. 
 
 7  "  The  cliildren  of  Merari  hy  their  families 
 ^tad  out  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  and  out  of  the 
 tribe  of  Gad,  and  out  of  the  tribe  of  Zebulun, 
 twelve  cities. 
 
 8  '  And  the  children  of  Israel  gave  by  lot 
 unto  the  Levites  these  cities  with  their  suburbs, 
 '  as  the  Lord  commanded  by  the  hand  of 
 Moses. 
 
 9  H  And  they  gave  out  of  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  Judah,  and  out  of  the  tribe  of  the 
 children  of  Simeon,  these  cities  whicli  are  here 
 t  mentioned  by  name, 
 
 10  '  Which  the  children  of  Aaron,  being  of 
 the  families  of  the  Kohathites,  tvho  were  of 
 the  children  of  Levi,  had  :  for  their's  was  the 
 first  lot. 
 
 1 1  "  And  they  gave  them  ||  the  city  of  Arba 
 the  father  of  "  Aiiak,  which  citj/  is  Hebron,  "in 
 the  hill  countri/  of  Judah,  with  the  suburbs 
 thereof  round  about  it. 
 
 1'2  But  ''  the  fields  of  the  city,  and  the  villages 
 thereof,  gave  they  to  Caleb  the  son  of  Jephun- 
 neh  for  his  possession. 
 
 13  1  Tluis  ''they  gave  to  the  children  of 
 Aaron  the  priest  "■  Hebron  with  her  suliurbs, 
 to  he  a  city  of  refuge  for  the  slayer  ;  '  and  Lib- 
 nah  with  her  suliurbs, 
 
 14  And  'Jattir  with  her  suburbs,  "and  Esh- 
 temoa  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 15  And  "  Holon  with  her  suburbs,  >' and  De- 
 bir  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 loh-  M.  1. 
 Sc  17.  4. 
 
 6  ch.  IS.  1. 
 f  Num.358. 
 
 '/  vpr.  8.  [9. 
 ■  See  ch.  21, 
 
 tHeb.c-'/W. 
 (  ver.4. 
 
 ,n  I  Clir.  6. 
 II  Or,  Kir- 
 
 Gen.  23,  2, 
 n  cli.  \b   13. 
 
 \'i 
 o  ch,  90  7- 
 
 I.uke  1.39. 
 /.  ch,  U.  M. 
 
 1  Chr.  6.56, 
 
 q  1  Chr.  6. 
 
 .iT,  &c. 
 r  ch,  15.  54, 
 
 &  SIP.  7. 
 f  ch.  15.  42. 
 
 B.C. IIH, 
 ;  !  Chr,ti5n, 
 
 Ch,  16  42. 
 1  ch.  15,  Jo, 
 4cli,  15.  111. 
 c  ch  Ifi,  25, 
 r/ch,  18,  21, 
 
 G;l<n. 
 fi  1  Chr,  15  611, 
 
 /  ver.  S, 
 1  Chr.  6.66. 
 
 tf  ch.  20.  7. 
 
 /ch.  15.  4S. 
 Mch.  15.  60. 
 
 r  I  Chr.6.58, 
 
 ch.  15,  51. 
 J  ch.  16.  a. 
 
 I  ver.  7. 
 See  1  Chr 
 
 IG  And  '  Ain  with  her  suburbs,  "and  Jutlali 
 with  her  suliurbs,  and  ''  Beth-shemesh  with  her 
 suburbs  ;  nine  cities  out  of  those  two  tribes. 
 
 17  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  'Gibeoii 
 with  her  suburb.s,  ''Geba  with  her  suburb.s, 
 
 18  Anathoth  with  her  suburbs,  and  *■  Ahnon 
 with  her  suburbs  ;  four  cities. 
 
 19  All  the  cities  of  the  children  of  Aaron, 
 the  priests,  were  thirteen  cities  with  their 
 suburbs. 
 
 20  li '  And  the  families  of  the  children  of 
 Kohath,  the  Levites  which  remained  of  the 
 cliihiren  of  Kohatli,  even  tliey  had  the  cities  of 
 their  lot  out  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim. 
 
 21  For  tliey  gave  them  "^  Sheclieni  with  her 
 suburbs  in  mount  Ephraim,  to  be  a  city  of 
 refuge  for  the  slayer ;  and  Gezer  with  her 
 suburbs, 
 
 22  And  Kibzaini  witli  her  suburbs,  and  Beth- 
 lioron  with  her  suburbs  ;  four  cities. 
 
 23  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  ElteUeh 
 with  her  suburbs,  Gilibethon  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 24  Aijalon  with  her  suburbs,  Gath-rimmon 
 with  her  suburbs  ;  four  cities. 
 
 25  And  out  of  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh, 
 Tanach  with  her  suburbs,  and  Gath-rimmon 
 with  her  suburbs  ;  two  cities. 
 
 26  All  the  cities  irere  ten  with  their  suburbs 
 for  the  families  of  the  children  of  Kohath  that 
 remained. 
 
 7  K ''  And  unto  the  children  of  Gershon,  of 
 the  families  of  the  Levites,  out  of  tlie  other 
 half  tribe  of  Manasseh  thet/  gave  '  Golan  in 
 Bashaii  with  hersuburb.s,  to  be  a  city  of  refuge 
 for  the  slayer ;  and  Beesh-terah  with  her 
 suburbs  ;  two  cities. 
 
 28  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  I.ssachar,  Kishon 
 with  her  suburbs,  Dabareh  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 29  Jarmnth  with  her  suburbs,  En-gainiiin 
 with  her  suburbs  ;  four  cities. 
 
 30  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Asher,  Mishal  with 
 her  suburbs,  Abdon  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 31  Helkath  with  her  suburb.s,  and  Reliob  with 
 her  suburbs  ;  four  cities. 
 
 32  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali, ''  Kedesh 
 in  Galilee  with  her  suburbs,  to  be  a  city  of  re- 
 fuge for  the  slayer ;  and  Hammoth-dor  with 
 her  suburbs,  and  Kartan  with  her  suburbs ; 
 three  cities. 
 
 33  All  the  cities  of  the  Gershonites  according 
 to  their  families  were  thirteen  cities  with  their 
 suburbs. 
 
 34  H  '  And  unto  the  families  of  the  children 
 of  Merari,  the  rest  of  the  Levites,  out  of  the 
 tribe  of  Zebulun,  Jokneam  with  her  suburbs, 
 and  Kartah  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 35  Dimnah  with  her  suburbs,  Nahalal  with 
 her  suburbs  ;  four  cities. 
 
 36  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  ""  Bezer 
 with  her  suburbs,  and  Jahazali  witli  her  suburbs, 
 
 37  Kedemoth  with  her  suburbs,  and  Mepha- 
 ath  with  her  suburbs  ;  four  cities. 
 
 38  And  out  of  tlie  tribe  of  Gad,  "  Ramotli  iu 
 Gilead  with  her  suburbs,  to  be  a  city  of  refuge 
 
 Chap. XXI.  —  1.  The  heads  of  the  fathers— l\\e  fathers  of  the  Levites  Kohathites.  considered  the  noblest  family  of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  for  Moses 
 were  Kohath,  Gershoni,  and  Merari,  and  the  heads  of  these  were  the  and  Aaron  descended  from  Kohath,  (see  1  Chron.  vi.  2,  3.)  —  Hew, 
 cliief  persons  now  alive  of  these  several  families.— Poo(c.         4.  The    12.  Tlie  fields— ia  all  cases  the  fields  and  villages  around  the  cities  of 
 
 poor  penitent  sinners,  and  their  protection  from  the  cur'e  of  the   found.  (Phil.  iii.  9,)  as  in  a  sanctuary  where  they  are  privi- 
 law  and  the  wrath  of  God  in  our  Loril  Jesue,  to  w^iom  be-    leged  from  arrests,  and  there  is  therefore  now  no  condemna- 
 hevers  flee  for  retuge,  (lleh.  vi.  18,)  and    in  whom  they  are    tion  to  them,  (Horn.  viii.  1.) 
 255 
 
The  two  tribes  and  a  half  arc  sent  home. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XXII. 
 
 Thci/  build  the  altar  of  testimoiii/. 
 
 for  the  slayer;  and  Mahanaim  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 39  Heshbon  with  her  suburbs,  Jazer  with  her 
 suburbs  ;  four  cities  in  all. 
 
 40  So  all  the  cities  fur  the  children  of  Merari 
 by  their  families,  which  were  remaining  of  the 
 families  of  the  Levites,  were  bi/  their  lot  twelve 
 cities. 
 
 41  "All  the  cities  of  the  Levites  within  the 
 possession  of  the  children  of  Israel  were  forty 
 and  eight  cities  with  their  suburbs. 
 
 42  These  cities  were  every  one  with  their 
 suburbs  round  about  them  :  thus  were  all  these 
 cities. 
 
 43  t  And  the  Lord  gave  unto  Israel  ■'all 
 the  land  which  he  sware  to  give  unto  their 
 fathers ;  and  they  possessed  it,  and  dwelt 
 therein. 
 
 44  ''  And  the  Lokd  gave  them  rest  round 
 about,  according  to  all  that  he  sware  unto 
 their  fathers  :  and  '  there  stood  not  a  man  of 
 all  their  enemies  before  them  ;  the  Lord  de- 
 livered all  their  enemies  into  their  hand. 
 
 45  '  There  failed  not  ought  of  any  good  thing 
 which  the  Lord  had  .spoken  unto  the  house  of 
 Israel ;  all  came  to  pass. 
 
 CHAP.  xxn. 
 
 1  T/ii'  two  tribes  atitl  /iiilf  with  a  hhssinij  are  sent  /n>me. 
 9  Ttiey  build  tlte  altar  of  tfstitwmi/  in  ttieir  journey. 
 11  Tite  Israelites  are  offended  thereat.  21  Ttiey  give 
 them  good  satisfaction. 
 
 'T'HEN  Joshua  called  the   Reubenites,  and 
 •*-    the  Gadites,  and  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh, 
 
 2  And  said  unto  them,  Ye  have  kept  "  all 
 that  Moses  the  servant  of  the  Lord  com- 
 manded you,  ''  and  have  obeyed  my  voice  in 
 all  that  I  connnanded  you  : 
 
 3  Ye  have  not  left  your  brethren  these  many 
 days  unto  this  day,  but  have  kept  the  charge 
 of  the  commandment  of  the  Lord  your  God 
 
 4  And  now  the  Lord  your  God  hath  given 
 rest  unto  your  brethren,  as  he  promised  them  : 
 therefore  now  return  ye,  and  get  you  unto 
 your  tents,  and  unto  the  land  of  your  posses- 
 sion, '  which  Moses  the  servant  of  the  Lord 
 gave  you  on  the  other  side  Jordan. 
 
 5  But  •^  take  diligent  heed  to  do  the  com- 
 mandment and  the  law,  which  Moses  the 
 servant  of  the  Lord  charged  you,  "  to  love  the 
 Lord  your  God,  and   to  walk  in  all  his  ways, 
 
 ;iGpn.  13.15 
 &  l.i.  18.  & 
 2fi.  3.  &  28. 
 
 /■Ge.i    +7   7. 
 Ex.  ;!9.  4a. 
 ch.  H    IS- 
 2S.ii!i  6.18. 
 LukeSkSO. 
 
 *Nu.  31.27. 
 I  ^ain.  SO. 
 
 cli.  13.  8. 
 
 i  nin.  6  B. 
 
 17.  8c  U   22 
 
 k  Den.  IS. 
 12,  &C 
 Jiidg.2U.I2. 
 
 MiKlg.SO  1. 
 
 m  Dcii.  IS. 
 14.  Jitdg. 
 30.  12. 
 
 aflhafnther. 
 
 u  Num.  1,4. 
 
 and  to  keep  his  commandments,  and  to  cleave 
 unto  him,  and  to  serve  him  with  all  your  heart 
 and  with  all  your  soul. 
 
 6  So  Joshua  '  blessed  them,  and  sent  them 
 away  :  and  they  went  unto  their  tents. 
 
 7  i  Now  to  the  one  half  of  the  tribe  of  Ma- 
 nasseh Moses  had  given  possession  in  Bashan  : 
 ^  but  unto  the  other  half  thereof  gave  Joshua 
 among  their  brethren  on  this  side  Jordan  west- 
 ward. And  when  Joshua  sent  them  away  also 
 unto  their  tents,  then  he  blessed  them, 
 
 8  And  he  spake  unto  them,  .saying.  Return 
 with  much  riches  unto  your  tents,  and  with 
 very  much  cattle,  ivith  silver,  and  with  gold, 
 and  with  brass,  and  with  iron,  and  with  very 
 much  raiment:  '■divide  the  spoil  of  your  ene- 
 mies with  your  brethren. 
 
 9  H  And  the  children  of  Reuben  and  the 
 children  of  Gad  and  the  half  tribe  of  Manas- 
 seh returned,  and  departed  from  the  children 
 of  Israel  out  of  Shiloh,  which  is  in  the  land  of 
 Canaan,  to  go  unto  '  the  country  of  Gilead,  to 
 the  land  of  their  possession,  whereof  they  were 
 possessed,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord 
 by  the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 10  H  And  when  they  came  unto  the  borders 
 of  Jordan,  that  are  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  the 
 children  of  Reuben  and  the  children  of  Gad 
 and  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh  built  there  an 
 altar  by  Jordan,  a  great  altar  to  see  to. 
 
 1 1  H  And  the  children  of  Israel  '  heard  say. 
 Behold,  the  children  of  Reuben  and  the  child- 
 ren of  Gad  and  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh  have 
 built  an  altar  over  against  tlie  land  of  Canaan, 
 in  the  borders  of  Jordan,  at  the  passage  of  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 12  And  when  the  children  of  Israel  heard  of 
 it,  '  the  whole  congregation  of  the  children  of 
 Israel  gathered  themselves  together  at  Shiloh, 
 to  go  up  to  war  against  them. 
 
 1 3  And  the  children  of  Israel ""  sent  unto  the 
 children  of  Reuben,  and  to  the  children  of  Gad, 
 and  to  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  into  the  land 
 of  Gilead,  "  Phinehas  the  son  of  Eleazar  the 
 priest, 
 
 14  And  with  him  ten  princes,  of  each  f  chief 
 house  a  prince  throughout  all  tlie  tribes  of  Is- 
 rael ;  and  "each  one  was  an  head  of  tlie  house 
 of  their  fathers  among  the  thousands  of  Israel. 
 
 15  t   And  they  came  unto  the  children  of 
 
 refnge  continued  in  the  inheritance  of  the  tribe  in  which  they  were. — 
 GiU.  41.  The  cities  of  the  LeiTi7c5— these  were  distributed  among: 
 the  tribes  to  maintain  religion  among:  the  people,  and  especially  the 
 youth. — So  Hales.  Forlj/  and  eif^ht  cities — cities  were  then  often  smalt, 
 and  what  we  call  villages  were  then  named  among  cities. — So  A.  Clarke. 
 Israelites  of  otlier  tribes  resided  with  the  Levites,  (see  Judg.  xix.  I6 ; 
 2  Sam.  iii.  2.}—Wil. 
 Chap.  XXII.  —  3.  These  manri  days,  seven  years,  as  long  as  the  war 
 
 lasted. — Pat.  g.  Gilead — put  for  the  whole  country  on  the  other  side 
 of  Jurd^n,  as  th?  laud  of  Jazer  and  the  kingdom  of  Bashan,  which  the 
 two  tribes  of  Reuben  and  Gad  and  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh  were 
 possessed  of. — Gill.  10,  Vnto  the  borders  of  Jordan — by  'borders* 
 
 understand  tlie  windings  and  turnings  of  the  river  itself. — Gill.  Having 
 parsed  into  their  own  country,  they  staid  there  to  build  the  altar. — 
 Put.  See  vcr.  II.  In  tlie  I'ind,  'opposite  the  land,' — Bvotftr.,  or  '  by 
 the  land.' — T.  Seott.  1'2.  To  war  iti^ain.'it  them,  as  apostates  from 
 
 Rfflections  on  Cu.\p.  .KXI We  may  here  again  pro- 
 
 Btably  remark  from  Henry — I.  That  t/ie  maintenance  of  ministers 
 is  not  an  arbitrarif  thing  hft  puretg  to  the  good  irill  of  the  prople, 
 who  may  let  tliem  starve  if  they  please  ;  no,  as'  the  God  of 
 Israel  commanrled  that  tlie  Levites  should  be  well  provided 
 for.  so  hath  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  King  of  the  Christian  church, 
 ordained,  and  a  perpetual  ordinance  it  is,  that  'they  who  preach 
 the  gospel  sliould  live  of  the  gospel,'  (1  Cor.  ix.  14,)  and 
 should  live  comfortably. 
 
 II.  The  Lei'ites  were  not  served  till  the  last.  Let  not  God's 
 ministers  complain,  if  at  anytime  they  find  themselves  post- 
 poned in  men's  thoughts  and  cares  ;  but  let  them  make  sure  of 
 the  favour  of  God,  and  the  honour  that  comes  from  biin  ;  and 
 tlien  they  may  well  enough  aBord  to  bear  the  slights  and  neg- 
 lects of  men. 
 
 III.  The  rest  of  the  tribes  of  Jacob  licul  a  lot  for  every  tribe  onl a  ; 
 
 256 
 
 but  Levi,  God's  tribe,  had  a  lot  for  each  of  its  families  ;  for 
 there  is  a  parlicuhir  providence  directing  and  attending  the 
 removes  and  settlements  of  ministers,  and  appointing  where 
 they  shall  fix  who  are  to  be  the  lights  of  the  world. 
 
 I  V^  Effectual  care  was  talien  that  the  Ltvites  should  live  both 
 conifortatilg  and  usefuUg  ;  and  those,  whether  ministers  or  others, 
 for' whom' Providence  has  done  Will,  must  look  upon  themselves  as 
 ol'liged  thereby  to  do  good,  and  according  as  their  capacity  and 
 opportunity  is,  to  serve  their  generation. 
 
 \'.  The  closing  remarks  in  this  chapter  sheic  the  inviolable  truth 
 of  God^s  promise,  and  the  performance  of  it  to  the  utmost.  This 
 is  what  all  the  saints  have  been  ready' to  bear  their  testimony 
 to,  and  if  in  anything  it  has  seemed  to  come  short,  they  have 
 been  as  ready  to  own  that  tliey  themselves  must  bear  all  the 
 blame. 
 
The  Israelites  are  offended  thereat. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XXIII. 
 
 Joshua's  exhortation. 
 
 Reuben,  and  to  the  children  of  Gad,  and  to  the 
 half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  unto  the  land  of  Giiead, 
 and  they  spake  with  them,  saying, 
 
 16  Thus  saith  the  whole  congregation  of  the 
 Lord,  What  trespass  is  this  that  ye  have  com- 
 mitted against  the  God  of  Israel,  to  turn  away 
 this  day  from  following  the  Lord,  in  that  ye 
 have  builded  you  an  altar,  ''  that  ye  might  re- 
 bel this  day  against  the  Lord? 
 
 17  Is  the  ii'.iquity  ''of  Peor  too  little  for  us, 
 from  which  we  are  not  cleansed  until  this  day, 
 although  there  was  a  plague  in  the  congrega- 
 tion of  the  Lord, 
 
 18  But  that  ye  must  turn  away  this  day  from 
 following  the  Lord?  and  it  will  be,  seeing  ye 
 rebel  to  day  against  the  Lord,  that  to  morrow 
 'he  will  be  wroth  with  the  whole  congregation 
 of  Israel. 
 
 19  Notwithstanding,  if  the  land  of  your  pos- 
 session be  unclean,  then  pass  )'e  over  unto  the 
 Jand  of  the  possession  of  the  Loud,  *  wherein 
 the  Lord's  tabernacle  dwelleth,  and  take  pos- 
 session among  us :  but  rebel  not  against  the 
 Lord,  nor  rebel  against  us,  in  building  you  an 
 altar  beside  the  altar  of  the  Lord  our  God. 
 
 20  '  Did  not  Achan  the  son  of  Zerah  commit 
 a  trespass  in  the  accursed  thing,  and  wrath  fell 
 on  all  the  congregation  of  Israel  ?  and  that  man 
 perislied  not  alone  in  his  iniquity. 
 
 21  t  Tlien  the  children  of  Reuben  and  the 
 children  of  Gad  and  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh 
 answered,  and  said  unto  the  heads  of  the 
 thousands  of  Israel, 
 
 22  The  Lord  "  God  of  gods,  the  Loed  God 
 of  gods,  he  '  knoweth,  and  Israel  he  shall 
 know  ;  if  it  be  in  rebellion,  or  if  in  transgres- 
 sion against  the  Lord,  (save  us  not  this  day,) 
 
 23  That  we  have  built  us  an  altar  to  turn 
 from  following  the  Lord,  or  if  to  offer  thereon 
 burnt  offering  or  meat  offering,  or  if  to  offer 
 peace  offerings  thereon,  let  the  Lord  himself 
 '  require  it ; 
 
 24  And  if  we  have  not  rather  done  it  for  fear 
 of  this  thing,  saying,  f  In  time  to  come  your 
 children  might  speak  unto  our  children,  say- 
 ing. What  have  ye  to  do  with  the  Lord  God 
 of  Israel  ? 
 
 25  For  the  Lord  hath  made  Jordan  a  border 
 between  us  and  you,  ye  children  of  Reuben 
 and  children  of  Gad  ;  ye  have  no  part  in  the 
 Lord  :  so  shall  your  children  make  our  child- 
 ren cease  from  fearing  the  Lord. 
 
 26  Therefore  we  .said,  Let  us  now  prepare  to 
 build  us  an  altar,  not  for  burnt  offering,  nor  for 
 sacrifice : 
 
 27  But  that  it  mat/  be'  a  witness  between  us, 
 
 p  See  Lev. 
 
 17.  H 
 
 9 
 
 lieu 
 
 VI.  13 
 
 IV 
 
 q  Kur 
 
 n,  2-1- 
 
 S,  4. 
 
 Deut. 
 
 M  Deu. 10.17. 
 
 r  I  Kin.  8. 
 S»_  Job  111 
 7.  ti  2."*.  Itl. 
 rs  41.  21. 
 &  \^9.  I,  2. 
 Jer.  12.  :i. 
 2  Cm-.  11. 
 n,3l. 
 
 .vDetl  18.19. 
 1  Sam.  80. 
 
 I  Heb. 
 2'o  irtorrfw. 
 
 z  Gen.  31 .48. 
 ch.2.1.?7. 
 ver.  34. 
 
 t  H.:b. 
 g.,„t ,,. 
 ••.V". 
 
 c  T,ev,2ri.Il, 
 19.  2  Chr. 
 15.2. 
 
 t  Hob.  then. 
 
 d  1  Cbr.  29. 
 20  Neh.  8. 
 fi.  nau.2.19. 
 I.uke  2.  23. 
 
 II  That  is,  a 
 wiliiesii : 
 So  cU.  2*. 
 
 cir.  1427. 
 
 ach.  21.44. 
 
 8c  22.  4. 
 6ch.  13.  I. 
 1  Hi-b.  come 
 
 e  ilcu  31.28. 
 rb.  24.  1. 
 ICbr.  28. 1. 
 
 and  you,  and  our  generations  after  us,  that  we 
 might  "  do  the  service  of  the  Lord  before  him 
 with  our  burnt  offerings,  and  with  our  sacri- 
 fices, and  with  our  peace  offerings ;  that  your 
 children  may  not  say  to  our  children  in  time 
 to  come.  Ye  have  no  part  in  the  Lord. 
 
 28  Therefore  said  we,  that  it  shall  be,  when 
 they  should  so  say  to  us  or  to  our  generations  in 
 time  to  come,  that  we  may  say  ar/ain.  Behold 
 the  pattern  of  the  altar  of  the  Lord,  which  our 
 fathers  made,  not  for  burnt  offerings,  nor  for 
 sacrifices;  but  it  is  a  witness  between  us  and 
 you. 
 
 29  God  forbid  that  we  .should  rebel  against 
 the  Lord,  and  turn  this  day  from  following  the 
 Lord,  ''  to  build  an  altar  for  burnt  offerings, 
 for  meat  offerings,  or  for  sacrifices,  beside  the 
 altar  of  the  Lord  our  God  that  is  before  his 
 tabernacle. 
 
 30  IT  And  when  Pbinehas  the  priest,  and  the 
 princes  of  the  congregation  and  heads  of  the 
 thousands  of  Israel  which  were  with  him, 
 heard  tlie  words  tliat  the  children  of  Reuben 
 and  the  children  of  Gad  and  the  children  of 
 Manasseh  spake,  fit  pleased  them. 
 
 31  And  Pliinehas  tlie  son  of  Eleazar  the 
 priest  said  unto  tlie  children  of  Reuben,  and  to 
 tbe  children  of  Gad,  and  to  the  children  of 
 Manasseh,  This  day  we  perceive  that  the  Lord 
 is  '  among  us,  because  ye  have  not  committed 
 this  trespass  against  the  Lord  :  f  now  ye  have 
 delivered  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  the  hand 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 32  1  And  Pliinehas  the  son  of  Eleazar  the 
 priest,  and  the  princes,  returned  from  the  chil- 
 dren of  Reuben,  and  from  the  children  of  Gad, 
 out  of  the  land  of  Giiead,  unto  the  land  of  Ca- 
 naan, to  the  children  of  Israel,  and  brought 
 them  word  again. 
 
 33  And  the  thing  pleased  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael ;  and  the  children  of  Israel  '^  blessed  God, 
 and  did  not  intend  to  go  up  against  them  in 
 battle,  to  destroy  the  land  wherein  the  chil- 
 dren of  Reuben  and  Gad  dwelt. 
 
 34  And  the  children  of  Reuben  and  the  chil- 
 dren of  Gad  called  the  altar  ||  Ed :  for  it  shall 
 be  a  witness  between  us  that  the  Lord  is  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIIL 
 
 1  Joshua  s  exhortation  before  his  death,   3  hi/  fornier 
 hencjits,  5  by  promises,  II  a«rf  by  thrtataiings. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  a  long  time  after  that 
 ^-^  the  Lord  ^  had  given  rest  unto  Israel 
 from  all  their  enemies  round  about,  that 
 Joshua  ^  waxed  old  and  f  stricken  in  age. 
 
 2  And  Joshua  "^called  for  all  Israel,  and  for 
 
 God,  according  to  God's  command  in  that  ca^se,  (Deut.  xiii.  13.) 
 17-  The  iniquity  of  Peor,  '  the  worshipping  of  Baal- Peor,'  {Num.  xxv.) 
 19-  Jf  the  land — unclean — if  you  apprehend  it  to  be  so  for  want  of  the 
 tabernacle  and  altar  there. — Poole.  22.  The    Lord  God  of  gods, 
 
 mrr  DTF^N  ha,  '  the  strong  God,  the  Lord  Jehovah.'— Lu/Aer.     '23.  Re- 
 quire it,  'avenge  it.'— ffowA.        34.  Ed— it  should  be  rendered  '  the 
 altar  of  witness.'— A'en. 
 Chap.  XXIII.  —  \.  A  long  time,  about  fourteen  years.— Poo/e.    Six- 
 
 teen or  seventeen  years. — Usher.  2.  All  Israel  and — instead  of  '  and/ 
 it  is  better  to  supply  '  even/  or  '  that  is.'— Gi7/.  Elders,  D*:i?T,  '  elder 
 men  in  age  or  authority.'— P^r.  The  elders  or  senaie.— .J.  Clarke. 
 The  great  Sanhedrim,  as  they  were  called  in  future  times.  Heads, 
 D^ttJNI,  ' the  CHIEF  PRivcES  OR  HEADS  of  their  tribes  or  families. — 
 Gill,  Pat.  Judges,  D"j;ciI7,  in  their  several  cities,  who  heard  and  tried 
 causes,  and  administered  justice  and  judgment.  —  Gill.  Officers, 
 CTGt;,  inferior  officers,  executing  the  decisions  of  the  judges,  and  an- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII. —I.  Observe  the  care  which 
 the  Reubenites  took  to  secure  their  religious  privileges  for  themselves 
 and  their  children.  So  should  we  be  concerDed,  above  all 
 things,  to  train  up  our  families  for  God,  and  to  see,  if  possible, 
 that  they  be  so  situated  as  not  to  be  deprived  of  intercourse 
 with  the  followers  of  God. 
 
 II.   Observe  the  zeal  of  the  nine  tribes  and  half  tribe  in  vindi- 
 cating  the  cause  of  God ;  but  it  was  zeal  tempered  with  pru- 
 dence, and  thus  it  ended  in  peace.     '  It  is  good  to  be  always 
 zealously  affected  in  a  good  thing.' 
 257 
 
 III.  Misunderstandings  among  good  men  might  often  he  rcctijied 
 by  a  Utile  explanation.  Things  which  at  6rst  appear  wrong  are 
 not  always  so  wh?n  inquired  into.  *  Happy  will  it  be,'  says 
 Scott,  '  when  all  professed  Christians  shall  learn  in  their  diffi- 
 culties to  copy  the  example  of  Israel  recorded  in  this  chapter, 
 and  to  unite  zeal  and  steady  adherence  to  the  cause  of  truth 
 with  candour,  meekness,  a  readiness  to  understand  each  other, 
 to  explain,  and  to  be  satisfied  with  the  sufficient  esplanatioas 
 and  concessions  of  their  brethren.' 
 
 2  L 
 
Joshua  exhorteth  to  obedience. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XXIV. 
 
 He  amsemhlelh  the  tribc.i  at  Shechem. 
 
 their  elders,  and  for  their  heads,  and  tor  tlieir 
 judges,  and  for  their  ofiicers,  and  said  unto 
 them,  I  am  old  and  stricken  in  age  : 
 
 3  And  ye  have  seen  all  that  tlie  Lokd  your 
 God  hath  done  unto  all  these  nations  hecause 
 of  you ;  for  the  ''  Lokd  your  God  is  he  that 
 hath  fought  for  you. 
 
 4  Behold,  "  I  have  divided  unto  you  by  lot 
 these  nations  that  remain,  to  be  au  inlieritance 
 for  your  tribes,  from  .Tordan,  witli  all  the  na- 
 tions that  I  have  cut  off,  even  unto  the  great 
 sea  t  westward. 
 
 5  And  the  Lord  your  God  ''  lie  shall  expel 
 them  from  before  you,  and  drive  them  from  out 
 of  your  sight;  and  ye  sliall  possess  tlieir  land, 
 *  as  the  Lord  your  God  hath  promised  unto 
 you. 
 
 6  ''  Be  ye  therefore  very  courageous  to  keep 
 and  to  do  all  that  is  written  in  the  book  of  the 
 law  of  Moses,  '  that  ye  turn  not  aside  there- 
 from to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left; 
 
 7  That  ye  ''  come  not  among  these  nations, 
 these  that  remain  among  you ;  neither  '  make 
 mention  of  tlie  name  of  their  gods,  nor  cause 
 to  swear  bi/  them,  neither  serve  them,  nor  bow 
 yourselves  unto  them  : 
 
 8  II  But  "cleave  unto  the  Lord  your  God,  as 
 ye  have  done  unto  this  day. 
 
 9  II  "For  the  Lord  hath  driven  out  from  be- 
 fore you  great  nations  and  strong :  but  as  for 
 yon,  "  no  man  hath  been  able  to  stand  before 
 you  unto  this  day. 
 
 10  ''  One  man  of  you  shall  chase  a  thousand  : 
 for  tlie  Lord  your  God,  he  it  is  that  fighteth 
 for  you,  ''as he  hath  promised  you. 
 
 11  'Take  good  heed  therefore  unto  f  your- 
 selves, that  ye  love  the  Lord  your  GoiL 
 
 12  Else  if  ye  do  in  any  wise  '  go  back,  and 
 cleave  unto  the  remnant  of  those  nations,  even 
 these  that  remain  among  you,  and  shall  'make 
 marriages  with  them,  and  go  in  unto  them, 
 and  they  to  you  : 
 
 13  Know  for  a  certainty  that  "  the  Lord 
 your  God  will  no  more  drive  out  amj  of  these 
 nations  from  before  you  ;  "  but  they  shall  be 
 snares  and  traps  unto  you,  and  scourges  in 
 your  sides,  and  thorns  in  your  eyes,  until  ye 
 perish  from  off  this  good  land  which  the  Lord 
 your  God  hath  given  you. 
 
 14  And,  behold,  this  day  ''  I  am  going  the 
 way  of  all  the  earth  :  and  ye  know  in  all  your 
 hearts  and  in  all  your  souls,  that  '  not  one 
 thing  hath  failed  of  all  the  good  things  which 
 the  Lord  your  God  spake  concerning  you ; 
 all  are  come  to  pass  unto  you,  and  not  one 
 thing  hath  failed  thereof. 
 
 15  "  Therefore  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  as 
 all  good  things  are  come  upon  you,  which  the 
 Lord  your  God  promised  you ;  so  shall  the 
 
 rf  Ex.  l-l.  14. 
 ch.  10.  14, 
 
 t  Heh  at  ll,r 
 
 fUiset, 
 f  Ex.  -l^.  30. 
 
 &  33.  ;:,  & 
 
 SI    II. 
 
 Dou.  11.  S3 
 
 cli.  US   tl. 
 3  Nu.33.53. 
 
 A  Ex.  £3.  S3 
 
 Deu.  7  2,3 
 
 Prnv.  4.  II. 
 
 Eph.  5.  II. 
 /  Ex.  2;(    13. 
 
 Ps.  16.  4. 
 
 Jer.  5.  7. 
 
 Zeph.  1.  S. 
 
 See  Nu.  32. 
 
 38. 
 II  Or,  F«r  ij 
 
 ni  Deii'.  10." 
 
 SO.  Sc  11.22. 
 
 h  13.  4 
 
 I'h.  22.  5. 
 II  Ot.  77.., 
 
 tKt  unto 
 
 anil  drUt. 
 'I  neii  1 1  23 
 o  ch.  1.  5. 
 J.  Lev.  2'i  3. 
 
 Deu.  S-.V  30 
 
 See  Jtnlg  3. 
 
 31.8c  lft.15. 
 
 2S;iiii.23.S. 
 y  Ex.  11.  II 
 
 &  23   27. 
 
 Deu   .3.  2S. 
 rcli.22.  5. 
 t  Heb., v<»ir 
 
 tiuh, 
 •  Heb.lO  33, 
 
 .39.2  Pel.  2. 
 
 20,  21. 
 
 /  Deti 
 H  Judg. 
 
 J  I  Kin  2. 1 
 See  Heb.! 
 
 :  ch.21.  4:>. 
 Luko21.S3. 
 
 b  Lev. 26. 10. 
 Deu-  28.  15, 
 10,  8cc. 
 
 a  Gen.  35. 4. 
 fi  ch.  23.  2. 
 
 d  Gen. 1 1.26, 
 3I.Ju(Iith 
 5.  0,  7. 
 
 /•fien.  12.  1. 
 Aeu7.  2,  3. 
 
 ff  Geo.  21. 
 
 2,  3    P«. 
 
 127.  3. 
 AGeii.  2.'>.24, 
 
 2',,  26. 
 .'  Oeii   36.  S. 
 
 Men.  2.  S. 
 t  Gcn.16.1,6. 
 
 Acts  7.  15. 
 /  Ex.  3.  10. 
 m  Ex.  7   & 
 
 8.  &  9.  St  10. 
 
 St  12. 
 
 X  Nu.  21.21, 
 .3.3.  Deu.  2. 
 32,  ft  3.  1. 
 
 Lord  bring  upon  you  ''all  evil  tilings,  until  he 
 have  destroyed  you  from  oti'  this  good  land 
 which  the  Lord  your  God  hath  given  you. 
 
 16  When  ye  have  transgressed  the  covenant 
 of  the  Lord  your  God,  which  he  commanded 
 you,  and  have  gone  and  served  other  god.s, 
 and  bowed  yourselves  to  them  ;  then  shall  the 
 anger  of  the  Lord  be  kindled  against  you,  and 
 ye  shall  perish  quickly  from  oft'  the  good  land 
 which  he  bath  given  unto  you, 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Jostiua  assfinbltt/i  ttie  tribes  at  Sticcheni.  2  A  brief 
 tdstory  of  God's  benefits  from  Ttra/t.  14  He  re- 
 iieii'etti  the  covenant  between  thnn  and  God.  26  A 
 stone  the  witness  tft/te  covenant.  29  Jostnm's  age^ 
 deatlt,  ami  burial,  32  Josepti's  bones  are  buried. 
 33  Eleazar  dietli. 
 
 A  ND  .Toshua  gathered  all  the  tribes  of  Israel 
 •^^  to  °  Shechem,  and  ''  called  for  the  elders 
 of  Israel,  and  for  their  head.s,  and  for  their 
 judges,  and  for  tlieir  officers  ;  and  they  "^  pre- 
 sented tliemselves  before  God. 
 
 •2  And  Joshua  said  unto  all  the  people.  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  ''  Your  fathers 
 dwelt  on  the  other  side  of  the  flood  in  old 
 time,  even  Terab,  the  father  of  Abraham,  and 
 the  father  of  Nacbor ;  and  '  they  served  other 
 gods. 
 
 3  And  '  I  took  your  father  Abraham  from  the 
 other  side  of  the  flood,  and  led  him  throughout 
 all  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  multiplied  his  seed, 
 and  ^  gave  him  Isaac. 
 
 4  And  I  gave  unto  Isaac  ^  Jacob  and  Esau  : 
 and  I  gave  unto  '  Esau  mount  Seir,  to  possess 
 it ;  '■  but  .Jacob  and  his  cliildreu  went  down 
 into  Egypt. 
 
 5  '  I  sent  Moses  also  and  Aaron,  and  "'  I 
 plagued  Egypt,  according  to  that  which  I  did 
 among  them  :  and  afterward  I  brought  you 
 out. 
 
 G  And  I  "  brought  your  fathers  out  of  Egypt: 
 and  °ye  came  unto  the  sea  ;  '' and  the  Egypt- 
 ians pursued  after  your  fathers  with  chariots 
 and  horsemen  unto  the  Red  sea. 
 
 7  And  when  they  ''cried  unto  the  Lord,  'he 
 put  darkness  between  you  and  the  Egyptians, 
 'and  brought  the  sea  upon  them,  and  covered 
 them  ;  and  '  your  eyes  have  seen  what  I  have 
 done  in  Egypt :  and  ye  dwelt  in  the  wilderness 
 "  a  long  season. 
 
 8  And  I  brought  you  into  the  land  of  the 
 Amorites,  which  dwelt  on  the  other  side 
 Jordan;  ''and  they  fought  with  you:  and  I 
 gave  them  into  your  band,  that  ye  might  pos- 
 sess their  land  ;  and  I  destroyed  them  from 
 before  you. 
 
 9  Then  ^  Balak  the  son  of  Zippor,  king  of 
 Moab,  arose    and  warred   against  Israel,  and 
 
 RWerin^  to  sheriffs  airiongst  us. — Par.  5.  S/iail pusses.^  their  fund, 
 OnUJTI.  lUT, '  possessione  ej'pulit.'  The  idea  is  equivalent  to  disinhe- 
 riting.— Pfn:.  A.  Ct'trke.  7.  Neither  mtike mention,lest  it  ^oulti  breed 
 discourse  about  them,  and  so,  by  degrees,  bring  a  man  to  the  appro- 
 bation and  worship  of  them,  (compare  Exod.  xxiii.  13;  Deut.  xii.  3; 
 Ps.  xvi.  4  ;  Eph.  V.  3.)         13.  Scourges,  '  spurs.' — Boiithr. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  —  1.  To  SIteeliem,  called  in  the  New  Testament  Sy- 
 char ;  it  was  built  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Gerizim,  now  called  Naplosa. — 
 Maundrell,  Reland.    This  place  was  chosen  because  nearest  to  Joshua, 
 
 who  was  now  old  and  infirm,  and  unfit  to  travel. — GUI.  Some  lliink 
 this  intends  Shiloh.  The  Sejit.  is  z,i\a>,  both  here  and  vcr.  2.t.  Pre- 
 sented tftemsetees  before  God — hence  some  suppose  the  ark  and  tlie  ta- 
 bernacle were  taken  to  Shechem  on  this  occasion. — So  Pat.  2.  Ttie 
 flood,  noTotxoi,  'the  rivei,'  Sept.  The  river  Euphrates, — Pat.,  called 
 '  flood'  by  way  of  eminency. — Poole.  Terah — served  other  gods — Uiey 
 were  Snbceons,  and  maintained  that  the  world  wa-s  eternal,  and  incul. 
 cated  the  worship  of  the  planets  as  gods,  which  were  represented  by 
 metal,  the  sun  by  gold,  the  moon  by  silver,  &c. ;  then  followed  liouse- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.XIII. L  God's  dealings  in  time  very  courageous  to  keep  and  to  do  nil  that  is  written,'  'that 
 
 past  onfjlit  to  inspire  the  confidruee  of  Ids  people  for  the  future,  ye  turn  not  aside,'  *but  cleave  unto  the  Lord  your  God.' 
 
 '  Ye  have  seen  all  that  the  J^ord  yoiir  God  hath  "done*— and  he        III.  Disobcdiinee  must  inevitabh/  leave  ns  without  God's  pro- 
 
 shall  do  as  he  *  bath  promised  unto  you.'  feetiou.      liy  so  doing  we  put  ourselves  out  of  his  protection. 
 
 II.   Our  future  prosperity  in  the  r/reat  struggle  must  be  connected  and  lie  leaves  us  to  feci  our  folly  and  wickedness,  and  it  is  of 
 
 with  decision  of  character  and  holt/  obedience.     '  Be  ye  therefore  his  mercies  if  we  do  not  perish  in  our  sins. 
 238 
 
The  renewal  of  the  covenant. 
 
 JOSHUA,  XXIV. 
 
 Joshua's  death  and  buriul. 
 
 '  sent  and  called  Balaam  the  son  uf  Beor  to 
 curse  you. 
 
 10  °  But  I  would  not  hearken  unto  Balaam  ; 
 ''  therefore  he  blessed  you  still  :  so  I  delivered 
 you  out  of  ills  hand. 
 
 1 1  And  *"  ye  went  over  Jordan,  and  came  unto 
 Jericho :  and  ''  the  men  of  Jericho  fought 
 against  you,  the  Amorites,  and  tlie  Perizzites, 
 and  the  Canaauites,  and  the  Hittites,  and  the 
 Girgashites,  the  Hivites,  and  the  Jebusites ; 
 and  I  delivered  them  into  your  hand. 
 
 12  And "  I  sent  the  hornet  before  yon,  which 
 drave  them  out  from  l)efore  you,  even  tlie  two 
 kings  of  the  Amorites ;  Imt  '  not  with  thy 
 sword,  nor  witli  thy  bow. 
 
 13  And  I  have  given  you  a  land  for  which  ye 
 did  not  labour,  and  ^  cities  which  ye  built  not, 
 and  ye  dwell  in  them  ;  of  the  vineyards  and 
 oliveyards  which  ye  planted  not  do  ye  eat. 
 
 14  t  ''  Now  therefore  fear  tlie  Lokd,  and 
 serve  him  in  '  sincerity  and  in  trutli  :  and  '  put 
 away  the  gods  which  your  fathers  served  on 
 the  other  side  of  the  flood,  and  '  in  Egypt ; 
 and  serve  ye  the  Loud. 
 
 15  And  if  it  seem  evil  unto  you  to  serve  the 
 Lord,  '"choose  you  this  day  whom  ye  will 
 serve  ;  whether  "  the  gods  which  your  fathers 
 served  that  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  flood, 
 or  "  the  gods  of  the  Amorites,  in  whose  land 
 ye  dwell :  ''  but  as  for  me  and  my  hou.sc,  we 
 will  serve  the  Lord. 
 
 16  And  the  people  answered  and  said,  God 
 forbid  that  we  .should  forsake  the  Lord,  to 
 serve  other  gods  ; 
 
 17  For  the  Lord  our  God,  he  it  is  that 
 brought  us  up  and  our  fathers  out  of  the  land 
 of  Egypt,  from  the  house  of  bondage,  and 
 which  did  those  great  signs  in  our  sight,  .-lud 
 preserved  us  in  all  the  way  wherein  we  went, 
 and  among  all  the  people  through  whom  we 
 passed  : 
 
 18  And  the  Lord  drave  out  from  before  us 
 all  the  people,  even  the  Amorites  which  dwelt 
 in  the  land  :  therefore  will  we  also  serve  the 
 Lord  ;  for  he  is  our  God. 
 
 19  And  Joshua  said  unto  the  people,  '  Ye 
 cannot  serve  the  Lord  t  for  he  is  an  '  holy 
 God  ;  he  is  ^  a  jealous  God  ;  'he  will  not  for- 
 give your  transgressions  nor  yonr  sins. 
 
 20  "  If  ye  forsake  the  Lord,  and  serve  strange 
 gods,  "  then  he  will  turn  and  do  you  hurt,  and 
 
 ;Nuin.2-.'.r.. 
 
 1  IJeu.  ^:(,  fi. 
 6  Nil  srs.  I  I, 
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 IT.  A  4.  ly, 
 II.  12. 
 
 :1  C\\.  «.  1.  & 
 10.  I.&  II. 
 I. 
 
 ■  E%,  23. 28. 
 Deu.  7.  20. 
 
 K  Deu  C.IO, 
 II.  ell.  II. 
 13, 
 
 /<  Deu.  10.12. 
 ISaui.12.-i-l. 
 Geu.  17.  1. 
 S:  2U.  5. 
 Deu.  IS.  13 
 Ps,  119.  I, 
 2C,ir.  I.li 
 Ej.h.  6.  21. 
 ver.  2,  23. 
 Ley.  17.  7. 
 Eiek,20.l.-1. 
 
 I  KzeK  2U.  7, 
 8  &  23  3. 
 n  See  Hutli 
 1.15.  IKiu. 
 IS  21. 
 K/ek. 20.311 
 Juhu  6.  C7. 
 <  ver.  14. 
 '  Kx  23.  24. 
 £?,  33.  &  M 
 13.  Deu   13 
 7.  di  2'J.  18. 
 Juilg.G.  Ill 
 
 V  Geii.l».ID 
 
 J(P».  119. 
 
 Gen.  36.  2. 
 Judif.  10.16, 
 1  Sauj.  7.  3. 
 
 a  See  Ex. 15. 
 
 2:->.  2  KiD. 
 
 II.  17. 
 i  ver.  26. 
 
 c  Deu, 31, 81. 
 
 d  See  Judg. 
 
 9.  6, 
 eSeeGeu.2S 
 
 18.  oil,  4.3. 
 /Geu.  So.  4. 
 
 g  See  Gen. 
 
 SI.  4.S  52. 
 
 Deu. 31.  19, 
 
 2I,:;6.  ell. 
 
 22.  27,  as, 
 
 St. 
 A  Deu.  .32.  1. 
 I  Judg.  2.  0. 
 
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 cir,  1420. 
 
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 7  Mat.  0.24. 
 F-  lev.  19.  2. 
 
 1  Sain.fi. 20. 
 I's.  99.  5,  9. 
 U   5.  IC. 
 
 «  Ex.  20.  6. 
 /  r.x,  23.  21. 
 «  I  Chr.  2S.9. 
 
 2  0lir.  15.  2. 
 Ezra  8    22. 
 Is.  1    28.  & 
 05.  1 1,  12. 
 Jer.  17.  13. 
 
 J  eh   23.  13. 
 Is.  63.  10. 
 Acts  7.  .42. 
 
 1  Ueb 
 
 .  frn- 
 
 /..,«. 
 
 1  their 
 
 „JI:r 
 
 J'.il, 
 
 „  See 
 
 Dent. 
 
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 IS.  19. 
 
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 cir. 
 
 1420. 
 
 7  Kx.  6.  25. 
 Judg.20.29. 
 
 consume  you,  after  that  he  hath  done  you  good. 
 
 21  And  the  people  s.iid  unto  Joshua,  Nay  j 
 but  we  will  serve  the  Lord. 
 
 22  And  Joshua  said  unto  the  people.  Ye  are 
 witnesses  against  yourselves  that  '  ye  have 
 chosen  you  the  Lord,  to  serve  him.  And  they 
 said.  We  are  witnesses. 
 
 23  Now  therefore  '  put  away,  said  he,  the 
 strange  gods  which  are  among  you,  and  incline 
 your  heart  unto  the  Lord  God  of  Israel. 
 
 24  And  the  people  said  unto  Joshua,  The 
 Lord  our  God  will  we  .serve,  and  his  voice 
 will  we  obey. 
 
 25  So  Joshua  "made  a  covenant  with  the 
 people  that  day,  and  set  them  a  statute  and  an 
 ordinance  ''in  Shechem. 
 
 6  1  And  Joshua  '  wrote  these  words  in  the 
 book  of  the  law  of  God,  and  took  ''  a  great 
 stone,  and  "set  it  np  there  'under  an  oak,  that 
 ivas  by  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord. 
 
 27  And  Joshua  said  unto  all  the  people.  Be- 
 hold, this  stone  shall  bo  "a  witness  unto  us  ; 
 for ''it  hath  heard  all  the  words  of  the  Loud 
 which  he  spake  unto  us  :  it  shall  be  therefore 
 a  witness  unto  you,  lest  ye  deny  your  God. 
 
 28  So  '  Joshua  let  the  people  depart,  every 
 man  unto  his  inheritance. 
 
 29  t  ''  And  it  came  to  pas-s  after  these  thing.s, 
 that  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  the  servant  of  the 
 Lord,  died,  beitiff  an  hundred  and  ten  years 
 old. 
 
 30  And  they  buried  him  in  the  border  of  his 
 inheritance  in  '  Timnath-serab,  which  is  in 
 mount  Ephraim,  on  the  north  side  of  the  hill 
 of  Gaash. 
 
 31  And  "'  Israel  served  the  Lord  all  the  days 
 of  Joshua,  and  all  tlie  days  of  the  elders  that 
 ■\  overlived  Joshua,  and  which  had  "known  all 
 the  works  of  the  Lord,  that  he  had  done  for 
 Israel. 
 
 32  IT  And  °  the  bones  of  Joseph,  which  the 
 children  of  Israel  brought  np  out  of  Egypt, 
 buried  they  in  Shechem,  in  a  parcel  of  ground 
 ''  which  Jacob  bought  of  the  .sons  of  Hauior  the 
 father  of  Shechem  for  an  hundred  ||  pieces  of 
 silver  :  and  it  became  the  inheritance  of  the 
 children  of  Joseph. 
 
 33  And  Eleazar  the  son  of  Aaron  died  ;  and 
 they  buried  him  in  a  hill  that  pertained  to 
 '  Phinehas  his  son,  which  was  given  hiin  in 
 mount  Ephraim. 
 
 hold  gods. — St(t.  12.  Se7it  the  hornet,  Sfc,  which  perhaps  forced 
 many  to  leave  the  country,  and  harassed  them  so  in  battle  as  to  cause 
 defeat.  This  God  promised,  [E.xod.  xxiii.  2",  28;  Deut.  vii.  20;)  and 
 here  Joshua  remembers  how  true  he  was  to  his  word. — Pat.  I  con- 
 sider this  languafje  fiH:iirative,  no  mentinn  being  made  of  hornets  in 
 the  conquest  of  tlie  Canaanites,  and  that  it  denotes  various  kinds  of 
 evils. — Bttuthr.  We  take  the  text  literally.  The  Hebrew  name  of  this 
 text  is  r!3?1!J,  and  probably  expresses  its  loud  buzzing  noise.  Most 
 likely  it  means  the  zimb  or  dOB:-fly  of  Abyssinia,  the  dreadful  puncture 
 of  whose  proboscis  produces  the  most  dire  efiects,  and  whose  very  ap- 
 pearance causes  the  alarmed  beasts  to  run  about  wildly  till  they  die  of 
 fatigue  and  hunger.  The  probability  seems  to  be,  that  the  zimb  was 
 not  then,  any  more  than  now,  a  native  of  Palestine,  but  that  swarms 
 were  drawn  from  Ethiopia  to  execute  the  Divine  will,  (comp.  Is.  vii. 
 18.) — So  Pict.  Bih.  14.  Put  axcity  your  t^oda — the  gods  of  the  Chal- 
 deans, the  Egyptians,  and  the  Canaanites,  whose  images  they  still 
 blindly  retained. — So  A.  Clarke.     This  intimates  that  there  were  yet 
 
 some  secret  idolators  among  them. — Pat.  There  were  some  who  pro- 
 bably practised  idolatry  in  their  private  houses,  (ver.  23 ;  Amos,  v. 
 25,  26  ;  Acts,  vii.  42,  43.) — Poole.  It  is  evident  that  though  they  wor- 
 shipped Jehovah  publicly,  many  privately  had  their  idols. — Boothr. 
 The  words  strongly  intimate  secret  idolatry,  and  give  point  to  ver.  19. 
 —  Wil.  It  should  seem  there  were  some  that  privately  kept  the  images 
 or  pictures  of  dunghill  deities,  which  came  to  their  hands  from  their 
 ancestors  as  heirlooms  of  their  families,  though  it  may  be  they  did  not 
 worship  them. — Hen.  The  words  mean,  '  express  an  abhorrence  of 
 the-^e  gods,'  for  it  cannot  be  thought  that  the  Israelites  were  guilty  of 
 such  gross  idolatry,  at  least  openly,  since  Joshua  bore  such  a  testi- 
 mony, (chap,  xxiii.  8  ;)  witness  their  zeal  against  the  two  tribes  and  a 
 half  on  suspicion  of  idolatry. — Gilt.  26.  Wrote  tttese  words,  which 
 had  passed  between  him  and  the  people. — Gill.  The  ratifieation  of  the 
 covenant. — Scott,  .in  oak,  '  a  turpentine  tree.' — Boothr.  29.  Joshua 
 — died — this  and  the  following  verses  were  evidently  written  by  another 
 hand.— Ci«. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch;\p.  XXIV. — A  similar  reflection  to 
 that  which  was  deduced  from  tiie  commencement  of  the  last 
 chapter  may  be  repeated  here — I.  jre  should  of  tejt  call  In  remem- 
 \rance  what  Guil  litis  done  for  us,  as  a  stronq  inducement  to  serve 
 kim.  If  we  think  of  our  miserable  condition  in  the  bondage 
 of  sin,  and  how  God  has  remembered  us  in  our  low  estate,  and 
 how  he  iias  aforetime  enabled  us  to  overcome  our  spiritual 
 foes,  and  how  many  deliverances  lie  lias  effected  for  us  in 
 providence  and  grace,  the  language  of  Joshua  must  forcibly 
 appeal  to  our  hearts — '  Now,  therefore,  fear  the  Lord,  and 
 259 
 
 serve  him  in  sincerity  and  truth.' 
 
 II.  The  service  of  God  must  he  voluntanj.  Having  bad  an 
 opportunity  of  knowing  tlie  blessedness  of  those  that  keep  liia 
 commandments,  tiie  choice  is  left  of  forsaking  so  good  a  Master 
 or  not.  God  does  not  sway  his  people  against  their  will;  tliey 
 are  made  willing  in  the  day  of  his  power,  and  ihey  bear  no 
 genuine  marks  of  his  people  if  they  do  not  serve  Him  with  an 
 undivided  heart,  and  say  most  decidedly,  '  Nay,  but  we  will 
 serve  the  Lord.' 
 
THE   BOOK 
 
 JUDGES. 
 
 [The  Judges  were  the  supremo  magistrates  who  governed  the  Hehrew  ration  from  the  timeof  Joshua  to  Saul.  Tlie  govern- 
 ment was  a  Theocracy,  for  God  was  the  King,  and  the  Judges  were  his  vicegerents,  and  sometimes  chosen  by  the  people. 
 They  were  not  hereditary,  nor  was  the  office  continual,  for  there  were  anarchies  and  intervals  during  which  there  were 
 no  judges.  Like  kings,  the  judges  made  peace  and  war;  they  decided  causes,  and  they  avenged  the  honour  of  God 
 against  idolatry.  Their  revenue  consisted  in  presents.  The  duration  of  their  authority,  according  to  Piscator^  Ligkt- 
 footy  and  others,  was  *299  years  ;  others  say  309,  and  others,  339.  The  whole  period  is  comprehended  in  this  book.  The 
 chronology  of  it  is  very  difficult  to  ascertain.  This  book  has  been  ascribed  to  Phinehas,  to  Hezckiah,  to  Kzekiel,  and  to 
 Ezra  ;  but  the  general  opinion  is,  that  it  was  written  by  Samuel,  who  was  the  last  of  the  judges.  Without  this,  the  his- 
 tory of  the  children  of  Israel  would  not  be  complete.  The  first  sixteen  chapters  contain  the  succession  of  the  regular 
 history  of  the  Israelites,  and  the  remaining  five  some  remarkable  occurrences  which  happened  during  that  time.  It  is 
 referred  to  in  Acts,  xiii.  20,  and  Heb.  xi.  32,  40.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 1  The  acts  uf  Jutlah  and  Simeon.  A  Adoni-hezek  justly 
 requiUd.  8  Jerusalem  taken.  10  Ihbrun  taktn. 
 1 1  Othniel  hath  Achsah  to  wife  for  taking  of  Debit. 
 16  The  Kenites  dwell  in  Judali.  '  17  Hornuih,  Gaza, 
 Askelnn  and  Ekron  tahen.  21  The  acts  of  Benjamin. 
 22  Of  the  hnnse  of  Joseph,  who  take  lieth-el.  30  Of 
 Zelmiun.  31  Of  Asher.  33  Of  Naphtali.  34  Of 
 Dan. 
 
 TVrOW  after  the  death  of  Joshua  it  came  to 
 -'-^  pass,  that  the  children  of  Israel  °  asl;ed 
 the  Lord,  saying,  Who  shall  go  up  for  us 
 against  the  Canaanites  first,  to  fight  against 
 them  ? 
 
 ■2  And  the  Lord  said,  "  Judah  shall  go  up  : 
 behold,  I  have  delivered  tlie  land  into  his  hand. 
 
 ;}  And  Judali  said  unto  Simeon  his  brother, 
 Come  up  with  me  into  my  lot,  that  we  may 
 tight  against  the  Canaanites  ;  and  "  I  likewise 
 will  go  with  thee  into  thy  lot.  So  Simeon 
 went  with  him. 
 
 4  And  Judah  went  up  ;  and  the  Lord  de- 
 livered the  Canaanites  and  the  Perizzites  into 
 their  hand  :  and  they  slew  of  them  in  ''  Bezek 
 ten  thousand  men. 
 
 5  And  tliey  found  Adoni-bezek  in  Bezek  : 
 and  they  fouglit  against  him,  and  they  slew  the 
 Canaanites  and  the  Perizzites. 
 
 6  But  Adoni-bezek  fled  ;  and  they  pursued 
 after  him,  and  caught  him,  and  cut  off  his 
 thumbs  and  his  great  toes. 
 
 7  And  Adoni-bezek  said,  Tlireescore  and  ten 
 kings,  having  f  their  thumbs  and  their  great 
 toes  cut  off,  II  gathered  their  meat  under  my 
 table :  "  as  I  have  done,  so  God  hath  requited 
 me.  And  they  brought  him  to  Jerusalem,  and 
 there  he  died. 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  I4?5. 
 
 t  Mob.  tht 
 Ihumbi  „r 
 their  hands 
 audo/ their 
 frrl. 
 
 II  i')T,  gleanrd. 
 
 0  Lev.  24.19. 
 1  Sam  16..S3. 
 Jam.  2.  13. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  U^5. 
 
 a  Jimh.  In. 
 .16.&  n.2I. 
 h  15.  13. 
 
 A  Jnsh.M.tS. 
 8il5.  13,11. 
 
 MM. 
 A  .ToBli.  1.1. 
 10,  17. 
 
 p.  Josh    15. 
 IS,  ly. 
 
 cir.  U'25. 
 och.4  11,  17 
 
 1  gam.l£.6. 
 
 1  Clir.  2. 6i. 
 
 Jer.  95.  2. 
 p  Dpu.3-1.  S 
 
 8  Now  'the  children  of  Judah  had  fought 
 against  Jerusalem,  and  had  taken  it,  and  smit- 
 ten it  with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  set  the 
 city  on  fire. 
 
 9  1  ''■  And  afterward  the  children  of  Judah 
 went  down  to  fight  against  the  Canaanites,  that 
 dwelt  in  the  mountain,  and  in  the  south,  and  in 
 the  II  valley. 
 
 10  And  Judah  went  against  the  Canaanites 
 that  dwelt  in  Hebron :  (now  the  name  of  Hebron 
 before  urns  ^  Kirjath-arba :)  and  they  slew 
 Sheshai,  and  Ahiman,  and  Talmai. 
 
 1 1  '  And  from  thence  he  went  against  the  in- 
 haljitants  of  Debir  :  and  the  name  of  Debit 
 before  teas  Kiijatli-sepher  : 
 
 1"2  '  And  Caleb  said.  He  that  smiteth  Kirjath- 
 sepher,  and  taketb  it,  to  him  will  I  give  Achsah 
 my  daugliter  to  wife. 
 
 13  And  Othniel  the  son  of  Kenaz,  '  Caleb's 
 younger  brother,  took  it :  and  he  gave  him 
 Achsah  his  daughter  to  wife. 
 
 14  "'  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  she  came  to 
 him,  that  she  moved  him  to  ask  of  her 
 father  a  field  :  and  she  lighted  from  off  her 
 ass  ;  and  Caleb  said  unto  her.  What  wilt 
 thou  ? 
 
 15  And  she  said  unto  him, "  Give  me  a  bless- 
 ing :  for  thou  hast  given  me  a  south  land  ; 
 give  me  also  springs  of  water.  And  Caleb 
 gave  her  the  upper  springs  and  the  nether 
 springs. 
 
 16  IF  "And  the  children  of  the  Kenite,  Moses' 
 father  in  law,  went  up  out  'of  the  city  of  pahii 
 trees  with  the  children  of  Judali  into  the  wil- 
 derness of  Judah,  which  lieth  in  the  south  of 
 ''  Arad  ;  'and  they  went  and  dwelt  among  the 
 people. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  \.  .iftei-  the  detUh  of  Joshua — it  is  prubable 
 the  ti  ibes  were  now  governed  and  commanded  by  their  eUIers  for  about 
 thirty  years. — iitackhouse.  .isketl,  counsel  of  the  Lord,  by  Phinehas 
 the  priest,  as  directed,  (^ura.  xxvii.  21.) — Sut.  Who,  '  what  tribe.' — 
 tiitl.  Go  up,  to  invade  the  mountainous  part  of  the  country,  their  Int. 
 —Hew.  6.  Fountl,  NtiTD,  *  to  meet  with,'  in  a  hostile  sense,  as  1  Sam. 
 .xxiii.  17;  xxxi.  3;  1  Kings,  xx.  36;  Ps.  xxi.  8. — Pur.  AfUmi-bezek, 
 *  the  Lord  or  King  of  Bezek.' — Poote.  His  name  was  probably  bis  title 
 as  governor  of  the  town. — Heie.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  considerable 
 sovereign  and  a  cruel  tyrant.— BooMr.  6.  Cut  ojff,  ^e.  —  without 
 thumbs  they  could  not  draw  a  bow  nor  launch  a  spear,  aod  without  the 
 great  toes  tliey  could  not  run  swiftly.  7.  Three  score  and  ten  kings— 
 governors  of  cities,  and  some  of  these  successors  of  the  vanquished. 
 It  would  seem  the  Canaanites  had  exterminaUng  wars  among  them, 
 selves,  which  muat  have  facilitated  the  conquests  of  the  Israelites.— So 
 Hen.  Gathered  their  meat—v/ete  fed  with  his  offal,  for  his  sport  and 
 pleasure.— <;(■//.  8.  Had  token  it — the  original  speaks  of  it  as  a  thing 
 flow  done;  Joshua  had  conquered  Uie  king,  (Josh.  x.,)hut  we  read  not 
 of  his  taking  the  city.— f/«i.  Some  think  Jerusalem  was  twice  taken 
 —once  in  Joshua's  hfe  time,  and  that,  being  recovered  by  the  Canaan  - 
 ites,  it  was  now  retaken  by  Judali.  But  the  taking  of  this  city  may  be 
 2G0 
 
 ascribed  to  Judah ;  because  Joshua  and  the  body  of  the  army  did  cfot 
 take  it,  no  mention  is  made  of  it  when  the  king  was  taken,  (Josh.  x. 
 and  xii.,)  hut  it  was  taken  by  the  children  of  Judah  after  they  received 
 their  lot,  at  the  desire  of  the  Benjamites,  in  whose  lot  Jerusalem  fell, 
 (Josh,  xviii.  28,)  and  hence  they  were  co-partners  in  its  possession. 
 The  thing,  therefore,  was  done  be/ore,  in  Joshua's  lifetime,  and  tha 
 city  having  been  taken  before,  (Josh.  XV.  63,)  it  is  here  repeated  to 
 shew  why  they  brought  Adonibezek  to  Jerusalem,  the  city  being  in 
 their  hands. — PooU'.  12.  .Iwrf  Caleb  said  —  sec  josh.  xv.  16,  where, 
 the  portion  of  Judab  being  described,  this  affair  is  mentioned,  probably 
 from  this  tiook,  and  inserted  there  by  the  authority  of  Ezra,  for  the 
 fuller  illustralion  of  all  that  belonged  to  that  tribe. — Pat.  16.  The 
 children  of  the  Kenite — the  posterity  of  Jethro,  who  fared  as  Israel 
 fared,  as  .Moses  had  promised  them,  (Num.  .x.  32.)  —  Hen.  These 
 shepherds  preserved  the  learning  of  Moses  and  Jethro,  (1  Chron.  ii.  55,) 
 and  would  drink  no  wine,  and  build  no  houses,  (Jer.  xxxv.)  By  this 
 emigration  they  escaped  the  evils  which  Balaam  had  said  would  befat 
 their  country.  Tlicy  were  wise  and  wary  to  come  and  enjoy  the  pas- 
 tures when  the  war  was  over. — &ut.  In  the  days  of  Jeremiah  they 
 went  by  the  name  of  Rechabites,  so  called  from  Recbab,  a  descendant 
 of  Jethro.     The  city  ofpatin  trees,  Jericho,  (Deut.  xxxiv.  3 ;)  the  city  Is 
 
The  acts  of  Benjamin,  Joseph,  §'c. 
 
 JUDGES,  II. 
 
 The  acts  of  Zcbulun,  Ashur,  §-c. 
 
 17  'And  Jiulah  wiMit  with  Simeon  his  brother, 
 and  they  slew  the  Canaanites  that  iiiliabited 
 Zephath,  and  utterly  destroyed  it.  And  the 
 name  of  the  city  was  called  '  Hormah. 
 
 18  Also  Judah  took  "Gaza  with  the  coast 
 thereof,  and  Askelon  with  the  coast  thereof, 
 and  Ekron  with  the  coast  thereof. 
 
 19  And  *  the  Lord  was  with  Judah;  and 
 II  he  drave  out  the  inhabitants  o/'the  moun- 
 tain ;  but  could  not  drive  out  the  inhabitants 
 of  the  valley,  because  they  had  ''  chariots  of 
 iron. 
 
 20  '  And  they  gave  Hebron  unto  Caleb,  as 
 Moses  said  :  and  he  expelled  thence  the  three 
 sons  of  Anak. 
 
 •21  "  And  the  children  of  Benjamin  did  not 
 drive  out  the  Jebusites  that  inhabited  Jeru- 
 salem ;  but  the  Jebusites  dwell  with  the  chil- 
 dren of  Benjamin  in  Jerusalem  unto  this  day. 
 
 22  If  And  the  house  of  Joseph,  they  also 
 went  up  against  Beth-el :  ''  and  the  Lord  was 
 with  them. 
 
 23  And  the  house  of  Joseph  "^  sent  to  descry 
 Beth-el.  (Now  the  name  of  the  city  before 
 was  ''  Lnz  ) 
 
 24  And  the  spies  saw  a  man  come  forth  out 
 of  the  city,  and  they  said  unto  him.  Shew  us, 
 we  pray  thee,  the  entrance  into  the  city,  and 
 *•■  we  will  shew  thee  mercy. 
 
 25  And  when  he  shewed  them  the  entrance 
 into  the  city,  they  smote  the  city  with  the 
 edge  of  the  sword  ;  but  they  let  go  the  man 
 and  all  his  family. 
 
 26  And  the  man  went  into  the  land  of  the 
 Hittites,  and  built  a  city,  and  called  the  name 
 thereof  Luz  :  which  is  the  name  thereof  unto 
 this  day. 
 
 27  H  '  Neitlier  did  Manasseh  drive  out  the  in- 
 habitants of  Betli-shean  and  her  towns,  nor 
 Taanach  and  her  towns,  nor  the  inhabitants  of 
 Dor  and  her  towns,  nor  the  inhabitants  of  Ib- 
 leam  and  her  towns,  nor  the  inhaljitants  of 
 Megiddo  and  her  towns  :  but  the  Canaanites 
 would  dwell  in  that  land. 
 
 28  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Israel  was 
 strong,  that  they  put  the  Canaanites  to  tribute, 
 
 (Num.  21.3. 
 Josh.  19.  4. 
 u  Jj!h.n.22. 
 
 X  ver.  2. 
 2  Kin. 18.7. 
 
 II  Or,  lie  jtot- 
 sptteii  the 
 mnuutain. 
 
 V  .loali.  17. 
 
 "16,  18. 
 
 sNu.  14.  24. 
 Den.  1.  36. 
 Josh.  14.  9, 
 
 7  See  Jo'^h. 
 i;i.  63.  &  13 
 23. 
 
 c  Josh  2.1  fc 
 7.2.  ch.  18. 
 
 (iGen.28.19. 
 
 /Josh. 17.11, 
 12,  13. 
 
 D   C. 
 cir.  1425. 
 
 ^  Josh.  16. 
 10.  1  Kiu. 
 t).  16. 
 
 't  Pa.  100. 31, 
 35. 
 
 \  Hell,  uas 
 
 Josh.  If).  3. 
 ||Or,J/n-i/.?A- 
 ukraibm. 
 
 II  Or^rneifii- 
 n  ver.  5. 
 
 6  Gen.  17.7. 
 
 c  Deu.  7.  2. 
 
 d  Deu.  12.  3. 
 e  ver.  2a 
 Ps.  106.  34. 
 
 and  did  not  utterly  drive  them  out. 
 
 29  IF  ^  Neither  did  Ephraim  drive  out  the  Ca- 
 naanites that  dwelt  in  Gezer  ;  but  the  Canaan- 
 ites dwelt  in  Gezer  among  them. 
 
 30  1  Neither  did  Zebulun  drive  out  the  in- 
 habitants of  Kitron,  nor  the  ■'  inhabitants  of 
 Nahalol  ;  but  the  Canaanites  dwelt  among 
 them,  and  became  tributaries. 
 
 31  H  '  Neither  did  Asher  drive  out  the  inha- 
 bitants of  Accho,  nor  the  inhabitants  of  Zidon, 
 nor  of  Ahlab,  nor  of  Achzib,  nor  of  Helbah, 
 nor  of  Aphik,  nor  of  Rehob  : 
 
 32  But  the  Asherites  ''  dwelt  among  the  Ca- 
 naanites, the  inhabitants  of  the  land  :  for  they 
 did  not  drive  them  out. 
 
 33  H  '  Neither  did  Naphtali  drive  out  the  in- 
 habitants of  Beth-shemesh,  nor  the  inhabitants 
 of  Beth-anath  ;  but  he  ""  dwelt  among  the  Ca- 
 naanites, the  inhabitants  of  the  land  :  neverthe- 
 less the  inhabitants  of  Beth-shemesh  and  of 
 Beth-anath  "became  tributaries  unto  thein. 
 
 34  And  the  Amorites  forced  the  children  of 
 Dan  into  the  mountain  :  for  they  would  not 
 suffer  them  to  come  down  to  the  valley  : 
 
 3.5  But  the  Amorites  would  dwell  in  mount 
 Heres°in  Aijalon,  and  in  Shaalbini  :  yet  the 
 hand  of  the  house  of  Joseph  f  prevailed,  so 
 that  they  became  tributaries. 
 
 30  And  the  coast  of  the  Amorites  was  ""from 
 II  the  going  up  to  Akrabbim,  from  the  rock, 
 and  upward. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  An  angel  rt'hnhctli  the  people  at  Bochim.  6  The 
 wickedness  of  the  new  generation  after  Joshua.  14 
 God*s  amjer  and  pit//  towards  them.  20  Tlte  Ca- 
 naanites areleft  to  prove  Israel. 
 
 A  ND  an  ||  angel  of  the  Lord  came  up  from 
 -'-^  Gilgal  "  to  Bochim,  and  said,  I  made  you 
 to  go  up  out  of  Egypt,  and  have  brought  you 
 unto  the  land  which  I  sware  unto  your  fathers  ; 
 and  ''  I  said,  I  will  never  break  my  covenant 
 with  you. 
 
 2  And  "  ye  shall  make  no  league  with  the  in- 
 habitants of  this  land  ;  ^  ye  shall  throw  down 
 their  altars:  ''but  ye  have  not  obeyed  my 
 voice  :  why  have  ye  done  this  ? 
 
 not  here  meant,  it  being  destroyed,  but  probably  the  site  of  it, — Ed., 
 or  the  suburbs,— .4.  Clarke,  or  the  country  adjacent.  17.  Hormah,  that 
 is,  'accursed,'  or  'devoted  to  destruction.'— W'i7.  Thus  was  fulfilled  the 
 vow  made  Num.  x,\i.  1 — 3. — Gilt.  18.  Gitza — .^slielon — Ekron — the 
 
 Israelites  toolt  the  cities,  but  probably  made  the  iicople  tributary,  and 
 tliey  soon  took  them  again,  and  retained  them. — Poole,  Pat.  See 
 Judg. iii. 3;  1  Sam. vi.  16.  The  Sept.  reads,  'but  Judah  did  not  possess 
 Gaza,  nor  the  coasts  thereof,  nor  Askelon,  nor  Ekron,  nor  Ashdod,  nor 
 tlie  coasts  thereof.*  ig.  And  the  Lord  was  with  JwrfuA— this  is  the 
 close  of  ver.  18,  and  the  reason  tor  Judah's  success. — A.  Clarke.  But 
 could  not  drive  out,  '  but  went  not  to  drive  out.' — Bootttr.  The  power 
 that  drove  back  the  Red  .Sea,  &c.,  could  easily  have  overcome  these  ; 
 but  there  was  a  distru.st  on  the  part  of  Israel. — Hew.  21 .  Tlie  Jebu- 
 sites that  inhabited  Jerusalejn — the  south  part  of  it,  where  they  had  a 
 strong  fortress  upon  Mount  Sion,  (see  Josh.  xv.  63.)— Pat.  24.  The 
 entrunee,  not  tlie  common  entrance,  certainly,  but  by  stratagem  or 
 some  weak  part.— Heur.  28.  Put  the  Canaanites  to  tribute,  from  mo. 
 tives  of  avarice  rather  than  compassion.— Wew.  This  was  contrary  to 
 law,  for  they  were  ordered  to  destroy  them.  32.  The  Asherites  dwelt 
 among  the  Canaanites— they  seem  to  have  mLxed  with  them  as  if  of  tlie 
 same  nation,  which  was  strictly  forbidden.  33.  Neither  did  Naph- 
 tali— imitating  the  Asherites,  by  living  quietly  among  the  Canaanites. 
 
 — Pat.  34.  The  valley,  which  lay  between  Joppa  and  Cjesarca,  and 
 which  they  afterwards  enjoyed. — Gill.  35.  The  house  of  Joseph — the 
 Ephraimitcs,  who  helped  the  Danites  with  good  success. — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  II. —  \.  An  angel — probably  some  prophet  who  resided  at 
 Gilgal,  for  it  is  not  usual  to  mention  the  place  whence  an  angel  came. 
 — Booth}-.  An  extraordinary  human  messenger. — .i.  Clarke.  Old- 
 Testament  prophets  are  never  called  angels ;  this  was,  therefore,  a 
 messenger  from  Heaven. — Hen.  Created  angels  and  prophets  usher 
 their  messages  with  '  thus  saith  the  Lord.*  Christ,  the  angel  of  the 
 covenant,  could  alone  speak  the  following  words  in  his  own  name  and 
 person. — Poole.  Who  but  God  and  Christ  could  say,  '  I  made  you  go,' 
 &c.  ? — Lightfoot.  These  words  shew  it  was  the  uncreated  angel  that 
 appeared  to  Joshua.  I  take  it  to  signify  the  angel  of  the  covenant. — 
 Pat.  Hewlett  must  have  substituted  Patrick  for  some  other  name  in 
 mistake,  when  he  makes  him  of  opinion  that  this  was  a  prophet. — Ed. 
 It  was  the  angel  of  the  covenant. — Gill.  The  Word,  the  Son  of  God, 
 who  spake  as  Jehovah ,^5co^/.  Jewish  writers  take  this  for  a  created 
 angel ;  the  Fathers,  for  the  angel  of  the  covenant.  Came  up  from 
 Gilgal — having  assumed  the  form  of  a  man,  he  had  the  local  motion  of 
 a  man,  and  comes  as  it  were  from  Gilgal. — Poole.  Bochim,  '  weepers,' 
 the  place  afterwards  so  called  from  what  now  happened. — Gill.  It  was, 
 probably,  Shiloh,  for  there  was  no  other  place  where  all  Israel  assem. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I I.  Tliere  is  a  duy  of  retribution 
 
 for  all  the  ungodlg ;  and  in  that  day  they  shall  acknowledge  the 
 justice  of  their  punishment.  Let  the  oppressor  tremble, 
 whether  his  power  be  great  or  limited,  for  God  shall  reward 
 him.  Adonibezek  was  not  authorized  to  treat  his  adversaries 
 as  he  did,  and  his  day  of  punishment  at  length  arrived.  There 
 is  a  righteous  God  that  judgeth  in  the  earth. 
 
 n.  //  is  lovely  to  see  brethren  helping  one  another  in  a  good 
 cause,  as  Simeon  aided  Jiulah.  They  should  strengthen  each 
 261 
 
 other's  hands,  and  encourage  each  other's  hearts.     And  here 
 we  are  again  reminded — 
 
 in.  That  it  is  dangerous  to  give  any  peace  or  quarter  to  our 
 spiritual  enemies.  The  painful  result  will  be  sure  to  come,  as 
 it  did  to  the  Israelites.  These  enemies  the  Christian  will 
 always  have  till  he  possesses  the  heavenly  Canaan,  and  he 
 must  never  thiidc  of  sheathing  his  sword  till  he  puts  on  his 
 crown. 
 
An  angel  rehuketh  the  people. 
 
 JUDGES,  111. 
 
 God's  anijcr  iiml  jiily  toirards  t/iini. 
 
 3  Wherefore  I  also  said,  I  will  not  drive  them 
 out  from  before  you  ;  but  they  shall  be  ' 
 thorns  m  your  sides,  and  ^  their  gods  shall  be 
 a  I"  snare  unto  you. 
 
 4  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  angel  of  the 
 Lord  spake  these  words  unto  all  the  children 
 of  Israel,  that  the  people  lifted  up  their  voice, 
 and  wept. 
 
 5  And  they  called  the  name  of  that  place 
 11  Bochim  :  and  they  sacrificed  there  unto  the 
 Lord. 
 
 6  t  And  when  '  Joshua  had  let  the  people  go, 
 the  children  of  Israel  went  every  man  unto  his 
 inheritance  to  posse.ss  the  land. 
 
 7  '  And  the  people  served  the  Lord  all  the 
 days  of  Joshua,  and  all  the  days  of  the  elders 
 that  t  outlived  Joshua,  who  had  seen  all  the 
 great  works  of  the  Lord,  that  he  did  for  Israe 
 
 8  And  '  Joshua  the  son  of  Nun,  the  servant 
 of  the  Lord,  died,  beinr/  an  hundred  and  ten 
 years  old. 
 
 9  '"  And  they  buried  him  in  the  border  of  his 
 inheritance  in  "  Timnath-heres,  in  the  mount 
 of  Ephraim,  on  the  north  side  of  the  hill  Gaash. 
 
 10  And  also  all  that  generation  were  gathered 
 unto  their  fathers  :  and  there  arose  another 
 generation  after  them,  which  °  knew  not  the 
 Lord,  nor  yet  the  works  which  he  had  done 
 for  Israel. 
 
 U  H  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  evil  in 
 the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  served  Baalim  : 
 
 l'2  And  they  ''forsook  the  Lord  God  of  their 
 fathers,  which  brought  them  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  and  followed  '  other  gods,  of  the  gods 
 of  the  people  that  iccre  round  about  them,  and 
 'bowed  themselves  unto  them,  and  provoked 
 the  Lord  to  anger. 
 
 13  And  they  forsook  the  Lord,  'and  served 
 Baal  and  Ashtaroth, 
 
 14  t  '  And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  hot 
 against  Israel,  and  he  "delivered  them  into  the 
 hands  of  spoilers  that  spoiled  them,  and  '  he 
 sold  them  into  the  hands  of  their  enemies 
 round  about,  so  that  they  ''  could  not  any 
 longer  stand  before  their  enemies. 
 
 15  Whithersoever  they  went  out,  the  hand  of 
 the  Lord  was  against  them  for  evil,  as  the 
 Lord  had  said,  and  '  as  the  Lord  had  sworn 
 unto  them  :  and  they  were  greatly  distressed. 
 
 /'J«t3li.23. 13. 
 
 ir  <;h   3.  6. 
 
 t<  Ex.  «.1.  33. 
 ft  M    \>, 
 Deii.  7   16. 
 Pa.  lOw.  30. 
 
 '1  Tli.it  Is, 
 
 t  Heb   prit- 
 i«ii  grii  riaiit 
 nperJi'thua. 
 
 .Josh. 19.50, 
 &  24.  -SO. 
 
 *.  V.x.  5.  3. 
 
 I  Snin.2.12. 
 
 I  Clir.28.  9. 
 
 Jer.  9.  3.  & 
 
 ■ii-  16.  Gal. 
 
 ■13,  2  Tlies. 
 
 1.  H.  Tit.  1. 
 
 16 
 
 lir.  It06. 
 V  I)<!U,3I.I6. 
 
 7  Dcu.  0.  U 
 
 cb.  3.  7.  & 
 
 10,  6.  Ps. 
 IOC.  36. 
 
 (  ch.  3.  8. 
 Ps.  106.  40, 
 
 11,  42. 
 
 M  2  Kin.  17. 
 
 20. 
 X  rh.  3.  8.  ft 
 
 4-  2.  Ps.44. 
 
 12,  Is.  50.  I. 
 /  Lev.26.S7. 
 Josh,  7,  12, 
 13. 
 
 t  ch.3,  9,  10, 
 1.1.  1  Sam, 
 12.  11. 
 Acts  13.20. 
 f  Heb  anred 
 !i  Es.  S-V-  13. 
 
 16.  I,ov.  i;. 
 
 d  See  GcM.f, 
 C.  Deu.  ,32 
 36.  Ps.  1116 
 ■II.  4j. 
 
 •  eh  3.  12.  & 
 \    1   *S.33- 
 
 II  Or,  iri.re 
 e.„r„pl. 
 
 I  Heb,  they 
 let  uothing 
 f,,IU/tl,e,r. 
 
 J  Joah.SS,16. 
 
 i'  cb.  S.  1,4. 
 A  Pen,  8.  2, 
 16.  &  13.  3. 
 
 Or,iuJ)'erfd. 
 
 16  II  Nevertheless "  the  Lord  raised  np  judges, 
 which  t  delivered  them  out  of  the  hand  of  those 
 that  spoiled  them. 
 
 17  And  yet  they  would  not  hearken  unto 
 their  judges,  but  they  ''went  a  whoring  after 
 other  gods,  and  bowed  themselves  unto  them  : 
 they  turned  quickly  out  of  the  way  which  their 
 fathers  walked  in,  obeying  the  commandments 
 of  the  Lord  ;  but  they  did  not  so. 
 
 18  And  when  the  Lord  raised  them  up  judges, 
 then  'the  Lord  was  with  the  judge,  and  de- 
 livered them  out  of  the  hand  of  their  enemies 
 
 the  days  of  the  judge  :  ''  for  it  repented  the 
 [Lord  because  of  their  groanings  by  reason  of 
 them  that  oppressed  them  and  vexed  them. 
 
 19  And  it  came  to  pass, "  when  the  judge  was 
 dead,  that  they  returned,  and  ||  corrupted 
 themselves  more  than  their  fathers,  in  following 
 other  gods  to  serve  them,  and  to  bow  down 
 unto  them;  they  f  ceased  not  from  their  own 
 doings,  nor  from  their  stubborn  way. 
 
 20  t  '  And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  hot 
 against  Israel  ;  and  he  said,  Because  that  this 
 people  hath  ^  transgressed  my  covenant  which 
 I  conmianded  their  fathers,  and  have  not  heark- 
 ened unto  my  voice  ; 
 
 21  ''  I  also  will  not  henceforth  drive  out  any 
 from  before  them  of  the  nations  which  Joshua 
 left  when  he  died  : 
 
 22  '  That  through  them  I  may  ''  prove  Israel, 
 whether  they  will  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord 
 to  walk  therein,  as  their  fathers  did  keep  it,  or 
 not. 
 
 2.3  Therefore  the  Lord  ||  left  those  nations, 
 without  driving  them  out  hastily  ;  neither  de- 
 livered he  them  into  the  hand  of  Joshua. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 I    The  nations  which  wcrr  left  to  prove   hracL     6  Bt/ 
 commvnion  with  them  thetf  commit  ittuhitry,     8  Otli- 
 iiiel  tL-Iivereth   them  from  Chlishfln-rishnthaim.       12 
 JShiid  from   Eylon.     31    Shamtjar  from  the  Philis- 
 tines. 
 TV'OW    these   are   "the   nations   which    the 
 -'-*    Lord  left,  to  prove  Israel  by  them,  even 
 as  many  of  Israel  as  had  not  known  all  the 
 wars  of  Canaan ; 
 
 2  Only  that  the  generations  of  the  children 
 of  Israel  might  know,  to  teach  them  war,  at 
 the  least  such  as  before  knew  nothing  thereof; 
 
 bled. — Pat.  The  camp  near  Sliiloh.— Su/.  3.  As  thorns  in  your 
 sitles,  '  as  traps  for  you.' — lioothr.  ll.  Evilin  the  sight  of  the  Lorti, 
 — noting  the  hcinousness  and  impudence  of  their  sins — they  were  more 
 guilty  of  contempt  of  Goil  than  other  people, — Poole.  Bnalim — the 
 goils  of  the  heathen,  called  by  this  general  name,  which  signifies  lords. 
 — Pat.  There  were  many,  to  which  the  apostle  refers,  I  Cor.  viii.  5  ; 
 Baal-peor,  Baal-zehub,  Baal-berith,  &c. ;  they  seem  to  have  had  their 
 name  from  Bal,  Bel,  or  Belns,  a  king  of  Babylon  after  Nimrod,  the  first 
 deified  monarch,  the  Jupiter  of  the  heathen. — Hates.  13.  Bant  atid 
 Asliteroth,  '  the  sun  and  moon,' — Poote  ;  or  Venus,  which  some  under- 
 stand by  Astarte. — Pat.  Baal  may  signify  the  male  deities,  and  Ash- 
 teroth  the  female  deities,  of  the  Gentiles, — Gill.  The  name  of  this  cele- 
 brated Phrenician  goddess  is,  in  Scripture,  often  plural,  and  rmnffil?. 
 signifies  properly  '  flocks  of  sheep'  or  '  goals.'  Sometimes  miTN,  *  the 
 grove ;'  rrniTl^  or  D'TCS*,  '  woods.'    Groves  were  her  temples,  antl  here 
 
 the  most  obscene  rites  rendered  her  worship  infamous.  She  was  also 
 called  Queen  of  Heaven. — Cat.  14.  Hot  nf^ainst  Israel — thus  God 
 fulfilled  his  threatenings,  (Deut.  xxviii,) — Pi/te.  Spoilers — marauding 
 parties  of  Canaanites. — .4.  Clarke,  Sold  them,  as  insolvent  debtors  are 
 sold,  (Matt,  xviii.  25.) — Hen,  Deliver  them  up  as  the  seller  does  his 
 commodities  to  the  buyer,  (so  chap.  iii.  8 ;  iv.  9  ;  Ps.  .\liv.  12.) — Poole. 
 15.  The  hand — the  pOM-er  which  used  to  protect  them  was  now  turned 
 against  them. — So-'l.  Clarke.  17.  ."I  n-/toriag—the  sin  of  idolatry  is 
 often  represented  by  this  sin  to  express  its  vileness. —  Krf.  18.  Judges. 
 — see  the  introduction  to  this  book.  U  repented  the  Lord,  that  is,  he 
 altered  the  course  of  his  providence,  as  men  do  when  they  repent  of  a 
 thing. — Pat.,  Gilt.  23.  Left  tJiose  nations,  unsubdued,  to  prove  and 
 try  Israel.— Gi«. 
 
 Chap.  111.  —  1.  Kot  /inown  alt  the  wars — born  since  the  war  was 
 ended. — Pat.        ^,  Might  know,  to  teach  tliem  war — inure  them  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  11. —  We  see  here,  I.  Sin  Inmmlctl. 
 Bitter  were  the  griefs  of  Israel  when  the  messenger  of  God 
 shewed  them  the  frightful  consequences  of  sin  ;  and  they  are 
 enough  to  make  hearts  of  stone  weep.  But  men  often  weep 
 under  the  sound  of  God's  word  that  never  repent.  Let  us 
 see  to  it  that  ours  is  a  '  godly  sorrow  that  needeth  not  to  be 
 repented  of;'  for  it  is  not  the  man  that  weeps  for  sin,  but  the 
 man  that  '  confesseth  and  forsaketh  his  sins  shall  find  mercy.' 
 
 II.  Sin  pursueit.  Notwithstanding  all  tiiis  weeping,  Isiael 
 returned  to  iniquity.  Alas,  how  many  have  shed  tears  under 
 the  solemn  threatenings  of  God's  word,  who  have  scarcely 
 262 
 
 dried  those  tears  ere  they  have  returned  again  to  folly,  and 
 continued  to  sin  against  light — against  conscience — against 
 mercies — and  against  judgments  ! 
 
 111.  Sin  punisheil.  And  this  it  will  always  be,  sooner  or 
 later.  God  is  patient  ;  he  forbears— ■  He  is  not  willing  that 
 any  should  perish' — but  if  we  continue  hardened  and  impeni- 
 tent, he  will  leave  us  a  prey  to  the  '  spoilers  ;'  and  when  his 
 anger  is  '  hot,'  we  shall  indeed  find  that  '  our  God  is  a  con- 
 suming fire.'  Let  us  then  seek  reconciliation  with  him  through 
 Christ,  nor  let  our  hearts  renew  the  crimes  of  hardened  and 
 rebellious  Israel. 
 
The  people  commit  idnlntrij. 
 
 JUDGES,  III. 
 
 Ehiid  deliverelh  them  from  Efjlon. 
 
 3  Namely,  ^  Ave  lords  of  the  Pliilistines,  and 
 all  the  (^aiiaaiiites,  and  the  Sidoiiiaiis,  and  the 
 Hivites  tliat  dwelt  in  mount  Lebanon,  from 
 mount  Baal-liermon  unto  the  entering  in  of 
 Haniatli. 
 
 4  '  And  they  were  to  prove  Israel  by  them 
 to  know  whether  they  would  hearken  luito  the 
 commandments  of  the  Loud,  which  he  com 
 manded  tlieir  fathers  by  the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 .5  H  ''  And  the  children  of  Israel  dwelt  among 
 tlie  Canaaiiites,  Hittites,  and  Amorites,  and 
 Perizzites,  and  Hivites,  and  Jebusites  : 
 
 6  And  '■  they  took  their  daughters  to  be  their 
 wives,  and  gave  their  daugliters  to  their  sons, 
 and  served  their  gods. 
 
 7  •■  And  tlie  children  of  Israel  did  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  and  forgat  the  Lord  their 
 God,  ^and  served  Baalim  and  ''  the  groves. 
 
 8  t  Tlierefore  the  anger  of  the  Loud  was  hot 
 against  Israel,  and  he  '  sold  them  into  the  hand 
 of  ''  Cliushan-risliathaim  king  of  f  Mesopota- 
 mia :  and  the  children  of  Israel  served  Chu- 
 shan-rishatliaim  eight  years. 
 
 9  And  when  the  cliildren  of  Israel  '  cried 
 unto  the  Lord,  tlie  Loun  "' raised  up  a  f  de- 
 liverer to  tlie  children  of  Israel,  who  delivered 
 tliem,  even  "  Othniel  the  son  of  Keiiaz,  Caleb's 
 younger  brother. 
 
 10  And  °  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  fcame  upon 
 him,  and  he  judged  Israel,  and  went  out  to 
 war :  and  the  Lord  delivered  Chushan-risha- 
 tliaini  king  of  f  Mesopotamia  into  his  hand ; 
 and  his  hand  prevailed  against  Chushan-risha- 
 thaim. 
 
 1 1  And  the  land  had  rest  forty  years.  And 
 Othniel  tlie  son  of  Kenaz  died. 
 
 12  t '' And  the  children  of  Israel  did  evil 
 again  in  the  siglit  of  the  Lord  :  and  the  Lord 
 strengthened  ''  Egloii  tlie  king  of  Moab  against 
 Israel,  because  they  had  done  evil  in  the  sight 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 1-3  And  he  gathered  unto  him  the  children 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 rir.  1406. 
 
 cU:  I3*i. 
 
 1,  Josh.  13.  3. 
 
 rrh.  5.  I-J. 
 
 t  cU.  1.  1(3. 
 
 /Deu.28.  111. 
 
 u  ver   0 
 
 Ps.  78.34. 
 
 c  cli.  2.  22. 
 
 [|  Or, //«■  j-m 
 
 '•fGernh.i. 
 
 t  Heb.  th'.t 
 
 ,./  his  r.yhl 
 
 hniid. 
 
 '/  Pa.  ins.  S5. 
 
 ch.  20.  IC. 
 
 e  Ex.  SI.  16. 
 
 Dcut.  7.  3. 
 
 cir.  14O0. 
 
 /cli.  2.  11. 
 
 g  ch.  2.  IS. 
 
 h  Kx.  3*.  IS. 
 
 neu   10.21. 
 
 X  Josh.  4.  20. 
 
 ch.  6.  9.5. 
 <  .11.2,  14. 
 
 I|  Or,  ETnven 
 
 A  H;ib.  3.7. 
 
 imoget. 
 
 cir.  l-!(>2. 
 
 1  Hehj^ram- 
 
 lUjIinTaiiu. 
 
 1  ver.  15.  & 
 
 cli    1.  3.  & 
 
 6.  7.  fe  10. 
 
 t  Heh.  opnr- 
 
 10.  1  Sam. 
 
 huT  n/  c(,ol- 
 
 12.   10. 
 
 iiig :    See 
 
 Nell.  0.  27. 
 
 AimobS.  15. 
 
 Ps    22.  h.  & 
 
 \ory.  4V.  & 
 
 107.  13,  19. 
 
 m  ch.  2.  16. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 cir.  mi. 
 
 n  ch.  1.  13. 
 
 0  See  Num. 
 
 27.  18.  ch. 
 
 6.  31.  &  n 
 
 23.  &  13  25. 
 
 &  14    6,  10. 
 
 1  Sam.  1  I.e. 
 
 i;  Or,  1/  cmne 
 
 2Chr.  15.1. 
 
 u»t  at  the 
 
 t  Heb.  uu,i. 
 
 fundament. 
 
 (Heb. .^rum. 
 
 ;>  ch.  2.  19. 
 
 cir.  13»4. 
 
 q  lSam.12.9. 
 
 \\  Or,  dofth 
 
 kUemnnfiit. 
 
 1  Siim.-24.3. 
 
 of  Amnion  and  '  Amalek,  and  went  and  smote 
 Israel,  and  pos.sessed  ^the  city  of  palm  trees. 
 
 14  So  the  children  of  Israel  'served  Eglon 
 the  king  of  Moab  eighteen  years. 
 
 I.J  But  when  the  children  of  Israel  "cried 
 unto  the  Loud,  the  Lord  raised  them  up  a 
 deliverer,  Ehud  the  son  of  Gera,  |{  a  Beujamite, 
 a  man  flefthanded:  and  by  him  the  cliildren 
 of  Israel  sent  a  present  unto  Eglon  the  king  of 
 Moab. 
 
 10  But  Ehud  made  him  a  dagger  which  had 
 two  edges,  of  a  cubit  length  ;  and  he  did  gird 
 it  under  his  raiment  upon  his  right  thigh. 
 
 17  And  he  brought  the  present  unto  Eglon 
 king  of  Moab  :  and  Eglon  was  a  very  fat  man. 
 
 18  And  when  he  had  made  an  end  to  offer 
 the  present,  he  sent  away  the  people  that  bare 
 the  present. 
 
 19  But  he  himself  turned  again  'from  the 
 II  quarries  that  iccre  by  Gilgal,  and  said,  I  have 
 a  secret  errand  unto  thee,  O  king :  who  said, 
 Keep  silence.  And  all  that  stood  by  him 
 went  out  from  him. 
 
 20  And  Ehud  came  unto  him  ;  and  he  was 
 sitting  ill  fa  summer  parlour,  which  he  had  for 
 himself  alone.  And  Ehud  said,  I  have  a  mes- 
 sage from  God  unto  thee.  And  he  arose  out 
 oi  his  seat. 
 
 21  And  Ehud  put  forth  his  left  hand,  and 
 took  the  dagger  from  his  right  thigh,  and 
 thrust  it  into  liis  belly  : 
 
 22  And  the  haft  also  went  in  after  the  blade ; 
 and  the  fat  closed  upon  the  blade,  so  that  he 
 could  not  draw  the  dagger  out  of  his  belly  ; 
 and  II  the  dirt  came  out. 
 
 23  Then  Ehud  went  forth  through  the  porch, 
 and  shut  the  doors  of  the  parlour  upon  him, 
 and  locked  them. 
 
 24  When  he  was  gone  out,  his  servants  came ; 
 and  when  they  saw  that,  behold,  the  doors  of 
 the  parlour  tccre  locked,  they  said.  Surely  he 
 II  covereth  his  feet  in  his  summer'  chamber. 
 
 martial  exercises,  surrounded  as  tliey  were  with  tlie  enemies  which 
 had  been  spared. — Poofe.  Formerly  God  fought  for  them  miraculously, 
 but  this  was  not  now  to  be  expected.  Some  interpret  the  meaning, 
 that  fiod  left  these  nations  among  Israel  that  they  might  know  what 
 war  was. — Gill.  7.  And  the  groves — it  may  be /«  the  groves,  says 
 Piiale,  but  this  is  certainly  taking  a  great  liberty  with  the  Hebrew, — 
 Ed. ;  or,  he  adds,  groves  are  here  put  for  idols  of  the  groves.  '  Images 
 of  their  gods  in  the  groves.' — Selden.  rnilC^t,  '  Asfierotft  ;*  this  Viord 
 is  rendered  by  the  Chnldnic  and  Lfititi  versions,  '  lucis/  '  light.'  The 
 sense  seems  to  be  a  revolt  to  Sabianisra,  or  the  worship  of  the  hosts  of 
 heaven. — Sut.  Probably  here  is  a  trifling  error,  and  the  word  should 
 be  mn^ON.  '  Ashteroth,'  '  the  moon,'  or  *  Venus.' — Hoiib.,  adopted  by 
 Heu'.  and  ,^.  Clarke,  'Baals  and  .4shCerni/is,'  compound  images  of 
 each. — Boot/ir.  '  Baal  and  (other)  idols,^  for  Ashteroth  is  so  under, 
 stood,  (1  Kings,  xiv.  2:1 ;  xv.  13;  xvi.  33;  xviii.  19;  2  Kings,  xvii. 
 10.16;    xxi.  7;    xxiii.  4,  6,  7,  &c.)— £(/.,  see  Par.  S.Mesopotamia, 
 
 D'ln^  D"l«.  *  Syria  of  the  two  rivers.' — A.  Clarke.  We  adopt  the  Greek 
 word,  for  Mesa  is  '  middle.'  or  '  lying  between,'  and  potamia  is  '  river,' 
 because  the  territory  lay  between  the  Euphrates  and  the  'Hgris. — Hew., 
 Stit.  The  king  of  this  country  was,  without  doubt,  the  king  of 
 Nineveh. — Sut.  Served,  *  became  tributary.*  9.  Othniel,  who  mar- 
 ried Achsah,  and  was  now  probably  in  years,  (see  chap.  i.  12,  13.)  The 
 Spirit  of  the  Lord — an  extraordinary  motion  from  God,  accompanied 
 with  extraordinary  courage  and  a  singular  gift  of  Divine  eloquence,  to 
 persuade  the  people  to  forsake  idolatry. — Pat.  '  Wisdom  and  courage.' 
 — Poole,  Henrjj,  Gilt.  '  Fortitude  and  courage.' — Hates.  '  The  spirit 
 of  prophecy,'  C/ialdee.  \-2.  Did  eeif,  'fell  into  idolatrj'.' — /'«^ 
 Egton,  thought  to  have  been  the  immediate  successor  of  Balak. — A.  C. 
 13.  Palm— see  notes  on  chap.  i.  16.  14.  Eighteen  years—ten  years 
 longer  than  they  served  the  King  of  Mesopotamia,  as  a  severer  correc- 
 tion.—(?i7(.  15.  A  Benjamite,  which  tribe  was  most  oppressed,  Je- 
 richo being  in  it. — Pat.  Left-handed,  apipoTcpo&e^tos:,  '  both  handed,' 
 Sept.  '  Lame  of  the  right  hand.' — Bishop's  Bib.,  Purver,  Par.,  fol- 
 lowed by  A.  Clarke.  The  English  is  evidently  correct,  because  the  700 
 Benjamites  were  all  left-handed. — Sut.  But  this  is  no  proof,  because, 
 whatever  the  expression  means  here,  it  means  also  in  chap.  xx.  Ifi, 
 where  the  Hebrew  is  the  same,  and  which  is  rendered  in  the  Sept.  by 
 the  same  Greek  word. — Ed.  16.  A  ciilnt,  oTziOapri^,  'a  span,'  Sept. 
 17.  ^  very  fat  man,  avnp  affTeiot  acpoipa,  '  an  exceedingly  civil  or  cour- 
 teous man,'  Sept.  IH.  The  present  —  eastern  presents  are  ofifered 
 with  great  pomp.— //«r.  19.  The  quarries,  D'VDD,  from  ^DD,  '  to 
 263 
 
 hew,'  'chip,'  '  cut  with  a  tool.'— Par.  'The  carved  idols.'— BooMr. 
 *  Graven  images,'  or  '  statues  of  stone,'  Sept.,  Vulg.,  so  also  A.  Clarke, 
 and  Gill,  who  thinks  the  King  of  Moab  had  set  them  up  in  contempt 
 of  the  Israelites.  Some  understand  a  place  where  stones  are  dug;  and 
 some,  the  twelve  stones  which  Joshua  set  up  in  Gilgal. — Pat.  Keep 
 si/ence— refrain  for  a  few  moments  from  disclosing  this  secret  errand. 
 — Hell'.  20.  A  Slimmer  parlour — they  had  houses  and  chambers  for 
 winter  and  summer,  (see  Jer.  xxxvi.  22;  Amos,  iii.  15.)— Puo/f.  It 
 was  an  olee,  a  room  above  the  rest,  built  beyond  the  house,  for  the 
 purpose  of  being  cool  and  quiet. — So  Shaw.  A  message  from  God  unto 
 thee,  "?'■?«  '7  VTllH  in.  '  a  word  of  the  gods  to  me  unto  thee.'— .-I.  C. 
 He  designedly  used  Elnhim,  common  to  the  true  God  and  false  ones, 
 and  not  Jehovah.— Poole.  Eglon,  expecting  some  oracle,  rose  up  in 
 reverence. — Scott.  God  sends  by  the  judgments  of  his  hand  as  well  as 
 of  his  mouth.— Hen.  If  he  had  no  message  from  God,  and  there  is  no 
 proof  that  he  had,  then  Ehud  was  a  most  base  and  hypocritical  assassin. 
 The  sacred  historian  says  nothing  of  his  motives  nor  call,  he  mentions 
 simply  the  fact.— .4.  Clarke.  It  was  not  unlikely  that  Ehud  was  in- 
 spired to  do  this  action,  and  God,  seeing  he  had  a  murderous  disposi- 
 tion, gave  him  the  power.— D'O/itt/  and  Mant.  Undoubtedly  he  was 
 sent  of  God  on  this  errand,  for  it  was  the  Lord  that  spoke  to  him  by  an 
 impulse  on  his  spirit,  and  the  thing  was  from  the  Lord  he  was  to  do.— 
 Gill.  He  had  a  secret  errand,  a  message  from  God.— ScoM.  He  put 
 him  to  death,  not  murdered  or  assassinated  him,  but,  as  a  judge  or 
 minister  of  Divine  justice,  executed  the  judgments  of  God  upon  himj 
 God  putting  it  into  his  heart,  and  letting  bira  know  also  that  the  mo- 
 tion was  from  himself  by  the  spirit  that  came  upon  him,  the  impulses 
 of  which  carried  with  them  their  own  evidence,  and  so  gave  him  full 
 satisfaction  both  of  the  lawfulness  and  success  of  this  daring  attempt, 
 of  both  which  he  had  reason  enough  to  doubt.- Hen.  The  oppression 
 of  Moab  juslilied  the  deed,  and  his  commission  was  divine. — Sut.  Why 
 should  not  Ehud  be  as  much  inspired  to  kdl  this  oppressor  of  God's 
 people,  as  Joshua  to  kill  great  numbers  of  such  men  >—Ei'an.  Synop. 
 22.  .ind  the  dirt  came  out,  'and  it  (the  dagger)  went  through  behind.' 
 — Boothr.  'His  excrements  came  forth.' — Poo(e,  Gi//;  to  this  C7«rfre 
 inclines.  The  original  evidently  justifies  our  translation;  some  think 
 it  occurred  as  the  effect  of  convulsions  in  death. — Ed.  24.  Covereth 
 his  feet — a  delicate  expression  of  a  common  act  of  nature,  (see  1  Sam. 
 xxiv.  3.) — Gataker.  In  favour  of  this  view  are  most  of  the  Versions. 
 His  servants  thought  he  had  fallen  asleep.— Jos.  This  was  probable, 
 since  he  was  in  the  summer  parlour.— GiH.    '  Surely  he  reposcth.'— 
 
The  Moahites  are  overcome* 
 
 JUDGES,  IV. 
 
 The  people  delivered  froyn  Jabin* 
 
 25  And  they  tarried  till  they  wore  ashamed  : 
 and.  hehold,  he  opened  not  the  doors  of  the 
 parlour  ;  therefore  they  took  a  key,  and  open- 
 ed them  :  and,  behold,  their  lord  icas  fallen 
 down  dead  on  the  earth. 
 
 26  And  Ehud  escaped  while  they  tarried, 
 and  passed  beyond  the  quarries,  and  escaped 
 unto  Seirath. 
 
 27  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  was  come, 
 that  ^he  blew  a  trumpet  in  the  *  mountain  of 
 Ephraim,  and  the  children  of  Israel  went  down 
 with  him  from  the  mount,  and  lie  before  them. 
 
 28  And  he  said  unto  them.  Follow  after  me  : 
 for  "  the  Lord  hath  delivered  your  enemies 
 the  Moabites  into  your  hand.  And  they  went 
 down  after  him,  and  took  ^  the  fords  of  Jordan 
 toward  Moab,  and  suffered  not  a  man  to  pass 
 over. 
 
 29  And  they  slew  of  Moab  at  that  time  about 
 ten  thousand  men.  all  f  lusty,  and  all  men 
 of  valour  ;  and  there  escaped  not  a  man. 
 
 30  So  Moab  was  subdued  that  day  under  the 
 hand  of  Israel.  And  ^  the  land  had  rest  four- 
 score years. 
 
 31  t  And  after  him  was  ''  Shamgar  the  son  of 
 Anath.  w^hich  slew  of  the  Philistines  six  hun- 
 dred men  ''with  an  ox  goad:  ^  and  he  also 
 delivered  ®  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1   Deborah  and  Barak  delircr  them  from  Jnhhi   and 
 Sisera.     18  JaelAUtetk  Siscra. 
 
 V  ch.  5    II. 
 
 &  6.  34. 
 
 lSam.1S.S. 
 I  Josti.IT.l5, 
 
 cli.  7.  21.  & 
 
 17.  I.  &  19. 
 
 I. 
 ach.7.  9.ir>. 
 
 6  Josli.  S.  7. 
 Ch.  I'i.  5. 
 
 t  iteb.fnl. 
 
 c  vor.  11. 
 
 d  ch.  5  0,  S, 
 I  Sam.  \:i. 
 19,  S2.  It 
 Bee  me  to 
 
 only  the 
 
 couolry 
 
 next  to  the 
 
 Philistine  5. 
 f  1  Sam.  17. 
 
 *7,  50. 
 /■ch.  2.  16. 
 ff  Sn  part  ii 
 
 called  Iii- 
 
 riiel,  ch.  A. 
 
 1.3,  3.C.  & 
 
 10.  7,  17.  it 
 
 11.  4,  &p. 
 
 I  t>am.4.  I. 
 
 b  ch,  2.  U. 
 
 c Josh.  II    1, 
 
 10  4kl!).36. 
 d  1  Sam,  12. 
 
 9.  Ps,  m  9. 
 
 It  seents  to 
 
 concern 
 
 only  North 
 
 Israel. 
 e  ver.  13,  IC 
 fch.  I.  19. 
 ff  vh.  .^.  9. 
 
 Ps.  loo.  43. 
 
 cir.  1306. 
 1  Heb.  11.83, 
 V  J.ish.ly.S/ 
 
 \  ND  °  the  children  of  Israel  again  did  evil 
 -"•  in  the  sight  of  tlie  Lord,  when  Ehud  was 
 dead. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  ^sold  them  into  the  hand 
 of  Jabiu  king  of  Canaan,  that  reigned  in  '^  Ra- 
 zor ;  the  captain  of  whose  host  was  "^  Sisera, 
 which  dwelt  in  *^  Harosheth  of  the  Gentiles, 
 
 3  And  the  children  of  Israel  cried  unto  the 
 Lord:  for  he  had  nine  hundred  'chariots  of 
 iron  ;  and  twenty  years  ^  he  mightily  oppressed 
 the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 4  t  And  Deborah,  a  prophetess,  the  wife  of 
 Lapidoth,  she  judged  Israel  at  that  time. 
 
 5  ^  And  she  dwelt  under  the  palm  tree  of 
 Deborah  between  Hamah  and  Beth-el  in  mount 
 Ephraim  :  and  the  children  of  Israel  came  up 
 to  her  for  judgment. 
 
 0  And  she  sent  and  called  '  Barak  the  son  of 
 Abinoam  out  ■■  of  Kedesli-naphtali,  and  said 
 unto  him,  Hath  not  the  Lord  God  of  Israel 
 commanded,  saying^  Go  and  draw  toward 
 mount  Tabor,  and  take  with  thee  ten  thousand 
 men  of  the  children  of  Naphtali  and  of  the 
 children  of  Zebulun  ? 
 
 7  And  '  I  will  draw  unto  thee  to  the  "'river 
 Kishon  Sisera,  the  captain  of  Jabin's  army, 
 with  his  chariots  and  his  multitude  ;  and  I  will 
 deliver  him  into  thine  hand. 
 
 8  And  Barak  said  unto  her,  If  thou  wilt  go 
 with  me,  then  I  will  go:  but  if  thou  wilt  not  go 
 with  me,  then  I  will  not  go. 
 
 9  And  she  said,  I  will  surely  go  with  thee : 
 
 Bnnfhr.  '  He  has  lain  down  on  the  sofa  in  order  to  sleep.'— .4.  Clarke. 
 Perhaps  the  simple  meaning  is,  '  he  retired  to  sleep,'  when  they  used 
 to  cover  their  feet,  (see  Roth,  iii.  7.]—M'il.,  Poole.  23.  Ashamed,  or 
 *  confounded.*— i*oo/p.  26.  Seirath,  in  Mount  Ephraim,  not  far  from 
 G\\e&\.— Wells.  27.  Went  down  with  Atm— nothing  is  more  obvious 
 than  that  they  viewed  him  as  a  public  deliverer;  and  God  no  less 
 moved  them  to  pursue  the  work  of  deliverance  than  Ehud  to  com- 
 mence it,  or  they  would  not  thus  have  dared  tn  fall  on  their  enemies. — 
 Ed.  28.  To"A-  the  funis,  that  the  Moabites  among  them  might  not 
 escape,  nor  others  cross  over  to  assist.— i*oo/e.  29.  Ten  thousand, 
 who  had  been  sent  in  the  land  of  Israel  to  keep  it  in  subjection.- GjV^. 
 Litsty,  ^-c,  'stout,'  'wealthy  persons,'  *  men  of  quality.' — Patrick. 
 'Picked  chosen  troops.'— .^.  C/urAe.  30.  The  land  had  rest— some 
 think  only  that  eastward  of  Jordan,  which  had  been  oppressed  by 
 Moab  ;  but  that  the  other  side  on  the  south-west  was  oppressed  by  the 
 Philistines,  (see  next  verse.)- Hr-n.  31.  Oj- ^oorf— /'wo/*' views  this 
 as  miraculous,  and  done  by  inspired  courage,  like  Samson's,  when  he 
 used  the  jaw  bone.  Boothroyd  says.  '  In  Judea  the  ox  goad  was  equal 
 to  a  spear,  and  was  often  used  as  an  oflfensive  weapon.  We  are  ncit  to 
 imagine  that  Shamgar  alone,  with  one  ox  goad,  slew  all  those  Phdis- 
 tines,  hut  was  accompanied  willi  what  Israelites  he  could  sssemhle.' 
 The  ox  goad  of  the  cast  is  about  eight  feet  long,  and  at  the  bigger  end 
 six  inches  in  circumference;  at  the  lesser  end  is  a  sharp  prickle  for 
 driving  oxen,  and  at  the  other  a  small  spade  or  massy  paddle  of  iron 
 for  scraping  the  ^Xou^ti.—MandeviUe.  Hales  conjectures  that  the 
 Israelites  had  been  disarmed,  and  had  no  other  weapons.  The  Sept., 
 for*  ox  goad,'  reads,  apoTpoiroii  twi/ /3owv,  *  with  the  ploughshare  of 
 
 the  oxen.'  The  coulter  of  a  plough,  as  the  Vulgate  has  it,  is  also  a 
 powerful  weapon ;  it  is  usually  about  the  length  of  the  short  swords 
 used  by  the  Romans. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  — 1.  When  Ehud  uas  dead,  'because  Ehud,*  &c.,  so  it 
 may  be  read. — Pat.,  Hen.  2.  In  Hazor,  in  the  region  belonging  to 
 Hazor,  for  the  city  itself  was  burnt  by  Joshua,  (Josh.  xi.  10,)  and  the 
 king  was  slain  ;  it  is  probable  that  this  Jal>in  was  of  the  same  family, 
 and  that  the  name  was  common  to  the  kings  of  the  C(nintry. — Pat. 
 Hence  it  fullows,  the  Canaanitcs  had  found  opportunities  to  re-estahlisli 
 their  ancient  kingdom,  and  to  rebuild  Hazor, —  Well.t.  4.  Debiirnh, 
 
 a  prophetess— snch  an  one  as  Miriam,  endued  with  Divine  gifts  of  wis- 
 dom to  instruct  and  govern  others. — Pat.  The  wife  0/  Lapidoth — some 
 render  it,  'a  woman  of  Lapidoth,'  but  do  account  is  given  of  such  a 
 place. — Gill.  It  might  as  well  be  so  rendered. — So  A.  Clarke.  Pro- 
 phet and  prophetess  are  of  ambiguous  signification,  and  Deborah  was, 
 perhaps,  only  a  woman  of  eminent  holiness. — Hew.  .i.  S/ie  dwelt 
 under  the  palm  tree,  '  she  sat  under  it  when  she  administered  ju.stice,' 
 Sept.,  Vulg.,  Mont.  6.  Hath  not,  fyc. — a  strong  affirmation. —G'i//. 
 
 Mount  Tabor,  a  detached  calcarious  mountain  of  a  conical  form,  on 
 one  side  the  great  plain  of  Esdraelon,  in  Galilee;  it  is  rugged,  i)reci- 
 pitous,  and  about  a  mile  in  height. — Finden''s  Landscape  lllus.  of  the 
 Bi/ile,  Cat.  7.  Kishun — this  river  arises  from  Mount  Tabor,  and  was 
 one  of  the  borders  of  Zebulun. —  Wells.  8.  If  thou  wilt  go,  ^c. — 
 which  shewed  faith  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,"  (Heb.  xi.  32.) — Gilt. 
 Barak  seems  to  have  wanted  Deborah's  advice.— P«/.  9.  Shall  not 
 be  for  thine  honour,  as  the  general  of  an  army,  who  is  commonly  soli- 
 citous to  have  the  glory  of  an  action.— GiW.     A  woman,  Jael,  or  rather 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  In  this  chapter(says  Henry) 
 we  have — I.  A  general  account  of  IsraeVs  enemies,  Israel  was  a 
 figure  of  the  church  militant  that  must  fight  its  way  to  a  tri- 
 umphant state.  The  soldiers  of  Christ  must  endure  hardness, 
 (2  Tim.  ii.  3. )  Corruption  is  therefore  left  remaining  even 
 in  the  hearts  of  good  Christians,  that  they  may  learn  war,  may 
 keep  on  '  the  whole  armour  of  God,*  and  stand  continually 
 upon  their  guard. 
 
 II.  A  record  of  the  govei^ment  of  the  three  first  Judges.  In  the 
 short  account  of  O'thniel's  government,  we  have  the  distress 
 that  Israel  was  brought  into  for  their  sin  ;  their  return  to  God 
 in  their  distress  ;  and  God's  return  in  mercy  to  them  for  their 
 deliverance.  The  method  Othniel  took  was  this;  he  first 
 judged  Israel,  reproved  them,  called  tliem  to  an  account  for 
 their  sins,  and  reformed  them,  and  then  went  out  to  war. 
 That  was  the  right  method;  let  sin  at  home  be  conquered, 
 that  worst  of  enemies,  and  then  enemies  abroad  will  be  the 
 easier  dealt  with.  Thus  let  Christ  be  our  judge  and  lawgiver, 
 and  then  he  will  save  us,  and  on  no  other  terms.  Israel  sins 
 again,  and  God  raises  up  a  new  oppressor — *  And  the  Lord 
 264 
 
 strengthened  Eglon  the  king  of  Moab  against  Israel.*  Israel 
 prays  again,  and  God  raises  up  a  new  deliverer  in  Khud. 
 This  act  of  Ehud's  may  justify  itself,  because  he  bad  special 
 direction  from  God  to  do  it ;  and  it  was  agreeable  to  the  usual 
 method  which,  under  that  dispensation,  God  took  to  avenge 
 his  people  of  their  enemies,  and  to  manifest  to  tlie  world  his 
 own  justice.  But  it  will  by  no  means  justify  any  now  in  doing 
 the  like.  No  such  suggestions  are  now  given;  and  to  pretend 
 to  them  is  to  blaspheme  God,  and  make  him  patronize  the 
 worst  of  villanies.  Christ  bid  Peter  shenihe  the  sword,  and 
 we  find  not  that  he  bid  him  draw  it  again.  That  part  of  the 
 country  which  lay  next  the  Philistines  was  infested  by  a  ban- 
 ditti, and  God  raised  up  Shamgar.  It  is  probable  he  was  lol- 
 lowing  the  plough  when  the  impulse  came  upon  Itim.  H^re 
 we  see  that  God  can  make  those  eminently  serviceable  to  Iiis 
 glory  and  bis  church's  good  whose  extraction,  education,  and 
 employment  are  very  mean  and  obscure.  He  that  bos  the  re- 
 sidue of  the  Spirit  could,  when  he  pleased,  make  ploughmen 
 judges  and  generals,  and  fishermen,  apostles. 
 
Sisera  is  overcome. 
 
 JUDGES,  IV. 
 
 Jiicl  hilhth  him. 
 
 notwitlistandiiia;  tlie  journey  that  tliou  taUest 
 shall  not  be  for  thine  honour  ;  for  the  Lonn 
 shall  "sell  Sisera  into  the  hand  of  a  woman. 
 And  Deborah  arose,  and  went  with  Barak  to 
 Kedesh. 
 
 10  IT  And  Barak  called  °  Zebulnn  and  Naph- 
 tali  to  Kedesh  ;  and  he  went  np  witli  ten 
 thousand  men  ''at  his  feet:  and  Deborah  went 
 up  with  him. 
 
 1 1  Now  Heher  ''  the  Kenite,  jvhich  was  of 
 the  children  of  '  Hohab  the  fatlier  in  law  of 
 Moses,  had  severed  himself  from  the  Kenites, 
 and  pitched  his  tent  unto  the  plain  of  Zaanaini, 
 '  which  is  by  Kedesli. 
 
 12  And  they  shewed  Sisera  that  Barak  the 
 son  of  Abinoam  was  p;oue  up  to  mount  Tabor. 
 
 13  And  Sisera  f  gathered  together  all  his 
 chariots,  cvi'/i  nine  hundred  chariots  of  iron, 
 and  all  the  people  that  ivei-c  with  him,  from 
 Harosheth  of  the  Gentiles  unto  the  river  of 
 Kishoii. 
 
 U  And  Deborah  said  unto  Barak,  Up  ;  for 
 this  is  the  day  in  which  the  Lord  hath  de- 
 livered Sisera  into  thine  hand  :  '  is  not  the 
 Lord  gone  out  before  thee?  So  Barak  went 
 down  from  mount  Tabor,  and  ten  thousand 
 men  after  him. 
 
 15  And  "the  Lord  discomfited  Sisera,  and 
 all  his  chariots,  and  all  his  host,  with  the  edge 
 of  the  sword  before  Barak ;  so  that  Sisera 
 lighted  down  off  his  chariot,  and  fied  away  on 
 his  feet. 
 
 IG  But  Barak  pursued  after  the  chariots,  and 
 after  tlie  host,  unto  Harosheth  of  the  Gentiles  : 
 and  all   the  host  of  Sisera  fell  upon  the  edge 
 
 ,jSccE«.  II, 
 s   I  Kin.^. 
 
 ./  oil.  I.    Ifi. 
 f  Nil.  10.20 
 
 f  1-Ieb.  pa' 
 
 (  Pent.  ft.  H 
 3  Sum  5.2'1. 
 Ps.  m.  7. 
 Is.  52.  12. 
 
 II  Ps.  8S-  9, 
 10.  S«e 
 Josh.  10.1(1. 
 
 y  ch.  5.  26. 
 t  Heb.  put. 
 
 f  Heb.^.ii'na' 
 went  and  was 
 hara. 
 
 of  the  sword  ;  ontl  there  was  not  f  a  man  left. 
 
 17  Howbeit  Sisera  fled  away  on  his  feet  to 
 the  tent  of  Jael  the  wife  of  Heher  the  Kenite  : 
 for  there  was  peace  between  Jabin  the  king  of 
 Hazor  and  the  house  of  Heher  the  Kenite. 
 
 18  II  And  Jael  went  out  to  meet  Sisera,  and 
 said  unto  him.  Turn  in,  my  lord,  turn  in  to  me  ; 
 fear  not.  And  when  he  had  turned  in  unto  her 
 into  the  tent,  she  covered  him  with  a  ||  mantle. 
 
 19  And  lie  said  unto  her.  Give  nie,  I  pray 
 thee,  a  little  water  to  drink  ;  for  I  am  thirsty. 
 And  she  opened  "  a  bottle  of  milk,  and  gave 
 him  drink,  and  covered  him. 
 
 '20  Again  he  said  unto  her,  Stand  in  the  door 
 of  the  tent,  and  it  shall  be,  when  any  man  doth 
 come  and  enquire  of  thee,  and  say,  Is  there 
 any  man  here  V  that  thou  .shalt  say.  No. 
 
 '21  Then  Jael  Heber's  wife  'took  a  nail  of 
 the  tent,  and  f  took  an  hammer  in  her  hand, 
 and  went  softly  unto  him,  and  smote  the  nail 
 into  his  temples,  and  fastened  it  into  the 
 ground  :  for  he  was  fast  asleep  and  weary. 
 So  he  died. 
 
 2-2  And,  behold,  as  Barak  pursued  Sisera, 
 .Tael  came  out  to  meet  him,  and  said  unto  him. 
 Come,  and  I  will  shew  thee  the  man  whom 
 thou  seekest.  And  when  he  came  into  her 
 tent,  behold,  Sisera  lay  dead,  and  the  nail  iias 
 in  his  temples. 
 
 23  So  "  God  subdued  on  that  day  Jabin  the 
 king  of  Canaan  before  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 24  And  the  hand  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 t  prospered,  and  prevailed  against  Jabin  the 
 king  of  Canaan,  until  they  had  destroyed 
 Jabin  king  of  Canaan. 
 
 Deborah,  who,  as  judge  and  chief  commandress,  would  have  the  ho- 
 nour of  the  victory  ascribed  to  her.  1(1.  /ii  his  feel — who  followed 
 his  footsteps,  all  infantry. — Poole.  \\,  Haher,  the  husband  of  Jael, 
 (vcr.  17.)  Had  severed — the  rest  lived  in  the  Wilderness  of  Jiulah, 
 (chap.  i.  16;)  the  removal  is  here  mentioned,  lest  any  should  wonder 
 to  find  the  Keuites  in  this  place. — Poole.  15.  Discomfited,  DTTT.  from 
 □on.  'to  disturb,*  or  'discomfit  exceedingly.' — Par.  '  Drove  them 
 pell-mell.' — A.  Clarke.  '  With  great  terror  and  noise,'  as  tlie  word  sig- 
 nifies Exori.  xiv.  'Si-  Josh.  x.  10;  1  .Sam.  vii.  10.  Probably  with 
 thunder,  lightning,  and  hailstones,  or  such  means,  as  implied  chap. 
 V.  "20. — Poole.  Asiatic  armies  are  easily  panic  struck,  and  Divine 
 Providence  worked  on  the  fears  of  Israel's  foe. — Evan.  Synopsis, 
 16.  Fell  upon,  *hy,' — Heui.,  'with.' — Boolhr.  18.  I71  tmto  her — the 
 Arabs  are  not  jealous,  as  the  Turks.  I  was  kept  in  the  baram,  or  wo. 
 men's  part  of  the  tent,  for  greater  security,  the  wife  being  always  with 
 me,  and  no  stranger  daring  to  enter  unless  introduced. — Pococke.  A 
 vtantle,  *  a  rug,'  or  '  blanket.' — Wil.  ig.  Milk — the  Arabs,  whose 
 habits  are,  probably,  unchangeably  the  same  as  those  of  the  Kenites, 
 give  lehan,  butter,  milk,  and  water,  to  strangers. — Dr.  Russell.  Sour 
 milk  is  esteemed  by  those  people  more  refreshing  than  sweet. — Har. 
 21.  A  nail — one  of  the  long  sharp  pins  or  spikes  driven  into  tlie  ground 
 to  strain  the  tents  and  hold  them  firm. — See  Sliaw.  Smote  lite  nail — 
 she  had  no  other  weapons ;  the  Kenites  did  not  war. — Poole.  A.  Clarke 
 neither  justifies  nor  condemns  Jael,  but  looks  unfavourably  at  her 
 conduct,  as  treacherous,  hypocritical,  murderous,  ?ic. ;  but  it  was  not 
 so,  says  Patrick,  when  the  Lord  of  men's  lives  ordered  her  to  execute 
 sentence  upon  him.   He  that  guided  Sisera  to  her  tent,  guided  the  nail 
 
 through  his  temples. — Bp.  Hall.  She  was  encouraged  principally  by 
 the  secret  instinct  of  God  inciting  her  to  it  and  insuring  her  of  success. 
 — Poole.  Doubtless  the  thought  of  Jael  brought  with  it  evidence  suf- 
 ficient that  it  came  not  from  Satan,  as  a  murderer  and  destroyer,  but 
 from  God,  as  a  righteous  judge  and  avenger.— //e;?.  She  had  an  im- 
 pulse of  the  spirit  which  she  was  persuaded,  by  tlie  effect  it  liad  upon 
 iier,  came  from  God ;  not  filling  her  with  malice  and  revenge,  but  a 
 concern  for  the  glory  of  God,  the  interest  of  religion,  and  the  good  of 
 Israel. — Gill.  Probably  Jael  first  intended  akindncss  to  Sisera,  but  by 
 a  Divine  impulse  she  was  afterwards  led  to  consider  him  as  the  deter- 
 mined enemy  of  the  Lord  and  his  people. — Scott.  The  deed  of  killing 
 the  oppressor  of  her  country  was  glorious.  Her  praise  is  celebrated 
 by  the  prophets,  whose  hallowed  songs  we  must  not  arraign  ;  but  the 
 words  and  means  employed  cannot  be  defended. — Sut.  The  wretched 
 female  victims  of  the  vanquished  generally  fell  a  piey  to  the  brutal  lust 
 of  the  victors.  Thus  the  mother  of  Sisera  anticipated,  (chap.  v.  30.) 
 May  we  not  suppose  both  Jael  and  Deborah  animated  with  righteous 
 indignation  against  the  intended  violation  of  their  sex?  Ourpity  for  the 
 fallen  warrior,  and  his  inglorious  end,  must  of  course  abate  when  we 
 consider  that  a  just  and  merciful  Providence  .stopped  a  career  which 
 threatened  the  lives,  the  virtue,  and  the  happiness  of  thousands. — 
 Hi>i/liind*s  Epitome  of  the  }Vorld  ;  to  the  same  purport,  also.  Hales  hnd 
 Wotcrland.  .ind  u'eary.  So  he  died — '  he  struggled  and  died,'  .Sr/riac, 
 Arabic.  *  He  fainted  and  died,'  C/taldee.  '  He  was  darkened  and 
 died,'  Sept.  '  And  he  writhed  and  died.' — lioothr.  24.  The  hand  of 
 the  children  of  Israel  prospered,  "Ilbn  'jt^'IMJ*  ^31  "I^  "ibm,  '  it  went 
 going,'  '  they  pursued  the  victory.'— .4.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  — Bishop  Hall  observes  here, 
 I.  hrtiel  is  for  every  market.  They  sold  themselves  to  iilolalry; 
 Cod  sells  them  to  the  Canaanites.  It  is  no  marvel  that  they 
 are  slaves,  if  lliey  will  be  idolators.  After  their  longest  inter- 
 mission, tbey  have  now  the  sorest  bondage.  None  of  their 
 tyrants  were  so  potent  as  Jabin,  with  his  nine  hundred  cha- 
 riots of  iron.  The  longer  tlie  reckoning  is  deferred,  the  greater 
 is  the  sum.  God  provides,  on  purpose,  mighty  adversaries 
 for  his  church,  that  their  humiliation  may  be  the  greater  in 
 sustaining,  and  his  glory  may  be  greater  in  deliverance. 
 
 II.  /  do  not  find  ani/  prophet  in  Israel  during  llieir  sin;  but 
 so  soon  as  I  hear  of  their  repentance,  mention  is  made  of  a 
 prophetess  and  judge.  There  is  no  better  sign  of  God's  re- 
 conciliation than  the  sending  of  his  holy  messengers  to  any 
 people. 
 
 III.  He  that  had  choice  of  all  the  millions  of  Israel,  calls  out  two 
 weali  women  to  deliceT  his  people ; — Deborah  shall  judge,  Jael  shall 
 execute.     All  the  palaces  of  Israel  must  yield  to  the  palm  tree 
 
 265 
 
 of  Deborah  :  the  weakness  of  the  instruments  redounds  to  the 
 greater  honour  of  the  workman.  Who  shall  ask  God  any 
 reason  of  his  elections,  but  his  own  pleasure?  Deborah  was 
 to  sentence,  not  to  strike ;  to  command,  not  to  execute.  This 
 act  is  masculine,  fit  for  some  captain  of  Israel.  She  was  the 
 head  of  Israel,  it  was  meet  some  other  should  be  the  hand. 
 The  message  of  Deborah  finds  out  Barak,  the  son  of  Abinoam, 
 in  his  obscure  secrecy,  and  calls  him  from  a  corner  of  Naph- 
 tali  to  the  honour  of  this  exploit.  It  is  most  fit  that  God 
 should  serve  himself  where  he  lists,  of  his  own  ;  neither  is  it 
 to  be  inquired  whom  we  think  meet  for  any  employment,  but 
 whom  God  hath  called. 
 
 IV.  Barak  went  down  a(]ainst  Sisera,  but  it  icas  God  that  de' 
 strayed  liim.  The  Israelites  did  not  this  day  wield  their  own 
 swords,  lest  they  should  arrogate  anything  ;  God  told  them 
 beforehand  it  should  be  his  own  act.  I  hear  not  of  one  stroke 
 that  any  Canaanite  gave  in  this  fight,  as  if  they  were  called 
 hither  only  to  suffer.  And  now,  proud  Sisera,  after  many 
 2  M 
 
The  sonr/  of 
 
 JUDGES,  V. 
 
 Deborah  iniil  Btirah. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 The  song  of  Ddmralt  and  Barak. 
 'T'HEN  "sang  Deborah  and  Barak  the  son  of 
 -*■    Abhioam  on  that  day,  saying, 
 
 2  Praise  ye  the  Lord  for  the  ■>  avenging  of 
 Israel,  '  vvlien  the  people  willingly  offered 
 themselves. 
 
 3  ''Hear,  O  ye  kings  ;  give  ear,  O  ye  princes  ; 
 I,  even  I,  will  sing  unto  the  Lord  ;  1  will  sing 
 praise  to  the  Lokd  God  of  Israel. 
 
 4  Lord,  ■■'  when  thou  vventest  out  of  Seir, 
 when  thou  marchedst  out  of  the  field  of 
 Edoni,  '  the  earth  trembled,  and  the  heavens 
 drojiped,  the  clouds  also  dropped  water. 
 
 6  ^  The  mountains  f  melted  from  before  the 
 Lord,  even  "  that  Sinai  from  before  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel. 
 
 G  In  the  days  of '  Shamgar  the  son  of  Anath, 
 in  the  days  of  '  Jael,  '  the  highways  were  un- 
 occupied, and  the  f  travellers  walked  through 
 t  byways. 
 
 7  I'he  inhabitants  of  the  villages  ceased, 
 they  ceased  in  Israel,  until  that  I  Deborah 
 arose,  that  I  arose  "'a  mother  in  Israel. 
 
 8  'I'hey  "  chose  new  gods  ;  then  was  war  in 
 the  gates :  °  was  there  a  shield  or  spear  seen 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B   C. 
 
 cir.  12%. 
 
 cir.  1296. 
 
 p  rer.  2. 
 
 a  See  Ex.15. 
 
 1    Ps.  18. 
 
 title. 
 
 II  Or,  Medi- 
 
 6  Pa.  IS.  47. 
 
 q  Ps.  105.  2. 
 
 c2Chr   17 
 
 »  U5.  5. 
 r  cli-  In.  *. 
 
 113.  1  Mac. 
 
 ^   12.  II. 
 
 2.  42. 
 
 1  Ps.  luT.  32. 
 
 i  Doa.9M, 
 3.  Ps.  2.  lU. 
 
 f  Heb.  riyUr 
 eoiimeiift  nf 
 
 the  LORD. 
 
 1  1  S^rn.  12. 
 
 7    i'a.  145. 
 
 e  Deu    as.  2 
 
 7. 
 
 J's.  69.  7. 
 
 A2  Sam  22. 
 
 "  8.  1-6   OS.  8. 
 
 t/  Pb.  57    S 
 
 Is.  61.  .4. 
 Hal..S3.  10 
 
 >  Ps-  63,  18. 
 
 e  ])n.  4   tl. 
 
 Ps.  97.  5. 
 
 \  H.-b  fioieed. 
 
 y  Ps.  49   M. 
 
 h  Rx    19.  IH 
 
 >  eh.  S  31. 
 
 Aril    +    17. 
 
 /  Lrv.  26.2i> 
 
 2Clir.  l.=i..S 
 
 Is,  H:i.  8. 
 
 Linn.  1    4. 
 
 ;cli.3.  27. 
 
 &  1.  Ift. 
 
 1  Hob.wrtiA. 
 
 a  cli.  3.  13. 
 
 rrtofpaih. 
 
 h  Num.  SS. 
 
 \  \h:\>  i-rmti- 
 
 39,  HP. 
 
 rd  ural/t 
 
 1   Hrb.  liratf 
 
 m  Ih.  4!t.  9:1. 
 
 tei(fi:hej>i'ii, 
 
 It  Deu  3->.l6. 
 cli.2-15,  17. 
 
 0  So  1  6ara. 
 
 13.  19,  22. 
 
 cclt.  1.  11. 
 
 cli    4.  3. 
 
 among  forty  llioiisand  in  Lsraeiy 
 
 9  My  heart  ?s  toward  tlie  governors  of  Israel, 
 tliat  ''offered  themselves  willingly  among  tlie 
 people.     Bless  ye  tlie  Lord. 
 
 10  Ij  ''Speak,  ye  'that  ride  on  white  a.sse*i 
 *ye  that  sit  in  judgment,  and  walk  by  the  way 
 
 1 1  The?/  that  are  delivered  from  the  noise  o» 
 archers  in  the  places  of  drawing  water,  there 
 sliall  they  rehearse  the  f  *  righteous  acts  of  the 
 Lord,  even  tlie  rigiiteons  acts  toirard  the 
 inhabitants  of  his  villages  in  Israel  :  then 
 shall  the  people  of  the  Lord  go  down  to  the 
 gates. 
 
 1*2  "Awake,  awake,  Deborah  :  awake,  awake, 
 utter  a  song:  arise,  Barak,  and  ^  lead  thy  cap- 
 tivity captive,  thou  son  of  Abinoam. 
 
 13  Then  he  made  him  that  reniaineth  'have 
 dominion  over  the  nobles  among  the  people  : 
 the  Lord  made  nie  have  dominion  over  the 
 mighty. 
 
 1 4  '  Out  of  Epbraim  teas  there  a  root  of  them 
 ^against  Amalek  ;  after  thee,  Benjamin,  among 
 thy  people  ;  out  of'  ^^1chir  came  down  gover- 
 nors, and  out  of  Zebuhin  they  that  f  handle 
 the  pen  of  the  writer. 
 
 15  And  the  princes  of  Issachar  were  with 
 Deborah :   even   Lssachar,   and   also   "  Barak  : 
 
 Chap.  V. — 2.  Fur  the  uvenging  nf  Israel,  ^c  ,' on  X\iC  avenging  of 
 wrongs  in  Israel,  on  the  vcluuteering  of  the  people.' — Hales.  *  For 
 the  deliverances  wrought  for  Israel,  bless,*  &c, — Par.  *  For  the  lenders 
 who  took  the  lead  in  Israel,  for  Ihe  people  who  offered  themselves 
 willingly.' — Ken.  '  When  they  set  Israel  free,  and  the  people  willingly 
 offered  themselves.' — Green,  Poet,  parts  of  the  Old  Testnment.  '  For 
 the  voluntary  exertions  of  the  people  in  the  naked,  defenceless  stale  of 
 Israel.'  —  Geddes,  so   Boothr.  4.  Lord,  when  thou   ueiitest  out  fif 
 
 Seir — here  properly  begins  the  song,  what  goes  before  being  but  a  pre- 
 face.— Gill.  Tlie  ode  was  sung  in  dialogue  by  Deborah  and  Barak. 
 with  a  chorus.— A'en.  Kather  by  choristers  of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  divided 
 into  two  bands,  persouating  Deborah  and  Barak,  and  sometimes  join- 
 ing in  a  chorus. — So  M  (/.  Seir— £rfo7H— signifying  the  same  place. 
 — Poole.  There  dwelt  the  posterity  of  Esau,  who  refused  to  give  Israel 
 a  passage  through  their  land. — Pat.  The  earth  trembled— \i  may  design 
 the  inhabitants  of  it. — GUI.  4,  5.  Earth — heavens— clouds — viovn- 
 iffinjf— poetical  e.xpressions  of  the  consternation  of  the  heathen  at  the 
 overthrow  of  Og  and  %'\\\oi\,-—Pat. ;  or  hterally,  there  were  earth- 
 quakes,  signs,  dreadful  storms  and  tempests,  and  the  raountainV^uHTrf 
 with  floods  of  water. — Poole.  Even  that  Sinai,  'just  as  Sinai.' — Pat. 
 6.  The  highways,  Sfc. — the  Canaanitish  s  "Idiers  robbing  the  people,  and 
 many  of  the  Israelites,  having  no  ruler,  and  no  fear  of  God,  turning 
 robbers. — Poole.  7.  The  villages  ceased — men  were  not  safe  in  tliem, 
 and  fled  to  walled  towns.  A  mother  in  Israel,  as  judges  and  rulers  were 
 called  fathers.— i'(/^  8.  The//  chose,  ffc,  *  after  tliey  had  chosen  new 
 gods,  they  fled  from  their  gates  or  cities.' — Jlvub.  The  Israelites  had 
 chosen  new  gods,  therefore  was  war  at  their  gates. — Hales,  In  conse- 
 quence of  their  idolatry,  the  enemy  not  only  ravaged  the  open  country, 
 but  was  brought  to  the  gates  of  their  fortified  cities,  nor  had  the  Israel- 
 ites courage  to  defend  them. — Buvthr.  Was  there  a  shield,  %c. — owing 
 to  their  negligence,  sloth,  and  cowardice,  the  Israelites  were  defence- 
 less.— Gill.  Barak's  sokliers  probably  armed  themselves  chiefly  with 
 instruments  of  husbandry,  &c. — Scott.  10.  White  asses,  so  called,  I 
 presume,  not  from  their  natural  colour,  but  their  party-coloured  ca- 
 parisons, used  by  the  Arabs  to  this  day. — Har.  Rather,  the  animal 
 called  the  Onager,  or  wild  ass,  is  here  intended;  it  is  a  beautiful  crea- 
 ture, and  the  legs  and  belly  arc  entirely  white  ;  it  has  a  coffee  coloured 
 stripe  along  the  back,  and  crossed  at  the  shoulders. — Harris.  *  Shining 
 asses,'  Vulg.  '  Sleek  or  well. fed  asses. *_^.4.  Clarke.  '  Riders  on  fine 
 streaked  asses.'— Uoo/Zir.  Understand  the  zebra  kind. — Bnch.  Asses 
 were  esteemed  very  honourable  creatures  for  riding  on,  as  they  are 
 now  in  Persia..  — Char  din.    Those  that  rode  on  these  creaturifs  were  the 
 
 princes  and  nobles  of  Israel. — Gill.  The  sentiment  is,  'that  the  nobles 
 who  rode,  and  the  common  people  who  walked  on  foot,  were  equally 
 unsafe.' — Boothr.  11.  From  the  noise  of  archers,  ^c,  '  now  freed 
 
 from  the  noi'^e  of  archers  at  the  watering  places,  here  shall  thay  re- 
 hearse,' &c. — Hales.  '  Let  them  who  meet  at  the  watering  places,  there 
 shew,*  &c. —  Ken.  'And  those  who  walked  along  the  way  were 
 abashed  (humbled)  at  the  nnjse  of  the  archers  between  the  different 
 watering  places.  Then  they  rehearsed  the  just  acts  of  Jehovah,'  &c. — 
 Boothr.  It  means  either  tlie  army  of  the  Israelites  delivered  from  the 
 archers  of  Siscra's  host,  at  tlic  river  Kishon  ;  or  maidens,  Ac,  that  went 
 out  to  the  fountains  and  wells  for  water,  but  were  frightened  by  the 
 noise  of  archers  that  shot  at  th^m  ;  or  shepherds,  who  led  their  flocks 
 to  water  them  there,  but  were  repulsed  or  slain  by  archers  in  ambush. 
 — Gill.  Righteous  acts,  in  rescuing  his  people,  and  punishing  his  ene- 
 mies.— Poole.  r.i.  Lead  thy  capli'nty,  *  go  in  triumph,  carrying  thy 
 captives,  spoils  fas  was  the  ancient  custom.)  to  the  house  nf  God.' — 
 Hew.  'Lead  those  captive  whose  captive  thou  art.*' — Boothroyd, 
 13.  Him  that  reniaineth  have  dominion — Barak,  he  being  but  a  remnant 
 of  Israel. — A.  Clarke.  The  remnant  of  his  people  saved  from  the  fury 
 of  the  oppressor,  and  gave  them  dominion  over  the  princes  and  nobles 
 of  Canaan. — Poole.  '  For  (God)  made  a  remnant  of  the  people  trinmph 
 over  the  nobles  of  the  enemy.' — Hales.  'Then  when  the  remainder 
 descended  after  their  chiefs,  Jehovah's  people  descended  after  me 
 against  the  mighty.'— AVh.  'Then  came  down  a  residue  of  nobles,  to 
 me  came  down  the  people  of  Jehovah.' — Boothr.  14.  Ch/t  of  Eph- 
 raim,  Sfc. — this  begins  a  catalogue  of  those  who  assisted  in  the  war. 
 A  root,  '  a  small  portion.'— 7'«^  *  Among  the  mighty  were  the  sons  of 
 Ephraim. '—Boo^Ar.  '  Epbraim,  where  she  herself  dwelt,  was  the  root, 
 foundation,  and  source  of  this  expedition.' — Gill.  Out  of  Machir — an 
 eminent  family  in  Mannssch,  settled  on  the  other  side  of  Jordan,  which 
 rendered  their  zeal  the  more  remarkable. — Pat.  The  governors  of  Ma- 
 chir or  Manasseh  came  to  the  assistance  nf  Barak,  and  formed  usrful 
 commanders.  Out  of  Zebulun  they  that  handle  the  p'-n — Zebulun's  lot 
 being  contiguous  to  Phcenicia,  they  perhaps  acquired  letters  there. — 
 Sut.  The  Zebulunitcs  were  so  mucli  in  earnest,  that  even  their  stu- 
 dents or  artists  came  to  join  the  army  and  to  serve  the  common  cause. 
 — Scotl.  The  clerks  of  these  maritime  merchants  joined  in  the  expe- 
 dition.—Gi//.  ■i:;3ii;  never  signifies  'pen,'  but  'rod'  or  'sceptre;' it 
 should  therefore  be,  'out  of  Zebulun,  llev  who  rule  with  a  sceptre,' with 
 sovereign  power. — Hew.  'And  frnm  Zebulun,  those  wlio  threw  the 
 dart.' — Ken.  'And  from  Zebulun,  sceptre-bearers.'— Boo(/ir.  Otrr 
 translation  is,  nevertheless,  correct,  by  the  Sept.,  Syriac,  and  Chnldee 
 
 curses  of  the  heaviness  of  that  iron  carriage,  is  glad  to  quit  bis 
 chariot  and  betake  himself  to  his  heels.  Whoever  yet  knew 
 any  earthly  thing  trusted  in,  without  disappointment'?  It  is 
 wonder  if  God  make  us  not  at  last  as  weary  of  whatsoever 
 liath  stolen  our  hearts  from  him,  as  ever  we  were  lend. 
 
 \^    Vtt  Sisera  hopes  to  hare  sped  better  than  his  foUowi 
 
 And  now  he  pleases  himself  with 
 
 _  _ _   ,         -ers  771  so 
 
 seasonable  an  harhuur  of  Jael.  __  _  ^ 
 
 this  happy  change,  and  thinks  how  much  better  it  is  to 
 be  here  than  in  tlie  whirling  of  chariots,  in  that  horror  of 
 flight,  amongst  those  shrieks,  those  wounds,  those  carcases. 
 While  he  is  in  these  thoughts,  his  weariness  and  easy  repose 
 have  made  him  sleep.  How  many  worldly  hearts  do  so  in  the 
 midst  of  their  spiritual  perils  ! 
 
 \'L  Now^    while    Sisera   was  dreamintf,   Jael  eittered   into    the 
 thought  of  this  nobk  execution,  certainly  not  without  some  checks 
 2G() 
 
 of  doubt  and  pleas  of  fear.  But  what  do  these  weak  fears, 
 these  idle  fancies  of  civility  ?  If  Sisera  be  in  league  with  us, 
 yet,  is  he  not  at  defiance  with  God  i  Is  he  not  a  tyrant  to 
 Israel  ■*  Is  it  for  nothing;  that  God  has  brought  him  into  my 
 tent?  Doth  not  God  ofler  me  this  day  the  honour  to  he  ilie 
 rescuer  of  his  people  f  Hath  God  bidden  me  strike,  and  shall 
 I  hold  my  hand?  No,  Sisera,  sleep  now  thy  last,  and  take 
 here  this  fatal  reward  of  all  thy  cruelty  and  oppression  ! 
 
 VII.  Thire  lies  now  the  (/real  terror  of  Israel  at  the  foot  of  a 
 woman  !  He  that  broughtso  many  hundred  thousands  into  the 
 field  hath  not  now  one  page  left,  either  to  avert  his  death,  or 
 to  accompany  it  or  bewail  it.  He  that  hath  vaunted  ol  bis 
 iron  chariots  is  slain  by  one  nail,  wanting  only  this  one  point  of 
 his  infelicity— that  he  knows  not  by  whose  hand  he  perished. 
 
The  son//  of 
 
 JUDGES,  VI. 
 
 Dchorah  and  Burah. 
 
 he  was  sent  on  ffoot  into  the  valley.  ||  For 
 the  divisions  of  Reuben  there  were  great 
 t  thoiifjhts  of  heart. 
 
 16  Why  abodest  thou  •'  among  the  sheepfolds 
 to  liear  the  bleatings  of  tlie  flocks?  ||  For  the 
 divisions  of  Reuben  there  were  great  searchings 
 of  heart. 
 
 1 7  '  Gilead  abode  beyond  Jordan  :  and  why 
 did  Dan  remain  in  sliips?  ''Asber  continued 
 on  tlie  sea  ||  shore,  and  abode  in  liis  ||  breaclies. 
 
 18  ^Zebulun  and  Naphtali  were  a  people 
 that  f  jeoparded  their  lives  unto  the  death  in 
 the  high  places  of  the  field. 
 
 19  The  kings  came  and  fought,  then  fought 
 the  kings  of  Canaan  in  Taanacli  by  the  waters 
 of  Megiddo  ;  ^  they  took  no  gain  of  money. 
 
 20  '  They  fought  from  heaven  ;  ''  the  stars  in 
 their  f  courses  fought  against  Sisera. 
 
 21  '  The  river  of  Kishon  swept  them  away, 
 that  ancient  river,  the  river  Kishon.  O  my 
 soul,  thou  hast  trodden  down  strength. 
 
 22  Then  were  the  horsehoofs  broken  by  the 
 means  of  the  ||  pransings,  the  pransings  of  their 
 niigtity  ones. 
 
 23  Curse  ye  Meroz,  .said  the  angel  of  the 
 Lord,  curse  ye  bitterly  the  inhabitants  thereof; 
 "'because  they  came  not  to  the  help  "of  the 
 Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the 
 mighty. 
 
 24  Blessed  above  women  shall  "  Jael  the  wife 
 of  Heber  the  Kenite  be,  ''blessed  shall  she  be 
 above  women  in  the  tent. 
 
 25  ''  He  asked  water,  and  she  gave  him  milk  ; 
 she  brought  forth  butter  in  a  lordly  dish. 
 
 the 
 
 \  Heb.  hia 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 t  Heb.  im- 
 preasioiit. 
 
 d  Nuin32.1 
 
 II  Or,  Jiu 
 
 e  See  Josh. 
 13.  -ib,  :■}. 
 
 /Josh.  19. 
 29,  31. 
 
 II  Or,  port. 
 
 II  Or,  CTffhl. 
 
 ij  eh   \.  10. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 exposed  to 
 reproich. 
 
 h  eh.  4   16. 
 Pa.  44.  12. 
 
 See  ver.30. 
 i  See  Josb. 
 
 10.  II.  Ps. 
 
 77.  17,  18. 
 k  cb.  -1.  15. 
 t  Heb  paths. 
 Ich.  4.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  tramp 
 plaiigiiifft. 
 
 m  ch.  21.  9, 
 
 It).  Neh.  3. 
 
 5. 
 n  I  Sam.  17. 
 
 47.8c  18.  17. 
 
 &  2.'*,  28. 
 o  ch.  4.  17. 
 ;.  Luke  1. 28. 
 
 7  ch.  4.  19. 
 
 T  cti.  4.  ai. 
 
 t  Heb.  she 
 hammered. 
 
 t  Heb.  Acr 
 
 trords. 
 a  Ex.  |j,  9. 
 I  Heb,  I;  the 
 
 h,'nd  o/a 
 
 »  2  Sa.  k3.  4. 
 
 X  Ps.  in.  5. 
 
 cir.  1256. 
 a  ch.  2.  ly. 
 
 tiG  '^She  put  her  hand  to  the  nail,  and  her 
 rjt^ht  hand  to  the  workmen's  hammer  ;  and 
 t  with  the  haninier  she  smote  Sisera,  she  smote 
 off  his  head,  when  she  had  pierced  and  stricken 
 through  his  temples. 
 
 27  t  At  her  feet  he  howed,  he  fell,  he  lay 
 down  :  at  her  feet  he  bowed,  he  fell :  where 
 he  bowed,  there  he  fell  down  fdead, 
 
 28  The  mother  of  Sisera  looked  out  at  a 
 window,  and  cried  through  the  lattice,  Why  is 
 his  chariot  50  long  in  coming?  why  tarry  the 
 wheels  of  his  chariots? 
 
 29  Her  wise  ladies  answered  her,  yea,  she 
 returned  f  answer  to  herself, 
 
 30  ^  Have  they  not  sped?  have  they  not  di- 
 vided the  prey  ;  f  to  every  man  a  damsel  or 
 two ;  to  Sisera  a  prey  of  divers  colours,  a 
 prey  of  divers  colours  of  needlework,  of  divers 
 colours  of  needlework  on  both  sides,  meet  for 
 the  necks  of  them  that  take  the  spoil  ? 
 
 31  *  So  let  all  thine  enemies  perish,  O  Lord  : 
 but  let  them  that  love  him  be  "as  the  sun 
 ^when  he  goeth  forth  in  his  might.  And  the 
 land  had  rest  forty  years. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  The  Israelites  for  thtir  sin  are  oppressed  by  Midian. 
 8  A  prophet  nbukttk  them.  II  An  am/el  sendeth 
 Gideon  fur  their  deliverance.  17  Gideon's  present 
 is  cojisumtd  with  Jire.  24  Gideon  dcstroi/eth  Baal's 
 idtar,  and  offereih  a  sacrifice  upon  the  altar  Jehovah- 
 shalom.  28  Xiash  defnidtth  his  son,  am/  cidhth  him 
 Jtrnhhaal.     33  Gidtotts  army,     36  Gideons  siyns. 
 
 *  A  ND  the  children  of  Israel  did  evil  in  the 
 ^^    sight  of  the  Loed  :    and  the  Lord  de- 
 
 Parnphrase.  So  also  Hnfes  renders  it,  '  they  that  write  with  the  pen 
 of  the  scribe.'  15.  He  icis  serit  on  foot,  *  with  his  footmen.' — A.  C. 
 '  And  Issachar  was  the  eriiard  of  Barak  into  the  valley,  sent  close  at  his 
 feet.' — Ken.  pii  p  "iD'inr''1.  '  as  Issachar  so  Barak,  he  was  sent,'  &c. 
 The  one  as  the  other,  with  equal  readiness  and  cheerfulness,  courage 
 and  inticpidity,  descended  the  mountain  and  took  the  tield  in  the  open 
 t>lain,  to  engage  the  host  of  Sisera. — Gill.  Great  thoughts,  '  great 
 searchings.'  'Great  and  sad  thoughts,  and  debates,  and  perplexities 
 of  mind,  among  the  Israelites,  to  see  themselves  deserted  by  so  great 
 and  potent  a  tribe  as  Reuben  was.' — So  A.  Clarke,  Poole.  '  In  the  dis- 
 tricts of  Reuben  were  great  deliberations.'  A  severe  irony  j  the  Reu- 
 benites  '  deliberated'  much,  but  *  dirt'  nothing. — Boothr.  1".  Gilead 
 abode— it  is  probable  that  all  the  Israelites  who  dwelt  east  of  Jordan 
 abode  at  home  and  refused  their  concurrence.  Dan  and  Ashnr  dirt  the 
 same. — Scott,  His  hreachrs,  '  his  craggy  places.' — Ken.  '  His  creeks,' 
 mar^..  Hales.  *  His  havens.' — Boothr.  '  The  broken  walls  of  his  un- 
 repaiiert  towns.* — Gill.  IS.  Jeoparded,  fryn,  'despised,'  *  rcprnached,' 
 '  contemned,*  comparatively ;  they  chose  rather  to  venture  upon  a 
 generous  and  honourable  death,  than  to  enjoy  a  shameful  and  servile 
 life.' — Poole.  *  They  desolated  their  lives,'  Sec.  ;  that  is,  they  were 
 resolved  on  conquering  or  perishing,  and  so  they  plunged  fearlessly 
 into  the  midst  of  the  battle. — So  A.  Clarke.  'They  braved  death.' — 
 Boothr.  19.  The  kings,  confederate  with  him,  or  subject  to  him. — 
 Poole.  Took  no  gain,  'obtained  no  money  or  spoil.' — Honb.  'A  frag- 
 ment of  silver  they  took  not  away.* — Boothr.  '  The  plunder  of  riches 
 they  did  not  receive.' — Ke?i.     '  They  gained  no  lucre  thereby.' — Hales. 
 
 20.  The  sttirs,  §(?.,  'the  angels,'  '  the  elements.'  '  God  from  heaven.' 
 — Gill.  A  storm  of  hail  and  thunder  beat  against  the  eyes  of  the  men 
 and  horses,  and  threw  them  into  confusion. — Jos.  Perhaps,  this  fight 
 lasting  till  night,  the  stars  might  be  said  tn  fight.— Pat.  By  the  bright 
 shining  of  the  stars  they  had  time  to  finish  the  battle.— i?;;.  Wilson. 
 
 21.  Kishon  swept — those  who  tried  to  ford  it  were  swept  away  by  its 
 suddenly  swelling  torrents.— Gi//.  Its  waters  are  low  and  inconsider- 
 able, but  upon  sudden  rains  swell  csceetiingiy. ~3Iaundrell.     Trodden 
 
 down  strength^  *  subdued  a  potent  enemy.' — Poole.  'A  strong  and 
 mighty  army.' — Gill.  22.  Horsehuofs  broken,  in  stony  places,  when 
 running  away. — Pat,  Anciently  it  was  not  customary  to  shoe  horses, 
 nor  are  they  now  shod  in  Arabia  and  Tartary. — See  Tavemier,  Mont. 
 The  pransings  of  the  mighfy  ones,  'their  best  and  strongest  horses.' — 
 Pat.  'Mighty  horses,'  that  is,  their  war  horses. — Waterland.  'The 
 scamperings  of  its  strong  steeds.' — Ken.  '  The  gallopings  of  their 
 great  men.' — Hales.     '  From  the  headlong  speed  of  his  rider.'— 2foo//(r. 
 
 23.  Curse  ye  Meroz — perhaps  a  considerable  place,  now  perished  for 
 ever  through  the  curse. — Poole.  Some  take  Meroz  to  be  the  same  vrith 
 Merom,  (see  Josh.  xi.  5.) — Gill.  Curse  >/e  hitferhj,  •SVMi  tin,  '  curse 
 cursing.' — Pag.,  Mont.  'Curse  them  most  vehemently.'— f;///.  The 
 waters  of  Merom  form  the  upper  lake  of  the  Jordan.  It  lay  in  the 
 bosom  of  those  Canaanites,  and  the  people  were  afraid  to  act. — Sut. 
 Against  the  mighty,  D^TIJI,  'among  tlie  mighty." — Hales,  so  Boothr. 
 'With  the  heroes,'  Barak  and  his  men,  Zebulun  and  Naplitali. — A.  C. 
 
 24.  Blessed — above  tvomeji,  ^c., '  celebrated  and  praised.' — Poole.  Who 
 preferred  her  peace  with  the  God  of  Israel  before  her  peace  with  the 
 King  of  Canaan.— Hen.  In  the  tent,  'that  dwell  in  tents.'— Gill. 
 '  In  her  house  and  family,  anri  all  her  affairs.' — Poole.  25.  A  lordly 
 dish— the  bowls  and  dishes  of  the  Arabs  are  made  of  wood,  but  those 
 of  the  emirs  of  copper  tinned,  A  lordly  dish  was,  probably,  a  dish  of 
 nobles  of  this  sort. — Har.  26.  She  smote  off  his  head,  '  she  smote 
 through  his  head,'  'she  pierced  and  struck  through  his  temples.' — 
 Waterland.  '  She  pierced  his  head,'  See— Hales.  '  She  struck  Sisera, 
 she  smote  his  head,'  Sec-Ken.,  so  Boothr.  27.  At,  V'y.  '  between.* 
 Hales.  '  He  struggled  to  arise,  and  died  at  her  feet.'  —  Scott. 
 28.  Window,  3]11JN.  a  sort  of  net- work  to  let  in  air  and  light,  and  look 
 out  at.— Gi7/.  '  Lattice.'— Hates,  Ken.  Properly  a  lattice  to  ventilate 
 aid  cool  the  inner  apartments. — ^-1.  Clarke's  Harmer.  30.  A  damsel 
 — see  note  on  chap.  iv.  21.  Hales  reads,  'to  each  a  damsel  or  two 
 a  piece ;'  but  Kennicott,  'have  ihcy  not  found,  divided  the  spoil;  em- 
 broidery, double  embroideries,  for  the  captains'  heads.* 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  In  this  song  we  have,  I.  The 
 praise  of  the  Lord.  And  the  movements  of  the  heart  of  Debo- 
 rah must  be  those  of  every  believer  under  the  impressions  of 
 God's  sreat  deliverances  bolli  in  providence  and  grace. 
 
 II.  The  cnrse  of  Meroz,  '  because  they  came  not  to  the  help 
 of  the  Lord.'  Neutrality  is  not  to  be  endured  in  reUgion. 
 '  Who  is  on  the  Lord's  side,  let  him  declare  it."  '  He  that  is 
 not  with  us,  is  against  us.'  The  'fearful'  must  at  last  be 
 ranked  with  the  unbelieving. 
 
 HI.  The  honours  of  Jail.  *  Jael  in  the  lent,'  says  Henry, 
 '  wins  as  rich  a  blessing  as  Barak  in  the  field.'  None  ever 
 lost  by  taking  part  on  the  side  of  God.' 
 
 IV.  The  vain  expectations  of  the  mother  of  Sisera.  She  l>ui!t 
 castles  m  the  air,  and  the  moment  of  her  highest  hopes  was 
 2G7 
 
 the  moment  of  her  disappointment.  So  vain  are  all  things 
 here  below  !  So  have  the  honours  of  the  world  turned  out  to 
 be  mere  bubbles,  and  disappointed  thousands.  Nothing  is 
 worth  seeking  with  all  the  heart  but  '  the  honour  that  cometh 
 from  God  only.' 
 
 X.  The  vltiinate  destruction  of  all  God's  enemies.  I'he  prayer 
 of  Deborah  is  that  of  the  church  of  God  in  all  a^es ;  and  it 
 must  prevail,  for  it  entirely  corresponds  with  God's  predic- 
 tions and  promises.  *  So  let  all  thine  enemies  perish.  O 
 Lord.'  '  Though,'  says  Henry,  '  our  enemies  are  to  be  prayed 
 for,  God's  enemies,  as  sucli,  are  to  be  prayed  against  ;  and 
 when  we  see  some  of  God's  enemies  remarkably  humbled  and 
 brought  down,  that  is  an  encouragement  to  us  to  pray  for  the 
 dowufal  of  all  the  rest.' 
 
The  Israelites  are  oppressed  by  Midian. 
 
 JUDGES,  VI. 
 
 Gideon  is  sent  to  their  deliverance. 
 
 livered  them  into  the  hand  ''  of  Midian  seven 
 years. 
 
 2  And  the  hand  of  Midian  f  prevailed  against 
 Israel :  and  because  of  the  INIidianites  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  made  them  "  the  dens  which  are 
 in  the  mountains,  and  caves,  and  strong  holds. 
 
 3  And  so  it  was,  when  Israel  had  sown,  that 
 the  Midianites  came  up,  and  ''  the  Amalekites, 
 "and  the  children  of  the  east,  even  they  came 
 up  against  them  ; 
 
 4  And  they  encamped  against  them,  and 
 'destroyed  the  increase  of  the  earth,  till  thou 
 come  unto  Gaza,  and  left  no  sustenance  for 
 Israel,  neither  ||  sheep,  nor  ox,  nor  ass. 
 
 5  For  they  came  up  with  their  cattle  and 
 their  tents,  and  they  came  ^  as  grasshoppers 
 for  multitude  ;  for  both  they  and  their  camels 
 were  without  number :  and  they  entered  into 
 the  land  to  destroy  it. 
 
 6  And  Israel  was  greatly  impoverished  be- 
 cause of  tlie  Midianites ;  and  the  children  of 
 Israel  *  cried  unto  the  Lobd. 
 
 7  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  children 
 of  Israel  cried  unto  the  Loud  because  of  the 
 Midianites, 
 
 8  That  the  Lord  sent  fa  prophet  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel,  which  said  unto  them.  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  I  brought  you 
 up  from  Egypt,  and  brought  you  forth  out  of 
 the  house  of  bondage  ; 
 
 9  And  I  delivered  you  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
 Egyptians,  and  out  of  the  hand  of  all  that  op- 
 pressed you,  and  '  drave  them  out  from  before 
 you,  and  gave  you  their  land  ; 
 
 10  And  I  said  unto  you,  I  am  the  Lord  your 
 God  ;  '  fear  not  the  gods  of  the  Amorites,  in 
 whose  land  ye  dwell :  but  ye  have  not  obeyed 
 my  voice. 
 
 1 1  If  And  there  came  an  angel  of  the  Lord, 
 and  sat  under  an  oak  which  was  in  Ophrah, 
 that  p«><o!nef/ unto  Joash  '  the  Abi-ezrite  :  and 
 his  son  "  Gideon  threshed  wheat  by  the  wine- 
 press, fto  hide  it  from  the  Midianites. 
 
 12  And  the  "angel  of  the  Lord  appeared 
 unto  him,  and  said  unto  him,  Tlie  Lord  !s 
 °  with  thee,  thou  mighty  man  of  valour. 
 
 1.3  And  Gideon  said  unto  hiui.  Oh  my  Lord, 
 if  the  Lord  be  with  us,  why  then  is  all  this 
 befallen  us?  and  ■'where  be  all  his  miracles 
 ^  which  our  fathers  told  us  of,  saying.  Did  not 
 the  Lord  bring  us  up  from  Egypt?  but  now 
 the  Lord  hath  'forsaken  us,  and  delivered  us 
 into  the  hands  of  the  Midianites. 
 
 14  And  the  Lord  looked  upon  him,  and  said, 
 ^  Go  in  this  thy  might,  and  thou   shall  save 
 
 B.C. 
 
 dr.  1256. 
 
 A  Hab.  3.  7. 
 t  Heb.  wot 
 
 d  ch  3.  13 
 
 e  Gen.  29.  I. 
 
 ch   7.  12.  & 
 
 8.  10  1  Kill. 
 
 4.  .SO  Jub 
 
 I.  S. 
 /Lev.  26.lfi. 
 
 Deu.  28.  31', 
 
 S.-!.  51. 
 
 Mic.  G.  15. 
 H  Or,  goat. 
 
 g  cli.  7.  12. 
 
 A  cli.  3.  15. 
 Hns.  5.  15. 
 cir.  121!). 
 
 t  Heb.  n  man 
 a  jirujihcl. 
 
 A  2  KiD.  17. 
 .V,  37.  S.S. 
 JcT.  10.  2. 
 
 I  Jogh.  17.  2. 
 
 m  Heb     II. 
 
 32,  CHllcd 
 
 Gfileon. 
 t  Heb.  to 
 
 caott  it  to 
 
 ti  ch.  IS.  3. 
 
 Lu.l.ll,S«. 
 o  Josh.  1.5. 
 
 p  Sf>  Ps.  89. 
 4'J  Ih.  5».  I. 
 
 fc  a-i.  15. 
 
 q  Pa.  4V.  1. 
 i-SChr.lS.a. 
 
 (  I  fiftm.  12. 
 H.Heb.  11. 
 32,  M. 
 
 t  Heb.  mv 
 thoi.tami  is 
 themennfit : 
 Ex.l8.2l.V5. 
 Mich.  5.  2. 
 X  E.v  3.  12. 
 Josh.  I.  5. 
 
 V  Ex,  +.  I- 
 "3.  'cr    SC, 
 
 7.  11. 
 i  Gfii.  Ifl.  3, 
 5  ch.  l:i.l5. 
 
 1)  Or,  mrnt 
 
 n  Geii.  18    6, 
 
 7.  8. 
 t  Heb.  a  kid 
 
 of  lUe  guntt. 
 
 cSee  I  Kin. 
 19.  3^  9^1. 
 
 d  Lev.  I>,  2i. 
 I  Kin  18  as. 
 2Clir.  7.  1. 
 
 /Gen.  IR.13. 
 
 fc  Si.  Sii. 
 
 Ex.  33.  20. 
 
 ch.  13.  -i-i. 
 g  Di-vu.l(>.ig. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 
 The  LORD 
 
 hcnA  pence  ; 
 
 See  Geo. 
 
 29.  U.  Y.X. 
 
 17.  15.  Jer. 
 
 *t.  16.  Eze. 
 
 48.35. 
 cir.  1219. 
 h  ch.  8.  32. 
 {|  Or,  and. 
 I  Ex.  3i.  13. 
 
 Deu.  7.  5. 
 
 t  Heb.*(ron5 
 
 pi 'ICC. 
 y  Or,  in  an 
 
 orderly 
 
 manner. 
 
 Israel  from  the  hand  of  the  Midianites  :  '  have 
 not  I  sent  thee? 
 
 15  And  he  said  unto  him,  Oh  my  Lord, 
 wherewith  shall  I  save  Israel  ?  behold,  "  f  my 
 family  is  poor  in  Manasseh.and  I  am  the  least 
 in  my  father's  house. 
 
 16  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  ^Surely  I 
 will  be  with  thee,  and  thou  shalt  smite  the 
 Midianites  as  one  man. 
 
 17  And  he  said  unto  him.  If  now  I  have 
 found  grace  in  thy  sight,  then  ''  shew  nie  a  sign 
 that  thou  talkest  with  me. 
 
 18  'Depart  not  hence,  I  pray  thee,  until  I 
 come  unto  thee,  and  bring  forth  my  ||  present, 
 and  set  it  before  thee.  And  he  said,  I  will 
 tarry  until  thou  come  again. 
 
 19  U  "  And  Gideon  went  in,  and  made  ready 
 fa  kid,  and  unleavened  cakes  of  an  epliah  of 
 flour:  the  flesh  he  put  in  a  basket,  and  he  put 
 the  broth  in  a  pot,  and  brought  it  out  unto 
 him  under  the  oak,  and  presented  it. 
 
 20  And  the  angel  of  God  said  unto  him.  Take 
 the  flesh  and  the  unleavened  cakes,  and  ''  lay 
 them  upon  this  rock,  and  '  pour  out  the  broth. 
 And  he  did  so. 
 
 21  II  Tlien  the  angel  of  the  Lord  put  forth 
 the  end  of  the  staff  that  uas  in  his  hand,  and 
 touched  the  flesh  and  the  unleavened  cakes ; 
 and  ■•  there  rose  up  fire  out  of  the  rock,  and 
 consumed  the  flesh  and  the  unleavened  cakes. 
 Then  the  angel  of  the  Lord  departed  out  of 
 his  sight. 
 
 22  And  when  Gideon  "perceived  that  he  was 
 an  angel  of  the  Lord,  Gideon  said,  Alas,  O 
 Lord  God  !  "■  for  because  I  have  seen  an  angel 
 of  the  Lord  face  to  face. 
 
 23  And  the  Lord  .said  unto  him,  ^  Peace  be 
 unto  thee  ;  fear  not :   Thou  shalt  not  die. 
 
 24  Then  Gideon  built  an  altar  tliere  unto  the 
 Lord,  and  called  it  ||  Jehovah-shaloni  :  unto 
 this  day  it  is  yet ''  in  Ophrah  of  the  Abi-eziite.s. 
 
 25  1[  And  it  came  to  pass  the  .same  night, 
 that  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  Take  thy  father's 
 young  bullock,  ||  even  the  second  bullock  of 
 seven  years  old,  and  throw  down  the  altar  of 
 Baal  that  thy  father  hath,  and  '  cut  down  the 
 grove  that  is  by  it : 
 
 26  And  build  an  altar  unto  the  Lord  thy 
 God  upon  the  top  of  this  f  rock,  ||  in  the 
 ordered  place,  and  take  the  second  bullock, 
 and  offer  a  burnt  sacrifice  with  the  wood  of  the 
 grove  which  thou  shalt  cut  down. 
 
 27  Then  Gideon  took  ten  men  of  hissenfants, 
 and  did  as  the  Lord  had  said  unto  him  :  and 
 so  it  was,  because  he  feared  his  father's  hous- 
 
 Chap.  VI. —  1.  Midian—the  former  Midian  lay  to  the  south,  this  to 
 the  east.  Moses  had  broken  up  the  fumier,  (Num.  xxxi.,)  and  tlie 
 scattered  remains  now  adjoining  Moab  had,  in  '200  years,  regained 
 some  strength. — Gilt.  2.  Dens— and  capes— when  Baldwin  I.  pre- 
 sented himself  before  Ascalon,  the  villages  were  deserted,  and  the  in- 
 habitants, with  their  families  and  flocks,  had  retired  into  subterraneous 
 caves. — Hist.  0/  Croisades.  On  each  side  Joppa,  on  the  sea  coast, 
 there  is  a  range  of  mountains  and  precipices,  where  are  found  the  dens, 
 holes,  and  caves  mentioned  in  Scripture,  and  so  often  the  retreats  of 
 the  distressed  Israelites.— S/kiic.  3.  Tlie  Midianites  came  up— rather 
 as  freebooters  than  disciplined  troops,  and  yet  the  Israelites  had  not 
 courage  to  meet  them.— Sco/(.  Cliildren  of  the  edit— probably  Ish- 
 maelites  of  Arabia  Dcsorta.— .t.  Clarlie.  5.  With  their  cattle,  tccat 
 up  the  crops.  .U  grasshoppers,  Tmx  n3,  'as  locusts,'  like  them  for 
 number  and  devouring.  Camels— without  number— to  carry  off  their 
 plunder.  8.  .i  prophet,  tviz  ID'N,  '  a  man,  a  prophet,'  not  an  angel. 
 11.  ^n  nng-rf— the  Wonn  or  Wisdom  of  God,  though  now  disguised  as 
 a  princely  stranger.— S«(,,  see  Pat.,  and  Poole's  St/nop.  The  prophet 
 came  to  e.xhort,  the  angel  to  confirm  his  words.  — So  A.Clarke. 
 Threshed  wheat,  not  with  oxen,  the  usual  method,  (Dent.  xxv.  4.)  but 
 with  a  staff,  to  prevent  discovery  by  their  bellowing.— Poo^c,  Gilt.  Not 
 by  the  hands  of  a  labourer,  but  himself,  not  daring  to  trust  his  servants, 
 268 
 
 lest  they  should  be  incautious ;  not  on  the  threshing  floor,  but  the 
 wine,  where  suspicion  would  not  lodge. — Gill.  Gideon  used  a  staff  or 
 rod  employed  in  beating  nut  fitches  and  cummin,  (Isa.  xxviii.  27,)  for 
 he  had  not  enough  grain  left  to  employ  oxen. — Hen.  13.  1/  the  Lord 
 he  with  us — taking  the  words  as  not  applying  personally  to  himself,  but 
 to  Israel. — Gill.  14.  This  tin/  might,  '  the  strength  which  thou  hast 
 already  received.' — Poole.  \5.  Mtf  family,  ^D^M,  'my  thousand.' — 
 Mont.,  Pise.  Is  poor,  and  consequently  of  little  power  to  raise  forces. 
 ^Pat.  The  least — perhaps  the  youngest  son, — Gill;  or  the  least 
 wealthy  or  powerful. — Ed.  17.  That  thou  talkest  with  me,  'that 
 thou  spcakest  with  rae  in  the  name  of  Jehovah.' — Boothr.  18.  Pre- 
 
 sent, •niip.chah ;'  bread,  wine,  oil,  flour,  &c.,  often  used  as  a  meat, 
 offering ;  hence  some  have  thought  this  was  a  sacrifice,  but  it  was 
 simply  an  entertainment,  for  Gideon  was  no  prie.st,  neither  was  there 
 an  altar  here. — .i  Clarke,  Gill.  22.  Perceived  that  he  was  an  angel, 
 by  the  miracle  wrought,  and  the  manner  of  his  departure.  Alas,  O 
 Lord  God— it  was  a  conimou  persuasion,  even  among  good  men,  that 
 they  could  not  see  the  Lord  and  live.  24.  .lehovah-shalom.  u^b'O  mn', 
 '  the  Lord  is  peace.' — Gill.  '  The  Lord  here  pronounced  peace  to  me.' 
 — Put.  *  Jehovah  speaketh  peace.' — Boothr.  '  The  peace  of  Jehovah,' 
 — .-1.  Clarke.  'The  Lord's  peace,'  'the  sign  or  witness  of  God's  speak- 
 ing peace  to  mc  and  to  his  people.' — Poole.        28.  IJe  feared,  not  the 
 
Joash  defcndcth  his  son. 
 
 JUDGES,  VII.        GidcorCs  army  is  hiourjhl  to  three  hundred. 
 
 hold,  and  the  men  of  tlie  city,  that  he  could 
 not  do  it  by  day,  that  he  did  it  by  night. 
 
 28  H  And  wlien  the  men  of  tlie  city  arose 
 early  in  the  morning,  behold,  the  altar  of  Baal 
 was  cast  down,  and  the  grove  was  cut  down 
 that  teas  by  it,  and  the  second  bullock  was 
 offered  upon  the  altar  (hat  was  built. 
 
 '29  And  they  said  one  to  another,  Who  hath 
 done  this  thing?  And  when  they  enquired  and 
 asked,  they  said,  Gideon  the  son  of  Joash  hath 
 done  this  thing. 
 
 30  Then  the  men  of  the  city  said  unto  Joash, 
 Bring  out  tliy  son,  that  he  may  die  :  because 
 he  hath  cast  down  the  altar  of  Baal,  and  be- 
 cause he  hath  cut  down  the  grove  that  was 
 by  it. 
 
 31  And  Joash  said  unto  all  that  stood  against 
 him.  Will  ye  plead  for  Baal  ?  will  ye  save  him? 
 he  that  will  plead  for  him,  let  him  be  put  to 
 death  whilst  it  is  yet  morning  :  if  he  be  a  god, 
 let  him  plead  for  himself,  because  one  hath 
 cast  down  his  altar. 
 
 32  Therefore  on  that  day  he  called  him 
 (I  '  Jerubbaal,  saying.  Let  Baal  plead  against 
 iiim,  because  he  hath  thrown  down  his  altar. 
 
 33  1  Then  all  '  tlie  Midianites  and  the  Ama- 
 lekites  and  the  children  of  the  east  were 
 gathered  together,  and  went  over,  and  pitched 
 in  "  the  valley  of  Jezreel. 
 
 34  But  "  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  f  came  upon 
 Gideon,  and  he  "  blew  a  trumpet  ;  and  Abi- 
 ezer  f  "'as  gathered  after  him. 
 
 3.5  And  he  sent  messengers  throughout  all 
 Manasseh  ;  who  also  was  gathered  after  him  : 
 and  he  sent  messengers  unto  Aslier,  and  unto 
 Zebulun,  and  unto  Naphtali ;  and  they  came 
 up  to  meet  them. 
 
 36  f  And  Gideon  said  unto  God,  If  thou  wilt 
 save  Israel  by  mine  hand,  as  thou  hast  said, 
 
 37  ■■  Behold,  I  will  put  a  fleece  of  wool  in  the 
 floor ;  and  if  the  dew  be  on  the  fleece  only, 
 and  it  be  dry  upon  all  the  earth  beside,  then 
 shall  I  know  that  thou  wilt  save  Israel  by  mine 
 hand,  as  thou  hast  said. 
 
 38  And  it  was  so  :  for  he  rose  up  early  on 
 the  morrow,  and  thrust  the  fleece  together,  and 
 wringed  the  dew  out  of  the  fleece,  a  bowl  full 
 of  water. 
 
 39  And    Gideon   said   unto  God,   '^  Let  not 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  1219. 
 
 II  Tlmt  is, 
 Lei  tiaai 
 Jilend. 
 
 k  1  Sa  12. 11. 
 2Sa,  II.  21. 
 
 elfi;  that  is, 
 Let  the 
 lluimcfnl 
 
 See  Jer.  11. 
 
 13.  Hos.  9. 
 
 10. 
 /  ver.  3. 
 m  Jos.li.  17. 
 
 16. 
 
 cir.  1249. 
 «  ch.  3.  10. 
 
 ICl.r  12.18. 
 
 2Chr.-24.20, 
 t  Heb. 
 
 c!"t/>r,l 
 o  >"um.lO..S. 
 
 cli.  3.  27. 
 t  Heb.  am 
 
 cnlled  after 
 
 p  See  Ex.  4. 
 3,  4,  6,  7. 
 
 b  Pout  8.17 
 
 1  Ciir.  1.2!i, 
 
 2  Cor.  4.  7 
 
 thine  anger  be  hot  against  me,  and  I  will  speak 
 but  this  once  :  let  me  prove,  I  pray  thee,  but 
 this  once  with  the  fleece  ;  let  it  now  be  dry 
 only  upon  the  fleece,  and  upon  all  the  ground 
 let  there  be  dew. 
 40  And  God  did  so  that  night ;  for  it  was  dry 
 upon  the  fleece  only,  and  there  was  dew  on  all 
 the  ground. 
 
 CHAP.  VIL 
 
 I  Gideon^s  army  of  two  mid  thirty  thousand  is  bronpht 
 to  three  hundred.  9  He  is  eJicourayed  by  the  dream 
 and  interpretation  of  tlte  txirley  ca/te.  16  His  stra- 
 tatjem  of  trumpets  arnl  lamps  in  pitciters.  24  The 
 Epltrainiites  take  Orel  and  Ztch. 
 
 'T'HEN  °  Jerubbaal,  who  is  Gideon,  and  all 
 -*■  the  people  that  were  with  him,  rose  up 
 early,  and  pitched  beside  the  well  of  Harod  : 
 so  that  the  host  of  the  Midianites  were  on  the 
 north  side  of  them,  by  the  hill  of  Moreh,  in  the 
 valley, 
 
 2  And  the  Lokd  .said  unto  Gideon,  The 
 people  that  are  with  thee  are  too  many  for  me 
 to  give  the  Midianites  into  their  hands,  lest 
 Israel  ''  vaunt  themselves  against  me,  saying. 
 Mine  own  hand  hath  saved  me. 
 
 3  Now  therefore  go  to,  proclaim  in  the  ears 
 of  the  people,  saying,  '  Whosoever  is  fearful 
 and  afraid,  let  him  return  and  depart  early  from 
 mount  Gilead.  And  there  returned  of  the 
 people  twenty  and  two  thousand  ;  and  there 
 remained  ten  thousand. 
 
 4  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Gideon,  The 
 people  are  yet  too  many  ;  bring  them  down 
 unto  the  water,  and  I  will  try  them  for  thee 
 there  :  and  it  shall  be,  that  of  whom  I  say  unto 
 thee.  This  shall  go  with  thee,  the  same  shall 
 go  with  thee  ;  and  of  whomsoever  I  say  unto 
 thee.  This  shall  not  go  with  thee,  the  same 
 shall  not  go. 
 
 5  So  he  brought  down  the  people  unto  the 
 water  :  and  the  Lord  said  unto  Gideon,  Every 
 one  that  lappeth  of  the  water  with  his  tongue, 
 as  a  dog  lappeth,  him  shalt  thou  set  by  himself; 
 likewise  every  one  that  boweth  down  upon  his 
 knees  to  drink. 
 
 6  And  the  number  of  them  that  lapped,  put- 
 ting their  hand  to  their  mouth,  were  three 
 hundred  men  :  but  all  the  rest  of  the  people 
 bowed  down  upon  their  knees  to  drink  water. 
 
 danger,  but  the  being  restrained. — Cill.  29.  They  said,  Gideon — he 
 might  have  been  seen,  or  his  servants  had  given  hints, — Pat. ;  or  they 
 knew  his  hatred  to  Baal,  and  his  contiguity  to  the  spot  might  strengthen 
 suspicions.  3'2.  Called  Iiim,  that  is,  Gideon.  Jerubbaal,  'let  Baal 
 contend.' — Buothr.  'Let  Baal  avenge  himself,'  or  'an  opposer  of 
 Baal.' — Houb.  So  Jerubbaal  now  was  added  to  Gideon  as  a  surname, 
 (chap.  vii.  1.)  33.  Gathered  tvgethet — it  was  the  usual  time  for  these 
 maraudersto  enter  on  their  destructive  expedition. — Gill.  34.  Came 
 upon,  mDl'?,  'clothed.' — Pat.  Gideon  was  clothed  with  courage  as  a 
 man  clothed  with  a  coat  of  mail. — So  Hen.  Blew  a  trumpet,  as  an 
 alarm  of  war.  Abi-ezer — the  Abiezrites  were  one  of  the  families  of  the 
 tribe  of  Manasseh,  of  which  Gideon  was.  35.  Asher,  ^c. — neigh- 
 bouring tribes.  3r.  In  the  floor — the  threshing-floor  was  in  the  open 
 air. — Gill.      38.  A  bowl  full~tbe  night  dews  iu  the  part  aUuded  to  are 
 
 very  great.  Irwin  says,  in  his  voyage  up  the  Red  Sea,  when  on  the 
 Arabian  shores,  the  cloalts  with  which  we  wrapped  ourselves  at  night 
 were  as  wet  in  the  morning  as  if  they  had  been  immersed  in  the  sea. — 
 Burder^s  Orient.  Cast. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  1.  Moreh,  in  or  near  the  valley  of  Jezreel,  and  proba- 
 bly a  branch  of  the  mountains  of  Gilboa. —  Wells.  3.  There  returned 
 — twenty  tu-o  thousand,  alarmed  at  the  host  of  Midianites.  5.  Every 
 one  that  lappeth — they  took  up  water  in  the  hollow  of  their  hand, 
 wliich  they  lifted  ui>  to  their  mouths,  and  so  lapped  it,  as  the 
 Egyptians  about  the  Nile  are  said  to  do. — Gill.  The  Easterns  are 
 adroit  at  throwing  water  into  their  mouths  from  their  hands ;  these 
 men,  therefore,  instead  of  kneeling  down  to  take  a  long  draught,  em- 
 ployed their  hand  as  the  dog  his  tongue,  forming  it  into  a  spoon  and 
 dipping  the  water. — Pict.  Bib.    6.  The  rest  of  tlie  people  bowed  down — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI 1.  Here  is  Israel  again  doiny 
 
 evil  in  the  siyht  of  the  Lord.     Alas,  wliat  a  striking  specimen  of 
 human  nature  !— '  prone  to  evil,  and  that  continually  !' 
 
 II.  Here  is  Israel  again  punished  for  evil.  God's  afflictive  dis- 
 pensations are  among  the  greatest  mercies  be  bestows  upon 
 his  people  ;  they  are  the  bridles  which  restrain  them  from  run- 
 ning headlong  to  destruction. 
 
 III.  Here  is  Israel  again  crying  unto  the  Lord.  In  the  hour 
 of  trouble  Israel  found  him  the  only  refuge;  and  seeing  we  are 
 in  a  world  of  trouble,  is  it  not  our  wisdom  always  to  take  re- 
 fuge where  alone,  though  trouble  may  assail  us,  trouble  can 
 do  us  no  harm  ? 
 
 IV.  Here  is  Isruclagain  reproved  for  sin.    The  prophet  brings 
 
 269 
 
 no  consoling  promise  to  these  disobedient  children.  Before 
 Israel  are  comforted,  they  must  be  convinced  of  and  deeply 
 humbled  for  tlieir  sins.  It  is  the  must  fatal  delusion  w-hich 
 leads  the  mind  to  take  comfort  from  God's  word  before  the 
 heart  has  repented  and  turned  to  God. 
 
 \.  litre  w  Israd  assured  of  deliverance.  *Go  in  thy  might, 
 and  thou  shalt  save  Israel.'  God  can  raise  up  deliverers  and 
 deliverances  when  and  where  he  pleases  ;  and  when  he  appears 
 for  us,  neither  the  number  nor  might  of  enemies  need  to  make 
 us  afraid.  Well  might  the  Psalmist  sing, '  Trust  in  him  at  all 
 times,  ye  people  ;  pour  out  your  heart  before  him ;  God  is  a 
 refuge  for  us.' 
 
Gideon  is  encouraged  by  a  dream. 
 
 JUDGES,  VII. 
 
 77ic  Ephraimitcs  take  Orcb  and  Zeeb. 
 
 7  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Gideon,  "  By  the 
 three  hundred  men  tliat  lapped  will  I  save  yon, 
 and  deliver  the  Midianites  into  thine  hand  : 
 and  let  all  the  other  people  go  every  man  unto 
 his  place. 
 
 8  So  the  people  took  victuals  in  their  hand, 
 and  their  trumpets  :  and  he  sent  all  tlie  rest  oj 
 Israel  every  man  unto  liis  tent,  and  retained 
 those  three  hundred  men  :  and  the  host  of 
 Midian  was  beneath  him  in  the  valley. 
 
 9  K  And  it  came  to  pass  the  same  °  night, 
 that  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Arise,  get  thee 
 down  unto  the  host ;  for  I  have  delivered  it 
 into  thine  hand. 
 
 10  But  if  thou  fear  to  go  down,  go  thou  with 
 Phurali  thy  servant  down  to  the  host : 
 
 11  And  thou  shalt  'hear  what  they  say; 
 and  afterward  shall  thine  hands  be  strength- 
 ened to  go  down  unto  the  host.  Then  went 
 he  down  with  Phurah  his  servant  unto  the 
 outside  of  the  ||  armed  men  that  were  in  the 
 host. 
 
 12  And  the  INIidianites  and  the  Amalekites 
 and  '^all  the  children  of  the  east  lay  along  in 
 the  valley  like  grasshoppers  for  multitude;  and 
 tlieir  camels  ^vere  without  number,  as  the  sand 
 by  the  sea  side  for  multitude. 
 
 13  And  when  Gideon  was  come,  behold, 
 there  was  a  man  that  told  a  dream  unto  his 
 fellow,  and  said.  Behold,  I  dreamed  a  dream, 
 and,  lo,  a  cake  of  barley  bread  tumbled  into 
 the  host  of  Midian,  and  came  nnto  a  tent,  and 
 smote  it  that  it  fell,  and  overturned  it,  that  the 
 tent  lay  along. 
 
 14  And  his  fellow  answered  and  said.  This  is 
 nothing  else  save  the  sword  of  Gideon  the 
 son  of  Joash,  a  man  of  Israel  :  for  into  his 
 hand  hath  God  delivered  Midian,  and  all  the 
 host. 
 
 15  t  And  it  was  so,  when  Gideon  heard  the 
 telling  of  the  dream,  and  f  the  interpretation 
 thereof,  that  he  worshipped,  and  returned  into 
 the  host  of  Israel,  and  said.  Arise  ;  for  the 
 Lord  hath  delivered  into  your  hand  the  host  of 
 Midian. 
 
 16  And  he  divided  the  three  hundred  men 
 into  three  companies,  and  he  put  f  a  trumpet 
 
 n.  c 
 
 cir.  I'*.19. 
 ',  1  Sa.  II.  6. 
 
 ^vcr.  13,  U, 
 15.  SceGcu 
 ;:4   1 4. 
 I  S.iin.  14. 
 9,  HJ. 
 
 II  Or.  r.„,l-., 
 Ex.  \S.  IS. 
 
 t  lift,.  tl.n 
 thereof. 
 
 pell  in  th' 
 hind  »f  all 
 of  them. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 dr.  1*19- 
 
 I  Or./r... 
 tvrchei. 
 
 h  lix.  U.  13. 
 
 1*.  8  Cl.r. 
 
 lfl>,  17. 
 i  2  Kill.  7.  7. 
 
 k  .losli.  G.  .1, 
 16,  SO.  See 
 2  Cor.  ♦   7. 
 
 t  I's  83.  9. 
 Is.  9.  4. 
 
 .»  1  Sum.  1.1 
 2lP  U  Glir. 
 :;(i.  53. 
 
 llOi-,<..ii..r<i. 
 I  Hub.  lip 
 
 I  .li    S   ?fl. 
 ;.  J..I.I1  I.ei 
 
 7  cli.  S   3. 
 P«  83.  II. 
 
 in  every  man's  hand,  with  empty  pitchers,  and 
 
 lamps  within  the  pitcher.s. 
 
 17  And  he  said  unto  them,  Look  on  me,  and 
 do  likewise  :  and,  behold,  when  I  come  to  the 
 outside  of  the  camp,  it  shall  be  that,  as  I  do, 
 so  shall  ye  do. 
 
 18  When  I  blow  with  a  trumpet,  I  and  all 
 that  are  with  me,  then  blow  ye  the  trumpets 
 also  on  every  side  of  all  the  camp,  and  say, 
 The  sivord  of  the  Lord,  and  of  Gideon. 
 
 19  1  So  Gideon,  and  the  hundred  men  that 
 were  with  him,  came  unto  the  outside  of  the 
 camp  in  the  beginning  of  the  middle  watch  ; 
 and  they  had  but  newly  set  the  watch  :  and 
 they  blew  the  trumpets,  and  brake  the  pitchers 
 that  were  in  their  hands. 
 
 20  And  the  three  companies  blew  the  trum- 
 pets, and  brake  the  pitchers,  and  held  the  lamps 
 in  their  left  hands,  and  the  trumpets  in  tlieir 
 right  hands  to  blow  withal:  and  they  cried, 
 The  sword  of  the  Lord,  and  of  Gideon. 
 
 21  And  they '' stood  every  man  in  his  place 
 round  about  the  camp  :  '  and  all  the  host  ran, 
 and  cried,  and  fled. 
 
 22  And  the  three  hundred  '  blew  the  trum- 
 pets, and  '  the  Lord  set  "'  every  man's  sword 
 against  his  fellow,  even  throughout  all  the 
 host :  and  the  host  tied  to  Beth-shittah  ||  in 
 Zcrerath,oH(/  to  the  f  border  of  Abel-meholah, 
 unto  Tabbath. 
 
 23  And  the  men  of  Israel  gathered  them- 
 selves together  out  of  Naphtali,  and  out  of 
 Asher,  and  out  of  all  Manasseh,  and  pursued 
 after  the  Midianites. 
 
 24  II  And  Gideon  sent  messengers  through- 
 out all  "mount  Ephraim,  saying.  Come  down 
 against  the  Midianites,  and  take  before  them 
 the  waters  unto  Beth-barah  and  Jordan,  'i'hon 
 all  the  men  of  Ephraim  gathered  themselves 
 together,  and  "  took  the  waters  unto  ■'  Beth- 
 barah  and  Jordan. 
 
 25  And  tliey  took  '■  two  princes  of  the  Midi- 
 anites, Oreb  and  Zeeb  ;  and  they  slew  Oreb 
 upon  '  tlie  rock  Oreb,  and  Zeeb  they  slew  at 
 the  winepress  of  Zeeb,  and  pursued  Midian, 
 and  brought  the  heads  of  Oreb  and  Zeeb  to 
 Gideon  on  the  '  other  side  Jordan. 
 
 it  was  the  custom  of  some  nations,  as  the  Ichthyophagi,  or  fish. caters, 
 to  cast  themselves  with  the  Oice  to  the  ground,  and  drink  after  the 
 manner  of  oxen, — Gill.  7.  By  the  three  hundred  men  that  tapped — 
 
 these  e.xhibiled  tokens  of  temperance  and  eagerness  to  nicel  the  enemy, 
 — Fat.  Tliey  shewed  an  alacrity  and  readiness  peculiarly  fitting  them 
 fnr  action, — Pict.  Bib.  They  were  more  able  to  endure  liardship  tlian 
 the  others.— 6cof^,  They  were  the  most  timid,  and  drank  hastily  for 
 fear  of  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  and  therefure  God  would  have  these. 
 — Jtts.  The  true  reason  of  their  being  chosen  wa-s,  because  God  would 
 reduce  them  to  a  very  small  number,  which,  owing  to  the  heat  and 
 fatigue,  would  be  the  result  of  this  test. — I'lwle.  8.  Taoti  vietttaU — 
 
 tnimpets — the  one  in  one  hand,  and  the  other  in  the  otlier,  so  that  their 
 salvation  must  clearly  be  of  God.  u.  Hath  God  delit^ei-ed  Midian — 
 
 the  interpretation  was  suggested  from  Gnd.  to  strengthen  Gideon. — 
 Gill,  15.  The  interpretation  thereof,  TinUJ.  'the  breaking  of  it.'— 
 Pise.     Ifi.  Pitchers— Dr.  Chandler  states,  that  in  the  failure  of  leathern 
 
 bottles,  jars  are  used  to  carry  the  water  of  a  travelling  company  ;  and 
 hence  it  is  to  be  inferred,  that  the  number  was  easily  ciJIected. — Har. 
 Lamps— A  kind  of  torches  made  of  rosin,  wax,  pitch,  and  such  like 
 things. — Gitl.  Dr.  Chandler  found  lighted  brands  used  by  the  pea- 
 santry of  .\sia  Minor  instead  of  torches,  and  hence  it  is  probable  that 
 from  tlieir  common  use  they  were  easily  ptocured, — Har.  18.  TIte 
 sivnrd  of  the  Lord,  and  of  Gideon,  or,  *  for  the  Lord  and  for  Gideon.' — 
 Gilt.  The  practice  of  giving  names  to  swords  was  anciently  very  com- 
 mon ;  thus,  in  Orlando  Furioso,  '  the  sword  Fusbi^rta.' — Orient.  Cast., 
 No.  39.i.  19.  Middle  woteh— the  Hebrews  had  three  watches  ;  the 
 Romans  four.  The  first  of  the  three  was  completed  at  midnight,  and 
 they  that  had  watched  had  gone  to  sleep  to  rest  till  the  morning. — Pat. 
 And  they  had  neiety  set  the  watrh — an  unnecessary  repetition,  the  ren- 
 dering maybe,  'in  raising  they  raised  up  the  watch.'  lo^pn  VpT} 
 Dn'D'ijn  n.^. — Paff.,  Mont.  21.  Ban,  vy,  '  were  broken.'— P«a'., 
 Mont,     24.  Took  the  waters,  '  took  possess  ion  of  all  the  passes.' — Gitl. 
 
 Refi.f.ciions  on  Chap.  VII.  — I.  Here  is  Gidetni  fireparbuj 
 for  Inittle.  Assured  of  success,  lie  puslies  forward  his  oppor- 
 tunity of  overthrowing  the  enemy.  '  Faith  in  God's  promises,* 
 says  Henry,  •  must  not  slacken,  but  rather  quicken  our  endea- 
 vours. A\  lien  we  are  sure  God  goes  before  us,  then  we  must 
 bestir  ourselves.' 
 
 II.  Here  are  Gideon^s  en-.mies.  They  are  numerous  and 
 powerful;  but  Israel,  small,  and  feeble,  and  contemptible  in 
 their  eyes  as  a  barley  cako,  shall  overturn  all  their  tents,  and 
 spread  confusion  throughout  their  hosts.  Thus  it  is  in  the 
 spiritual  warfare — 'God  hatb  chosen  the  weak  things  of  tlie 
 world  to  confound  the  mighty.' 
 
 III.  Here  is  Gideons  attack,  not  with  swords  and  spears, 
 but  with    pilciiers,   lamps,   and   trumpets.      Thus   the   most 
 
 270 
 
 simple  means  are  not  to  be  despised  in  obtaining  our  spiritual 
 victories.  If  they  are  of  God's  appointment,  they  must  be  of 
 avail. 
 
 IV.  Here  is  Gideons  victory.  The  enemy  thrown  into  con- 
 fusion, the  host  running,  crying,  fleeing  ;  every  man's  sword 
 against  his  fellow.  'l"he  ungodly  need  have  no  greater  enemies 
 than  their  own  teri'ors.  Thus  at  the  sound  of  the  last  truinpi't 
 shall  all  the  hosts  of  hell  be  dismayed,  while  their  cry,  rend- 
 ing the  universe, — *  Hocks,  fall  on  us,  and  hills,  cover  us,  and 
 hiile  us  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb  !' — shall  he  the  linal  indi- 
 cation that  the  Captain  of  our  salvation  has  put  down  all  his 
 enemies  under  his  feet, 
 
 \,  Hire  is  Gideon  Jnllowing  up  his  success.  Now  all  Israel 
 gathered  themselves  together.     God  had  sufficiently  secured 
 
(iitlcon  parififth  the  Ephraimites. 
 
 JUDGES,  VIII. 
 
 Succolh  and  Permcl  are  destroyed. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  Gidion  pnctjiith  the  EpJiraimiks,  4  Sitccoth  mul 
 Pinuel  n'f'ust;  to  rdici'e  Gideon's  army,  10  Ztha/i 
 and  Zulniunna  are  ta/ttn.  13  Sttccoth  and  Penurl 
 are  deairoyed.  17  Gideon  revemjel/t  /lis  bntlinna 
 death  on  2ebah  and  Zalmunna.  2'2  He  refuseth  qo- 
 vernmc'it.  24  His  ephod  eavse  of  idolatry.  \iS  Mi- 
 dian  snhdurd.  29  Gideon  s  c/iildrtUj  anddeath.  33 
 The  Israelites'  idolatry  and  intjratitude, 
 
 A  ND  "  the  men  of  Ephraim  said  unto  him, 
 -^~*-  f  Why  hast  thou  served  us  thus,  that  thou 
 ealledst  us  not,  when  thou  wentest  to  fight 
 with  tlie  Midianites?  And  they  did  chide  with 
 him  f  sliaiply. 
 
 •2  And  he  said  unto  them,  What  have  I  done 
 now  in  comparison  of  you?  Is  not  the  j^lean- 
 ing  of  tlie  grapes  of  Ephraim  better  tlian  the 
 vintage  of  Abi-ezer  ? 
 
 ."i  ''  God  hath  delivered  into  your  hands  the 
 princes  of  Midian,  Oreb  and  Zeeb :  and  what 
 was  I  able  to  do  in  comparison  of  you  ?  Then 
 tlieir  f '■  anger  was  abated  toward  him,  when  he 
 had  said  that. 
 
 4  K  And  Gideon  came  to  Jordan,  atid  passed 
 over,  he,  and  the  three  hundred  men  that  were 
 with  him,  faint,  yet  pursuing  theJii. 
 
 5  And  he  said  unto  the  men  of  "'  Succoth, 
 (live,  I  pray  yon,  loaves  of  bread  unto  the 
 people  that  follow  me  ;  for  they  l/e  faint,  and 
 I  am  pursuing  after  Zebah  and  Zalmunna, 
 kings  of  Midian. 
 
 (i  t  And  the  princes  of  Succoth  said,  °  Are 
 the  hands  of  Zebah  and  Zalmunna  now  in 
 thine  hand,  that  '  we  should  give  bread  unto 
 thine  army  ? 
 
 7  And  Gideon  said,  Therefore  when  the 
 LoRn  hath  delivered  Zebah  and  Zalmunna  into 
 mine  hand,  *■'  then  I  will  f  tear  your  flesli  with 
 the  thorns  of  the  wilderness  and  with  briers. 
 
 8  t  And  he  went  up  thence  '■  to  Penuel,  and 
 spake  unto  them  likewise  :  and  the  men  of  Pe- 
 nuel answered  him  as  the  men  of  Succoth  had 
 answered  /lim. 
 
 9  And  he  spake  also  unto  the  men  of  Penuel, 
 .saying.  When  I  '  come  again  in  peace,  ''  I  will 
 break  down  this  tower. 
 
 10  H  Now  Zebah  and  Zalmunna  2/)ere  in  Kar- 
 kor,  and  their  hosts  with  -them,  about  fifteen 
 
 B  c 
 
 cii.  I'?I9. 
 
 11. 
 
 t  Heb.  lI'Lul 
 lhi':g  is  Ihit 
 Ifiou  hitl 
 dfur  uutu 
 m  t 
 
 t  Heb. 
 xlriiii</ti/. 
 
 I  Gcn.S3.l7. 
 re.  GO.  6. 
 
 /See  1  Sam. 
 2b.  11. 
 
 tHi-l..(/.r<-./( 
 
 lKm.l2». 
 
 .  I  Kin.  2-J. 
 27. 
 *  vcr.  17. 
 
 twr-thl  thou. 
 
 ch,20.  ■»,  15, 
 
 17,  25. 
 
 2  Kin.  3  '?C 
 m  Nnm.  32. 
 
 3.^,  .12 
 ..  lIi.  In.  27 
 
 1  The^.-'i  3- 
 o  I'«.  «i.  II. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 terrijicd. 
 
 I  Hcb.  I 
 
 /  rli.  4-0 
 Ps.  SO    12. 
 t  Hch.  »r- 
 
 '"/■ 
 
 4c 
 
 ..  Ps.  83.  II. 
 
 II  Or.  orm- 
 
 tliousand  >nc?i,  all  that  were  left  of  '  all  the 
 hosts  of  the  children  of  the  east :  for  there  fell 
 II  an  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  men  that 
 drew  sword. 
 
 11  t  And  Gideon  went  up  by  the  way  of 
 them  that  dwelt  in  tents  on  the  east  of  ""  Nobah 
 and  Jogbehah,  and  smote  the  host :  for  the 
 host  was  "  secure. 
 
 1-2  And  when  Zebah  and  Zalmunna  fled,  he 
 pursued  after  them,  and  "  took  the  two  kings 
 of  Midian,  Zebah  and  Zalmunna,  and  f  discom- 
 fited all  the  host. 
 
 1 3  IT  And  Gideon  the  son  of  .Toash  returned 
 from  battle  before  the  sun  u-as  tip, 
 
 14  And  caught  a  young  man  of  the  men  of 
 Succoth,  and  enquired  of  him:  and  he  f  de- 
 scribed unto  him  the  princes  of  Succoth,  and 
 the  ciders  thereof,  even  threescore  and  seven- 
 teen men. 
 
 15  And  he  came  unto  the  men  of  Succoth, 
 and  said.  Behold  Zebah  and  Zalmunna,  with 
 whom  ye  did  ■■  upbraid  me,  saying.  Are  the 
 hands  of  Zebah  and  Zalmunna  now  in  thine 
 hand,  that  we  should  give  bread  unto  thy  men 
 that  are  weary  ? 
 
 16  ''  And  he  took  the  elders  of  the  city,  and 
 thorns  of  the  wilderness  and  briers,  and  with 
 them  he  f  taught  the  men  of  Succoth. 
 
 17  '  And  he  beat  down  the  tower  of '  Penuel, 
 and  .'^lew  the  men  of  the  city. 
 
 18  t  Then  said  he  unto  Zebah  and  Zalmunna, 
 What  manner  of  men  were  they  whom  ye 
 slew  at '  Tabor?  And  they  answered,  As  thou 
 art,  so  icere  they  ;  each  one  f  resembled  the 
 children  of  a  king. 
 
 19  And  he  said,  They  reere  my  brethren, 
 even  the  sons  of  my  mother  :  as  the  Loud 
 liveth,  if  ye  had  saved  them  alive,  I  would  not 
 slay  you. 
 
 20  And  he  said  unto  Jether  his  firstborn. 
 Up,  and  slay  them.  But  the  youth  drew  not 
 his  sword  :  for  he  feared,  because  he  icas  yet 
 a  youth. 
 
 21  Then  Zebah  and  Zalmunna  said.  Rise  thou, 
 and  fall  upon  us  :  for  as  the  man  j.s-,  so  is  his 
 strength.  And  Gideon  arose, and  "slew  Zebah 
 and  Zalmunna,  and  took  away  the  ||  ornaments 
 that  were  on  their  camels'  necks. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.  —  1.  Why  hast  thou  served  ns  thus? — tliere  was  a  jea- 
 lousy between  Ephraim  and  Manasseh,  and  Ephraim  having  had  the 
 preeminence  in  Jacob's  blessinjr,  was  fearful  of  Manasseh's  trilie  at 
 any  time  eclipsing  theirs.  They  were  therefore  angry  that  Gideon  did 
 not  send  for  tliem  to  I:)egin  the  attack  upon  Midian,  instead  of  follow- 
 ing up  the  blow. — Hen.  2.  Is  nnt  the  fileanirtff,  ^c.  ? — Gideon  began 
 the  fight,  which  was  only  the  vintage,  they  had  finished  it,  which  was 
 the  gleaning.  Yet  what  they  did  last  was  much  preferable  to  what  he 
 did  first.  Abi-ezer — the  family  rif  which  Gideon  was.  (see  vcr.  32.) 
 The  Tarf^um  is,  *  Are  not  the  weak  of  the  house  of  Ei)hraim  better  than 
 the  sti  ong  of  the  house  of  Abiezer  ?' — Gilt.  3.  What  was  I  able.  §c.  / 
 — Gideon  modestly  threw  a  veil  over  his  own  achievements,  and  spoke 
 highly  of  theirs ;  and  thus  prevented  the  fatal  effects  of  their  resent- 
 ment.— Scott.  4.  Faint,  yet  pursuing,  *  faint  and  hungry.* — Iliiub. 
 fi.  .ire  the  hands  rif  Zebah,  8fe.  .^— this  was  si)okcu  in  dci  i^iiin,  suggest- 
 ing that  they  must  catch  them  before  they  would  venture  to  risk  their 
 displeasure  by  relieving  Gideon. — So  Gitl.  7.  Tear  i/onr  fiesh  with 
 the thornssnpvoReii  to  have  grown  near,  Succoth  signifying  'thorns,' 
 (Job,  xli.  7-) — out.  He  would  punish  their  ill  behaviour  as  a  judge  in 
 Ismel. — .Scatf.  Masters,  fathers,  and  schoolmasters  in  India  swear  in 
 this  way,  they  will  punish  the  rebellious  ;  and  slaves  have  been  so  pu- 
 nished by  their  masters,  being  flogged  with  the  jagged  edge  of  the  pal. 
 mirah  branch.  This  punishment  is  the  more  painful  from  the  thin 
 clothing  and  nukeilness  of  the  people  of  the  east. — So  Roberts.  Q.  In 
 peace,  having coiupicred  his  enemies. — Gdl.  II.  Them  that  dwell  in 
 <en/5— the  Arabians.— Poo/e.  Secure,  rT.31.  Perhaps  it  wnnld  be  better 
 to  read 'confident,'— Erf.  13.  Before  the  s?m— hence  he  attacked 
 
 the  hosts  at  Karkor  in  the  night. — Poole.  It  should  rather  be,  *  from 
 the  ascent  or  height  of  Chares  or  Hares,'  so  the  Sejit.,  Syr.,  Arab  , 
 A.  Clarke,  Boothr.,  Wit.  Gideon  appears  to  have  returned  to  Succoth 
 by  another  short  way  ;  namely,  by  tlie  heights  of  Hares,  or  sun  hills  ; 
 probably  so  called,  because  the  rising  sun  was  first  seen  by  the  inha- 
 bitants of  the  low  country  about  the  Jordan,  and,  indeed,  by  all  the 
 Israelites  who  resided  on  the  western  side  rtf  that  river.  —  Boothr. 
 14.  Described— to\d  Iheir  names  and  qualities.— Poo/f.  Thus  he  could 
 distinguish  between  tie  guilty  and  innocent. — Scutt.  If).  He  taught, 
 '  he  made  them  to  know.' — Henry.  '  He  chastised.'— Co'/^Ar.  '  He 
 threshed  them,'  Sept.  'Marie  them  to  feel,*  as  we  should  say. —  Wil. 
 17.  Slew  the  men  of  the  city— the  principal  persons.— /*«^  18.  Vc 
 slew  at  Tabor— in  the  troubles  of  Israel  these  kings  of  Midian  had  slain 
 tlic  brethren  of  Gideon,  by  the  mother's  side,  and  he  now  resolves  to 
 punish  them,  as  the  avenger  of  blood,  for  they  were  otherwise  not  ab. 
 sohitely  devoted  to  death,  not  being  Canaanites. — Scott.  Resembled 
 the  cbildrea  of  a  king — a  frequent  orientalism,  forming  the  superlative 
 of  ctmiparisons  of  beauty  or  dignity  of  appearance.  19.  Sons  of  my 
 
 mother — an  endearing  e.xpressiou  where  polygamy  existed,  and  more 
 forcible  than  '  my  brother  '  among  the  Hebrews,  Arabs,  Sic.—Pict.  Bib. 
 21.  .'Is  the  man  is,  so,  §-c. — the  might  of  a  man  is  proportionate  to  his 
 age. — Geddes.  He  was  a  stout  man,  and  able  to  kill  them  at  once, 
 which  was  more  desirable  than  a  lingering  and  disgraceful  death  be- 
 neath the  blows  of  a  youth. — So  Gill.  The  ornaments — ornaments  like 
 the  moon;  so  the  marg.  Torr  ntwianov^,  'the  crescents,'  or  'half- 
 moons,'  Se]it.  Astarte,  or  Ihe  moon,  was  the  gfiddess  of  the  Phccni- 
 ciaiis,  from  whom  these  people  borrowed  their  idolatry,  (see  Isa.  iii. 
 
 to  himself  the  glorv  of  their  success  ;  but  they  must  yet  fight. 
 .So  we  must  rouse  all  the  powers  of  our  souls  in  the  spiritual 
 warfare  ;  and  so  must  Christians  combine,  and  all  Israel  unite 
 271 
 
 their  forces,  to  destroy  the  last  vestiges  of  the  powers  of 
 daikncss  throughout  the  whole  earth. 
 
The  death  of  Gidenn. 
 
 JUDGES,  IX. 
 
 Abimelech  is  made  king. 
 
 '22  t  Then  the  men  of  Israel  said  unto  Gideon, 
 Rule  thou  over  us,  both  thou,  and  thy  son,  and 
 thy  son's  son  also  :  for  thou  hast  delivered  us 
 from  the  hand  of  Midian. 
 
 23  And  Gideon  said  unto  them,  I  will  not 
 rule  over  you,  neither  shall  my  son  rule  over 
 you  :  ^  the  Lord  shall  rule  over  you. 
 
 24  T  And  Gideon  said  unto  them,  I  would 
 desire  a  request  of  you,  that  ye  would  <rive  me 
 every  man  the  earrings  of  his  prey.  (For  they 
 had  golden  earrings,  ^because  they  were  Ish- 
 maelites.) 
 
 25  And  they  answered.  We  will  willingly 
 give  them.  And  they  spread  a  garment,  and 
 did  cast  therein  every  man  the  earrings  of  his 
 prey. 
 
 26  And  the  weight  of  the  golden  earrings 
 that  he  requested  was  a  thousand  and  seven 
 hundred  shekels  of  gold  ;  beside  ornaments, 
 and  II  collars,  and  purple  raiment  that  was  on 
 the  kings  of  Midian,  and  beside  the  chains 
 that  u'ere  about  tlieir  camels'  necks. 
 
 27  And  Gideon  '  made  an  cphod  thereof,  and 
 put  it  in  his  city, piifji  "in  Ophrah  :  and  all  Is- 
 rael '■  went  thither  a  whoring  after  it :  which 
 thing  became  "  a  snare  unto  Gideon,  and  to  his 
 house. 
 
 28  t  Thus  was  Midian  subdued  before  the 
 children  of  Israel,  so  that  they  lifted  up  their 
 heads  no  more.  ■'  And  the  country  was  in 
 quietness  forty  years  in  the  days  of  Gideon. 
 
 29  f  And  Jerubbaal  the  son  of  Joash  went 
 and  dwelt  in  his  own  house. 
 
 30  And  Gideon  bad  'threescore  and  ten  sons 
 t  of  his  body  begotten :  for  he  had  many  wives. 
 
 31  '  And  liis  concubine  that  leas  in  Sliechem, 
 she  also  bare  him  a  son,  whose  name  he  t  called 
 Abimelech. 
 
 32  T  And  Gideon  the  son  of  Joash  died  'in 
 a  good  old  age,  and  was  buried  in  the  sepul- 
 chre of  Joash  his  father,  ''  in  Ophrah  of  the 
 Abi-ezrites. 
 
 33  And  it  came  to  pass,  '  as  soon  as  Gideon 
 
 X  1  Sam.  fl. 
 7.  ft  10.  19. 
 &  12.  12. 
 
 1211!) 
 
 I  Or,  tvMf 
 jfwtU. 
 
 s  ch.  17.  5. 
 a  ch.  6.  S4. 
 *  Ps.  IOC.  39. 
 c  Deut.7.16. 
 
 (  ch.  9.  8,  5. 
 
 t  Hcb.  pnirtg 
 o.,l  ../«, 
 thSgh. 
 
 /■ch    9.  I. 
 
 t  Ilcb.  W. 
 
 ^  Gi>n.  e.5.  8. 
 J(ih  r..  2fi. 
 cir.  1209. 
 
 4ch.  2.  17 
 /  ch.  9.  4,4tJ. 
 m  Pa   7fi   II, 
 
 42.  fc  IOC. 
 
 13,21. 
 
 1  ch.9.1C.I7, 
 M.    Kccles. 
 
 (  Hch.  irh'il 
 h  ch.  8.  30. 
 
 t  Hob.  ajitt. 
 dGmSaM. 
 
 •  ch.  S.  S3. 
 
 /"ch.  113. 
 SChr.l3  7 
 Prov  12,11 
 Act"  17.  5. 
 
 g  ch   6.  2-1 
 
 ■  ~Kin.  II. 
 
 1,2. 
 
 was  dead,  that  the  children  of  Israel  turned 
 again,  and  i-  went  a  whoring  after  Baalim,  'and 
 made  Haal-berith  their  god. 
 
 34  And  the  children  of  Israel  "remembered 
 not  the  Loud  their  God,  who  had  delivered 
 them  out  of  the  hands  of  all  their  enemies  on 
 every  side  : 
 
 35  "  Neither  shewed  they  kindness  to  the 
 house  of  Jerubbaal,  )m»i<?/y,  Gideon,  according 
 to  all  the  goodness  which  he  had  shewed  unto 
 Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  Ahimehch  hi/  ronspinici/  with  the  Shcchauitts,  and 
 murder  nf  his  hrithrm,  is  made  kin;/.  7  Jolhmn  Iji/ 
 a  parui'lr  rdmhrth  thi-7n,  and  foretellith  their  ruin. 
 2-J  Gtud  couspirrth  with  the  S'lec/iemitea  atjainst  him. 
 30  Zclm!  nreideth  it.  Si  Abimelech  oi^ercometh  them . 
 and  soweth  the  city  with  salt.  4f)  He  hurncth  the 
 hold  nf  the  gad  Bcrith.  50  At  Tllebez  he  is  slain  by 
 a  piece  of  a  millstone,     56  Jotham's  curse  isfidflled. 
 
 AND  Abimelech  the  son  of  Jerubbaal  went 
 -^^  to  Shechem  unto  °  liis  mother's  brethren, 
 and  communed  with  them,  and  witli  all  the 
 family  of  the  house  of  his  mother's  father, 
 saying, 
 
 2  Speak,  I  pray  you,  in  the  ears  of  all  tlio 
 men  of  Shechem,  f  Whether  is  better  for  you, 
 either  that  all  the  sons  of  Jerubbaal,  which  arc 
 ''threescore  and  ten  persons,  reign  over  you, or 
 that  one  reign  over  you  ?  remember  also  that 
 I  am  'your  bone  and  your  flesh. 
 
 3  And  his  mother's  brethren  spake  of  liim  in 
 the  ears  of  all  the  men  of  Shechem  all  these 
 words  :  and  their  hearts  inclined  f  to  follow 
 Abimelech  ;  for  they  said,  He  is  our  ''brother. 
 
 4  And  they  gave  him  threescore  and  ten 
 pieces  of  silver  out  of  the  house  of ''  Baal-berith, 
 wherewith  Abimelech  hired  'vain  and  light 
 persons,  which  followed  him. 
 
 3  And  he  went  unto  his  father's  house  "  at 
 Ophrah,  and  ''slew  his  brethren  the  sons  of 
 Jerubbaal,  being  threescore  and  ten  persons, 
 upon  one  stone  :  notwithstanding  yet  Jotham 
 
 18.)— GiH.  22.  Rule,  not  as  a  judjrc,  for  that  ho  was  alrcaily,  but  as 
 a  Vxag.— Poole.  23.  /  ii/V/  nnt  rule— he  considered  God  as  their  king, 
 and  this  as  an  attempt  to  alter  his  government.— /'«(.  24.  Fin;  ffc, 
 because  thetj  were  Ishmaetttes,  'for  thuse  slain,  who  were  Ishmaelites, 
 wore  golden  pendents.'— iJof,(;,r.  26.  A  thowsund  and,  §•<■.— 2385/. 
 in  British  money.— fJiV/.  Beside  ornaments,  and  collars,  and  purple 
 raiment,  'beside  the  crescents,  and  drops,  and  purple  garments,"  Sic. 
 ■Collars,  drops,  the  fomi  of  earrings.'— ;'ar.  Golden  vessels,  with 
 stacte,  or  some  odoriferous  liquor. — Kimchi.  2".  Made  an  ephnd,  of 
 
 part,  the  whole  would  have  been  too  heavy. — Ponle.  To  employ  them 
 religiously,  in  the  service  of  GoA.—Piit.  It  may  he  suspected  that  this 
 cphod  had  a  Teraphim,  (Hos.  iii.  4,)  and  that  Gideon  having  built  an 
 altar,  (chap.  vi.  2li.)  he  intended  this  for  an  oracle.— /)r.  Spencer.  A 
 u'/iopinj— committing  superstition  or  idolatry  with  \l.— Poole.    3\.Con. 
 
 cuhine — secondary  or  half  wife. — Gill.        33.  Baal-berith,  that  is,  '  the 
 Lord  of  the  covenant.' — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  IX. —  1.  Alnmelech,  signifies  'my  father  the  king;'  a  name 
 probably  given  by  the  ambitious  concubine  mother.  —  T.  Scott. 
 4.  Banl.beritti — Berith  signifies  a  covenant  which  these  bad  people  hati 
 made  with  Baal.  The  Greeks  had  their  fefc  opKiot,  their  Jupiter,  or 
 their  Baal,  to  which  they  made  vows. — Std.  This  was  a  Canaanitish 
 god.  supposed  to  be  the  avenger  of  a  breach  of  covenant. — honthr. 
 Vain,  □"pn,  '  empty,*  that  is,  poor  and  needy  persons.  Light,  C'lrrc, 
 •  idle  vagabond  fellows.' — Pat.  5.  Slew  his  brethren — still  a  barba- 
 rous practice  in  Asia  to  secure  a  throne  from  claimants. — So  Pict.  Bib. 
 Threescore  and  ten — one  escaped,  but  the  round  number  is  given,  as  in 
 many  other  instances,  (f^en.  xlvi.  27;  John,  .\x.  24.,) — Gill.  Upon  one 
 stone — thought  to  have  been  an  altar  of  Baal,  and  oflfered  as  sacrifices 
 
 Reflections  oh  Chap.  A'III.  —  We  may  here  remark  oo, 
 I.  The  jealousy  of  the  Ephraimitcs.  It  is  a  lamentable  fact, 
 that  many  of  the  lii.qbast  enjoyments  liave  been  embittered  by 
 jealousies  among  brethren  ;  even  under  the  better  dispensation 
 of  the  gospel,  the  spirit  of  Ephraim  has  crept  into  families, 
 societies,  churrhes,  and  the  most  sacred  and  select  circles. 
 Where  there  should  be  mutual  joy.  there  h;is  too  often  been 
 strife.  O  for  those  days  when  '  the  envy  also  of  Ephraim  shall 
 depart,  and  the  adversaries  of  .Tudah  shall  be  cut  off :  Ephraim 
 shall  not  envy  Judah,  and  .Tudah  shall  not  vex  Ephraim."  In 
 all  such  cases  the  conduct  of  Gideon  is  a  pattern  worthy  of 
 imitation — '  A  soft  answer  turneth  away  wrath.' 
 
 II.  The  conquest  and  execution  of  the  kinqs  of  Midian.  These 
 royal  murderers  richly  merited  'their  fate.  They  had  shewn 
 no  mercy,  and  now  they  received  no  mercy.  Thus  the  wicked 
 '"ttt  ^  ''"'  '"'  snares  for  their  own  destruction. 
 
 III.  The  punishment  of  the  lukewarm  and  insulting  men  nf 
 Succoth.  Here  Gideon  discriminated  like  a  risbteous  judge': 
 be  would  not  punish  the  innocent  with  the  guilty.  A  want  of 
 feeling  towards  our  distressed  and  needy  brethren  shall  not 
 
 272 
 
 go  unpunished  in  that  day  when  the  great  Judge  of  all  shall 
 say,  '  I  was  an  hungered  and  ye  gave  me  no  meat.' 
 
 IV.  The  refusal  of  the  royal  dignity  by  Gideon.  This  was  a 
 great  temptation,  and  such  an  one  as  i'ev^  have  been  able  to 
 withstand.  The  acceptance  of  the  offer  would,  in  this  case, 
 have  been  base  infjratitude  to  God;  but  it  shewed  the  power- 
 ful influence  of  a  right  spirit,  which  enabled  Gideon  to  give  it 
 a  decided  refusal.  O  that  we  may  at  all  times  thus  resolutely 
 oppose  those  temptations,  how  plausible  soever  they  may  be, 
 which  stand  in  the  way  of  the  Divine  glory  ! 
 
 y.  The  return  nf  Israel  to  superstition  and  idolatry.  The 
 idolatry  of  tht^  ephod  was  bad  enough  ;  but  to  set  up  a  Ca- 
 naanitish idol  after  Gideon  was  gone  was  an  awful  proof  that 
 the  people  were  prone  to  evil,  and  that  continually.  We 
 think  Israel  highly  criminal,  but  let  us  beware  of  the  like  sin, 
 which  may  be  practised  in  more  ways  than  by  the  worship  of 
 ephods  and  images.  •  '  Take  heed,  brethren,  says  an  apostle, 
 '  lest  there  be  in  any  of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  in  de- 
 parting from  the  living  God.* 
 
Jotham  rchnhcth  the  Shechemites. 
 
 JUDGES,  IX. 
 
 Ganl  conspinth  against  Ahimclech. 
 
 the  youngest  son  of  Jerubbaal  was  left ;  for  he 
 hid  himself. 
 
 6  And  all  the  men  of  Shechem  gathered  to- 
 gether, and  all  the  house  of  Millo,  and  went, 
 and  made  Abimelech  king,  ||  by  the  plain  of 
 the  pillar  that  iias  m  Shechem. 
 
 7  H  And  when  they  told  it  to  Jotham,  he 
 went  and  stood  in  the  top  of  '  mount  Gerizim, 
 and  lifted  up  his  voice,  and  cried,  and  said  unto 
 them,  Hearlien  unto  me,  ye  men  of  Shechem, 
 tliat  God  may  hearken  unto  you. 
 
 8  '  Tlie  trees  went  forth  on  a  time  to  anoint 
 a  king  over  them  ;  and  they  said  unto  the 
 olive  tree,  '  Reign  thou  over  us. 
 
 9  But  tlie  olive  tree  said  unto  them,  Sliould 
 I  leave  my  fatness,  "'wherewith  by  me  tliey 
 honour  God  and  man,  and  fgo  to  be  promoted 
 over  the  trees? 
 
 10  And  the  trees  said  to  the  fig  tree.  Come 
 thou,  and  reign  over  us. 
 
 1 1  But  the  fig  tree  said  unto  them,  Should  I 
 forsake  my  sweetness,  and  my  good  fruit,  and 
 go  to  be  promoted  over  the  trees? 
 
 1'2  Then  said  the  trees  unto  the  vine,  Come 
 thou,  and  reign  over  us. 
 
 13  And  the  vine  said  unto  them,  Should  I 
 leave  my  wine,  "which  cheereth  God  and  man, 
 and  go  to  be  promoted  over  the  trees? 
 
 14  Then  said  all  the  trees  unto  the  ||  bram- 
 ble. Come  thou,  and  reign  over  us. 
 
 15  And  the  bramble  said  unto  the  trees,  If  in 
 truth  ye  anoint  me  king  over  you,  then  come 
 and  put  your  trust  in  my  °  shadow  :  and  if  not, 
 ■■let  fire  come  out  of  the  bramble,  and  devour 
 the  ''  cedars  of  Lebanon. 
 
 IG  Now  therefore,  if  ye  have  done  truly  and 
 sincerely,  in  that  ye  have  made  Abimelech 
 king,  and  if  ye  have  dealt  well  with  Jerubbaal 
 and  his  house,  and  have  done  unto  him  "■  ac- 
 cording to  the  deserving  of  his  hands  ; 
 
 17  (For  my  father  fought  for  you,  and  fad- 
 ventured  his  life  far,  and  delivered  you  out  of 
 the  hand  of  Midian  : 
 
 18  'And  ye  are  risen  up  against  my  father's 
 house  this  day,  and  have  slain  his  sons,  three, 
 score  and  ten  persons,  upon  one  stone,  and 
 have  made  Abimelech,  the  son  of  his  maid' 
 servant,  king  over  the  men  of  Shechem,  be- 
 cause he  is  your  brother  ;) 
 
 19  If  ye  then  have  dealt  truly  and  sincerely 
 with  Jerubbaal  and  with  his  house  this  day 
 then  '  rejoice  ye  in  Abimelech,  and  let  him  also 
 rejoice  in  you  : 
 
 20  But  if  not,  "  let  fire  come  out  from  Abime- 
 lech, and  devour  the  men  of  Shechem,  and  the 
 house  of  Millo  ;  and  let  fire  come  out  from  the 
 
 B  c. 
 
 ir.  1'209. 
 
 il  Or,  by  Ike 
 oai  "/Ihf 
 jtillar ;  Pec 
 Josli.  2i.'^G. 
 
 i  Den. n. 29. 
 &  27.  I  If. 
 Jo.ili.H.  ai. 
 Jotui  -l.  20. 
 
 (  Heb.  iji}  up 
 otliet'  traes. 
 
 II  Or,  ihi'tlr. 
 
 o  rs  so.  2. 
 
 Dau,  4.  12. 
 
 »..s.  1+.  7. 
 p  ver.  20. 
 
 NHin.'il.Sa. 
 
 Ezc-k.19  14 
 7  '2  Kin    14. 
 
 •>.  rs-  104. 
 
 10.  Is.  2.  13. 
 
 &  37.  24. 
 
 Ezek.  31.3. 
 r  cb.  8.  35. 
 
 t  Hel).  ctut 
 hU  life. 
 
 Pliil   S.  3. 
 u  ver.  15,  56. 
 
 n.  c. 
 
 T  2  Sain.  20 
 1(. 
 
 cir.  12U6. 
 
 t/  1  Sam.  16. 
 
 U.  &  18.  9, 
 
 1(J.      Stit 
 IKin.iy.l5. 
 
 2Cln  10.1.5. 
 «( 18.19,  &c. 
 U.  \'.>.2,  14. 
 ;  Is,  33.  I. 
 1  I  Kill  2  3^. 
 Estli 
 
 ,   IG 
 
 Mat.  23.  35, 
 3.. 
 t  Huh. 
 
 tlrciit/lheiied 
 /lit  haiidM  to 
 kill. 
 
 Or,  tnntjt  : 
 Spels  16.9, 
 10   Jer.  25. 
 
 c  1  Sam.  25. 
 10.  I  KiD. 
 12.  16. 
 
 d  (Jen.  Si. ; 
 6. 
 
 (  Heb.  cm/. 
 til>l,  or,  lo 
 Tot  mi  A. 
 
 t  Heb.  n» 
 thtnehond 
 ihuUfixd. 
 1  Sam. 10. 7. 
 &  -ib.  8. 
 Krclcs.  9. 
 
 men  of  Shechem,  and  from  the  house  of  Millo, 
 and  devour  Abimelech. 
 
 21  And  Jotham  ran  away,  and  fled,  and  went 
 to  ^  Beer,  and  dwelt  there,  for  fear  of  Abime- 
 lech his  brother. 
 
 22  t  When  Abimelech  had  reigned  three 
 years  over  Israel, 
 
 23  Then  ^  God  sent  an  evil  spirit  between 
 Abimelech  and  the  men  of  Sliechem  ;  and  the 
 men  of  Shechem  ^  dealt  treacherously  with 
 Abimelech  : 
 
 24  ^  That  the  cruelty  done  to  the  threescore 
 and  ten  sons  of  Jerubbaal  might  come,  and 
 their  blood  be  laid  upon  Abimelech  their  bro- 
 ther, which  slew  them  ;  and  upon  the  men  of 
 Shechem,  which  f  aided  him  in  the  killing  of 
 his  brethren. 
 
 5  And  the  men  of  Shechem  set  liers  in  wait 
 for  him  in  the  top  of  the  mountains,  and  they 
 robbed  all  that  came  along  that  way  by  them  : 
 and  it  was  told  Abimelech. 
 
 26  And  Gaal  tlie  son  of  Ebed  came  with  his 
 brethren,  and  went  over  to  Shechem  :  and  the 
 men  of  Shechem  put  their  confidence  in  him. 
 
 27  And  they  went  out  into  the  fields,  and 
 gathered  their  vineyards,  and  trode  the  r/rapes^ 
 and  made  ||  merry,  and  went  into  ^the  house 
 of  their  god,  and  did  eat  and  drink,  and  cursed 
 Abimelech. 
 
 28  And  Gaal  the  son  of  Ebed  said,  ""  Who  is 
 Abimelech,  and  who  is  Shechem,  ^^at  we 
 should  serve  him?  is  not  he  the  son  of  Jerub- 
 baal? and  Zebul  his  officer?  serve  the  men  of 
 •^  Hamor  the  father  of  Shechem  :  for  why 
 should  we  serve  him? 
 
 29  And  '^  would  to  God  this  people  were  un- 
 der my  hand !  then  would  I  remove  Abimelech. 
 And  he  said  to  Abimelech,  Increase  thine 
 army,  and  come  out. 
 
 30  If  And  when  Zebul  the  ruler  of  the  city 
 heard  the  words  of  Gaal  the  son  of  Ebed,  his 
 anger  was  ||  kindled. 
 
 31  And  he  sent  messengers  unto  Abimelech 
 t  privily,  saying,  Behold,  Gaal  the  son  of  Ebed 
 and  his  brethren  be  come  to  Shechem  ;  and, 
 behold,  they  fortify  the  city  against  thee. 
 
 32  Now  therefore  up  by  niglit,  thou  and  the 
 people  that  is  with  thee,  and  lie  in  wait  in  the 
 field: 
 
 33  And  it  shall  be,  that  in  the  morning,  as 
 soon  as  the  sun  is  up,  thou  shalt  rise  early,  and 
 set  upon  the  city  :  and,  behold,  yhen  he  and 
 the  people  tliat  is  with  him  come  out  against 
 thee,  then  mayest  thou  do  to  them  fas  thou 
 shalt  find  occasion. 
 
 34  1[  And   Abimelech   rose   up,  and  all  the 
 
 in  revenge  for  the  -sacrifice  of  the  bullock  by  Gideon,  when  it  was  pre- 
 pared for  naal.— Pa^  He  hid  himself,  K^m,  '  he  was  hidden,'  by 
 others.  EKpvfitj,  Sept.  6.  All  the  men,  ■'Sy^.  'the  leading  men  ;'  the 
 word  always  conveys  the  idea  of  authority  and  distinction.  The  house 
 of  Millo— R  fortress,  called  the  tower  of  Shechem,  (ver.  46,  49-)  The 
 men  who  inhabited  it  are  understood. — Boothr.  It  may  mean  some 
 great  leading  family  in  Shechem,  or  the  town  hall.— fi//^  D3iU 'byi  "j^, 
 'all  the  men  of  Shechem,'  meant  the  principal  men  or  lords;  and 
 H^b^O  ri'l  ^D,  'all  the  dtizejis  in  full  assembly.'  for  Millo  means  *  ful- 
 ness.'—P«/.  Bi;  thf  plain,  '  hytheoak.*  Ev  f^aXavtf)  rm  <naaim,Sept. 
 It  seems  to  have  been  the  place  where  they  had  their  solemn  asscm- 
 blies. — Pat.  /.  Mount  Gerizim,  which  hung  over  Shechem. — Jos. 
 8.  The  trees  went  forth,  ^c— the  Easterns  are  much  addicted  to  fable-'*, 
 and  use  them  to  pive  instruction  or  reproof.  If  a  man  of  a  low  caste 
 wants  to  marry  his  dau&hter  to  one  of  a  higher  caste,  the  latter  will 
 say,  '  Have  yon  heard  that  tlie  pumpkin  wants  to  be  married  to  the 
 plantain  tree  ?'— So  Roberts,  Orient.  Cast.  13.  Wine,  which  cheereth 
 God  and  man — wine  was  used  in  drink  (offerings,  which  were  accept- 
 able to  God,  and  of  a  sweet  savour  lo  him,  (Num.  xv.  /.)  Some  un- 
 derstand the  words  to  signify,  'to  gods  and  men,'  the  great  and  the 
 common  people.— Gi7/.  This  might  allude  to  the  heathen  practice  of 
 drinking  wine  to  the  honour  of  their  z^iAs.—Pyle.  Virgil,  speaking  of 
 273 
 
 noble  vines,  or  wines,  says,  they  were— 
 
 •Mensis  et  diis  accepta  secundis.* — Georg.,  lib.  ii.  lOl. 
 
 *  Grateful  to  the  gods  and  second  courses  ; '  that  is,  they  were  so  excel- 
 lent as  to  be  fit  to  be  used  for  libations,  that  were  made  at  the  second 
 cnurse.— Oi-iVh/.  Cust.  Jotham  certainly  means  that  wine  cheereth 
 hero  gods  and  common  men,  for  he  is  addressing  an  idolatrous  city, 
 that  worshipped  a  god  sprung  from  men.  The  expression  is  a  fine 
 stroke  of  ridicule,  and  intimates  the  vanity  and  pitiful  origin  of  such 
 idol  gods,  who  were  thought  to  be  refreshed  with  ■viine.—  Warburton. 
 H.  The  bramble— the  meanest  of  all  trees,  good  for  nothing  but  to  be 
 burnt,  aptly  representing  Abimelech. — Pat.  1 8.  Because  he  is  your 
 brother,  not  because  he  has  any  right  to  the  kingdom.— Gj7/.  20.  Let 
 fire—^n  imprecation  ;  the  only  way  in  which  Jotham  could  perform 
 the  duty  of  being  an  avenger  of  his  brethren's  blood. —Poo/p.  21.  Beer^ 
 about  two  hr.uis  and  a  half's  travel  from  Bethel.  It  is  situated  to- 
 wards the  soutii. — Maundrel.  23.  God  sent — this  often  denotes  per- 
 mission only. — Stackhotise.  An  evil  spirit,  '  a  spirit  of  faction.' — A.  C. 
 2S.  Seri'e  the  men  of  Hamor — the  descendants  of  Hamor,  prince  of 
 Shechem,  in  the  lime  of  Jacob,  an  old  Canaanitish  prince.  29-  He 
 said — probably  by  messenger.     Come  out — bidding  defiance. 
 
 2    N 
 
Abimelech  overcometh  Gaal,  &,'c. 
 
 JUDGES,  X. 
 
 Jotliam's  curse  is  fulfilled. 
 
 people  that  were  with  him,  by  night,  and  they 
 laid  wait  against  Shechem  in  four  companies. 
 
 35  And  Gaal  the  son  of  Ebed  went  out,  and 
 stood  in  the  entering  of  the  gate  of  the  city  : 
 and  Abimelech  rose  up,  and  the  people  that 
 were  with  him,  from  lying  in  wait. 
 
 36  And  when  Gaal  saw  the  people,  he  said 
 to  Zebul,  Behold,  there  come  people  down 
 from  the  top  of  the  mountains.  And  Zebul 
 said  unto  him.  Thou  seest  the  shadow  of  the 
 mountains  as  if  they  were  men. 
 
 37  And  Gaal  spake  again  and  said,  See  there 
 come  people  down  by  the  f  middle  of  the  land, 
 and  another  company  come  along  by  the  plain 
 of  II  Meonenim. 
 
 38  Then  said  Zebul  unto  him,  WTiere  is  now 
 thy  mouth,  wherewith  thou  ^saidst.  Who  !s 
 Abimelech,  that  we  should  serv'e  him  ?  is  not 
 this  the  people  tliat  thou  hast  despised  ?  go 
 out,  I  pray  now,  and  figlit  with  them. 
 
 39  And  Gaal  went  out  before  the  men  of 
 Shechem,  and  fought  with  Abimelech. 
 
 40  And  Abimelech  chased  him,  and  he  fled 
 before  him,  and  many  were  overthrown  and 
 wounded,  even  unto  the  entering  of  the  gate. 
 
 41  And  Abimelech  dwelt  at  Arumah  :  and 
 Zebul  thrust  out  Gaal  and  his  brethren,  that 
 they  should  not  dwell  in  Shechem. 
 
 42  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that 
 the  people  went  out  into  the  field ;  and  they 
 told  Abimelecli. 
 
 43  And  he  took  the  people,  and  divided  them 
 into  three  companies,  and  laid  wait  in  the  field, 
 and  looked,  and,  behold,  the  people  icen;  come 
 forth  out  of  the  city  ;  and  he  rose  up  against 
 them,  and  smote  them. 
 
 44  And  Abimelech,  and  the  company  that 
 was  with  him,  rushed  forward,  and  stood  in  the 
 entering  of  the  gate  of  the  city  :  and  the  two 
 otiier  companies  ran  upon  all  the  people  that 
 were  in  the  fields,  and  slew  them. 
 
 43  And  Abimelech  fought  against  the  city 
 all  that  day  ;  and  ^he  took  the  city,  and  slew 
 the  people  that  jvas  therein,  and  ''  beat  down 
 the  city,  and  sowed  it  with  salt. 
 
 46  U  And  when  all  the  men  of  the  tower  of 
 Shechem  heard  that,  they  entered  into  an  hold 
 of  the  house  '  of  the  god  Berith. 
 
 47  And  it  was  told  Abimelech,  that  all  the 
 men  of  the  tower  of  Shechem  were  gathered 
 together. 
 
 48  And  Abimelech  gat  him  up  to  mount '  Zal- 
 mon,  he  and  all  the  people  that  were  with 
 him  ;  and  Abimelech  took  an  ax  in  his  hand. 
 
 1)  Or,  lhi>  re- 
 gajdert  of 
 
 Deut.l«-M 
 f  ver.  SS,  2». 
 
 e  ver.  20. 
 
 ADeu  2fl.23. 
 
 1  Kiti.ll>.-25. 
 
 2  Kio.  ^.  2fi. 
 
 ;  ch.  8.  S3. 
 
 .  v,!r.  24. 
 Job.-^l.  3. 
 Pit,  94.  23, 
 PtoT.  5.  22 
 
 rlr-  I?m. 
 a  Pit.  2.  Hi. 
 1]  Or,  drli'ef 
 t  Hcb.  tave 
 
 cir.  IIM, 
 
 h  rli.  5.  10. 
 &  IS.  11. 
 
 and  cut  down  a  bough  from  the  trees,  and 
 took  it,  and  laid  it  on  lii.s  slioulder,  and  said 
 unto  the  people  that  ircre  with  him.  What  ye 
 have  seen  f  me  do,  make  haste,  and  do  as  I 
 have  done, 
 
 49  And  all  the  people  likewise  cut  down 
 every  man  liis  bough,  and  followed  Abimelecli, 
 and  put  thetH  to  the  hold,  and  set  the  hold  on 
 fire  upon  them  ;  so  that  all  the  men  of  the 
 tower  of  Shechem  died  also,  about  a  thousand 
 men  and  women. 
 
 50  t  Then  went  Abimelech  to  Thebez,  and 
 encamped  against  Thebez,  and  took  it. 
 
 51  But  there  was  a  strong  tower  within  tlie 
 city,  and  thither  fled  all  the  men  and  women, 
 and  all  they  of  the  city,  and  shut  it  to  them, 
 and  gat  tlieni  up  to  the  top  of  the  tower. 
 
 5'2  And  Abimelech  came  unto  the  tower,  and 
 fought  against  it,  and  went  hard  unto  the  door 
 of  the  tower  to  burn  it  with  fire. 
 
 53  And  a  certain  woman  'cast  apiece  of  a 
 millstone  upon  Abimelech's  head,  and  all  to 
 brake  his  scull. 
 
 54  Then  "'  he  called  hastily  unto  the  young 
 man  his  armourbearer,  and  said  unto  him. 
 Draw  thy  sword,  and  slay  me,  that  men  say 
 not  of  me,  A  woman  slew  him.  And  his 
 young  man  tlirust  him  through,  and  he  died. 
 
 55  And  when  the  men  of  Israel  saw  that  Abi- 
 melech was  dead,  they  departed  every  man 
 unto  his  place. 
 
 56  f  °  Thus  God  rendered  the  wickedness  of 
 Abimelech,  which  he  did  unto  his  father,  in 
 slaying  liis  seventy  In'ethren  : 
 
 57  And  all  the  evil  of  the  men  of  Shechem 
 did  God  render  upon  their  heads :  and  upon 
 them  came  "the  curse  of  Jotham  the  son  of 
 Jerubbaal. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  Tola  judrieth  Israel  in  Shamir.  5  Jair ,  whose  thirty 
 sons  had  thirty  cities.  6  The  Philistines  and  Am- 
 monites oppress  hrael.  10  In  their  misery  God 
 sendeth  them  to  their  false  gods,  15  Upon  their  re- 
 pentance he  pitieth  them. 
 
 A  ND  after  Abimelech  there  "arose  to  Hfdc- 
 ^  ^  fend  Israel  Tola  the  son  of  Puah,  the  son 
 of  Dodo,  a  man  of  Issachar ;  and  he  dwelt  in 
 Shamir  in  mount  Ephraim. 
 
 2  And  he  judged  Israel  twenty  and  three 
 years,  and  died,  and  was  buried  in  Shamir. 
 
 3  H  And  after  him  arose  .lair,  a  Gileadite, 
 and  judged  Israel  twenty  and  two  years. 
 
 4  And  he  had  thirty  sons  that  ''  rode  on 
 thirty  ass   colts,  and   they  had    thirty   cities. 
 
 .36.  Theshadow — as  men — so  the  detached  and  scattered  rocks  and  their 
 fragments  often  appear,  at  a  distance,  in  the  Holy  Land. — Daubdnn. 
 45.  Sowed  it  with  salt — this  act  has  been  thouglit,  by  some,  to  have 
 been  emblematical  of  barrenness;  but  as  cities  are  not  cultivated, 
 A.  Clarke  has,  perhaps,  more  properly  viewed  it  as  emblematical  of  an 
 incorruptible  memorial  of  de-^^olation.  A.T>.  lis,  Adrian,  in  like  man- 
 ner, sowed  Jerusalem  with  salt,  resolvinp  to  level  it  with  the  ground. 
 63.  A  certain  woman,  ffc. — in  the  siege  of  Thebes,  Pyrrhus  is  said  to 
 
 have  been  killed  by  a  piece  of  tile  thrown  on  his  head  by  a  woman. — 
 Plutarch.  Eastern  women  are  very  active  in  throwing  missile.s.  bricks, 
 stones,  &'C.,  from  besieged  places. — Pict.  Bib.  A  piece  tifa  millstone, 
 or  the  upper  stone  of  a  hand-mill. — Sut.  And  all  In  Itrake,  ^c,  '  and 
 it  broke  his  skull.* — Bootlir.  'All  to,*  in  old  writers,  means 'alto- 
 gether,' or  *  entirely,*  and  so  here  ;  it  means  '  entirely  brake  his  skull.* 
 —Pict.  Bil>. 
 Chat.  X. — 1.  Rode  on  ttiirty  ass  colts — this  seems  to  intimate  that 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX.  —  I.  Abimelech's  cruelti/  is  but 
 an  epitome  of  the  subsequent  history  of  the  world.  Through 
 how  much  blood  have  ambitious  meu  waded  to  obtain  domi- 
 nion! 
 
 II.  Jotham's  purublc  is  designed  to  teach  that  the  most  wortli- 
 less  men  often  aim  at  dominion,  and  that  tlie  end  of  Iheir  suc- 
 cess is  the  ruin  of  themselves  and  the  unhappy  people  they 
 may  govern. 
 
 \\\.  The  revolt  of  Shechem  is  a  specimen  of  the  feeble  ties 
 by  which  the  wicked  are  united  in  their  base  undertakings. 
 Where  there  is  no  love  there  can  be  no  bond  of  permanent 
 union. 
 
 IV.  The  merity  of  Abimelech  towards  the  Shechemites  is  a 
 274 
 
 specimen  of  the  spirit  by  whicli  the  wicked  are  governed.    One 
 of  their  maxims  is,  that  '  revenge  is  sweet.' 
 
 V.  The  end  of  Abimelecli.  His  reign  was  short— Iiis  death 
 was  sudden,  awful,  and  degrading.  '  Thus,'  says  Henry, 
 '  God  punished  the  wickedness  of  Abimelech,  and  of  the  men 
 of  Shechem,  and  performed  Jotham's  curse  ;  for  it  was  not  a 
 curse  causeless.  Thus  he  preserved  the  honour  of  his  govern- 
 ment, and  gave  waniing  to  all  ages  to  expect  blood  for  blood. 
 The  Lord  is  known  by  those  judgments  which  he  executeth 
 when  the  wicked  is  snared  in  the  work  of  his  own  hands. 
 Though  wickedness  may  prosper  awhile,  it  will  not  prosper 
 always.' 
 
The  Philistines  opj)ress  Israel. 
 
 JUDGES,  XI. 
 
 Jephthak's  covenant  with  the  Gileadites. 
 
 '  which  are  called  ||  Havoth-jair  unto  this  day, 
 which  are  in  the  land  of  Gilead. 
 
 5  And  Jair  died,  and  was  hiiried  in  Camon. 
 
 6  H  And  '  tlie  children  of  Israel  did  evil 
 again  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  "served 
 Baalim,  and  Ashtaroth,  and  '  the  gods  of  Syria, 
 and  the  gods  of^Zidon,  and  the  gods  of  Moab, 
 and  the  gods  of  the  children  of  Amnion,  and 
 the  gods  of  the  Philistines,  and  forsook  the 
 Lord,  and  served  not  him. 
 
 7  And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  hot  against 
 Israel,  and  he  ''sold  them  into  the  hands  of 
 the  Phihstines,  and  into  the  liands  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Amnion. 
 
 H  And  that  year  they  vexed  and  f  oppressed 
 the  cliildren  of  Israel  eighteen  years,  all  the 
 children  of  Israel  tliat  were  on  the  other  side 
 Jordan  in  the  land  of  the  Amorites,  which  is 
 in  Gilead. 
 
 9  Moreover  the  children  of  Ammon  passed 
 over  Jordan  to  fight  also  against  Judah,  and 
 against  Benjamin,  and  against  the  house  of 
 Ephraim  ;  so  that  Israel  was  sore  distressed. 
 
 10  If  '  And  tlie  children  of  Israel  cried  unto 
 the  Lord,  saying.  We  have  sinned  against  thee, 
 both  because  we  have  forsaken  our  God,  and 
 also  served  Baalim. 
 
 1 1  And  the  Lord  said  unto  the  children  of 
 Israe],  Did  not  I  deliver  t/ou  'from  the  Egypt- 
 ians, and  'from  the  Amorites,  "from  the  chil- 
 dren of  Ammon,  "  and  from  the  Philistines  ? 
 
 12  °  The  Zidonians  also,  ''and  the  Amalek- 
 ites,  and  the  Maonites,  "■  did  oppress  you  ;  and 
 ye  cried  to  me,  and  I  delivered  you  out  of  their 
 hand. 
 
 13  'Yet  ye  have  forsaken  me,  and  served  other 
 gods :  wherefore  I  will  deliver  you  no  more. 
 
 14  Go  and  "cry  unto  the  gods  wliich  ye  have 
 chosen  ;  let  them  deliver  you  in  the  time  of 
 your  tribulation. 
 
 13  U  And  the  children  of  Israel  said  unto  the 
 Lord,  We  have  sinned :  '  do  thou  unto  us 
 whatsoever  fseemeth  good  unto  thee;  deliver 
 us  only,  we  pray  thee,  this  daj'. 
 
 16  "And  they  put  away  the  f  strange  gods 
 from  among  them,  and  served  the  Lord  :  and 
 ■^  his  soul  t  was  grieved  for  the  misery  of  Israel. 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  1183. 
 
 c  Deut  3  14. 
 II  Or,  llievil- 
 
 liifffi  ofjiiir. 
 
 Nuin!3-i,*l. 
 
 cir.  1161. 
 
 d  ch.  3.  II. 
 
 ft.^.1.  &4. 
 
 I.  &!>.  I.<k 
 
 13.  1. 
 p  cli   2.  13. 
 /ch  2.  12. 
 ^  I   Kill.  It. 
 
 3.3.  Ps.  IWJ. 
 
 36. 
 
 /.  ch.  2.  M. 
 I  Sam.  1.:.  9 
 
 ;  Nu.21.  21, 
 
 21.  25. 
 
 I.  ch.  3.  12, 
 
 13. 
 n  ch.  3.  31. 
 o  ch.  5.  19. 
 p  ch.  6.  3. 
 3  Pa.  1U6. 
 
 •12,  43. 
 
 neu.S9  37, 
 3fi,  2Kiii.3 
 
 13.  Jer2,2S. 
 I  Sam.  3. 
 18.  2  Sam. 
 15.  26. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 I.  2  Chr.  T. 
 
 14.  &  15.  8. 
 Jer-  18. 7,  H. 
 
 t  Heh.^'jrf* 
 •fttrangtri 
 
 J-"Ps.  106.41, 
 45- 13.  63  9 
 
 t  Heb.  wot 
 shortened. 
 
 t  Heb  en 
 li'i/el/ier. 
 
 yell.  II.  1 
 29.  tieu. : 
 49. 
 
 rch.  11. 
 II. 
 
 o  Heb.  11.32, 
 called 
 
 b  ch.  6.  12. 
 2  Kiu.  5.  1. 
 t  Heb.  o 
 
 t  Heb.yVoni 
 
 cch.  9.  A 
 1  Bam.S 
 
 t  Heb 
 dajft. 
 
 ./i,' 
 
 "JYOW   "Jephthah    the 
 -■-'    mighty  man  of  valour 
 
 d  Gcn.26,27. 
 
 .  10.  18. 
 /I.ukBl7.4. 
 
 1 7  Then  the  children  of  Ammon  were  f  ga- 
 tliered  together,  and  encamped  in  Gilead. 
 And  the  children  of  Israel  assembled  them- 
 selves together,  and  encamped  in  "  Mizpeh. 
 
 18  And  the  people  and  princes  of  Gilead  said 
 one  to  anotlier,  What  man  is  he  that  will  begin 
 to  fight  against  the  children  of  Ammon  ?  he 
 shall  '  be  head  over  all  the  inhabitants  of 
 Gilead. 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 1  The  covenant  hcfween  Jephthah  and  the  Gileadites^ 
 that  he  should  be  thtir  head.  12  The  treaty  of  peace 
 between  him  and  the  Animonitis  is  in  vain.  29  Jepk- 
 thah's  vow.  32  His  conquest  of  thf.  Ammonites, 
 34  He  performeih  his  vow  on  his  daughter. 
 
 Gileadite    was    *'a 
 ty  man  of  valour,  and  he  rvas  the  sou 
 of  fan  harlot:  and  Gilead  begat  Jephthah. 
 
 2  And  Gilead's  wife  bare  him  sons  ;  and  his 
 wife's  sons  grew  up,  and  they  thrust  out  Jeph- 
 thah, and  said  unto  him,  Thou  shalt  not  inherit 
 in  our  father's  house  ;  for  thou  art  the  son  of  a 
 strange  woman. 
 
 3  Then  Jephthah  fled  f  from  his  brethren, 
 and  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Toh  :  and  there  were 
 gathered  ^  vain  men  to  Jephthah,  and  went  out 
 with  him. 
 
 4  %  And  it  came  to  pass  f  in  process  of  time, 
 that  the  children  of  Ammon  made  war  against 
 Israel. 
 
 5  And  it  was  so,  that  when  the  children  of 
 Ammon  made  war  against  Israel,  tlie  elders  of 
 Gilead  went  to  fetch  Jephthah  out  of  the  land 
 of  Tob  : 
 
 6  And  they  said  unto  Jephthah,  Come,  and 
 be  our  captain,  that  we  may  fight  wuth  the 
 children  of  Ammon. 
 
 7  And  Jephthah  said  unto  the  elders  of 
 Gilead,  ^  Did  not  ye  hate  me,  and  expel  me 
 out  of  my  father's  house  ?  and  why  are  ye 
 come  unto  me  now  when  ye  are  in  distress? 
 
 8  "  And  the  elders  of  Gilead  said  unto  Jeph- 
 thah, Therefore  we  *"  turn  again  to  thee  now, 
 that  thou  mayest  go  with  us,  and  light  against 
 the  children  of  Ammon,  and  be  ^  our  head  over 
 all  the  inhabitants  of  Gilead. 
 
 9  And    Jephthah   said   unto   the   elders   of 
 
 they  were  persons  of  some  consideration. — A.  Clarke.  See  chap.  v.  10. 
 So  many  went  on  foot,  that  this  was  a  distinction  equivalent  to  our 
 heeping  a  carriage. — Pict.  Bib.  6.  And  servrd  not  him — they  quite 
 lorgrot  the  Lord,  and  did  not  worship  him  at  all,  though  they  formerly 
 worshipped  him  with  their  other  gods. — Pat.  8.  That  year,  n3"C?2, 
 rather,  'from  that  year;'  3  is  so  translated  2  Kings,  xiv.  13,  and  else- 
 where.—  Wil.  11.  The  Lord  5(nd^  probably  by  a  prophet. — Pat. 
 12.  Maonites,  Midianites, — Wall,  so  Boothr.,  after  the  reading  of  the 
 Sept.,  Alex.  There  was  a  city  called  M.'on  on  the  south  of  Judah,  in- 
 habited by  the  Canaanites,  fl  Sam.  xxiii.  25  ;  xxv.  2.) — Sut.  16.  Was 
 griened — God  being  infinitely  happy  is  incapable  of  grief,  but  he  acted 
 as  one  that  felt  their  grief.— Poo/e.  1 7.  In  Gilead,  the  land  belong, 
 ing  to  Reuben,  Gad,  and  the  half-tribe  of  Manasseh. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XI.— 1.  And  he  was,  *  but  he  was.'- Pa*.  The  son  of  an 
 ft«r/«;,  that  is,  a  bastard. — Poole.  7^z^^,  'a  harlot,*  'a  concubine.' — 
 Kimchi.  But  the  word  never  signifies  this  in  Scripture ;  ver.  2  explains 
 it,  '  a  strange  woman,'  a  woman  of  another  country. — Pat.    '  A  Gen- 
 
 tile.'— Jos.  'Of  another  tribe,*  Chaldee  Paraphrase,  R.  Bechai.  A 
 hostess,  and  probably  a  Canaanite,  being  called  in  ver.  2  'a  strange 
 woman,'  of  another  race.  TViTJH  TT^H- — So  ,-I.  Clarke.  Sons  bom  of 
 a  wife  not  a  citizen  were  called  voOat,  'bastards,'  by  the  Greeks. — 
 Grolius.  If  such  persons  embraced  the  law,  among  the  Jews,  their 
 children  were  not  stained,  but  were  capable  of  inheriting;  and,  there- 
 fore, Jephthah  complains  justly  of  his  expulsion,  (ver.  7,)  which  he 
 could  not  have  done  as  a  bastard. — Pat.  ifenry  and  Scott  understand 
 '  harlot'  in  the  worst  sense.  3.  Tob — conjectured  to  be  Ish-tob, 
 (2  Sam.  X.  6,  8,)  a  country  of  the  Syrians,  not  far  from  Gilead. — Wells. 
 In  the  northern  part  of  the  portion  of  Manasseh. — Cnl.  Vain  men, 
 C^pn  ClT^l*,  '  poor  and  needy  persons,'  '  men  of  no  estates,'  such  as 
 resorted  to  David  when  he  fled  from  Saul,  (l  Sam.  xxii.  2.) — Patrick. 
 '  Profligate  and  poor.* — So  A.  Clarke.  *  Spendthrifts,'  driven  to  hunt, 
 or  perhaps  make  incursions  on  neighbouring  people  for  their  livelihood. 
 — So  Hen.  5.  To  fetch  Jephthah — he  had  probably  made  incursions 
 on  the  Ammonites,  and  already  shewn  his  valour.— Sro/f. 
 
 Reflections  ov  Chap.  X Our  reflections  may  here  be 
 
 ahnost  a  copy  of  those  on  chapter  vi.,  as  the  people  of  Israel 
 were  of  their  fathers  about  ninety  years  before — I.  Here  are 
 the  chiklren  of  Israel  ar/ain  sinning.  How  liereditary  is  de- 
 pravity !  How  easily  do  children  copy  the  worst  deeds  of 
 their  fathers  t  '  Prone  to  evil,  and  that  continually,'  is  a  trait 
 Bt'man  too  strikingly  marked  on  all  bis  family. 
 
 II.  Here  are  the  children  of  Israd  again  punished  for  their  sins. 
 Oh,  what  dull  scholars  under  tlie  I)ivine  discipline  !  Should 
 they  not  have  remembered  the  chastisement  of  their  fathers, 
 without  bringing  on  themselves  the  same  punishment  ?  No- 
 thing but  personal  discipline  will  often  bring  the  sinner  to 
 repentance. 
 
 27j 
 
 III.  Here  are  the  children  of  Israel  again  confessing  their  sins — 
 their  sins  of  omission,  in  forsaking  God,  and  commission,  in 
 serving  Baalim.  With  contrite  hearts  ibey  cast  themselves 
 on  the  mercy  of  God,  and  unconditionally  surrendered  at  his 
 footstool.  '  They  put  away  the  strange  gods  from  among 
 them,  and  served  the  Lord.'  These  were  evidences  of  sin- 
 cere repentance  ;  and  '  he  that  confesseth  and  forsaketh  his 
 sins  shall  find  mercy.' 
 
 IV.  Here  are  the  children  of  Israel  again  the  siihjects  of  Divine 
 commiseration.  *  And  his  soul  was  grieved  for  the  misery  of 
 Israel.'  '  What  a  touching  exhibition  of  the  heart  of  God  ! 
 *  Like  as  a  father  pitielh  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth 
 tlieni  that  fear  him.' 
 
Jephthali  is  chosen  head  of  the  Gileadites.  JUDGES,  XI.        The  Ammonites  neglect  the  trcatij  of  peace. 
 
 Gilead,  If  ye  bring  nie  home  again  to  fight 
 against  the  children  of  Amnion,  and  tlie  Lord 
 deliver  them  before  me,  shall  1  be  your  head? 
 
 10  And  the  elders  of  Gilead  said  unto  Jeph- 
 thah,  *'  The  Loud  f  be  %vitness  between  us,  if  we 
 do  not  so  according  to  thy  words. 
 
 11  Then  Jeplithah  went  with  the  elders  of 
 Gilead,  and  tiie  people  made  him  '  head  and 
 captain  over  them  :  and  Jephthah  uttered  all 
 his  words  ^  before  the  Lord  in  Mizpeh. 
 
 12  IT  And  Jephthah  sent  messengers  unto  the 
 king  of  the  chiUlren  of  Amnion,  saying,  What 
 liast  thou  to  do  with  mc,  that  thou  art  come 
 against  me  to  fight  in  my  land  ? 
 
 13  And  the  king  of  tlie  children  of  Animon 
 answered  unto  the  messengers  of  Jephthah, 
 '  Because  Israel  took  away  my  land,  when 
 they  came  up  out  of  Egypt,  from  Arnon  even 
 unto  "' Jabbok,  and  unto  Jordan:  now  there- 
 fore restore  those  lands  again  peaceably. 
 
 14  And  Jephthah  sent  messengers  again  unto 
 the  king  of  the  children  of  Amnion  : 
 
 15  And  said  unto  him,  Thus  saith  Jephthah, 
 "Israel  took  not  away  the  land  of  Moab,  nor 
 the  land  of  the  children  of  Amnion  : 
 
 16  But  when  Israel  came  up  from  Egypt, 
 and  "walked  through  the  wilderness  unto  the 
 Red  sea,  and  ''  came  to  Kadesh  ; 
 
 17  Then  ''  Israel  sent  messengers  unto  the 
 king  of  Edom,  saying.  Let  me,  I  pray  thee, 
 pass  through  thy  land  :  '  but  the  king  of  Edom 
 would  not  hearken  thereto.  And  in  like  man- 
 ner they  sent  unto  the  king  of  Moab  :  but  lie 
 would  not  consent:  and  Israel  'abode  in  Ka- 
 desh. 
 
 18  Then  they  went  along  through  the  wilder- 
 ness, and  ^compassed  the  land  of  Edom,  and 
 the  land  of  Moab,  and  "  came  by  the  east  side 
 of  the  land  of  Moab,  ^and  pitched  on  the  other 
 side  of  Arnon,  but  came  not  within  the  border 
 of  Moab :  for  Arnon  icas  the  border  of  Moab. 
 
 19  And  ^' Israel  sent  messengers  unto  Sihon 
 king  of  the  Amorites,  the  king  of  Heshbon  ; 
 and  Israel  said  unto  him,  ^  Let  us  pass,  we 
 
 I        B.  C. 
 cir.  net. 
 
 /.  Jer.  -1 
 t  H*-b. 
 
 k  ch.  10.  17. 
 &  20.  I . 
 I  Sam.  10, 
 I7.&M.  15 
 cir.  1143, 
 
 ;  Num.  fil. 
 21,  25,  20. 
 
 .  Nu.  H.25. 
 
 Pen,   I.  4*1. 
 
 Jnsh.  5.  6. 
 p  Nu.  13.  26 
 
 fc  20.  I. 
 
 n.mt.  I.  "IS. 
 <,  Nu.  20,  \\ 
 r  Sn.  'JO.  IS, 
 
 /Nu.  SI.4. 
 
 Deu.2.1— 8 
 u  Nu.2I.ll. 
 jNu.2I.\3 
 
 b  2i.  St> 
 
 ;  >'u.  21.  22 
 Dfu.  2.  27. 
 
 U.  C. 
 
 cir.  1 1  13 
 
 b  PTum,  21. 
 
 U,  25. 
 
 Deu.  2.  33, 
 
 3-1. 
 c  Diu,  2,  S6. 
 
 rfNu.21.29. 
 1  Kill.  11.7. 
 Jef.  4vS.  7. 
 
 «  Den.  9.  4, 
 
 5.  fc  IS.  12. 
 
 jos]i.:t.  10. 
 
 1}  Nil   21.  Cf) 
 A  Deu.  2.  S6. 
 
 1  Gen.  13.25 
 k  Gen.  16    & 
 &Sl.  bX 
 I  .Sam.  24. 
 12,  IS. 
 
 /  cli.  3.  10. 
 
 II  Jpplithah 
 seemR  to 
 have  been 
 Jiiilsn  only 
 of  Ni.rtli 
 east  Itrncl. 
 
 in  Gen  29.. 
 ■SO.  1  Sam, 
 I.  11. 
 
 pray  thee,  through  thy  land  into  my  place. 
 
 20  "^  But  Sihon  trusted  not  Israel  to  pass 
 through  his  coast :  but  Sihon  gathered  all  his 
 people  together,  and  pitched  in  Jahaz,  and 
 fought  against  Israel. 
 
 21  And  the  Loud  God  of  Israel  delivered 
 Sihon  and  all  liis  people  into  the  hand  of  Is- 
 rael, and  they  ^ smote  them:  so  Israel  pos- 
 sessed all  the  land  of  the  Amorites,  the  inha- 
 bitants of  that  country. 
 
 •2'2  And  they  possessed  ^  all  the  coasts  of  the 
 Amorites,  from  Arnon  even  unto  Jabbok,  and 
 from  the  wilderness  even  unto  Jordan. 
 
 23  So  now  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  hath  dis- 
 possessed the  Amorites  from  before  his  people 
 Israel,  and  sliouldest  thou  possess  it? 
 
 24  Wilt  not  thou  possess  that  which  '^  Che- 
 mosh  thy  god  giveth  thee  to  possess?  So 
 whomsoever  "  the  Lord  our  God  shall  drive 
 out  from  before  us,  them  will  we  possess. 
 
 25  And  now  art  thou  any  tiling  better  than 
 '  Balak  the  son  of  Zippor,  king  of  Moab?  did 
 le  ever  strive  against  Israel,  or  did  he  ever 
 
 fight  against  them, 
 
 26  While  Israel  dwelt  in  ^  Heshbon  and  her 
 towns,  and  in  ''  Aroer  and  her  towns,  and  in  all 
 the  cities  that  be  along  by  tlie  coasts  of  Ar- 
 non, three  hundred  years?  why  therefore  did 
 ye  not  recover  them  witliin  that  time? 
 
 27  Wherefore  I  have  not  sinned  against  thee, 
 but  thou  doest  me  wrong  to  w^ar  against  me: 
 the  Lord  '  the  Judge  ''be  judge  this  day  be- 
 tween the  children  of  Israel  and  the  children 
 of  Amnion. 
 
 28  Howbeit  the  king  of  the  children  of  Am- 
 nion hearkened  not  unto  the  words  of  Jeph- 
 thah which  be  sent  him. 
 
 29  1[  Then  '  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came 
 upon  II  Jephthah,  and  he  passed  over  Gilead, 
 and  Manasseh,  and  passed  over  Mizpeh  of  Gi- 
 lead, and  from  Mizpeh  of  Gilead  he  passed 
 over  tmf</  the  cliildren  of  xVmmon. 
 
 30  And  Jephthah  "'vowed  a  vow  unto  the 
 Lord,  and  said.  If  thou  shalt  without  fail  de- 
 
 1 1 .  Jephthah  uttered,  fyc. — he  would  undertake  nothing:  without  God's 
 approbation ;  he  laid  all  liefore  him  in  solemn  prayer,  and  God  answered 
 him,  probably  by  some  prophet,  or  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  would  not 
 have  come  upon  him,  (ver.  29.)— Put.  Some  think  the  high  piiest.with 
 his  breast- plate,  was  at  Mizpeh,  and  that  Jephthah  inquired  of  him. 
 Tn  Mizpeh~the  Mizpeh  here  mentioned  was  east  of  Jordan,  and  called 
 Mizpeh  of  Gilead,  in  contradistinction  from  another  place  of  the  same 
 name,  which  lay  west  of  Jordan,  (Josh.  xv.  38.)— Sco^^  24.  Wilt 
 thou  not  possess,  §c.— he  appeals  to  them  whether  they  would  not  keep 
 what  they  said  their  god  had  given  them ;  and  by  the  right  by  which 
 they  claimeil,  so  did  Israel,  possessing  what  their  God  bestowed  upon 
 them. — Pat.,   Ed.  30.  Jephthah   rowed  a  vow,   §-c. — the    question 
 
 arising  out  of  this  is,  Was  Jephthah's  daughter  sacrificed  ?  For  the 
 affirmative  we  have  most  of  the  Rabbins,  and  Josephus,  and  most  of  the 
 Fathers,  Calmet,  Ponle,  Henri/,  Wiirburtuii,  and  Si:ott,  and  Noble  on 
 the  Inspiration  of  the  Scriptures.  For  the  negative,  Kimchi,  Ben 
 Melech,  Ben  Gerson,  Ralbag,  Vatablns,  Dnisins,  Grotius.  Dnthe,  Pat., 
 Saurin,  Hales,  Rtaululpk,  Wuterland,  Huufjii^urtt,  Bp.  Wilson,  Stack- 
 house,  Pyle,  Gray,  Romaine,  T.  H.  Home,  Buolhroi/d,  Greeujield,  and 
 Williams.  The  arguments  for  the  sacrifice  are  these  : — (i.)  There  is  no 
 example  in  Scripture  of  any  woman  being  devoted  by  a  vow  to  perpe- 
 tual virginity,  (ii.)  The  express  words  of  the  vow  mention  nothing 
 of  her  virginity,  (iii.)  If  this  were  all,  there  is  no  sufficient  cause  why 
 Jephthah  should  so  bitterly  lament  over  his  daughter,  (iv.)  These 
 were  times  of  great  ignorance  and  corruption,  and  Jephthali  having  so 
 long  been  banished  from  his  people,  might,  in  this  case,  practise  a 
 common  custom  nf  the  heathen,  (v)  It  is  clear  that  Jephthah  speaks 
 of  a  human  person,  and  not  of  any  animal,  for  there  is  the  intention 
 to  meet  \\\m.— Poole,  (vi.j  Why  should  the  virgins  of  l&raei  meet  an- 
 nually to  mourn  for  Jephthah's  daughter?  for  had  she  survived  to  give 
 them  an  annual  feast,  surely  they  would  rather  have  met  to  rejoice  toge- 
 ther Uian  to  mourn,  (vii.)  The  elders  of  Israel  were  so  shocked  at  this 
 deed,  as  to  have  enacted  a  law,  that  '  in  future  no  human  victims 
 Should  be  ofifercd.'  (viii.)  Those  who  make  it  a  vow  of  virginity  forget 
 the  possibility  of  its  being  a  male  that  might  have  met  Jephthah.— Sk/. 
 The  answers  to  the  above  reasons  may  be  given  as  follows  :—(i.)  If 
 there  is  no  mention  in  Scripture  of  celibacy,  there  is  noUiing  in  Jewish 
 customs  of  human  sacrifices.— £wi7i.  Synop.  (ii.)  The  vow  by  no 
 276 
 
 means  implies  a  sacrifice,  but  rather  a  consecration. — Ed.  (iii.)  She 
 was  his  only  child,  therefore  mere  dear  to  her  father;  and  as  he  had 
 devoted  her  to  God,  all  hope  of  posterity  by  her  was  cut  off.  This 
 accounts  for  his  distress. — Boothr.  (iv.)  The  sacrifice  of  children  was 
 an  abomination,  (Lev.  xx.  2,  3,)  and  even  an  offending  child  could  not 
 he  put  tn  death  by  a  parent,  (Deut.  xxi.  18 — 21.) — Hates.  The  father 
 would  not  have  <lone  it  without  snfTering  death,  the  prie&t  would  not 
 have  allowed  it,  the  people  would  nut  have  suffered  it,  and  by  the  law 
 slie  might  have  been  redeemed,  (Lev.  xxvii.  4.)  God  would  not  allow 
 Abraham  to  sacrifice  his  son,  and  would  he  have  allowed  the  worthy 
 Jephthah  to  have  sacrificed  his  daughter? — Evan.  Synop.  (v.)  If  it 
 were  a  human  being  that  was  vowed,  the  vow  does  not  pledge  to  the 
 sacrifice.  The  words  n"?!!?  inTl'brm,  may  be  translated,  '  and  I  will 
 offer  Him  (or  to  Ilim,  that  is,  Jehovah,)  a  burnt-offeiing.' — Dr.  Ra?i. 
 dotph.  And  the  whole  connexion  may  read,  '  Whatever  ccmes  to  mc, 
 I  will  devote  to  the  Lord  ;  or,  \  I  will  offer  him  up  a  burnt-sacrifice.* 
 Otherwise,  '  And,  1,  [that  is.  also, J  I  will  offer  up  to  him  a  burnt- 
 sacrifice.'— TH///or.  (vi.)  If  the  virgins  did  meet  annually  to  lament, 
 (ver.  -10,)  it  was  her  being  devoted  to  virginity,  a  sufficient  ground  for 
 lamentation  rather  than  joy,  when  we  recollect  the  desire  of  the  He- 
 brew women  to  become  mothers,  with  a  view  to  the  Messiah, — Ed. ; 
 but  theword  may  be  variously  rendered,  and  learned  Hebraists  have  in- 
 terpreted it  otherwise.  (Ver.  40,)  nriD''  ri2')  T^VVib, '  to  lament  with,'  &c. 
 — Boothr.  'To  talk  with,'  mart;.,  Kimchi,  Mont.,  Pag,,  1'rem.,  Pise. 
 'To  draw  out,'  'prolong  conversation,'  &c. — Taylor.  'That  they 
 might  comfort  her,' — Houb.  In  the  original  the  words  are,  'and  it 
 was  a  law  in  Israel  that  the  daughters  of  Israel  went  yearly  to  make 
 presents  to  the  daughter  of  Jephthah,  the  Gileadite,  four  days  in  the 
 year.'  The  word  here  rendered  lament,'  is  elsewhere  translated  're- 
 ward.* 'hire,'  '  gift.'  The  use  of  it,  Ps.  Ixviii.  18,  is  very  remarkable, 
 '  Thou  hast  received  gifts  for  men.'  She  could  not  be  dead  who  wa^ 
 visited  four  days  in  every  year  by  the  daughters  of  Israel,  and  had  then 
 such  presents  made  her  as  none  could  receive  but  one  who  was  living. 
 — Romaine.  (vii.)  The  enactment  of  a  law  by  the  ciders  of  Israel,  to 
 prevent  the  offering  of  human  victims,  was  unnecessary,  for  tJod  Imd 
 already  prohibited  it,  and  such  an  enactment  must  have  had  leference 
 to  recent  idolatrous  practices. — Ed.  (viii.)  If  a  male  hod  met  Jeph- 
 thuh,  might  he  not  have  been  consecrated  to  sacred  service  without 
 
Jephthah's  vow. 
 
 JUDGES,  XII. 
 
 Bis  death  and  burial. 
 
 Jiver  the  children  of  Ammoii  into  mine  hands, 
 
 31  Then  it  shall  be,  tliatf  whatsoever  cometli 
 forth  of  tlie  doors  of  my  lunise  to  meet  me, 
 when  I  retnrn  in  peace  from  the  children  of 
 Annnon,  "shall  surely  be  tlie  Lokd's,  ||  °  and  I 
 will  offer  it  up  for  a  burnt  offering. 
 
 32  t  So  Jephthah  passed  over  unto  the  chil- 
 dren of  Anunon  to  fight  against  tliem  ;  and  the 
 Lord  delivered  them  into  his  hands. 
 
 33  And  lie  smote  them  from  Aroer,  even  till 
 tliou  come  to  ^  Miiniith,  even  twenty  cities,  and 
 unto  II  the  plain  of  the  vineyards,  with  a  very 
 great  slangliter.  Thus  the  children  of  Ammon 
 were  subdued  before  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 34  t  And  Jephthali  came  to  ''  Mizpeh  unto 
 his  house,  and,  behold,  'his  daughter  came  out 
 to  meet  him  with  timbrels  and  with  dances: 
 and  she  teas  his  only  child;  ||t beside  her  he 
 had  neither  son  nor  daughter. 
 
 35  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  saw  her, 
 that  he  '  rent  his  clothes,  and  said,  Alas,  my 
 daughter!  thou  hast  brought  me  very  low,  and 
 thou  art  one  of  them  that  trouble  me  :  for  I 
 '  have  opened  my  mouth  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 "  I  cannot  go  back. 
 
 36  And  she  said  unto  him.  My  father,  r/"  thou 
 hast  opened  thy  mouth  unto  tlie  Lord,  ""do  to 
 me  according  to  that  which  hath  proceeded 
 out  of  thy  mouth  ;  forasmuch  as ''  the  Lord  hath 
 taken  vengeance  for  thee  of  thine  enemies, 
 even  of  the  children  of  Ammon. 
 
 37  And  she  said  unto  her  father.  Let  this 
 thing  be  done  for  me :  let  me  alone  two 
 months,  that  I  may  fgo  up  and  down  upon 
 the  mountains,  and  bewail  my  virginity,  I  and 
 my  fellows. 
 
 38  And  he  said.  Go.  And  he  sent  her  away 
 fur  two  months  :  and  she  went  with  her  com- 
 panions, and  bewailed  her  virginity  upon  the 
 mountains. 
 
 39  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  two 
 months,  tliat  she  returned  unto  her  father,  who 
 '  did  witli  lier  according  to  his  vow  which  he 
 had  vowed  :  and  slie  knew  no  man.  And  it 
 was  a  II  custom  in  Israel, 
 
 40  That  the  daugliters  of  Israel  went  f  yearly 
 
 n;1. 
 
 t  Hob. 
 
 that  wliir't 
 COmeth/ortfif 
 
 .»,;,» /.r/». 
 
 n  See  Lev. 
 27.  2.  S,&c 
 I  Bam  I  II, 
 28   *«2.  Id. 
 
 U  Or,  iir  I 
 
 Witt  I'gtT  it, 
 
 o  Ps.  66.  I.S. 
 
 SL-e  Lcv.27 
 
 II,  12 
 ;)  Eze.  27.17. 
 II  Or,  ^Oel. 
 
 qch.  10.  17. 
 
 li*  ver.  11. 
 r  Ex.  15.  20. 
 
 1  Sam. 18.  6. 
 
 Pa.  6S.  25. 
 
 Jer.  31.  ♦. 
 II  Or,  /.«  had 
 
 „.,l..fU, 
 
 iiiaii  either 
 
 d'nlf/lit^, 
 t  Hel,.  „/ 
 
 /i  imflf. 
 <  Gen.  37.29, 
 
 34. 
 
 /  Eccles.  5.2. 
 
 u  Nuni  30.2. 
 P8.  15.  4-. 
 Etcles.5,4, 
 
 V  2  Sam.  IS. 
 19,31. 
 
 r  ver.  Sr. 
 
 I  Sara  1  2^, 
 
 2-1.  Vt  2.  la. 
 II  Or, 
 
 ordinance. 
 t  Heb/™m 
 
 yenr  tityear. 
 II  Or,  to  tatfi 
 
 tnilli,  ch.  5. 
 
 tl. 
 
 n Seech  8.1. 
 t  Heb,  wers 
 calle-L 
 
 i  I  Sara.  10. 
 5.  Rc2H.  21. 
 Job  13    U- 
 
 p6.  II 9.  mo. 
 
 dJosh  22.11. 
 ch.3.28.&7. 
 
 ttr^-ii 
 
 .1,  nr. 
 
 Jloon 
 
 Pa.1.9. 
 
 2,1.1 
 
 la.  27. 
 
 12. 
 
 clr. 
 
 1137. 
 
 II  to  lament  the  daughter  of  Jephthah  the  Gi- 
 leadite  four  days  in  a  year. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  27(6  EpJtraimites ,  qimrniling  with  J^phthnhj  anddis- 
 ctrncd  by  SliibboUth,  are  slain  by  the  Oikadites. 
 7  Jephthali  didh.  8  Ibzaji,  who  had  titirty  sons  and 
 thirty  danyhttrti,  Jl  and  Elan,  13  anil  Abtlon,  7cho 
 had  forty  sons  and  thirty  nejihews,  Judytd  Israel. 
 
 \  ND  "the  men  of  Ephraim  f  gathered  them- 
 -^^  selves  together,  and  went  nortliward,  and 
 said  unto  Jephthah,  Wherefore  passedst  thou 
 i  over  to  fight  against  the  cliildren  of  Ammon, 
 and  didst  not  call  us  to  go  witli  theeV  we  will 
 burn  tliine  house  upon  thee  with  fire. 
 
 2  And  Jephthah  said  unto  them,  I  and  my 
 people  were  at  great  strife  with  tlie  children  of 
 Ammon  ;  and  when  I  called  you,  ye  delivered 
 me  not  out  of  their  hands. 
 
 3  And  when  I  saw  that  ye  delivered  me  not, 
 I  "put  my  life  in  my  hands,  and  passed  over 
 against  the  children  of  Ammon,  and  the  Lord 
 delivered  them  into  my  hand  :  wherefore  then 
 are  ye  come  up  unto  me  this  day,  to  fight 
 against  me  ? 
 
 4  Then  Jephthali  gathered  together  all  the 
 men  of  Gilead,  and  fought  with  Ephraim  :  and 
 the  men  of  Gilead  smote  Ephraim,  because 
 tliey  said.  Ye  Gileadites  '^  are  fugitives  of 
 Ephraim  among  the  Ephraiinites,  and  among 
 the  Manassites. 
 
 5  And  the  Gileadites  took  the  ''passages  of 
 Jordan  before  the  Ephraimites  :  and  it  was  so, 
 that  when  those  Ephraimites  which  were  es- 
 caped said.  Let  me  go  over ;  that  the  men  of 
 Gilead  said  unto  him.  Art  thou  an  Ephraimite? 
 If  he  said.  Nay  ; 
 
 6  Then  said  they  unto  him.  Say  now  ||  Shib- 
 boleth :  and  he  said  Sibboleth  :  for  he  could 
 not  frame  to  pronounce  it  right.  Then  they 
 took  him,  and  slew  him  at  the  passages  of  Jor- 
 dan :  and  there  fell  at  that  time  of  the  Ephraim- 
 ites forty  and  two  thousand. 
 
 7  And  Jephthah  judged  Israel  six  years. 
 Then  died  Jeplithah  the  Gileadite,  and  was 
 buried  in  one  o^'the  cities  of  Gilead. 
 
 sacrificing  him?  To  these  reasons  maybe  added,  (ix.)  That  no  devoted 
 thing  could  he  sacrificed,  (Lev.  x.wii.  29  ;)  but  this  could  not  apply  to 
 the  cherein  there  alluded  to,  but  was  merely  a  simple  vow.  (x.)  As 
 two  months  elapsed  before  the  vow  was  fulfilled,  all  the  pleas  of  igno- 
 rance on  the  part  of  Jephthah,  or  ignorance  and  negligence  on  the  part 
 of  the  high  priest,  must  fall  to  the  ground  ;  it  cannot  be  supposed  but 
 that,  with  Jephthah's  desire  to  spare  bis  daughter,  some  among  the 
 Israelites  would  have  reminded  him  of  God's  abhorrence  of  human  sa- 
 crifices.— Ed.  Ti'illiiints  sums  up  the  matter  of  the  supposed  sacrifice 
 of  Jephthah  by  observing,  (i.)  His  vow  did  not  require  it.  (ii.)  The  law 
 did  not  permit  it.  (iii.)  There  is  nothing  in  the  narrative  to  prove  that 
 he  sacrificed  his  daughter.  39-  Did  with  hey  ttaeording  to  his  voiv^ 
 
 that  was,  to  devote  her  ;  now  there  were  females  residing  at  the  taber- 
 nacle, probably  as  singers,  (see  Ezra,  ii.  63,)  and  for  tabernacle  service  ; 
 in  some  way,  thirty-two  captured  Midianitisb  singers  were  devoted. 
 
 (Num.  xxxi.  35— 40,)— So  Wil.  The  story  fif  Agamemnon  and  Iphi- 
 genia  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  this. — Hetv.  40.  Went  yenrly, 
 — recollecting  the  custom  all  over  the  east  for  people  to  go  once  a  year 
 to  lament  over  the  graves  of  their  deceased  friends,  this  text  seems  ra- 
 ther to  favour  the  idea  that  the  daughter  of  Jephthah  really  died. — 
 Piet.  Bib.    See  ver.  30,  argument  vi. 
 
 Chap.  XII.  —  1.  Went  northward,  or  'over  northward;'  that  is, 
 over  the  Jordan,  which  lay  between  Gilead  aud  Ephraim  ;  and  when 
 they  had  crossed,  they  turned  towards  Mizpeh  in  the  north. — GUI. 
 3.  /  put  my  life  in  my  hands — so  the  Hindoos  speak  ;  when  a  long  ab- 
 sent son  returns,  they  say,  *  My  son  has  returned  from  a  far  country, 
 with  his  life  in  his  hands;'  signifyiiig,  he  has  passed  through  many 
 dangers.— So  Rait.  6.  Sltiiilioletb,  ri73MJ,  '  a  stream,'  or  '  course  of 
 water.' — Jarchi.  vbzD,  '  a  burden.'  They  pronounced  the  sh  in  the 
 beginning  of  the  first  word  like  the  6-  in  the  beginning  of  the  second; 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI. — We  may  just  select  for 
 notice — I.  Jephthah's  vow.  If  we  have  any  difficulty  in  under- 
 standing the  precise  nature  of  this  vow,  tbe  spirit  of  it  is 
 clear.  It.mamfested  Jephthah's  dependence  upon  God  forliia 
 anticipated  victory,  and  bis  desire  to  make  liim  some  acknow- 
 ledgment after  liis  return.  But  evens  good  thing  may  be  done 
 rashly,  and  he  spake  unadvisedly  with  bis  lips.  In  making 
 our  resolutions,  we  should  exercise  caution,  and  remember 
 the  difficulties  wbidi  may  lie  in  tlie  way  of  their  fulfilment; 
 but  if  a  good  man.  in  his  dealing  with  men,  will  swear  to  his 
 own  hurt,  and  change  not,  he  will  assuredly  not  be  less  faith- 
 ful to  God.  '  I  have  opened  my  moutli  unto  tbe  Lord,'  said 
 Jephtbab,  'and  I  cannot  go  back.'  Let  those  who  have  joined 
 themselves  in  covenant  to  God  remember  this  sentiment. 
 
 II.  Jephthah's  davyhter.  Whatever  were  Iiis  intentions  re- 
 specting his  daughter,  she  presents  a  line  sample  of  filial  obe- 
 277 
 
 dience.  It  is  most  probable,  from  the  piety  wdiich  Jephtbab 
 manifested  in  inquiring  of  God,  in  praying  to  God,  and  in 
 vowing  to  God,  that  be  was  far  better  instructed  in  the  best 
 tilings  than  some  have  conceived,  and  it  is  evident  be  bad  not 
 neglected  to  instruct  bis  daughter.  '  She  said  unto  bim,  My 
 fatlier,  if  thou  bast  opened  thy  mouth  unto  tbe  Lord,  do  to  me 
 according  to  tnu*.  which  has  proceeded  out  of  thy  mouth,  for- 
 asmucb  as  tbe  Lord  balli  taken  vengeance  for  thee  of  tliino 
 enemies.'  Here  was  the  spirit  of  Isaac  renewed;  and  if  tbe 
 honour  of  God  was  connected  with  the  sacrifice  required,  she 
 was  willing  to  make  it.  llow  unlike  this  noble  pattern  of  self- 
 denial  and  obedience  are  those  children  who  will  submit  to 
 no  discipline  or  control,  and  who  often  break  through  every 
 restraint,  bringing  wretchedness  upon  themselves,  and  over- 
 whelming with  sorrow  their  tender  parents. 
 
Israel  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Philistines. 
 
 JUDGES,  XIII, 
 
 Jtlnnoah's  sacrifice. 
 
 8  IF  And  after  him  ||  Ibzan  of  Beth-Iehem 
 judged  Israel. 
 
 9  And  he  had  thirty  sons,  and  thirty  daugh- 
 ters, u-hom  he  sent  abroad,  and  took  in  thirty 
 daughters  from  abroad  for  liis  sons.  And  he 
 judged  Israel  seven  years. 
 
 10  Then  died  Ibzan,  and  was  buried  at  Beth- 
 lehem. 
 
 1 1  1  And  after  him  ||  Elon,  a  Zebulonite, 
 judged  Israel  ;  and  he  judged  Israel  ten  years. 
 
 12  And  Elon  the  Zebulonite  died,  and  was 
 buried  in  Aijalon  in  the  country  of  Zebulun. 
 
 13  t  And  after  him  ||  Abdon  the  son  of  Hil- 
 lel,  a  Pirathonitc,  judged  Israel. 
 
 14  And  be  had  forty  sons  arid  thirty  fne- 
 plicws,  that  ■"■  rode  on  threescore  and  ten  ass 
 colts  :  and  he  judged  Israel  eight  years. 
 
 15  And  Abdon  the  son  of  HiUel  the  Pira- 
 thonitc died,  and  was  buried  in  Pirathon  in  the 
 land  of  Ephraim, '  in  the  mount  of  the  Araalek- 
 ites 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Israel  is  hi  the  hand  of  the  Philistines.  2  An  angel 
 Of'ptnrifh  to  Miinonh's  wift.  8  The  anyd  appeartth 
 to  J\I-niouh.  15  Miinoah's  sucri/icey  whereby  the 
 anyd  is  discovered.     24  Sanison  is  horn. 
 
 AND  the  children  of  Israel  f'did  evil  again 
 in  the  sight  of  the  Loud;  ||  and  the  Lord 
 dehvercd  them*' into  the  hand  of  the  Philistines 
 forty  years. 
 
 2  1  And  there  was  a  certain  man  of  ^  Zorah, 
 of  the  family  of  the  Danites,  whose  name  was 
 Manoah  ;  and  his  wife  was  barren,  and  bare  not. 
 
 3  And  the  ^  angel  of  the  Lord  appeared  unto 
 the  woman,  and  said  unto  her,  Heboid  now, 
 thou  art  barren,  and  bearest  not :  but  thou 
 shalt  conceive,  and  bear  a  son. 
 
 4  Now  tlierefore  beware,  I  pray  thee,  and 
 "  drink  not  wine  nor  strong  drink,  and  eat  not 
 any  unclean  thing: 
 
 5  For,  lo,  thou  shalt  conceive,  and  bear  a 
 son;  and  no  ''razor  shall  come  on  liis  head: 
 for  the  child  shall  be  *-'  a  Nazarite  unto  God 
 from  the  womb :  and  he  shall  **  begin  to  deliver 
 Lsrael  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philistines. 
 
 6  %  Then  the  woman  came  and  told  her  hus- 
 band, saying, '  A  man  of  God  came  unto  me,  and 
 his  ''  countenance  was  like  tiie  countenance  of 
 an  angel  of  God,  very  terrible  :  but  I  '  asked 
 him  not  whence  he  waSj  neither  told  he  me  his 
 name : 
 
 7  But  he  said  unto  me,  Behold,  thou  shalt 
 conceive,  and  bear  a  son  ;  and  now  drink  no 
 wine  nor  strong  drink,  neither  eat  any  unclean 
 thing:  for  the  child  shall  be  a  Nazarite  to  God 
 from  the  womb  to  the  day  of  his  death. 
 
 8  H  Then  Manoah  intreated  the  Lord,  and 
 said,  O  my  Lord,  let  the  man  of  God  which 
 
 to  huve 
 been  only  a 
 civil  Jud^e 
 ti>  till  jus- 
 tice in 
 North  east 
 
 r.  1130. 
 y  A.-ivU 
 Juds;c  la 
 North  east 
 
 cir.  1120. 
 
 II  A  civil 
 
 iu  Nortli 
 east  Itrael 
 \  lleb.  lon^ 
 
 erh.'b.  10,  & 
 10.  4. 
 
 /ch.  3.  13, 
 27.  &.  f>.  U. 
 
 cir.  nei. 
 
 t  Hub.  adiUd 
 lo  commil, 
 
 acli.S.n.  & 
 S.7.  &4.1.RI 
 6.  I.  &  h).6. 
 
 [)  This  seems 
 n  partial 
 captivity. 
 
 b  I  Sam  12  9. 
 
 c  Josh. 19  41. 
 
 dcU.  6.  12. 
 Luke  1.  11, 
 
 13, 28,  ai. 
 
 !  ver.  14. 
 Xum  6.2,  S. 
 Luke  1.15. 
 
 /Num.6.  5 
 
 IS.iin.  I.U 
 
 ff  Num.  6.  M. 
 
 /.  See  1  Sam. 
 7.  1-1. 
 
 2  Sitm  A.  t. 
 I  Chr.  19.1. 
 
 t  Ueb.  Jf'hm 
 »'.nH  be  llm 
 mmnrr  of 
 
 II  Oi,  what 
 tli'ilUiedo9 
 
 t  Heb.  wl>»t 
 hliull  be  flit 
 ^s•'rk  f 
 
 \  Hob  brf.,e 
 Ihvr.. 
 
 \\  OW'fOn'irr- 
 
 j'„t.  Is,  y.  0. 
 
 jicli.fi.)f,20. 
 
 i  Deut.  S? 
 
 .1. 
 
 1  Sam  2 
 
 •j;. 
 
 »  9.  6 
 
 1  Kin,  17,81.  II 
 
 A  Mnt.  S» 
 
 .3. 
 
 Luke  9. 
 
 sy. 
 
 Acts  6. 
 
 ,5. 
 
 t  ver.  17, 
 
 lii. 
 
 ,,  I,.v.<l.21. 
 
 thou  didst  send  come  again  unto  us,  and  teach 
 us  uliat  we  sliall  do  unto  the  child  that  shall 
 be  born. 
 
 9  And  God  hearkened  to  the  voice  of  Ma- 
 noah ;  and  the  angel  of  God  came  again  unto 
 the  woman  as  she  .sat  in  the  field:  but  Manoah 
 her  husband  tvas  not  with  her. 
 
 10  And  the  woman  made  haste,  and  ran,  and 
 shewed  her  husband,  and  said  unto  him,  He- 
 hold,  the  man  hatli  appeared  unto  me,  that 
 came  unto  me  the  other  day. 
 
 11  And  Manoah  arose,  and  went  after  his 
 wife,  and  came  to  tlie  man,  and  said  unto  him. 
 Art  tliou  the  man  that  spakest  unto  the  wo- 
 man V     And  he  said,  I  am. 
 
 12  And  Manoah  said.  Now  let  thy  words 
 come  to  pass,  f  How  shall  we  order  the  child, 
 and  llf/iow  shall  we  do  unto  him? 
 
 13  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  Ma- 
 noah, Of  all  that  I  said  unto  the  woman  let  her 
 beware. 
 
 14  She  may  not  eat  of  any  thiiit/ that  cometh 
 of  the  vine,  ""  neither  let  her  drink  wine  or 
 strong  drink,  nor  eat  any  unclean  thinr/  :  all 
 that  1  commanded  her  let  her  observe. 
 
 15  11  And  Manoah  said  unto  the  angel  of  the 
 Lord,  I  pray  thee,  "let  us  detain  thee,  until 
 we  shall  have  made  ready  a  kid  ffor  thee. 
 
 16  And  the  angel  of  tlie  Lord  said  unto  Ma- 
 noah, Tliongh  thou  detain  me,  I  will  not  eat 
 of  thy  bread  :  and  if  thou  wilt  offer  a  burnt 
 offering,  thou  must  offer  it  unto  the  Lord. 
 For  Manoah  knew  not  that  he  was  an  angel  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 17  And  Jlanoah  said  unto  the  angel  of  the 
 Lord,  What  is  thy  name,  that  when  thy  say- 
 ings come  to  pass  we  may  do  thee  honour? 
 
 18  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said  unto  him, 
 °  Why  askest  thou  thus  after  my  name,  seeing 
 it  is  II  secret  ? 
 
 19  So  Manoah  took  a  kid  with  a  meat  offer- 
 ing, ''and  offered  it  upon  a  rock  unto  the 
 Lord  :  and  the  aiu/el  did  wonderously ;  and 
 Manoah  and  his  wife  looked  on. 
 
 20  For  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  flame  went 
 up  toward  heaven  from  off  the  altar,  that  the 
 angel  of  the  Lord  ascended  in  the  flame  of 
 the  altar.  And  Manoah  and  his  wife  looked 
 on  it,  and  ''fell  on  their  faces  to  the  ground. 
 
 21  But  the  angel  of  the  Lord  did  no  more 
 appear  to  Manoah  and  to  his  wife.  '  Then 
 Manoah  knew  that  he  was  an  angel  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 22  And  Manoah  said  unto  his  wife,  '  We 
 shall  surely  die,  because  we  have  seen  God. 
 
 23  But  his  wife  said  unto  him.  If  the  Lord 
 were  pleased  to  kill  us,  he  would  not  have  re- 
 ceived a  burnt  offering  and  a  meat  offering  at 
 our  hands,  neither  would  he  have  shewed  us 
 
 so  the  French  often  pronounce  our  th  as  if  it  were  d,  in  this  and  that. 
 — Ed.  9.  Whom  he  sent  abroad,  or  married  to  another  family  of  the 
 same  tribe. — GiU.  Boothropd  reads,  '  those  lie  married  out.'  Took  in 
 thirty  daughters,  for  the  ciistom  was,  sons  and  their  wives  to  abide 
 with  their  father. — Gitl.  14.  That  rode,  ^-c— see  note  on  chap.  v.  10. 
 Chap.  XIll.  — 4.  Drink  not,  ^c— she  was  to  live  as  the  Nazarites, 
 
 (Num.  vi.  2,  Sic.) — Pat.  Because  the  child  was  to  be  a  Nazarite,  and 
 the  mother's  pollution  extends  to  the  clidd. — Poole.  5.  A  Nazmrite, 
 — see  notes  on  Num.  vi.  •!,  &c.  6.  Very  terri/t.'e — rather,  '  very  vene- 
 rable and  full  of  majesty.'— Hph'.  18.  //  is  secret,  v'jD  Win.  'it  is 
 wonderful ;'  a  name  of  the  Messiah,  (Isa.  ix.  6,)  t^'?D  10UJ  >^^i?''l,  '  and 
 his  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful.'         22.  iiurely  die — see  chap.  vi. 
 
 Rf.flections  on  Ch,\p.  XII. — \.  Here  are  the  Ephraimites 
 manifesting  ilie  same  spirit  ickich  tliey  tiud  clispliiyid  towards 
 Gideon  about  a  century  before.  They  seemed  lo  be  of  a  quar- 
 relsome disposition,  and  it  now  brought  them  to  rum.  Liti- 
 gious persons  generally,  in  the  end,  bring  ruin  upon  tliem- 
 selves.  Tbe  apostle's  maxim  is  worthy  of  being  treasured  up 
 and  practised — '  If  it  lie  possible^  as  much  as  lietb  in  you, 
 live  peaceably  with  all  men.' 
 278 
 
 II.  The  test  to  whicli  tlie  Ephriiimites  were  pnt,  reminds  us  of  the 
 seetarian  distinctions  which  too  oflm  jirecail  unump  the  people  of 
 God.  Ob,  bow  have  the  sbibboletlis  of  party  divided  Chris- 
 tians !  As  Cliristians  grow  older  in  experience,  ibey  gene- 
 rally lose  much  of  this  spirit,  and  as  ibe  cburcb  grows  older, 
 its  last  vestiges  will  be  done  away.  Christians  will  agree  to 
 difler,  and  wait  till  Ibey  can  blend  their  harmonious  voices  in 
 that  one  chorus,  '  Wortliy  is  the  Lamb  !' 
 
Samson  liilleth  a  lion. 
 
 JUDGES,  XIV. 
 
 His  marriage  feast. 
 
 aM  these  t/iiiifjs,  nor  would  as  at  this  time  have 
 told  us  such  iltinijs  as  these. 
 
 24  K  And  tlie  woman  hare  a  son,  and  called 
 his  name  '  Samson  :  and  "  the  child  grew,  and 
 the  Lord  blessed  him. 
 
 25  ^  And  the  Spirit  of  the  Loud  began  to 
 move  him  at  times  in  f  the  camp  of  Dan  '  be- 
 tween Zorah  and  Eshtaol. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  Samson  dfsireth  a  wift  of  the  Philistines.  6  In  his 
 journey  he  kiUeth  a  lion.  8  In  a  seetmd  journey  he 
 Jindeth  honey  in  tin-  carcase.  10  Sumsou's  marriac/e 
 feast.  12  ffis  riddle  by  Ids  wife  is  made  knoivn. 
 19  He  spoileth  thirty  Philistines.  20  His  wife  is 
 married  to  another, 
 
 A  ND  Samson  went  down  "  to  Timnath,  and 
 ■^-^  ^ saw  a  woman  in  Timnath  of  the  daugh- 
 ters of  the  Philistines. 
 
 2  And  he  came  tip,  and  told  his  father  and 
 his  mother,  and  said,  I  have  seen  a  woman  in 
 Timnath  of  the  daughters  of  the  Philistines: 
 now  therefore  '  get  her  for  me  to  wife. 
 
 3  Then  his  father  and  his  mother  said  unto 
 him.  Is  there  never  a  woman  among  the  daugh- 
 ters of ''thy  brethren,  or  among  all  my  people, 
 that  thou  goest  to  take  a  wife  of  the  °  uncir- 
 cumcised  Philistines?  And  Samson  said  unto 
 his  father,  Get  her  for  me  ;  for  fshe  pleaseth 
 me  well. 
 
 4  But  his  father  and  his  mother  knew  not 
 that  it  was  '  of  the  Lonn,  that  he  sought  an  oc- 
 casion against  the  Philistines:  for  at  that  time 
 '  the  Philistines  had  dominion  over  Israel. 
 
 5  IT  Then  went  Samson  down,  and  his  father 
 and  his  mother,  to  Timnath,  and  came  to  the 
 vineyards  of  Timnath  :  and,  behold,  a  young 
 lion  roared  f  against  him. 
 
 6  And  ''tlie  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  mightily 
 upon  him,  and  he  rent  him  as  he  would  have 
 rent  a  kid,  and  he  had  nothing  in  his  hand : 
 but  he  told  not  his  father  or  his  mother  what 
 he  had  done. 
 
 7  And  he  went  down,  and  talked  with  the  wo- 
 man; and  she  pleased  Samson  well. 
 
 8  IT  And  after  a  time  he  returned  to  take  her, 
 
 B.  c. 
 cir.  n6i. 
 
 (Hob.n.S2. 
 >(  ISain.3.):(. 
 
 Luke  I.  811. 
 
 &  2.  52. 
 X  ch.  3.  10. 
 
 I  Sniii.ll.e, 
 
 M.-it   4    I. 
 1Hfb..I/.i;ia- 
 
 nrli-dan,  33 
 
 ch.  1«.  12. 
 y.rosh  IS.S3. 
 
 oil.  18.  11. 
 
 cir.  nil. 
 uO<.n.  3.-^.1.1 
 Jnsh.  15  10, 
 b  Geu.  34.  2. 
 
 cGen,  21.21 
 &31   4. 
 
 ./Gen,2l..'!,4. 
 
 e  Gen,  31.11 
 Ex.  .3^1,  16. 
 Deut,  7.  3. 
 
 t  Heb.slie  ia 
 
 /■Josh, 11.20. 
 
 IKiu. 12.15. 
 
 2Kiu  6.33. 
 
 2Clir,10.15. 
 
 St  22,  7.  & 
 
 2,-,    20. 
 0  ell,  13   1. 
 
 Uciit.2S.18, 
 
 t  Heb.  in 
 
 Hfttlll^  llillX 
 
 h  cb.  3.  10, 
 ^  13,  2.'>, 
 1  Sam  11.6. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  nil. 
 
 Ezek,  17.  2. 
 I.uke  14.7. 
 h  Gen.29.27. 
 
 II  Or, thirlM. 
 t  Gen. 45,  22. 
 2  Kin.  5.22. 
 
 fi  ch.  15,  G. 
 t  Heb  rn  ;i"j 
 
 and  he  turned  aside  to  see  the  carcase  of  the 
 lion :  and,  behold,  there  was  a  swarm  of  bees 
 and  honey  in  the  carcase  of  the  lion. 
 
 9  And  he  took  thereof  in  his  hand,=,  and  went 
 on  eating,  and  came  to  his  father  and  mother, 
 and  he  gave  them,  and  they  did  eat:  but  he 
 told  not  them  that  be  bad  taken  the  honey 
 out  of  the  carcase  of  the  lion. 
 
 10  ^  So  his  father  went  down  unto  tlje  wo- 
 man :  and  Samson  made  there  a  feast ;  for  so 
 used  the  young  men  to  do. 
 
 1 1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  saw  him, 
 that  they  brought  thirty  companions  to  be 
 with  him. 
 
 12  1  And  Samson  said  unto  them,  I  will  now 
 '  put  forth  a  riddle  unto  you  :  if  ye  can  cer- 
 tainly declare  it  me  '  within  the  seven  days  of 
 the  feast,  and  find  it  out,  then  I  will  give  you 
 thirty  |)  sheets  and  thirty  '  change  of  garments  : 
 
 13  But  if  ye  cannot  declare  it  me,  then  sliall 
 ye  give  me  thirty  sheets  and  thirty  change  of 
 garments.  And  they  said  unto  him,  Put  forth 
 thy  riddle,  that  we  may  hear  it. 
 
 14  And  be  said  unto  them.  Out  of  the  eater 
 came  forth  meat,  and  out  of  the  strong  came 
 forth  sweetness.  And  they  could  not  in  three 
 days  expound  the  riddle. 
 
 13  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day, 
 that  they  said  unto  Samson's  wife, ""  Entice  thy 
 husband,  that  he  may  declare  unto  us  the 
 riddle,  "  lest  we  burn  thee  and  thy  father's 
 house  with  fire  :  have  ye  called  us  f  to  take 
 that  we  have?  is  it  not  so? 
 
 16  And  Samson's  wife  wept  before  him,  and 
 said,  °  Thou  dost  but  hate  nic,  and  lovest  me 
 not :  thou  hast  put  forth  a  riddle  unto  the  chil- 
 dren of  my  people,  and  hast  not  told  it  me. 
 And  be  said  unto  her.  Behold,  I  have  not  told 
 it  my  father  nor  my  mother,  and  shall  I  tell  it 
 thee  ? 
 
 1 7  And  she  wept  before  him  ||  the  seven  days, 
 while  their  feast  lasted  :  and  it  came  to  pass 
 on  the  seventh  day,  that  he  told  her,  because 
 she  lay  sore  upon  him  :  and  she  told  the  riddle 
 to  the  children  of  her  people. 
 
 22,  23.  23.  As  at  this  time — the  particle  fisdenotes  here,  not  likeoess, 
 but  the  truth  and  reaUty  of  the  thiiip,  as  in  Num.  xi.  1  ;  Deut.  ix.  10, 
 Sec. — Poole.  24.  Sn7H5on,  pujlDUJ.  This  name  is  probably  derived  from 
 t^TDlU,  *  the  sun,*  which  is  a  strong  body,  and  is  compared  to  a  strong 
 man  running  a  race,  and  so  a  strong  man  may  be  compared  to  that. — 
 Gill,  so  Put.,  Henry,  A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  I.  Timnath,  a  city,  thought  to  be  the  same  called 
 Timnah,  (Josh.  xv.  10,)  and  Timnatha,  (John,  xix.  43  )  It  belonged 
 ultimately  to  the  tribe  of  Dan. —  Wells.  2.  Get  hei — the  retired  life 
 of  the  eastern  women,  which  seldom  allows  a  young  man  to  make  a 
 free  choice,  as  he  cannot  judge  of  temper  nor  countenance  under  the 
 veil,  introduced  the  custom  that  parents  provided  wives  for  their  sons. 
 — Stotllierg^s  Hist,  of  Kelig.  3.  She  jileuseth  me  well,  may  be  ren- 
 dered, *it  is  right.'  4.  It  was  of  the  Lord — this  would  bring  him  into 
 contact  with  tlie  Philistines,  and  so  lead  to  his  galling  them. — Henry. 
 God  meant  to  fetch  good  out  of  Samson's  evil. — Bp.  Hall.  The  matter 
 was  not  by  God's  direction  or  approbation,  but  by  the  permission  of 
 his  Providence. — Wil.  5.  Lion — lions  are  not  now  in  that  country, 
 but  ancient  writers  attest  their  former  existence,  both  in  Syria  and 
 Mesopotamia.  See  Q.  Curlius,  viii.  c.  1.  They  are  still  in  Western 
 Asia,  found,  indeed,  on  both  sides  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates.— P(■c^  iJii. 
 
 G.  The  spirit,  SfC. — the  spirit  of  might  from  the  Lord,  Targ.  And  he 
 rent  hint — there  is  nothing  which  an  infidel  can  call  fabulous  in  this 
 and  similar  stalemcnts  in  Scripture,  allowing  only  for  the  extraordinary 
 strengtli  and  courage  communicated  to  the  party.  Thevenot  says,  that 
 the  Arabians  will  attack  a  lion  if  armed  with  a  stick.  II.  T/iirty 
 companions — a  sort  of  bride  men,  brought  by  the  wife's  friends  to  do 
 honour  to  the  marriage  ;  a  common  eastern  custom. — Hew.  We  differ 
 from  those  who  think  the  custom  was  for  the  wife's  friends  to  provide 
 the  companions.  Samson  being  a  stranger  to  the  place,  might,  in  this 
 instance,  have  been  provided  with  suitable  guests  by  the  bride's  friends, 
 but  the  bridegroom  now  often  stipulates  for  the  return  of  a  part  of  the 
 price  of  the  girl,  towards  his  expenses  of  giving  a  feast. — So  Pict.  Bid. 
 12.  A  riddle — it  was  customary  among  the  Greeks,  at  their  feasts,  to 
 propose  their  .^piipoi,  *  riddles*  and  *  enigmas,'  and  tlic  person  who 
 solved  a  riddle  received  a  reward,  while  the  less  fortunate  received 
 some  punishment.  —  See  Bach.  Hieroz.,  lib.  iv.  c.  12;  and  Potter's 
 Greek  Antiq.  Sheets,  '  drawers.' — Sir  J,  Chardin.  *  Hykes,'  or  '  outer 
 garments.' — A.  Clarke.  Harmer  observes,  rtiat  as  the  easterns  use  an 
 upper  and  an  under  sheet,  the  slaying  of  liltcen  men,  instead  of  thirty, 
 would  have  supplied  these ;  he  therefore  takes  the  word  D'i'lD,  to 
 mean  '  shirts,' as  the  marg.        15.  Seeenth  day,  'fourth  day,'  Sept. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIII.  —  We  may  here  observe, 
 I.  The  promise  of  the  anc/tl — '  Thou  art  barren,  and  bearest  not ; 
 but  thou  shalt  conceive,  and  bear  a  son.'  \\  bat  good  news  to 
 a  Hebrew  woman,  and  that  when  she  bad  no  expectation  of 
 such  tidings  !  '  He  tells  ber  of  it,'  says  Henry,  '  not  to  up- 
 braid her  with  it,  but  because  perhaps  at  this  time  she  was 
 actually  thinking  of  this  affliction,  and  bemoaning  herself  as 
 one  written  childless.  God  often  sends  in  comfort  to  his 
 people  very  seasonably,  when  they  feel  most  from  their 
 troubles.'     We  observe, 
 
 II.  The  piety  and  obedience  of  Manoah,  when  he  intreated  for 
 Divine  instruction  respecting  the  rearing  of  his  child.  The 
 279 
 
 imitation  of  his  pious  example  would  at  all  times  be  likely  to 
 bring  down  a  blessing  upon  the  paternal  relation,  and  Chris- 
 tian parents  might  then  cherish  a  well-founded  hope  that  tbeir 
 *  children  would  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our 
 Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.'     We  observe, 
 
 III.  The  faith  of  Manoa/i's  wife.  How  valuable  is  a  Chris- 
 tian helpmate,  whose  faith,  rising  superior  to  human  fears, 
 makes  ber  even  a  stay  to  her  husband  in  a  time  of  anxiety,  in- 
 stead of  multiplying  his  cares.  '  It  falls  out  sometimes,'  says 
 Bishop  Hall,  '  that  the  weaker  vessel  is  fuller,  and  that  oi 
 more  precious  liquor.  That  wife  is  no  helper  which  is  nr.t 
 ready  to  give  spiritual  comfort  to  her  husband.' 
 
Samson  is  denied  /lis  wife. 
 
 JUDGES,  XV. 
 
 He  is  delivered  to  the  Philislinet, 
 
 18  And  the  men  of  the  city  said  unto  liim  on 
 the  seventh  day  before  the  sun  went  down. 
 What  is  sweeter  than  honey  ?  and  what  is 
 stronger  than  a  lion?  And  he  said  unto  them. 
 If  ye  had  not  plowed  with  my  heifer,  ye  had 
 not  found  out  my  riddle. 
 
 19  U  And  '■  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  upon 
 him,  and  he  went  down  to  Ashkelon,  and  slev\ 
 thirty  men  of  them,  and  took  their  ||  spoil,  and 
 gave  change  of  garments  unto  them  which  ex- 
 pounded the  riddle.  And  his  anger  was  kin- 
 dled, and  he  went  up  to  his  father's  house. 
 
 20  But  Samson's  wife  "^  was  given  to  his  com- 
 panion, whom  he  had  used  as  '  his  friend. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 I  Stimson  is  denied  his  trife.  3  He  bumcth  the  Phi- 
 Ustines'  corn  with  foxes  and  firehrands.  6  His  wife 
 and  her  father  are  Inirnt  hi/  the  Philistines.  7  Samp- 
 son smiteth  them  hip  and  thigh.  9  He  is  hound  by 
 the  men  ofjudah,  and  delivered  to  the  Philistines. 
 14  Hekilhth  th' m  with  a  jawbone.  18  God  maketh 
 the  fountain  En-liahkore  for  him  in  Ijehi. 
 
 "DUT  it  came  to  pass  within  a  while  after,  in 
 •*-^  the  time  of  wheat  harvest,  that  Samson 
 visited  his  wife  with  a  kid  ;  and  he  said,  I  will 
 go  in  to  my  wife  into  the  chamber.  But  her 
 father  would  not  suffer  him  to  go  in. 
 
 2  And  her  father  said,  I  verily  thought  that 
 thou  hadst  utterly  "hated  her;  therefore  I 
 gave  her  to  thy  companion  :  is  not  her  younger 
 sister  fairer  than  she  ?  f  take  her,  I  pray  thee, 
 instead  of  her. 
 
 3  t  And    Samson    said    concerning    them, 
 
 II  Now  shall  I  be  more  blameless  than  the 
 Philistines,  though  I  do  them  a  displeasure. 
 
 4  And  Samson  went  and  caught  three  hun 
 dred  foxes,  and  took  ||  firebrands,  and  turned 
 tail  to  tail,  and  put  a  firebrand  in  the  midst 
 between  two  tails. 
 
 5  And  when  he  had  set  the  brands  on  fire,  he 
 let  them  go  into  the  standing  corn  of  the  Phi- 
 listines, and  burnt  up  both   the  shocks,  and 
 
 U.  25. 
 
 OT,ni'parel. 
 
 q  ch   15.  2. 
 Ji>hii3.29. 
 
 II  Or.  .V»w 
 .h<ta  t  b* 
 
 /,....  fh, 
 Phiti.linfl, 
 
 It  Or,  tiTcha. 
 
 also  the  standing  corn,  with  the  vineyards  anA 
 olives. 
 
 6  H  Then  the  Philistines  said,  Who  hath 
 done  this?  And  they  answered,  Samson,  the 
 son  in  law  of  the  Timnite,  because  he  had 
 taken  his  wife,  and  given  her  to  his  companion. 
 "  And  the  Philistines  came  up,  and  burnt  her 
 and  her  father  with  fire. 
 
 7  t  And  Samson  said  unto  them.  Though 
 ye  have  done  this,  yet  will  I  be  avenged  of 
 you,  and  after  that  I  will  cease. 
 
 8  And  he  smote  them  hip  and  thigh  with  a 
 great  slaughter ;  and  he  went  down  and  dwelt 
 in  the  top  of  the  rock  Etam. 
 
 9  U  Then  the  Philistines  went  up,  and  pitched 
 in  Judah,  and  spread  themselves  '  in  Lebi. 
 
 10  And  the  men  of  Judah  said.  Why  are  ye 
 come  up  against  us?  And  they  answered,  To 
 bind  Samson  are  we  come  up,  to  do  to  him  as 
 he  hath  done  to  us. 
 
 1 1  Then  three  thousand  men  of  Judah  fwent 
 to  the  top  of  the  rock  Etam,  and  said  to  Sam- 
 son, Knowest  thou  not  that  the  Philistines  are 
 '' rulers  over  us?  what  is  this  th<it  \.\\o\\  hast 
 done  unto  us?  And  he  said  unto  them.  As 
 they  did  unto  me,  so  have  I  done  unto  them. 
 
 12  And  they  said  unto  him,  We  are  come 
 down  to  bind  thee,  that  we  may  deliver  thee 
 into  the  hand  of  the  Philistines.  And  Samson 
 said  unto  them.  Swear  unto  me,  tliat  ye  will 
 not  fall  upon  me  yourselves. 
 
 l."3  And  they  spake  unto  liim,  saying.  No; 
 but  we  will  bind  thee  fast,  and  deliver  thee 
 into  their  hand  :  but  surely  we  will  not  kill 
 thee.  And  they  hound  liini  with  two  new 
 cords,  and  brought  him  up  from  the  rock. 
 
 14  t  A^nd  when  he  came  unto  Lehi,  the  Phi- 
 listines shouted  against  him  :  and  "the  Spirit 
 of  the  Lord  came  mightily  upon  him,  and  the 
 cords  that  were  upon  his  arms  became  as  flax 
 that  was  burnt  with  fire,  and  his  bands  f  loosed 
 from  off  his  hands. 
 
 The  Hebrew  probaWy  expresses  the  day  of  the  week,  and  the  Sept.  the 
 day  of  the  feast.— lIiV.  \s.  Pliiwed  with  mi/  tieifer—aa  apiJcllaiion 
 sHIl  grivcn  in  India  to  a  man's  wife.  '  He  has  a  beautiful  heifer.'— Jio/j. 
 The  words  may  mean,  as  they  have  been  classieally  used,  {Virg.  Georg., 
 lib.  iii.v.  13.5,)  an  adulterous  intercourse,  or  a  sort  of  plagiary,  *  if  you 
 had  not  employed  the  confidence  of  my  wife,'  Ike. — Comp.  to  the  Bih. 
 Expos.  Index.  19.  Slew  thirty  m-'ji— Samson  was  now  acting  uiKk-r 
 the  impulse  of  the  Spirit  as  a  judge  of  Israel.— GiV/.  20.  His  com- 
 panion, called,  the  friend  of  the  liridcKroom,  (John,  iii.  29.)  On  the 
 story  of  Samson  the  Greeks  are  supposed  to  have  founded  the  fables  of 
 the  strength  of  Hercules  and  the  locks  of  Nisus.  They  turned  many 
 facts  into  fables,  and  with  natural  pride  founded  them  in  their  own 
 country. — So  Mather. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  1.  .i  kiil—a.  kid  in  those  days  was  an  elegant  enter- 
 tainment, and  a  present  for  a  king,  (1  Sam.  xvi.  10.)— mil.  4.  Faxes, 
 D'tel'i).  As  seven  Hebrew  MSS.  read  D'')3?1B.  '  handfuls.'  as  in  Ezek. 
 .xiii.  19,  Kennieatt  concludes  that  Samson  took  three  huntlred  handfuls 
 or  -sheaves  of  corn,  and  a  hundred  aud  fifty  firebrands,  and.  turning  the 
 sheaves  end  to  end,  put  a  firebrand  between  the  two  ends  in  the  midst, 
 and  then,  setting  the  brands  on  fire,  sent  them  into  the  standing  corn 
 of  the  Philistines.  He  thinks  that,  had  foxes  been  tied  tail  to  tail,  they 
 would  have  pulled  each  way.  and  stood  stdl  j  but  Dooihroiid  observes, 
 he  might  tic  tail  to  tail  so  as  to  run  side  by  side,  and  there  is  nothing 
 to  prevent  such  a  conclusion.  Admitting,  however,  that  they  pulled 
 against  each  other,  the  strongest  would  master  the  weakest,  and,  as 
 Poole  observes,  by  going  crookedly  and  involvedly,  the  fire  was  likely 
 to  be  dispersed  in  more  places.  From  the  numberof  jackals— creatures 
 
 much  resembling  the  fox — which  are  to  be  found  in  the  country  hero 
 referred  to,  as  stated  by  Shaw,  Hnssehjiiist,  Votney,  and  other  tra. 
 vellcrs,  and  as  the  Hebrew  word  may  signify  either,  it  is  now  generally 
 concluded  that  Samson  took  these  animals.  How  lie  got  so  many  is 
 easily  inferred,  faom  the  reasons  assigned  by  Ur.  Clarke — their  grega- 
 rious nature,  the  hands  he  might  have  employed  in  the  work,  the  time 
 he  might  have  occupied  in  taking  them,  their  being  plentiful  in  Judea, 
 aud  the  fact,  that  in  the  public  theatres  of  the  ancients,  boars,  bears, 
 leopards,  and  other  wild  beasts,  were  sometimes  exhibited  by  hundreds. 
 — Flaeias  Vopiscns*  Life  of  Probus,  chap.  xi.^.  Fire  hranils,  '  lamps,' 
 or  '  burners,' — Taylnr.  ~.  Though  ye  have  done  this,  fyc.,  *  if  ye  had 
 done  after  this  manner,'  punished  them  sooner,  it  might  have  seemed 
 justice,  but  now  but  self-love ;  *  but  1  will  surely  take  a  further  re- 
 venge of  you.' — Pat.  8.  Hip  and  thigh — the  Interpretations  of  this 
 are,  '  many  footmen  and  horsemen,  the  one  resting  on  their  legs,  and 
 the  other  on  their  thighs,'  Chald.  *  On  their  hips  and  tbighs.'  to  cripple 
 them,  so  as  to  be  unfit  for  military  service, — Poole,  and  '  with  a  great 
 slaughter,'  is  understood.  'With  a  great  stroke,'  as  the  Sept.;  or 
 '  with  his  leg  upon  their  thigh,'  that  is,  he  kicked  them, — Poole  ;  or  *  he 
 tripped  op  their  feet,'  as  wrestlers,  and  then  bruised  them  to  death, — 
 Taylor,  A.  Clarke i  or  'he  bruised  them  sorely,'  smiting  them  here  and 
 there,  when  many  died. — Gill.  '  Shoulder  upon  thigh,'  so  thickly,  that 
 the  shoulder  of  the  one  fell  upon  the  thigh  of  the  other.- Bow/Ar.  A 
 proverbial  expression,  signifying  a  furious  attack  and  an  entire  over- 
 throw.— Hete.  They  say  in  India,  when  a  man  is  thoroughly  beaten, 
 'Ah!  they  smote  him  thigh  and  loins.' — Rob,  Top,  rather,  ' cleft. '^ 
 Wil.     9.  Lehi,  so  called,  by  anticipation,  from  the  jaw-bone,  (ver.  17.) 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XIV.  — I.  We  see  here  the  evU  of 
 uvruihj  marriages.  Though  Samson's  marriage  coune.xion  was 
 overruled  by  Providence  for  the  good  of  Israel,  it  nevertheless 
 teaches  us  the  folly  of  being  unequally  yoked  together,  be- 
 lievers with  unbelievers.  Many  an  one  has  plea.sed  his  eye 
 and  plagued  his  heart.  If  it  be  a  sin  to  love  the  world,  it  must 
 be  no  less  a  sm  to  set  the  heart  on  a  worldling,  and  the  sin  will 
 be  sure  to  meet  with  its  punishment. 
 
 II.  We  also  see  the  evil  of  worUly  friendships.  We  often  hear 
 of  treachery  among  professed  Christians  :  and  it  is  indeed 
 280 
 
 painful  when  the  wounded  party  can  say,  '  We  took  sweet 
 counsel  toRether,  and  walked  to  the  house  of  God  in  com- 
 pany ;'  but  this  is  a  violation  of  principle  which  we  have  no 
 right  to  expect;  among  men  of  the  world  what  is  to  con- 
 trol their  passions  or  self-interest,  except  it  be  the  force  of 
 human  law  or  the  dangers  from  retaliation!  'Better,'  says 
 Henry,  '  bo  angry  with  Philistines  than  in  love  with  them  ; 
 because,  when  we  join  ourselves  to  them  we  are  most  in  dan- 
 ger of  being  ensnared  by  them.* 
 
He  carrieth  away  the  gates  of  Gaza. 
 
 JUDGES,  XVI. 
 
 Dclihih  (leceiveth  him. 
 
 15  And  he  found  a  f  new  jawbone  of  an  ass, 
 and  put  forth  his  hand,  and  took  it,  and  '  slew 
 a  tliousand  men  therewith. 
 
 16  And  Samson  said.  With  the  jawbone  of 
 an  ass,  f  heaps  upon  heaps,  with  tlie  jaw  of  an 
 ass  have  I  slain  a  thousand  men. 
 
 17  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  had  made 
 an  end  of  speaking,  that  he  cast  away  the  jaw- 
 bone out  of  his  hand,  and  called  that  place 
 {{  Ramatli-lehi. 
 
 18  If  And  he  was  sore  athirst,  and  called  on 
 the  LoKD,  and  said,  ^  Thou  hast  given  this 
 great  deliverance  into  the  hand  of  thy  servant : 
 and  now  shall  I  die  for  thirst,  and  fall  into  the 
 hand  of  the  uncircumcised? 
 
 19  But  God  clave  an  hollow  place  that  was 
 in  II  the  jaw,  and  there  came  water  thereout ; 
 and  when  he  liad  drunk,  •■  his  spirit  came 
 again,  and  he  revived  :  wherefore  he  called 
 the  name  thereof  ||  En-hakkore,  which  is  in 
 Lehi  unto  this  day. 
 
 20  II  And  he  judged  Israel 'in  the  days  of 
 the  Philistines  twenty  years. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  Sdiiison  at  Gaza  escappth,  and  carrieth  awnt/  thr 
 gatts  of  the  city.  4  Dtlilatti  corrupted  by  the  Pltilis- 
 tiiirs,  enticetli  Samson.  6  T/irice  she  is  deceit'ed. 
 15  .4t  last  she  overcometh  him.  21  The  Philistines 
 take  him,  and  put  out  Ins  eyes.  22  His  strej:qtli  re- 
 newing/, he  puVtth  down  tfie  liouse  upon  tJie  Philis- 
 tineSj  and  dieth. 
 
 'T'HEN  went  Samson  to  Gaza,  and  saw  there 
 -*-  t  sn  harlot,  and  went  in  unto  her. 
 2  And  it  was  told  the  Gazites,  saying,  Sam- 
 son is  come  hither.  And  they  "compassed 
 him  in,  and  laid  wait  fur  him  all  night  in  the 
 gate  of  the  city,  and  were  f  quiet  all  the  night, 
 saying,  In  the  morning,  when  it  is  day,  we 
 shall  kill  him. 
 
 ."!  And  Samson  lay  till  midnight,  and  arose  at 
 midnight,  and  took  the  doors  of  the  gate  of  the 
 city,  and  the  two  posts,  and  went  away  with 
 them,  f  bar   and  all,   and  put  them  upon  his 
 
 t  Heb.ni«.i/. 
 /  cli  3.  .11 
 Lev.  :;6.  8. 
 Josh.  ^3.10. 
 t  Heb.  <in 
 
 U; 
 
 ijjt. 
 
 llTliat  18,  (/if 
 g  rs.  3  7. 
 
 A  Gen.1',  27 
 Is.  411.  29. 
 
 II  That  i.s,Mf 
 K,«  ofknu 
 l/i'tt  c'lllrd. 
 Or,  cried. 
 Ps.  -M   6. 
 
 II  He  seems 
 to  liave 
 jiiHf^ed 
 Snotli  west 
 Israel  dur- 
 ing twenty 
 years  of 
 tlieir  servi- 
 tude of  tl»e 
 PliilistiTies. 
 
 i  ch.  Vi.  I. 
 
 (of. 
 
 a  1  Sam.  23 
 26    Ps.  118, 
 10,  11,12- 
 Arts  9.  2.1, 
 
 1  Heb  tileiit. 
 
 I  Heb.  1 
 
 II  Or,  bti  thti 
 bruiik. 
 
 i  ch.  14.  15 
 Seel'rov.2 
 10,-19  ft 
 6   .f. 
 
 2-1,  ■ 
 
 k  7.  21,  22, 
 [I  Hr.hiintbU, 
 
 I  Heb  n 
 t  Heb.  0 
 
 t  Hob.  wAfre- 
 
 hath  nut  been 
 done. 
 
 shoulders,  and  carried  them  up  to  the  top  ot 
 an  hill  that  !*■  before  Hebron. 
 
 4  1  And  it  came  to  pass  afterward,  that  he 
 loved  a  woman  ||  in  the  valley  of  Sorek,  whose 
 name  u-as  Delilah. 
 
 5  And  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  came  up 
 unto  her,  and  said  unto  her,  ''  Entice  liiin,  and 
 see  wherein  his  great  strength  lieth,  and  by 
 what  means  we  may  prevail  against  him,  that 
 we  may  bind  him  to  ||  atllict  him  :  and  we  will 
 give  thee  every  one  of  us  eleven  hundred 
 pieces  of  silver. 
 
 6  If  And  Delilah  said  to  Samson,  Tell  me,  I 
 pray  thee,  wherein  thy  great  strength  lieth, 
 and  wherewith  thou  mightest  be  bound  to 
 afflict  thee. 
 
 7  And  Samson  said  unto  her,  If  they  bind 
 me  with  seven  ||  f  green  withs  tliat  were  never 
 dried,  then  shall  I  be  weak,  and  be  as  f  another 
 man. 
 
 8  Then  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  brought 
 up  to  her  seven  green  withs  wliich  had  not 
 been  dried,  and  she  bound  him  with  them. 
 
 9  Now  there  were  men  lying  in  wait,  abiding 
 with  her  in  the  cliamber.  And  she  said  unto 
 him,  Tlie  Philistines  be  upon  thee,  Samson. 
 And  he  brake  the  withs,  as  a  thread  of  tow  is 
 broken  when  it  f  toucheth  the  fire.  So  his 
 strength  was  not  known. 
 
 10  And  Delilah  said  unto  Samson,  Behold, 
 thou  hast  mocked  me,  and  told  ir.e  lies  :  now 
 tell  me,  I  pray  thee,  wherewith  thou  mightest 
 be  bound. 
 
 1 1  And  he  said  unto  her,  If  they  bind  me 
 fast  with  new  ropes  ftliat  never  were  occupied, 
 tlien  shall  I  be  weak,  and  be  as  another  man. 
 
 12  Delilah  therefore  took  new  ropes,  and 
 bound  him  therewith,  and  said  unto  him,  The 
 Philistines  be  upon  thee,  Sainson.  And  ttiere 
 were  liers  in  wait  abiding  in  the  chamber. 
 And  he  brake  them  from  off  his  arms  like  a 
 thread. 
 
 13  And  Delilah  said  unto  Samson,  Hitherto 
 
 — Poole.  15.  A  new  jawbone,  tough  and  strong,  from  an  ass  latt'ly 
 
 kiPed. — Gill.  The  asses  of  Syria  were  higher  and  stronger  than  ours, 
 and  so,  consequently,  were  their  bones. — Poole.  And  stew  n  thottsitnd 
 men — this  need  not  seem  incredible ;  the  confusion  of  the  tl>  ing  Philis. 
 tines  on  the  band.;  snapping,  and  the  natural  and  supernatural  strength 
 of  Samson,  are  plain  reasons  for  its  possibility,  and  there  are  ordinary 
 cases  in  history  bearing  a  like  feature.— £ti.  Flnvius  i'opiscus  reports, 
 that  Aurelian,  in  the  Sarmatic  war,  slew  forty-eight  men  with  his  own 
 bands  in  one  day,  and  in  divers  days,  nine  hundred  and  fifty. — Pat. 
 Boothroyd  reads  '  smote'  for  '  slain.'  l6.  Heaps  upon  heaps — this  is 
 a  tnumphal  song.— ^.  Clarke.  It  may  mean,  *  I  have  utterly  routed, 
 — Booth}-.,  or  'thrown  into  confusion.' — Par.,  Hoah.  Hare  I  slain, 
 \T3n,  may  mean  defeated,  without  having  killed  the  whole.  '  Beaten 
 as  an  army  is  beaten.' — Hew.  *  I  have  smitten.'  19.  An  hallow  plare 
 that  was  in  the  Jaw,  '  in  the  soclcet  of  the  touth,'  Vulg.,  Bach.  In  Lehi, 
 the  ground  or  rock  which  bore  the  name  of  the  jawbone  — Jonephus, 
 Abp.  Usher,  Pat.,  Wall,  Welts,  Henry,  Hales,  Scott,  Taylor,  A.  Clarke, 
 Wit.,  Boothr.,  who  reads,  'therefore  he  called  the  n^me  af  that  well. 
 En  hakkore.'  *  It  is  surprising,'  says  Harmer,  '  that  men  of  sense  and 
 learning  should  be  so  extremely  fund  of  the  marvellous  as  to  suppose 
 that  the  place  from  whence  the  water  was  brought  was  a  hollow  place 
 in  the  jawbone,  when  we  are  informed  that  the  place  of  this  e.sploit 
 was,  on  that  account,  denominated  Lehi,  or  the  jawbone.'  The  Vul- 
 peoaria  of  the  Romans,  in  April,  the  time  of  the  Jewish  harvest,  in 
 
 which  they  let  loose  fo.\es  with  torches  fastened  to  their  tails,  was  de- 
 rived from  the  story  of  Samson,  which  was  conveyed  into  Italy  by  the 
 Phoenicians. — T.  H.  Home. 
 
 CriAP.  XVI.  —  I.  Gaza — there  were  five  lesser  principalities  or  king- 
 doms of  the  Philistines, — Gaza,  Ashkelon,  Ashdod,  Gath,  anil  Ekron. 
 —  Weils.  The  city  stood  on  a  hill,  environed  with  valleys,  and  those 
 valleys  surrounded  with  hills. — Sandys.  Saw  there  an  harlot — he 
 went  in  to  refresh  himself,  or  rest,  it  being  a  house  of  public  entertain- 
 ment; his  design  was  not  bad,  but  he  saw  this  harlot  and  was  tempted 
 by  her. — So  Poole.  Probably  the  hostess  might  be  the  harlot.  See  note 
 on  Josh.  ii.  1. — Ed.  3.  Arose  at  midnight,  and  took  the  doors — per- 
 
 haps awakened  by  the  remorse  of  conscience,  and  strengthenetl  by  God 
 tn  work  f'lr  his  own  glory. — Scott.  Before  Hebron,  '  near  Hebron,* 
 it  was  twenty  miles,  but  it  may  mean  '  looking  towards  Hebron,'  anil 
 the  hill  might  be  near  Gaza. — Gi/t,  so  the  Sept.  read.  4.  .Sareh,  a 
 place  in  the  land  of  Judca,  famous  for  vines, — Boch. ;  half  a  mile  from 
 the  brook  Eshcol,  whence  tlie  spies  had  the  grapes. — So  Andrichotnius  ; 
 hut  Jerome  sajs,  it  was  north  of  Eleutheropolis.  Bunting  makes  it 
 twelve  miles  from  Hebron,  and  twelve  miles  from  Jerusalem.— Gi7/. 
 Delilah — it  is  not  certain  whether  she  was  a  Philistine  or  a  licentious 
 Israelite. — Scott.  5.  Pieces  of  silver — according  to  Waserus  amount- 
 ing to  about  700/.  of  our  money. — Gill.  1.  Green  witlis,  dtt"?  D'"in% 
 vevpais  ii7pa(r,  '  cords  of  the  nerves  of  cattle  or  raw  hides.' — So  .4.  C. 
 Ropes  so  strong  are  made  from  trees  and  shrubs,  in  the  east,  that  they 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV.  —  This  chapter  records  — 
 I.  TVie  ruin  of  Samson's  wife  and  her  family.  Sinners  are  sure, 
 sooner  or  later,  to  reap  the  fruit  of  llieir  doings.  '  Sam.son's 
 wife,'  says  Henry,  '  to  save  herself  and  oblige  her  countrymen, 
 betrayed  her  husband.  And  what  came  of  it  ?  The  very  thing 
 that  she  feared,  arid  sought  by  sin  to  avoid,  came  upon  her  : 
 she  and  her  father's  house  were  burnt  with  fire,  and  lier  coun- 
 trymen, whom  she  sought  to  oblige  by  the  wrong  she  did  to 
 her  husband,  brought  it  upon  her.  The  mischief  we  seek  to 
 escape,  by  any  unlawful  practices,  we  often  pull  upon  our  own 
 heads.     He  that  will  thus  save  his  life  shall  lose  it.' 
 
 II.  The  cowardly  and  un.,rateful  conduct  of  Jiulah  towards 
 Sumton.  Judah  were  now  in  subjection  to  the  Philistines,  and, 
 281 
 
 instead  of  breaking  their  chains,  were  base  enough  to  bind  and 
 give  up  their  deliverer  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  'De- 
 generate branches  of  that  valiant  tribe,*  exclaims  the  before- 
 named  writer,  •  utterly  unworthy  to  carry  in  their  standard 
 "The  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah."  But  sin  dispirits  men,  nay, 
 it  infatuates  them,  and  hides  from  their  eyes  the  things  that 
 belonged  to  their  peace.' 
 
 III.  The  signal  slaughter  of  Samson's  enemies.  It  reminds  us 
 of  what  every  believer  may  accomplish,  if  inspired  with  divine 
 strength,  in  the  conflict  with  his  spiritual  enemies.  Kven  '  to 
 them  that  have  no  might'  God  '  increaseth  strength.'  So,  '  re- 
 sist the  devil,  and  he  shall  flee  from  you.' 
 
The  Philistines  put  out  his  fi/es. 
 
 JUDGES,  XVI. 
 
 He  pulleth  down  the  house  upon  them 
 
 thou  hast  mocked  me,  and  told  me  lies  :  tell 
 me  wherewith  thou  mightest  be  bound.  And 
 he  said  unto  her.  If  tliou  weavest  the  seven 
 locks  of  my  head  with  tlie  web. 
 
 14  And  slie  fastened  it  with  the  piu,  and  said 
 unto  him,  The  Philistines  lie  upon  thee,  Sam- 
 son. And  he  awaked  out  of  his  sleep,  and 
 went  away  with  the  pin  of  the  beam,  and  with 
 the  web. 
 
 lot  And  she  said  unto  him,  '  How  canst 
 thou  say,  I  love  thee,  when  thine  heart  is  not 
 with  nie  ?  thou  hast  mocked  me  these  three 
 times,  and  hast  not  told  me  wherein  thy  great 
 strength  lieth. 
 
 16  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  she  pressed 
 him  daily  with  her  words,  and  urged  him,  so 
 that  his  soul  was  f  vexed  unto  death  ; 
 
 17  That  he  ''told  her  all  his  heart,  and  said 
 unto  her,  °  Tliere  hath  not  come  a  razor  upon 
 mine  head  ;  for  I  have  been  a  Nazarite  unto 
 God  from  my  mother's  womb  :  if  I  be  shaven, 
 then  my  strength  will  go  from  me,  and  I  shall 
 become  weak,  and  be  like  any  other  man. 
 
 15  And  when  Delilah  saw  that  he  had  told 
 her  all  his  heart,  she  sent  and  called  for  the 
 lords  of  the  Philistines,  saying.  Come  up  this 
 once,  for  he  hath  shewed  me  all  his  heart,  j 
 Then  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  came  up  unto 
 her,  and  brought  money  in  their  hand. 
 
 1 9  '  And  she  made  him  sleep  upon  lier  knees ; 
 and  she  called  for  a  man,  and  she  caused  him 
 to  shave  off  the  seven  locks  of  his  head  ;  and 
 she  began  to  afflict  him,  and  his  strength  went 
 from  him. 
 
 'JO  And  she  said.  The  Philistines  be  upon 
 thee,  Samson.  And  he  awoke  out  of  his  sleep, 
 and  said,  I  will  go  out  as  at  other  times  before, 
 and  shake  myself.  And  he  wist  not  that  the 
 Lord  ^  was  departed  from  him. 
 
 21  If  But  the  Philistines  took  him,  and  t  put 
 out  his  eyes,  and  brought  him  down  to  Gaza, 
 and  bound  him  with  fetters  of  brass  ;  and  he 
 did  grind  in  the  prison  house. 
 
 •22  Hovi'beit  the  hair  of  his  head  began  to 
 grow  again  |{  after  he  was  shaven. 
 
 t  Heh, 
 
 ihorin 
 d  Mic. 
 
 ed 
 
 7.  .^- 
 
 t  Nuin 
 cli.  13 
 
 6.5 
 b. 
 
 f  Prov.  7. 
 
 £6,  27. 
 
 g  Num.  1-1. 
 9.  Ai,  43. 
 Josh. 7.  12 
 ISa.  16.  \\. 
 &  18.  1-^  «t 
 28.  15,  Ifl. 
 2Chr.  15.2 
 
 t  Heb.  6'>«ii 
 
 II  Or,  a$^eh.^A 
 
 t  Heb.  '^Hd 
 tr/i"  multi- 
 pl,ed  o.T 
 
 tHpb.A^/«r 
 
 /  Jer.  15   15 
 
 I  Or,  kdltan 
 td  on  Ihrm. 
 
 \  H<>h.  Ttty 
 
 cir.  1120. 
 
 *i.3  Then  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  gathered 
 them  together  for  to  offer  a  great  sacrifice  unto 
 Dagon  their  god,  and  to  rejoice:  for  they  said. 
 Our  god  hat4i  dehvered  Samson  our  enemy 
 into  our  hand. 
 
 24  And  wlien  the  people  saw  him,  they 
 Upraised  their  god:  for  they  said,  Our  god 
 hath  delivered  into  our  hands  our  enemy,  and 
 the  destroyer  of  our  country,  f  ^^'^'ich  slew 
 many  of  us. 
 
 S.j  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  their  hearts 
 were  'merry,  that  they  said,  Call  for  Samson, 
 that  he  may  make  us  sport.  And  they  called 
 for  Samson  out  of  the  prison  house  ;  and  he 
 made  f  them  sport :  and  they  set  him  hetween 
 the  pillars. 
 
 26  And  Samson  said  unto  the  lad  that  held 
 him  by  the  hand.  Suffer  me  that  I  may  feel 
 the  pillars  whereupon  the  house  standetli,  that 
 1  may  lean  upon  tliem. 
 
 27  Now  the  house  was  full  of  men  and 
 women  ;  and  all  the  lords  of  the  Philistines 
 iverc  there  ;  and  there  VJere  upon  the  ''  roof 
 about  three  thousand  men  and  women,  that 
 beheld  while  Samson  made  sport, 
 
 28  And  Samson  called  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 said,  O  Lord  God,  '  remember  me,  I  pray  thee, 
 and  strengthen  me,  I  pray  thee,  only  this  once, 
 O  God,  that  I  may  be  at  once  avenged  of  the 
 Philistines  for  my  two  eyes. 
 
 20  And  Samson  took  hold  of  the  two  middle 
 pillars  upon  which  the  house  stood,  and  ||  on 
 which  it  was  borne  up,  of  the  one  with  his 
 right  hand,  and  of  the  other  with  his  left. 
 
 30  And  Samson  said.  Let  f  me  die  with  the 
 Philistines.  And  he  bowed  himself  with  (ill 
 his  might ;  and  the  house  fell  upon  the  lords, 
 and  upon  all  the  people  that  were  therein.  So 
 the  dead  which  he  slew  at  his  death  were  more 
 than  they  which  he  slew  in  his  life. 
 
 31  Then  his  brethren  and  all  the  house  of  his 
 father  came  down,  and  took  him,  and  brought 
 him  up,  and  "'  buried  him  between  Zorah  and 
 Eshtaol   in   the   buryingplace   of   Manoah  'his 
 
 [father.     And  he  judged  Israel  twenty  years. 
 
 will  even  secure  elephants. — So  Ruh.  )3.  With  the  web — the  Srpt. 
 add,  '  and  fasten  them  into  the  wall  with  that  pin,  I  slutuld  be  as  weak 
 as  other  men.  So,  when  he  was  asleep,  Delilah  took  the  seven  locks  of 
 his  head  and  wnve  them  with  the  web.*  19.  Mnde  him  alcfp  upon  her 
 knees — a  common  custom  in  India  for  a  husband  or  prown  tip  son  ;  the 
 women,  b'im;  seated  cross-leg'pred  on  the  ground,  sootlnnp  liim  to  !5leep 
 hy  the  arts  of  a  nurse. — So  Huherts.  To  shnne — the  eastern  barbers 
 shave  the  head  so  dextrously.  that  the  operation  is  pleasant,  and 
 scarcely  felt. — Pict.  Bib.  His  streneth    went    from  him — not  that 
 
 his  strength  lay  in  his  hair,  hnt  tbis  bring  a  token  of  God's  cove- 
 nant with  him,  by  snflTerintr  the  harint  to  c<it  it  off  he  broke  cove- 
 nant and  forfeited  his  strength. — Colli/er  Sur.  Jntcr.  21.  The  Philis- 
 ti7ies  Itiak  him — Delilah  had,  perhap'^,  first  buund  him,  and  it  was  clear 
 he  could  not  now  snap  his  fetters. — So  GUI.  Put  out  his  fi/es—3.  com- 
 mon punishment  for  rebels  to  this  day  in  some  parts  nf  the  east. — See 
 M'llro/ui,  and  Sir  R.  K.  Porter,  He  did  prind — black  female  slaves  are 
 freiierally  umploycd  in  the  east  to  g^rind  cnrn  with  hand  mills  ;  it  is  ex- 
 treiiu-ly  lahornm-i,  and  esteemed  the  lowest  employment  in  the  house, 
 —  Htir.  From  this  we  see  the  degraded  state  of  Samson.  —  Ed. 
 22.  JB^e""  to  f^rmv  ii^ain — from  this  it  is  supposed  he  reiientcd,  and  re- 
 newed Ids  Nazariteship. — Poole.  So  it  pleased  God  to  renew  his 
 streni;^th,  particukirly  on  his  prayer. — Gi/l.  23.  Dngon — this  god  is 
 
 described  by  Dindnrun  Sicuhts  as  '  havins"  the  head  of  a  woman  united 
 to  the  body  of  a  fi^Ii.'  24.  Thep  praised  their  god — this  was  either 
 an  opcasioiial  festival  nn  account  of  the  victory  over  Samson,  or  an 
 annual  icstival  in  honour  of  Dagon.— Sroi?.  25.  Sport,  either  pas- 
 sively, as  the  object  of  derision,  or  actively,  by  some  feuts  of  strength, 
 to  lull  them  into  security.— i'oo/e.  26.  The  pil/nrs— the  haUdine  \s 
 thought  to  have  been  on  one  side  of  an  open  area,  supported  by  pillars 
 
 in  the  centre.  Shaw  mentions  some  eastern  buildings  where  the  same 
 consequences  would  have  resulted  frcm  the  removal  of  a  pillar.  The 
 roof  and  front  would  be  thronged  with  spectators,  and  Samson,  in  the 
 open  area,  would  display  his  feats.  He  might  be  all"wed  to  lean 
 against  a  post  and  rest,  in  order  tn  recruit  his  strength  for  the  amuse- 
 ment of  the  Philistines.  Sir  Christopher  Wren  has  ilescribed  an  oval 
 amphitheatre  so  cnnstructed  as  that  one  pillar  Temf>ved  from  its  base 
 would  overthrow  the  whole. — Pnrenfnlin,  p.  Z^Q.  The  eastern  roofs 
 are  prodigiously  strong,  generally  flat,  and  laid  on  horizontal  beams 
 supported  on  walls  and  pillars.  There  must  have  been  as  much  room 
 on  the  roof  as  inside,  and  ancient  temples  and  theatres  were  on  a  very 
 large  scale. — Pint.  Bib.  29.  Aveyiged—for  my  two  ei/es — this  wns  not 
 a  private  spirit  of  revenge  for  personal  injuries,  but  as  a  civil  masis- 
 trate,  a  judge  of  Israel,  whose  office  it  was  to  he  a  reveu_  er  t«  execute 
 wrath;  and  what  he  suffered  was  as  a  public  jiersnn,  the  conimnn 
 enemy  of  the  Philistines  and  protector  of  Israel.— G///,  If  thi-^  prayer 
 had  proceeded  from  a  sjurit  of  personal  revenge.  Odd  wnuM  not  have 
 heard  it.— Ptit.  30.  Let  me  die  wifh  the  Philistinefi,  that  is.  '  I  am 
 contented  to  di*",  so  that  I  can  but  therewith  contribute  anything  to 
 the  viriication  of  God*s  glory,  here  trampled  upon,  and  to  the  delner- 
 arce  of  Gotl's  people.' — Poole.  T/i''  house  fell  tipon  thf  fords,  fyr. — the 
 temple  was  full,  and  there  were  threr  thousand  on  the  rodt,  so  that  five 
 thousand,  at  least,  must  have  perished.  Then  Sam^nti  died,  aged  aliont 
 fuTty.—Sut.  On  this  history  the  fable  of  Nisus,  King  of  Negnr^,  was 
 probably  founded.  He  was  besieged  by  Minos,  King  of  Crete,  who 
 succeeded  in  consequence  of  S>lla.  the  daughter  of  Nisus.  falling  in 
 love  with  him,  and  cutting  off  a  purple  or  golden  lock  of  her  father's, 
 on  which  the  happiness  of  his  kingdom  depended. 
 
 REFi.rrTiONS  on  Chap.  XA'I. — I.  Smiisoa's  /listort/  shews 
 us  the  dnvger  ofd'tlh/bui  with  sin.  He  who  plays  with  sin  plays 
 with  a  viper,  which  will  insinuate  itself  into  his  bosom,  and 
 be  sure  to  wound  him  at  last. 
 
 II.  It  is  in  vurvy  God  Sfverdi/  chastis''S  his  penph,  to  preserve 
 or  rcfia/e  them  f mm  thn'r  hcs-ttim/  t'tnutafiofs.  Samson  is  hero 
 delivered  over  to  his  enemies,  and  tlie  inlets  of  his  besetting 
 28-2 
 
 temptation  are  for  ever  shut  in  the  loss  of  his  eyes.  Ilis  heart 
 is  brouRbt  to  a  state  of  contrition,  and,  when  dragt;ed  into 
 the  temple,  a  merciful  God  pities  his  condition,  hears  his  peni- 
 tent sighs,  listens  to  his  prayers,  and  gives  him  a  final  victory 
 over  his  enemies.  He  is  classed  among  (he  believing  worthies, 
 and  his  death  was  the  salvation  of  his  country. 
 
Micah  hirelh  a  Lcuitc  to  be  his  priest.       JUDGES,  XVII.,  XVIII.  The  Danites  s<ielt  unf.  an  in/i,-nt(fic,- 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 I  OJ  the  mniicy  that  Micah  first  stole,  theit  rrstortd,  his 
 mother  malteth  inuujes,  5  and  he  oritaments  fvr  thrm. 
 7  He  hircth  a  Levite  to  he  his  priest. 
 
 AND  there  was  a  man  of  mount  Epliraim, 
 -'^  whose  name  icas  Micah. 
 
 2  And  he  said  unto  his  mother,  Tlie  eleven 
 hundred  ske/iels  of  silver  that  were  taken  from 
 thee,  about  which  tliou  cursedst,  and  spakest  of 
 also  in  mine  ears,  behold,  the  silver  is  with  me  ; 
 I  took  it.  And  his  motlier  said,'"  Blessed  ic 
 thou  of  the  Lord,  my  son. 
 
 ;i  And  when  he  had  restored  the  eleven  hun- 
 dred sitekels  of  silver  to  his  mother,  his  mother 
 said,  I  had  wholly  dedicated  the  silver  unto 
 the  Lord  from  my  hand  for  my  son,  to  ''  make 
 a  shaven  image  and  a  molten  image  :  now 
 therefore  I  will  restore  it  unto  thee. 
 
 4  Yet  he  restored  the  money  unto  his  mother; 
 and  his  mother  "took  two  hundred  sliekels  of 
 silver,  and  gave  them  to  the  founder,  who 
 made  thereof  a  graven  image  and  a  molten 
 image  :  and  they  were  in  the  house  of  Micah. 
 
 5  And  the  man  Micah  had  an  house  of  gods, 
 and  made  an  ''  ephod,  and  °  teraphim,  and 
 t  consecrated  one  of  his  sons,  who  became  his 
 priest. 
 
 6  '  In  those  days  there  ivas  no  king  in  Israel, 
 '  hut  every  man  did  that  which  teas  right  in 
 his  own  eyes. 
 
 7  H  And  there  was  a  young  man  out  of 
 ''  Beth-lehem-judah  of  the  family  of  Judah, 
 who  ivas  a  Levite,  and  he  sojourned  there. 
 
 8  And  the  man  departed  out  of  the  city  from 
 Heth-lehem-judali  to  sojourn  where  he  could 
 find  a  place  :  and  he  came  to  mount  Ephraim 
 to  the  house  of  Micah,  fa?  he  journeyed. 
 
 9  And  Micah  said  unto  him.  Whence  comest 
 thouy  And  he  said  unto  him,  I  am  a  Levite  of 
 Beth-lehem-judah,  and  I  go  to  sojourn  where  1 
 may  find  a  place. 
 
 10  And  Micah  said  unto  him,  Dwell  with  me, 
 
 K.  c. 
 
 cir.  I4IW. 
 
 iGen.  14. 19. 
 Kutli  3.  11). 
 
 S  See  Ei.  20- 
 
 d  ell.  H  in. 
 ^Geii.31.  I£), 
 
 30.  Hoa  3,4 
 t  Hth.JilUd 
 
 the  lia'id. 
 
 Kx.  29.  9. 
 
 I  Km.l333 
 /ch.  18.  1.  8. 
 
 19.  I.  &  21. 
 
 2j.  Deut.33. 
 
 ^Deut.  12.S. 
 /i  Pee  Josb. 
 
 19.  Ih. 
 
 oh.  19    1. 
 
 Rtitl)  1.1,2 
 
 Mje   h  2. 
 
 M.il.  2.  1,5, 
 
 t  Heh.  m 
 lu'tkitji  kit 
 
 I>    C. 
 
 -11-.   11116 
 
 i  cli  IH.  19 
 It  Gen.  4ri.  S 
 J'lb  29.  16. 
 II  Or,  «  d„u 
 
 \  Hcb.  an  or- 
 <fcr  o/  «,.r. 
 
 (  ver.  5. 
 
 ..I  ch.  18   3L1. 
 
 cir.  1406. 
 n  ch    17.  6. 
 &21.2i. 
 &  Josh.  19.47. 
 
 c  rh.  13  -i^. 
 d  Nu.  13.  17. 
 Josh.  2.  1. 
 
 /ch.  17.  10. 
 
 '  and  be  unto  me  a  '  father  and  a  priest,  and  I 
 will  give  thee  ten  shekels  of  silver  by  the  year, 
 and  llfa  suit  of  apparel,  and  thy  victuals.  So 
 the  Levite  went  in. 
 
 1 1  And  the  Levite  was  content  to  dwell  with 
 the  man  ;  and  the  young  man  was  unto  him  as 
 one  of  his  sons. 
 
 12  And  Micah  '  consecrated  the  Levite  ;  and 
 the  young  man  "'  became  his  priest,  and  was  in 
 the  house  of  Micah. 
 
 13  Then  said  Micah,  Now  know  I  that  the 
 Lord  will  do  me  good,  seeing  I  have  a  Levite 
 to  nij  priest. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 I  T'le  Danites  send  Jive  men  to  setk  out  an  inheritavcp. 
 3  At  the  house  of  Mlcuh  they  consult  with  Juiiuthtm, 
 and  are  ejnouraged  in  their  ivay,  7  'i'hty  s  arch 
 Lalsh,  and  bring  back  niws  of  good  hnjte.  i  I  .S"/.i- 
 hundret/ mtn  art' sent  to  surprise  it.  14  hi  the  way 
 thii/  rob  Micah  of  his  priest  and  his  ciinstcratf  things. 
 27  They  win  Laish,  and  call  it  Dan.  30  7Viey  set 
 up  idohiiry,  wherein  Jonathajt  inherited  the  priest- 
 hood. 
 
 TN  ^  those  days  there  was  no  king  in  Israel  : 
 -*-  and  in  those  days  *'  the  tribe  of  the  Danites 
 sought  them  an  inheritance  to  dwell  in  ;  tor 
 unto  that  day  all  thdr  inheritance  had  not 
 fallen  unto  them  amonj^  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 2  And  the  children  of  Dan  sent  of  their  fa- 
 mily five  men  from  tlioir  coasts,  f  men  of  va- 
 lour, from  "^  Zorah,  and  from  Eshtaol,  ^  to  spy 
 out  the  land,  and  to  search  it ;  and  they  said 
 unto  them,  Go,  search  the  land  :  who  when 
 they  came  to  mount  Ejihraim,  to  the  "^  house  of 
 Micah,  they  lodged  there. 
 
 3  When  they  icere  by  the  house  of  Micah, 
 thev  knew  the  voice  of  the  young  man  the 
 Levite  :  and  they  turned  in  thither,  and  said 
 unto  him,  Who  brought  thee  hither?  ntid  wliat 
 makest  thou  in  i\\\s  place ?  and  what  hast  thou 
 here  ? 
 
 'I  And  he  said  unto  them.  Thus  and  thus 
 dealeth  Micah  with  nie,  and  halh  'hired  me, 
 and  1  am  his  priest. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.  —  From  this  chapter  to  the  end.  the  incidents  related 
 are  supposed  to  have  occurred  not  long  after  the  death  of  Joshua, — 
 so  Jus.,  but  are  inserted  in  this  place  not  to  interrupt  the  histoiy  of  the 
 Judges, — Hen.,  Boothr.  Some  think  they  are  here  placed  in  their  ua- 
 tiiral  order. — A.  Clarke.  Lightfoot  places  them  after  chap.  ii.  10. 
 I'tiole  gives  three  reasons  for  the  earlier  date: — (i.)  The  place  called 
 Mahaneh  Dan  (chap.  xiii.  25}  was  so  called  from  what  was  dt^ne,  chap, 
 xviii.  12.  (ii.)  The  Danites  had  not  yet  all  their  inheritance,  (chap, 
 xviii.  I,)  which  is  incredible,  three  hundred  years  after  Joshua's  death, 
 (lii.)  Phinehas  whs  prit-st  at  this  time,  (chap.  xx.  2S,)  who  must  ha\e 
 been  about  350  years  old  if  this  had  been  done  ajter  Samson's  death. 
 2.  About  whieh  thou  f:iir.-^edst,  '  and  for  which  you  put  me  to  my  oath.' 
 — Houb.,  Pat.,  Httr.,  Munt.  But  Bnuthroyd  uiidi-rstands  she  angrily 
 cursed  her  son. — So  also  Bp.  Hul/,  Poole,  Scott,  and  A.  Clarke.  3.  To 
 the  Lord — it  was  intended  to  provide  a  resemb'ance  of  G^d,  to  save  the 
 family  the  trouble  of  going  to  worship  at  Shiloh.— P»^  A  (graven 
 imtige,  and  a  molten  image,  '  an  engraved  molten  imaKc' — Boothr. 
 Tlie  griiven  image  was  probably  no  moie  than  an  imitation  of  tiie  the- 
 rubim. — Wit.  Cliap.  xviii.  17,  certainly  speaks  of  two  distinct  images. 
 — Evan.  Si/nop.  This  seems  more  probable. — Poole.  4.  Tu-o  hu?t- 
 dred  bhektls,  about  120  ounces.  And  gave  them  to  a  founder — idolatry 
 began  in  Israel  by  a  superstitious  woman,  and  was  aided  by  an  im- 
 moral son,  whti  robbed  his  mother.  The  evil  entered  into  the  tribe  of 
 Ephraim,  it  was  contirmed  by  Jeroboam,  and  never  wholly  eradicated 
 till  the  Babvliniiaus,  and  otlier  previous  visitations,  had  exterminated 
 nearly  the  whole  tribe. — Sut.  5.  House  0/ gods,  W7\hii.     The  wurd 
 
 is  rendered  '  God,'  when  the  translators  refer  to  the  true  God  ;  Micah 
 intended  his  establishment  in  honour  of  Jehovah,  though  mistaken  or 
 interested,  therefi.ire  it  should  read  '  a  house  of  God  ;'  or  it  may  be,  *  a 
 house  for  his  God.' — So  Pict.  Bib.  An  ephod — in  imitation  of  that  of 
 the  high  priest. — Pat.  Teraphnn — some  sort  of  images  so  called,  (Gen. 
 xxxi.  19;  Hos.  iii.  4.) — Poole.  6.  No  king— no  supreme  niaj,'istrate, 
 judge,  or  ruler,  Joshua,  Csileb,  and  the  elders,  being  dead,  or  this  ido- 
 latry would  have  been  punished.— G(7Z.  'King'  is  sometimes  used  for 
 supreme  magistrate,  as  Gen.  xxxvi.  31  ;    Deut.  xxxiii.  5.  7.  Beth- 
 
 lebfm  Judah -so  called  to  distinguish  it  from  Bethlehem  in  Zebulun, 
 (Josh.  xix.  15.) — Poole.  A  Levite— the  man's  father  was  a  Levite,  but 
 by  marriage  he  was  allied  to  the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  so  had  been  a 
 sojourner  at  Beihlehem. — Scott.  8.  Where  be  could  /end — from  the 
 
 general  neglect  of  n  li::inr.  there  was  no  provision  made  for  the  Le- 
 vites,  who  were  iL.t  t^  !  i.l  tor  themselves. — So  Put.  and  Poole. 
 10.  A  father — the  prophets  and  the  other  great  men  were  called  an* 
 cienlly  by  the  name  of  father,  (2  Kings,  ii.  12  ;  vi.  21  ;  viii.  9  ;  xiii.  14.) 
 — Put.  Ten  shekels — about  25s.  13.  The  Lord  wilt  do  me  ^Horf— this 
 was  a  mere  assumption  ;  the  man  having  acted  without  a  Divine  war- 
 rant, and  tempted  a  Levite  to  be  a  priest ;  for  though  every  priest  was 
 a  Levite,  every  Levite  was  not  a  priest  j  besides,  this  was  worshijjping 
 (ii'd  in  a  forbidden  place. — Pat.,  Poole,  Henry,  Gill,  Scott. 
 
 Ch  ^p  XVIIL  —  1.  All  thfir  inheritance,  allotted,  Josh.  xix.  40,  Arc. 
 Hifd  nnt  fallen,  from  their  sloth  and  want  of  brotherly  aid  ;  so  they  had 
 only  the  mountains,  but  the  Aniorites  had  the  champaigne  country, 
 which  was  needed  for  cattle. — Ho  Jos.,  Pat.         2.  Zorafi,  Sfc. — Josh. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XVII I.  Parents  without  religion 
 
 nved  not  wonder  at  any  excesses  committed  by  their  c'tiildnn.  Is  it 
 surprising  titat  a  covetous  parent  should  liave  a  pilfering  son  \ 
 The  love  of  money  actuated  both,  and  it  is  '  the  root  of  all 
 
 BTlL' 
 
 II.  From  what  sjiusU  beginnings  in  sin  spring  up  the  preatfst 
 evils!  One  idolatrous  heart  corrupted  a  whole  tribe,  and  in- 
 deed a  whole  nation.  '  The  bet;inning  of  idolatry.' says  Henry, 
 '  as  of  other  sins,  is  Uke  the  letting  forth  of  water  :  break  the 
 datn,  and  you  bring  a  deluge.' 
 
 III.  How  apt  are  men  to  deceive  themselves  by  trusting  in  the 
 
 '2SS 
 
 forms  of  religion.  '  Now  know  I,'  said  Micah,  '  that  the  Lord 
 "will  do  me  good.'  So  say  many  when  they  have  performed 
 the  mere  externals  of  reUgion  ;  butiftliere  be  not  the  devo- 
 tion of  the  heart,  and  if  the  grounds  of  our  hope  he  only  such 
 as  our  vain  imaginations,  and  not  God's  word,  have  laid,  we 
 shall  find,  in  the  end,  that  neither  having  a  priest  m  our 
 houses,  nor  being  priests  ourselves,  will  do  us  any  good. 
 Family  religion  will  indeed  do  us  cnod  ;  bijt  if  we  are  con- 
 tented with  the  mere  form  of  it,  without  (he  power,  we  are 
 only  deceiving  ourselves. 
 
Six  hundred  men  are  sent  to  surprise  Laish.   JUDGES,  XVIII. 
 
 They  win  it,  and  call  it  Dan. 
 
 5  And  tliey  said  unto  him,  "  Asli  council,  we 
 pray  thee,  *"  of  God,  that  we  may  know  whether 
 our  way  which  we  go  shall  he  prosperous. 
 
 6  And  the  priest  said  unto  them,  '  Go  in 
 peace  ;  before  the  Lonu  is  your  way  wherein 
 ye  go. 
 
 7  t  Then  the  five  men  departed,  and  came 
 to  '  Laish,  and  saw  the  people  that  u-ere  there- 
 in, '  how  they  dwelt  careless,  after  the  manner 
 of  the  Zidonians,  quiet  and  secure  ;  and  there 
 teas  no  t  magistrate  in  the  land,  that  might  put 
 t/tem  to  shame  in  any  thing  ;  and  they  ivere 
 far  from  the  Zidonians,  and  had  no  business 
 with  any  man. 
 
 8  And  they  came  unto  their  brethren  to  ""  Zo- 
 rah  and  Eshtaol  :  and  their  brethren  said  unto 
 them.  What  siiy  ye  ? 
 
 9  And  they  said,  "  Arise,  that  we  may  go  up 
 against  them  :  for  we  have  seen  the  laud,  and, 
 behold,  it  is  very  good  :  and  are  ye  "still  ?  he 
 not  slothful  to  go,  and  to  enter  to  Dossess  the 
 land. 
 
 10  When  ye  go,  ye  shall  come  unto  a  people 
 ■"  secure,  and  to  a  large  land  ;  for  God  liath 
 given  it  into  your  hands  ;  "■  a  place  where 
 there  is  no  want  of  any  thing  that  is  in  the 
 earth. 
 
 1 1  1  And  there  went  from  thence  of  the  fa- 
 mily of  the  Danites,  out  of  Zorah  and  out  of 
 Eslitaol,  six  hundred  men  t  appointed  with 
 weapons  of  war. 
 
 12  And  tliey  went  up,  and  pitched  in  '  Kir- 
 jath-jearim,  in  Judah  :  wherefore  they  called 
 that  place  '  Mahaneh-dan  unlo  this  day  :  be- 
 hold, it  is  behind  Kirjath-jearim. 
 
 13  And  they  passed  tlience  unto  mount  Eph- 
 raim,  and  came  unto  '  the  house  of  Micah. 
 
 14  t  "  Then  answered  the  five  men  that  went 
 to  spy  out  the  country  of  Laish,  and  said  unto 
 their  brethren.  Do  ye  know  tliat  "■  there  is  in 
 these  houses  an  ephod,  and  teraphim,  and  a 
 graven  image,  and  a  molten  image  ?  now  there- 
 fore consider  what  ye  have  to  do. 
 
 15  And  they  turned  thitherward,  and  came 
 to  the  house  of  the  young  man  the  Levite, 
 even  unto  the  house  of  Micah,  and  f  saluted 
 him, 
 
 16  And  the  'six  hundred  men  appointed 
 with  their  weapons  of  war,  which  ivere  of  the 
 children  of  Dan,  stood  by  the  entering  of  the 
 gate. 
 
 17  And  '  the  five  men  that  went  to  spy  out 
 the  land  went  up,  atid  came  in  thither,  and 
 took  °  the  graven  image,  and  the  ephod,  and 
 the  teraphim,  and  the  molten  image  :  and  the 
 priest  stood  in  the  entering  of  the  gate  with 
 the  six  hundred  men  that  were  appointed  with 
 weapons  of  war. 
 
 18  And  these  went  into  Micah's  house,  and 
 fetched  the  carved  image,  the  ephod,  and  the 
 
 cir,  14^l*i. 
 
 5  1  Kin. 22.5 
 IG.  30.  I. 
 Hos.  4.  IS. 
 
 ft  See  ch.  17. 
 5. 8.  ver   14. 
 
 i  i  Kiu.  ?.'  G 
 
 /(  Josh.  19. 
 
 47,  cAlled, 
 
 Lethrm. 
 t  »er.  27.  28 
 
 t  Heb.  put- 
 
 ,«/r^ 
 
 p  vet.  7.  2". 
 '/  Deu,  8.  9. 
 
 }  Hob.  j;ir<i- 
 
 I  ver,  2 
 
 u  )  Sam.  U 
 
 40  4.  Pio 
 a).  32. 
 Mic.  7.  \t 
 cch.  17,  U 
 
 t  Heb.  tiihed 
 Un,  of 
 
 Gen.  Vi.  S7. 
 1  Sun.  17. 
 
 22. 
 y  ver. 
 
 M. 
 
 I  ver   9,  14. 
 ach.  17.4,5. 
 
 1  Hcb.  //jof 
 Vinu  art  ffa- 
 I'k-tM  t'/pe- 
 
 t  Hel'.  hiUrr 
 2  Sam.17.fi. 
 
 /  ver.  7. 
 
 jNu.  13  VI. 
 2San».  II'.O. 
 
 ft  Josh. 10.47. 
 
 •  Gen.  14.11. 
 ch.  20.  1 
 1  Kin  I2*?9 
 30.  &  15.20. 
 
 k  ch.  13.  1. 
 1  Sam.  1.2, 
 3.10.11.   ft. 
 78.  60,  61. 
 
 f  JoBh.  IS.  1. 
 eh.  19.  le. 
 &  21.  12. 
 
 teraphim,  and  the  molten  image.     Then  said 
 the  priest  unto  them.  What  do  ye? 
 
 19  And  they  said  unto  him.  Hold  thy  peace, 
 ''  lay  thine  hand  upon  thy  mouth,  and  go  with 
 us, '  and  be  to  us  a  father  and  a  priest :  is  it 
 better  for  thee  to  be  a  priest  unto  the  house  of 
 one  man,  or  that  thou  be  a  priest  unto  a  tribe 
 and  a  family  in  Israel  ? 
 
 20  And  the  priest's  heart  was  glad,  and  he 
 took  the  ephod,  and  the  teraphim,  and  the 
 graven  image,  and  went  in  the  midst  of  the 
 people. 
 
 21  So  they  turned  and  departed,  and  put  the 
 little  ones  and  the  cattle  and  the  carriage  be- 
 fore them. 
 
 22  U  And  when  they  were  a  good  way  from 
 the  house  of  Micah,  the  men  that  were  in  the 
 houses  near  to  Micah's  house  were  gathered 
 together,  and  overtook  the  children  of  Dan. 
 
 23  And  they  cried  unto  the  children  of  Dan. 
 And  they  turned  their  faces,  and  said  unto 
 Micah,  What  aileth  thee,  f  that  thou  comest 
 with  such  a  company? 
 
 24  And  he  said.  Ye  have  taken  away  my 
 gods  which  I  made,  and  the  priest,  and  ye 
 are  gone  away:  and  what  have  I  more?  and 
 what  is  this  that  ye  say  unto  me,  What  aileth 
 thee? 
 
 23  And  the  children  of  Dan  said  unto  him, 
 Let  not  thy  voice  be  heard  among  us,  lest 
 t  angry  fellows  run  upon  thee,  and  thou  lose 
 thy  life,  with  the  lives  of  thy  houshold. 
 
 20  And  the  children  of  Dan  went  their  way  : 
 and  when  Micah  saw  that  they  were  too  strong 
 for  him,  he  turned  and  went  back  unto  his 
 house. 
 
 27  And  they  took  the  things  which  Micah 
 had  made,  and  the  priest  which  he  had,  and 
 ■■  came  unto  Laish,  unto  a  people  that  ivere  at 
 quiet  and  secure  :  "  and  they  smote  them  with 
 the  edge  of  the  sword,  and  burnt  the  city  with 
 fire. 
 
 28  And  there  was  no  deliverer,  because  it 
 was  '  far  from  Zidon,  and  they  had  no  business 
 with  any  man  ;  and  it  was  in  the  valley  that 
 lieth  '■  by  Beth-rehob.  And  they  built  a  city, 
 and  dwelt  therein. 
 
 29  And  ''  they  called  the  name  of  the  city 
 '  Dan,  after  the  name  of  Dan  tlieir  father,  who 
 was  born  unto  Israel :  howbeit  the  name  of 
 the  city  was  Laish  at  the  first. 
 
 30  H  And  the  children  of  Dan  set  up  the 
 graven  image  :  and  Jonathan,  the  son  of 
 Gershom,  the  son  of  Manasseh,  he  and  his 
 sons  were  priests  to  the  tribe  of  Dan  '  until 
 the  day  of  the  captivity  of  the  land. 
 
 31  And  they  set  them  up  Micah's  graven 
 image,  which  he  made,  '  all  the  time  that  the 
 house  of  God  was  in  Shiloh . 
 
 -vix.  41.  7.  Lnisfi,  or  Leshem,  in  the  northern  extremity  of  Canaan, 
 but  within  the  boundary  of  the  promised  land.— 6'///.  Zidoninm,  a 
 ])0werful  people,  at  ease  in  a  strong  city.  Fur  from  the  Zidtmians,  who 
 "ould  not  re.alily  lielp  them,  being  a  day's  journey  distant. — P<tt.  No 
 husiness,  '  no  trade'  or  '  commerce.' — Put.,  Oilt.  •  No  league'  or  '  con- 
 federacy. '—Poo/c.  *  No  intercourse.' — Boot/ir.  14.  Then  answered, 
 — in  tlie  Hebrew  he  is  often  said  to  answer  who  speaits  first,  ( livings, 
 i.  2.1,  8tc.)— i'u(.  21.  The  tittle  ones,  of  the  Danites,  who  had  their 
 families  with  them,  feeling  confident  of  success.    So  it  is  understood 
 
 by  fJiV^  and  .■! .  C//ir*e.     Of  the  Levite.— Cerfrfcs,  Boof*r.  30.  Cap- 
 
 twilyofthe  ('mi— instead  of  MNn.  'the  land,'  read  )nNn,  'the  ark." 
 — Houb.  The  following  com  meiitators,  also,  underst  and,  nnt  the  ge- 
 neral captivity,  but  tliat  of  the  ark  when  it  was  taken  by  the  Philistines, 
 in  the  last  year  of  Eli,  (1  Sam.  iv.  5,)  which  they  consider  confirmed  by 
 what  is  stated  in  ver.  3i.— So  Kimchi,  Pat.,  Gill,  Scott,  Wit.  31.  Mi- 
 cah^s  gruven  image — it  may  be  supposed  that  Samuel  or  David  put  an 
 end  to  it. — Scott. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIII I.  Micah  Iose.i  his  false    ance  and  presence  with  them,  thmiiih  Ihcy  i 
 
 tjndsi  and  so  must  every  one  in  the  end.     Whatever  we  idolize     GimI's  appointed  ira'/.     This  should,  how 
 
 r  could  not  c.rpect  it  out  of 
 
 very  one  in  the  end.     Whatever  we  idolize     Goils  appointed  icatj.    This  should,  however,  teach  ns  an  use- 
 
 vill  disappoint  us  at  last.     If  God  be  not  the  portion  of  our    ful  lesson,  wlierever  we  go,  to  carry  our  religion  with  us,  and 
 
 souls,  all  other  portions  may  easily  be  taken  away  from  us.         to  consult  Him  who  will  guide  us  by  his  counsel,  and  direct 
 
 II.  Buen  the  idolatrous  Danites  were  desirous  of  a  Divine  quid-    our  paths. 
 
 284 
 
A  Leviteijocth  to  Bet/i-lehem  lo fetch  his  wife.    JUDGES,  XIX. 
 
 An  old  man  entertaineth  him  at  Giheon. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I  A  Lfvite  yoeth  to  Btih-Uhem  to  fetch  liome  his  wife. 
 ifi  An  ohi  man  entertaini^tft  tiim  at  Giheon.  22  The 
 Gibeonites  abuse  /tw  concuhit>e  to  death.  29  Ht 
 flividetlt  her  into  twiloe  pieces,  to  send  them  to  tfie 
 twelve  tribes. 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  tliose  days,  *wlieii 
 -'^  there  was  no  king  in  Israel,  that  there  was 
 a  certain  Levite  sojourning  on  the  side  of 
 mount  Ephraiin,  who  took  to  liim  fa  concu- 
 bine out  of  ''  Beth-leheni-judah. 
 
 '2  And  his  concubine  played  the  whore  against 
 him,  and  went  away  from  him  unto  her  father's 
 house    to    Beth-lehem-judah,   and   was    there 
 
 II  t  four  whole  months. 
 
 3  And  her  luisband  arose,  and  went  after  her, 
 to  speak  f  friendly  unto  her,  and  to  bring  her 
 again,  having  his  servant  with  him,  and  a 
 couple  of  asses  :  and  she  brought  him  into  her 
 fatlier's  house  :  and  when  the  father  of  tlie 
 damsel  saw  him,  he  rejoiced  to  meet  him. 
 
 4  And  his  father  in  law,  the  damsel's  father, 
 retained  him  ;  and  he  abode  with  him  three 
 days :  so  they  did  eat  and  drink,  and  lodged 
 there. 
 
 5  1[  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  fourth  day, 
 when  they  arose  early  in  the  morning,  that  he 
 rose  up  to  depart ;  and  the  damsel's  father 
 said  unto  his  son  in  law,  f"^  Comfort  thine 
 lieart  with  a  morsel  of  bread,  and  afterward  go 
 your  way. 
 
 6  And  they  sat  down,  and  did  eat  and  drink 
 both  of  them  together  :  for  the  damsel's  father 
 had  said  unto  the  man.  Be  content,  I  pray 
 tliee,  and  tarry  all  night,  and  let  thine  heart  be 
 merry. 
 
 7  And  wlien  the  man  rose  up  to  depart,  his 
 father  in  law  urged  him  ;  therefore  he  lodged 
 there  again, 
 
 8  And  he  arose  early  in  the  morning  on  the 
 fii'th  day  to  depart :  and  the  damsel's  father 
 said.  Comfort  thine  heart,  I  pray  thee.  And 
 they  tarried  f  until  afternoon,  and  they  did  eat 
 both  of  them. 
 
 9  And  when  the  man  rose  up  to  depart,  he, 
 and  his  concubine,  and  his  servant,  his  father 
 in  law,  tlie  damsel's  father,  said  unto  him.  Be- 
 hold, now  the  day  f  draweth  toward  evening,  I 
 pray  you  tarry  all  night :  behold,  f  the  day 
 groweth  to  an  end,  lodge  here,  that  thine  heart 
 may  be  merry  ;  and  to  morrow  get  you  early 
 on  your  way.  that  thou  mayest  go  fhome. 
 
 10  But  the  man  would  not  tarry  that  night, 
 but  he  rose  up  and  departed,  and  came  f  over 
 against  ''  Jehus,  whicli  is  Jerusalem  ;  and  there 
 were  with  him  two  asses  saddled,  his  concu- 
 bine also  was  with  him. 
 
 1  1  And  when  they  were  by  Jehus,  the  day 
 was  far  spent  ;  and  the  servant  said  unto  his 
 master,  Come,  I  pray  thee,  and  let  us  turn  in 
 
 B.C. 
 
 B  C. 
 
 cir.  1106. 
 
 cir.  IWt). 
 
 ff.r.>!«)i.  15.  8, 
 
 63.  ch.l  21 
 
 2  6am.  5.  6 
 
 /■Josh.18.28. 
 
 a  ch.   17.  fi. 
 
 S(  13.  1.  & 
 •2]. -25. 
 
 ;^  Josh,  18. 
 
 23. 
 
 t  Heb.  a  ao- 
 
 Tti'i'i  a  cn- 
 
 cubi'ie,nv.  It 
 
 u,.fr  a  r...- 
 
 b  ch.  17.  7. 
 
 11  Or,  a  yfiir 
 
 m<mlht. 
 
 h  Mat.  25,43. 
 
 t  Heh.  d<.v* 
 
 Hub.  13.  2. 
 
 fiinrmOHUit. 
 
 t  lieb. /o  Aer 
 
 hf-url. 
 
 Geu.  34.  3. 
 
 .•  Pb.I0V.23 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Slrenglhmi 
 e  UeD.  18  &. 
 
 AJosli.  18.  \ 
 
 ch.  IS  3l.fc 
 
 20,  18 
 
 I  Sam. 13, 
 t  Heb,  ;.„. 
 
 there  tli. 
 
 ver.  15. 
 
 (  Gen.  A%  23. 
 ch.  6.  23. 
 
 t  Heb,  tiltlh, 
 d^itf    deelin- 
 
 t  Heb.  it  is 
 f/iH  pihiiiiig 
 time  0/  th, 
 
 t  Heb.  lo 
 
 ov.-rtt,;ai',if. 
 dJosh.XS.'iS. 
 
 J  Gen 
 
 24.32 
 
 ms 
 
 a-k 
 
 «  CPU 
 
 18.  J. 
 
 Jobn 
 
 13.  5. 
 
 pGcn 
 
 19.  4. 
 
 ch.  SO  5. 
 
 h™ 
 
 9.9.  It 
 
 II)   9 
 
 a  Pcu 
 
 13.  1,1. 
 
 ;  r,,,,, 
 
 19   i 
 
 Koii, 
 
 I  eii. 
 
 27- 
 
 f  Gen. 
 
 19  6,7 
 
 /2  Sam.  !3. 
 
 12, 
 II  Geu.  19   8 
 
 X  Gen.  34  ?. 
 Deu.  91.  II. 
 
 t  Hcl.  (»• 
 n„„l,-r  of 
 Ihii/altn. 
 
 into   this   city  "of  the  Jebusites,  and  lodge 
 
 in  it. 
 
 12  And  his  master  said  unto  him.  We  will 
 not  turn  aside  hither  into  the  city  of  a  stranger, 
 that  is  not  of  the  children  of  Israel ;  we  will 
 pass  over  '  to  Gibeah. 
 
 13  And  he  said  unto  his  servant,  Come,  and 
 let  us  draw  near  to  one  of  these  places  to  lodge 
 all  night,  in  Gibeah,  or  in  ^  Ramali. 
 
 14  And  they  passed  on  and  went  their  way; 
 and  the  sun  went  down  upon  them  irhen  theif 
 were  by  Gibeah,  which  belungeth  to  Benja- 
 min. 
 
 15  And  they  turned  aside  thither,  to  go  in 
 and  to  lodge  in  Gibeah  :  and  when  he  went  in, 
 he  sat  him  down  in  a  street  of  the  city  :  for 
 there  was  no  man  that  ''  took  them  into  his 
 house  to  lodging, 
 
 16  H  And,  behold,  there  came  an  old  man 
 from  '  his  w  ork  out  of  the  field  at  even,  which 
 was  also  of  mount  Ephraim  ;  and  he  sojourned 
 ill  Gibeah  :  but  the  men  of  the  place  were 
 Benjamite.s. 
 
 17  And  when  he  had  lifted  up  his  eyes,  he 
 saw  a  wayfaring  man  in  the  street  of  the  city  : 
 and  the  old  man  said.  Whither  goest  thou  ? 
 and  whence  comest  thou? 
 
 18  And  he  said  unto  him,  We  are  passing 
 from  Beth-lehem-judah  toward  the  side  of 
 mount  Ephraim  ;  from  thence  am  I  :  and  I 
 went  to  Beth-lehem-judah,  but  I  am  now 
 going  to  '  the  house  of  the  Lord  ;  and  there 
 is  no  man  that  f  receiveth  me  to  house. 
 
 19  Yet  there  is  both  straw  and  provender  for 
 our  asses  ;  and  there  is  bread  and  wine  also 
 for  me,  and  for  thy  handmaid,  and  for  the 
 young  man  ichicli  is  with  thy  servants  :  there 
 is  no  want  of  any  thing. 
 
 20  And  the  old  man  said,  '  Peace  be  with 
 thee  ;  howsoever  let  all  thy  wants  lie  upon 
 me  ;  "'  only  lodge  not  in  the  street. 
 
 21  "So  he  brought  him  into  his  house,  and 
 gave  provender  unto  the  asses  :  °  and  they 
 washed  their  feet,  and  did  eat  and  drink. 
 
 22  t  Now  as  they  were  making  their  hearts 
 merry,  behold,  ^  the  men  of  the  city,  certain 
 ■>  sons  of  Belial,  beset  the  house  round  about, 
 and  beat  at  the  door,  and  spake  to  the  master 
 of  the  house,  the  old  man,  saying,  '  Bring  forth 
 the  man  that  came  into  thine  house,  that  we 
 may  know  him. 
 
 23  And  '  the  man,  the  master  of  the  house, 
 went  out  unto  them,  and  said  unto  them.  Nay, 
 my  brethren,  nay,  I  pray  you,  do  not  so  wick- 
 edly ;  seeing  that  this  man  is  come  into  mine 
 house, '  do  not  this  folly. 
 
 24  "  Behold,  here  is  my  daughter  a  maiden, 
 and  his  concubine  ;  them  I  will  bring  out  now, 
 and  '  humljle  ye  them,  and  do  with  tliem  what 
 seemeth  good  unto  you  :  but  unto  this  man  do 
 not  t  so  vile  a  thing. 
 
 Chap,  XIX.  —  1,  Cimcwiine,  a  wife  of  a  spcondary  sort,  without  such 
 solemn  espnuoals,  or  a  dowry,  as  those  called  wives  had, — So  the  Tnl- 
 mudists,  flit.  See  notes  on  Gen,  xxv.  1,  6,  This  concubine  seems  to 
 have  been  the  Levite's  only  wife, — Scott.  A  concubine  wife. — Boollir. 
 2,  Ptai/ed  Itte  whore  nf^itinst  him,  '  was  angry  with  him,*  '  went  away 
 from  him,'  'despised  him,'  So  it  is  rendered  by  various  ancient  ver- 
 sions. '  Was  alienated  from  him,' — Huub.  '  Despised  him,'  for  had 
 she  played  the  harlot  he  could  have  puni-hed  her  ;  besides,  his  going 
 to  gain  her  heart  is  a  pruo!  tliyt  this  is  the  true  reading, — Bootfir. 
 'The   parties   disagreed.'  —  So   .-J.    Cturke.  3.  To   speak  friendti/, 
 
 nab  7!?.  '  to  her  hes.lt.'— Piifr.  9.  Ttie  day  draweth,  •  it  is  pitching 
 time,'  mtir^.,  that  is,  time  of  pitching  a  tent  for  tlie  night. — Har. 
 \l.  Jet/us — the  city  of  the  Jeb'isites — afterwards  Jerusalem.  It  had 
 been  taken  by  the  children  of  Judah,  (chap.  i.  8,)  but  the  Jebusites  re- 
 283 
 
 taincd  the  strong  fort  of  Zion  till  the  time  of  David,— Pn<,  12.  Gi- 
 
 ieriA— four  miles  from  Jebus,  and  a  Levitical  city,  (Josh,  xxi,  17. )— 
 Gill.  \5.Noman  that  took  them  into  his  Aoksc— this  shewed  tlieir 
 peculiarly  vile  character,  for  the  Easterns  in  general  are  so  hospitable 
 that  they  will  quarrel  for  their  guest  when  a  stranger  enters  a  town,— 
 So  Pint.  Bih.  l6.  Benjamites—Vne  priests  did  not  inhabit  the  Levi- 
 
 tical cities  alone.  18.  To  the  house  of  the  Lord,  to  >hiloh, —i'a*, 
 
 Eli  rov  oncoi,  fiov,  'to  my  own  house,'  Sept.  IQ.  Straw — chopped 
 
 straw  used  in  the  east.  Procfnrfer— chopped  straw  and  barley  most 
 likely. — Har.  House  room  only  is  still  sought  by  efistern  travellers, 
 who  take  all  their  provisions  with  them,  being  otherwise  difficult  to 
 procure— So  Pict.  Bib.  22,  Sons  of  Belial— see  notes  on  Deut.  xiii. 
 13,  Know  him — see  ijote  on  Gen.  xix.  5. 
 
The  Lcvite  dedareth  Ins  wi-onr;. 
 
 JUDGES,  XX. 
 
 The  Bcnjamites  war  with  the  Israelites. 
 
 25  But  the  men  would  not  hearken  to  him : 
 so  the  man  took  his  concubine,  and  brought 
 her  forth  unto  them;  and  tliey  'knew  her,  and 
 abused  her  all  the  night  until  the  morning  : 
 and  when  the  day  began  to  spring,  they  let 
 her  go. 
 
 •26  Then  came  the  woman  in  the  dawning  of 
 the  day,  and  fell  down  at  the  door  of  the  man's 
 house  where  her  lord  was,  till  it  was  light. 
 
 '27  And  her  lord  rose  up  in  the  morning,  and 
 opened  the  doors  of  the  house,  and  went  out 
 to  go  his  way  :  and,  behold,  the  woman  his 
 concubine  was  fallen  down  at  the  door  of  the 
 house,  and  her  hands  H-eccupon  the  thresliold. 
 
 •28  And  he  said  unto  her.  Up,  and  let  us  be 
 going.  But  '  none  answered.  Then  tlie  man 
 took  her  up  upon  an  as?,  and  the  man  rose  up, 
 and  gat  him  unto  liis  place. 
 
 29  i  And  when  he  was  come  into  his  house, 
 he  took  a  knife,  and  laid  hold  on  his  concu- 
 bine, and  "  divided  her,  lof/(  /her  with  her  bones, 
 into  twelve  pieces,  and  sent  her  into  all  the 
 coast  of  Israel. 
 
 .'30  And  it  was  so,  that  all  that  saw  it  said. 
 There  was  no  such  deed  done  nor  seen  from 
 the  day  that  the  children  of  Israel  came  up  out 
 of  the  land  of  Egypt  unto  this  day  :  consider 
 of  it,  ""take  advice,  and  speak  i/oiir  minds. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 I  The  Levite  in  a  gtneral assembly  dtchiTHh  his  wrung. 
 8  The  decree  of  lite  assembli/.  12  The  Benjamilts, 
 biinij  cited,  imlbe  head  against  the  Israelites.  18  The 
 Israelites  171  two  battles  lose  fort g  thovsand.  26  Theg 
 destroy  by  a  stratagem  all  the  Benjamites,  except  six 
 hundred. 
 
 ''PHEN  *all  the  children  of  Israel  went  out, 
 ■•-  and  the  congregation  was  gathered  to- 
 gether as  one  man,  from  ''  Dan  even  to  Beer- 
 sheba,  with  the  land  of  Gilead,  unto  the  Lord 
 '  in  Mizpeh. 
 
 2  And  the  chief  of  all  the  people,  ei^en  of  all 
 the  tribes  of  Israel,  presented  themselves  in 
 the  assembly  of  the  people  of  God,  four  hun- 
 dred thousand  footmen  ''  that  drew  sword. 
 
 3  (Now  the  children  of  Benjamin  heard  that 
 the  children  of  Israel  were  gone  np  to  Miz- 
 peh )  Then  said  the  children  of  Israel,  Tell 
 us,  how  was  this  wickedness';' 
 
 4  And  t  the  Levite,  the  husband  of  the  wo- 
 man that  was  slain,  answered  and  said,  '"  I  came 
 into  Gibeah  that  belongetk  to  Benjamin,  land 
 my  concubine,  to  lodge. 
 
 5  '  And  the  men  of  Gibeah  rose  against  me, 
 and  beset  the  house  round  about  upon  me  by 
 night,  and  thought  to  have  slain  me  :  ^  and  my 
 concubine  have  they  f  forced,  that  she  is  dead. 
 
 g  Qen.  4.  1. 
 
 b  ch.  20   7. 
 Prov.  13.10. 
 
 o  pen. 
 
 in.i^' 
 
 J.ish. 
 
 UA-*. 
 
 ch    2 
 
 5 
 
 1  San 
 
 11.7, 
 
 b  ch.  18.  S9. 
 
 1  Sam 
 
 .SWI 
 
 ■i  Sam 
 
 .S.I  11. 
 
 Ii(  24. 
 
 cJud? 
 
 10.17- 
 
 8(  11. 
 
 l. 
 
 1  Sam 
 
 7   S 
 
 Si.  10. 
 
 17. 
 
 rfch.8 
 
 .  10. 
 
 f  Hpb.  Ihe 
 muu  tl,t  Le- 
 vite. 
 
 e  cU.  19.  15. 
 
 /ch.l9,  22. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  1-106. 
 
 Heb.  /d. 
 
 t  I>«ii.l.1  U 
 J...^l..  !2.  l.S, 
 
 ich.S.  IS. 
 1  Chr.  12.2. 
 
 p  vcr.  8.1,  Sti. 
 
 q  .Vu.27.21 
 
 I 
 
 6  And  "  I  took  my  concubine,  and  cut  her  in 
 pieces,  and  sent  her  throughout  all  the  country 
 of  the  inheritance  of  Israel  :  for  they  '  have 
 committed  lewdness  and  folly  in  Israel. 
 
 7  Behold,  ye  are  all  children  of  Israel ;  'give 
 here  your  advice  and  counsel. 
 
 8  t  And  all  the  people  arose  as  one  man, 
 saying.  We  will  not  any  of  us  go  to  his  tent, 
 neither  will  we  any  of  us  turn  into  his  house. 
 
 9  But  now  this  shall  be  the  thing  which  we 
 will    do   to  Gibeah ;    we   u-ill  qu   up   by  lot 
 
 gainst  it ; 
 
 10  And  we  will  take  ten  men  of  an  hundred 
 throughout  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and  an 
 hundred  of  a  thousand,  and  a  thousand  out  of 
 ten  tliousaiid,  to  fetch  victual  for  the  people, 
 that  they  may  do,  when  they  come  to  Gibeah 
 of  Benjamin,  according  to  all  the  folly  that 
 tliey  have  wrought  in  Israel. 
 
 1 1  So  all  the  men  of  Israel  were  gathered 
 against  the  city,  fknit  together  as  one  inau. 
 
 i'2  H  '  And  the  tribes  of  Israel  sent  men 
 through  all  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  saying. 
 What  wickedness  is  this  that  is  done  among 
 you  ? 
 
 1.3  Now  therefore  deliver  us  the  men,  ""the 
 children  of  Belial,  which  are  in  Gibeah,  that 
 we  may  put  them  to  death,  and  "put  away 
 evil  from  Israel.  But  tlie  children  of  Benja- 
 min would  not  hearken  to  the  voice  of  their 
 brethren  the  children  of  Israel  : 
 
 U  But  the  children  of  Benjamin  gathered 
 themselves  together  out  of  the  cities  unto 
 Gibeah,  to  go  out  to  battle  against  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel. 
 
 15  And  the  children  of  Benjamin  were  num- 
 bered at  that  time  out  of  the  cities  twenty  and 
 six  thousand  men  that  drew  sword,  beside  the 
 inhabitants  of  Gibeah,  which  were  numbered 
 seven  lumdred  cliosen  men. 
 
 \6  Among  all  this  people  there  were  se\en 
 hundred  chosen  men  "  lefthanded  ;  every  one 
 could  sling  stones  at  an  hair  breadth,  and  not 
 miss. 
 
 17  And  the  men  of  Israel,  beside  Benjamin, 
 were  nuinljered  four  hundred  thousand  men 
 that  drew  sword  :  all  these  were  men  of  war. 
 
 IS  t  And  the  children  of  Israel  arose,  and 
 ''went  up  to  the  house  of  God,  and  ''asked 
 counsel  of  God,  and  said.  Which  of  us  shall  go 
 up  first  to  the  battle  against  the  children  of 
 Benjamin  'r*  And  the  Lord  said,  Judah  shall 
 gu  up  first. 
 
 19  And  the  children  of  Israel  rose  up  in  the 
 morning,  and  encamped  against  Gibeah. 
 
 '20  And  the  men  of  Israel  went  out  to  battle 
 against  Benjamin  ;  and  the  men  of  Israel  put 
 
 25.  Tnok,  piTT,  a  weird  intimating  that  he  used  force. — So  .-1.  Clarke. 
 28.  None  answered—she  was  dead.  B/i.  Hull,  understanding  the  worst 
 of  tliis  woman,  says. '  adultery  was  her  sin,  and  adultery  was  her  death. 
 God  calls  her  to  reckoning,  and  punishes  her  with  her  own  sin.*  So 
 Scott,   '  she   was   punished    in   kind.'  2g.   Into   twelee  pieces,  {"T 
 
 Ephraim,  Manasseh.  and  the  ten  tnhes.— Sii«.  I'his  was  agreeably  to 
 an  established  usage  of  the  time.  The  metliod  was.  to  take  a  bullock 
 devoted  in  sacrifice  and  cut  it  in  pieces.  It  expressed  as  much  as, 
 '  may  you  be  cut  to  pii  ces  if  you  do  not  aid ;'  and  here  it  answered 
 the  purpose  of  binding  the  ties  of  the  tribes  toiccther  for  a  stipulated 
 time. — See  Burder's  Orient,  Cust.,  and  .4.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XX. —  I.  All,  'a  great  number.'  From  Dan  even  to  Beer- 
 sfietta — Dan,  the  northern  border,  Bcersheba,  the  southern. — Poole. 
 Mizpeh,  a  city  on  the  borders  of  Jiulah  and  Benjamin,  {Josh.  XV.  38  ; 
 xviii.  26  ;)  ntit  Mizpeh  in  Gilead,  but  ne.ir  Shiloh,  eight  miles  from 
 Gibeah. — Gill.  16.  Cunld  slittf^ — the  inhabitants  of  Baleares,  now 
 Majorca  and  Minorca,  used  to  practise  the  sling,  and  mothers  allowed 
 the  children  no  breakfast  till  they  could  strike  it  ofT  from  a  beam  or 
 post.  Pliriv  says,  the  Phcenician=,  who  were  old  inhabitants  tif  Ca- 
 naan, practised  the  sling,  and  from  them  the  Bcnjamites  mighl  learn 
 it. — Gill.  IS.  Asked  counsel — they  seem  to  have  asked  in  confidence 
 of  success,  but  used  neither  prayer,  fasting,  nor  sacrifice. — Poole.  Shalt 
 
 Ufflections  on  Chap.  XIX. — I.  Men  without  the  fear  of 
 God  ore  the  some  everywhere.  AX^Iiere  law  is  in  force  tiiey  are 
 only  held  by  its  restraints;  but  wlien  tliPir  base  passions  can 
 be  freely  gratified,  eitlier  in  Sodom  or  Gibeah,  what  a  brutal 
 nature  do  tliey  display  !  <1h,  liow  lias  sin  sunk  the  race  i>f 
 Adam  since  ho  was  hird  of  I'.deii  ! 
 '2,'<(j 
 
 II.  Wickcil  professors  of  religion  are  often  the  worst  of  sinners. 
 Let  the  man  tremble  who,  iii  spite  of  all  the  restraints  of  con. 
 science  and  the  light  of  religion,  adds  sin  to  sin.  '  Nolhing 
 but  hell  itself,'  says  Bishop  Hall,  '  can  yield  a  worse  creature 
 than  a  dpi-raved  Israelite.' 
 
The  Jsradiles  lose  forty  thousand. 
 
 JUDGES,  XX. 
 
 The  Benjamites  destroyed  by  stratagem. 
 
 tlicmselves  in   array  to  fight  against  tlicni  at 
 Gibeah. 
 
 21  And  'tlic  children  of  Benjamin  came  fortli 
 out  of  Gibeali,  and  destroyed  down  to  tlie 
 gronnd  of  tlie  Israelites  that  day  twenty  and 
 two  tliousand  men. 
 
 22  And  the  people  the  men  of  Israel  en- 
 couraged themselves,  and  set  their  battle 
 again  in  array  in  the  place  where  they  put 
 themselves  in  array  tlie  first  day. 
 
 23  ('And  tlie  chihh-eii  of  Israel  went  up  and 
 wept  before  tlie  Loud  until  even,  and  asked 
 counsel  of  the  Lord,  saying,  Sliall  I  go  up 
 again  to  battle  against  the  children  of  Benja- 
 min my  brother?  And  tlie  Lord  said,  Go  up 
 against  him.) 
 
 24  And  the  cliihlren  of  Israel  came  near 
 against  the  children  of  Benjamin  the  second 
 day. 
 
 2j  And  '  Benjamin  went  furtli  against  them 
 out  of  Gibeah  the  .second  day,  and  destroyed 
 down  to  the  ground  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 again  eighteen  thousand  men ;  all  these  drew 
 the  .sword. 
 
 26  1[  Then  all  the  children  of  Israel,  and  all 
 the  people,  "went  up,  and  came  unto  the 
 house  of  God,  and  wept,  and  sat  tliere  before 
 the  Lord,  and  fasted  tliat  day  until  even,  and 
 offered  burnt  offerings  and  peace  offerings 
 before  the  Loud. 
 
 27  And  tlie  cliildren  of  Israel  enquired  of  the 
 Lord,  (for  "  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  God 
 was  there  in  tliose  days, 
 
 28  '  And  Phinehas,  the  son  of  Eleazar,  the 
 son  of  Aaron.  '  stood  before  it  in  those  days,) 
 saying.  Shall  I  yet  again  go  out  to  battle 
 against  the  children  of  Benjamin  my  brother, 
 or  shall  I  cease  ?  And  the  Lord  said.  Go  up ; 
 for  to  morrow  I  will  deliver  them  into  thine 
 hand. 
 
 29  And  Israel  °  set  liers  in  wait  round  about 
 Gibeah. 
 
 .'iO  And  the  children  of  Israel  went  up  against 
 the  children  of  Benjamin  on  the  third  day,  and 
 put  themselves  in  array  against  Gibeah,  as  at 
 other  times. 
 
 31  And  the  children  of  Benjamin  went  out 
 against  the  people,  and  were  drawn  away  from 
 the  city  ;  and  they  began  f  to  smite  of  the 
 people,  and  kill,  as  at  other  times,  in  the  high- 
 ways, of  which  one  goeth  up  to  ||  the  house  of 
 God,  and  the  other  to  Gibeah  in  the  field, 
 about  thirty  men  of  Israel. 
 
 32  And  tlie  children  of  Benjamin  said.  They 
 are  smitten  down  before  us,  as  at  the  first. 
 But  tlie  children  of  Israel  said.  Let  us  flee, 
 and  draw  them  from  the  city  unto  the  highways. 
 
 33  And  all  the  men  of  Israel  rose  up  out  of 
 their  place,  and  put  themselves  in  array  at 
 Baal-tamar :  and  the  liers  in  wait  of  Israel 
 came  forth  out  of  their  places,  even  out  of  the 
 meadows  of  Gibeah. 
 
 r.Insli   in.  1. 
 I  ^aln.4.»,4 
 
 V  Josli.-24.3.'*. 
 
 iDptit    II).  8. 
 &  18.  5. 
 
 t  Heh.  I" 
 ,.„.!,  ./,;„ 
 
 I"-"!''-' 
 
 r^ lird  nj 
 
 "',  *■■ 
 II  Oi.Jlelffet. 
 
 b  Josh.  8-  H. 
 Is.  47.  II 
 
 rfjosh.8.  19 
 II  Or.  marf,  n 
 l'»^  s.Min.l 
 with  tlie 
 trumpets. 
 Josh.  6.  b. 
 II  Or,  lime. 
 
 t  Heb.  IT."//., 
 t  Heh.  etca. 
 
 t  Heh  to 
 tt»ilf  llm 
 aiuuded. 
 
 «  Jnsh.e.  21) 
 t  Hell,  the 
 
 mm,,l,o,i. 
 
 f  Heb.  tntich- 
 r<l  them. 
 
 Il  Or,  from 
 .Mmuchah, 
 
 t  Heb.  tinln 
 ot'fr  agaiiitt 
 
 /Josh.  15.32. 
 
 g  ch,  21    l-S. 
 
 f  Heb   Wat 
 fo'ind. 
 
 t  Heb.  were 
 
 34  And  there  came  against  Gibeah  ten  thou- 
 sand chosen  men  out  of  all  I.srael,  and  the 
 liattle  was  sore  :  ''  but  they  knew  not  tliat  evil 
 iva.'i  near  them. 
 
 3.3  And  the  Lord  smote  Benjamin  before 
 Israel  :  and  the  children  of  Israel  destroyed  of 
 the  Benjamites  that  day  twenty  and  five  thon- 
 .sand  and  an  hundred  men  :  all  these  drew  the 
 sword. 
 
 .30  So  the  children  of  Benjamin  saw  that  they 
 were  smitten:  'for  the  men  of  Israel  gave 
 place  to  the  Benjamites,  because  they  trusted 
 unto  tlie  liers  in  wait  wliicli  they  had  set  be- 
 side Gibeah. 
 
 37  •*  And  the  liers  in  wait  hasted,  and  rushed 
 upon  Gibeah  ;  and  the  liers  in  wait  ||  drew 
 themselves  along,  and  smote  all  the  city  with 
 the  edge  of  the  sword. 
 
 38  Now  there  was  an  appointed  |{  sign  be- 
 tween the  men  of  Israel  f  and  the  liers  in  w'ait, 
 that  they  should  make  a  great  f  flame  with 
 smoke  rise  up  out  of  the  city. 
 
 39  And  when  the  men  of  Israel  retired  in  the 
 battle,  Benjamin  began  f  to  smite  and  kill  of 
 the  men  of  Israel  about  thirty  persons  :  for 
 they  said.  Surely  they  are  smitten  down  before 
 us,  as  in  the  first  battle. 
 
 40  But  when  the  flame  began  to  arise  up  out 
 of  the  city  with  a  pillar  of  smoke,  the  Benja- 
 mites °  looked  behind  them,  and,  behold,  f  the 
 flame  of  the  city  ascended  up  to  heaven. 
 
 41  And  when  the  men  of  Israel  turned  again, 
 the  men  of  Benjamin  were  amazed  :  for  they 
 saw  that  evil  f  was  come  upon  them. 
 
 42  Therefore  they  turned  their  hacks  before 
 the  men  of  Israel  unto  the  way  of  the  wilder- 
 ness ;  but  the  battle  overtook  them  ;  and  them 
 which  came  out  of  the  cities  they  destroyed  in 
 the  midst  of  them. 
 
 43  Thus  they  inclosed  the  Benjamites  round 
 about,  and  chased  them,  and  trode  them  down 
 II  with  ease  f  over  against  Gibeah  toward  the 
 sunrising. 
 
 44  And  there  fell  of  Benjamin  eighteen  thou- 
 sand men  ;  all  these  u-ere  men  of  valour. 
 
 45  And  they  turned  and  fled  toward  the  wil- 
 derness unto  the  rock  of  ''  Rimmon  :  and  they 
 gleaned  of  them  in  the  highways  five  thousand 
 men  ;  and  pursued  hard  after  them  unto  Gi- 
 dom,  and  slew  two  thousand  men  of  them. 
 
 40  So  that  all  which  fell  that  day  of  Benja- 
 min were  twenty  and  five  thousand  men  that 
 drew  the  sword  ;  all  these  were  men  of  valour. 
 
 47  ^  But  .six  liundred  men  turned  and  fled  to 
 the  wilderness  unto  the  rock  Rimmon,  and 
 abode  in  the  rock  Rimmon  four  months. 
 
 48  .\nd  the  men  of  Israel  turned  again  upon 
 the  children  of  Benjaiiiin,  and  smote  them  with 
 the  edge  of  the  sword,  as  well  the  men  of 
 every  city,  as  the  beast,  and  all  that  fcame  to  • 
 hand  :  also  they  set  on  fiie  all  the  cities  tliat 
 t  they  came  to. 
 
 ^n  vp  first — to  gro  tn  battle  wa*;  rictormined,  without  firs^t  consulting 
 the  LorH,  as  Kinpr  of  Israel. — Wil.  21.  Tifejtttj  and  two  thoit.tnnti^si;. 
 vera]  Jewish  writers  think  that  this  was  a  rchuke  to  tlieir  zeal  in  pu- 
 nishing-the  Benjamites.  when  they  had  not  put  awav  spiritual  adul- 
 tery in  the  case  of  the  Danites.— Gi7/.  In  a  similar  affair  at  Ai,  secret 
 iniquity  was  found,  though  no  such  cause  is  here  revealed. —  U'lY.  Why 
 should  God  fight  for  them  while  they  had  their  Penates,  or  h'lusehfld 
 
 prods,  at  home}— Sut.  23.  Wept,  lamented  their  defeat,  but  not 
 their  sins.  A-iked  coviL-ipl.  hut  not  help,  of  Gnd.— G/7/.  26.  Fasti^tl — 
 the  fir>.t  mentioD  of  this  as  a  religious  ceremony. — .i.  Ctarlte.  28.  / 
 will  fleliver — here  victory  was  promised.  47.  Rf)i'k  Rimman — fifteen 
 miles  from  Jenjsalem — Sul.  The  most  elevated  summit  of  the  ridge 
 called  the  mountains  of  Israel,  or  Ephraini,  situated  in  the  centre  of 
 the  Holy  Land,  now  called  Quarantania. — Cum.  from  Henry  and  Scott, 
 
 Refi.kctions  on  CllAr.  X.\ I.   Wlim  we  attempt  to  punislt 
 
 sin  in  Dt/tert^,  we  s/ioii!il  see  t/itit  we  ourselves  pitl  utcu;t  every  che- 
 rished sin.,  or  our  conduct^  in  the  siyht  of  God,  is  hut  hi  :iocrisi/. 
 
 II.  We  cannot  expect  that  God  will  hear  our  praij'  i  s  till  we  bit- 
 287 
 
 terh/  hitmhle  oursel ccs  for  our  cherished  sins. 
 
 III.  Thoutjh  the  wicked  may  triumph  for  a  season,  their  triumph 
 is  short ;  in  the  end,  punishment  from  a  just  God  trill  overtake 
 tlum. 
 
Tlie  desolation  of  Si-njamui  bewailed. 
 
 JUDGES,  XXI. 
 
 The  virgins  of  Shiloh  surprised. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  The  penple  bewail  tlie  desolation  of  Bi^njamin.  Q  By 
 tht  destruction  of  Jatiestt-cjilettd  tliey  provide  thim 
 four  hundred  wives.  16  They  ttdvise  them  to  surprise 
 the  viryiiis  tiiat  danced  at  Shiloh. 
 
 "]V[OW  ■  the  men  of  Israel  had  sworn  in  Miz- 
 -^'  peh,  saying.  There  shall  not  any  of  us 
 give  his  daughter  unto  Benjamin  to  wife. 
 
 2  And  tlie  people  came  ''  to  the  house  of 
 God.  and  abode  there  till  even  before  God, 
 and  lifted  up  their  voices,  and  wept  sore  ; 
 
 3  And  said,  O  Lokd  God  of  Israel,  why  is 
 this  come  to  pass  in  Israel,  that  there  should 
 be  to  day  one  tribe  lacking  in  Israel? 
 
 4  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that 
 the  people  rose  early,  and  '  built  there  an  altar, 
 and  offered  burnt  offerings  and  peace  offer- 
 ings. 
 
 5  And  the  children  of  Israel  said.  Who  is 
 there  among  all  the  trilies  of  Israel  that  came 
 not  up  with  the  congregation  unto  the  LokdV 
 ■■  For  they  had  made  a  great  oath  concerning 
 him  that  came  not  up  to  the  Lord  to  Mizprli, 
 saying,  He  shall  surely  be  put  to  death. 
 
 6  And  the  children  of  Israel  repented  them 
 for  Benjamin  tlieir  brother,  and  said.  There  is 
 one  tribe  cut  off  from  Israel  this  day. 
 
 7  How  shall  we  do  for  wives  for  them  tliat 
 remain,  seeing  we  have  sworn  by  tlie  Lord 
 that  we  will  not  give  them  of  our  daugliters  to 
 wives  ? 
 
 8  IF  And  they  .said,  What  one  is  there  of  the 
 tribes  of  Israel  tliat  came  not  up  to  Mizpeli  to 
 the  Lord?  And,  beliold,  tliere  came  none  to 
 the  camp  from  '  Jabesh-gilead  to  tlie  assembly. 
 
 9  For  the  people  were  numbered,  and,  be- 
 hold, there  were  none  of  the  inhabitants  of 
 Jabesh-gilead  there. 
 
 10  And  the  congregation  sent  thillier  twelve 
 thousand  men  of  tlie  valiantest,and  conimaiided 
 them,  saying,  '  Go  and  smite  the  inliabitants  of 
 Jabesh-gilead  witli  the  edge  of  the  sword,  with 
 the  women  and  the  children. 
 
 1 1  And  this  is  the  tiling  that  ye  shall  do, 
 *  Ye  shall  utterly  destroy  every  male,  and 
 every  woman  that  f  hath  lain  by  man. 
 
 12  And  they  found  among  the  inliahitants  of 
 Jabesh-gilead  four  hundred  f  young  virgins, 
 that  liad  known  no  man  by  lying  with  any 
 male  :  and  they  brought  them  into  the  camp 
 to  "  Shiloh,  vvliich  is  in  the  land  of  Canaan. 
 
 13  And  the  whole  congregation  sent  some 
 ■f  to  speak  to  the  children  of  Benjamin  '  that 
 
 ft  rh.  20.  IS, 
 
 ■as. 
 
 [Or.pruc/aiin 
 Deut. 20.10. 
 
 /  vcr.  I. 
 Judg. II  3S. 
 
 I  Heb  /r»». 
 I/Par  to  yetir 
 I  II  Of,  l.mn 
 I    //«•  (f(/<- 
 I    r..i..y. 
 Or,  m. 
 
 n  Sec  Ex. 
 15.  iO.    ch. 
 11.  .11. 
 I  Sain.  18. 
 6.  Jer.  SI 
 13. 
 
 Or.  sralifs 
 
 0  Xu   SI.  17. 
 
 t  Heb.  .,.,„.,;, 
 
 A.Tnsli    1.1.  I, 
 
 o  rli.  17.  n.  S 
 19.  l.fkia  I 
 
 p  Dent.  12, ». 
 ch.  17.  6. 
 
 were    in    the    rock   Rimmon,   and    to    {|  call 
 
 peaceably  unto  them. 
 
 14  And  Benjamin  came  again  at  that  time; 
 and  they  gave  tliem  wives  which  they  had 
 saved  alive  of  the  women  of  Jabesh-gilead  : 
 and  yet  so  they  sufficed  tliem  not. 
 
 15  And  the  people  'repented  them  for  Ben- 
 jamin, because  that  the  Lord  had  made  a 
 breach  in  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 IG  t  Then  the  elders  of  tlie  congregation 
 said.  How  shall  we  do  for  wives  for  them  that 
 remain,  seeing  the  v\omen  are  destroyed  out 
 of  Benjamin? 
 
 17  And  they  said.  There  must  be  an  inherit- 
 ance for  them  that  be  escaped  of  Benjamin, 
 that  a  tribe  be  not  destroyed  out  of  Israel. 
 
 18  Howbeit  we  may  not  give  them  wives  of 
 our  daughters  :  '  for  the  children  of  Israel  have 
 sworn,  saying.  Cursed  be  he  that  givetli  a  wife 
 to  Benjamin. 
 
 19  Then  they  said.  Behold,  tliere  is  a  feast 
 of  the  Lord  in  Shiloli  f  yearly  in  a  place 
 which  is  on  the  north  .side  of  Beth-el,  ||  on  the 
 east  side  ||  of  the  highway  that  goctlv  up  from 
 Beth-el  to  Shechem,  and  on  the  south  of  Le- 
 bonah. 
 
 20  Therefore  they  commanded  the  cliildren 
 of  Benjamin,  saying.  Go  and  lie  in  wait  in  the 
 vineyards ; 
 
 21  And  see,  and,  beliold,  if  the  daughters  of 
 Shiloh  come  out  "'to  dance  in  dances,  then 
 come  ye  out  of  the  vineyards,  and  catch  you 
 every  man  his  wife  of  the  daughters  of  Sliiluh, 
 and  go  to  the  land  of  Benjamin. 
 
 22  And  it  shall  be,  when  llieir  fatliers  or 
 their  brethren  come  unto  us  to  complain,  tlia! 
 we  will  say  unto  them,  ||  Be  favourable  unto 
 them  for  our  sakes  :  because  we  reserved  not 
 to  each  man  his  wife  in  the  war  :  for  ye  did 
 not  give  unto  tliem  at  this  time,  that  ye  shoiilil 
 be  guilty. 
 
 23  And  the  children  of  Benjamin  did  so,  and 
 took  tliem  wives,  according  to  their  number, 
 of  them  that  danced,  whom  they  caught :  and 
 tliey  went  and  returned  unto  their  inheritance, 
 and  "  repaired  the  cities,  and  dwelt  in  them. 
 
 24  And  the  children  of  Israel  departed  thence 
 at  tliat  time,  every  man  to  his  tribe  and  to  his 
 family,  and  they  went  out  from  thence  every 
 man  to  his  inheritance. 
 
 25  °  In  those  days  there  u-ns  no  king  in  Is- 
 rael :  ''every  man  did  that  which  was  right  in 
 liis  own  eyes. 
 
 Chap.  XXI. —  1.  Gh^e  his  diugtiter,  esteeming  them  to  be  as  bar! 
 as  the  worst  of  heathens,  with  whom  they  were  forbidden  to  marry. — 
 Puiile.  2.  The  hituse  of  Gnii,  ^^4  n^3.  '  Bethel,*  meaning  a  place  ;  so 
 many  of  the  VcrMoii^,  aud  Roolhe..  and  A.  Cltirke.  3.  U*A// — one 
 
 tribe  f'lrArin^— this  is  the  usual  way  of  expressing  great  grief. — Pat. 
 An  impertinent  titiestion. — A.  Clttrke.  They  had  spared  Cana.initcs 
 and  yet  nearly  extirpattd  tlieir  brethren. — Henry.  They  had  carried 
 their  revenge  ton  far  in  destroyjiig  their  wiv  es  and  cliildren,  who  could 
 not  have  approved  of  their  deeds. — .^t't>tt.  They  had  many  surround 
 ing  enemies,  and  civil  war  weakened  them.— BooMr.  4.  Built  there 
 an  altar,  one  altar  not  being  enough  for  the  nmncrons  sacrifices  now 
 probably  offered,  as  1  Kings,  viii.  1)4.— So  Pat.,  Henry,  Gilt,  f>cuH.  It 
 was  not  a  pliice  usually  employed  for  worshipping,  and  therefore  an 
 altar  was  erected.—.!.  Clarlte.  '  5.  Put  to  death,  lor  refusing  to  exe- 
 cute the  vengeance  due  to  such  malefactors.— i*oo/e.  8.  None— /ram 
 Jahesh-i^ileitd,  a  city  in  the  half  tribe  of  Manassch;  being  Joseph's  de- 
 scendants, the  inhabitants  would  not  arm  against  the  Benjamites. — 
 Sutclife.  II.  Utterly  destroy— \his  was  a  cruel  expedient  to  extri- 
 cate  themselves  from  the  observance  of  an  unlaw  lol  catli. — Stac/ihouse. 
 12.  Virgins — known  hy  their  ornaments  and  drts^,  according  to  cus- 
 toms still  extant  in  the  east.— Su<.  15.  Tlie  Lord  hud  made  a  Itreiirh, 
 — God  was  the  chief  author  of  the  punishment,  and  the  Israelites  were 
 his  executioners. — Poole.    The  habit  of  military  executions,  contracted 
 
 288 
 
 in  the  wars  of  Canaan,  in  obeymgthQ  erprpss  command  of  God,  had, 
 no  dotibt,  too  great  an  influence  on  them  in  this  transaction. — Scott. 
 17.  TJirremust  be  an  inkerittinve — *  there  must  be'  isnotin  theHebrew, 
 the  words  are,  '  The  inheritar.ce  of  them  that  are  escaped  is  for  Heiija- 
 min,'  &c. ;  that  is,  the  Benjamites  must  have  their  proper  lot  for  their 
 inlieritancp;  it  must  not  be  j^iven  to  any  other  tribes.^/'af.  '  The  In- 
 heritance ot  Benjamin  must  be  kept  for  those  who  have  escaped." — 
 Boothr.  19.  A  feast— in  Shiloh — one  of  the  three  yearly  feasts,  and 
 n<it  a  civil  festival  or  fair,  being  called  a  feast  of  the  Lord. — Gill.  Pro- 
 bably the  fea-st  of  the  tabernacles,  which  was  celebrated  with  much 
 joy,  iDeut.  xvi.  13 — 15.) — Fuole,  so  Pa/.,  and  Scud.  From  Shiloh  only 
 being  mentioned,  it  seems  to  have  been  peculiar  to  the  inhabitants  of 
 that  town,  and  not  a  feast  common  to  I&rael. — lUtr.  On  the  north 
 side,  a  neighbournig:  place  to  Shiloh. — Poole.  21.  Tu  danre  in  dances, 
 — dancing  was  one  of  the  holy  recreations  on  this  occasion,  (Evod.  xv. 
 20  ;  1  Sam.  .wiii.  6  ;  2  Sam.  vi.  14.) — Foole.  The  vineyards — these  were 
 full  of  leaves,  and  (it  for  concealment,  the  vintage  being  Just  over. — 
 Har.  Catch — his  wife — a  thing  easily  done,  because  mixed  dances 
 were  not  used  in  these  solemnities. — Poole.  One  wife  only  was  sUoited 
 to  each,  hence  pol>gam>  was  not  generally  practised  or  countenanced. 
 23.  Returned  to  their  inheritance — it  is  tliought  that  Ehud  .--prung  after 
 this  from  this  tribe, — Scott,  the  incidents  here  related  having  taken 
 place  long  before  the  death  of  Eglon.— £rf. 
 
THE    BOOK 
 
 RUTH. 
 
 [This  book  is  named  after  the  person  who  is  the  subject  of  it.  It  is  a  sort  of  appendix  to  Judges  ;  it  is  also  an  introduction  to 
 the  history  of  David,  whose  genealogy  it  traces.  The  events  here  mentioned  are  thought  to  have  occurred  early  in  the 
 time  of  the  Judges  ;  Josepkus  says,  in  the  government  of  Eli ;  but  that  is  too  late  for  Boaz,  the  grandfather  of  Jesse,  the 
 father  of  David,  to  have  lived.  JBp.  Patrick  fixes  them  in  the  days  of  Gideon,  from  the  famine  in  the  land,  ( Judg. 
 vi.  3,  4.)  The  history  is  a  singular  illustration  of  the  superintendence  of  Providence, — is  important  as  connected  with 
 the  genealogy  of  Christ, — is  considered  a  type  of  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  for  Ruth  was  a  Moabitess, — and  is  a  picture 
 of  the  simplicity  of  ancient  manners  and  of  the  law  of  redemption.  This  book  has  been  attributed  to  Hczekiahand  Ezra, 
 but  generally  to  Samuel.  That  it  was  written  after  the  reign  of  the  Judges  is  inferred  from  chap.  i.  1,  and  in  the  days 
 of  David,  from  chap.  iv.  22.  In  the  ancient  Jewish  Canon,  Judges  and  Ruth  were  only  one  book.  The  New  Testa- 
 ment references  relating  to  Ruth  are,  Matt,  i.  5;  Luke,  iii.31,  33.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  EUitU'lech  driven  hi/  famine  into  Muab,  dieth  there. 
 4  Maldon  and  Chiliun,  havinc]  married  wives  of 
 Moab,  die  also,  6  Naomi  returning  homeward,  S  dis- 
 suadeth  her  two  daur/hfers  in  law  from  going  with  her. 
 14  Orpa/t  leaveth  /i<r,  but  Ruth  with  great  constajiey 
 accompanieth  her,  19  i^hiij  two  come  to  Bethlehem, 
 where  they  arc  gladly  received. 
 
 lyrOW  it  came  to  pass  in  the  days  when  °  the 
 -'-*  judges  t  ruled,  that  there  was  ''  a  famine  in 
 the  land.  And  a  certain  man  of '  Beth-lehem- 
 judah  went  to  sojourn  in  the  country  of  Moab, 
 he,  and  his  wife,  and  liis  two  sons. 
 
 2  And  the  name  of  tlie  man  %Lms  Elimelech, 
 and  the  name  of  his  wife  Naomi,  and  the  name 
 of  his  two  sons  Mahlon  and  Chilion,  ''  Ephra- 
 thites  of  Beth-lehem-judah.  And  they  came 
 '  into  the  country  of  Moab,  and  f  continued 
 there. 
 
 3  And  Elimelech  Naomi's  husband  died  ;  and 
 she  was  left,  and  her  two  sons. 
 
 4  And  they  took  them  wives  of  the  women  of 
 Moab ;  the  name  of  the  one  was  Orpah,  and 
 the  name  of  the  other  Ruth  :  and  they  dwelled 
 there  about  ten  years. 
 
 5  And  Mahlon  and  Chilion  died  also  both  of 
 them  ;  and  the  woman  was  left  of  her  two  sons 
 and  her  husband. 
 
 6  K  Then  she  arose  with  her  daughters  in 
 law,  that  she  might  return  from  the  country  of 
 Moab  :  for  she  had  heard  in  the  country  of 
 Moab  how  that  the  Lord  had  '  visited  his 
 people  in  ^  giving  them  bread. 
 
 7  Wherefore  she  went  forth  out  of  the  place 
 where  she  was,  and  her  two  daughters  in  law 
 with  her ;  and  they  went  on  the  way  to  return 
 unto  the  land  of  Judah. 
 
 8  And  Naomi  said  unto  her  two  daughters  in 
 law,  ^  Go,  return  each  to  her  mother's  house  : 
 '  the  LoHD  deal  kindly  with  you,  as  ye  have 
 dealt  with  '  the  dead,  and  with  me. 
 
 'I  Judg.  2.16. 
 
 t  Hob  judg- 
 ed. 
 
 6SceGeii.l2. 
 1').  &  26.  I. 
 2  Kill.  a.  I. 
 
 c  Judg.  17.  S. 
 
 d  Sec  Gc; 
 
 -?Judg.  5. 30. 
 t  Heb.  »we. 
 
 /Ex.4.  S!. 
 
 Luke  I.  66. 
 g  Ps.  1.12.  15. 
 
 Mat.  6.  II. 
 
 h  See  Josb. 
 
 2\.  15. 
 i  2  Tim.  1. 
 
 16,  17,  18. 
 h  ver,  5. 
 
 cb.  2.20. 
 
 mGcii.:'.R.ll. 
 Deut.  25  5. 
 
 II  Oi-.if /i«fr( 
 Imiid. 
 
 \  Ileb.  hope. 
 
 (  Ileb.  //.aiii 
 much  bitter- 
 
 wJudg  2.15. 
 
 Job  19.  21. 
 
 Ps.  .S2.4.  & 
 
 3j.  2.  &  39 
 
 9,  10. 
 o  Ecclus.  12. 
 
 9. 
 p  Prov. 17 
 
 17.  «.  13.  24. 
 ^Judg.l  1.24. 
 
 r  SeeJosb. 
 
 24.  i:..  19. 
 
 2  Kill.  2.  2. 
 
 Luke24.28. 
 II  Oi,  Be  not 
 
 usoi,„l  mr. 
 t  2  Kill.  2.  2, 
 
 4,  6. 
 /ch.2.  11,12. 
 
 u  1  Sam,  3. 
 
 17.  &  25.  22. 
 
 2  Sam.  19. 
 
 13.  2  KiD. 
 
 6.  31. 
 X  Acls21.1'l. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ttreiistheiad 
 
 herielf. 
 
 y  The  LoKD  grant  you  that  ye  may  find 
 '  rest,  each  of  you  in  the  house  of  her  husband. 
 Then  she  kissed  them  ;  and  they  hfted  up  their 
 voice,  and  wept. 
 
 10  And  they  said  unto  her,  Surely  we  will 
 return  with  thee  unto  thy  people. 
 
 1 1  And  Naomi  said.  Turn  again,  my  daugh- 
 ters :  why  will  ye  go  with  me  'i  are  there  yet 
 any  more  sons  in  my  womb,  ""  that  they  may 
 be  your  husbands  ? 
 
 12  Turn  again,  my  daughters,  go  yotir  way ; 
 for  I  am  too  old  to  have  an  husband.  If  I 
 should  say,  I  have  hope,  ||  if  I  should  have 
 an  husband  also  to  night,  and  should  also  bear 
 sons ; 
 
 13  Would  ye  f  tarry  for  them  till  they  were 
 grown?  would  ye  stay  for  them  from  having 
 husbands  ?  nay,  my  daughters  ;  for  f  it  grieveth 
 me  much  for  your  sakes  that  "  the  hand  of  the 
 Lord  is  gone  out  against  me. 
 
 14  And  they  lifted  up  their  voice,  and  wept 
 again  :  and  Orpah  °  kissed  her  mother  in  law  ; 
 but  Ruth  ■■  clave  unto  her. 
 
 15  And  she  said.  Behold,  thy  sister  in  law  is 
 gone  back  unto  her  people,  and  unto  ''  her 
 gods :  'return  thou  after  thy  sister  in  law. 
 
 16  And  Ruth  said,  ||  ^  Intreat  me  not  to  leave 
 thee,  or  to  return  from  following  after  thee  : 
 for  whither  thou  goest,  1  will  go ;  and  where 
 thou  lodgest,  I  will  lodge  :  '  thy  people  shall 
 be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my  God  : 
 
 17  Where  thou  diest,  will  I  die,  and  there 
 will  I  be  buried  :  "  tlie  Lord  do  so  to  me, 
 and  more  also,  if  ought  but  death  part  thee 
 and  me. 
 
 18  "  When  she  saw  that  she  t  was  stedfastly 
 minded  to  go  with  her,  then  she  left  speaking 
 unto  her. 
 
 19  H  So  they  two  went  until  they  came  to 
 Beth-lehem.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they 
 were  come  to  Beth-lehem,  that  ^  all  the  city 
 
 NoTKS  ov  Chap.  I.  —  2.  Epkruthites~\iroh^h\y  so  called  because 
 Ephratah  was  one  of  the  names  of  Bethlehem,  (Gen.  xx.w.  19;  Mic. 
 V.  2.)— Gi7/.  4.  Wives  of  the  women  o/Jl/ua/^— cither  these  were  pro- 
 selytes when  they  married  them,  which  is  doubtful  from  ver.  15,  or  they 
 sinned  in  so  doing,  (Deut.  vii.  3;  .\.xiii.  3;)  hence  they  were  punished 
 with  short  lives  and  want  of  issue. —Poole.  That  they  were  not  pro- 
 selytes is  strongly  inferred  by  Henry,  Wells,  Seott,  .4.  Cturke.      Aden 
 
 Ezra  concludes  they  were  proselytes,  interpreting  the  return  of  Orpah 
 to  her  gods  (ver.  15)  as  a  proof  that  she  had  beeuconverted  to  Judaism, 
 hut  apostatized  ;  to  which  view  Gift  inclines.  11.  Any  more  suns^ 
 alluding  to  a  brother's  obUgation  to  marry  the  widow,  (Deut.  xxv.  5.) 
 — Pat.  15.  Her  gods,  Baal-peor.  or  Priapus  and  Chemosh,  {Num. 
 xxi.  29;  XXV.  3.) — Gill.  The  principal  was  Chemosh,  (1  Kings,  .\i.  7.J 
 -Pat. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  I.  Contentions  among  bre- 
 thren are  often  the  most  bitter,  and  of  the  most  injurious  jmture  to 
 the  church  of  God,  Let  us  thercibre  *  pray  for  the  peace  of 
 Jerusalem.* 
 
 II.  A  country  without  mai/istracy  is  a  prey  to  every  disorder. 
 289 
 
 Let  us  tliercfore  be  thankful  for  tlie  blessings  we  enjoy  as 
 Britons,  and  pray  '  for  kings  and  for  all  that  are  in  autiiority  , 
 that  we  may  lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in  all  godliness 
 and  honesty.' 
 
 2  P 
 
Ruth  gleaneth  in  theJielJs  of  Bnaz. 
 
 RUTH,  II. 
 
 She  ciirritlh  her  gleanings  to  Nunmi, 
 
 was  moved  about  them,  and  they  said,  ^Is  this 
 Naomi  ? 
 
 20  And  she  said  unto  them,  Call  roe  not 
 II  Naomi,  call  me  ||  Mara  :  for  the  Almighty- 
 hath  dealt  very  bitterly  with  me. 
 
 21  I  went  out  full,  "and  the  Lord  hath 
 brought  me  home  again  empty  :  why  then  call 
 ye  me  Naomi,  seeing  the  Lord  hath  testified 
 against  me,  and  the  Almighty  hath  afflicted 
 me? 
 
 22  So  Naomi  returned,  and  Ruth  the  Mo- 
 abitess,  her  daughter  in  law,  with  her,  whicli 
 returned  out  of  the  country  of  Moab  :  and  they 
 came  to  Beth-lehem  ''  in  tlie  beginning  of  bar- 
 ley harvest. 
 
 CHAP.  IL 
 
 1  Ruth  gleaneth  in  the  f  fids  of  Boaz.  4  Boa:  takimj 
 knnwledije  of  her,  8  shtnctth  tier  f treat  favour,  18  That 
 wti'ieh  she  tjut,  she  carrieth  to  Naomi, 
 
 A  ND  Naomi  had  a  'kinsman  of  her  hiis- 
 -^*-  band's,  a  mighty  man  of  wealth,  of  the  fa- 
 mily of  Elinielech  ;  and  his  name  was  'HBoaz. 
 
 2  And  Ruth  the  Moabitess  said  unto  Naomi, 
 Let  me  now  go  to  the  field,  and  'glean  ears  of 
 corn  after  hint  in  whose  sight  I  shall  find 
 grace.  And  she  said  unto  her,  Go,  my  daugh- 
 ter. 
 
 3  And  she  went,  and  came,  and  gleaned  in 
 the  field  after  the  reapers  :  and  her  f  hap  was 
 to  light  on  a  part  of  the  field  belonging  unto 
 Boaz,  who  was  of  the  kindred  of  ElimeJech. 
 
 4  IT  And,  behold,  Boaz  came  from  Beth-le- 
 hem, and  said  unto  the  reapers, ''  The  Lord  be 
 with  you.  And  they  answered  him.  The  Lord 
 bless  thee. 
 
 5  Then  said  Boaz  unto  his  servant  that  was 
 set  over  the  reapers.  Whose  damsel  is  this  ? 
 
 6  And  the  servant  that  was  set  over  the 
 reapers  answered  and  said,  It  is  the  Moabitish 
 damsel  "  that  came  back  with  Naomi  out  of  the 
 country  of  Moab  : 
 
 7  And  she  said,  I  pray  you,  let  me  glean  and 
 gather  after  the  reapers  among  the  sheaves  ; 
 so  she  came,  and  hath  continued  even  from 
 the  morning  until  now,  that  she  tarried  a  little 
 in  the  house. 
 
 8  Then  said  Boaz  unto  Ruth,  Hearest  thou 
 not,  my  daughter?  Go  not  to  glean  in  another 
 field,  neither  go  from  hence,  but  abide  here 
 fast  by  my  maidens  : 
 
 9  Let  thine  eyes  be  on  the  field  that  they  do 
 reap,  and  go  thou  after  them  :  have  I  not 
 charged  the  young  men  that  they  shall  not 
 
 s  See  Is.i8.7 
 1.0.11,2.  15. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 
 II  That  is, 
 bi(l,r. 
 a  Ji.b  1.  21. 
 
 J  E«.  9.  31, 
 3.'.  oh.  2.CS. 
 a  t^om.Sl.y. 
 
 b  rli   4.  -il. 
 
 jl   f-;llU-d 
 «....-.  Mat 
 
 I  Hob.  »"p 
 
 dPs  I99.7.fi 
 I.iike  I.  28 
 SThfs  3.i«. 
 
 B  C. 
 cir.  1312 
 
 /  1  yain.  25. 
 
 A  1  Sam.  21. 
 19. 
 
 I  rh.  1.  16. 
 P»    17.  8   «. 
 
 .■«.  7-  «*  r.7. 
 
 1.  &6S.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  IJmd 
 
 t  Heh.  to  the 
 
 G.Mi   .-M.  9. 
 J<idg.  19   3 
 
 II  : 
 41. 
 
 .  25. 
 
 1  rh.  3.  10. 
 
 2  Sam-  2.  r>. 
 ,   Job  29.  IS. 
 
 ll,Pi..v.l7.17. 
 
 touch  thee  ?  and  when  thou  art  athirst,  go 
 unto  the  vessels,  and  drink  of  that  which  tlie 
 young  men  have  drawn. 
 
 10  Then  she  'fell  on  her  face,  and  bowed 
 lierself  to  the  ground,  and  said  unto  him,  AVIiy 
 have  I  found  grace  in  thine  eyes,  that  thou 
 shouldest  take  knowledge  of  me,  seeing  I  am 
 a  stranger  ? 
 
 1 1  And  Boaz  an.swered  and  said  unto  her,  It 
 hath  fully  been  shewed  me,  *  all  that  thou  hast 
 done  unto  thy  mother  in  law  since  the  de;i(h 
 of  thine  husband  :  and  how  thou  hast  left  tliy 
 father  and  thy  mother,  and  the  land  of  thy  na- 
 tivity, and  art  come  unto  a  people  which  tliou 
 knewost  not  heretofore. 
 
 12  "  The  Lord  recompense  thy  work,  and  a 
 full  reward  be  given  thee  of  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel, '  under  whose  wings  thou  art  come  to 
 trust. 
 
 13  Then  she  said,  I|  ^  Let  me  find  favour  in 
 thy  sight,  my  lord  ;  for  that  tliou  hast  comfort- 
 ed me,  and  for  that  thou  hast  spoken  f  friendly 
 unto  thine  handmaid, '  though  I  be  not  like  unto 
 one  of  thine  handmaidens. 
 
 14  And  Boaz  said  unto  her,  At  mealtime 
 come  thou  hither,  and  eat  of  the  bread,  and 
 dip  thy  morsel  in  the  vinegar.  And  she  sat 
 beside  the  reapers  :  and  he  reached  her  parch- 
 ed corn,  and  she  did  eat,  and  "  was  sufficed, 
 and  left. 
 
 15  And  when  she  was  risen  up  to  glean,  Boaz 
 commanded  his  young  men,  saying.  Let  her 
 glean  even  among  the  sheaves,  and  f  reproach 
 her  not : 
 
 IG  And  let  fall  also  some  of  the  handfuls  of 
 I  purpose  for  her,  and  leave  tlte>n,  that  she  may 
 glean  them,  and  rebuke  her  not. 
 
 1 7  So  she  gleaned  in  the  field  until  even,  and 
 beat  out  that  she  had  gleaned  :  and  it  wa.s 
 about  an  ephah  of  barley. 
 
 18  H  And  she  took  it  up,  and  went  into  the 
 city  :  and  her  mother  in  law  saw  wliat  she  hail 
 gleaned  :  and  she  brought  forth,  and  gave  to 
 her  "  that  she  had  reserved  after  she  was  suf- 
 ficed. 
 
 19  And  her  mother  in  law  said  unto  her. 
 Where  hast  thou  gleaned  to  day?  and  where 
 wroughtest  thou?  blessed  be  he  that  did  "take 
 knowledge  of  thee.  And  she  shewed  her  mo- 
 ther in  law  with  whom  she  had  wrought,  and 
 said.  The  man's  name  with  whom  I  wrought  to 
 day  is  Boaz. 
 
 20  And  Naomi  said  unto  her  daughter  in  law, 
 ''  Blessed  be  he  of  the  Lord,  who  ''  hath  not 
 
 19.  Movetl,  *  rejoiced,*  Jraft.,  Si/r.  Hxifft,  '  raug  with  the  news,'  Sept. 
 •Sounded,'  it  was  the  general  talk. — Gilt.  Is  this  Naomi,  thsit  tor- 
 raerly  lived  in  so  much  plenty  and  honour  ?—Pyo/f. 
 
 Chap.  II.  — 2.  And  gteitn — a  proof  of  her  humility  and  readiness  to 
 aid  her  mother-in-law. — Banthr.  Finti  grace — she  might  be  ignorant 
 of  the  law,  (I.CV.  xix.  9,  ID  ;  Deut.  x.xiv.  19.) — Gitt.  3.  Her  Aa/i— the 
 Divine  hand  leads  Ruth  blindfold  to  the  field  of  Boaz. — Bp.  Hnll. 
 12.  Wings,  expressive  of  protection  and  care.  (Deut.  xxxii.  11  ;  Ps, 
 xvii.  8;  xxxvi.  7  ;  xci.  4  ;)  alluding  to  hens  protecting  their  chickens, 
 or  to  the  cherubim.  13.  Though  I  be  not  like — more  mean,  neces- 
 sitous, obscure,  born  of  heathen  parents,  and  not  one  of  the  honour- 
 
 able of  Israel. — Poole.      '  Let  me  be  as,'  &c. — Boothr.  14.  Brpnrt — 
 
 this  terra  comprehended  all  the  provisions,  with  which  they  had  vine- 
 gar for  sauce. — Put,  Vinegar,  Von,  a  sort  of  acid  sauce. — A,  Ctartre, 
 A  kind  of  acid  or  strongly  fermented  wine,  somctliing  like  old  hnrli, 
 cooling  and  refreshing  in  hot  seasons. — Hetv.  Probably  mixed  with 
 nil,  according  to  an  eastern  custom. — Har,  Diluted  vinegar  has  licen 
 described  as  wholesome  and  cooling  in  hot  countries,  by  several  distin- 
 guished writers. — See  Gilt.  15.  Reproach  her  not,  '  shame  her  not,' 
 margin.  '  Say  not  that  she  stealcth,'  for  if  a  gleaner  come  into  a  fii'ld 
 and  glean  among  the  sheaves,  it  is  suspected  that  such  an  one 
 stealeth. — Car.r/l.         17.  .-In  ephah — about  a  bushel. — Poole.       20.  One 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  I._L  The  conduct  of  Mahlon  and 
 Chilton  is  a  caution  against  unhallowed  unions,  God  may  con- 
 vert the  unconverted  partner,  but  he  may  not.  Here,  indeed, 
 Ruth  became  a  sincere  convert,  but  Orpah  returned  to  her 
 gods;  so  that,  if  she  had  professed  religion,  it  had  no  root  in 
 her  heart.  The  sin  of  such  unions  is  usually  followed  by  its 
 punishment :  it  was  probably  in  God's  displeasure  that  these 
 men  died  young  and  childless. 
 
 11.   The  conduct  of  Naomi  shews  us  that  the  devout  soul  will  not 
 rest  .latisjied  without  the  means  of  grace.     When  the  calls  of  ne- 
 cessity released  her,  she  returned  to  her  own  land. 
 290 
 
 HI.  The  conduct  of  Orpah  is  a  sample  of  many  apostates. 
 Where  reHgion  is  not  rooted  in  the  heart  it  will  soon  wither 
 and  decay  ;  conformity  is  not  conversion. 
 
 IV.  The  conduct  of  liuth  is  a  lovely  specimen  of  sincere  conver- 
 sion. She  turned  away  for  ever  from  her  gods  and  iier  people. 
 She  was  willing  to  stiller  affliction  with  the  people  of  Ciod. 
 Her  pious  mother-in-law  was  more  precious  to  her  than  all  the 
 society  of  Moah,  and  the  God  of  Israel  than  all  the  idol  gods. 
 This  was  genuine  piety— it  was  cleaving  to  the  Lord  with  full 
 purpose  of  heart. 
 
Naomi's  instruclions  to  Ruth. 
 
 RUTH,  III.        Boaz  acknoivlcclgeth  the  riylU  oj  a  liinsina:!. 
 
 left  off  his  kindness  to  tlie  living  and  to  the 
 dead.  And  Naomi  said  unto  lier,  Tlie  man  is 
 near  of  kin  unto  us,  '  ||  one  of  our  next  kins- 
 men. 
 
 21  And  Ruth  the  Moabitess  said,  He  said 
 unto  me  also,  Tliou  slialt  keep  fast  by  my 
 young  men,  until  they  have  ended  all  my 
 harvest. 
 
 22  And  Naomi  said  unto  Ruth  her  daughter 
 in  law,  It  is  good,  my  daughter,  that  thou  go 
 out  with  his  maidens,  that  they  {{  meet  thee 
 not  in  any  other  field. 
 
 23  So  she  kept  fast  by  the  maidens  of  Boaz 
 to  glean  unto  the  end  of  barley  harvest  and 
 of  wheat  harvest  ;  and  dwelt  with  her  mother 
 in  law. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  Bti  NuomVs  hiilruction,  5  Hiilli  lieth  at  Boaz' s  feet. 
 8  Boaz  acknoicledgetli  the  rii/ht  of  a  kinsman.  1-i  He 
 scndeth  her  away  with  six  meaiynres  of  barley. 
 
 THEN  Naomi  her  mother  in  law  said  unto 
 her.  My  daughter,  "  shall   I  not  seek  ^  rest 
 for  thee,  that  it  may  be  well  with  thee? 
 
 2  And  now  is  not  Boaz  of  our  kindred,  "^  with 
 whose  maidens  thou  wast  ?  Behold,  he  win- 
 noweth  barley  to  night  in  the  threshingfloor. 
 
 3  Wash  thyself  therefore,  "^  and  anoint  thee, 
 and  put  thy  raiment  upon  thee,  and  get  thee 
 down  to  the  floor  :  tnit  make  not  thyself  known 
 unto  the  man,  until  he  shall  have  done  eating 
 and  drinking. 
 
 4  And  it  shall  be,  when  he  lieth  down,  that 
 thou  shall  mark  the  place  where  he  shall  lie, 
 and  thou  shalt  go  in,  and  ||  uncover  his  feet, 
 and  lay  thee  down  ;  and  he  will  tell  thee  what 
 thou  slialt  do. 
 
 5  And  she  said  unto  her.  All  that  thou  sayest 
 unto  me  I  will  do. 
 
 6  IT  And  she  went  down  unto  the  floor,  and 
 
 r  ch.  3.  9.  & 
 
 1.  6, 
 II  Or,  one  that 
 hath  right  to 
 rfiietn :  See 
 Lev.  25.  25. 
 
 I  Or,/a« 
 Upon  thet. 
 
 a  I  Cor.  7.36- 
 I  Tiin.  5.  9. 
 b  cli.  1.  9. 
 
 II  Or,  Ufl  «}> 
 llir  clt'lhet 
 lh"l  are  un 
 his /eel. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  1312. 
 
 7  Judg.  15.6, 
 9,  2-£. 
 
 2  Sam.  13. 
 28.  Kslh.  1. 
 lU. 
 
 /Ezek.  Ifi.fl. 
 
 II  Or,  o/ip  rf,al 
 halh  riglil  lo 
 
 S  ch.  2.20. 
 &  ver  12 
 h  ch.  3  20 
 i  ch.  I.  S. 
 
 t  Hcb.  gate. 
 AProv.  1-2 -i. 
 /  ver.  9. 
 cli.  *.  I. 
 
 Ju.ltf.8.  10. 
 Jor.  -1.  2. 
 
 p  Horn.  \2. 
 
 17    U  14.  16. 
 
 I  C.r  IO.:V.i 
 
 2r.»r.8.2l. 
 
 I  Thes.5  i-i. 
 II  Or,  «A.w, 
 
 did  according  to  all  that  her  mother  in  law 
 bade  her. 
 
 7  And  when  Boaz  had  eaten  and  drunk,  and 
 ^  his  heart  was  merry,  he  went  to  lie  down  at 
 the  end  of  the  heap  of  corn  :  and  she  came 
 softly,  and  uncovered  his  feet,  and  laid  her 
 down. 
 
 8  II  And  it  came  to  pass  at  midnight,  that  the 
 man  was  afraid,  and  ||  turned  himself:  and,  be- 
 hold, a  woman  lay  at  his  feet. 
 
 9  And  lie  said,  Who  art  thou?  And  she  an- 
 swered, I  am  Ruth  thine  handmaid:  ^spread 
 therefore  thy  skirt  over  thine  handmaid  ;  for 
 thou  art  ||  ^a  near  kinsman. 
 
 10  And  he  said,  ''Blessed  be  thou  of  the 
 Lord,  my  daughter :  for  thou  hast  shewed 
 more  kindness  in  the  latter  end  than  '  at  the 
 beginning,  inasmuch  as  thou  followedst  not 
 young  men,  whether  poor  or  rich. 
 
 il  And  now,  my  daughter,  fear  not;  I  will 
 do  to  thee  all  that  thou  requirest  :  for  all  tlie 
 fcity  of  my  people  doth  know  that  thou  a/ 1 
 •■  a  virtuous  woman. 
 
 1-2  And  now  it  is  true  that  I  am  thy  '  near 
 kinsman  :  howbeit  "'there  is  a  kinsman  nearer 
 than  I. 
 
 13  Tarry  this  night,  and  it  shall  be  in  the 
 morning,  that  if  he  will  "  perform  unto  thee  the 
 part  of  a  kinsman,  well ;  let  him  do  the  kins- 
 man's part :  but  if  he  will  not  do  the  part  of  a 
 kinsman  to  thee,  then  will  I  do  the  part  of  a 
 kinsman  to  thee,  "as  the  Loud  liveth  :  lie  down 
 until  the  morning. 
 
 1-4  H  And  she  lay  at  his  feet  until  the  ■  orn- 
 ing :  and  she  rose  up  before  one  could  know 
 another.  And  he  said,  ''  Let  it  not  be  known 
 that  a  woman  came  into  the  floor. 
 
 15  Also  he  said.  Bring  the  ||  vail  that  thou 
 hast  upon  thee,  and  hold  it.     And  when  she 
 
 of  our  next  kinsmen,  13'?W3?D,  *  one  of  our  redeemers,*  or  '  avengers/  to 
 whom  it  belongs  to  avenge  our  persons,  redeem  our  lands,  and  marry 
 the  widow  of  his  next  kinsman,  as  expressed  chap.  iii.  9.  —  Poole. 
 21.  Young  nipji,  W'WZTf,  'servants,'  including  male  and  female. — 
 A.  Clarke.  The  word  signifies  all  young  people,  and  particularly  the 
 maidens. — PiU.  Mera  Twv  Kopao-itoi'Twi/e/iun', '  with  my  maidens/  Sept. 
 Chap.  III.  —  1.  Seek  rest,  a  life  of  rest,  comfort,  and  safety,  under 
 the  care  of  a  good  husband. — Poole,  so  Pat.,  and  Gill.  2.  \ViTin/)u'€th 
 barley  to  night — the  Ihreshing-floors  were  in  an  open  place  without 
 the  city,  hence  the  chaff  could  more  easily  be  separated,  espccieilly  in 
 the  evening,  when  in  those  countries  there  were  the  strongest  breezes 
 of  wind  to  carr>'  it  off. — Gill.  In  the  east,  much  agricultural  work  is 
 done  at  night,  to  avoid  the  pernicious  effects  of  the  burning  sun. 
 Not  only  winnowing,  but  ploughing  and  irrigating. — So  Rob.  Before 
 the  use  of  fans,  winnowing  was  done  by  the  wind  cairying  off  the 
 chaff,  as  the  oxen  trod  the  com.  Hence  Heniod  advises  that  the 
 threshing-doors  should  be  xuspto  ^v  evaei,  '  in  a  place  exposed  to  wind.' 
 —Gill.  ."i.  iViish  t/ir/sel/—iTequent  bathings  were  necessarj'  in  those 
 countries,  where  they  continue  to  this  day,  fnr  cleanline.-^s.  —  Put. 
 Anoint — oil  was  used  to  give  a  lustre  to  the  countenance,  (Ps.  civ.  15  ; 
 Matt.  vi.  \7.j — Sut.  Eating  and  drinking — they  made  feasts  for  the 
 harvest  labourers. — Pat.  At  the  completion  of  harvest. — Boothroyd. 
 4.  When  he  lieth  doum— corn  not  being  stacked,  but  threshed  on  the 
 spot,  is  always  guarded  by  some  persons  sleeping  near  it  till  it  is  car- 
 ried home. — So  Rob.  Uncover  his  feet — they  have  no  feather  bed,  nor 
 dn  they  undress  in  eastern  countries,  but  merely  unwrap  themselves, 
 and  lay  down  on  a  pallet  or  mattrass.  By  uncovering  the  feet,  Ruth 
 claimed  the  protection  of  Boaz,  spreading  the  skirt  over  herself. — Wil. 
 Uncovering  the  feet  was  the  constant  token  of  subjection  of  the 
 eastern  wife. — Cat,    Lay  thee  down — among  the  Hindoos  all  inferiors 
 
 sleep  at  the  feet  of  their  master. — Rob.  Many  commentators  condemn 
 the  conduct  of  Ruth  and  the  advice  of  Naomi.  From  these  we  gather 
 the  following  remarks : — It  was  against  modesty,  honour,  and  pru- 
 dence; unnecessary,  and  a  distrust  of  Providence. — Poole.  Ruth's 
 conduct  approached  so  near  an  appearance  of  evil,  that  we  know  not 
 how  to  justify  it.  Yet  I  am  willing  to  make  the  best  of  it.  Perhaps  it 
 was  the  usage  in  that  country  that,  in  this  case,  the  woman  should 
 make  the  demand.  So  much  is  intimated  by  the  law,  (Deut.  xxv.  ", 
 8,  9.) — Henry.  When  all  allowances  are  made,  perhaps  neither  party 
 can  be  exculpated.  —  Scott.  The  experiment  was  dangerous. — A. 
 Clarke.  After  all,  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  account  for  Ruth's  sim- 
 plicity and  wisdom  in  this  act. — Gill.  Some  commentators  completely 
 clear  Ruth  and  Naomi  ;  their  arguments  are  drawn  from  the  simplicity 
 of  those  times,  the  virtuous  character  of  the  woman,  the  age  of  Boaz, 
 his  manner  of  addressing  her,  his  testimony  to  her  prudence,  the  public 
 proceedings  before  the  wedding,  the  right  of  pretending  to  marriage 
 with  Boaz — her  motives  were  pure,  and  the  law  authorized  her  so  to 
 do.  Many  things  among  the  easterns  appear  disgusting  to  us,  while 
 they  revolt  at  practices  which  we  allow. — Ostetvald,  Cal.,  Sut.,  Wil. 
 8.  Afraid,  '  astonished,"  '  fluttered,'  '  agitated.' — Boothr.  9.  Spread 
 therefore  thy  skirt — the  custom  still  remains  in  the  east  for  the  bride- 
 groom to  spread  part  of  his  taleth,  or  upper  garment,  over  his  bride.— 
 So  Pat.  and  WH.  10.  More  kindness— hy  her  wish  to  revive  the  name 
 and  memory  of  her  husband. — Cat.  u.  Not  be  known — this  was  pro- 
 bably a  caution,  to  prevent  the  nearest  kinsman  from  taking  offence. 
 — So  Sut.  15.  The  vail,  '  the  hyke,*  resembUng  the  highland  plaid. — 
 So  A.  Clarke.  A  kerchief  worn  on  the  head,  and  is  used  in  the  east, 
 and  which  is  capable  of  hoiiUng  the  quantity  here  named. — Taylor*s 
 Culmet.  The  word  nriDTijQrF  signifies  any  kind  of  covering,  and  most 
 probably  it  was  a  veil.— Pai.    nepif  w/j,a,  '  an  apron*  or  *  kirtle,*  Sept. 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  IL — Ruth  and  Boaz  are  the  two 
 persons  that  attract  us  in  this  cliapter  :  1.  linth  attracts  us  hy 
 her  industry^  humility,  and  yratitude — qualities  often  wanting 
 even  among  the  most  wretched  and  destitute.  They  would 
 rather  borrow,  beg,  or  rob,  than  work  ;  they  shew  what 
 haughty  persons  they  would  be  if  ihey  were  powerful  and  rich  ; 
 and  repulse  the  approaches  of  kindness  by  their  thankless 
 spirits.  The  amiable  Ruth  at  once  engages  our  affections,  as 
 she  did  those  of  Boaz,  and  her  humble  deportment  led  to  her 
 future  exaltation.  '  Though  the  Lord  be  liigh,  yet  hath  he  re- 
 spect to  the  lowly,  but  the  proud  he  knoweth  afar  off.* 
 291 
 
 IL  Boaz  attracts  us  by  fits  condescension^  henevolencej  kindness, 
 and  piety.  The  rich  are  often  haughty,  grasping,  oppressive, 
 and  profane.  Here  is  a  contrast.  How  much  is  there  that 
 appears  estimsihle  in  tliis  character!  The  virtues  that  adorn 
 a  truly  good  man  are  such  as  must  add  a  brilliancy  and  reful- 
 gence to  the  grandest  coronet  or  the  most  illustrious  crown. 
 They  are  godlike,  resembling  Him  who  stoops  to  behold  the 
 most  humble  of  bis  creatures,  who  *  openeth  his  hand  and 
 satislieth  the  desire  of  every  living  thing,'  who  is  good,  and 
 doeth  good,  and  whose  '  teuder  mercies  are  over  all  his  works. 
 
Boaz  and  the  next  kinsman. 
 
 RUTH,  IV. 
 
 Boaz  inarrieth  Ruth. 
 
 held  it,  he  measured  six  measures  of  barley, 
 and  laid  it  on  her  :  and  she  went  into  the  city. 
 
 16  And  when  she  came  to  her  motlier  in  law, 
 she  said,  Who  art  thou,  my  daughter  ?  And 
 she  told  her  all  tliat  tlie  man  had  done  to  her. 
 
 17  And  she  said,  These  six  measures  of  bar- 
 ley gave  he  me  ;  for  he  said  to  nie.  Go  not 
 empty  unto  tliy  mother  in  law. 
 
 18  Then  said  she,  ''  Sit  still,  my  daughter, 
 until  thou  know  how  the  matter  will  fall :  for 
 the  man  will  not  be  in  rest,  until  he  have  finisli- 
 ed  the  thing  this  day, 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Boaz  caTltth  into judf/mettt  thr  ne.vt  Jiinsinan.  G  He 
 refusHh  the  redemption  according  to  the  manner  in  Is- 
 rael. 9  Boaz  hityeth  tiie  inheritance.  1 1  He  mar- 
 ricth  Buth.  13  She  hearcth  Ohcd  t/ie  grandfather  of 
 David.      18    TIte  generation  of  Pttarez. 
 
 'T'HEN  went  Boaz  up  to  the  gate,  and  .sat 
 -*-  him  down  there :  and,  behold,  °  the  kins- 
 man of  whom  Boaz  .spake  came  by  ;  unto  wliom 
 he  said.  Ho,  such  a  one!  turn  aside,  sit  down 
 here.     And  he  turned  aside,  and  sat  down. 
 
 2  And  lie  took  ten  men  of  ^  the  elders  of  the 
 city,  and  said.  Sit  ye  down  here.  And  they 
 sat  down. 
 
 3  And  he  said  unto  the  kinsman,  Naomi,  that 
 is  come  again  out  of  the  country  of  Moab, 
 selleth  a  parcel  of  land,  which  was  our  brother 
 Elinielech's : 
 
 4  And  1 1  thought  to  advertise  thee,  saying, 
 ''  Buy  it  ''  before  the  inhabitants,  and  before 
 the  elders  of  my  people.  If  thou  wilt  redeem 
 it,  redeem  it :  but  if  thou  wilt  not  redeem  it, 
 then  tell  me,  that  I  may  know  :  "  for  there  is 
 none  to  redeem  it  beside  thee  ;  and  I  am  after 
 thee.      And  he  said,  I  will  redeem  it. 
 
 3  Then  said  Boaz,  What  day  thou  buyest  the 
 field  of  the  hand  of  Naomi,  thou  must  buy  it 
 also  of  Rutli  tlie  Moabitess,  the  wife  of  the 
 dead,  '  to  raise  up  the  name  of  the  dead  upon 
 his  inheritance. 
 
 6  5^  And  the  kinsman  said,  I  cannot  redeem 
 it  for  myself,  lest  I  mar  mine  own  inheritance: 
 
 t  Hcb.  I  mi 
 I^rillrnr,,, 
 in  //(lie  fi,r. 
 
 c  Jer.  32  7.8. 
 
 (i  Gen.  S3. 18 
 
 /Gen.  SS.  8. 
 
 ildi.3.1i,l3. 
 
 A  Deu.257,9. 
 
 /  Deut.  25. 9. 
 II  Oi ,  f «/  I/i« 
 rir/if»,  or, 
 
 m  Gen.  85. 
 
 Hi,  19. 
 
 t  Heb.  pro- 
 claim  tliy 
 
 n  Ucn.  38.99. 
 1  Chr.  2  4. 
 Mat.  ].  3. 
 
 0  1  Sam.'J.SO. 
 p  cli.  3.  II. 
 
 7  Gen.  99.31. 
 &  33.  5. 
 
 r  Luke  1 .  59. 
 Rom.  19.15. 
 
 1  Heb.c.jn.rf 
 lo  c«.i,a  unlo 
 
 II  Or,  re- 
 
 I  Ileb.  to 
 
 'rith. 
 
 Gen- 45.  11. 
 Pb.  55.  22. 
 t  Heb.  Hn, 
 
 I  1  Sum.  1.8. 
 
 redeem  thou  my  right  to  thyself;  for  I  cannot 
 redeem  it. 
 
 7  ''  Now  this  was  the  manner  in  former  time 
 in  Israel  concerning  redeeming  and  concerning 
 changing,  for  to  confirm  all  things ;  a  man 
 plucked  off  his  shoe,  and  gave  it  to  his  neigh- 
 bour :  and  this  was  a  testimony  in  Israel. 
 
 8  Therefore  the  kinsman  said  unto  Boaz, 
 Buy  it  for  thee.     So  he  drew  oiT  his  slioe. 
 
 9  f  And  Boaz  said  unto  tlie  elders,  and  unto 
 all  tlie  people.  Ye  are  witnesses  this  day,  that 
 1  have  bouglit  all  that  vas  Elimelech's,  and  all 
 that  was  Chilion's  and  Malilon's,  of  tlie  hand 
 of  Naomi. 
 
 10  Moreover  Ruth  the  Moabitess,  the  wife  of 
 Mahlon,  have  I  purchased  to  be  my  wife,  to 
 raise  up  the  name  of  the  dead  upon  his  inherit- 
 ance, '  that  the  name  of  the  dead  be  not  cut  off 
 from  among  his  brethren,  and  from  the  gate  of 
 his  place  :  ye  are  witnesses  this  day. 
 
 1 1  And  all  the  people  that  were  in  the  gate, 
 and  the  elders,  said,  Wc  are  witnesses.  '  The 
 Lord  make  tlie  woman  that  is  come  into  tliine 
 house  like  Rachel  and  like  Leah,  which  two 
 did  '  build  the  house  of  Israel :  and  ||  do  thou 
 wortliijy  in  "' Ephratah,  and  fbe  famous  in 
 Bctli-lehem  : 
 
 1-2  And  let  thy  house  he  like  the  house  of 
 Pharez,  "  whom  Tamar  bare  unto  Jndah,  of 
 °  the  seed  which  the  Lord  shall  give  thee  of 
 this  young  woman. 
 
 13  t  So  Boaz  •'took  Ruth,  and  she  was  his 
 wife  :  and  when  he  went  in  unto  her,  ''  the 
 Lord  gave  her  conception,  and  slie  bare  a  son. 
 
 14  And  'the  women  said  unto  Naomi,  Bless- 
 ed l>e  tlie  Lord,  which  hath  not  fleft  thee  this 
 day  without  a  ||  kinsman,  that  his  name  may 
 be  famous  in  Israel. 
 
 15  And  he  shall  be  unto  thee  a  restorer  of 
 tht/  hfe,  and  f  a  nourisher  of  f  thine  old  age  : 
 for  thy  daughter  in  law,  which  loveth  thee, 
 which  is  ^  better  to  thee  than  seven  sons,  hath 
 born  him. 
 
 16  And  Naomi  took  the  child,  and  laid  it  in 
 her  bosom,  and  became  nurse  unto  it. 
 
 Sijc  measures — this  word  is  not  in  the  original ;  Gill  supplies  '  si.\ 
 oroers,'  about  six  pints.  16.  Wfio  art  thou,  my  daughter  ? — ',-13  rit{  *0, 
 '  what  luist  thou  done,  my  daughter?'  Vulg.  'How  hast  thou  sue. 
 ceeded,  my  daughter?' — Boothr.  As  it  was  not  yet  day,  and  Ruth 
 could  not  see  her,  the  words  may  be  equivalent  to,  '  Who  art  thou  ?  art 
 thou  my  daughter?' — Evan.  .Sr/nop. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  The  gale — here  were  transacted  all  the  public  con- 
 cerns of  the  city.  It  was  the  place  of  justice,  (Job,  x.\i.\. ;  Gen.  sxiii. 
 10,  18.)  Jerome  says,  that  the  people  for  the  most  part  being  employed 
 in  the  field,  the  gates  of  the  city  were  used  for  doing  justice,  that  no 
 time  might  be  lost.— See  Cruden.  The  Arabians  still  call  a  court  of 
 justice  'the  gate  of  judgment.' — S.  Bunler.  2.  Ten  men,  as  wit- 
 
 nesses. 5.  Of  the  hand  of  Naomi,  the  estate  being  now  in  her  hands, 
 and  not  in  those  of  Ruth. — Gill.  Also  of  Ruth — the  marriage  of  Ruth 
 was  connected  with  the  redemption  of  the  estate. —  Wil.  S.  Mar 
 mine  own  inheritance — by  preserving  another  man's  name  he  should 
 
 lose  his  own, — Poole,  and  by  dividing  the  inheritance  It  would  be 
 crumbled  to  pieces. —  Gilt.  7.  Vluched  off  his  shoe — the  Targum  says, 
 the  right-hand  glove,  it  being  easier  than  taking  off  the  shoe,  was  in 
 after  times  substituted. — Pat.  The  shoe  was  significant,  intimating 
 the  giving  up  the  right  to  walk  on  the  land.  In  the  middle  ages,  the 
 giving  of  a  glove  was  a  ceremony  of  investiture  in  bestowing  lands 
 and  dignities. — 5.  Harder.  The  ofTensive  part  of  the  ceremony  is  here 
 omitted,  as  Dr.  Clarke  thinks,  becau^^e  the  man  gave  a  reasonable  ex- 
 cuse, (see  Deut.  xxv.  9.)  y.  Alt  that  jcns  Elimelech's — the  two  sons 
 of  Elimelech  would  have  enjoyed  their  father's  estate,  but  now  it  de- 
 volved nn  the  mother,  and  after  her,  on  the  widows,  who  must  agree 
 to  the  sale,  as  Ruth  did.  Orpah  is  not  noticed,  having  returned  to  her 
 own  land  ;  and  Mahlon,  Ruth's  husband,  was  the  eldvr  brother  and 
 heir. — Gitt.  12.  The  house  of  Pharez — both  Boaz  and  all  the  Beth- 
 lehemites  derived  their  original  from  Pharez. — Pat.,  and  the  famdy 
 were  honourable  and  numerous. — Poole.       14.  Said  unto  Naomi—she 
 
 Reflkctions  on  Chap.  III. — I.  We  see  here  in  liutli's 
 conduct  the  finest  traits  of  gejiuine  piety.  She  submitted  to  the 
 guidance  of  a  pious  and  prudent  mother.  She  was  iar  from 
 wantonness,  '  she  followed  not  young  men,  whether  poor  or 
 rich.'  She  must  have  heen  an  aflectionate  wife,  who  wished 
 thus  to  retain  the  memory  of  her  liusband,  and  therefore  pre- 
 ferred the  venerable  Boaz,  as  an  aged  kinsman,  to  the  most 
 captivating  among  those  of^  a  younger  age.  Considering  the 
 custom  of  the  times  and  country,  there  was  nothing  in  her  de- 
 portment inconsistent  with  piety  and  modesty,  and  the  pious 
 Boaz,  viewing  her  in  this  character,  spoke  kindly  to  her,  and 
 pronounced  the  language  of  henediction  and  praise, — '  Blessed 
 be  thou  of  the  Lord,  my  daughter,' — 'all  the  city  of  my  people 
 doth  know  that  thou  art  a  virtuous  woman.' 
 
 II.  }Ve  also  See  in  the  conduct  of  Boaz  the  marks  of  an  eminently 
 292 
 
 pious  and  prudent  man.  He  was  one  who  carefully  superin- 
 tended his  own  concerns, — who  was  obviously  kind  and  con- 
 descending 10  his  servants  ;  though  he  was  cheerful,  it  is  quite 
 clear  he  was  moderate  in  his  enjoyment  of  the  good  things  of 
 life  ;  his  passions  were  evidently  under  sacred  control  ;  he 
 was  careful  of  bis  own  reputation,  and  also  of  that  of  others, 
 and  a  strict  lover  of  justice,  ready  to  do  that  which  was  right. 
 Certainly  in  these  characters  we  have  the  example  which  the 
 apostle  recommends  the  Philippians  to  set  before  all  Chris- 
 tians—'  Whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever  things  are 
 honest,  whatsoever  things  arejust,  whatsoever  things  are  pure, 
 whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  ate  of  good 
 report ;  if  there  be  any  virtue,  and  if  there  he  any  praise,  think 
 on  these  things.' 
 
The  generations 
 
 RUTH,  IV. 
 
 of  Pilar ez. 
 
 17  '  And  the  women  her  neighbours  gave  it  a 
 name,  saying,  There  is  a  son  born  to  Naomi  ; 
 and  they  called  his  name  Obed  :  he  is  the 
 father  of  Jesse,  the  father  of  David. 
 
 18  1[  Now  these  are  the  generations  of  Pha- 
 rez  :  "  Pharez  begat  Hezron, 
 
 19  And  Hezron  begat  Ram,  and  Ram  begat 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  ISI 
 
 t  I. like  I.  58, 
 59. 
 
 ■1  lCIir.2.  4, 
 *(C.Mat.l.3. 
 
 B.C. 
 cir,  1312. 
 
 X  Nu.  I. : 
 
 y  Mat.  I. 
 
 21  Chr.S.  15. 
 Mai.  I.  e. 
 
 Animinadab, 
 
 20  And   Amminadab   begat  *  Nahshon,  and 
 Nahshon  begat  ^  ||  Salmon, 
 
 21  And  Salmon  begat  Boaz,  and  Boaz  begat 
 Obed, 
 
 22  And  Obed  begat  Jesse,  and  Jesse  begat 
 *  David. 
 
 was  con^atnlatcd  more  than  Boaz  or  Ruth,  as  she  had  the  ruins  of  her 
 family  providentially  repaired. — Scott.  IJ,  Gave  it  a  name, '  recom. 
 mended  a  name,*  for  they  had  no  power  to  give. — So  Pat.,  Poole,  A. 
 Clarke.  Obed,  *  a  servant,*  to  nourish,  comfort,  and  assist  Naomi. — 
 Poole,  so  Mich,  and  Geddes.    A  servant,  because  of  Ruth's  condition ; 
 
 prominent  circumstances  at  the  birth  generally  directed  the  choice  of 
 ancient  names. — So  Sut.  The  father  of  David,  for  whose  sake  this 
 hook  was  written,  that  his  descent  might  be  ehewn,  from  whom  sprung- 
 the  Messiah. — Pat. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  I.  We  see  here  the  simple  na- 
 ture of  ancient  legal  transactions.  How  speedily  and  easily  was 
 property  transferred  before  many  witnesses,  and  it  is  probable, 
 as  conjectured  by  some,  that  the  shoe  was  also  retained  in 
 evidence.  The  peaceful  spirit  of  Christianity  will  never  pre- 
 vail among  us  till  those  endless  and  ruinous  litigations  are 
 Bet  aside  which  now  disgrace  the  courts  of  justice  in  our 
 country  ;  and  this  can  only  be  done  by  the  introduction  of 
 more  simplicity,  and  the  more  frequent  substitution  of  equity 
 for  what  is  called  law. 
 
 II.  We  see  here  aho  the  solemn  nature  of  the  marriage  contract, 
 and  with  hoiv  much  seriousness  and  piety  it  was  operily  entered  into. 
 Those  who  enter  into  tlie  marriage  state  need  the  blessing  of 
 the  Lord.  How  much  of  their  happiness  depends  upon  the 
 character  and  conduct  of  their  children!  how  much  responsi- 
 bility is  to  rest  upon  them  in  their  training,  that  they  may  be- 
 
 come in  tlieir  declining  age  a  blessing  to  their  parents,  and  in 
 future  times  to  their  offspring,  to  the  church,  and  to  the  world. 
 Surely,  then,  the  newly  wedded  pair  have  need  of  the  prayers 
 and  counsels  of  the  pious,  and  cannot  do  better  than  to  look  to 
 (Jod  to  smile  upon  their  important  union. 
 
 III.  We  may  improve  the  graiidpoint  of  this  history  and  chapter 
 hy  looking  to  Christ  as  our  oreat  Kinsman  and  Redeemer.  '  At 
 the  price  of  his  sufferings,  says  the  pious  Scott, '  he  has  both 
 ransomed  our  inheritance,  and  purchased  us  to  be  espoused 
 unto  him  in  truth  and  righteousness,  not  induced  by  our  wor- 
 thiness or  excellence,  but  by  his  own  unfathomable  love  to 
 our  polluted  souls.  To  this  "union"  he  invites  the  perishing 
 sinner;  may  we  therefore  joyfully  accept  of  his  salvation,  ex- 
 pect all  our  felicity  from  him,  and  devote  ourselves  to  his  ser- 
 vice ;  and  being  not  our  own,  but  *'  bought  with  a  price,"  let 
 us  glorify  him  with  our  bodies  and  spirits,  which  are  his,' 
 
 THE  FIRST  BOOK 
 
 OF 
 
 SAMUEL, 
 
 OTHERWISE   CALLED, 
 
 THE    FIRST    BOOK    OF    THE    KINGS. 
 
 [This  book  contains  a  history  of  the  life  and  times  of  Samuel.  The  two  books  give  the  reigns  of  the  two  first  Kings  of  Israel, 
 and  hence  bear  the  names  of  the  Books  of  Kings.  Tliey  are  a  link  in  the  history  of  tlie  Jewish  people  from  the  time  of 
 the  Judges.  This  book  to  the  end  of  the  twenty-fourth  chapter  is  generally  ascribed  to  Samuel ;  and  Jeremiah,  David, 
 Hezekiah,  or  Ezra,  has  been  supposed  to  have  added  those  parts  which  Samuel  could  not  have  written.  Gill  says,  fol- 
 lowing the  opinion  of  the  Jews  in  general,  '  the  rest  might  be  written  by  Nathan  and  Gad,  as  may  be  gathered  from 
 1  Chron.  xxix.  29.  Calmet  and  Adam  Clarke  ascribe  the  compilation  to  more  recent  writers,  out  of  materials  of  a  much 
 priordate.  The  First  Book  of  Samuel  includes  the  history  of  eighty  years.  It  is  referred  to,  Matt.  xii.  3;  Mark,  ii.  "25; 
 Luke,  vi.  4;  Acts,  vii.  46;  xiii. 'JI,  23.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  Elkanah  a  Levite,  having  two  wives,  worshippeth 
 yearly  at  Shiloh.  4  He  cherisheth  Hannah,  though 
 barren,  and  provoked  by  Peniiinah.  9  Hannah  in 
 grief  prayeth  for  a  child.  12  Eli  first  rehnkiny  her, 
 afterwards  hhsseth  her.  19  Hannah  having  born 
 Samuel,  stayeth  at  home  till  he  be  iveaned.  24  She 
 preseritetk  him,  according  to  her  vow,  to  the  LORD. 
 
 "I^OW  there  was  a  certain  man  of  Ramatliaim- 
 -*-'  zophim,  of  mount  Ephraim,  and  his  name 
 was  '  Elkanah,  the  son  of  Jeroham,  the  son  of 
 Elihu,  the  son  of  Tohu,  the  son  of  Zuph,  ''  an 
 Ephrathite : 
 
 2  And  he  had  two  wives ;  the  name  of  the 
 one  was  Hannah,  and  the  name  of  the  other 
 Peninnah :    and  Peninnah   had  children,  but 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  1171. 
 
 a  I  Chr.  6. 
 4  Kuth  I.  2. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir   1171. 
 
 r  Ei.  23.  II 
 
 Dent  le.Ifl. 
 
 Luke  -2.  41. 
 t  Heb.  /rom 
 
 year  In  t/ear, 
 d  Deut.  12. 
 
 b,  6,  7. 
 f-JoBh.  18.  \. 
 
 /■Den.  12. 17, 
 IS.  &  16.  II. 
 
 llOr,  rt  double 
 
 poTlion. 
 e  Gen.  SO.  2. 
 t  Heb,  ..o- 
 
 gfred  her, 
 h  Job  24.  21. 
 »Or,/ri.™ 
 
 Ilie  Itnte  I'lal 
 
 .he,  lie. 
 t  Heb./r 
 
 "P. 
 
 ,  SOU,} 
 
 Hannah  had  no  children. 
 
 3  And  this  man  went  up  out  of  his  city 
 °  t  yearly  ''  to  worship  and  to  sacrifice  unto  the 
 Lord  of  hosts  in  "  Shiloh.  And  the  two  sons 
 of  Eli,  Hophni  and  Phinehas,  the  priests  of  the 
 Lord,  were  there. 
 
 4  IT  And  when  the  time  was  that  Elkanah 
 '  offered,  he  gave  to  Peninnah  his  wife,  and  to 
 all  her  sons  and  her  daughters,  portions  : 
 
 5  But  unto  Hannah  he  gave  ||  a  worthy  por- 
 tion ;  for  he  loved  Hannah :  ^  but  the  Lord 
 had  shut  up  her  womb. 
 
 6  And  her  adversary  also  f"*  provoked  her 
 sore,  for  to  make  her  fret,  because  the  Lord 
 had  shut  up  her  womb. 
 
 7  And  as  he  did  so  year  by  year,  ||  f  when 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  l.  Ramathnim-znphim,  literally  '  the  two  high 
 places  of  the  watchmen.'— ^1.  Clarke.  This  plural  word  signifies  '  two 
 Ramahs,'  the  city  consisting  of  two  parts,  being  built  upon  two  hills, 
 called  Zophim,  because,  as  the  Rabbins  say,  they  looked  one  to  an- 
 other, or  perhaps  hud  watch  towers  on  them,  or  a  school  of  the  pro. 
 phets,  (see  chap.  xix.  19—24,)  called  watchmen,  (Ezek.  iii.  \'!.)—GUt. 
 
 2.  Two  u'tJ-es- Hannah  seems  to  have  been  the  tirst,  who,  having  no 
 children,  he  took  another.  This  was  not,  in  those  times,  disallowed 
 hy  God,  (2  Sam.  xii.  S,)—Pat.,  but  the  event  shewed  that,  in  deviating 
 from  the  original  law,  he  httle  consulted  his  own  comfort. — Scott. 
 
 3.  Yearly,  TTO'O'  D'13'D, '  from  days  to  days,'  or  '  from  time  to  time.'  It 
 
 293 
 
 might  be  the  Passover,  or  at  the  three  solemn  feasts,  and  at  other 
 times,  when,  as  a  Levite,  he  went  in  his  course. — Poole.  The  Lord  of 
 Aos/.s,  niN3S  mrr,  from  n^:?,  'an  host,"  or 'army.'— Gi7(.  The  hea- 
 venly bodies  were  called  the  hosts  of  heaven,  and  worshipped  by  the 
 heathen;  to  shew  his  supreme  power,  Jehovah  is  called  the  Lord  of 
 all  these. — So  A.  Clarke.  4.  His  wife — males  only  were  obliged  to 
 attend,  but  devout  persons  took  their  wives  and  daughters. — Pat. 
 Portions,  parts  of  the  peace  offerings,  the  greater  part  of  which  belonged 
 to  the  owner,  to  fea-st  his  family  and  friends,  (see  Duut.  xii.  5 — 7  ;  and 
 xvi.  10 — 15.)  5.  A  worthy  portion,  'one  choice  portion.'  The  priest 
 bad  the  breast  and  the  right  shoulder,  the  next  best  piece  he  gave  to 
 
Hannah  prayeth  for  a  child. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  I. 
 
 The  bhlli  of  Samuel, 
 
 she  went  up  to  the  house  of  the  Loud,  so  she 
 provoked  her  ;  therefore  she  wept,  and  did  not 
 eat. 
 
 8  Then  said  Elkanah  her  husband  to  her, 
 Hannah,  why  weepcst  thou?  and  why  eatest 
 thou  not?  and  why  is  thy  heart  grieved?  am 
 nut  I  '  better  to  thee  than  ten  sons? 
 
 9  II  So  Hannah  rose  up  after  they  had  eaten 
 in  Shiloh,  and  after  they  liad  drunk.  Now  Eli 
 the  priest  sat  upon  a  seat  by  a  post  of  '  the 
 temple  of  the  Lord. 
 
 10  '  And  she  icas  f  in  bitterness  of  soul,  and 
 prayed  unto  the  Loud,  and  wept  sore. 
 
 1 1  And  she  "'  vowed  a  vow,  and  said,  O  Lord 
 of  hosts,  if  thou  wilt  indeed  "look  on  the  af- 
 fliction of  thine  handmaid,  and  "  remember  me, 
 and  not  forget  thine  handmaid,  but  wilt  give 
 unto  thine  handmaid  fa  man  child,  then  I  will 
 give  him  unto  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  his  life, 
 and  ■'there  shall  no  razor  come  upon  his  head. 
 
 I -2  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  she  f  continued 
 praying  before  the  Loun,  that  Eli  marked  her 
 month. 
 
 13  Now  Hannah,  she  spake  in  her  heart;  only 
 her  lips  moved,  but  her  voice  was  not  heard  : 
 therefore  Eli  thought  she  had  been  drunken. 
 
 14  And  Eli  said  unto  her.  How  long  wilt 
 thou  be  drunken?  put  away  thy  wine  from  thee. 
 
 15  And  Hannah  answered  and  said.  No,  my 
 lord,  I  am  a  woman  f  of  a  sorrowful  spirit :  I 
 have  drunk  neither  wine  nor  strong  drink,  but 
 h.ive  ■■  poured  out  my  soul  before  the  Lord. 
 
 10  Count  not  thine  handmaid  for  a  daughter 
 of  '  Belial  :  for  out  of  the  abundance  of  my 
 II  complaint  and  grief  have  I  spoken  hitherto. 
 
 17  Then  Eli  an.swered  and  said,  'Go  in 
 peace  :  and  '  the  God  of  Israel  grant  thee  thy 
 petition  that  thou  hast  asked  of  him. 
 
 18  And  she  said,  "  Let  thine  handmaid  find 
 grace  in  thy  sight.  So  the  woman  ^  went  her 
 way,  and  did  eat,  and  her  countenance  was  no 
 more  sad. 
 
 1 9  1[  And  they  rose  up  in  the  morning  early, 
 and  worshipped  before  the  Lord,  and  returned, 
 and  came  to  their  house  to  Ramah  :  and  El- 
 
 B.O- 
 
 11   C. 
 
 cir.  n7i. 
 
 dr.  1171. 
 
 y  Gen.  4.  1. 
 
 .Gen.  3).  22 
 
 t  Heb.  m  re. 
 
 d..,w. 
 
 cir.  1171. 
 
 II  Tl.^t  13. 
 
 .liked  of 
 
 i  Roth  4.  16. 
 
 Hod. 
 
 a  vor.  3. 
 
 *  cb.  3.  3. 
 
 IJ<il>7.  n. 
 
 «£  10.  1 
 t  Heb    b,tl^ 
 
 6  Luke  2. 12 
 
 o/„„l. 
 
 2  Sam  17  8. 
 
 mGen.M.W. 
 
 e  ver.  11,23 
 
 Num.  30.  3, 
 
 fc  ch   2    11, 
 
 Judg.  11.311, 
 
 18.  &3.  1. 
 
 «  Gen.  29  32. 
 
 d  Ex.  21.  0. 
 
 Ex.  4.  31. 
 
 r  Num.  30.  7 
 
 S  Siun.  16. 
 12.  Ps.  25. 
 
 /8  6a,  7.  25. 
 
 13. 
 
 o  Gen.  8    1. 
 
 &  30.  82. 
 
 t  Heb.  ,„d 
 
 ofm«'i. 
 
 cir  1165. 
 
 p  Num.  6.  5. 
 Judg.  13.  .1. 
 
 g  Dent  12.  5, 
 6,  11. 
 
 t  Heb.mtWli. 
 
 flitd  to 
 
 4  Josh.  IS.  1. 
 
 '  Luke  2.  22 
 
 *  Gen.  42.  15 
 
 2  Kin.  2.  2, 
 
 4,  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  I,nrd 
 
 »/V„.l. 
 
 ;  Mat.  7.  7, 
 
 7  P«.  62  8 
 
 &  UJ.  2. 
 
 r  D«u.  13.13. 
 
 ".ver.11,22. 
 
 [i  Or,  r../..r,.. 
 
 lOr^mfdttn. 
 
 ^'Ihimtiehom 
 
 lion. 
 
 t  haft  ob- 
 
 1  Judg.  18  6 
 Mart  5.31. 
 
 I'tioedbype- 
 
 lilion,  10  the 
 
 Luke  7.  50. 
 
 LOUD. 
 
 h  fi.  4.8. 
 
 '\nr.hewhom 
 
 <  P«-  20.  4,  h 
 
 1  hn'e  ob- 
 
 „  Gen.M.  15. 
 
 tnirirdhy  pe- 
 
 Hutb 2.  13. 
 
 tition  iholt 
 
 jrEcclei.9.7. 
 
 be  relumed. 
 
 n  Gen  24.26, 
 
 18. 
 
 n  Phil    4.  6 
 
 h  See  Luke 
 
 1.  40,  Sic. 
 
 c  1'8    92.   10. 
 
 «■  112.  9. 
 
 kaiiah  'knew  Hannah  his  wife;  and  'the 
 Lord  remembered  her. 
 
 20  Wherefore  it  came  to  pass,  t  when  the 
 time  was  come  about  after  Hannah  had  con- 
 ceived, that  she  bare  a  son,  and  called  hia 
 name  |)  Samuel,  saying.  Because  I  have  asked 
 him  of  the  Lord. 
 
 i\  And  tlie  man  Elkanali,  and  all  his  house, 
 '  went  up  to  offer  unto  the  Loud  the  yearly 
 sacrifice,  and  his  vow. 
 
 22  But  Hannah  went  not  up  ;  for  she  said 
 unto  her  husband,  I  will  not  i/o  up  until  the 
 child  be  weaned,  and  then  1  will  "  bring  him, 
 that  he  may  appear  before  the  Lord,  and 
 there  "^  abide  ''  for  ever. 
 
 23  And  °  Elkanah  her  husband  said  unto  her. 
 Do  what  seemeth  thee  good  ;  tarry  until  thou 
 have  weaned  him  ;  '  only  the  Lord  estabhsh 
 his  word.  So  the  woman  abode,  and  gave  her 
 son  suck  until  she  weaned  him. 
 
 24  1[  And  when  she  had  weaned  him,  she 
 ^  took  him  up  with  her,  with  three  bullocks, 
 and  one  ephah  of  flour,  and  a  bottle  of  wine, 
 and  brought  him  unto  '•the  house  of  the  Lord 
 in  Shiloh  :  and  the  child  iras  young. 
 
 2d  And  they  slew  a  bullock,  and  '  brought 
 the  child  to  Eli. 
 
 26  And  she  said.  Oh  my  lord,  '  as  thy  soul 
 liveth,  my  lord,  I  am  the  woman  that  stood  by 
 thee  here,  praying  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 27  '  For  this  child  I  prayed  ;  and  the  Lord 
 hath  given  me  my  petition  which  I  asked  of 
 him  : 
 
 28  "Therefore  also  I  have  ||  lent  him  to  the 
 Lord  ;  as  long  as  he  liveth  ||  he  shall  be  lent 
 to  the  Lord.  And  he  "  worshipped  the  Lord 
 there. 
 
 CHAP.  IL 
 
 1  Hannah's  song  in  thtinhftilnrss.  12  Tlie  sin  of  Ett''s 
 sons.  18  Samuers  ministrij.  20  Jiy  Eli's  hlessintf 
 Htinna/t  is  miirefmitfut.  22  Eli  rfpruvcih  his  sons. 
 27  ^  prophecy  against  Eli's  /lotise. 
 
 A  ND  Hannah  '  prayed,  and  said,  ''  My  heart 
 -^*-  rejoiceth  in  the  Lord,  ''  mine  horn  is  ex- 
 alted in  the  Lord  ;  my  mouth  is  enlarged  over 
 
 Hannah.  D^DM  ririN  ns^D.  '  a  double  part,'  St/r.  '  A  special  portion.' 
 Buathr.  9.  Upon  n  sfnt,  l^DSn  'TS.  'upon  the  throne,'  as  Jud^  of 
 Israel. — A.  Clarke.  Rather,  as  high  priest,  to  preserve  good  order,  give 
 advice,  &c. — Poole,  Put.,  Gill.  1 1 .  Gii^e  him  unto  the  Lord — Samuel's 
 father  was  a  Levite,  (1  Chr.  vi.  26,1  and  Samuel,  being  born  a  Levite, 
 must  have  been  devoted  to  God  at  the  age  of  twenty. five  or  thirty,  till 
 fifty,  but  here  the  vnw  devotes  Samuel  from  hi.s  infancy  and  all  his 
 days. — Gill.  14.  Vniri/ten — Eli  had  perhaps  ^een  such  intemperance, 
 and  sat  there  to  repress  these  enormities. — Scott.  16.  A  tittughter  of 
 Beli'il,  a  yokeless,  lawless,  impudent,  and  abandoned  creature. — Gill. 
 See  note  on  Deut.  xiii.  13.  21.  His  rote — by  which  it  appears  that  he 
 consented  to  her  vow,  to  make  it  obligatory,  (Num.  xxx.)        23.  Hia 
 
 li-ord,  spoken  by  Eli,  (ver.  1? ;)  or  some  word  from  God  to  Elkanah,  or 
 his  wife,  by  revelation  ;  or  it  may  be  read,  *  his  matter*  or  '  thing,' 
 concerning  the  child,  tliat  it  may  grow  «p,  and  be  accepted  and  em- 
 ployed by  God. — Poole.  24.  Three  bullocks,  for  a  burnt-offering, 
 sin  offering,  and  peace. ofTering. — Gill.  One  bullock  of  three  yeara 
 old. — So  several  Versions,  and  Honh.,  and  Sept.,  t^  fioaxif  Tpieniovri. 
 26.  As  thy  sonl  liveth — thought  to  be  an  expression  of  good  will,  '  may 
 thy  soul  live.' — Scott.  2%.  Lent,   'given.' — Welta.      'Devoted.'  — 
 
 Buollir. 
 
 Chap.  II. —  I.  Prayed — thanksgiving  is  a  part  of  prayer,  (I  Tim.  ii. 
 1  ;  Phil.  iv.  6.) — Gill.  Mine  horn  is  ernlted — an  emblem  of  victory  over 
 her  reproaching  rival,  as  the  strong  animal  lifts  up  his  bom. — Scott. 
 
 TIeflections  on  Chap.  I Let  us  notice  the  persons  in 
 
 this  chapter  : — I.  Elttanah.  He  presents  the  itnitable  example 
 of  a  devout  man,  solicitous  for  the  honour  of  God  and  the  reU- 
 gious  welfare  of  his  family.  He  took  tliem  to  the  house  of 
 God,  and  provided  tliem  with  portions  for  tlie  purpose  ;  and 
 he  manifested  the  spirit  of  the  tender  husband.  It  is  a  ISew- 
 Testament  command,  *  Husbands,  love  your  wives.' 
 
 II.  Peninnah.  She  taunted  Hannah  as  one  whom  Heaven 
 did  not  favour  ;  she  envied  her  her  sliare  in  Elkanah's  atfec- 
 tions  ;  she  disturbed  her  spirit  wlien  she  was  f;oing  to  the 
 house  of  God  for  consolation,  and  perseveringly  continued  this 
 cruel  and  provoking  practice  from  year  to  year.  '  It  is  an  evi- 
 dence of  a  base  and  ill  disposition,'  says  Henry,  *  to  deHi^ht  in 
 grieving  those  that  are  melancholy  and  of  a  sorrowful  spirit, 
 and  in  putting  those  out  of  humour  that  are  apt  to  fret  and  be 
 uneasy.  We  ought  to  bear  one  another's  burdens,  not  to  add 
 to  them.' 
 
 III.  Hannah.  Slie  seems  to  have  been  of  a  meek  disposi- 
 tion, but  to  have  suft'ered  her  vexations  to  have  been  inordi- 
 
 294 
 
 nate.  It  was  well  for  her  that  she  had  a  husband  ready  to 
 soothe  her  sorrows,  and  so  to  lit  her  mind  for  applying  to  God. 
 She  had  recourse  to  prayer  ;  this  is  the  best  remedy  in  time  of 
 trouble — *cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  sustain 
 thee.'  So  it  proved  here,  and  in  the  end  God  granted  her  that 
 which  she  requested. 
 
 IV.  Eli.  He  dealt  faithfully  with  Hannah,  as  the  minister 
 of  God,  and  reproved  what  he  conceived  to  be  her  sin  ;  and  so 
 far  he  was  an  example  to  those  who  are  to  '  reprove,  rebuke, 
 and  exhort.'  But  ho  erred  in  judging  rashly.  \\'e  should  be 
 cautious  iiow  we  judge  at  all  times  from  appearances,  lest  we 
 should  not  judge  righteous  judgment.  We  should  also  see 
 that  while  we  observe  the  mote  in  another's  eye,  we  have  not 
 the  beam  in  our  own.  Eli  was  faithful  in  reproving  Hannah 
 for  drunkenness,  but  he  subsequently  overlooked  the  sin  of 
 gluttony  in  his  sons— the  priests  of  God— or,  at  least,  he  only 
 gently  reproved  where  he  ought  severely  to  have  punished. 
 The  painful  consequences  of  which  conduct  aro  recorded,  for 
 our  instruction,  in  the  next  chapter. 
 
Hannah's  songr  in  thanltsgiving. 
 
 1.  SAMUEL,  II. 
 
 SamueVs  ministry. 
 
 mine  enemies;  because  I  ''rejoice  in  thy  sal 
 vation. 
 
 2  "  There  is  none  lioly  as  the  Lord  :  for 
 there  is  'none  beside  thee:  neither  is  there 
 any  rock  like  our  God. 
 
 3  Talk  no  more  so  exceeding  proudly;  ^let 
 not  t  arrogancy  come  out  of  your  moutli  :  for 
 tlie  Loud  is  a  God  of  knowledge,  and  by  him 
 actions  are  weighed. 
 
 4  ''  The  bows  of  the  mighty  men  are  broken, 
 and  they  that  stumbled  are  girded  with 
 strength. 
 
 5  '  Thei/  that  were  full  have  hired  out  them- 
 .selves  for  bread  ;  and  they  that  trcre  hungry 
 ceased  :  so  that  '  the  barren  hatli  born  seven  ; 
 and  '  she  that  hath  many  children  is  waxed 
 feeble. 
 
 6  "■  The  Lord  killeth,  and  maketh  alive  :  he 
 bringeth  down  to  the  grave,  and  bringeth  up. 
 
 7  The  Lord  "  maketh  poor,  and  maketh 
 rich  :  °  he  bringeth  low,  and  lifteth  up. 
 
 8  •■  He  raiseth  up  the  poor  out  of  the  dust, 
 atid  lifteth  up  the  beggar  from  the  dunghill, 
 ■"  to  set  t/iem  among  princes,  and  to  make  them 
 inherit  the  throne  of  glory  :  for  '  the  pillars  of 
 the  earth  are  the  Lord's,  and  he  hath  set  the 
 world  upon  them. 
 
 9  '  He  will  keep  the  feet  of  his  saints,  and 
 the  wicked  shall  be  silent  in  darkness  ;  for  by 
 strength  shall  no  man  prevail. 
 
 10  The  adversaries  of  the  Lord  shall  be 
 '  broken  to  pieces  ;  "  out  of  heaven  shall  he 
 thunder  upon  them  :  ^  the  Lord  shall  judge 
 the  ends  of  the  earth ;  and  he  shall  give 
 strength  unto  his  king,  and  'exalt  the  horn  of 
 his  anointed. 
 
 1 1  And  Elkanah  went  to  Ramah  to  his 
 house.  ^  And  the  child  did  minister  unto  the 
 Lord  before  Eli  the  priest. 
 
 12  IF  Now  the  sons  of  Eli  were  "sons  of 
 Belial ;  ^  they  knew  not  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  the  priest's  custom  with  the  people 
 was,  that,  when  any  man  offered  sacrifice,  the 
 priest's  servant  came,  wliile  the  flesh  was  in 
 seething,  with  a  fleshhook  of  three  teeth  in  Iris 
 hand  ; 
 
 14  And  he  struck  it  into  "  the  pan,  or  kettle, 
 or  caldron,  or  pot ;  all  that  the  fleshhook 
 brought  up  the  priest  took  for  himself  So 
 they  did  in  Shiloh  unto  all  the  Israelites  that 
 came  thither. 
 
 rfPs.  9.  U.  & 
 
 13.  a.  8t  20. 
 
 5.  &  35.  9. 
 •  Ex.  15.  II. 
 
 Dent.  3.  24. 
 
 &  32.  4   I's. 
 
 86,  a.  &  69. 
 
 6,8. 
 /  Deu.  4.  S5. 
 
 2  Sam.  22. 
 
 32. 
 ff  P3.  04,  4, 
 
 Mai.  3.  13. 
 
 Jude  15. 
 t  Heb.  Aurd, 
 ft  Ps.  37.  IS, 
 
 17.  «■  ™.  3. 
 
 i  P>.  34.  10. 
 Luke  1.  53. 
 
 m  Deu. 32,39. 
 
 .Tob  5.  18. 
 
 Hos.  6.  1. 
 
 Toblt  I.H.  2. 
 
 Wisd.  16. 
 
 13. 
 n  Job  I.  81. 
 .,  Ps.  75   7. 
 pPs,  113  7,8. 
 
 DaD.  4.  17. 
 
 I.uke  I.  52. 
 7  J..b  .16.  7. 
 rJob3S,4,6, 
 
 6.  Ps.  24.  2. 
 
 fc  102.25.  & 
 
 104.5.  Heb. 
 
 I.  3. 
 f  Ps.  91.  II. 
 
 &  121.  3. 
 
 I  Ps.  2.  9. 
 
 «  ch.  7.  10. 
 
 Ph.  IP.  IS, 
 X  Pa.  96.  13. 
 
 &  98   9. 
 y  Pi.  89.  24. 
 
 s  ver.  18. 
 ch.  3.  I. 
 
 &  Jodg.2.10. 
 Jer.  22.  16. 
 Rom,  1.  28. 
 
 e  See  1  Esd. 
 I.  12. 
 
 B,  r. 
 
 cir.  1105. 
 
 f  Heb.  <tt  o 
 the  dtiy. 
 
 f  Opn.  6.  II. 
 /  Mai.  2.  9. 
 
 h  Ex.  23.  4. 
 2  Siuii.6.U 
 
 II  Or,  fflitioii 
 wfticft  *fte 
 niked,  Sfc, 
 
 t  ch.  I.  2fi. 
 
 m  Gen.  21.  1. 
 
 I  ver.  26. 
 ch   3    19. 
 Judp.13.24. 
 I.uke  I.  80. 
 «t  2.  40. 
 
 f>  See  Exod. 
 
 ss.  e. 
 
 t  Heb.  o.- 
 •'tnbUd  b) 
 
 II  Or,  i  hnr 
 evil  wordi  of 
 you. 
 
 Or,  to  cry 
 
 r  ver,  2 1 . 
 
 f  Prov.  3.4. 
 Luke  -.  52, 
 Acts  2  47. 
 Rom.  1-1.  IB. 
 
 t  I  Kin. IS. I. 
 
 I  r»  Also  before  they  **  burnt  the  fat,  the  priest's 
 servant  came,  and  said  to  tlie  man  that  sacri- 
 ficed, Give  flesh  to  roast  for  the  priest ;  for  he 
 will  not  have  sodden  flesh  of  thee,  but  ra.w. 
 
 16  And  if  any  man  said  unto  him,  Let  them 
 not  fail  to  burn  the  fat  f  presently,  and  then 
 take  as  much  as  thy  soul  desireth  ;  then  he 
 would  answer  him ^  Nay ;  but  thou  shalt  give 
 it  me  now  :  and  if  not,  1  will  take  it  by  force. 
 
 17  Wherefore  the  sin  of  tlie  young  men  was 
 very  great  "^  before  the  Lord:  for  men  '"ab- 
 horred the  offering  of  the  Lord, 
 
 18  IT  ^  But  Samuel  ministered  before  the 
 Lord,  being  a  child,  *•  girded  with  a  linen 
 ephod. 
 
 19  Moreover  his  mother  made  him  a  little 
 coat,  and  brought  it  to  him  from  year  to  year, 
 when  she  'came  up  witli  her  husband  to  ofl'er 
 the  yearly  sacrifice. 
 
 20  1  And  Eli  ''  blessed  Elkanah  and  his  wife, 
 and  said.  The  Lord  give  thee  seed  of  this 
 woman  for  the  ||  loan  which  is  '  lent  to  the 
 Lord.     And  they  went  unto  their  own  home. 
 
 21  And  the  Lord  ""  visited  Hannah,  so  that 
 she  conceived,  and  bare  three  sons  and  two 
 daughters.  And  the  child  Samuel  "  grew  be- 
 fore the  Lord. 
 
 22  f  Now  Eli  was  very  old,  and  heard  all 
 that  his  sons  did  unto  all  Israel ;  and  how 
 they  lay  with  °  the  women  that  f  assembled  at 
 the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation. 
 
 23  And  he  said  unto  them,  Why  do  ye  such 
 things  ?  for  ||  I  hear  of  your  evil  dealings  by 
 all  this  people. 
 
 24  Nay,  my  sons  ;  for  it  is  no  good  report 
 that  I  hear :  ye  make  the  Lord's  people  ||  to 
 transgress. 
 
 25  If  one  man  sin  against  another,  the  judge 
 shall  judge  him  :  but  if  a  man  ^  sin  against  the 
 Lord,  who  shall  intreat  for  him  ?  Notwith- 
 standing they  hearkened  not  unto  the  voice  of 
 their  father,  **  because  the  Lord  would  slay 
 them. 
 
 26  And  the  child  Samuel  ""  grew  on,  and  was 
 "in  favour  both  with  the  Lord,  and  also  with 
 men. 
 
 27  t  *  And  there  came  a  man  of  God  unto 
 Eli,  and  said  unto  him.  Thus  saith  the  Lord, 
 "  Did  1  plainly  appear  unto  the  house  of  thy 
 father,  when  they  were  in  Egypt  in  Pharaoh's 
 house? 
 
 Some  have  thouprht  the  figiire  is  taken  from  a  head-dress  discovered  in 
 the  east  Dy  modem  travellers,  a  silver  conical  tube  or  horn  being  worn 
 in  a  graceful  manner.— Co/.  Light's  Tran.,  MncmicheVs  Jnurneij  to 
 Constantinople,  Buckingh(tm''s  Trar.  in  Palestine.  2.  Bm-k,  '  defence 
 and  '  refuge.' — Poole.  See  ncte  on  Deut.  xxxii.  4.  4.  The  bows,  ^c, 
 — bows  were  the  principal  part  of  warriors'  weapons,  (Ps.  xlvi.  9.)  and 
 girdles  a  principal  part  of  the  military  habit,  and  elegantly  translated 
 to  signify  strength. — Pat.  The  sentiment  is,  *  the  strong  are  soon 
 weakened,  and  the  weak  Eire  soon  strengthened,  when  God  pleaseth.' 
 —Henry.  5.  That  were  full,  ^c. — those  full  of  the  good  things  of 
 this  life  have  heen  stripped  of  all.  Hungry  ceased,  from  being  hungry, 
 (Luke,  i.  53  ;)  such  are  the  changes  sometimes  in  Providence.— Gj7/. 
 The  bnrren  hath  horn  seven — meaning  many,  (Prov.  xxiv.  l6  ;  Isa.  iv. 
 1,)  for  she  had  five  besides  Samuel,  (ver.  20,  21  :)  the  language  may  be 
 in  the  anticipation  of  faith.— GJ//.  lO.  The  adversaries,  fyc—  a  pro- 
 
 phetic verse,  respecting  the  subduing  of  the  Philistines,  the  chief  op- 
 pressors of  Israel,— Poo/e.  and  of  his  exalting  David  on  his  throne, 
 and  of  the  future  triumphs  of  the  Messiah.— UW/s.  12.  Sons  nf  Be- 
 
 lial—see  note  on  Deut.  xiii.  13.  I3.  The  priest* s  cnstom— not  content 
 with  the  breast  and  shoulder,  which  was  allotted  tliem  by  God,  {Exod, 
 xxix.  27.  28;  Lev.  vii.  31  ;)  they  took  also  part  of  the  offerer's  share, 
 and  besides,  they  snatched  their  part  before  it  was  heaved  and  waved, 
 contrary  to  Lev.  vii.  34.  15.  Before  they  burnt  the  fat,  and  the  other 
 parts  to  be  burnt  with  it,  (see  Lev.  iii.  3,  4,  9,  and  vii.  31.) — Poole. 
 This  they  netjlected,  which  was  typical  of  the  sacnticc  of  Christ,  and 
 insisted  upon  having  such  portions  as  they  pleased  for  roasting.— Sco^^. 
 17.  Abhorred  the  offering — they  would  not  contribute  to  the  priest's  sin 
 -293 
 
 and  the  corruption  of  God*s  worship,  but  judged  it  better  to  neglect  tlie 
 thing,  which  was  an  error,  (see  ver.  24.)  18,  A  linen  ephod — a  gar- 
 ment used  in  God's  service.  ip.  A  little  coat,  the  chief  and  upper 
 garment. — Poole.  The  women  made  wearing  apparel,  and  their  com- 
 mon employment  was  weaving  stuffs.  —  Henry's  Hist,  of  Israelites. 
 22.  The  women— not,  as  some  suppose,  those  engaged  in  sewing,  spin- 
 ning, &c.,  for  the  tabernacle,  which,  if  then  there  were  such,  would 
 not  have  their  station  at  the  door,  but  such  as  came  to  worship  God. — 
 Poole.  25.  If  a  man  sin  against  the  Lord — all  sin  is,  in  some  sense, 
 against  God  and  contrary  to  his  nature,  but  there  are  some  sins  that 
 are  more  immediately  and  particularly  against  God. — Gill.  This 
 offence  was  of  that  kind,  and  so  interwoven  with  their  ministrations  as 
 priests,  in  offering  the  sacrifices  for  sin,  that  no  expiation  could  be  ac- 
 cepted for  the  presumptuous  crime.  None  dared  stand  between  them 
 and  Gud's  wrath.  For  the  intercession  of  sinners  with  a  holy  God  was 
 grounded  upon  the  atonement  of  the  promised  Saviour,  who  was  typi- 
 fied by  the  sacrifices  they  had  so  horribly  polluted.~S(?o/?.  '  If  one 
 man  sin  against  another  he  has  God  for  his  arbiter;  but  if  a  man  sin 
 against  God.  who  shall  be  his  arbiter?' — Geddes.  Because  the  Lord 
 would  slay  them,  '  therefore  God  would  destroy  them,'  because  they 
 hearkened  not  to  their  father,  on  account  of  their  hardness. — A.  Clarke, 
 so  Dr.  Waterland.  They  were  given  up  to  judicial  blindness. — Henry. 
 It  may  even  signify,  in  the  original,  it  was  pleasing  to  the  Lord  to  slay 
 t\icii\.—Scutt.  The  translation  is  right,  for  when  men  have  long  sinned 
 grievously  against  many  admonitions,  God  deprives  them  of  that  pru- 
 dent consideration  and  discretiifU  which  would  save  them  from 
 destiuction. — Pat.    'Jehovah  had  purposed  to  slay  them,'  for  their 
 
A  prophecy  against  ElCs  house. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  III. 
 
 God  calleth  Samuel. 
 
 28  And  did  I  'choose  liira  out  of  all  the 
 tribes  of  Israel  to  be  my  priest,  to  offer  upon 
 mine  altar,  to  burn  incense,  to  wear  an  ephod 
 before  me  ?  and  '  did  I  give  unto  the  house  of 
 thy  father  all  the  offerings  made  by  fire  of  the 
 children  of  Israel  ? 
 
 29  Wherefore  '  kick  ye  at  my  sacrifice  and 
 at  mine  offering,  which  I  have  commanded  in 
 my  '  habitation  ;  and  honourest  thy  sons  above 
 me,  to  make  yourselves  fat  uith  the  chiefest  of 
 all  the  offerings  of  Israel  my  people  ? 
 
 30  Wherefore  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  saith, 
 *•  I  said  indeed  that  thy  house,  and  the  house 
 of  thy  father,  should  walk  before  me  for  ever : 
 but  now  the  Lord  saith,  '  Be  it  far  from  me  ; 
 for  them  that  honour  me  ''  I  will  honour,  and 
 "  they  that  despise  me  shall  be  lightly  es- 
 teemed. 
 
 31  Behold,  'the  days  come,  that  I  will  cut 
 ofT  thine  arm,  and  the  arm  of  thy  father's 
 house,  that  there  shall  not  be  an  old  man  in 
 thine  house. 
 
 32  And  thou  shall  see  ||  an  enemy  in  my 
 habitation,  in  all  the  uealth  which  God  shall 
 give  Israel :  and  there  shall  not  be  *  an  old 
 man  in  thine  house  for  ever. 
 
 33  And  the  man  of  thine,  whom  I  shall  not 
 cut  off  from  mine  altar,  shall  he  to  consume 
 thine  eyes,  and  to  grieve  thine  heart :  and  all 
 the  increase  of  thine  house  shall  die  \  in  the 
 flower  of  their  age. 
 
 34  And  this  shall  be*' a  sign  unto  thee,  that 
 shall  come  upon  thy  two  sons,  on  Hophni  and 
 Phinehas ;  '  in  one  day  they  shall  die  both  of 
 them. 
 
 35  And  '  I  will  raise  me  up  a  faithful  priest, 
 that  shall  do  according  to  that  which  is  in 
 mine  heart  and  in  my  mind  :  and  '  I  will  build 
 him  a  sure  house  ;  and  he  shall  walk  before 
 *"  mine  anointed  for  ever. 
 
 36  °  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  every 
 one  that  is  left  in  thine  house  shall  come  an'it 
 
 Jr  Ex.  28.1,1 
 Num.  16.  5. 
 &  18.  1,  7 
 
 vLev.2  3,l(t. 
 fc6.  16.  fc  7. 
 7,  8,  Si.  35 
 &  10.  N,  15 
 Nu  5.  9, 10. 
 &  18.  8 — 19. 
 
 :Deu.  32.  15. 
 
 a  Deu. 12.5,6. 
 
 d  Pa.  18  2"1. 
 !■  91.  1». 
 t  Mai.  2.  9. 
 
 f\  Kio.2.27. 
 Ezok.14  10. 
 S^e  oh.  4. 
 11,  18.20,^ 
 H.  3.  &  2i. 
 13,8.0. 
 
 I  Or,  tU  itf- 
 fiiclitn  of 
 the  labrrtul- 
 /• 
 
 )   Hub.  Jo.^i. 
 
 [I  Or.  Iiim,- 
 
 <rh:il  ab'.Ut 
 t/ip  prifit- 
 h.wd. 
 
 Ih,. 
 
 alth 
 
 irh  G<,d 
 
 .'•uld  hnvr 
 
 lir/i  lirarl. 
 
 See  Zech. 
 
 k  I  Kin.2.»5 
 1  Chr.29  2^. 
 Kiek  14.15. 
 
 Pb   2,  2.  & 
 ..1  Kin  2.27. 
 
 b  Ps  7  J  9. 
 Ainos.S.  II. 
 See  ver.  21. 
 
 e  Gen.  27.  1 
 &48.  10.  ch 
 2.  22.8.4  IS 
 
 <IEi.  87.  21. 
 T.ev.  24  3. 
 2Ctir.l3.ll. 
 
 e  cU.  1.  9. 
 
 i  Or,  Tbiit 
 
 di.l  S ml 
 
 h-f,„  lit 
 kH&v  the 
 LCItn,  ani 
 b.-J''.re  ll,c 
 u.ord  ■,/  tte 
 LttRlt  Kai 
 rfi.nilrd 
 uil'.  him. 
 /S.^e  AcU 
 19.  2. 
 
 crouch  to  him  for  a  piece  of  silver  and  a  morsel' 
 of  bread,  and  shall  say,  f  I'ut  me,  I  pray  thee, 
 into  II  one  of  the  priest's  offices,  that  I  may 
 eat  a  piece  of  bread. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  How  the  word  of  the  Lord  urns  first  revealed  to 
 Samuel.  1 1  God  tellelh  Samvel  the  destruction  of 
 Eli's  house.  15  Samvel,  though  loth,  telhth  Eli  tlie 
 vision,     19  Samud  groxveth  in  credit, 
 
 A  ND  "  the  child  Samuel  ministered  unto  the 
 -^*-  Lord  before  Eli.  And  ■■  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  was  precious  in  those  days ;  there  was 
 no  open  vision. 
 
 2  And  it  came  to  pass  at  that  time,  when  Eli 
 was  laid  down  in  his  place,  "^  and  his  eyes  be- 
 gan to  wax  dim,  that  he  conld  not  see ; 
 
 3  And  ere  ■^  the  lamp  of  God  went  out  "^  in 
 the  temple  of  the  Lord,  where  the  ark  of  God 
 
 Uvas,  and  Samuel  was  laid  down  to  sUep  ; 
 
 4  That  the  Lord  called  Samuel  :  and  he  an- 
 swered. Here  ayn  I. 
 
 5  And  he  ran  unto  Eli,  and  said.  Here  am  I  ; 
 for  thou  calledst  me.  And  he  said,  I  called  not ; 
 lie  down  again.     And  he  went  and  lay  down. 
 
 6  And  the  Lord  called  yet  again,  Samuel. 
 And  Samuel  arose  and  went  to  Eli,  and  said. 
 Here  am  I  ;  for  thou  didst  call  me.  And  he 
 answered,  I  called  not,  my  son ;  lie  down  again. 
 
 7  II  Now  Samuel  'did  not  yet  know  the  Lord, 
 neither  was  the  word  of  the  Lord  yet  revealed 
 unto  him. 
 
 8  And  the  Lord  called  Samuel  again  the 
 third  time.  And  he  arose  and  went  to  Eli,  and 
 said.  Here  am  I  ;  for  thou  didst  call  me.  And 
 Eli  perceived  that  the  Lord  had  called  the 
 child. 
 
 9  Therefore  Eli  said  unto  Samuel,  Go,  lie 
 down  :  and  it  shall  be,  if  he  call  thee,  that 
 thou  shalt  say.  Speak,  Lord  ;  for  thy  servant 
 heareth.  So  Samuel  went  and  lay  down  in  his 
 place. 
 
 many  and  aggravated  6in9  already  committed.— Boo/Ar.,  so  Dr.  S. 
 Clarke.  29-  Honourest  thy  sons,  by  continuing  them  in  their  office 
 to  the  dishonour  of  God,  To  ridAc  jourst/i-cs/r/^— Eli  probably  took 
 part  of  the  roasted  meat  his  sons  provided.  31.  Come,  D'W3,  or  'are 
 comiug.'— Mont.  '  Will  quickly  come.'  Cut  offt/iine  flmi— power,  au- 
 thority, children,  the  support  of  his  family,— GiV/.  To  <rn-ep,ia  uov, 
 ■thy  seed,'  Sept.  31.  An  enemj/,  'thy  competitor.'— Poo/e.  'The 
 affliction  of  the  tabernacle,'  as  jnarg.  '  As  he  did,'  (chap.  iv.  4,  ll.) — 
 Pat.  '  And  with  envy  thou  shalt  see  a  rival,  who  in  every  thing  shall 
 do  good  to  Israel.'— BooWjr.  33.  The  man  of  thine,  ic.',  •  thy  poste- 
 
 rity that  may  still  wait  at  the  altar  shall  be  so  forlorn  and  miserable 
 that  it  woidd  grieve  thee  to  the  very  heart  to  see  it.'—Puole,  so  liootlir. 
 '  The  eyes  and  heart  of  his  posterity  should  grieve.'— Gi7/.  35.  A 
 faithful  priest,  of  another  line,  Zadok,  eminent  for  his  faithfulness  to 
 God  and  the  king,  who,  when  Abiathar,  the  last  of  Eli's  line,  was  de- 
 
 posed by  Solomon,  was  made  high  priest  in  his  stead,  (1  Kings,  ii.  27 — 
 35  ;  I  Chron.  x.\ix.  21.)~Put)ie. 
 
 Chap.  III.  —  1.  TIte  trord—precious~Goti  then  very  rarely  revealed 
 his  mind  to  any  person, — Pat.,  or  by  the  prophets. — Poole.  No  open 
 vision— no  known  prophet  to  apply  to  for  counsel.  In  all  the  times  of 
 the  judges,  we  read  only  of  Ueborah  the  prophetess,  and  a  prophet, 
 mentioned  Jurtg.  iv.  14,  and  vi.  8,  c.xctpting  tlie  man  of  God  sent  to 
 Eli,  [chap.  ii.  2~.)—Gitt.  2.  Jn  his  pture.  in  the  court  of  the  taber- 
 nacle, where  were  divers  rooms  for  the  priests.  3.  Lamp  of  God — 
 that  ill  ihe  great  shaft  of  the  golden  candlestick  never  went  out,  but 
 some  others  did  in  the  morning. — Pat.  It  appears  from  tliis  and  chap, 
 i.  9,  that  the  tabernacle  was  now  called  'the  temple,'  and  that  the 
 lamps  did  not  continue  burning  as  at  first  ordered,  (see  Lev.  vi.  12, 13.) — 
 Keif.  7.  Did  not  yet  know  the  Lord,  that  is.  ns  the  next  verse  explains, 
 how  God  was  wont  to  teach  men  his  will. — Pat,    '  Did  not  know  (the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II In  this  chapter  we  may  re- 
 mark on— I.  The  gratitude  of  Hannah.  Having  obtained  a  son 
 from  the  Lord,  and,  agreeably  to  her  vow,  devoted  him  to  his 
 service,  she  pours  out  a  strain  of  the  most  exalted  praise  to 
 her  heavenly  benefactor.  How  often  in  the  Christian  expe- 
 rience do  they  that  '  sow  in  tears,'  '  reap  in  joy  !' 
 
 II.  Tlie  iniquity  of  Eli's  sons.  By  their  vile  conduct  they 
 brought  contempt  upon  religion,  and  ruin  upon  themselves 
 and  their  family.  It  is  an  awful  fact,  that  ministers'  sons 
 when  they  turn  out  bad  are  worse  than  others;  and  the  punish- 
 ment of  such  must,  in  the  end,  be  more  severe  than  that  of 
 others,  because  they  must  have  run  to  great  lengths  in  sin- 
 ning against  hght  and  knowledge  ;  and  if  they  are  not  merci- 
 fully arrested  in  their  course,  it  shall  be  more  tolerable  for 
 b^dom  and  Gomorrah  than  for  such  in  the  day  of  judgment. 
 Jhose  who,  without  grace  in  their  hearts,  have  entered  upon 
 the  sacred  office,  have  aggravated  their  guilt,  and  must,  if  not 
 brought  to  bitter  repentance,  be  cast  out  with  the  unprofitable 
 Eervant.  ' 
 
 296 
 
 III.  The  neglectfiJ  conduct  of  Eli.  His  sons  made  themselves 
 vile,  and  he  restrained  them  not.  The  blind  indulgence  of 
 parents  lias  brought  many  children  to  ruin.  It  is  true  we  can- 
 not give  them  grace,  but  we  may  train  iheni  up  in  the  nurture 
 and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  leave  tlie  event  with  him. 
 The  painful  censure  of  neglect  will  not  then  fall  upon  us. 
 *  IMost  commonly,'  says  Kobinson,  '  in  hi.s  '  Scripture  Charac- 
 ters,' '  where  the  children  of  good  men  are  "  sons  of  Belial, 
 and  know  not  the  Lord,"  something  or  other  has  been  wrong 
 or  defective  in  the  conduct  of  the  parents.'  Christian  fathers, 
 tliink  on  the  reproof  of  Eli ! 
 
 IV.  The  piety  of  the  infant  Samuel.  He  '  grew  in  favour  both 
 with  the  Lord  and  with'men,'  He  liad  the  bad  examples  of 
 Eli's  sons  before  him,  but  amidst  their  contagion  he  reniained 
 unstained.  Children  are  soon,  in  general,  the  eager  imitators 
 of  that  which  is  evil ;  the  instance  of  Samuel  is  a  pleasing 
 exception.  Boothroyd  remarks,  'God  loved  him,  and  all  the 
 good  people  of  Israel  loved  liim.  Good  children  will  always 
 be  the  favourites  of  Heaven,  and  of  all  wise  and  good  men." 
 
The  destruction  of  EWs  lumse  foretold. 
 
 I.  SAMUEI-,  IV. 
 
 The  Israelites  are  overcome. 
 
 10  And  the  Lord  came,  ami  stood,  and  called 
 as  at  other  times,  Samuel,  Samuel.  Then 
 Samuel  answered,  Speak  j  for  thy  servant 
 heareth. 
 
 1 1  t  And  the  Lord  said  to  Samuel,  Behold, 
 
 I  will  do  a  thing  in  Israel,  "  at  which  both  the 
 ears  of  every  one  that  heareth  it  shall  tingle. 
 
 12  In  that  day  I  will  perform  against  Eli  "all 
 things  which  I  have  spoken  concerning  his 
 house :  t  when  I  begin,  I  will  also  make  an 
 end. 
 
 13  II  '  For  I  have  told  him  that  I  will  'judge 
 his  house  for  ever  for  the  iniquity  which  he 
 knoweth  ;  because  '  his  sons  made  themselves 
 
 II  vile,  and  he  f  "'restrained  them  not. 
 
 14  And  therefore  I  have,  sworn  unto  the 
 house  of  Eli,  that  tlie  iniquity  of  Eli's  house 
 "shall  not  be  purged  with  sacrifice  nor  offering 
 for  ever. 
 
 15  t  And  Samuel  lay  until  the  morning,  and 
 opened  the  doors  of  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 And  Samuel  feared  to  shew  Eli  the  vision. 
 
 16  Then  Eli  called  Samuel,  and  said,  Samuel, 
 my  son.     And  he  answered.  Here  am  I. 
 
 17  And  he  said.  What  is  the  thing  that  the 
 L  ORD  hath  said  unto  thee  ?  I  pray  thee  hide 
 it  not  from  me  :  °  God  do  so  to  thee,  and  f  more 
 also,  if  thou  hide  «»//  ||  thing  from  me  of  all 
 the  things  that  he  said  unto  thee. 
 
 18  And  Samuel  told  him  f  every  whit,  and 
 hid  nothing  from  him.  And  he  said,  ■"  It  is  the 
 Lord  :  let  him  do  what  seemeth  him  good. 
 
 19  t  And  Samuel  ''  grew,  and  'the  Lord  was 
 with  him,  "and  did  let  none  of  his  words  fall  to 
 the  ground. 
 
 20  And  all  Israel  '  from  Dan  even  to  Beer- 
 sheba  knew  that  Samuel  was  ||  established  to 
 be  a  prophet  of  the  Lord. 
 
 21  And  the  Lord  appeared  again  in  Shiloh  : 
 for  the  Lord  revealed  himself  to  Samuel  in 
 Shiloh  by  "  the  word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  77te  Israelites  are  overcome  by  the  Pliilistints  at 
 Eben-ezer,  3  Theii  fetch  the  ark  unto  the  terror  of 
 the  PhiUstims.  10  They  are  smitten  again,  the  ark 
 taken,  Hophni  and  Phinehas  are  slain.  12  £li  at  the 
 newSy  falling  backward,  hrcaheih  his  neck.      19  Phi- 
 
 J  2  Kin.  21. 
 l2.Jer.l9.S. 
 
 [|  Or,  .4n<l  I 
 w.ll  t-n 
 
 Aim,  4-c 
 i  cli    2    29, 
 
 30,  31,  gtc 
 k  Hzek,  7.  3. 
 
 J^  19  .30. 
 /  ch.  2.  r^, 
 
 17.22. 
 II  Or, 
 
 ac  cur  ted. 
 t  Hcb./f«tf.n- 
 
 td  Hut  upon 
 
 thrill, 
 m  Cli.  9.  2a, 
 
 nVti.lS.30, 
 
 31.  Is.  -."S. 
 
 o  Ruth  1.17 
 t  Heb. 
 t.i  .,dd. 
 
 II  Or,  word. 
 
 t  Heb.flH/A* 
 lhiii"t,  or, 
 
 ;.  Ji.bl.21.ac 
 
 2.  10.P8.S9. 
 
 3.  I.*,  39.  8. 
 ,rh.2   21. 
 
 r  Gen.  39,  2. 
 
 (  Judg.  2U.  r 
 
 II  Or, 
 faithful. 
 '  cir.  mi. 
 
 II  Or,  cruiie  lu 
 P^its. 
 
 t     Hfb.     TM*. 
 
 t  Heh.  t'le 
 battle  aat 
 tjireai, 
 
 t  Heh    M^ 
 
 f  Hel>    tihe 
 
 6  2  Saiii.6- 
 Pa.  80-  1. 
 i<0    I. 
 
 -  18, 
 
 t  Heb.  v"- 
 terdiiy,  or, 
 
 VS. 
 
 eJudg.  13.  1. 
 t  Heb.  &a 
 
 rncn. 
 /ver.  a. 
 
 Lev.  26.  17. 
 
 Dru  28.25. 
 
 Ps.  73.  9, 
 
 nt'lias^  wife,  discouraged  in  Iter  travail  with  I-chahod, 
 dicth. 
 
 A  ND  the  word  of  Samuel  ||  f  came  to  all 
 ■'-^  Israel.  Now  Israel  went  out  against  the 
 Philistines  to  battle,  and  pitched  beside  "  Eben- 
 ezer :  and  the  Philistines  pitched  in  Aphek. 
 
 2  And  the  Philistines  put  themselves  in  array 
 against  Israel :  and  when  f  they  joined  battle, 
 Israel  was  smitten  before  the  Philistines  :  and 
 tliey  slew  of  f  the  army  in  the  field  about  four 
 thousand  men. 
 
 3  t  And  when  the  people  were  come  into  the 
 camp,  the  elders  of  Israel  said.  Wherefore  hath 
 the  Lord  smitten  us  to  day  before  the  Philis- 
 tines? Let  us  t  fetch  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
 of  the  Lord  out  of  .Shiloh  unto  us,  that,  when 
 it  Cometh  among  us,  it  may  save  us  out  of  the 
 hand  of  our  enemies. 
 
 4  So  the  people  sent  to  Shiloh,  that  they 
 might  bring  from  thence  the  ark  of  the  cove- 
 nant of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  "  which  dwelleth 
 between  '  the  cherubims  :  and  the  two  sons  of 
 Eli,  Hophni  and  Phinehas,  icerc  there  with 
 the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  God. 
 
 5  And  when  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the 
 Lord  came  into  the  camp,  all  Israel  shouted 
 with  a  great  shout,  so  tliat  the  earth  rang 
 again. 
 
 6  And  when  the  Philistines  heard  the  noise 
 of  the  shout,  they  said.  What  meaneth  the 
 noise  of  this  great  shout  in  the  camp  of  the 
 Hebrews  ?  And  they  understood  that  the  ark 
 of  the  Lord  was  come  into  the  camp. 
 
 7  And  the  Philistines  were  afraid,  for  they 
 said,  God  is  come  into  the  camp.  And  they 
 said.  Woe  unto  us!  for  there  hath  not  been 
 such  a  thing  f  heretofore. 
 
 8  Woe  unto  us!  who  shall  deliver  us  out  of 
 the  hand  of  these  miglity  Gods?  these  are  the 
 Gods  that  smote  the  Egyptians  with  all  the 
 plagues  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 9  '^  Be  strong,  and  quit  yourselves  like  men, 
 O  ye  Philistines,  that  ye  be  not  servants  unto 
 the  Hebrews,  "  as  they  have  been  to  you  : 
 f  quit  yourselves  like  men,  and  fight. 
 
 10  H  And  the  Philistines  fought,  and  '  Israel 
 was  smitten,  and  they  fled  every  man  into  his 
 tent :  and   there  was  a  very  great  slaughter  ; 
 
 voice  of)  the  Lord.'— TFjV.  '  How  God  taught  men  by  an  audible 
 voice.' — Boothr.  10.  The  Lord  came  andstotnl — the  voice  came  near, 
 as  if  the  iicrson  Sjieaking  were  present. — Pvole,  GUI.  There  was  some 
 glorious  appearance. — Kimchi,  so  Scott.  'Tlie  Lord  was  revealed,  and 
 stood  and  called,'  &c.,  Targ.  13.  Made  themsetcesvilp,  '  made  them- 
 selves execrable  or  accursed  both  to  God  and  men.' — Poole.  KafcoXu- 
 701'i'Tef  Oiov,  'spake  ill  of  God,'  Sept.  lie  restrained  them  not,  N71 
 D3  nns,  '  did  not  frown  upon  them,'  so  mttrg.  20.  Dan — to  Beer- 
 s/teba—sce  nttte  on  Jud^.  xx.  I.  21.  By  the  word  nf  the  Lord,  *  by  his 
 word  of  command  which  lie  chose  to  deliver  to  Israel  by  his  mouth.' — 
 Poole.  *  By  speaking  to  him  in  an  audible  voice,'  as  he  had  done  ver. 
 •1 — Pat.  '  By  Christ,  the  Word  of  the  Lord,'  who  appeared  to  him.  it 
 is  probable,  in  a  human  form,  as  he  was  wont  to  do  to  the  patriarchs 
 
 and  prophets.— G;/;,  so  Pi/le,  and  Beveridge.  Query  :  Is  not  the  inter- 
 pretation of  Pafrirk  the  most  probable,  and  would  not  a  visible  ap- 
 pearance, as  the  Son  of  God,  have  been  mentioned,  as  in  other  cases, 
 as  that  of  *  the  angel  of  the  Lord  ?' — Ed. 
 
 Chap.  IV. —  1.  The  word  0/ the  Lord  came  unto  alt  Israel — the  reve- 
 lation of  God's  mind  and  will  now  grew  plentiful,  for  Samuel  was 
 ready  to  instruct  every  one  who  came  to  him,  and  e.stablished  schools 
 of  the  prophets  in  divers  parts,  to  spread  the  knowledge  ol  God  amon? 
 the  people,  (chap.  x.  5;  xix.  18—20,  &c.)—Pat.  Some  understand  the 
 word  concerning  Eli.  Eben-ezer,  a  place  so  called  by  anticipa- 
 tion, from  a  subsequent  event,  fcliap.  vii.  12.) — Poole.  3.  Wherefore 
 hath  the  Lord  smitten  .'—they  thought  their  cause  entitled  them  to  God's 
 favour,  though  they  were  wicked. — Put.     It  may  save  us — foolishly 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  Ill L.   Wliat  a  privilege  it  is  to 
 
 hare  '  the  word  of  the  Lord!'  It  was  '  precious  in  those  days." 
 It  has  been  scarce  in  our  own  country.  A  cart-load  of  Lay  liaa 
 been  the  price  paid  for  one  leaf  only  of  the  Bible,  in  England, 
 and  six  months'  servitude  for  a  New  Testament,  in  Ireland. 
 Now  we  have  a  land  of  Bibles  ;  may  we  never  ne-jlect  the 
 sacred  pages,  but  '  read,  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  digest 
 them.'  It  is  our  privilege,  also,  to  have  God's  word  preacljed 
 around  us  in  every  direction  ;  and  '  blessed  are  they  that  bear 
 the  word  of  God  and  keep  it.' 
 
 II.  iVe  ought  at  all  times  to  he  ready  to  ohey  the  commands  of 
 God.  He  speaks  to  us  by  the  voice  of  bis  word  and  providence, 
 and  he  addresses  our  consciences  in  language  that  cannot  be 
 mistaken.  Lot  every  Christian  say, '  Speak,  Lord,  for  thy  .ser- 
 vant heareth,'—'  I  will  hear  wliat  God  the  Lord  will  speak,  for 
 297 
 
 he  will  speak  peace  unto  his  people  and  to  his  saints.' 
 
 III.  Submission  is  our  dut;/ irl'cn  under  the  chastising  hand  of 
 God.  •  If  Eli  had  been  an  ill  father  to  his  sons,'  says  Bishop 
 Hall,  '  yet  he  is  a  good  son  of  God,  and  is  ready  to  kiss  the 
 very  rod  he  shall  smart  withal.'  'It  is  the  Lord,' whom  I 
 have  ever  found  holy,  and  just,  and  gracious,  and  he  cannot 
 but  be  himself;  'Let  him  do  what  seemeth  him  good,'  (or 
 whatsoever  seemetli  good  to  him  cannot  but  be  good,  howso- 
 ever it  seems  to  me.  Every  man  can  open  his  hand  to  God 
 while  he  blesses  ;  but  to  expose  ourselves  willingly  to  the  af- 
 fiicling  hand  of  our  JIaker,  and  to  kneel  to  him  while  he 
 scourges  us,  is  peculiar  only  to  the  faithful.  Let  us  tliereforo 
 humble  ourselves  '  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God,' that  we 
 may  be  exalted  '  in  due  time.* 
 
 2q 
 
2'he  death  uf  Eli. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  V. 
 
 The  ark  is  set  in  the  house  of  Dagon. 
 
 for  there  fell  of  Israel  thirty  thousand  foot- 
 men. 
 
 1 1  And  ^  the  ark  of  God  was  taken  ;  and 
 "  the  two  sons  of  Eli,  Hophni  and  Phinehas, 
 t  were  slain. 
 
 1'2  H  And  there  ran  a  man  of  Benjamin  out 
 of  the  army,  and  '  came  to  Shiloh  tlie  same 
 day  with  his  clotlies  rent,  and  '  with  earth 
 upon  his  head. 
 
 13  And  wlien  he  caine,  lo,  Eli  sat  upon  'a 
 seat  by  the  wayside  watching :  for  his  heart 
 trembled  for  the  ark  of  God.  And  when  tlie 
 man  came  into  the  city,  and  told  it,  all  the 
 city  cried  out. 
 
 14  And  when  Eli  heard  the  noise  of  the  cry- 
 ing, he  said.  What  meancth  the  noise  of  this 
 tumult?  And  the  man  came  in  hastily,  and 
 told  Eli. 
 
 15  Now  Eli  was  ninety  and  eight  years  old  ; 
 and  "'hiseyesfwere  dim,  that  he  could  not  see. 
 
 10  And  the  man  said  unto  Eli,  I  am  he  tliat 
 came  out  of  the  army,  and  1  fled  to  day  out  of 
 the  army.  And  he  said,  °  What  f  is  there 
 done,  my  son  ? 
 
 17  And  tlie  messenger  answered  and  said, 
 Israel  is  fled  before  the  Philistines,  and  there 
 hath  been  also  a  great  slaughter  among  the 
 people,  and  thy  two  sons  also,  Hophni  and 
 Phinehas,  are  dead,  and  the  ark  of  God  is 
 taken. 
 
 18  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  be  made  men- 
 tion of  the  ark  of  God,  that  he  fell  from  off  the 
 seat  backward  by  the  side  of  the  gate,  and  bis 
 neck  brake,  and  he  died  :  for  he  was  an  old 
 man,  and  heavy.  ||  And  he  had  judged  Israel 
 forty  years. 
 
 19  H  And  his  daughter  in  law,  Phinehas'  wife, 
 was  with  cliild,  Jit>«7-  ||  to  be  delivered  :  and 
 when  she  heard  the  tidings  that  tlie  ark  of  God 
 was  taken,  and  that  her  father  in  law  and  her 
 husband  were  dead,  she  bowed  herself  and 
 travailed  ;  for  her  pains  f  came  upon  her. 
 
 20  And  about  the  time  of  her  death  °  the 
 women  that  stood  by  her  said  unto  lier.  Fear 
 not ;  for  thou  hast  born  a  son.  But  she 
 answered  not,  f  neither  did  she  regard  it. 
 
 21  And  she  named  the  child  || '' I-chabod, 
 saying,  ''  The  glory  is  departed  from  Israel : 
 because  the  ark  of  God  was  taken,  and  because 
 of  her  father  in  law  and  her  husband. 
 
 22  And  she  said.  The  glory  is  departed  from 
 Israel :  for  the  ark  of  God  is  taken. 
 
 g  ch.  2,  32. 
 
 Ps.  78.  61. 
 A  ch.  2.  S4. 
 
 Pa.  78.  64. 
 t  Heb.  died. 
 
 ■  ZSiim.  1.2. 
 
 k  Josh.  7.  6. 
 2  Sam.  13 
 19.  &  1.5.  39 
 Neh.  9.  1. 
 Jot.  2.  12. 
 
 I  ch.  1.  9. 
 
 m  ch.  S.  !. 
 t  Hcb.  jrooj. 
 
 fi  2 Sam.  I.i. 
 1  Heb.  ,'.  Vit 
 Oil,,}  » 
 
 Judaic  to  dfl 
 juslico 
 only,  Knd 
 thnl  in 
 South  wc&l 
 Ittael. 
 II  Or,  t„  cry 
 
 t  Hcb.  »»r« 
 
 t  Hcb.  Kt 
 n„t  hrr 
 
 II  -TUM  i«,    ■ 
 lf't,rre  is  the 
 
 there  in  no 
 
 ],  ch.  U.  3. 
 
 7  Ps.  'JG.  8. 
 
 8e  7S.  61 . 
 
 I,  JiKlg.  1G. 
 
 els    19.  I. 
 t*  46.  1,  2. 
 
 ■  Jer.  5fl,  2 
 Eiek  «  4,6. 
 
 II  Or,  the 
 Jiilty  pntt. 
 
 /  S..e  Zcph. 
 I.  9. 
 
 Kx.  9.  S. 
 
 P«   32   1. 
 
 Acts  IS    II. 
 I,  ch.  6.  6. 
 i  Dou.  2H.27. 
 
 r8.78.  6C. 
 
 k  Deu.2.  15. 
 
 ch.  7.  13.  fc 
 
 12.  15. 
 Iver.  11. 
 m  vcr.  tl. 
 
 Pb.  78.  66. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Tlie  Philistines  having  hrotighi  the  nrh  Into  yhhthtd, 
 set  it  In  the  house  of  Diu.on.  3  Dtte/nn  is  stnltfef 
 dnwn  and  eat  in  pitees,  and  they  of  Astidod  smittin 
 with  emerods.  8  ^b  O'ofi  tlealtth  tvittt  them  of  (ittth, 
 uhen  It  teas  brought  thitJur  :  10  imtt  so  tt-ith  them  of 
 Khron,  tt'hen  it  teas  hronyht  thither. 
 
 AND  the  Philistines  took  the  ark  of  (iod, 
 ■^^  and  brought  it  °  from  Eben-czer  unto  Asl^ 
 dod. 
 
 2  When  the  Philistines  took  the  ark  of  God, 
 they  brouglit  it  into  the  house  of' Dagoii,  and 
 set  it  by  Dagon. 
 
 3  t  And  when  they  of  Ashdod  arose  early  on 
 the  morrow,  behold,  Dagon  was  '  fallen  upon 
 his  face  to  tlie  partb  before  the  ark  of  the 
 LoKD.  And  they  took  Dagon,  and ''set  liim 
 in  his  place  again. 
 
 4  And  wlien  they  arose  early  on  the  morrow 
 morning,  behold,  Dagon  was  fallen  niion  his 
 face  to  the  ground  before  the  ark  of  the  Lord; 
 and  "^  the  head  of  Dagon  and  both  the  palms  of 
 his  hands  we7e  cut  off  ujion  tlie  tbresbokl  ; 
 only  II  the  slit7iip  of  Dagon  was  left  to  him. 
 
 5  Therefore  neither  the  priests  of  Dagon, 
 nor  any  that  come  into  Dagon's  house,  '  tread 
 on  the  threshold  of  Dagon  in  Ashdod  unto  this 
 day. 
 
 6  But  ^the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  heavy  upon 
 them  of  Ashdod,  and  he  "  destroyed  thcni,  and 
 smote  them  with  '  emerods,  eveti  Ashdod  and 
 the  coasts  thereof 
 
 7  And  when  the  men  of  Ashdod  saw  that  it 
 iras  so,  they  said.  The  ark  of  the  God  of  Israel 
 shall  not  abide  with  us  :  for  his  hand  is  sore 
 upon  us,  and  upon  Dagon  our  god. 
 
 8  They  sent  therefore  and  gathered  .ill  the 
 lords  of  the  Philistines  unto  tbcm,  and  said. 
 What  shall  we  do  with  the  ark  of  the  God  of 
 Israel  ?  And  they  answered.  Let  the  ark  of 
 the  God  of  Israel  be  carried  about  unto  Gath. 
 And  they  carried  the  ark  of  the  God  of  Israel 
 about  thither. 
 
 9  And  it  was  so,  that,  after  they  had  carried 
 it  about,  '  the  hand  of  the  Loud  was  against 
 the  city  '  with  a  very  great  destruction  :  and 
 "'  he  smote  the  men  of  the  city,  both  small  and 
 great,  and  they  had  emerods  in  their  secret 
 parts. 
 
 10  1  Therefore  they  sent  the  ark  of  God  to 
 Ekron.  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  the  ark  of 
 God  came  to  Ekron,  that  the  Ekronites  cried 
 
 placing  their  confitlence  in  an  external  symbol.— GiH.  13.  Shiloli, 
 forty-two  miles  from  Eben-czer.— Bwn/ing-'s  Trav.  of  the  Patriarchs. 
 13.  Bff  tite  leityside,  'outside  the  tabernacle  door,'  fcomp.  ver.  18,  and 
 ctiap.  i.  9.)  18.  Seat,  an  elevated  throne,  witll  stejis  and  footstools, 
 
 (see  2  Cliron.  ix.  18  ;  Ps.  ex.  1.)— H'l;.  The  word  (JD3.  or  nD3,  is  never 
 used  but  to  denote  the  seat  of  some  dignified  persons,  (see  2  Sam.  vii. 
 13;  1  Kings.  X.  1<);  2  Kings,  iv.  10;  1  Chron.  xxii.  10;  Job,  xxvi.  p; 
 Ps.  exxii.  5  i  Nell.  iii.  7.)  It  includes,  therefore,  the  throne,  and  all 
 raised  seats  of  authority. — Piet.  Bih.  Forty  t/enrs,  cKoat  trfi,  '  twenty 
 years,'  Sept.  But  no  other  version  justifies  this  reading.  21 .  I-cha- 
 iod,  '  inglorious.'— i?oo/Ar.     •  No  glory.'— Jarehi,  Kimehi. 
 
 Chap.  V.  ^  1.  From  Ehen-ezer  unto  Astidod,  iGo  miles. — Bunting. 
 2.  Bi/  Dagon— see  notes  on  Judg.  xvi.  23.  Tliough  the  Gentiles  did  not 
 choose  to  change  their  gods,  yet  they  would  add  the  gods  of  other  na. 
 
 tions  to  them  ;  and  such  the  Philistines  might  take  the  ark  to  be.— Gi7/. 
 It  was  also  a  custom  among  the  heathens  to  oflFer  parts  of  spoils  to 
 their  gods,  and  so  they  might  consider  the  ark. — Hetv.  6.  Neither — 
 tread — thresfiold — out  of  reverence  to  it,  looking  upon  it  as  a  holy 
 thing,  by  the  touch  of  Dagon. — So  .iharhinet.  This  superstition  con. 
 tiuucd  for  ages,  (see  Zeph.  i.  9.) — Buch.  The  Hindoos  hold  the 
 thresholds  of  their  houses  and  temples  sacred  to  this  day. — liitb. 
 6.  Emerods — thought  by  some  to  have  been  a  dysentery,  vel  procedentia 
 uni;  others  say,  boils  or  sores ;  and  from  the  silver  images,  (chap.  vi.  5.) 
 it  would  seem  to  intimate  some  species  of  vermin. — Sut.  But  in  gene- 
 ral rather  the  inward  piles. — So  Pat.,  Gill,  Scott,  Clarke,  Boothr. 
 8.  Be  carried  about,  having  a  superstitious  conceit  that  there  was  some- 
 thing in  the  place  offensive. — Pat. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV 
 to  sacred  st/mbo!s  icili  never  save 
 symbol,  was  no  protection  of 
 Vet,  alas  !  Low  many  trust  in 
 the  power.  Attendance  on  tb 
 gard  to  the  sacraments,  are  bu 
 make  them  the  end  itself,  and 
 the  substance. 
 
 II.  Vet  the  loss  of  the  symbols 
 298 
 
 I.  A  mere  superstitious  regard 
 us.  The  ark,  the  most  sacred 
 itself  to  impenitent  Israelites, 
 the  form  of  godliness  without 
 e  means  ot"  grace,  and  a  due  re- 
 t  means  to  an  end  ;  but  many 
 so  take  up  with  the  shadow  for 
 
 of  God's  favour  is  an  event  ex- 
 
 tremclu  to  be  deplored;  and  nothing  is  more  likely  to  cause  their 
 loss  than  a  foolish  dependence  upon  tliem.  Let  us  dread  no- 
 thing more  than  the  removal  of  th"e  candlestick  of  ordinances 
 out  of  its  place  among  us  :  to  a  good  man,  his  loss  ot  whatever 
 is  the  symbol  of  God's  presence  is  the  greatest  grief.  •  Wliat 
 good  man.'  says  liishop  Hall,  '  would  wish  to  live  without 
 God  ?  Who  can  choose  but  think  he  hath  lived  too  long  that 
 hath  overlived  the  testimonies  of  God's  presence  with  bis 
 church  ?' 
 
The  Ehronilcs  are  sndtteii. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  VI. 
 
 The  arh  is  brouijht  to  Bclh-slicmcsh. 
 
 out,  saying.  They  have  brought  about  the  ark 
 of  the  God  of  Israel  to  f  us,  to  slay  us  and  our 
 people. 
 
 11  So  they  sent  and  gathered  together  all 
 the  lords  of  tlie  Philistines,  and  saiil,  Send 
 away  the  ark  of  the  God  of  Israel,  and  let  it 
 go  again  to  his  own  place,  that  it  slay  f  us  not, 
 and  our  people  :  for  there  was  a  deadly  de- 
 struction throughout  all  the  city  ;  "  the  hand 
 of  God  was  very  heavy  there. 
 
 12  And  the  men  that  died  not  were  smitten 
 with  the  emerods  :  and  the  cry  of  the  city 
 went  up  to  heaven. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  After  seven  timitttis  t/ie  P/iilistines  talie  coutis/l  /low 
 to  send  hack  the  arh.  10  They  bring  it  on  a  new 
 cart  with  an  offering  unto  Beth-shemesh.  19  TIte 
 people  are  smitten  for  looking  into  the  ark,  21  They 
 send  to  them  of  Kirjath-jtarim  to  fetch  it. 
 
 AND  the  ark  of  the  Lord  was  in  the  country 
 -'"*-  of  the  Philistines  seven  montlis. 
 
 2  And  the  Philistines  "  called  for  the  priests 
 and  the  diviners,  saying.  What  shall  we  do  to 
 the  ark  of  the  Lord  ?  tell  us  wherewith  we 
 shall  send  it  to  his  place. 
 
 3  And  they  said,  If  ye  send  away  the  ark  of 
 the  God  of  Israel,  send  it  not  ^  empty  ;  but  in 
 any  wise  return  him  '  a  trespass  offering  :  then 
 ye  shall  be  healed,  and  it  shall  ''  be  known  to 
 you  why  his  hand  is  not  removed  from  you. 
 
 4  Then  said  tliey.  What  shall  be  the  trespass 
 offering  which  we  shall  return  to  him  ?  They 
 answered.  Five  golden  emerods,  and  five  golden 
 m\ce,' according  to  the  number  of  the  lords  of 
 the  Philistines:  for  one  plague  was  on  fyou 
 all,  and  on  your  lords. 
 
 5  Wherefore  ye  shall  make  images  of  your 
 emerods,  and  images  of  your  mice  that  '  mar 
 the  land  ;  and  ye  shall  ^  give  glory  unto  the 
 God  of  Israel :  peradventure  he  w  ill  ''  lighten 
 his  hand  from  off  you,  and  from  off '  your  gods, 
 and  from  off  your  land. 
 
 6  Wherefore  then  do  ye  harden  your  hearts, 
 'as  the  Egyptians  and  Pharaoli  hardened  their 
 hearts?  when  he  had  wrought  ||  wonderfully 
 among  them,  '  did  they  not  let  f  the  people 
 go,  and  they  departed  ? 
 
 tHeb.mf 
 tlay  me  a. 
 
 \  Heb.  nie 
 not,  attd  mtf. 
 
 Dao.  2.  2.  a 
 5.  7. 
 Mil.  S.  *. 
 
 b  Ex.  m.  15. 
 Deu.  16.  Ifi 
 c  I  ev.  5.  15, 
 
 ^  See  ver.  17, 
 18  Josh. 13. 
 S.  .Iiidg.3.S- 
 
 t  Heb.  tfiftn. 
 
 f  ch.  5.  6. 
 
 ?  Josh. 7.  19. 
 
 la-  a.  12. 
 
 Mill,  2.  2. 
 
 John  9. 1\- 
 /i  See  ill.  5. 
 
 6,  11.   Ps. 
 
 39.  10. 
 
 .ch.5.3,4,7. 
 k  Ki.  7.  13. 
 
 &  3   15.  & 
 
 14.  17. 
 il  Or,  Ti. 
 
 praacUfullv 
 I  Ei  12.  31. 
 \  Heb.  them. 
 
 pjoah  15,10. 
 II  Or,  If. 
 q  vei-  3. 
 
 7  Now  therefore  make  ""a  new  cart,  and  take 
 two  milch  kiiie, "  on  which  there  hath  come  no 
 yoke,  and  tie  the  kiiie  to  the  cart,  and  bring 
 their  calves  liome  from  them  : 
 
 8  And  take  the  ark  of  the  Lord,  and  lay  it 
 upon  the  cart ;  and  put  "  the  jewels  of  gold, 
 which  ye  return  \mn  for  a  trespass  ottering,  in 
 a  cotter  by  the  side  tliereof  ;  and  send  it  away, 
 that  it  may  go. 
 
 9  And  see,  if  it  goeth  up  by  the  way  of  his 
 own  coast  to  '' Beth-shemesh,  Men  ||  he  hath 
 done  us  this  great  evil :  but  if  not,  then  "■  we 
 shall  know  that  it  is  not  bis  hand  tliat  smote 
 us  ;  it  was  a  chance  tliat  happened  to  us. 
 
 10  K  And  the  men  did  so ;  and  took  two 
 milch  kine,  and  tied  them  to  tlie  cart,  and 
 .shut  up  their  calves  at  home  : 
 
 11  And  they  laid  the  ark  of  the  Lord  upon 
 the  cart,  and  the  coffer  with  the  mice  of  gold 
 and  the  images  of  their  emerods. 
 
 12  And  the  kine  took  the  straightway  to  the 
 way  of  Beth-shemesh,  and  went  along  the 
 liigliway,  lowing  as  they  went,  and  turned  not 
 aside  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left;  and  the 
 lords  of  the  Philistines  went  after  them  unto 
 the  border  of  Betli-shemcsh. 
 
 13  And  tlity  of  Betli-sliemesli  were  reaping 
 their  wheat  harvest  in  llie  valley  :  and  they 
 lifted  up  their  eyes,  and  saw  the  ark,  and  re- 
 joiced to  see  it. 
 
 14  And  the  cart  came  into  the  field  of  Joshua, 
 a  Beth-sheniite,  and  stood  there,  where  there 
 vas  a  great  stone  :  and  they  clave  the  wood 
 of  the  cart,  and  ottered  the  kine  a  burnt  offer- 
 ing unto  the  Lord. 
 
 15  And  the  Levites  took  down  the  ark  of  tlie 
 Lord,  and  the  coffer  that  was  with  it,  wherein 
 the  jewels  of  gold  irere,  and  put  thim  on  the 
 great  stone  :  and  the  men  of  Beth-shemesli 
 offered  burnt  offerings  and  sacrificed  sacrifices 
 the  same  day  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 16  And  when  '  the  five  lords  of  the  Philistines 
 had  seen  it,  they  returned  to  Ekron  the  same 
 day. 
 
 17  '  And  these  are  the  golden  emerods  which 
 the  Philistines  returned _/b/'  a  trespass  offering 
 unto  the  Loud  ;  for  Ashdod  one,  for  Gaza  one, 
 
 Chap.  VI.  — 1.  Countey,  miB,  'a  field'  or  '  gromxA.'— Par.,  Bunt. 
 Hence  it  has  been  inferred,  thai",  being  plagued  with  the  ark  in  the 
 eitie?,  it  was  sent  into  the  open  fields,  where  I'latiues  wasted  tlie  corn 
 and  truits.  (vcr.  5. J  2.  Dieiners,  CDCj?.  from  CDp,  '  to  divine,'  '  pre- 
 sage,' 'prngnosticafe.' — Par.  A  liind  of  prophets,  pretending  to  Itnow 
 the  will  of  God,  and  to  forctel  future  events. — Pat.  3.  .-1  trespass 
 offering — it  wasacnmnion  opini-in  among  the  heatlien  that  deities  were 
 to  be  appeased  by  gifts.— fj'iY/.  This  opinion  miglit  be  derived  from 
 some  slight  actiiiaintante  with  the  ritual  lawofMoses. — Scott.  4.  Fire 
 golden  mice — it  was  a  custom  among  the  ancit  tit  lieathen  to  consecrate 
 to  their  gods  images  of  the  evils  from  which  they  were  freed. — Pat. 
 The  same  practice  is  pursued  by  the  Indians  to  this  day. — Tavernicr ; 
 and  by  the  papists. — Ed.      5.  Mice  that  mar  the  land — mice  have  been 
 
 known  to  be  in  such  incredible  numbers,  that  the  standing  crops  of  one 
 day  have  all  been  destroyed  the  next. — .iristotle^s  Hist.  Anim.  They 
 have  sometimes  been  exceedingly  destructive  to  Palestine. — Orient. 
 Lit.  The  mouse  of  Scripture,  laDl',  fxw,  Sept.,  was  probably  the  ilipus 
 sagitta,  or  jerboa,  which  wa3  abtiut  the  size  of  a  large  rat.  There  are 
 many  in  Egypt,  Syria,  &c.,  and  they  feed  exclusively  on  vegetable  pro- 
 duce.— So  Piet.  Bib.  Your  gods — Dagon,  at  Ashdod  ;  Baal-zebub,  at 
 Ekron;  Marnas,  at  Gaza;  and  Dcrccto,  at  Askelon. — Gill.  7.  A  neto 
 cart — so  David  did  (2  Sam.  vi.  3)  in  reverence  to  the  ark.  Come  no 
 yoke — such  cattle  would  be  most  likely  to  wander  rather  than  take  a 
 direct  mad  to  Israel's  land. — Poole.  Bring  their  calves  home,  which 
 would  naturally  cause  the  dams  to  return. — Poole.  12.  Beth.shemesh, 
 a  priest's  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  on  the  confines  of  both  countries. 
 
 RerLrcTioNs  ON   Chap.    V Bishop    Hall    furnishes   us 
 
 with  some  striking  remarks  on  the  transactions  here  recorded  : 
 I.  What  imins  sup,  rstition  puts  men  unto  f'r  the  triumph  ofafalse 
 cause.  And  if  profane  Pliilistines  cun'think  it  no  toil  to  carry 
 the  ark  where  they  should  not,  what  a  shame  is  it  for  us  if  we 
 do  not  £;ladly  attend  it  wheie  we  should.  How  justly  may 
 God's  truth  scorn  the  impurity  of  our  zeal  ! 
 
 II.  The  tru.-  God  iiwes  a  shayne  to  those  who  will  he  nmkmg 
 tnatchts  liitu'een  ItimsJf  and  Btlial. 
 
 III.  Tain  shall  humble  them  whom  shame  cannot.  God's  judg- 
 ments are  the  rack  of  godless  men.  The  just  Avenger  of  sin 
 will  not  lose  the  glory  of  his  executions,  but  will  have  men 
 know  from  whom  they  smart. 
 
 IV.  irieked  men  are,  upon  all  occasions,  glad  to  he  rid  of  God  ; 
 hU  they  can  with  no  patience  endure  to  part  with  their  sins ;  iind 
 while  they  are  weary  of  the  band  that  punisheth  them,  they 
 
 299 
 
 bold  fast  the  cause  of  their  punishment.  Their  first  and  only 
 care  is  to  put  away  him  wlio,  as  be  hath  corrected,  so  can  ease 
 them.     Folly  is  never  separated  from  wickedness. 
 
 V.  Wheresoever  the  ark  goes  tlure  is  destruction,  and  the  hest  of 
 God's  ordinancis,  if  they  he  not  proper  to  us,  are  deadly.  Spiritual 
 things  are  either  sovereign  remedies,  or  hurtful,  according  to 
 the  disposition  of  the  receivers.  The  ark  doth  either  save  or 
 kill,  as  it  is  entertained. 
 
 \l.  WIten  the  Fhilislines  are  well  weary  of  pain  and  death,  they 
 are  qbtd  to  be  quit  of  their  sin.  The  voice  of  the  princes  and 
 people  is  changed  to  the  better — 'Send  away  the  ;irk  of  the 
 Gotlof  Israel,  and  let  it  return  to  its  own  place.'  God  knows 
 how  to  bring  the  stubbornest  enemy  upon  his  knees,  and  makes 
 liim  do  that  out  of  fear  which  his  best  child  would  do  out  of 
 love  and  duty. 
 
The  arli  is  brought  to  the  huusc  of  Ahiuadab.       1.  SAMUEL,  VII.        The  Philistines  discoyvfitcd  at  Eben-czer* 
 
 for  Askelon  one,  for  Galh  one,  for  Ekron  one  ; 
 
 18  And  the  gulden  mice,  according  to  the 
 number  of  all  the  cities  of  the  Philistines  be- 
 lonf/imj  to  the  five  lords,  both  of  fenced  cities, 
 and  of  coinitiy  villages,  even  unto  the  ||  great 
 stone  of  Abel,"  whereon  they  set  down  the  ark 
 of  the  Loud  :  irhich  stone  remaincth  unto  this 
 day  in  the  field  of  Joshua,  the  Beth-shemite. 
 
 19  t  And  '  he  smote  the  men  of  Beth-shemesh, 
 because  they  had  looked  into  the  ark  of  the 
 Lord,  even  he  smote  of  the  people  fifty  thou-i 
 sand  and  threescore  and  ten  men  :  and  the 
 people  lamented,  because  the  Loud  had 
 smitten  mani/  of  the  people  with  a  great 
 slaughter. 
 
 20  And  the  men  of  Beth-shemesh  said,  "  Who 
 is  able  to  stand  before  this  holy  Lord  God? 
 and  to  whom  shall  he  go  up  from  usV 
 
 21  H  And  they  sent  messengers  to  the  inha- 
 bitants of  "  Kirjath-jearim,  saying.  The  Philis- 
 tines have  brouglit  again  the  ark  of  the  Lord  ; 
 come  ye  down,  and  fetch  it  up  to  you. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  They  of  Kirjath-jcarim  hriny  the  ark  into  the  hoitse 
 of  Ahinadah,  aud  sanctify  Eleazar  his  son  to  keep  it. 
 2  lifter  twenty  years  3  the  Israditcs,  by  Samud's 
 means,  solemnly  repent  at  Mlzpeh.  7  ^Vhik  Samuel 
 prayeth  and  sacrfjiceth,  the  Lord  discnniftcfh  the 
 Ph'ilisti/us  by  thunder  at  Eboi-rzer.  V,\  The  Philis- 
 tines are  subdued.  15  Samuil  pcaceaijly  and  rdi- 
 yiously  jmlytth  Israd, 
 
 A  ND  the  men  of  °  Kirjath-jearim  came, 
 -^^  and  fetched  up  the  ark  of  the  Loud,  and 
 brought  it  into  the  house  of  ''  Abinadab  in  the 
 liill,  and  sanctified  Eleazar  his  sou  to  keep  the 
 ark  of  the  Lord. 
 
 2  And  it  came  to  pass,  while  the  ark  abode 
 in  Kirjath-jearim,  that  the  time  was  long  ;  for 
 it  was  twenty  years :  and  all  the  house  of 
 Israel  lamented  after  the  Lord. 
 
 3  IF  And  Samuel  spake  unto  all  the  house  of 
 Israel,  saying,  If  ye  do  '^return  unto  the  Lord 
 with   all   your   hearts,    then    "^put   away   the 
 
 (  Sfc  Et.  10   I 
 21.  Num.  4 
 5,  If.,  SU. 
 
 rJostj.  13. 
 11.  .I-.dg. 
 18    IS. 
 1  Clii.  13, 
 b,  0. 
 
 judg.  a.  13. 
 
 /■i  Chr.  30. 
 
 19.  Jub  11. 
 
 IS,  14. 
 g  Dcu,  6.  13. 
 
 &   I 
 
 &  8  Sam.  6  4. 
 clr.  1  ISO. 
 
 .u:.-u. 
 
 Jc>3h. ; 
 ■iA. 
 
 •-•0.  i 
 13.  -1.  Mat 
 4.  10.  Luke 
 4.  s. 
 /.Ju.lg,  2.11 
 ..Tu.lC  5iKl. 
 
 H  .lu.li;.  10 
 ID.  I  kiii.8 
 17.  Ps.  100. 
 
 111  frtjtn  Cjy- 
 
 -.  IH    .S7  4. 
 }'  IvcoluB.  46. 
 
 r  ficeJoOl. 
 10    10. 
 Jiidjt.  1.  15. 
 fc  5.  SO,  ch, 
 2.10.  SSam. 
 S->.  H.  16. 
 Koclus.  46. 
 17. 
 
 f  Gcn.-efl,!?. 
 
 &  ;il.4.'i   & 
 
 36.  14.  ;oih. 
 
 4.  9.  **■  £t^. 
 
 26. 
 11  That  IB, 
 
 r/<f  Mt.'IlK  vf 
 
 help:  ch. 
 
 strange  gods  and  ^  Ashtaroth  from  among  you, 
 and  '  prepare  your  hearts  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 ^  serve  him  only:  and  lie  will  deliver  you  out 
 of  tlie  hand  of  the  Pliilistines. 
 
 4  Then  the  ciiildren  of  Israel  did  put  away 
 *■  Baalim  and  Ashtaroti),  and  served  the  Lord 
 only. 
 
 3  And  Samuel  said,  *  Gather  all  Israel  to 
 Mizpeh,  and  1  will  pray  for  you  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 6  And  they  gathered  together  to  Mizpeli, 
 ''  and  drew  water,  and  poured  it  out  before  the 
 Loud,  and  '  fasted  on  that  day,  and  said  there, 
 '"  We  have  sinned  against  the  Loud.  And 
 Samuel  "judged  the  cliildreu  of  Israel  in  Miz- 
 peh. 
 
 7  And  when  the  Philistines  heard  that  the 
 children  of  Israel  were  gathered  together  to 
 Mizpeh,  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  went  up 
 against  Israel.  And  when  the  children  of 
 Israel  heard  ?7,  they  were  afraid  of  the  Philis- 
 tines. 
 
 8  And  the  children  of  Israel  said  to  Samuel, 
 f  Cease  not  to  cry  unto  the  Loud  our  God 
 for  us,  that  he  will  save  us  out  of  the  hand  of 
 the  Philistines. 
 
 9  t  ''  And  Samuel  took  a  sucking  lamb,  and 
 offered  it  for  a  burnt  offering  wholly  unto  the 
 Loud  :  and  '  Samuel  cried  unto  the  Lord  for 
 Israel ;  and  the  Loud  {|  heard  him. 
 
 10  And  as  Samuel  was  offering  up  the  burnt 
 offering,  the  Philistines  drew  near  to  battle 
 against  Israel:  'but  tiie  Lord  thundered  with 
 a  great  thunder  on  that  day  upon  the  Philis- 
 tines, and  discomfited  them  ;  and  they  were 
 smitten  before  Israel. 
 
 11  And  the  men  of  Israel  went  out  of  Miz- 
 peh, and  pursued  the  Philistines,  and  smote 
 them,  until  the^/  came  under  Beth-car. 
 
 12  Then  Samuel  *took  a  stone,  and  set  it 
 between  Mizpeh  and  Shen,  and  called  the 
 name  of  it  ||  Lben-ezer,  saying.  Hitherto  hath 
 the  Lord  helped  us. 
 
 I    13  t  '  So  tlie  Philistines  were  subdued,  and 
 
 — Scott,  Pat.  18.  And  of  country  villagps — not  more  than  five  mice 
 
 were  sent,  but  the  inliabitants  of  the  viJlages  jnined  in  the  expense. — 
 Scott,  Pat.,  Henry.  Stone  of  Abel,  or  'weeping:,'  so  called  probably 
 from  the  moiiniiisLc  of  the  people  over  the  smitten,  (ver.  ig.)— Scott-. 
 Which  probably  served  instead  ot  an  altar. — Put.  More  probably 
 there  was  an  altar  of  earth  ni^idc  fur  the  purpose.— //cHr^.  19.  Fi/iy 
 thousand  and  three  score  and  ten  men — these  numbers  have  puzzled 
 the  critics,  for  the  small  village  of  Beth-shemesh  cnuld  not  employ 
 such  a  number  in  the  fields,  nor  could  all  look  into  the  ark.  The 
 general  opinion  is,  that  there  is  some  interpolation  in  the  Hebrew, 
 and  that  seventy  men  is  the  number,  which,  as  Poole  observes,  was  *  a 
 great  slaughter  in  a  small  village.'  The  original  here,  says  Booth- 
 royd,  is  contrary  to  the  usual  order  of  the  Hebrew,  in  which  the  greater 
 number  always  precedes  the  less.  The  Hebrew  is  itJQiS  TV2  'll'^Wa  TT 
 •d?''K  rSti  □■'icon  "C'V  era©  Cl-a  y^,  *  and  he  smote  among  tlie  mcn'of 
 Beth- shemesb,  and  he  smote  am-'ing  the  people  seventy  men,  fifty  thou- 
 sand men.'  The  Syriac  and  Arabic  bave  5070.  Josi'phus  mentions 
 only  70.  Trernetlius  conjectures  the  sense  to  be,  that  the  Lord  smote 
 them  with  emerods  as  he  had  smitten  50,070  of  the  Philistines.  IVil- 
 i(o»i-5  conjectures  there  was  a  great  plague  among  all  the  surrouuding 
 population,  50,000  of  whom  were  smitten,  and  70  of  the  most  daring 
 died,  for  smiting  does  not  necessarily  imply  death,  the  term  being 
 used  for  striking  the  flesh-hook,  (chap.  ii.  14,)  smiting  with  blindness, 
 (Gen.  xix.  11, )  and  with  pestilence,  (Num.  xiv.  12,)  and  emerods, 
 (chap.  V.  6.)  Others  eminent  for  learning  have  read,  '  he  smote  of  the 
 people  70  men,  even  50  of  a  thousand,'  and  '  he  smote  of  or  among  the 
 people  70  men  out  of  50,000  men.'— See  Poole.  21.  Se7it  mes.'ieni^ers 
 to  Kirjiifh-Jfiirhn—this  citv  was  further  on  in  the  tribe  of  Jiidah,  and 
 probably  of  great  strength.*— G(7/. 
 
 CuAP.  VII.  —  1.  Kirjath-jearim,  called  also  Baalah  and  Kirjath-haal, 
 (Josh.  .w.  9,  60  ;   xviii.  14  ;    1  Chron.  xiii.  6,  7.)     Shiloh  was,  perhaps. 
 
 destroyed  by  the  Philistines  when  the  ark  was  taken,  and  so  it  could 
 not  go  back,  (comp.  Jer.  vii.  12, 14,  and  xxvi.  6,  9,) — Poole,  Abijiadab, 
 • — Josephus  says  he  was  a  Levite  ;  if  so,  he  was  only  a  sojourner  in  the 
 place. — Gill.  Sanrtified — they  could  not  make  a  priest  or  Levite  of 
 him  if  he  were  not  such,  for  this  came  by  birtli ;  but  he  was  set  apart 
 wholly  to  attend  upon  this  work.  To  keep,  the  place  neat,  and  guard 
 the  ark  itself.  2.  Ticenly  years — this  was  not  all  the  time,  fur  it  con- 
 tinued there  from  Eli's  time  till  David's  reign,  (2  Sam.  vi.  2,)  which  was 
 forty  years,  (Acts,  xiii.  21,)  hut  it  was  so  long  there  ere  the  Israelites 
 lamented. — Poole.  There  was  a  great  neglect  of  God  and  his  worship, 
 which,  through  Samuel,  began  to  revive  about  this  time.  —Gill.  3.  Ash- 
 taroth— see  noteon  Judg.ii.  I3,andiii.7.  5.  il/ts/jcA— not  that  beyond 
 Jordan,  (Judg.  xi.  Jl,  29.)  but  in  Canaan,  where  the  Israelites  used  to 
 assemble,  (Judg.  xx.  I  ;  1  Sam.  x.  1".) — Poole.  6.  Dreic  water,  ^c. — 
 they  shed  tears. — Gnitius.  'They  poured  out  their  souls  in  penitence, 
 like  waters  before  tlie  Lord,*  Chuldee  Paraphmse.  Perhaps  in  token  of 
 joy.  as  they  were  wont  to  do  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  a  custom  alluded 
 to  Isa.  xii.  3. — Pat.,  Wells.  Uut  this  was  a  day  of  humiliation  rather, 
 therefore  this  was  a  token  of  it.— So  Gill,  Sroft,  Clarke.  7.  A/raid, 
 being  unarmed  find  unfit  for  battle.  9,  A  sucking  lamb,  which  it 
 
 might  be,  though  more  than  eight  days  old,  and  so  that  law  was  not 
 violated,  (Exnd.xxiii.  \Q.)~-Poole.  The  Heb.nVjJis  the  name  for  the 
 youngest  sheep.— P«/.  Offered  it,  probably  by  a  priest,  as  Saul  is  said 
 to  have  offered,  (chap.  xiii.  g.^—Pltole.  10.  Before  Israel — 'before 
 Israel'  denote!^  time,  and  means,  before  Israel  could  come  out  against 
 them.— /'«^,  Gill.  Bonthroyd  reads,  'and  so  confounded  them  that 
 they  were  smitten  before  Israel.'  11.  Smote  them— some  arms  they 
 probably  had  with  them,  some  they  procured  at  Mizpeh,  and  some 
 wcie  cast  away  by  the  fugitives  —Poole,  Gill.  12.  Ebrn-ezer,  '  the 
 stone  of  help,'  the  same  place  mentioned  by  anticipation,  chap.  iv.  i . — 
 Gill.    Apillar  may  be  meant. — A.  Clarke.    Thtsisthenameofastone, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI,  —  I.  Here  is  the  ark  sent  back  and  not  to  pry  into  wliat  God  has  not  thought  proper  to  reveal. 
 to  Israel.  God's  cause  will  revive  even  when  it  appears  most  And  let  us  jitall  times  remember,  that '  God  is  greatly  to  be 
 hopeless.  feared  in  the  assembly  of  his  saints,  ami  to  be  had  lu  reve- 
 
 II.  Here  are  the  Israelites  punished  for  profaning  the  ark.     Let  rence  of  all  them  that  are  about  him.' 
 this  teach  us  to  approach  the  mysteries  of  God  with  holy  awe, 
 300 
 
The  Israelites  ask  a  liinri. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  VIII. 
 
 A  king  described  by  Samuel. 
 
 lliey  "  came  no  more  into  the  coast  of  Israel : 
 aiul  tlie  haiul  of  the  Louu  was  against  the 
 Philistines  all  the  days  of  Samuel. 
 
 14  And  the  cities  which  the  Philistines  had 
 taken  from  Israel  were  restored  to  Israel,  from 
 Ekron  even  nnto  Gath  ;  and  the  coasts  thereof 
 did  Israel  deliver  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Phi- 
 listines. And  tliere  was  peace  between  Israel 
 and  the  Amorites. 
 
 Id  And  Samuel  "judged  Israel  all  the  days 
 of  his  life. 
 
 ll)  And  he  went  from  year  to  year  f  in  circuit 
 to  Betli-el,  and  Gilgal,  and  Mizpeh,  and  judged 
 Israel  in  all  those  places. 
 
 17  And  ''  his  return  teas  to  Ramah  ;  for  there 
 was  his  house  ;  and  there  he  judged  Israel ; 
 and  there  he  '  built  an  altar  unto  tlie  Lokd. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  liy  occasion  of  the  ill  government  of  SamveVs  sons, 
 the  Isradites  ask  a  king.  6  Samuel  prayifty  in  grief , 
 is  comforted  by  God:  10  He  telkth  the  manner  of  a 
 king.  '  19  God  wilkth  Samuel  to  yield  unto  the  imr 
 jMTtttnily  of  the  people. 
 
 ji  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  Samuel  was  old, 
 -'^  that  he  "made  his  ''sons  judges  over  Is- 
 rael. 
 
 •2  Now  the  name  of  his  firstborn  was  ||  Joel ; 
 and  the  name  of  his  second,  Abiah  :  they  were 
 judges  in  Beer-sheba. 
 
 3  And  his  sons  '  walked  not  in  his  ways,  but 
 turned  aside  ''  after  lucre,  and  "  took  bribes,  and 
 ])erverted  judgment. 
 
 4  Then  all  the  elders  of  Israel  gathered  them- 
 selves together,  and  came  to  Samuel  unto  Ra- 
 mah, 
 
 5  And  said  unto  him.  Behold,  thou  art  old, 
 and  thy  sons  walk  not  in  thy  ways :  now 
 '  make  us  a  king  to  judge  us  like  all  the 
 nations. 
 
 U  f  But  the  thing  f  displeased  Samuel,  when 
 they  said.  Give  us  a  king  to  judge  us.  And 
 Samuel  prayed  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 7  And  the  Lokd  said  unto  Samuel,  Hearken 
 unto  the  voice  of  the  people  in  all  that  they 
 say  unto  thee  :  for  ^  they  have  not  rejected 
 thee,  but  '"  they  have  rejected  me,  that  I 
 should  not  reign  over  them. 
 
 8  According  to  all  the  works  which  they 
 have  done  since  the  day  that  I  brought  them 
 up  out  of  Egypt  even  unto  this  day,  wherewith 
 
 J  ver.  0. 
 
 ch.  13.  11. 
 
 .luHg.  2.  IG 
 I  Heb.  md 
 
 lie  eirc'iit^d. 
 
 il  Ch.  8.  4. 
 I  Judg2l.l. 
 
 clr.  1113. 
 
 Peii.  16.18 
 gChr.  l'J.5. 
 6  Sec  Judg. 
 J.  &  13. 
 14.  coin- 
 
 pdred 
 
 ritli 
 
 Ju-lg  S.  10. 
 
 ;  ('.,./...., 
 I  Clir,  l>.-23. 
 c  J«i .  23. 15, 
 10,  17. 
 I  y.x.  13.21. 
 1  Tim   3.  3. 
 &  6.  lu. 
 .  Deu   lli.19. 
 I'«.  15.  6. 
 1095. 
 
 ever.  19.20. 
 
 lieu   17.  U. 
 
 Ho8.  13.  HI. 
 
 Acts  13.31. 
 t  Heb.  teat 
 
 evil  ill  till! 
 
 eyUiifSii- 
 
 muEt. 
 
 j?S«eEx.l6. 
 
 8. 
 H  ch.  10.  19 
 &  13.17,19. 
 Hos.  13.  10, 
 
 II  Or,  1.I..J/. 
 
 II  Or,  ml- 
 witliilind- 
 inff  uhmi 
 thiiii  liail 
 mlcmnlij 
 pruletled 
 
 Ifiem,  llitn 
 thou  tlinlt 
 </ie»,  ^c. 
 
 i  ver.  II. 
 
 k  See  Deut, 
 17.  11'.,  &c. 
 ch.  10.  35. 
 
 I  ch.  1*.  53. 
 
 Ill  1  Kin.  SI. 
 7.  t^cc  Ezek. 
 46.   19. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 etiiiiKht. 
 Gen.  37. ! 
 
 n  Pro.  1.  25, 
 2li,  37,  38. 
 Is    1.  15. 
 Mic.  3.  4. 
 
 o  Jcr.  44  16. 
 
 y  vor.  6. 
 
 tliey  have  forsaken  me,  and  served  other  gods, 
 so  do  they  also  unto  thee. 
 
 9  Now  therefore  ||  hearken  unto  their  voice  : 
 II  howbeit  yet  protest  solemnly  unto  tliem,  and 
 '  shew  them  the  manner  of  the  king  that  shall 
 reign  over  them. 
 
 10  H  And  Samuel  told  all  the  words  of  the 
 Lord  unto  the  people  that  asked  of  him  a 
 king. 
 
 1 1  And  he  said, '  This  will  be  the  maimer  of 
 the  king  that  shall  reign  over  you  :  '  He  will 
 take  your  sons,  and  appoint  them  for  himself, 
 for  his  chariots,  and  to  be  his  horsemen  ;  and 
 sotne  shall  run  before  his  cliariots, 
 
 12  And  he  will  appoint  him  captains  over 
 thousands,  and  captains  over  fifties ;  and  icill 
 set  them  to  ear  his  ground,  and  to  reap  his 
 harvest,  and  to  make  his  instruments  of  war, 
 and  instruments  of  his  chariots. 
 
 13  And  he  will  take  your  daughters  to  be 
 confectionaries,  and  to  be  cooks,  and  to  be 
 bakers. 
 
 14  And  ""he  will  take  your  fields,  and  your 
 vineyards,  and  your  oliveyards,  even  the  best 
 of  them,  and  give  them  to  his  servants. 
 
 15  And  he  will  take  the  tenth  of  your  seed, 
 and  of  your  vineyards,  and  give  to  his  f  officers, 
 and  to  his  servants. 
 
 16  And  he  will  take  your  menservants,  and 
 your  maidservants,  and  your  goodliest  young 
 men,  and  your  asses,  and  put  them  to  his 
 work. 
 
 17  He  will  take  the  tenth  of  your  sheep  : 
 and  ye  shall  be  his  servants. 
 
 18  And  ye  shall  cry  out  in  that  day  because 
 of  your  king  which  ye  shall  have  chosen  you  ; 
 and  the  Lord  "  will  not  hear  you  in  that  day. 
 
 19  H  Nevertheless  the  people  °  refused  to 
 obey  the  voice  of  Samuel ;  and  they  said, 
 Nay  ;  but  we  will  have  a  king  over  us  ; 
 
 20  That  we  also  may  be  ■'  like  all  the  nations; 
 and  that  our  king  may  judge  us,  and  go  out 
 before  us,  and  fight  our  battles. 
 
 21  And  Samuel  heard  all  the  words  of  the 
 people,  and  he  rehearsed  them  in  the  ears  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 22  And  the  Lord  said  to  Samuel,  "■  Hearken 
 unto  their  voice,  and  make  them  a  king.  And 
 Samuel  said  unto  the  men  of  Israel,  Go  ye 
 every  man  unto  his  city. 
 
 nittof  atowD. — Fict.  Bib.  17.  There  he  built  an  altar — Shiloh  being 
 destroyed,  and  no  direction  yet  given  where  the  ark  was  to  be.  Here, 
 on  public  business,  he  needed  God's  direction,  and  ofifered  sacrifice. — 
 Put. 
 
 Cqap.  VIII.  —  1.  Judges,  his  deputies,  for  he  was  the  last  judge  in 
 Israel.— Poo/e,  A.  Clarke.  ".  Rejected  me — God  was  in  a  peculiar 
 sense  the  king,  and  by  desiring  another  they  shewed  disrespect  to  him. — 
 liouthr.        1 1 .  This  will  he  tlie  manner  of  the  king — what  follows  is 
 
 proved  by  the  arbitrary  power  exercised  by  Oriental  monarcha,  as  In 
 Persia,  where  the  sovereign  can  command  the  services  of  any  artizan 
 or  other  talented  person  for  the  mere  wages  of  a  slave — terms  that 
 check  all  exertion  of  skiU,  and  entirely  ruin  a  man's  prosperity. 
 13.  Daughters  to  he  confectionaries,  ?fc. — these  are  the  otfices  of  females 
 in  Oriental  households  ;  and  the  preparations  in  the  royal  kitchens  were 
 prodigious,  (see  1  Kings,  iv.  22,  23.)— So  J'tct.  Bib.  15.  The  tenth— 
 the  courts  of  Egypt,  Persia,  and  Bat>yIon  took  tenths  of  the  land. — Sut. 
 
 Reflsctions  on  Chap.  VII Four  things  here  demand 
 
 our  notice  :  —  I.  Mrpentance.  Here  are  Israel  putting  away 
 their  idols,  mourning,  fasting,  and  confessing  their  sins.  These 
 were  marks  of  godly  sorrow, — of  a  repentance  that  needed  not 
 to  ))e  repented  of. 
 
 II.  Prayer.  Samuel  was  implored  to  cry  unto  the  Lord. 
 The  Israelites  felt  that  their  own  prayers  were  most  unworthy, 
 and  that  they  needed  an  intercessor.  It  is  our  happiness,  as 
 Christians,  that  we  have  an  all-prevalent  Intercessor  ever  at 
 hand,  and  that  Jesus  'ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us.' 
 
 III.  Deliverance.  Samuel's  prayer  was  efficacious,  for  '  the 
 eti'ectual  fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much  ;' 
 and  prayers  ofl'ered  in  the  name  of  Jesus  shall  never  fail.  The 
 promise  still  stands  upon  record,  '  Call  upon  me  in  the  day  of 
 trouble  ;  1  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shall  glorify  me." 
 
 IV.  Gratitude.  Whenever  we  receive  mercies  from  God, 
 we  should  not  fail  to  raise  our  Ebenezers. 
 
 yui 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  I.  Active  usefulness  soon 
 terminates.  The  evil  days  draw  nigh,  when  the  strong  men 
 must  bow  themselves.  Let  us  then  devote  the  vigour  of  our 
 days  as  much  as  possible  to  the  service  of  God  ;  it  is  not  long 
 we  shall  have  the  honour  of  doing  his  work  in  the  world.  Let 
 us  'work  while  it  is  called  to-day,  for  the  night  cometh,  in 
 which  no  man  can  work.' 
 
 II.  Excellent  men  have  sometimes  bad  children.  '  Grace,"  said 
 an  eminent  divine,  '  does  not  always  run  in  the  blood.'  Where 
 pareats  are  conscious  that  they  have  not  neglected  their  diJty, 
 amidst  the  pain  that  their  abandoned  oft'spring  may  occasion, 
 it  will  be  a  source  of  comfort  that  they  have  not  the  awful  re- 
 s^onsibility  of  their  ruin  on  their  heads. 
 
 III.  Public  men  must  not  always  expect  gratitude  for  their  ser- 
 vices in  the  church  of  God.  '  If,'  says  Ileury, '  Samuel  was  old, 
 yet  it  made  him  more  wise  and  experienced,  and  on  that  ac- 
 count the  titter  to  rule.     If  he  was  old,  was  he  not  grown  old 
 
Saul  seeketh  his  father' s  asses. 
 
 T.  SAMUEL,  IX. 
 
 SuDiuc/ eiitei tuinith  hiin. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 ]  Saul  despairitifj  to  Jxnil  his  father's  assts,  6  fcy  the 
 lOujisd  of  his  siri-ant^  il  and  direction  of  young 
 maidenSt  15  according  to  God's  revelation,  18  Cometh 
 to  Samuel.  19  Samuel  aitertaincth  Saul  at  the  feast, 
 25  Samuel,  after  saeret  communieation,  hringeth  Saul 
 an  his  way. 
 
 "VrOW'  there  vvas  a  man  of  Benjaniin,  whose 
 ■^^  name  tvas  °  Kish,  the  son  of  Abiel,  the 
 son  of  Zeror,  the  son  of  Bechorath,  the  son  of 
 Aphiah,  ||  a  Benjamite,  a  mighty  man  of  ||  power. 
 S!  And  he  had  a  son,  whose  name  iras  Saul, 
 a  choice  young  man,  and  a  goodly  :  and  i/icre 
 ivas  not  among  the  cliildren  of  Israel  a  goodlier 
 person  than  he  :  "  from  his  shoulders  and  up- 
 ward he  was  higher  than  any  of  the  people. 
 
 3  And  the  asses  of  Kibh  Saul's  father  were 
 lost.  And  Kish  said  to  Saul  his  son.  Take 
 now  one  of  the  servants  with  thee,  and  arise, 
 go  seek  the  asses. 
 
 4  And  he  passed  through  mount  Ephraim, 
 and  passed  through  the  land  of  '  Shalisha,  but 
 they  found  ihcm  not  :  then  they  passed 
 through  tlie  land  of  Shalim,  and  there  they 
 were  not :  and  he  passed  through  the  land  of 
 the  Benjamites,  but  they  found  t/ie»t  not. 
 
 5  And  when  they  were  come  to  the  land  of 
 Zuph,  Saul  said  to  his  servant  that  was  with 
 him,  Come,  and  let  us  return  ;  lest  my  father 
 leave  caring  for  the  asses,  and  take  thought 
 for  us. 
 
 6  And  he  said  unto  him.  Behold  now,  there 
 is  in  this  city  ''  a  man  of  God,  and  he  is  an 
 honourable  man  ;  °  all  tliat  he  saith  cometh 
 surely  to  pass ;  now  let  us  go  thither  ;  perad- 
 veuture  he  can  shew  us  our  way  that  we 
 should  go. 
 
 7  Then  said  Saul  to  his  servant.  But,  behold, 
 if  we  go,  '  what  shall  we  bring  the  man  ?  for 
 the  bread  f  is  spent  in  our  vessels,  and  there  is 
 not  a  present  to  bring  to  the  man  of  God  : 
 what  f  have  we  ? 
 
 8  And  the  servant  answered  Saul  again,  and 
 said.  Behold,  f  I  have  here  at  hand  the  fourth 
 part  of  a  sliekel  of  silver  :  that  will  I  give  to 
 the  man  of  God,  to  tell  us  our  way. 
 
 9  (Beforetime  in  Israel,  when  a  man  ^  went 
 to  enquire  of  God,  thus  he  spake.  Come,  and 
 let  us  go  to  the  seer  :  for  he  that  is  now  called 
 a  Prophet  was  beforetime  called  "  a  Seer.) 
 
 B.  C  ,  B    C- 
 
 cir.  lOyfi.     I      cii.  1(H>5, 
 
 ich.  14.  61. 
 
 IChr.  8.33. 
 
 Ik  «.  39. 
 [  Or,  the  *"'- 
 
 II  Or, 
 'httitnee- 
 
 A^CC"!  of  ll„ 
 C<l'l. 
 
 G,;ii.'J4  n 
 
 t  lUb,  10 
 day. 
 
 m  ch.  15.  I 
 Alts  13.  9.\ 
 
 t  Heb.,...fM/ 
 ed  Itif  ear  <,; 
 Samurl.  ' 
 ch.  SO.  2. 
 
 »  Ch.  II).  I. 
 
 I  DeU.SI    I 
 
 1  Kin.  IS  I. 
 .  ch.  3.  III. 
 
 ^  See  Ju.l^. 
 
 C.  IS   ft  13. 
 
 17.  I  Kin. 
 
 14.3  2  Kin 
 
 4  vi  &  8  8, 
 t  Hcb.  ii 
 
 4-c. 
 t  Hob. 
 
 in  trtfA  »j 
 t  Heb.  thert 
 
 „/...«J  i„ 
 
 mv  f'a»d. 
 if  Gen  25.22 
 ft  2  S^m.  24 
 
 II.  2  Kin. 
 
 17,  13. 
 
 1  Chr.  SO. 
 23.  «(  29.  29 
 
 2  Chr.   16.7, 
 10.  U.  30. 
 10.  .\mo9  7 
 
 |.ch.  in    12. 
 
 M.m   13.  II. 
 t  H.-1.. 
 
 wlruin  in. 
 
 q  ver.  3L 
 
 t  Heb.  /o  rfii^ 
 
 rch.8.  5, 19 
 I.  12.  13. 
 
 10  Then  said  Saul  to  his  servant,  f  Well  said  ; 
 come,  let  us  go.  So  they  went  unto  the  city 
 where  the  man  of  God  was. 
 
 11  IF  And  as  they  went  up  fthe  hill  to  the 
 city,  '  they  found  young  maidens  going  out  to 
 draw  water,  and  said  unto  them.  Is  the  seer 
 here? 
 
 12  And  they  answered  them,  and  said.  He  is  ; 
 behold,  he  is  before  you  :  make  baste  now,  for 
 he  came  to  day  to  the  city  ;  for  '  there  is  a 
 II  .sacrifice  of  the  people  to  day  '  in  the  high 
 place  : 
 
 13  As  soon  as  ye  be  come  into  the  city,  ye 
 shall  straightway  find  liini,  before  he  go  up  to 
 the  high  place  to  eat  ;  for  the  people  will  not 
 eat  until  he  come,  because  be  doth  bless  the 
 sacrifice  ;  and  afterwards  they  eat  that  be 
 bidden.  Now  therefore  get  you  up  ;  for  about 
 t  this  time  ye  shall  find  him. 
 
 14  And  they  went  up  into  the  city:  and 
 when  they  were  coine  into  the  city,  behold, 
 Samuel  came  out  against  them,  for  to  go  up  to 
 the  high  place. 
 
 13  1  "'  Now  the  Lord  had  \  told  Samuel  in 
 his  ear  a  day  before  Saul  came,  saying, 
 
 16  To  morrow  about  this  time  I  will  send  thee 
 a  man  out  of  the  land  of  Benjamin,  "and  thou 
 shall  anoint  him  to  he  captain  over  my  people 
 Israel,  that  lie  may  save  my  people  out  of  the 
 hand  of  the  Philistines  :  for  I  have  °  looked 
 upon  my  people,  because  their  cry  is  come 
 unto  me. 
 
 17  And  when  Samuel  saw  Saul,  the  Lord 
 Sixid  unto  him, ''  Behold  the  man  whom  I  spake 
 to  thee  of!  this  same  shall  f  reign  over  my 
 people. 
 
 18  Then  Saul  drew  near  to  Samuel  in  the 
 gate,  and  said.  Tell  me,  I  pray  thee,  where  the 
 seer's  house  is. 
 
 19  And  Samuel  answered  Saul,  and  said,  I 
 am  the  seer  :  go  up  before  me  unto  the  high 
 place  ;  for  ye  shall  eat  with  me  to  day,  and 
 to  morrow  1  will  let  thee  go,  and  will  tell  thee 
 all  that  is  in  thine  heart. 
 
 '20  And  as  for  ■*  thine  asses  that  were  lost 
 f  three  days  ago,  set  not  thy  mind  on  them  ; 
 for  they  are  found.  And  on  whom  'is  all  the 
 desire  of  Israel '?  Is  it  not  on  thee,  and  on  all 
 thy  father's  bouse  'i 
 
 21   And  Saul  answered  aud  said,  'Am  not  I  a 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  1.  Of  power,  not  in  authority  or  wealth,  for  his  family 
 was  contemptible,  (ver.  21 ;  x.  27 ;)  but  a  man  of  great  streof^h  of 
 body. — Gilt,  Put.  Literally, 'a  stjroni^  man.' — .!.  Clarke.  *A  man  of 
 preat  wealth,'  referring  to  ,\phiah,  not  to  Kish.' — Bool/tr.  2.  .4  chtnce 
 !/»inrp  man,  *  a  chosen  and  gntnlly  person.' — Seolt.  The  ancient  nati'tns 
 were  fond  of  men  of  tine  persons  and  stature  for  Icings,  and  these  were 
 often  chosen  to  the  magistracy.  The  person  and  figure  of  Saul  are  here 
 mentioned  to  slicw  he  was  such  an  one  as  the  people  desired. — So  Gill. 
 
 3.  Seek  the  asses — tlicse  animals  in  the  east  stray  far,  and  it  is  common 
 tn  seeic  them  for  several  days. — So  Baron  du  Toil.  Asses  being  a  con- 
 siderable part  of  eastern  weal'  h,  were  even  fed  and  taken  care  of  by  the 
 sons  of  dukes  and  princes,  (see  Gen,  xxxvi,  24  ;  Jndg,  v,  10  ;  Job,  i,  3,) 
 
 4.  T/te  land  of  Sfittlis/ta,  a  tract  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin. — Gill.  Pro- 
 bably the  same  with  Baal-shalisha,  in  2  Kings,  iv.  42.  Shulim,  possibly 
 the  Shaalbim  of  Jndg.  i,  35,  and  I  Kings,  iv.  9  ;  and  the  Sh.ialahin  of 
 Josh,  xix,  42,  which  lay  in  the  tribe  of  Dan.— Pic!,  Bi/i.  5.  Zuph— 
 a  territory  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim, — Pat.,  hi  which  w.is  Ramali,  the 
 place  of  Samuel's  birth  and  habitation,  fcbap,  i,  1,) — Bool/tr.  6.  .-1 
 7nan  of  God,  '  a  prophet,'  as  that  phrase  is  used,  chap,  ii,  27  ;  Josh,  xiv. 
 6 ;  Judg.  xiii,  6, — Poole.  7.  .4  present — even  in  familiar  visits  the 
 Turks  present  a  flower,  orange,  or  some  other  token  of  respect,  keeping 
 
 up  the  ancient  oriental  customs ;  this  was,  questionless,  a  token 
 of  respect,  and  not  a  price  of  divination. — Hnr.  8.  TIte  fourth,  i^r. — 
 about  seven. pence  halfpenny  English  money.  9.  Befttrelioie — the 
 words  are  in  a  parenthesis,  and  are  thought  to  have  been  inserted 
 long  after  the  book  was  written,  perhaps  by  Jeremiah ;  or  added  by 
 Ezra;  or  Samuel  in  advanced  life  might  very  well  have  used  the  lan- 
 guage.— Gilt.  Seer,  riNI.  The  verb  means  to  see,  behold,  '  because 
 the  seer  discovered  orilisccrned  things  secret  and  unknown  toothers,' 
 — Poole  In  the  barbarous  times  of  the  judges,  the  ancient  term  '  pro- 
 phet' might  have  been  superseded  by  'seer,*  but  when  this  book  was 
 written  it  was  restored.—  Wall.  12,  A  sacrifice — in  the  high  place — 
 upon  the  hill  mentioned  ver  11.  and  near  the  attar  which  Samuel  built 
 for  this  kind  of  use,  chap,  vii,  17,  by  Divine  dispeusation,  as  was  there 
 noted.  Otherwise,  to  sacriliee  in  higli  places  was  forbidden  by  the  law 
 after  the  building  of  the  tabeinacle, — Poole.  Some  think  that  from  this 
 appointment  of  a  private  place  of  worship  by  Samuel  sprung  up  syna- 
 gogues. 17.  Reign,  '  restrain,'  in  mar^.  The  word  denotes  that  he 
 should  rule  them  for  their  pimishment  with  the  lyrauny  of  an  eastern 
 monarch, — So  Pat.  19,  Tell  thee  alt  that  is  in  tiiine  heart,  answer 
 
 all  questions  he  had  a  mind  to  ask  him, — Gill.  20,  And  on  leltovi, 
 §'c.,  '  and  for  whom  is  every  desirable  thing  in  Israel,' — Boothroyd. 
 
 in  their  service'!  And  it  was  very  unkind  and  ungrateful, 
 nay,  and  unjust,  to  cast  bim  off  when  be  was  old,  who  had 
 spent  his  days  in  doing  the  people  good.'  In  wliatever  good 
 we  (to  to  the  cburch  or  the  world,  we  must  look  tor  our  reward 
 from  God,  and  not  from  men — not  even  from  the  best  of  men — 
 or  we  sbail  be  disappointed. 
 302 
 
 I\^  Nothing  is  worse  for  vs  than  to  have  the  grati feat  ion  nj 
 our  own  irregular  desires.  Tbey  are  sure  to  bring  misery  in 
 their  train.  Experience  w-ill  teacb  every  Christian  liiat  be 
 cannot  do  better  for  bis  own  happiness  than  to  submit  bimself 
 wholly  to  the  authority  and  guidance  of  the  Most  Higb. 
 
Samuel  anointeth  Saul. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  X. 
 
 Saul  prophesieth. 
 
 Benjamite,  of  the  '  smallest  of  the  tribes  of  Is- 
 rael? and  "my  family  the  least  of  all  the  fami- 
 lies of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  ?  wlierefore  then 
 speakest  thou  f  so  to  me  ? 
 
 2-2  And  Samuel  took  Saul  and  his  servant, 
 and  brought  them  into  the  parlour,  and  made 
 them  sit  in  the  chiefest  place  among  them 
 that  were  bidden,  wliich  tvere  about  thirty 
 persons. 
 
 •2:i  And  Samuel  said  unto  the  cook,  Bring  the 
 portion  which  I  gave  thee,  of  which  I  said  unto 
 tlice.  Set  it  by  thee. 
 
 24  And  the  cook  took  up  '  the  shoulder,  and 
 that  wliich  was  upon  it,  and  set  it  before 
 Saul.  And  Samuel  said.  Behold  that  which  is 
 II left !  set  it  before  thee,  an(/eat :  for  unto  this 
 time  hath  it  been  kept  for  thee  since  I  said,  1 
 have  invited  the  people.  So  Saul  did  eat  with 
 Samuel  that  day. 
 
 •2.J  1[  And  when  they  were  come  down  from 
 the  higli  place  into  the  city,  Samuel  communed 
 with  Saul  upon  'the  top  of  the  house. 
 
 •2(1  And  they  arose  early  :  and  it  came  to  pass 
 about  the  spring  of  the  day,  that  Samuel  called 
 Saul  to  the  top  of  the  house,  saying.  Up,  that 
 I  may  send  thee  awaj'.  And  Saul  arose,  and 
 they  went  out  both  of  them,  he  and  Samuel, 
 abroad. 
 
 27  Anil  as  they  were  going  down  to  the  end 
 of  the  city,  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  Bid  the  ser- 
 vant pass  on  before  us,  (and  he  passed  on,) 
 but  stand  thou  still  fa  while,  that  1  may  shew 
 thee  the  word  of  God. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 I  Samuel  annintetli  Saitl.  2  ITe  confirmctli  him  hy 
 jirediction  of  three  sj(/7?s.  9  SauPs  heart  is  chamjedy 
 and  he  prnphesitth.  14  He  conceal th  the  viattir  nf 
 the  kingdom  from  iiis  uiide.  17  Saul  is  chosen  at 
 Mizpeh  by  lot.  2G  The  different  affections  of  his 
 subjects. 
 
 T^HEN  ""  Samuel  took  a  vial  of  oil,  and  poured 
 -*-  it  upon  his  head,  ''and  kissed  him,  and 
 said.  Is  it  not  because  ^  the  Lord  hath  anoint- 
 ed tliee  to  be  captain  over  '^  his  inheritance? 
 2  When  thou  art  departed  from  me  to  day, 
 then  thou  shalt  find  two  men  by  ^  Rachel's  se- 
 
 I  JurfLt.  20. 
 
 ■Hi,  IT,  48. 
 
 Ps.  08.  5J7. 
 u  See  Jiiilg. 
 
 6    15. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 iircirTiiim;  to 
 
 this  wiirii. 
 
 X  Lev.  7,  32, 
 3A.  Eie.  B4 
 
 V  Dm.  22.  a 
 
 '  2  Sam. 1 1.2 
 
 Acts  10.  9. 
 
 t  Hi-b 
 
 nch,  0.  IG,  & 
 
 ir.   IS. 
 
 ?  Kill.  9.  3, 
 
 6. 
 /,  Ps.  9.  12. 
 c  .AotalS.2l 
 ./  Deii  32.  9 
 
 Ps.  78.  71. 
 ^G.-n.S5.  19 
 
 20. 
 
 /.losli.  18.28. 
 
 f  lU'h.  Ihe 
 
 </  Gen.  28. 
 ■   ii(  35.  I , 
 
 t  Heb.  a/A 
 
 thfeojyence: 
 as  Jiidg    IH. 
 
 h  ver,  10. 
 cli.  Vi.  3. 
 
 /  Ex.  ir..  20, 
 21.  2  Kin. 
 H.  15.  ICor, 
 II.  1. 
 
 ,  Niiin 
 
 II. 
 
 2^.  ch.  le. 
 
 Ui  pnSt,  ttial 
 when  thfie 
 
 '.  Kx.   1.8. 
 Luke  2.   12. 
 
 t  Heh.  (/(./or 
 thre  ii!t  Ihiiif 
 hand  shall 
 
 .Uni-.9.  S3. 
 p  Jiiclg.  ''.12. 
 qi■\^.  11.  14, 
 
 13  &  I.S.  4. 
 r  cli.  la.  8. 
 t  Heh. 
 
 shi.«ldeT. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 turned , 
 
 /ch.   19.  20. 
 '<  ver.  C. 
 
 pulchre  in  the  border  of  Benjamhi  ""at  Zelzah  ; 
 and  tliey  will  say  unto  thee.  The  asses  which 
 tliou  wentest  to  seek  are  found  :  and,  lo,  thy 
 father  hath  left  f  the  care  of  the  asses,  and  sor- 
 roweth  for  you,  saying.  What  sliall  I  do  for  my 
 son  ? 
 
 3  Then  shalt  thou  go  on  forward  from  tlience, 
 and  thou  shalt  come  to  the  plain  of  Tabor,  and 
 there  shall  meet  thee  three  men  going  up  ^  to 
 God  to  Beth-el,  one  carrying  three  kids,  and 
 another  carrying  three  loaves  of  bread,  and 
 another  carrying  a  bottle  of  wine  : 
 
 4  And  they  will  |  salute  tiiee,  and  give  thee 
 two  loaves  of  bread  ;  which  thou  shalt  receive 
 of  their  hands. 
 
 5  After  that  thou  shalt  come  to  ^  the  hill  of 
 God, '  where  is  the  garrison  of  the  Philistines  : 
 and  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  thou  art  come 
 thither  to  the  city,  that  thou  shalt  meet  a  com- 
 pany of  prophets  coming  down  ''from  the  high 
 place  with  a  psaltery,  and  a  tabret,  and  a  pipe, 
 and  a  harp,  before  them  ;  '  and  they  shall  pro- 
 phesy : 
 
 6  And  "*  the  Spirit  of  the  Loud  will  come 
 upon  thee,  and  "  thou  shalt  prophesy  with  them, 
 and  shalt  be  turned  into  another  man. 
 
 7  And  t  let  it  be,  when  these  °  signs  are  come 
 unto  thee,  f  that  thou  do  as  occasion  serve 
 thee  ;  for  ''  God  is  with  thee. 
 
 8  And  thou  shalt  go  down  before  me  ''to 
 Gilgal ;  and,  behold,  I  will  come  down  unto 
 thee,  to  offer  burnt  offerings,  and  to  sacrifice 
 sacrifices  of  peace  offerings  :  ^  seven  days  shalt 
 thou  tarry,  till  I  come  to  tliee,  and  shew  thee 
 what  thou  shalt  do. 
 
 9  t  And  it  was  so,  that  when  he  had  turned 
 his  t  back  to  go  from  Samuel,  God  f  gave  him 
 another  heart :  and  all  those  signs  came  to  pass 
 that  day. 
 
 10  And  Svhen  they  came  thither  to  the  hill, 
 behold,  ^  a  company  of  prophets  met  him  ;  and 
 ^'  the  Spirit  of  God  came  upon  him,  and  he 
 prophesied  among  them. 
 
 1 1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  all  that  knew 
 him  beforetime  saw  that,  behold,  he  prophe- 
 sied among  the  prophets,  then  the  people  said 
 tone   to  another,  What  is  this  that  is  come 
 
 22.  The  parlour,  Mhe  dining-room.* — Gill.  24.  T/ie  shntdder — a 
 shoulder  of  lamb  is  thought,  in  the  east,  a  very  great  delicacy.  It  is 
 there  eaten  covered  over  with  butter  and  milk.  25.  Upon  the  top  of 
 the  house — Samnel  conversed  with  Saul,  for  coolness,  on  the  house-top, 
 in  the  evening,  it  being  a  flat  eastern  roof,  used  for  such  purposes. — See 
 Hnr.,  and  note  on  Deut.  x.xii.  8.  The  Sept.  has,  '  they  prepared  a  bed 
 for  Saul  on  the  top  of  the  house,  and  he  slept.'  It  is  the  custom  in 
 Persia  and  Nubia  to  spread  beds  on  the  roofs  or  terraces,  and  so  sleep 
 under  the  canopy  of  heaven. — 3forier,  Burckhardt. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  1.  Poured  it  upon  his  heail— the  usual  rite  in  the  disigna- 
 tion  of  priests,  prophets,  and  kings,  (chap.  xvi.  1,  13;  1  King«,  i.39; 
 2  Kings,  ix.  1,  3,  6.)  It  signified  the  pouring  forth  the  gifts  of  God*s 
 Spirit  upon  him  to  enable  him  for  the  administration  of  his  office. — 
 Poole.  As  Samuel  was  no  priest,  he  probably  used  common,  not 
 sacred,  oil  on  this  occasion.  Kissed  him — a  token  of  subjection  and 
 reverence,  according  to  ancient  custom,  (Gen.  xli.  40  ;  Ps.  ii.  12.) — Put. 
 2.  When  thou  art  departed,  ^c. — Samuel's  minute  description  of  the 
 subsequent  incidents  would  convince  Saul  that  he  was  a  true  prophet. 
 — Pat.,  Scott.  3.  Tabor,  a  place  called  Elon-tahor,  southeast  of 
 Ramah. — WelLi.  Beth-el — the  same  with  Liiz,  where  Jacob  built  an 
 altar,  (Gea.  xxxv.  6,  7.)    The  tabernacle  being  now  at  one  place  and 
 
 the  ark  at  another,  they  might  choose  this  as  a  place  devoted  to  God  by 
 Jacob.  Three  kids,  for  sacrifice.  Three  loaves,  for  the  meat,  or  rather 
 bread-offering,  (Lev.  ii.  4.)  Wine,  for  the  drink-oflTering,  (Num.  xv. 
 5,  11.)  5.  The  hill  of  God— the  hill  on  which  was  the  ark  of  the 
 Lord,  in  the  house  of  Abinadab,  in  the  city  of  Kirjath-jearim,  Targ. 
 Rather  Geba,  a  city  of  Benjamin,  for  by  this  time  he  must  have  got  out 
 of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  There  was  also  a  garrison  of  Philistines  at  Geba, 
 as  here,  (chap.  xiii.  3.) — Gilf,  so  Pat.  Prophets — here  was  a  college  of 
 prophets,  settled  for  the  instruction  of  youth  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
 law  and  of  piety.— Pai.  The  high  place,  probably  a  proscucha  ;  these 
 were  open  courts  built  without  the  city,  on  high  places,  where  men 
 prayed  alone;  the  synagogues  were  covered,  were  within  the  cities, 
 prayers  were  public  in  them,  and  offered  by  the  congregation.— Pnrf, 
 A  psalter//,  a  sort  of  bagpipe.  A  tabret,  a  sort  of  drum  or  cymbal.  A 
 pipe,  a  kind  of  flute  or  hautboy.— So  Dr.  Clarke.  Prophesy,  or  praise 
 is  here  meant,  (see  1  Chron.  xxv.  1—3  ;  1  Cor.  xi.  4,  5.)  6.  Thon 
 shalt  prophesy,  compose  and  sing  psalms  and  hymns.— GiW.  Be  turned 
 ^endued  with  extraordinary  qualities  for  government.  7-  Do  as 
 occasion— God's  Spirit  shall  guide  thee  to  do  that  which  the  present 
 occasion  requires.— P«^  9  Another  heart — he  had  no  longer  the 
 heart  of  a  husbandman,  but  of  a  bold  and  wise  statesman.— So  Hen. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX.  — I.    What  a  train  of  trifling 
 
 events  led  to  the  promotion  of  Saul!  The  smallest  incidents  of 
 our  lives  are  otten  big  with  importance.  What  reason,  then, 
 have  we  every  day  and  hour  to  place  our  dependence  upon  the 
 Divine  guidance,  and  never  to  forget  to  ask  for  it  in  the  closet 
 aud  at  the  family  altar  ! 
 
 II.  How  does  the  conduct  of  Samuel  here  desiribed  skame  that 
 
 of  tnany  who  should  be  patterns  of  humility  !     Here  is  no  strife 
 
 or  vain-glory, — no  jealousy  of  a  rivalin  authority,    'Though,' 
 
 says  Henrv, '  the  advancing  of  Saul  would  be  the  deposing  of 
 
 303 
 
 Samuel,  yet  that  good  prophet  was  so  far  from  envying  him, 
 or  bearing  him  any  ill-will  for  it,  that  he  was  the  first  and  for- 
 wardest  man  to  do  him  honour,  in  compliance  with  the  wilt  of 
 God.  If  this  be  the  man  whom  God  has  chosen,  though  he  be 
 none  of  Samuel's  particular  friends  or  confidants,  yet  lie  is 
 heartily  welcomed  to  bis  table,  nay,  to  his  bosom.*  *  They 
 make  an  idol  of  honour,'  observes  Bishop  Hall,  'that  are 
 troubled  with  their  own  freedom  from  the  burden  of  authority^ 
 or  grudge  at  the  promotion  of  others.* 
 
Saul  is  chosen  king. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XI.        The  men  ofjahes/i-rjilend  appeal  to  SauT. 
 
 unto  the  son  of  Kisli  ?  '  Is  Saul  also  among 
 the  prophets  ? 
 
 12  And  one  j  of  the  same  place  answered  and 
 said,  But  'who  is  their  father?  Tlierefore  it 
 became  a  proverb.  Is  Saul  also  among  the 
 prophets? 
 
 13  And  when  he  had  made  an  end  of  pro- 
 phesying, he  came  to  the  high  place. 
 
 14  1  And  SauVs  uncle  said  unto  him  and  to 
 his  servant.  Whither  went  ye?  And  he  said. 
 To  seek  the  asses  :  and  when  we  saw  tliat  they 
 tvere  no  where,  we  came  to  Samuel. 
 
 15  And  Saul's  uncle  said.  Tell  me,  I  pray 
 thee,  what  Samuel  said  unto  you. 
 
 16  And  Saul  said  unto  his  uncle.  He  told  us 
 plainly  tliat  the  asses  were  found.  But  of  the 
 matter  of  the  kingdom,  whereof  Samuel  spake, 
 he  told  him  not. 
 
 17  H  And  Samuel  called  the  people  together 
 '  unto  the  Lord  °  to  Mizpeh  ; 
 
 18  And  said  unto  tlie  children  of  Israel, 
 ''  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  I  brouglit 
 up  Israel  out  of  Egypt,  and  delivered  you  out 
 of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,  and  out  of  the 
 hand  of  all  kingdoms,  and  of  them  that  op- 
 pressed you  : 
 
 19  '  And  ye  have  this  day  rejected  your  God, 
 who  himself  s.ived  you  out  of  all  your  adver- 
 sities and  your  tribulations  ;  and  ye  have  said 
 unto  him,  Nay,  but  set  a  king  over  us.  Now 
 therefore  present  yourselves  before  the  Lobd 
 by  your  tribes,  and  by  your  thousands. 
 
 20  And  when  Samuel  had  ''  caused  all  the 
 tribes  of  Israel  to  come  near,  the  tribe  of  Ben- 
 jamin was  taken. 
 
 21  When  he  had  caused  the  tribe  of  Benja- 
 min to  come  near  by  their  families,  the  family 
 of  Matri  was  taken,  and  Saul  the  son  of  Kisli 
 was  taken  :  and  when  they  sought  him,  he 
 could  not  be  found. 
 
 22  Therefore  tliey  '^  enquired  of  the  Lord 
 furtlier,  if  the  man  should  yet  come  tliither. 
 And  the  Lord  answered.  Behold,  lie  hath  hid 
 himself  among  the  stuff. 
 
 2.3  And  they  ran  and  fetched  him  tlience  : 
 and  when  he  stood  among  the  people,  ''be  was 
 higher  than  any  of  the  people  from  his  shoulders 
 anil  upward. 
 
 24  And  Samuel  said  to  all  the  people.  See  ye 
 him  *  whom  the  Lord  hath  chosen,  that  thrie 
 is  none  like  liim  among  all  the  people  ?  And 
 all  the  people  shouted,  and  said,  '■  f  God  save 
 the  king. 
 
 25  Then  Samuel  told  the  people  '  the  manner 
 
 B.  C.  1095 
 
 X  rh.  19.  24 
 Mat.  13  &l, 
 .'.5.  John  7. 
 15.  Acts  4. 
 13. 
 
 t  Heb./r.„i 
 
 Judg.  II. 
 II.  N  20.  1 
 ch.  II.  15. 
 [  cli.7.  5,  6. 
 6  Judg.  6. 
 S,  9. 
 
 16,  17.  Act! 
 1.  -J4,  126. 
 
 ■  ch.  23. 2,  4, 
 1U,  11. 
 
 /  cli.  9.  2. 
 
 j7  2  Sam.  21. 
 
 6. 
 h  1  Kin.  I. 
 
 25,  39. 
 
 2Km.ll.l2. 
 t  Heb.  Lei 
 
 Hie  kiag 
 
 live. 
 
 I  Spe  Pent. 
 17.  14,  Ac. 
 ch.  8.  11. 
 
 A  Jndg.  SO. 
 14.  cU.  11.4. 
 
 13. 
 1  2  Sara  S. 2. 
 
 I  Kin.  4.21. 
 
 &  HI.  25. 
 
 2Clir.l7  5. 
 
 Pa    72.  10. 
 
 Mat.  2.  tl. 
 1  Or.  he  ieat 
 
 at  llifugh  he 
 
 had  becu 
 
 detf 
 
 a  ch.  12.  12 
 6Jud(f.  21  H 
 e  Gen  26  -.^S. 
 Ei  2*.  .12 
 I  Kin  20  .'M. 
 Jol,  41.  4 
 K«t.k.  17.13. 
 
 ■cli.  10.  26. 
 8,  I.',.  31. 
 2  P:»m.2l  6. 
 
 /Jndsf,  2  4, 
 &2i    2 
 
 e  Judff.3.10. 
 fc  6.  31.  fc 
 II  29-  «(  13 
 2.5-  &  14.  6. 
 ch  10  HP. 
 8c  16.  13 
 :  Jndg.   19. 
 
 Jndg.21.5, 
 
 t  Hcb.  at  tnt 
 
 man. 
 
 Jndg. 20.  1 
 A  Jndg.  I.  5 
 I  i  Soul.  24. 
 
 9. 
 
 |[  Or,  Mi- 
 verance. 
 
 of  the  kingdom,  and  wrote  it  in  a  book,  and 
 "aid  it  up  before  the  Lord.     And  Samuel  sent 
 all  the  people  away,  every  man  to  bis  house. 
 2()  H  And  Saul  also  went  home  ''  to  Gibe.ali 
 and  there  went  with  him  a  band  of  men,  whose 
 liearts  God  had  touched. 
 
 7  '  But  the  '"  children  of  Belial  said.  How 
 shall  this  man  save  us?  And  they  despised 
 him,  "  and  brought  him  no  presents.  But  (|he 
 held  his  peace. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Nahash  offcreth  them  of  Jnhsh-ijihad  a  repronctiful 
 condition.  4  Tliiy  nend  messent/ers,  tnid  are  di'livvrvit 
 hi/  Saul,  12  Saul  tkertby  is  coiijirmed,  and  /lis 
 it  ini/dom  renewed. 
 
 nPHEN  °  Nahash  the  Ammonite  came  up,  and 
 ■*-  encamped  against  ■"  Jabesh-gilead  :  and  all 
 the  men  of  .Jabesh  said  unto  Nahash, '  Make  a 
 covenant  with  us,  and  we  will  serve  thee. 
 
 2  And  Naha.sli  tlie  Ammonite  answered  them. 
 On  this  condition  will  I  make  a  covenant  witli 
 you,  tliat  I  may  thrust  out  all  your  riglit  eyes, 
 and  lay  lifor  ''a  reproach  upon  all  Israel. 
 
 3  And  the  elders  of  Jaliesh  said  unto  him, 
 t  Give  us  seven  days'  respite,  tliat  we  may  send 
 messengers  unto  all  the  coasts  of  Israel  :  and 
 then,  if  there  be  no  man  to  save  us,  we  will 
 come  nut  to  thee. 
 
 4  V  Then  came  the  messengers  "  to  Gibeah  of 
 Saul,  and  told  the  tidings  in  the  ears  of  the 
 people:  and  ''all  the  people  lifted  up  their 
 voices,  and  wept. 
 
 5  And,  behold,  Saul  came  after  the  herd  out 
 of  the  field  ;  and  Saul  said.  What  aileth  the 
 people  that  they  weep?  And  they  told  him  tlie 
 tidings  of  the  men  of  J.abesh. 
 
 6  ^  And  the  Spirit  of  God  came  upon  Saul 
 when  he  heard  those  tiding.s,  and  his  anger  was 
 kindled  greatly. 
 
 7  And  be  took  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  ''hewed 
 them  in  pieces,  and  sent  t}iem  throughout  all 
 the  coasts  of  Israel  by  the  hands  of  messengers, 
 saying,  '  Whosoever  conieth  not  forth  after 
 Saul  and  after  Samuel,  so  shall  it  be  done  unto 
 his  oxen.  And  the  fear  of  the  Lord  fell  on  the 
 people,  and  they  came  out  f  with  one  consent. 
 
 8  And  when  he  numbered  them  in  *"  Bezek, 
 the  children  '  of  Israel  were  three  liundied 
 thousand,  and  the  men  of  Judah  thirty  thou- 
 sand. 
 
 9  And  they  said  unto  the  messengers  that 
 came.  Thus  shall  ye  say  unto  the  men  of  Ja- 
 besh-gilead, To  morrow,  by  that  time  the  sun 
 be  hot,  ye  shall  have  ||  help.     And   the  mes- 
 
 \^.Bui  ii'ho  is  their  father  7 — some  of  the  best  S(7?/ua^'nfo  add,  owKeit ; 
 '  is  it  not  Kish  ?'  Bootliroyd  reads,  •  his  father,'  and  makes  this  addi- 
 tion, and  the  words  are  then  quite  clear;  so  the  Syrittr  and  .irabic. 
 If  '  their  father'  be  the  right  reading,  it  refers  to  the  company  of  pro- 
 phets, (ver.  5,)  and  father  must  mean  '  nvi.ster'  or  '  instructor.' — Hew. 
 22.  The  stuff,  D''?D,  signifies  'utensils,'  'instruments,'  'furniture,' 
 *  arms,'  and,  in  fact,  anythinj::  prepared  tor  the  use  of  man. — Par. 
 These  were  things  brought  by  llie  jieople  fnr  use.  25.  The  manner  tij 
 the  kinfednm — hiiw  the  government  of  it  was  to  be  managed  and  sub- 
 mitted to. — out.  The  right  of  tlie  king. — Fat.  'Ihe  rights  of  the  king- 
 dom.— Bodthr.  Wrote,  the  rules  and  principles  of  government. — Cat. 
 26.  .^  hand — a  company  of  stout  valiant  men  as  his  guard. — Pat.,  Gilt. 
 To  attend  him  in  expeditions  against  the  enemies  of  their  country. — 
 
 Uar.  Select  friends  or  companions  only,  for  Saul  as  yet  only  retired 
 to  agricultural  pursuits. — So  A.  Clarke.  2,".  Brou^tit  liim  no  pre. 
 seats — tlie  Arab  chiefs  are  supplied  by  gifts  of  all  sorts  of  provisions 
 when  on  any  excursion,  the  neighbouring  inhabitants  vying  with  each 
 other  which  shall  supply  tlie  most ;  but  some  perverse  leaders  in  towns 
 refused  to  pay  Saul  this  compliment,  despising  his  efforts,  till  the  affair 
 of  the  Ammonites  settled  his  authority,  (see  chap,  xi.) 
 
 Chap.  XI.  —  1.  Serve  thee,  as  tributaries. — Gilt.  2.  Thrust  nut  alt 
 yciur  right  eyes,  to  unfit  them  for  war,  the  left  eye  being  covered  with 
 the  shield.  5.  ^/ter  tlie  herd — hence  it  appears  Samuel  still  maiiagcil 
 public  affairs. — Pat.  7.  Hewed  them — a  solemn  ceremony  to  en- 
 gage all  Israel  to  enter  into  a  league  and  covenant  nn  the  present  occa- 
 sion.   Seenote  on  Judg.  xix.  29.        9.  Su/i  6e  Aof,  that  is,  '  mid-day.' 
 
 Ri-.FLECTIONS  ON   Chap.    X. —  I.  Said,  wtien  anointed  king, 
 
 was  directed  to  ioo/i  to  the  puidance  of  God's  providmce  in  wtiat 
 he  should  do.  How  happy  would  it  be  tor  kings  it  they  always 
 followed  such  directions  ;  nor  of  less  moment  are  they  in  the 
 management  of  meaner  afl'airs,  for  almost  every  man  is  a  king 
 in  his  own  circle — as  a  governor,  a  master,  or  a  father.  '  In  all 
 thy  ways  acknowledge  llini,  and  he  shall  direct  thy  paths." 
 304 
 
 II.  Saul  teas  iconderfuUif  clianged,  and  vet  tiis  heart  was  not 
 savinghj  changed.  We  have  often  seen  sudden,  that  have  not 
 proved"  saving,  changes.  Who  would  not  have  hoped  the  very 
 best  from  first  appearances  in  Saul?  What  need  have  we  each 
 to  pray,  '  Search  me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart;  try  me,  and 
 know  my  thoughts ;  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me 
 and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting.' 
 
Saul  discomfiteth  the  Ammonites. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XII. 
 
 Samuel  i-cproreth  the  people. 
 
 See  ch.SI. 
 11. 
 JuJg  7. 16. 
 
 7  See  Luke 
 
 r  5  Sam.  19. 
 
 1095. 
 j  /  cb.  10.  8. 
 
 eengers  came  and  shewed  it  to  the  men  of 
 Jabesh  ;  and  they  were  p;lad. 
 
 10  Therefore  tlie  men  of  Jabesh  said,  To 
 morrow  "'  we  will  come  out  unto  you,  and  ye 
 shall  do  with  us  all  that  seeraeth  good  unto 
 you. 
 
 1 1  And  it  was  so  on  the  morrow,  that  °  Saul 
 put  the  people  "in  three  companies  ;  and  they 
 came  into  the  midst  of  the  liost  in  the  morning 
 watch,  and  slew  the  Ammonites  until  the  heat 
 of  the  day  :  and  it  came  to  pass,  that  they 
 which  remained  were  scattered,  so  that  two  of 
 them  were  not  left  together. 
 
 12  IT  And  the  people  said  unto  Samuel, ''  Who 
 !.<  he  that  said,  Shall  Saul  reign  over  us  ? 
 ''  bring  the  men,  that  we  may  put  them  to 
 death. 
 
 13  And  Saul  said,  '  There  shall  not  a  man  be 
 put  to  death  tliis  day  :  fur  to  day  '  the  Lord 
 hath  wrought  salvation  in  Israel. 
 
 14  Then  said  Samuel  to  the  people,  Come, 
 and  let  us  go  '  to  Gilgal,  and  renew  the  king- 
 dom there. 
 
 \b  And  all  the  people  went  to  Gilgal  ;  and 
 tliere  they  made  Saul  king  "  before  the  Lord  I"';''- 1»-  "■ 
 in  Gilgal  ;  and  '  there  they  sacrificed  sacriiices  j»eh.  lo.  s. 
 of  peace  offerings  before  the  Loud  ;  and  there  | 
 Saul  and  all  the  men  of  Israel  rejoiced  greatly. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 I  Samuel  testijieth  his  ijiteprifi/.  6  He  reproveth  the 
 people  of  ingTatitudc.  16  He  terrijieth  them  with 
 thunder  in  harvest  time.  20  He  comforteth  them 
 in  Gods  mercy. 
 
 AND  Samuel  said  unto  all  Israel,  Behold,  I 
 -^~*-  have  hearkened  unto  "  your  voice  in  all 
 that  ye  said  unto  me,  and  ''  have  made  a  king 
 over  you. 
 
 2  And  now,  behold,  the  king  '  walketh  before 
 you  :  "^  and  I  am  old  and  gray  headed  ;  and, 
 behold,  my  sons  are  with  you  :  and  I  have 
 walked  before  you  from  my  childhood  unto 
 this  day. 
 
 3  Behold,  "here  I  am:  witness  against  me 
 before  the  Lord,  and  before  "^his  anointed: 
 *  whose  ox  have  I  taken  ?  or  whose  ass  have  I 
 taken  ?  or  whom  have  I  defrauded  ?  whom  have 
 I  oppressed  ?  or  of  whose  hand  have  I  received 
 any  f  bribe  ||  to  "  blind  mine  eyes  therewith  ? 
 and  I  will  restore  it  you. 
 
 4  And  they  said.  Thou  hast  not  defrauded 
 us,  nor  oppressed  us,  neither  hast  thou  taken 
 ought  of  any  man's  hand. 
 
 5  And  he  said  unto  them,  Tlie  Lord  is  witness 
 against  you,  and  his  anointed  is  witness  this 
 
 n  ch.  8.  5, 
 
 19,  20, 
 f>  ch.  10.  24. 
 
 &  II.  U,1S. 
 
 f  Nu.  27.  17. 
 
 ch    8.  20. 
 d  ch.  8.  I,  5. 
 
 e  Ecclus.  46. 
 
 19. 
 /"ver.  5. 
 
 ch.  10.  1. 
 
 &  24.  0. 
 
 2  Sam. 1.14, 
 
 16. 
 g  Nu.  16.  15. 
 
 Acts  20.  33. 
 
 1  Thes.2.  5. 
 t  Heb.  ran 
 
 II  Or,  tliil  1 
 ihmiid  hide 
 mtne  cyeM  at 
 
 B.  C. 1095. 
 
 i  John  18  ;:a, 
 Acis  23  9. 
 &  24,  16,20 
 
 4  Ex.  22.  4. 
 
 I  Mic.  6.  4. 
 
 II  Or. made. 
 
 m  U.  1.  IS. 
 
 8c  S.  3,  4. 
 
 Mic,  0,2,3. 
 t  Heh.  r<yjt. 
 
 or,  bpnefils. 
 
 Ju.i^.  5.  II. 
 t  Hell,  if/rt. 
 ',  Gen.  40.  5, 
 
 Kx.: 
 
 23. 
 
 7  JuJg.  3.  7 
 
 r  Judg.  4.  2 
 
 *  Ju.l^-  10.  7. 
 
 &  I.H.  I. 
 /Jmlg.S.  12 
 
 J-Judg.2.13. 
 
 1/  Judsf.  10. 
 15,  16. 
 
 r.c.  11, 
 
 :Jud| 
 32. 
 ojudg.  11.1. 
 b  ch,  7.  13. 
 
 d  ch.  8.  3, 
 
 19. 
 (Judg.S.  23. 
 
 ch.  8.  7.  & 
 
 10.  19. 
 ^ch.  10.  24. 
 >  ch.  9.  5.  & 
 
 U.  20. 
 
 liHos.  13.11. 
 
 t  Heb.  be 
 
 after, 
 k  Lev.  26.14, 
 
 15,  Ktc. 
 
 Deii.  28.  15, 
 
 &c.  Josb. 
 
 24.  20- 
 /  ver.  9. 
 
 m  Ex.14.  13, 
 
 I  Prov.  26  1 . 
 Josh.  HI  12. 
 ch.  7.9,  10. 
 Jam.  5.  16, 
 17,  18. 
 p  cU.  8.  7. 
 
 day,  '  that  ye  have  not  found  ought  '  in  my 
 hand.     And  they  answered.  He  is  witness. 
 
 6  f  And  Samuel  said  unto  the  people,  '  It  is 
 the  Lord  that  {|  advanced  Moses  and  Aaron, 
 and  that  brought  your  fathers  up  out  of  the 
 land  of  Egypt. 
 
 7  Now  therefore  stand  still,  that  I  may  "'  rea- 
 son with  you  before  tlie  Lord  of  all  the  t^g'^- 
 teous  acts  of  the  Lord,  which  he  did  f  to  you 
 and  to  your  fathers. 
 
 8  "  When  Jacob  was  come  into  Egypt,  and 
 your  fathers  "cried  unto  the  Lord,  then  tlie 
 Lord  ''sent  Moses  and  Aaron,  which  brought 
 forth  your  fathers  out  of  Egypt,  and  made 
 them  dwell  in  this  place. 
 
 9  And  when  they  "iforgat  the  Lord  their  God, 
 '  he  sold  them  into  the  hand  of  Sisera,  captain 
 of  the  host  of  Razor,  and  into  the  hand  of  '  the 
 Philistines,  and  into  the  hand  of  the  king  'of 
 Moab,  and  they  fought  against  them. 
 
 10  And  they  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  said, 
 "  We  have  sinned,  because  we  have  forsaken 
 the  Lord,  '  and  have  served  Baalim  and  Asli- 
 taroth  :  but  now  ''  deliver  us  out  of  the  hand  of 
 our  enemies,  and  we  will  serve  thee. 
 
 1 1  And  the  Lord  sent '  Jerubbaal,  and  Bedan, 
 and  °  Jephthah,  and  ''  Samuel,  and  delivered 
 you  out  of  the  hand  of  your  enemies  on  every 
 side,  and  ye  dwelled  safe. 
 
 12  And  when  ye  saw  that '  Nahash  the  king 
 of  the  children  of  Amnion  came  against  you, 
 ■^  ye  said  unto  me.  Nay  ;  but  a  king  shall  reign 
 over  us  ;  when  °  the  Lord  your  God  was  your 
 king. 
 
 13  Now  therefore  ''behold  the  king  ^  whom 
 ye  have  chosen,  and  whom  ye  have  desired! 
 and,  behold,  "  the  Lord  hath  set  a  king  over 
 you. 
 
 14  If  ye  will '  fear  the  Lord,  and  serve  him, 
 and  obey  his  voice,  and  not  rebel  against  the 
 t  commandment  of  the  Lord,  then  shall  both 
 ye  and  also  the  king  that  reigneth  over  you 
 f  continue  following  the  Lord  your  God  : 
 
 15  But  if  ye  will  'not  obey  the  voice  of  the 
 Lord,  but  rebel  against  the  commandment  of 
 the  Lord,  then  shall  the  hand  of  the  Lord  be 
 against  you,  '  as  it  teas  against  your  fathers. 
 
 16  t  Now  therefore  ""  stand  and  see  this  great 
 thing,  which  the  Lord  will  do  before  your  eyes. 
 
 1 7  Is  it  not  "  wheat  harvest  to  day  ?  °  I  will 
 call  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  send  thunder 
 and  rain  :  that  ye  may  perceive  and  see  that 
 
 your  wickedness  is  great,  which  ye  have  done 
 m  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  in  asking  you  a 
 king. 
 
 — Boothr.  14.  Renew  the  hingdom, '  renew  the  kingly  power.' — Getides. 
 *  Confirm  our  former  choice.'  15.  jilade  Saul  king,  'recognised  him.' — 
 Poole.    Eqaivalent  to  a  coronation.— Sl/^ 
 
 Chap.  XII.  ■ —  2.  My  sons  are  with  you,  reduced  to  the  state  of 
 private  persons,  the  law  was  now  open  against  them,  and  the  king 
 could  punish  them  like  the  rest  of  the  people,— Pa^,  Poole.  Wall ;  but 
 while  as  a  magistrate  he  surrenders,  as  a  father  he  connects  his  own 
 
 services  to  the  people  with  his  surrender,  and  thus  tacitly  appeals  to 
 their  hearts  in  behalf  of  his  sons. — Dr.  Clarke.  1 1 .  Bedan — this  name 
 is  not  among  the  judges;  some  Versions  read  'Barak.' — Gill.  The 
 Chaldee  reads  •  Samson,'  and  this  is  perhaps  a  contraction  of  Ben  Dan, 
 or  the  son  of  Dan,  for  Samson.  1/.  Wheat  harvest — rain — which 
 was  not  wont  to  fall  in  harvest  time,  but  in  autumn  and  spring,  called 
 the  latter  and  the  former  rain. — Pat. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI 1.  Observe  here  the  terms  nf 
 
 Kahash.     Surely  '  the  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked  are  cruel !' 
 
 II.  The  sercilitt/  of  the  men  of  Jal>esh-yikad.  Alas  !  where 
 was  their  piety  and  where  their  confidence  in  God  ?  When  men 
 have  cast  oii"  their  relision,  they  have  reason  to  he  cowards. 
 
 III.  The  bravery  of  Saul.  The  Spirit  of  God  came  upon 
 him  ;  and  it  is  hy  the  power  of  God's  Spirit  alone  that  we  can 
 beat  down  our  spiritual  enemies. 
 
 I\^.   The  plaudits  nf  the  people.   Snul,  scarcely  noticed  before, 
 and  having  many  enemies,  is  now  almost  idolized.    How  soon 
 the  world  changes  its  countenance,  as  the  aspect  of  a  man's 
 305 
 
 affairs  change  !  As  it  was,  so  it  still  is  ;  '  men  will  praise  thee 
 when  thou  doest  well  to  thyself.'  We  ought,  then,  to  know 
 how  to  appreciate  worldly  applause.  If  we  can  gain  it  with 
 a  good  conscience,  it  is  pleasant  enough  ;  but  let  us  not  hold 
 it  as  a  precious  treasure,  for  it  may,  on  some  unexpected  oc- 
 casion, like  riches,  make  to  itself  wings  and  flee  away.  God's 
 favour  only  is  worth  our  chief  pursuit.  If  he  smiles,  we  need 
 not  care  though  all  the  world  should  frown  ;  and  if  he  frowns, 
 we  can  never  be  truly  blest,  though  all  the  world  should 
 smile. 
 
 2  R 
 
Saul's  selected  band. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XIII. 
 
 He  sacrijiceth. 
 
 18  So  Samuel  called  unto  the  Lord  ;  and  the 
 Lord  sent  thunder  and  rain  that  day  :  and  '■  all 
 the  people  greatly  feared  tlie  Lord  and  Samuel. 
 
 I!)  And  all  the  people  said  unto  Samuel, 
 '  Pray  fur  thy  servants  unto  the  Lord  thy  God, 
 that  we  die  not :  for  we  have  added  unto  all 
 our  sins  this  evil,  to  ask  us  a  king. 
 
 20  H  And  Samuel  said  unto  the  people,  Fear 
 not :  ye  have  done  all  this  wickedness  :  yet 
 turn  not  aside  from  following  the  Lord,  but 
 serve  the  Lord  with  all  your  heart ; 
 
 21  And  ^  turn  ye  not  aside  :  '  for  then  should 
 ye  go  after  vain  thinr/s,  wliich  cannot  profit  nor 
 deliver  ;  for  they  are  vain. 
 
 22  For  "  the  Lord  will  not  forsake  his  people 
 "  for  his  great  name's  sake  :  because  "  it  hath 
 pleased  the  Lord  to  make  you  his  people. 
 
 23  Moreover  as  for  me,  God  forbid  that  I 
 should  sin  against  the  Lord  f "  in  ceasing  to 
 pray  for  you  :  but  "  I  will  teach  you  tlie  ''good 
 and  the  right  way: 
 
 24  '  Only  fear  the  Lord,  and  serve  him  in 
 truth  with  all  your  heart :  for  ''  consider  ||  how 
 'great  things  he  hath  done  for  you. 
 
 25  But  if  ye  shall  still  do  wickedly,  'ye  shall 
 be  consumed,  ^  both  ye  and  your  king. 
 
 CHAP.  XIIL 
 
 1  Savl's  selected  hand.  3  He  calleth  the  Hebrews  to 
 Gilffal  against  tfie  Pliilistitu-s,  whose  garrison  Jona- 
 than Iiad  smitten.  5  The  Philistines'  great  host. 
 6  The  distre.ts  of  the  Israelites.  8  Said^  weary  of 
 staying  for  Samuel,  sacrifieeth.  11  Samuet  reprov- 
 et/t  him.  17  2'he  three  spoiling  hands  of  tfte  Pliilis- 
 tines.  19  The  policy  of  tiie  Philistines,  to  suffer  no 
 smith  in  Israel, 
 
 CAUL  f  reigned  one  year;  and  when  he 
 *^  had  reigned  two  years  over  Israel, 
 
 2  Saul  chose  him  three  thousand  men  of  Is- 
 rael ;  irhercof  two  thousand  were  with  Saul  in 
 Michmash  and  in  mount  Beth-el,  and  a  thou- 
 sand were  with  Jonathan  in  '  (Jibeah  of  Benja- 
 min :  and  the  rest  of  the  people  he  sent  every 
 man  to  his  tent. 
 
 3  And  Jonathan  smote  ">  the  garrison  of  the 
 Philistines  that  was  in  ||  Geba,  and  tlie  Philis- 
 
 9  Ex,  14.  3i. 
 See  Ezra  ID. 
 
 ■  Ex.  9  23. 
 &  10    17. 
 Jam.  5-  15. 
 ljL.hu  5.16. 
 
 xDpu.  ir.lG. 
 Jer.  16  li>. 
 Hab  2.  1». 
 1  Cor.  ».  4. 
 
 I  1  Kin.  6. 
 
 13.  I't.  a». 
 
 14. 
 X  Jonh.  7.  9. 
 
 Hs    106.  8. 
 
 Jor.    14   21. 
 
 Kick.  20.  9, 
 
 U. 
 V  Deut.  7-  7, 
 
 a  &  14.  2. 
 
 Mai.  1.  2. 
 
 I  Heb.  from 
 
 z  Acts  12.  5. 
 
 Horn.  1.  &. 
 
 Col.  1.9- 
 
 2rim.  1.  3. 
 o  Va.M  II. 
 01-.  4.  11. 
 b  I  Kin.  3. 
 
 3fi.  2  Cl.r. 
 
 6.  27.  Jer. 
 
 6.  16. 
 c  EccJes.  12. 
 
 1.1. 
 d  I»  5   12. 
 
 II  Or,  whit  n 
 grral  tiling, 
 he. 
 
 t  Deu.lO  SI. 
 
 Pit.  126.2.3 
 
 /J.>sl.. 24.20. 
 
 g  D(iu.2D.36 
 
 t  H«b.  «< 
 
 t  Heb.  did 
 tl„,h. 
 Geii.rH-  30. 
 
 Judg.  6.  S. 
 
 \  H»-b.  Irrm. 
 bird  a/lc-r 
 
 b  ch.  10.  5. 
 II  Or,  /fte  hill. 
 
 i  Heb.  blat 
 Aim. 
 
 I  Heb.  i»- 
 trraltd  the 
 facr. 
 
 r2Chr.  16.9. 
 
 /cli.  16.  II. 
 
 tines  heard  of  it.  And  Saul  blew  the  trumpet 
 throughout  all  the  land,  saying,  Let  the  He- 
 brews hear. 
 
 4  And  all  Israel  heard  say  that  Saul  liad 
 smitten  a  garrison  of  the  Philistines,  and  that 
 Israel  also  fwas  had  in  abomination  with  the 
 Philistines.  And  the  people  were  called  toge- 
 ther after  Saul  to  Gilgal. 
 
 5  f  And  the  Philistines  gathered  themselves 
 together  to  fight  with  Israel,  thirty  thousand 
 chariots,  and  six  thousand  horsemen,  and  peo- 
 ple as  the  sand  which  is  on  the  seasliore  in 
 multitude  :  and  they  came  up,  and  pitched  in 
 Michmash,  eastward  from  Beth-aven. 
 
 6  When  the  men  of  Israel  saw  that  they  were 
 in  a  strait,  (for  the  people  were  distressed,)  then 
 the  people  '^  did  hide  themselves  in  caves,  and 
 in  tliickets,  and  in  rocks,  and  in  high  places, 
 and  in  pits. 
 
 7  And  some  of  the  Hebrews  went  over  Jor- 
 dan to  the  land  of  Gad  and  Gilead.  As  for 
 Saul,  he  iras  yet  in  Gilgal,  and  all  the  people 
 ■(■  followed  him  trembling. 
 
 8  t  "^  And  he  tarried  seven  days,  according  to 
 the  set  time  that  Samuel  had  appointed :  but 
 Samuel  came  not  to  Gilgal ;  and  the  people 
 were  scattered  from  him. 
 
 9  And  Saul  said.  Bring  hither  a  burnt  offering 
 to  me,  and  peace  offerings.  And  he  offered 
 the  burnt  offering. 
 
 10  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  as  soon  as  he 
 had  made  an  end  of  offering  the  burnt  offering, 
 behold.  Samuel  came  ;  and  Saul  went  out  to 
 meet  him,  that  he  might  f  .salute  him. 
 
 1 1  t  And  Samuel  said.  What  hast  thou  done? 
 And  Saul  said.  Because  I  saw  that  the  peo- 
 ple were  scattered  from  me,  and  that  thou 
 camest  not  within  the  days  appointed,  and  tliat 
 the  Philistines  gathered  themselves  together  at 
 Michmash  ; 
 
 12  Therefore  said  I,  The  Philistines  will  come 
 down  now  upon  me  to  Gilgal,  and  I  have  not 
 f  made  supplication  unto  the  Lord:  I  forced 
 myself  therefore,  and  offered  a  burnt  offering. 
 
 13  And  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  *■  Thou  hast  done 
 foolishly :  '  thou  hast  not  kept  the  command- 
 
 Chap.  XIII.—  1.  Saul  reii^neii  one  pear. •\^hy:i2  '71NTD  T1W  ?3.  literallj-. 
 'Saul  was  the  son  of  a  year  in  his  reigning.*— Jl/o7t^  He  reigiicii 
 one  year  from  his  unction  at  Ramah.  or  from  his  election  at  Mizpeli. 
 to  the  renewal  of  the  l<ingdom  at  Gilgal.— «/«,  so  Pnole.  It  may 
 signify,  that  during  the  first  yoar  nothing  occurred,  hut  in  tlie  second 
 year  the  subsequent  events  tooli  place. — Scott.  The  clause  belongs 
 to  the  former  chapter,  as  if  the  historian  had  said,  '  These  events  hap. 
 pened  in  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  Saul,'  and  then  eoutiuued  his 
 narrative  with  proceeding  to  the  transactions  of  the  second.— So  Dr. 
 Clarke.  A  learned  prelate  understands  the  passage,  that  after  the  Philis- 
 tines were  subdued  by  Samuel,  a  year  pa-ssed,  when  Saul  began  to  reign, 
 and  after  this,  he  reigned  two  years  free  from  their  yoke.— i*«/. 
 Honbigant  and  Boottiroyd  follow  one  Greek  copy,  which  reads,  'Sanl 
 was  thirty  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and,'  &c.  The  Sept. 
 entirely  omit  the  verse-  5.  Thirty  t/iousand  chariots — a  mistake  in 
 the  number  might  easily  have  been  made  in  transcribing,  and  as  the 
 number  has  bien  thought  improbable,  it  has  been  thus  corrected : 
 D'CillJ,  'thirty,' is  substituted  byir')©,' three.'  Houliigant,  Bi^othroi/d, 
 anil  Clarke  adopt  the  latter  nnmher,  following  the  S/jriac  and  Arabic 
 Versions.  Patrick  does  not  think  the  readingof  those"  Versions  a  suffl- 
 cient  ground  for  changing  the  number,  s.u<X  therefore  infers,  with 
 
 Bochnrt,  that  this  number  does  not  simply  signify  the  war  chariots,  but 
 also  the  carriages  employed  to  carry  the  bacgage  of  so  great  a  number 
 of  jienple.  Certainly,  as  Gill  observes,  the  difficulty  is  not  wholly 
 removed  by  changing  *  thirty'  for  '  three,'  for  still  the  number  of 
 chariots  is  too  large.  Pharaoh  had  6oo  ;  Jabin,  king  of  Canaan,  had 
 900  ;  in  the  large  army  Mithridates  brought  against  the  Romans  he  had 
 but  100;  Darius  had'  200;  and  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  300.  In  later 
 times,  however,  the  numbers  seem  to  have  been  much  less  than  for- 
 merly. Poate  favours  the  idea  that  '  chariots'  is  here  put  by  a  figure  of 
 speech  common  in  Scripture,  for  '  the  men  that  fought  in  them  ;'  see 
 2  Sam.  X.  18,  where  the  Hebrew  tleficiency  is  supplied  by  our  trans- 
 lators, the  original  being, '  David  slew  seven  hundred  chariots,'  that  is, 
 "000  men  which  fought  in  chariots,  as  explained  1  Cliron.  xix.  18,  and 
 1  Kings,  XX.  21.  He  further  adds,  the  Philistines  had  allies,  being 
 joined  by  the  Canaanites  and  the  Tyrians,  ^Eccles.  xlvi.  18.)  6.  Hide 
 theinselees,  dispirited  with  the  vast  army  of  the  Philistines, — Pat.,  and 
 having  no  arms. — A.  Clarke.  In  pits,  *  cisterns,'  or  '  reservoirs  for 
 water.* — Mont.  7.  Alt — trembling — all  that  were  with  him  were  in 
 great  fear,  seeing  so  many  desert  him. — Pat.  1 1 .  Within  the  days  ap- 
 pointed— when  the  seventh  day  was  come,  and  a  good  part  of  it  pa-vt. — 
 Poole.         13.  Done  foolishly,  in  intrenching  upon  the  priest's  oflice,  or 
 
 Rffiections  on  Chap.  XII. —  I.  Happy  is  he  who,  on 
 serions  refection,  can  look  hack  on  his  past  life  with  conscious 
 salisfaclion.  Every  good  man  has  his  infirmities,  but  there  is, 
 nevertheless,  such  a  thing  as  '  the  testimony  of  a  good  con- 
 science.' O.  in  timt  hour  when  we  may  be  'old  and  grey- 
 headed,' and  are  about  to  depart  from  the  world,  may  we  have 
 'the  testimony  of  our  conscience,  that  in  simplicity  and  godly 
 sincerity,  not  with  fleshly  wisdom,  but  by  the  grace  of  God, 
 we  liave  had  our  conversation  in  the  world  !' 
 
 11.  We  are  continually  reminded  in  this  hisloni  of  God's  e.v- 
 306 
 
 ceeding  viercy  and  grace,  notwithstanding  the  ingratitude  of  his 
 people  and  their  frequent  departures  from  him.  This  is  no  en- 
 couragement to  sin.  unless  we  can  derive  encouragement  from 
 punishment,  i'or  God  never  overlooked  these  sins  in  his 
 people,  though  he  was  ready  to  pardon  them  on  repentance, 
 but  it  is  an  encouragement  not  to  despair.  '  Fear  not ;  ye 
 have  done  all  this  wickedness  :  yet  turn  not  aside  from  fol- 
 lowing tlie  Lord,  hut  serve  the  Lord  with  all  your  heart ;  for 
 ihc  Lord  will  not  forsake  his  people,  for  his  great  name's  sake  ; 
 because  it  hath  pleased  the  Lord  to  make  you  his  people.* 
 
The  Philistines  suffer  no  smith  in  Israel.        I.  SAMUEL,  XIV. 
 
 Jonathan  goeth  over  to  their  garrison. 
 
 ment  of  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  he  com- 
 nianiled  thee:  for  now  would  the  Loud  have 
 estabhshed  thy  kingdom  upon  Israel  for  ever. 
 
 1-t  ^  But  now  thy  kingdom  shall  not  continue  : 
 ■■  the  Lord  hath  sought  him  a  man  after  his 
 own  heart,  and  the  Lord  hath  commanded 
 him  to  be  captain  over  his  people,  because  thou 
 hast  not  kept  that  which  the  Lord  commanded 
 thee. 
 
 15  And  Samuel  arose,  and  gat  him  up  from 
 Gilgal  unto  Giiyeah  of  Benjamin.  And  Saul 
 numbered  tlie  people  that  were  f  present  witli 
 him,  '  about  six  hundred  men. 
 
 16  And  Saul,  and  Jonatlian  his  son,  and  the 
 people  that  were  present  with  them,  abode  in 
 t  Gibeah  of  Benjamin  :  but  the  Philistines  en- 
 camped in  Michmash. 
 
 17  H  And  the  spoilers  came  out  of  the  camp 
 of  the  Phihstines  in  three  companies  :  one 
 company  turned  unto  the  way  that  Icadeth  to 
 '  Ophrah,  unto  the  land  of  Shual  : 
 
 18  And  another  company  turned  the  way  to 
 '  Beth-horon :  and  another  company  turned 
 to  the  way  of  the  border  that  looketh  to  the 
 valley  of  '"  Zeboini  toward  the  wilderness 
 
 19  1  Now  "  there  was  no  smith  found  through- 
 out all  the  land  of  Israel :  for  the  Philistines 
 said.  Lest  the  Hebrews  make  tliem  swords  or 
 spears : 
 
 '20  But  all  the  Israelites  went  down  to  the 
 Philistines,  to  sharpen  every  man  his  share, 
 and  his  coulter,  and  his  ax,  and  his  mattock. 
 
 21  Yet  tliey  had  f  a  file  for  the  mattocks,  and 
 for  the  coulters,  and  for  the  forks,  and  for  the 
 axes,  and  f  to  sharpen  the  goads. 
 
 22  So  it  came  to  pass  in  the  day  of  battle, 
 that  "  there  was  neither  sword  nor  spear  found 
 in  the  hand  of  any  of  the  people  that  ivere  with 
 Saul  and  Jonathan  :  but  with  Saul  and  with 
 Jonathan  liis  son  was  there  found. 
 
 23  ''  And  the  ||  garrison  of  the  Philistines 
 went  out  to  the  passage  of  Michmash. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 ]  Jonathan^  unwitting  to  his  father,  the  priest,  or  the 
 people,  (/oeth  and  miraculously  smiteiJi  the  Philistines 
 garrison,  15  A  divijie  terror  niaketh  them  beat  them' 
 selves.  17  Suul,  not  staying  the  priesfs  answer, 
 setteth  on  them.  21  The  captivated  Hibrews,  and 
 the  hidden  IsrwHtes,  join  against  than.  24  Saul's 
 unadvised  adjuration  hind<reth  the  victory.  32  He 
 restrninvth  the  people  from  eating  hluod.  85  He 
 huildeth  an  altur.  36  Jonathan  ^  token  hy  lot,  is  saved 
 by  the  people.    47  Saul's  strength  and  family. 
 
 h  Ps.  89.  20. 
 Acts  13.  -ii- 
 
 \  Heb.  Gebti, 
 ver.  3. 
 
 /Josh.  IG.  3- 
 &  i3.  13,  1+ 
 
 mNe.  11.34. 
 
 '-  See  2  Kin. 
 21.  14. 
 -Ter.  24.  I. 
 
 t  Hob.  nfile 
 Kith  mouths. 
 
 f  Heb.  lo  Kt, 
 
 1  So  .Tudff. 
 5.8. 
 
 ;j  ch.  14.1,4. 
 11  Or,  itaud- 
 ing  camp. 
 
 \\  Or,  there 
 
 a  ch.  I.S.  15. 
 
 A  ch.  22  fl, 
 II,  2(1,  call 
 e<I  Altimi-l^ 
 
 /Judg.  7,  4, 
 7.  2Clir.M. 
 
 t  Heb.  Be 
 I  til  I. 
 
 g  1  Mac.  4 
 
 30. 
 h  See  Gen. 
 
 24.  14. 
 
 JuJg.  7.  1 1 
 
 lyrOW  II  it  came  to  pass  upon  a  day,  thai 
 -^^  Jonathan  the  son  of  Saul  said  unto  the 
 young  man  that  bare  liis  armour,  Come,  and 
 let  us  go  over  to  the  Philistines'  garrison,  that 
 is  on  the  other  side.  But  he  told  not  Iiis  fa- 
 ther. 
 
 2  And  Saul  tarried  in  the  uttermost  part  of 
 Gibeah  under  a  pomegranate  tree  which  is  in 
 Migron  :  and  the  people  tliat  were  with  him 
 were  "*  about  six  hundred  men  ; 
 
 3  And  ^  Ahiah,  the  son  of  Ahitub,  *^  Ichabod's 
 brother,  the  son  of  Phinehas,  the  son  of  Eli,  the 
 Lord's  priest  in  Shiloh,  **  wearing  an  ephod. 
 And  the  people  knew  not  that  Jonathan  was 
 gone. 
 
 4  H  And  between  the  passages,  by  which  Jo- 
 nathan sought  to  go  over  *^  unto  the  Philistines* 
 garrison,  there  was  a  sharp  rock  on  the  one 
 side,  and  a  sharp  rock  on  the  other  side  :  and 
 the  name  of  the  one  was  Bozez,  and  the  name 
 of  the  other  Seneh. 
 
 5  The  t  forefront  of  the  one  was  situate  nortli- 
 ward  over  against  Michmash,  and  the  other 
 southward  over  against  Gibeah. 
 
 G  And  Jonathan  said  to  the  young  man  that 
 bare  his  armour.  Come,  and  let  us  go  over  unto 
 the  garrison  of  these  uncircumcised  :  it  may  be 
 that  the  Lord  will  work  for  us  :  for  there  is  no 
 restraint  to  the  Lord  ^  to  save  by  many  or  by 
 few. 
 
 7  And  his  armourbearer  said  unto  him.  Do 
 all  that  is  in  thine  heart :  turn  thee  ;  behold, 
 I  am  with  thee  according  to  thy  heart. 
 
 8  Then  said  Jonathan,  Behold,  we  will  pass 
 over  unto  these  men, and  we  will  discover  our- 
 selves unto  them. 
 
 9  If  they  say  thus  unto  us,  f  Tarry  until  we 
 come  to  you  ;  then  we  will  stand  still  in  our 
 place,  and  will  not  go  up  unto  them. 
 
 10  But  if  they  say  thus.  Come  up  unto  us  ; 
 then  we  will  go  up  :  for  ^  the  Lord  hath  de- 
 livered them  into  our  hand  :  and  ^  this  shall  he 
 a  sign  unto  us. 
 
 1 1  And  both  of  them  discovered  themselves 
 unto  the  garrison  of  the  Philistines  :  and  the 
 Philistines  said.  Behold,  the  Hebrews  come 
 forth  out  of  the  holes  where  they  had  hid 
 themselves. 
 
 12  And  the  men  of  the  garrison  answered 
 Jonathan  and  his  armourbearer,  and  said,  Come 
 up  to  us,  and  we  will  shew  you  a  thing.  And 
 Jonathan  said  unto  his  armourbearer.  Come  up 
 
 upon  the  prophet's,  or  upon  both, — Pat.  Thus  he  deprived  himself  of 
 those  prayers  and  that  direction  which  would  have  ensured  him  suc- 
 cess.— Scott.  Fur  ever,  that  is,  for  a  long  time,  as  the  terra  often 
 imports;  liecause  in  the  end  the  kingdom  was  promised  to  Judah, 
 (Gen.  xlix.  10.)  !4.  After  fits  own  heart,  wlio  would  fulfil  the  desires 
 of  his  heart,  and  not  oppose  them  as  Saul  did. — Poole.  15.  Six  hnn- 
 dretf  ?nen — so  great  a  desertion  was  there  Irora  him  since  he  was  fol- 
 lowed by  300,000  men  of  Israel  and  30,000  of  Judah  against  Nahash. — 
 Scott.  16.  Abode  in  Gibeah,  where  Samuel  was,  and  it  was  a  strong 
 place.  1/.  The  spoilers  came  out — parties  went  three  ways  to  ravage 
 the  country,  there  being  none  to  oppose. — Pat.  19.  No  smith — during 
 foriy  years*  oppression,  the  Philisiinos  had  monopolized  the  trade  of 
 smiths,  so  that  the  Israelites  had  probably  lost  all  their  own  hands,  and 
 nearly  the  art  itself.  Thus  they  had  managed  to  deprive  them  of  the 
 use  of  armour  and  weapons.  So  the  Chaldeans  carried  away  the 
 smiths,  when  they  destroyed  Jerusalem,  ('2  Kings,  xsiv.  14  ;  Jer.  xxiv.i.) 
 — See  Scott.         21.  File,  rather  'grindstone.'        22.   Neither  sword 
 
 nor  spear,  yet  they  hart  bows  and  arrows,  the  heads  of  which  were 
 often  of  flint, — A.Clarke;  and  slings  and  clubs  were  also  in  use,— i*ti^; 
 and  even  their  goads  served  for  pikes. — Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. — 2.  The  uttermost  part — the  outworks,  where  he  was 
 entrenched. — Poole,  Gill.  A  pomegranate,  ITD^.  From  the  low 
 growth  of  the  pomegranate,  it  was  not  a  tree  under  which  to  pitch 
 a  tent ;  hence  it  is  thought  the  rock  Rimmon  is  meant,  (see  Judg. 
 XX.  47.)— See  Sir  T.  Brown's  Miscel..  p.  34  ;  Clarke,  GUI.  3.  And 
 Ahiah,  Sfc. — the  meaning  of  all  this  is,  that  the  high  priest  was  now 
 with  Saul  and  the  ark  also.  The  Lord's  priest  in  Shiloh— not  Ahiah, 
 but  Eh,  for  Shiloh  was  now  destroyed.— GiV/.  4.  A  sharp  rock,  §c. — 
 so  there  was  no  way  i.if  coming  at  the  garrison  but  by  climbing  up  these 
 rocks,  deemed  by  the  Philistines  inaccessible,  and  so  m  protected. 
 Boser,  signilyiug 'smooth' and  'slippery.'  SeneA, 'treading,'  being 
 more  trodden. — Gilt.  9-  //  thet/  say  thus — this  sign  was  evidently 
 by  the  instinct  of  God's  Spirit. — Poole,  Pat.  1 1 .  Come  forth,  leaving 
 their  hiding  places  from  necessity,  seeking  food.        1 2.  Come  «/j— said 
 
 Refi.fctions   on    Chap.    XIII.  —  This    chapter    records,  *  Saul,' continues  the  good  BisLop  Hall,  'looked  upon  Jonathan 
 
 I.  S.iuVs  disobedience  in  presuming;  to  oifer  sacrifice  without  as  the  inheritor  of  his  crown  ;  and,  behold,  ere  his  peaceable 
 
 Samuel.     '  God,'  says  Bishop   Hall,  '  will  have  no  worship  of  possession,  he  hath  lost  it  from  himself.     Our  sins  strip  us, 
 
 our  devising  ;  we  may  only  do  what  he  bids  us,  not  bid  what  not  of  our  hopes  of  heaven  only,  but  of  our  earthly  blessings, 
 
 ho  commands  not.'  'I'he  way  to  entail  a  comfortable  prosperity  upon  our  seed  after 
 
 II.  Sard's  sentence — '  Now  thy  kingdom  shall  not  continue.'  us  is  our  consciouable  obedience  to  God.' 
 307 
 
Jonathan  and  his  armour-bearer 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XIV. 
 
 smite  the  Philistines'  yarrison. 
 
 after  me  :  for  the  Lord  hath  delivered  them 
 nito  the  hand  of  Israel. 
 
 13  And  Jonathan  climbed  up  upon  his  hands 
 and  upon  his  feet,  and  his  armourbearer  after 
 him  :  and  tliey  fell  before  Jonathan  ;  and  his 
 armourbearer  slew  after  him. 
 
 14  And  that  first  slaughter,  which  Jonathan 
 and  his  armourbearer  made,  was  about  twenty 
 men,  within  as  it  were  ||  an  half  acre  of  land, 
 which  a  yoke  of  oxen  might  plow. 
 
 15  And  '  there  was  trembling  in  the  host,  in 
 the  field,  and  among  all  the  people  :  the  garri- 
 son, and  '  the  spoilers,  they  also  trembled,  and 
 the  earth  quaked  :  so  it  was  f '  a  very  great 
 trembling. 
 
 16  And  the  watchmen  of  Saul  in  Gibeah  of 
 Benjamin  looked  ;  and,  behold,  the  multitude 
 melted  away,  and  they  '"went  on  beating  down 
 one  another. 
 
 17  Then  said  Saul  unto  the  people  i\\a.t  were 
 with  him,  Number  now,  and  see  who  is  gone 
 from  us.  And  when  they  had  numbered,  be- 
 hold, Jonathan  and  his  armourbearer  were  not 
 there. 
 
 18  And  Saul  said  unto  Ahiah,  Bring  hither 
 the  ark  of  God.  For  the  ark  of  God  was  at 
 that  time  with  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 19  1  And  it  came  to  pass,  while  Saul  °  talked 
 unto  the  priest,  that  the  ||  noise  that  icas  in 
 the  host  of  tlie  Philistines  went  on  and  in- 
 creased :  and  Saul  said  unto  the  priest,  With- 
 draw thine  hand. 
 
 20  And  Saul  and  all  the  people  that  were 
 with  him  f  assembled  themselves,  and  they 
 came  to  the  battle  :  and,  behold,  °  every  man's 
 sword  was  against  his  fellow,  and  there  ivas  a 
 very  great  discomfiture. 
 
 21  Moreover  the  Hebrews  that  were  with  the 
 Philistines  before  that  time,  which  went  up 
 with  them  into  the  camp  from  the  country/ 
 round  about,  even  they  also  turned  to  be  with 
 the  Israelites  that  tvere  with  Saul  and  Jonathan. 
 
 22  Likewise  all  the  men  of  Israel  which  ^  had 
 hid  themselves  in  mount  Ephraim,  when  they 
 heard  that  the  Philistines  fled,  even  they  also 
 followed  hard  after  them  in  the  battle. 
 
 23  ''  So  the  Lord  saved  Israel  that  day  :  and 
 the  battle  passed  over  '  unto  Betli-aven. 
 
 24  K  And  the  men  of  Israel  were  distressed 
 that  day:  for  Saul  had  'adjured  the  people, 
 saying.  Cursed  be  the  man  that  eateth  anj/  food 
 until  evening,  that  I  may  be  avenged  on  mine 
 
 B.C.       I|        B.  c 
 cir.  IIW.      I       cir.  IUh7. 
 
 (  Pen.  9.  28. 
 
 Mat   3.  5. 
 H  Ks.  3.  3, 
 
 Nu.  13.  27. 
 
 M«t.  3.  i. 
 
 Or,  hnlf  a 
 
 fmtm  „/-..« 
 nr_re„f  land- 
 
 Job  13.  11. 
 
 *  ch.  13.  17. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 of  G,..L 
 I  GcQ.  35.  5. 
 
 nXu.  27.  21. 
 If  Or,  tumult. 
 
 \  Heb.  wfTt 
 cried  toge- 
 ther. 
 
 oJudff.7.  S2 
 2  Chr.  20. 
 23. 
 
 p  cb.  13.  6. 
 
 a  Ex.  14.  30. 
 
 Pa.  U.  6.  7. 
 
 Hos.  I.  7. 
 r  ch.  13.  5. 
 
 iJoah.  C.  26. 
 
 p  Lev.  S.  17. 
 
 &  7.  S6.  «c 
 17  10.  &  19. 
 26.  Pen.  12. 
 16,  23.  24. 
 
 li  Or,  limit 
 trfacheri'Ut 
 
 Is- 
 
 t  Heb.  m  l,h 
 hand. 
 S  ch.  7.  17. 
 
 f  Heb.  Ihnt 
 att'ir  l,e  A*- 
 t/aii  la  htiild 
 llato  Ihc 
 LOUD. 
 
 enemies.  So  none  of  the  people  tasted  any 
 food. 
 
 2  j  '  And  all  they  of  the  land  came  to  a  wood  ; 
 and  there  was  "  honey  upon  the  ground. 
 
 2(j  And  when  the  people  were  come  into  the 
 wood,  behold,  the  honey  dropped  ;  but  no  man 
 put  his  hand  to  his  mouth  :  for  the  people 
 feared  the  oath. 
 
 27  But  Jonathan  heard  not  when  his  father 
 charged  the  people  with  the,  oath  :  wlierefore 
 he  put  fortli  the  end  of  the  rod  that  leas  in  his 
 hand,  and  dipped  it  in  an  honeycomb,  and  put 
 his  hand  to  his  mouth  ;  and  liis  eyes  were  en- 
 lightened. 
 
 28  Then  answered  one  of  the  people,  and 
 said.  Thy  father  straitly  cliarged  the  people 
 with  an  oath,  saying.  Cursed  be  the  man  that 
 eateth  ayty  food  this  day.  And  the  people 
 were  ||  faint. 
 
 29  'Then  said  Jonathan,  My  father  hath  trou- 
 bled the  land  :  see,  I  pray  you,  how  mine  eyes 
 have  been  enlightened,  because  I  tasted  a  little 
 of  this  honey. 
 
 30  How  much  more,  if  haply  the  people  had 
 eaten  freely  to  day  of  the  s(i(iil  of  their  ene- 
 mies which  they  found  ?  for  had  there  not  been 
 now  a  much  greater  slaughter  among  the  Phi- 
 listines? 
 
 31  And  they  smote  the  Philistines  that  day 
 from  Michmash  to  Aijalon  :  and  the  people 
 were  very  faint. 
 
 32  And  the  people  flew  upon  the  spoil,  and 
 took  sheep,  and  oxen,  and  calves,  and  slew 
 them  on  the  ground  :  and  the  people  did  eat 
 them  *  with  the  blood. 
 
 33  H  Then  they  told  Saul,  saying.  Behold, 
 the  people  sin  against  the  Lord,  in  that  they 
 eat  with  the  blood.  And  he  said.  Ye  have 
 II  transgressed  :  roll  a  great  stone  unto  me  this 
 day. 
 
 34  And  Saul  said.  Disperse  yourselves  among 
 the  people,  and  .say  unto  them,  Bring  me  hither 
 every  man  his  ox,  and  every  man  his  sheep, 
 and  slay  them  here,  and  eat ;  and  sin  not 
 against  the  Lord  in  eating  with  the  blood. 
 And  all  the  people  brought  every  man  his  ox 
 fwitli  him  that  night,  and  slew  them  there. 
 
 35  And  Saul  ''  built  an  altar  unto  the  Lord  : 
 t  the  same  was  the  first  altar  that  he  built  unto 
 the  Lord. 
 
 36  IT  And  .Saul  said.  Let  us  go  down  after 
 the  Philistines  by  night,  and  spoil  them  until 
 
 in  mockery.  13.  Climhed  up,  behind  them,  and  surprised  them. 
 H.  Within — an  lialf  acre — that  is,  a  very  small  space  of  ground. — So 
 Pat.  Kennicott,  by  a  slight  alteration,  reads,  '  that  lirst  slaughter  of 
 about  twenty  men  was  effected  by  darts,  by  slinging  stones  and  flints 
 of  the  field.  15.  T/tcenrt/t  '/naked — a  metaphorical  e.xpressiou  of  the 
 great  tumult  into  which  they  were  thrown. —  So  Pat.  The  whole 
 land  was  in  commotion,  as  if  panic  struck  by  God. — Geddes.  Pro- 
 bably a  real  earthquake. — Poole,  Gill,  Clarke,  Scott.  1 6.  Wulchmeii — 
 looked — for  Gibeab  was  on  a  high  hill  overlooking  the  country. — Pat. 
 18.  Tke  ark — the  ark  which  contained  the  law  was  at  Kirjath-jearinr, 
 but  a  little  coffer  is  meant,  in  which  was  the  ephod. — Abarljinel. 
 Jarchi  reads,  '  the  ark  of  God  was  there  [at  Gibeah]  at  that,'  \c. — Gill. 
 Saul  commanded  the  ark  itself  to  attend  him  when  be  wanted  the 
 advice  and  assistance  of  Samuel,  for  only  one  ark  is  mentioned  in  Scrip- 
 ture, called  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  of  the  Lord,  or,  of  God,  {see  chap. 
 iv.  6,  11.  17,  18.  &c.)— i'li^.  The  St7)(.  translate  it  TTpo^anne  to  E^ovJ, 
 '  bring  hither  the  ephod.'— So  A'/mc/ii.  19.  Witlidraw  thine  hand— 
 the  Jews  consider  this  as  a  profane  act  in  Saul,  who,  thouKh  he  dis- 
 covered the  cause,  yet  hail  further  need  of  God's  direction  and  blessing 
 to  increase  success.— Poofe,  Gill.  20.  Against  his /elluw— the  army 
 consisting  of  divers  nations,  as  Joseplius  states,  they  knew  not  each 
 other,  and  mistook  one  another  for  Hebrews.  21.  The  Hebrews — 
 servants  and  bondsmen,  or  pressed  men  in  the  army,  or  renegados 
 from  the  Israelites.— (ViH.  22.  Hid  themselves— see  chap.  xiii.  6, 
 23.  V7U0  Belhavcn—tbe  fight  continued  50  far.  when  the  Philistines 
 308 
 
 threw  down  their  arms  and  fled.  24.  Cursed,  ffc. — the  king  had 
 the  same  power  that  the  great  Sanhedrim  had,  who,  the  Jews  say, 
 might  devote  those  to  destruclion  who  did  not  obey  the  charge  that 
 was  given  to  them  in  war. — Selden  de  J  are  Nat.,  ^c.  This  was  indis- 
 creet of  Saul,  whose  men  might  faint  in  pursuit. — Pat.  2.5.  .ind  all 
 they  of  the  land,  ?fc.,  '  for  although  the  whole  people  had  come  to  a 
 wood  where  was  honey  dropping  upon  the  ground,  yet  when  the  people 
 came  into  the  wood,  and  behold  the  honey  dropped,  no  man  ate  of  it,' 
 &c. — Boothr,  Honey  upon  the  ground,  which  dropped  from  hollow 
 trees,  or  clefts  of  rocks,  where  bees  made  their  combs, — Pat. ;  or  honey 
 dews  from  the  trees  themselves.— So  Clarke.  Bees  arc  left  in  a  wild 
 state  in  the  east,  and  the  forests  literally  flow  with  honey ;  large  combs, 
 full  of  honey,  hanging  on  the  trees  as  the  passengers  pass. — Roh, 
 Honey  is  found  in  great  abundance  in  the  deserts  of  the  Holy  Land. — 
 Shawns  Trav.  27-  His  eyes  were  enlightened,  he  felt  refreshed,  for 
 fatigue  dims  the  eyes.— So^Ht'U'.  29.  Troubled  the  land—'  the  army,' 
 whom,  by  this  rash  oath,  he  had  greatly  injured.  Yet  Jonathan  spoke 
 rashly,  for  he  might  have  caused  an  insurrection. — So  Poole  and  Gill. 
 31.  Michnia.';h,  the  place  where  the  camp  of  the  Philistines  was  when 
 Jonathan  first  attacked  them.  Aijalon,  not  a  city  in  the  trihe  of  Dan, 
 mentioned  Josh.  x.  12;  xix.  42;  nor  in  the  tribe  of  Zebuhin,  (Judg. 
 xii.  12,)  which  were  too  distant ;  hut  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.  (2  Chron. 
 xi.  10  ;)  according  to  Bunting,  twelve  miles  from  Michmash.— Gi//. 
 22.Wilh  the  blood,  not  having  patience  to  wait  till  the  blood  was  gone 
 out,  as  they  should  have  done,  (Gen.  ix.  4 ;  Lev.  xvii.  14  ;  Dcut.  xii.  16.) 
 
Saul  s  strength  and  family. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XV. 
 
 He  is  sent  to  destroy  Amalek. 
 
 the  morning  liglit,  and  let  us  not  leave  a  man 
 of  them.  And  tliey  said,  Do  whatsoever 
 seemeth  good  unto  thee.  Tlien  said  tlie  [iriest. 
 Let  us  draw  near  liitlier  unto  God. 
 
 37  And  Saul  asked  counsel  of  God,  Shall  I 
 go  down  after  the  Philistines  V  wilt  thou  deliver 
 them  into  the  hand  of  Israel  ?  But  ^  he  an- 
 swered him  not  that  day. 
 
 38  And  Saul  said,  "  Draw  ye  near  hither,  all 
 the  t  chief  of  the  people  :  and  know  and  see 
 wlierein  this  sin  hath  been  this  day. 
 
 39  For,  ^  as  the  Loud  liveth,  which  saveth 
 Israel,  though  it  be  in  Jonathan  my  son,  he 
 shall  surely  die.  But  there  was  not  a  man 
 among  all  the  people  that  answered  him. 
 
 40  Tlien  said  he  unto  all  Israel,  Be  ye  on 
 one  side,  and  I  and  Jonathan  my  son  will  be 
 on  the  other  side.  And  the  people  said  unto 
 Saul,  Do  what  seemetli  good  unto  thee. 
 
 41  Therefore  Saul  said  unto  the  Lord  God 
 of  Israel,  ||  '  Give  a  perfect  lot.  ''  And  Saul 
 and  Jonathan  were  taken  :  but  the  people 
 t  escaped. 
 
 4'2  And  Saul  said,  Cast  lots  between  me  and 
 Jonathan  my  son.     And  Jonathan  was  taken. 
 
 43  Then  Said  said  to  Jonathan,  "  Tell  me 
 what  thou  hast  done.  And  Jonathan  told 
 him,  and  said,  ''  I  did  but  taste  a  little  honey 
 with  the  end  of  tlie  rod  that  was  in  mine  hand, 
 and,  lo,  I  must  die. 
 
 44  And  Saul  answered,^ God  do  so  and  more 
 also  :  ''for  thou  shalt  surely  die,  Jonathan. 
 
 45  And  the  people  said  unto  Saul,  Shall 
 Jonathan  die,  who  hath  wrought  this  great  sal- 
 vation in  Israel?  God  forbid  :  '  rts  the  Lord 
 liveth,  there  shall  not  one  hair  of  his  head  fall 
 to  the  ground  ;  for  he  hath  wrought  with  God 
 this  day.  So  the  people  rescued  Jonathan, 
 that  he  died  not. 
 
 4fi  Then  Saul  went  up  from  following  the 
 Philistines  :  and  the  Philistines  went  to  their 
 own  place. 
 
 47  If  So  Saul  took  the  kingdom  over  Israel, 
 and  fought  against  all  his  enemies  on  every 
 side,  against  Moab,  and  against  the  children  of 
 '  Amnion,  and  against  Edom,  and  against  the 
 kings  of  '  Zobah,  and  against  the  Philistines  ; 
 and  whithersoever  he  turned  himself,  he  vexed 
 them. 
 
 a  Josti.7.  U- 
 cll.  lU.  19. 
 t  Heb.  C'ir. 
 
 Judg.  20.  2- 
 6  2  Sam.  12, 
 
 II  Or,  Shm 
 
 Ihe  iiiiiiicrnt. 
 c  Pro,  Hi.  33. 
 
 Acts  I,  21. 
 i  Josh,".  16 
 
 ch.  10.  20, 
 
 21. 
 
 t  Heb.  went 
 fi'Tih. 
 e  Josh.  7.  19. 
 
 /ver.  27. 
 
 jr  Rath  1.17. 
 U  ver.  39. 
 
 2Sa,  11.11. 
 1  Kin.  I.  52. 
 Luiie2l.l8. 
 
 »ch.  II.  II. 
 /2Sam.lOG 
 
 miahlily. 
 i<  Ch.  15.  3, 
 
 7. 
 
 .  ch.31.?. 
 
 IChr.  8,  33, 
 
 t  Heb. 
 j4bittrr. 
 
 /icli.  B.  II. 
 
 h  Ei.  17.  S, 
 
 14.  Num. 
 
 2+.  2IP.  Pen. 
 
 25,  17,  IB, 
 
 19. 
 c  1X1.  27.28, 
 
 29,  Josh.  C. 
 
 17,21. 
 
 II  Or,  /.,»5/il 
 d  NU.2+   21. 
 
 Judg.  I.  Ili. 
 
 &  4.  II. 
 .fGen.  18.25. 
 
 St  19.  12,  14. 
 
 Rev.  18.  4. 
 /Ex.  18,  10, 
 
 19.   Num. 
 
 10.  29,  32. 
 
 48  And  he  ||  gathered  an  host,  and  '"smote 
 the  Amalekites,  and  delivered  Israel  out  of  the 
 hands  of  them  that  spoiled  them. 
 
 49  Now  "  the  sons  of  Saul  were  Jonathan, 
 and  Ishui,  and  Melchi-shua  :  and  the  names  of 
 his  two  daughters  ivere  these;  the  name  of  the 
 firstborn  Merab,  and  the  name  of  the  younger 
 Michal : 
 
 50  And  the  name  of  Saul's  wife  was  Ahi- 
 noam,  the  daughter  of  Ahimaaz  :  and  the 
 name  of  the  captain  of  his  host  ipas  t  Abner, 
 the  son  of  Ncr,  Saul's  uncle. 
 
 51  "And  Kish  ivas  the  father  of  Saul  ;  and 
 Ner  the  father  of  Abner  xoas  tlie  son  of  Ahiel. 
 
 52  And  there  was  sore  war  against  the  Phi- 
 listines all  the  days  of  Saul :  and  when  Saul 
 saw  any  strong  man,  or  any  valiant  man,  ""he 
 took  him  unto  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 I  Samuel  sendeih  Saul  to  destroy  Amaleh.  6  Saul 
 favoureth  itie  Kenites.  8  He  sjmretli  Agag  and  tite 
 best  of  ttie  spoil.  10  Samuel  detumnceth  unto  Satd, 
 commcndinp  and  excusing  liimself.  God's  rejection  of 
 him  fur  his  disohedience.  24  SauVs  humiliation. 
 32   Samuel  hilhth  Agag.     34   Samuel  and  Saul  part. 
 
 CAMUEL  also  said  unto  Saul,  "  The  Lord 
 ^  sent  me  to  anoint  thee  to  be  king  over  his 
 people,  over  Israel  :  now  therefore  hearken 
 thou  unto  the  voice  of  the  words  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  I  remember 
 that  which  Amalek  did  to  Israel, ''  how  he  laid 
 wait  for  him  in  the  way,  when  he  came  up 
 from  Egypt. 
 
 3  Now  go  and  smite  Amalek,  and  "  utterly 
 destroy  all  that  they  have,  and  spare  them 
 not;  but  slay  both  man  and  woinin,  infant 
 and  suckling,  ox  and  sheep,  camel  and  ass. 
 
 4  And  Saul  gatliered  the  people  together, 
 and  numbered  them  in  Telaini,  two  hundred 
 thousand  footmen,  and  ten  tliousand  men  of 
 Judah. 
 
 5  And  Saul  came  to  a  city  of  Amalek,  and 
 
 II  laid  wait  in  the  valley. 
 
 6  t  And  Saul  said  unto  ■'  the  Kenite.s,  "  Go, 
 depart,  get  you  down  from  among  the  Amalek- 
 ites, lest  I  destroy  you  witli  them:  for  ''ye 
 shewed  kindness  to  all  the  children  of  Israel, 
 
 — Poole.       41 .  Give  a  perfect  lot,  '  givQ  perfect,'  Heb.  j  that  is,  declare 
 who  is  innocent. — Pat. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  2.  Amtdek  did— see  Exod.  xvii.  8,  and  Judg.  vi.  3. 
 They  attacked  tlie  Israelites  unarmed,  cutting  off  the  weak,  the  weary, 
 and  the  a{;ed,  and  that  just  after  their  deliverance  at  the  Red  Sea,  in 
 manifest  defiance  of  Gnd's  power. — Lelnnd.  Their  posterity  mani- 
 fested the  same  hostility,  and  at  various  times  they  joined  the  Ca- 
 naanites,  the  Moabites,  and  the  Midianitcs  against  them. — Cliandler. 
 3.  Smite  .\malek — see  note  on  Exod.  xvii.  8.  This  sentence  was  pro- 
 nounced long  ago,  (E.xod.  xvii.  14,)  and  renewed  when  the  Israelites 
 entered  Canaan,  who  were  charged  not  to  forget  it,  (Deut.  xxv.  19.) 
 The  order  is  now  given  to  execute  it. — Pat.  It  was  a  war  not  for 
 plunder,  but  for  jufttice. — So  A.  Clarke.  The  Amelekites  were  not  cut 
 off  till  their  iniquity  was  full,  as  was  the  case  of  the  devoted  nations 
 in  general,  (Gtn.  xv.  16,)  and  after  a  respite  of  400  years  from  the  time 
 
 when  the  sentence  was  first  pronounced. — Hales.  De.stroj/  all — many 
 saved  themselves  by  flight,  for  David  found  tlicm  still  occupying  their 
 country,  (chap,  xxvii.  8.)  Infant  and  stictcling — they  were  involved  in 
 temporal  death  with  their  guilty  fathers  by  order  of  the  Lord,  who  is  the 
 arbiter  of  life  and  death — all  the  reasons  we  do  not  know,  but  shall  not 
 the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  I — Sat.,  A.  Clarke.  Ox  and  siteep, 
 fyc,  that  the  destruction  might  appear  not  to  be  for  conquest  or  plun- 
 der.— Wil.  4.  Tf^!j?)i— probably  Tclem.  in  the  tribeol  Juriah  (Josh. 
 .XV.  24.)  The  word  means  'lambs,'  and  the  Vulgate  reads,  '  he  num- 
 bered them  as  lambs.'  6.  Kenites,  posterity  of  Jethro,  (see  note  on 
 Judg.  i,  16.)  From  among  tlie  Amalekites — the  Kenites  removed  from 
 country  to  country  for  the  convenience  of  their  fiocks  and  herds,  and 
 were  now,  it  seems,  among  the  Amalekites. — Gilt.  There  they  formerly 
 were,  (Num.  xxiv.  21,)  afterwards  in  Judah,  (Judg.  i.  16,)  and  thence 
 they  returned  to  their  own  habitation,  being,  probably,  annoyed  with 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.   XIV This    chapter    records, 
 
 I.  Jonathati's  courage.  Inspired  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  this 
 young  hero,  with  only  an  armour-bearer,  put  to  flight  the 
 whole  army  of  the  Philistines,  and  the  prediction  was  literally 
 accomplished,  '  One  shall  chase  a  thousand.'  Jonathan  was 
 '  strong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God.'  '  There  is  no  restraint,' 
 said  he,  '  to  the  Lord,  to  save  by  many  or  by  few."  Thus  the 
 Christian,  inspired  by  the  same  spirit,  and  placing  his  trust 
 in  the  same  arm,  defies  the  frowns  and  sneers  of  a  world  lying 
 in  wickedness  ;  so  that  his  enemies  cannot  stand  before  him. 
 '  This  is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the  world,  even  our 
 faith.' 
 
 .309 
 
 II.  Sauls  raslimss.  '  Asking  counsel  from  God,' says  Booth- 
 royd,  '  then  restraining  the  priest  in  the  midst  of  the  service ; 
 making  a  rash  oalli  and  keeping  it ;  swearing  without  consi- 
 deration, and  then,  under  pretence  of  religion,  ready  to  sacri- 
 fice his  own  son  !  Who  but  must  see,  while  contemplating 
 such  a  picture,  the  truth  of  Solomon's  remark,  '  He  that  is 
 slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the  mighty ;  and  he  that  ruletli 
 his  spirit  than  he  that  laketh  a  city.'  Reader,  art  thou  warm 
 and  passionate,  be  always  on  thy  guard  ;  and,  as  thou  lovest 
 peace  of  mind,  be  not  easily  provoked.  Remember  that  self- 
 government  is  an  essential  part  of  Christian  excellence. 
 
SauPs  disobedience. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XV. 
 
 His  humiliation. 
 
 when  they  came   up  out  of  Egypt.     So  the 
 Keuites  departed  from  among  the  Amalekites. 
 
 7  ^  And  Saul  smote  the  Amalekites  from 
 •■Haiilah  until  thou  comest  to  '  Shur,  that  w 
 over  against  Egypt. 
 
 8  And  '  he  took  Agag  the  king  of  the  Ama- 
 lekites alive,  and  '  utterly  destroyed  all  the 
 people  with  the  edge  of  the  sword. 
 
 9  But  Saul  and  the  people  '"spared  Agag, 
 and  the  best  of  the  sheep,  and  of  the  oxen, 
 and  II  of  the  fallings,  and  the  lambs,  and  all 
 tliat  was  good,  and  would  not  utterly  destroy 
 them  :  but  every  thing  t/iat  was  vile  and  re- 
 fuse, that  they  destroyed  utterly. 
 
 10  H  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Loud  unto 
 Samuel,  saying, 
 
 11  "It  repenteth  me  that  I  have  set  up  Saul 
 to  he  king  :  for  he  is  "turned  back  from  follow- 
 ing me,  ■'and  hath  not  performed  my  command- 
 ments. And  it ''grieved  Samuel ;  and  he  cried 
 unto  the  Lord  all  night. 
 
 1'2  And  when  Samuel  rose  early  to  meet  Saul 
 in  the  morning,  it  was  told  Samuel,  saying, 
 Saul  came  to  'Carmel,  and,  behold,  he  set  him 
 np  a  place,  and  is  gone  about,  and  passed  on, 
 and  gone  down  to  Gilgal. 
 
 13  And  Samuel  came  to  Saul :  and  Saul  said 
 unto  him,  '  Ble.ssed  be  thou  of  the  Lokd  :  I 
 have  performed  the  commandment  of  the 
 Lonn. 
 
 14  And  Samuel  s.aid.  What  mcaneth  then 
 this  bleating  of  the  .sheep  in  mine  ears,  and 
 the  lowing  of  the  oxen  which  I  hear? 
 
 13  And  Saul  said.  They  have  brought  them 
 from  the  Amalekites  :  '  for  the  people  spared 
 the  best  of  the  sheep  and  of  the  oxen,  to  sacri- 
 fice unto  the  Loud  thy  God  ;  and  the  rest  we 
 have  utterly  destroyed. 
 
 16  Then  Samuel  said  unto  Saul,  Stay,  and  I 
 will  tell  thee  what  the  Lonu  hath  said  to  me 
 this  night.     And  he  .said  unto  him.  Say  on. 
 
 17  And  Samuel  .said,  "  When  thou  wast  little 
 in  thine  own  sight,  wast  thou  not  made  the 
 head  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and  the  Loud 
 anointed  thee  king  over  Israel? 
 
 18  And  the  Lokd  sent  thee  on  a  journey, 
 and  said.  Go  and  utterly  destroy  the  sinners 
 the  Amalekites,  and  fight  against  them  until 
 f  they  be  consumed. 
 
 19  Wherefore  then  didst  thou  not  obey  the 
 voice  of  the  Lord,  but  didst  fly  upon  the  spoil, 
 and  didst  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Loud  ? 
 
 u.  c. 
 
 :ir.  1079. 
 
 h  Gen.  2.  n. 
 &  25.  18. 
 Gen.  16.  7. 
 
 k  See  1  Km. 
 
 20.  3V,  36. 
 
 &c. 
 /  See  cb.  30. 
 
 I. 
 
 1  Ter.  S,  \b. 
 
 1  Or,  of  the 
 Kcvnd  lorl. 
 
 Fi  vcr.  85. 
 
 Gen.  C.  6,7. 
 
 2  Sam.  2V. 
 
 16. 
 o  Josli.22.16. 
 
 1  Kin.  9.  6. 
 p  ch.  13.  13. 
 
 ver.  3,  9. 
 ,  ,er.  S6. 
 
 ch.  16.  I. 
 
 rJoEh. 15.55. 
 
 rGcn.  H.  in. 
 Jinlg.  17  S 
 KulU  3.  10. 
 
 /  ver.  9,  SI. 
 Gen.  S.  12. 
 Pro.  26.  \A. 
 
 B  C. 
 cir.  1079. 
 
 I  Heb.  Aeif 
 coittvme. 
 
 jPa.  DO.  3,9. 
 Prov.  21.3. 
 Is.  I.  11,  12. 
 13,  16,  17. 
 Jer.7.22,2:t. 
 Mic.  C.  6,  7, 
 
 5.  Heb    10. 
 
 6,  7,  8,  9. 
 a  Eccle*.  5. 
 
 I.  Ht,s.  6.  6 
 Mat.  5  21. 
 &  0.  13.  & 
 12.  7.  Mark 
 12   .13. 
 i  Heb.  tt>i>i- 
 
 Deii  18. 10. 
 i,  cb.  13.  11. 
 c  See  2  :^an]. 
 
 12.  13. 
 
 d  Kx.  23.  2. 
 Prr,  29.  25. 
 Is. 51. 12,13. 
 
 g  eb.  28.  17 
 Ir^.  I  Kiu. 
 II.  31. 
 
 h  Nil.  23.  19. 
 
 K7ek.2V.K. 
 
 2  Tmi    2. 
 
 13. 
 
 Tit.  1.  2. 
 i  JobuJ.'lt. 
 
 «.  12. 13. 
 
 k  V.x.  17.  II 
 Nu  U  ir, 
 S..'eJudg.  I. 
 7. 
 
 20  And  Saul  said  unto  Samuel,  Yea,  *  I  have 
 obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  and  have  gone 
 the  way  which  the  Loud  sent  me,  and  have 
 brought  Agag  the  king  of  Anialek,  and  have 
 utterly  destroyed  the  Amalekites. 
 
 21  '  But  the  people  took  of  the  spoil,  sheep 
 and  oxen,  the  chief  of  the  things  which  should 
 have  been  utterly  destroyed,  to  sacrifice  unto 
 the  Loud  thy  God  in  Gilgal. 
 
 22  And  Samuel  said,  "  Hath  the  Lord  as 
 rjreat  delight  in  burnt  offerings  and  sacrifices, 
 as  in  obeying  the  voice  of  the  Loud  ?  Behold, 
 °  to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice,  and  to  hearken 
 than  the  fat  of  rams. 
 
 23  For  rebellion  is  as  the  sin  of  f  witchcraft, 
 and  stubbornness  is  as  iniquity  and  idolatry. 
 Because  thou  hast  rejected  the  word  of  the 
 Loud,  '•  he  hath  also  rejected  thee  from  beiuff 
 king. 
 
 24  t'^And  Saul  said  unto  Samuel,  I  have 
 sinned  :  for  I  have  transgressed  the  command- 
 ment of  the  Loud,  and  thy  words  :  because  I 
 ■^  feared  the  people,  and  obeyed  their  voice. 
 
 25  Now  therefore,  1  pray  thee,  pardon  my 
 .sin,  and  turn  again  with  me,  that  1  may  wor- 
 ship the  Lord. 
 
 20  And  Samuel  said  unto  Saul,  1  will  not  re- 
 turn with  thee:  "for  thou  hast  rejected  the 
 word  of  the  Lord,  and  tlie  Loud  hath  rejected 
 thee  from  being  king  over  Israel. 
 
 27  And  as  Samuel  turned  about  to  go  away, 
 '  he  laid  hold  upon  the  skirt  of  his  mantle,  and 
 it  rent. 
 
 28  And  Samuel  said  unto  him,  ^  The  Loud 
 hath  rent  the  kingdom  of  Israel  from  thee  this 
 (lay,  and  hath  given  it  to  a  neighbour  of  thine, 
 that  is  better  than  thou. 
 
 29  And  also  the  ||  Strength  of  Israel  ''will 
 not  lie  nor  repent :  ibr  he  is  not  a  man,  that  he 
 should  repent. 
 
 30  Then  he  said,  I  have  sinned  :  yet  'honour 
 me  now,  I  pray  thee,  before  the  elders  of  my 
 people,  and  before  Israel,  and  turn  again  with 
 me,  that  I  may  worship  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 31  So  Samuel  turned  again  after  Saul  ;  and 
 Saul  wor.shipped  the  Lord. 
 
 32  H  Then  said  Samuel,  Bring  ye  hither  to 
 me  Agag  the  king  of  the  Amalekites.  And 
 Agag  came  unto  him  delicately.  And  Agag 
 said,  Surely  the  bitterness  of  death  is  past. 
 
 33  And  Samuel  said,  ''  As  thy  sword  hath 
 made  women  childless,  so  shall  thy  mother  be 
 
 tbe  wars.  ~  Poole.  7.  From  Hiimhih,  fyc.  —  the  whole  extent  of 
 Arabia,  these  being  the  nortli-east  and  south-west  boundaries. — Pat. 
 <1.  Sp'irpd .i^dg,  and  t/ie  fn'sf,  ^c. — not  the  women  or  children,  hut  in 
 t'omplaisance  to  royalty,  or  to  grace  liis  triumph,  spared  the  king,  and 
 covetously  reserved  the  best  of  the  cattle  and  substance. — Scott.  And 
 of  the  fatlings,  and  the  tamlis — these  being  impUed  in  the  others, 
 iiootttroijd  reads,  '  and  of  Ihe  full  grown  camels  and  camel. pillions.' 
 11.//  repenteth  me — this  was  not  a  change  of  mind  but  of  dispensation. 
 — Gill.  12.  Cannel — not  Elijah's  Carmel,  but  a  city  of  tlie  tribe  of 
 Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  55.)  Set  him  up  a  place,  T,  '  a  hand,'  '  a  triumphal 
 arch,'  Vulg.  '  He  set  up  for  himself  a  monument.' — Baothr.  Comp. 
 2  Sam.  xviii.  18.  The  Scptuagifit  reads  xf'P",  'hand,'  probably  be- 
 cause the  trophy  or  monument  was  in  the  shape  of  a  hand,  the  emblem 
 of  power,  and  erected  on  a  pillar. — flew.  A  monument  of  victory  sud. 
 denly  raised  by  the  hands  of  the  army. — Sut.  M.  What  meaneth 
 then  this  bleating?  '  how  is  it  that  you  have  spared  the  sheep  and  oxen 
 when  you  were  commanded  not  to  do  it?' — Kd.  22.  Hath  the  Lord 
 as  great  delight,  §c.  ? — gross  disobedience  is  not  to  be  compensated  by 
 offering  sacrifices,  (comp.  Hos.  vi.  6 ;  Matt.  v.  24  ;  ix.  13  ;  xii.  7.) — 
 Bnfttlir.  23.  For  rebellion  is,  Sfc.  ;  that  is,  Saul's  obstinate  disobe- 
 <lienee  made  him  liable  to  such  punishment  as  idolators  deserved. — Pat. 
 He  who  sets  up  his  own  will  against  the  will  of  Ciod  offends  as  he  who 
 sets  up  an  idol  and  a  teraphini. — Sut.  Rebellion  against  God  is  as  sin- 
 ful as  divination  ;  they  are  alike  forbidden,  and  in  consequence,  viola- 
 tionsof  the  Divinecnrnmand. — Biiothr.  Probably  Saul  had  before  this 
 bhcwn  much  zeal  against  those  who  practised  witchcraft,  and  tliis  cir- 
 310 
 
 cumstance  would  add  poignancy  to  Samuel's  reproof.— Sco/(.  See 
 chap,  xxviii.  p.  25.  Pardon  mit  sin — he  probably  meant,  forgive  his 
 offence  against  him  as  a  prophet, "and  intercede  for  him  wilh  God. — So 
 Poole.  29.  Tlie  strength  of  Israel,  'jMllc'  n!i3,  this  root  denotes  supe- 
 riority, being  '  above,* '  over,'  or  *  beyond.'  '  The  excellency  or  strength 
 of  Israel,' that  is,  the  giver  of  superiority,excellency, victory,  or  strength 
 to  I.srael. — Par.  'The  Triumpher  in  Israel,'  Vttlg,  'The  Victory  of 
 Israel.' — Mont.,  Pise.  *  He  who  gives  victory  to  Israel,' — Boothr.,  or, 
 '  the  Triumphant  King  of  Israel.' — Pat.  '  The  eternity  of  Israel.' — Jul., 
 Trem.  '  The  Etern»l  One.' — Bates.  '  He  who  piesides  over  Israel.' — 
 Houh.     '  The  true  God  of  Israel.' — Geddes.     *  t  he  Holy  One.'  Arab. 
 
 •  The  most  noble  One,'  Sr/r.  32.  Delicately,  n:"irQ,  'in  a  haughty 
 manner.' — Kimchi.  '  With  a  soft  pace,'  *  after  a  nice  and  delicate 
 manner,' — Pat. ;  or  '  in  delights'  in  his  ornaments ;  not  like  an  offender 
 expecting  de.ith,  but  as  became  his  quality. — Poole.  '  Very  fat  and 
 trembling,'  t'ulg.  Tpe/i<oi',  '  trembling,'  Sept.  '  Bound  in  chains  and 
 fetters  of  iron,'  according  to  the  use  of  the  word  in  Job.xxxviii.  31. — Ben 
 Gersom.  pi'  is  here  for  i;i\  and  tlie  meaning  is,  '  Agag  came  to  him 
 from  his  chains.' — Houb.  '  Pleasantly.' — Geddes,  Boothr.  Saul  having 
 spared  his  life,  helhought  himself  secure. — Boothr.,  so  Geneva  Version, 
 and  Wil.  The  root  py,  *  pleasure'  or  '  delight,'  favours  the  suitijusilion 
 that  the  wretched  monarch  came  to  Samuel  cheerfully,  and  witli  the 
 hope  of  being  pardoned. — Hew.  Probably  ID'M,  '  man,'  understood  '  a 
 man  ot  delights,'  *  a  pleasure-taker.' — .t.  Clarke.  Surely  the  bitterness 
 of  death  is  past,  'surely  the  bitterness  of  death  is  come.' — Kimchi. 
 
 •  Surely  death  is  bitter,'  Various  Versions.        33.  As  thtf  sword  /tat/l 
 
Samuel  is  sent  to  Bcth-hhem. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XV[. 
 
 He  anointeth  David, 
 
 childless  among  women.  And  Samuel  liewed 
 Agag  in  pieces  before  the  Louo  in  Gilgal. 
 
 ai  If  Then  Samuel  went  to  Ramah;  and  Saul 
 went  up  to  his  house  to  '  Gibeah  of  Saul. 
 
 3.5  And  '"  Samuel  came  no  more  to  see  Saul 
 until  the  day  of  his  death  :  nevertheless  Samuel 
 "  mourned  for  Saul  :  and  the  Lord  "  repented 
 that  he  had  made  Saul  king  over  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XVL 
 
 I  Samuel  sent  hy  Gntl,  v/tth-r  i>retence  of  a  sacrifice, 
 cotnt^th  to  Bith-IeluDi.  (J  His  /iHntanjiuiffmfHt  is  rt- 
 promd,  11  He  imoititeth  David.  15  Saul  seiulctli 
 fur  David  to  quiet  his  evil  spirit. 
 
 \  ND  the  Lord  said  unto  Samuel,  °  How 
 ■^*-  long  wilt  thou  mourn  for  Saul,  seeing  ''  I 
 have  rejected  liini  from  reigning  over  Israel  f 
 •^  fill  thine  horn  with  oil,  and  go,  I  will  send 
 thee  to  Jesse  the  I?etli-lehemite  :  for  ■'  I  have 
 provided  me  a  king  among  his  sous. 
 
 2  And  Samuel  said.  How  can  I  go?  if  Saul 
 hear  it,  he  will  kill  )ne.  And  the  Lord  said. 
 Take  an  heifer  f  with  thee,  and  say,  "  I  am 
 come  to  sacrifice  to  the  Lord. 
 
 3  And  call  Jesse  to  the  sacrifice,  and  ''  I  will 
 shew  thee  what  thou  shalt  do  :  and  ^  thou  shall 
 anoint  unto  me  him  whom  I  name  unto  thee. 
 
 4  And  Samuel  did  that  which  the  Lord 
 spake,  and  came  to  Beth-lebem.  And  the 
 elders  of  the  town  '■  trembled  at  his  f  coming, 
 and  said,  '  Comest  thou  peaceably? 
 
 3  And  he  said.  Peaceably  :  I  am  come  to  sa- 
 crifice unto  the  Lord  :  '  sanctify  yourselves, 
 and  come  with  me  to  the  sacrifice.  And  lie 
 sanctified  Jesse  and  his  sons,  and  called  them 
 to  the  sacrifice. 
 
 6  f  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  were 
 come,  that  he  looked  on  '  Eliab,  and  "'  said. 
 Surely  the  Lord's  anointed  is  before  him. 
 
 7  But  the  Lord  said  unto  Samuel,  Look  not 
 on  "  his  countenance,  or  ou  the  height  of  his 
 stature  ;  because  I  have  refused  him:  "for  the 
 L  OllD  seetli  not  as  man  seeth ;  for  man 
 ■"looketh  on  the  f  outward  appearance,  but  the 
 Lord  looketh  on  the  ''  heart. 
 
 8  Then  Jesse  called  '  Abinadab,  and  made 
 him  pass  before  Samuel.     And  he  said.  Neither 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 11,  C. 
 
 eir,  11)79. 
 
 rir,    101J3. 
 
 .ch.  17.   13. 
 
 11  Shii'inl., 
 
 2  Sam  i:).rt. 
 
 I  ch.  11.  4. 
 
 S/iimmfi, 
 
 m  Seec1i.l9. 
 
 1  Clir.:;.l.(. 
 
 21. 
 
 M  ver.  M. 
 
 ch.  10.  I 
 
 0  ver.  11. 
 
 /ch,  17.  12. 
 
 i(  2  S,-im.7.S. 
 
 P«,  7S.  70. 
 
 (  H<jb.roUHd. 
 
 cir.  10C3. 
 
 .r  ch.  17.  42. 
 
 a  cli.  15.  35. 
 
 Caut,  5.  10, 
 
 6  cU.  15.  23. 
 
 t   Heb./o.r 
 
 o/flffiS. 
 
 y  So  ch.  9. 
 
 >-.  cli.  9.  16. 
 
 17. 
 
 2  Kin.  9.  1. 
 
 d  Ps,  7S.  -0. 
 
 &  80.  lil,20 
 
 Acta  13.  23. 
 
 r  ch.  10.  1. 
 
 lu.  f-g.  20. 
 
 a  See  Num. 
 
 27.  18. 
 
 Jiidgr    11. 
 
 f  Heb,  !h 
 
 29.  &  13.25. 
 
 thi IIP  hand. 
 
 k  It.  6. 
 
 e  i-h    9    12,  & 
 
 ch.  10.6,10. 
 
 ■JO,  29. 
 
 oir.  10C5. 
 
 fKx.    1.  \h. 
 
 A.'h     11.  G. 
 
 li  cli.  9.  10. 
 
 &    IS.  12.  »i 
 
 •2S.  15. 
 
 Jinlg.16  20. 
 
 Pa    :.l.  11. 
 
 c.Iuds.9.23. 
 
 ch.  13.  10. 
 
 ^  19.  9. 
 
 ;.  ch.  21. 1. 
 
 II  Or,  tcrri- 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 fird. 
 
 mffli'ig. 
 
 il  Gen.  41, 40. 
 
 1  1  Kin.a.lS. 
 
 ver.-2\,^i. 
 
 2  Tviii.  fi.  22. 
 
 1  liiu.  10. 8. 
 
 A  Ex.  19.  lU, 
 
 U. 
 
 *•  ver.  23. 
 
 2  Kill.  3. 15. 
 
 /  ch.  17.  13. 
 
 called 
 
 El<l,u, 
 
 1  Chr.  27. 
 
 13. 
 
 m  1  Kin.  12. 
 
 26, 
 
 n  Ps.  1.17.  10, 
 
 11. 
 
 ols.-IS   8. 
 
 /ch.  17.32, 
 
 ;.  yc.r.io; 
 
 •M,  35,  3ti. 
 
 t  Hcl>    eyes. 
 
 11  (_lr,  j;wec/i. 
 
 a  1  Kiii.Hyy. 
 1  Chr  28,9. 
 
 jch.3.  19.  «c 
 19.  12,  M. 
 
 Pa,  7.  9.  Jer 
 
 11.  211,  &  17. 
 
 III.  8(20    12, 
 
 Acts  1.  24.. 
 
 /<  ver.  11. 
 
 T  Ch.  17.  13. 
 
 ch  17.15,34. 
 
 hath  the  Loud  chosen  thi.s. 
 
 9  Then  Jesse  made  '  ||  Shammah  to  pass  by. 
 And  he  said,  Neither  hath  the  Lord  chosen 
 this. 
 
 10  Again,  Jesse  made  seven  of  his  sons  to 
 pass  before  Samuel.  And  Samuel  said  unto 
 Jesse,  The  Lord  hath  not  chosen  these. 
 
 11  And  Samuel  said  unto  Jesse,  Are  here  all 
 thy  children  ?  And  he  said,  '  There  remaineth 
 yet  the  youngest,  and,  behold,  he  keepeth  the 
 sheep.  And  Samuel  said  unto  Jesse,  "  Send 
 and  fetch  him  :  for  we  will  not  sit  fdown  till 
 he  come  hither. 
 
 12  And  he  sent,  and  brought  him  in.  Now 
 he  uas  "ruddy,  a7td  withal  fof  a  beautiful 
 countenance,  and  goodly  to  look  to.  '  And 
 the  Lord  said,  Arise,  anoint  him :  for  this  is 
 he. 
 
 13  Then  Samuel  took  the  horn  of  oil,  and 
 '  anointed  him  in  the  midst  of  his  brethren  : 
 and  "  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  upon  David 
 from  that  day  forward.  So  Samuel  rose  up, 
 and  went  to  Ramah. 
 
 14  f'But  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  departed 
 from  Saul,  and  "  an  evil  spirit  from  the  Lord 
 II  troubled  him. 
 
 15  And  Saul's  servants  said  unto  him.  Be- 
 hold now,  an  evil  spirit  from  God  troubleth 
 thee. 
 
 16  Let  our  lord  now  command  thy  servant.?, 
 which  are  ''  before  thee,  to  seek  out  a  man, 
 who  is  a  cunning  player  on  an  harp  :  and  it 
 shall  come  to  pass,  when  the  evil  spirit  from 
 God  is  upon  thee,  that  he  shall  °  play  with  his 
 hand,  and  thou  shalt  be  well. 
 
 17  And  Saul  said  unto  his  servants.  Provide 
 me  now  a  man  that  can  play  well,  and  bring 
 hitn  to  me. 
 
 18  Then  answered  one  of  the  servants,  and 
 said.  Behold,  I  have  seen  a  son  of  Jesse  the 
 Beth-lehemite,  that  is  cunning  in  playing,  and 
 'a  mighty  valiant  man,  and  a  man  of  war,  and 
 prudent  in  ||  matters,  and  a  comely  person,  and 
 ^  the  Lord  is  with  him. 
 
 19  t  Wherefore  Saul  sent  messengers  unto 
 Jesse,  and  said.  Send  me  David  thy  sou, 
 ''  which  is  with  the  sheep. 
 
 mn/le  teoman  childless — this  shews  he  had  been  a  bloody  tyrant,  and 
 siifiered  for  his  own  merciless  cruelty. — Pat.  Samuel  hewed  Agaff — 
 probably  by  other  hands,  as  a  magistrate. — So  Clarke.  U  is  not  impro- 
 bable that  Samuel  himself  did  it.  Eastern  customs,  in  this  respect, 
 differ  from  ours.  Charditi  relates,  that  Soliman,  King:  of  Persia,  drew 
 his  sabre,  and  hewed  au  unfaithful  officer  to  pieces  at  the  feet  of  his 
 Grand  Vizier,  whose  favour  the  victim  sought, — Har. 
 
 Chap.  XVI. — 1 .  Horn — horns  were  marie  use  of  among  the  Jews  for 
 keeping  some  liquids,  if  not  for  drinking:  vessels.  It  is  the  custom  still 
 in  some  parts  of  the  cast  to  keep  liquors  in  horns,  and  to  drink  out  of 
 them. — Har.  2.  Ta  sacrifice,  a  peace-offering,  which  might  then  be 
 done  any  where,  the  ark  ami  tabernacle  being  separated. — Hill.  As 
 a  prophet,  he  might  sacrifice  when  and  where  God  had  appointed  him  ; 
 and  it  was  not  contrary  to  truth  to  say,  he  came  to  sacrifice,  when 
 really  he  did  so,  though  he  had  a  further  end  which  he  thought  fit  to 
 
 conceal, — Heart/.  4,  Peaceably,  that  is,  *  is  all  well  ?'  fearing  some 
 evil  tidings  from  Godorfrom  Saul. — Poole.  5.  Sanctify yoarsetoes — 
 change  your  clothes,  wash  your  bodies,  and  prepare  your  minds  by 
 devotion. — .i.  Clarke.  6.  Eliab,  Jesse's  firstborn,  (1  Chron,  ii.  13.) 
 calledEIihu,  (1  Chron.  xxvii.  18.)  8,9-  Abinadafi~Shammab—c\\!i\i. 
 xvii.  13;  1  Chron.  ii.  13;  2  Sam.  .xiii.  3,  lO.  Seven — sons — three 
 more  of  these  are  mentioned  by  name,  1  Chron.  ji.  14,  15.  12.  Of  a 
 beautiful    countenance — with    beautiful    eyes. — Boothr.  13,   The 
 
 Spirit,  of  prudence  and  courage  fit  for  a  prince.  14.  Tbe  Spirit — 
 departed  from  Saul,  which  came  upon  him  when  he  was  first  made 
 king,  (chap.  X.  11  j  xi.  6.)  An  eeil  spirit  troubled  him — he  grew  melan- 
 choly, timorous,  and  suspicious. — Pat.  It  seems  to  have  been  both  a 
 diabolical  and  mental  malady. — So  A.  Clarke.  A  real  melancholy  mad- 
 ness.— Dr.  Mead.  ifi.  He  shall  play — the  Hindoos  believe  there  is  a 
 charm  in  music  to  eject  devils  and  evil  spirits,  and  benefit  the  insane. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV. — I.  God  remembers  the  inju- 
 ries done  to  his  people,  and  will  pmiish  the  persecutors.  Let  the 
 suffering  believer  endure  with  patience.  '  Shall  not  God 
 avenge  his  own  elect  that  cry  unto  him  day  aiul  night  V  '  he 
 will  avenge  them  speedily.'  If,  in  the  inscrutable  councils  of 
 God,  he  does  not  hear  our  prayers,  as  Christians,  for  our  '  ene- 
 mies, persecutors,  and  slanderers,  and  turn  their  hearts,'  he 
 will,  in  his  own  time,  reward  them  according  to  their  deserts  ; 
 and  all  that  have  ever  oppressed  the  church  of  God  shall  hear 
 tlip  terrifying  shout,  •  God  hath  avenged  you  !' 
 
 II.  Let  not  man  jrretend  to  be  more  merciful  than  God.  The 
 whole  human  race  live  and  breathe  hut  by  his  mercy,  for  '  all 
 have  sinned  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God.'  Yet  men 
 would  presume  to  dispute  where  his  justice  in  their  view 
 seems  to  clash  with  his  mercy.  Let  them  think  of  his  past 
 311 
 
 forbearance  and  patience  before  he  strikes  a  blow,  and  let 
 them  remember  how  numerous  and  great  have  been  their  own 
 offences,  and,  instead  of  questioning  his  justice,  they  will  ex- 
 claim, *  It  is  of  the  Lord's  mercies  that  we  are  not  consumed, 
 because  his  compassions  fail  not.' 
 
 III.  If  Said  erred  in  sparincj  Agag  and  the  flocks  and  herds 
 against  God's  command,  our  error  is  etjtially  as  great  if,  in  our 
 spiritual  warfare,  we  spare  any  of  our  lusts.  These  are  enemies 
 to  which  we  must  give  no  quarter;  and  if  we  do  not  destroy 
 them,  in  the  end  they  will  destroy  us.  It  is  a  sad  indication 
 of  the  state  of  the  heart  towards  God,  when  we  can  indulge  in 
 one  of  these  against  his  express  commands.  However  digni- 
 fied and  specious  the  enemy  may  appear,  it  is  our  duty  to  hew 
 every  .^gag  to  pieces. 
 
Goliath's  challenge  to  combat. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XVII. 
 
 David  taheth  the  rhiiUrnrjc 
 
 20  And  Jesse  '  took  an  ass  laden  with  bread, 
 and  a  bottle  of  wine,  and  a  kid,  and  sent  them 
 by  David  bis  son  unto  Saul. 
 
 21  And  David  came  to  Saul,  aud  ''stood  be- 
 fore him  :  and  he  loved  him  greatly  j  and  he 
 became  his  armourbearer. 
 
 22  And  Saul  sent  to  Jesse,  saying.  Let 
 David,  I  pray  thee,  stand  before  me  ;  for  he 
 hath  found  favour  in  my  sight. 
 
 23  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  '  the  evil  spirit 
 from  God  was  upon  Saul,  that  David  took  an 
 harp,  and  played  with  liis  hand  :  so  Saul  was 
 refreshed,  and  was  well,  and  the  evil  spirit  de- 
 parted from  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  TJie  armies  nf  the  Israelites  and  Philistims  being 
 readi/  to  battle,  4  Goliath  cometh  proudli/  forth  to 
 challenge  a  combat.  I'J  David,  sent  by  his  father  ti\ 
 visit  his  brethren,  taheth  the  chall  w/e.  28  Eliab 
 chideth  him.  30  He  is  brought  to  'Saul.  32  He 
 slteweth  the  reason  of  his  conjidence.  38  Without 
 armour,  armed  by  faith,  lie  slageth  the  giant.  55 
 Saul  taheth  notice  of  David. 
 
 "VrOW  the  Philistines  °  gathered  together 
 -'-'  their  armies  to  battle,  and  were  gatliered 
 together  at  ''Sliochoh,  which  belonritth  to  Ju- 
 dah,  and  pitched  between  Shochob  and  Aze- 
 kah,  in  ||  Eplies-dammim. 
 
 2  And  Saul  and  the  men  of  Israel  were  ga- 
 thered together,  and  pitched  by  the  valley  of 
 Elah,  and  f  set  the  battle  in  array  against  the 
 Philistines. 
 
 3  And  the  Philistines  stood  on  a  mountain 
 on  the  one  side,  and  Israel  stood  on  a  moun- 
 tain on  the  other  side  :  and  there  teas  a  valley 
 between  them. 
 
 4  T  And  there  went  out  a  champion  out  of 
 the  camp  of  the  Philistines,  named  "  Goliath, 
 of  ■"  Oath,  whose  height  teas  six  cubits  and  a 
 span. 
 
 5  And  he  had  an  helmet  of  brass  upon  his 
 head,  and  he  was  farmed  with  a  coat  of  niai 
 and  the  weight  of  the  coat  icas  five  thousand 
 stiekels  of  brass. 
 
 6  And  he  had  greaves  of  brass  upon  his  legs, 
 and  a  |{  target  of  brass  between  his  shoulders. 
 
 7  And  the  "staff  of  his  spear  was  like  a 
 weaver's  beam  ;  and  his  spear's  head  weighed 
 
 cir.  11163. 
 
 Sec  ch.  10. 
 27.  &  17.  Ifi. 
 Gen. 43  11. 
 Hrov.  18.  le 
 k  Gen.*l.46. 
 1  Kin.  10  8. 
 Pro.  ?2.  29. 
 
 6Josli.l5.3,=> 
 2Clir.88.13 
 
 II  Or,  lh« 
 
 's::.:i., 
 
 e.ill..il  V.a- 
 I  Clir  11   13 
 
 C  2  P.im.  21. 
 
 1!'. 
 dj.ifih. 11.22 
 
 /cli.  8.  17. 
 
 irch.  n.  1. 
 A  ver.  21?. 
 2S,im.  SI. 
 
 i  ver.  &H. 
 
 Riitli  +.  22. 
 
 ch.  IC  1,18. 
 A  Gen.  36.19 
 /  eh.  ll>.  Ill, 
 
 11.  See 
 
 1  Cl.r.  2.  13, 
 
 U,  15. 
 
 m  ch.  16.  G, 
 H,  9.  1  Chr 
 2.   13. 
 
 I  Or,  gnrgel. 
 
 '  2  Sam.  21. 
 19. 
 
 t  Hcb  rheeiti 
 cfmM. 
 
 t  Heb.  rap- 
 tain  afa 
 t1,',utatid. 
 
 0  Oeu.  S;.I1. 
 
 I  Or,  Km  o/ 
 
 riac.„r 
 
 six  hundred  shekels  of  iron  :  and  one  bearing 
 a  shield  went  before  him. 
 
 8  And  he  stood  and  cried  unto  the  armies  of 
 Israel,  aud  said  unto  them.  Why  are  ye  come 
 out  to  set  yoiir  battle  in  array  'i  am  not  I  a 
 Philistine,  and  ye  'servants  to  Saul ':•  choose 
 you  a  man  for  yon,  and  let  him  come  down  to 
 me. 
 
 9  If  he  be  able  to  fight  with  me,  and  to  kill 
 me,  then  will  we  be  your  servants  :  but  if  I 
 prevail  against  him,  and  kill  him,  then  shall  ye 
 be  our  servants,  and  ^  serve  us. 
 
 10  And  the  Philistine  said,  I  "i  defy  the  armies 
 of  Israel  this  day ;  give  me  a  man,  that  we  may 
 fight  together. 
 
 11  When  Saul  and  all  Israel  heard  those 
 words  of  the  Philistine,  they  were  dismayed, 
 and  greatly  afraid. 
 
 12  H  Now  David  was  'the  son  of  that 
 ''  Ephrathite  of  Beth-iehem-judah,  whose  name 
 was  Jesse  ;  and  he  had  '  eight  sons  :  and  the 
 man  went  among  men  for  an  old  man  in  the 
 days  of  Saul. 
 
 13  And  the  three  eldest  sons  of  Jesse  went 
 and  followed  Saul  to  the  battle :  and  the 
 '"  names  of  his  three  sons  that  went  to  the 
 battle  were  Eliab  the  firstborn,  and  next  unto 
 him  Abinadab,  and  the  third  Shammah. 
 
 14  And  David  icas  the  youngest:  and  the 
 three  eldest  followed  Saul. 
 
 1  j  But  David  went  and  returned  from  Saul 
 "  to  feed  his  father's  .sheep  at  Beth-lehem. 
 
 16  And  the  Philistine  drew  near  morning 
 and  evening,  and  presented  himself  forty  days. 
 
 17  And  Jesse  said  unto  David  his  son.  Take 
 now  for  thy  brethren  an  ephah  of  this  parched 
 corn,  and  these  ten  loaves,  and  run  to  the 
 camp  to  thy  brethren  ; 
 
 18  And  carry  these  ten  f  cheeses  unto  the 
 t  captain  of  their  thousand,  and  °  look  how 
 thy  brethren  fare,  and  take  their  pledge. 
 
 19  Now  Saul,  and  they,  and  all  the  men  of 
 Israel, «^«c  in  the  valley  of  Elah,  fighting  with 
 the  Philistines. 
 
 20  II  And  David  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
 and  left  the  sheep  with  a  keeper,  and  took,  and 
 went,  as  Jesse  had  commanded  him  ;  and  he 
 came  to  the  ||  trench,  as  the  host  was  going 
 forth  to  the  ||  fight,  and  shouted  for  the  battle. 
 
 — So  Hftft.  20.  An  ass — bread — '  laden  with' is  supplied  by  our  trans- 
 lators, but  it  is  not  an  ass  load  Ibat  is  intended,  but  a  measure  so 
 called. — Expos.  Index.     *  A  homer  of  bread.* — Boot/tr. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.  —  1.  Gntliered  togettter  their  armies — this  war  hap. 
 pened  eight  years  after  the  anointing  of  David,  and  ten  or  twelve  after 
 the  war  with  the  Amalekites. — Cat.  Sfioeliofi,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of 
 Jndah,  (Josh.  XV.  35.)  2.  Elah,  the  Teiebinthinc  Vale.— i)r.  E.  1). 
 Clarice.  4.  .-I  champion — Itr.  Clarke  translates  r':in  UJ'N.  'the  man 
 between  two,*  that  is,  one  who  engages  to  settle  disputes  between  two 
 contending  nations.  Six  atbits  anil  a  span — reckoning  the  cubit  at 
 twenty-one  inches,  Goliath  was  eleven  feet  four  inches  high. — Bp. 
 Cumberlatid.  Nine  feet  nine  inches. — So  .'I.  Clarke.  5.  An  /letmet  nf 
 brass — a  coat  of  matt — brass  plates  laid  one  upon  another,  like  fishes' 
 scales. — Boeh.  T/ie  weight  of  the  coat — the  shekels  are  rather  thought 
 here  to  mean  the  value,  or  the  weight  was  enormous. — I'at.,  Henri/. 
 The  weight  was,  probably,  201)  pounds  troy,  and  must  be  meant,  for 
 value  was  computed  by  shekels  of  silver,  and  not  of  brass. — Scott. 
 6.  Greaves,  a  sort  of  hoots,  or  leg  harnes.ses,  which  covered  the  thighs 
 and  legs  down  to  the  heels.  .4  target — it  seems  to  be  a  corslet,  worn 
 between  the  helmet  and  the  coat  of  mail  for  the  defence  of  the  neck, 
 supposed  to  weigh  thirty  pounds.  7.  Spear — calculated,  from  propor- 
 tions, twenty-six  feet  long.        Spear^s  head— six  hundred  shekels— ISi 
 
 pounds  avoirdupois.  The  whole  spear  probably  weighed  37J  pounds, 
 and  the  whole  armour  '27'1  pounds  13  ounces.  Shield — calculated  at 
 30  pounds  weight,  and  sword  at  4  pounds  t  ounce. — Gilt.  10.  /  defy, 
 — it  is  common  among  the  Hindoos  to  challenge  the  foe  by  throwing 
 out  some  terms  of  abuse. —  \l'(ird*s  Hindoos,  vol.  it.  p.  3'2l.  That  tve 
 may  fight — single  combats  at  the  heads  of  armies  were  common  among 
 the  ancients. — See  Homer,  ^c.  They  are  now  practised  among  the 
 Bedouins,  prior  to  beginning  a  battle. — See  Burck/tardt.  12.  Nun' 
 Darid,  ^c. — Boothroyd  considers  the  whole  from  ver.  12  to  32  to  be  an 
 interpolation.  These  verses  are  wanting  in  the  Septniigint.  Kenni- 
 cf>// pronounces  them  not  genuine.  1/.  Take  now  for  thy  brethren —  ' 
 in  those  days  the  soldiers  probably  went  to  war  at  their  own  charge. 
 —  Wells.  18.  Cheeses,  'little  baskets  of  cheese,'  Vulg.  Captain  of 
 their  thousand,  *  chiliarch'  or '  colonel.'— -f?i/i.  Take  their  pledge, '  take 
 their  purchase  money,*  for  food. — Houli.  *  Learn  their  rank.' — Geddes. 
 '  Bring  me  their  token,  that  I  may  be  assiu-ed  they  have  received  the 
 things.'— Poo/e.  From  a  custom  among  the  Hindoos,  it  probably 
 means  they  were  to  send  some  token  in  proof  that  they  were  well. — 
 So  Rob.  19.  Fighting,  probably  skirmishing. — Scott.  20.  Trench, 
 may  mean  the  carriages  wherewith  the  host  was  surrounded. — Pat. 
 Shouted — the  aucient  Persians,  Trojans,  Romans,  &c.,  usually  did  so 
 when  about  to  make  the  onset,  to  animate  the  soldiers  and  strike  terror 
 
 Reflections  on   C'n.ir.  XVI I.  Let  us  fear  to  jirovohe 
 
 '    '  '         '  e  tiis   ------- 
 
 ptibh 
 
 God  by  our  disobedience,  lest  he  take  Ids  Hoh/  Spirit  from  us.    We 
 should  then  forfeit  not  a  corruptible,  but  an  incorruptible 
 
 crown, 
 
 II.  If  our  souls  suffer  under  the  sensible  loss  of  the  Divine  fa- 
 vour, let  us  not  sink  in  gloomy  despondency,  but  rejoice  that  wc 
 
 312 
 
 Antic  a  remedy  in  Christ,  lie  is  an  advocate  and  intercessor  to 
 whom  we  may  yet  apply.  We  may  for  a  while  drown  our  cares 
 in  worldly  pleasures,  but  at  every  interval  of  retirement  the 
 pangs  of  the  soul  will  return  anew,  unless  we  apply  to  the 
 only  source  of  relief,  and  come  to  Jesus  to  have  ins  peace- 
 speaking  blood  applied  to  our  hearts  and  consciences. 
 
He  is  brought  to  Saul. 
 
 21  For  Israel  and  tlie  I'hilistines  had  put  the 
 battle  in  array,  army  a{!;ainst  army. 
 
 2:2  And  David  lel't  f  his  carriage  in  the  hand 
 of  the  keeper  of  the  carriage,  and  ran  into  the 
 army,  and  came  and  f  saluted  his  brethren. 
 
 23  And  as  he  talked  witli  them,  behold,  there 
 came  up  the  champion,  the  Philistine  of  Gath, 
 Goliath  by  name,  out  of  the  armies  of  the  Plii- 
 listiiies,  and  spake  ''according  to  the  same 
 words  :  and  David  heard  titam. 
 
 24  And  all  the  men  of  Israel,  when  they  saw 
 the  man,  fled  f  from  hmi,  and  were  sore  afraid. 
 
 25  And  the  men  of  Israel  said.  Have  ye  seen 
 this  man  tliat  is  come  up  V  surely  to  defy 
 Israel  is  he  come  up  :  and  it  sliall  be,  that  the 
 man  who  killeth  him,  the  king  will  enrich  him 
 with  great  riches,  and  ''  will  give  him  his 
 daughter,  and  make  his  father's  house  free  in 
 Israel. 
 
 26  And  David  spake  to  the  men  that  stood 
 by  him,  saying,  Wliat  shall  be  done  to  the 
 man  that  killeth  tliis  Pliilistine,  and  taketh 
 away  '  the  reproach  from  Israel  ?  for  who  is 
 this  'uncircumcised  Philistine,  that  he  should 
 '  defy  the  armies  of  "  the  living  God? 
 
 27  And  the  people  answered  him  after  this 
 manner,  saying,  '  So  shall  it  be  done  to  the 
 man  that  killeth  him. 
 
 28  II  And  Eliab  his  eldest  brother  heard  when 
 he  spake  unto  the  men  ;  and  Eliab's  ''anger 
 was  kindled  against  David,  and  he  said.  Why 
 earnest  thou  down  hither?  and  with  whom  hast 
 thou  left  those  few  sheep  in  the  wilderness? 
 I  know  thy  pride,  and  the  naughtiness  of  thine 
 heart ;  for  thou  art  come  down  that  thou 
 mightest  see  the  battle. 
 
 29  And  David  said.  What  have  I  now  done  ? 
 '  Is  there  not  a  cause  ? 
 
 30  1  And  he  turned  from  him  toward  another, 
 and  "  spake  after  the  same  f  manner  :  and  the 
 people  answered  him  again  after  the  former 
 manner. 
 
 31  And  when  the  words  were  heard  which 
 David  spake,  they  rehearsed  themhetoxe  Saul: 
 and  he  f  sent  for  him. 
 
 32  f  And  David  said  to  Saul,  ''  Let  no  man's 
 heart  fail  because  of  him  ;  '^  thy  servant  will  go 
 and  fight  with  this  Philistine. 
 
 33  And  Saul  said  to  David,  ■'  Thou  art  not 
 able  to  go  against  this  Philistine  to  fight  with 
 him  :  for  thou  art  but  a  youth,  and  he  a  man 
 of  war  from  his  youth. 
 
 34  And  David  said  unto  Saul,  Thy  servant 
 kept  his  fatlier's  sheep,  and  there  came  a  lion, 
 and  a  bear,  and  took  a  ||  lamb  out  of  the  flock 
 
 33  And  I  went  out  after  him,  and  smote  him, 
 and  delivered  it  out  of  his  mouth  :  and  when 
 he  arose  against  me,  I  caught  him  by  his 
 beard,  and  smote  him,  and  slew  him. 
 
 36  Thy  servant  slew  both  the  lion  and  the 
 bear:  and  this  uncircumcised  Pliilistine  shall 
 be  as  one  of  them,  seeing  he  hath  defied  the 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XVII. 
 
 Goliath  is  slain. 
 
 t  Heb.  11,1! 
 
 Judu.lb.lS 
 
 ;i  ver.  8. 
 
 t  Heb./rom 
 hia  face. 
 
 Ch.  H.  2. 
 eb.  l-t.  C. 
 
 1/  Gen.  37.  4, 
 8.  II. 
 Mat.  10.  313 
 
 .  «i  (i.S.  7. 
 77.  II. 
 :nr.  I.  II*. 
 
 fHeb  cUitheit 
 Uavul  w<tt, 
 hit  ,i<jllu;. 
 
 aver.  2fi,  27 
 t  Heb.  vjurd. 
 
 iDeu20.l,3. 
 c  ch.  16.  IS 
 
 d  See  Num. 
 13.  31. 
 Deu.  9.  2. 
 
 g  I'fl.   I2S.  1, 
 .5.   I  C.ir.  I. 
 
 ■'  ch-  21.  M 
 •2  ^;a1tl.  3.  a 
 A  9,  8.  Si  Hi, 
 Kin,  H. 
 
 l:t. 
 
 f  S  Sam,  22. 
 at,  .sr..  Ps. 
 12^.  8.  ft 
 12.^..1.2Cor 
 III.  4  Hob. 
 II.  'XX  M. 
 
 0  Josh.  4.  24. 
 
 1  Kin  8  43. 
 
 &  18   SC. 
 
 2Kin.l'J.I9. 
 
 Is.  52.  1(1. 
 ;)  Ps.  41,f>.  7. 
 
 Hnn    I,  7. 
 
 Zech  4  6. 
 ifZ  Chr.  20. 
 
 15. 
 
 '  ch.  21 .  9. 
 Kcctus.  17. 
 4.  1  Mac.  4 
 lib  Soc 
 Judj;.  3.  31 
 k  15.  1.^ 
 ch.  23.  21 
 
 armies  of  the  living  God. 
 
 37  David  said  moreover,  '  The  Loud  that  de- 
 livered me  out  of  the  paw  of  the  lion,  and  out 
 of  tlie  paw  of  the  boar,  he  will  deliver  nie  out 
 of  the  hand  of  tliis  Philistine.  And  Saul  said 
 unto  David,  Go,  and  ''  the  Loud  be  with  thee. 
 
 38  t  And  Saul  fanned  David  with  his  ar- 
 mour, and  he  put  an  helmet  of  brass  upon  his 
 head  ;  also  he  armed  him  with  a  coat  of  mail. 
 
 39  And  David  girded  his  sword  upon  his  ar- 
 mour, and  he  assayed  to  go  ;  for  he  had  not 
 proved  it.  And  David  said  unto  Saul,  1  can- 
 not go  with  these ;  for  I  have  not  proved 
 them.     And  David  put  them  oft'hiin. 
 
 40  And  he  took  his  staff  in  his  hand,  and 
 chose   him   five    smooth    stones    out   of    the 
 
 brook,  and  put  them  in  a  shepherd's  f  bag 
 w  Inch  he  bad,  even  in  a  scrip  ;  and  his  sling  teas 
 in  his  hand  :  and  he  drew  near  to  the  Philistine. 
 
 41  And  the  Philistine  came  on  and  drew  near 
 unto  David  ;  and  the  man  that  bare  the  shield 
 ivent  before  him. 
 
 42  And  when  the  Philistine  looked  about, 
 and  saw  David,  he  ^  disdained  him  :  for  he 
 was  but  a  youth,  and  ''  ruddy,  and  of  a  fair 
 countenance. 
 
 43  And  the  PhirLstine  said  unto  David,  ^  A?ri 
 I  a  dog,  that  thou  comest  to  me  with  staves? 
 And  tlie  Philistine  cursed  David  by  his  gods. 
 
 44  And  the  Philistine  '  said  to  David,  Come 
 to  me,  and  I  will  give  thy  flesh  unto  the  fowls 
 of  the  air,  and  to  the  beasts  of  the  field. 
 
 43  Then  said  David  to  the  Philistine,  Thou 
 comest  to  me  with  a  sword,  and  with  a  spear, 
 and  with  a  shield  ;  '  but  I  come  to  thee  in  the 
 name  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  (Jod  of  the  ar- 
 mies of  Israel,  whom  thou  hast  '"  defied. 
 
 4G  This  day  will  the  Lord  f  deliver  thee  into 
 mine  hand  ;  and  I  will  smite  thee,  and  take 
 thine  head  from  thee  ;  and  I  will  give  "  the 
 carcases  of  the  host  of  the  Philistines  this  day 
 unto  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  to  the  wild  beasts 
 of  the  earth  ;  °  that  all  the  earth  may  know 
 that  there  is  a  God  in  Israel. 
 
 47  And  all  this  assembly  shall  know  that  the 
 Lord  ""saveth  not  with  sword  and  spear:  for 
 
 4''  the  battle  is  the  Lord's,  and  he  will  give  you 
 into  our  hands. 
 
 48  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  Philistine 
 arose,  and  came  and  drew  nigh  to  meet  David, 
 that  David  hasted,  and  ran  toward  the  army  to 
 meet  the  Philistine. 
 
 49  And  David  put  his  hand  in  his  bag,  and 
 took  thence  a  stone,  and  slang  it,  and  smote 
 the  Philistine  in  his  forehead,  that  the  stone 
 sunk  into  his  forehead  ;  and  he  fell  upon  his 
 face  to  the  earth. 
 
 30  So  '  David  prevailed  over  the  Philistine 
 with  a  sling  and   with  a  stone,  and  smote  the 
 Philistine,  and  slew  him  ;  but  there  was  no 
 sword  in  the  band  of  David. 
 I   31   Therefore  David  ran,  and  stood  upon  the 
 
 into  the  enemy. — Orient.  Lit.  22.  His  carriag-*-— the  provision  which 
 his  father  hart  sent  his  bretliren. — Pal.  25.  Free  in  Isrctel — exempt 
 from  the  usual  taxes  and  scrvicea.—Pict.  Bif>.  34.  A  6eor— bears 
 are  not  peculiar  to  the  north  ;  Thevenot  saw  one  near  the  extremities 
 of  the  Red  Sea.  a.'i.  /  cnti/^/it  him  hi/  his  heard.  inpaTnaa  tov  (papvyyo^ 
 avTov,  '  I  seized  him  by  the  throat,*  Sept.  38.  His  arjnmn — not  his 
 own,  being  of  an  improiier  size,  but  from  his  armoury. —  Henry. 
 39.  Not  proved  Mem— not  been  accustumedtothem. — Boothr.  40.  ilis 
 sling  leits  in  his  hand — shepherds  in  the  cast  carry  their  sling  and 
 stones  to  drive  off  the  wild  beasts  and  other  animals;  also  to  cornet 
 any  of  the  cattle  which  are  troublesome. — Rob.  44.  Flesh  vnto  the 
 fowls — this  was  a  common  threat,  and  often  carried  into  effect. — See 
 313 
 
 Homer's  Hind,  xxiii.  v.  21.— '  Begone,"  say  the  Hindoos  in  war,  'or 
 the  crows  shall  have  thy  carcase.'— So  Rob.  49.  A  stone,  andslung 
 i7~the  dexterity  with  which  the  sling  may  be  used  as  an  offensive 
 weapon  is  surprising.  The  arms  which  the  Achaeanschietly  used  were 
 slings.  They  were  trained  to  tlie  ait  Irom  their  infancy,  by  slinging 
 from  a  great  distance  at  a  circular  mark  of  a  moderate  circumference. 
 By  long  practice  they  took  so  nice  an  aim,  that  they  were  sure  to  hit 
 tlieir  enemies,  not  only  on  the  head,  but  on  any  part  of  the  face  they 
 chose.  Tlieir  slings  were  of  a  different  kind  from  the  Baleaiians, 
 whom  tliey  far  surpassed  in  dexterity.— P<j///ii«A-.  See  note  on  Judg. 
 XX.  16.  Cyrus  despised  the  sling  as  beneath  a  soldier,  and  'his  may 
 account  for  Goliath's  contempt  of  David.— See  Potter's  Greek  Antiq, 
 2  S 
 
Jonathan  loveth  David. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XVIII. 
 
 Saul  sceheth  to  kill  David. 
 
 Philistine,  and  took  his  sword,  and  drew  it  out 
 of  the  sheath  tliereof,  and  slew  him,  and  cut 
 off  his  head  tlierewith.  And  when  tlic  Philis- 
 tines saw  their  clianipion  was  dead,  '  they  tied. 
 
 52  And  the  men  of  Israel  and  of  Jiidah  arose, 
 and  shouted,  and  pnrsned  the  Philistines,  until 
 thou  come  to  tlie  valley,  and  to  the  pates  of 
 Elsron.  And  tlie  wounded  of  the  Pliilistines 
 fell  down  by  the  way  to  '  Sliaaraini,  even  unto 
 Gath,  and  unto  Ekron. 
 
 53  And  the  children  of  Israel  returned  from 
 chasing  after  the  Philistines,  and  they  spoiled 
 their  lent>. 
 
 54  And  David  took  the  head  of  the  Philis- 
 tine, and  brought  it  to  Jerusalem  ;  but  he  put 
 his  armour  in  his  tent. 
 
 55  t  And  when  Saul  saw  David  go  forth 
 against  the  Philistine,  he  said  unto  Abuer,  the 
 captain  of  the  host,  Abuer,  "  whose  son  is  this 
 youth?     And   Abuer  said,  As  thy  soul  livetli, 
 
 0  king,  I  cannot  tell. 
 
 56  And  the  king  said.  Enquire  thou  whose 
 son  the  stripling  is. 
 
 57  And  as  David  returned  from  the  slaughter 
 of  the  Philistine,  Abner  took  him,  and  brought 
 him  before  Saul  '  with  the  head  of  the  Philis- 
 tine in  his  hand. 
 
 58  And  Saul  said  to  him,  Whose  son  art 
 thou,  thou  young  man  ?  And  David  answered, 
 'lam  the  son  of  thy  servant  Jesse  the  Beth- 
 lehemite.  . 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 1  Jonnthan  lnf<  th  David.  5  Saul  envieth  fi is  praise, 
 XQsithvth  to  hi!}  fiim  in  his  fury,  \2ftnretfi  him  for  his 
 gooil  success,  1 7  offtrcth  him  his  (laughters  for  a  snare. 
 2*2  David  persuaded  to  be  the  kinif's  son  in  law,  f/iv- 
 eth  two  hundred  foreskins  of  the  Philistines  for  Mi- 
 chal's  dowri/.  28  Said^s  Jiatredf  and  David's  uhry 
 incTcaseth. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  be  bad  made  an 
 -^  end  of  speaknig  unto  Saul,  that  "  the  soul 
 of  Jonathan  was  knit  witli  the  soul  of  David, 
 *'and  Jonathan  loved  him  as  his  own  soul. 
 
 2  And  Saul  took  him  that  day,  '^  and  would 
 let  him  go  no  more  home  to  his  father's  house. 
 
 3  Then  Jonathan  and  David  made  a  cove- 
 nant, because  he  loved  him  as  his  own  soul. 
 
 4  And  Jonathan  stripped  himself  of  the  robe 
 that  was  upon  liim,  and  gave  it  to  David,  and 
 his  garments,  even  to  his   sword,   and  to  his 
 
 t  Joiih.I.'>.36. 
 
 II  Or,  prot- 
 pered,  ver, 
 14,  15,  -M. 
 
 d  V.x    15    ai 
 
 jijiig.ii  at. 
 
 \  Heb.  lUr, 
 itrinffi'ii   i 
 
 rcU    31.   II. 
 &  ^!>.  5. 
 Eccliis.  17. 
 
 A  ch.  19.  91. 
 IKii)  IS£i>. 
 Acts  IG.  16. 
 
 nch.  10.  10 
 K  SO.  .-iS. 
 V  ver.  IS.  Prov.  27.4. 
 
 a  Gcn.*4.30. 
 
 frch.  19.  8. 
 Dl  id.  17. 
 
 Deu.  13   6. 
 c  cb.  17.  iS. 
 
 q  ver.  16, 
 
 n  Or,  proM- 
 fierfd.  ViT. 
 
 /  cli,  17.  95 
 t  Heh.  a  tut 
 
 of  valour. 
 
 bow,  and  to  bis  girdle. 
 3  1[  And  David  went  out  whithersoever  Sau] 
 sent  him,  (md  \\  behaved  himself  wisely  :  and 
 Saul  set  him  over  the  men  of  war,  and  he  was 
 accepted  in  the  sight  of  all  tlie  people,  and 
 also  in  the  sight  of  Saul's  servants. 
 
 6  And  it  came  to  pass  as  tiiey  came,  when 
 David  was  returned  from  the  slaughter  of  the 
 II  Philistine,  that  '^  the  women  cauie  out  of  all 
 the  cities  of  Israel,  singing  and  dancing,  to 
 meet  king  Saul,  with  tabrets,  with  joy,  and 
 with  t  instruments  of  musick. 
 
 7  And  the  women  *^  answered  one  another  as 
 they  played,  and  said,  'Saul  hatli  slain  his 
 thousands,  and  David  his  ten  thousands. 
 
 8  And  Saul  was  very  wrotli,  and  the  saying 
 t^ displeased  him;  and  he  said,  They  have 
 ascribed  unto  David  ten  thousands,  and  to  me 
 they  have  ascribed  but  thousands  :  and  what 
 can  he  have  more  but  ''  the  kingdom  ? 
 
 9  And  Saul  eyed  David  from  that  day  and 
 forward . 
 
 10  1  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow, 
 that '  the  evil  spirit  from  God  came  upon  Saul, 
 '*■  and  he  prophesied  in  tlie  midst  of  tlie  house  : 
 and  David  played  with  his  hand,  as  at  other 
 times :  '  and  there  was  a  javelin  in  Saul's 
 hand. 
 
 11  And  Saul  ""cast  the  javelin  ;  for  he  said, 
 I  will  smite  David  even  to  the  wall  with  it. 
 And  David  avoided  out  of  his  presence  twice. 
 
 12  %  And  Saul  was  "  afraid  of  David,  because 
 °  the  Lord  was  with  him,  and  was '' departed 
 from  Saul. 
 
 1.3  Therefore  Saul  removed  him  from  him, 
 and  made  him  his  captain  over  a  thousand  ; 
 and  'Mie  went  out  and  came  in  before  the 
 people. 
 
 14  And  David  ||  behaved  himself  wisely  in 
 all  his  ways  ;  and  'tlie  Lord  iras  with  him. 
 
 15  Wherefore  when  Saul  saw  that  he  be- 
 haved himself  very  wisely,  be  was  afraid  of 
 him. 
 
 16  But  'all  Israel  and  Judah  loved  David, 
 because  he  went  out  and  came  in  before  them. 
 
 17  f  And  Saul  said  to  David,  Behold  my 
 elder  daughter  Merab,  *  her  will  I  give  thee  to 
 wife:  only  be  thou  f  valiant  for  me,  and  fight 
 "  the  Lord's  battles.  For  Saul  said,  '  Let  not 
 mine  hand  be  upon  him,  but  let  the  hand  of 
 
 Sunk  into  his  forehead—this  might  have  pierced  the  helmet,  or  entered 
 ail  eye-hdlt",  iir  his  face  might  be  uncovered  in  contempt  of  David. — 
 Com.  from  Henry  nndScott.  51.  Cut  off  his  head — this  was  an  ancient 
 custom  with  a  slain  enemy.  Herodulus  attributes  it  to  the  Scy- 
 thians.— Orient.  Cust.,  I2mo.,  Art.  Witr.  55.  Whose  son,  ^r.  —  Booth. 
 royd  omits  from  the  54th  verse  of  this  chapter  to  the  6th  of  the  next, 
 con.'iiderine'  the  verses  as  an  interpolation,  and  as  relating  improbable 
 circumstances.  A.  Clarke  agrees  with  Boothroyd,  ami  is  of  opinion 
 that  while  the  Jews  were  very  careful  of  the  purity  of  the  law  and 
 prophets,  they  did  not  scruple  to  introduce  their  own  traditions  occa- 
 sionally in  the  historical  books. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII. — 4.  StHpped  himself^D'Herbelot  says,  that  after  a 
 victory  over  Causon  Gouri,  the  Sultan  Selim  prayed  at  a  mosque  at 
 Aleppo,  when  the  Imam  added  a  prayer  for  him,  *  May  God  preserve 
 Sehm  Khan,  the  servant  and  minister  of  the  two  sacred  cities  of  Mecca 
 and  Medinah,'  which  so  pleased  the  sultan,  that  he  gave  the  robe  he 
 had  on  to  the  Imam. — Hur.  Sword — bow — girdle — such  military  pre- 
 sents have  usually  been  given  in  all  countries  to  brave  adventurers.^ 
 C.  Tuylor.  5.  Set  him  over — made  him  captain  of  his  guard. — Pat. 
 Gave  him  the  command  of  a  troop.— Gill.  Made  him  a  general, 
 because,  when  he  was  degraded,  lie  made  him  captain  of  a  thousand, 
 {ver.  IJ.) — Wil.     Gave  him  some  considerable  command,  though  not 
 
 the  supreme. — Poole.    Made  him  field. marshal.        6.  The  women,  fyr, 
 
 — it  was  the  principal  business  of  certain  women  to  celebrate  victories, 
 sing  at  funerals,  8iC. — .4.  Clarke.  Instruments  of  musick,  CMjblT. 
 'three-stringed  instruments,'  si.striims,  touched  with  the  tingtrs  as 
 among  the  Spaniards. — Sat.  '  Cymbols,'  C/iald.,  Sept.  7-  Saul  hath 
 slain,  ffc. — this  appears  to  be  a  triumphal  song,  or  the  chorus  of  one, 
 something  similar  to  that  of  Moses  after  his  passage  through  the  Red 
 Sea. — S.  Burder.  \0.  He  prophesied,  'sung  divine  songs,' which  per- 
 haps he  did  that  David  might  suspeet  no  danger  from  him. — Pat.  *  He 
 prayed  in  his  family.' — A.  Clarke.  '  He  howled'  or  '  grumbled.' — Z>r. 
 Chandler.  Boothroyd  omits  ver.  9,  10,  II,  because  Saul  docs  not  ap- 
 pear to  have  thrown  any  javelin  at  David  till  after  some  attempts  to 
 destroy  him  had  proved  ineffectual,  (chap.  .vix.  9.)  The  ancient  Hebrew 
 copies  also  omit  these  verses,  as  does  the  Vatican  Sept.  1 1 .  Javelin — 
 javelins  or  spears  were,  in  those  days,  the  ensigns  of  government,  as 
 sceptres  are  now,  and  princes  generally  carried  them  in  their  hand. — 
 Bp.  Wilson.  l6.  Went  out  and  came  in  before  them,  signifies,  in 
 other  places,  to  administer  all  things  belonging  to  one's  charge  with 
 full  authority,  (Deut.  xxxi.  2  ;  Numb,  xxvii.  21.)— Pa^  An  Hebraism, 
 generally  meaning  that  he  led  them  out  to  war,  and  conducted  them 
 safely  back. — Hew.  17.  And  Saul  said — the  Vatican  Sept.  omits  the 
 17th,  I8th,  and  19th  verses. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVU.  ~l.*  In  Goliath's fuU,'  ob- 
 serves Sutcliffe,  '  we  see  the  end  of  blaspheming  men,  who  de- 
 spise the  name,  and  deride  the  judgments,  of  God.' 
 
 II.  '  In  David's  victory,'  says  Scott,  '  we  see  a  faint  shadow  of 
 the  Redeemer's  victory  over  Satan,  who  for  ages  had  defied  the 
 314 
 
 armies  of  the  living  God.*  *  The  Son  of  David,'  as  Henry  re- 
 marks, '  triumphed  over  Satan  and  all  the  powers  of  darkness, 
 whom  he  spoiled,  and  made  a  show  of  them  openly;  and  we. 
 through  him,  are  more  than  conquerors.' 
 
David  marrieth  Michal. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XIX. 
 
 Her  stratagem  to  save  him. 
 
 the  Philistines  be  upon  him. 
 
 18  And  David  said  unto  Saul,  'Who  am  I? 
 and  what  is  my  life,  or  my  father's  family  in 
 Israel,  that  I  should  be  son  in  law  to  the  king? 
 
 19  But  it  came  to  pass  at  the  time  when 
 Merab  Saul's  daughter  should  have  been  given 
 to  David,  that  she  was  given  unto  ^Adriel  the 
 °  Meholathite  to  wife. 
 
 20  ''  And  Michal  Saul's  daughter  loved  Da- 
 vid :  and  they  told  Saul,  and  the  thing 
 t  pleased  him. 
 
 21  And  Saul  said,  I  will  give  him  her,  that 
 she  may  be  °  a  snare  to  him,  and  that  ^  the 
 hand  of  the  Philistines  may  be  against  him. 
 Wherefore  Saul  said  to  David,  Thou  shalt 
 "  this  day  be  my  son  in  law  in  the  one  of  the 
 twain. 
 
 22  K  And  Saul  commanded  his  servants,  say- 
 iiiff.  Commune  with  David  secretly,  and  say. 
 Behold,  the  king  hath  delight  in  thee,  and  all 
 his  servants  love  thee  :  now  therefore  be  the 
 king's  son  in  law. 
 
 23  And  Saul's  servants  spake  those  words  in 
 the  ears  of  David.  And  David  said,  Seemeth 
 it  to  you  a  light  thintj  to  be  a  king's  son  in  law, 
 seeing  that  I  am  a  poor  man,  and  lightly  es- 
 teemed ? 
 
 24  And  the  servants  of  Saul  told  him,  saying, 
 t  On  this  manner  spake  David. 
 
 25  And  Saul  said.  Thus  shall  ye  say  to 
 David,  The  king  desireth  not  any  'dowry,  but 
 an  hundred  foreskins  of  the  Philistines,  to  be 
 ^  avenged  of  the  king's  enemies.  But  Saul 
 ''  thought  to  make  David  fall  by  the  hand  of 
 the  Philistines. 
 
 26  And  when  his  servants  told  David  these 
 words,  it  pleased  David  well  to  be  the  king's 
 son  in  law  :  and  '  the  days  were  not  f  eiTpired. 
 
 27  Wherefore  David  arose  and  went,  he  and 
 '  his  men,  and  slew  of  the  Philistines  two  hun- 
 dred men;  and  '  David  brought  their  foreskins, 
 and  they  gave  them  in  full  tale  to  the  king, 
 that  he  might  be  the  king's  son  in  law.  And 
 Saul  gave  him  Michal  his  daughter  to  wife. 
 
 28  IT  And  Saul  saw  and  knew  that  the  Lord 
 7cas  with  David,  and  that  Michal  Saul's  daughter 
 loved  him. 
 
 29  And  Saul  was  yet  the  more  afraid  of 
 David  ;  and  Saul  became  David's  enemy  con- 
 tinually. 
 
 30  Then  the  princes  of  the  Philistines  "  went 
 forth  :  and  it  came  to  pass,  after  they  went 
 iorlh,that  David  "behaved  himself  more  wisely 
 than  all  the  servants  of  Saul ;  so  that  his  name 
 was  much  f  set  by. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 1  Jonathan  dischseth  his  father'' s  purpose  to  kill  David, 
 4  He  ptrsuadeth  his  father  to  reconciUation,     8  By 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  I0G3. 
 
 J,  SL-e  ver.  23 
 cli.  9.  ai. 
 :^  Sam.  7.  IS. 
 
 r2Sa.  21.8 
 r  Judg.  7.2-? 
 I  ver.  2a. 
 
 \  Heb.  wai 
 right  in  hit 
 
 c  Ex.  10.  7. 
 rfver.  17. 
 
 •  See  ver.  20. 
 
 t  11  oh.  Ac- 
 
 ru..liu.J  I.. 
 
 I  G.-11.34.  12 
 Kx.  yj,  17. 
 
 t  S.-0  ver  21. 
 t  VU-b./../- 
 Jilled. 
 A  ver.  13. 
 ZL>Sam.3.l*. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 precious 
 cb.  Sli.  21. 
 2Kiu,  1-1.1. 
 Ps.  116   15. 
 
 B.C 
 
 cir.  luta. 
 
 :  Gen.  49. 22 
 
 I's.  ^a.  12. 
 
 &   I  LID   .'). 
 Pro.  17.  18. 
 Jer.  lU,  21). 
 
 i  ch.   16.  2!. 
 
 Ik  19.  9.  K). 
 t  lie\}  i/i'i'l''r- 
 
 tlni/  third 
 
 d;s. 
 Cir.  1063. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ai» 
 
 ft  ch.  Ifi.  M 
 &  18.  10,  11 
 
 /  Ps.SS.lillc. 
 
 m  So  Josh 
 2.  1.^,  ActB 
 9   24,  2b. 
 
 \  Hcl). 
 IFT/iJ'liim. 
 Gen.  31.  ID. 
 Jude-  17.  5. 
 
 reason  of  David's  good  success  in  a  ttew  war,  Savts 
 malicious  rage  hreakcth  out  against  him.  12  Miclial 
 decciveth  her  father  u'ith  an  image  in  David's  bed. 
 18  David  Cometh  to  Samuel  in  Naioth.  20  Saul's 
 messengers  sent  to  take  David,  22  and  Saul  himself, 
 prophesy, 
 
 A  ND  Saul  spake  to  Jonathan  his  son,  and  to 
 -^  all  his  servants,  that  they  should  kill 
 David. 
 
 2  But  Jonathan  Saul's  son  "  delighted  much 
 in  David  :  and  Jonathan  told  David,  saying, 
 Saul  my  father  seeketh  to  kill  thee  :  now 
 therefore,  I  pray  thee,  take  heed  to  thyself 
 until  the  morning,  and  abide  in  a  secret  jo/ace, 
 and  hide  thyself: 
 
 3  And  I  will  go  out  and  stand  beside  my 
 father  in  the  field  where  thou  art,  and  I  will 
 commune  with  my  father  of  thee  ;  and  what  I 
 see,  that  I  will  tell  thee. 
 
 4  t  And  Jonathan  ''  spake  good  of  David 
 unto  Saul  his  father,  and  said  unto  him.  Let 
 not  the  king  'sin  against  his  servant,  against 
 David  ;  because  he  hath  not  sinned  against 
 thee,  and  because  his  works  have  been  to  thee- 
 ward  very  good  : 
 
 5  For  he  did  put  his  ''  life  in  his  hand,  and 
 "  slew  the  Philistine,  and  '  the  Lord  wrought 
 a  great  salvation  fur  all  Israel :  thou  .sawest  it, 
 and  didst  rejoice:  ^wherefore  then  wilt  thou 
 ''  sin  against  innocent  blood,  to  slay  David 
 without  a  cause? 
 
 6  And  Saul  hearkened  unto  the  voice  of 
 Jonathan  :  and  Saul  sware.  As  the  Lord  liveth, 
 he  shall  not  be  slain. 
 
 7  And  Jonathan  called  David,  and  Jonathan 
 shewed  him  all  those  things.  And  Jonathan 
 brought  David  to  Saul,  and  he  was  in  his  pre- 
 sence, '  as  t  in  times  past. 
 
 8  t  And  there  was  war  again  :  and  David 
 went  out,  and  fought  with  the  Philistines,  and 
 slew  them  with  a  great  slaughter  j  and  they 
 fled  from  f  him. 
 
 9  And  ''the  evil  spirit  from  the  Lord  was 
 upon  Saul,  as  he  sat  in  his  house  with  his 
 javelin  in  his  hand  :  and  David  played  with 
 his  hand. 
 
 10  And  Saul  sought  to  smite  David  even  to 
 the  wall  with  the  javelin  ;  but  he  slipped  away 
 out  of  Saul's  presence,  and  he  smote  the  ja- 
 velin into  the  wall :  and  David  fled,  and 
 escaped  that  night. 
 
 1 1  '  Saul  also  sent  messengers  unto  David's 
 house,  to  watch  him,  and  to  slay  him  in  the 
 morning  :  and  Michal  David's  wife  told  him, 
 saying.  If  thou  save  not  thy  life  to  night,  to 
 morrow  thou  shalt  be  slain. 
 
 12  1  So  Michal  "'  let  David  down  through  a 
 window  :  and  he  vvent,  and  fled,  and  escaped. 
 
 13  And  Michal  took  an  f  image,  and  laid  i< 
 
 21 .  In  the  one  of  the  twain — by  marrying  one  of  his  two  daugtiters — 
 Pat.      23.  .-l  poor  man — it  was  usual  for  a  man  to  give  a  dowry  to,  and 
 not  receive  a  portion  witli,  liis  wife. — GUI.        27.  Two  /lundred,  '  one 
 Inindred,*  Sept. 
 CuAr.  XIX.  —  U.  J/essfng-^rs,  ratlicr  officers. — Hew,     Slag  him  in 
 
 t/te  jnnrning,  lest,  in  tile  Aaxk,  he  should  escape,  or  any  other  be  slain 
 in  mistake. — Gill.  13.  An  image,  D^DID,  '  teraphiin  ;*  we  may  sup- 
 pose they  were  those  sacred  images  which  were  nearly  equivalent  to 
 the  penates,  or  household  gods,  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  The 
 Israelitish  women  seem  to  have  had  a  strong  propensity  to  this  sort  of 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIIL — I.  We  may  observe, 
 Jonathans  attachinnit  to  David.  So  far  from  envying  Iiim  his 
 honours,  Jonatlian  but  loved  him  the  more.  So  ought  we  to 
 love  eminent  and  useful  men,  and  not  to  look  upon  them  with 
 an  evil  eye,  which  is  too  often  the  case.  *  How  preierable,' 
 says  Sutcliffe,  '  was  this  love  to  tlie  gnawing  jealousy  of  Saul. 
 How  happy  it  tended  to  make  Jonathan,  while  envy  made  his 
 father  wretched.  Grace  makes  the  soul  noble  ;  it  tramples  on 
 envy,  hatred,  and  jealousy,  to  taste  the  pleasures  of  spotless 
 friendship  and  of  equal  love.'  We  may  observe, 
 313 
 
 II.  SauTs  hatred  to  David.  '  In  every  great  and  good  work,' 
 says  Scott,  '  a  roan  must  expect  to  be  envied  by  bis  neighbour. 
 But  such  trials  are  very  useful  to  those  who  love  God  ;  they 
 serve  as  a  counterpoise  to  the  honour  put  upon  them,  and 
 check  the  growth  of  pride  and  attachment  to  the  world  ;  they 
 exercise  them  to  faith,  patience,  meekness,  and  communion 
 with  God,  and  make  way  for  increasing  experience  of  the 
 Lord's  faithfulness  in  restraining  their  enemies,  raising  them 
 up  friends,  and  affording  them  his  gracious  protection.' 
 
Saul's  messengers  prophesy. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XX. 
 
 David  and  Junathan  consult. 
 
 in  the  bed,  and  put  a  pillow  of  goats'  hair  for 
 his  bolster,  and  covered  it  with  a  cloth. 
 
 14  And  when  Saul  sent  messengers  to  take 
 David,  she  said.  He  is  sick. 
 
 15  And  Saul  sent  the  messengers  again  to 
 see  David,  saying.  Bring  him  up  to  me  in  the 
 bed,  that  I  may  slay  him. 
 
 16  And  when  the  messengers  were  come  in, 
 behold,  there  was  an  image  in  the  bed,  with  a 
 pillow  of  goats'  hair  for  his  bolster. 
 
 17  And  Saul  said  unto  Michal,  Why  hast 
 thou  deceived  me  so,  and  sent  away  mine 
 enemy,  that  he  is  escaped  ?  And  Michal  an- 
 swered Saul,  He  said  unto  me,  Let  me  go  ; 
 "why  should  I  kill  thee? 
 
 18  f  So  David  fled,  and  escaped,  and  came 
 to  Samuel  to  Ramah,  and  told  him  all  that 
 Saul  had  done  to  him.  And  he  and  Samuel 
 went  and  dwelt  in  Naioth. 
 
 19  And  it  was  told  Saul,  saying,  Behold, 
 David  is  at  Naioth  in  Ramah. 
 
 •20  And  "  Saul  sent  messengers  to  take  David  : 
 ■■and  when  they  saw  tlie  company  of  tlie  pro- 
 phets prophesying,  and  Samuel  standing  as 
 appointed  over  them,  the  Spirit  of  God  was 
 upon  the  messengers  of  Saul,  and  they  also 
 '  prophesied. 
 
 •21  And  when  it  was  told  Saul,  he  sent  other 
 messengers,  and  they  propliesied  likewise. 
 And  Saul  sent  messengers  again  the  third 
 time,  and  they  prophesied  also. 
 
 '2^2  Then  went  he  also  to  Ramah,  and  came 
 to  a  great  well  that  is  in  Sechu  :  and  he  asked 
 and  said,  Where  are  Samuel  and  David  ?  And 
 one  said.  Behold,  Ihri/  he  at  Naioth  in  Ramali 
 
 •23  And  he  went  tliitlier  to  Naioth  in  Ramah  : 
 and  '  the  Spirit  of  God  was  upon  him  also,  and 
 he  went  on,  and  prophesied,  until  he  came  to 
 Naioth  in  Ramah. 
 
 24  '  And  he  stripped  off  his  clothes  also,  and 
 prophesied  before  Samuel  in  like  manner,  and 
 flay  down  'naked  all  that  day  and  all  that 
 night.  Wherefore  they  say,  "  Is  Saul  also 
 among  the  prophets? 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  David  consult ith  with  Jonathan  for  his  suftty.  II 
 Jonathan  and  David  renetv  their  covenant  by  oath. 
 18  Jo/iathan's   token  to   David.     24   Saidj    missing 
 
 I  Seo  John 
 7   3^.i3.&c 
 J.  I  Cor.  14. 
 3,  21,  25. 
 ch.  10-  5,e. 
 
 q  Nil.  n.S5 
 Joel  2.  28. 
 
 1  Heb. 
 
 far.  ver.  I:; 
 ch.  y.  \b. 
 
 H.-l 
 
 .  f.ll- 
 
 Nun 
 
 2 1.  1 
 
 Mir 
 
 1.  fl. 
 
 See 
 
 i  S»m 
 
 tl    \' 
 
 .  211. 
 
 ch. 
 
 10.  11. 
 
 II  Or.  S.iii 
 
 mi'>d,n,.d  J 
 
 ie<tt  do,  ^c. 
 \  H.-b. 
 
 ifftk^th,  or, 
 
 tl,i„keth. 
 a  Nil.   II).  10. 
 
 •i  28.  M. 
 
 4  ch.  19.  2. 
 
 c  ch.  16.  4. 
 
 tl  Or.  fintt. 
 
 ch   9.  12. 
 (/Sff  Dcu.  I. 
 
 £t-  2  Sam. 
 
 17.  1. 
 I  ch.  25   17. 
 
 E»lh  7.  7. 
 /Joah.  2.  U. 
 
 A  2  t"iiiii.  H 
 
 David,  steketh  to  kill  Jnnatlian.     35  Jonathan  lov~ 
 ini/ly  takttli  liis  /eare  of  David, 
 
 AND  David  fled  from  Naioth  in  Ramah,  and 
 -^^  came  and  said  before  Jonathan,  What  have 
 
 I  done?  what  is  mine  iniquity?  and  what  is 
 my  sin  before  thy  father,  that  he  seeketh  mv 
 life  ? 
 
 •2  And  he  said  unto  him,  God  forbid  ;  thou 
 shalt  not  die  :  behold,  my  father  will  do  no- 
 tliing  either  great  or  small,  but  tliat  he  will 
 fshew  it  me  :  and  why  should  my  father  hide 
 tliis  thijig  from  me  ?  it  is  not  so. 
 
 3  And  David  sware  moreover,  and  said.  Thy 
 father  certaiidy  knoweth  tliat  I  have  found 
 grace  in  tliine  eyes  ;  and  he  saith.  Let  not  Jo- 
 natlian  know  this,  lest  he  be  grieved  :  but 
 truly  as  tlie  Loud  jivetli,  and  as  thy  soul  liveth, 
 there  is  but  a  step  between  me  and  death. 
 
 4  Then  said  Jonathan  unto  David,  ||  What- 
 soever thy  soul  t  desireth,  I  will  even  do  it  for 
 thee. 
 
 5  And  David  said  unto  Jonathan,  Behold, 
 to  morrow  is  the  °  new  moon,  and  I  should  not 
 fail  to  sit  with  the  king  at  meat :  but  let  me 
 go,  that  I  may  i"  hide  myself  in  the  field  unto 
 the  third  daj/  at  even. 
 
 6  If  thy  father  at  all  miss  me,  then  say,  David 
 earnestly  asked  have  of  me  that  he  might  run 
 '  to  Beth-lehem  his  city  :  for  there  is  a  yearly 
 
 II  sacrifice  there  for  all  the  family. 
 
 7  •'  If  he  say  thus.  It  is  well  ;  thy  servant 
 .shall  have  peace :  but  if  he  be  very  wroth,  then 
 be  sure  that "  evil  is  determined  by  him. 
 
 8  Therefore  thou  shalt  'deal  kindly  with  thy 
 servant ;  for  ^  thou  hast  brought  thy  servant 
 into  a  covenant  of  the  Lord  with  thee:  not- 
 withstanding, ''if  there  be  in  me  iniquity,  slay 
 me  thyself;  for  why  shouldest  thou  bring  me 
 to  thy  father? 
 
 9  And  Jonathan  said.  Far  be  it  from  thee:  for 
 if  I  knew  certainly  that  evil  were  determined 
 by  my  father  to  come  upon  thee,  then  would 
 not  I  tell  it  thee? 
 
 10  Then  said  David  to  Jonathan,  Who  shall 
 tell  me?  or  what  if  thy  father  answer  thee 
 roughly  ? 
 
 1 1  1  And  Jonathan  said  unto  David,  Come, 
 and  let  us  go  out  into  the  field.  And  they 
 went  out  both  of  them  into  the  field. 
 
 superstition,  notwithstanding  the  express  law  of  Moses  aj^ainst  it, 
 (see  Gen.  xx.xi.  19,  and  Judg.  xvii.  b.)^Hew.  It  does  not  signify  one 
 made  for  superstitious  uses,  but  a  simple  imape  of  a  man's  liead. — Pat. 
 The  Hebrew  means  any  kind  of  iraag^e. — A.  Clarke.  .A  pillow,  or  '  bag.* 
 — A.  Clarke.  A  cloth — a  Itind  of  net.  Such  a  net  is  a  close  curtain  of 
 gauze  or  fine  linen,  used  all  over  the  east  by  people  of  better  fashion 
 to  keep  out  the  flics. — Shaw.  IS.  To  Ramah,  for  advice,  direction, 
 and  comfnrt.  Naiolh,  where  was  a  scliool  of  the  prophets. — Gilt. 
 20.  Prophesied — praised  God  in  hymns  which  the  prophets  composed 
 and  sang  to  him,  (1  Chron.  XX v.  1,  2,  .1.1  24.  His  clothes — his  upper 
 garments,  his  royal  robes.  Laif  down — fell  down  as  in  atrance. — Gill. 
 Naked — stripped  of  his  upper  garments,  as  was  said  before,  and  as  the 
 
 word  naked  is  often  used,  (Isa.  XX.  2  ;  Mich.  1.  8;  2  Sam.  vi.  20;  John, 
 xxi.  7.) — Poole.  It  may  mean  *  without  armour;'  thus  Gelon,  having 
 conquered  the  Carthaginians,  is  said  to  have  gone  into  the  forura 
 naked — unarmed. — ^lian.  Var.  Hist.,\\h.\\.  c.  11.  So  Cincinnatus 
 was  found  ploughing  naked. — .iurel.  Victor,  de  Vir.  lllust.,  c.  20,  Gilt. 
 CuAP.  XX.  —  2.  Thou  shaft  not  die — Jonathan,  from  a  filial  respect 
 to  his  father,  was  very  loth  to  believe  he  wnulrl  ever  do  so  ill  a  thing. 
 — Henri/.  6.  New  moon,  a  solemn  and  festival  time,  when  peace- 
 offerings  were  presented  to  Gud,  and  all  feasted  together  on  the 
 rem.iinder. — Poole.  David,  being  one  of  the  king's  family,  by  marry- 
 ing his  daughter,  used  to  eat  with  him  on  those  occasions. — Pat. 
 7.  7/  he  be  reri/  wroth — he  plans  this  for  Jonathan's  information  and 
 
 REFLrcTlOMS  ON  ClUF.  XI.V.  —  \.  Jonathan  was  a  specimen 
 of  a  real  friend.  He  was  pleased  witli  David's  prosperity,  and 
 he  did  not  desert  liiin  in  adversity.  Hi.s  love  to  David  w-as 
 great,  and  he  exposed  biniselt  to  llie  liazard  of  his  father's 
 rage  and  malice  in  pleading  in  liis  behalf.  But  are  we  not 
 here  reminded  that  there  ever  lives  one  who  '  is  a  friend  that 
 sHcketU  closer  than  a  brother,'  *  horn  for  adversity,'  and  con- 
 tinually pleading  for  us  ?  'I'he  force  of  human  friendship  has 
 sometimes  carried  the  heart  very  far  in  exercising  its  aftec- 
 tions,  and  '  peradventure  for  a  good  man  some  would  even 
 dare  to  die  ;  but  God  commendeth  his  love  towards  us,  in  that 
 while  we  were  yet  sinners  Christ  died  for  us.'  '  He  loved  us, 
 and  gave  himself  for  us.' 
 
 II.  The pcrstVLriag  rancour  of  Suiil  a(/ntnst  David  mat/  serve 
 316 
 
 to  rentind  us  of  our  viyilant  and  bitter  enemi/.  *  Vour  adver.sary 
 the  devil,  as  a  roaring  lion,  goeth  about  seeking  wbom  he  may 
 devour.  He  lays  bis  snares,  he  employs  bis  agents  to  ruin  us, 
 be  haunts  the  soul  in  every  direction,  and  there  is  no  place 
 so  sacred  as  to  be  free  from  bis  malicious  attacks.  We  have, 
 therefore,  continual  need  to  watch  and  pray  for  the  Divine 
 protection. 
 
 111.  The  wonderful  preservation  of  David,  and  transfurmation 
 of  Soul,  reminds  us  of  the  power  of  (jod  in  controlling  the  hearts  of 
 men.  They  are  all  in  bis  hand  and  at  his  command.  Not  an 
 injury  can  be  infiicled  without  his  permission  ;  even  the  roar- 
 ing lion  walks  about  but  in  chains.  '  Who  is  he  that  shall 
 harm  you,  if  ye  be  followers  of  that  which  is  good?' 
 
Their  covenant. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XX. 
 
 Jonathan's  kindness  to  David. 
 
 12  And  Jonathan  said  unto  David,  O  Lord 
 God  of  Israel,  when  I  have  f  sounded  my  fa- 
 ther about  to  morrow  any  time,  or  the  third 
 day,  and,  behold,  if  there  be  good  toward  Da- 
 vid, and  I  then  send  not  unto  thee,  and  f  shew 
 it  thee  ; 
 
 13  '  The  Lord  do  so  and  much  more  to  Jona- 
 than :  but  if  it  please  my  father  to  do  thee 
 evil,  then  I  will  shew  it  thee,  and  send  thee 
 away,  that  thou  mayest  go  in  peace  :  and  '  the 
 Lord  be  with  thee,  as  he  hath  been  with  my 
 father. 
 
 14  And  thou  shalt  not  only  while  yet  I  live 
 shew  me  the  kindness  of  the  Lord,  that  I  die 
 not : 
 
 15  But  also  '  thou  shalt  not  cut  off  thy  kind- 
 ness from  my  house  for  ever :  no,  not  when 
 the  Lord  hath  cut  off  the  enemies  of  David 
 every  one  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 
 10  So  Jonathan  f  made  a  covenant  with  the 
 house  of  David,  saying,  "  Let  the  Lord  even 
 require  it  at  the  hand  of  David's  enemies. 
 
 17  And  Jonathan  caused  David  to  swear 
 again,  ||  because  he  loved  him  :  "  for  he  loved 
 liim  as  he  loved  his  own  soul. 
 
 18  Then  Jonathan  said  to  David,  °  To  mor- 
 row is  the  new  moon :  and  thou  shalt  be 
 missed,  because  thy  seat  will  be  f  empty. 
 
 19  And  when  thou  hast  stayed  three  days, 
 then  thou  shalt  go  down  ||  f  quickly,  and  come 
 to  'the  place  where  thou  didst  hide  thyself 
 t  when  the  business  was  in  liand,  and  shalt  re- 
 main by  the  stone  ||  Ezel. 
 
 '20  And  I  will  shoot  three  arrows  on  the  side 
 thereof,  as  though  I  shot  at  a  mark. 
 
 21  And,  behold,  I  will  send  a,\aA,saying,  Go, 
 find  out  the  arrows.  If  I  expressly  say  unto 
 the  lad.  Behold,  the  arrows  are  on  this  side  of 
 thee,  take  them  ;  then  come  thou :  for  there  is 
 peace  to  thee,  and  fno  hurt;  ''as  the  Lord 
 liveth. 
 
 '2-2  But  if  I  say  thus  unto  the  young  man. 
 Behold,  the  arrows  are  beyond  thee  ;  go  thy 
 way  :  for  the  Lord  hath  sent  thee  away. 
 
 2.3  And  as  toJicAwr/ 'the  matter  which  thou 
 and  I  have  spoken  of,  behold,  the  Lord  be  be- 
 tween thee  and  me  for  ever. 
 
 24  t  So  David  hid  himself  in  the  field  :  and 
 when  the  new  moon  was  come,  the  king  sat 
 him  down  to  eat  meat. 
 
 25  And  the  king  sat  upon  his  seat,  as  at  other 
 times,  ece«  upon  a  seat  by  the  wall:  and  Jona- 
 than arose,  and  Abner  sat  by  Saul's  side,  and 
 David's  place  was  empty. 
 
 20  Nevertheless  Saul  spake  not  any  thing 
 that  day  :  for  he  thought,  Something  hath  be- 
 fallen him,  he  is  'not  clean  ;  surely  he  is  not 
 clean. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  1062. 
 
 *  Josh.  I.  5. 
 cli.  17.  37. 
 IChr.^.ll 
 
 /2  Sam-  9- 1, 
 3,  T.St2\J 
 
 \  Heb.  ct./. 
 
 m  ch.  S5.  22. 
 See  ch.  3J. 
 2.  2  S.^m  4. 
 7.  b.  21.  8. 
 
 ch.  13.  1. 
 v«i-.  5. 
 
 il  Or,  <tUi- 
 genlbj. 
 \  Heb 
 
 p  ch.  19,^2. 
 t  Heb.  iM  tht 
 
 II  Or,  llmt 
 thetreilt  the 
 
 t  Heb.  not 
 any  M.r.fi.. 
 '/  Jer.  4.  2. 
 
 «  Le».  7.  21. 
 &  15. 6,  &c. 
 
 B.  0. 
 
 dr.  11)132 
 
 II  Or,  TTiou 
 
 pi^rrerie 
 
 rrb-l. 
 I  Heb.  Son  i,j 
 
 bMion. 
 
 t  Heb.  Is  rt» 
 Mon  of  death. 
 
 »  ch.  19  5, 
 Mat.  27.23. 
 Luke  23  22. 
 
 \  Heb   /•, 
 
 27  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  which 
 teas  the  second  day  of  the  month,  that  David's 
 place  was  empty  :  and  Saul  said  unto  Jona- 
 than his  son.  Wherefore  cometh  not  the  son  of 
 Jesse  to  meat,  neither  yesterday,  nor  to  day  ? 
 
 28  And  Jonathan  '  answered  Saul,  David 
 earnestly  asked  leave  of  me  to  go  to  Beth- 
 lehem : 
 
 29  And  he  said,  Let  me  go,  I  pray  thee  ;  for 
 our  family  hath  a  sacrifice  in  the  city ;  and  my 
 brother,  he  hath  commanded  me  to  be  there  : 
 and  now,  if  I  have  found  favour  in  thine  eyes, 
 let  me  get  away,  I  pray  thee,  and  see  my 
 brethren.  Therefore  he  cometh  not  unto  the 
 king's  table. 
 
 30  Then  Saul's  anger  was  kindled  against 
 Jonathan,  and  he  said  unto  him,  ||  f  Thou  son 
 of  the  perverse  rebellious  icoynan,  do  not  1 
 know  that  thou  hast  chosen  the  son  of  Jesse  to 
 thine  own  confusion,  and  unto  the  confusion 
 of  thy  mother's  nakedness? 
 
 31  For  as  long  as  the  son  of  Jesse  liveth  upon 
 the  ground,  thou  shalt  not  be  established,  nor 
 thy  kingdom.  Wherefore  now  send  and  fetch 
 him  unto  me,  for  he  f  shall  surely  die. 
 
 32  And  Jonathan  answered  Saul  his  father, 
 and  said  unto  him,  "  Wherefore  shall  he  be 
 slain?  what  hath  he  done? 
 
 33  And  Saul  "  cast  a  javelin  at  him  to  smite 
 him  :  '' whereby  Jonathan  knew  that  it  was  de- 
 termined of  his  father  to  slay  David. 
 
 34  So  Jonathan  arose  from  the  table  in  fierce 
 anger,  and  did  eat  no  meat  the  second  day  of 
 tlie  month  :  for  he  was  grieved  for  David,  be- 
 cause his  father  had  done  him  shame. 
 
 35  t  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning, 
 that  Jonathan  went  out  into  the  field  at  the 
 time  appointed  with  David,  and  a  little  lad 
 with  him. 
 
 36  And  he  said  unto  his  lad.  Run,  find  out  now 
 the  arrows  which  I  shoot.  And  as  the  lad  ran, 
 he  shot  an  arrow  f  beyond  him. 
 
 37  And  when  the  lad  was  come  to  the  place 
 of  the  arrow  which  Jonathan  had  shot,  Jona- 
 than cried  after  the  lad,  and  said,  Is  not  the 
 arrow  beyond  thee  ? 
 
 38  And  Jonathan  cried  after  the  lad,  Make 
 speed,  haste,  stay  not.  And  Jonathan's  lad 
 gathered  up  the  arrows,  and  came  to  his 
 master. 
 
 39  But  the  lad  knew  not  any  thing :  only 
 Jonathan  and  David  knew  the  matter. 
 
 40  And  Jonathan  gave  his  t  artillery  unto 
 t  his  lad,  and  said  unto  him.  Go,  carry  them  to 
 the  city. 
 
 41  t  And  as  soon  as  the  lad  was  gone,  David 
 arose  out  of  a  place  toward  the  south,  and  fell 
 on  his  face  to  the  ground,  and  bowed  himself 
 
 satisfaction,  and  for  his  own  vindication.— Poo/i?.  12.  0  Lorct  God  of 
 Israel,  *  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  be  witness.' — Boothr.  13.  As  he 
 huth  been  with  my  father,  that  is,  formerly.  This  intimates  his  belief 
 that  David  would  be  in  his  father's  place,  and  his  good  wishes  that  he 
 might  prosper  in  it  better  than  his  father  now  AM.—Henrt/.  15.  Thou 
 shalt  not  cut  off^it  has  been  very  common  in  disputed  successions  for 
 the  reigning  prince  to  clear  the  title  of  his  own  family  by  cutting  off  all 
 competitors. — Scott.  16.  Retjuire  it — take  vengeance  on  Jonathan 
 or  on  any  of  his  posterity,  should  they  break  this  covenant  by  shewing 
 themselves  enemies  to  David  and  his  crown  ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  on 
 David  and  his  posterity  should  they  not  shew  kindness  to  Jonathan  and 
 his  seed  — Gilt.  19.  Kzel—thc  original  siirnifies  '  going,'  and  it  has 
 been  conjectured  this  was  a  way  mark,  but  Gill  doubts  wliether  a  spot 
 in  the  route  of  travellers  would  have  been  appointed  on  such  an  occa- 
 sion. 20.  /  will  shoot,  ^c. — these  signs  seem  to  have  been  agreed 
 upon  in  case  no  opportunity  should  have  occurred  of  speaking  with 
 David. — Scott.  23.  The  Lord  be  between  thee  and  me,  as  a  witness 
 and  avenger,  if  we  keep  not  the  covenant  we  have  made  of  perpetual 
 friendship.  25.  .4  seat  by  the  wti/f— the  Israelites  sat  at  meat  in  u 
 317 
 
 half-round  or  circle,  and  the  middle  place  in  this  fashion  of  sitting  wa.s 
 the  most  honourable. — Pat.  30.  Thou  son  of  the  perverse  rebellious 
 woman,  *  thou  son  of  perverse  rebellion  ;'  that  is,  a  very  perverse  rebel. 
 ^Pat.  '  Thou  perverse  rebellious  man.' — Boot/ir.  The  word  son  thus 
 used,  in  the  Hebrew,  is  an  aggravation  of  a  man's  crime,  and  notes 
 one  who  is  extraordinarily  addicted  to  it. — Poole.  In  the  east,  when 
 they  are  angry  with  a  person,  they  abuse  and  vilify  his  parents. 
 Saul  thought  of  nothing  but  venting  his  anger  against  Jonathan,  nor 
 had  any  design  of  reproaching  his  wife  personally  ;  the  mention  of  her 
 was  only  a  vehicle  by  which,  according  to  oriental  modes,  he  was  made 
 to  convey  his  resentment  against  Jonathan  into  the  minds  of  those 
 about  him. — Har.  Thy  mother's  nakedness,  that  is,  he  gave  the  world 
 cause  to  suspect  that  he  was  not  the  legitimate  son  of  Saul,  because  he 
 loved  him  whom  Saul  hated,  and  supported  him  who  would  be  the  de- 
 struction of  their  i^m\\y.— Henry.  34.  For  he  was  grieved,  ^c— the 
 copulative  'and'  is  here  wanting,  as  in  many  places.  By  supplying  it 
 the  text  will  be,  '  for  he  was  grieved  on  account  of  David,  and  also  be- 
 cause his  father  had  done  him  (Jonathan)  shame.' — Pat.  40.  Artil- 
 lery, ^bDf  '  instruments,'  that  is,  his  bow  and  arrows. — A.  Clarke,  Wit, 
 
David  ohtaincth  hallowed  bread. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXI.,  XXII. 
 
 Daind  tahet?i  Goliut/i's  sword. 
 
 three  times  :  and  they  kissed  one  another,  and 
 wept  one  with  anotlier,  until  David  exceeded. 
 42  And  Jonathan  said  to  David, '  Go  in  peace, 
 II  forasmuch  as  we  have  sworn  botli  of  us  in 
 the  name  of  the  Lord,  saying.  The  Lord  be 
 between  me  and  thee,  and  between  my  seed 
 and  tby  seed  for  ever.  And  lie  arose  and  de- 
 parted :  and  Jonathan  went  into  the  city. 
 
 CHAP.  XXL 
 
 I  David  at  Nub  obtaineth  of  Ahivulech  hallowed  bread. 
 7  Doeg  was  present.  &  David  taktth  Goliath's 
 sword.     10  David  at  Gath  feiytietk  himself  inad, 
 
 THEN  came  David  to  Nob  to  '  Ahimelech 
 the  priest  :  and  Ahimelech  was  ''  afraid  at 
 the  meeting  of  David,  and  said  unto  him,  Why 
 art  thou  alone,  and  no  man  with  thee? 
 
 2  And  David  said  unto  Ahimelech  the  priest. 
 The  king  hath  commanded  me  a  business,  and 
 hath  .said  unto  me.  Let  no  man  know  any  thing 
 of  the  business  whereabout  I  send  tliee,  and 
 what  I  have  commanded  thee  :  and  I  have  ap- 
 pointed my  servants  to  such  and  sucli  a  place. 
 
 8  Now  therefore  what  is  under  thine  band  V 
 give  me  five  loaves  of  bread  in  mine  band,  or 
 what  there  is  f  present. 
 
 4  And  the  priest  answered  David,  and  said. 
 There  is  no  common  bread  under  mine  hand, 
 
 but  there  is  ""  hallowed  bread  ;  ''  if  the  young 
 men  have  kept  themselves  at  least  from  wo- 
 men. 
 
 5  And  David  answered  the  priest,  and  said 
 unto  him.  Of  a  truth  women  liave  been  kept 
 from  us  about  these  tliree  days,  since  I  came 
 out,  and  the  '  vessels  of  tlie  young  men  are 
 holy,  and  the  bread  is  in  a  manner  common, 
 
 II  yea,  ttiough  it  were  sanctified  this  day  '  in 
 the  vessel. 
 
 6  So  the  priest  ^ gave  him  hallowed  ijcorf: 
 for  there  was  no  bread  there  but  the  shew- 
 bread,  "  that  was  taken  from  before  the  Lord, 
 to  put  hot  bread  in  the  day  when  it  was  taken 
 away. 
 
 7  Now  a  certain  man  of  the  servants  of  Saul 
 was  there  that  day,  detained  before  the  Lord  ; 
 and  bis  name  teas  '  Doeg,  an  Edomite,  the 
 chiefest  of  the  herdmen  that  belonged  to  Saul. 
 
 ch. 
 
 17- 
 
 I  Or,  the 
 LOUD  be 
 witness  uf 
 tliat  which, 
 ic. 
 See  vcr.  23. 
 
 «  ch    14.  S, 
 cjOIed 
 jiiiiith. 
 Cftlled  also 
 .Itjuitluir, 
 Mark  ■>..  26. 
 
 6  cli.  16.  *. 
 
 c  F.s   2S.  30. 
 I*v.  i;4.  .5. 
 
 M.it.  la.  4. 
 
 <i  Kx.  19  lb 
 Zccli.  7.  3. 
 
 II  Or,  n,»- 
 r  iathf  trfifit 
 lhii'tiiylf,erf 
 If  other 
 ttncl'fi^'t  ill 
 the  vrilet. 
 f  Lev.  S.  2B. 
 
 g  Mat     12.  3. 
 4    Matk  2. 
 25,  2tj. 
 I.uke6.  .3,4 
 
 /.  Lev.  2t.  8, 
 
 II  Or,  Ahi- 
 melech, 
 Ps  :«,  title. 
 
 1  ch,  IR   7. 
 &  -i!!.  S. 
 Ecclus.  47. 
 
 p  rs  34,title. 
 
 11  Or,  maie 
 mart.. 
 
 aPflST.title 
 h.  U'2,  tilie 
 >,  2  Saui.  23. 
 
 8  t  And  David  said  unto  Ahimelech,  And  i.s 
 there  not  here  under  thine  hand  spear  or 
 sword  ?  for  I  have  neither  brought  my  sword 
 nor  my  weapons  with  me,  because  the  king's 
 business  required  haste. 
 
 !)  And  the  priest  said,  The  sword  of  Goliath 
 the  Philistine,  whom  thou  slewest  in  '  the 
 valley  of  Elah,  '  behold,  it  is  here  wrapped  in  a 
 cloth  behind  the  ephod  :  if  thou  wilt  take  that, 
 take  it :  for  there  is  no  other  save  tliat  here. 
 And  David  said,  There  is  none  like  that;  give 
 it  me. 
 
 10  H  And  David  arose,  and  fled  that  day  for 
 fear  of  Saul,  and  went  to  ||  Acbish  tlie  king  of 
 Gath. 
 
 1 1  And  ■"  the  servants  of  Achish  said  unto 
 him,  Is  not  this  David  the  king  of  tlie  land  ? 
 did  they  not  sing  one  to  another  of  liim  in 
 dances,  saying,  "  Saul  liatli  slain  his  thousands, 
 and  David  his  ten  tlionsands? 
 
 1-2  And  David  "laid  up  these  words  in  his 
 heart,  and  was  sore  afraid  of  Achish  the  king 
 of  Gath. 
 
 13  And  ''he  changed  his  behaviour  before 
 them,  and  feigned  himself  mad  in  tlicir  hands, 
 and  II  scrabbled  on  the  doors  of  the  gate,  and 
 let  his  spittle  fall  down  upon  his  beard. 
 
 14  Then  said  Achisli  unto  his  servants,  Lo, 
 ye  see  tlie  man  ||  is  uiad  :  wherefore  then  have 
 ye  brought  him  to  me? 
 
 15  Have  I  need  of  mad  men,  that  ye  have 
 brought  this  fellotv  to  play  the  mad  man  in  my 
 presence?  shall  this  fellotv  come  into  my 
 house  ? 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  Companies  resort  uvto  David  at  AduUam.  3  At 
 Mizpeh  he  commendeih  his  parents  unto  the  kiup  of 
 Moab.  5  Admonished  by  Gadt  he  cumeth  to  llanth. 
 0  Saul  going  to  vxirsue  him,  complainith  of  his  st-r- 
 vants^  U7ifaithfulniss,  9  Doeg  accuscth  Ahimchch. 
 11  Saul  commandith  to  kill  the  pritsts.  17  The 
 footmen  refusing,  Doeg  executtth  it,  20  Ahiuthor 
 escaping,  bringeth  David  the  news. 
 
 AVID  therefore  departed  tbcnco,  and 
 escaped  ^  to  the  cave  Adullam  :  and 
 wlien  his  brethren  and  all  liis  father's  house 
 heard  it,  they  went  down  thither  to  him. 
 
 D^ 
 
 'Weapons.'        41.  Until  David  exceeded,  'with  great  lamentation.' — 
 Boothr.,  as  the  Sept. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  1.  Nofi,  a  little  city  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  twelve 
 miles  from  Gibeah,  and  fifteen  west  of  Jerusalem,  and  on  the  road  to 
 Gath,  (see  chap.  xx.  19;  Neh.  xi.  32.)— Bunting,  Sut.  To  Ahimelech 
 the  priest ,  to  inquire  of  God  by  him.  as  he  did  chap.  xxii.  \o.—GiU. 
 Alone—hG  had  reason  to  suspect  something  wrong,  seeing  the  king's  son- 
 in-law  unattended.  2.  The  kin^  hath  commanded  me — a  plain  lie, 
 extorted  from  fear  and  necessity.  David  afterwards  declares  his  re- 
 pentance  for  this  sm,  (Ps.  cxix.  'ig.)— Poole.  3.  Under  thine  hand— 
 in  thy  power  to  supply  me  with. — Hew.  What  food  he  li;ul  in  the 
 house. — Gill.  4.  Hallutved  bread — the  shew  bread,  from  vcr.  6,  and 
 Matt.  xii.  4,  and  which  was  the  perquisite  of  the  priests. — Gill.  6.  The 
 vessels  of  the  jjoung  men,  *  and  all  the  \onng  men.' — Boothr.,  as  Sept. 
 Are  holy — their  garments  not  being  defiled  by  any  ceremonial  unclean- 
 iiess.  Js  in  a  manner  common,  as  it  was  taken  from  the  shew-bread 
 table,  and  was  now  common  to  the  priest's  family.  7-  Detained— iK 
 might  be  Sabbath  day,  and  he  could  not  travel,  or  some  vow  or  im- 
 purity might  detain  him.  An  Edomite,  by  birth  an  Idumean,  but  a 
 proselyte;  or  an  Israelite  who  dwelt  in  Edora. — GiU.         10.  Gd/A, 
 
 twenty-four  miles  from  ^oh.-Butiting.  All  lands  were  at  peace  with 
 Saul,  and  David  deemed  himself  safest  in  an  enemy's  country  ;  he 
 might  hope  not  to  be  known,  or  if  known,  the  Philistines  might  be 
 induced  to  benefit  by  the  breach  between  him  and  Saul  by  engaging 
 David's  services,  or  he  might  know  Achish  was  friendly  towards  him. 
 —So  Gill.  13.  Feif^nitd  himself  mad,  ^r.,  '  and  he  changed  his 
 countenance  before  them,  and  fell  convulsed  into  their  hands ;  and  he 
 hurt  and  marked  himself  against  the  posts  of  the  gate,  and  he  frothed 
 on  his  beard.'— i>Mmo7if.  So  intensely  is  the  beard  respected  in  the 
 east,  that  this  defiling  act  of  self  insult  was  naturally  c^'nstrued  into 
 some  natural  infirmity.— Pie(.  Bib.  14.  The  man  is  mad,  •  is  epileptic.' 
 —Dumont.  Av5t>a  einXnTroi',  Sept.  The  34th  and  5;th  Psalms,  com- 
 posed on  this  occasion,  thanking  God  that  he  had  preserved  him  from 
 guile,  strongly  indicate  that  his  behaviour  was  the  effect  of  God's 
 afflicting  hand. — Sut.  A.  Clarke  favours  this  opinion.  'This  action,' 
 says  B/j.  lJ'i7s07j,  taking  the  text  as  translated,  'proceeded  from  want 
 of  faith  in  God's  promises  and  providence.'  — So  Henri/,  Ostervald, 
 Scott.  Gill  and  Chandler  consider  David's  conduct  as  a  mean  pre- 
 tence, but  not  sinful. 
 CuAP.  XXII.  —  I .  Adullam,  a  place  of  considerable  strength  (2  Sam. 
 
 REFLr.CTiONs  ON  Chap.  XX.  —  I.  Here  is  Jonathan  David's 
 friend  still.  •  If  there  be  those  that  hate  and  despise  us,'  says 
 Henry,  *  let  us  not  be  disturbed  at  that,  for  there  are  those 
 also  that  love  and  respect  us  ;  God  has  set  the  one  over  against 
 the  other,  and  so  must  we.' 
 
 n.  }Itre  is  Saul  still  hating  David.  *  See,*  says  the  same 
 divine,  *  how  ill  Saul's  passion  looks,  and  let  it  warn  us  against 
 the  indulgence  of  everything  like  it  in  ourselves.  Anger  is 
 madness,  and  he  that  hates  his  brother  is  a  murderer.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  In  this  chapter  we  read 
 of^I.  David's  visit  to  Ahimelech.  Where,  in  a  time  of  trouble, 
 should  we  seek  for  consolation,  if  it  be  not  in  religion  l  Here 
 318 
 
 it  is  said,  '  Aiiimelech  inquired  of  the  Lord  for  him,'  (chap. 
 xxii.  15. )  And  still  *  God  is  our  refuge  and  strength,  a  very 
 present  help  in  trouble.'  n»     ■ .     i 
 
 II.  David's  flight  to  Gath.  Henry  remarks,  *  David,  though 
 king  elect,  is  here  an  exile  ;  designed  to  be  master  of  vast 
 treasures,  yet  had  been  just  now  begging  bis  bread ;  anointed 
 to  the  crown,  and  yet,  here,  forced  to  run  his  country.  Thus 
 do  God's  providences  sometimes  seem  to  run  counter  to  his 
 promises,  for  the  trial  of  his  people's  faith  and  the  glorifying 
 of  his  name  in  the  accompUshment  of  his  counsels,  notwith- 
 standing the  difficulties  that  lie  in  the  way.' 
 
Doeg  accuscth  Ahimelech. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXir. 
 
 Suul  destroyeth  the  priests. 
 
 2  '  And  every  one  ihat  was  in  cjistress,  and 
 every  one  that  f  «'''■'  >"  debt,  and  every  one 
 that  was  t  discontented,  gathered  themselves 
 unto  him ;  and  ho  became  a  captain  over  them : 
 and  there  were  with  him  about  four  hundred 
 men. 
 
 3  IT  And   David  went  thence   to  Mizpeh  of 
 Moab  :  and  lie  said  unto  the  liing  of  Moab, 
 Let  my  fatlier  and  my  mother,   I  pray  thee 
 come  forth,  and  be  with  you,  till  I  know  what 
 God  will  do  for  me. 
 
 4  And  he  brought  them  before  the  king  of 
 Moab  :  and  they  dwelt  with  him  all  the  while 
 that  David  was  in  the  hold. 
 
 5  t  And  the  prophet  ■^  Gad  said  unto  David 
 Abide  not  in  the  hold  ;  depart,  and  get  thee 
 into  the  land  of  Judah.  Then  David  departed, 
 and  came  into  the  forest  of  Hareth. 
 
 6  H  When  Saul  heard  that  David  was  disco- 
 vered, and  the  men  that  icere  with  him,  (now 
 Saul  abode  in  Gibeah  under  a  ||  tree  in  Ramah, 
 having  his  spear  in  his  hand,  and  all  his  ser- 
 vants icere  standing  about  him  ;) 
 
 7  Then  Saul  said  unto  his  servants  that  stood 
 about  him.  Hear  now,  ye  Benjamites  ;  will  the 
 son  of  Jesse  "  give  every  one  of  you  fields  and 
 vineyards,  and  make  you  all  captains  of  thou- 
 sands, and  captains  of  hundreds  ; 
 
 8  That  all  of  you  have  conspired  against  me, 
 and  there  is  none  that  f  sheweth  me  that  '  my 
 son  hath  made  a  league  with  the  son  of  Jesse, 
 and  there  is  none  of  you  that  is  sorry  for  me, 
 or  sheweth  unto  me  that  my  son  hath  stirred 
 lip  my  servant  against  me,  to  lie  in  wait,  as  at 
 tliis  day  ? 
 
 9  f  Then  answered  *  Doeg  the  Edomite, 
 which  was  set  over  the  servants  of  Saul,  and 
 said,  I  saw  the  sou  of  Jesse  coming  to  Nob,  to 
 ■■Ahimelech  the  son  of  'Ahitub. 
 
 10  '  And  he  enquired  of  the  Lord  for  him, 
 and  '  gave  him  victuals,  and  gave  him  the 
 sword  of  Goliath  the  Philistine. 
 
 11  Then  the  king  sent  to  call  Ahimelech  the 
 priest,  the  son  of  Ahitub,  and  all  his  father's 
 house,  the  priests  that  were  in  Nob  :  and  they 
 came  all  of  them  to  the  king. 
 
 1'2  And  Saul  said.  Hear  now,  thou  son  of 
 Ahitub.  And  he  answered,  f  Here  I  am,  my 
 lord. 
 
 13  And  Saul  said  unto  him,  Wliy  have  ye 
 conspired  against  me,  thou   and  the   son   of 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  1002. 
 
 «.  C. 
 cir,  Ilie2. 
 
 cludg.  11.3. 
 t  Heb.  had  a 
 credilitr. 
 t   Heb,  liitirt 
 
 dS  Sam.  24 
 II.  1  Oir. 
 21.9.  2  Chr 
 29.  25, 
 
 {I  Or,  grnre 
 in  It  high 
 plac. 
 
 1  Heb  lillU 
 or  great. 
 
 II  Or,  giinrd, 
 t  Heb, 
 Tu'iiieri. 
 
 p  ch,  23.  6, 
 1  ell.  2.  S3, 
 
 ftNu  27-21- 
 Ich  21,6,9, 
 
 \  Heb, 
 Itehtld  tilt. 
 
 Jesse,  in  that  thou  hast  given  him  bread,  and  a 
 sword,  and  hast  enquired  of  God  for  him,  that 
 he  should  rise  against  me,  to  lie  in  wait,  as  at 
 this  day? 
 
 14  Then  Ahimelech  answered  tlie  king,  and 
 said.  And  who  is  so  faithful  among  all  tliy  ser- 
 vants as  David,  which  is  the  king's  sou  in  law, 
 and  goeth  at  thy  bidding,  and  is  honourable  in 
 thine  house  ? 
 
 16  Did  I  then  begin  to  enquire  of  God  for 
 him  ?  be  it  far  from  me  :  let  not  the  king  im- 
 pute a/ii/  thing  unto  his  servant,  nor  to  all  the 
 house  of  my  father  :  for  tliy  servant  knew  no- 
 thing of  all  this,  f  less  or  more. 
 
 16  And  the  king  said.  Thou  shall  surely  die, 
 Ahimelech,  thou,  and  all  thy  father's  house. 
 
 17  f  And  the  king  said  unto  the  ||  f  footmen 
 that  stood  about  him.  Turn,  and  slay  the  priests 
 of  the  Lord  ;  because  their  hand  also  /'s  with 
 David,  and  because  they  knew  when  he  fled,  and 
 did  not  shew  it  to  me.  But  the  servants  of  the 
 king  "would  not  put  forth  their  hand  to  fall 
 upon  the  priests  of  the  Lord. 
 
 18  And  the  king  said  to  Doeg,  Turn  thou, 
 and  fall  upon  the  priests.  And  Doeg  the 
 Edomite  turned,  and  he  fell  upon  the  priests, 
 and  "  slew  on  that  day  fourscore  and  five  per- 
 sons that  did  wear  a  linen  ephod. 
 
 19  °  And  Nob,  the  city  of  the  priests,  smote 
 he  with  the  edge  of  the  sword,  both  men  and 
 women,  children  and  sucklings,  and  oxen,  and 
 asses,  and  sheep,  with  the  edge  of  the  sword. 
 
 •20  IT  ''  And  one  of  the  sons  of  Ahimelech  the 
 son  of  Ahitub,  named  Abiathar,  ''  escaped,  and 
 fled  after  David. 
 
 21  And  Abiathar  shewed  David  that  Saul  had 
 slain  the  Lord's  priests. 
 
 22  And  David  said  unto  Abiathar,  I  knew  it 
 that  day,  when  Doeg  the  Edomite  was  there, 
 that  he  would  surely  tell  Saul :  I  have  occa- 
 sioned the  death  of  all  the  persons  of  thy  father's 
 house. 
 
 23  Abide  thou  with  me,  fear  not:  'for  he 
 that  seeketh  my  life  seeketh  thy  life  :  but  with 
 me  thou  shatt  be  in  safeguard. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 1  David,  enquiring  of  the  Lord  by  Abiathar,  rescueth 
 Keilah.  7  God  shewing  him  tlie  coming  of  Saul,  and 
 the  treachtrg  of  tlie  KeUites,  he  escapeth  from  Keilah* 
 14  In  Ziph  Jonatlian  Cometh  and  comforteth  him. 
 
 xsiii.  13;  1  Chron.  xi.  15,)  in  the  land  of  Judah,  fjosh.  xv.  21,  35,) 
 which  being  his  own  tribe,  he  hoped  for  some  protection. — Ponle, 
 2.  Evert/  one  that  wns  in  tlinfress,  SfC. — these  were  men  of  broken  for- 
 tunes and  restless  spirits. — Henri/,  These  were  oppressed  people,  and 
 not  banditti ;  they  acted  on  the  defensive,  and  became  protectors  of 
 the  country.^Sco/^.  The  ori^nal  word  by  no  means  intimates  that 
 these  were  abandoned  and  infamous  characters ;  and  as  for  debtors, 
 they  were  used  by  the  Jews  with  great  severity, — Chtiniltpr,  3,  He 
 mid  unto  the  king  of  Moab — perhaps  partly  because  he  descended  from 
 his  people,  (Ruth,  iv,  10,)  and  partly  because  he  was  Saul's  enemy, 
 (chap,  xiv,  47,) — Poole,  5.  Garf — he  probably  accompanied  David  in 
 exile,  or  might  be  sent  from  Samuel,  In  the  hoid—he  was  evidently 
 not  in  Adullam,  probably  in  some  hold  in  Moab;  in  Judah  he  would 
 be  among  friends,  and  in  the  way  to  be  anointed  on  Saul's  death. — 
 
 Gift,  6.  Nott'  Saut,  fyc,  '  now  Saul  was  sittinfr  on  a  hill  in  Gibeah, 
 under  a  tamarisk  tree,' — Bnothr.  15,  Did  I  then  be^n,  S/c.t  '  Have 
 I  not  done  it  very  often  before?' — Gitt,  18.  Fotirsrore  and  five, 
 'three  hundred  and  live,'  Sept.  'Three  hundred  and  eighty, five,' — 
 .ToKephus,  .4  tinen  epitod — a  garment  priests  and  Levites  used  to  wear. 
 (Exod.  xxviii.  40;  1  Sam.  ii.  18,)— Poo/t?,  19,  And  Nub — this  horrid 
 massacre  accomplished  the  sentence  against  Eli's  house,  of  whose 
 line  were  these  priests,  (chap,  ii,  31— 36;  Hi,  i2—M.)— Scott,  20,  A/)ia~ 
 thnr  escaped — be  was  probably  left  to  take  care  of  the  sanctuary  and 
 holy  things  when  the  priests  were  summoned  by  Saul,  and  havimc 
 heard  of  their  execution,  fled  in  time,  (see  chap,  xxiii,  6 — 9.) — Gilt 
 23.  -^iirfe- thus  David  obtained  the  presence  of  a  high  priest,  which  was 
 a  great  comfort  to  him. — Scott. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII. —  This  chapter  records, 
 I.  David's  escape  to  Jdvllam..  Here  Providence  comforted 
 him  by  sending  him  a  defensive  army,  the  society  of  relatives 
 and  friends,  and  the  advice  of  a  prophet.  Here  he  provided  a 
 refuge  for  his  aged  parents,  who  could  not  endure  the  sacrifices 
 and  tods  to  which  he  was  liable,  and  shewed  the  heart  of  a 
 dutiful  and  affectionate  son.  The  most  painful  circnmstances 
 in  which  a  good  man  can  be  placed  are  not  without  their  con- 
 solations, and  one,  by  no  means  the  least,  is,  that  bis  steps 
 '  are  ordered  by  the  Lord.' 
 319 
 
 II.  Saul's  murder  of  the  priests.  This  was  an  act  of  the 
 greatest  barbarity,  and  aggravated  Saul's  crimes.  It  was  a 
 transaction  mysterious  in  Providence,  but  doubtless  just  aa 
 it  was  mysterious.  The  wickedness  of  Eli's  sons  might  not 
 wholly  have  lost  its  evil  example,  and  the  time  of  predictctl 
 punishment  came.  Saul  was  exercising  his  own  base  pas- 
 sions,  and  God,  through  him,  using  the  sword  of  a  Judge. 
 These  men  were  innocent  as  to  Saul,  but  probably  guilty  as  to 
 God  ;  Saul  was  therefore  a  murderer,  but  God  was  just. 
 
David  escapeth  from  Keilah. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXIII. 
 
 Jonathan  comfortetli  him. 
 
 19  Tke  Zipliites  discover  him  to  Said.  25  /U  Maon 
 he  is  resetted  from  Saul  by  the  inrasion  of  ttie  Philis- 
 tines.    29  lir  dwclleth  at  Eii-ffidl. 
 
 'pHEN  they  told  David,  sayiiifi.  Behold,  the 
 -*-  Pliilistines  fight  against  °  Keilah,  and  they 
 roh  the  threshingHoors. 
 
 2  Therefore  David  "  enquired  of  the  Lord, 
 saying.  Shall  I  go  and  smite  these  Pliilistines? 
 And  the  Lord  said  unto  David,  Go  and  smite 
 the  Philistines,  and  save  Keilah. 
 
 3  And  David's  men  said  unto  him,  Behold, 
 we  be  afraid  here  in  Judah  :  how  much  more 
 then  if  we  come  to  Keilah  against  the  armies 
 of  the  Philistines  ? 
 
 4  Then  David  enquired  of  the  Lord  yet 
 again.  And  tlie  Lord  answered  him  and  said. 
 Arise,  go  down  to  Keilah  ;  for  1  will  deliver 
 the  Philistines  into  thine  hand. 
 
 5  So  David  and  his  men  went  to  Keilah,  and 
 fought  with  tlie  Philistines,  and  brought  away 
 their  cattle,  and  smote  tlieni  witli  a  great 
 slaughter.  So  David  saved  the  inhabitants  of 
 Keilah. 
 
 6  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Abiathar  tlie 
 son  of  Ahimelech  "fled  to  David  to  Keilah, 
 that  he  came  down  wit/i  an  epliod  in  his  hand. 
 
 7  1  And  it  was  told  Saul  that  David  was 
 come  to  Keilah.  And  Saul  said,  God  hath 
 delivered  him  into  mine  hand  ;  for  he  is  shut 
 in,  by  entering  into  a  town  that  hath  gates  and 
 bars. 
 
 8  And  Saul  called  all  the  people  together  to 
 war,  to  go  down  to  Keilah,  to  besiege  David 
 and  his  men. 
 
 9  K  And  David  knew  that  Saul  secretly  prac- 
 tised mischief  against  him  ;  and  ''  he  said  to 
 Abiathar  tlie  priest.  Bring  hitlier  the  ephod. 
 
 10  Then  said  David,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
 thy  servant  hath  certainly  heard  that  Saul 
 seeketh  to  come  to  Keilah,  °  to  destroy  the  city 
 for  my  sake. 
 
 1 1  Will  the  men  of  Keilah  deliver  me  up 
 into  his  hand  ?  will  Saul  come  down,  as  thy 
 servant  hath  heard  ?  O  Lord  God  of  Israel,  1 
 beseech  thee,  tell  thy  servant.  And  the  Lord 
 said.  He  will  come  down. 
 
 12  Then  said  David,  Will  the  men  of  Keilah 
 t  deliver  me  and  my  men  into  the  hand  of 
 Saul  ?  And  the  Lord  said.  They  will  deliver 
 thee  up. 
 
 13  1  Then  David  and  his  men,  'which  were 
 about  six  hundred,  arose  and  departed  out  of 
 Keilah,  and  went  whithersoever  they  could  go. 
 And  it  was  told  Saul  that  David  was  escaped 
 from  Keilah  ;  and  he  forbare  to  go  forth. 
 
 14  And  David  abode  in  the  wilderness  in 
 strong  holds,  and  remained  in  ^a  mountain  in 
 the  wilderness  of  '"  Ziph.  And  Saul  '  sought 
 him  every  day,  but  God  delivered  him  not  into 
 his  hand. 
 
 b  ver.4.fi,  S 
 2  Saiii.£  ly 
 
 /til.  85.  8. 
 ac  -ib.  13. 
 
 A.f.isli  t5  5r>. 
 i  Ps.  M.  3,  -1. 
 
 /  rh    18  :^.  & 
 ■Jtl.  Ifi.  .12. 
 -  Ssin  21.7 
 
 t  Heb.  m  Ih' 
 r.Hl.i  l,~,„l. 
 
 II  Clr./r.m 
 the  rock. 
 
 p  P».  31    82. 
 y  P8.  17   9- 
 
 f  Heb  ijnead 
 upnn,  4'c- 
 
 II  That  is. 
 
 \b  And  David  saw  that  Saul  was  come  out 
 to  seek  his  lite  :  and  David  was  in  the  wilder- 
 ness of  Ziph  in  a  wood. 
 
 16  IT  And  Jonathan  Saul's  son  arose,  and  went 
 to  David  into  the  wood,  and  strengthened  his 
 hand  in  God. 
 
 17  And  he  said  unto  him.  Fear  not :  for  the 
 hand  of  Saul  my  father  shall  not  tiiid  thee  ;  and 
 thou  shalt  be  king  over  Israel,  and  I  shall  be 
 next  unto  thee  ;  and  '  that  also  Saul  my  father 
 knoweth. 
 
 18  And  they  two  'made  a  covenant  before 
 the  Lord  :  and  David  abode  in  the  wood,  and 
 Jonathan  went  to  his  house. 
 
 19  1  Then  '"came  up  the  Ziphites  to  Saul  to 
 Gibeah,  saying.  Doth  not  David  hide  himself 
 with  us  in  strong  holds  in  the  wood,  in  the  hill 
 of  Hachilali,  which  is  f  on  the  south  of  ||  Je- 
 shimon  ? 
 
 20  Now  therefore,  O  king,  come  down  ac- 
 cording to  all  the  desire  of  thy  soul  to  come 
 down  ;  and  "  our  part  shall  he  to  deliver  him 
 into  the  king's  hand. 
 
 21  And  Saul  said,  Blessed  he  ye  of  the  Lord; 
 for  ye  have  compassion  on  me. 
 
 22  Go,  I  pray  you,  prepare  yet,  and  know  and 
 see  his  place  where  his  f  haunt  is,  and  who 
 hath  seen  him  there  :  for  it  is  told  me  that  he 
 dealeth  very  subtilly. 
 
 23  See  therefore,  and  take  knowledge  of  all 
 the  lurking  places  where  he  hideth  himself,  and 
 come  ye  again  to  me  with  the  certainty,  and  1 
 will  go  with  you  :  and  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if 
 lie  be  in  the  land,  that  I  will  search  him  out 
 throughout  all  the  thousands  of  Judah. 
 
 24  And  they  arose,  and  went  to  Ziph  before 
 Saul :  but  David  and  bis  men  tvere  in  the  wil- 
 derness °  of  Maon,  in  the  plain  on  the  south  of 
 Jeshimon. 
 
 25  Saul  also  and  his  men  went  to  seek  him. 
 And  they  told  David  :  wherefore  he  came  down 
 II  into  a  rock,  and  abode  in  the  wilderness  of 
 Maon.  And  when  Saul  heard  that,  he  pursued 
 after  David  in  the  wilderness  of  Maon. 
 
 2()  And  Saul  went  on  this  side  of  the  moun- 
 tain, and  David  and  his  men  on  that  side  of  the 
 mountain  :  ''  and  David  made  baste  to  get  away 
 for  fear  of  Saul  ;  for  Saul  and  his  men  ''  com- 
 passed David  and  his  men  round  about  to  take 
 them. 
 
 27  H  '  But  there  came  a  messenger  unto  Saul, 
 saying.  Haste  thee,  and  come  ;  for  the  PhiUs- 
 tincs  have  f  invaded  the  land. 
 
 28  Wherefore  Saul  returned  from  pursuing 
 after  David,  and  went  against  the  Philistines  : 
 therefore  they  called  that  place  ||  Sela-ham- 
 mahlekoth. 
 
 29  H  And  David  went  up  from  thence,  and 
 dwelt  in  strong  holds  at  'En-gedi. 
 
 Chap  XXIII.  — 1.  Keitafi,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh. xv. 44.) 
 Rob  the  ttireshinpjioors,  commonly  without  the  city  for  the  conve- 
 nience of  wind,  (Ruth,  iii.  2.  15.)— Put.  A  constant  practice  of  the 
 bordering  enemies  of  Israel  when  the  harvest  was  fit  for  gathering. — 
 So  .4.  Clarke.  14.  Wilderness  of  Ziph — a  city  of  this  name  is  men- 
 tioned Josh.  XV.  ^5,  together  with  Carrael  and  Maon,  which  it  probably 
 joined.  24.  Wilderness  of  Maon,  a  neighbouring  town  to  Carmei. — 
 Wells.        27.  There  came  a  messenger—^  marvellous  providence  of 
 
 Gfid,  who  stirred  the  Philistines  up  at  this  very  time  to  make  an  irrup- 
 tion into  the  land  of  Israel  for  the  preservation  of  David  in  extreme 
 danger.  IB.  Seln-hornmnhlekoth — 'the  rock  of  divisions  ;'  either  Saul 
 was  distracted,  not  knowing  whether  to  pursue  David  or  meet  the  Phi- 
 listines, or  the  name  took  its  rise  from  Saul  bring  here  divided  from 
 David.  29-  En-gedi,  a  place  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  not  far  from  the 
 Dead  Sea,  celebrated  by  Solomon,  in  his  song,  for  its  famous  vineyards. 
 —Pat. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIII.  —  I.  See  here  the  suceessfal 
 isme  of  David's  seehintj  direelioa  from  God.  Thus  sliould  We 
 at  all  times  commit  our  way  unto  the  Lord  ;  he  is  still  the 
 hearer  of  prayer,  and  will  still  guide  those  who  seek  his 
 counsel. 
 
 320 
 
 II.  The  extraordinanj  interposition  of  Providence  in  David's 
 behalf.  The  experienced  Christian  need  only  watch  the  events 
 of  his  life,  and  will  read  interpositions  equally  worlliy  of  no- 
 tice in  his  own  history.  So  true  is  the  saying,  '  Man's  extre- 
 mity is  God's  opportunity.* 
 
David  spareth  Saul's  life  at  En-gedi.       I.  SAMUEL,  XXIV.,  XXV. 
 
 IJ.C, 
 
 The  death  of  Samuel. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 I  David  in  a  cave  iii  Eii-yedi,  karinf/  cut  off  Sai/l's 
 skirts  aparctlt  his  life.  8  Ih  s/tewc/h  iiii^rihij  liis  in- 
 Jtoccnci/.  16  Saul,  acknowledi/ini/  his  fault,  taketh 
 an  oath  of  David,  and  departttk. 
 
 AND  it  came  to  pass,  "when  Saul  was  return- 
 ed from  f  t'ollowiiig  the  Philistines,  that  it 
 was  told  him,  saying.  Behold,  David  is  in  the 
 wilderness  of  En-gedi. 
 •1  Tlien  Saul  took  three  thousand  chosen  men 
 out  of  all  Israel,  and  ^  went  to  seek  David  and 
 his  men  upon  the  rocks  of  tlie  wild  goats. 
 
 3  And  lie  came  to  the  sheepcotes  by  the 
 way,  where  was  a  cave  ;  and  "  Saul  went  in  to 
 ''  cover  his  feet :  and  °  David  and  his  men  re- 
 mained in  the  sides  of  the  cave. 
 
 4  '  And  tlie  men  of  David  said  unto  him.  Be- 
 hold the  day  of  which  the  Lokd  said  unto 
 thee.  Behold,  1  will  deliver  thine  enemy  into 
 thine  hand,  that  thou  mayest  do  to  him  as  it 
 shall  seem  good  unto  thee.  Then  David 
 arose,  and  cut  off  the  skirt  of  f  Saul's  robe 
 privily. 
 
 •j  And  it  came  to  pass  afterward,  that  ^  Da- 
 vid's heart  smote  him,  because  he  had  cut  off 
 Saul's  skirt. 
 
 0  And  he  said  unto  his  men,  ''  The  Loud 
 forbid  that  I  should  do  this  thing  unto  my 
 master,  the  Lord's  anointed,  to  stretch  forth 
 mine  hand  against  him,  seeing  he  is  the 
 anointed  of  the  Lokd. 
 
 7  So  David  f  '  stayed  his  servants  with  these 
 words,  and  suffered  them  not  to  rise  against 
 Saul.  But  Saul  rose  up  out  of  the  cave,  and 
 went  on  liis  way. 
 
 8  David  also  arose  afterward,  and  went  out 
 of  the  cave,  and  cried  after  Saul,  saying.  My 
 lord  the  king.  And  when  Saul  looked  behind 
 him,  David  stooped  with  his  face  to  the  earth, 
 and  bowed  himself. 
 
 9  t  And  David  said  to  Saul,  '  Wherefore 
 hearest  thou  men's  words,  saying.  Behold, 
 David  seeketh  thy  hurt'? 
 
 10  Behold,  tliis  day  thine  eyes  have  seen 
 how  that  the  Lord  had  delivered  thee  to  day 
 into  mine  hand  in  the  cave:  and  some  bade 
 me  kill  thee  :  but  mine  eye  spared  thee  ;  and 
 I  said,  I  will  not  put  forth  mine  hand  against 
 my  lord  ;  for  he  w  the  Lord's  anointed. 
 
 1 1  Moreover,  my  father,  see,  yea,  see  the 
 skirt  of  thy  robe  in  my  hand  :  for  in  that  I  cut 
 off  the  skirt  of  thy  robe,  and  killed  thee  not, 
 know  thou  and  see  that  there  is  '  neither  evil 
 nor  transgression  in  mine  hand,  and  I  have  not 
 
 c  Ps.  Ml.  G. 
 
 d  JiiJg.  n  'iV 
 ePa.57,ti[k', 
 &1I'J,  litlB. 
 
 /ci,.  •-■i;,  H. 
 
 \Hc\,.ll,r 
 
 vias  S'liil-i 
 H'l  Sa  :iI.HI 
 
 a  cl».  '-3.  iiS, 
 t  lleb.  afia 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ■'If- 
 i  I's.  7.  4. 
 
 Mat.  S.  \A. 
 
 Horn   l'J.I7, 
 
 19. 
 
 li  Ps.  UI.  fi 
 Pl.t.  Hi,  ys. 
 &  17    I). 
 
 /  Ps.  7.  S.  & 
 S5.  7. 
 
 cir.  lobl. 
 
 o*  cli.  '26.  "ill. 
 n  Ueil    Iti.  ;>. 
 
 Ju.lt'-ll  '^7. 
 
 cli.  lil).   lu. 
 
 Job  5.  8. 
 
 <>  ch.  17.  43 
 2  Sam  9  8. 
 p  cli.  KB.  21t. 
 9  vei'.  i'i. 
 
 r2  Clir.  24. 
 22 
 
 M  rh.  20.  21 
 J-  (ion  3«.2fi. 
 J/  Mat.  5.  44. 
 
 t  ch.  26.  2.S 
 t  llcb.  shut 
 
 up. 
 
 cli.23  12.  & 
 
 26.  3. 
 
 c  2  Sara.  21. 
 6,8. 
 
 d  cli.  23.  29. 
 EcclUB.  12. 
 Kl,  II. 
 
 <l  ell.  23.  24. 
 
 sinned  against  thee  ;  yet  thou  '"  huntest  my 
 soul  to  take  it. 
 
 12  "The  Lord  judge  between  me  and  thee, 
 and  the  Lord  avenge  me  of  thee  :  but  mine 
 hand  shall  not  be  upon  thee. 
 
 1.3  As  saith  the  proverb  of  the  ancients^ 
 Wickedness  proceedeth  from  the  wicked  :  but 
 mine  hand  shall  not  be  upon  thee. 
 
 14  After  whom  is  the  king  of  Israel  come 
 out?  after  whom  dost  thou  pursue?  "after  a 
 dead  dog,  after  ''a  flea, 
 
 15  ''  The  Lord  therefore  be  judge,  and  judge 
 between  me  and  thee,  and  '  see,  and  '  plead  my 
 cause,  and  f  deliver  me  out  of  thine  hand. 
 
 IG  11  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  David  had 
 made  an  end  of  speaking  these  words  unto 
 Saul,  that  Saul  said,  '  /*■  this  thy  voice,  my  son 
 David  ?  And  Saul  lifted  up  his  voice,  and 
 wept. 
 
 17  "  And  he  said  to  David,  Thou  art  *  more 
 righteous  than  I  :  for  '  tliou  hast  rewarded  me 
 good,  wliereas  I  have  rewarded  thee  evil. 
 
 lb  And  thou  hast  shewed  this  day  how  that 
 thou  hast  dealt  well  witli  me  :  forasmuch  as 
 when  "  the  Lord  had  f  delivered  me  into  thine 
 hand,  thou  killedst  me  not. 
 
 19  For  if  a  man  find  his  enemy,  will  he  let 
 him  go  well  away  ?  wherefore  the  Lord  re- 
 ward thee  good  for  that  thou  hast  done  unto 
 me  this  day. 
 
 '20  And  now,  behold,  °  I  know  well  that  thou 
 shall  surely  be  king,  and  that  tlie  kingdom  of 
 Israel  shall  be  established  in  thine  hand. 
 
 21  '' Swear  now  therefore  unto  me  by  the 
 Lord,  '  that  thou  wilt  not  cut  off  my  seed 
 after  me,  and  that  thou  wilt  not  destroy  my 
 name  out  of  my  father's  house. 
 
 22  And  David  sware  unto  Saul.  And  Saul 
 went  home  ;  but  David  and  his  men  gat  them 
 up  unto  '■  the  hold. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1  SamuLi  dieth.  2  David  in  Paran  sendtth  to  Nahal. 
 10  Provoked  hy  NaboTs  churlisliiwss,  he  mindfth  to 
 destroy  ]itm,  14  Ahiyail  under sttinding  t/ureof,  18 
 taketh  a  present,  23  and  hy  her  ivisdom  32  pacifieth 
 David,  36  Nahal  hearing  tUerenfdii'th,  39  David 
 taketh  Ahiyail  and  Ahinoam  to  he  his  wives.  44 
 Michal  is  given  to  Phalti. 
 
 A  ND  "Samuel  died  ;  and  all  the  Israelites 
 -^-^  were  gathered  together,  and  ^  lamented 
 him,  and  buried  him  in  his  house  at  Ramah. 
 And  David  arose,  and  went  down  '^  to  the  wil- 
 derness of  Paran. 
 
 2  And  there  was   a  mau  ''in  Maon,  wliose 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  — 3.  Sheepcotes — caves  used  for  sheltering  sheep  from 
 the  heat  at  noon. — Har.  By  the  way — Saul  could  not  suspect  that 
 David  would  actually  lie  in  the  way  whither  he  was  fi^oiiig  to  seek  for 
 him.  To  cover  his  feet — to  sleep,  as  they  were  wont  to  do  in  the  heat 
 of  the  day. — Put.  See  notes  on  Judg.  iii.  24.  In  the  sides  of  the  cnve, 
 — Strabo,  speaking  of  the  caverns  in  Syria  and  Iturea,  says,  tliere  is 
 one  which  will  hold  4000  men.  Pocoche  saw  a  Ifirj^e  grotto  in  which 
 30,000  men  once  retired  to  escape  bad  air.  4.  The  da//  of  which  the 
 Lord  said — we  read  of  no  such  promise,  but  so  David's  men  iuter|ireted 
 the  promise  of  liis  coming  to  the  kingdom. — Put.     Cat  off  the  skirt — 
 
 the  extremity  extending  beyond  his  feet  as  he  had  drawn  himself  for 
 repose. — Kd.  5.  Synote  him,  Sfc. — it  looked  like  indignity  to  a  prince 
 to  disfigure  his  royal  robe. — Put.  8.  Bowed  himself,  with  hands 
 placed  on  tlie  knees  and  the  body  at  a  right  angle,  for  so  the  Persians 
 bow. — Morier.  14.  A  dead  dog — expressions  setting  forth  his  own 
 comparative  insignificance. 
 
 CitAP.  XXV.  —  1.  in  his  house,  not  within  its  walls,  for  the  uncleai> 
 ness  of  graves  would  not  admit  of  it,  (see  Num.  xix.  l6,  18;)  but  in 
 some  field  or  garden  where  his  house  was. — Gilt.  The  Jews  term  i 
 cemetery  '  the  house  of  the  living.'        2.  Muon,  a  city  in  the  south  or 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIV.  —  I.  Remark  here,  David's  and  ruined  by  sin.     '  Happy  is  tlie  man  that  feareth  always.' 
 
 tenderness  of  conscience.    *  David's  heart  smote  Lim  because  he  li.  David^s  vindication  of  hts  rif/hteonsness.      Il  is  a  cause  of 
 
 bad  cut  off  Saul's  skirt.*    A  tender  conscience  is  an  excellent  comfort  to  the  mind,  under  the  most  unjust  treatment,  vvhtn 
 
 safeguard  against  sin.     This  prevailed  over  David's  apparent  we  can  conscientiously  ftppeul  to  our  own  innocence  ;  and  tlien 
 
 interest,  and  prevented  bim  from  killing  '  the  Lord's  anointed.'  may  we  also,  with  perfect  confidence,  commit  our  cause  into 
 
 Let  us  lisien  to  the  monitor  within;  when  it  remonstrates,  the  bands  of  God,  and  say,  without  presumption,  *  The  Lord 
 
 its  voice  deserves  to  be  beard.     Resist  it,  and  the  mind  adds  jud;^e  between  me  and  tbee. 
 one  sin  to  another,  and  is  in  danger  of  becoming  hardened  in 
 
 321  2  T 
 
IfabaVs  churlishness. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXV. 
 
 AbiiK'il lidcifiith  Dfiviil. 
 
 II  possessions  were  in  "  Carmel  ;  and  tlie  man 
 was  very  great,  and  lie  had  three  tliousand 
 sheep,  and  a  thousand  goats  :  and  he  was  shear- 
 ing his  sheep  in  Camiel. 
 
 3  Now  the  name  of  the  man  was  Nahal  ; 
 and  the  name  of  his  wife  Abigail :  and  she  was 
 a  woman  of  good  imderstanding,  and  of  a 
 beautiful  countenance  :  but  the  man  was 
 churlish  and  evil  in  his  doings ;  and  he  was  of 
 the  house  of  Caleb. 
 
 4  t  And  David  hoard  in  the  wilderness  that 
 Nabal  did  '  shear  his  sheep. 
 
 5  And  David  sent  out  ten  young  men,  and 
 David  said  unto  the  young  men.  Get  you  up 
 to  Carmel,  and  go  to  Nabal,  and  f  greet  him 
 Ml  my  name  : 
 
 6  And  thus  shall  ye  say  to  him  that  liveth  in 
 prosperity,  ^  Peace  be  both  to  thee,  and  peace 
 be  to  thine  house,  and  peace  be  unto  all  that 
 thou  hast. 
 
 7  And  now  I  have  heard  that  thou  liast 
 shearers :  now  thy  shepherds  which  were  with 
 us,  we  t  hurt  them  not,  •'  neither  was  there 
 ought  missing  unto  them,  all  the  while  they 
 were  in  Carmel. 
 
 8  Ask  thy  young  men,  and  they  will  shew 
 thee.  Wherefore  let  the  young  men  find  fa- 
 vour in  thine  eyes  :  for  we  come  in  '  a  good 
 day  :  give,  I  pray  thee,  whatsoever  cometh  to 
 thine  hand  unto  thy  servants,  and  to  thy  son 
 David. 
 
 9  And  when  David's  young  men  came,  they 
 spake  to  Nabal  according  to  all  those  words  in 
 the  name  of  David,  and  f  ceased. 
 
 10  %  And  Nabal  answered  David's  servants, 
 and  said,  '  Who  is  David?  and  who  is  the  son 
 of  Jesse  ?  there  be  many  servants  now  a  days 
 that  break  away  every  man  from  his  master. 
 
 1 1  '  Shall  I  then  take  my  bread,  and  my 
 water,  and  my  f  flesh  that  I  have  killed  for  my 
 shearers,  and  give  it  unto  men,  whom  I  know 
 not  whence  they  be  f 
 
 12  So  David's  young  men  turned  their  way, 
 and  went  again,  and  came  and  told  him  all 
 those  sayings. 
 
 13  And  David  said  unto  his  men.  Gird  ye  on 
 every  man  his  sword.  And  they  girded  on 
 every  man  his  sword  ;  and  David  also  girded 
 on  his  sword  :  and  there  went  up  after  David 
 about  four  hundred  men  ;  and  two  hundred 
 "abode  by  the  stuff. 
 
 14  t  But  one  of  the  young  men  told  Abigail, 
 Nabal's  wife,  saying.  Behold,  David  sent  mes- 
 sengers out  of  the  wilderness  to  salute  our 
 master  ;  and  he  f  railed  on  them. 
 
 15  But  the  men  tvere  very  good  unto  us, 
 and  "  we  were  not  f  hurt,  neither  missed  we 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  llHiO. 
 
 /Gen.  Ss.l.t 
 
 •2  sa.  la  I'a 
 
 t  Hob,  .i*A 
 At».  ill  nij 
 tiamf  uf 
 
 ch    17.22- 
 j  1  Chr.  12. 
 
 t  Hob. 
 Aver.  15'.  21. 
 
 Nell. 
 Eslh. 
 
 t  Heb.wl/frf. 
 
 *  Jiulg.  9  2S 
 I'a.  ;a.  7,  ». 
 
 &  ii;i.  3,4. 
 
 I  Judg.  9.  6. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 ilo'iglilfr. 
 
 (  Heb.  /!  ifl 
 
 itfinn  llirm. 
 
 q  PfU.I3.13. 
 I    Judg  iy.22. 
 
 'Geii.:^-M3. 
 I'ro.  l.-T  lb. 
 K^  21.  II. 
 
 <  Ps    lifl.  5. 
 Prov.i;  13. 
 
 :  1  Kin  14. 
 lb.  tic  21.  21. 
 2  Kiu-  9.  8 
 
 I.lnlll.l5.18. 
 Judg.  1.  14 
 
 II  Tlint  ia, 
 
 t  Heb.  imi,>s 
 
 thyutf. 
 d  Koui.  12. 
 
 1ft. 
 r2Sa.  18.  SJ 
 /'Gen  31.  II. 
 
 eh,  311.  20 
 
 2  Kin  h.  1,1. 
 II  Or,  prMf/,/. 
 t  Heb    yealh 
 
 at  lUt  ftel 
 
 of.  *t. 
 
 ver.  42. 
 
 Judg.  4.  10 
 g  2  Sa.7.  II, 
 
 27.  1  Kin.!>. 
 
 6.  ICbr.  17 
 
 10,  25, 
 
 any  thing,  as  long  as  we  were  conversant  with 
 them,  when  we  were  in  the  fields  : 
 
 16  They  were  °a  wall  unto  us  both  by  night 
 and  day,  all  the  while  we  were  with  thnn 
 keeping  the  .sheep. 
 
 17  Now  therefore  know  and  consider  what 
 thou  wilt  do;  for  ''evil  is  determined  against 
 our  master,  and  against  all  his  houshold:  for 
 he  is  such  a  son  of  Belial,  that  a  man  cannot 
 speak  to  him. 
 
 18  f  Then  Abigail  made  haste,  and  'took 
 two  hundred  loaves,  and  two  bottles  of  wine, 
 and  five  sheep  ready  dressed,  and  five  measures 
 of  parched  corn,  and  an  hundred  ||  clusters  of 
 raisins,  and  two  hundred  cakes  of  fig.s,  and  laid 
 them  on  asses. 
 
 19  And  she  said  unto  her  servants,  '  Go  on 
 before  me  ;  behold,  I  come  after  you.  But  slie 
 told  not  her  husband  Nabal. 
 
 '20  And  it  was  so,  as  she  rode  on  the  ass,  that 
 she  came  down  by  the  covert  of  the  hill,  and, 
 behold,  David  and  his  men  came  down  against 
 her  ;  and  she  met  them. 
 
 21  Now  David  had  said,  '  Surely  in  vain  have 
 I  kept  all  that  iXnsfelloic  hath  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, so  that  nothing  was  missed  of  all  that 
 pertained  unto  him:  and  he  hath  "requited 
 me  evil  for  good. 
 
 22  "  So  and  more  also  do  God  unto  the  ene- 
 mies of  David,  if  I  ''  leave  of  all  that  pertain 
 to  him  by  the  morning  light  ''  any  that  pisseth 
 against  the  wall. 
 
 23  And  when  Abigail  saw  David,  she  hasted, 
 and  "  lighted  off  the  ass,  and  fell  before  David 
 on  her  face,  and  bowed  herself  to  the  ground, 
 
 24  And  fell  at  his  feet,  and  said,  Upon  ine, 
 my  lord,  upon  me  let  this  iniquity  he  :  and  let 
 thine  handmaid,  I  pray  thee,  speak  in  thine 
 t  audience,  and  hear  the  words  of  thine  hand- 
 maid. 
 
 25  Let  not  my  lord,  I  pray  thee,  f  regard  this 
 man  of  Belial,  et^en  Nabal  :  for  as  liis  name  is, 
 so  is  he  ;  II  Nabal  i.*  his  name,  and  folly  is  with 
 him  :  but  I  thine  handmaid  saw  not  the  young 
 men  of  my  lord,  whom  thou  didst  send. 
 
 2G  Now  therefore,  my  lord,  ''as  the  Lord 
 liveth,  and  as  thy  soul  liveth,  seeing  the  Lono 
 hath  "^  withholden  thee  from  coming  to  shed 
 blood,  and  from  f'' avenging  thyself  with  thine 
 own  hand,  now  "  let  thine  enemies,  and  they 
 that  seek  evil  to  my  lord,  be  as  Nabal. 
 
 27  And  now  'this  ||  blessing  which  thine  hand- 
 maid hath  brought  unto  my  lord,  let  it  even  be 
 given  unto  the  young  men  that  f  follow  my 
 lord. 
 
 28  I  pray  thee,  forgive  the  trespass  of  thine 
 handmaid  :  for  '  the  Lord  will  certainly  make 
 
 Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  55 ;  I  Sam.  xxiii.  24,  25.)  Carmel,  another  city  in 
 the  south  of  Palestine,  teu  miles  east  of  Hebron  ;  a  celebrated  range  of 
 hills  in  the  north  was  also  called  Carmel.— Cu/.  3.  And  he  wns  uf 
 the  house  of  Caleb,  '  yea,  he  was  irritable  as  a  dng,'  so  the  Hept., 
 Si/r.,  and  Aralt.,  and  Boothr.  5.  Greet  him — on  their  great  anniver- 
 sary festivals,  the  Hindoos  always  send  to  greet  each  other.— fio*. 
 7.  And  now  1  have  heard,  ^c, '  behold,  I  have  heard  that  thy  shepherds 
 are  now  shearing  for  thee  j  they  were  with  us  in  the  wilderness,  and 
 we  have  not  hindered  them,  (uck  a-jrfuwXvau^iiv,)  nor  have  we  com- 
 manded them  (01.K  eve-re,\aneea)  all  the  days  of  their  being  in  Carmel,' 
 Sept.  This  is  translating  like  people  acquainted  with  the  manage- 
 ment of  the  Arab  emirs,  whose  manners  David,  though  he  lived  in  the 
 wilderness  as  they  did,  hart  not  adopted.  One  of  them,  at  the  head  of 
 000  men,  would  have  commntided,  from  time  to  time,  some  provision  or 
 other  present  from  Nabal's  servants  for  permitting  them  to  feed  in 
 quiet. — Har.  8.  .i  good  day,  '  a  feast,'  when  men's  hearts  used  to  he 
 open  and  bountiful.— Pn<.  'rhy  son  David— ^  poor  man  will  often  say 
 to  a  rich  man,  '  Oh  !  father,  flu  the  belly  of  thy  son,  he  is  in  distress.'— 
 32-2 
 
 Ward's  Hindoos.  11.  Mr/  wo/er— this  may  be  particularly  mentioned 
 because  very  scarce  in  tlie  wilderness.  13.  Stuff,  'baggage.' — Gill. 
 16.  A  wall,  a  guard  and  defence  ti>  them  against  robbers  and  wild 
 beasts. — Pat.  l".  Such  n  son  of  Bdinl,  so  very  morose  and  untract- 
 able. — Heiirii.  IH.  Lonres  —  probably  large  loaves. — Gill.  Rather 
 cukes. — A.  Clarke.  Two  bottles  of  wine — leathern  bags,  which  held  a 
 large  quantity.  Firg  measures — a  measure  held  about  two  wine 
 gallons.  Raisins,  'dried  grapes.*  Cakes  of  fiffs-^tigs  dried,  pressed, 
 and  made  into  lumps. — Gilt.  20.  At^ainst  her,  'opposite  to  her.*— 
 Boothr.  'From  another  opposite  Ml.'—Po»>le.  22.  Anj/  that,  SfC, 
 '  any  males,'  (see  1  Kings,  xiv.  10  ;  xsi.  21  ;  2  Kings,  ix.  8.)  A  pro- 
 verbial expression  for  every  male. — Scott.  '  Not  so  much  as  a  dog.*— 
 Hall,  Pat.,  Geddes,  Boothr.  Clarke  well  observes  '  every  male*  wonld 
 include  both.  23.  Lighted  off  the  ass^the  alighting  of  those  thatride 
 is  considered,  in  the  cast,  as  an  expres^inn  of  deep  respect. — Harvier. 
 25.  As  his  name  is,  so  is  he—'  Nabal,*  in  Hebrew,  signifies  a  foolisli  man. 
 —Pat.  27.  This  Itlessing,  'this  present.'  28.  Forgive  the  trespasft 
 of  thine  handmaid,  probably  means,'  this  breach  of  decorum  in  a  female 
 
The  death  of  Nahal. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXVI.      Saul  Cometh  to  Hachilah  ar/ainst  David. 
 
 my  lord  a  sure  house  ;  because  my  lord  ''  fight 
 etii  the  battles  of  the  Lohd,  and  'evil  hath  not 
 been  foujid  in  thee  all  thy  days. 
 
 29  Yet  a  man  is  risen  to  pursue  thee,  and  to 
 seek  thy  soul  :  but  the  soul  of  my  lord  sliall 
 be  bound  in  the  bundle  of  life  with  the  Loud 
 thy  God  ;  and  the  souls  of  thine  enemies,  them 
 shall  he  ''  sling  out,  f  as  out  of  the  middle  of  a 
 sling. 
 
 30  And  it  shall  come  to  pa,ss,  when  the  Lord 
 shall  have  done  to  my  lord  according  to  all  the 
 good  that  he  hath  spoken  concerning  thee,  and 
 shall  have  appointed  thee  ruler  over  Israel ; 
 
 31  That  this  shall  be  f  no  grief  unto  thee,  nor 
 offence  of  heart  unto  my  lord,  either  that  thou 
 hast  shed  blood  causeless,  or  that  my  lord  hath 
 avenged  himself:  but  when  the  Loud  shall 
 have  dealt  well  with  my  lord,  then  remember 
 thine  handmaid. 
 
 32  U  And  David  said  to  Abigail,  '  Blessed  be 
 the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  which  sent  thee  this 
 day  to  meet  me  : 
 
 33  And  blessed  be  thy  advice,  and  blessed 
 be  thou,  which  hast  "'  kept  me  this  day  from 
 coming  to  shed  blood,  and  from  avenging  my- 
 self with  mine  own  hand. 
 
 34  For  in  very  deed,  as  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel  liveth,  which  hath  "  kept  me  back  from 
 hurting  thee,  except  thou  hadst  hasted  and 
 come  to  meet  me,  surely  there  had  °  not  been 
 left  unto  Nabal  by  the  morning  light  any  that 
 pisseth  against  the  wall. 
 
 35  So  David  received  of  her  hand  that  which 
 she  had  brought  him,  and  said  unto  her,  ''Go 
 up  in  peace  to  thine  house  ;  see,  I  have  heark- 
 ened to  thy  voice,  and  have  '  accepted  thy 
 person. 
 
 36  If  And  Abigail  came  to  Nabal ;  and,  be- 
 hold, '  he  held  a  feast  in  his  house,  like  the 
 feast  of  a  king  ;  and  Nabal's  heart  was  merry 
 within  him,  for  he  was  very  drunken  :  where- 
 fore she  told  him  nothing,  less  or  more,  until 
 the  morning  light. 
 
 37  But  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning,  when 
 the  wine  was  gone  out  of  Nabal,  and  his  wife 
 had  told  him  these  things,  that  his  heart  died 
 within  him,  and  he  became  as  a  stone. 
 
 38  And  it  came  to  pass  about  ten  days  after, 
 that  the  Lord  smote  Nabal,  that  he  died. 
 
 39  If  And  when  David  heard  that  Nabal  was 
 
 A  cli.  18.  17. 
 >  ell.  S4.  U. 
 
 A  Jer.  10.  18. 
 t  Heb.  in  Iht 
 
 midst  of  the 
 
 bou,o/a 
 
 sltng. 
 
 f  Hob.  no 
 
 «£  72.  18. 
 I.uko  I.  68. 
 
 ;.  di.  20.  A2. 
 
 2  Sam. 15  9. 
 
 t;  Kin.  ri.lSt. 
 
 I, uke  7.  5U. 
 
 «£  8.  18. 
 q  Geii.  lU.SI. 
 
 *  ver.  32. 
 (  Pro.  2i.  a.T 
 w  ver.  yS,  34, 
 
 Ps.  7.  16. 
 
 t  Heb.  nthrr 
 feet.  ver.?7. 
 
 ^J.,sh.l5.M. 
 
 ocli.27.3.  fe 
 .■IIP  :>. 
 6  2Sa.  3.  1 1. 
 
 II  Phnlti"/. 
 i  Sam  3. 15. 
 r  la.  lU   30. 
 
 It  ch.  It.  SO 
 &  17,  55. 
 
 II  Or,  midtt 
 ufhit  car- 
 
 na^fS. 
 cli.  17.  211. 
 
 dead,  he  said,  '  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  that  hath 
 '  pleaded  the  cause  of  my  reproach  from  the 
 hand  of  Nabal,  and  hath  "  kept  his  servant 
 from  evil  :  for  the  Lord  hath  "  returned  the 
 wickedness  of  Nabal  upon  his  own  head.  And 
 David  sent  and  communed  with  Abigail,  to 
 take  her  to  him  to  wife. 
 
 40  And  when  the  servants  of  David  were 
 came  to  Abigail  to  Carmel,  they  spake  unto 
 her,  saying,  David  sent  us  unto  thee,  to  take 
 thee  to  him  to  wife. 
 
 41  And  she  arose,  and  bowed  herself  on  her 
 face  to  the  earth,  and  said,  Behold,  let  ^  thine 
 handmaid  be  a  servant  to  wash  the  feet  of  the 
 servants  of  my  lord. 
 
 42  And  Abigail  hasted,  and  arose,  and  rode 
 upon  an  ass,  with  five  damsels  of  her's  that 
 went  t  after  her  ;  and  she  went  after  the  mes- 
 sengers of  David,  and  became  his  wife. 
 
 43  David  also  took  Ahinoam  ''  of  Jezreel ; 
 '  and  they  were  also  both  of  them  his  wives. 
 
 44  If  But  Saul  had  given  ''  Michal  his  daugh- 
 ter, David's  wife,  to  ||  Phalti  the  son  of  Laish, 
 which  was  of '  Gallim. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 I  Savl,  by  the  discovfri/  of  the  Zlphites,  cometh  to  Ha- 
 chilah against  David.  5  David  coming  into  the 
 trench  stayeth  Ahishai  frora  killing  Saul,  but  taketh 
 his  apear  and  cruse.  13  David  reprovtth  Abner,  18 
 and  exitorteth  Saul,     21    Saul  acknowltdijeth  his  sijt. 
 
 A  ND  the  Ziphites  came  unto  Saul  to  Gibeah, 
 ■'^  saying,  °  Doth  not  David  hide  himself  in 
 the  hill  of  Hachilah,  which  is  before  Jeshimon? 
 
 2  Then  Saul  arose,  and  went  down  to  the 
 wilderness  of  Ziph,  having  three  thousand 
 chosen  men  of  Israel  with  him,  to  seek  David 
 in  the  wilderness  of  Ziph. 
 
 3  And  Saul  pitched  in  the  hill  of  Hachilah, 
 which  is  before  Jeshimon,  by  the  way.  But 
 David  abode  in  the  wilderness,  and  he  saw 
 that  Saul  came  after  him  into  the  wilderness. 
 
 4  David  therefore  sent  out  spies,  and  under- 
 stood that  Saul  was  come  in  very  deed. 
 
 ,5  t  And  David  arose,  and  came  to  the  place 
 where  Saul  had  pitched  :  and  David  beheld 
 the  place  where  Saul  lay,  and  ''  Abner  the  son 
 of  Ner,  the  captain  of  his  host :  and  Saul  lay 
 in  the  ||  trench,  and  the  people  pitched  round 
 about  him. 
 
 coining  to  thee,'  though  some  think  it  may  intimate  bearing  the  blame 
 of  hLT  husband's  fault. — So  Btmthr.  2(J.  Bound  in  the  hundle,  '  pre- 
 served.' for  so  we  preserve  thing's  that  would  be  scattered  about,  as  we 
 preserve  sheaves  of  corn.  —  Pnt.,  Hew.  Sling  out — remove  them 
 swilily  and  suddenly,  and  with  force,  out  of  the  world,  as  a  stone 
 is  flung  out  of  the  middle  of  a  sling,  (see  Jer.  .\.  IS.)— Gill.  37.  His 
 heiii-t  died  within  him,  'he  fainted  away,'  and  was  cold  as  a  stone,  out 
 of  the  dread  of  the  danger  which  he  imagined  still  liung  over  him. — 
 l*ut.  43.  .iltinu'iin—Hs  she  was  the  mutlier  of  David's  firstborn,  (see 
 2  Sam.  iii.  2,  3.)  it  has  been  inferred  that  she  was  his  wife  before  Abigail; 
 but  this  is  not  very  strong  ground  of  inference,  since  she  might  have 
 
 borne  his  firstborn,  and  yet  have  been  his  wife  after  the  other.  Her 
 name  is  also  always  mentioned  lirst,  but  this  might  arise  frora  her 
 being  the  mother  of  David's  firstborn. — Ed.  Both  of  them  his  wives — 
 David  had  probably  heard  that  Saul  had  married  Michal  to  Phalti,  and 
 this  justified  him  in  taking  Abigail  or  any  other  woman ;  and  several 
 wives   were  not  then  unlawful.  —  So  Clarke.  44,  But  Saul,* for 
 
 Saul,'  the  particle  1  being  often  so  used. — Pfif. 
 
 Chap.  XXVI. —  I.  In  lite  hill  tif  Hachilah,  where  be  was  before 
 when  the  Zipliites  informed  of  him,  (chap,  .\xiii.  19.)  5.  Trench, 
 SyS'O,  may  mean  '  a  fosse,'  or  '  centre  of  the  camp,'  or  *  a  carriage.' — ■ 
 Gill.     *A  ring  of  carriages.'  —  Buxt.     Aa/xirni'ii,   'a  chariot,*  Sept. 
 
 Ki.Fi.RCTiONS    ON  CiiAP.   XXV Williams  remaiks,  we 
 
 have  in  this  chapter  '  a  pair  of  portraits,  Nabal  and  Abigail — 
 Nabal  the  churl,  and  Abigail  the  courteous.'  I.  Nabal,  with 
 wjiom  his  wife  durst  not  remonstrate  with  any  hope  of  suc- 
 cess, from  his  perverse  and  obstinate  disposition  ;  to  whom 
 liis  servants  were  afraid  to  open  their  mouths,  even  to  save 
 llicir  lives  ;  and  whose  disposition  was  evidently  ungrateful, 
 uncharitable,  and  covetous.  VVIiat  a  contrast  to  his  amiable 
 wife  !  and  yet  such  contrasts  frequently  occur  in  the  marriage 
 slate,  and  sometimes  the  ugly  picture  is  on  the  other  side, 
 where  it  even  looks  more  odious,  when  that  which  is  naturally 
 expected  to  be  soft  and  kind  is  harsh  and  venemous.  It  is 
 well  where  there  is  a  lovely  iiarmony  of  soul  and  disposition 
 between  those  who  are  to  be  conipanions  all  their  days  ;  but 
 323 
 
 where  it  is  not  so,  there  is  room  for  the  amiable  and  pious 
 partner  on  either  side  to  display  the  Christian  graces,  and,  by 
 meekness,  patience,  and  prudence,  to  counteract  the  evils  of 
 the  opposite  disposition. 
 
 11.  Abigail.  The  wisdom  and  the  prudence  of  this  woman 
 were  strongly  displayed  on  this  occasion,  and  by  it  she  saved 
 her  husband  and  household  from  untimely  deaths,  and  Uavid 
 from  rashly  taking  vengeance,  to  which  be  had  been  grievously 
 provoked.  Woman  looks  lovely  when  she  is  the  healer  of 
 breaches,  and  soothes  the  mind,  and  charms  away  instead  of 
 arousing  and  inflaming  anger.  Never  were  Solomon's  words 
 more  strikingly  verified  than  in  this  case,  '  A  virtuous  wom« 
 is  a  crown  to  her  husband.' 
 
David  again  sparcth  Saul's  life. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXVII. 
 
 Saul  achnowleclgcth  his  sin. 
 
 6  Then  answered  David  and  said  to  Aliime- 
 lecli  the  Hittite,  and  to  Abishai  °  the  son  of 
 Zcrniah,  brother  to  Joab,  saying,  Who  will  ''  go 
 down  with  me  to  Saul  to  the  canipV  And 
 Abishai  said,  I  will  go  down  with  thee. 
 
 7  So  David  and  Abishai  came  to  the  people 
 by  night :  and,  behold,  Saul  lay  sleeping  with- 
 in the  trejich,  and  his  spear  stuck  in  the 
 ground  at  his  bolster :  but  Abner  and  the 
 people  lay  round  about  him. 
 
 8  Then  said  Abishai  to  David,  God  hath 
 t  delivered  thine  enemy  into  thine  hand  this 
 day  :  now  therefore  let  me  smite  him,  I  pray 
 thee,  with  the  spear  even  to  the  earth  at  once, 
 and  I  will  not  smile  him  the  second  time. 
 
 9  And  David  said  to  Abishai,  Destroy  him 
 not  :  ■"'  for  who  can  stretch  forth  his  hand 
 against  the  Lord's  anointed,  and  be  guiltless  ? 
 
 10  David  said  furthermore,  As  the  Lord 
 liveth,  '  the  Lord  shall  smite  him  ;  or  ^  his  day 
 shall  come  to  die;  or  he  shall  ''descend  into 
 battle,  and  perish. 
 
 1 1  '  The  Lord  forbid  that  I  should  stretch 
 forth  mine  hand  against  the  Lord's  anointed  : 
 but,  I  piay  thee,  take  thou  now  the  spear  that 
 is  at  his  bolster,  and  the  cruse  of  water,  and 
 let  ns  go. 
 
 12  So  David  took  tlie  spear  and  the  cruse  of 
 water  from  Saul's  bolster  ;  and  they  gat  them 
 away,  and  no  man  saw  it,  nor  knew  it,  neither 
 awaked  :  for  they  u'ere  all  asleep  ;  because  ''  a 
 deep  sleep  from  the  Lord  was  fallen  upon 
 them. 
 
 13  K  Then  David  went  over  to  the  other  side, 
 and  stood  on  the  top  of  an  hill  afar  otl' ;  a  great 
 space  hcinri  between  them  : 
 
 14  And  David  cried  to  the  people,  and  to 
 Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  saying,  Answerest  thou 
 not,  Abner?  Then  Abner  answered  and  said. 
 Who  art  thon  that  criest  to  the  king? 
 
 1.5  And  David  said  to  Abner,  Art  not  thon  a 
 valiant  man  ?  and  who  /«  like  to  thee  in  Israel? 
 wherefore  then  hast  thou  not  kept  thy  lord  the 
 king?  for  there  came  one  of  the  people  in  to 
 destroy  the  king  thy  lord. 
 
 Ifi  This  thing  />■  not  good  that  thou  hast 
 done.  As  the  Loun  liveth,  ye  ate  t  worthy 
 to  die,  because  ye  have  not  kept  your  master, 
 the  Lord's  anointed.  And  now  see  where  the 
 king's  spear  is,  and  the  cruse  of  water  that  jeas 
 at  his  bolster. 
 
 17  And  Saul  knew  David's  voice,  and  said 
 
 '  7s  this  thy  voice,  niy  son  David  ?  And  David 
 said,  It  is  my  voice,  my  lord,  O  king. 
 
 18  And  he  said,  "'  Wherefore  doth  my  lord 
 thus  pursue  after  his  servant?  for  \^hat  have  I 
 
 /eh.  25.  39. 
 i'3   !l+.  I,  8. 
 
 IS.  7    Rum. 
 l-l    19. 
 
 31.  H. 
 J.,b  7.  I. 
 &  l+.  h. 
 Pe.  S7    13. 
 A  ch.  31.  6. 
 ;li.2+,U,12 
 
 I  Clir  2.1(1. 
 rfJudg.T.lO, 
 
 t  Hcb   th»t 
 ch.  2*.  13. 
 
 t  Heb.  Iha 
 2Sam.l2.6. 
 
 ,1  2  Sam.  IG. 
 
 11.  &24.    I. 
 f  Hcb.»"i*//. 
 
 Gen.  3.  21. 
 
 Lev.  26.31. 
 0  Deu.  4.  83. 
 
 I*s.  120.3. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 7  cb.  '24.  14. 
 
 a  ch.  25.  13. 
 It  ch.  21.  to 
 
 done  ?  or  what  evil  is  in  mine  hand  ? 
 
 19  Now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  let  my  lord 
 the  king  hear  the  words  of  his  servant.  If  the 
 Lord  have  "  stirred  thee  up  against  me,  let  him 
 t  accept  an  ofl'ering  :  but  if  they  be  the  chil- 
 dren of  men,  cursed  he  they  before  the  Lord  ; 
 "  for  they  have  driven  me  out  this  day  from 
 t  abiding  in  the  ''  inheritance  of  the  Lord,  say- 
 ing. Go,  sene  other  gods, 
 
 20  Now  therefore,  let  not  my  blood  fall  to 
 the  earth  before  the  face  of  the  Lord  :  for  the 
 king  of  Israel  is  come  out  to  seek  ''  a  flea,  as 
 when  one  doth  hunt  a  partridge  in  the  moun- 
 tains. 
 
 1  IF  Then  said  Saul,  '  I  have  sinned  :  return, 
 my  son  David  :  for  I  will  no  more  do  thee 
 harm,  because  my  soul  was  '  precious  in  thine 
 eyes  this  day  :  behold,  1  have  played  the  fool, 
 and  have  erred  exceedingly. 
 
 22  And  David  answered  and  said,  Behold  the 
 king's  spear!  and  let  one  of  the  young  men 
 come  over  and  fetch  it. 
 
 23  '  The  Lord  render  to  every  man  his 
 righteousness  and  his  faithfulness :  for  the 
 Loud  delivered  thee  into  my  hand  to  day,  but 
 I  would  not  stretch  forth  mine  hand  against 
 the  Lord's  anointed. 
 
 24  And,  behold,  as  thy  life  was  much  set  by 
 tliis  day  in  mine  eyes,  so  let  my  life  be  much 
 set  by  in  the  eyes  of  the  Loud,  and  let  him  de- 
 liver me  out  of  all  tribulation. 
 
 25  Then  Saul  said  to  David,  Blessed  be  thou, 
 my  son  David  :  thou  shalt  both  do  great  things, 
 and  also  shalt  still  "prevail.  So  David  went 
 on  his  way,  and  Saul  returned  to  his  place. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 I  Sunt  hcarhiff  David  to  he  in  Gath  sechcth  no  more 
 for  him.  5  David  hcggeth  Ziklaff  of  Achish.  8  //e, 
 invading  other  countries,  persuadeth  Achish  he  fought 
 against  Jiidah. 
 
 yV  NU  David  said  in  Iiis  heart,  I  shall  now 
 -^*-  t  P*?!"'^'*  t>'i^  *^'ay  '•>'  'lie  hand  of  Saul  : 
 there  is  nothing  l)ettev  for  nie  than  that  I 
 should  speedily  escape  into  the  land  of  the 
 Philistines  ;  and  Sanl  shall  despair  of  me,  to 
 seek  me  any  more  in  any  coast  of  Israel  :  so 
 shall  I  escape  ont  of  liis  iiand. 
 
 2  And  David  arose, "  and  he  passed  over  with 
 the  six  hnnched  men  that  were  with  him  ^  unto 
 Acliish,  the  son  of  Maoch,  kin*^  of  Gath. 
 
 3  And  David  dwelt  with  Achish  at  Gath,  he 
 and  his  men,  every  man  with  his  houshold, 
 even  David  ""  with  Ids  two  wives,  Ahinoam  the 
 Jezreelitess,  and  Abigail  the  Carmelitess,  Na- 
 bal's  wife. 
 
 '  Anrt  Saul  lay  amon*  the  hug^gc^—Buufhr.  D'Armeuj:  tells  us  that 
 an  Arab  camp  is  always  rountl  when  the  grmuid  will  allow  it,  and  the 
 prince  in  the  middle  as  the  scat  of  honour,  with  the  Arabs  about  him, 
 and  tlieir  lances  fixed  near  them.  It  was,  doubtless,  in  this  way  that 
 Saul  lay. — Har.  6.  Zeruiah,  David's  sister,  fl  Cliron.  ii.  l6.)  11.  Cnise 
 oftvatei;  'water  jug.*— Bout hr.  Something  answering  the  purpose 
 of  a  soldier's  canteen. — So  A.  Clarke.  In  the  east,  a  vessel  filled  with 
 water  is  always  near  where  a  person  sleeps,  for  a  draught  is  very  re- 
 freshing in  the  night.— ifo6.         14.  I'o  the  king,  '  beside  the  king  ;'  so 
 
 near  to  him  as  to  disturb  him.— Pnole.  IQ.  Let  him  accept  an  offtr. 
 vtff,  'I  would  offer  up  a  sin  nfleriug,  according  to  the  law,  to  make 
 atonement  for  my  oflfence.* — Gilt.  20.  A  Jiea— this  expression  is  fre- 
 quently u.^ed  in  a  proveibial  way  among  the  Hindoos. — So  Rob.  As 
 when  one  doth  hunt  u peirtrid^e,  ^r. — the  Arab  children  hunt  d<iwD  the 
 young  partridges  with  dogs. — Irbi/  and  Mtui'^ics.  The  Arabs  also  pur- 
 suethem  till  they  are  weary,  and  knock  them  down  with  clubs. — Shaw. 
 KutJidf  KaraiiwKti  o  vi^KTiKOpuf  £1^  TOit  opCffi,  *  as   the  uiglit  ciow  or  the 
 
 owl  pursues  its  prey  on  the  mouutEdns,'  Sept. 
 
 RF.Fi.ECTinNs  ON  Chap.  XXVI. —  I.  Here  is  Saul  still  in 
 pursiiit  of  David.  Jesilousy  is  cruel  as  the  grave.  The  relent- 
 ings  of  Saul  were,  like  those  of  every  ungodly  man,  only  of 
 momentary  duration.  *  How  soon,'  says  Henry,  '  do  unsancti- 
 fied  hearts  lose  the  good  impressions  which  their  convictions 
 have  made  upon  them,  and  return,  with  the  dog,  to  their 
 vomit !' 
 
 II.  Ha-eis  David  still shtwing forbearance  ioicards  Said,     Aiul 
 
 who  was  tlie  happiest  man  ^  How  must  Saul's  heart  have  re- 
 proached him  for  his  relentless  persecution  of  an  innocent 
 man  !  David,  witli  all  his  sufferings,  now  stood  on  far  more 
 elevated  ground,  and  in  a  much  more  amiable  situation,  thau 
 Saul.  His  conscience  was  'void  of  oft'ence  towanU  Liod  and 
 towards  man.'  He  could  commit  his  cause  into  the  hands  <n 
 the  Lord,  and  he  had  had  the  .sweetest  sort  of  revenue  in  being 
 able  to  *  heap  coals  of  tire'  on  the  head  of  his  enemy. 
 
tfavid  obtaineth  Zihlai]. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXVIII. 
 
 Saul  constilteth  a  witch. 
 
 4  And  it  was  told  Saul  that  David  was  H(d 
 to  Gatli :  and  lie  sought  no  more  again  fur 
 liiiii. 
 
 5  f  And  David  said  unto  Achish,  If  I  have 
 now  found  grace  in  thine  eyes,  let  them  give 
 me  a  place  in  some  town  in  the  country,  that 
 I  may  dwell  there  :  for  why  should  thy  servant 
 dwell  in  the  royal  city  with  thee? 
 
 6  Then  Achish  gave  him  Ziklag  that  day  : 
 wherefore  *■  Ziklag  pertaiueth  unto  the  kings 
 of  Judah  unto  this  day. 
 
 7  And  t  the  time  that  David  dwelt  in  the 
 country  of  the  Philistines  was  fa  full  year  and 
 four  months. 
 
 8  IT  And  David  and  his  men  went  up,  and  in- 
 vaded "^^  the  Geshurites,  'and  the  ||  Gezrites, 
 and  the  '  Amalekites  :  for  those  nations  u^ere 
 of  old  the  inhabitants  of  the  land,  ''as  thou 
 goest  to  Shur,  even  unto  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 9  And  David  smote  the  land,  and  left  neither 
 man  nor  woman  alire,  and  took  away  the  sheep, 
 and  the  oxen,  and  the  asses,  and  the  camels, 
 and  the  apparel,  and  returned,  and  came  to 
 Achish. 
 
 10  And  Achish  said,  ||  Whither  have  ye  made 
 a  road  to  day  ?  And  David  said.  Against  the 
 south  of  Judah,  and  against  the  south  of  '  the 
 .lerahmeelites,  and  against  the  south  of  '  the 
 Kenites. 
 
 1 1  And  David  saved  neither  man  nor  woman 
 alive,  to  bring  tidings  to  Gath,  saying,  Lest 
 they  should  tell  on  us,  saying.  So  did  David, 
 and  so  wi/l  he  his  manner  all  the  while  be 
 dvvelleth  in  the  country  of  the  Philistines. 
 
 I:J  And  Achish  believed  D.ivid,  saying.  He 
 hath  made  his  people  Israel  f  utterly  to  abhor 
 him ;  therefore  he  shall  be  my  servant  for  ever 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 1  Achish  putteth  conjidtnce  in  David.  3  Saul^  Jiaving 
 destroyed  the  witchtSf  4  and  now  in  his  fear  forsakiu 
 of  Gud,  7  seeketh  to  a  witch.  9  The  witch,  en- 
 couraged by  Said,  raiscth  up  Samuel.  15  Saul, 
 hearing  his  ruin,  fninti-th,  21  The  woman  with  his 
 servants  nfrtsh  him  tvith  meat. 
 
 t  Hrb.  rfto 
 liuntbtr  »/ 
 
 f  Heb.  a  year 
 ./day,: 
 See  .-li.  29 
 3,  til!  laifi. 
 
 c  Josh-  1.1  2. 
 
 /Josh.lG.lO. 
 
 Jiid-^.  I.  '^ 
 
 ■4  Ex.  17.  11,. 
 
 See  cli.  \b. 
 
 7,  8. 
 /iGtrii.8:).16 
 
 II  Or,  Did 
 y.m  !,ol  make 
 ■<!  r;„U.  ^c 
 
 I  See  I  Cbr. 
 •>.  9,  '2.1. 
 
 /i  Ju.Il;.  1,16. 
 
 cir.  I05G. 
 a  ch.  29.  1. 
 
 ■  vor.  9. 
 Ex    *2    IS 
 Lev.  19.  31. 
 &  21).  27. 
 D.-u.  18.  10, 
 
 iJnsili  19.1S 
 
 /Job  18.  II. 
 
 cli.  II    .ST, 
 rn.v,  l.tM 
 
 A  Nu.  12.  6. 
 Ex.  '^S.  30. 
 
 A  neu.l.=t.M 
 I  Chr. 10.13. 
 
 V  ND  '^it  came  to  pass  in  tliose  days,  that 
 '-^  the  Philistuies  gathered  their  armi^-s  to- 
 gether for  warfare,  to  figiit  with  Israel.  And 
 Achish  said  unto  David,  Know  then  assuredly, 
 tiiat  thou  shalt  go  out  with  me  to  battle,  thou 
 and  thy  men. 
 
 "2  And  David  said  to  Achish,  Surely  thou 
 shalt  know  what  thy  servant  can  do.  And 
 Achish  said  to  David,  Therefore  will  I  make 
 thee  keeper  of  mine  head  for  ever. 
 
 3  H  Now  ^Samuel  was  dead,  and  all  Israel 
 liad  lamented  him,  and  buried  him  in  Ramah, 
 even  in  his  own  city.  And  Saul  had  put  away 
 '"  those  tliat  had  familiar  spirits,  and  the  wizards, 
 out  of  the  land. 
 
 4  And  tlie  Philistines  gathered  themselves 
 together,  and  came  and  pitched  in  *^  Shunem  : 
 and  Saul  gathered  all  Israel  together,  and  they 
 pitched  in  *"  Gilboa. 
 
 5  And  when  Saul  saw  the  host  of  the  Philis- 
 tines, he  was  '"afraid,  and  his  heart  greatly 
 trembled. 
 
 6  And  when  Saul  enquired  of  the  Lord,  ^  the 
 Loud  answered  him  not,  neither  by  ''dreams, 
 nor  '  by  Urini,  nor  by  prophets. 
 
 7  If  Then  said  Saul  unto  his  servants.  Seek 
 me  a  woman  that  hath  a  familiar  spirit,  that  I 
 may  go  to  her,  and  enquire  of  her.  And  his 
 servants  said  to  him,  Behold,  t/te7'e  is  a  woman 
 that  liath  a  familiar  spirit  at  En-dor. 
 
 8  And  Saul  disguised  himself,  and  put  on 
 other  raiment,  and  he  went,  and  two  men  with 
 him,  and  they  came  to  the  woman  by  night : 
 and  ^  he  said,  I  pray  thee,  divine  unto  me  by 
 the  familiar  spirit,  and  bring  me  him  up,  whom 
 I  shall  name  unto  tliee. 
 
 9  And  the  woman  said  nuto  him.  Behold, 
 thou  knowest  what  Saul  hath  done,  how  he 
 hath  '  cut  off  those  that  have  familiar  spirits, 
 and  the  wizards,  out  of  the  land  :  wherefore 
 then  layest  thou  a  snare  for  my  life,  to  cause 
 me  to  die  ? 
 
 10  And  Saul  sware  to  her  by  the  Lord,  say- 
 ing. As  the  Lord  liveth,  there  shall  no 
 punishment  happen  to  thee  for  this  thing. 
 
 Chap.  XXVII. —  5.  Why^dwell  in  the  ro>j.-tl  city — with  600  men 
 he  would  look  like  a  rival  in  dignity,  and  mig:ht  create  envy  ;  he  would 
 also  be  more  free  to  worship  God  elsewhere,  and  at  liberty  to  make 
 his  own  excursions. — Pat.,  Gill,  Ed.  6.  2.iklng,  given  to  Judah, 
 (Josh.  XV.  31.)  afterwards  to  Simeon,  [Josh.  xix.  5.)  but  still  retained 
 by  the  Philistines  till  now  given  to  David. — Pat.  9.  Dnvid  smote  the 
 land,  ^c. — these  were  rtlics  il  the  Canaanites  whom  Uod  had  ordered 
 to  be  rooted  out. — Gratius.  Nations  branded  by  God  to  destruction. — 
 Bp.  Hall.  The  remains  of  the  Canaanites  whom  God  had  ordered  to 
 be  destroyed. — Waterland,  The  remains  of  the  Amorites  whose  land 
 was  given  to  the  half-trihe  of  Manasseh,  but  could  never  be  expelled  j 
 therefore  David  had  a  just  right  to  destroy  them,  (see  Deut.  iii.  H  ; 
 Josh.  xii.  5  ;  xiij.  1 1,  13.)  The  Geshurites  joined  the  Philistines,  (Josh. 
 xiii.  2.)  The  Gezerites  were  inhabitants  of  Gezer,  which  fell  to 
 Ephraim. — Gill.  The  people  David  cut  oflF  were  long^  doomed  to  de- 
 sti*uction. — lifiiry.  We  may  commentl  David  for  attempting  to  com- 
 plete the  wurk  Saul  had  begun.— SVo/i.  David  fulfilled  the  Divine 
 injunction  twice  given  by  Moses, and  once  by  Samuel,  (chap,  xv.) — • 
 Sut.  These  clans  were  not  confederates  with  Achish,  but  in  hostility 
 to  him,  particularly  the  Amalekites,  who  committed  great  depredations 
 on  the  Philistine  territories,  (chap.  xxx.  16.)  David,  therefore,  in 
 attacking  them  did  not  act  dishonourably  by  Achish,  but,  in  reality, 
 for  his  service.  He  had  a  right  also  to  cut  off  these  nations,  and  in 
 doing  so  he  sen-ed  his  country  without  injuring  his  protector  and 
 friend. — Dr.  Cftundli-r.  10.  Against  the  south,  i^r. — these  people  were, 
 indeed,  southward  of  Judea,  but  Achish  luiderstood  it,  the  southern 
 parts  of  Judea. — Wall.     David  thought  it  prudent  to  conceal  these 
 
 attacks,  lest  it  should  appear  to  Achish  he  had  been  fighting  for  Saul. — 
 So  Boothr.  There  was  dissimulation  and  equivocation  liere  not  to  he 
 defended. —  Poole,  Henry,  Gill,  Scott.  Jvruhmetlifes  —  one  of  the 
 branches  of  the  family  of  Judah,  sec  I  Chron.  ii. — Pict.Bih.  W.Lest 
 they  should  tell — David's  motives  seem  here  not  to  have  been  right, 
 and  there  was  too  much  of  human  policy  in  them. — So  Evan.  Synop. 
 We  cannot  justify  David's  cruelty  in  destroying  the  Geshurites,  &c, 
 not  on  the  ground  of  Divine  proscription,  but  lest  they  should  fly  to 
 Gath. — Wil.  Shame  on  him  who  becomes  the  apologist  of  such  con- 
 duct.—.4.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXVIII.  —  1.  Gathered  their  armies,  which  they  had  probably 
 increased  by  vast  numbers  of  men  driven  by  Amasis  from  Egypt. — 
 Sir  7.  Newton.  2.   Thou  shalt  know,   ^c. — doubtful    words,    which 
 
 might  be  taken  in  different  senses. — Put.  Keeper  0/ mine  head,  '  of 
 my  body  and  life.'  Captain  of  my  life  guards,  or  some  great  officer 
 near  his  person. — Poole,  Fat.,  Gilt,  Clarke.  3.  Smmiel  was  dead — 
 this  is  stated  to  account  for  Saul's  folly  in  consulting  the  witch. — So 
 Poole,  Gill,  Sfc.  4.  Shunem,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Issachar,  (Josh. 
 xix.  18.) — Gilt.  6.  Neither  by  dreams,  §-c.— in  all  these  ways  God 
 had  been  used  to  Rive  answers,  but  he  gave  him  no  dream,  he  had 
 slain  his  priests,  and  the  prophet  Samuel  was  dead,  and  no  other  sent 
 to  him. — Boothr.,  Ed.  j.  A  woman  that  hath  a  familiar  spirit,  'a 
 ventriloquist.'— J«.s>'/jAi«.  The  weaker  sex  were  most  addicted  to  these 
 ]>ractices. — Pat.  '  A  pythoness,' AV/;/.  This  word  was  often  used  for 
 the  sybils,  or  priestesses  of  heathen  temples. — Sut.  Skilful  in  necro- 
 mancy.— Boothr.  The  African  negroes  still  preserve  the  Hebrew  term 
 Obi,  and  pretend  to  practise  the  art  by  incantation  to  demons. — So  Sh^ 
 
 REFLErTioKs  ON  CiiAP.  XXVII.  — In  this  chapter  we 
 behold — I.  David  doubuni/.  '  I  shall  one  day  perish  by  the 
 hand  of  Saul.'  And  yet  (jod  had  sii^nally  appeared  for  lura, 
 and  preserved  him  from  the  venLjeance  ofhis  enemy  ;  and  the 
 prophet  had  anointed  him  to  be  king.  Hence  we  see  that  even 
 a  strong  believer  may  occasionally  be  tormented  by  doubts 
 and*  fears.  The  champion  of  Israel  might  now  have  been  re- 
 325 
 
 proved  in  the  language  of  our  Lord  to  Peter,  *  O  thou  of  little 
 faith,  wherefore  didst  thou  doubt  1' 
 
 II.  David  dissimulating.  A  good  man  should  avoid  putting 
 himself  in  such  circumstances  as  to  require  equivocation,  to 
 prevent  him  from  any  ill  consequences.  In  our  intercourse 
 with  the  world,  we  iiave  need  often  to  pray, '  Let  integrity  and 
 uprightness  preserve  me," 
 
The  witch  raiseth  up  Sanuiel. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXIX. 
 
 f^iiiil'a  dismal/  on  heariiKj  of  his  ruin. 
 
 1 1  Then  said  the  woman,  Whom  sliall  I 
 bring  up  unto  thee  ?  And  he  said.  Bring  me 
 up  Samuel. 
 
 12  And  when  the  woman  saw  Samuel,  she 
 cried  with  a  loud  voice;  and  the  woman  spake 
 to  Saul,  saying.  Why  hast  thou  deceived  me? 
 for  thou  art  Saul. 
 
 13  And  the  king  said  unto  her.  Be  not  afraid : 
 for  what  sawest  thou  ?  And  the  woman  said 
 unto  Saul,  I  saw  ""gods  ascending  out  of  the 
 earth. 
 
 14  And  he  said  unto  her,  f  What  form  is  he 
 of  y  And  she  said,  An  old  man  cometh  up  ; 
 and  he  is  covered  with  "a  mantle.  And  Saul 
 perceived  that  it  was  °  Samuel,  and  he  stooped 
 with  his  face  to  the  ground,  and  bowed  himself 
 
 l.j  t  And  Samuel  said  to  Saul,  Why  hast 
 thou  disquieted  me,  to  bring  me  upV  And 
 Saul  answered,  ^  I  am  sore  distressed  ;  for  the 
 Philistines  make  war  against  me,  and  '  God  is 
 departed  from  me,  and  '  answereth  me  no  more, 
 neither  f  by  propliets,  nor  by  dreams :  therefore 
 I  have  called  thee,  that  thou  mayest  make 
 known  unto  me  what  I  shall  do. 
 
 IC  'Then  said  Samuel,  Wlierefore  then  dost 
 thou  ask  of  me,  seeing  the  Lord  is  departed 
 from  thee,  and  is  become  thine  enemy  ? 
 
 17  And  the  Lord  lialh  done  ||  to  him,  'as  he 
 spake  by  fme:  for  the  Lord  hatli  rent  the 
 kingdom  out  of  thine  hand,  and  given  it  to  thy 
 neighbour,  evot  to  David  : 
 
 18  "  Because  thou  obeyedst  not  the  voice  of 
 the  Lord,  nor  executedst  bis  fierce  wrath 
 upon  Amalek,  therefore  hath  the  Lord  done 
 this  thing  unto  thee  this  day. 
 
 19  Moreover  the  Lord  will  also  deliver  Israel 
 with  thee  into  the  hand  of  the  Philistines:  and 
 to  morrow  shall  thou  and  thy  sons  be  with  me  : 
 
 t  Hcb.  HV.../ 
 ■  g  hitJiTW  f 
 
 f>  Vi-nT.5.11. 
 
 Vi,  13.  &  \A 
 
 14 
 7  cli.  1!*.  12. 
 r  ver   0, 
 t  Hcb.  hii  Iha 
 
 II  Or,/.. 
 himflf. 
 P.PV    Ifi,  i. 
 
 /ci..  15.  sa) 
 
 t  Hoh. 
 rniV  haitd. 
 
 u  ch.  !5.  9. 
 
 iKiii.'Jn.is. 
 
 IChrlO.IS 
 Jer.  -IS.  lU. 
 
 B  C. 
 
 :ir.  UOli. 
 
 \  >Icb.  mid 
 
 X  judg.  I?. 
 
 3   ch    \9.b 
 Job  13.  1-1. 
 
 irli    IW,  I. 
 
 the  Lord  also  shall  deliver  the  host  of  Israel 
 into  the  hand  of  the  Pliilistiiies. 
 
 20  Then  Saul  f  fell  straightway  all  along  on 
 the  earth,  and  was  sore  afraid,  because  of  the 
 words  of  Samuel :  and  ttiere  was  no  strength 
 in  him  ;  for  he  had  eaten  no  bread  all  the  day, 
 nor  all  the  night. 
 
 21  t  And  the  woman  came  unto  Saul,  and 
 saw  that  he  was  sore  troubled,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Behold,  thine  handmaid  hath  obeyed  thy 
 voice,  and  I  have  '  put  my  life  in  my  hand, 
 and  have  hearkened  unto  thy  words  whicii 
 thou  spakest  unto  me. 
 
 2*2  Now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  hearken  thou 
 also  unto  the  voice  of  thine  handmaid,  and  let 
 me  set  a  morsel  of  bread  before  tliee  ;  and  eat, 
 that  thou  mayest  have  strength,  when  thou 
 goest  on  thy  way. 
 
 2-*3  But  he  refused,  and  said,  I  will  not  eat. 
 But  his  servants,  together  with  the  woman, 
 compelled  him  ;  and  he  hearkened  unto  their 
 voice.  So  he  arose  from  the  earth,  and  sat 
 upon  the  bed. 
 
 24  And  the  woman  had  a  fat  calf  in  the 
 house  ;  and  she  hasted,  and  killed  it,  and  took 
 flour,  and  kneaded  zV,  and  did  bake  unleavened 
 bread  thereof; 
 
 2j  And  she  brought  it  before  Saul,  and  be- 
 fore his  servants;  and  they  did  eat.  Then 
 they  rose  up,  and  went  away  that  night. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 I  David  mnrchhit/  with  the  Philistines,  3  ts  dimlhu'rd 
 hi/  their  princis.  6  Achish  disinisstth  him,  icith 
 ciimmcudittiujis  of  his  Jitldity. 
 
 "IV^OW  "the  Pliilistines  gathered  together  al! 
 -^*  their  armies  '^  to  Aphek  :  and  the  Israel- 
 ites pitched  by  a  fountain  which  is  in  Jezreel. 
 
 En-dor  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  not  far  from  Gilboa,  {see  Josh, 
 xvii.  II.) — Gill,  U.  Whom  shall  I  ltring7ip? — this  was  necromancy, 
 anrl  expressly  fnrbidtlen  by  the  law,  rUcut.  xviU.  li.l — Henry.  12.  Saw 
 Sitinuel — Samuel  himself. — Jus/in  Martyr.  I  believe  Samuel  did  ac- 
 tually appear  to  Saul,  and  that  he  was  sent  by  the  especial  mercy  of 
 God  to  warn  him. — A.Clarke,  so  Sir  John  Marshum,  Cat.,  Saurin.  Hales, 
 Karmer,  Up.  Home,  Bp.  WiLson,  Dr.  Gray,  Bp.  Watson,  Srott,  Green- 
 Jirld,  Wil.,  Silt.  The  appearance  of  him  she  took  for  Samuel.— G(V/. 
 The  phantasm  of  Samuel. — St.  Jerome.  A  fallacious  spirit  which  coun- 
 terfeited the  souls  of  the  dead  ;  for  it  came  vp  from  the  earth  instead  of 
 descending  from  heaven  ;  and  it  is  not  probable  that  God  would  send 
 Samuel  himself,  at  the  call  of  a  witch,  when  Ik-  would  not  favour  Saul 
 with  any  revelation  from  a  living:  prophet  or  any  other  way. — Pat. 
 This  was  Satan  in  the  disguise  of  Samuel's  mantle. — Henry,  so  Bp. 
 Hull,  Ridi^ley.  God  forbid  we  should  believe  the  soul  of  any  man, 
 much  Ifss  a  proiihet,  should  be  brought  up  by  the  power  of  the  devil  — 
 Ttrtullian.  It  is  the  greatest  absurdity  to  believe  that  a  wretched 
 woman  should  call  up  Samuel's  soul. — St.  Cyril  of  Ale.randria.  The 
 Fathers  here  named  are  quoted  by  Patrick,  We  may  be  assured  that 
 the  devil  has  it  not  in  his  power,  in  a  single  instance,  to  reverse  the 
 laws  of  nature  without  Divine  permission,  and  we  can  conceive  but  one 
 occasion,  that  of  possessions,  on  which  such  permission  could  be  given 
 consistently  with  tlie  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God. — Ferriar.  The 
 Scripture  gives  the  following  relation,  as  it  does  many  others,  from  the 
 
 appearance  of  things,  and  nnt  according  to  the  reality  ;  and  there  is  no- 
 thing in  it  that  will  oblige  us  to  belie\  e  tliat  either  Samuel  or  an  evil 
 spirit  diii  appear. —  yvun^\'i  Idnl.  Corrupt.  It  is  not  evident  that  the 
 king  saw  Samuel  on  this  occasion,  and  it  might  be  all  pretence  in  the 
 woman  tliat  she  saw  him. — Evan.  Synop.  That  the  spirit  of  Samuel 
 was  evoked  by  tlie  woman,  and  came  on  the  cnmpulsion  of  her  power- 
 ful arls,  is  an  opinion  that  has  of  late  years  been  generally  rejected. — 
 Pict.  Bitt.  Analysis  of  argument — i,i.)  For  the  realiry  of  the  appear- 
 ance. The  original  text  positively  expresses  that  it  was  Samuel  '  him- 
 self;' Saul  acknowledged  the  reality  ;  the  woman  was  surprised  at  the 
 uncspected  appearance;  the  gravity  and  suitableness  of  the  answer 
 shew  that  it  was  the  spirit  of  Samuel  himself,  lii.)  Against  the  reality, 
 either  as  a  spectre  or  Samuel  himself.  It  is  all  inference  that  Samuel 
 appeared;  the  departed  soul  of  a  good  man  could  not  be  disquieted  ; 
 the  woman  might  infer  from  Saul's  fears,  the  power  of  the  Philistines, 
 and  the  fact  of  David's  being  anointed  king,  tliat  Saul  and  hi-*  army 
 might  be  defeated.  The  transaction  was  in  the  night,  and  the  woman 
 was  evidently,  from  the  original,  a  venti  iloquist,  circumstances  quite 
 favourable  for  imposition.  The  woman  mifiiht  be  divinely  inspired 
 for  the  moment  to  foretel  events,  just  as  Balaam.  19.  Tomorrow, 
 'very  shortly.' — Pat.  Be  uith  me,  'among  the  dead  with  me.' — 
 Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  XXIX.  —  1.  Aphek — there  were  two  cities  of  that  name,  one 
 in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  53  ;  l  Sara.  iv.  1 ;)  and  another  in  that 
 
 Reflections  ov  Chap.  XXVIIX.  —  Let  us  notice  the  two 
 prominent  characters  in  this  chapter: — I.  Saul.  Saul  had 
 forsaken  God,  and  now  God  forsook  him.  His  soul  was  all 
 anxiety  ;  tliere  was  no  means  ot  consolation,  and  a  fearful  fore- 
 boding of  what  was  to  come.  He  had  slighted  God's  oracles 
 and  altars,  and  now  he  inquired  of  God  in  vain.  We  see  in 
 him  no  mark^  of  repentance  and  I'aith.  He  would  fain  have 
 soothed  the  pains  of  Lis  heart  and  learned  his  future  destiny, 
 but  he  never  cried  out,  *  I  have  sinned,'  nor  asked  for  mercy  ; 
 and,  to  shew  how  far  he  was  abandoned  to  himself,  he  was 
 guilty  of  an  abominable  act  of  iilolatry  in  consulting  a  witch, 
 in  opposition  to  the  divine  law  and  his  own  acts  and  deeds 
 against  witchcraft.  In  the  very  prospect  of  immediate  ruin 
 lie  did  but  add  sin  to  sin,  and  aggravate  his  final  destruction. 
 Lord,  soften  our  hearts!  help  us  to  seek  thy  face  only,  and 
 abandon  us  not  to  ourselves  ! 
 
 TI.  The  witch  nf  Evdor.  The  art  of  tliis  woman  was  abo- 
 minable to  (.ioi.l.     Admit,  for  a  moment,  that  she  could  foretel 
 
 future  events,  yet,  as  God  had  denounced  the  art  as  diabolical, 
 she  was  a  presumptuous  creature  to  practise  it ;  and  Saul,  aftei 
 punishing  witches,  more  presumptuous  to  give  it  the  least 
 sanction.  In  a  Christian  land,  amidst  so  much  lii;ht  and  know- 
 ledge, it  is  highly  absurd  and  wicked  to  give  countenance  to 
 idle  vagabonds  who  pretend  to  know  the  secrets  of  Provi- 
 dence ;  the  sin  and  folly  of  so  doing  is  not  the  less  because 
 tlie  fortune-tellers  are  impostors.  In  this  woman  we  see  a 
 portrait  too  common  among  mankind.  '  Observe,'  says  Henry, 
 '  how  sensible  she  is  nf  danger  by  the  edict  of  Saul,  and  what 
 care  she  is  in  to  guard  against  tlie  danger  of  that,  but  not  at 
 all  apprehensive  of  the  dangers  of  God  s  law  and  the  terrors 
 of  his  wrath.  She  considers  wliat  Saul  had  done,  not  what 
 God  had  done,  against  such  practices,  and  fears  a  snare  laid 
 for  her  life  more  than  a  snare  laid  for  her  soul.  It  is  common 
 for  sinners  to  be  more  afraid  of  punishment  from  men  than  of 
 God's  righteous  judgment.' 
 
The  Philistines  suspect  David. 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXX. 
 
 Zihltig  spuiled  by  the  Amalehites. 
 
 2  And  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  passed  on 
 by  hinidreds,  and  by  thousands :  but  David 
 and  liis  men  passed  on  in  the  rcrewaid  '  with 
 Achish. 
 
 3  Tiien  said  the  princes  of  the  Philistines, 
 What  do  these  Hebrews  here  ?  And  Achish 
 said  unto  the  princes  of  the  Philistines,  Is  not 
 this  David,  the  servant  of  Saul  the  king;  of  Is- 
 rael, which  hath  been  with  me  •^  these  days,  or 
 these  years, and  I  have  "found  no  fault  in  him 
 since  he  fell  nnio  me  unto  this  day? 
 
 4  And  the  princes  of  the  Philistines  were 
 wroth  with  him  ;  and  tlie  princes  of  the  Philis- 
 tines said  unto  him,  'Make  this  fellow  return, 
 that  he  may  go  again  to  his  place  which  thon 
 hast  appointed  him,  and  let  him  not  go  down 
 with  us  to  battle,  lest  ^  in  the  battle  he  be  an 
 adversary  to  us  :  for  wherewith  should  lie  re- 
 concile himself  unto  his  master?  should  it  not 
 he  with  the  heads  of  these  men? 
 
 5  Is  not  this  David,  of  whom  they  sang  one 
 to  another  in  dances,  saying,  ''  Saul  slew  his 
 thousands,  and  David  his  ten  thousands? 
 
 6  1  Then  Acliish  called  David,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Surely,  as  the  Lord  livetb,  thou  hast  been 
 upright,  and  '  thy  going  out  and  thy  coming  in 
 with  me  in  the  host  is  good  in  my  sight :  for 
 '  I  have  not  found  evil  in  thee  since  the  day  of 
 thy  coming  unto  me  unto  this  day  :  neverthe- 
 less t  the  lords  favour  thee  not. 
 
 7  Wherefore  now  return,  and  go  in  peace,  that 
 thou  fdisplease  not  the  lords  of  the  Pliilistines. 
 
 8  H  And  David  said  unto  Achish,  But  what 
 have  I  done?  and  what  hast  thou  found  in  thy 
 servant  so  long  as  I  have  been  fwith  thee  unto 
 this  day,  that  I  may  not  go  fight  against  the 
 enemies  of  my  lord  the  king? 
 
 9  And  Achish  answered  and  said  to  David, 
 I  know  that  thon  art  good  in  my  sight,  '  as  an 
 angel  of  God:  notwithstanding  ""the  princes 
 of  the  Philistines  have  said,  He  shall  not  go 
 up  with  us  to  the  battle. 
 
 10  Wherefore  now  rise  up  early  in  the  morn- 
 ing with  thy  master's  servants  that  are  come 
 with  thee  :  and  as  soon  as  ye  be  up  eaily  in 
 the  morning,  and  have  light,  depart. 
 
 1 1  So  David  and  his  men  rose  up  early  to 
 depart  in  the  morning,  to  return  into  the  land 
 of  the  Philistines.  "  And  the  Philistines  went 
 up  to  Jezreel. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 1    The    Amahhiles    spoil    ZlfilU'/,      4   David    asking 
 counsel  is  encouraged  try  God  to  pursue  thcni,      II  Bif 
 
 rf  Seech. 27. 
 7. 
 -■  Dan.  li.  5. 
 
 h  ch.  18   7. 
 &'2l.  II. 
 
 I  2  Sam  3 -25 
 2Km.  19.27. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ihm, 
 art  niil/jniKt 
 III  till"  ryet  oj 
 
 t  Heb.  do  not 
 
 eiffs  of  the 
 
 t  Heb,  b'-fore 
 thuc. 
 
 I  2  Sam.  14. 
 17,  20.  M9 
 
 B.C. 
 eir   lll.*^fi. 
 
 n  Soecb 
 7.  &  L'7. 
 
 b  i-b.  2.^>.  4J, 
 
 ilteb.  bitlrr. 
 
 Judg.18-25. 
 
 cli.  1.  lU. 
 
 •2  Sam.  17.8. 
 
 2  Kin.  4.27. 
 d  Ps.  43.  S.  & 
 
 frfi.  3,  4,  II 
 
 Hiib.  3.  17, 
 
 18 
 ecli.SH.  6,  9 
 
 /eb.-23.2,  4. 
 
 <f  ver.  St. 
 
 A  So  .T.idg:. 
 15.  19. 
 ch.   14.  87. 
 
 the  means  of  a  revitntl  iUiyptian  he  is  hrout/ht  to  the 
 niemics,  and  recovcreth  oil  the  spoil.  22  David's  law 
 to  divide  the  spoil  equally  httweni  them  that  Jiyht  and 
 them  that  keep  the  stuff.  26  He  sendeth  presents  to 
 his  friends. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  David  and  his 
 ■^~*-  men  were  come  to  Ziklag  on  the  third 
 day,  that  the  °  Amalekites  bad  invaded  the 
 south,  and  Ziklag,  and  smitten  Ziklag,  and 
 burned  it  with  fire  ; 
 
 •2  And  bad  taken  the  women  captives,  that 
 were  therein  :  they  slew  not  any,  either  great 
 or  small,  but  carried  them  away,  and  went  on 
 their  way. 
 
 3  H  So  David  and  his  men  came  to  the  city, 
 and,  behold,  it  teas  burned  with  fire  ;  and  their 
 wives,  and  their  sons,  and  their  daughters, 
 were  taken  captives. 
 
 4  Then  David  and  the  people  that  were  with 
 him  lifted  np  their  voice  and  wept,  until  they 
 had  no  more  power  to  weep. 
 
 3  And  David's  ■'  two  wives  were  taken  cap- 
 tives, Ahinoam  the  Jezreelitess,  and  Abigail 
 the  wife  of  Nabal  the  Carmelite. 
 
 6  And  David  was  greatly  distressed  ;  '^ for  the 
 people  spake  of  stoning  him,  because  the  soul 
 of  all  the  people  was  f  grieved,  every  man  for 
 his  sons  and  for  his  daughters  :  ''  but  David 
 encouraged  himself  in  the  Lord  bis  God. 
 
 7  '  And  David  said  to  Abiathar  the  priest, 
 Ahimelech's  son,  I  pray  thee,  bring  me  hither 
 the  ephod.  And  Abiathar  brought  thither  the 
 ephod  to  David. 
 
 8  '  And  David  enquired  at  the  Lord,  saying, 
 shall  1  pursue  after  this  troop?  shall  I  overtake 
 them  ?  And  he  answered  him.  Pursue  :  for 
 thou  shall  surely  overtake  them,  and  without 
 fail  recover  all. 
 
 9  So  David  went,  lie  and  the  six  hundred 
 men  that  were  with  him,  and  came  to  the 
 brook  Besor,  where  those  that  were  left  be- 
 hind stayed. 
 
 10  But  David  pursued,  he  and  four  hundred 
 men:  ^for  two  hundred  abode  behind,  which 
 were  so  faint  that  they  could  not  go  over  the 
 brook  Besor. 
 
 1 1  t  And  they  found  an  Egyptian  in  the 
 field,  and  brought  him  to  David,  and  gave  him 
 bread,  and  he  did  eat ;  and  they  made  him 
 drink  water ; 
 
 1-2  And  they  gave  him  a  piece  of  a  cake  of 
 figs,  and  two  clusters  of  raisins  :  and  '■  when  be 
 liad  eaten,  his  spirit  came  again  to  him  :  for 
 
 of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  30 ;)  but  it  is  thought  this  was  another  in  the 
 tribe  of  Issachar  not  elsewhere  mentioned,  since  it  seems  to  have  been 
 near  Jezreel  andShunem,  which  were  both  in  that  tribe,  (Josh,  xix.18.) 
 ~~Gill.  2.  071  it7  t/te  reyewttrci,  as  the  life  guard  of  Achish,  as  he  had 
 promised,  (chap,  xxviii.  2.) — Poole,  Pat.,  Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XXX.  —  1.  On  the  third  day — the  march  was  thirty  leagues. — 
 Cal.     The  Amalekites  had  invaded,   fyc.  —  they   intended   by   this   to 
 
 avenge  the  havoc  David  had  lately  made  of  their  country,  (chap, 
 xxvii.  8.) — Henry.  2.  Stew  not  any — probably  reserving  them  for 
 slaves.  7-  Abiathar — it  seems  he  was  with  David  when  he  went  with 
 Achish,  and  returned  with  him.  9.  Besor,  in  the  tribe  of  Simeon. — 
 Gill.  Its  source  was  in  the  mountain  of  Idumea,  and  it  fell  into  the 
 Mediterranean  Sea  beyond  Gaza. — A.  Clarke.  11.  .^n  Egyptian — 
 had  he  been  an  Amalekite  they  must  have  destroyed  him,  (see  Deut. 
 
 REFi.rcTinNS  on  Chap.  XXIX.  — I.  Here  is  David  in  a 
 strait.  '  If,"  says  Henry,  '  when  the  armies  engaged,  lie  should 
 retire  ami  quit  his  post,  he  would  fall  under  the  indelible  re- 
 proach, not  only  of  cowardice  and  treachery,  but  of  base  ingra- 
 titude to  Achish.  who  had  been  his  protector  and  benefactor. 
 And  if  he  should,  as  was  expected  from  him,  fight  for  the 
 Philistines  against  Israel,  he  would  incur  the  imputation  of 
 being  an  enemy  to  ihe  Israel  of  God,  and  a  traitor  to  his 
 country.  This  was  tlip  strait  he  was  in,  and  a  great  strait  it 
 was  to  a  good  man,— greater  to  see  sin  before  bim  than  to  see 
 trouble.  Into  this  strait  he  brought  himself  by  his  own  iinad- 
 visedness  in  quilling  the  land  of  .Tndah,  and  going  among  the 
 uncircumcised.  Those  that  associate  themselves  with  wicked 
 people,  and  grow  intimate  with  them,  it  is  strange  if  they  come 
 3-27 
 
 off  without  guilt,  or  grief,  or  both. 
 
 II.  David's  deliverance  from  his  strait.  God  inclined  tlie 
 hearts  of  ihe  princes  of  tiie  Philistines  to  oppose  his  being 
 employed  in  the  battle,  and  to  insist  upon  his  beins  dismissed  ; 
 and  thus  their  enmity  befriended  him,  when  no  friend  he  iiad 
 was  capable  of  doing  him  such  a  kindness.  God's  providence 
 ordered  it  wisely  and  graciously  for  him  ;  for,  besides  that  the 
 snare  was  broken,  and  he  was  delivered  out  of  the  dilemma 
 to  which  he  was  reduced,  it  proved  a  happy  hastening  of  him 
 to  the  relief  of  his  own  city,  which  sorely  wanted  him,  though 
 he  did  not  know  it.  Thus  the  disgrace  which  the  lords  of  Ihe 
 Philistines  put  upon  bira  proved,  in  more  ways  than  one,  an 
 advantage  to  him.  '  Tlie  steps  of  a  good  man  are  ordered  by 
 the  Lord,  and  he  delighteth  in  his  way.' 
 
The  spoil  recovered  from  llie  Amalehites.      I.  SAMUEL,  XXXI. 
 
 he  had  eaten  no  bread,  nor  drunk  any  water, 
 three  days  and  three  nights. 
 
 13  And  David  said  unto  him,  To  whom  be- 
 longest  tliouV  and  whence  art  thonV  And  he 
 said,  I  am  a  yonng  man  of  Egypt,  servant  to 
 an  Amalekite  ;  and  my  master  left  me,  because 
 three  days  agone  I  fell  sick. 
 
 14  We  made  an  invasion  upon  the  south  of 
 'the  Cherethites,  and  upon  tlie  foas< which  be 
 longeth    to    Judah,   and    upon    the    south    of 
 '  Caleb  ;  and  we  burned  Ziklag  with  fire. 
 
 15  And  David  said  to  him,  Canst  thou  bring 
 me  down  to  this  company  ?  And  he  said,  Swear 
 unto  me  by  God,  that  thou  wilt  neither  kill  me, 
 nor  deliver  me  into  the  hands  of  my  master, 
 and  I  will  bring  thee  down  to  this  company. 
 
 16  H  And  when  he  had  brought  him  down, 
 behold,  they  were  spread  abroad  upon  all  the 
 earth,  '  eating  and  drinking,  and  dancing,  be- 
 cause of  all  the  great  spoil  that  they  had  taken 
 out  of  the  land  of  the  PhiUstines,  and  out  of 
 the  land  of  Judah. 
 
 17  And  David  smote  them  from  the  twilight 
 even  unto  the  evening  of  f  the  next  day  :  and 
 there  escaped  not  a  man  of  them,  save  four 
 hundred  young  men,  which  rode  upon  camels, 
 and  fled. 
 
 18  And  David  recovered  all  that  the  Amalek- 
 itcs  had  carried  away :  and  David  rescued 
 his  two  wives. 
 
 19  And  there  was  nothing  lacking  to  them, 
 neither  small  nor  great,  neither  sons  nor 
 daughters,  neither  spoil,  nor  any  t/iiiii/  that 
 they  had  taken  to  them  :  "'  David  recovered  all. 
 
 'JO  And  David  took  all  the  flocks  and  the 
 herds,  which  tliey  drave  before  those  other 
 cattle,  and  said.  This  is  David's  spoil. 
 
 21  1  And  David  came  to  the  "two  hundred 
 men,  which  were  so  faint  that  they  could  not 
 follow  David,  whom  they  had  made  also  to 
 abide  at  the  brook  Besor :  and  they  went 
 forth  to  meet  David,  and  to  meet  the  people 
 that  were  with  him  :  and  when  David  came 
 near  to  the  people,  he  ||  saluted  them. 
 
 22  Then  answered  all  the  wicked  men  and 
 JHCM  °  of  Belial,  of  f  those  that  went  with  Da- 
 vid, and  said.  Because  they  went  not  with  us, 
 we  will  not  give  them  ought  of  the  spoil  that 
 we  have  recovered,  save  to  every  man  his  wife 
 and  his  children,  that  they  may  lead  them 
 away,  and  depart. 
 
 23  Then  said  David,  Ye  shall  not  do  so,  my 
 brethren,  with  that  which  the  Lord  hath  given 
 us,  who  hath  presened  us,  and  delivered  the 
 company  that  came  against  us  into  our  hand. 
 
 24  For  who  will  hearken  unto  you  in  this 
 matter?  but  ""as  his  part  is  that  goetli  down  to 
 the  battle,  so  shall  his  part  be  that  tarrieth  by 
 the  stuif :  they  shall  part  alike. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  1050. 
 
 ■  ver.  10. 
 2  Sam. S. 19. 
 1  Kiu.l.ss, 
 44. 
 
 Kzek.2.'..16. 
 Zepli.  2  h. 
 AJnsl).lt.l3. 
 &  15.  13. 
 
 II  Or,  afkfd 
 
 Ihr^d.'l. 
 
 .hMj.lS  IS 
 .'  Hell  l:t.  l.i. 
 
 .Ilu^(r.l9i^i. 
 
 \  Hot.  fif'i. 
 
 p  See  Num. 
 31.27. 
 Josh.  22  8. 
 2  Mac.ti.I^tl. 
 
 t  Heb.'<"'i 
 
 jJoBh.  19,3. 
 
 r  Josh. 15. IS. 
 
 Josh.lH  IG. 
 
 X  Jadi.l.ir. 
 .l/Ju.lg.  1.17. 
 
 0  Or, 
 
 1  Cll.  ^. 
 
 c  cl..  M.  *9 
 I  Clir.  8  3.1, 
 
 d  Sec'2  Sftin. 
 
 1.  tj,  Ac. 
 t  Heb.  Mho'd- 
 
 ert,>„eii  ynilli 
 
 t  Heb.>.,..J 
 Aim. 
 t  So  Judg  9 
 
 54 
 /cll.  U  G. 
 &  17,  SG- 
 Or,  mocA 
 
 The  death  of  Saul. 
 
 25  And  it  was  so  from  that  day  t  forward, 
 that  he  made  it  a  statute  and  an  ordinance  for 
 Israel  unto  this  day. 
 
 20  1  And  when  David  came  to  Ziklag,  he 
 sent  of  tlie  spoil  unto  the  elders  of  .ludah,  tven 
 to  his  friends,  saying.  Behold  a  f  present  for 
 you  of  the  spoil  of  the  enemies  of  the  Lord; 
 
 27  To  thctn  which  zvere  in  Beth-el,  and  to 
 them  which  were  in  ''  south  llamoth,  and  to 
 them  which  were  in  '  Jattir, 
 
 28  And  to  them  which  were  in'Aroer,  and 
 to  thetn  which  tcere  in  Siphmoth,  and  to  thetn 
 which  ivere  in  '  Eshtemoa, 
 
 29  And  to  thctn  which  were  in  Raclial,  and 
 to  them  which  were  in  the  cities  of  "  the  Jeiah- 
 meelite.s,  and  to  them  which  tvere  in  the  cities 
 of  the  "  Konites, 
 
 30  And  to  tliem  wliich  ivere  in  '  Hormali.and 
 to  them  which  leere  in  Chorashan,  and  to  them 
 which  were  in  Athach, 
 
 31  And  to  them  which  were  in  '  Hebron,  and 
 to  all  the  places  where  David  himself  and  his 
 men  were  wont  to  haunt. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 I  Situl  /laving  lost  his  armi/j  and  his  sons  sluin,  he  itnd 
 Ids  arnwurbearcr  kill  themselves.  7  The  Philistines 
 possess  the  forsaken  towns  of  the  Israelites.  8  T/iei/ 
 triumph  over  the  dead  carcases.  1 1  Thei/  <f  Jalwsh- 
 f/ilcad,  recovering  the  bodies  hij  night,  burn  thetn  at 
 Jabesh,  and  mouryifuUy  bury  t/tcir  bones. 
 
 "VTOW  °  the  Philistines  fought  against  Israel  : 
 •^ '  and  the  men  of  Israel  fled  from  before  the 
 Philistines,  and  fell  down  ||  slain  in  mount 
 "  Gilboa. 
 
 2  And  tlie  Philistines  followed  hard  upon 
 Saul  and  upon  his  sons  ;  and  the  Philistines 
 slew  "  Jonathan,  and  Abinadab,  and  Melchi- 
 shua,  Saul's  sons. 
 
 3  And  >■  the  battle  went  sore  against  Saul, 
 and  tl>e  f  archers  t  'nt  him  ;  and  he  was  sore 
 wounded  of  the  archers. 
 
 4  "  Then  said  Saul  unto  his  armourbearer, 
 Draw  thy  sword,  and  thrust  me  through  there- 
 with ;  lest  ''  these  uncircumcised  come  and 
 thrust  me  through,  and  ||  abuse  me.  But  his 
 armourbearer  would  not ;  *  for  he  was  sore 
 afraid.  Therefore  Saul  took  a  sword,  and 
 >■  fell  upon  it. 
 
 b  And  when  his  armourbearer  .saw  that  Saul 
 was  dead,  he  fell  likewise  upon  his  sword,  and 
 died  with  him. 
 
 6  So  Saul  died,  and  his  three  son.s,  and  his 
 armourbearer,  and  all  his  men,  that  same  day 
 together. 
 
 7  t  And  when  the  men  of  Israel  that  were 
 on  the  other  side  of  the  valley,  and  they  that 
 were  on  the  other  side  Jordan,  saw  that  the 
 men  of  Israel  fled,  and  that  Saul  and  his  sons 
 
 XXV.  19.)— Gi;;.  14.  Cherelhites,  the  Philistines,  manifest  from  ver. 
 16  ;  so  called  Zeph.  ii.  5. — Poole.  Philistines,  aborigines  of  the  island  of 
 Crete,  whence  they  derived  their  names. — Cat.  Caleb,  probably  means 
 the  south  part  of  Judah,  given  to  Caleb,  (Josh.  xiv.  13.) — Patrick. 
 17.  Camels,  'swift  dromedaries,'  much  used  by  the  Arabians,  near 
 whom  these  people  dwelt,  (see  Isa.  Ix.  6  ;  Jer.  ii.  23.)— Gi7/.  24.  So 
 shall  his  part  be  Uiat  turriet/t  by  the  staff,  by  the  baggage.  —  .Scott. 
 
 For  they  were  a  reserve  to  whom  their  brethren  might  retreat  in  case 
 of  a  defeat. — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XXXI. —  I.  Gilboa.  a  ridge  of  mountains  six  miles  from 
 Scythopolis  or  Betbshan. —  Welts.  2.  Closely/  follou-ed,  •  pressed  hard 
 upon.*— Gerfrfe.s.  3.  The  archers  hit  ttim,  '  rushed  upon  him.' — Houlj. 
 The  Philistines,  especially  the  Cherethites,  were  fammis  for  archery. — 
 Gill.    They  are  said  to  have  invented  it. — Bed/ord's  Chronol.        6.  .^/i 
 
 Reflections  on  Chjip.   XXX I.   What  calamities  may 
 
 overtake  our  families  in  our  absence  on  a  journey  I  We  may  re- 
 turn with  our  hearts  full  of  fond  hopes  of  seeing  those  we 
 dearly  love,  and  being  greeted  by  reciprocal  joy,  and  may  find 
 a  house  of  sorrow,  sickness,  or  mourning.  How  thankful, 
 then,  should  we  be  for  the  repeated  kindness  of  God  in  allow- 
 ing us  those  renewals  of  comforts  which  we  so  little  deserve  ! 
 328 
 
 and  how  earnestly  should  we  commit  all  to  the  care  and  dis- 
 posal of  the  Keeper  of  Israel,  who  neither  slumbers  nor  sleeps. 
 II.  In  the  darkest  dispetisations  (f  Providi-nce  we  shonb/  never 
 yield  to  despair,  het  us  seek  counsel  and  support  of  God,  and 
 rejoice  that  he  is  able  to  turn  ihe  darkness  of  the  shadow  of 
 death  into  the  light  of  the  morning,  and  Mo  do  exceeding 
 abundantly  for  us  above  all  that  we  can  ask  or  think.' 
 
The  burial  of  Saul 
 
 I.  SAMUEL,  XXXI. 
 
 and  /lis  sons. 
 
 were  dead,  they  forsook  the  cities,  and  iled  ; 
 and  the  Pliilistines  came  and  dwelt  in  them. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  when 
 the  Pliilistines  came  to  strip  the  slain,  that  they 
 found  Saul  and  his  three  sons  fallen  in  mount 
 Gilboa. 
 
 !)  And  they  cut  off  his  head,  and  stripped  off 
 his  armour,  and  sent  into  the  land  of  the  Phi- 
 listines round  about,  to  '  publish  it  in  the  house 
 of  their  idols,  and  among  the  people. 
 
 10  ''  And  they  put  his  armour  in  the  house  of 
 '  Ashtaroth  :  and  "'  they  fastened  his  body  to 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 10.^6.    . 
 
 i2Sam.l.20. 
 
 k  rli.2 
 
 1.9. 
 
 /.Jiidg 
 
 2.  l.S 
 
 m  ■>  b.i 
 
 11.- 1. 
 
 12. 
 
 .I.tsh,17-H. 
 lulls.  I--''. 
 
 llOl'.'mcrT,:. 
 ini/  him. 
 p  Scecb.  II. 
 I— II. 
 
 2  Snm.  2. 
 4—7. 
 
 7  2  Chr.  16. 
 11.  .ler.  .-n. 
 .5.  Amos  0. 
 III. 
 
 3  .S.im.  2.*, 
 5.  &  21. la, 
 l:l,  II. 
 Geu.  &0.10. 
 
 the  wall  of  °  Beth-shan. 
 
 1 1  f  "And  when  the  inhabitants  of  Jabesh- 
 gilead  heard  ||  of  that  which  the  Pliilistines 
 had  done  to  Saul ; 
 
 12  ''  All  the  valiant  men  arose,  and  went  all 
 night,  and  took  the  body  of  Sanl  and  the 
 bodies  of  his  sous  from  the  wall  of  Beth-shan, 
 and  came  to  Jabesh,  and  ''burnt  them  there. 
 
 13  And  they  took  their  bones,  and  ''buried 
 them  under  a  tree  at  Jabesh,  'and  fasted  seven 
 days. 
 
 Ills  mrn— not  hi5  army,  but  his  body  ciLird.— fiW.         10.   Put  liin  Jew.s,  but  was  probably  done  lest  the  Philistines  should  recover  them 
 
 nnnoitr  in  the  house  nf  Ashtiiroth — it  was  common  with  the  Gentiles  to  and  abuse  them. — Scott.         13.  Their  bnnef!,  which  may  signify  remuiiis, 
 
 place  in  the  temples'  the  arms  they  took  from  their  enemies.— See  or  burned  substance,  which  perhaps  they  put  into  an  mn.—Bimthr. 
 
 tlumer's  Iliad,  7,  v.  8.1 1    Virgil's  .llncid,  7,  v.  183 ;    Persius  .Sati/r,  fi,  Under  a   tree,  said  to  be  an  oak,  (I  Chron.  x.  12.)      So  Deborah  was 
 
 V.  4.5.    The  Jews  did  the  same,  (chap.  xxi.  9.)  Fastened  his  had;/,  on  a  buried,  (Gen.  xxxy.  8.) 
 cross. — Jasi'phus.         12.  Burnt  them — this  was  not   usual  with  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXI We  may  here  take  no- 
 tice of— I.  Ttie  death  of  Saul.  AVhat  a  melancholy  end  !  *  The 
 wicked  are  driven  away  in  tlieir  wicketbiess.'  He  appears  to 
 have  iieen  a  man  of  no  religion,  and  of  ungovernable  passions  ; 
 and,  as  Williams  remarks,  'uliose  character  contains  little  to 
 he  commended,  and  much  to  be  condemned.'  '  He  died  as  he 
 lived,'  says  Boothroyd,  '  a  terror  to  himself  and  to  all  about 
 bim. '  It  is  true,  he  bad  tits  of  madness,  and  in  one  of  these 
 be  mli;ltt have  expired  ;  but  there  is  notbini;  in  bis  life  but 
 wh.it  throws  a  shade  on  his  death.  '  Tell  me  not,'  says  an  old 
 divine,  '  how  a  man  dies,  but  tell  me  how  he  lives  ;'  aud  though 
 
 tliere  are,  doubtless,  many  saved  at  the  eleventh  hour,  in  the 
 e,xercise  of  God's  mercy,  yet  the  holy  life  is  the  best  evidence 
 of  a  truly  happy  death. 
 
 II.  Ttieqralitiulenfthemen.nfjabesh-gilead.  Saul  had  done 
 them  a  kindness  in  rescuing  tiiem  from  Nahash,  and  they  re- 
 membered the  obligation.  Here  is  an  example  worthy  of  imi- 
 tation. Gratitude  is  no  common  thins.  I^ut  if  gratitude  is 
 due  to  our  earthly  benefactors  and  deliverers,  bow  much  more 
 to  Him  '  who  delivered  us  from  so  great  a  death  !'  I,et  us 
 resent  every  indignity  offered  to  him,  and  never  be  ashamed 
 or  afraid  to  do  him  honour. 
 
 THE  SECOND  BOOK 
 
 SAMUEL, 
 
 OTHERWISE    CALr.EO, 
 
 THE     SECOND     BOOK     OF     THE     KINGS. 
 
 LIn  tb 
 
 .' JcwiUi  Canon  of  Scripture  the  two  books  of  Samuel  are  included  in  one.      This  book  contains  tbe  history  of  the  reign 
 of  David  during  forty  years.     It  is  referred  to,  Matt.  i.  6.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  The  Aiwdekite,  ivho  liVought  itdinf/s  of  the  overthrow, 
 and  accused  himself  of  .SituCs  diath,  is  slain.  \'t 
 David  lamenteth  Said  and  Jonathan  with  a  song. 
 
 lyrOW  it  came  to  pass  after  the  death  of 
 -'-*  Saul,  when  David  was  returned  from  "the 
 slaughter  of  the  Amalekites,  and  David  had 
 abode  two  days  in  Ziklag  ; 
 
 2  It  came  even  to  pa.ss  on  the  third  day,  that, 
 behold, '' a  man  came  out  of  the  camp  from 
 Saul  ■"  with  his  clothes  rent,  and  earth  upon  his 
 head  :  and  so  it  was,  when  he  came  to  David, 
 that  he  fell  to  the  earth,  and  did  obeisance. 
 
 3  And  David  said  unto  him.  From  wlience 
 comest  tliou '?  And  he  said  unto  him.  Out  of 
 the  camp  of  Israel  am  1  escaped. 
 
 4  And  David  said  unto  him,  f  How  went  the 
 matter  ?  I  pray  thee,  tell  me.  And  be  an- 
 swered. That  the  people  are  fled  from  the 
 battle,  and  many  of  the  people  also  are  fallen 
 and  dead  ;  and  Saul  aud  Jonathan  his  son  are 
 dead  also. 
 
 1  I  Sam.  30 
 17,26. 
 
 b  ch.  i,  10. 
 c  I  Sam.  t. 
 
 t  Heb.  «'/.»/ 
 Wat.  .$.£. 
 I  Sam. 1.16 
 
 d  1  Sa.31.  I. 
 
 .-Pee  1  S^in, 
 .■11    2,;!,  I. 
 
 ||Or,  my  cont 
 f<f  m'lil,  nr, 
 
 derfd  cant 
 tiitidereth 
 i»e.  ihnl  wii. 
 It'. 
 /JuJg.  9  51. 
 
 5  And  David  said  unto  the  young  man  that 
 told  him.  How  knowest  thou  that  Saul  and 
 Jonathan  his  son  he  dead  ? 
 
 6  And  the  young  man  that  told  him  said.  As 
 I  happened  by  chance  upon  '"  mount  Gilboa, 
 behold,  '■  Saul  leaned  upon  bis  spear  ;  and,  lo, 
 the  chariots  and  horsemen  followed  hard  after 
 him. 
 
 7  And  when  he  looked  behind  hiin,  he  saw 
 me,  and  called  unto  me.  And  I  answered, 
 t  Here  am  I. 
 
 8  Aud  he  said  unto  me.  Who  art  thou  ?  And 
 I  answered  him,  I  am  an  Amalekite. 
 
 9  He  said  unto  me  again.  Stand,  I  pray  thee, 
 upon  me,  and  slay  mc  :  for  ||  anguish  is  come 
 upon  me,  because  my  life  is  yet  whole  in  me. 
 
 10  So  I  stood  upon  him,  and  'slew  him,  be- 
 cause I  was  sure  that  he  could  not  live  after 
 that  he  was  fallen  :  and  I  took  the  crown  that 
 ivas  upon  his  head,  and  the  bracelet  that  was 
 on  his  arm,  and  have  brought  them  hither  unto 
 my  lord. 
 
 NoTRS  ox  Chap.  I. —  6.  .iyid  the  i/onng  man — sairf— his  story  seems 
 to  have  been  a  mere  liction  to  ingratiate  himself  with  David,  and  can- 
 not, therefore,  be  considered  as  shewing  any  discrepancy  with  the  pre- 
 ceding account  of  Saul's  death.  It  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  Saul 
 would  be  willing  to  be  killed  by  an  Amalekite  any  more  than  by  a 
 Philistine. — Hew.,  Ed.,  Scott.  lie  seems  to  have  been  a  plunderer  of 
 329 
 
 the  slain  left  on  the  battle  field. — So  .4.  Clarke.  S.  An  Amalekite— it 
 is  remarkable  that  Saul,  who  had  forfeited  his  crown  by  his  lenity  to 
 the  Amalekites,  should  have  it  stripped  from  his  head  by  one  of  tliese 
 people. — So  Delaney.  10.  The  crown,  probably  a  royal  fillet  or  dia- 
 dem.— .•!.  Clarke.  'Bracelets,  most  probably  a  royal  ornament  also,  for 
 it  is  certain  it  has  been  since  used  in  the  east  as  a  badge  of  power. — Seo 
 
 2  u 
 
David's  lamentation  for  Saul  andJonathan.      II.  SAMUEL,  II. 
 
 JTe  M  made  lima  of  Jndah. 
 
 1 1  Then  David  took  hold  on  his  clothes,  and 
 *  rent  them  ;  and  likewise  all  the  men  that 
 were  with  him  : 
 
 12  And  they  mourned,  and  wept,  and  fasted 
 until  even,  for  Sanl,  and  for  Jonathan  his  son, 
 and  for  the  people  of  the  Loud,  and  for  the 
 house  of  Israel ;  because  they  were  fallen  by 
 the  sword. 
 
 13  H  And  David  said  unto  the  young  man 
 that  told  him.  Whence  art  thou?  And  he  an- 
 .swered,  I  am  the  son  of  a  stranger,  an  Ama- 
 lekite. 
 
 14  And  David  said  unto  him,  •■  How  wast 
 thou  not  '  afraid  to  ''  .stretch  forth  thine  hand  to 
 destroy  the  Lord's  anointed  ? 
 
 15  And  'David  called  one  of  the  young  men, 
 and  said.  Go  near,  and  fall  upon  him.  And  he 
 smote  him  that  he  died. 
 
 16  And  David  said  unto  him,  *"  Thy  blood 
 he  upon  thy  head  ;  for  "  thy  mouth  hatli  testi- 
 fied against  thee,  saying,  I  have  slain  the 
 Lord's  anointed. 
 
 17  IT  And  David  lamented  with  this  lamenta- 
 tion over  Saul  and  over  .Jonathan  his  son  : 
 
 18  ("Also  he  bade  them  teach  the  children 
 of  Judah  the  use  of  the  l)ow  :  behold,  it  is 
 written  ''in  the  book  ||  of  .laslicr  ) 
 
 19  The  beauty  of  Israel  is  slain  upon  thy 
 high  places  :  ''  how  are  the  mighty  fallen ! 
 
 20  '  Tell  if  not  in  Gath,  publish  it  not  in  the 
 streets  of  Askelon  ;  lest  '  the  daughters  of  tlie 
 Phihstines  rejoice,  lest  the  daughters  of  '  the 
 uncircnmcised  triumph. 
 
 21  Ye  "  mountains  of  Gilboa,  'let  there  be  no 
 dew,  neither  let  there  be  rain,  upon  you,  nor 
 fields  of  offerings  :  for  there  the  shield  of  the 
 mighty  is  vilely  cast  away,  the  shield  of  Saul, 
 as  though  he  had  not  been  'anointed  with  oil. 
 
 22  From  the  blood  of  the  slain,  from  the  fat 
 of  the  mighty,  '  the  bow  of  Jonathan  turned 
 not  back,  and  the  sword  of  Saul  returned  not 
 empty. 
 
 23  Saul  and  Jonathan  were  lovely  and  ||  plea- 
 sant in  their  lives,  and  in  their  death  they  were 
 not  divided  :  they  were  swifter  tlian  eagles, 
 they  were  "  stronger  than  lions. 
 
 24  Ye  daughters  of  Israel,  weep  over  Saul, 
 
 4  Nu 
 
 1.12.8 
 
 IS.im  31.4 
 k  I  Sam.S4 
 
 &  26.  Q. 
 
 .  105  15. 
 /  ch.  .1.10,18. 
 
 1  Sam.  26. 
 9.  1  Kin.  2. 
 ii,  S3,  37. 
 
 pjnsli.l  (!..'«. 
 Or.  o/  the 
 ujiright. 
 
 1  ver   27. 
 
 I  Man  0.21. 
 
 ■  I  .Sam.  31. 
 
 9.  Mid. 16. 
 
 See  Judg. 
 
 16.  23. 
 
 I  See  Ex.15. 
 
 26,Judg.ll. 
 
 ».  I  Sam. 
 
 18.  6. 
 t  lSam31.4. 
 lilSam.Sl.l. 
 xSnJinii.'-.^. 
 
 23.  J..b  3.3, 
 
 4.  Jcr.  SO. 
 
 M. 
 V  Ifiam.lO.l. 
 
 b  1  Sam.  18. 
 1.3  Jt  UI2, 
 &  vo.  17.41. 
 S.  L'3.  Hi. 
 
 .;  ver.  10. 
 
 1  Judg.  14. 
 
 I  Judg.  I.  1. 
 1  Sa.23  2,1. 
 0.  &30.  7,  0. 
 
 A  I  Sam.  SO 
 31.  ver,  11, 
 
 I  Kill.  2,11, 
 1  Sam,  30, 
 
 rf  1  Sam. 27 
 2,3.  S  30  1 
 I  ClU".  12.1, 
 
 /I  6am-  31, 
 II,  13. 
 
 ?  Tliith2.2a 
 ^  3.  10. 
 Ps.  lia.  15. 
 
 fc  2  Tim.  1. 
 
 16.  1». 
 
 who  clothed  you  in  scarlet,  with  other  delights, 
 who  put  on  ornaments  of  gold  upon  your  ap- 
 parel. 
 
 ■2o  How  are  the  mighty  fallen  in  the  midst  of 
 the  battle!  O  Jonathan,  thou  wast  slain  in 
 tliiiie  high  places. 
 
 20  I  am  distressed  for  thee,  my  brother  Jona- 
 than :  very  pleasant  hast  thou  been  unto  me  : 
 '■thy  love  to  me  was  wonderful,  passing  the 
 love  of  women. 
 
 27  "  How  are  the  mighty  fallen,  and  the  wea- 
 pons of  war  perished ! 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  David,  In;  GorVs  direction,  with  his  company  qoctli 
 up  to  Htbnm,  w/icre  he  is  vindv  hiinj  nf  Judith.  5  He 
 iommcndcth  them  of  Jahtsli-uilend  for  their  hindness 
 to  Said.  8  Abner  mnketh  Ish'lmshethkiiiq  of  Ixraet. 
 12  A  mortal  skirmish  between  twelee  of  Ahner^s  and 
 twelve  of  JoaVs  men.  18  Asahel  is  slain.  25  At 
 Ahtttrs  motion  Joab  soundeth  a  retreat.  32  AsahcVs 
 burial. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  David 
 -^*-  °  enquired  of  the  Lord,  saying.  Shall  I  go 
 up  into  any  of  the  cities  of  Judah  ?  And  the 
 Lord  said  unto  liim.  Go  up.  And  David  said. 
 Whither  shall  I  go  up?  And  he  said,  Unto 
 ^  Hebron. 
 
 2  So  David  went  up  thither,  and  his  ''two 
 wives  also,  Ahinoam  the  Jezreelitess,  and  Abi- 
 gail Nabal's  wife  the  Carmelite. 
 
 3  And  ■■  his  men  that  ivcre  with  him  did  Da- 
 vid bring  up,  every  man  with  his  houshold  : 
 and  they  dwelt  in  the  cities  of  Hebron. 
 
 4  "  And  the  men  of  Judah  came,  and  there 
 they  anointed  David  king  over  the  house  of 
 Judah.  And  they  told  David,  saying.  That 
 'the  men  of  Jabesh-gilead  icere  they  that 
 buried  Saul. 
 
 3  t  And  David  sent  messengers  unto  the  men 
 of  Jabesh-gilead,  and  said  unto  them,  ^  Blessed 
 he  ye  of  the  Lord,  that  ye  have  shewed  this 
 kindness  unto  your  lord,  even  unto  Saul,  and 
 have  buried  him. 
 
 6  And  now  "  the  Lord  shew  kindness  and 
 truth  unto  you  :  and  I  also  will  requite  you 
 this  kindness,  because  ye  have  done  this  thing. 
 
 nar.  Obs.  Iviii.  c.  5.  The  bracelets  arc  ornamcnti  fastcneil  above  the 
 elbows,  composed  of  precious  stones  of  great  value,  and  are  only  worn 
 by  the  king  ami  his  sons.— .U.  Murier.  1.5.  He  smote  him  l/i»t  he 
 died—tbis  self-convicted  wretched  Amalekite  dieil  for  a  crime  that  he 
 had  not  committed  ;  yet  he  well  deserved  to  die  for  taking  the  guilt  of 
 it  upon  him.— Dr.  Uelnn;/.  18,  The  use  of  the  bow,  that  tliey  might 
 
 be  able  to  compete  with  Ihe  Philistines,  who  now  excelled  in  this,  by 
 which  Saul  and  Jonathan  had  been  slain,— Pd^,  Hew.  'The  use  of 
 is  supplied  by  our  translators  ;  hence  '  the  bow,'  may  he  the  title  given 
 to  this  dirge,  '  the  song  of  the  bow,'  or  its  tune,  or  musical  modulation. 
 •The  bow'  being  occasioned  by  the  Philistine  archers.  Many  of  David's 
 Psalms  had  titles  of  this  kind,— Ho;/4,  Bonthrmii  views  it  in  this 
 light,  following  the  Sept.,  which  reads,  'and  David  sang  this  mourn- 
 ful song,  and  told  them  to  teach  it  the  children  of  Judah,'— Puf,,  Hew., 
 Clarke.  18,  Bank  c/  .Jasher—see  notes  on  Josh,  x,  13.  ig.  The 
 beuiily  ('33)  of  Israel,  ^c,  '  O  antelope  of  Israel,  pierced  on  thine  own 
 mountains.'— i>r.  Oeddes,  adopted  by  Boothr.  The  English  transla- 
 tion  is  rendered  metaphorically,  the  antelope  being  an  eastern  emblem 
 of  beauty,  and  Dr.  Geddcb'  translation  is  literal, 
 
 'O  decus  Israelis,  super  excelsa  tua  Miles  I 
 
 Quomodo  eecidcrunt  FonTES.' — Kennicott. 
 
 20.  The  daughters— triumph— \t  being  usual  then  for  women  to  express 
 
 their  joy  on  occasions  of  victory  by  singing  and  dancing,  CJudg,  xi,  34 ; 
 1  Sam,  xviii,  6,  ",)  Such  sort  of  women  were,  among  the  Romans, 
 called  Cymhalistriae  and  Tympanistria",  who  shook  the  cymbals  and 
 beat  upon  tabrets  and  drums  in  times  of  rejoicing. — Gill.  21,  .-Is 
 thtiugh  he  had  not  been  anointed  with  oil,  'as  though  he  had  been  a 
 common  soldier.' — Gill.  '  The  armour  of  him  anointed  with  oil,' — 
 Boothr.  'The  shield  of  Saul  without  '?3  (being)  anointed  with  oil.' 
 alluding  to  the  shields  of  the  chiefs,  which  were  carefully  oiled  before 
 going  into  action.  (Isa.  xxi.  5,)  and  probably  on  their  return. —  Wit. 
 For  'bn,  Clarke  reads  '"j^,  'instruments,'  that  is,  'the  shield  of  Saul, 
 weapons  anointed  with  oil.'  Several  ancient  MSS,  have  this  reading, 
 which  was  first  suggested  by  Dr.  Delaney.  22,  From,  '  without,* — 
 
 Ken.  Slain,  'wounded,'  '  pierced  through.' — Wit.  D'?'?n,  'warriors.' 
 ^Kennicott,  adopted  by  Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  II. —  1.  Shalt  I  go  up? — though  David  was  promised  the 
 kingdom,  he  would  not  enter  into  possession  without  God's  direction. 
 — Gill,  Pat.  3.  Cities,  'city.' — Boothr.  Hebron,  a  city  of  the  priests 
 and  of  refuge,  twenty  miles  from  Jerusalem,  and  the  metropolis  of 
 Jud.ih, — Gilt.  4.  Anointed  David — he  was  anointed  and  designated 
 by  Samuel,  (I  Sam,  xvi,  12,  13.)  he  was  now  solemnly  inaugurated  — 
 Pat.  6.  1  will  reffuife — tliey  had  reason  to  fear  the  vengeance  of  the 
 Philistines,  and  David  probably  wrote  thus  to  assure  them  of  his  pro- 
 
 Refi.ections  on  Chat.  I. —  This  chapter  records,  I.  The 
 execution  of  the  Amalekite.  If  he  really  assisted  in  killing  Saul, 
 though  at  his  own  request,  he  was  a  murderer;  and,  as  lie 
 declared  be  had  done  so,  and  shewed  the  tokens  of  his  deed, 
 Uavid  was  justified  m  his  execution,  even  if  he  had  not  been 
 an  Amalekite.  There  is.  however,  much  reason  to  believe 
 this  was  a  falsehood,  and  if  so,  the  event  was  but  an  illustration 
 of  the  truth,  •  The  wicked  is  snared  in  the  work  of  his  own 
 hands.' 
 
 II.  The  lamentation  of  David  over  Jonathan  and  Saul.  This 
 330 
 
 shews  a  generous  heart,  willing  to  forgive  a  bitter  enemy,  and 
 to  bury  all  his  faults  in  the  grave.  It  manifests  a  reciproca- 
 tion of  friendship  for  Jonathan,  of  which  there  are  fev:  ex- 
 amples in  the  world.  Human  hearts  are  not  often  linked 
 together  in  such  ties.  In  tlie  eulogy  on  Jonathan  it  reminds 
 us  of  that  Friend  who,  having  loved  His  own  which  were  in 
 the  world,  loved  them  to  the  end ;  and  of  whom  we  may  sing, 
 '  In  joy  or  sorrow,  life  or  death. 
 His  love  is  still  the  same.' 
 
Isli-boshclh  7)iade  king  of  Israel. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  II. 
 
 AsaheVs  death  and  burial. 
 
 7  Therefore  now  let  your  liaiuls  be  strength- 
 ened, and  fbe  ye  valiant:  for  your  master 
 Saul  is  dead,  and  also  the  house  of  Judah 
 have  anointed  me  king  over  them. 
 
 8  t  But  '  Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  captain  of 
 t  Saul's  host,  took  |)  Ish-bosheth  the  son  of 
 Saul,  and  brought  him  over  to  Malianaim  ; 
 
 9  And  made  him  king  over  Gilead,  and  over 
 the  Ashurites,  and  over  Jezreel.and  over  Eph- 
 raini,  and  over  Benjamin,  and  over  all  Israel. 
 
 10  Ish-bosheth  Saul's  son  h'«.s- forty  years  old 
 when  he  began  to  reign  over  Israel,  and  reigned 
 two  years.  But  the  house  of  Judah  followed 
 David. 
 
 1 1  And  '  the  f  time  that  David  was  king  in 
 Hebron  over  the  house  of  Judah  was  seven 
 years  and  six  months. 
 
 12  l  And  Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  and  the  ser- 
 vants of  Ish-bosheth  the  son  of  Saul,  went  out 
 from  Mahanaim  to  '  Gibeon. 
 
 13  And  Joab  tlie  son  of  Zeruiah,  and  the  ser- 
 vants of  David,  went  out,  and  met  f  together 
 by  '"  the  pool  of  Gibeon  :  and  they  sat  down, 
 tlie  one  on  the  one  side  of  the  pool,  and  the 
 other  on  the  other  side  of  the  pool. 
 
 14  And  Abner  said  to  Joab,  Let  the  young 
 men  now  arise,  and  play  before  us.  And  Joab 
 said.  Let  them  arise. 
 
 15  Then  there  arose  and  went  over  by  num- 
 ber twelve  of  Benjamin,  wliich  pertained  to 
 Ish-bosheth  the  son  of  Saul,  and  twelve  of  the 
 servants  of  David. 
 
 16  And  they  caught  every  one  his  fellow  by 
 the  head,  and  thrust  his  sword  in  his  fellow's 
 side  ;  so  they  fell  down  together  :  wherefore 
 that  place  was  called  ||  Helkath-hazzurim 
 which  is  in  Gibeon. 
 
 17  And  there  was  a  very  sore  battle  that  day  ; 
 and  Abner  was  beaten,  and  the  men  of  Israel, 
 before  the  servants  of  David. 
 
 18  H  And  there  were  "three  sons  of  Zeruiah 
 there,  Joab,  and  Abishai,  and  Asahel  :  and 
 Asahel  teas  "  as  light  f  of  foot  f  ''as  a  wild  roe. 
 
 19  And  Asahel  pursued  after  Abner;  and  in 
 going  he  turned  not  to  the  right  hand  nor  to 
 the  left  t  from  following  Abner. 
 
 20  Then  Abner  looked  behind  him,  and  said 
 Art  thou  Asahel  ?     And  he  answered,  I  ant. 
 
 21  And  Abner  said  to  him.  Turn  thee  aside 
 to  thy  right  hand  or  to  thy  left,  and  lay  thee 
 
 I  Ueb.  be  1/e 
 the  imti  of 
 
 was  Snul'i 
 II  (Ir,  £*A- 
 4,..,/, 
 
 I  Clir-  8.33 
 ft  y.  39. 
 
 t   Heb.  i>'im- 
 
 /Jnsh. 18.25. 
 
 cii-.  1053. 
 t  Heb.  IJinn 
 
 ,„.,.-tlu-T. 
 
 Ill  JtT.  41.12. 
 
 I  That  if, 
 
 n.\iid<i ./ 
 
 tlTwij'  vteii. 
 
 »  lClir.12  8, 
 t  Heb.  ofhii 
 
 t  llib.  n.ow 
 
 /lull  is  iiitfit 
 
 ftrlH. 
 p  IN    18.  33. 
 
 Cant.  2.  17- 
 
 &  s    II. 
 t  Heb./r»ra 
 
 o//(T  Jtbner. 
 
 II  Or.  »ii(ii7, 
 Judg.lVI9 
 
 r  vor.  H. 
 Pfov. 17.14 
 t  Heb.  fr,nn 
 
 II  Or,  S'>iie 
 uwiy. 
 
 hold  on  one  of  the  young  men,  and  take  thee 
 his  (I  armour.  But  Asahel  would  not  turn 
 aside  from  following  of  him. 
 
 22  And  Abner  said  again  to  Asahel,  Turn 
 thee  aside  from  following  me :  wherefore 
 should  I  smite  thee  to  the  ground  'i  how  then 
 .should  I  hold  up  my  face  to  Joab  thy  brother"? 
 
 23  Howbeit  he  refused  to  turn  aside  :  where- 
 fore yVbner  with  the  hinder  end  of  the  spear 
 smote  him  '■  under  the  fiftli  rib,  that  the  spear 
 came  out  behind  him  ;  and  he  fell  down  there, 
 and  died  in  the  same  place  :  and  it  catne  to 
 pass,  that  as  many  as  came  to  the  place  where 
 Asahel  fell  down  and  died  stood  still. 
 
 24  Joab  also  and  Abishai  pursued  after 
 Abner :  and  the  sun  went  down  when  they 
 were  come  to  the  hill  of  Ammah,  that  lieth 
 before  Giah  by  the  way  of  the  wilderness  of 
 Gibeon. 
 
 2o  H  And  the  children  of  Benjamin  gathered 
 themselves  together  after  Abner,  and  became 
 one  troop,  and  stood  on  the  top  of  an  hill. 
 
 20  Then  Abner  called  to  Joab,  and  said,  Sliall 
 the  sword  devour  for  ever?  knowest  thou  not 
 that  it  will  be  bitterness  in  the  latter  end?  how 
 long  .shall  it  be  then,  ere  thou  bid  the  people 
 return  from  following  their  brethren? 
 
 27  And  Joab  said,  As  God  liveth,  unless 
 '  thou  hadst  spoken,  surely  then  f  in  the  morn- 
 ing the  people  had  ||  gone  up  every  one  from 
 following  his  brotlic!'. 
 
 28  So  Joab  blew  a  trumpet,  and  all  the 
 people  stood  still,  and  pursued  after  Israel  no 
 more,  neither  fought  they  any  more. 
 
 29  And  Abner  and  liis  men  walked  all  that 
 night  tlirough  the  plain,  and  passed  over  Jor- 
 dan, and  went  through  all  Bithron,  and  they 
 came  to  Mahanaim. 
 
 30  And  Joab  returned  from  following  Abner: 
 and  when  he  had  gathered  all  the  people  toge- 
 ther, there  lacked  of  David's  servants  nineteen 
 men  and  Asahel. 
 
 31  But  the  servants  of  David  had  smitten  of 
 Benjamin,  and  of  Abner's  men,  so  that  three 
 hundred  and  threescore  men  died. 
 
 32  H  And  they  took  up  Asahel,  and  buried 
 him  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  father,  which  urns 
 in  Beth-lehem.  And  Joab  and  his  men  went 
 all  night,  and  they  came  to  Hebron  at  break 
 of  day. 
 
 Xeciion.—Piil.,  Gill.  7.  Be  j/e  nilinnt~be  not  afraid  (if  the  Philis- 
 tines, whi)  might  resent  their  eondiict  — Gill.  David  doubtless  means 
 on  ids  behalf,  for  liis  object  evidently  was  to  attaeh  them  to  his  interest. 
 — Tf'i/.  For  i/oitr  master  Saul  is,  *  tliouph  your  master  Saul  be.' — Pttt. 
 S.  Abner,  Saul's  first  cousin,  general  of  his  forces.  Ish-bnsheth,  seems 
 to  be  the  only  remaining  son  of  Saul,  except  one  by  his  concubine  Esh- 
 baal,  (IChron.  viii  33;  \\.  30.)— Gill,  Put.  On  the  hereditary  prin- 
 cijjle,  Jonathan's  son  Mcphibosheth  was  the  rightful  heir. — Chandler. 
 Ish-bosheth  was  insignificant,  and  probably  Abner  aimed  at  the  power 
 for  himself.— Scii«.  Miihanaim,  in  the  tribe  of  Gad.  (Josh.xiii.  26,)  so 
 called  from  the  angels  appearing  to  Jacob,  (Gen.  xxxii.  1.) — Patrick. 
 9.  Gilead,  comprehending  Gad,  Reuben,  and  the  half  tribe,  on  the  other 
 side  Jordan.— Ci;/,  Put.  Ashurites.  the  tribe  of  Ashur.  Jezreet,  tlie 
 great  plain  including  the  tribes  of  Zebulun,  Issacliar,  and  Naphtali. 
 All  Israel,  Judah  only  excepted.— Gi7;.  10.  Two  years,  before  the 
 
 following  war  broke  out,  (comp.  l  Sam.  xiii.  1,)  for  that  he  reigned 
 longer  appears  from  the  following  verse,  and  chap.  iii.  I.— Poo/c,  Pat. 
 Before  any  but  Judah  had  joined  David.  Or  the  text  may  be,  '  when 
 Ish-bosheth  had  reigned  two  years  over  Israel  he  was  forty  years  of 
 age.'— So  Clarke.  Some  think  Abner  usuipcd  the  authority  after  two 
 years.  Houbi^ant  reads  'six  years,'  substituting  n^lD  n'lL'lU,  'six 
 years,' for  D'^TD  D'niD,  'two  years;'  he  supposes  a  year  might  elapse 
 after  Saul's  death  before  Ish-bosheth  was  established  king,  and  thus 
 makes  the  time  about  parallel  with  David's  seven  years,  (vcr.  II.) 
 I'i.  T(»  Gibeon,  in  the  country  of  Benjamin,  {Josh,  xviii.  25,)  near  Judah, 
 the  design  being  to  reduce  Judah  to  subjection  to  Saul's  house.— /'o(y/e. 
 13.  .loab,  the  chief  commander  of  David's  forces.— i'ui.  The  sun  of 
 331 
 
 Zeruiah,  one  of  Daviil's  sisters,  (1  Cliron.  ii.  l6.)  It  appears  that  when 
 the  mother  was  superior  in  rank  to  the  father,  the  children  were  deno- 
 minated from  her. — Hew.  Servtints—\.hc  principal  officers  of  David's 
 household. — Pat.  Went  out,  from  Hebron  to  Gibeon,  twenty-four 
 miles,  to  meet  Abner.— (.'!«.  14.  Plai/,  ipniB'1,  from  pniB,  and  the 
 true  meaning  in  this  text  is,  *  fighting'  or  '  skirmishing. '—/'«»-.  Such 
 play  is  common  among  the  Arabs  to  this  iAy.Shaw.  Prelude  the 
 engagement.— ZVwf/iC,  Geddes.  Some  think  Abner  intended  only  sport, 
 others  gladiators'  slaughter.  He  means  '  let  them  fight. '  —  Henry, 
 Clarke.  l6.  They  fell  down  together,  that  is,   the   twelve  men  of 
 
 Benjamin. — Pat.  All  the  company  were  butchered. — Gill,  Scott;  so 
 Clarke,  Wit.  Helkuthhazziirim— sec  vmrg.,  that  is,  of  strong  and 
 unshaken  vnQn.— Henry,  Gill.  'The  Held  of  swords.'— I>(;//ic  "Th* 
 field  of  grapplers. '—iJooMr.  Mcpir  toiv  ctti/JouXwii,  '  the  portion  of  the 
 insidious,'  S(7)«, ;  perhaps  from  their  artfully  attacking  each  other.— 
 Ed.  18,  Light  of  foot— this,  to  pursue  an  enemy,  was  a  quality 
 highly  esteemed  in  warriors.— Pt/^.  So  Homer  commends  Achilles, 
 iro^at  oiKur  AxtXAent,  '  the  swift-footed  Achilles.'— So  Gill  and  Clarke. 
 As  a  leild  roe,  ralher  'antelope  ;'  it  is  the  same  word  as  chap.  i.  19.— 
 Shaw;  sec  note  there.  21.  His  arawtir — Asahel's  object  seems  to 
 have  been  the  obtaining  of  the  commander-in-chief's  armour,  a  trophy 
 much  valued  among  the  warriors  of  old.— So  Clarke.  23.  Abner — 
 with  the  hinder  end,  'the  reversed  point;'  he  thrust  his  spear  backward. 
 —Boothr.,  Houb.  I'nder  tlie  fifth  rib,  •  in  the  groin,'  so  most  of  the 
 ancient  Versions,  followed  by  lioothr.  'Through  the  liver.'— GHi. 
 '  Through  the  abdomen.'— ffi?-"''.--'"-*.  2?.  Unless  thou  hadst  spoken 
 
 '  if  thou  hadst  not  said  what  thou  didst  in  the  morning.'— /,i^A^/oo(. 
 
DaciJ  waxcth  stionijer 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  III. 
 
 Ahncr  revoltcth  to  him. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  Duriitf]  Uw  ictir  David  still  u-axttli  strotuia-.  2  Six 
 suns  WLTt  hum  to  Jtim  in  Htbron.  6  AUhli-,  disphased 
 tvith  Islt-lustictli ,  \1multclh  to  David.  13  David 
 rtquirtth  a  condition  to  brimj  him  his  wife  Alichul. 
 17  Abncr,  havinif  conununtd  with  the  Isratlites.  is 
 feasttdht/  David,  and  dismisst^d.  22  Joab,  return- 
 intj  from  battle,  is  displeased  with  the  kini;.  and  kill- 
 eth  Abntr.  2b  David  curstth  Joabj  31  and  mourn- 
 etli  fur  Abnvr. 
 
 "M  0\V  there  was  long  war  between  the  house 
 •^  '  of  Saul  and  the  house  of  David  :  but  Da- 
 vid waxed  stronger  and  stronger,  and  the  house 
 of  Saul  waxed  weaker  and  weaker. 
 '2  t  And  ^  unto  David  were  sons  born  in  He- 
 bron :  and  his  firstborn  was  Ainnon,  ■'  of  Ahi- 
 iioam  the  Jezreelitcss ; 
 
 3  And  his  second,  ||  Chileab,  of  Abigail  the 
 wife  of  Nabal  the  Carmelite ;  and  the  third, 
 Absalom  the  son  of  Maacah  the  daughter  of 
 Talniai  king  '  of  Gesluir  ; 
 
 4  And  the  fourth,  ''  Adonijah  the  son  of  Hag- 
 gitli  ;  and  tlie  fifth,  Shephatiali  the  son  of 
 Abital ; 
 
 5  And  tlie  sixth,  Iihream,  by  Eglali  David's 
 wife.     These  were  born  to  David  in  Hebron. 
 
 0  II  And  it  came  to  pass,  wliile  there  was  war 
 between  tlie  house  of  Saul  anil  the  house  of 
 David,  that  Abner  made  himself  strong  for  the 
 house  of  Saul. 
 
 7  And  Saul  had  a  concubine,  whose  name 
 was  '  Kizpali,  the  daugliter  of  Aiah  :  and  Ish- 
 husheth  said  to  Abner,  Wherefore  hast  thou 
 '.none  in  unto  my  father's  concubine? 
 
 »  Then  was  Abner  very  wroth  for  the  words 
 of  Ish-bosheth,  and  said.  Am  I  ^-'a  dog's  head, 
 which  against  Judah  do  sliew  kindness  this 
 day  unto  the  house  of  Saul  tliy  father,  to  his 
 brethren,  and  to  his  friends,  and  have  not  de- 
 livered thee  into  tlie  hand  of  David,  that  tliou 
 chargest  me  to  day  with  a  fault  concerning 
 this  woman  ? 
 
 !>  *■  So  do  God  to  Abner,  and  more  also,  ex- 
 cept, '  as  the  Lord  hath  sworn  to  David,  even 
 so  I  do  to  him  ; 
 
 10  To  translate  the  kingdom  from  the  house 
 of  Saul,  and  to  set  up  the  throne  of  David  over 
 Israel  and  over  Judah,  '  from  Dan  even  to 
 Reer-sheba. 
 
 1 1  And  be  could  not  answer  Abner  a  word 
 again,  because  he  feared  him. 
 
 B  c. 
 
 Cir.  lUCi3. 
 
 /ch.  IC.  21. 
 
 I  Chr.  3. 
 
 I— t. 
 t  1S|>.25.'I3. 
 
 1  Or.  ZJ-in 
 1  Ctir.  S. 
 
 <:  1  Sa.  37.  8. 
 cli,  l.-i.  37 
 d  1  Iviu.  1.5. 
 
 A  Kuth  1.17. 
 1  Kin.  111.3. 
 
 ■J9.^&  111-  I, 
 13.  8»  38.17. 
 IClit.12.23. 
 
 AJu<1|f.  311.1. 
 ■.  17.  II. 
 Kiu..l.3^. 
 
 t  So  Geu.43. 
 
 I  Heb.  going 
 
 I  IK-b.  both 
 and  Ituf  ittir<. 
 
 12  1  And  Abner  sent  messengers  to  David 
 on  his  behalf,  saying.  Whose  is  the  land  ?  say- 
 ing a/so,  Make  thy  league  with  me,  and,  be- 
 hold, my  hand  s/iull  be  with  thee,  to  bring 
 about  all  Israel  unto  thee. 
 
 13  1i  And  he  said.  Well ;  I  will  make  a  league 
 with  thee  :  but  one  thing  I  require  of  thee, 
 t  that  is,  '  Thou  shalt  not  see  my  fiice,  except 
 thou  first  bring  "'Miehal  Saul's  daughter,  when 
 thou  coniest  to  see  my  face. 
 
 14  And  David  sent  messengers  to  Ish-bo.sheth 
 Saul's  son,  saying.  Deliver  7>ie  my  wife  Miehal, 
 which  I  espoused  to  me  "  for  an  hundred  fore- 
 skins of  tlie  Philistines. 
 
 lo  And  I.sh-bosheth  sent,  and  took  her  from 
 her  husband,  eve?i  from  °  Phaltiel  the  son  of 
 Laish. 
 
 16  And  her  husband  went  with  her  f  along 
 weeping  behind  her  to  ''Pahurim.  Then  said 
 Abner  unto  him.  Go,  return.  And  he  returned. 
 
 17  t  And  Abner  had  coninumication  with 
 the  elders  of  Israel,  saying.  Ye  sought  for  Da- 
 vid f  in  times  past  to  be  king  over  you  : 
 
 18  Now  then  do  it:  ''for  the  'Loiid  hath 
 spoken  of  David,  saying,  Py  the  hand  of  my 
 servant  David  I  will  save  my  people  Israel  out 
 of  the  hand  of  the  Philistines,  and  out  of  the 
 hand  of  all  their  enemies. 
 
 19  And  Abncr  also  spake  in  the  ears  of 
 '  Benjamin  :  and  Abner  went  also  to  speak  in 
 the  ears  of  David  in  Hebron  all  that  seemed 
 good  to  Israel,  and  that  seemed  good  to  the 
 whole  house  of  Benjamin. 
 
 '20  So  Abner  came  to  David  to  Hebron,  and 
 twenty  men  with  him.  And  David  made 
 Abner  and  the  men  that  were  with  him  a  feast. 
 
 21  And  Abncr  said  unto  David,  1  will  arise 
 and  go,  and  '  will  gather  all  Israel  unto  my 
 lord  the  king,  that  they  may  make  a  league 
 with  thee,  and  that  thou  mayest  '  reign  over 
 all  that  thine  heart  desireth.  And  David  sent 
 Abner  away  ;  and  he  went  in  peace. 
 
 22  t  And,  behold,  the  servants  of  David  and 
 Joab  came  from  jnirstiing  a  troop,  and  brought 
 in  a  great  spoil  with  tliein  :  but  Abner  irtis  not 
 with  David  in  Hebron  ;  for  he  had  sent  him 
 away,  and  he  was  gone  in  peace. 
 
 23  When  Joab  and  all  the  host  that  was 
 with  him  were  come,  they  told  Joab,  saying, 
 Abner  the  son  of  Ner  came  to  the  king,  and 
 
 Chap.  III. —3.  Chileab,  called  also  Daniel,  (1  Cliron.  iii.  1  )  King 
 o/ Gra/iur— probably  Geshur  in  the  north,  (see  Dcul.  iii.  14  ;  Josh.  xii. 
 5;)  and  this  union  might  be  to  strengthen  his  interests  in  that  quarter 
 against  Ish-bosheth.— i^oofe,  Pat.,  Gilt.  b.  And  the  sixtli,  Ithreum, 
 Ifi/  Entail— here  are  six  sons  by  six  wives.  A  kinp  having  but  six  wives 
 would  be  thoui^ht  a  model  of  continence  to  all  tlie  kings  of  the  cast. — 
 Sut.  6.  .Made  himself  strung  fur,  '  exerted  hini&eU  ior,'~Duut/ir.,  or 
 'made  himself  strong  in,"  (see  next  verse.)— Id;.  -.  Gone  in  unto  mi) 
 father^s  concubine — this  was  considered  an  affectation  of  the  kingdom, 
 as  in  the  case  of  Adonijah.— i'u^  8.  A  dug's  head,  '  become  so  ab- 
 ject.'— Duthe.  A  proverbial  expression. — Greenf.  9.  Sworn  tn  David, 
 —hence  Abner  knew  David  was  divinely  appointed  king,  and  had,  ne- 
 
 vertheless, ambitiously  acted  against  it,  and  now  submits  only  frrnv 
 revenge. — Gilt,  Scott.  U.  Ucliver  me  nijj  wife— she   was  David's 
 
 when  Phaltiel  took  her, — Eenn.  S^nop.,  and  it  was  policy  to  recover 
 her,  lest  Phaltiel  mi<ht  ground  some  plea  of  usurpation  on  liis  union. 
 — Gill.  1".  Sought  fur  Dui'id,  §■(,-. — they  exalted  him  after  he  had 
 killed  Goliath,  (I  Saiu.  xviii.  5,  16.)  Many  of  Israel  went  to  him  at 
 Ziklag,  (1  Chron.  xii.  2,  8,  9,  19,)  and  more  at  Hebron,  (1  Chron.  xii, 
 23.) — Pat.  18.  Tlie  Lord  hath  Kpoken  of  David,  when  God  appointed 
 Samuel  to  anoint  him,  he  did,  in  effect,  promise  that  by  his  hand  he 
 would  save  Israel. — Henry.  19.  Benjamin,  with  this  tribe  it  was  ne- 
 cessary to  take  some  pains,  being  devoted  to  Saul's  family.— i'«/. 
 22.  From  pursuing  a  troop,  of  robbers,  either  Philistines,  Edomites,  or 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  I.  David  inquired,  of  God  be- 
 fore he  ventured  upon  his hiniidom.  He  bad,  indeed,  been  desig- 
 nated to  it,  but  he  was  willing  to  be  guided  by  direction  as  to 
 the  time  and  manner  wben  the  Divine  purposes  should  be 
 executed.  '  lie  that  believeth  shall  not  make  haste.'  '  la  all 
 our  motions  and  removes,'  says  Henry,  '  it  is  comfortable  10 
 see  God  going  before  us ;  and  we  may,  if  by  faith  and  prayer 
 we  set  him  before  us.' 
 
 II.  The  buttle  bctwetn  Abncr  and  Joab.  We  are  disgusted  at 
 the  brutality  of  the  scene  :  the  murderous  conflict  of  the 
 twenty-four  ;  the  determination  of  Asabel  to  slay  Abner  ;  the 
 cruel,  though  almost  eitoried,  thrust  given  by  Abncr  to 
 Asahel ;  and  the  needless  slaughter  of  three  hundred  and 
 332 
 
 seventy-nine  men.  Wo  be  to  the  men  on  wliose  liends  rests 
 the  responsibility  of  war  ;  however  they  may  qualify  Ihe  deed 
 with  the  terms  'just  and  necessary,'  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
 these  terras  have  too  often  been  made  an  apology  without  any 
 foundation.  Let  every  lover  of  his  country  pray,  aiul  use  the 
 best  means  in  his  power,  that  it  may  be  preserved  from  ihe 
 horrors  of  civil  war,  and.  as  he  loves  mankind,  aim  to  advance 
 the  principle  of  peace  with  all  nations.  80  shall  he  liasten  on 
 that  truly  illustrious  day,  *  when  they  shall  beat  their  swords 
 into  ploughshares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning- hooks;  nation 
 shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn 
 war  anymore.' 
 
Joah  hillcth  Abncr. 
 
 If.  SAMUEL,  IV. 
 
 Ish-bonlicth  is  slain. 
 
 he  hath  sent  him 
 
 and    lie 
 
 IS  gone  II) 
 
 a^^■ay 
 peace. 
 
 a  Then  Joab  came  to  the  l;uig,  and  said, 
 What  liast  thou  done  V  behold,  Abner  came 
 unto  tliee  ;  wliy  /s  it  that  thou  hast  sent  him 
 away,  and  he  is  quite  gone? 
 
 '2d  Tliou  knowest  Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  that 
 lie  came  to  deceive  thee,  and  to  know  "  thy 
 going  out  and  thy  coming  in,  and  to  know  all 
 that  thou  doest. 
 
 •IG  And  when  Joab  was  come  out  from  Da- 
 vid, he  sent  messengers  after  Abner,  which 
 brouglit  him  again  from  the  well  of  Sirah  :  but 
 David  knew  it  not. 
 
 '11  And  when  Abner  was  returned  to  Hebron, 
 Joab  "^  took  him  aside  in  the  gate  to  .speak  with 
 him  llquietl}',  and  smote  him  there  'under  the 
 fifth  rib,  tliat  he  died,  for  the  blood  of  ""Asahel 
 his  brother. 
 
 '28  t  And  afterward  when  David  heard  it, 
 he  said,  I  and  my  kingdom  are  guiltless  before 
 the  Loud  i'or  ever  from  the  f  blood  of  Abner 
 the  son  of  Ner  : 
 
 29  °  Let  it  rest  on  the  head  of  Joab,  and  on  all 
 his  father's  house;  and  let  there  not  ffail  from 
 the  house  of  Joab  one  ''  that  hath  an  issue,  or 
 that  is  a  leper,  or  that  leaiieth  on  a  staff',  or 
 that  falleth  on  the  sword,  or  that  lackelb 
 bread. 
 
 30  So  Joab  and  Abishai  his 
 Abner,  because  he  had  slain 
 ■^Asahel  at  Gibeon  in  the  battle. 
 
 31  H  And  David  said  to  Joab,  and  to  all  the 
 people  that  were  with  him,  ■'  Rend  your  clothes, 
 and  "  gird  you  with  sackcloth,  and  mourn  be- 
 fore Abner.  And  king  David  Atnise//' followed 
 the  t  bier. 
 
 3-2  And  they  buried  Abner  in  Hebron  :  and 
 the  king  lifted  up  his  voice,  and  wept  at  the 
 grave  of  Abner  ;  and  all  the  people  wept. 
 
 33  And  the  king  lamented  over  Abner,  and 
 said.  Died  Abner  as  a  'fool  dieth? 
 
 34  Thy  hands  ivere  not  bound,  nor  thy  feet 
 
 brother   slew 
 their   brother 
 
 lu. 
 
 II  Or,  fieiice- 
 
 tf  cli.  4.  6. 
 J  cU.  2.  23. 
 
 a  1  KiQ.  S. 
 3S,  33. 
 t  Hcb.be  c 
 
 >C  Josfli.  7.  C. 
 .1..  l.'J,  II. 
 .■  Geu  y7.M 
 
 t  Hull,  c/i.7- 
 
 ■r'iis. 
 i:  ch.  I-.'.  17, 
 
 Jev,  IG.  7. 
 /.  Kutli  I  17 
 .  cli.  I.  12. 
 
 I  Hi.l., 
 
 I  Heb,  tetidur. 
 
 li  ch.  19.  7. 
 
 t  See  cli.  Ui, 
 IJ.  I  Kill. 2 
 5,  0,  :i3,  3i. 
 
 I's.  -ja.  4.  & 
 
 2  Til 
 
 1.14. 
 
 It  Ezra  4.  4. 
 
 iB.  1.1.  7. 
 i  Mat.  2.  3. 
 
 f  Heb.fccofid 
 c  Josh. 18.2a, 
 rfNeh. 11,33. 
 e  ch.  9.  3. 
 
 /  I  Sam.  29. 
 I,  II. 
 
 put  into  fetters  :  as  a  man  falleth  befnrc 
 t  wicked  men,  so  fellest  thou.  And  all  the 
 people  wept  again  over  him. 
 
 35  And  when  all  the  people  came  ^  to  cause 
 David  to  eat  meat  while  it  was  yet  day,  David 
 sware,  saying,  ''  So  do  God  to  me,  and  more 
 also,  if  I  taste  bread,  or  ought  else,  '  till  the 
 sun  be  down. 
 
 3G  And  all  tlie  people  took  notice  of  it,  and 
 it  t  pleased  them  :  as  whatsoever  the  king  did 
 pleased  all  the  people. 
 
 37  For  all  the  people  and  all  Israel  under- 
 stood that  day  that  it  was  not  of  the  king  to 
 slay  Abner  the  son  of  Ner. 
 
 38  And  the  king  .said  unto  his  servants, 
 Know  ye  not  that  there  is  a  prince  and  a  great 
 man  fallen  this  day  in  Israel  ? 
 
 39  And  I  am  this  day  f  weak,  though  anointed 
 king  ;  and  these  men  the  sons  of  Zeruiah  ^  be 
 too  hard  for  me  :  '  the  Loud  shall  reward  the 
 doer  of  evil  according  to  his  wickedness. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  The  hmeliles  being  trotill  d  at  the  death  of  Aimer, 
 2  Baanah  and  liechab  slai/  Isli-hosheth ,  and  brimj 
 his  head  to  Hebron.  9  David  canavtlt  them  to  be 
 slain,  and  hh-busfiet/i'&  Itead  to  Itc  buried. 
 
 A  ND  when  Saul's  son  heard  that  Abner  was 
 -'^  dead  in  Hebron,  °  his  bands  were  feeble, 
 and  all  the  Israelites  were  ''  troubled. 
 
 2  And  Saul's  son  had  two  men  t/iat  were 
 captains  of  bands  :  the  name  of  the  one  teas 
 Baanah,  and  the  name  of  the  f  other  Recliab, 
 the  sons  of  Rimmoii  a  Beerotliite,  of  tlie  chil- 
 dren of  Benjamin  :  (for  "  Beeroth  also  was 
 reckoned  to  Benjamin  : 
 
 3  And  the  Beerothites  fled  to  •'  Gitfaim,  and 
 were  sojourners  there  until  this  day.) 
 
 4  And  "  Jonathan,  Saul's  son,  had  a  son  t/tut 
 M'«s  lame  of  his  feet.  He  was  five  years  old 
 when  the  tidings  came  of  Saul  and  Jonathan 
 '  out  of  Jezreel,  and  his  nurse  took  him  up,  and 
 fled  :  and  it  came  to  pass,  as  she  made  haste 
 
 otliers,  who  tnoV  advantage  of  the  discnrrt  between  the  houses  of  Saul 
 and  David. — Poote.  27.  Aside  in  the  fcote,  this  being:  a  public  place, 
 where  iimch  business  was  transacted,  and  people  passed  and  repas.sed, 
 Abncr  probably  had  no  suspicion. — Gi/t.  Fur  the  bltiod  of  Anaftrl — 
 herein  he  pretended  to  be  an  avenger  of  blood  ;  but  Asahel  was  killed 
 in  open  war,  and  Abner  acted  in  self-defence  ;  it  is  most  probable  that 
 Joab  feared  the  promotion  of  a  rival  over  him,  Abner  bciiif^  a  senior 
 ofhcer,  and  mure  experienced  in  the  art  of  war;  and  it  aggravated  the 
 transaction  that  Hebron  was  a  city  of  refuge. — Hen.  29.  .ind  on  ittl 
 hisfather^s  lioitse — this  was  against  the  law  of  God,  (Deut.  xxiv.  l6,) 
 children  were  not  to  suffer  for  their  fatlier's  sin.  It  was,  therefore,  a 
 l)rophcticai  prediction  rather  than  aprivate  imprecation.  Leaneth,  ^-c, 
 *  weak'  or  '  lame.'  FuUeth,  Sfc,  '  suicide.' — Pat.  30.  Joutt  and  .it/i- 
 shrii— the  latter  was  an  accessary. — Gitl.  Stew  Abner — God  permitted 
 this  for  his  unrighteous  conduct,  and  was  righteous  in  his  punishment, 
 thiiugh  Joab  was  criminal.  Abner  had  maliciously  opposed  David,  and 
 was  ready  to  betray  Ish  bosheth, — Hen.  In  t/ie  battle — the  law  of  the 
 avenger  of  blood  did  not  apply  to  persons  so  slain,  ( 1  Kings,  ii.  ;>,  6  ) — 
 Mirh.  31.  T/ie '<icr,  or 'bed,' rViCon.  Tns  K^■l'>l5,  Sfi/j*.  On  this  the 
 l)ijdy  was  carried  to  the  grave.  So  the  rich  and  noble  of  the  Greeks 
 and  Romans  were  carried,  and  the  meaner  sort  on  biers  ;  and  so  with 
 the  Jews.    These  were  often  splendid  with  ivory  and  gold.    Among 
 
 the  Romans  six  or  eight  persons  carried  the  body. — GUI.  33.  The 
 tiing  lamented — this  is  a  short  lamentation  in  a  high  strain  of  poetry. 
 —  A.  Clarke.  A.'i  afoot,  ^23,  '  criminal.'— 2?oo«i-.  •  He  died  the  death 
 of  a  culprit  by  the  hands  of  a  villain.'— So  Clarke.  Atrocious  cha- 
 racters are  commonly  in  Scripture  called  fools. — Hew.  35.  Came  to 
 eause  David  to  eat — the  custom  was  to  bury  in  the  day  time,  and  after 
 the  funeral  to  send  in  food  to  comfort  those  who  had  buried  the  dead, 
 and  come  and  cat  with  them.— Gitl,  Pat.  3y.  Weak—hi?,  kingdom 
 and  tlirone  being  in  an  infant  state,  so  that  he  could  not  punish  Juab  as 
 he  wished.     Too  liitrd — having  much  inliuence  in  the  court  and  camp. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  His  hands  were  feeble,  'he  was  discouraged.'  — 
 Boothr.  2.  Bands,  'banditti.' — Wit.,  Si/r.  'Hordes,'  mercenaries 
 who  had  been  engaged,  and  were  ready  to  take  the  strongest  side. — 
 Boothr.  Beeroth,  under  the  hill  whereon  stood  Gibeon,  seven  miles 
 from  Jerusalem. —  Wells.  Beckoned  to  Benjamin,  {Josh,  xviii.  25,) 
 though  it  was  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Philistines.  3.  .iytd  tlie 
 
 Beerothites  fled  to  Giltaim — when  Saul  was  slain,  several  Israelites  left 
 their  cities  and  fled,  and  the  Philistines  took  possession  of  them, 
 among  which  this  city,  it  seems,  was  one  forsaken,  [1  Sam.  xxxi.  7.) — 
 Pat.  Gittaim,  a  city  in  the  same  tribe,  a  little  further  off,  (see  Neh. 
 xi.  23.) — Gitl.  Not  that  in  the  same  tribe,  but  most  likely  one  further 
 utt.—Pat.,  Poole.        4.  Out  of  Jezreel,  the  place  of  the  last  and  fatal 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  — We  may  here  reflect  for  a 
 moment  on— I.  Tlie  conduct  of  .Ibner.  This  man,  knowing  tliat 
 God  had  appointed  David  to  the  kingdom,  had  nevorlheless 
 set  up  Ish  bosheth,  biit  obviously  fVom  ambitious  motives, 
 that  lie  might  retain  his  great  power,  and  perhaps  become  at 
 last  the  sole  sovereign.  Being  delected  and  reproved  in  an 
 act  which  manifested  his  treasonable  puriioses,  he  made  uo 
 scruple  to  betray  his  master,  and  went  and  offered  his  services 
 to  David.  In  eff'ecting  this  negotiation  he  was  murdered  by 
 Joab.  '  The  wicked,'  says  Sutclift'e,  ■  very  often  do  the  Lord's 
 people  a  great  service  ;  but  aiming  solely  to  gratify  their  own 
 liassioos,  thev  have  no  reward.' 
 333 
 
 II.  The  conduct  of  Joab.  Jealous  of  Abner,  be  threw  out 
 reflections  on  liis  intentions,  which,  though  not  well  grounded, 
 he  richly  merited,  for  he  wiio  is  insincere  to  one  will  be  insin- 
 cere to  another  ;  and  to  end  tlie  transaction  he  assassinated 
 Abner.  Thus  the  wicked  are  made  the  e.\ecutioners  of  each 
 other,  and  from  the  spirit  they  display  towards  each  otiier  in 
 tills  world  we  may  reckon  on  their  awful  malignity  wlien 
 mingled  with  devils  in  the  next,  where,  in  addition  to  tlu- 
 tornieuts  of  their  own  consciences,  they  will  fan  with  infernal 
 pleasure  the  tire  that  is  kindled  in  each  other's  bosom.  '  Galiier 
 not  my  soul  with  sinners,  nor  my  life  with  bloody  men,' 
 
David avengeth  Ish-bosheth's  death. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  V. 
 
 He  is  anointed  king. 
 
 to  flee,  that  he  fell,  and  became  lame.     And 
 his  name  was  ||  Mephibosheth. 
 
 5  And  the  sons  of  Rimmon  the  Beerothite, 
 Rechab  and  Baanah,  went,  and  came  about 
 the  heat  of  the  day  to  the  house  of  Ish-bo- 
 sheth,  who  lay  on  a  bed  at  noon. 
 
 6  And  they  came  thither  into  the  midst  of 
 the  house,  as  thomjh  they  would  have  fetched 
 wheat ;  and  they  smote  him  ^  under  the  fifth 
 rib :  and  Rechab  and  Baanah  his  brother  es- 
 caped. 
 
 7  For  when  they  came  into  the  house,  he  lay 
 on  his  bed  in  his  bedchamber,  and  they  smote 
 him,  and  slew  him,  and  beheaded  him,  and 
 took  his  head,  and  gat  them  away  through  the 
 plain  all  night. 
 
 8  And  they  brought  the  head  of  Ish-bosheth 
 unto  David  to  Hebron,  and  said  to  the  king. 
 Behold  the  head  of  Ish-bosheth  the  son  of 
 Saul  thine  enemy,  ''  which  sought  thy  life  ; 
 and  the  Lord  hath  avenged  my  lord  the  king 
 this  day  of  Saul,  and  of  his  seed. 
 
 9  U  And  David  answered  Rechab  and  Baanah 
 his  brother,  the  sons  of  Rimmon  the  Beerotli- 
 ite,  and  said  unto  tliem.  As  the  Lord  liveth, 
 '  who  hath  redeemed  my  soul  out  of  all  adver- 
 sity, 
 
 10  When  'one  told  me,  saying.  Behold,  Saul 
 is  dead,  f  thinking  to  have  l)rought  good  tidings, 
 
 I  took  hold  of  liim,  and  slew  him   in  Ziklag, 
 
 II  who  thdiiiiht  that  I  would  have  given  him  a 
 reward  for  his  tidings  : 
 
 U  How  much  more,  when  wicked  men  have 
 slain  a  righteous  person  in  his  own  house  upon 
 his  bed?  shall  I  not  therefore  now  '  recjuire 
 his  blood  of  your  hand,  and  take  you  away 
 from  the  earth  'i 
 
 1-2  And  David  ""  connnanded  his  young  men, 
 and  they  slew  them,  and  cut  off  their  hands 
 and  their  feet,  and  hangi'd  them  up  over  tlie 
 pool  in  Hebron.     But  tbey  took  the  head  of 
 
 II  Or,  liln.b- 
 bivd,  1  Clir. 
 ».  34.  &  y. 
 
 /■  I  S.iin.  19. 
 i,  10.  n.  & 
 *JS.  16.  «  L'5, 
 
 1  Gcn.l.s.10 
 I  Kiu  l,-i9 
 P»,  31.  7. 
 
 Hell.  1.8,1. 
 
 briiig'r,  ^r 
 II  Or,  left.r/i 
 w.ia  tr,e  If 
 
 "»'/.rV. 
 tCdiiig*. 
 
 K.C. 
 cir.  low. 
 
 n  I  Chr.n.l. 
 &  12.  23. 
 
 d  1  Sam.  16. 
 
 I,  i;?. 
 
 i'9,  78   71. 
 
 Seofh  7.7 
 e  1  Chr.ll  .S. 
 /2Kin.  II. 
 
 17. 
 ;'  Judg.  M. 
 
 I I.  I  i^nit). 
 23.  IS. 
 
 /  jnsii.i.';,6;i. 
 
 Jllllg.l.H   ?c 
 
 lU.  11,  \-i. 
 
 jl  Or,  tayi'io. 
 
 Ti  ver.  9. 
 i  Kill. 2. 10. 
 &  8.  1. 
 
 .  I  Chr.ll. 
 
 6-9. 
 
 Itsh-bcslietli,  and  buried  ii  in  the  "sepulchre 
 of  Abiier  in  Hebron. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  The  tribes  come  to  IhOron  to  anoint  David  over  Is- 
 rad.  4  David's  age,  6  Hv  taking  Zion  from  the 
 Jthiisites  dwelltth  in  it.  ]]  Hinun  sendeth  to  David. 
 13  Eleven  sons  are  born  to  him  in  Jerusalem.  17 
 David,  directed  by  Gud,  smilrth  the  Philistines  at 
 Baul-pcrazim,  22  and  again  at  the  mtdberry  trees. 
 
 'pHEN  "  came  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  to  Da- 
 -*-  vid  unto  Hebron,  and  spake,  saying,  Be- 
 hold, ''  we  are  thy  bone  and  thy  flesh. 
 
 2  Also  in  time  past,  when  Saul  was  king  over 
 us,  '^  thou  wast  lie  tliat  leddest  out  and  brought- 
 est  in  Israel  :  and  the  Lord  said  to  thee, 
 ^  Thou  shalt  feed  my  people  Israel,  and  thou 
 shalt  be  a  captain  over  Israel. 
 
 3  "^  So  all  the  elders  of  Israel  came  to  the 
 king  to  Hebron;  ""and  king  David  made  a 
 league  with  them  in  Hebron  ^  before  the 
 Lord  :  and  they  anointed  David  king  over 
 Israel. 
 
 4  *l  David  7vas  thirty  years  old  when  he  be- 
 gan to  reign,  ^  and  he  reigned  forty  years. 
 
 5  In  Hebron  he  reigned  over  Judah  'seven 
 years  and  six  months  :  and  in  Jerusalem  he 
 reigned  thirty  and  three  years  over  all  Israel 
 and  Judah. 
 
 6  11  And  the  king  and  his  men  went  ''  to  Jeru- 
 salem unto  '  the  Jebusites,  the  inhabitants  of 
 the  land  :  which  spake  unto  David,  saying. 
 Except  thou  take  away  tlie  blind  and  tlie  laine, 
 thou  shalt  not  come  in  hither:  ||  thinking, 
 David  cannot  come  in  hither. 
 
 7  Nevertheless  David  took  the  strong  hold  of 
 Zion  :  "*  the  same  /n  the  city  of  David. 
 
 8  And  David  said  on  tliat  day.  Whosoever 
 getteth  up  to  the  gutter,  and  smiteth  the  Je- 
 busites, and  the  lame  and  the  blind,  that  are 
 hated  of  David's  soul,  ^  he  ahall  be  chief  and 
 
 fight,  C*  Sam.  xxix.  11.)  Mephibosheth,  called  also  Mcrib-baal, 
 (I  Chron.  viii.  34.} — Poole.  5.  On  a  bed  at  noon,  as   Usual  in  hot 
 
 countries. — Gill.  6.  Fetched  wheat,  which  was  then  laid  up  in  public 
 granaries  in  the  king's  house,  and  was  fetched  thence  by  the  chief 
 officers  of  the  army  to  pay  the  soldiers  in  lieu  of  money.  Under  this 
 jiretence,  they  searched  out  the  king. — So  Pvole.  The  Sept.  render 
 this  verse,  '  Now,  behold,  the  door  keeper  of  his  house  had  been  clear- 
 ing wheat,  and  being  htavy  had  fallen  a.sleep  :  so  Rechab  and  Baanah, 
 ttve  brothers,  escaped  notice,  and  went  into  the  house,'  &c. — So  also  Jo.?. 
 12.  Cut  off' their  htinds  itnd  their  feet— so  the  ministers  of  state  arc  stilt 
 treated  in  Turkey,  when  they  displease  the  people,  and  Uieir  bodies 
 thrown  before  the  palace  gate. — Lndt/  Wortley  Montague. 
 
 Chap.  V.— 1.  AH  the  tribes,  that  is,  by  ambassadors.— GiV/.  2.  Thou 
 shalt  feed  m>/  pei'pte— this  is  the  first  time  we  find  a  governor  described 
 as  a  pastor  of  the  people,  thnutrh  much  used  afterwards;  whence  our 
 Lord  is  called  the  good  Shepherd  and  the  great  Shepherd— that  is,  the 
 Ruler  of  his  people.  The  (heeUs  an*!  Romans  borrowed  this  name  for 
 a  supreme  governor. — Put  3.  Anointed  David — he  had  three  anoint- 
 ings, by  Samuel,  (1  Sum.  xvi.  13,}  when  Judah  owned  him.  (2  Sam.  ii. 
 i,)  and  nciw  when  all  Israel  did  the  same.— -Pa^  Might  he  nut  in  this 
 tjpify  him  who  was  anointed  above  his  fellows?  (Hcb.  i.  9.} — Ed. 
 G.  Unto  the  .1ebusites~\h^se  hitherto  possessed  a  noble  part  of  Jeru- 
 salem, the  turt  of  Zion,  though  the  Israellies  dwelt  in  the  other  part  of 
 the  (zxty.—P'it.  K.reept  thou  take  away  the  blind,  i^-c— there  are  two 
 common  interpretations  of  this  :— (i.)  It  was  customary  in  almost  every 
 nation,  at  the  foundatiim  of  a  city,  to  lay  up  an  image  magically  con- 
 secrated (nr  talisman)  in  some  retired  part  of  it,  on  which  the  security 
 of  the  place  was  supposed  to  depend  :   to  this  the  allusion  is  made.^ 
 
 Gregory,  Seiden.  The  Jewish  writers  say  these  were  of  bras'!,  and  had 
 inscriptions  on  them,  and  the  keeping  of  the  place  was  confidently  en- 
 trusted to  them.  In  this  sense  the  passage  means,  'unless  you  can 
 remove  these  gods  which  you  scornfully  call  the  blind  and  lame,  you 
 will  never  be  able  to  tnkc  the  place.' — Gill,  (ii.)  They  imagined  their 
 fortress  to  be  so  impregnable,  that  they  told  him  in  scorn  the  blind  and 
 lame  could  defend  it. — Boch.,  Poole,  Gill,  A.  Clarke;  same  purport 
 Jos.,  Abrn  Ezra,  Abarb  ,  Ken.  Invalid  troupers  cuuld  defend  \t.—  Wil. 
 The  objection  to  this  interpretation  is,  that  the  blind  and  the  lame  are 
 said  (vcr.  8;  to  be  '  hated  of  David's  soul.'  'Surely,'  says  Hewlett, 
 'the  distressing  circumstances  of  blindness  and  lameness,  which  ren- 
 dered these  men  helpless  and  impotent,  would  not  of  themselves  have 
 afforded  any  foundation  for  such  enmity,'  Geddes,  followed  by  liooth- 
 roi/d.  renders  the  words  'blind  and  lame,'  'sentinels  and  jsatrols,' 
 DTTDDm  □'■"nS'n— and  as  Ii;?  signifies  *  to  awake,'  'excite,'  or  'arouse,' 
 and  nCD.  '  to  pass  on,"  &c,,  this  interpretation  is  not  unworthy  of  re- 
 gard, and  the  words  fully  designate  the  persons  here  conjectured. 
 8.  n  hosoerer  getteth  up  to  the  gutter, '  ati  aqueduct,'  or '  subterraneous 
 passage  for  water.' — S.  Burder.  •  The  secret  passage.' — Boothr.  Shall 
 be  chief,  fyc. — these  words  are  supplied  from  i  Chron  xi.  6.  Hated  of 
 David\^  soh/— this  expression  is  thus  explained  : — if  the  idols  be  meant, 
 the  cause  is  obvious;  and  if  the  blind  and  lame  men,  David  hated  them 
 as  Canaanites. — Henri/,  Gill,  Srotc,  A.  Clarke.  This  passage  has  been 
 variously  rendered.  '  He  that  smiteth  the  Jebusites,  let  him  throw 
 down  into  the  ditch  both  the  blind  and  the  lame,  which  David  ex- 
 tremely hates.* — Bock.  'Whosoever  first  smiteth  the  Jebusites,  and 
 through  Uie  subterraneous  passage,  or  gutter,  reacheth  the  blind  and 
 the  lame,  which  are  hated  by  David's  soul,  because  the  blind  and  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  This  chapter  records,  T.  The 
 murdiT  of  hh-hoshtth.  Whatever  Isli-bosbelhs  character  was 
 before  God,  he  was  righteous  as  to  these  men.  Tbey  shed  in- 
 nocent blood  from  the  basest  motives,  and  with  circumstances 
 of  great  aggravation. 
 
 II.  The  execution  of  the  murderers.  David,  as  God's  vice- 
 gerent, justly  executed  vengeance  upon  tiiem.  It  had  been 
 well  if  he  bad  been  as  decisive  in  the  case  of  Joub.  And  it 
 lias  been  well  remarked,  that  the  yame  shame  and  confusion 
 shall  ullimatply  overwhelm  those  who  think  of  promoting  the 
 
 interests  of  the  great  Son  of  David  by  killiug  their  fellow 
 creatures.  The  inquisition  in  Spain  only,  lias  sacrificed  three 
 millions  of  victims,  and,  oh  !  how  many  souls  of  genuine  saints 
 cry  for  vengeance  against  the  sanguinary  monsters  of  the 
 church.  'However,'  says  Jlenry,  'men  may  canonize  such 
 methods  of  serving  the  church  and  the  catholic  cause,  Christ 
 will  let  them  know,  another  day,  that  Christianity  was  not  in- 
 tended to  destroy  humanity,  and  they  wlio  thus  think  to  merit 
 heaven  shall  not  escape  the  damnation  of  hell.' 
 
Uc  smiteth  the  Philistines  nl  Baal-pcrazim.    II.  SAMUEL,  VI. 
 
 The  arh  fetched  from  Kirjath-jearim. 
 
 captain.      \\  Wherefore  they  saitl.  The  blind 
 and  the  lame  shall  not  come  into  the  house. 
 
 9  So  David  dwelt  in  the  fort,  and  called  it 
 °  the  city  of  David.  And  David  built  round 
 about  from  Millo  and  inward. 
 
 10  And  David  fwent  on,  and  grew  great, 
 and  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  ti-ns  with  him. 
 
 1 1  f  And  ''  Hiram  king  of  Tyre  sent  messen- 
 gers to  David,  and  cedar  trees,  and  carpenters, 
 and  f  masons  :  and  they  bnilt  David  an  house. 
 
 1-2  And  David  perceived  that  the  Lord  had 
 established  him  king  over  Israel,  and  that  he 
 had  exalted  his  kingdom  for  his  people  Israel's 
 sake. 
 
 13  H  And  ''  David  took  him  more  concubines 
 and  wives  out  of  Jerusalem,  after  he  was  come 
 from  Hebron  :  and  there  were  yet  sons  and 
 daughters  born  to  David. 
 
 14  And  ■'these  be  the  names  of  those  that 
 were  born  unto  him  in  Jerusalem  ;  ||  Sham- 
 nuiah,  and  Shobab,  and  Nathan,  and  Solomon, 
 
 13  Ibhar  also,  and  ||  Elishua,  and  Nepheg, 
 and  Japhia, 
 
 16  And  Elisbama,  and  ||  Eliada,  and  Elipha- 
 let. 
 
 17  H'But  when  the  Philistines  heard  that 
 they  had  anointed  David  king  over  Israel,  all 
 the  Philistines  came  up  to  seek  David  ;  and 
 David  heard  of  it,  '  and  went  down  to  the  hold. 
 
 18  The  Philistines  also  came  and  spread 
 themselves  in  "  the  valley  of  Rephaim. 
 
 19  And  David  "enquired  of  the  Lord,  say- 
 ing. Shall  I  go  up  to  the  Philistines?  wilt  thou 
 deliver  tliem  into  mine  hand?  And  the  Lord 
 said  unto  David,  Go  up  :  for  I  will  doubtless 
 deliver  the  Philistines  into  tliine  hand. 
 
 20  And  David  came  to  '  Baal-perazim,  and 
 David  smote  them  there,  and  said.  The  Lord 
 hath  broken  forth  upon  mine  enemies  before 
 me,  as  the  breach  of  waters.      Therefore  he 
 
 Or,  liecaut 
 thfti  had 
 
 («».»,  He 
 
 t  Heb    mul 
 ,„i,„j,m,l 
 growing. 
 cir.  \M^. 
 
 j>  I  Kill. 5  -2. 
 I  Chr.  U  I. 
 
 JHeb.  kewrr, 
 n/Ihe  lt"tf 
 Hf  the  Wnll, 
 
 7  Pen  17.r7. 
 I  Chr.  .S.  9. 
 &  14.  3. 
 
 r  I  Chr.3.5. 
 
 &  1-1.  4. 
 |inr,S/.tmM. 
 
 1  Chr.  3.  5. 
 
 llOr,  B/;./,a- 
 
 ,m,  1  Chr.3. 
 
 6. 
 It  Or,  Br^li- 
 
 nda.  1  Chr. 
 
 H.  7. 
 
 ,(  .Toslt.l5.  8 
 Is.  17.  5. 
 
 J  Is.  83.21. 
 
 B.C.  ltH7. 
 
 [)  That  is, 
 Thn>l-«  ■'/ 
 brrnrhri. 
 
 I  Pent    7.  5, 
 2&,  1  Chr. 
 11,  la. 
 
 II  Or,  /,.,.* 
 «,,•■»  .,»«.,. 
 
 a  1   Chr.   l-t 
 
 :  Rn  5  Kii: 
 7.  6. 
 
 li  JudS-4.U. 
 
 t  1  Chr.  14. 
 tC.  Oihron. 
 /■JoBh.Ki.lO. 
 
 Itvi?. 
 n  1  Chr.  13, 
 
 .1,  r>. 
 
 II  Or.  Bin/'./., 
 that  is,/i'<r- 
 
 ;■""->"'■"■• 
 
 Josh.  1,').  <l, 
 fiO. 
 
 ||Or,iif  vhicli 
 the  nnmr, 
 
 'Zm\  If  the 
 LOUD  uf 
 
 C'ltted  .,;.,»;, 
 
 /.  1  Siim.ht. 
 Ps.  Sll.  1. 
 t  Hfh.  «inr}e 
 
 cSeeNum,? 
 !l.  1  Sit.  6  7. 
 II  OvJltehill. 
 
 called  the  name  of  that  place  ||  Baal-perazim. 
 
 21  And  there  they  left  their  images,  and  Da- 
 vid and  his  men  ''  ||  burned  them. 
 
 22  f  "  And  the  Philistines  came  up  yet  again, 
 and  spread  themselves  in  the  valley  of  Re- 
 phaim. 
 
 23  And  when  ''  David  enquired  of  the  Lord, 
 he  said.  Thou  shalt  not  go  up  ;  but  fetch  a 
 compass  behind  them,  and  come  upon  them 
 over  against  the  mulberry  trees. 
 
 24  And  let  it  be,  when  thou  '  hearest  the 
 sound  of  a  going  in  the  tops  of  the  mulberry 
 trees,  that  tlien  thou  shalt  bestir  thyself:  for 
 then  ''  shall  the  Lord  go  out  before  thee,  to 
 smite  the  host  of  the  Philistines. 
 
 25  And  David  did  so,  as  the  Lord  had  com- 
 manded him  ;  and  smote  the  Philistines  from 
 "  Geba  until  thou  come  to  ''  Gazer. 
 
 CHAP.  VL 
 
 1  David  fetch  cth  the  ark  from  Kirjnth-jcarhn  on  a  new 
 cart.  6  Uzzah  is  smitten  at  Pcrez-nzzah,  9  God 
 blesst'th  Obed-edoin  for  the  arh,  12  David  hringinrj 
 the  arh  into  Zion  with  sncrifias,  danceth  before  it,  for 
 ivhich  Michal  despiseth  him.  17  He  placet h  it  in  a 
 tabernacle  ivith  yreat  joy  and  feasting^  20  Michal 
 reproving  David  for  his  religious  joj/ is  childkss  to 
 her  death. 
 
 A  GAIN 
 
 David   gathered   together  all   the 
 chosen  men  of  Israel,  thirty  thousand. 
 
 2  And  '^  David  arose,  and  went  with  all  the 
 people  that  ivere  with  him  from  ||  Baale  of  Ju- 
 dah,  to  bring  up  from  thence  the  ark  of  God, 
 |]  whose  name  is  called  by  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  of  hosts  ^  that  dweiletli  between  the 
 cheruhims. 
 
 3  And  they  fset  the  ark  of  God  '^  upon  a 
 new  cart,  and  brought  it  out  of  the  house  of 
 Abinadab  that  icas  in  ||  Gibcah  :  and  Uzzah 
 and  Ahio,  the  sons  of  Abinadab,  drave  the  new 
 cart. 
 
 lame  continued  to  say,  He  sliall  not  come  into  this  bouse,  shall  be  lienti 
 and  captain  ;  so  Joab,  the  son  of  Zcruiab,  went  np  first,  and  wa';  chief 
 captain.* — Ken.  'Whosoever  first  smiteth  the  Jcbusitcs.  and  throug:h 
 the  secret  passages  reacbcth  the  sentinels  and  patrols,  who  detest  tlie 
 person  of  David  (because  the  sentinels  and  i>atrnls  bad  said,  *'  into 
 this  house  he  shall  not  cnme,'*)  ho  shall  be  chief  captain.'  9-  Built 
 
 round  abotil,  the  fort  notbcinp  large  cnoup:h  to  contain  the  court,  the 
 guards,  8ic. — Pat.  Fmm  MiUo,  the  place  afterwards  so  called  by  So- 
 lomon, (I  Kings,  ix.  15.)  This  was  probably  a  sort  of  senate  house, 
 (see  Jiidg.  ix.  6;  2  Kings,  xii.  20  ;)  and  an  armoury,  (2  Chron.  xxxii.  5.) 
 —  Wells.  It  seems  to  be  a  general  name  for  any  strong- fort  or  bul- 
 wark.—BooMr.  II.  Hirmn,  the  father  of  the  Hiram  in  Solomon's 
 days  ;  this  was  a  common  name  of  the  kings  of  Tyre. — Oitl.  Cednr — 
 Lebanon,  famous  for  cedars,  was  mostly  in  his;  dominions.  Cnrpetitfrs 
 and  masons — the  Tyrians  arc  renowned  among  ancient  writers  as  skil- 
 ful workmen. — So  Poole.  13.  Tank  fiivi  more  cnnculmtes—ihi?,  was 
 among  David's  miscarriages,  the  multiplication  of  wives  being  ex- 
 pressly forbidden  to  the  king,  {Dent.  xvii.  17.)  This  seems  to  have 
 been  policy,  that  he  might  enlarge  his  family,  and  strengthen  his  in- 
 terest with  powerful  families.  The  number  of  wives  not  being  limited, 
 (Dent,  xvii.,)  he  might  conceive  he  did  not  here  transgress. — Poole. 
 17.  The  hold,  some  other  strong  place  below  the  fort  of  Zion,  to  rendez- 
 
 vous his  men  and  prepare  for  battle.— So  Gill.  18.  Rephaim,  trans- 
 
 lated Josh.  xr.  8,  '  the  valley  of  giants.'  lying  westward  of  Jernsalem. 
 —Pat.  20.  Baal-perazim,  seems  the  same  called  Mount  Perazim, 
 (Isa.  xxviii.  21.)— TIW/s.  21.  Their  images— X\\q  bcatben  carried  these 
 with  them  into  battle  as  tokens  of  the  presence  of  their  gods,  (see  also 
 2  t'hron    XXV.  14.)— So  Pnt,  24.  The  sound  of  a  f^oins:,   'of  a  mo- 
 
 tion.'—i?oo^//r.  '  Of  footsteps.*  Jn  the  fop!;.  '  in  the  beginnings,'  the 
 entrance  of  the  place  where  the  trees  were  planted.— Pn/.  '  A  going,* 
 or  '  rustling  of  wiud,'  indicating  a  tempest. — Gi/l,  Geddes,  so  Clarke. 
 Chap.  VI.  —  2.  Baale,  the  same  with  Kirjath-jearim,  (1  Chron.  xiii. 
 fi.)  called  Baalah,  (Josh.  xv.  9,)  and  Kirjath-Baal.  fJosh.  xv.  60  ;  xviii. 
 14,)  and  here  Baale  of  Judah,  it  belonging  to  tliat  tribe.  From  Baale, 
 —in  1  Chron.  xiii.  fi,  it  is  said,  '  to  Baale,'  but  the  one  speaks  of  the 
 going,  and  the  other  the  returning.  TlV/ose  naine  is  called,  fyc,  or 
 '  because  of  which  the  name  is  proclaimed,  the  name  of  the  Lord  of 
 Hoj^ts,  f(ir  by  reason  of  the  miracles  done  before  the  Lord,  his  name 
 was  magnified  both  among  the  Israelites  and  Philistines.— TuY.  'At 
 which  i.s  invoked  the  name  of  Jehovah,"  &c. — Bnnthr.  'There  the 
 name,  ^c.,  was  invnked.'— v4.  Clarke.  3.  A  new  cart,  more  probably 
 'a  magnificent  carriage.' — Dr.  Chandler.  They  seem  to  have  imitated 
 the  custom  of  other  nations  on  this  occasion,  who  carried  their  myste- 
 ries in  a  clicst  upon  a  cart,  and  to  have  copied  the  Philistines,  which 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  We  shall  here  adopt  some  of 
 Henry's  suitable  reflections  : — I.  Here  is  David  anointed  king 
 by  all  the  tribes.  *  We  are  thy  bone  and  flesh,*  said  they,  '  and 
 we  know  thou  bast  a  tender  concern  for  us,  as  a  man  has  for 
 his  own  body,'  Tliose  who  lake  Christ  for  their  king  may  thus 
 plead  with  him,  '  We  are  thy  bone  and  thy  flesh  ;  thou  hast 
 made  thyself  in  all  things  like  unto  thy  brethren,  (Heb,  ii.l7;) 
 therefore  be  thou  our  ruler,  and  let  this  ruin  be  under  thy 
 band,'  (Isa.  iii.  6.) 
 
 II.  Here  is  David  making  himself  master  of  the  stronghold  Oj 
 Zion.  The  church  is  called  Sion  and  the  city  of  the  living 
 God.  The  Jebusites,  Christ's  enemies,  must  first  be  con- 
 quered and  dispossessed,  the  blind  and  the  lame  taken  away, 
 and  then  Christ  divides  the  spoil,  sets  up  his  throne  there,  and 
 makes  it  his  residence  by  the  Spirit. 
 
 III,  Here  is  David  building  himself  a  hov^e  and  strengthening 
 
 335 
 
 himsilfinhis  kingdom.  His  kingdom  was  established;  there 
 was  nothing  to  "shake  it.  none  to  disturb  his  possession  or 
 question  his  title.  He  that  made  him  king  established  him, 
 hecause  he  was  to  be  a  type  of  Christ,  with  whom  God's  hand 
 should  be  estabUshed,  and  his  covenant  stand  fast,  (Ps. 
 Ixxxix.  21-^8.) 
 
 1 V.  Here  are  David's  victories  oi^er  the  Philistmes.  xhe  Phi- 
 listines were  the  aggressors.  The  kingdom  of  the  Messiah, 
 as  soon  as  ever  it  was  set  up  in  the  world,  was  thus  vigorously 
 attacked  by  the  powers  of  darkness,  who,  with  the.  combined 
 force  both  of  Jews  and  Gentiles,  made  head  against  it ;  '  the 
 heathen  raged,'  and  *  the  kings  of  the  earth  set  themselves  to 
 oppose  i',' but  all  in  vain;  the  destruction  will  turn,  as  this 
 did,  upon  Satan's  own  kingdom.  *They  took  counsel  together, 
 but  were  broken  in  pieces.* 
 
God  hlesselh  Ohed-cdom. 
 
 11.  SAMUEL,  VII. 
 
 The  arh  is  placed  in  a  tabernacle. 
 
 4  And  they  brought  it  out  of  "■  the  house  of 
 Abiiiadab  which  u-asai  Gibeah.t  accompanying 
 the  ark  of  Goil :  and  Ahio  went  before  the  arli. 
 
 5  And  David  and  all  the  house  of  Israel 
 played  before  the  Loud  on  all  manner  of  in- 
 xti  lanents  mndc  uf  fir  wood,  even  on  harps, 
 and  on  psalteries,  and  on  timbrels,  and  on  cor- 
 nets, and  on  cymbals. 
 
 6  IT  And  when  they  came  to  *■  Nachon's 
 thresliingfloor,  Uzzah  '  put  forth  his  hand  to 
 the  ark  of  God,  and  took  hold  of  it  ;  for  the 
 oxen  II  shook  it. 
 
 7  And  tlie  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled 
 against  Uzzah  ;  and  ^  God  smote  him  tliere  for 
 his  II  error ;  and  there  he  died  by  the  ark  of 
 God. 
 
 8  And  David  was  displeased,  because  the 
 Loud  liad  fmade  a  breach  upon  Uzzah  :  and 
 he  called  the  name  of  the  nlace  ||  I'erez-uzzah 
 to  this  day. 
 
 9  And  ''  David  was  afraid  of  the  Lord  that 
 day,  and  said.  How  shall  the  ark  of  the  Loud 
 come  to  me? 
 
 10  So  David  would  not  remove  the  ark  of  the 
 Lord  unto  him  into  the  city  of  David  :  but 
 David  carried  it  aside  into  the  house  of  Obed' 
 cdoni  '  the  Gittite. 
 
 1 1  '  And  the  ark  of  the  Lord  continued  in 
 the  house  of  Obed-edom  the  Giltite  three 
 months  :  and  the  Lord  '  blessed  Obed-edom, 
 and  all  his  houshold. 
 
 1-2  IT  And  it  was  told  king  David,  .saying.  The 
 Lord  hath  blessed  the  house  of  Obed-edom 
 and  all  that  pertainelh  unto  him,  because  of 
 the  ark  of  God.  "'  So  David  went  and  brought 
 up  the  ark  of  God  from  the  house  of  Obed- 
 edom  into  the  city  of  David  with  gladness. 
 
 13  And  it  was  so,  that  when  "  tliey  that  bare 
 the  ark  of  the  Lord  had  gone  six  paces,  he 
 sacrificed  °  oxen  and  fatling.s. 
 
 U  And  David  ''  danced  before  the  Lord  with 
 all  his  might ;  and  David  was  girded  ■>  with  a 
 linen  ephod. 
 
 d  I  Sani.7-1 
 t  Heb.  Wirt. 
 
 f  IChr.l.rS, 
 IieiBcallo.1. 
 
 /  See  Xu 
 
 a  I  Sam. 
 
 I  Heb. 
 
 II  Thiit  is, 
 Tlir  hrtach 
 «/  UzMh. 
 
 h  Ps.  119 
 !■:«  Src 
 Luke  &.  8,9. 
 
 i  1  Chr.  13. 
 
 1.1. 
 k  I  Chr.  13. 
 
 I  Gen.  90.S7. 
 &  30,  5. 
 
 ■.  Num.1. 15. 
 
 Josh.  3.  3. 
 
 1  Clir.  15.2, 
 
 15. 
 o  See  1  Kin. 
 
 8.  !,.  1  Clir. 
 
 ip  See  Kxnd, 
 IS.  20.  Pfl. 
 30.  11. 
 
 Ij  'So   David  and   all   the  house  of  Israel  v  [^ *"";• -• 
 brought  up  the  ark  of  the  Lord  with  shouting, 
 and  with  the  sound  of  tlie  trumpet. 
 
 IG  And  'as  the  ark  of  the  Lord  came  into 
 the  city  of  David,  Michal  Saul'.s  daughter 
 looked  through  a  window,  and  saw  king  David 
 leaping  and  dancing  before  the  Lord  ;  and  she 
 despised  him  in  her  heart. 
 
 "  1  Cl.r.IJ. 
 
 rs.  13>.  8 
 f  Heb. 
 
 itTflched. 
 x  I  Iviti.  8 
 
 5,  til',  03. 
 
 ill  Kit 
 
 ■  1  flir.  15. 
 'l  "Obr.  15. 
 
 cir.  lrM2. 
 Pb  au.title. 
 
 .  H.lfi. 
 
 ii.iy^i. 
 
 e  Jiitlg  9  1. 
 II  Or,  opp.nl^. 
 
 'I  I  Sam.  13. 
 14.  &  iS.rt. 
 
 TmiU. 
 
 e  See  I  Sain. 
 IS  S5. 
 rs.  22.  M. 
 Mat.  1.  25. 
 
 b  ch.  5.  II. 
 
 SeeAcis? 
 
 >t  Ex.  2H.  1. 
 &  4(1.  21. 
 
 ■  1  Kin. 
 17,  IH. 
 
 17  H  And  '  they  brought  in  the  ark  of  the 
 Lord,  and  .set  it  in  "  bis  place,  in  the  midst  of 
 the  tabernacle  that  David  had  f  pitched  for  it : 
 and  David  ^  offered  burnt  offerings  and  peace 
 offerings  before  the  Lord. 
 
 18  And  as  soon  as  David  had  made  an  end 
 of  offering  burnt  offerings  and  peace  ofl[erings, 
 'be  blessed  the  people  in  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 1!)  'And  he  dealt  among  all  the  people, 
 ei'cn  among  the  whole  multitude  of  Israel,  as 
 well  to  the  women  as  men,  to  every  one  a  cake 
 of  bread,  and  a  good  piece  of  Jlesh,  and  a 
 flagon  of  wine.  So  all  the  people  departed 
 every  one  to  his  bouse. 
 
 '20  1  °  Then  David  returned  to  bless  his  hons- 
 hold.  And  Michal  the  daughter  of  Saul  came 
 out  to  meet  Daviil,  and  said,  How  glorious  was 
 the  king  of  Israel  to  day,  who  ••  uncovered  him- 
 .self  to  day  in  the  eyes  "of  the  handmaids  of  his 
 servants,  as  one  of  the  "  vain  fellows  ||  shame- 
 lessly uncoveretli  himself! 
 
 21  And  David  said  unto  Michal,  It  ?vas  be- 
 fore the  Lord,  ■■  which  chose  me  before  thy 
 father,  and  before  all  his  house,  to  appoint  me 
 ruler  over  the  people  of  the  Lord,  over  Israel  : 
 therefore  will  I  play  before  the  Lord. 
 
 22  And  I  will  yet  be  more  vile  than  thus, 
 and  will  be  base  in  mine  own  sight :  and  ||  of 
 the  maidservants  which  tliou  hast  spoken  of, 
 of  them  shall  I  ho  had  in  honour. 
 
 '2;f  Therefore  Miclial  the  daughter  of  Saul 
 had  no  child  °  unto  the  day  of  her  death. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  Xadian^fint  aitjiroriiitj  the  purpnse  of  David  to  hiMl 
 Cod  an  house,  4  ujhr  by  tlie  ivord  uf  God  furlmlilclh 
 him.  12  //'■  promUcth  lorn  hcmjits  and  blessintjs  in 
 his  sei-d,      iy  David's  prayer  and  thajiksyiviitff. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  °  when  the  king  sat  in 
 -^^  his  house,  and  the  Lord  had  given  him 
 rest  round  about  from  all  his  enemies  ; 
 
 2  Tliat  the  king  said  unto  Nathan  the  pro- 
 phet. See  now,  I  dwell  in  "^  an  house  of  cedar, 
 "  but  the  ark  of  God  dwelleth  within  •'  cur- 
 tains. 
 
 3  And  Natlian  said  to  the  king.  Go,  do  all 
 that  is  '  in  thine  heart ;  for  the  Lord  is  with 
 thee. 
 
 4  1[  And  it  came  to  pass  that  night,  that  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  Nathan,  saying, 
 
 occasionert  the  death  of  Uzzali,  for  they  onght  to  have  carried  the  ark 
 upon  the  shoulders  of  the  Kohathites,  tNum.  vii.  9.)  —  Pat.,  I'oo/e, 
 Clarke.  S.  On  alt  manner  uf— .fir  wood — tliis  is  a  corruption  of  tiie  te.\t ; 
 the  reading  is  right  1  Chron.  xiii.  8.  '  with  all  their  might.'— So  Buuthr. 
 7.  His  error,  •  his  rashness.'— /»«(.  Even  the  Kohathites  who  were 
 to  carry  the  ark  were  forbidden  to  touch  it,  on  pain  of  death  ;  it  was 
 to  be  covered  by  tlie  priests  and  carried  by  staves.  8.  Was  diajileiiserl, 
 '  was  angry,'  that  there  was  any  cau>e  for  such  a  breach.— i*«;.  •  Was 
 afflicted,* 'dismayed,'  'terrified.* — Wai-d.  '  Ciuild  not  subntit  to  the 
 providence.'        14.  Danced,  not  a  set  dance,  but  leaped  and  skipped 
 
 for  joy. — Oill.  .A  linen  ephod — the  Levites  wore  such  upper  shawls. 
 (1  Chron.  XV.  27,)  but  ditrercnt,  it  would  seem,  from  the  ephod  of  the 
 priests,  (Exod.  xxviii.) — Snt.  David,  on  this  occasion,  laid  aside  his 
 royalty,  but  does  not  appear  to  have  assumed  the  priestly  office.—  Seait. 
 16.  Despised  him,  as  a  mean. spirited  man,  tliat  knew  not  how  to  carry 
 himself  with  majesty. — Poole.  20.  (//icout^rerf /n'jHse//— stripped  him- 
 self of  his  royal  robes  and  put  on  a  linen  ephod. — Pat.  This  was  ex- 
 aggerating language. — Gill.  He  might,  in  dancing,  have  exposed  his 
 flesh,  where  it  should  have  been  covered. — So  A.  Ctar/te. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  Tlie  death  of  Uzzah  leaches 
 us  with  what  reverence  we  should  approach  sacred  thinys.  Alas  ! 
 we  are  all  guilty  here.  Where  sljould  we  have  been  if  God 
 had  punished  our  frequent  uiiliallowed  approaches  into  liis 
 presence?  May  the  Lord,  for  Christ's  sake,  pardon  the  ini- 
 quity even  of  our  holy  things  ! 
 
 II.  David's  joy  on  the  return  of  the  ark  may  remind  us  that 
 the  enjoyment  of  God's  presence  and  ordinances  ought  to  be 
 the  hrst  t  esire  of  the  good  man.  The  return  of  these  should 
 never  tail  to  give  him  delight.  The  heart  is  in  a  wrong  state 
 It  we  cannot  say,  ■  One  thing  have  I  desired  of  the  Lord,  that 
 vviU  1  seek  after,  that  I  may  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  all 
 the  days  of  my  life,  to  behold  the  beauty  of  the  Lord,  and  lo 
 inquire  in  his  temple.' 
 33G 
 
 111.  Ohed-edom's  reception  ofthearh,  andliis  consequent  bhssed- 
 ncss,  may  shew  us  that  there  is  nothing  like  true  godliness 
 and  the  enjoyment  of  God's  presence  and  ordinances  to  ensure 
 true  happiness  and  prosperity  in  our  houses.  Let  us  'only 
 fear  the  Lord,  and  serve  him,  with  all  our  house,  and  it  shall 
 be  well  with  us.' 
 
 I  v.  Miehal's  contempt  of  David's  conduct  reminds  us  of  those 
 unhappy  divisions  which  sometimes  exist  in  families  where, 
 while  some  fear  God,  others  fear  him  not,  and  ridicule  and 
 despise  the  piety  of  those  who  do.  If  our  religion  makes  ua 
 vile  in  their  sight,  let  us,  however,  imitate  David,  and  resolve 
 in  the  strength  of  God's  grace  to  be  yet  more  vile  ;  and  let  all 
 de.spisers  be  assured  that,  sooner  or  later,  they  shall  be  made 
 ashamed. 
 
God's  promises  to  David. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  VII. 
 
 //(',';  pini/cr  iiml  thanhsrjiving . 
 
 5  Go  and  tell  fmy  servant  David,  Tluis  saitli 
 the  Lord,  ''Shalt  thou  build  me  an  house  for 
 me  to  dwell  in  ? 
 
 6  Whereas  I  have  not  dwelt  in  any  house 
 ^  since  the  time  that  I  brought  up  the  children 
 of  Israel  out  of  Egypt,  even  to  this  day,  but 
 have  walked  in  "a  tent  and  in  a  tabernacle. 
 
 7  In  all  the  places  wherein  I  have  '  walked 
 with  all  the  children  of  Israel  spake  I  a  word 
 with  II  any  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  whom  I  com- 
 manded '  to  feed  my  people  Israel,  saying. 
 Why  bnild  ye  not  me  an  house  of  cedar? 
 
 8  Now  therefore  so  shalt  thou  say  unto  my 
 servant  David,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 '  I  took  thee  from  the  shecpcote,  f  from  fol- 
 lowing the  sheep,  to  be  ruler  over  my  people, 
 over  Israel  : 
 
 9  And  "  I  was  with  thee  whithersoever  thou 
 vventest,  "and  have  cut  oti'  all  thine  enemies 
 t  out  of  thy  sight,  and  have  made  thee  °  a  great 
 name,  like  unto  the  name  of  the  great  men  that 
 are  in  the  earth. 
 
 10  Moreover  I  will  appoint  a  place  for  my 
 people  Israel,  and  will  ''  plant  them,  that  tliey 
 may  dwell  in  a  place  of  their  own,  and  move 
 no  more  ;  ''  neither  shall  the  children  of  wick- 
 edness afflict  them  any  more,  as  beforetime, 
 
 11  And  as  'since  the  time  that  I  commanded 
 Judges  to  he  over  my  people  Israel,  and  have 
 "  caused  thee  to  rest  from  all  thine  enemies. 
 Also  the  Lord  telleth  thee  '  that  he  will  make 
 thee  an  house. 
 
 1"2  If  And  "when  thy  days  be  fulfilled,  and 
 thou  '^  shalt  sleep  with  thy  fathers, '  I  will  set 
 up  thy  seed  after  thee,  which  shall  proceed 
 out  of  thy  bowels,  and  I  will  establish  his 
 kingdom. 
 
 13  '  He  shall  build  an  house  for  my  name, 
 and  I  will  "  stablish  the  throne  of  his  kingdom 
 for  ever. 
 
 14  ''  I  will  be  his  father,  and  he  shall  be  my 
 son.  '  If  he  commit  iniquity,  I  will  chasten 
 him  with  the  rod  of  men,  and  with  the  stripes 
 of  the  children  of  men  : 
 
 1.3  l!ut  my  mercy  shall  not  depart  away  from 
 him,  ''  as  I  took  it  from  Saul,  whom  I  put  away 
 before  thee. 
 
 IG  And  "thine  house  and  thy  kingdom  shall 
 be  established  for  ever  before  thee  :  thy  throne 
 shall  be  established  for  ever. 
 
 17  According  to  all  these  words,  and  accord- 
 
 }  Hub.  Ii'  mtf 
 
 tcTvniit,  /» 
 
 D,wid. 
 fScn  1  Kin. 
 
 5.  3.  8.8  10. 
 
 I  Cluv  22  8. 
 
 &  23   S. 
 J  1  Kin  8.16. 
 /*  Kx  Al).  18, 
 
 li).  31. 
 ii.ev.  ao.n, 
 
 12.  l>eu.  23. 
 
 11. 
 II  I  Chi.  17.6, 
 
 an,i  ../  Ilin 
 
 h  cli.  .'».  2. 
 l's.;8.71,72. 
 jVL-it.  2.  IJ. 
 Acts  2U,  28. 
 
 /  1  S3. 16  11, 
 
 12   Pa.  73. 
 
 70. 
 t  Heti../Vom 
 
 nfter. 
 m  1  SAin.  IS. 
 
 U  cli-  5  11). 
 
 8i  8.  6,  14 
 'I  1  Sam.  81. 
 
 6   Pse9  23. 
 t  Heb    from 
 
 tliij  fuix. 
 t  Gen.  IS.  S. 
 
 ;i  Pa  4-1.  2. 
 
 &  80.8. 
 
 Jer.  24.  G. 
 
 Amos  9.  \i 
 1  Pb.  89.  2i 
 
 '  .Iu.li  2  U, 
 
 IS.  lei. 
 
 It  1  Kin.  2.  1 . 
 
 X  Deii.;11.10. 
 1   Kin     1  21. 
 
 Arts  i:i.:lti 
 
 y  IKni  H  JO 
 
 Ps.  l;J2.  II. 
 
 =  1  Kin.  5.5. 
 &  6.12  &S. 
 10.  1  Cbr. 
 
 2-2.11).  X;  28. 
 
 vef 
 
 If,. 
 
 Ps.  80.  4,29, 
 
 86.  87. 
 /.  I's.  SO  2C, 
 
 27,  llcb  1,5. 
 c  Ps.  K9,  .^0, 
 
 31,  32,  33. 
 
 rl  1  Pain.  1.5. 
 
 23,28.  i*  16. 
 
 11.  I  Kin. 
 
 11.  13,  34. 
 ^  vcr.  13. 
 
 Pb.S!I.36.37. 
 
 J,.hn  12. J4. 
 
 /Gen. 32.10. 
 
 i  Gen.  18.19. 
 P».  139.  1. 
 
 h  I  Chr.  16. 
 25.  2CIU-.2 
 5.  Pa  48.  1 
 &  a.J.  10  & 
 96-1.  &  lai 
 5.  &  1 15.  3. 
 Jcr.  10.6. 
 
 I  D,.n.  3.  24. 
 8c  4.  .35.  & 
 32.  .80. 
 I  S.iin.  2.  2. 
 Ps.  86  8.  & 
 89.  6,  9.  Is. 
 ■10.  5,  18, 2-! 
 
 m  Deu.  4.7, 
 32,31  &  .33 
 29.  Ps.  147. 
 20. 
 
 n  Den  9.26. 
 ^'el1.  1.  10 
 
 o  Don  26.18, 
 
 p  Ps.  43.  14. 
 
 f  Heb.  npni- 
 ed  Ihr  e<,r, 
 Kntb  4.  4, 
 I  Sam.9.15. 
 
 t  Hob.  br 
 thill  jitfaipd 
 and  blMt, 
 
 ing  to  all  this  vision,  so  did  Nathan  speak  unto 
 David. 
 
 18  f  Then  went  king  David  in,  and  sat  before 
 the  Lord,  and  he  said,  '  Who  am  I,  O  Lord 
 God?  and  what  is  my  house,  that  thou  hast 
 brought  me  hitherto? 
 
 19  And  this  was  yet  a  small  thing  in  thy 
 sight,  O  Lord  God  ;  ^  but  thou  hast  spoken 
 also  of  thy  servant's  house  for  a  great  while  to 
 come.  "  And  is  this  the  f  manner  of  man,  O 
 Lord  God? 
 
 20  And  what  can  David  say  more  unto  thee  ? 
 for  thou.  Lord  God,  '  knowest  thy  servant. 
 
 21  For  thy  word's  sake,  and  according  to 
 thine  own  heart,  hast  thou  done  all  these  great 
 things,  to  make  thy  servant  know  them. 
 
 22  Wherefore  ''  thou  art  great,  O  Lord  God  : 
 for  '  there  is  none  like  thee,  neither  is  there 
 any  God  beside  thee,  according  to  all  that  we 
 have  heard  with  our  ears. 
 
 23  And  "'  wliat  one  nation  in  the  earth  is  like 
 thy  people,  even  like  Israel,  whom  God  went 
 to  redeem  for  a  people  to  himself,  and  to  make 
 him  a  name,  and  to  do  for  you  great  things 
 and  terrible,  for  thy  land,  before  "  thy  people, 
 which  thou  redeemedst  to  thee  from  Egypt, 
 from  the  nations  and  their  gods? 
 
 24  For  "  thou  hast  confirmed  to  thyself  thy 
 people  Israel  to  be  a  people  unto  thee  for 
 ever  :  ''and  thou,  Lord,  art  become  their  God. 
 
 25  And  now,  O  Loud  God,  the  word  that 
 thou  hast  spoken  concerning  thy  servant,  and 
 concerning  his  house,  establish  it  for  ever,  and 
 do  as  thou  hast  said. 
 
 26  And  let  thy  name  be  magnified  for  ever, 
 saying.  The  Lord  of  hosts  is  the  God  over 
 Israel :  and  let  the  hou.se  of  thy  servant  David 
 be  established  before  thee. 
 
 27  For  thou,  O  Loud  of  hosts,  God  of  Israel, 
 liasl  t  revealed  to  thy  servant,  saying,  I  will 
 build  thee  an  house  :  therefore  hath  thy  ser- 
 vant found  in  his  heart  to  pray  this  prayer  unto 
 thee. 
 
 28  And  now,  O  Lord  God,  thou  art  that 
 God,  and  "^  thy  words  be  true,  and  thou  hast 
 promised  this  goodness  unto  thy  servant: 
 
 29  Therefore  now  f  let  it  please  thee  to  bless 
 the  house  of  thy  servant,  that  it  may  continue 
 for  ever  before  thee  :  for  thou,  O  Lord  God, 
 hast  spoken  it :  and  with  thy  blessing  let  the 
 house  of  thy  servant  be  blessed  '  for  ever. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  — 5.  S/m// //jow,  §-r.,  '  there  is  other  work  for  thee  to  do 
 first.' — Henry.  Tile  tuicsiinn  implies  resentment,  David  having  re- 
 solved without  inquiring  God's  mind. — Gill.  II.  .4  htiuse,  'a family' 
 or  '  royal  offspring,'  that  should  reign  for  many  generations. — Pitt. 
 So  we  speak  of  tlie  house  of  Stuart,  the  house  of  Brunswick,  &c. — Eii. 
 13.  Far  ever,  '  for  a  long  time.' — GiU.  19.  Atid  is  litis  tlit;  mttmiey  of 
 matt — the  parallel,  1  Chron.  xvii.  17,  is.  '  and  hast  regarded  me  accord- 
 ing to  the  estate  of  a  man  of  high  degree,  O  Lord  (iod.'  It  is  '  not 
 tlie  manner  of  men  to  hestow  favours  on  their  inferiors.'  —  Gill, 
 '  Such,  O  Lord  God,  is  the  custom  of  mankind.' — Getldes,  Haiilt.    Ex- 
 
 pressive of  astonishment  that  God  should  descend  to  it,  for  it  shewed 
 the  same  concern  for  degraded  man  which  parents  feel  for  the  future 
 interests  of  their  dearest  children.  '  And  this  is  the  law  of  the  Adam, 
 O  Lord  Jehovah!'  that  at  a  distant  period  Messiah  would  descend 
 from  David,  and  sustain  a  relation  to  the  human  race  analogous  to  the 
 lirst  man.— Kr.  Pi/e  fimillt.  The  Hebrew  is,  'this  is  the  direction,  or 
 the  law  of  Adam  ;'  that  is,  by  speaking  thus  to  thy  servant,  thou  art 
 honouring  me  as  thou  didst  honour  Adam,  by  a  covenant  to  him  and 
 his  posterity. — Sut. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII I.  Here  is  David  proposing 
 
 to  builil  a  house,  for  Gorl.  The  Rood  man  delights  to  plan 
 schemes  for  the  promotion  of  the  Divine  glory.  David  knew 
 that  the  heathen  world  spared  no  expense  in  erecting  temples 
 to  their  gods,  and  he  was  desirous  that  the  worshippers  of 
 the  one  living  and  true  (.iotl  should  not  adore  Iiim  under  n  less 
 splendid  roof.  The  desire  was  good,  but  David  had  other 
 work  allotted  to  him  .  he  was  yet  to  subdue  the  remainder  of 
 the  Canaanites,  and  to  obtain  full  and  quiet  possession  of  ihe 
 promised  land.  '  Our  desires  even  of  usefulness,'  says  Mr. 
 Scott,  'must  be  subjected  to  God's  holy  will,  and  regulated 
 by  bis  precept."  Our  own  plans,  though  well  intended,  are 
 337 
 
 often  fit  for  nothing  but  to  be  laid  aside,  to  make  way  for  tho 
 Lord's  purposes  respecting  us,  of  which,  perhaps,  we  had  no 
 conception.  But  in  one  way  or  other  God  will  hle.ss  and 
 make  useful  to  bis  church  those  persons  who  simply  devote 
 themselves  and  all  they  have  to  his  glory.' 
 
 II.  Hire  is  God  promisini;  to  build  up  David^s  Itottse.  God 
 regards  even  good  desires";  how  much  more  may  we  c.ipect 
 his  Iilessing  when  we  earnestly  implore  him  that  our  families 
 may  he  '  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles  and  pro- 
 phets, Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner  stone.'  The 
 prayer  of  every  pious  head  of  a  family  should  ever  be,  '  Let 
 the  bouse  of  thy  servant  be  established  before  thee.' 
 2  X 
 
Varirl  .mhfhtcth  the  Phih'sline.<!,  ^"c. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  VIII.,  IX. 
 
 He  (kilicntctli  the  spoil  to  God. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  David  suhdueth  the  P/iitlstincs  and  the  Muahilcs. 
 3  Hi:  smitct/i  Hadadezrr,  and  the  Syrians.  9  Tui 
 sendcth  Joram  with  presents  to  bltss  him.  1 1  The 
 presents  and  the  spoil  David  dedicateth  to  God.  1-1 
 He  pntteth  (jarrisons  in  Edom.      16    David's  0_lJieers. 
 
 A  ND  ■''  after  this  it  came  to  pass,  that  David 
 -^  *-  smote  tlie  Philistines,  and  subdued  them  : 
 and  David  tooli  Methcg-ammah  out  of  the 
 liand  of  the  Philistines. 
 
 2  And  ^  he  smote  Moab,  and  measured  them 
 with  a  line,  casting;  them  down  to  the  ground  ; 
 even  with  two  lines  measured  he  to  put  to 
 death,  and  with  one  full  line  to  keep  alive. 
 And  so  the  Moahites  '  became  David's  ser- 
 vants, and  ''  brought  gifts. 
 
 3  f  David  smote  also  |{  Hadadezer,  the  son 
 of  Rehob,  king  of "  Zobah,  as  he  went  to  re- 
 cover 'his  border  at  the  river  Euphrates. 
 
 4  Arul   David   took   |{  from  him  a  thousand 
 
 II  chariots,  and  seven  hundred  horsemen,  and 
 twenty  thousand  footmen  :  and  David  ^  hough- 
 ed all  the  chariot  horses,  but  reserved  of  them 
 for  an  hundred  chariots. 
 
 5  '■  And  wlien  the  Syrians  of  Damascus  came 
 to  succour  Hadadezer  king  of  Zobah,  David 
 slew  of  the  Syrians  two  and  twenty  thousand 
 men. 
 
 6  Then  David  put  garrisons  in  Syria  of  Da- 
 mascus :  and  the  Syrians  '  became  servants  to 
 David,  and  brought  gifts.  '■  And  the  Lord 
 preserved  David  whithersoever  he  went. 
 
 7  And  David  took  '  the  shields  of  gold  that 
 were  on  the  servants  of  Hadadezer,  and 
 brought  tliem  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 8  And  from  ||  Bctah,  and  from  ||  Berothai, 
 cities  of  Hadadezer,  king  David  took  exceed- 
 ing much  brass. 
 
 9  t  When  ||  Toi  king  of  Hamath  heard  that 
 David  had  smitten  all  the  host  of  Hadadezer, 
 
 10  Then  Toi  sent  ""Joram  his  sou  unto  king 
 David,  to  f  salute  him,  and  to  bless  him,  be- 
 cause he  had  fought  against  Hadadezer,  and 
 smitten  him :  for  Hadadezer  f  'lad  wars  with 
 Toi.  And  Joram  f  brought  with  him  vessels  of 
 silver,  and  vessels  of  gold,  and  vessels  of  brass  : 
 
 1 1  Which   also   king    David   "  did    dedicate 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  I  MO. 
 
 I  I  Clir.  18. 
 I,  &c. 
 
 ii  N.I.  2i.  17. 
 
 c  ver.  fl.&H 
 
 d  Ph.  -1.  1(1 
 See  1  Siini. 
 10-  27. 
 Or, 
 
 I  Chr.  18.3. 
 -  ch.  10.  6. 
 
 Pb.  CO  title. 
 /  See  C.en. 
 
 15.  Id. 
 II  Or, «/»(.. 
 II  As  I  Clir. 
 
 18.  1. 
 g  Josh.  11. 
 
 6,9. 
 
 h  1  Kin.  II. 
 23,  2-1,  25. 
 
 i  ver.  2. 
 A  ver.  l+. 
 
 t  See  I  Kin 
 10   10. 
 
 |Or,TiMo«.. 
 I  Or.  C/ii'H. 
 1  Chr.  13-6. 
 
 [|  Or,  r»... 
 
 1  Chr,  IflO- 
 >n  1  Cl,r.  IS. 
 10,  Hado- 
 
 t  Heb.  n.S 
 A  im  ofj^atf. 
 
 t  Heb.  ""I.  n 
 ntitiiif  leart 
 pi/A. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 n  i  Kiii.T.r,! 
 I  Chr.lS.ll 
 &  26.  26. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 eir.  IIWO. 
 
 1  2Kiii.l*,7. 
 ,'  See  1  Chr. 
 
 IH.  12. 
 
 Ps.fin,  title. 
 
 Oi-,  ilnifing. 
 1  GPTi.-/7.2y, 
 
 Ch.  19.  13. 
 
 S<  20   2.1. 
 
 1  Chr-  11  0. 
 
 &  18.  15. 
 /  1  Kin.  4.  3. 
 II  Or,  .„„„„- 
 
 \BliltT  of 
 I   I   Chr.24'3. 
 
 |i  Or,  lece- 
 ev. 
 I  Chr.  18. 
 
 n  1  Sain.  IS. 
 
 3.  ft  20-  14, 
 
 1.1, 10,17,42. 
 
 Prov.27.10. 
 A  eh.  IH.  I. 
 
 &  13.  17,29. 
 
 unto  the  Lord,  with  the  silver  and  gold  that 
 he  had  dedicated  of  all  nations  which  he  sutv 
 dued  ; 
 
 1-2  Of  Syria,  and  of  Moab,  and  of  the  children 
 of  Aniniou,  and  of  the  Philistines,  and  of  Aina- 
 lek,  and  of  the  spoil  of  Hadadezer,  son  of 
 Rehob,  king  of  Zobali. 
 
 13  And  David  gat  him  a  name  when  he  re- 
 turned from  t  smiting  of  the  Syrians  in  °  the 
 valley  of  salt, ''  ||  hcinri  eighteen  thou.sand  men. 
 
 14  T  And  he  put  garrisons  in  Edom  ;  through- 
 out all  Edom  put  he  garrisons,  and  ''  all  they 
 of  Edom  became  David's  servants.  '  And  the 
 Lord  preserved  David  whithersoever  he  went. 
 
 15  And  David  reigned  over  all  Israel;  and 
 David  executed  judgment  and  justice  unto  all 
 his  people. 
 
 1  6  '  xVnd  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah  was  over 
 the  host ;  and  '  Jehoshaphat  the  son  of  Ahilud 
 was  II  recorder ; 
 
 17  And  "  Zadok  the  .son  of  Ahitub,  and 
 Ahimelech  the  son  of  Aliiatliar,  were  the 
 priests  ;  and  Seraiah  rras  the  ||  scribe  ; 
 
 18  'And  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  was 
 over  both  the  '  Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites  ; 
 and  David's  sons  were  ||  chief  rulers. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  David  liy  Ziba  sendeth  for  M'pliibosiiefh.  7  For 
 Jonathan's  sake  he  en/ertaineth  him  at  /tis  tahie,  and 
 restoreth  liim  all  that  was  Saul's.  9  He  maheth 
 Ziba  Ids  farmer. 
 
 A  ND  David  said.  Is  there  yet  any  that  is 
 -^*-  left  of  the  house  of  Saul,  that  I  may 
 "  shew  him  kindness  for  Jonathan's  sake  ? 
 
 2  And  there  icas  of  the  house  of  Saul  a  ser- 
 vant whose  name  was  ■'  Ziba.  And  when  they 
 had  called  him  unto  David,  the  king  said  unto 
 him.  Art  thou  Ziba '?  And  he  said,  Thy  ser- 
 vant is  he. 
 
 3  And  the  king  said.  Is  there  not  yet  any  of 
 the  house  of  Saul,  that  I  may  shew  '  the  kind- 
 ness of  God  unto  him?  And  Ziba  said  unto 
 the  king,  Jonathan  hath  yet  a  son,  which  is 
 ''  lame  on  his  feet. 
 
 4  And  the  king  said  unto  him.  Where  is  he  ? 
 and  Ziba  said  unto  the  king.  Behold,  he  is  in 
 
 CnAP.  Vlir. —  1.  iI/e//ip/?--rtmmnA, '  tlie bridle  of  Ammah,*  asin  mrtr;?. 
 Tlie  city  of  Gath,  in  the  mountain  of  Ammah,  and  its  territnrie-, 
 (1  ("hron.  xviii.  I.)  by  which  the  Israelites  were  kept  in  subjection  as 
 with  a  Ijridlc. — Pnt.,  Poole.  2.  Menstired  tlirm  with  a  tine— he  di- 
 vided their  territory  into  three  parts,  and  suftercd  tlie  natives  of  one 
 only  to  .survive,  that  he  might  quietly  rct.iin  the  iRud.—Grotius.  It 
 was  customary  with  eastern  monarchs  to  make  their  prisoners  lie  down 
 on  the  ground,  and  then  to  kill  what  number  tliey  pleased ;  this  cus- 
 tom migilt  h^ve  existed  amonp  the  Moabttes,  and  was  perhaps  now 
 adopted  towards  them. — Le  CUre.  3.  Hadadezer,  called  also  Ha- 
 darezer,  [1  Chron.  xviii.  3.)  'Lobnh,  a  part  of  Syria,  lyintj  north-east 
 from  Canaan,  towards  Hematb,  [1  Chron.  xviii.  3  ;  sec  i  Sam.  xiv.  47.) 
 — Poole.  4.  Seeen  hundred — in  the  parallel  passage,  1  Chron.  xviii.  4, 
 it  is  'seven  thousand;'  thought  more  probable.  —  Hew.  As  after 
 thousand,  'chariots'  is  understood,  so  after  hundred  'captains'  should 
 be  supplied  in  this  place. — Abnrtnnel.  Houghed  all  the  ehariot — here  is 
 another  ellipsis,  '  horses'  being  supplied- — Pat.  A  Itke  ellipsis  is  in 
 1  Sam.  xiii.  5  ;  2  Sam.  x.  18;  Ps.  Ixxvi.  6.  Houirhed—*  cut  the  ham- 
 strings,' to  make  them  useless  for  war. — Pat.,  Gill.  He  '  disjointed 
 ("Ip]?'"!)  all  the  chariots,'  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  retaking  them,  and 
 to  shew  he  did  not  trust  in  chariots.— So  Clarke.  6.  Drousht  gifts, 
 in  token  of  subjection.  7.  Shields,'  ehSL\ns.'—Aq^lila.  '  Bracelets,' .Sf;i^. 
 '  Quivers,'  Sj/r.     Were  on,  '  were  with,'  in  their  custody  in  tlie  king's 
 
 armoury.— Poo/tf,  Put.  8.  Be/o/i— /l^'ro/Arii— Tibbatii,  Chun,  (1  Chron. 
 xviii.  8 ;)  they  might  have  two  names,  or  the  Hebrews  knew  them  by 
 one  and  the  Syrians  by  another.  f|.  Hamath,  an  eminent  city  of 
 Syria. — Poole.  13.  Siirians—\n  1  Ctiron.  xviii.  12,  it  is  'Edomites,' 
 
 near  whom  was  the  valley  of  Salt.  .So  also  the  Sept.,  .Sj/r.,  and  .irob., 
 and  Ps.  Ix.,  composed  tm  account  of  these  victories. — Gill.  Valleij  of 
 salt — it  was  probably  a  large  plain,  affording  great  quantities  of  salt, 
 about  a  league  from  Palmyra,  extending  towards  the  eastern  part  of 
 Edom. — Gill,  so  Cal.  iG.  Reeorder,  y^^r^,  'remembrancer.' — A.  C. 
 The  eastern  princes  kept  a  daily  journal  of  the  records  of  their  reign.— 
 Jioothr.  See  Esth.  vi.  I.  17.  Scribe,  "lEIo.  'secretary  of  state.* — 
 Gill.  'King's  private  secretary.'— --1.  C.  'Prime  counsellor  in  the 
 law,'   as   the    Hebrew  implies   learning.  —  Put.  18.    C/terethites. 
 
 '  archers,'  Tarp.  A  branch  of  the  Philistines,  and  confederate  with 
 them,  (1  Sam.  xxx.  14;  E?,ek.  xxv.  16;  Zeph.  ii.  4.  6.)  Pelethites, 
 '  slingers,'  Targ.  They  might  be  a  branch  of  the  Philistines  also.^ 
 Poole.  It  is  likely  they  were  a  family  in  Israel,  fi)r  we  find  two  of  the 
 name,  (Num.  xvi.  1  ;  1  Chron.  ii.  33.) — Pat.  They  seem  to  have  been 
 the  king's  body  guards,  (eomp.  1  Kings,  i.  33,  38.) — Pat.,  so  Poole. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  3.  Shew  the  kindne.'is  of  God,  'kindness  done  after  a 
 godly  sort,'  with  an  eye  to  God,  and  his  honour,  and  favour. — Henri/. 
 '  Godlike  kindness.' — Geddes.  '  The  kindness  promised  with  an  oath.' 
 — Dathe.    '  Kindness  through  the  help  of  God.* — Houbigant.    '  Peculiar 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  We  have  here,  I.  A  series  David  cause  the  Gentile  kings  to  bring  tlieir  lionoiir  and  glory 
 
 of  Dnrid's  victories.     In  like  manner  doe9  the  Son  of  David  go  into  the  new  Jerusalem  ;  and  us  the  temple  was  built  of  the 
 
 on  subduing  all  his  enemies ;  so  shall  he  go  on  conquering  and  spoils  of  the  nations,  so  sliall  llic  spiritual  temple  be  built, 
 
 to  conquer  till  the  heathen  shall  he  given  to  him  for  an  inhe-  and  every  soul  subdued  by  grace  shall  be  a  consecrated  trophy 
 
 riiance.  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  a  possession,  to  the  Lord. 
 
 II.  77ie  consecration  of  David's  spoils.     So  does  the  Son  of 
 -     338 
 
David  entcrtaincth  Mephibusheth. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  X. 
 
 ?V(e  inijratitude  of  Hanun. 
 
 the  house  of  °  Macliir,  the  son  of  Ammiel,  in 
 Lo-iiebar. 
 
 5  f  Then  king  David  sent,  and  fetclied  liini 
 out  of  the  house  of  Macliir,  the  son  of  Ammiel 
 from  Lo-debar. 
 
 6  Now  when  ||  Mephibosheth,  the  son  of 
 Jonatlian,  the  son  of  Saul,  was  come  unto 
 David,  he  fell  on  his  face,  and  did  reverence. 
 And  David  said,  Mepliibo.slieth.  And  he 
 answered,  Behold  thy  servant ! 
 
 7  U  And  David  said  unto  him.  Fear  not :  ''for 
 1  will  surely  shew  thee  kindness  for  Jonathan 
 thy  father's  sake,  and  will  restore  thee  all  the 
 land  of  Saul  thy  father  ;  and  thou  shalt  eat 
 bread  at  my  table  eoutiimally. 
 
 8  And  he  bowed  himself,  and  said,  Wliat  is 
 thy  servant,  that  thou  shouldest  look  upon 
 such  ^  a  dead  dog  as  I  am  f 
 
 9  If  Then  the  king  called  to  Ziha,  Saul's  ser- 
 vant, and  said  unto  him,  ''  I  have  given  unto 
 thy  master's  son  all  that  pertained  to  Saul  and 
 to  all  his  house. 
 
 10  Thou  therefore,  and  thy  sons,  and  thy 
 servants,  shall  till  the  land  for  him,  and  thou 
 slialt  bring  in  the  fruits,  tliat  thy  master's  son 
 may  have  food  to  eat :  but  Mephibosheth  thy 
 master's  son  '  shall  cat  bread  alway  at  my 
 table.  Now  Ziba  had  ''  fifteen  sous  and  twenty 
 servants. 
 
 11  Then  said  Ziba  unto  the  king.  According 
 to  all  that  my  lord  the  king  hath  commanded 
 his  servant,  so  shall  thy  servant  do.  As  for 
 Mephiboslieth,  said  the  /ling,  he  shall  eat  at 
 my  table,  as  one  of  tlie  king's  sons. 
 
 12  And  Mephibosheth  liad  a  young  sou, 
 '  whose  name  tvas  Micha.  And  all  that  dwelt 
 ill  tlie  house  of  Ziba  were  servants  unto  Me- 
 )iliiboslieth. 
 
 13  So  Mephibosheth  dwelt  in  Jerusalem  : 
 '"  for  he  did  eat  continually  at  the  king's  table  ; 
 and  "  was  lame  on  both  his  feet. 
 
 I  Called 
 t  Clw,  8.M, 
 
 g  1  Sam.  21. 
 "   tb.  10,9. 
 
 11.  C. 
 
 ir.   1037. 
 
 ver.  7,  lu, 
 vet.  3. 
 
 I  1  Chr    I'J. 
 I,  (ic. 
 
 f  Heb.  t„ 
 
 b  l8.  SO  4. 
 
 &  47.  2. 
 
 Gcti.S4.su. 
 Ex.  6.  al. 
 1  Sam.  13  '1. 
 dell.  8.  3,6. 
 
 I  Or,  Iha  mr: 
 •jf  Tab,  eo. 
 Judg.  11.3 
 
 /  vet.  6. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  David's  messengers,  se7tt  to  comfurt  Hanun  the  son  of 
 Kuhasfi,  are  viUatnousl//  cntrtuUd.  6  The  Am- 
 monitcSt  strciigtheJicd  by  the  Syrians,  arc  overcome  by 
 Joab  and  Ahishai.  15  Shohach,  makintj  a  Jiviv  si'jj- 
 ply  of  the  Syrians  at  HtUun,  is  slain  by  David. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  the 
 ■^-^  "liiiig  of  the  children  of  Ammon  died, 
 and  Hanun  liis  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 2  Then  said  David,  1  will  shew  kindness  unto 
 Hanun  the  son  of  Nahash,  as  his  father  sliewed 
 kindness  unto  me.  And  David  sent  to  com- 
 fort him  by  the  hand  of  his  servants  for  his 
 father.  And  David's  servants  came  into  the 
 land  of  tiie  children  of  Ammon. 
 
 3  And  the  princes  of  the  children  of  Ammon 
 said  unto  Hanun  their  lord,  f  Thinkest  thou 
 that  David  doth  honour  thy  father,  that  he 
 liath  sent  comforters  unto  thee?  hatli  not 
 David  rather  sent  his  servants  unto  thee,  to 
 search  the  city,  and  to  spy  it  out,  and  to  over- 
 throw it  ? 
 
 4  Wherefore  Hanun  took  David^s  servants, 
 and  shaved  off  the  one  half  of  their  beards, 
 and  cut  off  their  garments  in  the  middle, 
 ^'evcn  to  their  buttocks,  and  sent  them  away. 
 
 5  When  they  told  it  unto  David,  he  sent  to 
 meet  them,  because  the  men  were  greatly 
 ashamed  :  and  the  king  said,  Tarry  at  Jericho 
 until  your  beards  be  grown,  and  then  return. 
 
 6  H  And  when  the  children  of  Ammon  saw 
 that  they  '^  stank  before  David,  the  children  of 
 Ammon  sent  and  hired  '^  the  Syrians  of  Beth- 
 rehob,  and  the  Syrians  of  Zoba,  twenty  thou- 
 sand footmen,  and  of  king  Maacah  a  thousand 
 men,  and  of  ||  Ish-tob  twelve  thousand  men. 
 
 7  And  when  David  heard  of  if,  he  sent  Joab, 
 and  all  the  host  of "  the  mighty  men. 
 
 8  And  tlie  cliildren  of  Ammon  came  out,  and 
 put  the  battle  in  array  at  the  entering  in  of  the 
 gate  :  and  ^  the  Syrians  of  Zoba,  and  of  Rehob, 
 
 kf  ndncss.* — Boothr.  *  Great  kindness  ;'  the  word  *  God'  added  to  trees, 
 mountains,  &c.,  sets  forth  their  excellency.— Gi//.  7.  Heatort  tluc, 
 ^c. — Saul's  large  paternal  estate  came  into  David's  hands  after  tiie 
 death  of  I>h-boshcth  ;  this  was  now  restored  to  Mephibosheth,  as  the 
 right  \ie\r.— Scott.  10.  Shall  eat  trend  ulwnj  at  mi/  table—it  is  most 
 
 probable  that  this  rather  signifies  giving  a  right  to  a  place  at  public  and 
 solemn  feasts  than  an  ordinary  daily  repast  in  private.  This  notion 
 seems  to  be  confirnied  by  David's  not  being  expected  at  the  table  of 
 Saul  till  the  day  of  the  new  moon,  which  was  always  a  pubUc  festival, 
 (I  Sam.  XX.  25 ;)  besides,  though  Mephibosheth  was  to  eat  at  the 
 king's  table,  the  produce  of  the  land  was  provided  for  his  use,  which 
 shews  this  eating  was  by  no  means  on  all  occasions.  The  orders  to 
 Ziha  to  bring  in  the  food,  doubtless  meant,  on  such  occasions  and  in 
 such  sorts  and  quantities  as  suited  his  dignity.  '  But  Mephibosheth,' 
 Bhould  be  'and  Mephibusheth.'— CA«rrfin,  Har. 
 
 CuAP.  X.  — I.  The  kinff  of  the  children  of  ^/nmon— probably  the 
 same  whose  army  Saul  defeated  and  destroyed,  (I  Sam.  xi.,)  who  out 
 ijf  enmity  to  Saul  shewed  kindness  to  David. — Poole.  4.  And  shaved 
 off,  ^c— great  value  is  set  upon  the  beard  in  the  east,  for  they  never 
 shaved  their  heads  or  their  beards  but  in  case  of  mourning,  which  was 
 forbidden  to  the  Israelites,  (Lev.  xix.  27;  Deut.  xiv.  \.)~Pat.  Two 
 similar  cases  may  illustrate  this  text :— '  Tlie  Sophi  of  Persia  caused  an 
 ambassador  of  Aureng-zeb  to  have  his  beard  shaved  oflF.  telling  him  he 
 was  not  worthy  to  wear  a  beard ;  which  affront  was  most  highly  re- 
 sented by  Aureng-zeb,  as  this  was  by  David.'  — Tanernifr'i-  Indies. 
 
 Even  at  this  time,  the  mutilating  of  the  beard  would  be  deemed,  among 
 the  TurUs,  the  greatest  insult  that  could  be  offered.  '  In  17<J-i»  when 
 Kcrim  Khan  sent  to  demand  tribute  for  Ids  possessions  in  Kcrsemir, 
 Mir  Mahenna  maltreated  theofticcr,  and  caused  his  iicard  to  he  shaved.' 
 — Motrai/e.  It  is  a  greater  mark  of  infamy  among  the  Arabs  to  cut  off 
 any  one's  beard  than  whipping  and  branding  among  the  French. — 
 Har.  The  beard  was  never  cut  off  but  in  mourning,  or  as  a  sign  of 
 slavery. — Grcvnf.  Cut  off  their  i^arments — as  they  wore  long  garments 
 in  tliose  countries,  without  drawers,  the  shortening  them  mu^t  cause 
 shame  and  confusion.  Cutting  off  garments  and  standing  in  them 
 from  morning  to  night  was  a  jmni'-Janent  of  soldiers  with  the  Romans. 
 — Gill.  5.  Tarry  at  Jericho — the  first  place  they  came  to  in  Canaan, 
 and  now  a  private  village,  where  they  might  hide  themselves  till  they 
 were  fit  to  appear  in  public.  6.  Stank,  '  became  very  odious,*  (Gen. 
 xxxiv.  30.)— Pat.  And  of  king  Maacah — of  that  part  of  Syria  which 
 was  under  him,  for  Syria  was  a  large  country,  with  divers  kings. — 
 Pnole.  Maacah  was  a  city  in  Palestine,  beyond  Jordan,  in  the  tribe  of 
 Manasseh,  as  Rehob  (ver.  8)  was  in  the  tribe  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xiii.  11 ; 
 xix.  28;)  but  the  Cauaacites  kept  them  out  of  the  possession  of  both, 
 (Josh.  xiii.  13  J  Judg.  i.  31.)— Boc/i.,  Pat.  7.  He  sent  Joab— he  did 
 
 not  wait  till  they  assaulted  him,  but  went  and  invaded  their  country. 
 — Put.  8.  The  gate,  of  Medeba,  (see  1  Chron.  xix.  7  ;  Nvmi.  xxi. 
 30  ;)  this  was  a  frontier  city. — Poole.  This  city  is  reckoned  to  the  tribe 
 of  Reuben,  (Josh.  xiii.  l6 ;)  it  was  not  far  from  Heshbon,  and  was  alter- 
 nately in  the  hands  of  the  Ammonites  and  Moabitcs,  (Isa.  xvi.  2.) — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX.—  I,  David's  careful  reman- 
 hrance  of  his  oath  to  Jonathan  may  remind  us  that  we  oui;iit  at 
 all  times  to  kei'p  our  word  inviolably.  Let  it  not  be  said  that 
 men  of  the  world  strictly  regard  their  honour,  and  that  Chris- 
 tians have  none.  The  good  faith  of  David  is  worthy  of  our 
 imitation. 
 
 II.  David's  kindness  to  Minhihoshclh  way  also  teach  vs  to  shew 
 li'idness  tu  the  unfortunate.  It  is  beautifully  expressed  in  the 
 Hebrew,  '  the  kindness  of  God.'  It  cannot  be  tlie  same  in 
 degree,  l)ut  it  may  in  kind.  The  sincere  kindness  shewn  by 
 u  500I  man  is  godlike.      Let  us  therefore   do  *  jjood  to  all, 
 
 :t39 
 
 especially  to  those  who  are  of  the  household  of  faith.'  But 
 the  kindness  of  David  to  Mephibosheth  may  well  remind  us, 
 as  Scott  observes,  '  of  the  love  of  Jesus,  who  seeks  out, 
 provides  for,  enriches,  and  entertains  us  poor,  ruined,  worth- 
 less sinners,  and  confers  substantial  and  enduring  felicity. 
 May  we  humbly  acknowledge  our  unworthiness  of  his  mercies, 
 thankfully  accept  them,  and  return  him  our  clieerful  praises 
 and  willini^  services,  and  shew  our  gratitude  to  him,  by  kind- 
 ness to  those  whom  he  owns  as  his  brethren,  sisters,  and 
 mother.' 
 
David  overcomtth  ihc  Syrians. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XI. 
 
 His  sill  uilh  Bathsheba, 
 
 and  Ish-tob,  and  Maacah,  icere  by  themselves 
 in  tlie  field. 
 
 9  When  Joab  saw  that  the  front  of  the  battle 
 was  against  him  before  and  behind,  he  chose 
 of  all  tlie  choice  men  of  Israel,  and  put  them 
 in  array  against  the  Syrians  : 
 
 !0  And  tlie  rest  of  the  people  he  delivered 
 into  the  hand  of  Abishai  his  brother,  that  he 
 might  put  them  in  array  against  the  children  of 
 Amnion. 
 
 1 1  And  he  said,  If  the  Syrians  be  too  strong 
 for  me,  then  thou  slialt  help  me:  but  if  the 
 children  of  Ammon  be  too  strong  for  thee, 
 then  I  will  come  and  help  thee. 
 
 12  ^  Be  of  good  courage,  and  let  us  "play 
 the  men  for  our  people,  and  for  tlie  cities  of 
 oui  God  :  and  '  the  Lohd  do  that  which  seera- 
 eth  him  good. 
 
 13  And  Joab  drew  nigh,  and  the  people  that 
 were  with  him,  unto  the  battle  against  the 
 Syrians  :  and  they  fled  before  liim. 
 
 14  And  wlien  the  cliildren  of  Amnion  saw 
 that  tlie  Syrians  were  fled,  then  fled  they  also 
 before  Abishai,  and  entered  into  tlie  city.  So 
 Joab  returned  from  the  children  of  Ammon, 
 and  came  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 15  IF  And  when  the  Syrians  saw  that  they 
 were  smitten  before  Israel,  they  gathered 
 tliemselves  together. 
 
 16  And  Hadarezer  sent,  and  brought  out  the 
 Syrians  that  trcrc  beyond  ||  tlie  river  :  and  they 
 came  to  Helam  ;  and  ||  Shobach  the  captain 
 of  the  liost  of  Hadarezer  icent  before  them. 
 
 17  And  when  it  was  told  David,  he  gathered 
 all  Israel  together,  and  passed  over  Jordan, 
 and  came  to  Helam.  And  the  Syrians  set 
 themselves  in  array  against  David,  and  fought 
 with  liini. 
 
 18  And  the  Syrians  fled  before  Israel ;  and 
 David  slew  the  men  o/' seven  hundred  chariots 
 of  the  Syrians,  and  forty  thousand  "■  horsemen, 
 and  smote  Shobach  the  captain  of  their  host, 
 wlio  died  there. 
 
 19  And  when  all  the  kings  that  icere  ser- 
 vants to  Hadarezer  saw  tliat  tliey  were  smitten 
 lu-fore  Israel,  they  made  peace  with  Israel, 
 and  '  served  them.  So  the  Syrians  feared  to 
 lielp  the  children  of  Amnion  any  more. 
 
 CHAr.  XI. 
 
 1    While  Jnah  bcsiiyed  Rabbah,  David commUtith  adid- 
 tery  with  Batli-slicba.     6  Uriah,  sc7U  for  htj  David 
 
 e  Peu.  SI  6 
 
 A  1  Siim.  -l -9. 
 1  Cor. 16.13. 
 
 1[  That  IB, 
 
 [I  Or.  SI,,-' 
 pitarh, 
 lCUr.19.16. 
 
 A  1  Chr.  19. 
 
 1 9,  fuoliiiK'^ 
 
 t  Hob.  <i^  Ihf 
 return  of  the 
 year,  1  Kill. 
 HO  22,  '.'G. 
 SChr  36.10. 
 
 a  I  Clir.20.1. 
 
 :  Gen.  3).  2. 
 Job  31.  1. 
 Mat.  5.  29. 
 
 J  Or,  Balli- 
 
 1  Chr.  3.  5. 
 ||Or,.««.mf(l. 
 dch.  23.39. 
 
 Oi-,  fl'id 
 rdifii  tlir  lind 
 jmrijirdhtr- 
 ull,  .S  C.  </... 
 retvriirA. 
 /Lev.  15.19, 
 8S.8t  18.19. 
 
 I  Hob.  -./  «.! 
 
 a  Gen.  18.  4. 
 
 fc  19.  2. 
 \  Heb.  icp/»t 
 
 out  <-fl>r 
 
 him. 
 
 I,  ch.  7   2,  0 
 i  ch.  20.  6. 
 
 to  covfV  the  aduUerfi,  would  nut  go  home  iteither  sober 
 7ior  drunken.  14  He  earrieth  to  Joab  the  I,  tier  of  his 
 death.  18  Joab  sendeth  the  neivs  thereof  to  David. 
 26  Diwid  tahcth  Bath-shrha  to  u-ife. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pas.s,  f  after  the  year  was 
 -'^  expired,  at  tlie  time  when  kings  go  forth 
 to  battle,  that  °  David  sent  Joab,  and  his  ser- 
 vants with  him,  and  all  Israel  ;  and  they  de- 
 stroyed the  children  of  Amnion,  and  besieged 
 Rabbah.     But  David  tarried  still  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  H  And  it  came  to  pass  in  an  cveningtide, 
 that  David  arose  from  off  his  bed,  ''  and  walked 
 upon  the  roof  of  the  king's  house  :  and  from 
 the  roof  he  "saw  a  woman  washing  herself; 
 and  the  woman  was  very  beautiful  to  look 
 upon. 
 
 3  And  David  sent  and  enquired  after  the  wo- 
 man. And  une  said.  Is  not  this  ||  Batli-sheba, 
 the  daughter  of  ||  Eliam,  tlie  wife  •'of  Uriali 
 the  Hittite? 
 
 4  And  David  sent  messengers,  and  took  her; 
 and  she  came  in  unto  him,  and  'he  lay  i\ith 
 her ;  II  for  she  was  'purified  from  her  unclean- 
 ness :  and  she  returned  unto  her  house. 
 
 5  And  the  woman  conceived,  and  sent  and 
 told  David,  and  said,  I  um  with  child. 
 
 6  f  And  David  sent  to  Joab,  sai/ing.  Send 
 me  Uriah  the  Hittite.  And  Joab  sent  Uriah  to 
 David. 
 
 7  And  when  Uriah  was  come  niito  him,  Da- 
 vid demanded  of  him  fhow  Joab  did,  and  how 
 the  people  did,  and  liow  the  war  prospered. 
 
 8  And  David  said  to  Uriah,  Go  down  to  thy 
 house,  and  ^  wasli  thy  feet.  And  Uriah  de- 
 parted out  of  the  king's  house,  and  there  f  fol- 
 lowed him  a  mess  of  meat  IVoni  the  king. 
 
 9  But  Uriah  slept  at  the  door  of  the  king's 
 house  with  all  the  servants  of  his  lord,  and 
 went  not  down  to  his  house. 
 
 10  And  when  they  had  told  David,  saying, 
 Uriah  went  not  down  unto  his  house,  David 
 said  unto  Uriah,  Caniest  thou  not  from  thy 
 journey  ?  why  then  didst  thou  not  go  down 
 unto  thine  house? 
 
 1 1  And  Uriah  said  unto  David,  ''  The  ark, 
 and  Israel,  and  Judah,  abide  in  tents;  and  'my 
 lord  Joab,  and  the  servants  of  my  lord,  are  en- 
 camped in  the  open  fields ;  shall  I  then  go 
 into  mine  house,  to  eat  ami  to  drink,  and  to 
 lie  with  my  wife?  as  thou  livest,  and  us  thy 
 soul  liveth,  I  will  not  do  this  thing. 
 
 Boothr.  g.  Ttte  front,  Hcb.  'the  face.'  Before  and  behind — one 
 army  was  probably  in  the  field  and  the  other  appeared  from  the  city.— 
 SoCiarke.  IS.  Hftdarezer,  called  Hadadezer,  chap.  viii.  3.  The  river, 
 Euphrates,  which  was  tlic  bound  of  his  territories  eastward.  18.  Tlie 
 men  of  seven  hundred  chariots,  that  is,  seven  thousand  men  who  be- 
 longed to  those  seven  hundred  chariots,  (see  1  Chron.  xix.  18.)— Po/. 
 1 9.  And  served  /Aewj— thus  the  promise  of  Canaan  to  the  Euphrates,  made 
 to  Abraham  and  his  seed,  was  accomplished,  (see  Gen.  xv.  IS.)— GiV/. 
 
 Cii.\p.  XI.  —  1.  .ifter  the  year  teas  e.rpired,  'at  the  return  of  the 
 year,'  marf^.,  that  is,  in  the  springr- — ^yn.  Wlien  kings  go  forth  to 
 Iftttle—aiter  the  latter  rain,  early  m  May,  when  tlie  campaign  could 
 open,  and  when  the  main  of  their  harvest  was  saved.— Sut.  There  were 
 two  campaigns,  one  in  autumn  and  one  in  spring,  the  winter  being  in- 
 
 convenient and  the  summer  too  hot. — Cat.  Rnbbah,  the  chief  and 
 royal  city  of  the  Ammonites,  (Ueut.  iii.  II.) — Poole.  2.  In  an  cven- 
 ingtide— arose — the  rich  still  indulge  in  the  custom  of  reposing  at  noon 
 in  all  the  warmer  climates. — Sut.  Walked  upon  the  roof— see  notes  on 
 Deut.  xxii.  8.  Washing  herself,  not  for  pleasure,  but  purification,  ac- 
 cording to  the  law,  (Lev.  xv.  19.)     See  parenthesis  in  ver.  4. — Gilt. 
 
 3.  The  Hittite — probably  a  proselyte   of  that  nation. — So  Wit.,  Sut. 
 
 4.  And  took  her — eastern  princes  form  matrimonial  alliances  with  very 
 great  ease. — Heic.  5.  Told  David,  because,  bylaw,  she  was  liable 
 to  be  stoned  to  death  for  her  crime,  (see  John,  viii.  5.)  9.  Slept — 
 with  alt  the  servants — the  life  guards  placed  to  watch  all  night. 
 11.  The  ark,  §-c.,  abide  in  tents — the  armies  of  Israel  and  Jndah  be- 
 sieging Kabbah,  with  whom  the  ark  was,  which  was  sometimes  carried 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X. — I.  *  .4  hindness  done  to  butt 
 mett,'  says  Sutclitfe,  '  is  soon  forgotten,  but  a  kindness  done 
 to  the  good  is  often  amply  repaid,  and  wben  the  least  ex- 
 pected.' Tills  will,  perhaps,  generally  bold  true  ;  but  there 
 are  many  paintul  e.\ceptions  ;  kindnesses  done  to  bad  men  are 
 sometimes  most  gratefully  remembered  ;  while  kindnesses 
 done  to  those  who,  we  have  reason  to  hope,  are,  with  all  their 
 faults,  good  men,  are  yet  forgotten.  Slay  this  reflection  in- 
 lUice  the  reader  to  inquire  if  be  has  ever,  ia  this  respect, 
 resembled  the  ungrateful  Hanun.  Surely  there  is  sonielhing 
 340 
 
 very  wrong  in  the  state  of  the  heart,  when  it  can,  on  this  point, 
 so  strikingly  resemble  one  of  the  worst  features  of  the  man  of 
 the  world. 
 
 II.  *  Tlie  resentment  of  David  on  account  of  the  insult  offered  to 
 his  ambassadors  may  remind  us,  as  Scott  observes,  that  the 
 Son  of  Davitl  will  assuredli/  resent  the  contempt  put ^  upon  his 
 ambassadors  by  the  impenitent,  unbelieving,  and  disoliedient, 
 and  that  'be  will  consider  the  ill  usage  of  them  as  a  declara- 
 tion of  war  against  himself.' 
 
The  deatli  of  Uriah. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XII. 
 
 Nathan's  parable  of  the  cive  lamb. 
 
 12  And  David  said  to  Uiiali,  Tarry  here  to 
 clay  also,  and  to  morrow  I  will  let  thee  depart. 
 So  Uriah  abode  in  Jerusalem  that  day,  and  the 
 luurrow. 
 
 13  And  when  David  had  called  him,  he  did 
 eat  and  drink  before  him  ;  and  he  made  him 
 *■  drnnk  :  and  at  even  he  went  ont  to  lie  on  his 
 bed  'with  the  servants  of  his  lord,  but  went 
 not  down  to  his  house. 
 
 14  If  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning, 
 that  David  '"  wrote  a  letter  to  Joah,  and  sent 
 it  by  the  hand  of  Uriah. 
 
 15  And  he  wrote  in  the  letter,  sayinfr.  Set  ye 
 Uriah  in  the  forefront  of  the  f  hottest  battle, 
 and  retire  ye  f  from  him,  that  he  may  "  be 
 smitten,  and  die. 
 
 IG  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joab  observed 
 the  city,  that  he  assigned  Uriah  unto  a  place 
 where  he  knew  that  valiant  men  ivcre. 
 
 17  And  the  men  of  the  city  went  out,  and 
 fought  with  Joab  :  and  there  fell  same  of  the 
 people  of  the  servants  of  David  ;  and  Uriah 
 the  Hittite  died  also. 
 
 18  II  Then  Joab  sent  and  told  David  all  the 
 things  concerning  the  war  ; 
 
 1 !)  And  charged  the  tnessenger,  saying.  When 
 thou  hast  made  an  end  of  telling  the  matters 
 of  the  war  unto  the  king, 
 
 ■JO  And  if  so  be  that  the  king's  wrath  arise, 
 and  he  say  unto  thee.  Wherefore  approached 
 ye  so  nigh  unto  the  city  when  ye  did  fight? 
 knew  ye  not  that  they  would  shoot  from  the 
 wall  ? 
 
 •21  Who  smote  °  Abimclech  the  son  of  ^  Je- 
 rnbbesheth  ?  did  not  a  woman  cast  a  piece  of 
 a  millstone  upon  him  from  the  wall,  that  he 
 died  in  Thebez  ?  why  went  ye  nigh  the  wall? 
 then  say  thou,  Thy  servant  Uriah  the  Hittite 
 is  dead  also. 
 
 22  H  So  the  messenger  went,  and  came  and 
 shewed  David  all  that  Joab  had  sent  him  for. 
 
 23  And  the  messenger  said  unto  David, 
 Surely  the  men  prevailed  against  us,  and  came 
 out  unto  us  into  the  field,  and  we  were  upon 
 them  even  unto  the  entering  of  the  gate. 
 
 24  And  the  shooters  shot  from  off  the  wall 
 upon  thy  servants  ;  and  sor)ie  of  the  king's  ser- 
 vants be  dead,  and  thy  servant  Uriah  the  Hit- 
 tite is  dead  also. 
 
 25  Then  David  said  unto  the  messenger. 
 Thus  shalt  thou  say  unto  Joab,  Let  not  this 
 thing  t  displease  thee,  for  the  sword  devouretli 
 tone  as  well  as  anotlier :  make  thy  battle 
 more  strong  against  the  city,  and  overthrow 
 it :  and  encourage  thou  him. 
 
 <•  Gen.  19.S3, 
 35. 
 /  ver.  9. 
 
 n  See  I  Kin, 
 21.8,  9. 
 
 t  Hcb./r.,„, 
 after  him, 
 n  ch.  12.  9. 
 
 Judg.  9  5S. 
 
 tHeb.  ft^ci-i 
 t  Heb.  ...ioj 
 
 t  Heb.  m 
 et;l  i„  II, 
 njet  of. 
 
 cir.  1031. 
 
 aVa  5l,tit1e. 
 b  See  ch.  It. 
 
 5,&c,  n<in. 
 
 21).  35—41. 
 
 Is.  5.  3. 
 
 II  Or,  is  tnor- 
 tfiti  la  ilif^i'T, 
 
 e  See  I  Sam. 
 
 16.  19. 
 /Nu.  15.31. 
 e  ch.  11.  15, 
 
 16,  17,  ?7. 
 
 2(j  t  And  when  the  wife  of  Uriah  heard  that 
 Uriah  her  husband  was  dead,  slie  mourned  for 
 her  husband. 
 
 27  And  when  the  mourning  was  past,  David 
 sent  and  fetched  her  to  his  house,  and  she 
 '  became  his  wife,  and  bare  him  a  son.  But 
 the  thing  that  David  had  done  f  displeased  the 
 Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XIL 
 
 1  NatJtan^s  parahlc  nftlie  (tve  Ivmh  cavsetfi  David  to  be 
 his  numjiidr/e<  7  David,  reproved  In/  Nathan,  confess- 
 etli  Ilia  sin,  and  is  pardoned.  15  David  niourneth  and 
 prai/eth  fur  the  child,  u-hih:  it  livid.  24  Solomon  is 
 bornt  and  named  Jedidiali.  26  David  taketh  Kab- 
 bah, and  tortareth  the  people  thereof. 
 
 A  ND  the  Lord  sent  Nathan  unto  David. 
 ■^-^  And  "he  came  unto  him,  and  ''said  unto 
 him.  There  were  two  men  in  one  city  ;  the  one 
 rich,  and  the  otlier  poor. 
 
 2  The  rich  man  had  exceeding  many  flocks 
 and  herds  : 
 
 3  But  the  poor  man  had  nothing,  save  one 
 little  ewe  lamb,  which  he  had  bought  and 
 nourished  up  :  and  it  grew  up  together  with 
 him,  and  with  his  children  ;  it  did  eat  of  his 
 own  f  meat,  and  drank  of  his  own  cup,  and  lay 
 in  his  bosom,  and  was  unto  him  as  a  dangliter. 
 
 4  And  there  came  a  traveller  unto  the  rich 
 man,  and  he  spared  to  take  of  his  own  flock 
 and  of  his  own  herd,  to  dress  for  the  wayfaring 
 man  that  was  come  unto  him  ;  but  took  the 
 poor  man's  lamb,  and  dressed  it  for  the  man 
 that  was  come  to  him. 
 
 5  And  David's  anger  was  greatly  kindled 
 against  the  man  ;  and  he  said  to  Nathan,  As 
 the  Lord  liveth,  the  man  that  hath  done  this 
 lhi}ici  II  .shall  surely  die  : 
 
 6  And  he  shall  restore  the  lamb  '^fourfold, 
 because  he  did  this  thing,  and  because  he  had 
 no  pity. 
 
 7  f  And  Nathan  said  to  David,  Thou  art  the 
 man.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  I 
 ■'  anointed  thee  king  over  Israel,  and  I  delivered 
 thee  out  of  the  baud  of  Saul ; 
 
 8  And  I  gave  thee  thy  master's  house,  and 
 thy  master's  wives  into  thy  bosom,  and  gave 
 thee  the  house  of  Israel  and  of  Judah  ;  and  if 
 that  had  been  too  little,  I  would  moreover 
 have  given  unto  thee  such  and  such  things. 
 
 9  "Wherefore  hast  thou  'despised  the  com- 
 mandment of  the  Lord,  to  do  evil  in  his  sight? 
 ^  thou  hast  killed  Uriah  the  Hittite  with  the 
 sword,  and  hast  taken  his  wife  to  be  thy  wife, 
 and  hast  slain  him  with  the  sword  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Ammon. 
 
 out  when  the  people  went  to  war,  (1  Sam.  iv.  4,  andxiv.  IS.)  I'i.Miide 
 hint  drttnic,  to  make  him  forget  his  oath  and  vow. — Gitl.  16.  Ott- 
 sei-i'ed,  'reconnoitred.'— W^i7.  21.  The  son  of  Jerubbesheth,  called 
 also  Jerubbaal,  (Jad^.  i.x.  1.) 
 
 Chap.  XII. — 1.  Tttere  were  two  men  —  the  desig^i  of  this  deli- 
 cate, appropriate,  and  forcible  parable  is  obvious,  and  it  is  only 
 fanciful  to  enlarg:e  upon  the  traveller  and  other  parts  ;  as  Boothroyd 
 observes,  '  it  is  not  necessary  that  there  should  be  a  resemblance  in 
 
 every  particular,  and  some  parts  are  only  ornamental.'  8.  Thy  mas. 
 ter^s  wives — the  deceased  king's  wives,  with  all  his  property,  went  to 
 his  successor. — Pat.  This  was  a  proof  that  he  had  obtained  all  legal 
 rights. — A.  Clarke.  This  passage  seems  as  much  as  to  say.  that  God 
 having,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  given  David  the  kingdom,  it  was 
 an  aggravation  of  his  crime  that,  with  such  possessions,  he  should  have 
 coveted  the  wife  of  one  of  his  servants,  and  does  not  intimate  that 
 God  encouraged  a  deviation  from  the  first  law  of  marriage. — Ed.    The 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI 1.  Here  is  sin  in  its  concep- 
 tion. In  this  case  it  arose  from  a  look.  What  need  have  we 
 to  make  a  covenant  with  our  eyes,  for  they  are  the  inlet  to 
 many  a  sin  ! 
 
 11.  Here  is  sin  in  Us  joroijress.  The  look  leads  to  adultery, 
 the  adultery  leads  to  deliberate  murder,  and  that  of  the  most 
 ngRravated  nature — the  murder  of  the  husband  of  the  seduced 
 wile,  and  of  tlie  most  valiant  of  soldiers  and  faithful  of  ser- 
 vants ;  and  these  acta  end  in  a  most  dreadful  stupidity  of 
 341 
 
 conscience,  which  could  lead  the  criminal  to  say,  coolly,  after 
 the  murder  was  transacted,  '  The  sword  devoureth  one  as  well 
 as  another.'  What  is  man  !  Of  what  a  liardeniug  nature  is 
 sin  !  O,  Christians,  see  that  your  armour  is  polished  ! 
 Grasp  firmly  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  that  you  may  fight 
 against  liesli  and  blood  ;  and  never  cease  to  pray,  daily  and 
 hourly,  *  Lord,  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from 
 evil.' 
 
David  moumethfur  the  chiU. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XII. 
 
 The  birth  of  Solomon. 
 
 10  Now  therefore  '■the  sword  shall  never  de- 
 part from  thine  house  ;  because  thou  hast  de- 
 spised nie,  and  hast  taken  the  wife  of  Uriah  the 
 Hittite  to  be  thy  wife. 
 
 11  Thus  saitli  the  Lord,  Behold,  I  will  raise 
 up  evil  against  thee  out  of  thine  own  house, 
 and  I  will  '  take  thy  wives  before  thine  eyes, 
 and  give  tlietn  unto  thy  neighbour,  and  he  shall 
 lie  with  thy  wives  in  the  sight  of  this  sun. 
 
 12  For  thou  didst  it  secretly  :  '  but  I  will  do 
 this  thing  before  all  Israel,  and  before  the 
 Eun. 
 
 13  '  And  David  said  unto  Nathan,  "I  have 
 sinned  against  the  Lord.  And  Nathan  said 
 unto  David,  "  The  Lord  also  hath  "put  away 
 thy  sin  ;  thou  shalt  not  die 
 
 14  Howbeit,  because  by  this  deed  thou  hast 
 given  great  occasion  to  the  enemies  of  the 
 Lord  ''  to  blaspheme,  tlie  child  also  that  is 
 bom  unto  thee  shall  surely  die. 
 
 15  T  And  Nathan  departed  nnto  his  house. 
 And  the  Lord  struck  tlie  cliihl  that  Uriah's 
 wife  bare  nnto  David,  and  it  was  very  sick. 
 
 16  David  therefore  besought  God  for  the 
 child;  and  David  f  fasted,  and  went  in,  and 
 '  lay  all  night  upon  tlie  earth. 
 
 17  And  the  elders  of  bis  house  aro.se,  and 
 U'ent  to  him,  to  raise  him  up  from  the  earth  : 
 but  he  would  not,  ncitlier  did  he  cat  bread  with 
 them. 
 
 18  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  seventh  day. 
 that  the  child  died.  And  the  servants  of  David 
 feared  to  tell  liini  that  the  child  was  dead  :  for 
 they  said.  Behold,  wliile  the  child  was  yet 
 alive,  we  spake  unto  him,  and  be  would  not 
 hearken  unto  our  voice :  how  will  he  then 
 t  vex  himself,  if  we  tell  him  that  the  child  is 
 dead  ? 
 
 19  But  when  David  .saw  that  his  servants 
 whispered,  David  perceived  that  tlie  child  was 
 dead  :  therefore  David  said  unto  his  servants. 
 Is  the  child  dead  'i  And  they  said,  He  is 
 dead. 
 
 20  Then  David  arose  from  the  earth,  and 
 washed,  and  'anointed  himself,  and  changed 
 his  apparel,  and  came  into  tlie  liouse  of  the 
 Lord,  and  '  worshipped  :  then  he  came  to  his 
 
 (  Deu-  2^  SO. 
 ch.  16.  'l-i. 
 
 n  ch.  21.  10 
 Job  7   '.ill. 
 l'«.  X>.  5.  & 
 51,  +,  Prov. 
 2^.  19. 
 1  Kccliis.  47. 
 
 n. 
 
 •  ch.  21.  10 
 P..  S3  1. 
 J..li  7.  21. 
 
 p  la   52,  5. 
 Haek..SG,2ll, 
 2:1-  Koia.2. 
 
 ./ch.  IS,  91- 
 
 I  Job  I.  SO. 
 
 (  Sec  la,  Sa. 
 1,  b.  Joudi, 
 S.  U. 
 
 *  Job  7.  e,  9, 
 10. 
 1033. 
 
 r  M.it.  I.  0 
 1/  1  thr.22.S, 
 
 II  Thai  i., 
 
 H--ll»rd  <,f 
 
 thf  LUHh. 
 3  1  fhrao  I 
 iiDeut.S  II. 
 
 t  Hcb.  ni-V 
 cii  npun  it. 
 
 t  ll.h.  ...rj 
 
 own  house ;  and  when  he  required,  they  set 
 
 bread  before  him,  and  he  did  eat. 
 
 •21  Tlien  said  bis  servants  unto  him.  What 
 thing  w  this  that  thou  bast  done?  thou  didst 
 fast  and  weep  for  the  child,  while  it  was  alive ; 
 but  wliea  tlie  cliild  was  dead,  thou  didst  rise 
 and  eat  bread. 
 
 22  And  he  said,  Wliile  the  child  was  yet 
 alive,  1  fasted  and  wept  :  '  for  1  said.  Who  can 
 tell  whether  God  will  be  gracious  to  me,  that 
 the  child  may  live? 
 
 •23  But  now  he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I 
 fast?  can  I  bring  him  back  again?  1  shall  go 
 to  him,  but  "  lie  sliall  not  return  to  me. 
 
 24  1  And  David  comforted  Bath-sbeba  his 
 wife,  and  went  in  unto  her,  and  lay  with  her : 
 and  '  she  bare  a  son,  and  '  he  called  his  name 
 Solomon  :  and  the  Lord  loved  him. 
 
 25  And  he  sent  by  the  hand  of  Nathan  the 
 prophet ;  and  he  called  his  name  ||  Jedidiah, 
 because  of  the  Lord. 
 
 '2C  II  And  '  Joab  fought  against  "  Kabbah  of 
 the  children  of  Amnion,  and  took  the  royal 
 city. 
 
 27  And  Joab  sent  messengers  to  David,  and 
 said,  I  have  fought  against  Kabbah,  and  have 
 taken  the  city  of  waters. 
 
 '28  Now  therefore  gather  the  rest  of  the 
 people  together,  and  encamp  against  the  city, 
 and  take  it :  lest  I  take  the  city,  and  f  it  be 
 called  after  my  name. 
 
 29  And  David  gathered  all  the  people  to- 
 getlier,  and  went  to  Kabbah,  and  fought  against 
 it,  and  took  it. 
 
 30  ''And  he  took  their  king's  crown  from  off 
 his  head,  the  weight  whereof  was  a  talent  of 
 gold  with  the  precious  stones  .  and  it  was  set 
 on  David's  head.  And  he  brought  forth  the 
 spoil  of  the  city  fin  great  abniidaiice. 
 
 31  And  he  brought  forth  the  peuple  that  irere 
 therein,  and  put  them  under  saws,  and  under 
 arrows  of  iron,  and  under  axes  of  iron,  and 
 made  them  pass  through  the  brickkiln  :  and 
 thus  did  he  unto  all  the  cities  of  the  children 
 of  Ammon.  So  David  and  all  the  people 
 returned  unto  Jerusalem. 
 
 women  of  Saul's  court  and  family  seem  to  be  meant,  of  whom  David 
 had  it  in  his  power  to  make  choice,  which  agjrravated  his  guilt  in  the 
 case  of  Bathshcba.— Sto«.  10.  The  sword  shall  never  drpart,  which 
 
 was  fulfilled  in  the  succession  of  slaughters  of  his  sons  Amnon,  Absa- 
 lom, and  Adonijah. —Pa/.  11./  will  raise  up  evil,  §-c.— not  that  God 
 put  wicliedncss  in  the  hearts  of  his  sons,  but  he  left  them  to  their  vile 
 passions,  for  David's  chastisement.— Sco/i.  13.7  have  sinned,  ^r. — 
 this  is  a  fine  specimen  of  geuuine  repentance,  an  open  confession  of 
 his  sin,  and  a  view  of  its  enormity  as  committed  against  GoD.  He  had 
 sinned  against  Uriah,  and  against  Bathsheba,  but  the  great  aggra- 
 vation of  his  sin  was,  that  it  was  against  Gon.— -Erf.  T/te  Lard  h'lth 
 also  pat  nwtit/ — this  is  a  fine  specimen  of  Divine  forgiveness.  "Well 
 might  David  say.  '  there  is  forgiveness  with  thee.'  How  promptly  was 
 the  remedy  applied  to  the  wounded  spirit.  Scolt  observes,  that  Na- 
 than's a.ssurance  of  pardon  was  probably  not  announced  at  this  veiy 
 moment;  and  this  is  liltcly,  from  the  51st  Psalm,  the  composition  of 
 which  probably  fir^t  took  place  ;  but  the  pardon  was,  nevertheless,  soon 
 l)ronounced,  so  ready  is  God  to  forgive.— .Erf.  Thou  shalt  not  die— he 
 had  incurred  the  penalty  of  death  as  an  adulterer  and  a  murderer,  hut 
 on  repentance  he  was  assured  he  should  not  perish  eternally,  nor  suffer 
 
 deatli  here.— -P«f.  No  Israelite  had  authority  to  execute  the  sentence 
 oil  the  Lord's  anointed,  but  Daviil  had  just  reason  to  fear  that  God 
 would  execute  it  himself.— 5co^f.  16.  Besimgtit  God  for  Uie  cliitd — 
 
 he  might  hope  that  the  threatening  was  only  conditional. — Gill.  23. 1 
 shall  ^o  to  Aim— to  the  state  of  the  dead,  to  licaveu  and  eternal  happi- 
 ness.— Gilt,  so  Biiol/ir.  27.  And  have  token  the  city  of  waters,  '  have 
 intercepted  the  water  fiom  the  city.' — Jan.,  Trem.  '  Have  drawn  oflF 
 the  waters  from  the  city.' — Iloub.  '  He  cut  off  the  water  from  them.' 
 —So  .tos.  This  rendering  is  natural,  for  if  the  city  was  taken,  why 
 send  to  David  to  take  it  ?  unless  he  meant  the  last  stronghold  of  it. — 
 -Erf.  30.  A  talent  of  ffold,  ninety  three  pounds  three  quarters. — Bp. 
 Cainberland.  Not  weight  but  value  is  here  meant.  —  So  Clarke. 
 31.  And  he  put  t/teni  under  saws,  SfC,  'to  the  saw,*  to  cut  stoues  ;  'and 
 to  the  iron  mines,'  to  dig  there  ;  '  and  to  the  a.xes  of  iron,'  to  cut  wood 
 with  ;  after  he  had  made  them  to  pass,  with  their  king,  out  of  the  city. 
 —  Danzius.  The  words  will  bear  this  translation. — Gill.  The  Hebrew 
 3  signifies  'to'  as  well  as  '  under.' — Noldius.  It  would  seem  that  David 
 made  slaves  of  the  Ammonites. — Home  on  Jnfid.,  so  Dr.  Chandler;  so 
 Bootkroyd  reads,  so  Clarke.    See  note  on  1  Chrou.  .\x.  3. 
 
 TlEFLFnioNs  ON  Chat.  XII. — In  this  chapter  we  le-.trn 
 that- 1.  God  notices  sin  in  his  peopk,  Uavid.  in  the  stupiil 
 state  of  his  conscience,  seems  to  havo  thought  th.tt  Le  had 
 schemed  so  well  that  no  eye  couUl  ever  discover  his  crime. 
 But  God  saw  and  knew  every  step  of  David's  Ruilt  in  the 
 transaction  here  recorded.  So,  reader,  does  he  know  all  thy 
 sins  ;  and  if  thou  art  a  fallen  Israelite,  his  eye  looks  upon 
 thee  with  di.sgusl,  and  all  thy  transgressions  are  as  clear  as  a 
 sunbeam  before  him. 
 
 II.  God  wiltpunisli  sin  in  Ins  people.    And  this  is  their  mercy. 
 
 He  will  not  let  their  consciences  sleep  on  in  sin.  Ho  will 
 awaken  them  by  his  Spirit,  his  word,  and  his  providence. 
 He  will  make  them  feel  tiie  festering  sore  williin,  and  he  will 
 not  spare  his  strokes  without.  They  shall  feel  Lis  rod  and  his 
 stripes. 
 
 III.  God  will  pardon  sin  in  his  peopte.  If  this  truth  were  not 
 revealed  in  the  sacred  pa^es,  we  mi;:ht  be  left  to  despair. 
 *  Sinners'— it  might  bo  said,  by  the  tuUen  and  oft'ending  be- 
 liever— '  Sinners,  before  conversion  by  grace,  may  obtain  par- 
 don, for  they  did  it  "  iguoruutly,  through  unbelief."    But  wo 
 
Amnon  ravisheth  Tamar. 
 
 ir.  SAMUEL,  XIII.  Absalom  secrcth/ pnrjwseth  to  hill  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Amnoit  Jofinq  Ttimur,  hy  Jonadtih's  comiscl  feigning 
 liimsdf  sick,  ravialietJi  /icr.  15  Jlc  fmtct/i  iter,  and 
 shatmjulli/  tnnift/i  htr  awai/.  19  Ahsahmi  entur- 
 tainct/t  lii'Vy  ami  cojtLcalft/t  /lis  j-nrpose.  23  At  a 
 siieepshf tiring,  among  all  the  fiiii(/^s  sons,  he  killeth 
 Amnon.  .SO  David  griecing  at  the  ncics  is  comforted 
 bg  Jonadah.    37  Ahsahun  Jiielh  to  Talmai  at  Geshur. 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  tliis,  "  that  Absa- 
 ■^*-  loin  tlie  son  of  David  had  a  fair  sister, 
 wliose  name  icas  ^  Tamar ;  and  Annion  the 
 son  of  David  loved  her. 
 
 2  And  Amnon  was  so  vexed,  that  he  fell  sick 
 for  liis  sister  Tamar ;  for  slie  icas  a  virgin  ;  and 
 f  Amnon  thought  it  hard  for  him  to  do  any 
 tiling  to  her. 
 
 3  But  Amnon  liad  a  friend,  whose  name  teas 
 .Tonadal),  "^^  the  son  of  Shimeali  David's  brother: 
 and  Jonadab  iftis  a  very  subtil  man. 
 
 4  And  he  .said  unto  him,  Wliy  art  thou,  heitiff 
 the  king's  son,  flean  f  from  day  to  day  r*  wilt 
 thou  not  tell  nieV  And  Amnon  said  unto  him, 
 1  love  Tamar,  my  brother  Absalom's  sister. 
 
 5  And  .Jonadab  said  unto  him.  Lay  thee 
 down  on  thy  bed,  and  make  thyself  sick  :  and 
 when  thy  father  cometh  to  see  thee,  say  unto 
 him,  I  pray  thee,  let  my  sister  Tamar  come, 
 and  give  me  meat,  and  dress  the  meat  in  my 
 sight,  that  I  may  see  it,  and  eat  it  at  her 
 hand. 
 
 6  II  So  Amnon  lay  down,  and  made  himself 
 sick  :  and  when  the  king  was  come  to  see  him, 
 Amnon  said  unto  the  king,  I  pray  thee,  let 
 Tamar  my  sister  come,  and  •'  make  me  a  couple 
 of  cakes  in  my  sight,  that  1  may  eat  at  her 
 hand. 
 
 7  Then  David  sent  home  to  Tamar,  saying. 
 Go  now  to  thy  brother  Amnon's  house,  and 
 dress  him  meat. 
 
 8  So  Tamar  went  to  her  brother  Amnon's 
 house  ;  and  he  was  laid  down.  And  she  took 
 II flour,  and  kneaded  it,  and  made  cakes  in  his 
 sight,  and  did  bake  the  cakes. 
 
 •J  And  she  took  a  pan,  and  poured  them  out 
 before  liim  ;  but  he  refused  to  eat.  And  Am- 
 non said,  °  Have  out  all  men  from  me.  And 
 tlioy  went  out  every  man  from  him. 
 
 10  And  Amnon  said  unto  Tamar,  Bring  the 
 meat  into  the  chamber,  tliat  I  may  eat  of  thine 
 hand.  And  Tamar  took  the  cakes  which  she 
 had  made,  and  brouglit  them  into  the  chamber 
 to  Amnon  her  brother. 
 
 11  And  when  .she  had  brought  them  unto 
 him  to  eat,  he  '  took  hold  of  her,  and  said  unto 
 her.  Come  lie  with  me,  my  sister. 
 
 12  And  she  answered  him.  Nay,  my  brother, 
 do  not  t  force  me  ;  for  ^  f  no  such  tiling  ought 
 tn  be  done  in  Israel :  do  not  thou  this  "  folly. 
 
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 13  And  I,  whither  shall  I  cause  my  shame  to 
 go  ?  and  as  for  thee,  thou  shall  be  as  one  of 
 the  fools  in  Israel.  Now  therefore,  I  pray  thee, 
 speak  unto  the  king  ;  '  for  he  will  not  withhold 
 me  from  thee. 
 
 14  Howbeit  he  would  not  hearken  unto  her 
 voice  :  but,  being  stronger  than  she,  '  forced 
 her,  and  lay  with  her. 
 
 1j  t  Then  Amnon  hated  her  f  exceedingly  ; 
 so  that  the  hatred  wherewith  he  hated  her  icas 
 greater  than  the  love  wherewith  he  had  loved 
 lier.  And  Ammon  said  unto  her,  Arise,  be- 
 gone. 
 
 IG  And  she  said  unto  him.  There  is  no  cause  : 
 this  evil  in  sending  me  away  is  greater  than 
 the  other  that  thou  didst  unto  me.  But  he 
 would  not  hearken  unto  her. 
 
 17  Then  he  called  his  servant  that  ministered 
 unto  him,  and  said.  Put  now  this  woman  out 
 from  me,  and  bolt  the  door  after  her. 
 
 18  And  she  had  '  a  garment  of  divers  colours 
 upon  her  :  for  with  such  robes  were  the  king's 
 daughters  that  were  virgins  apparelled.  Then 
 his  servant  brought  her  out,  and  bolted  the 
 door  after  her. 
 
 19  1  And  Tamar  put  "'ashes  on  her  head, 
 and  rent  her  garment  of  divers  colours  that 
 loas  on  her,  and  "  laid  her  hand  on  her  head, 
 and  went  on  crying. 
 
 •20  And  Absalom  licr  brother  said  unto  her, 
 Ilatli  \  Amnon  thy  brother  been  with  thee? 
 but  hold  now  thy  peace,  my  sister:  he  is  thy 
 brother  ;  f  regard  not  this  thing.  So  Tamar 
 remained  f  desolate  in  her  brother  Absalom's 
 liouse. 
 
 •21  H  But  when  king  David  heard  of  all  these 
 tilings,  he  was  very  wroth. 
 
 ^1-1  And  Absalom  spake  unto  his  brother  Am- 
 non °  neither  good  nor  bad  :  for  Absalom 
 ■'  hated  Amnon,  because  he  had  forced  his 
 sister  Tamar. 
 
 2.3  t  And  it  came  to  pass  after  two  full  years, 
 that  Absalom  ''  had  sheepshearers  in  Baal- 
 hazor,  which  is  beside  Ephraim  :  and  Absalom 
 invited  all  the  king's  sons. 
 
 24  And  Absalom  came  to  the  king,  and  said, 
 Behold  now,  thy  servant  hath  sheepshearers  ; 
 let  the  king,  I  beseech  thee,  and  his  servants 
 go  with  thy  servant. 
 
 2j  And  the  king  said  to  Absalom,  Nay,  my 
 son,  let  us  not  all  now  go,  lest  we  be  charge- 
 able unto  tlice.  And  he  pressed  him  :  how- 
 beit he  would  not  go,  but  blessed  hira. 
 
 26  Then  said  Absalom,  If  not,  I  pray  thee, 
 let  my  brother  Amnon  go  with  us.  And  the 
 king  said  unto  him.  Why  should  he  go  with 
 thee  'i 
 
 27  But    Absalom   pressed    him,   that  he  let 
 
 Chap.  Xllf.  —  2.  His  sister,  half-sister.  Absalom's  mother  was 
 Maacah,  and  Amnon's  was  AhiDoam  ;  Tamar  was  the  daughter  of  the 
 former,  (see  chap.  iii.  3.)  A  virgin — virg:ins  id  tlie  cast  are  always  kept 
 from  the  sight  of  men,  except  their  brothers,  wlio  could  not  legally 
 marry  them. — Hew,  5.  Make  tht/self  sick — in  ver.  2  it  is  said,  *  Am- 
 non feli  sick,'  not,  however,  so  as  to  keep  his  bed,  which  is  here  de- 
 signed.—  Evitn.  Sgytop.  6.  M 'tile  himself  sick — the  Asiatics  arc 
 adepts  at  feigning  sickness  whenever  it  suits  them,  and  it  requires  great 
 skill  to  detect  them. — So  Rulj.  8.  She  took Jiour,  iind  kneaded  it — the 
 eastern  ladies  often  prepare  cakes,  pastry,  &e. — Dr.  Russell.     13.  He 
 
 vill  not  withhold  7we— this  was  an  excuse  to  free  herself,  for  such  mar- 
 riages were  not  lawful.  —  Pat.,  Poole,  Gilt,  Scott,  lioothr.,  Clarke. 
 IS.  .i  garment  of  dirers  colours — see  note  on  Gen.  xxxvii.  3.  ig.  Put 
 ashes — see  note  on  Josh.  vii.  6.  20.  Hold  now  tfig  peace — instead  of 
 
 bringing  Amnon  to  justice,  as  be  ought  to  have  done,  he  sullenly  me- 
 ditates levenge.  Regard  not,  'lay  it  not  to  heart.' — Wil.  21.  He 
 teas  very  wroth — the  Sejjt.  afld,  Km  ouk  eXfTrrjue  to  nv^vfxa  A/lvtiJi'  Tiiy 
 vtov  avTQV,  on  IJ^aTTa  avTov,  kti  .rptuTOToKot  aiiTov  r}v,  '  but  he  would  not 
 
 grieve  the  soul  of  Amnon  his  son,  for  he  loved  him,  because  he  was  his 
 firstborn."        23.  Absalom  invited,  ^c,  to  the  sheep-shearing;  that  is. 
 
 have  sinned  since  we  knew  better  ;  wliat,  tben,  can  become  of  bloodshed.     E.xtreme  suffering  and  bitter  repentance  followed 
 
 us,  oft'enders  against  light  and  knowledge  ?'     I!ut  David's  case  these  deeds,  but  still  Uod  was  merciful.    Mourn,  repent,  turn 
 
 sjieaks  volumes.     Here  is  sin  pardoned  in  the  man  after  God's  from  tbine  iniquities,  like  David,  and  God  'will  abundanlly 
 
 own  heart,  and  sin  of  the  most  defiling  nature — adultery  and  pardon.' 
 343 
 
Amnon  is  slain  1)1/ command  of  Absalom.       II.  SAMUEL,  XIV.  Joah's  artifice  to  brinri  Ahsalam  home. 
 
 Amnoii  and  all  the  king's  sons  go  %vith  him. 
 
 28  If  Now  Absalom  had  commanded  his  ser- 
 vants, saying',  Mark  ye  now  wlien  Amnon's 
 '  heart  is  merry  with  wine,  and  when  I  say  unto 
 you.  Smite  Amnon;  then  kill  liini,  fear  not: 
 II  have  not  I  commanded  you?  be  courageous, 
 and  be  f  valiant. 
 
 29  And  the  servants  of  Absalom  did  unto 
 Amnon  as  Absalom  had  commanded.  Then 
 all  the  king's  sons  arose,  and  every  man  f  gat 
 him  np  upon  his  mule,  and  fled. 
 
 .30  II  And  it  came  to  pass,  while  they  were  in 
 the  way,  that  tidings  came  to  David,  saying, 
 Absalom  hath  slain  all  the  king's  sons,  and 
 there  is  not  one  of  them  left. 
 
 31  Then  the  king  arose,  and  'tare  his  gar- 
 ments, and  '  lay  on  the  earth  ;  and  all  his  ser- 
 vants stood  by  with  their  clothes  rent. 
 
 82  And  "Jonadab,  the  son  of  Shimeah  Da- 
 vid's brother,  answered  and  said.  Let  not  my 
 lord  suppose  that  they  have  .slain  all  the  young 
 men  the  king's  .sons  ;  for  Amnon  only  is  dead  : 
 for  by  the  f  appointment  of  Absalom  this  hath 
 been  ||  determined  from  the  day  that  he  forced 
 his  sister  Tamar. 
 
 3.3  Now  therefore  'let  not  my  lord  the  king 
 take  the  thing  to  his  heart,  to  think  that  all  the 
 king's  sons  are  dead  :  for  Amnon  only  is  dead. 
 
 34  '  But  Absalom  fled.  And  the  young  man 
 that  kept  the  watch  lifted  up  bis  eyes,  and 
 looked,  and,  behold,  there  came  much  people 
 by  the  way  of  the  hill  side  behind  him. 
 
 35  And  Jonadab  said  unto  the  king.  Behold, 
 the  king's  sons  come  :  f  as  thy  servant  said,  so 
 it  is. 
 
 36  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  soon  as  he  had 
 made  an  end  of  speaking,  that,  behold,  the 
 king's  sons  came,  and  lifted  up  tlieir  voice  and 
 wept :  and  tlie  king  also  and  all  his  servants 
 wept  t  very  sore. 
 
 37  If  But  Ab.salom  fled,  and  went  to  '  Talmai. 
 the  son  of  ||  Ammihud,  king  of  Geshur.  And 
 David  mourned  for  his  son  every  day. 
 
 38  So  Absalom  fled,  and  went  to  '  Geshur, 
 and  was  there  three  years. 
 
 39  And //ie,«Hf/ i)f  king  David  ||longed  to  go 
 forth  unto  Absalom  :  for  he  was  "  comforted 
 concerning  Amnon,  seeing  he  was  dead. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  Joah,  svhorning  a  widow  of  Tehoah,  hij  a  parahle  in 
 incline  the  tiing^s  tieart  tofetclt  Jtome  Absalom,  bring- 
 et/i  ttim  to  Jerusalem,     25  Absalom's  beauty,  liair,  and 
 
 r  Jiiilg.  in.B, 
 
 Bmli  3  7. 
 1  Sam  L'Ei. 
 36.  Kstli,  1 
 ]0.  Ps.  ml. 
 15 
 ||0r,»/Hv"' 
 Mor.  Jr.jr'  y 
 
 V"  f  Jusli. 
 
 1,  il. 
 t  Heh.  ,„„ 
 
 of  ,•»/.„„. 
 t  Hull.  r..<^. 
 
 sch.  I.  II. 
 <  ch.  12.  10, 
 
 tK^b.  mnvtii 
 II  Or,  ti-ttlcd 
 
 t  Hcb    IT 
 
 ..  .11,  11  23, 
 :i*  Si  l,'i,  H 
 II  Or.  ,r.„ 
 
 rii.i rd. 
 
 t's.  W,  2. 
 b  Geii,  ;1S*.12 
 
 n.  c.  in27. 
 
 ch.  IS.  39. 
 6  2Clir.ll.6. 
 
 0  See  Ruth 
 1.3. 
 
 d  ver.  19. 
 Ex.  4.  15. 
 
 ff  I  Sam,  20 
 tl.  ch.  1.2, 
 (  Heb.  Siifr. 
 fSee2  Kin, 
 '  6.  26,  28. 
 
 g  See  ch.  12. 
 
 IHeb.  no  dt 
 
 liefifn  titem. 
 h  >*u,  .35, 19. 
 Deut.  19.12, 
 
 )  lleb.  »;»,. 
 
 ificn.  27,1,3 
 1  Sam.  25, 
 24,  Mat. 27. 
 
 *'rh  3,2P,':o. 
 I  Kin.  2.33 
 
 t  Heb.  Il>nl 
 tlif  rpveugn 
 «/■  blond  >/.. 
 
 ti,  deilrni/. 
 
 I  Nil  X>'  19, 
 m  1  Sam,M 
 
 'IS.  ActB27 
 
 3+. 
 
 cliildren.    23  After  two  years,  Absalom  by  Joab  is 
 
 brougttt  into  t/ie  tiing's  pnsenee. 
 
 TVOW  Joab  tlie  son  of  Zeniiah  perceived 
 -'-  that  the  king's  heart  teas  "  toward  Ab- 
 salom. 
 
 2  And  Joab  sent  to  ''  Tekoah,  and  fetched 
 thence  a  wise  woman,  and  said  unto  her,  I 
 pray  thee,  feign  thyself  to  be  a  mourner,  °  and 
 put  on  now  mourning  apparel,  and  anoint  not 
 thyself  with  oil,  but  be  as  a  woman  that  had  a 
 long  time  mourned  for  the  dead  : 
 
 3  And  come  to  the  king,  and  speak  on  this 
 manner  unto  him.  So  Joab  ■'  put  the  words  in 
 her  mouth. 
 
 4  t  And  wlieii  the  woman  of  Tekoah  .spake 
 to  the  king,  slie  '  fell  on  her  face  to  the 
 ground,  and  did  obeisance,  and  said,  f  '  Help, 
 O  king. 
 
 5  .\nd  the  king  said  unto  her.  What  ailetli 
 thee  ?  And  she  answered,  ^  I  am  indeed  a 
 widow  woman,  and  mine  husband  is  dead. 
 
 6  And  thy  handmaid  had  two  sons,  and  they 
 two  strove  togetlier  in  the  field,  and  there  was 
 t  none  to  part  them,  but  the  one  smote  the 
 other,  and  slew  liim. 
 
 7  And,  behold,  "  the  whole  family  is  risen 
 against  thine  handmaid,  and  they  said.  Deliver 
 him  that  smote  his  brotlier,  that  we  may  kill 
 him,  for  the  life  of  his  brother  whom  he  slew  ; 
 and  we  will  destroy  the  heir  also  :  and  so  they 
 shall  quench  my  coal  wliicli  is  left,  and  shall 
 not  leave  to  my  husband  neither  name  nor  re- 
 
 imaindert  upon  the  earth. 
 
 8  And  the  king  said  unto  the  woman.  Go  to 
 thine  liouse,  and  1  will  give  charge  concerning 
 thee. 
 
 9  And  the  woman  of  Tekoah  said  unto  the 
 king.  My  lord,  O  king,  'the  iniquity  be  on  me, 
 and  on  my  father's  house  :  '  and  the  king  and 
 his  throne  be  guiltless. 
 
 10  And  the  king  said.  Whosoever  saith  ovijht 
 unto  thee,  bring  him  to  me,  and  he  shall  not 
 touch  thee  any  more. 
 
 1 1  Then  said  she,  I  pray  thee,  let  the  king 
 remember  the  Lord  thy  God,  f  '''at  thou 
 wouldest  not  suffer  '  the  revengers  of  blood  to 
 destroy  any  more,  lest  they  destroy  my  son. 
 And  he  said,  "'  As  the  Lord  liveth,  there  shall 
 not  one  hair  of  thy  son  fall  to  the  earth. 
 
 12  Then  the  woman  said.  Let  thine  hand- 
 maid, I  pray  thee,  speak  one  word  unto  my 
 lord  the  king.     And  lie  said.  Say  on. 
 
 13  And    the    woman   said.  Wherefore   then 
 
 the  feast  made  at  such  times,  (see  Gen.  XKXviii.  12;  1  Sam.  xxv.  2,  8, 
 11,36.)  29.  il/w/c,  a  creature  much  used  in  Judea,  instead  of  the 
 horse,  which,  though  it  might  not  be  bred,  might  be  used. — Gilt.  Mules 
 were  much  used  about  this  time,  (see  l  Kiugs,  i.  33;  x.  2.i ;  1  Cliron. 
 xii.40;    Isa.  Lwi.  20.)— Poi.  37.  To  Talmai,    Absalom's  maternal 
 
 graniifatlier.  Kinff  ofGestlur,  adjacent  to  Amalek,  (1  Sam.  xxvii,  S.) — 
 Sut.  Geshur  was  probably  the  capital  of  a  small  kingdom  within  the 
 borders  of  Israel,  in  the  half-tribe  of  Manasseh,  east  of  Jordan. —  ^yeUs. 
 CuAp.  XIV.  —  1.  Was  toward  Absalom,  'he  longed  to  see  him.'— 
 Pat,  2.  Joab  sent — thus  he  was  likely  to  ingratiate  himself  with  the 
 king  and  Absalom,  and  would  increase  the  number  nf  precedents  for 
 the  impunity  of  murderers,  he  himself  being  one. — Scott,      Telioatt,  in 
 
 the  tribe  of  Judah,  (2  Cliron.  xi.  5,  6,)  twelve  miles  from  Jerusalem. — 
 Gill.  On  account  of  the  distance,  the  case  was  not  likely  to  be  inquired 
 into. — Put,  Wise,  'grave.' — Jas.  ^.  A  H'(rf«H',  proper  to  move  com- 
 passion. 6.  TItjf  tiandmaid  ttad  two  sons — this  was  a  well  wrought 
 parable. — Wit.  No  doubt  it  was  a  fact. — Sat.  7.  Nat/  l<ill  ttim,  as 
 the  law  required,  (Num.  xxxv.  18,  ig.)  t^aencti  wr/  cnal,  'my  poste- 
 rity ;*  so  the  survivors  of  the  deluge  of  Deucalion  arc  termed,  o-Twircpa, 
 '  living  coals.' — See  Plato.  In  Ceylon,  they  say  of  those  whose  chil- 
 dren are  dead,  'their  .^/jar/.-.^  are  all  quenched.' — Rob.  II.  Remember 
 the  Lord  thy  God,  'remember,  for  the  sake  of  Jehovah,  not  to  suffer,* 
 &c. — Boothr.  13.  WIterefiire  then,  ^e.,  '  on  what  ground,  then,  bast 
 thou  thus  decided.* — Geddrs.    Against,  S[c.,  '  concerning  one  of  the 
 
 Rfflictions  on  Chap.  .XIH.  —  In  this  rljapter  we  have 
 a  painful  exhibition  of_I.  Evil  passions.  In  the  conduct  of 
 Amnon,  and  its  consequences  to  his  sister,  himself,  and  his 
 family,  we  see  the  dangers  always  attendant  upon  unrestrained 
 inclinations  ;  they  have  ruined  tlie  peace,  happiness,  and  lives 
 of  thousands.  Let  the  younK  treasure  up  in  their  liearts  the 
 admonition  of  the  apostle,  '  Flee  also  youthful  lusts.'  In  the 
 conduct  of  Absalom,  we  see  the  spirit  of  revenge  too  much 
 cherished  by  the  world,  and  its  fatal  consequences.  Let  us 
 344 
 
 rememher.  '  he  that  haleth  his  brother  is  a  murderer. ' 
 
 11.  We  liave  also  tiere  a  painful  exliilntion  ofevilcompanimtstitp. 
 Instead  of  quenching  the  unliallowed  flame  which  was  kindled 
 ill  Amnon's  bosom,  his  cousin  Jonadab  subtilly  advised  him 
 how  he  might  accomplish  his  purpose.  'I'his  man  was  the 
 friend  of  his  bosom,  and  youiit;  men  are  often  corrupted  by 
 such  friends.  Let  youth  beware  of  whom  ihey  take  for  coun- 
 sellors.    '  My  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou  not.' 
 
Ahkahnn  is  Iirouijhl  home. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XIV. 
 
 His  beauty  and  family. 
 
 liast  thou  tliouglit  such  a  thing  against  "  the 
 people  of  God  ?  for  the  king  doth  speak  this 
 thing  as  one  which  is  faulty,  in  that  the  king 
 dotli  iiot  fetch  home  again  "  his  banished. 
 
 14  For  we  ''must  needs  die, and  are  as  water 
 spilt  on  the  ground,  which  cannot  be  gathered 
 up  again  ;  ||  neither  doth  God  respect  any 
 person  :  yet  doth  he  ■"  devise  means,  that  his 
 banished  be  not  expelled  from  him. 
 
 15  Now  therefore  that  I  am  come  to  speak 
 of  this  thing  unto  my  lord  the  king,  it  is  be- 
 cause the  people  have  made  me  afraid  :  and 
 thy  handmaid  said,  I  will  now  speak  unto  tlie 
 king ;  it  may  be  that  the  king  will  perform  the 
 request  of  his  handmaid. 
 
 16  For  the  king  will  hear,  to  deliver  his  hand- 
 maid out  of  the  hand  of  tlie  man  that  would 
 destroy  me  and  my  son  together  out  of  the  in- 
 heritance of  God. 
 
 17  Then  thine  handmaid  said.  The  word  of 
 my  lord  the  king  shall  now  be  f  comfortable  : 
 for  'as  an  angel  of  God,  so  is  my  lord  the 
 king  f  to  discern  good  and  bad  :  therefore  the 
 LoKD  thy  God  will  be  with  thee. 
 
 18  Then  the  king  answered  and  said  unto  the 
 woman,  Hide  not  from  me,  I  pray  thee,  the 
 thing  that  I  shall  ask  thee.  And  the  woman 
 said,  Let  my  lord  the  king  now  speak. 
 
 19  And  the  king  said,  Is  nut  the  hand  of 
 Joab  with  thee  in  all  this?  And  the  woman 
 ajiswered  and  said.  As  thy  soul  liveth,  my  lord 
 the  king,  none  can  turn  to  the  right  hand  or  to 
 the  left  from  ought  that  my  lord  the  king  hath 
 spoken  :  for  thy  servant  Joab,  he  bade  me,  and 
 'he  put  all  these  words  in  the  mouth  of  thine 
 handmaid  : 
 
 20  To  fetch  about  this  form  of  speech  hath 
 thy  servant  Joab  done  this  tiling  :  and  my  lord 
 is  wise,  '  according  to  the  wisdom  of  an  angel 
 of  God,  to  know  all  things  that  are  in  the 
 earth. 
 
 21  If  And  the  king  said  unto  Joab,  Behold 
 now,  I  have  done  this  thing  :  go  therefore, 
 bring  the  young  man  Absalom  again. 
 
 22  And  Joab  fell  to  the  ground  on  his  face, 
 and  bowed  himself,  and  f  thanked  the  king  : 
 and  Joab  said,  To  day  thy  servant  knoweth 
 that  I  have  found  grace  in  thy  sight,  my  lord, 
 O  king,  in  that  the  king  hath  fulfilled  the  re- 
 ipiest  of  II  his  servant. 
 
 p  Job  ai,  1.^ 
 
 Heb.  'J.  27 
 
 [I  Or,  6^cat.« 
 God  Iftth 
 not  taken 
 atoatf  bin 
 Ufe,  lie  Uati. 
 also  deviiKil 
 nivalis,  ^'f. 
 
 q  Num.  ;t6. 
 15,  25,  2d. 
 
 t  Heb./.r 
 
 r  ver.  20. 
 ch.  19.  27 
 t  Heb.  I'l 
 
 t  ver    17. 
 ch.  19.  27. 
 
 t  Heb.  SkJj 
 
 »  Or,  l/,j. 
 
 B.  C.  1027. 
 u  ch.  13.  37. 
 
 I  Gen.  43.3, 
 ch.  3.  IJ. 
 
 ,  l,mot:/„l 
 :o,„  in  ,M 
 hnirl  to 
 
 lirfallrf. 
 •I  1h.  1.  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  tiear 
 iiij/  ]<lacc. 
 
 ,   33.4, 
 .  15, 
 L' 15.20. 
 
 23  So  Joab  arose  "  and  went  to  Geshur,  ana 
 brought  Absalom  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 24  And  the  king  said.  Let  him  turn  to  bis 
 own  house, and  let  him  "not  see  my  face.  So 
 Absalom  returned  to  his  own  house,  and  saw 
 not  the  king's  face. 
 
 25  1  f  But  in  all  Israel  there  was  none  to  be 
 so  much  praised  as  Absalom  for  his  beauty  : 
 '  from  the  sole  of  his  foot  even  to  the  crown  of 
 his  head  there  was  no  blemish  in  him. 
 
 20  And  when  he  polled  his  head,  (for  it  was 
 at  every  year's  end  that  lie  polled  it :  because 
 tlie  hair  was  heavy  on  him,  therefore  he  polled 
 t:)  be  weighed  the  hair  of  his  head  at  two 
 hundred  shekels  after  the  king's  weight. 
 
 27  And  ^  unto  Absalom  there  were  born  three 
 sons,  and  one  daughter,  whose  name  was 
 Tamar  ;  she  was  a  woman  of  a  fair  coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 28  H  So  Absalom  dwelt  two  full  years  in 
 Jerusalem,"  and  saw  not  the  king's  face. 
 
 29  Tlierefore  Absalom  sent  for  Joab,  to  have 
 sent  him  to  the  king  ;  but  he  would  not  come 
 to  him  :  and  when  he  sent  again  the  second 
 time,  he  would  not  come. 
 
 yo  Therefore  he  said  unto  his  servants.  See, 
 Joab's  field  is  fnear  mine,  and  lie  hath  barley 
 there  ;  go  and  set  it  on  fire.  And  Absalom's 
 servants  set  the  field  on  fire. 
 
 31  Then  Joab  arose,  and  came  to  Absalom 
 unto  his  house,  and  said  unto  him.  Wherefore 
 lave  thy  servants  set  my  field  on  fire? 
 
 32  And  Absalom  answered  Joab,  Behold,  I 
 sent  unto  thee,  saying.  Come  hither,  that  I 
 may  send  thee  to  the  king,  to  .say.  Wherefore 
 am  I  come  from  Geshur?  it  had  been  good  for 
 me  to  have  been  there  still  :  now  therefore  let 
 me  see  the  king's  face  ;  and  if  there  be  any 
 iniquity  in  me,  let  him  kill  me. 
 
 33  So  Joab  came  to  the  king,  and  told  him  : 
 and  when  he  had  called  for  Absalom,  he  came 
 to  the  king,  and  bow'ed  himself  on  his  face  to 
 the  ground  before  the  king :  and  the  king 
 ''  kissed  Absalom. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  Alisulom,  try  fair  speeches  and  courtesies,  stealeth  tlie 
 hearts  of  hrad,  7  Under  pretence  of' a  vow  he  ob- 
 tidneth  leave  to  i,o  to  Hebron.  10  ile  nmheth  there 
 a  yreat  eonspiraet/.  13  David  upon  the  news  JieetA 
 front  Jerusalem.      J  9  Ittai  would  not  leave  him.     24 
 
 people  of  God.'  His  /j<ininhed,  '  liis  banished  sun.' — Bout/ir.  14.  As 
 water  spill — in  some  parts  on  the  Mediterranean  coast,  instead  of 
 throwing  earth  upon  the  coffin,  tliey  pour  wjitcr.  an  emblematical  ac- 
 tion corresponfting  with  this  figure. — So  Jotvett.  Neither  dotti  God 
 resjfect.  'e.\cept.' — Boothr.  m;D3  D*n'?i<  KUJ'  nVi.  'God  doth  not  ta'Ke 
 away  tlie  soul  or  life,'  (animam.) — Munt.  '  AH  the  parties  concerned 
 must  soon  die,  and  Amnon  must  have  done  so,  if  not  killed  by  his 
 brother,-  therefore  the  king  might  pass  the  deed  over.' — Gilt.  *  God 
 duth  not  take  away  life ;  it  is  his  counsel  that  one  exiled  from  him 
 Bhnuld  not  be  utterly  rejected.' — Houb.  The  Sept.  read,  kqi  Aiji^cTaf  6 
 eeoi- Tijv  ^ti-x'!".  'and  God  will  receive  the  sold.*  The  ^'ulff.,  'Nee 
 vutt  Uetis perire  anim'im,'  'neither  does  God  will  to  destroy  the  soul.* 
 17.  ^6-  un  un^el  of  God — tlius  they  still  say  in  the  east,  '  My  lord,  you 
 
 know  all  things;  you  aie  one  of  the  angels  of  the  gods.' — RoO.  The 
 Persians  assert  that  tlieir  kings  have  a  full  knowledge  in  the  greatest 
 and  smallest  things.— Sir  J.  CAarrfirt.  Judah  complimented  Joseph, 
 *  Thou  art  even  as  Pharaoh,  knowing  and  equitable  as  he.' — Har. 
 24.  Not  see  int/  fiiee — this  mark  of  displeasure  is  common  in  our  own 
 country. — Kd.  In  the  east,  such  a  denial  cuts  to  the  very  heart.  —Rod. 
 Ui].  Polled  his  head,  or  '  cut  off  the  hair.' — Gilt.  At  every  year's  end, 
 D'O'7  W"0'  VP'^'  '  trom  the  end  of  days  to  days,'  without  any  particular 
 designation  of  the  time. — Pat.  *  At  stated  periods.* — Houh.  Two  hun- 
 dred shekels — an  hundred  ounces, — Bp.  Cumberland.  Five  pounds. — 
 Jos.  Some  consider  this  as  an  estimate  of  the  value,  supposing  the 
 hair  had  been  sold  ;  or,  perhaps,  the  pollings  of  it,  Gitt,  however,  ob- 
 serves, it  is  not  certain  that  false  hair  was  then  used. 
 
 Rtn.ECTifiNS  ON  Chap.  XIV. —  We  shall  make  two  re- 
 .ections  on  this  chapter,  in  the  words  of  Scott — I.  From  the 
 •.-Oman's  successful  intercession  lor  her  son  we  may  learn, 
 
 That  we  should  readily  endcaiour  to  nlieve  those  who  arc  in 
 rouble.  Alleviating  misery  is  especially  the  noblest  privi- 
 ege  and  employment  of  the  great,  wlio  should,  in  this,  '  re- 
 member the  Lord  their  God,'  not  only  his  authority  and  their 
 iccounlableness  to  iiim,  but  liis  compassion  and  mercy  to 
 uliers  and  to  themselves;  and  his  justice  and  holiness,  who, 
 in  his  love  to  sinners,  munil'ests  most  conspicuously  his  ab- 
 345 
 
 horrence  of  their  crimes.' 
 
 n.  From  David's  conduct  with  regard  to  Absalom  in  refus- 
 ing still  to  see  him,  we  may  remark,  that  '  in  our  treatment  of 
 chililirn  or  others  who  have  greatly  offt-nded,  every  method  should  be 
 used  which  has  a  tendency  to  mortify  pride  and  to  bring  them  to  re- 
 pentance. The  opposite  conduct  is  the  forerunner  of  destruc- 
 tion ;  and  when  parents  and  rulers  countenance  such  imperious 
 characters,  they  will  soon  experience  the  most  fatal  eflects. 
 The  Lord  grant  us  and  ours  "  the  inward  beauty  of  holiness 
 and  the  adorning  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit !" ' 
 2  Y 
 
Absalom's  conspiracy  at  Hebron. 
 
 11.  SAMUEL,  XV. 
 
 David's  flight . 
 
 Zadnk  and  AbiatUar  are  sait  back  with  the  urk. 
 30  David  mid  /tis  compatij/  i/o  vp  mount  Olivet 
 wripiiij/.  Ul  He  ciirscth  Alii'tlmplid's  ajunsd.  32 
 Hns/tai  is  sent  baclt  with  instructions. 
 
 AND  "  it  came  to  pass  after  tliis,  that  Absa- 
 lom ''prepared   liini   tliariots   ami   horses, 
 and  fifty  men  to  run  before  him. 
 
 ■2  And  Absalom  rose  up  early,  and  stood  be- 
 side the  way  of  the  >ia.ie  :  and  it  was  so,  that 
 when  any  man  that  had  a  controversy  f  Canu- 
 te the  king  for  judgment,  then  Absalom  called 
 unto  him,  and  said,  Of  w  hat  city  urt  thou  V 
 And  he  said.  Thy  servant  is  of  one  of  the 
 tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 3  And  Absalom  said  unto  him.  See,  thy  mat- 
 ters are  good  and  right ;  but  ||  tlicre  is  no  man 
 deputed  of  the  king  to  hear  thee. 
 
 4  Absalom  said  moreover,  °  Oh  that  I  were 
 made  judge  in  the  land,  that  every  man  which 
 hath  any  suit  or  cause  miglit  come  unto  me, 
 and  I  would  do  him  justice  ! 
 
 5  And  it  was  so,  that  when  any  man  came 
 nigh  to  him  to  do  him  obeisance,  he  put  forth 
 his  hand,  and  took  him,  and  kissed  him. 
 
 6  And  on  tliis  manner  did  Absalom  to  all 
 Israel  that  came  to  tlie  king  for  judgment: 
 ^  so  Absalom  stole  the  hearts  of  tlie  men  of 
 Israel. 
 
 7  t  And  it  came  to  pass  "  after  forty  years, 
 that  Absalom  said  unto  the  king,  I  pray  thee 
 let  me  go  and  pay  my  vow,  which  1  have 
 vowed  unto  the  Lord,  in  Hebron. 
 
 8  '  For  thy  servant  ^  vowed  a  vow  •■  while  I 
 abode  at  Geshur  in  Syria,  saying.  If  the  Lokd 
 shall  bring  me  again  indeed  to  Jerusalem,  then 
 I  will  serve  the  Loud. 
 
 9  And  the  king  said  unto  him.  Go  in  peace 
 So  he  arose,  and  went  to  Hebron. 
 
 10  f  But  Absalom  sent  spies  tliroughout  all 
 the  tribes  of  Israel,  saying.  As  soon  as  ye  hear 
 the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  then  ye  shall  say 
 Absalom  reigneth  in  Hebron. 
 
 1 1  And  with  Absalom  went  two  hundred 
 men  out  of  Jerusalem,  that  were  '  called  ;  and 
 they  went  '  in  their  simplicity,  and  they  knew 
 not  any  thing. 
 
 12  And  Absalom  sent  for  Ahithophel  the  Gi- 
 lonite,  '  David's  counsellor,  from  his  city,  even 
 from  ■"  Giloh,  while  he  offered  sacrifices.  And 
 the  conspiracy  was  strong ;  for  the  people  "  in- 
 creased continually  with  Absalom. 
 
 13  H  And  there  came  a  messenger  to  David 
 saying,  °  The  hearts  of  the  men  of  Israel  are 
 after  Absalom. 
 
 14  And  David  said  unto  all  his  servants  that 
 tvcre  with  him  at  Jerusalem,  Arise,  and  let  us 
 
 ch.  IS.  II. 
 A  1  Kill    \  b. 
 
 lo., 
 
 D<7(   /if-.- 
 
 Ju.lg.9  Of. 
 
 (  ISoin.lC?. 
 
 n  Josh.  15 
 ^1 
 P8.  3.  I. 
 
 »  ver   6. 
 Jiit]g.  9.  S 
 
 .  Lh.  19.  9. 
 I'M.  -1,  title 
 .,\Wh.  Il„  ml 
 
 y  Ps  S,  tillif 
 
 t  lleb-af  /•(( 
 
 J,,l. 
 
 •  cli.  IG    1^1. 
 
 t  Hob.  mnht 
 llitr  a.,i.,-iri 
 
 ">  S J 
 
 •<  I   t^aui.^l 
 
 la 
 
 M  Itiith  I.IK. 
 IM'roy  n. 
 17.  &  18.  24. 
 
 I  CiUled, 
 John  19    I, 
 Ctdron. 
 
 4  Xiim  14  fi 
 12  8»||)  S-i. 
 SO.  I  Kiu. 
 k',9.  SCI.r 
 9.  8.  I3  62. 
 ■I 
 
 r  ISam  3.18. 
 
 ''  flee  ;  for  we  shall  not  else  escape  from  Ab- 
 salom :  make  speed  to  depart,  lest  he  over- 
 take us  suddenly,  and  f  bring  evil  upon  us, 
 and  smite  the  city  with  the  edge  of  the 
 sword. 
 
 \b  And  the  king's  servants  said  unto  the 
 king.  Behold,  thy  servants  are  ready  to  do 
 whatsoever  my  lord  the  king  shall  f  appoint. 
 
 16  And  ''the  king  went  forth,  and  all  his 
 housliold  t  after  him.  And  the  king  left '  ten 
 women,  which  were  concubines,  to  keep  tlie 
 house. 
 
 17  And  the  king  went  forth,  and  all  the 
 people  after  him,  and  tarried  in  a  place  that  was 
 far  off. 
 
 18  And  all  his  servants  passed  on  beside 
 him  ;  'and  all  the  Cherethite.s, and  all  the  Pe- 
 lethites,  and  all  the  Gittites,  six  hundred  men 
 which  came  after  him  from  Gath,  passed  on 
 before  the  king. 
 
 19  f  Then  said  the  king  to  '  Ittai  the  Gittite, 
 Wherefore  goest  ihou  also  with  us?  return  to 
 thy  place,  and  abide  with  the  king:  for  thou 
 art  a  stranger,  and  also  an  exile. 
 
 20  Whereas  thou  earnest  but  yesterday,  should 
 I  this  day  f  make  thee  go  up  and  down  with 
 us?  seeing  1  go  "  whither  1  may,  return  thou, 
 and  take  back  thy  brethren  :  mercy  and  truth 
 be  with  thee. 
 
 21  And  Ittai  answered  the  king,  and  said, 
 '  As  the  Lonu  liveth,  and  as  my  lord  the  kiitg 
 liveth,  surely  in  what  place  my  lord  the  king 
 shall  be,  whether  in  death  or  life,  even  there 
 also  will  thy  servant  be. 
 
 22  And  David  said  to  Ittai,  Go  and  pass 
 over.  And  Ittai  the  Gittite  passed  over,  and 
 all  his  men,  and  all  the  little  ones  that  were 
 with  him. 
 
 23  And  all  the  country  wept  with  a  loud 
 voice,  and  all  the  people  passed  over :  the 
 king  also  himself  passed  over  the  brook  ||  K'l- 
 dron,  and  all  the  people  passed  over,  toward 
 the  way  of  the  '  wilderness. 
 
 24  t  And  lo  Zadok  also,  and  all  the  Levites 
 were  with  him,  '  bearing  the  ark  of  the  cove- 
 nant of  God  :  and  they  set  down  the  ark  of 
 God  ;  and  Abiathar  went  up,  until  all  the 
 people  had  done  passing  o\it  of  the  city. 
 
 25  And  the  king  said  unto  Zadok,  Carry  back 
 the  ark  of  God  into  tlie  city  :  if  I  shall  find 
 favour  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord,  he  "  will  bring 
 me  again,  and  shew  me  both  it,  and  his  habita- 
 tion : 
 
 26  But  if  he  thus  say,  I  have  no  "'  delight  in 
 thee  ;  behold,  here  am  \,'  let  him  do  to  me  as 
 seemeth  good  unto  him. 
 
 Chap.  XV. —  1.  Chnriuts,  n3D1T3,  'chariots  of  state,'  probably 
 drawn  by  four  horses. — Tiiytiir^s  Scrip.  Ind.  .ind  /torses,  and  fifty 
 men — after  the  manner  of  a  king,  {1  Sam.  viii.  ll.)  and  this  is  Absa- 
 lom's manner. — Henri/.  This  was  setting  himself  up  for  king,  like 
 Adonijah,  (1  Kings,  i.  5.) — Gilt.  2.  Of  the  gate,  where  the  courts  of 
 jiidsnient  sat. — Henry,  3.  There  is  no  man  fieputed — ^justice  was 
 negligently  administered. —  Wit.  7.  After  forty  yeitrfi — David  reigned 
 only  forty  years,  therefore  this  must  be  dated  from  David's  anointing, 
 and  makes  him  sixty  years  old,  ten  years  before  he  died, — sm  Lightfnot, 
 Vslter,  Fat. ,-  or  rather,  from  tiie  people's  desiring  a  king,  aud  the  first 
 change  of  the  government  iuto  a  monarchy. — Henry.  '  After  fnrty 
 days,^  s,o  two  MSS.  discovered  by  Kennicott,  which  would  probably 
 make  the  transaction  forty  days  after  the  reconciliation.  '  Afier/«wr 
 years.' — So  Jos.  the  Syr.,  .■irab.,  and  some  of  the  Vulgate.  No  doubt 
 the  Jewish  scribe  has  made  a  mistake  here  by  adding  two  letters,  □% 
 to  the  Hebrew  word  mx,  '  four,'  which  makes  it  •  forty.'— Grofius. 
 Four  seems  to  be  the  true  reading.— 5cof/.  Absalom  staved  three  years 
 at  Geshur,  (chap.  xiii.  38,)  and  this  probably  was  a  year  after  his  return. 
 — A.  Clarke.  It  was  four  years  from  the  reconciliation.— Jo*.  Most 
 critics  adopt  Josejihus*  reading-,  among  which  we  may  mention,  in  ad- 
 346 
 
 dition,  Whisfon,  Walt,  Boothr.  Hebron,  twenty  miles  from  Jerusalem, 
 and  so  convcDient  for  a  conspiracy. — Gilt.  It  was  the  chief  city  of 
 Jurtah  next  to  Jerusalem;  there  David  bcg:an  his  reig-n,  and  thrre 
 Absalom  wa-^  born. — So  Boothr.  10.  Sjnes — these  were  apparently  to 
 remain  quiet  til)  the  signal  was  given,  and  then  to  take  the  people  by 
 surprise,  declaring  Absalom  king. — Ed.  Trumpet,  probably  used  as  a 
 telegra[)h.  trumpL't  exciting  trumpet  from  hill  to  hill,  till  all  the  spies 
 had  repeated  tlic  sound  in  every  tribe. — A.  Clarke,  Ed.  il.  T no  hun- 
 dred men,  probably  soldiers,  unconscious  of  Absalom's  design.— So  A. 
 Clarke.  Called,  '  invited  to  go  and  partake  of  his  peace  offering';,  as 
 the  payment  of  his  vow. — Gilt.  12.  Giloh,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
 near  Hebron,  and  twenty  miles  from  Jerusalem. — Bunting.  18.  Che^ 
 rethites,  ^c,  his  body  guards,  (chap.  viii.  18.)  Gittites,  probably 
 Philistines,  who,  with  their  chief,  Ittai,  left  their  country  and  joined 
 David  on  his  accessi»>n,  or  at  Ziklag. — Hew.  Or  Israelites  who  had  fled 
 to  David  when  at  Gath.— P«<.  22.  All  the  tittle  o«c5— this  practice 
 is  usual  in  war  among  the  eastern  people,  and  especially  the  Arabs. — 
 Sir  J.  Chardin.  23.  Kidron,  a  brook  in  the  valley  east  of  Jerusalem, 
 between  it  and  the  Mount  of  Ohves.  which  discharges  itself  into  the 
 Dead  Sea. — Cat.     The  wiidemess~betv!eeD  Jerusalem  and  Jericho. 
 
Hushai  is  sent  to  Absalom. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XVI. 
 
 Shi 
 
 '  curscth  David. 
 
 27  The  king  said  also  unto  Zadok  the  priest, 
 Art  not  thou  a  ''seer?  return  into  the  city  in 
 peace,  and  "your  two  sons  with  you,  Ahimaaz 
 thy  son,  and  Joiiatlian  the  son  of  Abiathar. 
 
 28  See,  '  I  will  tarry  in  the  plain  of  the  wil- 
 derness, until  there  come  word  from  you  to 
 certify  me. 
 
 29  Zadok  therefore  and  Abiathar  carried  the 
 ark  of  God  again  to  Jerusalem  :  and  they  tar- 
 ried there. 
 
 30  T  And  David  went  up  by  the  ascent  of 
 moimt  Olivet,  f  and  wept  as  he  went  up,  and 
 *  had  his  head  covered,  and  he  went  ^  barefoot : 
 and  all  the  people  that  was  with  him  'covered 
 every  man  his  head,  and  they  went  up,  '  weep- 
 ing as  they  went  up. 
 
 31  t  And  one  told  David,  saying, 'Ahithophel 
 ts  among  the  conspirators  with  Absalom.  And 
 David  said,  O  Lord,  I  pray  thee,  ""  turn  the 
 counsel  of  Ahithophel  into  foohshness. 
 
 32  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  David 
 was  come  to  the  top  o/ Me  mo!/H<,  where  he 
 worshipped  God,  behold,  Hushai  the  "  Archite 
 came  to  meet  him  °  with  his  coat  rent,  and 
 earth  upon  his  head  : 
 
 33  Unto  whom  David  said.  If  thou  passest 
 on  with  me,  then  thou  shalt  be  ■'  a  burden 
 unto  me  : 
 
 34  But  if  thou  return  to  the  city,  and  say 
 unto  Absalom,  '  I  vrill  be  thy  servant,  O  king  ; 
 as  I  have  been  thy  father's  servant  hitherto,  so 
 will  I  now  also  be  thy  servant :  then  mayest 
 thou  for  me  defeat  the  counsel  of  Ahithophel. 
 
 35  And  hast  thou  not  there  with  thee  Zadok 
 and  Abiathar  the  priests  ?  therefore  it  shall  be, 
 that  what  thing  soever  thou  shalt  hear  out  of 
 the  king's  house,  "■  thou  shalt  tell  it  to  Zadok 
 and  Abiathar  the  priests. 
 
 36  Behold,  they  have  there  'with  them  their 
 two  sons,  Ahimaaz  Zadok 's  son,  and  Jonathan 
 Abiathar's  son  ;  and  by  them  ye  shall  send 
 unto  me  every  thing  that  ye  can  hear. 
 
 d  1  Sam  9.9. 
 e  See  ch.  17, 
 
 f  Heb.  ffvinff 
 t'p,  nnd 
 
 tf  ch.  19.  4. 
 Rstli.  6.  12 
 A  Is.  20.  ?,  4. 
 I  .ler.  I4.S,* 
 A  Ps.  120.  6 
 
 /  P..  S.1,S.«, 
 35.  12,  &c. 
 
 rn  ch.  16.93. 
 &  17.  14,23. 
 
 n  .losli.  16.2 
 o  ch.  1.  2. 
 
 tj  ch.  16.  19. 
 
 /  ch.  llj.  Mi, 
 IChr  27. :W 
 II  ch.  16.  16 
 
 ■I  ill.  15.  .30, 
 3.1. 
 A  cli.  9   2, 
 
 f  Hob 
 .Aeuiiii 
 
 /ch. 
 1  Ki 
 44- 
 
 II  Or. 
 
 niiii 
 
 hf  tint 
 
 f„rll, 
 tirti-d. 
 
 37  So  Hushai  '  David's  friend  came  into  the 
 city,  "  and  Absalom  came  into  Jerusalem. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  Ziba,  by  presents  and  falsi  smjgcstions,  obtaineth  his 
 ntaster^s  inheritance,  5  At  Bahurim  Skimci  curseth 
 David.  9  David  with  patience  abstaineth,  and  re- 
 straineth  others,  from  revenge,  \5  Hushai  insinu- 
 ateth  himself  into  AbsahnVs  counsel.  20  Ahithophel's 
 counsel, 
 
 A  ND  "  when  David  was  a  little  past  the  top 
 ■^^  of  the  hill,  behold,  ''  Ziba  the  servant  of 
 Mephibosheth  met  him,  with  a  couple  of  asses 
 saddled,  and  upon  them  two  hundred  loaves  of 
 bread,  and  an  hundred  bundles  of  raisins,  and 
 an  hundred  of  summer  fruits,  and  a  bottle  of 
 wine. 
 
 2  And  the  king  said  unto  Ziba,  What  mean- 
 est thou  by  these  ?  And  Ziba  said.  The  asses 
 be  for  the  king's  houshold  to  ride  on  ;  and  the 
 bread  and  summer  fruit  for  the  young  men  to 
 eat  ;  and  the  wine,  '  that  such  as  be  faint  in 
 the  wilderness  may  drink. 
 
 3  And  the  king  said.  And  where  is  thy  mas- 
 ter's son  ?  '^  And  Ziba  said  unto  tlie  king.  Be- 
 hold, he  abideth  at  Jerusalem  :  for  he  said,  To 
 day  shall  the  house  of  Israel  restore  me  the 
 kingdom  of  my  father, 
 
 4  "  Then  said  the  king  to  Ziba,  Behold,  thine 
 are  all  that  pertained  unto  Mephibosheth. 
 And  Ziba  said,  fl  humbly  beseech  thee  that  I 
 may  find  grace  in  thy  sight,  my  lord,  O  king. 
 
 5  IT  And  when  king  David  came  to  BLilunim, 
 behold,  thence  came  out  a  man  of  the  family 
 of  the  house  of  Saul,  whose  name  was  '  Shimei, 
 the  son  of  Gcra  :  ||  he  came  forth,  and  cursed 
 still  as  he  came. 
 
 6  And  he  cast  stones  at  David,  and  at  all  the 
 servants  of  king  David  :  and  all  the  people  and 
 all  the  mighty  men  ivcre  on  his  right  hand  ai,d 
 on  his  left. 
 
 7  And   thus   said   Shimei   when  he   cursed. 
 
 27,  A  seer,  a  prophet  as  well  a.s  a  priest.— Gr"«,  See  note,  l  S.im,  ix.  9- 
 David  might,  by  this  term,  possibly  mean  only  a  person  of  rcnin.rKahle 
 discernment  and  penetration,  on  whose  faithful  intelliijcncc  he  could 
 depend, — So  Scott.  30,  Olivet — so  called  from  the  olive  trees  that 
 grew  upon  it ;  it  was  about  a  mile  east  of  Jerusalem, — Gilt.  His  hend 
 cornered — that  is,  wrapt  up  in  a  clnth  or  robe. — Pict.  Bib.  This  custom 
 was  practised  by  persons  in  great  distress.  Compare  Esth.  iv,  1,2; 
 2  Sam,  xix.  4;  Ezek,  xii,  6;  see  also  Q.  Curtius,  1.  4,  c,  10.  ^  33  ;  and  I. 
 5,  c,  12,  5  8,  Barefoot — the  shoes  of  the  east  were  ornamented  with 
 jewels,  gold,  and  silver;  prisoners  of  war  were  made  to  throw  them  off 
 as  a  disgrace,  and  mourners  adopted  the  same  practice.  See  Lsa.  xx, 
 2 ;  Mic.  i.  8,  32.  Archite,  probably  born  at  Archi,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of 
 Ephraim,  (Josh.  xvi.  2.) — Pat.  33.  A  ^iMi-rfcn— David  having  scanty 
 provisions,  and  Husbai  being  old  and  unfit  for  traTelling. — Gilt. 
 34.  And  say  unto  Absalom — stratagems  in  war  are  lawful,  but  tliese 
 imply  a  falsehood  not  to  be  vindicated. — Scott.    There  is  certainly 
 
 no  falsehood  here,  for  the  words  are  only  tantamount  to  these,  '  I 
 have  been  in  the  service  of  thy  father,  and  would  be  happy  to  hold 
 the  same  rank  among  thy  scr\'ants.'  In  tliis  situation  he  could  then 
 act  as  a  spy  on  Absalom, — Ed.  Severe  casuists  have  condemned  this 
 conduct  of  David,  but  he  only  acted  according  to  sound  policy,— 
 So  Boothr. 
 
 Chap,  XVI,  —  1,  Loaves — the  Jewish  bread  consisted  not  of  loaves, 
 but  thin  cakes.  Summer  fruits,  probably  pumpions  and  cucumbers,  or 
 water  melons. — A.  Clarke.  Fruits  of  trees  in  general,  as  apples,  pears, 
 plums,  apricots,  &c, — So  Targum,  Grotius,  Gilt.  Dates,  Sept.  A  battle, 
 '  cask  or  flagon.' — Gilt.  Or  rather,  large  leathern  bottle.^So  .•!,  Clarke. 
 See  note  on  Josh,  i,x,  4.  2,  For  tlielnug*s  houshold,  ^c. — Eastern  pre- 
 sents are  still  given  in  like  terms,  though  at  the  same  time  they  are 
 understood  to  be  all  for  the  sovereign  himself. — So  Greenf.  5,  iJa- 
 hurim — Alemath,  Targ.  Perhaps  a  city  of  the  Levites,  in  Benjamin, 
 [1  Chron,  vi,  60. J — Gill.    From  the  context,  it  was  near  the  Mount  of 
 
 Rf.i-lections  on  Chap.  XV In  this  chapter  are  exhi- 
 bited— I.  The  rehiUious  son.  '  We  may  well  imagine  Davit!  in 
 a  manner  thunder-struck,'  says  Henry,  *  when  he  heard  that 
 the  son  he  loved  so  dearly,  and  had  been  so  indulgent  to,  was 
 so  unnaturally  and  ungratefully  in  arms  against  him.  Well 
 might  he  say,  with  Cajsar,  "  ku.  <rv  Tem/oi/—  ir/iat  f  thou,  my  son  ?" 
 Let  not  parents  raise  their  hopes  too  high  from  their  children, 
 lest  they  be  disappointed.* 
 
 II.  The  treacherous  friend.  Ahithophel  had  been  David's 
 counsellor,  and  was  acquainted  with  his  secrets  ;  his  defection 
 on  this  occasion  was  therefore  peculiarly  painful.  Alas  !  what 
 are  human  friendships  !  and  what  is  human  gratitude  !  How- 
 many  may  repeat  the  words  of  David,  and  in  reference  to  those 
 of  whom  better  things  might  have  been  hoped — '  Yea,  mine 
 own  familiar  friend,  in  wliom  I  trusted,  which  did  eat  of  my 
 bread,  hath  lifted  up  his  heel  against  me,'  '  For  it  was  not  an 
 enemy  that  reproached  me,  then  1  could  have  borne  it ;  neither 
 was  it  he  that  hated  me  that  did  magnify  himself  against  me, 
 347 
 
 then  I  would  have  bid  myself  from  him  ;  but  it  was  thou,  a 
 man,  mine  equal,  my  guide,  and  mine  acquaintance;  we  took 
 sweet  counsel  together,  and  walked  to  the  house  of  God  in 
 company.' 
 
 III.  The  humbled  tinp.  David  is  here  forsaken  by  his  people, 
 driven  from  his  throne,  separated  from  God's  ordinances,  a 
 poor,  wandering  outcast.  '  See,  in  his  desolate  state,'  says 
 Dr,  Clarke,  '  there  is  none  so  exalted  that  God  cannot  abase; 
 and  none  so  abased  that  God  cannot  exult.'  Here  God  visits 
 David  for  his  sins,  and  fulfils  some  of  his  painful  threatenings  ; 
 but  his  chastisements  were  those  of  the  Father  who  has  pro- 
 mised to  scourge  the  erring  child  ;  and  the  spirit  of  David  is 
 that  of  the  bumbled  child  submitting  to  the  strokes  of  the 
 father — '  Here  am  I:  let  him  do  to  me  as  seemeth  good  unto 
 him.'  So  let  us,  in  our  afflictions,  humble  ourselves  under 
 the  mighty  hand  of  God,  that  we  may  be  exalted  in  due 
 time. 
 
David  abstaineth  from  revenge. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XVII. 
 
 AhithopheVs  coutisel.^ 
 
 Come  out,  come  out,  tliou  f  bloody  man,  and 
 thou  ^  man  of  Belial  : 
 
 8  The  LoKD  bath  "  returned  upon  thee  all 
 '  the  blood  of  the  bouse  of  Saul,  in  whose  stead 
 thou  hast  reigned  ;  and  the  Loud  hath  delivered 
 the  kingdom  into  the  hand  of  Absalom  thy  son  : 
 and,  f  behold,  thou  art  taken  in  thy  mischief, 
 because  tboii  art  a  bloody  man. 
 
 9  If  Then  said  Abisbai  the  son  of  Zeruiah 
 unto  the  king.  Why  should  this  ''  dead  dog 
 '  curse  my  lord  the  king  ?  let  me  go  over,  I 
 pray  thee,  and  take  off  liis  head. 
 
 10  And  the  king  said,  "'  What  have  I  to  do 
 with  you,  ye  sons  of  Zeruiah  V  so  let  him  curse, 
 because  "  the  Lonu  hath  said  unto  bim.  Curse 
 David.  °  Who  shall  then  say.  Wherefore  hast 
 tliou  done  so? 
 
 1 1  And  David  said  to  Abishai,  and  to  all  his 
 servants.  Behold,  ""my  son,  wliich  ''came  forth 
 of  my  bowels,  seeketh  my  life  :  how  mncb 
 more  now  may  this  Benjamite  do  it?  let  him 
 alone,  and  let  him  curse  ;  for  the  Lord  hath 
 bidden  bim. 
 
 12  It  may  be  that  the  Lord  will  look  on 
 mine  ||  f  affliction,  and  that  the  Lord  will  're- 
 quite me  good  for  his  cursing  this  day. 
 
 13  And  as  David  and  his  men  went  by  the 
 way,  Shimei  went  along  on  the  hill's  side  over 
 against  bim,  and  cursed  as  he  went,  and  threw 
 stones  at  him,  and  f  cast  dust. 
 
 14  And  the  king,  and  all  the  people  that  were 
 with  him,  came  weary,  and  refreshed  them- 
 selves there. 
 
 15  H  And  'Absalom,  and  all  the  people  the 
 men  of  Israel,  came  to  Jerusalem,  and  Abitho- 
 phel  with  bim. 
 
 I(>  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Hushai  the 
 Archite,  '  David's  friend,  was  come  unto  Absa- 
 lom, that  Hushai  said  unto  Absalom,  j  God 
 save  the  king,  God  save  the  king. 
 
 17  And  Absalom  said  to  Hushai,  Is  this  thy 
 kindness  to  thy  friend  ?  "why  wentest  thou  not 
 with  thy  friend  ? 
 
 )8  And  Hushai  said  unto  Absalom,  Nay  ; 
 but  whom  the  Lord,  and  this  people,  and  all 
 
 B.  C.  1{KS. 
 
 t  Hcb.  ra.m 
 
 «fhtoid. 
 g  Deii.  1.1.13 
 ft  Judg.9.2J, 
 
 56.  .'I?. 
 
 I  Kiu.2-32. 
 
 33. 
 iSeecli.1-16 
 
 &  3    -.^.'.S. 
 
 &  1.  n,  12. 
 1  Hfb.i./,.,;-; 
 
 thfe  in  tliif 
 
 k  1  Sam.  94 
 
 14  rlt.  y.  8 
 
 /  Ex   •?•».  2S. 
 
 m  ch. 19.29 
 1  Pot.  2. 23, 
 
 n  Pep  91- 
 18.  95. 
 
 r  cii.  19,  n. 
 
 J  Gill.  15.1 
 
 llOr,  teart. 
 
 f  Heb.  itv. 
 fieii.  29  32. 
 1  Sam  111 
 P-   25.  IS. 
 
 T  Kom.8.29. 
 
 y  Cb.  15.  16. 
 &  30.  3. 
 
 ;  Gen.fU.30 
 1  Sam.  13.4. 
 
 a  oh.  9.  7. 
 Zech.  3.  13. 
 
 t  Heb.  mrd. 
 crh.  15.  19, 
 
 I  ch.  15.  37. 
 
 t  Ueb.  L't 
 llif  ki'<n 
 live. 
 
 «  ch.  19.  Si. 
 Prov.  17.17. 
 
 a  See  Deut. 
 25.  19. 
 cb.  16.  14. 
 
 t  Heb.  uia 
 right  in  the 
 rv"  "/•  *<"■ 
 ISura. 13.90. 
 
 f  Wvh.Khnt 
 
 the  men  of  Israel,  choose,  his  will  I  be,  and 
 with  hiin  will  I  abide. 
 
 1 9  And  again,  '  w  bom  should  I  serve  ?  should 
 /not  serve  in  the  presence  of  his  son?  as  I 
 have  served  in  thy  father's  presence,  so  will  I 
 be  in  thy  presence. 
 
 'JO  H  Then  said  Absalom  to  Ahithophel,  Give 
 counsel  among  you  what  we  shall  do. 
 
 21  And  Ahithophel  said  unto  Absalom,  Go 
 in  unto  thy  father's  ^  concubines,  which  he  hath 
 left  to  keep  the  house  ;  and  all  Israel  shall 
 lioar  that  thou  ^  art  abhorred  of  thy  father  : 
 then  shall  °  the  hands  of  all  that  are  with  thee 
 be  strong. 
 
 i-i  So  they  spread  Absalom  a  tent  upon  the 
 top  of  the  house  ;  and  Absalom  went  in  unto 
 his  father's  concubines  ''  in  the  sight  of  all 
 Israel. 
 
 •23  And  the  counsel  of  Ahithophel,  which  he 
 counselled  in  those  days,  ivas  as  if  a  man  had 
 enquired  at  the  f  oracle  of  God  :  so  was  all  the 
 counsel  of  Ahithophel  '■'  both  with  David  and 
 with  Absalom. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  AhithopheYs  counsel  is  overthrown  by  IlushaVs,  ac- 
 
 cordintf  to  Goil*s  appointmcut.  15  Secret  inteUiyevce 
 is  Scut  wito  Daviil.  23  Ah'itliophcl  hanpcth  /limself. 
 2ij  Amasa  is  made  captain.  27  David  at  Mahanaim 
 is  furnished  with  provision. 
 
 "JYTOREOVER  Ahithophel  said  unto  Absa- 
 ^^■^  lom,  Let  me  now  choose  out  twelve  thou- 
 sand men,  and  I  will  arise  and  pursue  after 
 David  this  night : 
 
 2  And  I  will  come  upon  him  while  he  is 
 °  weary  and  weak  handed,  and  will  make  him 
 afraid  :  and  all  the  people  that  are  with  bim 
 shall  flee  ;  and  I  will  ''smite  the  king  only  : 
 
 3  And  I  will  bring  back  all  the  people  nuto 
 thee :  the  man  whom  thou  seekest  is  as  if  all 
 returned  :  so  all  the  people  shall  be  in  peace. 
 
 4  And  the  saying  f  pleased  Absalom  well, 
 and  all  the  elders  of  Israel. 
 
 5  Then  said  Absalom,  Call  now  Hushai  the 
 Archite  also,  and  let  us  liear  likewise  f  what  he 
 saith. 
 
 Olives.— ITsZ/.v.  7.  Come  out,  '  Get  off,  get  otf.'—Doothr.  •  Go  out, 
 go  out,'  that  is,  '  get  thee  out  of  the  kingdom.' — Pat.  10.  The  Lord 
 hntk  Slid — by  the  dispensation  of  his  providence. — Poide,  Gill.  As  it 
 was  Sliimei's  sin.  it  was  from  the  devil;  but  as  David's  affliction,  it  was 
 from  the  Lord. — Henry.  13.  Ctut  rfi«£— such  a  scene  is  common  in 
 the  east.  Ttie  angry  party  vociferates  violently,  throws  his  body  into 
 contortions,  and,  casting  handfuls  of  dust  into  the  air,  says,  '  Look, 
 look,  thou  cursed  one!  as  this  dust,  so  shalt  thou  bQ.*~Ro/}.  In 
 almost  all  the  east,  those  who  accuse  a  criminal  throw  dust  upon 
 him. — Hur.        14.  Ca?ne  Mjeary,  §-c.,  D'D'1\  ' Aiphim,' — 'weary,'  may 
 
 mean  a  place  ; '  being  come  to  Aiphim,  they  refreshed  themselves  there.' 
 — Iloub.  2] .  Conctibines — there  were  ten, (chap.  XV.  16.)  The  wives 
 of  the  conquered  king  always  belonged  to  tlie  conqueror,  and  gave  him 
 the  right  to  the  kingdom. — So  Heriid.  22.  Top  of  the  house — of  his 
 father's  palace,  the  roof  Hat,  the  very  spot  whence  David  saw  Bath, 
 sheba.  In  the  sight  of  alt  Israel,  fnlfiUing  the  prophecy,  (chap.  xii.  11, 
 12.)  23.  As  if  a  man,  fye. — men  felt  as  confident  of  success,  in  taking 
 Ahithophel's  counsel,  as  if  Uiira  and  Tbummlm  had  been  consulted. 
 —Gilt. 
 Chap.  XVII.  —  1.  Let  me  now  choose,  ffC. — nothing  could  have  been 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVI.  — Four  prominent  characters 
 appear  in  this  chapter:—!.  Ziba.  How  contemptible  does 
 this  wretch  appear  !  taking  advantage  of  liis  master's  bodily 
 infirmities,  and  of  David's  agitated  .state  of  mind,  to  deceive 
 both,  and  obtain  the  gratification  of  his  covetous  desires.  A 
 traitor  and  a  liar  !  Servants  that  are  only  eye-servants  ought 
 lo  be  as  much  contemned  as  sincere  and  faithful  servants  ought 
 to  be  valued. 
 
 II.  Shimei.  In  him  is  a  specimen  of  malice  -,  and  who 
 would  wish  to  resemble  him  ?  nothing  is  more  fiend-like. 
 This  man  had  sutt'ered  by  the  transferring  of  the  kingdom  from 
 Saul  to  David,  and  now  he  would  give  vent  to  the  inveterate 
 feelings  of  liis  bosom  by  insulting  and  pouring  execrations 
 upon  David  in  his  misfortunes.  'The  Lord,"  said  he,  'hath 
 returned  upon  thee  all  the  blood  of  the  house  of  Saul,  in 
 whose  stead  thou  h;ist  reigned."  '  From  the  murder  of  Abner 
 and  Ishbosheth,'  says  Henrv,  'he  had  sufficiently  cleared 
 himself,  and  yet  all  the  blood  of  the  bouse  of  Saul  must  be  laid 
 at  his  door.  Iniiocency  is  uo  fence  against  malice  and  false- 
 hood.' 
 
 JII.  Diiri.t.     Here  again  he  shines.     His  graces,  like  stars, 
 
 look  brightest  in  the  darkest  night.  How  patient  and  sub- 
 missive :  '  So  let  him  curse  ;'  '  the  Lord  liaih  bidden  him.' 
 'Nothing  more  proper,*  says  Henry,  'to  (juiet  a  gracious  soul 
 under  affliction  than  an  eye  to  the  hand  of  God  in  it.'  '  I 
 opened  not  my  mouth,  because  thou  didst  it.'  The  scourge 
 of  the  tongue  is  God's  rod.  '  It  may  be  that  the  Lord  will 
 requite  me  good  for  his  cursing.'  '  We  may  depend  upon  God 
 as  our  paymaster,  not  only  for  our  services,  but  for  our  suf- 
 ferings.' 
 
 IV.  y4bsalom.  How  this  young  man  added  sin  to  sin!  .Surely 
 it  is  well  said,  the  way  of  sin  is  down  hill.  Scripture  charac- 
 ters are  drawn  for  our  instruction,  and  in  this  prince  we  have 
 an  awful  sample  of  human  depravity.  The  heart  is  '  despe- 
 rately wicked.'  If  the  young  once  give  the  reins  to  their  pas- 
 sions, it  is  impossible  to  say  where  they  will  stay  their  mad 
 career.  Nothing  but  the  love  of  Christ  influencing  the  heart 
 is  an  effectual  check  to  sin  ;  this  '  constrains  us,'  and  while, 
 like  a  mighty  tide,  corruption  would  carry  us  away,  this 
 counter-current  bears  us  onward  in  that  course  which  cao  alone 
 terminate  in  present  and  everlasting  felicity. 
 
AJiithophel's  counsel  defeated. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XVII. 
 
 He  hangeth  himsc!/. 
 
 6  And  when  Hushai  was  come  to  Absalom, 
 Absalom  spake  unto  liim,  savin";,  Aliithophel 
 liath  spoken  after  this  manner:  shall  we  do 
 after  liis  f  saying?  if  not  ;  speak  thou. 
 
 7  And  Husliai  said  unto  Absalom,  The  coun 
 sel  that  Ahithophel  hath  f  given  is  not  good  at 
 this  time. 
 
 8  For,  said  Hushai,  thou  knowest  thy  father 
 and  his  men,  that  they  l>e  mighty  men,  and 
 they  be  f  chafed  in  their  minds,  as  ■""  a  bear  rob- 
 bed of  her  whelps  in  tlie  field  :  and  thy  father 
 is  a  man  of  war,  and  will  not  lodge  with  the 
 people. 
 
 9  Behold,  he  is  hid  now  in  some  pit,  or  in 
 some  uther  place  :  and  it  will  come  to  pass, 
 when  some  of  them  be  f  overtlirown  at  the 
 first,  that  whosoever  heareth  it  will  say,  There 
 is  a  slaughter  among  the  people  that  follow 
 Absalom. 
 
 10  And  he  also  titat  is  valiant,  whose  heart 
 is  as  the  heart  of  a  lion,  shall  utterly  ''  melt : 
 for  all  Israel  knoweth  that  thy  father  is  a 
 mighty  man,  and  they  which  be  with  him  are 
 valiant  men. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  I  counsel  that  all  Israel  be  ge- 
 nerally gathered  unto  thee,°from  Dan  even  to 
 Beer-sheba, ''  as  the  sand  that  is  by  the  sea  for 
 multitude  ;  and  f  that  thou  go  to  battle  in 
 thine  own  person. 
 
 12  So  shall  we  come  upon  him  in  some  place 
 wliore  he  shall  be  found,  and  we  will  light  upon 
 him  as  the  dew  falleth  on  the  ground  :  and  of 
 him  and  of  all  the  men  that  are  with  him  there 
 shall  not  be  left  so  much  as  one. 
 
 la  Moreover,  if  he  be  gotten  into  a  city,  then 
 shall  all  Israel  bring  ropes  to  that  city,  and  we 
 will  draw  it  into  the  river,  until  there  be  not 
 one  small  stone  found  there. 
 
 14  And  Absalom  and  all  the  men  of  Israel 
 said.  The  counsel  of  Hushai  the  Archite  is 
 better  than  the  counsel  of  Ahithojihel.  For 
 ^  the  Lord  had  f  appointed  to  defeat  the  good 
 counsel  of  Ahithophel,  to  the  intent  that  the 
 Loud  might  bring  evil  upon  Absalom. 
 
 15  t  I"  Then  said  Hushai  unto  Zadok  and  to 
 Abiathar  the  priests.  Thus  and  thus  did  Ahi- 
 thophel counsel  Absalom  and  the  elders  of 
 Israel ;  and  thus  and  thus  have  I  counselled. 
 
 IG  Now  therefore  send  quickly,  and  tell  Da- 
 vid, saying.  Lodge  not  this  night  '  in  the  plains 
 of  the  wilderness,  but  speedily  pass  over  ;  lest 
 the  king  be  swallowed  up,  and  all  the  people 
 that  are  with  him. 
 
 17  ''  Now  Jonathan  and  Ahimaaz  '  stayed  by 
 °'  En-rogel ;  for  they  might  not  be  seen  to 
 fume  into  the  city  :  and  a  wench  went  and  told 
 them  ;  and  they  went  and  told  king  David. 
 
 rf  JliJg.  ?0. 1 
 
 /Ocn.  52.17. 
 
 I  II«t>.  th/it 
 Iht/  fnce,ot. 
 
 .tjosli.15,7. 
 t>  IS.  16. 
 
 1  ver.  1-^,  IG. 
 
 I  Heb.  dom. 
 r  cli.  15.  12- 
 
 t  Heb.  giwe 
 charge  rim- 
 CfrHiiig  hia 
 hi,iite. 
 2Kiii. 211,1. 
 
 I  MHt,  27.5. 
 
 ficii.  •^■i.  2, 
 j..sii,  i;t.2ti, 
 
 Ch.  2.  S. 
 
 1.  I  Chr.  2. 
 Iti.  17. 
 t  Hc'b.  JIbi- 
 
 II  Or,  Jrtn. 
 See  1  Chr. 
 2    1:1,  111. 
 
 ft  ch.  0.  1. 
 
 rrh.  19.  -^1, 
 Hi.  1  Kin. 
 2.  7. 
 Or,  cupi. 
 
 18  Nevertheless  a  lad  saw  them,  and  told 
 Absalom  :  but  they  went  both  of  them  away 
 quickly,  and  came  to  a  man's  house  "  in  Bahn- 
 rim,  which  had  a  well  in  his  court ;  whither 
 they  went  down. 
 
 1!)  And  "the  woman  took  and  spread  a  co- 
 vering over  the  well's  month,  and  spread 
 ground  corn  thereon ;  and  the  thing  was  not 
 known. 
 
 2(J  And  when  Absalom's  servants  came  to  the 
 woman  to  the  house,  they  said.  Where  is 
 Ahimaaz  and  Jonathan':'  And  ''the  woman 
 said  unto  them.  They  be  gone  over  the  brook 
 of  water.  And  wlien  they  had  sought  and 
 could  not  find  them,  they  returned  to  Jeru- 
 .salein. 
 
 I  And  it  came  to  pass,  after  they  were  de- 
 parted, that  they  came  up  out  of  the  well,  and 
 went  and  told  king  David,  and  said  unto  Da- 
 vid, '■  Arise,  and  pass  quickly  over  the  water  : 
 for  thus  hath  Ahithophel  counselled  against 
 you. 
 
 22  Then  David  arose,  and  all  the  people  that 
 were  with  him,  and  they  passed  over  Jordan  ; 
 by  the  morning  light  there  lacked  not  one  of 
 them  that  was  not  gone  over  Jordan. 
 
 23  If  And  when  Ahithophel  saw  that  his  coun- 
 sel was  not  t  followed,  he  saddled  his  ass,  and 
 arose,  and  gat  him  home  to  his  house,  to  'his 
 city,  and  fput  his  houshold  in  order,  and 
 "hanged  hiniseir,  and  died,  and  was  buried  in 
 the  sepulchre  of  his  father. 
 
 24  Then  David  came  to  '  Malianaiin.  And 
 Absalom  passed  over  Jordan,  he  and  all  the 
 men  of  Israel  with  him. 
 
 2j  t  And  Absalom  made  Amasa  captain  of  the 
 host   instead   of  Joab  :  which  Amasa   was  a 
 man's  son,  whose  name  urns  |j  Ithra  an  Israel- 
 ite, that  went  in  to  "f  Abigail  the  daughter  of 
 Nahasli,  sister  to  Zeruiah  Joab's  mother. 
 
 26  So  Israel  and  Absalom  pitched  in  the  land 
 of  Gilead. 
 
 27  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  David  was 
 come  to  Mahanaim,  that  *  Shobi  the  sou  of 
 Nahash  of  Rabbah  of  the  children  of  Ammon, 
 and  ''  Machir  the  son  of  Amniicl  of  Lo-debar, 
 and  '  Barzillai  the  Gileadite  of  Rogelim, 
 
 28  Brought  beds,  and  ||  basons,  and  earthen 
 vessels,  and  wheat,  and  barley,  and  flour,  and 
 parched  corn,  and  beans,  and  lentiles,  and 
 parched  pu/se, 
 
 29  And  honey,  and  butter,  and  sheep,  and 
 cheese  of  kine,  for  David,  and  for  the  people 
 that  were  with  him,  to  eat :  for  they  said.  The 
 people  is  hungry,  and  weary,  and  thirsty,  "  in 
 the  wilderness. 
 
 more  fatal  to  David  than  the  taking  of  tliese  measures.  —  Hettry. 
 8.  An  a  hear — the  furious  passions  of  the  female  bear  never  mount  so 
 high,  nor  burn  so  fiercely,  as  when  she  i.s  deprived  of  her  young  ;  slie 
 then  becomes  almost  frantic  with  rage. — C'uo/r'.s-  Vtiy.  With  us,  tiie 
 figure  connects  roughness  ;  witll  the  easterns,  only  rage. — Har.  It  is 
 now  a  conimun  expression  in  India, '  i  will  tear  thee  in  pieces  as  a  bear 
 wliich  has  cubbed.* — Itub.  11.  i>«n,  §-c. — see  note,  Jutig.  w.  I. 
 13.  Rtijies—m^t.^^'i  of  ropes,  some  read  '  trtiops,'  or  '  band~,'  who,  by 
 machines  drawn  with  ropes,  could  batter  down  walls  and  houses  ;  or 
 the  speech  is  hyperbolical,  representing  tliat  by  theirnumberseven  this 
 couhi  be  accomplished.  l6.  Vims  orer,  over  the  Jordan. — Puti-icfc. 
 17.  Enriiffet,  or  the  fuller's  well,  a  place  near  Jerusalem,  (Josh,  .xv.7.) 
 A  wenrh,  pretending  to  go  and  wash  some  clothes. — Potjte.  18.  A 
 welt,  '  a  cistern.' — Harm.,  Boothr.  No  doubt  now  dry. — BDOt/irot/'I. 
 19.  A  covtring  over — eastern  wells  have  Iheir  mouths  level  with  tlio 
 
 ground  J  hence,  to  spread  a  covering  over  the  well  was  iiuite  easy. — 
 So  Ho/j.  23.  Hiingnd  hiinsetfy  partly  because  he  saw  his  counsel  was 
 rejected,  and  partly  because  he  fenred  the  consequences  of  David's 
 gaining  the  victory.— /'o'»/e.  24.  Maluuwim,  a  city  on  the  other  side 
 Jordan,  in  the  tiibe  of  Gad,  (Josh.  siii.  2fi,  30.)— Gill,  Not  far  from 
 the  Uke  of  Gene^aret.  Compare  Gen.  x.\,\ii.2,  22;  Josh.  xxi.  38,  &c. 
 25.  Ainnsn — it  should  seem  this  man  and  Joab  were  sister's  children, 
 and  nephews  to  Daviil.  —  So  A.  Clarke.  Ultra,  called  an  Ishmeelite, 
 1  Chron.  ii.  17.  Hait  he  been  an  Israelite,  his  nalion  need  not  have 
 been  mentioned. —  Walt,  27.  Shubi,  brother  of  Hanmi,  who  had 
 insulted  David's  messengers  j  he  now  made  a  grateful  return  for  being 
 pinccd  on  the  throne.— 6■«^  28.  Parchtd  corn,  a  food  si  ill  retained 
 in  the  east.  Honet/,  reckoned  among  food  and  provisions  at  feasts. — 
 Hojncr. 
 
 llEfi.EciioNs  (IN  Cii.vr.  .\\  II.  —  In  this  cliapter  we  have, 
 J.  A/tithophtrs  fnistrateil  cuutisil,      llusbai  wus  the  ayent  eiii- 
 349 
 
 ploypd,  but  '  tho  Lord  had  appointed  to  defeat  the  good  coun- 
 sel of  Ahithophel.'     '  Bo  it  observed,'  says  Henry,  '  to   the 
 
The  battle  in  the  wood  of  Ephraim. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XVIH. 
 
 Absalom  is  slain  by  Juab. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 1  David  viewing  the  armies  in  t/ieir  march  giveth  them 
 charge  of  Absalom.  6  Tlie  hrttelites  are  sore  smit' 
 ten  in  the  wood  of  Kphniim.  9  Absalom,  hanging 
 in  an  oak,  is  shiiit  by  Joab,  and  cast  into  a  pit,  18 
 Absalojn^s  place,  19  .ihimaax  and  Citshi  bring 
 tidings  to  David,    S3  David  mourneth  for  Absalom. 
 
 A  ND  David  numbered  the  people  that  were 
 -^*-  with  liim,  and  set  captains  of  thousands 
 and  captains  of  hundreds  over  them. 
 
 2  And  David  sent  forth  a  tliird  part  of  the 
 people  under  the  hand  of  Joab,  and  a  third 
 part  under  the  hand  of  Abishai  the  son  of  Ze- 
 ruiah,  Joab's  brother,  "  and  a  tliird  part  under 
 the  band  of  Ittai  the  Gittite.  And  the  king 
 said  unto  the  people,  1  will  surely  go  forth 
 with  you  myself  also. 
 
 3  ''But  the  people  answered,  Thou  shall  not 
 go  forth  :  for  if  we  flee  away,  they  will  not 
 t  care  for  us  ;  neither  if  half  of  us  die,  will  they 
 care  for  ns :  but  now  thou  art  f  worth  ten 
 thousand  of  us  :  therefore  now  it  is  better  that 
 thou  t  succour  us  out  of  the  city 
 
 4  And  the  kiuf;  said  unto  them,  What  seem- 
 eth  you  best  I  will  do.  And  the  king  stood  by 
 the  gate  side,  and  all  the  people  came  out  by 
 hundreds  and  by  thousands. 
 
 5  And  the  king  commanded  Joab  and  Abi- 
 shai and  Ittai,  saying,  Deal  gently  for  my  sake 
 with  the  young  man,  even  with  Absalom 
 '  And  all  the  people  beard  when  the  king  gave 
 all  the  captains  charge  concerning  Absalom. 
 
 6  IF  So  the  people  went  out  into  the  field 
 against  Israel  :  and  the  battle  was  in  the 
 '  wood  of  Ephraiui ; 
 
 7  Where  the  peo|ile  of  Israel  were  slain  be- 
 fore the  servants  of  David,  and  there  was  there 
 a  great  slaughter  that  day  of  twenty  thousand 
 men. 
 
 8  For  the  battle  was  there  scattered  over  the 
 face  of  all  the  country  :  and  the  wood  fdevoured 
 more  people  that  day  than  the  sword  devoured. 
 
 9  f  And  Absalom  met  the  servants  of  David. 
 And  Ab.salom  rode  upon  a  mule,  and  the  mule 
 went  under  the  thick  boughs  of  a  great  oak, 
 and  bis  head  caught  hold  of  the  oak,  and  he 
 was  taken  up  between  the  heaven  and  the 
 earth  ;  and  the  mule  that  was  under  him  went 
 away. 
 
 10  And  a  certain  man  saw  it,  and  told  Joab, 
 and  said,  Behold,  I  saw  Absalom  banged  in  an 
 oak. 
 
 4cl..SI.  17. 
 I  Hoi, 
 
 Uarl 
 
 t  Hob  "<  tim  I 
 If.tmaiid  of 
 
 \b,  IH. 
 
 t  Hi'b,  vt,g}, 
 
 )  Hob  be  a 
 
 1 1  And  Joab  said  unto  the  man  that  told 
 him.  And.  behold,  thou  sawest  him,  and  why 
 didst  thou  not  smite  him  there  to  the  ground? 
 and  1  would  have  given  thee  ten  shekels  of 
 silver,  and  a  girdle. 
 
 12  And  the  man  said  unto  Joab,  Though  I 
 should  t  receive  a  thousand  «/ifAe/s  of  silver  in 
 mine  baud,  yet  would  I  not  put  forth  mine 
 hand  against  the  king's  son  :  "  fur  in  our  hear- 
 ing the  king  charged  thee  and  Abishai  and 
 Ittai,  saying,  f  Beware  that  none  toucli  the 
 young  man  Absalom. 
 
 13  Otherwise  I  should  have  wrought  false- 
 hood against  mine  own  life:  for  there  is  no 
 matter  hid  from  the  king,  and  thou  thyself 
 wouldest  have  set  thyself  against  me. 
 
 14  Then  said  Joab,  I  may  not  tarry  thus 
 t  with  thee.  And  he  took  three  darts  in  his 
 hand,  and  thrust  them  through  the  heart  of 
 Absalom,  while  he  was  yet  alive  in  the  fniidst 
 of  the  oak. 
 
 15  And  ten  young  men  that  bare  Joab's  ar- 
 mour compassed  about  and  smote  Absalom, 
 and  slew  him. 
 
 16  And  Joab  blew  the  trumpet,  and  the 
 people  returned  from  pursuing  after  Israel : 
 for  Joab  held  back  the  people. 
 
 17  And  they  took  Absalom,  and  cast  him  nito 
 a  great  pit  in  the  wood,  and  'laid  a  very  great 
 heap  of  stones  upon  him  :  and  all  Israel  fled 
 every  one  to  his  tent. 
 
 18  t  Now  Absalom  in  his  lifetime  had  taken 
 and  reared  up  for  himself  a  pillar,  which  is  in 
 '"'  the  king's  dale  :  for  he  said,  ■■  I  have  no  son 
 to  keep  my  name  in  rcniL-nibrance  :  and  he 
 called  the  pillar  after  his  own  name  :  and  it  is 
 called  unto  this  day,  Absalom's  place. 
 
 19  t  Then  said  Abimaaz  the  son  of  Zadok, 
 Let  me  now  run,  and  bear  the  king  tidings, 
 how  that  the  Lord  hath  f  avenged  him  of  his 
 enemies. 
 
 20  And  Joab  said  unto  him.  Thou  shalt  not 
 fbear  tidings  this  day,  but  thou  shalt  bear 
 tidings  another  day  :  but  this  day  thou  shalt 
 bear  no  tidings,  because  the  king's  son  is  dead. 
 
 21  Then  said  Joab  to  Cushi,  Go  tell  the  king 
 what  thou  hast  seen.  And  Cushi  bowed  him- 
 self unto  Joab,  and  ran. 
 
 22  Then  said  Abimaaz  the  son  of  Zadok  yet 
 again  to  Joab,  But  f  howsoever,  let  me,  I  pray 
 thee,  also  run  after  Cushi.  And  Joab  said. 
 Wherefore  wilt  thou  run,  my  son,  seeing  that 
 thou  hast  no  tidings  ||  ready  ? 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.— 2. ///ni,  the  Philistine  general,  who  hart  f.nthfully 
 fnllowed  thi*  fortunes  of  the  king.  — Ni//.  4.  Bri  the  fr/ite  siite,  of  the 
 city  of  Miihanaim.— Gi//.  6.  The  u-ond  of  Kphraim,  so  called,  ntt 
 from  being  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  which  was  beyond  Jordan,  but  on 
 account  of  one  of  the  nicmorabje  actions  which  occurred  here,  (see 
 Ju<li;.  vii.  1!,  ;  viii.  3  ;  sii.  5,  6.1— /'ooV.  The  latter  event  is  generally 
 selected.  s.  Tlie  ttiwd  devoured,  by  hunger,   thirst,  fatigue,   wild 
 
 beasts,  falling  into  ditches  and  pits,  and  being  entangled  and  stopped 
 in  tlieir  flight,  or  hanged  on  trees  as  Absalom.— Poo/*^.  g.  A  pi-ent 
 oalt,  a'  tuipen;iue  tree.* — Bootltr,  His  head  cay  i;ht,  probably  Ilie  hair. 
 — Punle.  His  neck,  perhaps,  stuck  fast  between  the  houghs.— Pu/.,  so 
 Clarke.  Unless  he  had  lost  his  helmet,  his  hair  could  not  have  been 
 entangled.— //fii'.  11.   Ten  shekels,  twenty-four   shillings.— Gi/f. 
 
 A  girdle,  •  a  military  belt,'  which  was  much  esteemed,  (1  Sam.  xviii.  4.) 
 — Put.  \:i.  Otherwise,  I  should  have  wrought,  ^c.,  or,  "had  I  thus 
 done  falsely,  it  would  have  been  at  the  risk  of  my  own  life.'— BooMr. 
 
 15.  Smote—find  slew— ^moie  him  until  it  was  evident  he  was  dead.— 
 Gill.  \7.  A  very  great  Aefl/j— such  was  the  practice  of  the  ancients. 
 Our  Saxon  fathers  did  the  same  ;  they  raised  round  hills  of  earth,  where 
 stones  were  scarce,  as  memorials  of  victories.  —  Sut.  Some  have 
 thought  this  heap  was  raised  in  scorn,  and  .idrieootius,  in  describing  the 
 Holy  Land,  «ays,  travellers,  with  this  view,  added  to  the  heap.  But 
 Ei^mont  and  Heyman  have  shewn  that,  in  one  instance,  this  is  done  as 
 a  respectful  memorial,  where  travellers  add  to  a  heap  of  stones  by 
 casting  one  as  tliey  pass  upon  a  spot  said  to  bear  the  mark  of  Maho 
 met's  camel's  foot.  This  was,  therefore,  a  memorial  of  the  battle  or 
 burial  place. — SoHete.  13.  Ahsalom's pillar — acomparativelymoderji 
 structure,  cut  with  a  chisel  out  of  a  rock,  is  now  shewn  as  this  pillar  ; 
 it  probably  stands  on  or  near  the  proper  spot,  but  in  Josephtts*  time 
 the  pillar  was  merely  a  marble  column.  The  dale  is  mentioned  (ien. 
 xiv.  17,  and  is  not  far  from  Jerusalem.  No  son — he  had  three  sons  and 
 a  daughter,  (chap.  xiv.  27,}  but  they  were  now  dead.— Paf.     Placet 
 
 comfort  of  all  that  fear  God,  he  turns  all  men's  hearts  as  the 
 rivers  of  water,  though  "  they  know  not  the  thou.nhts  of  tlie 
 Lord."  "  He  stands  in  the  congregation  of  tho  miRhty,  has 
 an  overrulins  hand  in  all  counsels,  and  a  negative  voice  in  all 
 resolves,  and  laughs  at  men's  projects  asainst  his  anointed."  ' 
 II.  AhithophiTi  auful  end,  Boothroyd  here  observes,  that, 
 3j0 
 
 '  with  a  soul  loaded  with  all  the  horrors  of  Ruilt,  treachery, 
 rebellion,  incest,  and  parricide,  he  destroyed  himself,  and,  to 
 prevent  any  possibility  of  repentance,  died  in  the  very  act  of 
 self-murder."  Thus  '  the  wicked  is  snared  in  the  work  of  his 
 own  hands.' 
 
David  mcnirneth  for  Absalom. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XIX. 
 
 The  people  desire  his  return. 
 
 23  But  howsoever,  said  he,  let  me  run.  And 
 lie  said  unto  liini,  Run.  Tlien  Aliimaaz  ran 
 by  the  way  of  tlie  plain,  and  overran  Cushi. 
 
 24  And  David  sat  between  the  two  gates  : 
 and  '  the  watelnnan  went  up  to  the  roof  over 
 the  gate  unto  the  wall,  and  lifted  up  his  eyes, 
 and  looked,  and  behold  a  man  running  alone. 
 
 '2j  And  the  watchman  cried,  and  told  the 
 king.  And  the  king  said.  If  he  he  alone,  tltere 
 is  tidings  in  his  mouth.  And  he  came  apace, 
 and  drew  near. 
 
 •Hi   And  the  watchman  saw  another  man  run- 
 ning :  and  the  watchman  called  unto  the  per 
 ter,  and   said.  Behold   another   man  running 
 alone.     And  the  king  said.  He  also  bringeth 
 tidings. 
 
 27  And  the  watchman  said,  f  Me  thinketh  the 
 running  of  the  foremost  is  like  the  running  of 
 Aliimaaz  the  son  of  Zadok.  And  the  king 
 said.  He  is  a  good  man,  and  cometh  with  good 
 tidings. 
 
 28  And  Ahimaaz  called,  and  said  unto  the 
 king,  II  t  All  is  well.  And  he  fell  down  to  the 
 earth  upon  his  face  before  the  king,  and  said. 
 Blessed  be  the  Lono  thy  God,  which  hath 
 t  delivered  up  the  men  that  lifted  up  their 
 hand  against  my  lord  the  king. 
 
 29  And  tlie  king  said,  f  Is  the  young  man 
 Absalom  safe  ?  And  Ahimaaz  answered. 
 When  Joab  sent  the  king's  servant,  and  7ne 
 thy  servant,  I  saw  a  great  tumult,  but  I  knew 
 not  what  it  was. 
 
 30  And  the  king  said  unto  him.  Turn  aside, 
 and  stand  here.  And  lie  turned  aside,  and 
 stood  still. 
 
 31  And,  behold,  Cushi  came  ;  and  Cushi 
 said,  f  Tidings,  my  lord  the  king  :  for  the  Lord 
 hath  avenged  thee  this  day  of  all  them  that 
 rose  up  against  thee. 
 
 32  And  the  king  said  unto  Cushi,  Is  the 
 young  man  Absalom  safe?  And  Cushi  an- 
 swered. The  enemies  of  my  lord  the  king,  and 
 all  that  rise  against  thee  to  do  thee  hurt,  be  as 
 that  young  man  is. 
 
 33  i  And  the  king  was  much  moved,  and 
 went  up  to  the  chamber  over  the  gate,  and 
 wept :  and  as  he  went,  thus  he  said,  '  O  my 
 son  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  Absalom ! 
 would  God  I  had  died  for  thee,  O  Absalom, 
 my  son,  my  son ! 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I  Joab  causiith  the  kinq  to  cense  /lis  mourning.  9  Tlie 
 Israelites  are  earnest  to  briny  tlie  king  back.  I  I  Da- 
 vid sendctli  to  t/te  priests  to  incite  them  of  Judah. 
 
 II  Or,  Prort 
 lie  to  tlu'C. 
 tHeb  Peuce. 
 
 I  Heb.  la 
 there 
 
 b  eh.  15   SO. 
 c  ch.  13.  3:< 
 
 t  Heb.  Bti 
 iflt'ilii/,  ^c. 
 
 t  Heb.  tk.it 
 
 i  Heb.  /o  lt,f 
 heart  of  thi/ 
 lervtiiilt. 
 Geu.  Si.  3. 
 
 I  Heb.  are 
 
 18  Shimti  is  pardonefl.  24  Miphil.oslteth  excused. 
 32  B'lrziUai  dismissid,  Cliimliuin  his  son  is  taken 
 into  the  king's  fatniti/.  41  The  Isratiites  e.iposfulate 
 with  Judali  for  briiu/ing  home  tlie  king  without  them. 
 
 A  ND  it  was  told  Joab,  Behold,  the  king 
 ■^~*-   weepeth  and  mournetli  for  Absalom. 
 
 2  And  the  f  victory  that  day  was  turned  into 
 mourning  unto  all  the  people  :  for  the  people 
 heard  say  that  day  how  the  king  was  grieved 
 for  his  son. 
 
 3  And  the  people  gat  them  by  stealth  that 
 day  "into  the  city,  as  people  being  ashamed 
 steal  away  when  they  flee  in  battle. 
 
 4  But  the  king  ••  covered  his  face,  and  the 
 king  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  '  O  my  son  Ab- 
 salom, O  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  ! 
 
 5  And  Joab  came  into  the  house  to  the  king, 
 and  said,  Thou  hast  shamed  this  day  the  faces 
 of  all  thy  servants,  which  this  day  have  saved 
 thy  life,  and  the  lives  of  thy  sons  and  of  thy 
 daughters,  and  the  lives  of  thy  wives,  and  the 
 lives  of  thy  concubines  ; 
 
 6  1 1"  'liat  thou  lovest  thine  enemies,  and 
 hatest  thy  friends.  For  thou  hast  declared 
 this  day,  f  that  thou  legardest  neither  princes 
 nor  servants  :  for  this  day  I  perceive,  that  if 
 Absalom  had  lived,  and  all  we  had  died  this 
 day,  then  it  had  pleased  thee  well. 
 
 7  Now  therefore  arise,  go  forth,  and  speak 
 t  comfortably  unto  thy  servants  :  for  I  swear 
 by  the  Lord,  if  thou  go  not  forth,  there  will 
 not  tarry  one  with  thee  this  night  :  and  that 
 will  be  worse  unto  thee  than  all  the  evil  that  , 
 befell  thee  from  thy  youth  until  now. 
 
 8  Then  the  king  arose,  and  sat  in  the  gate. 
 And  they  told  unto  all  the  people,  saying. 
 Behold,  the  king  doth  sit  in  the  gate.  And 
 all  the  people  came  before  the  king;  for  Israel 
 had  fled  every  man  to  his  tent. 
 
 9  1  And  all  the  people  were  at  strife  through- 
 out all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  saying.  The  king 
 saved  us  out  of  the  hand  of  our  enemies,  and 
 he  delivered  us  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philis- 
 tines ;  and  now  he  is  ''  fled  out  of  the  land  for 
 Absalom. 
 
 10  And  Absalom,  whom  we  anointed  over  us, 
 is  dead  in  battle.  Now  therefore  why  f  speak. 
 ye  not  a  word  of  bringing  the  king  back  ? 
 
 1 1  IT  And  king  David  sent  to  Zadok  and  to 
 Abiathar  the  priests,  saying,  Speak  unto  the 
 elders  of  Judah,  saying,  Why  are  ye  the  last 
 to  bring  the  king  back  to  his  house?  seeing 
 the  speech  of  all  Israel  is  come  to  the  king, 
 even  to  his  house. 
 
 12  Ye  are  my  brethren,  ye  are  'my   bones 
 
 *hand,'Heh.  See  note  on  1  Sam.  xv.  12.  i5.  Tidings  in  tiis  mouth —  Chap.  XIX.  —  4.  Covered  his  face  —  such  was  the  custom  of  deep 
 if  a  man  is  seen  now  in  the  east  to  run  fast,  the  very  same  words  are  mourners,  that  they  might  neither  see  nor  be  seen.  —  Knnchi. 
 uttered. — Hob.  5.  .Shamed,  '  affronted.'— Gerfrfw.        g.    Were  at  strife,   '  blamed  one 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIII.  — We  have  here  recorded, 
 I.  The  death  of  a  rebellious  son.  Absalom  aspired  to  the  crown, 
 and  found  a  grave.  He  erected  a  monument  to  Lis  own  memory, 
 and  was  buried  beneath  a  heap  of  stones.  He  hoped  to  render 
 his  name  famous,  and  he  rendered  it  infamous.  He  is  justly 
 denounced  as  '  the  first  of  traitors  and  the  worst  of  sons.'  '  Let 
 all  men,"  says  Sutcliffe,  '  and  particularly  young  men,  learn 
 that  there  is  a  pursuing  hand  of  justice  for  rebellion,  for  whore- 
 dom, and  disobedience  to  parents;  yea,  a  hand  which  often 
 strikes  ere  the  wicked  are  aware.' 
 
 II.  The  agony  of  a  pious  fattier.  How  much  soever  David 
 might  have  been  depressed  by  the  unnatural  conduct  of  Ab- 
 salom, yet  be  possessed  his  soul  in  patience,  till  he  beard  of 
 the  young  man's  awful  end.  Then  the  dagger  truly  pierced 
 331 
 
 bis  heart.  Who  but  a  pious  father,  placed  in  like  circum- 
 stances, could  fully  enter  into  his  feelings  when  he  cried,  '  O 
 my  son  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  Absalom  !  would  God  1  had 
 died  for  thee,  O  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  !'  He  knew  that 
 Absalom  had  died  laden  with  crimes,  impenitent, — in  fact,  in 
 his  sins.  Let  parents  beware  that,  if  tlieir  children  come  to 
 an  unhappy  end,  they  may  not  have  to  reproach  themselves 
 that  they  have  in  any  way  contributed  to  it.  Then  shall  the 
 death  of  ungodly  children  be  deprived  of  half  its  painful  effects 
 on  their  bosoms.  And  let  them  not  indulge  in  excessive  grief 
 at  the  dispensations  of  Providence  ;  there  are  mercies  mingled 
 with  every  judgment,  as  in  this  case  of  David.  '  Shall  not  the 
 Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  V 
 
David's  return  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XIX. 
 
 His  gratitude  to  Barzillai. 
 
 and  my  flesh  :  wherefore  then  are  ye  the  last 
 to  bring  back  the  king? 
 
 13  f  And  say  ye  to  Amasa,  Art  thou  not  of 
 my  bone,  and  of  my  fiesh  ?  *  God  do  so  to  me, 
 and  more  also,  if  thou  be  not  captain  of  the 
 host  before  me  continually  in  the  room  of 
 Joab. 
 
 14  And  he  bowed  the  heart  of  all  the  men  of 
 Judah,  ""even  as  Me  heart  of  one  man;  so  that 
 they  sent  t/iis  word  unto  the  king,  Return 
 thou,  and  all  thy  servants. 
 
 15  So  the  king  returned,  and  came  to  Jordan. 
 And  Judah  came  to  '  Gilgal,  to  go  to  meet  the 
 king,  to  conduct  the  king  over  Jordan. 
 
 16  t  And  '  Shimei  the  son  of  Gera,  a  Bon- 
 janiite,  which  was  of  Baluiriiii,  hasted  and 
 came  down  with  the  men  of  Judah  to  meet 
 king  David. 
 
 1 7  And  there  were  a  thousand  men  of  Benja- 
 min witli  him,  and  '  Ziba  the  servant  of  the 
 house  of  Saul,  and  bis  fifteen  sons  and  his 
 twenty  servants  with  him  ;  and  they  went  over 
 Jordan  before  the  king. 
 
 18  And  there  went  over  a  ferry  boat  to  carry 
 over  the  king's  houshold,  and  to  do  f  what  he 
 thought  good.  And  Shimei  the  son  of  Gera 
 fell  down  before  the  king,  as  he  was  come  over 
 Jordan  ; 
 
 19  And  said  unto  the  king,  "  Let  not  my 
 lord  impute  iniquity  unto  me,  neither  do  thou 
 remember  "  that  which  thy  servant  did  per- 
 versely the  day  that  my  lord  the  king  went 
 out  of  Jerusalem,  that  the  king  should  °  take 
 it  to  his  heart. 
 
 20  For  thy  servant  doth  know  that  I  have 
 sinned  :  therefore,  behold,  I  am  come  the  first 
 this  day  of  all  ''  the  bouse  of  Joseph  to  go 
 down  to  meet  my  lord  the  king. 
 
 21  But  Abisbai  the  son  of  Zeruiah  answered 
 and  said.  Shall  not  Shimei  be  put  to  death  for 
 this,  because  he  ''cursed  the  Loan's  anointed? 
 
 22  And  David  said, '  What  have  I  to  do  with 
 you,  ye  sons  of  Zeruiah,  that  ye  should  this 
 day  be  adversaries  unto  me?  'shall  there  any 
 man  be  put  to  death  this  day  in  Israel?  for  do 
 not  I  know  that  I  am  this  day  king  over 
 Israel ? 
 
 23  Therefore  '  the  king  said  unto  Shimei, 
 Thou  shalt  not  die.  And  the  king  sware  unto 
 him. 
 
 24  1  And  "  Mephiboshefh  the  son  of  Saul 
 came  down  to  meet  the  king,  and  had  neither 
 dressed  his  feet,  nor  triuuucd  his  beard,  nor 
 washed  his  clothes,  from  the  day  the  king  de- 
 parted until  the  day  he  came  again  in  peace. 
 
 25  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  was  come 
 to  Jerusalem  to  meet  the  king,  that  the  king 
 said  unto  him,  '  Wherefore  wentest  not  thou 
 with  me,  Mephibosheth  ? 
 
 26  And  he  answered,  My  lord,  O  king,  my 
 servant  deceived  me  :  for  thy  servant  said,  I 
 will  saddle  me  an  ass,  that  I  may  ride  thereon, 
 and  go  to  the  king ;  because  thy  servant  is 
 lame. 
 
 27  And  'he  hath  slandered  thy  servant  unto 
 
 /ch.  17.  25, 
 ff  Ruth  1.17. 
 
 h  Judg?0.1 
 
 Icli.  9.?.  10 
 &  16.  1,2. 
 
 f  Heb.  Ih-! 
 eo'"!  in  Ail 
 
 I  I  Sam.». 
 5. 
 
 rli.16.5,6. 
 
 cli.  13.  33. 
 
 .,  r.x.  S2.  29. 
 r  ch.  16.  II). 
 
 I  1  Kill.  2.8, 
 9.  37,  46. 
 
 6  1  Kiu  2.7 
 
 f  Heb.  ni»i 
 
 I  Sa.  26.  lis. 
 ch.  9.7,  HI, 
 13, 
 
 t  Heb.  H.™ 
 are  //if  ypiiij 
 
 d  Pa.  90.  10. 
 
 !  I  Kill.  2.7. 
 Jer.  41,  17. 
 
 my  lord  the  king  ;  ^  but  my  lord  the  king  is  as 
 an  angel  of  God  :  do  tlierefore  what  is  good 
 in  thine  eyes. 
 
 28  For  all  of  my  father's  house  were  but 
 t  dead  men  before  my  lord  tlie  king :  °  yet 
 didst  thou  set  thy  servant  among  them  that 
 did  eat  at  thine  own  table.  What  right  there- 
 fore have  I  yet  to  cry  any  more  unto  the  king? 
 
 29  And  the  king  said  unto  him,  Why  speak- 
 est  thou  any  more  of  thy  matters?  I  have 
 said.  Thou  and  Ziba  divide  the  laud. 
 
 30  And  Meplhboshelb  said  unto  the  king. 
 Yea,  let  him  take  all,  forasmuch  as  my  lord 
 the  king  is  come  again  in  peace  unto  bis  own 
 house. 
 
 31  1  And  ''  Barzillai  tlie  Gileadite  came  down 
 from  Rogelim,  and  went  over  Jordan  with  the 
 king,  to  conduct  him  over  Jordan. 
 
 32  Now  Barzillai  was  a  very  aged  man,  even 
 fourscore  years  old  :  and  "^^  he  had  provided  the 
 king  of  sustenance  while  he  lay  at  Mabanaim  ; 
 for  he  was  a  very  great  man. 
 
 33  And  the  king  said  unto  Barzillai,  Come 
 thou  over  with  me,  and  1  will  feed  thee  with 
 me  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 34  And  Barzillai  said  unto  the  king,  f  How 
 long  have  I  to  live,  that  I  should  go  up  with 
 the  king  unto  Jerusalem  ? 
 
 35  I  am  this  day  ''  fourscore  years  old  :  and 
 can  I  discern  between  good  and  evil?  can  thy 
 .servant  taste  what  I  eat  or  what  I  drink  ?  can 
 I  hear  any  more  the  voice  of  singing  men  and 
 singing  women?  wherel'ore  then  should  thy 
 servant  be  yet  a  burden  unto  my  lord  the 
 king  ? 
 
 36  Thy  servant  will  go  a  little  way  over  Jor- 
 dan with  the  king  :  and  why  should  the  king 
 recompense  it  me  with  such  a  reward  ? 
 
 .37  Let  thy  servant,  I  pray  thee,  turn  hack 
 again,  that  I  may  die  in  mine  own  city,  and  he 
 buried  by  the  grave  of  my  father  and  of  my 
 mother.  But  behold  thy  servant  '  Chimham  ; 
 let  him  go  over  witli  my  lord  the  king ;  and  do 
 to  hiin  what  shall  seem  good  unto  thee. 
 
 38  And  the  king  answered,  Chimham  shall 
 go  over  with  me,  and  I  will  do  to  him  that 
 which  shall  seem  good  unto  thee  :  and  what- 
 soever thou  shalt  f  require  of  me,  that  will  I 
 do  for  thee. 
 
 39  And  all  the  people  went  over  Jordan. 
 And  when  the  king  was  come  over,  the  king 
 '  kissed  Barzillai,  and  blessed  him  ;  and  he 
 returned  unto  bis  own  place. 
 
 40  Then  the  king  went  on  to  Gilgal,  and 
 f  Chimham  went  on  with  him  :  and  all  the 
 people  of  Judah  conducted  the  king,  and  also 
 half  the  people  of  Israel, 
 
 41  t  And,  behold,  all  the  men  of  Israel  came 
 to  the  king,  and  said  unto  the  king.  Why  have 
 our  brethren  the  men  of  Judah  stolen  thee 
 away,  and  *  have  brought  the  king,  and  his 
 houshold,  and  all  David's  men  with  him,  over 
 Jordan  ? 
 
 42  And  all  the  men  of  Judah  answered  the 
 men  of  Israel,  Because  the  king  is  *  near  of 
 
 another,'— Booi/ir.        n.  He  Imurd— Amasa  is  here  meant,— So  the  have  said— this  expression  is  still  used  when  any  one  wishes  to  confirm 
 
 Jewish  urilers  and  Chandler.     Kather  David  did  so  by  his  kind  mes-  what  he  has  spoken,— /io4,     llimde  the  Imid,  as  first  ordered,  (chap, 
 
 sages.— Gj//.        17.  A  thousand  t/ten  of  Benjamin  u-ith  Aim— perhaps  ix,  10,)  vesting  the  property  in  Mephibosheth,  and  the  occupancy  in 
 
 Shimei  was  a  captain  of  a  thousand  in  his  own  tribe.— Pn^         IS,  .-I  Ziba.— So  M.  llenrjt  and  GUI.      Some  Jewish  writers  think  this  was  a 
 
 ferry  4u(i<— some  will  have  this  to  be  a  bridge  of  boats,  a  pontoon,—  reduction  of  half  from  Mephiboslicth,  and  so  also  do  WU.  and  Sut. 
 
 Gill.        24,  Had  neither  dresKcd  his  feet,  ^c— he  had  wholly  neglected  37.  Thy  serannt  Chimham,  '  my  sou  Chimliam,*  Si/r.,  Arub. 
 himself,  as  they  used  to  do  in  a  time  of  public  sorrow,— /■«/.    29.  1 
 352 
 
The  revolt  of  Sheba. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XX. 
 
 A  ivise  woman  savelh  the  city  vf  Abel. 
 
 kin  to  us  :  wherefore  then  be  ye  angry  for  this 
 matter?  have  we  eaten  at  all  of  the  king's 
 cost?  or  hatli  he  given  us  any  gift? 
 
 43  And  the  men  of  Israel  answered  the  men 
 of  Judah,  and  said.  We  have  ten  parts  in  the 
 king,  and  we  have  also  more  riyht  in  David 
 than  ye  :  why  then   did  ye  f  despise  us,  tliat 
 
 lur  advice  should  not  be  first  had  in  bringing 
 back  our  king?  And  '  the  words  of  the  men 
 of  Judah  were  fiercer  than  the  words  of  the 
 men  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  By  occasion  of  the  quarrel,  Slteha  maheth  a  party  in 
 Israel.  3  David's  ten  concubines  are  shut  up  in  per- 
 petual prison.  4  .Aniasa,  made  captain  over  Judah, 
 is  slain  by  Joab.  14  Joab  pursueth  Sheba  unto  Abel. 
 16  A  wise  woman  saveth  the  city  by  Sheba's  head. 
 23  DavicVs  officers. 
 
 A  ND  there  happened  to  be  there  a  man  of 
 ■^^^  Belial,  whose  name  u-(is  Sheba,  the  son  of 
 Bichri,  a  Benjamite  :  and  he  blew  a  trumpet, 
 and  said,  °  We  have  no  part  in  David,  neither 
 have  we  inheritance  in  the  son  of  Jesse  : 
 ^  every  man  to  his  tents,  O  Israel. 
 
 2  So  every  man  of  Israel  went  up  from  after 
 David,  and  followed  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri  : 
 but  the  men  of  Judah  clave  unto  their  king, 
 from  Jordan  even  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 3  H  And  David  came  to  his  house  at  Jerusa- 
 lem ;  and  the  king  took  the  ten  women  his 
 "concubines,  whom  he  had  left  to  keep  the 
 house,  and  put  them  in  f  ward,  and  fed  them, 
 but  went  not  in  unto  them.  So  they  were 
 fshut  up  unto  the  day  of  their  death,  f  living 
 in  widowhood. 
 
 4  1  Then  said  the  king  to  Amasa,  '■f  Assemble 
 me  the  men  of  Judah  within  three  days,  and 
 be  thou  here  present. 
 
 5  So  Amasa  went  to  assemble  the  men  of 
 Judah  :  but  he  tarried  longer  than  the  set  time 
 which  he  had  appointed  him. 
 
 6  And  David  said  to  Abishai,  Now  shall 
 Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri  do  us  more  harm  than 
 did  Absalom  :  take  thou  °  thy  lord's  servants, 
 and  pursue  after  him,  lest  he  get  him  fenced 
 cities,  and  f  escape  us. 
 
 7  And  there  went  out  after  him  Joab's  men, 
 and  the  '  Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites,  and 
 
 ».  c. 
 
 B.  C.  1023.  5i,.  ,,15,0. 
 
 t  Hi-b.  M(  'IS 
 at  iiijl.t. 
 
 i  Spe  Jud^. 
 
 a  I. » 12.1. 
 
 4  1  Kin.  12. 
 16.  aChr. 
 10.  Id. 
 
 c  cli.  15.  16, 
 &  16,21,22, 
 
 t  Help,  fl'i 
 /.,.„,,  ,,/ 
 
 f  Heb  AoJ.'.rf, 
 t  Heb    m 
 
 l}'i'if,-'.°° 
 dell.  19.  13, 
 I  Heb.  Cod. 
 
 fHeb  delwt 
 h.tiuti/ 
 
 g  Mat.  26.49. 
 Luke  22,47. 
 
 ft  1  Kin.  2,5, 
 
 ;  ch.  ».  23. 
 
 t  Heb-  dmi. 
 blM  >«.t  ft» 
 Stroke. 
 
 A  2  Kin,  15. 
 29.  2  Clir. 
 10.  4. 
 
 /2Kin.  19. 
 S2. 
 
 II  Or,  1/  stnnd 
 u^^tinit  tita 
 anliiiutl 
 mil. 
 
 \  Heb.  mar- 
 red to  tliriiW 
 dawn. 
 
 II  Or,  Tl,rji 
 jdaiali/ifii'ld' 
 it,  tliel/iyia- 
 
 th,l,,r,ll 
 „fjll,rl,' 
 
 all  the  mighty  men  :  and  they  went  out  of  Jeru- 
 salem, to  pursue  after  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri. 
 
 8  When  they  teere  at  the  great  stone  which 
 is  ill  Gibeon,  Amasa  went  before  them.  And 
 Joab's  garment  that  he  had  put  on  was  girded 
 unto  him,  and  upon  it  a  girdle  with  a  sword 
 fastened  upon  his  loins  in  the  sheath  thereof; 
 and  as  he  went  forth  it  fell  out. 
 
 9  And  Joab  said  to  Amasa,  Art  tliou  in 
 health,  my  brother?  ^  And  Joab  took  Amasa 
 by  the  beard  with  the  right  hand  to  kiss  him. 
 
 10  But  Amasa  took  no  heed  to  the  sword 
 that  was  in  Joab's  hand:  so  ''he  smote  him 
 therewith  '  in  the  fifth  rib,  and  shed  out  his 
 bowels  to  the  ground,  and  f  struck  him  not 
 again  ;  and  he  died.  So  Joab  and  Abishai  his 
 brother  pursued  after  Slieba  the  son  of  Bichri. 
 
 1 1  And  one  of  Joab's  men  stood  by  bini,  and 
 said.  He  that  favoureth  Joab,  and  be  that  is  for 
 David,  let  him  ijo  after  Joab. 
 
 12  And  Amasa  wallowed  in  blood  in  the 
 midst  of  the  highway.  And  when  the  man 
 saw  that  all  the  people  stood  still,  he  removed 
 Amasa  out  of  the  highway  into  the  field,  and 
 cast  a  cloth  upon  him,  when  he  saw  that  every 
 one  that  came  by  him  stood  still. 
 
 13  When  he  was  removed  out  of  the  high- 
 way, all  the  people  went  on  after  Joab,  to  pur- 
 sue after  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri. 
 
 14  K  And  he  went  through  all  the  tribes  of 
 Israel  unto  '  Abel,  and  to  I3eth-maachah,  and 
 all  the  Berites  :  and  they  were  gathered  to- 
 gether, and  went  also  after  him. 
 
 15  And  they  came  and  besieged  him  in  Abel 
 of  Beth-maachah,  and  they  '  cast  up  a  bank 
 against  the  city,  and  ||  it  stood  in  the  trench  : 
 and  all  the  people  that  were  with  Joab  f  bat- 
 tered the  wall,  to  throw  it  down. 
 
 16  If  Then  cried  a  wise  woman  out  of  the 
 city.  Hear,  hear ;  say,  I  pray  you,  unto  Joab, 
 Come  near  hither,  that  I  may  speak  with  thee. 
 
 17  And  when  he  was  come  near  unto  her, 
 the  woman  said.  Art  thou  Joab  ?  And  he 
 answered,  I  am  he.  Then  she  .said  unto  him, 
 Hear  the  words  of  thine  handmaid.  And  he 
 answered,  I  do  hear. 
 
 18  Then  she  spake,  saying,  ||  They  were  wont 
 to  speak  in  old  time,  saying,  "They  shall  surely 
 
 43.  Ten  parts— ttievti  were  eleven  tribes  besides  .Tuclah,  but  Simeon  biing 
 intermixed  with  Jiirt-ih,  probably  came  with  them.  In  the  king,  that 
 is,  the  kingdom.— Pp/^. 
 
 Chap.  XX.  —  \.  Sheba,  one  perhaps  who  had  been  a  commander 
 under  Amasa,  in  Absalom's  revolt. — Scott.  Being  a  Benjamite,  he 
 might  be  of  Saul's  family.— iri;.  He  seeing  the  anger  of  the  tribes, 
 took  occasion  to  excite  a  fresh  revolt.— 5«i,  2.  Everij  man — under- 
 stand it  only  of  the  disaffected.— i?oo/Ar.  3.  Were  shut  up--&%  royal 
 wives  they  could  marry  no  other;  to  have  united  them  with  any 
 others  would  have  endangered  the  crown  ;  to  have  taken  them  again 
 would  have  been,  in  a  degree,  incestuous;  to  have  suffered  them  to 
 go  at  liberty  would  have  constantly  renewed  the  memory  of  Absalom's 
 filthiness ;  and  to  punish  them  would  have  been  unjust,  as  they  were 
 TOtgMi\ty.— Pat. .Pottle, Clttrlte.  This  is  now  the  practice  in  China 
 when  an  emperor  Aics.—Mitcartnet/ .  Liring  in  leitioivhutiil,  •  and  lived 
 like  widows.'— iJooWir.    nvn  nijb'jN,  '  in  the  widowhood  of  life.'— 
 
 Pag.,  Mont.  So  expressed  to  distinguish  it  from  widowhood  made  by 
 death.  6.  T//^  lorti's  servants — David's  body  guards.  8.  .it  the 
 great  stone  —  evidently  destinated  as  the  place  of  rendezvous  for 
 David's  forces,  and  here  Amasa  took  the  command.— G(7^  Fell  out, 
 most  likely  not  by  mere  accident. — C.  Tai,lor.  g.  Toith-  Aitiasa  by  the 
 bfiird — eastern  travellers  speak  of  the  general  mode  of  friendly  salute 
 in  the  east  by  kissings  of  the  beard,  but  it  is  a  great  affront  to  touch  it 
 unless  for  this  purpose.  Joab  made  this  pretence. — Htir.  To  kiss 
 hitn— it,  that  is,  the  beard. — Pict.  Bib.  1-1.  Unto  Abet,  tititi  to  Beth- 
 mtiachith — Abel-beth-maachah,  one  place. — Pat.  A  well-fortified  city 
 belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  in  the  northern  part  of  Judea. — Jos. 
 15.  Stotfd  in  the  trench,  'which  stood  opposite  the  outward  wall,^ 
 Boothr.  16.  A  leise  woman,  such  an  one  as  the  woman  of  Tekoah, 
 Abigail,  and  the  mother  of  Samuel. — Pat.  Supposed  by  some  the 
 governess  of  the  city. — Gill.  18.  Thet/  shall  surely  ask  counsel  tit 
 Abel,  *make  first  some  inquiry  and  then  act  accordingly.  —  Gedtles, 
 
 RrFi.rcTiONS  ON  Cn.AP.  XIX.  _  I.  Excess  of  grief  is  wront, 
 untler  any  calamity.  It  sliews  undue  attachment  t'o  created 
 things  and  a  want  ot  sufficient  confidence  in  God  tlie  only 
 source  of  happiness  ;  it  unfits  for  both  temporal  and  spiritual 
 duties  and  enjoyments  ;  and  it  sets  a  bad  example  before  the 
 church  and  the  world.  Joab's  reproof  was  indecently  given, 
 but  as  It  was  founded  in  reason  and  truth,  David  listened  to 
 It;  and  we  may  learn  instruction  even  from  tbereprools  of  the 
 nngodly. 
 
 II.  The  exercise  of  mercy  towards  our  enemies  adds  a  great  dig- 
 nity to  character.  David  never  looked  more  godlike  than  in 
 pardoning  Shimei ;  his  provocation  was  great,  and  the  forgive- 
 3.5*3 
 
 nesa  was  therefore  the  more  exalted.    '  They  that  are  forgiven,' 
 says  Henry,  '  must  forgive.' 
 
 III.  Those  that  suffer  unjustly  shall,  ere  long,  have  their  i^pu- 
 tation  vindicated.  All  Israel  and  Judali  were  now  ready  to 
 bear  testimony  to  David's  worth,  and  even  quarrelled  about 
 who  should  shew  him  the  most  kindness.  There  was,  how- 
 ever, witliout  doubt,  in  this  conduct,  a  portion  ot  that  spirit 
 still  manifest  enough  in  the  world,  which  frowns  upon  tliose 
 who  are  in  adversity,  and  wears  the  courtier's  smile  in  pros- 
 perity. God's  favour  is  alone  worth  the  labour  of  seeking, 
 and  that  is  better  than  life.' 
 
Daviifs  officers. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XXI. 
 
 Seven  of  Saiirs  sons  handed. 
 
 ask  counsel  at  Abel  :  and  so  they  ended  the 
 matter. 
 
 19  I  am  one  of  tliem  that  arc  peaceable  a)id 
 faithful  ill  Israel  :  thou  seekcst  to  destroy  a 
 city  and  a  motlier  in  Israel :  why  \vi!t  thou 
 swallow  up  '"  the  inheritance  of  the  Lord  ? 
 
 20  And  Joab  answered  and  said,  Far  be  it, 
 far  be  it  from  me,  that  I  should  swallow  up  or 
 destroy. 
 
 21  The  matter  is  not  so :  but  a  man  of  mount 
 Ephraim,  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri  fhy  name, 
 hath  lifted  up  his  hand  against  the  king,  even 
 against  David ;  deliver  him  only,  and  I  will 
 depart  from  the  city.  And  the  woman  said 
 unto  Joab,  Behold,  his  head  shall  be  thrown 
 to  thee  over  the  wall. 
 
 22  Then  the  woman  went  unto  all  the  people 
 "in  her  wisdom.  And  they  cut  off  the  head 
 of  Sheba  the  son  of  Bichri,  and  cast  it  out  to 
 Joab.  And  he  blew  a  trumpet,  and  they  f  re- 
 tired from  the  city,  every  man  to  his  tent. 
 And  Joab  returned  to  Jerusalem  unto  the 
 king. 
 
 23  t  Now  °  Joab  was  over  all  the  host  of  Is- 
 rael :  and  Beiiaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  uyis 
 over  the  Cherethites  and  over  the  Pelethites  : 
 
 24  And  Adoram  ivas  ""over  the  tribute:  and 
 ''  Jehoshaphat  the  son  of  Ahilud  was  ||  re- 
 corder : 
 
 25  And  Sheva  tvas  scribe  :  and  '  Zadok  and 
 Abiathar  were  the  priests  : 
 
 20  '  And  Ira  also  the  Jairite  was  ||  a  chief 
 •uler  about  David. 
 
 CHAP.  XXL 
 
 The  three  years'  famine  for  the  Gibeonitcs  ccascth. 
 by  hanging  seven  of  Saul's  sojis.  10  Rizpah^s  huul- 
 ness  unto  the  dead.  12  David  hurieth  the  hones  of 
 Satd  and  Jonathan  in  his  father^s  sepulchre.  15  Four 
 hatths  against  the  Philistines,  wherein  four  valiants 
 of  David  slay  four  giants. 
 
 ^HEN   there   was  a   famine  in  the  days  of 
 •*-    David  three  years,  year  after  year ;  and 
 
 n  1  Sam.2fi. 
 19.  cli.-il.3. 
 
 t  Heb.  bg 
 
 Keel 08.  9. 
 II,  la. 
 
 t  Heb.  w*T# 
 tea  til  red. 
 
 q  Cll.   S.   16. 
 
 I  Kill.  4.3, 
 
 It  Or,  rtm*.i»- 
 
 rch's.'l?. 
 I  Kill.  \.  <!. 
 
 Gen.  41.  45. 
 Kxod.2.10. 
 ch.  ».  18. 
 
 See  Ni; 
 
 .Tnsli.  9.  3, 
 15,  ItJ,  17. 
 
 S:ld  Ihnt  K-f 
 
 with  Saul  or 
 hit  house, 
 tidlhrr  per- 
 tains itf'iiij 
 to  kill,  <^c. 
 
 11  Or,  cut  lit 
 "ff. 
 
 t.  1  Sam.  10, 
 S6.  &  11.   I. 
 
 <i  I  Sam.  Ill 
 24. 
 
 II  Or,  chostn 
 of  ihe 
 
 LoitD. 
 
 e  I  Ram.  13, 
 5,8.  211.8,15, 
 42.  &  2.1.  IS, 
 
 II  Of,  Mi- 
 chat't  tit- 
 
 t   Hell,  barf 
 to  Adriel. 
 1  Sum.  IS. 
 10. 
 1019. 
 
 g  ch.  C.  17. 
 
 David  t  enquired  of  the  Lord.  And  the  Lord 
 answered,  It  is  for  Saul,  and  for  his  bloody 
 house,  because  he  slew  the  Gibeonitcs. 
 
 2  And  the  king  called  the  Gibeonites,  and 
 said  unto  them  ;  (now  the  Gibeonites  tvere 
 not  of  the  chiitlren  of  Israel,  but  "  of  the  rem- 
 nant of  the  Aniorites  ;  and  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael had  sworn  unto  them  :  and  Saul  sought 
 to  slay  them  in  his  zeal  to  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael and  Judah.) 
 
 3  AV^herefore  David  said  unto  the  Gibeonites, 
 What  shall  1  do  for  you  ?  and  wherewith  shall 
 I  make  the  atonement,  that  ye  may  bless  ^  the 
 inheritance  of  the  Lord? 
 
 4  And  the  Gibeonites  said  unto  him,  ||  We 
 will  have  no  silver  nor  gold  of  Saul,  nor  of  his 
 house  ;  neither  for  us  shall  thou  kill  any  man 
 in  Israel.  And  he  said,  What  ye  shall  say, 
 that  will  I  do  for  you. 
 
 5  And  they  answered  the  king,  The  man  that 
 consumed  us,  and  tliat  ||  devised  against  us 
 that  we  should  be  destroyed  from  remaining 
 in  any  of  the  coasts  of  Israel, 
 
 G  Let  seven  men  of  his  sons  be  delivered 
 unto  us,  and  we  will  hang  them  up  unto  tlie 
 Lord  *^  in  Gibeah  of  Saul,  '^  ||  whom  the  Lord 
 did  choose.  And  the  king  said,  I  will  give 
 them, 
 
 7  But  the  king  spared  Mephibosheth,  the 
 son  of  Jonathan  the  son  of  Saul,  because  of 
 ^  the  Lord's  oath  that  ivas  between  them, 
 between  David  and  Jonathan  the  son  of  Saul. 
 
 B  But  the  king  took  tlie  two  sonsof  *"  Rizpah 
 the  daughter  of  Aiah,  whom  she  bare  unto 
 Saul,  Armoniand  Mephibosheth;  and  the  five 
 sons  of  II  Michal  the  daughter  of  Saul,  whom 
 she  I  brought  up  for  Adriel  the  son  of  Barzillai 
 the  Meholathite  : 
 
 9  And  he  delivered  them  into  the  hands  of 
 the  Gibeonites,  and  they  hanged  them  in  the 
 hill  ^  before  the  Lord  :  and  they  fell  all  seven 
 together,  and  were  put  to  death  in  the  days  of 
 
 so  Dathe  and  Booihr.  This  vras  most  likely  a  proverb,  and  Abel 
 might  be  famed  for  the  wisdom  of  its  inhabitants.— So  Clarke.  The 
 marginal  rcadinf?  is  to  be  preferred,  which  may  be  paraphra.sed  thus  :  — 
 '  When  the  people  saw  thee  lay  siege  to  the  city,  they  said,  Surely  they 
 will  ask  us  if  we  will  have  peace,  and  then  we  shall  soon  come  to  an 
 agreement,  and  make  an  end.' — Pat.  24.  Recorder — sec  chap.  viii.  l6. 
 25.  Scribe — see  Chap.  viii.  17.  26.  Ira  *i/5o /Ae  Jat»-i7e,  the  same  with 
 Ira  the  Ithrite,  (chap  xxiii.  38,)  a  son  of  Jether  or  Ithra,  the  Israelite, 
 {chap.  xvii.  25  j)  or  Ira,  the  son  of  Ikkesh,  the  Tekoite,  fchap.xxiii.26.) 
 —GUI. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  1.  Stew  the  Gibeonites,  in  direct  violation  of  the 
 solemn  oath  given  for  their  security  by  Joshua  and  the  princes. — 
 Poole.  See  Josh.  ix.  15.  This  took  place  when  Saul  slew  the  whole 
 city  of  Nob,  where  the  Gibeonites  lived,  and  served  as  hewers  of  wood 
 and  drawers  of  water,  {I  Sam.  xxii.  18,19.) — Abnrbinel.  8.  Brought 
 vp — Michal  had  no  children,  and  it  was  Merab,  her  sister,  who  was  the 
 wife  of  Adriel.  who  being  dead,  Michal  brought  them  up. — Gill.  The 
 Hebrew  is  mV,  'to  bring  forth'  or  'bear,'  Ltckc,  Sept.  Some  very 
 ancient  Hebrew  scribe  perhaps  wrote  Michal  for  Mcrab. —  Wall.    The 
 
 sons  are  called  Michal's  after  the  Hebrew  manner  of  speaking,  because 
 OS  a  mother  she  had  reared  them,  (sec  Gen.  xvi.  2 ;  xxx.  3  ;  1.23; 
 Ruth.iv.  17.)—Sut.  9.  Were  put  to  denth^Clnrke  blames  David 
 
 for  leaving  this  choice  of  retribution  to  the  Gibeonites  (ver.  3,)  and 
 says,  David  should  have  consulted  Gnd.  Poole  infers  that  he  did  so,  or 
 God  would  not  have  been  satisfied  with  the  action,  which  wouhl  other- 
 wise have  been  contrary  to  a  double  law  nf  God,  (Dcut.  xxi.23,  and 
 xxiv.  16.)  which  none  but  God  himself  could  dispense  with.  That  he 
 was  satisfied  was  clear  by  his  removing  the  judgment.  Nothing  but  a 
 Divine  authority  could  have  released  David  from  his  oath,  (I  Sam. 
 xxiv.  21,22,)  or  otherwise  David  would  have  committed  the  same  sin 
 with  Saul.  As  far  as  human  cognizance  went,  the  children  were  not 
 to  suffer  for  their  fathers,  but  Gnd,  as  the  great  Supreme,  visited  the 
 sins  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children.  It  is  clear  this  was  not  a  legal 
 punishment,  or  it  would  have  been  executed  by  proper  oflicers,  and  not 
 by  the  Gibeonites. — Put.  It  is,  however,  probable,  as  some  have  cnn- 
 jectured,  that  these  executed  persons  had  in  some  way  countenanced 
 the  murder  of  the  Gibeonites,  and  the  famine  was  not  only  on  account 
 of  Saul,  but  also  of  his  '  bloody  house.'    It  is  also  remarkable  that  as 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XX. — Three  circumstances  de- 
 mand notice  in  this  chapter — I.  Sheha's  rebellion  against  David. 
 (iod  was  now  chastising  him  with  a  rod,  and  he  was  at  no  loss 
 for  instruments.  He  could  have  restrained  Sheba,  but  lie  let 
 his  rebellious  propensities  lake  their  course.  This  was  likely 
 to  keep  David  humble,  to  shew  him  how  slippery  was  his 
 elevation  if  God  did  not  protect  him,  and  to  lead  him  to  look 
 continually  for  support  from  above.  We  know  not  what 
 troublous  storms  are  gathering,  or  when  they  may  overtake 
 us  ;  the  night  may  have  passed  away,  and  tlie  day  dawn  with 
 renewed  brightness  ;  but  suddenly  the  heavens  may  gather 
 blackness,  and  the  clouds  may  burst  upon  us.  Happy  is  he 
 who,  in  a  world  subject  to  such  vicissitudes,  has  learned  to 
 stay  himself  upon  God. 
 
 II.  Joab's  murder  of  Amasa.  Oh  the  dangers  of  worldly  pro- 
 motion !  A  man  tlien  becomes  the  envier  and  the  envied. 
 334 
 
 Ambition  knows  no  bounds.  Envy,  indeed,  creeps  into  tho 
 church  ;  no  wonder  if  it  exists  in  the  world.  Let  us  abhor 
 the  spirit  which  prompts  Ihe  question,  '  Who  shall  be  greatest 
 in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ?'  Its  object,  indeed,  differs  from, 
 but  its  nature  is  the  same  with,  that  which  moved  Joab 
 treacherously  to  murder  Amasa.  Nothing  can  better  resist 
 the  motions  of  such  a  spirit  than  a  continual  regard  to  the 
 apostolic  exhortation,  '  Let  the  same  mind  be  in  you  that  was 
 also  in  Christ  Jesus.' 
 
 III.  The  wise  ivomav  of  AbeVs  counsel  Without  her  inter- 
 ference a  whole  city  of  innocent  persons  would  have  been  de* 
 stroyed  for  tho  rebellion  of  one  man.  Let  us  imitate  her  ex- 
 ample, and  strive,  how  unpleasant  soever  may  sometimes  be 
 the  task,  to  bush  the  storm  of  contending  parties  into  a  calm, 
 for  '  blessed  are  the  peace-makers.' 
 
Four  battles  against  the  Philistines. 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XXII. 
 
 A  psalm  of  ihanksgivinr/. 
 
 harvest,  in  the  first  days,  in  the  beginning  of 
 barley  harvest. 
 
 10  If  And  ''llizpah  the  daughter  of  Aiah  took 
 saclvcloth,  and  spread  it  for  her  upon  the  rock, 
 '  from  the  beginning  of  harvest  until  water 
 dropped  upon  them  out  of  heaven,  and  suffered 
 neither  tlie  birds  of  the  air  to  rest  on  them  by 
 day,  nor  tlie  beasts  of  the  field  by  night. 
 
 1 1  And  it  was  told  David  what  llizpah  the 
 daughter  of  Aiah,  the  concubine  of  Saul,  had 
 done. 
 
 12  V  And  David  went  and  took  the  bones  of 
 Saul  and  the  bones  of  Jonathan  his  son  from 
 the  men  of  '  Jabesh-gilead,  which  had  stolen 
 them  from  the  street  of  Beth-shan,  where  the 
 '  Philistines  had  hanged  them,  when  the  Phi- 
 listines had  slain  Saul  in  Gilboa  : 
 
 13  And  he  brought  up  from  thence  the  bones 
 of  Saul  and  the  bones  of  Jonathan  his  son  ; 
 and  they  gathered  the  bones  of  them  that  were 
 hanged. 
 
 14  And  the  bones  of  Saul  and  Jonathan  his 
 son  buried  tliey  in  the  country  of  Benjamin  in 
 "'  Zelah,  in  the  sepulchre  of  Kish  his  father ; 
 and  they  performed  all  that  the  king  com- 
 manded. And  after  that  "  God  was  intreated 
 for  the  land. 
 
 15  H  Moreover  the  Philistines  had  yet  war 
 again  with  Israel  ;  and  David  went  down,  and 
 his  servants  with  him,  and  fought  against  the 
 Philistines  :  and  David  waxed  faint. 
 
 IG  And  Ishbi-benob,  which  u-as  of  the  sons 
 of  II  the  giant,  the  weight  of  whose  f  spear 
 weiijlied  three  hundred  shehels  of  brass  in 
 weight,  he  being  girded  witli  a  new  sword, 
 thouglit  to  have  slain  David. 
 
 17  But  Abishai  the  son  of  Zeruiah  succoured 
 him,  and  smote  the  Philistine,  and  killed  him. 
 Tlicu  the  men  of  David  sware  unto  him,  say- 
 ing, "  Thou  shalt  go  no  more  out  with  us  to 
 battle,  that  thou  quench  not  the  ''  f  light  of 
 Israel. 
 
 18  ''  And  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  there 
 was  again  a  battle  with  the  PhiUatines  at  Gob  : 
 then  '  Sibbechai  the  Hushathite  slew  ||  Saph, 
 which  ivas  of  the  sons  of  ||  the  giant. 
 
 19  And  there  was  again  a  battle  in  Gob  with 
 the  Philistines,  where  Elhanan  the  son  of 
 II  Jaare-oregim,  a  Beth-leheniite,  slesv  '  the 
 brother  of  Goliath  the  Gittite,  the  staff  of 
 whose  spear  was  like  a  weaver's  beam. 
 
 -0  And  '  there  was  yet  a  battle  in  Gath, 
 where  was  a  man  oi great  stature,  that  had  on 
 every  hand  six  fingers,  and  on  every  foot  six 
 
 h  rer.  8. 
 ch.  3.  7. 
 
 i  See  Deut. 
 81.  23. 
 
 /f  1  6am.  HI. 
 n,  12,  13. 
 
 |(0r,  Rofhn 
 ,i,,Jf:  „r. 
 
 thp 
 
 tHeb  cnt.'tlf. 
 
 llOr,  Siif'ti. 
 il  Or,  Rai>ha. 
 
 II  Or,  J.i, 
 1  See  I  Clir. 
 
 Iior,  Riipha. 
 B  Or,  „- 
 
 ;.r'..;r/».</, 
 
 1  Sa.  17.  10, 
 
 25,  -20. 
 II  ISain  10.9, 
 
 S'l.unma/i. 
 .r  1  Clir.  20. 
 
 1  Et.  15.  1. 
 3udg.  5.  1. 
 
 ftPa.lS.tltle. 
 &  Pa. 31.19. 
 
 0  Dent  32.  i. 
 
 Ps  18.2,&c. 
 
 &  31.. 3.8. 
 
 71.  3.  &  91. 
 
 3.  S(  IH.  2- 
 d  lleb.  2  13. 
 «  Gen.  15.  I. 
 /I.uke  l.fia. 
 ff  Prov.  18. 
 
 10. 
 /.  Ps   9.  9.  fc 
 
 U.  G.  Sc  59 
 
 ll'i.  Si71.  7. 
 
 Jci.  16.   19. 
 
 II  Or,  lmg>- 
 
 flleb  Delial. 
 
 ll  Or,  cirth. 
 i  Pa.  1 16.  S. 
 
 II  Pa.  1 16.  4. 
 8t  120.  I. 
 .Innah  2.  2. 
 
 t  Rx-  3.  7. 
 Ps.  .S4..0,15, 
 17. 
 
 III  Jailg.  5.  4 
 Pa.  77.  18. 
 Ik  97.  ■». 
 
 n  Job  26, 11. 
 
 I  Heb.  by. 
 
 «  Ps.  97.  3. 
 llab.  3-  6. 
 Heb.  12.29. 
 
 ;i  Ps.  144.  5. 
 
 Is.  6*.  1. 
 q  F.x   20.21. 
 
 1  Kin.  8.12 
 
 Ps.  97.  2. 
 r  Vs.  104.  3. 
 I  ver.  10. 
 
 Pa.  97.  2. 
 t  Heb.  bi„d- 
 
 i„S  ,./„a- 
 
 tart. 
 
 I  ver.  9. 
 
 ujiiilg  5  20. 
 1  Sam  2. 10. 
 Sc  7.  10 
 Pa.  29.  3. 
 30    .SO. 
 
 ■  Dei 
 
 .32.23, 
 
 7.  13.  K. 
 77.17.&Ut 
 6.  Hab.Ml. 
 
 toes,  four  and  twenty  in  number  ;  and  he  also 
 was  born  to  ||  the  giant. 
 
 21  And  when  he  ||  defied  Israel,  Jonathan 
 the  son  of  "  Shimeali  the  brother  of  David  slew 
 him. 
 
 22  '  These  four  were  born  to  the  giant  in 
 Gath,  and  fell  by  the  hand  of  David,  and  by 
 the  hand  of  his  servants. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 I  A  psalm  oftlimihsyivimifor  GotVs  poiverful  ddivtr- 
 ance,  and  inanifuld  hlessinga. 
 
 A  ND  David  'spake  unto  the  Lord  the 
 -'*-  words  of  this  song  in  the  day  tliat  the 
 Lord  had  ^  delivered  him  out  of  the  hand  of 
 all  his  enemies,  and  out  of  the  band  of  Saul : 
 
 2  And  he  said,  ''  Tlie  Lord  is  my  rock,  and 
 my  fortress,  and  my  deliverer ; 
 
 3  The  God  of  my  rock  ;  ''  in  him  will  I  trust : 
 he  is  my  "shield,  and  the  'horn  of  my  salva- 
 tion, my  high  ^  tower,  and  my  ''  refuge,  my 
 saviour  ;  thou  savest  me  from  violence. 
 
 4  I  will  call  on  the  Lord,  who  is  worthy  to 
 be  praised  :  so  shall  I  be  saved  from  mine 
 enemies. 
 
 3  When  the  ||  waves  of  death  compassed  me, 
 the  floods  of  t  ungodly  men  made  me  afraid  ; 
 
 G  The  II  '  sorrows  of  hell  compa.ssed  me  about  j 
 the  snares  of  death  prevented  me; 
 
 7  In  my  distress  ''  I  called  upon  the  Lord, 
 and  cried  to  my  God  :  and  he  did  '  hear  my 
 voice  out  of  his  temple,  and  my  cry  did  enter 
 into  his  ears. 
 
 8  Then  "  the  earth  shook  and  trembled  ; 
 "  the  foundations  of  heaven  moved  and  shook, 
 because  he  was  wroth. 
 
 9  There  went  up  a  smoke  f  out  of  his  nostrils, 
 and  "fire  out  of  his  mouth  devoured:  coals 
 were  kmdled  by  it. 
 
 10  He  ''bowed  the  heavens  also,  and  came 
 down  ;  and  '' darkness  was  under  his  feet. 
 
 1 1  And  he  rode  upon  a  cherub,  and  did  fly  : 
 and  he  was  seen  'upon  the  wings  of  the  wind. 
 
 12  And  he  made  '  darkness  pavilions  round 
 about  him,  f  dark  waters,  and  thick  clouds  of 
 the  skies. 
 
 13  Through  the  brightness  before  him  were 
 '  coals  of  fire  kindled. 
 
 14  The  Lord  "thundered  from  heaven,  and 
 the  most  High  uttered  his  voice. 
 
 15  And  he  sent  out  'arrows,  and  scattered 
 them  ;  lightning,  and  discomfited  them. 
 
 16  And  the  channels  of  the  seaappeared,  the 
 foundations  of  tlie  world  were  discovered,  at 
 
 the  unhallowed  breach  of  an  oath  constituted  Saul's  crime,  so  by  the 
 alldweri  breach  of  an  oath  his  descendants  were  cut  off. — Ed.  in.  Tiiok 
 mickctoth,  and  apread,  '  made  a  tent  of  it.'  UntU  water  dropped — pro- 
 bably the  orders  from  the  king  were,  that  the  bodies  should  hang  till 
 ruin  came. — Gill,  And  suffered  neither,  3fc. — no  doubt  she  had  assis- 
 tants.—Pm(.  17.  The  light, 'the  \a.mp.'—Boothr.  Good  kin^s  are 
 called  'the  light  of  their  people,'  [I  Kings,  xi.  36;  xv.  4,)  because  by 
 their  wise  (jovernment,  conduct,  and  courage,  they  made  their  people 
 happy  and  ilUistriiius.  19.  Gob,  called  Gezcr,  (1  Chron.  XX.  4,)  or  the 
 two  places  were  so  near  that  the  battle  was  foufcht  on  the  confines 
 of  both. — Pat.  The  brother — the  word  is  rightly  supplied  from  I  Chron. 
 XX.  5.— Gill.        20.  Sir  fingers— the  eldest  son  of  the  Emperor  of  Java, 
 
 in  l6l8,  had  the  like. — Tavernier. 
 
 Chap.  XXII.  —  This  chapter  is  the  same  with  the  I8th  Psalm,  (see 
 the  notes  there.)  At  this  time,  when  the  Israelites  had  been  weakened 
 by  two  rebellions  ami  three  years  of  famine,  the  Philistines,  thinking 
 it  a  favourable  opportunity  of  shaking  off  the  yoke,  renew  the  war, 
 but  are  defeated  in  font  engagements,  and  finally  subdued.  After 
 these  deliverances  it  is  probable  that  Uavid,  who  bad  composed  the  18th 
 Psalm  at  an  early  period  of  his  life,  when,  according  to  the  title,  he  had 
 been  delivered  from  the  hand  of  Saul,  miw  again  applies  it  on  being 
 rescued  from  the  last  assault  of  his  enemies,  lliis  appears  to  accnunt 
 fur  the  differences  between  the  parallel  passages  in  this  chapter  and  the 
 18th  psalm.— Z)i-.  Welts'  Commenturj/. 
 
 Refi.f.ctions  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  I.  God  does  not  forget  .1  in, 
 though  u'c  do.  The  affair  of  the  Gibeoiiites  had  so  long  passed 
 by,  apparently  unnoticed  by  the  great  Judge  of  all,  tbat  the 
 profane  might  have  said,  '  Tush  !  doth  God  see?'  But  God 
 did  see,  and  now  be  remembers  the  guilty  family.  Let  us 
 then  recollect  our  sins,  tbat  we  may  bumble  ourselves  on  ac- 
 count of  tbem  before  God,  and  seek  pardon  and  mercy  tbrongh 
 Christ  ere  it  be  too  late. 
 
 II.  God  punishes  nations  for  their  sins  as  well  as  tndieiduals. 
 35j 
 
 When,  therefore,  national  calamities  come  upon  a  people,  it 
 behoves  the  pious  to  inquire  of  the  Lord,  '  Is  tliere  not  a 
 cause?'  By  serious  reflection,  humiliation,  and  prayer,  we 
 shall  not  long  be  left  in  suspense  as  to  the  causes  of  national 
 punishment ;  we  shall  discover  many  reasons  for  them,  and, 
 as  good  patriots,  may  successfully  employ  our  best  efforts  in 
 remedying  them.  '  In  vain  do  we  expect  mercy  from  God 
 unless  we  do  justice  upon  our  sins. 
 
God's  powerful  deliverance 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XXIII. 
 
 and  manifold  blessings. 
 
 the  'rebuking  of  the  Lord,  at  the  blast  of  the 
 breath  of  his  ||  nostrils. 
 
 17  'He  sent  from  above,  he  took  me;  he 
 drew  me  out  of  ||  many  waters  ; 
 
 18  "  He  delivered  me  from  my  strong  enemy, 
 and  from  them  that  hated  me  :  for  they  were 
 too  strong  for  me. 
 
 19  Tliey  prevented  me  in  the  day  of  my  ca- 
 lamity ;  but  the  Loud  was  my  stay. 
 
 20  '■  He  brought  me  fortli  also  into  a  large 
 place  :  he  delivered  me,  because  he  ■■  delighted 
 in  me. 
 
 21  ^  The  Lord  rewarded  me  according  to  my 
 righteousness  ;  according  to  the  "  cleanness  of 
 my  hands  hath  he  recompensed  me. 
 
 22  For  I  have  '  kept  the  ways  of  the  Lord, 
 and  have  uot  wickedly  departed  from  my 
 God. 
 
 23  For  all  his  ^judgments  icere  before  me  : 
 and  as  for  his  statutes,  I  did  not  depart  from 
 them. 
 
 24  I  was  also  ''  upright  f  before  him,  and  have 
 kept  myself  from  mine  iniquity. 
 
 25  Therefore  '  the  Lokd  hath  recompensed 
 me  according  to  my  righteousness  ;  according 
 to  my  cleanness  |  in  his  eye  sight. 
 
 2G  With  '■  the  merciful  thon  wilt  shew  thj'self 
 merciful,  and  with  the  upright  man  tliou  wilt 
 shew  thyself  upright. 
 
 27  With  the  pure  thou  wilt  shew  thyself 
 pure  ;  and  '  with  the  froward  thou  wilt  ||  shew 
 thyself  unsavoury. 
 
 28  And  the  ""aMicted  people  thou  wilt  save: 
 but  thine  eyes  arc  upon  "  the  haughty,  t/taf 
 thou  mayest  bring  them  down. 
 
 29  For  thou  art  my  ||  lamp,  O  Lord  :  and 
 the  Lord  will  lighten  my  darkness. 
 
 30  For  by  tliee  I  have  ||  run  through  a  troop  : 
 by  my  God  have  I  leaped  over  a  wall. 
 
 31  As  for  God,  °  his  way  is  perfect;  ''the 
 word  of  the  Lord  is  ||  tried  ;  he  is  a  buckler 
 to  all  tliem  that  trust  in  him. 
 
 32  For  "^  who  is  God,  save  the  Lord  ?  and 
 who  is  a  rock,  save  our  God  ? 
 
 33  God  is  my  '  strength  and  power  :  and  he 
 t  'maketh  my  way  '  perfect. 
 
 34  He  t 'iiaketh  iny  feet  "like  hinds' feet  : 
 and  '  settetli  me  upon  my  high  places. 
 
 3o  '  He  teacheth  my  hands  f  to  war  ;  so  that 
 a  bow  of  steel  is  broken  by  mine  arms. 
 
 36  Thou  hast  also  given  me  the  shield  of 
 thy  salvation:  and  thy  gentleness  hath  f  made 
 me  great. 
 
 37  Thou  hast  '  enlarged  my  steps  under  me  ; 
 so  that  my  ffeet  did  not  slip. 
 
 38  I  have  pursued  mine  enemies,  aud   de- 
 
 1/  Ks.  15.  8. 
 
 Ps.  loij,  9. 
 
 Nah.  1.  4. 
 
 Klat-  8.  26. 
 II  Or,  nn:;et. 
 
 P«.  ~1.  1. 
 :  Ps.   Ill   7. 
 I  Or,  ffrMl. 
 1  ver,  I. 
 
 i  P..  91.  S. 
 
 &  1 19.  5. 
 c  ch.  1:»  26, 
 
 P«.  Si.  & 
 
 d  ver.  25. 
 
 1  Sa.  26.23. 
 
 1  Kill.  8.  32. 
 
 Ps.  7.  8- 
 f  Ps.  24.  4. 
 roeu.  18.19. 
 
 Ps.  iia  s. 
 
 &  12S.  1. 
 Prov.  8.32. 
 
 g  Deii.  7. 12. 
 Ps.  H9.  30, 
 
 Ji>b  1.  1. 
 tHob,/->  Aim. 
 i  ver.  21. 
 
 IHeb.  tf/'" 
 
 /til  ei/ei. 
 h  Mat.  5.  7. 
 /  Lev  26.23, 
 
 Si,  27,  28. 
 II  Or,  vrMlh. 
 
 Ps.  18.  26. 
 m  Ex.  8.7.8- 
 
 P8.72.12.I3. 
 .■Job  40.  II, 
 
 12.  Is.  2  11, 
 
 12,  17.  &  .'I. 
 
 15   Dan.  4. 
 
 .37. 
 II  Dr,  taiidle. 
 
 Job  29.  .3. 
 
 Ps.  27.  1. 
 I|Or,irofeii  a 
 
 o  K.  32. 4. 
 
 rian.  4.  3;. 
 
 Itev.  15.  8. 
 p  I's.  12.  6- 
 
 ft  119.  140. 
 
 Prov.  S.i  5 
 11  Or,  fr/i.,nl. 
 ff  1  Sain. 2.2. 
 
 Is.  45.  5,  6. 
 r  Kx.  15.  2. 
 
 Ps.  27.  1.  Ik 
 
 83.7,8  fc31. 
 
 4.  Is.  12.  2. 
 t  Heb.  riil- 
 
 drtf,,  or, 
 
 luoKlh. 
 <  Heb.  13.21 
 f  l)eu.l8,13. 
 
 Job  22.  3. 
 
 Ps.  101.2,6. 
 
 «c  119.  1. 
 t  Heb.  tquttl- 
 
 18 
 
 lelfi. 
 n  ch. 
 
 Hab.  3.  19, 
 JT  Den.32.13. 
 
 Is.  33.  16.  k 
 
 58.  U- 
 r/  Ps    144.  I. 
 t  Heb./.r 
 
 t  Prov. 4  12 
 tHcbo«Afa. 
 
 a  Mai.  4.  S. 
 
 b  Ps.  18.  32, 
 39. 
 r  Ps.  44.  5. 
 ( Heb.  earned 
 
 d  Gen.  49,  8. 
 Kx.  23  27, 
 Josli.  10.24 
 
 t  .Tob  27  9 
 Prov.  I,  25, 
 Is,  1.  IS. 
 Mic.  3,  4- 
 
 rs  Kin,  13. 
 
 7.  Ps.  av  5 
 Dan.  2,  35. 
 
 9  Is,  10   6. 
 
 Blic  7.  10. 
 
 Zech.  10.6. 
 h  ch.  3,  1.  & 
 
 6,  1,  &  19,9. 
 
 14.  &  20.  1, 
 
 8.  S2. 
 
 i  Deu.  26-13. 
 
 ch.8.1— 14 
 
 Ps,  2.  8. 
 *  Is.  55.  6. 
 t  Heb.  S</nt 
 
 llranger 
 II  Or,  giM 
 f'ignrd  obe- 
 
 t  i&.'lle  ; 
 
 SeeDeu.33, 
 
 20.  Ps  00,3. 
 
 fiSl    15. 
 /  Mic.  7.  17. 
 HI  Ps.  89.  36. 
 t  Heb,  t'ii.ert 
 
 nrgni/mirnl 
 
 I  Sain',  25. 
 SO.ch. 18.19, 
 31. 
 .1  Ps.  141  2. 
 
 t  Ps.  114  10. 
 
 -  Ps.  89.  SO. 
 
 ich.7,  12,13. 
 Ps.  89,  29. 
 
 11  ch.  7.  8,  9. 
 
 Ps.7e.70,7I. 
 
 (t  89.  27. 
 b  1  Sam.  16, 
 
 12,  13, 
 
 Ps,  89.  20. 
 c  2Pet.  1.21. 
 d  Deu.  32.  I, 
 
 31.  ch.  22, 
 
 S,  32, 
 llOr,  lit  thou 
 
 ruler,  ^c. 
 
 Ps  1111,  2. 
 c  Ei,  18,  21, 
 
 2  Chr.  19.7, 
 
 stroyed  them  ;  and  turned  not  again  until  I 
 had  consumed  them. 
 
 39  And  I  have  consumed  them,  and  wounded 
 them,  that  they  could  not  arise  •  yea,  they  are 
 fallen  °  under  my  feet. 
 
 40  For  thou  hast  ''  girded  me  with  strength 
 to  battle  :  '  them  tliat  rose  up  against  me  hast 
 thou  t  subdued  under  me. 
 
 41  Thou  hast  also  given  me  the  ''necks  of 
 mine  enemies,  that  I  miglit  destroy  them  that 
 hate  me. 
 
 42  They  looked,  but  there  was  none  to  save  ; 
 even  '  unto  the  Lord,  but  he  answered  them 
 not. 
 
 43  Then  did  I  beat  them  as  small  'as  the 
 dust  of  the  earth,  I  did  stamp  them  ''as  the 
 mire  of  the  street,  and  did  spread  them  abroad. 
 
 44  ''  Thou  also  hast  delivered  me  from  the 
 strivings  of  my  people,  thou  hast  kept  me  to 
 be  '  head  of  tlie  heathen  :  'a  people  ichich  I 
 knew  not  shall  serve  inc. 
 
 4j  f  Strangers  shall  ||  f  submit  themselves 
 unto  me  :  as  soon  as  they  hear,  they  shall  be 
 obedient  unto  me. 
 
 4C  Strangers  shall  fade  away,  and  they  shall 
 be  afraid  '  out  of  their  close  places. 
 
 47  The  Lord  liveth  ;  and  blessed  be  my 
 rock  ;  and  exalted  be  the  God  of  the  "'  rock  of 
 my  salvation. 
 
 48  It  is  God  that  f  avengelh  me,  and  that 
 "  bringeth  down  the  people  under  me, 
 
 49  And  tliat  bringeth  me  forth  from  mine 
 enemies  :  thou  also  hast  lifted  me  up  on  high 
 above  them  that  rose  up  against  me  :  thou  hast 
 delivered  me  from  the  "violent  man. 
 
 50  Therefore  I  will  give  thanks  unto  thee,  O 
 Lord,  among  ''  the  heathen,  and  I  will  sing 
 praises  unto  thy  name. 
 
 51  ''  He  is  the  tower  of  salvation  for  his  king  : 
 and  sheweth  mercy  to  his  'anointed,  unto  Da- 
 vid, and  '  to  his  seed  for  evermore. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 I  D'lvid,  in.  his  laM  won/s,  profess<  th  hn  fnith  in  GnfVs 
 jtriimises  to  be  brijomt  sense  or  experience.      C  TVir,' 
 different  state  of  tite  wicked.     8  A  catatofjne  uf  Da- 
 vid's mifj/ttt/  men. 
 "VTOW  these  be  the   last   words   of  David. 
 -^'   David  the  son  of  Jesse  said,"  and  the  man 
 xvho  was  raised  up  on  high,  i"  the  anointed  of 
 the   God   of  Jacob,  and   the   sweet  psalmist 
 of  Israel,  said, 
 
 2  '  Tlie  Spirit  of  the  Lord  spake  by  me,  and 
 his  word  was  in  my  tongue. 
 
 3  The  God  of  Israel  said, ''  The  Rock  of  Israel 
 spake  to  me,  ||  He  tliat  ruleth  over  men  must 
 be  just,  ruling  "in  the  fear  of  God. 
 
 Chap.  XXIII.  — I.   Last  words,  •  now  these,  though  later,  arc   the    not  literally  his  last  worils  unless  as  a  repetition      Tlie  sweet  jmilmist 
 
 *"■■■" "■  ..._..     i,f  j^i-act,   'he    who    harmonized   the   psalmody   of  Israel.' — Geddes. 
 
 rniDI  C?;,  '  sweet'  or  '  pleasant  in  the  Sfiigs  of  Israel.' — Mont.,  Va. 
 tabtiis.  3.  He  tlint  rutelli,  ^c.,pn3  DiNi  Su'lO,  'the  just  one  is  the 
 ruler  among  men.' — ,4.  Ctttr/ie. 
 
 words  of  David.*  Probably  the  last  prophetic  words  which  David 
 wrole.^Booi/ii-.  '  The  words  which  he  predicted  concerning  the  end 
 (  f  Uie  age,' Tar?.  'The  last  poetical  composition.' — .i.Ctar/,'e,  Sut., 
 Pict.  Bib.  Probably  a  supplementary  part  or  conclusion  to  the  sub- 
 lime hymn  he  haM  just  recorded.— Hen-.  Perhaps  the  last  that  he 
 spake  by  the  Holy  Ghost. — Put.  Perhaps  he  repeated  them  in  liis 
 d>ing  moments. — Seolt.     All  commentators  understand  these  were 
 
 'To  me  the  Rock  of  Israel  hath  promised 
 A  just  ruler  over  mankind.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII.  —  We  may  see  here  — 
 I.  W/tat  God  is  to  Itis  people:  A  rock — a  fortress — a  deliverer 
 — a  shield  — a  lioro  of  salvation — a  Li|;h  tower — a  refuge — a 
 Saviour.  How  terms  are  here  lieaped  upon  terms,  to  shew 
 their  protection  and  security  !  What  God  was  to  David,  he 
 still  is  ;  and  '  blessed  are  all  they  that  put  their  trust  in  him.' 
 11.  JHint  God  lias  done  for  liis  people  ;  lie  heard  their  voice  in 
 their  distresses — scattered  tijeir  enemies — delivered  them  out 
 of  many  waters — rescued  I'lem  from  the  strong  enemy — set 
 them  in  a  large  place— rewarded  their  integrity — lightened 
 3Jti 
 
 their  darkness  — invinorated  their  strength  — held  up  their 
 feeble  steps— and  made  them  more  than  conquerors.  '  Who 
 is  a  God,  save  the  Lord,  and  nlio  is  a  rock,  save  our  God  V 
 Let  us  own  his  kind  and  gracions  interposition  in  all  our  de- 
 liverances, temporal  and  spiritual.  He  has  always  been  betiei 
 to  ns  than  all  our  fears.  This  sliould  inspire  our  future  con- 
 fidence, and  call  for  a  repetition  of  the  language  of  David— 
 '  The  Lord  liveth,  and  blessed  be  my  rock,  ami  ciulted  be  the 
 God  of  the  rock  of  my  salvation.' 
 
A  catalogue  of 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XXIII. 
 
 David's  mighty  men. 
 
 4  And  'he  shall  be  as  the  light  of  the  morn- 
 ing, ichen  the  sun  riseth,  even  a  morning  with- 
 out clouds  ;  as  the  tender  grass  springing  out 
 of  the  eartli  by  clear  shining  after  rain. 
 
 5  Although  my  house  be  not  so  with  Cod  ; 
 ^  yet  he  hath  made  with  me  an  everlasting  co- 
 venant, ordered  in  all  things,  and  sure  :  for 
 tliis  is  all  my  salvation,  and  all  jni/  desire,  al- 
 though he  make  it  not  to  grow. 
 
 C  K  But  the  sons  of  Belial  shall  be  all  of  them 
 as  thorns  thrust  away,  because  they  cannot  be 
 taken  with  hands  : 
 
 7  But  the  man  that  shall  touch  them  must 
 be  t  fenced  with  iron  and  the  staff  of  a  spear  ; 
 and  they  shall  be  utterly  burned  with  fire  in 
 the  sii/ne  place. 
 
 8  IT  These  be  the  names  of  the  mighty  men 
 whom  David  had  :  ||  The  Tachmonite  that  sat 
 in  the  seat,  chief  among  the  captains ;  the 
 same  was  Adino  the  Eznite  :  ||  he  lift  up  his 
 spear  against  eight  hundred,  f  whom  he  slew 
 at  one  time. 
 
 9  And  after  him  was  '■  Eleazar  the  son  of 
 Dodo  tlic  Alioliite,  one  of  the  three  mighty 
 men  with  David,  when  they  defied  the  Philis- 
 tines titat  were  there  gathered  together  to  bat- 
 lie,  and  the  men  of  Israel  were  gone  away  : 
 
 10  He  arose,  and  smote  the  Philistines  until 
 his  hand  was  weary,  and  his  hand  clave  unto 
 the  sword  :  and  the  Loud  wrought  a  great  vic- 
 tory that  day  ;  and  the  people  returned  after 
 him  only  to  spoil. 
 
 1 1  And  after  him  n-as  '  Shammah  the  son  of 
 Agee  the  Hararite.  '  And  the  Philistines  were 
 gathered  together  ||  into  a  troop,  where  was  a 
 )iiece  of  ground  full  of  lentiles:  and  the  people 
 tied  from  the  Philistines. 
 
 12  But  he  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  ground, 
 and  defended  it,  and  slew  the  Philistines  :  and 
 the  Lord  wrought  a  great  victory. 
 
 13  And  '  II  three  of  the  thirty  chief  went 
 down,  and  came  to  David  in  the  harvest  time 
 unto  "■  the  cave  of  Adullam  :  and  the  troop 
 of  the  Philistines  pitched  in  "  the  valley  of 
 Hephaim. 
 
 14  And  David  leas  then  in  "an  hold,  and 
 the  garrison  of  tlie  Philistines  was  then  in 
 Beth-k'hem. 
 
 1 J  And  David  longed,  and  said.  Oh  that  one 
 would  give  me  drink  of  the  water  of  the  well 
 of  Beth-lehem,  which  is  by  the  gate! 
 
 IG  And  the  three  mighty  men  brake  through 
 the  host  of  the  Philistines,  and  drew  water  out 
 of  the  well  of  Beth-lehem,  that  ivas  by  the 
 gate,  and  took  it,  and  brought  it  to  David  : 
 nevertheless  he  would  not  drink  thereof,  but 
 poured  it  out  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 17  And  he  said.  Be  it  far  from  me,  O  Lord, 
 that  I  should  do  this :  is  not  this  ^  the  blood 
 
 B.  C    11)18. 
 
 f3aig:.b  SI. 
 
 P9,  S9.  .S6 
 
 Prov.  4. 18, 
 
 Hos.  6   5. 
 
 See  P8.no. 
 
 3. 
 ?  ch.  7.  15, 
 
 l(j.  Ps.  89. 
 
 2y.  Ie.5d.3. 
 
 t  Heb.//W. 
 
 II  Or.  J^thi-b- 
 t^VMrliFt  the 
 
 hend  of  Ifi^ 
 
 I'lr^e. 
 II  See  1  Clir. 
 
 M.n.&er. 
 
 tHeh.Wa;.!. 
 
 ;.  I  Chr.  n. 
 
 .  &  ^7.  4 
 
 I  Chr.  M. 
 
 fr~.See  I  Chr 
 11.  IS,  U. 
 1  Or,/.,r 
 foragtiig- 
 
 /lCl.r.11  15 
 HOr,  r/j^r/iree 
 
 .  1  Sam.  22 
 4,  5. 
 
 V  Lev.  17.10. 
 
 q  I  Cbt.  II. 
 20. 
 
 r  JoKh. 15.21 
 
 t  Heb.  greot 
 if  acli. 
 
 i  Ex.  15    15. 
 l('hr.ll.22. 
 
 t  II<-h.  t,o,.j 
 1/"  «■«!. 
 
 t  Heh  fi  mtpL 
 i'/ciwile- 
 ii/iiice,  or, 
 .!!;/.(.■  call- 
 ed, 1  Chr. 
 1 1.23,  n  ma*. 
 of  gruat 
 tlu  IWB. 
 
 Or,  /lonour- 
 af,U'  nmmiff 
 llif  Ihir/t/. 
 I  eh.  8    is. 
 8-.  2U.  23. 
 
 )  H.-l-  or  h>, 
 
 c..r7i,Hin.f. 
 
 1  Sam.  22. 
 
 14. 
 r<  ch.  2.  18. 
 X  See  I  Chr. 
 
 II.  27. 
 
 I  Or,  valtty: 
 
 Dent.  1.24. 
 
 ,V  Judg.  2.  9. 
 
 s  cli   20.  26 
 a  ch.  II.. 1,0. 
 
 of  the  men  that  went  in  jeopardy  of  their  lives? 
 tlierefore  he  would  not  drink  it.  These  things 
 did  these  three  mighty  men. 
 
 18  And  "^  Abishai,  the  brother  of  Joab,  the 
 son  of  Zeruiah,  was  chief  among  three.  And 
 he  lifted  up  his  spear  against  three  hundred, 
 t  and  slew  them,  and  had  the  name  among 
 three. 
 
 19  Was  he  not  most  honourable  of  three? 
 therefore  he  was  their  captain  :  howbeit  he 
 attained  not  unto  the^>,s<  three. 
 
 •20  And  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada,  the  sou 
 of  a  valiant  man,  of '  Kabzeel,  f  who  had  done 
 many  acts,  'he  slew  two  f  lionlike  men  of 
 Moab  :  he  went  down  also  and  slew  a  lion  in 
 the  midst  of  a  pit  in  time  of  snow  : 
 
 21  And  he  slew  an  Egyptian,  f  a  goodly  man  : 
 and  the  Egyptian  had  a  spear  in  his  hand  ;  but 
 he  went  down  to  him  with  a  staflF,  and  plucked 
 the  spear  out  of  the  Egyptian's  hand,  and  slew 
 him  with  liis  own  spear. 
 
 22  These  tilings  did  Benaiah  the  son  of  Je- 
 hoiada, and  had  the  name  among  three  mighty 
 men. 
 
 23  He  was  |{  more  honourable  than  the  thirty, 
 but  he  attained  not  to  the  frst  three.  And 
 David  set  him  -  over  his  ||  f  guard. 
 
 24  "  Asahel  the  brother  of  Joab  was  one  of 
 the  thirty  ;  Elhanan  the  son  of  Dodo  of  Beth- 
 lehem, 
 
 25  ^  Shammah  the  Harodite,  Elika  tlie  Ha- 
 rodite, 
 
 26  Helez  the  Paltite,  Ira  the  son  of  Ikkesh 
 the  Tekoite, 
 
 27  Abiezer  the  Anethothite,  Mebunnai  the 
 Hushathite, 
 
 28  Zalmon  the  Ahohite,  Maharai  the  Neto- 
 phathite, 
 
 29  Heleb  the  son  of  Baanah.a  Netophathite, 
 Ittai  the  son  of  Ribai  out  of  Gibeah  of  the 
 children  of  Benjamin, 
 
 30  Benaiah  the  Pirathonite,  Hiddai  of  the 
 II  brooks  of  ^Gaasli, 
 
 31  Abi-albon  the  Arbathite,  Azmaveth  the 
 Barhumite, 
 
 32  Eliahba  the  Shaalbonite,  of  the  sons  of 
 Jashen,  Jonathan, 
 
 33  Shammah  the  Hararite,  Aliiam  the  son  of 
 Sharar  the  Hararite, 
 
 34  Eliphelet  the  son  of  Ahasbai,  the  son  of 
 tlie  Maachathite,  Eliani  the  son  of  Ahithophel 
 the  Gilonite, 
 
 35  Hezrai  the  Carmelite,  Paarai  the  Arbite, 
 
 36  Igal  the  son  of  Nathan  of  Zobah,  Bani 
 the  Gadite, 
 
 37  Zelek  the  Ammonite,  Nahari  the  Beero- 
 thite,  armourbearer  to  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah, 
 
 38  '  Ira  an  Ithrite,  Gareb  an  Ithrite, 
 
 39  "  Uriah  the  Hittite  :  thirty  and  seven  in  all. 
 
 Meaniiic  the  future  Messiah.— Boothy.  4.  As  the  light  of  the  moi-n- 
 t/i?— this  is  beautiful,  giving  the  idea  of  a  sun  that  never  scorches,  but 
 is  ever  gentle  and  shining  with  a  genial  heat ;  a  sun  '  with  healing 
 tinder  his  wings.'— SA^r/fjcA:.  5.  AUhoiti^h  mii  house,  !yc.,  *  is  not  my 
 hnusc  thus  with  God  ?  For  with  me  he  hath  inarle,'  8.-C.;  that  is,  my  house 
 shall  flourish  till  he  come— BooMr.  For  this  is  all,  f/c,  •  but  he  is  all 
 my  salvation  and  all  ray  desire,  though  he  doth  not  shoot  forth  speedily,' 
 (see  Ps.  cxxxii.  1,-;  Isa.  \\v.  8.)  J.  Must  lie  fenced,  ^c— probably 
 an  iron  glove,  as  worn  by  soldiers.— TT'i/.  '  Must  have  an  a.v  and  a 
 spear  shaft. '—iJooMr.  8.  The  Tachmonite,  '  Jashoheam  the  Hach- 
 inonite.'(so  1  Chron.  xi.  11.)  These  seem  to  be  names  given  to  him  from 
 his  character  and  office,  being  called  Tachmonite  from  his  wisdom,  as 
 the  Jewish  writers  say;  his  proper  name  follows,  'Adino  the  Eznite.' 
 — Gilt.    Eight  hundred,  'three  hundred,'  (!  Chron.  xi.  11.)        u.  Leji- 
 
 tiles,  '  barley,'  (1  Chron.  .xi.  13.)  It  is  supposed  these  worthies  drove 
 away  a  marauding  party  of  the  Philistines  wliich  had  come  to  take  the 
 crops.  13.  Thirty — D^irb^T  proliably  signifies  '  an  office'  or  '  particular 
 description  of  men.' — A.Cinrke.  15.  The  well  of  Beth  lehem,  about 
 a  mile  from  Bethlehem,  now  called  David's  well. — Egmont  and  Hei/- 
 man^s  Trao.  The  water  was  not  very  excellent,  but  supplied  from  rain. 
 — Maundrel.  Some  think  David,  by  this  wish,  meant  a  desire  to  get 
 Bethlehem  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Philistines ;  others,  that  he  had  a 
 spiritual  thirst  after  God's  law  ;  and  others,  that  he  longed  after  the 
 Messiah  to  be  born  at  Bethlehem.— G(7/.  l6.  Poured  it,  as  'a  drink, 
 offering  and  acknowledgment  of  God's  goodness  in  preserving  the  lives 
 of  his  captains  in  so  dangerous  an  enterprise.  18.  Hud  the  name, 
 'was  the  most  famous.' — Poole.  20.  Tuo  lionlike  men,  'two  huge 
 lions, — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.XIII.  —  We  have  here  recorded,  | 
 I    Dnvid'slast  words.     He  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  of  the  com-  I 
 357 
 
 ing  Messiah.     With  how  much  more  reason  may  K;e  rejoice, 
 inasmuch  as  our  faith  is  not  put  to  the  test  of  waiting  !     The 
 
David's  sin  in  numbering  the  people 
 
 II.  SAMUEL,  XXIV. 
 
 followed  by  three  days'  pestilence. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 I  David,  tempted  hy  Satan,  foTceth  Joah  to  number  the 
 penpte.  5  The  captains,  in  nine  months  and  twenty 
 days,  bring  the  musttr  of  thirlten  hundred  thousand 
 Jighting  men.  10  David,  having  three  plagues  pro- 
 pnuntled  by  Gad,  repenttth,  and  chooseth  the  three 
 days'  pestilence.  15  After  the  death  of  threescore 
 and  teti  thousand,  David  by  repentance  prcventeth  the 
 destruction  of  Jerusalem,  ly  David,  by  Gad's  di 
 rection,  purchaseth  .4iauuah's  t.'^reshingjioor ;  where 
 having  sacrijieed,  the  plague  stuyttfi, 
 
 A  ND  °  again  the  anger  of  the  Loud  was 
 -'*-  kindled  against  Israel,  and  ||  he  moved 
 David  against  them  to  say,  ■•  Go,  number  Israel 
 and  Judali. 
 
 2  For  the  king  said  to  Joab  the  captain  of  the 
 host,  which  uas  with  him,  ||  Go  now  through 
 all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  '  from  Dan  even  to  Beer- 
 sheba,  and  number  ye  tlie  people,  that ''  I  may 
 know  the  number  of  the  people. 
 
 3  And  .Toab  said  unto  the  king.  Now  the 
 LoKD  thy  God  add  unto  the  people,  how  many 
 soever  they  be,  an  hundredfold,  and  that  the 
 eyes  of  my  lord  the  king  may  see  it :  but  why 
 doth  my  lord  the  king  delight  in  this  thing  ? 
 
 4  Notwithstanding  the  king's  word  prevailed 
 against  Joab,  and  against  the  captains  of  the 
 host.  And  Joab  and  the  captains  of  the  host 
 went  out  from  the  presence  of  tlie  king,  to 
 number  the  people  of  Israel. 
 
 5  H  And  they  passed  over  Jordan,  and  pitched 
 in  "  Aroer,  on  the  right  side  of  tlie  city  that 
 lieth  in  the  mi<lst  of  the  ||  river  of  Gad,  and  to- 
 ward ■■  Jazer  : 
 
 6  Then    they  came   to   Gilead,  and    to  the 
 
 II  land  of  Tahlim-hodshi  ;   and  they  came    to 
 ^  Dan-jaan,  and  about  to  "  Zidon, 
 
 7  And  came  to  the  stronghold  of  Tyre,  and 
 to  all  the  cities  of  the  Hivites,  and  of  the  Ca- 
 naanites :  and  they  went  out  to  tlie  south  of 
 Judah,  eveji  to  Beer-shcba. 
 
 8  So  when  they  had  gone  through  all  the 
 land,  they  came  to  Jerusalem  at  the  end  of 
 nine  months  and  twenty  days. 
 
 y  And  Joab  gave  up  the  sum  of  the  number 
 of  the  people  unto  the  king  :  '  and  there  were 
 in  Israel  eight  hundred  thousand  valiant  men 
 
 li  Snlnn.  Set 
 I  Clir.2l.  I 
 Jam.  1.  |.% 
 
 87. 
 
 A  I  Chr 
 23,  M. 
 
 II  Or,  Com- 
 
 pnli. 
 cludg.ao.I 
 
 d  Jer.  17.  6. 
 
 r  Di-n    2.  36. 
 J'>sh.  13.  0, 
 
 II  Or,  ™;fr,. 
 
 /Nil.  32.  1,3. 
 
 Or,  nriher 
 
 y.I.,sll  l<l.17 
 Jil.t2.11  V'J 
 A  J.,*h.l'.l  -.'.S 
 ,1K  18  -» 
 
 See  1  Chr. 
 21,  5. 
 
 B.C.  11117 
 
 k  1  Sam.  2^. 
 6. 
 
 /  ch.  12.  13. 
 
 7  Ps.  IftS.  a, 
 
 13,  14.  at 
 
 1 19.  156. 
 II  Or,  'mnni/. 
 r  Sen  Is.  17.6. 
 
 Zech.  1. 15. 
 /  I  Clir.  21. 
 
 U.  8t  27. 24. 
 
 (  Ex.  12.  23. 
 
 lClir.21.15, 
 >|  Geii.  6.  6. 
 
 1  Sam.  15. 
 
 II.  Joel  2. 
 
 13,  U. 
 
 !  1  Chr.  21. 
 1«.  *c 
 t  lli-b.  An- 
 
 that  drew  the  sword  ;  and  the  men  of  Judah 
 iL-ere  five  hundred  thousand  men. 
 
 10  IT  And  "  David's  heart  smote  him  after 
 that  he  had  numbered  the  people.  And  David 
 said  unto  the  Lord,  '  I  have  sinned  greatly  in 
 that  I  have  done  :  and  now,  I  beseech  thee,  O 
 Lord,  take  away  the  iniquity  of  thy  servant; 
 for  I  have  "'  done  very  foolishly. 
 
 1 1  For  when  David  was  up  in  the  morning, 
 the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  the  prophet 
 "  Gad,  David's  "seer,  saying, 
 
 12  Go  and  say  unto  David,  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord,  I  otfer  thee  three  things;  choose  thee 
 one  of  them,  that  I  may  do  it  unto  thee. 
 
 13  So  Gad  came  to  David,  and  told  him,  and 
 said  unto  him,  Shall  ''seven  years  of  famine 
 come  unto  thee  in  thy  land?  or  wilt  thou  flee 
 three  months  before  thine  enemies,  while  they 
 pursue  thee  ?  or  that  there  be  three  days'  pes- 
 tilence in  thy  land  ?  now  advise,  and  see  what 
 answer  I  shall  return  to  him  that  sent  me. 
 
 14  And  David  said  unto  Gad,  I  am  in  a  great 
 strait :  let  us  fall  now  into  the  hand  of  the 
 Lord  ;  ''  for  his  mercies  are  \\  great :  and  '  let 
 me  not  fall  into  the  hand  of  man, 
 
 15  f  So  'the  Lord  sent  a  pestilence  upon 
 Israel  from  the  morning  even  to  the  time  ap- 
 pointed :  and  there  died  of  the  people  from 
 Dan  even  to  Beer-sheba  seventy  thousand 
 men. 
 
 10  '  And  when  the  angel  stretched  out  his 
 hand  upon  Jerusalem  to  destroy  it,  "  the  Lord 
 repented  him  of  the  evil,  and  said  to  the  angel 
 that  destroyed  the  people.  It  is  enough  :  stay 
 now  thine  hand.  And  the  angel  of  the  Loud 
 was  by  the  threshingplace  of  '  Araunah  the  ■■ 
 Jebusite, 
 
 17  And  David  spake  unto  the  Lord  when  he 
 saw  the  angel  that  smote  the  people,  and  said, 
 Lo,  '  I  have  sinned,  and  I  have  done  wickedly: 
 but  these  sheep,  what  have  they  done  ?  let 
 thine  hand,  I  pray  thee,  be  against  me,  and 
 against  my  father's  bouse. 
 
 18  IF  And  Gad  came  that  day  to  David,  and 
 said  unto  him,  '  Go  up,  rear  au  altar  unto  the 
 Lord  in  the  threshingfloor  of  f  Araunah  the 
 Jebusite. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV. — 1,  He  moved,  *navid  was  moved.'— Pai.  'Satan 
 stood  up,  &c.,(I  Chron.  xxi.  1.)  2.  Sumberyc  the  people — Moses  num- 
 bered the  people  by  God*s  authnrit.v.  butDavid  to  display  his  own 
 sovereignty. — Bishop  Vyition.  Heprobalily  numbered  them  to  form  a 
 standing  army  for  conquest,  and  his  sin  was  an  aiming  at  despotism. 
 — Mich.,  so  also  Boothr.  5.  .iropr,  a  city  Riven  to  the  tribe  of  Gad. 
 and  rebuilt  by  them,  (Num.  x.'C.xii.  34.)  —  Gill.  6.   Tahtim-hodshi, 
 
 •the  nether  land  newiy  inhabited.'  a  marshy  tract  on  the  river  Jordan, 
 —  Welts.  Dun-jioin,  probably  Dan,  (Jush.  .\ix.  47;  Judic.  xviii.  7,)  for 
 this  was  in  the  northern  bi'rili.T  of  the  land,  and  in  ttie  way  from  Gilead 
 to  Zidon. — Poole.  g.  Jn  jKrnel  eight  hundred  thousand — Judah  were 
 five  hundred  thousaod — this  diflers  from  1  Chron.  xxi.  5.  To  reconcile 
 these  two  accounts,  it  has  been  observed,  that  when,  in  this  passage, 
 the  number  of  men  of  the  Israelites  are  said  to  be  '  eight  hundred  thou- 
 sand,* the  troops  that  were  embodied  were  nut  reckoned,  their  numbers 
 being  well  known.  We  find  (1  Chron.  xxvii.  1,  &c.]  that  these  legions 
 were  divided  into  twelve  companies,  one  of  which  waited  each  month, 
 and  that  each  of  these  companies  amounted  to  24,000.  Allowing  to 
 each  body  a  thousand  officers,  the  deficiency  in  this  account  in  the 
 
 book  of  Samuel  is  exactly  supplied.  For  the  disparity  in  Judah,  some 
 have  accounted  by  suppiijing  Uenjarain  included  in  one  account  and 
 not  in  the  other  ;  and  others  suppose  the  legionary  soldiers  of  Judah 
 make  the  difl^ereiice. — Hew.  Clarke  thinks  some  error  has  occurred  in 
 copying,  as  was  comraon  in  writing  numbers.  Williams  is  of  opinion 
 that  two  accounts  were  delivered  in,  that  in  Samuel  at  the  end  of  9 
 months  and  20  days  ;  the  other  some  time  subsequent,  when  the  num- 
 bering was  more  advanced.  !  1 .  Foe  when  David,  '  and  when  David,' 
 ^.•c. — Henry.  13.  .Seven,  'three,'  1  Chron.  xxi.  12,  and^V;;^.  Amis- 
 take  of  the  copyer,  writing  l,  'seven.' for  j,  'three.' — Ken.  15.  .Seventy 
 tloiusaud — about  one  in  twenty. — Henry.  This  terrible  slaughter  was 
 not  for  David's  sin  only,  probably  the  people  entered  into  David's  am- 
 bitious views.  The  righteous  J  udge  had,  no  doubt,  a  strong  reason  for 
 this  awful  dispensation. — Ed.  16.  The  angel  —  the  great  physical 
 causes  arising  from  the  various  combinations  of  the  elements  of  nature 
 are  occasionally  considered  as  angels  of  God. — Hew.  This  angel  was 
 some  heavenly  messenger,  as  is  evident  from  1  Chron.  xxi.  20. — Evan. 
 Syuop.  An  angel  was  employed. — .4.  Clarke.  18.  Threshingfioor — 
 the  threshing-floors  in  the  east  are  round  level  plots  of  ground  in  the 
 
 Messiah  is  come  ;  his  great  work  is  done  ;  be  has  sealed  the 
 covenant  of  grace  with  his  blood  ;  and  now  the  dying  Chris- 
 tian may  say,  'lie  liath  made  with  me  an  everlasting  cove- 
 nant, ordered  in  all  things  and  sure.' 
 
 II.  David  s  heroes.  Let  us  aspire  to  rank  among  the  heroes 
 of  the  spiritual  David.  Let  us  be  valiant  in  the  cause  of  God. 
 Ihe  pious  Scott  observes,  '  Were  we  but  as  much  attached  to 
 the  person  and  cause  of"  the  Captain  of  our  salvation,"  and 
 as  much  pleased  to  shew  our  love  and  gratitude  to  Him.  bv 
 doing  his  will  and  promoting  bis  honour,  us  some  soldiers 
 358 
 
 have  been  tn  a  beloved  prince  or  commander,  how  self-denying 
 and  ready  tor  every  service  and  sutiering  should  we  be,  und 
 how  glad  to  spend  or  to  lay  down  our  lives  for  His  sake  !  \  et, 
 surely,  never  ruler  or  captain  was  of  so  excellent  a  character 
 as  ours;  bis  commands  are  all  righteous  and  beneficial  ;  bis 
 authority  is  an  inexpressible  blessing.  The  obligations  ihat 
 be  has  conferred  on  bis  soldiers  and  servants,  the  love  lie 
 bears  to  tliem,  and  the  honours  that  he  has  prepared  for  tliB 
 meanest  of  them,  are  beyond  all  computation  or  conception.' 
 
David  is  commanded  to  build  aii  altar.  II.  SAMUEL,  XXIV.      He  sacrificeth^  and  the  plagtte  is  stayed. 
 
 19  And  David,  according  to  the  saying  of 
 Gad,  went  up  as  the  Lord  commanded. 
 
 20  And  Araimah  looked,  and  saw  the  king 
 and  his  servants  coming  on  toward  him  :  and 
 Araunah  went  out,  and  howed  himself  before 
 the  king  on  his  face  upon  the  ground. 
 
 21  And  Araunah  said,  Wherefore  is  my  lord 
 the  king  come  to  his  servant?  ^  And  David 
 said-.  To  buy  the  threshingfloor  of  thee,  to  build 
 an  altar  unto  the  Lord,  that ''the  plague  may 
 be  stayed  from  the  people. 
 
 2'2  And  Araunah  said  unto  David,  Let  my 
 lord  the  king  take  and  offer  up  what  seemeth 
 good  unto  him  :  '^  behold,  here  be  oxen  for 
 burnt  sacrifice,  and  threshing  instruments  and 
 
 I  See  Gen. 
 23.  8— IG. 
 
 f  See  I  Chr. 
 21.  24,  25. 
 
 /ch.  2!.  U. 
 j7  ver.  21. 
 
 Other  instruments  of  the  oxen  for  wood. 
 
 23  All  these  thinr/s  did  Araunah,  as  a  king, 
 fj;ive  unto  the  king.  And  Araunah  said  unto 
 tlie  king,  The  Lord  thy  God  '^  accept  thee. 
 
 24  And  the  king  said  unto  Araunah,  Nay  ; 
 but  I  will  surely  buy  it  of  thee  at  a  price: 
 neither  will  1  offer  burnt  offerings  unto  the 
 Lord  my  God  of  that  which  doth  cost  me  no- 
 thing. So  '^  David  bought  tlie  threshingfloor 
 and  t!ie  oxen  for  fifty  sliekels  of  silver. 
 
 25  And  David  built  there  an  altar  unto  the 
 Lord,  and  offered  burnt  offerings  and  peace 
 offerings.  ^So  the  Lord  was  intreated  for  the 
 land,  and  ^  the  plague  was  stayed  from  Israel. 
 
 openair,  wherethecom  is  trodden  out  by  oxen. — Sec  Cfd.,  Art.  T/ims/i-  — in  l  Chron.  xxi.  25,  it  is  'six  hundred.'     In  one  place,  shekels  of 
 
 inff.     23.  A$  fi  fiitifft  give  unto  the  kinfj — the  Hebrew  islbon  ^3^^^*  IDS  gold  are  intended,  in  the  other,  shekels  of  silver ;  fifty  sheitels  of  gold 
 
 ■]'?n'?. 'gave  Araunah,  the  king,  unto  the  king;  hence  some  infer  t  liat  being  equal  to  six  hundred  of  silver. — Boch.     The  first  statement  is 
 
 before  the  taking  of  Jerusalem,  he  was  king  of  the  Jebusites.    The  supposed  to  speak  of  the  price  paid  for  the  threshing-floor,  oxen,  and 
 
 Greek,  Si/riac,  Arnhic,   fyc,  have  not  the  word  'king.*      Boothroyd  instruments,  and  the  second  the  price  for  the  whole  place  adjoining. — 
 
 reads,  'all  tliese  things  Araunah  offered  to  give  to  the  king.'     24.  Fifty,  See  Puole,  Pnt.^Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIA^.  —  Our  reflections  on  this 
 chapter  sliall  be  adopted  from  Henry:  —  'We  have  liere  — 
 I.  I)tivi(Cs  sin.  He  had  no  orders  from  God  to  number  the 
 people,  nor  was  there  any  occasion  for  doing  of  it.  He  did  it 
 in  liie  pride  of  Lis  heart,  wliich  was  Hezekiah's  sin  in  shew- 
 ing his  treasures  to  the  ambassadors.  It  was  a  proud  conceit 
 in  his  own  greatness,  and  a  proud  confidence  in  his  own 
 strength.  By  publishing  among  the  nations  tlie  number  of 
 his  people,  he  thought  to  appear  the  more  formidable.  God, 
 however,  judges  not  of  sin  as  we  do.  What  appears  to  us 
 harmless,  or  a  small  ofi'ence,  may  be  a  great  sin  in  the  eyes  of 
 God,  who  sees  men's  principles,  and  is  a  discerner  of  the 
 thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart.  But  his  judgment,  we  are 
 sure,  is  according  to  truth. 
 
 *  IL  David's  conviction  of  the  sin,  and  rcprntance  for  it.  "His 
 lieart  smote  him."  It  is  a  good  thing,  when  a  man  has  sinned, 
 to  have  a  heart  within  him  to  smite  him  for  it ;  it  is  a  good 
 sign  of  a  principle  of  grace  in  tlie  heart,  and  a  good  step  to- 
 wards repenlaoce  and  reformation.  He  owns  he  had  sinned 
 greatly.    True  penitents,  whose  consciences  are  tender  and 
 
 well  informed,  see  that  evil  in  sin  which  others  do  not  see. 
 He  cries  for  pardon — "  1  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  take  away  the 
 iniquity  of  thy  servant."  If  we  confess  our  sins,  we  may  pray 
 in  faith  that  God  will  forgive  them,  and  take  away,  by  his  par- 
 doning mercy,  that  iniquity  which  we  cast  away  by  siticere 
 repentance. 
 
 '  III.  The  judgment  inflicted  upon  David  for  his  sin.  Those 
 who  truly  repent  of  their  sins  and  have  them  pardoned,  yet 
 are  often  made  to  smart  for  them  in  this  world.  The  punish- 
 ment also  answers  to  the  sin. 
 
 '  IV.  The  stayinff  of  the  jiulgment.  See  here  how  ready  God 
 is  to  forgive,  and  how  little  pleasure  he  takes  in  punishing, 
 and  let  it  encourage  us  to  meet  him  by  repentance,  in  the  way 
 of  his  judgments. 
 
 '  V.  The  erecting  of  an  altar  in  token  of  God's  reconciliation  to 
 David  and  his  people.  Thus  peace  is  made  between  God  and 
 sinners  by  sacrifice,  and  not  otherwise,  even  by  Christ  tl;o 
 great  propitiation,  of  whom  all  the  legal  sacrifices  were  types. 
 It  is  for  his  sake  that  the  destroying  angel  is  bid  to  stay  his 
 hand.' 
 
 369 
 
THE  FIRST  BOOK 
 
 THE     KINGS, 
 
 COMMONLY    CAI.r.En, 
 
 THE    THIRD     BOOK     OF     THE     KINGS. 
 
 [This  hook  contains  the  history  of  126  years,  from  the  time  of  Solomon's  appointment  to  the  throne.  The  two  hooks  of 
 Kings  are  properly  hut  one  hook,  and  went  with  the  Jews  under  the  common  name  of  Kings.  They  are  tliought  to  he 
 made  up  of  the  writings  of  various  authors.  The  reigns  of  David,  Solomon,  and  Hezekiah  were  prohahly  written  hy 
 themselves.  The  prophets  Nathan,  Gad,  Isaiah,  Iddo,  and  others,  wrote  the  history  of  their  own  times,  and  a  digest  was 
 then  made  of  the  whole.  It  is  supposed  that  Ezra  transcrihed  the  history  from  the  above  writers,  and  from  the  public 
 records.      The  first  book  is  referred  to  in  Rlatt.  xii.  42  ;  Luke,  iv.  25;  xi.  31 ;  Acts,  ii.  29;  xiii.  36  ;  James,  v.  17.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 )  Ahishati  cherhh^th  D^ivid  in  his  ertrcme  age.  5  Adi- 
 nijii/t,  X}avifl's  lUirUii'j,  usnrpeth  t/ic  kiiu/doin.  II  fii/ 
 the  counsel nf  Nathan,  15  Ba/h-shcha  maveth  thekimi, 
 22  and  Nathan  secondtth  hrr.  28  David  renewe'th 
 his  oath  to  Bath-sheha.  132  Sohrnon,  bj/  Darid's 
 apjiointment,  being  anointed  king  by  Zadok  and  Na- 
 than, the  people  triumph.  41  Jonathan  bringing  thise 
 news,  Adonijah\t  guestafg.  50  AJonijah,  Jlging  to 
 the  horns  of  the  altar,  upon  his  good  behaviour  is  dis- 
 missted  by  Solomon. 
 
 1V"0W  king  David  was  oM  oh</ f  stridden  in 
 -'- '  years  ;  ami  tliey  covered  liim  with  clothes, 
 but  he  gat  no  heat. 
 
 2  Wherefore  his  servants  said  unto  him,  f  Let 
 there  be  sought  for  my  lord  the  king  ]a  young 
 virgin  :  and  let  her  stand  before  the  king,  and 
 let  her  f  d'erish  him,  and  let  her  lie  in  thy 
 bosom,  that  uiy  lord  the  king  may  get  heat. 
 
 3  So  they  sought  for  a  fair  damsel  tlirongliout 
 all  the  coasts  of  Israel,  and  found  Abishag  a 
 
 *  Shunamiuite,  and  brought  her  to  the  king. 
 
 4  And  the  damsel  was  very  fair,  and  cherished 
 the  king,  and  ministered  to  him  :  but  the  king 
 knew  her  not. 
 
 5  1  Then  ''  Adonijah  the  son  of  Haggith  ex- 
 alted himself,  saying,  I  will  fbe  king:  and  "he 
 prepared  him  cliariots  and  horsemen,  and  fifty 
 men  to  run  before  him. 
 
 6  And  his  father  had  not  displeased  him  -fat 
 any  time  in  saying.  Why  hast  thou  done  so? 
 and  he  also  ivus  a  very  goodly  man;  ''and  his 
 mother  bare  him  after  Absalom. 
 
 7  And  t  he  conferred  with  Joab  the  son  of 
 Zeruiah,  and  with  '  Abiathar  the  priest :  and 
 'they  f  following  Adonijah  helped  him. 
 
 8  But  Zadok  the  priest,  and  I3enaiah  the  son 
 of  Jehoiada,    and    Nathan   the    prophet,    and 
 
 *  Shimei,  and  Rei,  and  '■the  mighty  men  which 
 helonged  to  David,  were  not  with  Adonijah. 
 
 9  And  Adonijah  slew  sheep  and  oxen  and 
 fat  cattle  by  the  stone  of  Zoheleth,  which  is 
 by  II  En-rogel,  and  called  all  his  brethren  the 
 kings  sons, and  all  the  men  of  Judah  the  king's 
 servants  : 
 
 10  But  Nathan  the  prophet,  and  Benaiah,  and 
 
 t  Heb.  eiitfr- 
 ed  itito diii/t 
 
 t  Heb.  Zr/ 
 
 tlleh.ad<tm 
 *tl,  a  vtrijin 
 
 t  Heb.  b*  a 
 
 iiiilt  hi}n. 
 
 t  Heb./ran. 
 
 d  2  S:tm.  3. 
 
 :i,  4. 
 
 1  Cl.r   3.  8. 
 t  Heb./,;. 
 
 uil/i  Joali. 
 e  s  Sam.  SO. 
 
 <-.-b.8,8S.  29. 
 t  Heb  /xlp^d 
 
 a/tfT  .idu- 
 
 tiijah. 
 S  cU.  ■!.  18. 
 h  8  S».23.  e. 
 
 Or,  tht  wit 
 2  Sa.  17.  17. 
 
 tHeb///T(i>. 
 
 t  Heb.  What 
 to  thee  f 
 
 t  ver.  13,  30. 
 
 m  ver.  7,  8, 
 !l.  3.'». 
 
 the  mighty  men,  and  Solomon  his  brother,  he 
 called  not. 
 
 1 1  t  Wherefore  Nathan  .spake  unto  Bath 
 sheba  the  mother  of  Solomon,  saying.  Hast 
 thou  not  heard  that  Adonijah  tlie  son  of  '  Hag- 
 gith doth  reign,  and  David  our  lord  knoweth 
 it  not  ? 
 
 12  Now  therefore  come,  let  me,  I  pray  thee, 
 give  thee  counsel,  that  thou  mayest  save  thine 
 own  life,  and  the  life  of  thy  son  Solomon. 
 
 13  Go  and  get  thee  in  unto  king  David,  and 
 say  unto  him,  Didstnot  thou,  my  lord,  O  king, 
 swear  unto  thine  handmaid,  saying, 'Assuredly 
 Solomon  thy  son  shall  reign  after  me,  and  he 
 shall  sit  upon  my  throne?  why  then  doth 
 Adonijah  reign? 
 
 14  Behold,  while  thou  yet  talkest  there  with 
 the  king,  I  also  will  come  in  after  thee,  and 
 t  confirm  thy  words. 
 
 15  H  And  Bath-sheba  went  in  unto  the  king 
 into  the  chamber  :  and  the  king  was  very  old ; 
 and  Abishag  the  Shunainmite  ministered  unto 
 the  king. 
 
 16  And  Bath-sheba  bowed,  and  did  obeisance 
 unto  the  king.  And  the  king  said,  f  What 
 wouldest  thou? 
 
 17  And  she  said  unto  him.  My  lord,  '  thou 
 swarest  hy  the  Loud  thy  God  unto  thine  hand- 
 maid, sni/inp.  Assuredly  Solomon  thy  son 
 .shall  reign  after  me,  and  he  shall  sit  upon  my 
 throne. 
 
 18  And  now,  behold,  Adonijah  reigneth  ;  and 
 now,  my  lord  the  king,  thou  knowest  it  not : 
 
 19  ""And  he  hath  slain  oxen  and  fat  cattle 
 and  sheep  in  abundance,  and  hath  called  all 
 the  sons  of  the  king,  and  Abiathar  the  priest, 
 and  Joab  the  captain  of  the  host :  but  Solo- 
 mon thy  servant  hath  he  not  called. 
 
 20  And  thou,  my  lord,  O  king,  the  eyes  of 
 all  Israel  are  upon  thee,  that  thou  shouldest 
 tell  them  who  shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  my 
 lord  the  king  after  him. 
 
 21  Otherwise  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  my 
 lord  the  king  shall  "sleep  with  his  fathers,  that 
 I  and  my  son  Solomon  shall  be  counted  f  of- 
 fenders. 
 
 NoTKs  ON  CnAp.  I.  _  2.  c/iei-i.vA  him,  ■  be  a  nurse  to  Mm.^-Geddes, 
 Hootnr.  This  practice  is  common  in  the  east,  and  decrepit  men  often 
 repay  a  young  person  by  leaving  her  a  lar^e  pnuierty.— So  R^i/i. 
 3.  /HisA'iif— that  she  was  considered  as  David's  concubine  is  clear  from 
 chap.  n.22.  .i  shunainmite,  a  native  of  the  city  of  Shunem,  in  the  tribe 
 n  ■f?"*^'''  (^■'s  Josh.  xix.  IS.}— Gilt.  6.  Di.ipleiised,  •  grieved.'— 
 JJoothr.  Corrected,"  Vulg.  Bare  him  after  Alisalom—iy  tills  reading 
 360 
 
 it  seems  as  if  both  were  of  the  same  mother,  wherca-s  Maacah,  not 
 Hagsith,  was  Absalom's  mother,  (see  2  Sam.  iii.  3.)  The  reading  nf 
 Houfngmit  is,  '  he  was  begotten  by  David  after  Absalom.'  y.  En. 
 roget,  a  fountain  in  the  royal  gardens  without  the  city. — Josephns. 
 12.  The  life  of  thy  son  Solomon,  which  would  be  the  usurper's  first  care 
 to  take  away.  13.  Swear — though  there  is  no  record  (I  such  an  oath, 
 there  doubtless  was  one,  of  which  Nathan  had  Isuowledge.        ly.  tie 
 
Adonijah's  treason  defeated. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  I. 
 
 Solotnon  anointed  king. 
 
 '2.-2  t  And,  lo,  while  she  yet  talked  with  the 
 king,  Nathan  the  prophet  also  came  in. 
 
 23  And  tliey  told  the  king,  saying,  Behold 
 Nathan  the  prophet.  And  when  he  was  come 
 in  before  the  king,  he  bowed  himself  before  the 
 king  with  liis  face  to  the  ground. 
 
 24  And  Nathan  said.  My  lord,  O  king,  hast 
 thou  said,  Adonijah  shall  reign  after  me,  and 
 he  shall  sit  upon  my  throne  ? 
 
 25  °  For  he  is  gone  down  this  day,  and  hath 
 slain  oxen  and  fat  cattle  and  sheep  in  abun- 
 dance, and  hath  called  all  the  king's  sons,  and 
 the  captains  of  the  host,  and  Abiathar  the 
 priest ;  and,  behold,  they  eat  and  drink  before 
 him,  and  say,  ''f  God  save  king  Adonijah. 
 
 26  But  me,  even  me  thy  servant,  and  Zadok 
 the  priest,  and  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada, 
 and  thy  servant  Solomon,  hath  he  not  called. 
 
 27  Is  this  tiling  done  by  my  lord  the  king, 
 and  thou  hast  not  shewed  it  unto  thy  servant, 
 who  should  sit  on  the  throne  of  my  lord  the 
 king  after  him  ? 
 
 28  U  Then  king  David  answered  and  said. 
 Call  me  Bath-sheba.  And  .she  came  finto  the 
 king's  presence,  and  stood  before  the  king. 
 
 29  And  the  king  sware,  and  said,  '^As  the 
 Lord  liveth,  that  hath  redeemed  my  soul  out 
 of  all  distress, 
 
 30  '  Even  as  I  sware  unto  thee  by  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel,  saying.  Assuredly  Solomon  thy 
 son  shall  reign  after  me,  and  he  shall  sit  upon 
 my  throne  in  my  stead  ;  even  so  will  I  cer- 
 tainly do  this  day. 
 
 31  Then  Bath-sheba  bowed  with  her  face  to 
 the  eartli,  and  did  reverence  to  the  king,  and 
 said,  '  Let  my  lord  king  David  live  for  ever. 
 
 32  f  And  king  David  said,  Call  me  Zadok 
 the  priest,  and  Natlian  the  prophet,  and  Be- 
 naiah the  son  of  Jehoiada.  And  they  came 
 before  the  king. 
 
 33  The  king  also  said  unto  them,  '  Take  with 
 you  the  servants  of  your  lord,  and  cause  Solo- 
 mon my  son  to  ride  upon  f  mine  own  mule, 
 and  bring  him  down  to  "  Gihon  : 
 
 34  And  let  Zadok  the  priest  and  Nathan  the 
 prophet  "  anoint  him  there  king  over  Israel : 
 and  ''blow  ye  with  the  trumpet,  and  say,  God 
 save  king  Solomon. 
 
 35  Then  ye  shall  come  up  after  him,  that  he 
 may  conic  and  sit  upon  my  throne  ;  for  he 
 shall  be  king  in  my  stead  :  and  I  have  appoint- 
 ed him  to  be  ruler  over  Israel  and  over  Judah. 
 
 3G  And  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  answered 
 the  king,  and  said.  Amen  :  the  Lord  God  of 
 my  lord  the  king  say  so  too. 
 
 37  "  As  the  Lord  hath  been  witli  my  lord  the 
 king,  even  so  be  he  with  Solomon,  and  "  make 
 his  throne  greater  than  the  throne  of  my  lord 
 king  David. 
 
 38  So  Zadok  the  priest,  and  Nathan  the  pro- 
 phet, ''  and  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada,  and 
 the  Cherethites,  and  the  Pelethites,  went  down, 
 and  caused  Solomon  to  ride  upon  king  David's 
 
 ja/i  lii 
 
 fUcl).  b,far 
 
 I  Nch,  2.  3. 
 Dan.  2.  i. 
 
 I  Heb.  which 
 beloiigeth 
 tn  me :  See 
 Esth.  6.  8. 
 
 n  2  Chr.  32. 
 30. 
 
 X  I   Sam  10. 
 
 1.  fe  16.  3, 
 
 12.  2  Sam 
 
 2.  4-  &  5  3. 
 ch.  19.  IG. 
 2  Kin  9.  3. 
 ^  II.  12. 
 
 V  2  Sam.  ^b. 
 lOaKiu.  9, 
 
 13.  &  11.14. 
 
 rJos.I.5,17. 
 1  Sa.  -JO.  13 
 
 b  2  Sa.  R.13 
 ^  23.  20— 
 
 c  Ex.  30.  23, 
 
 2^),  32. 
 
 Ps.  S9.  20. 
 <t  1  Chr.  2y. 
 
 22. 
 r.  1  Sam.  10. 
 
 21. 
 II  Or,JluUi. 
 
 g  1  Chr.  29. 
 
 n  1  Sam  14. 
 1.')-  2  bam. 
 14    II. 
 Acta  27.34. 
 
 mule,  and  bronglit  him  to  Gihon. 
 
 39  And  Zadok  the  priest  took  an  horn  of 
 ''  oil  out  of  tlie  tabernacle,  and  ''  anointed  Soln- 
 nion.  And  they  blew  the  trumpet;  "and  all 
 the  people  said,  God  save  king  Solomon. 
 
 40  And  all  the  people  came  up  after  him,  and 
 the  people  piped  with  ||  pipes,  and  rejoiced 
 with  great  joy,  so  that  the  earth  rent  with  the 
 sound  of  them. 
 
 41  H  And  Adonijah  and  all  the  guests  that 
 were  with  him  heard  it  as  they  had  made  an 
 end  of  eating.  And  when  Joal)  heard  the 
 sound  of  the  trumpet,  he  said.  Wherefore  is 
 t/iis  noise  of  the  city  being  in  an  uproar? 
 
 42  And  while  he  yet  spake,  behold,  Jonathan 
 the  son  of  Abiathar  the  priest  came :  and 
 Adonijah  said  unto  him,  Come  in  ;  for 'thou 
 art  a  valiant  man,  and  bringest  good  tidings. 
 
 43  And  Jonathan  answered  and  said  to  Ado- 
 nijah, Verily  our  lord  king  David  hath  made 
 Solomon  king. 
 
 44  And  the  king  hath  sent  with  him  Zadok 
 the  priest,  and  Nathan  the  prophet,  and  Be- 
 naiah the  son  of  Jehoiada,  and  the  Clierethites, 
 and  the  Pelethites,  and  they  have  caused  him 
 to  ride  upon  the  king's  mule  : 
 
 45  And  Zadok  the  priest  and  Nathan  the 
 prophet  have  anointed  him  king  in  Gihon : 
 and  they  are  come  up  from  tlience  rejoicing, 
 so  that  the  city  rang  again.  This  is  the  noise 
 that  ye  have  heard. 
 
 40  And  also  Solomon  ^sitteth  on  the  throne 
 of  the  kingdom. 
 
 47  And  moreover  the  king's  servants  came 
 to  bless  our  lord  king  David,  saying,  '■  God 
 make  the  name  of  Solomon  better  than  thy 
 name,  and  make  his  throne  greater  than  thy 
 throne.  '  And  the  king  bowed  himself  upon 
 the  bed. 
 
 48  And  also  thus  said  the  king.  Blessed  lie 
 the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  which  hath  'given 
 one  to  sit  on  my  throne  this  day,  mine  eyes 
 even  seeing  it. 
 
 49  And  all  the  guests  that  u<ere  with  Adoni- 
 jah were  afraid,  and  rose  up,  and  went  every 
 man  his  way. 
 
 50  H  And  Adonijah  feared  because  of  Solo- 
 mon, and  arose,  and  went,  and  '  caught  hold 
 on  the  horns  of  the  altar. 
 
 31  And  it  was  told  Solomon,  saying.  Behold, 
 Adonijah  feareth  king  Solomon  :  for,  lo,  he 
 hath  caught  hold  on  the  horns  of  the  altar, 
 saying.  Let  king  Solomon  swear  unto  me  to 
 day  that  he  will  not  slay  his  servant  with  the 
 sword. 
 
 52  And  Solomon  said.  If  he  will  shew  him- 
 self a  worthy  man,  "'  there  shall  not  an  hair  of 
 him  fall  to  the  earth  :  but  if  wickedness  shall 
 be  found  in  him,  he  shall  die. 
 
 33  So  king  Solomon  sent,  and  they  brought 
 him  doW'U  from  the  altar.  And  he  came  and 
 bowed  himself  to  king  Solomon  :  and  Solomon 
 said  unto  him.  Go  to  thine  house. 
 
 hath  slain  oxen,  ^-c,  'made  a  grand  entertainment.'— G(7;.  33.  To 
 ride  upon  mi/ie  own  mule — this  was  one  way  of  testifying  that  Solomon 
 should  be  his  successor  ;  no  private  person  whatsoever  might  ride  upon 
 the  king's  mule. — Abarbinel.  To  do  so  without  permission  was  a 
 capital  offence. — Maim.  Gihon,  the  great  fount  above  Jerusalem,  de- 
 scribed in  2  Chrorfncxxii.  30. — Sut.  Called  Siloam  in  the  New  Testament ; 
 it  was  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Moriah.— iJoo/Ar.  This  was  a  place  nf  great 
 resort,  and  fit  to  display  the  retinue  of  Solomon. — So  Poole.  40.T/te  earth 
 rent — synonymous  with  our  expression, '  they  rentthe  air.' — So  Grcenf. 
 361 
 
 42.  .4  valiant  man,  *&  m^n  of  virtue.' — Mont.  'Good  man.' — Gill. 
 '  A  worthy  man.' — Boottir.  50.  Caught  hold  on  the  hoyris  of  the  altar, 
 cither  at  Gibeon,  where  the  tabernacle  now  was,  (chap.  iii.  4,) — Jarc/ti, 
 or  rather,  which  was  nearest,  the  altar  in  the  threshing-floor,  (2  Sam. 
 x.\iv.  25.) — Gilt.  The  altar  of  the  Hebrews  was  a  refuge  till  a  man's 
 case  was  heard. — Sitt.  There  is  no  precept  in  the  law  to  make  the 
 altar  a  privileged  place ,  but  in  conformity  to  the  customs  of  other 
 nations,  the  Jews  seem  to  have  done  it. — See  ^neid,  vi. 
 
David's  charge  to  Solomon. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  II. 
 
 His  death. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Davidf  having  (/iven.  a  cftarf/c  to  Solomorij  3  nf  reli- 
 giousness, 5  of  Joab,  7  of  Barzitlai,  8  of  S/iimri, 
 10  tlieth.  1*2  Solomon  succeedetli.  13  Adonijah, 
 moving  Baih-slu'ba  to  sue  unto  Solomon  for  Abishag, 
 is  put  to  death.  "26  Ahiothary  having  his  life  given 
 him,  is  deprived  of  the  jirlesthood.  28  J<jab  fleeing 
 to  the  horns  of  the  altar  is  there  sbtin.  35  Benaiah 
 is  pHt  in  Joab's  room,  and  Zadok  in  Abiathar*s. 
 36  Shimei,  confined  to  Jerustdem,  Inj  occasion  of 
 going  thence  to  Gath,  is  put  to  death. 
 
 TVTOW  "  the  days  of  David  drew  iiii;h  that  he 
 -'-"  shouUl  die  ;  and  he  charged  Solomon  his 
 son,  saying, 
 
 2  ■■  I  go  the  way  of  all  the  earth  :  '  he  thou 
 strong  therefore,  and  shew  thyself  a  man  ; 
 
 3  And  keep  the  charge  of  the  Lokd  thy  God, 
 to  walk  in  his  ways,  to  keep  his  statutes,  and 
 his  commandments,  and  his  judgments,  and  his 
 testimonies,  as  it  is  written  in  the  law  of  Moses, 
 that  thou  mayest  ''  ||  prosper  in  all  that  thou 
 doest,  and  whithersoever  tliou  turnest  thy- 
 self: 
 
 4  That  the  Lord  may  "^  continue  his  word 
 which  he  spake  concerning  me,  saying, ''  If  thy 
 children  take  heed  to  their  way,  to  ^  walk  be- 
 fore me  in  truth  with  all  their  heart  and  with 
 all  their  soul,  "there  shall  not  ffail  thee  (said 
 he)  a  man  on  the  throne  of  Israel. 
 
 5  Moreover  thou  knowest  also  what  Joab  the 
 son  of  Zeruiah  '  did  to  me,  and  what  he  did  to 
 the  two  captains  of  the  hosts  of  Israel,  unto 
 '  Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  and  unto  '  Amasa  tlie 
 son  of  Jether,  whom  he  slew,  and  f  shed  the 
 blood  of  war  in  peace,  and  put  the  blood  of 
 war  upon  his  girdle  that  ivas  about  his  loins, 
 and  in  his  shoes  that  xcerc  on  his  feet. 
 
 6  Do  therefore  "  according  to  thy  wisdom, 
 and  let  not  his  hoar  head  go  down  to  the  grave 
 in  peace. 
 
 7  But  shew  kindness  unto  the  sons  of  Bar- 
 zillai  the  Gileadite,  and  let  them  be  of  those 
 that  °  eat  at  tliy  table  :  for  so  ''  they  caine  to 
 ine  when  I  fled  because  of  Absalom  thy  bro- 
 ther. 
 
 4  Jns.  2S.  !♦. 
 c  Deut.  17. 
 19,  -iO. 
 
 I  Chr.  2 
 U,  13. 
 
 11  Or,  do 
 
 I  Sam.  16.5, 
 14.  40. 
 
 1 2  Sam  7.S5 
 /Ps.  IS2  lii. 
 t/  SKin  S0.3. 
 A  2  Sam.  7. 
 
 12,  13. 
 
 ch.  8.  25. 
 t  Heb.  b«  cut 
 
 „n/,mr,  Ikit 
 fr,>m  the 
 
 i  aSam'.3.S9. 
 
 k  IS.  5,  12, 
 
 U.  &  19.  5, 
 
 6,  7. 
 
 A2Sam.3.27. 
 /  2  Sam.  2i>. 
 
 10. 
 t  Hcb.  put. 
 
 m  ver.  9. 
 Prov.20.26. 
 
 ,  2  Sam.  12 
 31,  38. 
 
 )2  Sam.  9  7. 
 
 10,  &  19.  -1^ 
 a  2  Sam.  17. 
 
 27. 
 
 B.  C.  1015. 
 1  2  Sam.  IG. 
 
 u  Gen. 42.38. 
 
 &  44.31. 
 .ech.  1.21. 
 
 .\cta  2.  29. 
 
 (•  13.  36. 
 I  2  Sam.  5.7. 
 J  2  Sam.  5.4. 
 
 1  Chr.  29. 
 
 2ti,  27. 
 
 5  1  Sam.  16. 
 4,5. 
 
 d  1  Chr.  S2. 
 
 fl.lO.&28.5. 
 
 G.7.  Pro.21. 
 
 30.  Dan.  2. 
 
 21. 
 (  Heh.  turn 
 
 jtnl  oicrtj/m^y 
 
 I's.  132.  10. 
 «  ch.  1.  3,  4. 
 
 /  Ex.  20.  12. 
 
 §■  SeeP8.45. 
 9. 
 
 8  And,  behold,  thou  hast  with  thee  ''  Shiinei 
 the  son  of  Gera,  a  Beiijainite  of  Bahuriin, 
 which  cursed  me  witli  a  f  grievous  curse  in  the 
 day  when  I  went  to  Malianaim  :  but  'he  came 
 down  to  meet  me  at  Jordan,  and  '  I  sware  to 
 him  by  the  Lokd,  saying,  I  will  not  put  thee 
 to  death  with  the  sword. 
 
 9  Now  therefore  '  bold  him  not  guiltless  :  for 
 thou  art  a  wise  man,  and  knowest  what  thou 
 oughtest  to  do  unto  him  ;  but  his  hoar  head 
 "  bring  thou  down  to  the  grave  with  blood. 
 
 10  So  '  David  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  was 
 buried  in  *'  the  city  of  David. 
 
 11  And  the  days  that  David  ^reigned  over 
 Israel  ivere  forty  years  :  seven  years  reigned 
 he  in  Hebron,  and  thirty  and  three  years 
 reigned  he  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 1'2  t  "Then  .sat  Solomon  upon  the  throne  of 
 David  his  father ;  and  his  kingdom  was  esta- 
 blished greatly. 
 
 13  t  And  Adonijah  the  son  of  Haggith  came 
 to  Bath-sheba  the  mother  of  Solomon.  And 
 she  said,  ''  Comest  thou  peaceably  ?  And  be 
 said.  Peaceably. 
 
 14  He  said  moreover,  I  have  somewhat  to 
 say  unto  thee.     And  she  said.  Say  on. 
 
 15  And  he  said.  Thou  knowest  that  the  king- 
 dom was  "^  mine,  and  that  all  Israel  set  their 
 faces  on  me,  that  I  should  reign  ;  howbeit  the 
 kingdom  is  tinned  about,  and  is  become  my 
 brother's  :  for  ''  it  was  bis  from  the  Lord. 
 
 16  And  now  I  ask  one  petition  of  thee.f  deny 
 me  not.     And  she  said  unto  him.  Say  on. 
 
 17  And  he  said.  Speak,  I  pray  thee,  unto 
 Solomon  the  king,  (for  he  will  not  say  thee 
 nay,)  that  he  give  me  "  Abishag  the  Shunam- 
 mite  to  wife. 
 
 18  And  Bath-sheba  said.  Well  ;  I  will  speak 
 for  thee  unto  the  king. 
 
 10  K  Bath-sheba  therefore  went  unto  king 
 Solomon,  to  speak  unto  him  for  Adonijah. 
 And  the  king  rose  up  to  meet  her,  and  'bowed 
 himself  unto  her,  and  sat  down  on  his  throne, 
 and  caused  a  seat  to  be  set  for  the  king's 
 mother  ;  ^  and  she  sat  on  his  right  hand. 
 
 CnAP.  II. — i.  Continue  his  word,  *  confirm  liis promise.' — Dr.Geihles. 
 S.  Did  to  me,  in  slaying  Absalom. — Gilt.  6.  Let  not  his  hoar  head  — 
 .Toab  was  now  in  actual  reliellion. — Boothr.  g.  Htild  him  not  guilt- 
 less, '  though  I  liave  spared  his  life,  do  not  treat  him  as  an  innocent 
 person.' — Poole.  Bring  thou  down — the  negative  N*?  used  in  the  former 
 clause  is  often  omitted,  but  considered  repeated  in  the  second  part  of 
 the  sentence  when  followed  by  the  conjunction  ^,  (see  Isa.  xiii.  22 ; 
 xxiii.  4  ^  Ps.  i.  6 ;  ix.  18  ;  xxxviii.  1  ;  Ixxv.  5 ;  Prov.  XXX.  3.)  This  pas. 
 sage  should  therefore  read,  '  Now,  therefore,  hold  him  xot  guiltless 
 (for  tliou  art  a  wise  man.  and  knowest  what  thou  oughtest  to  do  unto 
 him,)  but  bring  not  down  his  hoar  head  to  the  grave  with  blood.'  Now 
 Solomon  so  understood  this  charge,  for  he  did  not  kill  Shiraei  for  his 
 crimes  against  his  father,  but,  knowing  that  he  ought  to  be  well 
 watched,  confined  him  to  a  particular  spot  in  Jerusalem  for  the  re- 
 mainder  of  his  life. — So  Kenniciitt  and  Dr.  Delaney.  This  view  ex- 
 hibits Solomon  as  disobeying  his  father's  orders,  since  for  a  trifling 
 offence  he  afterwards  cut  off  Sliimei.  It  therefore  only  transfers  the 
 blame  connected  with  this  charge  from  David  to  Solomon. — Evan. 
 Synop.    Scott  considers  Solomon  as  not  being  bound  by  his  father's 
 
 oath,  and  hence  David  left  it  to  him  to  execute  what,  in  policy,  he  had 
 thought  it  ncjt  advisable  for  himself  to  do ;  and  he  thinks  Shimei  was 
 an  irrecoocUablc  enemy  to  the  dynasty  and  peace  of  the  kingdom, 
 against  whom  Solomon  might  take  the  first  opportunity  of  inflicting 
 merited  punishment.  This  view  takes  away  the  character  of  revenge- 
 ful feeling  from  David,  and  leaves  Solomon  to  act  in  justice. — Ed. 
 10.  The  city  of  />arid,  that  part  of  Jerusalem  called  after  his  own  name, 
 because  he  took  it  from  the  Jebusites,  (see  2  Sam.  v.  7  ;  1  Chron.  xi.  5  ; 
 2  Chron.  v.  2.] — Poole.  It  was  a  mark  of  distinguished  honour  to  be 
 interred  in  a  city,  for  the  burial  places  were  without. — Orient.  Cust. 
 12.  His  kingdom, '  his  royal  power.' — Boothr.  ]6.  One  petition — deny 
 me  7wt — see  Hebrew  reading  in  marg.  The  same  exprest^ions  are  now 
 common  in  the  east. — So  Rob.  1".  That  he  give  me  .■llfishag — this 
 was  Adonijah 's  treasonable  project  to  marry  Abishag,  David's  concu- 
 bine.— Henry,  Scott.  No  treasonable  intentions  are  evident  in  this 
 application. — So  .-1.  Clarke.  IQ.  To  meet  her— the  Persians  rise  has- 
 tily and  meet  a  superior  near  the  door  of  the  apartment.— Vl/orter.  The 
 king*s  mother,  seems  to  have  been  a  title  of  dignity.— Ca/.  Sat  on 
 his  rig/tt  hand — the  highest  mark  of  dignity  conferred  by  eastern  mo- 
 
 Reflectigns  on  Chap.  I.  —  We  have  here,  I.  David 
 overtaken  with  the  infirmities  of  old  age.  Years  steal  upon  all. 
 The  rich,  as  well  as  the  poor,  must  feel  that  they  are  mortal  ; 
 and  if  the  events  of  Providence  in  cutting  off  the  young  and 
 vigorous  are  admonitory  to  us,  how  much  more  the  strokes 
 which  come  home  to  us,  and  speak  to  every  sufferer  as  with 
 the  loudest  voice, '  Set  thine  house  in  order,  for  thou  shalt  die, 
 and  not  live." 
 
 II.  Adonijah  aspiring  to  the  crown.  His  father  had  never 
 frustrated  his  wishes,  and  he  hoped  now  to  succeed.  He  is 
 an  unnatural  parent  who  does  not  love  his  child,  and  study  to 
 3C'2 
 
 promote  his  happiness  ;  but  blind  indulgence  of  children  lias 
 broken  many  a  parent's  Iieart,  and  brought  many  a  child  to 
 ruin. 
 
 III.  Solomon  appointed  David's  successor.  Adonijah's  oppo- 
 sition to  his  prospects,  though  hacked  by  a  powerful  and  in- 
 fluential  party,  was  all  in  vain.  So  vain  are  the  efforts  to  op- 
 ])Ose  the  rising  reign  of  the  IVIessiah,  a  greater  than  Solomon; 
 for  '  he  must  reign.'  and  all  his  enemies  shall  be  put  under  his 
 feet.  The  decree  is  gone  forth,  and  shall  be'fultiUed  ;  'Yet 
 have  I  set  my  king  upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion.' 
 
Adonijah  is  put  to  death. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  II. 
 
 Joab  is  put  to  death. 
 
 20  Then  she  said,  I  desire  one  small  petition 
 of  thee  ;  I  pray  thee,  say  me  not  nay.  And 
 tlie  kinf;  said  nnto  her.  Ask  on,  mv  mother  : 
 for  I  will  not  say  thee  nay. 
 
 21  And  she  said.  Let  Abishag  the  Shunam- 
 mite  be  given  to  Adonijah  thy  brother  to  wife. 
 
 22  And  king  Solomon  answered  and  said 
 unto  his  mother.  And  why  dost  thou  ask 
 Abishag  the  Shunammite  for  Adonijah  '?  ask 
 for  him  the  kingdom  also;  for  he  is  mine  elder 
 brother  ;  even  for  him,  and  for  "  Abiathar  the 
 priest,  and  for  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah. 
 
 23  Then  king  Solomon  sware  by  the  Loud, 
 saying,  '  God  do  so  to  me,  and  more  also,  if 
 Adonijah  have  not  spoken  this  word  against 
 his  own  life. 
 
 24  Now  therefore,  as  the  Lord  liveth,  which 
 hath  estabhshcd  me,  and  set  me  on  tlie  throne 
 of  David  my  father,  and  who  hath  made  me 
 an  honse,  as  he  '  promised,  Adonijah  shall  be 
 pot  to  death  this  day. 
 
 25  And  king  Solomon  sent  by  the  hand  of 
 Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  ;  and  he  fell  upon 
 him  that  he  died. 
 
 2i3  f  And  unto  Abiathar  the  priest  said  the 
 king,  Get  thee  to  '  Anathoth,  unto  thine  own 
 fields  ;  for  thou  art  f  worthy  of  death  :  but  I 
 will  not  at  tliis  time  put  thee  to  death,  "'  be- 
 cause thou  barest  tlie  ark  of  the  Lortl  God 
 before  David  my  father,  and  because  "  thou 
 hast  been  afflicted  in  all  wherein  my  father 
 was  afflicted. 
 
 27  So  Solomon  thrust  out  Abiathar  from 
 being  priest  unto  the  Lord  ;  that  he  might 
 "fulfil  the  word  of  the  Lord,  which  he  spake 
 concerning  the  bougie  of  Eli  in  Shiloh. 
 
 28  U  Then  tidings  came  to  Joab  :  for  Joab 
 ■"had  turned  after  Adonijah,  though  he  turned 
 not  after  Absalom.  And  Joab  fled  unto  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  Lord,  and  ■•  caught  hold  on 
 the  horns  of  the  altar. 
 
 29  And  it  was  told  king  Solomon  that  Joab 
 was  fled  unto  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord  ;  and, 
 behold,  he  is  by  the  altar.  Then  Solomon  sent 
 Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada,  saying,  Go,  fall 
 upon  him. 
 
 30  Ajid  Benaiah  came  to  the  tabernacle  of 
 the  Lord,  and  said  unto  him.  Thus  saith  the 
 king,  Come  forth.  And  he  said.  Nay  ;  but  I 
 will  die  here.  And  Benaiah  brought  the  king 
 word  again,  saying,  Thus  said  Joab,  and  thus 
 he  answered  me. 
 
 31  And  the  king  said  unto  him,  "■  Do  as  he 
 hath  said,  and  fall  upon  him,  and  bury  him  ; 
 '  that  thou  mayest  take  away  the  innocent 
 blood,  which  Joab  shed,  from  nie,  and  from  the 
 
 IChr. 22.11). 
 lOM. 
 
 IJosl\.2l.l9 
 
 t  Heb  a  mm, 
 
 of  d^alli 
 m  I  S.tiii.23 
 
 6.3  Sam  15. 
 
 84,  2=1 
 .1  I  Sam.  22 
 
 go.  2^ 
 
 2  Sum.  15. 
 
 2-1. 
 
 p  .-li.  1.  7. 
 7  ch.  I.  50 
 
 X  2  Sam   S. 
 27. 
 ff  2  Sam.  20. 
 
 X  2  Sam.  3. 
 29. 
 a  Prov.25,5. 
 
 4  Num.  25 
 II,  12,  1:1. 
 1  Sam  2.35 
 SeelCtii-.6 
 5:1,  &  24,  3. 
 
 c  ver.  27. 
 
 d  2  Sam   lU. 
 5.  ver.  9. 
 
 /■Lev  20.  9. 
 Josh.  2.  29 
 2  Sam. Lit). 
 
 r  Nu.  35.  33. 
 Deut.l9.1:i. 
 8i  21    8,  9. 
 
 house  of  my  father. 
 
 32  And  the  Lord  '  shall  return  his  blood 
 upon  liis  own  head,  who  fell  upon  two  men 
 more  righteous  "and  better  than  he,  and  slew 
 them  with  the  sword,  my  father  David  not 
 knowing  thereof,  to  ivit,  ''  Abner  the  son  ol 
 Ner,  captain  of  the  host  of  Israel,  and  •'  Aniasa 
 the  son  of  Jether,  captain  of  the  liost  of  Judah. 
 
 33  Their  blood  shall  therefore  return  upon 
 the  head  of  Joab,  and  ^  upon  the  head  of  his 
 seed  for  ever ;  °  but  upon  David,  and  upon 
 his  seed,  and  upon  his  house,  and  upon  his 
 throne,  shall  there  be  peace  for  ever  from  the 
 Lord. 
 
 34  So  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  went  up, 
 and  fell  upon  him,  and  slew  him  :  and  he  was 
 buried  in  his  own  house  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 3j  t  And  the  king  put  Benaiah  the  son  of 
 Jehoiada  in  his  room  over  the  host  :  and 
 '■  Zadok  the  priest  did  the  king  put  in  the  room 
 of 'Abiathar. 
 
 36  H  And  the  king  sent  and  called  for  ''  Shi- 
 mei,  and  said  unto  him.  Build  thee  an  house 
 in  Jerusalem,  and  dwell  there,  and  go  not  forth 
 thence  any  whither. 
 
 37  For  it  shall  be,  that  on  the  day  thou  goest 
 out,  and  passest  over  '  the  brook  Kidron,  thou 
 shalt  know  for  certain  that  thou  shalt  surely 
 die :  'thy  blood  shall  be  upon  thine  own  head. 
 
 38  And  Shimei  said  unto  the  king.  The  say- 
 ing is  good  :  as  my  lord  the  king  hath  said,  so 
 will  thy  servant  do.  And  Shimei  dwelt  in 
 Jerusalem  many  days. 
 
 39  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  three 
 years,  that  two  of  the  servants  of  Shimei  ran 
 away  unto  ^  Achish  son  of  Maachah  king  of 
 Gath.  And  they  told  Shimei,  saying.  Behold, 
 thy  servants  be  in  Gath. 
 
 40  And  Shimei  arose,  and  saddled  his  ass, 
 and  went  to  Gath  to  Achish  to  seek  his  ser- 
 vants :  and  Shimei  went,  and  brought  his  ser- 
 vants from  Gath. 
 
 41  And  it  was  told  Solomon  that  Shimei  had 
 gone  from  Jerusalem  to  Gath,  and  was  come 
 again. 
 
 42  And  the  king  sent  and  called  for  Shimei, 
 and  said  unto  him,  Did  I  not  make  thee  to 
 swear  by  the  Lord,  and  protested  unto  thee, 
 saying.  Know  for  a  certain,  on  the  day  thou 
 goest  out,  and  walkest  abroad  any  whither, 
 that  thou  shalt  surely  die?  and  thou  saidst 
 unto  me.  The  word  that  I  have  heard  is  good. 
 
 43  Why  then  hast  thou  not  kept  the  oath  of 
 the  Lord,  and  the  commandment  that  I  have 
 charged  thee  with  ? 
 
 44  The  king  said  moreover  to  Shimei,  Thou 
 
 rarchs,  (see  Matt.  xx.  21.) — Seeker,  20.  1  desire  one  smuCl petition^ 
 she  saw  oothing  important  involved  in  the  request,  and  the  law  (Lev. 
 xviii.  8}  did  not  appear  to  be  in  force  where  the  woman  had  only  acted 
 as  a  nurse.  To  this  purport  Poole,  1  wilt  not  sai/  thee  ntiy,  as  the  re- 
 quest was  said  to  be  small.— Ei,  22.  Ask—the'kingdum—^aXh-s,heb?i. 
 said  the  request  was  small,  but  in  Solomon's  view  it  was  not  so. — 
 Biiolhr.  None  but  a  king  might  marry  a  king's  widow,  and  that  the 
 successor. — iHaimon.  23.  Against  his  own  life — being  a  fre^h  overt 
 act  of  treason, — Gill.  24.  .idonij'ih  shall  be  put  to  death — he  had 
 only  had  a  condiiional  reprieve.  —  So  Gitl.  See  chap.  i.  52.  Clarke 
 severely  censures  Solomon  for  this  act;  hut  the  discerning  mind  of  So- 
 lomon saw  his  brtjther's  desiyn.  and  more  was  pri-bably  known  to  him 
 than  is  expressed.  See  his  words  to  Ahiathar,  (ver.  26.) — Evan.  Si/nop. 
 He  was  a  dangerous  man,  and  no  longer  to  be  trusted. — Gill.  Sound 
 policy  would,    in  this  case,   admit  of  no  delay. — So  Scott.  25.  He 
 
 felt  upon  liim,  probably  atti  nded  by  guards.  Executions  were  then 
 done  by  great  persons,  as  in  the  instances  of  Gideon,  Doeg,  &c.,  and 
 not  by  common  executioners. — Gill.  When  a  great  man  is  doomed  by 
 the  Sultan  to  die,  the  '  Capiilgi,'  or  officer  who  executes  such  orders,  is 
 sent  to  him,  with  some  assistants,  and,  shewing  his  order,  strangles 
 him  and  cuts  off  his  head. — Thee.  26.  AnuUwth,  one  of  the  cities  of 
 the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  given  tu  Uie  sous  ol  Aaron. —  Wells.  Sec  Josh. 
 3li3 
 
 xxi.  IS.  Thus  he  was  deprived  of  the  high  priest's  office,  but  not  of  the 
 priesthood.  He  could  not  have  enjoyed  Anathoth  had  he  been  de- 
 prived of  his  sacred  office, — Bp.  Wilson.  27.  From  being  pnest, 
 •  lligli  priest.'— Gi//,  Boothr.  That  he  mi;,'ht  fulfil  the  word  of  the 
 Lord — better  as  Boothroijd  reads,  '  so  that  the  word  of  Jehovah  was 
 fulfilled.'  He  punished  him  for  his  treason,  and  not  to  fulfil  the  Divine 
 threatening,  but  by  this  act  it  was  fulfilled. — Ed.  23.  Caught  hold — 
 altar — this  was  so  sacred  among  all  people,  that  the  vilest  wretch  found 
 safety  if  he  reached  it.  34.  Slea,  hint — God  decreed  that  the  pre- 
 sumiituoiis  murderer,  who  had  taken  refuge  at  his  altar,  should  be 
 dragged  thence  and  put  to  death. — Qreenf.  Buried  in  his  own  house 
 in  the  wilderness — it  is  usual  now,  in  some  parts  of  the  east,  for  parents 
 or  children  to  build  a  house,  often  a  splendid  one,  in  some  loneiy  spot, 
 for  the  purpose  of  there  depositing  their  dead. — So  Rob.  36.  Called 
 
 for  Shimei,  Sfc  ,  to  prevent  him  from  stirring  up  seilitiun.  Jn  Jerusalem, 
 he  was  to  remove  from  Bahurim,  37.  Ooer  the  brook,  which  was  in 
 
 the  way  to  Bahurim,  his  native  place,  (see  2  Sam.  XV.  23  ;  xvi.  5.) — 
 Gill.  38.  Mam/  dai/s— time  is  always  thus  generally  described  among 
 the  Hindoos,  and  not,  a?  with  us,  by  years. — So  lioli.  43.  Wlii/  then 
 hast  thou  not,  ,$-r. — he  was  guilty  both  of  perjury  and  disobedience  to 
 his  sovereign.— i*oo/e. 
 
Sjlomon  marrieth  Pharaoh's  dav.ghter. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  III. 
 
 He  ahcth  wisdom  of  God. 
 
 knowest  ''all  the  wickedness  which  thine 
 heart  is  privy  to,  that  thou  didst  to  David  my 
 father :  therefore  tlie  Lord  shall  '  return  thy 
 wickedness  upon  thine  own  head  ; 
 
 45  And  king  Solomon  shall  be  hlessed,  and 
 '  the  throne  of  David  shall  be  established  be- 
 fore the  Lord  for  ever. 
 
 46  So  the  king  commanded  Benaiah  the  son 
 of  Jehoiada ;  which  went  out,  and  fell  upon 
 him,  that  he  died.  And  tlie  '  kingdom  was 
 established  in  the  hand  of  Solomon. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  Solomon  marritth  Pharaoli's  dauyhter.  2  High 
 places  being  in  use,  Solomon  sacrijiceth  at  Gibeon. 
 5  Solomon  at  Giheon,  in  the  choice  which  God  gave 
 him,  prtf erring  wisdom,  obtaintth  wisdom,  riches,  and 
 honour.  16  Solomon^ s  jiulijment  between  the  two 
 harlots  makctlt  him  rtnoicncd. 
 
 A  ND  "  Solomon  made  affinity  with  Pharaoh 
 '^*-  king  of  Egypt,  and  took  Pharaoh's  daugh- 
 ter, and  brought  her  into  the  ^  city  of  David, 
 nntil  he  had  made  an  end  of  building  his  *"  own 
 house,  and  '^  the  house  of  the  Loud,  and  "  the 
 wall  of  Jerusalem  round  about. 
 
 'J  ''Only  the  people  sacrificed  in  high  places, 
 because  there  was  no  house  built  unto  the 
 name  of  the  Lord,  until  those  days. 
 
 3  And  Solomon  ^  loved  the  Lord,  ^  walking 
 in  the  statutes  of  David  his  father :  only  he 
 sacrificed  and  burnt  incense  in  high  places. 
 
 4  And  '  the  king  went  to  Gibeon  to  sacrifice 
 there;  ''for  that  was  the  great  high  place:  a 
 thousand  burnt  offerings  did  Solomon  offer 
 upon  that  altar. 
 
 5  1  '  In  Gibeon  the  Loud  appeared  to  Solo- 
 mon "Mn  a  dream  by  night:  and  God  said, 
 Ask  what  I  shall  give  thee. 
 
 G  °  And  Solomon  said.  Thou  hast  shewed 
 unto     thy    servant    David     my     father     great 
 
 II  mercy,  according  as  he  °  walked  before  thee 
 in  truth,  and  in  righteousness,  and  in  upright- 
 ness of  heart  with  thee  ;  and  thou  hast  kept 
 for  him  this  great  kindness,  that  thou  ■'hast 
 
 ;.  2  Sam.  16. 
 
 t  Ps.7.  16. 
 Ezek.  17.19. 
 
 9.  Si. 
 i  2Sam5  7. 
 
 ell.  9.  15, 
 
 /I,er.  17.3, 
 ■J,  5.  Deut. 
 ii.  -i.  A,  5. 
 di.:^.  43. 
 
 g  Deut.  6. 5. 
 
 8c  30.  16,_'0. 
 
 Ps.  31.2.S. 
 
 Rnni.H.  S8 
 
 1  Cor.  8  3. 
 ft  ver.fi,  I+. 
 i  SChr  l.H. 
 h  I  air    Iti. 
 
 39.  iChr.  I. 
 
 /  ch   0,  2. 
 2  Chr.  1.  7. 
 
 m  Nu.  1*2.6. 
 Mat  1.20 
 &  'i.  13.  19. 
 
 -iSClir.  1.9, 
 
 pch.  1.  48. 
 
 9lCl.r.29.1. 
 T  Nu.  27.  17. 
 
 X  Ps-  7iM,B. 
 j^Heb.S.  l-l. 
 
 \  Heb.  ynanf/ 
 dai)t. 
 
 [Heb-fo^wr. 
 
 a  1  John  S. 
 
 14,  \b. 
 b  ch.  4.  29, 
 
 30,  31.  &  5. 
 
 1*2.  &  lO.SV 
 
 Eccles.l.ie. 
 
 e  Wia.  7.  11. 
 
 Mat.  6  33. 
 
 Epii.  3.  20. 
 dch.  4.21, 
 
 •24.  &  10.*23, 
 
 S5.  &c. 
 
 Prnv.3.  16. 
 II  Or.  halk 
 
 n'lt  hem. 
 t  ch.  15.  5. 
 /Ps.  91.  16. 
 
 Prov.  3.  2. 
 
 ff'SoGen.-n. 
 
 A  So  Gen.40. 
 
 20.  cIlSM. 
 
 Kslh.  I.  3. 
 
 Dan   5.  1 
 
 Mark  6  21. 
 i  .Niiui   27.2. 
 
 given  him  a  son  to  sit  on  his  tlirone,  as  it  is 
 
 this  day. 
 
 7  And  now,  O  Lord  my  God,  thou  hast 
 made  thy  servant  king  instead  of  David  my 
 father:  •'and  I  am  hut  a  little  child  :  I  know 
 not  how  ^  to  go  out  or  come  in. 
 
 8  And  thy  servant  is  in  the  midst  of  thy 
 people  which  thou  '  hast  chosen,  a  great 
 people,  *  that  cannot  be  numbered  nor  counted 
 for  multitude. 
 
 9  "Give  therefore  thy  servant  an  f '"^dor- 
 standing  heart  *  to  judge  thy  people,  that  I 
 may  -^discern  between  good  and  bad:  for  w!io 
 is  able  to  judge  this  thy  so  great  a  people  ? 
 
 10  And  the  speech  pleased  the  Lord,  that 
 Solomon  had  asked  this  thing. 
 
 11  And  God  said  unto  him,  Because  thou 
 hast  asked  this  thing,  and  hast  ^  not  asked  for 
 thyself  floug  life;  neither  hast  asked  riches 
 for  thyself,  nor  hast  asked  the  life  of  thine 
 enemies  ;  but  hast  asked  for  thyself  under- 
 standing t  to  discern  judgment ; 
 
 12  "  Behold,  I  have  done  according  to  thy 
 words  :  ^lo,  I  have  given  thee  a  wise  and  an 
 understanding  heart  ;  so  that  there  was  none 
 like  tliec  before  thee,  neither  after  thee  shall 
 any  arise  like  unto  thee. 
 
 13  And  I  have  also  ^  given  thee  that  which 
 thou  hast  not  asked,  both  '^  riches,  and  honour : 
 so  that  there  ||  shall  not  be  any  among  the 
 kings  like  unto  thee  all  thy  days. 
 
 14  And  if  thou  wilt  walk  in  my  ways,  to 
 keep  my  statutes  and  my  commandments,  *'as 
 thy  father  David  did  walk,  then  I  will  '^  lengthen 
 thy  days. 
 
 15  And  Solomon  ^ awoke;  and,  behold,  it 
 teas  a  dream.  And  he  came  to  Jerusalem,  and 
 stood  before  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the 
 Lord,  and  offered  up  burnt  offerings,  and 
 offered  peace  offerings,  and  "^made  a  feast  to 
 all  his  servants. 
 
 10  If  Then  came  there  two  women,  Ma^rt'^-e 
 harlots,  unto  the  king,  and  'stood  before  hiui. 
 
 Chap.  111.  —  1.  Pharaoh — see  note  on  Gen.  x.\xix.  l.  Calvisius 
 thinks  this  Pharaoh  was  Sesostris. — Gill.  Most  critics  think  Pharaoh's 
 daughter  was  a  proselyte,  for  these  reasons  : — It  would  not  otherwise 
 have  been  lawful  to  have  married  her;  this  marriage  was  typical  of 
 the  mystical  espousals  of  the  church  of  Christ;  Solomon  was  not  cen- 
 sured for  this  act;  when  the  iduls  of  Eg-ypt  are  mentioned,  Pharaoh's 
 daughter  is  n"t  named  as  a  tempter. — So  Poole.  Henri/,  Gill,  Doddridge, 
 Mich,,  Scott,  Boothr.,  Wil.  The  latter  says,  it  is  possible  that  all  the 
 wives  of  Solomon  promised  to  give  up  idolatry-  before  he  took  them, 
 though  they  returned  to  it.  Dr.  Clarke  disputes  the  evidence  of  Pha- 
 raoh's daughter  being  a  proselyte;  he  tliinks  the  arguments  drawn 
 from  the  Canticles  are  vague  and  uncertain,  and  that  Nch.  xiii.  26,  and 
 1  Kings,  xi.  1,  2,  decide  the  case  against  Solomon.  Solomon  had  mar- 
 ried before  toNaamah,  the  Ammonitess,  the  mother  of  Rehoboam,  for 
 he  reigned  only  forty  years,  and  Rehoboam,  his  successor,  began  to 
 reign  at  forty-one,  (chap.  si.  42;  xiv.  21.)  3.  Sncrijiced — in  high 
 plnceSf  besides  that  at  Gibeon.— G(7/.    A  fault  never  committed  in  the 
 
 time  of  David. — Pat.  It  was  morally  wrong  to  offer  sacrifices  where 
 the  ark  and  tabernacle  were  nut. — So  Clarke.  /.  But  a  little  child — 
 a  Hebraism  for  '  I  am  ns  a  little  child.' — Pict.  Bib.  An  eastern  expres- 
 sion, now  employed,  in  like  cases,  by  men  even  advanced  in  years. — 
 So  ]toh.  Comp.  Jer.  i.  6.  How  to  go  out  or  come  in,  that  is,  to  go- 
 vern so  great  a  people,  fur  want  of  experience. — Pat.  To  walk  firmly ; 
 tlie  whole  expresses  inexperience  and  inefficiency. — Pict.  Bib.  15.  It 
 was  a  drenm,  which  was  one  way  of  God's  revealing  himself  to  his 
 prophets.— Po(.  l6.  Harlots— aee  notes  on  .Tush.  ii.  1.  '  Victuallers,* 
 so  the  Targ.,  i!fc.  The  Hebrew  signifying  both.  Not  common  harlots, 
 — such  durst  not  have  appeared  before  the  king,  the  law  was  severe 
 against  such,  (Deut.  xxiii.  17, ) — but  unmarried  and  guilty  of  fornica- 
 tion, nothing  being  said  about  their  husbands. — Gilt,  Poole.  These 
 migiit,  however,  have  been  following  their  occupations ;  and  the  wo- 
 men having  children,  seems  to  indicate  they  were  nnt  common  harlots. 
 —Clarke.  The  Jews  suppose  they  were  not  Israelites,  hut  strangers, 
 and  so  not  subject  to  the  law  in  Deuteronomy.— i*a^    The  Chaldee 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  Observe  here,  I.  David's 
 dying  charge  and  dtafh.  He  urges  upon  Solomon,  as  his  son, 
 to  walk  in  God's  ways  and  keep  bis  commandments.  Words 
 fall  weighty  from  dying  lips  :  religion  then  appears  in  all  its 
 vast  importance  to  the  mind  of  the  departing  speaker,  and  the 
 hearer's  mind  must  be  divested  ofall  trifling  in  so  solemn  a 
 moment.  Perhaps  some  departed  friend,  or  perhaps  a  parent, 
 left  the  rc>ader  the  same  charge  :  has  he  observed  it  ?  He  also 
 desires  Soloraon  to  punish  the  guilty.  David  had  been  too 
 negligent ;  but  a  dying  hour  reminds  him  of  what  he  ought  to 
 have  done.  He  is  satisfied  with  leaving  the  painful  duties 
 of  iustice  in  ihe  hands  of  a  successor  who  he  knew  would  not 
 fail  to  fulfil  them.  Thus,  having  done  the  will  of  God,  he 
 *  sh'pt  witli  his  fathers.'  *  His  epitaph,'  says  Henry,  *  may 
 be  taken  from  2  Sam.  xxiii.  1  :  Here  lies  "  David,  the  son  of 
 Jesse,  the  man  who  was  raised  up  on  high,  the  anointed  of  the 
 God  of  Jacob,  and  the  sweet  Psalmist  of  Israel  ;"  adding  l)is 
 own  words,  (Ps.  xvi.9,)  "  M\  flesh  also  shall  rest  in  hope."' 
 3G4 
 
 Observe, 
 
 II.  Solomons  accession,  and  thejirst  acts  of  his  reign.  *  Then 
 sat  Solomon  upon  the  throne  of  David  bis  father.'  David's 
 reign  was  long,  but  it  came  to  an  end.  There  is  no  crown  im- 
 mortal but  the  crown  of  glory  :  after  that  may  we  aspire,  and 
 we  shall  then  be  indeed  'made  kings'  unto  God.  Solomon's 
 first  acts  were  to  fulfil  the  charge  of  bis  father,  and  to  admi- 
 nister justice  to  the  disturbers  of  the  kingdom.  And  now 
 Adonijah,  Joab,  and  Shimei  suffered  for  their  ambition,  and 
 their  restless  and  disobedient  spirits  brought  them  to  a  fatal 
 end.  So  shall  perish  all  the  enemies  of  '  David's  greater  Son.' 
 'The  throne  of  David  shall  be  established  by  taking  away 
 those  that  would  undermine  it;  and  '  it  is  a  comfort,'  says 
 Ilenry,  in  reference  to  the  enmity  of  the  church's  enemies, 
 'that  how  much  soever  they  rage,  it  is  a  vain  thing  thi-y 
 imagine  ;  Christ's  throne  is  established,  and  they  cannot  ebako 
 it.' 
 
Tie  judgeth  between  the  twoharluts. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  IV. 
 
 His  princes  and  officers. 
 
 17  And  the  one  woman  said,  O  my  lord,  I 
 and  tliis  woman  dwell  in  one  house  ;  and  I 
 was  delivered  of  a  child  « ith  her  in  the  house. 
 
 18  And  it  came  to  pass  the  third  day  after 
 that  I  was  delivered,  that  this  woman  was  de- 
 livered also  :  and  we  icere  together ;  there 
 iras  no  stranger  with  us  in  the  house,  save  we 
 tuo  in  the  house. 
 
 1 9  And  this  woman's  child  died  in  the  night ; 
 because  she  overlaid  it. 
 
 20  And  she  arose  at  midnight,  and  took  my 
 son  from  beside  me,  while  thine  handmaid 
 slept,  and  laid  it  in  her  bosom,  and  laid  her 
 dead  child  in  my  bosom. 
 
 21  And  when  I  rose  in  the  morning  to  give 
 my  child  suck,  behold,  it  was  dead  :  but  when 
 I  had  considered  it  in  the  morning,  behold,  it 
 was  not  my  son,  which  I  did  bear. 
 
 22  And  the  other  woman  said.  Nay ;  but  the 
 living  is  my  son,  and  the  dead  is  thy  son. 
 And  this  said.  No  ;  but  the  dead  is  thy  son, 
 and  the  living  is  my  son.  Thus  they  spake 
 liefore  the  king. 
 
 2;!  Then  said  the  king,  Tlie  one  saith.  This  is 
 my  son  that  liveth,  and  thy  son  is  the  dead  : 
 and  the  other  saitli,  Nay  ;  but  thy  son  is  the 
 dead,  and  my  son  is  the  living. 
 
 2t  And  the  king  said.  Bring  me  a  sword. 
 And  they  brought  a  sword  before  the  king. 
 
 2.)  And  the  king  said,  Divide  the  living  child 
 in  two,  and  give  half  to  the  one,  and  half  to 
 tlio  other. 
 
 2(5  Then  spake  the  woman  whose  the  living 
 child  teas  unto  the  king,  for  ^  her  bowels 
 t  yearned  upon  her  son,  and  she  said,  O  my 
 lord,  give  her  the  living  child,  and  in  no  wise 
 slay  it.  Bnt  tlie  other  said.  Let  it  be  neither 
 mine  nor  thine,  but  divide  it. 
 
 27  Then  the  king  answered  and  said.  Give 
 her  the  living  child,  and  in  no  wise  slay  it :  she 
 is  the  mother  thereof. 
 
 2s  And  all  Israel  heard  of  the  judgment 
 which  tlie  king  had  judged;  and  they  feared 
 the  king  :  fur  tliey  saw  that  the  '  wisdom  of 
 God  icas  fin  him,  to  do  judgment. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Snlomon^s  princrs.  7  His  twdve  officfrs  for  provi- 
 si'in.  20.  24  The  peace  and  largeness  of  his  kinp- 
 ilom.  22  His  daily  provision.  26  His  stables. 
 29  His  wisdom. 
 
 Q  O  king  Solomon  was  king  over  all  Israel. 
 ^  2  And  these  icere  the  princes  which  he 
 had  ;  Azariah  the  son  of  Zadok  ||  the  priest, 
 3  Elihoreph  and  Ahiah,  the  sons  of  Sliisha, 
 
 AGen.*3.30 
 
 .lei.  31 .  20. 
 H.ia  U  S. 
 t  Heb.  XBire 
 
 (ver  9,  M, 
 
 12. 
 t  Heb.  in  Itit 
 
 m"i>t  of 
 
 hi7n. 
 
 I  ^  Sam.  8. 
 Ifi.  &20.2.t. 
 
 Ii  O.-.rOTfm- 
 
 A  cli,  2,  35. 
 c  .See  cli.  2. 
 
 27. 
 J  ver.  7. 
 «  2  Sam.  ft. 
 
 18.  &20  26. 
 /2  Sam.  15 
 
 37  a.  I(i-  16 
 
 IClir.27.3.1. 
 3  cli.  5.  1-1. 
 
 II  Or,  fcij,. 
 
 II  Or.  «.»- 
 abtnadab. 
 
 I!  Or,  Beit- 
 h  Nu.'32.4l. 
 
 h  Deu.  3.  S. 
 
 /  Gen.  22.17. 
 
 ch.  3.  «. 
 
 Prov.11.2S. 
 m  Ps.  72.  3, 
 
 7,  Mlc   1, 1 
 ..  2  Chr  9.26. 
 
 Ps.  72   8 
 
 Ecclus.  47, 
 
 13. 
 ..  Gen  15.  IS. 
 
 Josh.  1.  +. 
 !<  Ps.  6S.  29 
 
 &72.  HI,  II. 
 
 II  scribes  ;  °  Jelioshaphat  the  son  of  Ahilud, 
 the  II  recorder. 
 
 4  And  ''  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  was 
 over  the  host :  and  Zadok  and  '  Abiathar  were 
 the  priests  : 
 
 5  And  Azariah  the  son  of  Nathan  was  over 
 ''  the  officers  :  and  Zabud  the  son  of  Nathan 
 was  "  principal  officer,  and  '  the  king's  friend  : 
 
 6  And  Ahishar  u-as  over  the  houshold  :  and 
 *  Adoniram  the  son  of  Abda  was  over  the 
 II  tribute. 
 
 7  I  And  Solomon  had  twelve  officers  over  all 
 Israel,  which  provided  victuals  for  the  king  and 
 Ills  houshold  :  each  man  his  month  in  a  year 
 made  provision. 
 
 8  And  these  are  their  names  :  ||  The  son  of 
 Hur,  in  mount  Ephraim  : 
 
 9  II  Tlie  son  of  Dekar,  in  Makaz,  and  in 
 Sliaalbim,  and  Beth-shemesh,  and  Elon-beth- 
 hanan : 
 
 10  II  The  son  of  Hesed,  in  Arnboth  ;  to  him 
 ;.i^;)7o!««/ Sochoh,  and  all  the  land  of  Heplier: 
 
 1 1  II  Tlie  son  of  Abinadab,  in  all  the  region 
 of  Dor ;  which  had  Tapbath  the  daughter  of 
 Solomon  to  wife  : 
 
 12  Baana  the  son  of  Ahilud  ;  to  him  per- 
 tained Taanach  and  Megiddo,  and  all  Beth- 
 shean,  which  is  by  Zartanah  beneath  Jezreel, 
 from  Beth-shean  to  Abel-meholah,  even  unto 
 the  place  that  is  beyond  Jokneam  : 
 
 13  II  The  son  of  Geber,  in  Ramoth-gilead ;  to 
 him  pertained  ^  the  towns  of  Jair  the  son  of 
 Mana.sseh,  which  are  in  Gilead  ;  to  him  also 
 pertained  '  the  region  of  Argob,  which  is  in 
 Bashan,  threescore  great  cities  witli  walls  and 
 brasen  bars  : 
 
 14  Abinadab  the  son  of  Iddo  had  ||  Maha- 
 naira : 
 
 15  Ahimaaz  was  in  Naphtali  ;  he  also  took 
 Basmatli  the  daughter  of  Solomon  to  wife  : 
 
 16  Baanah  the  son  of  Hushai  was  in  Asher 
 and  in  Aloth  : 
 
 17  Jehoshapbat  the  son  of  Paruah,  in  Issa- 
 char : 
 
 18  Shimei  the  son  of  Elah,  in  Benjamin  : 
 
 19  Geber  the  son  of  Uri  was  in  the  country 
 of  Gilead,  in  '  the  country  of  Silion  king  of  the 
 Amorites,  and  of  Og  king  of  Baslian  ;  and  he 
 ii'as  the  only  officer  which  wfts  in  the  land. 
 
 20  IF  Judah  and  Israel  were  many,  '  as  the 
 sand  which  is  by  the  sea  in  multitude,  "eating 
 and  drinking,  and  making  merry. 
 
 21  And  "  Solomon  reigned  over  all  kingdoms 
 from  °  the  river  unto  the  land  of  the  Philistines, 
 and  unto  the  border  of  Egypt :  ■'  they  brought 
 
 reads,  'women  of  the  tabernacle.'         27.  Git-e  Tier  the  tiring  child,  she 
 having  displayed  the  affection  of  the  real  mother. — So  Poole. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  7.  Twelve  officers,  'general  receivers.*  Tlie  revenues 
 of  eastern  princes  are  paid  in  the  fruits  and  productions  of  the  earth  ; 
 there  are  no  other  taxes  on  the  peasants. — 5ir  J.  Chardin.     20.  Judith 
 
 and  Israel,  §■(?. — this  verse  is  wanting  in  the  Sept.  21 .  Over  all  king- 
 doms— all  provinces  from  the  Euphrates  to  the  land  of  the  Philistines, 
 even  to  the  frontiers  of  Egypt. — A.  Clarke.  He  had  tribtitaries,  Syria, 
 Damascus,  Muah,  and  Ammon,  which  lay  between  the  Euphrates  and 
 Mediterranean. — StackhouHe.    Brought  presents,  'were  compelled  to 
 
 Rfflfctions  on  Chap.  III.  —  In  tbis  chapter  we  have, 
 I.  Solomiin's  marriage.  He  formed  an  important  alliance  with 
 Pharaoh's  daughter.  At  this  period  his  religion  shone  hrighlly, 
 and  it  appears  unjustifiahleto  suppose  that  she  was  not  a  pro- 
 selyte. '  lie  that  loved  the  Lord,'  says  Henry,  '  should,  for 
 liis  sake,  have  pitched  his  love  upon  one  of  the  Lord's  people. 
 Unequal  matches  of  the  sons  of  God  with  the  daughters  of 
 men  have  oft  been  of  pernicious  consequence.* 
 
 II.  Solomon's  dream.  The  transaction  was  throughout  real, 
 though  a  dream  was  the  medium  of  intercourse  between  Solo- 
 mon and  God.  Here  was  expressed  the  real  state  of  Solomon's 
 mind,  and  here  the  real  intentions  of  God  towards  him.  We 
 may  not  liave  the  a3airs  of  a  kingdom  upon  our  hands,  but  wo 
 3Cd 
 
 have  enough  to  need  divine  direction.  The  management  of  a 
 household  involves  nn  awful  responsibility,  and  those  at  its 
 head  need  to  have  an  understanding  lieart.  Tlie  same  encou- 
 ragement is  still  given  to  us  that  was  given  to  Solomon,  and 
 we  may  apply  to  the  same  fountain  for  the  wisdom  that  is 
 profitable  to  direct.  '  If  any  man  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of 
 God.  wlio  giveth  to  all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not' 
 
 III.  Solnrnnn's  jiidgmnit.  Here  was  a  display  of  great  wis- 
 dom in  a  delicate  and  difficult  case  ;  and  the  more  striking,  as 
 the  decision  was  determined  by  one  who  as  yet  was  but  a 
 youth.  It  was  proof  that  God  did  give  to  Solomoa  liberally. 
 Let  us  not  be  narrow  in  making  our  requests,  and  whatsoever 
 we  ask  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  believing,  we  shall  receive. 
 
SuloiiioiCs  riches  anil  peace. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  V. 
 
 Hiram  conijrutuluteth  him. 
 
 presents,  and  served  Solomon  all  the  days  of 
 his  life. 
 
 22  If  And  Solomon's  f  provision  for  one  day 
 was  thirty  f  measures  of  fine  flour,  and  three- 
 score measures  of  meal, 
 
 23  Ten  fat  oxen,  and  twenty  oxen  out  of  the 
 pastures,  and  an  liundred  sheep,  beside  harts, 
 and  roebucks,  and  fallow-deer,  and  fatted  fowl. 
 
 24  For  he  had  dominion  over  all  the  region 
 on  this  side  tlie  river,  from  Tiphsah  even  to 
 Azzah,  over  ''  all  the  kings  on  this  side  the 
 river :  and  '  he  had  peace  on  all  sides  round 
 about  him. 
 
 25  And  Judah  and  Israel  '  dwelt  f  safely, 
 '  every  man  imder  his  vine  and  under  his  fig 
 tree,  "  from  Dan  even  to  Deer-sheba,  all  the 
 days  of  Solomon. 
 
 26  f  And  'Solomon  had  forty  thousand  stalls 
 of  'horses  for  his  chariots, and  twelve  tliousand 
 horsemen. 
 
 27  And  ^  those  officers  provided  victual  for 
 king  Solomon,  and  for  all  that  came  unto  king 
 Solomon's  table,  every  man  in  his  month  :  they 
 lacked  nothing. 
 
 28  Barley  also  and  straw  for  the  horses  and 
 II  dromedaries  brought  they  unto  the  place 
 where  the  officers  were,  every  man  according 
 to  his  charge. 
 
 20  K  And  °  God  gave  Solomon  wisdom  and 
 understanding  exceeding  nuich,  and  largeness 
 of  heart,  even  as  the  sand  that  is  on  tlie  sea 
 shore. 
 
 30  And  Solomon's  wisdom  excelled  the  wis- 
 dom of  all  the  children  ''of  the  east  country, 
 and  all  *■  the  wisdom  of  Egypt. 
 
 31  For  he  was  ''wiser  than  all  men;  'than 
 Ethan  the  Ezrahite,  ''and  Hcman,  and  Clialcol, 
 and  Darda,  tlie  sons  of  Mahol  :  and  his  fame 
 was  in  all  nations  round  about. 
 
 32  And  ^he  sjjake  three  tlionsand  proverbs: 
 and  his  ''  songs  were  a  thousand  and  five. 
 
 33  And  he  spake  of  trees,  from  the  cedar  tree 
 
 t  Eleb.  curj 
 
 g  Ps.  73.  II. 
 r  1  Chr  2->.9. 
 
 t  See  Jei-  2? 
 
 lllcb    C'Mji- 
 
 I  Mic.  ♦.  4. 
 
 Zech.  3.  ll». 
 r<  .ludg.  ■20^ 
 X  ch.  10.  26 
 
 i  Chi-. I.  1.1 
 
 fc  9.  irK 
 1/  See  Deu. 
 
 17.  16. 
 
 II  Or,  tnnhi, 
 nr,  .»i« 
 
 i-:stii.  8. 14 
 
 Mic.  1    IS. 
 
 a  ch.  3.   IS. 
 
 Kecliis.  +7. 
 
 14,15,16,17. 
 
 b  Ge 
 
 i.2r,.fi. 
 
 A,-u 
 
 7.  22. 
 rf  ell.  3    12. 
 
 p  1  Chr.  I'l 
 
 19.  I'8.  89, 
 
 title 
 /  See  I  Chr. 
 
 g.ti  &  6.. 11. 
 
 Hi  15.  19. 
 
 I's.Kfl,  title, 
 7  Prov.  1.  1. 
 
 Eccles.  1?. 
 
 9, 
 A  Cant.  1    I. 
 
 ■  elK  10.  I. 
 '.'CUc.  9.  1, 
 
 a  vcr.  in.  & 
 
 IS.  S  Chr. 
 2  3,H»r,„n 
 
 ftSSninS  II 
 1  Chr.  14.1 
 Anios  I    9 
 
 c  8  Clir.2.3. 
 
 d  1  ritr.  2?. 
 9.  &  28.  3. 
 
 »  cli.  4.  24. 
 2  Chr.  22.9, 
 
 /2  Clir.  2  4. 
 t  Heb.  totf. 
 
 g  2  Snm,  7. 
 IS  IChrlJ, 
 12.  &22.  10. 
 
 t  Heb.  i»>j. 
 
 that  is  in  Lebanon  even  unto  the  hys.sop  that 
 springeth  out  of  the  wall :  he  spake  also  of 
 beasts,  and  of  fowl,  and  of  creeping  things, 
 and  of  fishes. 
 34  And  '  there  came  of  all  people  to  hear  the 
 wisdom  of  Solomon,  from  all  kings  of  the 
 earth,  which  had  heard  of  his  wisdom. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  Hiram,  sending  to  con-'/ratulnte  Solomm/,  is  certified 
 of  his  purpose  to  huild  a  temjJe,  and  liesired  to  fur- 
 nish iiim  jvith  timber  thtrtto.  7  IHram,  hlt:ssinff  God 
 for  Salot}torty  'ind  refjucstiriff  food  for  his  famthf,  fuT' 
 nishctii  him  with  trees.  13  T/ie  mimhtr  of  Sulotnon's 
 rvorknien  and  lahounrs, 
 
 AND"  Hiram  kin^  of  Tyre  sent  his  servants 
 -^^  unto  Solomon  ;  for  lie  liad  heard  that 
 they  had  anointed  him  kin^  in  tlie  room  of  his 
 father  :  ^  for  Hiram  was  ever  a  lover  of  David. 
 
 2  And  "^  Solomon  sent  to  Hiram,  saying, 
 
 3  Tiiou  knowest  how  that  David  my  father 
 could  not  huild  an  house  unto  tlie  name  of  the 
 Loud  his  God  ""for  the  wars  which  were  ahout 
 him  on  every  side,  until  the  Loud  put  them 
 under  the  soles  of  liis  feet. 
 
 4  But  now  the  Lord  my  God  hath  given  me 
 ''rest  on  every  side,  so  that  there  is  neither 
 adversary  nor  evil  occurrent. 
 
 •"  And,  hehold,  I  \  purpose  to  hniid  an 
 house  unto  the  name  of  the  Loud  my  God, 
 "as  the  Lord  spake  unto  David  my  father, 
 saying,  Thy  son,  whom  I  will  set  npon  thy 
 throne  in  thy  room,  he  shall  build  an  house 
 unto  my  name, 
 
 G  Now  therefore  command  thou  that  they 
 hew  me  *•  cedar  trees  out  of  Lebanon ;  and  my 
 servants  shall  be  with  thy  servants  :  and  unto 
 thee  will  I  fjive  hire  for  thy  servants  according 
 to  all  that  thou  slialt  f  appoint:  fur  thou 
 knowesl  that  tlitrc  is  not  among  us  any  that 
 can  skill  to  hew  timber  hke  unto  the  Sidou- 
 ians. 
 
 bring  presents.'  — //ors/^y.  £2.  Solomon's  provision— thirt}/  mea- 
 
 sttres — the  mea-sure  used  was  the  corus  or  cor,  the  same  with  the 
 homer,  which  was  equal  to  ten  epliahs.  Can  ephah  held  ten  of  ourpecks, 
 —Baolhr.,)  anil  lifhi  seventy-tive  wine  gallons  and  five  pints. — Cum 
 heilnnd.  Meal,  the  coarser  sort.  The  'cor'  is  reckoned  equivalent  to 
 fiJS  Roman  pounds  ;  and,  allowinfj  to  one  man  two  pounds  a  day,  there 
 would  be  food  cnoufrh  for  29,l6o  men,  out  of  the  total  58,320  pounds.— 
 Gill.  Viliilpandus  reckons  the  consumers  per  day  at  48,6oo,  and  Calvi- 
 siiis  54,000.  No  doubt,  as  Clarke  observes,  the  guards  were  supplied 
 with  rations  from  the  king's  stores.  23.  Roebucks,  '•■ys.  'antelopes.' 
 Fallow-deer,  "noHN  '  huflaloes.'  Fntled  fowl,  D'DiaN  D'ln^.  '  game,' 
 'w!!d  fowls.*—  Horsier/,  A.  Clarke.  'Capon,'  several  Jewish  Crit. 
 21.  rj>/«f(/i— probably  an  eminent  city  on  th:j  Euphrates,  called  Thap- 
 sarum  ;  mentioned  by  Ptolemi/,  Strabo,  and  PUui/,  so  Poole.  25.  Vine— 
 fi^  /rfT"— principal  trees  of  the  land,  put  for  the  rest.— Gi//.  Cultivated 
 not  merely  for  fruit,  but  for  pleasantness  and  shade.— //*>«'.  A  beau- 
 tiful image  of  peace,  security,  and  felicity.— .Boo//ic.  26.  Forti/  thou- 
 stind,  'four  tliousand,*  as  in  2  Chron.  ix.  25. — Horsley,  so  Boothr. 
 Some  conjecture  that  here  the  writer  gives  the  number  of  the  horses 
 that  were  in  the  stables,  there  the  stables  themselves;  or  here  the 
 stalls,  and  there  the  stables,  having  ten  stalls  in  each.— Gi7/.  There  is 
 a  corruption  in  the  numbers  somewhere.— -4.  C/nr/re.  28.  Drome- 
 daries, IDSI,  '  beasts  of  burden,'  Vulgate.  '  Swift  horses. '-.4.  Clarke. 
 '  Working  catUe.'—Pwr.  '  Dromedaries.'— Bo/V/ir.  30.  Children  of  the 
 eiist—ttto.  Cbaldseans,  Persians,  and  Arabians,  who  all  lay  eastward  from 
 Canaan,  and  were  famous  for  wisdom  and  learning,  as  sacred  and  pro- 
 
 fane writers  testify.  31.  Than  Ethan,  ffc. — men  of  the  same  names 
 are  said  to  be  the  sons  of  Zerah,  grandson  of  Judah,  (1  Chron.  ii.  6.) 
 probably  Israelites  of  eminent  wisdjm, — Poole,  or  Mahol  may  here  be 
 afi  appellative,  and  describe  the  character  of  these  men,  pointing  at 
 what  they  were  famous  for,  as  that  they  were  sons  of  music,  piping, 
 and  dancing,  as  '  Mahol*  may  signify. — Gill,  'Sons  of  Mahol,'  'the 
 chnir,*  that  is,  musicians  and  poets.—  Lowth.  32.  Spake  three  thou- 
 sand proverbs — they  were  spoken,  not  written  as  the  book  of  Proverbs, 
 and  were  therefore  lost. — Gill.  Many  of  the  best  are  in  Proverbs  and 
 Ecclesiastes. — Poole.  The  Proverbs  have  preserved  to  us  more  than 
 910,  besides  what  maybe  scattered  in  theApucrypha. —  Wil.  His  songs, 
 the  song  of  song«  is  preserved  in  the  sacred  books. — Pat.  One  only  is 
 Itreserved  in  Scripture. — Scott.  Several  of  his  sacred  odes  are  probably 
 included  in  David's  Psalni';,  and  of  hi'^  songs  the  book  of  Canticles  pre- 
 serves at  least  seven  or  eight.  Dr.  Mason  Good  reckons  them  at 
 twelve. —  Wil.  It  is  doubtful  if  we  have  any  of  those  mentioned. — 
 liiiothr.  A  thousand  and  fire,  'five  thousand,'  Sept.  33.  He  spake 
 of  trees,  fyc,  that  is,  he  was  deeply  versed  in  natural  philosophy. — 
 Srott. 
 
 Chap.  V. — 2.  Sent  to  Hiram,  sm/ing — the  same  letters  here  recorded 
 are  found  m  Eupnlemus,  an  heatlien  writer.  6.   That  they  hew, 
 
 and  prepare  for  use. —  Gill.  The  people  of  Tyre  and  Sidon  were 
 famous  for  their  skiUin  all  kinds  of  work. — Homer.  Cedar  frees — the 
 most  firm,  durable,  and  fragrant  of  wood. — Pat.  Out  of  Lebanon — 
 this  famous  forest  is  rapidly  reducing,  and  now  contains  but  36  or  37 
 large  trees,  about  50  middle-sized,  and  only  300  smaller  and  younger 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  — Observe  here,  L  TIte extent 
 vfSolonion's  hingdom.  Here  was  God's  promise  fulfilled  wliich 
 lie  made  to  Abraham,  for  bis  dominion  extended  from  llio 
 river  of  Lgypt  to  tbe  great  river  Euphrates.  A  beautiful  em- 
 blem ot  His  flounsbing  Icingdom  in  wbicb  shall  be  '  abundance 
 of  peace  so  long  as  ibe  moon  enduretb,'  and  in  which  *  He 
 shall  have  dominion  also  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river 
 unto  tbe  ends  of  tbe  earth.* 
 
 II.  The  crtent  of  Solomon's  wisdom.  How  many  instructive 
 proverbs  be  uttered  and  wrote,  imd  instructive  songs,  in  which 
 366 
 
 tl)e  ancients  diflVred  from  us  by  conveying  the  most  important 
 and  useful  information  through  a  commonly  fascinating  me- 
 dium, and  not  pretty  nothings,  and  things  adapted  to  weaken 
 tbe  mind,  inflame  tbe  passions,  and  corrupt  the  heart!  How 
 profoundly  be  studied  the  wondrous  works  of  God  ! — a  source 
 of  enjoyment  ever  new  and  never  exhausted.  '  Herein,'  says 
 Henry,  '  Solomon  was  a  type  of  Christ,  in  whom  are  bid  all 
 tbe  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge;  and  bid  tor  use,  ibr 
 be  is  made  of  God  to  us  wisdom.' 
 
The  number  of  Solomon's  workmen. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  VI. 
 
 The  building  of  the  lemptc. 
 
 7  IT  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Hiram  lieard 
 the  words  of  Solomon,  that  he  rejoiced  greatly, 
 and  said.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  this  day,  which 
 liath  given  unto  David  a  wise  son  over  this 
 great  people. 
 
 8  And  Hiram  sent  to  Solomon,  saying,  I  have 
 t  considered  the  things  which  thou  sentest  to 
 me  for:  and  I  will  do  all  thy  desire  concerning 
 timber  of  cedar,  and  concerning  timber  of  fir. 
 
 9  My  servants  shall  bring  them  down  from 
 Lebanon  unto  the  sea :  '  and  I  will  convey 
 them  by  sea  in  floats  unto  the  place  that  thou 
 shalt  f  appoint  me,  and  will  cause  them  to  be 
 discharged  there, and  thou  shalt  receive  them: 
 and  thou  shalt  accomplish  my  desire,  ''  in  giv- 
 ing food  for  my  houshold. 
 
 10  So  Hiram  gave  Solomon  cedar  trees  and 
 fir  trees  according  to  all  his  desire. 
 
 1 1  '  And  Solomon  gave  Hiram  twenty  thou- 
 sand fmeasures  of  wheat /or  food  to  his  hous- 
 hold, and  twenty  measures  of  pure  oil  :  thus 
 gave  Solomon  to  Hiram  year  by  year. 
 
 12  And  the  Lord  gave  Solomon  wisdom, 
 '"  as  he  promised  him  :  and  there  was  peace 
 between  Hiram  and  Solomon ;  and  they  two 
 made  a  league  together. 
 
 13  IT  And  king  Solomon  raised  a  f  levy  out 
 of  all  Israel ;  and  the  levy  was  thirty  thousand 
 men. 
 
 14  And  he  sent  them  to  Lebanon,  ten  thou- 
 sand a  month  by  courses:  a  month  they  were 
 in  Lebanon,  and  two  months  at  home  :  and 
 "  Adoniram  was  over  the  levy. 
 
 15  "And  Solomon  had  tlireescore  and  ten 
 thousand  that  bare  burdens,  and  fourscore 
 thousand  hewers  in  the  mountains  ; 
 
 16  Beside  the  chief  of  Solomon's  officers 
 which  ivere  over  the  work,  three  thousand  and 
 three  hundred,  which  ruled  over  the  people 
 that  wrought  in  the  work. 
 
 17  And  the  king  commanded,  and  they 
 brought  great  stones,  costly  stones,  and  ''  hew- 
 ed stones,  to  lay  the  foundation  of  the  house. 
 
 18  And  Solomon's  builders  and  Hiram's 
 builders  did  hew  them,  and  the  ||  stonesquarers  : 
 so  they  prepared  timber  and  stones  to  build 
 the  house. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1    T'.e  huildinp  of  Solomon  s  temple.     5  Tlie  c/iamb^rs 
 
 t  Heb.  ted 
 
 k  SeeE7.i-a3 
 7  Ezck  27. 
 17.  Acts  U. 
 
 (  Sep  »  Cl.r 
 2    I" 
 t  Hcb  con. 
 
 \\\,-h.hib'ite 
 uf  men. 
 
 p  IChr,23.2 
 
 /.  Acts  7.  47 
 t  Heb.  buUl 
 
 d  See  Ezek. 
 40.  16.  &1I. 
 
 witliin.aiid 
 
 ivithout: 
 or.  tl,ew,d 
 and  ctiiifd. 
 II  Or,  «po„, 
 
 tu. 
 e  See  Ezek. 
 
 41,  6. 
 
 tHeb.  ftoort 
 /ver.  16,19, 
 
 •>»,  21,31. 
 t  Heb.  ril.i. 
 t  Heb.  „.r- 
 
 rcA'i/rweiifi. 
 
 g  See  Deu. 
 27.  5,  6. 
 cli.  5.  18. 
 
 I  Heb. 
 ikmldcr. 
 
 tltereof.  11  God's  promise  unto  it.  15  77te  deling 
 and  adorning  of  it.  23  The  cheruhims.  31  The 
 doors.     36    The  court.     37    The  time  of  building  it, 
 
 A  ND  "  it  came  to  pass  in  the  four  hundred 
 ■'-^  and  eightieth  year  after  the  children  of 
 Israel  were  come  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  in 
 the  fourth  year  of  Solomon's  reign  over  Israel, 
 in  the  montli  Zif,  which  is  the  second  month, 
 that  '■  he  f  began  to  build  the  house  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 •2  And  "  the  house  which  king  Solomon  built 
 for  the  Lord,  the  length  thereof  u-as  threc- 
 .score  cubits,  and  the  Ijreadth  thereof  twenty 
 cubits,  and  the  height  tliereof  thirty  cubits. 
 
 3  And  the  porch  before  the  temple  of  the 
 house,  twenty  cubits  was  the  length  thereof, 
 according  to  the  breadth  of  the  house;  ami 
 ten  cubits  was  the  breadth  thereof  before  the 
 house. 
 
 4  And  for  the  house  he  made  ■'  |{  windows  of 
 narrow  lights. 
 
 5  IT  And  II  against  the  wall  of  the  house  he 
 built  "fcliambers  round  about,  against  the 
 walls  of  the  house  round  about,  both  of  the 
 temple  ''and  of  the  oracle:  and  he  made 
 t  chambers  round  about : 
 
 6  The  nethermost  chamber  jt-as  five  cubits 
 broad,  and  the  middle  was  si.x  cubits  broad, 
 and  the  third  was  seven  cubits  broad  :  for 
 without  in  the  wall  of  the  house  he  made 
 t  narrowed  rests  roundabout,  that  </ie  beams 
 should  not  be  fastened  in  the  walls  of  the  house. 
 
 7  And  ^  the  house,  when  it  was  in  building, 
 was  built  of  stone  made  ready  before  it  was 
 brought  thither :  so  that  there  was  neither 
 hammer  nor  ax  nor  any  tool  of  iron  heard  in 
 the  house,  while  it  was  in  building. 
 
 8  The  door  for  the  middle  chamber  was  \n 
 the  right  fside  of  tlie  house:  and  they  went 
 up  with  winding  stairs  into  the  middle  chamber, 
 and  out  of  the  middle  into  the  third. 
 
 9  ''  So  he  built  the  house,  and  finished  it  ; 
 and  covered  the  house  ||  with  Learns  and 
 boards  of  cedar. 
 
 10  And  then  he  built  chambers  against  all 
 the  house,  five  cubits  high  :  and  they  rested 
 on  the  house  with  timber  of  cedar. 
 
 lit  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  So- 
 lomon, saying. 
 
 ones. — So  Burckhardl.  Sidonians^from  tliis  term,  Tyre  and  Sidon 
 appear  to  have  been  but  one  kingdom.— So  Bnot/tr.  7.  Blessed  be 
 tlte  Lord — Hiram  seems  to  know  something  of  tlie  excellency  and 
 nature  of  the  God  of  Israel,  though  he  was  not  a  decided  proselyte,  or 
 he  would  liave  turned  his  people  from  idolatrj'. — So  Pottle.  It  is  evident 
 that  he  was  a  worshipper  of  the  true  God.— ,-J.  Ctiti-ke.  He  might  wor- 
 ship him,  though  along  with  him  other  deities,  as  some  lieathrn 
 princes  did. — Gill,  so  Pat.  8.  Timber  of  fir,  or  of  cypress. — Jos.,  Gill. 
 Pine  or  cypress,  or  most  likely  a  kind  of  cedar;  fir  was  not  durable 
 enough.  9.  Tfie  sett,  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  in  which  the  citystood, 
 Jnftuats — some  think  they  were  tied  together  and  drawn  in  the  water 
 by  vessels,  as  the  manner  now  frequently  is. — PtU.  The  same  method 
 is  now  adopted  in  the  ea^t :  the  trees  are  cut  down  and  bound  together 
 in  immense  forests  far  from  the  ocean,  and  when  the  rainy  season 
 arrives  every  stream  is  covered  with  large  rafts, — So  Rob.  Girnng  food 
 for  my  Itoushttld — wheat  for  timber.  In  afti  r  times  this  place  was 
 supplied  with  liread-corn  from  Judea,;  see  Ezra,  iii.  7  ;  Ezek.  xSvii.  17  ; 
 Acts,  xii.  20.) — Gill.       11.  Twenty  thousand  measttres,  ^c. — in  2Chroo. 
 
 ii.  10,  it  is  said,  'twenty  thousand  baths  of  oil,*  but  the  Chronicles 
 speak  of  what  was  given  to  the  workmen ;  this  book  speaks  of  what 
 Hiram  had  for  the  use  of  his  family. — Pat.  According  to  Bishop  Cinn- 
 berltmd,  the  wheat  must  have  weighed  12,91)0,000  jiounds.  Twenty 
 metisures,  'twenty  thousand,'  Sept.  Pure  oil,  squeezed  out  of  the 
 olives  without  breaking  them. — Gilt.  i5.  Heivers  in  the  jntmnlains, 
 hewers  of  stone,  for  timber  was  hewed  by  Hiram's  servants  in  Le- 
 banon.— Pat. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  2.  Threescore  cubits,  from  east  to  west,  including  the 
 holy  place  and  the  most  holy  place. —  Gill.  That  is,  about  109  feet. 
 Twenty  cubils,  about  36  feet.  —  Bisliitp  Cumberland.  The  height  — 
 thirty  cubils — underst.ind  this  of  the  holy  place,  for  the  most  holy  was 
 but  twenty  cubits  high,  (ver.  20.)  Some  restrain  it  to  the  porch  only. — 
 Gill.  4.  Windows  of  narrow  lights,  D'tDTDt*  D'DplT,  '  apertas  clttusas.' — 
 Vtit.  'Open,  shut.* — Gill.  'Open  within  and  shut  without,' Tar^. 
 *  Windows  which  might  be  opened  or  shut.' — Boolhr.  '  Windows  to 
 look  through,  which  shut,'  probably  latticed  windows. — .4.  Clarke. 
 7.  Made  ready,  being  hewn  or  squared  by  the  workmen  (chap.  V.  18.) 
 
 RrFi.ECTioNS  ON  Chap.  \ . —  I.  It  is  pleasant  to  See  Solomon 
 accomplisliing  tlie  pious  designs  of  his  father.  Pious  parents, 
 who  see  around  them  their  pious  offspring,  must  behold  tliem 
 with  delight  in  proportion  as  they  witness  their  zeal  for  God, 
 while  they  think  on  their  accomplishing  what  they  themselves 
 have  but  commenced  in  the  great  work  of  advancing  the  in- 
 terests of  religion  in  the  world. 
 
 II.  It  is  dtiightftd  to  see  commerce  consecrated  to  the  seroice  of 
 God.     After  nading  of  the  sanguinary  wars  of  ambitious  and 
 367 
 
 jealous  nations,  it  is  refreshing  to  read  the  kindly  correspond- 
 ence between  Solomon  and  Hiram.  O  may  the  lime  hasten 
 on  when  kings  shall  be  nursing  fathers,  and  queens  nursing 
 mothers,  to  the  church  of  God,  and  when  our  ships  shall  be 
 freighted  with  the  most  precious  cargoes,  bearing  the  word  of 
 life  in  abundance  to  all  the  nations  of  the  world, — when  the 
 honour  of  the  Saviour  shall  be  intimately  associated  with  even 
 our  commei'cial  transactions,  and  *  on  the  bells  of  the  horses 
 shall  he  written.  Holiness  to  the  Lord.' 
 
The  adorning  of  the  temple. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  VI. 
 
 The  time  of  building  it. 
 
 12  Concerning  this  house  wliich  thou  art  in 
 building,  'if  thou  wilt  walk  in  my  statutes,  and 
 execute  my  judgments,  and  keep  all  my  com 
 mandments  to  walk  in  them  ;  then  will  I  per- 
 form my  word  with  thee,  'which  I  spake  unto 
 David  thy  father  : 
 
 13  And  '  I  will  dwell  among  the  children  of 
 Israel, and  will  not  ""forsake  my  people  Israel. 
 
 14  "  So  Solomon  hnilt  the  house  and  finished 
 it. 
 
 15  And  he  built  the  walls  of  the  house  within 
 with  boards  of  cedar,  ||  both  the  floor  of  the 
 house,  and  the  walls  of  the  cieling :  and  he 
 covered  them  on  the  inside  with  w-ood,  and 
 covered  the  floor  of  the  house  with  planks  of 
 fir. 
 
 16  And  he  built  twenty  cubits  on  the  .sides 
 of  the  house,  both  the  floor  and  the  walls  with 
 boards  of  cedar :  be  even  built  them  for  it 
 within,  even  for  the  oracle,  even  for  the  "  most 
 holy  place. 
 
 17  And  the  house,  that  is,  the  temple  before 
 it,  was  forty  cubits  long. 
 
 18  And  the  cedar  of  the  house  within  was 
 carved  with  \\  knops  and  f  open  flowers  :  all 
 was  cedar  ;  there  was  no  stone  seen. 
 
 19  And  the  oracle  he  prepared  in  the  house 
 within,  to  set  there  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 '20  And  the  oracle  in  the  forepart  was  twenty 
 cubits  in  length,  and  twenty  cubits  in  breadth, 
 and  twenty  cubits  in  the  height  thereof:  and 
 he  overlaid  it  with  fpuregold;  and  so  covered 
 the  altar  nhich  was  o/cedar. 
 
 21  So  Solomon  overlaid  the  house  within 
 with  pure  gold  :  and  he  made  a  partition  by 
 the  chains  of  gold  before  the  oracle  ;  and  he 
 overlaid  it  with  gold. 
 
 22  And  tlie  whole  house  he  overlaid  with 
 gold,  unlil  be  had  finished  all  the  house  :  also 
 ''the  whole  altar  that  teas  by  the  oracle  he 
 overlaid  with  gold. 
 
 23  t  And  within  the  oracle  ''  he  made  two 
 cherubims  of  \\  f  olive  tree,  each  ten  cubits 
 high. 
 
 24  And  five  cubits  was  the  one  wing  of  the 
 cherub,  and  five  cubits  the  other  wing  of  the 
 cherub  :  from  the  uttermost  part  of  the  one 
 wing  unto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  other 
 were  ten  cubits. 
 
 25  And  the  other  cherub  was   ten   cubits  : 
 
 1  ch.  i 
 9.4. 
 
 *  2  .^am.  7. 
 31.  1  Chr. 
 22.  to. 
 
 /  Ex.  25.  8. 
 Lev.26.  U, 
 2  Cor.  fi  16, 
 Rev.  21 .  .1. 
 
 I'i  Deu.  3I.(>. 
 
 n  ver.  38. 
 
 11  Or.  Ar.m 
 tliefl:<.r  of 
 t/iir  /louse  Nii- 
 t'j  Ike  itatlt. 
 S[c.,  and  Bo 
 ver.  16. 
 
 2  Chr.  3.  fi. 
 Kzei.45  S. 
 Heb.  9.  S. 
 
 li  Or.porjrrfj. 
 t  Heb.  open- 
 i..g,  „/ 
 
 JtoUll'TI. 
 
 fl.  SCIir.  S. 
 10,  II.  \-i. 
 I  Or,  Or/i/. 
 t  Heb.  iitut 
 
 r  Ex.  -25.  20. 
 
 &  .S7.  9. 
 
 2  Clir.  5.  S 
 11  Or,  the  c'jf- 
 
 ttrttched 
 forth  Ihrlr 
 
 \  Heb.  f>pe)i- 
 
 tqnntt. 
 [|  Or.  i/v»r, 
 of  the  d'luri. 
 
 t  Heb.  open- 
 i.,gs  of 
 
 floltVTt. 
 
 \  Or^fmr. 
 
 II  Or,  IBM  all 
 Itie  ai'fUTtr- 
 iioJicft  Ifiere- 
 of,  and  Kill, 
 ntt  Ihe  orili- 
 nnurrt  there- 
 
 •/. 
 
 1005. 
 u  Cnnipare 
 ver.  I. 
 
 both  the  cherubims  were  of  one  measure  and 
 one  size. 
 
 20  The  height  of  the  one  cherub  teas  ten 
 cubits,  and  so  was  it  of  the  other  cherub. 
 
 27  And  he  set  the  cherubims  within  the 
 inner  house  :  and '  |{  they  stretched  forth  the 
 wings  of  the  cherubims,  so  that  the  wing  of 
 the  one  touched  the  one  wall,  and  the  wing  of 
 the  otiier  cherub  touched  the  other  wall ;  and 
 their  wings  touclied  one  another  in  the  midst 
 of  the  house. 
 
 28  And  he  overlaid  the  cherubims  with  gold. 
 
 29  And  be  carved  all  the  walls  of  the  house 
 round  about  with  carved  figures  of  cherubims 
 and  pahn  trees  and  fopeii  flowers,  within  and 
 without. 
 
 30  And  the  floor  of  the  house  he  overlaid 
 with  gold,  within  and  without. 
 
 31  II  And  for  tlie  entering  of  the  oracle  he 
 made  doors  o/' olive  tree:  the  lintel  oHrf  side 
 posts  were  \\  a  fifth  part  of  the  wall. 
 
 32  The  II  two  doors  also  7eere  o/' olive  tree  ; 
 and  he  carved  upon  them  carvings  of  cheru- 
 bims and  palm  trees  and  f  open  flowers,  and 
 overlaid  ihem  with  gold,  and  spread  gold  upon 
 the  cherubims,  and  upon  the  palm  trees. 
 
 33  So  also  made  he  for  the  door  of  the 
 temple  posts  of  olive  tree,  ||  a  fourth  part  of 
 the  wall. 
 
 34  And  the  two  doors  were  of  fir  tree  :  the 
 "two  leaves  of  the  one  door  were  folding,  and 
 the  two  leaves  of  the  other  door  ivere  folding. 
 
 35  And  he  carved  thereon  cherubims  and 
 palm  trees  and  open  flowers :  and  covered 
 them  with  gold  fitted  upon  the  carved  work. 
 
 36  1  And  he  built  the  inner  court  with  three 
 rows  of  hewed  stone,  and  a  row  of  cedar 
 beams. 
 
 37  t  '  In  the  fourth  year  was  the  foundation 
 of  the  house  of  the  Lord  laid,  in  the  month 
 Zif: 
 
 38  And  in  the  eleventh  year,  in  the  month 
 Bui,  which  is  the  eighth  month,  was  the  house 
 finished  ||  throughout  all  tlie  parts  thereof,  and 
 according  to  all  the  fashion  of  it.  So  was  he 
 "  seven  years  in  building  it. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  T/ie  huiUinf/  of  Solomon's  house.  2  Of  the  house 
 of  Lebanon,  (i  Of  the  porch  of  pillars,  7  Of  the 
 porch  of  judyment.     8   Of  the  house  for  Pharaoh's 
 
 15.  Built  the  walls  of  the  house  within,  wainscoted  it,  as  we  say,  with 
 cedar.  16.  Brenfor  the  omi?;?— this  explains  the  word  house;  this 
 was,  most  properly,  the  house,  of  all  the  parts  of  the  temple,  because 
 here  the  Divine  glory  inhabited.— /'<!<.  la,  Knnps,  of  an  oval  form, 
 hke  eggrs,'  Tnrs;.  20.  Pure  i;old,  'plates  of  irolrt,'  for  the  Rnld 
 amounted  to  Con  talents,  (aCbron.  M.S.)— Pat.  The  Hebrew  is  'shut 
 up,'— probably  beaten  or  hammered  gold,  which  was  shut  up  in  rolls, 
 
 like  sheet  lead. — Wil.  22.  Attar  that  was  hi/  the  oracle,  the  altar  of  in- 
 cense.— Gilt.  23.  Cheruttims — see  note  on  Exod.  xxv.  18.  29.  Within 
 anil  without,  that  is,  '  both  of  tlie  inner  house  and  of  the  outer  house.' 
 so  Sept.  36.  Inner  court,  'court  of  the  priests,'  (3  Chrou.  iv.  9,)  so 
 called  to  distinguish  it  from  the  outer  court,  where  the  people  assem- 
 bled. 3S.  Seren  i/eiirs,  and  six  months,  which  are  not  mentioned,  the 
 round  numbers  only  being  given. — Gill, 
 
 Reflvctions  on  Chap.  VI.  —  Henry  asks,  'What  was 
 typified  by  this  temple?'  I.  Christ  is  the  true  temple.  Hp 
 himself  spake  of  the  temple  of  his  body,  (John,  ii.  '.il.)  God 
 himself  prepared  him  his  body,  (Heb.'  x.  3. ")  In  Iiim  dwelt 
 the  fulness  oi  the  Godhead,  as  the  Shechinah  in  the  temple. 
 In  him  meet  all  God's  spiritual  Israel ;  through  him  we  have 
 access  with  confidence  to  God. 
 
 II.  Every  believer  is  a  living  temple,  in  whom  the  Spirit  of 
 God  dwelleth  (1  Cor.  iii.  16) ;  even  the  body  is  so  by  virtue 
 of  Us  union  with  the  soul,  (1  Cor.  vi.  19.)  We  are  not  only 
 wonderlully  made  by  the  Divine  Providence,  but  more  won- 
 derhilly  made  anew  by  the  Divine  grace.  This  living  temple 
 IS  built  upon  Christ  as  its  foundation,  and  will  be  perfected 
 in  due  time. 
 
 III.  The  gospel  church  is  the  mystical  temple.     It  grows  to  a 
 
 368  ' 
 
 holy  temple  in  the  Lord,  (Eph.  ii.  21,)  enriched  and  beauti- 
 fied with  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Spirit,  as  Solomon's 
 temple  with  gold  and  precious  stones.  Only  Jews  built  tbe 
 tabernacle,  but  Gentiles  join  with  tbem  in  building  the  temple; 
 even  strangers  and  foreigners  are  huilt  up  an  habitation  of 
 God,  (Eph.  ii.  19,22.) 
 
 IV.  Heaven  is  tlie  everlastinri  temnle.  There  the  church  will 
 be  fixed  and  be  no  longer  moveable.  Ihe  streets  of  the  new 
 Jerusalem,  in  allusion  to  the  flooring  of  the  temple,  are  said  to 
 be  of  pure  gold,  (Rev.  xxi.  •i\.)  The  cherubims  there  always 
 attend  the  throne  of  glory.  All  that  shall  be  stones  in  that 
 building  must  in  the  present  state  of  probation  and  prepara- 
 tion be  fitted  and  made  ready  for  it,  must  be  hewed  and  squared 
 by  Divine  grace,  and  so  be  meet  tor  a  place  there. 
 
Solomon's  other  bui/ding.'. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  VII. 
 
 Hiram's  wurlis  fur  the  ttmple. 
 
 Jnuqhter.  13  Hiram's  work  of  the  two  pillars. 
 •2a'0ftliemuUmsra.  2T  Of  t/ie  ten  basis.  38  0/ 
 t/ie  ten  Invers,  40  and  tilt  the  vcsst  Is. 
 
 BUT  Solomon  was  Ijiiilding  liis  own  house 
 "  tliitteeu   years,  and   he  finished  all  his 
 house. 
 
 2  t  He  built  also  the  house  of  the  forest  of 
 Lebanon  ;  the  lengtli  thereof  ii'a.i  an  hundred 
 cubits,  and  tlie  breadth  thereof  fifty  cubits,  and 
 the  height  thereof  tliirty  cubits,  upon  four  rows 
 of  cedar  pillars,  with  cedar  beams  upon  the 
 pillars. 
 
 3  And  it  teas  covered  with  cedar  above  upon 
 the  t  beains,  that  lai/  on  forty  five  pillars,  fifteen 
 in  a  row. 
 
 4  And  there  ivere  windows  in  three  rows, 
 and  t  lig'i'  «'«*'  against  light  in  three  ranks. 
 
 5  And  all  the  ||  doors  and  posts  were  square, 
 with  the  windows  :  and  liglit  was  against  light 
 in  three  ranks. 
 
 (i  t  And  he  made  a  porch  of  pillars  ;  the 
 length  thereof  was  fifty  cubits,  and  the  breadth 
 thereof  thirty  cubits  :  and  the  porch  was  ||  be- 
 fore them  :  and  the  other  pillars  and  the  thick 
 beam  were  ||  before  tbeni. 
 
 7  K  Then  he  made  a  porch  for  the  throne 
 where  he  might  judge,  civH  the  porch  of  judg- 
 ment:  and  it  was  covered  witli  cedar  ffrom 
 one  side  of  the  floor  to  the  other. 
 
 8  H  And  bis  house  where  he  dwelt  had  an- 
 other court  within  the  porch,  which  was  of  the 
 like  work.  Solomon  made  also  an  house  for 
 Pharaoh's  daughter,  ''  whom  he  had  taken  to 
 irife,  like  unto  this  porch. 
 
 !>  All  these  were  o/' costly  stones,  according 
 to  the  measures  of  hewed  stones,  sawed  with 
 saws,  within  and  without,  even  from  the  foun- 
 dation unto  the  coping,  and  so  on  the  outside 
 toward  the  great  court. 
 
 10  And  the  foundation  was  o/ costly  stones, 
 even  great  stones,  stones  of  ten  cubits,  and 
 stones  of  eight  cubits. 
 
 1 1  And  above  ivere  costly  stones,  after  the 
 measures  of  hewed  stones,  and  cedars. 
 
 1-2  And  the  great  court  round  about  was 
 with  three  rows  of  hewed  stones,  and  a  row  of 
 cedar  beams,  both  for  tlie  inner  court  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  '^  and  for  the  porch  of  the 
 house. 
 
 1.3  H  And  king  Solomon  sent  and  fetched 
 ■■  Hiram  out  of  Tyre. 
 
 14  °  He  was  ]  a.  widow's  sou  of  the  tribe  of 
 Naphtali,  and  'his  father  was  a  man  of  Tyre, 
 a  worker  in  brass :  and  ^  he  was  filled  with 
 wisdom,  and   understanding,  and   cunning  to 
 
 till  U95. 
 
 1  ch.  9.  10- 
 
 2  Clir.  d.   I 
 
 f  ileb.  ri/it. 
 
 t  Heb.  tight 
 ..J..,,,./ 
 
 II  Or,  ti'/ic'i 
 <md  yitUri 
 were  iqiunr 
 in  jtTut/Mct. 
 
 II  Or,  nerord- 
 inff  lu  Ihein. 
 
 ilOr,  »t™r,I- 
 in^  to  thfin 
 
 tHel'./""" 
 Jt,»r  tifjlour. 
 
 b  ch  3.  I. 
 eClir.8.  II 
 
 c  JolullO.SS. 
 Acts  3.  n. 
 
 rfaClir.i.ll. 
 
 Ilimm  : 
 
 See  ver.  -10. 
 r  *^CIir.2.1.I, 
 t  Heb.W,e«<,rt 
 
 of  a  uiidoa 
 
 /"?  Clir  1.16. 
 J  Ex.  31.  3. 
 &36.  I. 
 
 t   lleb.   ra- 
 
 Mon.'d. 
 I,  -i  Km    ■-'.') 
 
 17.  -i  Chr  ;l. 
 
 l.-i.  &   1    \i. 
 
 I'Sec^l  lir.3. 
 
 Ili.  ^  X.  i:t. 
 
 Jur.  5l'.  *i:t. 
 t  SChr.:l.l7 
 /  cli   e.  3. 
 
 II  Tint  i«, 
 Hf  i/tutt  e.- 
 totttiih. 
 
 II  Thai  is, 
 /,.  it  is 
 tlrtni/th. 
 
 2.Jer  5!?, 
 t  Heb.  /.-.. 
 
 .  5  Cl.r.  ».  1, 
 &.Jer.b2.-20. 
 
 p  See  2  Chr. 
 4.  5. 
 
 work  all  works  in  brass.  And  he  came  to 
 king  Solomon,  and  wrought  all  bis  work. 
 
 1..^  For  he  feast  ''two  pillars  of  brass,  of 
 eighteen  cubits  high  apiece :  and  a  line  of 
 twelve  cubits  did  compass  either  of  them 
 about. 
 
 lU  And  he  made  two  chapiters  nf  molten 
 brass,  to  set  upon  the  tops  of  the  pillars  :  tlie 
 height  of  the  one  chapiter  zcas  live  cubits, 
 and  the  lieight  of  the  other  chapiter  icas  five 
 cubits  : 
 
 17  And  nets  of  checker  work,  and  wreaths  of 
 chain  work,  for  the  chapiters  which  were  upon 
 the  top  of  tlie  pillars  ;  seven  for  the  one  chapi- 
 ter, and  seven  for  the  other  chapiter. 
 
 18  And  he  made  the  pillars,  and  two  rows 
 round  about  upon  the  one  network,  to  cover 
 the  cliapiters  that  weie  upon  the  top,  with 
 pomegranates  :  and  so  did  he  for  the  other 
 chapiter. 
 
 19  And  the  chapiters  that  were  upon  the 
 top  of  the  pillars  were  of  lily  work  in  the 
 porch,  four  cubits. 
 
 ■20  And  the  chapiters  upon  the  two  pillars 
 had  pomegranates  also  above,  over  against 
 the  belly  which  was  by  the  netsvork  :  and  the 
 pomegranates  ivere  '  two  luuidred  in  rows 
 round  about  upon  the  other  chapiter. 
 
 21  ''  And  be  set  up  the  pillars  in  '  the  porch 
 of  the  temple  :  and  he  set  up  the  right  pillar, 
 and  called  the  name  thereof  ||  Jachin  :  and  ho 
 set  up  the  left  pillar,  and  called  the  name 
 thereof  ||  Boaz. 
 
 22  And  upon  the  top  of  the  pillars  was 
 lily  work  :  so  was  the  work  of  the  pillars 
 finished. 
 
 23  t  And  he  made  ""  a  molten  sea,  ten  cubits 
 f  from  the  one  brim  to  the  other  :  it  was  round 
 all  about,  and  his  height  was  five  cubits  :  and 
 a  line  of  thirty  cubits  did  compass  it  round 
 about. 
 
 24  And  under  the  brim  of  it  round  about 
 there  rrere  knops  compassing  it,  ten  in  a  cubit, 
 "  compassing  the  sea  round  about  :  the  knops 
 leere  cast  in  two  rows,  when  it  was  cast. 
 
 20  It  stood  upon  "  twelve  oxen,  three  looking 
 toward  the  north,  and  three  looking  toward 
 the  west,  and  three  looking  toward  the  south, 
 and  three  looking  toward  the  east ;  and  the 
 sea  ivas  set  above  upon  them,  and  all  their 
 hinder  parts  ivere  inward. 
 
 2(3  And  it  tras  an  hand  breadth  thick,  and 
 the  brim  thereof  was  wrought  like  the  briin  of 
 a  cup,  with  flowers  of  lilies  :  it  contained  ''  two 
 thousand  baths. 
 
 CnAP.  VII.  — I.  II's  own  lionse,  '  the  royal  palace. — Ponle.  Tltir. 
 teen  years,  because  fewer  workmen  were  employed,  many  beinp  still 
 engaged  about  the  temple. — Sut.  Thirteen  years  more  (comp.S  Cliron. 
 viii.  1 .)  2.  Hotise  of  Itxe  forest  of  Lebanon,  a  palace  so  called,  either 
 because  built  of  the  wood  of  Lebanon, — Cat..  Gill,  or  this  forest,  adja- 
 cent to  Jerusalem,  having  some  resemblance  to  Lebanon, — Bootlir., 
 Sut.,  or  the  pillars  being  so  grouped  and  ornamented  as  to  bear  some 
 resemblance  to  the  celebrated  forest. —  Wil.  6.  A  porcfi,  supposed  to 
 have  been  acovcred  portico,  in  which  Solomon's  guards  and  attendants 
 waited. — Scolt.  8.  An  liimse  fur  Pharaoh' &  duuf^kter — this,  no  doiilit, 
 was  near  adjoining  to  his  own  palace. — Henry.  But  it  was  out  of  Ilie 
 city  of  David.  (2  Chron.  viii.  1 1 .)  Solomon  perhaps  saw  many  things 
 in  her  court  inconsistent  with  spiritual  religion,  as  a  woman  of  heathen 
 e.vtraction,  and  did  not  thinly  it  right  she  should  dwell  so  near  the  tem- 
 ple.— Scott.  Like  unto  this  porch,  because  built  of  cedar  like  it, 
 though  not  in  the  same  form.  —  Ilenrr/.  Probably  the  whole  thrte 
 lionses  made  but  one  building. — .4.  Clarke.  10.  Cosllri  stones— litrf^e 
 valuable  blocks  of  marble,  beautifully  squared  and  polished  on  every 
 side. — Scott.  Stones  of  ten  cubits,  seventeen  feet  and  a  half,  reckon- 
 ing the  cubit  at  twenty-one  inches. — llew.  The  ancients  had  some 
 369 
 
 method,  now  lost,  of  removing  these  astonishing  masses.  In  the  ruins 
 of  IJalbec  are  white  granite  stones  53  feet  long  and  12  feet  thick. — 
 So  Volney,  see  Traeels,  vol.  ii.  p.  241.  13.  Hiram,  an  Israelite  by 
 birth,  who  dwelt  at  Tyre,  and  probably  with  the  privileges  of  a  citizen . 
 14.  A  widow's  son  of  the  tribe  of  Najihtali,  she  herself  was  of  Dan. 
 (2  Chron.  ii.  14,1  but  her  husband  of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  by  whom  she 
 liad  this  son. — Pat,  1.5.  Eigltteen  cubits  tii^'/i  apiece,  'thirty-five 
 cubits,  (2  Chron.  iii.  15;)  the  common  cubit  was  but  one  half  of  the 
 enbit  of  the  sanctuary,  so  that  eighteen  of  the  one  wmild  make  thirty- 
 six  of  the  other,  and  deducting  one  cubit  for  the  plinth,  thirty-five 
 wouldremain. — Trent.  16.  Cliapiters,  'capitals.' — Bootlir.  ill.  Jachin, 
 'he  will  establish.'  — (Vi//.  'It  shall  .stand.' —  BooWir.  Boas:,  'in 
 strengtli.' — Boothr.  These  pillars  are  thought  by  some  to  have  been 
 for  ornament  rather  than  for  use.  23.  Molten  sen— it  was  usual  with 
 the  Jews  to  call  a  large  collection  of  water  a  sea,  as  the  Sea  of  Tiberias 
 and  Galilee. — Gill.  This  immense  laver  is  called  '  a  sea'  from  its  mag- 
 nitude. It  is  computed  to  have  held  about  Ifi.ooo  gallons.— //fic. 
 2 1 .  h'nops,  in  the  shape  of  an  egg,  on  the  top  of  every  one  of  each  was 
 an  ox  head,  from  whose  mouth  water  gushed  out. — So  .Vmrbinet.  See 
 2  Chron.  iv.  3.  26,  Two  thousand  liaths—^ce  note  on  verse  23. 
 3  B 
 
The  ornaments  and  ntensih 
 
 I.  KINGS,  VIII. 
 
 of  the  temple. 
 
 27  1  And  he  made  ten  bases  of  brass  ;  four 
 cubits  was  the  length  of  one  base,  and  four 
 cubits  the  breadth  thereof,  and  three  cubits  the 
 heiglit  of  it. 
 
 28  And  the  vvorlc  of  the  bases  rvas  on  tliif 
 manner:  they  had  borders,  and  the  borders 
 were  between  tlie  ledges  : 
 
 29  And  on  the  borders  tliat  were  between 
 the  ledges  ivere  lions,  oxen,  and  cherubims  : 
 and  upon  the  ledges  there  iras  a  base  above  : 
 and  beneath  the  lions  and  oxen  were  certain 
 additions  made  of  thin  work. 
 
 30  And  every  base  had  four  brasen  wheels, 
 and  plates  of  brass  :  and  the  four  corners 
 thereof  had  undersetters  :  under  the  laver  were 
 undsrsetters  molten,  at  the  side  of  every  ad- 
 dition. 
 
 31  And  the  month  of  it  within  the  chapiter 
 and  above  was  a  cubit :  but  the  mouth  thereof 
 was  round  after  tlie  work  of  the  base,  a  cubit 
 and  an  half:  and  also  upon  the  mouth  of  it 
 were  gravings  with  their  borders,  foursquare, 
 not  round. 
 
 32  And  under  the  borders  were  four  wheels  ; 
 and  the  axletrees  of  the  wheels  were  ] joined 
 to  the  base  :  and  the  height  of  a  wheel  was  a 
 cubit  and  half  a  cubit.  1 
 
 33  And  the  work  of  the  wheels  ivas  like  the 
 work  of  a  chariot  wheel :  their  axletrees,  and 
 their  naves,  and  their  felloes,  and  their  spokes, 
 were  all  molten. 
 
 34  And  there  xcere  four  undersetters  to  the 
 four  corners  of  one  base  :  and  the  undersetters 
 were  of  the  very  base  itself. 
 
 35  And  in  the  top  of  the  base  was  there  a 
 round  compass  of  half  a  cubit  higli  :  and  on  the 
 top  of  the  base  the  ledges  thereof  and  the 
 borders  thereof  w'ere  of  the  same. 
 
 36  For  on  the  plates  of  the  ledges  thereof, 
 ana  on  the  borders  thereof,  he  graved  cheru- 
 bims, lions,  and  palm  trees,  according  to  the 
 t  proportion  of  every  one,  and  additions  round 
 about. 
 
 37  After  this  manner  he  made  the  ten  bases : 
 all  of  them  had  one  casting,  one  measure,  and 
 one  size. 
 
 38  H  Then  ''  made  he  ten  lavers  of  brass  :  one 
 laver  contained  forty  baths:  and  every  laver 
 was  four  cubits :  and  upon  every  one  of  the 
 ten  bases  one  laver. 
 
 39  And  he  put  five  bases  on  the  right  t  side 
 of  the  house,  and  five  on  the  left  side  of  the 
 house  :  and  he  set  the  sea  on  the  right  side  of 
 the  house  eastward  over  against  the  south. 
 
 40  t  And  t  Hiram  made  the  lavers,  and  the 
 shovels,  and  the  basons.     So  Hiram  made  an 
 
 t  H.l.. 
 
 q  SChc.  1.6. 
 
 t  Heb.  Hi- 
 rum  ;  See 
 ver.  13. 
 
 t  Hell.  ";v"i 
 Mr  fice  ■■/ 
 
 t  E«.  27.  a. 
 aOlir.l.lG. 
 
 [  Heb.  moile 
 brtffhl,  or, 
 toured. 
 
 (•>Chr.4.l7. 
 
 (  Heb.  in  th" 
 
 I'licl^'iC^I  'if 
 
 II  Uen.S:!.  17. 
 j:  Josh.  3.1ti. 
 t  Heb. /or 
 
 M^  rxceetl- 
 
 ine  niuHi- 
 
 tudf. 
 I  Heb. 
 
 ifti'^hed. 
 
 I  Clir.22  I'l 
 t/  V.x.  •^.  -Jb, 
 
 ke. 
 Kx   37.  10, 
 
 I  Kx.  25.  30. 
 I.e».2V5— 
 
 \  Heb.  aiU 
 
 t  Heb,  li'd^ 
 
 thingttif' 
 
 Dmd. 
 h  -J  Sam.  8. 
 
 11.  2  Cbr. 
 
 5.  1. 
 
 fHeb. 
 prinnet. 
 6-2Sain.6.17. 
 
 c  2  Sam  5  7, 
 9.  &  6  12,ltj. 
 
 end  of  doing  all  the  work  that  he  made  king 
 Solomon  for  the  house  of  the  Lono  : 
 
 41  The  two  pillars,  and  the  two  bowls  of  the 
 chapiters  that  were  on  the  top  of  the  two  |iil- 
 lars  ;  and  the  two  '  networks,  to  cover  the  two 
 bowls  of  the  chapiters  which  were  upon  tlie 
 top  of  the  pillars  ; 
 
 42  And  four  hundred  pomegranates  for  the 
 two  networks,  even  two  rows  of  pomegranates 
 for  one  network,  to  cover  the  two  bowls  of  the 
 chapiters  that  ii^ere  f  upon  the  pillars  ; 
 
 4.'t  And  the  ten  bases,  and  ten  lavers  on  the 
 bases  ; 
 
 44  And  one  sea,  and  twelve  oxen  under  the 
 sea  ; 
 
 45  '  And  the  pots,  and  the  shovels,  and  the 
 basons :  and  all  these  vessels,  which  Hiram 
 made  to  king  Solomon  for  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  were  q/'f  bright  brass. 
 
 4G  '  In  the  plain  of  Jordan  did  the  king  cast 
 them,  t  in  the  clay  ground  between  "  Succoth 
 and  '  Zarthan. 
 
 47  And  Solomon  left  all  the  vessels  unweigh- 
 ed,  f  because  they  were  exceeding  many : 
 neither  was  the  weight  of  the  brass  f  found  out. 
 
 48  And  Solomon  made  all  the  vessels  that 
 pertained  unto  the  house  of  the  Lord  :  '  the 
 altar  of  gold,  and  ^  the  table  of  gold,  where- 
 upon °  the  shewbrcad  was, 
 
 49  And  the  candlesticks  of  pure  gold,  five  on 
 the  right  side,  and  five  on  the  left,  before  the 
 oracle,  with  the  flowers,  and  the  lamps,  and  the 
 tongs  q/'gold, 
 
 50  And  the  bowls,  and  the  snuffers,  and  the 
 basons,  and  the  spoons,  and  the  f  censers  of 
 pure  gold  ;  and  the  hinges  of  gold,  hoth  fur 
 the  doors  of  the  inner  house,  the  most  holy 
 place,  and  for  the  doors  of  the  house,  to  wit, 
 of  the  temple. 
 
 51  So  was  ended  all  the  work  that  king  Solo- 
 mon made  for  the  house  of  the  Lord.  And 
 Solomon  brought  in  the  f  things  '■  which  David 
 his  father  had  dedicated  ;  even  the  silver,  and 
 the  gold,  and  the  vessels,  did  he  put  among 
 the  treasures  of  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  Tlie  feast  of  tlie  dedkation  of  the  temple.  12,64 
 Solomon's  blessint^.  22  Solomon's  prayer.  62  His 
 sacrljice  of  peace  offeriiujs. 
 
 'T'HEN  "Solomon  assembled  the  elders  of 
 -*-  Israel,  and  all  the  heads  of  the  tribes,  the 
 f  chief  of  the  fathers  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
 unto  king  Solomon  in  Jerusalem,  '■  that  they 
 might  bring  up  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the 
 Lord  '  out  of  the  city  of  David,  which  is  Zion. 
 
 27.  Ten  bases,  'seats,* 'stands,' or  'settles.' — Gill.  *  Pedestals' for  sup- 
 porting the  lavers. — Hew.  28.  Borders,  and  the  borders  were  between 
 tlie  ledges,  'frame  bands,'  and  the  frame  bands  were  between  the  .sup. 
 porters.' — Boot/ir.  38.  Ten  lavers,  for  the  priest  to  wash  the  burnt- 
 oflferings  in,  (2  Chron.  iv.  6.)  39.  Eastward  over  agautst  the  suutli — 
 at  the  south-east  corner. —  Wit.  40.  The  lavers — not  the  ten  before 
 mentioned  ;  but  these,  according  to  Jarchi,  are  tlie  same  with  the  pots, 
 (ver.  45,)  and  so  they  are  called  in  2  Chron.  iv.  11,  the  use  of  which 
 was  to  put  the  ashes  of  the  altar  into.    Shovels,  a  sort  of  besoms,  to 
 
 sweep  the  ashes  off.  Basons,  to  receive  the  blood  of  the  sacrifices, 
 and  sprinkle  it.— Gill.  45.  JJWffA^  Ar«ss, 'polished  brass.' — Bootlir. 
 48.  Tfie  altar  of  gold,  '  the  altar  of  incense,'  which  was  made  of  cedar, 
 covered  with  gold,  {cliap.  vi.  20,)  hence  called  the  golden  altar,  (Rev. 
 viii.  3.)— Gill.  The  table  of  gold,  there  were  ten,  (2  Chron.  iv.  8.)  but 
 this  was  the  principal.— Pii(.  49.  The  tongs,  to  take  the  wicks  out 
 of  the  oil  and  put  it  inti  Ihe  lamps.  50.  Bowls,  to  keep  the  oil  in. 
 Spoons,  to  hold  the  incense.  Censers,  on  which  the  incense  was  burnt. 
 —Gilt. 
 
 RErLECTloNs    ON    Chap.    VII I.    The  splendour   of  the  II.   The  purif  cations  required  in  tlie  temple  may  KmmA  ns  o( 
 
 tcmpk  may  instruct  us  that  whatever  we  do  for  God  should  the  necessity  of  buing  washed  in  the  laver  of  regeneration, 
 
 not  be  parsimoniously  done  ;  and  it  may  also  remind  us  of  the  and  purified  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  before  we  can  be  tit  to 
 
 glory  of  that  temple  where  all  the  redeemed  church  of  God,  enter  iuto  that  temple  where  there  is  no  sin.     Tliougli  the 
 
 cleansed  from  all  their  detilements,  shall  unite  in  worshipping  worshippers  of  God  are  here  mi.\ed  together,  there,  '  without 
 
 and  praising  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  the  Lamb,  hoUness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord.' 
 for  ever. 
 
 370 
 
The  dedication  of  the  temple. 
 
 I.  KINGS.  VIII. 
 
 Solomon's  prayer. 
 
 '2  And  all  the  men  of  Israel  assembled  them- 
 selves unto  king  Solomon  at  the  '  feast  in  the 
 month  Ethanim,  which  is  the  seventh  month. 
 
 ;}  And  all  the  elders  of  Israel  came,  °  and  the 
 priests  took  up  the  ark. 
 
 4  And  they  brought  up  the  ark  of  the  Lord, 
 '  and  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and 
 all  the  holy  vessels  that  icere  in  the  tabernacle, 
 even  those  did  the  priests  and  the  Levites 
 bring  up. 
 
 5  And  king  Solomon,  and  all  the  congrega- 
 tion of  Israel,  that  were  assembled  unto  him. 
 vere  with  him  before  tlie  ark,^  sacrificing  sheep 
 and  oxen,  that  could  not  be  told  nor  numbered 
 for  mnltitude. 
 
 G  And  the  priests  ''brought  in  the  ark  of  the 
 covenant  of  the  Lord  unto  'his  place,  into  the 
 oracle  of  the  house,  to  the  most  holy  place, 
 even  '  under  the  wings  of  the  cherubims. 
 
 7  For  the  cherubims  spread  fortli  iheir  two 
 wings  over  the  place  of  the  ark,  and  the  cheru- 
 bims covered  the  ark  and  the  staves  thereof 
 above. 
 
 8  And  they  '  drew  out  the  staves,  that  the 
 t  ends  of  the  staves  were  seen  out  in  the  ||  holy 
 pinre  before  the  oracle,  and  they  were  not  seen 
 without :  and  there  they  are  unto  tliis  day. 
 
 9  "'  There  teas  nothing  in  the  ark  "save  the 
 two  tables  of  stone,  which  Moses  "put  there  at 
 Horeb,  ||''when  the  Lord  made  a  covenant 
 with  the  children  of  Israel,  when  they  came 
 out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 10  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  priests  were 
 come  out  of  the  holy  place,  that  the  cloud 
 ''  filled  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 
 1 1  So  that  the  priests  could  not  stand  to 
 minister  because  of  the  cloud .-  for  the  glory  of 
 the  Lord  had  filled  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 I'i  1 '  Then  spake  Solomon,  The  Lord  said 
 that  he  would  dwell  '  in  the  thick  darkness. 
 
 13  '  I  have  surely  built  thee  an  house  to 
 dwell  in,  "a  settled  place  for  thee  to  abide  in 
 for  ever. 
 
 14  And  the  king  turned  his  face  about,  and 
 '  blessed  all  the  congregation  of  Israel  :  (and 
 all  the  congregation  of  Israel  stood  ;) 
 
 15  And  he  said, '' Blessed  be  the  Lord  God 
 of  Israel,  which  'spake  with  his  month  unto 
 David  my  father,  and  hath  with  his  hand  ful- 
 filled il,  saying, 
 
 16  '■'Since  the  day  that  I  brought  forth  my 
 people  Israel  out  of  Egypt,  I  chose  no  city  out 
 of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  to  build  an  house, 
 that  ''my  name  might  be  therein  ;  but  I  chose 
 '  David  to  be  over  my  people  Israel. 
 
 17  And  'it  was  in  the  heart  of  David  my 
 father  to  build  an  house  for  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel. 
 
 !8  "And  the  Lord  said  unto  David  my  father. 
 Whereas  it  was  in  thine  heart  to  build  an  house 
 imto  my  name,  thou  didst  well  that  it  was  in 
 thine  heart. 
 
 19  Nevertheless  'thou  .shalt  not  build  the 
 house;  but  thy  son  that  .shall  come  forth  out 
 
 B   C.  1005. 
 
 d  Lev  2.S  3.1 
 
 2  Chr.  7.  S, 
 
 lOiH. 
 
 e  Nutii .  4  1 5 
 Detu.  31.  y 
 Josh.  3. 3,6- 
 IChr.li.ri, 
 15. 
 /ch.  3.  «. 
 1  Chr.  I.  3. 
 
 S\.  ch.  6.19. 
 *  ell.  Ij.  27. 
 
 tHeb.  Iipaiii 
 llOr,  nrtc  ;  a.*! 
 2  Chr.  5. 
 
 .Ex.  SS.-.'l. 
 Deut  10.  3 
 Pent.  10,5. 
 Heb.  9.  4 
 Kx.  10  20 
 II  Or,  irh^re 
 p  Kk  34.  27, 
 28-  Pent.  4. 
 
 13. 
 
 .  21 
 
 I,c 
 
 .  16.2 
 
 P»,  18.  11 
 
 (2Sam.7.13. 
 ..  Ps.  132.14. 
 
 1  2  Sam.7.6. 
 
 2  Chr.  6.  5, 
 
 6  ver.  29. 
 
 Peut. 12.11 
 c  I  Sam.  16. 
 
 1.2Sam.7.S. 
 
 I  Chr.  28.  4 
 <t  2  Sam.  7.2. 
 
 1  chr.  17.1. 
 
 e  2Cl.r.6.3,9. 
 
 /  2  Sam.  7. 
 12,  13. 
 5.  3,  5. 
 
 }  I  CUr 
 "    0. 
 
 ft  ver,  9. 
 Dent  31.26, 
 
 12,  &c. 
 
 *  Ei.  9.  33. 
 
 Ezra  9   5. 
 
 Is.  1.  l.^,. 
 /  2  Mai:,  2.8, 
 m  Ex.  13,  II, 
 
 2  Sain.7.22, 
 
 n  Deut.  7-9- 
 
 Neh.  1.  5. 
 
 Dan.  9.  4. 
 oGen.  17.  1. 
 
 ch   3.  6. 
 
 SKiu.  20.3. 
 
 tight. 
 \  Heb. 
 
 ■Jn 
 
 q  2  Sam.  7. 
 
 25. 
 .■2  Chr- 2.  6. 
 
 Is.  66.  1. 
 
 .Ter.  23.  24, 
 
 Acts  7.  49. 
 
 &  17.  24. 
 1  2  Cor    12.2. 
 
 p.  Pan.  6.  10. 
 II  Or,  in  thtt 
 
 plaCf. 
 X  2  Chr.20.9- 
 
 Keh.  1.  6. 
 
 II  Or,  f 
 
 t  Heb.  widh' 
 
 Lev 
 
 5.  1. 
 
 ../  E.\.  22.  II. 
 ;  Don.  25.  1. 
 
 of  thy  loins,  he  shall  build  the  house  unto  my 
 
 name. 
 
 20  And  the  Lord  hath  performed  his  word 
 that  he  spake,  and  I  am  risen  up  in  the  room 
 of  David  my  father,  and  sit  on  the  throne  of 
 Israel,  *  as  the  Lord  promised,  and  have  built 
 an  house  for  the  name  of  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel. 
 
 •21  And  I  have  set  there  a  place  for  the  ark, 
 wherein  is  ^  the  covenant  of  the  Lord,  which 
 he  made  with  our  fathers,  when  he  brought 
 them  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 'a  K  And  Solomon  stood  before  '  the  altar  of 
 the  Lord  in  the  presence  of  all  the  congre- 
 gation of  Israel,  and  '■  spread  forth  his  hands  to- 
 ward heaven  : 
 
 23  And  he  said,  '  Lord  God  of  Israel, ""  there 
 is  no  God  like  thee,  in  heaven  above,  or  on 
 earth  beneath,  "  who  keepest  covenant  and 
 mercy  with  thy  servants  that  °  walk  before 
 thee  with  all  their  heart : 
 
 24  Who  hast  kept  with  thy  servant  David 
 my  father  that  thou  promisedst  him :  thou 
 spakest  also  with  thy  mouth,  and  hast  fulfilled 
 it  with  thine  hand,  as  it  is  this  day. 
 
 25  Therefore  now.  Lord  God  of  Israel,  keep 
 with  thy  servant  David  my  father  that  thou 
 promisedst  him,  saying,  ''f  There  .shall  not  fail 
 thee  a  man  in  my  sight  to  sit  on  the  throne  of 
 Israel  ;  f  so  that  thy  children  take  heed  to 
 their  way,  that  they  walk  before  me  as  thou 
 hast  walked  before  me. 
 
 26  ''  And  now,  O  God  of  Israel,  let  thy  word, 
 I  pray  thee,  be  verified,  which  thou  spakest 
 unto  thy  servant  David  my  father. 
 
 27  But  '  will  God  indeed  dwell  on  the  earth  ? 
 behold,  the  heaven  and  '^  heaven  of  heavens 
 cannot  contain  thee  ;  how  much  less  this 
 house  that  I  have  builded  ? 
 
 28  Yet  have  thou  respect  unto  the  prayer  of 
 thy  servant,  and  to  his  supplication,  O  Lord 
 my  God,  to  hearken  unto  the  cry  and  to  the 
 prayer,  which  thy  servant  prayeth  before  thee 
 to  day  : 
 
 29  That  thine  eyes  may  be  open  toward  this 
 house  night  and  day,  even  toward  the  place  of 
 which  thou  hast  said, '  My  name  shall  be  there  : 
 that  thou  mayest  hearken  unto  the  prayer 
 which  thy  servant  shall  make  "  {{  toward  this 
 place. 
 
 30  *  And  hearken  thou  to  the  supplication  of 
 thy  servant,  and  of  thy  people  Israel,  when 
 they  shall  pray  ||  toward  this  place  :  and  hear 
 thou  in  heaven  thy  dwelling  place  :  and  when 
 thou  hearest,  forgive. 
 
 31  t  If  any  man  trespass  against  his  neigh- 
 hour,  f  and  'an  oath  be  laid  upon  him  to  cause 
 him  to  swear,  and  the  oath  come  before  thuie 
 altar  in  this  house  : 
 
 32  Then  hear  thou  in  heaven,  and  do,  and 
 judge  thy  servants,  '  condemning  the  wicked, 
 to  bring  his  way  upon  his  head ;  and  justifying 
 the  righteous,  to  give  him  accordhig  to  his 
 risihteousness. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.  — 4.  Tabernacle  of  Ihe  conpegalinn  —  rirohahly  that 
 made  by  Moses,  which  was  so  called,  and  was  now  laid  up  to  avoid  a 
 superstitious  use  of  it.  ami  obliee  the  worship  to  be  in  the  temple. 
 5.  Cfiuld  not  tie  tfld,  ttmt  is,  'avast  number.' — Pat.  Q.  There  ivas 
 notliifig  in  the  ark  sane  the  tuo  tallies  of  stone— ibc  other  articles  must 
 have  been  placed  before  or  by  it.— So  ISnothr.  Compare  Exod.  xvi.  33, 
 34  ;  Num.  xvii.  10  ;  and  Heb.  i.\.  J.  There  were  no  otiier  writings  in 
 the  ark.— Gi7/.  It  seems  to  imply  that  lUe  sacred  relics  had  been  pur- 
 371 
 
 loined,  perhaps  at  Beth-shemesh,  and  if  so,  this  may  account  for  the 
 jutlirments  there.— Wit.  10.  The  cloud,  the  usual  token  of  God's  pre- 
 seme,  (see  Exod.  xvi.  10;  xxiy.  15,  l6  ;  Num.  ix.  15.)— Pmife. 
 27.  Wilt  Gorf— he  uses  no  epithet  where  men  of  inferior  discernment 
 wnnld  have  been  fondof  multiplying  them. — Fawkes.  The  hearen  and 
 hea'-en  of  heavens— 0^'OXOT^  'D'i'l  CDlTn,  'the  heavens  and  the  heavens 
 ofluavens.'  .4.  Clarke  considers  this  as  finely  expressint?  a  phiralitf 
 ol  worlds,  in  the  creation  of  which  the  infinite  God  luay  be  perpetually 
 
Solonio7i's  piai/cr. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  VIII. 
 
 ftitri  o,.essmf/. 
 
 33  t  ■  When  thy  people  Israel   be   smitten 
 
 down  before  the  enemy,  because  they  have 
 sinned  against  thee,  and  ''  shall  turn  again  to 
 thee,  and  confess  thy  name,  and  pray,  and 
 make  supplication  unto  thee  ||  in  tliis  house  : 
 
 34  Tlien  hear  thou  iii  heaven,  and  forgive  the 
 sin  of  thy  people  Israel,  and  bring  them  again 
 unto  tlie  land  whicli  thou  gavest  unto  tlieir 
 fathers. 
 
 35  IF  'When  heaven  is  shut  up,  and  there  is 
 no  rain,  because  they  have  sinned  against  thee  ; 
 if  they  pray  toward  this  place,  and  confess  thy 
 name,  and  turn  from  tlieir  sin,  when  thou 
 afHictest  them  : 
 
 36  Then  hear  thou  in  heaven,  and  forgive  the 
 sin  of  thy  servants,  and  of  thy  people  Israel, 
 tliat  thou  ■'  teach  tliein  "  the  good  way  wherein 
 tliey  should  walk,  and  give  rain  upon  tliy  land, 
 wliich  tliou  hast  given  to  thy  people  for  an  in- 
 heritance. 
 
 37  t '  If  tncre  be  in  the  land  famine,  if  there 
 be  pestilence,  blasting,  mildew,  locust,  or  if 
 there  be  caterpiller ;  if  tlieir  enemy  besiege 
 them  in  the  land  of  their  ||  cities  ;  whatsoever 
 plague,  whatsoever  sickness  there  be  ; 
 
 38  What  prayer  and  supplications  soever  be 
 made  by  any  man,  or  by  all  thy  people  Israel, 
 which  shall  know  every  man  the  plague  of  his 
 own  heart,  and  spread  forth  his  hands  toward 
 this  house  : 
 
 39  Then  hear  thou  in  heaven  thy  dwelling 
 place,  and  forgive,  and  do,  and  give  to  every 
 man  according  to  his  ways,  whose  heart  tliou 
 knowest  ;  (for  thou,  even  thou  only,  ^  knowest 
 the  hearts  of  all  the  children  of  men  ;) 
 
 40  ''  Tliat  they  may  fear  thee  all  the  days 
 that  they  live  in  the  land  which  thou  gavest 
 unto  our  fathers. 
 
 41  Moreover  concerning  a  stranger,  that  is 
 not  of  thy  people  Israel,  but  Cometh  out  of  a 
 far  country  for  tliy  name's  sake  ; 
 
 42  (For  they  shall  hear  of  thy  great  name 
 and  of  thy  '  strong  band,  and  of  thy  stretched 
 cut  arm  ;)  when  he  shall  come  and  pray  to- 
 ward this  house  ; 
 
 43  Hear  thou  in  heaven  thy  dwelling  place 
 and  do  according  to  .ill  that  the  stranger  call- 
 cth  to  thee  for :  ''  that  all  iieoi)le  of  tlie  earth 
 may  know  thy  name,  to  '  fear  thee,  as  do  thy 
 jieople  Israel ;  and  tliat  they  may  know  that 
 ftliis  house,  which  I  have  builded,  is  called  by 
 thy  name. 
 
 44  t  If  thy  people  go  out  to  battle  against 
 their  enemy,  whithersoever  thou  shalt  send 
 them,  and  shall  pray  unto  the  Lord  f  toward 
 the  city  which  thou  hast  chosen,  and  toward 
 the  house  that  I  have  built  for  thy  name  : 
 
 45  Then  hear  thou  in  heaven  their  prayer 
 and  their  supplication,  and  maintain  their 
 II  cause. 
 
 46  If  they  sin  against  thee,  ('"  for  there  is  no 
 man  that  siunetli  not,)  and  thou  be  angry  with 
 them,  and  deliver  them  to  the  enemy,  so  that 
 they  carry  them  away  captives  "  unto  the  land 
 of  the  enemy,  far  or  near  ; 
 
 47  °  Yet  if  they  shall  f  bethink  themselves  in 
 the  land  whither  they  were  carried  captives, 
 and  repent,  and  make  supplication  unto  thee 
 
 d  I's  05.  4. 
 «:Vr.  II.  Hi 
 »t.  1::.  & 
 IW.  8. 
 I  Sam    \i. 
 23. 
 
 /I.CV.  eC.  10. 
 2.1.  2li.  DfU. 
 in.  2l.-.i9,ii7, 
 as,  4*  iri. 
 2  Clir.  2a9. 
 1  (l,-,j.„. 
 
 B.  C   UMM. 
 
 ,  Le\-.  Sfi.l7. 
 
 [liMi,  Ss.sr.. 
 [.  Lev.  26.3!», 
 
 40.  Neb. 1.9. 
 
 I  Or,  tuward 
 
 /)  I  Snm.  10. 
 
 7.  1  Clir.ffl. 
 
 9.  Ffl.  14  4 
 
 Jer.  17.  111. 
 
 A<-tsl.24. 
 A  Pb.  lau.  4 
 
 A  1  S.im.  17. 
 40   2  Kin, 
 19.  19.  PH. 
 67.  2. 
 
 /  P«.  lir>  a 
 t  Heb.  il,ii 
 
 I  Hcb-  rt" 
 mil  „J  ll,» 
 C'<y. 
 
 m  2  Chr. 
 
 fi 
 
 3G.  Pr... 
 
 yil, 
 
 9.  Eccles  7 
 
 '20.  Jam 
 
 :i 
 
 2.   1  Jol. 
 
 1  1. 
 
 8,  10. 
 
 « r,cv.  2r 
 
 ^i, 
 
 ■II.  Deu 
 
 ys, 
 
 Se,  64. 
 
 .  Lev.  2fl 
 
 1(1. 
 
 t  Heb.  0 
 
 '"P 
 
 ifir 
 
 buck  Im 
 
 lienrt. 
 
 L>.ui.  9  5. 
 q  Jnr  29.  12, 
 13,  1*. 
 
 I  Den.  9.  29 
 Nob.  1.  10. 
 
 Ti   1 .  90. 
 11.4, 
 
 :  Peu.  12.10. 
 .Io8h.2l.1i, 
 fc  2.S.  14 
 t  Hol<./"««i 
 
 ,  Den   91    0 
 J. .9b.  I,  5. 
 
 c  .losh.  1.21, 
 I  Sa-  17,  40 
 SKiii  19  19 
 
 d  Deu.  4,  a'i, 
 
 /■SClir.  7. 
 ■1,  &c. 
 
 in  the  land  of  them  that  carried  them  captives, 
 ''saying.  We  have  sinned,  and  have  done  per- 
 versely, we  have  coiiiuiittcd  wickedness  ; 
 
 48  And  so  ''  return  unto  thee  with  all  their 
 heart,  and  with  all  their  soul,  in  the  land  of 
 their  enemies,  which  led  them  away  captive, 
 and  'pray  unto  thee  toward  their  land,  which 
 thou  gavest  unto  their  fathers,  the  city  which 
 thou  hast  chosen,  and  the  house  which  I  liave 
 built  for  thy  name  : 
 
 49  Then  hear  thou  their  prayer  and  their 
 supplication  in  heaven  thy  dwelling  place,  and 
 maintain  their  ||  cause, 
 
 50  And  forgive  thy  people  that  have  sinned 
 against  thee,  and  all  their  transgressions  where- 
 in they  have  transgressed  against  thee,  and 
 'give  them  compassion  before  them  who  car- 
 ried them  captive,  that  they  may  have  com- 
 passion on  them  : 
 
 51  For  '  they  be  thy  people,  and  thine  inhe- 
 ritance, which  thon  broughtest  forth  out  of 
 Egypt,  "  from  the  midst  of  the  furnace  of  iron  : 
 
 52  That  thine  eyes  may  be  open  unto  the 
 supplication  of  thy  servant,  and  unto  the  sup- 
 plication of  thy  people  Israel,  to  hearken  unto 
 them  in  all  that  they  call  for  unto  thee. 
 
 53  For  thou  didst  separate  them  from  among 
 all  tlie  people  of  the  earth,  to  be  thine  inherit- 
 ance, "  as  thou  spakest  by  the  hand  of  Moses 
 thy  servant,  when  thou  broughtest  our  fathers 
 out  of  Egypt,  ()  Lord  God. 
 
 54  And  it  was  so,  that  when  Solomon  had 
 made  an  end  of  praying  all  this  prayer  and 
 supplication  unto  the  Loud,  he  arose  from 
 before  the  altar  of  the  Loud,  from  kneeling  on 
 his  knees  with  his  hands  spread  up  to  heaven. 
 
 55  And  he  stood,  ^and  blessed  all  the  congre- 
 gation of  Israel  with  a  loud  voice,  saying, 
 
 56  Blessed  he  the  Lord,  that  hath  given  rest 
 unto  his  people  Israel,  according  to  all  that  he 
 promised :  ^  tliere  hath  not  f  failed  one  word 
 of  all  his  good  promise,  wliicli  he  promised  by 
 the  band  of  Moses  his  servant. 
 
 57  The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us,  as  he  was 
 with  our  fathers :  °  let  him  not  leave  u.s,  nor 
 forsake  us: 
 
 58  That  he  may  ''incline  our  hearts  unto 
 him,  to  walk  in  all  his  ways,  and  to  keep  his 
 commandments,  and  his  statutes,  and  his  judg- 
 ments, which  he  commanded  our  fathers. 
 
 59  And  let  these  my  words,  wherewith  I  have 
 made  supplication  before  the  Lord,  be  nigh 
 unto  the  Loud  our  God  day  and  night,  that 
 he  maintain  the  cause  of  his  servant,  and  the 
 cause  of  his  people  Israel  f  at  all  times,  as  the 
 matter  shall  require  : 
 
 60  '  That  all  the  people  of  the  earth  may 
 know  that  ''the  Lord  is  Goi,  and  that  there  is 
 none  else. 
 
 61  Let  your  "heart  therefore  be  perfect  with 
 the  Loud  our  God,  to  walk  in  his  statutes, 
 and  to  keep  his  commandments,  as  at  this  day. 
 
 62  1  And  '  the  king,  and  all  Israel  with  him, 
 offered  sacrifice  before  the  Lord. 
 
 63  And  Solomon  offered  a  sacrifice  of  peace 
 offerings,  which  he  offered  unto  the  Loud,  two 
 and  twenty  thousand  oxen,  and  an  hundred 
 and  twenty  thousand  sheep.     So  the  king  and 
 
 eng;ig:ed.         44.   Wliitho-^oct-cr  thou  slmlt  send  them — the   Israelites  I  mice  of  iron — sec  note  on  Deut.  iv.  20.        i3.  Two  and  twenti/  thousand 
 were  not  to  make  war  without  a  conimission  from  Go^t.—/'u^    5 1 .  Fw- |  w.cc/i,   wliich  might  be   the   number    for  the    fourteen    days.— OiV/. 
 372 
 
God's  cuvcnuut  with  Solomon. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  IX. 
 
 Hiram  receivcth  twenty  cities. 
 
 all  the  children  of  Israel  dedicated  the  house 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 fi4  *  The  same  day  did  the  king  hallow  the 
 middle  of  the  court  that  ivas  before  tlie  house 
 of  the  LoKD  for  there  he  oftbred  burnt  oft'er- 
 iugs,  and  meat  offerings,  and  tlie  fat  of  the 
 peace  offerings:  because  ''tlie  brasen  altar  that 
 was  before  the  Lord  iras  too  little  to  receive 
 the  burnt  offerings,  and  meat  offerings,  and  the 
 fat  of  the  peace  offerings. 
 
 65  And  at  that  time  Solomon  held  '  a  feast, 
 and  all  Israel  with  him,  a  great  congregation, 
 from  ''  llie  entcrijig  in  of  Ilamath  unto  '  tlie 
 river  of  Kgypt,  before  the  Lord  our  God, 
 "'seven  days  and  seven  days,  even  fourteen 
 days. 
 
 66  "  On  the  eighth  day  he  sent  the  people 
 away  :  and  they  ||  blessed  tlie  king,  and  went 
 unto  their  tents  joyful  and  glad  of  heart  for  all 
 the  goodness  that  the  Lord  had  done  for  David 
 his  servant,  and  for  Israel  his  people. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  God's  covenant  in  a  vision  with  Sotomon.  10  The 
 mutual  presents  of  Sotojnon  and  Hiram.  15  Ift  So- 
 lomon's ivorks  the  Gentiles  were  his  bondmen,  the 
 Israelites  honourable  servants.  24  Pharaoh's 
 fltiuffhter  rejnoveth  to  her  house.  25  Solomon's  i/carly 
 solemn  saerijices.  26  His  navi/  fetcheth  qold  from 
 Ophir. 
 
 \  ND  "it  came  to  pass,  when  Solomon  had 
 -'^  finislied  the  building  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  ''  and  the  king's  house,  and  ^  all  Solo- 
 mon's desire  which  he  was  pleased  to  do, 
 
 •2  That  the  Lord  appeared  to  Solomon  the 
 second  time,  •'  as  he  had  appeared  unto  him  at 
 Gibeon. 
 
 3  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  °  I  have  heard 
 thy  prayer  and  thy  supplication,  tliat  tliou  hast 
 made  before  me  :  I  have  hallowed  this  house, 
 which  thou  hast  built,  '  to  put  my  name  tliere 
 for  ever  ;  "  and  mine  eyes  and  mine  heart  shall 
 be  there  perpetually. 
 
 4  And  if  thou  wilt  ''  walk  before  me,  '  as  Da- 
 vid thy  father  walked,  in  integrity  of  heart,  and 
 in  upriglitness,  to  do  according  to  all  tliat  I 
 
 B.  C.  1001. 
 ■!  2  Chr.  7.  7. 
 
 Lev.  •23.3i. 
 
 tNum.  34.S. 
 Jo.li.  1.1.  fi. 
 .liiilB.  3.  H 
 2  Kill  MM, 
 Gpii.  IS   IS. 
 Num.  SI,  fi 
 nu'CI,r-/.8 
 I  •>  Clir.  7 
 a,  10. 
 I  Or,(/iuii/u?rf 
 
 rir   099. 
 o  :;  CI.I-.  7. 
 
 II,  ^c. 
 bch.  7.  I. 
 '.-  'ZCht.  8    C 
 
 /cli.  8.20. 
 ff  Deu.  11.1--'. 
 
 /.Gen.  17.  I 
 .  cli.  11  .i,i;, 
 
 as.  &  U.S. 
 
 &  15.  5. 
 
 k  2  Sam.  7. 
 
 12,10.  cli  9 
 
 4.  &  0.   12. 
 
 IChr22.IO. 
 
 Pa.  Vi->.  12, 
 f2Sain.7.l4 
 
 2  Clir,  7,10, 
 
 20.  Ps,  89, 
 
 30,  &c. 
 
 "1  DfU  4,  20, 
 2  Kill.  17. 
 23.  &2r..  21 
 
 II  .ler,  7.  11. 
 
 oDeii.  L.fl^7. 
 Ps.  41.  14. 
 
 ij  Ddii.  29, 
 24,  2J,  20, 
 Jer,  22,  8,  9 
 
 •  cli,  0.  37, 
 38.  Ik  7  1. 
 2  Clir.  S.  I. 
 
 „»l  ,i,,f,,  i„ 
 /Jrali,  18,27, 
 II  Tliat  is, 
 
 or,  iJmIj,. 
 
 have  commanded  thee,  and  wilt  keep  my  sta- 
 tutes and  my  judgments : 
 
 5  Then  1  will  establish  the  throne  of  thy 
 kingdom  upon  Israel  for  ever, ''  as  I  promised  to 
 David  thy  father,  saying.  There  shall  not  fail 
 thee  a  man  upon  the  throne  of  Israel. 
 
 6  '  But  if  ye  shall  at  all  turn  from  following 
 me,  ye  or  your  children,  and  will  not  keep  my 
 commandments  and  my  statutes  which  I  have 
 set  before  you,  but  go  and  serve  other  gods, 
 and  worship  them  : 
 
 7  '"  Then  will  I  cut  off  Israel  out  of  the  land 
 which  I  have  given  them  ;  and  this  house, 
 which  I  iiave  hallowed  "  for  my  name,  will  I 
 cast  out  of  my  sight ;  "  and  Israel  shall  be  a 
 proverl)  and  a  byword  among  all  people  : 
 
 8  And  ''at  this  house,  w/zfr-A  is  high,  every 
 one  that  passeth  by  it  shall  be  astonished,  and 
 shall  hiss  ;  and  they  shall  say,  ''  Wliy  hath  the 
 Lord  done  thus  unto  this  land,  and  to  this 
 house ':' 
 
 9  And  they  shall  answer.  Because  they  for- 
 sook the  Lord  their  God,  who  brought  forth 
 their  fathers  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  have 
 taken  hold  upon  other  gods,  and  liave  wor- 
 sliipped  them,  and  served  them  :  therefore  hath 
 the  Loud  brouglit  upon  them  all  this  evil. 
 
 10  H  And  'it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of 
 twenty  years,  when  Solomon  had  built  the  two 
 houses,  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  the  king's 
 house, 
 
 1 1  '  (Now  Hiram  the  king  of  Tyre  had  fur- 
 nished Solomon  vvitli  cedar  trees  and  fir  trees, 
 and  with  gold,  according  to  all  his  desire,)  that 
 then  king  Solomon  gave  Hiram  twenty  cities 
 in  the  land  of  Galilee. 
 
 12  And  Hiram  came  out  from  Tyre  to  see 
 the  cities  which  Solomon  had  given  him;  and 
 they  f  pleased  him  not. 
 
 i.'S  And  he  said,  Wliat  cities  are  these  which 
 thou  hast  given  me,  my  brother  ?  ■  And  he 
 called  them  the  land  of  ||  Cabul  unto  this  day. 
 
 14  And  Hiram  sent  to  the  king  sixscore 
 talents  of  gold. 
 
 15  K  And  this  is  the  reason    of  "  the   levy 
 
 66.  They  blessed  the  king — among  the  Hinduns,  this  word  is  merely 
 confined  to  tlie  idea  of  shewing:  ^ood  will, — so  Huh,,  and  the  sense  here 
 is  to  return  thanks  and  wish  health  and  happiness. — Gill. 
 
 CfiAp.  IX.  —  1 .  When  Solomon  hadjinitilied, '  thus  Solomon  finished.' 
 according  to  2  Chron.  vii.  1 1.  2.  That  the  Lord  appeared — this  verse 
 to  the  gih  should  be  in  a  parenthesis,  and  the  clause,  '  For  the  Lord 
 had  appeared.*  —  .tun.,  Treyn.  'Moreover  the  Lord  appeared.' — Pise. 
 Had  the  apjiearance  been  as  here  rendered,  it  had  been  six  years  after, 
 for  tlie  temple  was  finished  in  seven  years,  (cliaj).  vi.3S,)  and  the  king's 
 house  in  thirteen.  But  this  delay  was  not  probable;  most  likely  this 
 revelation  was  the  night  after  the  dedication  of  the  temple. — Gilt,  so 
 Scott.  Perhaps,  as  God  then  appeared,  this  revelation  was  not  then 
 necessary ;  it  most  probably  occurred  when  Solomon's  heart  began 
 to  be  lifted  up,  and  when  he  most  needed  such  an  awakening  oracle. 
 But  God's  words  here  contain  an  answer  to  the  prayer  in  the  tem- 
 ple, and  it  seems  improbable  it  should  come  so  many  years  after  it. — 
 Poole.  7-  Then  wilt  I  cut  off  Israel — these  denunciations  were  re- 
 markably fulfilled  during  the  Babylonish  captivity  ;  but  the  destruction 
 of  Jerusalem  by  the  Romans,  and  the  state  of  the  Jews  to  this  very  day. 
 
 are  the  most  e.\traordinary  accomplishment  of  them.  11.  Twenty 
 cities — they  seem  to  have  been  small  towns  in  the  vicinity  of  Tyre,  be. 
 yond  the  boundal  ics  of  the  land  as  divided  by  Joshua,  and  lately  taken 
 from  the  ancient  inhabitants. — Scott.  Had  they  been  in  Canaan,  Solo- 
 mim  eould  not  have  disjio-^ed  of  them,  being  allotted  and  belonging  to 
 one  of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and  part  of  the  Lord's  inheritance — Gilt. 
 13.  The  land  of  t^aliul,  '  a  sandy  \3ir\i\,' Talmud.  In  the  Phoenician  it 
 means  '  not  pleasing.' — Jos.  '  As  nothing.' — Hillerus  Onomastic  Sacr. 
 '  Border  land, 'i't7>^  'Clay  land.* — Hubbi  Solomoyt.  'The  land  given 
 for  a  debt,'  Arab.,  Mich.  Gill  prefers  '  as  nothing,'  the  land  being  use- 
 less to  Hiram  and  restored  to  Solomon,  (2  Chron.  viii.  2.)  Houbigant 
 and  Bootliroyd  prefer  the  last,  as  Hiram  had  advanced  gold  to  Solomon 
 to  the  amount  of  120  talents.  When  Solomon  received  back  what  he 
 had  given,  he  no  doubt  gave  Hiram  an  equivalent.  We  are  not  to  sup- 
 pose this  was  a  mean  present ;  the  country  and  cities  were  truly  valu- 
 able, but  the  Tyrians  were  merchants,  and  were  rich  by  navigation,  but 
 knew  not  how  to  value  a  country  that  was  fit  for  corn  and  pasture. — 
 Henry.  14.  Sent,  'had  sent.' — Gitl.  15.  The  lei-ij,  of  bond  ser- 
 vice.— Boothr.    Milto,  a  strong  castle  or  fortress  on  the  highest  part  of 
 
 Reflictions  on  Chap.  VIII.  —Here  is  exhibited  a  beau- 
 tiful model  of  prayer  :— I.  It  must  he  encouraged  bi/  the  promises 
 of  God:  ""d  those  promises  are  '  made  to  us  in  his  Son,  and 
 are  yea  and  amen  in  Christ  Jesus.' 
 
 II.  /(  must  he  icilh  profound  reverence.  Did  we  always  think 
 of  the  overwhelming  majesty  of  God,  we  should  never  ap- 
 proach him  but  with  solemn  awe.  Though  he  encourages  us 
 as  children  to  draw  near  bim  by  tlie  endeared  name  of  Father, 
 we  should  ever  remember  that  be  is  God,  and  '  God  is  greatly 
 to  be  feared  in  the  assembly  of  the  saints,  and  to  be  bad  in 
 reverence  of  all  them  that  are  about  him.' 
 
 III.  A'l)  prni/cr  u-ill  be  heard  if  the  heart  remain  impniitcnt. 
 It  is  but  moclung  God  to  ask  for  blessings  from  him  while  we 
 
 373 
 
 are  clinging  to  our  sins.     *  If  I  regard  iniquity  in  my  heart, 
 the  Lord  will  not  bear  me.' 
 
 IV.  In  prayer  we  should  have  a  constant  eye  to  the  Divine  prO' 
 tection.  In  how  many  ways,  temporal  and  spiritual,  are  we  ex- 
 posed to  dangers!  Our  utmost  vigilance  could  never  guard 
 against  them  ;  but  the  Keeper  of  Israel  neither  slumberetb 
 nor  sleepeth.' 
 
 V.  In  all  our  prayers  we  should  mine/le  supplications  for  pardon. 
 We  can  never  approach  God  but  as  sinful  creatures,  and 
 therefore  we  have  need  of  approaching  bim  through  a  Medi- 
 ator ;  and,  '  if  any  man  sin,  tiiere  is  an  Advocate  with  the 
 Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  Righteous,  and  he  is  the  propitia- 
 tion for  our  sins.' 
 
The  cities  built  by  Solomon. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  X. 
 
 Tile  queen  of  Shebiia  viiit. 
 
 which  king  Solomon  raised  ;  for  to  build  the 
 house  of  tlie  Lord,  and  his  own  house,  and 
 "  Millo,  and  the  wall  of  Jerusalem,  and  '  Hazor, 
 and  "  Megiddo,  and  "  Gezer. 
 
 16  For  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt  had  gone  up, 
 and  taken  Gezer,  and  burnt  it  with  fire,  ""and 
 slain  the  Canaauites  that  dwelt  in  the  city,  and 
 f^iven  it  for  a  present  unto  his  daughter,  Solo- 
 mon's wife. 
 
 1 7  And  Solomon  built  Gezer,  and "  Beth-horon 
 the  nether, 
 
 18  And  ''  Baalath,and  Tadmor  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, in  the  land, 
 
 19  And  all  the  cities  of  store  that  Solomon 
 had,  and  cities  for  ^' his  chariots,  and  cities  for 
 his  horsemen,  and  t  that  which  Solomon  'de- 
 sired to  build  in  Jerusalem,  and  in  Lebanon, 
 and  in  all  the  laud  of  his  dominion. 
 
 ■20  ^  And  all  the  people  that  were  left  of  the 
 Amorites,  Hittites,  Perizzites,  Hivites,  and  Je- 
 busites,  which  were  not  of  the  children  of 
 Israel, 
 
 21  Tlicir  children  ''  that  were  left  after  them 
 in  the  laud,  '  whom  tlie  children  of  Israel  also 
 were  not  able  utterly  to  destroy,  '  upon  those 
 did  Solomon  levy  a  tribute  of  '  bondservice 
 n)ito  this  day. 
 
 •2-2  But  of  the  children  of  Israel  did  Solomon 
 "'  make  no  bouduieu  :  but  tliey  were  men  of 
 war,  and  his  servants,  and  his  princes,  and  his 
 captains,  and  rulers  of  his  chariots,  and  his 
 horsemen. 
 
 23  These  trerc  the  chief  of  the  officers  that 
 were  over  Solomon's  work,  "  five  hundred  and 
 fifty,  which  bare  rule  over  the  people  that 
 wrought  in  the  work. 
 
 24  1[  But  "  Pharaoh's  daughter  came  np  out 
 
 2  Sam.  5.  0. 
 J  Josh.  19.36. 
 ;  Jos1i.17.il, 
 1  Josb.le.lU, 
 
 Judg.  1.29 
 
 cir.  9e-9. 
 
 6  JosU.16.10. 
 
 cir.  1014. 
 cJosli.  16.  3. 
 &  ai.  S2. 
 2  Clir.  8.  5. 
 rf  Jrish.lO.li. 
 I  lir.  rt.  4, 
 
 fi,  &c. 
 
 /.  juHg.  i.ai, 
 
 27,99.  «£  3.  i . 
 
 J.isli.  15.G3. 
 
 St  17.  12. 
 A  Judif.  1.29. 
 /  Sec  Gen, 9, 
 
 S,5,  26.  Ezra 
 
 2.  55.  58 
 
 Ntli,  7,  57. 
 
 &  II.  3. 
 
 >i  Lov.2i.39. 
 
 cir   992. 
 
 ;.  oil.  7.  8. 
 
 o2  Sam.  6.9. 
 ch    11,27, 
 2  Che,  32.5. 
 
 r  2  Chr.  8. 
 12,  13,  16. 
 
 t  Heb.  iijMii 
 
 I  2  Olir.  8. 
 17,  18. 
 
 I  Nil.  33.  35 
 Pent  2  8, 
 cli.  22.  4S. 
 
 t  Hell.  /i>. 
 
 well,  10.  11 
 
 .r  J.ib23.  21 
 
 a  i  Cl.r.  9. 
 
 1.  fi<c. 
 
 M..it.  12  42 
 
 l.tikc  II  31. 
 h  Sec  Judg 
 
 M    12. 
 
 I'rov.  1.  C. 
 
 of  the  city  of  David  unto  ''  her  house  which 
 Solomon  had  built  for  licr  :  ''  then  did  lie  build 
 Millo. 
 
 25  IT '  And  three  times  in  a  year  did  Solomon 
 offer  burnt  offerings  and  peace  offerings  upon 
 the  altar  which  he  built  unto  the  Loud,  and 
 he  burnt  iuceuse  f  upon  the  altar  that  ivtis  be- 
 fore the  LoED.     So  he  finished  the  house. 
 
 26  f  And  '  king  Solomon  made  a  navy  of 
 ships  in  '  Ezion-geber,  which  is  beside  Eloth, 
 on  the  t  shore  of  the  Red  sea,  in  the  land  of 
 Edom. 
 
 27  "  And  Hiram  sent  in  the  navy  his  servants, 
 shipmen  that  had  knowledge  of  the  sea,  with 
 the  servants  of  Solomon. 
 
 28  And  they  came  to  ^  Ophir,  and  fetched 
 from  thence  gold,  four  hundred  and  t«venty 
 talents,  and  brought  it  to  king  Solomon. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  The  queen  of  Skeba  adminth  the  wisdom  of  Solomon, 
 14  Sohinon\«  gold.  16  Ilis  tari/ei.t.  18  The  thro/ic 
 of  ivory.  21  His  vessi-h.  24  His  presents.  2Q 
 His  chariots  and  horse.     23  His  tribute. 
 
 A  ND  wlien  tlie  "  queen  of  Sheba  beard  of  tbe 
 -^^  fame  of  Solomon  concerning  tbe  name  of 
 tbe  Loud,  sbe  came  ''  to  prove  bim  witb  bard 
 questions. 
 
 2  A?id  sbe  came  to  Jernsalem  witb  a  very 
 j^reat  train,  witb  camels  tbat  bare  spices,  and 
 very  mucb  gold,  and  precious  stones :  and 
 wben  sbe  was  come  to  Solomon,  sbe  com- 
 muned witb  bim  of  all  tliat  was  in  ber  beart. 
 
 3  And  Solomon  told  ber  all  ber  f  questions  : 
 tbcre  was  not  oij/  tbing  bid  from  tbe  king, 
 wbicb  be  told  ber  not. 
 
 4  And  wben  tbe  queen  of  Sheba  Iiad  seen  all 
 
 Zion.— S//(.  Hazor.jx  City  of  Naplitili,  oncearoyal  city  of  the  Canaan- 
 iics.  Megiddn,  in  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  (Josh.  xvii.  11.)  Oczer,  in 
 Ephraim,  formerly  a  royal  city  of  the  Canaanites,  (Josh.  x.  33 ;  xvi.  3.) 
 — Gill.  l6.  Takrn  Gezn;  for  though  grivcn  to  Ephiaim,  that  tribe 
 could  not  drive  out  the  Canaanites,  (see  Josh.  xvi.  10,  and  Jiulg'.  i.  29.) 
 17.  DitUt, '  rebuilt.' — Gill.  18.  Tndmorin  thenildeniess,  of  Syria,  near 
 Ihe  borders  of  Arabia  Dc.scrti. — Hew.  Solomon,  making  an  incursion 
 iiitotbc  wilderness,  jiosscsscd  himself  of  it,  and  bnilt  agreat  and  strong 
 city,  wliichhc  called Thadamnra ;  but  Alexander  changed  ii  to  Palmyra, 
 fnini  its  many  palm  trees.  It  was  a  day's  j mrney  from  the  Euphrates. 
 It  is  tliought  that  Solomon  built  it  to  faciljtale  commerce  witli  the  east. 
 It  was  important  as  the  bulwark  of  Judca  against  tbe  incursions  of  the 
 wandering  tribi's  of  the  Euphrates,  and  being  between  Mesnpotaniia 
 and  Syria,  it  was  an  excellent  place  of  interchange  for  the  commerce 
 of  the  Mediterranean  and  the  Indian  Ocean. — Finden*s  Landscape  Illus. 
 0/  the  Bible,  by  T.  H.  Hume.  In  the  land,  of  Hamatli-zobah,  a  part 
 ii  Syria,  (see  2  Chron.  viij,  3,  4.i — Pat.,  so  also  Boothr.  ig.  Cities  of 
 stoi'e,  in  which  were  magazines  of  corn,  arms,  and  ammunition.  Fur 
 his  chanots,  '  war  chariots,'  of  which  Solomon  had  uno.  For  hin 
 horsemen,  of  these  he  had  I2,nO()  standing  cavalry. — Gill.  21.  Of 
 bondservice — most  likely  the  remains  of  tbe  devoted  nations  liad  be- 
 come proselytes,  and  so  were  spared  on  terms  like  those  of  the  Gibeon- 
 ites. — Scott.  23.  Fine  hundred  and  fifty,  *  two  hundred  and  fifty'  in 
 2  Chron.  viii.  10.  Perhaps  2.'i0  worked  in  the  temple,  and  the  rest  at 
 the  public  works. — Aharbinel.  24.  Then  did  he  bitUd  Millo — hence  it 
 is  concluded  that  the  bouse  of  Pharaoh's  daughter  was  built  at  Millo. 
 —Gill.  26.  Made  a  nai'u — not  now,  but  in  the  beginning  of  his 
 reign  ;  as  appears,  because  the  atmug  trees  used  in  this  work  were 
 bruugbt  in  this  navy  from  Opbir,  (chap.  x.  11,  12  ;  2  Chron.  ix.  10,  11,) 
 and  it  was  a  tluee  years'  %'oyage  there,  (chap.  x.  22.) — Poole.  Of  ships, 
 ^3{^.  'a  ship  j'  hence  it  is  pmbable  that  Solomon  built  but  one  ship, 
 which  was  manned  willi  Tyrians;  Iliram  sent  him  the  rest,  nVDN, 
 '  ships,'  (2  Chron.  viii.  I8.)— So  Clarke.  Ezion-^eber,  a  city  of  Arabia 
 Dcserta,  on  a  gulf  of  the  Red  Sea,  called  the  (iiilf  of  Elam,  and  close 
 hy  Uic  city  of  Eloth. — Cal.     It  communicated  with  tbe  Indian  Ocean, 
 
 and  probably  traded  to  some  part  of  the  East  Indies. ^.S/:o/^  The  name 
 signifies  the  'backbone  of  a  man,'  and  it  is  said  the  ridge  of  rocks 
 before  this  port  were  in  that  form. — GUI.  28.  0;>At>— conjectures  are 
 numerous  respecting  this  country;  the  most  probable  is,  that  it  was 
 situated  somewhere  beyond  the  Ganges,  and  formed  a  part  of  the  coast 
 stretching  from  Pegu  to  the  southern  part  of  Malaya. — Hew.  It  was 
 probablj'  in  South  Africa,  at  Sofala,  opposite  to  Madagascar. — Heuet, 
 Bruce.  It  was  very  likely  in  Armenia,  at  the  head  of  the  Euphrates. — 
 Cal.     Most  critics  fix  it  in  or  about  India. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  I.  Sheba — the  following  are  the  jarring  opinions  re- 
 ppecting  this  place  : — It  was  the  ancient  name  of  the  city  Meroe,  before 
 Camhyses  gave  it  the  latter  name  — .Jos.  The  (lueen  and  her  descend- 
 ants are  to  be  traced  in  the  Abyssinian  history.— 7?i-ure.  The  claims 
 of  the  Abyssinians  seem  grounded  merely  on  the  claims  of  unfounded 
 tradition. ~57/^  Tlie  most  probable  opinion  is,  tbat  it  was  in  the 
 southern  part  of  Arabia  Felix,  situated  on  the  bordrrs  of  the  Red  Sea. 
 Hence  om:  Saviour  speaks  of  '  the  queen  of  tbe  south,'  and  says,  tliat 
 she  came  from  the  '  ends  of  the  earth,'  because  there  is  no  land  beyond 
 the  Saba:ans,  in  Arabia,  wh(jse  country  is  bounded  by  tbe  Indian 
 Ocean,  the  Persian  (iulf,  and  tlie  Red  Sea. — Hew.  But  what  if  the 
 Etliiopians,  that  is,  Abyssinians,  at  that  time  ruled  in  Arabia  also? 
 Then  she  might  come  from  Arabia,  yet  he  queen  of  Ethiopia,  wliicU 
 is  only  across  the  Red  Sea  ;  and  this  seems  to  have  been  the  fact. — 
 C.  Taylor.  But  Herodutiix  nowhere  says  that  any  sucli  woman  reigned 
 in  Ethiopia,  and  this  conclusion  is  professedly  from  hira  by  Josephus, 
 whom  others  have  followed. — Wells.  That  this  country  was  Arabia 
 Felix  is  tbe  opinion  of  Pat.,  Poole,  Henry,  Gill,  and  Boothr.  Couccm- 
 ing  the  name, '  and  of  the  name.' — Boothr.  With  hard  qiiestioyis,  aivty- 
 ^iici,  Sept.,  '  enigmas,'  *  riddles,'  (Judg.  xiv.  12  ;  Ps.  xlix.4  ;  lxxviii.2  ; 
 Prov.  i.  6  ;  Ezck.  xvii.  2.)  In  the  cast,  even  now,  natural  acuteness, 
 united  with  an  idle  life,  still  make  these  exercises  of  understanding  a 
 favourite  amusement.  These  riddles  of  foreign  jirinces  most  likely  con- 
 sisted in  questions  in  natural  history  or  philosophy. — Stollbert^'-i  Hist,  of 
 Rel'g.  The  Hindoo  women,  at  this  tune,  take  great  dehght  in  these 
 enigmas,  and  convey  instruction  by  them.— So  Bob.      2.  Bare  spices — 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  IX. — I.  We  can  cijnct  no  hltssing  Ut  it  be  our  chirf  cnnecrn  to  lay  up  fur  ourselves  treasures  in 
 from  God  but  as  we  lealk  in  the  paths  of  holi/ obedience.  We  may,  heaven.  Tbe  spiritu;il  merchant  trades  for  eternity.  '  Sulo- 
 indeed,  prosper  in  tbe  world,  but  it  will  be  without  God's    nion,'  says  Henry,  '  Rot  much  by  bis  merchandize,  and  yet  has 
 
 blessing  on  our  basket  and  store  ;  and,  whatever  prosp^-rity  wo 
 may  have  enjoyed,  a  fearful  end  will  at  length  await  us.  Let 
 us  learn,  from  the  unhappy  case  of  the  Jews,  to  '  cleave  to  the 
 Lord  with  full  purpose  of  heart.' 
 
 II.    iniih:  we  are  bvsihj  oecapiid  in  our  various  secular  rnatttrs, 
 374 
 
 directed  us  to  a  better  trade,  within  reach  of  the  poorest,  hav- 
 ing assured  us,  IVom  liis  own  experience  of  both,  that  the  mer- 
 chandize of  wisdom  is  better  than  the  merchaniHze  of  silver, 
 and  tbe  yaia  thereof  than  fine  gold,'  (Prov.  iii.  11. ) 
 
1. 
 
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 1 
 
She  admirelh  Solomon's  wisdom. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  X. 
 
 The  magnificence  of  Solomon. 
 
 Solomon's  wisdom,  and  tlie  house  tliat  he  had 
 built, 
 
 b  And  the  meat  of  liis  table,  and  the  sitting 
 of  his  servants,  and  tlie  f  attendance  of  his  mi- 
 nisters, and  their  apparel,  and  his  ||  cupbearers, 
 '  and  liis  ascent  by  wliich  lie  went  up  unto  the 
 house  of  the  Lord  ;  there  was  no  more  spirit 
 in  her. 
 
 6  And  she  said  to  the  king.  It  was  a  true 
 t  report  that  I  lieard  in  mine  own  land  of  thy 
 {{  acts  and  of  thy  wisdom. 
 
 7  Howbeit  I  believed  not  the  words,  until  I 
 came,  and  mine  eyes  had  seen  //  ;  and,  behold, 
 the  half  was  not  told  me  :  f  thy  wisdom  and 
 prosperity  exceedeth  tlio  fame  which  I  heard. 
 
 8  ''  Happy  ure  thy  men,  happy  arc  these  thy 
 servants,  which  stand  continually  before  thee, 
 and  that  hear  tliy  wisdom. 
 
 9  "  Blessed  be  the  Lonn  thy  God,  which  de- 
 lighted in  thee,  to  set  thee  on  tlio  throne  of 
 Israel :  because  the  Loiin  loved  Israel  forever, 
 therefore  made  he  thee  king,  'to  do  judgment 
 and  justice. 
 
 10  And  she  ^gave  tlie  king  an  hundred  and 
 twenty  talents  of  gold,  and  of  spices  very  great 
 store,  and  precious  stones :  there  came  no 
 more  such  abundance  of  spices  as  these  which 
 the  queen  of  Sheba  gave  to  king  Solomon. 
 
 1 1  '■  And  the  navy  also  of  Hiram,  that  brought 
 gold  from  Ophir,  brought  in  from  Ophir  great 
 plenty  of  ||  almug  trees,  and  precious  stones. 
 
 1'2  'And  the  king  made  of  tlie  almug  trees 
 {{  t  pillars  for  the  house  of  the  Lokd,  and  for 
 the  king's  house,  harps  also  and  psalteries  for 
 singers  :  there  came  no  sucli  ''  almug  trees,  nor 
 were  seen  unto  this  day. 
 
 13  And  king  Solomon  gave  unto  the  queen 
 of  Sheba  all  her  desire,  whatsoever  she  asked, 
 beside  that  which  Solomon  gave  her  f  of  his 
 royal  bounty.  So  she  turned  and  went  to  her 
 own  country,  she  and  her  servants. 
 
 14  t  Now  the  weight  of  gold  that  came  to 
 Solomon  in  one  year  was  six  hundred  three- 
 score and  six  talents  of  gold, 
 
 15  Beside  that  he  had  of  the  merchantmen, 
 and  of  the  traffick  of  the  spice  merchants,  and 
 '  of  all  the  kings  of  Arabia,  and  of  the  ||  go- 
 vernors of  the  country. 
 
 l(j  1[  And  king  Solomon  made  two  hundred 
 tasgets  q/ beaten  gold:  six  hundred  shekels  of 
 gold  went  to  one  target. 
 
 B  c. 
 
 cii".  9fP-2. 
 
 Or,butUri. 
 1  Chr.  :de. 
 
 Hob.  wrird. 
 Or,Mj/i'«yj, 
 
 t  Hfh.  Ihm 
 I,,,.,  uddrd 
 
 t/iit/d'fs^  I'l 
 
 d  I'l-u.  y.  34 
 
 II  2  Clir.  S.  8. 
 &  1».  10,  II. 
 
 ,2C\\e.  y.ll 
 II  Or,  ,a,l,. 
 
 I  H,.b.  oc- 
 <.,„,l,„5  I,, 
 
 //„■    I.Uf.d   ./ 
 
 12  Clir.0-21. 
 
 1>«.  72.  lU. 
 II  Or,  cait- 
 
 tairu. 
 
 ,2Clit  0  r 
 
 t   Hiih  ni,  Hr 
 hhidrr  ]>aTt 
 
 t  Il.b.  •«. 
 )•  2  Chr. 9.20, 
 
 II  Or.  thLTC 
 
 was  itu 
 
 iilrfr  iu 
 
 tbem. 
 q  GfU.   10  .1 
 
 ■2  01ir  2lt.;ili 
 
 II  Or,  ,■:.- 
 
 ell    S    12. 
 13.  «•  4.  *). 
 
 ttr/.rr  ,./. 
 
 I  cli.  1.  26. 
 
 2  Ubr.  I.  It. 
 
 &  y   25. 
 /  Dcu.  17. 16 
 
 M  Peiil    17, 
 16.  2Clu-   I. 
 16.  &  9.  2H. 
 
 t  Heb.  ^nd 
 thf  going 
 ftirlh  I'f  the 
 A»rjfl  which 
 was  So/ti- 
 Tjimt'J. 
 
 jEzek.  27.7. 
 
 s  Josh.  1    .(. 
 2  Kill,  7.  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  bfi 
 tlicir  hand. 
 
 17  And  he  made  "Hhrce  hundred  shields  o/' 
 beaten  gold  ;  three  pound  of  gold  went  to  one 
 sliield  :  and  the  king  put  them  in  the  "house 
 of  the  forest  of  Lebanon. 
 
 18  If  "  Moreover  the  king  made  a  great  throne 
 of  ivory,  and  overlaid  it  with  tlie  best  gold. 
 
 19  The  throne  liad  six  steps,  and  the  top  of 
 the  throne  icas  round  fbeliind:  and  t/tO'e 
 ivcrc  t  stays  on  eitiier  side  on  tlie  place  of  the 
 seat,  and  two  lions  stood  beside  the  stays. 
 
 20  And  twelve  lions  stood  there  on  the  one 
 side  and  on  the  other  upon  the  six  steps:  there 
 was  not  t  the  like  made  in  any  kingdom. 
 
 '21  1  ■*  And  all  king  Soiumon  s  drinking  ves- 
 sels ivere  o/'gold,  and  all  tlie  vessels  of  the 
 house  of  the  forest  of  Lebanon  were  f>/'pure 
 gold  ;  II  none  were  of  silver  :  it  was  nothing 
 accounted  of  in  the  days  of  Solomon. 
 
 22  For  the  king  had  at  sea  a  navy  of  Thar- 
 shish  with  the  navy  of  Hiram  :  once  in  three 
 years  came  the  navy  of  Tharshish,  bringing 
 gold,  and  silver,  ||  ivory,  and  apes,  and  pea- 
 cocks. 
 
 23  So  ""king  Solomon  exceeded  all  the  kings 
 of  the  earth  for  riches  and  for  wisdom. 
 
 24  t  And  all  the  earth  f  sought  to  Solomon, 
 to  hear  his  wisdom,  which  Cjod  had  put  in  his 
 heart. 
 
 25  And  they  hrought  every  man  his  present, 
 vessels  of  silver,  and  vessels  of  gold,  and  gar- 
 ments, and  armour,  and  spices,  horses,  and 
 mules,  a  rate  year  i)y  year. 
 
 26  II  '  And  Solomon  *  gathered  together 
 chariots  and  horsemen  :  and  he  had  a  thou- 
 sand and  four  hundred  chariots,  and  twelve 
 thousand  horsemen,  whom  lie  bestowed  in  the 
 cities  for  chariots,  and  with  the  king  at  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 27  "  And  the  king  f  made  silver  to  be  m  Je- 
 rusalem as  stones,  and  cedars  made  he  to  he 
 as  the  sycamore  trees  that  ewe  in  the  vale,  foi' 
 abundance. 
 
 28  H  "  t  And  Solomon  had  horses  brought 
 out  of  Egypt,  and  Tmen  yarn  :   the  king's  mer- 
 
 I  chants  received  the  linen  yarn  at  a  price. 
 
 29  And  a  chariot  came  up  and  went  out  of 
 Egypt  for  six  hundred  sfichels  of  silver,  and  an 
 horse  for  an  hundred  and  fifty  :  ^  and  so  for  all 
 the  kings  of  the  Hittites,  and  for  the  kings  of 
 Syria,  did  they  bring  them  out  f  by  their  means. 
 
 abundance  of  these  arc  found  in  Arabia  Felix. — Ovlngton^s  Voyage  to 
 Stirat.  In  her  heart, '  in  her  mind.' — Bmithr.  5.  His  ascent,  '  hisburnt- 
 oflFerings  which  he  offtTcd  in  tlic  house  of  the  Lord.' — Luther;  so  the 
 Sept.,  Chald.,  Vidg.,  Hyr.,  Arab.,  so  Boolhr.  This  may  mean  a  superb 
 way,  devoted  solely  to  the  king's  use  ;  thus  the  Emperor  of  China  ascends 
 his  throne  by  steps  consecrated  to  his  use  alone. — Sir  Genrge  Staun- 
 ton's Embass}/.  No  more,  spirit — an  Hebraism  to  express  the  highest 
 degree  of  admiration  and  astonishment. — Hew.  10.  An  hundred  and 
 twenty  talents,  5i0, 0001. — Brerewood  de  Vimderibus  et  Pretiis  Vet.  num. 
 c.  5.  11.  Almug  trees,  called  Algum,  by  a  transposition,  2  Chron. 
 ix.  10.  'Pitch'  or  '  torch  trees.* — Jos.  *  Lignum  vitce.' — Par.  'The 
 cypress  tree,*  plentiful  in  those  parts  of  Arabia,  and  proper  for  musical 
 instruments. — Shaw.  'The  sandal  tree.' — Geddes.  13.  And  king, 
 ^f.— this  verse  should  follow  verse  10.— So  Houb.,  Bnothr.,  Clarke. 
 Whatsoever  she  asked — great  personages  in  the  ea-^t  ask  for  what  they 
 please,  and  the  present  is  usually  granted. — See  Har.  14.  Was  six 
 hundred,  ^c. — estimated  by  some  at  2,  by  others  at  3,  and  by  others  at 
 between  4  and  5  millions  sterling. —  So  Poole,  Gill,  and  Clarke. 
 15.  Merchantmen,  'miners.'  —  Geddes.  'Port  collectors.'  —  Boothr. 
 16, Turg-e^s, '  shields.' — Boothr.  The  n^S  might  be  like  the  highland 
 target,  with  a  dagger  in  the  middle.— So  Clarke.  17.  Shields,  D''3JO, 
 'smaller shields.' — So/iem^cciwsand  Boothr.  These  were  large  shields 
 covering  all  the  body. — So  Clarke.  18.  Overlaid — understand  inlaid 
 it. — Scrip.  IlluK.  22.  T/tfirsAiVA— Tartessus  in  Spain,  where  gold  and 
 silver  were  anciently  plentiful. — Boch.,  Lowth.  More  probably  some 
 place  in  the  East  Indies,  from  the  trade  in  ivory,  apes,  and  peacocks. — 
 Scott.  As  Tharshish  is  sometimes  used  for  the  sea  in  general,  here  it 
 may  signify  a  particular  sea  so  called,  which  Josephus  names  theTarsic 
 Sea,  the  same  with  the  Indian  Sea. — Gill.  Peacocks,  should  rather  be 
 375 
 
 rendered  'parrot;^,' — So  Junius;  but  many  authorities  are  in  favour 
 of  reading '  peacocks.'  23.  Exceeded— for  riches — his  yearly  income 
 was  probably  \42,^i2,03il.  Qs.  yd- —  R^!/"f>lds,  quoted  by  Clarke. 
 25.  Horses — the  horses  which  Solomon  received  as  presents  were  an 
 augmentation  to  his  strength,  and  thus  chicfiy,  it  is  probable,  he  be- 
 came able  to  accommodate  12,000  horsemen,  though  doubtless  he  pur- 
 chased many  horses  from  Egypt,  (ver.  28.)— £rf.  See  note  on  chap. 
 iv.  26.  23.  Brought  out  of  Egypt — this  seems  to  have  been  contrary 
 to  the  Divine  command,  (Deut.  xvii.  16.) — Gill.  And  linenyarn,  mpQl, 
 this  is  probably  an  error  for  ni31D.  '  chariots.'— So  Hovb.  The  word 
 rendered  '  yarn'  is  probably  the  name  of  a  place,  rjij?,  *  Koa,'  and  the 
 translation  may  be,  'Now,  horses  for  Solomon  were  chiefly  brought 
 from  Egypt;  and  particularly  from  Koa.' — Geddes,  so  also  Boothroyd, 
 who  renders  the  latter  clause,  •  the  king's  merchants  received  them  from 
 Coa,  at  a  stated  price.'  According  to  Norden, '  linen  yarn'  is,  however, 
 one  of  the  principal  articles  of  commerce  in  Egypt.  29.  Came  up, 
 '  was  brought  up.' — Boothr.  For  six  hundred  shekels — this  was  a 
 toll  which  Solomon  seems  to  have  got  compounded  by  marrying 
 Pharaoh's  daughter;  and  hence  he  could  supply  the  neighbouring 
 nations  with  horses  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  they  could  procure  them 
 from  Egypt. — Pat.  Bochart  takes  the  word  mpQ,  '  linen  yarn,'  to 
 mean  the  toll  or  custom,  and  reads  this  and  the  former  verse  thus  ■ — 
 '  Horses  were  brought  up  to  Solomon  ont  of  Egypt;  and  as  for  the 
 toll  or  custom,  the  merchants  of  King  Solomon  hired  it  at  a  price; 
 and  a  chariot  coming  out  of  Egypt  went  ont  for  six  hundred  shekels 
 of  silver,  and  a  horse  for  a  himdred  and  fifty ;  and  so  for  ail  the 
 kings  of  the  Hittites  and  for  the  kings  of  Syria,  did  tliey  bring  by 
 their  hands.* 
 
Solomon's  wivfs  nnd  concithines. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XI. 
 
 His  adversaries. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Snlnmon's  Ti'lves  and  concubines.  4  In  /its  old  age 
 they  draw  li'inl  to  idolatry.  9  Gofl  thrcateneth  him. 
 1 4  Solomon  s  adversaries  wrc  Hadad,  w/io  teas  rn- 
 tcriained  in  Et/i/pt,  23  liizou,  n-ho  ri'itpicd  in  Da- 
 viascns,  26  and  jtrohoam^  to  whom  Ahijah  prop/ie- 
 sied.  41  Solotnon*s  acts,  riiyn,  and  death:  Reho- 
 lioam  succccdeth  him. 
 
 "OUT  "king  Solomon  loved  ''many  strange 
 -'-'  women,  ||  together  with  the  daugliter  of 
 Pliaraoh,  women  of  the  Moahites,  Ammonites, 
 Edomites,  Zidonians,  and  Hittites  ; 
 
 2  Of  the  nations  concerninr/  whicli  the  Lord 
 said  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  '  Ye  shall  not 
 go  in  to  them,  neitlier  shall  they  come  in  mito 
 you  :for  surely  they  will  turn  away  yonr  heart 
 after  their  gods :  Solomon  clave  unto  these  in 
 love. 
 
 3  And  he  had  seven  hundred  wives,  prin- 
 cesses, and  three  hundred  concuhines :  and 
 his  wives  turned  away  his  heart. 
 
 4  For  it  came  to  pass,  when  Solomon  was 
 old,  •'  that  his  wives  turned  away  his  heart  after 
 other  gods  :  and  his  '^  heart  was  not  perfect 
 with  tlie  Lord  his  God,  '^as  «'««  tlie  heart  of 
 David  his  father. 
 
 .0  For  Solomon  went  after  ^  Ashtoretli  the 
 goddess  of  the  Zidonians,  and  after  ||  Milcom 
 tlie  ahomination  of  the  Ammonites. 
 
 0  And  Solomon  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the 
 Lord,  and  f  went  not  fully  after  the  Lord,  as 
 did  David  his  father. 
 
 7  ''  Then  did  Solomon  huild  an  high  place 
 for  '  Chemosh,  the  abomination  of  ^loah,  in 
 '  the  hill  that  is  before  .Terusalem,  and  for  Mo- 
 lech,  the  abomination  of  the  children  of  Am- 
 mon. 
 
 8  And  likewise  did  he  for  all  his  strange 
 wives,  which  burnt  incense  and  sacrificed  unto 
 their  gods. 
 
 9  t  And  the  Lord  was  angry  with  Solomon, 
 because  '  liis  heart  was  turned  from  the  Loud 
 God  of  Israel,  '"  whicli  had  appeared  unto  him 
 twice, 
 
 10  And  "  had  commanded  him  concerning 
 this  thing,  that  he  sliould  not  go  after  other 
 gods  :  but  he  kept  not  that  which  the  Loitn 
 commanded. 
 
 1 1  Wherefore  the  Lord  said  unto  Solomon, 
 Forasmuch  as  this  f  is  done  of  thee,  and  thou 
 
 n  Neh.  I3.2fi, 
 ADeu.17,17. 
 Ecclus.  17. 
 
 c  Ex.  S*.  I«. 
 Deu.  7.  8,4. 
 
 d  Deu  17.17. 
 Neh  IS.  !*ti 
 cli.  8.  61. 
 
 r  vrr,  X>. 
 .I,..lg.  S,  IS 
 •-'Kin  a  13. 
 II  Called, /Wi.. 
 tecf;  vcr.  7. 
 
 Hell.  /..(- 
 mUd  n»t<iS- 
 
 '  Irr. 
 
 Num.  U  24 
 /,  Xu.  3.S.  r,-* 
 Nu.  21.  S9. 
 JuilfT.ll  24 
 '  -l  Kill.  23. 
 13. 
 
 n  ell.  3.  5. 
 »  9.  2. 
 
 I  cli.  la'i.iir. 
 
 ;i2Saiii  7-15. 
 1'8.  b9.  ai. 
 7Cli.  12.20. 
 
 r  Deu.  I'll 
 alChr.  D.2(i. 
 
 /  2  Sam.  fl. 
 14.  I  Chr. 
 18.  12,  13. 
 
 :  I  ICiii. 
 10, :«. 
 
 I  HiV.  Stud 
 me  iiuiu_^. 
 
 hast  not  kept  my  covenant  and  my  statutes, 
 which  I  have  commanded  thee,  °  I  will  surely 
 rend  the  kingdom  from  thee,  and  will  give  it  to 
 thy  servant. 
 
 1-2  Notwithstanding  in  tliy  days  I  will  not  do 
 it  for  David  thy  father's  sake:  but  I  will  rend 
 it  out  of  the  hand  of  thy  son. 
 
 13  I"  Hovvbeit  I  will  not  rend  away  all  the 
 kingdom  ;  hut  will  give  ''  one  tribe  to  thy  son 
 for  David  my  servant's  sake,  and  for  Jerusalem's 
 sake  '  wbirli  1  liave  chosen. 
 
 14  1  And  the  Lord  'stirred  up  an  adversary 
 unto  Solomon,  Hadad  the  Edomite  :  he  icas 
 of  the  king's  seed  in  Edom. 
 
 la  '  For  it  came  to  pass,  when  David  was  in 
 Edom,  and  Joab  the  captain  of  the  liost  was 
 gone  up  to  bury  the  slain,  "  after  he  had  smit- 
 ten every  male  in  Edom  ; 
 
 IG  (For  .si,\  months  did  .loab  remain  there 
 with  all  Israel,  until  lie  liad  cut  oft'  every  male 
 in  Edom  :) 
 
 17  That  Hadad  fled,  be  and  certain  Edomites 
 of  his  fatlier's  servants  with  bini,  to  go  into 
 Egypt ;   Hadad  hciiuj  yet  a  little  child. 
 
 18  And  they  arose  out  of  Midlaii,  and  came 
 to  Paran  :  and  they  took  men  witli  them  out 
 of  Paran,  and  tliey  came  to  Egypt,  unto  Pha- 
 raoh king  of  Egypt;  which  gave  him  an  house, 
 and  appuiiiti'd  him  victuals,  and  gave  him  land. 
 
 I!)  And  Hadad  found  great  favour  in  the  sight 
 of  Pliaraoh,  so  that  be  gave  him  to  wife  the 
 sister  of  his  own  wife,  the  sister  of  Tabpenes 
 the  queen. 
 
 20  And  the  sister  of  Tahpenes  hare  him  Gc- 
 iiuhatb  his  son,  whom  Tahpenes  weaned  in 
 Pliaraoli's  bouse  :  and  Genuhath  was  in  Plia- 
 raoh's  bousliold  among  the  sons  of  Pliaraoh. 
 
 21  'And  wiicii  Hadad  heard  in  Egypt  that 
 David  slept  with  bis  fathers,  and  that  .toab  tlie 
 captain  of  tlie  host  was  dead,  Hadad  said  to 
 Pharaoh,  f  Let  me  depart,  tliat  I  may  go  to 
 mine  own  country. 
 
 22  Then  Pharaoh  said  unto  bim.  But  what 
 hast  thou  lacked  with  me,  that,  behold,  thou 
 seekest  to  go  to  thine  own  country  'I  And  be 
 answered,  f  Nothing :  howbeit  let  me  go  in 
 any  wi.se. 
 
 23  H  And  God  stirred  him  up  (mother  adver- 
 sary, Rezon  the  son  of  Eliadah.  which  fled  from 
 Ills  lord  '■  Hadadezer  king  of  Zobah  : 
 
 Chap.  XI.  —  1.  Strange, '  foreign,' — Boothr.,  who  still  retained  their 
 idolatrous  religion. — Pat.  lie  sinned  against  God's  known  law  both 
 in  Iheir  number  (Deut.  xvii.  17)  and  their  quality. — Poole.  3.  Seven 
 htindeed  wives — this  was  iu  imitation  of  the  heathen,  many  of  whom,  in 
 Africa  and  the  East,  keep  as  many  at  the  present  time.  So  especially 
 the  Emperor  of  China,  the  King  of  the  Ashantees,  ^c. — See  La  Compters 
 Hinturij  of  China,  liowilitch's  Ashantees.  Princerises — those  of  superior 
 rank,  seemed  to  have  been  numbered  among  liis  wives,  and  styled 
 princesses  ;  while  the  inferiors  were  his  concubines,  with  inferior  pri- 
 
 vileges.—5ro^^  4.  Perfect,  *  sincere,'  Syr.  •  Entire,*  .4rafi.  7.  The 
 hill  t/inl  is  tie/ore  Jerusalem,  the  Mount  of  Olives,'  which  was  nigh 
 unto  Jerusalem,  (2  Sam.  w.  30.)  and,  from  this  act,  was  called  the 
 Mount  of  Corruption,  (2  Kings,  xxiii.  l^.)— Poole.  11.  Said,  perhaps 
 by  Ahijah,  named  ver.  29.— Cat.  U.  Hadad  the  Edomite,  a  young 
 prince  of  the  royal  family  of  Idumea. — llea\  15.  In  Edom,  to  con- 
 quer it,  (2  Sam.  viii.  \i.)—Pat.  IJ.A  little  child,  rijp  13?3,  rather,  'a 
 little  boy.' — Green/.  21 .  Go  to  mine  own  country,  with  a  view  to  re- 
 cover it,  now  David  and  Joab  were  dead.         23.  Wldch  /led  from  Itis 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.  —  In  this  cliapter  we  have, 
 I.  An  account  of  the  Qncen  of  S/teba's  visit  to  Solomon.  Sbe 
 came  to  hear  liis  wisdom.  'Therefore,'  says  Henry,  '  dotli 
 our  Saviour  mention  her  inquiring  after  God  by  Solomon  as 
 an  aggravation  of  the  stupidity  of  those  who  inquire  not  alter 
 God  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  though  he,  having  lain  in  Ins 
 bosom,  was  much  better  able  to  instruct  them.'  She  was  i'ar 
 from  repenting  her  journey  ;  and  those  that  through  grace  are 
 brought  to  experience  the  delights  of  communion  with  God, 
 will  say,  that  the  one  half  was  not  told  them  of  the  pleasures  of 
 wisdom's  ways,  and  the  advantages  of  her  gales.  Glorified 
 saints  much  more  will  say,  it  was  a  true  report  which  they 
 heard  of  Ihe  happiness  of  heaven,  but  the  thousandth  part  was 
 not  told  them,  (1  Cor.  ii.  9.)     Here  is  — 
 
 11.  A  further  account  of  the  prosperity  of  Solomon.  See  in 
 37(i 
 
 Solomon's  greatness  the  performance  of  God's  promise, (chap. 
 iii.  13,)  and  let  it  encourage  us  to  seek,  first,  the  righteous- 
 ness of  God's  kingdom,  'let  this  was  he  who,  when  he  was 
 in  the  midst  of  all  these  enjoyments,  wrote  a  whole  book  to 
 shew  the  vanity  of  all  worldly  things,  and  the  vexation  of 
 spirit  that  attends  them,  their  insufficiency  to  make  us  happy, 
 and  the  folly  of  setting  our  hearts  upon  tbem  ;  and  to  recom- 
 mend to  us  the  practice  of  serious  godliness  as  that  which  is 
 the  whole  duty  of  man,  and  will  do  infinitely  more  towards  the 
 making  of  us  easy  and  happy  than  all  the  wealth  and  power 
 that  he  was  master  of,  and  vvhicb,  through  the  grace  ot  God, 
 is  Within  our  reach  !  when  the  thousandth  part  of  Solomon's 
 greatness  is  a  thousand  times  more  than  we  can  ever  be  so 
 vain  as  to  promise  ourselves  in  this  world. 
 
Ahijah's  prophecy. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XI. 
 
 The.  death  of  Solomon. 
 
 24  And  he  gathered  men  unto  him,  and  be- 
 came captain  over  a  l)and,  '  vvlien  David  slew 
 tliem  of  Zobah  :  and  tliej'  went  to  Damascus, 
 and  dwelt  therein,  and  reigned  in  Damascus. 
 
 2.5  And  lie  was  an  adversary  to  Isiaid  all  the 
 day.s  of  Solomon,  beside  the  miscliief  that 
 Hadad  did:  and  he  abhorred  Israel,  and 
 reigned  over  Syria. 
 
 2(i  1  And  "  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  an 
 Ephrathite  of  Zereda,  Solomon's  servant,  whose 
 mother's  name  teas  Zernali,  a  widow  woman, 
 even  he  ''lifted  up  /;/.s-  hand  against  the  king. 
 
 27  And  tills  ?('«s  the  cause  that  be  lifted  up 
 Ills  liand  against  the  king:  '^Solomon  built 
 Millo,  and  f  repaired  the  breaches  of  the  city 
 of  David  his  father. 
 
 28  And  the  man  Jeroboam  7f«s  a  mighty  man 
 of  valour .-  and  Solomon  seeing  the  young  man 
 that  he  ^  was  industrious,  be  made  him  ruler 
 over  all  the  f  charge  of  the  house  of  Joseph. 
 
 29  And  it  came  to  pass  at  that  time  when 
 Jeroboam  went  out  of  Jerusalem,  tliat  the  pro- 
 phet ''  Abijah  the  Shilonite  found  liini  in  the 
 way  ;  and  he  had  clad  himself  witli  a  new  gar- 
 ment ;  and  they  two  were  alone  in  the  field  : 
 
 30  And  Ahijali  caught  the  new  garment  that 
 was  on  him,  and  "rent  it  in  twelve  pieces : 
 
 31  And  he  said  to  Jeroboam,  Take  thee  ten 
 pieces:  for  'thus  saith  the  Loud,  the  God  of 
 Israel,  Behold,  I  will  rend  the  kingdom  out  of 
 the  hand  of  Solomon,  and  will  give  ten  tribes 
 to  tbee  : 
 
 32  (But  he  shall  have  one  tribe  for  my  ser- 
 vant David's  sake,  and  for  Jerusalem's  sake,  the 
 city  which  I  have  chosen  out  of  all  the  tribes 
 of  Israel  :) 
 
 33  '"'  Because  that  they  have  forsaken  me,  and 
 have  worshipped  Ashtoretli  the  goddess  of  tlie 
 Zidonians,  Chemosb  the  god  of  tlie  Moabites, 
 and  Milcom  the  god  of  tlie  children  of  Am- 
 mon,  and  have  not  walked  in  my  ways,  to  do 
 that  which  is  riglit  in  mine  eyes,  and  to  keep 
 my  statutes  and  my  judgments,  as  did  David 
 his  father. 
 
 c  ell.  0.  21. 
 tHeb.c/o..ii 
 
 cir.  yso 
 
 e  See  I  Ram. 
 15.  27.  It  at 
 5. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  9tt0. 
 
 lordHattnd  ezer,  when  Davifl  fought  wirh  him,  he  ilesortert  him,  (see 
 2  Sam.  viii.  3.)  24.  Reigned  in  Diimtisrus,  not  in  Ddvitl's  time,  for 
 lie  put  a  garrison  there,  (2  .Sam. viii,  6,)  but  towards  the  clo.se  of  Solo. 
 mon'.s  days.  After  him  there  was  a  long  race  of  kings. — Gill.  25.  All 
 the  d'li/.i,  '  the  latter  days  of  his  reign  which  now  remained  after  liis 
 turning  to  idolatry.'— So  Ptit.  27.  Built  Millo— his  rage  for  building 
 must  have  oppressed  the  people,  and  on  this  account  Jeroboam  kindled 
 a  spirit  of  sedition  aiul  revolt,  {see  cliap,  xii.  4.) — Hew,  28.  Made 
 him  ruler,  '  prince,'  *  deputy  governor,'  or  '  king's  collector  of  the 
 revenues  of  Ephraim  and  Manasseh.'  29.  Stiilunite,  of  the  city  of 
 Shiloh,  (chap.  xiv.  2.)  .10.  Cuuf^ltt  Itie  new  garment — this  looks  as  if 
 it  was  Jeroboam's  garment. — Gilt.  The  meaning  of  this  emblematical 
 action  seems  to  imply  that  the  garment  belonged  to  the  prophet,  not 
 to  Jeroboam. — Sentt.  Twelrepiece.'i,  symbolical  of  the  twelve  tribes. — 
 Gill.  36.  .4  ligtit,  'a  lamp.'  A  term  for  posterity,  which  being  ex- 
 tinct may  be  said  to  resemble  an  extinguished  lamp.  The  sacred 
 writers  frequently  used  this  metaphor,  (chap.  xv.  4;  2  Sam.  xiv.  7.) — 
 Hew.  39.  Not  for  ei'cr— Israel  shall  be  destroyed,  and  the  kings  of 
 Pavid's  house  shall  be  uppermost,  and  at  last  the  Messiah  shall  come, 
 who  shall  rule  over  Jews  and  Gentiles. —  Poole.  40.  Solomon 
 sougfit  ttierefore  to  kilt — another  instance  of  folly,  when  God  assured 
 him  the  kingdom  should  be  rent,  (ver.  11,)  and  especially  if  he  had 
 heard  the  affair  of  the  prophet.— So  Gilt.     Ttierefore,  is  not  in  the 
 
 t  cli.  l.l.  4. 
 2  iciii.t^.  m 
 
 V<*.   132.  17. 
 1  H.ilt,  Inoijt, 
 
 I  2  Sam. 
 
 il,  27. 
 
 II  Or,  ir.,,,;,, 
 or,  lliiiigi. 
 
 'I  2  Clir.  t)  .'in, 
 )  Ilcb.  t/u^f 
 
 .  IVIat.  t.  7 
 
 c.illcil 
 
 U,,lj,mm. 
 
 34  Howbeit  I  will  not  take  the  whole  king- 
 dom out  of  his  hand  :  but  I  will  make  him 
 prince  all  the  days  of  liis  life  for  David  my  ser- 
 vant's sake,  whom  I  chose,  becau.se  he  kept 
 my  conimanduients  and  my  statutes  ; 
 
 3.5  But  ''  I  will  take  the  kingdom  out  of  hia 
 son's  hand,  and  will  give  it  unto  thee,  even  ten 
 tribes. 
 
 30  And  unto  his  son  will  I  give  one  tribe, 
 tliat  '  David  my  servant  may  have  a  f  light 
 alway  before  me  in  Jerusalem,  the  city  which 
 I  have  chosen  me  to  put  my  name  there. 
 
 37  And  I  will  take  tliee,  and  tliou  shalt  reign 
 according  to  all  tliat  thy  soul  desiretb,  and 
 shall  be  king  over  Israel. 
 
 38  And  it  .shall  be,  if  thou  wilt  hearken  unto 
 .all  that  I  command  thee,  and  wilt  walk  in  my 
 ways,  and  do  thett  is  right  in  my  sight,  to  keep 
 my  statutes  and  my  commandments,  as  David 
 my  servant  did  ;  that  '  I  will  be  with  tbee,  and 
 '  build  thee  a  sure  bouse,  as  I  built  for  David, 
 and  will  give  Israel  unto  thee. 
 
 39  And  I  will  for  this  afflict  tlie  seed  of  David, 
 but  not  for  ever. 
 
 40  Solomon  sought  therefore  to  kill  Jero- 
 boam. And  Jeroboam  arose,  and  fled  into 
 Egypt,  unto  Sbisliak  king  of  Egypt,  and  was  in 
 Egypt  until  the  death  of  Solomon. 
 
 41  t  And  "'  the  rest  of  the  ||  acts  of  Solomon, 
 and  all  that  he  did,  and  bis  wisdom,  are  they 
 not  written  in  the  book  of  the  acts  of  Solomon  ? 
 
 42  "  And  the  f  time  that  Solomon  reigned  in 
 Jerusalem  over  all  Israel  was  forty  years. 
 
 43  °  And  Solomon  slept  with  his  fathers,  and 
 was  buried  in  the  city  of  David  bis  father  :  and 
 ^  Rehoboara  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 !  The  Israelites,  assembled  at  S/uchem  to  crown  lic/io- 
 boam,  hi/  Jtrohoavi  make  a  suit  of  relaxation  imtu 
 him.  6  Rehohoam,  I'cfusinf/  the  old  mens  counsel, 
 hi/  the  advice  of  young  meuy  ansivereth  them  roucfhly. 
 16  Ten  tribes  revolting,  hill  Adoram  and  make  Heho- 
 boain  to  flee.     21  Rehohoam,   raising   an  army^   is 
 
 orig-inal,  and  hence  it  does  not  appear  that  Solomon  did  this  on  account 
 of  the  prophecy,  but  on  account  of  Jeroboam's  subsequent  miscon- 
 duct.—i>>o(^i.  a/iis/ttik—this  king  was  not  of  the  family  of  the  king 
 whose  daughter  Solomon  married,  but  of  another  race.  Most  com- 
 mentators think  he  was  Sesostris,  mentioned  by  Greek  writers.— //*■«•. 
 41.  T/if  book — some  more  copious  annals  of  Solomon's  reigu,  but  not 
 necessary  for  our  edification. — So  Scolf.  42.  Forty  years— the  Jews 
 say  Suii'mnn  began  to  reign  at  twelve;  Cnlmet  thinks  at  eighteen; 
 in  both  cases  he  wos  not  old-aged  when  he  died.  '  Sin  shortened  his 
 days,' says  Henry.  '  Perhaps,*  says  Scott, '  he  had  injured  bis  constitu- 
 tion by  indulgence.'  Josephus  says  he  reigned  80  years,  and  lived  94. 
 43.  Solomon  slept  with  his  fathers — nothing  is  here  said  of  his  repentance. 
 This  has  made  divines  differ  respecting  him.  '  The  silence  here,'  says 
 Scott,  '  does  not  prove  that  he  did  nut  repent,  but  leaves  it  doubtful.' 
 Clarke  says,  *  he  died,  as  far  as  tlie  Scripture  informs  us,  without 
 repentance*  Sutclife  remarks,  that  *  we  have  no  proof  of  it  but  the 
 dubious  repentance  in  the  book  of  Ecclesiastes,  Our  Lord  mentions  his 
 glory,  but  not  his  restoration  ;  and  St.  Paul  has  enrolled  the  father,  but 
 not  the  son,  among  the  cloud  of  witnesses.*  Gill  concludes  that  he 
 was  a  good  man,  repented,  and  was  saved,  from  the  posthumous  com- 
 mendations in  2  Chron.  xi.  17,  from  the  promise,  2  Sam.  vii.  14,  15, 
 and  from  his  being  an  inspired  writer,  2  Pet.  i.  21. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI.  —  I.  We  have  here  to  notice 
 Solomon'' s  faU.  Awfal  fact !  Who  ever  rose  so  high  to  fall  so 
 low  f  This  may  teach  us  not  to  be  high-minded,  but  to  fear. 
 Never  presume.  Christian,  that  your  mountain  stands  so  fast 
 tliat  you  can  never  be  moved.  So  has  many  a  blazing  profes- 
 sor been  humbled.  '  Let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth,  lake 
 heed  lest  he  fall.' 
 
 II.  Solomon's  punishment.  While  he  faithfully  served  God 
 he  had  peace,  but  uow  the  restraining  hand  of  Providence  was 
 removed  from  his  enemies,  and  his  latter  years  were  embit- 
 tered by  their  malice.  God  docs,  indeed,  sometimes  punish 
 377 
 
 the  ungodly  severely  for  their  sin  in  this  world,  but  they  are 
 more  frequently  left  to  run  riot,  and,  dying  in  their  sins,  re- 
 ceive their  punishment  in  the  next.  The  punishment  of  Solo- 
 mon, we  may  therefore  believe,  was  given  him  for  chastise- 
 ment, and  to  bring  him  to  repentance,  agreeably  to  the  promise 
 made  in  reference  to  Solomon,  2  Sam.  vii.  14,  15,  *If  he  com- 
 mit iniquity  I  will  chasten  him  with  the  rod  of  men,  and  with 
 the  stripes  of  the  children  of  men.  But  my  mercy  shall  not 
 depart  away  from  him  as  I  took  it  from  Saul.'  '  IVlerciful  God, 
 hold  thou  us  up,  that  our  footsteps  slip  not !' 
 
 3  c 
 
Rehoboam  is  made  king. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XII. 
 
 Ten  tribes  revolt. 
 
 forhiddui  by  Shemaiah.  25  Jeroboam  streni/tfienetb 
 himself  bi/  cities,  26  a7id  l>y  tlie  iJoialry  of'tlie  two 
 ca/ces, 
 
 A  ND  "  Rehoboam  went  to  Sheclieni  :  fov  all 
 -'^  Israel  were  come  to  Shechem  to  make 
 him  king. 
 
 2  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  "^  Jeroboam  the 
 son  of  Nebat,  wlio  was  yet  in  ■■"  Egypt,  heard  <ij' 
 it,  (for  he  was  fled  from  the  presence  of  king 
 Solomon,  and  Jeroboam  dttelt  in  Egypt ;) 
 
 3  That  they  sent  and  called  him.  And  Jero- 
 boam and  all  the  congregation  of  Israel  came, 
 and  spake  unto  Rehoboam,  saying, 
 
 4  Thy  fatlier  made  our  ""yoke  grievous  :  now 
 therefore  make  thou  the  grievous  service  of 
 thy  fatlier,  and  his  heavy  yoke  which  he  put 
 upon  us,  lighter,  and  we  will  serve  thee. 
 
 5  And  he  said  unto  them,  Depart  yet  fu?- 
 three  days,  then  come  again  to  me.  And  the 
 people  departed. 
 
 6  i[  And  king  Reholjoam  consulted  with  the 
 old  men,  that  stood  before  Solomon  his  fatlier 
 while  he  yet  lived,  and  said.  How  do  ye  advise 
 that  I  may  answer  this  people  ? 
 
 7  And  tliey  spake  unto  him,  saying,  "  If  thon 
 wilt  be  a  servant  unto  this  people  this  day,  and 
 wilt  serve  them,  and  answer  them,  and  speak 
 good  words  to  them,  then  they  will  be  thy 
 servants  for  ever. 
 
 8  Rut  he  forsook  the  counsel  of  the  old  men, 
 which  they  had  given  him,  and  consulted  with 
 the  young  men  that  were  grown  up  with  him, 
 and  which  stood  before  him  : 
 
 9  And  he  said  unto  them.  What  counsel  give 
 ye  that  we  may  answer  this  people,  who  have 
 spoken  to  me,  saying.  Make  the  yoke  which 
 thy  fatlier  did  put  upon  us  lighter? 
 
 10  And  the  young  men  that  were  grown 
 up  with  him  spake  unto  him,  saying.  Thus 
 Shalt  tliou  speak  unto  this  people  tliat  spake 
 unto  thee,  saying,  Tliy  father  made  our  yoke 
 heavy,  but  make  tliou  it  lighter  unto  us  ;  tlius 
 shall  thou  say  unto  them,  My  little ^njer  shall 
 be  thicker  tlian  my  father's  loins. 
 
 11  And  now  whereas  my  father  did  lade  you 
 with  a  heavy  yoke,  I  will  add  to  your  yoke  : 
 my  father  hath  chastised  you  with  whips,  but 
 I  will  chastise  you  with  scorpions. 
 
 12  T  So  Jeroboam  and  all  the  people  came 
 to  Rehoboam  the  third  daj',  as  the  king  had 
 appointed,  saying.  Come  to  me  again  the  third 
 day. 
 
 13  And  the  king  answered  the  people 
 f  roughly,  and  forsook  the  old  men's  counsel 
 that  they  gave  him  ; 
 
 14  And  spake  to  them  after  the  counsel  of 
 the  young  men,  saying.  My  father  made  your 
 yoke  heavy,  and  I  will  add  to  your  yoke  :  my 
 father  also  chastised  you  with  whips,  but  I 
 will  chastise  you  with  scorpions. 
 
 15  Wherefore  the  king  hearkened  not  unto 
 
 1  3  Chr.  10. 
 I,  &c. 
 
 b  cli.  11.  26. 
 cell.  n.  40. 
 
 d  1  .Sam   S 
 II— Irt.  ch. 
 
 ■2Cl)r  10  7 
 Prov.  15.  1 
 
 I  Hcl,. 
 Itojdly. 
 
 m  ch.  11.  13, 
 SClir.  11  1, 
 
 7  See  Juilg 
 0.  40. 
 
 ?Kiii- 
 
 20  fc  I 
 
 the  people;  for  'the  cause  was  from  the  Lord, 
 that  he  might  perform  his  saying,  which  the 
 Lord  ^  spake  by  Ahijali  the  Shilonite  unto 
 Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat. 
 
 16  H  So  when  all  Israel  saw  that  the  king 
 hearkened  not  unto  thein,  the  people  answered 
 the  king,  saying,  "  What  portion  have  we  in 
 David  y  neither  /iorc  we  inheritance  in  the  son 
 of  Jesse  :  to  your  tent.s,  O  Israel :  now  see  to 
 thine  own  house,  David.  So  Israel  departed 
 unto  their  tents. 
 
 17  But  ^  as  for  tlie  children  of  Israel  which 
 dwelt  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  Rehoboam  reigned 
 over  them. 
 
 18  Then  king  Rehoboam  'sent  Adoram,wlio 
 iras  over  the  tribute  ;  and  all  Israel  stoned 
 him  with  stones,  that  he  died.  Therefore  king 
 Rehoboam  f  made  speed  to  get  him  up  to  his 
 chariot,  to  flee  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 19  So  '  Israel  ||  rebelled  against  the  house  of 
 David  unto  this  day. 
 
 20  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  all  Israel 
 heard  that  Jeroboam  was  come  again,  that 
 they  sent  and  called  him  unto  the  congrega- 
 tion, and  made  him  king  over  all  Israel  :  there 
 was  none  that  followed  the  house  of  David, 
 but  the  tribe  of  Judah  "'  only. 
 
 2 1  H  And  when  "  Rehoboam  was  come  to 
 Jerusalem,  he  assembled  all  the  house  of  Ju- 
 dah, with  the  tribe  of  Henjaniiii,  an  hnndred 
 and  fourscore  thousand  chosen  men,  which  were 
 warriors,  to  fight  against  the  house  of  Israel,  to 
 bring  the  kingdom  again  to  Rehoboam  the  son 
 of  Solomon. 
 
 22  But  °  the  word  of  God  came  unto  She- 
 maiah the  man  of  God,  saying, 
 
 23  Speak  unto  Rehoboam,  the  son  of  Solo- 
 mon, king  of  Judah,  and  unto  all  the  house  of 
 Judah  and  Benjamin,  and  to  the  remnant  of 
 the  people,  saying, 
 
 24  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Ye  shall  not  go  up, 
 nor  fight  against  your  brethren  the  children  of 
 Israel:  return  every  man  to  his  house;  ''for 
 this  thing  is  from  me.  They  hearkened  there- 
 fore to  the  word  of  the  Loud,  and  returned  to 
 depart,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 2.5  t  Then  Jeroboam  ''  built  Shechem  in  mount 
 Ephraim,  and  dwelt  therein ;  and  went  out 
 from  thence,  and  built  '  Peunel. 
 
 2ti  And  Jeroboam  said  in  his  heart.  Now 
 shall  the  kingdom  return  to  the  house  of 
 David  : 
 
 27  If  this  people  '  go  up  to  do  sacrifice  in  the 
 house  of  tlie  Loan  at  Jerusalem,  then  shall  the 
 heart  of  this  people  turn  again  unto  their  lord, 
 ei-en  unto  Rehoboam  king  of  Jiulah,  and  tboy 
 
 hall  kill  me,  and  go  again  to  Rehoboam  king 
 of  Judah. 
 
 28  Whereupon  the  king  took  counsel,  and 
 '  made  two  calves  o/'gold,  and  said  unto  them, 
 It  is  too  much  for  you  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem  : 
 
 l.,S.  I,!!'  I  ,T1'  ^°*^  grievous— MA  on  heavy  taxes,  for  llis  builil- 
 „„?'  """^''nold,  iL.rses  and  chariots,  salaries  of  his  offlrers,  and  sup. 
 5^^,.rL  f  "'."^'""'^"'t  court.  7.  Be  a  sermml  unto  lliispe„,,le,  •  coi,. 
 ^r,tff^t  ,  f,™'  .?'='"™  '°  "■'  hurahle  manner  towards  them,  and 
 fh»,  h= J"  °  '^'^  them.'-Gi((.  1 1 .  Seorpions.  '  iron  thorns.'  Rods 
 tliat  had  lion  prongs,  or  rowels,  to  them,  which  tore  the  flesh  extremelv. 
 ^fJ;,;  ..'^'""='?''K"f. 'gather  fllled  with  sand  and  stuck  full  of  spikes. 
 ^hlM  ThLl;  iT"  n'f.;' "''^  intertwined  with  the  prickles  of  the  shruh 
 k  iifl  cts  /t^/f'"',  "."'i.™|-l'i™  thorn,'  from  the  exquisite  pain  which 
 somS,i,;rSrn  t  '""'rt'iS  'he  punishment  of  whipping,  the  Jews 
 tCrns  to  V?„  „  i"!??^"  offences,  tied  sharp  hones,  pieces  of  lead,  or 
 I™T^™,„  /;,i  r  ^  "-l  'he  thoi,es.-On™(.Li<.  546.  15.  T/.e  cause 
 Zn£r^,ii^^"  r""'!?""','  permitted  the  temper  of  the  prince  to 
 produce  the  distraction  tlireatened  and  predicted,  (chap.  xi.)-Pj,te. 
 1376 
 
 Ifi.  To  '/our  tents,  '  habitations,'  to  consider  there  who  shall  be  king.— 
 Pcmie,  Gill.  18.  Sent  Adiiravi,  who  was  orer  tike  tribute— \<voha.h\y 
 the  same  with  Adoniram,  (chap.  iv.  6  )  He  was  sent  to  collect  the 
 tribute,  to  shew  his  authority,  or  to  endeavour  to  call  back  the  iieople, 
 as  Josepltus  says.  Alt  Israel  stoned  Aim— the  populace  fell  upon  him 
 and  stoned  him  to  death.— Gi7/.  19.  So  Israel  rebelled— ttxis  was  the 
 separation  of  the  ten  tribes,  in  wliich  they  remained  till  carried  away 
 captives  by  the  King  of  Ass\ria.— Erf.  22.  Stiemaiati,  '  a  prophet,' 
 (2  Chron.  xii.  15.)  25.  Built  SItecliem—nnt  that  it  had  lain  in  ruins 
 from  the  times  of  Abimelcch,  (Judg.  ix.  ■!.'>,)  for  then  a  convention 
 could  not  well  have  been  held  there,  but  he  repaired  and  tnrtitied  it. 
 Buill  Penuel,  a  place  on  the  other  side  Jordan,  the  tower  of  which  was 
 beaten  down  by  Gideon,  (Judg.  viii.  17;)  this  he  repaired  and  fortified 
 ADt^w.—Oill.      28.  Two  calees—it  is  not  improbable  that  he  made  them 
 
Jcruhoani's  idulatrij. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XIII. 
 
 His  hand  iciLhcreth. 
 
 "  behold  thy  gods,  O  Israel,  which  bvought  thee 
 up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 '29  And  he  set  the  one  in  "^  lioth-ol,  and  the 
 other  put  lie  in  '  Dan. 
 
 30  And  this  tiling  became  "  a  .sin  :  for  the 
 people  went  to  womhlp  before  ttie  one,  even 
 unto  Dan. 
 
 31  And  he  made  an  "bouse  of  high  places, 
 "and  made  priests  of  the  Uiwest  of  tiie  people, 
 wliicli  were  not  of  the  sous  of  Levi. 
 
 3'2  And  Jerolioam  ordained  a  feast  in  the 
 eighth  month,  on  tlie  fifteenth  day  of  the 
 month,  like  unto  °  the  feast  tliat  is  in  Judab, 
 and  lie  ||  offered  upon  tlie  altar.  So  did  he  in 
 Beth-el,  ||  sacrificing  unto  tlie  calves  that  he 
 had  made:  '"and  he  placed 'in  Betb-el  the 
 priests  of  tlie  high  places  which  he  had  made. 
 
 33  So  he  ||offered  upon  the  allar  which  be  had 
 made  in  Beth-el  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  eighth 
 month,  even  in  the  month  which  be  bad  ''de- 
 vised of  his  own  heart ;  and  ordained  a  feast 
 unto  the  children  of  Israel  :  and  he  offered 
 upon  the  altar,  f  and  '  burnt  incense. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Jemhoani's  hanif,  that  offered  viohtice  to  htm  that 
 prophesied  against  his  altar  at  Bet!i-cl,  wit/iertt/t,  6 
 atfd  at  the  prayer  of  the  prophet  is  restored.  7  The 
 prop/iety  refusinff  t/te  liini/s  eiitertainmeitt^  departeth 
 front  Beth-el.  11  An  old  }irophetj  seducing  him, 
 hringeih  him  bach.  20  He  is  irpj-oeed  by  Go.'/,  2.3 
 slain  by  a  lion,  26  liuyinl  loj  the  old  prophet,  31  who 
 conjintuth  his  prophecy.     33  Jeroboam^s  obstinacy. 
 
 A  ND,  behold,  there  "came  a  man  of  God 
 -^  out  of  Judah  by  the  word  of  the  Loud 
 unto  Betb-el:  ''and  Jeroboam  stood  by  the 
 altar  ||  to  burn  incense. 
 
 2  And  he  cried  against  the  altar  in  the  word 
 of  the  Lord,  aud  said,  ()  altar,  altar,  thus  saitli 
 the  Lord  ;  Behold,  a  child  shall  be  born  unto 
 the  house  of  David,  '  Josiah  by  name  ;  and 
 upon  thee  shall  he  offer  the  priests  of  the  high 
 
 B.  C.  975. 
 
 n  Kx.  32.  4, 
 
 8. 
 X  Geii.'2fl  \9. 
 
 Hiis.  1.  l.'i. 
 V.Uiilg,  18. 
 
 I'll 
 z  ih.  13.  3*. 
 
 2K1...I7'21 
 
 T  cti.  13.  .12. 
 (iNum  3.10, 
 
 cli.  13.  S3. 
 
 2  Kill,  17. 
 
 32. 
 
 ■iChr  U  r*, 
 
 15.  Eze.  +1. 
 
 7,8, 
 :\.cv  23.  S.S, 
 
 31.  Nn   2'.t. 
 
 12.  ch.  8.2. 
 
 ,( >.,. 
 
 Ill--,  
 
 t'.tUt'tU'i', 
 
 •■>•'■■ 
 II  Or,  '•• 
 
 .<.eri/p«. 
 'i.\moB7,l3, 
 II  Or,  »«.(  1.(1 
 
 lo  the  tillui; 
 
 *c. 
 
 I  Num.  15. 
 
 39. 
 
 t  Hfl,    /" 
 /*fh.  13, 
 
 A  cli,  1-^  32 
 :s:j. 
 II  Or,  (.  «ge: 
 
 e  Ex.  fl.  8.  ft 
 9,  28,  (i(  10 
 17.  Nil.  'Jt. 
 7.  Arts  a. 
 2.1.  .1.111. ..» 
 5.  W: 
 t  Il.-I),  ll,« 
 f,.a,,flh, 
 LOltlJ. 
 
 ',  1  Cor,  5, 1 1 
 
 places  that  burn  incense  upon  thee,  and  men's 
 bones  shall  be  burnt  upon  thee. 
 
 3  And  he  gave  '•  a  sign  the  same  day,  saying, 
 This  is  the  sign  which  the  Loan  bath  spoken  ; 
 Behold,  the  altar  shall  be  rent,  and  the  ashes 
 that  nre  upon  it  shall  be  poured  out. 
 
 4  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  king  Jeroboam 
 beard  the  saying  of  the  man  of  God,  which  had 
 cried  against  the  altar  in  Betb-el,  that  he  put 
 forth  bis  band  from  the  altar,  saying.  Lay  hold 
 on  him.  And  his  band,  which  he  put  forth 
 against  him,  dried  up,  so  that  he  could  not 
 pull  it  in  again  to  him. 
 
 5  The  altar  also  was  rent,  and  the  ashes 
 poured  out  from  the  altar,  according  to  the 
 sign  which  the  man  of  God  bad  given  by  the 
 word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 6  And  the  king  answered  and  said  unto  the 
 mail  of  God, "  Intreat  now  the  face  of  the  Lord 
 thy  God,  and  pray  for  me,  that  my  hand  may 
 be  restored  me  again.  And  the  man  of  God 
 besought  t  the  Lord,  and  the  king's  band  was 
 restored  him  again,  and  became  as  it  was  before, 
 
 7  And  the  king  said  unto  the  man  of  God, 
 Come  home  with  me,  and  refresh  thyself,  and 
 ''  I  will  give  thee  a  reward. 
 
 8  And  the  man  of  God  said  unto  the  king, 
 8  If  thou  wilt  give  me  half  thine  bouse,  I  will 
 not  go  in  with  thee,  neither  will  I  eat  bread  nor 
 drink  water  in  this  place: 
 
 9  For  so  was  it  charged  me  by  the  word  of 
 the  Loud,  saying,  •>  Eat  no  bread,  nor  drink 
 water,  nor  turn  again  by  the  same  way  that 
 thou  earnest. 
 
 10  So  be  went  another  way,  and  returned  not 
 by  the  way  that  he  came  to  Beth-el. 
 
 1 1  1[  Now  there  dwelt  an  old  prophet  in 
 Beth-el ;  and  bis  f  sons  came  and  told  him  all 
 the  works  that  the  man  of  God  bad  done  that 
 day  in  Beth-el :  the  words  which  be  had  spoken 
 unto  the  king,  them  they  told  also  to  their 
 father. 
 
 in  imitation  of  tlic  Egyiitians,  witli  wliom  lie  liad  conversed,  wlio  had 
 a  couple  of  oxen  wliicti  they  worsliipped  ;  Apis  at  Memphis,  the  ut  tro. 
 polis  of  Upper  Egypt;  and  Mncvi.-j  at  Hierapolis,  the  cliief  city  of  tlie 
 Lower. — P(tt.  29.  Jn  Beth-el.  in  the  soutiiern  part  of  ttie  tanil.  In 
 Dan,  the  northern.  31.  .4  house  of  high  places,  '  a  temple  of  temples,* 
 to  imitate  that  at  Jerusalem. — A.  Clarke.  '  He  made  sacred  houses  in 
 high  places.* — Doritlir.  Made  priests,  ^c,  not  caring  about  their  heing 
 of  the  house  of  Levi,  and  perhaps  they  had  piety  enougii  to  refuse. — 
 So  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XIII. —  1.  A  maji  of  God,  *an  holy  prophet.*  —  Poole. 
 2.  .Josiah  hii  name — here  is  a  clear  prophecy :  the  name,  family,  and 
 office  of  a  particular  person  are  described  in  the  year  975,  according  to 
 the  Bible  Chronology,  before  Christ.  Above  350  years  after  tiie  delivery 
 of  the  prophecy  it  was  fullilled  in  all  its  parts,  (2  Kings,  x.\iii.  15 — 20.) 
 — Bp.  Watsiin.  6.  The  face  of  the  Lord,  or,  '  the  favour  of  the  Lord.' 
 — Seott.  9.  Eat  no  liread,  ^c.,  that  is,  he  was  to  hold  no  unnecessary 
 intercourse  with  idolators.  Bii  the  same  way,  lest  the  idolators,  in 
 revenge,  might  waylay  and  injure  him. — Hew.  11.  An  old  prophet, 
 — respecting  him  there  are  two  opposite  opinions  : — (i.)  A  false  prophet 
 
 and  an  ill  man,  who  could  tell  a  deliberate  lie,  and  father  it  upon  God. 
 A  good  tree  could  never  bring  forth  such  corrupt  fruit.  —  Henri/. 
 Though  called  a  prophet,  he  was  not  really  a  godly  man.  for  he  con- 
 tinued at  Bethel  after  the  priests  were  gone,  and  entered  no  protest 
 against  idolatry.  Perhaps  he  had  been  educated  iii  the  schools  of  the 
 prophets,  and  had  gained  a  reputation  by  being  favoured  with  the  spirit 
 of  prophecy. — Scott.  It  is  but  too  evident  that  he  wished  to  discredit 
 the  prophet  of  the  Lord,  by  shewing  at  last  that  he  had  acted  against 
 the  prohibition  which  he  said  God  had  given  liim,  and  that  he  had  not 
 known  truth  from  falsehood.  This  conduct  appears  not  to  agree  with 
 the  quality  of  a  prophet  of  the  Lord. —  Saurin.  Like  Balaam,  he 
 might  have  been  favoured  with  some  Divine  communications,  but  yet 
 he  was  a  wicked  man.  His  wish  to  be  buried  with  the  man  of  God 
 only  resembled  that  of  his  prototype,  '  Let  me  die,'  Szc. — Boothr.  He 
 was  '  a  false  prophet,'  Chald.,  so  also  Bp.  Hall,  Wof^an,  and  Wafer- 
 land,  (ii.)  A  true  prophet.  The  lie  was  an  officious  lie,  to  get  the 
 other  to  return.— Z.?,^/(^A'«^  He  did  not  act  from  malice,  but  from 
 humanity,  to  save  the  other  from  the  consequences  of  hunger  and 
 fatigue.— Le  Clerc.     Probably  he  had  been  a  prophet  of  the  Lord,  who 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XII Notice  here,  I.  Reltohoants 
 
 foolish  conduct.  Wise  fathers  have  not  always  wise  sons. 
 Young  men  are  in  danger  of  doing  those  things  rashly  and 
 hastily  of  which  they  may  have  to  repent  all  their  lives.  They 
 should  therefor©  seek  the  kind  advice  of  the  aged,  expe- 
 rienced, and  prudent ;  for  the  gay  and  thoughtless  will  often 
 only  hurry  them  forward  to  their  ruin.  '  He  thatwalketb  with 
 wise  men  shall  he  wise,  but  a  companion  of  fools  shall  be  de- 
 stroyed.' '  They  that  lose  the  kingdom  of  lieaven,'  says  Henry, 
 '  throw  it  away,  as  Keboboam  did  bis,  by  tbeir  own  wilfulness 
 and  folly.' 
 
 II.  Israel's  revolt.  The  house  of  David  had  revolted  from 
 God,  and  now  the  ten  tribes  revolted  from  the  bouse  of  David. 
 Here  was  tlie  sin  and  the  punishment.  Thus  the  threatenings 
 of  God  were  fullilled,  but  these  threatenings  included  in  tliera 
 predictions  of  events  which  would  arise  out  of  tbeir  causes. 
 The  young  men  advised  in  their  own  foolish  spirit— Rehoboam 
 379 
 
 rashly  followed  tbeir  advice— Israel,  discontented,  revolted 
 against  an  imperious  young  prince— Jeroboam,  invited,  was 
 ready  to  receive  the  crown  oflered  by  the  ten  tribes.  '  There 
 are  many  devices  in  the  heart  of  man,  but  the  counsel  of  the 
 Lord,  that  shall  stand.' 
 
 III.  Jeroboam's  idolatry.  Apprehensive  ot  the  Israelites  re- 
 turning to  tbeir  allegiance  if  they  went  to  worship  at  Jeru- 
 salem, Jeroboam  matle  his  golden  calves,  and  thus  commenced 
 that  system  of  idolatry  to  which  the  people  were  too  prone, 
 and  which  finally  ended  in  tbeir  complete  destruction.  Thus 
 has  religion  too  often  been  perverted  by  human  policy,  and 
 an  overweening  regard  to  worldly  interests  been  the  ruin  of 
 individuals  and  of  kingdoms.  Our  highest  wisdom  is  to  cleave 
 to  the  Lord,  and  leave  all  consequences  in  bis  band.  '  Blessed 
 is  the  nation  whose  God  is  the  Lord,  and  the  people  whom 
 be  bath  chosen  for  his  own  inheritance.' 
 
The  disobedient  prophet  slain  by  a  lion. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XIV. 
 
 Jeroboam's  obstinacy. 
 
 12  And  their  father  said  unto  them.  What 
 way  went  he  ?  For  his  sons  had  seen  what 
 way  the  man  of  God  went,  which  came  from 
 Judah. 
 
 13  And  he  said  unto  his  sons,  Saddle  me  the 
 ass.  So  they  saddled  him  the  ass  :  and  he 
 rode  thereon, 
 
 14  And  went  after  the  man  of  God,  and  found 
 him  sitting  undor  an  oak  :  and  he  said  unto 
 him.  Art  tliou  the  man  of  God  that  camest 
 from  Judah?     And  he  said,  I  am. 
 
 15  Then  he  said  unto  liim.  Come  home  with 
 me,  and  eat  bread. 
 
 16  And  he  said,'  I  may  not  return  with  thee, 
 nor  go  in  with  thee  :  neither  will  I  eat  bread 
 nor  drink  water  with  thee  in  this  jilace  : 
 
 17  For  fit  was  said  to  me  '  liy  tlie  word  of 
 the  LoKU,  Thou  shall  eat  no  bread  nor  drink' 
 water  there,  nor  turn  again  to  go  by  tlie  way 
 that  thou  camest. 
 
 18  He  said  unto  him,  I  am  a  prophet  also  as 
 thou  art ;  and  an  angel  spake  unto  me  by  the 
 word  of  the  Lord,  saying,  I'ring  him  back  with 
 thee  into  tliine  house,  tliat  he  may  eat  bread 
 and  drink  water.     But  he  lied  unto  him. 
 
 19  So  he  went  back  witli  him,  and  did  eat 
 bread  in  his  house,  and  drank  water. 
 
 20  IF  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  sat  at  the 
 table,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 the  prophet  that  brought  him  back  ; 
 
 21  And  he  cried  unto  the  man  of  God  that 
 came  from  Judah,  saying.  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord,  Forasmuch  as  thou  hast  disobeyed  the| 
 mouth  of  the  Lord,  and  hast  not  kept  the 
 commandment  which  the  Lord  thy  God  com- 
 manded tiiee, 
 
 22  But  camest  back,  and  hast  eaten  bread 
 and  drunk  water  in  the  '  place,  of  the  which 
 the  L  ORD  did  say  to  thee.  Eat  no  bread,  and 
 drink  no  water  ;  thy  carcase  sliall  not  come 
 unto  the  sepulchre  of  thy  fathers. 
 
 23  1  And  it  came  to  pass,  after  he  had  eaten 
 bread,  and  after  he  had  drunk,  that  lie  saddled 
 for  him  the  ass,  to  n-if,  for  the  prophet  whom 
 he  had  brought  back. 
 
 24  And  when  lie  was  gone,  ■"  a  lion  met  him 
 by  the  way,  and  slew  him  :  and  his  carcase 
 was  cast  in  the  way,  and  the  ass  stood  by  it, 
 the  lion  also  stood  by  the  carcase. 
 
 2.5  And,  behold,  men  passed  by,  and  saw  the 
 carcase  cast  in  the  way,  and  the  lion  standing 
 by  the  carcase  :  and  they  came  and  told  it  in 
 the  city  where  the  old  prophet  dwelt. 
 
 26  And  wlien  the  prophet  that  brought  him 
 back  from  the  way  heard  thereof,  lie  said.  It  is 
 the  man  of  God,  who  was  disobedient  unto  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  :  therefore  the  Lord  hath 
 
 t  Heh.  <i 
 
 A  cli.  It).  3.i. 
 I  Tlies  i. 
 
 t  H.  b. 
 t„„l„-n. 
 
 0  2  KUi.  83. 
 17,  18. 
 
 tj  fioe  cli.  1 
 
 rch    12.31, 
 
 .12.  2  Chr. 
 
 11.  15.1tcI3. 
 
 9. 
 cir.  97+. 
 )  Hi-b.   rr- 
 
 luTiird  and 
 
 t  Hi'b'  r,it-d 
 
 UU  hmJ. 
 Jii.lg.  17.12. 
 »  L-b.  li.  3I>. 
 
 t  i-ii.  U-  ly. 
 
 A  See  I  Sam. 
 
 7,8. 
 t  Heb.  in 
 
 II  <lr,  ci'irt 
 il  Or,  fc(,f/te. 
 
 delivered  him  unto  the  lion,  which  hath  f  torn 
 him,  and  slain  him,  according  to  the  word  of 
 the  Lord,  whicli  he  spake  unto  hiin. 
 
 27  And  he  spake  to  his  sons,  saying.  Saddle 
 me  the  as.s.     And  they  saddled  him. 
 
 28  And  he  went  and  found  his  carcase  cast 
 in  the  way,  and  the  ass  and  the  lion  standing 
 by  the  carcase  :  tlie  lion  had  not  eaten  the 
 carcase,  nor  f  torn  the  as.s. 
 
 29  And  the  prophet  took  up  the  carcase  of 
 the  man  of  God,  and  laid  it  upon  the  ass,  and 
 brought  it  back  :  and  the  old  prophet  came  to 
 the  city,  to  mourn  and  to  bury  liim. 
 
 30  And  he  laid  his  carcase  in  his  own  grave ; 
 and  they  mourned  over  him,  saying,  "  Alas,  my 
 brother! 
 
 31  And  it  came  to  pass,  after  he  had  buried 
 him,  that  he  spake  to  bis  sons,  saying.  When  I 
 am  dead,  then  bury  me  in  the  sepulchre 
 wherein  the  man  of  God  is  buried ;  °  lay  my 
 bones  beside  his  bones  : 
 
 32  ■■  For  the  saying  which  he  cried  by  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  against  the  altar  in  Beth-el, 
 and  against  all  the  houses  of  the  high  places 
 which  are  in  the  cities  of  '  Samaria,  shall  surely 
 come  to  pass. 
 
 33  H  '  After  this  thing  Jeroboam  returned  not 
 from  his  evil  way,  but  fmade  again  of  the 
 lowest  of  the  people  priests  of  the  higli  places  : 
 whosoever  would,  he  f  consecrated  him,  and 
 he  became  one  of  the  priests  of  the  high  places. 
 
 34  '  And  tliis  tiling  became  sin  unto  the  house 
 of  Jeroboam,  even  '  to  cut  ?/  off,  and  to  destroy 
 it  from  ot}'  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 I  Ahijah  htung  sick,  Jtrohoam  saulvth  liis  wife  dis- 
 guised with  presents  to  the  prophet  Ahijah  ut  Sliihh. 
 5  Ahijah,  forewanu'd  hi/  God,  derioimceth  God's 
 jndtjineiit.  \7  Ahijah  dieth ,  and  is  buried.  ]9  Nadab 
 suecerdrth  Jeroboam.  21  Hehoboanis  wicked  reiijn. 
 25  Shishah  spoileth  Jerusahm.  29  Abijam  succeed- 
 eth  Rchoboam. 
 
 AT  that  time  Ahijah  the  son  of  Jeroboam 
 fell  sick. 
 
 2  And  Jeroboam  said  to  his  wife.  Arise,  I 
 pray  thee,  and  disguise  thyself,  that  tliou  be 
 not  known  to  be  the  wife  of  Jeroboam  ;  and 
 get  thee  to  Shiloh  :  behold,  there  rs  Ahijah 
 the  prophet,  which  told  me  thai '  I  should  be 
 king  over  this  people. 
 
 3  ''And    take   t"'ith    thee    ten   loaves,   and 
 
 II  cracknels,  and  a  ||  cruse  of  honey,  and  go  to 
 him  :  he  shall  tell  thee  what  shall  become  of 
 the  child. 
 
 4  And  Jeroboam's  wife  did  so,  and  arose, 
 "^and  went  to  Shiloh,  and  came  to  the  house 
 
 ImJ  wavered,  but  was  not  decidedly  an  idnlatnr.  —  So  Clarke. 
 19.  He  n-ent  ftack,  for  though  forbidden  to  eat  and  drink  with  idolaters, 
 he  thought  he  might  with  a  prophet  of  the  Lord,  as  he  appeared  to 
 h""/ — f'ill.  24.  A  lion  met  him — these  animals  were  not  rare  in  Pa- 
 lestine, (see  Judg.  .\iv.  5  ;  1  Sam.  xvii.  34  :  2  Kings,  xvii.  25.)— Sonrii!. 
 I  cannot  think  but  this  prophet  died  in  the  favour  of  God,  though  by  the 
 tcelh  of  the  lion  ;  his  life  was  forfeited  for  example,  his  soul  was  safe  ; 
 yea,  his  very  carease  was  left,  though  torn,  yet  fair,  after  those  deadly 
 grasps  ;  as  if  God  had  said,  I  wiU  only  take  thy  breath  from  thee  as  the 
 penalty  of  thy  disobedience  j  a  lion  shall  do  that  which  an  apoplexy  or 
 
 fever  might  Ao.—Bp.  Hall.  28.  The  lion  had  not  eaten,  ^c— these 
 were  miraculous  circumstances. — Pat.,  Gill,  Scott.  31.  Beside  his 
 bones — to  secure  himself  from  the  judgment  he  had  threatened.— /''/f. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  3.  And  take  with  thee  ten  toares,  .^c.,  it  being  usual 
 to  carry  a  present  to  a  prophet  when  he  was  inquired  of  on  any  ac. 
 count,  (1  Sam.  ix.  7.)— Gill.  Bp.  Patrick  thinks  this  was  a  poor  pre- 
 sent, to  conceal  the  feigned  character  of  a  countrywoman  ;  but  D'.'lr. 
 cien:r  informs  us,  that  when  he  waited  on  an  Arab  emir,  his  mother 
 and  sister  sent  him,  early  in  the  morning  after  liis  arrival  in  their 
 camp,  a  present  of  pastry,  honey,  and  fresh  butter,  with  a  basin  of 
 
 Reflections  ON  Cinp.   XIII.  —  In  tbe  prophet  of  Judah,  U.  A  wurninr/ for  ininisOrs.     His  fault  was  credulity.     'Let 
 
 whose  briei  liLstory  occupies  tins  chapter,  we  have— I.  /]  put-  us  learn,'  says"  Bootbroyd,  '  not  to  regard  what  men  say  in 
 
 tirnfor  minister.^.     TLey  are  called  upon  to  be  bold  as  lions  in  religious  matters  without  evidence,  especially  when  lliey  make 
 
 (leclanng  the  message  of  God,  and  (ioil  will  protect  tbeni.    It  is  extraordinary  pretensions  to  Divine  lUununulions  and  inspira- 
 
 theirs  to  declare  tbe  sure  word  of  prophecy,  and  signs  and  won-  tious.' 
 ders  shall  follow.     Uod's  word  shall  not  return  unto  him  void. 
 380 
 
God's ju(l;/tiie)it  aijuinst  Jeruhoam. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XIV. 
 
 Scliubuiiiii's  wicked 
 
 rciyn. 
 
 of  Ahijah.  But  Ahijali  could  not  see  ;  for  his 
 eyes  f  were  set  by  reason  of  his  ape. 
 
 i  1[  And  the  Lord  said  uuto  Aliijah,  Behold 
 ,ne  wife  of  Jeroboam  coineth  to  ask  a  tiling  of 
 thee  for  her  son  ;  for  he  is  sick  :  thus  and  thus 
 shalt  thou  say  unto  her  :  for  it  shall  be,  when 
 she  Cometh  in,  that  she  shall  feign  herself  to 
 be  another  icoman. 
 
 G  And  it  was  so,  when  Ahijah  heard  the 
 sound  of  her  feet,  as  she  came  in  at  the  door, 
 that  he  said,  Come  in,  thou  wife  of  Jeroboam ; 
 why  feignest  thou  thyself  to  tie  another  ?  for  1 
 am  sent  to  thee  irilh  ]  heavy  /idiiigs. 
 
 7  Go,  tell  Jeroboam,  thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel,  •■  Forasmuch  as  I  exalted  thee 
 from  among  the  people,  and  made  thee  prince 
 over  my  people  Israel, 
 
 8  And  "rent  the  kingdom  away  from  the 
 house  of  David,  and  gave  it  thee  :  and  i/et 
 tliou  hast  not  been  as  my  servant  David,  '  who 
 kept  my  connnandments,  and  who  followed  me 
 with  all  his  heart,  to  do  that  only  which  was 
 right  in  mine  eyes  ; 
 
 'J  But  hast  done  evil  al)ove  all  that  were  be- 
 fore thee  :  ^for  thou  hast  gone  and  made  thee 
 other  gods,  and  molten  images,  to  provoke  me 
 to  anger,  and  ^  hast  cast  me  behind  thy  back  ; 
 
 10  Therefore,  behold,  '  I  will  bring  evil  upon 
 the  house  of  Jeroboam,  and  '■  will  cut  oft"  from 
 Jeroboam  him  that  pisseth  against  the  wall, 
 '  and  him  that  is  slnit  up  and  left  in  Israel, 
 and  will  take  away  the  renniant  of  the  house 
 of  Jeroboam,  as  a  man  taketh  away  dung,  till 
 it  be  all  gone. 
 
 1 1  "'Him  that  dieth  of  Jeroboam  in  tlie  city 
 shall  the  dogs  eat ;  and  him  that  dieth  in  the 
 field  shall  the  fowls  of  the  air  eat  :  for  the 
 LoBD  hath  spoken  it. 
 
 i'2  Arise  tliou  therefore,  get  thee  to  thine 
 own  house  :  and  "  w-hen  tliy  feet  enter  into 
 the  city,  the  child  shall  die. 
 
 13  And  all  Israel  shall  mourn  for  him,  and 
 bury  him :  for  he  only  of  Jeroboam  shall  come 
 to  the  grave,  because  in  him  °  tliere  is  found 
 some  good  thing  toward  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel  in  the  house  of  Jeroboam. 
 
 1 4  ■'  Moreover  the  Loud  shall  raise  him  up  a 
 king  over  Israel,  who  shall  cut  off  the  house 
 of  Jeroboam  that  day  :  but  what?  even  now. 
 
 15  For  the  Lord  shall  smite  Israel,  as  a  reed 
 is  shaken  in  the  water,  and  he  shall ''  root  up 
 Israel  out  of  this  'good  land,  which  he  gave  to 
 their  fathers,  and  shall  scatter  them  '  beyond 
 the  river,  '  because  they  have  made  their 
 groves,  provoking  the  Lord  to  anger. 
 
 10  And  he  shall  give  Israel  up  because  of 
 the  sins  of  Jeroboam,  "  who  did  sin,  and  who 
 made  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 1 7  H  And  Jeroboam's  wife  arose,  and  departed. 
 
 t  Heb.  iliiuit 
 for  l.„ 
 
 hoUTl'U'll, 
 
 rfSee2  Sam. 
 12.  7.  8. 
 ch.  16.  2. 
 
 fch.  II.  33, 
 :<8.  S  15.  6. 
 
 a  ch.  12.  2S 
 iCbr-ll  15 
 
 «  Neb.  9.  86. 
 
 I's   60.  17. 
 
 Eze,  2S.  35. 
 
 cir.  9.55 
 
 t  cli.  15.  29 
 
 fi  ih   21.  21. 
 
 2  Kin.  9-  8 
 nieu.  :12.  3-1 
 
 2Kiu.H.2e. 
 
 p  cb.  15.  27, 
 2S,  29. 
 
 q?  Kin.  17. 
 
 6.  fs.  52.  5. 
 r  Jiisb.  23. 
 
 15,  16. 
 .2  Kill.  IS. 
 
 20. 
 (  Ej,  3*.  13 
 
 Deu.  12.;1,-1. 
 
 I  ch.  12.  .30 
 Sc  13.  .31.  & 
 IS  30,  31. 
 &  16.  S. 
 
 B.  C.  950, 
 
 J  ch.  16    6, 
 8,  15,  23. 
 Cant.  6.  4. 
 
 t/  ver.  12. 
 
 ;  ver.  13. 
 
 .  2Chr.  13. 
 2,  &c. 
 
 I  Hi-b    htf 
 9J1. 
 
 5  2Clir.  12. 
 875. 
 
 ch.  II.  36. 
 d  ver.  31 . 
 
 972. 
 
 2Chr.  12  1. 
 
 /Deu  32.21- 
 
 Ps   78.  5S. 
 
 1  Cor.10.22. 
 
 g  Deu.  12.  2. 
 
 Eze.  16.  iM, 
 
 2S. 
 
 |l  Or,  j/o/id- 
 
 '«  ""«?■■>■ 
 
 r,  ttatiifs. 
 
 h  2  Kin.  17. 
 
 9,  10. 
 
 Is    .57.  5. 
 A  Deu.  23.17. 
 
 cb.  15.  12. 
 
 !.  16. 
 23.7 
 
 !Kii 
 
 /cli.  II.  -lO. 
 2  Chr.  12.2 
 
 ,„  2  Cbr    12. 
 9,  10,  n. 
 
 p  cb    12.  21. 
 &  15.  6 
 2Chr.l2.l5. 
 
 I  2  Cbr.  12. 
 16,  JIbijah. 
 Matt.  1.7, 
 
 and  came  to  ^  Tirzah  :  and  '  when  she  came  to 
 the  threshold  of  the  door,  the  child  died  ; 
 
 18  And  they  buried  him;  and  all  Israel 
 mourned  for  him,  ''  according  to  the  word  of 
 the  Lord,  which  he  spake  by  the  hand  of  his 
 servant  Ahijah  the  prophet. 
 
 19  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jeroboam,  how 
 he  "  warred,  and  how  he  reigned,  behold,  they 
 are  written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the 
 kings  of  Israel. 
 
 20  And  the  days  which  Jeroboam  reigned 
 were  two  and  twenty  years:  and  he  f slept 
 with  his  fathers,  and  Nadab  his  son  reigned  in 
 his  stead. 
 
 '21  H  And  Rehoboam  the  son  of  Solomon 
 reigned  in  Judah.  ''  Rehoboam  icas  forty  and 
 one  years  old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he 
 reigned  seventeen  years  in  Jerusalem,  the  city 
 '  which  the  Lord  did  choose  out  of  all  the 
 tribes  of  Israel,  to  put  his  name  there.  ''  And 
 his  mother's  name  was  Naamah  an  Amnion- 
 itess. 
 
 2-2  °And  Judah  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the 
 Lord,  and  they  ''  provoked  him  to  jealousy 
 with  their  sins  which  they  had  committed, 
 above  all  that  their  fathers  had  done. 
 
 23  For  they  also  built  them  *liigh  place.s, 
 and  11  images,  •■  and  groves,  on  every  high  hill, 
 and  '  under  every  green  tree. 
 
 2-t  ''  And  there  were  also  sodomites  in  the 
 land :  and  they  did  according  to  all  the  abomi- 
 nations of  the  nations  which  the  Lord  cast  out 
 before  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 2.5  t  '  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  fiftli  year 
 of  king  Rehoboam,  that  Shishak  king  of  Kgypt 
 came  up  auainst  Jerusalem  : 
 
 26  "'  And  he  took  away  the  treasures  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  and  the  treasures  of  the 
 king's  house  ;  he  even  took  away  all :  and  he 
 took  away  all  the  shields  of  gold  "  whicli  So- 
 lomon had  made. 
 
 27  And  king  Rehoboam  made  in  their  stead 
 brasen  shields,  and  committed  thc7n  unto  the 
 bauds  of  the  chief  of  the  f  guard,  which  kept 
 the  door  of  the  king's  house. 
 
 28  And  it  was  so,  when  the  king  went  into 
 the  house  of  the  Lord,  that  the  guard  bare 
 them,  and  brought  them  back  into  the  guard 
 chamber. 
 
 29  1  "  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Rehoboam, 
 and  all  that  he  did,o?-e  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 30  And  tliere  was  ''war  between  Rehoboam 
 and  Jeroboam  all  llieir  days. 
 
 31  ''  And  Rehoboam  slept  with  his  fathers, 
 and  was  buried  with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of 
 David.  '  And  his  mother's  name  was  Naamah 
 an  Ammonitess.  And  "  Abijam  his  son  reigned 
 in  his  stead. 
 
 sweetmeats  of  Damascus,— a  present  difFerin^  little  from  that  of  Jero- 
 boam's wife. — Hnr.  6.  Thou  wift'  of  Jfrohfutm — a  married  woman  is 
 generally  spoiten  to  in  India  as  the  unfe  of  siicli  a  one. — Riib.  10.  Cut 
 off  from  Jpi-oho'im  him,  ?fc.,  *  I  will  cut  off  from  him  every  male,'  &c. — 
 Bock.,  so  Booth/-.,  who  ailds,  he  is  not  certain  whether  the  rendering 
 should  not  be  '  every  dog,'  as  1  Sam.  x.vv.  22,  (see  the  note  there.) 
 Htm  that  is  shut  up  and  left  in  Isrufl,  '  however  shut  up  and  secure  in 
 Israel.' — Booth)-.  '  Shut  up  in  garrisons  or  in  prisons.'  It  signifies  an 
 entire  destruction.  (Deut.  xxxii.  36.)—Gitl.  11.  Doers  eat,  §-c.,  '  shall 
 die  unburied.' — I'onte.  13.  Some  ffood  thin^ — it  might  be  discerned 
 that  he  had  a  dislike  of  idolatry,  and  a  desire  to  have  true  religion 
 restored.— GtV/.  14.  Who  shall  cut  off,  ffc,  '  who  will  one  day,  and 
 that  soon,  cut  off  the  house  of  Jeroboam.' — Boothr.     But  what  ?  even 
 
 now — '  they  are  even  now  at  hand.' — Srott.  15.  tfe  skull  root  u./t 
 
 Israel— this  was  accomplished,  in  part,  2  Kings,  xv.  29,  and  more  fully 
 2  Kings,  xvii.  6.  JUner,  Euphrates,  called  'the  river,'  by  way  of  emi- 
 nence, as  Gen.  xv.  18  ;  xxxi.  21  ;  1  Kings,  iv.  21,  24.  17.  Tirzah,  an 
 ancient  and  royal  city,  (Josh.  xii.  24,)  where  the  kings  of  Israel  bad  a 
 palace,  {chap.  xv.  33,  &c.) — Poole,  18.  Spake  hi/  the  hand,  '  spoke  by 
 bis  servant.'— BooMr.  19.  The  hook  of  the  chronicles,  D'QTT  ''"ini  "12D, 
 •  the  book  of  the  words  or  things  of  the  days,'  not  the  canonical  book, 
 which  was  written  long  after,  but  a  daily  book  of  civil  records,  the 
 annals  whence  the  sacred  penman  selected  what  was  necessary. — Poole, 
 20.  Slept  with  his  fathers,  'died  as  they  did,'  but  was.  probably,  not 
 buried  in  their  sepulchre,  he  being  a  king. — Put.  2.5.  Shishak — sec 
 chap.  xi.  40. 
 
 Reflections  on    Chap.    XIV We   have   here I.  ^iij- I  the  most  dolicious  fruit.     But  it  pleased  Goil  to  take  Abijah 
 
 jail's  dealli,     'I'he  early  blosaoms  on  this  royal  plant  promised  I  away,  that  he  might  not  see  and  suffer  the  evils  of  his  wicked 
 381 
 
Ahljam's  wicUed  reiyn. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XV. 
 
 Daasha's  u'ar  ayahist  Judith. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  Ahijam's  wicked  relari.  7  Asa  sncceecUth  him.  9 
 Asa's  pood  reiffii.  I  fi  The  war  between  Baasfia  and 
 him  cansi'th  iiint  in  make  «  leacjue  with  B^i-ha.' 
 d-id.  23  Jelioshaphat  succeedeth  Asa.  25  Nadab's 
 wicked  reif/n.  27  Baasha  consjtirint;  aijainst  him 
 exectUeth  Ahijah's  prophecy.  31  Nadab's  acts  and 
 death.     33  Baasha's  wicked  reign. 
 
 "IVrOW  °  ill  the  eigliteentli  year  of  king  Jero- 
 -'•^  boam  the  son  of  Ncbat  reigned  Abijam 
 over  .Tiidah. 
 
 '2  Tlnee  years  reigned  lie  in  Jerusalem. 
 ^  And  his  mother's  name  uas  "  Maachah,  the 
 daughter  of''  Abishakmi. 
 
 3  And  he  walked  in  all  the  sins  of  his  father, 
 which  he  had  done  before  him  i  and  'his  heart 
 was  not  perfect  with  the  Lord  his  God,  as  the 
 heart  of  David  bis  father. 
 
 4  Nevertheless  ''for  David's  sake  did  the 
 Loud  his  God  give  him  a  ||  lamp  in  Jerusalem, 
 to  set  up  his  son  after  him,  and  to  establish 
 Jerusalem  : 
 
 5  Because  David  *  did  that  which  was  right 
 in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord,  and  turned  not  aside 
 from  any  thiiir/  that  he  commanded  him  all  the 
 days  of  his  life,  "".save  only  in  the  matter  of 
 Uriah  the  Hittite. 
 
 6  '  And  there  was  war  between  Rehoboam 
 and  Jeroboam  all  the  days  of  his  life. 
 
 7  *  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Alnjain,  and 
 all  that  be  did,  arc  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 And  there  was  war  between  Abijam  and  Jero- 
 boam. 
 
 8  '  And  Al)ijani  slept  with  bis  fathers  ;  and 
 they  buried  liini  in  the  city  of  David  :  and  Asa 
 his  son  reigned  in  bis  stead. 
 
 0  If  And  Ili  the  twentieth  year  of  Jeroboam 
 king  of  Israel  reigned  Asa  over  Judah. 
 
 10  And  forty  and  one  years  reigned  he  in 
 Jerusalem.  And  his  ||  motlier's  name  i(;as 
 Maachah,  the  daughter  of  Abislialoin. 
 
 11  "And  Asa  did  that  which  !cns  right  in 
 the  eyes  of  the  Loud,  as  did  David  bis  father. 
 
 12  "And  he  took  away  the  sodomites  out  of 
 the  land,  and  removed  all  the  idols  that  his 
 fathers  had  made. 
 
 1.3  And  also  "  Maachah  his  mother,  even  her 
 he  removed  from  hiiiiff  queen,  because  she  had 
 made  an  idol  in  a  grove  ;  and  Asa  f  destroyed 
 
 I    B.  C.  958. 
 
 I 
 
 6SClir.  11. 
 
 30. -ii.sa. 
 
 c  2  Clir.  13. 
 2,  J/icA».a 
 (A«  dnHijhter 
 of  "rid. 
 
 'i'-i  ciir-  n. 
 
 21  .Ih'alm. 
 e  cli.  II.  4. 
 Vs.  119,  SO. 
 
 fa,.  11.3?, 
 
 36  2  Chr. 
 -.^1.7- 
 II  <lr,  cfidh. 
 
 ch.  II.  ae. 
 
 p  fh.  14.  8. 
 
 4,  la.  h  12. 
 
 u. 
 
 i  ch.  II.  30. 
 
 A  2  rhr.  13. 
 2,  3,  22. 
 
 i;  That  is. 
 
 liv.  ml. 
 '.  cli.  I'l.  24. 
 &  22.  46. 
 
 f  Heb.  cut 
 -Jf. 
 
 B.  C.  955. 
 p  So.  Ex.32. 
 
 n  ch   22.  43. 
 2  Chr.  15. 
 
 .See  ver.  3, 
 
 i2Chr.  10. 
 
 I,  &c. 
 l.losh.  18  25. 
 n  Seech.  12. 
 
 27. 
 
 .,  2  Clu-.  16. 
 di.  11.2.1, 
 
 24. 
 
 =  2  Kill.  I.',. 
 
 211. 
 n  Judg.  18. 
 
 29, 
 b  2  Sain.  20. 
 
 14. 
 
 c  2  Chr.  IG.6. 
 1  Heh,/r™. 
 
 .(.I..=h    21. 
 cjo'sh.  18  26. 
 
 5?Chi-.  17.1. 
 h  iMat    1.  S. 
 
 her  idol,  and  •  burnt  it  by  the  brook  Kidron. 
 
 14  ''  But  the  high  places  were  not  removed  : 
 nevertheless  Asa's  '  heart  was  perfect  with  the 
 Lord  all  his  days. 
 
 15  And  he  brought  in  the  -f  thing.s  which  his 
 father  bad  dedicated,  and  the  things  which 
 himself  had  dedicated,  into  the  house  of  the 
 Loud,  sdver,  and  gold,  and  vessels. 
 
 16  IT  And  there  was  war  between  Asa  and 
 Baasha  king  of  Israel  all  their  days. 
 
 17  And  'Baasha  king  of  Israel  went  up 
 against  Judah,  and  built  '  Raniab,  "that  he 
 might  not  suffer  any  to  go  out  or  come  in  to 
 Asa  king  of  Judah. 
 
 18  Then  Asa  took  all  the  silver  and  the  gold 
 that  were  left  in  the  treasures  of  the  house  of 
 the  Lord,  and  tljc  treasures  of  the  king's 
 house,  and  delivered  them  into  the  hand  of  bis 
 servants:  >ind  king  Asa  sent  them  to  ^  Ben-ha- 
 dad,  the  son  of  Tabrimon,  the  son  of  Hezion, 
 king  of  Syria,  that  dwelt  at  ^  Damascus,  saying, 
 
 19  There  is  a  league  between  me  and  thee, 
 and  between  my  father  and  thy  father  :  behold, 
 I  have  sent  unto  tliee  a  present  of  silver  and 
 gold  ;  come  and  break  thy  league  with  Baasha 
 king  of  Israel,  that  be  may  f  depart  from  me. 
 
 20  So  Beu-hadad  hearkened  unto  king  Asa, 
 and  sent  the  captains  of  llie  hosts  which  he 
 had   against   the   cities  of  Israel,   and    smote 
 
 i  ^  Ijon,  and  °  Dan,  and ''  Abel-beth-maacbah,  and 
 all  Ciuneroth,  with  all  the  land  of  Naphtali. 
 
 21  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Baasha  beard 
 ,iheri<if\  that  be  left  off  building  of  Ramab.and 
 
 dwelt  in  Tirzab. 
 
 '  22  ''  Then  king  Asa  made  a  proclamation 
 throughout  all  Judah  ;  none  was  f  exempted  : 
 and  they  took  away  the  stones  uf  Ramah,  and 
 the  timber  thereof,  wherewith  Baasha  had 
 budded  ;  and  king  Asa  built  with  them'^Geba 
 of  Benjamin,  and  '  Mizpah. 
 
 I  23  The  rest  of  all  tlie  acts  of  Asa,  and  all  bis 
 might,   and    all    that   he  did,   and   the   cities 
 
 'which  he  built,  arc  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  tlie  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah? 
 Nevertheless  '  in  the  time  of  bis  old  age  he 
 
 [was  diseased  in  his  feet. 
 
 I  24  And  Asa  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  was 
 buried  with  his  fatliers  in  the  city  of  David  his 
 father:  ^and  ''  Jelioshaphat  his  son  reigned  in 
 
 I  his  stead. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  4.  A  lamp, '  a  son'  and  '  successor,'  (see  chap.  xi.  36.) 
 5.  Save  only,  ffc. — he  was  not  wiUiout  other  sins,  but  there  was  none 
 so  enormous  as  this.  6.  Between  Relitthoiun.  '  between  Abijah,  the 
 son  of  Rehoboam,'  Syr  ,  Arab.,  Boothr.  9.  Jn  the  twentieth  yeai — 
 in  the  first  verse  Abijam  is  said  to  have  commenced  his  reign  in  the 
 eighteenth  year  of  Jeroboam,  and  here,  in  the  twentieth  year,  Asa 
 began  to  reign ;  and  yet,  in  verse  2,  it  is  said,  Abijam  reigned  three 
 years ;  but  the  Hebrew  writers  often  mentioned  part  of  a  year  as  a 
 whole.  So  Abijam  began  to  reign  in  some  part  of  Jeroboam's  eigliteenth 
 year,  continued  the  whole  nineteenth,  and  died  in  the  twentieth. — Pat. 
 12.  Took  away  the  sodomites,  wtiich  were  in  the  times  of  Rehoboam, 
 
 (chap.  xiv.  24,)  and  continued  in  his  father's  reign.  He  cither  drove 
 them  out.  or  pot  them  to  death,  according  to  the  law,  (Lev.  xx.  13.) — 
 Gitl.  13.  Maachah,  his  mother,  'grandmother.' — Boothr.  14.  Was 
 perfect — he  sincerely  and  constantly  adhered  to  tlie  worship  and  ser- 
 vice of  God. — Poole.  1".  Built  Ramah,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Benja. 
 min,  lying  on  tlie  confines  of  the  two  kingdoms.  This  city  was  now 
 fortified,  to  prevent  his  subjects  liaviug  communication  with  those  of 
 Judah,  (see2Cliron.  xvi.  l.)—Put.  18.  All  the  silrer  and  the  gold, 
 left  by  Shishak,  (chap.  xiv.  26,)  or  that  he  had  put  there,  (vcr.  15.) 
 20.  He  smote  Ijon,  §-c.,  places  whicll  lay  on  the  nortliern  part  of  Israel, 
 nearest  to  Syria.         22.  Built  with   them  Oelm,   ?jc.,  '  fortified  these 
 
 father's  house.  The  death  of  children  may  be  intended  as  a 
 solemn  stroke  for  survivors,  but  tliey  are  often  taken  away 
 from  the  evil  to  come.  'This  hopeful  child,'  says  Henry, 
 '  dies  first  of  all  the  family  ;  for  God  often  takes  Ibem  soonest 
 whom  be  loves  best ;  heaven  is  the  fittest  place  for  tbem  ;  this 
 earth  is  not  worthy  of  tbem. 
 
 II.  Jerohoajns  death.  This  wicked  prince  died,  leaving  his 
 house  under  tlie  ban  of  God,  and  the  clouds  of  Divine  wrath 
 ready  to  burst  upon  a  guilty  nation,  which  be  bad  seduced  to 
 sin.  How  awful  would  be  the  reflection  of  wicked  fathers  and 
 kings,  it  they  allowed  themselves  to  think,  as  their  last  mo- 
 ments approached,  on  the  evils  tbey  have  brou,i;bt  upon  them- 
 selves, tbeir  families,  and  all  over  whom  their  evil  example 
 has  had  any  influence  !  How  fearful  must  be  their  foreboding.s 
 382 
 
 of  the  evil  to  come  !     Lord,  '  gather  not  my  soul  with  sinners, 
 nor  my  life  with  bloody  men.' 
 
 III.  Behoboam's  death.  liy  bis  conduct  he  brought  his  king- 
 dom into  disgrace,  and  near  the  verge  of  ruin.  The  nation  was 
 for  the  most  part  given  up  to  apostasy,  and  God  gave  it  up  to 
 punishment.  '  Sin  exposetb,  impoverisbeth,  and  weakenelh 
 any  people,' and  it  tarnishelh  the  lustre  of  the  brightest  crown. 
 It  'makes  the  gold  become  dim,  changes  the  most  fine  gold, 
 and  turns  it  into  brass.'  When  such  princes  as  Rehoboam 
 and  Jeroboam  die,  who  can  lament  their  loss  !  It  is  not  said 
 of  either  of  tbem  as  of  Abijah.  'and  all  Israel  mourned  for 
 him.'  Even  the  wicked  pay  homage  to  the  memory  of  the 
 just,  but '  the  name  of  the  n  icked  shall  rot.' 
 
Nadah's  wicked  reign. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XVI. 
 
 Zimri  executelh  Jehu's  prophecy. 
 
 25  t  And  Nadab  tho  son  of  Jeroboam  f  began 
 to  reign  over  Israel  in  tlie  second  year  of  Asa 
 king  of  Judali,  and  reigned  over  Israel  two 
 years. 
 
 '2H  And  lie  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 
 and  walked  in  tlie  way  of  his  father,  and  in  '  his 
 sin  wherewith  lie  made  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 •27  1 ''  And  Baasha  the  son  of  Ahijali,  of  the 
 house  of  Issachar,  conspired  against  him  ;  and 
 Baasha  smote  him  at  '  Gibbethon,  which  be- 
 lotiijed  to  the  Pliilistiiies  ;  for  Nadab  and  all 
 Israel  laid  siege  to  Gibliethoii. 
 
 2!^  Even  in  the  third  year  of  Asa  king  of 
 Judali  did  Baasha  slay  him,  and  reigned  in  his 
 stead. 
 
 29  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  ho  reigned, 
 that  he  smote  all  the  house  of  Jeroboam  ;  he 
 left  not  to  Jeroboam  any  that  breathed,  until 
 he  liad  destroyed  him,  according  unto  "'  tlie 
 saying  of  tlie  Lord,  which  he  spake  by  his 
 servant  Aliijah  the  Shilonite  : 
 
 .30  "  Because  of  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  which 
 lie  sinned,  and  whicli  he  made  Israel  sin,  by 
 bis  provocation  wlierewith  he  provoked  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel  to  anger. 
 
 31  IT  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Nadab,  and 
 all  tliat  he  did,  arc  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 S-2  °  And  there  was  war  between  Asa  and 
 Baasha  king  of  Israel  all  their  days. 
 
 33  III  the  tliird  year  of  Asa  king  of  Judali 
 began  Baaslia  the  son  of  Ahijah  to  reign  over 
 all  Israel  in  Tirzah,  twenty  and  four  years. 
 
 34  And  he  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 
 and  walked  in  ''  the  way  of  Jeroboam,  and  in 
 his  sin  wherewith  he  made  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 I,  7  JchuA  ir'pluctj  aijuinst  Baasha.  6  Ehih  suc- 
 Cicdtth  /tint.  8  Zititri  conftpiriitq  aifttittst  E/a/t  snc- 
 ceedeth  hiiii.  1 1  Zimri  eivecuteth  Jnhu's  praphectj. 
 15  Omri.  itiatle  Itifti/  hi/  tite  so/clicrs,  ftirct^th  Ziittri 
 dfsptratdif  to  hum  himstlf.  21  The  kinydom  htiitq 
 divided,  Oiitri  ffevailt'th  aijainst  Tibni.  23  Omri 
 huihltOi  Sattiaria.  25  His  wicked  reiyn.  27  Ahab 
 aucccedeth  him.  29  Ahah's  must  wiehed  rcit/ji.  34 
 Jusfiua's  ettrse.  niton  Hiel  the  huihler  nf  Jericho. 
 
 'T^HEN  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  "  Jehu 
 ■*-    the  son  of  Hanani  against  Baasha,  saying, 
 
 2  ''Forasmuch  as  I  exalted  thee  out  of  the 
 dust,  and  made  thee  prince  over  my  people 
 Israel  ;  and  '  thou  hast  walked  in  the  way  of 
 Jeroboam,  and  hast  made  my  people  Israel  to 
 sin,  to  provoke  me  to  anger  with  their  sins ; 
 
 3  Behold,  I  will  ■'  take  away  the  posterity  of 
 Baasha,  and  the  posterity  of  his  house  ;  and 
 will  make  thy  house  like  "the  house  of  Jero- 
 boam the  son  of  Nebat. 
 
 4  '  Him  that  dieth  of  Baasha  in  the  city  shall 
 
 c,S.,r,i. 
 
 i  cli.  12.  so. 
 !k  II.  ll>. 
 
 Mo9]i.l9.4> 
 tk-2\.  -2:1. 
 di.  IC.  15. 
 
 /)  rli.  1-3.  2S. 
 ■i't.  tc  13  3.1. 
 «<  14    in. 
 
 ■iClir.  19  2 
 Kc  -M.  ;il. 
 Ij  ill.   14    7. 
 
 r  .1.     14.    10. 
 K£    I  J.  20. 
 
 g  2  Chr.  16. 
 I. 
 
 /(  ch.  Mk  27, 
 an.See  llus. 
 I.  1. 
 930. 
 
 I  Sam.  25. 
 
 \\Or,l„lhhi. 
 k'mimri,  »nit 
 hiifriendt. 
 
 n  ver.  S. 
 
 f  Heh.  hy  Ih.: 
 I,.„.d  ,./. 
 u  ver.  I. 
 
 /•Peu  32.21. 
 I  Sam  12. 
 21.  Is.  41. 
 29  Jiiiiab  2. 
 8.  1  Cor.  S, 
 4.  .St  to.  19. 
 
 the  dogs  eat  ;  and  him  that  dieth  of  his  in  the 
 fields  shall  the  fowls  of  the  air  eat. 
 
 5  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Baasha,  and 
 what  he  did,  and  his  might,  ^  are  they  not 
 written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the 
 kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 6  So  Baasha  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  was 
 buried  in  ''  Tirzah  :  and  Elah  his  son  reigned 
 in  his  stead. 
 
 7  And  also  by  the  hand  of  the  prophet  '  Jehu 
 the  son  of  Hanani  came  the  word  of  the  Lord 
 against  Baasha,  and  against  liis  house,  even  for 
 all  the  evil  that  he  did  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 
 in  provoking  him  to  anger  with  the  work  of  his 
 bauds  ;  in  being  like  the  house  of  Jeroboam  ; 
 and  because  '  he  killed  him. 
 
 8  t  In  the  twenty  and  si.\th  year  of  Asa  king 
 of  Jndah  began  Elah  the  son  of  Baasha  to  reign 
 over  Israel  in  Tirzah,  two  years. 
 
 9  '  And  bis  servant  Zimri,  captain  of  half  hi.<: 
 chariot.s,  conspired  against  him,  as  he  was  in 
 Tirzah,  drinking  himself  drunk  in  the  house  of 
 Arza  t  steward  o(  his  house  in  Tirzah. 
 
 10  And  Zimri  went  in  and  smote  him,  and 
 killed  him,  in  the  twenty  and  seventh  year  of 
 Asa  king  of  Judah,  and  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 1 1  II  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  began  to 
 reign,  as  soon  as  he  sat  on  his  throne,  thai  he 
 .slew  all  tlie  house  of  Baasha  :  he  left  him 
 ""not  one  that  pisseth  against  a  wall,  ||  neither 
 of  his  kinsfolks,  nor  of  his  friends. 
 
 12  Thus  did  Zimri  destroy  all  the  house  of 
 Baasha,  "  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
 which  he  spake  against  Baasha  t°by  Jehu  the 
 prophet, 
 
 13  For  all  the  sins  of  Baasha,  and  the  sins  of 
 Elah  his  son,  by  which  they  sinned,  and  by 
 which  they  made  Israel  to  sin,  in  provoking 
 the  Lord  God  of  Israel  to  anger  ''with  their 
 vanities. 
 
 14  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Elah,  and  all 
 that  he  did,  are  they  not  written  in  the  book 
 of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 15  f  In  the  twenty  and  seventh  year  of  Asa 
 king  of  Judah  did  Zimri  reign  seven  days  in 
 Tirzah.  And  the  people  u-ere  encamped 
 ''  against  Gibbethon,  which  belonged  to  the 
 Philistines. 
 
 IG  And  the  people  that  ivere  encamped 
 heard  say,  Zimri  hath  conspired,  and  hath  also 
 slain  the  king :  wherefore  all  Israel  made 
 Omri,  the  captain  of  the  host,  king  over  Israel 
 that  day  in  the  camp. 
 
 17  And  Omri  went  up  from  Gibbethon,  and 
 all  Israel  with  him,  and  they  besieged  Tir- 
 zah. 
 
 18  And  it  came  to  pa.ss,  when  Zimri  saw  that 
 the  city  was  taken,  that  he  went  into  the  pa- 
 
 places,  vvliich  were  in  Benjamin,'  (Josh,  xviii.  24,  26;  see  Jer.  sli.  9.) 
 27.  Gtbiethan,  a  city  in  Dan,  [Josh.  xix.  44.)  29.  Sttio/e  all  tlie  huuse 
 oj  Jerolioiiiti—see  tlie  prophecy,  chap.  xiv.  10— 14.— Gi«. 
 
 Chap.  XVI.  —  I.Jehu  the  son  0/  Hanani— he  is  only   mentioned 
 here,  and  tlie  lather,  2  Chron.  xvi.  7.        2.  Made  thee  prince— though 
 
 Baasha  got  the  kingdom  by  treachery  and  murder,  yet  the  translation 
 of  the  kingdom  to  liim  was  according  to  tlie  appointment  of  God. — 
 Gill,  Henry.  7.  And  heciiase  he  hilled  him,  '  and  on  this  account 
 God  slew  liim.' — Boofhr.  He  killed  him,  that  is,  Nadab  and  the  family 
 of  Jeroboam. — .Jarclii.     Baasha  was  actuated  by  his  own  ambitious 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XV.  _  We  have  here,  I.  Theshort 
 and  mcled  rnyn  of  Ahijam.  •  God  cut  bira  off  to  make  way  for 
 his  son  .4sa,  who  would  be  a  better  man.' 
 
 II.  T/te  lony  and  piunx  reiyn  nf  Asa.  'In  the  account  we 
 have  ot  the  kings  of  Judah,'  Henry  remarks,  '  we  find  the 
 number  of  the  good  kings  and  the  bad  ones  pretty  nearly  equal; 
 but  then  we  may  observe,  to  our  comfort,  that  tlie  reign  of  the 
 good  kings  was  generally  long,  but  that  of  the  bad  ones  short  ; 
 the  consideration  of  which  will  make  the  state  of  God's  church 
 not  altogether  so  bad  within  that  period  as  it  at  first  seems. 
 383 
 
 Length  of  days  is  within  wisdom's  right  hand.' 
 
 III.  IVte  terminatitm  of  the  reiyn  nf  the  house  of  Jerohoam. 
 Here  is  the  fullilment  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  by  Ahijah, — 
 Nadab,  the  son  of  Jeroboam,  slain  by  a  conspirator,  and  the 
 conspirator  usurping  the  crown.  A  wicked  son  '  walked  in  the 
 way  of  his  father,  and  in  his  sin  wherewith  he  made  Israel  to 
 sin  ;' and  in  two  short  years  God  6nislied  his  reign.  'Thus 
 are  God's  threatenings  fultiHed,  as  we  have  often  seen,  and 
 the  wicked  are  driven  away  in  their  wickedness.* 
 
Omri's  wicked  reiqn. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XVII. 
 
 Elijali's  prophecy  against  Ahab. 
 
 lace  of  tlie  kin{;'s  house,  and  biiint  the  khig's 
 house  over  him  with  fire,  and  died, 
 
 19  For  his  sins  which  lie  sinned  in  doing  evil 
 in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 'in  walking  in  the 
 way  of  Jeroboam,  and  in  his  sin  which  he  did, 
 to  make  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 20  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Zimri,  and  his 
 treason  that  he  wronght,  are  they  not  written 
 in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of 
 Israel ^ 
 
 21  t  Then  were  the  people  of  Israel  divided 
 into  two  parts:  half  of  tlie  people  followed 
 Tibni  the  son  of  Ginatli,  to  make  him  king ; 
 and  half  followed  Omri. 
 
 22  But  the  people  that  followed  Omri  pre- 
 vailed against  tlie  people  that  followed  Tibni 
 the  son  of  Ginatli  :  so  Tibni  died,  and  Omri 
 reigned. 
 
 23  t  In  the  thirty  and  first  year  of  Asa  king 
 of  Judah  began  Omri  to  reign  over  Israel, 
 twelve  years  :  six  years  reigned  be  in  Tirzah. 
 
 24  And  he  bought  the  hill  Samaria  of  Sliemer 
 for  two  talents  of  silver,  and  built  on  the  liill 
 and  called  the  name  of  the  city  which  he  built, 
 after  the  name  of  Shemer,  owner  of  the  hill, 
 t "  Samaria. 
 
 25  f  But  '  Omri  wrought  evil  in  the  eyes  of 
 the  LoKD,  and  did  worse  than  all  that  ivere 
 before  him. 
 
 2G  For  he  "  walked  in  all  the  way  of  .lero- 
 boam  the  sou  of  Nebat,  and  in  his  sin  where- 
 with he  made  Israel  to  sin,  to  provoke  the 
 Loun  God  of  Israel  to  anger  vvitli  their 'vanities. 
 
 27  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Omri  which 
 be  did,  and  bis  might  that  be  shewed,  arc  they 
 not  written  in  tlie  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the 
 kings  of  Israel? 
 
 28  So  Omri  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  was 
 buried  in  Samaria :  and  Abab  bis  son  reigned 
 in  bis  stead. 
 
 29  f  And  in  the  thirty  and  eighth  year  of 
 Asa  king  of  Jndah  began  Abab  the  son  of 
 Omri  to  reign  over  Israel  :  and  Ahab  the  .son 
 of  Omri  reigned  over  Israel  in  Samaria  twenty 
 and  two  years. 
 
 30  And  Ahab  the  son  of  Omri  did  evil  in  the 
 
 ■  cli.  12  5fi 
 
 I  So.'  ill,  l:l 
 3-.'.  'Z  Kin. 
 17.  SI. 
 .K<ltu  1.  4. 
 
 I    Mi..',  li.   IG. 
 
 f  Hf-h  tens 
 
 :  JiKlg,  IS  7. 
 .(Oh  '-'1.  2b, 
 ■i(..  ?  Kill 
 
 10.  13  J!(  17. 
 
 A  •>  Kin  ill. 
 ■it,  aii,  27. 
 .  ■-'  Kin    IH. 
 
 11.  >i   17.   lU. 
 
 Jer.  17   '2. 
 I  ii-r.  30. 
 ch.  ai.  Sb. 
 
 cir    S 
 
 111 
 
 *  Hi'li. 
 
 Illijalw. 
 
 I.ukc 
 
 .  17 
 
 &  4.  S 
 
 >.    lu- 
 
 i« cull 
 
 ll 
 
 Kl.,„. 
 
 .1  a  Kin 
 
 nil 
 
 b  Itmi. 
 
 10. « 
 
 c  Kcilns.  Is 
 
 .-(.  .Ian 
 
 .1, 
 
 17. 
 
 r/I.nkp 
 
 4    ail 
 
 f  Heb.  It  the 
 t'id  <i_r  dan- 
 
 sight  of  the  Lono  above  all  that  icere  before 
 him. 
 
 31  And  it  came  to  pass,  fas  if  it  had  been  a 
 light  thing  fur  him  to  walk  in  the  sins  of  Jero- 
 boam the  sou  of  Nebat,  '  that  he  took,  to  wife 
 Jezebel  the  daughter  of  Etbbaal  king  of  the 
 ''  Zidonians,  "  and  went  and  served  Baal,  and 
 worshipped  him. 
 
 32  And  be  reared  up  an  altar  for  Baal  in  ''  the 
 house  of  Baal,  wbicli  be  bad  built  in  Samaria. 
 
 33  "^  And  Ahab  made  a  grove  ;  and  Ahab 
 ''  did  more  to  provoke  the  Lord  God  of  Israel 
 to  anger  than  all  the  kings  of  Israel  that  were 
 before  him. 
 
 34  IT  In  his  days  did  Hiel  the  Beth-elite  build 
 Jericho:  be  laid  the  foundation  thereof  in  Abi- 
 ram  bis  firstborn,  and  set  up  the  gates  thereof 
 in  his  youngest  son  .Segub,  'according  to  the 
 word  of  the  Lord,  which  he  spake  by  Joshua 
 the  son  of  Nun. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  Elijah,  havimj  prophesied  ar/ainst  Ahah.  is  sent  to 
 CVnTit/iy  ic/iere  the  ravens  feed  him.  8  lie  is  sent  to 
 the  widow  of  Zarephatli.  17  He  rniseth  the  widow's 
 son.     24  The  icoman  helicveth  him. 
 
 A  ND  t  Elijah  the  Tishhite,  trho  was  of  tiio 
 ■^*-  inhabitants  of  Gilead,  sa'u!  tuito  Ahab, 
 '^As  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  liveth,  ''before 
 whom  I  stand,  '^  there  shall  not  !>e  dew  nor  rain 
 ''  these  years,  bnt  Recording  to  my  word. 
 
 2  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  him, 
 saying, 
 
 3  Get  thee  hence,  and  turn  tliee  eastward, 
 and  hide  thyself  by  the  brook  Cherith,  tliat  in 
 before  Jordan. 
 
 4  And  it  shall  be,  that  thou  shalt  drink  of 
 the  brook  ;  and  I  have  commanded  tlie  ravens 
 to  feed  thee  there. 
 
 5  So  he  went  and  did  according  unto  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  :  for  he  went  and  dwelt  by 
 the  brook  Cherith,  that  is  before  Jordan. 
 
 G  And  the  ravens  bronght  him  bread  and 
 flesh  in  the  morning,  and  bread  and  flesh  in 
 the  evening  ;  and  he  drank  of  the  brook, 
 
 7  And  it  came  to  pass  f  after  a  while,  that 
 
 and  other  selfish  passions,  and  therefore  desci-ved  punishment,  tlmugh 
 he  fulfilled  the  righteous  purposes  of  God. — .scutt.  22.  Tihii  died, 
 
 it  is  most  likely  in  battle.— Hen rj^.  23.  In  the  thirty  nnd  first  ijfar, 
 ^c. — he  reigned  twelve  years,  not  from  this  3ist  year  of  Asa,  for  he 
 died  in  his  38th  year,  (ver.  2y,)  but  from  the  beginning  of  his  reign, 
 which  was  in  Asa's  27th  year,  (ver,  15,  16.)  So  he  reigned  four  years 
 iu  a  state  of  war  with  Tibni,  and  eight  years  peaceably.— i'oo/i?. 
 24.  S'jmnria- this  was  six  miles  from  Tirzah,  and  was,  ever  after,  the 
 royal  seat  of  the  kings  of  Israel.— G(7/.  34. /ji  Ahirnm  his  firsthot-n, 
 4f.— an  instance  of  the  truth  and  certainty  of  the  Divine  i>redicti(iiis 
 and  comminations,  this  beiug  fulfilled  600  years  alter  it  was  threatened. 
 —Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.  — 1.  Tishhite,  from  Tishbi,  or  Tishbc,  of  Gilead.  the 
 city  where  he  was  born.  3.  The  brook  Cherith,  seems  to  liavi-  been 
 a  rapid  torrent,  running  from  the  mountains,  and  forming  a  deep 
 ravine,  of  which  there  are  many  so  steep  that  birds  of  prey  build  their 
 eyries  iu  them. — Bouthr.  This  river  has  been  marked  nut  as  on  the 
 confines  of  Ephraim  and  Benjamin.  —  Welh.  4.  Ravens,  D^3iy, 
 •  merchants,'  a-s  in  Ezek.  xxvii.  27  ;  see  also  the  original  in  2  Chron. 
 xxi.  \6,  and  Nch.  iv.  7.  '  The  Orbim,*  inhabitants  of  a  town  iu  the 
 confines  of  the  Arabs.— Jerome.    Not  merchants,  but  true  ravens,  for 
 
 the  word  D*!*!;?  is  never  used  singly  for  *  merchants,*  and  God  would 
 have  specified  what  merchants,  and  not  said  the  merchants.  Not '  the 
 Orbim,*  if  there  were  any  city  of  that  name,  for  the  geuius  of  the  He- 
 brew wnuld  then  have  required  the  word  to  be  in  another  form  to  ex- 
 press its  inhabitants,  [D^l^tT,  or  r'^ail"-]— So  Greenf.  The  birds  of 
 that  name. — Bnch.,  Gill,  Boolhr.  The  Hebrew  word  includes  every 
 species  of  raven,  and  here  probably  means  the  rook.  Rooks  might 
 build  a  rooker>*  in  the  prophet's  neighbourhood.  These  birds  do  not 
 live  on  carrion,  but  on  corn  and  insects. — Eiicyr.  Brit.  A  number  of 
 voracious  birds,  having  their  nests  near,  probably  brought  food  for  their 
 young,  much  of  which  they  dropped,  as  Providence  ordered  it,  so  as  to 
 aftord  sufficient  nourishment  for  the  prophet. — C.  Taylor,  so  Wil.  The 
 voracious  raven  gluts  itself  when  opportunity  aflTords,  and  then  hides 
 the  remainder  of  its  food.  Hence  it  is  not  difficult  to  conceive  how 
 ravens  might  be  the  purveyors  for  Elijah,  bringing  to  bini  the  flesh  of 
 Iambs  and  poultry,  their  favourite  food,  and  other  portions,  of  brearl, 
 and  morsels,  the  remnants  of  some  luxurious  table. — Elijah.  These 
 birds,  following  their  natural  habits,  might  have  collected  the  food, 
 and,  by  the  control  of  Providence,  have  simply  deposited  it  at  once  on 
 the  spot  conveuicnt  for  the  prophet's  use. — Ed,  6.  In  the  morning — 
 in  the  evening — birds  in  hot  climates  seek  their  prey  at  these  limes. — 
 
 Reft.fctions  on  Chap.  XVI.  —  Henry  here  notices, '  Here 
 IS,  I.  The  ruin  of  the  family  of  Baasha  foretold  He  was  a  man 
 likely  enough  lo  have  raised  and  established  his  family- 
 active,  politic  and  daring  ;  but  he  was  an  idolator,  and  that 
 brought  destruction  upon  his  familv.  They  that  resemble 
 others  in  their  sins,  may  expect  to  resemble  them  in  their 
 plagues,  especially  tliose  who  seem  to  be  zealous  against  those 
 sins  m  others  which  they  allow  themselves  in.  So  the  house 
 ot  Jehu  was  reckoned  witli  for  the  blood  of  the  bouse  of  Ahab, 
 (Hos.  i.  4.)' 
 
 384 
 
 II.  The  struggles  of  Zimri ,  Tihni,  and  Omri  for  the  crmvn  of 
 Israel.  *  Proud  aspiring  men  ruin  one  another,  and  involve 
 others  in  their  ruin.* 
 
 III.  The  commcneemtnt  of  Ahah''s  evil  reign.  'We  had  seen 
 the  ruin  of  other  wicked  kings  and  their  faroilies  ;  yet,  instead 
 of  taking  warning,  his  heart  was  hardened  and  enraged  against 
 God  by  it.  He  thought  it  a  light  thing  to  walk  in  the  sins  of 
 Jeroboam.  Making  light  of  lesser  sins  makes  way  for  greater ; 
 and  they  that  extenuate  other  people's  sins  will  aggravate 
 their  own.' 
 
Ulijah  raisetli  the  widow's  son. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XVIII. 
 
 He  meeteili  rjood  Obadiah. 
 
 the  brook  dried  up,  because  there  had  been  no 
 rani  in  the  land. 
 
 8  H  And  the  word  of  the  Lobd  came  unto 
 him,  saying, 
 
 9  Arise,  get  thee  to  "  Zarephath,  which  be- 
 longali  to  Zidon,  and  dwell  there  :  behold,  I 
 have  commanded  a  widow  woman  there  to 
 sustain  thee. 
 
 10  So  he  arose  and  went  to  Zarephath.  And 
 when  he  came  to  the  gate  of  tlie  city,  l>ehold, 
 the  widow  woman  xcas  there  gathering  of  sticlis : 
 and  he  called  to  her,  and  said,  Fetcli  me,  1 
 pray  thee,  a  little  water  in  a  vessel,  that  I  may 
 drinlv. 
 
 1 1  And  as  she  was  going  to  fetch  it,  he  called 
 to  her,  and  said.  Bring  me,  I  pray  thee,  a  morsel 
 of  bread  in  thine  hand. 
 
 VI  And  she  said.  As  the  Lord  thy  God  liveth, 
 I  liave  not  a  cake,  but  an  handful  of  meal  in  a 
 barrel,  and  a  little  oil  in  a  cruse :  and,  behold, 
 I  am  gathering  two  sticks,  that  I  may  go  in 
 and  dress  it  for  me  and  my  son,  tliat  we  may 
 eat  it,  and  die. 
 
 13  And  Elijah  said  unto  her.  Fear  not;  go 
 and  do  as  tliuu  liast  said  :  but  make  me  there- 
 of a  little  cake  first,  and  bring  it  unto  me,  and 
 after  make  for  thee  and  for  thy  son. 
 
 14  For  thus  saith  the  Lokd  God  of  Israel, 
 The  barrel  of  meal  shall  not  waste,  neither 
 shall  the  cruse  of  oil  fail,  until  the  day  that  the 
 Loud  f  seudeth  rain  upon  the  earth. 
 
 1.5  And  she  went  and  did  according  to  the 
 saying  of  Elijah  :  and  she,  and  he,  and  her 
 house,  did  eat  ||  manij  days. 
 
 I()  And  the  barrel  of  meal  wasted  not,  neither 
 did  the  cruse  of  oil  fail,  according  to  the  word 
 of  the  Lord,  whicli  he  spake  fby  Elijah. 
 
 17  t  And  it  came  to  pass  after  these  things, 
 that  the  son  of  the  woman,  the  mistress  of  the 
 house,  fell  sick  ;  and  his  sickness  was  so  sore, 
 that  there  was  no  breath  left  in  him. 
 
 18  And  slie  said  unto  Elijah,  ''  What  have  I 
 to  do  with  thee,  O  thou  man  of  God  ?  art  thou 
 come  unto  me  to  call  my  sin  to  remembrance, 
 and  to  slay  my  son  ? 
 
 19  And  he  said  unto  her.  Give  me  thy  son. 
 And  he  took  him  out  of  her  bosom,  and  car- 
 ried him  up  into  a  loft,  where  he  abode,  and 
 laid  him  upon  his  own  bed. 
 
 20  And  he  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  said,  O 
 Lord  my  God,  hast  thou  also  brought  evil 
 upon  the  widow  with  whom  I  sojourn,  by  slay- 
 
 cir.  910. 
 
 e  OI)ad.  20. 
 I. -ike  4.  26, 
 
 t  lIob.^it-etA. 
 
 Or,  o  fiJl 
 
 \  Heb.  by  tht 
 hand  of. 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  dlO. 
 
 :U,  35. 
 t  Ileh.  » 
 
 .I..l.n  3.  2 
 &  10.  30. 
 
 t  Hell. 
 
 Iirmdinttu. 
 I  Hull.  .„»r 
 
 liis  liuiite. 
 
 f  Ht>b.  that 
 ipf  cut  nut 
 off  our- 
 vulves/ro?H 
 tlie  ftcattt. 
 
 ing  her  son  ? 
 
 21  "And  he  f stretched  himself  upon  the 
 child  three  times,  and  cried  unto  the  Lord, 
 and  said,  O  Lord  my  God,  I  pray  thee,  let 
 this  child's  soul  come  finto  him  again. 
 
 22  And  tlie  Lord  heard  the  voice  of  Elijah  ; 
 and  tlie  soul  of  the  child  came  into  him  again, 
 and  he  *"  revived. 
 
 23  And  Elijah  took  the  cliild,  and  brought 
 him  down  out  of  the  chamber  into  the  house, 
 and  delivered  liiin  unto  hismotlier:  and  Elijah 
 said.  See,  thy  son  livetli. 
 
 24  tAnd  the  woman  said  to  Elijah, Now  by  this 
 '  I  know  that  thou  ajl  a  man  of  God,  and  that 
 the  word  of  the  Loffo  in  tliy  mouth  is  truth. 
 
 CHAP.  XVllI. 
 
 1  In  the  extremity  of  famine  Elijah,  sent  to  Atiab, 
 meitetli  gooil  Obadiah.  9  Obadiah  In'inrjetti  Ahab 
 to  Etijiih.  17  Elijah,  rrprovili;/  Atiab,  by  fire  from 
 lieavt'n  coiivi/icetii  BaaVs  prop/utii.  41  Elijah,  by 
 prayer  obtaining  rain,  followeth  Ahab  to  Jtzreel. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  "many  days,  that 
 -'^  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  Elijah 
 in  the  third  year,  saying.  Go,  shew  thyself  unto 
 Ahab  ;  and  ''  I  will  send  rain  upon  the  earth. 
 
 2  And  Elijah  went  to  shew  himself  unto 
 Ahab.  And  there  was  a  sore  famine  in  Sa- 
 maria. 
 
 3  And  Ahab  called  "f  Obadiah,  which  zvas 
 t  the  governor  of  his  house.  (Now  Obadiah 
 feared  tlie  Lord  greatly  : 
 
 4  For  it  was  so,  when  f  .Jezebel  cut  off  the 
 prophets  of  the  Lord,  tliat  Obadiah  took  an 
 hundred  prophets,  and  hid  them  by  fifty  in  a 
 cave,  and  fed  them  with  bread  and  water.) 
 
 5  And  Ahab  said  unto  Obadiah,  Go  into  the 
 land,  unto  all  fountains  of  water,  and  unto  all 
 brooks  :  peradventuj-e  we  may  find  grass  to 
 save  the  horses  and  mules  alive,  f  that  we  lose 
 not  all  the  beasts. 
 
 6  So  they  divided  the  land  between  them  to 
 pass  throughout  it :  Ahab  went  one  way  by 
 himself,  and  Obadiah  went  another  way  by 
 himself. 
 
 7  H  And  as  Obadiah  was  in  the  way,  behold, 
 Elijah  met  him ;  and  he  knew  him,  and  fell  on 
 his  face,  and  said.  Art  thou  that  my  lord 
 Elijah  ? 
 
 8  And  he  answered  him,  I  am :  go,  tell  thy 
 lord.  Behold,  Elijah  is  here. 
 
 9  And  he  said,   W'hat  have   I  sinned,  that 
 
 Snt.  9.  Zor^;)7m//(,  called  Sarepta  in  Lulte,  iv.  26.  It  was  situated 
 between  TjTe  anil  Sidon.— Tt'e/fa.  12.  In  n  barrel— -n  is  rather  '  an 
 earthen  jar  i'  they  keep  their  corn  in  the  east  in  long  clay  vessels,  or 
 great  jars,  to  preserve  it  from  being  eaten  by  worms.  The  word  is  the 
 same  that  is  used  for  the  vessels  which  contained  Gideon's  lamps.— 
 A.  Clnrke,  Snndijf;,  Norfien,  Har.  A  eruse,  nUD!?.  *  a  bottle.' — Jttrchi. 
 Gathering  two  sticks—the  very  same  phrase  is  in  use  among  the  11  in. 
 doos,  two  being  put  for  many  ;  and  the  women  are  often  seen  seeking 
 a  few  sticks  to  boil  their  rice.— So  Hot,.  18.  Tn  cnll  my  sin  to  remem- 
 Arnnrp— sins  are  said  to  be  called  to  remembrance  before  God  when  he 
 punishes  them.  ip.  A  loft,  i-Trepyov,  which  he  had  for  his  own  sacred 
 use.  as  Elisha,  (2  Kings,  iv.  10.)— i'(i(.  21.  Sonl,  M'M-  The  word, 
 in  various  places,  and  perhaps  in  the  present,  signifies  '  the  life,*  or 
 
 *  breath." — Scheitchzei:  This  surely  means  here  more  than  the  breath, 
 and  that  the  soul  is  necessary  in  the  body  to  maintain  animal  life.^ 
 So  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.  —  1.  In  the  third  year,  'after  the  third  year.' — Pyie. 
 Reckoning  from  his  flight. — Bnothr.  2.  Samaria,  the  capital  of  the 
 kingdom,  where  Ahab  kept  his  court. — Gill.  This  name  is  often  put 
 for  all  the  country  subject  to  the  kings  of  Israel. — Calntet.  3.  Obn- 
 (linlt — some  think  this  was  the  prophet,  for  which  there  is  no  ground, 
 except  what  is  said  in  2  Chron.  xvii.  7,  that  he  was  sent  to  instruct  the 
 people.  It  is  inferable,  from  the  words  whicii  follow,  that  he  was  no 
 prophet,  but  merely  a  religious  man,  that  worsliipped  the  Lord. — Pat. 
 4.  Bread  and  water — a  term  often  used  for  the  necessaries  of  life. — Su 
 Scott,  Clarke.        5.  Unto  all  foantaiits  of  water — where  tliere  is  water 
 
 TtFFLEcriONS  ON  Chat.  XVII.  —  This  cliapter  exhibits, 
 I.  Elijah  at  tlic  brooli  Chirith.  '  If  Providence  calls  us  to  soli- 
 tude and  retirement,'  as  Henry  observes,  '  it  becomes  us  to 
 acquiesce  :  when  we  cannot  be  useful,  we  must  be  patient ; 
 and  when  we  cannot  work  for  God,  we  must  sit  still  quietly 
 for  him.' 
 
 II.  Elijah  at  the  house  of  the  widow  Zarephath.      Here  he 
 
 multiplied  the  meal  and  the  oil.     •  Never  did  corn  or  olive  so 
 
 increase  in  the  growing,' says  Bishop  Hall,  '  as  these  did  in 
 
 the  using.'     '  When  God  blesaeth  a  little,  it   will  go  a  great 
 
 386 
 
 way,  even  beyond  expectation  ;  as,  on  the  contrary,  though 
 there  he  abundance,  if  he  blow  upon  it,  it  comes  to  little, 
 (Hag.  i.  9;  ii.  19. )'  Yet  the  widow,  while  cherishing  the 
 prophet,  loses  her  child  ;  so  that,  when  we  have  the  clearest 
 manifestations  of  God's  favour  and  good-will  towards  us,  even 
 then  we  must  prepare  for  the  rebukes  of  Providence  :  our 
 mountain  never  stands  so  strong  hut  it  may  be  moved  :  and 
 therelbre,  in  this  world,  we  must  always  rejoice  with  trem- 
 bling. 
 
 3    D 
 
Elijah  reproveth  Ahah, 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XVIII. 
 
 and  convincei.h  Baal's  prophets. 
 
 thou   wouldest  deliver   thy  servant   into    the 
 hand  of  Ahab,  to  slay  me  ? 
 
 10  As  the  Lord  thy  God  liveth,  there  is  no 
 nation  or  kingdom,  whitlier  my  lord  hath  not 
 sent  to  seek  thee  :  and  when  they  said,  He  is 
 not  there  ;  he  took  an  oath  of  t!ie  kingdom 
 and  nation,  that  they  found  thee  not. 
 
 1 1  And  now  thou  sayest,  Go,  tell  thy  lord, 
 Behold,  Elijah  is  hire. 
 
 12  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  us  soon  as  I 
 am  gone  from  thee,  that  '  the  Spirit  of  the 
 Lord  sliall  carry  tlieo  whither  I  know  not ; 
 and  so  when  I  come  and  tell  Ahab,  and  he 
 cannot  find  thee,  he  shall  slay  me  :  but  I  thy 
 servant  fear  the  Lord  from  my  youth. 
 
 13  Was  it  not  told  my  lord  what  I  did  when 
 Jezebel  slew  the  prophets  of  the  Lord,  how  I 
 hid  an  hundred  men  of  the  Lord's  prophets  by 
 fifty  in  a  cave,  and  fed  them  with  bread  and 
 water  ? 
 
 14  And  now  thou  sayest.  Go,  tell  thy  lord. 
 Behold,  Elijah  is  here:  and  he  shall  slay  me. 
 
 15  And  Elijah  said.  As  the  Loud  of  hosts 
 liveth,  before  whom  I  stand,  I  will  surely  shew 
 myself  uiito  him  to  day. 
 
 !6  So  Obadiah  went  to  meet  Ahab,  and  told 
 him:  and  Ahab  went  to  meet  Elijah. 
 
 17  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Ahab  saw 
 Elijah,  that  Ahab  said  unto  him,  ''Art  thou  he 
 that  "  tronbleth  Israel  ? 
 
 18  And  he  answered,  I  have  not  troubled 
 Israel;  but  thou,  and  thy  father's  house,  'in 
 that  ye  have  forsaken  the  commandments  of 
 the  Lord,  and  thou  hast  followed  Baalim. 
 
 19  Now  therefore  send,  a)id  gather  to  me  all 
 Israel  unto  mount  '^  Carmel,  and  the  prophets 
 of  Baal  four  hundred  and  fifty,  ''  and  the 
 prophets  of  the  groves  four  hundred,  which  eat 
 at  Jezebel's  table. 
 
 20  So  Aliab  sent  unto  all  the  children  of 
 Israel,  and  'gathered  the  prophets  together 
 unto  mount  Carmel. 
 
 21  And  Elijah  came  unto  all  the  people,  and 
 said,  '  How  long  halt  ye  between  two  ||  opi- 
 nions? if  the  Lord  he  God,  follow  him  :  but  if 
 Baal,  '  then  follow  him.  And  the  people  an- 
 swered him  not  a  word. 
 
 22  Then  said  Elijah  unto  the  people,  "'  I, 
 even  I  only,  remain  a  prophet  of  the  Lord  ; 
 "  but  Baal's  prophets  are  four  hundred  and 
 fifty  men. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir,  906. 
 
 ■  ?Kin.2.lfi. 
 Eiek.  3.  IS, 
 U.  Mat.4.I. 
 Acts  8. 39. 
 
 d  ch.  21.80. 
 
 •  Joali.7.  25. 
 Acts  Iti.  go. 
 
 /2CUr.  15.2- 
 
 pJosh  19.?fi 
 h  ch.  16.  33 
 
 41,  Mm.  6. 
 
 II  "', 
 
 Ihtiughlt. 
 I  Sefi  Josh. 
 
 24.  15. 
 m  ch.  19.  10, 
 
 14. 
 
 1  Chr  L'I.2G 
 
 I  Hcl..  TV 
 u?-,Td  is 
 good. 
 
 I,  Or,n».«Tr 
 p  Ps.  lift,  h 
 
 t    llcl>.  Ullli 
 
 II  Or,  he  m* 
 
 diliitelh. 
 t  Hell,  fmlh 
 
 a  jiUTiuit. 
 y  1.0V.  19.28 
 
 Dcut.  14.  1. 
 [  Hcb.pn'ircrf 
 
 out  blood 
 
 Hjion  them 
 T  1  Cor.  11. 
 
 4,  it. 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 tiiceiidinff. 
 I  ver.  26. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ulleuli'in. 
 
 H  r.cii.  fl2,9.S. 
 Ik  33    10 
 2  Kin.  17. 
 
 X  Col.  3.  17. 
 
 f/  Lev.  I.  G 
 7,S. 
 
 23  Let  them  therefore  give  us  two  bullocks  ; 
 and  let  them  choose  one  bullock  for  them- 
 selves, and  cut  it  in  pieces,  and  lay  it  on  wood, 
 and  put  no  fire  tinder :  and  I  will  dress  the 
 other  bullock,  and  lay  it  on  wood,  and  put  no 
 fire  niider  : 
 
 24  And  call  ye  on  the  name  of  your  gods, 
 and  I  will  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  and 
 the  God  that  "answereth  by  fire,  let  him  be 
 God.  And  all  the  people  answered  and  said, 
 t  It  is  well  spoken. 
 
 25  And  Elijah  said  unto  the  prophets  of 
 Baal,  Choose  you  one  bullock  for  yourselves, 
 and  dress  it  first ;  for  ye  are  many  ;  and  call 
 on  the  name  of  your  gods,  but  put  no  fire 
 under. 
 
 26  And  they  took  the  bullock  which  was 
 given  them,  and  they  dressed  it,  and  called  on 
 the  name  of  Baal  from  morning  even  until 
 noon,  saying,  O  Baal,  ||  hear  us.  But  there 
 was  ''no  voice,  nor  any  that  ||  answered.  And 
 they  II  leaped  upon  the  altar  which  was  made. 
 
 27  And  it  came  to  pass  at  noon,  that  Elijah 
 mocked  them,  and  said,  Cry  f  aloud  :  for  he  is 
 a  god;  either  ||  lie  is  talking,  or  he  f  is  pur- 
 suing, or  he  is  in  a  journey,  or  peradventure 
 he  sleepeth,  and  must  be  awaked. 
 
 28  And  they  cried  aloud,  and  ''  cut  them- 
 selves after  their  manner  with  knives  and 
 lancets,  till  f  the  blood  gushed  out  upon  them. 
 
 29  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  midday  was 
 past,  'and  they  prophesied  until  the  time  of 
 the  foff'ering  of  the  evening  sacrifice,  that 
 there  was  'neitlier  voice,  nor  any  to  answer, 
 nor  any  f  that  regarded. 
 
 30  And  Elijah  .said  unto  all  the  people.  Come 
 near  unto  me.  And  all  the  people  came  near 
 unto  him.  '  And  he  repaired  the  altar  of  the 
 Lord  that  ivas  broken  down. 
 
 31  And  Elijah  took  twelve  stones,  according 
 to  the  number  of  the  tribes  of  the  sons  of 
 Jacob,  unto  whom  the  word  of  the  Lord  came, 
 saying,  "  Israel  shall  be  thy  name  : 
 
 32  And  with  the  stones  he  built  an  altar  '  in 
 the  name  of  the  Lord  :  and  he  made  a  trench 
 about  the  altar,  as  great  as  would  contain  two 
 measures  of  seed. 
 
 33  And  he  ^  put  the  wood  in  order,  and  cut 
 the  bullock  in  pieces,  and  laid  him  on  the 
 wood,  and  said.  Fill  four  barrels  with  water,  and 
 '  pour  it  on  the  burnt  sacrifice,  and  on  the  wood. 
 
 Ill  the  east  th<?re  is  always  grass  and  vcnltire.— sir ./.  Clmrdin.  9.  To 
 slay  me— if  Elijah  could  not  lie  found,  Obadiah  would  expect  death  for 
 not  having  secured  him.— So  Boolhr.  lo.  No  nation  or  kingdom, 
 meaning  all  his  own  states  and  the  neighbouring  kingdoms.— So  Clarke. 
 13.  IT^us  »^  ho/ /oW— it  would  be  ungrateful  and  impolitic  to  sacrifice 
 such  a  friend  at  court.  ig.  Carmel,  a  mountain  in  the  tribe  of  Issa- 
 char,  well  situated  for  the  jienple.  who  came  from  all  parts.— Gi//.  0/ 
 Baal— of  the  groves— the  king  and  queen  had  different  establishments, 
 and  priests  for  each.— So  Clarke.  miL'N,  the  word  rendered  '  groves," 
 was  probably  Ashtoreth,  Ashtareth,  A«.tarte.  or  Venus,  the  goddess  of 
 the  Zidonians.— Sf/rfen,  so  Clarke.  Which  eat  at  Jezebel's  la/jle—it  is 
 not  unusual  in  the  east  for  servants  to  eat  at  the  tables  where  their 
 masters  have  just  eaten,  but  Jezebel  never  surely  had  400  chaplains 
 waiting  at  once  at  court.  The  words  probably  mean  that  they  fed  daily 
 at  a  common  tabic,  in  or  near  the  temple  ol  the  idol,  provided  at  Jeze- 
 bel's expense.— Har.  21.  Hall  ye  between  two  opinions,  'ji  D'nDD 
 p'Ol'Dn  'nn?,  '  leap  ye  upon  two  branches,'  like  a  bird  that  leaps  or  hops 
 from  one  branch  to  another,  and  never  setUes  long.— Gi«,  Par.,  Bate, 
 Ge.!e/iras.  The  metaphor  is  taken  from  the  unequal  walk  of  a  lame 
 person.-Sco«.  so  Pal.  22.  ]  onli,  remain,  the  only  prophet  whoap- 
 peared  lor  Jehovah,  the  rest  being  driven  into  concealment.— Poo(e, 
 Pat.,  Scolt.      He  thought  all  the  rest  were  slain.  23.  Put  no  fire 
 
 under,  winch  was  used  to  be  done  for  burnLofferings,  as  this  was  de- 
 signed to  be  -G,H.  24.  The  God  that  a,iswereth  by  fire-the  people 
 knew  that  the  true  God  n.scd  so  to  do,  I  see  Gen  iv  4-  lev  ix  24- 
 Judg.  Ti.  21  ;  xm.20,)-Po„/f.  Baal  was  here  Apollo  or  the  Sun.  and) 
 as  the  god  of  are,  this  was  a  fair  test  for  him  to  answer  by  his  own 
 element.— So  Clarke.  26.  Dressed  it,  cut  it  in  pieces,  and  laid  the 
 386 
 
 parts  in  or  upon  the  wood. — Poole.  Xor  any  that  ansieered,  *  no 
 answer.' — Boothr.  *  Nor  any  tliat  lieard,'  the  Hebrew  signifying  both 
 to  hear  and  answer. — TI*/7.  Leaped  upon  the  attar,  danced  about  it, 
 after  the  manner  of  the  ancient  Salii,  the  priests  of  Mars. — Pat.,  Gill. 
 27.  Mocked,  '  jeered  and  bantered.' — Gill,  Put.  By  this  example  we 
 see  tliat  all  jesting  is  not  unlawful,  but  only  that  whicii  intrenchetli  upon 
 piety  and  good  manners. — Poole.  Either  he  is  talking,  ^c. — Jupiter 
 stmietimes  went  abroad,  sometimes  slept,  &c. — Homer.  It  is  ascer- 
 tained that  the  Baal-Peor  of  the  Assyrians,  and  the  Siva. Lingani  of  the 
 East  Indians,  are  the  same  gnds  ;  and  it  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  iiony 
 of  the  prophet  is  grounded  on  habits  now  ascribed  to  the  Lingam  of  India. 
 The  world  was  once  about  to  expire  from  Siva  being  in  a  reverie ;  he  is 
 fond  of  hunting,  takes  journeys,  and  sleeps.  28.  Cut  themselres — 
 this  is  done  by  tlie  Hindoos  till  tlic  blood  runs  down  them  in  streams. 
 — So  Itoh.  The  same  practice  was  usual  among  other  idolatnrs,  the 
 priests  of  Bellona,  the  worshippers  of  the  Syrian  goddess,  and  of  the 
 Egyptian  Isis. — Tertullian,  Apoleius,  Herod.  This  horrid  practice  is 
 forbidden.  Dent.  xiv.  I.  29.  That  there  was  neither  voice,  ^c,  'there 
 was  no  voice,  no  answer.' — •Boolhr.  30.  Repaired  the  altar — Carmel 
 seems  to  have  been  one  of  the  most  eminent  high  places  in  the  kingdom, 
 where  the  people  offered  sacrifices  to  God  in  ancient  times ;  but  IJaal's 
 worshippers  had  broken  down  the  altar  and  set  up  their  own.  31.  To 
 the  number  of  the  tribes  of  the  sons  of  Jacob — that  he  might  shew  he 
 worshipped  the  God  of  the  patriarchs  and  no  other. — Pat.  32.  He 
 built  an  altar,  which,  though  generally  forbidden,  he  might  do,  because 
 he  did  it  by  the  command  and  sugpestion  of  God,  who  can  dispense 
 with  his  own  laws,  and  upon  urgent  necessity,  it  being  impossible  to 
 bring  the  IsraeUtes  to  the  altar  of  Jerusalem  at  this  time.        33.  Pour 
 
Elijah,  by  prayer,  ohiaincth 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XIX. 
 
 He  fleeth  to  Beer-shcba. 
 
 "34  And  he  said,  Do  it  the  second  time.  And 
 they  did  it  the  second  time.  And  he  said, 
 Uo  it  the  third  time.  And  they  did  it  the 
 tliird  time. 
 
 3j  And  the  water  f  ™"  round  about  the 
 altar ;  and  he  filled  °  the  trench  also  with 
 water. 
 
 .30  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  time  of  the 
 offering  of  the  evening  sacrifice,  that  Elijah  the 
 propliet  came  near,  and  said,  Lord  ''God  of 
 Abraham,  Isaac,  and  of  Israel,  '^let  it  be  known 
 this  day  tliat  thou  nrt  God  in  Israel,  and  that 
 I  am  thy  servant,  and  that  ''  I  have  done  all 
 these  things  at  thy  word. 
 
 37  Hear  me,  O  Loud,  hear  me,  that  this 
 jioople  may  know  that  thou  art  the  Lord 
 (iod,  and  that  thou  hast  turned  their  heart 
 back  again. 
 
 38  Then  "  the  fire  of  the  Lord  fell,  and  con- 
 sumed the  burnt  sacrifice,  and  the  wood,  and 
 the  stones,  and  the  dust,  and  licked  up  the 
 water  that  leas  in  tlie  trench. 
 
 .'19  And  when  all  the  people  saw  it,  they  fell 
 on  their  faces  :  and  they  said,  '  The  Lord,  he 
 is  the  God  ;  the  Lord,  he  ?«  the  God. 
 
 ■10  And  Elijah  said  unto  them,  ||  ^  Take  the 
 )nophets  of  Baal  ;  let  not  one  of  them  escape. 
 .And  they  took  them  :  and  Elijah  brought  them 
 down  to  the  brook  Kishon,  and  '•slew  them 
 there. 
 
 41  t  And  Elijah  said  unto  Ahab,  Get  thee 
 up,  eat  and  drink  ;  for  there  is  \\  a  sound  of 
 abundance  of  rain. 
 
 4'2  So  Ahab  went  up  to  eat  and  to  drink. 
 And  Elijah  went  up  to  the  top  of  Carmel  ; 
 '  and  he  cast  himself  down  upon  the  earth,  and 
 put  his  face  between  his  knees, 
 
 43  And  said  to  his  servant.  Go  up  now,  look 
 toward  the  sea.  And  he  went  up,  and  looked, 
 and  said.  There  is  nothing.  And  he  said.  Go 
 again  seven  times. 
 
 44  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  seventh  time, 
 that  he  said.  Behold,  there  ariseth  a  little  cloud 
 out  of  the  sea,  like  a  man's  hand.  And  he 
 said.  Go  up,  say  unto  Ahab,  f  Prepare  thy 
 chariot,  and  get  thee  down,  that  the  rain  stop 
 
 KC 
 
 rir.  yiHl. 
 
 I  Heb.  wpni.  I 
 a  ver.  32,38. 
 
 b  r.x.  3.  n. 
 
 c  ch.  S.  J;J. 
 2  Kill,  M». 
 19.  Vs.  83. 
 
 13. 
 
 d  Nii.16  aa 
 
 /  ver.  21. 
 
 Or,  .■;,i,.r 
 
 111,  1.17. 
 iii.G..3l 
 
 rNiim  n  IS. 
 .IniLili  4.  a. 
 
 t  Hell    r«r 
 
 d  So  Es.  ai 
 2B.  Dcii  <J. 
 y,  IS.   Mat, 
 
 thee  not. 
 
 4.5  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  mean  while, 
 that  the  heaven  was  black  with  clouds  and 
 wind,  and  there  was  a  great  rain.  And  Ahab 
 rode,  and  went  to  .Tezreel. 
 
 40  And  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  on  Elijah  ; 
 and  he  ^  girded  up  liis  loins,  and  ran  before 
 Ahab  t  to  the  entrance  of  Jezreel. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX.      , 
 
 1  Elijah,  threalened  hy  Jezi:htl,  Jiecth  to  Beer-s/icba, 
 4  //*  tlie  wiUkrncss,  hehiy  wiari/  of  his  life,  he  is  com- 
 fort-tl  li!/  tin  anf/cl.  9  .^t  Horeh  God  appcarrth  unto 
 him,  st'uding  him  to  anoint  Hazael,  Jehu,  and  EUshn. 
 19  Elisha,  taking  leave  of  his  friends,  followeth 
 Elijah. 
 
 A  ND  Ahab  told  Jezebel  all  that  Elijah  had 
 -^^  done,  and  withal  how  he  had  °  slain  all  the 
 prophets  witli  the  sword. 
 
 *2  Then  Jezebel  .sent  a  messenger  unto  Eli- 
 jah, saying,  ^  So  let  the  gods  do  to  ///p,  and 
 more  also,  if  I  make  not  thy  life  as  the  life  of 
 one  of  them  by  to  morrow  about  this  time. 
 
 3  And  when  he  saw  that,  he  arose,  and  went 
 for  his  life,  and  came  to  Reer-slieba,  which  be- 
 loinjcth  to  Judah,  atid  left  his  servant  there, 
 
 4  If  But  he  himself  went  a  day's  journey  into 
 the  wilderness,  and  came  and  sat  down  under 
 a  juniper  tree  :  and  he  *^  requested  f  for  himself 
 that  he  might  die;  and  said,  It  is  enough; 
 now,  O  Lord,  take  away  my  life  ;  for  1  am  tiot 
 better  than  my  fathers. 
 
 5  And  as  he  lay  and  slept  under  a  juniper 
 tree,  behold,  then  an  angel  touched  him,  and 
 said  unto  him,  Arise  and  eat. 
 
 6  And  he  looked,  and,  behold,  thei'e  ivas  a 
 cake  baken  on  the  coals,  and  a  cruse  of  water 
 at  his  fhead.  And  be  did  eat  and  drink,  and 
 laid  him  down  again. 
 
 7  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  again  the 
 second  time,  and  touched  him,  and  said.  Arise 
 and  eat ;  because  the  journey  is  too  great  for 
 thee. 
 
 8  And  lie  arose,  and  did  eat  and  drink,  and 
 went  in  tlie  strength  of  that  meat  ''forty  days 
 and  forty  nights  unto  *^  Horeb  the  mount  of  God. 
 
 9  If  And  he  came  thither  unto  a  cave,  and 
 
 i7,  S(C. — this  he  did  tn  make  the  miracle  more  unquestionable. — Poofe. 
 3«.  The  fire  of  the  Lord  fell — it  is  probable  that  this  fire  appeared  as 
 li^htninff,  thoufjh  no  clouil  was  seen  ;  nr  it  was  called  'the  fire  of  God' 
 from  its  force  and  effects.— Seo/^  39.  The  Lord,  he  is  the  God,  'Jehovah 
 he  is  God.' — Boofhr.,  so  Ctnrke.  40.  Let  not  one  of  them  escape — 
 
 these  idolatrous  priests  were  already  sentenced  to  death,  (Dent,  xiii., 
 xvii.,)  so  Elijah  had  sufficient  authority  to  execute  it,  as  being  a  pro- 
 phet and  an  extraordinary  minister  of  God's  veng:cance  against  sinners. 
 — Poole.  And  sletv  them  there — the  400  prophets  of  the  groves,  though 
 summoned,  (ver.  19.)  did  not  attend,  and  so  escaped  this  execution. 
 They  were,  it  seems,  reserved  as  instruments  of  Ahab's  destruction, 
 some  time  after,  by  encouraging  him  to  go  up  to  Ramoth-gilead,  (chap. 
 xxii.  6.)  —  Henri/.  4i.  A  sound — this  way  of  describing  rain  is  com- 
 mon in  the  east.  It  refers  to  thunder  or  wind,  indicative  of  rain.  In 
 lofty  places  it  is  loudest,  and  so  was  better  distinguished  at  Carmel. — 
 So  Rob.  42.  Ftire  between  his  knees— ■&  mode  of  sitting  still  nsual  in 
 the  east  for  those  plunged  in  a  deep  reverie. — So  Chardin  and  Roberts. 
 43.  The  sea,  the  Mediterranean,  to  the  west  of  the  land  of  Israel. — Gill. 
 
 44.  A  little  chttd— great  storms  are  wont  to  begin  with  such  a  cloud, 
 and  it  is  the  sign  of  thera  at  sea.— S(r  J.  Chardin.  46.  Girded  np  his 
 loins,  as  in  the  east  they  now  gird  their  shawls  and  long  robes  when 
 about  to  run. — Rob.  Ran  before  .i hub,  to  shew  him  all  honour  and 
 respect  as  a  king. — Gill,  Pat.  This  would  not  have  been  becoming  in 
 a  prophet  of  God,  and  the  expression,  'the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon 
 him.'  signifies  enabling  a  prophet  to  prophesy,  (2  Kings,  ii,  15  :)  conse- 
 quently, wc-  are  rather  to  understand  these  words  of  God's  stirring  him 
 up  to  the  composing  and  singing  of  some  proper  hymns  on  this  occa- 
 sion, when,  most  likely,  like  Nadir  Shah,  he  had  a  numerous  band  of 
 chanters  preceding  his  footmen. — Har. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  —3.  To  Beer-sheha,  84  miles  from  Jezreel.  4.  The 
 wilderness,  of  Paran,  which  began  near  Beersheha  ;  twenty  miles  more 
 sou\hyvRr(\.— Bunting's  Trav.  A  Juniper  tree,  which,  he  being  op- 
 pressed with  heat,  was  extremely  welcome  to  him  on  aocotmt  of  its 
 thick  shade.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  the  bmom  be  not  here 
 meant,  which  grows  commonly  in  those  wildernesses.  —  Har.,  see 
 Gesen.,  so  also  Mont.,  Le  Clerc,  Geddes,   Boothr.         6.  On  the  coals, 
 
 REFT.ECTIONS  ON  CiiAp.  XVITT We  shall  again  recur 
 
 to  the  reflections  of  Henry.  We  have  here — L  Elijah's  in- 
 ttrvitic  icith  Ohadinh,  on  whose  character,  beinc;  one  that  feared 
 tlie  Lord  from  his  youth,  we  may  observe,  that  early  piety, 
 it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  be  eminent  piety  ;  those  that  are  good 
 betimes  are  likely  to  be  very  good  :  he  that  feared  God  from 
 his  youth  came  to  fear  him  greatly.  Those  fear  God  greatly 
 that  keep  up  the  fear  of  liim  in  bad  times  and  bad  places  ; 
 thus  Obadiah  did.  God  has  his  remnant  among  all  sorts, 
 high  and  low  :  there  were  saints  in  Nero's  household,  and  in 
 Ahab's. 
 
 II.  Elijali's  interview  with  Ahah  himself.  Ahab  basely  ac- 
 cuses Elijal]  as  a  troubler  in  Israel ;  and  it  has  been  the  lot  of 
 tije  best  and  most  useful  men  to  be  called  ami  counted  the 
 387 
 
 troublers  of  the  land,  and  to  be  run  upon  and  run  down  as 
 public  grievances.  Even  Christ  and  his  apostles  were  thus 
 misrepresented,  (Acts.  xvii.  6. )  Elijah,  however,  boldly  re- 
 turned tlie  charge  upon  the  king,  and  proved  it  upon  him, 
 that  he  was  the  troubler  of  Israel.  They  that  procure  God's 
 judgments  do  the  mischief,  not  he  that  foretels  them  only,  and 
 gives  warning  of  them,  that  the  nation  may  repent  and  prevent 
 them. 
 
 III.  Elijah^s  interview  with  all  Israel  vpon  mount  Carmel. 
 Here  he  'made  a  public  trial  of  the  titles  between  the  Lord 
 and  Baal.  Bavd  and  his  prophets  were  confounded  ;  God  and 
 Elijah  were  lionoured  ;  the  false  prophets  were  executed,  and 
 the  judgments  on  the  land  were  removed. 
 
God  appeareth  unto  Etisha  at  Horcb.  I.KINGS,  XX.  Ben-hadad  besiegeth  Samaria 
 
 lodged  there  ;  and,  behold,  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  came  to  him,  and  he  said  unto  him.  What 
 doest  thou  here,  Elijali  ? 
 
 10  And  he  said,  '  I  have  been  very  ^jealous 
 for  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  :  for  the  children  of 
 Israel  have  forsaken  tliy  covenant,  thrown 
 down  thine  altars,  and  "  slain  thy  prophets 
 with  the  sword  ;  and  '  I,  even  1  only,  am  left ; 
 and  they  seek  my  life,  to  take  it  away. 
 
 1 1  And  he  said.  Go  forth,  and  stand  '  upon 
 the  mount  before  the  Loud.  And,  behold,  the 
 Lord  passed  by,  and  '  a  great  and  strong  winil 
 rent  tlie  mountains,  and  brake  in  pieces  tlie 
 rocks  before  tlie  Lord  ;  but  tlie  Loud  ivas  not 
 in  the  wind  :  and  after  tlie  wind  an  earthquake  ; 
 htit  the  Lord  was  not  in  tlie  earthquake  : 
 
 12  And  after  the  earthquake  a  fire  ;  but  the 
 Lord  a-as  not  in  the  fire  :  and  after  the  fire  a 
 still  small  voice. 
 
 13  And  it  was  so,  when  Elijah  heard  it,  that 
 ■"he  wrapped  his  face  in  his  mantle,  and  went 
 out,  and  stood  in  the  entering  in  of  the  cave. 
 "  And,  behold,  there  came  a  voice  unto  hiin, 
 and  .said,  Wliat  doest  thou  here.  Elijah  ? 
 
 14  "And  lie  said,  1  have  been  very  jealous  for 
 the  Lord  God  of  hosts  :  because  the  children 
 of  Israel  have  forsaken  thy  covenant,  thrown 
 down  thine  altars,  and  slain  tliy  propliets  witli 
 the  sword ;  and  I,  even  I  only,  am  left ;  and 
 they  seek  my  life,  to  take  it  away. 
 
 15  And  tile  Lord  said  unto  him.  Go,  return 
 on  thy  way  to  the  wilderness  of  Damascus : 
 "■and  when  tliou  comest,  anoint  Hazael  to  be 
 king  over  Syria  : 
 
 16  And  ''Jehu  the  son  of  Nimshi  shalt  thou 
 anoint  to  be  king  over  Israel  :  and  '  Elislia  the 
 son  of  Shaphat  of  Abel-meholah  shalt  thou 
 anoint  to  be  prophet  in  thy  room. 
 
 17  And  Mt  shall  come  to  pass,  that  him  that 
 escapeth  the  sword  of  Hazael  sliall  Jehu  slay  : 
 and  iiim  that  escapeth  from  the  sword  of  Jehu 
 '  shall  Elisha  slay. 
 
 18  "Yet  11  1  have  left  me  seven  tliousand  in 
 Israel,  all  the  knees  which  have  not  bowed 
 unto  Baal,  *  and  every  mouth  which  hath  not 
 kissed  him. 
 
 19  1  So  he  departed  thence,  and  found  Elislia 
 the  son  of  Shapliat,  wlio  u'ns  plowing  willi 
 twelve  yoke  of  oren  before  liim.  and  he  witli 
 the  twelfth  :   and   Elijah  passed  by  him,  and 
 
 /Rom-  n.3. 
 
 a  Nu.  25.  II, 
 
 13.  P».  69. 
 
 ch.  19.  22. 
 Rom.  II.  3. 
 
 a  Kio.9  18. 
 
 &  1.1  3. 
 /  Sec  Ho5,  C. 
 
 Ur>in    II  -1 
 (ir,  /»i« 
 
 cast  his  mantle  upon  him. 
 
 '20  And  he  left  the  oxen,  and  ran  after  Elijah, 
 and  said,  -'  Let  me,  I  pray  thee,  kiss  my  father 
 and  my  mother,  and  then  1  will  follow  tliee. 
 And  he  said  unto  him,  f  Go  back  again  ;  for 
 what  liave  I  done  to  thee  V 
 
 21  And  he  returned  back  from  him,  and  took 
 a  yoke  of  oxen,  and  slew  them,  and  '  boiled 
 tlieir  flesh  with  the  instruments  of  tlie  oxen, 
 and  gave  unto  the  people,  and  they  did  cat. 
 Then  he  arose,  and  went  after  Elijah,  and  mi- 
 nistered unto  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 I  Ben-hadad,  not  content  iritft  Ahab^s  homage,  hesiey- 
 eth  Samaria.  13  By  the  direction  of  a  prophet,  the 
 Si/rians  are  slain.  22  As  the  propltet  forexvarned 
 Aliab,  tlie  Syrians,  trnstiiip  in  the  valleys,  come 
 atjainst  him  in  Aphek.  28  By  the  tvord  of  the  pro- 
 phet, and  God's  judyment,  the  Syrians  are  smitten 
 atjain.  31  The  Syrians  suhniilting  themnelres, 
 Ahah  scndtth  Ben-hadad  awaij  with  a  covenant.  35 
 The  prophet,  under  the  parable  of  a  prisoner,  making 
 Aliafi  to  jndye  himself,  denounceth  God's  judyment 
 atjainst  him. 
 
 AND  Ben-hadad  the  king  of  Syria  gathered 
 ■^*-  all  his  host  togetlier  :  and  tliere  were 
 thirty  and  two  kings  with  him,  and  horses,  and 
 chariots :  and  he  went  up  and  besieged  Samaria, 
 and  warred  against  it. 
 
 2  And  he  sent  messengers  to  Ahah  king  of 
 Israel  into  the  city,  and  said  unto  liiin,  'I'luis 
 saitli  Ben-liadad, 
 
 3  Thy  silver  and  thy  gold  is  mine  ;  thy  wives 
 also  and  thy  children,  even  the  goodliest,  are 
 mine. 
 
 4  And  the  king  of  Israel  answered  and  said. 
 My  lord,  O  king,  according  to  thy  saying,  I 
 am  thine,  and  all  tliat  I  have. 
 
 5  And  the  messengers  came  again,  and  said. 
 Thus  speaketh  Ben-hadad,  saying,  Althougli 
 I  have  sent  unto  thee,  saying.  Thou  shalt 
 deliver  me  thy  .silver,  and  thy  gold,  and  thy 
 wives,  and  thy  children  ; 
 
 C  Yet  I  will  send  my  servants  unto  thee  to 
 morrow  about  this  time,  and  they  shall  search 
 thine  house,  and  tlie  houses  of  thy  servants; 
 and  it  shall  be,  iJiat  whatsoever  is  f  pleasant 
 in  thine  eyes,  they  shall  put  it  in  their  hand, 
 and  take  it  away. 
 
 7  Then  the  king  of  Israel  called  all  the  ciders 
 of  the  land,  and  said,  Mark,  I  pray  you,  and 
 
 •  upon  hot  stones.'— iJocA.  11,  12.  The  Lord  was  not  in  the  tinnd — 
 enrtlniunke^lre — the  scene  which  had  just  occurred  was  illustrative  of 
 \he  power,  hut  not  of  t\\G  presenee  oi  Jkhovah.  It  pictured  that  which 
 lie  was  ahle  to  do,  not  that  which  he  chose  to  do. — Elijo/i.  These  were 
 pure  physical  appearances  in  natural  prof^ression,  intimating  that  they 
 were  ministerial  to  the  interposition  of  the  Author  and  Lord  of  Nature. 
 — Warti.  13.  Wrapped  his  fnee,  a  token  of  resi)ect  anionic  the  Asiatics. 
 — A.  Clarke.  \r,.  Anoint — the  term  may  mean  appoint;  indeed,  Elijah 
 did  not  anoint  Hazael,  hut  left  it  to  his  successor,  Elisha. — Pntriek. 
 1/.  Shalt  Elisha  uliiii,  that  is,  if  Hazael  and  Jehu  do  not  complete  the 
 work.— C«;.  Hazael's  work  was  to  be  done  in  battle;  the  idolatrous 
 worshippers  not  in  battle  were  to  be  slain  by  Jehu,  and  the  children  as 
 those  who  would  prove  idolators,  by  Elisha. — So  Pat.  18.  Seren 
 thoasand — the  use  of  *  seven'  in  Scripture  as  a  number  of  perfection 
 may  justify  the  idea  of  its  raeaninj?  many  thousands. — So  Clarke. 
 Kissed — the  mouth  was  often  applied  to  the  imagre  of  Hercules  in  wor- 
 ship.— Cicero.  Idolators  also  kissed  their  hands  to  tlieir  images,  as  we 
 learn  from  Pliny.  ig.  Was  plowing — it  is  no  disgrace  now  in  the 
 east  for  a  great  man  to  begin  the  work  of  the  season  by  ploughing  him- 
 self.— So  Rob.     'I'leelve  yoke — the  vale  of  Jordan,  where  Elisha  was 
 
 ploughing,  was  a  clayey  stiff  ground,  and  required  such  a  nunilicr  at 
 first  tilling. — Fntler's  Pisgah-siglit.  At  Damegraed,  in  Upper  Egypt, 
 si.'C  oxen  yoked  to  plough  turned  up  the  ground  witli  much  ilifficulty. 
 — Norden's  Trnv.  }Jis  mantle,  the  skirts  of  it.-^Gill.  This  was,  pro- 
 bably, a  principal  part  of  the  ceremony  of  inauguration. — Hew.,  so 
 Clarke.  2(1.  Dojie  to  thee,  '  done  to  hinder  thee.' — Boothr.  21.  Gave 
 unto  f lie  people — made  ,1  feast  for  his  friends  and  neighbours  before  he 
 parted  with  tlicm.  in  token  of  yiy  at  being  called  to  such  a  service. — 
 Pat.,  Gill.  Ministered  nolo  him,  and  thus  was  trained  up  in  the  supe- 
 rior knowledge  of  divine  things. — 6'i//. 
 
 Chap.  XX.  —  1.  Ben-loidad,  the  second,  son  of  him  to  whom  Asa 
 sent  to  help  him  against  Baasha,  (chap.  xv.  18.)  Thirty  and  two  kings, 
 petty  princes,  such  as  were  in  the  land  of  Canaan  in  Joshua's  time. — 
 Gill.  3.  Thy  stlrer  and  thy  gold  is  mine,  ^c. — the  African  princes 
 still  send  similar  messages  to  one  another.  Mungo  Park  mentions 
 one  who  sent  an  order  to  a  neighbouring  prince  to  have  the  houses  all 
 made  clean,  because  he  was  coming  with  an  army  to  spend  a  fortnight 
 in  his  city. — Sut.  4.  /  nni  thine — be  was  content  to  be  his  vassal, 
 and  to  hold  all  that  he  enjoyed  of  him.  6.  /  will  send  viy  servants — 
 he  was  not  content  that  Abab  should  be  tributary,  but  would  send 
 
 Kefi.ections  on  Chap.   XI,\ Were  is,  I.  Elijah  greatly  doubting. 
 
 tried.     The  faitli  that  was  so  firm  one  day,  was  staggered  the  II.  Elijah  greatly  comforted.     '  He  need  not  complain  of  the 
 
 next,  and  he  who  could  boldly  face  nil  the  prophets  of  Baal,  unkindness  of  men,  when  it  was  thus  made  up  by  the  ministry 
 
 fled  from  the  empty  threats  of .lezebel.     When  Elijah's  faith  ofansels.      '  So,'  observes  SuicHff'e,  '  .lesus  comforts  us  with 
 
 became  so  weak,  need  we  woiitler  if  less  distinguished  saints  promises,  with  ordinances,  and  with  all  the  aids  of  grace,  that 
 
 are  sometimes  discouraged  because  of  the  way  1     '['his  should  we  may  run  and  not  be  weary,  that  we  may  walk,  and  not 
 
 not  encourage  us  to  doubt,  but  it  sliould  encourage  us  ur.dcr  ('aim.' 
 
2'Ae  S)/rians  are  twice  smitten 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XX. 
 
 Ijj/  direcliuti  of  an  aiujcl. 
 
 Bee  how  this  man  seeketh  mischief:  for  he 
 sent  unto  me  for  my  wives,  and  for  my  children, 
 and  for  my  silver,  and  for  my  gold  ;  and  f  1 
 denied  him  not. 
 
 8  And  all  the  elders  and  all  the  people  said 
 unto  him.  Hearken  not  unto  him,  nor  consent. 
 
 9  Wherefore  he  said  unto  the  messengers  of 
 I3en-hadad,  Tell  my  lord  the  king.  All  that 
 thou  didst  send  for  to  tliy  servant  at  the  first 
 1  will  do  :  but  this  thing  I  may  not  do.  And 
 the  messengers  departed,  and  brought  him 
 word  again. 
 
 10  And  Ben-hadad  sent  unto  him,  and  said, 
 °  The  gods  do  so  unto  me,  and  more  also,  if 
 the  dust  of  Samaria  shall  suffice  for  haudfuls 
 for  all  the  people  that  f  follow  me. 
 
 1 1  And  the  king  of  Israel  answered  and  said. 
 Tell  him.  Let  not  him  that  girdeth  on  his  har- 
 ness boast  himself  as  he  that  putteth  it  off. 
 
 12  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Ben-hadad 
 heard  this  f  message,  as  he  was  ^  drinking,  he 
 and  the  kings  in  the  ||  pavilions,  that  he  said 
 unto  his  servants,  ||  Set  yourselves  in  array. 
 And  they  set  themselves  in  array  against  the 
 city. 
 
 13  If  And,  behold,  there  f  came  a  prophet 
 unto  Aliab  king  of  Israel,  saying.  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord,  Hast  thou  seen  all  this  great  mulii- 
 tude?  behold,'  I  will  deliver  it  into  thine  hand 
 this  day  ;  and  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord. 
 
 14  And  Ahab  said,  By  whom?  And  he  .said. 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Even  by  the  ||  young 
 men  of  the  princes  of  the  provinces.  Then  he 
 said.  Who  shall  toi'^^r  'lie  battle?  And  he 
 answered.  Thou. 
 
 15  Then  he  numbered  the  young  men  of  the 
 princes  of  the  provinces,  and  they  were  two 
 hundred  and  thirty  two  :  and  after  them  he 
 numbered  all  the  people,  even  all  the  cliildren 
 of  Israel,  beiny  seven  thousand. 
 
 IG  And  tliey  went  out  at  noon.  But  Ben- 
 hadad  ivas  •'  drinking  himself  drunk  in  the  pa- 
 vilions, he  and  the  kings,  the  thirty  and  two 
 kings  that  helped  him. 
 
 17  And  the  young  men  of  the  princes  of  the 
 provinces  went  out  first ;  and  Ben-hadad  sent 
 out,  and  they  told  him,  saying,  There  are  men 
 come  out  of  Samaria. 
 
 18  And  he  said.  Whether  they  be  come  out 
 for  peace,  take  them  alive  ;  or  whether  they  be 
 come  out  for  war,  take  them  alive. 
 
 19  So  these  young  men  of  the  princes  of  the 
 
 t  Heb.  Ikepi 
 n„t  bach 
 fr„m  him. 
 
 t  Heb.  are 
 
 So  Kx.ll-8 
 JuJf.  4.  10 
 
 [  Heb  u^ard. 
 b  ver.  16. 
 II  Or,  leiiU. 
 II  Or,  PUice 
 
 the  engines; 
 
 ^nd  thrif 
 
 pliicttl  eu- 
 
 giiies. 
 t   Heb-  a/i- 
 
 t  Heb.  iinJ, 
 01',  tie. 
 
 d  ver.  II. 
 cli.  10.  9. 
 
 I  Ueh.thftI 
 teal  fulleii. 
 
 fjmh.  IS. 4. 
 t   Heb.  fo  the 
 
 II  Op 
 
 frnm 
 
 rf,', 
 
 ibet  to 
 
 ri.t, 
 
 .ber 
 
 +  H. 
 
 3.   into 
 
 cha 
 
 >beT 
 
 w,l< 
 
 in  a 
 
 rha 
 
 nber. 
 
 ch. 
 
 22.  S5. 
 
 provinces  came  out  of  the  city,  and  the  army 
 which  followed  them. 
 
 20  And  they  slew  every  one  his  man  :  and 
 the  Syrians  tied  ;  and  Israel  pursued  them  : 
 and  Ben-hadad  the  king  of  Syria  escaped  on 
 an  horse  with  the  horsemen. 
 
 21  And  the  king  of  Israel  went  out,  and  smote 
 the  horses  and  chariots,  and  slew  the  Syrians 
 with  a  great  slaughter. 
 
 22  t  And  the  prophet  came  to  the  king  of 
 Israel,  and  said  unto  him.  Go,  strengthen  thy- 
 self, and  mark,  and  see  what  thou  doest  :  ''  for 
 at  the  return  of  the  year  the  king  of  Syria  will 
 come  up  against  thee. 
 
 23  And  the  servants  of  the  king  of  Syria  said 
 unto  him.  Their  gods  are  gods  of  the  hills  ; 
 therefore  they  were  stronger  than  we  ;  but  let 
 us  fight  against  them  in  the  plain,  and  surely 
 we  shall  be  stronger  than  they. 
 
 24  And  do  this  thing.  Take  the  kings  away, 
 every  man  out  of  his  place,  and  put  captains 
 in  their  rooms : 
 
 25  And  number  thee  an  army,  like  the  army 
 f  that  thou  hast  lost,  horse  for  liorse,  and  cha- 
 riot for  chariot:  and  we  will  fight  against  them 
 in  the  plain,  and  surely  we  shall  be  stronger 
 than  they.  And  he  hearkened  unto  their 
 voice,  and  did  so. 
 
 26  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  return  of  the 
 year,  that  Ben-hadad  numbered  tlie  Syrians, 
 and  went  up  to  "^Aphek,  f  to  fight  against  Israel. 
 
 27  And  the  children  of  Israel  were  numbered, 
 and  [J  were  all  present,  and  went  against  tlicm  : 
 and  the  children  of  Israel  pitched  before  them 
 like  two  little  flocks  of  kids  ;  but  the  Syrians 
 filled  the  country. 
 
 28  1[  And  there  came  a  man  of  God,  and 
 spake  unto  the  king  of  Israel,  and  said.  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord,  Because  the  Syrians  have  said. 
 The  Lord  is  God  of  the  hills,  but  he  is  not 
 God  of  the  valleys,  therefore  ^  will  I  deliver  all 
 this  great  multitude  into  thine  hand,  and  ye 
 shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 29  And  they  pitched  one  over  against  the 
 other  seven  days.  And  so  it  was,  that  in  the 
 seventh  day  the  battle  was  joined  :  and  the 
 children  of  Israel  slew  of  the  Syrians  an  hun- 
 dred thousand  footmen  in  one  day. 
 
 30  But  the  rest  fled  to  Aphek,  into  the  city  ; 
 and  there  a  wall  fell  upon  twenty  and  seven 
 thousand  of  the  men  that  were  left.  And 
 Ben-hadad  fled,  and  came  into  the  city,  ||  f  into 
 an  inner  chamber. 
 
 enme  officers  to  ransack  his  house,  and  take  all. — Pat,  10.  The  gatls 
 do  m — '  If  1  do  not  ruin  that  fellow,'  says  a  Hindoo  now,  *  the  gods  do 
 so  unto  me.'  //  the  du^t,  ^-c— the  same  figure  is  still  used  in  the 
 cast.  '  If  wc  all  go  against  them,  will  their  country  afford  a  handful  of 
 earth  for  each  of  us?' — Rob.  li.  Harness,  'armour.' — Bvothroyd. 
 Harness  is  an  ohsolete  word  for  armour,  from  the  French  '  harnois.^ — 
 Uew.  The  meaning  is,  '  Do  not  triumph  before  the  victory  is  ob- 
 tained.'— Dathe.  12.  Pavilions,  mDD,  mean  no  more  than  booths, 
 those  slight  temporary  defences  from  the  heat  formed  by  the  setting  up 
 the  boughs  of  trees,  (see  Jon.  iv.  5  ;  Nch.  viii.  16  ;)  and  we  know  that 
 the  common  people  of  the  east  frequently  sit  under  them.  V^'e  learn 
 from  Dr.  Chandler,  that  he  went  to  make  a  present  to  the  Aga  of  Suki, 
 when  he  and  his  party  found  this  dignified  person,  notwithstanding  his 
 Bplendid  retinue,  reclined  on  a  couch  prepared  for  him  beneath  a  shed, 
 made  against  a  cottage,  and  covered  with  green  boughs  to  keep  off  the 
 sun.— //or.  Set,  '  make  an  attack.' — Bnolltr.  13.  A  prophet,  thought 
 by  Jewish  writers  to  have  been  Mieaiah,  (chap.  xxii.  9.)  One  of  those, 
 perhaps,  that  Obadiah  hid  in  the  cave. — Gill.  14.  /^i/  the  young  men — 
 these  were  selected  for  their  spirit  and  courage. —  Tioothr.  Young 
 noblemen,  or  the  servants  of  the  princes,  brought  up  delicately,  and  un- 
 accustomed to  war,  so  that  it  might  appear  tlie  victory  was  entirely  of 
 God,  and  not  of  the  instruments.— .S^/ri'ftou.se.  l^.  Two  hundred  and 
 thirlft  two,  lirobably  the  king's  life  or  body  guards. — A.  Clarke,  Seven 
 thousanti,  probably  those  that  had  not  bowed  the  knee  to  Baal. — Jttrchi. 
 Rather  such  as  were  willing  to  bear  arms.— Gi«.  AU  that  he  could  get 
 389 
 
 together.  18.  For  peace,  take  them  alive — this  was  against  the  law 
 of  nations. — Pat.  20.  Evert/  one  hin  man—the  Israelitish  army  slew 
 7-230  men,  their  own  number,'— Gill.  The  232  slew  every  one  his  man. 
 — Scott.  21.  Smote  the  horses  and  chariots,  the  men  that  fought  from 
 ihem.—Poole.  See  note  on  1  Sam.  xiii.  5.  23.  Gods  of  the  htlls— 
 this  notion  of  topical  deities  very  much  obtained  among  tlie  heathen  in 
 after  times,  as  we  learn  from  Oi'irf,  Livi/,  Liu-tantins,  kc.-Gill.  The 
 idolators  of  Hindostan  have  their  gods  of  the  hills  and  valleys.— So  Rob. 
 In  the  plain — here  was  not  only  superstition,  liut  policy,  because  the 
 Syrians  excelled  the  IsraeUtes  in  horses,  which  are  most  serviceable  in 
 plain  ground. — Poole.  24.  Take  the  iiings  aivati — these  not  being  so 
 easily  commanded,  being  less  inured  to  war,  and  not  fighting  for  their 
 own  country.  26.  Aphek,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Asher,  (Jo?h.  xix.  3(1 ; 
 Judg.  i.  31  0  near  which  was  the  great  plain  of  Galilee,  and  probably 
 one  of  those  cities  Benhadad's  father  had  taken  from  Israel,  (ver.  34.) — 
 Poole.  27.  Were  all  present — all  that  were  in  the  battle  of  the  former 
 year.  (ver.  \5.)—Ref.  Bib.  Like  two  little  /locks  of  kids — the  flocks  of 
 goats  are  always  small.  29.  Seven  days — this  seems  a  long  time,  but 
 perhaps  the  Israelites  pitched  upon  a  rising  ground,  and  the  Syrians 
 durst  not  attack  them  till  they  came  into  the  plain. — Put.  30.  .i  icalt 
 fell— for  noin,  '  a  wall,'  substitute  rTDn,  '  heat,'  and  the  rendering 
 will  be,  'and  the  burning  wind  lell,'  as  on  the  army  of  Sennacherib. — 
 So  Ken.  Perhaps  the  wall  fell  by  a  violent  wind  or  cartliiiiiake, — Gilt, 
 or  by  the  Israelites'  batteries, — Pat.,  or  by  the  ministry  of  angels. — 
 Poole.    They  might  have  shut  themselves  in  an  old  tower,  wlueta  fell 
 
The  Syj-ians  suhmti  to  A/iab. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XXI. 
 
 God's  judgment  denounced  arjaiii.st  him. 
 
 31  IT  And  his  servants  said  unto  liim,  Behold 
 now,  we  liave  heard  that  the  kings  of  the  house 
 of  Israel  rue  mcrcifnl  kings  :  let  ns,  I  pray 
 thee,  "  put  sackcloth  on  our  loins,  and  ropes 
 upon  our  heads,  and  go  out  to  the  king  of 
 Israel :  peradventure  he  will  save  thy  life. 
 
 32  So  they  girded  sackcloth  on  their  loins, 
 and  put  ropes  on  their  heads,  and  came  to  the 
 king  of  Israel,  and  said.  Thy  servant  Bcn-hadad 
 saitli,  I  pray  thee,  let  me  live.  And  he  said. 
 Is  he  yet  alive  ?  he  is  my  brother. 
 
 3.3  Now  the  men  did  diligently  observe  whe- 
 ther iniij  thinij  iron/d  come  from  liini,  and  did 
 hastily  catch  it :  and  tliey  said,  Tliy  brother 
 Ben-hadad.  Then  he  said.  Go  ye,  bring  him. 
 Then  Ben-hadad  came  forth  to  him  ;  and  he 
 caused  him  to  come  up  into  the  chariot. 
 
 34  And  Ben-hadad  said  unto  him,  '  The 
 cities,  wliich  my  father  took  from  thy  father,  I 
 will  restore ;  and  thou  shalt  make  streets  for 
 thee  in  Damascus,  as  my  father  made  in  Sa- 
 maria. Then  said  Ahah,  I  will  send  thee 
 away  with  this  covenant.  So  he  made  a  cove- 
 jiaTit  with  him,  and  sent  him  away. 
 
 3j  IF  And  a  certain  man  of  ''  the  sons  of  the 
 prophets  said  unto  his  neighbour  '  in  the  word 
 of  the  LoKD,  Smite  nie,  I  pray  thee.  And  the 
 man  refused  to  smite  him. 
 
 SO  Then  said  he  unto  him,  Because  thou 
 Iiast  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  behold, 
 as  soon  as  thou  art  departed  from  me,  a  lion 
 shall  slay  thee.  And  as  soon  as  he  was  de- 
 parted from  him,  "'  a  lion  found  him,  and  slew 
 him. 
 
 37  Then  he  found  another  man,  and  said. 
 Smite  me,  I  pray  thee.  And  the  man  smote 
 him,  t  so  that  in  smiting  he  wounded  him. 
 
 38  So  the  prophet  departed,  and  waited  for 
 the  king  by  tlie  way,  and  disguised  himself 
 with  ashes  upon  his  face. 
 
 m  oil.  i:{.  24. 
 
 a  5  Kill,  10. 
 t  Heb.  tteish. 
 
 1  .li.  «!.*. 
 
 t  Hub   be 
 
 j/WtJ  in  tllil 
 
 39  And  "  as  the  king  passed  by,  he  cried  unto 
 the  king  :  and  he  said.  Thy  servant  went  out 
 into  the  midst  of  the  battle  ;  and,  behold,  a 
 man  turned  aside,  and  brought  a  man  unto  me, 
 and  said.  Keep  this  man  :  if  by  any  means  he 
 be  missing,  then  "shall  thy  life  be  for  his  life, 
 or  else  thou  shalt  f  pay  a  talent  of  silver. 
 
 40  And  as  thy  servant  was  busy  here  and 
 there,  f  he  was  gone.  And  the  king  of  Israel 
 said  unto  liim.  So  shall  thy  judgment  be  ;  thy- 
 self hast  decided  it. 
 
 41  And  he  hasted,  and  took  the  ashes  away 
 from  his  face  ;  and  the  king  of  Israel  discerned 
 him  that  he  ivas  of  the  prophets. 
 
 4-2  And  he  said  unto  him.  Thus  saitli  the 
 Lord,  ''  Because  thou  hast  let  go  out  of  thy 
 liand  a  man  whom  I  appointed  to  utter  de- 
 struction, therefore  thy  life  shall  go  for  his  life, 
 and  thy  people  for  his  people. 
 
 43  And  tlie  king  of  Israel  ''  went  to  his  house 
 heavy  and  displeased,  and  came  to  Samaria. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  Ahah  hiinq  dejiied  iVfz/joM's  vintynrd  is  grieved.  5 
 Jeztbel  ivr'Uuig  letters  against  Nahoth,  he  is  condemned 
 nf  hlasphemy.  15  Ahah  taketh  possession  of  the 
 vinii/ard.  17  Elijah  denounceth  judgments  against 
 Ahab  and  Jezebel.  25  IFicked  Ahah  repenting,  God 
 deftrrtth  the  judgment* 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass  after  tliese  tbiiii^s,  that 
 ■^^  Naboth  tlie  Jezreelite  bad  a  vineyard, 
 which  was  in  Jczreel,  hard  by  the  palace  of 
 Ahab  king  of  Samaria. 
 
 2  And  Ahab  spake  unto  Naboth,  saying. 
 Give  me  thy  '^  vineyard,  that  I  may  have  it  for 
 a  jiarden  of  herbs,  because  it  is  near  unto  my 
 house  :  and  I  will  tjive  thee  for  it  a  better  vine- 
 yard than  it;  or,  if  it  f  seem  good  to  thee,  I 
 will  give  tiiee  the  worth  of  it  in  money. 
 
 3  And  Naboth  said  to  Ahab,  The  Lord  forbid 
 
 upon  them. — So  lloothr.  Upon  twenty  seven  fhuuanml — on  the  main 
 bt'fiy  of  thorn. — Stuckhouse,  so  Bouthr,  31.  Put  sackcloth  on  our 
 
 luhis — so  the  Syracusans  sent  ambassadors  to  Athens,  in  filthy  gar- 
 ments, with  the  hair  of  their  heads  and  beards  long,  and  all  in  slovi  nly 
 liabits,  to  move  their  pity. — Gill.  Ropes  upori  our  heads,  '  about  our 
 necks.* — Bnnthr.  At  the  taking  of  Bagdat  by  tlie  Turk**,  in  1638,  when 
 the  besieged  entreated  quarter,  the  principal  officer  went  to  the  Grand 
 Vizier  with  a  scarf  about  his  neck,  and  his  sword  wreathed  in  it,  and 
 begged  merry. — TheiK  34.  And  Ben-lmdad  sttid,  %c. — *  Ben-hadad'  is 
 n<)t  in  the  original.  Most  likely  the  words  are  those  of  Ahab,  who,  in 
 hi-;  =iiperahnudant  kindness,  promised  to  restore  tlie  cities  which  Omri, 
 liis  father,  had  taken  from  the  father  of  Benhadad  ;  for  as  he  was  a  prince 
 nf  might  and  valour,  (chap.  xvi.  iG,  1/,  !8,  27.)  it  is  more  probable  that 
 l.c  took  cities  from  the  king  of  Syria  tlian  tliat  he  lost  any. — Gill.  I 
 take  these  to  be  Benhadad*s  words  to  Ahab,  whereby  he  endeavonred 
 to  smooth  him  hy  offering  to  become  his  subject,  and  make  restitution. 
 — Pat.  Benhadad's  father  took  cities  from  Baasha,  Ahab's  predecessor, 
 (chap.  XV.  20  ;)  and  in  Omri's  time  he  made  a  more  successful  invasion, 
 and  took  more  of  the  cities  of  Israel,  and  Aphck  among  the  rest. — Ponle. 
 Nuke  streets  for  thee  in  Damascus — this  confirms  the  idea  that  these 
 were  the  words  of  Ahab  and  not  Benhadad,  for  Benhadad's  father  never 
 had  any  power  in  Samaria,  but  Ahab's  built  it.  Damascus  was  the 
 metropolis  of  Syria. — Gill.  Streets,  n^Sn.  'courts  of  judgment,'  or 
 *  piazzas.'  or  '  fortifications,'  or  '  citadels,'  or  '  palaces  ;*  rather  the 
 latter, — Pat.,  Gill;  or  '  markets,'  to  receive  the  tribute,  &c. — Poole. 
 These  streets  were  probably  allotted  the  Israelites  for  trade. — Scott. 
 The  Jews  were  thus  allowed  streets  in  London,  as  the  Old  Jewry,  &c., 
 where  they  lived  unmolested.— iriV.     This  was  a  proposal  better  re- 
 
 lished hy  Ahab  than  undcr?;tood  by  commentators.  In  the  time  of 
 Baldwin  II..  the  Venetians  had  streets  granted  for  their  aid  in  the 
 states  of  the  kingdom  of  Jerusalem,  together  with  great  liberties  anil 
 jurisdiction  in  those  streets.  So  the  Genoese  had  a  street  in  Arcon,  or 
 SI.  Jean  d'Acre,  together  with  a  full  jurisdiction  in  it,  and  a  church,  as 
 a  reward  for  taking  that  city,  together  with  a  third  part  of  the  dues  of 
 the  port.  Probably  Ahab's  father  had  granted  such  rights  to  Benha- 
 dad's father  to  obtain  peace,  and  now  Benhadad  proposes  the  same 
 rights  for  Ahab  at  Damascus— an  expression  of  very  abject  adulation 
 in  Benhadad. — Hur.  In  the  east,  persons  of  different  religions  and 
 nations  have  di>.tinct  quarters  for  residences.  The  Jews  still  have  dis- 
 tinct streets  in  Damascus  and  other  places  of  Western  Asia. — Pict. 
 Hrlf.  3.5.  Smite  me,  that,  looking  like  a  wounded  soldier,  he  might 
 have  that  free  access  to  the  king  a  prophet  could  not  obtain,  such  a 
 man  being  hateful  to  Ahab,  (chap.  xxii.  8.)  36.  A  lion  shnll  slay  thee — 
 the  refusal  being  made  by  the  son  of  a  prophet,  lia.1  no  excuse  in  igno- 
 rance ;  and  ilisobedicnce  to  God's  command  by  a  iirophet  was  punish- 
 able with  death,  (Deut.  xviii.  \Q.)— Ponle.  38.  With  ajs/(M,  "IDN^. 
 '  with  a  veil' or  'a  bandage.' — Mont.,  Houb.,  so  Boothr.  39.  Thy 
 servant  went  out,  ^c. — this  was  a  parable,  by  which  he  represented  to 
 Ahab  his  own  case,  and  brought  him  under  conviction  of  his  folly,  as 
 Nathan  dealt  with  David.— G(7/.  41.  0/  /he  prophets,  it  was  Micaiah. 
 — So  Jos.  42.  Whom  I  appointed  to  utter  destruction — the  victory 
 was  obtained  purely  by  Divine  power  and  singular  favour,  and  Ben- 
 hadad being  delivered  into  Ahab's  hands,  he  onglit  not  to  have  let  him 
 go  without  consulting  God.— Ptd.  Thy  life— for  his  life — fulfilled  chap, 
 xxii.  34,35.  Thy  people  for  his  people — fulfilled  2  Kings,  viii.  12 ;  x.  32. 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  I.  By  the  palace  of  Ahab— he  had  one  here  and  another 
 
 Reflfxtions  on  CriAf.  XX.  — Behold  here,  I.  i?tn-Aarfaf?*s 
 pride  and  ambition — a  specimen  of  the  monarchs  of  the  world 
 whose  names  are  most  emblazoned  in  iiistory,  when  they  de- 
 serve only  to  be  written  in  the  dust.  The  ambitious  despots 
 of  mankind  have,  in  all  a^es  and  countries,  deluged  the  earth 
 -with  human  blood,  and  sought  to  slake  their  thirst  in  the  crim- 
 son stream.  Tliey  have  stifled  the  convictions  of  conscience 
 against  the  law  of  nature,  of  man,  and  of  God  :  '  Thou  shalt  do 
 no  murder.' 
 
 II,  Ben-hadad's  humiliation.  He  was  made  to  feel  the  full 
 force  of  Allah's  caution.  *  Let  not  him  that  girdeth  on  his 
 390 
 
 harness  boast  himself  as  be  thatputteth  it  off.'  In  every  rank 
 an  humble  spirit  is  the  best  preparative  for  all  changes,  and 
 in  every  rank  it  holds  equally  true.  'Pride  goeth  before  de- 
 struction, and  a  h:iui;htv  spirit  before  a  falh' 
 
 III.  Ben-hadad's  supplication.  The  tyrant  who  could  shew- 
 no  mercy  to  Ahah  now  sought  mercy  from  iiim  ;  and  the  mercy 
 be  sought  he  obtained.  How  much  more  may  tiie  humble 
 sinner  seek  mercy  at  the  hands  of  the  Saviour  !  He  has  heard 
 he  is  gracious ;  let  liim   go  to  him  in  a  prostrate  attitude  and 
 
 try, it  may  be  he  may  obtain  mercy  :  *  He  will  have  mercy  on 
 
 whom  he  will  have  mercy.' 
 
Jezebel procureth  Nnbolh's  death. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XXI. 
 
 Juihiment  denounced  against  Ahab 
 
 it  me,  '■  that  I  should  give  the  inheritance  of 
 my  fathers  unto  thee. 
 
 4  And  Ahab  came  into  Iiis  house  heavy  and 
 displeased  because  of  the  word  which  Nabotb 
 the  Jezreelite  liad  spoken  to  him  :  for  he  had 
 said,  I  will  not  give  thee  tlie  inheritance  of  my 
 fathers.  And  he  laid  him  down  upon  his  bed, 
 and  turned  away  his  face,  and  would  eat  no 
 bread. 
 
 5  1[  But  Jezebel  his  wife  came  to  him,  and 
 said  unto  liim.  Why  is  thy  spirit  so  sad,  that 
 thou  eatest  no  bread  ? 
 
 6  And  he  said  unto  her.  Because  I  spake 
 unto  Naboth  the  Jezreelite,  and  said  unto  him, 
 Give  me  tliy  vineyard  for  money  ;  or  else,  if  it 
 please  tliee,  I  will  give  thee  another  vineyard 
 for  it :  and  he  answered,  I  will  not  give  thee 
 my  vineyard. 
 
 7  And  Jezebel  his  wife  said  unto  him,  Dost 
 thou  now  govern  tlie  kingdom  of  Israel?  arise, 
 and  eat  bread,  and  let  tliine  heart  be  iiierry  :  1 
 will  give  thee  the  vineyard  of  Nabotli  the  Jez- 
 reelite. 
 
 8  So  she  wrote  letters  in  Ahab's  name,  and 
 sealed  them  with  his  seal,  and  sent  the  letters 
 unto  the  elders  and  to  the  nobles  that  were  in 
 his  city,  dwelling  with  Naboth. 
 
 9  And  she  wrote  in  the  letters,  saying.  Pro- 
 claim a  fast,  and  set  Naboth  f  on  high  among 
 the  people  : 
 
 10  And  set  two  men,  sons  of  Belial,  before 
 him,  to  bear  witness  against  him,  saying,  Thou 
 didst "  blaspheme  God  and  the  king.  And  then 
 carry  him  out,  and  ''  stone  him,  that  he  may  die. 
 
 11  And  the  men  of  his  city,  even  the  elders 
 and  the  nobles  wlio  were  the  inhabitants  in  his 
 city,  did  as  Jezebel  had  sent  unto  them,  and 
 as  it  teas  written  in  the  letters  which  she  had 
 sent  unto  them. 
 
 12  °  They  proclaimed  a  fast,  and  set  Naboth 
 on  high  among  the  people. 
 
 13  And  there  came  in  two  men,  children  of 
 Belial,  and  sat  before  him  :  and  the  men  of 
 Belial  witnessed  against  him,  even  against  Na- 
 both, in  the  presence  of  the  people,  saying, 
 Naboth  did  blaspheme  God  and  the  king. 
 '  Then  they  carried  liim  forth  out  of  the  city, 
 and  stoned  him  with  stones,  that  he  died. 
 
 14  Then  they  sent  to  Jezebel,  saying,  Na- 
 both is  stoned,  and  is  dead. 
 
 15  If  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jezebel 
 heard  tliat  Naboth  was  stoned,  and  was  dead, 
 that  Jezebel  said  to  Ahab,  Arise,  take  posses- 
 sion of  the  vineyard  of  Naboth  the  Jezreelite, 
 which  he  refused  to  give  thee  for  money  :  for 
 
 b  Lev,  ?5  23. 
 Num.  aii.  7. 
 Kze.  -ir,.  IS 
 
 \  Hel>.  (/I  Ihr 
 t"]>  "/  tlif 
 
 c  Ex.  ?■?.  ?fi. 
 
 Lev.  9i.  1... 
 
 Iti.  Acts  6. 
 
 II. 
 d  Lev.21.14 
 
 /"See  2  Kin. 
 9.  26. 
 
 /  2  Kin    17. 
 17.  Rom.  7. 
 
 I  Sam.  25. 
 
 Vii,  11. 10. 
 
 /•  rli.  V,.  29. 
 i|.-li.  16.3, 
 
 I  oil.  II    II. 
 8t  10.  4. 
 
 «  cli.   16.  31. 
 II  Or,  incited. 
 
 If  Gen.37.Si. 
 
 Nabotli  is  not  alive,  but  dead. 
 
 If)  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Ahab  heard 
 that  Naboth  was  dead,  that  Aliab  ro.se  up  to 
 go  down  to  the  vineyard  of  Naboth  the  Jez- 
 reelite, to  take  possession  of  it. 
 
 17  11  ^  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to 
 Elijah  the  Tishbite,  saying, 
 
 18  Arise,  go  down  to  meet  Ahab  king  of 
 Israel,  '■  which  is  in  Samaria  :  behold,  he  is  in 
 the  vineyard  of  Naboth,  wliither  he  is  gone 
 down  to  possess  it. 
 
 IS)  And  thou  shalt  speak  unto  him,  saying, 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Hast  thou  killed,  and 
 also  taken  possession  ?  And  thou  shalt  ."ipeak 
 unto  liim,  saying.  Thus  saith  the  Lord, 'In  the 
 place  where  dogs  licked  the  blood  of  Nabotli 
 shall  dogs  lick  thy  blood,  even  thine. 
 
 20  And  Ahab  said  to  Elijah  ,  i"  Hast  thu 
 found  me,  O  mine  enemy?     And  he  answered, 
 
 I  have  found  thee  ;  because  '  thou  hast  sold 
 thyself  to  work  evil  in  the  siglit  of  the  Loud. 
 
 21  Behold,  "'  I  will  bring  evil  upon  thee,  and 
 will  take  away  thy  posterity,  and  will  cut  off 
 from  Ahab  "  him  that  pisseth  against  the  wall, 
 and  "him  that  is  shut  up  and  left  in  Israel, 
 
 22  And  will  make  thine  house  like  the  house 
 of ''  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  and  like  the 
 house  of  ''  Baasha  the  son  of  Ahijah,  for  the 
 provocation  wherewith  thou  hast  provoked  7ne 
 to  anger,  and  made  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 23  And  '  of  Jezebel  also  spake  the  Lord, 
 saying.  The   dogs   shall   eat   Jezebel    by  the 
 
 II  wall  of  Jezreel. 
 
 24  '  Him  that  dieth  of  Ahab  in  the  city  the 
 dogs  shall  eat  ;  and  him  that  dieth  in  the  field 
 shall  the  fowls  of  the  air  eat. 
 
 25  t  But  '  there  was  none  like  unto  Ahab, 
 which  did  sell  himself  to  work  wickedness  in 
 the  sight  of  the  Lord,  "  whom  Jezebel  his  wife 
 II  stirred  up. 
 
 26  And  he  did  very  abominably  in  following 
 idols,  according  to  all  things  *  as  did  the 
 Amorites,  whom  the  Lord  cast  out  before  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 27  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Ahab  heard 
 those  words,  that  he  rent  his  clothes, and  ''put 
 sackcloth  upon  his  flesh,  and  fasted,  and  lay  in 
 sackcloth,  and  went  softly. 
 
 28  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  Elijah 
 the  Tishbite,  saying, 
 
 29  Seest  thou  how  Ahab  humbleth  himself 
 before  me  ?  because  he  humbleth  himself 
 before  me,  I  will  not  bring  the  evil  in  his 
 days :  hut  '  in  his  son's  days  will  I  bring  the 
 evil  upon  his  house. 
 
 at  Samaria. — So  Voftle.  .T.  Thitt  I  should  f^ire  the  ijiheritatice — the 
 inliei-itaiiccs  were  nut  to  be  alienated  to  annthcr  family  nor  tribe,  (Lev. 
 XXV,  23,  28.) — Gill,  The  Hindoos  cling  to  the  family  inheritance  a.s 
 strongly   as  the  Jews  did.— TFurd.  8.  With    Jtis  seal,  doubtless, 
 
 with  his  permission. — Gill.  The  Hebrews  wore  their  seals  or  signets 
 in  rings  on  their  fingers,  or  in  bracelets  on  their  arms. —  Wilson^s 
 Archxulnfr.  Diet.  9.  Procinim  a  fast,  pretending  feai's  of  some  great 
 national  calamity,  and  then  Naboth  should  be  pitched  upon  as  a  blas- 
 phemer, and  put  to  death.— G(//.  Set  Ntilioth  on  Itigh,  '  bring  him  to 
 trial.'  The  pri.soner  was  set  up  on  high,  that  he  might  be  better  seen 
 and  heard. — Hew.  in.  Sons  of  Belial — see  note  on  Deut.  -Niii.  13. 
 Tliou  didst  itlaspheme  God  and-  the  Icin^,  '  Naboth  hath  blessed  the 
 gods,  especially  Molech,*  Si/r.^  Sept.,  Vttlg.,  Boothr.  "l^QT  D^rtbN  nm3, 
 
 •tliou  hast  blessed  the  false  gods  and  Molech.'— Par.  13.  Stoned 
 Itim—the  death  of  blasphemers,  (Lev.  xxiv.  14,  23.)  19.  In  the  place, 
 '  in  whatever  place.'— BooZ/ic,  after  the  Greet;.  23.  The  dugs  shall 
 
 eat  Jezebel— Bruce,  the  traveller,  when  at  Gondar,  witnessed  a  similar 
 scene — dogs  eating  the  bodies  of  some  persons  killed  with  the  sword. 
 —Traa.,  vol.  iv.  p.  81.  25.  But  there,  ffC.,  •  now,  there  had  been 
 none,'  Sic.—Bootlir.  2?.  So.fllii,  EN,   '  barefooted,"   Chald.,  Si/r., 
 
 Arab.,  Targ.,  Cranmer.  '  With  his  head  hanging  down,'  Vulg.,  Cover- 
 dale.  •  Vnshoi.'—Jarchi.  '  Groaning.'— //o«4.  'Step  by  step.'— 
 Gilt.  'With  a  downcast  look.'— i)i-.  GffWfS.  '  Stooping  and  looking 
 down,'  as  persons  in  grief  and  shame.— Pnr.  '  Mournfully.'— BooWir. 
 'Slowly,'  as  a  mourner.— H'i7.  29.  In  liis  son's  days,  'in  Joram's 
 time,'  (2  Kings,  ix.  26.) 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI. — L  We  see  lierc  hme  greatis 
 the  evil  ofcovetousness.  How  kind  are  all  the  precepts  oi"  God's 
 holy  law!  Had  Ahab  remembered,  '  Tbou  shnlt  not  covet,' 
 he  would  not  have  sufl'ered  and  done  what  he  did.  Happy  is 
 that  Christian  who  minds  the  sacred  precept, '  He  content  with 
 such  things  as  ye  have.'  He  whose  inheritance  is  in  heaven 
 has  no  need  to  envy  the  inheritors  of  earth. 
 
 II.  Hoiu  many  evils  have  been  done  under  tite  cloaft  of  religion  / 
 .191 
 
 We  should  not,  on  that  account,  censure  religion  itself,  but 
 those  who  have  abused  it.  It  is  the  basest  kind  of  hypocrisy 
 to  make  religion  the  instrument  of  our  vices. 
 
 III.  How  ready  is  a  yraciovs  God  to  iittnid  to  thepenitent!  He 
 despiseth  '  not  the  sighing  of  a  contrite  heart,  nor  the  desire 
 of  such  as  be  sorrowful.'  If  be  took  compassion  on  Ahab, 
 bow  much  more  will  he  attend  to  tlie  truly  broken  and  contrite 
 spirit' 
 
Ahah,  seduced  by  false  prophets. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XXII. 
 
 seeketh  to  recover  linmoih-gilead. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 1  Ahah,  seduced  hij  falsf  prophets,  according  to  the  word 
 of  Micaiah,is  slain  at  Ramotli-yilead.  37  The  dorrs 
 lick  uv  his  hlood,  and  Ahaziah  sncceedtth  him.  41 
 Jehos'hnphat's  t/und  reign.  45  His  acts.  60  Jeho- 
 ram  succetdeth  him.     51  AhazialCs  evil  reign. 
 
 A  ND  tliey  continued  three  years  without 
 -^^  war  between  Syria  and  Israel. 
 
 2  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  third  year,  that 
 "  Jelioshaphat  the  king  of  Judah  came  down  to 
 tlie  king  of  Israel. 
 
 3  And  the  king  of  Israei  said  unto  his  ser- 
 vants. Know  ye  that  ^  Ramoth  in  Gilead  is 
 cur's,  and  we  be  f  still,  and  take  it  not  out  of 
 the  hand  of  the  king  of  Syria? 
 
 4  And  he  said  unto  Jehosliaphat,  Wilt  thou 
 go  with  me  to  battle  to  Ramoth-gilead  ?  And 
 Jelioshaphat  said  to  the  king  of  Israel,  "^  I  am 
 as  thou  art,  my  people  as  thy  people,  my 
 horses  as  thy  horses. 
 
 5  And  Jehoshaphat  said  unto  the  king  of 
 Israel,  Enquire,  I  pray  thee,  at  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  to  day. 
 
 6  Then  the  king  of  Israel  "^  gathered  the  pro- 
 phets together,  about  four  hundred  men,  and 
 said  unto  them.  Shall  I  go  against  Ramoth- 
 gilead  to  battle,  or  .shall  I  forbear?  And  they 
 said.  Go  up  ;  for  the  Lord  shall  deliver  it  into 
 the  hand  of  the  king. 
 
 7  And  °  .lehoshaphat  said,  7s  there  not  here 
 a  prophet  of  the  Lord  besides,  that  we  might 
 enquire  of  him  ? 
 
 H  And  the  king  of  Israel  said  unto  Jehosha- 
 phat, There  is  yet  one  man,  Micaiali  the  son 
 of  Imlah,  by  whom  we  may  enquire  of  the 
 Lord  :  but  I  hate  him  ;  fur  he  doth  not  pro- 
 phe.sy  good  concerning  mc,  but  evil.  And 
 Jehoshaphat  said.  Let  not  the  king  say  so. 
 
 9  Then  the  king  of  Israel  called  an  ||  officer, 
 and  said.  Hasten  hither  Micaiah  the  son  of 
 Imlah. 
 
 10  And  the  king  of  Israel  and  Jehoshaphat 
 the  king  of  Judah  sat  each  on  his  throne,  hav- 
 ing put  on  tlieir  robes,  in  a  f  void  place  in  the 
 entrance  of  the  gate  of  Samaria  ;  and  all  the 
 propliets  prophesied  before  them. 
 
 1 1  And  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Chenaanah  made 
 him  horns  of  iron  :  and  he  said.  Thus  saith  the 
 Loud,  With  these  shalt  thou  push  the  Syrians, 
 until  thou  have  consumed  them. 
 
 12  And  all  the  prophets  prophesied  so,  say- 
 ing. Go  up  to  Ramoth-gilead,  and  prosper: 
 for  the  Lord  shall  deliver  it  into  the  king's 
 hand. 
 
 13  And  the  messenger  that  was  gone  to  call 
 
 9  ritr.  18 
 ■-',  S<c. 
 
 t  Hcb  ./I»r( 
 
 /^'^l|U.  23. 
 
 Job  I    C.  & 
 3  I.  PB.UI3 
 'jn,  21. 
 li:ui    7.  10. 
 Zfli   I.  m. 
 
 M.it.  IS  m. 
 
 'i.Tiiilp.O.  23. 
 .I.ib  l-J.  16. 
 K7.-k-  11  9. 
 ■2  Tlies.  2. 
 
 /  Eiek.  1 1.  9. 
 
 chamber, 
 t  Heb.  « 
 cftdiiiAcr  in 
 
 Micaiah  spake  unto  him,  saying.  Behold  now, 
 the  words  of  the  propliets  declare  good  unto 
 the  king  with  one  month  :  let  thy  word,  I  pray 
 thee,  be  like  the  word  of  one  of  them,  and 
 speak  that  which  is  good. 
 
 14  And  Micaiah  said.  As  the  Lord  liveth, 
 what   the   Lord  saith  unto  me,  that  will  I 
 
 speak. 
 
 15  H  So  he  came  to  the  king.  And  the  king 
 said  unto  him,  Micaiah,  shall  we  go  against 
 Ramoth-gilead  to  battle,  or  sh.ill  we  forbear? 
 And  he  answered  him.  Go,  and  prosper :  for 
 the  Lord  shall  deliver  it  into  the  hand  of  the 
 king. 
 
 16  And  the  king  said  unto  him.  How  many 
 times  shall  I  adjure  thee  that  thou  tell  me  no- 
 thing but  that  which  is  true  in  the  name  of  the 
 Loud  ? 
 
 17  And  he  said,  I  saw  all  Israel  ^scattered 
 upon  the  hills,  as  sheep  that  have  not  a  .shep- 
 herd :  and  the  Lord  said.  These  have  no 
 master :  let  them  return  every  man  to  his 
 house  in  peace. 
 
 18  And  the  king  of  Israel  .said  unto  Jehosha- 
 phat, Did  I  not  tell  thee  that  he  would  pro- 
 phesy no  good  concerning  me,  but  evil  ? 
 
 19  And  he  said.  Hear  thou  therefore  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  :  ''  I  saw  the  Loud  sitting 
 on  his  throne, '  and  all  the  host  of  heaven  stand- 
 ing by  him  on  his  right  hand  and  on  his  left. 
 
 20  And  the  Lord  said,  Who  shall  ||  persuade 
 Ahab,  that  he  may  go  up  and  fall  at  Kamoth- 
 gilead  V  And  one  said  on  this  manner,  and 
 another  said  on  that  manner. 
 
 21  And  there  came  forth  a  spirit,  and  stood 
 before  the  Lord,  and  said,  1  will  persuade  him. 
 
 22  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  Wherewith? 
 And  he  said,  I  will  go  forth,  and  I  will  be  a 
 lying  spirit  in  the  mouth  of  all  his  prophets. 
 And  he  said,  '  Thou  shalt  persuade  him,  and 
 prevail  also  :  go  forth,  and  do  so. 
 
 23  '  Now  therefore,  behold,  the  Lord  hath 
 put  a  lying  spirit  in  the  mouth  of  all  thrse  thy 
 prophets,  and  the  Loud  hath  spoken  evil  con- 
 cerning thee. 
 
 •24  but  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Chenaanah  went 
 near,  and  smote  Micaiah  on  the  cheek,  and 
 said,™  Which  way  went  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
 from  me  to  speak  unto  thee  ? 
 
 25  And  Micaiah  said.  Behold,  thou  shalt  see 
 in  that  day,  when  thou  shalt  go  ||  into  j  an 
 inner  chamber  to  hide  thyself. 
 
 2(i  And  the  king  of  Israel  said,  Take  Micaiah, 
 and  carry  him  back  unto  Anion  the  governor 
 of  the  city,  and  to  Joash  the  king's  son  ; 
 
 Chap.  XXII.  — 2.  Came  down,  from  Jerusalem  to  Samaria,  32  miles. 
 —Bunting.  There  was  an  affinity  between  Jehoshaphat  anrt  Ahali, 
 '2Cliron.  xviii.  1,)  Jchoshaphafs  son  having  aiarriert  Athaliah,  Ahab's 
 daughter,  (2  Kings,  viii.  \n.)— Hales.  3.  Ramoth  in  Gilead  is  ours, 
 by  God's  donation,  for  a  city  of  refuge,  (Josh.  xxi.  38,)  and  by  the  last 
 agreement  with  Benhadad,  (1  Kings,  xx.  3J,)  which  he  had  not  accord- 
 ingly given  up.— So  Poule.  4.  7  am  as  thou  art,  entirely  at  his  ser. 
 vice,  as  if  but  one  person  and  people. — Pat.  5.  Enquire,  I  prm/  thee, 
 —he  seemed  that  he  would  not  go  to  war  except  God  approved  of  it ; 
 yetvjhen  Micaiah  counselled  the  contrary  he  would  not  obey.— Be/. 
 Bib.  6.  Gathered  the  prophets — his  own  false  prophets  or  priests  of 
 Baal ;  probably  the  400  preserved  from  the  slaughter.— Poo/e.  No 
 doubt  they  commonly  prophesied  in  tlie  name  of  Baal,  or  of  some  idol ; 
 but  it  seems  that  occasinuaUy  they  could  speak  in  the  name  of  the 
 Lord.  In  this  verse,  indeed,  the  word  is  not  Jehovah,  but  Adonai,  which 
 IS  used  with  greater  latitude;  but  afterwards  Zedekiah  and  the  rest  used 
 the  word  Jehovah,  (ver.  1 1,  12.)— Scott.  As  Jehoshaphat  did  not  rc- 
 iect  them  as  servants  of  the  Lord,  and  it  is  not  likely  that  Jehoshaphat 
 would  take  advice  from  the  professed  servants  of  Baal,  these  were 
 most  likely  schools  of  the  propiiets,  in  imitation  of  those  (.f  Judah,  but 
 they  were  only  pretenders  to  inspiration.— J',f^  y.  .t  prophet  of  the 
 Lord,  for  these  were  none  of  them  the  eminent  prophets,  and  perhsps 
 392 
 
 he  suspected  them  from  using  the  word  Adonai,  which  might  make 
 them  afterwards  adopt  that  of  Jehovah. — So  Scott.  8.  One  man,  at 
 
 hand,  for  there  were  elsewheie  in  the  kingdom,  Eliiab,  Klisha,  and 
 others. — Poole.  Micaiah — he  is  never  mentioned  but  here  and  in 
 2Chron.  xviii.,  yet,  doubtless,  had  several  times  been  the  messenger 
 of  God  to  Ahab. — Scott.  \il.  A  void  place,  the  place  of  judicature, 
 which  was  in  or  nigh  the  gate  of  the  city,  and  in  front  of  some  void 
 place,  where  people  stood  to  see  and  hear  justice  administered. 
 1!.  Horn.^  of  iron- emblems  of  the  power  and  victory  of  these  two 
 kings. — Poole.  15.  Go  and  prosper — the  answer  was  ironical.— He«,, 
 Gill,  Clarke,  Ac.  The  meaning  was  plainlv,  '  because  thou  seekest  not 
 truth,  but  merely  to  please  thyself,  take  thy  course  aud  reap  tlie  con- 
 sequences.'— So  Poole.  18.  Would  prophesy  na  pood — he  considered 
 the  warning  as  originating  in  mere  malignity. — .Scott.  19.  1  saw  the 
 Lord  silling — this  was  merely  a  parable  descriptive  of  what  was  in  the 
 womb  of  Providence. — ^o  Clarke.  24.  Smote  Micaiah  —  Zedekiah 
 seems  to  have  been  the  chief  of  the  fal.se  prophets,  who  was  much  in 
 the  king's  favour,  upon  which  he  now  presumed,  and  smote  Micaiah  in 
 a  way  of  contempt  and  scorn,  (Job,  xvi.  10  ;  Jer.  xx.  2  ;  Lain.  i»i.  30; 
 Mark,  xiv.  G5.) — Poole.  23.  Inner  chamlter,  'secret  place,'  (chap. 
 XX.  30.)  To  /tide  thifsclf,  for  fear  of  punishment  as  a  false  prophet  and 
 the  cause  of  Ahab's  death.        26.  Carry  him  l/tick—it  seems,  then,  he 
 
Afiaii  is  slain. 
 
 I.  KINGS,  XXII. 
 
 JchoHhuphiit  siicceedclli  him. 
 
 97  And  say,  Thus  saitli  the  king,  Put  this 
 frilow  in  the  prison,  and  feed  him  with  broad 
 of  affliction  and  witli  water  of  affliction,  until  I 
 come  in  peace. 
 
 '28  And  Micaiah  said.  If  thou  return  at  all  in 
 peace,  "  the  Loud  hath  not  spoken  by  me. 
 And  he  said.  Hearken,  O  people,  every  one  of 
 you. 
 
 2!)  So  the  king  of  Israel  and  Jchoshaphat  the 
 king  of  Judah  went  up  to  llamoth-gilead. 
 
 30  And  the  king  of  Israel  said  unto  Jehosha- 
 phat,  II  I  will  disguise  myself,  and  enter  into 
 llie  battle  ;  but  put  thou  on  thy  robes.  And 
 the  king  of  Israel  "disguised  himself,  and  went 
 into  the  battle. 
 
 31  But  the  king  of  Syria  commanded  his 
 thirty  and  two  captains  that  had  rule  over  his 
 chariots,  saying,  Fight  neither  with  small  nor 
 great,  save  only  with  the  king  of  Israel. 
 
 3'2  And  it  came  to  pass,  wlieu  the  captains  of 
 the  chariots  saw  Jelioshaphat,  that  they  said. 
 Surely  it  is  the  king  of  Israel.  And  they 
 turned  aside  to  fight  against  him  :  and  Jcho- 
 shaphat '' cried  out. 
 
 83  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  tlio  captains 
 of  the  chariots  perceived  that  it  was  not  the 
 king  of  Israel,  that  they  turned  back  from  pur- 
 suing him. 
 
 34  And  a  certain  man  drew  a  bow  f  at  a 
 venture,  and  smote  the  king  of  Israel  between 
 the  t  joints  of  tlie  harness  :  wherefore  he  said 
 unto  tlie  driver  of  his  chariot,  Turn  thine  hand, 
 and  carry  me  out  of  the  host  ;  for  I  am 
 f  wounded. 
 
 G3  And  the  battle  f  increased  that  day  :  and 
 the  king  was  stayed  up  in  his  chariot  against 
 the  Syrians,  and  died  at  even:  and  the  blond 
 ran  out  of  the  wound  into  the  fniidst  of  the 
 chariot. 
 
 36  And  there  went  a  proclamation  through- 
 out the  host  about  the  going  down  of  the  sun 
 saying.  Every  man  to  his  city,  and  every  man 
 to  his  own  country. 
 
 37  II  So  the  king  died,  and  f  was  brought  to 
 Samaria ;  and  they  buried  the  king  in  Samaria. 
 
 38  And  one  washed  the  chariot  in  the  pool  of 
 Samaria  ;  and  the  dogs  licked  up  bis  blood  ; 
 and  they  washed  his  armour  ;  according  '■  unto 
 the  word  of  the  Lord  which  he  spake. 
 
 39  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Ahab,  and  all 
 that  he  did,  and  'the  ivory  house  which  he 
 
 1  Num.  16. 
 29.  Deii.  18. 
 
 2u,  8i,  aa. 
 
 wlf,amlniln 
 Ml,!  the  Ul- 
 
 a  i  Clir.  S5. 
 82. 
 
 t  Heb.  in  *i 
 ,i...,i/ici/v. 
 2  Sum.  15. 
 II. 
 
 t  ll«h.  y,i„t 
 
 breailiila  te. 
 
 I  Flok. 
 
 J  cb.  21.  IS 
 
 fill. 
 Bigiiii  to 
 ii'igii  rildue, 
 ver.  51. 
 3  Chi-.  20. 
 31. 
 
 ( oil.  H.  ea. 
 
 i>;  15.  II 
 2  Kill.  12  :^. 
 
 ,-2Clir    10, 
 2.  2  Cor.  0. 
 
 013 
 :  noil.  25.23, 
 
 2Satii.S.U 
 
 2  Kill  S.  9, 
 
 li;  a.  211, 
 ■  2  Chr,  20. 
 
 S5,  &c, 
 il  Or,  had  te>, 
 
 th  ijii 
 b  ch.  10.  22 
 
 <■  2  ciir.  so- 
 ar. 
 
 rf  ch.  9.  2(5. 
 riChr.SI  1 
 
 a'lo. 
 
 Now  hfi  bo- 
 gins  to 
 reign  alone 
 
 4'  ch.  15.  26 
 
 A  Ju.lj.  2,11 
 ch,  10.  31. 
 
 made,  and  all  the  cities  that  he  built,  are  they 
 not  written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  of 
 the  kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 40  So  Ahab  slept  with  his  fathers  ;  and  Aha- 
 ziah  bis  sou  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 41  IT  And  "Jelioshaphat  the  son  of  A.sa  began 
 to  reign  over  Judah  in  the  fourth  year  of  Ahab 
 king  of  Israel. 
 
 42  Jelioshaphat  ?ras  thirty  and  five  years 
 old  when  he  began  to  reign  ;  and  he  reigned 
 twenty  and  five  years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his 
 mother's  name  ivas  Azubah  the  daughter  of 
 Shilhi. 
 
 43  And  'he  walked  in  all  the  ways  of  Asa  his 
 father ;  he  turned  not  aside  from  it,  doing  tliiit 
 which  was  right  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  : 
 nevertheless  "  the  higli  places  were  not  taken 
 away  ;  for  the  people  offered  and  burnt  in- 
 cense yet  in  the  high  places. 
 
 44  And  '  Jehoshaphat  made  peace  with  the 
 king  of  Israel. 
 
 45  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jehoshaphat, 
 and  his  might  that  he  shewed,  and  how  be 
 warred,  are  they  not  written  in  the  book  of  the 
 chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 46  ^  And  the  remnant  of  the  sodomites,  which 
 remained  in  the  days  of  his  father  Asa,  he  took 
 out  of  the  land. 
 
 47  ^  There  was  then  no  king  in  Edom  :  a 
 deputy  icas  king. 
 
 48  °  Jehoshapiiat  ||  '"  made  ships  of  Tharshisb 
 to  go  to  Ophir  for  gold  :  '  but  they  went  not ; 
 for  the  ships  were  broken  at ''  Ezion-geber. 
 
 49  Then  .said  Ahaziah  the  son  of  Ahab  unto 
 Jehoshaphat,  Let  my  servants  go  with  thy  ser- 
 vants in  the  ships.  But  Jehoshaphat  would  not. 
 
 50  t  And  "  Jehoshaphat  slept  with  his  fathers, 
 and  was  buried  with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of 
 David  his  father  :  and  Jehoram  his  son  reigned 
 in  his  stead. 
 
 51  f  Ahaziah  the  son  of  Ahab  began  to 
 reign  over  Israel  in  Samaria  the  seventeenth 
 year  of  Jehoshaphat  king  of  Judah,  and  reigned 
 two  years  over  Israel. 
 
 5-2  And  he  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 
 and  ^  walked  in  the  way  of  his  father,  and  in 
 the  way  of  his  mother,  and  in  the  way  of  Jero- 
 boam the  son  of  Nebat,  who  made  Israel  to  sin  : 
 
 53  For  ''  he  served  Baal,  and  worshipped  him, 
 and  provoked  to  anger  the  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
 according  to  all  that  his  father  had  done. 
 
 was  in  custody  when  Ahab  sent  for  him.— Pa/.  27.  Bread  of  iiffl'C' 
 ti'ni,  ?fc..  coarse  and  sparing  diet,  (Deut.  xvi.  3;  2  Chion.  xviii.  2tj; 
 Isa.  sx'S.  20.) — Poole.  2t).  ]Vtiit  vp  to  Romoth  giletid,  24  miles  from 
 Samaria. — Bunting.  Tliat  Jeho.shaphat  should  go  is  rallter  surprisini;  ; 
 however,  he  did  not  Icnow  Micaiah,  and  there  were  400  prophets  all 
 agreed,  who  pretended  to  speak  in  the  name  of  the  Lord ;  and  thongh 
 he  might  suspect,  he  could  not  confute  them. — Poole,  Gill.  30.  Din- 
 guise  mtiself,  to  prevent  the  Syrians  from  knowing  and  directing  their 
 main  force  against  him.  Pitt  thoii  on  thy  rohes — no  danger  being  to  be 
 apprehended  by  Jehoshaphat,  Ahab  being  the  object  of  the  Syrians'  rage. 
 — So  Poole.  There  was  siibtilty  in  this,  Ahab  designing  to  save  him- 
 self at  the  risk  of  Jehoshaphat.— Gi7/.  31.  Save  onli/  with  the  king 
 of  Israel,  whom  he  looked  upon  as  the  sole  author  of  the  war  into 
 which  he  had  drawn  Jehoshaphat. — Pot.  34-  At  n  venture,  lonb. 
 '  in  his  simplicity.' — Reineccias.  '  In  his  integrity.' — See  Far,,  on. 
 'According  to  his  perfection. '—Frey.  It  implies  'to  the  utmost  of  his 
 skill  and  strength,  including  aim  and  power.'  Between  the  joints  of 
 the  harness,  '  between  the  cuirass  and  the  lower  part  of  the  helmet,'  or 
 '  between  the  cuirass  and  the  ciiissarts.*  In  the  first  case  the  arrow 
 would  strike  the  neck,    in  the  second,  the  abdomen.  — So  Clarke. 
 
 t.va[J.£aov  Ton  7rvei7iovov  ttat  avafxiaov  lov  Oiapattoi,  *  into  his  breast 
 thrtiugh  his  lungs,'  Sept.  1  am  wounded,  'rr'^rrn,  '  I  am  sick,'  so  Vat., 
 Jan.,  Trem.  He  said  he  was  sick,  not  choosing  to  inform  the  army 
 that  he  was  woundt  d. — So  Gill.  38.  Licked  his  blood,  as  predicted  by 
 the  pn^phet,  (chap.  xxi.  19.)  39.  Ivory  house,  'inlaid  with  ivory  ;'  we 
 read  of  ivory  houses  in  Amos,  iii.  1.1.  47.  A  deputy  was  king,  from 
 the  times  of  David,  who  subdued  Edom,  (2  Sam.  viii.  14;}  this  con- 
 tinued during  Jehoshapbat's  rcien,  luit  in  his  son's  time  the  Edomitcs 
 revolted  and  set  up  a  king  of  their  own,  (2  Kings,  viii.  20.) — Gill. 
 393 
 
 4a.  Ships  of  Tharshish.  '  ships  of  burden,'— H(/k6.  ;  SO  called  from  their 
 being  formed  like  those  that  traded  to  Tharshish.  All  such  sliip.=, 
 wherever  they  were  built,  were  called  ships  of  Tharsldsh. — .it/ar.  These 
 ships  traded  not  to  Tharshish,  but  to  0|ihir.  See,  h(.wever,  2  Chron. 
 XX.  36,  37,  where  Tharshish  is  mentioned  as  the  place  of  destination. 
 Borhart  tliinks  there  was  a  place  so  called  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  near 
 to  Ophir.— Pal.  Were  broken,  were  wrecked.'— Bool/ir.  At  Ezion- 
 geher,  the  port  where  they  were  built ;  as  soon  as  they  were  launched 
 or  sailed  they  were  broken  on  the  rocks  near  the  harbour,  which  stood 
 up  like  a  man's  back-bone,  whence  the  port  had  its  name.— Gi;/. 
 49.  Let  mil  servants,  /)C.,  spoken  probably  of  a  second  expedition.— 
 A.  Clarke'.  Leusden  mentions  a  Jewish  opinion  that  probably  only  five 
 ships  tiWt  of  ten,  a  supposed  number  of  the  fleet,  were  broken  ;  the 
 Hebrew  leltcr  n,  at  the  cod  of  the  word,  being  a  sign  of  the  number 
 •  live,'  and  it  is  1  ere  suhstdulcd  in  the  place  of  1,  the  letter  which  usually 
 forms  the  plural.  niDM.'^,  '  confractte  sunt  naves.''— Clavis  Hcbraica. 
 As  the  word  is  in  a  conjugation, '  ^Mllhal.'  which  may  only  signify  liurt, 
 (see -laiD,  Par.,)  it  seems  not  improbable  that  the  same  fleet  was  re- 
 paired.—Brf.  iro)(M  no(— instead  of  nax  Nbl,  'he  would  not,'  Hoit- 
 liigant,  Boothroi/d,  &c.,  read,  n:«  I'^l,  '  he  consented  to  him  ;'  but  this 
 is  merely  conjectural,  and  supported  by  no  MS.,  but  lias  been  so  made 
 to  accord  easily  with  the  parallel  passage  in  2  Chron.  xx.  3li.  There  is, 
 however,  no  real  discixpancy  in  the  two  accounts,  for  that  in  Chroni- 
 cles  merely  states  the  building  of  the  ships  tn  go  to  Tharshish,  and  this 
 the  refusal  of  Jehoshaphat  to  engage  in  the  voyage  after  they  were 
 built.  There  is  no  evidence,  as  Buothro'/d  and  Clarke  seem  to  sup- 
 pose, that  Jehoshaphat  joined  in  actually  sending  the  ships  to  Thar, 
 shish,  but  only  in  building  them  ;  alter  which,  in  both  (ilaces,  it  appeal  s 
 Ihev  were  wrecked  as  soon  as  launched. — Ed. 
 3   E 
 
THE  SECOND  BOOK 
 
 THE      KINGS, 
 
 COMMONLY    CALLED, 
 
 THE    FOURTH     BOOK     OF     THE     KINGS. 
 
 I  This  book  emliraccs   the  history  of  the   Kings  of  Juiiali   and    Israel  (luring  300  years,  from  the  deatli  of  Jelioshaphat, 
 A.M.  3115,  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  A.M.  3416.     It  is  referred  to  in  Luke,  iv.  27,  and  x.  4.] 
 
 CHAP.  1. 
 
 1  Monh  rebelhth.  2  A/iaztah,  sendiiiy  to  Baal-zchuh, 
 hath  his  judgment  by  Elijah.  5  Elijah  twice  hriiu/- 
 ith  Jive  from  heaven  upon  them  whom  Ahaziah  sent 
 to  apprehend  him.  13  He  pititth  the  third  captain, 
 and,  encouraged  bt/  an  aw/el,  tilhth  the  hinij  of  his 
 death.     17  Jehuram  sueceedeth  Ahaziidi. 
 
 'T'HEN  Moab  "rebelled  against  Israel  "after 
 ■*-    the  death  of  Aliab. 
 
 2  And  Ahaziah  fell  down  through  a  lattice  in 
 his  upper  chamber  that  was  in  Samaria,  and 
 was  sick  :  and  he  sent  messengers,  and  said 
 unto  them.  Go,  enquire  of  Baal-zebub  the  god 
 of  '  Ekron  whether  I  shall  recover  of  this  dis- 
 ease. 
 
 3  But  the  angel  of  the  Loud  said  to  Elijah 
 the  Tisbbite,  Arise,  go  up  to  meet  the  mes- 
 sengers of  the  king  of  Samaria,  and  say  unto 
 them,  Is  it  not  because  then:  is  not  a  God  in 
 Israel,  that  ye  go  to  enquire  of  Baal-zebub  the 
 god  of  Ekron  ? 
 
 4  Now  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lobu,  f  Thou 
 shalt  not  come  down  from  that  bed  on  which 
 thou  art  gone  up,  but  shalt  surely  die.  And 
 Elijah  departed. 
 
 3  U  And  when  the  messengers  turned  back 
 unto  him,  he  said  unto  them,  Why  are  ye  now 
 turned  back V 
 
 6  And  they  said  unto  him.  There  came  a 
 man  up  to  meet  us,  and  said  nnto  us,  Go,  turn 
 again  unto  the  king  that  sent  you,  and  say 
 unto  him,  Tims  saith  the  Lord,  /•>■  it  not  l)t"- 
 cause  there  is  not  a  God  in  Israel,  that  thou 
 sendest  to  enquire  of  Baal-zebub  the  god  of 
 Ekron  ?  therefore  thou  shalt  not  come  down 
 from  that  bed  on  whicli  thou  art  gone  up,  but 
 shalt  surely  die. 
 
 7  And  he  said  unto  them,  f  W'hat  manner  of 
 man  was  he  which  came  up  to  meet  you,  and 
 
 B.  0, 
 cir.  mt. 
 
 a  2  Sam.  8.2. 
 A  cli.  a.  6. 
 
 t  H.>b,    The 
 
 b'-dtchiiU'r 
 
 thou  art 
 
 (h.,U   ihutt 
 
 Hill  cr-i* 
 
 .l.,«njr.,m 
 
 t  Hpb. 
 
 b'raed. 
 
 f  I  Sam    2R 
 
 told  you  these  words? 
 
 8  And  they  answered  him,  IJe  was  '^an  hairy 
 man,  and  girt  with  a  girdle  of  leather  about 
 Ills  loins.  And  he  said,  It  is  Elijali  the  Ti.sh- 
 bite. 
 
 9  Then  the  king  sent  unto  him  a  captain  of 
 fifty  with  his  fifty.  And  he  went  up  to  him  : 
 and,  behold,  he  sat  on  the  top  of  an  bill.  And 
 he  spake  unto  him,  Tliou  man  of  God,  the 
 king  hath  said.  Come  down. 
 
 10  And  Elijah  au.swered  and  said  to  the  cap- 
 tain of  fifty,  If  I  he  a  man  of  God,  then  "let 
 fire  come  down  from  heaven,  and  consume  thee 
 and  thy  fifty.  And  there  came  down  fire  from 
 heaven,  and  consumed  him  and  his  fifty. 
 
 1 1  Again  also  be  sent  unto  him  another  cap- 
 tain of  fifty  with  his  fifty.  And  he  answered 
 and  said  unto  him,  O  man  of  God,  Thus  hath 
 the  king  said,  Come  down  quickly. 
 
 12  And  Elijah  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
 If  I  ie  a  man  of  God,  let  fire  come  down  from 
 heaven,  and  consume  thee  and  thy  fifty.  And 
 the  fire  of  God  came  down  from  heaven,  an<l 
 consumed  him  .and  his  fifty. 
 
 13  IF  And  be  sent  again  a  captain  of  the  third 
 fifty  with  his  fifty.  And  the  third  captain  of 
 fifty  went  up,  and  came  and  ffell  on  his  knees 
 before  Elijali,  and  besought  him,  and  said  unto 
 him,  O  man  of  God,  I  pray  thee,  let  my  life, 
 and  the  life  of  these  fifty  thy  servants,  'be 
 precious  ill  thy  sight. 
 
 14  Behold,  there  came  fire  down  from  heaven, 
 and  burnt  up  the  two  captains  of  the  former 
 fifties  with  their  fifties :  therefore  let  my  life 
 now  be  precious  in  thy  sight. 
 
 15  And  the  atigel  of  the  Lord  said  niito 
 Elijah,  Go  down  with  him  :  be  not  afraid  of 
 him.  And  be  arose,  and  went  down  with  him 
 unto  the  king. 
 
 NOTKS  ov  Chap.  I.  —  I.  Moab  rebelled — it  had  been  in  subjection 
 from  the  times  of  Daviil,  (2  Sam.  viii.  2,)  hut  on  Ahali's  ill  success 
 refused  tribute.— (;i«.  2.  Through  a  liittiee—n\e  rail  work  of  the  tlat 
 roof  of  the  building,  on  which  leaoiui;,  it  gave  way,  and  he  fell  into  the 
 court.— //tf«'.  As  the  lattice  was  in  the  upper  chamber,  it  rather  ap- 
 pears that  he  fell  from  a  latticed  window.— 2?d.  The  words  may  be 
 rendered,  'throuRh  the  lattice  in  tlie  battlements  of  the  roof  of  the 
 house.'— Pnofe.  Baal-sebuli,  the  fod  of  the  lly.  He  had  a  famous 
 temple  at  Ekron.— C\i;.  Probably  the  country  was  infeStcd  with 
 swarms  of  flies,  and  this  idol  was  thought  a  preserver  or  deliverer. — 
 Scott.  In  the  same  way  the  Hindoos,  when  bitten  by  a  reptile,  &c., 
 have  recourse  to  Vyravar,  the  Hindoo  prince  of  devils.— See  Boh.  The 
 Rabbins  call  this  god  '  Baal-zebul,"  lord  of  the  dung  or  dunghills.— 
 Light/.  Ekron.  this  city  was  near  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  It  fell  by 
 lot  to  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  45.)  and  was  given  up  to  Dan,  {Josh.  .\ix.  43,) 
 but  history  gives  no  account  of  the  Jews  quietly  po.ssessiiig  it.— Pat. 
 4.  Come  down  from  that  bed— in  the  eastern  countries  it  is  not  unusual 
 
 to  have  galleries  raised  four  or  five  feet,  to  which  they  ascend  by  steps 
 to  the  beds  there  placed.— .S7iriie.  8.  Hair//,  having  his   hair  and 
 
 heard  spread  much  over  his  face,  or  wearing  a  garment  t>f  camel's  or 
 goat's  hair,  the  habit  of  prophets,  (Isa.  XX.  2  ;  Zech.  xiii.  4  ;  Matt.  lii. 
 4  :  Heb.  xi.  37.) — Poole,  Pat.,  Gill.  The  derviscs  m  the  east  all  dress 
 in  this  way. — Sir  J.  Chardin.  g.  Thou  man  of  God,  spoken  here  by 
 way  of  ccnUnipt.— Poo/e,  Gill.  10.  Then  let  fire  come,  «oTn/3n(TCTin 
 
 TTi'p,  '  fire  will  come  down,'  Se/it.  There  come  down  fire,  *  a  flash  of 
 liglitning.' which  destroyed  them  at  once. — Gilt.  Called  the  '  fire  of 
 God.'  ver.  12.  If  Elijah  had  been  actuated  by  mere  selfish  resentment, 
 the  lire  from  heaven  would  not  have  come  at  his  word. — Scott.  When 
 our  Lord  rebuked  the  disciples  for  desiring  fire  from  heaven,  they  were 
 provokctl  to  a  retributive  act  for  their  own  sakcs  as  well  as  for  their 
 Master's,  hut  Elijah  was  ctmstrained  to  a  painful  duty  for  the  truth's 
 sake. — Elijah.  I  consider  the  prophet  as  predicting  what  would 
 happen,  to  shew  the  king  the  truth  of  the  message  sent. — Boothr.  The 
 words  were  declarative  and  not  implicatory. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII. —  We  learn  here,  I.  The 
 dangers  of  intercourse  with  the  unqodly.  Jehoshapliat's  visit  to 
 Abab  involved  him  in  a  war  w'ith  Syria,  expo.sed  him  to  the 
 deception  of  false  prophets,  and  nearly  cost  him  liis  life. 
 
 II.  The  folly  of  men  who  lore  to  listen  to  false  praplicts.  Ahab 
 was  determined  to  be  deceived,  and  so  he  was  deceived  to  his 
 
 ruin.  Alas,  how  many  will  have  ministers  to  instruct  them 
 who  are  ever  ready  to  prophesy  smooth  tilings,  and  if  any 
 faithful  prophet  interposes,  Ibey  reject  his  warnings  nitli  in- 
 dignation !  Thus,  '  if  the  blind  lead  the  blind,  both  shall  fall 
 into  the  ditch.' 
 
Elijah  divideth  the  waters  of  Jordan. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  II. 
 
 lie  is  taken  up  into  heaven. 
 
 !6  Anel  he  said  unto  him,  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord,  Forasmuch  as  thou  hast  sent  messengers 
 to  enquire  of  Baal-zebub  tlie  god  of  Ekron,  is 
 it  not  because  there  is  no  God  in  Israel  to  en- 
 quire of  His  word  ?  therefore  thou  shalt  not 
 come  down  off  tliat  bed  on  wliicli  thou  art 
 gone  up,  but  slialt  surely  die. 
 
 17  t  So  lie  died  according  to  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  which  Elijah  had  spoken.  And  ||  Je- 
 horam  reigned  in  his  stead  in  the  second  year 
 of  .Tclioram  the  son  of  Jehoshaphat  king  of 
 .ludali  ;  because  he  had  no  son. 
 
 IS  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Ahaziah  which 
 lie  did,  are  they  not  written  in  the  book  of  the 
 chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel? 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Elijah^  lahing  his  leave,  of  Elislia,  with  his  mantle 
 divideth  Jurdan,  9  atid,  grantttt(j  Elisha  his  request, 
 is  taken  up  lit/  a  fiery  chariot  into  heaven.  12  Elisha, 
 dividing  Jordan  with  EUjuh^s  mantle,  is  acknoiv- 
 lediied  his  successor.  16  7Vie  yoinuj  prophets,  hardly 
 ohtaining  leave  to  seek  Elijah,  could  not  find  him. 
 19  Elislia  with  salt  healeth  the  itmvholesome  waters. 
 23  Bears  destroy  the  chihlren  that  mocked  Elisha. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  tlie  Lord  would 
 -^*-  "  take  up  Elijah  into  heaven  by  a  whirl- 
 wind, that  Elijah  went  with  ''  Elisha  from 
 Gilgal. 
 
 2  And  Elijah  said  unto  Elisha,  '  Tarry  here, 
 I  pray  thee  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to 
 Beth-el.  And  Elisha  said  nnto  him.  As  the 
 Lord  liveth,  and  ''  as  thy  soul  liveth,  I  will  not 
 leave  thee.     So  tliey  went  down  to  Beth-el. 
 
 ■S  And  "the  sons  of  the  prophets  that  were  at 
 Beth-el  came  forth  to  Elisha,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Knowest  thou  that  the  Lord  will  take 
 away  thy  master  from  tliy  head  to  day?  And 
 he  said.  Yea,  I  know  if ;  hold  ye  your  peace. 
 
 4  And  Elijah  said  unto  him,  Elisha,  tarry  here, 
 I  pray  thee  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to  Je- 
 richo. And  he  said.  As  the  Lord  liveth,  and 
 as  thy  soul  liveth,  I  will  not  leave  thee.  So 
 they  came  to  Jericho. 
 
 5  And  the  sous  of  the  prophets  that  irere  at 
 Jericho  came  to  Elisha,  and  said  unto  him, 
 Knowest  thou  that   the  Lord  will  take  away 
 
 B.  c.  B.  c. 
 
 cir.  896.  cir.  896 
 
 I  The  spcond 
 yi'ar  th.it 
 J^-h"rum 
 was  Pyurex, 
 aii-l  the 
 ciBhtccuth 
 of  .leJiutha- 
 
 ri.„i. 
 
 ih.  3.  1. 
 
 a  Geo.  5.24. 
 b  1  Kin.  19. 
 
 SCO  Ruth 
 1.  Ij,  IG. 
 
 rf  1  Sam  1. 
 •.;6.  vef.  I,G 
 oh   4.  3(1 
 
 .-  1  Kin  2f). 
 X,  ver,6,7- 
 13  ch.  4.  1, 
 3S,  &  9.  1. 
 
 f  Heb. 
 
 /So  Ex.  M. 
 21.  Josh.  :1 
 16.  ver.  14. 
 
 t  Hcb.  Tha 
 hast  d<me 
 h„rii  u,  <iaA 
 
 li  Efcliis.  18 
 9.  1  M.1C.  ■2_ 
 
 t  Hob.  ;r>. 
 
 thy  master  from  thy  head  to  day?  And  he  an- 
 swered. Yea,  I  know  it;  hold  ye  your  peace, 
 (i  And  Elijah  said  unto  him.  Tarry,  I  pray 
 thee,  here  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  sent  me  to 
 Jordan.  And  he  said.  As  the  Lord  liveth, 
 and  as  thy  soul  liveth,  I  will  not  leave  thee. 
 And  they  two  went  on. 
 
 7  And  fifty  men  of  the  sons  of  the  prophets 
 went,  and  stood  f  to  view  afar  oflf:  and  they 
 two  stood  by  Jordan. 
 
 8  And  Elijah  took  his  mantle,  and  wrapped 
 it  together,  and  smote  the  waters,  and  '  they 
 were  divided  hither  and  thither,  so  that  they 
 two  went  over  on  dry  ground. 
 
 !)  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  were 
 gone  over,  that  Elijah  said  unto  Elisha,  Ask 
 what  I  shall  do  for  thee,  before  I  be  taken 
 away  from  thee.  And  Elisha  said,  I  pray  thee, 
 let  a  double  portion  of  thy  spirit  be  upon  me. 
 
 10  And  he  said,  f  Thou  hast  asked  a  hard 
 thing  :  nevertheless,  if  thou  see  me  tchen  I  am 
 taken  from  thee,  it  shall  he  so  unto  thee  ;  but 
 if  not,  it  shall  not  be  so. 
 
 1 1  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  still  went  on, 
 and  talked,  that,  behold,  there  appeared  ^  a 
 chariot  of  fire,  and  horses  of  fire,  and  parted 
 them  both  asunder;  and  ''Elijah  went  up  by  a 
 whirlwind  into  heaven. 
 
 12  t  And  Elisha  saw  it,  and  he  cried,  '  My 
 father,  my  father,  the  chariot  of  Israel,  and  the 
 horsemen  thereof.  And  he  saw  him  no  more  : 
 and  he  took  hold  of  his  own  clothes,  and  rent 
 them  in  two  pieces. 
 
 13  He  took  up  also  the  mantle  of  Elijah  that 
 fell  from  him,  and  went  back,  and  stood  by  the 
 t  bank  of  Jordan  ; 
 
 14  And  he  took  the  mantle  of  Elijah  that  fell 
 from  him,  and  smote  the  waters,  and  said. 
 Where  is  the  Lord' God  of  Elijah?  and  when 
 he  also  had  smitten  the  waters,  ''  they  parted 
 hither  and  thither :  and  Elisha  went  over. 
 
 15  And  when  the  sons  of  the  prophets  which 
 were  '  to' view  at  Jericho  saw  him,  tliey  said, 
 The  spirit  of  Elijah  doth  rest  on  Elisha.  And 
 they  came  to  meet  hiin,  and  bowed  themselves 
 to  the  ground  before  him. 
 
 Chap.  II. — 2.  To  Bc?A-e/,  to  the  schools  of  the  prophets,  to  comfort 
 and  strengthen  their  hearts,  and  give  them  his  last  counsels. — Poole. 
 3.  The  suns  of  the  prophets,  '  their  scholars,'  educated  and  trained  up 
 for  religion,  upon  whom,  by  degrees,  God  bestowed  the  spirit  of  pro- 
 phecy.— Pat.  Will  take  away — they  had  received  a  Divine  intimation. 
 — Scott.  From  thy  head,  in  allusion  to  disciples  sitting  at  the  feet  of 
 their  masters,  and  so  they  at  the  head  of  them. — Gill.  Hold  ye  your 
 peace,  lest  crowds  should  assemble  to  witness  the  event,  and  that  they 
 should  not  disquiet  themselves. — Scott.  5.  At  Jericho — thougli  this 
 was  lately  rebuilt  under  a  curse,  it  was  blessed  with  a  school  of  the 
 prophets. — Gill.  8.  Mantle,  rrji'  /^eAwtiiv,  Sept.,  '  his  lamb  sivin;'  an 
 upper  garment,  thrown  over  the  shoulders,  and  some  think  coming 
 down   to  the  heels. — Pat.  g.  .4  double  portion,    '  a  repetition.'  — 
 
 Geddes.  This  view  is  supported  by  ver.  15. — Boothr.  He  alludes  to 
 the  double  portion  of  the  firstborn,  (Deut.  xxi.  17.) — Poole.  He  used 
 words  which  may  mean  even  a  double  portion  of  the  spirit  and  graces 
 of  Elijah.— G(7/,  Scott.  He  does  not  mean  a  double  portion  with  re- 
 spect to  Elijah,  but  with  respect  to  the  junior  prophets.— Gi/;.  10.  A 
 hard  thina,  '  a  rare  and  singular  blessing,' which  I  cannot  promise  thee, 
 and  God  only  can  give. — Poole.    If  thou  see  me,  this  could  have  no  in- 
 
 fluence; perhaps  this  simply  means,  'if  thou  continue  with  me  till  I 
 am  translated,  God  will  grant  this  to  thee.* — Boothr.,  A.  Clarke.  \\.  A. 
 chariot  of  fire,  ^c,  '  a  ijright  cloud  formed  into  such  a  likeness,  and 
 managed  by  angels.' — Poole.  Angels  in  the  form  of  a  bright  chariot 
 and  horses,  running  between  them  on  the  ground  and  separating  them. 
 . — Put.  Ill  reading  tliese  passages  it  is  well  to  observe  a  due  medium 
 between  superstition  and  scepticism.  We  cannot  comprehend  the  va- 
 rious operations  of  infinite  power. — Hew.  13.  The  chariot  of  Israel, 
 SfC,  meaning,  Elijah  was  better  to  Israel  than  the  strongest  force  of 
 chariots  and  horsemen. — So  Henry,  Gilt,  Scott.  The  words  are  pro- 
 verbial of  one  considered  the  defence  of  his  country.  —  Dathe. 
 14.  Smote  the  waters— to  these  words  the  Vulg.,  and  some  copies  of  the 
 Sept.,  add,  '  but  the  waters  were  not  divided.*  Then  the  prophet  asks, 
 'Where,  &c.  ?*  So  it  is  read  by  Boothr.  Where  is  the  Lord  God  of 
 Elijah?  'let  him  appear  now  and  shew  his  power  as  he  did  by  him.* — 
 Gill.  After  Elijah  there  are  two  Hebrew  words  not  translated,  fiiri  FIN, 
 'even  He  ;'  these  make  the  original  more  e.vpressive,  intimating  ''he 
 is  still  with  me ;' though  Elijah  be  not  here,  the  God  of  Elijah  is. — 
 Scott,  Pat.  And  when  he  also  had  smitten,  ^-c.,  '  and  again  he  smote,* 
 &c. — Boothr.        15.  Bowed  themselves,  in  token  of  reverence  to  him  as 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.    I In   this  chapter  we  have— 
 
 I.  The  death  of  Ahaziali.  It  arose  from  a  sudden  accident. 
 We  stand  in  jeopardy  every  hour.  Accidents  are  monitors  to 
 warn  the  youngest  and  the  most  vigorous  that  their  breath  is 
 suspended  on  their  lips,  and  that  every  moment  there  is  but 
 a  step  between  them  and  death.  And  yet  how  many,  like  this 
 foolisb  king,  while  life  is  in  suspense,  are  only  anxious  to 
 know  if  they  can  recover,  but  not  to  know  whether  their  souls 
 are  secure  for  eternity  !  And,  alas,  to  what  false  refuges  will 
 tbey  flee  rather  than  seek  alter  God  ! 
 
 II.  The  deaths  of  the  captains  of  Ahaziah.  These  men  and 
 395 
 
 their  company  were  fit  servants  of  their  royal  master,  and  evi- 
 dently despised  the  prophet,  and  God  punished  both  their 
 infidelity  and  obstinacy.  Even  the  second  company  did  not 
 learn  wisdom  from  the  first,  but  were  more  perverse,  and  im- 
 pudent, and  scornful.  But  sinners  shall  find  it  is  in  vain  to 
 fight  against  God  in  assailing  his  true  servants,  and  in  this  and 
 all  other  cases,  '  they  that  will  sin  like  others,  must  expect 
 to  sufier  like  them.*  *  Those  only  are  wise  who  learn  sub- 
 mission to  God  from  the  fatal  consequences  of  others'  obsti- 
 nacy.' 
 
Elisha  healeth  the  xvaters  of  Jericho^ 
 
 10  t  And  they  said  unto  him.  Behold  now, 
 there  be  with  thy  servants  fifty  t  strong  men  ; 
 let  them  go,  we  pray  thee,  and  seek  thy  master: 
 ■"lest  perad venture  tlie  Spirit  ot  the  LoKohath 
 talien  him  up,  and  cast  liim  upon  f  some  moun- 
 tain, or  into  some  valley.  And  he  said.  Ye 
 shall  not  send.  . 
 
 17  And  when  they  urged  hnn  tdl  he  was 
 ashamed,  he  said.  Send.  They  sent  therefore 
 fifty  men  ;  and  they  sought  three  days,  but 
 found  him  not.  _ 
 
 18  And  when  they  came  again  to  him,  (tor 
 he  tarried  at  Jericho,)  he  said  unto  them,  Uid 
 I  not  say  unto  you.  Go  not? 
 
 19  t  And  the  men  of  the  city  said  unto  h\\- 
 sha,  Behold,  I  pray  thee,  the  situation  of  this 
 city  is  pleasant,  as  my  lord  seeth  :  but  the 
 water  is  naught,  and  the  ground  t  barren. 
 
 "0  And  he  said.  Bring  me  a  new  cruse,  anU 
 put  salt  therein.     And  they  brought  it  to  him. 
 
 ■n  And  he  went  forth  unto  the  spring  of  the 
 waters,  and  "  cast  the  salt  in  there,  and  said, 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord,  I  have  healed  these 
 waters  ;  there  shall  not  be  from  thence  any 
 more  death  or  barren  land. 
 
 •'•2  So  the  waters  were  healed  unto  this  day, 
 according  to  the  saying  of  Elislia  which  he 
 
 spake.  ,  ,  . 
 
 >'3  H  And  he  went  up  from  thence  unto 
 B~eth-el :  and  as  he  was  going  up  by  the  way, 
 there  came  forth  little  children  out  of  the  city, 
 and  mocked  him,  and  said  unto  him.  Go  up, 
 thou  bald  head  ;  go  up,  thou  bald  head. 
 
 24  And  he  turned  back,  and  looked  on  them, 
 and  cursed  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 And  there  came  forth  two  she  bears  out  of  the 
 wood,  and  tare  forty  and  two  children  of  them. 
 
 25  And  he  went  from  thence  to  mount  Lar- 
 mel,  and  from  thence  he  returned  to  Samaria. 
 
 CHAP.  in. 
 
 1  Jelwmm-s  reiqn.  4  Ms/,o  rehmth  d  Jehoram, 
 with  Jehoshaphat.  ami  the  kln^  nf  Eilom,  Imng  dis- 
 tressed for  want  ofu-at,r,  h,j  E/lsl,„  ahtameth  water 
 arid  promise  of  victor;/.  21  T/,e  Muubiles,  deceived 
 by  the  colour  of  the  water,  comimj  to  spoil,  are  over 
 
 n.  KINGS,  III. 
 
 cir.  896. 
 
 (  Htb.  t<iiii 
 t,f,tTfnglh. 
 
 ...See  I  Kin 
 IS.  12. 
 Ezek.  8.  3 
 Bel  and 
 Dragon, 36 
 ACU  8.  39. 
 
 \  Heb.  one  of 
 Ihg  mouri- 
 taint- 
 
 t  lleb.  "■"• 
 ill?  to  ,rtii- 
 currtf. 
 
 ,  See  Ei.  IS. 
 ■.■5  cli.4.11. 
 S.  fl  G.  John 
 9.  C. 
 
 Jclioram's  reiijn. 
 
 come.    2(i    The  Imu,  of  Moah.  by  sacrificing  the  king 
 of  Edam's  son,  raisith  tlic  siege. 
 
 NOW  "  Jehoram  the  son  of  Ahab  began  to 
 rei"n  over  Israel  in  Samaria  the  eighteenth 
 year  of  Jehoshaphat  king  of  Judab,  and  reigned 
 twelve  years.  , 
 
 2  And  he  wrought  evil  in  the  sight  ot  the 
 Lord  ;  but  not  like  his  father,  and  like  lus  mo- 
 ther :  for  he  put  away  the  t  image  ol  Baal 
 "  that  his  father  had  made.  . 
 
 3  Nevertheless  he  cleaved  unto  the  sins  ol 
 Jeroboam  the  sou  of  Nebat,  wliich  made 
 Israel  to  sin  ;  he  departed  not  therefrom. 
 
 4  t  And  Mesha  king  of  Moab  was  a  sheep- 
 master,  and  rendered  unto  the  king  of  Israe 
 
 ,1  Be.  Is.  10.  an  hundred  thousand  ''lambs,  and  an  hundred 
 thousand  rams,  with  the  wool. 
 
 5  But  it  came  to  pass,  when  'Ahab  was  dead, 
 that  tlie  king  of  Moab  rebelled  against  the  kmg 
 of  I.srael. 
 
 6  1  And  king  Jehoram  went  out  ot  bamaria 
 the  same  time,  and  numbered  all  Israel. 
 
 7  And  he  went  and  sent  to  Jehoshaphat  the 
 king  of  Judah,  saying.  The  king  of  Moah  hath 
 rebelled  against  me  :  wilt  thou  go  with  me 
 against  Moab  to  battle?     And  he  said,  1  will 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 i/n/'ie. 
 6  I  Kin.  16. 
 
 31,  32. 
 :  I  Kin.  12. 
 
 38,  31,  3J. 
 
 /I  Kin, 
 
 go  up  ; 
 
 (  Heb.  at 
 
 Itii-ir  fi-«l. 
 See  K..  1 
 
 V  I  Kii 
 
 7. 
 
 g^  L,,. .  '  1  am  as  thou  art,  my  people  as  thy 
 people,  and  my  horses  as  thy  horses. 
 
 8  And  he  said.  Which  way  shall  we  go  up  i- 
 And  he  answered.  The  way  through  the  wil- 
 derness of  Edom.  ,     ,  .         c 
 
 9  So  tlie  king  of  Israel  went,  and  the  king  ot 
 Judah,  and  tlie^  king  of  Edom  :  and  they  fetch- 
 ed a  compass  of  seven  days'  journey  :  and 
 there  was  no  water  for  the  host,  and  tor  the 
 cattle  t  that  followed  them.  .,     ,    ,    . 
 
 10  And  the  king  of  Israel  said,  Alas!  that 
 the  Lord  hath  called  these  three  kings  to- 
 gether, to  deliver  them  into  the  band  ot  Moab ! 
 "11  But  «  Jehoshaphat  said,  Is  there  not  here 
 a  prophet  of  the  Lord,  that  we  may  enquire  of 
 the  Lord  by  him?  And  one  of  the  king  of 
 Israel's  servants  answered  and  said.  Hero  is 
 Elisha  the  son  of  Sliaphat,  which  poured  water 
 on  the  hands  of  Elijah. 
 
 I'2  And  Jehoshaphat  said,  The  word  of  the 
 
 the  father  of  the  prnphcts.         l6.  And  seek  thy  master,  Uiiiikinf  his 
 body  might  be  found  somcwhere.-i>,.(.        17-  Ti/(  Ae  uns  ';";■''";''. 
 •  with%ortunUy.'-J3o<-(/.r.     Send,  lest  they  should  ...speet   hat  he 
 hart  au  undue  desire  of  occupying  Elijah's  place.-imH.        '9-  "'<' 
 ,mler  is  naught,  and  the  ground  barren    an  "■'<1'=."'='^.°'X' ^^  "''''J' 
 sure  on  the  denounced  city.    The  word  H^DOO  signifies     to  ca,.se  to 
 iniscairy,'  opcraUng,  it  is  thought,  upon  aiumal  '""'/^f  ."''''^,'>°'  f 
 in  the  same  way--So  Gill.        22.  So  the  waters  were  /,™/frf-the  inha- 
 Wtants  having  admitted  a  scminaiT  of  prophets    the  tokens  of  the  D,^ 
 vine  displeasure  were  miraculously  removed,  lor  the  new  eruse  and 
 salt  could  be  no  mure  thaii  signs  of  Jehovah's  powerful  operaton.- 
 Scn«      It  the  salt  had  even  had  any  natuial  tendency  to  purity  the 
 wate;s.  i  couia  have  been  only  for  a  short  lime;  ""/ ''■^^."-■'.toTS 
 perraanent.-So  Clarke.        23.  Beth-el.  where  was  the  other  school  ot 
 the™rophets.    Elisha  went  to  info,m  them  of  Elijah's  translation  and 
 his  succession,  and  to  comfort  and  encourage  them.    Ih.s  wa»  the 
 mother  city  of  idolatry,  (1  Kings,  .vii.  28,  29;    Hos  >^- '^  i  ^;  «  •>  ^^ 
 here  the  pro|,hets  planted  themselves  to  bear  witness  against  it      _ 
 Poole.     Little  children.  D'T3?2,  'young  hoys.'— Sco((.       Young  lads 
 -Ilnotltr.    Tyj,  -a  child.'  'a  youth,'  'a  young  man,    {Gen.Mv..4 
 xviii   7  ■  1  Sara   i.  22-)-Par.    The  word  means  •  grown  ycnith   as  well 
 as  •  littl'e  children.'  it  heiiig  aplilied  to  Isaac  at  23,  Josephat  30,and  Re- 
 hohnam  at  10  years  old,  (Gen.  xxii.  5,12;    xli.  12  ;  2  Chron.  xm.  7-)- 
 l-ot.     They  were  doulitlcss  profane  young  men,  of  the  city  where  tne 
 golden  calf  was  worshipped.-i'ic(.  Bil>.     Nocked  him.  from  a  profane 
 coutenipt  of  true  religion  and  a  passionate  love  to  the  idolatry  ne  op 
 
 of  and  fo.  the     onour  of,  Jehovah,  and  not  from  ,.e.,o,i,a  l»l"e.  'S 
 
 SSs;s;s;:x^^e;£Xthe^  ^jz=^ 
 
 ^^i^^ri'rm  -""il-^^'frS-ihe  riches  of  kinp,  as  well  as  of 
 7S°rthaMhe  'nri'gfil  Sin  "  upo«  Moab  unawarSs    and  take  the 
 
 h:!  ^"\:"^^-^^^.  a,;,i-,^hS:;rr^o  iLf^w-'^f 
 
 -|^;^jri.stl.sa^<.sui™^^^ 
 
 UEF,,r.cT,os-s  ON  Cha,..  II. -This  chapter  records.  L  T/ie  ^^''>  y°''"^^'^Z\TAfJl'!illsl\^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 translation  of  Elija/i.   Those  who  have  served  God  honourably  vant.    y°'^X!Z',tZ!no\heT  supplies  bis  place.     The  I,ora 
 
 on  earth  may  expect  a  blessed  transmission  to  heaven.  oji",'^  r  t-r  ,1?  !^.i'u  llv^q  -lud  tbe  same  spirit  still  rest.s  upon 
 
 11.  The  succession  of  Elisha.     Elijah's  spirit  rested  in  a  large  God  of  .i'bjab  st  u  iivv-s,  au 
 
 abundance  upon  bim",  and  thus  be  divided  tbe  waters  of  Jor-  succeeding  i.iisuas. 
 dan,  healed  tbe  waters  of  Jericho,  and,  as  a  prophet,  punished 
 396 
 
Water  obtained  hy  EUsha's  intercession. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  IV. 
 
 The  Moahitcs  are  overcome. 
 
 Lord  is  with  liiiii.  So  the  king  of  IsTael  and 
 Jehoshaphat  and  the  king  of  Edom  ■'  went 
 down  to  him. 
 
 13  And  Elisha  said  unto  the  king  of  Israel, 
 '  Wliat  have  I  to  do  with  thee  ?  '  get  thee  to 
 '  the  propliets  of  thy  father,  and  to  tlie  prophets 
 of  thy  mother.  And  tlie  king  of  Israel  said 
 unto  him,  Nay  :  for  the  Lord  hath  called  these 
 three  kings  together,  to  deliver  them  into  the 
 hand  of  Moab. 
 
 14  And  Elisha  said,  "^  As  the  Lord  of  hosts 
 liveth,  before  whom  I  stand,  surely,  were 
 it  not  that  I  regard  the  presence  of  Jehosha- 
 phat the  king  of  Judah,  1  would  not  look  to- 
 ward thee,  nor  see  thee. 
 
 15  But  now  bring  me  "  a  minstrel.  And  it 
 came  to  pass,  when  the  minstrel  played,  that 
 °  the  hand  of  the  Lord  came  upon  him. 
 
 16  And  he  said,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  ''Make 
 this  valley  full  of  ditches. 
 
 17  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  Ye  shall  not  see 
 wind,  neither  shall  ye  see  rain  ;  yet  that  valley 
 .shall  be  filled  with  water,  that  ye  may  drink, 
 both  ye,  and  your  cattle,  and  your  beasts. 
 
 18  And  this  is  hut  a  light  thing  in  the  sight 
 of  the  Lord  :  he  will  deliver  the  Moabites  also 
 into  your  hand. 
 
 19  And  ye  shall  smite  every  fenced  city,  and 
 every  choice  city,  and  shall  fell  every  good 
 tree,  and  stop  all  wells  of  water,  and  fmar 
 every  good  piece  of  land  with  stones. 
 
 20  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning,  when 
 ''the  meat  offering  was  offered,  that,  behold, 
 there  came  water  by  the  way  of  Edom,  and 
 the  country  was  filled  with  water. 
 
 21  H  And  when  all  the  Moabites  heard  that 
 the  kings  were  come  up  to  fight  against  them, 
 tlicy  t  gathered  all  that  were  able  to  f  put  o" 
 armour,  and  upward,  and  stood  in  the  border. 
 
 22  And  they  rose  up  early  in  the  morning, 
 and  the  sun  shone  upon   the  water,  and  the 
 
 B.  C.  B1I5. 
 A  ch.  2.  25. 
 
 I  Eiek.  14  3. 
 
 t  So.Iik1k.10. 
 
 M.  Kuth  1. 
 
 n  See  1  Sam. 
 lU-  5 
 
 o  E/ek.  1.  .1. 
 
 U  ;l.  1  \,  22. 
 
 &  8.  I. 
 p  cli.  4.  3. 
 
 f  Hel.. 
 gTiitve. 
 
 q  E«.  S3.  39, 
 
 t  Heb.  were 
 
 cried  Iti^e- 
 
 Iher. 
 t  Heh.  eird 
 
 htnuFtf  loilb 
 
 ai;i,dl,. 
 
 t  Heb,  de- 
 ilTii^ed. 
 
 II  Or,  rtev 
 titwlc  in  it 
 eventiiiititig. 
 
 I  Heb  u«(,7 
 /le  Ir/I  thr 
 il'rnet  Ihemif 
 
 seih. 
 rli.  10.  7,11. 
 
 I  1  Kin.  20. 
 
 S5. 
 
 b  See  Lev. 
 2.'.,  m.  Mat. 
 
 Moabites   saw  the  water   on    the   other   side 
 
 as  red  as  blood  : 
 2.3  And  they  said.  This  is  blood  :  the  kmgs 
 
 are  surely  f  slain,  and  tliey  have  smitten  one 
 
 another  ;  now  therefore,  Moab,  to  the  spoil. 
 24  And   when    they  came    to   the    camp  of 
 
 Israel,  the  Israelites   rose  up  and  smote  the 
 
 Moabites,  so  that  they  fled  before  them  :  but 
 
 II  they  went  forward    smiting   the    Moabites, 
 
 even  in  their  country. 
 23  And  they  beat  down  the  cities,  and  on 
 every  good  piece  of  land  cast  every  man  his 
 stone,  and  filled  it ;  and  they  stopped  all  the 
 wells  of  water,  and  felled  all  the  good  trees : 
 t  only  in  '  Kir-harasetb  left  they  the  stones 
 thereof;  howbeit  the  slingers  went  about  it, 
 and  smote  it. 
 
 2G  t  And  when  the  king  of  Moab  saw  that 
 the  battle  was  too  sore  for  him,  he  took  with 
 him  seven  hundred  men  that  drew  swords,  to 
 break  through  even  unto  the  king  of  Edom  : 
 but  they  could  not. 
 
 27  Then  "  he  took  his  eldest  son  that  should 
 have  reigned  in  his  stead,  and  offered  him  for 
 a  burnt  offering  upon  the  wall.  And  there  was 
 great  indignation  against  Israel  :  •  and  they  de- 
 parted from  him,  and  returned  to  their  own 
 laud. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  Elisha  multipUetk  the  widow^s  oil.  8  He  giveih  a 
 son  to  the  good  Shvnammite.  J8  He  raiseth  ayuin 
 her  dead  son.  38  At  Gilgal  lie  hctdeth  the  deadly 
 pnttat/e.  42  He  satisjitth  an  hundred  men  with 
 twetity  loaves. 
 
 lyrOW  there  cried  a  certain  woman  of  the 
 ■^^  wives  of  *  tlie  sons  of  tlie  projjhets  inito 
 Elislia,  saying,  Thy  servant  my  luishand  is 
 dead  ;  and  thou  knowest  that  tliy  servant  did 
 fear  the  Lord  :  and  the  creditor  is  come  "^to 
 take  unto  him  my  two  sons  to  be  bondmen. 
 2  And  Elisha  said  unto  her,  What  shall  I  do 
 
 *Iie  is  a  true  prophet.'— Poo/c.  13.  What  have  I  to  do  ivith  thee?— 
 Elisha  probably  meant  to  shew  Jehoshaphat  the  deficiency  and  hypo- 
 crisy of  Jehoram's  reformation,  his  heart  being;  still  after  Baal. — Scott. 
 l.'i.  Jirhif^  me  n  minstrel,  a  man  that  knew  huw  to  play  upon  the  harp. 
 This  he  did  to  allay  his  passion  and  compose  his  spirits,  ruffled  at  the 
 sisht  of  Jehoram,  and  to  fit  him  to  receive  prophetic  inspirations,  which 
 sometimes  came  upon  the  Lord's  prophets  when  tlius  employed,  (see 
 1  Sam.  X.  5.)— G(7/.  Ttte  tinnd  of  the  Lord,  '  the  spirit  of  Jehovah.'— 
 Biiuthr.  '  The  power  of  God.' — A.  Clarke.  17.  See  wind — in  the  east 
 the  presence  of  wind  is  painfully  manifested  even  to  the  eye,  hy  the 
 dust  and  stubble  whirled  into  the  air  in  dry  seasons. — Pict.  Bilt. 
 19.  Fell  every  f^ood  tree — this  is  contrary  to  the  law,  {Deut.  xx.  19,)  but 
 that  might  respect  besieged  or  Cacaanitish  cities,  or  the  law  was  now 
 di.=ij)ensed  with  to  punish  the  Moabites-  Mar  every  gnod  piece  of  land, 
 so  that  it  could  neither  be  ploughed  nor  sowed. — Gill.  20.  There 
 came  water  by  the  way  of  Edmn,  a  mountainous  country,  (Num.  xxiii. 
 7  ;  JVlal.  i.  .3.)  Rain  had  fallen  at  a  distance  during  the  night,  and  had 
 been  providentially  directed  to  take  that  course  among  the  mountains. 
 After  quitting  them  it  was  led  to  the  tienches  cut  in  the  valley. 
 21.  And  upivard,  'all  who  exceeded  the  time  of  life  when  men  usually 
 bore  arms.'— Hew.      'Both  young  and  old.'— -Boo^Ar.  22.  Red  its 
 
 lluod — the  Moabites,  knowing  there  had  been  no  rain,  hastily  con- 
 chided  that  what  they  saw  was  blood.  The  reflectiun  of  the  .«un's 
 rays  often  gives  water  this  appearance. — Et/ios.  Index  to  Bible.  Pro- 
 bably it  took  its  colour  from  the  redness  of  Edom's  earth. — Scott.  Hew. 
 25.  Only  in  Kir-haraseth,  the  royal  city,  which  was  exceeding  strong, 
 (see  Isa.  xvi.  7,  11.) — P(d.  The  sloven,  'the  walls.' — Boothr.  27.  He 
 took  his  eldf'st  son— it  was  a  custom  with  the  heathens  to  saciifice  hu- 
 man victims,  and  even  their  own  children,  in  order  to  avert  great 
 national  calamities. — Hew.  This  barbarous  practice  existed  among  the 
 Ethiopians,  the  Phoenicians,  the  Sc\thians,  the  Egyptians,  the  Chinese, 
 the  Persians,  the  ancient  Indians,  the  Gauls,  the  Greeks,  tlic  Romans, 
 the  Uoths,  the  Britons,  Sic—Burder's  Orient.  Lit.,  No.  570.  There 
 was  great  indignation  against  Israel,  of  the  king  of  Moab,  who  wa-s 
 desperate,  and  determined  to  hold  out  to  the  last. — Gill.  'There  was 
 gieat  trouble  or  repentance  upon  Israel,'  who  were  greatly  afflicted 
 and  grieved  for  this  barbarous  action,  and  resolved  to  prosecute  the 
 war  no  further.— Poo^f,  Pat.  'And  there  was  great  indignation 
 amongst  the  Israelites.'— Bo«^Mr.  The  Lord  was  displeased  with  the 
 Israelites  for  driving  things  to  this  extremity,  or  the  surrounding  na- 
 tions were  displeased  with  them.— .4.  Clarke. 
 Chap.  IV.  —  I.  To  take  vnto  him  my  two  sons,  either  to  use  them  as 
 
 Ueflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  I.  In  what  is  here  related 
 of  .lehoram,  king  of  Israel,  we  see  a  specimen  of  that  reformation 
 which  is  bnt  too  common.  It  was  only  a  reformation  in  part  ;  it 
 WHS  lopping  off  the  branches  of  iniquity,  but  not  tearing  it  up 
 by  the  roots.  *  When  be  put  awuy  the  image  uf  Baal,'  as 
 Henry  observes,  '  be  stuck  to  the  worship  of  the  calves,  that 
 poUtic  sin  of  Jeroboam,  (ver.  3.)  He  departed  not  tlierefrom, 
 because  that  was  the  state  engine  by  which  the  division  be- 
 tween the  two  tribes  was  supported.  Those  do  not  truly  nor 
 acceptably  repent  or  reform  who  only  part  with  the  sins  that 
 they  lose  by,  but  continue  iheir  aflection  to  the  sins  that  they 
 get  hy. 
 
 II.  In  the  conduct  of  Jehoshaphat,  on  this  occasion,  we  see 
 the  dangers  of  evil  associates,  and  the  advantages  of  true  piety. 
 Jehoshaphat  had  nearly  been  ruined  by  a  former  heedless  ex- 
 pedition, and  yet  he  here  thoughtlessly  enters  on  another. 
 How  are  we  endangered  by  our  dulness  in  learning  wisdom 
 397 
 
 by  experience  !  He,  however,  had  the  preserving  principle  in 
 himself.  His  genuine  piety  served  him  in  every  extremity, 
 and  God,  who  knew  his  heart,  did  not  forsake  him.  It  was 
 well  that  Jehoshaphat  inquired  of  the  Lord  now,  but  it  liad 
 been  much  better  if  lie  had  done  it  sooner,  before  he  engaged 
 in  this  war  or  steered  his  course;  so  the  distress  might  have 
 been  prevented.  Good  men  are  sometimes  remiss  and  forget- 
 ful, and  neglect  their  duty  till  necessity  and  affliction  driVe 
 tliem  to  it. 
 
 III.  In  the  king  of  Moah's  horrible  resort  m  his  last  extre- 
 mity, we  sec  ajncture  of  the  horrors  of  iilo/atri/.  Such  it  was — 
 such  it  still  is.  Can  any  Christian  withhold  his  hand  from  con- 
 tributing to  sweep  it  away  to  the  last  remnant  from  the  face  of 
 the  earlh  }  Can  lie  abstain  from  daily  supplicating  the  Lord 
 of  the  wliole  earth,  '  Have  respect  unto  the  covenant,  for  the 
 darii  places  of  the  earth  are  full  of  the  habitations  of  cruelty'  ? 
 
Elisha  multiplieth  a  poor  loidow^s  oil. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  IV. 
 
 He  raiscth  the  fifninammite's  dead  son. 
 
 for  thee  ?  tell  me,  wliat  liast  tliou  in  the  house? 
 And  she  said.  Thine  handmaid  hath  not  any 
 thing  in  the  honse,  save  a  pot  of  oil. 
 
 3  Then  he  said,  Go,  borrow  thee  vessels  abroad 
 of  all  thy  neighbours,  even  empty  vessels ; 
 "  II  borrow  not  a  few. 
 
 4  And  when  thou  art  come  in,  thou  shalt 
 shut  the  door  upon  thee  and  upon  thy  sons, 
 and  shalt  pour  out  into  all  those  vessels,  and 
 thou  shalt  set  aside  that  which  is  full. 
 
 5  So  she  went  from  him,  and  shut  the  door 
 upon  her  and  upon  iier  sons,  wlio  brought  the 
 vesse/s  to  her  ;  and  she  poured  out. 
 
 (i  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  vessels  were 
 full,  that  she  said  unto  her  son,  Bring  me  yet  a 
 vessel.  And  he  said  unto  her,  There  is  not  a 
 vessel  more.     And  the  oil  stayed. 
 
 7  Then  she  came  and  told  the  man  of  God. 
 And  he  said.  Go,  sell  the  oil,  and  pay  thy 
 II  debt,  and  live  thou  and  thychildren  of  the  rest. 
 
 8  If  And  t  it  fell  on  a  day,  that  Elisha  passed 
 to  ''  Slnniem,  wliere  was  a  great  woman  ;  and 
 she  t  constrained  him  to  eat  bread.  And  so  it 
 was,  that  as  oft  as  he  passed  by,  he  turned  hi 
 thither  to  eat  bread. 
 
 9  And  she  said  unto  her  husband.  Behold 
 now,  I  perceive  that  this  is  an  holy  man  of 
 God,  which  passetli  by  us  continually. 
 
 10  Let  us  make  a  little  chamber,  I  pray  thee, 
 on  the  wall;  and  let  us  set  for  him  there  a  bed, 
 and  a  table,  and  a  stool,  and  a  candlestick  : 
 and  it  shall  be,  when  he  cometh  to  us,  that  he 
 shall  turn  in  tl.itlier. 
 
 1 1  And  it  fell  on  a  day,  that  he  came  thither, 
 and  he  turned  into  the  chamber,  and  lay  there 
 
 I'J  And  he  said  to  Gehazi  his  servant.  Call 
 this  Shunammite.  And  when  he  had  called 
 her,  she  stood  before  him. 
 
 \3  And  he  said  unto  him.  Say  now  unto  her. 
 Behold,  thou  hast  been  careful  for  us  with  all 
 this  care  ;  what  is  to  be  done  for  thee  V  would- 
 est  thou  be  spoken  for  to  the  king,  or  to  the 
 captain  of  the  host  ?  And  she  answered,  I 
 dwell  among  mine  own  people. 
 
 14  And  he  said.  What  then  is  to  be  done  for 
 her?  And  Gehazi  answered,  Verily  she  hath 
 no  child,  and  her  husband  is  old. 
 
 15  And  he  said.  Call  her.  And  when  he  had 
 called  her,  she  stood  in  the  door. 
 
 16  And  he  said,  "  About  this  f  season,  accord- 
 uig  to  the  time  of  life,  thou  shalt  embrace  a 
 son.  And  she  said,  Nay,  my  lord,  thou  man  of 
 God,  'do  not  lie  unto  thine  handmaid. 
 
 17  And  the  woman  conceived,  and  bare  a  son 
 at  that  season  that  Elisha  had  said  unto  her, 
 according  to  the  time  of  life. 
 
 18  K  And  when  the  child  was  grown,  it  fell 
 on  a  day,  that  he  went  out  to  his  father  to  the 
 reapers. 
 
 19  And  he  said  unto  his  father.  My  head,  my 
 head.  And  he  said  to  a  lad.  Carry  him  to  his 
 mother. 
 
 Or.  pr*- 
 
 t  Heb.  t',rre 
 
 J  Jogh.taiS. 
 t  n.-l..  Ltid 
 hitdo'ihim. 
 
 rGea.  IS.  10, 
 
 t  Hel).  jipoce 
 
 t  Hel>.  re. 
 
 f.,r  mt  to 
 ride. 
 
 g  cli.  S.  -5. 
 
 \  Hob.  6j/ Ail 
 Milt.  ?!*.  0. 
 
 15.1111. 1. 11'. 
 
 ,  vcr.  10. 
 1  Kin.  IS. 
 
 I  Set,  Ex.  7. 
 19  Ik  11.  Ii!. 
 oh   2.  8,  N, 
 
 Mat.  r,.  (1. 
 ;.  1  Kin.  17. 
 
 q  I  Kin.  17. 
 
 21.  Acts  20. 
 
 t  Heb.  oiife 
 hilber  m,d 
 
 OHM-    Ihifllfl 
 
 •Jl)  And  wlien  he  had  taken  him,  and  brought 
 him  to  his  mother,  he  sat  on  her  knees  till 
 noon,  and  then  died. 
 
 •21  And  she  went  up,  and  laid  him  on  the  bed 
 of  the  man  of  God,  and  shut  the  door  upon 
 him,  and  went  out. 
 
 ■22  And  she  called  unto  her  husband,  and 
 said.  Send  me,  I  pray  thee,  one  of  tlie  young 
 men,  and  one  of  the  asses,  that  I  may  run  to 
 the  man  of  God,  and  come  again. 
 
 '2.3  And  he  said,  Wherefore  wilt  thou  go  to 
 liiin  to  day?  it  is  neither  new  moon,  nor  sab- 
 bath.    And  she  said.  It  shall  lie  t  well. 
 
 4  Then  she  saddled  an  ass,  and  said  to  her 
 servant.  Drive,  and  go  forward  ;  f  slack  not  th^ 
 riding  for  me,  except  I  bid  thee. 
 
 '2o  So  she  went  and  came  unto  the  man  of 
 God  '^  to  mount  Carmel.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
 when  the  man  of  God  saw  her  afar  ofi",  that  he 
 said  to  Gehazi  his  servant.  Behold,  yonder  is 
 that  Shunammite  : 
 
 •2(i  Kun  new,  I  pray  thee,  to  meet  her,  and 
 
 lay  unto  her,  Is  it  well  witli  thee?  is  it  well 
 with  thy  husband?  j,<  eMvcll  with  the  child? 
 And  she  answered.  It  is  well. 
 
 '27  And  when  she  came  to  the  man  of  God  to 
 the  hill,  she  caught  fhim  by  the  feet :  but  Ge- 
 hazi came  near  to  thrust  her  away.  And  the 
 man  of  God  said.  Let  her  alone  ;  for  her  soul 
 is  f  vexed  within  her  :  and  the  Lord  hath  hid 
 it  from  me,  and  hath  not  told  me. 
 
 '28  Then  she  said.  Did  I  desire  a  son  of  my 
 lord  ?  ''  did  I  not  say.  Do  not  deceive  me  ? 
 
 '29  Then  he  said  to  Gehazi,  '  Gird  up  thy  loins, 
 and  take  my  staff  in  thine  hand,  and  go  thy 
 way  :  if  thou  meet  any  man,  '  salute  him  not ; 
 and  if  any  salute  thee  ;  answer  him  not  again : 
 and  '  lay  my  staft'  upon  the  face  of  the  child. 
 
 30  And  the  mother  of  the  child  said,  "Vis 
 the  Lord  liveth,  and  as  thy  soul  liveth,  I  will 
 not  leave  thee.  And  he  arose,  and  followed 
 her. 
 
 31  And  Gehazi  passed  on  before  them,  and 
 laid  the  staff  upon  the  face  of  the  child  ;  but 
 there  was  neither  voice,  nor  f  hearing.  Where- 
 fore he  went  again  to  meet  him,  and  told  him, 
 saying.  The  child  is  "  not  awaked. 
 
 3'2  And  when  Elisha  was  come  into  the 
 house,  behold,  the  child  was  dead,  and  laid 
 upon  his  bed. 
 
 33  He  °  went  in  therefore,  and  .shut  the  door 
 upon  them  twain,  ''and  prayed  unto  the  Loud. 
 
 34  And  he  went  up,  and  lay  upon  the  child, 
 and  put  his  mouth  upon  his  mouth,  and  his 
 eyes  upon  his  eyes,  and  his  hands  upon  his 
 hands  :  and  ''  he  stretched  himself  upon  the 
 child  ;  and  the  flesh  of  the  child  waxed  warm. 
 
 3a  Then  he  returned,  and  walked  in  the 
 house  t  to  and  fro  ;  and  went  up,  'and  stretched 
 himself  upon  him  :  and  '  the  child  sneezed 
 seven  times,  and  the  child  opened  his  eyes. 
 
 30  And  he  called  Gehazi,  and  said.  Call  this 
 
 slaves  or  to  sell  them  to  others,  according  to  the  law.  of  which  see 
 Exod.  .\xi.  2  ;  Lev.  xxv.  3() ;  Isa,  1.  1  ;  Matt,  xviii.  25.—Puate.  2.  Hnth 
 not  imy  thing,  that  is.  of  any  value.  8.  Shiinem,  a  city  in  the  tribe 
 of  Issachar,  (Josh.  xix.  18.)— Gi«.  Oreat,  •  rich.'— Bool/ir.  10.  A 
 little  chamber— on  the  umll,  a  back  building,  called,  in  the  east,  '  an 
 oleah,'  in  which  strangers  are  entertained.— S/irm>.  A  lied,  usually  a 
 conch  without  curtains.— H^„,-„.  A  stool,  •  a  seat.'— Sou(Ar.  The 
 onginal  word  is  commonly  translated  '  throne,"  and  it  was  an  ancient 
 seat  of  dignity,  and  made  as  a  mark  of  respect.— Hnr.  13.  /  dwell 
 avwng  mine  own  people,  in  peace,  among  friends,  and  seek  no  relief 
 from   higher  powers.- Pm.fc.  IB.  ;),,  „„(  lie,  ■  do  nut  jest.'— /""(. 
 
 ■  Do  not  deceive.'— .BuoMr.  13.  My  Aeiitf- probably  the  child  had  a 
 
 398 
 
 coup.de-soleil,  or  '  stroke  of  the  sun.'  common  in  hot  countries.— Wf/r. 
 23.  Neither  new  moon,  fyc,  the  usual  times  "f  resorting  to  the  propheta 
 for  instruction.- Poo/e,  24.  Drife- servants,  in  the  cast,  drive  the 
 animal  of  the  female  rider,  following  on  loot.- Hiir.  Thy,  supply 
 mii.Soothr.  .  25.  To  mount  C'lcnie/— this  place  Elijah  much  fre- 
 quented, where,  probablv,  there  was  a  school  of  the  prophets.- Pii/. 
 27.  By  the  /pe(— kissing  the  feet  or  knees  was  the  usual  way  in  which 
 the  Jews  did  homage  or  made  supplication,  (see  Matt,  xxviii.  9  ;  Luke, 
 vii.  38.')— GiV/.  29.  Gird  up  thy  /oi«s— the  long  garments  were  tied 
 ahout  the  loins  for  expedition.— P(/f.;e.  Salute  him  not,  hyperbolicat 
 for  "make  no  delays.'  Eastern  salutations  are  tedious.  —  Hur. 
 35.  Seven  times,  that  is,  '  abundantly.'- -t.  Clarke. 
 
Elisha  healelh  the  deadly  pottngc. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  V. 
 
 He  curel/i  Naamnn  of  his  leprosy. 
 
 Shunammite.  So  he  called  her.  Ami  when 
 she  was  come  in  unto  him,  he  said,  Take  up 
 thy  son. 
 
 37  Then  she  went  in,  and  fell  at  his  feet,  and 
 bowed  herself  to  the  ground,  and  '  took  up  her 
 son,  and  went  out. 
 
 38  1[  And  Elisha  came  again  to  "  Gilgal  : 
 and  there  tvas  a  '  dearth  in  the  land  ;  and 
 the  sons  of  the  prophets  were  ''sitting  before 
 him  :  and  he  said  unto  liis  servant,  Set  on  the 
 great  pol,  and  seethe  pottage  for  tlie  sons  of 
 the  prophets. 
 
 39  And  one  went  out  into  the  field  to  gather 
 herbs,  and  found  a  wild  vine,  and  gathered 
 thereof  wild  gourds  his  lap  full,  and  came  and 
 shred  them  into  the  pot  of  pottage  :  for  they 
 knew  the>n  not. 
 
 40  So  they  poured  out  for  the  men  to  eat. 
 And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  were  eating  of 
 the  pottage,  tliat  they  cried  out,  and  said,  O 
 thou  man  of  God,  there  is  "  death  in  the  pot. 
 And  tliey  could  not  eat  thereof. 
 
 41  But  he  said,  Then  bring  meal.  And  "he 
 cast  it  into  the  pot ;  and  he  said.  Pour  out  for 
 the  people,  that  tliey  may  eat.  And  there 
 was  no  t  harm  in  the  pot. 
 
 42  IT  And  there  came  a  man  from  ''  BaaKsha- 
 lisha,  "and  brouglit  the  man  of  God  bread  of 
 the  firstfruits,  twenty  loaves  of  barley,  and  full 
 ears  of  corn  ||  in  tlie  husk  tiiereof.  And  lie 
 said.  Give  unto  the  people,  tliat  they  may  eat. 
 
 43  And  his  servitor  said,  ''  Wliaf,  should  I  set 
 this  before  an  hundred  men?  He  said  again. 
 Give  the  people,  that  they  may  eat :  for  thus 
 saith  the  Lord,  "  They  shall  eat,  and  shall 
 leave  thereof. 
 
 44  So  lie  set  it  before  them,  and  they  did  eat, 
 ■^and  left  thereof,  according  to  tlie  word  of  tlie 
 
 LoKD. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Nofiman^  hy  the  report  of  a  captive  mairl,  is  sent  to 
 Samaria  to  be  cured  of  his  leprosy.  8  Elisha^  send- 
 ing  him  to  Jordan,  curet't  him.  1.5  He  refusing 
 Naamnn^ s  gifts  granttth  him  some  of  the  earth.  20 
 Gehazt,  abusini/  his  master^ if  name  unto  Naaman,  is 
 smitten  with  Itprosif,  I 
 
 I^OW  "  Naaman,  captain  of  the  host  of  the 
 •^  '  king  of  Syria,  was  ^  a  great  man  f  with  his 
 ma.ster,  and  ||  f  honourable,  because  by  him 
 the  Lord  had  given  {{  deliverance  unto  Syria  : 
 
 /  I  Kin    17. 
 
 23.  Htb.  II. 
 
 35. 
 
 cir.  Sai. 
 u  ch.  2.  I. 
 
 .r  rh.8.  I. 
 y  cb.  -2   S. 
 
 l.uU,-  1(139. 
 
 Acts  22.  3. 
 
 t  Hcb.  v/it 
 befme. 
 
 \  Hfb  brfuT 
 t  Heh.  Ko^ 
 
 2:1.  cli. 
 
 Sift.  m. 
 
 John  9 
 
 .IS 
 6. 
 
 t   Ileb.  CC.7 
 b  I  Sam.O  1 
 
 f  1  S.im 
 
 9.7 
 
 ■  Luke?).  17. 
 Juhu  G.  II. 
 
 /"\r;it,  1-1.20. 
 8c  15  37. 
 Jobu  6.  IS. 
 
 I.nke+.27. 
 b  Ks.  11.3. 
 t  Ueb.b'-/b7e. 
 t.  Or,  gra- 
 
 t  Heb',  nfled 
 i(f»,  or,  ne- 
 crplrd  in 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 (i  Gen.  Sil  ?, 
 Deii  rfJ  ■  9 
 1  i^aiii.  2.  H. 
 
 !  See  eh  ' 
 -11.  John 
 7. 
 
 with  ,„vi^l/, 
 HemUi«re- 
 ly  cuinn  out, 
 
 f  Heb.  more 
 
 d:tBn. 
 II  Oc.Jima'ia. 
 
 he  was  also  a  mighty  man  in  valour,  but  he 
 was  a  leper. 
 
 2  And  the  Syrians  had  gone  out  by  com- 
 panies, and  had  brought  away  captive  out  of 
 the  land  of  Israel  a  little  maid ;  and  she 
 t  waited  on  Naainau's  wife. 
 
 3  And  she  said  unto  her  mistress.  Would 
 God  my  lord  were  f  "ith  the  propliet  that  is  in 
 Samaria!  for  he  would  f  recover  him  of  his 
 leprosy. 
 
 4  And  one  went  in,  and  fold  his  lord,  saying. 
 Thus  and  thus  said  the  maid  that  is  of  tlie  land 
 of  Israel. 
 
 5  And  the  king  of  Syria  said.  Go  to,  go,  and 
 I  will  send  a  letter  unto  the  king  of  Israel. 
 And  he  departed,  and  '  took  f  with  him  ten 
 talents  of  silver,  and  six  thousand  pieces  of 
 gold,  and  ten  changes  of  raiment. 
 
 6  And  he  brought  the  letter  to  the  king  of 
 Israel,  saying,  Now  when  this  letter  is  come 
 unto  thee,  behold,  I  have  therewith  sent 
 Naaman  my  servant  to  thee  that  thou  mayest 
 recover  him  of  his  leprosy. 
 
 7  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king  of 
 Israel  had  read  the  letter,  that  he  rent  his 
 clothes,  and  said.  Am  I  •"  God,  to  kill  and  to 
 make  alive,  that  this  man  doth  send  unto  me 
 to  recover  a  man  of  his  leprosy  ?  wherefore 
 consider,  I  pray  you,  and  see  how  he  seeketh 
 a  quarrel  against  me. 
 
 8  t  And  it  was  so,  when  Elisha  the  man  of 
 God  had  heard  that  the  king  of  Israel  had  rent 
 his  clothes,  that  he  sent  to  the  king,  .saying. 
 Wherefore  hast  thou  rent  thy  clothes?  let  him 
 come  now  to  me,  and  he  shall  know  that  there 
 is  a  prophet  in  Israel. 
 
 9  So  Naaman  came  with  his  horses  and  with 
 his  chariot,  and  stood  at  the  door  of  the  house 
 of  Elisha. 
 
 10  And  Eli.sha  sent  a  messenger  unto  him, 
 saying.  Go  and  "  wash  in  Jordan  seven  times, 
 and  thy  flesh  shall  come  again  to  thee,  and 
 thou  shalt  be  clean. 
 
 1 1  But  Naaman  was  wrotli,  and  went  away, 
 and  said.  Behold,  f  ii  I  thought.  He  will  surely 
 come  out  to  me,  and  stand,  and  call  on  the 
 name  of  the  Lord  his  God,  and  f  strike  his 
 hand  over  the  place,  and  recover  the  leper. 
 
 12  Are  not  ||  Abana  and  Pharpar,  rivers  of 
 Damascus,  better  than  all  the  waters  of  Israel  ? 
 
 39.  A  wild  vine,  the  *  coloqnintida,*  whose  leaves  resemble  those  of  a 
 Tine,  anri  are  very  bitter  and  pernicious  to  the  eater. — Pottle,  it  is 
 what  is  commonly  calleil'  the  bitter  apple,'  about  the  size  of  an  orange  ; 
 strongly  pingative  and  poisonous  if  notqualified. — Tut/lor,  40.  Death 
 in  tlie  pot,  '  some  deadly  thing.'  42.  First/yuits,  these  were  the  priest's 
 due,  (Num.  xviii.  12,)  but  they  were  probably  brought  by  the  pious  Is- 
 raelites to  the  Lord's  prophets,  because  they  did  a  part  of  the  work,  and 
 partly  because  they  were  not  permitted  to  carry  them  to  Jerusalem. — 
 Poole.  Tivetiti/  tutifea — the  eastern  loaves  are  extremely  small,  and 
 not  unlike  an  English  penny  roll. — Hete.  And  full  ears,  'lull  green 
 ears.* — Boothr.  Probably  '  parched  corn.' — Cltirke.  Instead  of  in  the 
 husk,  the  ttiarg.  reads,  '  in  his  scrip'  or  '  garment.'  This  is  better.  The 
 natives  carry  rice  and  other  things  in  their  mantles. — So  Ro't. 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  1.  Bt/  him  the  Lord  httd  f^ii^en  delivertince  tinto  Syriii — 
 in  the  Tar^itm  he  is  said  to  have  drawn  the  bow  which  shot  Ahab.  He 
 seems  to  have  obtained  a  great  victory,  and  most  probably  that  iu 
 which  Ahab  was  slain. — Ed.  2.  Bt/ cotnpunies,  as  h3.ntiitti.  Brought 
 awatj  cttptive — a  little  maid — boys  and  girls  were  a  part  of  the  booty  of 
 such  robbers,  whom  they  could  sell  for  money,  (see  Joel,  iii.) — Gill. 
 
 3.  Would  God,  '^ri«,  'oh  that!'— Par.  '  Happy  would  it  be,' CAuW., 
 Syr.,  Arab.  4.  One  went  in,  '  Naaman  went  in.' — So  tiie  Vul^.,  Put., 
 Gill,  Boothr.  The  Sept.  understands  a  female,  that  is,  Naaman'swife. 
 5.  Ten  talents  of  silver,  and  six  thousitnd  pieces  of  gold — the  gold  and 
 silver  are  estimated  at  14.460/.  ISs.  ^d. — So  Clarke.  6.  Thott  tnayest 
 recover — procure  his  recovery  by  means  of  Elisha,  (ver.  3,  4,)  whom 
 thou  mayest  command  to  use  his  utmost  skill  and  power. —  Poole. 
 7.  Rettt  his  clothes,  as  one  in  trouble,  or  looking  upon  the  letter  as 
 blasphemy. — Pat.  9.  With  his  horses  and  tvith  his  rh'triot,  or  'witti 
 
 horsemen  and  chariots,'  '  a  great  retinue.' — Gill.  10.  Wttsh  in  Jordan, 
 — some  think  cold  bathing  for  the  leprosy  is,  in  itself,  rather  hurtful. — 
 Henry.  11.  Strike  his  hatid~it  v/elS  a  superstition  of  the  east  that 
 cures  were  produced  by  the  touch  of  the  persons  of  the  great  or 
 the  holy.  A  patient  in  the  east  often  looks  now  for  a  cure  from 
 a  European  physician  by  having  his  hand  drawn  over  the  ailing  part. 
 — So  Pict.  Bit}.  12.  At/ana  and  Pharpar,  these  two  principal  rivers 
 of  the  valley  of  Damascus  descended  from  Mount  Ilermon,  the  latter 
 nf  which  run  by  the  walls  of,  and  the  c>ther  divided,  the  city.—Borh. 
 Better— the  Tahnudists  say  that  the  waters  of  Jordan  are  not  fit  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV. — This  chapter  exhibits — 
 I.  Elisha  and  the  prophet's  widow,  on  wliich  Bishop  Hall  ob- 
 serves, '  It  is  the  just  care  of  a  religious  heart  to  defend  tLe 
 widow  aod  children  of  a  prophet  from  distress  and  penury.' 
 
 If.  Elisha  ami  the  Shtinaminite.  '  He  that  gives  kindnesses, 
 says  the  same  writer,  '  doth  by  turns  receive  them.  Elisha 
 bad  relieved  a  poor  woman,  and  is  relieved  by  a  rich.'  And 
 anotber  observes,  '  God  built  up  her  house  in  reward  for  her 
 kindness  in  building  the  prophet  a  chamber.'  We  never  lose 
 399 
 
 in  what  we  do  for  God  :  if  we  lay  out  time,  talents,  property, 
 in  bis  service,  we  may  depend  upon  receiving  good  interest 
 at  the  last. 
 
 III.  Elisha  and  the  sons  of  the  prophets.  And  here,  as  Henry 
 remarks,  '  we  may  be  reminded  of  God's  goodness  in  making 
 our  food  wholesome  and  nourishing;  and  also,  that  those  who 
 wail  upon  God  in  a  way  of  duty,  may  hope  to  be  both  pro- 
 tected and  supplied  by  a  particular  care  of  Divine  Provi- 
 dence.' 
 
Elis/ia  refuseth  Naaman's  gifts. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  V. 
 
 Oehnzi  is  smitten  with  leprosy. 
 
 may  I  not  wash  in  them,  and  be  clean  ?    So  he 
 turned  and  went  away  in  a  rage. 
 
 13  And  his  servants  came  near,  and  spake 
 unto  him,  and  said.  My  father,  if  the  prophet 
 had  bid  tliee  do  some  >j;reat  tiling,  woiildest 
 thou  not  have  done  it  f  liow  much  rather 
 then,  wlien  he  saith  to  thee,  Wash,  and  be 
 clean  f 
 
 14  Tlien  went  he  down,  and  dipped  himself 
 seven  times  in  Jordan,  according  to  the  saying 
 of  the  man  of  God  :  and  'his  flesli  came  again 
 like  unto  the  flesh  of  a  little  child,  and  '■'  he 
 was  clean. 
 
 15  t  And  he  returned  to  the  man  of  God,  he 
 and  all  his  company,  and  came,  and  stood  be- 
 fore him  :  and  he  said.  Behold,  now  I  know 
 that  there,  is  ^  no  God  in  all  the  earth,  hut  in 
 Israel:  now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  take  'a 
 blessing  of  thy  servant. 
 
 IG  But  he  said,  ^  As  the  Lord  livcth,  before 
 whom  I  stand,  '  1  will  receive  none.  And  he 
 urged  him  to  take  it;  but  he  refused. 
 
 17  And  Naaman  said,  Shall  there  not  then,  1 
 pray  thee,  be  given  to  thy  servant  two  mules' 
 burden  of  earth  ?  for  thy  servant  will  hence- 
 fortli  oft'er  neither  burnt  offering  nor  sacrifice 
 unto  other  gods,  but  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 IS  In  this  thing  the  Loud  pardon  thy  servant, 
 that  when  my  master  goeth  into  the  house  of 
 Rimmon  to  worshij)  there,  and  "'  he  leaneth  on 
 my  hand,  and  I  bow  myself  in  the  house  of 
 Rimmon  :  when  I  bow  down  myself  in  the 
 house  of  Rimmon,  the  Lord  pardon  thy  ser- 
 vant in  this  thing. 
 
 19  And  ho  said  unto  him.  Go  in  peace.  So 
 he  departed  from  him  f  a  little  way. 
 
 20  H  But  Geh.azi,  the  servant  of  Elisha  the 
 man   of  God,  said.  Behold,  my  master   hath 
 
 B.  <\ 
 
 cir.  R',H.        j      cir.  J 
 
 /Job  3.1.  2:» 
 J  I.uke  1.27. 
 
 k  ,li.  .1.  II. 
 
 /  Ocn.  H.JH 
 Si-e  M.tt.Ui 
 8.  Acts  8. 
 IS,  aa 
 
 t  Heb  a  lit- 
 tle fittt  of 
 
 Gen-  30.  16 
 
 II  Or. 
 pUtce. 
 
 1  H.-b. 
 
 I    tJiilher 
 
 I  I  Till 
 111. 
 
 spared  Naaman  tliis  Syrian,  in  not  receiving  at 
 his  hands  that  which  he  hrought  :  but,  as  the 
 Lord  Hveth,  I  will  run  after  him,  and  take 
 somewhat  of  him. 
 
 21  So  Geiiazi  followed  after  Naaman.  And 
 when  Naaman  saw  /iim  running  after  him,  he 
 lighted  down  from  the  chariot  to  meet  him, 
 and  said,  f  Is  all  well  ? 
 
 '22  And  he  said,  All  is  well.  My  master  hath 
 sent  nie,  saying,  Behold,  even  now  there  be 
 come  to  me  from  mount  Ephraim  two  young 
 men  of  tlie  sons  of  the  prophets  :  give  them,  I 
 pray  t)iee,  a  talent  of  silver,  and  two  changes 
 of  garments. 
 
 2.3  And  Naaman  said.  Be  content,  take  two 
 talents.  And  lie  urged  him,  and  bound  two 
 talents  of  silver  in  two  bags,  with  two  changes 
 of  garments,  and  laid  t/ifm  upon  two  of  his 
 servants  ;  and  tliey  bare  thetu  before  him. 
 
 24  And  when  lie  came  to  the  ||  tower,  he 
 took  t/tem  from  their  hand,  and  bestowed  thc?n 
 in  the  house  :  and  lie  let  the  men  go,  and  they 
 departed. 
 
 25  But  he  went  in,  and  stood  before  his  mas- 
 ter. And  Elisha  said  unto  him,  Whence 
 comcst  thoii,  Gehazi  ?  And  he  said.  Thy  ser- 
 vant went  I  no  whither. 
 
 2(i  And  he  said  unto  him.  Went  not  mine 
 heart  with  thee,  when  the  man  turned  again 
 from  his  cliariot  to  meet  thee  ?  Is  it  a  time  to 
 receive  money,  and  to  receive  garments,  and 
 oliveyards,  and  vineyards,  and  sheep,  and  oxen, 
 and  menservants,  and  maidservants? 
 
 27  The  leprosy  therefore  of  Naaman  "shall 
 cleave  unto  thee,  and  unto  thy  seed  for  ever. 
 And  he  went  out  from  his  presence  °  a  leper 
 as  ivliite  as  snow. 
 
 sprinkle  the  unclean,  because  they  arc  mixed  waters  ;  meaning,  mixed 
 with  tlie  waters  of  oiher  rivers  and  brooks,  which  empty  tlieniselves 
 into  it.  Naaman  had,  perhaps,  the  same  notion. — Tai/lor^s  Cnlmrt. 
 These  rivers  were  probably  branches  of  what  is  now  called  the  Barrady 
 — See  UlaundrelVs  Trnv.,  E.rpiis.  Index.  Tlie  Hindoos  often  contend 
 about  the  sacred  rivers  as  to  which  is  the  most  cfficacimis. —  Vi'unl, 
 13,  My  father,  a  title  of  honour  in  that  country. — Pat.  1 1.  Thf  flfsh 
 of  a  little  child,  fresh  and  pure. — Poole.  15.  Tnke  a  blessing,   773^3, 
 
 'receive  a  present,'  [coin]).  Gen.  xx.viii.  II. )~lifiothr.  ](i.  /  »  ill  re- 
 ceive 7i07ie—he  did  receive  gifts,  but  he  would  here  let  the  heathen 
 know,  by  his  refusal,  tlnit  nothing  was  due  to  him,  but  tliat  tlic  cure 
 was  wholly  of  God,  to  wiiom  belonged  the  honour. — So  Pnole,  Pat. 
 17.  Two  mules'  hur den  of  earth,  to  build  an  altar  to  Jehovah  ;  supposing 
 there  was  a  peculiar  sanctity  in  the  earth  whose  waters  could  so  rest-  ire 
 him. — Sciitt,  so  Pat.  Perhaps  it  wels  for  ablution,  the  Arabs  using 
 sand  and  dry  earth  for  that  purpose. — Taylor.  It  has  been  conjectured 
 that  by  'earth,'  Naaman  meant  silver  talents,  the  precious  metals 
 being  sometimes  so  considered,  {see  Hab.  ii.  6  ;  Zech.  ix.  3  ;  2  Chron. 
 i.  15  ;)  and  that  he  asked,  if  the  prophet  would  have  none,  whether  he 
 would  not  allow  him  to  give  some  to  the  servant.  This  idea  is  truly 
 thought  to  have  its  difficulties. — See  Clarke.  18.  (ioeth — leaneth — 
 
 fiow—*  hath  gone,'  'hath  leaned,'  '  bowed,' i<:c. — Light/.,  Gill,  Clarke, 
 Wil.,  Sut.    Naaman,  holding  a  high  station  in  Benhadad's  court,  was 
 
 expected  to  attend  his  master  in  the  temple  of  Rimmon,  (called  Rem- 
 phan,  Acts,  vii.  43,)  and  as  the  king  should  lean  and  bow,  his  body 
 would  unavoidably  bow  with  him,  the  king  being  supported  by  his 
 arm  ;  but  as  he  should  mean  no  worship  to  Kimmon,  but  only  service 
 to  his  prince,  he  hoped  God  would  pardon  him.  The  prophet  seems 
 to  have  left  him  to  the  gradual  progress  of  his  convictions. — Henri/, 
 Scott,  Pat.  The  Sept.  here  y^es  the  future  tense.  The  Jews  ass,ertcd 
 that  a  stranger  was  not  bound  not  to  bow  before  any  idol,  but  oidy  a 
 Jew. — Selden.  Leanelh  o/itnr/  hand,  or  '  shoulder.' — Pat.  Among  the 
 Hindoos,  men  walk  leaning  ou  each  other's  hands,  like  boys  among 
 us. — So  fiob.  19.  Go  in  pence,   'in  peace  of  mind,'  be  a.ssured  tliat 
 
 God  hath  pardoned  all  thy  transgressions.— G(7i.  Assured  that  he  had 
 wliolly  relinquished  idolatry,  and  asked  pardon  for  the  past,  the  pro- 
 phet dismisses  Naaman  with  a  blessing. — WH.  24.  The  tower,  ^tV, 
 'a  secret'  or  'hiding  place.' — Pat.  The  tower  of  Samaria,  a  fortificil 
 place. — Gill.  Perhaps  this  was  a  sort  of  storehouse  for  such  provisions 
 as  were  brought  for  the  sons  of  the  projihcts,  of  which  Gehazi  was  the 
 keeper.— Sco/^  'The  barriers.'— !>«//«?,  so  Buathr.  26.  We?it  not 
 mine  heart  ?  'went  I  not  in  mind?' — Bonthr.  '  It  was  sliewn  me  by 
 the  prophetic  spirit,'  so  ihe  Chald.  27.  And  to  thy  seed — this  was  not 
 punishing  his  seed  for  his  act,  but  the  natural  course  of  things. 
 A  leprous  parent  would  have  leprous  children.  For  ever,  that  is,  as 
 long  as  any  of  his  race  remained. — Gill,  so  Scott,  Clarke. 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  I.  Naamnn  was  a  f/reat  man, 
 yet  he  was  a  leper.  There  is  no  condition  that  exempts  us  from 
 the  evils  of  human  nature,  and  all  these  evils  arise  from  sin, 
 the  defilement  of  which  is  often  found  most  deeply  infecting 
 those  in  the  higher  ranks  of  life.  If  the  eyes  of  their  under- 
 standing were  enlightened  to  see  their  condition,  how  earnestly 
 would  they  seek  for  a  remedy,  and  cry,  *  unclean,  unclean  !' 
 
 II.  Naaman's  little  ma'td  was  the  means  nfleculim/  her  master  to 
 a  cjire.  This  may  teach  us  how  a  word  fitly  spolien  may  often 
 do  great  good,  and  that  the  most  simple  instruments  may  ac- 
 complish the  most  important  purposes.  Those  who  train  up 
 the  children  of  the  poor  in  our  scliools  may  here  take  encou- 
 ragement, from  the  probability  that  even  while  children,  they 
 may  be  made  blessings  to  those  above  them  in  years  and  sta- 
 tion, having  been  taught  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  and 
 of  '  Jesus  Christ  wliom  he  hath  sent.* 
 
 III.  Naaman  went  to  sceU  his  cure  from  the  prophet  with  a  hif/h 
 r  commendation,  a  great  retinue,  and  rich  presents.  It  woiild 
 have  become  a  poor  leper  better  to  have  gone  in  a  humble  garb, 
 aud  as  a  miserable  supplicant  to  the  prophet.    Thus  men  mis 
 
 4U0 
 
 take  ;  in  seeking  salvation  from  Christ  they  imagine  they  can 
 bear  recommendations  and  meritorious  chiims  to  obtain  the 
 Divine  favour.  But  they  must  be  taught  that  God  has  no  re- 
 spect of  persons,  and  tliat  all  sinners  must  be  saved  freely  by 
 his  grace. 
 
 IV.  Naaman  was  wroth  at  the  simple  remedy  proposed  hy  the 
 prophet.  To  what  pains  have  men  put  themselves  in  their 
 superstitious  views  of  religion,  when  they  have  hut  to  come 
 simply  to  Christ  by  faith,  and  be  washed  in  the  fountain 
 opened  for  sin  and  for  uncleanness  ;  yet  to  this  hour,  even 
 among  those  who  have  the  Bible  in  their  hands,  are  many  that 
 reject  the  simple  remedy,  '  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 and  thou  shalt  be  saved.'  They  look  for  saving  virtue  in  alms 
 deeds,  in  a  week's  preparation,  in  a  sacrament,  in  a  good  name, 
 in  anything  railier  than  simply  coming  as  poor,  lost,  needy 
 sinners  to  him  w  bo  '  receivelli  sinners,'  but  who  has  said,  '  the 
 whole  need  not  a  pliysician,  but  they  that  are  sick.*  *1  camo 
 not  to  call  the  righteous  but  sinners  to  repentance.* 
 
 \.  Naaman  at  Ittii/th  used  the  means  prescribed,  and  recovered. 
 I!nii|)y  was  it  for  him  that  he  did  not  return  home  in  the  dis- 
 
Elisha  cnuscth  iron  to  swim. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  VI.  The  Syrian  army  smitten  with  blindness. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  Elisha,  (Jiving  leave  to  ilic  young  proplirfs  to  enlargt 
 tlifir  flwcUint/Sy  cavstth  iron  to  sxvim,  8  He  di^clnsctti 
 file  king  of  Syria's  counsd.  13  Ttie  army,  which 
 wits  sent  til  Doilian  to  apprefiend  Elisha,  is  smitten 
 with  blinilness.  19  Being  hrimght  into  Samariii, 
 they  are  dismissed  in  pcaee.  24  The  famine  in  Sa- 
 niaria  eanseth  women  to  eat  their  own  children.     30 
 
 The  hiiig  st-ndeth  to  slay  Elisha. 
 
 AND  'the  sons  of  the  prophets  said   unto 
 Klislia,  Behold  now,  the  place  where  we 
 dwell  with  thee  is  too  strait  for  ns. 
 
 2  Let  us  po,  v.-e  pray  thee,  unto  Jordan,  and 
 take  tlienco  every  man  a  beam,  and  let  us 
 make  us  a  place  tliere,  where  we  may  dwell. 
 And  he  answered,  Go  ye. 
 
 3  And  one  said.  Be  content,  I  pray  thee,  and 
 go  with  thy  servants.  And  he  answered,  1 
 will  go. 
 
 4  So  he  went  with  them.  And  when  they 
 came  to  Jordan,  they  cut  down  wood. 
 
 5  But  as  one  was  felling  a  beam,  the  fax 
 head  fell  into  the  water  :  and  he  cried,  and 
 said,  Alas,  master!  for  it  was  borrowed. 
 
 (!  And  the  man  of  God  said,  Where  fell  it? 
 And  he  shewed  him  the  place.  And  ""he  cut 
 down  a  stick,  and  cast  it  in  thither ;  and  the 
 iron  did  swim. 
 
 7  Therefore  said  he.  Take  it  up  to  thee.  And 
 he  put  out  his  hand,  and  took  it. 
 
 S  t  Then  the  king  of  Syria  warred  against 
 Israel,  and  took  counsel  with  his  servants,  say- 
 ing. In  such  and  such   a  place  shall  be  my 
 
 II  camp. 
 
 'J  And  the  man  of  God  sent  unto  the  king  of 
 Israel,  saying.  Beware  that  thou  pass  not  such 
 a  place  ;  for  thither  the  Syrians  are  come 
 down. 
 
 10  And  the  king  of  Israel  sent  to  the  place 
 which  the  man  of  God  told  him  and  warned 
 him  of,  and  saved  himself  there,  not  once  nor 
 twice. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  the  heart  of  the  king  of  Syria 
 was  sore  troubled  for  this  thing  ;  and  he  called 
 his  servants,  and  said  unto  them.  Will  ye  not 
 sliew  me  which  of  us  is  for  the  king  of 
 I srael ? 
 
 \2  And  one  of  his  servants  said,  fNone,  my 
 lord,  O  king :  but  Elisha,  the  prophet  that  u 
 in  Israel,  telleth  the  king  of  Israel  the  words 
 that  thou  speakest  in  thy  bedchamber. 
 
 13  IT  And  he  said.  Go  and  spy  where  he  js, 
 that  I  may  send  and  fetch  him.  And  it  was 
 told  him,  saying,  Behold,  he  is  in  '^  Dothan. 
 
 D.  r. 
 
 cir.  89.1. 
 \  Heb.hfai't/. 
 
 II  Or,  „,.„,.. 
 
 rf2Clir.  32. 
 
 7. 1'B  r..^.  IS. 
 Rum.  8  31. 
 
 crh   9,  II. 
 IN.  .-H.  7.  & 
 lis    17. 
 Z.rli.  I    R. 
 ».  0.  !_;, 
 
 /•Qen.  19.11. 
 
 t  Hob.  C'liie 
 ge  lifter  niP. 
 
 S.H. 
 8»> 
 
 14  Therefore  sent  he  thither  horses,  and  cha- 
 riots, and  a  f  great  host  :  and  they  came  by 
 niglit,  and  compassed  the  city  about. 
 
 15  And  when  the  ||  servant  of  the  man  of 
 God  was  risen  early,  and  gone  forth,  behold, 
 an  host  compassed  the  city  both  with  horses 
 and  chariots.  And  his  servant  said  unto  him, 
 Alas,  my  master !  how  shall  we  do  ? 
 
 16  And  he  answered,  Fear  not:  for  ''they 
 that  be  with  us  are  more  than  they  that  be 
 with  them. 
 
 17  And  Elisha  prayed,  and  said,  Lord,  I 
 pray  thee,  open  his  eyes,  that  he  may  see. 
 And  the  Lonn  opened  the  eyes  of  tlie  young 
 man  ;  and  he  saw  :  and,  l)ehold,  the  mountain, 
 teas  full  of  °  horses  and  chariots  of  fire  round 
 about  Elisha. 
 
 18  And  when  they  came  down  to  him,  Elisha 
 prayed  unto  the  Lord,  and  said,  Smite  this 
 people,  I  pray  tliee,  with  blindness.  And  'he 
 smote  them  with  blindness  according  to  the 
 word  of  Elisha. 
 
 19  IT  And  ElLsha  said  unto  them.  This  ?s  not 
 the  way,  neither  is  this  the  city  :  f  follow  me, 
 and  I  will  bring  you  to  the  man  whom  ye 
 seek.     But  he  led  them  to  Samaria. 
 
 20  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  were 
 come  into  Samaria,  tliat  ElLsha  said.  Lord, 
 open  the  eyes  of  these  mi'n,  that  they  may  see. 
 And  the  Lord  opened  their  eyes,  and  they 
 saw  ;  and,  behold,  they  were  in  the  midst  o( 
 Samaria. 
 
 21  And  the  king  of  Israel  said  unto  Elisha, 
 when  he  saw  them.  My  father,  .shall  I  smite 
 them  ?  shall  I  smite  them  ? 
 
 22  And  he  answered,  Thou  sludt  not  smite 
 them :  wouldest  thou  smite  those  whom  thou 
 hast  taken  captive  with  thy  sword  and  with  thy 
 bow  f  ^  set  bread  and  water  before  them,  that 
 they  may  eat  and  drink,  and  go  to  their  master. 
 
 23  And  he  prepared  great  provision  for  them  : 
 and  when  they  had  eaten  and  drunk,  he  sent 
 them  away,  and  they  went  to  their  master.  So 
 ''  the  hands  of  Syria  came  no  more  into  the 
 land  of  Israel. 
 
 24  1l  And  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  Ben- 
 hadad  king  of  Syria  gathered  all  his  host,  and 
 went  up,  and  besieged  Samaria. 
 
 25  And  there  was  a  great  famine  in  Samaria  : 
 and,  behold,  they  besieged  it,  until  an  ass's 
 head  was  sold  for  (ourscore  pieces  of  silver,  and 
 the  fourth  part  of  a  cab  of  dove's  dung  for  five 
 pieces  of  silver. 
 
 26  And  as  tlie  king  of  Israel  was  passing  by 
 
 CnAP.  VI.  —  1.  The  ptitce,  probably  Oilgal,  that  being  near  Jordan. 
 ^Pnole.  2.  Erery  mun  a  liccim — theJordan  is  shadowed  with  poplars, 
 alders,  &c.,  many  of  wliich  are  cut  down  for  use. — Sitrifti/'s  Trav. 
 5.  .Has,  muster !  ffc. — the  loss  of  an  ax  was  almost  irreparable  where 
 steel  forg-cs  were  scarce  and  distant. — Sut.  13.  Duthtin,  a  city  in  the 
 tribe  of  Manasseh,  near  Shechera,  (Gen.  x.\'.xvii.  17,)  and  about  twelve 
 miles   from  Samaria. — Gill.    Poole,    Clarke.  14.  .-l   gyeat   host,   to 
 
 frighten  the  people,  that  they  mif^lit  deliver  up  the  prophet. — So  Pat. 
 17.  Horses  and  chariots  ofjire — ani^els  in  this  form,  as  in  chap.  ii.  1 1. — 
 Gilt.  18.   With    tjl'tidness,   Cm^ca.    '  blindnesses.'  —  Pit!.'.,    Mont. 
 
 '  Great  blindness.'  The  word  describes  the  same  blindness  as  that  of 
 the  men  of  Sodom,  (Gen.  xix.  11.) — Gill.  'A  partial  blindness.' — 
 Poole.  'Confusion  of  sifjbt.'—C/'irA-^.  ^opll(Tta,  Siept.  '  Not  seeing:,' 
 or  '  not  seeing  distinctly,'  '  seeing  some  tbincs  and  not  seeing  others.' 
 — Sut.    *  They  were  enveloped  with  a  thick  mist.'  so  the  Syr.  and  Arab. 
 
 19.  This  is  nut  the  way,  for  Elisha  was  proceeding:  elsewhere.  Neither 
 is  thin  tlie  city,  where  they  should  see  him. — So  Poole,  GUI,  Clarke. 
 23.  Bands,  '  troops  of  robbers.' — Gill.  Came  no  mure,  that  is,  for  the 
 present. — Hew.  25.  An  ass's  head,  by  law  unclean,  (Lev.  xi.  26,)  its 
 rtesh  disagreeable,  and  of  that  little. —  Gilt.  Fnnrscnre  pieces  0/ silver, 
 that  is.  '  shekels,'  Tar^.  Nine  or  ten  pounds  English. — Gill.  They 
 might  have  been  half.sbekels,  and  then  the  price  was  5i. — Hew.  Cab, 
 a  .small  measure  for  corn,  containing,  say  the  Jews,  a-S  much  as  twenty- 
 four  eggs. — Pat.  The  fourth  part  was  less  than  a  pint  of  our  measure. 
 ^Ri'Othr.  '  Half  a  pint.' — Godwin,  so  Gill.  Dorr's  dilute,  peas,  vetches, 
 or  parched  pulse,  resembling  dove's  dung,  and  used  among  the  Arabs. 
 At  Grand  Cairo  and  Damascus  there  are  magazines  of  this  grain,  which 
 is  fried  and  used  for  provisions  on  a  jf)urney.  It  is  now  called  by  the 
 Arabs  '  dovi's  dung.'  It  is  a  general,  cheap,  and  very  favourite  suste- 
 nance in  the  east. ^UocA.,  Boothr.,  Gill,  Clarke,  Rob.      '  Dove's  dung 
 
 gust  he  had  at  first  oonceivod,  for  then  his  leprosy  would 
 never  have  departed  from  him.  And  happy,  thrice  happy,  i.s 
 lie  who  has  thrown  aside  the  usual  prejudices  of  the  proud 
 and  depraved  heart  against  tlie  scripture  method  of  salvation, 
 andi-eceived  Christ  as  he  is  freely  offered  to  liim  in  the  sospel. 
 V'l.  Naaman  manifested  the  greatest  gratitnile  for  his  cure. 
 He  wished  henceforth  to  serve  God  only  ;  and  in  this  way  the 
 401 
 
 recovered  sinner  asks, '  What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for  all 
 his  benefits  towards  me  !'  And  lie  resolves.  '  I  will  offer  unio 
 thee  the  sacrifices  of  tlianksyivine:,  and  will  call  upon  the  name 
 of  the  Lord.'  Nor  does  he  forget  the  inslruments  of  his  cure, 
 but  desires,  in  every  possible  way,  to  sJiew  his  kindness  to 
 the  Lord's  prophets. 
 
 3  F 
 
Thefaniine  in  Samaria. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  VII. 
 
 The  Jtiyht  of  the  Syrian  afmi/. 
 
 upon  the  wall,  tliere  cried  a  woman  unto  him, 
 saying,  Help,  my  lord,  O  king. 
 
 27  And  he  said,  ||  If  the  Lord  do  not  help 
 thee,  whence  shall  I  help  thee?  out  of  the 
 barnfloor,  or  out  of  the  winepress? 
 
 ■28  And  the  king  said  unto  her.  What  aileth 
 thee  ?  And  she  answered.  This  woman  said 
 unto  me.  Give  thy  son,  that  we  may  eat  him 
 to  day,  and  we  will  eat  my  son  to  marrow. 
 
 29  So  '  we  boiled  my  son,  and  did  eat  him  : 
 and  I  said  unto  her  on  the  f  next  day.  Give 
 thy  son,  that  we  may  eat  him  :  and  she  hath  hid 
 her  son. 
 
 30  T[  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king 
 heard  the  words  of  the  woman,  that  he  ^  rent 
 his  clothes  ;  and  he  passed  by  upon  the  wall, 
 and  the  people  looked,  and,  behold,  he  had 
 sackclotli  within  upon  his  flesh. 
 
 31  Then  he  said,  '  God  do  so  and  more  also 
 to  me,  if  the  head  of  Elisha  the  son  of  Shaphat 
 shall  stand  on  him  this  day. 
 
 32  But  Elisha  satin  his  house,  and  ""the  elders 
 sat  with  him  ;  and  t/ie  hinrj  sent  a  man  from 
 before  him  :  but  ere  tlie  messenger  came  to 
 him,  he  said  to  the  elders,  "  See  ye  how  this 
 son  of  "  a  murderer  hatli  sent  to  take  away 
 mine  head  ?  look,  when  the  messenger  conieth, 
 shut  the  door,  and  hold  him  fast  at  the  door: 
 is  not  the  sound  of  his  master's  feet  behind 
 him  ? 
 
 33  And  while  he  yet  talked  with  them,  be- 
 hold, the  messenger  came  down  unto  hiiu  :  and 
 he  said.  Behold,  this  evil  is  of  the  Lord  ; 
 ^  what  should  I  wait  for  the  Lord  any  longer? 
 
 CHAP.  vn. 
 
 1  Elisha  prophesieth  iucrcdlUe  jiitntt/  in  Samarin.  3 
 Four  tf-perSy  venturing  an  the  host  nf  the  Syrians, 
 hrim/  tidings  of  their  Jl'ght.  12  The  king,  finding 
 by  spies  the  netrs  to  be  true,  spoileth  tin:  tents  of  tlie 
 Syrians.  17  The  hird,  who  would  not  lidicve  the 
 prophecy  of  plenty,  having  the  charge  of  the  gale,  is 
 trodden  to  death  in  the  press, 
 
 T^HEN  Elisha  said.  Hear  ye  the  word  of  the 
 •*■  Lord  ;  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  °  To  morrow 
 about  this  time  s/in/l  a  measure  of  fine  flour  he 
 sold  for  a  shekel,  and  two  measures  of  barley 
 for  a  shekel,  in  the  gate  of  Samaria. 
 
 2  ''Then  fa  lofil  ou  whose  baud  the  king 
 leaned  answered  the  man  of  God,  and  said. 
 
 i  Lev.  26.20. 
 
 Dcu.  'JS,  53, 
 
 .'■7 
 t  Heb.  "IliT. 
 
 (Riithl.  17. 
 1  Kin.  \0.-2. 
 
 in  K»k  S  1. 
 &:iii.  I. 
 
 n  I.uke  13. 
 3->. 
 0  1  Kin.lS.I 
 
 p  J..b  2.  U. 
 
 lehirh  be 
 biiigcil   /. 
 
 U.  C. 
 cir.  S'J'J. 
 
 ■  SSam.  5. 
 S-l.  ch  Ifl  7. 
 Job  15.  SI. 
 
 a  P«.  tS.  i, 
 =,.  6. 
 Prov.28.  1. 
 
 t  H.-b.  xM 
 pu'tiihmetil. 
 
 Behold,  '  if  the  Lord  would  make  windows  in 
 heaven,  might  this  thing  be?  .\nd  he  said. 
 Behold,  tbou  shalt  see  it  witli  thine  eye.s,  but 
 shalt  not  eat  thereof. 
 
 3  1  And  there  were  four  leprous  men  ■'  at  the 
 entering  in  of  the  gate  :  and  they  said  one  to 
 another.  Why  sit  we  here  until  we  die? 
 
 4  If  we  say.  We  will  enter  into  the  city,  then 
 the  famine  is  in  the  city,  and  we  shall  die 
 there  :  and  if  we  sit  still  here,  we  die  also. 
 Now  therefore  come,  and  let  us  fall  unto  the 
 host  of  the  Syrians  :  if  they  save  us  alive,  we 
 shall  live;  and  if  they  kill  us,  we  shall  but  die. 
 
 3  And  they  rose  up  in  the  twilight,  to  go 
 unto  the  camp  of  the  Syrians:  and  when  tliey 
 were  come  to  the  uttermost  part  of  the  camp 
 of  Syria,  behold,  there  icas  no  man  there. 
 
 6  For  the  Lord  had  made  the  host  of  the  Sy- 
 rians "  to  hear  a  noise  of  chariots,  and  a  noise 
 of  horses,  eren  the  noise  of  a  great  host :  and 
 they  said  one  to  .inotber,  Lo,  tlie  king  of  Israel 
 hath  hired  against  us  '  the  kings  of  the  Hit- 
 tites,  and  the  kings  of  the  Egyptians,  to  come 
 upon  us. 
 
 7  Wherefore  they  "  arose  and  fled  in  the  twi- 
 light, and  left  their  tents,  and  their  horses,  and 
 their  asses,  even  the  camp  as  it  iras,  and  fled 
 for  their  life. 
 
 8  And  when  these  lepers  came  to  the  utter- 
 most part  of  the  camp,  they  went  into  one 
 tent,  and  did  eat  and  drink,  anil  carried  thence 
 silver,  and  gold,  and  raiment,  and  went  and  hid 
 it ;  and  came  again,  and  entered  into  another 
 tent,  and  carried  thence  also,  and  went  and 
 hid  it. 
 
 9  Then  they  .said  one  to  another.  We  do  not 
 well  :  tliis  day  is  a  day  of  good  tidings,  and 
 we  hold  our  peace  :  if  we  tarry  till  the  morn- 
 ing light,  fsonie  mischief  will  come  upon  us: 
 now  therefore  come,  that  we  may  go  and  tell 
 the  king's  honsholil. 
 
 10  So  they  came  and  called  unto  the  porter 
 of  the  city  :  and  they  told  them,  saying,  We 
 came  to  the  camp  of  the  Syrians,  and,  behold, 
 there  was  no  man  there,  neither  voice  of  man, 
 but  horses  tied,  and  asses  tied,  and  the  tents 
 as  they  loere. 
 
 1 1  And  he  called  the  porters  ;  and  they  told 
 it  to  the  king's  house  within. 
 
 is,  however,  used  in  tlie  c.ist  fnr  rearing  cucumbers,  melons,  &c. — 
 Clarke.  27-  If  the  Leird  do  not  help—K\\Q  marginal  reaclinj;  implies 
 the  impatience  antt  race  of  a  wicked  man,  and  a  format  curse;  or  the 
 words  may  be  rendered,  '  No,  let  the  Lord  help  thee.' — Poole.  Out  of 
 the  barnfloor,  or  out  of  the  winepress  ?  when  no  corn  was  to  be  had  from 
 the  one  nor  wine  from  the  other. — Gill.  2P-  And  did  eat  him— a. 
 dreadful  punishment,  threatened  to  them  in  case  of  apostasy,  (Dent, 
 xxviii.  53,  57.}— Poole.  3\.  If  the  hend  of  Klishu—he  asciihed  these 
 calamities  to  Elisha,  or  thought  he  had  not  used  the  means  in  his 
 power  for  their  removal. — So  Clarke.  The  son  of  Shajihal,  so  calling 
 him  in  contempt,  as  aworthless  fellow,  of  a  mean  family. — Bp.  Wilson. 
 3J.  In  his  house,  where  he  lodu'ed.  The  elders,  the  chief  persons  in  Sa- 
 maria; or  rather,  his  chief  scholars,  according  to  Josephus. — So  Pat., 
 Gill.  Sent  a  man,  '  an  executioner.' — Pat.,  Gill.  This  son  of  a  mur. 
 derer — his  mother  Jezehel  killed  Nahoth  and  the  prophets,  and  his 
 father  Ahah  consented.  Hath  sent  to  take  away  mine  head,  which  he 
 knew  hy  a  spirit  of  prophecy. — Gill.  The  sound  of  his  master's  feet 
 behind  him,  either  to  rccal  his  rash  sentence,  or  debate  the  matter  with 
 the  prophet. — Poole.  This  expression  is  common  in  the  east  to  repre- 
 sent the  rapid  approach  of  any  one  after  another.— So  Rob.        33.  He 
 
 said — either  ;i.)  the  kinp,  in  a  fit  of  despair,  acknowledged  the  distress 
 was  from  the  Lord. — Pat.  The  king  blasphemously  said  the  cala- 
 mity was  from  the  I.ord,  who  would  not  deliver  tliem,  and  it  was  in 
 rain  to  wait  for  him  any  longer. — Srott ;  so  also  Henry,  Gill,  Uathe, 
 lioothr.  Or,  (ii.)  it  misht  he  the  answer  of  the  prophet  from  with, 
 in  to  the  messenger  without,  intimating  he  had  pra>  ed  to  God,  hut 
 his  prayer  might  now  cease,  for  deliverance  was  approaching. — So 
 Clarke. 
 
 CuAp.  VII.  —  1.  .4  measure,  'a  seah'  or  'satum,'  two  wine  gallons 
 and  a  half.  A  shekel,  two  shillings  and  fourpence  farthing.— i?;^. 
 Ciimherland.  2.  Not  eat  thereof,  a  punishment  for  his  profanity  and 
 unbelief. — Poole,  Pat.,  Henry,  Gill,  Scott.  Merely  aprediclion  of  his 
 death. — Clarke.  3.  Four  leprous  men — these,  according  to  law,  were 
 obliged  to  be  without  the  city  and  camp.  (Lev.  xiii.  jd.)  They  prr)ba- 
 hly  got  near  the  gate  to  obtain  relief  aud  avoid  the  Syrians.  6.  Kini;s 
 of  the  Hittites,  one  of  tlie  nations  of  the  Canaanites,  who  lived  on  tiie 
 borders  of  the  land  of  Israel.  A  great  part  had  been  destroyed  by 
 Joshua ;  these  were  sprung  from  those  that  fled. — Gill,  Pat.  '  Kings  (if 
 the  isles,'  that  is.  of  Chittim,  (Jer.  ii.  10.) — So  Jos.  Kings  of  the  Egypt- 
 ians— Egypt  was  then  divided  into  several  kingdoms. — Pat.    This  was 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch,\p.  VI.— In  this  chapter  we  learn, 
 I.  Honesty.  People  are  often  not  concerned  about  things  tli;it 
 are  borrowed,  but  if  liiey  are  not  in  the  end  carefully  returned, 
 they  are  no  better  than  stolen  articles.  The  servants  of  God 
 must  '  owe  no  man  anything.* 
 
 II.  We  learn  confidence  in  the  Divine  protection.     In  every 
 
 danger  the  Christian  is  still  as  much  surrounded  with  angelic 
 
 guards  as  was  the  prophet  in  Dothan.     Tiiey  have  charge 
 
 concerning  us  to  keep  us  in  all  our  ways.    O,  thou  that  keepest 
 
 402 
 
 Israel,  help  us  to  put  our  continual  trust  in  thee, 
 '  Though  destruction  walk  around  us. 
 Though  the  arrow  past  us  fly, 
 Angel  guards  from  thee  surround  us; 
 W'e  are  safe  if  Thou  art  nigh.' 
 
 III.  We  lenrn  the  duty  of  doing  good  even  to  enemies.  '  Tf 
 thine  enemy  be  hungry,  give  him  bread  to  eat  ;  and  if  ho  be 
 thirsty,  give  him  water  to  drink  :  for  tliou  shalt  heap  coals  of 
 fire  upon  his  head,  and  the  Lord  shall  reward  thee.' 
 
Their  tents  are  spoiled. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  VIII. 
 
 The  Shunaminitts  lund  restored. 
 
 12  t  And  the  king  arose  in  the  night,  and 
 said  unto  his  servants,  I  will  now  shew  you 
 what  the  Syrians  have  done  to  iis.  They  know 
 that  we  /'e  hungry  ;  therefore  are  they  gone 
 out  of  tlie  camp  to  hide  themselves  in  the 
 field,  saying.  When  they  come  out  of  the  city, 
 we  shall  catch  them  alive,  and  get  into  the 
 city. 
 
 13  And  one  of  his  servants  answered  and 
 said.  Let  some  take,  I  pray  thee,  five  of  the 
 horses  that  remain,  which  are  left  f  in  the  city, 
 (behold,  they  are  as  all  the  multitude  of  Israel 
 that  are  left  in  it :  behold,  I  siiy,  they  are  even 
 as  all  the  inultitude  of  the  Israelites  that  are 
 consumed  :)  and  let  ns  send  and  see. 
 
 14  They  took  therefore  two  chariot  horses; 
 and  the  king  sent  after  the  host  of  the  Syrians, 
 saying.  Go  and  see. 
 
 1.5  And  they  went  after  them  unto  Jordan  : 
 and,  lo,  all  the  way  was  full  of  garments  and 
 vessels,  which  the  Syrians  had  cast  away  in 
 their  haste.  And  the  messengers  returned, 
 and  told  the  king. 
 
 16  And  the  people  went  out,  and  spoiled  the 
 tents  of  the  Syrians.  So  a  measure  of  fine 
 flonr  was  suld  for  a  shekel,  and  two  measures 
 of  barley  for  a  shekel,  "  according  to  the  word 
 of  tlie  Lord. 
 
 1 7  t  And  the  king  appointed  the  lord  on 
 whose  hand  he  leaned  to  have  the  charge  of 
 the  gate  :  and  the  people  trode  upon  him  in 
 the  gate, and  he  died,  'as  the  man  of  God  had 
 said,  who  spake  when  the  king  came  down  to 
 him. 
 
 18  And  it  came  to  pass  as  the  man  of  God 
 had  spoken  to  the  king,  saying,  '  Two  mea- 
 sures of  barley  for  a  shekel,  and  a  measure  of 
 fine  flour  for  a  shekel,  shall  be  to  morrow  about 
 this  time  in  the  gate  of  Samaria  : 
 
 19  And  that  lord  answered  the  man  of  God, 
 and  said.  Now,  behold,  if  the  Lord  .should 
 make  windows  in  heaven,  might  such  a  thing 
 be?  And  he  said.  Behold,  thou  shalt  see  it 
 with  thine  eyes,  but  shalt  not  eat  thereof. 
 
 •20  And  so  it  fell  out  unto  him  :  for  the  peo- 
 ple trode  upon  him  in  the  gate,  and  he  died. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  T/te  Sliunammife,  having  left  her  country  Sfven  years, 
 to  avoid  the  fvreicarncd  famine,  for  E/isha''s  miraeh- 
 sake  hath  her  land  restored  by  the  khui.  7  Hazael, 
 being  sait  with  a  present  by  Ben-hadad  to  Elisfia  at 
 
 i  P^.  105.  IG. 
 Hag.  1.  11. 
 
 .  1  Kin 
 
 \\\ 
 
 I.S. 
 
 /  1  Sam.fl.7. 
 
 1  Kin 
 
 11  ;( 
 
 c1..  5 
 
 5. 
 
 Jf  Cll. 
 
 .a. 
 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 in  hit 
 
 hand. 
 
 Dtlniascus,  af'ter  tie  Imd  lifarU  tlie  prnpfitci/,  kllUl/i  tils 
 masttr,  and  succcedtth  /lim.  16  Jthuram's  wtchd 
 reign  in  Judah,  20  Edam  and  Lihtiali  revolt.  23 
 Ahaziali  siicceedeth  Je/inram,  23  Aliazuih's  wiched 
 rei(/n.     28  He  visitetll  Jeltoram  wounded,  at  Jczreel. 
 
 'T'HEN  spake  Elisha  unto  the  woman, "  whose 
 -*•    son  he  had   restored  to  life,  saying.  Arise, 
 
 and  go  thou  and  thine  houshold,  and  sojourn 
 
 wheresoever  thou  canst  sojourn :  for  the  Lord 
 hath  called  for  a  famine  ;  and  it  shall  also 
 
 come  upon  tlie  land  seven  years. 
 
 2  And  the  woman  arose,  and  did  after  the 
 .saying  of  the  man  of  God  :  and  she  went  with 
 her  houshold,  and  sojourned  in  the  land  of 
 the  Philistines  seven  years. 
 
 3  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  seven  years' 
 end,  tliat  the  woman  returned  out  of  the 
 land  of  the  Philistines  :  and  she  went  forth 
 to  cry  unto  the  king  for  her  house  and  for  her 
 land. 
 
 4  And  the  king  talked  with  '^  Gehazi  the  ser- 
 vant of  the  man  of  God,  saying,  Tell  me,  I 
 pray  tliee,  all  the  great  things  that  Elisha  hath 
 done. 
 
 .5  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  was  telling  the 
 king  how  he  had  ''  restored  a  dead  body  to  life, 
 that,  behold,  the  woman,  whose  son  he  had  re- 
 stored to  life,  cried  to  the  king  for  her  house 
 and  for  her  land.  And  Gehazi  said.  My  lord, 
 O  king,  this  is  the  woman,  and  this  is  her  son, 
 whom  Elisha  restored  to  life. 
 
 6  And  when  the  king  asked  the  woman,  she 
 told  him.  So  the  king  appointed  unto  her  a 
 certain  ||  oihcer,  saying,  llestore  all  that  iras 
 her's,  and  all  the  fruits  of  the  field  since  the 
 day  that  she  left  the  land,  even  until  now. 
 
 7  f  And  Eli.sha  came  to  Damascus ;  and 
 Ben-hadad  the  king  of  Syria  was  sick  ;  and  it 
 was  told  him,  saying.  The  man  of  God  is  come 
 hither. 
 
 8  And  tlio  king  said  unto  "  Hazael,  •■  Take  a 
 present  in  thine  hand,  and  go,  meet  the  man  of 
 God,  and  ^enquire  of  the  Lord  by  him,  saying. 
 Shall  I  recover  of  this  disease  ? 
 
 9  So  Hazael  went  to  meet  him,  and  took  a 
 present  f  with  him,  even  of  every  good  thing 
 of  Damascus,  forty  camels'  burden,  and  came 
 and  stood  before  him,  and  said.  Thy  son  Ben- 
 hadad  king  of  Syria  hath  sent  me  to  thee,  say- 
 ing. Shall  I  recover  of  this  disease? 
 
 10  And   Elisha  said  unto  him.  Go,  say  unto 
 
 probably  an  error  of  a  transcriber,  writing  plural  for  singular. — Btiothr. 
 13.  Theti  are  tts  all  the  multUude,  signifying  there  was  a  like  consump- 
 tion among  tlie  horses  as  among  the  penple,  and  they  that  remained 
 were  starving  as  they  were.— Gill.  Biiothroijd  reads,  'two  of  the  five 
 horses  which  remain,  fur  behold,  they  only  remained  of  all  the  multi- 
 tude which  were  in  Israel  uncon^umed.'  That  are  consumed,  "ITTJ^ 
 l^n  should  be  •  which  are  perfect,'  '  fit  for  service.' — A.  Clarke. 
 1/.  The  people  trod  upon  hioi,  being  eager  to  get  out  for  food,  and  he, 
 being  thrown  down  in  the  rush,  was  trampled  on.~Gill. 
 
 Chat.  VIII.  —  l.  A  /amine — this  famine  seems  to  have  been  sent  in 
 the  latter  part  of  Jehoram's  reign,  as  a  pvmishment  for  the  pertinacious 
 idolatry  of  both  king  and  penple.  It  continued  twice  as  long  as  that  in 
 the  days  of  Ahab,  but  was  not  so  extreme.— 6'co^i.  2.  In  the  land  of 
 the  t^hilistines— this  land,  though  bordering  upon  Israel,  was  free  from 
 
 famine,  that  the  special  hand  of  God  might  appear  in  it ;  and  Its  ido. 
 latry  was  less  than  formerly,  Jews  and  Philistines  having  much  mingled 
 together. — Poole.  3.  To  cry^for  her  house  and  for  her  land,  proba. 
 bly  seized  by  relations,  stewards,  or  king's  officers,  during  her  long 
 absence. — Gill.  4.  The  king  talked  with  Gehazi — this  event  then 
 
 happened  before  his  leprosy,  and  before  the  siege  of  Samaria. — Gill, 
 Boothr.  But  this  it  is  not  necessary  to  suppose,  for  Gehazi  mightcon- 
 verse  with  the  king  at  a  distance,  as  Naaman  did  with  the  prophet's 
 family,  and  as  the  lepers  called  to  the  Saviour  on  the  highway. — Pat. 
 It  was  not  unlawfid  to  speak  to  a  leper,  provided  it  was  done  without 
 touching  him.  The  king's  curiosity  might  have  led  him  to  converse 
 wdh  Gehazi  about  the  proiditt's  miracles,  and  have  led  to  his  doing  the 
 pious  woman  justice. — Scott.  7-  Elisha  came  to  Damascus,  perhaps 
 to  visit  and  instruct  Naaman. — Henry.         lo.  Thou  matjest  certuinlij 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII — J.  In  the  doom  of  the  noble- 
 man here  recorded,  we  may  see  the  fatal  nmsiqumces  of  unbelief . 
 Henry  remarks,  '  Unbelief  is  a  sin"by  which  men  greatly  dis- 
 honour and  displease  God,  and  deprive  themselves  of  the 
 favours  he  designed  for  them.  The  murmuring  Israelites  saw 
 Canaan,  but  could  not  enter  in  because  of  unbelief."  '  Such,' 
 says  Patrick,  '  will  be  the  portion  of  those  that  believe  not  the 
 promise  of  eternal  life  :  they  shall  see  it  at  a  distance— Abra- 
 ham afar  off— but  shall  never  taste  of  it  ;  for  tliey  forfeit  the 
 benefit  of  the  promise,  if  lliey  cannot  liiid  in  their  heart  to 
 take  God's  word.' 
 403 
 
 II.  In  the  raisins  of  the  siege  of  Samaria,  we  see  rn  whatex- 
 traordinnri/  ways  God  can  effect  ddivi  ranees  from  dangers.  His 
 power  is  still  the  same,  and  though  the  age  of  miracles  is  past, 
 yet,  if  we  mark  the  hand  of  God  in  the  frequent  interposi- 
 tions of  his  providence,  we  shall  perceive  tliat  nothing  less 
 than  his  divine  power  has  often  protected  us  in  the  greatest 
 dangers,  spiritual  and  temporal,  or  afforded  us  relief.  O,  Al- 
 mighty Lord,  thus  shew  thy  power  in  the  preservation  of  thy 
 church,  and  in  tiie  confusion  of  all  her  enemies  !  '  Let  God 
 arise,  let  his  enemies  be  scattered,  let  them  also  that  hate  him 
 tiee  before  him.' 
 
JehorarvLS  wicked  reign. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  VIII. 
 
 Ahaziafis  wicked  reiyn. 
 
 him,  Thou  mayest  certainly  recover :  howbeit 
 the  Lord  hath  shewed  me  that  ^  he  shall  surely 
 (lie. 
 
 U  And  he  settled  his  countenance  fsted- 
 fastly,  until  he  was  ashamed  :  and  the  man  of 
 God  '  wept. 
 
 12  And  Hazael  said,  Why  weepeth  my  lord? 
 And  he  answered,  Because  I  know  ^  the  evil 
 that  thou  wilt  do  unto  the  children  of  Israel : 
 their  stronc;  holds  wilt  thou  set  on  fire,  and 
 their  young  men  wilt  thou  slay  with  the  sword, 
 and  ^  wilt  dash  their  children,  and  rip  up  their 
 women  with  child. 
 
 13  And  Hazael  said,  But  what,  ""  is  thy  ser- 
 vant a  dog,  that  he  should  do  this  great  thing? 
 and  Elisha  answered,  "The  Lord  hath  shewed 
 me  that  thou  shah  be  king  over  Syria. 
 
 14  So  he  departed  from  Elisha,  and  came  to 
 his  master  ;  who  said  to  him,  What  said  Elisha 
 to  thee?  And  he  answered,  He  told  me  that 
 thou  shouldest  surely  recover. 
 
 15  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that 
 he  took  a  thick  cloth,  and  dipped  it  in  water, 
 and  spread  it  on  his  face,  so  that  he  died :  and 
 Hazael  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 16  t  And  in  the  fifth  year  of  Joram  the  son 
 of  Ahab  king  of  Israel,  Jehoshaphat  being  then 
 king  of  Judah,  ^Jeliorani  the  son  of  Jehosha- 
 phat king  of  Judah  f  began  to  reign. 
 
 17  ^Thirty  and  two  years  old  was  he  when 
 he  began  to  reign  ;  and  lie  reigned  eight  years 
 in  Jerusalem. 
 
 18  And  he  walked  in  the  way  of  the  kings  of 
 Israel,  as  did  the  house  of  Ahab  :  for  ''  the 
 daugliter  of  Ahab  was  his  wife  :  and  he  did 
 evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. 
 
 19  Yet  the  Lord  would  not  destroy  Judah 
 for  David  his  servant's  sake, 'as  he  promised 
 him  to  give  him  alway  a  t^'g^^^  ^'**^  ^o  ^^is 
 children. 
 
 20  1  In  his  days  'Edom  revolted  from  under 
 the  hand  of  Judah,  *  and  made  a  king  over 
 themselves. 
 
 :  Luke  19. 
 
 tl. 
 
 I  ch.  15.  16. 
 Ho8.  13.  lU. 
 Aniog  1.13. 
 
 a  2  Chr.  81. 
 
 3,4. 
 f  Heb,  r^i^n- 
 
 fd.  Hfstnii 
 
 to  reigii  in 
 
 conaoit 
 
 with  his 
 
 Father. 
 p2  Chr.  21. 
 
 5,  ftc 
 q  ver.  26. 
 
 r  ?  flam.  7. 
 
 i:t.  I  Kill. 
 
 U.8«  &  15. 
 
 4   S  Chv. 
 
 21.  7. 
 t  Hell,  rmi- 
 
 $  Gen.  27.40. 
 
 ch.  a.  87. 
 
 8  Chi.  21.S, 
 
 O,  10. 
 t  1  Kin.  22. 
 
 fiilfillud, 
 
 Gen   27. -10. 
 I  2  Chi.  81. 
 
 *aChr.22.1, 
 
 8H.5. 
 I  CiHeil, 
 
 3 Chr  2-^  6. 
 ami  J'h">,- 
 ho:,  2  Chr. 
 21.  17.  8c 
 2.^.  8.1. 
 y  See  2  Chr. 
 82.  2 
 
 I  Or,  artviit- 
 liaughter: 
 See  ver.  IS. 
 
 !  2  Chi.  22. 
 6,4. 
 
 ft  ch.  0.  1.^. 
 
 with  Ih*  Sy- 
 
 riiifit  hiiH 
 
 wr,;n<te<l. 
 II  Called, 
 
 Ramnlh, 
 
 vpr    2A. 
 c  ch    9.  10. 
 
 2  Chr  22.6, 
 
 7, 
 \  lleb. 
 
 aiiunded. 
 
 21  So  Joram  went  over  to  Zair,  and  all  the 
 chariots  with  him  :  and  he  rose  by  night,  and 
 smote  the  Edomites  which  compassed  him 
 about,  and  the  captains  of  the  chariots:  and 
 the  people  fled  into  their  tents. 
 
 22  II  Yet  Edom  revolted  from  under  the  hand 
 of  Judah  unto  this  day.  "  Then  Libnah  re- 
 volted at  the  same  time. 
 
 23  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Joram,  and  all 
 that  he  did,  are  they  not  written  in  the  book 
 of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 24  And  Joram  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  was 
 buried  with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of  David  : 
 and  ^  II  Ahaziah  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 25  H  In  the  twelfth  year  of  Joram  the  son  of 
 Ahab  king  of  Israel  did  Ahaziah  the  son  of 
 Jehoram  king  of  Judah  begin  to  reign. 
 
 26  ^  Two  and  twenty  years  old  was  Ahaziah 
 when  he  began  to  reign  ;  and  he  reigned  one 
 year  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name 
 was  Athaliah,  the  ||  daughter  of  Omri  king  of 
 Israel. 
 
 27  ^  And  he  walked  in  the  way  of  the  house 
 of  Ahab,  and  did  evil  in  the  siglit  of  the  Lord, 
 as  did  the  house  of  Ahab  :  for  he  was  the  son 
 in  law  of  the  house  of  Ahab. 
 
 28  t  And  he  went  *  with  Joram  the  son  of 
 Ahab  to  the  war  against  Hazael  king  of  Syria 
 in  Ramoth-gilead ;  and  the  Syrians  wounded 
 Joram. 
 
 29  And  ''king  Joram  went  back  to  be  healed 
 in  Jezreel  of  the  wounds  f  which  the  Syrians 
 had  given  him  at  ||  Ramah,  when  he  fought 
 against  Hazael  king  of  Syria.  *^  And  Ahaziah 
 the  son  of  Jehoram  king  of  Judah  went  down 
 to  see  Joram  the  son  of  Ahab  in  Jezreel,  be- 
 cause he  was  fsick. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  Elisha  sendeth  a  young  prophat  irith  insirvvliims  to 
 anoint  Jehu  at  Ramoth-giltatl.  A  The  prophet  hav- 
 iny  done  his  vitssatje  Jieeth.  1 1  Jihu,  htiiu/  ynade 
 kin<i  hi/  the  soldiers,  hiUcth  Juram  in  the  field  of  Na- 
 
 recQi^er^-\\\Gte  was  nothing  in  his  disease  to  prevent  his  recuvcrint^, 
 though,  notwithstanrling:,  he  should  die. — So  Pat.,  Henry,  Gilt,  Scott, 
 Boothr.  The  Hebrew  reads,  '  thou  shalt  not  surely  or  certainly  re- 
 cover or  live,  for  the  Lord,'  Ac. ;  but  the  Rabbins  say  that  one  word,  vh, 
 is  written  for  another,  i'?,  which  is  an  error.  11.  He  settled  his  couji- 
 tenance,  that  is,  the  prophet  hiciked  Hazael  out  of  countenance. — Gill. 
 '  Until  he  was  ashamed.' — So  I'oole,  Scntt.  '  Then  having  looked  him 
 full  in  the  face,  steadfastly  and  long,  the  man  of  God  wept.* — Boothr. 
 
 13.  Thy  servant  a  dog — he  looked  upon  the  deeds  predicted  as  brutal, 
 and  thouglit  it  impossible  he  could  do  them.  —  So  Henry,  Poole, 
 and  Scott.  It  may  either  mean  he  looked  upon  it  as  brutal,  or  it 
 was  impossible  for  one  like  him,  mean  as  a  dog,  to  attaiu  such 
 power. — So  Gill.    The  latter  sense  seems  the  preferable  one  to  Patrick. 
 
 14,  Shouldest  surety  recover —this  vfas  false,  he  only  said  he  might ;  but 
 Hazael  concealed  the  latter  part  of  his  message  not  to  offend  his  master. 
 
 — Gill,  Duothr.  15.  A  thick  cloth,  '  the  mosquito  net,*  made  of  wool 
 or  goat's  hair.— S/i'iu',  '  A  fly  net.' — Boothr.  The  king  not  improba- 
 bly took  the  net  himself,  and  believing  he  should  recover,  adopted 
 what  he  thought  would  be  the  most  speedy  remedy. — Geddes,  Boothr, 
 More  likely  he  ordered  Hazael  to  use  it,  by  which  he  either  struck  in 
 the  heat  or  smothered  him. — Gill.  Hazael  wetted  the  cloth  to  stop  the 
 breath  of  the  king. — Sut,  Hazael  stems  to  have  been  wicked  enough 
 to  have  smothered  his  master  intentionally. — Evan.  Synop.  19.  A 
 
 lii^ht,  '  lamp,*  '  posterity,*  and  '  throne.'      See  note  on  1  Kiugs,  xi.  36. 
 
 20.  Edom  revolted,  which  had  been  tributary  to  Judah  l.'iO  years  from 
 David's  days,  {L>.Sam.  viii.  U;   comp.  1  Kings,  xxii.  'i7.)—Gilt,  Poole. 
 
 21.  Zair,  a  city  in  Edom.  26.  Athaliah,  the  daui^hter  of  Omri,  'grand- 
 daughter.' for  Ahab  was  her  fatlier,  but  grandchildren  were  called  cliU- 
 dren.— Gi7/.  29.  llamuh,  the  same  place  with  Ilamoth  or  Ramoth- 
 gilead,  (see  1  Kings,  xxii.  3.) 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V'III.  —  We  have  here,  observes 
 Henry,  T.  The  wickedness  of  Israti  punished  by  a  lony  famine. 
 If  lesser  judgments  do  not  prevail  to  bring  men  to  repentance, 
 God  will  send  greater  and  longer;  they  are  at  his  beck,  and 
 will  come  when  he  calls  for  them.  He  dotli.by  his  ministers, 
 call  for  reformation  and  obedience ;  and  if  those  calls  be  not 
 regarded,  we  may  expect  that  he  will  call  for  some  plague  or 
 other,  for  he  will  be  heard. 
 
 II.  We  may  learn,  in  the  case  of  the  Shunammite,  that  Provi- 
 dence istohr  acknowledged  in  ordering  the  circumstances  ofei^tnts; 
 for  sometimes  those  that  are  minute  in  themselves  prove  of 
 great  consequence. 
 
 III.  We  may  observe,  in  the  case  of  Benhadad,  that  no 
 honour,  wealth,  or  power,  will  secure  men  from  the  common  diseases 
 and  disasters  of  human  life.  I'alaces  and  thrones  lie  as  open  to 
 tlie  arrests  of  sickness  and  death  as  the  meanest  cottage.  And 
 now  is  the  time  when  even  the  mighty  monarch  feels  liimself 
 }inmbled  before  God,  and  Jienhadad,  who  worshipped  Him- 
 mon  in  health,  now  he  is  sick,  is  sick  ot'liis  idol,  and  sends  to 
 inquire  of  the  God  of  Israel,     Thus  affliction  brings  those  to 
 
 404 
 
 God  who,  in  their  prosperity,  had  made  light  of  him;  and, 
 among  other  instances  of  the  change  it  produces  on  men's 
 minds,  it  often  gives  other  tlioughts  of  God's  ministers,  and 
 leaches  them  to  value  the  counsels  and  prayers  of  those  whom 
 they  had  recently  despised,  and  even  treated  as  enemies. 
 
 IV.  We  see,  in  the  case  of  Hazael,  the  deceitfulness  of  the 
 human  heart.  '  It  is  possible  for  a  wicked  man,  under  the  con- 
 victions and  restraints  of  conscience,  to  express  great  abhor- 
 rence of  a  sin,  and  yet  afterwards  to  be  reconciled  to  it.'  *  It 
 is  the  day  of  temptation,'  says  Sutcliffe,  *  which  makes  mani- 
 fest the  heart.  Knowing,  therefore,  the  depravity  of  our  na- 
 ture, let  us  seek  a  new  Iieart  and  the  image  of  God.' 
 
 V.  \V'e  are  led  to  reflect,  from  the  history  of  Joram,  one  of 
 the  worst  kings  of  Judah,  yet  the  son  and  successor  of  Jelio- 
 •shaphat,  one  of  the  best,  that  many  that  have  themsdccs  been 
 f/odly  have  Had  the  grief  and  shame  of  seeing  their  children  iricltid 
 and  rile;  and,  alas!  if  tlie  children  of  good  parents  prove 
 wicked,  commoidy  they  are  w^orse  than  others;  the  unclean 
 spirit  brings  in  seven  others  more  wicked  than  himself,  (Luke 
 xi.  26.) 
 
Jehu  is  anuinted  king. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  IX. 
 
 He  hiUeth  Joram  in  the  field  uf  Naboth. 
 
 both,  27  Akaziah  is  slain  at  Gur,  and  buried  ut 
 Jtritsakm.  30  Prutut  Jezebii  is  thrown  down  out  of 
 a  window,  and  eaten  by  dogs. 
 
 AND  Elislia  the  prophet  called  one  of  °  the 
 ■^-^  children  of  tlie  prophets,  and  said  unto  him, 
 *■  Gird  up  thy  loins,  and  take  this  box  of  oil  in 
 thine  liand,  "  and  go  to  Ramoth-gilead  : 
 
 '2  And  when  thou  coniest  thither,  look  out 
 there  Jehu  the  son  of  Jehoshaphat  the  son  of 
 Nimshi,  and  go  in,  and  make  him  arise  up  from 
 among  ""  his  brethren,  and  carry  him  to  an 
 t  inner  chamber ; 
 
 3  Then  °  take  tlie  box  of  oil,  and  pour  it  on 
 his  head,  and  sa)'.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  I  have 
 anointed  thee  king  over  Israel.  Then  open 
 the  door,  and  flee,  and  tarry  not. 
 
 4  11  So  the  young  man,  even  the  young  man 
 the  prophet,  went  to  Ramoth-gilead. 
 
 5  And  when  he  came,  behold,  the  captains 
 of  the  host  were  sitting;  and  he  said,  I  have 
 an  errand  to  thee,  O  captain.  And  Jehu  said. 
 Unto  which  of  all  of  us?    And  he  said,  To  thee, 
 
 0  captain. 
 
 6  And  he  arose,  and  went  into  the  house  ; 
 and  he  poured  the  oil  on  his  head,  and  said 
 unto  him,  'Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
 
 1  have  anointed  thee  king  over  the  people  of 
 the  Lord,  even  over  Israel. 
 
 7  And  thou  shalt  smite  the  house  of  Ahab 
 thy  master,  that  I  may  avenge  the  blood  of 
 my  servants  the  prophets,  and  the  blood  of  all 
 the  servants  of  the  Lord,  ^  at  the  hand  of 
 Jezebel. 
 
 8  For  the  whole  house  of  Ahab  shall  perish  ; 
 and  ''  I  will  cut  off  from  Ahab  '  him  that  piss- 
 eth  against  the  wall,  and  ''  him  that  is  shut  up 
 and  left  in  Israel : 
 
 9  And  I  will  make  the  house  of  Aliab  like 
 the  house  of  '  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  and 
 like  the  house  of  "'  Baasha  the  son  of  Ahijah  : 
 
 10  "  And  the  dogs  shall  eat  Jezebel  in  the 
 portion  of  Jezreel,  and  there  shall  be  none  to 
 bury  her.     And  he  opened  the  door,  and  fled. 
 
 1  I  t  Then  Jelui  came  forth  to  the  servants 
 of  his  lord  :  and  one  said  unto  liim.  Is  all  well? 
 wherefore  came  °  this  mad  fellow  to  thee  ? 
 And  he  said  unto  them.  Ye  know  the  man, 
 ajid  his  communication. 
 
 12  And  they  said.  It  is  false;  tell  us  now. 
 And  he  said.  Thus  and  thus  spake  he  to  me, 
 saying.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  I  have  anointed 
 thee  king  over  Israel. 
 
 13  Then  they  hasted,  and  ■■  took  every  man 
 his  garment,  and  put  it  under  him  on  the  top 
 of  the  stairs,  and  blew  with  trumpets,  .saying, 
 Jehu  fis  king. 
 
 14  So  Jehu  the  son  of  Jehoshaphat  the  son 
 of  Nimshi  con.spired  against  Joram.  (Now 
 Joram  had  kept  Ramoth-gilead,  he  and  all 
 Israel,  because  of  Hazael  king  of  Syria. 
 
 15  But  ''king  t  Joram  was  returned  to  be 
 healed  in  Jezreel   of  the    wounds  which  the 
 
 1  1  Kin.  so. 
 35. 
 
 6  ch.  ♦.  89. 
 Jet.  I.  17. 
 c  ch.  8.  28, 
 
 d  ver.  5,  II 
 t  Heh.  cl'om 
 
 f\  Kin.  19, 
 ■  !6-  3Chr. 
 2-.'.  7. 
 
 f  1  Kin.  18 
 
 h  I  Kin.  II. 
 t0.&y|.2l. 
 I  Snni.  25 
 
 22 
 AD(;u.a2.:ifi 
 
 '  I  Kin.  21. 
 23.  VKr   35, 
 
 J.,lin  111.211. 
 Atts2fi   21. 
 
 7  ch.  R.  29. 
 t  Heh. 
 
 t  Heh.  in..,/ 
 t  llel.    Ut  > 
 
 \  Hcb.  laud 
 hit  l,'<'<d 
 
 I  1  Kin.  SI. 
 29. 
 
 I  Weh.hlutdi 
 
 I  Kin.  21. 
 
 II  Or,  porlii'ii 
 
 Syrians  fhad  given  him,  when  he  fought  with 
 Hazael  king  of  Syria.)  And  John  said.  If  it 
 be  your  mind.s,  then  f  let  none  go  forth  7ior 
 escape  out  of  the  city  to  go  to  tell  it  in  Jezreel. 
 
 16  So  Jehu  rode  in  a  chariot,  and  went  to 
 Jezreel  ;  for  Joram  lay  there.  '  And  Ahaziah 
 king  of  Judah  was  come  down  to  see  Joram. 
 
 17  And  there  stood  a  watchman  on  the  tower 
 in  Jezreel,  and  he  spied  the  company  of  Jehu 
 as  he  came,  and  said,  I  see  a  company.  And 
 Joram  said.  Take  an  horseman,  and  send  to 
 meet  them,  and  let  him  say.  Is  it  peace? 
 
 18  So  there  went  one  on  horseback  to  meet 
 him,  and  said,  Thus  saith  the  king,  Is  it  pca.ce? 
 And  Jehu  said.  What  hast  thou  to  do  with 
 peace?  turn  thee  behind  me.  And  the  watch- 
 man told,  saying,  Tlie  messenger  came  to  them, 
 but  he  Cometh  not  again. 
 
 19  Then  he  sent  out  a  second  on  horseback, 
 which  came  to  them,  and  said.  Thus  saith  the 
 king.  Is  it  peace?  And  Jehu  answered,  What 
 hast  thou  to  do  with  peace  ?  turn  thee  behind 
 me. 
 
 20  And  the  watchman  told,  saying.  He  came 
 even  unto  them,  and  cometh  not  again  :  and 
 the  11  driving  is  like  the  driving  of  Jehu  the 
 son  of  Nimshi  ;  for  he  driveth  f  furiously. 
 
 21  And  Joram  said,  f  Make  ready.  And  his 
 chariot  was  made  ready.  And  '  Joram  king 
 of  Israel  and  Ahaziah  king  of  Jndah  went  out, 
 each  in  his  chariot,  and  they  went  out  against 
 Jehu,  and  fniet  him  in  the  portion  of  Naboth 
 the  Jezreelite. 
 
 22  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Joram  saw 
 Jehu,  that  he  said.  Is  it  peace,  Jehu  ?  And 
 he  answered.  What  peace,  so  long  as  the 
 whoredoms  of  thy  mother  Jezebel  and  her 
 witchcrafts  are  so  many  ? 
 
 23  And  Joram  turned  his  hands,  and  fled, 
 and  said  to  Ahaziah,  There  is  treachery,  O 
 Ahaziah. 
 
 24  And  Jehu  f  drew  a  bow  with  his  full 
 strength,  and  smote  Jehoram  between  his 
 arms,  and  the  arrow  went  out  at  his  heart,  and 
 he  t  sunk  down  in  his  chariot. 
 
 25  Then  said  Jehu  to  Bidkar  his  captain. 
 Take  up,  and  cast  him  in  the  portion  of  the 
 field  of  Naboth  the  Jezreelite  :  for  remember 
 how  that,  when  I  and  thou  rode  together  after 
 Ahab  his  father,  '  the  Lord  laid  this  burden 
 upon  him  ; 
 
 26  Surely  I  have  seen  yesterday  the  fhlood 
 of  Naboth,  and  the  blood  of  his  sons,  saith  the 
 Lord  ;  and  "  I  will  requite  thee  in  this  ||  plat, 
 saith  the  Lord.  Now  therefore  take  and  cast 
 him  into  the  plat  of  ground,  according  to  the 
 word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 27  t  But  when  Ahaziah  the  king  of  Judah 
 saw  this,  he  tied  by  the  way  of  the  garden 
 house.  And  Jehu  followed  after  him,  and 
 said,  Smite  him  also  in  the  chariot.  And  the;/ 
 did  so  at  the  going  up  to  Gur,  which  is  by 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  8.  Shut  up—see  note  on  1  Kings,  xiv.  10.  10.  Por- 
 
 tion, 'field.'— GiH,  Bmillir.  11.  Madfellow-so  profane  men  might 
 call  the  prophets,  fmm  their  garb  and  the  vehemence  of  their  manner 
 in  prophesying.— r;,/;.  12.  It  is  false— the  Easterns  think  a  man 
 claims  the  respect  uf  a  prophet  whose  word  may  not  be  disputed,  and 
 mean  no  disrespect  in  giving  the  he.— So  ChartUn.  13.  Took  every 
 man  his  f^arment  and  put  it  wider  Ai/n— an  eastern  ceremony  used  in 
 token  of  great  reverence,  (see  Matt.  x.xi.  7.)—Poiile.  Top  of  the  stairs, 
 '  top  of  a  tower,'  where  the  party  were  assembled  in  council. — Har. 
 \%.  Turn  thee  behind  me,  'fall  into  the  rear.' — A.Clarke.  20.  Furi- 
 ous!!/, 'quieUy,'  or  'slowly,'  Targ.  '.Slowly  and  in  good  order.' — tos. 
 '  In  madness,'  Heb.,  see  in^trg.  22.  Whoredoms,  '  idolatry,'  so  called 
 405 
 
 in  Scripture.  All  manner  of  lewdness  also  accompanied  idolatry. — 
 Seott,Pat.  Witehcrafts,  diabolical  arts  of  inveigling.— GiVi.  <l'apjua«a, 
 Sept.  Comi)rehendiiig  every  deception  and  abuse  that  was  practised  by 
 philtres,  or  love  potions,  medicaments,  drugs,  and  poisons. — Hew. 
 S.').  Burden — 'heavy  denunciation  of  vengeance  by  Elijah.* — Gill.  Such 
 a  denunciation  was  called  by  the  prophets  'a  burden,'  (Isa.  xiii.  1.) — 
 Pat.  26.  Yesterdap,  '  not  long  since.' — Caryl.  The  blood  of  his  sons, 
 evidently  put  to  death  with  him. — Gill.  The  charge  being  high  treason, 
 the  whole  family  were  pi'obably  involved  in  it. — Hew.  2".  Smile  ttim 
 also — Ahaziah  was  Ahab's  grandson  by  Athaliah,  and  being  also  an 
 idolator  he  was  within  Jehu's  cnnimissinu. — Scott.  Iblenm,  a  city  in 
 the  tribe  of  Mauasseh,  (Josh.  xvii.  II.) — Gill.     To  Megiddo,  not  being 
 
The  death  of  Jezebel. 
 
 11.  KINGS,  X. 
 
 Seventy  of  Ahab's  children  beheaded. 
 
 Ibleam.  And  he  fled  to  *  Megiddo,  and  died 
 there. 
 
 23  And  his  servants  carried  him  in  a  chariot 
 to  Jerusalem,  and  buried  him  in  liis  sepulchre 
 with  his  fatliers  in  the  city  of  David. 
 
 •29  And  in  tlie  eleventh  year  of  Joram  the 
 son  of  Ahab  began  Ahaziah  to  reign  over 
 Judah. 
 
 .30  t  And  when  Jehu  was  come  to  Jezreel, 
 Jezebel  heard  of  it ;  '^and  she  fpaiuted  her 
 face,  and  tired  her  bead,  and  looked  out  at  a 
 window. 
 
 31  And  as  Jehu  entered  in  at  the  fiate,  she 
 said,  ^ Had  Zimri  peace,  wlio  slew  his  master? 
 
 3-2  And  be  lifted  u])  his  face  to  the  window, 
 and  said.  Who  is  on  my  side?  who?  And  there 
 looked  out  to  bim  two  or  three  |{  eunuchs. 
 
 33  And  he  said.  Throw  her  down.  So  they 
 threw  her  down  :  and  some  of  her  blood  was 
 sprinkled  on  the  wall,  and  on  tlie  horses  :  and 
 he  trode  her  under  foot. 
 
 3-t  And  when  he  was  come  in,  he  did  eat  and 
 drink,  and  said.  Go,  see  now  this  cursed 
 woman,  and  bury  her :  for  "  she  is  a  king's 
 daughter. 
 
 3.5  And  they  went  to  bury  her :  but  they 
 found  no  more  of  her  than  the  scull,  and  the 
 feet,  and  the  palms  of  hrr  hands. 
 
 36  Wherefore  they  came  again,  and  told  him. 
 And  be  said.  This  is  the  word  of  tlie  Loan, 
 whicli  he  spake  fhy  his  servant  Elijah  the 
 Tishbite,  saying,  ^  In  the  portion  of  Jezreel 
 shall  dogs  eat  the  flesh  of  Jezebel  ; 
 
 37  And  the  carcass  of  Jezebel  shall  be  "^  as 
 dung  upon  the  face  of  the  field  in  the  portion 
 of  Jezreel ;  so  that  they  shall  not  say.  This  is 
 Jezebel. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  Jehu,  hy  his  letters,  causeth  seventy  of  Ahafi's  chihlrcn 
 to  he  hehratfetl.  8  He  e.rciiseth  the  fact  In/  the  prn- 
 pheci/  of  Elijah.  12  At  the  shenring  hovsc  he  sluyvth 
 two  and forti/  of  Ahaziah^s  brethren.  15  He  taktth 
 Jt'honaclah  into  his  compani/*  18  B>/  siihttlty  he  de- 
 stroijfih  all  the  xcorshippirs  of  Banl.  29  Jehu  follmv- 
 cth  Jerohoani's  sins.  32  Hnzael  oppresstth  Israel. 
 34  Jehoahaz  succeedeth  Jehu. 
 
 A  ND  Ahab  bad  seventy  sons  in  Samaria. 
 -*^  And  Jehu  wrote  letters,  and  sent  to  Sa- 
 maria, unto  the  rulers  of  Jezreel,  to  the  elders. 
 
 2  Cl.i-r2.9. 
 fir    9S6- 
 Then  he 
 big.-jii  to 
 ri-ign  as 
 
 hid  Fatiicr 
 ill  his  sick- 
 ness, 2Clir 
 21.  IS,  19. 
 IJiit  ill  Jo- 
 ram'8  12tli 
 Year  he 
 hesin  to 
 rcii{u  alone, 
 ch.'s   'J.i. 
 cir.  8Sk 
 
 <t/  Kie.  2;(  4f>. 
 
 "t  Hi-h    init 
 
 }>•••'<!  '■!;. 
 :   1    Kill     l-i. 
 
 for',  rh.,m- 
 tif'i J. 
 
 t  Hpt>   % 
 
 llif  hnml  'if. 
 b  I  Kin.  -21. 
 
 t  H.'h./or 
 
 and  to  f  them  that  brought  up  Ahab's  children, 
 saying, 
 
 2  Now  as  soon  as  this  letter  cometb  to  you, 
 seeing  your  master's  sons  are  with  you,  and 
 there  are  with  you  chariots  and  horses,  a 
 fenced  city  also,  and  armour; 
 
 3  Look  even  out  the  best  and  meetest  of 
 your  master's  sons,  and  set  him  on  his  father's 
 throne,  and  tight  for  your  mastei-'s  house. 
 
 4  But  they  were  exceedingly  afraid,  and  said, 
 Behold,  two  kings  stood  not  before  him  :  bow 
 then  shall  we  stand  ? 
 
 5  And  be  tliat  ivas  over  the  house,  and  he 
 that  was  over  the  city,  the  elders  also,  and  the 
 bringers  up  of  the  children,  sent  to  Jehu,  say- 
 ing, We  are  thy  servants,  and  will  do  all  that 
 thou  siialt  bid  us;  w-e  will  nut  make  any 
 king  :  do  thou  tJiat  ivhich  is  good  in  thine  eyes. 
 
 6  Tlien  he  wrote  a  letter  the  second  time  to 
 them,  saying,  If  ye  be  f  mine,  antl  //'ye  wiil 
 hearken  unto  my  voice,  take  ye  the  heads  of 
 the  men  your  master's  sons,  and  come  to  me 
 to  Jezreel  by  to  morrow  this  time.  Now  t!ie 
 king's  sons,  bei/i(/  seventy  persons,  ivej'e  with 
 the  great  men  of  the  city,  which  brought 
 them  up. 
 
 7  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  letter  came 
 to  them,  that  they  took  the  king's  sons,  and 
 "slew  seventy  persons,  and  put  tlieir  heads  in 
 baskets,  and  sent  inm  thetn  to  Jezreel. 
 
 8  IT  And  there  came  a  messenger,  and  told 
 him,  saying.  They  have  brought  tlie  heads  of 
 the  king's  sons.  And  lie  said.  Lay  ye  tliem  in 
 two  heaps  at  the  entering  in  of  the  gate  unrii 
 the  morning. 
 
 9  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  morning,  that 
 he  went  out,  and  stood,  and  said  to  all  the 
 people.  Ye  be  righteous  :  behold,  ^  I  conspired 
 against  my  master,  and  slew  him  :  but  who 
 slew  all  these  ? 
 
 10  Know  now  tliat  there  shall  ^  fall  unto  the 
 earth  nothing  of  the  word  of  the  Lord,  which 
 the  Lord  spake  concerning  the  house  of  Ahab  : 
 tor  the  Lord  hath  done  that  which  he  spake 
 ''I  by  his  servant  Elijah. 
 
 il  So  Jehu  slew  all  that  remained  of  the 
 house  of  Ahab  in  Jezreel,  and  all  his  great 
 men,  and  bis  ||  kinsfolk.s  and  his  priests,  until 
 he  left  him  none  remaining. 
 
 12  t  And  he  arose  and  departed,  and  came 
 
 able  to  reach  bis  own  country.  This  place  was  near  Samaria.  And 
 died  t/icre—SKC  notes  on  2Chron.  xxii.  8,  9.  30.  Painted  her  facf, 
 '  put  her  eyes  iu  paint,*  mar^. ;  that  is,  in  stibium  or  antimony,  which 
 made  the  eyes  look  black,  and  was  accounted  beautiful ;  and  also  di- 
 lated the  eyebrows  and  made  the  eyes  appear  big,  which,  in  some 
 countries,  was  thoug:ht  amiaMe. — So  Grolius.  The  Indian  women,  to 
 heighten  the  lustre  uf  their  complexion  and  render  their  eyes  more  lan- 
 gnishing:,  paint  tluin  round  with  black  lead. — Russell's  A'lit,  Hisf.  of 
 Aleppo,  S/taie's  Truv.  This  painting  was  with  the  hope  (•{  attracting 
 the  admiration  or  desire  of  Jehu.— So  Sr/t.,  Hi'w.  Not  intcmled  to 
 tempt  Jehu  with  her  beauty,  but  to  keep  up  her  dignity  and  state  to  the 
 last,  fnr  she  was  extremely  proud. — Put.  31.  ,4*  the  gate,  of  the 
 king's  palace. — Poole.  Hnd  Zimri  pence  .?— this  is  generally  considered 
 as  a  severe  sarcasm. — Wil.  32.  Ennnrhs,  such  used  to  attend  upnn 
 
 queens  in  their  chambers. — Poole.  33.  Thei/  threw  her  down — this 
 was  one  of  the  ancient  modes  of  punishing  ci iminals  in  eastern  conn- 
 tries  ;  throwing  them  down  from  a  rock,  battlement,  or  high  window. 
 — Sir  R.  K.  Purler.         34.  .4  kinf,'^s  daughter — see  1  Kings,  xvi.  31. 
 
 Chap.  X. —  1.  Seventy  sons,  probably  including  grandsons,  these 
 being  so  called  in  Scripture. — Ileir.  From  the  practice  of  polygamy, 
 numerous  sons  were  and  are  common  in  the  east.    Artaxerxes  Mne- 
 
 mon,  king  of  Persia,  had,  by  his  3So  concubines,  115  sons,  and  three 
 by  hi'>  queen. — Plutnrch.  Muley  Ahdallah,  emperor  of  Morocco  in 
 I7'2i),  had,  by  his  four  wives  and  the  many  thousand  women  in  his 
 seragho,  during  bis  long  reign,  700  sons. — Steu<art\t  Jour,  to  Me<]uinez. 
 Unto  the  rulers  of  Jezreel,  'of  Samaria,' .S>/jf.  'Of  tlie  city,'  Vulg. 
 Mo.st  Ukely  the  true  reading  is  Samaria. — So  Gill,  Hew.,  Clarke, 
 Bimthr.  The  sons  might,  however,  have  lied  from  Jezreel  with  the 
 lulers,  and  taken  refuge  in  Samaria. — So  Ponle.Pat.,  Hennj.  3.  Set 
 him  on  his  father's  throne,  ^c. — scornful,  sarcastic,  and  sneering  lan- 
 guage.— Put.,  Gill,  Clarke.  8.  Lay  ye  them  in  two  heaps — the  custom 
 of  cutting  off  the  heads  of  enemies,  or  offenders,  has  continued  in  the 
 east  to  modern  times,  and  has  been  practised  in  Persia,  Turkey,  ^*c., 
 where  the  heads  df  the  slain  have  been  piled  up  like  pyramids,  or  exhi- 
 bited on  tlie  public  gates. — See  Burder*s  Onent.  Cuff.,  i2mo,  Art.  War. 
 9.  Ye  be  rif^hl ei> us— \roinca.i  language  :  '  You  are  righteous  in  your  own 
 eyes,  and  view  nie  as  a  traitor  and  murderer  ;  but  who  killed  all  these  ?' 
 This  explication  seems  probal)le,  but  involves  some  difficulty,  being 
 addressed  to  all  the  people. — Poole.  In  this  irony  he  would  excuse 
 himself,  and  involve  the  people  in  the  massacre. — A.  Clarke.  He  meant, 
 the  people  were  not  to  blame ;  if  any  were  guilty  it  was  himself,  but 
 he  had  God's  authority. — So  Pat.         II.  His  great  ynen,  that  abetted 
 
 Rf.flectioxs  on  Cij.\p.  TX.  — L   Wc  have  here  the  elevation  antl  Lord  of  lords.' 
 
 of  Jehu.     In  all  the  great  changes  in  dynasties,  we  should  re-  IL   The  ruin  of  the  house  of  A  hah.     A  representation  of  that 
 
 member  that  riionarchs  do  but  rise  and  lall  by  the  Divine  ap-  destruction  which  shall  inevitably  come,  because  irrevocably 
 
 pointment.     The  whole  history  of  kings  may  profitably  lead  pronounced  against  all  impenitent  sinners.     *  I'be  name  of  the 
 
 the   (lepout   mind   to  reflect  on   His  supreme  dominion  who  wicked  shall  rot.* 
 raiseth  up  and  putteth  down  princes,  and  is  *  King  of  kings, 
 406 
 
Two  and  forty  of  Altaziali's  brethren  slain.        II.  KINGS,  X.  Jclm  dcstroijeth  the  worshippers  of  B  aid. 
 
 to  Samaria.     And  as  he  was  at  the  f  shearing 
 house  in  the  way, 
 
 13  °  Jeliu  f  met  with  the  brethren  of  Ahaziah 
 king  of  Jndali,  and  said,  Wlio  are  ye?  And 
 they  answered, We  at  e  tlie  brctln'en  of  Aliaziah  ; 
 and  we  go  down  \  to  salute  tlie  cliildren  of  the 
 king  and  the  children  of  the  qneen. 
 
 14  And  he  said.  Take  them  alive.  And  they 
 took  them  alive,  and  slew  them  at  the  pit  of 
 the  shearing  house,  even  two  and  forty  men ; 
 neither  left  he  any  of  them 
 
 13  1  And  when  he  was  departed  thence,  he 
 flighted  on  ^Jehonadab  the  son  of '^  Rechab 
 coniinij  to  meet  him:  and  he  f  saluted  him, 
 and  said  to  him,  Is  thine  heart  right,  as  my 
 heart  is  with  thy  heart  ?  And  Jehonadab  an- 
 swered, It  is.  If  it  be,  ''give  me  tliine  hand. 
 And  he  gave  him  his  hand  ;  and  he  took  him 
 up  to  him  into  the  chariot. 
 
 IG  And  he  said.  Come  with  me,  and  see  my 
 '  zeal  for  the  Lord.  So  they  made  him  ride  in 
 liis  chariot. 
 
 17  And  when  he  came  to  Samaria,  "-he  slevi' 
 all  that  remained  unto  Ahab  in  Samaria,  till  he 
 had  destroyed  him,  according  to  the  saying  of 
 the  LonD,  '  which  he  spake  to  Elijah. 
 
 18  U  And  Jehu  gatliered  all  the  people  toge- 
 ther, and  said  unto  them,  "'  Ahab  served  Baal 
 a  little  ;  hut  Jehu  shall  serve  him  much. 
 
 19  Now  therefore  call  unto  me  all  the  "pro- 
 phets of  Baal,  all  his  servants,  and  all  his 
 priests ;  let  none  be  wanting  ;  for  I  have  a 
 great  sacrifice  to  do  to  Baal ;  whosoever  shall 
 be  wanting,  he  shall  not  live.  But  Jehu  did  it 
 in  .subtilty,  to  the  intent  that  he  might  destroy 
 the  worshippers  of  Baal. 
 
 20  And  Jehu  said,  f  Proclaim  a  solemn  assem- 
 bly for  Baal.     And  they  proclaimed  it. 
 
 21  And  Jehu  sent  through  all  Israel  :  and  all 
 the  worshippers  of  Baal  came,  so  that  there  was 
 not  a  man  left  tliat  came  not.  And  they  came 
 into  the  "house  of  Baal;  and  the  house  of 
 Baal  was  ||  full  from  one  end  to  another. 
 
 22  And  he  said  unto  him  that  was  over  the 
 vestry.  Bring  forth  vestments  for  all  the  wor- 
 shippers of  Baal.  And  he  brought  them  forth 
 vestments. 
 
 23  And  Jehu  went,  and  Jehonadab  the  son 
 of  Rechab,  into  the  house  of  Baal,  and  said 
 unto  the  worshippers  of  Baal,  Search,  and  look 
 that  there  be  here  with  you  none  of  the  servants 
 of  the  LoKD,  but  the  worshippers  of  Baal  only. 
 
 B.  C.  881. 
 
 I  Heb.  hmiu 
 of  jh'fiherdi 
 
 sheep. 
 *  cli.  8.  29. 
 
 SClu.  C2.8. 
 t  Heb./,«.,J 
 t  Heb.  /'»  the 
 
 peace  of,  ^c. 
 
 LUr.  35-  6, 
 
 t  Eleb. 
 
 /.  Ezra  in.l!). 
 
 ■n  I   Kin.   lO 
 SI,  S2. 
 
 f  Heb.Sanc- 
 
 o   I   Kill.  16. 
 
 II  Or,  «.!/..«, 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Ml'il'iet. 
 (I   I   Kill.  14 
 
 Ezra  6.  11. 
 Daii    2   5 
 Kc  3.  29. 
 
 /See  ver..tj 
 eh.  13-  l.UJ 
 &  11,  is.  (4 
 I-'..  8,  \■^ 
 
 t  Hel.   ..»- 
 t^-rt'^d  .,(./. 
 
 ..  1  Kill-  14. 
 
 rir.  8fiO. 
 t  Heh,  to  rf.( 
 
 \,,,.,flk. 
 
 24  And  when  they  went  in  to  offer  sacrifices 
 and  burnt  offerings,  Jehu  appointed  fourscore 
 men  without,  and  said.  If  any  of  the  men 
 whom  I  have  brought  into  yonr  hands  escape, 
 he  that  letteth  him  go,  ''  his  life  sliall  be  for  the 
 life  of  him. 
 
 2j  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  soon  as  he  had 
 made  an  end  of  offering  the  burnt  offering, 
 that  Jehu  .said  to  the  guard  and  to  the  cap- 
 tains, Go  in,  and  slay  them  ;  let  none  come 
 forth.  And  they  smote  them  with  f  the  edge 
 of  the  sword  ;  and  the  guard  and  the  captains 
 cast  them  out,  and  went  to  the  city  of  the 
 house  of  Baal. 
 
 26  And  they  brought  for(h  the  f ''images  out 
 of  the  house  of  Baal,  and  burned  them. 
 
 27  And  they  brake  down  the  image  of  Baal, 
 and  brake  down  the  house  of  Baal,  'and  made 
 it  a  draught  house  unto  this  day. 
 
 28  Thus  Jehu  destroyed  Baal  out  of  Israel. 
 
 29  H  Wowheii  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the 
 son  of  Nebat,  who  made  Israel  to  sin,  Jehu  de- 
 parted not  from  after  them,  to  irit, '  the  golden 
 calves  that  teere  in  Beth-el,  and  that  were  in 
 Dan. 
 
 30  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Jehu,  Because 
 thou  hast  done  well  in  executing  that  which  is 
 right  in  mine  eyes,  and  hast  done  unto  the 
 house  of  Ahab  according  to  all  that  was  in 
 mine  heart,  '  thy  children  of  the  fourth  t/ene- 
 ration  .shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  Israel. 
 
 31  But  Jehu  t  took  no  heed  to  walk  in  the 
 law  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  with  all  his 
 heart  :  for  he  departed  not  from  "  the  sins  of 
 Jeroboam,  which  made  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 32  If  In  those  days  the  Lord  began  |  to  cut 
 Israel  short:  and  "  Hazael  smote  them  in  all 
 the  coasts  of  Israel ; 
 
 33  From  Jordan  f  eastward,  all  the  land  of 
 Gilead,  the  Gadites,  and  the  Renbenites,  and 
 the  Manassites,  from  Aroer,  which  is  by  the 
 river  Arnon,  ||  even  ''Gilead  and  Bashan. 
 
 34  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jehu,  and  all 
 that  he  did,  and  all  his  miglil,  are  they  not 
 written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the 
 kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 35  And  Jehu  .slept  with  his  fathers  :  and  they 
 buried  him  in  Samaria.  And  Jehoahaz  his  son 
 reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 36  And  t  the  time  that  Jehu  reigned  over 
 Israel  in  Samaria  was  twenty  and  eight  years. 
 
 him  in  his  idnlatrnus  iiractices.  His  prif.if.':.  that  were  at  Jczreel,  who 
 offered  his  sacrifices  to  IJaal. — Gill.  12.  The  a/ieai-ing  finnse — the  He- 
 brew  is  '  the  tie  house,'  tlie  shepherds  tyiti^  the  lees  of  tlie  animals  to 
 shear  them. — Hfw.,  Gill.  13.  Jlrelliren,  not  strictly  so,  for  they  were 
 killed  before  this,  (2  Chrnn.  xxi.  17,)  hut  his  brethren's  sons,  as  they 
 are  called,  2  Chron.  xxii.  8,  or  other  near  kinsmen,  often  so  called 
 in  Scripture,  as  Gen.  xiii.  8.  1.1.  Jihnttadnb,  a  Kenite,  (1  Chron.  ii. 
 55,)  a  man  of  singular  prudence  and  piety,  as  appears  from  Jer.  xxxv.  6. 
 To  meet  him,  to  congratulate  him  on  the  destruction  of  the  wicked 
 family,  and  encourage  him  in  doing  the  will  of  God. — Poole.  Sainted 
 him,  inDin,  'and  he  lile.=scd  him.' — Mont.  Right,  'as  right  with  my 
 heart  as  my  heart,'  8;c.,  so  the  Sept.,  so  lioothr.  It  in,  the  Hebrew 
 expression  is  double,  '  >es,  yes,'  to  signify  a  vehement  affection. — Pat. 
 Gnt^e  him  his  hand,  not  as  an  expression  of  private  friendship,  but  as 
 the  solemn  acknowledgment  of  him  as  king  over  Israel ;  for  this  has 
 been  usually  done  as  a  token  of  subjection  at  the  election  of  rulers 
 among  the  Arabs,  of  whose  tribes  was  Jehonadab. — See  Har.,  chap.  vi. 
 Obs.  Ixxi.         iG.  See  my  zeal — this  was  ostentatious  and  hypocritical. 
 
 — Gill,  Seolt,  Clarke.  22.  Venln/,  the  room  in  which  the  vestments 
 were  placed.— -C^'oMr.  Bring  forth  vmtments,  all  tlie  priests  of  Baal 
 were  clothed  in  fine  liner,  and  "tlieir  chief  priests  were,  doubtless,  par- 
 ticularly distinguished. — Stnckhouse.  25.  And  leent  to  the  citti  of  the 
 hinine  of  Baal,  '  they  then  went  into  the  inner  sanctuary  of  the  temple 
 of  Baal.' — Dathe,  so  Boothr.  27.  .i  drnnght  house — the  dishonouring 
 places  which  were  treated  with  veneration  by  others,  by  making  use  of 
 them  for  the  most  disgraceful  discharges  of  human  nature,  was  an  an- 
 cient oriental  way  of  expressing  dislike,  and  it  still  continues  to  be 
 used  there.— //«r.  29.  Jehu  dep^n-tcd  not  from  after  them — here  he 
 sliews  his  hypocrisy,  following  fiod  as  far  as  his  interest  would  permit, 
 but  keeping  up  the  worship  of  the  calves  because  he  would  not  irritate 
 his  nobles  and  subjects,  and  lest  ho  should  open  a  door  for  a  return  to 
 obedience  to  the  house  of  David. — Poole.  32.  To  cut — ."yhnrt,  '  to  lessen 
 the  power  of  the  Israelites.'- //t'H'.  'To  cut  off  the  ends,'  jnarg. 
 Ilazacl  seized  on  the  coasts,  and  conquered  and  occupied  the  frontier 
 towns.— So  Clarke.  He  conquered  the  north  of  Galilee  and  all  the 
 eastern  coasts  of  Jordan  to  the  Ammonites. — 5k/. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.  —  See  here,  I.  The  cjittintf  off 
 of  aU  Aliah^s  family.  'Perhaps,'  says  Henry, 'such  terrible 
 destructions  as  these  were  intended  as  types  of  the  final  de- 
 struction of  all  the  ungodly.'  God  has  a  sword  bathed  m 
 heaven  which  will  come  down  upon  the  people  of  bis  curse, 
 and  be  filled  with  blood,  (Is.  xxxiv.  5,6.)  Then  '  his  eye  will 
 407 
 
 not  spare,  neitlier  will  be  pity.' 
 
 II.  'I'lie  distraction  of  Baiil's  u'orshipficrs.  Thus  will  God 
 famish  all  the  gods  of  the  heathen,  and  sooner  or  later  triumph 
 over  them  all. 
 
 III.  T/tc  cliararler  and  conduct  of  Jehu.  '  He  put  away  evil, 
 but  he  did  not  mind  that  which  was  good,  (ver.  31,)  he  took 
 
Jehoash  hiil  six  years  in  the  house  of  God.        II.  KINCJS,  XI. 
 
 lie  is  made  king. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Jihonsh.  hcinri  saved  hy  Jehoslieha  his  avnf  frnm 
 AUmliatis  initssacre  of  tlie  seed  royal,  is  hid  six 
 years  in  the  house  of  God.  4  Jehoioda.  giving  order 
 to  the  captains,  in  the  seventh  year  anohiteth  him 
 king.  13  Athdiah  is  slain.  \~  Jcliuiada  restuTeth 
 the  worshiji  of  Gud. 
 
 AND  when  "  Athaliali  ••  the  mother  of  Aha- 
 ziah  saw  that  lier  son  was  dead,  she  arose 
 and  destroyed  all  the  f  seed  royal. 
 
 2  But  II  .lehosheba,  the  daughter  of  king  Jo- 
 ram,  sister  of  Ahaziah,  took  ||  .Toash  the  son 
 of  Ahaziah,  and  stole  him  from  among  the 
 king's  sons  triiirh  were  slain  ;  and  they  hid 
 him,  even  him  and  his  nurse,  in  the  bedchamber 
 from  Athaliah,  so  that  he  was  not  slain. 
 
 .3  And  he  was  with  her  hid  in  the  house  of 
 tlie  Lord  six  years.  And  Athaliah  did  reign 
 over  the  land. 
 
 4  t  And  '  the  seventh  year  Jelioiada  sent 
 and  fetched  the  rulers  over  hundreds,  with  the 
 captains  and  the  guard,  and  brought  them  to 
 him  into  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  made  a 
 covenant  with  them,  and  took  an  oath  of  them 
 in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  shewed  them 
 the  king's  son. 
 
 5  And  lie  commanded  them,  saying,  This  is 
 the  thing  that  ye  shall  do  ;  A  third  part  of  you 
 that  enter  in  ''  on  the  sabbath  shall  even  be 
 keepers  of  the  watch  of  the  king's  house  ; 
 
 6  And  a  third  part  sliatl  be  at  the  gate  of 
 Sur ;  and  a  third  part  at  the  gate  behind  the 
 guard  :  so  shall  ye  keep  the  watch  of  the 
 house,  II  that  it  he  not  broken  down. 
 
 7  And  two  II  t  parts  of  all  yon  that  go  forth 
 on  the  sabbath,  even  they  shall  keep  the  watch 
 of  the  house  of  the  Lord  about  the  king. 
 
 8  And  ye  shall  compass  the  king  round  about, 
 every  man  with  his  weapons  in  his  hand  :  and 
 he  that  cometh  within  the  ranges,  let  him  be 
 
 1  SCIir 
 Id. 
 
 h  cti.  e 
 
 t  n.i.. 
 
 II  Or^Jth't- 
 
 S78. 
 ■  2  (:i>r.  2.1. 
 I,  Ihc. 
 
 t  HHi.  Ul 
 llic  king 
 
 ir  ?  Clir,  23. 
 12.  ««c. 
 
 slain  :    and  be  ye  with  the  king  as  he  goeth 
 out  anil  as  he  cometh  in. 
 
 9  "  And  the  captains  over  tlie  hundreds  did 
 according  to  all  thiiir/s  that  Jelioiada  the  priest 
 commanded  :  and  they  took  every  man  his 
 men  that  were  to  come  in  on  the  sabbath,  with 
 them  that  should  go  out  on  the  sabbath,  and 
 came  to  Jehoiada  the  priest. 
 
 10  And  to  the  captains  over  hundreds  did 
 tlie  priest  give  king  David's  spears  and  .shield-s, 
 that  ifprc  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  And  the  guard  stood,  every  man  with  his 
 weapons  in  his  hand,  round  about  the  king, 
 from  the  right  f  corner  of  the  temple  to  the  left 
 corner  of  the  temple,  nloi/ij  by  the  altar  and 
 the  temple. 
 
 1-2  And  he  brought  forth  the  king's  son,  and 
 put  the  crown  upon  him,  and  r/avc  him  the 
 testimony  ;  and  they  made  him  king,  and 
 anointed  him  ;  and  they  clapped  their  hands, 
 and  said,  f'  God  save  the  king. 
 
 13  1  *  And  when  Athaliah  heard  the  noise  of 
 the  guard  and  of  the  people,  she  came  to  the 
 people  into  tlie  temple  of  the  Lonn. 
 
 14  And  when  she  looked,  behold,  the  king 
 stood  by  '•  a  pillar,  as  the  manner  teas,  and  the 
 princes  and  the  trumpeters  by  the  king,  and 
 all  the  people  of  the  land  rejoiced,  and  blew 
 with  trumpets  :  and  Athaliah  rent  her  clothes, 
 and  cried.  Treason,  Treason. 
 
 15  But  Jehoiada  the  priest  commanded  the 
 captains  of  the  hundreds,  the  officers  of  the 
 host,  and  said  unto  them,  Have  her  forth  with- 
 out the  ranges:  and  hiin  that  followeth  her 
 kill  with  the  sword.  For  the  priest  had  said. 
 Let  her  not  he  slain  in  the  house  of  the  Loud. 
 
 10  And  they  laid  hands  on  her  ;  and  she 
 went  by  the  way  by  the  which  the  horses  came 
 into  the  king's  house  :  and  there  was  she 
 slain. 
 
 Chap.  XI. —  I .  Athnli'ih,  ^)ie  vsna  danphter  nf  Ahab,  kine  of  Israel, 
 and  wife  of  Joram,  king  of  Judah. — Cat.  All  the  seed  roynl,  all  tlio 
 royal  family  left  after  those  slaughters,  (2  Chrnn.  x.xi.  2,  4.  and  x.xii.  1, 
 and  2  Kings,  x.  13,  U.) — Poole.  These  seem  to  have  been  the  chihlren  of 
 Ahaziah,  and  her  grandchildren,  with  whom  she  was  entrusted  whilst 
 her  son  went  to  visit  Joram,  king  of  Israel. — Gill.  She  was  moved  hy 
 a  spirit  of  ambition,  and  the  hoii^c  of  Ahab  being  cut  off,  she  also  re- 
 solved, by  way  of  reprisal,  to  destroy  all  the  house  of  David. — Henry. 
 2.  Jehoshebft,  joram's  daughter,  not  hy  Athaliah,  but  by  another  wo. 
 man,  for  a  high  priest,  as  her  husband  was,  would  not  have  married 
 the  daughter  of  such  an  idolatrous  woman. — (iUt.  From  (iokoi^  the 
 kinfi^s  sons — stuin,  among  whom  he  lay,  cast  there  by  his  murderers  or 
 by  his  nurse,  in  order  to  appear  dead,  and  so  be  saved. — Gill.  Took 
 him  away  from  the  rest  Justin  time  to  save  him. — So  Put.  Bedehnmber, 
 the  word  does  not  signify  a  sleeping  room,  but  a  *  repository  for  beds,' 
 the  light  beds,  or  rather  mattrasses,  kept  in  the  temple  for  the  purpose 
 of  accommodating  friends  at  particular  times,  and  especially  those  of 
 the  high  priest. — So  Sir  J.  Chardin  and  Unr.  3.  Hid,  this  was  easy,  for 
 none  Ijut  the  priests  had  access  to  the  temple. — A.  Clurke.  4.  Fetched 
 the  rulers  over  ttiindreds,  fyr.,  *  over  the  priests  and  Levites  in  their 
 courses,  five  of  whom  are  named  2  Chron.  xxiii.  I,  2. — Gilt.  The  Le. 
 vitcs  were  numbered  aitrl  arranged  in  companies  under  their  captains 
 or  lenders,  and  attcndeit  in  the  temple  in  rotation,  by  weekly  courses  ; 
 with  these  Jehoiada  first  madeasolemn  agreement. — Scott.  Captains, 
 'princes,'  'nobles,'  or  'commanders.' — Poole.  'The  chief  officers  of 
 the  army.' — .4.  Ctnrhe.  The  captnins  here  are  '  the  heads  of  the  fathers,' 
 who  were  the  heads  of  the  courses,  f2  Chron.  xxiii.  1,  2.)— Gi//.  And 
 the  ffuard,  'the  former  king's  guard.' — Poole,  Put.,  Gilt.  6.  A  third 
 part — the  three  parties,  companies,  or  bands,  were  to  keep  the  three 
 gates  leading  to  the  temple.  There  was  no  gate  on  the  west.— 117/. 
 Sur,  thought  to  be  the  eastern  gate.       7 .  On  the  sahbath^Xhis  day  was 
 
 chosen  on  account  of  the  usual  concourse  of  people,  and  the  operations  of 
 the  scheme  would  be  unobserved.— So  C'/«)-/fc.  8.  Ronf^es,  "the  pre- 
 cincts of  the  temple;'  'ranks  in  which  tlicy  were  formed,'  among 
 which  a  strange  man,  if  found,  was  to  he  put  to  death  as  a  spy. — Gill, 
 Wells.  1 11.  David's  spears,  ^c— they  did  not  come  armed,  to  avoid 
 suspicion  ;  but  out  of  David's  trophies,  laid  up  as  a  sacred  armoury  in 
 the  temple,  Jehoiada  furnished  weapons. — Pot.,  Staet{hau.\e.  12.  Put 
 the  croivn,  a  diadem  or  golden  band  that  went  round  the  head. — A.  C. 
 Coronation  is  not  before  mentioned,  but  was  probably  customary,  the 
 crown  being  often  mentituied  as  an  insignia  of  royalty,  (2  Sam.  i.  10  ; 
 xii.  30;  Esth.  ii.  1";  vi.  8;  P*.  xxi.  3,  fic.  Sic.)—Scntt.  Gave  him  the 
 testimony,  t\i3.tifi,  witnessed  his  appointment. —  Wit.  Testimony,  mi"n, 
 the  word  m"  rather  refers  to  '  regalia  ;'  the  verb  applies  to  both,  and  it 
 should  read,  'put  the  crown  on  him,  and  the  regal  ornaments.' — Geddes, 
 so  Hew.  and  Boothr.  This  was  probably  a  bracelet  which  Jehoiada 
 put  upon  the  young  king,  together  with  the  crown. — Farstertts,  Avena- 
 rius.  '  A  testimony'  or  '  ornament.'— ^/"n^  He  put  '  the  book  of  the 
 law'  into  his  hand,  according  to  Deut.xvii.  IS.  19,  which  is  called  tlic 
 testimony,  because  God  therein  testitied  what  he  would  have  the  king 
 and  them  all  to  do.— Pal.,  so  Gill.  This  was.  probably,  'the  book  of 
 the  law,' written  on  a  roll  of  vellum.— ,4.  (VflrA-^.  li.  By  a  pillar, 
 '  on  the  tribunal.' — Geddes,  so  Boothr.,  who  observes,  it  was  a  sort  of 
 rostrum  erected  by  Solomon,  where,  probably,  he  and  his  successors 
 were  seated  during  Divine  service,  (2  Chron.  vi.  13.)  A  seat  erected 
 near  a  pillar  or  column  was  a  place  of  high  distinction. — See  Homer's 
 Odijss.,  xxiii.  93,  Pope.  The  princes, '  the  singers,'  Sept.,  Vvl/^.,  Baothr. 
 15."V2r/7iges— see  ver.  8,  note.  Him  that  followeth,  any  one  that  ap- 
 peared to  abet  and  rescue  her. — Pat.  16.  The  way  hy  the  which  tfie 
 horses  came,  'by  the  great  and  public  road,  hy  which  horses  and  cha. 
 riots  went  to  the  palace.'— Poofc.  '  The  horse- gate  by  the  king's  house,' 
 (2  Chron.  xxiii.  15.) 
 
 no  heed  to  walk  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel.  He 
 abolished  the  worship  of  Baal,  but  did  not  keep  up  the  worship 
 of  God,  nor  walk  in  lii.s  law.  He  shewed  great  care  and 
 zeal  for  the  rootnig  out  of  a  false  religion  ;  but  in  the  true  re- 
 ligion he  shewed  no  care,  took  no  heed,  lived  at  large,  was  not 
 at  all  solicitous  to  please  God  ;  took  no  heed  to  the  Scriptures, 
 to  the  prophets,  to  his  own  conscience,  but  walked  at  all  ad- 
 ventures. 'J'hose  that  are  heedless,  it  is  to  he  feared,  ale 
 graceless  ;  for  where  there  is  a  good  principle  in  the  heart,  it 
 408 
 
 will  make  men  cautious  and  circumspect,  desirous  to  please 
 God,  and  jealous  of  doing  anything  to  offend  him.  He  also 
 shewed  no  zeal  in  religion.  What  he  did,  he  did  not  do  it 
 with  his  heart,  with  all  his  heart,  but  did  it  as  if  ho  did  not, 
 without  any  liveliness  or  concern.  It  seems  he  w  as  a  ra;in  that 
 had  little  religion  himself,  and  yet  God  made  use  of  hnn  as  an 
 instrument  of  reformation  in  Israel.  It  is  a  pity,  but  lliose  who 
 do  good  to  others  should  always  be  good  themselves.' 
 
Jehoash  givcth  order  for 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XII. 
 
 the  repair  of  the  linijili. 
 
 17  H  '  And  Jehoiada  made  a  covenant  be- 
 tween l!ie  Loud  and  the  kinj^  and  the  people, 
 tliat  they  should  he  tlie  Louu's  people  ;  '  be- 
 tween the  king  also  and  tlie  people. 
 
 IS  And  all  the  people  of  the  land  went  into 
 the  '  house  of  liaal,  and  hmke  it  down  ;  his 
 altars  and  his  images  "'brake  they  in  pieces 
 thoroughly,  and  slew  Mattan  the  priest  of  Baal 
 before  the  altars.  And  "  the  priest  appointed 
 t  ofHcers  over  the  house  of  the  Loud. 
 
 19  And  he  took  the  rulers  over  hundreds, 
 and  the  captains,  and  the  guard,  and  all  the 
 people  of  the  laud ;  and  they  brought  down 
 the  king  from  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  came 
 by  the  way  of  the  gate  of  the  guard  to  the 
 king's  house.  And  he  sat  on  the  throne  of 
 the  kings. 
 
 •20  And  all  the  people  of  the  laud  rejoiced, 
 and  the  city  was  in  quiet  :  and  they  slew  Atba- 
 liah  with  the  sword  beside  the  king's  house. 
 
 '21  "Seven  years  old  teas  Jehoash  when  he 
 began  to  reign. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  Jthmish  reii/tieth  well  all  tlie  tlui/a  of  Jelioiwla.  4  He 
 tjiveth  order  for  tlm  repair  of  the  lentplt.  17  llazael 
 is  dicertetl  from  Jerusalem  In/  a  present  of  the  halloiceil 
 treasures.  J9  Jehoash  beiiij  slain  hy  his  serrunts, 
 Amazinh  sueceedeth  him. 
 
 T  N  the  seventh  year  of  Jehu  "  Jehoash  began 
 ■*■  to  reigu  ;  and  forty  years  reigned  he  in  Je- 
 rusalem. And  his  mother's  name  ivas  Zibiah 
 of  Beer-sheba. 
 
 •2  And  Jehoash  did  that  which  was  right  in 
 the  .sight  of  the  Louu  all  his  days  wherein  Je- 
 hoiada the  priest  instructed  hiui. 
 
 3  But  ''  the  high  places  were  not  taken  away  : 
 the  people  still  sacrificed  and  burnt  incense  in 
 the  high  places. 
 
 4  t  And  Jehoash  said  to  the  priests,  "  All 
 the  money  of  the  ]|  f  dedicated  things  that  is 
 brought  into  the  house  of  the  Loud,  even  ■'  the 
 money  of  every  one  that  passeth  the  accuiiiit, 
 t  the  money  that  every  man  is  set  at,  and  all 
 the  money  that  f  ^'  ccuneth  into  any  man's 
 heart  to  bring  into  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 
 5  Let  the  priests  take  it  to  them,  every  man 
 of  his  acquaintance  :  and  let  tliem  .-epair  the 
 breaches  of  the  house,  wheresoever  any  breach 
 
 ..JClir.  S3. 
 
 IS.  Hr. 
 t  H.-li.  ,,1/icr. 
 
 f>  I  Kin.  15. 
 
 H.  &  T>.IS. 
 
 cli.  U.  4. 
 c  ch.  S-I.  4. 
 II  n.-,  Mn 
 
 II,,,.!,.. 
 t  H.-l(.  A../i- 
 
 ,1  Kx.bo.  I.-i. 
 
 t  Heb-  rtp 
 „.»...j,  »l  th. 
 ,U„U  ,.J  l„> 
 
 t  Hub.  .... 
 Ct„drth  ,'l",'. 
 tl,e  hurt  ■/ 
 
 „  F.x.  35.  b 
 I  Clir.:;sy- 
 
 U.  C   S5G. 
 t  Hub    i,i  II, 
 
 /?Cbi.-'t-;i 
 Cbr.  ;;n. 
 
 t  Ileb. 
 I!„ti4l,uid. 
 
 II  Or,  ifcr*^ 
 t  Heb.  bm,.. 
 
 I  Hob 
 
 '■ ■jla  ■ 
 
 /iril,. 
 
 t  Hfb.  !«.«( 
 
 f:,ll, 
 
 ,  .See  2  Chr. 
 2i.  14. 
 
 I.ov.  5.  15, 
 
 IS 
 
 ',  Lev.  7.  7. 
 
 N'uui.  IS.  9. 
 
 shall  be  found. 
 G  But   it   was   so,   that   f  in    the   three  and 
 twentieth    year  of  king  Jehoash  '  the   priests 
 bad  not  repaired  the  breaches  of  the  house. 
 
 7  '^  Then  king  Jehoash  called  fur  Jehoiada 
 the  priest,  and  the  other  priests,  and  said  unto 
 them,  Why  repair  ye  not  the  breaches  of  the 
 house  ?  now  therefore  receive  no  more  money 
 of  your  acquaintance,  but  deliver  it  for  the 
 breaches  of  the  house. 
 
 8  And  the  priests  consented  to  receive  no 
 jnore  money  of  the  people,  neither  to  repair 
 the  breaches  of  the  bouse. 
 
 9  But  Jehoiada  the  priest  took  '"  a  chest,  and 
 bored  a  hole  in  the  lid  of  it,  and  set  it  beside 
 the  altar,  ou  the  right  side  as  one  Cometh  into 
 the  house  of  the  Loud  :  and  the  priest  that 
 kept  ihe  fdoor  put  therein  all  the  money  that 
 was  brought  into  the  house  of  the  Louu. 
 
 10  And  it  was  so,  when  they  saw  that  there 
 was  much  money  in  the  chest,  that  the  king's 
 II  scribe  and  the  higli  priest  came  up,  and  they 
 f  put  up  in  bags,  and  told  the  money  that  was 
 found  in  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  And  they  gave  the  money,  being  tohl, 
 into  the  hands  of  them  tliat  did  the  work,  that 
 had  the  oversight  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  : 
 and  they  f  laid  it  out  to  tlie  carpenters  and 
 builders,  that  wrought  upon  the  house  of  the 
 Lord, 
 
 1'2  And  to  masons,  and  hewers  of  stone,  and 
 to  buy  timber  and  hewed  stone  to  repair  the 
 breaclies  of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  for  all 
 that  t  was  laid  out  for  the  house  to  repair  it. 
 
 13  Howbeit  '  there  were  not  made  for  the 
 house  of  the  Lord  bowls  of  silver,  suuft'ers, 
 basons,  trumpets,  any  vessels  of  gold,  or  vessels 
 of  silver,  of  the  money  that  icas  brought  into 
 the  house  of  the  Loud  : 
 
 14  But  they  gave  that  to  the  workmen,  and 
 repaired  therewith  the  house  of  the  Louu. 
 
 15  Moreover  '  they  reckoned  not  witli  the 
 men,  into  whose  hand  they  delivered  the 
 money  to  be  bestowed  on  workmen  :  for  they 
 dealt  faithfully. 
 
 IG  '  The  trespass  money  and  sin  money  was 
 not  brought  into  the  house  of  the  Lord  :  "'  it 
 H'as  the  priests'. 
 
 Cii.\p.  XII.  —  1.  Ue,r.shfh<i.c^cn  mentioned  as  the  south  e.\ti-cmity 
 of  the  land  of  Israel,  in  oi.position  to  Dan  in  the  north.— £rf.  3.  The 
 hi^/i  j,/<ny:s  were  nut  taken  nwnii,  these  private  altars  where  the  people 
 sacriticctl  to  the  tiuc  God  were  not  removed  till  the  days  of  Hczckiah. 
 ^t'ltt.  4.  .ill  tlie.  jniniei^,  the  money  whieh  Joash  ordered  the  priests 
 to  collect  from  the  people  seems  to  have  arisen  from  the  sale  of  such 
 firstlinirs  as  were  not  fit  for  sacrifice;  from  the  half  shekel,  a  piece 
 levied  of  all  the  people  ;  from  the  redemption  of  thiii{;s  dedicated  ;  from 
 the  redemption  of  those  vowed  by  a  sini^nlarvow;  and  from  voluntary 
 contributions.— SfuH.  DediciUed  Ihinsss.  money  vowed  and  dedicated 
 by  former  kinf^,  or  hy  this  king,  or  his  people ;  we  may,  however, 
 read,  •  that  shall  he  brought.' — Poole.  Tlint  passeth  the  account, 
 '  numbered.'— 7!o»//ij.  The  half-shekel  paid  for  those  numbered  from 
 twenty  years  ohl  and  upwards,  (see  Exud.  xxx.  13  ;  comp.  a  Chron. 
 xxiv.  5,  6,  9.; — Pofite.  Tliat  ei^erii  man  is  set  at,  *  the  ransom  money 
 which  every  one  is  to  pay.' — Boo'tltr.  I^ir  niC'^:  n^'D,  '  the  money  of 
 souls,'  or  persons,  according  'to  his  taxing,' which  e'very  man  that  had 
 
 vowed  his  person  to  God  paid  according  to  the  rate  whieh  the  priest 
 put  upon  him,  (see  Lev.  xxvii.  2  ;  Exod.  xxxv.  5.) — J'uote.  That 
 ciimeth  into  any  nam's  heart,  Heb.  'aseendcth,'  see  marg.  '  Ariseth 
 spontaneously  in  any  man's  heart  to  give.' — Wit.  5.  Repair  lite 
 
 breaches,  the  house  of  God  having  been  suffered  to  run  to  decay  in  the 
 time  ol  Atlialiah  and  her  son. — Pat.  6.  The  priests  taut  not  re/iaired 
 the  breaehes — the  priests  having  had  their  revenues  greatly  (hniiiushed 
 hy  the  defection  of  the  ten  tribes,  and  other  causes,  had  probably  rc- 
 ttiintd  the  contributions  of  the  people  till  they  lost  all  confidence  in 
 them.— So  Scull,  Ed.  Q.  Beside  the  altar— in  1  Chron.  xxiv.  8,  it  is 
 said 'to  set  without  at  the  gate  of  the  house,'  which  Dr.  Lifililfoot 
 thinks  respects  another  time,  and  that  cither  another  ehest  was  made, 
 oi  the  same  that  was  first  placed  by  the  altar  in  the  court  of  the  priests 
 was  removed  without  the  court,  at  the  entrance  of  it,  for  the  greater 
 convenience  of  receiving  the  contributions. — Gill.  10.  Bags — it  is  a 
 curious  fact  that  a  hag  of  money,  sealed  up  by  a  banker's  seal,  now 
 often  passes  current  in  the  east,  without  opening  it.  Hence  this  money 
 
 Reflections    on    Cu.w.    XI This   chapter  records— 
 
 I.  Athaliah's  tisurpution.  This  woman  mounted  the  tlirone 
 over  tlie  dead  liodies  of  her  grandcliildren.  '  \\  lio.'says  lii.sliop 
 Hall,  '  ever  saw  an  idolater  that  was  not  cruel  !'  '  O  God, 
 how  tvorlliy  of  wonder  are  tiiy  just  and  mercilul  dispensa- 
 tions !  in  that  tlicu  suil'eredst  the  seed  of  good  Jelioshaphat 
 to  be  destroyed  hy  lier  Land,  in  whose  affinity  lie  oiVended.  and 
 yet  savest  one  luancli  of  this  stock  of  Jehosliapliat,  for  the 
 sake  of  so  i'aillilul  a  pio,L;enitor.' 
 
 11.  7'//f  eoroualiiin  of  Joash.  'In  token  of  llie  people's  ac- 
 ceptance of  liiiu,'  says  Ileiiry,  ■  Ihey  clapped  tlieir  hands  for 
 409 
 
 joy,  and  expressed  tlieir  hearty  good  wishes  to  him.  "Let 
 tlie  king  live."  They  had  reason  to  bid  him  welcome  to  llie 
 crown  whose  right  it  was,  and  to  pray  let  him  live  who  came 
 to  them  as  life  from  the  dead,  and  inwljom  tlie  house  of  David 
 was  to  live.  With  such  acclamations  of  joy  ami  satisfaction 
 must  the  kingdom  of  Clirist  be  welcomed  into  our  hearts  when 
 liis  throne  is  set  up  there,  and  Satan  tiie  usurper  is  th-posed. 
 "  Ilosannah,  blessed  is  he  that  conies  !"  Clap  hands  and  say. 
 Let  king  Jesus  live,  lor  ever  live,  and  reign  in  my  soul  and  in 
 all  the  world.  It  is  promised,  (I's.  Ixxii.  IS.)  lie  shall  live 
 and  prayer  shall  he  made  for  him  and  his  kingdom  cualinually. 
 
Jehoahaz's  wicked  reign. 
 
 11.  KIN(;S,  Xlll. 
 
 EHslin  i>ru]>histi:th  lo  Jonsh. 
 
 17  H  Then  "  Hazael  king  of  Syria  went  up, 
 and  fought  against  Gath,  and  took  it :  and 
 °  Hazael  set  liis  face  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 18  And  Jehoash  king  of  Judah  ■'  took  all  the 
 hallowed  things  that  Jehoshaphat.and  Jehoram, 
 and  Ahaziah,  his  fathers,  kings  of  Judah,  had 
 dedicated,  and  his  own  hallowed  things,  and 
 all  the  gold  that  was  found  in  the  treasures  of 
 the  house  of  the  Loud,  and  in  the  king's  house, 
 and  sent  it  to  Hazael  king  of  Syria:  and  he 
 f  went  away  from  Jerusalem. 
 
 19  H  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Joash,  and 
 all  that  he  did,  are  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  tlie  clironicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah? 
 
 '20  And  ''  his  servants  arose,  and  made  a  con- 
 spiracy, and  slew  Joash  in  ||  the  house  of 
 Millo,  which  goeth  down  to  Silla. 
 
 •1\  For  '  Jozachar  the  son  of  Shimeath,  and 
 Jehozabad  the  son  of  ||  Shomer,  his  servants, 
 smote  him,  and  he  died  ;  and  they  buried  him 
 with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of  David  :  and 
 '  Aniaziah  his  sou  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 I  Jehoaftaz's  wicked  reign.  3  Jc/ioahaz,  oppressed  by 
 Hazael,  is  relieved  hi/  prayer.  8  Jnask  sncceedeth 
 him.  10  /ftv  wicked  reii/n.  12  Jeroboam  sncceedeth 
 him.  14  Elisha  dyiiiij  prophesieth  to  Joash  three 
 victories  over  the  Si/rimts.  20  The  Moabites  iuvad- 
 iny  the  hind,  Elisha's  hones  raise  up  a  dead  man, 
 22  Hazael  dyin</,  Joash  yetteth  three  victories  over 
 Ben-hadad. 
 
 T  N  t  the  three  and  twentieth  year  of  Joash 
 *■  the  soil  of  Ahaziah  king  of  Judah  Jehoahaz 
 the  son  of  Jehu  began  to  reign  over  Israel  in 
 Samaria,  (tnd  reiijned  seventeen  years. 
 
 2  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the  sight 
 of  the  LoftD,  and  ff^Howe*!  the  sins  of  Jero- 
 boam the  son  of  Nehat,  which  made  Israel  to 
 sin  :  he  departed  not  therefrom. 
 
 3  H  And  "  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled 
 against  Israel,  and  he  delivered  them  into  the 
 hand  of  ''  Hazael  king  of  Syria,  and  into  the 
 hand  of  Ben-hadad  the  son  of  Hazael,  all  their 
 days. 
 
 4  And  Jehoahaz  "^besought  the  Lord,  and 
 the  Lord  hearkened  unto  him:  for  ''he  saw 
 the  oppression  of  Israel,  because  the  king  of 
 Syria  oppressed  them. 
 
 b  (*  And  tlie  Lord  gave  Israel  a  saviour,  so 
 
 q  eh    II    5. 
 
 Or,  Urlh- 
 xntl;. 
 S  Chr.  ?V. 
 26,  Z'-haii. 
 II  Or,  Shim. 
 
 ch.  9    12 
 o  See  2  Chr. 
 24.23. 
 1 1  Ki.  15.18. 
 cb.  13. 15,16. 
 
 t  Heh.   rite 
 tiri-ulitth 
 
 t  Heh.  .M«. 
 
 a  Judg. -.M4. 
 b  ch.  S.  12. 
 
 cir.   Mi. 
 
 r-    PB    'S>,    .SI 
 
 J  V.X.  .H.  7. 
 ch.  U.  86. 
 
 t  Heb  «>t/'t- 
 leritatf,  ami 
 third  day^ 
 
 /IK„ 
 
 witli  hix 
 Fml.er,  t 
 14.  I. 
 
 Aril.   II    lb 
 
 i  See  Tcr.  1 4, 
 
 H  85. 
 k  ch.  U   », 
 
 *r.  SChr. 
 
 2S.  17,  iVc 
 
 t  llih.  M«ki 
 Ihinf  Ifind 
 
 that  they  went  out  from  under  the  hand  of  the 
 Syrians  :  and  the  children  of  Israel  dwelt  in 
 their  tents,  fas  beforetime. 
 G  Nevertheless  they  departed  not  from  the 
 sins  of  the  house  of  Jeroboam,  who  made  Is- 
 rael sin,  hut  ^  walked  therein  :  '  and  there  f  re- 
 mained the  grove  also  in  Samaria.) 
 
 7  Neither  did  he  leave  of  the  people  to  Je- 
 hoahaz but  fifty  horsemen,  and  ten  chariots, 
 and  ten  thousand  footmen  ;  for  the  king  of 
 Syria  had  destroyed  tliem,  ^  and  had  made 
 them  like  the  dust  by  threshing. 
 
 8  t  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jehoahaz,  and 
 all  that  he  did,  and  his  might,  are  they  not 
 written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the 
 kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 9  And  Jehoahaz  slept  with  his  fathers  ;  and 
 they  buried  him  in  Samaria :  and  {|  Joash  his 
 son  reigned  in  his  stead* 
 
 10  K  In  the  thirty  and  seventh  year  of  Joash 
 king  of  Judah  began  ||  Jehoash  the  son  of  Je- 
 hoahaz to  reign  over  Israel  in  Samaria,  and 
 reigned  sixteen  years. 
 
 1 1  And  he  did  that  irhich  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord  ;  he  departed  not  from  all 
 the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nehat,  who 
 made  Israel  sin  :  hut  lie  walked  therein. 
 
 12  "  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Joash,  and 
 all  that  he  did,  and  '  his  might  wherewith  he 
 
 fought  against  Amaziah  king  of  Judah,  are 
 they  not  written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles 
 of  the  kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 13  And  Joa.sh  slept  with  his  fathers  ;  and  Je- 
 roboam sat  upon  his  throne  :  and  Joash  was 
 buried  in  Samaria  with  the  kings  of  Israel. 
 
 14  f  Now  Elisha  was  fallen  sick  of  his  sick- 
 ness whereof  he  died.  And  Joash  the  king  of 
 Israel  came  down  unto  him,  and  wept  over  his 
 face,  and  said,  O  my  father,  my  father,  '  the 
 chariot  of  Israel,  and  the  horsemen  thereof. 
 
 15  And  Elisha  said  unto  him,  Take  bow  and 
 arrows.  And  he  took  unto  him  bow  and  ar- 
 rows. 
 
 16  And  he  said  to  the  king  of  Israel,  f  Put 
 thine  hand  upon  the  bow.  And  he  put  his 
 hand  ttpim  it :  and  Elisha  put  his  hands  upon 
 the  king's  hands. 
 
 17  And  he  said.  Open  the  window  eastward. 
 And  he  opened  it.  Then  Eli.sha  said.  Shoot. 
 .\nd  he  shot.  "  And  he  .said.  The  arrow  of  the 
 
 might  have  hcpn  used  in  the  like  way.  —  Orient.  Oust.,  No.  134. 
 17.  Gat/t,  nncc  a  city  of  the  Philistine*,  taken  by  David,  (1  Cliron. 
 xviii.  1,)  and  now  a  part  of  tlic  kingdom  of  Jtidah.  20.  Mitto,  per- 
 haps  a  strong  place  in  Jerusalem,  whither  he  retired  for  refuge ;  of 
 which  see  2  Sam.  V.  9;  I  Kings,  ix.  1.1,  24,  and  xi.  27. — Poole.  A  royal 
 palace  built  by  Solomon,  {see  2  Sam.  v.  9.)  Sittn,  probably  '  a  road' 
 01  'causeway*  leading  to  it. — .-1.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XIII. — 3.  Ail  their  days,  rather /i(s  days,  as  ver.  22. — Poole. 
 Gilt,  Scott.  'On  every  occasion.' — Hew.  ^.  A  saviour,  <tuit»ipi.iv, 
 '  deliverance,'  Sept.,  so  .Arttli.  This  saviour  was  undoubtedly  Joash, 
 (ver.  25.) — .-I.  Clarke;  so  Poole,  Pat  ,  Gill.  In  tfteir  tents,  '  in  peace 
 and  safety.'  not  only  in  their  fortified  towns,  but  in  their  fields. — Gill. 
 Pat.  6.  The  grove,  which  Ahab  had  planted  for  the  worship  of 
 Baa'    (1  Kings,  xvi.  32.)         7.  Neither,  ^c— the  proper  place  of  this 
 
 verse  is  iniuu-iliatoly  after  ver.  4. — Hiinh.,  Geddes,  Boolhr.  10.  In 
 the  thirti/  and  serent/i  year,  fyc. — there  is  a  discrepancy  between 
 this  and  ver.  I,  which  is  reconciled  by  supposing  that  Joash  reigned 
 some  time  with  his  father,  a  thing  likely,  since  he  was  in  perpetual 
 war  and  in  danger  of  an  untimely  death. — See  Pat.,  Poole,  Scott, 
 &c.  Jehoash,  'Joash.' — Boothr.  Probably  the  house  of  Jehu  in- 
 tended some  respect  to  the  house  of  David  when  they  gave  this 
 heir  apparent  to  the  crown  the  same  name  with  him  that  was  then 
 king  of  Judah. — Henry.  15.  Take  bou-  and  arrows  —  this  was  to 
 
 represent  the  wars  he  was  to  have  with  the  Syrians.  17.  Eastward, 
 
 —  part  of  Syria  lay  east  or  north-east  from  Judea,  and  the  Syrians  also 
 had  possessed  themselves  of  all  the  land  of  Israel  eastward,  whence  he 
 signified,  by  what  follows,  Joash  should  expel  them. — Pat.  Shoot,  it 
 was  an  ancient  custom  to  shoot  an  arrow  or  cast  a  spear  into  a  country 
 
 Refi  ECTiONS  ON  Chap.  XII.  —  In  this  chapter  is  set  be- 
 fore us — T.  Joas/i's  pood  beqimiinq.  Under  the  advice  of  the 
 pious  Jehoiada,  he  'did  that  which  was  right  in  the  sight  of 
 the  Lord.'  And  it  is  of  great  importance  to  set  oft' well  in  life. 
 Days  early  deroted  to  siu  make  bitter  work  for  repentance  in 
 later  years. 
 
 II.  Juas/i's  hiuj  end.  Early  blossoms  are  loo  often  blighted. 
 Hov  many  promising  youths  have  been  seen  turn  back  to  'the 
 coi  uptions  that  are  in  the  world  through  lust!'  It  was  so  with 
 .To;  sb  ('2  Chron.  xxiv.  17);  he  and  the  princes  of  Judah  '  left 
 the  house  of  the  Lord  God  of  their  fathers,  and  served  groves 
 410 
 
 and  idols;'  and  thev  conspired  against  Zachariah  the  son  of 
 Jehoiada,  the  faithful  priest  and  guardian  of  Joash,  because  ho 
 boldly  reproved  them;  and  Joash  the  king  remembered  not  the 
 kindness  which  Jehoiada  his  father  had  done  to  him,  but  slew 
 his  son.'  The  end  of  this  apostate  was,  that  he  died  from  a  con- 
 spiracy. Let  us  tremble  at  the  doom  of  the  apostate ;  awful 
 judgments  often  overtake  him  in  this  world,  but  what  will  ho 
 the  end  in  the  unseen  world  ?  Wrath  came  upon  Judah  and 
 Jerusalem,  and  finally  upon  the  king  himself  as  the  reward  of 
 his  iniquity  ;  but  let  those  who  forsake  God  never  forget  that 
 there  is  a  '  wrath  to  come. ' 
 
The  death  of  Elisha. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XIV. 
 
 Amaziuh  is  overcome  and  spoiled. 
 
 Lord's  deliverance,  and  the  arrow  of  deliver- 
 ance from  Syria :  for  thou  shalt  smite  the  Sy- 
 rians in  "  Aphek,  till  thou  have  consumed 
 them. 
 
 18  And  he  said,  Take  tlie  arrows.  And  h<' 
 took  them.  And  he  said  unto  tlie  king  of  Is- 
 rael, Smite  upon  the  ground.  And  lie  smote 
 thrice,  and  stayed. 
 
 19  And  the  man  of  God  was  wroth  with  him, 
 and  said,  Tliou  shonldest  have  smitten  five  or 
 six  times ;  then  hadst  thou  smitten  Syria  till 
 thou  hadst  consumed  it ;  "  whereas  now  thou 
 shalt  smite  Syria  Out  thrice. 
 
 20  H  And  Elisha  died,  and  they  huried  him. 
 And  the  bands  of  the  Moahites  invaded  the 
 land  at  the  comin;;  in  of  tlie  year. 
 
 21  And  it  came  to  pass  as  they  were  bury- 
 ing a  man,  that,  behold,  they  spied  a  band  <;/ 
 vuii ;  and  they  cast  tlie  man  into  the  sepul- 
 chre of  Elisha  :  and  when  the  man  f  was  let 
 down,  and  touched  the  bones  of  Elisha,  ■■  he 
 revived,  and  stood  up  on  his  feet. 
 
 •22  H  Hut  ''  Hazael  king  of  Syria  oppressed 
 Israel  all  the  days  of  Jehoahaz. 
 
 23  '  And  the  Lord  was  gracious  unto  them, 
 and  had  compassion  on  them, and  'had  respect 
 unto  them,'  because  of  his  covenant  with  Abra- 
 ham, Lsaac,  and  Jacob,  and  would  not  destroy 
 them,  neither  cast  he  them  from  his  t presence 
 as  yet. 
 
 24  So  Hazael  king  of  Syria  died  ;  and  Ben- 
 hadad  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 25  And  Jehoa.sli  the  son  of  Jehoahaz  t  took 
 again  out  of  the  hand  of  Beii-hadad  the  son  of 
 Hazael  the  cities,  which  he  had  taken  out  of 
 the  hand  of  Jehoahaz  liis  father  by  war.  "Three 
 times  did  Joasli  beat  him,  and  recovered  the 
 cities  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  Ajnaziuh's  pood  rtic/n.  ?j  His  justice  on  the  imir- 
 tltrers  of  his  faf/ur.  7  His  viistttrii  over  Ednm.  y 
 Jmiiziuky  primokinii  J,  honsh,  is  oiwrrome  and  spoiled, 
 15  Jeroboam  stwceedeth  JeliiMtsli.  17  Amaziuh  stain 
 hi/  a  cimspiraiy.  21  Azuri^i/i  succeetti'th  liim.  23 
 Jerolhuuus  wieked  rtiju,  "JS  Zac/iariah  succeedtth 
 him, 
 
 TN  *  the  second  year  of  Joasli  son  of  Jehoahaz 
 ■*-  king  of  Israel  reigned  ''  Ainaziah  the  son  of 
 Joasli  king  of  Judah. 
 2  He  was  twenty  and  five  years  old  when  he 
 
 ;<  E:cclua.4d. 
 It. 
 
 f  cli.  8.  12. 
 
 r  ch.  14.  i:. 
 i  El.  2.  24, 
 t  Ex.  3:;    13 
 
 t  Heb./oCT. 
 
 4  IK'b    re 
 turned  ai>d 
 
 cir.  aiG. 
 .  vtT.  18,  19 
 
 Wi9. 
 '1  cli-   IS.  10. 
 6  a  Clir.  ■<!&. 
 
 fi  Chr.  as. 
 
 II. 
 y  L'.Sa.  8.  13. 
 
 P5.60.  title 
 II  Or,  Ihe 
 
 /.  J..,li.l.5.38, 
 cir.  ■^•i6. 
 
 J"4ejlh 
 
 Ant.  W. 
 ■i  VhT   25. 
 17,  18,  8cC. 
 
 *  Spe  Judg. 
 t  1  Kin.4.33. 
 
 m  rtfii.  rt.  14. 
 
 yChr..1-'.iI5. 
 
 Kiek.  28.  2, 
 
 ?i.  17,  Hab. 
 
 ■2.  4 
 I   llph.  atlhy 
 
 J  Jos-  1»-  38. 
 <^  21.  16. 
 
 \  Heh    wtu 
 imitleii. 
 
 began  to  reign,  and  reigned  twenty  and  nine 
 years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name 
 was  Jehoaddan  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 a  And  he  did  that  which  was  right  in  tlie 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  yet  not  like  David  his  fa- 
 ther :  he  did  according  to  all  things  as  Joash 
 his  father  did. 
 
 4  "  Howbeit  the  high  places  were  not  taken 
 away  :  as  yet  the  people  did  sacrifice  and  burn 
 incense  on  the  liigli  places. 
 
 5  If  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  soon  as  the  king- 
 dom was  confirmed  in  his  hand,  that  he  slew 
 his  servants  ''  which  had  slain  the  king  his  fa- 
 ther. 
 
 U  But  the  children  of  the  murderers  he  slew 
 not :  according  unto  that  which  is  written  in 
 the  book  of  the  law  of  Moses,  wherein  the 
 Lord  commanded,  saying,  'The  fathers  shall 
 not  be  put  to  death  for  the  children,  nor  the 
 children  be  put  to  death  for  the  fathers  ;  hut 
 every  man  shall  be  put  to  death  for  his  own 
 sin. 
 
 7  '  He  slew  of  Edom  in  ^  the  valley  of  salt 
 ten  thousand,  and  took  ||  Selah  by  war,  '■  and 
 called  the  name  of  it  Joktheel  unto  this  day. 
 
 8  II  '  Then  Ainaziah  sent  messengers  to  Je- 
 hoash,  the  son  of  Jehoahaz  son  of  Jehu,  king 
 of  Israel,  saying.  Come,  let  us  look  one  an- 
 other in  the  face. 
 
 9  And  Jehoasli  the  king  of  Israel  sent  to 
 Amaziah  king  of  Judah,  saying,  '  The  thistle 
 that  ivas  in  Lebanon  sent  to  the  '  cedar  that 
 was  in  Lebanon,  saying.  Give  thy  daughter  to 
 my  son  to  wife  :  and  there  passed  by  a  wild 
 beast  that  was  in  Lebanon,  and  trode  down 
 the  thistle. 
 
 10  Thou  hast  indeed  smitten  Edom,  and 
 "■  thine  heart  hath  lifted  thee  up  :  glory  of  this, 
 and  tarry  f  at  home  :  for  why  shouldest  thoii 
 meddle  to  ihj/  hurt,  that  thou  shouldest  fall, 
 evm  thou,  and  Judah  with  thee? 
 
 11  But  Amaziah  would  not  hear.  Therefore 
 Jehoash  king  of  Israel  went  up  ;  and  he  and 
 Ainaziah  king  of  Judah  looked  one  anotlier  in 
 the  face  at  "  Beth-sheniesh,  which  belongeth  to 
 Judah. 
 
 12  And  Judah  t  was  put  to  the  worse  before 
 Israel  ;  and  they  fled  every  man  to  their  tents. 
 
 13  And  Jehoash  king  of  Israel  took  Amaziah 
 king  of  Judah,  the  son  of  Jehoash  the  son  of 
 
 before  the  commencement  of  hostilities. — See  Vir^.  JEneid,  1.  9,  v.  51. 
 /n  Aphek,  '  in  the  territories  belonging  to  it,'  of  which  see  1  Sam.  iv. 
 1  ;  xxix.  I. — Pat.  19.  Wiis  wroth,   eXirwtif'n.    'was  grieveil,*   Sept. 
 
 Jnash  could  not  fail  to  understand  the  sign,  and  by  not  striking  often 
 he  shewed  signs  of  unbelief,  as  if  he  thought  the  Syrians  too  pnwerful 
 for  him.  This,  probably,  excited  the  wrath  of  the  prophet. — See  Biiothr. 
 21.  A  hand,  'a  marauding  party.' — A.  Clarke.  Into  the  sepulchre  of 
 Elisha— Dot  daring  to  carry  the  corpse  further,  they  made  use  of  the 
 nearest  burying  place.  He  rcTired,  which  miracle  sealed  the  doctrine 
 of  the  prophet,  confuted  the  idolators,  and  must  have  strengthened  the 
 faith  of  Joash  and  his  people  in  going  against  the  Syrians. — Poole. 
 24.  Ben-htidad,  the  second. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  6.  The  children  of  the  murderers  he  slew  not — this  is 
 mentioned  as  a  virtue,  for,  in  that  age,  vengeance  often  extended  to 
 the  children. — Sut.  7.  Selah,  this  word  in  Hebrew,  as  well  as  Petros 
 in  Greek,  signifies  *a  rock.'  Hence  it  is  thought  the  place  alluded  to 
 was  Petra,  in  Arabia  Fetrea,  the  country  of  the  Edoniites. —  WetU,  Gill. 
 ]/tktheel,  which  signifies  *  the  obedieuce  of  God ;'  given  him  as  a  reward 
 
 for  obedience  to  God's  message  by  the  prophet,  (2  Chron.  xxv.  8,  9.)— 
 GUI,  Poole.  8.  Look  one  another  in  the  face,  that  is,  *  fight.'— Pof^/e, 
 Gill.  To  face  an  enemy  is  still  a  common  expression.— //fH-.  This 
 challenge  was  on  account  of  late  and  great  injuries  received  from  the 
 Israelites,  (2  Chron.  xxv.  l6,)  and  from  self-confidence  and  vain  glory. 
 —Poole.  Some  think  Amaziah  had  the  vanity  to  think  of  subduing  the 
 kingdom  of  Israel,  and  reuniting  it  to  Judah.— Hcnr^.  9.  The  thistle, 
 —no  similitude  could  be  better  adapted  to  the  character  of  Amaziah 
 than  that  of  a  thistle  ;  a  low,  useless,  and  neglected  weed,  but  which, 
 having  drawn  blood  from  some  traveller  as  he  passed  by,  is  represented 
 as  growing  proud,  and  affecting  an  equality  with  the  cedar,  the  pride 
 and  ornament  of  the  forest.  In  the  mi'lst  of  all  this  arrogance,  it  is  said 
 that  a  wild  beast  passed  by  and  trod  it  under  foot.  This  Joa-sh  inti- 
 mates would  be  the  fate  of  Amaziah  if  he  presumed  any  longer  to  pro. 
 voke  a  prince  of  his  strength  and  prowess. — Hew.  II.  Amaziah 
 
 would  not  hear— Goil  blinded  him  to  his  destruction  for  his  abominalile 
 and  ridiculous  idolatry,  (2  Chron.  xxv.  10.)— Poole.  Went  up,  limn 
 Samaria  to  the  land  of  Judah,   which  was  higher  ground.  —  &'i«. 
 
 Refleciions  on  Chap.  XIII.— I.  Sin  and  punishment  are 
 insfparahty  connected  together.  How  often  do  we  see  tbem  united 
 in  the  history  of  Israel,  and  still  may  we  observe  the  same  in 
 the  dispensations  of  providence.  Yet  so  compassionate  is 
 Ood,  that  he  looks  on  the  soul  tliat  is  humbled  before  him, 
 and  sljews,  by  bis  readiness  to  relieve, '  that  he  dotli  not  alllict 
 willingly. * 
 
 II.  The  death  vf  eminindi/  pious  and  d(  votut  men  of  Hod  is  a 
 411 
 
 great  loss  to  a  nation  :  men  of  faith,  and  prayer,  and  holiness, 
 are  its  best  defence. 
 
 III.  If  our  enemies  are  not  overcome,  it  is  for  want  of  spirituul 
 energy.  '  We  suffer  our  unbelief  to  make  us  sluggish  and  inac- 
 tive. *  Man.y,'  says  Henry,  'have  repented,  when  it  was  too 
 late,  of  their  distrusts  and  the  straitnoss  of  their  desires. 
 We 'must  '  fiKht  the  good  light  of  laith'  if  wo  would  '  lay  hold 
 (Ml  elernal  lite.' 
 
Amaziali  slain  by  a  cnnsjiitacy. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XV. 
 
 Azariah's  good  reiijn. 
 
 Ahaziah,  at  Beth-sliemesli,  and  came  to  Jeru- 
 salem, and  brake  down  the  wall  of  Jernsaleiti 
 from  "  tlie  gate  of  Epliiaim  unto  ''  the  corner 
 gate,  four  hundred  cubits. 
 
 14  And  he  took  all  ''  the  gold  and  silver,  and 
 all  the  vessels  that  were  found  in  the  house  of 
 the  Loud,  and  in  the  treasures  of  the  king's 
 house,  and  hostages,  and  returned  to  Samaria. 
 
 15  t  '  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jehoash 
 which  he  did,  and  his  might,  and  how  he  fought 
 with  Ainaziali  king  of  Judah,  are  they  not 
 written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the 
 kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 I()  And  Jehoash  slept  with  his  fathers,  and 
 was  buried  in  Samaria  w  ith  the  kings  of  Israel ; 
 and  Jeroboam  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 ITU"  And  Amaziah  the  son  of  Joash  king  of 
 Jndah  lived  after  the  death  of  Jehoash  son  of 
 Jehoahaz  king  of  Israel  fifteen  years. 
 
 18  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Amaziah,  are 
 they  not  written  in  the  book  of  the  chronicles 
 of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 19  Now  '  they  made  a  conspiracy  against 
 him  in  Jerusalem  :  and  he  fled  to  "  Lachish;' 
 but  they  sent  after  him  to  Lachish,  and  slew 
 him  there. 
 
 ■JO  And  they  brought  him  on  horses  :  and  be 
 was  buried  at  Jerusalem  with  his  fatliers  in  the 
 city  of  David. 
 
 •21  f  And  all  the  people  of  Jndah  took 
 "  Azariah,  which  ivns  sixteen  years  old,  and 
 made  liim  king  instead  of  his  father  Amaziah. 
 
 •2-2  He  built  '  Elath,  and  restored  it  to  Judah, 
 after  that  the  king  slept  with  his  fathers. 
 
 23  T  In  the  fifteenth  year  of  Amaziah  the  son 
 of  Joash  king  of  Judah  Jeroboam  t!ie  son  of 
 Joash  king  of  Israel  began  to  reign  in  Samaria, 
 and  reigned  torty  and  one  years. 
 
 24  And  he  did  tliut  u/iieh  irns  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Loud:  he  departed  not  from  all 
 the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  who 
 made  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 '23  He  restored  the  coast  of  Israel  '  from  the 
 entering  of  Hamath  inito  "  the  sea  of  the  plain, 
 according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel,  which  he  sj)ake  by  the  hand  of  his  ser- 
 vant ''  Jonah,  the  son  of  Amittai,  the  prophet, 
 which  was  oC  Gath-hepber. 
 
 ■26  For  the  Loud  ''  saw  the  aflliction  of  Israel, 
 that  it  teas  very  bitter :  for  "  there  was  not 
 any  shut  up,  nor  any  left,  nor  any  helper  for 
 Israel. 
 
 27  '  And  the  Loud  said  not  that  he  would 
 blot  out  the  name  of  Israel  from  under  heaven  : 
 but  he  saved  them  by  the  hand  of  Jeroboam 
 the  son  of  Joash. 
 
 28  1  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jeroboam, 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  8';6. 
 
 "  Neh.  S.  IG 
 
 ;.  Jer.  31 .  SS. 
 
 Zecli  I]  in. 
 
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 .1,*. 
 
 b  Called  Us- 
 :iuh,  ver. 
 13,  M,  8ic. 
 «(2Chr.26. 
 I. 
 
 :  ver.  35. 
 ch.  12.  3.  & 
 U   i. 
 
 d  2  Chr.  26. 
 
 ■21. 
 
 e  Ley.  13. 16. 
 
 cir. -5fi. 
 /2  Chr.  26. 
 
 There  hav- 
 
 cir.  772. 
 
 it  As  proiihe 
 sied,  Anio 
 7.  9. 
 
 I  and  all  that  he  did,  and  his  might,  how  he 
 I  warred,  and  how  he  recovered  Damascus,  and 
 Hamath,  '■'  which  helonged  to  Judah,  for  Is- 
 rael, are  they  not  written  in  the  book  of  the 
 chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel  y 
 29  And  Jeroboam  slept  with  his  fathers,  even 
 with  the  kings  of  Israel  ;  and  ''  Zachariah  his 
 son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  AzarialCs  good  reign,  5  He  dyiug  n  leper,  Jntham 
 sifcceedeth,  S  Zachariah,  the  hist  of  Jeltu^s  geneta- 
 tion,  reigning  ill,  is  slaijt  by  Shalhun.  V6  Shaltum, 
 reigning  a  month,  is  slain  by  Mennhem.  \G  Mmu- 
 htm  streuf/tlieiieth  himself  hi/  Put.  21  Pehahiah  sur- 
 ceeileth  him.  23  Pelmliinh  is  slain  by  Pehah.  27  Pe- 
 hah  is  oppressed  by  Tiglath-piUsi  r.  and  slain  by  Ho- 
 shea.  3'2  Jotham's  good  reign.  30  Ahnz  sueeeedeth 
 h  im. 
 
 TN  the  twenty  and  seventh  year  of  Jeroboam 
 •*-  king  of  Israel 'began  ''Azariah  son  of  Ama- 
 ziah king  of  Judah  to  reign. 
 i  2  Sixteen  years  old  was  he  when  he  began 
 to  reign,  and  he  reigned  two  and  fifty  years  in 
 Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name  was  Je- 
 choliah  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 3  And  he  did  that  which  teas  right  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Loud,  according  to  all  that  his 
 father  Amaziah  had  done  ; 
 
 4  '  Save  tliat  the  high  places  were  not  re- 
 moved :  the  people  sacrificed  and  burnt  incense 
 still  on  the  high  places. 
 
 3  t  And  the  Loud  ''  smote  the  king,  so  that 
 he  was  a  leper  unto  the  day  of  his  death,  and 
 *"  dwelt  in  a  several  house.  And  Jotbam  the 
 king's  son  was  over  the  house,  judging  the 
 people  of  the  land. 
 
 (i  And  tlie  rest  of  the  acts  of  Azariah,  and 
 all  that  he  did,  arc  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 7  So  Azariah  slept  with  his  fathers ;  and 
 'they  buried  him  witli  bis  fathers  in  the  city 
 of  David  :  and  Jotbam  his  son  reigned  in  his 
 stead. 
 
 8  1  In  the  thirty  and  eighth  year  of  Azariah 
 king  of  Judah  did  Zachariah  the  son  of  Jero- 
 boam reign  over  Israel  in  Samaria  six  months. 
 
 9  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Loud,  as  liis  fathers  had  done:  he 
 departed  not  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the 
 son  of  Nebat,  who  made  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 10  And  Shalluin  the  son  of  Jabesh  conspired 
 against  him,  and  '■'smote  him  before  the  people, 
 and  sleiv  him,  and  reigned  in  bis  stead. 
 
 1 1  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Zachariah,  be- 
 hold, they  are  written  in  the  book  of  the 
 chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel. 
 
 21.  .iztiriuh,  called  Uzziah  in  the  next  chapter,  and  so  2  Chron.  x.wi.  1 . 
 
 22.  BuiU  Elath.  '  rcjiaircd  and  furtified  it,*  for  it  was  built  before, 
 (Ucut.  ii.  8.) — J'ofjle.  23.  Jerubmtm  the  son  of  Jotish,  Jeroboam  the 
 second.  His  was  the  longest  reign  of  all  the  kings  of  Israel,  41  years. 
 — Henry.  25.  He  restured  the  coast  of  Israel,  the  cities  upon  it 
 which  had  been  taken  away  from  it  by  their  enemies. — Gilt.  28.  Re. 
 covered  Damascus,  ^c.,  Syrian  cities  taken  by  David  and  Solomon, 
 
 (2  Sam.  viii.  6;  2  Chron.  viii.  3:)  probably  by  them  added  to  their  own 
 tribe,  but  afterwards  retaken  by  the  Syrians,  now  recovered. — I'oole. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  1.  .Izariith,  Uzziah,  (2  Chron.  xxvi.  1.)  5.  .-I  leper — 
 see  the  cause  2  Chron.  xxvi.  16.  A  several  house,  separated  according 
 to  the  law,  (Lev.  xiii.  46.)  It).  Before  the  pfo/t/f— perhaps  put  him 
 to  death  publicly  as  a  criminal,  with  the  approbation  of  the  pcuitle,  to 
 whom  he  had,  some  way  or  other,  made  himself  odious.    So  ended  the 
 
 Reflkctions  on  C'ii.\p.  XIV We  may  learn  here,  I.  The 
 
 influnice  of  punnbd  example.  .Amaziah  did  according  to  all 
 things  as  .To-Jsli  It  is  latlier  did.  Let  fathers  who  Lave  success- 
 fully trained  up  their  children  to  serve  (jod,  bo  thankful  for 
 tlie  honour  and  happiness  thus  conferred  upon  them  ;  but 
 those  whose  evil  example  has  led  tlieir  oft'sprinR  into  sin, 
 misery  and  ruin,  have  reason  to  tremble  for  the  awful  respon- 
 sibility they  have  incurred,  and  should,  with  bitter  lamenta- 
 tions aud  carncsl  pru  vers,  implore  the  Father  of  mercies  to 
 41-2 
 
 forgive  their  iniquities,  and,  if  their  children  yet  survive,  seek 
 most  earnestly  to  rescue  them  from  the  awful  condition  into 
 which  they  have  been  plunged  by  their  example. 
 
 II.  We  learn  the  folly  of  ambition.  Amaziah  sought  for  glory 
 and  found  shame.  So  liave  many  other  warriors  ;  and  so  will 
 all  the  ambitious  murderers  of  mankind,  at  tlie  last  chiy.  if  (mkI 
 do  not  lead  them  to  deep  and  unfeigned  repentance,  and  if  the 
 stain  of  blood  on  their  souls  be  not  obliterated  by  the  blood  of 
 Christ. 
 
S/ifilhtm  s/alii  liy  Ulamhr 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XV. 
 
 Jothams  good  reign. 
 
 12  Tliis  tpas-  '■  the  word  of  the  Loud  which 
 he  spake  unto  Jehu,  savin;;,  Thy  sons  sliall  sit 
 on  the  throne  of  Israel  unto  the  fourth  ijcncra- 
 t'uii.     And  so  it  came  to  pass. 
 
 13  II  Shalhnn  the  son  of  Jahesh  began  to 
 reign  in  the  nine  and  thirtieth  year  of  '  tJzziah 
 king  of  ,Tudah  ;  and  he  reigned  fa  full  month 
 in  Samaria. 
 
 14  For  Menaheni  the  son  of  Gadi  went  up 
 from  '  Tirzah,  and  came  to  Samaria,  and  smote 
 Sliallum  tlie  son  of  .lahesh  in  Samaria,  and 
 slew  him,  and  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 lo  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Slialhnn,  and 
 his  conspiracy  wliich  he  made,  hchold,  they 
 are  written  in  the  hook  of  the  chronicles  of 
 the  kings  of  Israel. 
 
 IG  II  Then  Menahem  smote  '  Tijihsah,  and  all 
 that  wi:rc  tlierein,  and  the  coasts  thereof  from 
 Tirzah  :  because  tliey  opened  not  to  him, 
 tliercfore  he  smote  it;  and  all  "'the  women 
 therein  that  were  witli  child  he  ripped  up. 
 
 17  In  the  nine  and  thirtieth  year  of  Azariah 
 king  of  Judah  began  Menahem  the  son  of 
 Gadi  to  reign  over  Israel,  «;«/  reigned  ten 
 years  in  Samaria. 
 
 IcS  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lokd  :  he  departed  not  all  his 
 days  from  the  sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of 
 Nebat,  who  made  Israel  to  sin. 
 
 1 9  And  "  Pul  the  king  of  Assyria,  came  against 
 the  land  :  and  Menaheni  gave  Pul  a  tliousand 
 talents  of  silver,  that  his  hand  might  be  with 
 him  to  "confirm  the  kingdom  in  bis  hand. 
 
 20  And  Menaheni  f  exacted  the  money  of 
 Israel,  even  of  all  the  mighty  men  of  wealth, 
 of  each  man  fifty  shekels  of  silver,  to  give  to 
 the  king  of  Assyria.  So  the  king  of  Assyria 
 turned  back,  and  stayed  not  tliere  in  the  land. 
 
 •21  H  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Menaheni, 
 and  all  that  he  did,  arc  tliey  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  eluonicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel  ? 
 
 2'2  And  Menahem  slept  with  his  fathers;  and 
 Pekahiah  his  son  reigned  in  bis  stead. 
 
 23  1i  In  the  fiftieth  year  of  Azariah  king  of 
 Judah  Pekahiah  the  son  of  Menaliem  began  to 
 reign  over  Israel  in  Samaria,  and  reigned  two 
 years. 
 
 'H  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  tlie  Lord  :  he  departed  not  from  the 
 sins  of  Jeroboam  tlie  son  of  Nebat,  who  made 
 Israel  to  sin. 
 
 do  But  Pekah  the  son  of  Remaliah,  a  captain 
 of  his,  conspired  against  him,  and  smote  him  in 
 
 c\r.i  ,-*. 
 i  >rat.  l.B.n, 
 
 and  \  er.  1 , 
 
 \  He>>.  n 
 ,/i..„(A  u/ 
 
 1   I  Kill.  14. 
 17. 
 
 .  1  Chr.  5. 
 ■JG.  le.  it.  I. 
 
 o  cb.  I-I. 
 
 t  Hel..co. 
 
 ;.  I8.  ; 
 
 <J  I  Clir.  5. 
 •ili.  Is,  9.  I. 
 I  Kilt.  15. 
 
 AUai.  in 
 the  Tweii- 
 lii'tli  Year 
 aflt-M-  Jo- 
 tham  liad 
 beyiiii  to 
 iKVSt\ ;  Oih. 
 
 718. 
 1  2Clir.i!;.l. 
 
 3,  &i:. 
 
 At  tlie  enil 
 of.'.ttliatn's 
 reiyii. 
 
 Samaria,  in  the  palace  of  the  king's  house,  with 
 Argoh  and  Arieh,  and  with  him  fifty  men  of 
 the  Gileadites:  and  be  killed  him,  and  reigned 
 in  his  room. 
 
 26  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Pekahiah,  and 
 all  that  he  did,  behold,  they  are  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel. 
 
 27  II  In  the  two  and  fiftieth  year  of  Azariah 
 king  of  Judah  ''  Pekah  the  son  of  Remaliah 
 began  to  reign  over  Israel  in  Samaria,  and 
 reigned  twenty  years. 
 
 28  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord  :  he  departed  not  from  the 
 sins  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  who  made 
 Israel  to  sin. 
 
 29  In  the  days  of  Pekah  king  of  Israel  ''  came 
 Tiglatb-pileser  king  of  Assyria,  and  took  'Ijon, 
 and  Abel-beth-maachah,  and  Janoali,  and  Ke- 
 desh,  and  Hazor,  and  Gilead,  and  Galilee,  all 
 the  land  of  Naphtali,  and  carried  them  captive 
 to  Assyria. 
 
 30  And  Hoshea  the  son  of  Elab  made  a  con- 
 spiracy against  Pekah  the  son  of  Remaliah, 
 and  smote  him,  and  slew  him,  and  "reigned  in 
 bis  stead, '  in  the  twentieth  year  of  Jothain  the 
 son  of  Uzziah. 
 
 31  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Pekali,  and  all 
 that  he  did,  behold,  they  are  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel. 
 
 32  H  In  the  second  year  of  Pekah  the  son  of 
 Remaliah  king  of  Israel  began  "  Jotham  the 
 son  of  Uzziah  king  of  Judah  to  reign. 
 
 33  Five  and  twenty  years  old  was  he  when 
 he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  sixteen  years 
 in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name  was 
 Jerusha,  the  daughter  of  Zadok. 
 
 31  And  he  did  that  u'hich  was  right  in  the 
 .sight  of  the  Lord  :  he  did  "■  according  to  all 
 that  his  father  Uzziah  had  done. 
 
 35  H  ''  Howbeit  the  high  places  were  not  re- 
 moved ;  the  people  sacrificed  and  burned  in- 
 cense still  in  the  high  places.  '  He  built  the 
 higher  gate  of  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 30  H  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jotham,  and 
 all  that  he  did,  are  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah? 
 
 37  In  those  days  the  Lord  began  to  send 
 against  Judah  "  Rezin  the  king  of  Syria,  and 
 ''  Pekah  the  son  of  Remaliah. 
 
 38  And  Jotliam  slept  with  his  fathers,  and 
 was  buried  with  bis  fathers  in  the  city  of  Da- 
 vid his  father :  and  Ahaz  his  son  reigned  in 
 his  stead. 
 
 line  of  Jehu. — Hen.  12.  Foui-th  irtmeratiu>i,  Jehoahaz,  Joa.sh.  Jero- 
 
 boam, and  Zechaiiah.  14.  Tirzah,  a  city  of  Ephraim.  anrt  the  royal 
 
 seat  of  the  kiuKs  of  Israel  from  the  time  of  Jeroboam  till  the  reign  of 
 Oinri.  who  built  Samaria,  which  then  became  the  capital.  —  Cat. 
 16.  Tipfisah,  perhaps  that  mentioned  1  Kings,  iv.  2i.—Puulf,  Scott. 
 19.  I'ft,  calleil  by  heathen  authors,  Pul-Brluc/ius.  By  the  help  of  Ar- 
 baces,  the  Me.le,  he  vanquished  Sardanapaliis.  the  last  monarch  of 
 Assyria,  and  translated  tlie  kingdom  to  Chalitea,  and  was  the  first  king 
 of  Babylon  and  Assyria.  —  Pi.t/fc.  A  tluiuannd  tiUmls  of  sitiKr, 
 37!,,0ml.—Brerewuud.  20.  Fiftji  shekels,    about   6;.    a    man.— Gi/;. 
 
 26.  And  smute  him,  ffc,  •  and  with  the  aid  of  Aigob  and  Arieh.  and  fifty 
 
 Gileadites,  smote  him  in  Samaria,  in  the  harcra  of  his  own  palace.' — 
 Buothr.  According  to  .-ttiurlfinel,  Argob  and  Arieh  were  slain  with  the 
 king.  It  is  doubtful  also  whether  the  Gileadites  were  not. — So  Gilt, 
 Scott.  2y.  Tii^luth-pileser,  or  Tiglath-pilncsor :  called,  in  heathen 
 authors,  Pliulasar  or  Phul-Assur,  the  son  of  the  Pul  before  mentioned. 
 — Fvtde.  Tutik  Ijott,  ^-c. — for  these  cities  see  1  Kings,  xv.  20;  Josh, 
 xvi.  6  ;  xix.  ;l6,  3".  tun-iefi  them  ciptiee — this  was  the  first  captivity 
 of  Israel,  in  which  half  their  tribes  were  carried  away.— Gi//.  30.  In 
 the  twentieth  year—  from  ver.  33  he  reigned  but  sixteen  years  ;  it  is, 
 therefore,  probable  that  he  reigned  jointly  with  his  father  for  about 
 four  years, — Pat. 
 
 HtKLErTiiiNs  ON   Chap.  XV 1.  We  here  leuru  the  mil 
 
 ctin.tet/tufices  of  even  one  ifin.  During  bis  long  reigii,  Aliaziah 
 '  did  that  wliich  was  rii;ht  in  tlie  sight  of  tbe  Lord.'  Hut  bow- 
 were  his  honours  arid  liis  happiness  blighted  by  bis  breaking 
 the  btmiidaries  of  piety,  and  profanely  rushing,  against  autho- 
 rity, into  the  Divine  presence!  •  If  great  men  be  proud  men,' 
 says  Henry,  '  some  way  or  oilier  God  will  humble  thent  .ind 
 make  tliem  know  he  is  both  above  them  and  against  them,  for 
 he  "  resistetb  the  proud.'' '  Let  this  teach  us  to  stand  in  dread 
 ot  every  sin,  and  to  look  continually  to  the  grace  of  God  in 
 Christ,  for  strength  to  resist  it  in  every  time  of  netid. 
 
 II.  We  have  here  u  liepltirtible  picture  nf  Immnn  nature  as  it 
 ■''■■■  ix/iili/tiU  ill  tlic  pai;i_i  of  hishnii.  '  Thesi'  are,  lor  the 
 413 
 
 ../((«  . 
 
 most  ptirt,  the  iiages  of  plots  and  conspiracies,  murders  and 
 usurpations.  IMan's  life  is  short,  and  man's  wickedness 
 cuts  it  shorter.  The  sins  anil  depravities  of  villagers  are 
 buried  in  their  cburcb-yards,  but  those  of  monarchs  remain 
 conspicuous  to  all  the  world.  And  here  we  have  the  abomi- 
 nations of  the  human  heart  laid  open,  and  see  what  is  man. 
 W  hat  a  world  of  disorder  we  live  in  !  and  wiiat  a  chaos  of 
 wickedness  would  the  whole  present  but  for  the  restraining 
 providence  of  (ioti,  for  one  wicked  man  checking  and  over- 
 coming another,  and  especially  for  ihe  influence  and  example 
 of  the  true  Israel  of  God  which  are  to  be  found  iu  the  midst 
 of  it. 
 
Ahaz's  wicked  reign. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XVI. 
 
 He  sjiuile.ih.  the  temple. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  Ahnz^s  leickat  reif/n.  5  Ahaz^  aasuiktl  l>i/  Rezhi 
 nnii  Ptkafi,  /tirtth  Tiihttk-jntcstr  wifiiiist  them,  lu 
 Altiiz,  sendintj  a  palttrii  of  ait  tifttir  f'r-iit  Diimascus 
 to  Urijahf  divrrteth  tht  Lrasen  ultur  tu  tiis  own  devo- 
 tion. 17  Ht  spoileth  the  temple.  19  Utzekiah  suc- 
 eet'dtth  him, 
 
 T  N  the  seventeenth  year  of  Pekah  the  son  of 
 -*■  Kemahah,  *Ahaz  the  son  of  Jotham  king  of 
 Judah  hegan  to  reign. 
 
 '2  Twenty  years  old  was  Ahaz  when  he  began 
 to  reign,  and  reigned  sixteen  years  in  Jern- 
 salem,  and  did  not  t/int  which  was  right  in  the 
 siglitof  tile  Lord  his  God,  like  Daviil  jiis  father. 
 
 3  But  he  walked  in  the  way  of  the  kings  of 
 Israel,  yea,  ■■  and  made  his  son  to  pass  tliroiigli 
 the  fire,  according  to  tlie  "^aljoniinations  of  the 
 heathen,  whom  the  Lord  cast  out  from  before 
 the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 4  And  he  sacrificed  and  burnt  incense  in  the 
 high  places,  and  ■•  on  the  hills,  and  under  every 
 green  tree. 
 
 5  11°  Then  Rezin  king  of  Syria  and  Pekah 
 son  of  Remaliah  king  of  Israel  came  up  to  Je- 
 rusalem to  war :  and  they  besieged  Ahaz,  but 
 could  not  overcome  him. 
 
 a  At  that  time  Keziu  king  of  Syria  'recovered 
 Elath  to  Syria,  and  drave  the  Jews  from  tlilath  : 
 and  the  Syrians  came  to  Elath,  and  dwelt  there 
 unto  this  day. 
 
 7  So  Ahaz  sent  messengers  ^  to  f  Tiglath- 
 pileser  king  of  Assyria,  saying,  I  am  tliy  ser- 
 vant and  thy  son  :  come  up,  and  save  me  out 
 of  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Syria,  and  out  of  the 
 hand  of  the  king  of  Israel,  which  rise  up  against 
 me. 
 
 8  And  Ahaz  ■•  took  the  silver  and  gold 
 that  was  found  in  the  house  of  the  Lokd,  and 
 in  the  treasures  of  the  king's  house,  and  sent 
 il  for  a  present  to  the  king  of  Assyria. 
 
 !)  And  the  king  of  Assyria  hearkened  unto 
 him:  for  the  king  of  Assyria  went  up  against 
 t  Damascus,  and  '  took  it,  and  carried  the  peo- 
 ple of  it  captive  to  Kir,  and  slew  Rezin. 
 
 10  U  And  king  Ahaz  went  to  Damascus 
 to  meet  Tiglatli-pileser  king  of  Assyria,  and 
 .saw  an  altar  that  wis  at  Damascus:  and  king 
 Ahaz  sent  to  Urijah  the  priest  the  fashion  of 
 the  altar,  and  rlie  pattern  of  it,  according  to  all 
 the  workmanship  thereof. 
 
 1 1  And  Urijah  tljo  priest  built  an  altar  ac- 
 cording to  all   that   king  Ahaz  had   sent  from 
 
 Ps.  HKj.  37, 
 
 /rli.  1-1.  22. 
 t  Hi-li  E/../A- 
 
 f  rl>.  I^  ?9. 
 t  H.-b.  Tit- 
 
 if'lh  pilfift, 
 
 I  Chr.5  *). 
 NirOhr  vs. 
 Jtl.  Tity„lh 
 
 t  Hol<  thtm- 
 
 i  Ki>r«told. 
 Auiu8  I.  6. 
 
 1  M.-h    irhi'cA 
 Here  Ai*. 
 l-£C\it.  4.1. 
 
 m  Ex.  29.39, 
 
 411,  41. 
 
 ?  ciir  as. 
 
 t>  1   Kill.  7. 
 13,  «. 
 
 V  -i  I'liT  ^. 
 
 7111. 
 liit^-rreR- 
 
 Damascus  :  so  Urijah  the  priest  made  it 
 against  king  Ahaz  came  from  Damascus. 
 
 {•2  And  when  the  king  was  come  from  Da- 
 mascus, the  king  saw  tlie  altar :  and  '  the  king 
 approached  to  the  altar,  and  offered  thereon. 
 
 13  And  he  burnt  his  burnt  ottering  and  his 
 meat  ottering,  and  poured  his  drink  offering, 
 and  sprinkled  the  blood  of  f  his  peace  offerings, 
 upon  the  altar. 
 
 1-1  And  he  brought  also  '  the  brasen  altar, 
 which  w(is  before  the  Lokd,  from  the  forefront 
 of  the  house,  from  between  the  altar  and  the 
 house  of  the  Lokd,  and  put  it  on  the  north 
 side  of  the  altar. 
 
 15  And  king  Ahaz  commanded  Urijah  the 
 priest,  saying.  Upon  the  great  altar  burn  ""  the 
 morning  burnt  offering,  and  the  evening  meat 
 offering,  and  the  king's  burnt  sacrifice,  and  his 
 meat  otfering,  with  the  burnt  off'ering  of  all  the 
 people  of  the  land,  and  their  meat  otfering,  and 
 their  drink  oft'erings  ;  and  sprinkle  upon  it  all 
 the  blood  of  the  burnt  ofi'ering,  and  all  the 
 blood  of  the  sacrifice  :  and  the  brasen  altar 
 shall  be  for  me  to  enquire  by. 
 
 Hi  'I'lins  did  Urijah  the  priest,  according  to 
 all  that  king  Ahaz  comnianded. 
 
 17  t  "  And  king  Ahaz  cut  otf  "the  borders  of 
 the  bases,  and  removed  the  laver  from  otf 
 them  ;  and  took  down  *"  the  sea  from  ott'  the 
 brasen  oxen  that  were  under  it,  and  put  it 
 upon  a  pavement  of  stones. 
 
 18  And  the  covert  for  the  sabbath  that  they 
 had  built  in  the  house,  and  the  king's  entry 
 without,  turned  he  from  the  house  of  the  Lobd 
 for  the  king  of  Assyria. 
 
 Ii»  If  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Ahaz  which 
 he  did,  are  tliey  not  written  in  the  book  of  the 
 chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 •JO  And  Ahaz  slept  with  his  fathers,  and ''was 
 buried  with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of  David  : 
 and  llezekiah  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  Jiosheas  wicked  reign,  3  Bving  suhduvd  by  S/uit- 
 jim/iestrj  /it  cojuspiretfi  ai/ai/itit  him  with  Sti  hintj  of 
 ■^.'Vy/''-  ^  Siuiutria  for  their  sins  is  capfivafetl. 
 24  The  strttniie  imtions,  whirh  were  trunsplunted  in 
 Snnuiria,  itiny  plagued  with  lions,  mahf  a  mijtvre  of 
 rtliginiis. 
 
 TN  the  twelfth  year  of  Aliaz  kiiif:  of  Judah 
 -^  be>:an  "  Hoshea  the  son  of  Elah  to  reign  in 
 Samaria  over  Israel  nine  years. 
 
 Chap.  XVt. — 2.  Twenty  years  old — see  the  note  on  chap,  xviii,  2. 
 3.  Pass  through  the  fire,  iniitatinp-  the  abominable  idolators  of  Canaan, 
 who  burnt  their  children  as  sacrifices  to  their  gods,  iDent.  xii.  3i.) 
 Ahaz  miffht,  however,  have  used  the  fire  by  way  of  lustration. — Pat. 
 He  burnt  his  children,  (2Chroii.  xxviii.  3.)  6.  The  Jews,  the  word  is 
 here  first  used.  Literally  the  Judeuns,  that  is,  the  men  of  Judah,  to 
 disiinguisli  them  from  the  ten  tribes,  subjects  of  the  kin^s  of  Israel.— 
 Scott.  y.  Am  thy  servitnt  and  thy  snn,  siifiiifying  obedience,  and 
 that  he  agreed,  as  a  vassal,  to  pay  tribute. — Puole.        y.  Kir,  a  place 
 
 in  Upper  Media. — Jos.  Antiq.,  1.  ix.  c.  12,    \  3.  I5.  To   en'/uire  hy, 
 
 'to  worship  at.* — Pilkingtun.  'As  tn  the  hrazen  altar,  I  will  inquire 
 what  must  be  done.' — Boothr.  18.  The  co'-ert  for  the  sahbnth,  tboujfht 
 to  have  been  a  canopy  or  covered  way. — GUI,  Jtnnings,  Clurke.  An 
 elevated  seat,  enclo^-ed,  with  a  canopy  over  it, — Par. ;  or  a  seat  covered 
 with  plates  of  gold,  a.^^  well  as  the  entrance  to  it,  and  on  which  the 
 kint,'  sat,  wirh  his  court,  during  the  times  of  worship. — Geddes,  lioitthr. 
 Chap,  XVII.  —  1.7«  the  twelfth  yettr  of  Ahaz— li  was  in  the  fourth 
 year  of  Aliaz  that  he  slew  Pekah,  so  that  he  gained  not  the  crown  till 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVI.  —  Bisliop  Hall  may  assist 
 our  reflections  on  this  chapter.  T.  A  man  that  is  once  fallen 
 from  truth  knows  not  where  he  shall  stni/.  From  the  calves  of 
 Jeroboam  is  Ahaz  drawn  to  the  tjods  of  (he  heatlien  ;  yea,  now 
 bulls  und  coats  are  too  little  for  those  new  dnities  ;  his  own 
 flesh  and  blood  is  but  dear  enou;;h  -.  he  made  his  son  to  pass 
 throuRh  their  fire.  ()  God.  how  gladly  should  we  ofter  unto 
 thee  our  souls  and  bodies,  wbich  we  may  enjoy  so  much  the 
 more  when  they  are  tliine,  since  zealous  pagans  stick  not  to 
 lose  their  own  flesh  and  blood  in  an  idol's  fire  ! 
 
 II.  He  that  hnth  thus  shameful!,/  cast  off  the  God  of  his  fathers 
 cannot  h,  long  without  a  far  ful  reiunr/e.  The  kin^'  of  lsr;i.-I  i;-.itls 
 hnn  oa  ihn  one  side,  the  kini;  of  Syria  on  the  other.  Ahaz  be- 
 takes nut  birnseir  to  the  God  whom  lie  ollended,  but  rohs  God 
 
 for  the  support  of  a  powerful  heathen  helper.  He  that  thought 
 not  his  son  too  dear  tor  an  idol,  thinks  not  God's  silver  and 
 gold  too  dear  for  an  idolatrous  abettor. 
 
 III.  ft  is  ft  dangerous  presumption  to  make  innovations,  if  but 
 in  the  circumstances  of  God^s  w<trship.  Those  human  additions 
 wbich  woulii  seem  to  grace  the  institution  of  God,  deprave  it  ; 
 that  Infinite  Wisdom  knows  best  what  will  please  itself,  antt 
 prescribes  accordingly.  The  foolislmess  of  God  is  wiser  th;in 
 the  wisdom  of  men.  Idolatry  ami  falsehood  are  commonly 
 more  gaudy  and  plausible  than  truth.  That  heart  which  cim 
 for  the  outward  homeliness  despise  the  ordinances  of  Gotl.  is 
 already  alienatpd  from  true  religion,  and  lies  open  to  the  gross- 
 est superstition. 
 
Samaria,  for  their  sins, 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XVII. 
 
 is  rajilirntiii. 
 
 2  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  tlie 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  but  not  as  the  liiiigs  of  Is- 
 rael that  were  before  him. 
 
 3  t  Against  liini  came  up  '•  Siialmaiieser  king 
 of  Assyria ;  and  Hoshea  became  his  servant, 
 and  t  gave  him  ||  presents. 
 
 4  And  the  king  of  Assyria  found  conspiracy 
 in  Hoshea :  for  he  iiad  sent  messengers  to  So 
 king  of  Egypt,  and  brouglit  no  present  to  the 
 king  of  Assyria,  as  he  had  tlaiie  year  by  year  : 
 therefore  tlie  king  of  Assyria  sliut  him  up,  and 
 bound  him  in  prison. 
 
 5  H  Then  "^  the  king  of  Assyria  came  up 
 lliroughout  all  the  land,  and  went  up  to  Sa- 
 maria, and  besieged  it  tinee  years. 
 
 6  1  ''  In  the  nintti  year  of  Hoshea  the  king 
 of  Assyria  took  Samaria,  and  "  carried  Israel 
 away  into  Assyria, 'and  placed  them  in  Halah 
 and  in  Habor  bi/  the  river  of  Gozan,  and  in  the 
 cities  of  tlie  Medes. 
 
 7  For  so  it  was,  that  the  children  of  Israel 
 had  sinjied  against  the  Lord  their  God,  which 
 had  brought  them  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt, 
 from  under  the  hand  of  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt, 
 and  had  feared  other  gods, 
 
 8  And  ^  walked  in  the  statutes  of  the  heathen, 
 whom  the  Lord  cast  out  from  before  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  and  of  the  kings  of  Israel,  which 
 they  had  made. 
 
 9  And  the  children  of  Israel  did  secretly 
 those  things  that  n-ere  not  right  against  the 
 Lord  their  God,  and  they  built  them  high 
 |)laces  in  all  their  cities,  ''from  the  tower  of 
 the  watchmen  to  the  fenced  city. 
 
 10  'And  they  set  them  up  f  images  and 
 '  groves  '  in  every  high  hill,  and  under  every 
 green  tree  : 
 
 1 1  And  there  they  burnt  incense  in  all  the 
 high  places,  as  did  the  heathen  whom  the 
 Lord  carried  away  before  them  ;  and  wrouglit 
 wicked  things  to  provoke  the  Lord  to  anger : 
 
 \'l  For  they  served  idols,  "'  whereof  the  Lord 
 had  said  unto  tliem,  "  Ye  shall  not  do  this 
 thing. 
 
 13  Yet  the  Lord  testified  against  Israel, 
 and  against  Judah,  fhy  all  the  prophets,  a?id 
 III/  all  °  the  seers,  saying,  ''  Turn  ye  from  your 
 evil  ways,  and  keep  my  commandments  and 
 my  statutes,  according  to  all  the  law  which  1 
 connnanded  your  fathers,  and  which  I  sent  to 
 you  by  my  servants  the  propliels. 
 
 14  Notwithstanding  they  would  not  hear,  but 
 ■^  hardened  their  necks,  like  to  the  neck  of 
 their  fathers,  that  did  not  believe  in  the  Lord 
 their  God. 
 
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 15  And  they  rejected  his  .statutes, 'and  his 
 covenant  that  he  made  with  their  fathers,  and 
 his  testimonies  which  he  testified  against  them  ; 
 and  they  followed  'vanity,  and  '  became  vain, 
 and  went  after  the  heathen  that  were  round 
 about  them,  concerning  whom  the  Lord  had 
 charged  them,  that  they  should  "  not  do  like 
 them. 
 
 16  And  they  left  all  the  commandments  of 
 the  Lord  their  God,  and  '  made  them  molten 
 images,  ej'cn  two  calves, 'and  made  a  grove, 
 and  worshipped  all  the  host  of  heaven,  ^  and 
 served  Baal. 
 
 17  "And  they  caused  their  sons  and  their 
 daughters  to  pass  through  the  fire,  and  ''used 
 divination  and  enchantments,  and  '  sold  them- 
 selves to  do  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  to 
 provoke  him  to  anger. 
 
 18  Therefore  the  Lord  was  very  angry  with 
 Israel,  and  removed  them  out  of  his  sight  : 
 there  was  none  left  ''  but  the  tribe  of  Judah 
 only. 
 
 1!)  Also  °  Judah  kept  not  the  commandments 
 of  the  Lord  their  God,  but  walked  in  the  sta- 
 tutes of  Israel  which  they  made. 
 
 L'O  And  the  Lord  rejected  all  the  seed  of 
 Israel,  and  afflicted  them,  and 'delivered  them 
 into  the  hand  of  spoilers,  until  he  had  cast 
 them  out  of  his  sight. 
 
 21  For  '^  he  rent  Israel  from  the  house  of 
 David  ;  and  ''  they  made  Jeroboam  the  son  of 
 Nebat  king :  and  Jeroboam  drave  Israel  from 
 following  the  Lord,  and  made  them  sin  a  great 
 sin. 
 
 22  For  the  children  of  Israel  walked  in  all 
 the  sins  of  Jeroboam  which  he  did  ;  they  de- 
 parted not  from  them  ; 
 
 '23  Until  the  Lord  removed  Israel  out  of  his 
 sight,  '  as  he  had  said  by  all  his  servants  the 
 )iropliets.  '  So  was  Israel  carried  away  out  of 
 their  own  land  to  Assyria  unto  this  day. 
 
 24  T  '  And  the  king  of  Assyria  brought  men 
 "'  from  Babylon,  and  from  Cuthah,  and  from 
 "Ava,  and  from  Hamath,  and  from  Sepharvaim, 
 and  placed  them  in  the  cities  of  Samaria  instead 
 of  ttie  children  of  Israel :  and  they  possessed 
 Samaria,  and  dwelt  in  the  cities  thereof. 
 
 25  And  so  it  was  at  the  beginning  of  their 
 dwiUing  there,  that  they  feared  not  the  Lord  : 
 therefore  the  Lord  sent  lions  among  them, 
 which  slew  some  of  them. 
 
 20  Wherefore  they  spake  to  the  king  of  As- 
 syria, saying,  The  nations  which  thou  hast  re- 
 inoved,  and  placed  in  tlie  cities  of  Samaria, 
 know  not  the  manner  of  the  God  of  the  land  : 
 
 seven  or  ciKlit  yenrs  after  tlie  murder,  whelher  by  tlie  king  tif  Assyria 
 or  fif  Judah,  or  by  some  of  liis  own  peo|ile,  is  not  stated. — flett. 
 3.  Shalmaneser,  which  some  talte  to  be  Tiplatli-l»ileser,  (scclChron. 
 V  y6,)  but  lie  rather  seems  to  be  bis  son. — fiilt,  Poole,  Scott.  The  an- 
 cient Hebrew  writers  make  him  the  same  witii  Sennacherib,  it  being 
 common  in  eastern  countries  fur  one  man  to  be  called  by  several  names. 
 Became  liis  servant,  %c.,  swore  fealty  to  him,  and  enga:jed  to  pay  him 
 tribute.  4.  So,  by  heathen  writers  called  Sabachon. — Usher,  Prid. 
 Sun  or  Sabarhus.  The  king  of  Assyria  had,  for  many  years,  been  the 
 king  of  Egypt's  rival,  {see  2  Kings,  xviil.  -21  ;  Jer.  .xx.wii.  5.)  Bound 
 /iim,  after  he  had  taken  him  witli  Samaria,  as  follows. — Poole.  6.  .i7id 
 carried  Israel  iiwaii,  not  only  the  inhabitants  of  Samaria,  but  all  the 
 ten  tiibes. — Jos.  .intiff.,  I.  9,  I  1.  The  kingdom  of  Israel,  thus  ended, 
 conlinued  about  254  years. — Usher.  In  Halah,  the  Calachena  of  Pto- 
 lemy, at  the  north  of  Assyria. — Witsius,  Pat.  Habor — the  same  with 
 Ptolemy's  Xa/3«>par,  *  Cliaboras,'  a  mountain  between  Media  and  As. 
 Syria.  Between  this  ^mountain  and  the  Caspian  Sea  there  is  the  city 
 Gauzania,  that  i'i,  (iauzaii,  between  the  two  channels  of  the  river 
 Cyrus. — Pat.  This  is  one  name,  as  several  modern  critics  agree, 
 *  Habar-nahar.gnzan.* — Boothr.  9.  Tower  of  the  watchmen,  erected 
 for  shepherds  to  watch  their  flocks,  or  for  keepers  of  gardens,  orchards, 
 aud  vineyards,  to  watch  the  fruits  of  them.— Gi//.  The  words  denote 
 415 
 
 that  idolatry  prevailed  alike  in  town  and  country,  throuahout  Israel.— 
 So  Boothr.  10.  Images  and  groties  in  everii  high  hilt,  ^t-.— this  is  still 
 the  practice  in  India  ;  rude  representations  of  gods  and  symbols  of  ido- 
 L'itry  are  seen  on  the  hills  and  under  the  sacred  trees.— So  Bob.,  see 
 also  Agreement  v/Customs  between  the  East  Indians  and  Jews.  18.  Out 
 of  his  sight,  '  out  of  Canaan,  where  his  gracious  presence  was.'— Poo/e. 
 There  u  as  none  left  but  the  tribe  of  Judah~ihe  ten  tribes  were,  in  a 
 manner,  lost  in  their  captivity;  a  part  returning  to  Jerusalem  with  the 
 two  tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  others  remaining  scattered  among 
 the  nations  in  the  countries  to  which  they  had  been  carried.- Bp. 
 Newton.  Some  returned  to  their  own  land  under  Ezra,  with  the  two 
 tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  hut  the  greater  part  remained  in  their 
 captivity.— S/acAfto«ap.  It  is  strongly  suspected  by  some  that  the 
 Afghans  are  the  descendants  of  the  scattered  tribes ;  and  a  modern 
 writer  thinks  they  may  be  found  among  the  American  Indians. — See 
 i'ii-  George  Rose's  Scrip.  Besearches,  Dr.  A,  Clarke,  and  Cotton's  Tour 
 to  the  American  Lakes.  W.  All  the  seed,  or  tribes;  first  one  part, 
 (chap.  XV.  29.)  and  now  the  rest.  23.  Siiirf  bij—the pro/ihets—ltosea, 
 Amos,  Mieah,  and  others.— CiK.  25.  Sent  lions  — the  destructive 
 
 Assyrian  wars  had  so  depopulated  the  country  that  the  wild  beasts  of 
 Lebanon  mnltiplied.— .Su(.  26.  The  God  of  the  (cijid— they  took  the 
 God  of  Israel  to  be  like  their  own,  confined  to  a  particular  place,  and 
 
A  mi.rlure  uf  nliijions. 
 
 II.  KINGS.  XVIII. 
 
 Hczckuth's  tjiiod  itiijn. 
 
 therefore  he  hath  sent  lions  among  tliein,  and, 
 behold,  they  slay  them,  because  they  know  not 
 the  manner  of  tlie  Gud  of  tlie  land. 
 
 27  Then  the  king  of  Assyria  eonnnanded, 
 saying,  Carry  tliitlier  one  of  the  priests  whom 
 ye  brought  from  thence  ;  and  let  them  go  and 
 dwell  there,  and  let  him  teach  them  the  man- 
 ner of  the  God  of  the  land. 
 
 28  Then  one  of  the  priests  whom  they  had 
 carried  away  from  Samaria  came  and  dwelt  in 
 Beth-el,  and  taught  tliem  how  they  should  fear 
 the  Lord. 
 
 20  Howbeit  every  nation  made  gods  of  their 
 own,  and  put  them  in  the  houses  of  the  high 
 places  which  the  Samaritans  had  made,  every 
 nation  in  their  cities  wherein  they  dwelt. 
 
 30  And  the  men  of  Babylon  made  Succoth- 
 benoth,  and  the  men  of  Cuth  made  Nergal,  and 
 the  men  of  Hamath  made  Asliima, 
 
 31  ''And  the  Avites  made  Nibhaz  and  Tartak, 
 and  the  Sephamtes  ''  burnt  their  children  in 
 fire  to  Adrammelech  and  Anannnelech,  the 
 gods  of  Sepharvaim. 
 
 32  So  they  feared  the  Lord,  '  and  made  unto 
 themselves  of  the  lowest  of  them  priests  of  tlie 
 high  places,  which  sacrificed  for  them  in  the 
 houses  of  the  high  places. 
 
 33  '  They  feared  the  Lord,  and  served  their 
 own  gods,  after  the  manner  of  the  nations 
 11  whom  they  carried  away  from  thence. 
 
 34  Unto  this  day  they  do  after  the  former 
 manners  :  they  fear  not  the  Loud,  neither  do 
 they  after  their  statutes,  or  after  their  ordi- 
 nances, or  after  the  law  and  connnandment 
 which  the  Lord  commanded  the  children  of 
 Jacob,  "  whom  he  named  Israel ; 
 
 3j  With  »bom  the  Lord  had  made  a  cove- 
 nant, and  charged  them,  saying,  "  Ye  shall  not 
 fear  other  gods,  nor  *■  bow  yourselves  to  them, 
 nor  serve  tlieni.  nor  sacrifice  to  tliem  : 
 
 3')  But  tlie  Lord,  who  brought  you  up  out 
 of  the  land  of  Egypt  with  great  power  and  '  a 
 
 Zepli.  I.  5. 
 
 ( (Jen.  :1a.  St*. 
 Ik  .h:..  lij, 
 IKiii.M  31 
 ..Ju.lg  6.W 
 J,  E«.  ill.  5 
 
 y  Ex.  6.  6. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  675. 
 
 I  2  Cl.r.  28 
 -.rr.fc  1^  I. 
 H.-  U  .-iilleil 
 
 b  2  Chr.  89. 
 I,  Aliij'th, 
 
 f2Clit.  31. 
 I. 
 t  Hfh. 
 
 Stretched  out  arm,  '  hiin  shall  ye  fear,  and 
 him  shall  ye  worship,  and  to  him  shall  ye  do 
 sacrifice. 
 
 37  And  the  statutes,  and  the  ordinances,  and 
 the  law,  and  the  commandment,  which  he 
 wrote  for  you,  "  ye  shall  observe  to  do  for 
 evermore  ;  and  ye  shall  not  fear  other  gods. 
 
 38  And  the  covenant  that  I  have  made  with 
 you  ''  ye  shall  not  forget ;  neither  shall  ye 
 fear  other  gods. 
 
 30  But  the  Lord  your  God  ye  shall  fear ; 
 and  he  shall  deliver  you  out  of  the  hand  of  all 
 your  enemies. 
 
 40  Howbeit  they  did  not  hearken,  hut  they 
 dill  after  their  former  manner. 
 
 41  'So  these  nations  feared  the  Loun,  and 
 served  their  graven  images,  both  their  children, 
 and  their  cliildren's  cliikhen  :  as  did  their 
 fathers,  so  do  they  unto  this  day. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIIL 
 
 I  Ih-zi-liiah's  pnml  rcir/n.  4  He  ilestrm/cl/i  ii/iiliiinf, 
 <iful  }>rosjiercth.  9  Sumnria  is  carried  etiptive  fur 
 tltcir silts.  13  Siimaeharih  iiivtuiiiiii  Jiuta'i  ispticifiui 
 hij  a  trihute.  17  liidt-shitkeh,  sv/it  hif  Seitniivf'icrib 
 ti(jain,  rcviUtli  Ihzekiah,  ami Iji/  l>/usji/taninis  jicrstta- 
 sio/is  suliciteth  the  people  to  revvlt. 
 
 ■JV^OW  it  came  to  pass  in  the  third  year  of 
 -'•''  Hoshea  sou  of  Klah  king  of  Israel,  tlwt 
 °  Hczekiali  the  son  of  Ahaz  king  of  Judah  be- 
 gan to  reign 
 
 2  Twenty  and  five  years  old  was  he  when  he 
 began  to  reigii  ;  and  he  reigned  twenty  and 
 nine  years  in  Jerusalem.  His  mother's  name 
 also  was  ■•  Abi,  the  daughter  ot  Zachariah. 
 
 3  And  he  did  that  irltich  was  right  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  that  David 
 his  father  did. 
 
 4  t  '  He  removed  the  high  places,  and  brake 
 the  t  images,  and  cut  down  the  grove.s,  and 
 brake  in  pieces  the  •'  braseii  serpent  that  Moses 
 had  made  :  for  unto  those  days  the  children 
 
 to  be  honoureil  with  peculiar  rites. — P'lt.  28.  Timt^ht  thein  tiiiw  they 
 sitoutd  fear,  ['  worship,' — H'njlhr.,]  tlie  Lord — nuw  sprung  up  the  Sa- 
 niaritaiis,  being  the  remnant  of  the  Jews  nut  carried  away  into  capti- 
 vity, and  tntermi.\ed  with  Gentiles  from  the  neighbourin(c  parts  of  As- 
 syria, especially  the  Cuthi,  who  had  come  to  colonize  and  occupy  the 
 vacant  situations  of  the  former  inhabitants.  Afterwards,  when  Cyrus 
 permitted  the  Jews  to  return,  the  Samaritans  wished  to  form  an  union 
 in  building  the  temple,  which  Zcrubbabel  refused,  and  hence  the  last- 
 ing enmity  which  afterwards  subsisted  between  both.— C«^  30.  Sue- 
 cvth-iietwth — the  word  imports  •  the  tabernacles  of  daughters,'  or  '  of 
 young  maidens,'  who  were  consecrated  to  Venus. —  Seldejt,  Pat. 
 Nergut — some  suppose  fire  is  meant,  worshipped  by  the  Persians,  from 
 whom  it  is  thought  these  men  came  ;  others  think  it  denotes  the  sun. 
 The  emblem  of  this  god  was  tlie  cock  that  ushers  in  the  morn,  the 
 Rabbins  say.  Buchart  thinks  Nergal  may  mean  a  sort  of  palm  tree, 
 called  *  Nergil'  by  the  Persians,  Arabians,  and  Indians,  of  which  extra- 
 ordinary things  were  reported. — Gill,  Put.  31.  Nihhaz  auilTnrtuk — 
 nobody  knows  what  tliese  were. — P>U.  Some  tliink  one  was  tlie  sun 
 and  the  other  means  a  chariot.  Hence  the  two  idols  may  mean  the 
 sun  mounteil  on  a  car. — Heiv.  NWhaz  was  the  Anubisot  the  Egyp'ians, 
 being  the  body  of  a  man  with  the  head  and  feet  of  a  dog.  Turtah,  tlie 
 Sinocephaltis.  a  figure  somewhat  similar,  having  the  body  of  an  ape 
 with  a  dog's  head,  standing  upon  his  hind  legs  and  looking  intensely 
 
 at  the  moon. — So  Cut.,  II'j/.,  Clarke,  .'tdrummelech  ititd  .inuiitmeteeh, 
 the  same  with  Moloch,  which,  like  Mcleeh,  signifies  'king.'  Aden  pre- 
 fi.\ed  to  one  means  'powerful,'  and  Amnn  to  the  other,  'the  mighty.' — 
 Pat.,  Cat. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.  —  1.  Tiventi/  and  Jive,  fjc. — in  chap.  xvi.  2,  it  is  said, 
 that  Hezckiah's  father,  Ahaz,  was  twenty  years  old  when  lie  began  to 
 reign,  and  he  reigned  sixteen  years,  making  his  whole  iige  thirty. six  ; 
 consequently,  if  Hczekiah  ascended  the  throne  at  twenty-five,  his 
 father  was  but  eleven  years  old  when  he  was  born.  To  account  fortius, 
 some  have  thought  there  must  lie  some  confusion  in  the  dates;  some 
 have  supposed  that  Hezekiali  was  merely  called  a  son  as  a  successor, 
 feomp.  1  Cliron.  iii.  l6,  with  2  Kings,  xxiv.  17.)  and  as  numbers,  iu 
 Scripture,  are  used  with  latitude,  it  has  been  thought  that  Ahaz  had, 
 perhaps,  nearly  attained  twenty-one  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  that 
 though  he  only  reigned  sixteen  complete,  yet  he  had  reigned  nearly 
 seventeen  years.  These  alterations  would  make  him  thirteen  years  o, 
 age ;  and  when  it  is  recollected  there  were  very  early  marriages  in  the 
 east,  and  the  promise  of  fruitfulness  belonged  to  Israel,  the  difficulty 
 may  thus  be  reconciled. — See  Pnole  and  Pat.  2.  Tlie  dauRhter  nf 
 Zuehariah,  probably  the  pious  man  who  had  so  much  influence  in 
 Uzziah's  reign,  (2  Chroii.  xxvi.  5.)  and  hv  his  instruction  and  example 
 his  daughter  might  preserve  her  son  Hezekiah  from  the  idolatry  of 
 Ahaz. — Dmdhr.         4.  Unto  those  daifs  tlie  childreit  of  Israel  did  bunt 
 
 Refi.ictions  on  Chap.  XVH.  _  We  have  here,  I.  Isracrs 
 final  dispersiun.  How  often  have  we  read,  that  if  tliey  obsti- 
 nately persevered  in  their  evil  ways  and  left  the  God  of  their 
 fathers,  he  would  assuredly  leave  tliem  !  Thev  liiid  warning 
 after  warning  by  the  prophets,  but  they  heeded  it  not.  Hence 
 the  predictions  were  at  last  fulfilled,  and  these  tribes,  even 
 '  hardened  in  the  furnace,'  became  '  lost  in  it,'  and  perished. 
 Let  the  bold  sinner  and  temporising  professor  learn  a  lesson 
 of  instruction  from  this  fultilment  of  tiod's  word.  '  He  that, 
 being  often  reproved,  liardeneth  his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be 
 destroyed,  and  that  without  remedy.' 
 
 U.  Israel's  euutinu,d  idutittri/.  'I'liougL  tlieir  punishment 
 sliould  have  caused  floods  of  tears  to  run  from  their  eyes,  and 
 41G 
 
 have  brought  them  on  their  knees  before  Cioti  ;  and  though 
 God  had  even  said,  '  the  Lord  your  God  ye  shall  fear,  and  lie 
 will  deliver  you  out  of  tlie  hand  of  your  enemies,'  so  tliar  (o 
 the  last  there  was  hope,  '  yet  when  they  were  m  the  hanil  of 
 their  enemies,  and  stood  in  need  of  deliveniuce,  lliey  were  so 
 stupid,  and  had  so  little  sense  of  their  own  interest,  tliat  they 
 "  did  after  their  former  manner'' — tliey  served  both  the  true 
 God  and  false  gods  as  if  they  knew  no  difJerence.  ''  Lpliraim 
 is  joined  to  idols  ;  let  liiiii  alone  ;''  so  they  did,  and  so  did  the 
 nations  that  succeeded  them.  \\'e]l  niighl  tlieapiistlea.-.k  ,A\'tiat 
 then?  are  we  better  than  they  f  No,  in  no  wise;  for  boiji 
 Jews  and  Gentiles  are  all  under  sin,  {  Horn.  iii.  '.>.  l'  'the  blood 
 of  idolaiors  flows  in  our  veins  ;  grace  alone  makes  us  to  differ. 
 
Samaria  is  taken  captive. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XVIII. 
 
 Rahshakeh  rcvihth  Ilezehiah. 
 
 of  Israel  did  burn  incense  to  it  :  and  he  called 
 
 it  II  Nehuslitan. 
 
 j  He  "  trusted  in  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  ; 
 'so  that  after  liijn  was  none  like  him  among  all 
 the  kings  of  Judaii,  nor  any  that  were  before 
 him. 
 
 G  For  he  ^  clave  to  the  Lord,  and  departed 
 not  t  from  following  him,  but  kept  his  com- 
 mandments, wliich  the  Lord  connnanded 
 Moses. 
 
 7  And  the  Lord  '■  was  with  him;  and  he 
 'prospered  whitliersoever  lie  went  forth  :  and 
 he  '  rebelled  against  the  king  of  Assyria,  and 
 served  him  not. 
 
 8  '  He  smote  the  Philistines,  even  unto 
 t  Gaza,  and  the  borders  thereof,  "'  from  tlie 
 tower  of  the  watchmen  to  the  fenced  city. 
 
 9  11  And  "  it  came  to  pass  in  tlie  fourth  year 
 of  king  Hezekiah,  whicli  was  the  seventh  year 
 of  Hoshea  son  of  Ehih  king  of  Israel,  that 
 Shahnaneser  king  of  Assyria  came  up  against 
 Samaria,  and  besieged  it. 
 
 10  And  at  the  end  of  three  years  they  took 
 it :  even  in  the  sixth  year  of  Hezekiah,  that  is 
 "tlie  ninth  year  of  Hoshea  king  of  Israel, 
 Samaria  was  taken. 
 
 1 1  ■■  And  the  king  of  Assyria  did  carry  away 
 Israel  unto  .Assyria,  and  put  them'' in  Halah 
 and  in  Hahor  l>y  the  river  of  Gozan,  and  in  the 
 cities  of  the  Medes  : 
 
 1-2  'Because  they  obeyed  not  the  voice  of 
 the  Lord  their  God,  but  transgressed  his  cove- 
 nant, and  all  that  Moses  the  servant  of  the 
 Lord  commanded,  and  would  not  hear  them, 
 nor  do  them. 
 
 13  1  Now  'in  the  fourteenth  year  of  king 
 Hezekiah  did  f  Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria 
 come  up  against  all  the  fenced  cities  of  Judah, 
 and  took  them. 
 
 14  And  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah  sent  to  the 
 king  of  Assyria  to  Lachish,  saying,  I  have 
 offended  ;  return  from  me  :  that  which  thou 
 puttest  on  me  will  I  bear.  And  the  king  of 
 Assyria  appointed  unto  Hezekiah  king  of 
 Judah  three  hundred  talents  of  silver  and 
 thirty  talents  of  gold. 
 
 15  And  Hezekiah  'gave  him  all  the  silver 
 that  was  found  in  tlie  liouse  of  the  Lord,  and 
 in  the  treasures  of  the  king's  house. 
 
 IG  At  that  time  did  Hezekiah  cui  oii  the  gold 
 from  the  doors  of  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  and 
 from  the  pillars  which  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah 
 had  overlaid,  and  gave  f  it  to  the  king  of 
 Assyria.  | 
 
 {)  That  in,  a 
 pifcc  "f 
 
 e  ch    19    III. 
 
 J.jb  18   Ij. 
 
 Pa.  13.  5 
 /ch.  23.85. 
 
 S  Pcu.  Hl.?0, 
 J..Bh.  S3  8. 
 1  Heb./r«., 
 a/:er  liitn. 
 
 /.2Chr.  15.2. 
 
 Cii-.  72.-,. 
 :  1  Sam  IS..*! 
 U.  Ps.  60. 
 12. 
 A  ch    hi.  7 
 
 n  Clir.4-11. 
 In.  U. '29. 
 I  Heb. 
 
 m  cU.  17.  9. 
 
 .  17.  3. 
 1-.  7^3. 
 
 p  cli.  17.  C. 
 7  I  Clir  5.21) 
 
 1  ch    17.  7. 
 Dau.  9.  ti. 
 
 B  C. 
 cir.  710. 
 
 f  Heb.hcat'tj 
 
 Oi,  Jflcre. 
 
 II),  &c. 
 
 11  Or,  litl:^tl. 
 
 t  Ht'b.  iTOfrf 
 "/  //<*■  /./u. 
 
 II  Or,  fl«( 
 C"w.f't  a'.d 
 ilreiigtli  are 
 fur  the  war 
 
 jf  Ezek.  29 
 
 :  ver.  4. 
 2Chr.  31    I 
 &  32    12 
 
 h  •el'ig'i. 
 
 17  t  And  the  king  of  Assyria  sent  Tartan 
 and  Rabsaris  and  Rab-shakeh  from  Lachish  to 
 king  Hezekiah  witli  a  f  great  liost  against 
 Jerusalem.  And  tlicy  went  np  and  came  to 
 Jerusalem.  And  when  they  were  come  up, 
 they  came  and  stood  by  tlie  conduit  of  the 
 upper  pool,  "  which  is  in  the  highway  of  the 
 fuller's  field. 
 
 18  And  when  they  had  called  to  the  king, 
 there  came  out  to  tliein  Eliakim  the  son  of 
 Hilkiah,  which  ivas  over  the  housliold,  and 
 Shebna  the  ||  scribe,  and  Joah  the  son  of 
 Asaph  the  recorder. 
 
 19  And  Rab-shakeh  said  unto  them.  Speak 
 ye  now  to  Hezekiah,  thus  saith  tlie  great  king, 
 the  king  of  Assyria,  "  What  confidence  is  this 
 wherein  thou  trustest? 
 
 •20  Thou  II  sayest,  (but  thci/  are  but  fvain 
 words,)  II  /  have  counsel  and  strength  for  the 
 war.  Now  on  whom  dost  thou  tru.st,  that  thou 
 rebellest  against  me  ? 
 
 '21  'Now,  behold,  thou  ftrustest  upon  the 
 staflf  of  this  bruised  reed,  even  upon  Egypt,  on 
 which  if  a  man  lean,  it  will  go  into  his  liand, 
 and  pierce  it:  .so  !s  pharaoli  king  of  Egypt  unto 
 all  that  trust  on  him. 
 
 22  But  if  ye  say  unto  me.  We  trust  in  the 
 Lord  our  God  :  is  not  that  he,  '  whose  high 
 places  and  whose  altars  Hezekiah  hath  taken 
 away,  and  hath  said  to  Judah  and  Jerusalem, 
 Ye  shall  worship  before  this  altar  in  Jerusa- 
 lem ? 
 
 2.3  Now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  give  ||  pledges 
 to  my  lord  the  king  of  Assyria,  and  I  will  de- 
 liver thee  two  thousand  horses,  if  thou  be  able 
 on  thy  part  to  set  riders  upon  tliem. 
 
 24  How  then  wilt  thou  turn  away  the  face 
 of  one  captain  of  the  least  of  my  master's  ser- 
 vants, and  put  thy  trust  on  Egypt  for  chariots 
 and  for  horsemen  ? 
 
 2j  Am  I  now  come  up  without  the  Lord 
 against  this  place  to  destroy  it?  The  Lord 
 said  to  me,  Go  up  against  this  land,  and  de- 
 stroy it. 
 
 2G  Then  said  Eliakim  the  son  of  Hilkiah,  and 
 Shebna,  and  Joah,  unto  Rab-shakeh,  Speak,  I 
 pray  thee,  to  thy  servants  in  the  Syrian  lan- 
 guage ;  for  we  understand  it:  and  talk  not 
 with  us  in  the  Jews'  language  in  the  ears  of 
 the  peojile  that  are  on  the  wall. 
 
 27  But  Rab-shakeh  said  unto  them,  Hath 
 my  master  sent  me  to  thy  master,  and  to 
 thee,  to  speak  these  words  ?  hath  he  not  sent 
 me   to  the  men   which  sit  on  the   wall,  that 
 
 incejue  to  it — not  from  the  time  it  was  brought  into  Canaan,  nor  even 
 in  later  times,  in  the  days  of  Asa  and  Jehoshaphat,  who  would  never 
 have  suffeied  it ;  very  probably  this  piece  of  idoiatry  b.?f  an  iu  the 
 times  of  Ahaz,  who  encouraged  every  thing  of  that  kind.— GJ//.  A'e- 
 hus/ititn,  'a  brazen  bauble,' — Hales,  or  'a  piece  of  brass,'  by  way  of 
 ciposing  the  fnlly  of  those  whn  worshipped  it.— Sco«.  '  The  divining 
 serpent,'  so  called  by  the  penple,  Tmg.  •  Foul  fiend,'  '  old  dragon.'— 
 Dr.  Jiick^un.  7.  RebelUd,  shook  off  the  yoke  of  subjection  and  tri- 
 bute to  wliich  his  father  had  wickedly  submitted,  (chap.  xvi.  7.)  *  He 
 served  him  not.'— Poole.  Still  it  is  plain,  from  vtr.  H,  that  lie  was  not 
 able  to  maintain  himself  free  from  all  subjection  to  the  king  of  Assyria. 
 — Pat.  S.  Tower   of  the  watchmen  —  see   note   on   chap.  xvii.  9. 
 
 13.  Senniteherit>—mention  is  made  of  this  king,  by  name,  by  Herodotus 
 and  other  heathen  writers.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the  son  of  Ene- 
 massar,  tliat  is,  Shalnianeser.— 6'(7/.  Shalnianeser,  having  captured 
 Samaria  and  Israel, wtiuld  probably  have  attempted  the  same  with  Judah, 
 but  he  had  too  much  on  his  liands,  and  his  son  proceeded  to  the  work. 
 Hezekiah,  in  the  mean  time,  hart  leisure  to  reform  the  nation;  whose 
 lukewarniness  was,  however,  punished  by  the  capture  of  the  frontier 
 towns. — Scott.  u,  T  hare  op'endeil — some  expositors  ch.-^rge  him 
 with  criminality,  but  his  defection  was  from  a  subjection  which  bad 
 been  professed  and  performed  by  another. — Poole.  He  seems  rather 
 to  have  sinned  by  yielding  iu  so  timid  a  manner,  and  evidently  distrust- 
 ing Ciod's  protection.— Seo/^  I6.  Cvt  off  the  gold  from  tlie  doors,  so 
 417 
 
 repairing  the  injury  which  his  fatlier  had  done  to  them,  and  putting 
 them  into  the  same  condition  in  which  Solomon  left  them,  (1  Kings, 
 vi.  32.) — Poole.  1".  Sent  Turtnn,  ^c. — Tartan,  &c.,  are  not  proper 
 
 names,  but  ofiices.  Tartan,  '  the  president  of  the  council ;'  Rabsaris, 
 '  the  chief  eunuch  ;'  and  Rab.shakeh,  'the  ptiiicipal  cup-bearer.' — he 
 Clerc  ;  so  also  Cal.  The  Jews  think  frum  Rab-sbakeh's  speaking  He- 
 brew fluently,  he  was  an  apostate  Jew,  or  one  of  the  captivity  of  Israel  • 
 and  as  they  dirt  not  rend  their  clothes  for  the  blasphemy  of  a  heathen] 
 they  further  infer  it  from  what  is  mentioned  in  ver.  37. — Hew.,  Pat'. 
 This  second  invasion  is  thought  to  have  been  about  three  jcars  after 
 the  former  agreement,  during  which  time  Sennacherib  was  occupied 
 in  other  wars. — Pat.  Tllis  was  a  breach  of  faith  with  Hezekiah,  after 
 receiving  his  money,  thereby  justifying  Hezekiah's  rebellion,  and 
 paving  the  way  for  his  own  destruction. — Poote.  22.  }yhose  altars 
 
 Hezekiah  hath  taken  aa'ai/—hQ  ignorantly  called  those  crimes  which 
 were  Hezekiah's  greatest  virtues,  the  prohibi'ing  of  sacrifices  in  any 
 place  that  was  not  of  God's  appointment. — Pat.  23.  And  I  wilt  delirer 
 thee  two  thousand  horses,  '  come  out  and  fight  in  the  open  field,  and  if 
 you  can  find  riders  vvc  will  even  give  you  horses,  and  then  yon  have 
 no  chance  against  our  ]nii,'hty  forces.' — Poote,  Ed.  25.  Without  the 
 Lord — he  inferred,  from  their  other  successes,  that  the  Lord  was  their 
 guide, — So  P^/le,  or  rather  he  said  this  to  frighten  Israel.— Poo/e. 
 27.  Hath  he  not  Bent  jne  to  the  men,  fyc,  '  and  not  also  to  the  men  who 
 are  stationed  on  the  wall,  who  will  be  compelled,  with  you,  to  eat  theif 
 3  II 
 
Ilah-shnltch's  blnsp!icmi/. 
 
 11.  KINGS,  XIX. 
 
 liezclii all's  mourning. 
 
 they  may  cat  their  own  dung,  and  drink  f  their 
 own  piss  will)  you? 
 
 28  Then  Ralj-shakeh  stood  and  cried  vvitli  a 
 loud  voice  in  tlie  Jews'  language,  and  spake, 
 saying,  Hear  tlie  word  of  the  great  king,  the 
 king  of  Assyria  : 
 
 29  Thus  saith  the  king,  °  Let  not  Hezekiah 
 deceive  you  :  for  he  sliall  not  be  able  to  de- 
 liver you  out  of  his  hand  : 
 
 30  Neither  let  Hezekiah  make  you  trust  in 
 the  Lord,  saying.  The  Lord  will  surely  de- 
 liver us,  and  this  city  sliall  not  be  delivered 
 into  the  hand  of  the  i<iMg  of  Assyria. 
 
 31  Hearken  not  to  Hezekiah  :  for  thus  saith 
 the  king  of  Assyria,  ||  t  Make  an  agreement 
 with  me  by  a  present,  and  come  out  to  me, 
 and  ihtn  eat  ye  every  man  of  his  own  vine, 
 and  every  one  of  liis  fig  tree,  and  drink  ye 
 every  one  the  waters  of  his  ||  cistern  : 
 
 32  Until  I  come  and  take  you  away  to  a 
 land  like  your  own  land,  ''  a  laud  of  corn  and 
 wine,  a  land  of  breail  and  vineyards,  a  land  of 
 oil  olive  and  of  honey,  that  ye  may  live,  and 
 not  die  :  and  liearken  not  unto  Hezekiah,  when 
 he  II  persuadeth  you,  saying.  The  Lord  will 
 deliver  us. 
 
 .33  '  Hath  any  of  the  gods  of  the  nations  de- 
 livered at  all  his  land  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
 king  of  Assyria? 
 
 84  ''  Where  are  the  gods  of  Hamath,  and  of 
 Arpad?  where  are  the  gods  of  Sepharvaim, 
 Hena,  and  "  Ivah?  have  they  delivered  Sama- 
 ria out  of  mine  hand  ? 
 
 .3.5  Who  are  they  among  all  the  gods  of  the 
 countries,  tliat  have  delivered  their  country 
 out  of  mine  hand,  •■  that  the  Lord  should  de- 
 liver .Terusalem  out  of  mine  hand  ? 
 
 30  But  the  people  hold  tlieir  peace,  and  an- 
 swered him  not  a  word  :  for  the  king's  com- 
 mandment was,  saying.  Answer  him  not. 
 
 37  Then  came  Eliakim  the  son  of  Hilkiah, 
 which  ums  over  the  houshold,  and  Shebna  the 
 scribe,  and  Joah  the  son  of  Asapli  the  recorder, 
 to  Hezekiah  ^  with  their  clothes  rent,  and  told 
 him  the  words  of  Kab-shakeh. 
 
 f  Hcb,  //.-• 
 VieiT  feet. 
 
 II   Or,  Snk 
 
 \   Hcb    M'<ke 
 ^i^'th  nxe  a 
 hle.li.iif. 
 Sell.  SS.  30. 
 
 &:a  M. 
 
 Pr.i.  18   16. 
 II  Or,  pit 
 
 (.Dcu.  8.7,3. 
 
 eeivTltt. 
 
 ■  ch.  19.  1?. 
 2  Cl.r.  M. 
 1 1.  Is.  10. 
 
 lu,  n. 
 
 «  ch.  17.  21, 
 
 /Dan,  3.  15. 
 
 »Ia.  33.: 
 
 h  T. like  3, 
 c.illo.1 
 Euiiai. 
 
 r  ■?  Snm    1 1> 
 
 I? 
 ./cli.  IS  3.'.. 
 
 t  I  let. /.«...! 
 
 '.  v,.r  3.^,,  3fi, 
 .37.  Jcr.  51. 
 I. 
 
 icli.  19.  I». 
 710. 
 
 k  Sep  I  Sam. 
 23.  27. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I  Hezekiah  movrninc/  sciulitli  to  Isaiah  to  pray  for 
 them.  6  Isaiah  cimifortith  them.  8  Scumithtrihy 
 t/oini/  tn  encomitfr  Tirhahafi,  scndith  a  bhisphtmons 
 letter  to  Hizekiah.  14  Hczehiah's prai/rr.  20  Isaiah's 
 prn/ihic>/  tif  the  pri'/e  and  dtstruetion  of  Sennacherib, 
 and  the  i/otid  of  Zion.  35  A7i  ungtl  slai/ith  the  Assy- 
 rinns.  36  Sennacherib  is  shiin  at  Nineveh  by  his 
 own  sons. 
 
 \  ND  "^  it  came  to  pass,  wlien  king  Hezekiali 
 ■^^  heard  it,  that  he  rent  his  clothes,  and  co- 
 vered himself  with  sackcloth,  and  went  into 
 the  house  of  tlie  Lokp. 
 
 2  And  he  sent  Eliakim,  which  ivns  over  the 
 houshold,  and  Shebna  the  scrihe,  and  the 
 elders  of  the  priests,  covered  with  sackcloth, 
 to  ^  Isaiah  the  prophet  the  son  of  Amoz. 
 
 3  And  they  said  unto  liim,  Thus  saith  Heze- 
 kiah, This  day  is  a  day  of  trouble,  and  of  re- 
 buke, and  II  blasphemy  :  for  the  children  are 
 come  to  the  birth,  and  there  is  not  strength  to 
 brinj^  forth. 
 
 4  *"  It  may  be  the  Lord  thy  God  will  hear 
 all  the  words  of  Rab-shakeh,  ''  whom  the  king 
 of  Assyria  his  master  hatli  sent  to  reproach  the 
 living  God  ;  and  will  '"  reprove  the  words  which 
 the  Lord  thy  God  hath  heard  :  wherefore 
 lift  up  thf/  prayer  for  the  remnant  that  are 
 tleft. 
 
 6  So  the  servants  of  king  Hezekiah  came  to 
 Isaiah. 
 
 6  If  ^  And  Isaiah  said  unto  them.  Thus  shall 
 ye  say  to  your  master.  Thus  saith  the  Lori>, 
 Be  not  afraid  of  the  words  which  thou  hast 
 heard,  with  which  the  ^  servants  of  the  king  of 
 Assyria  have  blasphemed  me. 
 
 7  Behold,  I  will  send  *^  a  blast  upon  him,  and 
 he  shall  hear  a  rumour,  and  shall  return  tu  his 
 own  land  ;  and  I  will  cause  him  to  fall  by  the 
 sword  in  his  own  land. 
 
 8  If  So  Rab-shakeh  returned,  and  found  the 
 king  of  Assyria  warring  against  Libnah  :  for 
 he  had  heard  that  he  was  departed  '  from 
 Lachish. 
 
 9  And  "■  when  he  heard  say  of  Tirhakah  king 
 
 ou-n  dung,*  ^c. — Boothr.  These  were  hyprrbolical  expressions,  denot- 
 ing the  utmost  extremities  of  famine. — Scott.  The  same  disgusting 
 allusions  are  employed  by  tlie  hcmhen  to  this  day,  to  express  the 
 highest  cnntempt  for  a  person,  and  to  describe  his  coming  calamities. 
 —So  Rob. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  —  3.  Blasphemy, '  calumny.' — Boothr.  The  children  are 
 come  to  the  birth — the  very  same  e.vpre^sion  is  now  employed  among 
 the  Hinririos  when  any  measure  has  failed  which  seemed  near  its 
 accomplishment. — Rob.  It  denotes  the  extremity  of  danger. — Bp. 
 Lowth.  '  We  have  attempted  to  deliver  ourselves  from  the  Assyrian 
 yoke,  but  our  strength  has  failed.'        4.  Tlie  remnarit—i^Q  ten  tribes 
 
 wore  now  lost,  and  Judah  was  greatly  wasted  and  depopulated. — So 
 Poole.  7.  I  will  se?id  a  Itlast  upon  tiim,  '  I  will  put  another  spirit  in 
 him.' — Seeker.  Perhaps  it  means  that  the  Lord  would  destroy  his  pros- 
 perity as  easily  as  the  pinching  wind  blasts  the  tetulcr  vegetables.— 
 Scott.  The  blast  was  that  which  slew  185,000in  oncnight.— .-l.r/rtrA-c. 
 The  expression  means  a  violent,  sudden,  and  terrible  stroke,  namely, 
 the  miraculous  destruction  of  the  Assyrian  army. — Poole.  The  blast 
 was  the  '  saniiel'  or  '  simoom,'  luirning  wind  of  the  tlesert, — So  Taylor's 
 CaL,  Burder^s  Orient.  Cust.  Not  the  simoom,  but  the  immediate  visi- 
 tation of  an  angel,  as  when  the  firstborn  of  the  Egyptians  were  all 
 slain,  and  the  Israelites  spared.— Swi.,  Henry.        8.  Libnah,  a  city  that 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIII. — ^Three  characters  ap- 
 pear in  this  chapter  : — I.  Hezekiah,  a  reforming  king.  God 
 has  his  devoted  servants  even  in  the  worst  of  times.  How 
 discouraging  soever  the  state  of  society  may  appear,  yet  it  is 
 wonderful  how  much  may  be  accomplished  by  men  of  rank 
 and  influence  in  sleraming  and  turning  the  tide  of  corruption. 
 But  there  is  too  much  indolence  and  indifference  among  many 
 truly  pious  men,  and  they  often  leave  evils  to  work  their  own 
 cure,  which  they  ought  rather,  with  all  their  might,  to  drive 
 out  of  the  land.  May  the  Lord  raise  up  amongst  our  great  men 
 more  good  men,  filled  with  the  reforming  spirit  of  the  pious 
 Hezekiali  ! 
 
 II.  Sennachei-ib,  an  amhitious  conqueror.  The  piety  of  Heze- 
 kiah did  not  save  the  nation  from  trouble,  but  it  saved  it  from 
 ruin.  Sennacherib  was  God's  rod  to  make  the  people  feel  the 
 consequences  of  departing  from  him.  Ills  flither  and  predeces- 
 sor bad  scourged  and  scattered  Israel.  *  because  they  obeyed 
 not  the  voice  of  the  Lord  their  God  ;'  and  now  it  was  not  with- 
 out a  rpason,  that  Sennacherib  took  the  fenced  cities  of  Judab. 
 Sennacherib  did  this  to  enlarge  his  empire  and  slake  the  thirst 
 41S 
 
 of  his  ambition,  but  God  to  bumble  a  sinful  nation  and  hasten 
 
 on  the  reformation  effecting  by  good  Hezekiah.  Thus  ambi- 
 tious monarchs,  while  effecting  their  own  selfish  and  arbitrary 
 ends,  are  nevertheless  the  instruments  of  the  Divine  hand, 
 and  used  by  Providence  for  great  and  important  purposes, 
 which,  being  accomplished,  they  are  thrown  aside,  and  reap 
 the  reward  of  their  iniquity. 
 
 HI.  Bahshnkeh,  a  hold  blasphemer.  He  boasted  of  protection 
 from  Jehovah,  whom  he  despised,  and  then,  in  the  same 
 breath,  declared  that  this  Jehovah  was  unable  to  deliver  He- 
 zekiah from  the  power  of  his  mighty  master.  How  great  is 
 the  patience  of  God,  that  he  should  for  a  moment  bear  with 
 such  daring  worms  !  And  still  greater  in  this  instance,  if  Rab- 
 siiakeb  was,  as  is  supposed,  an  apostate  Israelite,  and  an  ex- 
 ample that  apostates  are  the  most  malignant  foes  of  God.  But 
 the  stroke  of  justice  is  only  suspended;  these  apostates  shall 
 reap  the  reward  of  their  doings.  '  He  tliat  sitteth  in  the  hea- 
 vens' laughs  them  to  scorn,  and  soon  shall  he  •  dash  them  in 
 pieces  like  a  potter's  vessel.' 
 
Hezehiah's  prayer. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XIX. 
 
 Isaiah's  prophcci/. 
 
 of  Ethiopia,  Behold,  he  is  come  out  to  fight 
 against  thee  :  he  sent  messengers  again  unto 
 Hezekiah,  saying, 
 
 10  Thus  shall  ye  speak  to  Hezekiah  king  of 
 Judah,  saying.  Let  not  thy  God  '  in  whom 
 thou  trustest  deceive  thee,  saying,  .Jerusalem 
 shall  not  be  delivered  into  the  hand  of  the  king 
 of  Assyria. 
 
 1 1  Behold,  tliou  hast  heard  what  the  kings 
 of  Assyria  have  done  to  all  lands,  by  de- 
 stroying them  utterly  :  and  shalt  thou  be  de- 
 livered ? 
 
 12  '"  Have  the  gods  of  the  nations  delivered 
 them  wliich  my  fathers  have  destroyed  ;  as 
 Gozan,  and  Haran,  and  Ilezepli,  and  the  chil- 
 dren of"  Eden  which  were  in  Thelasar? 
 
 13  "  Where  /.<  the  king  of  Hamath,  and  the 
 king  of  Arpad,  and  the  king  of  the  city  of  Se- 
 pharvaim,  of  Hena,  and  Ivali? 
 
 14  H  ''  And  Hezekiah  received  the  letter  of 
 the  hand  of  the  messengers,  and  read  it  :  and 
 Hezekiah  went  up  into  the  house  of  the  Loud, 
 and  spread  it  before  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  Hezekiah  prayed  before  the  Lord, 
 and  said,  O  Loud  God  of  Israel,  ''  which  dwell- 
 est  between  tlie  cherubims,  '  thou  art  the  God, 
 even  thou  alone,  of  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
 earth  ;  thou  hast  made  heaven  and  earth. 
 
 IG  Loud,  'bow  down  tliine  ear,  and  hear: 
 'open,  Lord,  thine  eyes,  and  see  :  and  hear 
 the  words  of  Sennacherib,  "  which  hath  sent 
 liim  to  reproacli  tlie  living  God. 
 
 17  Of  a  truth.  Lord,  tlie  kings  of  Assyria  have 
 destroyed  the  nations  and  their  lands, 
 
 18  And  have  feast  tlieir  gods  into  the  fire  : 
 for  they  were  no  gods,  but  '  the  work  of  men's 
 hands,  wood  and  stone  :  therefore  they  have 
 destroyed  tliem. 
 
 19  Now  therefore,  O  Lord  our  God,  I  be- 
 seech thee,  save  thou  ns  out  of  his  hand,  '  that 
 all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  may  know  that 
 thou  art  the  Lord  God,  even  thou  only. 
 
 20  If  Then  Isaiah  the  son  of  Amoz  sent  to 
 Hezekiah,  saying.  Thus  saitli  tlie  Lord  God 
 of  Israel,  '■  That  which  thou  hast  prayed  to 
 me  against  Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria  '  I 
 have  heard. 
 
 21  This  is  the  word  that  the  Lord  hath 
 spoken  concerning  him  ;  The  virgin  ''  the 
 daughter  of  Zion  hath  despised  thee,  and 
 laughed  thee  to  scorn  ;  the  daughter  of  Jeru- 
 salem '  hath  shaken  her  head  at  thee. 
 
 22  Whom  hast  thou  reproached  and  blas- 
 phemed ?  and  against  whom  hast  thou  exalted 
 
 Ezt.  27.53. 
 cli,  IS.  3.1. 
 
 1/  I  Sam.  \A. 
 
 Pa   an.  1. 
 r  I  Kii<    19. 
 
 39.  I...  II. (J. 
 
 J.-I-.  lit.   10, 
 
 II,  \2. 
 
 ,  Pa.  31.  2. 
 c.'ChrO.IO. 
 T<  ver.  I. 
 
 t  Heb.ji'fc/i. 
 
 J-  P^.  11.1.  i 
 .lei.  1(1.  3. 
 
 ■  Joli  16.  4. 
 P«,  ■».  7,  8 
 Lam.  2.  15. 
 
 B.  C.  7ILI. 
 
 d  Pa.  7I.2L'. 
 la   5  21 
 Jer.  .'il    .5. 
 
 I  Hfh    «y 
 Ihet, t"r. 
 
 -■ch    IH,  17. 
 
 /  Pa.  10.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  Iht. 
 forett  and 
 
 JirU. 
 Is.  I".  IS. 
 
 ,-l(.»,B-«;.», 
 and  f'lrmrd 
 ili<fi>ncic->t 
 timfi  f 
 th">.td  fw'w 
 briuij  1 1  III  bir 
 
 and  ti'»i:i''t 
 ritiri  lit  bo 
 
 e  la  4.'>.  7. 
 A  la.  10.  5. 
 f  HbIi.  iharl 
 „flM,td 
 i  Pa.  l->9.  fi. 
 *  Pa.  139.  I, 
 
 II  Or,  tittu'S- 
 
 ;  Job  *l    2. 
 
 Ezelc.  29,  -1. 
 
 8i3S.  4. 
 
 Amos  t.  2. 
 "1  ver.  33, 
 
 36,37. 
 
 H  I  Sain.  2. 
 31,  i-h.  20. 
 8,  9.  Is.  7. 
 II,  II. 
 Luke  2.  12. 
 
 I  H^b.  Ike 
 rtcaping  (it 
 
 q  Cll.  20.  fl. 
 
 thy  voice,  and  lifted  up  thine  eyes  on  high  y 
 even  against  ''  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 
 
 23  f  By  thy  messengers  thoii  hast  reproach- 
 ed the  Lord,  and  hast  said,  '  With  the  multi- 
 tude of  my  chariots  I  am  come  up  to  the  height 
 of  the  mountains,  to  the  sides  of  Lebanon,  and 
 will  cut  down  f  the  tall  cedar  trees  thereof,  and 
 the  choice  fir  trees  thereof:  and  I  will  enter 
 into  the  lodgings  of  his  borders,  and  into  \\  the 
 forest  of  his  Carmel. 
 
 24  I  have  digged  and  drunk  strange  waters, 
 and  with  the  sole  of  my  feet  have  I  dried  up 
 all  the  rivers  of  |{  besieged  places. 
 
 25  II  Hast  thou  not  heard  long  ago  Jiow  ^  1 
 have  done  it,  ««</ of  ancient  times  that  I  have 
 formed  itV  now  have  I  brought  it  to  pass,  thai 
 '■  thou  shouldest  be  to  lay  waste  fenced  cities 
 into  ruinous  heaps. 
 
 26  Therefore  their  inhabitants  were  f  of  small 
 power,  they  were  dismayed  and  confounded  ; 
 they  were  as  the  grass  of  the  field,  and  as  the 
 green  herb,  as  '  the  grass  on  the  house  tops, 
 and  as  corn  blasted  before  it  be  grown  up. 
 
 27  But  '  I  know  thy  ||  abode,  and  thy  going 
 out,  and  thy  coming  in,  and  thy  rage  against 
 me. 
 
 28  Because  thy  rage  against  me  and  thy  tu- 
 mult is  come  up  into  mine  ears,  therefore  'I  will 
 put  my  hook  in  thy  nose,  and  my  bridle  in  thy 
 lips,  and  I  will  turn  thee  back  '"  by  the  way  by 
 which  thou  camest. 
 
 29  And  this  shall  be  "  a  sign  unto  thee,  Yo 
 shall  eat  this  year  such  things  as  grow  of  them- 
 selves, and  in  the  second  year  that  which 
 springeth  of  the  .same  ;  and  in  the  third  year 
 sow  ye,  and  reap,  and  plant  vineyards,  and  eat 
 the  fruits  thereof. 
 
 30  °  And  t  the  remnant  that  is  escaped  of  the 
 house  of  Judah  shall  yet  again  take  root  down- 
 ward, and  bear  fruit  upward. 
 
 31  For  out  of  Jerusalem  shall  go  forth  a 
 remnant,  and  fthey  that  escape  out  of  mount 
 Zion  :  ''  the  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  do 
 this. 
 
 32  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  concerning 
 the  king  of  Assyria,  He  shall  not  come  into 
 this  city,  nor  shoot  an  arrow  there,  nor  come 
 before  it  with  shield,  nor  cast  a  bank  against  it. 
 
 33  By  the  way  that  he  came,  by  the  same 
 shall  he  return,  and  shall  not  come  into  this 
 city,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 34  For  ^  I  will  defend  this  city,  to  save  it,  for 
 mine  own  sake,  and  'for  my  servant  David's 
 sake. 
 
 had  revoUert  from  Judah,  (cliap.  viii.  22.) — Henrti.  He  was  departed 
 from  Lnchish,  not  beinc  able  to  take  it.  9.  Et'hiopiii,  probably  Ethi- 
 opia beyond  E^ypt. —Poo/e.  Sent  rne.isentrers  iifrain  until  Hezekiah — 
 the  rumour  of  the  advance  of  the  king  of  the  Cushites  induced  Senna, 
 cherib  af  ain  to  press  Hezekiah,  and  save  himself  the  protracted  labours 
 of  asicge.— So /f«ir;/.  12.  Gozan  ami  Haran,   ^c,  several  places 
 
 about  or  beyond  Euphrates,  (sec  Gen.  xi.  31  ;  Ezek.  xxvii.  23.)— Poo/f . 
 21.  The  virgin,  so  Zion  is  called,  because  it  had  never  been  violated  by 
 an  enemy.— Hew.  Also  because  she  was  pure  from  that  frross  idolatry 
 wherewith  other  places  were  deliled.— Pi/ofe.  The  daughter,  'the 
 people ;'  cities  arc  often  called  mothers,  and  the  inhabitants  daughter,*, 
 (see  2  Sam.  XX.  19;  Num.xxi.25;  Josh.  xvii.  16  ;  Judg.  i.  2?,  &c.)— 
 Poole.  23.  With  the  multitude  of  my  chariots,  fyc. — language  ex- 
 pressing his  ability  to  overcome  every  obstacle.— Pri^.  Descriptive  uf 
 the  king's  design  to  take  Mount  Zion,  and  destroy  the  principal  inha- 
 bitants.— Loivth.  The  lodgings  of  his  borders,  •  his  extreme  retreat.' — 
 Boothr.  24.  Digged  and  drunk  strange  waters,  in  the  driest  places 
 in  strange  countries  he  had  contrived  to  find  water.— So  Hew.  n'ith 
 the  sole  of  my  feet,  perhaps  means,  '  my  infantry  were  numerous 
 enough  to  dry  up  the  rivers  with  their  feet,'  the  language  being  through- 
 out hyperbolical, — Eran.  Si/nop. ;  or  he  had  turned  the  streams  and  so 
 taken  the  strongest  fortresses. — Pat.  The  riiiers  of  besieged  places, 
 li^iD, 'of  Egttpt.'—Boch.  Harmer  paraphrases  the  verse  thus: — *I 
 have  digged  channels  aud  drunk,  and  caused  my  army  to  drink,  out  of 
 419 
 
 new  made  rivers,  into  which  I  have  conducted  the  waters  that  used  to 
 flow  elsewhere  ;  and  have  laid  those  old  channels  dry  with  the  sole  of 
 my  foot;  i.  e.,  with  as  much  ease  as  a  gardener  digs  channels  in  his 
 garden,  and,  directing  the  waters  of  a  cistern  into  a  new  rill,  stops  np 
 with  his  foot  that  in  which  it  ran  before.*  Allusion  is  evidently  made, 
 as  Harmer  thinks,  to  the  eastern  mode  of  watering  gardens.  26.  As 
 corn  blasted — the  same  wind,  which  blows  in  the  night,  and  is  suc- 
 ceeded by  a  cold  one,  will  burn  up  every  blade  of  corn,  even  near  its 
 maturity. — Morier.  28.  My  hook,  lye-,  just  as  they  now  lead  and 
 govern  the  unruly  bear,  buffalo,  dromedary,  and  other  wild  beasts,  by 
 a  ring  in  the  nose,  or  as  the  fisherman  catches  the  fi^h  in  the  jaw,  or 
 the  rider  controls  the  horse  by  the  bit.— Lott-fA.  The  Hindoos  use  the 
 ring  in  the  nose  of  the  cow,  bear,  &c. — Ward.  29.  Shall  be  a  sign — 
 the  devastations  of  the  Assyrians  had  probably  prevented  the  sowing 
 of  the  land  ;  the  next  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  sabbatical  year ;  but 
 the  spontaneous  produce  of  the  two  years  should  be  sufficient  till  Ihe 
 corn  grew  as  before.  This  would  be  a  sign  that  nothing  short  of  a 
 miracle  had  effected  Hezekiah's  deliverance.  These  words  arc  ad- 
 dressed to  Hezekiah.— 6"toff.  The  word  rns,  *  sign,'  may  signify  any- 
 thing that  confirms  a  promise  made. — Boothr.  30.  Take  root,  §c., 
 '  be  established  in  their  country  and  flourish.' — Pat.  31.  Shall  go 
 forth  a  remnant — the  people  had  been  thinned  and  scittered  in  Jeru- 
 salem and  adjacent  parts,  but  they  should  so  revive  as  to  replenish  the 
 land. — Ed.        33.  Return,  without  his  army. — Clarke.         34.  For  my 
 
Uezekia/if  by  prayer^ 
 
 35  1  And  Mt  came  to  pass  that  night,  that 
 the  angfl  of  the  Lord  went  out,  and  binote  in 
 the  camp  of  the  Assyrians  an  hundred  four- 
 score and  five  thousand  :  and  when  they  arose 
 early  in  the  morning,  behold,  they  ivtre  all 
 dead  corpses. 
 
 36  So  Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria  departed, 
 and  went  and  returned,  and  dwelt  at  '  Nine- 
 veh. 
 
 37  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  was  worship- 
 ping in  the  house  of  Nisroch  his  god,  that 
 "  Adrammelcch  and  Sharezer  ^  his  sons  ^  smote 
 him  with  tiie  sword  :  and  they  escaped  into 
 tlie  land  of  f  Armenia.  And  ^  Esarhaddon  his 
 son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  lltzukiah,  having  received  a  message  of  death,  hi/ 
 prayer  hath  his  lift;  lengthened.  8  The  sun  goeth 
 ten  defirees  backward  fur  a  sign  of  that  promise, 
 12  Btrudach-balid:n  scjidiitg  to  visit  Ihzekiah,  be- 
 cause of  the  iconder,  hath  notice  of  his  treasures. 
 14  Isaiah  understanding  there- f foretelltth  the  Babg- 
 lonian  captivity.  20  Manasseh  succeedeth  lleze- 
 kiah. 
 
 T  N  °  those  days  was  Hezekiah  sick  unto  death. 
 •*■  And  the  prophet  Isaiah  the  son  of  Ainoz 
 came  to  him,  and  said  unto  him,  Thus  saith 
 tlie  Lord,  f  Set  thine  house  in  order;  for  thou 
 blialt  die,  and  not  live. 
 
 •1  Then  he  turned  his  face  to  the  wall,  and 
 prayed  unto  the  Lord,  saying, 
 
 3  1  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  ''remember  now 
 how  I  have  ^  walked  before  thee  in  truth  and 
 with   a   perfect   heart,   and    have   done   that 
 
 IL  KINGS,  XX. 
 
 hatk  his  life  h/ir/thcned. 
 
 B.  C.  7M 
 
 i  2Chr.  Si. 
 L'l.  IB.37.S6. 
 Ecclua.4fi. 
 ■^1.  1  Mac. 
 7.  41. 
 2  Mac.  8. 
 
 709. 
 
 I.  S  Cl.r.  33. 
 
 X  Tob.  I.?l. 
 »/  ver.  7. 
 {  Heb.  ^r„- 
 r»t. 
 I  Ezra-).  2 
 
 a  2  Cl.r.  93. 
 31,  Sir. 
 ls.3S.I,Kc 
 
 t  Hpb  Oil* 
 ch'ifj«  lO'i- 
 cfri.i'iif  iliiiie 
 
 t  Heb-  ic.VA 
 agreiit  uieep- 
 
 d  I  Sam.  9. 
 
 16.  &  10.  1. 
 
 f  ch.  19   go. 
 
 Vb    fi.'i.  2. 
 /■  t's.  :w  13. 
 
 St  &0.  8. 
 
 i  Sen  Jiid^'. 
 r,  17,  S7,  H'\ 
 U,  7.  11,  II. 
 f(  as.  23. 
 
 ft  S>'e  Is.  , 
 7,  B. 
 
 /  See  Josh. 
 ID.  1?,  14. 
 Is.  S>*.  8. 
 I-:.-clus.  1i 
 
 I  Hfb.  de- 
 
 ivhich  is  good  in  thy  sight.     And  Hezekiah 
 wept  t  sore. 
 
 4  And  it  came  to  pass,  afore  Isaiah  was  gone 
 
 out  into  the  middle  ||  court,  that  the  word  of 
 the  Lord  came  to  him,  saying, 
 
 5  Turn  again,  and  tell  Hezekiah  ^  the  cap-  * 
 tain  of  my  people.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  the 
 God  of  David  thy  fatlier,  ""  I  have  heard  thy 
 prayer,  I  liave  seen  ^  thy  tears  :  behold,  I  will 
 heal  thee  :  on  the  third  day  thou  shall  go  up 
 unto  tlie  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 6  And  I  will  add  unto  thy  days  fifteen  years; 
 and  I  will  deliver  thee  and  this  city  out  of  the 
 hand  of  the  king  of  Assyria  ;  and  ^  I  will  de- 
 fend this  city  for  mine  own  sake,  and  for  my 
 servant  David's  sake. 
 
 7  And  ''Isaiah  said.  Take  a  lump  of  figs. 
 And  they  took  and  laid  it  on  tlie  boil,  and  he 
 recovered. 
 
 8  H  And  Hezekiah  said  unto  Isaiah,  '  What 
 shall  he  tiie  sign  tiiat  the  Lord  will  heal  me, 
 and  that  I  sliall  go  up  into  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  the  third  day  ? 
 
 9  And  Isaiah  said,  ''  Tiiis  sign  shalt  thou 
 have  of  the  Lord,  that  the  Lord  will  do  the 
 thing  that  he  hath  spoken  :  shall  the  shadow 
 go  forward  ten  degrees,  or  go  back  ten  degrees  ? 
 
 10  And  Hezekiah  answered,  It  is  a  liglit 
 thing  for  the  shadow  to  go  down  ten  degrees  : 
 nay,  but  let  the  shadow  return  backward  ten 
 degrees. 
 
 11  And  Isaiah  the  prophet  cried  unto  the 
 Lord  :  and  '  lie  brought  the  siiadow  ten  de- 
 grees backwarii,  by  which  it  had  gone  down  in 
 the  I  dial  of  Ahaz. 
 
 servant  David's  sake — from  a  g:racinus  rrgard  to  his  faith,  piety,  and 
 family,  and  to  the  coming  of  the  Messiah  descending  from  him. — So 
 Soott.  35.  The  angel  of  the  Lord  —  in  Scripture,  any  instrument 
 
 which  Jehovah  emphiys  is  called  his  angel. — Bonthr,  Who  or  what 
 was  this  angel  ?  Probably  Tirhakah,  wlio  came  unexpectedly  on  Sen- 
 nacherib and  slaughtered  liis  army. — Jeuihh  Writers.  A  dreadful 
 thunder  storm. —  Vitringa.  A  pestilential  disease. — Jus.  Tlie  plague, 
 caught  in  Egypt,  where  Sennacherib  had  been. — Boothr.  The  simoom, 
 a  suffocating  wind. — Tai//or,  Clarke,  The  blast  of  the  simoom  occa- 
 frions  instantaneous  death  to  every  man  or  beast  that  happens  to  be 
 with  the  face  towards  it. — Ives'tt  Trav  ,  VObsonville,  R.  K.  Porter,  ^c. 
 The  simoom  usually  blows  about  noon. — Hale.  Twenty  thousand 
 were,  however,  on  one  occasion  destroyed  by  it  at  night.— TAp».  It  is 
 not  attempted  in  tlicse  pages  to  do  more  than  give  the  opinions  of 
 various  critics,  and  lea^'c  the  reader  to  decide.  He  embraces  no  doc- 
 trinal error  in  adopting  eitlicr  of  these  opinions.  This  angel  might  have 
 been  the  king  of  Ethiopia,  a  thunder  storm,  a  pestilence,  or  a  simoom, 
 for  all  were  at  the  Divine  disposal,  and  could  act  as  Gud's  messengers. 
 The  miraculous  interference  of  God  is  not  affected  by  these  conjectures, 
 for  Sennacherib's  army  was  destruyed  at  the  seasonable  moment,  and 
 in  the  manner  predicted;  and  though  tlie  simoom  may  blow  by  night, 
 which  takes  away  one  extraordinary  operation,  who  can  deny,  under 
 all  the  circumstances,  but  that  this  was  a  stroke  of  God's  wonder- 
 working  hand? — Ed.  'Ilie  last  opinion  we  mention  is,  that  this  was 
 the  work  of  an  angelic  spirit.  See  notes  on  ver.  ".  An  hundred  four- 
 score and  fire  thousand,  FlVf^,  rendered  '  thousand,*  may  mean  '  chiefs.' 
 —Wepler,  Uasenm.  Thi  s  rendering,  however,  implies  a  prodigious 
 loss,  when  so  many  chiefs  fell.  It  is  not,  however,  generally  received 
 or  supported  by  ancient  versions. — So  Boothr.  36.  Nineveh,  the 
 capital  of  the  Assyrian  empire.— .4.  C.  Being  afraid  that  Tirhakah 
 should  destroy  the  remaindi-r  of  his  broken  army. — Put.  3/.  Nisroch 
 — the  Sept.  call  him  '  Nesrach  ;'  Josephxts,  '  Araskes ;'  and  the  Hebrew 
 of  Tobit,  published  by  Munster,  'Uagon.' — Taylor^s  Cat. 
 
 Chap.  XX. — ].  In  those  days— it  appear^,  from  ver.  6,  that  the 
 king's  illness  was  before  the  defeat  of  Sennacliarib,  and  during  the  in- 
 vasion. This  was  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  Hcztkiah's  reign  ;  for  after 
 his  illness  he  had  fifteen  ye-irs  added  to  his  life,  and  he  reigned  altoge- 
 ther twenty-nine  years.  —  So  Henry.  Thou  shalt  die,  an  intima- 
 tion  that  his  disease  was  mortal,  and  could  not  be  cured  by  any 
 remedy. — Put.  2.  Turned  his  face  tv  the  wall — the  Hebrew  beds  were 
 placed  against  the  walls  o(  the  chambers.— //cnr^.  Perhaps  he  did  so 
 liecause  the  temple  lay  that  way,  and  also  with  a  desire  of  privacy.^ 
 Poole.  3.  Perfect,  '  upright. ■—7)»(*/Ar.  And  Hezekiah  wept  sore — 
 we  must  ascribe  Ilezekiah's  reluctance  to  die  either  to  the  state  of  his 
 mind  or  to  the  circumstances  of  his  family  and  the  nation.  Notliing 
 appears  to  have  distressed  him  in  the  immediate  prospect  of  death  with 
 regard  to  the  state  of  his  own  soul. — Scott.  Perhaps  these  were  tears 
 of  importunity,  and  expressions  of  a  lively  affection  in  prayer,  (see  Heb. 
 v.  /.)  4,  Middle  court,  rather  '  middle  of  the  city.'— ir//.  6.  Fifteen 
 yenr.s—i\vG  only  instance  of  a  man  being  told  how  long  he  should  live. 
 No  doubt  the  good  king  made  good  use  of  it. — Henri/.  ~.  Figs — this 
 seems  to  have  been  a  plague  sore,  for  which  tigs  were  a  remedy  ;  and 
 thoutch  the  cure  was  promised,  means  were  to  be  used. —  Pnole,  Gill. 
 11.  Dial,  'degrees' or 'steps.'  As  our  sun  dials  were  not  then  invented, 
 many  have  supposed  ihat  this  was  a  kind  of  ascent  to  the  gate  of  the 
 palace,  marked  with  figures  shewing  the  divisionsof  the  day  ;  and  that 
 there  were  ten  divisions  of  time  on  this  dial. — T.  H.  Hume,  Clarke. 
 The  going  backward  of  the  shadow  is  thought  to  have  been  produced 
 by  an  extraordinary  rcfracticm  of  the  sun's  rays,  by  means  of  a  layer  of 
 condensed  air. — See  Taylor's  Fragments  to  Cal.,  and  Scrip.  Index.  It 
 should  be  remarked  that  the  text  does  not  state  that  the  sun  went 
 backward,  or  the  shadow  of  objects  in  general,  hut  the  shadow  of 
 Ahaz's  dial  only. — Hew.  The  prophet  here  does  not  mean  that  the  sun 
 went  backward,  but  only  the  rays  of  the  sun.  The  words  may  be  thus 
 naturally  rendered—'  the  beams  of  the  sun  (being  miraculously  inflected) 
 caused  the  shadow  to  go  back  over  ten  of  the  degrees,  or  steps,  which 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIX.  —  L  Prayer  is  the  best  refuge 
 in  time  of  trouble.  '  AVIien  the  church's  enemies  are  very  dar- 
 ing and  threatening,  then,' observes  the  pious  Henry,  '  it  is 
 the  wisdom  and  duly  of  the  church's  friends  to  apply  them- 
 selves to  God,  appeal  to  him,  and  leave  their  cause  with  him.* 
 
 II.  When  God's  people  betake  themselves  to  prayer^  their  deliver- 
 ance is  not  far  distant.  The  prophet  was  soon  prepared  with  an 
 ;inswer.  *  The  case  of  those  is  miserable  that  have  the  prayers 
 of  God's  people  against  them  ;  for  if  the  oppressed  cry  to  God 
 against  the  oppressor.  "  he  will  hear,"  (Exod.  xxii.  23.)  God 
 hears  and  answers;  heur.s  with  the  saving  strength  of  his 
 right  hand,  (I*s.  xs.  0.  >  And  "  it  is  a  threat  comfort  to  all  the 
 church's  friends,  that  God  has  a  huok  in  (lie  nose,  and  a  bridle 
 420 
 
 in  the  jaws,  of  all  her  enemies,  can  make  even  tbeir  wrath  to 
 serve  and  praise  him,  and  then  restrain  the  remainder  of  it. 
 Here  shall  its  proud  waves  be  staid.** ' 
 
 III.  The  most  powirfnl  enemies  of  the  church  and  people  of  God 
 are  as  nothing  when  lie  puts  forth  his  powirs.  The  migiity  army 
 of  Sennacherib  is  liere  scattered  like  chaff  before  the  wind, 
 and  the  blasphemous  monarch,  wlio  had  rebelled  against  the 
 God  that  made  him,  perishes  undtT  the  rebellion  of  his  own 
 sons.  '  O,  love  the  I-.ord,  all  ye  his  saints  ;  for  the  J,ord  pre- 
 serveth  the  faithful,  and  plentifully  rewardeth  the  proud  doer. 
 15e  of  good  courage,  and  he  shall  strengthen  your  heart,  all  ye 
 that  hope  in  the  Lord.' 
 
Tile  Bahylnnish  captivity  foretold. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XXI. 
 
 Maiiftsseh's  reign. 
 
 12  IF  ■"  At  that  time  ||  Berodacli-baladaii,  the 
 SOP.  of  Baladan,  khig  of  Babylon,  sent  letters 
 and  a  present  unto  Hezekiah  :  for  he  had 
 heard  that  Hezekiali  had  been  sick. 
 
 13  And  "Hezekiah  hearkened  unto  them, 
 and  shewed  them  all  the  house  of  his  ||  pre- 
 cious things,  the  silver,  and  the  gold,  and  the 
 spices,  and  the  precious  ointment,  and  all  the 
 house  of  his  ||t  armour,  and  all  that  was  found 
 in  his  treasures:  there  was  nothing  in  his 
 house,  nor  in  all  his  dominion,  that  Hezekiah 
 shewed  them  not. 
 
 14  t  Then  came  Isaiah  the  prophet  unto 
 king  Hezekiah,  aiid  said  unto  him.  What  said 
 these  men  ?  and  from  whence  came  they  unto 
 thee?  And  Hezekiah  said,  They  are  come 
 from  a  far  country,  even  from  Babylon. 
 
 15  And  he  said.  What  have  they  seen  in 
 thine  house?  And  Hezekiah  answered,  "All 
 the  things  that  are  in  mine  house  have  they 
 seen  ;  there  is  nothing  among  my  treasures 
 that  I  have  not  shewed  them. 
 
 IG  And  Isaiah  said  unto  Hezekiah,  Hear  the 
 word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 17  Behold,  the  days  come,  that  all  that  is  in 
 thine  house,  and  that  which  thy  fathers  have 
 laid  up  in  store  unto  tliis  day, ''shall  be  carried 
 into  Babylon  :  nothing  shall  be  left,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 18  And  of  thy  sons  that  shall  issue  from  thee, 
 whicli  thou  shalt  beget,  ''shall  they  take  away  ; 
 I!  and  they  shall  be  eunuchs  in  the  palace  of 
 the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 19  Then  said  Hezekiah  unto  Isaiah,  'Good 
 is  the  word  of  the  Lord  which  thou  hast 
 spoken.  And  he  said,  ||  Is  it  not  good,  if 
 peace  and  truth  be  in  my  days? 
 
 20  f '  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Hezekiah, 
 
 «  9  Chr.  3-^. 
 ■.^7,  31. 
 liOr,  i/iicorv. 
 
 II  Or.  j>w^/ji. 
 
 )i  ch.  81.  15. 
 &  25.  13. 
 Jer.  27.81, 
 82.  &52.  17. 
 
 9  ch.  M.  15. 
 
 2Clir  33.11. 
 II  Kulfillcrt, 
 
 Dan.  1.  3. 
 rl  Sam  3.18 
 
 .Tob  !.  ei. 
 
 Ps-  39.  0. 
 11  Or,  SU.iH 
 
 there  nut  be 
 
 peace  nnd 
 
 trttlk,  ^c. 
 cir.  7lfl. 
 .  2  Chr.  32. 
 t    32. 
 
 n  2  Cbi-. 
 30. 
 
 ■  3  Chr.  32. 
 
 Cir.  H'J8. 
 
 d  I  Kill.  16. 
 32.  S3. 
 c  neu.4.  10 
 
 &  r.  3. 
 
 fh.  17.  Ifi. 
 /Jer.  3-2.  M. 
 
 /.  Lev.Ifl.fil 
 &20.  2.  ch 
 10.  3,  &  17. 
 
 17.  Oi-u   13. 
 10,  11. 
 
 and  all  his  might,  and  how  he  '  made  a  pool, 
 and  a  conduit,  and  "  brought  water  into  the 
 city,  are  they  not  written  in  the  book  of  the 
 chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 21  And  "Hezekiah  slept  with  his  fathers: 
 and  Manasseli  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  Mannsseh's  rtir/n.  3  His  great  idolatry.  10  His 
 wicliedness  cnustth  prophecies  af/ainst  Jtfdati.  17 
 Amon  succci'detli  tilm.  19  Anion's  wic/ud  reign. 
 23  He  being  sluiit  by  liis  servants,  and  those  mur' 
 dcrers  slain  by  tfie  people,  Josiuh  is  made  king. 
 
 Tl/TANASSEH  °  !<•««  twelve  years  old  when 
 -'--'■  he  began  to  reign,  and  reigned  fifty  and 
 five  years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's 
 name  was  Hephzi-bah. 
 
 2  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  ^  after  the  abominations  of 
 the  heathen,  whom  the  Lord  cast  out  before 
 the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 3  For  he  built  up  again  the  high  places 
 °  which  Hezekiah  his  father  had  destroyed  ; 
 and  he  reared  up  altars  for  Baal,  and  made  a 
 grove,  "^  as  did  Ahab  king  of  Israel ;  and  °  wor- 
 .shipped  all  the  host  of  heaven,  and  served  them. 
 
 4  And  'he  built  altars  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  of  which  the  Lord  said,  ^  In  Jerusalem 
 will  I  put  my  name. 
 
 5  And  he  built  altars  for  all  the  host  of 
 heaven  in  the  two  courts  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 G  '"  And  he  made  his  son  pass  through  the 
 fire,  and  observed  '  times,  and  used  eiichant- 
 ments,  and  dealt  with  familiar  spirits  and 
 wizards  :  he  wrought  much  wickedness  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  to  provoke  Aitn  to  anger. 
 
 7    And  he  set  a  graven  image  of  the  grove 
 
 it  had  passed  upon  the  dial  of  Abaz,'  or  flight  of  steps.  The  business 
 was  not  to  lengthen  the  riaj-,  but  only  to  put  the  shadow  back. — See 
 Unit^.  Hist.,  vol.  iv.  p.  165.  13.  Atidstiewed  tliem  all  the  house  of  his 
 precious  things—  it  has  been  the  custom  with  eastern  monarchs  to  amass 
 enormous  loads  of  treasure  merely  for  show  and  ostentation,  and  this 
 seems  to  have  been  practised  by  HezeV'Mih. ~0>-ient.  Oust.  The  trea- 
 sures of  precious  stones,  plates  of  gold,  &c..  belonging  to  the  king  at 
 Calient  were  heaped  together  by  twelve  kings,  and  would  fill  two  large 
 warehouses. —  Vertomnnnus'  Vity  igc  in  the  East.  The  splendour  of  tlie 
 Emperor  of  China,  and  his  court  and  riches,  surpass  all  that  can  be  said 
 of  them.  Tliese  are,  however,  only  exposed  when  they  make  or  receive 
 visits. — Mucaftnej/s  Embassy.  18.  Etinuclts,  servants  or  slaves  of 
 the  heathen  monarch  anrl  his  lusts. — Poole.  19.  Good  is  tlie  word  of 
 tlie  Lord,  that  is,  '  heartily  submit  to  this  sentence,  as  being  both 
 
 Just,  because  deserved  and  procured  by  mine  and  my  people's  sins, 
 and  merciful,  because  the  punishment  is  less  than  I  have  deserved.' — 
 Poole.  The  prospect  respecting  his  family  and  nation  must  have 
 occasioned  him  many  painful  sensations;  but  our  regard  to  posterity, 
 and  our  grief  for  the  gloomy  prospects  before  us  in  the  church,  or 
 the  world,  must  not  render  us  unmindful  of  our  present  mercies. — 
 Scott. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  I.  Twelre  years  o/d— having  early  lot  his  pious 
 father,  he  was  ruined  in  his  education,  nio^t  probably  by  guardians, 
 ministers,  and  apostate  priests. — Prideanx,  Sut.  6.  Pass  through 
 the /ire — see  the  notes  on  Lev.  xviii.  21,  and  2  Kings,  xvi.  3.  Observed 
 times,  lucky  or  unlucky  days,  according  to  the  superstitions  of  the 
 heathen,  (see  Lev.  .\ix.  26;  Deut.  xviii.  10,  l\.)— Poole.  7.  Of  the 
 grove,  n"l\I.'l^n— perhaps  this  was  a  model  of  some  grove  used  for  idola- 
 
 REFLECTinNs  ON  Chap.  XX.  —  We  have  here  recorded, 
 I.  Hezettiatis  sickness.  *  In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death.' 
 Hezekiah  was  a  king,  and  he  was  in  liis  prime,  but  yet  a  mor- 
 tal disease  asailed  him.  'j'o  such  attacks  all  ranks  and  condi- 
 tions are  liable  ;  and  tlie  attack  on  Hezekiah  speaks  no  less 
 loudly  to  this  remote  generation  of  mankind  than  to  those  in 
 }iis  days.  'Be  ye  also  ready.'  Are  our  houses  in  order? 
 Are  our  souls  in  order  ! 
 
 II.  Hezetiiah's  prayer.  We  may  pray,  in  submission  to  the 
 Divinp  will,  for  the  removal  of  disease  ;  and,  as  Boothroyd 
 remarks,  '  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience  encourages  our 
 prayers  and  our  hopes,  either  that  God  will  remove  our  com- 
 plaints, or  overrule  them  for  our  good,  or  that  he  will  receive 
 us  to  a  better  world.' 
 
 III.  Hezekiali's  recovery.  He  used  means,  and  God  blessed 
 them.  His  health  w  as  restored,  and  his  days  were  lengthened. 
 So,  perhaps,  have  ours  been;  it  may  be  God  has  spared  us  on 
 our  earnest  importunity,  or  he  may  even  have  respited  the 
 sinner  in  his  mercy,  who  had  no  mercy  on  himself.  But,  un- 
 like Hezekiah,  we  know  not  the  day  of  our  death.  Fifteen 
 years  may  not  be  added  to  the  narrow  span  of  our  lives.  If 
 they  are,  they  will  soon  flee  away.  May  we  spend  them  in 
 wisdom's  ways,  and  then  let  them  take  their  flight !  The  end 
 of  one  lil'e  will  then  be  the  beginning  of  another — an  everlast- 
 ing life. 
 
 IV.  Hezekiali's  folly.     See  here  the  pride  and  vanity  in  tlie 
 
 421 
 
 heart  even  of  this  good  man.  No  wonder  that  God  afilicts 
 his  saints,  when  even  in  the  best  there  is  so  much  dross  to  be 
 taken  away.  In  all  his  dispensations  a  little  examination  will 
 prove,  most  clearly,  that  '  he  doth  not  afllict  willingly,  nor 
 grieve  the  children  of  men  without  cause." 
 
 V.  Hezekiali's  sentence.  His  pride  should  be  brought  low, 
 and  his  glories  shorn  of  their  beams.  None  of  his  treasures 
 should  be  enjoyed  by  posterity,  and  the  sinful  nation  which 
 with  them  would  inherit  the  same  spirit,  should  submit  to  the 
 very  power  whose  avarice  Hezekiah  had  tempted  by  his  foolish 
 display.  Before  honour  is  humility,  and  God  often  in  his 
 providence  shews  the  reverse  of  this— '  before  a  fall  is  pride.' 
 
 VI.  Hezekiali's  submission.  It  is  well,  after  all  our  provoca- 
 tions and  chastisements,  when  our  minds  are  brought  humbly 
 to  submit  to  the  dispensations  of  Providence.  Things  are 
 likely  to  end  well  when  we  can  say,  amidst  even  the  most 
 gloomy  prospects,  '  He  hath  done  all  things  well.' 
 
 VII.  Hezekiali's  death.  He  had  a  long  reprieve,  but  death 
 came  at  last.  Every  recovery  from  sickness  is  but  a  reprieve. 
 We  die  daily,  and  the  final  stroke  must  come  at  last.  This  is 
 the  end  of  all  men  ;  may  the  living  lay  it  to  heart !  If  sin  be 
 pardoned,  our  souls  are  secure,  and  death  is  deprived  of  his 
 sting  ;  and  the  pious  monarch,  possessed  of  a  good  hope  through 
 grace,  is  an  infinite  gainer  in  leaving  a  corruptible  for  an  in- 
 corruptible crown— a  crown  lined  with  cares,  for  '  a  crown  of 
 hie.' 
 
Manasse/i's  great  idolatry. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XXI. 
 
 Anion's  wicked  reiijn. 
 
 that  he  had  made  in  the  house,  of  which  the 
 Lord  said  to  David,  and  to  Solomon  his  son, 
 '  In  this  house,  and  in  Jerusalem,  which  I  have 
 chosen  out  of  all  tribes  of  Israel,  will  I  put  my 
 name  for  ever : 
 
 8  '  Neither  will  I  make  the  feet  of  Israel 
 move  any  more  out  of  tlie  land  whicli  I  gave 
 their  fathers  ;  only  if  they  will  observe  to  do 
 according  to  all  tliat  I  liave  commanded  them, 
 and  according  to  all  the  law  tliat  my  servant 
 Moses  commanded  them. 
 
 9  But  they  hearkened  not :  and  Manasseh 
 "'seduced  them  to  do  more  evil  than  did  tlie 
 nations  whom  the  Lord  destroyed  before  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 10  IF  And  the  Lord  spake  by  his  servants  the 
 prophets,  saying, 
 
 1 1  "  Because  Manasseh  king  of  Judah  hath 
 done  these  abominations,  °  and  hath  done 
 wickedly  above  all  that  the  Amoritcs  di<l. 
 which  were  before  him,  and  ''hath  made  Judah 
 also  to  sin  with  his  idols  : 
 
 12  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel,  Behold,  I  am  bringing  such  evil  upon 
 Jerusalem  and  Judah,  that  whosoever  heareth 
 of  it,  both  '  his  ears  shall  tingle. 
 
 13  And  I  will  stretch  over  .Jerusalem  'the 
 line  of  Samaria,  and  tlie  plummet  of  the  house 
 of  Ahab  :  and  I  will  wipe  Jerusalem  as  a  man 
 wipeth  a  dish,  f  wiping  i7,  and  turning  it  upside 
 down. 
 
 14  And  I  will  forsake  the  remnant  of  mine 
 inheritance,  and  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of 
 their  enemies ;  and  they  shall  become  a  prey 
 and  a  spoil  to  all  their  enemies  ; 
 
 13  Because  they  have  done  that  which  was 
 evil  in  my  sight,  and  have  provoked  me  to  an- 
 ger, since  the  day  their  fathers  came  forth  out 
 of  Egypt,  even  unto  this  day. 
 
 16  'Moreover  Manasseh  shed  innocentblood 
 very  much,  till  he  had  filled  Jerusalem  ffroni 
 
 '(  2  Sam-  7. 
 I;<.  I  Kill. 
 8.  29.«(9.  3, 
 cli.  :»3.  ■>;. 
 I'll.  1.S2.  1.1, 
 H.  Jer.  3-2. 
 
 ■1  rli,  ?.1.  20, 
 37.  K  •*!.  ;t, 
 4,  .Ilt  15. 4. 
 
 »  I  Kin.  21. 
 
 Ji  vcr   0. 
 
 q  1  Sam.S. 
 
 II.  JlT.    111. 
 
 3. 
 
 r  See  Is.  .^1, 
 II.  Lnm.  2. 
 S.  Aiiius  ;. 
 ",  8. 
 
 t  lleb.  lif 
 
 J  rh.  21.  4. 
 t  Hell  ft'iin 
 
 fllS. 
 j-2Cl.r   33. 
 21,-23. 
 
 A  .M  .t    I.  111. 
 
 riiii.'<i  Jo- 
 
 one  end  to  another;  beside  his  sin  wherewith 
 he  made  Judah  to  sin,  in  doing  that  wliich  teas 
 evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. 
 
 17  If  Now  '  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Manasseh, 
 and  all  that  he  did,  and  his  sin  that  he  sinned, 
 are  they  not  written  in  the  book  of  the  chro- 
 nicles of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 18  And  "Manasseh  slept  with  his  fathers, 
 and  was  buried  in  the  garden  of  his  own  house, 
 in  the  garden  of  Uzza :  and  Anion  his  son 
 reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 ly  IF^Amon  was  twenty  and  two  years  old 
 when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  two 
 years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name 
 ivas  MeshuUemeth,  the  daughter  of  Ilaruz  of 
 Jotbah. 
 
 20  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  'as  his  father  Manas.seh 
 did. 
 
 21  And  he  walked  in  all  the  way  that  his 
 father  walked  in,  and  served  the  idols  that  his 
 father  served,  and  worshipped  them  : 
 
 22  And  he  "  forsook  tlie  Lord  God  of  his 
 fathers,  and  walked  not  in  the  way  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 23  t  °  And  the  servants  of  Anion  conspired 
 against  him,  and  slew  the  king  in  his  own 
 house. 
 
 24  And  the  people  of  the  land  .slew  all  tliein 
 that  had  conspired  against  king  Anion  ;  and 
 the  people  of  the  land  made  Josiah  his  son 
 king  in  his  stead. 
 
 2j  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Anion  which 
 he  did,«;-e  they  not  written  in  the  hook  of  the 
 chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 26  And  he  was  buried  in  his  sepulchre  in  the 
 garden  of  Uzza:  and  ''Josiah  his  son  reigned 
 in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 I  Josinh's  good  rehjn.     .3  He  iaketh  care  for  the  repair 
 oft/ic  temple.     8  Hilhhih  havinti  found  a  huok  of  ilte 
 
 txous  worship,  though  it  is  commonly  supposed  to  have  been  Uie  imape 
 of  one  of  Manasseh's  idols.  Some  think  it  was  a  wonden  image  of 
 Ashteroth  or  Astarte.— So  Setden  nnd  Gesenius.  See  Srott.  See  note 
 on  Judg.  ii.  13,  10.  The  pi-ophtts—t\iQ%ii  \rere,  according  to  the 
 Jewish  chronology,  Jcel,  Nahum,  and  Hahakknk.— Ri//.  But  it  is  not 
 known  when  Joel  tl^urished;  Nahum  and  Habakktik  seem  to  have 
 lived  at  a  later  period.— Scu«.  13.  The  line  of  Smnnrin,  'Jerusalem 
 shall  have  the  same  judgments,  the  same  measure  and  lot  as  Samaria.' 
 Line  is  put  for  '  lot'  or  '  portion,'  (Ps.  .xvi.  6,  2  Cor.  x.  l6,)  because 
 men's  portions  used  to  bo  measured  by  lines,  (Ps.  Ix.\viii.  55  ;  Amos, 
 vii.  17 ;  )  or  it  may  allude  to  the  fact  of  David  who  destroyed  the 
 Moabites  by  a  measuring  line,  (2  Sam.  \iii.  2.1— foo/e.  See  also  note 
 on  the  latter.  Plmnmet,  a  metaphor,  from  builders,  who  measure  with 
 a  line  and  plummet  what  part  of  a  building  shall  stand  and  what 
 shall  be  demolished,  .is  a  man  icipeth  a  dish,  'cleanse  her  of  all  her 
 inhabitants,  and  leave  none  remaining.'  For  'dish.' the  .Sept.  read 
 A  itXiifSatrrpot.  '  an  alabaster  box  of  precious  ointment,*  signifying  that 
 Jerusalem  was  once  in  high  esteem  with  God,  like  a  precious  oiiit- 
 
 meut,  but  having  lost  its  savour,  he  would  reject  her  as  a  man  docs 
 such  ointment  when  it  is  nothing  worth. — Pot.  '  I  will  hint  out  Jem- 
 Salem  as  tiiey  blot  out  a  tablet,*  Volg.  This  allusion  is  to  the  rubbing 
 out  the  impression  made  by  the  stile,  or  sort  of  iron  pen,  on  the  wax 
 covering  of  the  tablet.  14.  The  remnant,  the  kingdom  of  Judah,  the 
 remainder  of  the  twelve  tribes. — Poole.  l6.  Manasseh  shed  innoeent 
 blood — Jewish  and  Christian  writers  assert  that  Isaiah  was  sawn 
 asunder  by  him.  18.  Buried  in  the  garden — the  Jews  buried  in  gar. 
 dens  in  the  time  of  Christ,  who  himself  was  buried  in  one,  (John,  xix. 
 41.)  The  Romans  had  sometimes  sepulchres  in  their  gardens.  Gaiha, 
 the  emperor,  was  buried  in  his  gardens;  so  was  also  Cyrus,  king  of 
 Persia. — Gill.  The  cemeteries  of  the  Jews  exhiliited  a  series  of  gar- 
 dens, each  of  which  belonged  to  some  particular  family.  The  garden 
 to  wliich  our  Saviour  *  oft  times  resorted  with  his  disciples,  at  the  foot 
 of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  over  the  brook  Cedron,'  (John,  .xviii.  1,  2;) 
 w'as,  in  all  probability,  a  place  for  pious  meditation  in  the  midst  of  the 
 tomOs ;  for  the  ancient  Jewish  sepulchres  extend  over  all  the  base  of 
 the  mountain  opposite  to  Jerusalem. — Dr.  E.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  In  this  chapter  we  have 
 recorded — I.  The  rtiiin  of  Mayiassch.  He  was  the  wicked  son 
 of  a  good  father.  Itlie  had  any  early  good  impressions  they 
 were  soon  lost ;  for,  being  left  young,  wiiliout  kind  parental 
 care,  his  own  depraved  lieart,  probatily  under  the  guidance  of 
 wicked  guardians,  soon  led  bim  astray  ;  and,  alas,  bow  far 
 did  he  go  !  The  children  of  pious  parents,  when  tbey  depart 
 from  God,  seem  to  commit  far  greater  enormities  than  others  ; 
 we  are  almost  disposed  to  view  tbem  as  eternally  abandoned 
 by  God,  and  spared  awhile  only  as  living  monuments  of  bis 
 displeasure  and  awful  warnings  to  others.  Pious  parents 
 should  therefore  use  tbeir  best  efforts  to  leave  their  offspring 
 in  the  bands  of  pious  guardians,  in  case  of  their  departure 
 into  eternity,  before  tbeir  minds  and  habits  are  fixed  in  ilie 
 ways  ot  God.  And  those  children  should  be  truly  thankful 
 to  God  wdio  have  pious  parents  to  take  a  lively  interest  in 
 tneir  eternal  welfare,  and  to  provide  the  best  means  in  tbeir 
 power  for  llie  pruinotion  of  Ibo  w  cll-beiiig  of  tbeir  souls.  We 
 4^2 
 
 read  elsewhere  of  Manasseh's  repentance  ;  but  what  evils  did 
 he  commit,  what  injury  did  be  do  to  the  church  of  God  !  how- 
 many  did  be  ruin  by  bis  influence  and  example,  and  what  work 
 did  he  make  fur  the  most  bitter  repentance  ! 
 
 II.  The  rtiijn  of  Amon.  It  was,  as  Henry  expresses  it, 
 *  short  and  inglorious.'  '  His  reign  was  very  wicked.  He  trod 
 in  the  steps  of  bis  father's  idolatry,  and  revived  that  wbicb  be 
 in  the  latter  end  of  bis  days  had  put  down.  Those  who  set 
 bad  examples,  though  tbey  may  repent  themselves,  yet  cannot 
 be  sure  that  those  whom  they  have  drawn  into  sin  by  their 
 example  will  repent ;  it  is  often  otherwise.'  *  His  end  was 
 very  tragical.  His  servants,  that  should  have  guarded  bim, 
 murdered  bim.  His  own  bouse,  that  should  have  been  bis 
 castle  of  defence,  was  the  place  of  bis  execution.  He  bad 
 profaned  God's  house  with  liis  idols,  and  now  God  sulTered 
 bis  own  bouse  to  be  polluted  with  his  blood.  How  unrighte- 
 ous soever  they  were  that  did  it,  God  was  righteous  wdio  suf- 
 fered it  to  be  dune.' 
 
Jusiah's  good  nign. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XXII. 
 
 The  riestniction  of  Jcrusnhm  foretold. 
 
 law.  Josiah  sendelh  to  Hiihtah  to  eiiqitire  of  the 
 Lord.  1.5  Hidilah  prophcsieth  the  destruction  of 
 Jtrusolem,  but  respite  thereof  in  Josiah's  time. 
 
 TOSIAH  'teas  eiglit  years  old  wlieii  he  be- 
 "  f^aii  to  reign,  and  lie  reigned  thirty  and  one 
 years  in  Jernsalem.  And  his  mother's  name 
 7rcis  Jedidah,  the  daughter  of  Adaiali  of ''  Bos- 
 cath. 
 
 2  And  he  did  that  7vhich  iras  right  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  and  walked  in  all  the  way 
 of  David  his  father,  and  '  turned  not  aside  to 
 the  right  hand  or  to  tlie  left. 
 
 3  1i ''  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  eighteenth 
 year  of  king  Josiah,  that  the  king  sent  Shaphan 
 the  son  of  Azaliah,  the  son  of  Meshullam,  the 
 scribe,  to  the  house  of  the  Lord,  saying, 
 
 4  Go  up  to  Hilkiah  the  high  priest,  that  he 
 may  sum  the  silver  which  is  '  brought  into  the 
 house  of  the  Loiin,  whicli  'the  keepers  of  the 
 t  door  have  gatliered  of  the  people  : 
 
 5  And  let  them  ^deliver  it  into  the  hand  of 
 the  doers  of  the  work,  that  have  tlie  oversight 
 of  the  house  of  the  Lord  :  and  let  them  give 
 it  to  the  doers  of  the  work  which  is  in  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  to  repair  the  breaches  of 
 the  house, 
 
 C  Unto  carpenters,  and  builders,  and  masons, 
 and  to  buy  timber  and  hewn  stone  to  repair 
 the  house. 
 
 7  Howbeit  •■  there  was  no  reckoning  made 
 with  them  of  the  money  that  was  delivered 
 into  their  hand,  because  they  dealt  faithfully. 
 
 8  T  And  Hilkiah  tlie  high  priest  said  unto 
 Shaphan  the  scribe,  '  I  liave  found  the  book 
 of  the  law  in  the  house  of  the  Lord.  And 
 Hilkiah  gave  the  book  to  Shaphan,  and  he 
 read  it. 
 
 9  And  Shaphan  the  scribe  came  to  the  king, 
 and  brought  the  king  word  again,  and  said. 
 Thy  .servants  have  f  gathered  the  money  that 
 was  found  in  the  liouse,  and  have  delivered  it 
 into  the  hand  of  them  that  do  the  work,  that 
 have  the  oversight  of  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 10  And  Shaphan  tlie  scribe  shewed  the  king, 
 saying,  Hilkiah  the  priest  hath  delivered  me  a 
 book.     And  Shaphan  read  it  before  the  king. 
 
 1 1  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king  had 
 heard  the  words  of  the  book  of  the  law,  that  he 
 rent  liis  clothes. 
 
 cir.  fi2*. 
 d  2  Chr.  M. 
 S,  fcff. 
 
 ■  cli.  12  4. 
 
 /rh,  12.  9. 
 Ps  B4.  10. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 rh 
 12,  I  J. 
 
 12.  11 
 
 IDi-u  SI. 21, 
 ii.0  2  Ch 
 St.  U,  & 
 
 A  .^/..l^ri, 
 
 ^  'hr  31.20. 
 II  Or,  Miaili. 
 
 m  Tlkrnth. 
 
 ■1  Chr  S1.22 
 II  Or,  Hn.- 
 
 r.i/i. 
 t  Heb,  gaT' 
 
 II  Or,  in  the 
 iccimd  jiitrl. 
 
 nPeu.  20.27. 
 Dan.  9.  \\, 
 IJ,  13,  11. 
 
 '  Peat.  29. 
 25.  He,  g7. 
 
 j>  2  Chr.  W. 
 2il,  &c. 
 
 q  Vs.  51-  17. 
 
 la.  .57.  15. 
 r  1  Kin.  21. 
 
 I  Ph-.  S7.  37 
 Is.  57.  I,  2. 
 
 1-2  And  the  king  commanded  Hilkiah  the 
 priest,  and  Ahikani  tlie  son  of  Shaphan,  and 
 '■  Achbor  the  son  of  ||  Micbaiah,  and  Shaphan 
 the  scribe,  and  Asahiah  a  servant  of  the  king's, 
 saying, 
 
 13  Go  ye,  enquire  of  the  Lord  for  me,  and 
 for  the  people,  and  for  all  Judah,  concerning 
 the  words  of  this  book  that  is  found  :  for  great 
 is  '  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  that  is  kindled  against 
 us,  because  our  fathers  have  not  hearkened  uiito 
 the  words  of  this  book,  to  do  according  unto 
 all  that  which  is  written  concerning  us. 
 
 14  So  Hilkiah  the  priest,  and  Ahikam,  and 
 Achbor,  and  Shaphan,  and  Asahiah,  went  unto 
 Huldah  the  prophetess,  the  wife  of  Shallum  tlie 
 .son  of  "  Tikvah,  the  son  of  ||  Harhas,  keeper 
 of  the  t  wardrobe;  (now  she  dwelt  in  Jerusa- 
 lem II  in  tlie  college  ;)  and  they  communed 
 with  her. 
 
 13  t  And  she  said  unto  them,  Tims  saitli  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel,  Tell  the  man  that  sent 
 you  to  me, 
 
 16  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  ■■  I  will 
 bring  evil  upon  this  place,  and  upon  the  inha- 
 bitants thereof,  even  all  the  words  of  the  book 
 which  the  king  of  Judah  hath  read  : 
 
 1 7  °  Because  they  have  forsaken  me,  and 
 have  burned  incense  unto  other  gods,  that 
 they  might  provoke  me  to  anger  with  all  the 
 works  of  their  hands  ;  therefore  my  wrath  shall 
 be  kindled  against  this  place,  and  shall  not  be 
 quenched. 
 
 18  But  to  ""the  king  of  Judah  which  sent  you 
 to  enquire  of  tlie  Lord,  thus  shall  ye  .say  to 
 him.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  As 
 touching  the  words  which  thou  hast  heard  ; 
 
 19  Because  thine  ''heart  was  tender,  and 
 thou  hast  '  humbled  thyself  before  the  Lord, 
 when  thou  heardest  what  I  .spake  against  this 
 place,  and  against  the  inhabitants  thereof,  that 
 they  should  become  '  a  desolation  and  '  a 
 curse,  and  hast  rent  thy  clothes,  and  wept 
 before  me  ;  I  also  have  heard  thee,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 20  Behold  therefore,  I  will  gather  thee  unto 
 thy  fathers,  and  thou  "  shalt  be  gathered  into 
 thy  grave  in  peace  ;  and  thine  eyes  shall  not 
 see  all  the  evil  which  I  will  bring  upon  this 
 place.    And  they  brought  the  king  word  again. 
 
 Ch.vp.  XXII.  —  I.  Bosrath,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv. 
 29.)  4.  The  sitfer  w/tich  is  hroi/ffht  into  the  house  of  the  Lord,  which 
 the  people  voluntarily  offered  for  the  repairing  of  it.— Oill.  8.  The 
 blink  o/  the  taw,  that  original  bonk  of  the  law  of  the  Lorii,  given  or 
 written  by  the  hand  of  Moses,  as  it  is  expressed  2  Chron.  .\xxiv.  14, 
 which,  by  God's  commanri,  was  put  beside  the  ark,  (Deut.  xxxi.  26.) 
 and  probably  taken  and  hid  by  the  care  of  some  godly  priest  when  the 
 idolatrons  kings  persecuted  the  true  religion  and  defaced  the  temple.— 
 Pnnle.  The  interval  between  the  deaths  of  Moses  and  Josiah  was  950 
 years,  and  we  have  MSS.  of  greater  age  than  this.— A'en.  II.  Heard 
 the  tvorils,  whence  it  appears  that  he  had  never  written  a  copy  of  it,  as 
 the  kings  were  ordered  to  do,  (Deut.  xvii.  18,  19,)  nor  had  read  it,  at 
 least  ncit  the  whole.— Gi//.  Some  infer  that  the  copies  of  the  law  had 
 perished,  and  that  the  king  had  never  seen  it.  It  is,  however,  probable 
 that  the  prophets  and  pious  people  would  have  preserved  some.  It  is, 
 therefore,  to  be  inferred,  that  some  copies  of  the  prophets  were  sent 
 
 with  the  autograph  of  Moses,  in  which  the  ruin  of  Judah  was  predicted, 
 which  caused  the  alarm  of  the  good  Josiah.— 7?ooMr.  14.  Huldah 
 i/je/jro/yAc/pss—Jercmiah  and  Zephaniah  prophesied  at  this  time,  yet 
 the  king's  messengers  made  Huldah  Iheir  oracle;  probably  because 
 her  husband  having  a  place  at  court,  as  keeper  of  the  wardrobe,  they 
 had  more  acquaintance  with  her,  and  greater  assurances  of  her  com- 
 mission than  of  any  other.  They  had,  it  is  likely,  consulted  her  upon 
 other  occasions,  and  had  found  the  word  of  God  in  her  mouth  was 
 true.  She  was  near,  for  she  dwelt  at  Jerusalem,  in  a  place  called 
 Mishnah,  the  second  rank  of  buildings  from  the  royal  palace.— //enrj/. 
 College,    ' subnrhs.^— Boolhr.  19.  Tender,    ' sottenciX.' —  Boothr. 
 
 'Trembled,'  Turg.  'Was  terrifled,'  — How*.  20.  7ii  peare  —  the 
 king's  end  does  not  impeach  the  veracity  of  the  prophetess,  for  he  died 
 at  peace  with  God  and  with  his  own  people.  There  was  no  war  nor 
 desolation  in  his  land. — So  Clarke. 
 
 Rfflf.ctions  on   Chap.  XXII 
 I.  Tiiat  '  the  Lord  frequently  demo: 
 his  grace,  by  raising  up  the  brightest 
 the  most  flecfeneratc  families' 
 
 II.  That  it  is  a  peculiar  favour  to 
 God  in  early  life,  and  to  be  led  to 
 amples. 
 
 III.  'VXiAt  in  the  worst  of  times  we 
 ralitt/,jidelit}j,  and  integrity,  wbich 
 imitation. 
 
 4-23 
 
 Scott  here  well  remarks, 
 nstrates  the  sovereignty  of 
 ornaments  ofliis  church  from 
 
 he  brought  to  seek  and  serve 
 copy  closely  the  best  ex- 
 
 7neet  with  examples  of  libe- 
 are  worthy  of  praise  and 
 
 IV.  That  the  prevalence  of  impiety,  infidelity,  superstition,  or 
 licentiousness,  renders  the  word  of  God  a  neglected  book,  and  that 
 neglect  reciprocally  augments  these  evils. 
 
 V.  T/iat  by  the  holy  hiw  is  the  knowledge  of  sin.  and  when  it 
 is  understood  in  its  strictness,  extent,  excellency,  and  awful 
 sanction,  the  sinner  perceives  his  guilt,  is  convinced  that  the 
 great  wrath  of  the  Lord  is  kindled  against  bim  for  his  trans- 
 gressions, and  begins  to  inquire,  '  What  must  I  do  to  be 
 saved  V 
 
 V I .  That  anxious  concern  for  tlie  soul  will  excite  attentive  regard 
 
Josiah  reneweth  the  covenant. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XXIII. 
 
 and  cicstroi/eth  idolatry. 
 
 A 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 1  Josiah  cnvsetli  the  honk  to  he  read  in  a  solemn  ossem- 
 hly.  3  He  reneweth  the  covenant  of  the  Lord.  4  He 
 destroyeth  idohxtry.  15  He  burnt  dead  men's  bones 
 upon  the  altar  of  Beth-el,  as  was  foreprophesied. 
 21  He  kept  a  most  solemn  passover.  24  He  put 
 away  witches  and  all  abonwiation.  26  God's  final 
 wrath  aijainst  Jiidah.  2^i  Joaiah,  provoking  Pharaoh- 
 necltoh,  is  slain  at  Metjiddo.  31  Jehoahaz,  sncceedinff 
 him,  is  imprisoned  by  Pharaoh-nechoh,  who  made 
 Jehoiakim  king.     36  J>  hoiahiin's  wicked  reign. 
 
 ND  "  the   king   sent,   and    they  gathered 
 unto  him  all  the  elders  of  Jndah  and  of 
 Jernsalem. 
 
 2  And  the  king  went  up  into  the  house  of 
 the  Lord,  and  all  the  men  of  .Indah  and  all 
 the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  witli  hini,  and  the 
 priests,  and  the  prophets,  and  all  the  ])eople, 
 t  both  small  and  great :  and  he  rea<l  in  their 
 ears  all  the  words  of  the  book  of  the  cove- 
 nant ''  which  was  found  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 3  t  And  the  king  '  stood  by  a  pillar,  and 
 made  a  covenant  before  the  Lord,  to  walk 
 after  the  Lord,  and  to  keep  his  command- 
 ments and  his  testimonies  and  his  statutes 
 with  all  their  heart  and  all  their  soul,  to  per- 
 form the  words  of  this  covenant  that  were 
 written  in  this  book.  And  all  the  people  stood 
 to  the  covenant. 
 
 4  And  the  king  commanded  Hilkiah  the 
 high  priest,  and  the  priests  of  the  second 
 order,  and  the  keepers  of  tlie  door,  to  bring 
 forth  out  of  tlie  temple  of  the  Lord  all  the 
 vessels  that  were  made  for  Baal,  and  for  ''  the 
 grove,  and  for  all  the  host  of  heaven  :  and  he 
 burned  them  without  Jerusalem  in  tlie  fields 
 of  Kidron,  and  carried  the  ashes  of  them  unto 
 Beth-el. 
 
 5  And  he  tput  down  f  the  idolatrous  priests, 
 whom  the  kings  of  Jndah  had  ordained  to  burn 
 incense  in  the  high  places  in  the  cities  of  Ju- 
 dah,  and  in  the  places  round  about  Jerusalem  ; 
 them  also  that  burned  incense  unto  Baal,  to 
 the  sun,  and  to  the  moon,  and  to  the  ||  planets, 
 and  to  ''all  the  host  of  heaven. 
 
 6  And  he  brought  out  the  ''grove  from  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  without  Jerusalem,  unto 
 the  brook  Kidron,  and  burned  it  at  the  brook 
 Kidron,  and  stamped  it  small  to  powder,  and 
 cast  the  powder  thereof  upon  ^  the  graves  of 
 
 t  Heb./™, 
 until  srtiit. 
 
 Forett'M. 
 Zepli.  l.'I. 
 
 ch.  21    S. 
 /cli.  81.7. 
 
 ;3Clir.34«. 
 
 t  HeoJ.uiin 
 
 ,  Is  av  3;. 
 Jer  7.HI.  Kt 
 19   6,11,  ts. 
 
 .  Josh.  1.1.  8. 
 
 ji  Lev.  18  yi. 
 Deu  IS.  Ill 
 Iwek  Zi.iiT, 
 3y. 
 
 r  Bc««.Tcr.19, 
 IS  ■/.i.'iAi.  I. 
 
 II  Tliat  is, 
 the  iniiunl 
 lit  (Hives. 
 
 « I  Kin.  11.7. 
 
 <  Ei.  23.  CI. 
 
 neii.7.r>,e5. 
 t  Heb.  ila- 
 
 lull. 
 
 u  I  Kin.  13 
 28,83. 
 
 the  children  of  the  people. 
 
 7  And  he  brake  down  the  houses  •■  of  the 
 sodomites,  that  were  by  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  '  where  the  women  wove  t  hangings  for 
 the  grove. 
 
 8  And  he  brought  all  the  priests  out  of  the 
 cities  of  Jndah,  and  defiled  the  high  places 
 where  the  priests  liad  burned  incense,  from 
 '  Geba  to  Beer-sbeba,  and  brake  <lown  the 
 liigh  places  of  the  gates  tliat  were  in  the  en- 
 tering in  of  the  gate  of  Joshua  the  governor  of 
 the  city,  which  irere  on  a  man's  left  hand  at 
 the  gate  of  the  city. 
 
 9  '  Nevertheless  the  priests  of  the  high  places 
 came  not  up  to  the  altar  of  the  Lord  in  Jeru- 
 salem, "but  they  did  eat  of  the  unleavened 
 bread  among  tlieir  brethren. 
 
 10  And  he  defiled  "  Toplieth,  which  is  in 
 "  the  valley  of  the  children  of  Hiniiom,  ^  that 
 no  man  might  make  his  son  or  his  daughter  to 
 pass  throngli  the  fire  to  Molech. 
 
 1 1  And  he  took  away  the  horses  that  the 
 kings  of  Judah  bad  given  to  the  sun,  at  tire 
 entering  in  of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  by  the 
 chamber  of  Nathan-melech  the  ||  cliamherlain, 
 which  was  in  the  suburbs,  and  burned  the 
 chariots  of  the  sun  with  fire. 
 
 12  And  the  altars  that  were  ''on  the  top  of 
 the  upper  chamber  of  Ahaz,  wliich  the  kings 
 of  Judah  had  made,  and  the  altars  which  '  Ma- 
 nasseh  had  made  in  the  two  courts  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  did  the  king  beat  down, 
 and  II  brake  Mini  down  from  thence,  and  cast 
 the  dust  of  them  into  the  brook  Kidron. 
 
 13  And  the  high  places  that  tcere  before  Je- 
 rusalem, which  7i-ere  on  the  right  hand  of  ||thc 
 mount  of  corruption,  which  '  Solomon  the  king 
 of  Israel  had  budded  for  Ashtoreth  the  abomi- 
 nation of  the  Zidonians,  and  for  Chemo.sh  tlie 
 abomination  of  the  Moabiles,  and  for  Milcom 
 the  abomination  of  the  children  of  Ammon,did 
 the  king  defile. 
 
 1-t  And  he  '  brake  in  pieces  the  f  images,  and 
 cut  down  tlie  groves,  and  filled  their  places 
 with  the  bones  of  men. 
 
 15  t  Moreover  the  altar  that  teas  at  Beth-el, 
 and  the  high  place  "  which  Jeroboam  the  sou 
 of  Nebat,  who  made  Israel  to  sin,  had  made, 
 both  that  altar  and  the  high  place  he  brake 
 down,  and  burned  the  high  place,  o»irf  stamped 
 it  small  to  powder,  and  burned  the  grove. 
 
 CiiAP.  XXII!.  —  2.  The  prophets,  either  Jeremiah,  Zephaniah,  Urijab, 
 or  the  sons  or  disciples  of  the  prophets. — Pottle.  3.  By  a  piltai — see 
 note  on  chap.  xi.  14.  5.  Unto  Baal,  to  the  sun,  '  unto  Baal,  the  sun.' 
 ^Hew.  6.  The  fffove,  '  the  ima^e  of  the  grove,'  it  being  most  fre- 
 quent to  call  images  by  the  names  of  the  persons  or  things  which  they 
 represent. — Poole,  This  was  a  carved  imaerc  of  tlie  idol  Ashteroth  or 
 Astartc,  which  was  set  up  in  the  grove,  (chap.  x,\i.  ".) — Gill.  Vpitn  the 
 graves — this  was  done  in  contempt  of  the  idol,  graves,  by  the  law, 
 being  impure,  in  reproach  to  the  memories  of  the  deceased  for  their 
 idolatry, — Gil. ;  and  that  none  might  attempt  to  gather  them  upor  keep 
 any  part  as  a  sacred  or  superstitious  relic. — Pijle.  ".  Uftngings,  or 
 '  curtains,'  to  draw  before  the  idol,  or  idols,  to  procure  them  reverence, 
 or  that  ttie  abominable  filthiness  might  be  committed  within  ;  or  gar- 
 ments for  the  idols  or  priests. — Poole.  For  the  groee,  'the  grove  idol.* 
 — Boothr.  8.  Defiled,  by  casting  dead  carcases,  bones,  or  dung 
 upon  them. — Gill.  High  places  of  the  gntes,  crec\.ef\  by  the  gates  to 
 the  honour  of  their  tutelary  gods,  after  the  manner  of  the  heathen. — 
 Poole.  Gates,  *  satyrs.' — Boothr.  g.  The  priests — came  not  up — 
 '  were  not  admitted  to  the  honour,  nor  restored  to  the  full  e.xercise  of 
 
 their  functions.' — Wogan.  10.  Topheth,  the  Hebrew  signifies  'drum,' 
 and  the  name  is  thought  to  have  been  given  on  account  of  the  ciriim 
 having  been  used  to  drown  the  cries  of  the  little  victims  cast  into  the 
 fire  there  as  oiferings  to  the  god  Moloch.  It  was  near  Jerusalem. — 
 Cttl.  11.  The  horses,  'carved  horses,'  to  which  were  adjoined  a 
 graven  chariot ;  or  living  horses,  cither  to  be  sacrificed  to  the  sun,  or 
 to  draw  the  chariots  in  which  the  kings,  or  their  prn.xies,  went  every 
 morning  to  worship  the  rising  sun  ;  for  both  these  were  the  customs  of 
 the  Armenians  and  Persians,  according  to  Xettophon. — Poole.  Tliey 
 were,  probably,  living  horses,  since  they  were  taken  away  from  the 
 chariots;  if  they  had  been  sculptured,  both  chariots  and  horses  would 
 have  shared  the  same  fate. — Eran.  Synop.  12.  .illars  thai  were  on 
 the  top  0/  the  upper  chamber,  '  on  the  roof  of  the  king's  house,'  to  wor- 
 ship tlie  heavenly  bodies.  \3.  .Mount  of  corruption,  'the  Mount  of 
 Olives,'  (1  Kings,  xi.  7,)  here  so  called  because  of  the  idolatry  practised 
 on  it,  often  expressed  by  the  name  of  corruption,  (see  Exod.  xxxii.  7  ; 
 Deut.  xxxii.  ."i.)  14.  Bones  of  men,  idolatrous  priests  taken  out  of 
 their  graves,  (ver.  \^.)— Poole.  15.  .it  Beth-el— 3o^i^\  had  evidently 
 some  authority  over  a  great  part  of  the  country  which  the  ten  tribes 
 
 to  the  ministry  and  ministers  of  tl,e  pospel;  and  when  the  sinner  application  for  mercy,  ore  'tilings  which  accompany  salvs- 
 
 has  been  taught  to  trust  and  love  the  Saviour,  be  will  thence-  tion,"  and  will  never  be  rejected  by  our  gracious  Lord  and  Sa- 
 
 forth  walk  in  newness  of  life.  viour.     AVIiatever  persons  of  tliis  ciiaracter  fear,  sutl'er,  or 
 
 VII.  That  there  are  kinds  and  degrees  of  guilt  which  the  witness,  or  in  what  way  soever  they  ore  removed  out  of  the 
 
 Lord  will  not  pardon,  but  a  tendir,  broken,  and  contrite  heart,  a  world,  they  shall  be  gathered  to  the  grave  in  peace,  and  shall 
 
 liumble  conscioasaess  of  havina  deserved  wrath,  and  an  earnest  enter  iuto  the  rest  reserved  for  the  people  of  God. 
 4-24 
 
Josiah  keepeth  the  passover. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XXIII. 
 
 Jehoiahim  is  made  king. 
 
 16  And  as  Josiah  turned  himself,  he  spied  the 
 sepulchres  that  rcere  there  in  the  mount,  and 
 sent,  and  took  the  bones  out  of  the  sepulchres, 
 and  burned  them  upon  the  altar,  and  polluted 
 it,  according  to  the  *  word  of  the  Lord  which 
 the  man  of  God  proclaimed,  who  proclaimed 
 these  words. 
 
 17  Then  he  said,  What  title  is  that  that  I 
 see  ?  And  the  men  of  the  city  told  him.  It  is 
 '  the  sepulchre  of  the  man  of  God,  which  came 
 from  Judah,  and  proclaimed  these  things  that 
 thou  hast  done  against  the  altar  of  Betli-el, 
 
 18  And  he  said.  Let  him  alone  ;  let  no  man 
 move  his  bones.  So  they  let  his  bones  f  alone, 
 with  the  bones  of ''  the  prophet  that  came  out 
 of  Samaria. 
 
 !9  And  all  the  houses  also  of  the  high  places 
 that  trere  'in  the  cities  of  Samaria,  which  the 
 kings  of  Israel  had  made  to  provoke  t/ieL  ORD 
 to  anger,  Josiah  took  away,  and  did  to  them 
 according  to  all  the  acts  that  he  had  done  in 
 Beth-el. 
 
 20  And  ^  he  11°  slew  all  the  priests  of  the  high 
 places  that  were  there  upon  the  altars,  and 
 ''  burned  men's  bones  upon  them,  and  returned 
 to  Jerusalem. 
 
 21  1  And  the  king  commanded  all  the  people, 
 saying,  "  Keep  the  passover  unto  the  Lord 
 your  God,  ''as  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  this 
 covenant. 
 
 22  Surely  ^  there  was  not  holden  such  a  pass- 
 over  from  the  days  of  the  judges  that  judged 
 Israel,  nor  in  all  the  days  of  the  kings  of  Israel, 
 nor  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ; 
 
 2.3  But  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  king  Josiah, 
 wherein  this  passover  was  holden  to  the  Lord 
 in  Jerusalem. 
 
 24  f  Moreover  ''  the  workers  with  familiar 
 spirits,  and  the  wizards,  and  the  ||  images,  and 
 the  idols,  and  all  the  abominations  that  were 
 spied  iu  the  land  of  Judah  and  in  Jerusalem, 
 did  Josiah  put  away,  that  he  might  perform  the 
 words  of  '  the  law  which  were  written  in  the 
 book  that  Hilkiah  the  priest  found  in  the  house 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 25  '  And  like  unto  him  was  there  no  king 
 before  him,  that  turned  to  the  Lord  with  all 
 his  heart,  and  with  ail  his  soul,  and  with  all 
 his  might,  according  to  all  the  law  of  Moses  ; 
 neither  after  him  arose  there  any  like  him. 
 
 26  t  Notwithstanding  the  Lord  turned  not 
 from  the  fierceness  of  his  great  wrath,  where- 
 with his  anger  was  kindled  against  Judah, '  be- 
 cause of  all  the  f  provocations  that  Manasseh 
 
 t  Heb.  10 
 
 iSeoSChr. 
 SI.  6,  7. 
 
 6  1  Kin.  13.?. 
 II  Or,  Mcri- 
 
 fc.,1. 
 f  Ex.  22.  20. 
 
 I  Kin.  Iti. 
 
 40.  cli.  n . 
 
 18. 
 d  2  Chr  ai  5. 
 
 2Chr35.l. 
 
 1  Esd.  I.  1. 
 /Ex.  12.  3 
 
 Lev.  23.  5. 
 
 Num.  9.  2. 
 
 Dea.  16.  2. 
 3  2  Clir.  35. 
 
 18,  19. 
 fir.  623. 
 
 Hi3  ISth 
 
 Year  end- 
 
 II  Or,  ^TQ- 
 pl.im. 
 Geii.31.  19 
 
 T.ev   10  31. 
 
 &  2lt,  27. 
 Deu.  IS   11 
 
 /ch-  21.  11, 
 12-  k  24.3, 
 4.  .fer.lS.  4. 
 
 t  Heb.  au- 
 
 mch.  17.18, 
 20.  fe  19.  II. 
 &  21.  13. 
 
 I  I  KiD  S. 
 29.  &  9  3 
 ch.  21.4,  7. 
 
 610. 
 2  Chr.  35. 
 
 /iZecll.  12. 
 
 II. 
 1  ch.  14   8. 
 
 2  Chr.  3j. 
 
 24. 
 
 II  Called 
 SI,',Uum. 
 ICUr.  3  15, 
 Jer.  22.  11. 
 
 ich.  24.  18. 
 
 .  rl 
 
 n 
 
 ■>6 
 
 .ler 
 
 .  m 
 
 •/I 
 
 Or 
 
 ,  be>: 
 
 l.r 
 
 «,>.  rd. 
 
 n. 
 
 !•    „ 
 
 t  n 
 
 fc/., 
 
 :iin 
 
 n  See  ch.24. 
 V!.  Dan.  1. 
 
 I  Mat.  1.  11, 
 called  Ja- 
 
 n  Jer.K  11, 
 12  Ezek.l9. 
 .3,  4. 
 
 k  ver.  .33. 
 
 had  provoked  him  withal. 
 
 27  And  the  Lord  said,  I  will  remove  Judah 
 also  out  of  my  sight,  as  "'  I  have  removed  Is- 
 
 ,rael,  and  will  cast  oft'  this  city  Jerusalem  which 
 I  have  chosen,  and  the  house  of  vvliich  I  said, 
 °  My  name  shall  be  there. 
 
 28  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Josiah,  and 
 all  that  he  did,  are  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Judah  ? 
 
 29  t  °  In  his  days  Pharaoh-nechoh  king  of 
 Egypt  went  up  against  the  king  of  Assyria  to 
 the  river  Euphrates :  and  king  Josiah  went 
 against  him  ;  and  he  slew  him  at  "■  Megiddo, 
 when  he  ''  had  seen  him. 
 
 30  '  And  his  servants  carried  him  in  a  chariot 
 dead  from  Megiddo,  and  brought  him  to  Jeru- 
 salem, and  buried  him  in  his  own  sepulchre. 
 And  "  the  people  of  the  land  took  Jehoahaz 
 the  son  of  Josiah,  and  anointed  him,  and  made 
 him  king  in  his  father's  stead. 
 
 31  f  II  Jehoahaz  was  twenty  and  three  years 
 old  when  he  began  to  reign  ;  and  he  reigned 
 three  months  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's 
 name  was  '  Hamutal,  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
 of  Libnah. 
 
 32  And  he  did  that  which  icas  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  that  his 
 fathers  had  done. 
 
 .33  And  Pharaoh-nechoh  put  him  in  bands 
 "  at  Riblah  in  the  land  of  Hamath,  ||  that  he 
 might  not  reign  in  Jerusalem  ;  and  f  put  the 
 land  to  a  tribute  of  an  hundred  talents  of  silver, 
 and  a  talent  of  gold. 
 
 34  And  "  Pharaoh-nechoh  made  Eliakim  the 
 son  of  Josiah  king  in  the  room  of  Josiah  his 
 father,  and  ''  turned  his  name  to  '  Jehoiakim, 
 and  took  Jehoahaz  away  :  °  and  he  came  to 
 Egypt,  and  died  there. 
 
 35  And  Jehoiakim  gave  ^  the  silver  and  the 
 gold  to  Pharaoh  ;  but  he  taxed  the  land  to 
 give  the  money  according  to  the  command- 
 ment of  Pharaoli  :  he  exacted  the  silver  and 
 the  gold  of  the  people  of  the  land,  of  every 
 one  according  to  his  taxation,  to  give  it  unto 
 Pharaoh-nechoh. 
 
 36  K  "^  Jehoiakim  teas  twenty  and  five  years 
 old  when  lie  began  to  reign  ;  and  he  reigned 
 eleven  years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's 
 name  was  Zebudah,  the  daughter  of  Pedaiah 
 of  Rumah. 
 
 37  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  that  his 
 fathers  had  done. 
 
 had  occupied,  (2  Chron.  xxxiv.  6,)  but  it  is  not  certain  whether  by  grant 
 of  the  iiing  of  Assyria  or  by  the  willing  subjection  of  the  inhabitants  ; 
 tlie  former  most  probably. — Scoft.  l6.  Tijuk  the  bones,  to  prevent 
 the  place  being  afterwards  used  for  idolatrous  purjioses. — Pi/te.  Ac- 
 cording to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  spoken  300  years  before  it  was  done, 
 (I  Kings,  xiit.  1,  2.)  17.  Title — it  was  a  custom  then,  as  now,  to  set 
 up  little  pillars  or  stones  over  the  eraves  of  the  higher  sort  of  men, 
 with  inscriptions  on  them.  22.  Sur/i  a  passover,  celebrated  with  such 
 solemn  care  and  great  preparation,  and  numerous  sacrifices,  (2  Chron. 
 XXXV.  7,  8,  9. J — Poole.  24.  Familinr  spirits — see  note  on  1  Sam. 
 xxviii.  7.  25.  No  king — Hezekiah  excelled  all  the  kings  of  Judah  for 
 entire  confidence  in  God  ;  and  Josiah  surpassed  all  others  in  zeal  for 
 reformation  and  in  an  unblemished  lite. — Scott.  Hezekiah  himself 
 was  not  so  exact,  and  did  not  make  such  a  thorough  search  as  Josiah  did 
 after  idolatrous  practices.  26.  The  Lord  turned  not — Josiah's  religion 
 was  personal,  but  the  national  sin  remained  predominant. —  Scott. 
 29.  Pharaoh-nechoh,  called  Necos  by  Herodotus,    Against  the  king  of 
 
 Assyria,  who  was  then  king  of  Babylon,  for  he  had  subdued  the  Assy- 
 rians and  brought  them  under  his  empire. — Pat.  To  Carchemish,  a 
 city  on  the  Euphrates,  (see  2  Chron.  xxxv.  20 ;  Jer.  xlvi.  2.)  Josiah 
 went  against  him,  to  stop  him,  that  he  might  not  pass  through  his 
 country.  He  stew  him — Pharaoh  slew  Josiall  at  the  first  onset.  Me- 
 giddo, a  city  in  Manasseh.  'Josh.  xvii.  11.)  Josiah  seems  to  have  en- 
 gaged in  this  action  without  consulting  the  Lord  and  his  prophets. — 
 Gill,  31.  Jehoahaz,  he  was  the  youngest  of  four  sons,  (1  Chron.  iii. 
 13.)  He  is  called  Shallum  in  Chronicles  and  by  the  prophet  Jeremiah. 
 — Pat.  Reigned  three  months,  being  deposed  by  the  king  of  Egypt, 
 (ver.  33.)  33.  At  Riblah,  in  the  land  of  Hamath,  places  in  Syria. 
 Hamath  was  formerly  a  kingdom  in  Syria,  and  Riblah  the  Antioch  of 
 Syria.  An  hundred  talents,  ^c— the  silver  is  valued  at  37,500/.,  and 
 the  gold,  4,500;.,  by  Brerewood,  Gill.  34.  Made  Eliakim— the  eldest 
 son,  Johanan,  was  prohably  dead.  Ttcrned  his  name — a  usual  custom 
 with  conquerors,  (see  Dan.  i.  7.) 
 
 Reflbctions  on  Chap.  XXIII.  — We  may  profitably  con- 
 tinue  our  reflections  on  the  reign  of  Josiab,  from  Scott : — 
 I.  Nuthinf/  oitffht  to  disconratfc  our  enrJUavours  to  promote  a  recical 
 of  irjte  rdiijion.     If  declining  churches  and  nations  cannot  be 
 425 
 
 rescued  from  impending  judgments,  a  few  individuals  may  be 
 snatched  *  as  brands  from  the  burning.'  Courage,  constancy, 
 and  patience,  are  requisite  for  such  attempts;  and  these, 
 when  genuine,  can  only  spring  from  grace  and  faith,  and  bo 
 3  I 
 
Jekoiahim's  rebellion. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XXIV. 
 
 The  captivity  of  Jenisahm. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Jehoiaklm,  Jirst  subdued  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  then 
 rebeUing  against  tiim,  proeureth  his  own  ruin.  5  Je- 
 ttoiachin  suceeedeth  him.  7  The  king  of  Egypt  is 
 vanquished  bi/  the  king  of  Babylon.  8  Jehoiac/iin's 
 evil  reiiin.  10  Jerusalem  is  taken  and  carried  cap- 
 tive into  Bahyhm.  17  Zedekiah  is  made  king,  and 
 reigneth  ill  unto  the  utter  destruction  of  Judah. 
 
 TN  °  his  days  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Baby- 
 -'-  Ion  came  up,  and  Jeboiakim  became  liis 
 servant  three  years  :  then  he  turned  and  re- 
 belled against  liim. 
 
 2  ^  And  tlie  Lord  sent  against  him  bands  of 
 the  Chaldees,  and  bands  of  the  Syrians,  and 
 bands  of  the  Moabites,  and  bands  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Ainmoji,  and  sent  them  against  Judah 
 to  destroy  it,  "  according  to  the  word  of  the 
 Lord,  which  he  spake  f  by  his  servants  the 
 prophets. 
 
 3  Surely  at  the  commandment  of  the  Lord 
 came  this  upon  Judah,  to  remove  them  out  of 
 his  sight,  "^  fur  the  sins  of  Manasseb,  according 
 to  all  that  he  did  ; 
 
 4  "  And  also  for  the  innocent  blood  that  he 
 shed  :  for  he  filled  Jerusalem  with  innocent 
 blood  ;  which  the  Lord  would  not  pardon. 
 
 5  U  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jeboiakim, 
 and  all  that  he  did,  ore  they  not  written  in 
 the  book  of  the  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Ju- 
 dah ? 
 
 6  '  So  Jeboiakim  slept  with  his  fathers  :  and 
 Jehoiachin  bis  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 7  And  '  the  king  of  Egypt  came  not  again 
 any  more  out  of  bis  land :  for  ''  the  king  of 
 Babylon  had  taken  from  the  river  of  Egypt 
 unto  the  river  Euphrates  all  that  pertained  to 
 the  king  of  Egypt. 
 
 8  H  II  '  Jehoiachin  u-as  eighteen  years  old 
 when  he  began  to  reign,  and  be  reigned  in  Je- 
 rusalem three  months.  And  bis  mother's 
 name  was  Nehushta,  the  daughter  of  Elnatban 
 of  Jerusalem. 
 
 9  And  be  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  that  his  fa- 
 ther had  done. 
 
 10  1 '  At  that  time  tlie  servants  of  Nebuchad- 
 
 6H7. 
 
 6116. 
 
 e03. 
 
 61J0. 
 I  S  Clir.  36. 
 6.  .ler.  25  I, 
 9.  Daa.  1.1. 
 i  Eiek.iy.S 
 Jer.  £b  y. 
 &  32.  28. 
 
 M  &•«  27 
 t  Heb.  I.ti  (/«■ 
 hnud  vj. 
 
 /Sep  2  Clir. 
 
 36.  6,  8. 
 
 Jer.  22.  18, 
 
 19,  8<36.  Ml) 
 g  See  Jer. 37. 
 
 5,7. 
 »  Jer.  <6.  2. 
 
 II  Called  Ji- 
 
 I  Chr.  .1.16. 
 Jer  24.  1. 
 and  C'rni'i/t, 
 Jer   22,  24, 
 2H. 
 i  2  Clir.  36. 9 
 
 t  Heb  Mm. 
 i'ltl}  iirt/e. 
 
 50<). 
 
 I  Jer.  21-  1. 
 «r  29  1,  2. 
 tzck  17.12. 
 
 II  Or.  r-- 
 
 III  A'rtiuc/iiid- 
 nfi:<trg 
 eij^lith 
 year, 
 
 Jer.  25    1. 
 '1  .See  cli.  25. 
 
 27. 
 o  SeeJer.62. 
 
 28. 
 p  ch.  20.  17. 
 
 IB.  39.  6. 
 f  See  Dan  5. 
 
 2,  3. 
 f  Jer.  20.  S. 
 •  Jer.  24.  1. 
 
 (  See  Jer.52 
 
 28. 
 1.  S„  1  Sam. 
 
 13    19.  22. 
 X  ch-  2.S.  12. 
 
 Jer.  4n-  7. 
 y  2  Clir  .-iO. 
 
 10.  Esth.  2 
 
 6.  Jer,  22. 
 
 21,  &c. 
 ■I  Or,  r.. 
 
 iiublu. 
 
 599. 
 n  Jer.  37.  1. 
 &1  Clir. 3  15 
 2Clir  :i6  10. 
 
 31. 
 
 i  Gill- 
 
 rf2  Cbr.  Sfi. 
 
 f.93. 
 /2  CUr. 
 
 g  8  Chr.  Sf>. 
 13.  Kze.  17. 
 15. 
 
 nezzar  king  of  Babylon  came  up  against  Je- 
 rusalem, and  the  city  f  was  besieged. 
 
 1 1  And  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon 
 came  against  the  city,  and  his  servants  did  be- 
 siege it. 
 
 1'2  '  And  Jehoiachin  the  king  of  Judah  went 
 out  to  the  king  of  Babylon,  he,  and  bis  mother, 
 and  his  servants,  and  his  princes,  and  his 
 II  officers  :  "  and  the  king  of  Babylon  "  took 
 iiim  °  in  the  eighth  year  of  his  reign. 
 
 13  I"  And  he  carried  out  thence  all  the  trea- 
 sures of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  the  trea- 
 sures of  the  king's  house,  and  ''  cut  in  pieces 
 all  the  vessels  of  gold  which  Solomon  king  of 
 Israel  had  made  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord, 
 '  as  the  Lord  had  said. 
 
 14  And  'he  carried  away  all  .Terusalem,  and 
 all  the  princes,  and  all  the  mighty  men  of  va- 
 lour, '  eren  ten  thousand  captives,  and  "  all  the 
 craftsmen  and  smiths:  none  remained,  save 
 '  tlie  poorest  sort  of  the  people  of  the  land. 
 
 15  And  'he  carried  away  Jehoiachin  to  Ba- 
 bylon, and   the  king's  mother,  and   the  king's 
 
 '  wives,  and  his  ||  officers,  and  the  mighty  of  the 
 land,  those  carried  he  into  captivity  from  Jeru- 
 salem to  Babylon. 
 
 16  And  ^  all  the  men  of  might,  even  seven 
 thousand,  and  craftsmen  and  smiths  a  thousand, 
 all  that  were  strong  and  apt  for  war,  even 
 them  the  king  of  Babylon  brought  captive  to 
 Babylon. 
 
 1 7  t  And  '  the  king  of  Babylon  made  Matta- 
 uiah  *•  his  father's  brother  king  in  his  stead,  and 
 '  changed  his  name  to  Zedekiah. 
 
 18  ''Zedekiah  was  twenty  and  one  years  old 
 when  he  began  to  reign,  and  be  reigned  eleven 
 years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name 
 was  "  Hamutal,  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah  of 
 Libiiah. 
 
 I!)  'And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  that  Je- 
 hoiakim  had  done. 
 
 '20  For  through  the  anger  of  the  Lord  it  came 
 to  pass  in  Jerusalem  and  Judah,  until  he  had 
 cast  them  out  from  his  presence,  *  that  Zede- 
 kiah rebelled  against  the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  —  1.  Nft>uchadnezz(tr — he  is  the  Nabocolasser  in  Pto- 
 lemy's CaDon,  and  the  son  and  successor  of  Nabo-polassar.  He  begun 
 his  reign  in  the  fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim,  as  Jeremiah  tells  us,  chap. 
 XXV.  1,  when,  having  smitten  the  army  of  Pliaraoh-Nechuh  at  Carche. 
 mish,  near  Euphrates,  {Jer.  xlvi.  2,)  he  came  up  to  make  the  Jews  tri- 
 butaries to  him  as  they  had  been  to  Pharaoh. — Gill,  Cat..  Pat.  Ser- 
 vant, 'subject.' — Hew.  a.  Chaldees,  ^c. — these  were  all  subject  to 
 Nebuchadnezzar,  whom  he  sent  to  chastise  Jehoiakim  before  he  came 
 himself  and  besieged  Jerusalem. — Fat.  The  prophets,  Isaiah,  Jere- 
 miah, Zephaniah,  and  Huldah  the  prophetess. — Gill,  3.  For  tlie  sins 
 of  Manasseh — the  chief  men  of  Judah  had  been  involved  in  Manasseh's 
 guilt,  and  had  neither  repented  nor  been  brought  to  justice  for  it ;  and 
 Ijoth  princes  and  people  were  more  disposed  to  imilate  his  crimes  than 
 his  repentance. — Scott.  4.  Whicli  the  Lord  would  not  pardon — he 
 pardoned  the  sins  of  Manasseh,  who  repented,  but  not  the  sins  of  those 
 persons  who  imitated  him  hut  repented  not. — Gill.  6.  Slept  with  his 
 fathers,  that  is,  died;  for  according  to  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  chap. 
 xxii.  18,  19,  he  died  as  they  led  him  out  of  Jerusalem,  and  cast  him  out 
 
 of  the  gates,  where  he  had  the  burial  of  an  ass :  that  is,  lay  unburied. — 
 Pat.  Jehoiachin,  called  Jeconiah,  1  Chron.  iii.  16;  and  Coniah,  as  some 
 think,  in  contempt,  Jer.  xxii.  24.  8.  Was  eighteen  years  old  when  he 
 bewail  to  reif^n,  that  is,  '  alter  his  father's  death  ;'  but  his  father,  when 
 he  was  but  eight  years  old,  made  him  his  associate  in  the  kingdom, 
 (2  Chron.  xxxvi.  9,)  to  prevent  contentions  about  succession. —  Pnt. 
 The  place  in  Chronicles  must  be  corrupted,  for  he  reigned  but  three 
 months  and  had  wives,  which  could  not  have  been  the  case  at  so  early 
 an  age. — So  Clarhe.  12.  Went   out,    '  surrendered  the  city.'     His 
 
 reign,  that  is,  Nebuchadnezzar's  ;  for  Nebuchadnezzar  began  to  reign 
 in  the  fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim,  who  reigned  seven  more  after  that, 
 which  was  the  eighth  of  Nebuchadnezzar. — Pat.  14,  The  poorest — 
 
 these  were  left  to  till  the  land,  (see  chap.  xxv.  12.; — Gill.  \^.  From 
 
 Jerusalem  to  Babylon,  680  miles  apart. — Buntint^.  \y.  Mattaniah, 
 third  son  of  Josiah,  {1  Chron.  iii.  15.)  Changed  his  name — see  chap, 
 xxiii.  34.  This  was  considered  an  act  and  sign  of  dominion,  and  there- 
 fore parents  did  it  to  their  children,  and  conquerors  to  their  vassals  or 
 tributaries,  (see  Dan.  i.  ".)— Poo/e. 
 
 given  in  answer  to  prayer,  without  which  every  undertaking 
 of  this  kind  will  be  fruitless. 
 
 II.  The  predictions  of  .Scripture  wilt  all  be  punctually  fid  fill  d 
 in  their  season;  and  it  must  give  singular  encouragement  to 
 the  pious,  when  tliey  find  themselves  evidently  employed  in 
 bringing  about  that  accomplishment. 
 
 III.  The  best  men  may  be  misled  into  unadvised  meddlinq  with 
 matters  not  properly  belonging  to  them  ;  but,  if  we  are  habitually 
 liviDg  by  taith  and  walking'with  God,  even  should  we  be  taken 
 away  in  consequence  of  any  indiscretion,  it  will  not  prevent 
 our  dying  in  peace,  and  being  received  to  glory. 
 
 IV.  Piety  is  personal,  and  the  effict  of  special  grace.  The  chil- 
 dren even  of  the  most  pious  parents  inherit  original  depravity  ; 
 
 42G 
 
 nor  can  education,  instruction,  or  example,  prevent  its  effects, 
 without  regeneration  :  yet  abundant  encouragement  is  given 
 to  the  diligent  use  of  the  appointed  means  of  grace,  in  respect 
 of  our  children. 
 
 V.  fyhen  those  udto  have  stood  in  the  gap  arc  removed,  judgments 
 often  follow  like  an  inundation.  A  little  time  and  slender  abi- 
 lities frequently  suffice  to  undo  all  the  external  good  which 
 pious  men,  of  excellent  capacities,  have  been  labouring  \yith 
 unremitting  endeavours,  for  a  course  of  years,  to  effect. 
 Blessed  be  God,  that  good  work  which  he  begins  by  his  rege- 
 nerating Spirit  cannot  be  disannulled,  but,  notwithstanding 
 all  changes  and  temptations,  shall  be  '  performed  unto  the  day 
 of  Jesus  Christ.' 
 
The  siege  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 II.  KINGS,  XXV. 
 
 The  treasures  are  carried  away. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1  Jerusalem  is  besieged.  4  Zedehiah  tahtm,  his  sons 
 slain,  his  eyes  put  out.  8  Ntbifzar-adau  defaceth  the 
 citt/t  carrieth  the  remnant,  except  a  few  poor  labour- 
 trSj  into  captii'itif,  13  sjioilfth  and  carrieth  away  the 
 treasures.  18  The  nobles  are  slain  at  Riblah,  22 
 Gedaliah,  who  was  set  over  them  that  remained,  being 
 slain,  the  rest  Jiee  into  Egypt.  27  Evil-meroduch 
 advanceth  Jehoiaehin  in  his  court. 
 
 A  ND  it  caine  to  pass  °  in  tlie  ninth  year  of 
 -^*-  liis  reign,  in  the  tenth  month,  in  the  tenth 
 day  of  the  montli,  tliat  Nebuchadnezzar  liing 
 of  Babylon  came,  lie,  and  all  his  host,  against 
 Jerusalem,  and  pitched  against  it ;  and  they 
 built  forts  against  it  round  about. 
 
 2  And  the  city  was  besieged  unto  the 
 eleventh  year  of  king  Zedekiah. 
 
 3  And  on  the  ninth  day  of  the  ''fourth  month 
 the  famine  prevailed  in  the  city,  and  there  was 
 no  bread  for  the  people  of  the  land. 
 
 4  H  And  '  the  city  was  broken  up,  and  all  the 
 men  of  ivar  fled  by  niglit  by  the  way  of  the 
 gate  between  two  walls,  which  is  by  the  king's 
 garden  :  (now  the  Chaldees  were  against  the 
 city  round  about:)  and  •'the  king  went  the 
 way  toward  the  plain. 
 
 5  And  tlie  army  of  the  Chaldees  pursued  after 
 the  king,  and  overtook  him  in  the  plains  of  Je- 
 richo :  and  all  his  army  were  scattered  from 
 him. 
 
 6  So  they  took  the  king,  and  brought  him  up 
 to  the  king  of  Babylon  "  to  Riblah  ;  and  they 
 t  gave  judgment  upon  him. 
 
 7  And  they  slew  the  sons  of  Zedekiah  before 
 his  eyes,  and  t'P"t  t*"'  '''^  eyes  of  Zedekiah, 
 and  bound  him  with  fetters  of  brass,  and  car- 
 ried him  to  Babylon. 
 
 8  1  And  in  the  fifth  month,  ^  on  the  seventh 
 day  of  the  month,  which  is  •■  the  nineteenth 
 year  of  king  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon, 
 '  came  Nebuzar-adan,  ||  captain  of  the  guard,  a 
 servant  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  unto  Jeru- 
 salem : 
 
 9  '  And  he  burnt  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 '  and  the  king's  house,  and  all  the  houses  of 
 Jerusalem,  and  every  great  man's  house  burnt 
 he  with  fire. 
 
 10  And  all  the  army  of  the  Chaldees,  that 
 were  with  the  captain  of  the  guard,  "'  brake 
 down  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  round  about. 
 
 1  2  Chr.  36, 
 17.  .Ter.  34 
 2.  &S9.  I. 
 
 689. 
 
 >.  .lei-   .^9.  2. 
 
 ij.  6. 
 
 .Ter.  3 
 &52.  ; 
 
 d  Jer  S9. 
 
 -7  Si  59 
 
 fU.  23.  33. 
 Jer.  52.  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  «poAe 
 yideTient 
 mill,  Am.. 
 
 \  llob.  mndt 
 
 ^Je. 
 
 30 
 
 Kzyk.12.13 
 
 g  Src  .Ter, 
 
 '.-11- 
 /.  S..,-  I'll.  -lA. 
 Piver  27. 
 
 J-T.  ."9.  n. 
 Or.  C/.-P/ 
 miiTthnt. 
 
 19  PS79.I, 
 Jer  .S9.  8. 
 -Viiios  2.  5. 
 
 It  Neh    1.  3 
 Jer.  bl.  14. 
 
 B.  C.  588. 
 
 ,1  Jer,  39,  ! 
 
 &  52,   15. 
 t  Heb./atlen 
 
 nvay. 
 
 o  ch.  24.  14. 
 Jer,  39.  ll). 
 &  49.  7.  & 
 52.  16. 
 
 f>  ch    20    17. 
 
 J- 1  Kin  7.15. 
 Jer.  52.  21. 
 
 y  Jer.  52. 24, 
 
 &c. 
 s  1  Chr. 6  14. 
 
 Ezia  7.  1- 
 a  Jer.  21.  |. 
 
 &  29,  25. 
 \  11  eb, 
 
 lhrftl,„ld. 
 II  Or,  ,„„„ch. 
 b  See  Jer, 52. 
 
 25, 
 1  Hob,  jrtuj 
 
 if,  in  of  the 
 Kail. 
 
 c  Lev, 26  S3, 
 Deu  28.36, 
 64.  ch.  23. 
 
 11  "  Now  the  rest  of  the  people  that  were 
 left  in  the  city,  and  the  f  fugitives  that  fell 
 away  to  the  king  of  Babylon,  with  the  remnant 
 of  the  multitude,  did  Nebuzar-adan  the  cap- 
 tain of  the  guard  carry  away. 
 
 12  But  the  captain  of  the  guard  "left  of  the 
 poor  of  the  land  to  be  vinedressers  and  hus- 
 bandmen. 
 
 13  And  ^  the  ^  pillars  of  brass  that  were  in  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  and  '  the  bases,  and  '  the 
 brasen  sea  that  was  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 did  the  Chaldees  break  in  pieces,  and  carried 
 the  brass  of  them  to  Babylon. 
 
 14  And  'the  pots,  and  the  shovels,  and  the 
 snuffers,  and  the  spoons,  and  all  the  vessels 
 of  brass  wherewith  they  ministered,  took  they 
 away. 
 
 15  And  the  firepans,  and  the  bowls,  OHrf  such 
 things  as  were  of  gold,  in  gold,  and  of  silver,  in 
 silver,  the  captain  of  the  guard  took  away. 
 
 16  The  two  pillars,  t  one  sea,  and  the  bases 
 which  Solomon  had  made  for  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  ;  "  the  brass  of  all  these  vessels  was 
 without  weight. 
 
 17  'The  height  of  the  one  pillar  was  eigh- 
 teen cubits,  and  the  chapiter  upon  it  was  brass: 
 and  the  height  of  the  chapiter  three  cubits ; 
 and  the  wreathen  work,  and  pomegranates 
 upon  the  chapiter  round  about,  all  of  brass  : 
 and  like  unto  these  had  the  second  pillar  with 
 wreathen  work. 
 
 18  H  ''  And   the  captain  of  the   guard   took 
 Seraiah  the  chief  priest,  and  °  Zephaniah  the 
 
 second  priest,  and  the  three  keepers  of  the 
 fdoor  ; 
 
 19  And  out  of  the  city  he  took  an  ||  officer 
 that  was  set  over  the  men  of  war,  and  ''  five 
 men  of  them  that  f  were  in  the  king's  presence, 
 which  were  found  in  the  city,  and  the  ||  prin- 
 cipal scribe  of  the  host,  which  mustered  the 
 people  of  the  land,  and  threescore  men  of  the 
 people  of  the  land  that  were  found  in  the  city: 
 
 20  And  Nebuzar-adan  captain  of  the  guard 
 took  these,  and  brought  them  to  the  king  of 
 Babylon  to  Riblah  : 
 
 21  And  the  king  of  Babylon  smote  them,  and 
 slew  them  at  Riblah  in  the  land  of  Hamath. 
 '  So  Judah  was  carried  away  out  of  their  land. 
 
 22  t  "^  And  as  for  the  people  that  remained 
 in  the  land  of  Judah,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar 
 
 Chap.  XXV.  —  4.  Between  two  wills,  '  between  the  outward  and  in- 
 ward wall  of  the  city,  by  a  private  way,  having:  the  advantage  of  the 
 darkness  of  the  night,  and  possibly  of  some  vault  under  the  ground. — 
 Pimle.  6.  TAp^— probably  a  great  council  was  called. — Pat.  Gave 
 judgment,  'condemned  him  for  his  perjury  and  treason,'  (2  Chron. 
 xxxvi.  13.) — Ref.  Bi/ile.  7.  Put  out  t/ie  ei/es — this  was  probably  dune 
 to  render  the  Iting  incapable  of  ever  reascending  the  throne.  It  is 
 effected  in  Persia  by  passing  a  red-hot  copper  plate  before  tlie  eyes,  or 
 with  the  point  of  a  dagger. — Cltardin,  see  Burdey's  Orient.  Lit.,  No.  6l4. 
 
 Carried  him  to  Babylon  —  thus  two  prophecies  were  fulfilled  which 
 seemed  contrary  to  each  other, — that  he  should  go  to  Babylon,  (Jer. 
 xxxii.  5  ;  xxxiv.  3,)  and  that  he  should  never  see  Babylon,  (Ezck.  xii. 
 13.) — Poole.  9.  Burnt  the  house  of  the   Lord,   Solomon's  temple, 
 
 which  had  stood  424  years  3  months  and  8  days. —  Usher.  21.  Smote 
 them — they  were,  probably,  distinguished  as  favourites  and  counsellors 
 of  Zedekiah,  and  were  put  to  death  as  accessaries  to  his  rebellion. — 
 Scott,  as  Pat.  So  Judah  urns  carried  away,  463  years  after  the  begin 
 Ding  of  the  reign  of  David,  38d  frum  the  division  of  the  ten  tribes,  and 
 
 RtFi.ECTiONS  ON  Chap.  XXIV.  — I.  We  see  in  this  chapter 
 who  it  is  that  God  will  not  pardon.  '  There  is  a  sin  unto  death,' 
 and  that  sin  is  it  which  leaves  the  heart  impenitent.  The 
 Lord  would  not  pardon  Judah  for  the  innocent  blood  which 
 Manasseh  shed  in  Jerusalem,  and  yet  he  pardoned  IManasseh 
 himself  for  the  same  sins— the  very  sins  in  wiiich  he  was  the 
 ringleader.  Why  !  because  Manasseh  repented,  hut  Judah 
 dill  not  repent.  The  case  is  here  remarkably  strong  ;  it  shews 
 that  God  will  '  multiply  to  pardon'  where  the  soul  is  unfeign- 
 eJly  penitent,  but  that  impenitence  shuts  the  door  against 
 hope.  '  Let,  then,  the  wicked  man  forsake  his  way,  and  the 
 unrighteous  man  liis  thoughts,'  and  let  him  return  unto  the 
 Lord,  and  he  will  have  mercy  on  him,  and  to  our  God,  for '  he 
 will  abundantly  pardon.' 
 
 II.  This  chapter  also  gives  us  an  awful  example  of  the  justice 
 427 
 
 of  God  in  the  punishment  of  the  ungodly.  They  run  their  length, 
 and  are  involved  in  utter  destruction.  All  resistance  is  vain 
 when  God  arises  to  judgment.  '  The  wicked  is  driven  away 
 in  his  wickedness.'  In  the  instances  here  recorded,  observe 
 that  '  the  kings  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,'  and  the 
 people  readily  acquiesced  in  their  wickedness.'  And  thus  it 
 was  that  *  through  the  anger  of  the  Lord  it  came  to  pass  in 
 Jerusalem  and  Judah,  until  he  had  cast  them  out  from  his 
 presence,  that  Zedekiah  rebelled  against  the  king  of  Babylon. ' 
 Lord,  lift  upon  us  the  light  of  thy  countenance  here,  in  token 
 of  our  not  being  cast  out  of  thy  sight  eternally.  ]\Iay  we  have 
 '  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'  and  so  nevei 
 experience  the  destiny  of  the  impenitent,  which  is  '  wrath  to 
 come  !' 
 
Gedaliah  is  slain. 
 
 11.  KINGS,  XXV. 
 
 Evil-mcrodach  advanccth  Jehoiachin, 
 
 king  of  Babylon  had  left,  even  over  them  be 
 made  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of 
 Shapban,  ruler. 
 
 23  And  when  all  the  ^  captains  of  the  armies, 
 they  and  their  men,  heard  that  the  king  of 
 Babylon  bad  made  Gedaliah  governor,  there 
 came  to  Gedaliah  to  Mizpah,  even  Ishmael  the 
 son  of  Netlianiab,  and  Johanan  the  son  of 
 Careah,  and  Seraiah  the  son  of  Tanhumeth 
 the  Netophathite,  and  Jaazaniah  the  son  of  a 
 Maacbathite,  they  and  their  men. 
 
 24  And  Gedaliah  svvare  to  them,  and  to  their 
 men,  and  said  unto  them.  Fear  not  to  be  the 
 servants  of  the  Chaldees  :  dwell  in  the  land, 
 and  serve  the  king  of  Babvlon  ;  and  it  shall  be 
 well  with  you. 
 
 25  But  Mt  came  to  pass  in  the  seventh 
 month,  that  Ishmael  the  son  of  Netbaniab,  the 
 son  of  Elisbama,  of  the  seed  f  royal,  came,  and 
 ten  men  with  liim,  and  smote  Gedaliah,  that  be 
 died,  and  the  Jews  and  the  Chaldees  that  were 
 
 /Jer.  41.  1, 
 
 t  Heb.  o/iA. 
 kiiiffdom. 
 
 B.  C.  588. 
 ff  Jer.  43.  '1, 
 
 Sfi-2. 
 h  Jer.  52.  ai, 
 S:c. 
 
 13,  L'U. 
 
 with  him  at  Mizpah. 
 
 26  And  all  the  people,  both  small  and  great, 
 and  the  captains  of  the  armies,  arose,  ^and 
 came  to  Egypt :  for  they  were  afraid  of  the 
 Chaldees. 
 
 27  1  *^  And  it  came  to  pass  in  tlie  seven  and 
 thirtieth  year  of  the  captivity  of  Jehoiachin 
 king  of  Judah,  in  the  twelftli  month,  on  the 
 seven  and  twentietli  thi}/  of  the  month,  that 
 Evil-merodach  king  of  Babylon  in  the  year 
 that  he  began  to  reign  '  did  lift  up  the  head  of 
 Jehoiachin  king  of  Judah  out  of  prison  ; 
 
 28  And  he  spake  f  kindly  to  him,  and  set  his 
 throne  above  the  throne  of  the  kings  that  were 
 with  him  in  Babylon  ; 
 
 29  And  changed  liis  prison  garments  :  and  he 
 did  ^  eat  bread  continually  before  him  all  the 
 days  of  his  life. 
 
 30  And  his  allowance  teas  a  continual  allow- 
 ance given  him  of  the  king,  a  daily  rate  for 
 every  day,  all  the  days  of  his  life. 
 
 134  years  from  the  destruction  of  the  ten  tribes. — Usfier.        26.  Alt  the  Nebuchadnezzar  reig-ned  45  years,  for  Jeconiah  was  captured  in  the 
 
 people,  ^c. — tlius  this  populous  and  fertile  country  was  laid  waste  and  eightli  year  of  his  reign,   (chap.  xxiv.  12,)  and  now  had  been  prisoner 
 
 desolate,  and  left  to  be  overrun  with  briars  and  thorns,  and  inhabited  37  years,  when  Nebuchailntzzar  was  newly  dead.— /•«(.     Evii-mrru- 
 
 by  wild  beasts.      Only  some  of  the  neighbnuring  nations  seemed  to  dach — his  proper  name  was  Merodach,  but  A'nV,  sigrnifying  'foolish/ 
 
 have  settled  in  some  parts  of  it.  (seeJer.xii.  14;  Ezek.  xx.wi.  4,  5.1—  was  prefixed,   probably  because  he  was  profligate   and  wicked. — 
 
 Pat,        27.  hi  the  seven  and  thirtieth  j/eart  ^-c— hence  it  appears,  that  Prideaux. 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.    XXV I.  They  who  live  in  the 
 
 abuse  and  ncghct  of  their  rtUgious  privileycs,  must,  in  the  end.,  ex- 
 pect an  aivfid  rechoning.  Their  privileges  shall  be  swept  away 
 from  them,  and  they  from  their  privileges.  '  It  was  a  riglit- 
 eous  thing  with  God,'  says  Henry,  '  to  deprive  those  of  the 
 benefit  of  his  worship  that  had  slighted  it  so  long,  and  pre- 
 ferred false  worship  before  it ;  they  that  would  have  many 
 altars,  now  shall  have  none.'  Now-  tlie  scripture  was  fulfilled, 
 *  the  Lord  shall  bring  thee,  and  the  king  which  thou  shalt  set 
 over  thee,  into  a  nation  whicli  thou  hast  not  known,'  (Ueut. 
 xxriii.  36.)  Sin  kept  their  fathers  forty  years  out  of  Canaan, 
 and  now  turned  them  out.  '  The  Lord  is  known  by  those  judg- 
 ments wliich  he  executeth,  and  makes  good  that  word  which 
 he  has  spoken,'  (Amos,  iii.  2.)  '  Vou  only  have  I  known  of 
 all  the  families  of  the  earth,  therefore  I  will  punish  you  for  all 
 your  iniquities.* 
 
 II.   The  movements  of  Divine,  justice  may  he  slow,  but  execution 
 
 comes  at  last.  If  it  is  slow  in  its  operations,  it  is  nevertheless 
 sure.  Sinners  may  presume,  but  their  presumption  will  only 
 aggravate  their  misery.  Professors  may  rely  on  their  privi- 
 leges, but  it  is  only  '  righteousness  which  exaltelh  a  nation.* 
 If  sin  be  not  swept  away,  the  sinner  will  be  swept  away  in  his 
 sins.  '  If  repeated  warnings  and  convictions  leave  the  sin- 
 ner's heart  more  obdurate  than  before,  it  is  evident  that  his 
 ruin  is  at  liand.*  And  now  the  blow  is  struck,  and  ail  the  im- 
 penitent shall  feel  what  they  endeavoured  to  persuade  them- 
 selves not  to  believe,  that  '  the  wrath  of  God  is  revealed  from 
 heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and  unrighteousness  of  men 
 wdio  hold  the  truth  in  unrighteousness.'  If  God  spared  not 
 his  favoured  people  when  they  went  on  obstinately  in  sin, 
 '  wiiere  will  the  ungodly  and  sinner  appear  ('  O  for  a  saving 
 faith  in  the  son  of  God,  wiio  alone  can  be  a  shield  against  the 
 strokes  of  Divine  justice,  and  whose  blood  '  turns  the  wrath 
 to  grace  !'     Amen. 
 
 THE   FIRST   BOOK 
 
 CHRONICLES. 
 
 ['I'he  Hebrew  title  of  this  and  the  following  book,  D-O^n  •im,  signifies  *  words  of  the  day  ;  that  is,  journals.  The  Septuagint 
 name  is  nftpaXftTro/tEj'wr,  *  of  things  left ;'  the  Syriac,  *  the  book  of  the  transactions  of  the  kings  of  Judah.'  The  Jews 
 reckoned  the  two  as  one  book.  Our  name,  Chronicles,  means  '  Memorials  of  the  Times.*  The  whole  is  a  digest  of  the 
 ancient  chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Israel  and  Judah.  They  repeat  much  of  the  history  given  in  the  preceding  books,  but 
 add  much  that  is  interesting.  The  history  is  chiefly  confined  to  the  kings  of  Judah.  The  genealogies  arc  of  importance, 
 to  shew  that  Christ  came  from  Abraham.  Many  advantages  were  often  dependent  on  the  accuracy  of  these  accounts, 
 and  those  who  could  not  prove  tlieir  descent  were  deprived  of  their  privileges.  Thepriestliood,by  these  registers,  secured 
 their  rigbt  to  the  office,  and  the  tribes  to  their  inheritances,  after  the  return  from  the  captivity,  Ezra  is  thought  to  have 
 been  the  compiler  ;  and  that  the  whole  was  written  after  the  captivity  is  inferred  from  the  mention  of  the  restoration  by 
 Cyrus  and  various  other  subsequent  events.      References  to  Chronicles,  Hub.  v.  4,  and  Luke,  i.  5.] 
 
 42S 
 
Adam's  line  to  Noah. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  I. 
 
 The  sons  of  Kcturah,  ^-c. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 I  Adam^s  line  to  Noah .     5  The  sons  of  J(tpheth, 
 The  sojis  of  Ham,    17  The  sons  of  Shem.    24  Shem' 
 line  to  Abraham.     29  Ishniad's  sons.     32  IVie  sons 
 of  Ketitrah.     34  The  posteriti/ of  Abraham  i'l/ Esau. 
 43  The  hintjs  of  Edom.     51   Tile  dukes  of  Edom. 
 
 A  DAM,  "  Shetli,  Enosh, 
 -^^  2  Kenan,  Mahalalecl,  Jered, 
 
 3  Henoch,  Methuselah,  Lamech, 
 
 4  Noah,  Sheni,  Ham,  and  Japheth. 
 
 5  1''  The  sons  of  Japheth  ;  Gomer,  and 
 Magog,  and  Madai,  and  Javan,  and  Tubal,  and 
 Meshech,  and  Tiras. 
 
 6  And  the  sons  of  Gomer ;  Ashchenaz,  and 
 
 II  Riphath,  and  Togarmah. 
 
 7  And  tlie  sons  of  Javan  ;  Elishah,  and  Tar- 
 shish,  Kittim,  and  ||  Dodanim. 
 
 8  K  '  The  sons  of  Ham  ;  Cush,  and  Mizraim, 
 Put,  and  Canaan. 
 
 9  And  the  sons  of  Cush  ;  Seba,  and  Havilah, 
 and  Sabta,  and  Raaniah,  and  Sabteclia.  And 
 the  sons  of  Raaniah  ;  Sheba,  and  Dedan. 
 
 10  And  Cush  ''begat  Nimrod  :  he  began  to 
 be  mighty  upon  the  earth. 
 
 1 1  And  Mizraim  begat  Liidini,  and  Anamim, 
 and  Lehabim,  and  Naphtnhini, 
 
 12  And  Pathrusini,  and  Casluhim,  (of  whom 
 came  the  Pliilistines,)  and  °  Caphtliorim. 
 
 13  And  'Canaan  begat  Zidon  his  firstborn, 
 and  Heth, 
 
 14  The  Jebusite  also,  and  the  Amorite,  and 
 the  Girgashite, 
 
 15  And  the  Hivite,  and  the  Arkite,  and  the 
 Sinite, 
 
 16  And  the  Arvadite,  and  the  Zemarite,  and 
 the  Hamathite. 
 
 17  H  The  sons  of  ^  Shem  ;  Elam,  and  Asshur, 
 and  Arphaxad,  and  Lud,  and  Aram,  and  Uz, 
 and  Hul,  and  Gether,  and  ||  Meshech. 
 
 18  And  Arphaxad  begat  Shelah,  and  Shelah 
 begat  Eber. 
 
 19  And  unto  Eber  were  born  two  sons  :  the 
 name  of  the  one  was  ||  Peleg  ;  because  in  his 
 days  the  earth  was  divided  :  and  his  brother's 
 name  was  Joktan. 
 
 20  And  •■  Joktan  begat  Almodad,  and  She- 
 leph,  and  Hazarmaveth,  and  Jerah, 
 
 21  Hadoram  also,  and  Uzal,  and  Diklah, 
 
 22  And  Ebal,  and  Abimael  and  Sheba, 
 
 23  And  Ophir,  and  Havilah,  and  Jobab.  All 
 these  iccre  the  sons  of  Joktan. 
 
 24  t  '  Shem,  Arphaxad,  Shelah, 
 
 25  '  Eber,  Peleg,  Reu, 
 
 26  Serug,  Nahor,  Terah, 
 
 27  '  Abram  ;  the  same  is 
 
 28  The  sons  of  Abraham 
 mael. 
 
 29  t  These  are  their  generations  :  The  °  first- 
 born of  Ishmael,  Nebaioth  ;  then  Kedar,  and 
 Adbeel,  and  Mibsam, 
 
 30  Mishma,  and  Dumah,  Massa,  ||  Hadad, 
 and  Tenia, 
 
 3!   Jetur,  Naphish,  and  Kedemah.  These  are 
 
 Abraham. 
 ;  "•  Isaac,  and  "  Ish- 
 
 /  Geii.10.15, 
 8(C. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 I  Gen.  4.  25, 
 36.  &  i.  .1,  ». 
 
 I  Or.  Di- 
 flftlh,  OS  it 
 IS  ill  some 
 
 (f  Gen.  in. 22. 
 &  II.  III. 
 
 Or.  Moth. 
 Gen.  10.  ■^. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 Geu.  10.  25. 
 
 iGen.  11.10, 
 jEic.LukeS. 
 
 k  Geu. 11.13. 
 
 I  Gen.  17.  5. 
 
 Gen.21.2, 
 
 uGen.  16.11, 
 
 15. 
 o  Gen.25.13, 
 
 I  Or.Hadar. 
 Gen. 25.  15. 
 
 /Qen.ei.s.S- 
 r  Geu.:i5,-25, 
 
 86. 
 ,  Gen.  36.  9, 
 
 10. 
 
 I  Or,  Z^iih/y, 
 Geu. 36.  II. 
 
 II  Or,  Moaii. 
 
 Geu.  313.  23. 
 II  Or,Sheph<'. 
 
 Gen.  86.23. 
 
 li  Gen.36.25. 
 II  Or,  Hem- 
 
 II  Or,  .4hati, 
 Gen,  36. 27. 
 cir.  1676. 
 
 T  Gen.36,31, 
 
 It  Or.Hndor, 
 Geu.  36,39. 
 
 II  Or,  Paa, 
 Geu.  36.  39. 
 
 cir.  I49G. 
 :  Geu-36.40. 
 II  Oi,  .dhnh. 
 
 the  sons  of  Ishmael. 
 
 32  t  Now  ■"  the  sons  of  Keturah,  Abraham's 
 concubine :  she  bare  Zimran,  and  Jokshan, 
 and  Medan,  and  Midian,  and  Ishbak,  and 
 Shuah.  And  the  sons  of  Jokshan  ;  Sheba,  and 
 Dedan. 
 
 33  And  the  sons  of  Midian ;  Ephah,  and 
 Epher,  and  Henoch,  and  Abida,  and  Eldaah. 
 All  these  are  the  sons  of  Keturah. 
 
 34  And  ''  Abraham  begat  Isaac.  '  The  sons 
 of  Isaac  ;  Esau  and  Israel. 
 
 35  H  The  sons  of  '  Esau  ;  Eliphaz,  Reuel, 
 and  Jeush,  and  Jaalam,  and  Koiah. 
 
 36  The  sons  of  Eliphaz  ;  Teman,  and  Omar, 
 II  Zephi,  and  Gatam,  Kenaz,  and  Timna,  and 
 Amalek. 
 
 37  The  sons  of  Reuel ;  Nahath,  Zerah,  Sham- 
 mah,  and  Mizzah. 
 
 38  And  '  the  sons  of  Seir  ;  Lotan,  and  Shobal, 
 and  Zibeon,  and  Anah,  and  Dishon,  and  Ezar, 
 and  Dishan. 
 
 39  And  the  sons  of  Lotan  ;  Hori,  and  ||  Ho- 
 mam  :  and  Timna  tvas  Lotau's  sister. 
 
 40  The  sons  of  Shobal ;  ||  Allan,  and  Mana- 
 hath,  and  Ebal,  ||  Shephi,  and  Onam.  And  the 
 sons  of  Zibeon  ;  Aiah,  and  Anah. 
 
 41  The  sons  of  Anah  ;  "  Dishon.  And  the 
 sons  of  Dishon  ;  ||  Amram,  and  Eshban,  and 
 Ithran,  and  Cheran. 
 
 42  The  sons  of  Ezer ;  Bilhan,  and  Zavan, 
 and  II  Jakan.  The  sons  of  Dishan  ;  Uz,  and 
 Aran. 
 
 43  1  Now  these  are  the  "  kings  that  reigned 
 in  the  land  of  Edom  before  any  king  reigned 
 over  the  children  of  Israel  ;  Bela  the  son  of 
 Beor :  and  the  name  of  his  city  ivas  Dinha- 
 bah. 
 
 44  And  when  Bela  was  dead,  Jobab  the  son 
 of  Zerah  of  Bozrah  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 45  And  when  Jobab  was  dead,  Husham  of  the 
 land  of  the  Temanites  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 46  And  when  Husham  was  dead,  Hadad  the 
 son  of  Bedad,  which  smote  Midian  in  the  field 
 of  Moab,  reigned  in  his  stead  :  and  the  name 
 of  his  city  was  Avith. 
 
 47  And  when  Hadad  was  dead,  Samlah  of 
 Masrekah  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 48  '  And  when  Samlah  was  dead,  Shaul  of 
 Rehoboth  by  the  river  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 49  And  when  Shaul  was  dead,  Baal-hanan  the 
 son  of  Achbor  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 50  And  when  Baal-hanan  was  dead,  ||  Hadad 
 reigned  in  his  stead  :  and  the  name  of  his  city 
 uas  II  Pai ;  and  his  wife's  name  was  Mehetabel, 
 the  daughter  of  Matred,  the  daughter  of  Me- 
 zahab. 
 
 51  II  Hadad  died  also.  And  the  '  dukes  of 
 Edom  were ;  duke  Tininah,  duke  i|  Aliah, 
 duke  Jetheth, 
 
 52  Duke  Aholibamah,  duke  Elah,  duke  Pinon, 
 
 53  Duke  Kenaz,  duke  Teman,  duke  Mibzar, 
 
 54  Duke  Magdiel,  duke  Iram.  These  are 
 the  dukes  of  Edom. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  1.  Adam,  ^c, — this  genealogy  was  probably 
 taken  from  Genesis,  see  ni'irg.  The  author  exhibits  a  more  complete 
 catalogue  of  some  tribes  and  families  than  we  finrl  given  by  Moses. — 
 Boothr.  Cain  is  omitted,  not  being  in  the  direct  line  of  the  patriarchs, 
 and  Abel  also,  none  having  descended  from  liim. — Boothr.,  Clarke. 
 24.  Shem — having  given  a  brief  account  of  tbe  creation  of  the  world, 
 the  writer  returns  to  a  more  particular  account  of  the  genealogy  of 
 Khem,  from  whom  the  Jews  were  descended. — Poole.  29.  The  JirH- 
 born  of  Ishmael — his  twelve  sous  are  named  here  to  shew  the  perl'orm- 
 429 
 
 ance  of  God's  promise  that  for  Abraham's  sake  he  should  become  a 
 great  nation,  and  twelve  princes  should  spring  from  him,  (Gen.  xvii.  20.) 
 32.  Sons  of  Keturah,  descended  from  Abraham  by  Keturah  :  they  were 
 children  of  the  east;  probably  Job  was  one  of  them.  Midian  became 
 most  eminent. — Henry.  This  record  shews  how  faithfully  God  made 
 good  the  name  he  gave  to  Abraham,  the  father  of  many  nations. — Pat. 
 43.  The  kiaga  that  reigned  in  the  land  of  Edam,  because  these  des- 
 cended from  Esau,  the  son  of  Isaac,  we  have  here  an  account  of  their 
 famihes  and  the  names  of  some  of  their  famous  men. 
 
The  sons  of  Israel. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  II. 
 
 Th  e  posterity  of  Hezron. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  The  sons  of  Israel.  3  The  posterity  of  Jiidah  hy 
 Tamar.  13  The  cliildren  of  Jisse.  18  The  poste- 
 rity of  Caleb  the  son  of  Hezron.  2 1  Hezrun's  poste- 
 rity by  the  ilaughtir  of  Machir.  2  J  Jerahmeel  s  pos- 
 terity. 34  Sheshan's  posterity.  42  Another  Irranch 
 of  Caleb's  posterity.  60  The' posterity  of  Caleb  the 
 son  of  Hur. 
 
 THESE  are  the  sons  of  ||  Israel  ;  °  Reuben, 
 Simeon,  Levi,  anil  Judali,   Issachar,  and 
 Zebulun, 
 
 2  Dan,  Joseph,  and  Benjamin,  Naphtali,  Gad, 
 and  Asher. 
 
 3  1  The  sons  of  ''  Jndah  ;  Er,  and  Onan,  and 
 Slielah  :  iv/tich  three  were  born  unto  him  of 
 the  daughter  of  "^  Shna  the  Canaanitess.  And 
 "■  Er,  the  firstborn  of  Judah,  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord  ;  and  he  slew  him. 
 
 4  And  °  Tamar  his  daughter  in  law  bare  him 
 Pharez  and  Zerah.  All  the  sons  of  Judah 
 ivere  five. 
 
 3  The  sons  of  '  Pharez;  Hezron,  and  Hamul. 
 
 6  And  the  sons  of  Zerah  ;  ||  Zimri,  « and 
 Ethan,  and  Heman,  and  Calcol,  and  ||  Dara  : 
 five  of  tliem  in  all. 
 
 7  And  the  sons  of  •■  Carmi ;  ||  Achar,  the 
 troubler  of  Israel,  who  transgressed  in  the 
 thing  '  accursed. 
 
 8  And  the  sons  of  Ethan  ;  Azariah. 
 
 9  The  sons  also  of  Hezron,  that  were  born 
 inito  him  ;  Jerahmeel,  and  ||  Ram,  and  ||  Che- 
 lubai. 
 
 10  And  Ram  'begat  Amminadab  ;  and  Am- 
 minadab  begat  Nahshon,  '  prince  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Judah  ; 
 
 1 1  And  Nahshon  begat  ||  Salnia,  and  Salma 
 begat  Boaz, 
 
 12  And  Boaz  begat  Obed,  and  Obed  begat 
 Jesse, 
 
 13  1"'  And  Jesse  begat  his  firstborn  Eliab, 
 and  Abinadab  the  .second,  and  ||  Sliimma  the 
 third, 
 
 14  Nethaneel  the  fourth,  Raddai  the  fifth, 
 
 15  Ozem  the  sixth,  David  the  seventh  :  I 
 
 16  Whose  sisters  ivere  Zeruiah,  and  Abigail. 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 17.'.2,  8c  c. 
 
 II  Or,  Jacnfi. 
 
 '<  Geii  ay ;«. 
 «( .Ml.  r,.  ft 
 
 35.  18, 2», 
 
 46.1 
 
 &c. 
 
 ft  Gen.  5W.S 
 Sc  46    12. 
 Niiin.?r.  19 
 
 /Gen.  46.12. 
 
 Kiitli  i.  19. 
 II  Or,  J(..W., 
 
 Josh.  ;.  1. 
 rl  Kin  4  SI 
 II  Or,  Dtrdo. 
 
 h  Seecl).4.l. 
 II  Or,  ^cAa/i. 
 
 II  Or,  .^T'lm, 
 
 Mat.  I.  S,  4. 
 II  Or,  C.(r6. 
 
 ver,  18,  42. 
 AHutli4.  19, 
 
 2"  Mat-t.4. 
 (  Num.  1.7. 
 
 kl.3. 
 
 eir.  1471. 
 It  Or,.S-./»nu.., 
 Rulli4.  Ul. 
 Mat.  1.  4. 
 
 cir.  1U90. 
 
 i.i2Sa.  16.  6. 
 II  Or,  S/mm. 
 I  Sum  16  9. 
 
 2  .Sam.  17. 
 25,  /r/.r»o„ 
 
 p  ver.  50. 
 J  Ei.31.  2. 
 
 r^'um.  1^7.1 
 t  Hcb.  talk. 
 
 t  Nu.  32.41, 
 Deu.3.  14 
 Johh.lS.  3U 
 
 u  See  rcr.S4, 
 Si. 
 
 "  And  the  sons  of  Zeruiah  ;  Abishai,  and  Joab, 
 and  Asaliel,  three. 
 
 17  And  "Abigail  bare  Amasa:  and  the  fa- 
 ther of  Amasa  was  ||  Jether  the  Ishmeelite. 
 
 !8  H  And  Caleb  the  son  of  Hezron  begat 
 children  of  Azubah  his  wife,  and  of  Jeriotli : 
 her  sons  are  these ;  Jesher,  and  Sliobab,  and 
 Ardon. 
 
 19  And  when  Azubah  was  dead,  Caleb  took 
 unto  him  '' Eplirath,  whicli  bare  him  Hur. 
 
 20  And  Hur  begat  Uri,  and  Uri  begat  ■•  Be- 
 zaleel. 
 
 21  1  And  afterward  Hezron  went  in  to  the 
 daughter  of  Machir  the  father  of  Gilead,  whom 
 he  f  married  when  he  teas  threescore  years 
 old  ;  and  she  bare  him  Segub. 
 
 22  And  Segub  begat  Jair,  who  had  three  and 
 twenty  cities  in  the  land  of  Gilead. 
 
 23  'And  he  took  Geshur,  and  Aram,  with 
 the  towns  of  Jair,  from  them,  with  Kenath, 
 and  the  towns  thereof,  even  threescore  cities. 
 All  these  hi-hiujed  to  the  sons  of  Machir  the 
 father  of  Gilead. 
 
 24  And  after  that  Hezron  was  dead  in  Caleb- 
 ephratah,  then  Abiah  Hezron's  wife  bare  him 
 '  Ashur  the  father  of  Tekoa. 
 
 25  H  And  the  sons  of  Jerahmeel  the  firstborn 
 of  Hezron  were.  Ram  the  firstborn,  and  Bunah, 
 and  Oren,  and  Ozem,  and  Abijah. 
 
 20  Jerahmeel  had  also  another  wife,  whose 
 name  was  Atarah  ;  she  was  the  mother  of 
 Onam. 
 
 27  And  the  sons  of  Ram  the  firstborn  of  Je- 
 rahmeel were,  Maaz,  and  Jamiii,  and  Eker. 
 
 28  And  the  sons  of  Onam  were,  Shammai, 
 and  Jada.  And  the  sons  of  Shammai ;  Nadab, 
 and  Abisliur. 
 
 29  And  the  name  of  the  wife  of  Abishur 
 was  Abibail,  and  she  bare  him  Ahban,  and 
 Molid. 
 
 30  And  the  sons  of  Nadab  ;  Seled,  and  Ap- 
 paim  ;  but  Seled  died  without  children. 
 
 31  And  the  sons  of  Appaim  ;  Ishi.  And  the 
 sons  of  Ishi  ;  Slieshaii.  And  "  the  children  of 
 Sheshan  ;  Ahlai. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  3.  The  sons  of  Judah— he  is  put  first,  because  the  best  the  serenth — bo  had  eight  sons,  (1  Sam.  xvi.  10.)  but  one  nitisl  have 
 part  of  the  riglit  of  the  firstborn,  dominion,  was  conferred  upon  him,  died,  or  been  omitted,  for  reasons  unknown.  18.  Calefj—unt  that 
 (Gen.  sli.x.  8,J  and  the  Messiah  was  to  spring  from  his  loins.     15.  David    Caleb,  Num.  xiii.  6,  for  he  was  the  son  of  Jephunneh,  and  is  mentioned 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  I.  How  many  (fenerations  of  the 
 world  have  passed  away  I  All  those  here  recorded  once  bustled 
 on  the  field  of  life.  They  were  interested,  like  us,  in  all  that 
 passed  around  them  ;  but  their  joys  and  sorrows,  hopes  and 
 i'oars — pleasures  and  pains,  turmoils  and  strifes,  are  all  passed 
 away,  their  eternal  destiny  is  fixed.  They  have  nothing  now 
 that  is  to  be  qualified  ;  their  joys  are  unspeakable,  or  their 
 miseries  like  the  quenchless  flame  ;  their  pleasures  are  at 
 God's  right  band  for  evermore,  or  their  pains  those  produced 
 by  the  worm  that  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  that  is  not  consumed. 
 There  is  no  interval  for  either ;  no  sorrow  to  disturb  the  joy, 
 and  nil  joy  to  relieve  the  sorrow.  They  have  realized  all  that 
 is  implierl  in  that  solemn  declaration, '  these  shall  go  away  into 
 everlasting  punishment,  but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal.' 
 
 II.  But  this  reminds  us  of  the  generations  still  passiny  away. 
 Besides  myriads  which,  before  and  since  these  were  recorded, 
 have  left  the  world's  stage,  and  have  had  their  names  written 
 in  the  dust,  what  myriads  are  now  continually  going  the  way 
 they  went;  and,  alas!  what  multitudes  that  are  not  the  spiritual 
 seed  of  Israel.  They  live  and  die  without  God,  without  Christ, 
 and  so  without  hope.  O  let  this  arouse  our  sympathies  for  a 
 perishing  world  !  What  a  genealogy  would  hell  aflbrd  !  There 
 are  many  of  the  great  and  ambitious,  who  once  iiad  their  names 
 emblazoned  in  the  eyes  of  the  nations,  though  they  are  now 
 faintly  traced  in  history  or  not  at  all.  Thire  are  the  descendants 
 of  many  pious  progenitors,  who,  iiaviug  forsaken  the  God  of 
 430 
 
 their  fathers,  have  entailed  upon  themselves  and  upon  their 
 posterity,  by  their  example,  an  inheritance  of  wratii  !  Let  us 
 stop  the  peopling  of  those  horrid  regions,  the  smoke  of  whose 
 torments  asceudeth  up  for  ever  and  ever.  Let  our  prayers 
 ascend  to  God  continually,  and  mure  earnestly,  for  a  world 
 still  lying  in  wickedness  ;  and  let  our  energies,  and  property, 
 and  influence,  be  devoted  to  the  saving  of  men  from  that  gulf  of 
 perdition  which  still  yawns  to  receive  them. 
 
 111.  Bless  God  for  the  evidences  that  Jesus,  the  true  Messiah, 
 has  come  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.  This  blessed  volume  has 
 left  nothing  wanting  to  confirm  our  faith  in  him.  Here  we 
 find  the  most  accurate  lineage  of  the  Son  of  David,  the  Son  of 
 Adam  ;  that  Divine  prince  who  should  spring  from  Judah,  and 
 partakeof  the  nature  of  Adam, — who  shall  have  the  heathen  for 
 his  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his 
 possession.  Now  there  is  no  more  division  of  Jew  and  Gen- 
 tile ;  sacred  genealogies  have  ceased  ;  tlie  spiritual  seed  of 
 Abraham  are  all  one  in  Christ  .Tesus,  and  '  men  shall  be 
 blessed  in  him,  all  nations  shall  call  him  blessed.'  A  glorious 
 line  shall  spring  up  trom  Him,  whose  *  names  are  written  in 
 heaven,'  and  the  heavenly  registry  shall  contain  a  multitude 
 which  no  man  can  number. 
 
 *  In  that  fair  book  of  life  and  grace, 
 O  may  I  tind  my  name 
 Recorded  in  some  humble  place, 
 Beneath  the  Loid  the  Lamb.' 
 
Sheshan  s  posterity. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  III. 
 
 T!ie  sons  of  David. 
 
 32  And  the  sons  of  Jada  the  brother  of  Sham- 
 mai ;  Jetlier,  and  Jonathan  :  and  Jether  died 
 without  cliildren. 
 
 33  And  the  sons  of  Jonathan  ;  Peleth,  and 
 Zaza.     These  were  tlie  sons  of  Jeralinieel. 
 
 34  f  Now  Sheshan  had  no  sons,  but  dangli- 
 ters.  And  Sheslian  had  a  servant,  an  Egyptian 
 whose  name  was  Jarlia. 
 
 35  And  Sheshan  gave  his  daughter  to  Jarha 
 his  servant  to  wife  ;  and  she  bare  him  Attai. 
 
 36  And  Attai  begat  Nathan,  and  Nathan  be- 
 gat '  Zabad, 
 
 37  And  Zabad  begat  Ephlal,  and  Ephlal  bo- 
 gat  Obed, 
 
 38  And  Obed  begat  Jehu,  and  Jehu  begat 
 Azariah, 
 
 39  And  Azariah  begat  Helez,  and  Helez  be- 
 gat Eleasali, 
 
 40  And  Eleasah  begat  Sisamai,  and  Sisamai 
 begat  Shallum, 
 
 41  And  Slialhnn  begat  Jelcamiah,  and  Jeka- 
 miah  begat  Elishama. 
 
 42  IT  Now  the  sons  of  Caleb  the  brother  of 
 Jerahmeel  were,  Meslia  iiis  firstborn,  whicti 
 ivas  the  father  of  Ziph  ;  and  the  sons  of  Ma- 
 reshah  the  father  of  Hebron. 
 
 43  And  tlie  sons  of  Hebron  ;  Korah,  and 
 Tappuah,  and  Rekem,  and  Slienia. 
 
 44  And  Shenia  begat  Kabam,  the  father  of 
 Jorkoam  :  and  Rekem  begat  Shammai. 
 
 45  And  the  son  of  Shammai  was  Maon  :  and 
 Maon  was  the  fatlier  of  Beth-zur. 
 
 4G  And  Ephah,  Caleb's  concubine,  bare  Ha- 
 ran,  and  Moza,  and  Gazez  :  and  Haran  begat 
 Gazez. 
 
 47  And  the  sons  of  Jahdai ;  Regem,  and  Jo- 
 tham,  and  Gesham,  and  Pelet,  and  Ephah,  and 
 Shaaph. 
 
 48  Maachah,  Caleb's  concubine,  bare  Sheber, 
 and  Tirhanah. 
 
 49  She  bare  also  Shaaph  the  father  of  Mad- 
 mannah,  Sheva  the  father  of  Maehbenah,  and 
 the  father  of  Gibea  :  and  the  daughter  of  Caleb 
 was  '  Acli.sa. 
 
 50  f  These  were  the  sons  of  Caleb  the  son 
 of  Hur,  the  firstborn  of  ||  Ephratah  ;  Shobal  the 
 father  of  Kirjatb-jearim, 
 
 y  Josti.l5.!7. 
 
 F.i't.ruth, 
 vt-r.  19. 
 
 il  c 
 
 Hi.  1-171 
 
 &.■ 
 
 II  Oi".  W' 
 
 n»li, 
 
 eh    i   2, 
 
 11  Or,  /.. 
 
 //-Of 
 
 //.-•  M-- 
 
 c'-f-'. 
 
 "", 
 
 Hutailu 
 
 m- 
 
 meiiiich 
 
 Ih. 
 
 II  Or,  .^Mr- 
 il^U  or, 
 
 I.,m.,.,f 
 
 zJudg.  I.  10. 
 a  Jer.  a5.  S. 
 
 'I  8S.-im.3  2. 
 b  Josl).l!>.5ii. 
 11  Or.rA,/«ift, 
 :!  Sain.  3.  .H. 
 
 r/ 9  Sain.  -3.1 
 '  2  Sam.  5.  5 
 
 /■3  Sam    5 
 14.  ch.l1  I. 
 
 II  0r,5/juni- 
 m't'i, 
 ■2  Sam  5.1.1. 
 
 fl2Sa  12.24. 
 
 II  Or,  Bath- 
 
 2Bam  M  ,1 
 II  Or,  Eli«m. 
 
 2Sain.ll  3. 
 ||Or,E(.'.'.«n, 
 
 i  Sam. 5. 15. 
 IJ  Or,  lite- 
 
 Undi, 
 
 Ch.  M.  7. 
 h  See  2  Sam. 
 
 5  14,15,16 
 |-3Sam.l3.l. 
 A  I  Kiu.  11. 
 
 43.  &  15.6. 
 
 51  Sahna  the  father  of  Beth-lehem,  Harepli 
 the  father  of  Beth-gader. 
 
 52  And  Shobal  the  father  of  Kirjatli-jeariin 
 had  sons  ;  ||  Haroeh,  ami  ||  half  of  the  Mana- 
 hethites. 
 
 53  And  the  families  of  Kirjath-jearim  ;  the 
 Ithrites,  and  the  Puhites,  and  the  Shumathites, 
 and  the  Mishraites  ;  of  them  came  the  Zarea- 
 thites,  and  the  Eshtaulites. 
 
 54  The  sons  of  Salma  ;  Beth-lehem,  and  the 
 Netophatbites,  ||  Ataroth,  the  bouse  of  Joab, 
 and  half  of  the  Manahethites,  the  Zorites. 
 
 55  And  the  families  of  the  scribes  whicli 
 dwelt  at  Jabez  ;  the  Tiratbites,  the  Shimea- 
 thite.s,  and  Suchathites.  These  are  the  '  Kc- 
 nites  that  came  of  Hemath,  the  father  of  the 
 house  of  °  Rechab. 
 
 CHAP.  lU. 
 
 I  T/ie   sons  of  Band.      10    His   line   to   Zedehiah. 
 
 17    The  successors  of  Jeconiali, 
 
 NOW  these  were  the  sons  of  David,  which 
 were  born  unto  him  in  Hebron  ;  the  first- 
 born *  Amnoii,  of  Ahinoani  tlie  ''  Jezreelitess  ; 
 the  second  ||  Daniel,  of  Abigail  the  Carme- 
 litess  : 
 
 2  The  third,  Absalom  the  son  of  Maachah 
 the  daughter  of  Talmai  king  of  Geshur :  the 
 fourth,  Adonijah  the  son  of  Haggith  : 
 
 3  The  fifth,  Shepbatiah  of  Abital :  the  sixth, 
 Ithream  by  °  Eglah  his  wife. 
 
 4  These  six  were  born  unto  him  in  Hebron  ; 
 and  "^  there  he  reigned  seven  years  and  six 
 months  :  and  °  in  Jerusalem  he  reigned  thirty 
 and  three  years. 
 
 5  "^  And  these  were  born  unto  him  in  Jerusa- 
 lem ;  II  Sliimea,  and  Shobab,  and  Nathan,  and 
 ^  Solomon,  four,  of  ||  Bath-shua  the  daughter  of 
 
 II  Ammiel  : 
 
 6  Ibhar  also,  and  ||  Elishama,  and  Eliphelet, 
 
 7  And  Nogah,  and  Nepheg,  and  Japhia, 
 
 8  And  Elishama,  and  ||  Eliada,  and  Eliphelet, 
 ''  nine. 
 
 9  These  icere  all  the  sons  of  David,  beside 
 the  sons  of  the  concubines,  and  '  Tamar  their 
 sister. 
 
 10  IT  And   Solomon's  son  was  '  Rehoboam, 
 
 chap.  iv.  \h.~Poole.  50.  The  father  of  Kirjath-je/irim~the  pedigree 
 of  several  of  these  teiininate,  nut  in  a  person,  but  in  a  place  or  country  ; 
 because  the  places  fell  to  their  lot  in  the  division  of  the  land.— Hew. 
 The  inhabitants  of  that  place  sprung  from  him,— 6'(7/,-  or  he  was  prince 
 of  Kirjath.jearim,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  {Josh.  XV.  60,)  Tarff.  It 
 was  usual  to  call  the  founder  of  a  city  its  father,  and  sometimes  the 
 prince  or  chief  of  it. —  W V//s. 
 
 Chap.  III.  —  5.  Ntithan,  probably  so  called  by  David  out  of  respect 
 to  the  prophet  of  that  name,  whom  he  loved  the  better  for  his  faithful 
 
 reproof.  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  was  descended  from  Nathan, 
 (Luke,  iii.  31.)'  Sotomon— David's  other  sons  by  Bathshna,  or  liath. 
 sheba,  are  mentioned  before  Solomon,  though  younger  than  he,  be- 
 cause the  genealogy  is  resumed  from  him.—Scoft.  6.  Elishnmtttnul 
 Elintielet~Da\'id  had  two  other  sons  called  by  the  same  name,  but 
 they  were  by  different  wives,  and  had.  perhaps,  some  additional  title 
 to  distinguish  them,  or  the  two  former  were  dead  before  the  latter  were 
 hoTn.—ruote.  9.  T/iese  were  nil  the  sons  o/ilni'irf— David  havingnine- 
 teen  sons,  we  may  suppose  them  to  have  raised  many  noble  families  in 
 
 RuFLEniONs  ON  Chap.  II.  —I.  Let  us  learn  from  this 
 chapter  to  appreciate  every  line  of  the  Bible.  Tliese  ap[iarpntly 
 uninteresting  chapters  are  full  of  important  raatter  for  the  re- 
 flecting mind.  What  believer  in  Jesus  can  avoid  feeling  a 
 thrill  of  gratitude  in  his  bosom,  when  he  reads  the  promises 
 and  prophecies  respecting  the  Messiah  so  accurately  verified, 
 and,  in  the  Jewish  Chronicles,  kept  with  so  much  care,  be- 
 holds the  exact  line  of  him  who  was  to  spring  from  Adam 
 
 from  Abraham— from  Judah — from  David,  and  whose  sceptre 
 was  to  bless  the  world  !  The  mistakes  of  scribes  may  affect  a 
 few  trifling  dates,  or  change  a  few  letters  in  names  or  numbers; 
 they  may  afford  work  for  critics,  and  ground  of  quibbling  for 
 infidels  ;  but  they  no  more  affect  the  lineage  of  the  iMessiuh, 
 and  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  Christian,  than  the  defacing  of  a 
 brick,  or  the  misplacing  of  a  nail,  would  injure  the  foundation 
 of  a  building.  These  sacred  records  were  compiled  by  holy 
 men  of  God,  and  though,  in  other  cases,  such  genealogies 
 431 
 
 might  be  deemed  of  comparatively  little  moment,  here  the 
 great  evidences  of  Christianity  itself  in  part  depend,  and  there- 
 fore our  faith  receives  a  shock  if  we  do  not  believe  in  \\\e.  entire 
 inspiration  of  every  part  of  the  word  of  God,  and  that  what 
 the  writers  of  these  records  selected  were  unerringly  true. 
 Hence,  we  may  take  the  words  of  the  apostle  in  their  utmost 
 latitude,  '  .-ill  scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God.' 
 
 II.  Let  us  admire  tlie  rich  grace  of  tlie  Siwiour  in  descending 
 from  such  a  line.  If  some  were  eminent  in  piety,  others  were 
 marked  with  defects,  and  others  were  notorious  transgressors. 
 Hence,  in  his  very  descent,  as  well  as  his  end,  '  he  was  num- 
 bered with  the  transgressors.'  '  He  took  not  on  him  the  nature 
 of  angels,'  hut  ■  was  made  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh."  He 
 took  our  nature,  that  in  that  nature  he  might  sympathize,  and 
 suffer,  and  atone,  and  die,  and  ever  live  to  make  intercession 
 for  us.  Let  us  adore  his  infinite  condescension  and  his  un- 
 bounded grace. 
 
Tlie  succession  of  Jeconiak. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES    IV. 
 
 The  posterity  of  Asliur,  §-c. 
 
 II  Abia  his  son,  Asa  his  son,  Jehoshaphat  liis 
 son, 
 
 11  Joram  his  son,  ||  Ahaziah  his  son,  Joash 
 his  son, 
 
 12  Aniaziah  his  son,  i|  Azariah  his  son,  Jotham 
 his  son, 
 
 13  Ahaz  his  son,  Hezeliiah  his  son,  Manasseh 
 ills  son, 
 
 14  Amon  his  son,  Josiah  his  son. 
 
 15  And  the  sons  of  Josiah  were,  the  firstborn 
 II  .lolianan,  the  second  ||  Jelioiakim,  the  third 
 II  Zedeliiah,  the  fourth  Shallum. 
 
 16  And  the  sons  of  '  Jelioiakim  :  ||  Jeconiah 
 his  son,  Zedekiah  "'his  son. 
 
 1 7  t  And  tlie  sons  of  Jeconiah  ;  Assir,  f  Sala- 
 thiel  "  his  son, 
 
 18  Malchiram  also,  and  Pedaiah,  and  Shena- 
 zar,  Jecamiah,  Hoshama,  and  Nedabiah. 
 
 19  And  tlie  sons  of  Pedaiah  were,  Zerubba- 
 bel,  and  Shimei :  and  the  sons  of  Zerubbabel ; 
 MeshuUani,  and  Hananiah,  and  Shelomith 
 their  sister : 
 
 20  And  Hashubah.and  Ohel,  and  Berechiah, 
 and  Hasadiah,  Jushab-hesed,  five. 
 
 21  And  the  sons  of  Hananiah  ;  Pelatiah,  and 
 Jesaiah  :  the  sons  of  Kcphaiali,  the  sons  of 
 Arnan,  the  sons  of  Obadiah,  the  sons  of  She- 
 clianiah. 
 
 22  And  the  sons  of  Sliechaniah  ;  Shemaiah  : 
 and  the  sons  of  Sbemaiah ;  °  Hattush,  and 
 Igeal,  and  Bariah,  and  Neariah,  and  Shaphat, 
 .'iix. 
 
 23  And  the  sons  of  Neariah  ;  Elioenai,  and 
 f  Hezekiah,  and  Azrikani,  three. 
 
 24  And  the  sons  of  Elioenai  were,  Hodaiah, 
 and  Eliashib,  and  Pelaiah,  and  Akkub,  and 
 Jobanan,  and  Dalaiah,  and  Anani,  seven, 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 \,\\  The  posterity/  of  Judah  hi/  Caleb  the  son  of  Hnr. 
 5  Of  Ashnr  the  posttiumous  SO}}  of  Ilezron.  9  Of 
 Jabez,  and  Itis  prnyer.  21  The  posteritij  of  Shctalt. 
 24  The  posterity  a}id  cities  of  Si}neon.  39  T/ieir  con- 
 quest of  Gedor,  and  of  the  Anudekites  in  mount  Seir. 
 
 n^HE  sons  of  Judah  ;  °  Pharez,  Hezron,  and 
 ^    II  Carmi,  and  Hur,  and  Shobal. 
 
 2  And  |[  Reaiah  the  son  of  Shobal  begat  Ja- 
 liath  ;  and  Jahath  begat  Ahumai,  and  Lahad. 
 These  are  the  families  of  the  Zorathites. 
 
 3  And  these  leere  of  the  father  of  Etam  ; 
 Jezreel,  and  Isbma,  and  Idbash  :  and  the  name 
 of  their  sister  ivas  Hazelelponi : 
 
 4  And  Penuel  the  fatlier  of  Gedor,  and  Ezer 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 Cir  10a3,SiC 
 
 I  Kin.  13  1. 
 II  Or,  ,4ta- 
 
 2  Chr.  22  6. 
 or,J'/ifn,hm, 
 2Chr.!;i.l7. 
 II  Or.  Usxia/i, 
 2Kin.  15.30. 
 
 II  Or,  Jdo- 
 
 •JKiu  2.S30. 
 II  Or,  ElM- 
 
 ftim, 
 
 2Kiii  23  3*. 
 i;  OiyMatta- 
 
 2Kiri.84.17. 
 /  Mat.  1.  II. 
 II  Or,  Jehoi- 
 
 2  Kin  Si  6. 
 
 or,  CoHtuft, 
 Jer.  -22   21- 
 
 ei. 
 
 I7,b.^>i)glus 
 
 I'lule. 
 t  Heh,  S}if- 
 
 altiel. 
 /■  Mat.  I.  12. 
 
 I  Htb.  Hii 
 
 ISOn,  He. 
 a  Gen.  38. 29. 
 
 ft  411.  12. 
 II  Or,  Chi-ln- 
 
 &<it,  ch.  2  9 
 
 or,  CaUb, 
 
 ch.  8.  18. 
 1!  Or,  Ha- 
 
 rurJt, 
 
 Ch.  2.  52. 
 
 ISlMi,  &c. 
 b  ch.  2.  60. 
 
 n  That  is, 
 ..rr.»/„l. 
 
 tHcb   If 
 tbMi  loitt, 
 
 j]  Or.  Iheciti, 
 0/.VO/.OJ*. 
 
 *  Josh. 15.17. 
 
 I  Or.  H„. 
 t/nHi,  and 
 
 who  b^H'>l, 
 ic. 
 <Neh.ll   3.1. 
 
 II  Or,  inha- 
 bitants u/ 
 lilt  vulUt. 
 
 II  That  18, 
 rr»//,mr,. 
 
 I)  Or,  Uloioz. 
 
 ftOr,  ./..ftt'rft- 
 j,/,.  m,..,- 
 tinued  be- 
 fore. 
 
 the  father  of  Hushah.  These  are  the  sons  of 
 ''  Hnr,  the  firstborn  of  Ephratab,  the  father  of 
 Beth-lehem. 
 
 5  t  And  "  Ashur  the  father  of  Tekoa  had 
 two  wives,  Helah  and  Naarah. 
 
 6  And  Naarah  bare  him  Ahuzam,  and  He- 
 pher,  and  Tenieni,  and  Haahashtari.  These 
 were  the  sons  of  Naarah. 
 
 7  And  the  sons  of  Helah  w-ere,  Zereth,  and 
 Jezoar,  and  Ethnan. 
 
 8  And  Coz  begat  Anub,  and  Zohebah,  and 
 the  families  of  Aharhcl  the  son  of  Haruni. 
 
 9  t  And  Jabez  was  ''more  honourable  than 
 his  brethren  :  and  his  mother  called  his  name 
 II  Jabez,  saying,  Because  I  bare  him  with  sor- 
 row. 
 
 10  And  Jabez  called  on  the  God  of  Israel, 
 saying,  fOh  that  thou  wouldest  bless  me  in- 
 deed, and  enlarge  my  coast,  and  that  thine 
 hand  might  be  with  me,  and  that  thou  would- 
 est t  keep  mc  from  evil,  that  it  may  not  grieve 
 me !  And  God  granted  him  that  which  he  re^ 
 quested. 
 
 1 1  f  And  Chelub  the  brother  of  Shuah  begat 
 Mehir,  which  was  the  father  of  Eshton. 
 
 12  And  Eshton  begat  Beth-rapba,  and  Paseah, 
 and  Tehinnah  the  father  of  ||  Irnahash.  These 
 are  the  men  of  Rechah. 
 
 13  And  the  sons  of  Kenaz  ;  °  Othniel,  and 
 Seraiah  :  and  the  sons  of  Othniel ;  ||  Hathath. 
 
 14  And  Meonothai  begat  Ophrah  :  and  Se- 
 raiah begat  Joab,  the  father  of  '  the  ||  valley  of 
 II  Charashim  ;  for  they  were  craftsmen. 
 
 13  And  the  sons  of  Caleb  the  son  of  Jephun- 
 neh  ;  Iru,  Elab,  and  Naam  :  and  the  sons  of 
 Elah,  II  even  Kenaz. 
 
 16  And  the  sons  of  Jehaleleel ;  Ziph,  and 
 Ziphab,  Tiria,  and  Asareel. 
 
 17  And  the  sons  of  Ezra  were,  .Tether,  and 
 Mered,  and  Epher,  and  Jaloii :  and  she  bare 
 Miriam,  and  Shammai,  and  Islibah  the  father 
 of  Eshtemoa. 
 
 18  And  his  wife  ||  Jehudijah  bare  Jered  the 
 father  of  Gedor,  and  Heber  the  father  of  Socho, 
 and  Jekuthiel  the  father  of  Zanoah.  And  these 
 are  the  sons  of  Bithiah  the  daughter  of  Pha- 
 raoh, which  Mered  took. 
 
 19  And  the  sons  of  his  wife  ||  Hodiah  the 
 sister  of  Nahani,  the  father  of  Keilah  the  Gar- 
 mite,  and  Eshtemoa  the  Maachathite. 
 
 20  And  the  sons  of  Shimon  were,  Amnon, 
 and  Rinnah,  Ben-hanan,  and  Tilon.  And  the 
 sons  of  Ishi  were,  Zoheth,  and  Ben-zoheth. 
 
 Isriel.  whom  we  never  hear  of  in  the  history. — Henrt/.  15.  Zedekiah, 
 enanged  from  Mattaniah  by  the  kin?  of  Babylon,  1'2  Kin»s.  .\xiv.  17.) 
 16.  Zedekiah  his  son,  here  called  the  son  of  Jeconiah.  (who  was  his 
 nncle,  2  Kinps,  xxiv.  17.)  because  he  succeeded  him.  —  Pat.,  so 
 Bp.  Wilson.  This  Zedekiah  seems  to  be  another  of  that  name  nowhere 
 else  mentioned,  and  not  the  son  of  Jeconiah  in  any  sense. — Gill. 
 22.  Si.r— five  only  are  named  ;  after  Neariah,  '  Azariah*  is  added  by  the 
 Syr.  and  .Irab.,  as  adopted  by  Bonthr. 
 
 Chap.  IV. —  X.The  sons  of  Judah,  meaning  his  posterity,  for  one 
 only  of  bis  sons  is  here  mentioned. — Pat.  The  further  account  of  this 
 tribe  is  given,  because  it.  with  its  appendages,  Simeon,  Benjamin, 
 and  Levi,  made  up  the  kingdom  of  Judah,  and  now  returned  from  cap- 
 
 tivity, when  the  generality  of  the  other  tribes  were  lost  in  the  kingdom 
 of  Assyria. — Hetity.  3.  These  were  of  the  fither  of  Etam,  '  these  peo- 
 pled Etam.' — Boathr.  These  are  not  the  names  of  persons,  but  places  ; 
 and  to  people  a  place  was,  in  Hebrew  phraseology,  '  to  be  the  fatlier  of 
 it.' — Eimn.  Si/nop.  These  were  the  Rabbins  living  at  Etam,  Stc, 
 Targ.  9.  Jabes:,  y^V' — there  is  clearly  a  transposition  of  the  letters 
 from  the  reason  of  the  name,  (ver.  9.)  3!iy3.  *  in  sorrow,'  and  the 
 word  should  be  'Jazcb.' — Boothr.  See  2^V,  'to  travail,'  in  Par. 
 14.  The  father  of  the  i-alley  of  Ctiaraslmn,  far  thep  were  craftsmen, 
 vn  D'cnrr  'D  n'lrirT  N'3  '2?*,  '  who  peopled  the  valley  of  artisans,  for 
 they  were  artisans.' — Boothr.  18.  The  daughter  of  Pharaoh — not  a 
 daughter  of  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt,  but  an  Israelite  of  this  name.— 
 
 Rkflfctions  on  Chap.  III.  —  I.  Good  men  may  have 
 many  children  whose  names  may  only  he  retneiiibercd  after  their 
 deattt  with  reyret  a},d  i}idiynatio}i.  This  idea  strikes  us  in  read- 
 ing the  names  of  David's  children.  Yet  was  he  not  altogether 
 inexcusable  ;  and  it  behoves  parents  to  see  to  it  that  they  are 
 not  guilty  of  blind  indulgence,  and  of  too  much  indifference 
 towards  the  faults  of  their  offsprini;.  If  they  survive  their 
 wicked  children,  and  have  reason  to  fear  that  they  have  in  any 
 432 
 
 way  contributed  towards  their  ruin,  it  must  cause  them  many 
 a  bitter  pang. 
 
 11.  We  remark  with  the  Scotch  commentator.  Brown.  What 
 dislinyuished  respect  God  pays  to  his  promi.ie,  and  to  the  noted  piety 
 of  his  servants.  Never,  perhaps,  but  in  David's  family,  did 
 a  crown  go  directly  from  father  to  son  in  seventeen  descents. 
 And  what  a  mercy  that  we  have  now  Jesus,  the  King  eternal, 
 immortal,  and  invisible,  to  complete  and  crown  the  list! 
 
The  posterity  of  Simeon. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  V. 
 
 Their  con<picsts. 
 
 21  TTlie  sons  of  Shelah  ^  the  son  of  Jiidah 
 icere,  Er  the  father  of  Lecah,  and  Laadah  the 
 fatlier  of  Mareshali,  and  the  faniihes  of  the 
 house  of  them  that  wrought  fine  hnen,  of  the 
 house  of  Ashbea, 
 
 22  And  Jokim,  and  the  men  of  Chozeba,  and 
 Joash,  and  Saraph,  who  had  the  dominion  in 
 RIoab,  and  Jashubi-lehem.  And  these  are  an- 
 cient things. 
 
 23  These  were  the  potters,  and  those  that 
 dwelt  among  plants  and  hedges :  there  they 
 dwelt  with  the  king  for  his  work. 
 
 24  Tf  The  sons  of  Simeon  icere,  \\  Nemuel, 
 and  Jamin,  ||  Jarib,  Zerah,  and  Shaul : 
 
 25  Shallum  his  son,  Mibsani  his  son,  Mishma 
 his  son. 
 
 20  And  the  sons  of  Mishma ;  Hamuel  his 
 son,  Zacchur  his  son,  Shimei  his  son. 
 
 27  And  Shimei  had  sixteen  sons  and  six 
 daughters ;  but  his  brethren  had  not  many 
 children,  neither  did  all  their  family  multiply, 
 flike  to  the  children  of  Judah. 
 
 28  And  they  dwelt  at  "  Beer-sheba,  and  Mo- 
 ladali,  and  Hazar-shual, 
 
 29  And  at  ||  Bilhah,  and  at  Ezem,  and  at 
 II  Tolad, 
 
 30  And  at  Bethuel,  and  at  Hormah,  and  at 
 Ziklag, 
 
 31  And  at  Beth-marcaboth,  and  ||  Hazar-su- 
 sim,  and  at  Beth-birei,  and  at  Shaaraim.  These 
 were  their  cities  unto  the  reign  of  David. 
 
 32  And  their  villages  u'cre,  ||  Etam,  and  Ain, 
 Rimmon,  and  Tochen,  and  Ashan,  five  cities  : 
 
 33  And  all  their  villages  that  ipere  round 
 about  the  same  cities,  unto  ||  Baal.  These 
 were  their  habitations,  and  ||  their  genealogy. 
 
 34  And  Meshobab,  and  Jamlech,  and  Joshah 
 the  son  of  Amaziah, 
 
 35  And  ,Ioel,  and  Jehu  the  son  of  Josibiah, 
 the  son  of  Seraiah,  the  son  of  Asiel, 
 
 36  And  Elioenai,  and  Jaakobah,  and  Jesho- 
 haiah,  and  Asaiah,  and  Adiel,  and  Jesimiel, 
 and  Benaiah, 
 
 law),  fiC. 
 
 '  Gc-n.38-  1, 
 5.  &  4ti.  l£ 
 
 Nmn,*26.iy 
 I  Or,  Jachiii 
 Zilmr. 
 
 /I  Josh.  I9.S 
 
 Or,  liaUh, 
 Josh.  I'J.  3. 
 Or,  £//<,- 
 
 I  Or.  ff.i:«r- 
 tutuli,  JobIi. 
 la.  5. 
 
 iOr.Boafart- 
 bi^rr.  Josh. 
 19.8. 
 
 I  Or.'.*  they 
 divi<Ud 
 t'itml<tve3 
 ly  luiliti'ti 
 iinirtuff  f/ifm. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 lauti,  &c. 
 
 A  See  I  Sain, 
 15.  s.  S:  3V. 
 17,R:2S.lll». 
 8.  12. 
 
 1300,  &c. 
 
 n  Gen.  29.32. 
 
 &  W.  3. 
 6  Gen,  35.22. 
 
 &  19.  i. 
 
 ■Gen.  43.15, 
 
 22. 
 
 d  Geu.  49.  3, 
 10.  Ps.  60.7. 
 &  108.  8. 
 
 c  Mic.  5.  2. 
 Mat.  2.  6. 
 Or,  pri7>ci\ 
 
 37  And  Ziza,  the  son  of  Shiphi,  the  son  of 
 AUou,  the  sou  of  Jedaiah,  the  sou  of  Shimri, 
 the  son  of  Sbeinaiah  ; 
 
 38  These  t  mentioned  by  iheir  names  were 
 princes  in  their  families  ;  and  the  house  of 
 their  fathers  increased  greatly. 
 
 39  t  And  they  went  to  the  entrance  of  Ge- 
 dor,  even  unto  the  east  side  of  the  valley,  to 
 seek  pasture  for  their  flocks. 
 
 40  And  they  found  fat  pasture  and  good,  and 
 the  laud  was  wide,  and  quiet,  and  peaceable  ; 
 for  they  of  Ham  had  dwelt  there  of  old. 
 
 41  And  these  written  by  name  came  in  the 
 days  of  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah,  and  '  smote 
 their  tents,  and  the  habitations  that  were  found 
 there,  and  destroyed  them  utterly  unto  this 
 day,  and  dwelt  in  their  rooms  :  because  there 
 was  pasture  there  for  their  flock.s. 
 
 42  And  so7ne  of  them,  even  of  the  sons  of 
 Simeon,  five  hundred  men,  went  to  mount 
 Seir,  having  for  their  captains  Pelatiah,  and 
 Neariah,  and  Rephaiah,  and  Uzziel,  the  sons 
 of  Ishi. 
 
 43  And  they  smote  '  the  rest  of  the  Amalek- 
 ites  that  were  escaped,  and  dwelt  there  unto 
 this  day. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  T/ie  Ime  of  R-  uheri  (who  lost  his  blrthriijht)  unto  the 
 captivity.  9  Their  habitation  and  conquest  of  the 
 Hagarites.  1 1  The  chitj"  men  and  Jtabitations  of 
 Gad.  18  The  number  and  conquest  of  Bcubtnt  Gad. 
 and  the  half  of  Manasseh.  23  The  habitations  and 
 chief  men  of  that  hatf  tribe.  25  Their  captivity  for 
 their  sin. 
 
 IVrOW  the  sous  of  Reuben  the  firstborn  of 
 -^^  Israel,  (for "  he  teas  the  firstborn ;  but,  for- 
 asmuch as  he  '' defiled  his  father's  bed,  ''his 
 birthright  was  given  unto  the  sons  of  Joseph 
 the  sou  of  Israel :  and  the  genealogy  is  not  to 
 be  reckoned  after  the  birthright. 
 
 2  For  ''  Judah  prevailed  above  his  brethren, 
 and  of  him  eame  the  "  chief  jj  ruler  ;  but  the 
 birthright  was  Joseph's  :) 
 
 Gitl.  21.  Thitt  wrought  fine  linen.  '  who  worked  in  fine  flax,*  Targ. 
 •Were  manufactorers  of  cotton.' — Geddes,  so  Boothr.  22..^iidjn. 
 shufn-lehem.  And  these  are  ancient  things;  that  is,  an  account  of  per- 
 sons who  lived  quite  in  ancient  times. — Gill,  Perhaps  it  means  the 
 honour  and  dignity  of  the  persons  spoken  of  were  ancient  things,  for 
 their  families  were  now  brought  low. — Scott,  so  P(it.  'But  returned 
 to  Bethlehem  and  Adaberim-aitliikim.' — Geddes.  This  reading,  with  a 
 httle  variation  in  the  orthography,  which  seems  to  be  an  error,  is 
 adopted  by  Ifoo/Ar.  22.  These  were  the  potters — the  word  'were'  is 
 supplied  by  our  translators.  Gilt  reads  '  are,'  and  understands  the 
 words  to  mean,  the  posterity  of  a  once  famous  set  of  men  are  now  re- 
 duced to  these  mean  employments.  Dwelt  among  plants  and  hedges, 
 *  are  employed  in  plantini?  and  fencing.' — Gill.  *  Dwelt  in  Netaim  and 
 Gadara,'  cities  in  the  tribe  of  Judah. — So  Boothr.  and  others.  Dwelt 
 with  the  fcing,  either  the  king  of  Judah,  or  perhaps,  in  their  captivity, 
 the  king  of  Babylon,  whose  servile  works  they  did. — Gill.  39.  Gedor, 
 — there  was  a  place  of  this  name  in  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  38,)  but  Bocliart 
 
 thinks  this  was  some  place  in  Arabia,  since  they  of  Ham  dwelt  there, 
 and  there  some  of  his  posterity  settled. — Pat.  The  Simeonites  appear 
 to  have  wanted  room  for  their  flocks  and  herds,  and  these  heads  of 
 families  undertook  to  extend  themselves  to  the  south,  to  Gedor,  and 
 into  a  part  of  the  counti-y  of  the  Amalekites. — Boothr.  41 .  Written 
 by  name,  ver.  34 — 3".  In  the  days  of  Hezekiah,  a  little  before  the  ten 
 tribes  were  carried  captive ;  or  rather  after,  when  these  Simeonites, 
 having  mixed  with  Judah,  and  being  straitened,  made  this  expedition. 
 — Pat.  43.  Smote  the  rest  of  the  Amalekites,  not  destroyed  by  Saul 
 and  his  successors. — Poole. 
 
 Ch.\p.  v.  — 1.  J"or  he  was  the  firstborn,  §c.— the  double  portion, 
 which  belonged  to  the  firstborn,  having  been  forfeited  by  Reuben,  was 
 given  to  Joseph,  whose  descendants  had  a  double  portion  in  Canaan, 
 and  were  heads  of  two  distinct  tribes,  Ephraim  and  Manasseh.  Yet, 
 as  the  chief  ruler  or  prince,  even  the  Messiah,  of  whom  David  and  his 
 race  were  progenitors  and  typos,  was  to  descend  from  Judah,  the  gene- 
 alogy began  with  him,  and  not  with  either  Reuben  or  Joseph.— Sco«. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  We  may  here  profitably 
 select  for  reflection  Jabez's  prayer,  as  noted  by  Henry  ; — 
 I.  *  The  object  of  this  prayer.  'I'be  God  of  Israel.  A  God  in 
 covenant  with  his  people,  the  God  with  whom  Jacob  wrestled 
 and  prevailed,  and  was  thence  called  Israel. 
 
 II.  '  The  nature  of  this  pruy.r.  It  was  the  language  of  a 
 roost  ardent  and  affectionate  desire— "  O  that  thou  wouldst 
 bless  me!"  He  doth,  as  it  were,  give  God  a  blank  paper, — let 
 him  write  wliat  he  pleases.  "  Lord,  if  tiiou  wilt  bless  and 
 keep  me,  do  what  thou  wilt  with  me,  I  will  be  at  thy  command 
 and  dispose  for  ever." 
 
 III.  '  The  nu:tler  of  this  prayer.  1.  That  God  would  bless 
 him  indeed.  Perhaps  he  had  an  eye  to  the  promise  made  to 
 Abraham — *'  in  blessini;  1  will  bless  thee,"  (Gen.  xxii.  17.) 
 Spiritual  blessings  are  the  best  blessings,  and  those  are  blest 
 indeed  wbo  are  blest  with  thorn.  God's  blessings  are  real 
 tliiugs,  and  protluce  real  effect.^.  We  can  hut  wish  a  blessing, 
 lie  commands  it.     Those  whom  he  blesseth  are  blessed  in- 
 
 433 
 
 deed.  2.  That  God  would  enlarge  his  coast ;  that  he  would 
 prosper  his  endeavours.  That  God  would  enlarge  our  hearts, 
 and  so  enlarge  our  portion  in  himself,  and  in  the  heavenly 
 Canaan,  ought  to  he  our  desire  and  prayer.  3.  That  God's 
 hand  might  be  with  him.  God's  hand  with  us,  to  lead  us. 
 protect  us,  strengthen  us,  and  to  work  all  our  works  in  us  and 
 for  us,  is  indeed  a  hand  sufficient  for  us,  all  sufficient.  4.  That 
 God  would  keep  him  from  evil;  the  evil  of  sin,  the  evil  of 
 trouble,  all  the  evil  designs  of  his  enemies,  that  they  might 
 not  hurt  nor  grieve  him,  nor  make  him  a  Jabez  indeed,  a  man 
 of  sorrow. 
 
 IV.  '  The  success  of  this  prayer.  "  God  granted  liim  that 
 which  he  requested  ;"  prospered  him  remarkably,  and  gave 
 him  success  in  his  undertakings,  in  his  studies,  in  his  worldly 
 business,  in  his  conflicts  witli  the  Canaanites  ;  and  so  he  be- 
 came more  honourable  than  his  brethren.  God  was  of  old 
 ready  to  hear  prayer,  and  his  ear  is  not  yet  heavy.' 
 
 3  K 
 
The  hahitatiun  and  conquest  of  Reuhen.      I.   CHRONICLES,   VI. 
 
 7Vit  fons  of  Levi. 
 
 3  The  sons,  /  say,  of '  Reuben  the  firstborn 
 of  Israel  ivere,  Hanoch,  and  Pallu,  Hezron,  and 
 Carmi. 
 
 4  The  sons  of  Joel  ;  Shennaiah  his  sou,  Gog 
 his  son,  Shimei  his  son, 
 
 5  Micah  his  son,  Reaia  his  son,  Baal  his 
 son, 
 
 6  Beerah  his  son,  whom  ||  Tilgath-pilneser 
 king  of  Assyria  carried  away  captive  :  he  was 
 prince  of  the  Reubenites. 
 
 7  And  his  brethren  by  their  families,  ^  when 
 the  genealogy  of  their  generations  was  rekon- 
 ed,  xcerc  the  cliief,  Jeiel,  and  Zechariah, 
 
 8  And  Bela  the  son  of  Azaz,  the  son  of 
 ||Shema,  the  son  of  Joel,  who  dwelt  in  ''Aroer, 
 even  unto  Nebo  and  Baal-meon  : 
 
 9  And  eastward  he  inhabited  unto  the  enter- 
 ing in  of  the  wilderness  from  the  river  Eu- 
 phrates :  because  their  cattle  were  multiplied 
 '  in  the  land  of  Gilead. 
 
 10  And  in  the  days  of  Saul  they  made  war 
 '  with  the  Hagarites,  who  fell  by  their  hand  : 
 and  they  dvi'elt  in  their  tents  f  throughout  all 
 the  east  land  of  Gilead. 
 
 1 1  H  And  the  children  of  Gad  dwelt  over 
 against  theni,  in  the  land  of  '  Bashan  unto  Sal- 
 cah  : 
 
 12  Joel  the  chief,  and  Shapham  the  next, 
 and  Jaanai,  and  Shaphat  in  Bashan. 
 
 13  And  their  brethren  of  the  house  of  their 
 fathers  were,  Michael,  and  Meshullam,  and 
 Sheba,  and  Jorai,  and  Jachan,  and  Zia,  and 
 Heber,  seven. 
 
 14  These  are  the  children  of  Abihail  the  son 
 of  Huri,  the  son  of  Jaroah,  the  son  of  Gilead, 
 the  son  of  Michael,  the  son  of  Jeshishai,  the 
 son  of  Jahdo,  the  son  of  Buz  ; 
 
 15  Ahi  the  son  of  Abdiel,  the  son  of  Guni, 
 chief  of  the  house  of  their  fatliers. 
 
 16  And  they  dwelt  in  Gilead  in  Bashan,  and 
 in  her  towns,  and  in  all  the  suburbs  of  "'Sharon, 
 upon  t  their  borders. 
 
 17  All  these  were  reckoned  by  genealogies 
 in  the  days  of  "  Jotham  king  of  Judah,  and  in 
 the  days  of  "Jeroboam  king  of  Israel. 
 
 18  K  The  sons  of  Reuben,  and  tlie  Gadites, 
 and  half  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  f  of  valiant 
 men,  men  able  to  bear  buckler  and  sword,  and 
 to  shoot  with  bow,  and  skilful  in  war,  were  four 
 and  forty  thousand  seven  hundred  and  three- 
 score, that  went  out  to  the  war. 
 
 19  And  they  made  war  with  the  Hagarites, 
 with  f  Jetur,  and  Nephish,  and  Nodab. 
 
 20  And  ''they  were  helped  against  them, and 
 the  Hagarites  were  delivered  into  their  hand, 
 and  all  that  were  with  them :  for  they  cried 
 to  God  in  the  battle,  and  he  was  intreated 
 
 B.  c, 
 
 1300.  &c. 
 
 /Gen.  46.  9, 
 Ex.  6.  14. 
 Num.  26. 5. 
 
 II  Or,  Tig- 
 
 2Kiii  \h  59. 
 &  16.7. 
 
 g  See  ver.l7. 
 
 A  Gen, 25. 12 
 
 t  Hel).  »pm, 
 atl  Ihefacr 
 of  tlit  eatl. 
 
 t  Heb.  their 
 going,  ftitth. 
 
 1  2  Kin    15. 
 S,  Si 
 
 t  Heb.  toM 
 of  valour. 
 
 p  Gen  25  15. 
 eh.  1.31. 
 q  See  ver.22. 
 
 tPs.  22  4,5, 
 t  Heb.  led 
 
 t  Heb.  looh 
 of  men  :  as 
 Num. SI  35. 
 
 I  Heb. 
 o/nom 
 
 u  2  Kin.  15. 
 19. 
 X  2  Kin.  15. 
 
 eir.  1300.  kc 
 a  Gen  46.11 
 K«.  fl.  16. 
 Num  26  57 
 ch.  23.  6. 
 II  Or,  dr. 
 
 d  2  Sam   9. 
 
 17. 
 0  2  Sam.  15. 
 
 /  See  2  Chr 
 26.  17,  18. 
 
 t  Heb.  in  (/. 
 home. 
 
 g  1  Kin.  6. 
 2  Chr.  3. 
 
 of  them;   because    they  'put    their   trust   in 
 him. 
 
 21  And  they  f  took  away  their  cattle;  of 
 their  camels  fifty  thousand,  and  of  sheep  two 
 hundred  and  fifty  thousand,  and  of  asses  two 
 thousand,  and  of  f  men  an  hundred  thou.sand. 
 
 22  For  there  fell  down  many  slain,  because 
 the  war  was  of  God.  And  they  dwelt  in  their 
 steads  until  '  the  captivity. 
 
 23  IF  And  the  children  of  the  half  tribe  of 
 Manasseh  dwelt  in  the  land  :  they  increased 
 from  Bashan  unto  Baal-hermon  and  Senir,  and 
 unto  mount  Hernion. 
 
 24  And  these  were  the  heads  of  the  house  of 
 their  fathers,  even  Eplier,  and  Ishi,  and  Eliel, 
 and  Azriel,  and  Jeremiah,  and  Hodaviali,  and 
 Jahdiel,  mighty  men  of  valour,  f  famous  men, 
 and  heads  of  the  house  of  their  fathers. 
 
 2j  IF  And  they  transgressed  against  the  God 
 of  their  fathers,  and  went  a  '  whoring  after  the 
 gods  of  the  people  of  the  land,  whom  God  de- 
 stroyed before  them. 
 
 2fi  And  the  God  of  Israel  stirred  up  the  spirit 
 of  "  Pul  king  of  Assyria,  and  the  spirit  of  '  Til- 
 gath-pilneser king  of  Assyria,  and  he  carried 
 them  away,  even  the  Reubenites,  and  the  Gad- 
 ites, and  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  and 
 brought  them  unto  '  Halah,  and  Habor,  and 
 Hara,  and  to  the  river  Gozan,  unto  this  day. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  The  sons  of  Levi.  4  T/ie  line  of  the  priests  unto  the 
 captivity.  16  The  families  of  Gershoin,  Merari  and 
 Kohnth.  49  The  office  of  Aaron,  and  his  line  unto 
 Ahiniaaz.     54  The  cities  of  the  priests  and  Levites. 
 
 Gershon,  Kohath, 
 
 Amrani,  ''  Izhar, 
 
 'pHE   sons   of   Levi  ; 
 -'-    and  Merari. 
 
 2  And  the  sons  of  Kohath  ; 
 and  Hebron,  and  Uzziel. 
 
 3  And  the  children  of  Amram  ;  Aaron,  and 
 Moses,  and  Miriam.  The  sons  also  of  Aaron ; 
 °  Nadab,  and  Abihn,  Eleazar,  and  Ithamar. 
 
 4  t  Eleazar  begat  Phinehas,  Phinehas  begat 
 Abishua, 
 
 5  And  Abishua  begat  Bukki,  and  Bukki  be- 
 gat Uzzi, 
 
 6  And  Uzzi  begat  Zerahiah,  and  Zerahiah  be- 
 gat Meraioth, 
 
 7  Meraioth  begat  Amariah,  and  Amariah  be- 
 gat Ahitub, 
 
 8  And  '^  Ahitub  begat  Zadok,  and  "  Zadok 
 begat  Ahimaaz, 
 
 9  And  Ahimaaz  begat  Azariah,  and  Azariah 
 begat  Johanan, 
 
 10  And  Johanan  begat  Azariah,  (he  it  is 
 •■that  executed  the  priest's  office  fin  the  *  tem- 
 ple that  Solomon  built  in  Jerusalem  :) 
 
 10.  Hagarites,  the  Ishmaelites,  so  called  because  they  descended  from  that  vengeance  might  be  taken  on  this  wicked  and  idolatrous  people.— 
 
 Hagar.— See  Gill,  Scott.        li.  Alt  the  suburbs,  Travra  ^a  irtfixapa.  Gill.    It  was  undertaken  in  the  fearof  God.  and  carried  on  in  a  depen- 
 
 •all  the  circumjacent  country,*  Sept.      Of  SAnrow  — there  were  two  dence  upon  Xnm.^Henry.         25.  They  transgressed,  ?fc.— the  Manas. 
 
 Sharons,  one  west  of  Israel,  near  the  Mediterranean,  (Acts,  ix.  35,)  the  sites  and  their  neighbours  were  the  first  apostates  from  God,  and,  as 
 
 other  north  east,  beyond  Jordan,   here  meant.— Gi//.     The  Gadites  beginners  of  the  national  apostasy,  were  first  carried  into  captivity. — 
 
 lived  on  the  east  nf' Jordan.— Wells.        22.  T/ie  war  was  of  God— he  Scott,  Pyle. 
 stirred  up  the  Israelites  to  it,  directed,  assisted,  and  succeeded  them, 
 
 Rffiections  on  Chap.  V.  —Scott  remarks  on  this  chapter, 
 I.  •  Sin  detjrades  men  from  their  excellency,  stamps  indelible  dis- 
 grace on  their  characters,  forfeits  their  advantages,  and  en- 
 tails manifold  losses  on  their  posterity. 
 
 II.  ■  They  who  are  related  to  our  Chief  Ruler  of  the  tribe  of 
 Jwlah,  as  his  disciples  and  subjects,  are  far  more  favoured  than 
 those  who  have  a  two-fold  or  ten-fold  portion  of  perishing  riches. 
 Let  us  seek  and  choose  this  'belter  portio"n,  and  leave  the 
 children  of  this  world  to  contend  about  their  gilded  baubles, 
 without  weeping,  coveting,  or  interfering. 
 434 
 
 III.  '  Those  who  rebel  apainst  the  Lord,  and  apostatize  frrm 
 him,  must  eventutdly  be  ruined;  especially  snob  as  desert  his 
 worship  and  reject'liis  salvation  for  the  sake  of  those  idols 
 which  are  set  up  either  in  temples  or  in  the  hearts  of  the  ava- 
 ricious, the  sensual,  or  the  ambitious.  It  will  little  avail 
 them  to  have  their  names  inserted  in  the  genealogies  of  ho- 
 nourable families,  or  recorded  as  famous  in  the  page  of  his- 
 tory, while  they  are  rejected  by  God,  and  excluded  from  his 
 kingdom.* 
 
The  families  of  Gershom,  ^c. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  VI. 
 
 The  office  of  Aaron  and  his  line. 
 
 1 1  And  '■  Azariah  begat  Amariali,  and  Ama- 
 riah  begat  Ahitub, 
 
 12  And  Ahitub  begat  Zadok,  and  Zadok  be- 
 gat II  Shallum, 
 
 13  And  Shallum  begat  Hilkiah,  and  Hilkiah 
 begat  Azaiiah, 
 
 14  And  Azariah  begat '  Seraiah,  and  Seraiah 
 begat  Jehozadak, 
 
 15  And  Jehozadak  went  into  captivity,  '  when 
 the  Lord  carried  away  Judah  and  Jerusalem 
 by  the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar. 
 
 16  H  The  sons  of  Levi ;  '  ||  Gershom,  Kohath, 
 and  Merari. 
 
 1 7  And  these  he  the  names  of  the  sons  of 
 Gershom  ;  Libni,  and  Shimei. 
 
 18  And  the  sons  of  Kohatli  ivere,  Amram, 
 and  Izhar,  and  Hebron,  and  Uzziel. 
 
 19  Tlie  sons  of  Merari;  Mahli,  and  Mushi. 
 And  tliese  are  the  families  of  the  Levites 
 according  to  their  fathers. 
 
 20  Of  Gershom  ;  Libni  his  son,  Jahath  his 
 son,  "  Zimmah  his  son, 
 
 21  II  Joah  his  son,  ||  Iddo  his  son,  Zerah  his 
 son,  II  Jeaterai  his  son. 
 
 22  The  sons  of  Kohath  ;  ||  Amminadab  his 
 son,  Korah  his  son,  Assir  his  son, 
 
 23  Elkanah  his  son,  and  Ebiasaph  his  son, 
 and  Assir  his  son, 
 
 24  Tahath  his  son,  ||  Uriel  his  son,  Uzziah 
 his  son,  and  Shaul  his  son. 
 
 25  And  the  sons  of  Elkanah  ;  °  Amasai,  and 
 Ahimoth. 
 
 26  As  for  Elkanah  :  the  sons  of  Elkanah  ; 
 II  Zophai  his  son,  and  °  Nahath  liis  son, 
 
 27  ''  Eliab  his  son,  Jeroham  his  son,  Elkanah 
 his  son. 
 
 28  And  the  sons  of  Samuel ;  the  firstborn 
 II  Vashni,  and  Abiah. 
 
 29  The  sons  of  Merari;  Mahli,  Libni  his  son, 
 Shimei  his  son,  Uzza  his  son, 
 
 30  Shimei  his  son,  Haggiah  his  son,  Asaiah 
 his  son. 
 
 31  And  these  are  they  whom  David  set  over 
 the  service  of  song  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 after  that  the  "^  ark  had  rest. 
 
 32  And  they  ministered  before  the  dwelling 
 place  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation 
 with  singing,  until  Solomon  had  built  the 
 house  of  the  Lord  in  Jerusalem  :  and  then 
 they  waited  on  their  office  according  to  their 
 order. 
 
 33  And  these  are  they  that  \  vi-aited  with 
 their  children.  Of  the  sons  of  the  Kohathites  : 
 Heman  a  singer,  the  son  of  Joel,  the  son  of 
 Shemuel, 
 
 34  The  son  of  Elkanah,  the  son  of  Jeroham, 
 the  son  of  Eliel,  the  son  of  ||  Toah, 
 
 35  The  son  of  ||  Zuph,  the  son  of  Elkanah, 
 the  son  of  Mahath,  the  son  of  Amasai, 
 
 .36  The  son  of  Elkanah,  the  son  of  ||  Joel,  the 
 son  of  Azariah,  the  son  of  Zephaniah, 
 
 37  The  son  of  Tahath,  the  son  of  Assir,  the 
 son  of '  Ebiasaph,  the  son  of  Korah, 
 
 38  The  son  of  Izhar,  tlie  son  of  Kohath,  the 
 son  of  Levi,  the  son  of  Israel. 
 
 39  And  liis  brollier  Asaph,  who  stood  on  his 
 right  hand,  even  Asaph  the  son  of  Berachiah, 
 the  son  of  Shiniea, 
 
 40  The  son  of  Michael,  the  son  of  Baaseiah, 
 the  son  of  Malchiah, 
 
 B  c. 
 
 cir.lSiH),  Sic 
 
 A  See  Ezra 
 r.  3. 
 
 |10r,J/eMi</- 
 Inm, 
 ch.  9.  11. 
 
 i  Neb.  IJ.ll 
 
 h  2  Kia.  25. 
 IS. 
 
 ;  Ex.  6.  16. 
 II  Or,  G«- 
 Moii,  ver,  I 
 
 rii  ver.  12. 
 
 |IOr,    Eiha,, 
 
 ver.  4?. 
 II  Or,  A'laiijK 
 
 ver.  4t. 
 y  Or.  Kthni 
 
 ver.  41. 
 []  Or,  /:A(lr, 
 
 ver.  2,  18. 
 
 [I  Or,  Z„,,h, 
 
 ver    .1'. 
 
 ISaiii.  I.   I 
 0  ver  .S4, 
 
 T.,',h. 
 p  v.-r   31, 
 
 El.'l. 
 li  Calle.)  also 
 
 J...Z,vei.33 
 
 b  1  Sau).  S. 
 
 cir.  128l),.^c. 
 q  cli.  10   1. 
 
 I  ver.  26, 
 Xakulk. 
 1  Or,  Zophai 
 
 II  ver   24, 
 :ial,,  U'itl. 
 
 I  Called 
 Jfdulhw 
 
 ch. 
 
 16 
 
 20.  I, 
 II  Or,  Ku. 
 
 ch.  15.  17. 
 
 1411,  &c. 
 /  Lev.  1.  9 
 li  Kx.  3U.  7. 
 
 1.1™   14   13 
 it  15.  13. 
 
 n  Jos.  21.  13 
 
 I  Or,  Am, 
 Josh.  21-16. 
 
 II  Or,  Almix,, 
 Josh.  21.1'^. 
 
 41  The  son  of '  Ethni,  the  son  of  Zerah,  the 
 son  of  Adaiah, 
 
 42  The  son  of  Ethan,  the  son  of  Zimmah,  the 
 son  of  Shimei, 
 
 43  The  son  of  Jahath,  the  son  of  Gershom, 
 the  son  of  Levi. 
 
 44  And  their  brethren  the  sons  of  Merari 
 stood  on  the  left  hand  :  ||  Ethan  the  son  of 
 II  Kishi,  the  son  of  Abdi,  the  son  of  Malluch, 
 
 45  The  son  of  Hashabiah,  the  son  of  Ama- 
 ziah,  the  son  of  Hilkiah, 
 
 46  The  son  of  Amzi,  the  son  of  Bani,  the  son 
 of  Shamer, 
 
 47  The  son  of  Mahli,  the  son  of  Mushi,  the 
 son  of  Merari,  the  son  of  Levi. 
 
 48  Their  brethren  also  the  Levites  were  ap- 
 pointed unto  all  manner  of  service  of  the  taber- 
 nacle of  the  house  of  God. 
 
 49  H  But  Aaron  and  his  sons  offered  '  upon 
 the  altar  of  the  burnt  offering,  and  "  on  the 
 altar  of  incense,  and  were  appointed  for  all  the 
 work  of  the  place  most  holy,  and  to  make  an 
 atonement  for  Israel,  according  to  all  that 
 Moses  the  servant  of  God  had  commanded. 
 
 50  And  these  are  the  sons  of  Aaron  ;  Elea- 
 zar  his  son,  Phinehas  his  son,  Abishua  his  son, 
 
 51  Bukki  his  son,  Uzzi  his  son,  Zerahiah  his 
 son, 
 
 52  Meraioth  his  son,  Amariah  his  son,  Ahitub 
 his  son, 
 
 53  Zadok  his  son,  Ahiniaaz  his  son. 
 
 54  If  *  Now  these  are  their  dwelling  places 
 tlironghout  their  castles  in  their  coasts,  of  the 
 sons  of  Aaron,  of  the  families  of  the  Kohath- 
 ites :  for  their's  was  the  lot. 
 
 55  '  And  they  gave  them  Hebron  in  the  land 
 of  Judah,  and  the  suburbs  thereof  round  about 
 it. 
 
 56  "  But  the  fields  of  the  city,  and  the  villages 
 thereof,  they  gave  to  Caleb  the  son  of  Jephun- 
 neh. 
 
 57  And  °  to  the  sons  of  Aaron  they  gave  the 
 cities  of  Judah,  namely,  Hebron,  the  city  of  re- 
 fuge, and  Libiiah  with  her  suburbs,  and  Jattir, 
 and  Eshtemoa,  with  their  suburbs, 
 
 58  And  II  Hilen  with  her  suburbs,  Debir  with 
 her  suburbs, 
 
 59  And  II  Ashan  with  her  suburbs,  and  Beth- 
 shemesh  with  her  suburbs ; 
 
 60  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  ;  Geba 
 with  her  suburbs,  and  ||  Alemeth  with  her 
 suburbs,  and  Anathoth  with  her  suburbs.  All 
 their  cities  throughout  their  families  were  thir- 
 teen cities. 
 
 61  And  unto  the  sons  of  Kohath,  ^  which 
 were  left  of  the  family  of  that  tribe,  were  cities 
 i/iven  out  of  the  half  tribe,  namely,  out  of  the 
 half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  "  by  lot,  ten  cities. 
 
 62  And  to  the  sons  of  Gershom  throughout 
 their  families  out  of  the  tribe  of  Issachar,  and 
 out  of  the  tribe  of  Asher,  and  out  of  the  tribe 
 of  Naphtali,  and  out  of  the  tribe  of  Manasseh 
 in  Bashan,  thirteen  cities. 
 
 63  Unto  the  sons  of  Merari  tcere  given  by 
 lot,  throughout  their  families,  out  of  the  tribe 
 of  Reuben,  and  out  of  the  tribe  of  Gad,  and 
 out  of  the  tribe  of  Zebulun,  ■■  twelve  cities. 
 
 64  And  the  children  of  Israel  gave  to  the 
 Levites  these  cities  with  their  suburbs. 
 
 65  And  they  gave  by  lot  out  of  the  tribe  of 
 
 VI.  —  39.  As 
 435 
 
 i^h,    aiitlior   of  twelve   of  the   Psalms. 
 
 60.  T//ii-^''en— eleven  mentioned  here,  and  two  more  Josh.  xxi.  13.- 
 
The  cities  of  the  priests  and  Leviles.  I.  CHRONICLES,  VII.  The  sons  of  Isiachar  and  Benjamin. 
 
 the  children  of  Judah,  and  out  of  the  tribe  of 
 the  children  of  Simeon,  and  out  of  the  tribe  of 
 tlie  children  of  Benjamin,  these  cities,  which 
 are  called  by  their  names. 
 
 66  And  "the  residue  of  the  families  of  the 
 sons  of  Kohath  had  cities  of  their  coasts  out  of 
 the  tribe  of  Ephraim. 
 
 67  'And  they  gave  unto  them,  of  the  cities 
 of  refuge,  Shechem  in  mount  Ephraim  with 
 her  suburbs ;  they  gave  also  Gezer  with  her 
 suburbs, 
 
 68  And  ^JoUmeam  with  her  suburbs,  and 
 Beth-horon  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 69  And  Aijalon  with  her  suburbs,  and  Gath- 
 rimmon  with  her  suburbs  : 
 
 70  And  out  of  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh  ; 
 Aner  with  her  suburbs,  and  Bileam  with  her 
 suburbs,  for  the  family  of  the  remnant  of  the 
 sons  of  Kohath. 
 
 71  Unto  the  sons  of  Gershom  were  given  out 
 of  the  family  of  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh, 
 Golan  in  Bashan  with  her  suburbs,  and  Ashta- 
 rotli  with  her  suburbs  : 
 
 72  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Issachar ;  Kedesh 
 with  her  suburbs,  Daberath  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 73  And  Ramoth  with  her  suburbs,  and  Anem 
 with  her  suburbs : 
 
 74  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Asher;  Mashal 
 with  her  suburbs,  and  Abdon  with  her  suburbs, 
 
 75  And  Hukok  with  her  suburbs,  and  Rehob 
 with  her  suburbs : 
 
 70  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali ;  Kedesh 
 in  Galilee  witli  her  suburbs,  and  Hammon 
 with  her  suburbs,  and  Kirjathaim  with  her 
 suburbs. 
 
 77  Unto  the  rest  of  the  children  of  Merari 
 were  given  out  of  the  tribe  of  Zebulun,  Rim 
 mon  with  her  suburbs.  Tabor  with  her  suburbs  : 
 
 78  And  on  the  other  side  Jordan  by  .lericho, 
 on  the  east  side  of  Jordan,  were  given  them 
 out  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  Bezer  in  the  wilder- 
 ness with  her  suburbs,  and  Jahzah  with  her 
 suburbs, 
 
 79  Kedemoth  also  with  her  suburbs,  and 
 Mephaath  with  her  suburbs  : 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 N4.I,  be. 
 
 /Jos.  21.81. 
 
 g  See  Josh. 
 21.S2— 35, 
 where 
 many  of 
 these  citiea 
 have  other 
 uameB. 
 
 b  ■?.  Sam.  S4. 
 
 c  Gen  •JG21. 
 Nuin.ai,!«. 
 ch.g,  1,  ftc 
 
 80  And  out  of  the  tribe  of  Gad  ;  Ramoth  in 
 Gilead  with  her  suburbs,  and  Mahanaim  with 
 ber  suburbs, 
 
 81  And  Heshbon  with  her  suburbs,  and  Jazer 
 with  her  suburbs. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 I  The  sons  of  Issachar,  6  of  Bctija7iiin,  13  of  Naph^ 
 tali,  14  of  Munasseli,  20,  2-i  and  of  Ephraim.  21 
 The  calumity  of  E/ihrahn  by  the  mm  of  Gnlh.  23 
 Striah  is  horji.  28  Ep/iraim's  habitafioJis,  30  The 
 suns  of  Aslicr. 
 
 T^OW  the  sons  of  Issachar  were,  °  Tola,  and 
 -'-^    II  Puah,  Jasbub,  and  Shimrom,  four. 
 
 2  And  the  sons  of  Tola  ;  Uzzi,  and  Rephaiah, 
 and  Jeriel,  and  Jahmai,  and  Jibsani,  and  She- 
 muel,  heads  of  their  father's  house,  to  ivit,  of 
 Tola  :  they  were  valiant  men  of  might  in  their 
 generations  ;  '■  whose  number  teas  in  the  days 
 of  David  two  and  twenty  thousand  and  si.\ 
 hundred. 
 
 3  And  the  sons  of  Uzzi  ;  Izrahiah  :  and  the 
 sons  of  Izrahiah  ;  Michael,  and  Obadiah,  and 
 Joel,  Ishiah,  five  :  all  of  them  chief  men. 
 
 4  And  with  them,  by  their  generations,  after 
 the  house  of  their  father.s,  7vere  bands  of  sol- 
 diers for  war,  six  and  thirty  thousand  men : 
 for  they  had  many  wives  and  sons. 
 
 5  And  their  brethren  among  all  the  families 
 of  Issachar  were  valiant  men  of  might,  reckoned 
 in  all  by  their  genealogies  fourscore  and  seven 
 thousand. 
 
 6  t  The  sons  of  '^  Benjamin  ;  Bela,  and  Be- 
 cher,  and  Jediael,  three. 
 
 7  And  the  sons  of  Bela ;  Ezbon,  and  Uzzi, 
 and  Uzziel,  and  Jerimoth,  and  Iri,  five  ;  heads 
 of  the  house  of  their  fathers,  mighty  men  of 
 valour  ;  and  were  reckoned  by  their  genea- 
 logies twenty  and  two  thousand  and  thirty  and 
 four. 
 
 8  And  the  sons  of  Becher ;  Zemira,  and  Joash, 
 and  Eliezer,  and  Elioenai,  and  Omri,  and  Jeri- 
 moth, and  Abiah,  and  Anathotb,  and  Alameth. 
 All  these  are  the  sons  of  Becher. 
 
 9  And  the  number  of  them,  after  their  gene- 
 alogy by  their  generations,  heads  of  the  house 
 
 Poole.        67.  0/  the  cities  of  rrfuge,  Shechem,  §-c. — places  of  great  and  suppose  a  name  is  wrong  or  a  number  wanting;  but  as  grandsons 
 
 eminence,  menUuned  Josh.  xxi.  21. — See  I'ut.    See  Josh.  xxi.  28,  &c.,  arc,  in  Scripture,  considered  as  sons,  may  not  this  be  understood  as 
 
 where  several  of  these  cities  have  different  names,  altered  as  other  nieaning  his  son  and  his  four  grandsont^,  Jive? — Ed.     For  the  sons  he 
 
 cities  in  other  countries  in  the  course  of  time. — So  Poole,  Henri/.  names  but  one  son,  and  the  five  includes  the  father  Izrahiah. — Poole, 
 
 Chap.  VIl.  —  3.  The  sons  of  Uzzi— Jive — commentators   in  general  6.  The  sons  of  Benjamin — three — there  were  ten,  (Gen.  xlvi.  21  ;)  five 
 
 observe  there  arc  but  four  mentioned,  alluding  to  the  sons  of  Izrahiah,  are  named  chap.  viii.  1 ;  here  only  three  are  mentioned,  being  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chai'.  VI We  have  here  the  genea- 
 logy of  the  Levites,  antl  some  particulars  respecting  them. 
 Henry  observes  that— I.  '  The  priests  and  Levites  were  more 
 concerned  than  any  other  Israelites  in  the  preservation  of  tlieir  pe- 
 digree. We  read  of  those  who,  though  perhaps  children  of  the 
 priests,  yet,  because  they  could  not  find  their  register,  they 
 were  considered  as  polluted,  put  from  the  priesthood,  and 
 forbidden  to  eat  of  the  holy  things,  ( Ezra,  ii.  62,  63.  ) 
 
 II.  '  We  have  litre  the  n-,e  modellinij  of  the  Levites.  When 
 they  were  first  ordained  in  the  wilderness,  much  of  the  work 
 then  appointed  them  lay  in  carrying  vind  taking  care  of  the 
 tabernacle  and  the  utensils  of  it,  while  they  were  in  their 
 march  through  the  wilderness.  In  David's  time  their  number 
 was  increased;  and  though  the  greater  part  of  them  was  dis- 
 persed all  the  nation  over,  to  teacli  the  people  the  good  know- 
 ledge of  the  Lord,  yet  of  these  that  atteiided  the  house  of 
 God,  there  was  not  work  for  them  all ;  and  therefore  David, 
 by  special  commission  and  direction  from  God,  new  modelled 
 the  Levites,  as  we  shall  find  in  the  latter  part  of  this  book. 
 Here  K;e  are  told  what  the  work  was  which  he  assigned  them 
 1.  hinging  work.    When  the  service  of  the  ark  was  superseded 
 
 T    "?/"*''  '''"^  ''^''  °'''*"'  ^°'''  '^"'  ""'  *<"■ ''"'™'  Co''  Levites 
 should  never  he  idle,)  and  were  employed  in  the  service  of 
 ftong.     Thus  when  the  people  of  God  come  to  the  rest  wliich 
 436 
 
 remains  for  them  above,  they  shall  take  leave  of  all  their  bur- 
 dens, and  be  employed  in  everlasting  songs.  2.  There  was 
 serving  work,  ( ver.  48.  )  To  provide  water  and  fuel,  to  wash, 
 and  sweep,  and  carry  out  ashes  ;  to  kill  and  slay,  and  hoil  the 
 sacrifices ;  and  to  all  such  services  there  were  Levites  ap- 
 pointed, those  of  other  families,  or  perhaps  those  that  were 
 not  fit  to  be  singers,  that  had  either  no  good  voice,  or  no  good 
 ear.  "As  every  one  hath  received  the  gilt,  so  let  him  minis- 
 ter," They  that  could  not  sing  must  not  therefore  be  laid 
 aside  as  good  for  nothing  ;  tliou.gh  they  were  not  fit  for  that 
 service,  there  was  other  service  in  which  they  might  be  use- 
 ful. 3.  There  was  sacrificing  work,  (ver.  49.)  They  only  were 
 to  sprinkle  blood  and  burn  the  incense  ;  and  for  the  work  of 
 the  place  most  holy,  that  was  to  be  done  by  the  high  priest 
 only.  Each  had  his  work,  and  they  both  needed  one  another, 
 and  both  helped  one  another  in  it.  Thus,  as  Scott  observes, 
 **  none  of  the  Lord's  people,  and  especially  of  his  ministers, 
 should  be  unemployed.  They  who,  through  want  of  ability, 
 or  change  of  circumstances,  are  precluded  from  one  method  of 
 glorifying  God,  should  set  themselves  to  devise  another." 
 3Jut,  though  Christians  and  ministers  may  be  very  useful  to 
 the  church  while  "  they  wait  in  their  offices,'' none  but  our 
 great  High  Priest  can  make  atonement  for  sin  ;  none  can  be 
 accepted  save  through  his  atonement  and  mediation.' 
 
The  xons  of  Ephraim. 
 
 1.  CHRONICLES,   VIII.         The  sons  and  cliicf  men  of  Benjamin 
 
 of  their  fathers,  mighty  men  of  valour,  was 
 twenty  thousand  and  two  hundred. 
 
 10  Tlie  sons  also  of  Jediael ;  Bilhan  :  and 
 the  sons  of  Billian  ;  Jeush,  and  Benjamin, 
 and  Eliud,  and  Chenaanah,  and  Zethan,  and 
 Tiiarshish,  and  Aliishaluir. 
 
 1 1  All  these  the  sons  of  Jediael,  hy  the 
 heads  of  their  fathers,  mighty  men  of  valour, 
 were  seventeen  thousand  and  two  hundred 
 soldiers,  fit  to  go  out  for  war  and  battle. 
 
 12  ''Shuppim  also,  and  Huppim,  the  children 
 of  II  Ir,  and  Hushim,  tlie  sons  of  ||  Aher. 
 
 13  K  Tlie  sons  of  Naphtali ;  Jahziel,  and 
 Guni,  and  Jezer,  and  '  Shallum,  the  sons  of 
 Bilhah. 
 
 14  If  The  sons  of  Manasseh  ;  Ashriel,  whom 
 she  bare  :  (but  his  concubine  the  Aramitess 
 bare  Machir  tlie  father  of  Gilead  ; 
 
 15  And  Macliir  took  to  wife  the  sister  of 
 Huppim  and  Shuppiin,  whose  sister's  name 
 was  Maachah  ;)  and  tlie  name  of  the  second 
 was  Zelophehad  :  and  Zelopliehad  had  daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 16  And  Maachah  the  wife  of  Machir  hare  a 
 son,  and  she  called  his  name  Peresh  ;  and  the 
 name  of  his  brother  was  Sheresh  ;  and  his  sons 
 were  Ulam  and  Rakem. 
 
 17  And  the  sons  of  Ulam;  ■■  Bedan.  These 
 tcei-e  the  sons  of  Gilead,  the  son  of  Machir, 
 the  son  of  Manasseh. 
 
 18  And  his  sister  Hainmoleketh  bare  Ishod, 
 and  ^  Abiezer,  and  Mahalah. 
 
 19  And  the  sons  of  Shemidah  were,  Ahian, 
 and  Shechem,  and  Likhi,  and  Aniam. 
 
 •20  IT  And  "  the  sons  of  Ephraim  ;  Shuthelah, 
 and  Bered  his  son,  and  Tahath  his  son,  and 
 Eladah  his  son,  and  Taliath  his  son, 
 
 21  f  And  Zabad  his  son,  and  Shuthelah  his 
 son,  and  Ezer,  and  Elead,  whom  the  men  of 
 Gath  that  were  born  in  that  land  slew,  because 
 they  came  down  to  take  away  their  cattle. 
 
 •2-2  And  Ephraim  their  father  mourned  many 
 days,  and  his  brethren  came  to  comfort  him. 
 
 23  H  And  when  he  went  in  to  his  wife,  she 
 conceived,  and  bare  a  son,  and  he  called  his 
 name  Beriah,  because  it  went  evil  with  his 
 house. 
 
 24  (And  his  daughter  zvas  Sherah,  who  built 
 Beth-horon  the  nether,  and  the  upper,  and 
 Uzzen-sherah.) 
 
 25  And  Repliah  was  his  son,  also  Resheph, 
 and  Telah  his  son,  and  Tahan  his  son, 
 
 26  Laadan  his  son,  Ammibud  his  son,  Eli- 
 shama  his  son, 
 
 27  II  Non  his  son,  .Tehoshuah  his  son. 
 
 2S  11  And  their  possessions  and  habitations 
 were,  Beth-el  and  the  towns  thereof,  and  east- 
 ward '  Naaran,  and  westward  Gezer,  with  the 
 t  towns  thereof ;  Shechem  also  and  the  towns 
 thereof,  unto  ||  Gaza  and  the  towns  thereof: 
 
 29  And  by  the  borders  of  the  children  of 
 '  Manasseh,  Beth-shean  and  her  towns,  Taanach 
 
 d  Nnm.  86. 
 
 39,  SA«- 
 
 pliam,  and 
 
 Hxpham. 
 II  Or,  Iri, 
 
 ver.  7. 
 II  Or,  Jhi- 
 
 ram, 
 
 lVuin.20.!i9. 
 e  Gen.46.  :;4, 
 
 SliiUe}n. 
 
 f\  Sam.  12. 
 
 o-  Num.  ec. 
 30,  Je~,er 
 
 i  JnBh.   16.  7 
 Niuiratii. 
 
 \  Heb. 
 daii^lilert 
 
 liOr,  ^d'na, 
 1  Mac. 7.45. 
 
 *  Josh. 17.  7. 
 
 ri  Gen.  46. 
 17.  Num. 
 
 I  ver.  SI, 
 Slinintrr, 
 
 1400,  «.c 
 a  Gen.  4G.  SI. 
 Num.26. 38. 
 cb.  7.  6. 
 
 II  Or,  -Jrrf, 
 Gen.  46.  81. 
 
 II  Or.  SAii- 
 
 Nuin  .26.30. 
 Seecb.7.12 
 
 i.  ch  2. 
 
 and  her  towns,  '  Megiddo  and  her  towns,  Dor 
 and  her  towns.  In  these  dwelt  the  children  of 
 Joseph  the  son  of  Israel. 
 
 30  T  "  The  sons  of  Asher  ;  Imnah,  and  Isuah, 
 and  Ishnai,  and  Beriah,  and  Serah  their  sister. 
 
 31  And  the  sons  of  Beriah  ;  Heber,  and  Mal- 
 chiel,  who  is  the  father  of  Birzavith. 
 
 32  And  Heber  begat  Japhlet,  and  °  Shomer, 
 and  Hotham,  and  Shua  their  sister. 
 
 33  And  the  sons  of  Japhlet  ;  Pasach,  and 
 Bimhal,  and  Ashvath.  These  are  the  children 
 of  Japhlet. 
 
 34  And  the  sons  of  "  Shamer ;  Ahi,  and 
 llohgah,  Jehubbah,  and  Aram. 
 
 35  And  the  sons  of  his  brother  Helem  ; 
 Zophah,  and  Imna,  and  Sbelesh,  and  Amal. 
 
 36  The  sons  of  Zophah  ;  Suah,  and  Harue- 
 pher,  and  Shual,  and  Beri,  and  Imrah, 
 
 37  Bezer,  and  Hod,  and  Shanima,  and  Shil- 
 shah,  and  Ithran,  and  Beera. 
 
 38  And  the  sons  of  Jether ;  Jephunneh,  and 
 Pispah,  and  Ara. 
 
 39  And  the  sons  of  Ulla  ;  Arab,  and  Haniel, 
 and  Rezia. 
 
 40  All  these  were  the  children  of  Asher, 
 heads  of  their  father's  house,  choice  a«rf  mighty 
 men  of  valour,  chief  of  the  princes.  And  the 
 number  throughout  tlie  genealogy  of  them  that 
 were  apt  to  the  war  and  to  battle  zvas  twenty 
 and  si.\  thousand  men. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 1   The  sous  and  chief  men  of  Bevjamin.     33  The  stock 
 
 of  Saul  and  Jonathan, 
 ■jyrOW  Benjamin  begat  "  Bela  his  firstborn, 
 -^*    Ashbel  the  second,  and  Aharah  the  third, 
 
 2  Nohah  the  fourth,  and  Kapha  the  fifth. 
 
 3  And  the  sons  of  Bela  were,  ||  Addar,  and 
 Gera,  and  Abihud, 
 
 4  And  Abishua,  and  Naanian,  and  Ahoah, 
 
 5  And  Gera,  and  ||  Sbephuphan,  and  Huram. 
 
 6  And  these  are  the  sons  of  Ehud  :  tliese 
 are  the  heads  of  the  fathers  of  the  inhabitants 
 of  Geba,  and  they  removed  them  to  ^  Mana- 
 hath  : 
 
 7  And  Naaman,  and  Ahiah,  and  Gera,  he  re- 
 moved them,  and  begat  Uzza,  and  Ahihud. 
 
 8  And  Shaharaim  begat  children  in  the 
 country  of  Moab,  after  he  had  sent  them  away  ; 
 Hushim  and  Baara  were  his  wives. 
 
 9  And  he  begat  of  Hodesh  his  wife,  Jobab, 
 and  Zibia,  and  Mesha,  and  Malcham, 
 
 10  And  Jezu,  and  Shachia,  and  Mirma. 
 These  were  his  sons,  heads  of  the  fathers. 
 
 11  And  of  Hushim  he  begat  Abitub,  and 
 Elpaal. 
 
 12  The  sons  of  Elpaal ;  Eber,  and  Misham, 
 and  Shamed,  who  built  Ono,  and  Lod,  with 
 the  towns  thereof: 
 
 13  Beriah  also,  and  '^Shema,  who  were  heads 
 of  the  fathers  of  the  inhabitants  of  Aijalon, 
 who  drove  away  the  inhabitants  of  Gath  : 
 
 14  And  Ahio,  Shashak,  and  Jeremoth, 
 
 most  eminent,  or  the  other  families  heing  extinct.— Poo(e.  The  latter 
 conjecture  is  the  most  probable  in  a  genealogy.— i?d.  23.  Beriah, 
 •in  calamity.' — Gill,  Buotltr. 
 
 Chap.  VIII. — 1.  Benjamin — his  posterity  are  here  copiously  recorded, 
 because  of  Saul's  family ;  because  they  remained  in  the  kingdom  of 
 JuUah  after  the  secession  of  the  ten  tribes,  and  because  they  returned 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII What  is  the  history  of  man- 
 hind  hut  a  rapid  penealot/yl  *  One  generation  passelb  away, 
 ami  another  comelh.'  While  these  genealogies  record  the  de- 
 scent, and  state  the  might,  valour,  and  rani,  of  the  leading 
 men  of  the  earth,  they  do  also  but  record  their  vanity  :  and 
 437 
 
 whatever  possessions  they  once  had  are  as  vain  as  they— they 
 shall  be  theirs  no  more  for  ever.  They  only  are  truly  dignified 
 and  rich  who  are  '  the  children  of  God  by  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,' 
 and  heirs  of  that  inheritance  which  is  '  incorruptible,  uude- 
 llled,  and  fadeth  not  away.' 
 
The  stock  of  Saul  and  Jonathan. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES.  IX. 
 
 The  original  of  Israel  and  Judah, 
 
 15  And  Zebadiah,  and  Arad,  and  Ader, 
 
 16  And  Michael,  and  Ispah,  and  Joha,  the 
 sons  of  Beriah  ; 
 
 17  And  Zebadiah,  and  Meshullam,  and  He- 
 zeki,  and  Heber, 
 
 18  Ishnierai  also,  and  Jezliah,  and  Jobab,  the 
 sons  of  Elpaal ; 
 
 19  And  jakim,  and  Zichri,  and  Zabdi, 
 
 20  And  Elienai,  and  Zilthai,  and  Eliel. 
 
 21  And  Adaiah,  and  Beraiali,  and  Shimrath, 
 tliesons  of  ||Shimhi ; 
 
 22  And  Ishpan,  and  Heber,  and  Eliel, 
 
 23  And  Abdon,  and  Zicliri,  and  Hanan, 
 
 24  And  Hananiah,  and  Elam,  and  Antothijali, 
 
 25  And  Iphedeiah,  and  Penuel,  the  sons  of 
 Shashak ; 
 
 26  And  Shamsherai,  and  Sheliariah,  and 
 Athaliah, 
 
 27  And  Jaresiah,  and  Eliah,  and  Zichri,  the 
 sons  of  Jerobam. 
 
 28  These  were,  heads  of  the  fathers,  by  their 
 generations,  cliief  men.  These  dwelt  in  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 29  And  at  Gibeon  dwelt  the  ||  father  of  Gi- 
 beon  ;  whose  ''  wife's  name  was  Maachali  : 
 
 30  And  his  firstborn  son  Abdon,  and  Zur,  and 
 Kish,  and  Baal,  and  Nadab, 
 
 31  And  Gedor,  and  Ahio,  and  ||  Zacher. 
 
 32  And  Mikloth  begat  ||  Shimeah.  And 
 these  also  dwelt  with  their  brethren  in  Jeru- 
 salem, over  against  them. 
 
 33  t  And  "  Ner  begat  Kish,  and  Kish  begat 
 Saul,  and  Saul  begat  Jonathan,  and  Malchi- 
 shua,  and  '  Abinadab,  and  ||  Esh-baal. 
 
 34  And  the  son  of  Jonathan  teas  \\  Merib- 
 baal  :  and  Merib-haal  begat  *  Micah. 
 
 35  And  the  suns  of  Micah  were,  Pithon,  and 
 Melech,  and  |j  Tarea,  and  Ahaz. 
 
 36  And  Ahaz  begat  "^  Jehoadah  ;  and  Jehoa- 
 dah  begat  Alemeth,  and  Azmaveth,  and  Ziniri; 
 and  Ziniri  begat  Moza, 
 
 37  And  Moza  begat  Binea  :  '  Kapha  was  his 
 .son,  Eleasah  bis  son,  Azel  his  son  : 
 
 38  And  Azel  had  six  sons,  whose  names  are 
 these,  Azrikam,  Bocheru,  and  Ishmae],  and 
 Sbeariah,  and  Obadiah,  and  Hanan.  All  these 
 irere  the  sons  of  Azel. 
 
 39  And  the  sons  of  Eshek  his  brother  were, 
 Ulam  his  firstborn,  Jehush  the  second,  and 
 Eliphelet  the  third. 
 
 40  And  tlie  sons  of  Ulam  were  mighty  men 
 of  valour,  archers,  and  had  many  sons,  and 
 sons'  sons,  an  hundred  and  fifty.  All  these 
 are  of  the  sons  of  Benjamin.  I 
 
 ',  Sliema, 
 :-  13. 
 
 II  Called 
 
 Jrlnft. 
 
 oil.  9.  ai. 
 d  clt.  9.  35. 
 
 [I  Or,  Zechi 
 ri'./i,  ch.  'J 
 
 /I  Sam.  H 
 
 49,  Iihui. 
 |[  Or,  /./.- 
 
 b'tllrth, 
 
 SSai..  5  8 
 II  Or,  .W^*.. 
 
 hnth'lh, 
 
 S^^am.'l.  4. 
 
 K  9  6,  ill. 
 J  S  Sa  9.  V>. 
 II  Or,  Talirea, 
 
 eh.  9.  41. 
 h  J-,r;h, 
 
 12. 
 
 rh.  9    4:1, 
 K.;./,aio». 
 
 Cir.  S36. 
 ;  F.iraS.  70. 
 Nell.  7.  73 
 
 ■  Josh.  9.  27. 
 
 Eira  1.  43. 
 
 ec8.  20. 
 <lNeh.  II.  I. 
 
 Neh,  11.11, 
 S-raiak. 
 
 t  Ileb 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  T/ie  orir/inal  (if  Israel's  anil  Juitah's  r/enealoi/ies.  2 
 T/ic  Israclitis,  10  Me  priests,  14  ami  tlie  Ln'ites, 
 with  Nelliiidms,  which  dwelt  in  Jerusalem.  27  T/ie 
 chanje  of  cirtain  Leoites.  35  The  stock  of  Saul  and 
 Xnathan, 
 
 C  O  °  all  Israel  were  reckoned  by  genealogies ; 
 ^  and,  behold,  they  were  written  in  the  book 
 of  tlie  kings  of  Israel  and  Judah,  uho  were  car- 
 ried away  to  Babylon  for  their  transgression. 
 
 2  H  ''  Now  the  first  inhabitants  that  dwelt  in 
 their  possessions  in  their  cities  were,  the  Is- 
 raelites, the  priests,  Levites,  and  '  the  Nethi- 
 nims. 
 
 3  And  in  '^  Jerusalem  dwelt  of  tlie  children  of 
 Judah,  and  of  the  children  of  Benjamin,  and 
 of  the  children  of  Ephraim,  and  Manasseh  ; 
 
 4  Uthai  the  son  of  Ammiliud,  the  son  of 
 Omri,  the  son  of  Imri,  the  son  of  Bani,  of  the 
 children  of  Pliarez  the  son  of  Judah. 
 
 5  And  of  the  Shilonites  ;  Asaiah  the  firstborn, 
 and  his  sons. 
 
 6  And  of  the  sons  of  Zerah  ;  Jeuel,  and  their 
 brethren,  six  hundred  and  ninety. 
 
 7  And  of  the  sons  of  Benjamin  ;  Sallu  the  son 
 of  Meshullam,  the  son  of  Hodaviah,  the  son  of 
 Hasenu.ah, 
 
 8  And  Ibneiah  the  son  of  Jeroham,  and  Elah 
 the  son  of  Uzzi,  the  son  of  Michri,  and  Me- 
 shullam the  son  of  Shephathiah,  the  son  of 
 Reuel,  the  son  of  Ibnijah  ; 
 
 9  And  their  brethren,  according  to  their  ge- 
 nerations, nine  hundred  and  fifty  and  six.  All 
 these  men  were  chief  of  the  fathers  in  the 
 house  of  their  fathers. 
 
 10  K  °  And  of  the  priests ;  Jedaiah,  and  Je- 
 hoiarib,  and  Jachiii, 
 
 1 1  And  II  Azariab  the  son  of  Hilkiah,  the 
 son  of  Meshtillam,  the  son  of  Zadok,  the  son 
 of  Meraioth,  the  son  of  Ahitub,  the  ruler  of 
 the  house  of  God  ; 
 
 12  And  Adaiah  tlie  son  of  Jeroham,  the  son 
 of  Pashur,  the  son  of  Malchijali,  and  Maasiai 
 the  son  of  Adiel,  the  son  of  Jahzerah,  the  son 
 of  Meshullam,  the  son  of  Meshillemith,  the 
 son  of  Immer  ; 
 
 13  And  their  brethren,  heads  of  the  hou.se  of 
 their  fathers,  a  thousand  and  seven  hundred 
 and  threescore  ;  f  very  able  men  for  the  work 
 of  the  service  of  the  bouse  of  God. 
 
 14  And  of  the  Levites;  Shemaiah  the  son  of 
 Hasshub,  the  son  of  Azrikam,  the  son  of  Ha- 
 shabiab,  of  the  sons  of  Merari  ; 
 
 15  And   Bakiiakkar,  Heresh,  and  Galal,  and 
 
 with  Jadah  from  Babylon.— S«f.        i6.  Sons,  -descendants;'  which 
 will  apply  to  the  other  lists.— Boo/ftr. 
 
 Cinp.  IX.  — l.So,  '  thus.'— Bo"M)-.  ^« /.vr,if(,  ^c,  '  thus  were  all 
 the  Israelites  reckoned  by  gcneal-gies ;  and,  lo  I  these  were  found 
 written  in  the  registers  of  the  kinsrs  of  Israel  and  Judah  -,  when  l/ie 
 Jitdtthiles  were,  on  account  of  their  transeressions,  removed  to  Baby- 
 Inn." -Gprfrfra.  'So.  &c.,  in  the  book  of  the  kings  of  Israel.  But 
 Judah  was  carried,'  fic.—ltonb.  The  compiler  here  states  that  he 
 reckoned  up  the  genealneies  as  he  found  them  in  the  public  registers. 
 — -P«(.  2.  Tlie  firnt  inhntiitiints,  who  returned  from  Baliylon  upon 
 the  proclamation  .if  Cyrus.— «/».  Tlie  Isrnrltles.  comprehending  not 
 only  those  of  the  ten  tribes,  who  were  carried  captive  with  Judah  and 
 Benjamin,  but  those  also  who  were  carried  into  Assyria  and  Media  by 
 
 Tiglath-pileser  and  Shalmaneser.  For  the  edict  of  Cyrus  extended  to 
 them,  and,  as  the  prophets  foretold,  (Jer.  v.  3,  4,  10,  xxi.,)  pome  or" 
 them  did  return,  though  too  many,  as  the  Jews  also  did,  continued 
 where  they  were  settled  in  their  captivity.  Nelhinims,  thought  to  he 
 the  same  with  the  Gibeonites,  f^ce  Josh.  ix.  27.) — Pat.  3.  Andof  the 
 rhildien  of  Ephraim  and  Man'iK^eh  —  such  of  those  tribes  who  had 
 joined  the  others  when  Jerohoam  introduced  his  idolatry,  or  had  fled  to 
 t^iem  when  Samaria  was  besieged  and  taken  by  Shalmaneser,  and  so 
 went  into  captivity  with  Judah,  and  now  returned  ;  and  as  many  of 
 them  as  took  advantage  of  the  proclamation  of  Cyrus,  who  were  car- 
 ried captive  with  theten  tribes. — Gill.  11.  Thernler,  fyc. — .some  have 
 thought  he  was  hi^h  priest,  but  Jeshua  or  Joshua  was  so,  {Ezra,  iii. 
 2;  Hag.  i.  1 ;)  this,  theref.'re,  was  not  the  ruler,  but  a  ruler  in  God's 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  _  Henry  here  remarks, 
 '  Many  great  and  miglity  nations  were  there  now  in  beini;  upon 
 earth  and  many  illustrious  men  in  them,  whose  names  are 
 liuried  in  perpetual  oblivion,  while  the  names  ot  multitudes 
 of  the  Israel  ot  God  are  here  carefully  preserved  in  everlast- 
 ing remembrance.  They  are  Jasber,  Jesbunin,  just  ones,  and 
 438 
 
 *'  the  memory  of  tlie  just  is  blessed.*'  IVIany  of  these,  we  have 
 reason  to  fear,  came  short  of  everlasting  honour,  (for  even  the 
 wicked  kings  of  .Tudab  come  into  the  genealogy,)  yet  the  per- 
 petuating of  their  names  here  w-as  a  figure  of  the  writing  of 
 the  names  of  all  God's  spiritual  Israel  in  the  Lamb's  book  of 
 life." 
 
The  charge  of  certain  Lcvites. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  X. 
 
 The  stock  of  Saul  and  Jonathan. 
 
 Mattaniah  the  son  of  Micah,  the  son  of  Zichri, 
 the  son  of  Asaph  ; 
 
 16  And  Obadiah  the  son  of  Shemaiah,  the 
 son  of  Galal,  the  son  of  Jeduthun,  and  Bere- 
 chiah  the  son  of  Asa,  the  son  of  Elkanah,  that 
 dwelt  in  the  villages  of  the  Netophathites. 
 
 17  And  the  porters  tvere,  Shallum,and  Akkub, 
 and  Talmon,  and  Ahinian,  and  their  brethren  : 
 Shalhnn  u-ns  the  chief  ; 
 
 18  Who  hitherto  waited  in  the  king's  gate 
 eastward  :  they  ivere  porters  in  the  companies 
 of  the  children  of  Levi. 
 
 1!)  And  Shallum  the  son  of  Kore,  the  son  of 
 Ebiasaph,  the  son  of  Korah,  and  his  brethren, 
 of  the  house  of  his  father,  the  Korahites,  tvere 
 over  the  work  of  the  service,  keepers  of  the 
 t  gates  of  the  tabernacle  :  and  their  fathers, 
 being  over  the  host  of  the  Lord,  ivere  keepers 
 of  the  entry. 
 
 20  And  f  Phinehas  the  son  of  Eleazar  was 
 the  rtiler  over  them  in  time  past,  and  the 
 Lord  ivas  with  him. 
 
 21  And  Zechariah  the  son  of  Meshelemiah 
 was  porter  of  the  door  of  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 congregation. 
 
 22  All  these  which  were  chosen  to  be  porters 
 in  the  gates  teere  two  hundred  and  twelve. 
 These  were  reckoned  by  their  genealogy  in 
 their  villages,  whom  ^  David  and  Samuel  "  the 
 seer  f  did  ordain  in  tlieir  ||  set  office. 
 
 23  So  they  and  their  children  had  the  over- 
 sight of  the  gates  of  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 namely,  the  house  of  the  tabernacle,  by  wards. 
 
 24  In  four  quarters  were  the  porters,  toward 
 the  east,  west,  north,  and  south. 
 
 2.5  And  their  brethren,  which  were  in  their 
 villages,  were  to  come  '  after  seven  days  from 
 time  to  time  with  them. 
 
 20  For  these  Levites,  the  four  chief  porters, 
 were  in  their  \\  set  office,  and  were  over  the 
 II  chambers  and  treasuries  of  the  house  of  God. 
 
 27  IT  And  they  lodged  round  about  the  house 
 of  God,  because  the  charge  was  upon  them, 
 and  the  opening  thereof  every  morning  per- 
 tained to  them. 
 
 28  And  certain  of  them  had  the  charge  of  the 
 ministering  vessels,  that  they  should  taring 
 them  in  and  out  by  tale. 
 
 29  Some  of  them  also  were  appointed  to 
 oversee  the  vessels,  and  all  the  ||  instrument*^ 
 of  the  sanctuary,  and  the  fine  flour,  and  the 
 
 /Xtuil.  Sl.f 
 
 y  ch.n.  1,2 
 It  I  Sam  as. 
 t  lleb. 
 fouudrd. 
 II  Or,  tnnt. 
 
 t  Heb.  bri'is 
 tliftn  in  bif 
 
 ry  thftn  on  I 
 by  tat". 
 II  Or,  vatett. 
 
 k  Ex.  SO.  23. 
 
 II  Or,  triiil. 
 
 I  Lev.  S.  5. 
 fc  6.  SI. 
 
 II  Or,  o„yut 
 jil.itfi,  or, 
 
 in  r.ev.  24.  8. 
 t  Heb.  bread 
 
 rich.  6-3i. 
 &  2ft.  I. 
 
 f  Heb.  vpon 
 
 p  ch.  S.  33. 
 
 7  ch.  8  33. 
 
 1056. 
 I  1  Sain.  31. 
 1,2. 
 
 wine,  and  the  oil,  and   the  frankincense,  and 
 the  spices. 
 
 30  And  some  of  the  sons  of  the  priests  made 
 '  the  ointment  of  the  spices. 
 
 31  And  Mattitbiah,  one  of  the  Levites,  who 
 ivas  the  firstborn  of  Shallum  the  Korahite,  had 
 the  li  set  office  '  over  the  things  that  were  made 
 II  in  the  pans. 
 
 32  And  other  of  their  brethren,  of  the  sons 
 of  the  Kohathites,  '"ivere  over  the  fshew- 
 bread,  to  prepare  it  every  sabbath. 
 
 33  And  these  are  "  the  singers,  chief  of  the 
 fathers  of  the  Levites,  who  remaining  in  the 
 chambers  were  free  :  for  f  they  were  employed 
 in  that  work  day  and  night. 
 
 34  These  chief  fathers  of  the  Levites  were 
 chief  throughout  their  generations  ;  these 
 dwelt  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 35  t  And  in  Gibeon  dwelt  the  father  of  Gi- 
 beon,  Jehiel,  whose  wife's  name  was  °  Maachali : 
 
 36  And  his  firstborn  son  Abdon,  then  Zur, 
 and  Kish,  and  Baal,  and  Ner,  and  Nadab, 
 
 37  And  Gedor,  and  Ahio,  and  Zechariah,  and 
 Mikloth. 
 
 38  And  Mikloth  begat  Shimeam.  And  they 
 also  dwelt  with  their  brethren  at  Jerusalem, 
 over  against  their  brethren. 
 
 39  •■  And  Ner  begat  Kish  ;  and  Kish  begat 
 Saul ;  and  Saul  begat  Jonathan,  and  Malchi- 
 sliua,  and  Abinadab,  and  Esh-baal. 
 
 40  And  the  son  of  Jonathan  was  Merib-baal: 
 and  Merib-baal  begat  Micah. 
 
 41  And  the  sons  of  Micah  rrcre,  Pithon,  and 
 Melech,  and  Tahrea,  ''and  Ahaz. 
 
 42  And  Ahaz  begat  Jarah  ;  and 
 Alemeth,    and    Azmaveth,    and 
 Zimri  begat  Moza  ; 
 
 43  And  Moza  begat  Binea ;  and  Rephaiah 
 his  son,  Eleasah  his  son,  Azel  his  son. 
 
 44  And  Azel  had  six  sons,  whose  names  are 
 these,  Azrikam,  Bocheru,  and  Ishmael,  and 
 Sheariah,  and  Obadiah,  and  Hanan :  these 
 ivere  the  sons  of  Azel. 
 
 CHAP.  X, 
 
 1  Savrt.  overtttrow  anil  (hath.  8  The  Ptiitisfines 
 tritimph  over  Saul.  11  The  hijidnessof  Jahfsh-gihad 
 towards  Saul  and  Iiis  sons.  13  SauVs  siu,  for  which 
 the  hinydom  was  traitslatvd  Jrom  him  to  David. 
 
 OW  '  the  Philistines  fought  against  Israel ; 
 and   the  men  of  Israel  fled  from   before 
 
 Jarah  begat 
 Zimri  ;    and 
 
 N 
 
 house,  and  so  it  should  be  read  ;  not  the  principal  ruler,  but  one  in 
 ^rcat  authority  under  him.— Pu^.  17.  Porters,  'guards,' — Pat.;  or 
 '  keepers  of  the  gates  of  the  tabernacle.'— Gi7/.  '  Door-keepers  of  the 
 temple.' — Bonttir.  19.  Of  the  tabernacle,  until  the  temple  was  rebuilt. — 
 Gill,  Henry.  Bfintltroyd  reads,  *  the  Korahites,  in  the  work  of  the  mi- 
 ni'-try,  were  gate-keepers  of  the  temple,  as  their  fathers  were  keepers 
 of  the  entrance  nf  thetaKernacle  during  the  encampments  of  Jehovah.' 
 It  has  been  conjectured  that  the  Jews,  upon  their  return  from  Babylon, 
 prepared  a  tabernacle  for  the  worship  of  the  Lord,  before  they  had 
 courage  or  abdity  to  rebuild  the  temple.  But  the  inspired  historian 
 evidently  spoke  of  the  times  of  Nehemiah,  and  the  temple  had  been 
 
 finished  many  years  before.  The  word  tabernacle  may,  therefore,  refer 
 to  the  sanctuary  erected  by  Moses,  which  the  temple  built  after  the 
 captivity  more  resembled  than  it  did  Solomon's  magnificent  et:ifice. 
 Indeed,  the  sanctuary,  at  first,  was  only  a  tent,  or  tabernacle,  when 
 Phinehas  superintended  it,  in  time  past ;  yet,  '  the  Lord  was  with  him.' 
 (ver.  20.) — Scott.  33.  Employed — day  and  nit^ht — some  or  other  of 
 them,  either  in  composing  or  singing  psalms  and  hymns,  or  teaching 
 others  how  to  sing  them.— Gi7/.  35.  And  in  Gibeon,  i5-c.— these  words, 
 to  the  end,  are  a  repetition  of  chap.  viii.  29—38 ;  doubtless  an  error  in 
 transcribing. — Henry. 
 
 Reflections    on   Chap.  IX I.  We  read  here  of  •  reri/ 
 
 able  men'  for  the  service  of  God.  The  duties  of  tbe  Levitical 
 priestliood  were  laborious,  and  required  men  of  strong  consti- 
 tutions ;  in  our  more  spiritual  worship  we  too  require  able 
 men— not  merely  capable  of  bodily  exertion,  but  men  qualified 
 for  their  sacred  work  ;  not  novices,  but  men  migbty  in  the 
 scriptures — able  to  teacb  others — '  able  ministers  of  the  New 
 Teslament.' 
 _  II.  JFe  read  also  of  the  work  of  the  temple.  There  were  va- 
 rious stations  and  employments,  even  to  door-keepers.  It  is 
 an  honour  and  happine.ss  to  bold  any  station  in  the  house  of 
 God.  ■  I  would  rather  be  a  door-keeper  in  the  house  of  God,' 
 says  the  Psalmist,  '  than  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedness.' 
 439 
 
 Every  minister  has  his  allotted  station,  and  every  minister  of 
 Christ  is  engaged  in  a  work  which  might  occupy  the  heart  of 
 an  angel,  and  filled  tbe  hands  of  the  Saviour.  Much  of  the 
 temple  service  consisted  of  sacrifices  and  offerings,  and  much 
 of  tbe  work  of  ministers  is  '  to  shew  forth  the  Lord's  death 
 till  he  come,'  and  to  offer  for  the  people  tbe  thanksgivings  of 
 grateful  hearts.  Singing  was  a  considerable  duty  of  tbe  old 
 worship,  both  day  and  night.  Thus  God  was  continually 
 praised.  Thus  devout  people  might  at  any  hour  have  assist- 
 ance in  their  devotion.  Thus  was  that  temple  a  figure  of  the 
 heavenly  one,  where  they  rest  not  day  nor  night  from  praising 
 God,  (Rev.  iv.  8.)  'Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thine 
 house,  they  will  be  still  praising  thee.' 
 
Saitl's  overthrow  and  death. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XI. 
 
 T)aviil  winnrth  the  castle  of  Zion. 
 
 the  Philistines,  and  fell  down  ||  slain  in  mount 
 Gilboa. 
 
 2  And  the  Philistines  followed  hard  after 
 Saul,  and  after  liis  sons  ;  and  the  Philistines 
 slew  Jonathan,  and  ||  Abinadab,  and  Malchi- 
 shua,  the  sons  of  Saul. 
 
 3  And  the  battle  went  sore  against  Saul,  and 
 the  t  archers  fhit  him,  and  he  was  wounded  of 
 the  archers. 
 
 4  Then  said  Saul  to  his  armourbcarer.  Draw 
 thy  sword,  and  thrust  me  through  therewith  ; 
 lest  these  uncircumcised  come  and  ||  abuse 
 me.  But  his  arniourbearer  would  not ;  for  he 
 was  sore  afraid.  So  Saul  took  a  sword,  and  fell 
 upon  it. 
 
 5  And  when  his  armourbearer  saw  that  Saul 
 was  dead,  he  fell  likewise  on  the  sword,  and 
 died. 
 
 6  So  Saul  died,  and  his  three  sons,  and  all  his 
 house  died  together. 
 
 7  And  when  all  the  men  of  Israel  that  were 
 in  the  valley  saw  that  tliey  fled,  and  that  Saul 
 and  his  sons  were  dead,  tlien  they  forsook  their 
 cities,  and  fled :  and  the  Philistines  came  and 
 dwelt  in  them. 
 
 8  1  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  when 
 the  Philistines  came  to  strip  the  slain,  that 
 they  found  Saul  and  his  sons  fallen  in  mount 
 Gilboa. 
 
 9  And  when  they  had  stripped  him,  they  took 
 his  head,  and  his  armour,  and  sent  into  the 
 land  of  the  Philistines  round  about,  to  carry 
 tidings  unto  their  idols,  and  to  the  people. 
 
 10  ''  And  they  put  his  armour  in  the  house  of 
 their  gods,  and  fastened  his  head  in  the  temple 
 of  Dagon. 
 
 1 1  t  And  when  all  Jabesh-gilead  heard  all 
 that  the  Philistines  liad  done  to  Saul, 
 
 12  They  arose,  all  the  valiant  men,  and  took 
 away  the  body  of  Saul,  and  tlie  bodies  of  his 
 sons,  and  brought  tlieni  to  Jabesh,  and  buried 
 their  bones  under  the  oak  in  Jabesh,  and  fasted 
 seven  days. 
 
 13  t  So  Saul  died  for  his  transgression  which 
 he  t  committed  against  tlie  Lord,  '  even  against 
 the  word  of  the  Lord,  wliicli  he  kept  not,  and 
 also  for  asking  counsel  of  one  that  had  a  fami- 
 liar spirit,  •'  to  enquire  of  it  ; 
 
 14  And  enquired  not  of  the  Lord  :  therefore 
 he  slew  him,  and  "■  turned  the  kingdom  unto 
 David  the  son  off  Jesse. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  David  hy  a  general  consent  is  made  king  nt  Htbron. 
 4  He  winneth  the  castle  of  Zion  from  tite  Jehusitvs 
 hy  Juah's  valour.  10  A  catalogue  of  David's  mighty 
 men. 
 
 'pHEN  "all  Israel  gathered  themselves  to 
 ■*■  David  unto  Hebron,  saying,  Behold,  we 
 are  thy  bone  and  thy  flesh. 
 2  And  moreover  fin  time  past,  even  when 
 Saul  was  king,  thou  ivast  he  that  leddest  out 
 and  broughtest  in  Israel :  and  the  Lord  thy 
 God  said  unto  thee.  Thou  shalt  yfeed  my 
 people  Israel,  and  thou  shalt  be  ruler  over  my 
 
 B.  C.  IU56. 
 II  Or, 
 
 II  Or,  r^hui, 
 I  Sum.  I». 
 
 t  Heb.  ihoot. 
 
 b„U!t. 
 
 t  Heb.  found 
 hitn. 
 
 \  Heb.  trnita- 
 
 c  I  gam.  IS. 
 13. 8. 15.  23. 
 
 d  I  Sam.  28. 
 7. 
 
 e  1  Sam.  15. 
 
 28  2  Sum  3. 
 
 g,  I0.&5. 3. 
 t  Heb.  /lai. 
 
 ini8. 
 t  2  Sam,  5.1 
 
 tf^lttrd"!/ 
 ami  tlK  third 
 
 c  2  Sam. 5.  3 
 
 1  Heb.  by  the 
 
 hand../-. 
 d  1  Sam.  16. 
 
 1,  12,  13. 
 eg  Sam.  5-e. 
 /.lud^.  I.  SI. 
 
 &  19.  lU. 
 
 t  Hob.  head. 
 
 II  Tliat  i9, 
 
 '£„>.,, 
 
 •2  Sam.  5.7. 
 t  HL-h,  re- 
 
 vUcd. 
 
 t  Heb.  v^eiil 
 ingoing  and 
 inCTcntiiig. 
 
 V  2  Sa.  23.  ft. 
 
 \\  Or,  held 
 llrm,g:t/  nil), 
 ft  im . 
 
 h  I  Sam.  IC. 
 
 \\OT,,mo/ 
 llachmoui. 
 
 1(M7. 
 II  <),-.  EpI.,. 
 
 II  Or,  tnlva- 
 
 tinn. 
 II  Ur,  Ihret 
 
 C'lpta  i,a  twtl 
 
 tU  IhiTly. 
 i  2  Sam."2.1. 
 
 13. 
 *  ch.  11.  9. 
 
 people  Israel. 
 
 3  Therefore  came  all  the  elders  of  Israel  to 
 the  king  to  Hebron  ;  and  David  made  a  cove- 
 nant with  them  in  Hebron  before  tlie  Lord  ; 
 and  ■"  they  anointed  David  king  over  Israel, 
 according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord  f  by 
 *•  Samuel. 
 
 4  IT  And  David  and  all  Israel  °  went  to  Jeru- 
 salem, which  is  Jebus  ;  ''where  the  Jebusites 
 were,  the  inhabitants  of  the  land. 
 
 5  And  the  inhabitants  of  Jebus  said  to  David, 
 Thou  slialt  not  come  hither.  Nevertheless 
 David  took  the  castle  of  Zion,  which  is  the 
 city  of  David. 
 
 6  And  David  said,  AVhosoever  smiteth  the 
 Jebusites  first  shall  be  f  chief  and  captain.  So 
 Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiali  went  first  up,  and  was 
 chief. 
 
 7  And  David  dwelt  in  the  castle  ;  therefore 
 they  called  ||  it  the  city  of  David. 
 
 8  And  he  built  the  city  round  about,  even 
 from  Millo  round  about:  and  Joab  f  repaired 
 the  rest  of  the  city. 
 
 9  So  David  f  waxed  greater  and  greater  :  for 
 the  Lord  of  hosts  was  with  him. 
 
 10  t^These  also  are  the  chief  of  the  mighty 
 men  whom  David  had,  who  ||  strengthened 
 themselves  with  him  in  his  kingdom,  and  with 
 all  Israel,  to  make  him  king,  according  to  ''  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  concerning  Israel. 
 
 1 1  And  this  is  the  number  of  the  mighty  men 
 whom  David  had  ;  Jasliobcam,  ||  an  Hachmo- 
 nite,  the  chief  of  the  captains  :  he  lifted  up  his 
 spear  against  three  hundred  slain  l/j/  him  at 
 one  time. 
 
 12  And  after  him  was  Eleazar,  the  son  of 
 Dodo,  the  Ahohite,  who  teas  one  of  the  three 
 mighties. 
 
 13  He  was  with  David  at  ||  Pas-dammim, 
 and  there  the  Philistines  were  gathered  toge- 
 ther to  battle,  where  was  a  parcel  of  ground 
 full  of  barley ;  and  the  people  fled  from  before 
 the  Philistines. 
 
 14  And  they  ||  set  themselves  in  the  midst  of 
 that  parcel,  and  delivered  it,  and  slew  the  Phi- 
 listines ;  and  the  Lord  saved  them  by  a  great 
 II  deliverance. 
 
 15  t  Now  II  three  of  the  thirty  captains  '  went 
 down  to  the  rock  to  David,  into  the  cave  of 
 AduUam  ;  and  the  host  of  the  Philistines  en- 
 camped '  in  the  valley  of  Rephaim. 
 
 16  And  David  was  then  in  the  hold,  and  ihe 
 Philistines'  garrison  ivas  then  at  Beth-leliem. 
 
 17  And  David  longed,  and  said.  Oh  that  one 
 would  give  me  drink  of  the  water  of  the  well 
 of  Beth-lehem,  that  is  at  the  gate  I 
 
 18  And  the  three  brake  through  the  host  of 
 the  Philistines,  and  drew  water  out  of  the  well 
 of  Beth-leheni,  that  iras  by  the  gate,  and  took 
 it,  and  brought  it  to  David  :  but  David  would 
 not  drink  o/it,  but  poured  it  out  to  the  Lord, 
 
 19  And  said.  My  God  forbid  it  me,  that  I 
 should  do  this  thing :  shall  I  drink  the  blood 
 of  these  men  fthat  have  put  their  lives  in 
 jeopardy  ?    for   with    the  Jeopard^/    of  their 
 
 Chap.  XI.  —See  notes  on  2 Sam.  v.  1— 10 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  See  notes  on  1  Sam.  xx.xi. 
 xxiii.  8—39.         2.  T/iou  shalt  feed,  njin. 
 
 thou  shalt  tend  as  a  shepherd.' — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  ON   Cii.w.    \.  ~  I.  Saul  lost  his  kingdom  hy  and  unbelirf.     But,  if  our  hearts  are  softened  at  the  foot  of  tho 
 
 tianspressiou.     He  was  a  man  of  blood,  of  disobedience,  and  cross,  we  I'nay  bid  adieu  to  despair  ;  and  whatever  may  happen 
 
 " "it  ^»''                "'"^  ^"^  despair  and  ruin.  to  us  in  this  world,  He  who  is  our  evorlasliiig  friend  '  hath 
 
 II.  Ire  must  zlso  lose  the  heavenly  kingdom  through  impenitence  opened  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all  believers.' 
 
A  catalogue  of  David'.i  miijhti/  men. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XII.  Of  those  who  come  to  him  at  Zihlag. 
 
 lives  they  brought  it.  Therefore  he  would 
 not  drink  it.  Tliese  things  did  these  three 
 mightiest. 
 
 20  1  '  And  Abisliai  tlie  brotlicr  of  ,Toab,  he 
 was  cliief  of  tlie  three  :  for  lifting  np  his  spear 
 against  three  luuidred,  he  slew  (hetii,  and  bad 
 a  name  among  the  three. 
 
 21  '"Of  the  three,  he  was  more  honourable 
 than  the  two  ;  for  lie  was  their  captain  :  how- 
 beit  be  attained  not  to  Ihejirst  three. 
 
 22  Benaiab  tlie  son  of  Jehoiada,  the  son  of  a 
 valiant  man  of  Kabzeel,  f  who  had  done  many 
 acts ;  "  he  slew  two  lionlike  men  of  Moab : 
 also  he  went  down  and  slew  a  lion  in  a  pit  in  a 
 snowy  day. 
 
 23  And  he  slew  an  Egyptian,  f  a  man  of 
 great  stature,  five  cubits  high  ;  and  in  the 
 Egyptian's  band  icas  a  spear  like  a  weaver's 
 beam  ;  and  be  went  down  to  him  with  a  staff, 
 and  plucked  the  spear  out  of  the  Egyptian's 
 hand,  and  slew  him  with  his  own  spear. 
 
 24  These  things  did  Benaiab  the  son  of  Je- 
 hoiada, and  had  a  name  among  the  three 
 mighties. 
 
 25  Behold,  he  was  honourable  among  the 
 thirty,  but  attained  not  to  tbe^!''*'  three  :  and 
 David  set  him  over  bis  guard. 
 
 26  t  Also  the  valiant  men  of  the  armies 
 were,  "  Asabel  the  brother  of  Joab,  Elhanan 
 the  son  of  Dodo  of  Betb-lebem, 
 
 27  II  Sbammoth  the  jj  Harorite,  Helez  the 
 II  Pelonite, 
 
 28  Ira  the  son  of  Ikkesh  the  Tekoite,  Abi- 
 ezer  the  Antothite, 
 
 29  II  Sibbecai  the  Hushathite,  1|  Ilai  the  Aho- 
 hite, 
 
 30  Mabarai  the  Netophathite,  ||  Heled  the 
 son  of  Baanah  the  Netophathite, 
 
 31  Itbai  the  son  of  Ribai  of  Gibeah,  that  per- 
 tained to  the  children  of  Benjamin,  Benaiab 
 the  Piratho\nte, 
 
 32  II  Hurai  of  the  brooks  of  Gaash,  ||  Abiel 
 the  Arbathite, 
 
 33  Azmaveth  the  Baharumite,  Eliahba  the 
 Shaalbonite, 
 
 34  The  sons  of  ||  Hashem  the  Gizonite,  Jona- 
 than the  son  of  Shage  the  Hararite, 
 
 33  Abiam  the  son  of  ||  Sacar  the  Hararite, 
 II  Eliphal  the  son  of  ||  Ur, 
 
 36  Hepher  the  Mecherathite,  Abijah  the  Pe- 
 lonite, 
 
 37  II  Hezro  the  Carmelite,  ||  Naarai  the  son 
 of  Ezbai, 
 
 38  Joel  the  brother  of  Nathan,  Mibbar  ||  the 
 son  of  Haggeri, 
 
 39  Zelek  the  Ammonite,  Nabarai  the  Bero- 
 tbite,  the  armourbearer  of  Joab  the  son  of 
 Zeruiah, 
 
 40  Ira  the  Itbrite,  Gareb  the  Ithrite, 
 
 41  Uriah  the  Hittite,  Zabad  the  son  of  Ahlal 
 
 t  Hull,  in 
 ,.J,t,„U. 
 H  2  Sain 
 
 tHcb.< 
 
 0  S  Sam.  23. 
 24. 
 
 II  Or,  Shim- 
 
 II  Or,  Haro- 
 
 dite,  2  Sam. 
 
 S3.  ?5. 
 II  Or,  enltUg, 
 
 S  Sam. '23. 
 
 ■26. 
 II  Or,  Mcbm- 
 
 II  Or,  Zat- 
 
 II  Or,' Hcleti. 
 
 WOi-.Hiddai. 
 II  Or,  Jbi-a!- 
 bon. 
 
 II  Or,Jo>7,m, 
 See  2  Sam. 
 •23.  32,  33. 
 
 II  Or,S!,nrar. 
 II  Or,  Etij'he- 
 
 lel. 
 II  Or,  .ihai- 
 
 bui. 
 
 II  Or,H.;r.,' 
 II  Or,  P»<ira 
 tlie  .irbite. 
 
 II  Or,  the 
 
 II  Or,  Sliim- 
 
 b  1  Sam. 
 6. 
 f  Hcb  being 
 
 c  .Tudg.  20. 
 16. 
 
 II  Or,  Una- 
 mtutlt. 
 
 tl  Or,  O'le  thai 
 
 Could  resist 
 an  h'indjeii. 
 and  the 
 grmlal  a 
 thouiaiid. 
 
 42  Adina  the  son  of  Sliiza  the  Reubenite, 
 a  captain  of  tlie  Reubenites,  and  thirty  with 
 him, 
 
 43  Hanan  the  son  of  Maacbab,  and  Josha- 
 pliat  the  Mithnite, 
 
 44  Uzzia  the  Ashterathite,  Shama  and  Jehiel 
 the  sons  of  Hotban  the  Aroerite, 
 
 43  Jediael  the  ||  son  of  Shimri,  and  Joha  bis 
 brother,  the  Tizite, 
 
 46  Eliel  the  Mahavite,  and  Jeribai,  and  Jo- 
 shaviah,  the  sons  of  Elnaam,  and  Ithmah  the 
 Moabite, 
 
 47  Eliel,  and  Obed,  and  Jasiel  the  Meso- 
 baite. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 I    The  companies  that  came  to  David  at  Ziktag.  23  The 
 armies  ilutt  came  to  him  at  Hebron, 
 
 NOW  "these  are  they  that  came  to  David 
 to  '■  Ziklag,  t "hile  be  yet  kept  himself 
 close  because  of  Saul  the  son  of  Kisb  :  and 
 they  leere  among  the  mighty  men,  helpers  of 
 the  war. 
 
 2  They  ivere  armed  with  bows,  and  could 
 use  both  the  right  hand  and  "^  the  left  in  hurling 
 stones  and  shouting  arrows  out  of  a  bow,  even 
 of  Saul's  brethren  of  Benjamin. 
 
 3  The  chief  was  Ahiezer,  then  Joash,  the 
 sons  of  II  Sbemaab  the  Gibeathite;  and  Jeziel, 
 and  Pelet,  the  sons  of  Azmaveth  ;  and  Bera- 
 chali,  and  Jehu  the  Antothite, 
 
 4  And  Ismaiab  the  Gibeonite,  a  mighty  man 
 among  the  thirty,  and  over  the  thirty ;  and  Je- 
 remiah, and  Jahaziel,  and  Johanan,  and  Josa- 
 bad  the  Gederatbite, 
 
 3  Eluzai,  and  Jerimoth,  and  Bealiah,  and 
 Shemariab,  and  Sbephatiab  the  Haruphite, 
 
 6  Elkanah,  and  Jesiab,  and  Azareel,  and 
 Joezer,  and  Jasbobeam,  the  Korbites, 
 
 7  And  Joelah,  and  Zebadiah,  the  sons  of  Je- 
 roham  of  Gedor. 
 
 8  And  of  the  Gadites  there  separated  them- 
 selves unto  David  into  the  hold  to  the  wilder- 
 ness men  of  might,  and  men  fof  war  Jit  for  the 
 battle,  that  could  handle  shield  and  buckler, 
 whose  faces  were  like  the  faces  of  lions,  and 
 were  '^fas  swift  as  the  roes  upon  the  moun- 
 tains ; 
 
 9  Ezer  the  first,  Obadiah  the  second,  Eliab 
 the  third, 
 
 10  Mishmannah  the  fourth,  Jeremiah  the 
 fifth, 
 
 1 1  Altai  the  sixth,  Eliel  the  seventh, 
 
 12  Johanan  the  eighth,  Elzabad  the  ninth, 
 
 13  Jeremiah  the  tenth,  Macbbaiiai  the 
 eleventh. 
 
 14  These  icere  of  the  sons  of  Gad,  captains 
 of  the  host :  II  one  of  the  least  ivas  over  an 
 hundred,  and  the  greatest  over  a  thousand. 
 
 15  These  are  they  that  went  over  Jordan  in 
 
 4,\.Vriali,  he  is  tbe  last  of  the  catalogue  of  David's  worthies  in  2  Sam. 
 xxiii.,  but  there  were  some  othermenof  valour  and  renown,  here  given. 
 46.  T/ie  Moahite — he  might  possibly  have  been  a  proselyte,  but  the 
 name  might  have  been  given  for  some  exploit  in  engaging  the  Moab- 
 ites,  as,  among  the  Romans,  Scipio  was  called  Africanus,  for  his  great 
 achievements  and  victories  over  those  parts  and  people. — So  Poole. 
 Chap.  Xll.  —  1.  These  are  they — omitted  in  Samuel.    Zikhig,  given 
 
 him  by  Achish  for  a  residence  when  he  fled  from  Saul,  (1  Sam.  xxvii. 
 6  )  2.  Came  to  David— even  of  Saul's  brethren,  either  from  belief  in 
 God's  word  respecting  him,  disgust  at  Saul's  treatment  of  him,  or  from 
 perceiving  the  Lord  had  departed  from  Saul  and  was  with  David.— 
 Scott.  8.  The  hold,  the  cave  of  AduUum,  or  Engedi,  or  Ziklag,  which 
 was  in  the  wilderness  of  Judah.— Poofe.  15.  That  went  over  Jordan, 
 as  an  instance  of  their  valour,  they  ventured  over  Jordan  at  the  most 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.   XI.  _  I.  /j  was  an  honour  to  he  The  Captain  of  our  salvation  leads  all  his  faitliful  followers  to 
 
 among  David's  worthies ;  their  names  are  enrolled  in  an  immor-  glory,  honour,  immortality,  eternal  life.     Like  good  soldiers, 
 
 tal  page,  and  their  courage  and  fidelity  in  a  good  cause  sheds  they  may  endure  hardships;   but  great  is   their  reward   in 
 
 a  lustre  upon  them.  lieaven,  where,  if  we  have  suft'oied  with  Christ,  we  shall  also 
 
 11.  It  is  an  honour  to  be  enrolled  amonn  the  soldiers  of  Christ,  reign  with  him. 
 
 441                                         ^^                       ./  JJ  j_ 
 
The  armies  that  camr. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XII. 
 
 to  David  at  Hebron. 
 
 the  first  month,  when  it  had  f  overflown  all  his 
 "  banks  ;  and  they  put  to  flight  all  them  of  the 
 vallies,  both  toward  the  east,  and  toward  the 
 west. 
 
 16  And  there  came  of  the  children  of  Benja- 
 min and  Judah  to  the  hold  unto  David. 
 
 17  And  David  went  out  f  to  meet  them,  and 
 answered  and  said  unto  tliem.  If  ye  be  come 
 peaceably  unto  me  to  help  nie,  mine  heart 
 shall  t  be  knit  unto  you:  but  if^e  be  come  to 
 betray  me  to  mine  enemies,  seeing  there  is  no 
 II  wrong  in  mine  hands,  the  God  of  our  fathers 
 look  thereon,  and  rebuke  it. 
 
 18  Then  t  the  spirit  came  upon  '  Amasai, 
 «'/iO  was  chief  of  the  captains,  and  he  said. 
 Thine  are  we,  David,  and  on  thy  side,  thou 
 son  of  Jesse  :  peace,  peace  be  unto  thee,  and 
 peace  be  to  thine  helpers ;  for  thy  God  helpeth 
 thee.  Then  David  received  them,  and  made 
 them  captains  of  the  band. 
 
 19  And  there  fell  some  of  Manasseh  to  Da- 
 vid, "when  he  came  with  the  Philistines  against 
 Saul  to  battle:  but  they  helped  them  not:  for 
 the  lords  of  the  Philistines  upon  advisement 
 sent  him  away,  saying,  '■  He  will  fall  to  his 
 master  Saul  f  to  the  jeopardy  of  out  heads. 
 
 20  As  he  went  to  Ziklag,  there  fell  to  him  of 
 Manasseh,  Adnah,  and  Jozabad,  and  Jediael, 
 and  Michael,  and  Jozabad,  and  Elihu,  and 
 Zilthai,  captains  of  the  thousands  that  were  of 
 Manasseh. 
 
 21  And  they  helped  David  ||  against  'the 
 band  of  the  rollers:  for  they  were  all  mighty 
 men  of  valour,  and  were  captains  in  the  host. 
 
 22  For  at  that  time  day  by  day  there  came 
 to  David  to  help  him,  until  it  ivas  a  great  host, 
 like  the  host  of  God. 
 
 23  H  And  these  are  the  numbers  of  the 
 II  t  bauds  that  were  ready  armed  to  the  war, 
 and  '  came  to  David  to  Hebron,  to  '  turn  the 
 kingdom  of  Saul  to  him,  "'  according  to  the 
 word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 24  The  children  of  Judali  that  bare  shield 
 and  spear  were  six  thousand  and  eight  hun- 
 dred, ready  ||  armed  to  the  war. 
 
 25  Of  the  children  of  Simeon,  mighty  men 
 of  valour  for  the  war,  seven  thousand  and  one 
 hundred. 
 
 26  Of  the  children  of  Levi  four  thousand  and 
 six  hundred. 
 
 27  And  Jehoiada  u^as  the  leader  of  the 
 Aaronites,  and  with  him  were  three  thousand 
 
 c  Josii.  3.  15 
 
 t  Heb.  bf/org 
 them. 
 
 «  Or, 
 viok/icc. 
 
 t  Heh.  tha 
 tpiril  rlolhed 
 
 Jndg  0  31. 
 f'i  Sam.  17, 
 
 r.  inso. 
 S  I  Sain.  29. 
 
 II  Or,  with  a 
 
 band. 
 i  1  Sam.  30, 
 
 1,  9,  IP. 
 
 1013 
 
 II  Or.  cap- 
 I'li'ii,  or, 
 
 I  Heb.  heitdi. 
 h  2  Sum.  2. 
 
 3,4.  &5.  I. 
 
 cli.  II.  1. 
 (ch.  to.  1*. 
 m  1  Sam.  10. 
 
 1,3. 
 
 II  Or.  pre. 
 ynred. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 Gen.  ai.'^S 
 I  Heb  i>mul. 
 tilmle  of 
 
 thrm. 
 
 2  Sam   2 
 
 t  Heb 
 
 1>  Eiitli.  MS. 
 
 Or,  rdnffrr, 
 n/bitlle,  or, 
 rit>ii;.'ri  lit 
 hattlr. 
 II  Or,  jr/  the 
 hnttte  in 
 
 \  Heb.'w-irt- 
 out  It  heart 
 tutd  a  hftiTl. 
 Vs.  12.  2. 
 
 I  Or,  htvpin/j 
 their  rank. 
 
 II  Or,  t 
 n/mr. 
 
 and  seven  hundred  ; 
 
 28  And  "  Zadok,  a  young  man  mighty  of 
 valour,  and  of  his  father's  house  twenty  and 
 two  captains. 
 
 29  And  of  the  children  of  Benjamin,  the 
 t  kindred  of  Saul,  three  thousand  :  for  liitherto 
 t  °  the  greatest  part  of  them  had  kept  the  ward 
 of  the  house  of  Saul. 
 
 30  And  of  the  children  of  Ephraim  twenty 
 thousand  and  eight  hundred,  mighty  men  of 
 valour,  ffamous  throughout  the  house  of  their 
 fathers. 
 
 31  And  of  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh  eighteen 
 thousand,  whicli  were  expressed  by  name,  to 
 come  and  make  David  king. 
 
 32  And  of  the  children  of  Issachar,  ''  which 
 were  men  that  had  understanding  of  the  times, 
 to  know  what  Israel  ought  to  do  ;  the  heads 
 of  them  ivere  two  hundred ;  and  all  their 
 brethren  were  at  their  commandment. 
 
 33  Of  Zebulnn,  such  as  went  forth  to  battle, 
 expert  in  war,  with  all  instruments  of  war, 
 
 fifty  thou.sand,  which  could  ||  keep  rank  :  thei/ 
 were  f  not  of  double  heart. 
 
 34  And  of  Naphtali  a  thousand  captains, 
 and  with  them  with  shield  and  spear  thirty  and 
 seven  thousand. 
 
 35  And  of  the  Danites  expert  in  war  twenty 
 and  eight  thousand  and  six  hundred. 
 
 36  And  of  Asher,  such  as  went  forth  to  battle, 
 II  expert  in  war,  forty  thousand. 
 
 37  And  on  the  other  side  of  Jordan,  of  the 
 Reubenites,  and  the  Gadites,  and  of  the  half 
 tribe  of  Manasseh,  with  all  manner  of  instru- 
 ments of  war  for  the  battle,  an  hundred  and 
 twenty  thousand. 
 
 38  All  these  men  of  war,  that  could  keep 
 rank,  came  with  a  perfect  heart  to  Hebron,  to 
 make  David  king  over  all  Israel  :  and  all  the 
 rest  also  of  Israel  tvere  of  one  heart  to  make 
 David  king. 
 
 39  And  there  they  were  with  David  three 
 days,  eating  and  drinking :  for  their  brethren 
 had  prepared  for  them. 
 
 40  Moreover  they  that  were  nigh  them,  eveti 
 unto  Issachar  and  Zebulun  and  Naphtali, 
 brought  bread  on  asses,  and  on  camels,  and  on 
 mules,  and  on  oxen,  and  ||  meat,  meal,  cakes 
 of  figs,  and  bunches  of  raisins,  and  wine,  and 
 oil,  and  oxen,  and  sheep  abundantly:  for  there 
 was  joy  in  Israel. 
 
 dangerous  season,  and  perhaps  swam  over  when  the  stream  was  most 
 rapid  and  violent,  to  help  their  brethren,  (see  Josh.  iii.  15.)  Toward 
 the  east,  ?fc, — perhaps  when  Saul  was  engaged  watching  the  Philis- 
 tines, some  from  these  quarters  Invaded  the  country,  whom  these 
 brave  men  encountered. — So  Pat.  Instead  of  *  they  put  to  flight,'  &c., 
 read,  '  when  it  was  inundated  toward  the  east,*  &c. — Geddes.  17-  To 
 meet  them,  being  considerable  cither  for  number  or  quality. — Pat. 
 Ansteered,   'addressed.' — Boothr,  IS.  The  spirit   came,  §c.  —  God 
 
 powerfully  moved  him  with  anheroical  resolution,  in  the  name  of  them 
 all,  to  avow  fidelity  to  David. — Pat.  IQ.  There  fell  some,  ^c,  that 
 is,  they  revolted  and  joined  David. — Heu<.     They  helped  them  not — they 
 
 came  only  to  help  David,  and  not  to  succour  the  Philistines,  who  were 
 enemies  to  their  country.— Be/.  Bib.  21.  The  hand,  the  Amalekites 
 who  seized  on  Ziklag.— Poote,  Gilt.  22.  The  host  of  God,  that  is,  a 
 very  great  host. — Poole.  32.  Understandint;  of  the  times,  'political 
 skill.'— tp  Clere,  Poole,  Pat.,  Houb.,  Clarke.  33.  Not  of  double 
 heart,  all  sincerely  affected  to  David.— /"a^.  40.  On  o.rCTi— at  Tripoli, 
 in  Syria,  oxen  are  now  used  as  beasts  of  burden. — Dandini.  Brought 
 bread,  iftcpav  ouruit.  '  brought  to  them.'  Sept.  The  Hebrcwword  am, 
 'bread,'  was  probably  written  in  mistake  by  the  transcriber,  for  Cm, 
 'to  them.'  '  They  brought  them,  or  to  them,  on  asses,  &c.,  victuals, 
 meal,*  &c. — Har.     '  Brought  food  on  asses,'  &c. — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XII.  —  I.  Those  are  worthy  of  being 
 home  in  remembrance  who  are  our  friends  in  the  hour  of  need. 
 Such  fidelity  is  rare.  When  a  man,  through  misfortiine,  is 
 brought  low,  who  will  help  him  !  When  his  reputation  has 
 sufferea  a  shock,  who  is  not  ready  to  give  it  a  finishing  blow? 
 
 Let  the  professors  of  religion  take  shame  to  themselves  if  any    ,    r .    -      ■  ,    ,.,. 
 
 among  tliem  are  found  to  possess  such  feelings ;  they  are  any    unreservedly  employ  all  their  influence  and  ability  to  promote 
 thing  but  godlike.     '  I  was  brought  low,'  says' the  Psalmist,    his  cause,  from  love  to  him  and  to  their  brethren.'  Theyshall 
 'and  he  helped  me.'     '  He  remembered  us  in  our  low  estate 
 for  his  mercy  enduroth  for  ever.' 
 
 II.  Let  vs  adhere  to  the  Son  of  David  under  all  vicissiiudes, 
 4<12 
 
 His  own  disciples  have  often  forsaken  him  and  fled.  When 
 his  cause  is  low,  and  his  name  reproached,  how  many  are 
 ashamed  of  him  and  walk  no  more  with  him.  But  '  happy  are 
 they,'  says  Scott,  '  who  wisely  perceive  it  to  be  their  duty 
 and  interest  to  trust  in  him  ;  who  renounce  all  inconsistent 
 connexions,    pursuits,   and  employments  for  his  sake;   and 
 
 at  length  see  him  established  on  his  throne  above  all  the  kings 
 of  the  earth.  'I'hey  shall  witness  the  extension  of  his  empire, 
 and  rejoice  as  those  who  divide  the  spoil. 
 
The  ark  fetched  from  Kirjalli-jearim.     I.  CHRONICLES,  XIII.,  XIV. 
 
 David's  great  prosperity. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1    David  fcicheth   the  ark  with  great  solemnitt/  from 
 
 Kirjath-jtarim.     9    Uzza  being  smitten,  the  ark  is 
 
 Ifft  at  the  house  of  Obcd-edom. 
 
 AND  David  consulted  with  tlie  captains  of 
 
 -^^  tliousands  and  hundreds,  and  with  every 
 
 leader. 
 
 2  And  David  said  unto  all  the  congregation 
 of  Israel,  If  it  seem  good  unto  you,  and  that  it 
 he  of  the  Lono  our  God,  f  let  us  send  abroad 
 unto  our  brethren  every  where,  that  are  "  left 
 in  all  the  land  of  Israel,  and  with  them  also  to 
 the  priests  and  Levites  which  are  t  hi  their 
 cities  and  suburbs,  that  they  may  gatlier  them- 
 selves unto  us : 
 
 3  And  let  us  f  bring  again  the  ark  of  our  God 
 to  us  :  ""for  we  enquired  not  at  it  in  the  days 
 of  Saul. 
 
 4  And  all  the  congregation  said  that  they 
 would  do  so  :  for  the  thing  was  right  in  the 
 eyes  of  all  the  people. 
 
 5  So  °  David  gathered  all  Israel  together, 
 from  ''  Shihor  of  Egypt  even  unto  the  entering 
 of  Hemath,  to  bring  the  ark  of  God  °  from 
 Kirjath-jearim, 
 
 G  And  David  went  up,  and  all  Israel,  to 
 *■  Baalah,  that  is,  to  Kirjath-jearim,  which  be- 
 longed to  Judah,  to  bring  up  thence  the  ark  of 
 God  the  Lord,  ^  that  dwelleth  between  the 
 cherubims,  whose  name  is  called  on  it. 
 
 7  And  they  f  carried  the  ark  of  God  ■■  in  a 
 new  cart  '  out  of  the  house  of  Abinadab  :  and 
 Uzza  and  Ahio  drave  the  cart. 
 
 8  '■  And  David  and  all  Israel  played  before 
 God  with  all  their  might,  and  with  f  singing, 
 and  with  harps,  and  with  psalteries,  and  with 
 timbrels,  and  with  cymbals,  and  with  trum- 
 pets. 
 
 9  f  And  when  they  came  unto  the  threshing- 
 floor  of  II  Chidon,  Uzza  put  forth  his  hand  to 
 hold  the  ark  ;  for  the  oxen  f  stumbled. 
 
 10  And  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled 
 against  Uzza,  and  he  smote  him,  '  because  he 
 put  his  hand  to  the  ark  :  and  there  he  "^  died 
 before  God. 
 
 11  And  David  was  displeased,  because  the 
 Lord  had  made  a  breach  upon  Uzza  :  where- 
 fore that  place  is  called  ||  Perez-uzza  to  this 
 day. 
 
 12  And  David  was  afraid  of  God  that  day, 
 saying,  How  shall  I  bring  the  ark  of  God  home 
 to  me  ? 
 
 13  So  David  f  brought  not  the  ark  hoyne  to 
 himself  to  the  city  of  David,  but  carried  it 
 aside  into  the  house  of  Obed-edom  the  Git- 
 tite. 
 
 14  "  And  the  ark  of  God  remained  with  the 
 family  of  Obed-edom  in  his  house  three  months. 
 
 t  Heb.  ht  iM 
 
 and  K'lii. 
 t  I  Sain.  31. 
 
 1    la   97.  4. 
 t  Hob.  in  the 
 
 tilifso/lheii 
 
 Tuburlt. 
 
 \  Heb.  Itring 
 
 about, 
 b  1  Sam.  7. 
 
 1.2. 
 
 c  1  Sam. 7-1. 
 2  Sam.  6.  1. 
 djosh.  13.3 
 
 e  1  Sam.  6. 
 21.  8|7.  I. 
 
 /JoHli.  15  9, 
 
 f  Heb.  mair 
 
 lilt:  'nk  Id 
 
 liJe. 
 Ii  See  Num 
 
 1, 11  ch.15. 
 
 2.  l.S. 
 
 ,  1  Sam.  7.  1 
 '.  2  Sam.  6.5. 
 t  Hell.  i<i»j?i. 
 
 II  Called  Xti- 
 
 chtm,  2  Sam 
 
 6.  Ii. 
 t  Heb.  sliooh 
 
 il. 
 I  Num  4  15. 
 
 cli  15.13,15 
 m  Lev.  1U.2 
 
 I  That  i'5, 
 Tfin  br^adt 
 ./  U::a. 
 
 II  2  Sam.  8. 
 II. 
 
 .  Ab  Gen.  30. 
 27.  ch.  26, 5. 
 
 cir. 101.3. 
 a  2  Sam.  5. 
 II,  &c. 
 
 1  Or,  EtiaiU. 
 
 2  Sam.  5.16 
 
 ■J  ch    11.  15. 
 
 I  Tliat  is, 
 a  ptacf  i>f 
 bmucbes. 
 
 /2  Sam.  5. 
 
 And  the  Lord  blessed  "the  house  of  Obed- 
 edom,  and  all  that  he  had. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 2  David's  felicity  in 
 8    His  two  victories 
 
 g  2  Sam.  5. 
 25,  Geba. 
 
 I  Hiram's  kindness  to  David, 
 people,  vjives,  and  children, 
 against  the  Philistines. 
 
 "VrOW  "  Hiram  king  of  Tyre  sent  messengers 
 -^ 'I  to  David,  and  timber  of  cedars,  with  ma- 
 sons and  carpenters,  to  build  him  an  house. 
 
 2  And  David  perceived  that  the  Lord  had 
 confirmed  him  king  over  Israel,  for  his  king- 
 dom was  lifted  up  on  high,  because  of  his  peo- 
 ple Israel. 
 
 3  II  And  David  took  f  more  wives  at  Jeru- 
 salem :  and  David  begat  more  sons  and  daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 4  Now  ''  these  are  the  names  of  his  children 
 which  he  had  in  Jerusalem  ;  Shammua,  and 
 Shobab,  Nathan,  and  Solomon, 
 
 5  And  Ibhar,  and  Elishua,  and  Elpalet, 
 
 6  And  N(5gali,  and  Nepheg,  and  Japhia, 
 
 7  And  Elishaina,  and  ||  Bceliada,  and  Eli- 
 phalet. 
 
 8  K  And  when  the  Philistines  heard  that 
 °  David  was  anointed  king  over  all  Israel,  all 
 the  Philistines  went  up  to  seek  David.  And 
 David  heard  of  it,  and  went  out  against  them. 
 
 9  And  the  Philistines  came  and  spread  them- 
 selves ''  in  the  valley  of  Rephaim. 
 
 10  And  David  enquired  of  God,  saying.  Shall 
 
 I  go  up  against  the  Philistines?  and  wilt  thou 
 deliver  them  into  mine  hand  i*  And  the  Lord 
 said  unto  him.  Go  up  ;  for  I  will  deliver  them 
 into  thine  hand. 
 
 11  So  they  came  up  to  Baal-pcrazim  ;  and 
 David  smote  them  there.  Then  David  said, 
 God  hath  broken  in  upon  mine  enemies  by 
 mine  hand  like  the  breaking  forth  of  waters  : 
 therefore  they  called   the  name  of  that  place 
 
 II  Baal-perazim. 
 
 12  And  when  they  had  left  their  gods  there, 
 David  gave  a  commandment,  and  they  were 
 burned  with  fire. 
 
 13  "And  the  Philistines  yet  again  spread 
 themselves  abroad  in  the  valley. 
 
 14  Therefore  David  enquired  again  of  God  ; 
 and  God  said  unto  him.  Go  not  up  after  them  ; 
 turn  away  from  them,  'and  come  upon  them 
 over  against  the  mulberry  trees. 
 
 15  And  it  shall  be,  when  thou  shalt  hear  a 
 sound  of  going  in  the  tops  of  the  mulberry 
 trees,  that  then  thou  shalt  go  out  to  battle  : 
 for  God  is  gone  forth  before  thee  to  smite  the 
 host  of  the  Philistines. 
 
 IG  David  therefore  did  as  God  commanded 
 him  :  and  they  smote  the  host  of  the  Philis- 
 tines, from  ^  Gibeon  even  to  Gazer. 
 
 Chap.  XIII.  — 5. /!«/«•(!«;,  the  prircipalofthem;  30,000  select  men.  Damascus,  the  capital  of  Hemath.— Sa<.    The  meaning  is,  David  as. 
 
 — GUI.    From  Sltihor,  a-Ko  opiwv  A(7UTrToi',  'from  the  borders  of  Egypt,*  sembled  all  the  leading  Israelites  from  one  extremity  of  the  kingdom  to 
 
 Sept.    •  From  the  river  of  Egypt.'  Si/r.    Shihor  was,  probably,  one  of  the  other.    From   Kirjath-jearim,   where  it  had  been  ever  since  it 
 
 the  names  of  the  V\\e.—Shaie.     Comp.  Josh.  xiii.  -i  ;  Isa.  xxiii.  3  ;  Jer.  returned  out  of  the  land  of  the  Philistines,  (see  1  Sam.  vi.  ult. ;  vii.  1 .) 
 
 ii.  18.     Shihor  was  the  southern  bounds,  as  Hemath  was  the  northern,  6.  Wliose  name  is  called  on  it,  'where  his  name  was  invoked,'  Targ. 
 
 of  the  laud  of  Canaan.— fu<.    Hemath,  Antiochia,  which  lay  to  the  10.  Against  Uzza— see  note  on  2  Sam.  vi.  7. 
 north,  Targ.   Emcsa,  or  Emath,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Lebanon  towards 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIII.  —  This  chapter  records, 
 I.  The  bringing  hack  of  the  ark  from  Kirjath-jearim.  Whence 
 Henry  observes,  '  that  it  is  the  wisdom  of  those  that  are  set- 
 ting out  in  the  world  to  take  God's  ark  with  them  ;  to  make 
 his  oracles  their  counsellors,  and  his  laws  their  rule  ;  and  those 
 are  likely  to  proceed  in  the  favour  of  God  that  thus  begin  in 
 the  fear  of  God.' 
 
 II.  The  death  of  Lhza  for  meddling  with  the  ark.  •  If  the 
 443 
 
 gospel  be  to  some  a  savour  of  death  unto  death,  as  the  ark  was 
 to  Uzza,  yet  let  us  receive  it  in  the  love  of  it, and  it  will  be  to 
 us  a  savour  of  life  unto  life.' 
 
 III.  The  prosperity  of  Obcd-edom  while  the  ark  ivas  with  him. 
 '  Let  this  encourage  us  to  welcome  God's  ordinances  into  our 
 houses,  as  those  that  believe  the  ark  is  a  guest  nobody  should 
 lose  by  ;  nor  let  it  be  the  less  precious  to  us  for  its  being  to 
 some  a  stone  of  stumbling,  and  a  rock  of  offence.' 
 
The  ark  brought  from  Ohed-cdom. 
 
 17  And  ■■  the  fame  of  David  went  out  into  all 
 lands  ;  and  the  Lord  '  brought  the  fear  of  him 
 upon  all  nations. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  David,  having  prepared  a  place  for  the  ark,  orderelh 
 the  priests  and  Levites  to  brinii  if  from  Obed-edom. 
 25  He  performelh  the  solemntti/  thereof  with  great 
 jog.     29  Michal  despiseth  him. 
 
 AND  David  made  him  houses  in  the  city  of 
 David,  and  prepared  a  place  for  the  ark  of 
 God,  '  and  pitched  for  it  a  tent. 
 
 2  Then  David  said,  t  None  ought  to  carry 
 the  "ark  of  God  but  the  Levites:  for  them 
 hath  the  Lord  chosen  to  carry  the  ark  of  God, 
 and  to  minister  unto  him  for  ever. 
 
 .3  And  David  '  gatliered  all  Israel  together  to 
 Jerusalem,  to  bring  up  the  ark  of  the  Lord 
 unto  his  place,  which  he  had  prepared  for  it. 
 
 4  And  David  assembled  the  children  of 
 Aaron,  and  the  Levites  : 
 
 5  Of  the  sons  of  Koliath  ;  Uriel  the  chief, 
 and  his  ||  brethren  an  hundred  and  twenty  : 
 
 6  Of  the  sons  of  Merari ;  Asaiah  the  chief, 
 and  his  brethren  two  hundred  and  twenty  : 
 
 7  Of  the  sons  of  Gershom  ;  Joel  the  chief, 
 and  his  brethren  an  hundred  and  thirty  : 
 
 8  Of  the  sons  of  '■  Elizaphan  ;  Shemaiah  the 
 chief,  and  his  brethren  two  hundred  ; 
 
 9  Of  the  sons  of  '  Hebron  ;  Eliel  the  chief, 
 and  his  brethren  fourscore  : 
 
 10  Of  the  sons  of  Uzziel  ;  Amminadab  the 
 chief,  and  his  brethren  an  hundred  and  twelve. 
 
 1 1  And  David  called  for  Zadok  and  Abiathar 
 the  priests,  and  for  the  Levites,  for  Uriel, 
 Asaiah,  and  Joel,  Shemaiah,  and  Eliel,  and 
 Amminadab, 
 
 1-J  And  said  unto  them,  Ye  are  the  chief  of 
 the  fathers  of  the  Levites  :  sanctify  yourselves, 
 both  ye  and  your  brethren,  that  ye  may  bring 
 up  the  ark  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  unto  the 
 place  that  I  have  prepared  for  it. 
 
 13  For  'because  ye  did  it  not  at  the  first, 
 s  the  Lord  our  God  made  a  breach  upon  us, 
 for  that  we  sought  him  not  after  the  due  order. 
 
 14  So  the  priests  and  the  Levites  sanctified 
 themselves  to  bring  up  the  ark  of  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel. 
 
 15  And  the  children  of  the  Levites  bare  the 
 ark  of  God  upon  their  shoulders  with  the  staves 
 thereon,  as  •■  Moses  commanded  according  to 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XV. 
 
 The  solemnity  thereof. 
 
 B.  C.  IM7. 
 
 h  Josh.  6  27. 
 2Chr.26  8. 
 Deut.  2.25. 
 &  U.  ib. 
 
 a  ch    16   I. 
 
 t  Heb.  It  is 
 not  la  carrt/ 
 Ihe  nrk  of 
 God,  but  for 
 the  LevilFi, 
 
 b  Num.4. 2, 
 15.  Deu.  10, 
 d.  fc  31.  it. 
 cir   )012. 
 :  I  Kin. 3.1. 
 cb.  13.  5. 
 
 II  Or,  A.'n 
 
 /2  F»m.  6.3 
 ch.  13.  7. 
 
 ffch.  13.  10, 
 II. 
 
 A  Ex.  25.  14. 
 Num.  4.  15. 
 &7.  9. 
 
 cb.  6.  33. 
 t  ch.  C.  39. 
 
 Or,  on  lUi 
 eigUlb  to 
 
 Pa   6,  title. 
 Or,w&9  /o' 
 
 tHeb./i/(in5 
 
 >2  Sam  6. 
 \-i,  1.1,  fcr, 
 1  Kin.  8 
 
 H  Or,  cof. 
 p  ch.  13.  8. 
 
 the  word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 16  And  David  spake  to  the  chief  of  the  Le- 
 vites to  appoint  their  brethren  to  be  the  singers 
 with  instruments  of  musick,  psalteries  and 
 harps  and  cymbals,  sounding,  by  lifting  up  the 
 voice  with  joy. 
 
 17  So  the  Levites  appointed  '  Heman  the  son 
 of  Joel ;  and  of  his  brethren,  '  Asaph  the  son 
 of  Berechiah  ;  and  of  the  sons  of  Alerari  their 
 brethren,  '  Ethan  the  son  of  Kushaiah  ; 
 
 18  And  with  them  their  brethren  of  the  se- 
 cond degree,  Zechariah,  Ben,  and  Jaaziel,  and 
 Shemiramotb,  and  Jehiel,  and  Unni,  Eliab,  and 
 Benaiah,  and  Maaseiah  and  Mattithiah,  and 
 Elipheleh,  and  Mikneiah,  and  Obed-edom,  and 
 Jeiel,  the  porters. 
 
 19  So  the  singers,  Heman,  Asaph,  and 
 Ethan,  icere  appointed  to  sound  with  cymbals 
 of  brass  ; 
 
 20  And  Zechariah,  and  ||  Aziel,  and  Shemi- 
 ramoth,  and  Jeliiel,  and  Unni,  and  Eliab,  and 
 Maaseiah,  and  Benaiah,  with  psalteries  °'on 
 Alamoth  ; 
 
 21  And  Mattithiah,  and  Elipheleh,  and  Mik- 
 neiah, and  Obed-edom,  and  Jeiel,  and  Azaziah, 
 with  harps  ||  on  the  Sheminith  to  excel. 
 
 22  And  Chenaniah,  chief  of  the  Levites,  ||!/'o.'! 
 for  t song:  he  instructed  about  the  song,  be- 
 cause he  u-as  skilful. 
 
 23  And  Berechiah  and  Elkanah  were  door- 
 keepers for  the  ark. 
 
 24  And  Shebaniah,  and  Jehoshaphat,  and 
 Nethancel,  and  Amasai,  and  Zechariah,  and 
 Benaiah,  and  Eliezer,  the  priests,  "  did  blow 
 with  the  trumpets  before  the  ark  of  God  :  and 
 Obed-edom  and  Jehiah  ivere  doorkeepers  for 
 the  ark. 
 
 23  1i  So  °  David,  and  the  elders  of  Israel,  and 
 the  captains  over  thousands,  went  to  bring  up 
 the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  out  of  the 
 house  of  Obed-edom  with  joy. 
 
 26  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  God  helped  the 
 Levites  that  bare  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
 the  Lord,  that  they  offered  seven  bullocks 
 and  seven  rams. 
 
 27  And  David  teas  clothed  with  a  robe  of 
 fine  linen,  and  all  the  Levites  that  bare  tlie 
 ark,  and  the  singers,  and  Chenaniah  the  master 
 of  the  llsongwith  the  singers:  David  also  Aarf 
 upon  him  an  ephod  of  linen. 
 
 28  ''  Thus  all  Israel  brought  up  the  ark  of  the 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  — See  the  notes  on  2  Sam.  v.  !1,  &c.  17.  Jnto  all 
 lands,  niSnun  "J33.  '  into  all  the  lands,'  &e.,  meaning  tlie  different  dis. 
 tricts  and  tribes  into  which  Judea  was  divided.— //<'«'.  '  Into  all  the 
 neighbouring  countries.'— Poo/e,  Pat.  No  other  can  be  intended.— 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  1 .  Houses,  a  palace  consisting  of  many  houses  or 
 apartments  for  his  several  wives  and  children.— Poo/e.  13.  Didit 
 not,  did  not  sanctify  themselves.— S(;o«.  Rather  tlie  sense  is,  'ye 
 were  not  there  at  first,  when  the  ark  was  brought  from  Kirjath.jearim 
 as  far  as  the  house  of  obed.edom,  as  they  should  have  been.'  .i 
 breach,  by  smiting  Uzza.— Gi'H.  20.  ^yilh  psalteries  on  Alamoth, 
 •  with  psalteries  of  a  deeper  sound. '—WonS.  '  On  soft-sounding  lutes.' 
 —Gedde.s.  'On  acute. sounding  psalteries.'— i!oo«ir.  Being  joined 
 with  psalteries,  .\lamoth  is  thought,  by  some,  to  be  a  musical  instru- 
 ment, and  read,  '  with  psalteries  with  Alamoth.' — Pat.  Alamoth  was 
 either  the  beginning  of  a  song  or  a  tune.— GiH.    There  are  several  other 
 
 conjectures,  but  they  lead  to  no  correct  idea  of  tlie  word.  —  Ed. 
 21.  Sliemijuth,  seems  to  be  a  harp  with  eight  strings.— Gi7/.  This  is 
 the  general  opinion,  though  there  are  other  conjectures  of  little  mo- 
 ment.— i?(/.  To  excel,  may  signify  the  excellency  of  the  instrument, 
 or  elevation  of  the  voice  with  it. — Poole.  '  To  complete  the  harmony.' 
 — Boolhr.  22.  Instructed  about  the  song — this  appears  to  have  been 
 the  precentor. — Scott.  The  ma.ster  singer, — .-I.  Clarke  i  or  it  may  mean 
 that  he  instructed  about  the  tatting  up  and  bearing  the  burden,  the 
 ark,  when  to  go  and  when  to  rest.— GtV/.  '  Directed  the  carriage  of 
 the  ark.'  26.  Hc//3crf,  '  favoured.'— JJoo^/ir.  Ttiey  ojered,  acknow. 
 ledged  God's  unmerited  goodness  in  enabling  them  with  safety,  after 
 the  affair  of  Uzza,  to  perform  the  service  allotted  to  them. — Scott. 
 27.  Fitte  linen,  y^2,  or  '  byssus ;'  probably  the  beard  of  the  Pinna  Magna, 
 a  species  of  mu  scle,  found  on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  growing 
 to  a  foot  and  half  in  length;  it  makes  a  very  rich  stuff.— J.  Clarke. 
 *  Muslin.' — Boothr. 
 
 Refi  ECTiONS  ON  Chap.  XIV.  —  I.  In  David's  enemies  we 
 see  an  emblem  of  the  enemies  of  Christ  the  Son  of  David.  With 
 restless  efforts  they  are  continually  endeavouring  to  disturb 
 his  kingdom.  And  no  sooner  does  he  take  possession  of  the 
 heart,  than  they  employ  all  their  efforts  to  rob  him  of  his 
 dominion. 
 
 II.  /«  David\s  conquests  and  famct  we  are  reminded  of  the 
 triumpiis  of  the  Son  of  David,  and  the  celebrity  which  he  shall 
 ■Hi 
 
 acquire.  He  must  reign,  and  all  enemies  shall  be  put  under 
 his  feet.  In  spite  of  every  opposition  his  kingdoin  shall 
 stand,  and  his  fame  shall  spread  over  all  lands.  '  For  God 
 hath  given  him  a  name  which  is  above  every  name.  Tliat  at 
 the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven, 
 or  things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth  ;  and  that  every 
 tongue  should  confess,  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory 
 of  God  the  Father.' 
 
David's  festival  sacrifice. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XVI. 
 
 His  psalm  of  thanksgiving. 
 
 covenant  of  the  Lord  with  shouting,  and  with 
 sound  of  the  cornet,  and  with  trumpets,  and 
 with  cymbals,  making  a  noise  with  psalteries 
 and  harps. 
 
 '29  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  ''  its  the  ark  of  the 
 covenant  of  the  Lord  came  to  the  city  of  Da- 
 vid, tliat  Michal  the  daughter  of  Saul  looking 
 out  at  a  window  saw  king  David  dancing  and 
 playing :  and  she  despised  him  in  her  heart. 
 
 CHAP.  XVL 
 
 1  David' y  ftstival  sacr{/icp.  4  He  ordcrtth  a  choir  to 
 sing  thanksgiving.  7  Tlte  psalm  of  tliank^giriiig. 
 37  He  a/ipoinltth  minisfrrs,  porters,  prirsts,  and  mu- 
 sicians, to  attend  continually  on  the  ark. 
 
 CO  °  they  brought  the  ark  of  God,  and  set  it 
 *^  in  the  midst  of  the  tent  that  David  had 
 pitched  for  it :  and  they  offered  burnt  sacrifices 
 and  peace  offerings  before  God. 
 
 2  And  when  David  liad  made  an  end  of 
 offering  the  burnt  offerings  and  the  peace 
 offerings,  he  blessed  the  people  in  the  name 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 3  And  he  dealt  to  every  one  of  Israel,  both 
 man  and  woman,  to  every  one  a  loaf  of  bread, 
 and  a  good  piece  of  flesli,  and  a  fiagou  oftcine. 
 
 4  T  And  he  appointed  certain  of  the  Levites 
 to  minister  before  the  ark  of  the  Lord,  and 
 to  ''record,  and  to  thank  and  praise  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel : 
 
 5  Asaph  the  chief,  and  next  to  him  Zechariah, 
 .Teiel,  and  Shemiramoth,  and  Jehiel,  and  Mat- 
 tithiah,  and  Eliab,  and  Benaiah,  and  Obed- 
 edom :  and  Jeiel  fwith  psalteries  and  with 
 harps  ;  but  Asaph  made  a  sound  with  cymbals ; 
 
 6  Benaiah  also  and  Jabaziel  the  priests  witli 
 trumpets  continually  before  the  ark  of  the  co- 
 venant of  God. 
 
 7  1  Then  on  that  day  David  delivered  ''  first 
 this  psalm  to  thank  the  Lord  into  the  hand  of 
 Asaph  and  his  brethren. 
 
 8  ''  Give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  call  upon  his 
 name,  make  known  his  deeds  among  the 
 people. 
 
 9  Sing  unto  him,  sing  psalms  unto  him,  talk 
 ye  of  all  his  wondrous  works. 
 
 10  Glory  ye  in  his  holy  name  :  let  the  heart 
 of  them  rejoice  that  seek  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  Seek  the  Lord  and  his  strength,  seek  his 
 face  continually. 
 
 12  Remember  his  marvellous  works  that  he 
 hath  done,  his  wonders,  and  the  judgments  of 
 his  mouth  ; 
 
 13  O  ye  seed  of  Israel  his  servant,  ye  chil- 
 dren of  Jacob,  his  chosen  ones. 
 
 14  He  is  the  Lord  our  God  ;  his  judgments 
 are  in  all  the  earth. 
 
 cir.  1012. 
 1 2  .''am  6. 
 17—19. 
 
 /.  Ps.  3S,  & 
 70,  title. 
 
 I  Heb.  «■;, 
 and  huTjti 
 
 ■ Scp  2  Ram 
 -.3.  1. 
 
 I  Gen.  17.9. 
 &  26  3  &  2e 
 13.  &  Sa.  1 1 
 
 t  Heb.  mm 
 f  Geo.  3-1.30. 
 
 S  Gen.  12.17. 
 
 &20.  3.  Ex. 
 
 7.  15—18. 
 h  Ps.  lUa.  15. 
 
 Ps.OC.I.&c. 
 
 I  Ps.  10f>,l.& 
 107.1.  &11R. 
 1.  8c  ISr..  1. 
 n  Ps    106. 
 47,  .13. 
 
 15  Be  ye  mindful  always  of  his  covenant ; 
 the  word  which  he  commanded  to  a  thousand 
 generations ; 
 
 16  Even  of  the  'covenant  which  he  made 
 with  Abraham,  and  of  his  oath  unto  Isaac  ; 
 
 17  And  hath  confirmed  the  same  to  Jacob 
 for  a  law,  and  to  Israel  for  an  everlasting  co- 
 venant, 
 
 18  Saying,  Unto  thee  will  I  give  the  land  of 
 Canaan,  f  the  lot  of  your  inheritance  ; 
 
 19  When  ye  were  but  ff*^"'"  'even  a  few, 
 and  strangers  in  it. 
 
 20  And  when  they  went  from  nation  to  na- 
 tion, and  from  one  kingdom  to  another  people  ; 
 
 21  He  suffered  no  man  to  do  them  wrong  : 
 yea,  he  ^reproved  kings  fur  their  sakes, 
 
 22  Saying,  •■  Touch  not  mine  anointed,  and 
 do  my  prophets  no  harm. 
 
 23  '  Sing  unto  the  Lord,  all  the  earth  ;  shew 
 forth  from  day  to  day  his  salvation. 
 
 24  Declare  his  glory  among  the  heathen  ;  his 
 marvellous  works  among  all  nations. 
 
 25  For  great  is  the  Lord,  and  greatly  to  be 
 praised  :  he  also  is  to  be  feared  above  all  gods. 
 
 26  For  all  the  gods  '  of  the  people  are  idols: 
 but  the  Lord  made  the  heavens. 
 
 27  Glory  and  honour  are  m  his  presence  ; 
 strength  and  gladness  are  in  liis  place. 
 
 28  Give  unto  the  Lord,  ye  kindreds  of  the 
 people,  give  unto  the  Lord  glory  and  strength. 
 
 29  Give  unto  tlie  Lord  the  glory  due  unto 
 his  name  :  bring  an  offering,  and  come  before 
 him :  worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holi- 
 ness. 
 
 30  Fear  before  him,  all  the  earth  :  the  world 
 also  shall  be  stable,  that  it  be  not  moved. 
 
 31  Let  the  heavens  be  glad,  and  let  the 
 earth  rejoice  :  and  let  men  say  among  the  ua- 
 tion.s,  The  Lord  reigneth. 
 
 32  Let  the  sea  roar,  and  the  fulness  thereof: 
 let  the  fields  rejoice,  and  all  that  is  therein. 
 
 33  Then  shall  the  trees  of  the  woods  sing  out 
 at  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  because  he 
 Cometh  to  judge  the  earth. 
 
 31  '  O  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  ;  for  he  is 
 good  ;  for  liis  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 35  "'  And  say  ye.  Save  us,  O  God  of  our  sal- 
 vation, and  gatlier  us  together,  and  deliver  us 
 from  the  heathen,  that  we  may  give  thanks  to 
 thy  holy  name,  and  glory  in  tliy  praise 
 
 36  °  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Lsrael  for 
 ever  and  ever.  And  all  °  the  people  said. 
 Amen,  and  praised  the  Lord. 
 
 37  K  So  he  left  there  before  the  ark  of  the 
 covenant  of  the  Lord  Asaph  and  bis  brethren, 
 to  minister  before  tlie  ark  continually,  as  every 
 day's  work  required  : 
 
 .  This  psalm — the  matter  is  contained  in  Ps.  cv.  to  ver.  15,  and  xcvi.  to  the  end.    See  the  notes  there. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV I.  Wliile  we  are  engaged  in 
 
 our  secular  concerns,  let  as  never  forget  the  interests  of  religion. 
 David  '  made  him  houses,"  but  at  tlie  same  time,  he  '  prepared 
 a  place  for  the  ark  of  God.'  We  must  have  a  place  for  that  in 
 our  hearts  and  our  houses,  and  find  it  a  place  in  the  world  for 
 the  good  of  those  around  us,  if  we  expect  things  to  go  well 
 with  us. 
 
 II.  Let  us  learn  from  ojir  past  errors,  to  improve  for  the  future. 
 Every  pious  man  should  be  his  own  tutor,  observing  his"  faults 
 and  correcting  them  ;  thus  David  here  perceived  the  error  be- 
 fore committed  in  the  aflair  of  the  ark,  and  was  scrupulous 
 about  the  future  management  of  it.  Yet,  with  our  utmost 
 vigilance,  what  need  have  we  each  to  pray — who  can  under- 
 stand his  errors  1  cleanse  thou  me  from  secret  faults  ' 
 445 
 
 III.  The  presence  of  God  amongst  us,  in  the  ordinances  of  reli- 
 t/ion. should  lie  a  matter  of  jng.  How  desolate,  to  a  good  man, 
 is  all  around  if  he  have  not  the  ark,  and  if,  with  the  ordi- 
 nances, he  do  not  feel  and  enjoy  the  favour  of  God  I  Then 
 may  he  awake  up  his  glory,  and  awake  lute  and  harp!  Then 
 may  he  go  to  the  altar  of  God  with  exceeding  joy  ! 
 
 IV'.  The  truly  pious  must  expect  to  he  derided  by  tlie  ungodly. 
 The  latter  may  not  always  be  able  to  burst  the  bounds  of  de- 
 cency, and  ridicule  them  for  their  attachment  to  the  things  of 
 God,  but  they  will  nevertheless  often  shew  symptoms  that 
 they  '  despise  them  in  their  heart.'  Let  theni  despise,  but 
 '  we  will  bless  the  Lord  from  this  time  forth  and  for  evermore. 
 I'riiise  the  Lord.' 
 
God's  promises  tu  David. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XVII. 
 
 DaviiFs  prayer  and  tiiunhsyiuimj. 
 
 38  And  Obed-edom  with  their  brethren, 
 threescore  and  eight ;  Obed-edom  also  the  son 
 of  Jeduthun  and  Hosah  to  be  porters  : 
 
 39  And  Zadok  the  priest,  and  his  brethren 
 the  priests,  ''  before  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord 
 'in  the  liigh  place  that  ivas  at  Gibeon, 
 
 40  To  offer  burnt  offerings  mito  the  Lokd 
 upon  the  altar  of  the  burnt  offering  continually 
 '  t  morning  and  evening,  and  to  do  according 
 to  all  that  is  written  in  tlie  law  of  the  Lord, 
 which  lie  commanded  Israel ; 
 
 41  And  with  them  Heman  and  Jeduthun, 
 and  the  rest  that  were  chosen,  who  were  ex- 
 pressed by  name,  to  give  thanks  to  the  Lord, 
 '  because  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever  ; 
 
 4-2  And  with  tliem  Heman  and  Jeduthun 
 with  trumpets  and  cymbals  for  those  that 
 should  make  a  sound,  and  with  musical  instru 
 ments  of  God.  And  the  sons  of  Jeduthun 
 were  ]  porters. 
 
 43  '  And  all  the  people  departed  every  man 
 to  his  house  :  and  David  returned  to  bless  his 
 house. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1   Nathan  Jirst  tipproifinfj  thr  purpose  of  Tiavid,  to  build 
 
 God  an  house,  3  after  by  the  word  of  God  fohiddeth 
 
 him.      11   He  proinisethldm  blessings  ayid  beiiejits  in 
 
 his  seed,      16   David^s  prayer  and  thanksgiving. 
 
 TVTOW  '  it  came  to  pass,  as  David  sat  in  his 
 
 -'-^     house,  that   David  said    to   Nathan   the 
 
 prophet,  Lo,  1  dwell  in  an  house  of  cedars,  but 
 
 the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  remaineth 
 
 under  curtains. 
 
 2  Then  Nathan  said  unto  David,  Do  all  that 
 in  in  thine  heart ;  for  God  is  with  thee. 
 
 3  f  And  it  came  to  pass  the  same  night, 
 that  the  word  of  God  came  to  Nathan,  say- 
 ing. 
 
 4  Go  and  tell  David  my  servant.  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord,  Thou  shalt  not  build  me  an  house 
 to  dwell  in  : 
 
 5  For  I  have  not  dwelt  in  an  house  since  the 
 day  that  I  brought  up  Israel  unto  this  day  ; 
 but  f  have  gone  from  tent  to  tent,  and  from 
 one  tabernacle  to  another. 
 
 6  Wheresoever  I  have  walked  with  all  Israel 
 spake  I  a  word  to  any  of  the  judges  of  Israel 
 whom  I  commanded  to  feed  my  people,  say- 
 ing. Why  have  ye  not  built  me  an  house  of 
 cedars  ? 
 
 7  Now  therefore  thus  shalt  thou  say  unto  my 
 servant  David,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  I 
 took  thee  from  the  sheepcote,  even  ffrom  fol- 
 lowing the  sheep,  that  thou  shouldest  be  ruler 
 over  my  people  Israel : 
 
 8  And  I  have  been  with  thee  whithersoever 
 thou  hast  walked,  and  have  cut  off  all  thine 
 enemies  from  before  thee,  and  have  made  thee 
 
 pch.  SI.  29. 
 2  Chr.  I.  3. 
 7  1  Km.  3.  t. 
 
 f  Es.  29.  38. 
 Num.  28. 3- 
 t  Heb.  i/i  Mt 
 
 r  ver.  31- 
 aciir.  5.13. 
 &  7,3. 
 Ezras.  11. 
 Jer.33.  II. 
 
 t  Hcb.  fir 
 the  e""- 
 
 I  S  Sam.  6 
 19,  20. 
 
 A  2  P.im. 
 II,  15. 
 
 .;  2  S(\m  7. 
 IS. 
 
 t  Hcb.  »cii 
 beat. 
 
 Ulil),/-. 
 
 a/1,-,. 
 
 a  name  like  the  name  of  the  great  men  that 
 are  in  the  earth. 
 
 9  Also  I  will  ordain  a  place  for  my  people 
 Israel,  and  will  plant  them,  and  they  shall  dwell 
 in  their  place,  and  shall  be  moved  no  more  ; 
 neither  shall  the  children  of  wickedness  waste 
 them  any  more,  as  at  the  beginning, 
 
 10  And  since  the  time  tliat  I  commanded 
 judges  to  be  over  my  people  Israel.  Moreover 
 I  will  subdue  all  thine  enemies.  Furthermore 
 I  tell  thee  that  the  Lord  will  build  thee  an 
 house. 
 
 1 1  t  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  thy 
 days  he  expired  tliat  thou  must  go  to  be  with 
 thy  fathers,  that  I  will  raise  up  thy  seed  after 
 thee,  which  shall  be  of  thy  sons  ;  and  I  will 
 establish  his  kingdom. 
 
 12  He  shall  build  me  an  house,  and  I  will 
 stablish  his  throne  for  ever. 
 
 13  i'  I  will  be  his  father,  and  he  shall  be  my 
 son  :  and  I  will  not  take  my  mercy  away  from 
 him,  as  I  took  it  from  him  that  was  before 
 thee  : 
 
 14  But  '^  I  will  settle  him  in  mine  house  and 
 in  my  kingdom  for  ever :  and  his  throne  shall 
 be  established  for  evermore. 
 
 15  According  to  all  these  words,  and  accord- 
 ing to  all  this  vision,  so  did  Nathan  speak  unto 
 David. 
 
 16  H  ''  And  David  the  king  came  and  sat  be- 
 fore the  Lord,  and  said.  Who  am  I,  O  Lonn 
 God,  and  what  is  mine  house,  that  thou  hast 
 brought  me  hitherto? 
 
 17  And  1/ct  this  was  a  small  thing  in  thine 
 eye-s,  O  God  ;  for  thou  hast  also  spoken  of 
 thy  servant's  house  for  a  great  while  to  come, 
 and  hast  regarded  me  according  to  the  estate 
 of  a  man  of  high  degree,  O  Loud  God. 
 
 18  What  can  David  speak  more  to  thee  for 
 the  honour  of  thy  servant  ?  for  thou  knowest 
 thy  servant. 
 
 19  O  Lord,  for  thy  servant's  sake,  and  accord- 
 ing to  thine  own  heart,  hast  thou  done  all  this 
 greatness,  in  making  known  all  these  f  great 
 things. 
 
 20  O  Lord,  f/iere  is  none  like  thee,  neither 
 is  there  any  God  beside  thee,  according  to  all 
 that  we  have  heard  with  our  ears. 
 
 21  And  what  one  nation  in  the  earth  is  like 
 thy  people  Israel,  whom  God  went  to  redeem 
 tu  be  his  own  people,  to  make  thee  a  name  of 
 greatness  and  terribleness,  by  driving  out  na- 
 tions from  before  thy  people,  whom  thou  hast 
 redeemed  out  of  Egypt? 
 
 22  For  thy  people  Israel  didst  thou  make 
 thine  own  people  for  ever ;  and  thou.  Lord, 
 becamest  their  God. 
 
 23  Therefore  now,  Lord,  let  the  thing  that 
 
 42.  Musicttl  instruments  of  God,   appointed   and  appropriated  to  the 
 worship  and  honour  of  God.^Poole.    Sacred  instruments. — Bootlir. 
 
 Cdap.  xvn.  —  For  remarks  on  the  contents  of  this  chapter,  see 
 notes  on  2  Sam.  vii.  I6.  Sat  before  the  Lord — in  the  presence  of  su- 
 periors, an  Arab  sits  with  his  two  knees  touching  each  other.  This  is 
 supposed  to  liavc  been  David's  posture. — Taylor's  Calmet.  18.  Hn. 
 
 nour  of  thy  servant,  'conferred  on  thy  servant.' — Bootfir.        \Q.  For 
 
 tlty  servant's  snf,-e — in  2  Sam.  'for  thy  word's  sake;"  for  the  sake  of  thy 
 word  and  promise  made  to  thy  servant ;'  that  phrase  '  for  David's  sake,' 
 is  oft  thus  understood,  '  for  God's  covenant's  sake  made  with  David.* 
 — Poole,  It  may  mean  '  for  the  sake  of  the  Messiah,'  who  is  the 
 Word  of  God,  and,  by  way  of  eminence,  called  his  servant,  Isa,  xlii.  1 ; 
 xlix.  S.—Pat. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVI. — ^The  sodr  of  David  here 
 recorded  may  teach  us — I.  That  every  new  favour  from  God 
 demands  a  recollection  of  all  his  past  mercies.  Every  chord  of  the 
 heart  which  lias  momentarily  Deen  touched  before,  should  now 
 be  awakened  anew  to  a  tune  of  joy.  It  is  especially  a  proper 
 season  for  us  each  to  sing  when  we  add  to  our  catalogue  of 
 mercies,  as  we  may  indeed  daily,  ■  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul, 
 and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name  !  Bless  the 
 Lord,  O  mv  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits  !' 
 •!-l(J 
 
 II.  None  of  our  dutii^s,  not  even  of  a  religious  nature,  should  be 
 alloiced  to  clash  with  others.  David  having  arranged  about  the 
 ark  and  public  worship,  *  returned  to  bless  his  house.'  Alas  ! 
 how  many  that  make  it  a  point  to  attend  public  ordinances, 
 never  think  of  blessing  their  houses.  Their  families  may  live 
 like  heathen,  so  that  they  themselves  pass  in  the  world  for 
 Christians.  Let  such  remember  that  God  sets  his  mark  of 
 displeasure  on  '  the  families  that  call  not  on  his  name.' 
 
Daviil  suhihtrth  ilia 
 
 ciirmics. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLKS,  XVIII.,  XIX. 
 
 7'he  inr/ratitudc  of  Hanun. 
 
 tliou  hast  spoken  concerning  tliy  servant  and 
 concerning  his  house  be  established  for  ever, 
 and  do  as  thou  hast  said. 
 
 24  Let  it  even  be  established,  that  thy  name 
 may  be  magnified  for  ever,  saying,  The  Lohd 
 of  hosts  is  the  God  of  Lsrael,  even  a  God  to 
 Israel :  and  let  the  house  of  David  tliy  servant 
 be  established  before  thee. 
 
 25  For  thou,  O  my  God,  fhast  told  thy  ser- 
 vant that  thou  wilt  build  him  an  house  :  there- 
 fore thy  servant  hath  found  in  his  heart  to 
 pray  before  thee. 
 
 •26  And  now,  Lord,  thou  art  God,  and  hast 
 promised  this  goodness  unto  thy  servant : 
 
 •27  Now  therefore  ||  let  it  please  thee  to  bless 
 the  house  of  thy  servant,  that  it  may  be  before 
 thee  for  ever  :  for  thou  blessest,  O  Lord,  and 
 it  shall  be  blessed  for  ever. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 1  David  suhdueth  the  Philistines  and  the  Moabites.  3 
 ffe  smiteth  Hadarczer  and  the  Si/rians.  9  Tou 
 sendeth  Haduram  with  presents  to  bless  David.  1 1 
 The  presents  and  the  spoil  David  dedicateth  to  God. 
 1.3  He  putteth  garrisons  in  Edom.  14  David's 
 ojficers. 
 
 "lyrOW  after  this  "it  came  to  pass,  that  David 
 -'- '  smote  the  Philistines,  and  subdued  them, 
 and  took  Gath  and  her  towns  out  of  the  hand 
 of  the  Philistines. 
 
 2  And  he  smote  Moab  ;  and  the  Moabites 
 became  David's  servants,  and  brought  gifts. 
 
 3  t  And  David  smote  ||  Hadarezer  king  of 
 Zobah  unto  Hamath,  as  he  went  to  stablish  his 
 dominion  by  the  river  Euphrates. 
 
 4  And  David  took  from  him  a  thousand  cha- 
 riots, and  ''  seven  thousand  horsemen,  and 
 twenty  thousand  footmen  :  David  also  houghed 
 all  the  chariot  horses,  but  reserved  of  them  an 
 hundred  chariots. 
 
 5  And  when  the  Syrians  of  f  Damascus  came 
 to  help  Hadarezer  king  of  Zobah,  David  slew 
 of  the  Syrians  two  and  twenty  thousand  men. 
 
 6  Then  David  put  garrisons  in  Syria-damas- 
 cus  ;  and  the  Syrians  became  David's  servants, 
 and  brought  gifts.  Thus  the  Lord  preserved 
 David  whithersoever  he  went. 
 
 7  And  David  took  the  shields  of  gold  that 
 were  on  the  servants  of  Hadarezer,  and  brought 
 them  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 8  Likewise  from  ||  Tibhath,  and  from  Chun, 
 cities  of  Hadarezer,  brought  David  very  nuicli 
 brass,  wherewith  ''  Solomon  made  the  brasen 
 sea,  and  the  pillars,  and  the  vessels  of  brass. 
 
 9  f  Now  when  ||  Tou  king  of  Hamath  heard 
 how  David  had  smitten  all  the  host  of  HadaT- 
 ezer  king  of  Zobali  ; 
 
 10  He  sent  ||  Hadoram  his  son  to  king  Da- 
 vid, II  to  enquire  of  his  welfare,  and  f  to  con- 
 gratulate him,  because  he  had  fought  against 
 Hadarezer,  and  smitten  him  ;  (for  Hadarezer 
 fhad  war  with  Tou;)  and  with  him  all  manner 
 of  vessels  of  gold  and  silver  and  brass. 
 
 1 1  f  Them  also  king  David  dedicated  unto 
 the  Lord,  with  the  silver  and  the  gold  that  he 
 brought  from  all  these  nations  ;   from  Edom, 
 
 mlfd  Ike 
 of  thy 
 
 I  Or,  it  hatli 
 pltiiiEil  thee. 
 
 dr.  ln.10. 
 !  3  Sum.  3. 
 I,  &0. 
 
 []  Or,  »n,l,d- 
 ner,  'd  .Sam. 
 8.  3. 
 
 ii2Sfini    S.J, 
 dred. 
 
 II  Called  in 
 the  book  of 
 Samuel  Be- 
 lah,nnd  Be- 
 ntliai. 
 
 c  1  Kin.7.15, 
 ■33.  2  C1ir.4. 
 12,  15,16. 
 
 II  Or,  Toi, 
 2  Sain.  6.  9. 
 
 I  Or,  Joriim, 
 ^  Sam. 8. 10. 
 
 [\Or.lo  tatute. 
 I  " 
 
 blest. 
 
 e  2  Sam.  6. 
 14,  &c. 
 
 bTniiner. 
 II  Called, 
 
 ^/limelech. 
 
 2  Sam,  8.17. 
 II  Called, 
 
 S.-r<i.../,. 
 
 2Sani.fi  17. 
 
 and  SItitka, 
 
 1  Kin.  4.  3 
 /2Sa.  9.  18. 
 t  Heb.  01  the 
 
 h.ind  "f  tlie 
 
 ch.  10.17. 
 I  2  Sam.  U 
 1,  &c. 
 
 and  from  Moab,  and  from  the  children  of 
 Amnion,  and  from  the  Philistines,  and  from 
 Amalek. 
 
 12  Moreover  f  Abishai  the  son  of  Zeruiah 
 slew  of  the  Edomites  in  the  valley  of  salt 
 ^  eighteen  thousand. 
 
 13  H  °And  he  put  garrisons  in  Edom  ;  and  all 
 the  Edomites  became  David's  servants.  Thus 
 the  Lord  preserved  David  whithersoever  he 
 went. 
 
 14  T  So  David  reigned  over  all  Israel,  and 
 executed  judgment  and  justice  among  all  his 
 people. 
 
 15  And  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah  was  over  the 
 host ;  and  Jehoshaphat  the  son  of  Ahilud, 
 II  recorder. 
 
 16  And  Zadok  the  son  of  Ahitub,  and  ||  Abi- 
 melech  the  son  of  Abiathar,  were  the  priests  j 
 and  II  Shavsha  was  scribe  ; 
 
 17  'And  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  u-a.^ 
 over  the  Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites ;  and 
 the  sons  of  David  ivere  chief  f  about  the  king. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I  DaviePs  messengers,  sent  to  comfort  Hanun  the  son  of 
 Nahash,  are  villanously  entreated.  6  The  Ammon- 
 ites, strengthened  hy  the  Si/rians,  are  overcome  bi/ 
 Joab  and  Abishai.  16  Shophach,  mahint/  a  new 
 supply  of  the  Syrians,  is  slain  by  David. 
 
 "lyrOW  "it  came  to  pass  after  this,  that  Na- 
 -'- '  hash  the  king  of  the  children  of  Ammon 
 died,  and  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 2  And  David  said,  I  will  shew  kindness  unto 
 Hanun  the  son  of  Nahash,  because  his  father 
 sliewed  kindness  to  me.  And  David  sent 
 messengers  to  comfort  him  concerning  his  fa- 
 ther. So  the  servants  of  David  came  into  the 
 land  of  the  children  of  Ammon  to  Hanun,  to 
 comfort  him. 
 
 3  But  the  princes  of  the  children  of  Ammon 
 said  to  Hanun,  f  Thinkest  thou  that  David 
 doth  honour  thy  father,  that  he  hath  sent  com- 
 forters unto  thee?  are  not  his  servants  come 
 unto  thee  for  to  search,  and  to  overthrow,  and 
 to  spy  out  the  land? 
 
 4  Wherefore  Hanun  took  David's  servants, 
 and  shaved  them,  and  cut  off  their  garments  in 
 the  midst  hard  by  their  buttocks,  and  sent 
 them  away. 
 
 5  Then  there  went  certain,  and  told  David 
 how  the  men  were  served.  And  he  sent  to 
 meet  them :  for  the  men  were  greatly  ashamed. 
 And  the  king  said.  Tarry  at  Jericho  until  your 
 beards  be  grov.'n,  and  then  return. 
 
 6  IT  And  when  the  children  of  Ammon  saw 
 that  they  had  made  themselves  f  odious  to 
 David,  Hanun  and  the  children  of  Ammon 
 sent  a  thousand  talents  of  silver  to  hire  them 
 chariots  and  horsemen  out  of  Mesopotamia, 
 and  out  of  Syria-maachah,  ""and  out  of  Zobah. 
 
 7  So  they  hired  thirty  and  two  thousand  cha- 
 riots, and  the  king  of  Maachah  and  his  people ; 
 who  came  and  pitched  before  Medeba.  And 
 the  children  of  Ammon  gathered  themselves 
 together  from  their  cities,  and  came  to  battle. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.  —  See  notes  on  the  Sth  chap,  of  2  Sam.        15.  Over  babiy  foot  soldiers,  amounted  exactly  to  32,000,  (comp.  2  Sam.  x.  6.)— 
 
 tfie  tiost,  'commander-in-chief.' — A.  Clarke.  Boothr.    Tlie  words  admit  of  being  translated  'thirty  and  two  thou- 
 
 CnAp.  XIX. —Sec  notes  on  2  Sam.  X.        ?.  C4ano(j,  '  riders  ;'  the  sand  with  chariots.'— Wajertold,  H0!i4. 
 numbers  in  Samuel,  exclusive  of  the  men  of  Maachah,  who  were  pro- 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    XVII. —  See    Reflections    on  I 
 2  Sam.  vii.  | 
 
 447 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    XVIII See   Reflections  on 
 
 !  Sam.  viii- 
 
The  Syrians  are  ovcrtliroun. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XX.,  XXI. 
 
 llnhhali  spoiled  by  David. 
 
 8  And  when  David  heard  of  it,  he  sent  Joab, 
 and  all  the  host  of  the  mighty  men. 
 
 9  And  the  cliiklrcn  of  Amnion  came  out,  and 
 put  the  battle  in  array  before  the  gate  of  the 
 city  :  and  the  kings  that  were  come  tvere  by 
 themselves  in  the  field. 
 
 10  Now  when  Joab  saw  that  f  the  battle  was 
 set  against  him  before  and  behind,  he  chose 
 out  of  all  the  ||  choice  of  Israel,  and  put  them 
 in  array  against  the  Syrians. 
 
 11  And  the  rest  of  tlie  people  he  delivered 
 unto  the  hand  of  f  Abishai  his  brother,  and 
 they  set  themselves  in  array  against  tlie  chil- 
 dren of  Amnion. 
 
 12  And  he  said.  If  the  Syrians  be  too  strong 
 for  me,  then  thou  shalt  lielp  me  :  but  if  the 
 children  of  Amnion  be  too  strong  for  thee, 
 then  I  will  help  thee. 
 
 13  Be  of  good  courage,  and  let  us  behave 
 ourselves  valiantly  for  our  people,  and  for  the 
 cities  of  our  God  :  and  let  the  Lord  do  that 
 which  is  good  in  his  sight. 
 
 1 4  So  Joab  and  the  people  that  ivere  with 
 him  drew  nigh  before  the  Syrians  unto  the  bat- 
 tle ;  and  they  fled  before  him. 
 
 15  And  when  the  children  of  Ammon  saw 
 that  the  Syrians  were  fled,  they  likewise  fled 
 before  Abisliai  his  brother,  and  entered  into 
 the  city.     Tlien  Joab  came  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 16  t  And  when  the  Syrians  saw  that  they 
 were  put  to  the  worse  before  Israel,  they  sent 
 messengers,  and  drew  forth  the  Syrians  that 
 were  beyond  the  ||  river :  and  ||  Sbophach  the 
 captain  of  the  host  of  Hadarezer  went  before 
 them. 
 
 17  And  it  was  told  David  ;  and  he  gathered 
 all  Israel,  and  passed  over  Jordan,  and  came 
 upon  them,  and  set  the  battle  in  array  against 
 them.  So  when  David  had  put  tlie  battle  in 
 array  against  the  Syrians,  they  fought  with 
 him. 
 
 18  But  the  Syrians  fled  before  Israel  ;  and 
 David  slew  of  the  Syrians  seven  thousand  men 
 which  fought  in  chariots,  and  forty  thousand 
 footmen,  and  killed  Shophacli  the  captain  of 
 the  host. 
 
 19  And  when  the  servants  of  Hadarezer  saw 
 that  they  were  put  to  the  worse  before  Israel, 
 they  made  peace  with  David,  and  became  his 
 servants  :  neither  would  the  Syrians  help  the 
 children  of  Ammon  any  more. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 I  Bahbah  is  besieged  by  Joab,  spniled  hy  David,  and 
 tlie  )^eoph  thereof  tortured.  4  Ttiree  plants  are  slain 
 in  three  several  overtliroics  of  the  P/iilistines. 
 
 A  ND  °it  came  to  pass,  that  f  after  the  year 
 -^^  was  expired,  at  tlie  time  that  kings  go  out 
 to  battle,  Joab  led  forth  the  power  of  the  army, 
 and  wasted  the  country  of  the  children  of  Am- 
 mon, and  came  and  besieged  Kabbah.  But 
 David  tarried  at  Jerusalem.    And  '■Joab  smote 
 
 t  Heb.  lit 
 fnce  i,f  tlie 
 bitlie  irn», 
 
 a  <".  V •!/ 
 
 11  Tlmt  in, 
 E,,,.irn/«. 
 
 (I  Or,  .«/,..- 
 firtc/'.'J.Sain. 
 
 p\\.  inw. 
 
 a  2  S.i    1 1 .  r 
 t  Hi!b.  iH  Ih 
 
 It  2  i^.im.  1? 
 
 ,.,,Sl.t  ./. 
 
 II  n, 
 I,', 
 t  n^b 
 
 ■,ril. 
 
 I'll.  n.  *>9, 
 
 Or,  .S-,,,.4. 
 
 2  Sii.  -,1.  IS. 
 
 Or,  nnjil,.,. 
 
 11  Culled  also 
 
 /2  Sam,  21, 
 
 21). 
 t  Heb.  o  mo/ 
 
 oj'  ntraitirt. 
 
 I  n.-b.  Jot, 
 
 tv  llie  l/,,t„t, 
 
 nr,  lt„i.l,». 
 Or,  rr- 
 prmiclied. 
 I  Chilled, 
 Skmrnah. 
 I  .Sam.  10.9. 
 
 1017. 
 2  S.im.  ; 
 I,  P.C. 
 
 Kabbah,  and  destroyed  it. 
 ■2  And  David  '  took  the  crown  of  their  king 
 from  off  his  head,  and  found  it  f  to  weigh  a 
 talent  of  gold,  and  there  ivere  precious  stones 
 in  it ;  and  it  was  set  upon  David's  bead  :  and 
 he  brought  also  exceeding  much  spoil  out  of 
 the  city. 
 
 3  And  he  brought  out  the  people  that  were 
 in  it,  and  cut  them  with  saws,  and  with  har- 
 rows of  iron,  and  with  axes.  Even  so  dealt 
 David  with  all  the  cities  of  the  children  of 
 Amnion.  And  David  and  all  the  people  re- 
 turned to  Jerusalem. 
 
 4  1  And  it  came  to  pass  after  this,  ''that 
 there  ||  f  arose  war  at  ||  Gezer  with  the  Pliilis- 
 tines  ;  at  which  time  ""Sibbecliai  the  Iluslia- 
 thite  slew  ||  Sippai,  that  was  of  tlie  cliildren  of 
 II  the  giant:  and  they  were  sub(hied. 
 
 5  And  there  was  war  again  wiili  the  Philis- 
 tines ;  and  Kllianan  the  son  of  ||  Jair  slew 
 Lalimi  the  brother  of  Goliath  tlie  Gittite, 
 whose  spear  staff  was  like  a  weaver's  beam. 
 
 6  And  yet  again  '  there  was  war  at  Gath, 
 where  was  fa  man  of  great  stature,  whose 
 fingers  and  toes  were  four  and  twenty,  six  >m 
 each  hand,  and  six  on  each  foot :  and  he  also 
 was  t  the  son  of  the  giant. 
 
 7  But  when  lie  ||  defied  Israel,  Jonathan  the 
 son  of  II  Shiniea  David's  brother  slew  him. 
 
 8  These  were  born  unto  the  giant  in  Gath  ; 
 and  they  fell  by  the  hand  of  David,  and  by  the 
 hand  of  his  servants. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  David,  tempted  by  Satan,  forceth  .Toab  to  number  the 
 jieople.  5  The  number  of  tlie  people  beino  brought, 
 David  Tcpeuteth  of  it.  9  David  having  three  plagues 
 propounried  by  Gad  chooseth  the  pesfibrue.  14  .^fter 
 the  dentil  of  seventy  thousand,  David  by  repentance 
 preveiiteili  the  destrurtian  of  Xrusalem.  IS  David, 
 by  Gad's  direction,  purchaseth  Ornaifs  thresliimj- 
 ftoor:  where  having  built  an  altar,  God giveth  a  sign 
 of  his  favour  by  fire,  and  stayelh  the  plague.  23  Da- 
 vid saerijiceth  tttere,  being  restrained  from  Gibeon  by 
 fear  of  the  angel. 
 
 A  ND  "Satan  stood  up  against  Israel,  and 
 ■'-^  provoked  David  to  number  Israel. 
 
 2  And  David  said  to  Joab  and  to  the  rulers 
 of  the  people.  Go,  number  Israel  from  liecr- 
 sheba  even  to  Dan  ;  ""and  bring  the  number  oi' 
 them  to  me,  that  I  may  know  it. 
 
 3  And  Joab  answered,  Tlie  Loan  make  his 
 people  an  hundred  times  so  many  more  as  they 
 be  :  but,  my  lord  the  king,  arc  they  not  all  my 
 lord's  servants?  why  then  doth  my  lord  require 
 this  thing?  why  will  he  be  a  cause  of  trespass 
 to  Israel? 
 
 4  Nevertheless  the  king's  word  prevailed 
 against  Joab.  Wherefore  Joab  departed,  and 
 went  throughout  all  Israel,  and  came  to  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 5  t  And  Joab  gave  the  sum  of  the  number 
 of  the  people  unto  David.     And  all   they  of 
 
 Chap.  XX. —  The  contents  of  this  chapter  will  be  found  in  2  Sam.  si. 
 and  xii.;  the  affair  of  David  and  ITriah  being  here  omitted. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  \.  Satan,  'an  adversary.'— irHrA?/r/f»n,    liootlir.      In 
 
 2  Sam.  xxiv.  1,  it  is  said,  'and  he,  the  Lord,  moved  David;*  that  is, 
 suffered  Satan  to  move  him.  This  is  sufficiently  explained  here.  Only 
 here  the  phrase  *  stood  up'  is  to  be  observed,  wliich  was  the  pos- 
 
 REFLEcTinNS  ON  CiiAP.  XI.\ See  those  on  2  Sam.  x.  than  suffer  the  enemy  to  behave  themselves  proudly,  (Deut. 
 
 Hefli-ctions    on    Chap.  XX Henry  here  observes,   I.  xxxii.  27.) 
 
 Never  let  the  church's  friends  be  disheartened  by  the  power  and  III.  As  David's  victories,  so  those  of  the  Son  of  David  are 
 
 pride  of  the  church's  enemies.     We  need  not  fear   great  men  qradual.      We  see  not  yet  ail  things  put  under  him,  hut  it  will 
 
 against  us.  while  we  have  the  great  God  for  us.  be  seen  shortly  ;  and  death  itself,  the  last  enemy,  like  these 
 
 11.  None  are  more  visibly  marked  for  ruin  than  those  that  re-  giants,  triumphed  Over. 
 proach  God  and  his  Israel.      Uod  ivill  do   great  thiu!;s   lalher 
 448 
 
The  plague  of  pestilence. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXII. 
 
 Tile  plague  ii>  stayed. 
 
 Israel  were  a  thousand  thousand  and  an  hun- 
 dred thousand  men  that  drew  sword  :  and  Ju- 
 dah  was  four  hundred  threescore  and  ten  thou- 
 sand men  that  drew  sword. 
 
 6  ^  But  Leyi  and  Benjamin  counted  he  not 
 among  them  :  for  the  king's  word  was  abomi- 
 nable to  Joab. 
 
 7  t  And  God  was  displeased  with  this  thing ; 
 therefore  he  smote  Israel. 
 
 8  And  David  said  unto  God,  >"  I  have  sinned 
 greatly,  because  I  have  done  this  thing  :  "  but 
 now,  I  beseech  thee,  do  away  the  iniquity  of 
 thy  servant ;  for  I  have  done  very  foolishly. 
 
 9  T  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Gad,  David's 
 ''seer,  saying, 
 
 !0  Go  and  tell  David,  saying.  Thus  saith  the 
 LoBD,  I  f  oft'er  thee  three  things  :  choose  thee 
 one  of  them,  that  I  may  do  it  unto  thee. 
 
 11  So  Gad  came  to  David,  and  said  unto  him, 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord,  f  Choose  thee 
 
 12  ^Either  three  years'  famine;  or  three 
 months  to  be  destroyed  before  thy  foes,  while 
 that  the  sword  of  thine  enemies  overtaketh 
 thee ;  or  else  three  days  the  sword  of  the  Lord, 
 even  the  pestilence,  in  the  land,  and  the  angel 
 of  the  Lord  destroying  throughout  all  the 
 coasts  of  Israel.  Now  tlierefore  advise  thyself 
 what  word  1  shall  bring  again  to  him  tliat  sent 
 me. 
 
 13  And  David  said  unto  Gad,  I  am  in  a  great 
 strait :  let  me  fall  now  into  the  hand  of  the 
 Lord;  for  very  ||  great  are  his  mercies:  but 
 let  me  not  fall  into  the  hand  of  man. 
 
 14  H  So  the  Lord  sent  pestilence  upon  Israel: 
 and  there  fell  of  Israel  seventy  thousand  men. 
 
 15  And  God  sent  an  '■angel  unto  Jerusalem 
 to  destroy  it :  and  as  he  was  destroying,  the 
 Lord  beheld,  and  '  he  repented  him  of  the 
 evil,  and  said  to  the  angel  that  destroyed.  It  is 
 enough,  stay  now  thine  hand.  And  the  angel 
 of  the  Lord  stood  by  the  threshingfloor  of 
 II  Oman  the  Jebusite. 
 
 l(i  And  David  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  ''saw 
 the  angel  of  the  Lord  stand  between  the  earth 
 and  the  heaven,  having  a  drawn  sword  in  his 
 hand  stretched  out  over  Jerusalem.  Then  Da- 
 vid and  the  elders  of  Israel,  who  icere  clothed 
 in  sackcloth,  fell  upon  their  faces. 
 
 1 7  And  David  said  unto  God,  Is  it  not  I  that 
 commanded  the  people  to  be  numbered?  even 
 I  it  is  that  have  sinned  and  done  evil  indeed  ; 
 but  as  for  these  sheep,  what  have  they  done? 
 let  tliine  hand,  I  pray  thee,  O  Lord  my  God, 
 be  on  me,  and  on  my  father's  house  ;  but  not 
 on  thy  people,  that  they  should  be  plagued. 
 
 18  1  Then  the  '  angel  of  the  Lord  com- 
 manded Gad  to  say  to  David,  that  David 
 should  go  up,  and  set  up  an  altar  unto  the 
 Lord  in  the  threshingfloor  of  Oman  the  Jebu- 
 site. 
 
 19  And  David  went  up  at  the  saying  of  Gad, 
 which  he  spake  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 20  II  And  Oman  turned  back,  and  saw   the 
 
 tl,e  LOUD 
 
 tl.i,  ,l.,„g 
 d  2  Sam.  2A 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Atrttch  out. 
 
 t  Heb.  TaA" 
 
 to  thtf. 
 g  2  Sam.  24. 
 
 IS. 
 
 y  Or,  inani/. 
 
 II  Or,  ^"tu- 
 /(u/i,2Sam. 
 24    19, 
 
 A:.'Cbr.  3. 1. 
 
 II  Or,  Rn,m 
 Oriitvt  turn- 
 ed 6'i(A  and 
 i<iu  the  an- 
 gel, theu  he 
 and  hlM/aur 
 
 tHeb.fi. 
 
 1  Lev.  9.  24- 
 
 2  Chr.  3.  1. 
 St  7.  I. 
 
 p  1  Kin  3.4. 
 ch.  16.  39. 
 2  Chr.  1.3. 
 
 Deu    12.  5 
 2  Sam.  2i. 
 
 18,  19,  26, 
 28.2  Chr.  3. 
 
 r  ver.  11. 
 1  Kin,  7.  47. 
 
 angel ;  and  his  four  sons  with  him  hid  them- 
 selves.    Now  Oman  was  threshing  wheat. 
 
 21  And  as  David  came  to  Oman,  Oman 
 looked  and  saw  David,  and  went  out  of  the 
 threshingfloor,  and  bowed  himself  to  David 
 with  his  face  to  the  ground. 
 
 22  Then  David  said  to  Oman,  f  Grant  me  the 
 place  of  this  threshingfloor,  that  1  may  build 
 an  altar  therein  unto  the  Lord  :  thou  shalt 
 grant  it  me  for  the  full  price :  that  the  plague 
 may  be  stayed  from  the  people. 
 
 23  And  Oman  said  unto  David,  Take  it  to 
 thee,  and  let  my  lord  the  king  do  that  ivliich  is 
 good  in  his  eyes:  lo,  I  give  thee  the  oxen  also 
 for  burnt  off'erings,  and  the  threshing  instru- 
 ments for  wood,  and  the  wheat  for  the  meat 
 oft'ering  ;   I  give  it  all. 
 
 2-1  And  king  David  said  to  Oman,  Nay;  but 
 I  will  verily  buy  it  for  the  full  price :  for  I  will 
 not  take  that  which  is  thine  for  the  Lord,  nor 
 ofter  burnt  olferings  without  cost. 
 
 25  So  "'  David  gave  to  Oman  for  the  place 
 six  hundred  shekels  of  gold  by  weight. 
 
 2(j  And  David  built  there  an  altar  unto  the 
 Lord,  and  oft'ered  burnt  off'erings  and  peace 
 off'erings,  and  called  upon  the  Lord  ;  and  "he 
 answered  him  from  heaven  by  fire  upon  the 
 altar  of  burnt  off'ering. 
 
 27  And  the  Lord  commanded  the  angel  ; 
 and  he  put  up  his  sword  again  into  the  sheath 
 thereof. 
 
 28  f  At  that  time  when  David  saw  that  the 
 Lord  had  answered  him  in  the  threshing- 
 floor  of  Oman  the  Jebusite,  then  he  sacrificed 
 there. 
 
 29  °  For  the  tabernacle  of  the  Lord,  which 
 Moses  made  in  the  wilderness,  and  the  altar  of 
 the  burnt  offering,  icere  at  that  season  in  the 
 high  place  at  ''  Gibeon. 
 
 30  But  David  could  not  go  before  it  to  en- 
 quire of  God  :  for  he  was  afraid  because  of  the 
 sword  of  the  angel  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 I  David,  forehnoiciny  the  place  of  the  temple^  prepareth 
 abmiclance  for  the  huildhig  of  it.  6  He  instructtth 
 Solomon  in  God's  promises,  and  his  dutt/  in  Imihiinij 
 the  temple.  17  'He  chargeth  the  princes  to  assist  his 
 son. 
 
 'pHEN  David  said,  'This  is  the  house  of  the 
 -■-  Lord  God,  and  this  is  the  altar  of  the 
 burnt  offering  for  Israel. 
 
 2  And  David  commanded  to  gather  together 
 "  the  strangers  that  were  in  the  land  of  Israel ; 
 and  he  set  masons  to  hew  wrought  stones  to 
 build  the  house  of  God. 
 
 3  And  David  prepared  iron  in  abundance  for 
 the  nails  for  the  doors  of  the  gates,  and  for  the 
 joinings;  and  brass  in  abundance  '^without 
 weight ; 
 
 4  Also  cedar  trees  in  abundance  :  for  the 
 *'  Zidonians  and  they  of  Tyre  brought  much 
 cedar  wood  to  David. 
 
 ture  of  those  who  charged  or  accused  any  person  in  a  court  of  justice, 
 (see  1  Kings,  xxfi.  21.)  20.  Saw  the  angel,  eiae  toc  /Juo-iXea,  *  saw 
 the  king,*  Sept.,  so  Houb.  and  Boothr.  26.  By  y/re— the  highest 
 mark  of  the  Divine  approbation.— S^i^.  This  signified  that  God's  anger 
 was  turned  away  from  him  ;  the  fire  that  might  justly  have  fastened 
 upon  the  sinner,  fastened  upon  the  sacrifice,  and  consumed  tliat. — 
 Henry.    See  notes  on  2  Sara.  xxiv. 
 
 Chap.  XXII. —  1.  This  is  the  house  of  the  Lord  God — till  a  temple  is 
 builded  (for  as  yet  there  was  none)  this  place  shall  be  considered  the 
 temple  of  God,  and  on  this  altar,  and  not  on  that  at  Gibeon,  shall  the 
 burnt-offerings  be  made.  —  Gill,  A.Clarke.  David  seems  to  have 
 respect  to  the  words  of  Jacob,  Gen.  xxviii.  i6,  J7. — Pat.  This  verse 
 belongs  properly  to  the  preceding  chapter. — So  Boolhr.  2.  Struric^ers, 
 — these  strangers  seem  to  have  been  the  remnant  of  the  old  inhabitants. 
 
 449 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI.- 
 
 -See  those  on  2  Samuel,  xxiv. 
 
 3   M 
 
David's  charge  to  Solomon. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXIII 
 
 Solomon  is  made  king 
 
 5  And  David  said,"  Solomon  my  son  is  young 
 and  tender,  and  the  house  that  is  to  be  builded 
 for  the  Lord  mnst  he  exceeding  magnifical, 
 of  fame  and  of  glory  throughout  all  countries  : 
 I  will  therefore  now  make  preparation  for  it. 
 So  David  prepared  abundantly  before  his  death 
 
 6  1  Then  he  called  for  Solomon  his  son,  and 
 charged  him  to  build  an  house  for  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel. 
 
 7  And  David  said  to  Solomon,  My  son,  as  for 
 me,  'it  was  in  my  mind  to  build  an  house 
 *unto  the  name  of  the  Lord  my  God  : 
 
 8  But  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me, 
 saying, ''  Thou  hast  shed  blood  abundantly,  and 
 hast  made  great  wars  :  thou  shalt  not  build  an 
 house  unto  my  name,  because  tliou  hast  shed 
 much  blood  upon  the  earth  in  my  sight. 
 
 9  '  Behold,  a  son  shall  be  born  to  thee,  who 
 shall  be  a  man  of  rest ;  and  I  will  give  him 
 '  rest  from  all  his  enemies  round  about :  for  his 
 name  shall  be  ||  Solomon,  and  I  will  give  peace 
 and  quietness  unto  Israel  in  his  days. 
 
 10  '  He  shall  build  an  house  for  my  name : 
 and  "  he  shall  be  my  son,  and  I  iL'ill  be  his  fa- 
 ther ;  and  I  will  establish  the  throne  of  his 
 kingdom  over  Israel  for  ever. 
 
 1 1  Now,  my  son,  "  the  Lord  be  with  thee ; 
 and  prosper  thou,  and  build  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  tliy  God,  as  he  hath  said  of  thee. 
 
 1'2  Only  the  Lord  "give  thee  wisdom  and 
 understanding,  and  give  thee  charge  concern- 
 ing Israel,  that  thou  mayest  keep  the  law  of 
 the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 13  'Then  shalt  thou  prosper,  if  thou  takest 
 heed  to  fulfil  tlie  statutes  and  judgments  which 
 the  Lord  charged  Moses  with  concerning 
 Israel :  '  be  strong,  and  of  good  courage ; 
 dread  not,  nor  be  dismayed. 
 
 14  Now,  behold,  ||  in  my  trouble  I  have  pre- 
 pared for  the  house  of  the  Lord  an  hundred 
 thousand  talents  of  gold,  and  a  thousand 
 thousand  talents  of  silver ;  and  of  brass  and 
 iron  'without  weight ;  for  it  is  in  abundance  : 
 timber  also  and  stone  have  I  prepared  ;  and 
 thou  mayest  add  thereto. 
 
 15  Moreover  there  are  workmen  with  thee 
 in  abundance,  hewers  and  ||  workers  of  stone 
 and  timber,  and  all  manner  of  cunning  men  for 
 every  manner  of  work. 
 
 16  Of  the  gold,  tlie  silver,  and  the  brass,  and 
 the  iron,  there  is  no  number.     Arise  therefore. 
 
 ^■2  Sam.  7.  -2. 
 1  Kin  3  17, 
 ch.  17.  1,  & 
 
 h  I  Kin.  5.3. 
 th.  as.  3. 
 
 k  \  Kin.  I. 
 
 25   $i  5   *. 
 II  That  is, 
 
 yrateabh. 
 
 /2  Sam  7. 
 l.S.  IKin.S 
 5,  cli.  17.12, 
 n.  8cS3   li. 
 
 m  Hcb.  I.  5. 
 
 I  Kin.  3. 9, 
 
 12.  P>. 78.1. 
 
 f  Deu.S). 
 
 7, fl.  Josh. I. 
 0,  7,  9.  ch. 
 28.  SO. 
 11  Or,  in  mt/ 
 poverti/. 
 
 II  That  m, 
 ciiryeij'rt. 
 
 I  Deu  12.10 
 Josh.  22  1. 
 2  Sam.  7.  1 
 ch.  23.  25. 
 
 J- I  Kln.S.  6 
 21.2Chr.  5. 
 7.  &  6.  11. 
 
 y  ver.7. 
 1  Kin.  5.  3. 
 
 o  1  Kin.  1. 
 ai— 39. 
 ch.  29.  5. 
 1015. 
 
 eir.  1015. 
 
 6  Num.  i.  S, 
 •17. 
 
 II  Or,  to 
 
 overteti. 
 c  Pent.  16. 
 
 IH.  ch.  26. 
 
 29,  8  Chr. 
 
 19.  1 
 
 iiSee8Clir. 
 29.  25, 2G. 
 AiQos  6.  5. 
 
 e  Ex.  6-  Ifi. 
 
 Nu.  20.  67. 
 
 ch.  6.  1,  liic. 
 
 2Chr.H  U. 
 
 &  29.  25 
 t  Heb.  divi- 
 
 fell.  20.  21. 
 Or,  librti, 
 :h.  6.  17. 
 
 I  Or.Ziioft, 
 ver.  11. 
 
 t  Heb.  dia 
 nolmuUiply 
 
 and  be  doing,  and  '  the  Lord  be  with  thee. 
 
 17  H  David  also  commanded  all  the  princes  of 
 Israel  to  help  Solomon  his  son,  saying, 
 
 18  Is  not  the  Lord  your  God  with  you?  'and 
 hath  he  not  given  you  rest  on  every  side  ?  for 
 he  hath  given  tlie  inhabitants  of  the  land  into 
 mine  hand  ;  and  the  land  is  subdued  before  the 
 Lord,  and  before  his  people. 
 
 19  Now  "set  your  heart  and  your  soul  to 
 seek  the  Lord  your  God  ;  arise  therefore,  and 
 build  ye  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord  God,  to 
 '  bring  tlie  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord, 
 and  the  holy  vessels  of  God,  into  the  house 
 that  is  to  be  built '  to  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 I  I)avi<i  in  his  old  age  maheth  Solomon  ki/iif.  2  T/ie 
 number  and  distribntiun  of  the  Ltvihs.  7  7'/ie  fa- 
 milies of  the  Gtrshonites.  12  The  sous  of  Kuhuih. 
 21   The  sons  of  Mirari.    24  The  office  of  the  Levites. 
 
 CO  when  David  was  old  and  full  of  days,  he 
 '^  made  "  Solomon  his  son  king  over  Israel. 
 '2  t  And  he  gatlicred  together  all  the  princes 
 of  Israel,  with  the  priests  and  the  Levitcs. 
 
 3  Now  the  Levites  were  numbered  from  the 
 age  of  ''  thirty  years  and  upward  :  and  their 
 number  by  their  polls,  man  by  man,  was  thirty 
 and  eight  thousand. 
 
 4  Of  which,  twenty  and  four  thousand  icere 
 
 II  to  set  forward  the  work  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  ;   and  six   thousand  were  '  officers  and 
 
 judges : 
 
 5  Moreover  four  thousand  were  porters  ;  and 
 four  thousand  praised  the  Lord  with  the  in- 
 .struments  ''which  I  ma.ile,  said  David,  to  praise 
 therewith. 
 
 6  And  "David  divided  them  into  f courses 
 among  the  sons  of  Levi,  namely,  Gershon, 
 Kohath,  and  Merari. 
 
 7  U  Of  the  '  Gershonites  were,  \\  Laadan,  and 
 Shimei. 
 
 8  The  sons  of  Laadan  ;  the  chief  iuas  Jehiel, 
 and  Zetham,  and  Joel,  three. 
 
 9  The  sons  of  Shimei ;  Shelomith,  and  Ha- 
 ziel,  and  Haran,  three.  These  were  the  chief 
 of  the  fathers  of  Laadan. 
 
 10  And   the   sons   of  Shimei  were,  Jahath, 
 Zina,  and  Jeush,  and    Beriah.     These  four 
 
 were  the  sons  of  Shimei. 
 
 1 1  And  Jahath  was  the  chief,  and  Zizah  the 
 second  :  but  Jeush  and  Beriah  fhad  not  many 
 
 who,  having  submitted  to  David,  had  their  lives  spared,  and  were  re- 
 duced to  bondage,  (see  1  Kings,  ix.  20— 22.)— Sco«.  5.  Must  be 
 exceedinfc  mnfrnijical,  ffc..  may  perhaps  mean  'must  magnify  his 
 excellence,  hi«  name,  and  his  glory,  among  all,'  &c. — Boothr.  8.  Be- 
 rutise  thou  hast  shed  much  blood— \.\\\?,  shews  God's  hatred  of  the  shed- 
 ding of  human  blood,  though  David  engaged  in  war  by  God's  com- 
 mand.— Ref.  Bib.  It  was  also  an  intimation  that  the  church  of  God, 
 of  which  this  was  a  type,  was  to  be  built  by  the  Prince  of  Peace,  and 
 maint.iined  not  by  force  of  arms. — Gill.  10.  For  ever — this  is  applied 
 to  Christ,  (Heb.  i.  5,}  to  whom  it  belongs  in  the  full  sense,  for  Solomon 
 reigned  only  40  years. — Put.  14.  in  my  trouble,  'with  care.' — 
 Boothr.  An  hundred  thousand  talents,  ^r. — the  value  of  these  talents 
 is  variously  reckoned  ;  some  make  it  547,500,000/. ;  others  reduce  it  to 
 
 50,000,000;.  of  our  money.  The  latter  calculation  is  thought  by  many 
 the  most  prohable,  and  is  founded  on  the  numbers  of  Josephus,  whohas 
 •  ten  tliousand  talents  of  gold  and  a  hundred  of  silver.'  A  scribe,  by 
 only  hastily  adding  a  stroke  to  a  letter,  would  produce  the  same  effect 
 as  is  produced  in  our  arithmetic  by  adding  a  cypher. — See  Gill,  Hew., 
 Boothr.  David,  having  been  victorious  over  eight  nations,  must  have 
 collected  an  immense  booty. — Sut. 
 
 Chap.  XXlll. — 2.  Pnnces — heads  of  the  nation. — Pyle.  3.  Front 
 the  age  of  thirty — so  Moses  appointed.  Num.  iv.  3,  for  then  they  were 
 come  to  their  full  strength,  and  fit  for  service,  which  lasted  till  they 
 were  fifty.  4.  The  work — killing,  flaying,  and  washing  the  sacrifices. 
 Put.  5.  Porters— to  prevent  unclean  and   improper  persons  from 
 
 entering.        6.  Courses — twenty-four,  changed  weekly,  (chap.  ix.  25.) 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII.  —  I.  ft  is  good  to  be  pioneers 
 for  others  in  the  cause  of  God.  It  is  an  honour  to  prepare  the 
 way  for  the  glory  of  the  Lord.  This  should  satisfy  the  most 
 humble  labourers  in  the  service  of  Christ ;  for,  as  David  pre- 
 paretl  the  materials  for  the  most  splendid  of  buildings,  '  to 
 magnify  the  excellence,  name,  and  glory  of  the  Lord,'  so  often 
 have  the  first  labourers  on  a  sterile  field  prepared  the  soil  for 
 the  reception  of  that  good  seed  which  has  in  the  end  produced 
 an  abundant  and  joyous  harvest. 
 
 II.  tfe  best  promote  the  interests  of  religion  hu  promoting  uni- 
 versal peace.  God  can  build  the  "walls  of  his  Jerusalem  in 
 450 
 
 troublous  times ;  but  it  belongs  not  to  the  followers  of  the 
 Prince  of  Peace  to  riot  in  human  blood.  Wars  usually  come 
 from  ambition,  pride,  and  the  indulgence  of  some  of  the  worst 
 propensities  of  depraved  nature  ;  and  if  David,  who  under- 
 took his  wars  under  the  Divine  sanction,  could  not  build  the 
 temple  because  his  bands  were  stained  with  blood,  how  can 
 a  people  expect  successfully  to  promote  the  cause  of  God  who 
 delight  in  sacrificing  their  neighbours  to  the  most  sanguinary 
 of  Molochs?  The  Saviour  came  into  the  world  in  universal 
 peace,  and  when  his  universal  reign  shall  take  place,  '  men 
 shall  not  learn  war  any  more.' 
 
The  office  of  the  Levites. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXIV. 
 
 The  division  of  the  sons  of  Aaron. 
 
 sons ;  therefore  they  were  in  one  reckoning, 
 according  to  their  father's  house. 
 
 12  t^The  sons  of  Kohath ;  Amram,  Izhar, 
 Hebron,  and  Uzziel,  four. 
 
 13  The  sons  of ''Amram;  Aaron  and  Moses: 
 and  '  Aaron  was  separated,  that  lie  should 
 sanctify  the  most  holy  things,  he  and  his  sons 
 for  ever,  'to  bum  incense  before  the  Lord,  'to 
 minister  unto  him,  and  "'  to  bless  in  his  name 
 for  ever. 
 
 14  '^ovi  concerning  Moses  the  man  of  God, 
 "  his  sons  were  named  of  the  tribe  of  Levi. 
 
 15  °  The  sons  of  Moses  were,  Gershom,  and 
 Eliezer. 
 
 16  Of  the  sons  of  Gershom,  '  |j  Shebuel  was 
 the  chief. 
 
 17  And  the  sons  of  Eliezer  were,  ''  Rehabiah 
 II  the  chief.  And  Eliezer  had  none  other  sons  ; 
 but  the  sons  of  Rehabiah  f  were  very  many. 
 
 18  Of  the  sons  of  Izhar;  ||  Shelomith  the 
 chief. 
 
 19  "^  Of  the  sons  of  Hebron  ;  Jeriah  the  first, 
 Amariah  the  second,  Jahaziel  the  third,  and 
 Jekameam  the  fourth. 
 
 20  Of  the  sons  of  Uzziel;  Micah  the  first,  and 
 Jesiah  the  second. 
 
 21  If  ^  The  sons  of  Merari ;  Mahli,  and  Mushi. 
 The  sons  of  Mahli ;  Eleazar,  and  '  Kish. 
 
 22  And  Eleazar  died,  and  "  had  no  sons,  but 
 daughters :  and  their  ||  brethren  the  sous  of 
 Kish  '  took  them. 
 
 23  '  The  sons  of  Mushi ;  Mahli,  and  Eder, 
 and  Jeremoth,  three. 
 
 24  If  These  were  the  sons  of  ^  Levi  after  the 
 house  of  their  fathers  ;  even  the  chief  of  the 
 fathers,  as  they  were  counted  by  number  of 
 names  by  their  polls,  that  did  the  work  for  the 
 service  of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  from  the  age 
 of  twenty  years  and  upward. 
 
 25  For  David  said.  The  Lord  God  of  Israel 
 ■■hath  given  rest  unto  his  people,  ||  that  they 
 may  dwell  in  Jerusalem  for  ever  : 
 
 26  And  also  unto  the  Levites  ;  they  shall  no 
 more  "^  carry  the  tabernacle,  nor  any  vessels  of 
 it  for  the  service  thereof. 
 
 27  For  by  the  last  words  of  David  the  Levites 
 were  f  numbered  from  twenty  years  old  and 
 above  : 
 
 28  Because  f  their  office  ums  to  wait  on  the 
 sons  of  Aaron  for  the  service  of  the  house  of 
 
 S  Ex.  6.  18. 
 
 i  Ex  28.  I. 
 H«b.  5.  1. 
 
 4  Ex.  30.  7. 
 
 Nu.  16. -11). 
 
 1  Sam.2,29. 
 /Deut.21.5. 
 in  Num.  G. 
 
 nSee  ch.  26. 
 2.S,  2^,  25. 
 »  Ex.  2.  22. 
 18.  3,  4, 
 
 l>  eh.  26  21 
 Shuiael, 
 ch.  24.  20. 
 7  ch.  26.  2.'i. 
 II  Or,  tlieJiTit 
 
 t  Heb.  mn 
 hiehlg  m«l- 
 tiplied. 
 
 II  SttKloinath, 
 ch.  2'1  22. 
 
 r  ch.  24.  23. 
 
 JCh.24.  26. 
 f  ch-  2-1.  29. 
 
 p.  ch.  2t.  28. 
 II  Or,  l^iut- 
 
 .rSee  Num. 
 S6,  6,  8, 
 .V  ch.24.  30. 
 
 I  ver,  27. 
 Sec  Num. 
 I.  3.  &  4.3. 
 St  8.  24. 
 Ezra  3.  8. 
 
 A  ch,  22.  IS. 
 
 II  Or,  nnd  he 
 dwllelh  in 
 jTiiialem, 
 ■S-c. 
 
 c  Num.  4.  5, 
 &c. 
 
 cir  1015. 
 f  Hcb.  num- 
 
 I  Hcb.  thfh 
 itatmn  nas 
 itt  the  hand 
 .,/,l.,,o,., 
 t'f  Anron. 
 Neh.il.  24 
 
 K.C- 
 U-.   1015. 
 
 d  Ex.  25.  30. 
 e  Lev.  6.  20. 
 ch.  9.89, 
 
 a.c. 
 
 /  Lev.  2.  4. 
 tf  Lev.  3.  5,7. 
 II  Or,  ,/!.,< 
 
 plate, 
 h  Lev.  19.35, 
 
 Nu.  10.  10. 
 Pe.  81.  3. 
 «  Lev.  23.  4. 
 
 I  Num.  1.53. 
 
 b  Num.  3. 
 &  26  61. 
 
 the  Lord,  in  the  courts,  and  in  the  chambers, 
 and  in  the  purifying  of  all  holy  things,  and  the 
 work  of  the  service  of  the  house  of  God  ; 
 
 29  Both  for  ■'  the  shewbread,  and  for  °  the  fine 
 flour  for  meat  ofiering,  and  for  '  the  unleavened 
 cakes,  and  for  ^  that  which  is  baited  in  the 
 II  pan,  and  for  that  which  is  fried,  and  for  all 
 manner  of  '■  measure  and  size  ; 
 
 30  And  to  stand  every  morning  to  thank  and 
 praise  the  Lord,  and  likewise  at  even  ; 
 
 31  And  to  offer  all  burnt  sacrifices  unto  the 
 Lord  '  in  the  sabbaths,  in  the  new  moons,  and 
 on  the  ''  set  feasts,  by  number,  according  to  the 
 order  commanded  unto  them,  continually  be- 
 fore the  Lord  : 
 
 32  And  that  they  should  'keep  the  charge  of 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and  the 
 charge  of  the  holy  place,  and  "'  the  charge  of 
 the  sons  of  Aaron  their  brethren,  in  the  service 
 of  the  house  of  the  Lobd. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  The  divisions  of  the  sons  of  Aaron  by  lot  into  four 
 and  twtnty  orders.  20  The  Kohathites,  27  and  the 
 Merarites  divided  by  lot. 
 
 OW  these  art;  the  divisions  of  tlie  sons  of 
 
 N°; 
 
 Abihu,  Eleazar,  and  Ithamar. 
 
 2  But  ''  Nadab  and  Abihu  died  before  their 
 father,  and  had  no  children :  therefore  Eleazar 
 and  Ithamar  executed  the  priest's  office. 
 
 3  And  David  distributed  them,  both  Zadok  of 
 the  sons  of  Eleazar,  and  Ahimelech  of  the  sons 
 of  Ithamar,  according  to  their  offices  in  their 
 service. 
 
 4  And  there  were  more  chief  men  found  of 
 the  sons  of  Eleazar  than  of  the  sons  of  Itha- 
 mar ;  and  thus  were  they  divided.  Among  the 
 sons  of  Eleazar  there  were  sixteen  chief  men 
 of  the  house  of  their  fathers,  and  eight  among 
 the  sons  of  Ithamar  according  to  the  bouse  of 
 their  fathers. 
 
 5  Thus  were  they  divided  by  lot,  one  sort 
 with  another;  for  the  governors  of  the  sanc- 
 tuary, and  governors  of  the  house  of  God,  were 
 of  the  sons  of  Eleazar,  and  of  the  sons  of  Itha- 
 
 iiar. 
 
 6  And  Shemaiah  the  son  of  Nethaneel  the 
 scribe,  one  of  the  Levites,  wrote  them  before 
 the  king,  and  the  princes,  and  Zadok  the  priest. 
 
 — Scott.  24.  Twenty  T/cnrs — verse  3,  thirty  years  was  fixed  as  the 
 age,  but,  considering  that  the  temple  would  require  a  more  numerous 
 ministry,  David  fixed  the  period,  by  this  subsequent  regulation,  at 
 '  twenty  years  and  upward.'  In  the  time  of  Moses  the  age  was  twenty. 
 five,  or,  as  some  think,  thirty. — Hetv.  25.  Dtvell  in  Jerunnlfm  for 
 ever — the  condition  of  continued  obedience  being  always  implied. — 
 Pat.  26.  No  more  carry  the  tabertiacle,  the  ark  being  now  fixed,  and 
 the  temporary  and  moveable  tabernacle  done  with. — Kd.  2".  Last 
 worth,  '  last  will.' — Pat.  '  Last  orders.' — Gilt,  26.  Purifying — of 
 holy  places,  garments,  vessels,  and  sacrifices,  by  washing  and  cleans- 
 ing.— Poole.  29.  For  the  shcivliretid — to  get  it  ready  every  week  for 
 the  priests  to  set  on  the  table,  (chap.  ix.  32.) — Gill.  For  meat  off'ering, 
 —to  see  that  there  was  a  just  quantity  of  fine  flour  for  this  purpose, 
 morning  and  evening.— Pui.  See  Lev.  ii.  Baked— fried — that  the 
 unleavened  cakes  were  rightly  made,  &c.  For  all  mantier  of  measure 
 and  size — they  were  to  see  that  the  just  measures  for  tilings  liquid  and 
 dry  were  not  altered ;  tor  the  standards  of  all  measures  and  weights 
 
 used  in  the  country  were  kept  in  the  sanctuary ;  hence  we  read  of  the 
 shekels  of  the  sanctuary,  measures  and  weights  being  reckoned  among 
 sacred  things. — Pat, 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  —3.  Ahimelech — the  same  as  Ahiathar,  who  was  high 
 priest  in  the  time  of  David,  called  Abiah,  chap.  xiv.  3,  and  Abiathar, 
 Mark,  ii.  26. —  IVil.  5.  Divided  by  tot — which  course  should  serve 
 first,  which  next,  and  so  on.— Gill,  AUhough  the  high  priesthood  had 
 been  settled  in  the  line  of  Eleazar  and  in  the  person  of  Phinehas,  this 
 prerogative  was  lost  at  the  death  of  Eli,  from  which  period  we  find  the 
 progeny  of  Ithamar  sharing  equally  in  that  dignity  with  the  progeny 
 of  Eleazar.  Hence  David,  to  prevent  jealousy  between  the  two  families, 
 makes  this  distribution  by  lot.— Geddes.  Governors  of  the  sanctuary, 
 IDlp  ^112J,  the  principal  ministers  about  holy  things..— P«(.  Governors 
 of  tlie  liouse  of  God,  literally,  '  governors  of  God ;'  cn'jNn  'lie,  the 
 chief  judges. — Grotiiis,  Put.,  Houb,  The  addition  'of  Gud'  is  equiva- 
 lent to  'sacred,*  'excellent,'  or  'holy,'  shewing  their  divine  appoint- 
 ment.— Heu;,        6.  Wrote  litem,  the  lots,  and  the  names  upon  them. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIII.  —  I.  We  see  here,  David's 
 concern  for  the  interests  of  relitjion.  The  good  man,  as  lie  ad- 
 vances towards  heaven,  so  far  from  being  unconcerned  about 
 the  state  of  a  world  he  is  soon  to  leave,  will  be  increasingly 
 desirous  that  the  church  of  God  may  prosper,  and  be  blest 
 with  a  succession  of  men  able  and  willing  to  pay  attention  to 
 those  things  which  concern  the  best  interests  of  men. 
 
 II.  In  the  duties  of  the  priests  and  Levites,  me  see  tliat  tliose 
 wlio  are  tru/i/  tievoteti  to  itoly  ttlings  are  engaged  in  no  sinecure, 
 451 
 
 The  duties  under  the  Levitical  dispensation  must  sometimes 
 have  been  exceedingly  toilsome  to  the  body — '  to  stand  every 
 morning  to  thank  and  praise  the  Lord,  and  likewise  at  even, 
 and  to  oiTer  all  burnt  sacrifices  unto  the  Lord  in  the  sabbath, 
 in  the  new  moons,  and  on  the  set  feasts  ;'  yet  such  duties 
 must  these  servants  of  God  perform  ;  and  so  must  all  the 
 faithful  ministers  of  God  devote  themselves  to  their  duty,  and 
 not  be  wearied  in  well-doing,  but '  be  always  abounding  in  the 
 work  of  the  Lord." 
 
The  Kohathites  §-c.  divided  by  lot. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXV. 
 
 The  office  of  the  singers. 
 
 and  Ahimelech  the  son  of  Abiatliar,  and  before 
 the  chief  of  the  fathers  of  the  priests  and  Le- 
 vites  :  one  fpvincipal  honshold  being  taken  for 
 Eleazar,  and  one  taken  for  Ithamar. 
 
 7  Now  the  first  lot  came  forth  to  Jehoiarib, 
 the  second  to  Jedaiah, 
 
 8  The  third  to  Harim,  tlie  fourth  to  Seorim, 
 
 9  The  fifth  to  Malchijah,  the  sixth  to  Mija- 
 min, 
 
 10  The  seventh  to  Hakkoz,  the  eighth  to 
 'Abijali, 
 
 1 1  The  ninth  to  Jeshuali,  the  tenth  to  She- 
 caniah, 
 
 12  The  eleventh  to  Eliashib,  the  twelfth  to 
 Jakim, 
 
 13  The  thirteenth  to  Huppah,  the  fourteenth 
 to  Jeshebeab, 
 
 14  The  fifteenth  to  Bilgah,  the  sixteenth  to 
 Immev, 
 
 15  Tlie  seventeenth  to  Hezir,  the  eighteenth 
 to  Aphses, 
 
 16  The  nineteenth  to  Pethahiali,  the  twen- 
 tieth to  Jeliezekel, 
 
 17  The  one  and  twentieth  to  Jachin,  the  two 
 and  twentieth  to  Gamul, 
 
 18  The  three  and  twentieth  to  Delaiah,  the 
 four  and  twentieth  to  Maaziah. 
 
 19  These  irere  the  orderings  of  them  in  their 
 service  ''  to  come  into  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 according  to  their  manner,  under  Aaron  their 
 father,  as  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  had  com- 
 manded him. 
 
 20  U  And  the  rest  of  the  sons  of  Levi  were 
 these  :  Of  the  sons  of  Aniram  ;  "  Shubael :  of 
 the  sons  of  Shubael ;  Jelideiah. 
 
 21  Concerning  '  Rehabiah  :  of  the  sons  of 
 Rehabiali,  the  first  teas  Isshiab. 
 
 22  Of  the  Izharites ;  *  Shelomoth  :  of  the 
 sons  of  Shelomotli  :  .Taliath. 
 
 23  And  the  sons  of  ^  Hebron ;  Jeriah  the 
 first,  Amariah  the  second,  Jahaziel  the  third, 
 Jekanieam  the  fourth. 
 
 24  Of  the  sons  of  Uzziel  ;  Michah  :  of  the 
 sons  of  Michah  ;  Shamir. 
 
 25  The  brother  of  Micliah  was  Isshiah  :  of 
 the  sons  of  Isshiah  ;  Zechariah. 
 
 26  '  The  sons  of  Merari  were  Mahli  and 
 Mushi :  the  sons  of  Jaaziah  ;  Beno. 
 
 27  K  The  sons  of  Merari  by  Jaaziah  ;  Beno, 
 and  Shoham,  and  Zaccur,  and  Ibri. 
 
 28  Of  Mahli  came  Eleazar,  '  who  had  no 
 sons. 
 
 29  Concerning  Kish  :  the  son  of  Kish  was 
 Jerahmeel. 
 
 ) Heb.  hm 
 oftht 
 father. 
 
 f  cli.  S.S.  16, 
 SMttei. 
 
 /cli.  23   17. 
 
 c  ell,  83.  18, 
 Shtkmilh. 
 
 Cir  .1015. 
 /  ch.  23.  23. 
 
 rh   n.  33, 
 ..;t,  4 1. 
 
 II  Oil,, 
 ,:il1fil  Jt- 
 
 Or,  t-.ri, 
 
 ver.  II. 
 With  Shi- 
 
 17. 
 
 II  Or,  ^za- 
 Ttfl,  ver.  18. 
 
 II  Or,  .SV.1.. 
 Ud,  vcr.20. 
 
 A  ver.  9. 
 \  Heb.  iv 
 
 30  '  The  sons  also  of  Mushi ;  Mahli,  and 
 Eder,  and  Jerimotli.  These  were  the  sons  of 
 the  Levites  after  the  house  of  their  fathers. 
 
 31  Tliese  likewise  cast  lots  over  against  their 
 brethren  the  sons  of  Aaron  in  the  presence  of 
 David  the  king,  and  Zadok,  and  Aiiimelech, 
 and  the  cliief  of  the  fathers  of  tlie  priests  and 
 Levites,  even  the  principal  fathers  over  against 
 their  younger  brethren. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1    The  number  and  offices  of  the  singers.      8    Their 
 division  by  lot  into  four  and  twenty  orders. 
 
 lyrOREOVER  David  and  tlie  captains  of  the 
 ■'-'-'-  host  separated  to  the  service  of  the  .sons 
 of  "  Asaph,  and  of  Heman,  and  of  Jedutliun, 
 who  should  prophesy  with  harps,  with  psalteries, 
 and  with  cymbals :  and  the  number  of  the 
 workmen  according  to  their  service  was  : 
 
 2  Of  the  sons  of  Asaph  ;  Zaccur,  and  Joseph, 
 and  Nethaniah,  and  ||  Asarelali,  tlie  sons  of 
 Asaph  under  the  hands  of  Asaph,  which  pro- 
 phesied f  according  to  the  order  of  the  king. 
 
 3  Of  Jeduthnn  :  the  sons  of  Jeduthun  ;  Ge- 
 daliah,  and  ||  Zeri,  and  Jesbaiah,  Hashabiah, 
 and  Mattithiah,  ||  six,  under  tlie  hands  of  their 
 father  Jeduthun,  who  prophesied  with  a  harp, 
 to  give  thanks  and  to  praise  tlie  Lord. 
 
 4  Of  Heman  :  the  sons  of  Heman  ;  Bukkiah, 
 Mattaniab,  ||  Uzziel,  ||  Shebuel,  and  Jeriinoth, 
 Hananiah,  Hanani,  Eliatbah,  Giddalti,  and  Ro- 
 mamti-ezer,  Joshbekashah,  Mallothi,  Hothir, 
 and  Mahazioth  : 
 
 5  All  these  were  the  sons  of  Heman  the 
 king's  seer  in  the  ||  words  of  God,  to  lift  up  the 
 horn.  And  God  gave  to  Heman  fourteen 
 sons  and  three  daughters. 
 
 6  All  these  tcere  under  the  hands  of  their 
 father  for  song  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  with 
 cymbals,  psalteries,  and  harps,  for  the  service 
 of  the  house  of  God,  "f  according  to  the  king's 
 order  to  Asaph,  Jeduthun,  and  Heman. 
 
 7  So  the  number  of  them,  with  their  brethren 
 that  were  instructed  in  the  songs  of  the  Lord, 
 even  all  that  were  cunning,  was  two  hundred 
 fourscore  and  eight. 
 
 8  t  And  they  cast  lots,  ward  against  ward, 
 as  well  the  small  as  the  great,  ''  the  teacher  as 
 the  scholar. 
 
 9  Now  the  first  lot  came  fortli  for  Asaph  to 
 Joseph :  the  second  to  Gedaliah,  who  with  his 
 brethren  and  sons  were  twelve  : 
 
 10  The  third  to  Zaccur,  he,  his  sons,  and  his 
 brethren,  were  twelve: 
 
 put  into  the  urn,  and,  as  they  came  out,  which  was  first,  second,  &c. — 
 Gilt.  Ahimelech  tfie  .ion  of.iftinthar,  '  Abiathar  the  son  of  Ahimelech.' 
 Bofjthr.  One  principal  ttonnhold  being;  taken,  ^c. — the  sen.se  is,  that 
 first  one  family  of  Eleazar  was  taken,  and  then  one  of  Ithamar's  family, 
 and  then  one  of  Eleazar's  again,  and  so  on,  until  si.'ctcen  were  gone 
 through,  and  then  the  other  eight  were  divided  under  so  many  heads 
 of  the  family  of  Eleazar. — Gill.  One  principal  honshold,  fyc.,  'one 
 Iiaternal  chief  being  taken  for  Ithamar,  and  two  for  Eleazar.' — BooUir. 
 10.  Aliijuh,  or  Abia.  of  whose  line  John  the  Baptist  descended. — Snt. 
 31.  Over  against  their  i/ounf^er  brethren  —  the  lots  of  the  elder  and 
 younger  brethren  were  promiscuously  put  together,  and  the  order  was 
 settled  as  the  lots  came  forth,  without  any  regard  to  the  age  or  dignity 
 or  number  of  the  persons  or  families,  the  youngest  families  having  the 
 first  course  if  they  had  the  first  lot.  Sic— Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XXV.  —  1.  Captains  of  the  host — princes  of  the  people  and 
 chief  of  the  priests,  before  whom  the  lots  were  cast  for  priests  and  Le- 
 vites, and  now  for  singers,  (see  chap,  xxiii.  2  ;  xxiv.  6  ;)  rather  leaders 
 or  heads  of  the  several  courses  of  the  priests  and  Levites.— Sco^/. 
 
 'Chiefs  of  the  sacred  order.' — Soothr.  Propftes;/ — sing  psalms,  &c., 
 indited  by  the  Spirit,  containing  prophecies  of  the  Messiah,  &c. 
 2.  Under  the  hands  of  Asaph — under  his  authority. — Gilt.  3.  Si>, 
 with  their  father;  otherwise  five  only  are  menlioned, — .i.  Clarke:  or 
 Shimei,  mentioned  ver.  17,  as  mare.  5.  To  lift  vp  the  horn — to  blow 
 with  the  hornpipe  or  trumpet. — Gill,  so  Boothr.  To  celebrate  the 
 praises  of  God,  this  scriptural  expression  never  being  applied  to  the 
 performance  of  music. — Houb.  The  expression  usually  means  to  in- 
 crease a  person  in  family,  wealth,  or  dominion,  feompare  1  Sam.  ii.  I, 
 10;  Ps.  Ixxv.  4,  5,  10;  and  xcii.  10.) — Boothr.  The  Arabic  hufi  'these 
 are  the  sons  of  Heman,  to  exalt  whose  horn  the  king  was  moved,  or 
 induced,  by  Divine  admonitions ;  for  God  had  given  to  Heman  four, 
 teen  sons  and  three  daughters.'  8.  TlVicrf  against  ward,  to  deter- 
 
 mine who  should  have  the  preference.  'Ward'  formerly  signified  a 
 class  or  division  ;  the  term  is  still  used  in  hospitals. — Hew.  The  smalt 
 as  the  great — every  one  was  taken  by  the  solemn  cast  of  lots,  without 
 any  regard  to  these  distinctions. — Scott. 
 
 Reflectioks    on    Chap.  XXIV.  — The   servants   of  God 
 
 were  here  divided  into  various  bodies  for  the  amicable  and 
 
 orderly  performance  of  their  work.     The  mind  is  hence  easily 
 
 transferred  to  the  various  divisions  of  labour  in  the  church  of 
 
 452 
 
 Christ.  AH  bave  tbeir  duties  to  perform  ;  let  them  be  per- 
 formed without  strife  or  vain  glory,  and  let  none  coiiteud  who 
 shall  be  greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 
Their  division  hij  lot. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXVI. 
 
 Tlie  divisions  of  the  porters. 
 
 1 1  The  fourth  to  Izri,  he,  his  sons,  and  his 
 brethren,  irere  twelve  : 
 
 12  The  fifth  to  Nethaniah,  he,  his  sons,  and 
 liis  brethren,  ivere  twelve  : 
 
 13  The  sixth  to  Bukkiah,  he,  his  sons,  and 
 his  brethren,  jcere  twelve  : 
 
 14  The  seventh  to  Jesharelah,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  loere  twelve  : 
 
 15  The  eighth  to  Jeshaiah,  he,  his  sons,  and 
 his  brethren,  were  twelve  : 
 
 16  Tiie  ninth  to  Mattaniah,  he,  his  sons,  and 
 his  brethren,  ivere  twelve  : 
 
 17  The  tenth  to  Shimei,  he,  his  sons,  and  his 
 brethren,  tcere  twelve  : 
 
 18  The  eleventh  to  Azareel,  he,  his  sons,  and 
 his  brethren,  were  twelve  : 
 
 19  The  twelfth  to  Hashabiah,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  icere  twelve  : 
 
 20  The  thirteenth  to  Shnbael,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  ivere  twelve  : 
 
 21  The  fourteenth  to  Mattithiah,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  ivere  twelve  : 
 
 22  The  fifteenth  to  Jeremoth,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  were  twelve  : 
 
 23  The  sixteenth  to  Hananiah,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  ivere  twelve  : 
 
 24  The  seventeenth  to  Joshbekashah,  he,  his 
 sons,  and  his  brethren,  were  twelve  : 
 
 25  The  eighteenth  to  Hanani,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  were  twelve  : 
 
 26  The  nineteenth  to  Mallotlii,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  were  twelve  : 
 
 27  The  twentieth  to  Eliathah,  he,  his  sons, 
 and  his  brethren,  were  twelve  : 
 
 28  The  one  and  twentieth  to  Hotliir,  he,  his 
 sons,  and  his  brethren,  icere  twelve  : 
 
 29  The  two  and  twentieth  to  Giddaiti,  he, 
 his  sons,  and  his  brethren,  were  twelve  : 
 
 30  The  three  and  twentieth  to  Mahazioth, 
 he,  his  sons,  and  his  brethren  were  twelve  : 
 
 31  The  four  and  twentieth  to  Romamti-ezer, 
 he,  his  sons,  and  his  brethren,  were  twelve. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 1  The  divisions  of  the  porters.  1 3  The  gates  assigned 
 by  let,  20  T/ie  Levites  that  had  chari/e  of  the  trea- 
 sures.    29   Officers  and  judges. 
 
 CONCERNING  the  divisions  of  the  porters: 
 Of  the  Korhites  was  \\  Meshelemiah  the 
 son  of  Kore,  of  the  sons  of  ||  Asaph. 
 
 2  And  the  sons  of  Meshelemiah  ivere,  Zecha- 
 riah  the  firstborn,  Jediael  the  second,  Zeba- 
 diah  the  third,  Jathniel  the  fourth. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 ir.   1015. 
 
 tor,  Ebid- 
 t"ph,  ch.  6, 
 37.  Ik  9.  10. 
 
 I  That  in, 
 
 eilfim,  an 
 ch.  13.  14. 
 
 II  Or,  at  well 
 fm  ll,s  nnull 
 as/.ir  the 
 great. 
 
 II  Called, 
 Meshete- 
 
 II  See  1  Kio. 
 111.  b. 
 2  Chr.  9.  4. 
 
 3  Elam  the  fifth,  Jehohanan  the  sixth,  Elio- 
 enai  the  seventh. 
 
 4  Moreover  the  sons  of  Obcd-edom  were, 
 Shemaiah  the  firstborn,  Jehozabad  the  second, 
 Joah  the  third,  and  Sacar  the  fourth,  and  Ne- 
 thaneel  the  fifth, 
 
 5  Aminiel  the  sixth,  Issachar  the  seventh, 
 Peulthai  the  eighth  :  for  God  blessed  ||  him. 
 
 C  Also  unto  Shemaiah  his  son  were  sons 
 bom,  that  ruled  throughout  the  house  of 
 their  father :  for  they  were  mighty  men  of 
 valour. 
 
 7  The  sons  of  Shemaiah  ;  Othni,  and  Rephael, 
 and  Obed,  Elzabad,  whose  brethren  were  strong 
 men,  Elihu,  and  Semachiah. 
 
 8  All  these  of  the  sons  of  Obed-edom  :  they 
 and  their  sons  and  their  brethren,  able  men  for 
 strength  for  the  service,  were  threescore  and 
 two  of  Obed-edom. 
 
 9  And  Meshelemiah  had  sons  and  brethren, 
 strong  men,  eighteen. 
 
 10  Also  ''  Hosah,  of  the  childien  of  Merari, 
 had  sons  ;  Simri  the  chief,  (for  thouyh  he  was 
 not  the  firstborn,  yet  his  fa'ther  made  him  the 
 chief;) 
 
 1 1  Hilkiah  the  second,  Tebaliah  the  third, 
 Zechariah  the  fourth  :  all  the  sons  and  brethren 
 of  Hosah  ivere  thirteen. 
 
 12  Among  these  were  the  divisions  of  the 
 porters,  even  among  the  chief  men,  having 
 wards  one  against  another,  to  minister  in  the 
 house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 13  t  And  they  cast  lots,  ||  as  well  the  small 
 as  the  great,  according  to  the  house  of  their 
 fathers,  for  every  gate. 
 
 14  And  the  lot  eastward  fell  to  ||  Shelemiah. 
 Then  for  Zechariah  his  son,  a  wise  counsellor, 
 they  cast  lots ;  and  his  lot  came  out  north- 
 ward. 
 
 15  To  Obed-edom  southward  ;  and  to  his 
 sons  the  house  of  f  Asuppim. 
 
 IG  To  Shuppim  and  Hosah  the  lot  came 
 forth  westward,  with  the  gate  Shallecheth,  by 
 the  causeway  of  the  going  ||  up,  ward  against 
 ward. 
 
 17  Eastward  were  six  Levites,  northward 
 four  a  day,  southward  four  a  day,  and  toward 
 Asuppim  two  and  two. 
 
 18  At  Parbar  westward,  four  at  the  causeway, 
 and  two  at  Parbar. 
 
 19  These  are  the  divisions  of  the  porters 
 among  the  sons  of  Kore,  and  among  the  sons 
 of  Merari. 
 
 Chap.  XXVI.  —  1.  Por/erj, 'door-keepers.' — Gill;  rather  'guards,' 
 for  this  (iffice  was  of  considerable  dignity,  and  conferred  only  on  men 
 of  the  first  rank. — Dchtnii,  5.  Blessed  him,  that  is,  Obcdcdom,  named 
 ver.  4.  6.  Fulfil  tlirou^^ltuut  the  house — were  heads  of  families, 
 *  principal  men,'  '  mighty  men  of  valour,  to  guard  the  temple  from 
 robbers,  hinder  the  resolute  from  entering,  quell  tumults,  &c.' — Gilt. 
 13.  For  every  g*a/e— these  gates  were  in  the  wall  that  surrounded  the 
 
 temple.  l6.  The  gate  Shiillecheth,  'the  gate  of  ejecaon.' — Bnv/hi: 
 Probably  the  gate  by  which  the  filth  was  cast  out  of  the  temple.  B// 
 the  causewuy  of  the  going  up,  '  towards  the  paved  ascent.' — HotiO. 
 Perhaps  Shallecheth,  instead  of  here  meaning  '  sending  out,'  may 
 rather  signify  '  casting  up,'  in  allusion  to  this  causeway,  which  was 
 the  going  up  or  ascent  Solomon  made,  by  which  he  went  up  to  the 
 temple,  (1  Kings,  x.  5.) — Gilt.        17.  Efistwtird  were  si.r — the  eastern 
 
 RKFi.tcTiONs  ON  Chap.  XXV.  —  I.  Praise  is  a  ddiijhtful 
 part  of  icorship.  It  is  '  comely  to  the  upright.'  Every  lirao 
 we  enter  God's  house  we  have  fresh  cause  for  prgiise.  But  if 
 we  had  uo  other  theme  than  the  love  of  Christ,  that  theme, 
 which  eternally  employs  the  tongues  of  heaven,  is  enough  to 
 employ  all  the  grateful  emotions  of  the  heart  on  earth. 
 
 II.  The  simjinii  of  God's  praises  ouglit  to  be  done  decently  and 
 in  order.  We  may,  indeed,  make  melody  in  our  hearts,  while 
 our  voices  are  most  discordant,  but  why  should  the  most  har- 
 monious themes  of  devotion  be  rendered  unpleasant  to  the 
 outward  ear,  when  a  little  care  and  attention,  and  a  little 
 spirit  and  energy,  might  correct  the  notorious  defects  in  many 
 religious  assemblies?  If  the  spirituality  of  the  suhjects  and 
 the  frame  of  the  heart  be  thought  a  sufficient  apology  for  such 
 453 
 
 slovenly  singing  as  disgraces  numerous  places  of  worship, 
 then,  on  the  same  principle,  might  we  tolerate  the  worst  reaii- 
 ing  and  the  most  notorious  abuses  of  language.  Nor  sliould 
 Christians  rest  satisfied  with  hearing  others  sing,  but,  if  not 
 prevented  by  bodily  weakness,  or  some  singular  defect  of  the 
 organs  of  sound,  they  should  all  unite  in  the  praises  of  the 
 great  congregation.  Nothing  is  more  solemn  and  delightful 
 than  to  hear  a  whole  assembly  of  hundreds  or  thousands 
 thus  praising  God.  It  is  '  like  a  little  heaven  below.'  May 
 our  hearts  never  be  out  of  tune  for  this  sacred  employment, 
 and  may  all  our  praises  on  earth  be  the  sweet  earnest  of  that 
 delightful  v,-orship  when  we  shall  sing  *  the  song  of  JMoses  and 
 the  Lamb  !' 
 
Officers  and  judges. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXVII. 
 
 The  twelve  captains. 
 
 20  t  And  of  the  Levites,  Ahijah  was  '^  over 
 the  treasures  of  the  house  of  God,  and  over 
 the  treasures  of  the  t  dedicated  things. 
 
 21  As  concerning  the  sons  of  ||  Laadan  ;  the 
 sons  of  the  Gershonite  Laadan,  chief  fatliers, 
 even  of  Laadan  tlie  Gershonite,  tvere  ||,Iehieli. 
 
 '22  Tlie  sons  of  Jehieli ;  Zetham,  and  Joel  his 
 brother,  ivhich  were  over  the  treasures  of  the 
 house  of  tlie  Loud. 
 
 23  Of  the  Amrainites,  and  the  Izharites,  the 
 Hehronites,  and  the  Uzzielites  : 
 
 24  And  "^  Sliebuel  the  son  of  Gershom,  the 
 son  of  Moses,  was  ruler  of  the  treasures. 
 
 25  And  his  brethren  by  Eliezer  ;  Rehabiah 
 liis  son,  and  Jeshaiah  his  son,  and  Joram  his 
 son,  and  Zichri  his  son,  and  '■  Sheloinith  his 
 son. 
 
 26  Which  Sheloinith  and  his  brethren  xeere 
 over  all  the  treasures  of  the  dedicated  things, 
 which  David  the  king,  and  the  chief  fathers. 
 the  captains  over  thousands  and  hundreds, 
 and  the  captains  of  the  host,  had  dedicated. 
 
 27  t  Out  of  the  spoils  won  in  battles  did  they 
 dedicate  to  maintain  tlie  liouse  of  the  Lord. 
 
 28  And  all  that  Samuel  °  the  seer,  and  Saul 
 the  son  of  Kish,  and  Abiier  the  son  of  Ner, 
 and  Joab  the  son  of  Zeriiiah,  had  dedicated  ; 
 and  whosoever  had  dedicated  unij  thing,  it 
 was  under  the  hand  of  Shelomith,  and  of  his 
 brethren. 
 
 29  t  Of  the  Izharites,  Chenaniah  and  his 
 sons  were  for  the  outward  business  over  Israel, 
 for  '  officers  and  judges. 
 
 30  And  of  the  Hehronites,  Hashahiah  and 
 his  brethren,  men  of  valour,  a  thousand  and 
 seven  hundred,  were  f  officers  among  them  of 
 Israel  on  this  side  Jordan  westward  in  all  the 
 business  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  service  of  the 
 king. 
 
 31  Among  the  Hehronites  jcoi  ^  Jerijah  the 
 chief,  even  among  the  Hehronites,  according 
 to  the  generations  of  his  fathers.  In  the 
 fortieth  year  of  the  reign  of  Uavid  tliey  were 
 sought  for,  and  there  were  found  among  them 
 mighty  men  of  valour  "  at  Jazer  of  Gilead. 
 
 32  And  his  brethren,  men  of  valour,  were 
 two  thousand  and  seven  hundred  cliief  fathers, 
 whom  king  David  made  rulers  over  the  Rcu- 
 benites,  the  Gadites,  and  the  half  tribe  of 
 Manasseh,  for  every  matter  pertaining  to  God, 
 and  t '  affairs  of  the  king. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 1  The  twelve  captains  fur  everi/ several  month.  16  T/it 
 princes  of  the  itvelve  trihes.  2-3  The  niLmbering  oflhe 
 people  is  Uhulerid.     23   DavitVs  several  ojffic>.rs. 
 
 NOW  the  children  of  Israel  after  their  num- 
 ber, to  wit,  the  chief  fathers  and  captains 
 
 cir.  Itl5. 
 
 b  ch.  ir8.  12, 
 
 Mai.  S.  III. 
 t  Heb.  holy 
 
 thi'igt. 
 II  Or,  Likni, 
 
 oil.  6    17. 
 II  Or,  JehieU 
 
 rh.  23.  H.  & 
 
 29.8. 
 
 t  Heb.  nut 
 ,>/  lt,>^  hiiitlri 
 imd  fpi'th 
 
 t  Heb.  <.(■«, 
 
 A  See  Josb. 
 21.  ay. 
 
 Or,  i>"Jn, 
 2  Sam. 23.9. 
 
 II  Or,  pi-,-.,ci^ 
 
 fal  njUcfT, 
 
 1  Kin.  -1.  5. 
 b  2  Sam.  23. 
 20,  22, 23. 
 cb.  II.  22, 
 8.C. 
 
 2  Sam.  23. 
 1  ch.  II. 
 
 /2  Sam.  21. 
 18 
 cli.  11.29. 
 
 of  thousands  and  hundreds,  and  their  officers 
 that  served  the  king  in  any  matter  of  the 
 courses,  which  came  in  and  went  out  month 
 by  month  throughout  all  the  months  of  the 
 year,  of  every  course  were  twenty  and  four 
 thousand. 
 
 2  Over  the  first  course  for  the  first  month 
 was  °  Jashobeam  the  son  of  Zabdiel  :  and  in 
 his  course  were  twenty  and  four  thousand. 
 
 3  Of  the  cliildren  of  Perez  was  the  chief  of 
 all  the  captains  of  the  host  for  the  first  month. 
 
 4  And  over  the  course  of  the  second  month 
 was  II  Dodai  an  Ahohite,  and  of  his  course 
 was  Mikloth  also  the  ruler  :  in  his  course  like- 
 wise were  twenty  and  four  thousand. 
 
 5  The  third  captain  of  the  host  for  the  third 
 month  was  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada,  a 
 II  chief  priest :  and  in  his  course  were  twenty 
 and  four  thousand. 
 
 C  Tliis  is  that  Benaiah,  ivho  was  ''  mighty 
 among  the  thirty,  and  above  the  thirty  ;  and 
 in  his  course  u-ns  Ammizabad  his  son. 
 
 7  The  fourth  captain  for  the  fourth  month 
 teas  '  Asahel  the  brother  of  Joab,  and  Zeba- 
 diah  his  son  after  hiin  :  and  in  his  course  we7'e 
 twenty  and  four  thousand. 
 
 8  The  fifth  captain  for  the  fifth  month  was 
 Shamhuth  the  Izraliite  :  and  in  his  course  were 
 twenty  and  four  thousand. 
 
 9  The  si.xth  captain  for  the  sixth  month  was 
 ■^  Ira  the  son  of  Ikkesh  the  Tekohite  :  and  in 
 his  course  were  twenty  and  four  thousand. 
 
 10  The  seventh  captain  for  the  seventh 
 month  was  °  Helez  the  Pelonite,  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Ephraim :  and  in  his  course  were 
 twenty  and  four  thousand. 
 
 11  The  eighth  captain  for  the  eighth  month 
 tvas  '  Sibbecai  the  Hushathite,  of  the  Zarliitcs : 
 and  in  his  course  were  twenty  and  four  thou- 
 sand. 
 
 12  The  ninth  captain  for  the  ninth  month 
 was  ^  Abiezer  the  Anetothite,  of  the  Benja- 
 mites  :  and  in  his  course  tvere  twenty  and  four 
 thousand. 
 
 13  The  tenth  captain  for  the  tenth  month 
 was  "  Maharai  the  Netophathite,  of  tlie  Zar- 
 hites  :  and  in  his  course  were  twenty  and  four 
 thousand. 
 
 14  The  eleventh  captain  for  the  eleventh 
 month  iras  '  Benaiah  the  Pirathonite,  of  the 
 children  of  Ephraim  :  and  in  his  course  were 
 twenty  and  four  tliousand. 
 
 13  The  twelfth  captain  for  the  twelfth  month 
 was  II  Hcldai  the  Netophathite,  of  Otliniel : 
 and  in  his  course  were  twenty  and  four  thou- 
 sand. 
 
 16  H  Furthermore  over  the  tribes  of  Israel  : 
 the  ruler  of  tlie  Reubenites  was  Eliezer  the 
 
 gate,  being  the  way  of  entrance  into  the  temple,  required  more  porters. 
 20.  The  trefisiires,  titlics,  vessels,  vestments,  wine  and  oil,  &c. — Gilt. 
 24.  Ruler,  *  cliief  treasurer,'  Tftrff.  29.  For  tlie  outward  business, 
 •instructors  and  magistrates  of  tlie  people  without.* — Scott. 
 
 Chap.  X.WII.  — 1.  Chief  fathers,  'the  princes  of  the  tribes,'— GiW, 
 'chief  general.s.' — Cat.  b.  Jehoiada,  a  chief  priest,  YTOTl,  rather  *a 
 chief  prince,'  as  the  Hebrew  word  is  often  used,  (Ge  n.  xli.  45;  xlvii. 
 
 22;  2  Sam.  viii.  18  ;  XX.  26;  1  Kings,  iv.  5  ;  2  Kings,  x.  11.) — Poole. 
 It  is  certain  neither  Benaiah  nor  his  father  was  high  priest  or  second 
 priest ;  but  Abiathar  and  Zadok  were  in  those  offices.— P'l*.  Jchiiiada 
 is  called  a  chief  priest,  as  being  one  of  the  paternal  chiefs  of  the  house 
 of  Aaron. — Boothr.  16.  Over  the  tribes— the  captains  over  the  militia 
 before  named  were  of  David's  appointment,  but  there  were  rulers  over 
 their  respective  tribes  in  their  own  right,  or  by  the  choice  of  their 
 
 RliFLECTlONS  ON   Chap.  XXVI I.   There  were  porters  to 
 
 the  tentplf.     '  Men  attended  there,  but  there  are  angels  at  the 
 gates  of  tlie  Mew  .Jerusalem.' 
 
 II.  There  u-cre  treasures  Inlonifintj  to  the  temple,  and  *  these 
 treasures,'  says  Henry,  quoted  above.  '  typify  the  plenty  there 
 is  in  our  lieaveiily  Father's  bouse — enough,  and  to  spare.  la 
 Christ,  tile  true  temple,  are  hid  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
 kuowledge,  and  unsearchable  riches.' 
 454 
 
 III.  Ministers  are  the  honoured  treasurers  of  the  house  of  God. 
 •  Stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God.'  '  Their  office.'  says 
 Scott,  '  requires  them  rightly  to  divide  the  word  of  truth,  and 
 to  administer  divine  ordinances  according  to  it  ;  tliat  the 
 hungry  souls  may  be  fed  and  feasted  from  tfie  provisions  of 
 the  Lord's  house,  and  that  he  may  be  glorified  by  their  spi- 
 ritual sacrifices,  acceptable  to  him  through  Jesus  Christ.' 
 
David's  officers. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXVIII. 
 
 God's  promises  to  David. 
 
 son  of  Zicliri  :  of  the  Simeonites,  Shephatiah 
 the  son  of  Maachah  : 
 
 17  Of  the  Levites,  ^  Hashabiah  the  son  of 
 Keinuel :  of  the  Aaronites,  Zadok  : 
 
 18  Of  Judah,  '  Elihu,  one  of  the  brethren  of 
 David  :  of  Issachar,  Oniri  tlie  son  of  Michael 
 
 19  Of  Zebulun,  Ishmaiah  the  son  of  Oba- 
 diah  :  of  Naplitali,  Jerinioth  tlie  son  of  Azriel 
 
 20  Of  the  children  of  Ephraim,  Hoshea  the 
 son  of  Azaziah  :  of  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh, 
 Joel  the  son  of  Pedaiah  : 
 
 21  Of  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh  in  Gilead, 
 Iddo  tlie  son  of  Zechariah  :  of  Benjamin, 
 Jaasiel  the  son  of  Abner  : 
 
 22  Of  Dan,  Azareel  the  son  of  Jeroham. 
 These  ivere  the  princes  of  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 23  H  But  David  took  not  the  number  of  them 
 from  twent)'  years  old  and  nndcr  :  because 
 "'  the  Lord  had  said  he  would  increase  Israel 
 like  to  the  stars  of  the  heavens. 
 
 24  Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah  began  to  number, 
 but  he  finished  not,  because  "  there  fell  wrath 
 for  it  against  Israel  ;  neither  f  was  the  number 
 put  in  the  account  of  the  chronicles  of  kin 
 David. 
 
 2j  IT  And  over  the  king's  treasures  urns  Az- 
 niaveth  tlie  son  of  Adiel  :  and  over  the  store- 
 houses in  the  fields,  in  the  cities,  and  in  the 
 villages,  and  in  the  castles,  was  Jehonathan 
 the  son  of  Uzziali : 
 
 2G  And  over  them  that  did  the  work  of  the 
 field  for  tillage  of  the  ground  was  Ezri  tlie  son 
 of  Chelub  : 
 
 27  And  over  the  vineyards  zoas  Shimei  the 
 Ramathite  :  fv^r  the  increase  of  the  vine- 
 yards for  the  wine  cellars  was  Zabdi  the  Shiph- 
 inite  : 
 
 28  And  over  the  olive  trees  and  the  sycomore 
 trees  that  tcere  in  the  low  plains  was  Baal- 
 hanan  the  Gederite  :  and  over  the  cellars  of 
 oil  was  Joash  : 
 
 29  And  over  the  herds  that  fed  in  Sharon 
 was  Sliitrai  the  Sharonite  :  and  over  the  herds 
 that  were  in  the  vallies  was  Shaphat  the  son 
 of  Adlai : 
 
 30  Over  the  camels  also  loas  Obil  the  Ish- 
 maelite  :  and  over  the  asses  was  Jehdeiah  the 
 Meronothite  : 
 
 31  And  over  the  flocks  was  Jaziz  the  Hager- 
 ite.  All  these  uiere  the  rulers  of  the  substance 
 which  was  king  David's. 
 
 32  Also  Jonathan  David's  uncle  was  a  coun- 
 sellor, a  wise  man,  and  a  ||  scribe  :  and  Jehiel 
 the  II  son  of  Hachmoni  was  with  the  king's  sons : 
 
 33  And  "  Ahithophel  was  the  king's  coun- 
 sellor :  and  ''Hushai  the  Archite  was  the  king's 
 companion  : 
 
 34  And  after  Ahithophel  was  Jehoiada  the 
 son  of  Benaiah,  and  '' Abiathar  :  and  the  gene- 
 ral of  the  king's  army  was  '  Joab. 
 
 /  i  S.nm.  IG. 
 0,  Elxib. 
 
 m  Gep.  15,5, 
 
 cir.  1017. 
 a  2  Sam.  2-1 
 
 IS,  ch,21.7, 
 f  Heb.  aj- 
 
 cended. 
 
 I  Heb,  "■'T 
 lliitl  which 
 was  iif  Of 
 viilui/iirdt. 
 
 Ol,  lecfe- 
 
 Or,  Much- 
 m-nite. 
 o  2  Sam,  15, 
 12, 
 
 q  1   Kill    1,7 
 ch.  II.  fl. 
 
 acll,  57,  16, 
 6  ch,  ■:?,  I,-:, 
 
 II  Or,  ci'lIU 
 'i^Or, mid  hit 
 
 |iOr,eu«i(cfii, 
 (icll.  n.  10. 
 
 «2Snni.7  2, 
 P«,  i:)2,  3, 
 1,5, 
 
 ^Ps,  99   5, 
 &  132.  7. 
 
 3  2  Sam  7„5, 
 l,S.  I  Kill, 5 
 3,  ch,  17,  4, 
 &  22  8, 
 
 t  Heb. 
 ifoudv. 
 
 *  1  Sam.  16, 
 7-13. 
 
 i  Geo.  49,  8. 
 ch,  5  2,  Vs. 
 
 ».  ch,  3,  1, 
 &c,  &  2.3,  1, 
 «  ch.  22.  9. 
 
 o  2  Sam.  7. 
 13,  U. 
 ch,22  9, 10, 
 8  Chr.  1.  9. 
 
 p  ch.  22,  13. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 q  .Icr.  9.  24, 
 H.ifl.  4.  I, 
 John  17.  3, 
 
 r  2  Kin,  20 
 3,  Fa,  101.2, 
 
 1  1  .Sam. Ill, 7, 
 I  Kin  S  39 
 ch   29    17 
 I's,  7,  9,  fc 
 139   2,  Pio, 
 17   3  JtT, 
 11,  ,0  & 
 17   10   ai20 
 12    Hev.  2. 
 23, 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 I  David  in  a  solemn  a.istmUt/  having  declared  God's 
 ftivour  to  hiriit  and  promise  to  Ids  soti  Solomon,  ex- 
 liorleth  them  to  fear  God.  9,  20  He  encovrageth 
 Solomon   to   build   tlie  temple.       1 1    He  givetU    Idm 
 
 patterns  for  ttie  form,  ajtd  gold  and  silver  for  the 
 materials. 
 
 A  ND  David  assembled  all  the  princes  of 
 -^^  Israel,  "the  princes  of  the  tribes,  and  ■'  the 
 captains  of  the  companies  that  ministered  to 
 the  king  by  course,  and  the  captains  over  the 
 thousands,  and  captains  over  the  liundreds,  and 
 '  the  stewards  over  all  the  substance  and  ||  pos- 
 session of  the  king,  ||  and  of  his  sous,  with  the 
 
 II  ofiicers,  and  with  ''  the  mighty  men,  and  with 
 all  the  valiant  men,  unto  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  Then  David  the  king  stood  up  upon  his 
 feet,  and  said.  Hear  me,  my  brethren,  and  my 
 people  :  As  fur  me,  "Xhadm  mine  heart  to  build 
 an  house  of  rest  for  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
 the  Lord,  and  for  '  the  footstool  of  our  God, 
 and  had  made  ready  for  the  building  : 
 
 3  But  God  said  unto  me,  ^  Thou  shalt  not 
 build  an  house  for  my  name,  because  thou  hast 
 been  a  man  of  war,  and  hast  shed  f  blood. 
 
 4  Howbeit  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  •'  chose 
 me  before  all  the  house  of  my  father  to  be  king 
 over  Israel  for  ever :  for  he  hath  chosen  '  Judah 
 to  be  the  ruler ;  and  of  the  house  of  Judah, 
 '  the  house  of  my  father  ;  and  '  among  the  sons 
 of  my  father  he  liked  me  to  make  me  king  over 
 all  Israel : 
 
 5  ""And  of  a!!  my  sons,  (for  the  Lord  hath 
 given  nie  many  sous,)  "  he  hath  chosen  Solo- 
 mon my  son  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of  the  king- 
 dom of  the  Lord  over  Israel. 
 
 6  And  he  said  unto  me,  °  Solomon  thy  son, 
 he  shall  build  my  house  and  my  courts :  for  1 
 have  chosen  him  to  be  my  son,  and  I  will  be 
 his  father. 
 
 7  Moreover  I  will  establish  his  kingdom  for 
 ever,  ""if  he  be  f  constant  to  do  my  command- 
 ments and  my  judgments,  as  at  this  day. 
 
 8  Now  therefore  in  the  sight  of  all  Israel  the 
 congregation  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the  audience 
 of  our  God,  keep  and  seek  for  all  the  com- 
 mandments of  the  Lord  your  God  :  that  ye 
 may  possess  this  good  land,  and  leave  it  for  an 
 inheritance  for  your  children  after  you  for  ever. 
 
 9  f  And  thou,  Solomon  my  son,  ''  know  thou 
 the  God  of  thy  father,  and  serve  him  'with  a 
 perfect  heart  and  with  a  willing  mind :  for  'the 
 Lord  searcheth  all  hearts,  and  understandetli 
 all  the  imaginations  of  the  thoughts  :  '  if  thou 
 seek  him,  he  will  be  found  of  thee ;  but  if  thou 
 forsake  him,  he  will  cast  thee  off  for  ever. 
 
 10  Take  heed  now;  "for  the  Lord  hath 
 chosen  thee  to  build  an  liouse  for  the  sanc- 
 tuary :  be  strong,  and  do  it. 
 
 11  U  Then  David  gave  to    Solomon  his  son 
 
 tribes.— Gi7/.  25.  The  king's  treasures— gnli  or  silver,  or  other  things  Chap.  XXVIII.  —  2.  Stood,  rose,  probably,  from  his  coach.— Kimchi. 
 of  great  price,  &c. — Poole.  28.  Sycomore,  a  species  of  fig-tree,  very  Footstool — as  the  Lord  satAetween  the  cherubim,  the  lid  of  the  ark, 
 common  in  Judea.— ifeu*.  speaking  after  the  manner  of  men,  was  his  footstool.       0.  With  a  per- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVII.  —  I.  David  teas  a  powerful 
 prince,  the  type  of  David's  tjreater  Son.  Two  hundred  and 
 eighty-eight  thousand  men  were  exercised  every  year  as  his 
 regular  militia.  Thus  bis  kingdom  was  defended  against  all 
 assaults,  and  he  needed  not  fear  his  most  powerful  enemies. 
 Christ's  church  is  well-guarded.  He  never  wants  champions 
 to  defend  his  cause  in  the  world  ;  legions  of  angels,  too,  are 
 continually  at  his  command,  instruments  to  do  his  will  •  and 
 45.5 
 
 there  is  no  fear  for  his  spiritual  kingdom,  for  he  himself  is 
 mighty,  and  therefore  *  the  gates  of  bell  shall  not  prevail 
 against  it.  * 
 
 11.  David's  subjtcfs  were  soldiers,  and  so  are  the  subjects  of 
 Christ's  kingdom.  ITiey  are  bound  to  figlit  against  the  world, 
 the  flesh,  and  the  devil.  May  we  ne^er  be  ashamed  of  our 
 colours,  and  ever  be  ready  to  endure  hardship,  as  good  soldiers 
 of  Jesus  Christ ! 
 
Dai^iirs  charqe  to  Solomon. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXIX. 
 
 David's  (lifts  for  the  teinpU' 
 
 *  the  pattern  of  the  porcli,  ami  of  the  houses 
 thereof,  and  of  the  treasuries  tliereof,  and  of  the 
 upper  chamhers  thereof,  and  of  the  inner  par- 
 lours thereof,  and  of  the  place  of  the  mercy  seat, 
 
 12  And  the  pattern  fof  all  that  he  had  by  the 
 spirit,  of  the  courts  of  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 and  of  all  tlie  chambers  round  about,  ''  of  the 
 treasuries  of  the  house  of  God,  and  of  the 
 treasuries  of  tlie  dedicated  things  : 
 
 13  Also  for  the  courses  of  the  priests  and  the 
 Levites,  and  for  all  the  work  of  the  service  of 
 the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  for  all  the  vessels 
 of  service  in  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 14  He  ijave  of  gold  by  weight  for  things  of 
 f;old,  for  all  instruments  of  all  manner  of  ser- 
 vice ;  silver  also  for  all  instruments  of  silver  by 
 weight,  for  all  instruments  of  every  kind  of  ser- 
 vice : 
 
 15  Even  the  weight  for  the  candlesticks  of 
 gold,  and  for  their  lamps  of  gold,  by  weight  for 
 every  candlestick,  and  for  the  lamps  thereof: 
 and  for  the  candlesticks  of  silver  by  weight, 
 hot/i  for  the  candlestick,  and  also  for  the  lamps 
 thereof,  according  to  the  use  of  every  candle- 
 stick. 
 
 16  And  by  weight  lie  gave  gold  for  the 
 tables  of  shewbread,  for  every  table  ;  and  like- 
 wise silver  for  the  tables  of  silver  : 
 
 17  Also  pure  gold  for  the  fleshhooks,  and  the 
 howls,  and  the  cups  :  and  for  the  golden  basons 
 he  f/ave  i/old  by  weight  for  every  bason  ;  and 
 lihcuise  silver  by  weight  for  every  bason  of 
 silver  : 
 
 18  And  for  the  altar  of  incense  refined  gold 
 by  weight ;  and  gold  for  the  pattern  of  the 
 chariot  of  the  'cherubims,  that  spread  out  their 
 wings,  and  covered  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 19  All  this,  said  David,"  the  Lord  made  me 
 understand  in  writing  by  his  hand  upon  me, 
 even  all  the  works  of  tliis  pattern. 
 
 20  And  David  said  to  Solomon  his  son,  *'  Be 
 strong  and  of  good  courage,  and  do  it :  fear 
 not,  nor  be  dismayed  :  for  the  Loru  God,  even 
 my  God,  will  be  with  thee  ;  '^he  will  not  fail 
 thee,  nor  forsake  thee,  until  thou  hast  finished 
 all  the  work  for  the  service  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 21  And,  behold,  •'the  courses  of  the  priests 
 and  the  Levites,  even  they  shall  he  with  thee 
 for  all  the  service  of  the  house  of  God  :  and 
 there  shall  be  with  thee  for  all  manner  of  work- 
 manship '  every  willing  skilful  man,  for  any 
 manner  of  service ;  also  the  princes  and  all  the 
 people  ivill  be  wholly  at  thy  commandment. 
 
 jr  See  Ex  23. 
 40.  ver.  19. 
 
 ,if/i  him 
 cli.  2fi.20. 
 
 1  Sam.  4,  4 
 1  Kill.  6.23, 
 
 h  nni.  S1.7, 
 S  Jii«l>.  I. 
 6.  7.  0.  ch. 
 
 rf  ch.  24.  & 
 i5,  &  26. 
 
 •  Ex.  SS.  2S. 
 20.  &36,  I. 
 
 I  Kin.  3.7 
 ch.  22  ri 
 Vtov.  4-  S 
 
 1  Sep  Is.  M. 
 n,l2.  Rev. 
 21.  18,  &c. 
 
 c  ch.  27. 25, 
 Sic. 
 
 ff2  Cor,  0  7, 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 I  David,  hy  his  fxamph  and  intrcattj,  6  caiiseth  the 
 princrs  and  people  to  offer  willintji/.  10  David'a 
 thanhsjiving  and  prayer.  20  The  people,  having 
 blessed  God,  and  sacrificed,  wake  Solomon  king. 
 26  David's  reign  and  death. 
 
 "PURTHERMORE  David  the  king  said  unto 
 -*-  all  the  congregation,  Solomon  my  son, 
 whom  alone  God  hath  chosen,  is  yet  °  young 
 and  tender,  and  the  work  ;>  great :  for  the 
 palace  is  not  for  man,  but  for  the  Lord  God. 
 
 2  Now  I  have  prepared  with  all  my  might  for 
 the  house  of  my  God  the  gold  for  things  to  be 
 made  of  gold,  and  the  silver  for  </u'Hf/s  of  .silver, 
 and  the  brass  for  things  of  bras.s,  the  iron  for 
 things  of  iron,  and  wood  for  things  of  wood  ; 
 
 onyx  stoue.s,  and  stones  to  be  set,  glistering 
 stone.s,  and  of  divers  colours,  and  all  manner  of 
 precious  stones,  and  marble  stones  in  abun- 
 dance. 
 
 3  Moreover,  because  I  have  set  my  affection 
 to  the  house  of  my  God,  I  have  of  mine  own 
 proper  good,  of  gold  and  silver,  which  I  have 
 given  to  the  house  of  my  God,  over  and  above 
 all  that  I  have  prepared  for  the  holy  house, 
 
 4  Jb!vcn  three  thousand  talents  ofgold,  of  the 
 gold  of  Ophir,  and  seven  thousand  talents  of 
 refined  silver,  to  overlay  the  walls  of  the  houses 
 withal  : 
 
 5  The  gold  for  things  of  gold,  and  the  silver 
 for  things  of  silver,  and  for  all  manner  of  work 
 to  be  made  by  the  hands  of  artificers.  And 
 who  then  is  willing  f  to  consecrate  his  service 
 this  day  unto  the  Lord? 
 
 6  t  Then  ''the  chief  of  the  fathers  and  princes 
 of  the  tribes  of  Israel,  and  the  captains  of  thou- 
 .sands  and  of  hundred.";,  with  '  the  rulers  of  the 
 king's  work,  offered  willingly, 
 
 7  And  gave  for  the  service  of  the  house  of 
 God  of  gold  five  thousand  talents  and  ten 
 thousand  drams,  and  of  silver  ten  thousand 
 talents,  and  of  brass  eighteen  thousand  talents, 
 and  one  hundred  thousand  talents  of  iron. 
 
 8  And  they  with  whom  precious  stones  were 
 found  gave  ihrm  to  the  treasure  of  the  house 
 of  the  Lord,  by  the  hand  of 'Jehiel  the  Ger- 
 shouite. 
 
 9  Then  the  people  rejoiced,  for  that  they 
 offered  willingly,  because  with  perfect  heart 
 they  ^  offered  willingly  to  the  Lord  :  and 
 David  the  king  also  rejoiced  with  great  joy. 
 
 10  t  Wherefore  David  blessed  the  Lord  be- 
 fore all  the  congregation  :  and  David  said. 
 Blessed  be  thou.  Lord  God  of  Israel  our  father, 
 for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 feet  Aear/— cordially  and  sincerely.  12.  lii/  the  spirit— wnAer  the 
 suggestions  of  God's  Spirit,  Moses  erected  the" tabernacle,  (Exod.  xxv. 
 40  ;  xxxi.  3 ;)  and  God  would  not  use  less  care  and  exactness  in  the 
 building  of  this  far  more  glorious  and  more  durable  work. — Poole. 
 15-  Jhe  candlesticks  of  silver — probably  for  the  chambers  of  the  priests. 
 — Kimchi.  1".  Basons — vessels  used  for  receiving  and  sprinkling  the 
 blood  of  the  sacrifices.— G(7/.  18.  Chariot  of  the  clierul)ims—the  sup- 
 porters on  which  they  rested, — -so  Geddes;  or  perhaps  the  cherubs 
 themselves,  considered  as  the  chariots  of  Jehovah,  ridine  on  his  che- 
 rubs, (compare  2  Kine;s,  xix.  15  ;  Ps.  Ixxx.  1  ;  xviii.  10;  Ezck-  x.  15-) 
 —So  Pylc  and  Boolhr.         19.  In  writing— m  some  regularly  sketched 
 
 out  plan  he  had  seen  in  a  vision. — A.  Clarke.  This  is  more  clear  than 
 Patrick,  that  David  understood  it  as  clearly  as  if  written  on  his  mind  ; 
 or  Buothroyd,  that  David,  by  Divine  aid,  left  the  whole  in  writing. 
 
 Chap,  XXIX.  —  I.  Young  and  tender,  comparatively,  for  he  was  now 
 married,  as  appears  by  comparing  2  Chron.  ix.  30;  xii.  13- — Poole. 
 2.  Marble  stones,  '  marmor  Parium,'  '  Parian  marble,'  Vnlg.  This  was 
 a  white  marble,  found  on  the  isle  of  Paros.  3-  Uline  oivn  proper  good, 
 'myo\vn    private  property.' — Hetv.  6.  To    consecrate   his   service, 
 
 ^'V  niN?ob,  '  to  fiU  his  hand,' mar^.  '  To  offer  an  offering,'  as  Exod 
 xsxii.  29  ;  Lev.  viii-  33. — Poole.  7.  Of  gold  Jive  thousand  talents  and 
 ten  t/ionsand  drains,  22,507,^ti0l.     Silver  ten  thousand  talents,  3,~!i0,0Ut)t. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVIII.  —  !.•  It  may  he  comfort- 
 able to  us,  in  a  dying  liour,'  as  Scott  remarks,  '  to  recollect  tlie 
 plans  which  tve  liad  framed  to  promote  true  religion,  tliowih  we 
 have  been  Jinahle  to  arcomplish  thcni.'  From  tbisVe  may  infer, 
 that  we  are  the  chosen  and  called  of  God,  as  such  designs 
 prove  that  he  has  given  us  a  heart  to  account  his  service  a  de- 
 hghtful  privilege,  and  to  long  and  love  to  be  employed  in  it. 
 
 II.  David's  charge  here  given  to  Solomon  shews  ns  the  concern 
 which  pious  parents  feel  for  the  best  interests  of  their  children. 
 456 
 
 *  He  is  much  concerned,'  says  Henry,  '  that  he  should  he  reli- 
 gious. He  was  to  be  a  great  man,  hut  he  must  not  think  reli- 
 gion below  hira  ;  a  wise  man,  and  this  will  bo  his  wisdom.* 
 
 III.  Tlie  pattern  for  t/te  building  of  the  temple  givtn  by  the 
 Spirit  sheivs  us  that  the  church  of  Christ  is  to  be  framed  according 
 to  the  council  of  Heaven.  '  When  Christ  leit  his  disciples  a 
 charge  to  build  a  gospel  church,  he  gave  them  an  exact  model 
 of  It,  ordering  them  to  observe  that  and  that  only  which  he 
 commanded.' 
 
DainiFs  thanltsgiving  and pi-nycr. 
 
 I.  CHRONICLES,  XXIX. 
 
 His  reign  and  death. 
 
 1 1  ''  Thine,  O  Lord,  is  the  greatness,  and  the 
 power,  and  the  glory,  and  the  victory,  and  the 
 majesty  :  for  all  that  is  m  the  heaven  and  in 
 the  earth  is  thine;  thine  is  tlie  kingdoni,  O 
 Lord,  and  thou  art  exalted  as  head  above  all. 
 
 12  '  Both  riches  and  honour  come  of  thee, 
 and  thou  reignest  over  all  ;  and  in  thine  hand 
 is  power  and  might ;  and  in  thine  hand  it  is  to 
 make  great,  and  to  give  strength  unto  all. 
 
 13  Now  therefore,  our  God,  we  thank  thee, 
 and  praise  thy  glorious  name. 
 
 14  But  who  (un  I,  and  what  is  my  people, 
 that  we  should  f  he  able  to  offer  so  willingly 
 after  this  sort?  for  all  things  come  of  thee, and 
 f  of  thine  own  liave  we  given  thee. 
 
 1 5  For  '  we  are  strangers  before  thee,  and 
 .sojourners,  as  were  all  our  fathers  :  '  our  days 
 on  the  earth  are  as  a  shadow,  and  there  is 
 ni>ne  f  al)iding. 
 
 16  O  Lord  our  God,  all  tliis  store  that  we 
 have  prepared  to  build  tliee  an  house  for  thine 
 Inily  name  conicth  of  tliiue  hand,  and  is  all 
 tliiue  own. 
 
 17  I  know  also,  my  God,  that  thou  "' triest 
 the  heart,  and  "  hast  pleasure  in  uprightness. 
 As  for  me,  in  the  uprightness  of  mine  heart  I 
 have  willingly  offered  all  these  things  :  and 
 now  have  I  seen  vvitli  joy  thy  people,  which 
 are  ||  present  here,  to  offer  willingly  unto  thee. 
 .18  0  Lord  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  of 
 Israel,  our  fathers,  keep  tliis  for  ever  in  the 
 imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  the  heart  of 
 thy  people,  and  ||  prepare  their  heart  unto  thee  : 
 
 19  And  "give  unto  Solomon  my  son  a  per- 
 fect heart,  to  keep  thy  commandments,  thy 
 testimonies,  and  thy  statutes,  and  to  do  all 
 these  thinijs,  and  to  build  the  palace, yij;'  the 
 which  ''I  have  made  provision. 
 
 20  IT  And  David  said  to  all  the  congregation, 
 Now  bless  the  Lord  your  God.     And  all  the 
 
 /,  Mat.  6.  13. 
 I  'Hid.  1.17. 
 Rc».  5.  13. 
 
 t  HL'b.r(r/oi«, 
 
 or,  obtain 
 
 strfiniith. 
 \  Hcb.  n/ 
 
 tliiue  hniiit. 
 k  ell.  39.  \'i. 
 
 Hrb  11.  13. 
 
 I  IVI  a,  II 
 I  .Tnb   M.  •>. 
 
 Ps.  911  P.  & 
 
 111?.  II.  & 
 
 114.  4. 
 f  Hfb.ejj>cc- 
 
 tutiim. 
 
 ,fu„„J. 
 
 11  1  Kin.  I. 
 3.^1,  39. 
 
 r  Eccles.S.S. 
 
 t  Heb.  g'lve 
 ilufh'ind  tm- 
 fit-r  Sfih- 
 mon :  See 
 Geu.  24.  2. 
 &  47.  29. 
 2  Chr.  311.  fi 
 Kxek.  17. IH. 
 
 .,  I  Kiii.3.i;i, 
 SCIir.  I.  V2 
 Eccles.  2.  9 
 
 .rGoii.25.  8 
 
 yell.  ::s,  1. 
 
 Or, itubllsU. 
 Pa.  W.  17. 
 Ps.7i.  1. 
 
 II  Or,  liistorij 
 
 vo,..2. 
 
 z  Dan  2.  21 
 
 congregation  blessed  the  Lord  God  of  their 
 fathers,  and  bowed  down  their  heads,  and  wor- 
 shipped the  Lord,  and  the  king. 
 
 21  And  they  sacrificed  sacrifices  unto  tlie 
 Lord,  and  offered  burnt  offerings  unto  the 
 Lord,  on  the  morrow  after  that  day,  even  a 
 thousand  bullocks,  a  thousand  rams,  and  a 
 thousand  lambs,  with  their  drink  offerings,  and 
 sacrifices  in  abundance  for  all  Israel : 
 
 22  And  did  eat  and  drink  before  the  Lord  on 
 that  day  with  great  gladness.  And  they  made 
 Solomon  the  son  of  David  king  the  second 
 time,  and '' anointed //(■;/?,  unto  the  Lord  to  fre 
 the  chief  governor,  and  Zadok  to  he  priest. 
 
 2.3  Then  Solomon  sat  on  the  throne  of  the 
 Lord  as  king  instead  of  David  his  father,  and 
 prospered  ;  and  all  Israel  obeyed  hiin. 
 
 24  And  all  the  princes,  and  the  mighty  men, 
 and  all  the  sons  likewise  of  king  David, 'f  sub- 
 mitted themselves  unto  Solomon  the  king. 
 
 23  And  the  Lord  magnified  Solomon  ex- 
 ceedingly in  the  sight  of  all  Israel,  and 'be- 
 stowed upon  him  siicJi  royal  majesty  as  had 
 not  been  on  any  king  before  him  in  Israel. 
 
 20  t  Thus  David  the  son  of  Jesse  reigned 
 over  all  Israel. 
 
 27  '  And  the  time  that  he  reigned  over  Israel 
 was  forty  years;  "seven  years  reigned  he  in 
 Hebron,  and  thirty  and  three  years  reigned  he 
 in  Jerusalem. 
 
 28  And  he  ^  died  in  a  good  old  age,  ^  full  of 
 days,  riches,  and  honour:  and  Solomon  his  son 
 reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 29  Now  the  acts  of  David  the  king,  first  and 
 last,  behold,  they  aj-c  written  in  the  Hfhook 
 of  Samuel  the  seer,  and  in  the  book  of  Natlian 
 the  prophet,  and  in  the  book  of  Gad  the  seer, 
 
 30  With  all  his  reign  and  his  might, ''and  the 
 times  that  went  over  him,  and  over  Israel, 
 and  over  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  countries. 
 
 — Brerewooti.  22.  StH'ontl  time — the  first  time  was  uiton  Aclonijah's 
 rebellion,  (see  1  Kings,  i.  39.)  24.  Sttbmitfftl  tltftnstili'es  unto  Sulo- 
 
 motif  noVlT  nnn  T  l:r3.  'tliey  gave  tlie  tmiul  unto  Snlumon  ;'  sware 
 fealty  to  litra.  Putting  the  hand  uurler  the  thi{;h  was  the  form  of  taking 
 an  oath,  {Gen.  .x.xiv.  9.) — .-I.  Clarke.  Putting  the  protestor's  hand  into 
 the  hand  of  the  person  who  received  the  protestation,  was,  in  the  east, 
 a  customary  tolicn  of  allegiance,  conveying  likewise  the  notion  of  an 
 4iath  between  the  two  parties. — Oekft't/'s  Hint,  of  tlie  Sitraeens.  2g.  TIte 
 ttuolc  of  Stunuel  tlie  seer,  §'C. — these  writings  are  lost,  except  the  par- 
 
 ticul<^l■s  interspersed  in  the  bonks  of  Samuel,  Kings,  and  Chronicles. — 
 A.  Ctftrke.  It  is  probable  that  Samuel  began  to  write  a  history  of  the 
 life  of  David,  which  Nathan  and  Gad  finished. — Put.  It  is  plain  from 
 these  verses  that  the  contcmjiorary  prophets  were  the  historians  or 
 annalists  of  God's  people,  and  that  they  left  far  more  copious  records 
 of  public  transactions,  both  in  respect  of  Israel  and  the  adjacent  coun- 
 tries, than  have  come  down  to  »s.~  Scott.  30.  T/ie  titties  tluit  wejtt 
 over  tiitn,  the  revolution,  vicissitudes,  and  perilous  events  which  he  had 
 to  encounter. — Hew.    The  transactions  of  his  reign. — A.  Cliirke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIX.  —  This  chapter,  to  adopt 
 the  words  of  Henry,  *  brings  Solomon  to  his  tlirone,  and  David 
 to  his  grave.  Thus  tlie  rising  generation  thrusts  out  that 
 which  went  before,  and  saith,  ftlake  room  for  us.  Kvery  one 
 has  his  day.' — I.  Here  is  Sotoition's  risiiit/.  *  Solomon  sat  on  the 
 throne  of  the  Lord,'  who  was,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  king  of 
 I-srael,  (I  Sam.  sii.  1'2.)  Solomon's  kingdom  typified  the 
 kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  and  liis  is  indeed  the  throne  of  the 
 Lord,  for  the  Father  judgeth  no  man,  but  hath  committed  all 
 judgment  to  him  ;  hence  lie  calls  iiim  his  king,'  (Ps.  ii.  6. ) 
 
 II.  Here  is  David  settijia*     The  historian  here  brings  him  to 
 
 the  end  of  his  day,  leaves  him  asleep,  and  draws  the  curtains 
 about  him.  He  '  died  full  of  days,  riches,  and  honour,'  that 
 is,  loaded  with  them.  He  was  very  old,  and  very  rich,  and 
 very  much  honoured,  botli  of  God  and  man — satiated  with 
 lliem.  He  was  *  full.'  Pie  had  enough  of  this  world,  and  of 
 tlie  riches  and  honours  of  it,  and  knew  when  he  had  enough  ; 
 for  he  was  very  willing  to  die  and  leave  it,  having  said,  ( I's. 
 xlix.  1;'),)  '  God  shall  receive  me  ;  and,  (Ps.  sxiii.  4,)  '  Thou 
 art  with  me.'  A  good  man  will  soon  be  full  of  days,  riches, 
 and  honour;  but  will  never  be  satisfied  with  them, — no  satis- 
 faction but  in  God's  loving  kindness. 
 
 457 
 
 3   N 
 
THE   SECOND    BOOK 
 
 CHRONICLES. 
 
 [This  book  begins  witli  the  reign  of  Solomon,  and  includes  tlic  reigns  of  all  the  kings  of  the  house  of  David,  of  the  kings  of 
 Judah  only,  after  the  separation  of  the  ten  tribes,  down  to  the  captivity  of  Judah  in  Babylon,  and  reaches  to  the  deliver- 
 ance of  the  Jews  by  Cyrus;  being  an  history,  according  to  some,  of  416  years,  while  others  raakc  the  perio<l  47*J,  478, 
 and  479  years.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 Suh- 
 Suh- 
 
 1  The  solemn  offtrinit  of  Sohmon  at  Gibeon.  7 
 iTions  choice  of  wisdom  is  hhssed  hi/  God.  1 3 
 mons  streni/th  and  wealth, 
 
 AND  "  Solomon  tlie  .son  of  David  was 
 strengthened  in  his  kingdom,  and  i"  the 
 Lord  his  God  was  with  him,  and  '^  magnified 
 him  exceedingly. 
 
 2  Then  Solomon  spake  unto  all  Israel,  to 
 ^  the  captains  of  thousands  and  of  hundreds, 
 and  to  the  judges,  and  to  every  governor  in  all 
 Israel,  the  chief  of  the  fatliers. 
 
 3  So  Soloinon,  and  all  the  congregation  with 
 him,  went  to  the  high  place  that  was  at  "  Gi- 
 beon; for  there  was  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation of  God,  which  Moses  the  servant  of 
 
 .  the  Lord  had  made  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 4  'But  the  ark  of  God  had  David  brought  up 
 from  Kirjath-jearim  to  the  place  which  David 
 had  prepared  for  it :  for  he  had  pitched  a  tent 
 for  it  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 5  Moreover  ^  the  brasen  altar,  that  '■  Be- 
 zaleel  the  son  of  Uri,  the  son  of  Hur,  had 
 made,  ||  he  put  before  the  tabernacle  of  the 
 Lord  :  and  Solomon  and  the  congregation 
 sought  unto  it. 
 
 6  And  Solomon  went  up  thither  to  the 
 brasen  altar  before  the  Lord,  which  was  at  the 
 tabernacle  of  the  congregation,  and  '  offered  a 
 thousand  burnt  offerings  upon  it. 
 
 7  f '  In  that  night  did  God  appear  unto  So- 
 loinon, and  said  unto  him.  Ask  what  I  shall 
 give  thee. 
 
 8  And  Solomon  said  unto  God,  Thou  hast 
 shewed  great  mercy  unto  David  my  father,  and 
 hast  made  me  '  to  reign  in  his  stead. 
 
 9  Now,  O  Lord  God,  let  thy  promise  unto 
 David  my  father  be  established  :  "'for  thou  hast 
 made  me  king  over  a  people  f  like  the  dust  of 
 the  earth  in  multitude. 
 
 10  "Give  me  now  wisdom  and  knowledge, 
 that  I  may  "go  out  and  come  in  before  this 
 people:  for  who  can  judge  this  thy  people, //ia? 
 is  so  great  ? 
 
 a  1  Kin.S.'lff. 
 
 6  Gen.  39.  2. 
 
 1  Clir.  2ft. 
 
 a  Kx.  27.  1 
 2.  &33.  1,! 
 h  Ex.  31,  2 
 
 k  1  Kid.  3. 
 >,  C. 
 
 t  Heb-  much 
 di  llie  duit 
 f,f  fUlr^nrlh. 
 
 n  I  Kill.  3.  1). 
 
 p  I  Kill.  3. 
 11,  12,  13. 
 
 r  1  Clir.  2*) 
 25.  rli.9,22. 
 Ecclcl.  2.9 
 
 s  r  Kin    10. 
 
 27.  ch  9.27. 
 
 J.il.  22.  2i. 
 t  Ilrh.  gavt. 
 
 I  1  ICiiv  10. 
 2.S,  29.  cli. 
 9.  28. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 g..u,gf.rlh 
 o/  lUf  h.>ru. 
 irhiih  was 
 Saltm<ui'i. 
 
 t  Ilfb    l,;i 
 thtir  ha'iii. 
 
 1 1  '■  And  God  said  to  Solomon,  Because  this 
 was  in  thine  heart,  and  thon  hast  not  asked 
 riches,  wealth,  or  honour,  nor  tlic  life  of  thine 
 eneiuies,  neither  yet  hast  asked  long  life  ;  but 
 hast  asked  wisdom  and  knowledge  for  tliysclf, 
 that  thou  mayest  judge  my  people,  over  wliom 
 I  have  made  thee  king  : 
 
 12  Wisdom  and  knowledge  is  granted  unto 
 thee  ;  and  I  will  give  thee  riches,  and  wealth, 
 and  honour,  such  as  ''  none  of  the  kings  have 
 had  that  have  been  before  thee,  neither  shall 
 there  any  after  thee  have  tlie  like. 
 
 13  t  Then  Solomon  came  fium  his  Joiiniei/ 
 to  the  high  place  that  was  at  Gibeon  to  Jeru- 
 salem, from  before  the  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
 gregation, and  reigned  over  Israel. 
 
 14  '  And  Solomon  gathered  chariots  and 
 horsemen  :  and  he  had  a  thousand  and  four 
 hundred  chariots,  and  twelve  thousand  horse- 
 men, which  he  placed  in  the  chariot  cities,  and 
 with  the  king  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 15  'And  the  king  f  made  silver  and  gold  at 
 Jerusalem  as  plenteous  as  stones,  and  cedar 
 trees  made  he  as  the  sycomore  trees  that  are 
 in  the  vale  for  abundance. 
 
 Ifi  'And  fSoloinon  had  horses  brought  out 
 of  Egypt,  and  linen  yarn :  the  king's  merchant.s 
 received  the  linen  yarn  at  a  price. 
 
 17  And  they  fetched  up,  and  brought  forth 
 out  of  Egypt  a  chariot  for  six  hundred  shekels 
 of  silver,  and  an  horse  for  an  hundred  and  fifty : 
 and  so  brought  they  out  horses  for  all  the 
 kings  of  the  Ilittites,  and  for  the  kings  of  Syria, 
 f  by  their  means. 
 
 CHAP.  n. 
 
 I,  17  Solotnon^s  lahourtrs  for  the  hmUihig  of  the  teinyL'. 
 3  Ilis  nnbassac/c  to  Hunnn  for  workmen  and  prolu- 
 sion of  stuff.     1 1  Hnram  sendeth  him  a  kind  anstctr. 
 
 A  ND  Solomon  '^  determined  to  build  an 
 ■^~*-  house  for  the  name  of  the  Loud,  and  an 
 house  for  his  kingdom. 
 
 2  And  ''Solomon  told  out  threescore  and  ten 
 thousand  men  to  bear  burdens,  and  fourscore 
 
 Notes  ov  Chap.  I.^ll.  Riches,  «'ca//A— these  words  are  almost 
 synonymous  in  English,  hut  in  the  original,  the  former,  in??,  may  denote 
 possesisions  of  any  kind;  the  latter,  CDSJ,  such  riches  as  are  usually 
 counted,  as  precious  stones,  money,  and  particularly  such  sums,  per- 
 haps, as  were  usually  paid  in  trihute. —//<?«'.  14.  Chariot  cities,  such 
 wherein  there  was  good   pasturage  for  the  horses.— Pat.         15.  As 
 
 plenteous  ns  stunrs — he  causeil  so  preat  plenty  that  it  was  no  more 
 esteemed  than  &tone. — fte/.  Bib.  )6.  Linen  purn—see  note  1  Kings, 
 X.  28.  17-  An  horse /or  an  hundred  and  fifty,  about  22/.  in*. — A.  Clarke. 
 Chap.  II- — I.  An  house — the  wurd  'temple,'  among  the  Jews,  gra- 
 dually obtained  from  the  Gentiles.  The  Egyptians  were  the  first  that 
 built  temples;  the  Greeks  and  the  Tyrians  fuUowed,  as  they  rose  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  T.  — In  this  chapter,  says  Henry, 
 •we  have— T.  Solomon's  gnat  prosptrity.  He  '*was  strength- 
 ened in  his  kingdom,  and  the  Lord  his  God  was  with  him." 
 God's  presence  will  be  our  strength. 
 
 *  II.  His  great  piety  and  devotion.  Solomon  began  his  reign 
 with  a  public  pious  visit  to  God's  altar,  and  it  was  a  very  good 
 omen.  Magistrates  are  then  likely  to  do  well  for  themselves 
 and  their  people,  when  they  thus  take  God  along  with  them  at 
 their  setting  out. 
 458 
 
 *  III.  His  entrance  upon  his  government.  He  came  '*  from  be- 
 fore the  tabernacle  and  reigned  over  Israel."  He  would  not 
 do  any  acts  of  government  till  he  had  done  bis  acts  of  devo- 
 tion ;  would  not  take  honour  to  himself,  till  be  had  given  ho- 
 nour to  God  ;  first  the  tabernacle,  and  then  the  throne.  But 
 be  ''gathered  horses  and  chariots,  in  which  we  praise  him  not, 
 for  the  king  was  forbidden  to  multiply  horses,'  (Deut.  xvii. 
 16.)  His  fatber  did  not  so.  We  should  rather  imitate  our 
 predecessors  in  goodness  than  in  grandeur.' 
 
Uniam'a  kind  ansioer  to  Solomon. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  III. 
 
 The  ImildiHij  of  the  temple. 
 
 thousand  to  hew  in  the  mountain,  and  tliree 
 tliousand  and  six  hundred  to  oversee  them. 
 
 3  If  And  Solomon  sent  to  ||  Hurani  the  king 
 of  Tyre,  saying,  ''As  tliou  didst  deal  with  David 
 my  father,  and  didst  send  him  cedars  to  huild 
 liini  an  house  to  dwell  therein,  even  so  deal 
 irith  me. 
 
 4  Behold,  '  I  build  an  house  to  the  name  of 
 the  LoKD  my  God,  to  dedicate  it  to  him,  and 
 "to  bum  before  him  f sweet  incejise,  and  for 
 '  tlie  continual  shew  bread,  and  for  '''  the  burnt 
 ofFerings  morning  and  evening,  on  the  sabbaths, 
 and  on  the  new  moons,  and  on  the  solemn 
 feasts  of  the  Lord  our  God.  Tins  is  an  ordi- 
 nanee  for  ever  to  Israel. 
 
 .5  And  the  house  wliich  I  build  is  great :  for 
 ''  great  is  our  God  above  all  gods. 
 
 6  '  But  who  t  is  able  to  build  him  an  house, 
 seeing  the  heaven  and  heaven  of  lieavens 
 cannot  contain  him  ?  who  am  I  then,  that  I 
 sliould  build  him  an  house,  save  only  to  burn 
 sacritice  before  him  ? 
 
 7  Send  me  now  therefore  a  man  cunning  to 
 work  in  gold,  and  in  silver,  and  in  brass,  and  in 
 iron,  and  in  purple,  and  crimson,  and  blue,  and 
 tliat  can  skill  f  to  grave  with  the  cunning  men 
 that  are  with  me  in  .ludah  and  in  Jerusalem, 
 '  wliom  David  my  fatlier  did  provide. 
 
 8  '  Send  me  also  cedar  trees,  fir  trees,  and 
 11  algum  trees,  out  of  Lebanon  :  for  I  know  that 
 tliy  servants  can  skill  to  cut  timber  in  Leba- 
 non ;  and,  behold,  my  servants  shall  be  with 
 thy  servants, 
 
 !)  Even  to  prepare  me  timber  in  abundance  : 
 for  the  house  v\'hich  I  am  about  to  build  shall 
 be  t  wonderful  great. 
 
 10  "'And,  behold,  I  will  give  to  thy  servants, 
 the  hewers  that  cut  timber,  twenty  thousand 
 measures  of  beaten  wheat,  and  twenty  thou- 
 sand measures  of  barley,  and  twenty  thousand 
 baths  of  wine,  and  twenty  thousand  baths  of  oil. 
 
 11  If  Then  Huram  the  king  of  Tyre  an- 
 swered in  writing,  which  he  sent  to  Solomon, 
 "  Because  tlie  Lord  hath  loved  his  people,  he 
 liath  made  thee  king  over  them. 
 
 i-2  Huram  said  moreover,  "Blessed  be  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel, '' that  made  heaven  and 
 earth,  who  hath  given  to  David  the  king  a  wise 
 son,  t  endued  with  prudence  and  understand- 
 ing, that  might  build  an  house  for  the  Lord, 
 and  an  house  for  his  kingdom. 
 
 13  And  now  I  have  sent  a  cunning  man,  en- 
 dued with  understanding,  of  Huram  my  father's, 
 
 14  ''  The  son  of  a  woman  of  the  daughters  of 
 Dan,  and  liis  father  was  a  man  of  Tyre,  skilful 
 
 I  Or,  Hirom, 
 I  Kill.  5.  I. 
 :iCli..  M.I. 
 
 ;;  Num.  2 
 
 I  Kit 
 
 S. 
 
 Is   l>ii.  I. 
 ^   Heb    hath 
 rcru'iierf,  nr 
 
 ttrenfilh. 
 
 t  Heb    f" 
 
 gravr  nn 
 
 5    G 
 
 IlK-.y- 
 
 I  Kill 
 
 I  I  Kin.  10. 
 9.  til.  9.  H. 
 
 l.'l.  .'^-  .^ 
 \m   b,  6 
 Acts  4   2i. 
 &  14.  [5. 
 Rev.  III.  6. 
 t  Heb  Aiiow- 
 
 and  H..dtr- 
 ir.i.id.'.if. 
 i  I  Kiu.  7. 
 
 5  I  Ivin.  5  8, 
 9. 
 I  Heb.  .,c- 
 
 'illlh<f>.rrd 
 f  Heb.>a,.;,o, 
 
 J..ali.  I9.16. 
 
 Arts  y.  36. 
 I  A«  ver.  2 
 
 I   Kill. 5.13, 
 
 I&,  IG    &  9. 
 
 20.  •2\    ell. 
 
 8.  7,  8. 
 t  Heb.  «ia 
 
 II  1  Clir.  J'J,: 
 J-  .\s  it  is 
 
 1(118. 
 u  1  Kiu.  6.  I, 
 
 6  Gen.  22.2, 
 
 Or,  which 
 
 II  Of,  Jnu- 
 u'lh,  -  Sam. 
 2i.  18. 
 
 I  Heb 
 /uuiided. 
 
 f\  Kin.6.17. 
 
 to  work  in  gold,  and  in  silver,  in  brass,  in  iron, 
 in  stone,  and  in  timber,  in  purple,  in  blue,  and 
 in  fine  linen,  and  in  crimson ;  also  to  grave  any 
 manner  of  graving,  and  to  find  out  every  device 
 which  shall  be  put  to  him,  with  thy  cunning 
 men,  and  with  the  cunning  men  of  my  lord 
 David  thy  father. 
 
 15  Now  therefore  the  wheat,  and  the  barley, 
 the  oil,  and  the  wine,  which  'my  lord  hath 
 spoken  of,  let  him  send  unto  his  servants  : 
 
 16  'And  we  will  cut  wood  out  of  Lebanon, 
 fas  nuich  as  thou  shalt  need:  and  we  will 
 bring  it  to  thee  in  flotes  by  sea  to  fJoppa; 
 and  thou  shalt  carry  it  up  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 17  If  '  And  Solomon  numbered  all  f  the 
 strangers  that  were  in  the  land  of  Israel,  after 
 the  numbering  wherewith  "  David  his  father 
 had  numbered  them  ;  and  they  were  found  an 
 hundred  and  fifty  thousand  and  three  thousand 
 and  six  hundred. 
 
 18  And  he  set  "threescore  and  ten  thousand 
 of  them  to  be  bearers  of  burdens,  and  fourscore 
 thousand  to  be  hewers  in  the  mountain,  and 
 three  thousand  and  six  hundred  overseers  to 
 set  the  people  a  work. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 The  placet  «"t^  ti»^  of  hvildinif  the  temjitr.  3  The 
 measure  and  ornatntttts  of  the  house.  ]1  Tlie  cheru- 
 bims.     14  The  vail  and  pillars. 
 
 'T'HEN  "  Solomon  began  to  build  the  house 
 -*-  of  the  Lord  at  ''  Jerusalem  in  mount  Mo- 
 riah,  ||  where  the  L  OED  appeared  unto  Da- 
 vid his  father,  in  the  place  that  David  had 
 prepared  in  the  threshingfloor  of  ||  Oman  the 
 Jebnsite. 
 
 2  And  he  began  to  build  in  the  second  dai/ 
 of  tlie  second  month,  in  the  fourth  year  of  his 
 reign. 
 
 3  If  Now  these  are  the  things  ■'  wherein  So- 
 lomon was  t  instructed  for  the  building  of  the 
 house  of  God.  The  length  by  cubits  after  the 
 first  measure  was  threescore  cubits,  and  the 
 breadth  twenty  cubits. 
 
 4  And  the  ''  porch  tliat  icas  in  the  front  of 
 the  house,  the  length  (f  it  was  according  to 
 the  breadtli  of  the  house,  twenty  cubits,  and 
 the  height  ivas  an  hundred  and  twenty  :  and 
 he  overlaid  it  within  with  pure  gold. 
 
 5  And  "■  the  greater  house  he  cieled  with  fir 
 tree,  which  he  overlaid  with  fine  gold,  and  set 
 thereon  palm  trees  and  chains. 
 
 6  And  he  fgarnislied  the  house  with  preci- 
 ous stones  for  beauty  :  and  the  gold  iras  gold 
 of  Parvaim. 
 
 wealth  and  science.— .Swi.  3.  Huram,  spelt  Hiram,  I  Kings,  vii.  13, 
 I  1.  Seethe  nnte  there.  7.  Cunning  tu  work,  of  great  infjenuity, 
 capable  of  directing  others. — Clarke.  8.  ^/"-"m— see  1  Kings,  x.  11, 
 note.  1.3.  A  running  man — of  Huram  my  father's, '  a  wiseand  very 
 kiKiwing  man.  Hiram. abiu,' — Boothr.  Hi.  Flaten — see  1  Kings,  v.  g, 
 mile.  17.  Strangers — the  relics  of  the  Amnrites,  Hittites,  Perizzites, 
 lliviles,  and  Jebusites,  mentioned  afterwards,  (chap,  viii,  7.)—Ki?nehi. 
 But  they  were  nut  idnlaturs,  for  then  David  would  not  liave  siitferett 
 tiiem  to  dwell  in  the  land.    They  worshipped  God,  but  were  not  cir- 
 
 cumcised.— So  Pat.  For  further  notes  on  this  chapter  see  1  Kings,  v. 
 CtiAP.  HI. — 3.  The  first  measure,  that  is,  the  original  cubit  of  Moses } 
 not  that  of  Babylon,  used  after  the  captivity,  whicll  was  a  palin  or  one- 
 fcixth  sluir'er. —  Tf7/.  4.  An  hanflrert  and  twenty — tlie  Sept.  and  most 
 of  the  ancient  versions  read  'twenty  cubits,*  (1  Iviiigs,  vi.  2.) — Sut. 
 G.  He  garnished  the  house  with  precious  stones  for  In'autti,  '  he  paved 
 the  floor  with  beautiful  and  excellent  stones.* — Houb.  '  tie  paved  the 
 house  with  beautiful  precious  stones.* — Boothr,  *  With  most  costly 
 marble,*  Vntg.     Gold  of  Parvaim,  probably  a  place  so  called. — Scott. 
 
 Rkfi.ections  (IN  Chap.   II. —  We  liave  here,  I.  .Solomon's  and   great  justice  in  his  liberal  stipulations  lo  pay  the  work- 
 
 ,1  lerniinatiim  lo  build  an  house  for  the  Lord.     Henry  here  ob-  men.      We    may    lienco   see   a   practical   illustration   of  Ibe 
 
 serves,  '  Those  are   tlie  wisest  men  that  lay  out  tlieinselves  apostle's  exhortation,  '  to  walk  in  wisdom  towards  them  that 
 
 most  (or  the  honour  of  the  name  of  the  Lord  and  the  welCiire  of  are  without.' 
 
 loiijinunitics;  we  are  not  born  for  ourselves,  but  for  God  and  III.  lluram's  oUii/tnt/  answer  to  and  conipliance  irilh   his  re- 
 
 oiir  couritry.'         _  quest.     The  good  man.  who  is  consistent  in  liis  conduct,  will 
 
 II.  His  apiilication  to  Huram  for  aid.     In  this  application  we  always  gain  the  respect  of  those  that  are  about  him.     Let  us 
 
 see  great  courtesy  in  explainini;  Ins  intentions  at  length  ;  Rieut  never  he  ashamed  to  avow  our  relii;ion,  eillier  in  pniKipIo  or 
 
 I'ietv  in  the  reverential  manner  hi  winch  he  speaks  of  God  ;  practice. 
 459 
 
The  chr.ruhiina  of  I  he  house. 
 
 7  He  overlaid  also  the  house,  the  beams,  the 
 posts,  ami  the  walls  thereof,  and  tlie  doors 
 thereof,  with  gold  ;  and  graved  cherubims  on 
 the  walls. 
 
 8  And  he  made  the  most  holy  house,  the 
 length  whereof  icas  according  to  the  breadth 
 of  the  house,  twenty  cubits,  and  the  breadth 
 thereof  twenty  cubits  :  and  he  overlaid  it  with 
 fine  gold,  anwuntiiig  to  six  hundred  talents. 
 
 9  And  the  weight  of  the  nails  u-as  fifty 
 shekels  of  gold.  And  he  overlaid  tlie  upper 
 chambers  with  gold. 
 
 10  *  And  in  the  most  holy  house  he  made 
 two  cherubims  ||  of  image  work,  and  overlaid 
 them  with  gold. 
 
 1 1  K  And  the  wuigs  of  the  cherubims  were 
 twenty  cubits  long  :  one  wing  of  the  otie  cherub 
 was  five  cubits,  reaching  to  the  wall  of  the 
 house  :  and  the  other  wing  was  lihewise  five 
 cubits,  reaching  to  the  wing  of  the  other  cherub. 
 
 12  And  one  wing  of  the  other  cherub  leas 
 five  cubits,  reaching  to  the  wall  of  the  house  : 
 and  the  other  wing  was  five  cubits  also,  join- 
 ing to  the  wing  of  the  other  cherub. 
 
 13  The  wings  of  these  cherubims  spread 
 themselves  furtli  twenty  cubits  :  and  they  stood 
 on  their  feet,  and  their  faces  trere  ||  inward. 
 
 14  K  And  he  made  the  ''vail  uf  blue,  and 
 purple.and  crimson,  and  fine  linen, and  fwrought 
 cherubims  thereon. 
 
 15  Also  he  made  before  the  house  '  two  pil- 
 lars of  thirty  and  five  cubits  f'l'g''.  ^"'^  '''fi 
 chapiter  that  >vas  on  the  top  of  each  of  them 
 was  five  cubits. 
 
 16  And  he  made  chains,  as  m  the  oracle,  and 
 put  them  on  the  heads  of  the  pillars  ;  and  made 
 '  an  hundred  pomegranates,  and  put  them  on 
 the  chains. 
 
 17  And  he  '  reared  up  the  pillars  before  the 
 temple,  one  on  the  right  hand,  and  tlie  other 
 on  the  left ;  and  called  the  name  of  that  on  the 
 right  hand  ||  Jachin,  and  the  name  of  that  on 
 the  left  II  Boaz. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  The  altar  of  hniss.  2  The  vwlten  sen  vpon  twelve 
 oxeit.  6  Tlif  ten  lavrrs^  cunflhstiHs,  and  tables.  9 
 Thii  courts,  awl  the  instruments  of  brass.  19  The 
 instr?(mcjits  of  tjokL 
 
 ]\TOREOVER  he  made  "an  altar  of  brass, 
 ^^  twenty  cubits  the  length  thereof,  and 
 twenty  cubits  tlie  breadth  thereof,  and  ten 
 cubits  the  height  thereof. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES.  IV. 
 
 Tfie  moUi'ii  sea,  ^c. 
 
 D  Oi-,  (US 
 5(>inc  tliitiV) 
 
 I  Or. 
 
 t'./-  If 
 
 h  Kx. 
 
 Mai 
 
 t'lwnril 
 
 •'.I  to 
 
 •  I   Kin   7. 
 
 Jcr.-I*.  91. 
 t  lleb.  long 
 
 h  I  Kiu.T.gO. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 l,f,h.>lla- 
 
 II   Tli.it  id,  ill 
 it  is  tttcnfflh. 
 
 i  F.X.  27.  1, 
 ■i.'-'Kin.  Iti. 
 
 M.  Kick. 
 
 13.  I a,  16. 
 
 Or,  /.7.«  n 
 lihJliiUirT. 
 d  SL-el  Kio. 
 
 /  I  Kin  7*0. 
 
 ?  Kx  is. -SI, 
 •111.  I  Clir. 
 28.  I;?,  10. 
 
 h  I  Kin.7.-J8. 
 
 II  Or,  /-"IP 
 |II»-b.>. 
 
 \  Hi-b.  i< 
 
 rt'  ftcr 
 
 0  1  Kin. 
 
 27.  i:i. 
 
 11  Or,  C'.i 
 
 dront. 
 
 2  1''  Also  he  made  a  molten  sea  of  ten  cu- 
 bits t  from  brim  to  brim,  round  in  compass, 
 and  five  cubits  the  height  thereof;  :wd  a  line 
 of  thirty  cubits  did  compass  it  round  about. 
 
 3  '  And  under  it  icas  the  similitude  of  oxen, 
 which  did  compass  it  round  about :  ten  in  a 
 cubit,  compassing  the  sea  round  about.  Two 
 rows  of  oxen  ivtre  cast,  when  it  was  cast. 
 
 4  It  stood  upon  twelve  oxen,  three  looking 
 toward  the  north,  and  three  looking  toward  the 
 west,  and  three  looking  toward  the  south,  and 
 three  looking  toward  the  east  :  and  the  sea 
 was  set  above  upon  them,  and  all  their  hinder 
 parts  iverc  inward. 
 
 5  And  the  thickness  of  it  was  an  haudbreadth, 
 and  the  brim  of  it  like  the  work  of  tlie  brim  of 
 a  cup,  II  with  flowers  of  lilies  ;  aiid  it  received 
 and  held  ''  three  thousand  baths. 
 
 G  t  He  made  also  ''  ten  lavers,  and  put  five 
 on  the  right  hand,  and  five  on  the  left,  to  wash 
 in  them  :  f  such  things  as  they  offered  for  the 
 burnt  offering  they  washed  in  them  ;  but  the 
 sea  was  for  the  priests  to  wash  in. 
 
 7  '  And  he  made  ten  candlesticks  of  gold 
 ^according  to  their  form,  and  set  them  in  the 
 temple,  five  on  the  right  hand,  and  five  on  the 
 left. 
 
 6  ''  He  made  also  ten  tables,  and  placed  them 
 in  the  temple,  five  on  the  right  side,  and  five 
 on  the  left.  And  he  made  an  hundred  ||  basons 
 of  gold. 
 
 9  t  Furthermore  '  he  made  the  court  of  the 
 priests,  and  the  great  court,  and  doors  for  the 
 court,  and  overlaid  the  doors  of  them  with 
 brass. 
 
 10  And  ''  he  set  the  sea  on  the  right  side  of 
 the  east  end,  over  against  the  south. 
 
 1 1  And  '  Huram  made  the  pots,  aud  the  sho- 
 vels, and  the  ||  basons.  Aud  Huram  ffiuishcd 
 the  work  that  he  was  to  make  for  king  Solo- 
 mon for  the  bouse  of  God  ; 
 
 12  To  wit,  the  two  pillars,  and  "'the  pom- 
 mels, aud  the  chapiters  which  were  on  the  top 
 of  the  two  pillars,  aud  the  two  wreaths  to  cover 
 the  two  pommels  of  the  chapiters  which  were 
 on  the  top  of  the  i)illars  ; 
 
 13  Aud  "  four  hundred  pomegranates  on  the 
 two  wreaths  ;  two  rows  of  pomegranates  on 
 each  wreath,  to  cover  the  two  pommels  of  the 
 chapiters  which  u^ere  f  upon  the  pillars. 
 
 14  He  made  also  °  bases,  and  ||  lavers  made 
 he  upon  the  bases  ; 
 
 Some  place  Parvaim  in  Armenia,  others  in  Ccylon.^TFiV.  Ceylon  was 
 called  by  the  Phoenicians  Taphparvan,  -which  signifies  *  the  shore  of 
 Parvan.' — Bofh.  Perhaps  it  was  a  town  corruptly  called  by  PUiiy 
 '  Parbacia,'  which  was  in  the  land  of  Havilah,  or  the  kingdom  of  the 
 Charazenes,  where  was  the  best  gold,  (Gen.  ii.  11,  12.) — Waserus,  It 
 may  mean  highly-colonred  gold,  receiving  a  superior  tint  from  the 
 matrices  in  which  it  was  formed. — Sut.^  so  the  Rabbins.  9.  Knils — 
 probably  bolts  ;  to  imagine  nails  of  near  two  pounds  weight  is  prepos- 
 terous. Upper  chambers,  perhaps  the  ceiling. — So  Clarke.  10.  Jmai^e 
 work,  *  sculptured  work.' — limtthr.  l.s.  Two  pillars — it  seems  to  have 
 been  a  general  custom  in  temples  of  remote  antiquity  to  erect  isolated 
 monuments  or  obelisks  in  front.  Belzoiii,  in  his  researches  among  the 
 stupendous  structures  of  former  ages,  discovered,  in  many  instances, 
 these  colossal  pillars. — Burder's  Oi-ient,  Cast.  See  1  Kings,  vii.  15^ 
 22,  and  notes. 
 
 Chap.  IV. — 1.  .4«  altar  of  brass — Ihisisrefcrredto,  but  not  described, 
 in  I  Kings,  viii.  64.  It  was  four  times  as  long,  and  four  limes  as 
 broad,  and  about  three  times  as  high,  as  that  made  by  Moses,  and  it 
 formed  a  scaffold  about  eleven  yards  square  and  five  yards  high. — 
 
 Scott.  Some  think  it  was  only  covered  with  brass,  as  that  made  by 
 Mcscs  was.  Dr.  Liffhf/oot  thinks  it  was  of  massy  brass,  because  not 
 to  be  removed  as  that  was. — Gill.  Ten  cubits  the  heii.'ht  lhcri:o/~]\o\v 
 could  this  be,  consistently  with  Exod.  XX.  26  *  and  steps  were  necessary 
 for  so  high  an  altar  as  this  was.  The  steps  were  siiitably  made,  or  the 
 linen  breeches  worn  by  the  priests  rendered  the  law  now  unnecessary , 
 or  it  was  now  dispensed  with. — Poole.  The  ascent  was  by  a  sloping 
 rise,  or  what  is  called  an  inclined  plane,  on  the  south  side,  called  Kib- 
 besh,  32  cnbils  in  length  and  16  in  breadth. —  Cat.,  Ed.  3.  .Ind  under 
 it  was  the  similitude  of  oxen,  '  the  similitude  of  grapes.' — Houb.  '  And 
 under  its  brim  were  knops.' — Boothr.  The  sense  of  the  original  ap- 
 pears to  be  '  a  wreath  of  an  ox  eye,'  a  species  of  grape  or  plum  of  a 
 large  size  and  dark  colour,  resembling  the  eye  of  an  ox. — Sut.  5.  Three 
 thousand  baths — in  1  Kings,  vii.  26.  it  is 'two  thousand.*  This  book 
 being  written  after  the  captivity,  reference  is  perhaps  here  made  to  the 
 Babylonish  hath,  which  was  less  than  the  Jewish. — So  Clarke.  Some 
 think  its  real  contents  are  mentioned  in  one  case  and  its  capacity  in 
 the  other. — See  Put.  12.  Pommels, '  the  bowls,' — Boothr.,  or'  globes.' 
 Called  '  bowls,'  1  Kings,  vii.  41 .    Perhaps  globes  placed  above  the  cha- 
 
 RtFLECTioNs  ON   CiiAP.  III. — I.  Observo  here.  Mc  fcui'W-  in  remembrance  of  tliat,  there  atonement  must  still  be  made.' 
 
 ing  of  the  temple.     'It  was  built  at  Jerusalem,'  says  Henry,  II.  Let  us  beliold  from  this,  to  use  the  words  oCScolt,  '  God 
 
 '  where  God  put  bis  name  ;  on  mount  INIoriab,  and  where  the  in  Christ,  his  true  temple,  hifmitely  more  glorious  Ihan  ihat  of 
 
 Lord  appeared  to  David,  and  inswered  him  by  fire.  (1  Chron.  Solomon,  and  may  we  too  become  "  a  spiritual  bouse,"  an 
 
 xxi.  IS, '■J6.)    There  atonement  wa.s  made  once,  and  therefore,  liabitation  of  God  through  liie  Spirit !' 
 460 
 
The  arh  brought  into  the  oracle. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  V. 
 
 The  priests  and  Levites  praise  God. 
 
 15  One  sea,  and  twelve  oxen  untler  it- 
 
 16  The  pots  also,  and  the  shovels,  and  the 
 flpshhnnks,  and  all  their  instrnments,  did  ''  Hn- 
 rani  liis  father  make  to  king  Solomon  for  the 
 house  of  the  Lord  of  fhri^iht  hrass. 
 
 17  ''In  the  plain  of  Jordan  did  the  king  cast 
 them,  in  the  f  clay  ground  between  Succoth 
 and  Zeredatliah. 
 
 18  '  Thus  Solomon  made  all  these  vessels  in 
 great  abundance  :  for  the  weight  of  the  brass 
 could  not  be  found  out. 
 
 It)  t  And  'Solomon  made  .all  the  vessels  that 
 irere  for  the  house  of  God,  the  golden  altar 
 also,  and  the  tables  whereon  '  the  shewbread 
 iras  set ; 
 
 20  Moreover  the  candlesticks  with  their 
 lamps,  that  they  should  burn  "  after  the  man- 
 ner before  the  oracle,  of  pure  gold  ; 
 
 21  And  'the  flowers,  and  the  lamps,  and  the 
 tongs,  mnde  he  of  gold,  and  that  f  perfect 
 gold  ; 
 
 22  And  the  snnflFers,  and  the  ||  basons,  and 
 (lie  spoons,  and  the  censers,  o/"pure  gold  :  and 
 (he  entry  of  the  house,  the  inner  doors  thereof 
 for  the  most  \-io\y  place,  and  the  doors  of  the 
 bouse  of  the  temple,  were  o/"gold. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  The  (tetjicaitfl  trmsrirca.  2  The  sninnn  inStctitm  of 
 tfip  nrk  into  the  nrncle.  11  Gudheinr;  praised  ffiveth 
 tt  risilfle  sigtt  nf  his  favour, 
 
 'pHUS  "  all  the  work  that  Solomon  made  for 
 ^  the  house  of  the  Lord  was  finished  :  and 
 Solomon  brought  in  all  the  things  that  David 
 liis  father  had  dedicated  ;  and  the  silver,  and 
 the  gold,  and  all  the  instruments,  put  he  among 
 tlie  treasures  of  the  house  of  God. 
 
 2  1'''  Then  Solomon  assembled  the  elders  of 
 Israel,  and  all  the  heads  of  the  tribes,  the  chief 
 of  the  fathers  of  the  children  of  Israel,  unto  Je- 
 rusalem, to  bring  up  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of 
 the  Lord  '  out  of  the  city  of  David,  which  is 
 Z'lon. 
 
 3  ''  Wherefore  all  the  men  of  Israel  assembled 
 
 p  1  Kill.  7. 
 li,  4!>. 
 
 Ijri^Ut,  or, 
 
 <i  I  Kill.  7  ^li- 
 t  Hell.  Ihi'k 
 
 TiftMeM  nflhe 
 
 griiund. 
 r  I  Kin.7.'17. 
 
 I  I  Kiu.7.18, 
 
 J-  Kx  25.  .91. 
 
 f  Heb.  7»r- 
 ficlio,.,./ 
 
 I)   Or,  fioio/*. 
 
 1001. 
 »  IKiD.  8.  I, 
 
 B.  C.  1004. 
 •  Scecll.7.S, 
 
 I  Kill.  8.  S 
 
 /  Den.  10,2. 
 ■i.  I'll  li  11. 
 Or,  iMc.f. 
 
 themselves  unto  the  king  "  in  the  feast  which 
 ivas  in  the  seventh  month. 
 
 4  And  all  the  elders  of  Israel  came  ;  and  the 
 Levites  took  up  the  ark. 
 
 5  And  they  brought  up  the  ark,  and  the  ta- 
 bernacle of  the  congregation,  and  all  the  holy 
 vessels  that  were  in  the  tabernacle,  these  did 
 the  priests  and  the  Levites  bring  up. 
 
 G  Also  king  Solomon,  and  all  the  congrega- 
 tion of  Israel  that  were  assembled  unto  him 
 before  tlie  ark,  sacrificed  sheep  and  oxen,  which 
 could  not  be  told  nor  numbered  for  multitude. 
 
 7  And  tlie  priests  brought  in  the  ark  of  the 
 covenant  of  the  Lord  unto  his  place,  to  the 
 oracle  of  the  house,  into  the  most  ho\y  place, 
 even  under  the  wings  of  the  cbernbinis  : 
 
 8  For  llie  cherubims  spread  forth  their  wings 
 over  tlie  place  of  the  ark,  and  the  cherubims 
 covered  the  ark  and  the  staves  thereof  above. 
 
 9  And  they  drew  out  the  staves  of  the  ark, 
 that  the  ends  of  the  staves  were  seen  from  the 
 ark  before  the  oracle  ;  but  they  were  not  seen 
 without.     And  ||  there  it  is  unto  this  day. 
 
 10  There  was  nothing  in  the  ark  save  the 
 two  tables  which  Moses  'put  therein  at  Horeb, 
 II  when  the  Lord  made  a  covenant  with  the 
 children  of  Israel,  when  they  came  out  of 
 Egypt. 
 
 1 1  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  priests 
 were  come  out  of  the  bo]y  place :  (for  all  the 
 priests  that  were  f  present  were  sanctified,  and 
 did  not  then  wait  by  course  : 
 
 12  ^  Also  the  Levites  which  were  the  singers, 
 all  of  them  of  Asaph,  of  Heman,  of  Jeduthun, 
 with  their  sons  and  their  brethren,  /jcing  ar- 
 rayed in  white  linen,  having  cymbals  and  psal- 
 teries and  harps,  stood  at  the  east  end  of  the 
 altar,  ''and  with  them  an  hundred  and  twenty 
 priests  sounding  with  trumpets  :) 
 
 1.3  It  came  even  to  pass,  as  the  trumpeters 
 and  singers  icere  as  one,  to  make  one  sound  to 
 be  heard  in  praising  and  thanking  the  Lord  ; 
 and  when  they  lifted  up  their  voice  with  tlie 
 trumpets  and  cymbals  and  instruments  of  rau- 
 
 piler^. — Srntt.         l6.  Hnrnm  his  fitfher — Ulc  words  are  best  translated 
 •  Hiram  Ahi.' — Pat.     '  Hiram-ahni.' — Biinlhr. 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  1.  The  Lemfes  took  np  the  rirk— they  took  it  np  and  car. 
 ried  it  to  the  temple,  and  then  ihp  prie^^ts  carried  it  into  the  holy  iilace, 
 (ver.  7.)  because  it  was  not  lawful  for  the  Levites  to  enter  there.  The 
 ark  had  been  carried  by  the  priests  three  times  before  this  ;  when  they 
 
 went  over  Jnrdaii,  when  they  encompassed  Jericho,  and  when  David 
 sent  it  back  when  he  fled  from  Absalom,  (2  Sam.  xv.  20,  30.)— Poi. 
 II.  Sfinrtijied — purified  by  solemn  washings. —  Pffte.  13.  For  he  is 
 good — this  was  either  the  whole  of  the  song  or  the  burden  of  each  verse. 
 — A.  Clarke.    See  I  Kings,  viii.,  and  notes  there. 
 
 Rffm-ctions  on  Cii.AP.  I^^  —  '  Botli  without  doors  and 
 witliin,'  says  Henry,  '  we  have  here  that  wjiich  typified  the 
 grace  of  the  gospel,  and  sliadowed  out  "  good  things  to  conie," 
 
 of  which  the  substanco  is  Christ I.  \\'iTnouT,  there  was, 
 
 1.  The  Wnseji  altar.  On  this  all  the  sacrifices  were  offered, 
 and  it  sanctified  the  gift.  They  might  thus  be  led  to  con- 
 sider the  great  sacrifice  which  should  he  offered,  in  the  ful- 
 ness of  time,  to  take  away  sin  and  abolish  deatli,  wliich  the 
 hlood  of  bulls  and  of  goals  could  not  possibly  do.  And  with 
 the  smoke  of  ilie  sacrifices  their  hearts  might  ascend  to  heaven 
 in  holy  desires  towards  God  and  his  favour.  In  all  our  de- 
 votions we  must  keep  the  eye  of  faith  fi.Ked  upon  Christ  the 
 great  propitiation.  2.  There  was  the  mnlten  sea.  In  this  they 
 put  water  for  the  priests  to  wash  in.  Tlie  Iloly  Ghost  by  this 
 signified,  (1.)  Our  great  gospel  privilege,  that  the  blood  of 
 Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  ( I  John,  i.  7.)  There  is  a  ful- 
 ness of  merit  in  Jesus  Christ  for  all  those  that  by  faith  apply 
 themselves  to  him  for  the  purifying  of  tlieir  consciences,  tliat 
 they  may  serve  the  living  God,  (Heh.  ix.  14.)  (2.)  Our 
 great  gospel  duty,  to  cleanse  ourselves  by  true  repentance 
 from  all  pollutions  of  the  flesh  and  the  corruption  that  is  in 
 the  world.  Our  hearts  must  be  sanctified,  or  we  cannot  sanc- 
 tify the  name  of  God.  They  that  draw  nigh  to  God  must 
 cleanse  their  hands  and  purify  their  hearts,  (James,  iv.  8.) 
 3.  There  were  ten  lavers  of  lir<tss,  in  which  they  washed  su<  li 
 461 
 
 things  as  were  offered  for  the  burnt-offerings.  As  the  priests 
 must  be  washed,  so  must  the  sacrifices.  We  must  not  only 
 purify  ourselves  in  preparation  for  our  religious  performances, 
 but  carefully  put  away  all  those  vain  thoughts  and  corrupt 
 aims  which  cleave  to  our  performances  themselves  and  pol- 
 lule  them. 
 
 II.  Within,  all  was  of  gold.  The  nearer  we  come  to  God, 
 the  jjurer  we  must  be,  the  purer  we  shall  be.  t.  There  were 
 ten  r/oltlcn  camllestichs,  according  to  the  form  of  that  one  which 
 was  in  the  tabernacle.  The  written  word  is  a  lamp  and  a 
 light  shining  in  a  dark  place.  In  Moses'  time  they  had  but 
 one  candlestick,  tlie  Pentateuch  ;  but  the  additions  which,  in 
 process  of  time,  were  to  be  made  of  other  books  of  scripture, 
 might  be  signified  by  this  increase  of  the  number  of  the  candle- 
 sticks. Light  was  growing.  The  candlesticks  are  the  churches, 
 (Rev.  i.  20.)  I\Ioses  set  up  but  one  church,  the  church  of 
 the  Jews;  but  in  the  gospel  temple,  not  only  believers,  but 
 churches,  are  multiplied.  2.  There  were  ten  f/olden  tahles  for 
 the  shew-bread.  Every  one  of  the  tables  had  twelve  loaves 
 on  it.  In  our  Father's  house  there  is  bread  enough  for  the 
 whole  family.  God's  table  is  well  furnished.  S.  There  was 
 n  ijohlen  attar,  on  which  they  burnt  incense.  Christ,  that  once 
 for  nil  made  atonement  for  sin,  ever  lives,  making  intercession 
 in  virtue  of  that  atonement. 
 
Solomon  blessetli  the  people. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  VI. 
 
 His  pritifer. 
 
 sick,  and  praised  tlie  Loud,  saying,  '  For  he  is 
 good  ;  for  his  mercy  endtiretk  for  ever :  that 
 then  the  house  was  tilled  with  a  cloud,  even 
 the  house  of  the  Lord  ; 
 
 14  So  that  the  priests  could  not  stand  to  mi- 
 nister hy  reason  of  the  cloud  :  '  for  the  glory 
 of  the  Lord  had  filled  the  house  of  God. 
 
 CHAP.  VL 
 
 1  Solomoriy  having  blfssed  the  people^  hksseth  Cod,  1 2 
 Solomon  s  prayer  in  the  consecration  of  the  teniple, 
 upon  tile  hrasen  scajfuiii. 
 
 'yHEN  *  said  Solomon,  The  Lord  hath  said 
 -I-  that  he  would  dwell  in  the  ''  thick  dark- 
 ness. 
 
 •2   But  I  have  built  an  house  of  habitation  for 
 thee,  and  a  place  for  thy  dwelling  for  ever. 
 .3   And  the  king  turned  his  face,  and  blessed 
 the  whole  congregation  of  Israel :    and  all  the 
 congregation  of  Israel  stood. 
 
 4  And  he  said.  Blessed  he  the  Loud  God  of 
 Israel,  who  hath  with  his  hands  fulfilled  that 
 which  he  spake  with  his  mouth  to  my  father 
 David,  saying, 
 
 5  Since  the  day  that  I  brought  forth  my 
 people  out  of  the  laud  of  Egypt  I  chose  no  city 
 among  all  the  tribes  of  Israel  to  build  an  house 
 in,  that  my  name  might  be  there ;  neither 
 chose  I  any  man  to  be  a  ruler  over  my  people 
 Israel : 
 
 6  "  But  1  have  chosen  Jerusalem,  that  my 
 name  might  be  there  ;  and  ''  have  chosen  Da- 
 vid to  be  over  my  people  Israel. 
 
 7  Now  '  it  was  in  the  heart  of  David  my 
 father  to  build  an  house  for  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel. 
 
 8  But  the  Lord  said  to  David  my  father. 
 Forasmuch  as  it  was  in  thine  heart  to  build  an 
 house  for  my  name,  thou  didst  well  in  that  it 
 was  in  thine  heart : 
 
 9  Notwithstanding  thou  shalt  not  build  the 
 bouse  ;  but  thy  sou  which  shall  come  forth  out 
 of  thy  loins,  he  shall  build  the  house  for  my 
 name. 
 
 10  The  Lord  therefore  hath  performed  his 
 word  that  he  hath  spoken  :  for  I  am  risen  up  in 
 the  room  of  David  my  f'albcr,  and  am  set  on 
 the  throne  of  Israel,  as  the  Lord  promised,  and 
 have  built  the  house  for  the  name  of  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel. 
 
 11  And  in  it  have  I  put  the  ark,  'wherein  i*' 
 the  covenant  of  the  Lord,  that  he  made  with 
 the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 12  t  ^  And  he  stood  before  the  altar  of  the 
 Lord  in  the  presence  of  all  the  congregation 
 of  Israel,  and  spread  forth  bis  hands  : 
 
 13  For  Solomon  had  made  a  brascu  scaffold, 
 of  five  cubits  t  long,  and  five  cubits  broad,  and 
 three  cubits  high,  and  had  set  it  in  the  midst  of 
 the  court :  and  upon  it  he  stood,  and  kneeled 
 
 See  1  Chr. 
 Iti.  34,  41. 
 
 rt  I  Kin.  8. 
 
 I'i,  itc- 
 b  Lev   16.  2. 
 
 I  ch.  IS.  IS. 
 d  I  Clir.aS.  V 
 
 *2  Sam.  7.2- 
 I  Clir.  17,1. 
 &  -28.  2. 
 
 1  Hob.  (/,« 
 If'iStli  thrf 
 
 4  Et.  15.  n 
 Deu  4.39. 
 Jfc  7   9. 
 
 /  I'N.  132.  12 
 
 II  Or,  ;,  m; 
 
 I  n.-b  ;.n 
 
 t  Hcb.  nijrf 
 o.irt  ■'fhhn 
 
 li  Or,  hp 
 tniitlei. 
 
 11  Or,  /ownrd. 
 
 down  upon  his  knees  before  all  the  congrega- 
 tion of  Israel,  and  spread  forth  his  hands  to- 
 ward heaven, 
 
 14  And  said,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel,  ■•  Mere 
 is  no  God  like  thee  in  the  heaven,  nor  in  the 
 earth  ;  which  keepest  covenant,  and  shewesl 
 mercy  unto  thy  servants,  that  walk  before  thee 
 with  all  their  hearts  ; 
 
 1  j  '  Thou  which  hast  kept  with  thy  servant 
 David  my  father  that  which  thou  hast  promised 
 him  ;  and  spakest  with  thy  mouth,  and  hast 
 fulfilled  it  with  thine  hand,  as  it  is  this  day. 
 
 10  Now  therefore,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel,  keep 
 with  thy  servant  David  my  father  that  which 
 thou  hast  promised  him,  .saying,  ''  f  There  shall 
 not  fail  thee  a  man  in  my  sight  to  sit  upon  the 
 throne  of  Israel  ;  '  yet  so  that  thy  children  take 
 heed  to  their  way  to  walk  in  my  law,  as  thou 
 hast  walked  before  me. 
 
 17  Now  then,  O  Lord  God  of  Israel,  let  thy 
 word  be  verified,  which  thou  hast  spoken  unto 
 thy  servant  David. 
 
 18  But  will  God  in  very  deed  dwell  with  men 
 on  the  earth  ?  "'behold,  heaven  and  the  heaven 
 of  heavens  cannot  contain  thee  ;  how  much 
 less  this  house  which  I  have  built ! 
 
 19  Have  respect  therefore  to  the  prayer  of 
 thy  servant,  and  to  bis  supplication,  ()  Lord 
 my  God,  to  hearken  unto  the  cry  and  the 
 prayer  which  thy  servant  prayeth  before  thee  : 
 
 20  That  thine  eyes  may  be  open  upon  this 
 house  day  and  night,  upon  the  place  whereof 
 thou  hast  said  that  thou  wouldest  put  thy 
 name  there;  to  hearken  unto  the  prayer  which 
 thy  servant  prayeth  ||  toward  this  place. 
 
 21  Hearken  therefore  unto  the  supplications 
 of  thy  servant,  and  of  thy  peo|ile  Israel,  wliicli 
 they  shall  f  make  toward  tiiis  i)lace  :  hear  thou 
 from  thy  ilwelling  place,  even  from  heaven  ; 
 and  when  thou  hearest,  forgive. 
 
 22  H  If  a  man  sin  against  bis  neighbour,  f  and 
 an  oath  be  laid  upon  him  to  make  biin  swear, 
 and  the  oath  come  before  thine  altar  in  this 
 house ; 
 
 23  Then  hear  thou  from  heaven,  and  do,  and 
 judge  thy  servants,  by  requiting  the  wicked, 
 by  recompensing  his  way  upon  his  own  head  ; 
 and  by  justifying  the  righteous,  by  giving  him 
 according  to  his  righteousness. 
 
 24  1  And  if  thy  people  Israel  ||  be  put  to  the 
 worse  before  the  enemy,  because  they  have 
 sinned  against  thee  ;  and  .shall  return  and  con- 
 fess thy  name,  and  pray  and  make  supplication 
 before  thee  ||  in  this  house  ; 
 
 2.5  Then  hear  thou  from  the  heavens,  and  for- 
 give the  sin  of  thy  people  Israel,  and  bring 
 lliem  again  unto  the  land  which  thou  gavest  to 
 them  and  to  their  fathers. 
 
 26  t  When  the  "  heaven  is  shut  up,  and 
 there  is   no  rain,  because   they  have  sinned 
 
 Chap.  VI..— 5.  Neitiier  c/iose  1  tint/  ntnn  to  be  a  ruler — the  Judges    was  the  case  with  David. — Scott.  13.  Had  mode  a  brtisen  &cnffitld — 
 
 and  Saul  were  chosen  for  a  season  to  be  rulers  of  Israel,  but  not  to    in  Kinf^s  it  is  said  Solomon  stood  in  the  presence  of  all  Israel,  and  this 
 cstabli>h  a  permanent  and  hereditary  authority  over  that  people,  as    statement  is  interesting,  as  it  shews  us  the  manner  in  which  he  ad- 
 
 Rr.FLKCTioNs   ON    Chap.   V.  _  We   may   again    profitably  plare,  (Matt,  xxiii.  33.) 
 
 draw  some  remarks  from  Henry  : — I.  '  The  ark  tvas  a  type  of  II.  '  Wlicn  the  sinc/trs  anil  nnts'cians  iirttisetl   God  willi   one 
 
 Christ,  ttntl,  as  such,  a  token  of  the  presence  of  God.      That  gra-  sound,  tlimi  tite  /louse  n'lis  Jilicd  with  the  rlou/l.      \Vljere  unity  is, 
 
 Clous   promise,  *' l.o,  1  am   with   you  always,  even  unto  the  the  Lord  commands  the  blessing.     And  they  were  united  in 
 
 end  of  tlie  world,"  does,  in  effect,  bring  tiie  ark  into  our  reli-  this  plain  song,  "  lie  is  good,  and  liis  mercy  enduretli   foe 
 
 gious  assemblies,  if  we,  by  tailli  and  prayer,  put  Ihat  promise  ever  ;"'  wliich  should  make  us  in  love  with  those  woids.    (iod's 
 
 in  suit,  and  this  we  should  l>e  most  solicitous  and  earnest  for; 
 Lord,  if  lliy  presence  go  not  up  with  us,  wherelnre  should  we 
 i;o  up  !    The   leniple  itself,   if  Christ  leave  it    is  a  desolate 
 462 
 
 goodness  is  his  glory,  ^ 
 glory  uf  ii.' 
 
 id  he  is  pleased  when  we  give  him  the 
 
Nis  prayer 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  VII. 
 
 /7/.S  solemn  sacri/irc. 
 
 against  tliee  ;  t/et  if  they  pray  toward  this 
 place,  anJ  confess  thy  name,  and  tnrn  from 
 their  sin,  when  thou  dost  afflict  them  ; 
 
 27  Tlien  hear  thou  from  heaven,  and  forgive 
 the  sin  of  thy  servants,  and  of  thy  people  Israel, 
 when  thou  hast  taught  them  the  good  way, 
 wherein  they  sVjouId  walk ;  and  send  rain  upon 
 thy  land,  which  thou  hast  given  unto  thy 
 people  for  an  inheritance. 
 
 '28  t  If  there  °  be  dearth  in  the  land,  if  there 
 be  pestilence,  if  there  be  blasting,  or  mildew, 
 locusts,  or  caterpillers  ;  if  tlieir  enemies  besiege 
 them  t  in  the  cities  of  their  land  ;  whatsoever 
 sore  or  whatsoever  sickness  t/ici'e  be  : 
 
 29  T/icn  what  prayer  or  what  supplication 
 soever  shall  be  made  of  any  man,  or  of  all  thy 
 people  Israel,  when  every  one  shall  know  his 
 own  sore  and  his  own  grief,  and  shall  spread 
 fortli  liis  hands  ||  in  this  house  : 
 
 30  Then  hear  thou  from  heaven  thy  dwelling 
 place,  and  forgive,  and  render  unto  every  man 
 according  unto  all  his  ways,  whose  heart  thou 
 knowest ;  (for  tliou  only  ''knowest  the  hearts 
 of  the  children  of  men  :) 
 
 31  That  they  may  fear  thee,  to  walk  in  thy 
 ways,  fso  long  as  they  live  fi'i  the  land  which 
 tliou  gavest  unto  our  fathers. 
 
 32  i  Moreover  concerning  the  stranger, 
 ''  which  is  not  of  thy  people  Israel,  but  is 
 come  from  a  far  country  for  thy  great  name's 
 sake,  and  thy  mighty  hand,  and  thy  stretched 
 out  arm  ;  if  they  come  and  pray  in  tliis  house  ; 
 
 33  Then  hear  thou  from  the  heavens,  even 
 from  thy  dwelling  place,  and  do  according  to 
 all  that  the  stranger  calletli  to  thee  for ;  that 
 all  people  of  the  earth  may  know  thy  name, 
 and  fear  thee,  as  doth  thy  people  Israel,  and 
 may  know  that  f  this  house  which  1  have  built 
 is  called  by  thy  name. 
 
 34  If  thy  people  go  out  to  war  against  their 
 enemies  by  the  way  that  thou  shalt  send  them, 
 and  they  pray  unto  thee  toward  this  city  which 
 thou  hast  chosen,  and  the  house  which  I  have 
 built  for  thy  name  ; 
 
 35  Then  hear  thou  from  the  heavens  their 
 prayer  and  their  supplication,  and  maintain 
 their  ||  cause. 
 
 36  If  they  sin  against  thee,  (for  there  is  '  no 
 man  which  sinneth  not,)  and  thou  be  angry 
 with  them,  and  deliver  them  over  before  their 
 enemies,  and  \  they  carry  them  away  captives 
 unto  a  land  far  off  or  near  ; 
 
 37  Yet  (/'  they  f  bethink  themselves  in  the 
 land  whither  they  are  carried  captive,  and  turn 
 and  pray  unto  thee  in  the  laud  of  their  cap- 
 tivity, saying.  We  have  .sinned,  we  have  done 
 amiss,  and  have  dealt  wickedly  ; 
 
 38  If  they  return  to  thee  with  all  their  heart 
 and  with  all  their  soul  in  the  land  of  their  cap- 
 tivity, whither  they  have  carried  them  captives, 
 and  pray  toward  their  land,  which  thou  gavest 
 unto  their  fathers,  and  toward  the  city  whicV 
 thou  hast  chosen,  and  toward  the  house  which 
 1  have  built  for  thy  name  : 
 
 89  Then  hear  thou  from  the  heavens,  even 
 
 ( ii.'i.  1.,  ii„ 
 
 h„d  ii/llirit 
 
 I  }h!h.  fill  tie 
 
 ■    n  vhich. 
 t  Ileb.  h;io/i 
 
 II,'   f.KC  0/ 
 
 .lohii  12. 
 ■^11.  Acts  e. 
 
 t  H.-b.  till/ 
 ,M„ieiic,,ll- 
 rd  .,,.»,.  Hm, 
 hamc. 
 
 Or,  rinhl. 
 ■  Prov.2ll.  9 
 Kccli;«.7.'J0. 
 J.vtii   3-  2. 
 
 IJuliiiJ.  B. 
 
 t  Ileh    thfi] 
 t/iuttnke 
 
 lunif  lUctii 
 ,(tu«v. 
 
 t  Heb.  hritig 
 b'ick  to  their 
 heart. 
 
 B.  C    null. 
 II  Or,  r.jl.l 
 
 I  Heb.  ('.  the 
 j<ra<ier  «f 
 thii  pt'tre 
 
 s  Ps.  i:«.  8, 
 !l,  lU,  ll>. 
 
 /  I  Cbi->H'? 
 
 "  Ni'h    9.  25 
 
 1  Kiii.«.til. 
 
 iI.er.O  21. 
 Jud?.  6  21. 
 IKiii.18  39. 
 I  rhr.2l.2a. 
 1  Kin  8  10, 
 II.  cli.5  13, 
 1 1.  Kzek. 
 10  3,4. 
 fell.  5.  U. 
 
 cli.  5.  13. 
 
 I's.  1S6.  I. 
 /I  Clii-,  16. 
 
 41.  ell.  SO. 
 
 21. 
 g  I  Iviu   8. 
 
 t  Heb.  J» 
 their  hiiud. 
 i  cb.  5.  12. 
 
 m.Io»hl3.3, 
 t  Heb.  n  re- 
 ttraiiit. 
 
 from  thy  dwelling  place,  their  prayer  and  their 
 supplications,  and  maintain  their  || cause,  and 
 forgive  thy  people  which  have  sinned  against 
 thee. 
 
 40  Now,  my  God,  let,  I  beseech  thee,  thine 
 eyes  be  open,  and  lei  thine  ears  he  attent 
 t  unto  the  prayer  that  is  made  in  this  place. 
 
 41  Now  '^  tlierefore  ari.se,  O  Loud  God,  into 
 thy  '  resting  place,  thou,  and  the  ark  of  thy 
 strength  :  let  thy  priests,  O  Lord  God,  be 
 clothed  with  salvation,  and  let  thy  saints  "re- 
 joice in  goodness. 
 
 42  O  Lord  God,  turn  not  away  the  face  of 
 thine  anointed  :  *  remember  the  mercies  of 
 David  thy  servant. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  God  having  c/icen  tesllmony  to  Suhmioii^s prayer  l)y 
 Jire  from  lieavcn,  and  tjlury  in  the  taiijile,  tfie  people 
 worship  him.  4  Snhmnn's  solumn  saerljice.  8  So- 
 lomon haviny  kept  the  feast  of  tahentaeles,  and  the 
 feast  of  the  dedication  of  tiie  altar^  dismisseth  the 
 people.  12  God  appearing  to  Solomon  givtth  him 
 promises  VfiO'i  condition. 
 
 TVf  OW  "when  Solomon  had  made  an  end  of 
 •^^  praying,  the  ^fire  came  down  from  heaven, 
 and  consumed  the  burnt  offering  and  the  .sacri- 
 fices ;  and  ''  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the 
 house. 
 
 2  ■"  And  the  priests  could  not  enter  into  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  because  the  glory  of  the 
 Lord  had  filled  the  Lord's  house. 
 
 3  And  when  all  the  children  of  Israel  .saw 
 how  the  fire  came  down,  and  the  glory  of  the 
 Lord  upon  the  house,  they  bowed  themselves 
 with  their  faces  to  the  ground  upon  the  pave- 
 ment, and  worshipped,  and  praised  the  Lord, 
 "saying.  For  he  is  good  ;  'for  his  mercy  en- 
 dureth  for  ever. 
 
 4  t  *  Then  the  king  and  all  the  people  offered 
 sacrifices  before  the  Lord. 
 
 5  And  king  Solomon  offered  a  sacrifice  of 
 twenty  and  two  thousand  oxen,  and  an  hun- 
 dred and  twenty  thousand  sheep  :  so  the  king 
 and  all  the  people  dedicated  the  house  of  God. 
 
 6  ''  And  the  priests  waited  on  their  oflices  : 
 the  Levites  also  with  instruments  of  nnisick  of 
 the  Lord,  which  David  the  king  had  made  to 
 praise  the  Lord,  because  his  mercy  endiirclh 
 for  ever,  when  David  praised  ■!•  by  their  minis- 
 try ;  and  '  the  priests  sounded  trumpets  before 
 them,  and  all  Israel  stood. 
 
 7  Moreover  '  Solomon  hallowed  the  middle 
 of  the  court  that  teas  before  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  :  for  there  he  offered  burnt  offerings,  and 
 the  fat  of  the  peace  offerings,  because  the 
 brasen  altar  which  Solomon  had  made  was  not 
 able  to  receive  the  burnt  offerings,  and  the 
 meat  offerings,  and  the  fat. 
 
 8  t  '  Also  at  the  same  time  Solomon  kept  the 
 feast  seven  days,  and  all  Israel  with  him,  a 
 very  great  congregation,  from  the  entering  in 
 of  Hamath  unto  "the  river  of  Egypt. 
 
 9  Ajid  in  the  eighth  day  they  made  f  a  so- 
 lemn assembly  :  for  they  kept  the  dedication  of 
 the  altar  seven  days,  and  the  feast  seven  days. 
 
 Thy  saints,  "rn'On,  'thy  merci&il  ones,*  (see Matt.  v.  7.)—Sut. 
 See  notes  on  I  Kings,  viii.  12, 
 
 Uresscd  the  whole  assembly, — he  was  raised  on   a   scaffold. ~P</^.  .^cott. 
 
 Boiithr.        il.  .irise,  S(c. — these  words  are  a  jiart  of  Ps.  cxx.xii.  8,  9,  See  notes  on  I  Kingsl  viii.  12,  &-c. 
 
 with  a  HtUe  alteration.      Resting  place — the  temple  was   called  the  Chap.  VII.  —  b.  Twetitif  and  two  thonsanii  oxen,  ^r.,  which  could 
 
 resting  place  of  the  ark,  because  there  it  had  a  permanent  setUemeut. —  not  all  be  offered  iu  one  day,  when  he  made  liis  prayer,  but  while  the 
 
 403 
 
 REFLncTioNs  ON  Chap.  VI.  —  See  those  on  1  Kings,  chap.  viii. 
 
God's  promises  to  Solomon. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  VIIl. 
 
 Solomon's  j/rni/i/  snrrifire. 
 
 1 0  And  "  on  the  three  and  twentieth  day  of 
 the  seventh  month  he  sent  the  people  away 
 into  their  tents,  glad  and  merry  in  heart  for  the 
 goodness  tliat  the  Lobd  had  shewed  unto  Da- 
 vid, and  to  Solomon,  and  to  Israel  his  people. 
 
 11  Thus  °  Solomon  finislied  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  and  the  liing's  house  :  and  all  that  came 
 into  Solomon's  heart  to  make  in  the  house  of 
 the  Lord,  and  in  his  own  house,  he  prosper- 
 ously effected. 
 
 12  U  And  the  Lord  appeared  to  Solomon  by 
 night,  and  said  unto  him,  I  have  heard  thy 
 prayer,  ''and  have  chosen  this  place  to  myself 
 for  an  house  of  sacrifice. 
 
 13  '  If  I  shut  up  heaven  that  there  be  no 
 rain,  or  if  I  command  the  locusts  to  devour  the 
 land,  or  if  I  send  pestilence  among  my  people; 
 
 14  If  my  people,  t  which  are  called  by  my 
 name,  shall '  humble  themselves,  and  pray,  and 
 seek  my  face,  and  turn  from  their  wicked  ways ; 
 '  then  will  I  hear  from  heaven,  and  will  forgive 
 their  sin,  and  will  heal  their  land. 
 
 13  Now  '  mine  eyes  shall  be  open,  and  mine 
 ears  attent  \  unto  the  prayer  that  is  made  in 
 this  place. 
 
 10  For  now  have  "  I  chosen  and  sanctified 
 this  house,  that  my  name  may  be  there  for 
 ever  :  and  mine  eyes  and  mine  heart  shall  be 
 there  perpetually. 
 
 17  '  And  as  for  thee,  if  thou  wilt  walk  before 
 me,  as  David  thy  father  walked,  and  do  accord- 
 ing to  all  tliat  I  have  commanded  thee,  and 
 .shalt  observe  my  statutes  and  my  judgments  ; 
 
 18  Then  will  I  stablish  the  throne  of  thy 
 kingdom,  according  as  I  have  covenanted  with 
 David  thy  father,  saying,  'f  There  shall  not 
 fail  thee  a  man  to  be  ruler  in  Israel. 
 
 19  '  Rut  if  ye  turn  away,  and  forsake  my  sta- 
 tutes and  my  commandments,  which  I  have  set 
 before  you,  and  shall  go  and  serve  other  god.s, 
 and  worship  them  ; 
 
 20  Then  will  I  pluck  them  up  by  the  roots 
 out  of  my  land  which  I  have  given  them  ;  and 
 this  house,  which  I  have  .sanctified  for  my 
 name,  will  I  cast  out  of  my  sight,  and  will  make 
 it  to  be  a  proverb  and  a  byword  among  all  na- 
 tions. 
 
 21  And  this  house,  which  is  high,  shall  be  an 
 astonishment  to  every  one  that  passeth  by  it ; 
 so  that  he  shall  say,'  Why  hath  the  Lord  done 
 thus  unto  this  land,  and  unto  this  house? 
 
 22  And  it  shall  be  answered.  Because  they 
 forsook  the  Lord  God  of  their  fathers,  whicli 
 brought  them  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt, 
 and  laid  hold  on  other  gods,  and  worshipped 
 them,  and  served  them  :  therefore  hath  he 
 brought  all  this  evil  upon  them. 
 
 C.  1001. 
 
 K.n.9  b6. 
 
 p  Dcu.  \-i.  5. 
 
 0  rh.  6.  26, 
 88. 
 
 t  Heb,  Hfmn 
 
 calt-d. 
 •  Jam.  -l.  10. 
 I'll.  6.  g7, 
 .■HI. 
 
 t  ch.  6.  40. 
 t  Hcb.  U  th! 
 
 f, ""'". "/ 
 thit  place. 
 
 •il  Kill.  9.3- 
 cli.  0.  6. 
 
 V  rli    11.  IG. 
 
 t  Uelt.  Tl-ere 
 sli.>lh:'.l  be 
 ■ ..(  -ff  K 
 Iher, 
 
 :  I.cv  ?6,1*, 
 
 3:i.ncii.e9. 
 
 If.,  .»,  87. 
 
 1  n.'u  2*1.51 
 Jcr  22.  8. 9. 
 
 b  I  Kin 
 17,  &C. 
 
 (f  See  I  Kin. 
 9.  il. 
 
 I  Hcb.  hoti- 
 
 f  V.t  29.  39. 
 Nnm.  2fl..S, 
 9.  1 1 ,  20.  & 
 2'J.  I,  «tc. 
 
 CHAP.  VIIl. 
 
 1  Snhmmn  s  huihlhigs.  7  The  Genlihs  which  iccre 
 left  Sutomon  made  tributaries ;  but  the  Israelites 
 rulers.  1 1  Pharaoh^s  damjltter  n  moveth  to  htr 
 tiouse.  12  Solomon's  yeitrlij  solemn  sacrijiees.  14 
 He  nppointeth  the  priests  and  Lreites  to  tlieir  places. 
 17  'riie  navi/  fitehetli  yolilfrom  Ophir. 
 
 A  ND  °  it  came  to  pass  at  the  cud  of  twenty 
 -^^  years,  wherein  Solomon  bad  built  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  and  his  own  house, 
 
 2  That  the  cities  which  Huram  had  restored 
 to  Solomon,  Solomon  built  them,  and  caused 
 the  children  of  Israel  to  dwell  tliere. 
 
 .3  And  Solomon  went  to  Hamath-zobah,  and 
 prevailed  against  it. 
 
 4  ■■  And  he  built  Tadmor  in  the  wilderness, 
 and  all  the  store  cities,  which  he  built  in  Ha- 
 math. 
 
 5  Also  he  built  Beth-horou  the  upper,  and 
 Beth-boron  the  nether,  fenced  cities,  with  walls, 
 gates,  and  bais  ; 
 
 G  And  Baalath,  and  all  the  store  cities  that 
 Solomon  had,  and  all  the  chariot  cities,  and  the 
 cities  of  the  liorsemen,  and  f  .all  that  Solomon 
 desired  to  build  in  .lerusalein.and  in  Lebanon, 
 and  throughout  all  the  land  of  his  dominion. 
 
 7  H '  As  fur  all  the  people  that  tvcre  left  of 
 the  Hittites,  and  the  Amorites,  and  the  Periz- 
 zites,  and  the  Hivites,  and  the  Jebusites,  which 
 were  not  of  Israel, 
 
 8  But  of  their  children  who  were  left  after 
 them  in  the  land,  whom  the  children  of  Israel 
 consumed  not,  them  did  Solomon  make  to  pay 
 tribute  until  this  day. 
 
 9  But  of  the  children  of  Israel  did  Solomon 
 make  no  servants  for  his  work  ;  but  they  were 
 men  of  war,  and  chief  of  his  captains,  and  cap- 
 tains of  his  chariots  and  hoi'semen. 
 
 10  And  these  were  the  chief  of  king  Solo- 
 mon's officers,  even  "  two  hundred  and  fifty, 
 that  bare  rule  over  the  people. 
 
 1 1  t  And  Solomon  "  brouglit  up  the  daughter 
 of  Pharaoh  out  of  the  city  of  David  unto  the 
 house  that  he  bad  built  for  her  :  for  he  said, 
 My  wife  shall  not  dwell  in  the  house  of  David 
 king  of  Lsrael,  because  the  places  arc  f  holy, 
 wherennto  the  ark  of  the  Lord  bath  come. 
 
 12  H  Then  Solomon  offered  burnt  offerings 
 unto  the  Lord  on  the  altar  of  the  Lord,  which 
 he  had  built  before  the  porch, 
 
 13  Even  after  a  certain  rate  "^  every  day, 
 offering  according  to  the  commandment  of 
 Moses,  on  the  sabbaths,  and  on  tlie  new  moons, 
 and  on  the  solemn  feasts,  ^  three  times  in  the 
 year,  even  in  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread, 
 and  in  the  feast  of  weeks,  and  in  the  feast  of 
 tabernacles. 
 
 feast  lasted,  which  was,  in  the  whole,  fourteen  days. — Pat.        12.  The  I  Kings,  ix.  18.         11.  Mtt  wife  shall  not  dwelt  in  the  hnuse  of  David — 
 
 Lord  appeared,  Sfc. — sec  note  on  1  Kings,  ix.  2.  it  is  not  lil<ely  .she  and  all  her  sen-ants  had  embraced  the  law  of  Mnses, 
 
 CiiAP.  VIIl.  —  4.  Tadmor,  Palmyra — this  city  rose  to  be  the  capital  tliough  they  had  renounced  iilolatry,  and  so  niiglit  many  ways  defile  a 
 
 of  a  province  which  sent  80,000  men  to  join  the  Assyrian  army.     Its  place  which  had  been  made  sacred  by  the  divine  presence  in  it. — Pat., 
 
 ruins  exhibit  a  wall  eleven  miles  in  circumference. — Sut.    See  note  on  so  Henry.  She  was  a  heathen,  and  appears  to  have  retained  her  super- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII. —  Scott  remarks,  on  the  in- 
 cidents m  this  chapter— I.  '  The  Lords  ready  answer  to  our 
 prayers  sliould  animate  us  to  repeat,  with  deeper  reverence  and 
 more  lively  gratitude,  our  praises  of  his  mercy. 
 
 II.  '  In  the  best  state  of  nations  favoured  with  revelation  ilierc 
 lias  /titherto  been  a  succession  of  prosperity,  inyratitmle,  correc- 
 tions, repentance,  forgiveness,  renewed  mercies,  prosperity,  and  re- 
 newed ingratitude  and forgetfulness  of  God.  Yet  the  Lord  de- 
 lights in  those  places  where  his  ordinances  are  maintained 
 4G4 
 
 and  attended  on  in  some  measure  of  purity  and  consistency. 
 But  in  cases  of  apostasy,  or  general  profaneness,  or  hypocrisy, 
 he  will  glorify  his  justice  by  tremendous  judgments  upon 
 those  who  have  thus  abused  his  mercies  and  forfeited  their 
 privileges,  making  them  a  warning  to  others,  if  not  an  infamy 
 among  the  heathen.  Let  us  then  stand  in  awe  of  him,  watch 
 against  all  sin.  and  copy  the  examples  of  tlie  most  approved 
 of  his  saints,  in  the  hriglilest  part  of  their  characters.' 
 
The  queen  eif  !>!hebas  visit. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  IX. 
 
 Svlomon's  riches. 
 
 14  t  And  he  appointed,  according  to  the 
 order  of  David  his  father,  the  ^  courses  of  the 
 priests  to  their  service,  and  '  the  Levites  to 
 tl'.eir  cliarges,  to  praise  and  minister  hefore  tlie 
 priests,  as  the  duty  of  every  day  required  :  the 
 •"  porters  also  by  their  courses  at  every  gate  : 
 for  t  so  had  David  the  man  of  God  com- 
 manded. 
 
 15  And  they  departed  not  from  the  com- 
 mandment of  tlie  king  unto  the  priests  and 
 Levites  concerning  any  matter,  or  concerning 
 the  treasures. 
 
 16  Now  all  the  work  of  Solomon  was  pre- 
 pared unto  tlie  day  of  tlie  foundation  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  and  until  it  was  finished. 
 1.^61  the  house  of  the  Lord  was  perfected. 
 
 17  H  Then  went  Solomon  to  '  Ezion-geber, 
 and  to  II  Eloth,  at  the  sea  side  in  the  land  of 
 Edom. 
 
 18  "  And  Huram  sent  him  by  the  hands  of 
 his  servants  ships,  and  servants  that  had  know- 
 ledge of  the  sea ;  and  they  went  with  the 
 servants  of  Solomon  to  Ophir,  and  took  thence 
 four  hundred  and  fifty  talents  of  gold,  and 
 brought  them  to  king  Solomon. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  T/ie  queen  of  S/u'ha  admireth  tlie  wisdom  of  Solomon. 
 13  Solomons  gohJ.  15  His  tart/ets.  17  T/ie  throne 
 of  ivory.  20  His  vessels.  2'i  His  presents.  25 
 His  chariots  and  horse.  26  His  tributes.  29  His 
 rci/n  and  death. 
 
 A  ND  °  wlien  the  queen  of  Sheba  heard  of 
 -^*-  the  fame  of  Solomon,  she  came  to  prove 
 Solomon  with  hard  questions  at  Jerusalem, 
 with  a  very  great  company,  and  camels  that 
 bare  spices,  and  gold  in  abundance,  and  pre- 
 cious stones  :  and  when  she  was  come  to  Solo- 
 mon, she  communed  with  hiin  of  all  that  was 
 in  her  heart. 
 
 2  And  Solomon  told  her  all  her  questions  : 
 and  there  was  nothing  hid  from  Solomon  which 
 he  told  her  not. 
 
 3  And  when  the  queen  of  Sheba  had  seen 
 the  wisdom  of  Solomon,  and  the  house  that  he 
 had  built, 
 
 4  And  the  meat  of  his  table,  and  the  sitting 
 of  his  servants,  and  the  attendance  of  his 
 ministers,  and  their  apparel  ;  his  ||  cupbearers 
 also,  and  tlieir  apparel  ;  and  his  ascent  by 
 which  he  went  up  into  the  house  of  the  Lord  ; 
 there  was  no  more  spirit  in  her. 
 
 3  And  she  said  to  the  king.  It  was  a  true  fre- 
 port  which  I  heard  in  mine  own  land  of  thine 
 
 II  acts,  and  of  thy  wisdom  : 
 (i  Ilowbeit  I  believed  not  their  words,  until 
 
 I  came,  and  mine  eyes  had  seen  it :  and,  be- 
 hold, the  one  half  of  the  greatness  of  thy  wis- 
 dom was  not  told  me  :  for  thou  exceedest  the 
 fame  that  I  heard. 
 
 7  Happy  are  thy  men,  and  happy  are  these 
 thy  servants,  which  stand   continually  before 
 
 4  1  Chr   9. 
 17    &  26.  I 
 
 fHeb.o  was 
 Ihe  com. 
 mitndnieiil 
 of  David  Ihf 
 iuiu.o/Giid. 
 
 II  Or,  Etalft. 
 neut.  2.  8. 
 2Kiu.l4.y2. 
 
 1  1  Kin.  9. 
 27.  ch.9.IU, 
 
 cir.  9?:. 
 I  I  Kin,  10. 
 I,  &c. 
 Wat.  1?.  4? 
 Luke  11.31 
 
 t  Heb.  mrd. 
 II  OifSaijinffi. 
 
 b  ch    e.  18. 
 
 :  1  Ki,i.  111. 
 II,  ainiu^ 
 treet. 
 
 I  Or.  ttnirt 
 t  Heb.  /i4^/,. 
 
 II  Or,cn;i. 
 taiiii. 
 
 II  Or, 
 teeth. 
 
 thee,  and  hear  thy  wisdom. 
 
 8  Blessed  be  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  de- 
 lighted in  thee  to  set  thee  on  his  throne,  to  be 
 king  for  the  Lord  thy  God  :  because  thy  God 
 loved  Israel,  to  establish  them  for  ever,  there- 
 fore made  he  thee  king  over  them,  to  do  judg- 
 ment and  justice. 
 
 9  And  she  gave  the  king  an  hundred  and 
 twenty  talents  of  gold,  and  of  spices  great 
 abundance,  and  precious  stones :  neither  was 
 there  any  such  spice  as  the  queen  of  Sheba 
 gave  king  .Solomon. 
 
 10  And  the  servants  also  of  Huram,  and  the 
 servants  of  Solomon,  "^  which  brought  gold  from 
 Ophir,  brought  '  algum  trees  and  precious 
 stones. 
 
 1 1  And  the  king  made  of  the  algum  trees 
 II  f  terraces  to  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  to 
 the  king's  palace,  and  harps  and  psalteries  for 
 singers  :  and  there  were  none  such  seen  before 
 in  the  land  of  Judali. 
 
 12  And  king  Solomon  gave  to  the  queen  of 
 Sheba  all  her  desire,  whatsoever  she  asked, 
 beside  that  which  she  had  brought  unto  the 
 king.  So  she  turned,  and  went  away  to  her 
 own  land,  she  and  her  servants. 
 
 13  H  Now  the  weight  of  gold  that  came  to 
 Solomon  in  one  year  was  six  hundred  and 
 threescore  and  six  talents  of  gold  ; 
 
 14  Beside  that  which  chapmen  and  mer- 
 chants brought.  And  all  the  kings  of  Arabia 
 and  II  governors  of  tlie  country  brought  gold 
 and  silver  to  Solomon. 
 
 13  11  And  king  Solomon  made  two  hundred 
 targets  q/"  beaten  gold  :  six  hundred  shekels  of 
 beaten  gold  went  to  one  target. 
 
 lU  And  three  hundred  shields  made  he  of 
 beaten  gold  :  three  hundred  shekels  of  gold 
 went  to  one  shield.  And  the  king  put  them  in 
 the  house  of  the  forest  of  Lebanon. 
 
 17  Moreover  the  king  made  a  great  throne  of 
 ivory,  and  overlaid  it  with  pure  gold. 
 
 18  And  there  ivere  six  steps  to  the  throne, 
 with  a  footstool  of  gold,  which  were  fastened 
 to  the  throne,  and  f  stays  on  each  side  of  the 
 sitting  place,  and  two  lions  standing  by  the 
 stays  : 
 
 19  And  twelve  lions  stood  there  on  the  one 
 side  and  on  the  other  upon  the  six  steps. 
 There  was  not  the  like  made  in  any  kingdom. 
 
 20  t  And  all  the  drinking  vessels  of  king  So- 
 lomon irere  of  gold,  and  all  the  vessels  of  the 
 house  of  the  forest  of  Lebanon  were  q/'tpure 
 gold  :  II  none  were  of  silver  ;  it  was  not  any 
 thing  accounted  of  in  the  days  of  Solomon. 
 
 21  For  the  king's  ships  went  to  Tarshish  with 
 the  servants  of  Huram  :  every  three  years  once 
 came  the  ships  of  Tarshish  bringing  gold,  and 
 silver,  ||  ivory,  and  apes,  and  peacocks. 
 
 22  And  king  Solomon  passed  all  the  kings  of 
 the  earth  in  riches  and  wisdom. 
 
 stitions.    No  idolatrous  person,  however  exalted,  cnnid  be  suffered  to  prophet,  under  the  inspiration  and  direction  of  the  holy  Spirit  of  God. — 
 
 dwell  in  the  huly  places.— iu(.          14.  Uitritl,  the  nvin  of  God,  equiva-  Oill.         17.  TIten  went  Solomon  to  Eziungelter—see  notes  on  1  Kings, 
 
 lent  to  sayinK,  '  David,  the  prophet  ;•  and  indeed  he  was  sn,  as  he  tesli-  ix.  26,  27.  28. 
 
 fied  of  the  Messiah,— so  Boothr. ;  and  in  all  these  affairs  he  acted  as  a  Chap.  IX.  —  1.  Hui-d  questions,  ^c. — see  1  Kings,  x.  1,  &c.,  notes. 
 
 Rfflections  on   Chap.    VIII.  _  In  this  chapter  we  have,  guarding  the  sanctity  of  God's  house,  and  duly  oft'ering  his 
 
 I.  Sotonum  '  dilir/ent  in  business,'  building  cities  and  fortifying  sacrilices  at  all  appointid  times,  and  seeing  tliat  the  priests 
 
 them  ;  engaging  ships  and  trading  to  Ophir.     Thus  he  occu-  and  Levites  performed  thesacred  duties  devolvingupon  ihom. 
 
 pied  himsell'  usefully  for  his   country,  and   employed   many  Here  Solomon  exhibited  religion  as  it  should  be  ;  the  concerns 
 
 bands  that  would,  perhaps,  have  otherwise  been  idle.  of  liCo  not  unfitting  him  for  religion,  nor  religion  untitling  him 
 
 II.  Solonum  'fervent  in  spirit,  servino  tlie  Lord.'     Carefully  for  the  concerns  of  life. 
 
 465  3  o 
 
The  death  of  Solomon. 
 
 11.  CIIKONICLES,  X. 
 
 Tin  tribe/!  revolt. 
 
 23  IT  And  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  sought 
 the  presence  of  Solomon,  to  hear  his  wisdom, 
 that  God  had  put  in  his  heart. 
 
 •24  And  they  brought  every  man  his  present, 
 vessels  of  silver,  and  vessels  of  gold,  and  rai- 
 ment, harness,  and  spices,  horses,  and  mules, 
 a  rate  year  by  year. 
 
 25  1  And  Solomon  •'  bad  four  thousand  stalls 
 for  horses  and  chariot.<;,  and  twelve  thousand 
 horsemen  ;  whom  he  bestowed  in  the  chariot 
 cities,  and  with  the  king  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 •26  t  "  And  he  reigned  over  all  the  kings 
 •■  from  the  ||  river  even  unto  the  land  of  the 
 Phihstines,  and  to  the  border  of  Egypt. 
 
 •27  ^  And  the  king  f  made  silver  in  Jerusalem 
 as  stones,  and  cedar  trees  made  he  as  tlie  syco- 
 more  trees  that  are  in  the  low  plains  in  abun- 
 dance. 
 
 28  "^  And  tliey  brought  unto  Solomon  horses 
 out  of  Egypt,  and  out  of  all  lands. 
 
 29  t  '  IS'ow  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Solomon, 
 first  and  last,  are  they  not  written  in  the 
 ■f-  book  of  Nathan  the  prophet,  and  in  the  pro- 
 phesy of  '  Ahijah  the  Sliilonite,  and  in  the 
 visions  of  '  Iddo  the  seer  against  Jeroboam  the 
 son  of  Nebat  i 
 
 30  "'  And  Solomon  reigned  in  Jerusalem  over 
 all  Israel  forty  years. 
 
 31  And  Solomon  slept  with  his  fathers,  and 
 he  was  buried  in  the  city  of  David  his  father  : 
 and  Rehoboam  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  T/ie  hrnelites,  assembled  at  Shechem  to  crown  Relio- 
 honm,  hy  Jtroboavi  make  a  suit  of  relaxation  unto 
 hijn.  6  lietiohoam,  rcfttsin(j  tlic  ohl  men's  counsel, 
 hy  the  advice  of  young  men  answtreth  tfiem  ronghlr/. 
 16  Ten  tril'cs  revolting  kilt  Hadoram,  and  make 
 liehol'onm  to  fee. 
 
 AND"  Rehoboam  went  to  Shechem  :  for  to 
 -^  Shecliem  were  all  Israel  come  to  make 
 him  king. 
 
 2  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jeroboam  the 
 son  of  Nebat,  who  was  in  Egypt,  "^  whither  he 
 had  fled  from  the  presence  of  Solomon  the 
 king,  heard  it,  that  Jeroboam  returned  out  of 
 Egypt. 
 
 3  And  they  sent  and  called  him.  So  Jero- 
 boam and  all  Israel  came  and  spake  to  Reho- 
 boam, saying, 
 
 4  Thy  father  made  our  yoke  grievous :  now 
 therefore  ease  thou  somewhat  the  grievous 
 servitude  of  thy  father,  and  his  heavy  yoke  that 
 he  put  upon  us,  and  we  will  serve  thee. 
 
 5  And  he  said  unto  them.  Come  again  unto 
 me  after  three  days.   And  the  people  departed. 
 
 6  1  And  king  Rehoboam  took  counsel  with 
 the  old  men  that  had  stood   before  Solomon 
 
 d  1  Kin,  4. 
 26   &  10,26. 
 ch,  1.  1.1. 
 
 Tbal  is, 
 
 ■i7   rh.1.15 
 I  Heb.  (,.1. 
 
 t  Heb.uoriU, 
 k  1  Kin.  11. 
 
 n  I  Kin.  n 
 42,  4.1. 
 
 :  t  Siwn  ! 
 ?-i  I  Kill 
 Vi  IS.  •i\ 
 t  I  Kin.  I 
 
 „flf. 
 
 bis  father  while  he  yet  lived,  saying.  What 
 counsel  give  ye  me  to  return  answer  to  this 
 people  ? 
 
 7  And  they  spake  unto  him,  saying,  If  thou 
 be  kind  to  this  people,  and  please  them,  and 
 speak  good  words  to  them,  they  will  be  thy 
 servants  for  ever. 
 
 8  But  be  forsook  the  counsel  which  the  old 
 men  gave  him,  and  took  counsel  with  the 
 young  men  that  were  brought  up  with  him, 
 that  stood  before  him. 
 
 9  And  he  said  unto  them.  What  advice  give 
 ye  that  we  may  return  answer  to  this  people, 
 which  have  spoken  to  me,  saying.  Ease  some- 
 what the  yoke  that  thy  fatlier  did  put  upon  us? 
 
 10  And  the  young  men  that  were  brought  up 
 with  him  spake  unto  liini,  saying.  Thus  sbalt 
 thou  answer  the  people  that  spake  unto  thee, 
 saying,  Thy  father  made  our  yoke  heavy,  but 
 make  thou  it  somewhat  lighter  for  us  ;  thus 
 sbalt  thou  say  unto  them.  My  little  finrfer 
 shall  be  thicker  than  my  father's  loins. 
 
 11  For  whereas  my  father  tpnt  a  heavy  yoke 
 upon  you,  I  will  put  more  to  your  yoke  :  my 
 fatlier  chastised  you  with  wbip.s,  but  I  will 
 chastise  you  w  ith  scorpions. 
 
 12  So  Jerobo.im  and  all  the  people  came  to 
 Rehoboam  on  the  third  day,  as  the  king  bade, 
 saying.  Come  again  to  me  on  the  third  day. 
 
 13  And  the  king  answered  them  roughly  ; 
 and  king  Rehoboam  forsook  the  counsel  of  the 
 old  men, 
 
 14  And  answered  them  after  the  advice  of 
 the  young  men,  .saying.  My  fatlier  made  your 
 yoke  lieavy,  but  I  will  add  thereto  :  my  father 
 chastised  yon  with  whips,  but  I  will  chastise 
 you  with  scorpions. 
 
 15  So  the  king  hearkened  not  unto  the 
 people :  '  for  the  cause  was  of  God,  that  the 
 Lord  might  perform  his  word,  which  lie  spake 
 by  the  ''  hand  of  Ahijah  the  Shilonlte  to  Jero- 
 boam the  son  of  Nebat. 
 
 16  H  And  when  all  Israel  sate  that  the  king 
 would  not  hearken  unto  them,  the  people 
 answered  the  king,  saying.  What  portion  have 
 we  in  David  ?  and  we  have  none  Inheritance 
 in  the  son  of  Jesse  :  every  man  to  your  tents, 
 O  Israel  :  and  now,  David,  see  to  thine  own 
 house.     So  all  Israel  went  to  their  tents. 
 
 17  But  as  for  the  children  of  Israel  that 
 dwelt  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  Rehoboam  reigned 
 over  them. 
 
 18  Then  king  Rehoboam  sent  Hadoram  that 
 icas  over  the  tribute ;  and  ttie  clilldren  of 
 Israel  stoned  him  with  stones,  that  he  died. 
 But  king  Rehoboam  fniade  speed  to  get  him 
 up  to  his  chariot,  to  flee  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 24.  Every  man  his  present — garments  and  armnur  were  amonff  the  tri-  Nile  and  Doneola.  In  the  hreed  of  these  animals  the  Egyptians  were 
 bates  paid  by  the  kings  of  the  east,  who,  in  their  wardrobes,  had  gar-  so  superior  that  they  supplied  war-steeds  to  foreign  nations.— .-IMc- 
 ments  for  thousands,  the  loose  robes  equally  fitting  all. — So  Boothr.  ntrum.     See  Cailliuud.        29.  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts,  S[C. — see  notes 
 
 25.  Four  thousund  stalls — see  note  on  I  Kings,  \v.  2fi.        26.  Over  nil  on  1  Kings,  xi.  41,  &c. 
 
 the  kings— see  note  on  1  Kings,  iv.  21.        28.  Horses  out  of  Egypt—  Chap.  X.— This  chapter   is   a  repetition   of   1  Kings,  xii. ;  sec  the 
 
 horses  of  the  most  noble  breed  are  still  found  in  the  valley  of  the  upper  notes  there  to  ver.  19. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.\p.  IX.  —  Tbis  chapter  records,  I.  Sa- 
 lomon's wisdom.  It  is  a  great  talent  when  any  are  endowed 
 with  great  parts  ;  and  tliey  ought  to  remember,  that  for  the  use 
 or  abuse  of  tliem  they  are  accountable  to  God.  It  is  a  bless- 
 ing to  have  all  the  powers  of  our  minds  entire  and  improved, 
 for  some  are  idiots,  and  others,  with  good  common  under- 
 standings, bve  in  ignorance  for  want  of  the  means  or  the  in- 
 clination to  improve  them.  ]5ut  that  wisdom  which  we  most 
 should  covet  is  the  wisdom  which  raises  the  soul  far  above  the 
 wisdom  of  this  world  j  and  the  poorest  man  need  not  envy  the 
 466 
 
 greatest  philosopher,  if  he  be  only  *  wise  unto  salvation.' 
 
 II.  Solo7non's  wealth.  What  king  ever  rolled  in  such  luxury! 
 But  what  was  the  stamp  he  marked  upon  the  whole  1  'A'anity 
 of  vanities,  all  is  vanity.'  Riches  are  often  a  dead  weiglit  to 
 the  soul,  pressing  it  down  to  the  earth,  and  sinking  it  into  t!ie 
 bottomless  pit.  If  God  give  us  riches,  may  he  give  us  grace 
 to  use  them  to  his  glory ;  and  if  he  withhold  them,  let  us  he 
 content  and  thankful  if  he  has  made  us  '  rich  in  faith  and  heirs 
 of  the  kingdom. 
 
Rehoboam's  cities  of  defence. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XL,  XII. 
 
 His  wives  and  children. 
 
 19  °  And  Israel  rebelled  against  the  liouse  of 
 David  unto  this  day. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Rfhoboam  raising  an  army  to  suhtlue  Israel^  is  for- 
 biiti/tn  by  .Sfumaiah,  5  //e  strentjthcneth  his  king- 
 dom with  forts  and  provision.  13  The  priests  and 
 lA:vites,  and  such  as  feared  God,  forsaken  by  Jero- 
 boam, strengthen  the  kingdom  of  Jitdah.  18  The 
 wives  and  chiklren  of  Rehoboam. 
 
 \  ND  "when  Relioboani  was  come  to  Jeru- 
 -^^  saleni,  he  gathered  of  the  house  of  Judah 
 and  Benjamin  an  hundred  and  fourscore  thou- 
 sand chosen  men,  whicli  were  warriors,  to  fight 
 against  Israel,  that  he  might  bring  the  kingdom 
 again  to  Relioboam. 
 
 2  But  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  •■  to  She- 
 maiah  the  man  of  God,  saying, 
 
 3  Speak  unto  Rehoboam  the  son  of  Solomon, 
 king  of  Jiidah,  and  to  all  Israel  in  Judah  and 
 Benjamin,  saying, 
 
 4  Thus  saith  tlie  Lord,  Ye  shall  not  go  up, 
 nor  figlit  against  your  brethren  :  return  every 
 man  to  his  house:  for  tliis  thing  is  done  of  me. 
 And  they  obeyed  the  words  of  the  Loud,  and 
 returned  from  going  against  Jeroboam. 
 
 5  IT  And  Rehoboam  dwelt  in  Jerusalem,  and 
 built  cities  for  defence  in  Judah. 
 
 6  He  built  even  Beth-lehem,  and  Etara,  and 
 Tekoa, 
 
 7  And  Beth-zur,  and  Shoco,  and  Adullam, 
 
 8  And  Gatli,  and  Mareshah,  and  Ziph, 
 
 9  And  Adoraim,  and  Lachish,  and  Azekah, 
 
 10  And  Zorah,  and  Aijalon,  and  Hebron, 
 which  are  in  Judah  and  in  Benjamin  fenced 
 cities. 
 
 1 1  And  he  fortified  the  strong  holds,  and  put 
 captains  in  them,  and  store  of  victual,  and  of 
 oil  and  wine. 
 
 12  And  in  every  several  city  he  put  shields 
 and  spears,  and  made  them  exceeding  strong, 
 having  Judah  and  Benjamin  on  his  side. 
 
 13  f  And  the  priests  and  the  Levites  that 
 were  in  all  Israel  f  resorted  to  him  out  of  all 
 their  coasts. 
 
 1 4  For  the  Levites  left  "^  their  suburbs  and 
 their  possession,  and  came  to  Judah  and  Jeru- 
 salem :  for  •"  Jeroboam  and  his  sons  had  cast 
 them  off  from  executing  the  priest's  office  unto 
 the  Lord  : 
 
 15  '  And  he  ordained  him  priests  for  the  high 
 places,  and  for  "■  the  devils,  and  for  ^  tlie  calves 
 
 B  c. 
 
 cir.  a75. 
 
 t  Hci..  r"- 
 
 Knle't  Ihrm- 
 tttnell'ihiiii 
 
 <f  c\i    IS    9 
 <•  I  Kin.  12 
 
 :ji.  (%;  ri:M. 
 
 &  U.  0. 
 Hob    m.  2- 
 
 f  Lev.  17,  7 
 
 lU. 
 
 1  Ooi 
 211. 
 ^  1  Kin.  19. 
 
 1  r  Kin, 15-2. 
 bhe  19  call- 
 ed Micha- 
 iah  the 
 daughter 
 of  Uriel, 
 cli.  13,  2. 
 
 t  Mel>.a  mrtf- 
 
 I    Kin    U. 
 •:1,  :J,  2t. 
 
 which  he  had  made. 
 
 16  "And  after  them  out  of  all  the  tribes  of 
 Israel  such  as  set  their  hearts  to  seek  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel  came  to  Jerusalem,  to  sacrifice 
 unto  the  Lord  God  of  their  fathers. 
 
 17  So  tliey  'strengthened  the  kingdom  of 
 Judah,  and  made  Rehoboam  the  son  of  Solo- 
 mon strong,  tliree  years  :  for  three  years  they 
 walked  in  the  way  of  David  and  Solomon. 
 
 18  f  And  Rehoboam  took  him  Mahalath  the 
 daughter  of  Jerimoth  the  son  of  David  to  wife, 
 and  Abihail  the  daughter  of  Eliab  the  son  of 
 Jesse  ; 
 
 19  Which  bare  him  children;  Jeush,  and 
 Shamariah,  and  Zaham. 
 
 20  And  after  her  he  took  '  Maachah  the 
 daughter  of  Absalom  ;  which  bare  him  Abijahj 
 and  Attai,  and  Ziza,  and  Shelomith. 
 
 21  And  Rehoboam  loved  Maachah  the 
 daughter  of  Absalom  above  all  his  wives  and 
 his  concubines  :  (for  he  took  eighteen  wives, 
 and  threescore  concubines ;  and  begat  twenty 
 and  eight  son.s,  and  threescore  daughters.) 
 
 22  And  Rehoboam  '  made  Abijah  the  son  of 
 Maachah  the  cliief,  to  be  ruler  among  his 
 brethren  :  for  he  thouyht  to  make  him  king. 
 
 23  And  lie  dealt  wisely,  and  dispersed  of  all 
 his  children  througliont  all  the  countries  of 
 Judah  and  Benjamin,  unto  every  fenced  city  : 
 and  he  gave  them  victual  in  abundance.  And 
 he  desired  fmany  wives. 
 
 CHAP.  XIL 
 
 1  Rehoboam^  forsaking  the  Lord,  is  punished  by  Shi- 
 shak.  5  He  and  the  jjrinccs,  repenting  at  the  preach- 
 ing of  Shemaiah,  are  dtlivered  from  destruction,  but 
 not  from  spoil.  13  The  reign  and  death  of  Reho- 
 boam. 
 
 A  ND  'it  came  to  pass,  when  Rehoboam  had 
 -^*-  established  the  kingdom,  and  had  strength- 
 ened himself,  '^'he  forsook  the  law  of  the  Lord, 
 and  all  Israel  with  him. 
 
 2  "And  it  came  to  pass,  that  in  the  fifth  year 
 of  king  Rehoboam  Shishak  king  of  Egypt 
 came  up  against  Jerusalem,  because  they  had 
 transgressed  against  the  Lord, 
 
 3  With  twelve  hundred  chariots,  and  three- 
 score thousand  horsemen  ;  and  the  people 
 were  without  number  that  came  with  him  out 
 of  Egypt ;  ^  the  Lubims,  the  Sukkiinis,  and 
 the  Etliiopians. 
 
 Crap.  XI.  — 6.  Bi<!«, 'repaired.'— Pji/e.        15  DenVs,  D'TJIB,  '  the  Chap.  XII.— 1.  He  forsook  the  law  — see  1  Kings,  xiv.  22—24. 
 
 Baals  or  false  gods.'— Poote.    'The  hairy  ones.'    The  goat  was  wor-  2.  AVitsAn*— see  note  on  1  Kings,  xi.  40.    He  is  named  by  Herodoias, 
 
 shipped  in  Egypt,  whence  Jeroboam  lately  came.— S«^,  Hew.     Per-  lib.  ii.,  by  Diodortis,  and  by  Eiisetiius,  and  is  called  successively,  Saso- 
 
 haps  the  term  '  devils'  was  used  by  way  of  abhoirence  and  disgust  to  chis,  and  Sebachus,  and  Asychis,  and  Sesostris. — Sut.       3.  The  people 
 
 denote  the  golden  calves  which  were  the  idols  of  Jeroboam's  idoldtroua  were  without  number — there  were  400,000  foot  soldiers. — Jos.     Such 
 
 worship. — Hew.    For  further  remarks  see  notes  on  Lev.  xvii.  7.  an  army  was  not  necessary  ;  they  probably  volunteered  for  plunder.— 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.  —  See  I.  and  II.  on  1  Kings,  xii. 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.  XI I.    War  is  a  criminal  act 
 
 where  it  is  rashly  undertaken.  Rehoboam  here  follows  up  his 
 imprudence,  being  still  under  the  guidance  of  infatuated  coun- 
 sellors. It  is  a  mercy  to  mankind  that  God  often  defeats  the 
 designs  of  the  powerful  and  ambitious,  and  so  prevents  them 
 from  multiplying  the  numbers  of  the  widows  and  the  father- 
 less, and  deluging  the  earth  with  blood. 
 
 II.  It  is  lamentable  that  the  kings  of  the  earth  have  always  been 
 obliged  to  act  as  if  their  roi/al  neighbours  were  no  better  than 
 robbers,  and  to  bar  and  bolt  their  doors  and  windows,  as  it 
 were,  against  their  entrance.  And  such  will  be  the  state  of 
 the  world  till  the  Prince  of  Peace  shall  universally  take  to 
 himself  his  great  power  and  reign.  O  how  charmingly  refresh- 
 ing to  the  mind  is  the  thought  of  that  day,  when  the  church 
 and  the  world  shall  be  at  peace  :  when  they  shall  not  hurt  nor 
 destroy  in  all  God's  holy  mountain,  and  when  '  they  shall  sit 
 every  man  under  his  vine  and  under  his  fig-tree,  and  none 
 4G7 
 
 shall  make  them  afraid." 
 
 HI.    Under  all  circumstances  it  is  ourdutr/  to  regard  our  religious 
 
 firivileges.  We  shew  but  little  love  to  God  if  we  are  not  wil- 
 ing to  make  the  greatest  sacrifices  that  we  may  enjoy  the 
 means  of  grace,  and  so  obtain  Divine  instruction  in  the  way  of 
 God's  appointment. 
 
 IV.  How  exemplary  should  parents  be,  seeing  that  their  tcorst 
 practices  are  the  most  liable  to  be  imitated  by  their  children.  Thus 
 Hehoboara  imitated  the  worst  practices  of  his  father,  which 
 led  him  into  his  greatest  sins,  and  like  him,  forgetful  of  the 
 law  of  God  recorded  in  Dent.  xvii.  17,  he  multiplied  his 
 wives. 
 
 V.  While  men  act  foolishly  in  regard  to  their  eternal  interests, 
 how  wise  are  they  in  regard  to  their  temporal.  Let  us  learn  a 
 lesson  from  their  prudential  caution,  and  remember  that  'the 
 children  of  this  world  are  wiser  in  their  generation  than  the 
 children  of  light. ' 
 
Jiehol/oam's  reii/n  and  tleath. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XIII. 
 
 Abijah  warrcth  agaiitbt  Jeruboam. 
 
 4  And  he  took  the  fenced  cities  which  per- 
 tained to  Judah,  and  came  to  Jeriisalem. 
 
 5  t  Then  came  '  Shemaiah  the  prophet  to 
 Rehoboait),  and  to  tlie  princes  of  Judah,  that 
 were  gathered  tiigetlier  to  Jernsaleni  because 
 of  Shishak,  and  said  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord,  '  Ye  have  forsaken  me,  and  therefore 
 have  I  also  left  you  in  tlie  hand  of  Shishak. 
 
 C  Whereupon  the  princes  of  Israel  and  the 
 king  *  humbled  themselves ;  and  they  said, 
 "  The  Lord  is  righteous. 
 
 7  And  when  the  Lord  saw  that  they  humbled 
 themselves,  '  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to 
 Shemaiah,  saying.  They  have  humbled  them- 
 selves;  therefure  I  will  not  destroy  them,  but 
 I  will  grant  them  \\  some  deliverance ;  and  my 
 wrath  shall  not  lie  poured  out  upon  Jerusalem 
 by  the  hand  of  Shisliak. 
 
 8  Nevertheless  ''  they  shall  be  his  servants ; 
 that  they  may  know  '  my  service,  and  the  ser- 
 vice of  the  kingdoms  of  the  countries. 
 
 9  "  So  Shishak  king  of  Egypt  came  up  against 
 Jerusalem,  and  took  away  the  treasures  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  and  the  treasures  of  the 
 king's  house;  he  took  all:  he  carried  away  also 
 the  shields  of  gold  which  Solomon  had  "made. 
 
 10  Instead  of  whioli  king  Rehoboam  made 
 shields  of  brass,  and  committed  thon  °  to  the 
 bands  of  the  chief  of  the  guard,  tliat  kept  the 
 entrance  of  the  king's  house. 
 
 11  And  when  the  king  entered  into  the  house 
 of  the  Lord,  the  guard  came  and  fetched  them, 
 and  brought  them  again  into  the  guard  chamber. 
 
 12  And  when  lie  humbled  himself,  the  wrath 
 of  the  Lord  turned  from  him,  that  ho  would 
 not  destroy  him  altogether :  ||  and  also  in  Ju- 
 dah things  went  well. 
 
 13  t  So  king  Rehoboam  strengthened  him- 
 self in  Jerusalem,  and  reigned:  for  'Rehoboam 
 iDas  one  and  forty  years  old  when  he  began  to 
 reign,  and  he  reigned  seventeen  years  in  Jeru 
 salem,  '  the  city  which  the  Lord  had  chosen 
 out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  to  put  his  name 
 there.  And  his  mother's  name  u-as  Naamah 
 an  Ammonitess. 
 
 14  And  he  did  evil,  because  he  ||  prepared 
 not  his  heart  to  seek  the  Lord. 
 
 15  Now  the  acts  of  Rehoboam,  first  and  lacf, 
 are  they  not  written  in  the  fbook  of  Shemaiah 
 the  prophet,  'and  of  Iddo  the  seer  concerning 
 genealogies?  'And  there  were  wars  between 
 Rehoboam  and  Jeroboam  continually. 
 
 16  And  Rehoboam  slept  with  his  fathers,  and 
 was  buried  in  the  city  of  David  :  and  '  Abijah 
 his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 ^  Jam.  1.  111. 
 h  Ex.  9.  27. 
 
 t'  I  Kin.  21. 
 S8,  i9. 
 
 i[  Or,  a  littlf 
 
 h  See  Is.  2fi. 
 
 I  Deut   28- 
 ■17,  48. 
 
 1  I  Kin.  11. 
 25,  26. 
 
 n  I  Kin   10. 
 
 16,  17    cli. 
 
 9.  15,  16. 
 o  2  Sam.  a. 
 
 IS. 
 
 titfy'  wrrt 
 ^norf  Ih  infft : 
 .'ice  Gen. 19, 
 2V  fc  1  Kiu, 
 II.  1:1  oil. 
 19.  :l. 
 r,  I  Kiu.  14. 
 
 /  ch   6.  6. 
 
 II  Or,y)j-*d. 
 
 cli.  9  29. 
 &  13.  22. 
 I  Kiu.  14. 
 
 I  1  Kin  14 
 
 al.-Ji.jV.™. 
 
 i  Seech.  II. 
 20. 
 
 0:.7. 
 t  Heb.  tim, 
 logrllier. 
 
 (I  2  Sam.  7. 
 12,  13,  16. 
 
 /  I   Kin.  1 1 
 
 26.  »*  12  20 
 3  Judg.  y.  4. 
 
 A  1  Kin.  12. 
 2«  All  9 
 Ho8.  8  6. 
 
 i  ch.  II.  14, 
 15. 
 
 *  El.  89.  36. 
 
 t  Meb.  to  fiU 
 
 See  Ex.  29. 
 I.  Lev.  8.2. 
 
 <  Ei.  27.  20. 
 21  Lev.  24. 
 2,9. 
 
 CHAP.  XIIL 
 
 I  Abijah  succi'cdinci  malteth  war  against  Jeroboam. 
 4  He  dtrlareth  the  rit/ht  of  Ins  cause.  13  7rusti"</ 
 in  God  lie  overcometh  Jeroboam.  21  Tlie  wives  and 
 cliildren  of  Abijah. 
 
 IM'OW  °  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  king  Jero- 
 -'-'    boam  began  Abijah  to  reign  over  Judah. 
 
 2  He  reigned  three  years  in  Jeru.salem.  His 
 mother's  name  also  ivas  ^  Michaiah  the  daugh- 
 ter of  Uriel  of  Gibeah.  And  there  was  war 
 between  Abijah  and  Jeroboam. 
 
 3  And  Abijah  f  set  tlie  battle  in  array  with 
 an  army  of  valiant  men  of  war,  even  four  hun- 
 dred thousand  chosen  men  :  Jeroboam  also 
 set  the  battle  in  array  against  him  with  eight 
 hundred  thousand  chosen  men,  beinij  mighty 
 men  of  valour. 
 
 4  t  And  Abijah  stood  up  upon  mount  "^  Ze- 
 maraim,  which  is  in  mount  Ephraim,  and  said. 
 Hear  me,  thou  Jeroboam,  and  all  Israel ; 
 
 5  Ought  ye  not  to  know  that  the  Lord  God 
 of  Israel  ''gave  the  kingdom  over  Israel  to 
 David  for  ever,  evin  to  him  and  to  his  sons 
 °  by  a  covenant  of  salt  ? 
 
 6  Yet  Jeroboam  the  son  of  Nebat,  the  ser- 
 vant of  Solomon  the  son  of  David,  is  risen  up, 
 and  hath  'rebelled  against  bis  lord. 
 
 7  And  there  are  gathered  unto  him  ^  vain 
 men,  the  children  of  Belial,  and  have  strength- 
 ened themselves  against  Rehoboam  the  son  of 
 Solomon,  when  Rehoboam  was  young  and 
 tenderhearted,  and  could  not  withstand  them. 
 
 8  And  now  ye  think  to  withstand  the  king- 
 dom of  the  Lord  in  the  hand  of  the  sons  of 
 David  ;  and  ye  be  a  great  multitude,  and  there 
 are  with  you  golden  calves,  which  Jeroboam 
 •i  made  you  for  gods. 
 
 9  '  Have  ye  not  cast  out  the  priests  of  the 
 Lord,  the  sons  of  Aaron,  and  the  Lcvites,  and 
 have  made  you  priests  after  the  manner  of  the 
 nations  of  other  lands?  'so  that  whosoever 
 Cometh  f  to  consecrate  himself  with  a  young 
 bullock  and  seven  rams,  the  same  may  be  a 
 priest  of  them  that  are  no  gods. 
 
 10  But  as  for  us,  the  Lord  is  our  God,  and 
 we  have  not  forsaken  him  ;  and  the  priests, 
 which  minister  unto  the  Lord,  are  the  sons  of 
 Aaron,  and  the  Levites  ivait  upon  their  busi- 
 ness : 
 
 11  'And  they  burn  unto  the  Lord  every 
 morning  and  every  evening  burnt  sacrifices 
 and  sweet  incense  :  the  "'  shewbread  also  set 
 they  in  order  upon  the  pure  table  ;  and  the 
 candlestick  of  gold  with  the  lamps  thereof,  "to 
 burn  every  evening :  for  we  keep  the  charge 
 
 Ed,  Lnbims,  the  people  of  Lybia  in  Africa,  adjoining  Egypt.  Suk- 
 kiims,  the  people  called  Troglodites,  who  lived  near  the  Red  Sea,  and 
 had  their  name  because  they  dwelt  ev  Tp(i,7\,nc,  'in  caves  and  dens 
 of  the  earih.'  The  Hebrew  has  the  same  signification.  Sec  Dan. 
 xi.  4.1 ;  Nah.  iii.  9.— Pat.  Efhiopiiiiis,  d'TDlD,  '  Ciishim,'  evidently  the 
 descendants  of  Cush,  who  inhabited  that  country  which  lies  to  the 
 south  of  Egypt, — Hew. :  or  they  were  the  Scenitcs  in  Arabia. — Pat. 
 
 Chap.  XiU.  —  1.  Michiiitih,  §■(.•.,  callcil    Maachah,  the  daughter  of 
 Absalom,  (I  Kings,  xv.  2.)    She  might  be  daughter  to  one,  and  grand- 
 
 daughter to  (he  other;  or  the  proper  and  natural  daughter  of  the  one, 
 and  the  other  by  adoption  ;  or  the  same  person  might  be  called  Uriel 
 and  Absalom,  (see  1  Kings,  xv.  2.) — Poole.  Dr.  Geddes  supplies  two 
 words,  and  reads,  '  iVlichaiah  the  daughter  of  .Absalom  Een-Uriel  of  Gi- 
 beah.' 3.  Four  hundred  Ihousund — eight  hundred  thousand — Ihe 
 manner  of  the  Hebrews,  at  that  time,  was  to  bring  all  their  people  from 
 twenty  to  fifty  years  of  age  into  the  field. — Sut.  Many  copies,  how- 
 ever, read,  '  40,000 — 80,000.* — Ken.  5.  .4  covenant  of  salt — see  note 
 on  Lev.  ii.  13. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.-.I'.  XII.  —  I.  Here  is  liehoboam  for- 
 .tahi/ifj  the  taw.  Departure  from  God's  law  has  always  been 
 the  first  step  towards  ruin. 
 
 II.  Here  is  liehol'oum's  punishment  for  his  defection.  The 
 punishment  of  sin  always  comes,  sooner  or  later. 
 
 III.  Here  is  Rehoboam  repenting  his  siji.  The  king  and 
 princes  bumbled  themselves  and  said,  '  the  Lord  is  righteous.' 
 True  repentance  makes  us  condemn  ourselves  and  justify  the 
 ways  of  Ciod. 
 
 ]y.  Here  is    Rchuboain  spared  on  rcpcutintj.      •  They   have 
 468 
 
 bumbled  themselves,'  said  the  Lord  by  the  prophet,  '  there- 
 fore I  will  not  destroy  them.*  We  never  read  of  a  sinner  re- 
 penting without  God  shewing  mercy.  JMay  God  give  us 
 repentance  unto  life  that  needs  not  to  be  repented  of. 
 
 V.  Here  is  liehoboam  ruined  at  last  for  want  of  decision  in 
 religion.  His  character  is  here  described  negatively  rather 
 than  positively.  It  is  not  said  that  he  was  guilty  of  those  foul 
 sins  which  bad  stained  many  others,  but  '  he  did  evil  because 
 lie  prepared  not  his  heart  to  seek  tlie  Lord.'  Oh  how  many 
 are  ruined  because  they  follow  not  the  Lord  fully  ! 
 
Abijnh's  wives  and  children. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XIV. 
 
 Asa  destroyeth  idolatry. 
 
 of  the  Lord  our  God  ;  but  ye  have  forsaken 
 him. 
 1-2  And,  behold,  God  himself  is  with  us  for 
 
 our  captain,  "  and  his  priests  witli  sounding 
 trnmpets  to  cry  alarm  against  you.  O  cliildren 
 of  Israel,  ''light  ye  not  against  the  Lord  God 
 of  your  fatliers  ;  for  ye  shall  not  prosper. 
 
 13  t  But  Jeroboam  caused  an  ambushmeut 
 ti)  come  about  beliind  them:  so  they  were  before 
 Judah,  and  tlie  ambnslnnent  u-as  behind  them. 
 
 14  And  when  Judali  looked  back,  behold, 
 the  battle  uas  before  and  behind  :  and  they 
 cried  unto  tlie  Lord,  and  the  priests  sounded 
 with  the  trumpets. 
 
 1j  Then  tlie  men  of  Judah  gave  a  shout: 
 and  as  the  men  of  Judah  shouted,  it  came  to 
 pass,  that  God  '  smote  Jeroboam  and  all  Israel 
 before  Abijali  and  Judah. 
 
 16  And  the  chiUheu  of  Israel  fled  before  Ju- 
 dah :  and  God  delivered  them  into  tlieir  hand. 
 
 17  And  Abijah  and  his  people  slew  them 
 with  a  great  slaughter:  so  there  fell  down 
 .slain  of  Israel  five  hundred  thousand  chosen 
 men. 
 
 18  Thus  the  children  of  Israel  were  brought 
 under  at  that  time,  and  the  children  of  Judah 
 prevailed,  '  because  they  relied  upon  the  Lord 
 God  of  their  fathers. 
 
 19  And  Abijah  pursued  after  Jeroboam,  and 
 took  cities  from  him,  Beth-el  with  the  towns 
 thereof,  and  Jeshanah  with  the  towns  thereof, 
 and  '  Ephraiu  with  the  towns  thereof. 
 
 20  Neither  did  Jeroboam  recover  strength 
 again  in  tlie  days  of  Abijah  :  and  the  Lord 
 '  struck  liim,  and  "  he  died. 
 
 •21  K  But  Abijah  waxed  mighty,  and  married 
 fourteen  wives,  and  begat  twenty  and  two  sons, 
 and  sixteen  daughters. 
 
 ■22  And  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Abijah,  and 
 his  ways,  and  his  sayings,  are  written  in  the 
 11  story  of  the  prophet  ^  Iddo. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  Asa  succeeding  ck^ilroi/tth  idolatri/.  6  Having  pence, 
 At-  stritif/tlieiicth  hh  kingdom  ii-it/t  forts  and  armies. 
 9  Calling  on  God,  lie  overtiiroweth  Zerah,  and  spoUeth 
 the  Ethiopians, 
 
 CO  Abijah  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  they 
 ^  buried  him  in  the  city  of  David  :  and  "Asa 
 his  son  reigned  in  his  stead.  In  his  days  the 
 laud  was  quiet  ten  years. 
 
 '2  And  Asa  did  that  ivhich  iras  good  and 
 right  in  tlie  eyes  of  the  Lord  his  God  : 
 
 3  For  he  took  away  the  altars  of  the  strange 
 
 :,  NU.    10.  8. 
 
 I>  Acts  5.  39. 
 
 }  cb.  u.  ir 
 
 r  1  Chr.5.20. 
 P«.  22.  5. 
 
 /  I  Sam.  S5. 
 ::w. 
 ..  I  Kio.  II. 
 
 II  Or.  com. 
 1  ch.  12.  15 
 
 9J5. 
 1  Kill.  15. 
 
 l.i.  17. 
 c  Kx.  31.  13. 
 t  Htb.  ifn- 
 
 d  1  Kin. 11.7. 
 
 t  Heb.  *'/« 
 
 /Josh. 15.44. 
 
 ^Ex.U   10. 
 
 cli.  13.  14. 
 
 Pa.  22.  5. 
 h  1  Sa.  14.  G. 
 
 i  I  Sam.  17. 
 IS. 
 l'iov.18  10 
 
 II  Or,  moTlal 
 
 h  cb.'l3    li 
 
 t  Gen.  10.  19. 
 Si  20.  1. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ire 
 heti. 
 
 m  Gen.  35.5 
 ch.  17.  10. 
 
 ffods,  and  '' the  high  places,  and  'brake  down 
 "the  t  images,  ''  and  cut  down  the  groves  : 
 
 4  And  commanded  Judah  to  seek  the  Lord 
 God  of  their  fathers,  and  to  do  the  law  and  the 
 commandment. 
 
 5  Also  he  took  away  out  of  all  the  cities  of 
 Judah  the  high  places  and  the  f  images  :  and 
 the  kingdom  was  quiet  before  him. 
 
 6  H  And  he  built  fenced  cities  in  Judah  :  for 
 the  land  had  rest,  and  he  had  no  war  in  those 
 years ;  because  the  Lord  had  given  him  rest. 
 
 7  Therefore  he  said  unto  Judah,  Let  us  build 
 these  cities,  and  make  about  them  walls,  and 
 towers,  gates,  and  bars,  while  the  land  is  yet 
 before  us  ;  because  we  have  sought  the  Lord 
 our  God,  we  have  sought  him,  and  he  hath 
 given  us  rest  on  every  side.  So  they  built 
 and  prospered. 
 
 8  And  Asa  had  an  army  of  me7i  that  bare 
 targets  and  spears,  out  of  Judah  three  hundred 
 thousand  ;  and  out  of  Benjamin,  that  bare 
 shields  and  drew  bows,  two  hundred  and  four- 
 score thousand  :  all  these  were  mighty  men  of 
 valour. 
 
 OK"  And  there  came  out  against  them  Zerah 
 the  Ethiopian  with  an  host  of  a  thousand 
 thousand,  and  three  hundred  chariots ;  and 
 came  unto  '  Mareshah. 
 
 10  Then  Asa  went  out  against  him,  and  they 
 set  the  battle  in  array  in  the  valley  of  Zepha- 
 tliah  at  Mareshah. 
 
 11  And  Asa  ^  cried  unto  the  Lord  his  God, 
 and  said.  Lord,  it  is  ''nothing  witli  thee  to 
 help,  whether  with  many,  or  with  them  that 
 have  no  power  :  help  us,  O  Lord  our  God  ; 
 for  we  rest  on  thee,  and  '  in  thy  name  we  go 
 against  this  multitude.  O  Lord,  thou  art  our 
 God  ;  let  nut  ||  man  prevail  against  tliee. 
 
 12  So  the  Lord  ''smote  the  Ethiopians  be- 
 fore Asa,  and  before  Judah  ;  and  the  Ethiopians 
 fled. 
 
 13  And  Asa  and  the  people  that  were  with 
 him  pursued  them  unto  '  Gerar :  and  tlie 
 Ethiopians  were  overthrown,  that  they  could 
 not  recover  themselves  ;  for  they  were  f  de- 
 stroyed before  the  Lord,  and  before  his  host ; 
 and  they  carried  away  very  much  spoil. 
 
 14  And  they  smote  all  the  cities  round  about 
 Gerar ;  for  ■"  the  fear  of  the  Lord  came  upon 
 them :  and  they  spoiled  all  tlie  cities ;  for 
 there  was  exceeding  much  spoil  in  them. 
 
 13  They  smote  also  the  tents  of  cattle,  and 
 carried  away  sheep  and  camels  in  abundance, 
 and  returned  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 1".  Five  hundred  thousand — there  never  was  such  a  slaughter  heard 
 of  either  among  the  Greeks  or  barbarians. — Jos,  The  Vulg.  reduces 
 the  numbers  to  50,000. 
 
 Chap.  XJV. —  1.  So  Altijah,  ^c. — to  ver.  5,  inclusive,  nearly  the 
 same  with  1  King?,  XV.  8 — 14.  3.  High  places,  'hill  chapels.* — Houb. 
 5.  Higti  places — perhaps  the  former  were  in  Jerusalem,  tliese  in  other 
 parts. — Gilt,  9-  Zertih  the  Ethiopian,  or  Arabian,  as  the  word  Cash 
 often  means.  The  Ethiopians  mast  have  passed  through  Egypt,  which 
 was  not  likely. — Poole.  But  since  this  great  host  consisted  of  Lubim, 
 or  Lybians,  inhabitants  of  Africa,  as  well  as  Ethiopians,  (chap.  xvi.  8,) 
 these  Ethiopians  seem  to  be  rather  those  in  Africa,  who  were  masters 
 
 of  Egypt  and  Lybia,  as  well  as  Ethiopia,  quickly  after  the  death  <-f 
 Shishak  or  Sesustris,  (see  chap.  xii.  2,  3,)  which  accounts  for  the  large- 
 ness of  this  army  and  their  passage  through  Egypt. — Gill.  13.  Gerar, 
 a  city  of  the  Philistines,  confederates  on  this  occasion.  14.  Srnote — 
 
 about  Gerar — because  they  had  joined  Zerah,  and  given  shelter  to  the 
 Ethiopians. —i*oo/e.  \5.  The  tents  of  cattle,   'the   herd   tents.* — 
 
 Boothr.  From  having  so  many  camels,  they  were  doubtless  Arabians, 
 whose  tents  were  smitten. — Put.  They  were  Cushites,  who  had 
 brought  their  cattle  with  them,  after  the  manner  of  the  eastern  tribes, 
 and  thus  they  fell  into  the  bands  of  the  victor.— So  Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.    XIII This   chapter  records — 
 
 1.  Abijnh's  speech.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  religion  in  it,  yet 
 he  walked  in  the  sins  of  his  father,  and  his  heart  was  not  right 
 with  God,  (1  Kings,xv.  2,  3. )  Here  was  one  of  those  common 
 instances  in  which  men  may  know  and  commend  the  things 
 that  are  excellent,  and  yet  practise  those  that  are  the  contrary. 
 Hence  tlie  importance  of  remembering  the  words  of  our  Di- 
 vine Saviour,  '  not  every  one  that  sailh.  Lord,  Lord,  shall 
 enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  but  he  that  doeth  the  will 
 469 
 
 of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.' 
 
 II.  Ahijah's  victory.  '  The  cliildren  of  Judah  prevailed,  be- 
 cause they  relied  on  the  Lord  God  of  their  lathers.*  Abijah 
 was  in  good  company  ;  notwithstanding  the  sins  of  Judah, 
 there  were  perhaps  many  devoted  followers  of  God,  who 
 '  cried  unto  the  Lord,'  and  their  faith  in  him  obtained  a  vic- 
 tory, as  it  had  done  before  fur  their  fathers,  'thus  shall  pray- 
 ing breath  never  be  spent  in  vain,  and  faith  at  last  triumph 
 over  every  foe  of  the  true  believer. 
 
Asa  maketh  a  covenniit. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XV.,  XVI. 
 
 He  pvtteth  atvni/  idolatry. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  /Isa  with  Judah  and  many  of  Israul,  moved  hy  the 
 prophecy  of  Azariah  the  bon  of  Oded,  make  a  solemn 
 covenant  with  God.  16  He  piitfcth  down  Mauchah 
 his  mother  for  her  idolatry.  18  tie  biinyeth  dedicate 
 thinys  into  the  house  of  God,  and  eltjoyeth  a  long 
 peace. 
 
 \  ND  °  the  Spirit  of  God  came  upon  Azariah 
 -^  *^  the  son  of  Oiled  : 
 
 2  And  he  went  out  f  to  meet  Asa,  and  said 
 inito  him.  Hear  ye  me,  Asa,  and  all  Judah  and 
 ]?enjamin  ;  '  The  Lord  is  with  you,  while  ye 
 be  with  him  ;  and  ^  if  ye  seek  him,  he  will  he 
 found  of  you  ;  but  ■■  if  ye  forsake  him,  he  will 
 forsake  you. 
 
 3  Now  '  for  a  long  season  Israel  hath  been 
 without  the  true  God,  and  without  'a  teaching 
 priest,  and  without  law. 
 
 4  But  "■'  w  hen  they  in  their  trouble  did  turn 
 unto  the  Lokd  God  of  Israel,  and  sought  him, 
 he  was  found  of  them. 
 
 3  And  ''  in  those  times  there  iras  no  peace  to 
 him  tliat  went  out,  nor  to  him  that  came  in, 
 but  great  vexations  were  upon  all  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  the  countries. 
 
 6  '  And  nation  was  f  destroyed  of  nation,  and 
 city  of  city  ;  for  God  did  vex  them  with  all 
 adversity. 
 
 7  Be  ye  strong  therefore,  and  let  not  your 
 hands  be  weak  :  for  your  work  shall  be  re- 
 warded. 
 
 8  And  when  Asa  heard  these  words,  and  the 
 prophecy  of  Oded  the  prophet,  he  took  cou- 
 rage, and  put  away  the  t  abominable  idols  out 
 of  all  the  land  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  and 
 out  of  the  cities  '■  which  he  had  taken  from 
 mount  Ephraim,  and  renewed  the  altar  of  the 
 Loud,  that  leas  before  the  porch  of  tlio  Loiin. 
 
 9  And  he  gathered  all  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
 and  '  the  strangers  with  Ihcm  out  of  Ephraim 
 and  Manasseh,  and  out  of  Simoon  :  for  they 
 fell  to  him  out  of  Israel  in  abundance,  when 
 they  saw  that  the  Loud  his  God  ivas  with  him. 
 
 10  So  they  gathered  themselves  together  at| 
 
 a  Niim.8*.S. 
 Judg-3.  10. 
 ch.'iO   U. 
 &  21.  -20. 
 
 It  J.im.  4.  8. 
 
 c  vpr.  4,  1.1. 
 
 1  Chr   •JS.Ii 
 
 ch.S.I.I.'.ri. 
 
 Jffr.  ?9    13. 
 
 Mat   7.  7. 
 </clt.  2\.ii). 
 e  llos.  .i.  \. 
 1  Lei-.IU.  II. 
 
 h  .T.iJg.  5.  e. 
 
 .    Mnt    SI.  7. 
 
 m  oh.   U.   15. 
 t  Hib.  in 
 Ihnt  lim/. 
 »  til.  H.  \:i. 
 
 Q  2  Kin.  2.3. 
 3  cli..'«..Sl. 
 Neh.  lU.  29. 
 
 p  Ex.  22. 20 
 
 q  Dent.  13. 
 5,  9,  16. 
 
 I  I  Kin.  15. 
 13. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 graHiijno- 
 ll.ifr,  1  Ifin 
 \h  2.  10 
 
 t  Hell.  Aor- 
 
 Ich.  I*  3.5. 
 IKin.lIi.l'l, 
 
 roiulii 
 
 :  "• 
 
 tribc3  from 
 JiKiah.over 
 ,vhich  Asa 
 was  nun* 
 king. 
 
 1  Kin 
 17,  &<:. 
 
 16. 
 
 Jerusalem  in  the  third  month,  in  the  fifteenth 
 year  of  the  reign  of  Asa. 
 
 11  ""And  they  ottered  unto  the  Lord  f  the 
 same  time,  of  "the  spoil  ivhich  they  had 
 brought,  seven  hundred  oxen  and  seven  thou- 
 sand sheep. 
 
 1"2  And  they  "entered  into  a  covenant  to 
 seek  the  Lord  God  of  their  fathers  with  all 
 their  heart  and  with  all  their  soul ; 
 
 13  ■'  That  whosoever  would  not  seek  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel  '  should  be  put  to  death,  whether 
 small  or  great,  whether  man  or  woman. 
 
 14  And  they  sware  niito  the  Lord  with  a 
 loud  voice,  and  with  shouting,  and  with  trum- 
 pets, and  with  cornets. 
 
 15  And  all  Judah  rejoiced  at  the  oath  :  for 
 they  had  sworn  with  all  theirheart, and 'sought 
 him  with  their  whole  desire  ;  and  he  was  found 
 of  them  :  and  the  Lord  gave  them  rest  round 
 about. 
 
 16  t  And  also  concei-ning  '  Maachah  the 
 II  mother  of  Asa  the  king,  he  removed  her 
 from  beinrj  cpieen,  because  .she  had  made  an 
 t  idol  ill  a  grove  :  and  Asa  cut  down  her  idol, 
 and  stamped  it,  and  burnt  it  at  the  brook 
 Kidron. 
 
 17  But  '  the  high  places  were  not  taken  away 
 out  of  Israel  :  nevertheless  the  heart  of  Asa 
 was  perfect  all  his  days. 
 
 18  H  And  he  brought  into  the  house  of  God 
 the  things  that  liis  fatlier  had  dedicated,  ami 
 that  he  himself  had  dedicated,  silver,  and  gold, 
 and  vessels. 
 
 1 !)  And  there  was  no  more  war  unto  the  five 
 and  thirtieth  year  of  the  reign  of  A.sa. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  Asa,  by  the  aid  of  the  Syrians,  diverteth  Baasha 
 from  huiUiimj  if  liamah.  7  Btimj  reproved  thereof 
 by  Hanani,  he  putteth  him  in  prison.  II  .'hmuH/ 
 his  other  acts  in  his  disease  he  seeliefh  not  to  O'oil, 
 but  to  the  physicians.     13  His  death  and  btirial. 
 
 TN  the  six  and  thirtieth  year  of  the  reign  of 
 ■*•   Asa  "  Baasha  king  of  Israel  came  up  against 
 
 Chap.  XV.  — :i.  A  lonp  season — the  description  given  answers  to  the 
 turbulent  days  of  the  Juclp:cs.— So  Boothr.  Comp.  Judg.  v.  6.  This 
 season  appears  to  refer  to  tlie  state  of  the  people  in  the  reigns  of  Reho- 
 boam  and  Abijah.  now  happily  changed. —  Clrn-ke.  'ITie  Tarpum  ex- 
 plains  it,  '  There  had  been  many  days  since  the  house  of  Israel  departed 
 from  the  house  of  David,  because  of  Jeroboam  ;  in  which  they  have 
 not  worshipped  the  true  God,  but  the  golden  calves.'  6.  Nation  teas 
 destroyed  of  nfition,  *  one  tribe  of  another,*  (Judg.  i.x.  45  ;  xii.  6  ;  x.\. 
 21 ,  24,  44,  48.) — Gill.  This  verse  seems  to  justify  the  opinion  of  ver.  3, 
 referring  to  the  time  of  the  Judges,  unless  it  be  considered  as  referring 
 to  the  wars  between  Judah  and  Israel. — Ed.  8.  Orfcrf— in  ver.  1,  tlie 
 name  is  '  Azariah,  the  son  of  Oded  ;•  and  so  Boolhroyd  reads  it  in  this 
 verse,  following  the  Sept.,  Syr.,  and  Vulg.,  with  which  Gill  also  agrees. 
 
 I6.  From  beinf!  queen,  queen  dowager,  as  we  now  say;  for  she  still  en- 
 joyed chief  rank. — Sut.  17-  The  high  ptnces  were  mit  taken  mvity 
 out  of  Israel — out  of  Judah  they  were,  {chap.  xiv.  3,  5,)  but  not  out  of 
 the  concjuered  places  in  Israel. — rut.  Such  still  continued  as  were 
 used  for  worshipping  Jehovah. — Boothr.  18.  Vessels,  D''?D,  'instru- 
 ments,' '  utensils,'  '  ornaments,'  &c. — A.  Clitrke.  19.  No  more  war, 
 with  the  Ethiopians  and  other  heathen  nations,  but  there  was  with 
 Israel,  (1  Kings,  xv.  16.  32.)— Gi«. 
 
 Chap.  XVI.  — 1.  Si.r  and  thirtieth — this  number  is  an  error.  Baa- 
 sha's  reign  began  in  the  third  year  of  Asa,  and  he  reigned  24  years 
 only,  so  that  he  could  not  build  Ramah  in  the  36th  year  of  Asa. — So 
 Boot/ir.,  tloub.,  Clarke.  '  Six  and  twentieth.' — Jos.  '  The  thirty  sixth 
 year  of  the  kingdom  of  Asa,  from  the  time  of  its  separation  from  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIV Henry  observes,  'in  this 
 
 cljapter  we  hnve—l.  Asa's  picly.  He  "did  that  which  was 
 h'ood  and  right  in  the  eyes  of  ihe  Lord  his  God."  Happy  they 
 that  walk  by  this  rule,  to  do  that,  not  only  which  is  right  in 
 their  own  eyes,  or  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  but  which  is  so  in 
 Ciod's  eyes. 
 
 *  11.  Asa's  policy.  He  removed  and  abolished  idolatry.  He 
 revived  and  established  the  pure  worship  of  God.  They  that 
 have  power  in  their  hands,  and  will  use  it  vigorously  for  the 
 suppression  of  profaneness,  and  the  reformation  of  manners, 
 will  not  meet  with  so  much  difficulty  and  opposition  therein 
 as  perhaps  they  feared.  Vice  is  a  sneaking  thing,  and  virtue 
 has  reason  enough  on  its  side  to  make  iniquity  slop  her  mouth, 
 (Ps.  cvii.  42. ) 
 
 '  III.  Asa's  pro.iprrity.  In  his  days  the  land  was  quiet  ten 
 years.  At  length  disturbance  was  given  to  the  peace  of  Asa's 
 kingdom  by  a  forniidable  army  of  Ethiopians  that  invaded 
 tlienri  ;  and,  having  interested  tiod  in  his  cause,  he  obtained  a 
 (rlorious  viclr.ry.'  '  God,"  says  Brown,  of  Haddington,  '  oUen 
 470 
 
 tries  his  people  with  great  danger  and  distress,  while  they  are 
 proceeding  in  their  duty  in  reformation  work  ;  but  there  is  no 
 craft  nor  might  that  can  prevail  against  the  Lord  their  God  ; 
 and  in  such  cases  lie  is  ready  to  answer  their  prayer  of  faith, 
 and  grant  them  an  easy  and  gainful  victory  over  their  enemies, 
 spiritual  or  temporal.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV.  —  We  have  here,  I.  The  pro- 
 phet's message  to  Asa.  *  This,'  says  Henry,  '  is  a  word  of  com- 
 fort, that  those  who  keep  close  to  God  shall  always  have  his 
 presence  with  them  ;  also  a  word  of  caution — he  is  with  you 
 while  you  be  with  liim,  but  no  longer. 
 
 II.  Asa's  conduct  in  consequence  of  the  prophet's  message.  '  I  le 
 grew  more  bold  for  God  than  he  had  been  ;  his  victory  would 
 inspire  him  with  some  degree  of  resolution,  but  this  niessjige 
 from  God  with  much  more.'  Tlie  consequence  was,  that  God 
 blessed  him  and  prospered  liim.  '  Let  this,'  as  Ijoothroyd  re- 
 marks, '  engage  us  to  be  active  and  resolute  in  religion.  It  is 
 not  without  its  rewards.  It  brings  present  peace  and  joy,  and 
 hope  of  a  glorious  reward  hereafter.' 
 
The  building  of  JRamah  prevented. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XVII. 
 
 Asa's  death  and  burial. 
 
 Judah,  and  built  Ramah,  i"  to  the  intent  tliat 
 lie  might  let  none  go  out  or  come  in  to  Asa 
 king  of  Judah. 
 '2  Then  Asa  brought  out  silver  and  gold  out 
 of  the  treasures  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  and 
 of  the  king's  house,  and  sent  to  Ben-hadad 
 king  of  Syria,  that  dwelt  at  fDamascus,  saying, 
 
 3  There  is  a  league  between  me  and  thee,  as 
 there  was  between  my  father  and  thy  father  : 
 behold,  I  have  sent  thee  silver  and  gold  ;  go, 
 break  thy  league  with  Baasha  king  of  Israel, 
 that  lie  may  depart  from  me. 
 
 4  And  Ben-hadad  hearkened  unto  kiug  Asa, 
 and  sent  the  captains  of  \  his  armies  against 
 the  cities  of  Israel  ;  and  they  smote  Ijon,  and 
 Dan,  and  Abel-maim,  and  all  the  store  cities 
 of  Naphtali. 
 
 5  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Baasha  heard 
 it,  that  he  left  off  building  of  Ramah,  and  let 
 his  work  cease. 
 
 C  Then  Asa  the  king  took  all  Judah  ;  and 
 they  carried  away  the  stones  of  Rainah,  and 
 the  timber  thereof,  wherevv'ith  Baasha  was 
 building ;  and  he  built  therewith  Geba  and 
 Mizpah. 
 
 7  i  And  at  that  time  "^  Hanani  the  seer  came 
 to  Asa  king  of  Judali,  and  said  unto  him,  ■>  Be- 
 cause thou  hast  relied  on  the  king  of  Syria, 
 and  not  relied  ou  the  LoRn  thy  God,  therefore 
 is  the  host  of  tlie  king  of  Syria  escaped  out  of 
 thine  hand. 
 
 8  Were  not "  the  Ethiopians  and  '  the  Liibims 
 t  a  huge  host,  with  very  many  chariots  and 
 horsemen  ?  yet,  because  thou  didst  rely  on  the 
 Lord,  he  delivered  them  into  thine  hand. 
 
 9  ^  For  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  run  to  and  fro 
 throughout  the  whole  earth,  ||  to  shew  himself 
 strong  in  the  behalf  of  them  whose  heart  is 
 perfect  toward  him.  Herein  ''  thou  hast  done 
 foolishly :  therefore  from  henceforth  '  thou 
 shalt  have  wars. 
 
 10  Then  Asa  was  wroth  with  the  seer,  and 
 ''  put  him  in  a  prison  house  ;  for  he  zvas  in  a 
 rage  with  him  because  of  this  thinrf.  And 
 Asa  t  oppressed  some  of  the  people  the  same 
 time. 
 
 B.  C.  941). 
 ftcli.  15.  9. 
 
 «ch.  M   5. 
 /■rli.  12.  3. 
 t  Heb.  I'l 
 abiiitditncc. 
 
 g  Job  SI-  21 
 
 i.  21. 
 
 &  I 
 
 J.'t.  Ifi.  17. 
 
 &  S2.  19. 
 
 Zcoh.  4-.  10, 
 II  Or, itronffli/ 
 
 I,,  hr'ld  le.M 
 
 them,  ^c. 
 h  I  Sam.  13. 
 
 13. 
 il  Ki.15.  32 
 ft  i-h.  m.  26. 
 
 .IiT.  2(1.  2. 
 
 >Ut.  U.  3. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 criithed. 
 
 i  Heb.  dii/- 
 ijpd. 
 
 11  Or, «/;,;. 
 
 o/Dai'id. 
 
 d  1  .S.i,ll).27. 
 
 IKiii. 1(1.25. 
 t  Heb.  jo™. 
 e  I  Kin.  II). 
 
 27.  cli.  IS.l. 
 
 913. 
 il  That  is, 
 
 "Z"d°°" 
 Al  Kin.  22. 
 43   eh.  15 
 17.  Ik  19,  3. 
 He  211.  33. 
 
 11  1i  '  And,  behold,  the  acts  of  Asa,  first  and 
 last,  lo,  they  are  written  in  the  book  of  the 
 kings  of  Judah  and  Israel. 
 
 12  And  Asa  in  the  thirty  and  ninth  year  ot 
 his  reign  was  diseased  in  his  feet,  until  his 
 disease  ivas  exceeding  great :  yet  in  his  dis- 
 ease he  '"  sought  not  to  the  Lord,  but  to  the 
 physicians. 
 
 1.'3  t  "  And  Asa  slept  with  his  fathers,  and 
 died  in  the  one  and  fortieth  year  of  his  reign. 
 
 14  And  they  buried  him  in  his  own  se- 
 pulchres, which  be  had  fmade  for  himself  in 
 the  city  of  David,  and  laid  him  in  the  bed 
 which  was  filled  °  with  sweet  odours  and 
 divers  kinds  of  spices  prepared  by  the  apothe- 
 caries' art :  and  they  made  ''  a  very  great  burn- 
 ing for  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIL 
 
 I  Jehosliaphatj  avcceedivg  Asa,  r€\gneth  well,  and prns~ 
 pevftli.  7  He  setidHh  Levites  with  the  princes  to 
 teach  Judah,  10  His  enemies  being  terrified  hi/  Gad, 
 some  of  them  bring  liim  presents  and  tribute.  12  His 
 greatness,  captains,  and  armies. 
 
 A  ND  "  Jehoshaphat  his  son  reigned  in  his 
 ■'-^  stead,  and  strengthened  himself  against 
 Israel. 
 
 2  And  he  placed  forces  in  all  the  fenced 
 cities  of  Judah,  and  set  garrisons  in  the  land 
 of  Judah,  and  in  the  cities  of  Ephraim,  ■"  which 
 Asa  his  father  had  taken. 
 
 3  And  the  Lord  was  with  Jehoshaphat,  be- 
 cause he  walked  in  the  first  ways  |{  of  his 
 fatlier  David,  and  sought  not  unto  Baalim  ; 
 
 4  But  sought  to  the  LORD  God  of  his 
 father,  and  walked  in  his  commandments,  and 
 not  after  '  the  doings  of  Israel. 
 
 5  Therefore  the  Lord  stablished  the  king- 
 dom in  his  hand  ;  and  all  Judah  ■'  f  brought  to 
 Jehoshaphat  presents  ;  "  and  he  had  riches  and 
 honour  in  abundance. 
 
 6  And  his  heart  ||  was  lifted  up  in  the  ways 
 of  the  Lord  :  moreover  '  he  took  away  the 
 high  places  and  groves  out  of  Judah. 
 
 7  1  Also  in  the  third  year  of  his  reign  he 
 sent  to  his  princes,  even  to  Ben-hail,  and  to 
 Obadiah,  and  to  Zechariah,  and  to  Nethaneel, 
 
 other  tribes. — Usher,  Gill.  3.  There  is  a  league,  §-c. — 'there  is,*  is 
 supplied  by  our  translators;  rather  read,  'Let  there  be  a  league,*  &c. 
 — Houf).;  so  also  Boothr.  and  .4.  Clarke.  ".  Hanani  the  seer — in 
 1  Kings,  xvi.  1,  we  read,  'Jehu,  the  son  of  Hanani,*  probably  a  pro- 
 phet tlien  Uvintr ;  and  we  read  of  him  several  years  after  reproving 
 Jehoshaphat,  (chap.  six.  2.)  and  as  a  writer,  (chap.  xx.  34.)  Hence  it 
 is  inferred,  that  in  this  place  the  name  of  son  is  omitted. — Gill,  Hew. 
 8.  Lulfims — see  note  on  chap.  xiv.  Q.  lo.  A  prison  house,  literally. 
 '  a  house  of  stocks,'  (see  Acts,  xvi.  24.) — JVil.  12.  Diseased  in  his 
 feef.  by  gout. — Mich.,  A.  Clarke.  Gout  or  dropsy  ;  the  original  term 
 being  descriptive  of  a  disorder  flying  upwards, — C.  Taylor;  or  by  an 
 oedema,  or  swelling  in  the  feet,  which  gradually  reaches  the  bowels, 
 ^Scheuizer ;  or  by  elephantiasis,  a  sort  of  dry  rot  in  the  feet,  common 
 in  the  east. — Evan.  Si/nop.  Physicians,  probably  heathen  physicians, 
 who  were  a  sort  of  charmers. — Alix.  14.  In  the  6ed— perhaps  on  the 
 funeral  bed,  which,  with  other  nations,  used  to  be  strewed  with  sweet 
 smelling  flowers  and  herbs. — Gill.  A  very  great  burning— t\\c  Greeks 
 and  Romans  burnt  dead  bodies,  throwing  frankincense,  myrrh,  cassia, 
 
 &c.,  into  the  fire.  The  Jews  bad  no  such  custom,  but  had  perhaps 
 learnt  from  the  ancient  Egyptians  to  burn  spices  at  their  funerals.— 
 Pat.  At  Herod's  funeral,  there  were  300  of  his  domestics  and  freeii 
 men  bearing  spices.— Jos.  At  Ihe  decease  of  their  kings,  the  Jews  made 
 fires  with  large  quantities  of  spices  and  aromatic  woods,  in  which  they 
 burned  the  bodies  of  the  deceased,  their  clothes,  and  various  other 
 articles  belonging  to  them.— Com.  from  Henry  and  Scott.  The  bed 
 was,  probably,  a  funeral  pyre,  and  the  body  burnt  by  setting  fire  to 
 odoriferous  woods  and  spices.— So  Clarke.  1  believe  the  bodies  were 
 actually  burned  on  the  funeral  pile,  (see  1  Sam.  xxxi.  12,)  and  that 
 Asa's  bed,  and  the  sweet  odours,  and  the  spices,  were  exactly  the  same 
 as  are  used  in  the  east  to  this  day. — Roh. 
 
 Chat.  XVll.  — 3.  Tlie  first  wiit/s  of  his  father  David,  '  the  ways  of 
 his  father  David  first  and  last.*— Ho«A.  '  The  first  ways  of  his  father.'— 
 So  Boothr.,  who  follows  the  Sejit.  He  supposes  Asa  should  have  been 
 written  instead  of  David.  Patrick  observes,  'some  read  it  "of  his 
 father  and  of  David  ;"  for  Asa,  in  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  was  very 
 pious,  as  David  was.'      6.  Lifted  up,  '  encouraged.' — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    XVI Observe  here,   I    Asa's 
 
 defects.  He  who  had  been  strong  in  faith  is  now  overcome  by 
 tlie  power  of  unbelief,  and  resorts  to  the  most  dishonourable 
 and  unworthy  expedients  to  accomplish  that  safety  for  which 
 he  cannot  rely  upon  God.  And  when  once  unbelief  had  ob- 
 tained a  hold  upon  his  mind,  it  kept  him  in  its  chains,  so  that 
 even  in  sickness  he  sought  human  aid,  and  neglected  depend- 
 ence upon  God.  God  is  much  displeased  when  he  is  dis- 
 trusted, and  when  an  arm  of  flesh  is  relied  on  more  than  his 
 power  and  goodness.  And  it  is  foolish  to  lean  upon  a  broken 
 reed  when  we  have  the  Rock  of  Ages  to  rely  upon.  Reproved 
 by  the  prophet,  Asa  was  indignant  at  his  fidelity.  Well  may 
 471 
 
 Henry  ask, '  Is  this  Asa  ?  Is  this  he  whose  heart  was  perfect 
 with  the  Lord  God  all  his  days?  Let  him  that  thinketh  he 
 stands  take  heed  lest  he  fall.' 
 
 II.  Asa's  death.  '  The  Lord  was  pleased  to  throw  a  cloud 
 upon  his  memory  ;  we  will  not  attempt  to  penetrate  it,  though 
 we  trust  he  did  not  die  without  repenting  of  bis  sins.'  '  In  all 
 our  conflicts  and  sufferings,'  says  Scott,  'we  need  especially 
 lo  look  to  our  own  hearts,  that  they  be  perfect  towards  God  in 
 the  exercise  of  faith,  patience,  and  obedience.'  Asa's  memory 
 was  honoured,  and  '  the  eminent  piety  and  usefulness  of  good 
 men  ought  to  be  remembered,  to  their  praise,  though  they  have 
 had  their  blemishes.' 
 
Jehoshaphat's  prosperous  rei<jn. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XVIII. 
 
 Allah's  false  prophets. 
 
 and   to  Michaiah,  ^  to  teach  in  the  cities   of 
 Judah. 
 
 8  And  with  them  he  sent  Levites,  even  She- 
 maiah,  and  Nethaniah,  and  Zebadiah,  and 
 Asahel,  and  Shemiramoth,  and  Jehonathan, 
 and  Adonijah,  and  Tobijah,  and  Tob-adonijah, 
 Levites ;  and  with  them  Elishama  and  Jeho- 
 ram,  priests. 
 
 9  ''  And  they  taught  in  Judah,  and  had  the 
 book  of  the  law  of  the  Lord  with  them,  and 
 went  about  throughout  all  the  cities  of  Judah, 
 and  taught  the  people. 
 
 10  K  And  '  the  fear  of  the  Lord  f  fell  upon 
 all  the  kingdoms  of  the  lands  that  were  round 
 about  Judah,  so  that  they  made  no  war  against 
 Jehoshaphat. 
 
 1 1  Also  some  of  the  Philistines  '  brought  Je- 
 hoshaphat presents,  and  tribute  silver ;  and 
 the  Arabians  brought  him  flocks,  seven  thou- 
 sand and  seven  hundred  rams,  and  seven  thou- 
 sand and  seven  hundred  he  goats. 
 
 I"i  H  And  Jelioshaphat  waxed  great  exceed- 
 ingly ;  and  he  built  in  Judah  ||  castles,  and 
 cities  of  store. 
 
 13  And  he  had  much  business  in  the  cities  of 
 Judah  :  and  the  men  of  war,  mighty  men  of 
 valour,  were  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 14  And  these  are  tlie  numbers  of  them  ac- 
 cording to  the  house  of  their  fathers  :  Of  Ju- 
 dah, the  captains  of  thousands ;  Adnah  the 
 chief,  and  witli  him  mighty  men  of  valour 
 three  hundred  thousand. 
 
 15  And  fnext  to  him  was  Jehohanan  the 
 captain,  and  with  him  two  hundred  and  four- 
 score tliousand. 
 
 16  And  next  him  was  Amasiah  the  son  of 
 Ziehri,  '  who  willingly  offered  himself  unto  the 
 Lord  ;  and  with  him  two  hundred  thousand 
 mighty  men  of  valour. 
 
 17  And  of  Benjamin  ;  Eliada  a  mighty  man 
 of  valour,  and  with  him  armed  men  witli  bow 
 and  shield  two  hundred  thousand. 
 
 18  And  next  him  teas  Jehozabad,  and  with 
 him  an  hundred  and  fourscore  thousand  ready 
 prepared  fur  the  war. 
 
 19  These  waited  on  the  king,  beside  ■"  those 
 whom  the  king  put  in  the  fenced  cities  through- 
 out all  Judah. 
 
 D.  C.  912. 
 if  ch.  15.  13 
 
 h  ch  35.  3. 
 Neh.  8.  7. 
 
 i  C.en.  35.  S 
 t    Heb.  wai. 
 
 IJOr,  palaces 
 
 ch.  17.  5. 
 2  Kiu-8.18. 
 
 c  I  Kin.  22. 
 
 2.  fcc. 
 t  H«b.  at  the 
 
 etidd/years. 
 
 d  1  S.->m   2). 
 2,4.9. 
 2  b^aiii  2.  1  - 
 
 linr,..,»n, 
 t  [h-b. 
 H  alien. 
 
 II  Or,/.. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIIL 
 
 I  Jehoshaphat,  johied  in  affinity  with  Aliab,  is  per- 
 suatltd  to  tfo  with  hitn  ttijaiiist  Hamoth-giltad.  4 
 Allah,  seduced  hy  false  pnjihets,  accordiyit)  to  the  word 
 of  Micaiah,  is  slain  there. 
 
 TV'OW  Jehoshaphat  "had  riches  and  honour 
 -'■^  in  abundance,  and  ''joined  athnitv  with 
 Ahab. 
 
 2  '  And  t  after  certain  years  he  went  down 
 to  Ahab  to  Samaria.  And  Abab  killed  sheep 
 and  oxen  for  him  in  abundance,  and  for  the 
 people  that  he  had  with  him,  and  persuaded 
 liim  to  go  up  with  him  to  Ramoth-gilead. 
 
 .3  And  Ahab  king  of  Israel  said  unto  Jehosha- 
 phat king  of  Judah,  Wilt  thou  go  w  itli  me  to 
 Ramoth-gilead?  And  he  answered  bini,  1  am 
 as  thou  art,  and  my  people  as  thy  people  ; 
 and  we  will  bi  with  thee  in  tlie  war. 
 
 4  1  And  Jeliosliaphat  said  unto  the  king  of 
 Israel,  "  Enquire,  I  pray  thee,  at  the  word  of 
 the  Lord  to  day. 
 
 5  Therefore  tlie  king  of  Israel  gathered  to- 
 gether of  prophets  four  hundred  men,  and  said 
 unto  them.  Shall  we  go  to  Ramoth-gilead  to 
 battle,  or  .shall  I  forbear?  And  they  sai<l.  Go 
 up  ;  for  God  will  deliver  it  into  the  king's 
 hand. 
 
 6  But  Jehoshaphat  said,  Is  there  not  liere  a 
 propliet  of  the  Lord  f  besides,  that  we  might 
 enquire  of  him  ? 
 
 7  And  the  king  of  Israel  said  unto  Jehosha- 
 phat, There  is  yet  one  man,  by  whom  we  may 
 enquire  of  tlie  Lord  :  but  I  hate  him  ;  for  he 
 never  prophesied  good  unto  me,  but  always 
 evil  :  the  same  is  Micaiah  the  son  of  Inila. 
 And  Jehoshaphat  said.  Let  not  the  king  say 
 so. 
 
 8  And  the  king  of  Israel  called  for  one  vfhis 
 
 II  officers,  and  said,  f  Fetch  quickly  Micaiah 
 the  son  of  Imla. 
 
 9  And  the  king  of  Israel  and  Jeho.shaphat 
 king  of  Judah  sat  either  of  them  on  his  throne, 
 clothed  in  their  robes,  and  they  sat  in  a  ||  void 
 place  at  the  entering  in  of  the  gate  of  Sa- 
 maria i  and  all  the  prophets  prophesied  before 
 them. 
 
 10  And  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Chenaanah  had 
 made  him  horns  of  iron,  and  said.  Thus  saith 
 
 9.  And  they  taught — the  princes,  perhaps,  taught  the  civil  law  and  the 
 constitution  ;  the  Levites,  the  temple  service  and  ritual  law  ;  and  the 
 priests,  the  nature  and  design  of  their  religion. — Clarke.  10.  Kingdoms 
 — round  about — Israel,  Mimb,  Edom,  Syria,  Egypt,  Arabia.  Philistia. — 
 dill.  II.  Philistines,  subjects  siuce  David's  time,  but  had  neglected 
 to  pay  their  tribute,  which  they  now  did  through  fe:ir. — Poole.  Per- 
 haps they  were  those  of  (ierar  &c.  Asa  made  tributary,  (chap.  xiv.  14.) 
 — Gill.  Arabians,  Scenite  Arabs,  who  did  so  to  procure  Jehoshaphat's 
 protection. — Pat.  They  feared,  perhaps,  that  he  should  fall  upon  them 
 and  take  their  flocks,  as  his  father  had  done,  (chap.  xiv.  13.) — Gill. 
 14.  Their  numbers,  1, 1*50. 000;  these  are  so  prodigious,  there  must  be 
 some  error. — Ken.    Great  numbers  had  now  flocked  in  from  Israel  j 
 
 his  people  increased  by  a  peculiar  blessing,  and  no  wasting  wars  had 
 occiu-red  for  many  years.— Sco^^  There  is  nothing  incredible  in  the 
 numbers,  for  we  read  the  like  in  profane  history,  and  it  is  obsei-vabie 
 how  God  blessed  the  rcigu  of  Asa  and  Jehoshaphat. — Piil.  16.  Of- 
 fered himself  unto  the  Lord,  to  fight  the  Lord's  battles.  —  Gill. 
 19.  Waited — the  chief  men  altcnded  the  king's  person  wherever  he 
 went. — Pat.  These  forces  were  always  disposable  as  the  king  required. 
 —Clarke,  Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.  —  I.  Joined  affinity — Joram,  his  eldest  son,  married 
 Athaliah,  Allah's  daughter,  (chap.  xxi.  6  ;  2  Kings,  viii.  \H-)— Poole. 
 For  notes  see  1  Kings,  xxii.,  of  which  tliis  is  the  same  iu  substance. 
 
 Reflectioks  on  Chap.  XVII.  —  Let  us  observe,  I.  Je- 
 hoshapltaCs piety.  '  He  walked  in  the  first  ways  of  his  father 
 David,  imitating  him  in  his  good,  and  avoidinR  his  evil  ac- 
 tions.' '  It  is  good  to  be  cautious  in  following  the  best  men.' 
 He  '  sought  not  unto  Baalim.'  This  his  contemporary,  Ahab, 
 king  of  Israel,  did;  but  he  '  Bought  to  the  Lord  God  of  his 
 father,  and  walked  in  his  commandments,  and  not  afler  the 
 doings  of  Israel.'  It  is  a  sign  of  grace  in  the  heart,  when  we 
 maintain  our  adherence  to  God  amidst  the  surrounding  con- 
 tamination of  evil  examples.  '  His  heart  was  lifted  up  in  the 
 ways  of  the  Lord.'  Then  oar  religion  is  truly  influential  v\'hen 
 we  rise  in  affections  from  earth  to  heaven,  and,  in  all  our  ac- 
 tions, are  enabled  to  overlook  the  world— then  we  may  over- 
 come the  world. 
 
 II.  .Tehnshaphat' s  usefulness.  Some  pious  persons  can  scarcely 
 be  called  useful.  It  is  for  them  to  settle  matters  with  their 
 472 
 
 own  consciences  liow  it  can  be  reconciled  with  th-e  character 
 of  a  good  man  to  live  only  for  himself.  In  this  there  is  an  evi- 
 dent failure  in  copying  the  example  of  Christ.  Like  Jeho- 
 shaphat, and  more  especially  like  llim  who  was,  essentially 
 and  practically,  '  the  Light  of  the  world,'  we  best  shew  both 
 our  piety  and  our  palriolism  by  endeavouring;  to  remove  the 
 ignorance  which  exists  everywhere  around  us,  and  we  cannot 
 better  do  this  than  by  the  diffusion  of  scriptural  knowledge. 
 
 111.  JcltoshaphaVs  prospiriti/.  Therefore  the  Lord  established 
 the  kingdom  in  his  hand — his  people  brought  him  presents, 
 and  his  tributaries  tribute-money.  His  enemies  were  afraid 
 of  him,  reigning,  under  God's  blessing,  over  a  numerous  and 
 devoted  people,  and  let"t  him  to  pursue  his  plans'for  God's 
 glory  in  perfect  peace,  and  he  *  wased  great  exceedingly.* 
 •  Them  that  honour  God,  he  will  honour.' 
 
Micaiah's  jirophccy. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XIX. 
 
 Jehoshaphat  visilelh  his  kini/ilom. 
 
 the  Lord,  Witli  these  thou  shalt  push  Syri 
 until  t  they  be  consumed. 
 
 11  And  all  the  prophets  prophesed  so,  say- 
 ing. Go  up  to  Ramoth-gilead,  and  prosper:  for 
 the  Lord  shall  deliver  it  into  the  hand  of  the 
 king. 
 
 12  And  the  messenger  that  went  to  call  Mi- 
 caiah  spake  to  him,  saying.  Behold,  the  words 
 of  the  prophets  declare  good  to  the  Uijig  f  "'''' 
 one  assent ;  let  thy  word  therefore,  I  pray  thee, 
 be  like  one  of  their's,  and  speak  thou  good. 
 
 13  And  Micaiah  said.  As  the  Lord  liveth, 
 '  even  what  my  God  saith,  that  will  I  speak. 
 
 14  And  when  he  was  come  to  tlie  king,  the 
 king  said  unto  him,  Micaiah,  shall  we  go  to 
 Ramoth-gilead  to  battle,  or  shall  I  forbear  'i 
 And  he  said.  Go  ye  up,  and  prosper,  and  they 
 shall  be  delivered  into  your  hand. 
 
 15  And  the  king  said  to  him,  How  many 
 times  shall  I  adjure  thee  that  thou  say  nothing 
 but  the  truth  to  me  hi  the  name  of  the  LokdV 
 
 10  Then  he  said,  I  did  see  all  Israel  scattered 
 upon  the  mountains,  as  sheep  that  have  no 
 shepherd  :  and  the  Lord  said.  These  have  no 
 master ;  let  them  return  therefore  every  man 
 to  his  house  in  peace. 
 
 17  And  the  king  of  Israel  said  to  Jehosha- 
 phat, Did  I  not  tell  thee  that  he  \\'ould  not 
 prophesy  good  unto  me,  ||  but  evil  ? 
 
 18  Again  he  said,  Therefore  hear  the  word 
 of  the  Lord  ;  I  saw  the  Lord  sitting  upon  his 
 throne,  and  all  the  host  of  heaven  standing  on 
 his  right  hand  and  on  his  left. 
 
 19  And  the  Lord  said.  Who  shall  entice 
 Ahab  king  of  Israel,  that  he  may  go  up  and 
 fall  at  Rajnoth-gilead  ?  And  one  spake  saying 
 after  tills  maimer,  and  another  saying  after  that 
 manner. 
 
 •20  Then  there  came  out  a  ''spirit,  and  stood 
 before  the  Lord,  and  said,  I  will  entice  him. 
 And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  VV'herewitli  V 
 
 '21  And  he  said,  I  will  go  out,  and  be  a  lying 
 spirit  in  the  mouth  of  all  his  prophets.  And 
 the  LOUD  said,  Thou  shalt  entice  him,  and 
 thou  .shalt  also  prevail  :  go  out,  and  do  even  so. 
 
 2-2  Now  therefore,  behold,  ^  the  Lord  hath 
 put  a  lying  spirit  in  the  month  of  these  thy 
 prophets,  and  the  Lord  hath  spoken  evil 
 against  thee. 
 
 23  Then  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Chenaanah 
 came  near,  and  ''  smote  Micaiah  upon  the 
 cheek,  and  said.  Which  way  went  the  spirit  of 
 the  Lord  from  me  to  speak  unto  thee  V 
 
 24  And  Micaiah  said.  Behold,  thou  shalt  see 
 on  that  day  when  thou  shalt  go  ||  into  fan 
 inner  chamber  to  hide  thyself. 
 
 25  Then  the  king  of  Israel  said,  Take  ye 
 Micaiah,  and  carry  him  back  to  Amon  the 
 governor  of  the  city,  and  to  Joash  the  king's 
 son  ; 
 
 2r)  And  say.  Thus  .saith  the  king,  '  Put  this 
 fellow  in  the  prison,  and  feed  him  with  bread 
 of  affliction  and  with  water  of  affliction,  until  I 
 return  in  peace. 
 
 27  And  Micaiah  said.  If  thou  certainly  return 
 in  peace,  then  hath  not  the  Lord  spoken  by 
 
 D.  C,  S57 
 t  Heb.  tlioa 
 
 ■  Num.  22. 
 lP,:u,  ar..  8( 
 2.S.  12,21.,  & 
 
 I  Kill  23. 11. 
 
 |[  Or,  6)1/ /ur 
 
 CTob  I.  6. 
 
 S  Job  12.  I( 
 Is.  ly.  1.1. 
 Ezek. 11. 1 
 
 II  Or,/r,.m 
 
 chill"ltfT  to 
 
 c/uimttT. 
 I  Heb.  n 
 
 cli„: 
 
 3  chant' 
 
 t  Hfb  /rom 
 itfltr  linit. 
 
 t  Heb.  i„  liii 
 si>"l'iiril'/. 
 
 t  Heb.  ip- 
 Iweeti  the 
 
 liiitt 
 
 ml 
 
 ii-lrc 
 breaitpht'^. 
 
 ftPs   139.21. 
 
 c  cb.  32.  25. 
 
 (rb.  17.4.6. 
 See  ch.  12. 
 12. 
 
 t  Hob.  hr,i. 
 t'irnrd  iiiid 
 went  out. 
 
 /Don.  1.  17. 
 
 ?  Pa  82.  1. 
 Ecrles.  fi.  8. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 ,.,../(  r  ,./ 
 ,«d,,mr,,l, 
 
 h  Deut  -.vl  i 
 
 the 
 
 Hoi 
 
 '    U. 
 
 Ueu.  111.17 
 Job  34.  19. 
 Acts  111.  31. 
 Rom.  2.  11. 
 Gal.  2.  6. 
 Eph.  0,  9. 
 Col  3.  25. 
 1  Pet.  1.  17. 
 IDeu.  16.18. 
 ch.  17.  8. 
 
 me.     And  he  said,  Hearken,  all  ye  people. 
 
 28  So  the  king  of  Israel  and  Jehoshaphat  the 
 king  of  Judah  went  up  to  Ramoth-gilead. 
 
 29  And  the  king  of  Israel  said  unto  Jehosha- 
 phat, I  will  disguise  myself,  and  will  go  to  the 
 battle  ;  but  put  tliou  on  thy  robes.  So  the 
 king  of  Israel  disguised  himself;  and  they 
 went  to  the  battle. 
 
 30  Now  the  king  of  Syria  had  commanded 
 the  captains  of  the  chariots  that  were  with 
 him,  saying.  Fight  ye  not  with  small  or  great, 
 save  only  with  the  king  of  Israel. 
 
 31  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  captains  of 
 the  chariots  saw  Jehoshaphat,  that  they  said. 
 It  is  the  king  of  Israel.  Therefore  they  com- 
 passed about  him  to  fight :  but  Jehosluiphat 
 cried  out,  and  the  Lord  helped  him  ;  and  God 
 moved  them  to  depart  from  him. 
 
 32  For  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  the  cap- 
 tains of  the  chariots  perceived  that  it  was  not 
 the  king  of  Israel,  they  turned  back  again 
 f  from  pursuing  him. 
 
 33  And  a  certain  man  drew  a  bow  f  at  a  ven- 
 ture, and  smote  the  king  of  Israel  f  between 
 the  joints  of  the  harness  :  therefore  he  said  to 
 Ills  chariot  man.  Turn  thine  hand,  that  thou 
 mayest  carry  me  out  of  the  host;  for  I  a'li 
 t  wounded. 
 
 34  And  the  battle  increased  that  day  :  how- 
 beit  the  king  of  Israel  stayed  hitnse/f  up  in  his 
 chariot  against  the  Syrians  until  the  even : 
 and  about  the  time  of  the  sun  going  down  he 
 died. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I  Jt:/iosiiaptiatt  reproved  hy  Jemi,  visiteilt  hh  Mtigdom. 
 5  ///'.s-  iitstructioiis  to  the  jialyes,  8  to  the  priests  and 
 J^ei'ites. 
 
 A  ND  Jehoshaphat  the  king  of  Judah  re- 
 ■^-^  turned  to  his  house  in  peace  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  And  Jehu  the  son  of  Hanani  °  the  seer 
 went  out  to  meet  him,  and  said  to  king  Je- 
 lioshaphat,  Shouldest  thou  help  the  ungodly, 
 and  ''love  them  that  hate  the  Lord?  therefore 
 is  "^  wrath  upon  thee  from  before  the  Lord. 
 
 3  Nevertheless  there  are  ■'  good  thhigs  found 
 in  thee,  in  that  thou  hast  taken  away  the 
 groves  out  of  the  land,  and  hast  "prepared 
 thine  heart  to  seek  God. 
 
 4  And  Jehoshaphat  dwelt  at  Jerusalem  :  ami 
 t  he  went  out  again  through  the  people  from 
 Beer-sheba  to  mount  Ephraim,  and  brought 
 them  back  unto  the  Lord  God  of  their  fathers. 
 
 5  IT  And  he  set  judges  in  the  land  through- 
 out all  the  fenced  cities  of  Judah,  city  by  city, 
 
 6  And  said  to  the  judges.  Take  heed  what 
 ye  do  :  for  ''ye  judge  not  for  man,  but  for  the 
 Lord,  ^who  is  with  you  fhi  the  judgment. 
 
 7  Wherefore  now  let  the  fear  of  the  Lord  be 
 upon  you  ;  take  heed  and  do  it :  for  ''  there  is 
 no  iniquity  with  the  Lord  our  God,  nor  're- 
 spect of  persons,  nor  taking  of  gifts. 
 
 8  H  Moreover  in  Jerusalem  did  Jehoshaphat 
 ^  set  of  the  Levites,  and  of  the  priests,  and  of 
 the  chief  of  the  fathers  of  Israel,  for  the  judg- 
 ment of  the  Lord,  and  for  controversies,  when 
 they  returned  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 Chap.  XIX. — 'U  Dwelt  at  Jerusalem — corrected  by  Dr.  (ieddes,  ecclesiastics  nnd  political  persons.  Judgment  of  the  Lord,  thinsrs 
 *  returned  to  Jerusalem.'  8.  Set  of  the  Levites,  ^c. — this  was  tlie  sacred,  rclatin;^  to  the  worsliip  of  God  and  its  support.  Controversies, 
 great  court  of  judicatiue,  consisting  of  princes,  priests,  and  Levites,  of    of  a  civil  kind,  between  man  and  man.     When  they  returned,  that  is. 
 
 473 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIII.  —  See  those  on  1  Kings,  chap.  xxii. 
 
 3   r 
 
Jehoshaphat  proclaiineth  a  fast. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XX. 
 
 Jahaziei's  prophet  t/. 
 
 9  And  he  charged  them,  sayhig,  Tluis  shall 
 ye  do  •  hi  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  faithfully,  and 
 with  a  perfect  heart. 
 
 10  "■  And  (vliat  cause  soever  shall  come  to 
 you  of  your  brethren  that  dwell  in  their  cities, 
 between  blood  and  blood,  between  law  and 
 commandment,  statutes  and  judgments,  ye 
 shall  even'  warn  them  that  they  trespass  not 
 against  the  Lord,  and  si>  "  wrath  come  upon 
 °  you,  and  upon  your  brethren  :  this  do,  and 
 ye  shall  not  trespass. 
 
 U  And,  behold,  Amariah  the  chief  priest  is 
 over  you  ''in  all  matters  of  the  Lord;  and 
 Zebadiah  the  son  of  Isbmael,  the  ruler  of  the 
 house  of  Jndah,  for  all  the  king's  matters  :  also 
 the  Levites  sliall  be  officers  before  you.  f  Deal 
 courageously,  and  the  Lord  shall  be  '  with  the 
 good. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  Jelioshnphat  in  his  fear  pToclaimeih  a  fiist.  5  His 
 prayer.  14  The  prophecy  of  Jaltazid.  20  Jehosha- 
 phat cxiiorteth  the  people,  and  settetlt  singers  topraise 
 the  Lord.  22  The  (jreat  orerfhrow  of  tiie  enemies. 
 26  The  people,  haviny  blessed  God  at  Bcrachah,  re- 
 turn ill  triumph.  31  Jt hoshapliut' s  reiyn.  35  His 
 convoy  of  ships,  which  he  made  with  Ahaziah,  ac- 
 cording to  tJie  prophecy  of  Elieztr,  unhappily  perished. 
 
 TT  came  to  pass  after  this  also,  that  the 
 ■*-  children  of  I\Ioab,  and  the  children  of  Am- 
 mon,  and  with  them  other  beside  the  Ammon- 
 ites, came  against  Jehoshaphat  to  battle. 
 
 •2  Then  there  came  some  that  told  Jehosha- 
 phat, saying,  There  cometli  a  great  multitude 
 against  thee  from  beyond  the  sea  on  this  side 
 Syria ;  and,  behold,  they  be  "  in  Hazazou- 
 taniar,  which  is  ''  En-gedi.  ^ 
 
 S  And  Jelioshaphat  feared,  aud  set  f  hiinself 
 to  'seek  the  Lord,  and  '' proclaimed  a  fast 
 throughout  all  Judah. 
 
 4  Aud  Judah  gathered  themselves  together, 
 to  ask  he/p  of  the  Lord  :  even  out  of  all  the 
 cities  of  Judah  they  came  to  seek  the  Lord. 
 
 5  t  And  .Jehoshaphat  stood  in  the  congrega- 
 tion of  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  in  the  house  of 
 the  Lord,  before  the  new  court, 
 
 6  And  said,  O  Lord  God  of  our  fathers,  art 
 not  thou  "God  in  heaven?  and  'rnlest  not 
 thou  over  all  tlie  kingdoms  of  the  heathen? 
 and  1^  in  thine  hand  is  there  not  power  and 
 might,  so  that  none  is  able  to  withstand  tliee  ? 
 
 7  Art  not  tliou  "  our  God,  f  ri'ho  '  didst  drive 
 out  the  inhabitants  of  this  land  before  thy 
 people    Israel,  and  gave^t  it  to   the  seed  of 
 
 B.  C.  896 
 f  2Sam.  23. 
 
 II  Na.  10. 116. 
 o  Eiek.3.18. 
 
 t  Heb    T-il.-.^ 
 
 a  Qen.  U.  7. 
 
 6  Jo8li.l5.62. 
 
 t  Hai.  hi, 
 
 c  cli.  19.  S. 
 d  Kzrafl.  21. 
 
 Jor.  30.  9. 
 
 Jooah  S.  b. 
 
 f  Deu.  4-  S9. 
 
 Josh.  2.  M. 
 
 1  Kin-  9.23. 
 
 Mat,  6.  9. 
 /Ps.47.  2,8. 
 
 l>an.  4.  17, 
 
 ■2.').  32. 
 g  1  Chr.  29. 
 
 12P9.62.n. 
 
 Mat.  6.13. 
 h  Geu.  17.7. 
 
 Ex.  6.  7. 
 t  Heb.  Ih'Ki. 
 ■  P«.  44.  2. 
 
 /  1  Kin   8. 
 
 ;i:1.37.  ch.  6. 
 iS,  29,  30. 
 
 n  Deiit.  g.  4, 
 9,  19. 
 
 7  1  Sam.  3. 
 ■3. 
 
 r  Pa.  8.5  15. 
 &  121.  I,  2 
 &  123.  1,2. 
 {c  141.  8. 
 
 (  Ei.  11.  13. 
 14  lloiit.  I . 
 29,  .30.  ^  31 
 6,8.  C1I.S2.7. 
 
 Or,  vattfj/. 
 I  Ex.  14.  13, 
 
 X  Num. 14. 9. 
 cli.lS.  2.  & 
 
 J  Ex   4.  31. 
 
 Abraham  '  thy  friend  for  ever? 
 
 8  And  they  dwelt  therein,  and  have  built 
 thee  a  sanctuary  therein  for  thy  name,  saying, 
 
 9  '  If,  when  evil  cometh  upon  us,  as  tlie 
 sword,  judgment,  or  pestilence,  or  famine,  we 
 stand  before  this  house,  and  in  thy  presence, 
 (for  thy  '"  name  is  in  this  house,)  and  cry  unto 
 thee  in  our  afllictioii,  then  tliou  wilt  hear  and 
 help. 
 
 10  And  now,  behold,  the  cliiUlren  of  Amnion 
 and  Maab  and  mount  Seir,  whom  thou  "  vvmild- 
 est  not  let  Israel  invade,  when  tliey  came  out 
 of  tlie  land  of  Kgypt,  liut  °  tliey  turned  from 
 them,  and  destroyed  them  not ; 
 
 1 1  Behold,  /  .to;/,  how  they  reward  us,  ''  to 
 come  to  cast  ns  out  of  tliy  possession,  which 
 thou  hast  given  us  to  inherit. 
 
 12  O  our  God,  wilt  thou  not'' judge  them? 
 for  we  have  no  might  against  this  great  com- 
 pany that  cometh  against  us  ;  neither  know  we 
 what  to  do  :  but  '  our  eyes  are  upon  thee. 
 
 13  And  all  Judah  stood  before  the  Lord, 
 with  their  little  ones,  their  wives,  and  their 
 children. 
 
 14  t  Then  upon  Jahaziel  the  son  of  Zecha- 
 riah,  the  son  of  Benaiah,  the  son  of  Jeiel,  the 
 son  of  Mattauiah,  a  Levite  of  the  sons  of 
 A.saph,  '  came  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  in  the 
 midst  of  the  congregation  ; 
 
 15  And  he  said.  Hearken  ye,  all  Judah,  and 
 ye  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  aud  thou  king  Je- 
 hoshaphat, Thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  you, 
 '  Be  not  afraid  nor  dismayed  by  reason  of  this 
 great  multitude  ;  for  the  battle  is  not  your's, 
 but  God's. 
 
 16  To  morrow  go  ye  down  against  them: 
 behold,  they  come  up  by  the  f  c'iff  of  Ziz  ; 
 aud  ye  shall  find  them  at  the  end  of  the 
 II  brook,  before  the  wilderness  of  Jeruel. 
 
 17  "Ye  shall  not  need  to  fight  in  this  battle  : 
 set  yourselves,  stand  ye  still,  and  see  the  sal- 
 vation of  the  Lord  with  you,  O  Judah  aud 
 Jerusalem :  fear  not,  nor  be  dismayed  ;  to 
 morrow  go  out  against  them  :  "  for  the  Lord 
 will  be  with  you. 
 
 18  And  Jehoshaphat  "bowed  his  head  with 
 his  face  to  tlie  groniul  :  and  all  Jndah  and  the 
 inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  fell  before  the  Lord, 
 worshipping  the  Lord. 
 
 19  And  the  Levites,  of  the  children  of  the 
 Kohathites,  and  of  the  children  of  the  Korhites, 
 stood  up  to  jiraise  tlie  Lord  God  of  Israel  with 
 a  loud  voice  on  high. 
 
 when  Jehoshaphat  and  liis  chief  men  &c.  returned.  — GiV;.  When 
 they  returned  fmrn  tiie  other  citii-s  where  they  appointed  judges, 
 (ver.  b.)—Pat.  Hnllet,  Kennicott,  Bool/iroijd,  and  others  read,  '  and 
 for  controverted  causes  ol  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem.'  They  substi- 
 tute UICV  for  laiD'l.  The  Vulg.  and  the  Sept.  justify  this  rendering; 
 the  latter  has  kui  t.pn.iti'  Ttii-r  KaTomoi.i  Tai  en  'UpuvaaXtjn, '  and  to  judge 
 the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem.'— So  Bi,o//ir.  and  .J.  Clnrke.  lu.  Ulood 
 and  hhod,  cuncernuig  murder,  maiming,  or  accidentally  killing. — 
 Scutt.        11.  irtWi  the  good,  '  wiUi  you  for  good.'— Hoai. 
 
 Chap.  XX.  —  1 .  Otlier  beside  the  Ammonites,  'together  with  a  party 
 of  Edomites.' — Houl)-,  Geddes,  as  the  C/wtdee.  Ek  ^uil■  Mivattav,  people 
 *  of  the  Minaites,'  of  Arabia  Felix,  near  the  Red  Sea,  Sept.,  .4.  Ctttr/ie. 
 2.  Beyond  the  sen  on  this  side  Syria,  the  sea  from  Edom. — Cut  ,  Htiiili., 
 Boothr.      '  Beyond  the  Dead  or  Salt  Sea.' — Gitt.  5.  The  nen'  court, 
 
 '  the  court  of  the  women.' — Litcfilf-  *  The  court  of  the  priests.' — (Jilt. 
 There  were  hut  two  courts,  (2  Kings,  xxi.  5,  and  xxiii.  12,)  and  Jeho- 
 shaphat stood  in  the  one,  which  must  be  that  of  the  people,  and  before 
 the  other,  which  must  be  that  of  the  priests,  called  the  new  court 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIX I.Henry  furnishes  some 
 
 useful  remarks  on  this  chapter:  we  observe.  I.  Jehoshaphat' s 
 return  in  peace  to  Jerusalem.  Whenever  we  return  in  peace  to 
 our  houses,  we  ought  to  acknowledge  God's  providence  in 
 preserving  our  going  out  and  our  coming  in  ;  but,  if  we  have 
 been  kept  throui;h  more  than  ordinary  dangers,  we  are  in  a 
 special  manner  bound  to  be  thankful.  There  was  but  a  step, 
 perhaps,  between  us  and  death,  and  yet  we  are  alive. 
 
 II.  The  reproof  given  him  for  his  league  with  Ahab.  Those 
 whom  the  grace  of  God  has  dignified,  ought  not  to  debase 
 themselves. 
 
 4  74 
 
 III.  2'he  great  care  he  took  theretipon  to  reform  his  hinydom. 
 Kebuke  a  wise  man,  and  he  will  yet  be  wiser  and  take  warn- 
 ing, (Prov.  ix.  8,9.)  Perliaps  his  affinity  with  the  idolatrous 
 house  of  Ahab  had  an  ill  intiuence  upon  his  own  kingdom, 
 tiieref'ore  he  thought  himself  obliged  to  do  all  he  could  to 
 remedy  the  evil.  It  we  truly  repent  of  our  sin,  we  siiall  do 
 our  utmost  to  repair  the  damage  we  have  any  way  done  by  it 
 to  religion  or  the  "Souls  of  others.  We  are  particularly  con- 
 cerned to  recover  those  that  have  fallen  into  sin,  or  been  har- 
 dened in  it,  by  our  example. 
 
Jelioshuphat's  enemies  ova titruun. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXI. 
 
 Hi, 
 
 reign. 
 
 20  f  And  they  rose  early  in  the  morning,  and 
 «eiit  forth  into  the  wildernes.s  of  Tclvoa  :  and 
 as  they  went  forth,  Jehoshapliat  stood  and 
 snid.  Hear  me,  O  Judali,  and  ye  inhabitants  of 
 Jernsalem  ;  '  Believe  in  the  Lord  your  God, 
 so  shall  ye  be  established  ;  believe  his  pro- 
 phets, so  shall  ye  prosper. 
 
 'Jl  And  when  he  had  consulted  with  the 
 people,  he  appointed  singers  unto  the  Lord, 
 "  and  t  that  should  praise  the  beauty  of  holi- 
 ness, as  they  went  out  before  the  army,  and  to 
 say,  ''  Praise  the  Lord  ;  '  for  his  mercy  en- 
 duret/i  for  ever. 
 
 •2-2  1 1  '^"  J  when  they  began  f  to  sing  and  to 
 praise,  ''  the  Loud  set  ambnshments  against 
 the  children  of  Ammon,  Moab,  and  mount 
 Seir,  which  were  come  against  Judali  ;  and 
 II  they  were  smitten. 
 
 23  For  the  children  of  Ammon  and  Moab 
 stood  up  against  the  inhabitants  of  mount  Seir, 
 utterly  to  slay  and  destroy  them  .-  and  when 
 they  had  made  an  end  of  the  inhabitants  of 
 Seir,  every  one  helped  f"  destroy  another. 
 
 24  And  when  Judah  came  toward  tlie  watch 
 tower  in  the  wilderness,  they  looked  unto  the 
 multitude,  and,  behold,  they  icere  dead  bodies 
 fallen  to  the  earth,  and  fnone  escaped. 
 
 25  And  when  Jehoshaphat  and  his  people 
 came  to  take  away  the  spoil  of  them,  they 
 found  among  them  in  abundance  both  riches 
 with  the  dead  bodies,  and  precious  jewels, 
 which  they  stripped  off  for  themselves,  more 
 tiiau  they  could  carry  away :  and  they  were 
 three  days  in  gathering  of  the  spoil,  it  was  so 
 much. 
 
 20  If  And  on  the  fourth  day  they  assembled 
 themselves  in  the  valley  of  ||  Berachah ;  for 
 there  they  blessed  the  Lord  :  therefore  the 
 name  of  the  same  place  was  called.  The  valley 
 of  Berachah,  unto  this  day. 
 
 27  Then  they  returned,  every  man  of  Judah 
 and  Jerusalem,  and  Jelioshapbat  in  llie  f  fore- 
 front of  them,  to  go  again  to  Jerusalem  witii 
 joy;  fur  the  Lord  had  "made  them  to  rejoice 
 over  their  enemies. 
 
 28  And  they  came  to  Jerusalem  witli   psal- 
 
 „  I  Cl.r.  10. 
 
 Ps,  loG. 
 
 1. 
 I  Cli 
 
 h  5  13 
 fc  7,  :*,  6. 
 
 t  H^l).  .^><d 
 ill  l/ii-  lime 
 
 ttiul  Itl'TI.^C. 
 
 \  Heb.  i'i 
 tinffi'ij  and 
 
 d  Jiidg.T.  2-2 
 1  Sa    i4.2il 
 
 II  Or,  lAfi/ 
 imt'ile  C'fi« 
 auotker, 
 
 t  Heb. /or 
 Ihr  (Uiirue- 
 ti'oi. 
 
 f  H.I.  tl.p 
 
 t  Tli.1t  is. 
 
 t  H«b.  ;.'"J 
 
 .7  .h    IS.  1-'. 
 
 .l..b  M.  29 
 >>  t  Kin.  -22. 
 
 11,  &c. 
 
 1  Heb.ifordji. 
 t  I  Kin.  10. 
 1.  7, 
 
 I  Heb.  ifu( 
 miiitK  tu  at- 
 
 "I  I  kin.  22, 
 4fl,  411. 
 KHIl. 
 
 II  At  first  .le- 
 li'isliaphat 
 
 ->lli> 
 
 ^-.  I 
 
 teries  and  harps  and  trunipets  unto  the  house 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 29  And  'the  fear  of  God  was  on  all  the  king- 
 doms of  those  countries,  when  they  had  heard 
 that  the  Lord  fought  against  the  enemies  of 
 Israel. 
 
 30  So  the  realm  of  Jehoshaphat  was  quiet : 
 for  his  ^  God  gave  him  rest  round  about. 
 
 31  U  "  And  Jehoshaphat  reigned  over  Judah  : 
 he  was  thirty  and  five  years  old  when  he  be- 
 gan to  reign,  and  he  reigned  twenty  and  five 
 years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  mother's  name 
 was  Azubfih  the  daughter  of  Shilhi. 
 
 32  And  he  walked  in  the  way  of  Asa  his 
 father,  and  departed  not  from  it,  doing  that 
 ivhich  was  right  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. 
 
 33  Howbeit  '  the  high  places  were  not  taken 
 away  :  for  as  yet  the  people  bad  not  ^  prepared 
 their  hearts  unto  the  God  of  tlieir  fathers. 
 
 34  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jehoshaphat, 
 first  and  last,  beliold,  they  are  written  in  the 
 fbook  of  Jehu  the  sou  of  Hanani,  'who  ^  is 
 mentioned  in  the  book  of  the  kings  of  Israel. 
 
 35  1  And  after  this  "  did  Jehoshaphat  king  of 
 Judah  join  himself  with  Ahaziah  king  of  Israel, 
 who  did  very  wickedly  : 
 
 36  II  And  he  joined  liimself  with  him  to  make 
 ships  to  go  to  Tarshish  :  and  they  made  the 
 ships  in  Ezion-gaber. 
 
 37  Then  Ehezer  the  son  of  Dodavah  of  Ma- 
 resliah  prophesied  against  Jehoshaphat,  saying. 
 Because  thou  hast  joined  thyself  with  Ahaziah, 
 the  Lord  hath  broken  thy  works.  "  And  the 
 ships  were  broken,  that  they  were  not  able  to 
 go  "  to  Tarshish. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  Jehnrnm,  simreilinr/  Jelmslinpliat,  s!ra/ct/i  .'lis  hrdhren. 
 5  His  wicked  reign.  8  Etlom  mid  Lilmah  revolt. 
 12  The  proplucy  of  Elijali  against  him  in  writing. 
 16  Philistines  and  Arabians  oppress  him.  18  Ilis 
 incurable  disease,  infamous  death,  and  burial, 
 
 'M'OW  "Jehoshaphat  .slept  with  his  fathers, 
 -'-^  and  was  buried  with  his  fathers  in  the  city 
 of  David.  And  Jehoram  his  son  ||  reigned  iii 
 his  stead. 
 
 because  it  had  been  lately  renewed  wlien  the  altar  was  renewed,  (chap. 
 
 XV.  8.)        21.  Consulted  n'it/t  the  peojile,  'the  chiefs  of  the  people.* — 
 
 Poole.        22.  .imtjushments,  '  snares,' Tfzr^.     Angels  who  appeared  in 
 
 the  form  of  the  Edoniiles,  and  fell  upon  the  foe. — tail.    The  mcaninjc 
 
 teems  rather  to  be,  that  the  amb'.ishments  which  they  had  set  against 
 
 Jndab,  by  a  confusion  among  themselves,  made  by  a  Divine  hand,  fell    see  note  oa  1  Kings,  x,\ii.  48 
 
 upon  a  part  of  their  own  army,  mistaking  them  for  their  enemies. 
 
 Pat.  So  it  is  conjectured  by  Scott ;  so  also  by  Houb.  and  Bootltr. 
 •2a.  Dead  /ladies,  D""i;D—' garments, '  mj2,  so  einht  MSS.,  lie;  so 
 .4.  (7flrfre  would  read, '  riches,  raiments,  and  precious  jewels.' — Botjthr. 
 33.  Higli  places — those  for  idols  were  taken  away,  (chap.  xvii.  6,1  but 
 not  those  where  sacrifices  were  offered  to  God. — Gill.        3".  Broken — 
 
 Kefi.ections  on   Chap.  X.\ In  this  chapter  we  have, 
 
 I.  JehoshaphaCs  danger.  A  powerful  army  secretly  invades 
 liis  territories,  and  tills  his  heart  with  exceeding  fear.  The 
 best  of  men  are  always  exposed  to  danger  of  various  kinds  in 
 this  evil  world,  but  the  difference  between  them  and  others  is, 
 that  tbey  have  a  sure  refuge.  'God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 
 a  very  present  help  in  trouble.* 
 
 II.  Jrhosliaphal's  refuge.  He  set  himself  to  seek  the  Lord. 
 This  is  the  one  only  refuge  of  the  truly  pious  in  the  hour  of 
 need.  lie  did  not  look  out  for  allies,  but  threw  himself  wholly 
 upon  God.  By  this  act  of  I'aith  be  was  '  strong  m  the  Lord 
 and  in  the  power  of  his  might.'  lie  needed  not  to  fear  the 
 most  numerous  armies,  if  be  could  say,  '  the  Lord  of  hosts  is 
 with  us,  the  God  of  .Tacob  is  our  refuge.' 
 
 III.  Jehoshtiphut's  jtrager.  He  pleads  God's  sovereign  do- 
 minion— liis  covenant  relation — the  tokens  of  his  favour  and 
 presence  amongst  the  people  of  Judab — the  injustice  and  in. 
 gratitude  of  his  enemies— and  his  entire  dependence  upon 
 (jod  :  '  neither  kntiw  we  what  to  do,  but  our  eyes  are  upon 
 thee.'  This  was  laying  hold  of  the  strong  for  strength,  and, 
 like  wrestling  J.nob,  saying,  '  I  will  not  let  thee  go  except 
 
 475 
 
 thou  bless  me.'  He  mustered  no  army,  yet  he  employed  a 
 most  successful  weapon,  which  our  ingenious  allegorist  has 
 well  designated  by  the  name  of  '  all-prayer.' 
 
 W.  JehoshiiphaVs  encouragement.  An  inspired  Levite 
 scarcely  waits  ibr  the  conclusion  of  the  prayer,  when  he 
 breaks  forth  with  promises  of  deliverance.  God  is  eager  in 
 hearing  prayer,  but  we  are  often  too  slow  in  making  it.  He 
 sometimes,  in  bis  wisdom,  delays  his  answer  ;  but  here  an 
 urgent  necessity  receives  a  prompt  reply.  Thus  God  often 
 even  anticipates  our  prayers  :  '  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
 before  I  bey  call,  I  will  answer,  and  whiles  tbey  are  yet  speak- 
 ing, I  will  hear.' 
 
 V.  JehoshaphaVs  victory.  The  Edomites  placed  in  ambush 
 to  cutoff  the  expected  approaching  army  of  Judab,  are,  by 
 the  host  of  Ammon  and  jloab,  mistaken  for  men  of  Judab, 
 and  so  destroyed  by  the  swords  of  their  allies,  who  after- 
 wards, on  the  approach  of  Jehoshaphat,  dying  in  confusion, 
 destroy  each  other.  "SN  bat  extraordinary  deliverances  can  the 
 God  of  Judah  effect  for  those  that  trust  in  bim  !  Trust  in  him 
 at  all  times  ;  ye  people  pour  out  yout  beans  before  him  j  God 
 is  a  refuge  for  us.* 
 
Jchoram  shiyeth  his  brethren. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXII. 
 
 HIn  miserable  death. 
 
 2  And  he  had  brethren  the  sons  of  Jehosha- 
 phat,  Azariah,  and  Jehiel,  and  Zcchariah,  and 
 Azariah,  and  Michael,  and  Shephatiah  :  all 
 these  were  the  sons  of  Jehoshaphat  king  of 
 Israel. 
 
 3  And  their  father  gave  them  great  gifts  of 
 silver,  and  of  gold,  and  of  precious  things,  with 
 fenced  cities  in  Judah :  bnt  the  kingdom  gave 
 he  to  II  Jehoram  ;  because  he  icas  the  first- 
 born. 
 
 4  Now  when  Jehoram  was  risen  up  to  the 
 kingdom  of  his  father,  he  strengthened  himself, 
 and  slew  all  his  brethren  with  the  sword,  and 
 divers  al.so  of  the  princes  of  Israel. 
 
 5  1'' Jehoram  ivas  thirty  and  two  3-ears  old 
 when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  eight 
 years  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 C  And  he  walked  in  the  way  of  the  kings  of 
 Israel,  like  as  did  the  house  of  Ahab  :  for  he 
 had  the  daughter  of  "^  Ahab  to  wife:  and  he 
 wrouglit  that  ichich  ivas  evil  in  the  eyes  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 7  Howbeit  the  Lord  would  not  destroy  the 
 house  of  David,  because  of  the  covenant  that 
 he  had  made  with  David,  and  as  he  promised 
 to  give  a  tl'S'it  'o  ''■'"  ^'"1  '°  '^'^  ''sons  for 
 over. 
 
 8  IT"  In  his  days  the  Edomites  revolted  from 
 under  the  f  dominion  of  Judah,  and  made 
 themselves  a  king. 
 
 9  Then  Jehoram  went  forth  with  his  princes, 
 and  all  his  chariots  with  him  :  and  he  rose  up 
 by  night,  and  smote  the  E<Iomitos  which 
 compassed  him  in,  and  the  captains  of  the 
 chariots. 
 
 10  So  the  Edomites  revolted  from  under  the 
 hand  of  Judah  unto  this  day.  The  same  time 
 niso  did  Libnah  revolt  from  under  his  hand  ; 
 because  he  had  forsaken  the  Lord  God  of  his 
 fathers. 
 
 1 1  Moreover  he  made  high  places  in  the 
 mountains  of  Judah,  and  caused  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  Jerusalem  to  'commit  fornication, 
 and  compelled  Judah  thereto. 
 
 12  IF  And  there  came  a  ||  writing  to  him  from 
 Elijah  the  prophet,  saying,  Tims  saith  the 
 Lord  God  of  David  thy  father.  Because  thou 
 h.ist  not  walked  in  the  ways  of  Jelioshaphat 
 thy  father,  nor  in  the  ways  of  Asa  king  of 
 Judah, 
 
 13  But  hast  walked  in  the  way  of  the  kings 
 of  Israel,  and  hast  ^  made  Judah  and  the  inha- 
 bitants of  Jerusalem  to  ''  go  a  whoring,  like  to 
 the  '  whoredoms  of  the  house  of  Ahab,  and 
 
 I  Jehoram 
 made  Part- 
 ner of  the 
 Kingdom 
 n-ithhisfa- 
 thi-r.a  Iviu. 
 6.  16. 
 
 b  In  roMBort, 
 ■2  Kin.  8.17, 
 
 t  Heb.  lump, 
 or,  candle, 
 d  2  Sam.  7. 
 
 2  Kin  8.19 
 rs.  133.  11, 
 
 /I.er.  17.  7. 
 &  20.  5. 
 vcr.  13. 
 
 llU'liich  wag 
 rit  liefore 
 is  death, 
 Kiu.  2.  1 
 
 er.  11. 
 h  Ex.  »^.  15 
 Deut.Hl.tG. 
 1  Kin.  16. 
 .11.-33. 
 2  Kiu.  9.22 
 
 t  Heb.  n 
 grtat  itr^jhe 
 
 cir.  fis;. 
 >i  1  Kin.  11. 
 II,  23. 
 
 t  Heb.  tor. 
 
 See  Ob  2>.l. 
 «  ch,  24.  17. 
 
 SS7. 
 j  Or.  Ahaii. 
 lA,  cli-2-M 
 nt,Azari„l,. 
 ch.  £S.  6. 
 895. 
 II  Hia  son, 
 
 Pritre^, 
 2  Kin  (I.  29, 
 soon  after. 
 
 .  15 
 
 t  Heb.  with- 
 Jer   22.  IS 
 
 c  Seti  2  Kin. 
 8.  26. 
 
 also   hast   '  slain  thy  brethren   of  thy  father's 
 house,  which  were  better  than  tliy.self : 
 '  14  Behold,   with   fa  great   plague  will   the 
 Lord  smite  thy  people,  and  thy  children,  and 
 thy  wives,  and  all  thy  goods  : 
 
 15  And  thou  shall  have  great  sickness  by 
 '  disease  of  thy  bowels,  until  thy  bowels  fail 
 out  by  reason  of  the  sickness  day  by  day. 
 
 16  t  Moreover  the  Lord  "'stirred  up  against 
 Jehoram  the  spirit  of  the  Philistines,  and  of  the 
 Arabians,  that  were  near  the  Ethiopians  : 
 
 17  And  they  came  up  into  Judah,  and  brake 
 into  it,  and  f  carried  away  all  the  substance 
 that  was  found  in  the  king's  house,  and  "  his 
 sons  also,  and  his  wives ;  so  that  there  was 
 never  a  son  left  him,  save  ||  Jehoahaz,  the 
 youngest  of  his  sons. 
 
 18  t  II  And  after  all  this  the  Lord  smote 
 him  "in  his  bowels  with  an  incurable  disease. 
 
 19  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  in  process  of 
 time,  after  the  end  of  two  years,  his  bowels 
 fell  out  by  reason  of  his  sickness  :  so  he  died 
 of  sore  diseases.  And  his  people  made  no 
 burning  for  him,  like  ''  the  burning  of  his 
 fathers. 
 
 20  Thirty  and  two  years  old  was  be  when  he 
 began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  in  Jerusalem 
 eight  years,  and  departed  f  without  being  de- 
 sired. Howbeit  they  buried  him  in  the  city 
 of  David,  hut  not  in  the  sepulchres  of  the 
 kings. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIL 
 
 I  Ahaziah  succeetUnr/  reif/netk  wichedly.  5  hi  his 
 coufedcracy  with  joram  the  son  of  Ahabj  he  is  slain 
 by  Jehu.  10  Athaliah,  destroi/itiy  all  the  seed  royal, 
 save  Joash,  whom  Jehoshabcat/i  his  aunt  hid,  nsurp' 
 cth  the  hin'jdom. 
 
 A  ND  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  made 
 ■^*'  "  Ahaziah  his  youngest  son  kin<:  in  his 
 stead  :  for  the  hand  of  men  that  came  with 
 the  Arabians  to  the  camp  had  slain  al!  the 
 '^eldest.  So  Ahaziah  the  son  of  Jehoram  king 
 of  Judah  reigned. 
 
 2  "^  Forty  and  two  years  old  ivas  Ahaziah 
 when  he  began  to  reitrn,  and  he  reigned  one 
 year  in  Jerusalem.  His  mother's  name  also 
 teas  "^  Athaliah  the  daughter  of  Omri. 
 
 3  He  also  walked  in  the  ways  of  the  Iiouse 
 of  Ahab  :  for  his  mother  was  his  counsellor  to 
 do  wickedly. 
 
 4  Wherefore  lie  did  evil  in  the  siglit  of  the 
 Lord  like  the  house  of  Ahab  :  for  they  were 
 his  counsellors  after  tlie  death  of  his  father  to 
 his  destruction. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  1.  Asnrinh— Azariah— the  latter  is,  in  the  original, 
 *  Azariahu.'— i'oo^e.  Of  Israel— 3\xAn\i  sprang  from  Israel,  and  he 
 reigned  over  much  of  Israel.— 5r«^/.  It  is  an  error  of  the  transcriber, 
 and  should  be  Judah, — Houb.,  Clarke;  so  rendered  by  the  Vtdg.,  Sept., 
 Svr.,  Arab.,  40  MSS.  7-  A  light— see  note  on  I  Kings,  xi.  36.  10.  The 
 Edomites  revolted — see  note  on  2  Kings,  viii.  20.  12.  Elijah — the 
 translation  of  Elijah  had  taken  place  seven  years  according  to  some, 
 and  thirteen  according  to  others ;  hence  some  suppose  that  the  spirit 
 of  prophecy  directed  him  to  prepare  this  writing,  which  was  now  de- 
 livered to  the  king.— So  Pat.,  Scott,  Clarke.  Some  consider  it  an  error 
 
 of  the  transcriber,  and  read  'Elisha.' — SoBoothr.  1".  Jehoahnz,thc 
 same  that  is  called  Ahaziah  and  Azariah,  chap.  xxii.  1,  0.  18.  An 
 
 incurable  disease,  'constipation  and  indammatiou,'  Targ.  *  A  violent 
 dysentery.' — Mede  Med.  Sac.;  also  Ja/in.  Most  likely  scrofulous  ab- 
 scesses, for  a  dysentery  would  have  killed  him  in  less  than  two  years. 
 —Sut,  20.  Desired.  '  regretted. '—BooMr.  Sec  the  parallel  account 
 of  these  events  in  2  Kings,  viii.  l6 — 22. 
 
 Ch.\p.  xxii,  —  1.  Band,  a  horde  of  Arabs,  (chap.  x.\i.  iG.) — W'il. 
 2.  Forty  and  tivo—BM  his  father  died  at  the  age  of  forty,  this  must  he 
 an  error,  as  he  immediately  succeeded  him.     lu  2  Kings,  viii.  26,  it  is 
 
 Reflections  on  Ciiat.  XXI.  —  We  may  here  observe, 
 I.  Jehoram  s  wickedness.  He  turned  out  to  be  the  impious  son 
 of  a  pious  father.  He  murdered  his  own  brothers,  and  even 
 compelled  bis  subjects  to  sin  against  God  by  committing  the 
 grossest  idolatries.  When  children  that  have  been  trained 
 up  in  the  fear  of  God  break  through  every  restraint,  they  are 
 worse  than  others.  God  often  gives  them  up  to  Iiardness  of 
 heart,  and  they  become  awful  warnings  to  others. 
 
 H.  Jchoram^s  end.  Man  could  not  punish  this  darinsr  trans- 
 476 
 
 grosser,  but  God  would  not  allow  him  to  escape.  He  suifered 
 the  severest  disgrace  and  privation,  and  then  died,  tortured 
 in  body,  and.  no  doubt,  equally  a  sufterer  in  Jus  nund.  He 
 was  detested  by  his  people  as  a  barbarous  tyrant,  and  his  re- 
 mains were  interred  without  honour.  Sin  unrepented  will 
 sooner  or  later  meet  its  deserts  ;  and  how  elevated  soever  the 
 rank  of  the  oOender.  it  will  be  seen  that  '  tho  way  of  irans- 
 gressors  is  hard. '  '  'Jhe  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed,  but  the 
 name  of  the  wicked  shall  rot.' 
 
Allmtiali'ti  Ksiir/iri/idii. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXIII. 
 
 Jii(i!,h  iiiiule  king 
 
 5  1  He  walked  also  after  their  counsel,  and 
 "^  went  with  Jehorani  the  son  of  Ahah  king  of 
 Israel  to  war  against  Hazael  kintc  of  Syria  at 
 Ramotli-gilead  :  and  the  Syrians  smote  .Toram. 
 
 C  '  And  he  returned  to  he  healed  in  Jezreel 
 because  of  the  wounds  f  whicli  were  given  him 
 at  Raniah,  when  he  fought  witli  Hazael  king 
 of  Syria.  And  ||  Azariah  the  son  of  Jehorani 
 king  of  Judah  went  down  to  see  Jelioram  the 
 son  of  Aliab  at  Jezreel,  because  he  was  sick. 
 
 7  And  the  t destruction  of  Ahaziah  "was  of 
 God  by  coming  to  Joram  :  for  when  he  was 
 come,  he  ""went  out  with  Jehorani  against 
 Jehu  the  son  of  Nimshi,  '  whom  the  Lord  had 
 anointed  to  cut  oft'  the  house  of  Ahah. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  Jehu  was 
 '  executing  judgment  upon  the  house  of  Ahab, 
 and  '  found  the  princes  of  Jndah,  and  the  sons 
 of  tile  brethren  of  Ahaziali,  that  ministered  to 
 Ahaziah,  he  slew  thcni. 
 
 i)  "'And  he  sought  Ahaziah:  and  they  caught 
 him,  (for  he  was  hid  in  Samaria,)  and  brought 
 him  to  Jehu  :  and  when  they  had  slain  him, 
 they  buried  him  :  Because,  said  they,  he  is  the 
 son  of  Jehoshaphat,  who  "sought  the  Lokd 
 with  all  his  heart.  So  the  house  of  Ahaziah 
 had  no  power  to  keep  still  the  kingdom. 
 
 10  11°  But  when  Athaliah  the  mother  of 
 Ahaziah  saw  that  her  son  was  dead,  she  arose 
 and  destroyed  all  the  seed  royal  of  the  house 
 of  Judah. 
 
 It  But  ^ Jehoshaheatli,  the  daughter  of  the 
 king,  took  Joasli  the  son  of  Ahaziah,  and  stole 
 nim  from  among  the  king's  sons  that  were 
 .slain,  and  put  him  and  his  nurse  in  a  bedcham- 
 ber. So  Jehoshabeath,  the  daughter  of  king 
 Jehorani,  the  wife  of  Jehoiada  the  priest,  (for 
 she  was  the  sister  of  Ahaziah,)  hid  him  from 
 Athaliah,  so  that  she  .slew  him  not. 
 
 12  And  he  was  with  them  hid  in  the  house 
 of  God  six  years  :  and  Athaliah  reigned  over 
 the  land. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 \  Jehoiada,  hatniifj  set  thhifja  in  orr/cr,  maketh  Jntish 
 /n'nff,  12  Athaliah  is  slain.  16  Jclioiatla  restoreth 
 the  worship  of  God, 
 
 A  ND  °  in  the  seventh  year  Jehoiada  strength- 
 ■^^  eued  himself,  and  took  the  captains  of 
 hundreds,  Azariah  the  son  of  Jeroham,  and 
 Ishniael  the  son  of  Jehohanan,  and  Azariah 
 the  sou  of  Obed,  and  Maaseiah  the  son  of 
 Adaiah,  and  Elishaphat  the  son  of  Zichri,  into 
 covenant  with  him. 
 
 il  And  they  went  about  in  Judah,  and 
 gathered  the  Levites  out  of  all  the  cities  of 
 Judah,  and  the  chief  of  the  fathers  of  Israel, 
 and  they  came  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 3  And  all  the  congregation  made  a  covenant 
 with  the  king  in  the  house  of  God.  And  he 
 said  unto  them    Behold,  the  king's  son  shall 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 rdhni). 
 i)Otlu!rn-)?t; 
 oal  led. .-//.«- 
 
 I  Heb  Iread' 
 
 ^.lu.ltr.u.  1.. 
 I  Kin  12.15 
 ch.  10.  1ft. 
 
 'i2Kin.9.21. 
 
 i  2Kin. 9.6,7. 
 
 4  2  Kin.  Ill, 
 
 10,  11. 
 ;  2  Kin  9. 
 
 13,  U. 
 
 71  2  Kin.  9 
 27,  al  Me- 
 giddu  in 
 kinfidoin 
 
 llic 
 
 I  2  Kin 
 I,  &C. 
 
 B.  C.  878. 
 
 I'  2  Snni.  7. 
 12.  I  Kin  2. 
 1     &;  9.  5. 
 ch.  fi.  Ifi.  R 
 7.  18.  K:21. 
 
 c  i  Chr.  9. 
 
 d  I  Chr.  23. 
 28,  29. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 t  Heb  /..!« 
 
 frten.  17. 
 18. 
 
 t  Heb.  CuH' 
 
 reign,  as  the  Lord  hath  ■'  said  of  the  sons  of 
 David. 
 
 4  This  is  the  thing  that  ye  shall  do ;  A 
 third  part  of  you  ^entering  on  the  sabbath,  of 
 tlic  priests  and  of  tlie  Levites,  shall  be  porters 
 of  the  t  doors  ; 
 
 3  And  a  third  part  shall  he  at  the  king's 
 house  ;  and  a  third  part  at  the  gate  of  the 
 foundation  :  and  all  the  people  shall  be  in  the 
 courts  of  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 6  But  let  none  come  into  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  save  the  priests,  and  ''  they  that  minis- 
 ter of  the  Levites  ;  they  shall  go  in,  for  they 
 are  holy  :  but  all  the  people  shall  keep  the 
 watch  of  the  Lord. 
 
 7  And  the  Levites  shall  compass  the  king 
 round  about,  every  man  with  his  weapons  in 
 his  hand  ;  and  whosoever  else  cometh  into  the 
 house,  he  shall  be  put  to  death  :  but  be  ye 
 with  the  king  when  he  cometh  in,  and  when 
 he  goeth  out. 
 
 8  So  the  Levites  and  all  Judah  did  accord- 
 ing to  al'l  things  that  Jehoiada  the  priest  had 
 commanded,  and  took  every  man  his  men  that 
 were  to  come  in  on  the  sabbath,  with  them 
 that  were  to  go  out  on  the  sabbath  ;  for  Je- 
 hoiada the  priest  dismissed  not  "  the  courses. 
 
 9  Moreover  Jehoiada  the  priest  delivered  to 
 the  captains  of  hundreds  .spears,  and  bucklers, 
 and  shields,  that  had  been  king  David's,  which 
 ivere  in  the  house  of  God. 
 
 10  And  he  set  all  the  people,  every  man 
 having  his  weapon  in  his  hand,  from  the  right 
 fside  of  the  f  temple  to  the  left  side  of  the 
 temple,  along  by  the  altar  and  the  temple,  by 
 the  king  round  about. 
 
 1  I  Then  they  brought  out  the  king's  son, 
 and  put  upon  him  the  crown,  and  ' yave  him 
 the  testimony,  and  made  him  king.  And  Je- 
 hoiada and  his  sons  anointed  him,  and  said, 
 t  God  save  the  king. 
 
 12  1  Now  when  Athaliah  heard  the  noise  of 
 the  people  running  and  praising  the  king,  she 
 came  to  the  people  into  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  : 
 
 13  And  she  looked,  and,  behold,  the  king 
 stood  at  his  pillar  at  the  entering  in,  and 
 the  princes  and  the  trumpets  by  the  king  :  and 
 all  the  people  of  the  laud  rejoiced,  and  sounded 
 with  trumpets,  also  the  singers  with  instruments 
 of  musick,  and  ^sucli  as  taught  to  sing  prai.se. 
 Then  Athaliah  rent  her  clothes,  and  said, 
 t  Treason,  Treason. 
 
 14  Then  Jehoiada  the  priest  brought  out  the 
 captains  of  hundreds  that  were  set  over  the 
 host,  and  said  unto  them.  Have  her  forth  of 
 the  ranges  :  and  whoso  followeth  her,  let  him 
 be  slain  with  the  sword.  For  the  priest  said, 
 Slay  her  not  in  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 15  So  they  laid  hands  on  her  ;  and  when  she 
 
 '  twenty-two,'  so  the  Syr.,  Antb.,  and  some  Greek  copien.  This  a^e  is 
 preferred  by  Pise,  Pat.,  Boottir.  Other  methods  of  reconciling:  the  diffi- 
 .ulty  are  mentioned,  but  they  are  uncerfain  and  unimportant. — Ed. 
 b.  Jelioram,  'Joram.' — lioothr.  Sec  2  Kings,  viii.  28.  (j.  Hid  in 
 Samaria — in  tlie  kingdom  of  Samaria,  into  wliich  he  had  eome.  The 
 place  was  Megiddo,  (a  Kings,  ix.  27.) — Wall.    Brought  him  to  Jehu, 
 
 but  not  till  after  his  death,  (2  Kings,  ix.  2".)  Perhaps  the  te.xt  might 
 be  rendered,  '  And  having  slain  him,  they  brought  him  to  Jehu  and 
 buried  him.' — Wil.  The  facts  of  this  chapter  are  related  in  2  Kings, 
 viii.  24—29;  ix.  10—27;  ■'ii-  1—3. 
 
 Chap.  XXIII. — This  chapter  is  the  same  with  2  Kings,  xi.  4— 20. 
 See  the  notes  there. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII.  —  Tliis  chapter  records, 
 I.  Ahaziah's  reign  and  rnin.  '  lie  also  walked  in  the  ways  of 
 the  house  of  Ahab  ;  I'or  his  mother  was  his  counsellor  to  do 
 wickedness.'  Mothers,  you  hare  much  influence  over  your 
 children.  Uo  you  counsel  them  to  keep  God's  command- 
 ments and  walk  in  bis  ways  1  or  are  you  the  devotees  of  worldly 
 idols,  leading  them  into  sin  and  destruction  instead  of  training 
 477 
 
 tbem  up  to  serve  God  ^  How  much  of  responsibility  rests  upon 
 you  !  ilow  much  of  their  future  destiny  may  be  influenced  by 
 your  advice  and  example  ! 
 
 II.  Athaliah's  usurpation.  The  schemes  of  the  wicked  may 
 seem  for  awhile  to  prosper,  but  God  will  right  the  injured, 
 and,  in  the  end,  their  injurers  pay  dearly  for  their  ambitious 
 projects.     '  Wrily,  there  is  a  God  that  judgeth  in  the  earth.' 
 
Tile  wornhip  of  God  rcatorccl. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXIV. 
 
 The  death  of  Jeltuiada. 
 
 was  come  to  the  entering  "  of  the  horse  gate 
 by  the  king's  house,  they  slew  her  there. 
 
 10  1  And  Jehoiiida  made  a  covenant  between 
 him,  and  between  all  the  people,  and  between 
 the  king,  that  they  should  be  the  Lord's 
 people. 
 
 17  Then  all  the  people  went  to  the  house  of 
 Baal,  and  brake  it  down,  and  brake  his  altars 
 .nnd  his  images  in  pieces,  and  '  slew  Mattan 
 tlie  priest  of  Baal  before  the  altars. 
 
 18  Also  Jehoiada  appointed  the  offices  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lono  by  the  hand  of  the  priests 
 the  Levites,  whom  David  had  'distributed  in 
 the  house  of  the  Lord,  to  offer  the  burnt  offer- 
 ings of  the  Lord,  as  it  is  written  in  the  '  law 
 of  Moses,  with  rejoicing  and  with  singing,  as 
 it  was  ordained  f  Liy  David. 
 
 19  And  he  set  the  "■  porters  at  the  gates  of 
 the  house  of  the  Lord,  that  none  n-hich  was 
 unclean  in  any  thing  should  enter  in. 
 
 20  "And  he  took  the  captains  of  hundreds, 
 and  the  nobles,  and  the  governors  of  the 
 people,  and  all  the  people  of  the  land,  and 
 i)rouglit  down  the  king  from  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  :  and  they  came  througli  the  high  gate 
 into  the  king's  house,  and  set  the  king  upon 
 the  throne  of  the  kingdom. 
 
 21  And  all  the  people  of  the  land  rejoiced': 
 and  the  city  was  quiet,  after  that  tbey  had  slain 
 Athaliah  with  the  sword. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Jinish  retijnpth  well  all  tlw  days  of  Jehoiada.  4  He 
 yiveth  orilr  for  i!tt  r^ pair  of  the  temple.  \b  Jetioi- 
 ada's  dentil  and  tioiiotirable  burial,  17  Joaxh.falUnfi 
 In  idolalrii,  slayeth  Zecharialt  tlie  son  of  Jehoiada. 
 23  Jaas'i  Is  spoiled  htj  the  Syrians,  and  sLiin  by  Za- 
 had  and  Jchozabad,      27  Amaziah  sucdedeth  turn. 
 
 TOASH  °  «•«<  seven  years  old  when  he  be- 
 •-'  gan  to  reign,  and  be  reigned  forty  years  in 
 Jerusalem.  His  uiotlicr's  name  also  was  Zi- 
 biah  of  Beer-sheba. 
 
 2  And  Joash  'did  that  which  ?cas  right  in 
 the  sight  of  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  Jehoiada 
 the  priest. 
 
 3  And  Jehoiada  took  for  him  two  wives;  and 
 he  begat  sons  and  daughters. 
 
 4  t  And  it  came  to  pass  after  tliis,  (/i«/  Joash 
 was  minded  f  to  repair  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 5  And  he  gathered  together  the  priests  and 
 the  Levites,  and  .said  to  them.  Go  out  unto 
 the  cities  of  Judah,  and  '^  gather  of  all  Israel 
 money  to  repair  the  house  of  your  God  from 
 year  to  year,  and  see  that  ye  hasten  the  mat- 
 ter.     Houbeit  the  Levites  hastened  it  not. 
 
 6  •■  And  the  king  called  for  Jehoiada  the 
 chief,  and  said  unto  him,  Why  hast  thou  not 
 required  of  the  Levites  to  bring  in  out  of  Ju- 
 dah and  out  of  Jerusalem  the  collection,  ac- 
 corcliiid  to  the  commandment  of  "  Moses  the 
 servant  of  the  Lord,  and  of  the  congregation 
 of  Israel,  for  the  '  tabernacle  of  witness  ? 
 
 n  c.  87S. 
 
 h  Neli.3. -ifl. 
 
 hii'i'h  f>f  lin- 
 f-.J,  I  Chr. 
 2-i.  ■.',  fi 
 
 1,1 1  nil-.  26 
 
 I,  KiC. 
 <i  -iKin.  II. 
 
 cir.  S:8. 
 I  S  Kill.  II. 
 l!l.«i  l«.  I 
 
 i-h.  :il,  17. 
 A  J  Kiii.l-i.4 
 
 I  n.-\,. 
 
 a  vutie. 
 k  ver.  10. 
 
 c-iK\n  liA. 
 
 »  1  Kill   11 
 
 B't. 
 
 <>    Ju.lg.  .^   H 
 
 i-h  ly  8  X 
 
 as.  13    8.  29 
 
 fl  fc  3-.;.  2.-. 
 
 ;.  <•(!.  30    Ih 
 
 rfjKin.ie.7. 
 
 J.>r    7.  2=<. 
 
 ■26.  &  25   4 
 
 qc\i-  r>.  1. 
 
 f*  SO    u. 
 
 \  H«l). 
 
 r  p.x.  30.  12. 
 
 /•Num.!  50. 
 
 ActH  7.-11. 
 
 7  For  ^  the  sons  of  Athaliah,  that  wicked  wo- 
 man, had  broken  up  tlie  house  of  God  ;  and 
 .ilso  all  the  '■  dedicated  things  of  the  bouse  of 
 the  Lord  did  tbey  bestow  upon  Baalim. 
 
 8  And  at  the  king's  commandment  '  they 
 made  a  chest,  and  set  it  without  at  the  gate  of 
 the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 9  And  they  made  f  -i  proclamation  through 
 Judah  and  .Tcrusalem,  to  bring  in  to  the  Lord 
 '  the  collection  titat  Moses  the  servant  of  God 
 laid  upon  Israel  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 10  And  all  the  princes  and  all  the  people  re- 
 joiced, and  brought  in,  and  cast  into  the  chest, 
 until  they  bad  made  an  end. 
 
 1 1  Now  it  came  to  pass,  that  at  what  time 
 the  chest  was  hrouglit  unto  the  king's  office 
 by  the  hand  of  the  Levites,  and  '  when  they 
 saw  that  there  iras  much  money,  the  king's 
 scrilie  and  the  high  priest's  otficer  came  and 
 emptied  the  chest,  and  took  it,  and  carried  it 
 to  his  place  again.  Tluis  they  did  day  by  day, 
 and  gathered  money  in  alinudance. 
 
 12  And  the  king  and  Jehoiada  gave  it  to 
 such  as  did  the  work  of  the  service  of  the 
 house  of  the  Loud,  and  hired  masons  and  car- 
 penters to  repair  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and 
 also  such  as  wrought  iron  and  brass  to  mend 
 the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 13  So  the  workmen  wrought,  and  f  the  work 
 was  perfected  by  them,  and  they  set  the  house 
 of  God  in  his  state,  and  strengthened  it. 
 
 14  And  when  they  had  finished  it,  they 
 brought  the  rest  of  the  money  before  the  king 
 and  Jehoiada,  '"  whereof  were  made  vessels  for 
 the  house  of  the  Loud,  even  vessels  to  minis- 
 ter, and  II  to  offer  irithal,  and  spoons,  and  ves- 
 sels of  gold  and  silver.  And  they  offered  burnt 
 offerings  in  the  house  of  the  Loud  continually 
 all  the  days  of  Jehoiada. 
 
 15  If  But  Jehoiada  waxed  old,  and  was  full 
 of  days  when  he  died  ;  an  hundred  and  thirty 
 years  old  was  he  when  he  died. 
 
 16  And  tbey  buried  him  in  the  city  of  David 
 among  the  kings,  because  he  had  done  good 
 in  Israel,  both  toward  God,  and  toward  his 
 house. 
 
 17  Now  after  the  death  of  Jehoiada  came 
 the  princes  of  Judah,  and  made  obeisance 
 to  the  king.  Then  the  king  hearkened  unto 
 them. 
 
 18  And  they  left  the  house  of  the  Lord  God 
 of  their  fathers,  and  served  "  groves  and  idols  : 
 and  "wrath  came  upon  Judah  and  Jerusalem 
 for  this  their  trespass. 
 
 19  Yet  he  ^  sent  prophets  to  them,  to  bring 
 them  again  unto  the  Lord  ;  and  they  testified 
 against  them  :  but  they  would  not  give  ear. 
 
 20  And  ''the  Spirit  of  God  t  came  upon  Ze- 
 chariah  the  sou  of  Jehoiada  the  priest,  which 
 stood  above  the  people,  and  said  unto  them, 
 Thus  saith  God,  '  Why  transgress  ye  the  com- 
 mandments of  the  Lord,  that  ye  cannot  pros- 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  —3.  J.hmnda  tank  fnr  Aim  two  wines,  not  fcir  the  king,  I  a  time  ;  tlicrcfore  he  is  supposed  to  have  hail  two  wives  before  he  was 
 but  fur  himself.    The  Jews  say  thetiigh  piiest  was  to  have  one  wife  at  1  high  priest,  or  one  being  deail,  to  have  had  another. — Put.    It  is  most 
 
 Bffi.ections  ON  Chap.  XXIU.  _\Ve  have  here,  I.  .^tlha- 
 hali's  dethntnemcnt  and  il.ath.  When  she  thought  her  power 
 was  established,  and  herself  secure,  punishment  came  upon 
 her.  In  the  greiKtst  calm  of  prospeiity  the  storm  of  God's 
 judgments  often  hursis  upon  the  head  of  the  sinner. 
 
 11.  J'U  'i'lda's  r.'  formation,  lie  renews  the  covenant  with 
 478 
 
 God,  destroys  Baal,  revives  the  temple  service,  and  re-estab- 
 lishes the  civil  government.  It  is  a  great  mercy  to  be  de- 
 livered from  tyrants,  es.Decially  such  as  tyrannize  over  con- 
 science. Let  us  be  thankful  for  ipiiet  successions  on  the 
 throne,  and  hail  our  relisious  privileges  with  rejoicing  and 
 vvitli  siiit;iiig  praises  to  (lod. 
 
Joash  slain  bi/  his  own  servants. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXV. 
 
 Amuziah  ave.ngetk  his  death. 
 
 per?  'because  ye  have  forsaken  the  Lord,  he 
 hath  also  forsaken  you. 
 
 21  And  they  conspired  against  him,  and 
 '  stoned  him  with  stones  at  the  commandment 
 of  the  king  in  the  court  of  the  liouse  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 '2-2  Thus  Joash  the  king  rememhered  not  the 
 kindness  which  Jehoiada  liis  fatlier  had  done 
 to  liim,  hut  slew  his  son.  And  when  he  died, 
 lie  said.  The  Lord  look  upon  it,  and  require 
 it. 
 
 23  If  And  it  came  to  pass  f  at  the  end  of  the 
 year,  that  "  the  host  of  Syria  came  up  against 
 him  :  and  they  came  to  Judah  and  Jerusalem, 
 and  destroyed  all  the  princes  of  the  people 
 from  among  the  people,  and  sent  all  the  spoil 
 of  them  unto  the  king  off  Damascus. 
 
 24  For  the  army  of  the  Syrians  *  came  with 
 a  small  company  of  men,  and  tlie  Lord  ^deli- 
 vered a  very  great  host  into  their  hand,  be- 
 cause they  had  forsaken  the  Lord  God  of  their 
 fathers.  So  they  ^executed  judgment  against 
 Joash. 
 
 23  And  when  they  were  departed  from  him, 
 (for  they  left  him  in  great  diseases,)  "  his  own 
 servants  conspired  against  him  for  the  blood  of 
 the  ""sons  of  Jehoiada  the  priest,  and  slew  him 
 on  his  bed,  and  he  died  :  and  they  buried  him 
 in  (he  city  of  David,  but  they  buried  him  not 
 hi  the  sepulchres  of  the  kings. 
 
 26  And  these  are  they  that  conspired  against 
 him  ;  ||Zabad  the  son  of  Siiimeath  an  Ammon- 
 itess,  and  Jehozabad  tlie  son  of  ||  Shimrith  a 
 Moabitess. 
 
 27  IF  Now  concerning  his  sons,  and  the  great- 
 ness of  '  the  burdens  laid  upon  him,  and  tlie 
 t  repairing  of  the  house  of  God,  behold,  they 
 are  written  in  the  ||  story  of  the  book  of  the 
 kings.  ■"  And  Amaziah  his  son  reigned  in  his 
 stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 I  Amaziah  hec/inneth  to  reipn  well.  3  He  executeth 
 justice  on  the  traitors,  b  Having  hired  an  army  of 
 Israelites  against  the  Edomites,  at  the  word  of  a  pro- 
 p/tet  he  loseth  the  hundred  talents,  and  dismisseth 
 them.  11  He  overthroweth  the  Edomites.  10,  lii 
 The  Israelites,  discontented  with  their  dismission, 
 spoil  as  they  return  home.  14  Amaziah,  proud  of  his 
 victory,  serveth  the  gods  of  Edom,  ami  dispisith  the 
 admonitions  of  the  prophet.  1 7  He  provohcth  Joash 
 to  his  overthrow.  23  His  reign.  27  He  is  slain  by 
 conspiracy. 
 
 A  MAZIAH  °  was  twenty  and  five  years  old 
 -^^   when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned 
 
 t  SIat.y3.35. 
 
 t  Heb    ./.  Il,r 
 
 iij  tti''  yeiir. 
 „  ■>  Kill.  13. 
 17 
 
 639. 
 
 1  H»b. 
 
 X  Lev.  '26.  8 
 neii  3-^  30. 
 Is   30.  17. 
 
 t,  I.ev.-iG  l'."?. 
 
 "  Dcu-  S  25. 
 
 icli.2'?.  3. 
 Is.  10.  h. 
 
 II  Or,  Jozn- 
 c'.'ir,'2Kiu. 
 Vi.  2\. 
 
 jjOr,  Shmer. 
 
 -■  ■:  Kin    13. 
 
 irt. 
 t   Hi-h. 
 
 5.  &c. 
 t  Heb.  cON- 
 Jiriiud  ufiun 
 
 /Ch,  20.1 
 
 t  Hob.  If.:,./. 
 sPni.lO  '.'a. 
 
 t  Heb.  /« 
 tfieir  place. 
 
 t  Heb.  in 
 
 twenty  and  nine  years  in  Jerusalem.     And  his 
 mother's  name  was  Jehoaddan  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  And  he  did  that  which  teas  right  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  "  but  not  with  a  perfect 
 heart. 
 
 3  %  '  Now  it  came  to  pas.?,  wlien  the  kingdom 
 was  f  established  to  him,  that  he  slew  his  ser- 
 vants that  had  killed  the  king  his  father. 
 
 4  But  he  slew  not  their  children,  but  did  as 
 it  is  written  in  the  law  in  the  book  of  Moses, 
 where  the  Lord  commanded,  saying,  ■■  The 
 fathers  shall  not  die  for  the  cliildren,  neither 
 shall  the  children  die  for  the  fatliers,  but  every 
 man  shall  die  for  his  own  sin. 
 
 3  IF  Moreover  Amaziali  gathered  Judah  to- 
 gether, and  made  them  captains  over  thoii- 
 .sands,  and  captains  over  hundreds,  according 
 to  the  houses  of  their  fathers,  throughout  all 
 Judah  and  Benjainiii  :  and  he  numbered  them 
 'from  twenty  years  old  and  above,  and  found 
 them  three  hundred  thousand  choice  tnen,  able 
 to  go  forth  to  war,  that  could  handle  spear  and 
 shield. 
 
 6  He  hired  also  an  hundred  thousand  mighty 
 men  of  valour  out  of  Israel  for  an  hundred 
 talents  of  silver. 
 
 7  But  there  came  a  man  of  God  to  him,  say- 
 ing, O  king,  let  not  the  army  of  Israel  go  with 
 thee  ;  for  the  Lord  is  not  with  Israel,  /o  wit, 
 with  all  the  children  of  Ephraim. 
 
 8  But  if  tlion  wilt  go,  do  it,  be  strong  for  the 
 battle  :  God  shall  make  thee  fall  before  the 
 enemy  :  for  God  hath  ''power  to  help,  and  to 
 cast  down. 
 
 9  And  Amaziah  said  to  the  man  of  God,  But 
 what  shall  we  do  for  the  hundred  talents  which 
 I  have  given  to  the  fanny  of  Israel?  And  the 
 man  of  God  answered,  "■'  Tlie  Lord  is  able  to 
 give  thee  much  more  than  this. 
 
 10  Then  Amaziah  separated  them,  to  wit. 
 the  army  that  was  come  to  him  out  of  Epli- 
 raim,  to  go  f  home  again  :  wherefore  their  an- 
 ger was  greatly  kindled  against.  Judah,  and 
 they  returned  home  f  in  great  anger. 
 
 1 1  IT  And  Amaziah  strengthened  himself,  and 
 led  forth  his  people,  and  went  to  ''  the  valley 
 of  salt,  and  smote  of  the  children  of  Seir  ten 
 thousand. 
 
 12  And  other  ten  thousand  left  alive  did  the 
 children  of  Jndali  carry  away  captive,  and 
 brought  them  unto  the  top  of  the  rock,  and 
 cast  them  down  from  the  top  of  the  rock,  tliat 
 they  all  were  broken  in  pieces. 
 
 obvious  to  understand  tlie  words  'for  him'  of  Joash,  as  Jehoiada  was 
 then  above  100  years  old.— Sco«.  22.  The  Lord  ffc.  rei/uire  it,  'the 
 
 Lord  will  look  upon  this  deed  and  avenf:e  it.' — Hnu/i.  '  Jehovah  will 
 regard  and  requite  this.'— Boo/Ar.  Similar  is  the  reading  oi  Poute.  It 
 wa.s  requited,  for  before  the  end  of  the  year  the  princes  were  slain  by 
 the  Syrians,  (ver.  23,)  and  Joash  by  his  servants,  (vcr.  25.)— Dr.  Jnckson. 
 2.5.  Sons,  'son,'  Vul^.,  Sept.,  Houb.,  Boothr.  Perhaps  more  than  one 
 were  slain,  defending  their  brother.— Gi«.  Perhaps  slain  by  Joash, 
 lest  they  should  avengre  his  death.— Sco«. 
 
 Chap.  XXV.  —  2.  Not  with  a  perfect  heart,  i.  e.,  he  was  not  a  man 
 
 of  serious  piety  himself,  nor  had  he  any  zeal  for  the  exercises  of  religion. 
 — Henry.  4.  But  he  slew  not—see  note  on  2  Kings,  xiv.  6.  6.  An 
 hundred  talents  of  silver,  35,300/.  7.  Not  with  Israel,  they  being  ido. 
 lators.  11.  Children  of  Seir,  Edomites,  so  cnllcd  because  they  dwelt 
 in  Seir.  12.  To  the  top  of  the  rock,  probably  the  same  on  which  the 
 cit)'  Petra,  the  metropolis  of  Ednm,  was  built,  called  also  Selah,  2  Kings, 
 xiv.  ". — Gill.  And  cast  thim  down — this  was  a  very  ancient  punish- 
 ment among  the  Romans,  and  was  used  among  other  nations. — So 
 Liry,  Plutarch,  ^c. ;  see  also  Selden.—Pat.  It  is  not  easy  to  say  why 
 captives  in  war  were  so  cruelly  treated. — Gill. 
 
 Reki.ections  on  Chap.  XXIV.  —  This  chapter  records 
 the  reign  of  Joash.  We  may  remark— I.  His  carlo  promise. 
 He  '  did  tliat  which  was  right  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  all  the 
 days  of  .lehoiada  the  priest.'  '  It  is,'  as  Henry  observes.  '  a 
 happy  thing  for  young  people  when  they  are  setting  out  in 
 the  world  to  be  under  the  direction  and  conduct  of  those  that 
 are  wise  and  good.' 
 
 II.  His  apostasy.     When  Jehoiada  was  removed,  he   was 
 
 easily  turned  about  by  evil  counsellors.     Thus  '  men  may  go 
 
 far  in  the  external  performances  of  religion,  and  keep  long  to 
 
 them,  merely  by  the  power  of  their  education  and  the  influence 
 
 479 
 
 of  their  friends,  who  yet  have  no  hearty  affection  for  Divine 
 things,  nor  any  inward  relish  of  them.  Foreign  inducements 
 may  push  men  on  to  that  which  is  good,  who  are  not  actuated 
 by  a  living  principle  of  grace  in  their  hearts.' 
 
 III.  His  punishment  and  dtatli.  An  army  of  Syrians  was 
 God's  sword  to  cut  off  his  princes  and  plunder  his  city.  He 
 suffered  under  '  great  diseases,'  and  his  own  servants  slew  him 
 *  for  the  blood  of  the  sons  of  Jehoiada.'  He,  too,  like  Jeho- 
 ram,  was  interred  without  honour.  From  this  example,  '  let 
 all,  especially  those  who  are  young,  and  are  now  hopeful,  be- 
 ware, lest  they  draw  back  to  perdition.' 
 
Amaziah's  clialltnye  to  Joash. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXVI. 
 
 Uzziah  heginnelh  hi^  rciijn  ifcll. 
 
 13  t  But  fthe  soldiers  of  tlie  army  wliich 
 Amaziuh  sent  back,  that  tliey  should  not  go 
 with  him  to  battle,  fell  upon  the  cities  of  Ju- 
 dah,  from  Samaria  even  unto  Beth-lioron,  and 
 smote  three  thousand  of  them,  and  took  much 
 spoil. 
 
 14  IT  Now  it  came  to  pass,  after  that  Amaziah 
 was  come  from  the  slaughter  of  the  Edomites, 
 that  '  he  brought  the  gods  of  the  children  of 
 Seir,  and  set  them  np  to  be  '  his  gods,  and 
 bowed  down  himself  before  them,  and  burned 
 incense  unto  them. 
 
 15  Wherefore  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was 
 kindled  against  Amaziah,  and  he  sent  unto 
 him  a  prophet,  which  said  unto  him.  Why  hast 
 thou  souglit  after  '  tlie  gods  of  the  people, 
 which,  "  could  not  deliver  their  own  people 
 out  of  thine  hand? 
 
 16  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  talked  with 
 him,  that  the  kiiui  said  unto  him.  Art  thou 
 made  of  the  king's  counsel?  Forbear;  why 
 .'ihouldest  thou  he  smitten  ?  Then  the  prophet 
 forbare,  and  said,  I  know  that  God  hath  f" de- 
 termined to  destroy  thee,  because  thou  hast 
 done  this,  and  hast  not  hearkened  unto  my 
 counsel. 
 
 1 7  IT  Then  "  Amaziah  king  of  Judah  took 
 advice,  and  sent  to  Joash,  the  son  of  Jehoahaz, 
 the  son  of  Jehu,  king  of  Israel,  saying,  Come, 
 let  us  see  one  another  in  the  face. 
 
 18  And  Joash  king  of  Israel  sent  to  Amaziah 
 king  of  Judah,  saying,  The  ||  thistle  tliat  v;as 
 in  Lebanon  sent  to  tlie  cedar  that  was  in  Le- 
 banon, saying,  Give  thy  daughter  to  my  son  to 
 wife  :  and  there  passed  by  f  a  wild  beast  that 
 teas  in  Lebanon,  and  trode  down  tlie  thistle. 
 
 19  Thou  sayest,  Lo,  thou  hast  smitten  the 
 Edomites  ;  and  thine  heart  lifteth  thee  up  to 
 boast :  abide  now  at  home  ;  why  shouldest 
 thou  meddle  to  tliiiic  hurt,  that  thou  .shouldest 
 fall,  even  thou,  and  Judah  with  thee  ? 
 
 20  But  Aniaziaii  would  not  hear;  for  ""it 
 came  of  God,  that  he  might  deliver  them  into 
 the  hand  of  their  enemies,  because  they ''  sought 
 after  the  gods  of  Edom. 
 
 '21  So  Joash  the  king  of  Israel  went  up  ;  and 
 they  saw  one  another  in  the  face,  both  he  and 
 Amaziah  king  of  Judah,  at  Beth-shemesh, 
 wliich  bclnnrfeih  to  Judah. 
 
 22  And  Judah  was  f  put  to  the  worse  before 
 Israel,  and  they  fled  every  man  to  his  tent. 
 
 2.3  And  Joash  the  king  of  Israel  took  Ama- 
 ziah king  of  Judah,  the  son  of  Joash,  the  son 
 of  '  Jehoahaz,  at  Beth-shemesh,  and  brought 
 him  to  Jerusalem,  and  brake  down  the  wall  of 
 Jerusalem  from  the  gate  of  Ephraim  to  \  the 
 corner  gate,  four  hundred  cubits. 
 
 24  And  he  took  all  the  gold  and  the  silver. 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  8»7. 
 t  Hcb   Me 
 
 A  Ex  20.  .1, 
 
 ;ps.  !>fi  r». 
 
 n  xer.  U. 
 
 I  S  Kill.  II. 
 8,  9,  &c. 
 
 Or,/.,..v 
 
 t  HbIi.  a 
 fietJ.  ' 
 
 t  Hcb.  the 
 gaU  of  it 
 tliat  holtelli. 
 
 RIO. 
 
 t  lleb  /roni 
 nttrr. 
 t  Heb.  <■'...- 
 
 1  Tliat  is.  It.f 
 citit  of  lio. 
 '•lit,  as  il  is 
 
 2  Kill.  14. 
 SO. 
 
 l'l,V2.«.  15 
 I,  Stc. 
 II  Or,  ^:o- 
 
 h  Pee  cli.24 
 2. 
 
 iion.U  1.^. 
 IJaii.  I.  17. 
 .  19   ». 
 
 Ilie 
 
 10.  I 
 I  Hcb 
 
 leeing  of 
 
 Ood. 
 d  Is.  U.  20. 
 
 i!  Or,  in  till? 
 ciiiiiury  '*/■ 
 A.hdod. 
 
 /"?  Sam.fl.?. 
 "  ih.  17.  II- 
 t  Hcb.  tefni. 
 
 ^  2  Kin    M. 
 IS.  Neb.  3. 
 13, 10,  .t; 
 Zccli  1-1  10. 
 
 II  Or,  r,,,„i>. 
 ed. 
 
 1!  Or,  oit  out 
 mii»y  C't- 
 tfrni. 
 
 and  all  the  vessels  that  were  found  in  the 
 house  of  God  with  Obed-edom,  and  the  trea- 
 sures of  the  king"'s  house,  the  hostages  also, 
 and  returned  to  Samaria. 
 
 25  H  "  And  Amaziah  the  son  of  Joash  king  of 
 Judah  lived  after  the  death  of  Joash  son  of  Je- 
 hoahaz king  of  Israel  fifteen  years. 
 
 26  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Amaziah,  first 
 and  last,  behold,  are  they  not  written  in  the 
 book  of  the  kings  of  Judah  and  Israel  ? 
 
 27  K  Now  after  the  time  tliat  Amaziah  did 
 turn  away  ff'*""  following  the  Lord  they 
 fmade  a  conspiracy  against  him  in  Jerusalem; 
 and  he  fled  to  I,achish  :  Init  they  sent  to  La- 
 chi.sh  after  him,  and  slew  him  there. 
 
 28  And  they  brought  liim  upon  liorses,  and 
 buried  him  with  his  fathers  in  the  city  of  ||  Ju- 
 dah. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 1  Uzziah  succceiiing,  and  rciiining  well  in  the  days  nf 
 Zechariah,  jiros/ttj-eth,  16  }Vaxir,g  pi-oitd,  he  in- 
 vadeth  the  priesVs  ojfice,  and  is  smitten  with  leprosy. 
 22    He  dii'lh,  and  Jothain  succeedcth  liinl. 
 
 'T'HENall  the  people  of  Judah  took°||Uzzia1i, 
 -*-  who  teas  sixteen  years  old,  and  made  liiin 
 king  in  the  room  of  liis  father  Amaziah. 
 
 2  He  built  Eloth,  and  restored  it  to  Judah, 
 after  that  the  king  slept  with  his  fathers. 
 
 3  Sixteen  years  old  rras  Uzziah  when  he  be- 
 gan to  reign,  and  he  reigned  fifty  and  two 
 years  in  Jerusalem.  His  mother's  name  also 
 was  Jecoliah  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 4  And  he  did  that  which  was  right  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  that  his 
 father  Amaziah  did. 
 
 5  And  ''  he  sought  God  in  the  days  of  Zecha- 
 riah, who  'had  understanding  j'm  the  visions 
 of  God  :  and  as  long  as  he  souglit  the  Lord, 
 God  made  him  to  prosper. 
 
 6  And  he  went  forth  and  ■'  warred  against  the 
 Philistines,  and  brake  down  the  wall  of  Gath, 
 and  the  wall  of  Jabneh.  and  the  wall  of  Ash- 
 dod,  and  built  cities  ||  about  Ashdod,  and 
 among  the  Philistines. 
 
 7  And  God  helped  him  against  "  the  Phili.';- 
 tines,  and  against  the  Arabians  that  dwelt  in 
 Gur-baal,  and  the  Mehunims. 
 
 8  And  the  Ammonites  'gave  gifts  to  Uzziali : 
 and  his  name  f  spread  abroad  ei^en  to  the  en- 
 tering in  of  Egypt  ;  for  he  strengthened  /*/)«- 
 se//"  exceedingly. 
 
 9  Moreover  Uzziah  built  towers  in  Jerusalem 
 at  the  ^  corner  gate,  and  at  the  valley  gate, 
 and  at  the  turning  of  the  wall,  and  ||  fortified 
 them. 
 
 10  Also  he  built  towers  in  the  desert,  and 
 II  digged  many  wells:  for  he  had  much  cattle, 
 both  in  the  low  country,  and  in  the  plains : 
 
 17.  See  one  another  in  the  face— seGnote  on  2King:s,  xiv.  8.        18.  The 
 (/(isi/c— see  note  on  2  Kinps,  xiv.  9. 
 
 Ch.^p.  X.XVI. —  1.  Uzziah — called  Azarjah,  2  Kings,  xiv.  21,  and  in 
 Matt.  \.—Ozi<ts.  2.  Eloth,  '  Elatli,'  (2  Kings,  xiv.  22,  and  note.) 
 5.  Zechfiyiith—uot  that  Zechariah  the  last  of  the  prophets  save  one,  he 
 lived  three  hundred  years  after  tliis  ;  nor  he  that  Joash  slew  ;  hut,  as 
 it  may  seem,  a  son  of  his,  perhaps  the  same  with  him  in  Isa.  viii.  2. 
 7.  Mehunims,  or  Minreans,  as  the  Sept.,  whom  Plini/  mentions  among 
 
 the  Arabians;  they  seem  to  be  the  Scenite  Arabs,  sec  chap.  xx.  1 ;  or 
 
 rather  as  the  Targum,  those  that  dwelt  in  the  plain  of  Maon,  which 
 was  in  Arabia  Petra;a.  8.  Gave  i^ifts,  as  tributaries.  10.  Bttitt 
 towers  in  the  desert,  of  Arabia,  to  protect  travellers  from  thieves  and 
 robbers,  and  particularly  shepherds  and  their  flocks. — Gill.  Perliaps 
 also  to  keep  those  who  pastured  there  in  subjection,  and  to  secure  tri- 
 bute.— Har.  Citrmel,  a  place  in  the  tribe  of  Judah  was  so  called,  where 
 Nabal  dwelt,  (1  Sam.  xxv.  2,)  or  it  may  be  put  for  any  fruitful  field. 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.    XXV We  have  here,  I.  ^ma-  we  not,  in  this  monarch,  see  the  common  picture  of  too  many 
 
 ziali's  character.     He  did  right,  but  not  with  a  perfect  heart,  professors  ?     They  have  prospered  in   the  worhl,  anil    tlieir 
 
 Let  us  look  to  our  religion,  seeing,  in  tliese  days  of  profes-  liearts  have  been  lifted  up  ;  and  in  them  how  olten  has  the 
 
 sion,  how  very  possible  it  is  to  do  right,  and  yet  not  have  our  sudtlen  cliange  been  as  a  voice  repeating  the  sacred  adnuini- 
 
 heartsright  ill  the  sight  of  God.  lion  in    our  ears,  'Before  destruction  the  lieart  of  man  is 
 
 U.  Amaziah's  ruin.     Success  unduly  elated  him.     And  niav  hauidity,  and  before  honour  is  liumilily.' 
 480 
 
He  is  smitten  with  leprosy. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXVII. 
 
 Jothum's  good  reiyn. 
 
 and   vinedressers   in    the 
 II  Carmel :    for   he   loved 
 
 husbandmen  also, 
 mountains,  and  in 
 f  liushaudry. 
 
 1 1  Moreover  Uzziah  had  an  host  of  fighting 
 men,  that  went  out  to  war  by  bands,  according 
 to  the  number  of  tlieir  account  by  the  hand  of 
 Jeie!  tlie  scrilie  and  Maaseiali  the  ruler,  under 
 tlie  hand  of  Hananiah,  one  of  tlie  king's  cap- 
 tains. 
 
 12  The  whole  number  of  the  chief  of  the 
 fathers  of  tlie  mighty  men  of  valour  were  two 
 thousand  and  six  hundred. 
 
 13  And  under  their  hand  was  fan  army,  three 
 hundred  thousand  and  seven  thousand  and  five 
 hundred,  that  made  war  with  mighty  power,  to 
 help  the  king  against  the  enemy. 
 
 14  And  Uzziali  prepared  for  them  throughout 
 all  the  host  sliields,  and  spears,  and  helmets, 
 and  habergeons,  and  bows,  and  f  slings  to  cast 
 stones. 
 
 15  And  he  made  in  Jerusalem  engines,  in- 
 vented by  cunning  men,  to  be  on  the  towers 
 and  upon  the  bulwarks,  to  shoot  arrows  and 
 great  stones  withal.  And  his  name  f  spread  far 
 abroad;  for  he  was  marvellously  helped,  till  he 
 was  strong. 
 
 16  If  But ''  when  he  was  strong,  his  heart  was 
 'lifted  up  to  his  destruction:  for  he  trans- 
 gressed against  the  Lord  his  God,  and  ^  went 
 into  the  temple  of  the  Lord  to  burn  incense 
 upon  tlie  altar  of  incense. 
 
 1 7  And  '  Azariah  tlie  priest  went  in  after 
 liim,  and  with  him  fourscore  priests  of  the 
 Lord,  that  were  valiant  men  : 
 
 IS  And  they  withstood  Uzziah  the  king,  and 
 said  unto  him.  It  "'  appertaineth  not  unto  thee. 
 Uzziah,  to  burn  incense  unto  the  Lord,  but  to 
 the  "priests  the  sons  of  Aaron,  that  are  conse- 
 crated to  burn  incense  :  go  out  of  the  sanctu- 
 ary ;  for  thou  hast  trespassed  ;  neither  shall  it 
 he  for  thine  honour  from  the  Lord  God. 
 
 19  Then  Uzziah  was  wroth,  and  had  a  censer 
 in  his  hand  to  burn  incense  :  and  while  he  was 
 wroth  with  the  priests,  °  the  leprosy  even  rose 
 up  in  his  forehead  before  the  priests  in  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  from  beside  the  incense 
 altar. 
 
 20  And  Azariah  the  chief  priest,  and  all  the 
 priests,  looked  upon  him,  and,  behold,  he  tras 
 leprous  in  his  forehead,  and  they  thrust  him 
 out  from  thence  ;  yea,  himself  '' hasted  also  to 
 
 D.  C.  810. 
 11  Or.  fiMful 
 
 t  Hob.  I 
 /.r«,. 
 
 cir.  715- 
 A  Den  :<2  15. 
 i  Deu.  fi.  II. 
 cli  2i.  10 
 kSa->  Kill. 
 
 16.  \>,n. 
 
 »  Nu.  12.  in 
 2  Kin.  6.2-. 
 
 7  2  Kill.  l.=». 
 
 .■i. 
 r  Lev  13.  4B. 
 
 Nuin   5.  2. 
 I  Hell.  .Aec. 
 
 i  Or,  tlf 
 /./iri-r.oli.SS 
 1-1.  Neh.  3. 
 
 go  out,  because  the  Lord  had  smitten  him. 
 
 21  ''  And  Uzziah  the  king  was  a  leper  unto 
 the  day  of  his  deatli,  and  dwelt  in  a  'f  several 
 house,  beinri  a  leper ;  for  he  was  cut  off  fruni 
 the  bouse  of  the  Lord  :  and  Jotliam  his  son 
 was  over  the  king's  house,  judging  the  people 
 of  the  land. 
 
 22  If  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Uzziah,  first 
 and  last,  did  "  Isaiah  the  prophet,  the  son  of 
 Amoz,  write. 
 
 23  '  So  Uzziah  slept  with  his  fathers,  and 
 they  buried  him  with  his  fathers  in  the  field  of 
 the  burial  which  belonged  to  the  kings  ;  for 
 they  said.  He  is  a  leper :  and  Jotham  liis  son 
 reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIL 
 
 I  Jotliam  rcic/ninq  well  prospereth.     5  He  svhdueth  the 
 Ammonites.     7    His  reign.     9   Attaz  succcedeth  tiim. 
 
 TOTHAM  "^  was  twenty  and  five  years  old 
 "  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  ho  reigned 
 sixteen  years  in  Jerusalem.  His  mother's 
 name  also  was  Jerushah,  the  daughter  of  Za- 
 dok. 
 
 2  And  he  did  that  which  was  right  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  tliat  his 
 father  Uzziah  did  :  liowbeit  he  entered  not 
 into  the  temple  of  the  Lord.  And  ''the  people 
 did  vet  corruptly. 
 
 3  He  built  the  high  gate  of  the  house  of 
 the  Lord,  and  on  the  wall  of  ||  Ophel  he  built 
 much. 
 
 4  Moreover  he  built  cities  in  the  mountains 
 of  Judah,  and  in  the  forests  he  built  castles  and 
 towers. 
 
 5  t  He  fought  also  with  the  king  of  the  Am- 
 monites, and  prevailed  against  them.  And  the 
 cliildren  of  Amnion  gave  him  the  same  year  an 
 hundred  talents  of  silver,  and  ten  thousand 
 measures  of  wheat,  and  ten  thousand  of  barley. 
 t  So  much  did  the  children  of  Ammon  pay  unto 
 him,  both  the  second  year,  and  the  tliird. 
 
 G  So   Jotham   became   mighty,   because   he 
 
 II  prepared  his  ways  before  the  Lord  his  God. 
 
 7  t  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jotham,  and 
 all  his  wars,  and  his  ways,  lu,  they  are  written 
 in  the  book  of  the  kings  of  Israel  and  Ju- 
 dah. 
 
 8  He  was  five  and  twenty  years  old  when  he 
 began  to  reign,  and  reigned  sixteen  years  in 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 14.  Habergeons,  coats  of  mail  to  defend  the  body.  15.  Engines,  such  as 
 with  the  Romans  were  called  catapuUse,  ballistje,  scorpione.'i,  kc. ;  and 
 by  this  it  appears  that  tliese  wore  not  first  invented  in  CJreccc  and  Rome, 
 but  in  Juriea. — Gill.  23.  In  the  field  of  the  liurinl — it  was  not  deemed 
 proper  or  lawful  to  defile  the  royal  sepulchres  with  a  leprous  body. — 
 Piite.    This  chapter  corresponds  with  2  Kings,  xiv.  22,  and  XV.  1 — 7. 
 
 Chap.  XXVII.  —  2.  He  entered  not  into  the  temple—he  did  not  dare 
 to  go  into  the  sanctuary, — Boottir.,  to  bum  incense  as  his  father  did. — 
 Gill.  3.  Ophel,  appears  to  have  been  a  tower  or  fort  on  the  city  wall, 
 in  which  we  read  (Neh.  iii.  26,J  the  Nethiiiim  dwelt.— Hfif.        4.  In 
 
 the  mountains,  the  hill  country  of  Judea,  CL«ke,  i.  65.)— G///.  In  the 
 forests — castles — see  note  on  chap.  x.\vi.  10.  5.  Ammonites — these 
 had  been  entirely  subdued  by  David,  (2  Sam.  x.,  xii.  31,)  but  now  they 
 liad  recovered  strength  enough  to  invade  Judah. — Pat.  6.  Prepared 
 his  ways — it  has  been  observed,  that  most,  if  not  all,  the  pious  kings  of 
 tfndah  have  some  evil  thing  laid  to  their  charge  ;  but  Jolhani  has  not, 
 except  as  'the  people  did  eorniptly,'  and  the  high  places  were  n«it  de- 
 molished.— Scott.  This  chapter  corresponds  with  the  last  seven  verses 
 of  2  Kings,  XV. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVI.  _  Respecting  Uzziah,  we 
 may  note,  with  Henry — I.  His  piety.  He  '  did  that  which 
 was  right  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord. ' 
 
 IT.  His  prosperity.  'As  long  as  he  sought  the  Lord,  God 
 made  him  to  prosper.'  Piety  is  a  good  friend  to  outward 
 prosperity,  llany  have  found  and  owned  this,  that  as  long 
 as  they  sought  the  Lord,  and  kept  close  to  iheir  duty,  they 
 prospered ;  but,  since  they  forsook  God,  everything  has  gone 
 amiss. 
 
 III.  His  fin.     He  invaded  the  priest's  office.     That  which 
 
 was  at  tlio  hotloin  of  his  sin  was  pride  of  heart— a  lust  that 
 
 ruins  more  than  any  other  whatever.     It  was  •  wlien  lie  was 
 
 strong,'  when  he  was  grown  very  considerable  in  weaUli,  in- 
 
 481 
 
 terest,  and  power,  instead  of  lifting  up  the  name  of  God,  in 
 gratitude  to  him  who  had  done  so  much  for  him,  'his  heart 
 was  hfted  up  to  his  destruction.'  Thus  the  prosperity  of  fools, 
 by  puffing  them  up  with  pride,  destroys  them. 
 
 IV.  His  punishment — an  incuiable  leprosy.  Thus  God  gave 
 an  instance  of  his  resisting  the  proud,  and  of  his  jealousy  for 
 the  purity  and  honour  of  his  own  institutions.  Thus  lie  gave 
 a  fair  warning  even  to  good  and  great  men  to  know  and  keep 
 their  distance,  and  not  to  intrude  into  those  things  which  they 
 have  not  seen.  Thus  he  gave  to  Uzziah  a  loud  and  constant 
 call  to  repentance,  and  a  long  space  to  repent,  which  we  have 
 reason  to  hope  be  duly  improved. 
 
 3q 
 
Judah  captivatrd  by  the  nrnelites.         II.  CHRONICLES,  XXVIII. 
 
 The  captives  sunt  home. 
 
 9  1  '  And  Jotham  slept  with  his  fathers,  and 
 they  buried  liini  in  the  city  oC  David  :  and  Ahaz 
 his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 I  Ahaz  reigninri  very  wichedly  is  priatli/  afflicted  hij 
 the  Syrians.  6  JuJiili  bcinij  cttplhutrd  by  t/ie  Israel- 
 ites is  sent  /lome  by  the  counsel  of  Oded  the  projiliet. 
 16  Ahaz  sending  for  aid  to  Assyria  is  not  hlped 
 thereby.  22  In  his  distress  he  groweth  more  idola- 
 trous.    26  He  dying,  llezehiah  succeedetit  him. 
 
 AHAZ  '  was  twenty  years  old  when  he  be- 
 gan to  reign,  and  he  reigned  sixteen  years 
 in  Jerusalem  :  but  he  did  not  thai  which  teas 
 right  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  like  David  his 
 father : 
 
 2  For  he  walked  in  the  ways  of  the  kings  of 
 Israel,  and  made  also  "molten  images  for 
 ■^  Baalim. 
 
 3  Moreover  he  i|  burnt  incense  in  ''  the  valley 
 of  the  son  of  Hinnom,  and  burnt  "his  cliildren 
 in  the  fire,  after  the  abominations  of  the  hea- 
 then whom  tlie  Lord  had  cast  out  before  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 4  He  sacrificed  also  and  burnt  incense  in  the 
 high  places,  and  on  the  hills,  and  under  every 
 green  tree. 
 
 5  Wlierefore  ^  the- Lord  his  God  delivered 
 him  into  tlie  hand  of  the  king  of  Syria  ;  and 
 they  <=  smote  him,  and  carried  away  a  great 
 multitude  of  them  captives,  and  brought  them 
 to  t  Damascus.  And  he  was  also  delivered 
 into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Israel,  who  smote 
 him  with  a  great  slaughter. 
 
 6  t  For  ''  Pekah  tl\e  son  of  Remaliah  slew 
 in  Judah  an  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  in 
 one  day,  ichich  were  all  f  valiant  men  ;  be- 
 cause tiiey  had  forsaken  the  Lord  God  of  their 
 fathers. 
 
 7  And  Zichri,  a  mighty  man  of  Ephraim, 
 slew  Maaseiah  tlie  king's  son,  and  Azrikam  the 
 governor  of  the  house,  and  Elkanah  thai  was 
 t  next  to  the  king. 
 
 8  And  the  children  of  Israel  carried  away 
 captive  of  their  '  brethren  two  hundred  thou- 
 sand, women,  sons,  and  daughters,  and  took 
 also  away  much  spoil  from  them,  and  brought 
 the  spoil  to  Samaria. 
 
 9  But  a  prophet  of  the  Lord  was  there,  whose 
 name  was  Oded  :  and  he  went  out  before  the 
 host  that  came  to  Samaria,  and  said  unto  them. 
 Behold,  '•because  the  Lord  God  of  your  fa- 
 thers was  wroth  with  Judah,  he  hath  delivered 
 them  into  your  hand,  and  ye  have  slain  tliem 
 in  a  rage  that  '  reacheth  up  unto  heaven. 
 
 10  And  now  ye  purpose  to  keep  under  the 
 children  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem  for  "'  bond- 
 
 6  E«.  S-1. 17. 
 
 I.cv  19.  1. 
 Cjudg.  ^.11. 
 II  Or,  oJ>i|.(d 
 
 tacrijice. 
 .(  2  Kin.  23. 
 
 10. 
 «  Lev.lS.21. 
 
 2Kin.l6.  3. 
 
 ch.  3S  6. 
 
 S  2  Kin.  16- 
 
 k  Pa.  69.  S6 
 Is  10.  5.  & 
 47-  6.  Eic 
 23.  12.  I.'i  n 
 26.2  Obail 
 10,  fcc. 
 Zech.  I  If, 
 9.  0 
 
 Re 
 
 18   ^ 
 
 Lev.  y.^. 
 ;«.  42,  4.1, 
 
 B  6  27 
 
 ;>SKin 
 
 22,1'rt 
 
 21,22. 
 
 I.uke 
 
 Rom  12.20 
 7  I>pu.  34.  3. 
 
 Ju<l|f.  I.  16 
 
 f  Heb.  a 
 ■aplwdj/. 
 Ejo.  10.27 
 
 Ifih.  21.  2. 
 El.  32.  25 
 
 F  2  Kill  U> 
 29  &  10  7, 
 S,  9. 
 
 ,/  S,i,>  ch.  23 
 
 14. 
 t   It.-b    />.ir- 
 
 men  and  bondwomen  unto  you  :  but  are  there 
 not  with  you,  even  with  you,  sins  against  the 
 Lord  your  God? 
 
 1 1  Now  hear  me  therefore,  and  deliver  the 
 captives  again,  which  ye  have  taken  captive  of 
 your  brethren  :  "  for  the  fierce  wrath  of  the 
 Lord  is  upon  you. 
 
 1'2  Then  certain  of  the  heads  of  the  children 
 of  Ephraim,  Azariah  the  son  of  Johanan,  Bere- 
 chiah  the  son  of  Meshillemoth,  and  Jehizkiah 
 the  son  of  Shallum,  and  Amasa  the  sou  of 
 Hadlai,  stood  up  against  them  that  came  from 
 the  war, 
 
 13  And  said  unto  them.  Ye  shall  not  bring 
 in  the  captives  hither  :  for  whereas  we  have 
 ot?'eiided  against  the  Lord  already,  ye  intend 
 to  add  more  to  our  sins  and  to  our  trespass  : 
 for  our  trespass  is  great,  and  there  is  fierce 
 wrath  against  Israel. 
 
 14  So  the  armed  men  left  the  captives  and 
 the  spoil  before  the  princes  and  all  the  con- 
 gregation. 
 
 15  And  the  men  "which  were  expressed  by 
 name  rose  up,  and  took  the  captives,  and  with 
 the  spoil  clothed  all  that  were  naked  among 
 them,  and  arrayed  them,  and  shod  them,  and 
 ■"  gave  them  to  eat  and  to  drink,  and  anointed 
 them,  and  carried  all  the  feeble  of  them  upon 
 asses,  and  brought  them  to  Jericho,  ''  the  city 
 of  palm  trees,  to  their  brethren  :  then  they  re- 
 turned to  Samaria. 
 
 16  t  'At  that  time  did  king  Ahaz  send  unto 
 the  kings  of  Assyria  to  help  him. 
 
 17  For  again  the  Edomites  had  come  and 
 smitten  Judah,  and  carried  away  f  captives. 
 
 18  'Tlie  Pliilistincs  also  hail  invaded  the 
 cities  of  the  low  country,  and  of  the  south  ot 
 Judah,  and  had  taken  Beth-shemesh,  and  Aja- 
 lon,  and  Gederoth,  and  Shocho  with  the  vil- 
 lages thereof,  and  Timnah  with  the  villages 
 thereof,  Gimzo  also  and  the  villages  thereof: 
 and  they  dwelt  there. 
 
 19  For  the  Lord  brought  Judah  low  because 
 of  Ahaz  king  of  '  Lsrael ;  for  he  "  made  Ju- 
 dah naked,  and  transgressed  sore  against  the 
 Lord. 
 
 20  And  '  Tilgath-pilneser  king  of  Assyria 
 came  unto  him,  and  distressed  him,  but 
 strengthened  him  not. 
 
 21  For  Ahaz  took  away  a  portion  out  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  and  out  of  the  house  of 
 the  king,  and  of  the  princes,  and  gave  it  unto 
 the  king  of  Assyria  :  but  he  helped  him  not. 
 
 •22  If  And  in  the  time  of  his  distress  did  he 
 trespass  yet  more  against  the  Loud  :  this  is 
 that  king  Ahaz. 
 
 23  For  ''  he  sacrificed  unto  the  gods  of  f  Da- 
 
 Chap   XXVIH  —\.  Twenty  years  old — see  notes  on  2  Kings,  xviii.  1.  23.  The  gods— smote  him — idols  could  not  smite  him.    TheoldHcbrew, 
 
 8   Two  hundred  thousand— this  is,  probably,  an  error;  a  hundred  and  whence  the  Greek  translation,  is,  •  And  king  Ahaz  said,  I  will  sock  to 
 
 ten  thousand  valiant  men  slain  in  one  day,  and  two  hundred  thousand  the  gods  of  Damascus  which  have  smitten  me.'—Hatlet. 
 taken  captives,  must  have  left  the  land  nearly  desolate.— So  Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXVII.  —  We  may  remark  again, 
 with  Henry— I.  Jotham's  piety.  He  walked  steadily  and  con- 
 stantly in  the  way  of  his  d\ity  ;  was  uniform  and  resolute  in 
 it ;  not  like  some  of  those  that  went  before  him,  who,  though 
 they  had  some  good  in  them,  lost  their  credit  hy  their  incon- 
 stancy and  inconsistency  with  themselves.  They  bad  run 
 well,  hut  something  hindered  them.  Jotham  did  according  to 
 all  that  his  father  did  well  and  wisely.  We  must  not  imitate 
 the  best  men,  and  those  we  have  the  greatest  veneration  for, 
 any  further  than  they  do  well  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  their 
 falls  and  harms  by  them  must  be  wawiings  to  us  to  walk  the 
 more  circumspectly,  that  we  stumble  not  at  the  same  stone 
 482 
 
 that  they  stumbled  at. 
 
 II.  Jotham's  prosperity.  He  built,— conquered, -became 
 mighty.  The  more  steadfast  we  are  in  religion,  the  more 
 mighty  we  are,  both  for  the  resistance  of  that  which  is  evil, 
 and  for  the  performance  of  that  which  is  good. 
 
 III.  His  end.  He  finished  his  course  too  soon,  but  finished 
 it  with  honour;  had  the  unhappiness  to  die  in  the  midst  of 
 his  days  ;  hut,  to  balance  that,  the  happiness  not  to  outlive  his 
 reputation.  Boothroyd  here  observes.  '  Happy  the  people 
 whose  king  rules  with  justice  and  mercy,  and  who  cultivates 
 peace  in  the  spirit  of  peace.  Such  is  the  King  of  Zion,  and 
 blessed  are  they  who  obey  him.' 
 
Hezekiali's  guod  rciyn. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXIX. 
 
 Tile  Li'tyitcs  simctifij  ihiinselres 
 
 masciis,  wliicti  smote  liim  -.  and  lie  .said.  Be- 
 cause the  gods  of  tlio  kings  of  Syria  lielp  tliciii, 
 therefore  will  I  sacrifice  to  them,  that  '  they 
 may  help  me.  But  they  were  the  ruin  of  him, 
 and  of  ail  Israel. 
 
 24  And  Ahaz  gathered  together  the  vessels 
 of  the  house  of  God,  and  cut  in  pieces  the  ves- 
 sels of  the  house  of  God,  °  and  sliut  up  the 
 doors  of  the  house  of  the  Lokd,  and  he  made 
 him  altars  in  every  corner  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 •J.)  And  in  every  several  city  of  Judah  he 
 made  high  places  ||  to  burn  incense  unto  other 
 gods,  and  provoked  to  anger  the  Lord  God  of 
 his  fathers. 
 
 '20  If  ''  Now  the  rest  of  his  acts  and  of  all 
 his  ways,  first  and  last,  behold,  they  are  writ- 
 ten in  tlie  book  of  the  kings  of  Judah  and 
 Israel. 
 
 27  And  Ahaz  slept  with  his  fathers,  and  they 
 buried  him  in  the  city,  erea  in  Jerusalem  :  but 
 they  brought  him  not  into  the  sepulchres  of 
 the  kings  of  Israel  :  and  Hezekiah  his  son 
 reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 1  liezrkmh's  flood  rcii/n.  3  He  ri-stortth  relit/ion. 
 !y  He  exlinrtfth  the  Levites.  12  T/ti;/  sanctify  t/iciii- 
 H'lves,  and  cleanse  the  house  of  God,  20  Hczehiah 
 offereth  solemn  sacrifices,  wlierein  the  Levites  were 
 more  forward  than  the  priests. 
 
 HEZEKIAH  "began  to  reign  w/ie?i  he  ivas 
 five  and  twenty  years  old,  and  he  reigned 
 nine  and  twenty  years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his 
 mother's  name  ivas  Abijah,  the  daughter  ''  of 
 Zechariah. 
 
 2  And  he  did  t/int  which  u-ns  right  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  that  David 
 his  father  bad  done. 
 
 .3  t  He  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign,  in  tlie 
 first  month,  '  opened  the  doors  of  the  house  of 
 the  Lord,  and  repaired  them. 
 
 4  And  he  brought  in  the  priests  and  the  Le- 
 vites, and  gathered  them  together  into  the  east 
 street, 
 
 T)  And  said  unto  them.  Hear  me,  ye  Levites, 
 "  sanctify  now  yourselves,  and  sanctify  the 
 house  of  the  Lord  God  of  your  fathers,  and 
 carry  forth  the  filthiness  out  of  the  \\o\y  place. 
 
 (i  For  our  fathers  have  trespassed,  and  done 
 that  ii'hich  was  evil  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord 
 our  God,  and  have  forsaken  him,  and  have 
 "  turned  away  their  faces  from  the  habitation 
 of  the  Lord,  and  f  turned  their  backs. 
 
 7  '  Also  they  have  shut  np  tlie  doors  of  the 
 porch,  and  put  out  the  lamps,  and  have  not 
 burned  incense  nor  ofl^ered  burnt  ofi^erings  in 
 
 !  .ler.  '14.  17. 
 
 II  Or,/.../« 
 
 />  ?  Kin.  Ifi. 
 
 ly,  20. 
 
 726, 
 Spcrli, 
 
 >•  Jer.  2.  27. 
 
 EieU.  8.  16. 
 t  Heb.  given 
 
 U   C.  7l'fi- 
 
 Dfu.  ■;«.  25. 
 /,  I  Kin.  y.  8. 
 Jer.  IB.  16. 
 fc  to.  8.  & 
 2'i.  it,  18.  8: 
 '^9.  18. 
 
 'J8.  f),  0, 
 
 ,  17. 
 4  di.  15 
 
 II  n 
 
 ■,    hf   tilt 
 
 li/-- 
 
 DP 
 
 r^d. 
 
 1    [\ 
 
 itn.3 
 
 li. 
 
 ft 
 
 ■i    I'l. 
 
 Xt 
 
 11 
 
 2,  G. 
 
 II     <' 
 
 ■;^:. 
 
 Or,  11  the 
 b,..i„e,.of 
 the  LORD, 
 rh.  :^n.  12. 
 .  I  Clir.  2:1. 
 ■>B. 
 
 Shimri, 
 Zecha- 
 
 tbe  holy  place  unto  the  God  of  Israel. 
 
 Wherefore  the  ''  wrath  of  the  Lord  was 
 upon  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  and  be  hath  deli- 
 vered them  to  t  trouble,  to  astonishment,  and 
 to  ''  hissing,  as  ye  see  with  your  eyes. 
 
 9  For,  lo,  '  our  fathers  have  fallen  by  the 
 sword,  and  our  sons  and  our  daughters  and  our 
 wives  arc  in  captivity  for  this. 
 
 10  Now  it  is  in  mine  heart  to  make  '  a  cove- 
 nant with  the  Loud  God  of  Israel,  that  his 
 fierce  wrath  may  turn  away  from  us. 
 
 1 1  My  sons,  ||  bo  not  now  negligent :  for  the 
 Lord  hath  'chosen  you  to  stand  before  him, 
 to  serve  him,  and  that  ye  should  minister  unto 
 him,  and  ||  burn  incense. 
 
 12  II  Then  the  Levites  arose,  Mahath  the  son 
 of  Amasai,  and  Joel  the  son  of  Azariah,  of  the 
 sons  of  the  Kohathites  :  and  of  the  sons  of  Me- 
 rari,  Kish  the  son  of  Abdi,  and  Azariah  the  son 
 of  Jehalelel  :  and  of  the  Gershonites  ;  Joah 
 the  .son  of  Zimmah,  and  Eden  the  son  of 
 Joah  : 
 
 13  And  of  the  sons  of  Elizaphan  ; 
 and  Jeiel :  and  of  the  sons  of  Asaph  ; 
 riah,  and  Mattaniah  : 
 
 14  And  of  the  sons  of  Heman  ;  Jebiel,  and 
 Shimei :  and  of  the  sons  of  Jeduthun  ;  She- 
 maiah,  and  Uzziel. 
 
 15  And  they  gathered  their  brethren,  and 
 ""  sanctified  themselves,  and  came,  according 
 to  the  commandment  of  the  king,  ||  by  the 
 words  of  the  Lord,  "  to  cleanse  the  house  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 IG  And  the  priests  went  into  the  inner  part 
 of  the  bouse  of  the  Lord,  to  cleanse  it,  and 
 brought  out  all  the  uncleanness  that  they 
 found  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord  into  the  court 
 of  the  bouse  of  the  Lord.  And  the  Levites 
 took  it,  to  carry  it  out  abroad  into  the  brook 
 Kidron. 
 
 1 7  Now  they  began  on  the  first  day  of  the 
 first  month  to  sanctify,  and  on  the  eighth  day 
 of  the  month  came  they  to  the  porch  of  the 
 Lord  :  so  they  .sanctified  the  bouse  of  the 
 Lord  in  eight  days  ;  and  in  the  sixteenth  day 
 of  the  first  month  they  made  an  end. 
 
 18  Then  they  went  in  to  Hezekiah  the  king, 
 and  said.  We  have  cleansed  all  the  bouse  of 
 the  Lord,  and  the  altar  of  burnt  offering,  with 
 all  the  vessels  thereof,  and  the  shewbread 
 table,  with  all  the  vessels  thereof. 
 
 1 9  Moreover  all  the  vessels,  which  king  Ahaz 
 in  his  reign  did  °  cast  away  in  bis  transgression. 
 have  we  prepared  and  sanctified,  and,  behold, 
 they  are  before  the  altar  of  the  Lord. 
 
 Chap.  XXIX.  —  1.  Fit^e  find  tiventy  t/enrs  old — ^oe  note  nn  2  Kings, 
 ,^viii.  I.  3.  Qpeneil  the  tliiors,  his  father  had  shut  up,  Ich-ip.  xxviii. 
 4.)  5.  Filthiness,  tho  filthy  altar  placed  by  Ahaz  in  place  of  God's 
 altar,  (2  Kings,  xvi.  11,  ^c.)  and  the  id'^ls.  he,  which  were  there. — 
 Ptifile.  6.  Turned  their  Itncfcs — some  think  this  refers  to  the  intro- 
 duction, by  Ahaz,  of  a  heathen  custom  before  he  shut  the  temple,  of 
 turning  their  faces  to  the  east,  where  his  altar  stood,  instead  of  to  the 
 
 west,  where  was  the  ark  of  the  Lord.— Gi7/,  so  Fat.  16.  The  inner 
 part— not  the  holy  of  holies,  into  which  only  the  high  priest  might 
 enter,  and  that  bat  once  a  year,  but  the  holy  place. — Pnole.  When  the 
 ark  was  to  be  removed,  and  on  other  necessary  occasions,  the  priests 
 might  enter  the  holy  of  holies,  though  not  at  other  times,  (Num.  iv.  6.) 
 — Scott,         19.  Cttst  atetty,  'profaned.* — Boothr,,  as  Sept.,  and  Vulg, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVIII I. '  Here,'  says  Henry, 
 
 *  we  have  Ahaz,  1.  Wretchedly  corrupted  and  debauched.  He 
 had  a  good  education  given  to  him,  and  a  good  example  set 
 him;  but  parents  cannot  give  grace  to  their  children  ;  all  tlie 
 instructions  he  liad  were  lost  upon  him — "  he  did  not  tliat 
 which  was  right  in  the  siglit  of  the  Lord."  Nay,  he  did  a 
 great  deal  tliat  was  wrong — wrong  to  God,  to  his  own  soul, 
 and  to  liis  people. 
 
 II.  '  Here  we  have  him  also,  *2.  Wretchedly  spoiled  aiul  made 
 It  prey  of.  AVhen  he  forsook  God,  and  at  a  vast  expense  put 
 liiniself  under  the  protection  oi' false  gods,  God,  who  of  right 
 483 
 
 was  his  God,  delivered  him  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies. 
 The  Syrians  triumphed  over  iiim,  and  the  king  of  Israel  was 
 made  his  scourge.  They  that  liuew  not  their  happiness  in 
 the  foregoing  reign,  were  taught  to  value  it  by  the  miseries 
 of  this.  And  in  the  time  of  iiis  distress,  Ahaz  trespassed  yet 
 more  against  the  Lord;  leaving  us  to  note,  that  those  are 
 wicked  and  vile  indeed  that  are  made  worse  by  their  afHiclions, 
 instead  of  being  made  better  by  them  ;  who  have  their  corrup- 
 tions exasperated  by  that  which  should  mollify  them,  and 
 their  hearts  more  "  fully  set  in  tbem  to  do  evih"  ' 
 
Hezehiah  offercth  solemn  sacrifices. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXX. 
 
 He  procluimeth  a  pnssover. 
 
 20  t  Then  Hezekiah  the  king  rose  early,  and 
 gathered  tlie  rnlers  of  the  city,  and  went  up 
 to  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 2.1  And  they  brought  seven  bullocks,  and 
 seven  rams,  and  seven  lambs,  and  seven  he 
 goats,  for  a  'sin  otFering  for  the  kingdom,  and 
 for  the  sanctuary,  and  fur  Judah.  And  he 
 commanded  the  priests  the  sons  of  Aaron  to 
 offer  them  on  the  altar  of  the  Loud. 
 
 22  So  they  killed  the  bullocks,  and  the  priests 
 received  the  blood,  and  "i  sprinkled  it  on  the 
 altar  :  likewise,  when  they  had  killed  the  rams, 
 they  sprinkled  the  blood  upon  the  altar:  they 
 killed  also  the  lambs,  and  they  sprinkled  the 
 blood  upon  the  altar. 
 
 23  And  they  brought  f  forth  the  he  goats _/br 
 tlie  sin  offering  before  the  king  and  the  con- 
 gregation ;  and  they  laid  their  '  hands  upon 
 tliem  : 
 
 2-i  And  the  priests  killed  them,  and  they 
 made  reconciliation  with  their  blood  upon  the 
 altar,  '  to  make  an  atonement  for  all  Israel : 
 for  llie  king  commanded  thrit  the  burnt  offer- 
 ing and  the  sin  offering  should  be  made  for  all 
 Israel. 
 
 25  '  And  he  set  the  Levites  in  the  house  of 
 the  Lord  with  cymbals,  witli  psalteries,  and 
 with  harps,  "  according  to  the  commandment 
 of  David,  and  of  '  Gad  the  king's  seer,  and 
 Nathan  tlie  prophet :  ''  for  so  was  the  com- 
 mandment t  of  the  Lord  f  by  his  prophets. 
 
 26  And  the  Levites  stood  witli  the  instru- 
 ments '  of  David,  and  the  priests  with  °  the 
 trumpets. 
 
 27  And  Hezekiah  commanded  to  offer  the 
 burnt  offering  upon  the  altar.  And  f  wlien  the 
 burnt  offering  began,  ''  the  song  of  the  Lord 
 began  also  with  the  trumpets,  and  with  the 
 •f  instruments  ordained  by  David  king  of  Israel. 
 
 28  And  all  the  congregation  worshipped,  and 
 the  t  singers  sang,  and  the  trumpeters  sounded  : 
 and  all  t/iis  continued  until  the  burnt  offering 
 was  finished. 
 
 29  And  when  they  had  made  an  end  of  offer- 
 ing, "^  the  king  and  all  that  were  f  present  with 
 him  bowed  tliemselves,  and  worshipped. 
 
 30  Moreover  Hezekiah  the  king  and  the 
 princes  commanded  the  Levites  to  sing  praise 
 unto  the  Lord  with  the  words  of  David,  and 
 of  Asaph  the  seer.  And  they  sang  praises 
 witli  gladness,  and  they  bowed  their  heads  and 
 worshipped. 
 
 31  Then  Hezekiah  answered  and  said,  Now 
 ye   have    ||  consecrated   yourselves   unto   the 
 
 7  Lpv.  8.  1 1, 
 15,  19,2+. 
 Hob,  9.21. 
 
 1  Heb.  near. 
 Lev.  4.  15, 
 
 21. 
 
 t  1  Chr.  16.  4. 
 (iSi.  C. 
 
 t.  I  Chr  2.S  5. 
 
 Jic  ;.':..  1.  cli 
 
 S,  U 
 J-  2  Srtm.  21 
 
 n. 
 
 V  ell.  .Si).  12 
 t  llL-l>.  t",ll<f 
 l,m.i  ,.f  ll.t 
 
 t  !l.-b   hylh^ 
 
 6rh.  23.  IS. 
 1  Itob,  tong. 
 
 e  ch.  2(1.  IS. 
 
 tlitb/mnd 
 
 B.  c.  ;?i;. 
 
 <1  Lev.  7.  12 
 
 ecu.  35.  11. 
 t  lleb. 
 itreHi/theiifd 
 
 ./■A. si).  3, 
 9  P«.  7.  10. 
 
 .  3   IC 
 n.15.5, 
 
 oNam.9.10, 
 
 II. 
 4  Ex.  12.  6, 
 
 IS. 
 .:cli.  89.  31. 
 
 t  H..b.  ,™. 
 right  I'lrAe 
 ei/fi  "f  the 
 
 Lord,  come  near  and  bring  sacrifices  and 
 "^  thank  offerings  into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 And  the  congregation  brought  in  sacrifices 
 and  thank  offerings  ;  and  as  many  as  were  of 
 a  free  heart  burnt  offerings. 
 
 32  And  the  number  of  the  burnt  offerings, 
 which  the  congregation  brought,  was  three- 
 score and  ten  bullocks,  an  hundred  rams,  and 
 two  hundred  lambs:  all  these  were,  for  a  burnt 
 offering  to  the  Lord. 
 
 33  And  the  consecrated  tilings  were  six  hun- 
 dred oxen  and  three  thousand  sheep. 
 
 34  But  the  priests  were  too  few,  so  that  they 
 could  not  flay  all  the  burnt  offerings  :  where- 
 fore "their  brethren  the  Levites  f  did  help 
 them,  till  the  work  was  ended,  and  until  tlie 
 other  priests  had  sanctified  themselves:  ''for 
 the  Levites  were  more  *  upright  in  heart  to 
 sanctify  themselves  than  the  priests. 
 
 35  And  also  the  burnt  offerings  icere  in 
 abundance,  with  "  tlie  fat  of  the  peace  offer- 
 ings, and  'the  drink  offerings  for  every  burnt 
 offering.  So  the  service  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  was  set  in  order. 
 
 36  And  Hezekiah  rejoiced,  and  all  the  people, 
 that  God  had  prepared  the  people  :  for  the 
 thing  was  dune  suddenly. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 1  Hezekiah  prndaiincth  a  solann  passover  nit  the  second 
 month  for  Judah  and  IsraeK  !3  The  asseinJiIi/, 
 haviny  destroyed  the  altars  of  idohtrt/,  keep  the  feast 
 fninteen  days.  27  The  priests  arid  hevites  bless  the 
 people. 
 
 A  ND  Hezekiah  sent  to  all  Israol  and  Judah, 
 -^^  and  wrote  letters  also  to  Ephraim  and  Ma- 
 nasseli,  that  they  shonld  come  to  the  house  of 
 the  Lord  at  Jerusalem,  to  keep  the  passover 
 unto  the  Lord  God  of  Israel. 
 
 2  For  the  kinp;  had  taken  counsel,  and  his 
 princes,  and  all  the  congregation  in  Jerusalem, 
 to  keep  the  passover  in  the  second  °  month. 
 
 3  For  they  could  not  keep  it  ^at  that  time, 
 ^  because  the  priests  had  not  sanctified  them- 
 selves sufficiently,  neither  had  the  people 
 gathered  themselves  together  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 4  And  the  thing  f  pleased  the  king  and  all 
 the  congregation. 
 
 5  So  they  established  a  decree  to  make  pro- 
 clamation throughout  all  Israel,  from  Beer- 
 sheba  even  to  Dan,  that  they  should  come  to 
 keep  the  passover  unto  the  Lord  God  of  Is- 
 rael at  Jerusalem  :  for  they  had  not  done  it 
 of  a  long  time  in  such  sort  as  it  was  written. 
 
 21 .  Seeen  bullocks,  a  plenary  sacrifice  offered  by  the  patriarchs  in  times 
 of  extremity,  as  we  read  in  Num.  xxiii.,  xxiv. — Sut.  The  law  ap- 
 pointed only  one  bullock  for  the  sin  offering,  (Lev.  iv.  13.)  as  also  on 
 the  day  of  atonement,  (Lev.  xvi.  15.)  and  on  such  extraordinary  occa- 
 sions as  this,  (Num.  xv.  24.)  But  tliey  here  oflTered  seven,  because 
 the  sins  of  the  congregation  liad  been  very  great  and  long  continued 
 in.  Seven  is  a  number  of  perfection  ;  our  great  Sin-ofTering  is  but  one, 
 yet  that  one  perfects  for  ever  them  that  are  sanclitied. — Hejivy;  so 
 also  PooIp,  Clitrke.  33.  Consecrated  things,  '  the  holy  off"crings.' — 
 Be/.  Bib.  Probably  the  peace-offerings  an-l  thank-offi.'rings. — Scott. 
 34.  The  priests  were  too  feiv — many  of  them  had  been  active  at  the  altars 
 of  Baalim  and  Ashteroth,  and  were  unclean. — Sut. 
 
 Chap.  XXX.  —  I.  To  all  Israel  and  Jitdah,  not  only  to  the  subjects 
 
 of  his  own  kingdom,  but  to  all  the  Israelites  tlia(  dwelt  in  it.— GfV/.  To 
 Ephraim  and  Munnsse/i,  to  all  the  reniaimiers  of  tlie  ten  tribes,  (vcr.  5.J 
 — Poole.  The  principal  tribes  seem  to  be  put  fur  the  whole  kingdom  of 
 Israel. — Scott.  2.  In  the  second  month — they  could  not  keep  it  in  the 
 first  month,  according  to  the  law  of  God,  for  reasons  assigned  in  the 
 next  verse. — Gill.  5,  Throughout  all  Israel — we  may  presume  he 
 had  encouragement  from  Hosea  himself,  the  king  of  Israel,  who,  as  to 
 the  matter  of  religiun,  has  a  better  character  in  Scripture  tlian  any  of 
 his  predecessors  since  the  division  of  the  two  kingdoms.  But  the  truth 
 is,  that  the  golden  calf  of  Dan  had  been  taken  away  by  Tiglath  pikser, 
 and  that  of  Bethel  by  his  son  Shalmaneser,  and.  therefore,  the  apostate 
 Jews,  being  thus  deprived  of  their  idols,  began  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem 
 to  worship  some  time  before  this  invitation. — Priiteoux. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIX.— I.  As  Ahaz  teas  thewicked 
 son  of  a  pious  father,  so  Hezekiah  was  the  pious  son  of  a  wicked 
 father.  Example,  in  general,  has  an  influence  ;  but  bere  is  a 
 striking  proof  that  divine  grace  is  sovereign  in  its  operations. 
 God  is  able,  out  of  hanlened  stones,  to  raise  up  children  unto 
 Abraham  ;  and  some  of  the  brightest  trophies  of  Divine  grace 
 have  sprunc  out  of  tho  most  wicked  families. 
 484 
 
 II.  See  in  all  the  transactions  of  this  chapter  how  deeply  sin  de- 
 files, and  how  mcessary  is  an  atonement.  What  can  *  purge  the 
 conscience  and  washthe  heart  of  a  sinner,*  save  tliat  precious 
 blood  which  these  sacrifices  typified?  And  this  is  our  only 
 solace  under  a  consciousness  of  our  guilt  and  pollution,  in 
 turning  away  from  God — 'the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleauaeth 
 us  from  all  sin.' 
 
Idolatry  destroyed. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXX. 
 
 The  passover  solemnly  kept. 
 
 0  So  the  posts  went  with  the  letters  f  from 
 the  king  and  liis  princes  throughout  all  Israel 
 and  Judah,  and  according  to  the  command- 
 ment of  the  king,  saying.  Ye  children  of  Israel, 
 •'  tinn  again  unto  the  Lord  God  of  Abraham, 
 Isaac,  and  Israel,  and  lie  will  return  to  the 
 remnant  of  you,  that  are  escaped  out  of  the 
 hand  of  the  kings  of  Assyria. 
 
 7  And  be  not  ye  'like  your  fathers,  and  like 
 your  brethren,  which  trespassed  against  the 
 Loud  God  of  their  fathers,  tcho  therefore  ^gave 
 tliem  up  to  desolation,  as  ye  see. 
 
 8  Now  fbe  ye  not  "  stiffnecked,  as  your 
 fathers  ivere,  hut  f  yield  yourselves  unto  the 
 LoKD,  and  enter  into  his  sanctuary,  which  he 
 hath  sanctified  for  ever :  and  serve  the  Lobd 
 your  God,  '  tliat  the  fierceness  of  Iiis  wrath 
 may  turn  away  from  you. 
 
 9  For  if  ye  turn  again  unto  the  Lord,  your 
 bretliren  and  your  children  shall  Jin  d  'com- 
 passion before  them  that  lead  tliem  captive,  so 
 that  they  shall  come  again  into  this  land  :  for 
 Hie  Lord  your  God  is  '  gracious  and  merciful, 
 and  will  not  turn  away  his  face  from  you,  if  ye 
 "'  return  unto  liim. 
 
 10  So  the  posts  passed  from  city  to  city 
 through  the  country  of  Ephraim  and  Manasseh 
 even  unto  Zebulun  :  but  "  they  laughed  them 
 to  scorn,  and  mocked  them. 
 
 1 1  Nevertheless  °  divers  of  Asher  and  Ma- 
 nasseh and  of  Zebulun  humbled  themselves, 
 and  came  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 1-2  Also  in  Judah  ■' the  hand  of  God  was  to 
 give  them  one  heart  to  do  the  commandment 
 of  the  king  and  of  the  princes,  '  by  the  word 
 of  tlie  Lord. 
 
 l.'J  If  And  there  assembled  at,Ierusalem  much 
 people  to  keep  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread 
 in  the  second  month,  a  very  great  congregation. 
 
 14  And  they  arose  and  took  away  the  ''altars 
 that  u^ere  in  Jerusalem,  and  all  the  altars  for 
 incense  took  they  away,  and  cast  thein  into  the 
 brook  Kidron. 
 
 15  Then  they  killed  the  passover  on  the 
 fourteenth  day  of  the  second  month  :  and  the 
 priests  and  tlie  Levites  were  ^  ashamed,  and 
 sanctified  themselves,  and  brouglit  in  the  burnt 
 offerings  into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 16  And  tliey  stood  in  t  their  place  after  their 
 manner,  according  to  tlie  law  of  Moses  the 
 man  of  God  :  the  priests  sprinkled  the  blood, 
 which  they  received  of  the  hand  of  the  Levites, 
 
 fi'.zc.  -20.13, 
 
 gcU.  29,  3, 
 
 /„ir. 
 
 »«t 
 
 I.  Hi 
 
 t,  netl-l 
 t  Heb.j, 
 
 //,..  I,nu<t  ; 
 
 See  I  i;iir. 
 
 29.-21.  Eira 
 
 to.  10 
 i  ch.  :i9.  10. 
 
 jch.  £9.25. 
 
 t  Heb    Ihri 
 
 B.  c.  -ir^ 
 /  cti.  29   31, 
 
 (  nohjomf. 
 
 ...f 
 
 f  Heb,  .'. 
 
 t  Heb.  r<.  Ih^ 
 /..-irr  ..fall, 
 *r.  Is.  .10. 
 
 a  ch.  r.  9. 
 &  3.1.  3 
 Deu.:lS.  10. 
 
 e  Sec  1  Kin 
 9.  63. 
 
 t  Heb.  lifted 
 iicb.SS.7,  8, 
 
 g  Nu.  6,  93. 
 
 t  Heb    Ih, 
 
 A, 5  /i„/|y.rj 
 rs.  t9.5. 
 
 17  For  there  were  many  in  the  congregation 
 that  were  not  sanctified  :  '  therefore  the  Le- 
 vites had  tlie  charge  of  the  killing  of  tlie  pass- 
 overs  for  every  one  tlial  was  not  clean,  to 
 sanctify  them  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 18  F'or  a  multitude  of  the  people,  even 
 "  many  of  Ephraim,  and  Manasseli,  Issachar, 
 and  Zebulun,  had  not  cleansed  tliemselves, 
 '^  yet  did  they  eat  the  passover  otlierwise  than 
 it  was  written.  But  Hezekiah  prayed  for 
 thein,  saying,  The  good  Lord  pardon  every 
 one 
 
 1 9  That  >'  prepareth  his  heart  to  seek  God, 
 the  Lord  God  of  his  fatliers,  though  he  be  not 
 cleansed  according  to  the  purification  of  the 
 sanctuary. 
 
 20  And  the  Lord  hearkened  to  Hezekiah, 
 and  healed  the  people. 
 
 2 1  And  the  cliildren  of  Lsrael  that  were  f  pre- 
 sent at  Jerusalem  kept  '  the  feast  of  unleavened 
 bread  seven  days  with  great  gladness:  and  the 
 Levites  and  the  priests  praised  the  Lord  day 
 by  day,  singing  with  f  loud  instruments  unto 
 the  Lord. 
 
 22  And  Hezekiah  spake  f  comfortaldy  unto 
 all  the  Levites  '  that  taught  the  good  know- 
 ledge of  the  Lord  :  and  they  did  eat  through- 
 out the  feast  seven  days,  oft'ering  peace  offer- 
 ings, and  '  making  confession  to  the  Lord 
 God  of  their  fathers. 
 
 23  And  the  whole  assembly  took  counsel  to 
 keep  "^  other  seven  days  :  and  they  kept  other 
 seven  days  with  gladness. 
 
 24  For  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah  f  ^  did  give 
 to  the  congregation  a  thousand  bullocks  and 
 seven  thousand  sheep  ;  and  the  princes  gave 
 to  the  congregation  a  thousand  bullocks  and 
 ten  thousand  sheep  :  and  a  great  number  of 
 priests  "sanctified  themselves. 
 
 25  And  all  the  congregation  of  Judah,  with 
 the  priests  and  the  Levites,  and  all  the  con- 
 gregation '  that  came  out  of  Israel,  and  the 
 strangers  that  came  out  of  the  land  of  Israel, 
 and  that  dwelt  in  Judali,  rejoiced. 
 
 26  So  there  was  great  joy  in  Jerusalem  :  for 
 since  the  time  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David 
 king  of  Israel  there  teas  not  the  like  in  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 27  t  Then  the  priests  the  Levites  arose  and 
 *  blessed  the  people :  and  their  voice  "was 
 heard,  and  their  prayer  came  up  to  fhis  holy 
 dwelling  place,  even  unto  heaven. 
 
 6.  Posfs.  cyi, '  runners  ;'  messengers  of  the  same  kind  as  the  running 
 footmen,  who  were  formerly,  before  the  establisliment  of  posts,  emi)loye(l 
 on  similar  occasions. — Heir,  8.  Yield  j/oiirsrlres,  T  *13n,  '  give  the 
 tiand'  to  him,  as  a  token  of  subjection  and  homage,  or  of  entering  into 
 covenant  with  him. — Png.,  Hlont.^  Gilt.  12.  By   the   wird   nf   the 
 
 Lard — if  the  rulers  had  commanded  anything  contrary  to  the  word  of 
 the  Lord,  or  beyond  it,  in  affairs  of  religion,  it  would  have  been  a  mis- 
 apiilication  of  their  authority  ;  but,  as  they  required  nothing  but  what 
 
 God  had  expressly  enjoined,  they  duly  improved  their  talent;  and  the 
 people,  by  the  grace  of  God,  knew  and  performed  their  duty. — Scott. 
 20.  Healed  the  people,  *  forgave  their  sins  ;'  forgiveness  being  expressed 
 by  healing,  {Ps.  xli.  4.) — Kimchi,  so  Pitt.,  and  Gill.  Perhaps  the 
 Lord  had  visited  them  with  some  sickness  for  their  irregular  attend- 
 ance.— Scott.  25.  S^rong'ers,  proselytes  from  all  places. — Si/t.  11.  The 
 priests  and  Levites — the  priests  who  were  of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  for  some 
 in  Israel  were  not,  but  were  made  of  any  of  the  people. — Gill, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXX Here,  I.  Hezekiah  proclaims 
 
 a  passover.  'Though,'  says  Sutcliffe,  'tlie  season  for  the 
 passover  was  passeil,  yet,  regarding  the  duty  more  than  the 
 day,  he  commanded  it  to  be  celebrated  one  month  later.  He 
 thought  it  sinful  or  unwise  to  delay  another  year,  for  it  bad 
 been  neglected  many  years  ;  and  pious  purposes  postponed 
 are  apt  to  vanisli  away.  Hence  we  learn,  that  with  God  ibe 
 spirit  of  devotion  is  more  than  the  observance  of  days  and 
 punctilious  forms  of  worship.'     Observe, 
 
 II.  The  reception  of  HezekialCs  proclamation.  There  were 
 many  that  laugberl  the  messengers  to  scorn,  and  mocked  tbera. 
 Into  wbat  an  awful  state  of  infidelity  must  Israel  bave  then 
 fallen,  when  tbe  most  sacred  and  memorable  of  all  the  Hebrew 
 festivals  was  thus  treated  with  supreme  contempt !  But 
 485 
 
 divers  in  Israel  bumbled  themselves,  and  in  Judah  they  bad 
 one  heart  on  this  occasion.  We  see,  in  tbe  reception  of  the 
 king's  message,  the  different  sorts  of  reception  which  the  mi- 
 nisters of  salvation  still  meet  ;  they  are  to  some  '  a  savour  of 
 death  unto  deatli,"  and  to  others  '  of  life  unto  life.'  Happy 
 tbey  who  by  faith  keep  the  passover  with  the  unleavened 
 bread  of  sincerity  and  truth.  What  peace  of  conscience  is  en- 
 joyed wbere  tbe  blood  of  sprinkling  is  applied  to  tbe  heart ! 
 What  joy  in  tbe  Holy  Ghost  when  tbe  Spirit  takes  of  tbe  things 
 of  Christ,  and  shews  them  unto  us!  Then,  indeed,  is  tbere 
 '  great  joy  in  Jerusalem,'  while  prayers  and  praise  ascend 
 acceptably  before  God,  perfumed  with  the  much  incense  of 
 the  Saviour's  merits. 
 
The.  people  bring  ajfeiinr/s  ana  tithes.       II.  CHRONICLES,  XXXI. 
 
 Hezehiali's  sincerity. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 I  The  feojih:  is  forward  in  destroijinii  idolatry.  2  lle- 
 zekiah  ordereth  the  courses  of  the  priests  and  Lecitis. 
 and  providetli  fur  their  work  and  mainlenanci:  b 
 The  penpWs  forwardness  in  offerintfs  and  tithes.  1 1 
 Hezekiali  appointeth  officers  to  dispose  of  the  titiies. 
 20   The  sincerity  of  Hezekiah. 
 
 NOW  when  all  this  was  finished,  all  Israel 
 that  were  f  present  went  out  to  the  cities 
 of  Jnclali,  and  "brake  the  f  images  in  pieces, 
 and  cut  duwn  the  groves,  and  threw  down  the 
 higli  places  and  the  altars  out  of  all  Judah  and 
 15eiijamin,  in  Ephraini  also  and  Manassch, 
 t  until  they  had  utterly  destroyed  them  all. 
 Then  all  the  children  of  Israel  returned,  every 
 man  to  his  possession,  into  their  own  cities. 
 
 •i  1[  And  Hezekiah  appointed  ''  the  courses  of 
 the  priests  and  the  Levites  after  their  courses, 
 every  man  according  to  his  service,  the  priests 
 and  Levites  '  for  burnt  offerings  and  for  peace 
 offerings,  to  minister,  and  to  give  tlianks,  and 
 to  praise  in  the  gates  of  the  tents  of  the  Lonn. 
 
 3  He  appointed  also  the  king's  portion  of  his 
 substance  for  tlio  burnt  otTerings,  to  iril,  for  the 
 morning  and  evening  burnt  offerings,  and  the 
 burnt  offerings  for  the  sabbatlis,  and  for  the 
 new  moons,  ami  for  the  set  feasts,  as  it  is 
 written  in  the  *■  law  of  the  Lord. 
 
 4  Moreover  he  commanded  ihe  people  that 
 dwelt  in  Jerusalem  (o  give  the  "portion  of  the 
 priests  and  the  Levites,  that  they  might  be  en- 
 couraged in  'the  law  of  the  Lord. 
 
 5  t  And  as  soon  as  the  commandment  fcame 
 abroad,  tlie  children  of  Israel  brought  in  abun- 
 dance *  the  firstfruits  of  corn,  wine,  and  oil, 
 and  II  honey,  and  of  all  the  increase  of  the 
 field  ;  and  the  tithe  of  all  thinys  brought  they 
 in  abundantly. 
 
 6  And  concirnitif/  the  children  of  Israel  and 
 .ludah,  that  dwelt  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  they 
 also  brought  in  the  tithe  of  oxen  and  sheep, 
 and  the  ''  tithe  of  holy  things  which  were  con- 
 secrated unto  the  Lord  their  God,  and  laid 
 them  f  by  heaps. 
 
 7  In  the  third  month  they  began  to  lay  the 
 foundation  of  the  heaps,  and  finished  Ihcm  in 
 the  seventh  month. 
 
 8  And  when  Hezekiah  and  the  princes  came 
 and  saw  the  heaps,  they  blessed  the  Lord,  and 
 liis  people  Israel. 
 
 9  Then  Hezekiah  questioned  with  the  priests 
 and  the  Levites  concerning  the  heaps. 
 
 10  And  Azariah  the  chief  priest  of  the  house 
 of  Zadok  answered  him,  and  said,  '  Since  the 
 people  began  to  bring  the  offerings  into  tlie 
 
 t  H.  b.  knh. 
 
 t  \\ch.hra;'i 
 
 itfir*. 
 
 t  Hch.f,mnd. 
 1  2  Kin.  18. 
 
 A  N(.1..I3.I3 
 
 t  Heb.  itn- 
 /»<«,  cli  30. 
 
 \  Hell.  mtU 
 t-i  twike  nn 
 
 end. 
 
 t  Hcl>.  at  Ihf 
 
 b  1  Clir    21. 
 
 r  1  Clir    ll 
 311.  SI. 
 
 l,H.„i. 
 
 /J..^h.  ?l.  9 
 
 [1   Or.  iT»tt. 
 1  Chr.  y.  tl 
 
 ■i  Xiiin.  23, 
 
 n  I  Clit.23. 
 
 house  of  the  Lord,  we  have  had  enough  to 
 eat,  and  have  left  plenty :  for  the  Lord  hath 
 blessed  his  people  ;  and  that  which  is  left  is 
 this  great  store. 
 
 1 1  t  Then  Hezekiah  commanded  to  prepare 
 II  cliambers  in  the  house  of  the  Lord.;  and 
 they  prepared  them, 
 
 12  And  brought  in  the  offerings  and  the 
 tithes  and  the  dedicated  things  faithfully  : 
 '  over  which  Cononiah  the  Levite  was  ruler, 
 and  Sbimei  his  brother  leas  the  next. 
 
 i;i  And  Jehiel,  and  Azaziah,  and  Nahath, 
 and  Asahel,  and  Jerimoth,  and  Jozabad,  and 
 Eliel,and  Ismachiah,  an<l  Mahath,  and  Benaiah, 
 were  overseers  f  under  the  hand  of  Cononiah 
 and  Shimci  his  brother,  at  the  commandment 
 of  Hezekiah  the  king,  and  Azariah  the  ruler 
 of  the  house  of  God. 
 
 14  And  Kore  the  son  of  Imnah  the  Levite, 
 the  porter  toward  the  east,  was  over  the  free- 
 will offerings  of  God,  to  distribute  the  obla- 
 tions of  the  Lord,  and  the  most  holy  things. 
 
 15  And  t  next  him  u-ere  Eden,  and  Minia- 
 min,  and  Jeshua,  and  Shemaiah,  Amariali,  and 
 Shecaniali,  in  '  the  cities  of  the  priests,  in  their 
 II  set  office,  to  give  to  their  brethren  by  courses, 
 as  well  to  the  great  as  to  the  small  : 
 
 16  Beside  their  genealogy  of  males,  from 
 three  years  old  and  upward,  even  unto  every 
 one  that  entereth  into'the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 his  daily  portion  for  their  service  in  their 
 charges  according  to  their  courses  ; 
 
 1 7  Both  to  the  genealogy  of  the  priests  by  Ihe 
 house  of  their  fathers,  and  the  Levites  ""  from 
 twenty  years  old  and  upward,  in  their  charges 
 by  their  courses  ; 
 
 18  And  to  the  genealogy  of  all  their  little 
 ones,  their  wives,  and  their  sons,  and  tlieir 
 daughters,  through  all  the  congregation  :  for 
 in  their  ||  set  oftice  they  sanctified  themselves 
 in  holiness  : 
 
 19  Also  of  the  sons  of  Aaron  the  priests, 
 which  were  in  "  the  fields  of  the  suburbs  of 
 their  cities,  in  every  several  city,  the  men  that 
 were  "  expressed  by  name,  to  give  portions  to 
 all  the  males  among  the  priests,  and  to  all  that 
 were  reckoned  by  genealogies  among  the 
 Levites. 
 
 20  1  And  thus  did  Hezekiah  throughout  all 
 Judah,  and  ''  wrought  that  which  was  good  and 
 right  and  truth  before  the  Lord  his  God. 
 
 21  And  in  every  work  that  he  began  hi  the 
 service  of  the  house  of  God,  and  in  the  law, 
 and  in  the  commandments,  to  seek  his  God, 
 he  did  il  with  all  his  heart,  and  prospered. 
 
 Chap.  XXXI.  — 2-  0/ tlie  tents  nf  the  Lurrt,  or  "camp  of  the  Lord,' 
 where  they  were  posted.— (Vi7/.  The  buildings  wliich  surrounded  the 
 temple,  in  which  the  priests  and  Levites  were  stationed,  resembled  tlie 
 tents  in  which  stildiers  are  regularly  encamped. — Scutt.  All  houses 
 are  often  so  called,  as  Judg.  xix.  Q;  xx.  8  ;  Ps.  Ixix.  2b.—roo!e. 
 3.  TIte  tiinti^a  porlivn,  OMt  of  his  own  treasury,  o\er  and  above  what 
 was  usnal  for  liings  to  give  for  their  own  sacrifices,  the  treasury  of  the 
 t:'jn|)le  lieuic  exhausted,  and  the  people  in  low  circumstances. — GUI. 
 nj.  Beside  tlieir  freneatoff/f,  ^r.,  *  besides  to  those  of  their  males  reckoned 
 from  three  years  old,'  8cc. — Boothr.    The  meaning,  perhaps,  is,  that 
 
 such  Levites,  under  twenty,  as  came  to  do  any  office,  with  their  fathers, 
 about  the  temple,  were  entitled  to  a  daily  portion,  independent  of  that 
 given  to  their  fathers. — Geddes.  18.  .'ind  to  the  genealogy,  ^n.,  'arui 
 the  whole  multitude  of  their  little  ones,  their  wives,  and  their  sons, 
 and  their  daughters,  were  taken  into  the  account,'  of  those  who  had 
 faithfully  hallowed  themselves. — Boothr.  The  last  clause  in  ourtrans- 
 lation,  *  for  in  their  set  oi/ire,'  ^c.,  rendered  by  Boothroyd  as  just  given, 
 is  also  rendered,  'Because  the  sacred  gifts  were  cornniittcd  to  their 
 trust.'- Gcrfrf*?.*. 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  XXXI.  — I.  »c  sliew  that  God's 
 ordinances  profit  onr  simis  when  they  hindle  in  us  zeal  for  his 
 (jlory.  When  the  |iassover  was  finished,  all  Israel  that  were 
 present  suUieil  lorih.  fully  bent  on  the  destruclion  of  the  last 
 rebcs  of  idolalry.  While  any  evils  remuia  to  be  removed 
 around  us,  which  ignorance,  supei-stition,  or  vice,  have  contri- 
 buted to  propagate.it  is  unworthy  the  character  and  principles 
 of  a  good  man  to  lie  passive.  He  should,  by  every  means 
 lu  his  power,  enileuvour  to  eradicate  them,  and  in  so  doing, 
 48(i 
 
 he  advances  the  good  of  bis  country,  the  interests  of  Ihe 
 church  of  God,  and  the  plory  of  the  Divine  name.  '  It  is  good 
 to  be  always  zealously  affected  in  a  good  thing.' 
 
 n.  Zetd  for  God's  i/hry  will  kindle  in  ux  a  desire  for  the  mam- 
 tcniince  of  God's  ordinancrs.  Thus  there  is  an  important  re- 
 action. Here  '  (he  I.evites  laboured  lor  the  people,  and  the 
 people  laboured  for  the  Levites.'  If  we  reap  spiritual  things 
 tVom  the  ministers  of  God,  we  should  not  wilhbold  from  tbeui 
 our  carnal  things. 
 
Sr.inuir.lii'rih  immrieth  Jmhih. 
 
 1 1.  CHRONICLES,  XXXII.      The  Assyrians  destroyed  hy  an  angel. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI  I. 
 
 I  SimnarJicrib  invadinj  Jiulnh,  TJizcldah  fortijtcth 
 /limsvlf,  and  eiicouraffct/i  /lis  /'t'njite.  9  Atjainst  the 
 btuspfirinifti  of  Seniiactterili,  hi/  messac/e  and  ItUtci'sy 
 Jlczctiift/i  tttid  hdialt  praij.  21  An  ani/t^'l  flestrai/ctli 
 tlie  tiost  uf  ttic  Asst/rians^  to  t/ic  (/toiy  of  Hezciuu/t. 
 24  Hezehta/i  prayiny  in  tiis  sickness,  God  yivet/i  Jtint 
 a  siij7i  of  recovery.  25  He  wnri/iy  proud  is  tiumhled 
 hy  God.  27  His  wealt/i  and  ivorks.  31  His  error 
 in  tlie  amhassage  of  Babylon.  32  He  dying,  Ma- 
 nnsseli  sncceedet/t  ttim. 
 
 A  FTER  "  these  tilings,  and  the  establish- 
 -^^  meiit  thereof,  Sennacherib  kinij  of  Assyria 
 came,  ami  entered  into  Judah,  and  encamped 
 against  the  fenced  cities,  and  thought  f  to  win 
 them  for  himself. 
 
 2  And  when  Hezekiah  saw  that  Sennacherib 
 was  come,  and  that  fhe  was  purposed  to  fight 
 against  .Terusalem, 
 
 3  He  took  counsel  with  his  princes  and  hi 
 mighty  men  to  stop  the  waters  of  the  fountains 
 which  were  without   the  city  :   and   they   did 
 help  him. 
 
 4  So  there  was  gathered  much  people  to- 
 gether, who  stopped  all  the  fountains,  and  the 
 brook  that  f  ran  through  tlie  midst  of  the  land, 
 saying.  Why  should  the  kings  of  Assyria  come, 
 and  find  much  water? 
 
 5  Also  ''  he  strengthened  himself,  '  and  built 
 up  all  the  wall  that  was  broken,  and  raised  it 
 up  to  the  towers,  and  another  wall  without, 
 and  repaired  •*  Milio  in  the  city  of  David,  and 
 made  ||  darts  and  shields  in  abundance. 
 
 C  And  he  set  captains  of  war  over  the  people, 
 and  gathered  them  together  to  him  in  the  street 
 of  the  gate  of  the  city,  and  f  spake  comfortably 
 to  them,  saying, 
 
 7  "  Be  strong  and  courageous,  '  be  not  afraid 
 nor  dismayed  for  the  king  of  Assyria,  nor  for 
 all  the  multitude  that  (s  with  him  :  for  ^  there 
 be  more  with  us  than  with  him  : 
 
 8  With  him  is  an  "  arm  of  flesh  ;  but  '  with 
 us  is  tlie  LoKD  our  God  to  help  us,  and  to 
 fight  our  battles.  And  the  people  f  rested 
 themselves  upon  the  words  of  Hezekiah  king 
 of  Judah. 
 
 9  f '  After  this  did  Sennacherib  king  of  A.s- 
 syria  send  his  servants  to  Jerusalem,  (but  he 
 himself  laid  sier/e  against  Lachish,  and  all  his 
 t  power  with  him,)  unto  Hezekiah  king  of  Ju- 
 dah, and  unto  all  Judah  that  were  at  Jerusa- 
 lem, saying, 
 
 10  '  Thus  saith  Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria, 
 Whereon  do  ye  trust,  that  ye  abide  ||  in  the 
 siege  in  Jeru.salem  ? 
 
 1 1  Doth  not  Hezekiah  persuade  you  to  give 
 over  yourselves  to  die  by  famine  and  by  thirst, 
 saying,  '"The  Lokd  our  God  shall  deliver  us 
 out  of  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Assyria  ? 
 
 12  "  Hath  not  the  same  Hezekiah  taken  away 
 his  high  places  and  his  altars,  and  commanded 
 Judah  and  Jerusalem,  saying.  Ye  shall  worship 
 before  one  altar,  and  burn  incense  upon  it? 
 
 13  Know  ye  not  what  I  and  my  fathers  have 
 done  unto  all  the  people  of  o/Aer  lands?  "were 
 
 u  2  Kin.  18. 
 l.-J,  Sio. 
 1h.  liO.I.'vc, 
 
 t  Hell    l« 
 
 t  H.-l.,  !ni 
 
 /,>,'■    IV. IS    /. 
 
 <i9Sam.£i.9 
 I  Kin   <I2A. 
 
 cli.  no.  22. 
 
 Is   .10.  2. 
 
 D.'ti.  .SI.  6. 
 /.■li.  20.  lb. 
 J  2  Kin.O.  IG. 
 
 h  Jcr    17.  5. 
 
 I  .T.ilin4.4. 
 
 .11.  13.  12. 
 
 U.'ni.  S.31. 
 t  Ikb. 
 
 U„Md. 
 
 Or,  in  tlie 
 ttrintf;  lii'ld. 
 
 n  2  Kin.  Ifl. 
 30. 
 
 (2  Kin   18, 
 96,  27, 28. 
 
 .r  2  Kill.  iO 
 
 lf> 
 '/  2  Kin    I 'J. 
 
 2,4. 
 fir.  Tin. 
 =  2  Kill.  10. 
 
 35,  &c. 
 
 I  Hob.  riirtri 
 him /all. 
 
 t  Heb.  lire- 
 
 It  cli.  17.  5.  ' 
 b  ch.  I.I. 
 
 713. 
 2  Kin.  20. 
 1.  I..  39.  1. 
 
 rn'r'a""  f  r 
 
 l.iiu. 
 dPB.  116.  12. 
 ffch.2e.  16. 
 
 Hab.  2.  4. 
 /"ch.  24.  IS. 
 
 Jjer.  26.  18, 
 
 19. 
 t  Heb.  tlut 
 
 li/liiiH  up. 
 
 the  gods  of  the  nations  of  those  lands  any 
 ways  able  to  deliver  their  lands  out  of  mine 
 hand  ? 
 
 14  Who  tvas  there  among  all  the  gods  of 
 those  nations  that  my  fathers  utterly  destroyed, 
 that  could  deliver  his  people  out  of  mine  hand, 
 that  your  God  should  be  able  to  deliver  you 
 out  of  mine  hand  ? 
 
 15  Now  therefore  ''let  not  Hezekiah  deceive 
 you,  nor  persuade  you  on  tliis  manner,  neither 
 yet  believe  him  :  for  no  god  of  any  nation  or 
 kingdom  was  able  to  deliver  his  people  out  of 
 mine  hand,  and  out  of  the  hand  of  my  fathers  : 
 how  much  less  shall  your  God  deliver  you  out 
 of  mine  hand  ? 
 
 16  And  his  servants  spake  yet  more  against 
 the  Lord  God,  and  against  his  servant  Heze- 
 kiah. 
 
 17  ■*  He  wrote  also  letters  to  rail  on  the 
 Loud  God  of  Israel,  and  to  speak  against  him, 
 saying,  '  As  the  gods  of  the  nations  of  other 
 lands  have  not  delivered  their  people  out  of 
 mine  hand,  so  shall  not  the  God  of  Hezekiah 
 deliver  his  people  out  of  mine  hand. 
 
 18  "Then  they  cried  with  a  loud  voice  in  the 
 Jews'  speech  unto  the  people  of  Jerusalem 
 '  that  were  on  the  wall,  to  affright  them,  and 
 to  trouble  them  ;  that  they  might  take  the 
 city. 
 
 19  And  they  spake  against  the  God  of  Jeru- 
 salem, as  against  the  gods  of  the  people  of  the 
 earth,  which  were  "  the  work  of  the  hands  of 
 man. 
 
 20  "^  And  for  this  cause  Hezekiah  the  king, 
 and  ^  the  prophet  Isaiah  the  son  of  Amoz, 
 prayed  and  cried  to  heaven. 
 
 21  IT  ^  And  the  Lord  sent  an  angel,  which 
 cut  off  all  the  mighty  men  of  valour,  and  the 
 "eaders  and  captains  in  the  camp  of  the  king 
 of  Assyria.  So  he  returned  with  shame  of 
 face  to  his  own  land.  And  when  he  was  come 
 into  the  house  of  his  god,  they  tliat  came  forth 
 of  his  own  bowels  fslew  him  there  with  the 
 sword. 
 
 22  Thus  the  Lord  saved  Hezekiah  and  the 
 inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  from  the  hand  of  Sen- 
 nacherib the  king  of  Assyria,  and  from  the 
 hand  of  all  other,  and  guided  them  on  every 
 side. 
 
 23  And  many  brought  gifts  unto  the  Lord 
 to  Jerusalem,  and  f  presents  to  Hezekiah 
 king  of  Judah  :  so  that  he  was  ''  magnified  in 
 the  sight  of  all  nations  from  thenceforth. 
 
 24  f  '^  In  those  days  Hezekiah  was  sick  to  the 
 death,  and  prayed  unto  the  Lord  :  and  he 
 spake  unto  him,  and  he  ||  gave  him  a  sign. 
 
 2.5  But  Hezekiah  ''rendered  not  again  ac- 
 cording to  the  benefit  dojie  unto  him  ;  for 
 "■  his  heart  was  lifted  up  :  ''  therefore  there  was 
 wrath  upon  him,  and  upon  Judah  and  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 26  ^  Notwithstanding  Hezekiah  humbled  him- 
 self for  t  the  pride  of  his  heart,  both  he  and  the 
 inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  so  that  the  wratli  of 
 
 Chap.  XXXII.  — 1.  To  win  Hiem,  DVpib,  '  tobreak  through  by  force.' 
 —Mont.  :  so  also  Bootliroyd.  3.  To  stop  the  waters  of  itie  fountiiins, 
 with  earth,  that  so  the  Assyrian  army  might  procure  no  water,  and  .Te- 
 rusalem be  secretly  siipjilied. — Pnt.,  Gill,  Poole.  4.  Tlte  brook,  sup- 
 posed to  have  been  Kidron,  called  Gihon,  (ver.  30.) — Scott.  15.  For 
 no  i^od—wiis  able,  ^c— we  are  not  surprised  at  this  boast  from  a  hea- 
 then, if  we  consider  the  conquests  and  power  of  tlic  .\3syrian  miinarchv. 
 487 
 
 It  embraced  the  Caspian  Sea,  for  many  of  the  ton  tribes  were  placed  in 
 Armenia,  and  on  the  river  Gozan,  which  runs  into  the  Caspian,  the 
 whole  of  Babylon,  of  Persia,  of  Damascus  or  Syria,  of  Samaria,  and 
 Galilee  ;  Troy  also  once  bore  its  y<ike.  The  seat  of  empire  was,  how. 
 ever,  not  yet  transferred  to  Babylon,  hut  was  at  Nineveh,  a  city  suji. 
 posed  to  have  contained  at  least  500,00(1  inhabitants. — So  .S';*^.  i^l  Sent 
 an  angel — see  note  on  2  Kings,  xix.  35. 
 
The  death  of  Hezekiah. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXXIII. 
 
 Manasseh's  wicked  reign. 
 
 the  Lord  came  not  upon  them  ''  in  the  days  of 
 Hezekiah. 
 
 27  H  And  Hezekiah  had  exceeding  much 
 riches  and  honour :  and  he  made  himself 
 treasuries  for  silver,  and  for  gold,  and  for  pre- 
 cious stones,  and  for  spices,  and  for  shields, 
 and  for  all  manner  of  f  pleasant  jewels  j 
 
 28  Storehouses  also  for  tlie  increase  of  corn, 
 and  wine,  and  oil  ;  and  stalls  for  all  manner  of 
 heasts,  and  cotes  for  flocks. 
 
 29  Moreover  he  provided  him  cities,  and  pos- 
 sessions of  flocks  and  herds  in  abundance  :  for 
 '  God  had  given  him  substance  very  much. 
 
 .30  '  This  same  Hezekiah  also  stopped  the 
 upper  watercourse  of  Gihon.  and  brought  it 
 straight  down  to  the  west  side  of  the  city  of 
 David.  And  Hezekiah  prospered  in  all  his 
 works. 
 
 31  f  Howbeit  in  the  business  oflhe  f  ambas- 
 sadors of  the  princes  of  Babylon,  who  '  sent 
 unto  him  to  enquire  of  the  wonder  that  was 
 done  in  the  land,  God  left  him,  to  ""  try  him, 
 that  he  might  know  all  that  ivns  in  his  heart. 
 
 32  U  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Hezekiah, 
 and  his  f  goodness,  behold,  they  ore  written  in 
 "  the  vision  of  Isaiah  the  prophet,  the  son  of 
 Amoz,  and  in  the  "  book  of  the  kings  of  Judah 
 and  Israel. 
 
 33  '  And  Hezekiah  slept  with  his  fathers, 
 and  they  buried  him  in  the  ||  chiefest  of  the 
 sepulchres  of  the  sons  of  David  :  and  all  ,In- 
 dah  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  did  him 
 ''  honour  at  his  death.  And  Manasseh  his  son 
 reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP,  xxxin. 
 
 1  ]\Tnnasse/i\s  tvicked  rtiyn.  3  He  sefttth  vp  ifloJatri/, 
 and  irnvhi  not  he  adninnished.  1 1  He  is  carried  into 
 BaJiyhm.  12  U/ion /lis  prai/er  to  (iiul  he  is  rthnsed, 
 and  puttith  down  idolatry.  18  His  arts.  20  //♦• 
 dyinp.  Anion  sJiccecdtfh  him.  21  Amon  reii;nin<j 
 wickedly  is  shtin  hy  his  servants.  25  T/tc  nnirderers 
 being  slain,  Jos/a/i  sncceedeth  him. 
 
 ANASSEH  "  was  twelve  years  old  when 
 
 M 
 
 he  began   to  reign,  and   he   reigned  fifty 
 and  five  years  in  .lernsaieni  : 
 
 2  l?nt  did  that  irhich  irns  evil  in  the  sight  of 
 the  Lord,  like  unto  the  '"abominations  of  the 
 
 ,'  2  Clir.  29. 
 
 12. 
 k  Is.82.9,  U. 
 
 712. 
 1  H,?b.  intrt. 
 
 I  2  Kin.  20. 
 12  Is  39.1 
 m  Itcii.  8.  2 
 
 t  Hcl).  twit 
 
 „  Is.  H6,&  R7, 
 8t  S.S,  K<  3'-i. 
 
 o  2  Kiti.  Ift, 
 &  lU,  &  2U. 
 
 )»  2  Kin.  SO. 
 
 <j  Prov.lO. : 
 
 ,  2Kin.  21. 
 1.  8ic. 
 
 turneit  and 
 
 b„,ll. 
 c  2  Kin.  18. 
 
 4  cli.  30-14, 
 
 «t  SI.  I.  & 
 
 .32.  )2. 
 ^/ Den. 16  21. 
 1  Deu.  17.  S. 
 
 /DTO.12.U- 
 I  Kin.  8.29, 
 Ik  9.  3.  ch. 
 6.  0.  &  7. 
 IC. 
 
 ^  cb.  4   9. 
 
 A  T.ev,l3,  21. 
 lieu  18,  III 
 2Kiii, 23.10 
 eh.  2H.  3 
 Kii'k. 23.37, 
 39 
 
 1  lieu.  18. 
 
 .lob  30    8 
 t  Hcb.  >i-/iiiA 
 
 ti  Ps,  107.  10, 
 
 q  1  Pet.  5.  6. 
 
 heathen,  whom  the  Loud  had  cast  out  before 
 the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 3  1  For  t  he  built  again  the  high  places  which 
 Hezekiah  his  father  had  "^  broken  down,  and  he 
 reared  up  altars  for  Baalim,  and  ''  made  groves, 
 and  worsliippcd  "  all  the  host  of  heaven,  and 
 served  them. 
 
 4  Also  he  built  altars  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  whereof  the  Lord  had  said,  '  In  Jeru- 
 salem shall  my  name  be  for  ever. 
 
 5  And  he  built  altars  for  all  the  host  of 
 heaven  ^in  the  two  courts  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 6  ''And  he  caused  his  children  to  pass  through 
 the  fire  in  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom  : 
 'also  he  observed  times,  and  used  eucliant- 
 inents,  and  used  witchcraft,  and  '■  dealt  witli  a 
 familiar  spirit,  and  with  wizards  :  he  wrought 
 much  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  to  provoke 
 him  to  anger. 
 
 7  And  '  he  set  a  carved  image,  the  idol  which 
 he  had  made,  in  the  house  of  God,  of  which 
 God  had  said  to  David  and  to  Solomon  his 
 son.  In  "'  this  house,  and  in  Jerusalem,  which 
 I  have  chosen  before  all  the  tribes  of  Israel, 
 will  I  put  my  name  for  ever: 
 
 8  "  Neither  will  I  any  more  remove  the  foot 
 of  Israel  from  out  of  tlie  land  which  I  have  ap- 
 pointed for  your  fathers ;  so  that  they  will  take 
 heed  to  do  all  that  I  have  commanded  them, 
 according  to  the  whole  law  and  the  statutes 
 and  the  ordinances  by  the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 9  So  Manasseh  made  Judah  and  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  Jerusalem  to  err,  and  to  do  worse  than 
 the  heathen,  whom  the  Lord  had  destroyed 
 before  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 10  And  the  Lord  spake  to  Manasseh,  and  to 
 his  people  :  but  they  would  not  hearken. 
 
 11  t "  M'herefore  tlie  Lord  brought  upon 
 them  the  captains  of  the  host  f  of  the  king  of 
 A.ssyria,  which  took  Manasseh  among  the 
 thorns,  and  i"  bound  him  with  ||  fetters,  and 
 carried  him  to  Babylon. 
 
 12  And  when  he  was  in  affliction,  he  besought 
 the  Lord  his  God,  and  "'  humbled  himself 
 greatly  before  the  God  of  his  fathers, 
 
 13  And  prayed  unto  him:  and  he  was  'in- 
 
 27-  Pleasant  jewels, '  curious  weapons.'— fjcrf/fc.?.  '  Valuable  utensils.' 
 —Bmlhr.  30.  O/Gi/ion— thouEht  tn  be  tlie  same  with  Siloani,  hav- 
 ing two  streams.— Gl7^  Noticed  also  in  vcr.  4.  On  account  <.f  tlie 
 great  art,  labour,  and  policy  of  this  work,  it  is  here  so  much  com- 
 nienrted. — Poole.  Some  think  it  was  another  stream,  which  Hezekiah 
 brought  by  a  subterranean  aqueduct  into  the  city. — Bootttr.         31.  He 
 
 know  he  had  sins  and  infirmities  as  well  as  virtues. — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIII.  ^  3.  G/ocf',?,  '  idols.' — Siit.  II  .^mong  the  thorns, 
 '  in  a  thicket.'  where,  alter  liis  defeat,  lie  hid. — Gill.  *  In  chains,"  so 
 some  old  translations. —  WoU.  The  Heb.  D'mni  may  signify,  'they 
 put  upon  him  manacles;'  the  expression  which  follows  may  mean 
 fetters.' — Hew.     'Who  took  him  alir<e,'  St/r.,  Arttlt.,  so  Bouthr.   They 
 
 nngUt  Itnow,  God,  spoke  after  the  manner  of  men ;  or  Hezekiah  might    might  have  scourged  him  with  thorns ;  see  note  on  1  Kings,  xii.  11. 
 
 Reflfctions  oy  CiiAP.  XXXII I.  Here  we  bohold  Me 
 
 faith  of  Ilezehiuh  in  the  hour  nfHajirier.  Tlie  success  of  the  As- 
 syrian arms,  wbicli,  like  a  miglity  torrent,  bore  all  before 
 them,  the  overwhelming  forces  of  the  monarch,  and  the  com- 
 parative feebleness  of  Judah,  were  enough  to  have  shaken  the 
 stoutest  heart.  But  here,  as  in  many  other  remarkable  in- 
 stances, faith  formed  an  impregnahle  fortress  against  the  foe, 
 by  securing  the  aid  of  Omnipotence.  •  With  him.'  said  Heze- 
 kiah, '  is  an  arm  of  flesh  ;  but  with  us  is  the  Lord  our  God,  to 
 help  us,  and  to  fight  our  battles.'  Who  could  penetrate  this 
 barrier?  |  As  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jerusalem,  so 
 the  Lord  is  round  about  his  people,  from  henceforth,  even 
 lor  ever.' 
 
 n.  The  presumption  of  Sennacherib.  The  bold  blasphemer 
 thought  that  the  God  of  Israel  was  no  better  than  the  idols  of 
 the  heathens  he  had  subdued,  and  vaunted  that,  as  he  had 
 overcome  their  worshippers,  so  he  would  overcome  the  wor- 
 shippers of  the  true  God.  What  vain  imaginations  have  in- 
 fluenced the  hearts  of  the  ambitious,  from  the  days  of  the 
 488 
 
 Babel-builders  down  to  the  scheming  philosophers  in  tlie 
 courts  of  the  eighteenth  century,  whose  motto  was,  *  crush  the 
 wretch,'  while  they  set  themselves  together  against  the  Lord 
 and  against  his  church  ! 
 
 III.  The  prayer  of  the  king  and  the  prophet.  Faith  witliout 
 prayer  is  presumption.  They  believed  tnat  God  was  able  to 
 deliver  ;  and,  as  an  evidence  of  the  genuine  nature  of  that  be- 
 lief, they  called  upon  God  for  help.  They  cried  to  heaven  as 
 children  to  a  parent  ;  and  they  addressed  an  ear  that  is  ever 
 open.  'The  righteous  cry,  and  the  Lord  heareth,  and  deli- 
 vereth  them  out  of  all  their  troubles.' 
 
 IV.  The  deliverance  which  God  effected.  The  mighty  army 
 was  scattered,  and  the  boaster  sent  back  with  shame.  Thus 
 was  Sennacherib  taught  that  there  was  a  King  of  nations  ^nIioso 
 power  he  was  unable  to  resist.  Let  us  speak  of  his  mighty 
 acts,  and  publish  and  tell  of  all  his  wondrous  works.  '  Foras- 
 much as  there  is  none  like  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  thou  art  great, 
 and  thy  name  is  great  in  might;  who  would  not  fear  thee,  O 
 King  of  nations  V 
 
His  death. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXXIV. 
 
 Ju^ialis  (/oud  ri:igti. 
 
 treated  of  liim,  and  heard  his  siippHcation,  and 
 brought  him  again  to  .lernsalem  into  liis  king- 
 dom. Then  Manasseh  '  linevv  that  the  Loud 
 be  was  God. 
 
 14  Now  after  this  he  built  a  wall  witliout  the 
 city  of  David,  on  the  west  side  of  '  Gihon,  in 
 the  valley,  even  to  the  entering  in  at  the  fish 
 gate,  and  compassed  "  about  ||  Ophel,  and 
 raised  it  up  a  very  great  height,  and  put  cap- 
 tains of  war  in  all  the  fenced  cities  of  Judah. 
 
 15  And  he  took  away  "  the  strange  gods,  and 
 the  idol  out  of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  all 
 the  altars  that  he  had  built  in  the  mount  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord,  and  in  Jerusalem,  and  cast 
 them  out  of  the  city. 
 
 16  And  he  repaired  the  altar  of  the  Lord, 
 aud  sacrificed  thereon  peace  offerings  and 
 '  thank  ofTerings,  and  commanded  Judah  to 
 serve  the  Lord  God  of  Israel. 
 
 17  ^  Nevertheless  the  people  did  sacrifice  still 
 in  the  high  places,  yet  unto  the  Lord  their 
 God  only. 
 
 18  1  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Manasseh, 
 and  his  prayer  unto  his  God,  and  the  words  of 
 ■  the  seers  that  spake  to  him  in  the  name  of 
 the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  behold,  they  are 
 u'titten  in  the  book  of  the  kings  of  Israel. 
 
 19  His  prayer  also,  and  how  God  was  in- 
 treated  of  him,  and  all  his  sins,  and  his  trespass, 
 and  the  places  wherein  he  built  high  places, 
 and  set  up  groves  and  graven  images,  before 
 he  was  humbled  :  behold,  they  are  written 
 among  the  sayings  of  ||  the  seers. 
 
 20  i'"&o  Manasseh  slept  with  his  fathers, 
 and  they  buried  him  in  his  own  house  :  and 
 Amon  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 21  11°  Amon  zcas  two  and  twenty  years  old 
 when  he  began  to  reign,  and  reigned  two  years 
 in  Jerusalem. 
 
 22  But  he  did  that  which  icas  evil  in  the 
 .sight  of  the  Lord,  as  did  Manasseh  his  father: 
 for  Amon  sacrificed  unto  all  the  carved  images 
 which  Manasseh  his  father  had  made,  and 
 served  them  ; 
 
 23  And  humbled  not  himself  before  the 
 Lord,  ^  as  Manasseh  his  father  had  humbled 
 himself;  but  Amon  ftrespassed  more  and  more. 
 
 24  '  And  his  servants  conspired  against  him, 
 and  slew  him  in  his  own  house. 
 
 25  1  But  the  people  of  the  land  slew  all  them 
 that  had  conspired  against  king  Amon  ;  and 
 the  people  of  the  land  made  Josiah  his  son 
 king  in  his  stead. 
 
 t  Pi.  0.  16. 
 Daa.  4.  Sb, 
 
 r.  ch,  S7.  3. 
 II  Or,  ll„ 
 toller. 
 
 S  Lev,  7    12. 
 !  I'll.  32.  12. 
 
 II  Or,  Hvsni. 
 
 b  9  Kiu.  21. 
 13. 
 
 o2  Kill.  21. 
 19,  &c. 
 
 J  ver.  1 
 
 2. 
 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 .„!■ 
 
 tifhtU 
 
 {,i-i 
 
 •'  a  Kill 
 
 ^■^1. 
 
 23,  2;. 
 
 03  k 
 0  ch.  15.2. 
 
 C3|}. 
 c  I  Kiu. 13.2. 
 
 dch.  33.  17, 
 22. 
 
 e  Lev.  26.  30 
 2Kiii.23.  i. 
 
 II  Or,  tun 
 iinagei. 
 
 fl  Kill. 23  t 
 \  Heb./flce 
 
 t  Heb.  <» 
 mahtt 
 
 imwder. 
 
 024. 
 I  2  Kill.  22.3. 
 
 4  See  2  Kin. 
 12,  4,  &c. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 I  Josiak's  good  rei(/ij.  3  lie  destrot/eth  Idulatrt/.  8 
 lie  taketh  order  for  tlte  repair  of  the  temple.  14  Hd~ 
 klah  hav'niq  found  n  hooh  of  the  law,  Jos'iih  sindeth 
 to  llidiah  to  enquiie  of  the  Lord.  23  Hitldiik  pru- 
 phcsieth  the  destruction  of  J'rusalem,  but  respite 
 thereof  in  Jo^iah's  time.  29  Jui^iah,  eausim/  it  to  be 
 read  in  a  solemii  assembly,  reneweth  the  covenant  with 
 God. 
 
 TOSIAH  °  was  eight  years  old  when  he  be- 
 "  gan  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  in  Jerusalem 
 one  and  thirty  years. 
 
 2  And  he  did  titat  which  was  right  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord,  and  walked  in  the  ways  of 
 David  his  father,  and  declined  neither  to  the 
 riglit  hand,  nor  to  the  left. 
 
 3  K  For  in  the  eighth  year  of  his  reign,  while 
 he  was  yet  young,  he  began  to  ''seek  after  the 
 God  of  David  his  father :  and  in  the  twclftli 
 year  he  began  '  to  purge  Judah  aud  Jerusalem 
 ''  from  the  high  places,  and  the  groves,  and  the 
 carved  images,  and  the  molten  images. 
 
 4  °  And  they  brake  down  the  altars  of  Baalim 
 in  his  presence  ;  and  the  ||  images,  that  were 
 on  high  above  them,  he  cut  down  ;  and  the 
 groves,  and  the  carved  images,  and  the  molten 
 images,  he  brake  in  pieces,  and  made  dust  of 
 them,  '  and  strowed  it  upon  the  f  graves  of 
 them  that  had  sacrificed  unto  them. 
 
 5  And  he  ^  burnt  the  bones  of  the  priests 
 upon  their  altars,  and  cleansed  Judah  and  Je- 
 rusalem. 
 
 6  Aud  so  did  he  in  the  cities  of  Manasseh, 
 and  Ephraim,  and  Simeon,  even  unto  Naphtali, 
 witli  their  ||  mattocks  round  about. 
 
 7  And  when  he  had  broken  down  the  altars 
 and  the  groves,  and  had  "^  beaten  tlie  graven 
 images  finto  powder,  and  cut  down  all  the 
 idols  throughout  all  the  land  of  Israel,  he  re- 
 turned to  Jerusalem. 
 
 8  t  Now  '  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  reign, 
 when  he  had  purged  the  land,  and  the  house, 
 he  sent  Shaphan  the  sou  of  Azaliali,  and  Ma- 
 aseiah  the  governor  of  the  city,  and  Joah  the 
 son  of  Joahaz  tlie  recorder,  to  repair  tlie  liouse 
 of  the  Lord  his  God. 
 
 9  And  when  they  came  to  HilUiah  the  high 
 priest,  they  delivered  '  the  money  that  was 
 brought  into  the  house  of  God,  which  the  Le- 
 vites  that  kept  the  doors  had  gathered  of  the 
 hand  of  Manasseh  and  Ephraim,  and  of  all  the 
 remnant  of  Israel,  and  of  all  Judah  and  Cenju- 
 min  ;  and  they  returned  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 19.  in.1  prayer— 71.  prayer  so  called  is  in  the  Apocr>'pha.  but  it  exists  not 
 in  Hebrew,  was  never  received  into  the  sacred  canon,  nor  even  by  the 
 Council  of  Trent.— Wit. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIV. —  I.  Jostnfi,  fyc. — see  his  history,  with  the  notes, 
 2  Kings,  x.iii.,  xxiii.  4.  Tlie  images  that  were  above  them,  '  Sun 
 images,'  as  the  word  signifies;  these  were  in  the  form  of  the  sun,  and 
 
 were  set  above  the  altars  over  against  the  sun,  to  whom  worship  was 
 paid. — Gilt.  5.  Burnt  the  bones — perhaps,  without  intending  it,  he 
 fulfilled  the  prophecy.  1  Kings,  xiii.  2. — Sut.  6.  Wit/i  their  mattor.kt. 
 or  hammers,  or  mauls,  or  pick-a.\es,  such  sorts  of  instruments  as  were 
 used  in  demolishing  altars  and  images. — Gilt.  *  He  destroyed  on  every 
 hand  Iheir  idol  temples.' — Capettus,  Houb.,  Boothrui/d.    See  2  Kings, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXIII.  —  We  have  here,  I.  Ma- 
 nnsseh's  wickedness.  Henry  remarks, '  this  fooUsh  young  prince, 
 iu  contradiction  to  the  good  example  and  good  education  his 
 lather  gave  bim,  abandoned  himself  to  all  impiety.  Hence 
 we  learn,  that  it  is  no  new  thing,  but  a  very  bad  thing,  for  the 
 rliildren  of  godly  parents  to  turn  aside  from  that  good  way  of 
 God  in  which  they  have  been  trained  up.  Parents  may  give 
 many  good  things  to  their  children,  but  they  cannot  give  them 
 grace.' 
 
 II.  MnnasselCs  repentance.  This  was  'in  afHiclion.'  Sanc- 
 tified afflictions  often  prove  happy  means  of  conversion.  He 
 humbled  himself  greatly  before  (jod,  was  truly  sorry  for  his 
 sins,  ashamed  of  them,  and  afraid  of  the  wrath  of  God.  It 
 becomes  sinners  to  humble  Iheniselvos  before  the  face  of  that 
 489 
 
 God  they  have  offended ;  it  becomes  sufi'erers  to  humble  them- 
 selves under  the  hand  of  that  God  that  corrects  them,  and  to 
 accept  the  punishment  of  their  iniquity.  Our  hearts  should 
 be  humble  under  humbling  providences  ;  then  we  accommo- 
 date ourselves  to  them,  and  answer  God's  end  in  tiiem.  He 
 prayed  to  God  for  the  pardon  of  sin,  and  the  return  of  bis 
 favour.  Prayer  is  the  relief  of  penitents,  the  relief  of  the 
 afflicted.  Wliile  '  God  was  intreated  of  bim,  and  heard  his  sup- 
 plication,' he  brought  forth  fruit  meet  for  repentance,  and 
 turned  from  bis  sins  and  to  his  duty.  'Those  that  truly  re- 
 pent of  their  sins  will  not  only  return  to  God  themselves,  but 
 will  do  all  they  can  to  induce  those  that  have,  by  tlieir  ex- 
 ample, been  seduced  and  drawn  away  from  God.' 
 
 3  H 
 
Josiah  I'epaireth  the  temple. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXXIV. 
 
 lie  reneweth  the  covenant. 
 
 10  And  they  put  it  in  the  hand  of  the  work- 
 men tliat  had  the  oversight  of  the  house  of  the 
 Loud,  and  they  gave  it  to  the  workmen  that 
 wrought  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  to  repair 
 and  amend  the  house  : 
 
 1 1  Even  to  the  artificers  and  builders  gave 
 they  it,  to  buy  hewn  stone,  and  timber  for 
 couplings,  and  ||  to  floor  the  houses  which  the 
 kings  of  Judah  had  destroyed. 
 
 1-2  And  the  men  did  the  work  faithfully:  and 
 the  overseers  of  them  were  Jahath  and  Oba- 
 diah,  the  Levites,  of  the  sons  of  Merari  ;  and 
 Zechariah  and  Meshullam,  of  the  sons  of  the 
 Kohathites,  to  set  it  forward  ;  and  othei-  of  the 
 Levites,  all  that  could  skill  of  instruments  of 
 musick. 
 
 13  Also  thei/  were  over  the  bearers  of  bur- 
 dens, and  were  overseers  of  all  that  wrought 
 the  work  in  any  manner  of  service  :  '  and  of 
 the  Levites  there  were  scribes,  and  officers, 
 and  porters. 
 
 1-1  1  And  when  they  brought  out  the  money 
 that  was  brought  into  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 Hilkiah  the  priest  ""  found  a  book  of  the  law  of 
 the  Lord  fiiven  fby  Moses. 
 
 15  And  Hilkiah  answered  and  said  to  Sha- 
 phan  the  scribe,  I  have  found  the  book  of  the 
 law  in  the  bouse  of  the  Lord.  And  Hilkiah 
 delivered  the  book  to  Shaphan. 
 
 10  And  Shaphan  carried  the  book  to  the 
 king,  and  brought  the  king  word  back  again, 
 saying.  All  that  was  committed  \  to  thy  ser- 
 vants, they  do  it. 
 
 17  And  they  have  f  gathered  together  the 
 money  that  was  found  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  and  have  delivered  it  into  the  hand  of 
 the  overseers,  and  to  the  hand  of  the  workmen. 
 
 18  Then  Shajihan  the  scribe  told  the  king, 
 saying,  Hilkiah  the  priest  hath  given  me  a 
 book.     And  Shaphan  read  f  it  before  the  king. 
 
 19  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king  had 
 heard  the  words  of  the  law,  that  he  rent  his 
 clothes. 
 
 20  And  the  king  commanded  Hilkiah,  and 
 Ahikam  the  son  of  Shaplian,  and  ||  Abdon  the 
 son  of  Micah,  and  Shaphan  the  scribe,  and 
 Asaiah  a  servant  of  the  king's,  saying, 
 
 21  Go,  enquire  of  the  Lord  for  me,  and  for 
 them  that  are  left  in  Israel  and  in  Judah,  con- 
 cerning the  words  of  the  book  that  is  found  : 
 for  great  is  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  that  is 
 poured  out  upon  us,  because  our  fathers  have 
 not  kept  the  word  of  the  Lord,  to  do  after  all 
 that  is  written  in  this  book. 
 
 2'2  And  Hilkiah,  and  they  that  the  king  had 
 appointed,  went  to  Huldah  the  prophetess, 
 the  wife  of  Shallum  the  son  of  "  Tikvath,  the 
 son  of  II  Hasrah,  keeper  of  the  f  wardrobe  ; 
 (now  she  dwelt  in  Jerusalem  ||  in  the  college:) 
 
 Or, /o 
 n/lrr. 
 
 n2Kin  2-2. 
 
 8,  *r. 
 \  Hcb,  *y/ft. 
 
 hand  of. 
 
 \  Heb.  to0.t 
 
 \  Heb.pflMwrf 
 
 mil,  or, 
 
 mfUnl. 
 )  Heb.  ii 
 
 l[  Or,./. '.'. 
 2  Kin.  •>■, 
 12. 
 
 llOr.Hnrfcrtj. 
 t  Hob.  g, 
 
 it,  Iheteeond 
 ]>arl. 
 
 I  S  Kin.  SS. 
 I,>ic. 
 
 ,)9Kin.  M 
 (■1  ft  i>.1.  3. 
 eh.  II.  13. 
 
 \  Hcb./,.. 
 
 and  they  spake  to  her  to  that  effect. 
 
 23  1  And  she  answered  them,  Tlius  saith  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel,  Tell  ye  the  man  that  sent 
 you  to  me, 
 
 24  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  I  will  bring 
 evil  upon  this  place,  and  upon  the  inhabitants 
 thereof,  even  all  the  curses  that  are  written  in 
 the  book  which  they  have  read  before  the  king 
 of  Judah  : 
 
 25  Because  they  have  forsaken  me,  and  have 
 burned  incense  unto  other  gods,  that  they 
 miglit  provoke  me  to  anger  witli  all  the  works 
 of  tlieir  hands ;  therefore  my  wratli  shall  be 
 poured  out  upon  this  place,  and  shall  net  be 
 quenched. 
 
 26  And  as  for  the  king  of  Judah,  who  sent 
 you  to  enquire  of  the  Lord,  so  shall  ye  say 
 unto  him.  Thus  saitli  the  Loud  God  of  Israel 
 concerning  the  wor<is  whicli  thou  hast  heard  ; 
 
 27  Because  thine  heart  was  tender,  and  tliou 
 didst  humble  tby.'ielf  before  God,  when  thou 
 heardest  bis  words  against  tliis  place,  and 
 against  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  humbledst 
 thyself  before  me,  and  didst  rend  tliy  clothes, 
 and  weep  before  me  ;  I  have  even  heard  thee 
 also,  .saith  the  Lord. 
 
 28  Behold,  I  will  gather  thee  to  thy  fathers, 
 and  thou  shalt  be  gathered  to  thy  grave  in 
 peace,  neither  shall  thine  eyes  see  all  the  evil 
 that  I  will  bring  upon  tins  place,  and  upon  the 
 inhabitants  of  tlie  same.  So  they  brought  the 
 king  word  again. 
 
 29  t  °  Then  the  king  sent  and  gathered  to- 
 gether all  the  elders  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem. 
 
 30  And  the  king  went  up  into  t!ie  house  of 
 the  Lord,  and  all  the  men  of  Judah,  and  the 
 inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  and  the  priests,  and 
 the  Levites,  and  all  the  people,  f  great  and 
 small :  and  he  read  in  tlieir  ears  all  the  words 
 of  tlie  book  of  the  covenant  that  was  found  in 
 the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 31  And  the  king  stood  in  ''his  place,  and 
 made  a  covenant  before  the  Lord,  to  walk 
 after  the  Loud,  and  to  keep  his  command- 
 ments, and  his  testimonies,  and  his  statutes, 
 with  all  his  heart,  and  with  all  his  soul,  to  per- 
 form the  words  of  the  covenant  which  are  writ- 
 ten in  this  book. 
 
 32  And  he  caused  all  that  were  f  present  in 
 Jerusalem  and  Benjamin  to  stand  to  it.  And 
 the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  did  according  to 
 the  covenant  of  God,  the  God  of  their  fathers. 
 
 33  And  Josiah  took  away  all  the  ''  abomina- 
 tions out  of  all  the  countries  ihs,t  pertained  to 
 the  children  of  Israel,  and  made  all  that  were 
 present  in  Israel  to  serve,  even  to  serve  the 
 Loud  their  God.  'And  all  his  days  they  de- 
 parted not  t  from  following  the  Lord,  the  God 
 of  their  fathers. 
 
 x.\iii.4— 21.  11.  Hottsrs, '  apartments.*  Those  belonging  to  the  priests, 
 which  the  idolatrous  kings  had  wickedly  destroyed.  14.  Given  by 
 
 Moses,  'written  by  Moses.*  15.  The  hook  of  the  law — see  note  on 
 2  Kings,  xxii.  8.  All  the  copies  could  not  have  been  lost.  Hezekiah 
 had  furnished  many.    This  might  have  been  some  abstract,  without 
 
 the  promises  and  thrcatenings.  The  book  beingwritten  on  long  scrolls, 
 in  unfoldine:  it  the  latter  part  of  Deuteronomy  would  come  itt  course, 
 and  its  threatenings  greatly  impressed  him,  (Deut.  sxviii.  36.)  22.  In 
 the  college,  *in  the  suburbs  of  Jerusalem.* — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.   XXXIV We   observe   here — 
 
 I.  Thf  early  piety  whicit  Josiah  manifested.  We  do  not  expect 
 to  gather  grapes  of  thorns,  or  figs  of  thistles,  but  a  good  youth 
 is  likely  to  make  a  good  man. 
 
 II.  The  reform  which  Josiah  effected.  The  tree  that  abounds 
 in  beautiful  blossoms  often  disappoints  us  in  its  fruit;  but  here 
 there  was  fruit  unto  perfection.  Josiah  sincerely  mourned 
 490 
 
 over  the  state  and  fate  of  his  country,  reformed  all  its  corrup- 
 tions, and  manifested  the  greatest  regard  for  the  welfare  of  his 
 people  and  the  glory  of  God.  Reforms  are  nothing  that  are 
 not  thorough  reforms.  Many  lop  off  the  spreading  branches 
 of  depravity,  but  suffer  the  root  to  flourish  ;  they  wash  the 
 outside  of  tile  cup  and  platter,  but  unconcernedly  leave  the 
 inside  full  of  all  uucleanness. 
 
Jusiah's  solemn  passover. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXXV. 
 
 He  is  slain  in  battle. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXV. 
 
 ]   Josiah  keepet'i  a  most  solemn  passover.    20  He^  pro- 
 voking   Pharaoh-ntcho,    is   slain  at    Megiddo       25 
 '     Lamentations  for  Josiah, 
 
 IVr  OREOVER  "  Josiah  kept  a  passover  unto 
 -'--•-  the  Lord  in  Jerusalem  :  and  they  killed 
 the  passover  on  the  '■  fourteenth  day  of  the 
 first  month. 
 
 2  And  he  set  the  priests  in  their  '  charges, 
 and  •'  encouraged  them  to  the  service  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord, 
 
 3  And  said  unto  the  Levites  '  that  taught  all 
 Israel,  which  were  holy  unto  the  Lord,  '  Put 
 the  holy  ark  ^in  the  house  which  Solomon  the 
 son  of  David  king  of  Israel  did  build  ;  ^  it  shall 
 not  be  a  burden  upon  your  shoulders  :  serve 
 now  the  Lord  your  God,  and  his  people  Israel, 
 
 4  And  prepare  yourselves  by  the  '  houses  of 
 your  fathers,  after  your  courses,  according  to 
 the  '  writing  of  David  king  of  Israel,  and  ac- 
 cording to  the  '  writing  of  Solomon  his  son. 
 
 5  And  "'  stand  in  the  hoXj place  according  to 
 the  divisions  of  f  the  families  of  the  fathers  of 
 your  brethren  f  the  people,  and  after  the  divi- 
 sion of  the  families  of  the  Levites. 
 
 6  So  kill  the  passover,  and  "sanctify  your- 
 selves, and  prepare  your  brethren,  that  tliey 
 may  do  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord  by 
 the  hand  of  Moses. 
 
 7  And  Josiah  f  °  gave  to  the  people,  of  the 
 flock,  lambs  and  kids,  all  for  the  passover  offer- 
 ings, for  all  that  were  present,  to  the  number 
 of  thirty  thousand,  and  three  thousand  bul- 
 locks :  these  were  of  the  king's  substance. 
 
 8  And  his  princes  f  gave  willingly  mito  the 
 people,  to  the  priests,  and  to  the  Levites  : 
 Hilkiah  and  Zechariah  and  Jehiel,  rulers  of 
 the  house  of  God,  gave  unto  the  priests  for  the 
 passover  offerings  two  thousand  and  six  hun- 
 dred small  cattle,  and  three  hundred  oxen. 
 
 9  Conaniah  also,  and  Shemaiali  and  Netha- 
 neel,  his  brethren,  and  Hashabiah  and  Jeiel 
 and  Jozabad,  chief  of  the  Levites,  f  gave  unto 
 the  Levites  for  passover  offerings  five  thousand 
 small  cattle,  and  five  hundred  oxen. 
 
 10  So  the  service  was  prepared,  and  the 
 priests  ■'stood  in  their  place,  and  the  Levites 
 in  their  courses,  according  to  the  king's  com- 
 mandment. 
 
 1 1  And  they  killed  the  passover,  and  the 
 priests  ''  sprinkled  the  blood  from  their  hands, 
 and  the  Levites  'flayed  them. 
 
 12  And  they  removed  the  burnt  offerings, 
 that  they  might  give  according  to  the  divisions 
 of  the  families  of  the  people,  to  offer  unto  the 
 Lord,  as  it  is  written  Mn  the  book  of  Moses. 
 And  so  did  they  with  the  oxen. 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  6-^3. 
 
 a  8  Kin.  23. 
 I  Esd.  I.  1, 
 
 c  ch.  23.  IS. 
 
 Ezra  6.  18. 
 d  ch.  29.  5, 
 
 LI. 
 
 rDcu  33  10. 
 
 ch-  30  ■>■>. 
 
 M.^l   2.7. 
 /'Seech. 34 
 
 14. 
 
 k  1  Chr.  S3, 
 
 ^  2t,  &  2.1. 
 
 &  26. 
 /ch.  8   14. 
 
 Ps.  I.H.  I. 
 t  Heb-  Ihe 
 
 houie  (if  lUe 
 
 fntheri. 
 t  Heb.  Itie 
 
 loiii  "/  tl-e 
 
 peoplf. 
 n  Ch.  29.  5, 
 
 l^.  fc  so  .1, 
 
 1.=;. 
 
 iizia  G.  20. 
 
 t  llch. 
 
 •>  cli.  30.  *1, 
 
 t  Hel. 
 offcd 
 
 \  Hch. 
 :,JjtTcd. 
 
 q  cb.  C9  sa 
 r  Pee  ch.  Cfl 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  623. 
 
 I  Ex.  12.8,  9- 
 Dea.  16.  7. 
 
 •<  I  Sam.  2. 
 13,  14,  15. 
 
 t  Heb.  made 
 tlietn  ruA. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ttulinn. 
 
 X  1  Chr.  ^5. 
 1,  &c. 
 
 V  1  Chr.  9. 
 ■  17,  H.&26. 
 
 \  Heb./oiwrf. 
 
 z  Ex.  18.  15. 
 8(  13.  6. 
 cli.  m.  21. 
 !  2  Kin.  23. 
 22,  23. 
 
 610. 
 b  2  Kin   2:^. 
 
 29.  Jer    A^. 
 
 2.  1  Esd.  1. 
 
 l.'i, 
 t  Heb   h;<ie. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ihi 
 hixiie  oj  mil 
 
 13  And  they  '  roasted  the  passover  with  fire 
 according  to  the  ordinance  :  but  the  oilier  holy 
 offerings  "  sod  they  in  pots,  and  in  caldrons, 
 and  in  pans,  and  fdivided  them  speedily  among 
 all  the  people. 
 
 14  And  afterward  they  made  ready  for  them- 
 selves, and  for  the  priests  :  because  the  priests 
 the  sons  of  Aaron  were  busied  in  offering  of 
 burnt  offerings  and  the  fat  until  night ;  there- 
 fore the  Levites  prepared  for  themselves,  and 
 for  the  priests  the  sons  of  Aaron. 
 
 15  And  the  singers  the  sons  of  Asaph  iverc 
 in  their  f  place,  according  to  the  ^command- 
 ment of  David,  and  Asaph,  and  Heman,  and 
 Jeduthun  the  king's  seer ;  and  the  porters 
 ^  waited  at  every  gate  ;  they  might  not  depart 
 from  their  service ;  for  their  brethren  the  Le- 
 vites prepared  for  them. 
 
 16  So  all  the  service  of  the  Lord  was  pre- 
 pared the  same  day,  to  keep  the  passover,  and 
 to  offer  burnt  offerings  upon  the  altar  of  the 
 Lord,  according  to  the  commandment  of  king 
 Josiah. 
 
 17  And  the  children  of  Israel  that  were  f  pre- 
 sent kept  the  passover  at  that  time,  and  the 
 feast  of  '  unleavened  bread  seven  days. 
 
 18  And  "  there  was  no  passover  like  to  that 
 kept  in  Israel  from  the  days  of  Samuel  the 
 prophet ;  neither  did  all  the  kings  of  Israel 
 keep  such  a  passover  as  Josiah  kept,  and  the 
 priests,  and  the  Levites,  and  all  Judah  and 
 Israel  that  were  present,  and  the  inhabitants  of 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 19  In  the  eighteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Jo- 
 siah was  this  passover  kept. 
 
 20  H  ''  After  all  this,  when  Josiah  had  pre- 
 pared the  t  temple,  Necho  king  of  Egypt  came 
 up  to  fight  against  Charchemish  by  Euphrates  : 
 and  Josiah  went  out  against  him. 
 
 21  But  he  sent  ambassadors  to  him,  saying. 
 What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  thou  king  of 
 Judah?  I  come  not  against  thee  this  day,  but 
 against  f  the  house  wherewith  I  have  war  :  for 
 God  commanded  me  to  make  haste  :  forbear 
 thee  from  meddling  wit/t  God,  who  is  will]  me, 
 that  he  destroy  thee  not. 
 
 22  Nevertheless  Josiah  would  not  turn  his 
 face  from  him,  but  '  disguised  himself,  that  he 
 might  fight  with  him,  and  hearkened  not  unto 
 the  words  of  Necho  ''from  the  mouth  of  God, 
 and  came  to  fight  in  the  valley  of  Megiddo. 
 
 23  And  the  archers  shot  at  king  Josiah  ;  and 
 the  king  said  to  his  servants,  Have  me  away  ; 
 for  I  am  sore  f  wounded. 
 
 24  '  His  servants  therefore  took  him  out  of 
 that  chariot,  and  put  him  in  the  second  chariot 
 that  he  had  ;  and  they  brought  him  to  Jerusa- 
 
 Chap.  XXXV.  —  3.  Put  the  holy  itrk  in  the  house,  which  some  think 
 had  been  removed  by  Amon,  and  an  idol  put  in  its  room,  which  is  the 
 greater  tresp.iss  lie  is  said  to  be  guilty  of,  (chap,  xxxiii.  23.)  Others 
 think  the  higli  priest  had  removed  it  in  idolatrous  times  for  preserva- 
 tion ;  but  mo^t  likely  Jo>iah  himself  had  removed  it  for  the  sake  of  the 
 repairs  of  the  holy  place.— Gi«.  '  Put  the  hi.ly  things  before  the  atk," 
 so  it  is  read  by  Trem.  S.  According  to  the  dimsions  of  the  families, 
 
 ^c. — each  family,  if  large  enough,  was  to  have  a  Levite  to  slaughter  a 
 lamb ;  consequently  Levites  were  distributed  for  this  purpose,  (comp. 
 Exod.  xii.  8.  9.)  8.  Small  cattle,  '  lambs  and  kids  ;'  no  other  animals 
 ■were  used  for  passover  victims. — Boothr.  is.  A'o  passover  /ijVe— see 
 rote  on  2  Kings,  xxiii.22.  20.  Charchemish— ttie  cityCarcusium  stood 
 upon  the  Euphrates,  and  heUmeed  to  the  Assyrians,  with  whom  Necho 
 came  to  tight,  (2  Kings,  xxiii.  29.)— i^n^.  22.  Nevertheless  Josiah 
 uould  vrit,  ^c.— .Insiah  has  been  blamed  for  this  act,  but  it  was  an  act 
 of  hostility  in  Necho  to  march  through  his  territories;  the  northern 
 parts  of  these,  too,  he  probably  held  Srim  a  grant  of  the  king  of  Baby- 
 lon, and  was  bound  to  guard  bis  frontiers.  Necho  was  in  the  heart  of 
 his  kingdom  before  he  bent  his  message.  He  produced  no  prool  that  it 
 491 
 
 was  of  Divine  authority.  Josiah  was,  therefore,  guilt}-  only  of  preci- 
 pitation in  not  inquiring  of  the  Lord :  his  death  was  a  scourge  to  a 
 wiiked  generation,  and  the  final  state  of  one  whose  lile  was  one  of  re- 
 pentance, faith,  and  obedience,  could  not  be  affected  by  a  sudden  and 
 violent  death.— So  Scott.  Disguised  himself,  'eucouraged  himself,'  as 
 ancient  versions.— Hok4.  '  He  was  desirous  of  fighting  niih  him.'— 
 Geddes.  Mouth  of  Goii- the  word  used  by  Necho  may  signify  gods  or 
 idols :  and  critics  have  noted  that  the  expression  '  from  the  mouth  of 
 God.'  is  nowhere  used  in  the  Hebrew  Bible  for  a  revelation  from  the 
 trueGod,  but  that  it  is  always  '  from  the  mouth  of  the  Lord.'— .Seo«. 
 The  Turgum  thinks  that  Josiah  suspected  the  revelation  was  from  idols, 
 hut  these  words  import  the  contrary,  and  Josiah  sin  uld  have  inquired 
 of  God.— i'a^  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  words  in  this  verse  are 
 not  those  spnke«  by  Necho,  but  the  sacred  writer  himself  sa\  s,  Josiah 
 '  hearkened  not  to  the  words  of  Necho  from  the  mouth  of  God ;'  had 
 he  viewed  them  as  some  commentators  do,  would  he  not  have  used 
 some  qualifying  term,  as  ■  because  they  were  from  the  mouth  of  idoK'  ? 
 —Ed. 
 
JcJwahaz  deposed  by  Pharaoh. 
 
 II.  CHRONICLES,  XXXVI. 
 
 The  deslniction  ofjeiitsulem. 
 
 lem,  and  he  died,  and  was  buried  ||  in  one  of 
 the  sepulchres  of  his  fathers.  And  '  all  Judah 
 and  Jerusalem  mourned  for  Josiah. 
 
 ■25  t  And  Jeremiah  ^lamented  for  Josiah: 
 and  ''all  the  singing  men  and  the  singing  wo- 
 men spake  of  Josiah  in  their  lamentations  to 
 this  day,  '  and  made  them  an  ordinance  in 
 Israel :  and,  behold,  they  are  written  in  the 
 lamentations. 
 
 2()  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Josiah,  and  his 
 t  croodness,  according  to  that  which  was  written 
 in  the  law  of  the  Lord, 
 
 ■27  And  his  deeds,  first  and  last,  behold,  they 
 are  written  in  the  book  of  the  kings  of  Israel 
 and  Judah. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVI. 
 
 I  .hhoahiz  succeeding  in  tieposed  by  Pharaoh,  and  car- 
 ried  into  Egypt.  5  Jf/wiiikim  reit/ning  ill  ts  carried 
 hound  into  Babylon.  9  Johoiachin  succeeding  rcign- 
 tth  ill,  and  is  brought  into  Babylon.  11  Zedekiah 
 succeeding  rcignetlt  ill,  and  despisefh  the  prophets, 
 and  rehdltth  against  Nebuchadnezzar.  14  Jerusa- 
 lem, for  the  sins  of  the  priests  and  perplc,  is  wholly  de- 
 stroyed.    22  The  proclamation  of  Ci/rus. 
 
 THEN  ^the  people  of  the  land  took  Jehoa- 
 haz  the  son  of  Josiah,  and  made  him  king 
 in  his  father's  stead  in  Jerusalem. 
 •2  Jehoahaz  icas  twenty  and  tliree  years  old 
 wlien  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  three 
 months  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 3  And  the  king  of  Egypt  tp"t  him  down  at 
 Jerusalem,  ""and  f  condemned  the  land  in  an 
 hundred  talents  of  .silver  and  a  talent  of  gold. 
 
 4  And  the  king  of  Egypt  made  Eliakim  his 
 brother  king  over  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  and 
 turned  his  name  to  Jehoiakim.  And  Necho 
 took  Jehoahaz  his  brother,  and  carried  him  to 
 
 5  t "  Jehoiakmi  was  twenty  and  five  years  old 
 when  he  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned  eleven 
 years  in  Jerusalem  :  and  he  did  that  which 
 was  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  his  God. 
 
 6  ''  Against  him  came  up  Nebuchadnezzar 
 king  of  Babylon,  and  bound  him  in  ||  fetters, 
 to  "carry  him  to  Babylon. 
 
 7  'Nebuchadnezzar  also  carried  of  the  vessels 
 of  the  house  of  the  Lonn  to  Babylon,  and  put 
 them  in  liis  temple  at  Babylon. 
 
 s  Now  the  rest  of  the  acts  of  Jehoiakim,  and 
 his  abominations  wliich  lie  did,  and  that  which 
 was  found  in  him,  behold,  they  are  written  in 
 the  book  of  the  kings  of  Israel  and  Judah  :  and 
 II  Jehoiachin  his  son  reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 9  t  s  Jehoiachin  was  eight  years  old  when  he 
 began  to  reign,  and  ho  reigned  three  months 
 and  ten  days  in  Jerusalem  :  and  he  did  that 
 
 /Zeoh.  12. 
 
 6m. 
 
 »  Jf  Kin.  23. 
 30,  Xc. 
 !  Esd,  I. 
 
 b  1  Ksd.  1  36, 
 t  Heb. 
 mnl.lid. 
 
 610. 
 ■  2  Kill.  23. 
 
 36.  37. 
 
 607. 
 J 'Kin 91,1. 
 
 606. 
 II  Or,  rhtihtt  : 
 
 foretold, 
 
 Hab    1-  6. 
 e  See  2  Kin 
 
 2*.  6.  Jcr, 
 
 22,  13,  19. 
 
 &  S6.  30, 
 /2  Kin.2J, 
 
 13.  Dan-  I. 
 
 I,  2.  8*  5.  2. 
 
 599. 
 II  Or,  J*r^' 
 
 niaft,  1  Chr 
 
 .S.  16    or. 
 
 C'imh,  Jer 
 
 22.  2V. 
 g2  Km.24.9. 
 
 I  Heb.  .1/  Ihf 
 „„„i,o/ Ik, 
 
 k  2  Kin.  21. 
 
 tHeb.  PMJe/4 
 
 |j  Or,  Mmia- 
 niah.  hitf>- 
 
 ih'T,  2  Kin. 
 C4.  17. 
 4  Jcr.  37.  1. 
 2  Kin.  -it, 
 18.  Jcr.  52. 
 I,  Kc. 
 
 n  Jrr.  A2  S, 
 EieV  17.15. 
 
 o  Jer.  ?.■;   a. 
 
 4.fc3.i.  15. 
 
 &  44.4. 
 t  Ilcb  bj/llie 
 
 handoj  hit 
 
 II  That  i«, 
 
 and  carr. 
 
 p  Jc,.').I2.13, 
 ./  I'r  I  J.'i.SO 
 r  Jer.  32   3. 
 
 ft  ^.  G. 
 
 Mat.L'S.St 
 t  I'a    7V    I. 
 
 (t(  79.  5. 
 t  Heb.  hfni- 
 
 iog. 
 5'JX 
 /Dpn.29,  V). 
 
 2  Kiii.i.'i.  I, 
 
 r  2  Kin.  25, 
 
 J3,  »iC. 
 
 5tM. 
 y  aKiii.S.VP 
 
 &  .a.  1,7. 
 
 t  Hell    the 
 
 Tfmxhidrr 
 
 fT.„n  the 
 
 z  2  Kill    2.'.. 
 
 a  Jcr.  27.  7 
 
 *  Jor    2..  ■•. 
 
 11.1?   f<  2r. 
 
 6,T  fi  '-!'.  H>. 
 
 e  Lev,  25.  3-1, 
 
 H5,  A-i. 
 
 Dan  ■>.  2, 
 
 .^:«l. 
 
 d  LCV.2.S1.5. 
 
 <•  Ezra  1 .  I 
 
 which  irns  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord, 
 
 10  And  t  when  the  year  was  e.vpired,  "  king 
 Nebuchadnezzar  sent,  and  brouglit  liim  to  Ba- 
 bylon, '  with  the  t  goodly  vessels  of  the  house 
 of  the  Lord,  and  made  ||  '  Zedekiah  his  brother 
 king  over  Judah  and  Jerusalem, 
 
 111'  Zedekiah  was  one  and  twenty  years 
 old  when  he  began  to  reign,  and  reigned  eleven 
 years  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 12  And  he  did  that  tvhich  was  evil  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Loud  his  God,  and  humbled  not 
 himself  before  Jeremiah  the  prophet  speaking 
 from  the  mouth  of  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  ""he  also  rebelled  against  king  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar, who  had  made  him  swear  by 
 God  :  but  he  "  stiffened  his  neck,  and  hardened 
 his  heart  from  turning  unto  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel. 
 
 14  t  Moreover  all  the  chief  of  the  priests,  and 
 the  people,  transgressed  very  much  after  all  the 
 abominations  of  the  heathen  ;  and  polluted  the 
 house  of  the  Lord  which  he  had  hallowed  in 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 1.5  "  And  the  Lord  God  of  their  fathers  sent 
 to  them  t  by  his  messengers,  rising  up  ||  be- 
 times, and  sending  ;  because  he  had  compas- 
 sion on  his  people,  and  on  his  dwelling  place  : 
 
 16  But  ''  they  mocked  the  messengers  of  God, 
 and  ''  despised  his  words,  and  '  misused  his 
 prophets,  until  the  '  wrath  of  the  Lord  arose 
 against  his  people,  till  there  ivas  no  f  remedy. 
 
 17  '  Therefore  he  brought  upon  them  the 
 king  of  the  Clialdees,  who  "  .slew  their  young 
 men  with  the  sword  in  the  house  of  their  sanc- 
 tuary, and  had  no  compassion  upon  young 
 man  or  maiden,  old  man,  or  him  that  stooped 
 for  age  :  he  gave  them  all  into  his  hand. 
 
 18  '  And  all  the  vessels  of  the  house  of  God, 
 great  and  small,  and  the  treasures  of  the  house 
 of  the  Lord,  and  the  treasures  of  the  king, 
 and  of  his  princes ;  all  these  he  brought  to 
 Babylon. 
 
 19  "  And  they  burnt  tlie  house  of  God,  and 
 lirake  down  the  wall  of  Jerusalem,  and  burnt 
 
 the  palaces  thereof  witli  fire,  and  destroyed 
 all  the  goodly  vessels  thereof. 
 
 •20  And  t '  them  that  had  escaped  from  the 
 
 word  carried  he  away  to  Babylon  ;  '  where 
 they  were  servants  to  him  and  his  sons  until 
 tlie  reign  of  the  kingdom  of  Persia  : 
 
 21  To  fulfil  the  word  of  the  Lord  by  the 
 mouth  of  ''  Jeremiah,  until  the  land  ''  had  en- 
 joyed her  sabbaths  :  for  as  long  as  she  lay  de- 
 solate ''she  kept  sabbath,  to  fulfil  threescore 
 and  ten  years. 
 
 2-2  1  '  Now  in  the  first  year  of  Cyrus  king  of 
 
 Chap    XXXVI.-2.  Je/,-./,ft«-see  note  on  2  Kings,  xxiii.  31.  the  Persian  empire.- Dr.  Gfirfes.        n.  Had  enjo,i^,dher  sMalhsbe. 
 
 R  NchuchndnezLr.  *c,-see  notes  on  2  Kings,  xxiv,  1,  &c,     15.  Rising  cause  the  Jews,  among  other  precepts,  had  violated  that  of  ktting  their 
 
 „,,"!•/  m«-"be  all  .*n„  is  to  good  fathers  of  famiUes  rising  early  to  land  rest  from  ploughing  and  sowing  every  seventh  year,  (Lev.  xxv. 
 
 In'  k  alt  r  the  r  business;  such  »  as  the  compassion  and  care  of  God  for  4,)  God  gave  their  land  a  long  Sabbath   or  rest  for  no  less  than  ten 
 
 bis  people,  that  he  gave  them  timely  notice  to  avoid  their  danger.-  times  seven  years,  which  Jeremiah  threatened,  chap.  xxv.  9-12  ;  xxix. 
 
 Pat.        20.  Kingdom,  •Mug.'  — Houb.    Until  the  commencement  of  10.— Pat. 
 
 Ueflfctions  on  Chap.  X.XXV We  shall  make  two  re- 
 marks on  the  events  in  this  chapter,  passing  by  the  passover, 
 which  we  may  reckon  amon^  the  reforms  alluded  to  in  the 
 reflections  on  the  preceding  chapter.  I.  The  error  which  Josiah 
 committed.  He  certainly  unJerlook  to  meet  Necho  in  warfare 
 witliout  consulting  God.  Many  a  good  man  has  had  to  repent 
 nf  choosing  his  own  ways,  and  unadvisedly  taking  his  own 
 steps.  It  is  good  to  ahide  by  lliat  rule,  '  in  all  thy  ways  ac- 
 knowledge Ilim,  and  he  shall  direct  thy  paths.' 
 
 II.  The  itiatli  which  .Josiah  dirJ.  His  end  was,  indeed,  sud- 
 den, hut  sudden  death  to  a  good  man  is  sudden  glory.  His 
 492 
 
 heart  was  right  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  he  was  taken  away 
 from  the  evil  to  come.  According  to  the  course  of  nature,  he 
 might  have  lived  to  see  the  destruction  of  his  people  and  their 
 captivity  by  the  Babylonians,  but  he  was  spared  the  agonizing 
 sight.  He  might  be  truly  said  to  die  in  peace,  for  he  died  in 
 the  love  and  favour  of  God,  which  secures  such  a  peace  as  no 
 circumstances  of  dying— no,  not  dying  in  the  field  of  war- 
 could  alter  the  nature  of,  or  break  in  upon.  In  every  state 
 and  condition,  and  under  all  circumstances, '  mark  (he  perfect 
 man.  and  heboid  the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace." 
 
Tlie  proclamation 
 
 11.  CHRONICLES.  XXXVI. 
 
 of  Cyrus. 
 
 Persia,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  spoken  by 
 the  mouth  of  *"  Jereiniali  might  be  accomplish- 
 ed, tlie  Loud  stirred  up  the  spirit  of  ^  Cyrus 
 king  of  Persia,  that  he  made  a  proclamation 
 throughout  all  his  kingdom,  d^mX  put  it  also  in 
 writing,  saying, 
 ;23  ^  Thus  saith  Cyrus  king  of  Persia,  All  the 
 
 /Jer.  25.  1?, 
 &33.  )0,  II, 
 
 kingdoms  of  the  eartli  hath  the  Lord  God  of 
 Iieaven  given  me  ;  and  he  hath  charged  me  to 
 build  him  an  house  in  Jerusalem,  which  is  in 
 Judah.  Who  is  there  among  you  of  all  his 
 people?  The  Lord  his  God  be  with  bini,  and 
 let  him  go  up. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVI.  —  We  conclude  this  book 
 with  remarks  from  Henry — 'I.  The  dtstruction  of  Judah  and 
 Jerusalem  come  on  by  dvgrees.  God  so  ordered  it  to  shew  that 
 he  had  no  pleasure  in  sinners'  ruin,  but  had  rather  they  would 
 turn  and  lire  ;  and  therefore  gives  thera  both  time  and  induce- 
 ment to  repent,  and  waits  to  be  gracious. 
 
 *  II.  The  Chaldeans  finally  effected  this  destruction.  Abraham, 
 God's  friend,  was  called  out  of  tliat  country,  from  Ur  of  the 
 Cbaldees,  when  God  took  him  into  covenant  and  communion 
 wilh  himself;  and  now  his  degenerate  seed  were  carried  into 
 that  country  again,  to  signify  that  they  had  forfeited  all  that 
 kindness  wherewith  they  bad  been  loved  for  the  father's  sake. 
 
 and  the  benefit  of  that  covenant  into  which  he  was  called  ;  all 
 was  now  undone  again.  We  may  trace  the  ruin  of  empires  to 
 their  iniquities,  and  here  God's  own  favoured  people  were 
 brought  into  desolation  by  their  sins.  Let  this  induce  us  to 
 pray  for  our.  own  land,  and  to  use  our  best  endeavours  to  pro- 
 mote its  moral  and  religious  prosperity,  for  "  righteousness 
 esalteth  a  nation;"  but  when  iniquity  abounds,  we  may  expect 
 to  hear  the  voice  of  Providence  loudly  speaking  in  threatened 
 punishments,  which,  unregarded,  will  assuredly  come  at  last. 
 "  Shall  1  not  visit  for  these  things  1  saith  the  Lord  ,  shall  not 
 my  soul  be  avenged  on  such  a  nation  as  this  ?  " ' 
 
 EZRA. 
 
 [This  book  contains  an  account  of  the  return  of  the  Jews  tVom  Babylon  to  Jerusalem,  under  ZerubbabeL  and  afterwards  under 
 Ezra,  after  enduring  70  years'  captivity.  Its  history  embraces  80  years.  Ezra  is  generally  considered  to  be  the  author. 
 He  was  of  the  house  of  Aaron,  and  grandson  of  Soraiah,  who  was  high  priest  in  the  reign  of  Zedekiah  ;  compare  2  Kings, 
 XXV.  18,  and  Ezra,  vii.  1.  His  rank  and  education  qualified  him  as  a  writer;  and  he  was  himself  engaged  in  the  trans- 
 actions which  are  here  recorded.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  T'le  prodamation  of  Cyrus  for  the  btdlding  of  the 
 temple,  5  The  people  provide  for  the  return,  7  Cy- 
 rus restoreth  the  vessels  of  the  teinple  to  Sheshbazzar. 
 
 IVrOW  in  the  first  year  of  Cyrus  king  of 
 -'-"  Persia,  that  the  word  of  tlie  Lokd  "  by  tlie 
 mouth  of  Jeremiah  miglit  be  fulfilled,  the  Lord 
 stirred  up  the  spirit  of  Cyrus  king  of  Persia, 
 ''  that  he  f  made  a  proclamation  throughout 
 all  his  kingdom,  and  put  it  also  in  writing, 
 saying, 
 
 2  Thus  saith  Cyrus  king  of  Persia,  The  Lord 
 God  of  heaven  hath  given  me  all  the  kingdoms 
 of  the  earth  ;  and  he  hath  '  charged  me  to 
 build  him  an  house  at  Jerusalem,  which  is  in 
 Judah. 
 
 3  Who  is  there  among  you  of  all  his  people  ? 
 his  God  be  with  him,  and  let  him  go  up  to  Je- 
 rusalem, which  is  in  Judah,  and  build  the 
 house  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  (f  he  is  the 
 God,)  which  is  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 4  And  whosoever  remaineth  in  any  place 
 where  he  sojournetb,  let  the  men  of  his  place 
 
 u 
 
 C- 
 
 Cir. 
 
 330. 
 
 •  '->  CI 
 
 r.  36. 
 
 .  Jer 
 
 •>5    1> 
 
 Ik-^J. 
 
 10. 
 
 bch  5  I3,M   !1 
 
 t  Heb 
 
 «...- 
 
 ed  '1  voice  (u  1 1 
 
 pill. 
 
 c  Is.  'll.  28. 
 
 &1!i. 
 
 1,  13. 
 
 d  Dan 
 
 6.26. 
 
 t  Heb.  lin 
 him  tip. 
 
 [  That  ig, 
 /lel/ied  tfti-m. 
 
 feh.  5.  14. 
 
 &  6.  5. 
 y  --Mvin  24. 
 
 13   ■3Chr. 
 
 36.  7. 
 
 t  help  him  with  silver,  and  with  gold,  and  with 
 goods,  and  with  beasts,  beside  the  freewill 
 offering  for  the  house  of  God  that  is  in  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 3  IT  Then  rose  up  the  chief  of  the  fathers  of 
 Judah  and  Benjamin,  and  the  priests,  and  the 
 Levites,  with  all  thtiu  whose  spirit  "  God  had 
 raised,  to  go  up  to  build  tlie  house  of  the  Lord 
 which  is  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 6  And  all  they  that  were  about  them 
 II  strengthened  tlieir  hands  with  vessels  of  sil- 
 ver, with  gold,  with  goods,  and  with  beasts, 
 and  with  precious  things,  beside  all  that  was 
 willingly  ottered. 
 
 7  t  '  Also  Cyrus  the  king  brought  forth  the 
 vessels  of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  *  which  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar had  brought  forth  out  of  Jeru- 
 salem, and  had  put  them  in  the  house  of  his 
 gods  ; 
 
 8  Even  those  did  Cyrus  king  of  Persia  bring 
 forth  by  the  hand  of  Mithredath  the  treasurer, 
 and  numbered  them  unto  ''  Sheshbazzar,  the 
 prince  of  Judah. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  1.  In  the  first  year  of  Cyrus— not  in  the  first 
 of  his  reigD  over  Persia,  for  he  hati  been  many  years  kin^  over  that, 
 but  over  iiabylon  and  the  dominions  belonging  to  it,  which  commenced 
 with  Darius  on  the  taking  of  Babylon— GiW.  Upnn  the  conquest  of 
 Babylon,  at  the  death  of  Belshazzar,  the  grandson  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
 (Dan.  V.,)  Cyrus  made  his  uncle  Cya.'iares,  there  called  Darius  the  Me. 
 dian,  king  of  Babylon.  Such  was  his  title,  but,  according  to  Xenophon, 
 Cyrus  had  the  throne  and  remained  in  the  city.  After  two  year»,  Da- 
 rius died,  when  Per^ia,  and  all  the  dominions  of  Assyria  and  Babylon, 
 became  solely  subject  to  his  sway.— Boo(Ar..  Sut.  Might  be  fulfilled, 
 Jeremiah  had  foretold  that,  after  seventy  years,  the  king  of  Babylon 
 should  be  punished  ;  that  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans  should  be  reduced 
 to  peipetual  desolation,  (chap.  x.xv.  12,)  and  that  the  people  of  Judah 
 should  return  to  their  own  country,  (chap.  xxii.  \a.)—Hcw,  The  end 
 of  the  seventy  years  fell  on  the  first  of  Cyrus,  reckoning  from  the  fourth 
 of  Jehoiakim,  and  the  first  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  (see  Jer.  x.tv.  I,  11,  12, 
 and  .\xi.x.  \0.)—GiU.  Stirred  up  the  .tpirit,  probably  by  the  wise  conn, 
 sel  of  Daniel.— //u/e*.  2.  Thus  saitli  Cyrus,  of  whom,  and  this  edict, 
 Isaiah  prophesied  200  years  before  he  was  born,  (Ir,a.  xliv.  28.) — Gill. 
 4f»3 
 
 All  the  kiii^^doms — he  ruled  over  all  Asia. — Herod,  Over  the  Modes 
 and  Hyrcanians,  Syrians,  .\ssyrians,  Arabians,  Cappadociaiis.  both  the 
 Phrygians,  Carians,  Phwncians,  Babylonians,  Bactrians,  Indians, 
 Cilicians,  Sacse  or  Scythians,  Paphlagonians,  Megadinians,  and  many 
 other  nations,  the  Greeks  inhabiting  Asia,  and  the  Cyprians  and  Egyp. 
 tians;  the  borders  of  his  kingdom  were,  to  the  east,  the  Red  Sea;  to 
 the  north,  the  Enxine  Pontus  j  to  the  west,  Cyprus  and  Egyjjt;  and  to 
 the  south,  Ethiopia. — Xenoph.  Cyropcedia.  He  hath  charged,  ^c. — so 
 he  understood  from  Isa.  xlv.  13,  and  xliv.  28. — Put,  Daniel  &hewca 
 him  the  prophecy. — So  Jos.  5.  Rose  up  the  chief,  fyc.  — a  consider- 
 able number  of  Israelites  resolved  to  return  to  their  lathers'  land,  but 
 the  greiter  part  would  not  venture  with  their  families  to  a  spot  so  long 
 desolate.  The  principal  heads  that  returned  were  of  the  tribes  of  Judah 
 and  Benjamin,  though  other  tribes  were  mixed  with  them. — Pyle. 
 8.  Sheshbazzar,  anotlier  name  for  Zerubbabel.  mentioned  chap.  iii.  2,  8 ; 
 v.  14,  l6.  It  was  common  in  the  captivity  for  the  great  men  in  Judah 
 to  have  a  domestic  name  of  their  own  country,  and  a  court  name, 
 which  WRS  Chaldean,  (Dan.  i.  7.) — Put.  Sheshbazzar  signifies,  'he 
 rejoiced  iu  tribulation,'  and  Zerubbabel,  '  exile  in  Babylon,'  being  bom 
 
The  autnhti  oj  t/ie  people 
 
 EZRA,  11. 
 
 who  returned  from  Babjjloii. 
 
 9  And  this  is  the  number  of  them :  thirty 
 chargers  of  gold,  a  thousand  chargers  of  silver, 
 nine  and  twenty  knives, 
 
 10  Thirty  basons  of  gold,  silver  basons  of  a 
 second  nort  four  hundred  and  ten,  and  other 
 vessels  a  thousand. 
 
 1 1  All  the  vessels  of  gold  and  of  silver  were 
 five  thousand  and  four  hundred.  All  these  did 
 Sheshbazzar  bring  up  with  tlicm  of  f  the  cap- 
 tivity that  were  brought  up  from  Babylon  unto 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  Thp  nvmher  thatrelurn^  of  the  people,  ^  of  the  priests, 
 40  of  the  Levitts,  43  of  the  Kethinims,  bb  of  Solo- 
 mon's servants,  62  of  the  priests  which  could  not  shew 
 their  pedit/ree,  64  The  whole  numlter  of  them,  with 
 their  substance.     68  Their  oblations, 
 
 NOW  °  these  are  the  children  of  the  pro- 
 vince that  went  up  out  of  the  captivity,  of 
 those  which  had  been  carried  away,  ''whom 
 Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  of  Babylon  bad  car- 
 ried away  unto  Babylon,  and  came  again  unto 
 .lerusalem  and  Judah,  every  one  unto  his 
 city ; 
 
 2  Which  came  with  Zerubbabel  :  Jeshua, 
 Nehemiah,  ||  Seraiab,  ||  Reelaiah,  M.ordecai, 
 Bilshan,  ||  Mizpar,  Bigvai,  ||  Rehum,  Baanah. 
 The  number  of  tlie  men  of  the  people  of  Is- 
 rael : 
 
 3  The  children  of  Parosh,  two  thousand  an 
 hundred  seventy  and  two. 
 
 4  The  children  of  Shephatiah,  three  hundred 
 seventy  and  two. 
 
 5  The  children  of  Arab,  "  seven  hundred  se- 
 venty and  five. 
 
 C  The  children  of '' Pahafb-moab,  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Jeshua  and  Joab,  two  tliousand  eight 
 hundred  and  twelve. 
 
 7  The  children  of  Elam,  a  thousand  two  hun- 
 dred fifty  and  four. 
 
 8  The  children  of  Zattu,  nine  hundred  forty 
 and  five. 
 
 9  Tlie  children  of  Zaccai,  seven  hundred  and 
 threescore. 
 
 10  The  children  of  ||  Bani,  six  hundred  forty 
 and  two. 
 
 1 1  The  children  of  Bebai,  six  hundred  twenty 
 and  three. 
 
 12  The  children  of  Azgad,  a  thousand  two 
 hundred  twenty  and  two. 
 
 1.3  The  children  of  Adonikam,  six  hundred 
 sixty  and  six. 
 14  The  children  of  Bigvai,  two  thousand  fifty 
 
 cir.  a.%. 
 .  Neh.  7    C, 
 kc    I  Kad, 
 5    7,  &c. 
 i  -y  Kin.  St. 
 H,  15,  IG. 
 .s<  25.  n. 
 2  Chr.36.'20. 
 
 il  Or.  .^.-nr,-- 
 n/.,Neh  7,7 
 
 II  Or,  «ao- 
 tnta/i. 
 
 II  Or.  alitpe- 
 
 llOr.  .V../1U-.., 
 
 I  Or.  Wnmii, 
 Neh.  7.  1&. 
 
 II  Or,  Gilto,, 
 Neh.  7.  '.'5 
 
 Or,  Bettt- 
 Neh.  7.  28 
 
 siimc    CD- 
 pies. 
 
 S  1  Chv.  1\. 
 14. 
 
 A I  Clir.O  12 
 il  CUr.31.8. 
 
 II  Or.  ./"(/aft, 
 ch,  fl.  !) 
 called  also 
 
 Neh.  7,  i3. 
 
 Jorah,  an  hundred  and 
 Hashum,   two   hundred 
 
 and  six. 
 
 15  The  children  of  Adin,  four  hundred  fifty 
 and  four. 
 
 16  The  children  of  Ater  of  Hezekiah,  ninety 
 and  eight. 
 
 17  The  children  of  Bezai,  three  hundred 
 twenty  and  three. 
 
 18  The  children  of 
 twelve. 
 
 19  The  children  of 
 twenty  and  three. 
 
 20  The  children  of  jj  Gibbar,  ninety  and  five. 
 
 21  The  children  of  Beth-lehem,  an  hundred 
 twenty  and  three. 
 
 22  The  men  of  Netophah,  fifty  and  six. 
 
 23  The  men  of  Anathoth,  an  hundred  twenty 
 and  eight. 
 
 24  The  children  of  ||  Azmaveth,  forty  and 
 two. 
 
 25  The  children  of  Kirjath-arim,  Cliephirah, 
 and  Beerotb,  seven  hundred  and  forty  and 
 three. 
 
 26  The  children  of  Ramah  and  Gaba,  six 
 hundred  twenty  and  one. 
 
 27  The  men  of  Michmas,  an  hundred  twenty 
 and  two. 
 
 28  The  men  of  Beth-el  and  Ai,  two  lumdred 
 twenty  and  three. 
 
 29  The  children  of  Nebo,  fifty  and  two. 
 
 30  The  children  of  Magbish,  an  hundred  fifty 
 and  six. 
 
 31  The  children  of  the  other  °  Elam,  a  thou- 
 sand two  hundred  fifty  and  four. 
 
 32  The  children  of  Ilarim,  three  hundred  and 
 twenty. 
 
 33  The  children  of  Lod,  ||  Hadid,  and  Ono, 
 seven  hundred  twenty  and  five. 
 
 34  The  children  of  Jericho,  three  hundred 
 forty  and  five. 
 
 35  The  children  of  Scnaah,  three  thousand 
 and  six  hundred  and  thirty. 
 
 36  t  The  priests:  the  children  of  ''.ledaiah, 
 of  the  house  of  Jeshua,  nine  hundred  seventy 
 and  three. 
 
 37  The  children  of  ^  Immer,  a  thousand  fifty 
 and  two. 
 
 38  The  children  of  ''  Pashur,  a  thousand  two 
 hundred  forty  and  seven. 
 
 39  The  children  of  '  Ilarim,  a  thousand  and 
 seventeen. 
 
 40  t  The  Levites  :  the  children  of  Je.shna 
 and  Kadmiel,  of  the  children  of  ||  Hodaviah. 
 seventy  and  four. 
 
 there. — Gill,  Sut.  g.  Nine  mid  twentif  kmrrs,  probably  employed  in 
 circumcision  or  sacrrtice.  and  heini?  placed  anr  ne:  the  precious  vessels, 
 were  doubtless  of  costly  structure,  perhaps  with  blades  of  flint,  (see 
 Josh.  V.  <l)—WU. 
 
 Chap.  II. —  1.  Province,  Kabylon.^BonfAr.  Some  understand  by 
 this,  Babylon  ;  but  more  likely  it  was  Judea,  which  was  maile  a  pro- 
 vince when  conquered,  and  Gedaliah  appointed  governor. — Pet,  See 
 chap.  V.  8. — So  Henri/,  Ken.,  Scott,  Ctfirke.  Hud  been  carried  awui/, 
 in  tlieir  person  or  parents, — Gitl.  2.  Jeshua — be  was  the  high  priest, 
 and,  as  such,  is  mentioned  before  the  rest ;  he  held  the  office  by  lineal 
 descent,  being  grandson  of  .Seraiah.  who  was  high  priest  when  Jeru- 
 Balem  was  destroyed.    Nehemiah,  the  author  ol  the  following  book  ; 
 
 and  Mordecai,  the  uncle  of  Esther. — Li^htfoot.  Mordecai,  diflferent 
 persr.ns  from  those  in  Nehemiah  and  Esther. — Prid.  Not  the  same 
 with  that  in  the  following  book  ;  or  if  he  did  go  now,  he  returned 
 to  Babylon  again.  Nor  was  this  the  Mordecai  of  Esther,  there  being 
 another  of  that  name  mentioned  in  the  Chrouielcs.  —  Pat.,  Pel/- 
 jiolds.  3.  Cliildren,  prefi.xed  to  a  man's  name,  as  from  ver.  3  to 
 20.  here  means  desce/idants. — Clarke.  21.  children  of  Beth-lehem, 
 such  as  belonged  to  that  city. — Pat.  '  Children'  from  this  verse  to  25, 
 that  is,  prefixed  tn  a  place,  signifies  inhabitants. — Clarke.  36.  Tlie 
 priests,  of  the  twenty  four  courses,  only  four  returned,  making  4289 
 persons,  the  rest  being  either  extinct  or  staying  behind.  Of  these  four, 
 each  subdivided  themselves,  and  made  up  the  twenty-four  courses 
 
 Reflections   on    Crap.    I Sutclifl'e    remarks    on    this  which  has  been  sowing  in  tears,  returns  with  sheaves  of  jny. 
 
 chapter,  '  In  this  gracious  proclamation  and  glorious  deliver-  The  harps  of  Israel,  so  long  hung  on  the  willows,  now  cele- 
 
 ance,  we  see  a  faint  epitome  of  the  effects  of  the  gospel  and  brate  the  praises  of  the  Lord  and  of  Cyrus  his  servant.     But 
 
 the  conversion  of  sinners.     Deliverance  is  now  preached  to  the   Christian,  celebrating  the  praises  of  him  who  has  deli- 
 
 the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  doors  to  them  that  vered  his  soul  from   a  greater  captivity  than  Cyrus  did   (hi- 
 
 are  hound.     Tlie   Lord   enriclies  the  willing   convert,  not  in-  Jews,  makes  a  joyful  noise  unto  God,  and  glorifies  him  with  a 
 
 deed  with  gold,  but  with  the  richer  favours  of  Ids  grace.    Th"  nobler  song.' 
 kindness  is  above  oil  that  we  could  ask  or  think.     'I'he  soul 
 494 
 
The  number  of  the  Nclhiidiiis,  §c. 
 
 EZRA,  II. 
 
 The  whole  number  of  the  people. 
 
 41  t  The  singers  :  the  children  of  Asaph,  an 
 hinidreil  twenty  and  eii;ht. 
 
 42  H  The  children  of  the  porters  :  the  chil- 
 dren of  Shalliim,  the  children  of  Ater,  the  chil- 
 dren of  Talmon,  the  children  of  Akkuh,  the 
 children  of  Hatita,  the  children  of  Shohai,  in 
 all  an  hundred  thirty  and  nine. 
 
 43  1 ''  The  Nethinims  :  the  children  of  Ziha, 
 the  children  of  Hasupha,  the  children  of  Tab- 
 baoth, 
 
 44  The  children  of  Keros,  the  children  of 
 II  Siaha,  the  children  of  Padon, 
 
 45  The  cliildren  of  Lebanali,  the  children  of 
 Hagal)ah,  the  children  of  Akkub, 
 
 46  The  children  of  Hagab,  the  children  of 
 II  Shalniai,  the  cliildren  of  Hanan, 
 
 47  The  children  of  Giddel,  the  children  of 
 Gahar.  the  children  of  Reaiah, 
 
 48  The  children  of  Rezin,  the  children  of 
 Nekoda,  the  children  of  Gazzani, 
 
 49  The  children  of  Uzza,  the  children  of 
 Paseah,  the  children  of  Besai, 
 
 50  The  children  of  Asnah,  the  children  of 
 Mehiniim,  the  children  of  ||  Nephusim. 
 
 51  The  children  of  Bakbnk,  the  children  of 
 Haknpha,  the  children  of  Harhur, 
 
 5-2  The  children  of  ||  Bazluth,  the  children  of 
 Mehida,  the  children  of  Harsha, 
 
 53  The  children  of  Barkos,  the  children  of 
 Sisera,  the  children  of  Thamah, 
 
 54  The  children  of  Neziah,  the  children  of 
 Hatipha. 
 
 55  1  The  children  of  'Solomon's  servants: 
 the  children  ofSotai,  the  children  of  Sophereth, 
 the  children  of  ||  Peruda, 
 
 56  The  children  of  Jaalah,  the  children  of 
 Darkon,  the  children  of  Giddel, 
 
 57  The  children  of  Shephatiah,  the  children 
 of  Hattil,  the  children  of  Pochereth  of  Zebaim, 
 the  children  of  ||  Ami. 
 
 58  All  the  "'  Nethinims,  and  the  children  of 
 "  Solomon's  servants,  were  three  hundred  ninety 
 and  two. 
 
 59  And  these  ivere  they  which  went  np  from 
 Tel-melah,  Tel-harsa,  Cherub,  ||  Addan,  and 
 Immer  :  but  they  could  not  shew  their  father's 
 
 II  Or.  .V^p/ii- 
 thetim. 
 
 \\0r, Bazlilh 
 Nell.  7.  M 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  536, 
 
 Or,  pedi- 
 gree. 
 
 ,.N'nm.  S.IO 
 
 t  Heb.  thnt 
 
 vpie  polliitnc 
 
 from  11.^ 
 
 prirtllioiid. 
 
 II    l^r,  fr-ICT' 
 
 Neh.  8.  9. 
 
 V  Lev.  -^2,  2, 
 
 10,  \h,  16. 
 
 r  Kx.  'i-^.  MO 
 
 >'mi.i  :.'7';| 
 
 J  Neh.  7.  C7 
 
 1  Or,  Perida, 
 Nell.  7.  57, 
 
 I  Or,  ^m'» 
 ^'ell,  7,  5( 
 71  JOFll.  U. 
 
 I|  Or,  .^ddpn 
 Neh.  7.  61, 
 
 house,   and    their    ||  seed,  whether  they  were 
 of  Israel : 
 
 60  The  children  of  Delaiah,  the  children  of 
 Tobiah,  the  children  of  Nekoda,  six  hundred 
 fifty  and  two. 
 
 61  f  And  of  the  children  of  the  priests  :  the 
 children  of  Habaiah,  the  children  of  Koz,  the 
 children  of  Barzillai  ;  which  took  a  wife  of  the 
 daughters  of  °  Barzillai  the  Gileadite,  and  was 
 called  after  their  name  : 
 
 6"2  These  sought  their  register  among  those 
 that  were  reckoned  by  genealogy,  but  they 
 were  not  found  :  ''  therefore  f  were  they,  as 
 polluted,  put  from  the  priesthood. 
 
 63  And  the  ||  Tirshatha  said  unto  them,  that 
 they  ''  should  not  eat  of  the  most  holy  things, 
 till  there  stood  up  a  priest  with  '  Urim  and  with 
 Thummim. 
 
 64  1 '  The  whole  congregation  together  was 
 forty  and  two  thousand  three  hundred  and 
 threescore, 
 
 65  Beside  their  servants  and  their  maids,  of 
 whom  there  were  seven  thousand  three  hun- 
 dred thirty  and  seven  :  and  there  were  among 
 them  two  hundred  singing  men  and  singing 
 women. 
 
 66  Their  horses  icere  seven  hundred  thirty 
 and  si.\  ;  their  mules,  two  hundred  forty  and 
 five  ; 
 
 67  Their  camels,  four  hundred  thirty  and  five : 
 their  asses,  six  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
 twenty. 
 
 68  H '  And  so?ne  of  the  chief  of  the  fathers, 
 when  they  came  to  the  house  of  the  Lord 
 which  i's  at  Jerusalem,  offered  freely  for  the 
 house  of  God  to  set  it  up  in  his  place  : 
 
 69  They  gave  after  their  ability  unto  the 
 "  treasure  of  the  work  threescore  and  one 
 thousand  drams  of  gold,  and  five  thousand 
 pound  of  silver,  and  one  hundred  priests'  gar- 
 ments. 
 
 70  '  So  the  priests,  and  the  Levites,  and  so7ne 
 of  the  people,  and  the  singers,  and  the  porters, 
 and  the  Nethinims,  dwelt  in  their  cities,  and 
 
 lall  Israel  in  their  cities. 
 
 again. — Prid.,  Pijle.  43.  Netftinittts — see  note  1  Chron.  is.  2.  5.S.  Tf<e 
 children  of  Sttlomort's  servanta — persons  descended  from  the  remains  of 
 the  devoted  Canaaniles,  who  bad  been  brought  into  bondage  by  Suio. 
 mon,  and  so  their  posterity  were  employed  in  menial  services;  perhaps 
 about  the  sanctuary,  along  with  the  Nethinims.— Sco^^  See  1  Kings, 
 ix.  20—22.  59.  Ttl  meiiih,   Tt-l-harsn,  §-c.,   places  in   the   land   of 
 
 Bab>lon. — Gill.  61.  And  of  the  children  of  theprieats,  ^c,  'and  of 
 the  lio>terit>'  of  the  priests,  the  posterity  of  Habiah.  of  Koz.  of  Barzillai, 
 who  took  a  wife  of  the  daughters  of  Barzillai,'  8cc. — Boothr.  This 
 man  married  a  woman  descended  from  Barzillai,  and,  the  priesthood 
 being  in  disuse  and  mean  in  Babylon,  he  took  the  name  of  his  wife's 
 f.-imilv,  neglected  his  descent,  and  lost  bis  name  in  the  rcgi-^ter  of  the 
 priesthood.— Gi7i.  63.  Tirshathn,  a  name  of  grandeur  in  the  Chaldee, 
 as  a  prince  or  governor,  and  no  doubt  Zeriibbabel  is  meant,  rhe  Prince 
 of  the  Jews,  the  same  with  Sheshhazzar.  (chap.  i.  S.]—.ilien  Ezrii,  Gill. 
 S'-me  take  the  word  for  'cup  bearer;'  it  is  applied  to  Nehemiab  at  Neb. 
 vii,  70  ;  X.  1,  Sec. — Cttl.  Most  holij  thijtgn,  shew  bread,  the  parts  of  the 
 offerings  which  belonged  to  the  priests. — Gill.  A  priest  with  Urim  and 
 witli  Thummim — till  the  Lord  himself  should  shew  whether  they  were  of 
 the  line  of  Aaron  or  aot.—Pat.    Hereby  it  appears  that  the  Urim  and 
 
 Thummim  were  lost  in  the  destruction  of  the  city  and  temple,  though 
 the  Jt-ws  fed  themselves  with  hopc>  of  recovering  them,  but  in  vain. — 
 Ptiote.  Urim  mid  Thummim— %eQ  note  on  Exod.  xxviii.  30.  64,  The 
 whole  consrre^ation,  §'c. — this  was  more  than  double  the  number  cap. 
 tured  by  Nebuchadnezzar, — Pat.  The  several  suras  before  mentioned 
 amount  to  29,SI8,  so  there  want  12.542  to  complete  the  number.  These 
 were  either  of  the  other  tribes  beside  Judah  and  Benjamin,  or  such  as 
 were  supposed  to  be  Israelites,  but  could  not  find  their  genealogies. — 
 So  Poole,  Pat.  6g,  ThreeKcore.  §-c,— by  this  it  appears,   that  the 
 
 Jews  were  not  marie  slaves,  but  had  lilierty  to  trade,  and  so  many  rose 
 to  wealth  and  honour. — So  Pot.  The  dram  was  worth  15s.,  the  whole 
 amount  was  worth  45.750/. — Brereimnd.  The  dram,  1/.  Os.id.; 
 amount,  61,000/.— B/i.  Cumberlond.  Of  siVrer— these  drams  were  a 
 Median  coin,  struck  by  one  of  the  elder  Dariuses,  and  named,  after  him, 
 '  Daricks.'  The  gold  then  consisted  of  golden  Daricks,  obtained  froni 
 Persia  by  commerce. — Script.  11111.1.  The  Hebrew  *  mina,'  or  pound, 
 was  7/  ]os.  of  our  money. — lirerevood.  The  mina  was  9/.,  and  the 
 whole  amounted  to  75,500/.  of  our  money. — Univ.  Hi.it.  Priests^  gar- 
 Tnents,  which,  as,  according  to  the  eastern  custom,  they  were  laid  up 
 for  treasure,  were  necessary  for  the  service  of  the  temple.— Gi7/,  Ed. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  On  reading  this  chapter,  we 
 are  led  to  exclaim,  I.  Behold  here  thejudi/mmt  ot  God !  \V  hen 
 Israel  came  out  of  Egypt,  there  were  'six  hundred  thousand 
 on  foot  that  were  men,  beside  children.'  Now  tlie  number 
 that  are  exhibited  as  returning  to  the  good  land  do  not 
 amount  to  thirty  thousand.  Great  numbers,  indeed,  chose  to 
 stay  among  the  heathen,  but  then  to  what  an  awful  state  of 
 heart  must  they  have  been  given  up.  to  prefer  the  gains  of 
 this  world  among  the  heathen,  rather  than  return  to  the  land 
 of  their  fathers,  and  the  enjoyment  of  all  ibeir  religions  pri- 
 vileges.' Of  these,  God  said, '  Epbraim  is  joined  to  idols,  let 
 495 
 
 him  alone.' 
 
 \l.  )ie\io\Ah^Te  ttte  fiondnrsi  and  viercii  of  God.  The  disci- 
 pline of  liis  hand  having  brought  a  goodly  number  to  repent- 
 ance, they  are  restored,  So  '  all  Israel  dwelt  in  their  cities.' 
 Impenitence  leads  to  ruin  ;  repentance  brings  recovery.  '  I 
 have  surely  beard  Epbraim  bemoaning  himself  *  Is  Epbraim 
 my  dear  son  l  is  be  a  pleasant  child  ?  for  since  I  spake  against 
 him.  I  do  earnestly  remember  him  still  :  therefore  my  bowels 
 arc  troubled  for  him  :  I  will  surely  have  mercy  upon  him,  saith 
 the  Lord.' 
 
The  altar  is  set  up. 
 
 EZRA,   11!.,   IV. 
 
 T lie  fuundui tuns  of  the  temple  laid. 
 
 III. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
 1  The  altar  is  set  up.  4  Offerings  frequented.  7 
 Workmen  prepared.  8  7Vie  foundations  of  the  temple 
 are  laid  in  great  joy  and  mojirning. 
 
 A  ND  "when  the  seventh  month  was  come, 
 -^*-  and  the  children  of  Israel  were  in  the 
 cities,  the  people  gathered  themselves  together 
 as  one  man  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  Then  stood  up  ||  Jeshua  the  son  of  Jozadak, 
 and  his  brethren  the  priests,  and  ||  Zerubbabel 
 the  son  of  ''  Shealtiel,  and  his  brethren,  and 
 builded  the  altar  of  the  God  of  Israel,  to  offer 
 burnt  offerings  thereon,  as  it  is  '  written  in  the 
 law  of  Moses  the  man  of  God. 
 
 ;3  And  they  set  the  altar  upon  his  bases  ;  for 
 fear  was  upon  them  because  of  the  people  of 
 those  countries  :  and  they  offered  burnt  offer- 
 ings thereon  unto  the  Lord,  even  ^  burnt 
 offerings  morning  and  evening. 
 
 4  '  They  kept  also  the  feast  of  tabernacles, 
 'as  it  is  written,  and  '^offered  the  daily  burnt 
 offerings  by  number,  according  to  the  custom, 
 fas  the  duty  of  every  day  required  ; 
 
 o  And  afterward  o^f  ;•(;('/ the  *■  continual  burnt 
 offering,  both  of  tlie  new  moons,  and  of  all  the 
 set  feasts  of  the  Lord  that  were  consecrated, 
 and  of  every  one  that  willingly  offered  a  free- 
 will offering  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 6  From  the  first  day  of  the  seventh  month 
 began  they  to  offer  burnt  offerings  unto  the 
 Lord.  But  f  the  foundation  of  the  temple  of 
 the  Lord  was  not  yet  laid. 
 
 7  They  gave  money  also  unto  the  masons, 
 and  to  the  ||  carpenters  ;  and  '  meat,  and  drink, 
 and  oil,  unto  them  of  Zidon,  and  to  them  of 
 Tyre,  to  bring  cedar  trees  from  Lebanon  to  the 
 sea  of  '  Joppa,  '  according  to  the  grant  that 
 they  had  of  Cyrus  king  of  Persia. 
 
 8  t  Now  in  the  second  year  of  their  coming 
 unto  the  house  of  God  at  Jerusalem,  in  the 
 second  month,  began  Zerubbabel  the  son  of 
 Shealtiel,  and  Jesliua  the  son  of  Jozadak,  and 
 the  remnant  of  their  brethren  tlie  priests  and 
 the  Levites,  and  all  they  that  were  come  out 
 of  the  captivity  unto  Jerusalem  ;  ""  and  ap- 
 pointed the  Levites,  from  twenty  years  old 
 and  upward,  to  set  forward  the  work  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 9  Then  stood  "Jeshua  tvith  his  sons  and  his 
 brethren,  Kadmiel  and  his  sons,  the  sons  of 
 jl  Judah,  f  together,  to  set  forward  the  work- 
 men in  the  house  of  God  :  the  sons  of  Hena- 
 
 Hug.  I.  I.  & 
 
 -2.  3  Zocli. 
 
 :l    I. 
 II  r.,IIed 
 
 7..,r.,h„h'l. 
 
 Mat.  ?    12. 
 
 ^  Luke  3. 
 
 27,  call^Ml 
 
 S'lalhitt. 
 c  Deut.lS.ft 
 
 Nth   S    11 
 
 .!"■' 
 
 t  Hfb.  rt" 
 Ifinplfi'tii 
 LOR  It  ttu 
 
 W  Or.  ^.,rk. 
 
 '"Kill .5  R.n. 
 
 I  n»r 
 
 :.  10. 
 
 A.Hs  i; 
 
 taChra.lti 
 Alts  H.  ^fi. 
 I  ch.  0   -A. 
 
 5:t5. 
 
 p\  Clir6.3l. 
 
 &  Iti.  4.  & 
 
 25.  I. 
 7  Ex.  15.21. 
 
 2  Chr.  7-  3 
 
 Neh.12.2'). 
 I  Chr.  16 
 
 St.  Pa.  130 
 
 a  Ppt  ver.  7 
 fl,  0. 
 
 t  Hi-b.  the 
 *.,:*  ufthf 
 tra'ufKirla- 
 
 2I.:M,  as,  & 
 ly.  .17.  vcr 
 
 t  Heb. . 
 
 dad,  with  their  sons  and   their  brethren   the 
 Levites. 
 
 10  And  when  the  builders  laid  the  foundation 
 of  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  "  they  set  the 
 priests  in  their  apjiarel  with  trumpets,  and  the 
 Levites  the  sons  of  Asaph  with  cymbals,  to 
 praise  the  Lord,  after  the  ''ordinance  of  David 
 king  of  Israel. 
 
 1 1  'i  And  they  sang  together  by  course  in 
 praising  and  giving  thanks  unto  the  Lord  ; 
 'because  he  is  good,  "for  his  mercy  cnduieth 
 for  ever  toward  Israel.  And  all  the  people 
 shouted  with  a  great  sliout,  when  they  praised 
 the  Lord,  because  the  foundation  of  the  hou.se 
 of  the  Lord  was  laid. 
 
 12  '  But  many  of  the  priests  and  Levites  and 
 chief  of  the  fathers,  icho  ivcre  ancient  men, 
 that  had  seen  the  first  house,  when  the  foun- 
 dation of  this  house  was  laid  before  their  eyes, 
 uept  with  a  loud  voice  ;  and  many  shouted 
 aloud  for  joy  : 
 
 1.3  So  that  the  people  could  not  discern  the 
 noise  of  the  shout  of  joy  from  the  noise  of  the 
 weeping  of  the  people  :  for  the  people  shouted 
 with  a  loud  shout,  and  the  noise  was  heard 
 afar  ott'. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  The  adversarirs,  beiurj  not  accepted  in  the  huiJding  of 
 the  temple  with  the  Jews,  vndtavour  to  hinder  it. 
 7  Thdr  litter  to  Artarerxes.  17  The  decree  of  Ar- 
 taxerxes.      23    The  hititdin;/  is  hindered. 
 
 NOW  when  *  the  adversaries  of  Judah  and 
 Benjamin  heard  that  f  the  children  of  the 
 captivity  builded  the  temple  unto  the  Lord 
 God  of  Israel  ; 
 
 2  Then  they  came  to  Zerubbabel,  and  to  the 
 chief  of  tlie  father.s,  and  said  unto  them.  Let 
 us  build  with  you  :  for  we  seek  your  God,  as 
 ye  do;  and  we  do  sacrifice  untu  him  ''since 
 the  days  of  Esar-haddon  king  of  Assur,  whiclx 
 brought  us  up  hither. 
 
 ;}  But  Zerubbabel,  and  Jeshua,  and  the  rest 
 of  the  chief  of  the  fathers  of  Israel,  said  unto 
 them,''  Ye  have  nothing  to  do  with  us  to  build 
 an  house  unto  our  God  ;  but  we  ourselves  to- 
 gether will  build  unto  the  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
 as  "^  king  Cyrus  the  king  of  Persia  hath  com- 
 manded us. 
 
 4  Then  ^  the  people  of  the  land  weakened 
 the  hands  of  the  people  of  Judah,  and  troubled 
 them  in  building, 
 
 5  And  hired  counsellors  against  them,  to 
 frustrate  their  purpose,  all  the  days  of  Cyrus 
 
 Chap.  III.  — I.  The  seventh  tnonl/i,the  tenth  day  of  which  was  the 
 ^eat  day  of  atonemeDt,  (Lev.  xvi.)  They  had  left  Babylon  in  the 
 spring-,  and  being  four  mootlis  on  their  journey,  the  priests  hastened 
 the  erection  of  the  altar. — Sut.  2.  Jeahuo,  or  Joshua,  (Hap.  i.  i.) 
 3.  Set  the  altar  upon  his  iises— raised  it  upon  the  same  spot  where  it 
 had  fnrmerly  stood.— .^.  Clarke.  For  fear  was  upon  Mem— >3,  '  for,* 
 should  here  be  translated  '  although.'  *  Although  they  were  in  fear  of 
 their  evil  neighbours,  yet  they  would  not  desist  from  restoring  the 
 worship  of  God.'  Burnt -offerinas  mornin;^  and  evening,  the  daily 
 sacrifice,  the  continual  burnt-offerings,  (Exod.  xxix.  38,  39.)— Gi7/, 
 !*«'.  9-  Jeshua,  not  the  hiph  priest,  but  the  Levite,  (chap.  ii.  40.) 
 Pat.,   Gill.  12.  Ancient   men  — wept  —  they   remembered    the   first 
 
 temple  ;  and  the  things  that  constituted  its  glory  were  now  wanting, 
 —the  ark,  the  Schechinah,  the  Urim,  and  the  holy  fire.     Hence  Hagi;al 
 
 was  sent  to  comfort  them,  and  assure  them  of  its  greater  glory,  be- 
 cause the  Messiah  was  himself  to  appear  in  this  temjUe.  See  his  pro- 
 phecy, chap.  ii.  7-  Q. — Boothr.  and  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  Adiyersaries,  the  Samaritans;  people  whom  Shal- 
 maneser  and  Ezar-haddon,  kings  of  Assyria,  had  brought  from  Baby- 
 lon, Cuthah,  and  other  places,  and  had  settled  in  parts  of  the  country 
 formerly  inhabited  by  the  ten  tribes  ;  they  were  called  Samaritans 
 from  having  occupied  Samaria  and  its  vicinity.— Co/Z^er.  See  2  Kings, 
 xvii. ;  see  the  note  on  2  Kings,  xvii.  23.  2.  We  seek  ymir  God — 
 this  was  fal:^e,  for  they  did  not  w^orship  him  alone,  but  with  iduls. — 
 Gill.  3.  Ye  hiii'e  nothing  to  do  with  us,  being  worshippers  of  other 
 gods  as  well  as  Jehovah,— TIV//.S-;  and  of  a  different  nation.  4.  People 
 of  the  litnd,  th^it  i^,  the  Samaritans.  5.  All  the  days  of  Curtis,  who, 
 biing  engaged  in  war  with  tlie  Lydians  and  Scy  tliians,  could  not  attend 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.IIL— I.  The  first  care  of  the  Jews 
 on  their  return,  as  Bishop  Hall  remarks,  *  is  their  public  sacrifice. 
 That  school  of  their  captivity,  wherein  tbey  have  been  long 
 trained,  hath  taupht  them  to  begin  with  God.  A  forced  dis- 
 continuance makes  devotion  more  savoury,  more  sweet  to 
 relieious  hearts.'  So  have  we  often  found  it  when  confined 
 to  the  sick  chamber,  and  prevented  from  joining  with  the  mul- 
 titude that  keep  holy  day.  It  is  after  such  a  season  the  tongue 
 expresses  the  genuine  language  of  the  lieurt  as  it  exclaims, 
 496 
 
 '  Then  will  I  ijo  to  the  altar  of  God,  unto  God  my  exceeding 
 joy.' 
 
 II.  '  No  sooner  is  the  altar  set  upon  its  bases^  than  it  is  employed 
 in  daily  humt  offerings.  He  can  be  none  of  the  sons  of  Israel 
 that  doth  not  every  day  renew  his  acknowledgments  ot  Guih' 
 
 III.  '  This  assembly  of  Jews  was  a  true  imaiie  of  God's  church 
 on  earth  ,-  one  sings,  another  cries.'  It  shall  be  only  in  heaven, 
 in  the  church  triumpliant,  '  that  all  tears  shall  be  wiped  away 
 from  our  eyes. 
 
The  building  hindered. 
 
 EZRA,  V. 
 
 A  rtaxerxes'  decree. 
 
 king  of  Persia,  even  until  the  reign  of  Darius 
 king  of  Persia. 
 
 G  And  in  tlie  reign  off  Aliasuerus,  in  tlie  be- 
 ginning of  liis  reign,  wrote  tliey  tmto  him  an 
 accusation  against  the  inhabitants  of  Judah 
 and  Jerusalem. 
 
 7  f  And  in  the  days  of  Artaxerxes  wrote 
 II  Bishlam,  Mithredath,  Tabeel,  and  the  rest  of 
 tlieir  t  companions,  unto  Artaxerxes  king  of 
 Persia ;  and  the  writing  of  tlie  letter  ivas 
 written  in  the  Syrian  tongue,  and  interpreted 
 in  the  Syrian  tongue. 
 
 8  Rehum  the  cliancellor  and  Shimshai  the 
 II  scribe  wrote  a  letter  against  Jerusalem  to 
 Artaxerxes  the  king  in  this  sort: 
 
 9  Then  wrote  Rehum  the  chancellor,  and 
 Shimsliai  tlie  scribe,  and  the  rest  of  tlieir  f  com- 
 panions ;  '  the  Dinaites,  the  Apharsathchite.s, 
 the  Tarpelitos,  the  Apharsites,  the  Archevites, 
 the  Babylonians,  the  Susanchites,  the  Deliav- 
 ites,  and  the  Elamites, 
 
 JO  *  And  the  rest  of  the  nations  whom  the 
 great  and  noble  Asnapper  brought  over,  and 
 set  in  the  cities  of  Samaria,  and  the  rest  that 
 are  on  this  side  the  river,  ''and  fat  such  a 
 time. 
 
 1 1  t  This  is  the  copy  of  the  letter  that  they 
 sent  unto  him,  even  unto  Artaxerxes  the  king; 
 Thy  sen'ants  the  men  on  this  side  the  river, 
 and  at  such  a  time. 
 
 12  Be  it  known  inito-the  king,  that  the  Jews 
 which  came  up  from  thee  to  us  are  come  unto 
 Jerusalem,  building  the  rebellious  and  the  bad 
 city,  and  have  ||  set  up  the  walls  thereof,  and 
 t  joined  the  foundations. 
 
 I.*?  Be  it  known  now  unto  the  king,  that,  if 
 this  city  be  builded,  and  the  walls  set  up 
 again,  then  will  they  not  f  pay  '  toll,  tribute, 
 and  custom,  and  no  thou  shall  endamage  the 
 II  revenue  of  the  kings. 
 
 14  Now  because  f  we  have  maintenance  from 
 the  kinr/'.i  palace,  and  it  was  not  meet  for  us  to 
 .see  the  king's  dishonour,  therefore  have  we 
 sent  and  certified  the  king  ; 
 
 15  That  search  may  be  made  in  the  book  of 
 the  records  of  thy  fathers  :  so  shall  thou  find! 
 in  the  book  of  the  records,  and  know  that  thisi 
 
 )  Heb. 
 
 :\Oi',i'i  jje^cr. 
 
 t  Cliald.  30- 
 
 /SKiti.  17. 
 30,  31. 
 
 «  S<1  ver. 
 17.*  cb.: 
 
 t  Ch.-xld. 
 
 t  Cbald.  «iB- 
 ■(i  together. 
 
 fCbald.if.c-' 
 .  ch.  7.21. 
 
 ||Op,J(M«jrt. 
 
 t  Cbald.  ,nc 
 
 wilbthe^'ilt 
 jflltepuhee. 
 
 t  Cbald. 
 miitli'. 
 t  Cbald- 
 
 f  Cbald.  « 
 tietiis. 
 
 tChald    n/t- 
 fd  lip  ilirtf 
 
 I  Gen.  1.^.13. 
 Jofb.  1.  .1. 
 
 t  cbald.  % 
 
 530. 
 1  Ks.li.C. 
 
 city  is  a  rebellious  city,  and  hurtful  unto  kings 
 and  provinces,  and  that  they  have  f  moved  se- 
 dition t  within  the  same  of  old  time  :  for  which 
 cause  was  this  city  destroyed. 
 
 IG  We  certify  the  king  that,  if  this  city  be 
 builded  again,  and  the  walls  thereof  set  up, 
 by  this  means  thou  shall  have  no  portion  on 
 this  side  the  river. 
 
 17  If  Then  sent  the  king  an  answer  unto 
 Rehum  the  chancellor,  and  to  Shimshai  the 
 scribe,  and  to  the  rest  of  their  f  companions 
 that  dwell  in  Samaria,  and  unto  the  rest  be- 
 yond the  river.  Peace,  and  at  such  a  time. 
 
 18  The  letter  which  ye  sent  unto  us  hath 
 been  plainly  read  before  me. 
 
 19  And  fl  commanded,  and  search  hath  been 
 made,  audit  is  found  that  this  city  of  old  time 
 hath  fmade  insurrection  against  kings,  and 
 that  rebellion  and  sedition  have  been  made 
 therein. 
 
 20  There  have  been  mighty  kings  also  over 
 Jerusalem,  which  -have  '  ruled  over  all  coun- 
 tries '  beyond  the  river ;  and  toll,  tribute,  and 
 custom,  was  paid  unto  them. 
 
 21  t  Give  ye  now  commandment  to  cause 
 these  men  to  cease,  and  that  this  city  be  not 
 builded,  until  another  commandment  shall  be 
 given  from  me. 
 
 22  Take  heed  now  that  ye  fail  not  to  do 
 this :  why  should  damage  grow  to  the  hurt  of 
 the  kings? 
 
 23  t  Now  when  the  copy  of  king  Artaxerxes' 
 letter  ions  read  before  Rehum,  and  Shimshai 
 the  scribe,  and  their  companions,  they  went 
 up  in  haste  to  Jerusalem  unto  the  Jews,  and 
 made  them  to  cease  f  by  force  and  power. 
 
 24  Then  ceased  the  work  of  the  house  of 
 God  which  is  at  Jerusalem.  So  it  ceased  unto 
 the  second  year  of  the  reign  of  Darius  king  of 
 Persia. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  Zenihhahi'l  and  .Jeshna,  incited  by  Haggai  and  Ze- 
 ctinriafi,  set  forward  tlie  buildwg  of  the  tempte.  S 
 Talnai  and  S/iet/iar-bozfiai  coidd  vot  tilndifr  the  Jews. 
 6    Their  letter  to  Darius  aya  'nst  die  J^ws. 
 
 'T'HEN  "the  prophets,  '•  Haggai  the  prophet, 
 -*-    and  '^  Zechariah  the  son  of  Iddo,  prophesied 
 
 to  such  affairs  as  this. — P/tt.  Unlil  the  reign  of  Darius,  who  was  Darius 
 Hystaspis,  between  whom  and  Cyrus  were  Carabyses,  the  son  of  Cyrus, 
 and  Sinerilis  the  impnst.ir,  who  pretended  to  lie  Smerdis  the  brother 
 of  Cambyses  ;  a  space  of  about  1.5  years. — Gill.  G.  Ali'iauerus,  the 
 husband  of  Esther. — Jurclii.  Rather  Cambyses,  the  son  and  successor 
 of  Cyrns. — Gill.  Ahasuerus  was  rather  a  title  of  several  kings  or 
 Media  and  Persia  than  a  proper  name.  The  word  signifies  'great 
 chieP  or  '  prince.' — Jennings.  1 .  Artajrerres,  the  same  with  Ahasue- 
 rus and  Cambyses  ;  this  was  a  common  name  to  the  kings  of  Persia. — 
 Gill.  Generally  believed,  as  well  as  Xer.ves,  to  have  been  assumed  by 
 tlie  Persian  kings  from  the  time  of  Cyrus  the  Gre:it. — A.  Clurke.  This 
 Artaxerxes  was  Smerdis,  the  magician  and  impostor,  who  was  between 
 Cambyses  and  Darius. — Prid.  Unin.  Hist.,  Biililttm,  ^c.  Jurchi  thinks 
 one  person  is  meant,  Mithredath  Tabeel,  and  that  Bishlam  means  '  in 
 peace'  or  '  greeting  ;'  but  they  seem  to  be  the  names  of  governors. — 
 Gill.  Interpreted  in  the  Syrian,  probably  translated  out  of  the  Syrian 
 into  the  Persian. — Pyle.  p.  The  Dinaites,  §-c.,  colonics  from  several 
 parts  of  Chaldea,  Medii,  and  Persia,  settled  in  the  several  cities  of 
 
 Samaria. — Gill.  10.  Asnapper,  probably  the  name  by  which  Esar- 
 haddim  was  known  in  the  eastern  parts  of  the  Assyrian  empire, 
 (■2  Kings,  xix.  37  ;)  or,  as  some  think,  a  great  captain  employed  by 
 Esar-haddon. — Scott.  The  latter  is  preferred  hy  Pat.  13.  To/l,  per- 
 haps the  part  paid  out  of  an  estate.  Triliute,  a  poll  tax.  Custom,  tax 
 on  merchandize. — So  M'itsius.  14.  We  hare  maiutenance  from  the 
 king^s  palace,  literally,  '  because  we  are  salted  with  the  salt  of  the  pa- 
 lace.'— Par.  Salt  was  an  emblem  of  an  incorruptible  covenant,  and 
 these  liypocrites  intimated  that  they  felt  their  consciences  bound  by  the 
 league  between  lliem  and  their  king,  and  could  not  quietly  see  mis- 
 chief working  against  liim. — So  Clarke.  16.  TAe  river,  Euphrates. 
 22.  Why  should  damage  grow,  to  him  and  his  successors,  to  be  deprived 
 of  their  toll,  &'c.,  and  to  have  insurrections  &c.  in  their  dominions. — 
 Gill.  21.  So  it  ceased,  some  reckon  for  nine  yearsj  probably  fifteen 
 was  the  full  extent. — Henry.  Darius — this  was  Darius  Hystaspis,  who 
 succeeded  Cambyses,  the  son  of  Cyrus,  after  the  short  usurpation  1 1 
 Smerdis  for  seven  months. — Gill. 
 CuAP.  V.  —  1.  Son  of  Iddo,  'grandson,'  for  he  was  the  son  of  Bara- 
 
 REFLFcTinNs  ON  CiiAP.  IV.  —  I.  IVe  nutst  e.rpcct  Opposition 
 in  every  tjooit  worh.  As  here  the  building  of  the  Lord's  house 
 was  opposed,  and  for  a  while  impoded,  so,  in  recent  times, 
 we  have  witnessed  opposition  to  the  most  noble  institutions 
 that  ever  blessed  the  world,  and  by  those,  too,  who  have  pro- 
 fessed to  worship  the  same  God,  whose  glory  they  were  emi- 
 nently designed  to  promote. 
 
 II.  Misrepresentation  and  slander  is  one  of  the  common  methods 
 employed  to  oppose  the  progress  of  God's  worh  in  the  world.     The 
 Riimaritau  race  is  not  extinct.     The  accuser  of  the  brethren  is 
 still  at  work. 
 497 
 
 III.  It  is  well  observed  by  Boothroyd,  *  It  is  a  great  satis fac- 
 tion  to  good  men  t/iat  the  Lord  reignetti  ;  since  tJie  greatest  of  men 
 are  easily  imposed  upoti,  and  liberty  stands  but  v/ion  a  weak  founda- 
 tion. Kings  must  often  see  with  other  men's  eyes,  and  there- 
 fore are  liable  to  judge  wrong."  Let  us  patiently  wait  for  the 
 sacred  gratification  we  seek  in  advancing  in  various  ways  the 
 honour  of  our  Saviour  God.  In  his  proper  time  and  way,  and 
 by  the  instruments  he  has  appointed,  he  will  bring  his  pur- 
 poses to  pass  ;  but  it  belongs  to  us  to  be  continually  on  the 
 watch  to  seize  the  precious  opportunity,  and  so  to  enjoy  (he 
 honour  of  building  the  uuiver.sal  temple. 
 •3  s 
 
The  building  again  set  forward. 
 
 EZRA,  VI. 
 
 Darius  adoanceth  it. 
 
 unto  the  Jews  that  were  in  Judah  and  Jeru- 
 salem in  the  name  of  the  God  of  Israel,  even 
 nnto  them. 
 
 2  Then  rose  up  ^  Zerubbabel  the  son  of  Sheal- 
 tiel,  and  Jeshua  the  son  of  Jozadak,  and  began 
 to  build  tlie  house  of  God  which  is  at  Jerusa- 
 lem :  and  witli  them  were  the  prophets  of  God 
 helping  them. 
 
 3  f  At  the  same  time  came  to  them  "Tatnai, 
 governor  on  this  side  the  river,  and  Shetliar- 
 boznai,  and  their  companions,  and  said  thus 
 unto  tliem,  '  Who  hath  commanded  you  to 
 build  this  house,  and  to  make  up  this  wall  ? 
 
 4  ^  Tlien  said  we  unto  them  after  tliis  man- 
 ner. What  are  the  names  of  tlie  men  f  that 
 make  this  building? 
 
 3  But  "  the  eye  of  their  God  was  upon  the 
 elders  of  the  Jews,  that  they  could  not  cause 
 them  to  cease,  till  the  matter  came  to  Darius: 
 and  then  they  returned  '  answer  by  letter  con- 
 cerning this  matter. 
 
 6  t  The  copy  of  the  letter  that  Tatnai,  go- 
 vernor on  this  side  the  river,  and  Shetbar-boz- 
 nai,  '  and  his  companions  the  Apharsachites, 
 which  were  on  this  side  the  river,  sent  unto 
 Darius  the  king : 
 
 7  They  sent  a  letter  unto  him,  f  wherein  was 
 written  tlnis  ;  Unto  Darius  the  king,  all  peace 
 
 8  Be  it  known  unto  the  king,  that  W'e  went 
 into  the  province  of  Judea,  to  the  house  of  tlie 
 great  God,  which  is  buililed  with  fgreat  stones, 
 and  timber  is  laid  in  the  walls,  and  this  work 
 goeth  fast  on,  and  prosperetb  in  their  hands. 
 
 9  Then  asked  we  those  elders,  and  said  unto 
 them  tlius,  '  Who  conuuanded  you  to  build 
 this  house,  and  to  make  up  these  walls? 
 
 10  We  asked  their  naiues  also,  to  certify 
 thee,  that  we  might  write  the  names  of  the 
 men  that  were  the  chief  of  them. 
 
 11  And  tlms  they  returned  us  answer,  saying. 
 We  are  the  servants  of  the  God  of  heaven  and 
 earth,  and  build  the  house  that  was  builded 
 these  many  years  ago,  which  a  great  king  of 
 Israel  builded  "'  and  set  up. 
 
 12  But  "after  that  our  fathers  had  provoked 
 the  God  of  heaven  unto  wrath,  he  gave  them 
 into  the  hand  of  °  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  of 
 Babylon,  the  Clialdean,  who  destroyed  this 
 house,  and  carried  the  people  away  into  Baby- 
 lon. 
 
 1.*)  But  in  the  first  year  of  ''Cyrus  the  king 
 of  Babylon  the  same  king  Cyrus  made  a  de- 
 cree to  bnild  this  bouse  of  God. 
 
 14  And  ■'  the  vessels  also  of  gold  and  silver 
 of  the  house  of  God,  which  Nebuchadnezzar 
 
 •  ver.  6 
 oil.  B.  t). 
 
 H  ver   Ii'. 
 t  ChaUl  Air 
 
 biiil'tiiitC  f 
 
 /,  See  eh.  7. 
 
 ..VH.  I'i  33 
 
 uUnt"/. 
 
 I  2  Clir.  36. 
 16,  17. 
 
 2  Kin.  21. 
 •i.  N  S.-i.S.  9, 
 
 53fi. 
 peh.  1.  1. 
 
 r  Halt.  III. 
 
 U  2.  S,  •-'! 
 II  Or,  d-f'S 
 
 519 
 o  eh  .■;.  17. 
 1  F.S.I.  6,  i;s 
 t  CtmlJ. 
 
 bnukt. 
 
 t  Cliald. 
 
 m'ide  /o 
 
 dricnd. 
 IjOr,  Ecbita- 
 
 nu,  er,  ifi  ii 
 
 b  I  Kin, 
 3«. 
 
 t  Cliald.  go 
 
 ,1  eh.  5.  3, 
 tChold  rA*ii 
 tocietiet. 
 
 took  out  of  the  temple  that  was  in  Jerusalem, 
 and  brought  them  into  the  temple  of  Babylon, 
 those  did  Cyrus  the  king  take  out  of  the  temple 
 of  Babylon,  and  they  were  delivered  unto  one 
 '  whose  name  u'as  Sheshbazzar,  whom  he  had 
 made  ||  governor ; 
 
 15  And  said  nnto  him.  Take  these  vessels, 
 go,  carry  them  into  the  temple  that  is  in  Jeru- 
 salem, and  let  the  house  of  God  be  builded  in 
 bis  place. 
 
 16  Then  came  the  same  Sheshbazzar,  and 
 '  laid  the  foundation  of  the  house  of  God 
 which  is  in  Jerusalem  :  and  since  that  time 
 even  until  now  hath  it  been  in  building,  and 
 '■yet  it  is  not  tinisbed. 
 
 1 7  Now  therefore,  if  it  seem  good  to  the  king, 
 "let  there  be  search  made  in  the  king's  treasure 
 house,  which  is  there  at  Babylon,  whether  it  be 
 so,  that  a  decree  was  made  of  Cyrus  the  king 
 to  build  this  house  of  God  at  Jerusalem,  and 
 let  the  king  send  his  pleasure  to  us  concerning 
 this  matter. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  Darius  Jindinp  the  decree  of  Cyrus,  maheth  a  new 
 decree  for  (he  advance7nej>t  of  the  h-uUding.  13  Brf 
 the  help  of  the  enemies,  and  the  directions  of  the  pro- 
 phets, the  temple  is  finished.  16  The  feast  of  the 
 dedication  is  kept,  19  a/ul  the  passover. 
 
 T^HEN  Darius  the  king  made  a  decree,  °and 
 -■-  searcli  was  made  in  the  house  of  the  frolls, 
 where  the  treasures  were  j]a\d  up  in  Babylon. 
 
 2  And  there  was  found  at  |1  Achnietha,  in  the 
 palace  that  is  in  the  province  of  the  Medes,  a 
 roll,  and  therein  u-as  a  record  thus  written  : 
 
 3  In  tlie  first  year  of  Cyrus  the  king  the  same 
 Cyrus  the  king  made  a  decree  concerning  the 
 house  of  God  at  Jerusalem,  Let  the  house  be 
 builded,  the  place  where  they  offered  sacrifices, 
 and  let  the  foundations  thereof  be  strongly  laid ; 
 tiie  lieight  thereof  threescore  cubits,  and  the 
 breadtli  thereof  threescore  cubits  ; 
 
 4  ^  With  three  rows  of  great  stones,  and  a 
 row  of  new  timber :  and  let  the  expences  be 
 given  out  of  the  king's  house  : 
 
 5  And  also  let  '^  the  golden  and  silver  vessels 
 of  the  house  of  God,  which  Nebuchadnezzar 
 took  forth  out  of  the  temple  which  is  at  Jeru- 
 salem, and  brought  nnto  Babylon,  be  restored, 
 and  t  brought  again  unto  the  temple  which  is 
 at  Jerusalem,  every  one  to  his  place,  and  place 
 them  in  the  house  of  God. 
 
 6  ■*  Now  therefore,  Tatnai,  governor  beyond 
 tlie  river,  Shethar-boznai,  and  t  yo*^"*  compa- 
 nions the  Apharsachites,  which  are  beyond 
 the  river,  be  ye  far  from  thence  : 
 
 chiah,  CZech.  i.  lO — Ponle.  Prophesied  unto,  'prophesied  aerainst-.' — 
 De  Dieu.  Reproving  them  fur  not  building  the  temple. — Pnt.  This 
 was  in  the  second  year  of  Darius,  (Hag.  i.  ]  ;  Zech.  i.  1.) — Gill.  By 
 the  death  of  Artaxerxes,  his  edict  prohibiting  the  building  of  the  temple 
 became  of  no  effect ;  still  the  Jews  neglected  to  resume  the  work. — 
 Prid.  The  command  of  the  king  only  forbade  the  building  of  the  city, 
 that  is.  the  waHs  of  it,  but  not  the  temple  any  more  than  their  own 
 houses  ;  and  besides,  there  was  now  a  new  king.  3.  Tatnai— Shfihar- 
 bttzniti — these  were  new  governors,  the  old  ones,  Rehum,  Shimshai, 
 &c..  being  tither  dead  or  removed. — Gill.  On  this  side  th/i  river,  over 
 the  provinces  of  Syria  and  Palestine. — Pple.  4.  The?i  said  tre  unto 
 them,  §c. — they  then  spoke  to  them  in  this  manner,   *  What  are  the 
 
 names,'  &c. — Boothr,  This  is  the  answer  of  the  Jews,  *  Then  said  we 
 unto  them  after  this  manner,  thesb  are  the  names.'  A:c — A.  Cl-irke. 
 It  is  most  natural  to  take  the  words  for  the  answer  of  the  Jews. — Pnt. 
 /.  Unto  Darius,  the  kine,  <i  1 1  peace— the  eastern  peojjle  are  very  parti- 
 cular in  beginning  a  letter,  and  e=perially  keep  in  view  the  rank  of  the 
 individual  addressed,  and  the  object  of  writing. — Rob. 
 
 Chap.  VI.—  1.  In  the  house  of  the  rolls,  NnCD  n'13.  Ev  Tate 
 /3i/3\(oi9i|Ka(r,  Sept.  '  In  a  public  library  or  museum.' — Gill.  2.  Found 
 at  Achmetha — it  seems  they  found  nothing  at  Babjion,  but  ousearchin;; 
 at  Achmetha,  the  place  afterwards  called  Ecbatana,  where  the  kings  of 
 P'Tsia  sometimes  held  their  court,  thoy  found  a  volume  concerning  the 
 affairs  of  Judea. — Pat.        6.  Be  ye  far^  'keep  from  the  Jews,  and  do 
 
 REFr.ECTiONS  ON  Chap.  V.  —  I.  jt  is  the  duty  of  ministers 
 to  excite  thtir  people  to  every  good  work.  We  e  all  too  apt  to 
 be  sluggisli  in  our  duty.  We  c^n  never  build  od's  temple 
 in  the  world  but  by  activity  and  perseverance. 
 
 II.  It  should  quichn  us  in  our  diUgeiuc  in  forwarding  God's 
 vmrk,  that  enemies  are  always  on  the  witch  to  oppose  it.  And 
 shall  vre  not  be  as  zealous  in  a  good  cause  as  they  are  in  a  bnd 
 498 
 
 one  ?  It  is  a  sliame  if  the  professed  servants  of  God  are  out- 
 done by  the  servants  of  Satan  in  their  diligence  in  the  work  of 
 theirmaster.  Our  indolence  and  unfounded  timidity  are  often 
 the  greatest  lions  that  stand  in  our  way.  Let  us  always  rc- 
 raember  that  God's  eye  is  upon  us  to  protect  us,  and  let  our 
 eye  be  upon  God  as  our  protector. 
 
The  temple  Jinished. 
 
 EZRA,  VII. 
 
 The  feast  of  the  dedication. 
 
 7  Let  tlie  work,  of  this  house  of  God  alone  ; 
 let  the  governor  of  the  Jews  and  the  elders  of 
 the  Jews  build  this  house  of  God  in  his  place. 
 
 8  Moreover  f  1  make  a  decree  what  ye  shall 
 do  to  the  elders  of  these  Jews  for  the  building 
 of  this  house  of  God  :  that  of  the  kings  goods, 
 even  of  the  tribute  beyond  the  river,  fortliwith 
 expences  be  given  unto  these  men,  that  they 
 be  not  t  hindered. 
 
 9  And  tliat  which  they  have  need  of,  both 
 young  bullocks,  and  rams,  and  lambs,  for  the 
 burnt  orterings  of  the  God  of  heaven,  wheat, 
 salt,  wine,  and  oil,  according  to  the  appoint- 
 ment of  the  priests  which  are  at  Jerusalem,  let 
 it  be  given  tliem  day  by  day  without  fail : 
 
 10  °  That  tliey  may  offer  sacrifices  f  of  sweet 
 savours  unto  the  God  of  heaven,  and  ^  pray  for 
 the  life  of  the  king,  and  of  his  sons. 
 
 1 1  Also  I  have  made  a  decree,  that  whoso- 
 ever shall  alter  this  word,  let  timber  be  pulled 
 down  from  his  house,  and  being  set  up,  f  let 
 him  be  hanged  tliereon  ;  ^and  let  his  house 
 be  made  a  dungliill  for  this. 
 
 1-2  And  the  God  that  hath  caused  his  ''name 
 to  dwell  there  destroy  all  kings  and  people, 
 that  shall  put  to  their  hand  to  alter  and  to  de- 
 stroy this  house  of  God  which  is  at  Jerusalem. 
 I  Darius  have  made  a  decree  ;  let  it  be  done 
 with  .speed. 
 
 13  K  Then  Tatnai,  governor  on  this  side  the 
 river,  Shethar-boznai,  and  their  companions 
 according  to  that  which  Darius  the  king  had 
 sent,  so  they  did  speedily. 
 
 14  '  And  the  elders  of  the  Jews  builded,  and 
 they  prospered  through  the  prophesying  of 
 Haggai  the  prophet  and  Zechariah  the  son  of 
 Iddo.  And  tliey  builded,  and  finislied  it,  ac- 
 cording to  tlie  commandment  of  the  God  of 
 Israel,  and  according  to  the  f  commandment 
 of  ''  Cyrus,  and  '  Darius,  and  "'  Artaxer.xes 
 king  of  Persia. 
 
 15  And  this  house  was  finished  on  the  third 
 day  of  the  month  Adar,  which  was  in  the  sixth 
 year  of  tlie  reign  of  Darius  the  king. 
 
 16  IT  And  the  children  of  Israel,  the  priests, 
 and  the  Levites,  and  the  rest  off  the  children 
 of  the  captivity,  kept  "  the  dedication  of  this 
 
 \  Chald,  bif 
 made. 
 
 0  ch.  7.  83. 
 
 Jer.  29.  7. 
 t  Cliald.  ../ 
 
 rest 
 f\  Til 
 
 1,8. 
 
 11.2. 
 
 t  Cbald.    I'-i 
 him  bede- 
 
 ^  Dan.  2.  f). 
 &  3.  29. 
 It  1  KiD.  9.  3. 
 
 B.  C.  515. 
 .  ch.  8.  S5. 
 
 ;.  1  Chr.2*,l, 
 
 g  1  Clii'  23  6 
 t  Cltald.  cic- 
 Ciirdtuylit 
 t!if  writi'ii:. 
 r  .\um,  3.  6. 
 
 1  Ex.  12.  6. 
 
 I  ■:  Cl.r.  30. 
 Ifi. 
 
 u  5  Chr.  35. 
 II. 
 
 t  Cliald.  -/'- 
 
 ',  cli.  1.  1.  & 
 5.  13.vei-.  3 
 I  ch.  *.  2*. 
 m  ch.  7.  1. 
 
 515. 
 
 t  Cliald    lU 
 
 tT'l'iapurta- 
 
 ■i  IKin.  a.  63. 
 2  Chr.  7.  5. 
 
 J  Ks.  12.  15. 
 
 &  13  6. 
 
 2Clir3il-2l. 
 
 &  35.  17. 
 ;  Prov.21.  1. 
 a  ■>.  Kin.  2.1. 
 
 29  2Chr  33 
 
 n.ch    1.  1. 
 
 &  ver.G,&c. 
 
 4.'.7. 
 1  E=d.9, 
 
 b  Neh.  2    1. 
 c  IChr.e.ir 
 
 house  of  God  with  joy, 
 
 17  And  "offered  at  the  dedication  of  this 
 house  of  God  an  hundred  bullocks,  two  hun- 
 dred rams,  four  hundred  lambs  ;  and  for  a  siii 
 offering  for  all  Israel,  twelve  he  goats,  accord- 
 ing to  the  number  of  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 18  And  they  set  the  priests  in  their  ''divi- 
 sions, and  the  Levites  in  their  ''  courses,  for  the 
 service  of  God,  which  is  at  Jerusalem  ;  fas  it 
 is  written  in  the  book  of  Moses. 
 
 19  And  the  children  of  the  captivity  kept  the 
 passover  '  upon  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  first 
 month. 
 
 20  For  the  priests  and  the  Levites  were  '  pu- 
 rified together,  all  of  them  were  pure,  and 
 "  killed  the  passover  for  all  the  children  of  the 
 captivity,  and  for  their  brethren  the  priests, 
 and  for  themselves. 
 
 21  And  the  children  of  Israel,  which  were 
 come  again  out  of  captivity,  and  all  such  as 
 had  separated  themselves  unto  them  from  the 
 '  filthiness  of  the  heathen  of  the  land,  to  seek 
 the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  did  eat, 
 
 22  And  kept  the  '  feast  of  unleavened  bread 
 seven  days  with  joy  :  for  the  Lord  had  made 
 them  joyful,  and  '  turned  the  heart  °  of  the 
 king  of  Assyria  unto  them,  to  strengthen  their 
 hands  in  the  work  of  the  house  of  God,  the 
 God  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  Ezra  goi'th  vp  to  Jtrusalem.  \  I  The  gracious  com- 
 tnission  of  Arta.verxes  to  Ezra.  27  Ezra  blesstth 
 God  fur  his  favour. 
 
 T^OW  'after  these  things,  in  the  reign  of 
 -'-^  '■  Artaxerxes  king  of  Persia,  Ezra  "  the  sou 
 of  Seraiah,  the  son  of  Azariah,  the  son  of  Hil- 
 kiah, 
 
 2  The  son  of  Shallum,  the  son  of  Zadok,  the 
 son  of  Ahitub, 
 
 3  The  son  of  Amariah,  the  son  of  Azariah, 
 the  son  of  Meraioth, 
 
 4  Tlie  son  of  Zerahiah,  the  son  of  Uzzi,  the 
 son  of  Bukki, 
 
 a  The  son  of  Abishua,  the  son  of  Phinehas, 
 the  son  of  Eleazar,  the  son  of  Aaron  the  chief 
 priest : 
 
 not  disturb  them.*— Gi7/.  II.  Let  timber,  ^c,  'let  timber  betaken 
 from  his  house  and  converted  into  a  gibbet.' — Gitt.  *  Let  him  be 
 wliipped  at  the  post,'  as  the  manner  was  among  the  Persians  and  other 
 nations. — De  Dieu.  Let  his  house  be  mtide  a  dttfi^/titt,  thus  th&  Romans 
 pulled  down  the  houses  of  very  wicked  men,  for  their  greater  disgrace. 
 14.  Prosjiered  through  the  prophesijiiig,  ^c. — the  prophets  directing  and 
 encouraging  them  in  their  work.  —  Put.  Artaxerxes  —  Houliignnt, 
 liontbroi/d,  ^c,  omit  this  name,  as  irreconcilable  with  chap,  iv.,  where 
 he  is  said  to  have  commanded  them  to  desist  from  building.  If  tliis 
 Darius  was  he  called  Hystaspis,  then  it  is  Arta.verxes  Longimaniis,  his 
 successor,  that  is  here  meant,  who,  though  he  found  the  temple  built, 
 yet  sent  Ezra  to  beautify  it,  (see  chap.  vii.  12,  21,  27.) — Put.  1".  Ar- 
 curding  to  the  number  0/  the  tribes — as  many  of  the  ten  tribes  were  now 
 
 mingled  with  Judah  and  Benjamin,  they  considered  themselves  as  re- 
 presenting the  whole  of  liie  Jewish  nation. — Hew.  22.  Kiug  of 
 Assyria — this  empire  is  named,  being  greater  than  Persia  and  Media, 
 and  it  was  usual  for  conquerors  to  assume  the  name  of  the  countries 
 they  had  subdued. — Sut. 
 
 Chap.  VII. —  1.  Arta.Fer.res,  Arta.veixcs  Longimanus.  He  was  the 
 Ahasuerus  of  Esther,  from  whose  influence  probably  he  became  the 
 friend  of  the  Jews.— iJoof/(r.  The  temple  worship  had  now  lasted  58 
 years,  through  tlie  reigns  of  the  Persian  monarchs  Xerxes  and  Darius, 
 and  iu  tlie  sc^entli  year  of  Artaxerxes  further  privileges  were  granted 
 by  means  of  Ezra. — Pyle.  Son  of  Seraiah,  not  immediately,  but  de- 
 scended from  him.  Seraiah  perished  when  Jerusalem  was  taken  by  the 
 Chaldeans,  (2  Kings,  x.Kv.  18,  21.)        3.  Azariah — JI/eruio(/t— between 
 
 RrFLECTioNS  o>4  Chap.  VI.  —  Let  us  notice,  I.  The  con- 
 friiuition  of  the  dtcrtt  of  Cyrus,  by  King  Darius,  for  huihling  the 
 temple.  Thus,  as  Henry  remarks,  '  we  learn  that  the  hearts  of 
 kings  are  in  the  hand  of'  God,  and  he  turns  them  which  way 
 soever  he  pleaseth  :  what  they  are  he  makes  them  to  be,  for 
 ho  is  King  of  kings;  that  when  God's  time  is  come  for  the 
 accomplishment  of  his  gracious  purposes  concerning  his 
 church,  he  will  raise  up  instruments  to  do  it.  from  whom  such 
 service  was  not  expected.  The  earth  sometimes  helpeth  the 
 woman,  (Rev.  xii.  Iti ;)  and  those  are  made  use  of  for  the  de- 
 fence of  religion  tliat  liave  no  religion  themselves.  That  what 
 .  is  intended  for  the  prejudice  of  the  church  has  oft,  by  the 
 overruling  providence  of  God,  been  made  serviceable  to  it, 
 (  I'hil.  i.  I'i. )  The  enemies  of  the  Jews,  in  appealing  to 
 Darius,  hoped  to  get  an  order  to  suppress  them  ;  but,  instead 
 ot  tliat,  got  an  order  to  suoply  them.  Thus  out  of  the  eater 
 409 
 
 comes  forth  meat. 
 
 II.  The  finishing  of  the  temple.  As  for  God,  his  work  is  per- 
 fect. The  gospel  church,  tliat  spiritual  temple,  is  long  in  the 
 building,  but  it  wiU  be  finished  at  last,  when  tlie  mystical 
 body  is  completed.  Every  believer  is  a  living  temple,  build- 
 ing up  himself  in  his  most  holy  faith.  Much  opposition  is 
 given  to  Ills  work  by  Satan  and  his  own  corruptions  ;  we  trifle 
 and  proceed  in  it  with  many  stops  and  pauses,  but  iie  that 
 hatii  begun  the  good  work  will  see  it  performed,  and  bring 
 forth  judgment  unto  victory;  the  spirits  of  just  men  will  be 
 made  perfect. 
 
 III.  The  .solemn  dedication  of  the  temple  when  it  icas  built.  Let 
 us  learn  to  welcome  holy  ordinances  with  joy,  and  attend  on 
 them  with  pleasure.  Serve  the  Lord  with  gladness  :  whatever 
 we  dedicate  to  God,  let  it  be  done  with  joy,  that  he  may 
 please  to  accept  of  it. 
 
Ezra  goeth  up  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 EZRA,  VII. 
 
 //e  blesscth  Go  it  for  his  favour. 
 
 G  This  Ezra  went  up  from  Babylon  ;  and 
 lie  was  ""a  ready  scribe  in  the  law  of  Moses, 
 which  the  Loud  God  of  Israel  had  given  :  and 
 the  king  granted  him  all  his  request,  'accord- 
 ing to  the  hand  of  the  Lokd  his  God  upon 
 him. 
 
 7  •'  And  there  went  up  some  of  the  children 
 of  Israel,  and  of  the  priests,  and  ^  the  Levites, 
 and  the  singers,  and  the  porters,  and  *'  the 
 Nethinims,  unto  Jerusalem,  in  the  seventh 
 year  of  Artaxerxes  the  king. 
 
 8  And  he  came  to  Jerusalem  in  the  fifth 
 month,  which  was  in  the  seventh  year  of  the 
 king. 
 
 9  For  upon  the  first  dan  ^^  '^^  fi''-^'  nwit'i 
 t  began  he  to  go  up  from  Babylon,  and  on  the 
 first  day  of  the  fifth  month  came  he  to  Jerusa- 
 lem, 'according  to  the  good  hand  of  his  God 
 upon  him. 
 
 10  For  Ezra  had  prepared  his  heart  to  '■seek 
 the  law  of  the  Lord,  and  to  do  it,  and  to 
 '  teach  in  Israel  statutes  and  judgments. 
 
 1 1  T  Now  this  is  the  copy  of  tlie  letter  that 
 the  king  Artaxerxes  gave  unto  Ezra  tlie  priest, 
 the  scribe,  ex^en  a  scribe  of  the  words  of  the 
 commandments  of  the  Lord,  and  of  his  sta- 
 tutes to  Israel. 
 
 12  Artaxerxes,  "'king  of  kings,  ||unto  Ezra 
 the  priest,  a  scribe  of  the  law  of  the  God  of 
 heaven,  perfect 7«;«cf,  "and  at  such  a  time. 
 
 13  I  make  a  decree,  that  all  they  of  the 
 people  of  Israel,  and  <;/'his  priests  and  Levites, 
 in  my  realm,  which  are  minded  of  their  own 
 freewill  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem,  go  with  thee. 
 
 14  Forasmuch  as  thou  art  sent  f  of  the  king, 
 and  of  Ills  "seven  counsellors,  to  enquire  con- 
 cerning Judah  and  Jerusalem,  according  to  the 
 law  of  thy  God  wliicli  /*  in  thine  hand  ; 
 
 13  And  to  carry  the  silver  and  gold,  which 
 the  king  and  his  counsellors  have  freely  offered 
 unto  the  God  of  Israel,  ''  whose  habitation  is 
 in  Jerusalem, 
 
 16  ''And  all  the  silver  and  gold  that  thou 
 canst  find  in  all  the  province  of  Babylon,  with 
 the  freewill  offering  of  the  people,  and  of  the 
 priests,  '  offering  willingly  for  the  house  of 
 tlieir  God  which  is  in  Jerusalem  : 
 
 17  That  thou  mayest  buy  speedily  with  this 
 money  bullocks,  rams,  lambs,  with  their  'meat 
 offerings  and  tlieir  drink  offerings,  and  '  ofJ'er 
 them  upon  the  altar  of  tlie  house  of  your  God 
 which  is  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 18  And  whatsoever  shall  seem  good  to  thee, 
 and  to  thy  brethren,  to  do  with  the  rest  of  the 
 
 B.  C.  457 
 
 rf  ver.  U,  12, 
 
 21. 
 t  vcr.  9. 
 
 ch.8.  82, 31 
 
 /ch.  8.  1. 
 
 g  See  ch.  8. 
 
 IS,  8cc. 
 h  cb.  2,  43. 
 
 &  3.  20. 
 
 cir.  427, 
 t  Heh   was 
 
 Imofih, 
 
 ^oiitj^  up. 
 i  ver.  6. 
 
 >'eli.  2.  P, 
 
 18. 
 4  r«.  119.45 
 
 '  ver.  6.  5 
 Den.  s:l 
 Nfh.B.  I 
 8.  Mai.  2. 
 
 •1  Eiok.SC.;. 
 Dftii.  8.  .tr. 
 
 II  Or.  la  t'.T , 
 Ml*  ]lr  iftt,  II 
 jifTjrct 
 l-Tibi  nftlli- 
 hif  iij  //«r 
 Gull  lit  lim- 
 
 tf  fj,  peace, 
 Si,-. 
 It  cli.  4.  10. 
 
 t  C)inl<l. 
 0  Kstli.  I'u. 
 
 r'i  ri.r.  6.2, 
 P».  l:l.i.  21. 
 
 7  Oil.  6 
 
 I  Oil 
 6,9. 
 
 t  Heb.H'Aa(. 
 •■"■"  ''  "/ 
 l/if  decree. 
 
 I  Kx.  18.21, 
 :'•!.  neiil. 
 16.  18. 
 
 r  ver  l'. 
 ■2Chr  17 
 Mai.  2.  i 
 .Mat.23.2 
 
 1  Chr.  89. 
 111. 
 ch.6.  S2. 
 
 i  See  cl>.  r>. 
 h  A  vcr.  6, 
 9.  fc  cli    8 
 
 silver  and  the  gold,  that  do  after  the  will  of 
 your  God. 
 
 19  The  vessels  also  that  are  given  thee  for 
 the  service  of  the  house  of  thy  God,  those  de- 
 liver thou  before  the  God  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 20  And  whatsoever  more  shall  be  needful  for 
 the  house  of  thy  God,  which  thou  .shalt  have 
 occasion  to  bestow,  bestow  it  out  of  the  king's 
 treasure  house. 
 
 21  And  I,  even  I  Artaxerxes  the  king,  do 
 make  a  decree  to  all  the  treasurers  which  are 
 beyond  Ihe  river,  that  whatsoever  Ezra  the 
 priest,  the  scribe  of  the  law  of  the  God  of 
 heaven,  shall  require  of  you,  it  be  done  speedily, 
 
 22  Unto  an  hundred  talents  of  .silver,  and  to 
 an  hundred  f  measures  of  wheat,  and  to  an 
 hundred  baths  of  wine,  and  to  an  hundred 
 baths  of  oil,  and  salt  without  prescribing  hoiv 
 much. 
 
 23  t  Whatsoever  is  commanded  by  the  God 
 of  heaven,  let  it  be  diligently  done  for  the 
 house  of  the  God  of  heaven  :  for  why  should 
 there  be  wrath  against  the  realm  of  the  king 
 and  his  sons  ? 
 
 24  Also  we  certify  you,  that  touching  any  of 
 the  priests  and  Levites,  singers,  porters,  Ne- 
 thinims, or  ministers  of  this  house  of  God,  it 
 shall  not  be  lawful  to  impose  toll,  tribute,  or 
 custom,  upon  them. 
 
 23  And  thou,  Ezra,  after  the  wisdom  of  thy 
 God,  that  is  in  thine  hand,  "  set  magistrates 
 and  judges,  which  may  judge  all  the  people 
 that  are  beyond  the  river,  all  such  as  know  tlie 
 laws  of  thy  God  ;  and  "  teach  ye  them  that 
 know  them  not. 
 
 2G  And  whosoever  will  not  do  the  law  of  thy 
 God,  and  the  law  of  the  king,  let  judgment  be 
 executed  speedily  upon  him,  whether  it  he 
 unto  death,  or  f  to  banishment,  or  to  confisca- 
 tion of  goods,  or  to  imprisonment. 
 
 27  H  ''Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  our  fathers, 
 ^  which  hath  put  such  a  thiiiy  as  this  in  the 
 king's  heart,  to  beautify  the  house  of  the  Lord 
 which  is  in  Jerusalem  : 
 
 28  And  "hath  extended  mercy  unto  me  be- 
 fore the  king,  and  his  counsellors,  and  before 
 all  the  king's  mighty  princes.  And  I  was 
 strengthened  as  ''  the  hand  of  the  Lord  my 
 God  teas  upon  me,  and  I  gathered  together 
 out  of  Israel  chief  men  to  go  up  with  me. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1    The  cnmpunums  of  Ezra,  who  ntiirnvd  from  Bahy- 
 hm.     \o  lie  SLiidtCh  to   Iddo  for  ministers  for  the 
 
 these  names  six  generations  are  nniittcd  for  the  pake  of  brevity,  sup- 
 plicil  by  1  Chron.  vi.  7,  &c. — Pnt.  6.  Wfnt  up,  a  second  time,  he 
 went  first  with  Zerubliabel,  (Nch.  xn.  1.)  A  rpudii  scribe,  that  is,  'was 
 well  instructed  in  the  law,'  '  an  eminent  d'ctor,'  the  same  called  in  the 
 New  Testament 'lawyers.' — 6(7/.  IDID,  'sciibe,'  denotes  one  skilled 
 and  Icarneii,  from  IDD,  'a  book ;'  and  as  no  book  was  comparable  to 
 the  law,  the  name  became  one  of  great  dignity. — Hew.  See  Jer.  viii. 
 8  ;  Matt.  vii.  29.  The  king  granted  him— it  was  U'iual  with  the  Persian 
 monnrchs  to  grant  boons  to  their  favourites  on  special  occasions,  and 
 this  is  thought  to  have  been  granted  at  the  solicitation  of  Esther. — 
 Prid.  12.  King  of  kings,  having  several  kings  and  kingdoms  subject 
 to  him.        14.  Seven  counsellors — such  a  number  the  kings  of  Persia 
 
 used  to  have  from  the  times  of  Darins  Hystaspis,  who  was  chosen  out 
 of  seven  nobles  to  be  king  ;  and  ever  after,  the  Persian  kings  had  seven 
 counsellors  privileged  as  those  nobles  were,  fEsth.  i.  U.) — Gill.  Jn 
 thine  hand,  '  in  which  thou  art  conversant.'— iJoo^Ar.  22.  An  hun- 
 dred talents  of  silver,  3r>,350l.~Bp.  Cumherlnnd.  About  22,000/., 
 accordinff  to  the  calculation  of  the  Babylonian  silver  talent  at  218/.  1  hs. 
 —Pict.  Bih.  An  hundred  measures,  imD,  'a  dry  measure  of  ten 
 ephods  ;•  about  an  ass  load.— .S«/.  26.  And  wliosoemr,  ^c— it  hence 
 appears  that  Artaxerxes  gave  the  Jews  liberty  to  live  by  their  own  laws. 
 —Wells.  Law  of  the  king,  'this  decree.'— /'«?.  27.  Blessed,  ^c. — 
 this  is  Ezra's  thanksgiving  for  the  decree.— G///. 
 
 Refl 
 
 FLECTIONS  ON  CllAP.  VII,  —  I.  //'(?  mat/  learn  from 
 Ezra's  charactr  what  ministers,  and  indeed  all  Christians,  07u;ht 
 to  be — well  instructed  in  Divine  truth.  It  is  both  :i  plea- 
 sure and  an  honour  to  aspire  after  the  cliaracter  of  the  godly 
 man,  of  whom  it  is  said,  •  and  in  his  law  doth  he  meditate  day 
 and  night.'  Let  the  word  of  Christ,  therefore,  dwell  in  you 
 richly  in  all  wisdom. 
 
 I T.    We  see  itt  the  decree  of  Arta.ver.ves  the  continual  care  xcliich 
 God  has  for  his  church.     Empires  nuiy  rise  and  fall,  kinj^s  loign 
 600 
 
 and  die,  but  His  kingdom  shall  stand,  and  he  will  do  all  his 
 pleasure.  He  can  always  raise  up  useful  instruments  to  pro- 
 mote his  glory  ;  and  if  the  most  mighty  of  tlie  earth  are  neces- 
 sary, they  shall  not  be  wanting  to  complete  his  designs.  He 
 is  truly  '  King  of  kings.'  Let  this,  therefore,  encourage  us 
 even  amidst  tJie  darkest  aspects  of  the  worltt,  and  speed  on r 
 exertions  as  well  as  excite  us  iu  our  daily  piayer,  '  Thy  king- 
 dom come.' 
 
•Ezia's  companions  from  Babylon. 
 
 EZRA,  VIII. 
 
 lie  kceptlh  a  fust. 
 
 temple.  21  He  keqieth  a  fast.  24  He  connnitteth 
 the  treasures  to  the  eustodt/  of  the  priests.  31  From 
 Ahava  they  come  to  Jerusalem.  33  2Vie  treasure  is 
 weighed  in  the  temple.  36  The  commission  is  de- 
 livered. 
 
 'T'HESE  "  are  now  the  cliief  of  tlieir  fathers, 
 -^  and  this  is  the  genealogy  of  them  that 
 went  up  with  me  from  Babylon,  in  the  reign 
 of  Artaxerxes  the  king. 
 
 2  Of  the  sons  of  Phhiehas;  Gershom  :  of  the 
 sons  of  Ithamar;  Daniel:  of  the  sons  of  Da- 
 vid ;  ''  Hattush. 
 
 3  Of  the  sons  of  Shechaniah,  of  the  sons  of 
 "  Pharosh  ;  Zechariah  :  and  with  him  were 
 reckoned  by  genealogy  of  the  males  an  hun^ 
 dred  and  fifty. 
 
 4  Of  the  sons  of  Pahath-moab  j  Elihoenai  the 
 son  of  Zerahiah,  and  with  him  two  hundred 
 males. 
 
 0  Of  the  .'ions  of  Shechaniah  ;  the  son  of  Ja- 
 haziel,  and  with  him  three  hundred  males. 
 
 (i  Of  the  sons  also  of  Adin  ;  Ebed  the  son  of 
 Jonathan,  and  with  him  fifty  males. 
 
 7  And  of  the  sons  of  Elam  ;  Jeshaiah  the  son 
 of  Athaliah,  and  with  him  seventy  males. 
 
 8  And  of  the  sons  of  Shephatiah  ;  Zebadiah 
 the  son  of  Michael,  and  with  him  fourscore 
 males. 
 
 9  Of  the  sons  of  Joab  ;  Obadiah  the  son  of 
 Jehiel,  and  with  him  two  hundred  and  eighteen 
 males. 
 
 10  And  of  the  sons  of  Shelomith  ;  the  son  of 
 Jo.sipbiah,  and  with  him  an  hundred  and  three- 
 score males. 
 
 1  I  And  of  the  sons  of  Bebai ;  Zechariah  the 
 son  of  Bebai,  and  with  him  twenty  and  eight 
 males. 
 
 1-2  And  of  the  sons  of  Azgad  ;  Johanan  ||the 
 son  of  Hakkatan,  and  with  him  an  hundred 
 and  ten  males. 
 
 13  And  of  the  last  sons  of  Adonikam,  whose 
 names  are  these,  Eliphelet,  Jeiel,  and  She- 
 maiah,  and  with  them  threescore  males. 
 
 14  Of  the  sons  also  of  Bigvai ;  Uthai,  and 
 II  Zabbud,  and  with  them  seventy  males. 
 
 15  H  And  I  gathered  them  together  to  the 
 river  that  runneth  to  Ahava  ;  and  there  || abode 
 we  in  tents  three  days  :  and  I  viewed  the  peo- 
 ple, and  the  priests,  and  found  there  none  of 
 the  ''  sons  of  Levi. 
 
 10  Then  sent  I  for  Eliezer,  for  Ariel,  for  She- 
 maiah,  and  for  Elnathan,  and  for  Jarib,  and  for 
 Elnathan,  and  for  Nathan,  and  for  Zccliariah, 
 and  for  Meshnllam,  chief  men  ;  also  for  Joiarib, 
 and  for  Elnathan,  men  of  understanding. 
 
 17  And  I  sent  them  with  commandment  unto 
 Iddo  the  chief  at  the  place  Casiphia,  and  f  ' 
 told  them  what  they  should  say  unto  Iddo, 
 and  to  his  brethren  the  Ncthinims,  at  the 
 place  Casiphia,  that  they  should  bring  unto  us 
 ministers  for  the  house  of  our  God. 
 
 18  And  by  the  good  hand  of  our  God  upon 
 us  they  "brought  us  a  man  of  understanding, 
 of  the  sons  of  Mahli,  the  son  of  Levi,  the  son 
 
 II  Or,  Znrciir 
 
 ilS  SOlllf 
 
 read. 
 
 See  :;  S:in 
 14   3,  13. 
 
 /Si-e  cli.  2, 
 
 :;2Cbr.20.3. 
 
 h  r,ev.l6.29 
 &  23.  SU. 
 Is.  53   H,  5. 
 
 I  I's.  6.  8. 
 
 m  I'a.a'?.  IR, 
 19  &34  l.*), 
 ■i'>.  Rom.  8. 
 •J8. 
 n  Ps.  ai.  16 
 o  2  Chr.15  8. 
 
 l>  I  Chr.6.20 
 2Clir.SS.I3. 
 
 Is.  ly.  ^2 
 
 )Hebj|.H".. 
 
 t   llel.. 
 
 -  lev,  !>l.  6. 
 7,  H.  Dent. 
 
 I,.-v.  2-i.  2, 
 3  Niim  i. 
 4,  15,  l£),20. 
 
 of  Israel ;  and  Sherebiah,  with  his  sons  and  his 
 brethren,  eighteen  ; 
 
 19  And  Hashabiah,  and  with  him  Je.shaiah  of 
 the  sons  of  Merari,  his  brethren  and  their  sons, 
 twenty  ; 
 
 20  '  Also  of  the  Nethinims,  whom  David  and 
 the  princes  had  appointed  for  the  service  of 
 the  Levites,  two  hundred  and  twenty  Nethi- 
 nims :  all  of  them  were  expressed  by  name. 
 
 21  1  Then  I  ^  proclaimed  a  fast  there,  at  the 
 river  of  Ahava,  that  we  might  ''  afflict  ourselves 
 before  our  God,  to  seek  of  him  a  'right  way 
 for  u.s,  and  for  our  little  ones,  and  for  all  our 
 substance. 
 
 22  For  '  I  was  ashamed  to  require  of  the  king 
 a  band  of  soldiers  and  horsemen  to  help  us 
 against  the  enemy  in  the  way  :  because  we 
 had  spoken  unto  the  king,  saying,  '  The  hand 
 of  our  God  is  upon  all  them  for  "'  good  that 
 seek  him  ;  but  bis  power  and  his  wrath  is 
 "  against  all  them  that  "forsake  him. 
 
 23  So  we  fasted  and  besought  our  God  for 
 this  :  and  he  was  ''intreated  of  us. 
 
 24  H  Then  I  separated  twelve  of  the  chief  of 
 the  priests,  Sherebiah,  Hashabiah,  and  ten  of 
 their  brethren  with  them, 
 
 25  And  weighed  unto  them  ''  the  silver,  and 
 the  gold,  and  the  vessels,  even  the  offering  of 
 the  house  of  our  God,  which  the  king,  and  his 
 counsellors,  and  his  lords,  and  all  Israel  there 
 present,  had  offered  : 
 
 26  I  even  weighed  unto  their  hands  six  hun- 
 dred and  fifty  talents  of  silver,  and  silver  ves- 
 sels an  hundred  talents,  and  of  gold  an  hun- 
 dred talents ; 
 
 27  Also  twenty  basons  of  gold,  of  a  thousand 
 drams  ;  and  two  vessels  of  f  fine  copper,  f  pre- 
 cious as  gold. 
 
 28  And  I  said  unto  them.  Ye  are  '  holy  unto 
 the  Lord  ;  the  vessels  are  '  holy  also  ;  and 
 the  silver  and  the  gold  arc  a  freewill  offering 
 unto  the  Loud  God  of  your  fathers. 
 
 29  Watch  ye,  and  keep  them,  until  ye  weigh 
 them  before  the  chief  of  the  priests  and  the 
 Levites,  and  chief  of  the  fathers  of  Israel,  at 
 Jerusalem,  in  the  chambers  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 30  So  took  the  priests  and  the  Levites  the 
 weight  of  the  silver,  and  the  gold,  and  the  ves- 
 sels, to  bring  them  to  Jerusalem  unto  the  house 
 of  our  God. 
 
 31  IF  Then  we  departed  from  the  river  of 
 Ahava  on  the  twelfth  clai/  of  the  first  month, 
 to  go  unto  Jerusalem  :  and  '  tlie  hand  of  our 
 God  was  upon  us,  and  he  delivered  us  from 
 the  hand  of  the  enemy,  and  of  such  as  lay  in 
 wait  by  the  way. 
 
 32  And  we  "  came  to  Jerusalem,  and  abode 
 there  three  days. 
 
 33  t  Now  on  the  fourth  day  was  the  silver 
 and  the  gold  and  the  ves.sels  '  weighed  in  the 
 house  of  our  God  by  the  hand  of  Meremoth 
 the  son  of  Uriah  the  priest ;  and  with  him  iros 
 Elcazar  the  son  of  Phinehas  ;  and  with  them 
 
 Chap.  VITI.  —  2.  D'iniel~not  the  prophet,  he  was  of  the  blood  royal, 
 anrt  of  the  tribe  of  ,hulah  ;  this  was  a  priest,  a  descendant  of  Ithainar. 
 — Gill.  13.  The  hist  sons  iif  Admtik'nn — some  of  the  names  of  these 
 'amilies  were  mentioned  befnre  ;  the  descemlants  of  those  who  stayed 
 behind  seemed  to  have  takt  n  this  opportunity  of  following  tlieir  brethren, 
 (chap.  ii.  2—42.)  These  were  the  last  sons,  as  no  more  of  that  family 
 remained  in  the  land  of  their  captivity. — .Scott.  15.  Ahava,  was  a 
 river  itself,  and  may  be  the  same  with  Diava  or  Adiava.  in  the  province 
 of  .'\diabene,  a  f.runtry  in  Assyria.  This  is,  probably,  the  country 
 called  Ava,  (2  Kings,  xvil.  24.)— CiH,  Cal.,  Clarke.  17.  Casiphia,  a 
 JOI 
 
 jdnce  of  the  Habylnnish  province,  where  a  nnmb.  r  of  Levite  families 
 resided. — P^i/le.  Not  Mount  Caspvis,  near  the  Caspian  Sea,  as  Calmet 
 suggests ;  this  was  too  far  ofT  to  go  and  return  in  the  time  specified, 
 (see  chap.  vii.  9,  and  viii.  15,  31.) — Gill.  22.  To  require  of  tlie  kir.g 
 
 a  band  of  soldiers,  'to  ask  a  guard  of  protection  from  the  king.* — Pat. 
 25.  .ind  weighed  unto  them,  fyc. — the  value  of  the  whole  is  variously 
 computed;  A.  Clarke  reckons  it  at  l,038,600f,  sterling.  In  the  Pic^. 
 Bib.,  the  calculation  is  about  515, 000^,  but  this  excludes  the  c(»pper 
 vessels,  *  precious  as  gold,' 
 
Ezra  mourncth  for  the  sins  of  the  people. 
 
 EZRA,  IX. 
 
 11 
 
 IS  prayer. 
 
 ivas  Jozabad  the  son  of  Jesliua,  and  Noadiah 
 tlie  son  of  Binmii,  Levites  ; 
 
 34  By  number  and  by  weight  of  every  one  : 
 and  all  the  weight  was  written  at  that  time. 
 
 3o  Also  the  cliildren  of  those  that  had  been 
 carried  auay,  which  were  come  ont  of  the  cap- 
 tivity, '  offered  burnt  offerings  unto  the  God 
 of  Israel,  twelve  buUock.s  for  all  Israel,  ninety 
 and  six  rams,  seventy  and  seven  lambs,  twelve 
 he  goats/br  a  sin  offering  :  all  this  was  a  burnt 
 offering  unto  the  Loud. 
 
 36  1  And  they  delivered  the  king's  '  commis- 
 sions unto  the  king's  lieutenants,  and  to  the 
 governors  on  this  side  the  river  :  and  tbcy  fur- 
 thered the  people,  and  tbe  house  of  God. 
 
 CHAP.   IX. 
 
 1  Ezra  mour7ietk  fur  the  nffinilij  of  the  people  with 
 strangers.  5  He  prayetli  unto  God  with  confession 
 of  sins, 
 
 "MOW  "when  these  things  were  done,  the 
 -'- '  princes  came  to  me,  saying.  The  people  of 
 Israel,  and  the  priests,  and  tbe  Levites,  have 
 not  ''separated  themselves  from  tbe  people  of 
 the  lands,  ■""  doing  according  to  their  abuniina- 
 tious,  even  of  the  Canaanites,  tbe  Hittites,  the 
 I'erizzites,  the  .Tebusites,  the  Ammonites,  the 
 Moabites,  tbe  Egyptians,  and  the  Amorites. 
 
 2  For  they  have  ''taken  of  their  danglitcrs 
 for  themselves,  and  for  their  sons  :  so  that  tbe 
 '  holy  seed  have  'mingled  themselves  with  the 
 people  of  those  lands  :  yea,  the  hand  of  tbe 
 (irinces  and  rulers  hath  been  chief  in  this  tres- 
 ))ass. 
 
 3  And  when  I  heard  this  thing,  '  I  rent  my 
 garment  and  my  mantle,  and  plucked  off  the 
 hair  of  my  head  and  of  my  beai^,  and  sat  down 
 ''  astonied. 
 
 4  Then  were  assembled  nnto  me  every  one 
 that  '  trembled  at  the  words  of  tbe  God  of  Is- 
 rael, because  of  tbe  transgression  of  those  that 
 had  been  carried  away  :  and  I  sat  astonied 
 until  tbe  ''evening  sacrifice. 
 
 OS,  SiC. 
 
 i-  cli.  6.  21. 
 
 Ni-1..  9.  i. 
 c  J)eil.  12. 
 
 3(1,  SI. 
 
 li  Kx.  St  IG 
 D.-ii.  ".  3. 
 .Neh.  n.  2S. 
 
 f  Kx.  Ift.  6. 
 
 IK-iit.  7,  6- 
 \  M.  '.'. 
 t  i  Cnr  Ij.U 
 
 f  Job  1.21). 
 
 IPs.  113.  1. 
 
 B.  c.  isr. 
 
 II  Or,  »j^.c- 
 
 t  Kx.  0.  ■;!». 
 a-1. 
 
 m  Dan.  D.  7, 
 8. 
 
 nPa.  33.  A. 
 II  Or,  J,,,;//,-. 
 
 o?Clir.28.9. 
 
 H,-,-.  IS  .•; 
 ;.  I's    1h;   I, 
 
 Uaii.  SI.  i, 
 
 G,  S. 
 7  l>,.u  -H  :'C,, 
 
 i;i.  Ntii. y 
 
 31). 
 
 So  Is  'IJ.l'-.i. 
 
 1*3   13.  3.  ti. 
 
 31.  5. 
 /  Ni.h.  9.  Sli 
 11  Ps.  136  23. 
 cli.  7.  2S. 
 
 S  Is.  5   9. 
 
 I  Hob.  ty  Ihr 
 litt'id  uf  thu 
 
 t  Heb./n,m 
 Hi..»r/.  /., 
 vf"l'' :  as 
 '.;Kin  Sl.lfl. 
 
 a  i:x.  23.  32. 
 &  31    IG 
 
 3. 
 
 b  Dl-u.  23.  6 
 
 5  U  And  at  the  evening  sacrifice  I  arose  up 
 from  my  ||  heaviness ;  and  having  rent  my  gar- 
 ment and  my  mantle,  I  fell  upon  my  knees, 
 and  '  spread  out  my  hands  unto  the  Lord  my 
 God, 
 
 6  And  said,  O  my  God,  I  am  "'ashamed  and 
 blush  to  lift  up  my  face  to  thee,  my  God  :  for 
 "  our  iniquities  are  increased  over  our  head, 
 and  our  |{  trespass  is  °  grown  up  unto  the 
 heavens. 
 
 7  Since  tbe  days  of  our  fathers  have  '  we 
 been  in  a  great  trespass  unto  this  day  ;  and  for 
 our  iniiphties  ■*  have  we,  our  kings,  an<l  our 
 priests,  been  delivered  into  the  hand  of  tbe 
 kings  of  the  lands,  to  the  sword,  to  captivity, 
 and  to  a  spoil,  and  to  '  confusion  of  face,  as  it 
 is  this  day. 
 
 8  And  now  for  a  t  little  space  grace  bath 
 been  shewed  from  tbe  Loud  our  God,  to  leave 
 us  a  remnant  to  escape,  and  to  give  us  ||  a 
 nail  in  his  holy  place,  that  our  God  may 
 '  lighten  our  eyes,  and  give  us  a  little  reviving 
 in  our  bondage. 
 
 9  '  For  we  icere  bondmen  ;  "  yet  our  God 
 hath  not  forsaken  us  in  our  bondage,  but  "  hath 
 extended  mercy  unto  us  in  the  bight  of  the 
 kings  of  Persia,  to  give  us  a  reviving,  to  set  up 
 the  house  of  onr  God,  and  f  to  repair  the  deso- 
 lations thereof,  and  to  give  us  ''a  wall  in  Jiulah 
 and  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 10  And  now,  O  our  God,  what  shall  we  say 
 after  this'i'  for  we  have  forsaken  thy  command- 
 ments, 
 
 11  Which  thou  hast  commanded  f  by  thy 
 servants  the  prophets,  saying.  The  land,  iinio 
 which  ye  go  to  possess  it,  is  an  unclean  land 
 with  tbe  '  fillbiuess  of  the  people  of  tbe  lands, 
 with  their  abominations,  which  have  filled  it 
 •f  from  one  end  to  another  with  their  unclean- 
 ness. 
 
 12  Now  therefore  "give  not  your  daughters 
 unto  their  sons,  neither  take  their  daughters 
 unto  your  sons,  ''  nor  seek  their  peace  or  their 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  1.  Have  not  separated  ttiemselves — though  notjoinin^in 
 idolatrous  practices,  yet  they  liad  intermarried  with  tliein,  contrary 
 to  the  express  law,  (Deut.  vii.  1,  3.)— Gill.  3.  Plucked  off  the  tiuiy — 
 in  ordinary  sorrows  they  only  neglected  the  hair,  the  practice  men. 
 tioned  here  was  confined  to  bitter  lamentations.  Homer,  speaking  of 
 Ulysses  and  his  companions  bewailing  the  death  of  Elpcnor,  says, 
 'They,  sitting  down  there,  howled  and  plucked  off  their  hair,*  Oilr/ss. 
 X.  15. — Pfit.  The  Hindoos,  in  great  distress,  tear  out  their  long  hair. 
 — Rot).  6.  Orer  our  ttead — the  Hindoos  say,  '  How  numerous  arc  the 
 sins  on  that  fellow's  head  !•  Grown  vp  unto  the  heuvens— so  the  Hin- 
 doos will  say,  *  Abominable  wretch  !  your  guilt  has  reached  to  the  hea- 
 vens.*— Ro/j.  8.  Naii — they  do  not  diive  with  a  hammer  the  nails  or 
 pegs  that  are  placed  in  eastern  walls,  but  they  fix  them  with  the  brick- 
 
 work as  they  are  building.  They  are  usually  large,  with  square  heads, 
 like  dice,  well  made,  the  ends  being  bent  so  as  to  make  thera  cramp 
 irons. — Sir  J.  Chardiii.  The  above  is  probably  the  true  illustration, 
 and  a  better  than  that  which  has  ordinarily  been  given  by  critics,  who 
 have  referred  to  the  nails  or  pins  uved  in  fastening  down  the  tents. — 
 Ed.  The  meaning  obviously  is,  '  to  establish  or  fix  us  in  his  holy  place.* 
 — Pict.  Bih.  9.  A  watt — the  original  113  signifies  '  the  fence  of  a 
 shepherd's  fold.'  and  is  here  figuratively  taken  for  the  establishment  of 
 the  Jews  in  their  former  laud  and  city, — Hales ;  and  it  may  denote  the 
 protection  of  the  kings  ot  Persia,  which  was  a  fence  against  the  Sama- 
 ritans, and  especially  the  hedge  of  Diviue  Providence  about  them. — 
 Gill. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.^p.  VIII.  —  From  Henry's  remarks  on 
 this  chapter,  we  may  gather  a  few  useful  fragments.  Ob- 
 serve, I.  '  2'he  company  that  went  vp  with  Ezra;  but,  alus  ! 
 multitudes  loved  their  ease  belter  than  their  religion,  thought 
 themselves  well  where  they  were,  and  either  believed  not  that 
 .Jerusalem  would  better  their  condition,  or  durst  not  go  thither 
 through  any  difficulties.  Synagogues  we  suppose  tbey  had  ia 
 liahylon,  in  which  they  prayed  and  preached,  and  kept  sab- 
 bath ;  and,  wdien  they  could  not  have  better,  they  had  reason 
 to  be  thankful  for  them  ;  hut  now  the  temple  at  Jerusalem  was 
 opened,  they  ought  to  bave  preferred  the  gates  of  Zion  to  all 
 their  synagogues.'  It  is  a  bad  sign  when  we  undervalue  our 
 privileges. 
 
 II.  '  The  solann  fast  ichieli  Ezra  hept  to  implore  God's  pre- 
 sence.' This  was  united  with  prayer.  'Their  errand  to  a  throne 
 of  grace  was  to  seek  of  God  "  a  right  way"  to  commit  them- 
 selves to  the  conduct  of  the  Divine  Providence,  to  put  them- 
 selves under  the  Divine  protection,  and  to  beg  of  God  to  guide 
 and  keep  them  in  their  journey,  and  bring  them  safely  to  their 
 journey's  end.  They  were  strangers  in  the  road,  were  to 
 iii.irch  through  their  enemies'  countries,  and  bad  not  a  pillar  of 
 502 
 
 cloud  and  hre  to  lead  them  as  their  fathers  had  ;  but  tbey  be- 
 lieved the  power  and  favour  of  God,  and  the  ministration  of 
 his  angels,  would  be  to  them  instead  ot  that,  and  hoped,  by 
 prayer,  to  engage  this  for  them.  All  our  concerns  about  our- 
 selves, our  families,  and  our  estates,  it  is  our  wisdom  and 
 duty,  by  prayer,  to  commit  to  God,  and  leave  tbe  care  of  them 
 with  bim,  (Phil.  iv.  6.)' 
 
 III.  Tlie  care  which  Ezra  took  of  the  treasure.  Our  prayers 
 must  always  be  seconded  vvilh  our  endeavours. 
 
 IV.  Tlie  care  God  took  of  Ezra  and  his  company  in  the  way. 
 During  a  four  months'  march,  with  the  slow  movenients  of  a 
 large  body,  God  continually  protected  them.  'Even  tbe 
 common  perils  of  journeys  are  such  as  oblige  us  to  sanctify 
 our  going  out  with  prayer,  and  our  relurii  in  peace  with  praise 
 and  thanksgiving  ;  much  more  ougiit  God  to  be  thus  looked  up 
 to  in  such  a  dangerous  expedition  as  this  was.' 
 
 V.  T/ie  safe  arrival  of  Ezra  and  his  company  at  Jerusalem. 
 '  Let  them  that  have  steadfastly  set  their  faces  towards  tbe 
 new  Jerusalem  proceed  and  persevere  to  the  end,  till  tbsjy 
 appear  before  God  in  Zion,  and  they  shall  Had  Ho  who  hath 
 begun  the  good  work  shall  perfect  it.* 
 
Ezra  encotiragcd  to  rrfurin 
 
 EZRA,  X. 
 
 the  struni/e  marrimjes. 
 
 wealth  for  ever  :  that  ye  may  be  stroiifi,  and 
 eat  the  good  of  the  land,  and  "^  leave  it  for  an 
 inheritance  to  yonr  children  for  ever. 
 
 13  And  after  all  that  is  come  upon  us  for  our 
 evil  deeds,  and  for  our  great  trespass,  seeing 
 that  thou  our  God  ''  t  bast  punished  us  less 
 than  our  iniquities  deserve,  and  hast  given  us 
 such  deliverance  as  this  ; 
 
 14  Should  we  '  again  break  thy  command- 
 ments, and  'join  in  affinity  with  the  people  of 
 these  abominations?  wouldest  not  tbon  be 
 '  angry  with  us  till  thou  hadst  consumed  us, 
 so  that  there  should  be  no  remnant  nor  es- 
 caping ? 
 
 15  O  LoRcGod  of  Israel, ''thou  «r/righteous: 
 for  we  remain  yet  escaped,  as  it  is  this  day  : 
 behold,  we  arc  '  before  thee  '  in  our  trespasses  : 
 for  we  cannot  '  stand  before  thee  because  of 
 this. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  S^iechniiiah  encmirageth  Ezra  to  reform  the  strange 
 n:arriafjes.  ti  Ezra  mourning  asseiubkth  the  pivpU'. 
 9  The  }}:opIe,  at  the  ejhartotiun  of  Ezra,  repent,  and 
 promise  amendment.  15  The  care  to  perform  it.  18 
 T/te  names  of  them  whic'i  /lad  marritd  .strantje  wives. 
 
 TVrOW  "  when  Ezra  had  prayed,  and  when  he 
 -^  '  had  confessed,  weeping  and  casting  him- 
 self down  ^  before  the  house  of  God,  there  as- 
 sembled unto  him  out  of  Israel  a  very  great 
 congregation  of  men  and  women  and  children: 
 for  the  people  f  wept  very  sore. 
 
 2  And  Shechaniali  the  son  of  Jehiel,  out  of 
 the  sons  of  Elam,  answered  and  said  unto  Ezra, 
 We  have  °  trespassed  against  our  God,  and 
 have  taken  strange  wives  of  the  people  of  the 
 land  :  yet  now  there  is  hope  in  Israel  concern- 
 ing this  thing. 
 
 3  Now  therefore  let  us  make  ■'  a  covenant 
 with  our  God  f  to  put  away  all  the  wives,  and 
 such  as  are  born  of  them,  according  to  the 
 counsel  of  my  lord,  and  of  those  that  "  tremble 
 at '  the  commandment  of  our  God  ;  and  let  it 
 be  done  according  to  the  law. 
 
 4  Arise  ;  for  t/iis  matter  belongeth  unto  thee  : 
 we  also  will  be  with  thee :  ^  be  of  good  courage, 
 and  do  it. 
 
 5  Then  arose  Ezra,  and  made  the  chief  priests, 
 the  Levites,  and  all  Israel,  ''  to  swear  that  they 
 should  do  according  to  this  word.  And  they 
 sware. 
 
 6  U  '  Then  Ezra  rose  up  from  before  the  house 
 
 iO.  7- 
 
 JPs,  IM.  10. 
 t  Heh.  /,'ul 
 uilkUeld  he- 
 
 I  Rom.  3  19 
 A  I  C.n.  15. 
 
 17. 
 /  I's.  130   3. 
 
 n  1  Esd.  fl. 
 9I.&C  Dan. 
 
 \  Heb.  vrjit 
 
 t  Heb.  M 
 bzi,.,.  firlh. 
 
 e  ch   9   +. 
 
 /Den.  7. 2,3. 
 
 I  Hi.b.  ;,oi.f 
 C'l-'i'rf  [o 
 <iwrll.  or, 
 hiir  tiruur/'.i 
 
 »■  .l<.Nh.7.19. 
 Pio.  28. 13. 
 
 II  Or.  iw/iof. 
 /endeil  in 
 
 I  Or./(7/  tl<it 
 •n'tlfer  be 
 iiis|.atched. 
 
 of  God,  and  went  into  the  chamber  of  Johaiian 
 the  son  of  Eliasliib  :  and  irhrii  he  came  thither, 
 he  ''  did  eat  no  bread,  nor  drink  v.ater  :  for  he 
 mourned  because  of  the  transgression  of  them 
 that  had  been  carried  away. 
 
 7  And  they  made  proclamation  throughout 
 Judah  and  Jerusalem  unto  all  the  children  of 
 Ihe  captivity,  that  they  should  gather  them- 
 selves together  unto  Jerusalem  ; 
 
 8  And  that  whosoever  would  not  come  within 
 three  days,  according  to  the  counsel  of  the 
 princes  and  the  elders,  all  his  substance  should 
 be  t  forfeited,  and  himself  separated  from  the 
 congregation  of  those  that  had  been  carried 
 away. 
 
 9  i  Then  all  the  men  of  Judah  and  Benjamin 
 gathered  tliemselves  together  unto  Jernsaleui 
 within  three  days.  It  was  the  ninth  month,  on 
 the  twentieth  dai/  of  the  month  ;  and  '  all  the 
 people  sat  in  the  street  of  the  house  of  God, 
 trembling  because  of  this  matter,  and  for  f  the 
 great  rain. 
 
 10  And  Ezra  the  priest  stood  up,  and  said 
 unto  them.  Ye  have  transgressed,  and  f  have 
 taken  strange  wives,  to  increase  the  trespass  of 
 Israel. 
 
 1 1  Now  therefore  "'  make  confession  unto  the 
 Lord  God  of  your  fathers,  and  do  his  pleasure  : 
 and  '"separate  yourselves  from  the  people  of 
 the  land,  and  from  the  strange  wives. 
 
 1'2  Then  all  the  congregation  answered  and 
 said  with  a  loud  voice.  As  thou  hast  said,  so 
 must  we  do. 
 
 13  But  the  people  are  many,  and  it  is  a  time 
 of  much  rain,  and  we  are  not  able  to  stand 
 without,  neither  is  this  a  work  of  one  day  or 
 two  :  for  II  we  are  many  that  have  transgressed 
 in  this  thing. 
 
 14  Let  now  our  rulers  of  all  the  congregation 
 stand,  and  let  all  them  which  have  taken 
 strange  wives  in  our  cities  come  at  appointed 
 times,  and  with  them  the  elders  of  every  city, 
 and  the  judges  thereof,  until  °  the  fierce  wrath 
 of  our  God  ||for  this  matter  be  turned  from  us. 
 
 15  U  Only  Jonathan  the  son  of  Asahel  and 
 Jahaziah  the  son  of  Tikvah  f  were  employed 
 about  this  matter  :  and  Meshullam  and  Shab- 
 bethai  the  Levite  helped  them. 
 
 10  And  the  children  of  the  captivity  did  so. 
 And  Ezra  the  priest,  ivith  certain  chief  of  the 
 fathers,  after  the  house  of  their  fathers,  and  all 
 of  them  by  their  names,  were  separated,  and 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  I ,  There  a^seinhled,  ^c.^this  prayer  being  made  at  the 
 time  of  the  evening  sacritice.  [chap.  ix.  5.)  when  many  assembled  to 
 worship  God,  and  being  uttered  with  great  passion,  those  present  were 
 much  moved  to  see  so  distinguished  a  person  so  affected  for  the  sins 
 of  the  land  ;  tlie  report  spread  Hirough  Jerusalem,  and  all  classes  flock- 
 ing to  the  spot,  united  in  the  lamentation,  viewing  themselves  under 
 the  displeasure  of  the  Almighty. — Pdt.  4.  Thin  mtrtter  tielongeth  unto 
 thee,  as  a  priest  and  scribe  to  give  directions,  and  as  a  ruler  to  put  them 
 into  execution.— Gi//.  8.  Forfeited.  C"in',  '  devoted,'  placed  in  GodS 
 treasury,  and  so  incapaJlle  of  being  restored. — Put.  This  measure  of 
 excommunication  and  loss  of  estates  was  perfectly  right  according  to 
 the  Jewish  Theocracy.  For  the  wliole  iand  was  the  gift  of  God  to 
 Abraham  and  to  his  seed,  and  the  spurious  children  of  women  descended 
 
 from  the  seven  nations  had  no  right  to  enjoy  it,  nor  could  they  retain 
 in  church  fellowship  the  men  who  had  openly  trampled  on  the  Divine 
 law,    {Dent,  vii,  3.1— S»/.  9.  Street,   '  area.* — Bmtthr.      *  Court.' — 
 
 Hioib.  Probably  the  court  of  the  people,  where  they  worshipped  ; 
 which,  lying  open  to  the  air,  and  being  not  yet  perhaps  girt  about  with 
 a  wall,  as  we  may  guess  from  Neb.  ii.  a,  is  called  *a  street.' — Pat. 
 Tremblini^ — fvr  the  ffreut  yiin — because  of  sin,  and  shivering  because 
 of  the  rain. — Sut.  'On  the  court  days  in  Hindustan,  during  a  wet 
 monsoon,  the  half-naked  people  sit  huddled  together  under  the  nearest 
 tree,  trembting  for  the  great  rain.' — Rob.  The  ninth  month  answered 
 to  our  December ;  this  is  the  coldest  and  most  rainy  part  of  the  year  iu 
 Palestine. — .i.  Clurke.  15.  Were  employed,  '  opposed  the  matter.' — 
 Lightfuot. 
 
 Rffi.ections  on  Chap.  IX.— I.  07ie  distinguished  trait  in 
 a  good  man  is,  that  he  mourns  over  national  sins.  As  sin  exalts 
 or  ruins  a  nation,  be  has  no  claim  to  the  character  of  a  genuine 
 patriot  who  never  laments  over,  nor  aims  to  lessen,  the  iniqui- 
 ties of  bis  country.  David's  eyes  sent  forth  rivers  of  tears 
 because  of  national  transgressions,  and  the  prophet  Jeremiah 
 was  pained  at  the  very  heart  on  account  of  a  foolish  and  sot- 
 tish people. 
 
 II.  It  behoves  all  who  profess  to  sen^c  God  to  be  especially  care- 
 
 fil  in  their  marriage  conncrious.  The  neglect  of  this  was  a 
 fatal  error  among  the  Jews,  and  led  to  their  greatest  miseries, 
 llnw  can  the  lovers  of  God  unite  with  the  idolators  of  the 
 world  1  These  unions  were  always  productive  otawful  defec- 
 tions with  the  Jews  ;  and  those  who  profess  love  to  Christ, 
 and  yet  form  such  alliances,  have  too  often  lost  all  their  reli- 
 gion, and  turned  back  to  the  corruptions  that  are  in  ihe  world 
 through  lust. 
 
The  names  of  thuse  who 
 
 EZRA,  X. 
 
 had  married  strange  wives. 
 
 sat  down  in  the  first  day  of  the  tenth  month  to 
 examine  the  matter. 
 
 17  And  they  made  an  end  with  all  the  men 
 that  had  taken  strange  wives  by  the  first  day 
 of  the  first  month. 
 
 18  t  And  among  the  sons  of  the  priests  there 
 were  found  that  had  taken  strange  wives ; 
 ■namely,  of  the  sons  of  Jeshua  the  son  of  Joza- 
 dak,  and  his  brethren  ;  Maaseiah,  and  Eliezer, 
 and  Jarib,  and  Gedaliah. 
 
 19  And  they  ^  gave  their  hands  that  they 
 would  put  away  their  wives ;  and  being  ''  guilty, 
 they  offered  a  ram  of  tlie  flock  for  their  trespass. 
 
 20  And  of  the  sons  of  Immer ;  Hanani,  and 
 Zebadiah. 
 
 ■21  And  of  the  sons  of  Harim  ;  Maaseiah,  and 
 Elijah,  and  Sliemaiah,  and  Jehiel,  and  Uzziah. 
 
 '22  And  of  the  sons  of  Pashur;  Elioenai, 
 Maaseiah,  Ishniael,  Nethaneel,  Jozabad,  and 
 Elasah. 
 
 23  Also  of  the  Levites  ;  Jozabad,  and  Shimei, 
 and  Kelaiah,  (the  same  is  Kelita,)  Pethahiah, 
 .Tudah,  and  Eliezer. 
 
 24  Of  the  singers  also  ;  Eliashib  :  and  of  the 
 porters ;  Shallnm,  and  Teleni,  and  Uri. 
 
 2.5  Moreover  of  Israel  :  of  the  sons  of  Parosh  ; 
 Ramiah,  and  Jeziali,  and  Malchiah,  and  Mia- 
 min,  and  Eleazar,  and  Malchijah,  and  Benaiah. 
 
 20  And  of  the  sons  of  Elam  ;  Mattaniab,  Ze- 
 cliariah,  and  Jehiel,  and  Abdi,  and  Jeremoth, 
 and  Eliah. 
 
 27  And  of  the  .sons  of  Zattn  ;    Elioenai,  Eli- 
 
 1  Or.Mabita' 
 drhni,  AC 
 rnrdiiip  to 
 snmo  Co- 
 pips. 
 
 ashib,  Mattaniah,  and  Jeremoth,  and  Zabad, 
 and  Aziza. 
 
 28  Of  the  sons  also  of  Bebai  ;  Jehohanan, 
 Hananiah,  Zabbai,  and  Athlai. 
 
 29  And  of  the  sons  of  Bani ;  Me.shullain, 
 Mallucli,  and  Adaiali,  Jashub,  and  Sheal,  and 
 Ramoth. 
 
 30  And  of  the  sons  of  Pahath-moab;  Adiio, 
 and  Chelal,  Benaiah,  Maaseiah,  Mattaniab, 
 Bezaleel,  and  Bimini,  and  Manasseh. 
 
 31  And  ()/'  the  sons  of  Harim  ;  Eliezer,  Ishi- 
 jah,  Malchiah,  Sliemaiah,  Shimeon, 
 
 32  Benjamin,  Mallncb,  njid  Shemariah. 
 
 33  Of  the  sonsof  Hashum  ;  Mattenai,  Matta- 
 thah,  Zabad,  Eliplielet,  Jereniai,  Manasseh, 
 and  Shimei. 
 
 34  Of  the  sons  of  Bani ;  Maadai,  Amram,  and 
 Uel, 
 
 35  Benaiah,  Bedeiah,  Chelluh, 
 
 36  Vaniah,  Meremoth,  Eliashib, 
 
 37  Mattaniah,  Mattenai,  and  Jaasau, 
 
 38  And  Bani,  and  Binnni,  Shimei, 
 
 39  And  Shelemiah,  and  Nathan,  and  Adaiah, 
 
 40  II  Machnadebai,  Shasbai,  Sharai, 
 
 41  Azareel,  and  Shelemiah,  Shemariah, 
 
 42  Sliallum,  Amariah,  and  Joseph. 
 
 43  Of  the  sons  of  Nebo  ;  Jeiel,  Mattithiah. 
 Zabad,  Zebina,  Jadan,  and  Joel,  Benaiah. 
 
 44  All  these  had  taken  strange  wives  :  and 
 some  of  them  had  wives  by  whom  they  had 
 children. 
 
 17.  Bf/  the  first  (tut/,  Sfc. — Nisan,  answering  to  part  of  March  and  April;  so  the  work  occupied  three  montlis. — Gill, 
 
 Reflections  ov  Chap.  X I.    Contrition  for  sin  is  the 
 
 ^first  step  towards  reformation  from  sin.  If  the  heart  he  truly  af- 
 fected with  godly  sorrow,  reformation  must  inevitably  follow. 
 God  knows  this,  and  therefore  he  takes  the  one  as  tlie  earnest 
 of  the  other—'  a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  0  God,  thou  wilt 
 not  despise.' 
 
 JI,  Ttiose  u'fio  trill  hreak  off  from  their  sins,  tnnst  often  do  so  at 
 (/reat  sacrifices.  Tliey  have  frequently  to  forsake  their  dearest 
 idols,  and  to  cut  off  right  hands  and  pluck  out  right  eyes. 
 
 But  if  we  would  truly  enjoy  the  privileges  of  God's  people, 
 we  must  give  up  our  alliance  with  an  ungodly  world,  for  what 
 fellowship  hath  righteousness  with  uiu-igliteousness  ?  and 
 what  communion  liath  light  witli  darkness  !  and  what  concord 
 hath  Christ  with  BeliaH  or  what  part  hath  he  tijat  believetb 
 with  an  infidel  ?  and  what  agreement  hath  the  temple  of  God 
 with  idols  1  for  ye  are  the  temple  of  the  living  God,  as  God 
 hath  said,  '  I  will  ihvell  in  them  and  walk  in  them  ;  and  1  will 
 be  their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people.' 
 
 THE   BOOK 
 
 NEHEMIAH. 
 
 [This  book  is,  in  the  Zatin  Vulgate  and  Greek  Septuagint,  called  the  Second  Book  of  Ezra,  but  Nehemi;ib  professes  himself 
 the  author  of  it  from  the  beginning,  and  uniformly  speaks  in  the  first  person.  He  was  born  at  Habylon  during  the  cap- 
 tivity ;  and  some  think  that  he  descended  from  Aaron,  while  others  contend  that  he  was  of  the  line  of  Judah,  and  of  the 
 royal  race.  Nehemiah  is  a  continuation  of  the  history  given  by  Ezra,  for  about  twelve  years.  He  sustained  the  dignified 
 office  of  cup-bearer  to  the  Persian  monarch,  but  being  deeply  concerned  for  the  afflictions  of  Jerusalem,  he  left  all  the 
 honours  of  the  court  of  Artaxerxcs  to  stir  up  the  Jews  to  build  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  reform  their  abuses.  Ezra 
 chiefly  occupied  himself  with  collecting  the  safred  writings  and  enforcing  the  observance  of  the  law — Nehemiah  in  re- 
 storing the  civil  polity  and  strengthening  the  i  tetropoHs  of  Judca.  Ezra  had  been  aboul  ten  years  occupied  in  carrying 
 on  the  reform  mentioned  in  the  last  chapter,  when  representations  reached  Nehemiah  at  Babylon  respecting  the  afflicted 
 state  of  the  Jews,  and  the  ruinous  condition  of  the  city,  the  walls  of  which  were  not  yet  repaired.  Tliis  book  commences 
 at  this  period,  which  was  about  the  twentieth  year  of  Artaxcrxes  Longimanus ;  according  to  Afchhishop  Usher,  the  year 
 of  the  world  3558,  and  445  years  before  Christ.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  tliat  many  men  highly  distinguished  in  ancient 
 history  were  contemporaries  with  Nehemiah;  among  whom  we  mention  only  ./Eschylus,  the  tragic  poet  of  Athens; 
 Aristophanes,  the  comic  poet ;  Cincinnatus,  the  celebrated  Roman  ;  Democritus,  the  philosopher  ;  Euripides,  the  tragic 
 poet;  Herodotus,  the  historian;  Hippocrates,  the  physician  of  Cos;  Phidias,  the  celebrated  Greek  statuary;  Pindar, 
 the  lyric  poet  of  Thebes;  Plato,  the  Greek  poet  ;  Socrates,  the  celebrated  philosopher;  Sophocles,  the  tragic  poet  of 
 Athens;  Thucydides,  the  Greek  historian  ;  Xenoplion,  the  ci^lcbrated  general,  historian,  and  philosopher;  and  Zenxis, 
 the  celebrated  painter.] 
 
 504 
 
Neliemiah  mournelh 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  I.,  II. 
 
 Ju)'  Jei usulim. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  Nehntitah,  understanding  by  Harmni  (lit  niiaeri/  of 
 Ji'rns  ilenit  immrneth,  fasUtUi  and  prai^/eth.  5  His 
 prai/er. 
 
 'T'HE  words  of  Neliemiah  the  son  of  Hacha- 
 •*-  liah.  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  month 
 Chisleu,  in  the  twentieth  year,  as  I  was  in 
 Shuslian  the  palace, 
 
 2  That  Hanani,  one  of  my  brethren,  came,  he 
 and  certain  men  of  Judali ;  and  I  asked  them 
 concerning  the  Jews  tliat  had  escaped,  which 
 were  left  of  the  captivity,  and  concerning  Je- 
 rusalem. 
 
 3  And  they  said  unto  me.  The  remnant  that 
 are  left  of  the  captivity  there  in  the  province 
 are  in  great  affliction  and  reproach  :  ''  the 
 wall  of  Jerusalem  also  '  is  broken  down,  and 
 the  gates  thereof  are  burned  with  fire. 
 
 4  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  I  heard  these 
 word.s,  tliat  I  sat  down  and  wept,  and  mourned 
 certain  days,  and  fasted,  and  prayed  before  the 
 God  of  heaven, 
 
 5  And  said,  I  beseech  thee,  '^  O  Lord  God  of 
 heaven,  the  great  and  terrible  God,  '  tliat 
 keepeth  covenant  and  mercy  for  them  that 
 love  him  and  observe  his  commandments  : 
 
 G  Let  thine  ear  now  be  attentive,  and  ''  thine 
 eyes  open,  that  thou  mayest  hear  the  prayer 
 of  thy  servant,  which  I  pray  before  thee  now, 
 day  and  night,  for  the  children  of  Israel  thy 
 servants,  and  ''confess  the  sins  of  the  children 
 of  Israel,  wliich  we  have  sinned  against  thee  : 
 both  I  and  my  father's  house  have  sinned. 
 
 7  "  We  have  dealt  very  corruptly  against 
 thee,  and  have  '  not  kept  the  commandments, 
 nor  the  statutes,  nor  the  judgments,  which  thou 
 commandedst  thy  servant  Moses. 
 
 8  Remember,  I  beseech  thee,  the  word  that 
 thou  commandedst  thy  servant  Moses,  .saying. 
 
 4  ch.  2.  17. 
 c  2  Kin   2b. 
 
 d  Dan.  0.  1. 
 t  Ex.  20.  6. 
 
 /I  Kin.  9. 
 28,29. 
 2  Cbr.  6.  40, 
 Dan.  9.  17, 
 18. 
 
 g  Dan.  9.  20. 
 
 /.  Ps.  106.  6. 
 D.in.  9.  .1. 
 I  Den.  23.  15. 
 
 26,  27.&28. 
 61. 
 /  Lev  26.  ."',9. 
 (tc.  lU-u.  4 
 
 29.  W,  ai.  & 
 
 30.  2. 
 
 m  Deu.  30.1. 
 
 I  Deu.  9.  29. 
 Dan.  9.  15. 
 
 q  cli 
 
 rir  113 
 It  Kzra  7.  I 
 b  cl..  1.  II 
 
 d\  Kin.l  31. 
 Dan.  2  4  & 
 £.  10.  &  6. 
 6,  21. 
 
 e  cb.  1.3. 
 
 ''  If  ye   transgress,  I  will  scatter  you  abroad 
 among  the  nations  : 
 
 9  '  But  if  ye  turn  unto  me,  and  keep  my  com- 
 mandments, and  do  them  ;  '"  though  tliere 
 were  of  you  cast  out  unto  tlie  uttermost  part 
 of  the  heaven,  7/et  will  I  gather  them  from 
 thence,  and  will  bring  them  unto  tlie  place  that 
 I  have  chosen  to  set  my  name  there. 
 
 10  "  Now  these  are  thy  servants  and  thy 
 people,  whom  thou  hast  redeemed  by  tliy 
 great  power,  and  by  thy  strong  hand. 
 
 1 1  O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  °  let  now  thine 
 ear  be  attentive  to  the  prayer  of  thy  servant, 
 and  to  the  prayer  of  thy  servants,  who  ''desire 
 to  fear  thy  name :  and  prosper,  I  pray  thee,  tliy 
 servant  this  day,  and  grant  him  mercy  in  the 
 sight  of  this  man.  For  I  was  the  king's  ''cup- 
 bearer. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Artaxerxts  utuler standing  the  cause  of  Nefienn'uh's 
 saciiitss  sendcth  him  with  letters  and  commission  to 
 JiTvsafem.  9  Nehcmiah,  to  the  grief  of  the  enemi(S, 
 Cometh  to  Jerusalem.  12  i/e  vieweth  secretly  the 
 ridns  of  the  ivalh.  17  He  inciteth  the  Jiws  to  build 
 ill  despite  of  the  enemies. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  month  Nisan. 
 -^^  in  the  twentieth  year  of  Artaxerxes  tlie 
 kiii^,  that  wine  was  before  liim  :  and  ^  I  toolc 
 up  the  wine,  and  gave  it  unto  the  king.  Now 
 I  had  not  been  beforeiime  sad  in  his  pre- 
 sence. 
 
 2  Wherefore  the  king  said  unto  me.  Why  is 
 thy  countenance  sad,  seeing  thou  art  not  .^^ick  ? 
 this  is  nothing  else  but  *^  sorrow  of  heart.  Then 
 1  was  very  sore  afraid, 
 
 3  And  said  unto  the  king,  **  Let  tlie  king  live 
 for  ever :  why  should  not  my  countenance  be 
 sad,  when  °  the  city,  the  place  of  my  fathers' 
 sepulchres,  lieth  waste,  and  the  gates  thereof 
 are  consumed  with  tire  ? 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  I.  Kehemiah—Xhe  father  of  Nehemiah,  Ha- 
 ohaliah,  seems  to  have  preferred  remaining  in  the  land  of  his  captivity  ; 
 he  was,  probably,  an  inhabitant  of  Shushan,  and  this  ciicunistance 
 favoured  the  advancement  of  his  son. — Prxd.  Some  have  thought 
 Nehemiah  was  a  priest,  from  his  signing  and  sealing  the  covenant  at 
 the  head  of  the  priest.s,  [chap.  x.  1.)  but  he  rather  seems  ti  be  of  the 
 tribe  of  Judah,  (chap.  ii.  3,  5,)  and  he  may  be  tlie  same  that  went  up 
 with  Zeruhbabel,  and  then  returned  again  and  became  the  king's  cup- 
 bearer.— Gill.  It  is  questionable  whether  he  be  the  same  person  men- 
 tioned, Ezra,  ii.  2  ;  vii.  7,  of  this  book  ;  as  one  that  returned  under 
 Zerubbabel ;  since,  from  the  first  year  of  Cyrus  to  the  twentieth  of 
 Artaxerxes  Longimanus,  there  must  have  been  an  interval  of  at  least 
 ninety-two  years,  he  must,  therefore,  have  been  too  old  for  the  king's 
 cup-bearer,  and  for  exercising  that  vigour  and  courage  which  distin- 
 guished liis  government.  We  conclude,  therefore,  that  this  was  a  dif- 
 ferent person,  though  of  the  same  name.  '  Tirshatha*  denoted  the  title 
 of  his  office  ;  and,  both  in  the  Pcr.-^ic  and  Chaldec,  it  was  the  general 
 naine  given  to  all  the  king's  deputies  and  governors. — Hew.  He  was 
 the  same  Nehemiah  of  whom  Ezra  speaks,  (chap,  ii.,)  because  in  both 
 boKks  he  is  called  Tirshatha;  and  the  same  action  is  attributed  to  the 
 same  Nehemiah,  Ezra,  ii.  63;  Neh.  vii.  65.  It  is  true  he  was  very 
 old.  but  he  was  preserved  by  the  Lord  for  the  good  of  the  people.— 
 — Poole's  St/nop.  The  name  Nehemiah  signifies  '  consolation.' — Dr. 
 Gray.  Twentieth  year,  of  the  reign  of  Artaxerxes,  (chap.  ii.  I.)— Gill. 
 Stiushan,  the  capital  city  of  Elam  or  Persia,  (Dan.  viii.  2.)  It  was  the 
 winter  residence  of  the  Persian  kings  after  Cyrus.— Cat.  3.  The  pro- 
 vincet  Judea,  now  reduced  to  a  province  of  the  Persian  empire.  The 
 wail  of  Jerusalem  also  is  broken  down,  as  Nebuchadnezzar  left  it,  for 
 
 since  Ins  times  it  had  never  been  set  up.— G(7/.  8.  The  ujorrf— Deut. 
 iv.   25,  &c. ;    XXX.    1 — 4.  \\.  Kiiig''s   cup-bearer— thQ   king's   cup- 
 
 bearer filled  the  king's  cup  with  wine,  pouring  some  into  his  own  hand  be- 
 fore he  presented  it,  and  drinking  it,  to  ascertain  that  there  was  no  poison 
 in  it. — Xen.  This,  with  the  Persians,  was  reckoned  a  very  honourable 
 ofRce  ',  and  as  it  called  this  officer  often  into  tlie  king's  presence,  Nehe- 
 miah lioped  to  have  an  opportunity  of  pleading  for  the  Jews. — Gill. 
 That  this  was  an  office  of  great  profit  appears  from  Ncliemiah's  having 
 amassed  so  much  wealth  that  he  was  enabled  to  suppnrt  all  the  ex- 
 penses of  his  government  out  of  his  own  private  fortune,  without  im- 
 posing any  burden  on  the  people. — Hew. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  1.  In  the  month  Nisan — this  was  three  or  four  months 
 after  he  heard  of  the  state  of  Jerusalem  ;  that  was  in  Chisleu,  answer- 
 ing to  November;  this  answering  to  March.  During  the  interval,  Ne- 
 hemiah had,  perhaps,  been  fasting  and  praying,  or  it  did  not  come  to 
 his  turn  to  wait. — Gill.  I  took  up  the  wine — it  is  supposed  that  there 
 was  a  different  cup-bearer  for  each  quarter  of  the  year. — A.  Clarke. 
 2.  Why  is  thy  countenance  .sttrf— among  the  Hindoos,  when  any  have 
 a  request  to  make,  tliey  walk  about  sad,  and  never  speak  hut  when 
 spoken  to ;  this  is  to  induce  an  inquiry  respecting  the  cause. — So  Uob. 
 Sorrow  of  heart,  l"?  Ji,  *  wickedness  of  heart.'  UovTipici  Kap6iu^,  Sept. 
 *  Jllalum  nescio  quod  in  corde  tuo  est,'  Vu'ii.  'I  know  not  the  evil 
 which  is  in  thy  heart.'  He  suspected  him  of  a  design  to  kill  him  by 
 putting  poison  into  his  cup.— J^r.  3.  Let  the  king  line  for  eyer— the 
 Spaniards  have  a  similar  expression  used  in  compliment,  and  doubt- 
 less of  eastern  origin,  derived  through  the  Moors  ;  Vitnt  vjii.  mil  annos, 
 'may  you  live  a  thousand  years.' — Ed.  My  fathers'  sepulchres — the 
 tombs  of  the  dead  were  sacred  among  the  ancients,  and  Nehemiah 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  — I.  Pious  souls,  in  whatever 
 sitiuition,  will  he  deeply  afftctfd  for  the  sufferingf:  of  the  church  of 
 Gud.  *  Nehemiah  sat  warm  iu  the  court  at  Shiisan,  favoured 
 by  the  great  king  Artaxerxes  ;  nothing,'  as  Bishop  Hall  ex- 
 presses it,  *  could  be  wanting  to  him,  whether  for  pleasure  or 
 state.  What  needed  he  to  trouble  his  head  with  thoughts  for 
 Jerusalem?  what  if  those  remote  walls  lay  on  Leaps,  while 
 himself  dwelt  tair?  what  if  his  far  distant  countrymen  be  de- 
 spised, while  himself  is  honoured  by  the  great  monarch  of  the 
 world  ?  Yet  it  is  not  easy  for  gracious  dispositions  to  turn  off 
 505 
 
 the  public  calamities  of  God's  church  ;  neither  can  they  do 
 other  than  lose  their  private  felicities  in  the  common  dis- 
 tresses of  the  universal  body.  *'  If  I  forget  thee,  O  Jerusa- 
 lem, let  my  rigiit  hand  forget  her  cunning  :  if  I  do  not  remem- 
 ber thee,  let  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  ray  moulh."  ' 
 
 II.  Prayer  is  the  only  true  means  to  obtain  redress.  Nehemiah 
 dares  not  attempt  his  suit  with  his  king  till  lie  has  begun  with 
 his  God.  If,  on  all  occasions,  we  do  not  begin  with  the  first 
 mover,  the  course  is  preposterous,  and  commonly  speeds  ac- 
 cordiogly. 
 
 3  T 
 
Ncheminh  rometh  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  III. 
 
 He  incileth  the  Jews  to  build. 
 
 4  Then  the  king  said  unto  me.  For  what  dost 
 thou  make  request?'  So  1  prayed  to  the  God 
 of  heaven. 
 
 5  And  I  said  unto  the  king,  If  it  please  the 
 king,  and  if  tliy  servant  have  found  favour  in 
 thy  siglit,  that  thou  vvouldest  send  me  unto 
 Judah,  unto  the  city  of  my  fathers'  sepulchres, 
 that  I  may  build  it. 
 
 6  And  the  king  said  unto  me,  (the  f  queen 
 also  sitting  by  him,)  For  how  long  shall  thy 
 journey  be?  and  when  wilt  thou  return?  So 
 it  pleased  the  king  to  send  me  ;  and  I  set  him 
 '  a  time. 
 
 7  Moreover  I  said  unto  the  king.  If  it  please 
 the  king,  let  letters  be  given  me  to  the  go- 
 vernors beyond  the  river,  that  they  may  con- 
 vey me  over  till  I  come  into  Judah  ; 
 
 8  And  a  letter  unto  Asaph  the  keeper  of  the 
 king's  forest,  that  he  may  give  me  timber  to 
 make  beams  for  the  gates  of  the  palace  which 
 appertained  ^to  the  house,  and  for  the  wall  of 
 the  city,  and  for  the  house  that  I  shall  enter 
 into.  And  tlie  king  granted  me, '■  according 
 to  the  good  hand  of  my  God  upon  me. 
 
 9  H  Then  I  came  to  the  governors  beyond 
 the  river,  and  gave  them  the  king's  letters. 
 Now  the  king  had  sent  captains  of  the  army 
 and  horsemen  with  me. 
 
 10  When  Sanballat  the  Iloronite,  and  Tobiah 
 the  servant,  tlie  Ammonite,  heard  of  it,  it 
 grieved  them  exceedingly  that  there  was  come 
 a  man  to  seek  the  welfare  of  the  children  of 
 I-^rael. 
 
 11  So  I  '  came  to  Jerusalem,  and  was  there 
 three  days. 
 
 VI  t  And  I  arose  in  the  night,  I  and  some 
 few  men  with  me  ;  neither  told  I  ar\y  man 
 wliat  my  God  had  put  in  my  heart  to  do  at  Je- 
 rusalem :  neither  iras  there  any  beast  with  me, 
 save  the  beast  that  I  rode  upon. 
 
 13  And  I  went  out  by  night  ''by  the  gate  of 
 the  valley,  even  before  the  dragon  well,  and  to 
 the  dnng  port,  and  viewed  the  walls  of  Jeru- 
 salem, which  were  '  broken  down,  and  the 
 gates  thereof  were  consumed  with  fire. 
 
 14  Then  I  went  on  to  the  "gate  of  the  foun- 
 tain, and  to  the  king's  pool  :  but  there  was  no 
 place  for  the  beast  that  irns  under  me  to  pass. 
 
 15  Then  went  I  up  in  the  night  by  the 
 "  brook,  and  viewed  the  wall,  and  turned  back, 
 and  entered  by  the  gate  of  the  valley,  and  so 
 
 g  ch.  3. 
 
 A  Eira  5.  5 
 &  7  0.  9,  2S 
 ver.  IS- 
 «5. 
 
 t  H8b  mj,. 
 
 lch.1.3.  & 
 vcr.  17. 
 
 .ell    1.3. 
 
 Ps   W    13. 
 
 S  7!l.   I. 
 
 Jer   2t  9. 
 
 Kick.  5.  1 1 
 
 15   &  2i.  A 
 p  ver.  8. 
 
 7  2Sain.2. 1 
 
 r  Ps.  11,  13. 
 A  79.  ^.  & 
 
 m.  6 
 f  ch.  e.  6. 
 
 1  ch.  12.  10. 
 t  John  5.  2. 
 
 rf.rci  Sl.Srt. 
 Zcch. 14,10, 
 t  Heh  „l h„ 
 
 e  r,zra  2.  W 
 
 /2  Chr,  33- 
 l.|.  ch.  12. 
 39.  Zeph.  1. 
 
 fcjutlg.  5.23. 
 
 returned. 
 
 16  And  the  rulers  knew  not  whither  I  went, 
 or  what  I  did  ;  neither  had  I  as  yet  told  it  to 
 the  Jews,  nor  to  the  priests,  nor  to  the  nobles, 
 nor  to  the  rulers,  nor  to  the  rest  that  did  the 
 work. 
 
 1 7  1  Then  said  I  unto  them.  Ye  see  the  dis- 
 tress that  we  are  in,  how  Jerusalem  tieih 
 waste,  and  the  gates  thereof  are  burned  with 
 fire  :  come,  and  let  us  build  up  the  wall  of 
 Jerusalem,  that  we  be  no  more  "  a  reproach. 
 
 18  Then  I  told  them  of  ''the  hand  of  my  God 
 which  was  good  upon  me  ;  as  also  the  king's 
 words  that  he  had  spoken  unto  me.  And 
 they  said.  Let  us  rise  up  and  build.  So  they 
 ■■  strengthened  their  hands  for  this  good  wor/i. 
 
 19  But  when  Sanballat  the  Horonite,  and 
 Tobiah  the  servant,  the  Ammonite,  and  Ge- 
 shem  the  Arabian,  heard  it,  they  '  laughed  us 
 to  scorn,  and  despised  us,  and  said.  What  is 
 this  thing  that  ye  do  ?  '  will  ye  rebel  against 
 the  king? 
 
 20  Then  answered  I  them,  and  said  unto 
 them.  The  God  of  heaven,  he  will  prosper  us  ; 
 therefore  we  his  servants  will  arise  and  build  : 
 '  but  ye  have  no  portion,  nor  right,  nor  memo- 
 rial, in  Jerusalem. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 The  names  and  ordtr  of  them  that  huilded  the  wall. 
 T^HEN  "  Eliashib  the  high  priest  rose  up 
 •*•  with  hi.s  brethren  the  priests, '^  and  they 
 builded  the  sheep  gate  ;  they  sanctified  it,  and 
 set  up  the  doors  of  it ;  "^  even  unto  the  tower 
 of  Meah  they  sanctified  it,  unto  the  tower  of 
 •^  Hananeel. 
 
 2  And  t  next  unto  him  builded  °  the  men  of 
 Jericho.  And  next  to  them  builded  Zaccur 
 the  son  of  Iniri. 
 
 3  ^  But  the  fish  gate  did  the  sons  of  Hasse- 
 naah  build,  who  also  laid  the  beams  thereof, 
 and  ^set  up  the  doors  thereof,  the  locks  there- 
 of, and  the  bars  thereof. 
 
 4  And  next  unto  them  repaired  Meremoth 
 the  son  of  Urijah,  the  son  of  Koz.  And  next 
 unto  them  repaired  Meshullam  the  son  of 
 Berechiah,  the  son  of  Meshezabeel.  And  next 
 unto  them  repaired  Zadok  the  pon  of  Baana. 
 
 5  And  next  unto  them  tlie  Tekoites  repaired  ; 
 but  their  nobles  put  not  their  necks  to  ^  the 
 work  of  their  Lord. 
 
 knew  that  in  mentioning  this  circumstance  he  should  deeply  interest 
 Artaxerxes. — A.  Clttrkfi.  6.    The  r/ueen  afun   sittinff^  by  —  probably 
 
 Esther  ;  it  is  implied  that  her  favour  assisted  him.— Pnd. '  If  this  king 
 was  Darius  Hystaspis.  this  queen  was  Atossa,  daughter  of  Cyrus,  who 
 might  befriend  the  Jews,  from  her  father's  regard  to  them.— Gi7/. 
 "j^XD  does  not  signify  '  queen,'  but '  harlot*  or  '  concul)ine,'  she  who  was 
 chief  favourite.— -^.  Clarke.  UaWaur],  'harloS*  Sept,  /.  Let  letters, 
 —persons  of  any  rank  always  take  letters  with  them  in  travelling,  a 
 duplicate  of  which  is  forwarded  to  the  different  chiefs  of  the  districts 
 through  which  they  have  to  pass.  Without  these,  much  inconvenience 
 is  sustained  in  obtaining  supplies. — So  Hob.  8.  The  king's  forest, 
 pTlDn,  '  paradise.'  Perhaps  the  forest  of  Lebanon,  which,  because  of 
 its  odoriferous  and  fruit  bearing  trees,  was  more  like  an  orchard  or 
 paradise.— GiW.  Probably  the  king's  hunting  seat,  connected  with  his 
 palace  and  parks  of  pleasure.  Xennphon  names  the  kings  of  Babylon 
 as  hunting  the  boars  in  their  forests.         9.  The  ni-er- Euphrates.— 
 
 Sut.  10.  The  Horonite— he  seems  to  have  been  a  petty  prince  of 
 Moab.  Horonaim  was  an  eminent  city  there,  (Isa.  xv.  5  ;  Jer.  xlviu. 
 3,  5,  3i.)~Put.  13.  Valley,  of  Jehoshaphat,  through  which  runs  the 
 brook  Kidron,  receiving  the  impure  waters  of  the  Gihon  after  cleansing 
 the  city. — Sut.  Dragon  well,  so  called,  perhaps,  from  its  having  at  its 
 moutii  the  image  of  a  dragon.  Lhing  port,  by  which  they  used  to  carry 
 the  dung  out  of  the  city.  15.  Entered  by  the  gate  uf  the  valley — the 
 
 same  way  he  went  out,  (ver.  13.)— 6i//.  Thus  he  went  all  round  the 
 city.— Sut. 
 
 Chap.  III. —  1.  Sheep  gate,  south  of  the  city,  and  so  called  prohaldy 
 from  the  sheep  for  sacrifice  being  led  in  through  it. — So  Put.  The 
 tower  of  Meah,  or  '  of  a  hundred,'  so  called  either  being  a  hundreil 
 cubits  from  the  sheep  gate,  or  a  hundred  cubits  high.  2.  The  men  of 
 Jericho,  the  posterity  of  those  who  formerly  dwelt  there. —Gt7/.  3.  The 
 fish  gttte,  on  the  north  of  the  city,  where  fish  was  sold  from  the  Sea  of 
 "Galilee.      5.  The  Tekoites,  the  inhabitants  uf  Tekoa,  a  city  in  the  tribe 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  II I.    The  conduct  of  the  king  here 
 
 recorded  ma  1/  tench  us  to  sympathize  with  our  inferiors.  Putting 
 n  favourable  construction  on  his  inquiry,  we  may  learn  from 
 this  heathen  prince  to  condescend  to  our  inferiors  ;  and  if  we 
 siiould  sympathize  with  them,  so  among  equals  we  should 
 equally  '  bear  one  another's  burdens,  and  so  fultil  the  law  of 
 Christ.' 
 
 II.  The  Conduct  of  Nehemiak  strikinphj  displays  his  piety. 
 Here  we  see  the  man  of  prayer.  A  throne  of^grace  is  accea- 
 50G 
 
 sible  at  all  times.  *  To  the  spirit  of  prayer,' says  A.  Clarke, 
 '  every  place  is  a  praying  place.^  Here  we  see  Nehemiah,  Uko 
 his  Saviour,  weeping  over  Jerusalem.  *  AM  the  grievances  of 
 the  church,'  says  Henry,  *  but  especially  its  desolations,  are, 
 and  OLislit  to  be,  matter  of  grief  and  sadness  to  all  good  people, 
 to  all  tiiat  have  a  concern  for  Ciod's  honour,  and  that  are  living 
 members  of  Christ's  mystical  body,  and  are  of  a  public  spirit ; 
 they  favour  even  Zion's  dust,  (Ps.  cii.  14.)' 
 
The  names  and  ord<,r  of  them 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  III. 
 
 Ihat  builde.d  the  wall. 
 
 6  Moreover  '  the  old  gate  repaired  Jehoiada 
 the  son  of  Paseah,  and  Meshnllaui  the  son  of 
 Besodeiah  ;  they  laid  tlie  beams  thereof,  and 
 set  lip  the  doors  thereof,  and  the  locks  thereof, 
 and  tlie  bars  thereof. 
 
 7  And  next  unto  them  repaired  Melatiah  the 
 Gibeonite,  and  Jadon  the  Meronothite,  the 
 men  of  Gibeon,  and  of  Mizpali,  unto  tlie 
 '  thrnne  of  the  governor  on  tliis  side  the  river. 
 
 8  Ne.\t  unto  him  repaired  Uzziel  the  sou  of 
 Hailiaiah,  of  tlie  fiolilsniiths.  Next  unto  him 
 also  repaired  Haiiauiah  the  sou  of  one  o/'the 
 apothecaries,  and  they  ||  fortified  Jerusalem 
 unto  the  '  broad  wall. 
 
 9  And  next  unto  them  repaired  Rephaiah  the 
 son  of  Hur,  the  ruler  of  the  half  part  of  Jerusa- 
 lem. 
 
 10  And  next  unto  them  repaired  Jedaiah  the 
 son  of  Harumapli,  even  over  against  his  house. 
 And  next  unto  him  repaired  Hattnsli  the  son 
 of  Hashabniah. 
 
 1 1  Malchijah  the  son  of  Harim,  and  Hashub 
 the  son  of  I'ahath-moab,  repaired  the  f  other 
 piece,  ""  and  tlie  tower  of  tlie  furnaces. 
 
 12  And  next  unto  him  repaired  Shallum  the 
 son  of  Halohesh,  the  ruler  of  the  half  part  of 
 Jerusalem,  he  and  his  daughters. 
 
 13  "  The  valley  gate  repaired  Haiuin,  and  the 
 inhabitants  of  Zanoah  ;  they  built  it,  and  set 
 up  the  doors  thereof,  the  locks  thereof,  and  the 
 bars  thereof,  and  a  thousand  cubits  on  the  wall 
 unto  °  the  dung  gate. 
 
 14  But  the  dung  gate  repaired  Malchiah  the 
 son  of  Rechab,  the  ruler  of  part  of  Beth-hacce- 
 rein  ;  he  built  it,  and  set  up  the  doors  thereof, 
 the  locks  thereof,  and  the  bars  thereof. 
 
 15  But  ''the  gate  of  the  fountain  repaired 
 Shallun  the  son  of  Col-hozeh,  the  ruler  of  part 
 of  Mizpah  ;  he  built  it,  and  covered  it,  and  set 
 up  the  doors  thereof,  the  locks  thereof,  and  the 
 bars  thereof,  and  the  wall  of  the  pool  of  ■■  Si- 
 loah  by  the  king's  garden,  and  unto  the  stairs 
 that  go  down  from  the  city  of  David. 
 
 16  After  him  repaired  Nehemiah  the  son  of 
 Azbuk,  the  ruler  of  the  half  part  of  Beth-zur, 
 unto  the  place  over  against  the  sepulchres  of 
 David,  and  to  the  '  pool  that  was  made,  and 
 unto  the  house  of  the  mighty. 
 
 17  After  him  repaired  the  Levites,  Rehum 
 the  son  of  Bani.  Next  unto  him  repaired  Ha- 
 ■shabiah,  the  ruler  of  the  half  part  of  Keilah,  in 
 his  part. 
 
 18  After  him  repaired  their  brethren,  Bavai 
 the  son  of  Henadad,  the  ruler  of  the  half  part 
 of  Keilah. 
 
 19  And  next  to  him  repaired  Ezer  the  son  of 
 
 B.  C.  4i5. 
 
 cli.  12.  39. 
 
 II  Or.  fr/l 
 
 «ul»  the 
 iKO'id  wall. 
 I  ill.  12.  38. 
 
 t  Hel.    it- 
 C'~.d  m,a- 
 
 m  cU.  12.  38 
 
 }  Ji.lm  9.  7. 
 
 *  2  Chr.  26. 
 9. 
 II  Or,  Zaccai 
 
 ■<  .Ut  :!■>.  2 
 .V  :i:i,  1.  8: 
 31.21. 
 
 J"  I.:*!.^  5.  1.1. 
 
 Ii    11.  ■•I 
 II  Or.  wliifh 
 
 ./-../(   r, 
 
 llfUt,  re- 
 
 pnirftlM../., 
 fj  2  Clir.  27. 
 
 3 
 II  Or,  Ihn 
 
 t'KPer. 
 rh  K    I,  3 
 
 &  1-^  37. 
 
 I  2  Kin.  1 1 
 
 111   2  Clir. 
 
 23    1.^.  Jer- 
 
 31.  '10. 
 
 Jeshua,  the  ruler  of  iNIizpah,  another  piece  over 
 against  the  going  np  to  the  armoury  at  the 
 '  turning  of  the  wall. 
 
 20  After  him  Baruch  the  son  of  {{  Zabbai 
 earnest!y.repaired  the  other  piece,  from  the 
 turning  of  the  until  unto  the  door  of  the  houso 
 of  Eliashib  the  high  priest. 
 
 21  After  him  repaired  Meremoth  the  son  of 
 Urijah  the  sou  of  Koz  another  piece,  from  the 
 door  of  the  house  of  Eliashib  even  to  the  end 
 of  the  house  of  Eliashib. 
 
 22  And  after  him  repaired  the  priests,  the 
 men  of  the  plain. 
 
 2;j  After  him  repaired  Benjamin  and  Hashub 
 over  against  their  house.  After  him  repaired 
 Azariah  the  son  of  Maaseiah  the  son  of  Ana- 
 niah  by  his  house. 
 
 24  After  him  repaired  Binnui  the  son  of  He- 
 nadad another  piece,  from  the  house  of  Azariah 
 unto  '  the  turning  of  the  wall,  even  unto  the 
 corner. 
 
 25  Palal  the  son  of  Uzai,  over  against  the 
 turning  of  the  wall,  and  the  tower  which  lieth 
 out  from  the  king's  high  house,  that  ivas  by 
 the  "  court  of  the  prison.  After  him  Pedaiah 
 the  son  of  Parosh. 
 
 26  Moreover  ^  the  Nethinims  ||  dwelt  in 
 *'  II  Ophel,  unto  the  place  over  against  ^  the 
 water  gate  toward  the  cast,  and  the  tower  that 
 lieth  out. 
 
 27  After  them  the  Tekoites  repaired  another 
 piece,  over  against  the  great  tower  that  lieth 
 out,  even  unto  the  wall  of  Ophel. 
 
 28  From  above  the  °  horse  gate  repaired  the 
 priests,  every  one  over  against  his  house. 
 
 29  After  them  repaired  Zadok  the  son  of  Im- 
 mer  over  against  his  house.  After  him  repair- 
 ed also  Shemaiah  the  son  of  Shechaniah,  the 
 keeper  of  the  east  gate. 
 
 30  After  him  repaired  Hananiah  the  son  of 
 Shelemiah,  and  Hauun  the  sixth  son  of  Zalaph, 
 another  piece.  After  him  repaired  MeshuUam 
 the  son  of  Berechiah  over  against  his  chamber. 
 
 31  After  him  repaired  Malchiah  the  gold- 
 smith's son  unto  the  place  of  the  Nethinim.s, 
 and  of  the  merchants,  over  against  the  gate 
 Miphkad,  and  to  the  ||  going  up  of  the  corner. 
 
 32  And  between  the  going  up  of  the  corner 
 unto  the  sheep  gate  repaired  the  goldsmiths 
 and  the  merchants. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  liliih  the  enemies  scoff,  Nehemiah  praytili  and  cnn- 
 tiniietk  the  work.  7  Understanding  the  wratli  and 
 secrets  of  the  enemy,  he  setteth  a  watch.  13  He  arm- 
 eth  tlie  labourers,  19  and  yiveth  military  precepts. 
 
 of  Judah,  (see  Amos,  i.  l.)  Put  not  their  necks,  refused  to  labour,  as 
 refractory  o.xen  would  refuse  the  yoke.— Gill.  Their  torrf— Nehemiah 
 is  here  meant.— Boo/Ar.  The  leader  aud  head  of  the  family.— .d4f« 
 Ezra.  It  is  best  to  understand  it  of  the  Lord  their  Goii.—Jfircrii,  Gill. 
 6.  The  old  gate,  in  the  middle  of  the  north  wall;  so  called  because 
 built  by  the  Jebiisites. —Su(.  y.  T/iriine,  •  palace  ;'  throne  being  used 
 to  signify  any  royal  abode.— Har.  A  state  apartment.— Wi7.  Accord- 
 ing to  .i/ini  Ezra,  •  Cisse,"  rendered  ' throne,"  is  the  name  of  a  man, 
 and  would  therefore  read,  '  Unto  Cisse,  the  governor.'- Gi7/,  Ed. 
 Unto  t/ie  t/irone,  ^-r.,  which  belonged  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  goverjior 
 on  this  side  the  river. — Boothr.        8.  Apottiecaries,  perhaps  spice  and 
 
 perfume  merchants.  These  and  the  goldsmiths  were  evidently  formed 
 into  companies.— VfiV.,  Clarke.  12.  Btiler  of  the  /"///—the  policy  of 
 double  governors  was  peculiar  to  Persia.  It  was  ol  course  thought 
 that  the  jealousies  of  the  parties  would  contribute  to  the  safety  of  the 
 empire. ~5^^^  l6.  Thetimt.'ie  o/t/iemif^lity,' the  worthies.'— CuoMr. 
 '  Of  the  valiant,'  possibly  appointed  for  those  captains  who  attended  on 
 the  king  in  courses,  or  any  other  valiant  commanders  repairing  oc- 
 casionally to  Jerusalem. — Poole.  2d.  Ophel,  a  high  tower  on  the 
 wall,  fsee  2  Chron.  x.Kvii.  3.)  32.  Unto  the  sheep  gate,  where  the 
 building  first  began,  and  where  it  now  ended.— Gi//.  The  relation  re- 
 specting the  circuit  of  the  walls  was  thus  completed. — Welts. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  Ill Let  us  learn  from  this  chap-    companies  in  our  religious  community  is  a  circtunstance  thus 
 
 ter— I.   That  we  cannot  set  abimt  a  good  work  too  soon.     Life  is    overruled  by  Providence  to  promote  the  one  grand  object  of 
 
 sliort,  and  delays  are  dangerous.  Favourable  opportunities 
 must  therefore  be  seized,  and  especially  for  building  up  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 II.  Division  of  labour  will  (jreathj  accebrate  the  accomplishaierit 
 of  our  olijects.     And  here  we  may  observe,  that  the  diB'erent 
 507 
 
 building  up  the  spiritual  Jerusalem.  We  may  be  goldsmiths 
 or  apothecaries,  but  our  object  is  one,  and  in  our  ditierent  sec- 
 tions we  may  agree  to  accomplish  our  parts  of  the  whole,  en- 
 deavouring to  keep  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of 
 peace.* 
 
Nehcmidh  conlimieth  the  work. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  IV.,  V. 
 
 He  armeth  the  labourers. 
 
 T>UT  it  came  to  pass,  "that  when  Sanballat 
 -*-^  heard  that  we  builded  the  wall,  he  was 
 wroth,  and  took  great  indignation,  and  moclced 
 tile  Jews. 
 ■2  And  he  spalce  before  his  brethraii  and  the 
 army  of  Samaria,  and  said.  What  do  these 
 feeble  Jews?  will  they  f fortify  themselves? 
 will  they  sacrifice  ?  will  they  make  an  end  in  a 
 day?  will  they  revive  the  stones  out  of  the 
 heaps  of  the  rubbish  which  are  burned  ? 
 
 3  Now  '•Tobiah  the  Ammonite  ivas  by  him, 
 and  he  said.  Even  that  which  they  build,  if  a 
 fox  go  up,  he  shall  even  break  down  their 
 stone  wall. 
 
 4  '"'  Hear,  O  our  God  ;  for  we  are  f  despised  : 
 and  ''turn  their  reproach  upon  their  own  head, 
 and  give  them  for  a  prey  in  the  land  of  capti- 
 vity ; 
 
 3  And  '  cover  not  their  iniquity,  and  let  not 
 tlieir  sin  be  blotted  out  from  before  thee  :  for 
 tliey  have  provoked  thee  to  anger  before  the 
 builders. 
 
 (i  So  built  we  the  wall  ;  and  all  the  wall  was 
 joined  together  unto  the  half  thereof :  for  the 
 people  had  a  mind  to  work. 
 
 7  t  But  it  came  to  pass,  that  '  when  Sanbal- 
 lat, and  Tobiah,  and  the  Arabians,  and  the 
 Ammonites,  and  the  Ashdodites,  heard  that 
 the  walls  of  Jerusalem  f  were  made  up,  and 
 that  the  breaches  began  to  be  stopped,  then 
 they  were  very  wroth, 
 
 8  And  ^conspired  all  of  them  together  to 
 come  and  to  fight  against  Jerusalem,  and  f  to 
 hinder  it. 
 
 9  Nevertheless  ^  we  made  our  prayer  unto 
 our  God,  and  set  a  watch  against  them  day  and 
 night,  because  of  them. 
 
 10  And  Judah  said.  The  strength  of  the 
 bearers  of  burdens  is  decayed,  and  there  is 
 much  rubbish ;  so  that  we  are  not  able  to 
 build  the  wall. 
 
 11  And  our  adversaries  said.  They  shall  not 
 know,  neither  see,  till  we  come  in  the  midst 
 among  them,  and  slay  them,  and  cause  the 
 work  to  cease. 
 
 I'2  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  the  Jews 
 which  dwelt  by  them  came,  they  said  unto  us 
 ten  times,  ||  From  all  places  whence  ye  shall 
 return  unto  us  thei/  ivill  be  upon  you. 
 
 13  If  Therefore  set  I  fin  the  lower  places 
 behind  the  wall,  and  on  the  higher  places,  I 
 even  set   the  people  after  their  families  with 
 
 B.  C  +1.5. 
 ch.  2.  Ill, 
 
 theititelves. 
 
 .•Pa.  1!3  .1, 
 4. 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 d  Pa. 79.  12. 
 Prov.  3.  *1. 
 
 t  Ta.  GO-  27, 
 2S,  8i  109. 
 It,  15,  Jflr. 
 IS.  £3. 
 
 ^  Pa,  S3.  3, 
 
 1.  .'., 
 t  Hfb-  It 
 
 h  Pa.  511.  15. 
 
 II  Or,  T/.../ 
 fr„m  .,11 
 
 t  Heb./'OJ" 
 //.«  lower 
 poru  of  the 
 place,  ^c. 
 
 i  Num  H,P, 
 Peut.  I,  2!), 
 A  Dcu,IO.  17. 
 
 I  Hcb. 
 
 n  Ex.  U,  M, 
 i.=f.  Dcut.  1. 
 .*k>.  &  3.  S2, 
 8.  20.  4, 
 Josh.23.10 
 
 wpojioo  for 
 
 n  Ts.  5.  7. 
 
 6  r.cv,25,35, 
 ::6.  .37. 
 Deu.  15.7. 
 
 their  swords,  their  spears,  and  their  bows. 
 
 14  And  I  looked,  and  rose  up,  and  said  unto 
 the  nobles,  and  to  the  rulers,  and  to  the  rest 
 of  the  people,  '  Be  not  ye  afraid  of  them  :  re- 
 member the  Lord,  u-hich  is  'great  and  terrible, 
 and  '  fight  for  your  brethren,  your  son.s,  and 
 your  daughters,  your  wives,  and  your  bouses. 
 
 15  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  our  enemies 
 heard  that  it  was  known  unto  us,  "'and  God 
 had  brought  their  counsel  to  nought,  that  we 
 returned  all  of  us  to  the  wall,  every  one  unto 
 his  work. 
 
 16  And  it  came  to  pass  from  that  time  forth, 
 that  the  half  of  my  servants  wrought  in  the 
 work,  and  the  other  half  of  them  held  both  the 
 spears,  the  shields,  and  the  bows,  and  the  ha- 
 bergeons ;  and  the  rulers  were  behind  all  the 
 house  of  Judah. 
 
 17  They  which  builded  on  the  wall,  and  they 
 that  bare  burdens,  with  those  that  laded,  every 
 one  with  one  of  his  hands  wrought  in  the  work, 
 and  with  the  other  hand  held  a  weapon. 
 
 18  For  the  builders,  every  one  had  his  sword 
 girded  fby  his  side,  and  so  builded.  And  he 
 that  sounded  the  trumpet  was  by  me. 
 
 19  1  And  I  said  unto  the  nobles,  and  to  the 
 rulers,  and  to  the  rest  of  the  people.  The  work 
 is  great  and  large,  and  we  are  separated  upon 
 the  wall,  one  far  from  another. 
 
 20  In  what  place  therefore  ye  hear  the  sound 
 of  the  trumpet,  resort  ye  thither  unto  i\s  :  "our 
 God  shall  fight  for  ns. 
 
 21  So  we  laboured  in  the  work  :  and  half  of 
 them  held  the  spears  from  the  rising  of  the 
 morning  till  the  stars  appeared. 
 
 22  Likewise  at  the  same  time  said  I  unto  the 
 people,  Let  every  one  with  his  servant  lodge 
 within  Jerusalem,  that  in  the  night  they  may 
 be  a  guard  to  us,  and  labour  on  the  day. 
 
 23  So  neither  I,  nor  my  brethren,  nor  my 
 servants,  nor  the  men  of  the  guard  which  fol- 
 lowed me,  none  of  us  put  off  our  clothes, 
 II  saving  that  every  one  put  them  off  for  wash- 
 ing. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  77(6  Jews  complain  of  their  dfbt,  mortoage,  and  hmd- 
 a(;e.  6  Nthtrnia/t  rchuketti  tlie  vsurers,  and  cmtartli 
 them  to  ma/ie  a  covenant  of  rmtitution.  14  He  for - 
 bearith  his  own  allowance,  and  kccpeth  hosjiitality. 
 
 A  ND  there  was  a  great  "cry  of  the  people 
 ■^-^  and  of  their  wives  against  their  '' brethren 
 the  Jews. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  ^.  If  a  fox,  '  a  jackal.* — Hnr.,  Boothr.  Masou's  work 
 is  sometimci  derided  hy  the  Hindoos  in^tliese  terms,  'A  wall!  why  it 
 will  n-jt  keep  out  tl;e  j  ickals.' — Rob.  '  5.  Cover  not  t/ieir  iniquity — 
 this  is  not  a  mere  imprecation,  but  a  prophecy  of  what  would  be  the 
 case,  like  many  of  David's  Psalms. — Gill,  Put.  10.  Judufi,  several  of 
 the  men  of  Judah.  12.  The  Jews  w/iich  dwelt  by  them,  near  Samaria, 
 Arabia,  and  Ashdud,  and  had  learned  their  designs.  Ten  times, '  often  ;' 
 see  note  on  Gen.  .x.xxi.  7.  From  all  places,  ^c,  'from  all  places  where 
 they  dwell  they  will  advance  against  us.' — Boothr.,  so  the  Sept. 
 Its.  0//ier  half—tteld — spears — this  is  common  still  in  Palestine  ;  people 
 sowing  seed  are  often  seen  protected  by  armed  men,  lest  the  Arabs 
 should  rob  them  of  it. — Greeilf.   Habergeons,  '  coats  of  mail.*     I/.  And 
 
 with  the  other  hand  held  a  weapon — not  to  be  taken  strictly  and  literally, 
 for  they  could  not  then  have  worked,  but  they  were  ready  and  pre- 
 pared either  to  work  or  fight. — Gill.  23.  Every  one  put  t/iem  off  for 
 trashing,  '  every  one  went  with  his  weapon  for  water,'  marg,  '  Every 
 one  with  his  weapon  (and)  water,' — Nold. ,-  that  is,  both  were  at  his 
 bolster,  ready  if  wanted,  (see  l  Sam.  xxvi.  11,  12.)— Gilt.  Boolhrotid 
 supplies  the  Syriuc  reading,  '  None  of  us  put  off  our  clothes  for  a  fiill 
 month.'  Clarhe  prefers  the  reading  of  De  Rossi's  HISS.,  '  we  did  not 
 lay  aside  our  garments  but  in  order  to  send  them  to  tfie  washing,'  nn^TIJQ 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  1.  .i  great  cry,  of  the  poor,  against  the  rich,  who  op. 
 pressed  them  by  usury. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV I.  The  conspiracy  of  Sanballat 
 
 xnd  his  companions  is  a  specimen  of  the  schcnns  employed  by  tlte 
 restless  adrirsaries  of  the  church  of  God.  In  all  parts  of  the 
 world,  and  at  all  times,  tliey  have  shewn  the  same  spirit. 
 The  followers  of  the  true  God  have  ever  been  the  objects  of 
 hatred  by  the  men  of  the  world. 
 
 II.  The  contempt  shewn  at  their  efforts  to  rebuild  Jerusalem  may 
 remind  us  of  the  mockiry  and  scorn'to  wliich  t/ie  faitliful  labourers 
 of  (Sod  tiave  been  ex-posed  in  proseeutinri  their  qreat  work.  But 
 while  the  enemy  mock,  the  work  goes  on.  Infidels  have  found 
 ridicule  is  too  weak  a  weapon  to  asstiil  trtUh. 
 jO.S 
 
 III.  The  malii;na7it  desir;ns  of  these  opponents  of  the  Jews  may 
 mark  the  yradation  of  opposition  to  the  cause  of  God  in  the  world. 
 A  furious  phrensy  has  often  characterized  the  last  effort  era- 
 ployed  to  ciieck  its  progress  on  any  great  occasion.  Great 
 movements  liave  been  made,  and  great  tliinqs  threatened,  but 
 the  counsel  of  the  crafty  and  ungodly  has  tailed;  and  so  shall 
 it  ever  be  with  those  who  meditate  designs  against  Him  whose 
 '  counsel  shall  stand,  and  he  will  do  ail  his  pleasure.'  '  He 
 that  sitteth  in  the  lieavens  sliall  laugh,  the  Lord  shall  Ir.ive 
 them  in  derision.' 
 
The  complaints  of  the  Jews. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  V. 
 
 Nehemiah's  hospitality. 
 
 •1  Fur  tlicre  were  that  said,  We,  our  sons,  and 
 our  daughters,  are  many  :  therefore  we  take 
 up  com  for  them,  that  we  may  eat,  and  Hve. 
 
 3  Some  also  there  were  that  said,  We  have 
 mortgaged  our  lands,  vineyards,  and  houses, 
 that  we  might  buy  corn,  because  of  the  dearth. 
 
 4  There  wore  also  that  said.  We  have  bor- 
 rowed money  for  the  kiiig's  tribute,  and  that 
 tipou  our  lands  and  vineyards. 
 
 5  Yet  now  '^  our  flesh  is  as  the  flesh  of  our 
 brethren,  our  children  as  their  children  :  and, 
 lo,  we  ^  bring  into  bondage  our  sons  and  our 
 daugliters  to  be  servants,  and  sotne  of  our 
 daugliters  are  brought  unto  bondage  alreadt/ : 
 neither  is  it  in  our  power  to  redeem  them;  for 
 other  men  have  our  lands  and  vineyards. 
 
 (5  H  And  I  was  very  angry  when  I  heard  their 
 cry  and  these  words. 
 
 7  Then  ^  I  consulted  with  myself,  and  I  re- 
 l)u!;ed  the  nobles,  and  the  rulers,  and  said 
 unto  them,  °  Ye  exact  usury,  every  one  of  his 
 brother.  And  I  set  a  great  assembly  against 
 them. 
 
 8  And  I  said  unto  them.  We  after  our  ability 
 have  'redeemed  our  brethren  the  Jews,  which 
 were  sold  unto  the  heathen  ;  and  will  ye  even 
 sell  your  brethren?  or  shall  they  be  sold  unto 
 us?  Then  held  they  their  peace,  and  found 
 nothing  to  answer. 
 
 9  Also  I  said,  It  is  not  good  that  ye  do  : 
 ought  ye  not  to  walk  ^  in  the  fear  of  our  God 
 •'  because  of  the  reproach  of  the  heathen  our 
 enemies? 
 
 10  I  likewise,  arid  my  brethren,  and  my  ser- 
 vants, might  exact  of  them  money  and  corn  :  I 
 pray  you,  let  us  leave  oft'  this  usury. 
 
 1 1  Restore,  I  pray  you,  to  them,  even  this 
 day,  their  lands,  their  vineyards,  their  oUveyards, 
 and  their  houses,  also  the  hundredth  part  of 
 the  money,  and  of  the  corn,  the  wine,  and  the 
 oil,  that  ye  exact  of  them. 
 
 12  Then  said  they.  We  will  restore  them, 
 and  will  require  nothing  of  tbeni  ;  so  will  we 
 do  as  thou  sayest.  Then  I  called  the  priests, 
 '  and  took  an  oath  of  them,  that  they  should 
 
 il  Ex.  81.  7. 
 Lev.  £5.  39. 
 
 (  Heb.  my 
 lie'ttt  c'"i- 
 iuited  i'ttite 
 
 Lev.  25.  3i;. 
 Ezek.2a.l2. 
 
 /  Lev.  25.4 
 
 ff  Lev.25.36. 
 
 h  2  Sn.m.  12. 
 I-l.  Rom.  2. 
 24.  1  Pet.  2. 
 
 .Ezra  10. 5. 
 Jer.  34.8,  9. 
 
 B   C.  445. 
 
 ft  Mnt   10.14. 
 Acts  l:i.  51. 
 
 &  ly,  6. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 emt'ttt.  or, 
 
 n  1  Cor.  9.4, 
 
 o2  Cor.  11. 
 9.  8c  12.  13. 
 p  ver.  9. 
 
 a  2. Sam,  fl.7 
 IKio,  IS  19. 
 
 do  according  to  this  promise. 
 
 13  Also  'I  shook  my  lap,  and  said.  So  God 
 shake  out  every  man  from  his  house,  and  from 
 his  labour,  that  performeth  not  this  promise, 
 even  thus  be  he  shaken  out,  and  f  emptied. 
 And  all  the  congregation  said,  Amen,  and 
 praised  the  Lord.  '  And  the  people  did  ac- 
 cording to  this  promise. 
 
 14  If  Moreover  from  the  time  that  I  was 
 appointed  to  be  their  governor  in  the  land 
 of  Judali,  from  the  twentieth  year  "'even 
 unto  the  two  and  thirtieth  year  of  Artaxerxes 
 the  king,  that  is,  twelve  years,  I  and  my 
 brethren  have  not  °  eaten  the  bread  of  the  go- 
 vernor. 
 
 15  But  the  former  governors  that  had  been 
 before  me  were  chargeable  unto  tlie  people, 
 and  had  taken  of  them  bread  and  wine,  beside 
 forty  shekels  of  silver  ;  yea,  even  their  servants 
 bare  rule  over  the  people  :  but  °  so  did  not  I, 
 because  of  the  'fear  of  God. 
 
 IG  Yea,  also  I  continued  in  the  work  of  this 
 wall,  neither  bought  we  any  land  :  and  all 
 my  servants  were  gathered  thither  unto  the 
 work. 
 
 17  Moreover  there  were  ''at  my  table  an 
 hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Jews  and  rulers,  be- 
 side those  that  came  unto  us  from  among  tlie 
 heathen  that  are  about  us. 
 
 18  Now  that  'whicli  was  prepared  for  me 
 daily  icas  one  ox  and  six  choice  sheep  ;  also 
 fowls  were  prepared  for  me,  and  once  in  ten 
 days  store  of  all  sorts  of  wine  :  yet  for  all  this 
 'required  not  I  the  bread  of  the  governor, 
 because  the  bondage  was  heavy  upon  this 
 people. 
 
 19  '  Think  upon  me,  my  God,  for  good,  ac- 
 cording to  all  that  I  have  done  for  this  people. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  Sanhallat  practiseth  by  craft,  by  i-umours,  by  hired 
 prophecies,  to  terrify  Nehemiah.  15  The  work  is 
 Jinished  to  the  terror  of  the  enanitfS,  17  Secret  inteU 
 Uyence  passeth  between  the  enemies  and  the  nobles  of 
 Jiulah. 
 
 2,  Ta/ce  vp  corn,  at  an  exorbitant  price.  3.  Dearth,  probably  ccca- 
 sioned  by  tbeir  enemies  intercepting  the  provisions.  Net  that  re- 
 fciTcd  to  Hag.  i.  10,  11,  which  was  years  before,  and  for  wliich  the 
 reason  did  not  now  exist. — Gill.  4.  For  the  king's  trifwte,  in  token  or 
 subjection  to  the  Persian  king. — A.  Clarke.  5.  As  the  ftesh  of  our 
 brethren,  we  are  of  the  same  nation,  stock,  and  religion.  As  their 
 children,  having  claim  to  the  same  privileges.  Brought  into  bondage, 
 sold  to  be  servanis,  as  they  might  in  case  of  the  poverty  of  parents, 
 (Exod.  xxi.  ".)  7.  The  iiobles  and  the  rulers,  who  had  monopolized  the 
 corn.  Ye  exact  usury,  contrary  to  God's  law,  (Exod.  xxii.  25.) — 
 Gill,  Set  a  great  assembli/,  resolved  to  shame  them  out  of  this  scan- 
 dalous proceeding  in  an  open  assembly  of  magistrates  and  people.— 
 Pi/le.  8.  We,  alluding  to  himself,  and  probably  also  to  Zerubbabel, 
 Kzia,  and  others.  Sold  unto  the  heathen,  such  who  had  sold  them- 
 selves to  particular  persons  in  Babylon,  who,  without  being  redeemed, 
 could  not  take  the  advantage  of  the  liberty  granted  by  Cyrus  and  his 
 successnrs.  9.  Jn  the  fear  of  our  God, in  reverence  ofhim  andhis  law. 
 10.  Might  exact,  in  consideration  of  services  done.        11.  Restore,  §c.. 
 
 made  over  for  corn,  or  borrowed  money. — Gill.  The  hundredth  part, 
 'some.' — Houb.,  Buothr.  The  monthly  interest,  amounting  to  about 
 12  per  cent,  per  annum:  so  some  suppose.— W^'(7. ,-  see  Gill  and  Pat. 
 It  is  worthy  of  remaik,  that  on  like  occasions  money  is  now  bcrrowert 
 in  Syria  in  the  same  way,  at  an  interest  uf  12,  20,  and  even  30  per 
 cent. — So  Volnt-y.  13.  1  shook  viy  lap — when  men  or  women  curse 
 each  other,  they  shake  the  lap,  i.  e.,  their  cloth  or  rohe,  and  say,  *  It 
 shall  be  so  with  thee.* — Rob.  This  was  a  significant  sign,  and  was 
 common  with  the  ancientsj  the  Romans  used  it.— Orient.  Lit.,  645. 
 \b.  Bread  and  ivine,  beside  forty  shekels,  'for  bread  and  wine  forty 
 shekels.* — Houh.  Forty  shekels  in  addition  to  bread  and  wine,  to 
 make  provision  for  other  things. — Pat.  So  did  not  I — he  could  not 
 allow  himself  to  oppress  the  poor. — Gill.  18.  Required  not  I  the  bread 
 of  (he  governor,  '  the  salary  of  the  governor,'  He  lived  from  his  own 
 resources.  The  bondage — tribute  of  the  king  of  Persia,  and  labour  and 
 expense  in  biiiMing  the  walls  of  the  city.  19-  Think  upon  me,  my 
 God — he  expected  nothing  from  the  people,  but  looked  for  reward  from 
 on  high.— So  Gill. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  We  have  here,  I.  The  com- 
 plaints which  the  people  made  to  Nehemiah.  Here,  as  Henry  ob- 
 serves, '  were  the  tears  of  the  oppressed.*  Hard  times  and  bard 
 Iiearts  made  the  poor  miserable  ;  and  it  was  an  aggravation  of 
 the  sin  of  these  oppressini^  Jews,  that  they  were  themselves 
 so  lately  delivered  out  of  the  house  of  bondage,  which  obliged 
 them,  in  gratitude,  to  undo  the  heavy  burden,  (Isa.  Iviii.  6. ) 
 
 II,  The  ijidiy nation  of  Nehemiah  at  the  oppressors.  It  well 
 becomes  rulers  to  shew  themselves  an^ry  at  sin,  that  by  the 
 anger  itself  they  may  be  excited  to  iheir  duty,  and  by  the  ex- 
 pressions of  it  others  may  be  deterred  from  ill.  He  fairly 
 reasoned  the  case  with  them,  and  shewed  them  the  evil  of 
 what  they  did, — that  it  was  a  great  sin  to  oppress  the  poor, 
 and  a  great  scandal  and  reproach  to  their  profession.  Nothing 
 exposes  religion  more  to  the  reproach  of  its  enemies  than  the 
 509 
 
 worldliness  and  hard-heartedness  of  the  professors  of  it. 
 
 III.  The  reform  which  Nehemiah  effected.  He  laid  the  op- 
 pressors under  all  possible  obligations  to  do  what  he  pressed 
 them  to,  and  they  promised  with  all  possible  expressions  of 
 joy  and  thankfulness.  They  also  did  according  to  this  pro- 
 mise. Good  promises  are  good  things,  but  good  performances 
 are  all  in  all. 
 
 IV.  The  good  e.rample  which  Nehemiah  set.  He  had  an  awe 
 of  God's  majesty,  and  a  dread  of  his  wrath,  and  that  restrained 
 him  from  oppressing  the  people.  Those  that  truly  fear  God 
 will  not  dare  to  do  anything  cruel  or  unjust.  He  depended 
 upon  God  only  to  make  up  to  him  what  he  had  lost  and  laid 
 out  for  his  honour  ;  and  he  reckoned  the  favour  of  God  reward 
 enough. 
 
Snulxillnl,  by  ciaft,  opposeth  the  ivork.       NEHEMIAH,  VI.,  VII. 
 
 The  trull  is  finished. 
 
 TVl  OW  it  came  to  pass,  '  when  Sanballat,  and 
 -'- '  Tobiah,  and  ||  Gesliem  tlie  Arabian,  and 
 the  rest  of  our  enemies,  heard  that  I  had 
 bnilded  the  wall,  and  that  there  was  no  breach 
 left  therein  ;  (''  tbougli  at  that  time  I  had  not 
 set  np  the  doors  upon  the  gates  ;) 
 
 2  That  Sanballat  and  Geshem  *■  sent  unto 
 me,  saying.  Come,  let  us  meet  togetlier  in 
 some  one  of  the  villages  in  the  plain  of  •^  Ono. 
 But  they  °  thought  to  do  me  mi.schief. 
 
 3  And  I  sent  messengers  unto  them,  saying, 
 1  am  doing  a  great  work,  so  tliat  1  cannot 
 come  down :  why  sliould  the  work  cease, 
 wliilst  I  leave  it,  and  come  down  to  you  y 
 
 4  Yet  they  sent  unto  me  four  times  after  this 
 sort ;  and  I  answered  them  after  the  same 
 manner. 
 
 b  Tlien  sent  Sanballat  his  servant  unto  me  in 
 like  manner  the  tilth  time  with  an  open  letter 
 in  his  hand  ; 
 
 (i  Wherein  leas  written.  It  is  reported  among 
 the  heathen,  and  ||Gashmu  saith  it,  'that  thou 
 and  the  Jews  tliiuk  (o  rebel  :  for  wliich  cause 
 thou  buildest  the  wall,  tliat  thou  mayest  bo 
 their  king,  according  to  these  words. 
 
 7  And  thou  hast  also  appointed  prophets  to 
 preach  of  thee  at  .lerusalem,  saying.  There  is 
 a  king  in  Judah  :  and  now  shall  it  be  reported 
 to  the  king  according  to  these  words.  Come 
 now  tlierefore,  and  let  us  take  counsel  toge- 
 ther. 
 
 8  Then  I  sent  unto  him,  saying.  There  are 
 no  such  things  done  as  thou  sayest,  but  thou 
 feignest  them  out  of  thine  own  heart. 
 
 9  For  they  all  made  us  afraid,  saying.  Their 
 hands  shall  be  weakened  from  the  work,  tliat 
 it  be  not  done.  Now  therefore,  O  God. 
 strengthen  my  hands. 
 
 10  Afterward  I  came  unto  the  house  of  Slie- 
 maiah  the  son  of  Delaiah  the  son  of  Meheta- 
 beel,  who  was  shut  up  ;  and  he  .said.  Let  us 
 meet  together  in  the  house  of  God,  within  the 
 temple,  and  let  us  shut  the  doors  of  the  tem- 
 ple :  for  they  will  come  to  slay  thee  ;  yea,  in 
 the  night  will  they  come  to  slay  thee. 
 
 1 1  And  I  said.  Should  such  a  man  as  I  flee? 
 and  who  is  there,  that,  being  as  I  am,  would 
 go  into  the  temple  to  save  his  life  ?  I  will  not 
 go  in. 
 
 1 2  And,  !o,  I  perceived  that  God  had  not 
 sent  him  ;  but  that  *he  pronounced  this  pro- 
 phecy against  me  :  for  Tobiah  and  Sanballat 
 had  hired  him. 
 
 II  Ov,Grihem 
 ver.  I. 
 /ell.  2.  IP. 
 
 n  ch    2.  10, 
 
 19.  &  +.  1,7 
 II  Or,  OiiM. 
 
 e  Prov.  Sfl. 
 
 d  \  Clir.H.I3 
 ell.  II  31). 
 <•  Ps.  37,  12, 
 
 t  H.'l>, 
 
 t  Ilph    hrnnd 
 
 13  Therefore  was  he  hired,  that  I  should  be 
 afraid,  and  do  so,  and  sin,  and  that  they  might 
 have  matter  for  an  evil  report,  that  they  might 
 reproach  me. 
 
 14  I- My  God,  think  thou  upon  Tobiah  and 
 Sanballat  according  to  these  their  works,  and 
 on  the  'prophetess  Noadiah,  and  the  rest  of 
 the  prophet.s,  that  would  have  put  me  in  fear. 
 
 1 5  If  So  the  wall  was  finished  in  the  twenty 
 and  fifth  day  of  the  month  Elul,  in  fifty  and 
 two  days. 
 
 16  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  '  when  all  onr 
 enemies  heard  thereof,  and  all  the  heathen 
 that  were  about  us  saw  these  things,  they  \\ere 
 much  cast  down  in  their  own  eyes  :  for  '  tbey 
 perceived  that  this  work  was  wrought  of  our 
 God. 
 
 17  1  Moreover  ill  those  days  the  nobles  of 
 Judah  fsentniaiiy  letters  unto  Tobiah,  and 
 the  letters  of  Tobiah  came  imto  them. 
 
 18  For  there  ?iTremaiiy  in  Judah  sworn  unto 
 him,  because  he  leas  the  son  in  law  of  Sheclin- 
 niah  the  son  of  Arab  ;  and  his  sou  Juhaiian  had 
 taken  the  daughter  of  Meshullam  the  sou  oi 
 Berecliiali. 
 
 19  Also  they  reported  his  good  deeds  before 
 me,  and  uttered  my  ||  words  to  him.  And  To- 
 biah sent  letters  to  put  me  in  fear. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 I  Nehemiah  cnvimittcth  the  charrje  nf  Jtrusalvm  to  Ha- 
 nani  iimt  Hannmah,  5  A  repister  of  the  geneahvn/ 
 of  than  which  came  at  thv  Jirst  out  of  Babylon,  U  of 
 the  prnpl,-,  :\\)  nfthe  prifsfs,  4:^  of  the  Levitts,  4ti  of 
 (he  Net/iinims,  57  of  Solomon's  siTvants,  SH  atid  of 
 the  priests  which  covld  not  find  their  pedviree.  66 
 The  whole  intmher  of  them,  with  their  snbstance, 
 70  Thvir  oblations. 
 
 IVrOW  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  wall  was 
 -^^  huilt,  and  I  had  "set  up  the  doors,  and  the 
 porters  and  the  singers  and  the  Levites  were 
 appointed, 
 
 2  That  I  gave  my  brother  Hanani,  and  Ha- 
 naniali  the  ruler  **of  the  palace,  charge  over 
 Jerusalem  :  for  he  iras  a  faithful  man,  and 
 *^  feared  God  above  many. 
 
 3  And  I  said  unto  them,  Let  not  the  gates  of 
 Jerusalem  be  opened  until  the  sun  be  hot; 
 and  while  they  stand  by,  let  them  shut  the 
 doors,  and  bar  l/ipm  :  and  appoint  watches  of 
 the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  every  one  in  his 
 watch,  and  every  one  to  be  over  against  his 
 house. 
 
 4  Now  the  city  ivas  f large  ar)d  great:  bnt 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  2.  In  some  one  of  the  viUnges,  in  Cephirim,  the  name  of 
 a  vilace  ;  perhaps  Cephirah,  in  the  trihe  of  Benjamin,  fJnsh.  xviii.  26.) 
 —Jnrehi,  Gill,  so  lioalhr.  Ono.  in  the  same  tribe.  (1  Chron.  viii.  12.) 
 5.  An  open  fetter,  that  the  accusation  might  be  knnwn  to  every  one 
 that  wouM  read  it.— Gill.  Eastern  letters  are  carefully  rolled  up.  sealed, 
 and  put  into  a  bag  or  purse,  so  that  this  was  intended  as  an  insult, 
 open  letters  being  sent  only  to  inferiors.— So  Ni*-huhr,  Hamvai/,  Lndy 
 Wortley  Montague,  Paeocke,  and  Chardin,  in  their  Trnffls  and  Notes. 
 9.  Ninv,  therefore,  strengthen,  ^r.,  '  hut  this  strenE:thened  my  hand 
 the  more ;'  their  opposition  oniy  urged  him  forward  to  complete  the  de- 
 fence.— So  Boothr.  10.  Shut  up,  as  a  recluse  that  pretended  to  pecu- 
 liar sanctity  ;  so  some.— H^(7.  13.  That  I  shnu/d  be  afruid,  nnd  do  so, 
 which  would  have  left  the  walls  without  the  pmtection'of  the  governor, 
 disheartened  the  people,  and  appeared  as  if  something  wa*  wrong  in 
 Nehcmiaii.—Stuckh.,  Gill.     15.  In  fifty  and  twodtiys—theTc  were  many 
 
 workmen  ;  the  walls  only  needed  repairing,  and  the  breaches  fillinpr  up; 
 many  I'ld  materials  were  at  band,  and  great  zeni  and  dilicence  was 
 shewn  by  the  pcple.  i6.  Wrought  of  onr  God — his  special  Providence 
 and    blessing  attending  it.  —  Gill.  18.  Sworn  itnto  him,   '  bound   hy 
 
 nath  to  accomplish  his  purposes.'  Son  in  low  of  Shechtiniah,  §t.,  of  a 
 family  that  came  with  Zerubbabcl,  (Ezra,  ii.  5.)  Meshullam,  a  very 
 eminent  person,  concerned  in  building  the  wall,  (chap.  iil.  4,  30.) 
 10  Reported  his  good  rffcrfi— recommended  liim  as  a  very  worthy  man. 
 — G(7/. 
 
 Chap.  Vll.  —  2.  Hanani,  who  first  told  him  of  the  sad  state  of  Jeru- 
 salem, (chap,  i.  2.)  Charge  ovei'  Jerusalem — it  is  supposed  that  now 
 Nehemiah  returned  to  Persia,  as  he  had  promised,  (chap.  ii.  fi.) 
 3.  Until  the  sun  be  /tut,  'till  after  sunrise,*  and  they  might  see  clearly 
 around  them  if  there  were  any  danger. — Pat.  While  they  stand  ht/ — 
 persons  appointed  to  overlook  the  servants.        4.  Was  targe — fifty  fiir- 
 
 Reflections  on  Cfiat.  VI.  —  I.  The  church  of  God  is 
 never  at  rest  from  its  enemies.  What  they  cannot  do  Iiy  force, 
 they  will  try  to  do  by  fraud.  But  the  craft  and  subtlety  both 
 of  the  devil,  and  man  instigated  by  him.  shall  be  tirougbt  to 
 nought,  and  by  the  good  providence  of  God  dispersed,  so  that 
 tliey  who  confide  in  him  as  their  defence  shall  be  hurt  by  no 
 perseculion. 
 510 
 
 IT.  Integrity  in  our  conduct  is  a  shield  which  we  may  confidenthj 
 hold  out  ayninst  (he  darts  of  our  ctiemies.  An  upright  man  has 
 nothing;  to  fear.  Let  all  oiir  doings  be  such  as  that  tbey  who 
 are  of  the  contrary  part  may  be  ashamed,  having  no  evil  thing 
 justly  to  say  of  us.  The  prayer  of  David  should  be  that  of 
 pvery  good  man — '  Let  integrity  and  uprightness  preserve 
 me.' 
 
A  register  of  the  gcnealoiiij  of 
 
 NEHEMIAIl,  VII. 
 
 those  which  cruiir  fust  from  Buhi/lon. 
 
 tlie  people  were  few  therein,  and  the  houses 
 icere  not  builded. 
 
 5  1  And  my  God  put  into  mine  heart  to  ga- 
 ther together  the  nobles,  and  tlie  rulers,  and 
 the  people,  that  they  might  be  reckoned  by 
 genealogy.  And  I  loimd  a  register  of  the 
 genealogy  of  them  which  came  up  at  the  first, 
 ami  found  written  therein, 
 
 G  •'  These  are  the  children  of  the  province, 
 that  went  up  out  of  the  captivity,  of  those  that 
 had  been  carried  away,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar 
 the  king  of  Babylon  had  carried  away,  and 
 came  again  to  Jerusalem  and  to  Judah,  every 
 one  unto  his  city  ; 
 
 7  Who  came  with  Zerubbabel,  Jeshua,  Ne- 
 heniiah,  ||  Azariah,  Raamiah,  Nahamani,  Mor- 
 decai,  Bilshan,  Mispereth,  Bigvai,  Nehnm, 
 Baanah.  The  number,  I  say,  of  the  men  of 
 the  people  of  Israel  loas  this  ; 
 
 8  The  children  of  Parosh,  two  thousand  an 
 lunidred  seventy  and  two. 
 
 i)  The  children  of  Shephatiah,  three  hundred 
 seventy  and  two. 
 
 10  The  children  of  Arab,  six  hundred  fifty 
 and  two. 
 
 1 1  The  children  of  Pahath-moab,  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  .Teshua  and  Joab,  two  thousand  and 
 eight  hundred  and  eighteen. 
 
 I -2  The  children  of  Elam,  a  thousand  two 
 lunidred  fifty  and  four. 
 
 13  The  children  of  Zattn,  eight  hundred  forty 
 and  five. 
 
 1  4  The  children  of  Zaccai,  seven  hundred  and 
 threescore. 
 
 I.)  The  children  of  II  Binnui,  six  hundred  forty 
 and  eight. 
 
 1 0  The  children  of  Bebai,  six  hundred  twenty 
 and  eight. 
 
 1 7  The  children  of  Azgad,  two  thousand 
 three  hundred  twenty  and  two. 
 
 18  The  children  of  Adonikam,  six  hundred 
 lln'eescore  and  seven. 
 
 19  The  children  of  Bigvai,  two  thousand 
 tlireescore  and  seven. 
 
 •20  The  children  of  Adin,  six  hundred  fifty 
 and  five. 
 
 21  The  children  of  Ater  of  Hezekiah,  ninety 
 and  eight. 
 
 •22  The  children  of  Hashum,  three  hundred 
 twenty  and  eight. 
 
 '23  The  children  of  Bezai,  three  hundred 
 twenty  and  four. 
 
 '24  The  children  of  jj  Hari|>li,  an  hundred  and 
 twelve. 
 
 '2.5  The  children  of  ||  Gibeon,  ninety  and 
 five. 
 
 21)  The  men  of  Beth-lehem  and  Netophah, 
 an  hundred  fourscore  and  eight. 
 
 27  The  men  of  Anathoth,  an  hundred  twenty 
 and  eight. 
 
 28  The  men  of  ||  Beth-azmaveth,  forty  and 
 two. 
 
 29  The  men  of  ||  Kirjath-jearim,  Chephirah, 
 and  Reeroth,  seven  hundred  forty  and  three. 
 
 .30  The  men  of  Ramah  and  Gaba,  six  hun- 
 dred twenty  and  one. 
 31   The  men   of   Michmas,  an  hundred  and 
 
 II  Or,  Sent 
 ah  .  See 
 Ezra  S.  2. 
 
 II  Or,  Ban, 
 
 II  Or,  J„Ta 
 II  Or.CiWnr 
 
 I  Or,  Azma- 
 
 I  Oi.  ir.r- 
 ,-.,«-a,im. 
 
 a.  c. 
 oir.  fj:^^i. 
 
 II  Or,  Hoda- 
 viah, 
 
 Ezra  2.  40. 
 or,  Jiiilnli, 
 Kzra  3.  y. 
 
 II  Or,  Siol„i 
 II  Or,  Sh<im 
 
 II  Or,  .Vephu 
 
 twenty  and  two. 
 
 32  Tlie  men  of  Beth-el  and  Ai,  an  hundred 
 twenty  and  three. 
 
 33  The  men  of  the  other  Nebo,  fifty  and  two. 
 
 34  The  children  of  the  other  "  Elam,  a  thou- 
 sand two  hundred  fifty  and  four. 
 
 35  The  children  of  Harim,  three  hundred  and 
 twenty. 
 
 36  The  children  of  Jericho,  three  hundred 
 forty  and  five. 
 
 37  The  children  of  Lod,  Hadid,  and  Ono, 
 seven  hundred  twenty  and  one. 
 
 :^8  The  children  of  Senaah,  three  thousand 
 nine  hundred  and  thirty. 
 
 39  K  The  priests  :  the  cliildren  of  ''  Jedaiah, 
 of  the  house  of  Jeshua,  nine  hundred  seventy 
 and  three. 
 
 40  The  children  of  ^  Immer,  a  thousand  fifty 
 and  two. 
 
 41  The  children  of  ''  Pashur,  a  thousand  two 
 hundred  forty  and  seven. 
 
 42  The  children  of  '  Harim,  a  thousand  and 
 seventeen. 
 
 43  t  The  Levites :  the  children  of  Jeshua, 
 ;if  Kadmiel,  and  of  the  children  of  ||  Hodevah, 
 seventy  and  four. 
 
 44  t  The  singers  :  the  children  of  Asaph,  an 
 hundred  forty  and  eight. 
 
 45  1  The  porters  :  the  children  of  Shallum, 
 the  children  of  Ater,  the  children  of  Tahnon, 
 the  children  of  Akkub,  the  children  of  Hatita, 
 the  children  of  Shobai,  an  hundred  thirty  and 
 eight. 
 
 46  t  The  Nethinims  :  the  children  of  Ziha, 
 the  children  of  Hashupha,  the  children  of 
 Tabbaoth, 
 
 47  The  children  of  Keros,  the  children  of 
 II  Sia,  the  children  of  Padon, 
 
 48  The  children  of  Lebana,  the  children  of 
 Hagaba,  the  children  of  ||  Shalmai, 
 
 49  The  children  of  Hanan,  tlie  children  of 
 Giddel,  the  children  of  Gahar, 
 
 50  The  children  of  Reaiah,  the  children  of 
 Rezin,  the  children  of  Nekoda, 
 
 51  The  children  of  Gazzam,  the  children  of 
 Uzza,  the  children  of  Phaseah, 
 
 52  The  children  of  Besai,  the  children  of 
 Meuiiim,  the  children  of  ||  Nephishesim, 
 
 53  The  children  of  Bakbuk,  the  children  of 
 Hakupha,  the  children  of  Harhur, 
 
 54  The  children  of  ||  Bazlith,  the  children  of 
 Mehida,  the  children  of  Harsha, 
 
 55  The  children  of  Barkos,  the  children  of 
 Sisera,  the  children  of  Tamah, 
 
 56  The  children  of  Neziah,  the  children  of 
 Hatipha. 
 
 57  t  The  children  of  Solomon's  servants  :  the 
 children  of  Sotai,  the  children  of  Sophereth, 
 the  children  of  ||  Perido. 
 
 58  The  children  of  Jaala,  the  children  of 
 Darkon,  the  children  of  Giddel, 
 
 59  The  children  of  Shephatiah,  the  children 
 of  Hattil,  the  children  of  Pochereth  of  Zebaini, 
 the  children  of  ||  Amon. 
 
 60  All  the  Nethinims,  and  the  children  of 
 Solomon's  servants,  were  three  hundred  ninety 
 and  two. 
 
 longs,  s'wmWcs.—Hecnfo'us,  vide  Fusebius.  Thirty-three  furlongs.— 
 Jiift.  The  people  were  fen — many  of  the  42,360  who  came  up  with  Ze 
 rubbabel,  and  more  wilh  Ezra,  had  settled  about  the  country, — Gilt; 
 besides,  the  city  in  its  better  days  had  500,000  population. — Sitt,  5.  A 
 511 
 
 regintet — Ezra,  ii.  I ;  from  this  verse  to  "3  is  in  snbstance  the  same  as 
 Ezra,  ii. — Henry.  6.  These  are  tlie  oltilriren,  fl'C. — this  is  the  old  re 
 gister  of  Ezra,' (chap,  ii.,)  made  by  Zerubbabel,  with  additions  and 
 alterations  by  Nehemiah. — Priil. 
 
The  whole  mimbtr  of  the  people. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  VIII. 
 
 The  re<uli)i(j  of  the  line. 
 
 61  '  And  these  were  they  which  went  up 
 also  from  Tel-melah,  Tel-haresha,  Cherub, 
 II  Addon,  and  Iinnier :  but  they  could  not 
 shew  their  father's  house,  nor  their  ||  seed, 
 whether  thoy  ncrr  of  Israel. 
 
 6-2  Tlie  cliildveu  of  Delaiah,  the  children  of 
 Tobiah,  the  children  of  Nekoda,  six  hundred 
 forty  and  two. 
 
 63  IF  And  of  the  priests  :  the  children  of  Ha- 
 baiah,  the  children  of  Koz,  the  children  of 
 Barzillai,  which  took  07ie  of  the  daughters  of 
 Barzillai  the  Gileadite  to  wife,  and  was  called 
 after  their  name. 
 
 64  These  sought  their  register  among  those 
 that  were  reckoned  by  genealogy,  but  it  was 
 not  found  :  therefore  were  they,  as  polluted, 
 put  from  the  priesthood. 
 
 fij  And  II  the  Tirshatha  said  unto  them,  that 
 they  should  not  eat  of  the  most  lioly  things, 
 till  there  stood  vp  a  priest  with  Urim  and 
 Thummim. 
 
 66  1  The  whole  congregation  together  was 
 forty  and  two  thousand  three  hundred  and 
 threescore, 
 
 67  Beside  their  manservants  and  their  maid- 
 servants, of  whom  there  were  seven  thousand 
 three  hundred  thirty  and  seven  :  and  they  had 
 two  hundred  forty  and  Ave  singing  men  and 
 singing  women. 
 
 68  Their  horses,  seven  hundred  thirty  and 
 six  :   their  mules,  two  hundred  forty  and  five  : 
 
 69  Their  camels,  four  hundred  thirty  and 
 five  :  six  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty 
 asses. 
 
 70  f  And  t  some  of  tlie  chief  of  the  fathers 
 gave  unto  the  work.  '  The  Tirshatha  gave  to 
 the  treasure  a  tliousand  drams  of  gold,  fifty 
 basons,  five  hundred  and  thirty  priests'  gar- 
 ments. 
 
 71  And  some  of  the  chief  of  the  fathers  gave 
 to  the  treasure  of  the  work  "  twenty  thousand 
 drams  of  gold,  and  two  thousand  and  two  hun- 
 dred pound  of  silver. 
 
 72  And  that  which  the  rest  of  the  people 
 gave  teas  twenty  thousand  drams  of  gold,  and 
 two  thousand  pound  of  silver,  and  threescore 
 and  seven  priests'  garments. 
 
 7.3  So  the  priests,  and  the  Levites,  and  the 
 porters,  and  the  singers,  and  soine  of  the 
 people,  and  the  Nethinims,  and  all  Israel, 
 dwelt  in  their  cities  ;  "and  when  the  seventh 
 month  came,  the  cliildren  of  Israel  were  in 
 their  cities. 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  536. 
 
 4-  Ezra  2.  .Ml 
 II  Or,  .i'ldmi 
 
 II  Or,  f'f'fi- 
 
 il  Or.  f'irt 
 ell.  S  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  t'OTl. 
 I  cli.  8,  9 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  415. 
 
 «  EiraS,  1. 
 I  E.d.  9. S3, 
 
 6  ch.  3.  26. 
 
 c  Ezra  7.  6. 
 
 t  Ilrb.  fnn 
 tl,e  hghl. 
 
 \  Hob.  (oir^r 
 of  teood. 
 
 /  Judg.  3  211 
 
 /.  Lam.  3,41. 
 1  Tim.  2. 3. 
 
 S*  12.  27. 
 2Clir.20.18. 
 
 k  Lev.  10.11 
 Den,  3.1.  1(1. 
 B  Cl.r  17.  7, 
 fl.  9    Mai  .2. 
 
 3  Deu.16. 14, 
 15,  Eccles. 
 3,  4. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  Thp  Tdiijious  manner  nfreadinij  nn'I  Jiearing  the  law. 
 9  Ttvy  lomfort  the  people.  13  T/ie  forwardness  of 
 them  to  hear  and  be  instructed.  16  IViey  keep  the 
 feast  of  tabernacles. 
 
 \  ND  all  "  tlie  people  gathered  themselves 
 -^*-  together  as  one  man  into  the  street  that 
 was  ^  before  the  water  gate  ;  and  they  .vpake 
 unto  Ezra  the  "  scribe  to  bring  the  book  of  the 
 law  of  Mo.ses,  which  the  Lord  had  commanded 
 to  Israel. 
 
 2  And  Ezra  the  priest  brought  ■•  the  law  he- 
 fore  the  congregation  both  of  men  and  women, 
 and  all  f  that  could  hear  with  understanding, 
 "upon  the  first  day  of  the  seventh  month. 
 
 3  And  he  read  therein  before  the  street  that 
 icas  before  the  water  gate  ffrom  the  morning 
 until  midday,  before  the  men  and  the  women, 
 and  those  that  could  understand  ;  and  the  ears 
 of  all  the  people  were  attentive  unto  the  book 
 of  the  law. 
 
 4  And  Ezra  the  scribe  stood  upon  a  f  pulpit 
 of  wood,  which  they  had  made  for  the  purpose  ; 
 and  beside  him  stood  Mattithiah,  and  Shema, 
 and  Anaiah,  and  Urijali,  and  Hilkiah,  and  Ma- 
 aseiah,  on  his  right  hand  ;  and  on  his  left  hand, 
 Pedaiah,  and  Mishael,  and  Malchiah,  and 
 Hashum,  and  Hashbadana,  Zechariah,  and 
 Meshullam. 
 
 3  And  Ezra  opened  the  book  in  the  f  sight  of 
 all  the  people ;  (for  he  was  above  all  the 
 people  ;)  and  when  he  opened  it,  all  the 
 people  '  stood  up  : 
 
 6  And  Ezra  blessed  the  Lord,  the  great  God. 
 And  all  the  people  ^  answered.  Amen,  Amen, 
 with  "  lifting  up  their  hands  :  and  they  '  bowed 
 their  heads,  and  worshipped  the  Lord  with 
 their  faces  to  the  ground. 
 
 7  Also  Jeshna,  and  Bani,  and  Sherebiah,  Ja- 
 min,  Akkub,  Shabbethai,  Hodijah,  Maaseiah, 
 Kelita,  Azariah,  Jozabad,  Hanan,  Pelaiah,  and 
 the  Levites,  '  caused  the  people  to  understand 
 the  law  :  and  the  people  stood  in  their  place. 
 
 8  So  they  read  in  the  book  in  the  law  of  God 
 distinctly,  and  gave  the  sense,  and  caused 
 them  to  understand  the  reading. 
 
 9  H  '  And  Nehemiah,  which  is  \\  the  Tirsha- 
 tha, and  Ezra  the  priest  the  scribe,  ""and  tlie 
 Levites  that  taught  the  people,  said  unto  all 
 the  people,  "  This  day  is  holy  unto  the  Lord 
 your  God  ;  °  mourn  not,  nor  weep.  For  all 
 the  people  wept,  when  they  heard  the  words 
 of  the  law. 
 
 65.  Tilt  tJiere  stood  up,  fyc. — this  amounts  to  the  same  as  '  never,' 
 the  Urim  and  Thummim  being  now  absolutely  and  for  ever  lost. — 
 Jennings.  70.  A  thousand  drams — see  Ezra,  ii.  69,  note.  Basons,  to 
 receive  the  blond  of  the  sacrifices. — Gilt.  71  •  Pound  of  silver — see 
 note  on  Ezra,  ii.  69. 
 
 Chap.  Vill.—  1.  Ezra  the  scribe,  (Ezra,  vii.  G.)  who  came  to  Jeru- 
 salem thirteen  years  before,  and  probably  returned  to  Babylon,  and 
 was  lately  come  from  that  place. — Gilt,  Pat,  To  bring;  the  book — the 
 people  called  to  mind  Dcut.  xxxi.  10,  II,  &c.,  where  (Jud  requires  the 
 law  to  be  read  publicly  every  seventh  year  in  the  feast  of  tabeinnclcs, 
 which  was  appointed  to  be  kept  in  this  month. — Pat.      2.  The  seventh 
 
 month,  of  the  ecclesiastical  year,  answering  to  a  part  of  September  and 
 October,  which  was  also  the  first  month  of  the  civil  year  ;  and  besides, 
 this  was  the  new  year's  day.— PWrf.,  Gill.  3.  From  the  nwrnini;, 
 Heb.,  *  from  the  light ;'  that  is,  from  sunrise,  which,  at  this  time,  was 
 a  little  before  six  o'clock. — Wit,  4.  .1  pulpit,  yy  bl^O.  '  a  tower  of 
 wood.' — Mont.  Probably  a  scaffold  or  platform,  ascended  by  steps 
 and  railed  in. — Pict.  Bib.  It  held  fourteen  men,  for  beside  him  stood 
 Mattithiah  and  twelve  otheis.— (r'tV/.  8.  Read  in  the  6ooA'— the  He- 
 brew of  Moses.  And  gave  the  sense,  in  the  Chaldee  language,  the  He- 
 brew having  grown  into  disuse  since  the  captivity.  —  Sut.,  Pat. 
 9.  Wept — bewailed  their  ignorance  and  their  many  violations  of  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII. — I.  We  are  taught  here  i!o< 
 to  tempt  Providence.  Nehemiah  looked  to  God  only  for  pre- 
 servation, yet  he  used  all  proper  means.  If  we  would  have 
 religion  flourish  in  the  world,  we  must  watch  over  its  inte- 
 rests ;  if  we  would  have  our  souls  flourish,  we  must  put  them 
 under  the  care  of  tliose  that  watch  for  souls,  and  we  ourselves 
 must  both  '  watch  and  pray. 
 
 II.    ire  see  here  who  are  the  men  in  whom  we  may  most  safehj 
 
 confide.     Those  that  fear  God  most  are  those  that  are  most  to 
 
 be  trusted.     It  is,  however,  a  lamentahle  fact,  that  many  of 
 
 whom  we  have  hoped  better  things  have  grievously  disap- 
 
 51-2 
 
 pointed  the  expectations  of  those  wlio  have  confided  in  them, 
 and  brought  the  cliarge  of  dishonour  on  the  cause  llicy  pro- 
 fessed. 'Tlioso  that  fear  God,' says  Henry,  'must  evidence 
 it  by  their  being  faithful  to  all  men,  and  universally  con- 
 scientious.' 
 
 III.  We  observe  that  God  here  records  the  disinterested  and 
 benevolent  donations  of  his  people  to  his  cause.  '  \\  hatever  is 
 given  to  the  work  of  God,  lie  is  not  unrighteous  to  forget  it  ; 
 nor  shall  even  a  cup  of  cold  water  wherewith  he  is  honoured 
 go  without  its  reward.* 
 
The  feast  of  the  tabernacles. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  IX. 
 
 A  solemn  fast  kept. 
 
 10  Then  he  said  unto  them,  Go  your  way, 
 eat  the  fat,  and  drink  tlie  sweet, 'and  send 
 portions  nnto  them  for  wliom  nothing  is  pre- 
 pared :  for  this  day  is  lioly  nnto  onr  Lord  : 
 neither  he  ye  sorry  ;  for  the  joy  of  the  Lord 
 is  your  strength. 
 
 11  So  the  Levites  stilled  all  the  people,  say- 
 ing, Hold  yonr  peace,  for  the  day  is  holy  ; 
 neither  be  ye  grieved. 
 
 li!  And  all  tlie  people  went  their  way  to  eat, 
 and  to  drink,  and  to  ''  send  portions,  and  to 
 make  great  mirth,  hecause  they  had  '  under- 
 stood the  words  that  were  declared  unto  them. 
 
 13  If  And  on  tlie  second  day  were  gathered 
 together  tlie  chief  of  tlie  fathers  of  all  the 
 people,  the  priests,  and  tlie  Levites,  unto  Ezra 
 the  scribe,  even  ||  to  understand  the  words  of 
 the  law. 
 
 14  And  tliey  found  written  in  the  law  which 
 the  Lord  had  commanded  t  hy  Moses,  that  the 
 children  of  Israel  should  dwell  in  'booths  in 
 the  feast  of  the  seventh  month  : 
 
 15  And  '  that  they  should  publish  and  pro- 
 claim in  all  their  cities,  and  "  in  Jerusalem, 
 saying,  Go  forth  unto  the  mount,  and  "^  fetch 
 olive  branches,  and  pine  branches,  and  myrtle 
 branches,  and  palm  branches,  and  branches  of 
 thick  trees,  to  make  booths,  as  it  is  written. 
 
 IG  t  So  the  people  went  forth,  and  brought 
 them,  and  made  themselves  booths,  every  one 
 upon  the  ''  roof  of  his  house,  and  in  their  courts, 
 and  in  the  courts  of  the  house  of  God,  and  in 
 the  street  of  the  ^  water  gate,  "and  in  the 
 street  of  the  gate  of  Ephraim. 
 
 17  And  all  the  congregation  of  them  that 
 were  come  again  out  of  the  captivity  made 
 booths,  and  sat  under  the  booths  :  for  since  the 
 days  of  Jeshua  the  son  of  Nun  nnto  that  day 
 had  not  the  children  of  Israel  done  so.  And 
 there  was  very  'great  gladness. 
 
 18  Also  ''  day  by  day,  from  the  first  day  unto 
 the  last  day,  he  read  in  the  book  of  the  law  of 
 God.  And  they  kept  the  feast  seven  days  ; 
 and  on  the  eighth  day  was  f  a  solemn  assem- 
 bly, ^  according  unto  the  manner. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  A  solemn  fast,  and  repentance  of  the  people.  4  T/te 
 Levites  make  a  religiutts  confession  of  Gud^s  good- 
 ness, and  their  wickedness. 
 
 "M'OVV  in  the  twenty  and  fourth  day  of  °  this 
 -"-^    month  the  children  of  Israel  were  assem- 
 bled with  fasting,  and  with  sackclothes, '' and 
 earth  upon  them. 
 '2  And  ■■  the  seed  of  Israel  separated  them- 
 
 B  c. 
 
 cir.  445. 
 
 P  Esth.O.  19, 
 22.  Rev.  11. 
 
 q  ver.  10. 
 r  ver.  7,  8. 
 
 I]  Or,  Ihnt 
 thni  mis''' 
 f.Klriict  in 
 tlie  ii-OTiit  t]f 
 
 (  Heb. /'./ffce 
 
 .Lev.  23.  34, 
 42.  Dou.  16. 
 13 
 
 I  Lev.  23.  *. 
 
 u  Dent.  16. 
 
 Hi. 
 X  Lev.2S.40. 
 
 J  Deu.22.  8. 
 
 r  cl..  12.  37. 
 iSKin.  II. 
 13.  cb,  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  a   re- 
 
 d  I,ev.23.3fi. 
 Num.29..35. 
 
 41.1. 
 a  ch.  8.  2. 
 6  Josh.  7.  6. 
 
 1  Sam.4  12. 
 
 2  Sam. I.  2 
 Job  2.  12. 
 
 cEzra  10.11. 
 ch  13.  3,  30 
 
 B.  C    415. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 itraiit/e 
 
 d  ch.  8  7,  8. 
 
 \\Ov,icaflJ 
 
 13. 
 
 /2Kin.  19. 
 
 t.%  19  Pb. 
 
 86. 10.  Is. 
 
 37.  16,  20. 
 g  Gen.  I.  1. 
 
 Ex.  20.  II. 
 
 Rev. 
 
 14.  7. 
 
 /Gen  II.  31. 
 Si  12.  1. 
 
 m  Gen. 17.  5. 
 n  Gen.  15.6. 
 
 /'  jABh.  23. 
 
 '/  Ex-  2.  25. 
 &  3.  7. 
 r  Ex.  14.  10. 
 
 J  Ex.  7,  fl,  0, 
 10,  12.  &  14, 
 chapters. 
 
 (Ex.  19.  II. 
 
 u  Ex.  9.  16. 
 
 Is.  6-1.12,14. 
 
 Jer.  32.  20. 
 
 Dan.  9.  15. 
 X  Ex.  14.21, 
 
 22,  27,  28. 
 
 Ps.  78.  13. 
 y  Ex.  15.  5, 
 
 a  Ex.  19  20. 
 &  SO.  1 
 
 .A  Pa.  19  8,9. 
 Rom.  7.  12. 
 t  Heb.  /ur« 
 ojtjulh. 
 
 selves  from  all  f  strangers,  and  stood  and  con- 
 fessed their  sins,  and  the  iniquities  of  their 
 fathers. 
 
 3  And  they  stood  up  in  their  place,  and  '^  read 
 in  the  book  of  the  law  of  the  Lord  their  God 
 one  fourth  part  of  the  day  ;  and  another  fourth 
 part  they  confessed,  and  worshipped  the  Lord 
 their  God. 
 
 4  K  Then  stood  up  upon  the  ||  stairs,  of  the 
 Levites,  Jeshua,  and  Bani,  Kadmiel,  Sliebaniah, 
 Bunni,  Sherebiah,  Bani,  and  Chenani,  and  cried 
 with  a  loud  voice  unto  the  Lord  their  God. 
 
 5  Then  the  Levites,  Jeshua,  and  Kadmiel, 
 Bani,  Hashabniah,  Sherebiah,  Hodijali,  Slieba- 
 niah, and  Pethaliiah,  said.  Stand  up  and  bless 
 the  Lord  your  God  for  ever  and  ever :  and 
 blessed  be  "  thy  glorious  name,  which  is  ex- 
 alted above  all  blessing  and  praise. 
 
 6  '  Thou,  even  thou,  art  Lord  alone  ;  ^  thou 
 hast  made  heaven,  ■■  the  heaven  of  heavens, 
 with  '  all  their  host,  the  earth,  and  all  things 
 that  are  therein,  the  seas,  and  all  that  is  there- 
 in, and  thou  '  preservest  them  all  ;  and  the 
 host  of  heaven  worshippeth  thee. 
 
 7  Thou  art  the  Lord  the  God,  who  didst 
 choose  '  Abram,  and  broughtest  him  forth  out 
 of  Ur  of  the  Chaldees,  and  gavest  him  the 
 name  of  "Abraham  ; 
 
 8  And  foundest  his  heart  "  faithful  before 
 thee,  and  madest  a  "  covenant  with  him  to  give 
 the  land  of  the  Canaanites,  the  Hittites,  the 
 Amorites,  and  the  Perizzites,  and  the  Jebusites, 
 and  the  Girgashites,  to  give  it,  I  say,  to  his 
 seed,  and  ^  hast  performed  thy  words  ;  for  thou 
 art  righteous . 
 
 9  '  And  didst  see  the  affliction  of  our  fathers  in 
 Egypt,  and  '  heardest  their  cry  by  the  Red  sea  ; 
 
 10  And  '  shewedst  signs  and  wonders  upon 
 Pharaoh,  and  on  all  his  servants,  and  on  all  the 
 people  of  his  land  :  for  thou  knewest  that  they 
 '  dealt  proudly  against  them.  So  didst  thou 
 "  get  thee  a  name,  as  it  is  this  day. 
 
 1 1  '  And  thou  didst  divide  the  sea  before 
 them,  so  that  they  went  through  the  midst  of 
 the  sea  on  the  dry  land  ;  and  their  persecutors 
 thou  threwest  into  the  deeps,  ''as  a  stone  into 
 the  mighty  waters. 
 
 12  Moreover  thou  '  Icddest  them  in  the  day 
 by  a  cloudy  pillar;  and  in  the  night  by  a  pillar 
 of  fire,  to  give  them  light  in  the  way  wherein 
 they  should  go. 
 
 13  "  Thou  camest  down  also  upon  mount 
 Sinai,  and  spakest  with  them  from  heaven,  and 
 gavest  them  ''right  judgments,  and  f  true  laws, 
 good  statutes  and  commandments  : 
 
 law.  10.  E'tt  the  fat,  §-c. — make  a  feast  of  tbe  richest  provisions,  ac- 
 cording to  the  custom  on  feslival  days. — Pat..  Gilt.  Send  portions, 
 ffc,  for  the  poor  and  destitute  to  sliare,  (Deut.  xvi.  11.)  —  Gitl. 
 14.  Found  written — Lev.  xxiii.  39 — 43  ;  Deut.  xvi.  13.  Feast  of  tlte 
 sei'enth  month,  that  is,  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  which  was  held  ia 
 the  month  Tisri,  the  seventh  of  ttie  ecclesiastical  year. — Greeiif. 
 17.  .Since  the  flays  of  Jeshua,  fyc. — we  read  in  Ezra  that  it  was  kept  at 
 the  return  of  the  Jews  from  Babylon;  what  is  meant  is,  that  the  joy 
 with  which  the  feast  was  kept  had  never  since  that  time  been  so  great. 
 —So  Pat. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  1.  Assembled  with  fasti7ig~the  feast  being  over,  which 
 ended  upon  the  twenty-second  day,  during  which  time  mourning  was 
 forbidden,  they  now  return  to  tiiat  which  they  were  about  before, 
 (chap.  viii.  g,  12,)  and  spent  this  whole  day  in  humbling  themselves 
 before  God. — Pat.  2.  Separated  themsel/'es/rom  all  strangers — such 
 as  had  taken  strange  wives,  either  before  the  reformation  by  Ezra,  not 
 being  then  discovered,  or  had  fallen  into  the  evil  since. — Gill,  Pat. 
 4.  Stairs,  'platform.' — Boothr.  This  was  an  elevated  place,  where  the 
 Levites  used  to  stand  when  they  sung  at  the  time  of  sacrifice,  and  where 
 they  might  be  seen  and  heard  by  the  people.— Gi/f.        5.  Stand  np — 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  I.  The  reading  and  ex- 
 plaining of  t/te  word  of  God  is  a7t  important  part  of  Divine  service. 
 All  scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  profitable 
 for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  and  for  instruction  in 
 righteousness.'  '  I\Ien  and  women,  and  all  that  could  hear 
 with  understanding,'  children  capable  of  so  doing,  here  at- 
 tended. No  part  of  our  families  should  remain  without  enjoy- 
 ing the  means  of  grace,  and  all  should  'give  earnest  heed  to 
 the  things  which  they  bear.' 
 513 
 
 II.  The  word  of  God  seriously  attended  to  is  calculated  to  humble 
 the  heart  and  melt  it  into  godly  sorrow.  *  AU  the  people  wept 
 when  they  heard  the  words  of  the  law.  *  It  pierces  the  con- 
 science,' says  .Scott,  '  fills  the  soul  with  dismay,  and  thus  pre- 
 pares for  the  sweet  consolations  of  the  gospel,  by  which  is 
 "  the  knowledge  of  salvation  through  the  remission  of  sins." 
 Thus  the  broken  heart  is  bound  up,  and  the  sinner  learns  to 
 rejoice  in  God  our  Saviour.' 
 
 3    V 
 
The  Levites'  confession 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  IX. 
 
 of  God's  goodness. 
 
 14  And  madest  known  unto  them  thy  "^  holy 
 sabbath,  and  coinmandedst  them  precepts, 
 statutes,  and  laws,  by  the  hand  of  Moses  thy 
 servant : 
 
 13  And  ■■  gavest  them  bread  from  heaven  for 
 their  hunger,  and  "bronghtest  fortli  water  for 
 them  out  of  the  rock  for  their  tliirst,  and  pro- 
 misedst  them  that  tliey  should  "^go  in  to  pos- 
 sess the  land  f  which  thou  hadst  sworn  to  give 
 them. 
 
 16  *  But  they  and  our  fathers  dealt  proudly, 
 and  ''hardened  tlieir  necks,  and  hearkened  not 
 to  thy  commandments, 
 
 17  And  refused  to  obey,  '  neither  were  mind- 
 ful of  thy  wonders  that  tliou  didst  among  them  ; 
 but  hardened  their  necks,  and  in  their  rebellion 
 appointed  '■  a  captain  to  return  to  their  bond- 
 age :  but  thou  art  f  a  God  ready  to  pardon, 
 '  gracious  and  merciful,  slow  to  anger,  and  of 
 great  kindness,  and  forsookest  them  not. 
 
 18  Yea,  "'  when  they  had  made  tlieni  a  molten 
 calf,  and  said,  This  is  thy  God  that  brought 
 thee  up  out  of  Egypt,  and  had  wrought  great 
 provocations  ; 
 
 19  Yet  thou  in  thy  "  manifold  mercies  for- 
 sookest them  not  in  the  wilderness  :  the  "pil- 
 lar of  the  cloud  departed  not  from  them  by  day, 
 to  lead  them  in  tlie  way  ;  neitlier  the  pillar  of 
 fire  by  night,  to  shew  them  light,  and  the  way 
 wherein  they  should  go. 
 
 20  Thou  gavest  also  thy  ''good  spirit  to  in- 
 struct them,  and  withheldest  not  thy  ''  manna 
 from  their  mouth,  and  gavest  them  '  water  for 
 their  thirst. 
 
 21  Yea,  'forty  years  didst  thou  sustain  them 
 in  the  wilderne.ss,  so  that  they  lacked  nothing  ; 
 their  '  clothes  waxed  not  old,  and  their  feet 
 swelled  not. 
 
 22  Moreover  thou  gavest  them  kingdoms  and 
 nations,  and  didst  divide  them  into  corners  :  so 
 they  possessed  the  land  of  "  Sihon,  and  the 
 land  of  the  king  of  Heshbon,  and  the  land  of 
 Og  king  of  Baslian. 
 
 23  *  Their  children  also  mnltipliedst  thou  as 
 the  stars  of  heaven,  and  bronghtest  theiu  into 
 the  land,  concerning  which  thou  hadst  pro- 
 mised to  their  fathers,  that  they  should  go  in 
 to  possess  it. 
 
 24  So  'the  children  went  in  and  possessed 
 the  land,  and  '  thou  snbduedst  before  them  the 
 inhabitants  of  the  land,  the  Canaanites,  and 
 gavest  them  into  their  hands,  with  their  kings, 
 and  the  people  of  the  land,  that  they  might  do 
 with  them  f  as  they  would. 
 
 25  And  they  took  strong  cities,  and  a  °  fat 
 land,  and  possessed  ^  houses  full  of  all  goods, 
 II  wells  digged,  vineyards,  and  oliveyards,  and 
 ■f  fruit  trees  in  abundance  :  so  they  did  eat,  and 
 were  filled,  and  "^  becanne  fat,  and  delighted 
 themselves  in  thy  great  ''  goodness. 
 
 26  Nevertheless  they  "  were  disobedient,  and 
 rebelled  against  thee,  and  ^cast  thy  law  behind 
 ♦heir  backs,  and  slew  thy  "prophets  which  tes- 
 tified against  them  to  turn  them  to  thee,  and 
 
 d  Ex.  16.  14, 
 15,  Jwbn  6. 
 
 .  au.  9, 
 
 &o 
 
 fVva.  1.  H. 
 t  Heb,  wbtrh 
 
 tliou  h<,dtt 
 
 till  tip 
 
 tltini-  lianii 
 
 l;glfeH.^m- 
 
 Nu.  IV,  30- 
 S  ver.  a9. 
 
 Ps   HW.  6, 
 h  Deu.31.27. 
 
 ■2  Kin.  IT,  U. 
 
 2  Chr,  30.  B. 
 
 Jer.  19,  15. 
 i  Ps.  78.  II, 
 
 4;.  43. 
 t  Num.H.4. 
 t  Hob  a  God 
 
 .If  I'OTdt.nt- 
 
 l  Kx.  3J.  b. 
 
 Num. 14  IS. 
 
 P«.sil.6,15. 
 
 Joel  2.   13. 
 ".  E«.  32.  4. 
 
 i  ver.  27. 
 
 Pe.  I  Ob  45. 
 >  Kx.  1.3.  SI, 
 
 ■Zi.  Nu.  14. 
 
 14.   I  Cor. 
 
 10.  1. 
 
 p  Xiim.  II. 
 
 17    Is.  0.>. 
 
 II 
 <l  F.x.  Ifi.  15 
 
 Ji.sh.  5    12 
 rE«     17.6. 
 
 .  Deu.  8.  7. 
 
 /  neu.  S.4. 
 Ik  K9.  5. 
 
 V  .ToBh.  I.  2, 
 S.C 
 iP».U.2,  fl 
 t  Hi-b 
 
 II,-- 1 
 
 .1  vei.  art. 
 
 Num.  13.27 
 Peu  8  7,  S. 
 Riek.  20.  6 
 '.  Deu.  6.  II. 
 
 t  H.'b   iru 
 
 „fr---d. 
 
 I>.  K/ek. 
 
 20  21. 
 /I  Kill. 14. 9 
 
 Pd  .50.  17. 
 e  I  KiD.19.4 
 
 &  10.  10. 
 
 2riir  24.20. 
 
 21.  Mat.  23. 
 
 37.  Acta  7. 
 
 52. 
 
 AJudg.2.  14. 
 &  3.  8,  fee. 
 Pb.  log.  41, 
 
 ijaiig.  8.18. 
 &  S.  9. 
 
 rfo  ei'il. 
 
 1  ScIikIk  3 
 II,  12.  .30 
 lie  4    I    &  5. 
 31.  &  6.  I. 
 
 o  Lev.  18  5, 
 Ezek20.  II 
 Roui  10  5. 
 Gal   3.  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ihrii 
 gauen  with- 
 dn,.,-g 
 ih.,<il<lrr, 
 Zcel>.7,  II. 
 
 t  Heb.  jira- 
 
 |/2  Kin. 178. 
 
 2Clir  36.15. 
 
 Jer.  7. 25.  & 
 
 25.  4. 
 t  Heb.  in  iht 
 
 h<tnd  oflh'i 
 
 I  See  Acts  7. 
 51.  I  Pet.  I. 
 II.  8  Pet. I. 
 81. 
 
 r  Ib.  5.  b.  8c 
 
 42.  24. 
 >  Jer   4,  27. 
 
 &  5.  10,  18. 
 /  ver.  17. 
 
 II  Ex.  54.  6,7. 
 ell.  I   5. 
 
 t  Heb,  wiari- 
 
 t  Heb.  that 
 
 haiti  /uitud 
 
 ui. 
 J  2  Kin. 17.8 
 V  Dan,  0   14. 
 ■  Ps.  119  137. 
 J  Pb    lOfi  6 
 
 Dan.  9.  5,6, 
 
 8. 
 
 a  Deu. 28.47 
 A  ver.  25. 
 e  ver.  25. 
 
 f  Deu.  88.  S3, 
 
 .M. 
 /  Deu  28  49 
 ?  2  Kin-  23 
 
 3.2  Clir.29 
 
 10   k  3t.31. 
 
 ch. 10   20. 
 
 Ezra  10.  3. 
 t  Heb.  are 
 
 a  I  l/.«  iml- 
 
 ,„j,,or,<Ml- 
 
 ed. 
 /ich.  10.  I. 
 t  Heb.  al  th« 
 
 .,.l„.g,. 
 
 Ch.  9.  39. 
 
 they  wrought  great  provocations. 
 
 27  '■  Tlierefore  tliou  deliveredst  them  into 
 the  hand  of  their  enemies,  who  vexed  them  : 
 and  in  the  time  of  their  trouble,  when  they 
 cried  unto  thee,  thou  '  heardest  them  from  hea- 
 ven ;  and  according  to  thy  manifold  mercies 
 '  thou  gavest  them  saviours,  who  saved  them 
 out  of  the  hand  of  their  enemies. 
 
 28  But  after  they  had  rest,  f  '  they  did  evil 
 again  before  thee  :  therefore  leftest  thou  them 
 in  the  hand  of  their  enemies,  so  that  Ihey  had 
 the  dominion  over  them  :  yet  when  they  re- 
 turned, and  cried  unto  thee,  thou  heardest 
 them  from  heaven  ;  and  '"  many  times  didst 
 thou  deliver  them  according  to  thy  mercies  ; 
 
 2!)  And  testifiedst  against  them,  that  thou 
 mightest  bring  them  again  unto  thy  law  :  yet 
 they  "dealt  proudly,  and  hearkened  not  unto 
 thy  commandments,  but  sinned  against  thy 
 judgments,  ("which  if  a  man  do,  he  .shall  live 
 in  them  ;)  and  f  withdrew  the  shoulder,  and 
 hardened  their  neck,  and  would  not  bear. 
 
 30  Yet  many  years  didst  thou  f  forbear  them, 
 and  testifiedst  ''against  theiu  by  thy  spirit  f  *"  in 
 thy  prophets  :  yet  would  they  not  give  ear  : 
 '  therefore  gavest  thou  them  into  the  hand  of 
 the  people  of  the  lands. 
 
 31  Nevertheless  for  thy  great  mercies'  sake 
 '  thou  didst  not  utterly  consume  them,  nor  for- 
 sake them  ;  for  thou  art  '  a  gracious  and  mer- 
 ciful God. 
 
 32  Now  therefore,  our  God,  the  great,  the 
 "  mighty,  and  the  terrilile  God,  who  keepest 
 covenant  and  mercy,  let  not  all  the  f  trouble 
 seem  little  before  thee,  f  that  hath  come  upon 
 us,  on  our  kings,  on  our  princes,  and  on  our 
 priests,  and  on  our  prophets,  and  on  our  fatliers, 
 and  on  all  thy  people,  "  since  the  time  of  the 
 kings  of  Assyria  unto  this  day. 
 
 33  Howbeit  'thou  art  just  in  all  that  is 
 brought  upon  us  ;  for  thou  hast  done  right, 
 but  '  we  have  done  wickedly  : 
 
 34  Neither  have  our  kings,  our  princes,  our 
 priests,  nor  our  fathers,  kept  thy  law,  nor 
 hearkened  unto  thy  commandments  and  thy 
 testimonies,  wherewith  thoudidst  testify  against 
 them. 
 
 33  For  they  have  'not  served  thee  in  their 
 kingdom,  and  in  ''  thy  great  goodness  that 
 thou  gavest  them,  and  in  the  large  and  ''  fat 
 land  which  thou  gavest  before  them,  neither 
 turned  they  from  their  wicked  works. 
 
 36  Behold, ''  we  are  servants  this  day,  and_/br 
 the  land  that  thou  gavest  unto  our  fathers  to 
 eat  the  fruit  thereof  and  the  good  thereof,  be- 
 hold, we  are  servants  in  it : 
 
 37  And  "  it  yieldeth  much  increase  unto  the 
 kings  whom  thou  hast  set  over  us  because  of 
 our  sins  :  also  they  have  '  dominion  over  our 
 bodies,  and  over  our  cattle,  at  their  pleasure, 
 and  we  are  in  great  distress. 
 
 38  And  because  of  all  this  we  *  make  a  sure 
 covenant,  and  write  it ;  and  our  princes,  Le- 
 vites,  and  priests,  f  •■  seal  unto  it. 
 
 the  people  had  probably  fallen  on  their  knees  as  they  sued  for  mercy.  Hpw.     Sihon  and  the  hind,  ^c. — it  should  be,  '  even,  ornamely,  the  land 
 
 — Pat.     Blessed  he,  ?fc. — the  substance  of  what  follows  will  be  found  of  Heshbon,'  for  Sihon  was  king  of  Heshbon,  and  sri  the  land  was  the 
 
 in  Ps.  xl.  3:  Ixviii.  34;  ciii.  19, — Snt.  22.  Corners — the  expression  same.        2".  Snmimrs — such  were  the  Judges. — Gilt.        29.  Withdrew 
 
 probably  alludes  to  the  division  of  the  country,  or  Canaan,  according  the  shoulder,  alluding:,  perliaps,  to  the  'bullock  unaccustomed  to  the 
 
 to  the  Dumber  of  the  tribes,  the  districts  runniug  into  many  angles. —  yoke,'  (Jer.  xxxi.  IH.)— Wit. 
 
 Reflections  on    Chap.  IX Notice,  I.    The  fast.     We  of  the  same,  through  his  infinite  goodness  and  mercy.'     He 
 
 ought  at  all  times  '  humbly  to  acknowledi^e  and  confess  our  who  smite.s  upon  his  breast,  and  in  true  contrition  cries,  '  God 
 
 sins  before  God,"  '  to  the  end  that  we  may  obtain  forgiveness  be  merciful  to  me,  a  sinner!' may  hope  in  the  end  to  go  away 
 314 
 
The  sealing  of  the  covenant. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  X. 
 
 The  points  of  the  covenant. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1    The  names  of  them  that  scaled  the  covenant.     29  The 
 points  of  the  covenant. 
 
 NOW  t  those  tliat  sealed  were,  °  Nelierniali, 
 the  II  Tirshatha,  ''  the  son  of  Hachaliah, 
 and  Zidkijali, 
 
 2  '  Seraiah,  Azariah,  Jeremiah, 
 
 3  Pashur,  Amariah,  Malchijah, 
 
 4  Hattush,  Shebaniah,  Malliich, 
 
 5  Harini,  Meremoth,  Obadiah, 
 
 6  Daniel,  Ginnellion,  Barnch, 
 
 7  Meshullam,  Abijah,  Mijainin, 
 
 8  Maaziah,  Bilgai,  Sheniaiah  :  these  were  the 
 priests. 
 
 9  And  tlie  Levitcs  :  both  Jeshna  the  son  of 
 Azaniah,  Binnui  of  the  sons  of  Henadad,  Kad- 
 niiel ; 
 
 10  And  their  brethren,  Shebaniah,  Hodijah, 
 Kelita,  Pclaiah,  Hanan, 
 
 11  Micha,  Rehob,  Hashabiah, 
 
 12  Zaccnr,  Sherebiah,  Sliebaniah, 
 
 13  Hodijah,  Bani.Beninu. 
 
 14  The  chief  of  the  people  ;  '  Parosh,  Pahath- 
 moab,  Elani,  Zatthu,  Baiii, 
 
 13  Bunni,  Azgad,  Bebai, 
 
 16  Adonijah,  Bigvai,  Adin, 
 
 17  Ater,  Hizkijah,  Azziir, 
 
 18  Hodijah,  Hashuni,  Bezai, 
 
 19  Hariph,  Anatlioth,  Nebai, 
 
 20  Magpiash,  Meshullam,  Hezir, 
 
 21  Meshezabeel,  Zadok,  Jaddua, 
 
 22  Pelatiah,  Hanan,  Anaiah, 
 
 23  Hoshea,  Hananiah,  Hashub, 
 
 24  Hallohesh,  Pileha,  Shobek, 
 
 25  Rehum,  Hashabnah,  Maaseiah, 
 
 26  And  Ahijah,  Hanan,  Anan, 
 
 27  Malluch,  Harim,  Baanali. 
 
 28  H  "And  the  rest  of  the  people,  the  priests, 
 the  Levites,  the  porters,  the  .singers,  the  Ne- 
 thinims,  ''and  all  they  that  had  separated  them- 
 selves from  the  people  of  the  lands  unto  the 
 law  of  God,  their  wives,  their  sons,  and  their 
 daughters,  every  one  having  knowledge,  and 
 having  understanding  ; 
 
 29  They  clave  to  their  brethren,  their  nobles, 
 *  and  entered  into  a  curse,  and  into  an  oath, 
 ''  to  walk  in  God's  law,  which  was  given  f  by 
 Moses  the  servant  of  God,  and  to  observe  and 
 do  all  the  commandments  of  the  Lord  our 
 Lord,  and  his  judgments  and  his  statutes  ; 
 
 30  And  that  we  would  not  give  '  our  daugh- 
 
 6  cti.  1.  I 
 Si-e  ch.  IS. 
 1—21. 
 
 d  See  E7t  ii  2 
 3,  &c  cU.  7 
 8,  &c. 
 
 k  F.x.  20.10 
 Lev.  2.3.  3. 
 Deut  5.  13. 
 ch.  13.  15, 
 
 Dcu.15  1, 
 
 cli.  6.  \2. 
 t  HeXi.  eocTV 
 hind. 
 
 i  LflT.  24.  5, 
 &c.2Chr,2. 
 4. 
 
 o  See  Num. 
 SS,  &  20. 
 
 j7  Deu  29  12, 
 14,  eh  5  12, 
 13.  I's.  119 
 liirt 
 
 It  2  Kin  2'1.3 
 2Chr  34,31 
 
 t  Heb.  lilt  llie 
 l,a„d  ,,/', 
 
 1  Ki.  34,  16. 
 Deut.  7.  3, 
 Kira  9,  12, 
 H. 
 
 Ex,  23    19, 
 fc  34,  20, 
 Lev, 10  23, 
 Nuiu.ie,l2 
 Deu.  26.  2. 
 
 :  Ex.  IS.  2, 
 12,  IS,  Lev. 
 27,  26,  27, 
 Nu.  13.  15, 
 
 Deut,  19,4 
 &  2e,  2. 
 
 y  lChr,9,26, 
 2ChrSI,ll, 
 
 :  Deu,  12,  6, 
 11,2  Chr, 
 :n    12   ch. 
 13,  12. 
 
 ters  unto  the  people  of  the  land,  nor  take  their 
 daughters  for  our  sons  : 
 
 31  '  And  !/the  people  of  the  land  bring  ware 
 r  any  victuals  on  the  sabbath  day  to  sell,  that 
 
 we  would  not  buy  it  of  tlieni  on  the  sabbath, 
 or  on  the  holy  day  :  and  that  we  would  leave 
 the  '  seventh  year,  and  the  "'  exaction  of  f  every 
 debt. 
 
 32  Also  we  made  ordinances  for  us,  to  charge 
 ourselves  yearly  with  the  third  part  of  a  shekel 
 for  the  service  of  the  house  of  our  God  ; 
 
 33  For  "  the  shewbread,  and  for  the  °  con- 
 tinual meat  offering,  and  for  the  continual 
 burnt  oflering,  of  the  sabbaths,  of  the  new 
 moons,  for  the  set  feasts,  and  for  the  holy 
 things,  and  for  the  sin  offerings  to  make  an 
 atonement  for  Israel,  and  for  all  the  work  of 
 the  house  of  our  God. 
 
 34  And  we  cast  the  lots  among  the  priests, 
 the  Levites,  and  the  people,  ''  for  the  wood 
 offering,  to  bring  it  into  the  house  of  our  God, 
 after  the  houses  of  our  fathers,  at  times  ap- 
 pointed year  by  year,  to  bum  upon  the  altar  of 
 the  Lord  our  God,  ■*  as  it  is  written  in  the 
 law  : 
 
 33  And  '  to  bring  the  firstfruits  of  our  ground, 
 and  the  firstfruits  of  all  fruit  of  all  trees,  year 
 by  year,  unto  the  house  of  the  Loud  : 
 
 36  Also  the  firstborn  of  our  sons,  and  of  our 
 cattle,  as  it  is  written  '  in  the  law,  and  the 
 firstlings  of  our  herds  and  of  our  flocks,  to 
 bring  to  the  house  of  our  God,  unto  the  priests 
 that  minister  in  the  house  of  our  God  : 
 
 37  '  And  that  we  should  bring  the  firstfruits 
 of  our  dough,  and  our  offerings,  and  the  fruit 
 of  all  manner  of  trees,  of  wine  and  of  oil,  unto 
 the  priests,  to  the  chambers  of  the  house  of 
 our  God  ;  and  "  the  tithes  of  our  ground  unto 
 the  Levites,  that  the  same  Levites  might  have 
 the  tithes  in  all  the  cities  of  our  tillage. 
 
 38  And  the  priest  the  son  of  Aaron  shall  be 
 with  the  Levites,  *  when  the  Levites  take 
 tithes :  and  the  Levites  shall  bring  up  the 
 tithe  of  the  tithes  unto  the  house  of  our  God, 
 to  *"  the  chambers,  into  the  treasure  house. 
 
 39  For  the  children  of  Israel  and  the  children 
 of  Levi  ^  shall  bring  the  offering  of  the  corn, 
 of  the  new  wine,  and  the  oil,  unto  the  cham- 
 bers, where  are  the  vessels  of  the  sanctuary, 
 and  the  priests  that  minister,  and  the  porters, 
 and  the  singers  :  °  and  we  will  not  forsake  the 
 house  of  our  God. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  29.  Clave,  'adhered,* — Bonthr.  They  did  not  sign  the 
 instrument,  but  bound  themselves  by  solemn  oath, — A.  Clarke.  En- 
 tered into  a  curse,  *  invoked  tlie  curses  of  the  Divine  law  upon  them- 
 selves in  case  of  disobedience  in  future.' — Hew.  32.  Third  part—X-he 
 law  required  half  a  shekel,  (Exod.  xxx.  13.)  This  abatement  was  pro- 
 bably made  in  consideration  of  the  poverty  of  the  common  people ; 
 
 but  it  is  thought  that  they  returned  afterwards  to  the  original  sum.— 
 Wil.       See  Matt.  xvii.  24.  34.  The    wood   offering  —  Maimunides 
 
 says,  there  was  a  time  fixed  for  families  to  go  into  the  forests  and  bring 
 in  wood  for  the  altar,  and  the  day  when  it  came  to  the  turn  of  a  family 
 to  bring  the  wood,  they  otiercd  np  free-will  burnt-ofiferings,  which  were 
 called  a  wood-offering, — Gill. 
 
 justified  ;  for  '  he  that  confesseth  and  forsaketh  his  sina  shall 
 find  mercy.* 
 
 II.  The /jrnt/er.  '  We  should,' as  Ostervald  observes, '  make 
 a  useful  application  to  ourselves  of  all  the  parts  of  this  excel- 
 lent prayer;  we  sLould  frequently  read  it,  and  learn  from  it 
 to  praise  and  adore  God,  to  acknowledge  the  favours  lie  be- 
 stows upon  us  all  in  general,  and  upon  every  one  in  particular  ; 
 they  especially  whose  circumstances  sometimes  resemble  those 
 of  the  Jews  at  that  time,  and  who  have  been  made  to  pass 
 through  divers  trials  and  afflictions,  ought  from  hence  to  learn 
 to  confess  their  sins  and  ingratitude,  to  celebrate  Ilis  forbear- 
 ance, to  be  more  faithful  to  Him  for  the  time  to  come,  and  re- 
 ligiously to  perform  the  conditions  of  His  covenant.' 
 
 Reflections  dm  Chap.  X.  —  We  may  usefully  reflect  up- 
 on the  observances  to  which  the  Jewish  people  bound  them- 
 selves in  the  covenant  here  made : — I.  Not  to  inicrjnarn/  with 
 315 
 
 the  heathen.  Bishop  Beveridge  lays  down  the  duties  of  a 
 Christian  on  this  point  :  '  I  shall  always  endeavour  to  make 
 choice  of  such  a  woman  for  my  spouse  who  hath  first  made 
 choice  of  Christ  as  a  spouse  for  herself;  that  none  may  be 
 made  one  flesh  with  me  wdio  is  not  made  one  spirit  with 
 Christ  my  Saviour.  For  1  look  upon  the  image  of  Christ  as 
 the  best  mark  of  beauty  I  can  behold  in  her,  and  the  grace  of 
 God  as  the  best  portion  I  can  receive  with  her.  These  are 
 excellences  which,  tliough  not  visible  to  our  carnal  eyes,  are 
 nevertheless  agreeable  to  a  spiritual  heart  ;  and  such  as  all 
 wise  and  good  men  cannot  choose  but  be  enamoured  with.  For 
 my  own  part,  they  seem  to  me  such  necessary  qualifications, 
 that  my  heart  trembles  at  the  thoughts  of  ever  having  a  wife 
 without  them.  What!  shall  I  marry  one  that  is  wedded  al- 
 ready to  her  sins  !  or  have  possession  of  her  body  only,  when 
 the  devil  has  possession  of  her  soul  !     Shall  such  an  one  be 
 
Those  who  dwelt  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  XI. 
 
 Those  who  i/icc/t  in  other  cities. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 1   T/ie  ritltrs,  voluntari/  men,  and  ttte  tenth  man  chosen 
 by  lot,   divfU  at  Jerusaltm.     3  A  catalngite  of  their 
 nant'S.    20  T/te  residue  dirclt  in  ottier  cities. 
 
 AND  the  riilers  of  the  people  dwelt  at  Je- 
 rusalem :  the  rest  of  the  people  also  cast 
 lots,  to  bring  one  of  ten  to  dwell  in  Jerusa- 
 lem °  the  holy  city,  and  nine  parts  to  dwell  in 
 other  cities. 
 
 2  And  the  people  blessed  all  the  men,  that 
 "  willingly  offered  themselves  to  dwell  at  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 3  1 '  Now  these  are  the  chief  of  the  province 
 that  dwelt  in  Jerusalem  :  hut  in  the  cities  of 
 Judah  dwelt  every  one  in  his  possession  in 
 their  cities,  to  wit,  Israel,  the  priests,  and  the 
 Levites,  and  ''  the  Nethinima,  and  °  the  chil- 
 dren of  Solomon's  servants. 
 
 4  And  '  at  Jerusalem  dwelt  certain  of  the 
 children  of  Judah,  and  of  the  children  of  Ben- 
 jamin. Of  the  children  of  Judah  ;  Athaiah  the 
 son  of  Uzziah,  the  son  of  Zechariah,  the  son  of 
 Amariah,  the  sou  of  Shephatiah,  the  son  of 
 Mahalaleel,  of  the  children  of  *  Perez  ; 
 
 5  And  Maaseiah  the  son  of  Baruch,  the  son 
 of  Col-hozeh,  the  son  of  Hazaiah,  the  son  of 
 Adaiah,  the  son  of  Joiarih,  the  son  of  Zecha- 
 riah, the  son  of  Shiloni. 
 
 6  All  the  sons  of  Perez  that  dwelt  at  Jerusa- 
 lem were  four  hundred  threescore  and  eight 
 valiant  men. 
 
 7  And  these  are  the  sous  of  Benjamin  ;  Salhi 
 the  sou  of  Meshullam,  the  son  of  Joed,  the  son 
 of  Pedaiah,  the  son  of  Kolaiah,  the  son  of  Ma- 
 aseiah, the  son  of  Ithiel,  the  son  of  Jesaiah. 
 
 8  And  after  him  Gabbai,  Sallai,  nine  hundred 
 twenty  and  eifjht. 
 
 9  And  Joel  the  son  of  Zichri  was  their  over- 
 seer :  and  Judah  the  sou  of  Senuah  was  second 
 over  the  city. 
 
 10  '■  Of  the  priests  :  Jedaiah  the  son  of  Joia- 
 lib,  Jachin. 
 
 1 1  Seraiah  the  son  of  Hilkiah,  the  son  of 
 Meshullam,  the  son  of  Zadok,  the  son  of  Me- 
 raioth,  the  son  of  Aliitub,  was  the  ruler  of  the 
 house  of  God. 
 
 12  And  their  brethren  that  did  the  work  of 
 the  hoiise  tverc  ei;,'ht  hundred  twenty  and  two  : 
 and  Adaiah  the  son  of  Jeroham,  the  son  of  Pe- 
 laliah,  the  sou  of  Amzi,  the  son  of  Zechariah, 
 
 1  ver.  18. 
 Mat.  4  5.  & 
 X7.  53. 
 
 b  Judg  .'^.  y 
 
 t  Ren.Sa.SO, 
 /'4..tr.- 
 
 ftl  Cl.r. 
 10,  he. 
 
 II  Or,  Iht  ,<,„ 
 u/  Haggedn 
 
 \  Heb    wfre 
 
 .  I  Chf.  20. 
 
 m  See  Ezra 
 6  f ,  9.  8.  7 
 20,  S(c. 
 
 ..Cell.  38  30, 
 
 Zar'tlt. 
 o  1  Chr    13. 
 
 17    &  23.28 
 
 the  son  of  Pashur,  the  son  of  Malchiah, 
 
 13  And  his  brethren,  chief  of  the  fathers,  two 
 hundred  forty  and  two  :  and  Amashai  the  son 
 of  Azareel,  the  sou  of  Ahasai,  the  son  of  Me- 
 shillemoth,  the  son  of  Immer, 
 
 I  1  And  their  brethren,  mighty  men  of  valour, 
 an  hundred  twenty  and  eight :  and  their  over- 
 seer was  Zabdiel,  |{  the  son  of  one  of  the  great 
 men. 
 
 15  Also  of  the  Levites  :  Shemaiah  the  son  of 
 Hashub,  the  son  of  Azrikam,  the  sou  of  Hasha- 
 biah,  the  son  of  Bunni ; 
 
 16  And  Shabbethai  and  Jozabad,  of  the  chief 
 of  the  Levite.s,  f  had  the  oversight  of  '  the  out- 
 ward business  of  the  house  of  God. 
 
 17  And  Mattauiali  the  sou  of  Micha,  the  son 
 of  Zabdi,  the  sou  of  Asaph,  was  the  principal 
 lo  begin  the  thanksgiving  in  prayer  :  and  Bak- 
 bukiah  the  second  among  his  brethren,  and 
 .\bda  the  sou  of  Shammua,  the  son  of  Galal, 
 the  son  of  Jeduthun. 
 
 18  All  the  Levites  in  'the  holy  city  toere 
 two  hundred  fourscore  and  four. 
 
 19  Moreover  the  porters,  Akkub,  Talmou, 
 and  their  brethren  that  kept  f  the  gates,  irere 
 an  hundred  seventy  and  two. 
 
 20  t  And  the  residue  of  Israel,  of  the  priests, 
 and  the  Levites,  joere  in  all  the  cities  of  Judah, 
 every  one  in  his  inheritance. 
 
 21  'But  the  Nethiuims  dwelt  in  |]  Ophel  : 
 and  Ziha  and  Gispa  were  over  the  Nethiuims. 
 
 22  The  overseer  also  of  the  Levites  at  Jeru- 
 salem ivas  Uzzi  the  son  of  Bani,  the  son  of 
 Hashabiah,  the  son  of  Mattaniah,  the  son  of 
 Micha.  Of  the  sons  of  Asaph,  the  singers  were 
 over  the  business  of  the  house  of  God. 
 
 23  For  "  it  was  the  king's  commandment 
 concerning  them,  that  ||  a  certain  portion 
 should  be  for  the  singers,  due  for  every  day. 
 
 24  And  Pethahiah  the  son  of  Meshczabeel, 
 of  the  children  of  "  Zerah  the  son  of  Judah, 
 teas  °  at  the  king's  hand  in  all  matters  concern- 
 ing the  people. 
 
 25  And  for  the  villages,  with  their  fields, 
 some  of  the  children  of  Judah  dwelt  at  ''  Kir- 
 jath-arba,  and  in  the  villages  thereof,  and  at 
 Dibon,  and  in  the  villages  thereof,  and  at  Je- 
 kabzeel,  and  in  the  villages  ttiereuf, 
 
 26  And  at  Jeshua,  and  at  Muladah,  and  at 
 Beth-phelet, 
 
 Chap.  XI. —  I.  One  of  ten,  S(c. — the  inhabitants  were  too  fi;w  for 
 the  public  works  and  delencc;  hence  a  tenth  of  the  rural  population 
 was  drafted. — Sitt.  3.  These  are  ttie  c/iief— the  statement  here  does 
 not  well  agree  with  that  in  1  Chron.  ix.  2.  There  those  only  who  came 
 with   Zerubbabel  appear   to   be    numbered  ;    here,    those   who   came 
 
 the  house  of  God,  over  its  temporal  affairs  only,  leaving  religious  duties 
 to  the  priests  and  Lctites. — Sut.  21.  Ophel — sec  note  on  2Chrnn. 
 xxvii.  3.  2.1.  The  l<ing — some  think  this  refers  to  David  ;  others,  to 
 the  Persian  king,  which  is  most  probable. — So  Pat.  and  Citt.  li.At 
 Itie  fiinp^s  h'ind,  '  by  the  king's  authority.* — Bnotlir.     In  all  matters. 
 
 with  Ezra  and  Nehemiah  enter  into  the  count. — Clarke.      II.  Rnier  of    ^c.,  appointed  to  see  justice  done  to  the  interests  of  the  crown  and  the 
 
 united  to  me  here,  who  shall  be  sep;iruted  from  me  for  ever 
 bereaf'ter,  and  condemned  to  scorch  in  everlasting  burnings? 
 No  ;  if  it  ever  be  my  lot  to  enter  into  that  state,  1  beg  of  God 
 that  he  would  direct  me  in  the  choice  of  such  a  wife  only,  to 
 lie  ia  my  bosom  here,  as  may  afterwards  be  admitted  to  rest 
 in  Abraham's  bosom  to  all  eternity  ;  such  a  one  as  will  so  live, 
 and  pray,  and  converse  with  me  upon  earth,  that  we  may  both 
 be  entitled  to  sing,  to  rejoice,  and  be  blessed  together  for 
 ever,  in  lieaven.  That  this,  therefore,  may  be  my  portion  and 
 felicity,  1  hrmly  resolve  never  to  set  upon  such  a  design  be- 
 fore I  have  first  solicited  the  tlirone  of  grace,  and  begged  of 
 my  heavenly  Father  to  honour  me  with  the  partnership  of  one 
 of  his  beloved  children,  and  shall  afterwards  be  as  careful  and 
 cautious  as  I  can,  never  to  fix  my  affections  upon  any  woman 
 for  a  wife  till  I  am  thoroughly  persuaded  of  the  grounds  I  have 
 to  love  her  as  a  true  Christian.' 
 
 II.  Not  to  violate  tlie  sabbath.     '  Real  believers,'  says  Scott, 
 '  at  least  all  who,  by  a  consistent  conduct,  give  satisfactory 
 516 
 
 evidence  that  they  are  such,  place  the  greatest  guard  where 
 there  is  the  greatest  danger,  and  use  every  means  of  avoiding 
 and  subduing  those  sins  which  have  the  most  foiled  and  en- 
 snared tbein.  They  do  not  infringe  upon  the  sacred  rest,  and 
 they  shew  a  marked  disapprobation  of  those  who  do  ;  they 
 carefully  remove  occasions  of  transgression,  and  previously 
 arrange  everything  as  may  best  promote  the  strict  observance 
 of  that  holy  day.* 
 
 III.  Not  to  nii/lect  supporting  the  worship  of  God.  'As  the 
 ordinances  of  God,'  says  the  same  writer,  '  are  the  appointed 
 means  of  sustenance  to  our  souls,  the  believer  should  not 
 grudge  the  expense  of  them.  Even  the  poor  will  part  with 
 their  money  for  bread  ;  yet  most  men  leave  their  souls  to 
 starve  !  But  the  covenanted  servant  of  God  "  honours  him 
 with  his  substance  and  the  first  fruits  of  all  liis  increase,"  and 
 that  brings  a  blessing  upon  the  rest;  nor  will  he  defraud  oi 
 withhold  from  the  ministers  who  labour  in  the  word  and  doc- 
 trine their  portion  of  a  suitable  maintenance.' 
 
The  priests  who  eame  with  Zerubbabd.         NEHEMIAH,  XII. 
 
 The  chief  Levites. 
 
 27  And  at  Hazar-shual,  and  at  Beer-slieba, 
 and  in  the  villages  thereof, 
 
 28  And  at  Ziklag,  and  at  Mekonah,  and  in  the 
 villages  thereof, 
 
 29  And  at  En-rimmon,  and  at  Zareah,  and  at 
 Jannuth, 
 
 30  Zanoah,  AduUam,  and  in  their  villages,  at 
 Lachish,  and  the  fields  thereof,  at  Azekah,  and 
 hi  the  villages  thereof.  And  they  dwelt  from 
 Beer-sheba  unto  the  valley  of  Hinnom. 
 
 31  The  children  also  of  Benjamin  ||  from 
 Geba  dwelt  ||  at  Michniash,  and  Aija,  and 
 Beth-el,  and  in  their  villages, 
 
 32  And  at  Anathoth,  Nob,  Ananiah, 
 
 33  Hazor,  llamah,  Gittaim, 
 
 34  Hadid,  Zeboini,  Neballat, 
 
 33  Lod,  and  Ono,  ''  the  valley  of  craftsmen. 
 36  And  of  the  Levites  were  divisions  in  Ju- 
 dah,  and  in  Benjamin. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  TIte  priestSf  8  and  the  Levites,  which  came  vp  with 
 Zerubbabel,  10  The  succession  of  high  priests.  22 
 Certain  chief  Leviti'S.  27  The  solemnity  of  the  de- 
 dication of  the  walls.  44  The  ojfices  of  priests  and 
 Levites  appointed  in  the  temple. 
 
 "lyrOW  these  are  the  °  priests  and  the  Levites 
 -'- '  that  went  up  with  Zerubbabel  the  son  of 
 Shealtiel,  and  Jeshua :  >■  Seraiah,  Jeremiah, 
 Ezra, 
 
 2  Amariah,  ||  Malluch,  Hattush, 
 
 3  II  Shechaniali.  ||  Rehum,  ||  Meremoth, 
 
 4  Iddo,  II  Ginnetho,  '  Abijah, 
 
 6  II  Miamin,  ||Maadiab,  Bilgah, 
 
 6  Sheniaiah,  and  Joiarib,  Jedaiah, 
 
 7  II  Sallu,  Amok,  Hilkiah,  Jedaiah.  These 
 were  the  chief  of  the  priests  and  of  their  bre- 
 thren in  the  days  of ''Jeshua. 
 
 8  Moreover  the  Levites :  Jeshua,  Binnui, 
 Kadniiel,  Sherebiah,  Judah,  and  Mattaniah, 
 *  which  was  over  ||  the  thanksgiving,  he  and 
 liis  brethren. 
 
 9  Also  Bakbukiah  and  Unni,  their  brethren, 
 were  over  against  them  in  the  watches. 
 
 10  1  And  Jeshua  begat  Joiakim,  Joiakim 
 also  begat  Eliashib,  and  Eliashib  begat  Joiada, 
 
 11  And  Joiada  begat  Jonathan,  and  Jona- 
 than begat  Jaddua. 
 
 12  And  in  the  days  of  Joiakim  were  priests, 
 the  chief  of  the  fatliers  :  of  Seraiah,  Meraiah  ; 
 of  Jeremiah,  Hananiah  ; 
 
 cir.  fi36. 
 Ezras.  1, 1 
 
 b  Seech.  10, 
 8—8. 
 
 nv.Mrllc, 
 vT,  t.^. 
 
 Or,  Kb^'hn- 
 
 H. 
 II  Or,  Harim, 
 
 ver.  IS. 
 II  Or,  MpTiti- 
 
 nth,  ver  15 
 II  Or,  Giitnf- 
 
 (/.(m,ver.I6 
 c  Luke  I.  a. 
 II  Or,  .!/,...■«■ 
 
 ,Hin,ver.  17. 
 |l  Or,  Moidi 
 
 „},,  ver.  17. 
 II  Or.  Sillai, 
 
 yer.  '21). 
 d  Kzra  3.  '.?. 
 
 Hag.  I.  1. 
 
 Zech  3  1 
 rch  11  17. 
 II  Thai  is, 
 
 the  pxiitint 
 
 ofthinht- 
 
 /  1  Chv    9. 
 
 J  1  Clir.  23, 
 K,  S5,  h  2I». 
 /.  KT,ra  3    11. 
 
 i  ch.  8,  9. 
 4  Ezra  7.  0, 
 
 /  Peu.  20  5. 
 Ps.30,  title 
 
 13  Of  Ezra,  Meshullam  ;  of  Amariah,  Jeho- 
 hanau  ; 
 
 14  Of  Melicu,  Jonathan  ;  of  Shebaniah,  Jo- 
 seph ; 
 
 13  Of  Harim,  Adna  ;  of  Meraioth,  Helkai ; 
 
 16  Of  Iddo,  Zechariah  ;  of  Ginnethon,  Me- 
 shullam ; 
 
 17  Of  Abijah,  Zichri ;  ofMiniamin;  ofMoa- 
 diah,  Piltai ; 
 
 18  Of  Bilgah,  Shammua  ;  of  Shemaiah,  Jeho- 
 nathan  ; 
 
 1 9  And  of  Joiarib,  Mattenai ;  of  Jedaiah,Uzzi ; 
 
 20  Of  Sallai,  Kallai  ;  Of  Amok,  Eber  , 
 
 21  Of  Hilkiah,  Hashabiah  ;  of  Jedaiah,  Ne- 
 thaneel. 
 
 22  t  The  Levites  in  the  days  of  Eliashib, 
 Joiada,  and  Johanan,  and  Jaddua,  were  re- 
 corded chief  of  the  fathers :  also  the  priests, 
 to  the  reign  of  Darius  the  Persian. 
 
 23  The  sons  of  Levi,  the  chief  of  the  fathers, 
 were  written  in  the  book  of  the  ''clironicles, 
 even  until  the  days  of  Johanan  the  son  of 
 Eliashib. 
 
 24  And  the  chief  of  the  Levites  :  Hashabiah, 
 Sherebiah,  and  Jeshua  the  son  of  Kadmiel, 
 with  their  brethren  over  against  them,  to  praise 
 and  to  give  thanks,  ^according  to  the  com- 
 mandment of  David  the  man  of  God,  ■■  ward 
 over  against  ward. 
 
 23  Mattaniah,  and  Bakbukiah,  Obadiah,  Me- 
 shullam, Talmon,  Akkub,  were  porters  keeping 
 the  ward  at  the  ||  thresholds  of  the  gates. 
 
 26  These  were  in  the  days  of  Joiakim  the 
 son  of  Jeshua,  the  son  of  Jozadak,  and  in  'the 
 days  of  Nehemiah  '  the  governor,  and  of  Ezra 
 the  priest,  '  the  scribe. 
 
 27  f  And  at  '  the  dedication  of  the  wall  of 
 Jerusalem  they  sought  the  Levites  out  of  all 
 their  places,  to  bring  them  to  Jerusalem,  to 
 keep  the  dedication  with  gladness,  "'  both  with 
 thanksgivings,  and  with  singing,  with  cymbals, 
 psalteries,  and  with  harps. 
 
 28  And  the  sons  of  the  singers  gathered 
 themselves  together,  both  out  of  the  plain 
 country  round  about  Jerusalem,  and  from  the 
 villages  of  Netophathi ; 
 
 29  Also  from  the  house  of  Gilgal,  and  out  of 
 the  fields  of  Geba  and  Azmaveth  :  for  the 
 singers  had  bnilded  them  villages  round  about 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 30  And  the  priests  and  the  Levites  purified 
 
 rights  of  the  people. — Pijle.        36.  Were  flivisions,  fyc,  some  (Jwelt  in 
 Jutlah  and  some  in  Uciijaniin. — Bovllir, 
 
 Chap.  XII.  —  8.  Which  wtts  over  the  thnnksgit^ing,  ^-c,  '  who,  with 
 his  own  hrethren,  was  tlie  leader  in  the  praises  of  the  temple.' — Bootkr. 
 They  were  appointed  to  see  the  psalm  of  thanksgiving  sung  every 
 morning  and  evening  at  the  burnt  sacrifice. — Put.  9.  Were  orer 
 against  them  in,  Sfc,  '  superintended  the  watches.' — Boothr.  11.  Jaii. 
 dun — if  this  be  Jaddiis  who  went  forth  to  meet  Alexander,  as  Jusephus 
 supposes,  then  what  is  related  here,  and  at  ver.  '22,  must  be  written  by 
 another  hand,  and  not  by  Nehemiah,  who  could  harilly  be  thought  to 
 live  so  long,  upwards  of  a  hundred  years  after  Nelieniiah  peopled  Jeru- 
 salem,— Gilt,  Wetts,  Boothr.      In  these  two  verses  (10, 11)  there  is  ob- 
 
 viously an  account  of  the  succession  of  the  high  priests  from  the  return 
 from  the  captivity  till  the  time  when  they  began  to  bear  the  greatest 
 sway  in  the  Jewish  nation. — Pttt.  22.  i^/(ri«6-— thought  to  be  Danus 
 Codomnus,  the  last  king  of  the  Persian  monarchy,  whom  Alexander 
 conquered. — So  C/il.  If  so,  this  verse  must  be  inserted  after  the  death 
 of  Nehemiah,— Gi7/,  Le  Cterc ;  or  the  Darius  may  be  Darius  Nothiis, 
 wlio  reigned  b.  c.  423,  eiglity-eight  years  sooner. —  Usher,  Gray. 
 23.  Chromctes—mmc  think  this  refers  to  I  Chron.  ix.  li.—Pttt.  Rather 
 some  other  register  now  lost. — A.  Clarke.  24.  Ward  over  against 
 itv/rrf— by  turns  iu  courses,  (see  1  Chron.  xxiii.5,  6.)~GitI.  In  alternate 
 bAiiiis.— Boothr.  29.  House,  rv:i.  It  sometimes  signifies  '  region  ;* 
 so  here— Mich.,  Boothr.        30.  Purified  themselves,  by  washing  their 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI.  —  Observe  here,  I.  The  re- 
 plenishing of  Jerusalem.  Honourable  mention  is  made  of  those 
 who  preferred  it.  '  In  the  choice  of  residences,'  says  Boolh- 
 royd,  *  every  good  man  would  wish  to  live  where  he  can  enjoy 
 tje  benefit  of  reliRious  ordinances.  Such  a  choice  will  be  at- 
 tended with  great  advantage,  and  there  will  be  no  reason  to 
 regret  it.' 
 
 II.  The  inhabitants  of  the  villar/es.  Though  many  might,  from 
 interest,  and  timidity,  and  indift'erence  to  ordinances,  prefer 
 their  residence  in  the  country,  yet,  doubtless,  many  had  rea- 
 sons of  dufv,  and  manv  whose  bodies  were  there  bad  their 
 317 
 
 hearts  towards  the  house  of  God.  A  rural  life  has  its  advan- 
 tages. In  these  times  our  metropolis,  which,  from  its  many 
 privileges,  may  be  viewed  as  a  modern  Jerusalem,  has  great 
 attractions  for  the  pious,  but  it  has  also  great  distractions  for 
 the  mind,  and  even  religious  hurry  and  bustle  is  not  desirable 
 for  a  continuance.  In  the  more  quiet  parts,  the  soul  has  less 
 temptation  to  look  out  of  itself,  and  there  the  devout  wor- 
 shipper, if  he  goes  not  with  the  multiturle  that  keep  holy  day, 
 often  enjoys  all  the  sweetness  of  the  Saviour's  promise, '  Where 
 two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in 
 the  midst  of  them.' 
 
The  dcdicntton  t.f  ihe  walls* 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  XIII. 
 
 Separation  from  the  mixed  multitude' 
 
 themselves,  and  purified  the  people,  and  the 
 gates,  and  the  wall. 
 
 31  Then  I  brought  up  the  princes  of  Judah 
 upon  the  wall,  and  appointed  two  great  com- 
 panies of  than  that  (jave  thanks,  uhcieof"one 
 went  on  the  right  hand  upon  the  wall  °  toward 
 the  dung  gate  : 
 
 32  And  after  them  went  Hoshaiah,  and  half 
 of  the  princes  of  Judah, 
 
 33  And  Azariah,  Ezra,  and  Meshullam, 
 
 34  Jndali,  and  Benjamin,  and  Sheraaiah,  and 
 Jeremiah, 
 
 35  And  certain  of  the  priests'  sons  ''with 
 trumpets  ;  nameli/,  Zechariah  the  son  of  Jona- 
 than, the  son  of  Shemaiah,  the  son  of  Matta- 
 niah,  the  son  of  Micliaiah,  the  son  of  Zaccur, 
 the  son  of  Asaph  : 
 
 36  And  his  brethren,  Shemaiah,  and  Azarael, 
 Milalai,  Gilalai,  Maai,  Nethaneel,  and  Judah, 
 Hanani,  with  ''  the  musical  instruments  of  Da- 
 vid the  man  of  God,  and  Ezra  the  scribe  before 
 tliem. 
 
 37  '  And  at  the  fountain  gate,  which  was 
 over  against  them,  they  went  up  by  '  the 
 stairs  of  the  city  of  David,  at  the  going  up  of 
 the  wall,  above  the  house  of  David,  even  unto 
 '  the  water  gate  eastward. 
 
 38  "  And  the  other  company  of  them  that 
 ijave  thanks  went  over  against  them,  and  I 
 after  them,  and  the  half  of  the  people  upon 
 the  wall,  fiom  beyond  "  the  tower  of  the  fur- 
 naces even  unto  'the  broad  wall  ; 
 
 39  '  And  from  above  the  gate  of  Ephraim, 
 and  "above  °  the  old  gate,  and  above  ■*  the  fish 
 gate,  '  and  the  tower  of  Hananeel,  and  the 
 tower  of  Meali,  even  unto  ''  the  sheep  gate  : 
 and  they  stood  still  in  "  the  prison  gate. 
 
 40  So  stood  the  two  companies  of  them  that 
 pave  thanks  in  the  house  of  God,  and  I,  and 
 the  half  of  tlie  rulers  with  me  : 
 
 41  And  the  priests;  Eliakim,  Maaseiah,  Mi- 
 niamin,  Michaiah,  Elioenai,  Zechariah,  and 
 Hananiah,  with  trumpets ; 
 
 42  And  Maaseiah,  and  Shemaiah,  and  Elea- 
 zar,  and  Uzzi,  and  Jeliohauan,  and  Malchijah, 
 and  Elam,  and  Ezer.  And  tlie  singers  f  sang 
 loud,  with  Jezrahiah  their  overseer. 
 
 43  Also  that  day  they  ofi'ered  great  sacrifices, 
 and  rejoiced  :  for  God  had  made  them  rejoice 
 with  great  joy  :  the  wives  also  and  the  chil- 
 dren rejoiced  :  so  that  the  joy  of  Jerusalem 
 was  heard  even  afar  off. 
 
 44  U  '  And  at  that  time  were  .some  appointed 
 
 I  See  ver.38 
 ch.  !    13. 
 
 r  ch  2.  U, 
 &  S   ir> 
 t  ch.  3.  15. 
 
 /ch.S  Sft.  & 
 8.  I,  3,  10 
 tiSee  ver..31. 
 
 II. 
 
 X  ch 
 
 jf  ch.  S.  8. 
 
 :!  Kiu  14. 
 13.  ch   8. 
 
 16. 
 
 t  Heb.  madr 
 their  voice 
 (u  bt  heard. 
 
 /2Chr.  13. 
 II.  11.  ch. 
 13.5,  12,13. 
 
 II  That  Is, 
 ajipiiinledbi/ 
 
 Ihr  hiK 
 
 I  Hel../»r 
 lhe],,„  vf 
 
 \  lleb    lt,nt 
 
 il<,od. 
 y\  Chr.  25. 
 
 I]  Th»t  is, 
 I't  iit'1'1. 
 k  Num.  IS 
 
 fl  Den    31. 
 
 11.  Vl. 
 
 2  Kill  '.'3.  i. 
 
 ch.H.  3,8. 
 
 &  9.  3.  Is. 
 
 S4.  Hi. 
 t  lleh.  rtm 
 
 tea.  read. 
 t  Heb.  eirt. 
 b  neiit.  i;3. 
 
 3,  1. 
 0  Num. 22  5. 
 
 Jos.  H.  9, 
 
 lu. 
 d  Num.  23. 
 
 1 1 .  h  2.V  1 0. 
 
 Deu.  S3.  5. 
 
 I  Heb.  being 
 ch.  12.  44. 
 
 t  Heb.  r/.e 
 ornmnrid- 
 me'il  "I  Ihr 
 Lr,nl,,. 
 
 ff   Null,     18. 
 21,  21 
 
 /ich.  6.  14. 
 
 over  the  chambers  for  the  treasures,  for  the 
 ofi'erings,  for  the  firstfruits,  and  for  the  tithes, 
 to  gatlier  into  them  out  of  the  fields  of  the  cities 
 the  portions  ||of  the  law  for  the  priests  and  Le- 
 vites  :  t  for  Judah  rejoiced  for  the  priests  and 
 for  the  Levites  f  that  waited. 
 
 45  And  both  the  singers  and  the  porters  kept 
 the  ward  of  their  God,  and  the  ward  of  the 
 purification,  *  according  to  the  commandment 
 of  David,  and  of  Solomon  his  son. 
 
 46  For  in  the  days  of  David  ''  and  Asaph  of 
 old  there  were  chief  of  the  singers,  and  songs 
 of  praise  and  thanksgiving  unto  God. 
 
 47  And  all  Israel  in  the  days  of  Zerubbabel, 
 and  in  the  days  of  Neliemiah,  gave  the  por- 
 tions of  the  singers  and  the  porters,  every  day 
 his  portion  :  'and  they  |jsanctified  holy  things 
 unto  the  Levites  ;  '  and  the  Levites  sanctified 
 them  unto  the  children  of  Aaron. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Upon  the  reading  of  the  law  separation  is  made  from 
 the  mixed  multiimle.  4  Neheiuiati  at  his  return 
 causeth  the  chamltvrs  to  he  eleansefl,  10  lie  reform- 
 eth  tlie  offices  in  the  holisr  of  God.  16  The  violation 
 of^  the  sabbath,  2.3  and  the  marriages  with  strange 
 wives. 
 
 r\^  that  day  "  f  t'ley  read  in  the  book  of 
 ^-^  Moses  in  the  f  audience  of  the  people; 
 and  therein  was  found  written,  ''  that  the  Am- 
 monite and  the  Moabite  should  not  come  into 
 the  congregation  of  God  for  ever  ; 
 '2  Because  they  met  not  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael with  bread  and  with  water,  but '  hired  Ba- 
 laam against  them,  that  he  should  curse  them: 
 ■■  howbeit  our  God  turned  the  curse  into  a 
 blessing. 
 
 3  Now  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  had  heard 
 the  law,  "  that  they  separated  from  Israel  all 
 the  mixed  multitude. 
 
 4  1  And  before  thi.s,  Eliashib  the  priest, 
 t  having  the  oversight  of  the  chamber  of  the 
 house  of  our  God,  was  allied  unto  Tobiah  : 
 
 5  And  he  had  prepared  for  him  a  great  cham- 
 ber, '  where  aforetime  they  laid  the  meat  oflFer- 
 ings,  the  frankincense,  and  the  vessels,  and  the 
 tithes  of  the  corn,  the  new  wine,  and  the  oil, 
 fi^  which  was  commanded  to  be  given  to  the 
 Levites,  and  the  singers,  and  the  porters ;  and 
 the  ofi'erings  of  the  priests. 
 
 6  But  in  all  this  titne  was  not  I  at  Jerusalem: 
 ''  for  in  the  two  and  thirtieth  year  of  Arta- 
 xerxes  king  of  Babylon  came  I  unto  the  king. 
 
 bodies  and  their  clothes,  and  perhaps  sprinkling  the  water  of  purifica- 
 tion on  them,  (see  Num.  viii.  6,  7,  21,  and  xix.  9,]— Gill:  also  by  ab. 
 stinenre  from  wine,  &c.  And  the  friites,  by  the  removal  of  all  filth. 
 Anil  the  wall,  by  removing  the  rubbish.— .J.  Ctiirlte.  38.  Tower  lif 
 the  fiirniLces,  where  they  baked  bread  or  bricks,  (chap.  iii.  11.)  —  GHl. 
 45.  Kept  the  ward,  Sfc.,  '  observed  what  related  to  the  worship  of  their 
 God  and  to  purification.'— SooMr.  4?.  T/ie  Lei-iles  sanctijfied  them, 
 *i,'.— they  set  apart  the  tenth  of  the  tithes  and  delivered  them  to  the 
 priests.— Gi//.    Chap.  x.  38. 
 
 Chap.  X HI.  —  1.  On  that  dnij,  when  Nehcmiah  had  governed  twelve 
 years,  and  had  been  to  Babylon  and  returned,  (see  ver.  6,  comp.  with 
 chap.  ii.  1.  6,  and  vii.  2.)— Gill.  Found  written,  ^c— Deut.  xxiii.  3,  see 
 note  there.        3.  All  the  viiied  multitude— M  of  the  Ammonites  and 
 
 Mnabitcs  and  other  nations  they  had  contracted  affinity  with. — Gill. 
 All  stranire  women  and  llieir  offspring. — Clarke.  4.  Tlte  oversiglit  of 
 the  rhamtier,  probably  means  the  government  of  the  temple,  chamber 
 being  put  for  chambers.  Unto  Tobiatt,  an  inveterate  enemy  of  the 
 Jews,  (chap.  ii.  10,  2(1 ;)  he  married  a  daughter  of  Shechaniah,  and  his 
 sun  a  daughter  of  Meshullam,  who  were  both  priests,  and  so,  as  it 
 seems,  related  to  Eliashib,  (ctiap.  vi.  18.)  6.  Was  not  I  at  Jerusa- 
 lem— Nehemiah  was  absent  when  these  things  were  done  by  Eliashib, 
 or  he  would  not  have  suffered  them ;  and  without  such  authority  he 
 could  not  have  made  such  innovations. — So  Prid.  Artnrerjes  kin^ 
 of  Babylon — not  Xerxes,  who  reigned  but  21  years,  but  Darius  Hys- 
 taspis.  who  reigned  36,  called  king  of  Babylon,  because  the  whole 
 empire  was  in  the  hands  of  the  king  of  Persia.    Came  I  unto  the  king. 
 
 Rfflfctions    on    Chap.   XU. —I.  A  succession  of  devoted 
 
 men  III  engage  in  Divine  services,  is  a  great  blessing  to  ihe  church 
 of  Gild.  While  others  are  engaged  in  secular  concerns,  their 
 best  mterests  are  promoted  by  those  wlio  give  themselves 
 wholly  to  these  things,  and  wlio  are  dulv  qualified,  by  suitable 
 training  under  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  lead  the 
 sacred  services  of  the  sanctuary. 
 
 II.  '  Great  mercies  caU  fur  the  most  solemn  returns  nf  praise.' 
 jl  8 
 
 The  dedication  of  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  completed  tlie  se- 
 curity of  the  city  and  worship  of  the  Jews,  and  was  a  real 
 occasion  for  joy.  Here  even  children  united  in  the  grateful 
 shouts,  and  liosannas  from  infant  lips  are  ever  grateful  in  tlie 
 ears  of  their  condescending  Creator.  May  our  children  thus 
 learn  to  express  their  joy  in  tiie  prosperity  of  the  spiritual 
 Jerusalem,  and  their  love  to  tiiat  Saviour  to  whom  hosannas  of 
 old  were  raised  in  tlie  temple  ! 
 
Nehemiah  returns. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  XIII. 
 
 and  reforms  abuses. 
 
 and  t  after  certain  days   |{  obtained  I  leave  of 
 the  king  : 
 
 7  And  I  came  to  Jernsalem,  and  understood 
 of  the  evil  that  Eliashib  did  for  Tobiah,  in 
 '  preparing  him  a  chamber  in  tlie  courts  of  the 
 house  of  God. 
 
 8  And  it  grieved  ine  sore :  tlierefore  I  cast 
 forth  all  the  houshold  stuft'  of  Tobiah  out  of 
 the  chamber. 
 
 9  Then  I  commanded,  and  they  ^  cleansed 
 the  chambers  :  and  thitlier  brought  I  again  the 
 vessels  of  the  house  of  God,  with  the  meat 
 oflFering  and  the  frankincense. 
 
 10  H  And  I  perceived  that  the  portions  of  the 
 Levites  had  '  not  been  given  them :  for  the 
 Levites  and  the  singers,  that  did  the  work, 
 were  fled  every  one  to  '"his  field. 
 
 1 1  Then  "  contended  I  with  tlie  rulers,  and 
 said,  °  Why  is  the  house  of  God  forsaken  ? 
 And  I  gathered  them  together,  and  set  them 
 in  their  f  place. 
 
 12  ''  Then  brought  all  Judah  the  tithe  of  the 
 corn  and  the  new  wine  and  the  oil  unto  the 
 {I  treasuries. 
 
 13  ''And  I  made  treasurers  over  the  trea- 
 suries, Shelemiah  the  priest,  and  Zadok  the 
 scribe,  and  of  the  Levites,  Pedaiah  :  and  f  next 
 to  them  was  Hanau  the  son  of  Zaccnr,  the  son 
 of  Mattaniah  :  for  they  were  counted  'faithful, 
 and  f  their  office  ivas  to  distribute  unto  their 
 brethren. 
 
 14  '  Remember  me,  O  my  God,  concerning 
 this,  and  wipe  not  out  my  f  S0<"^  deeds  that  I 
 have  done  for  the  house  of  my  God,  and  for 
 the  II  offices  thereof. 
 
 15  H  In  those  days  saw  I  in  Judah  some 
 treading  wine  presses  '  on  the  sabbath,  and 
 bringing  in  sheaves,  and  lading  asses  ;  as  aLso 
 wine,  grapes,  and  figs,  and  all  manner  of  hur- 
 dens,  "  which  they  brought  into  Jerusalem  on 
 the  sabbath  day:  and  I  testified  ar/aiiist  them 
 in  the  day  wherein  they  sold  victuals. 
 
 16  There  dwelt  men  of  Tyre  also  therein, 
 which  brought  fish,  and  all  manner  of  ware, 
 and  sold  on  the  sabbath  unto  the  children  of 
 Judah,  and  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 17  "Then  I  contended  with  the  nobles  of 
 Judah,  and  said  unto  them,  What  evil  thing  is 
 this  that  ye  do,  and  profane  the  sahbatli  day? 
 
 18  ^  Did  not  your  fatliers  thus,  and  did  not 
 our  God  bring  all  this  evil  upon  us,  and  upon 
 this  city?  yet  ye  bring  more  wrath  upon  Israel 
 by  profaning  the  sabbath. 
 
 19  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  the  gates 
 of  Jerusalem  '  began  to  be  dark  before  the 
 sabbath,  I  commanded  that  the  gates  should 
 
 t  Hell,  al  rhe 
 
 full   ilf  lllMIX. 
 
 lilll-,  /™r,,. 
 nlttj   re- 
 
 i  ver.  I.'s. 
 
 ',  2  Chr.  29. 
 5,  la,  Its,  18. 
 
 B.C. 
 ^ir.  ■1S4. 
 
 vet-.  17,  2.'>. 
 I'rov.  28  4. 
 ch.  lu  b9 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 slai>diiiij. 
 ;>cli.  111.  .^!1, 
 
 30.  &  12.  W. 
 Il  Or,  s/uie- 
 
 Aoujf 
 
 a  ch. 12. M. 
 2  Chr.  31. 
 
 r  cli.  7.  ?. 
 
 1  Cm-   4.  2. 
 \  Heb.il  was 
 
 ii/)un  Itifin 
 
 I  ver.  22.  SI 
 cli   .5    10 
 t  Ht'b  A.nd- 
 
 i<  Jer.  17.  21 
 22.  ch.  10. 
 31. 
 
 /Jer   17.21 
 2>,  23. 
 
 cii.  J:H 
 <,  .k-r.  17. -'I 
 
 II  Or,  »i,.((|-- 
 
 tuitf. 
 
 cir.  434. 
 t  Heb.  hud 
 
 mnde  to 
 
 direll  with 
 
 them. 
 d  Fzra  9   2. 
 t  Heb.  ttinj 
 
 diicerufd 
 
 lliit  lirltlfllk. 
 
 t  Heb.  (/ 
 ]>fiij)le  mid 
 
 r"pi' 
 
 f  vi^r.  II. 
 
 Prov. 2H  4 
 II  Or,  r,i;ded 
 
 lliem. 
 f  Ezra  10  5 
 
 ch.  10.20, 
 
 30. 
 
 a  1  Kio.  II. 
 
 1,  H.C, 
 h  1  Kin  3.13. 
 
 2  Chr.  1  12. 
 i  2  Sam.  12. 
 
 24. 
 
 k  1  Kin.  II. 
 4,  &c. 
 
 /  Ezra  in.  2. 
 
 nch,  fl.  14. 
 t  Heb.  ^r 
 
 i)if  df filings. 
 „  Mai    i.  4, 
 
 11,  12. 
 
 p  ch.  10.  SO, 
 7  ch.  12    1, 
 
 ch.  10.  34. 
 ver,  14,  22. 
 
 be  shut,  and  charged  that  they  should  not  be 
 opened  till  after  the  sabbath:  "and  some  of 
 my  servants  set  I  at  the  gates,  that  there 
 should  no  burden  be  brought  in  on  the  sabbath 
 day. 
 
 20  So  the  merchants  and  sellers  of  all  kind 
 of  ware  lodged  without  Jerusalem  once  or 
 twice. 
 
 21  Then  I  testified  against  tliem,  and  said 
 unto  them.  Why  lodge  ye  f  about  the  wall  ? 
 if  ye  do  so  again,  I  will  lay  hands  on  you. 
 From  that  time  forth  came  they  no  more  on 
 the  sabbath. 
 
 22  And  I  commanded  the  Levites  that  ■•  they 
 should  cleanse  themselves,  and  that  they  should 
 come  and  keep  the  gates,  to  sanctify  the  sab- 
 bath day.  "  Remember  me,  O  my  God,  con- 
 cerninij  this  also,  and  spare  me  according  to 
 the  II  greatness  of  thy  mercy. 
 
 23  K  In  those  days  also  saw  I  Jews  that 
 •{■■'had  married  wives  of  Ashdod,  of  Ammon, 
 and  of  Moab  : 
 
 24  And  their  children  spake  half  in  the  speech 
 of  Ashdod,  and  f  could  not  speak  in  the  Jews' 
 language,  but  according  to  the  language  t  of 
 each  people. 
 
 25  And  I  "contended  with  them,  and  |j cursed 
 them,  and  smote  certain  of  them,  and  plucked 
 off  their  hair,  and  made  them  ^  swear  by  God, 
 sai/inff.  Ye  shall  not  give  your  daughters  unto 
 their  sons,  nor  take  their  daughters  unto  your 
 sons,  or  for  yourselves. 
 
 2G  ^  Did  not  Solomon  king  of  Israel  sin  by 
 these  things?  yet  ''among  many  nations  was 
 there  no  king  like  him,  '  who  was  beloved  of 
 his  God,  and  God  made  him  king  over  all  Is- 
 rael :  ''  nevertheless  even  him  did  outlandish 
 women  cause  to  sin. 
 
 27  Shall  we  then  hearken  unto  you  to  do 
 all  this  great  evil,  to  '  transgress  against  our 
 God  in  marrying  strange  wives? 
 
 28  And  one  of  the  sons  ""of  Joiada,  the  son 
 of  Eliashib  the  high  priest,  was  son  in  law  to 
 Sanballat  the  Horonite :  therefore  I  chased 
 him  from  me. 
 
 29  "  Remember  them,  O  my  God,  f  'jecause 
 they  have  defiled  the  priesthood,  and  °  the 
 covenant  of  the  priesthood,  and  of  the  Le- 
 vites. 
 
 30  '  Thus  cleansed  I  them  from  all  strangers, 
 and  '■  appointed  the  wards  of  the  priests  and 
 the  Levites,  every  one  in  his  business  ; 
 
 31  And  for  'the  wood  offering,  at  times  ap- 
 pointed, and  for  the  firstfruits.  'Remember 
 me,  O  my  God,  for  good. 
 
 after  having  governed  twelve  years. — Gilt.  Certain  dnt/s,  frequently 
 signifies  a  number  of  years  in  Scripture,  and  a  considerable  time  must 
 have  elapsed  fur  the  trrowth  of  such  abuses.— PWrf.  7.  A  cttamtier  in 
 tlie  courtt — this  profaned  the  sacred  place,  converting  it  to  common 
 use.  10.  Fled  ererji  one  to  his  field,  to  look  after  agricultural  con- 
 cerns, being  neglected  at  Jerusalem,  (see  chap.  xii.  28,  29.)  14.  Re. 
 member  me,  in  a  way  of  grace  and  mercy,  having  dime  this  for  the 
 honour  of  God's  name. — Gill.  22,  Remember  me — to  shew  that  be 
 did  not  think  of  merit  in  his  deeds,  he  pleads  the  greatness  of  God's 
 
 mercy, — So  Put.  See  note  on  ver.  14.  25.  C?/»-se(f  f/iem— denounced 
 the  curses  of  God  which  would  fall  upon  them  if  they  did  not  reform. 
 —  Wells,  so  Put.,  Gill.  A.  rUtrke.  Smote,  ordered  them  to  be  scourged 
 as  transgressors. —  rV(7/.  Pcut.  xxv,  2.  P/«cA-fd,  §-c,— had  them  shaved, 
 as  a  mark  of  ignominy. — .i. Clarke.  It  made  them  look  like  vile  slaves. 
 — Pat.  The  Heljicw  properly  signifies  that  they  tore  off  the  hair  with 
 violence,  a  punishment  painful  as  well  as  disgraceful.  It  was  common 
 in  Persia.— £•»(.  29.  Remember  them,  ^c— words  to  be  understooil 
 declaratively. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  XIII.  —  I.  We  may  notice  the 
 crimis  of  the  Jews  liere  recorded : — 1.  The  profanation  of  the 
 temple  ;  and  this  by  a  priest.  When  the  ministers  of  religion 
 trample  upon  its  sacred  laws,  it  is  no  wonder  if  the  proverb  be 
 awfully  illustrated,  'like  priest,  like  people.'  2.  The  neg- 
 lect of  the  Levites.  These  were  in  consequence  driven  to 
 secular  employments  for  support,  and  so  the  work  of  the 
 temple  was  neglected.  '  A  scandalous  maintenance,  says 
 Henry,  *  makes  a  scandalous  ministry.*  '  A  Levite  in  the  field 
 519 
 
 is  out  of  his  station  ;  God's  house  is  his  place,  and  there  let 
 him  he  found.'  3.  The  desecration  of  the  sabbath.  'The 
 husbandmen  trod  their  wine-presses,  and  brought  home  their 
 corn  on  that  day  :  the  carriers  loaded  their  asses  with  all 
 manner  of  burdens.  The  hawkers,  and  pedlers,  and  petty 
 chapmen,  that  were  men  of  Tyre,  that  famous  trading  city, 
 sold  all  manner  of  ware  on  the  Sabbath  day,  and  the  children 
 of  Judah  and  Jerusalem  had  so  little  grace  as  to  buy  them,  and 
 so  to  encourage  them,  making  our  Father's  day  a  day  of  mer- 
 
THE   BOOK 
 
 ESTHER. 
 
 [Thoitgh  many  of  the  Jews  did  not  return  to  their  own  Innd  after  the  Babylonish  captivity,  the  providence  of  God  still 
 watched  over  them  in  an  extraordinary  way  ;  and  we  have  here  the  history  of  the  subversion  of  a  jilot  deeply  laid  to 
 effect  their  destruction.  From  this  event  arose  the  feast  of  Purim,  which  is  even  now  celebrated  among  tlie  Jews  with 
 many  peculiar  ceremonies.  Some  writers  have  supposed  that  the  king  in  whose  reign  the  events  here  recorded  occurred 
 was  Xerxes,  but  by  far  the  greater  number  are  of  opinion  that  it  was  the  Artaxerxcs  of  Ncheniiah,  suinamed  Longi- 
 manus,  or  the  Longlianded.  This  prince  contended  for  the  throne  with  the  children  of  Artehanus,  uncle  to  Xerxes, 
 whom,  with  their  adherents,  he  overthrew  in  a  bloody  battle;  and  in  the  following  year  he  defeated  Hystaspes,  another 
 rival,  with  the  Bactrians,  his  allies,  and  so  obtained  undisputed  possession  of  the  Persian  throne.  It  was  about  the  third 
 year  of  his  reign  that  the  events  took  place  which  are  here  recorded.  This  book  is  called,  in  the  Hebrew,  n'?*Jf3,  the 
 volume,  from  the  custom  of  rolling  the  parchments  on  a  stafV.  It  was  received  into  the  Jewish  canon  with  peculiar  vene- 
 ration.     Its  author  is  unknown,  some  ascribing  it  to  Ezra,  and  others  to  Rlordccai.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  Ahasuervs  mahcth  royal  feasts.  10  Fashti,  seiit  for, 
 refusctli  to  come.  13  Ahasuerus,  hy  the  counsel  of 
 MejiiucaHj  mahtth  the  decree  of  men's  sovereignty. 
 
 IV'OW  it  came  to  pass  in  the  days  of  "  Aha- 
 -^^  suenis,  (this  is  Ahasuerus  which  reigned, 
 ^  from  India  even  unto  Ethiopia,  "^  oi'cr  an 
 luindred  and  seven  and  twenty  provinces  :) 
 
 2  That  ill  those  days,  when  the  king  Aha- 
 suerus "^  sat  on  the  throne  of  his  kingdom, 
 which  icas  in  ^  Shushan  the  palace, 
 
 3  In  the  third  year  of  his  reign,  he  ^made  a 
 feast  unto  all  his  princes  and  his  servants  ;  the 
 power  of  Persia  and  Media,  the  nobles  and 
 princes  of  the  provinces,  being  before  him  : 
 
 4  When  he  shewed  the  riches  of  his  glorious 
 kingdom  and  the  honour  of  his  excellent  ma- 
 jesty many  days,  even  an  hundred  and  four- 
 score days. 
 
 5  And  when  these  days  were  expired,   the 
 
 b  oh.  8,  !). 
 c  Pan    6.  I. 
 
 d  IKiti  I  46, 
 
 e  Neh.  1.  I. 
 ciT.  61 y 
 
 L'U.  ch   -.MS 
 Mark  0,  21. 
 
 tHeb  /■>u>,H. 
 
 g  Sec  ch  7. 
 8  Kzek  2:!. 
 41.  Amoslf- 
 8.  &  6.  4 
 
 II  Or,  of  pur- 
 yhyrf,  aitd 
 wnhU,  und 
 
 and  .t..nr  uf 
 
 t  H.h.  nc- 
 
 thfli.fid  -t 
 
 the  ki:^. 
 
 king  made  a  feast  unto  all  the  people  that 
 were  f  present  in  Shushan  the  palace,  both 
 unto  great  and  small,  seven  days,  in  the  court 
 of  the  garden  of  the  king's  palace  ; 
 
 6  Where  were  white,  green,  and  {j  blue, 
 hat}ffi>}(/s,iasteue(\  with  cords  of  fine  linen  and 
 purple  to  silver  rings  and  pillars  of  marble  : 
 *''  the  beds  were  of  gold  and  silver,  upon  a 
 pavement  ||  of  red,  and  blue,  and  white,  and 
 black,  marble. 
 
 7  And  they  gave  them  drink  in  vessels  of 
 gold,  (the  vessels  being  diverse  one  from  an- 
 other,) and  f  royal  wine  in  abundance,  |  ac- 
 cording to  the  state  of  the  king. 
 
 8  And  the  drinking  was  according  to  the  law  ; 
 none  did  compel :  for  so  the  king  had  appointed 
 to  all  the  officers  of  his  house,  that  they  should 
 do  according  to  every  man's  pleasure. 
 
 9  Also  Vashti  the  queen  made  a  feast  for  the 
 women  in  the  royal  house  which  belonged  to 
 king  Ahasuerus. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  — 1,  An  hundred  and  setren  and  twenty  promnres 
 —seven  had  been  arldetl  since  Darius  tlie  Mede,  (Dan.  vi.  \.)—Gill. 
 HcDce  it  appears,  this  Ahasuerus,  the  Xer\es  Lonpimanus  of  Herodotus, 
 had  cnlarKed  his  empire,  and  made  the  Gant;es  and  the  Nile  his  boun- 
 daries.—5h<.  £/AiVj/>i"«— probably  a  part  of  Arabia  Felix,  and  not  Abys- 
 sinia; for  it  does  not  appear  that  the  Persians  ever  conquered  the 
 Abyssinians.— BrtoMr.  2.  Sat  on    the  throne,  enjoying:  peacf  and 
 
 quietness.— P((i.  Shushan,  the  ancient  city  of  Susa,  now  called  Slmster 
 by  the  Persians.— /I.  Clarke.  3.  Made  n  feast—Xeixcs  «'as  privately 
 murdered  by  Artabenes,  captain  of  his  puard,  who  pretended  to  Aha- 
 suerus, the  third  son  of  Xerxes,  that  the  deed  was  done  by  Darius,  his 
 eldest  brother,  with  an  intention  to  seize  the  throne  and  destroy  him. 
 Ahasuerus  believed  the  murder,  and.  by  his  aid,  destroyed  Darius. 
 Artabenes  now  placed  Ahasuerus  on  the  throne,  intending,  on  the  tirst 
 favourable  opportunity,  to  usurp  it  himself.  The  plot  was  discovered, 
 the  assassin  and  conspirator  destroyed,  and  the  feast  here  named  was 
 probably  given  on  the  occasion.— So  Hew.  Hk  servants.  •  his  subjects,' 
 called  servants  in  the  eastern  countries.— /^'f^.  It  is  probable  the 
 great  men  throughout  the  empire  were  entertained  in  rotation  during 
 six  months,  anil  the  citizens  of  Shusban  were,  without  distinctinn, 
 afterwards  feasted  for  seven  days  — 6Vo/(t.  The  power,  'the  mighty 
 men.* — Gffl.  4.  The  riches,  ^c. — the  Persians,  in  their  feasts,  made 
 a  general  exhibition  of  their  wealth,  grandeur,  Sic,  and  received  tlie 
 highest  encomiums  from  their  poets  and  flatteicrs, — A.  Clarke.  An 
 hundred  and  fourscore  dayssoxne  think  this  includes  the  time  of  pre- 
 
 paration, but  Dr.  Fryer,  who  resided  in  Persia,  mentions  a  feast  of  iSO 
 
 days;  and  Cheus,  a  Chinese  emperor,  used  frequenUy  to  make  a  feast 
 of  120  days. — Orient.  Cast.,  Oil.  6.  Hangings,  of  the  canopy. — Boothr. 
 It  was  the  custom  on  festival  occasions  to  hang  curtains  of  various 
 colours  about  the  place,  and  also  a  canopy  suspended  on  cords  frura 
 side  to  side. — Shaw.  Probably  curtains  dividing  the  court  of  the  garden 
 into  different  booths  ;  for  the  guests  entertained  were  of  different  ranks. 
 
 —  Hnr.  The  bed.-i,  '  couchcb'  or  '  sofaw,'  on  which  the  guests  rechned, 
 as  usual  among  the  ancients  at  their  meals.  They  were  stuffed  with 
 the  softest  wool,  and  the  frames,  which  here  were  of  the  richest  marble, 
 were  splendidly  ornamented  with  gold  and  silver. — Com.  from  Henry 
 and  Scott,  Boothr.,  Hew.  A  pavement  of  rcrf— they  pave  tlieir  courts 
 at  Aleppo  with  marble  of  different  colours. — Russell.  8.  The  drinking 
 was—xtxe  word  '  was'  is  not  in  the  Hebrew ;  the  translation  should  be, 
 'the  drinking  according  to  custom,  none  did  compel;*  that  is,  the 
 custom  was  to  compel,  but  was  now  superseded  lor  tiie  sake  of  peace 
 anrl  decorum  on  this  occasion. — Pyle.  Some  read  it  '  the  drinking  ac- 
 cording to  law,  let  none  exact,'  or  require  it  to  be,  according  to  the 
 custom  then  in  use  in  Persia;  for  they  were  degenerated  trom  their 
 former  manners,  and  indulged  in  intemperance,  as  Xenophon  suggests. 
 
 —  Gill.  9  The  queen  made  a  f east— it  \%  the  custom  of  Persia,  and 
 all  the  east,  for  the  women  to  have  their  feasts  at  the  same  time  with, 
 but  apart  fmm,  the  men. — Chardin,  Shaw.  Tlie  reason  of  this  is,  it 
 would  be  highly  indecorous  towards  their  lords,  and  they  could  not 
 venture  to  become  so  merry  as  when  feasting  by  themselves. — So  Rob. 
 
 chandize,  contrary  to  the  law  of  the  fourth  commandment, 
 which  forbids  doing  any  manner  of  work.*  Alas!  were  holy 
 Nehemiah  to  rise  from  the  dead  and  witness  the  doings  in  our 
 metropolis  on  the  Sabballi-day,  he  would  see  too  much  to 
 form  a  companion  to  this  picture.  4.  To  these  crimes  were 
 added  improper  marriages.  These  were  not  a  mere  matter  of 
 national  distinction  and  Jewish  ceremony.  '  Did  not  Solo- 
 mon, king  of  Israel,  sin  by  these  things?*  And  have  no 
 Christians  sinned  by  ihera  ?  They  have  pleased  their  eye  and 
 plagued  their  heart.  They  have  doomed  themselves  to  pull 
 in  an  unequal  yoke.  Let  none  presume  th^t  their  influence 
 may  afterwards  prevail  upon  their  partners;  God  may,  possi- 
 bly, overrule  the  union  for  the  trial  of  the  one,  and  the  salva- 
 tion of  tlie  other,  for  he  can  bring  good  out  of  evil  ;  but  let  us 
 beware  of  venturing  where  all  the  precepts  and  principles  of 
 320 
 
 the  scripture  are  so  plain  upon  the  point,  that  he  who  runs 
 may  read.     We  have  also, 
 
 II.  Nchp'uiah's  holy  indignation.  Wherever  we  see  sin  we 
 must  witness  against  it,  and  employ  our  best  efforts  for  its 
 suppression.  This  is  more  especially  the  duty  of  men  of  rank 
 and  in  authority.  They  ought  to  be  '  a  terror  to  evil  doers, 
 and  a  praise  to  them  that  do  well.'  They  may  meet  with 
 frowns,  and  receive  no  gratitude  for  their  efforts  for  the  best 
 interests  of  their  fellow-men  and  of  the  country  in  general, 
 but  they  sliall  find  that  God  will  not  be  unmindful  of  their 
 works  of  faith  and  labours  of  love.  Hence  Nehemiah's  prayer, 
 and  in  the  same  spirit  of  humility  and  consciousness  of  un- 
 worthiness  in  all  our  best  deeds  for  his  glory,  every  zealous 
 servant  of  God  may  pray,  '  Remember  me,  O  my  God,  for 
 good.' 
 
Vashti's  disobedience 
 
 ESTHER,  II. 
 
 A  i/iifi  H  to  lie  chosen. 
 
 10  H  On  the  seventh  day,  when  ''the  heart 
 of  the  king  was  merry  with  wine,  he  coni- 
 niaiuied  Mehunian,  Biztlia,  '  Harbona,  Bigtha, 
 and  Abagtha,  Zethar,  and  Carcas,  the  seven 
 II  chamberlains  that  served  in  the  presence  of 
 Ahasuerus  the  king, 
 
 1 1  To  bring  Vashti  the  qneen  before  the 
 king  with  tlie  crown  royal,  to  shew  the  people 
 and  the  princes  her  beanty  :  for  she  was  ffair 
 to  look  on. 
 
 12  But  the  queen  Vashti  refused  to  come  at 
 the  king's   commandment   f  by  his   chambe 
 laiiis  :  therefore  was  tlie  king  very  wroth,  and 
 his  anger  burned  in  him. 
 
 1.3  K  Tlieii  the  king  said  to  tlie  '•  wise  men, 
 '  which  knew  the  times,  (for  so  was  the  king's 
 manner  toward  all  that  knew  law  and  judg- 
 ment : 
 
 14  And  the  next  unto  him  ivas  Carshena, 
 Shethar,  Admatha,  Tarshish,  Meres,  Marsena, 
 and  Memucan,  the  '"seven  princes  of  Persia 
 and  Media,  "  which  saw  the  king's  face,  and 
 which  sat  the  first  in  the  kingdom  ;) 
 
 15  fWhat  shall  we  do  unto  the  queen  Vashti 
 according  to  law,  because  she  hath  not  per- 
 formed the  commandment  of  the  king  Aha- 
 suerus by  the  chamberlains  ? 
 
 16  And  Memucan  answered  before  the  king 
 and  the  princes,  Vashti  tlie  queen  hatli  not 
 done  wrong  to  the  king  only,  but  also  to  all 
 the  princes,  and  to  all  the  people  that  are  in 
 all  the  provinces  of  the  king  Ahasuerus. 
 
 17  For  this  deed  of  the  queen  shall  come 
 abroad  unto  all  women, so  that  they  shall  "de- 
 spise their  husbands  in  their  eyes,  when  it 
 sliall  be  reported.  The  king  Ahasuerus  com- 
 manded Vashti  the  queen  to  be  brought  in  be- 
 fore him,  but  she  came  not. 
 
 18  Likewise  shall  the  ladies  of  Persia  and 
 Media  say  this  day  unto  all  the  king's  princes, 
 which  have  heard  of  the  deed  of  the  queen. 
 Thus  shall  there  arise  too  much  contempt  and 
 wrath. 
 
 19  flfit  please  the  king,  let  there  go  a  royal 
 commandment  f  from  him,  and  let  it  be  written 
 among  the  laws  of  the  Persians  and  the  Modes, 
 t  that  it  be  not  altered,  that  Vashti  come  no 
 more  before  king  Ahasuerus  ;  and  let  the  king 
 give  her  royal  estate  f  unto  another  that  is 
 better  than  she. 
 
 /(  •?  Sain.  13. 
 <cb.7.  9. 
 
 »  Heb,  yfooi 
 of  cnuiitB' 
 
 t  Heh.  )p/,,V/( 
 Wii3  III/  tlir 
 ArtFid  ./  liis 
 ritmichn. 
 
 It  JlT    111.  7. 
 
 Dan    9.  13. 
 
 Mat.  2.  I 
 I  lChr.ia,32 
 
 III  E/ra 
 
 7.14 
 
 11  2  Kin.  25, 
 19. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Id  du. 
 
 What 
 
 Eph.  S.  33, 
 
 t  Heb,  If  it 
 he  ffooil  with 
 
 t  Heh.  from 
 Ufore  him. 
 t  Heb.  Ilmt 
 
 incay,  ch.  S 
 8.  Dan.  6.S. 
 12,  15 
 t  Heb.  untn 
 compit- 
 
 ;i  EpIi.S.  S.] 
 Ci.1.3.  IS. 
 I  Pet.  S.  I. 
 
 t  Heb.  tw« 
 ^•I'ld  III  Ike 
 evr*  of  the 
 
 q  cU.  8.  9. 
 
 I  Tim  ?.I2. 
 t  Heb  IhU 
 o..e  ih'.ul.i 
 puhli-ih  it 
 
 the  to,. 
 
 ,;gr 
 
 ..flu5V-Vle. 
 
 t  Heb.  unl 
 the  hnitii. 
 
 W  Or.  Hen. 
 ver.  8. 
 
 I,  2  Kin.  24. 
 
 n,  15. 
 
 2Ghr. 36.10, 
 
 20.Jer.24..l. 
 II  Or,  Jehoia- 
 
 c/ii'n,  2Kin. 
 
 2*.  6. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 nourished. 
 
 Eph.  G.  4. 
 
 20  And  when  tlie  king's  decree  which  he 
 shall  make  shall  be  published  throughout  all 
 his  empire,  (for  i-t  is  great,)  all  the  wives  shall 
 ''give  to  their  husbands  honour,  both  to  great 
 and  small. 
 
 21  And  the  saying  f  pleased  the  king  and  the 
 princes  ;  and  the  king  did  according  to  the 
 word  of  Memucan  : 
 
 22  For  he  sent  letters  into  all  the  king's  pro- 
 vinces, ''  into  every  province  according  to  the 
 writing  thereof,  and  to  every  people  after  their 
 language,  that  every  man  should  'bear  rnle  in 
 his  own  house,  and  f  that  it  should  be  pub- 
 lished according  to  the  language  of  every 
 people. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  Out  of  the  choice  of  vh'gins  a  rjiteen  is  to  be  chosen, 
 5  Mordecai  the  iinrsiiui  fafhtr  of  Esther.  8  Esther 
 is  preferred  by  Hegai  before  the  rest.  12  The  man- 
 ner of  purijicatiunj  anti  going  in  to  the  king.  15  Es- 
 ther best  pleasing  the  king  is  made  queen,  21  Moi'- 
 drcai  discovering  a  treason  is  recorded  in  the  chroni- 
 cles. 
 
 A  FTER  these  things,  when  the  wrath  of 
 ^^*-  king  Ahasuerus  was  appeased,  he  remem- 
 bered Vashti,  and  what  she  had  done,  and 
 '^  what  was  decreed  against  her. 
 
 2  Then  said  the  king's  servants  that  minis- 
 tered unto  him,  Let  there  be  fair  young  virgins 
 sought  for  the  king : 
 
 3  And  let  the  king  appoint  officers  in  all  the 
 provinces  of  his  kingdom,  that  they  may  gather 
 together  all  the  fair  young  virgins  unto  Shu- 
 shan  the  palace,  to  the  house  of  the  women, 
 funto  the  custody  of  |[  Hege  the  king's  cliani- 
 berlain,  keeper  of  the  women  ;  and  let  their 
 things  for  purification  be  given  them  : 
 
 4  And  let  the  maiden  which  pleaseth  the 
 king  be  queen  instead  of  Vashti.  And  the 
 thing  pleased  the  king ;  and  be  did  so. 
 
 3  IT  Now  in  Shushan  the  palace  there  was  a 
 certain  Jew,  whose  name  was  Mordecai,  the 
 son  of  Jair,  the  son  of  Shimei,  the  son  of  Kish, 
 a  Benjamite  ; 
 
 6  **  Who  had  been  carried  away  from  Jeru- 
 salem with  the  captivity  which  had  been  car- 
 ried away  with  ||  Jeconiah  king  of  Judah, 
 whom  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  of  Babylon 
 had  carried  away. 
 
 7  And  he  f  brought  up   Hadassah,   that  is. 
 
 10.  Chamberlains,  'eunuchs,'  Vitlg.  11.  To  brin^  Vashti — Herodotus 
 assures  us  that  the  Persians  shewed  their  women  on  festival  occasions. 
 — Scrip.  Jlius.,  E.rpos.  Index.  12.   Refused  —  the  queen's  raodcbty 
 
 resisted  a  shameful  exposure  hefore  a  licentious  court,  which  was  ini- 
 quitously  praclisi'd  in  those  times.— So  Chald.  Paraph.,  and  Pierke 
 K/ieser.  13.  Wise  men,  ic/iirh  knew  the  limes,  '  astrologeis.'— -lAe/i 
 Ezra.  'Of  judgment  and  knowledge  in  affairs.* — Bp.  Hull.  *  Well 
 versed  in  history.'—  Vifringa.  '  Who  knew  tlie  law  and  judfcraent.' — 
 Hovb.  *  "Wlio  knew  tho  customs  ;'  the  queen's  refusal  was  improper, 
 according  to  their  established  customs. — Baol/ir.  For  so  was  the  king's 
 mutiner — it  wa-s  customary  with  him,  in  any  case  of  difficulty,  to  have 
 the  opinion  nf  those  who  were  expert  in  law — Gill.  14.  The  next, 
 that  sat  next  the  kin{?. — Gill.  Was  Carshena,  %c.,  called  the  king's 
 seven  counsellors  in  Ezra,  vii.  14.      l6.  Memucan — he  ranks  last  of  the 
 
 seven,  (ver.  14,)  and  was,  probably,  the  youngest  privy  counsellor; 
 he  therefore  spoke  first,  as  is  the  custom  with  our  judges,  that  the 
 seniors  may  not  influence  them. — Boolhr. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  1 .  He  remembered  Vatihti,  her  beauty,  and  was  grieved, 
 — Jarchi;  for  he  passionately  loved  her. — Jos.  He  was  grieved  to  he 
 divorced  from  her. — Gill.  2.  Let  there  be  fair  i/oi/Jii;  lurgins  sought, 
 §c.— the  usual  method  of  supplying  the  harem ;  the  finest  women  of 
 the  land,  of  all  ranks,  being  selected.  All  became  the  king's  concu- 
 bines, but  one  was  chosen  for  wife,  or  sultana,  and  her  cliildren  in- 
 herited.—So  Clarke.  3.  Women,  'virgins.'  Thinf^s  for  purification — 
 baths,  unguents,  and  perfumes,  &c.,  Targum,  Hewlett.  4.  Which 
 
 pleaseth— \i\x\'^s  in  the  east  did  not  marry  wi>nicn  for  their  rank,  but 
 for  their  beauty  and  accomplishments.— i3of*//ir.  G,  Carried  away, 
 that  is,  Kish  was  carried  away.— P«^         7.  Hadassah,  her  Hebrew 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I — The  feast  of  Ahasuerus  was 
 truly  magnificent.  But  such  a  scene  is  generally  one  of  dissi- 
 pation, and  in  which  it  is  difficult  to  use  the  good  things  of 
 the  world  so  as  not  to  abuse  them.  Wine  drowns  the  senses, 
 stuns  the  conscience,  and  stupifies  the  soul.  Here  it  led  to 
 claims  of  indecency,  injustice,  and  cruelty.  One  thing  only 
 in  this  feast  demands  our  praise,  'none  did  compel.'  There 
 was  no  forcing  tho  cup  round  to  drink.  'The  caution  of  a 
 hp-.ithpn  prince,' says  Henry,  'even  then,  when  he  would  shew 
 his  generosity,  may  shame  many  who  are  called  Christians, 
 that  think  they  do  not  sufficiently  shew  their  good  housekeep- 
 ing, nor  bid  their  friends  welcome,  unless  they  make  ihem 
 521 
 
 drunk,  and,  under  pretence  of  sending  the  health  round,  send 
 the  sin  round  and  death  with  it.'  From  this  feast  we  may 
 turn  our  views,  with  Scott,  to  *  one  far  more  magnificent,  to 
 the  praise  of  the  glory  of  the  grace  of  the  King  of  kings  in 
 heaven  for  ever  and  ever  !  There  will  bo  unfading  splendour, 
 inexhaustible  abundance,  and  unalloyed  pleasures,  without 
 interruption  or  satiety  ;  and  without  danger  and  fear  of  ex- 
 cess ;  nor  will  there  arise  the  least  discord  to  mar  enjoyment 
 through  all  the  ages  of  eternity.  "  All  things  are  ready"  for 
 this  feast.  Sinners,  without  exception,  are  invited.  May  we 
 accept  the  gracious  invitation,  seek  and  find  the  wedding  gar- 
 ment, and  sit  down  at  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb  !* 
 
 3  X 
 
Esther  obtaineth  Heijai's  favour. 
 
 ESTHER,  II. 
 
 She  is  chosen  queen. 
 
 Esther,  'his  uncle's  daughter-  for  she  had 
 neither  father  nor  mother,  and  the  maid  xcas 
 t  fair  and  beautiful ;  whom  Mordecai,  when 
 lier  father  and  mother  were  dead,  took  for  his 
 own  daughter. 
 
 8  1[  So  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  king's  com- 
 mandment and  his  decree  was  heard,  and  when 
 many  maidens  were  ''  gathered  together  unto 
 Shushan  the  palace,  to  the  custody  of  Hegai, 
 that  Esther  was  brought  also  unto  the  king's 
 house,  to  the  custody  of  Hegai,  keeper  of  the 
 women. 
 
 9  And  the  maiden  pleased  him,  and  she  ob- 
 tained kindness  of  him  ;  and  he  speedily  gave 
 her  her  '  things  for  purification,  with  f  such 
 things  as  belonged  to  her,  and  seven  maidens, 
 which  ivere  meet  to  be  given  her,  out  of  the 
 king's  house:  and  fhe  preferred  her  and  her 
 maids  unto  the  best  place  of  the  house  of  the 
 women. 
 
 10  'Esther  had  not  shewed  her  people  nor 
 her  kindred  :  for  Mordecai  had  charged  her 
 that  she  should  not  shew  it. 
 
 1 1  And  Mordecai  walked  every  day  before 
 the  court  of  the  women's  house,  f  to  know 
 how  Esther  did,  and  what  should  become  of 
 her. 
 
 1'2  t  Now  when  every  maid's  turn  was  come 
 to  go  in  to  king  Ahasuerus,  after  that  she  had 
 been  twelve  months,  according  to  the  manner 
 of  the  women,  (for  so  were  the  days  of  their 
 purifications  accomplished,  to  wit,  si.K  months 
 with  oil  of  myrrh,  and  six  months  with  sweet 
 odours,  and  with  other  things  for  the  purify- 
 ing of  the  women  ;) 
 
 13  Then  thus  came  everi/  maiden  unto  the 
 king  ;  whatsoever  she  desired  was  given  her  to 
 go  with  her  out  of  the  house  of  the  women 
 unto  the  king's  house. 
 
 14  In  the  evening  she  went,  and  on  the  mor- 
 row she  returned  into  the  second  house  of  the 
 women,  to  the  custody  of  Shaashgaz,  the  king's 
 chamberlain,  which  kept  the  concubines  :  she 
 came  in  unto  the  king  no  more,  except  the 
 
 B.  C.  518 
 
 c  ver.  IS. 
 I  Heb./o.r 
 
 »//°™.-" 
 good  of  Colin 
 ttnance. 
 
 I  rer.  3,  12. 
 I  [leb.  her 
 
 fOTliO'll. 
 
 t  lleb.  hf 
 
 changed  her. 
 
 t  Heb,  1,1 
 knov)  the 
 peare. 
 
 B.  C. 
 Cir.  515. 
 
 '  rer.  21. 
 ch.  a.  2. 
 
 I  Peo  Estb. 
 12.  I. 
 
 king  delighted  in  her,  and  that  she  were  called 
 by  name. 
 
 15  H  Now  when  the  turn  of  Esther,  ^  the 
 daughter  of  Abihail  the  uncle  of  Mordecai, 
 who  had  taken  her  for  his  daughter,  was  come 
 to  go  in  unto  the  king,  she  required  nothing 
 but  what  Hegai  the  king's  chamberlain,  the 
 keeper  of  the  women,  appointed.  And  Esther 
 obtained  favour  in  the  sight  of  all  them  that 
 looked  upon  her. 
 
 16  So  Esther  was  taken  unto  king  Ahasuerus 
 into  his  house  royal  in  the  tenth  month,  which 
 is  the  month  Tebeth,  in  the  seventh  year  of  his 
 reign. 
 
 17  And  the  king  loved  Esther  above  all  the 
 women,  and  she  obtained  grace  and  ||  favour 
 t  in  his  .sight  more  tlian  all  the  virgins  ;  so  that 
 he  set  the  royal  crown  upon  her  head,  and 
 made  her  queen  instead  of  Vashti. 
 
 18  Then  the  king  "  made  a  great  feast  unto 
 all  his  princes  and  his  servants,  even  Esther's 
 feast;  and  he  made  a  f release  to  the  pro- 
 vinces, and  gave  gifts,  according  to  the  state 
 of  the  king. 
 
 19  And  when  the  virgins  were  gathered  to- 
 gether the  second  time,  then  Mordecai  sat  'in 
 the  king's  gate. 
 
 20  '  Esther  had  not  t/et  shewed  her  kindred 
 nor  her  people  ;  as  Mordecai  had  charged  her: 
 for  Esther  did  the  commandment  of  Alordecai, 
 like  as  when  she  was  brought  up  with  liim. 
 
 21  f  '  III  those  days,  while  ^iordecai  sat  in 
 the  king's  gate,  two  of  the  king's  chamberlains, 
 II  Bigthan  and  Teresh,  of  those  which  kept 
 t  the  door,  were  wroth,  and  sought  to  lay  hand 
 on  the  king  Ahasuerus. 
 
 22  And  the  thing  was  known  to  Mordecai, 
 ■"  who  told  it  unto  Esther  the  queen  ;  and  Es- 
 ther certified  the  king  thereof  in  Mordecai's 
 name. 
 
 23  And  when  inquisition  was  made  of  the 
 matter,  it  was  found  out ;  therefore  they  were 
 both  hanged  on  a  tree  :  and  it  was  written  in 
 °  the  book  of  the  chronicles  before  the  king. 
 
 name,  '  a  myrtle.'  Esther,  Persian  name,  '  a  star.'  10.  Not  shew  it, 
 lest  she  should  be  despised. — GUI.  II.  Walked  every  duy — this  is 
 
 surprising,  as  tlie  harems  of  the  east  are  most  vigilantly  guarded.  He 
 however  contrived,  in  some  way,  to  pick  up  some  information. — Scrip. 
 Itlus.,  Ejcpos.  Index.  14.  The  second  house,  where  were  kept  the 
 king's  concubines. — Gill.  16.  5o  Esther  was  taken — it  does  not  ap- 
 pear that  Mordecai  had  any  active  concern  in  this  affair.  The  Jews 
 say  he  concealed  her  when  he  first  heard  of  the  decree. — Sut.  Her 
 consent  was  not  asked,  nor  was  that  of  Mordecai  asked ;  they  were 
 both  slaves  to  a  despotic  master.  Serenth  year — for  the  space  of  four 
 years,  Va^-liti's  place  was  unoccupied. — Laicson.  19.  Made  a  release, 
 *  remitted  taxes  and  tribute  due,'  as  Herodotus  relates  was  the  custom 
 with  the  kings  of  Persia  when  they  came  to  the  throne.  Gave  gifts, 
 ifc. — it  was  usual  with  the  Persian  kings,  as  Herodotus  also  states,  to 
 give  their  wives  whole  cities  for  one  thing  and  another,  as  for  neck- 
 laces, shoes,  9ic. — Gill.  19.  The  second  /);ne— the  first  collection  of 
 virgins  having  been  made  at  the  choice  of  Vashti. — Pat.  Mordecai  sat — 
 Mordecai  seems  to  have  been  appointed,  perhaps  through  Esther,  to 
 some  station  in  the  service  of  the  king. — Gitly  Scott.    King's  gate— the 
 
 vassals  of  our  ancient  lords  met  in  the  court  of  the  castle  ;  hence  comes 
 the  expression,  the  court  of  princes.  In  the  east,  affdirs  are  transacted 
 at  the  gate  of  their  seia,g\\o. —F/eury.  The  master  of  every  family  in 
 the  east  even  transacts  his  business  and  receives  visits  at  his  gate,  not 
 even  the  nearest  relations  advancing  further,  e-vcept  on  extraordinary 
 occasions.  Hence,  at  all  the  principal  houses  are  porches  or  gateways 
 provided  with  seats. — Shaw.  Mordecai  sat  at  the  gate  as  an  officer,  to 
 wait  the  king's  call. — Clarke.  But  why  was  Mordecai  in  the  king's 
 palace,  when  the  Lord  had  turned  again  the  captivity  of  his  people? 
 Why  was  he  not  rather  in  the  Holy  Land,  and  near  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  ?  We  cannot,  without  rashness,  condemn  him,  for  we  find  even 
 Daniel  in  Babylon,  and  so  was  Nehemiah.  Love  to  the  house  of  God 
 induced  them  to  remain  fiom  it,  for  here  they  could  perform  services  of 
 importance  in  its  behalf.  Such  was  the  case  with  Mordecai. — Lawson. 
 23.  Hanged — Josephus  says  they  were  crucified.  Grotius  observes, 
 hanging  was  frequent  among  the  Persians. — Gilt.  Tree,  yy,  may  sig- 
 nify *  wood,'  and  perhaps  they  were  impaled. — Clarke.  Th  e  book  of  the 
 chronicles,  a  diary  kept  by  the  king's  order,  in  which  memorable  events 
 were  set  down. — Gill. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II I.  Licentiousness  and  hea- 
 thenism are  connected  toyether.  Those  are  not  entitled  to  tbe 
 name  of  Christians  wlio  practise,  as  much  as  lies  in  their 
 power,  the  conduct  of  the  heathen. 
 
 II.  How  much  are  fenudes  indebted  to  Christianitu  f  By  this 
 the  true  dignity  of  their  character  is  maintained,  and  their 
 modesty  shielded.  The  rights  of  nature  are  maintained,  and 
 I'-o  degrading  concubinage  allowed.  If  there  were  no  other 
 reason  against  females  embracing  infidelity,  the  advantages 
 they  derive  from  the  regulations  of  Christianity  should  claim 
 from  them  the  warmest  support  iu  its  behalf  This  raises  tbe 
 humblest  Christian  woman  very  far  above  the  most  dignified 
 among  the  heathen,  and  gives  her  a  sole  place  in  the  affec- 
 tions of  her  husband,  introduces  her  to  intellectual  and  social 
 522 
 
 society,  and  insures  to  her  all  the  privileges  of  the  church  of 
 God. 
 
 III.  How  trull/  lovely  does  the  'fair  and  beautifuT  Esther  appear 
 in  her  obedience  to  her  adopted  father  !  Of  the  propriety  ol  his 
 command  we  may  doubt,  for  though  the  motive  was  good 
 which  induced  it,  we  are  not  to  do  evil  that  good  may  come. 
 God  could  have  wrought  deliverance  for  the  Jews  without 
 Esther's  denying  her  nation.  We  should  never  be  asljamed 
 of  our  religion  and  people.  Esther  was,  however,  under 
 orders  she  felt  bound  to  obey.  She  trusted  in  the  wisdom 
 and  prudence  of  Mordecai  ;  and  God  overruled  this  measure 
 for  much  good.  '  Let  young  women  learn  from  her,'  says 
 Lawsou,  'to  pay  a  due  deference  to  the  instructions  of  their 
 parents,  not  only  when  under  their  eyes,  but  when  they  are 
 
Haman's  rage  against  the  Jews. 
 
 ESTHER,  III. 
 
 A  decree  to  put  them  to  death. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 )  Ilaman,  advanced  by  the  /thio,  and  despised  hy  Mot- 
 (itcaif  seeketh  reven;;e  upon  till  the  Jews.  7  He  casieth 
 luis.  8  He  ohtaineth  by  column  iutioit,  a  decree  of  the 
 king  to  piU  the  Jews  to  death. 
 
 A  FTER  these  things  did  king  Ahasuerus 
 -^~*-  promote  *  Haman  the  son  of  Hammedatha 
 the  ^  Agagite,  and  advanced  liim,  and  set  his 
 seat  above  all  tlie  princes  that  ivere  with  him. 
 
 2  And  all  the  king's  servants,  that  were  "^  in 
 the  king's  gate,  bowed,  and  reverenced  Haman : 
 for  the  king  had  so  commanded  concerning 
 liiin.  But  Mordecai  ^  bowed  not,  nor  did  him 
 reverence. 
 
 3  Then  the  king's  servants,  which  ivei-e  in  the 
 king's  gate,  said  unto  Mordecai,  Why  trans- 
 gressest  thou  the  ^^  king's  commandment? 
 
 4  Now  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  spake 
 daily  unto  him,  and  he  hearkened  not  unto 
 them,  that  they  told  Haman,  to  see  whether 
 Mordecai's  matters  would  stand  :  for  he  had 
 told  them  that  be  was  a  Jew. 
 
 5  And  when  Haman  saw  that  Mordecai 
 '^  bowed  not,  nor  did  him  reverence,  then  was 
 Haman  ^  full  of  wrath. 
 
 6  And  he  thought  scorn  to  lay  hands  on 
 Mordecai  alone;  for  they  had  shewed  him  the 
 people  of  Mordecai :  wherefore  Haman  ^sought 
 to  destroy  all  the  Jews  that  were  throughout 
 the  whole  kingdom  of  Ahasuerus,  even  the 
 people  of  Mordecai.' 
 
 7  i[  In  the  first  month,  that  iSy  the  month 
 Nisan,  in  the  twelfth  year  of  king  Ahasuerus, 
 '  tliey  cast  Pur,  that  is,  the  lot,  before  Haman 
 from  day  to  day,  and  from  month  to  month, 
 to  the  twelfth  month,  that  is,  the  month  Adar. 
 
 8  t  And  Haman  said  unto  king  Ahasuerus, 
 There  is  a  certain  people  scattered  abroad  and 
 dispersed  among  the  people  in  all  the  provinces 
 of  thy  kingdom  ;  and  ''  their  laws  are  diverse 
 
 'I  See  Esth. 
 
 J6    10,  II 
 t.  Nu  2t    7 
 
 )  Sam.  15  8 
 
 c  ch.  2.  19. 
 
 d  ver.  5. 
 Ps.  15,  •!. 
 Esth  13.  12 
 
 /ver.  2, 
 ch.  5.  9. 
 g  Dan.  3,  19- 
 
 t  Ilcb.  m-ft, 
 or,  equal. 
 
 t  Heb.  to 
 
 t  Heb.  weii^h. 
 
 t  Gen. -11.  42. 
 m  cb.  8.  2,  8. 
 
 ■I  ch  8.  9. 
 II  Or,  iPLTC- 
 tariet. 
 
 0  ch.   1.  22. 
 
 &  S    9 
 ]>\  Kin. 21. 8. 
 
 cb.  8.  S,  10 
 
 7  ch.  a.  10. 
 
 r  ch.  6.  12, 
 
 (tiC. 
 
 ■  S  ^fac.  15. 
 
 «  <;h.  8.  IS, 
 
 U. 
 
 X  See  ch.  8. 
 15.  Pro.  29. 
 
 from  all  people ;  neither  keep  they  the  king's 
 laws  :  therefore  it  is  not  ffor  the  king's  profit 
 to  suffer  them. 
 
 9  If  it  please  the  king,  let  it  be  written  fthat 
 they  may  be  destroyed  :  and  I  will  fpay  ten 
 thousand  talents  of  silver  to  the  hands  of  those 
 that  have  the  charge  of  the  business,  to  bring 
 it  into  the  king's  treasuries. 
 
 10  And  the  king  'took  "Miis  nng  from  his 
 hand,  and  gave  it  unto  Haman  the  son  of 
 Hammedatha  the  Agagite,  the  Jews'  ||  enemy. 
 
 1 1  And  the  king  said  unto  Haman,  The  silver 
 is  given  to  thee,  tlie  people  also,  to  do  with 
 them  as  it  seemeth  good  to  thee. 
 
 VI  "  Then  were  the  king's  ||  scribes  called  on 
 the  thirteenth  day  of  the  first  montti,  and  there 
 was  written  according  to  all  that  Haman  had 
 commanded  unto  the  king's  lieutenants,  and  to 
 the  governors  that  were  over  every  province, 
 and  to  the  rulers  of  every  people  of  every  pro- 
 vince "according  to  the  writing  thereof, and  to 
 every  people  after  their  language;  ^in  the 
 name  of  king  Ahasuerus  was  it  written,  and 
 sealed  with  the  king's  ring. 
 
 13  And  tlie  letters  were  ''sent  by  posts  into 
 all  the  king's  provinces,  to  destroy,  to  kill,  and 
 to  cause  to  perish,  all  Jews,  both  young  and 
 old,  little  children  and  women,  '  in  one  day, 
 even  upon  ^the  thirteenth  dai/  of  the  twelfth 
 month,  which  is  the  month  Adar,  and  ^  to  take 
 the  spoil  of  them  for  a  prey, 
 
 14  "  The  copy  of  the  writing  for  a  command- 
 ment to  be  given  in  every  province  was  pub- 
 lished unto  all  people,  that  they  should  be 
 ready  against  that  day. 
 
 15  The  posts  went  out,  being  hastened  by 
 the  king's  commandment,  and  the  decree  was 
 given  in  Shusban  the  palace.  And  the  king 
 and  Haman  sat  down  to  drink  ;  but  ^the  city 
 Shushan  was  perplexed. 
 
 Chap.  III. —  I.  TAe  .(^^ag-iVe,  an  Amalekite,  of  tlie  royal  seed  of  that 
 nation,  whose  kings  were  commonly  called  Ag-ag.  In  the  Apocryphal 
 E-tlier  he  is  called  a  Macedonian  ;  so  he  might  be  by  birth  or  habita- 
 tion, but  this  was  his  origin. — Poole,  so  Prid.,  Pat,,  Boulhr.  Above 
 fill,  made  him  prime  minister. — A.  Clarke.  2.  Reverericed  Hnmnn, 
 '  gave  him  divine  honours,  as  to  a  deity,'  for  such  were  given  to  the 
 kincs  of  Persia,  and  might  be  to  their  favourites. — GUI,  so  Clarke.  Nor 
 did  him  reverence,  either  from  the  nature  of  the  homage  required,  or  be- 
 cause he  was  an  Amalekite. — So  Boothr.,  and  many  others.  SeeExod. 
 xvii.  U:  1  Sam.  XV.  I,  2.  Tlie  word  'reverence'  imports  something 
 beyond  bowing,  which  was  falling  flat  on  tlieir  faces  to  the  ground. — 
 Pat.  4.  Whether  Mordecai's  matters  would  stand — whether  he  and 
 the  Jews  would  be  allowed  to  observe,  with  impunity,  their  singular 
 customs. — Lawson.  A  Jew — this  proves  that  he  vindicated  himself  on 
 the  ground  of  his  religion,  and  favours  the  supposition  that  the  kings 
 of  Persia  had  been  used  tn  excuse  their  Jewish  ser\'ants  from  such 
 obeisance.  —  Scott.  6.  Thought  scorn,   '  it  seemed  a  contemptible 
 
 thing.'— Boo^/ir.  Had  shelved  him,  Sjc. — Haman  had  been  informed 
 that  Mordecai  was  a  Jew. —  Welh.  Sought  tn  destroy  all,  to  be  re- 
 venged on  Mordecai,  and  because,  from  the  same  motives,  they  would 
 folhiw  his  example. — Gill.  7.  Pur,  a  corrupted  Persic  word,  pari 
 
 signifying  '  a  lot.'  It  was  customary  with  the  Persians  &c.  to  inquire 
 whether  certain  days  were  prosperous  for  undertaking  any  enterprise 
 by  casting  lots.— Groti us,  Clarke.  These  lots  were  thrown  into  an 
 urn,  and  by  this  superstition  Haman  endeavoured  to  find  what  time  of 
 the  year  was  favourable  to  the  Jews,  and  what  most  unlucky.— P"^ 
 Perhaps  a  diviner  cast  pur  on  this  occasion.— Gi7/,  so  Pyle,  Wells. 
 8.  Scattered  oA)v/'/rf— though  many  leturned  to  their  own  land,  great 
 numbers  staid  behind.— P*Jo/e.  In  all  the  province.i—in  aftt-r  limes 
 Jews  were  so  generally  scattered,  that  at  Pentecost  '  there  were  dwell- 
 ing  at  Jerusalem  devout  men  out  of  every  nation  under  heaven.' — 
 Bp.  Newton.  Laws  are  diverse  from  all  people — one  great  purpose  of 
 many  of  their  peculiar  rites  and  customs  was,  to  keep  the  Jews  separate 
 from  the  heathen.     These  frequently  drew  reproaches  upon  them. 
 
 Tacitus  describes  them  as  a  people  whose  religious  rites  were  contrar)" 
 to  all  the  world  beside. — Collyer.  The  king's  laws — he  had  here,  doubt- 
 less, respect  to  the  king's  command  to  give  him  reverence.  9.  /  wilt 
 pay — this  payment  lie  proposed  to  prevent  any  objection  that  might  be 
 made  from  tlie  Imss  of  tribute  from  the  Jews. — Gill.  Ten  thousand,  Sfc, 
 3,750,0001.  —  Brerewood.  3,41:^,0001.  — Sut.  2,100,0001.  —  Prideav.r. 
 2,119,000/. — A.Clarke.  In  those  days  silver  and  gold  were  more 
 abundant  than  now,  and  ancient  history  mentions  many  individuals 
 who  were  prodigiously  rich,  possessing  their  millions  ;  as  Crassus,  the 
 Roman  general ;  Lentulus,  the  augur,  &c. ;  the  former  had  a  miilion 
 and  a  half  of  money,  the  latter  above  three  millions. — See  Dickson's 
 Hushandry  0/  the  Ancients.  The  difference  in  the  calculations  arises 
 from  the  differently  estimated  value  of  the  silver  talent. — Ed.  10.  His 
 nng— with  the  Persians,  for  the  king  to  give  a  ring  to  any  one  was  a 
 token  and  bond  of  the  greatest  love  and  friendship  imaginable. — Gilt. 
 He  now  placed  the  royal  seal  under  Haman's  discretion. —  Wells. 
 12.  Of  every  province  uccording  to  the  writing,  SfC,  '  in  the  language 
 and  character  of  the  language  each  people  spoke.' — Gill.  Sealed  with 
 the  king's  ring— the  Persians  wear  agates  in  tlieir  rings,  which  serve 
 for  seals,  on  which  is  freqir  ntly  engraved  their  name  and  some  verse 
 from  the  Koran.  This  serves  for  their  signature,  for  many  Persians  in 
 high  office  could  not  write. — Hanway.  Few  or  none  of  the  Arab 
 shekhs,  or  of  Turkish  and  eastern  kings,  princes,  ct  bashaws,  know 
 how  to  write  their  own  names  ;  all  their  letters  and  decrees  are  stamped 
 with  their  proper  names,  seals,  or  f^iffnets. — Shaw.  13.  Posts — Cyrus 
 originally  e-tablished  couriers,  places  for  post  horses  on  all  the  high 
 roads,  and  offices  where  they  might  deliver  their  packets  to  each  other. 
 This  Ihty  did  night  and  day.  faster  than  cranes  can  fiy.—Xenophun 
 Ci/rap.,  1.  viii.  13.  Sat  down  to  drink — the  Persians  were  great  wine 
 drinkers,  and,  in  the  act,  settled  the  most  important  state  matters.— 
 Herod.  Shushan  was  perplejred.  with  the  distress  of  the  Jews,  and  of 
 the  many  famihcs  with  which  they  had  formed  affinity  and  friendship. 
 —Gill. 
 
 removed  from  them.  What  miseries  to  young  people  might 
 be  prevented,  what  happiness  might  they  enjoy,  would  they 
 but  cease  from  their  own  wisdom  and  honour,  and  obey  those 
 whom  God  commands  them  to  obey  !' 
 
 Reflections    ON    Chap.    III.— I.    We  shotdd  always  have 
 rcsptct  to  the  voice  of  conscience.     Mordecai,  as  a  Jew,  was  loo 
 52J 
 
 well  laught  to  pay  honours  to  a  mere  mortal.  He,  therefore, 
 would  rather  risk  his  ease,  emolument,  and  even  life  itself, 
 than  violate  his  conscience,  and  dishonour  his  God.  Let  those 
 nominal  Christians  whose  compliance  will  allow  them  to  go 
 any  lengths  to  please  a  vain  world,  learn  a  lesson  from  the  in- 
 tegrity and  courage  of  Mordecai,  and  study  to  mainlain  a  con- 
 
Mordecai  and  the  Jews  mourn. 
 
 ESTHER,  IV.,  V. 
 
 Esther  nppointeth  a  fast. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  The  yreat  vinurjiimj  of  Mordecai  and  the  .Jews.  4 
 Esther^  undtrstanding  it,  sendetlt  to  Mordecai,  icho 
 shewetlt  the  cause,  and  adviseth  tier  to  undertake  tlte 
 syit.  10  'Stie  cxciisifiij /terselj' is  titreatenetl  111/  Mor- 
 decai. 15  S/te  appointinf/  a  fast  undertalieth  tlic 
 suit. 
 
 WHEN  Mordecai  perceived  all  that  was 
 done,' Mordecai  'rent  his  clothes,  and 
 put  on  sackcloth  ''  with  ashes,  and  went  ont 
 into  the  midst  of  the  city,  and  '  cried  with  a 
 loud  and  a  bitter  cry  ; 
 
 2  And  came  even  before  the  king's  gate  :  for 
 none  micjht  enter  into  the  king's  gate  clothed 
 with  sackcloth. 
 
 3  And  in  every  province,  whithersoever  the 
 king's  commandment  and  his  decree  came, 
 there  teas  great  mourning  among  the  Jews, 
 and  fasting,  and  weeping,  and  wailing ;  and 
 ■f  many  lay  in  sackcloth  and  ashes. 
 
 4  11  So  Esther's  maids  and  her  f  chamberlains 
 came  and  told  it  her.  Then  was  the  queen 
 exceedingly  grieved  ;  and  she  sent  raiment  to 
 clothe  Mordecai,  and  to  take  away  his  sack- 
 cloth from  him  :  but  he  received  it  not. 
 
 5  Then  called  Esther  for  Hatacli,  one  of  the 
 king's  chamberlains,  f  whom  he  had  appointed 
 to  attend  upon  her,  and  gave  him  a  command- 
 ment to  Mordecai,  to  know  what  it  was,  and 
 why  it  was. 
 
 6  So  Hatach  went  forth  to  Mordecai  unto 
 the  street  of  the  city,  which  tras  before  the 
 king's  gate. 
 
 7  And  Mordecai  toUl  him  of  all  that  had 
 happened  unto  him,  and  of  •'  the  sum  of  the 
 money  that  Haman  had  promised  to  pay  to 
 tlie  king's  treasuries  for  the  Jews,  to  destroy 
 them. 
 
 8  Also  he  gave  him  "  the  copy  of  the  writing 
 of  the  decree  that  was  given  at  Shushan  to  de- 
 stroy them,  to  shew  it  unto  Esther,  and  to  de- 
 clare it  unto  her,  and  to  charge  her  that  she 
 should  go  in  unto  the  king,  to  make  supplica- 
 tion unto  him,  and  to  make  request  before  him 
 for  her  people. 
 
 9  And    Hatach    came   and    told  Esther  the 
 
 .  Josh.  7.  G 
 EiL'k  ?7.3ll. 
 :  Gcu  27.34. 
 
 i.iitl  -i-irfer 
 
 Is  !>H.  5. 
 n.,n  9.  3. 
 t  H.-h. 
 
 />.•  had  trt 
 bcfuTt  iur. 
 
 /ch.  5.  1. 
 e  Dati.  2.  ! 
 \  rh.  ."»   2. 
 
 t  Heb./oMnd. 
 i  Seech  5.1. 
 
 t  lleb. 
 piuied. 
 
 words  of  Mordecai. 
 
 10  H  Again  Esther  spake  unto  Hatach,  and 
 gave  him  commandment  unto  Mordecai  ; 
 
 1 1  All  the  king's  servants,  and  the  people  of 
 the  king's  provinces,  do  know,  that  whosoever, 
 whettier  man  or  woman,  shall  come  unto  the 
 king  into  'the  inner  court,  who  is  not  called, 
 'there  is  one  law  of  his  to  put  hint  to  death, 
 except  such  ''  to  whom  the  king  shall  hold  out 
 the  golden  sceptre,  that  he  may  live  :  but  I 
 have  not  been  called  to  come  in  unto  the  king 
 these  thirty  days. 
 
 1'2  And  they  told  to  Mordecai  Esther's  words. 
 
 1.3  Then  Mordecai  commanded  to  answer 
 Esther,  Think  not  with  thyself  that  thou  shall 
 escape  in  the  king's  house,  more  than  all  the 
 Jews. 
 
 14  For  if  thou  altogether  boldest  thy  peace 
 at  this  time,  then  shall  there  f  enlargement  and 
 deliverance  arise  to  the  Jews  from  another 
 place  ;  but  thou  and  thy  father's  house  shall 
 be  destroyed  :  and  who  knoweth  whether  thou 
 art  come  to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time  as 
 this? 
 
 15  H  Then  Esther  bade  them  return  Mordecai 
 this  answer, 
 
 16  Go,  gather  together  all  the  Jews  that  are 
 t  present  in  Shushan,  and  fast  ye  for  me,  and 
 neither  eat  nor  drink  '  three  days,  night  or  day  : 
 I  also  .and  my  maidens  will  fast  likewise  ;  and 
 so  will  I  go  in  unto  the  Ring,  which  is  not  ac- 
 cording to  the  law  :  '  and  if  1  perish,  I  perish. 
 
 17  So  Mordecai  fwent  his  way,  and  did  ac- 
 cording to  all  that  Esther  had  commauded  him. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  Esther,  ad  vent  nr  I II  (f  on  the  hi/ip^s  Javntr,  obtatneth 
 the  (/race  of  the  yoldtn  sccptrey  arid  invi/tth  the  king 
 and  Haman  to  a  banquet.  6  She,  bviny  encouraged 
 hif  the  king  in  hir  suit,  invittth  them  to  itnofher  han~ 
 quel  the  next  dag.  9  Hniiinn,  proud  ofh/s  adt'avct-.- 
 ment,  repineth  at  the  contrrnfif  nf  Mordecai.  14  By 
 the  counsel  of  Ztrcsh  he  huildeth  Jot  him  a  pair  of 
 gallows. 
 
 "IVrOW  it  came  to  pass  "on  tlie  tliird  day, 
 -^™  that  Kstlier  put  on  her  royal  tipjKirel,  and 
 stood  in  ^  tlie  inner  court  of  the  kincr's  house, 
 
 CuAP.  IV.  — *:.  li'/.ire  the  A:in?V»  ^nte,  th&t  Esther  might  hear.— 
 Gill.  Clothed  with  snrAeloth — none  are  now  permitted,  in  the  east,  to 
 enter  the  king's  palace  ia  raourninff,  lest  his  pleasures  should  be 
 damped  by  thoughts  of  sickness  and  death.  4.  Came  and  told  it  her — 
 her  secluded  state.  accordinRto  the  ciistims  of  the  east,  accounts  easily 
 (nr  her  ignorance  of  tl\e  matter.— So  linothr.  1 1 .  Whosnei-er,  wh'-ther 
 man  or  woman — this  was  the  law  ever  since  the  reign  of  Dejoces,  king 
 of  Media,  for  the  security  of  the  king's  person,  as  Herodotus  states, 
 
 and  possibly  a  contrivance  of  the  king's  nt^icers  to  engross  him  to 
 themselves,  all  his  affairs  being  transacted  through  his  ministers. — So 
 Le  Clerc.  I  have  not  heen  C'tllrd—xXws.  might  justly  make  her  fear  ihe 
 kinj^'s  love  was  grown  cool,  and  that  she  and  the  petition  would  be 
 rejected. — Put.  13.  Think  7iitt~-thyu  sha/t  escape — the  counsellors 
 wlio  ruined  Vashti  would  not  spare  an  obnoxious  alien. — Sut. 
 
 CiiAp.  V.  —  1.  Stood  in  the  inner  court,  into  which  none  might  go 
 but  such  as  were  called;  yet  Esther  being  the  queen,  the  keepers  of 
 
 scieuce  void  of  offence  towards  God,  and,  as  much  as  possible 
 in  subordination  to  God,  '  towards  ni-.in.' 
 
 II.  Hoiv  restless  and  ivicked  is  pride.'  Xo  wonder  (bat  God 
 abbors  it,  when  we  think  on  its  effects  in  tbe  bosom  of  Haman. 
 It  was  not  sufficient  for  bira  that  be  was  in  the  bii^hest  station 
 at  court,  and  that  all  paid  honours  to  him  as  to  a  superior 
 being,  while  one  obscure  Jew  refused  to  bow  down  and  wor- 
 sliip  him.  The  fire  of  wrath  burned  in  his  bosom,  and  nothing 
 would  satisfy  him  for  tbe  imagined  insult  but  tbe  massacre  of 
 a  whole  people.  It  is  a  blessed  effect  of  tbe  religion  of  Jesus 
 on  tbe  heart  that  it  Jiumbles  it;  and  not  only  spiritually  but 
 temporally  we  have  often  seen  that  'before  honour  is  humility.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV. — I.  The  devout  Christinn  nuiu 
 njoice  that  he  has  a  Sovereign  at  nil  times  accessible.  He  even  in- 
 vites the  most  bumble  to  come  to  Him,  and  He  especially  gives 
 access  to  those  who  are  burdened  and  distressed.  He  says. 
 '  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  are  weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  I 
 will  give  you  rest.'  '  Call  upon  me'  in  the  day  of  trouble,  I 
 will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shall  glorify  me.' 
 
 II.  Jfheji  trouble  overwhilms  las,  or  the  interests  of  religion  look 
 gloomy  around  us,  we  should  especially  resort  to  prayer.  " '  Is  any 
 5*24 
 
 man  afflicted,  let  him  pray.' 
 
 HI.  Those  171  situations  of  influence  shouhl  feel  themselves  hound, 
 at  all  hazards,  to  employ  their  influence  ft)r  the  good  of  the  church 
 of  God.  Influence  is  a  talent  for  which  we  must  be  respon- 
 sible. It  may  sometimes  require  courage  ;  but  are  tbe  men  of 
 tbe  world  timid  in  advancing  their  ambitious  views  1  and  shall 
 we  not  venture  to  tiike  up  our  cross  for  Christ  ?  Christ  lai<l 
 down  bis  life  for  us,  and  we  ought  even,  if  called  in  a  way  of 
 duty,  *  to  lay  down  our  lives  for  tbe  brethren.' 
 
 IV.  Private  and  family  religion  best  fits  us  for  the  performance 
 of  public  duties.  '  I  and  my  maidens  will  Vast.'  said  Esther. 
 She  could  not  unite  in  tbe  public  prayers  of  tbe  Jews,  but  she 
 had  a  little  band  around  her  who  could  mingle  their  petitions 
 with  hers.  Mr.  Lawson  observes.  'Some,  it  is  probable,  of 
 Esther's  maids  were  heathens  when  ibey  came  into  her  ser- 
 vice, yet  we  find  her  promising  that  they  would  fast.  She  can 
 answer  for  them  as  Joshua  for  his  household,  that  they  would 
 serve  the  Lonl.  If  mistresses  were  as  zealous  as  Queen 
 Esther  for  tbe  honour  of  God  and  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
 they  would  bi'Stow  pains  upon  the  insiiuctiou  and  religious 
 iinprovemuul  of  (heir  female  servants.' 
 
Esther's  banquet. 
 
 ESTHER,  VI. 
 
 Haman  maheth  a  gallows> 
 
 over  against  the  king's  house  :  and  the  king  sat 
 upon  his  royal  throne  in  tlie  royal  house,  over 
 against  the  gate  of  the  house. 
 '2  And  it  was  so,  when  the  king  saw  Esther 
 the  queen  standing  in  the  court,  that  '  she  ob- 
 tained favour  in  his  sight :  and  ■■  the  king  held 
 out  to  Esther  the  golden  sceptre  that  icas  in 
 his  hand.  So  Esther  drew  near,  and  touched 
 the  top  of  the  sceptre. 
 
 3  Then  said  the  king  unto  her.  What  wilt 
 thou,  queen  Esther?  and  what  is  thy  request? 
 "  it  shall  be  even  given  thee  to  the  half  of  the 
 kingdom 
 
 4  And  Esther  answered.  If  it  seem  good  unto 
 the  king,  let  the  king  and  Haman  come  this 
 day  unto  the  banquet  that  I  have  prepared  for 
 him. 
 
 5  Tlien  the  king  said.  Cause  Haman  to  make 
 haste,  that  he  may  do  as  Esther  hath  said.  So 
 the  king  and  Haman  came  to  the  banquet  that 
 Esther  had  prepared. 
 
 6  If '  And  tlie  king  said  unto  Esther  at  the 
 banquet  of  wine,  ^  What  is  thy  petition?  and 
 it  sliall  be  granted  thee  :  and  what  is  thy  re- 
 quest? even  to  the  half  of  the  kingdom  it  shall 
 be  performed. 
 
 7  Then  answered  Esther,  and  said.  My  peti- 
 tion and  my  request  is ; 
 
 8  If  I  have  found  favour  in  the  sight  of  the 
 king,  and  if  it  please  the  king  to  grant  my  pe- 
 tition, and  f  to  perform  my  request,  let  the 
 king  and  Haman  come  to  the  banquet  that  I 
 shall  prepare  for  them,  and  I  will  do  to  morrow 
 as  the  king  hath  said. 
 
 9  t  Then  went  Haman  forth  that  day  joyful 
 and  with  a  glad  heart :  but  when  Haman  saw 
 Mordecai  in  the  king's  gate,  ^  that  he  stood 
 not  up,  nor  moved  for  him,  he  was  full  of  indig- 
 nation against  Mordecai. 
 
 10  Nevertheless  Haman  'refrained  himself: 
 and  when  he  came  home,  he  sent  and  f  called 
 for  his  friends,  and  Zeresh  his  wife. 
 
 1 1  And  Haman  told  them  of  the  glory  of 
 his  riches,  and  '^  the  multitude  of  his  children, 
 and  all  the  thiiu/s  wherein  the  king  had  pro- 
 moted him,  and  how  he  had  '  advanced  him 
 above  the  princes  and  servants  of  the  king. 
 
 c  Bre  Ksth. 
 15.  7,  S- 
 Prnv.  L'l.  I. 
 
 •i   Cll.   *.    11 
 
 &  M.  *, 
 
 /ch.7.  !. 
 i?  cb.  9.  12. 
 
 I  So  2  Sam. 
 (  Heb.ifflHJed 
 
 *ch.  9.  7,&c 
 
 t  Heb.  Iree. 
 ch.  7.  9. 
 :b.  6.  «. 
 
 t  Heb.  (Ac 
 king's  sUfp 
 
 li  Cb  2.  -a. 
 
 Or,  Big- 
 
 b  See  ch   S. 
 I. 
 ch.  5.  14 
 
 12  Haman  said  moreover,  Yea,  Esther  the 
 queen  did  let  no  man  come  in  with  the  king 
 unto  the  banquet  that  she  had  prepared  but 
 myself;  and  to  morrow  am  I  invited  unto  her 
 also  with  the  king. 
 
 13  Yet  all  this  availeth  me  nothing,  so  long 
 as  I  see  Mordecai  the  Jew  sitting  at  the  king's 
 gate. 
 
 14  If  Then  said  Zeresh  his  wife  and  all  his 
 friends  unto  him,  Let  a  f"  gallows  be  made  of 
 fifty  cubits  high,  and  to  morrow  "speak  thou 
 unto  the  king  that  Mordecai  may  be  hanged 
 thereon  :  then  go  thou  in  merrily  with  the  king 
 unto  the  banquet.  And  the  thing  pleased 
 Haman  ;  and  he  caused  °  the  gallows  to  be 
 made. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  Ahasuerus,  readinrj  in  the  chronichs  of  the  tjood  ser- 
 ince  done  hy  Mordecai,  taketh  care  fur  his  reward. 
 4  Haman,  coming  to  sue  that  Moi-decai  miiiht  be 
 hanged,  unatvures  giveth  counsel  that  he  might  do  him 
 honour.  12  Complaining  of  his  misforfmic,  his 
 friends  tell  him  of  his  final  destiny. 
 
 C\^  that  night  f  could  not  the  king  sleep, 
 ^-^  and  he  commanded  to  bring  "  the  book  of 
 records  of  the  chronicles ;  and  they  were  read 
 before  the  king. 
 
 2  And  it  was  found  written,  that  Mordecai 
 had  told  of  ||  Bigthana  and  Teresh,  two  of  the 
 king's  chamberlains,  the  keepers  of  the  fdoor, 
 who  sought  to  lay  hand  on  the  king  Abasuerus. 
 
 3  And  tlie  king  said.  What  honour  and  dig- 
 nity liath  been  done  to  Mordecai  for  this? 
 Then  said  the  king's  servants  that  ministered 
 unto  him.  There  is  nothing  done  for  him. 
 
 4  1  And  the  king  said,  Wlio  is  in  the  court? 
 Now  Haman  was  come  into  ^  tlie  outward 
 court  of  the  king's  house,  '^  to  speak  unto  the 
 king  to  hang  Mordecai  on  the  gallows  tiiat  he 
 had  prepared  for  him. 
 
 5  And  the  king's  servants  said  unto  him.  Be- 
 hold, Haman  standeth  in  the  court.  And  the 
 king  said,  Let  him  come  in. 
 
 6  So  Haman  came  in.  And  the  king  said 
 unto  him,  "What  shall  be  done  unto  the  man 
 fwhom  the  king  delighteth  to  honour?  Now 
 Haman  thought  in  his  heart,  To  whom  would 
 
 the  door  could  not  forbid  her.— So  Aben  Ezra.  2.  Golden  .sceptre — 
 Xenophon  states  that  the  king:s  of  Persia  wore  a  golden  sceptre. — Orient. 
 Lit  ,  6f)0.  3.  Half  of  the  kiugdum—Rn  hyperbolical  and  courtly  way 
 of  speaking:,  meaning,  he  would  grant  lier  any  thing  and  every  thingr 
 that  was  reasonable  and  even  magnificent.  See  the  like  expression  of 
 Herod,  Mark,  vi.  23.  4.  The  king  and  Hainan  cnine — she  invited  the 
 latter  that  she  miizht  accuse  him  to  his  face.  6.  Banquet  of  wine — 
 
 the  Persians,  at  their  meals,  had  two  courses,  the  first  consisted  of 
 meats,  &c.,  at  which  they  drank  water,  the  other  of  fruits,  when  they 
 drank  wine.— G?//.  It  was  to  tliis  part  of  the  banquet  that  the  king 
 was  invited. — So  Clarke.  8.  /  tvill  do  to  morrow — perhaps  Esther's 
 heart  failed  her  now;  she  also  hoped,  by  this  means,  further  to  win 
 apon  him;  and  God's  Providence  put  it  into  her  heart  to  delay  her 
 petition  a  day  longer,  that  Mordecai's  honour  might  be  displayed  in 
 the  meantime,  and  the  way  be  opened  to  his  advancement  and  Haman 's 
 ruin. — Hfiiry,  Donthr.  p.  Full  nf  indignation — the  hauglity  Hindoo 
 of  rank  who  observes  any  one  deficient  in  paying  him  the  usual  reve- 
 
 rence of  inferiors,  will  have  his  name  and  place  of  abode  takeu  down, 
 and  usually,  in  the  end,  takes  his  revenge,  even  to  the  ruin  of  the  of- 
 fender.— So  Rob.  1-1.  Fiftp  cubits  high,  that  men  might  see  the 
 body  afar  off  and  be  struck  with  fear. — P'tt. 
 
 Chap.  VI. —  1.  On  that  night,  preceding  the  decisive  day  on  which 
 Esther  was  to  present  her  petition. — Latcsim.  Could  nut  the  king 
 sleep— perhAps  he  ruminated  on  his  bed  on  the  singular  conduct  uf 
 Esther,  and  was  wondering  what  could  be  her  request. —  Ed.  Perhaps 
 the  charms  of  Esther's  conversation  the  day  before  gave  occasion  to 
 his  heart  to  reproach  him  for  neglecting  her.  —  Henry.  'The  Lord 
 moved  the  king  that  night  by  dreams,'  Sept.  To  bring  the  book,  to 
 divert  himself. — Gill.  2.  Found  ivritten — it  was  a  singular  providence 
 of  God  that  they  should  read  in  that  very  part  of  the  book  wherein  the 
 service  of  Mordecai  was  recorded.— Pu^  3.  Nothing  donf—some 
 have  conjectured  that  a  reward  had  been  ordered,  but  that  through 
 the  ill-will  of  Haman,  or  s<^me  of  the  courtiers,  it  was  nut  bestowed, 
 and  that  other  rewards  having  been  entered  in  the  chronicles,  the  king 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  — We  have  here,  I.  Esther's 
 success.  Prayer  had  prevailed.  'The  king's  heart  is  in  the 
 hand  of  the  Lord  ;  as  the  rivers  of  water,  he  turneth  it  whi- 
 thersoever he  will.'  What  wonderful  favours  from  men  may 
 fervent  supplication  to  God  obtain!  '  If  God  be  for  us,  who 
 can  be  against  iis  ?' 
 
 n.  Haman's  discontent.  While  this  haughty  tyrant  could 
 boast  of  the  highest  favours,  and  abundance  of  wealth,  and  a 
 numerous  and  flourishing  oflspring,  and,  in  fact,  everything 
 that  ought  to  have  made  him  content,  yet  one  thing  was  as  the 
 dead  fly  in  the  apothecary's  ointment.  'All  this,  said  he, 
 availeth  me  nothing,  so  long  as  I  see  Mordecai  the  Jew  sitting 
 at  the  king's  gale.'  How  iusufHcient  then,  after  all,  are  the 
 5-25 
 
 dazzling  objects  of  this  world  to  give  satisfaction  to  the  mind  ! 
 The  poorest  follower  of  the  Saviour  would  not  exchange  places 
 with  such  a  man.  Even  bread  and  water,  with  the  prospect 
 of  a  heavenly  inheritance,  have  afforded  the  sweetest  satisfac- 
 tion to  many  a  humble  Christian.  '  I  have  all  things  and 
 abound,'  said  an  apostle,  who  was  often  in  hunger,  and  thirst, 
 and  nakedness,  and  who,  when  he  so  said,  was  a  poor  prisoner. 
 This  man  had  nothing,  and  yet  possessed  all  thini;s.  Ten 
 thousand  talents  were  but  a  small  part  of  Haman's  wealth,  and 
 yet  he  is  miserably  poor.  The  believer  in  Christ  must  be  rich 
 in  the  midst  of  poverty,  for  he  is  possessed  of  gold  tried  in 
 the  tire.  The  man  who  knows  not  Christ  is  poor,  though  he 
 he  rich,  because  lie  is  utterly  destitute  of  the  true  riches. 
 
Mordccai  honoured. 
 
 ESTHER,  VII. 
 
 Hainan  is  hanged. 
 
 the  king  delight  to  do  honour  more  than  to 
 
 myself? 
 
 7  And  Haman  answered  the  king,  For  the 
 man  f  wliom  the  king  delighteth  to  honour, 
 
 hi  t  Let  tlie  royal  apparel  be  brought  f  vvliich 
 tlie  king  useth  to  wear,  and  ''  the  horse  that 
 the  king  rideth  upon,  and  the  crown  royal 
 wliich  is  set  upon  his  head  : 
 
 9  And  let  this  apparel  and  horse  be  delivered 
 to  the  hand  of  one  of  tlie  king's  most  noble 
 princes,  that  they  may  array  the  man  withal 
 whom  tlie  king  delighteth  to  honour,  and 
 t  bring  Iiini  on  horseback  through  the  street  of 
 the  city,  "  and  proclaim  before  him,  Tims  shall 
 it  be  done  to  tlie  man  whom  the  king  delight- 
 etli  to  honour. 
 
 10  Tlieii  the  king  said  to  Hainan,  Make  haste, 
 and  take  the  apparel  and  the  horse,  as  thou 
 hast  said,  and  do  even  so  to  Mordecai  the  Jew, 
 tluit  sitteth  at  the  king's  gate :  f  let  nothing 
 fall  of  all  tliat  tliou  hast  spoken. 
 
 I  I  Then  took  Hainan  the  apparel  and  the 
 horse,  and  arrayed  Mordecai,  and  brought  him 
 on  horseback  througli  the  street  of  the  city, 
 and  proclaimed  before  him.  Thus  shall  it  be 
 done  unto  the  man  whom  the  king  delighteth 
 to  honour. 
 
 I 'J  H  And  Mordecai  came  again  to  the  king's 
 gate.  But  Hainan  "^  hasted  to  his  house  mourn- 
 ing, '■'and  having  liis  head  covered. 
 
 IS  And  Hainan  told  Zeresh  his  wife  and  all 
 his  friends  every  thing  that  liad  befallen  him. 
 Tlien  said  his  wise  men  and  Zeresh  his  wife 
 unto  him.  If  Mordecai  be  of  the  seed  of  the 
 .lews,  before  whom  thou  hast  begun  to  fall, 
 thou  shalt  not  prevail  against  hiin,  but  shalt 
 surely  fall  before  him. 
 
 14  And  while  they  were  yet  talking  with 
 him,  came  the  king's  chamberlains,  and  hasted 
 to  bring  Haman  unto  ''  the  banquet  that  Esther 
 had  prepared. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 I    Esther,  nUtrta'tning  the  kiny  and  IJaninn,  mahcth 
 suit  ftii'  her  own  lift  and  her  people's.   5  She  accvseth 
 Ilanian.     7   1'hf  Ai'iff  in  his  anqer,  understanding  of 
 the  gaUincs  ivhich  Haman   had  made  for  Mordeca< 
 cnugeth  him  to  be  han-ivd  thereon. 
 
 t  Heb.  .■' 
 
 ie>nne  ho 
 
 uaurlhekins 
 
 deli^hlrth 
 t   Heb.  Let 
 
 I  htm  brinfl 
 
 t  Heb.wAcr. 
 
 Willi  the  ki„ 
 
 c'"theth 
 
 l.iinself. 
 d  I  Kill.  I. 
 
 33. 
 
 t  Heb.  !■« 
 Ami  to  ri 
 
 t  Heb.  $fifT 
 nut  a  whit  to 
 full. 
 
 jS  Sam.  15. 
 .111.  Jer.  H 
 a,  -1. 
 
 t  Heb.  lo 
 ilr,„k. 
 
 :    Cll.    S.    6, 
 
 t  Heb.  Ihtit 
 ll.ep  »houl,i 
 driirnt/.  niitl 
 k,H,  aud 
 Cfie  to  jic- 
 
 t  Heb.  tehnte 
 
 hfnri  hull, 
 Jilltd  him. 
 
 d  Jobs    2». 
 ch.  I.  10. 
 
 /ch.5.  M. 
 
 I'a    7.  16. 
 
 Pro-11.5,6. 
 t  Heb.  trte. 
 
 g  Dan.  6.  iA. 
 I's.  37.  35, 
 36. 
 
 CO  the  king  and  Haman  came  f  to  banquet 
 ^   with  Esther  the  queen. 
 
 2  And  the  king  said  again  unto  Esther  on 
 the  second  day  ^  at  tlie  banquet  of  wine,  What 
 is  thy  petition,  queen  Esther?  and  it  .shall  be 
 granted  thee  :  and  what  ?V  thy  request?  and  it 
 shall  be  performed,  even  to  the  half  of  the 
 kingdom. 
 
 3  Then  Esther  the  queen  answered  and  said. 
 If  1  have  found  favour  in  thy  sight,  O  king, 
 and  if  it  please  the  king,  let  my  life  be  given 
 me  at  my  petition,  and  my  people  at  my  re- 
 quest : 
 
 4  For  we  are  *"  sold,  I  and  my  people,  f  to  be 
 destroyed,  to  be  slain,  and  to  perish.  But  if 
 we  had  been  sold  for  bondmen  and  bondwo- 
 men, I  had  held  my  tongue,  although  the 
 enemy  could  not  countervail  the  king's  da- 
 mage. 
 
 5  1  Then  the  king  Ahasuerus  answered  and 
 said  unto  Esther  the  queen.  Who  is  he,  and 
 where  is  he,  f  that  durst  presume  in  his  heart 
 to  do  so  ? 
 
 6  And  Esther  said,  f  The  adversary  and  ene- 
 my is  tiiis  wicked  Haman.  Then  Haman  was 
 afraid  ||  before  the  king  and  tlie  queen. 
 
 7  1[  And  the  king  arising  from  the  banquet  of 
 wine  in  his  wrath  iccnt  into  the  palace  garden  : 
 and  Haman  stood  up  to  make  request  for  his 
 life  to  Esther  the  queen  ;  for  he  saw  that  there 
 was  evil  determined  against  him  by  the  king. 
 
 8  Then  the  king  returned  out  of  the  palace 
 garden  into  tlie  place  of  the  banquet  of  wine  ; 
 and  Hainan  was  fallen  upon  ^  the  bed  whereon 
 Esther  icas.  Then  said  the  king,  Will  he  force 
 the  queen  also  f  before  me  in  the  house?  As 
 the  word  went  out  of  the  king's  mouth,  they 
 ''covered  Hainan's  face. 
 
 f)  And  "-'  Harbonah,  one  of  the  chamberlains, 
 said  before  the  king,  Behold  also,  *"  the  f  gallows 
 fifty  cubits  high,  which  Haman  had  made  for 
 Mordecai,  wlio  had  spoken  good  for  the  king, 
 standeth  in  the  house  of  Haman.  Then  the 
 king  said.  Hang  him  thereon. 
 
 10  So  ^  tliey  hanged  Hainan  on  the  gallows 
 that  be  had  prepared  for  Mordecai.  Then  was 
 the  king's  wrath  pacified. 
 
 remarked    this  omission. — So  Boothr.  8.  The  raynl  apparel,  tlie 
 
 purple  robe  or  stole  worn  by  kingrs.  Xenaphon  states  that  the  robe  of 
 Cyrus  was  half  purple  and  half  white,  aud  no  other  person  might  wear 
 such  an  one,  for  it  was.  a  capital  crime.  This  was  a  daring  proposal  of 
 Haman,  had  he  not  felt  sure  of  the  king's  favour.  T/ie  horse — Hero- 
 tlnttts  informs  us,  the  Perf-ian  kings  rode  Nisean  horses,  brought  from 
 Armenia,  as  Straho  says,  of  peculiar  beauty;  and  if  the  same  law  ob- 
 tained in  Persia  as  in  Judea,  no  man  might  ride  on  the  king's  horse. 
 And  the  crown  royal  which  is  set  tipon  his  head,  of  the  horse,  and  not 
 the  man  ;  Haman  would  not  have  dared  to  advise  that,  nor  could  it  be 
 firantcd  ;  this  was  what  was  wont  to  be  done,  to  put  the  crown  royal  on 
 the  head  of  a  horse  led  in  state;  and  this,  we  are  assured,  was  a  custom 
 in  Persia,  as  it  is  with  the  Ethiopians  to  this  day. — Gill,  so  Abe7i  Ezra, 
 S'/r.,  Vatafiliis,  De  Dieu ;  vide  uHo  Targ  ,  and  Alvarez  Hist.  Ethiop., 
 r.  105,  col.  3869.  The  Heb.  nriD  signifies  any  ornament  about  the  head 
 or  neck,  and  the  head  of  the  horse  is  meant. — Pal.  The  royal  crown 
 was  certainly  meant,  for  why  mention  the  ordinary  trappin(;s  of  the 
 royal  steed  ? — A.  Clarke.  9.  And  bring  him  tm  horsebark — the  riding 
 at  all  on  a  horse  seems  to  be  an  honourable  thing  in  the  east,  since 
 Europeans  are  m^t,  in  common,  permitted  to  do  it.  It  appears  that 
 this  was  not  wholly  Haman's  invention,  hut  an  eastern  mode  c.f  doing 
 honour.   Pitts  mentions  a  cavaicade  at  Algiers  upon  a  person's  turning 
 
 Mohammedan,  designed  to  do  him  and  the  law  honour,  much  resem- 
 bling this,  with  a  crier  going  before,  giving  thanks  to  Clod  for  the  pro- 
 selyte.— See  Har.,  vol.  ii.,  chap.  vi.  obs.  xx.xix.  12.  Head  covered,  a 
 token  of  sorrow,  (-2  Sam.  xv.  30;  xix.  4  ;  Jcr.  xiv.  3,  4.)  13.  Shalt 
 surely  full,  for  Moidecai  being  a  Jew  woold  shew  no  mercy  to  his  in- 
 veterate foe,  and  the  interpositions  of  Providence  in  behalf  of  the  Jews 
 had  also  been  very  remarkable. — So  Pat. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  4.  The  king's  damage,  in  the  loss  of  subjects  and  of 
 revenue. — Sut.,  so  Gill.  7.  The  king  arising — when  the  kingof  Persia 
 orders  a  person  to  be  executed,  and  then  rises  and  goes  into  a  woman's 
 apartment,  it  is  a  sign  that  no  mercy  is  to  be  hoped  for. — Tavemier. 
 8.  UpoJi  the  bed,  'couch.' — Boothr.  They  sat,  or  rather  lay,  upon 
 beds  [couches]  as  they  ate  and  drank,  and  Haman  fell  as  a  suppliant 
 at  Esther's  feet.  Then  said  the  king,  ^c. — in  his  furious  passion,  the 
 king  turned  everything  to  the  worst  sense. — Pat.  Covered  Human*s 
 /«/T— the  majesty  of  the  kings  r.t  Persia  did  not  allow  mali-factors  to 
 look  at  them.  As  soon  as  Haman  was  so  considered,  his  face  was 
 covered. — Har.  9.  Hang  him,  'crucify  him,'  Sept.  10.  So  they 
 hanged  Haman — when  a  prisoner  is  capitally  condemned  in  Abyssinia, 
 he  is  not  sent  to  prison,  or  back  thither,  but  is  imimdiately  carried 
 away  and  sentence  executed.  Xenaphon  states  that  this  was  the  prac- 
 tice in  Persia. — Bntce. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  J,  Mordecai's  services  to  .Aha- 
 suerus were  some  time  fnrgotten,  andj  hut  for  the  extraordinary  in- 
 terposition of  Providence,  n-ould  have  been  U7ir<  rvnr/kd ;  *  but  God 
 is  not  unrighteous  to  forget  your  work  and  labour  of  love 
 which  ye  have  shewed  toward  bis  name.'  A  book  of  reraem- 
 brance  is  kept  before  him,  and  the  most  minute  action  done 
 for  his  glory  shall  not  lose  its  reward.  Honours  which  can 
 never  be  lost,  a  crown  of  glory  which  shall  wear  with  immor- 
 tal lustre,  shall  be  the  portion  of  him  whom  '  the  King'  of 
 heaven  'delighteth  to  honour.* 
 326 
 
 II.  Haman  at  the  vioment  when  he  thought  his  most  ambitious 
 projects  icere  all  iyibe  realized,  was  made  ashamed  and  confounded. 
 So  in  our  own  times  have  others,  even  greater  and  more  power- 
 ful than  be.  '  There  is,'  as  Lawson  remarks,  '  a  great  infelicity 
 which  attends  worldly  pursuits,  that  tliere  is  no  proportion 
 between  the  pleasure  of  success  and  the  pain  of  disappoint- 
 ment.' '  If  you  desire  to  be  happy,  be  clotlied  with  Immility, 
 and  mortify  pride.  Haman  in  prosperity  was  miserable,  and 
 in  adversity  was  doubly  miserable,  because  be  was  the  slave 
 of  pride.' 
 
Mordecai's  advancement. 
 
 ESTHER,  VIII 
 
 The  joy  of  the  Jens. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  Mordecai  is  advanied.  3  Esther  maketh  suit  to  re- 
 verse Hamans  h  Iters.  7  Ahasuerus  yranteth  to  tlie 
 Jews  to  defend  t/itmsehes,  13  Mordecai's  hunoui; 
 and  the  Jews'  joy. 
 
 ON  tliat  day  did  the  king  Aliasuenis  give 
 the  house  of  Hamaii  the  .lews'  enemy 
 unto  Esther  tlie  queen.  And  Mordecai  came 
 before  the  king  ;  for  Esther  had  told  "  what  he 
 u-as  unto  her. 
 
 2  And  the  king  took  oflf  ''  his  ring,  which  he 
 had  taken  from  Hanian,  and  gave  it  unto  Mor- 
 decai. And  Esther  set  Mordecai  over  the 
 house  of  Haman. 
 
 3  H  And  Estlier  spake  yet  again  before  tlie 
 king,  and  fell  down  at  his  feet,  f  and  besought 
 him  with  tears  to  put  away  the  mischief  of 
 Haman  the  Agagite.  and  his  device  that  he 
 had  devised  against  the  Jews. 
 
 4  Then  '  the  king  held  out  the  golden  sceptre 
 toward  Esther.  So  Esther  arose,  and  stood 
 before  the  king, 
 
 3  And  said.  If  it  please  the  king,  and  if  I  have 
 found  favour  in  his  sight,  and  the  thing  seem 
 right  before  the  king,  and  I  be  pjeasing  in  his 
 eyes,  let  it  be  written  to  reverse  f  the  letters 
 devised  by  Haman  the  son  of  Hammedatha 
 the  Agagite,  ||  which  he  wrote  to  destroy  the 
 Jews  which  are  in  all  the  king's  provinces  : 
 
 6  For  how  can  I  f  endure  to  see  ''  the  evil 
 that  shall  come  unto  my  people  ?  or  how 
 can  I  endure  to  see  the  destruction  of  my 
 kindred? 
 
 7  t  Then  the  king  Ahasuerus  said  unto 
 Esther  the  queen  and  to  Mordecai  the  Jew, 
 Behold,  "  I  have  given  Esther  the  house  of 
 Haman,  and  him  they  have  hanged  upon  the 
 gallows,  because  he  laid  his  hand  upon  the 
 Jews. 
 
 8  Write  ye  also  for  the  Jews,  as  it  liketh  you, 
 in  the  king's  name,  and  seal  it  with  the  king's 
 ring :  for  the  writing  which  is  written  in  the 
 king's  name,  and  sealed  with  the  king's  ring, 
 'may  no  man  reverse. 
 
 9  *  Then  were  the  king's  scribes  called  at 
 that  lime   in   the    third   month,    that   is,    the 
 
 t  Heb.  und 
 thr  tnrjil,  niid 
 
 t  Heb.  rt« 
 device. 
 
 t  Heb   6'- 
 able  lh':t  I 
 
 f  See  cb.  1. 
 
 H    C 
 cii-.  srii. 
 
 cb.  1.  22. 
 &  3.  12. 
 
 H  Kin  21  8. 
 ch.  3.J2.  13. 
 
 :.  cl.  .1.  14, 
 1.5. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 I  See  cb   3 
 IS.  Pr.i.  29 
 
 p  Pif.97.  II. 
 
 Deut.  2.  :d 
 &  II.  25. 
 cli.  9.  2. 
 
 month  Sivan,  on  the  three  and  twentieth  day 
 thereof;  and  it  was  written  according  to  all 
 that  Mordecai  commanded  unto  the  Jews,  and 
 to  the  lieutenants,  and  the  deputies  and  rulers 
 of  the  provinces  which  are  ^  from  India  unto 
 Ethiopia,  an  hundred  twenty  and  seven  pro- 
 vinces, uiito  every  province  'according  to  the 
 writing  thereof,  and  unto  every  people  after 
 their  language,  and  to  the  Jews  according  to 
 their  writing,  and  according  to  their  language. 
 
 10  '  And  he  wrote  in  the  king  Ahasuerus' 
 name,  and  sealed  it  with  the  king's  ring,  and 
 sent  letters  by  posts  on  horseback,  and  riders 
 on  mules,  camels,  and  young  dromedaries  : 
 
 1 1  Wherein  the  king  granted  the  Jews  which 
 were  in  every  city  to  gather  themselves  to- 
 gether, and  to  stand  for  their  life,  to  destroy, 
 to  slay,  and  to  cause  to  perish,  all  the  power 
 of  the  people  and  province  that  would  assault 
 them,  both  little  ones  and  women,  and  '  to  take 
 the  spoil  of  them  for  a  prey. 
 
 12  "'  Upon  one  day  in  all  the  provinces  of 
 king  Ahasuerus,  namely,  upon  the  thirteentli 
 day  of  the  twelfth  month,  which  is  the  month 
 Adar. 
 
 13  "  The  copy  of  the  writing  for  a  command- 
 ment to  be  given  in  every  province  was  f  pub- 
 lished unto  all  people,  and  that  the  Jews 
 should  be  ready  against  that  day  to  avenge 
 themselves  on  their  enemies. 
 
 14  So  the  posts  that  rode  upon  mules  and 
 camels  went  out,  being  hastened  and  pressed 
 on  by  the  king's  commandment.  And  the  de- 
 cree was  giveii  at  Shushan  the  palace. 
 
 15  t  And  Mordecai  went  out  from  the  pre- 
 sence of  the  king  in  royal  apparel  of  ||  blue  and 
 white,  and  with  a  great  crown  of  gold,  and 
 with  a  garment  of  fine  linen  and  purple  :  and 
 "  the  city  of  Shushau  rejoiced  and  was  glad. 
 
 16  The  Jews  had  ''light,  and  gladness,  and 
 joy,  and  honour. 
 
 17  And  in  every  province,  and  in  every  city, 
 whithersoever  the  king's  commandment  and 
 his  decree  came,  the  Jews  had  joy  and  glad- 
 ness, a  feast  ''  and  a  good  day.  And  many  of 
 the  people  of  the  land  '  became  Jews  ;  for  '  the 
 fear  of  the  Jews  fell  upon  them. 
 
 Chap.  Vlir.  —  1.  The  house,  which,  being  confiscated  to  the  king, 
 he  gave  to  Esther;  the  Tnrgum  adds.  *  and  the  men  of  his  house,  and 
 all  his  treasures,  and  all  his  riches.'  2.  Took  off  his  ring,  which, 
 with  the  Persians,  was  a  token  of  the  strongest  affection  and  strictest 
 friendship.  —  Gitl.  He  made  Mordecai  keeper  of  the  seal,  as  Haman 
 had  been.— P;-irf.  It  was  his  signatory  ring,  Targ.  See  Gen.  xli.  42, 
 and  note  there.  Set  Mordecfti,  Sfc. — appointed  him  steward  of  Haman's 
 estate.— Gi«.  10.  Jl/i/te,  ©JT.  The  word  signifies  'a  swift  chariot 
 horse.' — .4.  Clarke.  Dromedaries — the  Arabian  camel  or  dromedary 
 has  but  one  hunch  on  his  back.  The  Arabians  regard  their  dromedaries 
 as  a  gift  from  Heaven,  without  which  they  could  neitlicr  carry  un  trade 
 nor  subsist.  These  animals  can  perform  a  journey  of  tilty  leagues  in 
 a  day.  They  can  travel  nine  or  ten  days  with  one  hour's  rest  daily,  and 
 
 be  fed  with  one  ball  of  paste,  carrying  their  own  and  their  rider's  food 
 and  water. — Buffon,  ffr.  The  Hebrew  is  D^2mn  ^:a,  'the  sons  of 
 mares,'  '  mules;'  hut  the  learned  are  not  agreed  about  these  names.^ 
 So  Clarke.  U.  To  stand  for  their  life — the  decree  being  irrevocable, 
 all  that  the  king  could  do  to  reverse  it  was  to  give  the  Jews  authority 
 to  defend  themselves  and  retaliate  on  their  enemies. — So  Prideatn-. 
 12.  One  dat/—lhe  day  appointed  in  the  former  letters  for  the  destruction 
 of  the  Jews,  (chap.  iii.  l3.)~Gitl.  15.  Ro//al  apparel,  such  robes  as 
 the  princes  of  Persia  were  wont  to  wear. — Pat.  A  great  rrown,  *a 
 large  turban  ornamented  with  gold,'  &c. — A.  Clarke.  Not  like  that  of 
 the  king,  but  such  as  the  peers  of  the  realm  wore,  .i  garment—tins 
 was  the  inner  garment. — I'at.  16.  Li^ht,  '  prosperity,' as  opposed 
 to  the  darkness  of  adversity,  (see  Isa.  viii.  21 ;  i.\.  1,  2.) 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  This  chapter  illustrates 
 two  proverbs  :  I.  '  A  tmughty  spirit  qoeth  before  a  fall.'  So  says 
 Solomon.  And  m  Haman  we  have  a  striking  illustration  of 
 the  tact.  In  reading  his  history,  we  may  justly  exclaim, '  How 
 are  the  mighty  fallen  !'  Who  now  envies  Haman  in  his  riches ' 
 and  honours,  wlien  he  beholds  him  in  his  misery  and  shame  ' 
 A  far  stronger  display  of  this  fatal  change  will  be  manifest 
 lu  that  day  when  many  a  rich  man  shall  envy  the  lot  of  Laza- 
 rus ;  when  the  scene  shall  be  changed  between  the  profane  op- 
 pressor and  the  pious  oppressed,  and  it  shall  be  said,  '  now  he 
 is  comforted,  and  thou  art  tormented.' 
 
 II.  '  The  u-icked  is  SJiared  in  the  u-nrk  of  his  own  hands.'     So 
 
 says  David.     Here  the  hand  of  God  is  manifest  in  taking  '  the 
 
 WKse  in  their  own  craftiness,'  and  causing  the  wicked  to  fall 
 
 into  the  pit  wbicli  they  have  digged  for  others.     Nothing  can 
 
 527 
 
 be  more  clear  than  the  hand  of  God  in  all  this  affair.  He  that 
 runs  may  read.  Surely  '  the  Lord  is  known  by  the  judgments 
 which  he  e.xecutetb.' 
 
 Refm-ctions  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  I.  Here  is  Mordecai  ad- 
 vanced to  honour  and  power.  Ambition  does  not  become  a  good 
 man,  but  when  Providence  puts  in  his  way  a  station  of  influ- 
 ence and  authority,  it  is  a  great  beneBt  to  the  church  and  the 
 world  ;  and  it  is  a  shrinking  from  duty  when  good  men,  for  the 
 sake  of  their  own  personal  piety  and  ease,  or  domestic  religion 
 and  comfort,  retire  where  Providence  calls  them  to  advance. 
 If  all  great  men  were  good  men,  society  must  improve,  and  the 
 church  flourish  ;  and  on  this  principle  it  is  that  we  offer  our 
 repeated  prayers  that  they  may  be  truly  elevated  in  piety. 
 
 II.  Here  are  the  Jews  rejoicing  in  the  chanye  of  their  affairs. 
 They  '  had  light  and  gladness,  and  joy  and  honour.'     '  Psow 
 
The  Jews  slay  ihtir  enrmies. 
 
 ESTHER,  IX. 
 
 teith  the  ten  sons  of  Human. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 The  Jt'ws  {the  rulers,  for  par  of  Mordecai,  hdphif} 
 thejn)  slay  their  enemies,  wit/i  the  ten  sons  of  Human, 
 12  Ahasuerus,  at  the  request  of  Esther,  tiraitteth 
 another  day  of  slaughter,  and  Hn;nan's  sows  to  he  Jtajtg- 
 ed.     20  The  two  days  of  Purim  are  made  feUival. 
 
 "M'OW  "in  the  twelfth  month,  that  is,  the 
 -'- '  montli  Adar,  on  tlie  tliirteenth  day  of  the 
 same,  ''  when  the  king's  commandment  and  his 
 decree  drew  near  to  be  put  in  execution,  in  tlie 
 day  that  the  enemies  of  the  Jews  hoped  to 
 have  power  over  them,  (though  it  was  turned 
 to  the  contrary,  that  tlie  Jews  'had  rule  over 
 them  that  hated  them  ;) 
 '2  The  Jews  ''gathered  themselves  together 
 in  their  cities  throughout  all  the  provinces  of 
 the  king  Ahasuerus,  to  lay  hand  on  such  as 
 "sought  their  hurt:  and  no  man  could  with- 
 stand them  ;  for  '  the  fear  of  them  fell  upon  all 
 people. 
 
 3  And  all  the  rulers  of  the  provinces,  and  the 
 lieutenants,  and  the  deputies,  and  f  officers  of 
 the  king,  helped  the  Jews ;  because  the  fear 
 of  Mordecai  fell  upon  them. 
 
 4  For  Mordecai  u-as  great  in  the  king's  house, 
 and  his  fame  went  out  throughout  all  the  pro- 
 vinces :  for  this  man  Mordecai  *  waxed  greater 
 and  greater. 
 
 6  Thus  the  Jews  smote  all  their  enemies 
 with  the  stroke  of  the  sword,  and  slaughter, 
 and  destruction,  and  did  f  what  they  would 
 unto  those  that  hated  them. 
 
 6  And  in  Shushan  the  palace  the  Jews  slew 
 and  destroyed  five  hundred  men. 
 
 7  And  Parshandatha,  and  Dalphon,  and  As- 
 patha, 
 
 8  And  Poratha,  and  Adalia,  and  Aridatha, 
 
 9  And  Parmashta,  and  Arisai,  and  Aridai,  and 
 Vajezatha, 
 
 10  ''  The  ten  .sons  of  Haman  the  son  of  Ham- 
 medatlia,  the  enemy  of  the  Jews,  slew  they  ; 
 '  but  on  the  spoil  laid  they  not  their  hand. 
 
 1 1  On  that  day  tlie  number  of  those  that 
 were  slain  in  Shushan  the  palace  f  was  brought 
 before  the  king. 
 
 12  1  And  tlie  king  said  unto  Esther  the 
 queen.  The  Jews  have  slain  and  destroyed  five 
 hundred  men  in  Shushan  the  palace,  and  the 
 ten  sons  of  Haman  ;  what  have  they  done  in 
 the  rest  of  tlie  king's  provinces?  now  ^  what  is 
 thy  petition  ?  and  it  shall  be  granted  thee  :  or 
 what  is  thy  request  further?  and  it  shall  be 
 done. 
 
 13  Then  said  Esther,  If  it  please  the  king, 
 let  it  be  granted  to  the  Jews  which  are  in 
 Shushan  to  do  to  morrow  also  '  according  unto 
 this  day's  decree,  and  f  let  Hainan's  ten  sons 
 
 a  ch.  8    1-2- 
 b  rU.  3.  l:i 
 
 Ph.  71.  1.1, 
 Jc\..S.  17. 
 
 t  Hi'h.  thiM 
 w'tUh  did 
 Ihr  b'iii'ieu 
 
 king. 
 
 j72S.im,  3. 1. 
 1  Chr  ll.y 
 Prov.*.  Irt, 
 
 t  Heb,  oc- 
 
 fOfitUg   to 
 
 their  atil. 
 
 A  ch.  5.  II. 
 
 I  Job  1^   in 
 
 J<<'-^    IS,  M, 
 
 15.  Ps.  21. 
 
 10. 
 i  See  ch.  8. 
 
 U 
 t  lieb.  cnmr. 
 
 k  ch.  £.  6.fc 
 7.  8. 
 
 t  M<-t)    Irt 
 
 7  See  ch.  1 
 
 t  Heb.  in  it. 
 
 I  Deut.  16. 
 
 II,  U 
 I  ch.  8.  17. 
 ..  ver.  22. 
 
 Nell,  3.  10, 
 
 IS. 
 
 r  See?  Mac. 
 15.30. 
 
 y  Ps.  8D    II. 
 
 t  Heb.  criiiA. 
 
 1  Heb.  icheii 
 ilie  cmic. 
 
 \  ver.  l:l.  11. 
 ch.  7,  ."i,  8ic. 
 K  S.  3,  ftc. 
 
 2  ch.  7.  10. 
 Ps.  7.  IC. 
 
 ■"  be  hanged  upon  the  gallows. 
 
 14  And  the  king  commanded  it  so  to  be 
 done  :  and  the  decree  was  given  at  Shushan  ; 
 and  they  hanged  Hainan's  ten  sons. 
 
 15  For  the  Jews  Ihfai  were  in  Shushan  "ga- 
 thered themselves  together  on  the  fourteenth 
 day  also  of  the  month  Adar,  and  slew  three 
 hundred  men  at  Shushan;  "but  on  the  prey 
 they  laid  not  their  hand. 
 
 10  But  the  other  Jews  that  were  in  the  king's 
 provinces  ■■  gathered  themselves  together,  and 
 stood  for  their  lives,  and  had  rest  from  their 
 enemies,  and  slew  of  their  foes  seventy  and 
 five  thousand,  ''  but  they  laid  not  their  hands 
 on  the  prey, 
 
 17  On  the  thirteenth  day  of  the  month  Adar; 
 and  on  the  fourteenth  day  fof  the  same  rested 
 they,  and  made  it  a  day  of  feasting  and  glad- 
 ness. 
 
 18  But  the  .Tews  that  were  at  Shushan  as- 
 sembled together  '  on  the  thirteenth  day  there- 
 of, and  on  the  fourteenth  thereof;  and  on  the 
 fifteenth  day  of  the  same  they  rested,  and  made 
 it  a  day  of  feasting  and  gladness. 
 
 19  Therefore  the  Jews  of  the  villages,  that 
 dwelt  in  the  unwalled  towns,  made  the  four- 
 teenth day  of  the  month  Adar  '  a  dni/  of  glad- 
 ness and  feasting,  '  and  a  good  day,  and  of 
 "sending  portions  one  to  another. 
 
 20  t  And  Mordecai  wrote  these  things,  and 
 sent  letters  unto  all  the  Jews  that  were  in  all 
 the  provinces  of  the  king  Ahasuerus,  both  nigh 
 and  far, 
 
 ■21  To  stablish  this  among  them,  that  they 
 should  keep  *  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month 
 Adar,  and  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  same,  yearly, 
 
 ■22  As  the  days  wherein  the  Jews  rested  from 
 their  enemies,  and  the  month  which  was  ''  turn- 
 ed unto  them  from  sorrow  to  joy,  and  from 
 mourning  into  a  good  day  :  that  tliey  should 
 make  them  days  of  feasting  and  joy,  and  of 
 '  sending  portions  one  to  another,  and  gifts  to 
 the  poor. 
 
 •23  And  the  Jews  undertook  to  do  as  they 
 had  begun,  and  as  Mordecai  had  written  unto 
 them  ; 
 
 24  Because  Haman  the  son  of  Hammedatha, 
 the  Agagite,  the  enemy  of  all  the  Jews,  °  had 
 devised  against  the  Jews  to  destroy  them,  and 
 had  cast  Pur,  that  is,  the  lot,  to  f  consume 
 them,  and  to  destroy  them  ; 
 
 25  But  t ''  when  Esther  came  before  the  king, 
 he  commanded  by  letters  that  his  wicked  de- 
 vice, which  he  devised  against  the  Jews,  should 
 "return  upon  his  own  head,  and  that  he  and 
 his  sons  should  be  hanged  on  the  gallows. 
 
 26  Wherefore  they  called  these  days  Purim 
 
 CfiAp.  IX.  —  5.  With  the  stroke  of  the  sword,  and  slaughter,  and 
 destruction,  '  with  the  sword,  and  slew  and  destrnyetl  tliera.' — Boot/ir. 
 6.  In  S/ius/ian  tlie  pntace — in  the  city  where  the  palace  was. — Gill. 
 Fine  hundred  men,  prohably  Amalekites,  wtio  were  of  Hainan's  faction, 
 and  enraged  at  his  disjrrace  and  death,  and,  htadc-d  by  his  ten  sons, 
 tdok  the  advantage  nf  the  decree  to  avenge  his  death.— Gt7^  so  Targ., 
 .'{lix.  13.  Be  hanged— they  were  Jtilled  the  day  before,  but  it  was 
 usual  with  the  Jews  and  Persians  to  hang  criminals  after  they  had 
 
 been  put  to  death,  (Josh.  x.  26.)— U';/.,  Gill.  15.  Fourteenth— the 
 Jews  finding  they  had  yet  many  enemies,  this  day  was  added  to  the 
 former  by  petition. — So  Clarke.  See  ver.  13.  I6.  Seventy  and  five  thou- 
 sand, Amaleltites  ;  so  say  the  Jewish  Writers.  22.  Sending  purtinns — 
 the  eastern  princes  and  people  not  only  invite  their  friends  to  feasts, 
 but  *  it  is  theii  custom  to  send  a  portion  of  the  banquet  to  those  that 
 cannot  well  come  to  it,  especially  their  relations  and  those  in  a  state 
 of  mourning.'— 5ir  J.  Chardin.        26.  Purim,  ^c.,  from  pur,  '  the  lot,' 
 
 miRht  tliey  sing  with  pleasure  those  delightful  words  of  David, 
 "Thou  wilt  save  the  afflicted  people,  but  wilt  bring  down  high 
 looks  ;  for  thou  wilt  light  my  candle.  The  Lord  my  God  will 
 enlighten  my  darkness."  '  '  No  affliction  for  the  present  is 
 joyous,  but  grievous.'  '  Yet,"  as  Luwson  observes, '  afflictions 
 have  terminated  in  joys  never  felt  by  those  who  never  had 
 changes.  Wen  never  feel  the  joys  of  health  that  were  never 
 sick  ;  and  those  whose  souls  have  been  failing  within  them 
 328 
 
 through  trouble,  oppression,  and  fear,  know  best  the  pleasure 
 of  ease  and  safety.  It  will  be  a  great  enhancement  of  the 
 blessedness  of  heaven  to  redeemed  saints,  that  tliey  were 
 once  in  a  state  of  sin  and  sorrow.  When  we  are  in  trouble, 
 let  us  consider  by  what  means  joy  may  be  brought  about,  that 
 we  may  learn  to  rejoice  in  hope.  Through  the  grace  of  God, 
 thorns  may  be  made  to  bear  grapes,  and  thistles,  figs,  for  Le 
 is  "  wonderful  in  counsel,  and  excellent  in  working."' 
 
ThefeMSl  of  P.tri. 
 
 ESTHER,  V. 
 
 Mordecni's  greatness  and  honour. 
 
 after  the  name  of  ||  Pur.  Therefore  for  all  the 
 words  of  ''  this  letter,  and  of  that  wliich  they 
 had  seen  eouceniing  this  matter,  and  which 
 had  come  unto  them, 
 
 27  The  Jews  ordained,  and  took  upon  them, 
 and  upon  their  seed,  and  upon  all  such  as 
 "joined  themselves  unto  them,  so  as  it  should 
 not  f  fail,  tliat  they  would  keep  these  two  days 
 according  to  their  writing,  and  according  to 
 tlieir  appointed  time  every  year  ; 
 
 28  And  that  these  days  should  be  remem- 
 bered and  kept  throughout  every  generation, 
 every  family,  every  province,  and  every  city  ; 
 and  thnt  these  days  of  Purim  sliould  not  f  fail 
 from  among  the  Jews,  nor  the  memorial  of 
 them  t  perish  from  their  seed. 
 
 29  Tlien  Esther  the  queen,  '  the  daughter  of 
 Abiliail,and  Mordecai  the  Jew,  wrote  with  fall 
 authority,  to  confirm  this  'second  letter  of 
 Purim. 
 
 30  And  he  sent  the  letters  unto  all  the  Jews, 
 to  ''  the  hundred  twenty  and  seven  provinces 
 of  tlie  kingdom  of  Aliasuerus,  with  words  of 
 peace  and  truth, 
 
 „Thatis,/. 
 d  ver.  2D. 
 
 t  Heb  ;>"»/. 
 
 t  Hob   bn 
 r,„Ld 
 /•■Ml    2.  15. 
 t  IK.b   lit 
 
 t  Hob  for 
 tlmr  to<U,. 
 i  ch.  4.  3,  16. 
 
 A  ch.  8.  15. 
 fc  9.  .1. 
 t  Heb    mfij. 
 
 d  Neh  2.  ]ii 
 Ps.l3-i.  8,9. 
 
 31  To  confirm  these  days  of  Purim  in  their 
 times  appointed,  according  as  Jlordecai  the 
 Jew  and  Esther  the  queen  had  enjoined  tliein 
 and  as  they  had  decreed  f  for  thein.selves  and 
 for  their  seed,  the  matters  of  '  the  fastings  and 
 their  cry. 
 
 32  And  the  decree  of  Esther  confirmed  these 
 matters  of  Purim  ;  and  it  was  written  in  the 
 book. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  Ahasuerus's  greatness.    3  Uorilccai's  advancement. 
 
 A  ND  the  king  Ahasuerns  laid  a  tribute  upon 
 -^^   the  land,  and  upon  "  tlie  isles  of  tlie  sea. 
 
 2  And  all  the  acts  of  his  power  and  of  his 
 might,  and  the  declaration  of  the  greatness  of 
 Mordecai,  ''  vvhereunto  the  king  f  advanced 
 him,  are  they  not  written  in  tlie  book  of  the 
 chronicles  of  the  kings  of  Media  and  Persia  ? 
 
 3  For  Mordecai  tlie  Jew  teas  "  next  unto  king 
 Ahasuerus,  and  great  among  the  Jews,  and 
 accepted  of  the  multitude  of  his  brethren, 
 '' seeking  the  wealth  of  liis  people,  and  speak- 
 ing peace  to  all  his  seed. 
 
 because  of  the  lots  ca<5t  hy  Haman. — Gill.  28.  Kppt  thrfiughout  every 
 generatioti — accordingly,  these  days  are  commemnrated  by  them  now. 
 During  ihe  festival  of  Purim,  Esther  is  twice  read  in  their  synagogues  ; 
 once  in  the  evening  when  tiie  feast  begins,  and  again  the  ne.xt  morn- 
 ing j  and  when  the  name  of  Haman  is  pronounced,  the  people  stamp 
 
 on  the  floor,  and  the  boys  have  mallets  to  knock  and  make  a  noise. — 
 (j'iV/,  Bftathr.,  Jennings. 
 
 Chap.  X. —  1.  Isles,  in  the  ^■Egean  Sea,  conquered  by  Darius  Hys- 
 taspis. — Usher.  2.  C/ironic/f.v— the  Persians  have  ever  been  remark- 
 able for  keeping  exact  chronicles  of  alt  public  events. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX. — This  chapter  records,  I.  Tlie 
 vietory  of  tlie  Jews.  Their  enemies  everywhere  fell  before 
 them.  Their  union,  under  God's  blessins,  was  their  stren|,'th, 
 and  none  could  resist  them.  Were  Christians  more  united, 
 what  misht  they  not  effect  ajainst  the  enemies  of  the  church  ? 
 How  will  the  powers  of  darkness  be  vanquished  when  that 
 prayer  of  the  Saviour  is  answered — '  That  they  all  may  be 
 one  !' 
 
 II.  TIte  memorial  of  their  victort/.  To  use  the  words  of  Law- 
 son,  '  we  ought  never  to  forget  the  happy  changes  which  God 
 lias  made  in  our  condition.  Often  should  we  call  back  to  our 
 remembrance  the  mercies  of  former  days.  This  will  be  our  wis- 
 dom and  our  happiness.  It  will  be  a  frequent  revival  of  former 
 joys,  and  a  means  of  preserving  alive  that  gratitude  which  we 
 owe  to  the  God  of  our  mercies.' 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.    X This   chapter   shews   us — 
 
 I.  Tlie  greatness  of  Mordecai.  Fidelity  to  God  was  not  unre- 
 warded in  this  case,  even  in  this  world.  '  A  poor  man  of  the 
 dispersion  of  Israel  was  raised  high  in  dignity  by  the  favour 
 of  Ahasuerus,  above  all  the  princes  of  Persia.'  Lawson  here 
 observes,  'integrity,  generosity,  unshaken  constancy  in  virtue, 
 are  qualities  for  which  men  that  have  not  passed  from  death 
 unto  life  may  esteem  and  love  their  neighbours,  whether  they 
 are  saints  or  not.' 
 
 II.  Tlie  itsefiihiess  of  Mordecai.  The  same  writer  proceeds  to 
 remark,  '  whilst  be  faithfully  served  a  prince  to  whom  he  was 
 highly  indebted,  he  sought,  and  by  all  wise  and  honest  means 
 promoted,  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  his  people.  A  rare, 
 talent  was  entrusted  to  him,  and  he  did  not  hide  it  in  a  napkin. 
 When  we  have  nothing  to  do  for  ourselves,  it  will  he  our 
 wisdom  and  happiness  to  do  much  for  others.  "  The  liberal 
 man  deviseth  liberal  things,  and  by  liberal  things  shall  he 
 stand."  '*  Speaking  peace  to  all  his  seed,"  the  generous  soul 
 of  this  good  man  was  tilled  with  kindness  to  the  rising  race, 
 and  projected  the  happiness  of  succeeding  generations.  If  we 
 cannot  reasonably  hope  to  do  much  for  posterity,  we  certainly 
 may  do  something  to  promote  the  welfare  of  our  own  genera- 
 tion. If  our  goodness  extend  not  so  far,  it  may  reach  to  pa- 
 rents, servants,  wives,  neighbours.  Our  dutiful  behaviour 
 towards  them,  our  example,  our  prayers,  may  gi-eatly  promote 
 their  present  comfort  and  their  eternal  welfare.  And  why 
 may  not  the  most  inconsiderable  Christian  hope  to  be  of  some 
 use  to  posterity  1  Train  up  your  children  in  the  fear  of  God, 
 and  they  will  be  a  blessing  to  the  next  age.  They  will  pro- 
 bably follow  your  good  example,  and  thus  you  will  be  useful, 
 by  their  means,  to  generations  yet  unborn.  If  you  have  no 
 children,  you  may  be  useful  to  young  persons  around  you  :  "A 
 word  spoken  in  season,  how  good  is  it !"  ' 
 
 329 
 
 3  V 
 
TH  E 
 
 BOOK     OF     JOB. 
 
 The  liook  ot"  Job  is  of  very  great  antiquity,  but  the  learned  are  much  divided  respecting  its  date.  Some  place  it  before 
 Moses,  because  of  the  longevity  of  the  patriarch;  they  also  say,  that  *  the  images  and  religious  sentiments  are  all 
 patriarchal,  and  have  no  relation  to  any  part  of  the  Levitical  institutions.  Job,  like  Abraham,  is  at  once  the  prince  and 
 priest  of  his  tribe  ;  he  offers  sacrifice  both  for  his  family  and  his  friends.'  Others  make  him  contemporary  with  Moses, 
 and  others  place  him  in  the  times  of  the  Judges,  of  David,  and  even  as  late  as  the  Babylonish  captivity. —  Respecting 
 the  reality  of  the  history  there  has  also  been  much  dispute,  some  having  supposed  that  the  whole  is  a  sacred  drama  ;  but 
 it  seems  more  than  probable  that  such  a  person  as  Job  has  existed,  since  he  is  named  by  Ezekiel  (chap.  xiv.  14,)  with 
 Noah  and  Dnuiel,  two  real  persons  ;  and  since  his  example  is  set  hefnre  us  as  worthy  of  imitation  under  affliction,  and 
 as  a  proof  of  the  gracious  operations  of  Providence  in  bringing  good  out  of  seeming  evil,  (James,  v.  1 1.) — A  great  dif- 
 ference of  opinion  also  exists  respecting  the  author.  Some  have  thought  it  likely  that  Job  wrote  the  book  himself,  and 
 that  the  influence  of  inspiration  upon  him  is  implied  in  chap,  xlii  3.  The  most  common  opinion  is,  that  Moses  wrote 
 it  when  in  the  land  of  ISIidian,  and  that  the  design  was  to  comfort  the  Israelites  in  their  captivity  ;  and  many  of  Moses* 
 expressions  have  been  traced  out  in  Job  ;  compare  chap.  xiii.  26,  and  Exod.  xiii.  7  ;  chap.  iv.  9,  and  Exod.  xv.  8;  chap. 
 XV.  24,  and  Exod.  xv.  14 — 16;  chap.  xii.  25,  and  Deut.  xxviii.  29  ;  chap.  xiv.  2,  and  Ps.  xc.  5\  chap.  xiv.  3,  and 
 Ps.  xc.  8;  chap.  xiv.  19,  and  Ps.  xc.  10,  &c.  &c.  Others  ascribe  the  work  to  Solomon,  from  the  number  of  his  expres- 
 sions in  it,  as  chap,  xxviii,  28,  and  Prov.  i.  7 ;  cliap.  xxvi.  6,  and  Prov.  xv.  1 1  ;  chap.  xv.  16,  and  xxxiv.  7.  and  Prov. 
 xxvi,  6,  &c  Sec.  It  is  infei  red  that  the  writer  was  acquainted  with  the  Psalms  of  David,  because  many  of  David's  ex- 
 pressions are  to  be  found  in  this  book,  as  Job,  xv.  27,  and  Ps.  xvii.  10  ;  chap,  xxxiv.  14,  and  Ps.  civ.  29 ;  chap.  xxi.  18, 
 and  Pk.  i.  4,  &c.  &c.  Others  ascribe  these  pages  to  Isaiah,  Ezra,  or  some  unknown  Jew,  posterior  to  the  Babylonish 
 captivity,  and  think  that  it  was  wiitten  to  comfort  the  Jews  at  tliat  period.  X)r,  Adam  Clarke  supposes  that  it  was  rather 
 the  work  of  some  learnud  Idumean,  wel!  acquainted  with  the  Jewish  religion  and  writers  ;  that,  from  the  Arabisms  con- 
 tained in  the  hook,  it  was  most  probably  originally  composed  in  Arabic,  and  afterwards  translated  into  Hebrew.  But 
 amidst  this  diversity  of  ojjinion,  and  these  laboured  proofs,  we  may  ask,  why  should  not  Job  be  the  writer  of  his  own 
 history  ?  Under  the  aids  of  inspiration,  who  so  likely  to  be  employed  in  this,  or  who  more  fit,  than  the  individual  whose 
 recollection  of  what  had  occurred  needed  only  to  he  refresheii,  and  whose  personal  experience  would  lichly  imbue  the 
 phrases  with  ail  the  force  and  pathos  which  they  p.ossess?  Why  should  it  be  laboured  to  prove  that  because  there  are 
 expressions  of  Moses  and  of  Solomon,  &c.,  therefore  the  author  must  have  been  one  of  these,  or  conversant  with  their 
 writings?  and  since  the  argument  may  tell  as  strongly  for  one  as  for  the  other,  how  uncertain  is  such  evidence  !  May 
 we  not,  with  more  consistency,  suppose  that  the  frequent  perusal  of  the  book  of  Job  imbued  the  minds  of  these  writeis 
 with  Job's  expressions  instead  oi'  his  adopting  theirs?  We  may,  therefore,  conclude  that  critics  have  made  more  diffi- 
 culties th  n  really  exist,  that  the  subject  of  this  poem  was  the  author  of  It,  and,  as  the  ancients  recorded  histories  iu 
 poetical  forms,  Job,  under  the  inspiration  of  tlie  Almighty,  so  recorded  the  remarkable  facts  of  his  life,  to  be  used  for  the 
 comfort  of  the  infant  church  of  God.  Dr.  Adam  Claihe  is  indignant  at  the  idea  of  David  being  thought  to  borrow  the 
 language  of  Job ;  but  why  should  this  hypothesis  degrade  the  Psalms,  any  more  than  the  reverse  should  be  thought  not 
 to  degrade  Job?  And  there  can  be  no  impropriety  or  improbability  in  admitting  that  men  under  the  same  inspiration, 
 without  recurring  to  each  other's  writings,  were  taught  by  the  sacred  Spirit  to  repeat  the  like  language  in  illustration  of 
 the  like  truths. —  Respecting  the  matter  of  this  poem,  we  may  use  the  language  of  Dr.  Mason  Goody — '  Nothing  can  be 
 purer  than  its  morality,  nothing  sublimer  than  its  philosophy,  nothing  simpler  than  its  ritual,  nothing  more  majestic 
 than  its  creed.'  *  It  is  full  of  elevation  and  grandeur,  daring  in  its  conceptions,  splendid  and  forcible  in  its  images,  abrupt 
 in  its  transitions,  and,  at  the  same  time,  occasionally  interspersed  with  touches  of  the  most  extpiisite  and  overwhelming 
 tenderness.'  It  is  *  the  only  hook  in  existence  from  which  we  can  derive  anything  like  a  systematic  knowledge  of  pure 
 patriarchal  religion  ;  and  hence  that  very  book  which  gives  completion  to  the  Bible,  by  adding  the  dispensation  of  the 
 earliest  ages  to  those  of  the  law  and  the  gospel,  by  which  it  was  successively  superseded.'  '  The  argument  of  the  book,' 
 as  Dr.  Hoothroyd  intimates,  *  seems  to  he,  to  refute  the  ojilnion  that  piety  is  without  suffering,  and  that  prosperity  is 
 uniformly  a  proof  of  the  Divine  favour.'  And  *  in  particular  to  shew,'  as  Dr.  GUI  further  observes,  '  that  though  good 
 men  are  afflicted,  yet,  sooner  or  later,  they  are  delivered  out  of  their  afflictions  ;  and  that  it  becomes  them  to  bear  them 
 patiently,  and  not  murmur  at  them ;  nor  complain  of  God  on  account  of  them,  whose  ways  and  works  are  unsearcludilc, 
 and  who  gives  no  account  of  his  matters  to  men,  but  is  sovereign,  wise,  and  just,  iu  all  he  does;  and  whatsoever  is  done 
 by  him  issues  in  the  good  of  his  people,  as  well  as  in  his  own  glory,  as  the  event  shews.'— There  are  many  parts  to  the 
 poem — I.  The  opening  or  exordium  in  the  two  first  chapters,  briefly  stating  the  misfortunes  of  Job.  2.  The  first 
 series  of  dialogues  between  Job  and  his  three  friends,  (chapters  iii.  to  xiv.)  3,  The  second  debate,  from  chap.  xv.  to  xxi. 
 4.  The  last  series  of  controversy,  from  chap.  xxii.  to  xxxi.  5.  The  summing  up  the  debate  by  Elihu.  6.  The  judg- 
 ment pronounced  by  Jehovah  himself  from  the  whirlwind,  and  Job's  submission  and  restoration.  Finally,  the  two  first 
 chapters  and  the  ten  last  verses  of  chap.  xlii.  are  merely  narrative.  It  is  also  desirable  to  sum  up  in  this  place  the  names 
 and  opinions  of  certain  writers  respecting  the  author  of  this  hook.  Patrick  takes  it  for  granted  that  it  was  Job  himself, 
 and  he  fixes  the  time  before  the  children  of  Israel  came  out  of  Egypt,  which  he  infers  from  certain  omissions.  '  For,'  he 
 says,  *  though  there  be  plain  mention  of  the  drowning  of  tlie  old  world  and  the  burning  of  Sodom  in  this  book,  yet  there 
 is  no  allusion  to  the  drowning  of  Pharaoh  and  other  miraculous  works  which  attended  the  deliverance  from  Egypt.  Nor 
 is  there  any  notice  taken  of  the  revelation  of  God's  will  to  Moses,  when  Elihu  reckons  up  those  ways  whereby  God  was 
 wont  to  discover  himself  to  man.'  Dr.  Magee  thinks  tliat  the  writer  was  Job,  or  some  contemporary  ;  so  also  do  Schul- 
 tensy  Peters,  Lowth,  HaleSy  Homey  Townsendj  and  Stttcliffe.  Poole  favours  the  idea  that  the  writer  was  Moses,  the  dif- 
 ference of  style  arguing  nothing,  as  this  book  is  poetical,  and  his  other  works  merely  historical ;  and  for  the  Arabic  words 
 introduced,  he  pleads  that  Moses  lived  forty  years  in  Midian,  which  was  part  of  Arabia,  where  he  must  have  learnt  the 
 language.  This  opinion  is  defended  by  Dr.  Mason  Goody  favoured  by  Michaelis,  and  considered  as  the  best  supported  by 
 Dr.  Boothroyd.  Grooms  ascribes  the  work  to  Solomon,  from  his  extensive  gifts  and  knowledge,  and  the  occasional 
 occurrence  of  Arabisms  in  the  Proverbs  that  bear  his  name.  Henry  thinks  Elihu  was  the  penman,  at  least  of  the  dis- 
 courses, because  in  chap,  xxxii.  13,  16,  he  mingles  the  words  of  an  historian  with  those  of  a  disputant;  but  Moses  wrote 
 the  two  first  chapters  and  the  last  to  give  light  to  the  discourses,  for  in  them  God  is  frequently  called  Jehovah,  a  name  but 
 little  known  to  the  patriarchs  before  Moses,  (Exod.  vi.  3.)  This  opinion  is  evidently  adopted  from  Lightfoot.  Among 
 those  who  place  the  date  posterior  to  Egyptian  bondage,  and  place  the  poem  below  the  Mosaic  age,  are  Le  C/erc,  Weshy, 
 Warburton,  and  Dr.  Stock.  Wesley  finds  an  allusion  to  the  plagues  of  Egypt  in  chap.  xv.  20,  &c. ;  Dr.  Stock,  in  chap. 
 xxxiv.  20, a  reference  to  the  destruction  of  the  firstborn  of  the  Egyptians;  and  Bp.  Warburton  conceives  that  chap, 
 xiii.  24,  25,  has  a  reference  to  the  sickness  and  recovery  of  Ilezekiah,  To  the  inspired  character  of  the  book  of  Job, 
 and  its  reception  into  the  canon,  the  following  references  will  be  an  additional  testimony  : — chap.  i.  21,  refen-ed  to  J  Tim. 
 vi.  7  ;  chap.  ii.  10,  James,  v.  11  ;  chap.  v.  13,  I  Cor.  iii.  19;  cliap.  v.  17  Heb.  xii.  5;  chap,  xxxiv.  19,  Acts.  x.  34.] 
 630 
 
The  holinea,  of  Job. 
 
 JOB,  I. 
 
 Satan  seeketh  to  tempt  hint. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  The  holiness,  riches,  and  religious  care  uf  Job  for  his 
 children.  6  Satun.  appturing  before  God,  by  calum- 
 niation ohtainith  leave  to  tempt  Joh.  13  Under- 
 standing of  the  biss  of  his  goods  and  chililren,  in  his 
 mnurninq  he  blesstih  God. 
 
 T^ II ERE  was  a  maa  '*in  the  land  of  Uz,  whose 
 -*-  name  ivas  ''Job  ;  and  that  man  was  ^  per- 
 fect and  upright,  and  one  that  ''feared  God, 
 and  eschewed  evil. 
 
 2  And  there  were  born  nnto  him  seven  sons 
 and  three  daughters. 
 
 3  His  II  substance  also  was  seven  thousand 
 sheep,  and  three  thousand  camels,  and  five 
 hundred  yoke  of  oxen,  and  five  hundred  she 
 asses,  and  a  very  great  ||  houshold  ;  so  that 
 this  man  was  the  greatest  of  all  the  f  men  of 
 the  east. 
 
 4  And  his  sons  went  and  feasted  in  their 
 houses,  every  one  his  day;  and  sent  and  called 
 for  their  three  sisters  to  eat  and  to  drink  with 
 them. 
 
 5  And  it  was  so,  when  the  days  of  their  feast- 
 ing were  gone  about,  that  Job  sent  and  sancti- 
 
 •>  Kio.  IV  \4. 
 
 Jwm.  5  11 
 cC.Ln  6-9.  & 
 
 17.1  ch.i.3 
 d  l'iov.8.l3. 
 
 &  16.  6. 
 
 t  fleb.  JOB* 
 of  Ok  e<ut. 
 
 f\  Kin.  81. 
 
 10,  18. 
 t  Heb.  all 
 
 til"  dnyl. 
 
 g  ch.  '£.  I. 
 A  1  Kin.  92 
 l«l   cl>  38.  7 
 t  Hell.  ('-. 
 
 ad'H 
 
 •"ry. 
 
 1  Chi 
 Rev.  12.  9, 
 10. 
 t  Heb    I -I 
 {he  <Miiit'>/ 
 
 i  ch    '3,  2, 
 
 Mat.  12.43. 
 
 I  Pet.  5.8. 
 t  Het>.    ««.( 
 
 tlf}'!   tfl  t/lj/ 
 
 tienrt  on. 
 k  ih,  2.  3. 
 /  ver.  I . 
 
 .  Ps.  I2S.  1, 
 '2.  Prov   10. 
 
 fied  them,  and  rose  up  early  in  the  morning* 
 ''and  ofi'ered  burnt  oft'erings  according  to  the 
 number  of  tliem  all :  for  Job  said,  It  may  he 
 that  my  sons  have  sinned,  and  '"cursed  God 
 in  their  hearts.     Thus  did  Job  f  continually. 
 
 6  H  Now  ^  there  was  a  day  ^  when  the  sons 
 of  God  came  to  present  themselves  before  the 
 Lord,  and  f  Satan  came  also  f  among  them. 
 
 7  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Whence 
 comest  thou  ?  Then  Satan  answered  the 
 Lord,  and  said.  From  'going  to  and  fro  in  the 
 eartl),  and  from  walking  up  and  down  in  it. 
 
 8  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  f  "^  Hast 
 thou  considered  my  servant  Job,  that  there  is 
 none  like  him  in  the  eartli,  '  a  perfect  and  an 
 upright  man,  one  that  fcareth  God,  and  eschew- 
 eth  evil  ? 
 
 9  Then  Satan  answered  the  Lord,  and  said, 
 Doth  Job  fear  God  for  nought? 
 
 10  "'  H;ist  not  thou  made  an  hedge  about 
 him,  and  abont  bis  house,  and  about  all  that  he 
 liath  on  every  side?  "thou  hast  blessed  the 
 work  of  iiis  hands,  and  his  jj  substance  is  in- 
 creased ill  the  land. 
 
 NoTKS  ov  Chap.  I.  —  1.  C/z — the  Septudi^int  has  .\viTtTi^,  *  Av-sitit.' 
 Ptolemy  has  described  a  region  sitiiateii  in  Sandy  Arabia  which  lie  calls 
 jEsiise,  bounded  by  the  Cauchabeni  on  tlie  nortli,  and  by  the  mountains 
 of  Chaldca  on  the  east ;  it  is  therefore  probable  that  the  land  of  Uz  and 
 the  ..Sisitae  of  Ptolemy  are  the  same,  and  peopU  d  and  named  from  Uz, 
 a  son  ot  Nahor,  and  nephew  of  Abraham,  whose  father  lived  at  Haran 
 or  Charrfe,  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Euphrates. — Both-,  ■'Sii^tu/i'-hn, 
 Univ.  Hist.  The  Scripture,  however,  places  the  land  of  Uz  in  Stony 
 Arabia  and  in  Idnmea,  or  the  land  of  Edom,  (Lam.  iv.  21.)  All  tlie 
 persons  here  introduced  are  Idumcans  or  Edomite  Arabs,  Job  of  Uz, 
 Eliphaz  of  Teman,  a  principal  part  of  Idumea,  (Jer.  xlix.  7,  20;  Ezfk. 
 XXV.  13;  Amos,  i.  11, 12;  and  Obad.  ver.  8,  9  ;)  Bildad  of  Shuah,  always 
 mentioned  in  conjunction  with  Sheba  and  Dcdan,  which  are  und'ormly 
 placed  in  the  vicinity  of  IdumL-a ;  Znphar  of  Naama,  a  city  siiuated  in 
 Idnmea,  fJosh.  xv,  21,  41  ;)  and  Elihu  of  Buz,  menti'^ned  Jer.  xxv.  23, 
 in  conjimction  with  Teman  and  Ucdan,  and  hence,  like  them,  a  border 
 city  upon  .\usitt>,  Uz,  or  Idumea.  There  is  also  no  ditfictilty  of  con- 
 ceiving that  hordes  of  predatory  Chaldeans,  and  e\en  if  the  Sabeansof 
 P/o/<'jn_v,  should  occasionally  have  infested  the  conntry  of  Idnmea. — 
 JJr.  M.  Good,  so  also  Dr.  Bbiyney.  Uz  was  the  giandson  of  Seir,  the 
 Horite,  (Gen.  xxxvl.  20,  2i,  -jb  ;  i  Chmn.  i.  42.)  His  posterity  being 
 e.xpelled,  it  was  occupied  by  the  Idumcans  or  Edomites,  (Gen.  xiv.  6; 
 Dent.  ii.  12.)  Idumea  is  a  part  of  Arabia  Petrrea,  on  the  southern  ex- 
 tremity of  the  Dead  Sea,  (Num.  xxxiv.  3;  Josh.  xv.  1,  2i.)  The  land 
 of  Uz,  therefore,  appears  to  have  been  between  Egypt  and  Philistia, 
 (Jer.  xxv.  20;  xlvi.  i:>—Bi>othr.  Thefirbt  mentioned  opininn  is  adopted 
 hy  Mich.t  Rosenm.,  and  the  Coii,?nenfator  fsrott ;  the  latter,  in  addi- 
 tion to  Good  and  Boothrnyd,  is  also  that  of  Dr.  A.  Cltirke.  Perfect, 
 not  with  a  legal  perfection,  (see  chap,  ix.  20;  vii.  20;)  but  he  had  the 
 perfection  of  sincerity.  —  Caryl.  Dn,  perfect,  is  synnnymous  with 
 TcXeior,  (1  Cor.  ii.  6;  xiv.  20,  &c.,)  and  signifies  complete  in  every  re- 
 qnisite  of  true  religion,  rather  than  perfect  in  the  abstract.  —  Lee. 
 Eschewfd  evil,  3?1T0  ID,  '  departing  from  or  avoiding  evil.' — A.  Clnrke. 
 3.  Seven  thousand  sheep — the  principal  riches  of  the  Bedoween  Arabs 
 continue  to  be  estimated  from  their  cattle.  Several  Arabian  tribes  are 
 possessed  of  three  or  four  thou-and  camels  and  triple  that  number  of 
 sheep  and  black  cattle.  They  rarely  kill  any  of  their  florks,  living 
 chiefly  on  their  nidk  and  butter. — Shnw.  Three  thansniid  camels — 
 these  animals  are  used  in  war,  in  their  caravans,  an<l  for  food. — Po- 
 cocke.  Five  hundred  she  asses— in  them  the  great  part  of  their  wealth 
 consisted.  The  males  were  few.  Balaam's  ass  was  a  female,  and  these 
 were  chosen  for  riding,  for,  in  a  barren  country,  they  required  but 
 little,  while  they  furnished  a  pleasing  and  nutritious  beverage. —B;v/(/o^ 
 Houshold,  '  estate.'— ./I.  Clarke.  The  household  of  the  patriarchal 
 times  chiefly  consisted  of  husbandmen. — M.  Good.  The  greatest,  ?fc. — 
 the  modern  sheiks  in  Ara'iia  pnibably  much  resemble  Job. — Scrip. 
 Illus.,  E.rpos.  Index.  Men  of  the  east— tho^e  that  lived  in  Chaldea, 
 Arabia,  and  otlier  eastern  countries.— GfV/.  This  seems  to  have  been 
 the  general  appellation  for  that  mingled  race  who  dwelt  between  Egypt 
 and  the  Eui>hrates,  bordering  upon  Judea  from  the  south  to  the  east ; 
 the  Idumeans,  the  Amalekitec,  the  Midianites,  the  Moahites,  the 
 Amorites.  The  whole  region  between  Egypt  and  the  Euphrates  was 
 called  the  east,  at  first  wiih  respect  to  Egypt,  where  probably  the 
 Israelites  acquired  this  mode  of  ^-peaking,— il/erfe.  4.  And  feasted  in 
 their  houses,  'made  a  family  feast.'  —  Bonthr.  'Made  bankettes,' 
 [banquets.]— Tmrff//.  His  day,  'his  birthday,' as  was  usual  among 
 those  nations,  (see  Gcn.xl.  20.)— Gro^iu5,  so  Schullens.  Of  all  days  the 
 Persians  shuw  the  highest  reganl  to  their  birthday.— //fro«i.  5.  Sane- 
 lifted  them,  commanded  them  to  prepare  for  the  holy  duty  of  sacri- 
 ficing.—C/iry/.  Some  washing  or  other  rites  mitrht  be  intended,  but 
 to  sanctify  people  is  sometimes  to  invite  to  holy  service,  (see  Joel,  ii. 
 15,  l6.)—Gill.  Offered  burnt  offerings,  rbSTTi,  'and  offered  up,' &c., 
 i.e.,  as  a  priest,  which  could  be  done  by  none  but  the  snns  of  Aaron 
 under  the  law.  These  for  each  <»f  his  children  were  piacnlar,  hearing 
 thu  character  of  sin  offerings.- Z,cf.  Htve  .•^inaed,  that  i^,  in  the  midst 
 ol  tht-ir  ninth,  so  as  to  provoke  God  and  scandalize  men  in  this  their 
 631 
 
 feasting. — Caryl.  And  cnrsed  God,  'nor  blessed  God,' IDIIT-  The 
 Heb.  \  here  rendered  '  and,'  may  be  an  affirmative  or  negative  par- 
 ticle, and  here  evidently  has  the  force  of  our  own  '  nor.'  The  Heb. 
 "113.  'to  bless,'  is  like  some  words  in  other  languages,  which  admit  of 
 either  a  good  or  bad  sense,  as  devote  or  devoted  in  English. — M.  Good. 
 *  Tliough  they  bh  s-^ed  God.' — Boothr.  'And  renounced  God.' — Ro- 
 senm. Job's  fear  was  lest  his  sons  should  have  Messed  the  false  Elo 
 him. — Par.,  so  Clarke.  And  blessed  the  gods,  U^Tt^H,  was  applied  to 
 false  gods,  and  to  bless  an  idol  is  common  phraseology,  (see  Isa.  Ixvi. 
 3;  1  Kings,  xxi.  10,  13.) — Lee.  'Let  slip  some  irreverent  word.s  of 
 God.'— Bp.  Wilson.  '  LitUe  blessed  God.'—Broughton.  'Neglected 
 to  praise  God  for  his  mercies.' — Clarke.  '  Bidden  farewell  to  God  in 
 their  hearts.' — Schultens,  *Scott,  Stock,  Louith.  '  Blasphemed  God.' — 
 IVit,  See  I  Kings,  xxi.  13.  '  Lest  my  sons,  in  their  minds,  have 
 thought  evil  against  God,'  Sept.  The  idea  of  blessing  the  gods  is 
 forced  and  imaginary. — Hew.  No  false  religion  but  Sabiism,  or  the 
 worship  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  existed  at  this  time,  and  there  is  no 
 reason  to  belifve  Job's  sons  were  attached  to  this. — M.  Good.  In  an- 
 cient heathenism  the  sun  and  moon  were  the  primary  objects  of  wor- 
 ship;  images  represented  these,  and  before  Job's  time  Laban  had  his 
 gods,  (Gen.  xxxi.  30.) — Lee.  6.  Nnw  there  was,  §'c. — this  must  be 
 viewed  in  the  hght  of  a  fable  rather  than  of  a  true  narrative.  It  is  not 
 credible  that  such  a  conversation  ever  occurred.- il/iWi.  The  manner 
 in  which  the  Deity  and  the  other  celestial  intelligences  are  spoken  of 
 in  this  poem  appears  necessary,  when  the  human  mind  is  called  upon 
 to  contemplate  their  action'^,  and  may  be  cotisidered  as  a  kind  of  per- 
 sonification in  accummndation  to  our  limited  f:iculties. — Bp.  Lowth. 
 The  Scripture  speaks  of  God  after  the  manner  tf  men,  to  c(inde--cend 
 to  our  capacities.  As  kings,  therefore,  transact  their  most  important 
 affairs  in  a  solemn  council,  so  God  is  pleased  to  represent  himself  as 
 having  his  council,  and  as  passing  the  decree  of  his  providence  in  an 
 assembly  of  his  holy  angels, — Peters,  so  also  Clarke.  An  image  is 
 here  borrowed  from  the  transactions  of  men,  to  shew  how  the  Su- 
 preme Governor  administers  his  affairs.  His  ministers  attend  at  stated 
 times  to  give  account.  Among  the  rest  appears  Satan  the  adversary. 
 The  passage  is  to  teach  us  that  good  and  evil  angels  are  subject  to  the 
 Divine  control.  Neit  that  Satan  literally  is  admitted  to  the  beatific 
 vision  of  God,  or  actually  held  conversation  with  him.  It  is  a  kind  of 
 prophetic  and  parabolical  representati' n,  (so  also  Isa.  vi.) — Boothr.  It 
 does  not  derogate-fnm  the  credil)ility  of  Job's  story  in  general,  to  allow 
 that  this  discourse  between  God  and  Sutan  is  parabolical,  like  that  of 
 Micaiah,  (I  Kings,  xxii.  19,)  and  an  allegory  designed  to  represent  the 
 malice  of  the  devtl  against  good  men,  and  the  Divine  check  and  re- 
 straint that  malice  is  under. — Hen.,  so  Puole.  Sons  of  God,  WT\btiT\  ^33. 
 'good  angels,'  (chap,  xxxviii.  7 ;  Dan.  iii.  25,  28.)— Corv/,  Schultens, 
 Poole,  Clarke.  *  The  sons  of  great  and  good  men  assembled  for  reli- 
 gious worship.'— 5u^  The  rirligious  pait  of  society  as  opposed  to  the 
 irreligious.  See  Geu.  vi.  2.  Here,  perhaps,  as  angels  removed  to  the 
 heavenly  kingdom.— Lee.  S'ltan,  ITClTn.  '  the  Satan,  the  adversary.' 
 —A.  Clarke.  'O  6,afio\ov.  S''pt.  '' The  accuser.'— /"wr.  'The  devil. 
 —  Good.  'The  grand  spiritual  adversar>'  of  mankind.'  —  Hales. 
 ~.  Whmce  comest  thou  .?— not  a  question  ariMtigfrom  ignorance,— Gi7/, 
 but  demanding  an  accownt.— Pat.  From  going  to  and  fro,  '  from 
 maming  round. '—il/.  Good.  And  from  walking,  to  find  advantage  to 
 tempt  men,  (1  Pet.  v.  8.)— Clark.  These  expressions  mean,  in  the 
 Hebrew  idiom,  vigilant  execution  of  any  ministry  or  office,  (Zech.  i. 
 10^  II.)— Hew.  The  latter  verb  "["jrinn  [in  hithpatl,]  shews  how  ear- 
 nest and  determined  the  devil  is' in  his  work;  it  signifies  'he  sets 
 himself  to  walk,  he  is  busilv  emphyed  in  it.' — So  A.  Clarke.  8.  Hast 
 thou  considered  mv  servant'?  nnJ  b^lf  ~tzb  DDirn,  '  hast  thou  put  thitie 
 heart  on  my  servant?'— Pug-.,  Mont  ,'GilL  Literally,  '  hast  thou  fixed 
 thy  mind?'  'mental  view,'  'attention.'-JI/.  Good.  9- For  nought, 
 WiU,  '  gratis."— Pag.,  Mont.,  Trem..  Pise,  Schult.,  M.Guud;  that  is, 
 di^iiitercsiedly. — Ed.  10.  An  hedge  about  him — the  same  phrase  is 
 
 in  use  by  the  Hindoos  as  expressive  of  protection. — ScRob      The  Heb. 
 nu^U  implies 'to  fence  with  sharp  spikes,' •  palisades,'  or 'thorns.* — 
 
Job  loseth  his  goods  and  children. 
 
 JOB,  II. 
 
 Satan  seckcth  farther  to  tempt  him. 
 
 1!  °  But  put  forth  thine  hand  now,  and 
 touch  all  that  he  hath,  fand  he  will  ^  curse 
 thee  to  thy  face. 
 
 12  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Behold, 
 al!  that  he  hath  ?.>■  in  thy  f  power;  only  upon 
 himself  put  not  forth  thine  hand.  So  Satan 
 went  forth  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 
 
 \S  If  And  there  was  a  day  ^  when  his  sons 
 and  his  daughters  were  eating;  and  drinking 
 wine  in  their  eldest  brother's  house  : 
 
 14  And  there  came  a  messenger  unto  Job, 
 and  said.  The  oxen  were  plowing,  and  the 
 asses  feeding  beside  them  : 
 
 15  And  the  Sabeans  fell  Jipon  them,  and  took 
 them  away  ;  yea,  they  have  slain  the  servants 
 with  the  edge  of  the  sword  ;  and  I  only  am 
 escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 
 
 16  While  he  was  yet  speaking,  there  came 
 also  another,  and  said,  ||  The  iire  of  God  is 
 fallen  from  heaven,  and  hath  burned  up  the 
 sheep,  and  the  servants,  and  consumed  them; 
 and  I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 
 
 17  While  he  teas  yet  speaking,  there  came 
 also  another,  and  said,  The  Chaldeans  made 
 out  three  bands,  and  ffeli  upon  the  camels, 
 and  have  carried  them  away,  yea,  and  slain 
 tiie  servants  with  the  edge  of  the  sword;  and 
 I  only  am  escaped  alone  to  tell  thee. 
 
 18  While  he  ivas  yet  speaking,  there  came 
 also  another,  and  said,  ''  Thy  sons  and  thy 
 daughters  ivere  eating  and  drinking  wine  in 
 their  eldest  brotlier's  house  : 
 
 \9  And,  beiiold,  there  came  a  great  wind 
 f  from  the  wilderness,  and  smote  the  four  cor- 
 ners of  the  house,  and  it  fell  upon  the  young 
 
 0  ch.  8.  5.  & 
 
 19.  21. 
 t  Heh    ifh« 
 
 cone  V'irt 
 
 V  Is   8.  21. 
 
 Mai.  8.  IS, 
 
 14 
 t  Web    hnnd 
 
 Gen,   IG.  li. 
 q  Kccles.  9. 
 
 t  lU-b. 
 
 f  Hcb  frtm 
 
 *Gen..*t7.  29 
 
 Ezra  9.  3. 
 ||  (Ir,  rubf. 
 I  1  Pet.  5.  6. 
 
 "  Ps,  49.  17. 
 
 Eccleg   5, 
 
 15    1  Tim. 
 
 6  7. 
 X  EcclcB  5. 
 
 19.  Jdin.  I. 
 
 17. 
 y  Miit.?r)  15. 
 t  Kph.  5    20. 
 
 I  Or,  allri- 
 t>  Uud. 
 
 ■  I  ch   97.  v. 
 (  11.^1..  to 
 
 men,  and  they  are  dead  ;  and  I  only  am  es- 
 caped alone  to  tell  thee. 
 
 20  Then  Job  arose,  *and  rent  his  ||  mantle, 
 and  shaved  his  head,  and  ^  fell  down  upon  the 
 ground,  and  w^orshipped, 
 
 21  And  said,  "Naked  came  I  out  of  my 
 mother's  womb,  and  naked  shall  I  return 
 thither:  tlie  Lord  *  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath 
 ^  taken  away  ;  ^  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 22  **  In  all  this  Job  sinned  not,  nor  ||  charged 
 God  foolishly. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Sfitmi  appmring  again  hvfore  Gael  ohtulneth  further 
 havp.  to  (eiupt  Job.  7  Ht  sntitcth  l.hn  with  sore  boils, 
 9  Joli  repmveth  his  wife,  moving  him  to  curse  God. 
 1 1    His  three  friends  condoli:  with  him  in  silence. 
 
 A  GAIN  "  there  was  a  day  when  the  sons  of 
 -^*-  God  came  to  present  themselves  before 
 the  Lord,  and  Satan  came  also  among  them 
 to  present  himself  before  the  Lord. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  From 
 whence  comest  thou?  And  ''Satan  answered 
 the  Lord,  and  said,  From  going  to  and  fro  in 
 the  earth,  and  from  walking  up  and  down  in  it. 
 
 3  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Hast  thou 
 considered  my  servant  Job,  that  there  is  none 
 like  him  in  the  earth,  '^a  perfect  and  an  upright 
 man,  one  that  feareth  God,  and  escheweth 
 evilV  and  still  he  '' huldeth  fast  his  integrity, 
 although  thou  movedst  me  against  him,  |^  to 
 destroy  him  without  cause. 
 
 4  And  Satan  answered  the  Lord,  and  said, 
 Skin  for  skin,  yea,  all  that  a  man  hath  will  he 
 give  for  his  life. 
 
 M.  Good.  His  house,  that  is,  his  family.— Gt7/.  Increased,  yiD. 
 *  erttpit,'  *  bri'ke  out.' — Mimt.,  Jun.,  Trem.,  Pise.  'Overflowed  the 
 land,' 'burst  or  hroke  forth  as  a  torrent.* — M.  Good.  11.  He  u-ilt 
 
 curse  thee,  i^c,  "IDIV  "T'3D  b^  ^iS  CN,  '  "iH  he  then,  indeed,  bless  thee 
 tothy  face?'— i?(yWAr., 'as  M.  Good.  'See  if  he  curse  thee  not  to  thy 
 face  !'  i.  e.,  I  protect  he  wrli.  -  ^yil.  The  phrase  imports  an  utter  and 
 public  renunciation  of  religion  as  a  vain  tliini?. — *Scott.  He  would 
 openly  blaspheme  God  and  renounce  leli^ion. — Scott.  15.  Snbeans — 
 there  were  several  of  this  name.  These  were  probably  a  people  of 
 Arabia  Descrta,  about  Buzra ;  or.  perhaps,  a  flying^  troop  of  Sabeans 
 which  infested  the  country.  Saba,  or  Sheiia,  the  son  of  Jokshan,  might 
 he  the  father  of  these  Sabeans. — Tai/lor's  Cut.  See  Gen.  xxv.  3. 
 l(j.  The  fire  of  God,  '  lightning.'— Good,  Boofhr.,  Wil.  As  thunder  is 
 the  voice  of  God,  ^o  lightning  may  be  called  the  fire  of  Gnri.— G'i7/,  so 
 also  Clarke.  17.  Chaldeans,  or  Chasrtin,  these  were  descendiints  of 
 Chesed,  a  son  of  Nahor,  who  was  brother  to  Abraham,  (Gen.  xxii. 
 20,  22,)  who  settled  in  the  east  country,  not  fur  from  Job.  Xenophon 
 says  of  the  latter  Chaldeans,  that  they  lived  upon  plunder,  and.  not 
 knowing  agriculture,  got  their  bread  by  force  ol  arm^.— Gi7/.  Chaldea 
 was  a  vast  disfunce  from  Edom,  but  these  were  a  set  of  prolii^ates  who 
 followed  the  pilfering  life  of  the  wild  Arabs.— *Sro/^.  The  Chaldeans 
 inhabited  each  side  of  the  Euphrates,  near  tn  Bab>  Ion,  which  was  their 
 capital.  They  were  also  mixed  with  the  wandering  Arabs.— .4.  C-avkc. 
 19.  A  prcat  ti>ind~ivildei-7iess,  either  of  Edom.  mentioned  2  Kings,  iii.  8, 
 or  Arabia  the  Desert,  called,  by  way  of  eminence,  the  Wil d»;- mess.— 
 Cariil.  Britre  speaks  of  encountering  a  whirlwind  in  which  a  camel 
 w^s  lifted  off  its  legs  and  thrown  down  at  a  considerable  di-tance, 
 having  several  of  its  ribs  broken  ;  he  himself  was  whirled  off  his  feet 
 and  thrown  down  upon  his  face,  so  as  to  make  his  nose  gush  out  with 
 blood,  and  two  of  his  servants  shared  the  same  fate.     Half  of  a  small 
 
 hut  was  demolished  as  if  it  had  been  cut  through  with  a  knife,  and  the 
 materials  were  dispersed  over  the  plain.— Tc«('e/s,  vol.  iv.  p,  422.  So 
 many  calamities  mentioned  in  such  ra|)i<l  succession  have  been  consi- 
 dered as  ficiitii'us ;  but  there  is  nothing  unlikely  in  a  band  of  Sabeans 
 attacking  Job's  property  jn  one  part,  while  Chaldeans  attacked  it  in 
 another  part ;  and  a  thunder  storm  and  wind  combined  mi;ht,  at  the 
 same  time,  do  the  other  mischief. — So  Boofhr.  Almost  as  extraordi- 
 nary a  succession  of  painful  events  visits  some  families  within  the  ob- 
 servation of  some  readers. — Ed.  The  young  men,  'the  young  folk,' 
 the  daughters  being  included. — Broughton.  'The  young  people.' — 
 Roothr.  20.  Shaved  his  head — a  sign  of  moiixniDg  among  the  Jews 
 and  neighbnuring  nations,  (Jer.  xli.  5  )—Hew.  The  Persians  did  so 
 when  Alexander  the  Great  tiied.—  Curtius.  Thus  the  Egyptians  la- 
 mented at  the  funeral  of  their  Apis,  and  the  Syrians  the  death  of  Adonis. 
 — Pur.  21.  Ml/  mother's  womb — the  origin  of  all  things  from  the 
 earth  introduced,  at  a  very  early  period  of  the  world,  the  superstitious 
 worship  of  the  earth.— Z.7fcre/ju*,  lib.  ii.  v.  598.  The  idea  seems  to 
 have  been  common  to  all  the  east.— Orient.  Lit.  668.  Tlie  body  is 
 taken  from  the  earth  as  the  common  parent  of  ail. — Scott.  22.  i(/i- 
 ned  not — not  that  sin  the  devil  said,  he  would  curse  God  to  his  face. — 
 Gilf.  Nor  charged  God  fool inhti/,  '  nor  vented  a  murmur  against  God. 
 — M.  Good.  *  Nor  attributed  any  wrong  tn  GoA.*~Boothr.  Kat  ova 
 (itoKti/  u(P(>oavvnv  Tift  Ocw,  *  nor  attributed  folly  to  God,"  Sept. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  3.  Tu  destroy  him,  lyb^b,  'to  swallow  him  up.' — Caryl, 
 Mont.  Without  cawie,  or  '  tliou  in  vain  movedst  me  to  destroy  him.'— 
 Henry,  as  also  Tyndal.  The  English  rendering  is  correct. — M.  Good. 
 Tlie  meaning  is,  'thouwishest  me  tn  permit  thee  to  destroy  a  man 
 whose  sins  have  n-it  called  for  sn  heavy  a  judgment.'  — ,4.  Clarke. 
 4.  Skin  for  skin,  '  skin  after  skin.' — Par.  In  plain  English,  'property 
 for  pt  rson.* — M.  Good.     Skins  obtained  by  hunung  were  an  early  and 
 
 Reflvctiovs  ON  Chap.  I.  —  Remark  here,  I.  Tbi'sc/mmc/er. 
 He  was  '  u  perfect  and  upright  man.'  Sinless  perfection  on 
 this  side  the  grave  belongs  to  none,  for  there  is  not  a  man  that 
 liveth  and  sinnetli  not.  '  If  we  say  we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive 
 ourselves,  and  the  truth  is  not  in  us.'  But  the  perfection  of 
 godly  sincerity  must  helong  to  the  real  subjects  of  divine 
 grace  ;  this  produces  a  reverential  awe  of  God,  and  a  hatred 
 to  all  sin,  and  consequently  an  avoidance  of  wilful  sin.  And 
 lliey  must  not  only  esciiew  evil  iri  themselves,  but  also  in 
 others,  and  especially  in  their  families,  over  which  they  may 
 have  an  influence.  Here  Job  sets  us  an  important  example. 
 Tlie  youn^  anil  thoughtless  may  be  past  control,  but  tbey  are 
 not  past  our  prayers,  and  parental  influence  may  operate  upon 
 them  with  success.  At  all  events  we  must  use  the  means, 
 and  leave  the  event  with  God. 
 
 W.  Job's  trials.  These  were  remarkably  heavy  :  the  banditti, 
 the  lightning,  and  the  stormy  wind  and  tempest — all  conspired 
 53*i 
 
 to  effect  bis  ruin  ;  and  almost  in  a  moment  the  rich  lord,  and 
 the  amiable  father  of  a  nimierous  offspring,  ior  whose  happi- 
 ness he  was  an.\iously  solicitous,  was  deprived  both  of  his 
 property  and  children.  Do  we  talk  of  our  trials?  What  are 
 they  wlirii  compared  with  those  of  Job? 
 
 Ill,  Job's  patience.  '  In  all  this  Job  sinned  not,  nor  charged 
 God  foolishly.*  How  different  his  conduct  from  those  who 
 are  discontented  even  when  God  does  not  afHict  them,  but 
 wben  he  does  not  bestow  upon  ihem  all  that  they  desire! 
 How  different  from  those  who  murmur  and  complain  that  no 
 lot  is  so  hard  as  theirs!  How  diflerent  from  those  who  even 
 dare  to  question  the  Almighty,  and  to  ask,  *  \Vhat  have  we 
 done  that  we  should  be  thus  alHicted  V  '  We  have  had  fathers 
 after  our  flesli,  and  tiiey  corrroted  us,  and  we  gave  tliem  reve- 
 rence ;  shall  we  not  much  rather  be  in  subjection  tu  the  Father 
 of  spirits,  and  live?' 
 
Job  synitten  with  boils* 
 
 JOB,  III. 
 
 He  curseth  the  day  of  his  birth- 
 
 5  ''But  put  fortii  thine  hand  now,  an*J  touch 
 his  ^  bone  and  his  flesh,  and  he  will  curse  thee 
 to  thy  face. 
 
 C  "  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  Behold, 
 he  is  in  thine  liand  ;   ||  but  save  liis  life. 
 
 7  H  So  went  Satan  forth  from  tlie  presence  of 
 the  Lord,  and  smote  Job  witli  sore  boils  '  from 
 the  sole  of  liis  foot  unto  his  crown. 
 
 8  And  he  took  him  a  potsherd  to  scrape  him- 
 self withal;  ''and  he  sat  down  among  the 
 ashes. 
 
 9  II  Then  said  Ins  wife  unto  him,  •  Dost  thou 
 still  "'retain  thine  integrity?  curse  God,  and 
 die. 
 
 10  But  he  said  unto  her,  Thou  speakest  as 
 one  of  the  foolish  women  speaketh.  What  ? 
 "shall  we  receive  good  at  the  liand  of  God, 
 and  shall  we  not  receive  evil?  "In  all  this 
 did  not  Job  ''sin  with  his  lips. 
 
 U  1  Now  when  Job's  three  ''friends  heard  of 
 all  this  evil  that  was  come  upon  him,  they 
 came  every  one  from  his  own  place  ;  Eliphaz 
 the  'Temanite,  and  Bildad  the  'Shuhite,  and 
 Zophar  the  Naamathite:  for  they  had  made  an 
 appointment  together  to  come  '  to  mourn  with 
 him  and  to  comfort  him. 
 
 rch.  \.\\- 
 
 ,j  ch.  19.  vo. 
 /.  ch.  1.  IS. 
 
 II  Or,  o„l!/. 
 
 k  2  Sam.  IS 
 19.  cli.43.6. 
 Ezek.27  3ri. 
 
 nch  1.  ■:!. 
 Hom.  1-2.12 
 JciHi  b.  lU, 
 II. 
 
 .,  ch,  I.  22. 
 
 ;i  Ps.  H9,  1. 
 
 y  Pro.  17.  17. 
 
 r  Gen  '^C^.  1 1 
 Jer.  49.  7. 
 I  Gen,  ii5.  2. 
 
 (ch.42.  11. 
 Horn.  12.15. 
 
 ;.  C. 
 
 u  Nell.  9,  I 
 Lam  •:.  10 
 Eiek  27.30 
 
 j:  0 en. 50  10. 
 
 22  fc  16.  Hi 
 &  28   3 
 Ps-  23.  *  & 
 i4.  19.  ^ 
 111".  10,  14. 
 J.T.  13.    16. 
 Anioa  5.  8. 
 II  Or,  *■/.«(- 
 
 tftrifif  it,  at 
 
 havea  hitler 
 day, 
 AmoflS.  10. 
 
 valuable  article  of  barter.  The  traffickers,  however,  would  give  many 
 as  a  tribute  to  one  party  of  men  to  defend  them  from  the  ai  tacks  <>f 
 another.  Hence,  skin  after  skin,  as  might  he  demanded,  wtnild  a 
 man  give,  or  even  all,  in  an  extreme  case,  to  preserve  his  life. — M.  Good, 
 BtO.  Utseurch  ,  Ed.  For  bis  life,  '  pro  sf  ipso,'  'for  his  own  self  or  per- 
 son.'—Jhh.,  Trem.,  Bfzu.  6.  His  lip\  ViDD^,  'his  soul;'  it  also  means 
 'his  life,'  which  is  here  to  he  preferred.  —  Ge7^  JI/.  Good,  Clarke. 
 7.  With  sort  (toils,  3?1  rniTl.  '  with  a  burning  ulceration.'— Jl/.  Good. 
 •With  an  evil  inflammation,'— -4.  C7/»-/fe.  'With  nlcenms  sores,'— 
 Bnnthr. ;  supposed  to  be  tlie  clcphantia-^is,  or  black  leprusy  of  the  Ara- 
 bians.—Jl/.  Good,  so  Boot/ir.  This  disorder  renders  the  skin  like  that 
 of  the  elephant,  uneven  and  wrinkled,  with  many  imrows.— Utiles. 
 When  it  attains  a  certain  height  it  is  incurable.— it/(cA.  Query,  from 
 its  symptoms,  was  it  not  the  sma)l-pox?— C/«j-A-e.  Respectahlc  peiple 
 in  tlic  ea-it  have  the  greatest  dread  of  boils  and  cutaneous  distases.^ 
 Jto(f.  8.  A  patsherd,  or  earthen  vessel. — Hosemn.  When  all  vl'sscIs 
 were  of  the  potter's  forming,  and  before  metal  vessels  were  in  use,  the 
 dust  heaps  must  have  abound.'d  with  potsherds.  To  scmpe,  or  rasp. — 
 So  M.  Good.  And  he  S'tt  down  ani'mg  the  tishes,  often  done  in  mourn- 
 ing and  humihation,  (Jon.  iii.  6;  Matt.  xi.  2\.)—Gill.  Tlie  Greeks,  in 
 violent  grief,  also  sprinkled  a-shes  on  the  head,  and  lay  in  aslies.— Pur. 
 The  vulgar  notion  that  this  was  a  dunghill  has  no  oibcr  foundation 
 than  the  Septtingint  Version,  which  is  a  wrong  one.  Job  might  have 
 had  another  reason  for  silting  in  ashes,  for  ashes  are  a  drier  and  an 
 abstersive  of  ulcers.- G)7/.  The  ashes  among  which  Job  sat  were  those 
 of  tlic  hearth,  deemed  a  sacred  place  among  the  ancients.  — H(;n'. 
 9.  Curse  God,  and  die,  DDT  DTlbw  "113,  '  bless  God,'  &LC—IiIont.,  Pise, 
 Schmidt,  Mich.  A  strong  irony  : ''  What,  bless  God  who  is  destroying 
 thee  !'  *  Thou  blcssest  for  giving  and  taking  away.*  '  Bless  on,  and 
 die.'  — So  Poole,  B.  Bemiet,  Clarke;  or,  'really  and  sincerely,  dost 
 thou  still  lean  on  thine  integrity ?  humble  thysflf,  bless  God,  and  so 
 depart  for  a  better  worU\, '—Bt-z-t ;  or  rtither,  '  take  thy  fmewell  of  God 
 and  religion,  and  so  die.'— «<//.  '  Dost  th' -u  still  retain  thine  integrity, 
 blessing  God  and  i\y'\\\^V— Broughton,  Pur.,  M.  Good,  Boothroi/d. 
 'Curse  God,  and  he  will,  hy  his  judgment,  make  a  speedy  way  fur 
 thee  out  of  this  torment.'— iJ;?.  Hnll.  To  the  same  purport,  Clarke. 
 Scott,  Wil..  Silt.  *  Blaspheme  God,  and  be  tliine  own  executioner.' 
 — llenrij.  The  heathen  in  the  east  now  curse  their  gods  under  disap- 
 pointments.— Rub.  10.  Foolish  women,  '  one  of  the  foolish.' — M.  Good. 
 Perhaps  Job  relet  red  to  the  Idumean  women,  who,  when  their  gods 
 did  not  please  them,  would  cast  them  away.— .S'i7ic(ii/.s,  sn  B.  Be/met, 
 and  *Sroft.  It  is,  however,  doubted  by  many  if  there  were  any  idols 
 of  that  kind  m  the  days  of  Job,— Sabeanism,  the  worship  of  the  heavenly 
 bodies,  only  having  then  oiitained.— -Brf.  In  all  parts  of  the  east, 
 women  are  spoken  of  as  foolish. — So  Rod.  Shall  we  receive  good,  ^e. 
 — referring  to  the  manner  of  receiving;  '  we  receive  good  things  cheer- 
 fully, thankfully,  and  reverently,  and  shall  we  not  so  receive  evil  ?'  By 
 good  uni.erstand  comforts;  by  evil,  nffiictiori'i,  so  calhd  because  they 
 are  esteemed  so,  and  felt  so,  and,  being  abused,  become  so. — Caryl. 
 
 12  And  when  they  lifted  up  their  eyes  afar 
 off,  and  knew  him  not,  they  lifted  up  their 
 voice,  and  wept ;  and  they  rent  every  one  his 
 mantle,  and  "sprinkled  dust  upon  tlieir  heads 
 toward  heaven. 
 
 13  So  they  sat  down  with  him  upon  the 
 ground  *  seven  days  and  seven  nights,  and 
 none  spake  a  word  unto  him  :  for  they  saw 
 that  his  grief  was  very  great, 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  JJ}  cjirses  the  day  and  servias  of  his  hirth,  13  The 
 ctise  ofdatlt.  20  He  complaintth  of  /(/V,  because  of 
 his  ant/iiish. 
 
 \  FTER  this  opened  Job  his  mouth,  and 
 ^-^  cursed  his  day. 
 
 2  And  Job  f  spake,  and  said, 
 
 3  °  Let  the  day  perish  wherein  I  was  born, 
 and  the  niglit  in  which  it  was  said,  There  is  a 
 man  child  conceived. 
 
 4  Let  tiiat  day  be  darkness  ;  let  not  God  re- 
 gard it  from  above,  neither  let  the  light  shine 
 upon  it. 
 
 5  Let   darkness   and    ^  the  sliadow  of  death 
 
 II  stain  it ;  let  a  cloud  dwell  upon  it ;  ||  let  the 
 blackness  of  the  day  terrify  it. 
 
 '  Shall  we  blaspheme  his  name  for  momentary  privafions  who  has  given 
 us  such  a  long  succession  of  enjoyments  f — A.  Clarke.  11.  Eliphuz, 
 one  of  the  sons  of  Esan,  (Gen.  xxxvi.  10,  ]  I.) — A.  Clarke.  Temtmite — 
 Teman  was  a  city  of  Edum,  (Jer.  xlix.  7,  20  ;  Ezek.xxv.  12,  13;  Amos, 
 i.  11,  12.)  S/iH/j'7e— Shudh  was  a  district  in  Arabia  Petrsea,  where 
 Abraham's  sons  by  Ketnrah  were  settled,  (Gen.  xxv.  2,  6.)  Kaamnthitc 
 — Naamah  was  a  city  of  Edom,  (Josh.  xv.  21.  U.)— Hales.  The  Sep- 
 titagint  designate  Eliphaz,  iSaatXev:,  king  of  the  Thaimanitcs  or  Te- 
 man:tes;  and  Zophar,  f3a<ji\ev^,  /fiHi?of  theMinaites  or  Minaeans;  and 
 Bildad,  rvfiapvov,  ti/riint  of  the  Suchitcs  or  Sauchieans. — .-I.  Clarke,  Gill. 
 They  were,  probably,  the  chief  of  these  tiibes,  but  by  no  me;tns  inde- 
 pendent sovereigns  ;  and  all  inferior  to  Job.  for  he  was  the  'greatest 
 man  of  the  east.' — Wil.  12.  And  when  they  lifted  up  (heir  eyes,  ^c, 
 
 *  and  seeing  him  at  a  distance  they  did  not  know  him,'  &c. — Boothr. 
 He  was  so  deformed  and  disfiguied  that  they  could  not  know  him  at 
 first.  Sprinkled  rfws(— took  up  handluls,  and  throw  it  in  the  air  over 
 their  heads,  which  fell  upon  them  and  covered  thnn — one  of  the  cere- 
 monies of  mourners,— G(7/;  stiil  practised  in  the  east.— iioA.  13.  Seven 
 days,  iif.— the  usual  time  of  mourning,  (Gen.  I.  10  ;  1  Sam.  xxxi.  13 ; 
 Ezck.  iii.  15.)— Gill.  This  was  the  time  the  Jews  mourned  for  the 
 dead,  so  that  Job's  friend-,  considered  his  disease  as  certain  diath.— 
 Boothr.  The  number  se»  en,  probably  on  account  of  its  answering  to 
 the  week  of  creation,  ot  which  the  earliest  ages  appear  to  have  hart 
 some  knowledge,  was  regarded  with  peculiar  distinction,  and  hence 
 selected  on  many  occasion*^  as  a  measure  both  of  solemn  fasts  and  fes- 
 tivals.—.1/.  Good.  Mourners,  among  the  Hindoos,  are  silent,  for  hours 
 together,  during  the  same  length  of  time,  except  when  obliged  to 
 speak.— So  Roh.  We  are  not  tu  understand  that,  during  the  time,  the 
 mourners  hart  no  rest  nor  refreshment.— (5(7/.  That  his  grief  ivas  very 
 great.  '  that  the  affliction  raged  sorely.'— 3/.  Good. 
 
 Chap.  III.  — 1.  Opened  his  mon/ZA— here  the  style  of  the  book  is 
 changed  to  poetry,  adorned  by  bold  figures,  according  to  the  genius  of 
 the  east. -Srr^;/.  The  inhabitants  of  Uw  cast  are  a  solitary  kind  of 
 pei'ple;  tliey  speak  but  seldom,  and  never  long  without  emotion. 
 Speaking  is  a  matter  of  moment  among  such  people,  and  before  they 
 deliver  their  thoughts  they  will  say,  '  I  will  open  my  mouth.'— Black- 
 leell's  Li'j.  into  Life  of  Horner.  Cursed  his  day,  '  his  birthday.' — 
 Boothr.      See  ver.  3.  3.  Let   the  day  perish— \hn^e   affected  with 
 
 Job's  disorder  are  said  to  have  been  weary  of  life.— Jl/it-A,  There  is  ti 
 man  child  conceired—the  bearing  of  a  son  was  a  matter  of  groat  conse- 
 qiience  among  the  Arabians.— Sr/m/;e«5,  Hcnth.  The  event  is  pro- 
 claiineit  three  times  by  the  midwife  in  the  public  street  among  the 
 Hindoos.- So  Rol).  Conceited,  should  here  be  t  iken  in  the  sense  of 
 being  born.— -4  Clarke.  Dr.  Good  reads,  '  the  night  which  shouted.' 
 This  reading,  joined  with  Hoderts's  illustration,  is  very  striking,  the 
 night  being  poetically  pcrsoniticd  as  performing  the  proclnmation  of 
 the  midwif.'.- Erf.  4.  Regard  it,  '  unclose  it  -,'  so  tlie  lleb.  iD"n  means 
 in  its  primary  sense.— ./I/.  Good.  5.  Terrify  it,  '  let  thunder  elonds 
 make  it  frightful.'— BooMr.      'Render  it  terrible.'- i/eu'.      *  Let  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  I.  \X e  have  here.  Job's  bodil// 
 affliction.  Amidst  other  calamities,  it  is  a  great  consolation 
 to  enjoy  health,  but  liere  was  a  heavy  calamity  added  to  others 
 already  most  severe,  in  a  violent,  painful,  loaliisome,  and 
 hopeless  bodily  affliction.  Many  of  God's  favourites,  for  wise 
 ends,  sufier  under  a  diseased  body, 
 
 II.  We  have  Job's  domestic  trial.  A  wife  may  do  much  to 
 soothe  the  afflicted  iiusband  in  his  sufferings;  but  here  was 
 one  who  only  aggravated  tbem.  Our  greatest  trials  may  spring 
 from  those  who  should  be  our  greatest  comforters. 
 
 III.  J'b's  recollection  of  past  mercies.  In  his  deepest  grief  he 
 could  not  forget  these.  Shall  one  stormy  night  obliterate  froni 
 our  memories  the  many  fine  days  that  have  shone  upon  us  \ 
 
 533 
 
 '  He  hath  not  dealt  with  us  after  our  sins,  be  hath  not  rewarded 
 us  according  to  our  iniquities.'  And.  tbrougb  tbe  darkest 
 clouds,  faith  eyes  before  it  a  far  greater  good  than  any  yet 
 received,  and,  piercing  tbe  beaven  of  heavens,  enables  the  be- 
 liever to  exclaim,  '  For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  the  pre- 
 sent moment  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  tbe  glory 
 that  shall  be  revealed  in  iis.' 
 
 IV.  Job's  comforters.  His  grief  was  too  great  to  admit  of  in- 
 terruption, but  there  was  a  kindness  in  their  silent  sympathy. 
 How  unlike  those  that  shun  the  sick  and  the  afflicted  1  But  this 
 is  a  practical  part  of  pure  and  undefited  religion,  and  many 
 have  tound  that  '  it  is  belter  to  go  to  the  bouse  of  mourning 
 tban  to  tbe  bouse  of  feasting.' 
 
The  ease  of  death. 
 
 JOB,  IV. 
 
 Eiiphaz  reproveth  Job. 
 
 6  As  for  that  night,  let  darkness  seize  upon 
 it ;  II  let  it  not  be  joined  unto  the  days  of  the 
 year,  let  it  not  come  into  the  number  of  the 
 months. 
 
 7  Lo,  let  that  night  be  solitary,  let  no  joyful 
 voice  come  therein. 
 
 8  Let  them  curse  it  that  curse  the  day,  'who 
 are  ready  to  raise  up  ||  their  mourning. 
 
 9  Let  the  stars  of  the  twilight  thereof  be 
 dark  ;  let  it  look  for  light,  but  have  none ; 
 neither  let  it  see  f  the  dawning  of  the  day  : 
 
 10  Because  it  shut  not  up  the  doors  of  my 
 mother's  womb,  nor  hid  sorrow  from  mine 
 eyes. 
 
 U  ■■  Why  died  I  not  from  the  womb?  why 
 did  I  not  give  up  the  gliost  when  I  came  out 
 of  tlie  l)elly  ? 
 
 1-2  '  Why  did  the  knees  prevent  me?  or  why 
 the  breasts  that  I  should  suck  ? 
 
 1.3  For  now  should  I  have  lain  still  and  been 
 rjuiet,  I  should  have  slept:  then  had  I  been  at 
 rest, 
 
 14  With  kings  and  counsellors  of  the  earth, 
 which  '^  built  desolate  places  for  themselves  ; 
 
 15  Or  with  princes  that  had  gold,  wlio  filled 
 their  bouses  witli  silver  : 
 
 10  Or  '^as  an  hidden  untimely  birth  I  had  not 
 been  ;  as  infants  irhich  never  saw  light. 
 
 I  7  There  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling  ; 
 and  there  the  f  weary  be  at  rest. 
 
 18  There  tlie  prisoners  rest  together;  ''they 
 liear  not  the  voice  of  the  oppressor. 
 
 19  Tlie  small  and  great  are  tliere  ;  and  the 
 servant  is  free  from  his  master. 
 
 ■10  '  Wherefore  is  light  given  to  him  that  is 
 
 B.  I- 
 Cir.  l.'i'ill. 
 
 II  Oy,frl  it 
 
 aifing  the 
 dayt 
 
 \  Hoh.  Ihr 
 eyrli,U  of 
 
 t  Hob. 
 ipfnried  in 
 sirritglh 
 
 h  ch.  39.  7. 
 
 ft  1  Sa.  1.  10 
 i?  Kin.*.  27. 
 Prov.  31.  fl. 
 
 I  Heb.  aail. 
 
 I  Rev.  9.  6. 
 
 "1  Prov.  2.-1. 
 
 n  ch.  19,  S. 
 I.am.  3.  7. 
 t  Hch.  brfor, 
 
 \  Heb  //?ai 
 Fd  a  ffnr. 
 
 t  Hcb.  wAo 
 frvm  woriUt 
 
 h  I».  35.  3. 
 t  Heb    the 
 
 Hcb.  12.  12 
 
 r  ch.  1.  I, 
 d  Pro.  3.  £6. 
 
 in  misery,  and  life  unto  tlie  ''  bitter  in  soul ; 
 
 21  Which  t  '  long  for  deatli,  but  it  cometh 
 not ,  and  dig  for  it  more  than  ""  for  hid  trea- 
 sures ; 
 
 22  Which  rejoice  exceedingly,  and  are  glad, 
 when  they  can  find  the  gravel" 
 
 23  Why  is  litjht  given  to  a  man  whose  way 
 is  hid,  "  and  whom  God  hath  hedged  in? 
 
 24  For  my  sighing  coinetli  f  before  I  eat,  and 
 my  roarings  are  poured  out  like  the  waters. 
 
 25  For  f  tlie  thing  which  I  greatly  feared  is 
 come  upon  me,  and  that  which  1  was  afraid  of 
 is  come  niito  me. 
 
 26  I  was  not  in  safety,  neither  had  I  rest, 
 neither  was  I  quiet ;  yet  trouble  came. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  EUphaz  rejiroreth  Joh  fur  want  of  rfliyhn.  7  He 
 teacheth  GoiVs  judgments  to  be  not  for  the  riij/iiaoJts, 
 but  for  the  wicked.  12  His  fear  fid  vision,  to  humble 
 the  excellency  of  creatures  before  God. 
 
 nPHEN  Eliphaz  the  Temanite  answered  and 
 -*-    said, 
 
 2  If  we  assay  f  to  commune  with  thee,  wilt 
 thou  be  grieved  ?  but  f  who  can  withhold  him- 
 self from  speaking  ? 
 
 3  Behold,  thou  hast  instructed  many,  and 
 thou  "hast  strengtliened  the  weak  hands. 
 
 4  Thy  words  liave  uphulden  liim  that  was 
 falhng,  and  ttiou  ''  hast  strengthened  \  the  feeble 
 knees. 
 
 5  But  now  it  is  come  upon  thee,  and  thou 
 faintest ;  it  toucheth  thee,  and  thou  art 
 troubled. 
 
 6  Is  not  this  ^  thy  fear,  "^  thy  confidence,  thy 
 hope,  and  the  uprightness  of  thy  ways? 
 
 blasts  of  noon-tide  terrify  it.* — M.  Good.  '  Let  pestilential  vapours,' 
 ^c.—C«cceiHs.  Sfc  Ps.  xci.  6.  ''T"1>DD,  literally,  'black  blasts'  or 
 ■witherings*  of  the  severest  kind  of  the  pestilential  simoom,  which 
 sweeps,  at  noon  day,  over  the  deserts  of  Arabia,  producing,  on  the 
 hndirs  it  destroys,  a  most  extraordinary  blackness  of  corruption. — 
 ;!/.  Good.  7,  Be  solitart/,  '  let  nnne  a.ssemble  to  cnnvcr.'^e  or  rejoice.* 
 The  Arabs  met  to  converse  at  night,  and,  among  the  eas'erns,  it  was 
 the  season  of  festivity,  (Matt.  x.w.   1,  Sic.)~*Scott.  8.  Let  them 
 
 curse  it,  Sfr.,  '  let  the  sorcerers  of  the  day  curse  it.'— So  SchuKett.^,  Ro- 
 senm.,  Bouthr.  *  Let  them  execrate  it  who  curse  the  (natal)  day  of 
 those  who  are  about  to,  or  who  sliall  rouse  the  Leviathan.* — Par.  '  Let 
 the  execrators  of  days,  who  are  ever  ready  to  excite  Leviathan,  exe- 
 crate it.'—Gvssetius.  7n")b  "WS  Dn'nrrT  CV  nifr)  innp",  *  let  them  curse 
 it  who  detest  the  day  ;  them  who  are  ready  to  raise  up  the  Levia'han.' 
 •  Let  them  curse  my  birthday  who  hate  daylig:ht,  such  as  adulterers, 
 murderers,  thieves,  and  banditti,  &c.,  and  let  them  curse  it  who,  being 
 like  me,  weary  of  life,  are  desperate  enough  to  provoke  the  Leviathan,* 
 — A.  Clarke;  or,  'those  who  are  so  fierce  and  daring  as  when  about  to 
 strike  the  whale  or  crocodile,  curse  it  with  the  bitterest  curse  they  can 
 invent,  hope,  by  those  incantations,  to  weaken  it,  and  so  tn  make 
 themselves  masters  of  it ;  let  them  curse  the  day  of  my  h'uXh.^—Hennj. 
 It  was  an  ancient  custom  to  mark  days  as  fortunate  nr  unfortunate, 
 because,  on  such  days,  some  happy  or  calamitous  events  had  occurred. 
 Mournful  dirges  were  composed  and  rehearsed,  with  loud  lamenta- 
 tiont.  on  the  unfortunate  days,  and  particular  persons  were  employed 
 on  such  occasions.  Such  persons  are  here  meant.  To  stir  up  or  muse 
 Leviathan  is  represented,  chap.  xli.  8—10,  to  be  inevitable  destruction, 
 and  it  was  natural  to  lament  those  who  so  miserably  perished  on  a 
 di=;astrous  day.~*Sco«.  The  crocodile  [thought  by  many  to  be  Job's 
 leviathan]  does  inexpressible  mischief  to  the  people  of  Upper  Egypt, 
 often  killing  and  devouring  women  who  are  fetcliing  water  from  the 
 river,  and  children  playing  on  the  shore  or  swimming;  from  Htissel- 
 quint.  12.  Why  did  the  knees  prevent  me  ?  '  why  did  the  lap  antici- 
 pate me?'  The  longing  and  anxious  desire  of  the  yearning  mother  to 
 nurse  her  unborn  darling,  has  never  been  so  happily  expressed  else- 
 
 where.— M.  Good,  Dr.  Good  thinks  the  common  application  to  the 
 obstetric  art  is  injurious  and  indelicate.  It  might  n<it  be  so  to  the 
 eastern':,  whose  ta'^te  on  matters  of  delicacy  differs  much  from  ours; 
 but  the  rendering  just  given  is  exceedingly  delicate  and  beautiful, — Ed. 
 14.  With  kings,  ^r.— here  is  a  fine  oblique  satire  on  ambition  and  ava- 
 rice.— *Srott.  Built  desolate  pluce.t,  8fc.,  'tombs  and  sepulchres,' 
 'stately  mnnuments  to  lie  in.'  It  was  common  for  kings  and  great 
 men,  in  ancient  times,  to  prepare  costly  monuments  while  they  lived, 
 as  hnu'^es  for  their  bodies  being  dead. — Cnri/t.  21.  Diff — hid  trea- 
 sures— this  text  finds  a  practical  illustration  in  the  east,  where,  from  a 
 dream  or  other  causes,  many  people  are  accust<mied  to  set  to  work  for 
 bid  treasures;  the  figure  of  speech  is  also  commonly  used. — So  Hob. 
 23.  Why  is  light  given  to  a  man,  ^p.— 'light  is  here  put  for  'life.' — 
 Sut.  'Thus  it  is  with  the  man,'  &c. — Bnolhr.  2i.  My  sighing 
 Cometh,  §v:.,  '  I  eat  only  to  prolong  my  misery.'— JJ;j.  Wilson.  *  My 
 sighing  takes  the  place  of  my  food.' — M.  Good.  Took  away  all  appe- 
 tite, and  served  him  in  place  of  meat. — .i.  Clarke.  25.  The  thing 
 which  I  greatly  feared,  ^rnFTD  nnc,  '  I  feared  a  fear,'  Marg.  '  In  pros- 
 perity I  thought  adversity  might  come,  so  thiit  my  afflictions  are  not  the 
 punishment  of  self-confidence.' — So  Clarke.  'When  he  heard  of  one 
 calamity,  he  expected  and  feared  another.* — Bnothr.  26.  /  n-as  not 
 in  safety,  ^r.,  '  I  did  not  lull  myself  into  security,  and  yet  that  did  not 
 preserve  me.' — Pat.  '  Was  I  not  in  safct}',  &c.,  (interrogatively,)  yet 
 trouble  came.' — So  Pise,  Tyndal,  A.  Clarke. 
 '  I  had  no  peace;  yea.  1  bad  no  rest; 
 Yea,  I  had  no  respite,  as  the  trouble  came  on.* — M.  Good. 
 Chap.  IV.  —  5.  But  now  it  is  come  vpnn  f/ief,  *  affliction  is  come,' 
 &c. — Boot/ir.  'The  turn  is  now  thine  own.' — M.  Good.  Gf>nd\'i  ver- 
 sion here  is  totally  at  variance  with  the  text. — Bimthr.  Troubled^ 
 bn^m,  '  confiinnded.'  6.1s  not  this,  Sfc.,  'is  thy  piety,  then,  no. 
 thing — thy  hope?' — M.  Good.  'Where  is  now  thy  feare  of  God,  thy 
 steadfastnesse.  thy  patience,  and  the  perfectnesse  of  thy  life?'— Cocer- 
 dale.  '  Is  not  religion  thy  hope,  and  thy  right  ways  thy  confidence  ?' — 
 Bronghton.  The  sense  is,  '  Hast  thou  not  founded  thy  confidence  in 
 thy  own  supposed  piety,  and  thy  hope  in  the  supposed  innocence  of 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  — I.  We  may  first  remark  on 
 this  chapter,  of  what  Job  complains.  He  complains  that  he  ever 
 was  born,  and  speaks  of  '  his  complicated  miseries  as  having 
 overbalanced  all  the  blessings  of  life.'  Job  was  a  perfect  and 
 upright  man,  but  not  a  sinless  man.  Human  nature  shewed 
 its  weakness  in  him  as  in  others.  '  None  but  the  Saviour,' 
 says  Scott,  '  ever  endured  the  extremity  of  anguish  and  temp- 
 tation without  any  abatement  of  his  love,  any  mixture  of  sin, 
 or  any  indications  of  impatience.' 
 
 II.  Of  ichat  Job  dors  not  complain.  *  He  cursed  his  day,* 
 says  Henry.  '  but  he  did  not  curse  liis  God  ;  he  was  wt-ary  of 
 his  lite,  and  would  gladly  have  parted  with  that,  but  not  weary 
 of  his  religion  ;  he  resolutely  cleaves  to  that,  and  will  never 
 
 let  ii  go.  The  dispute  between  God  and  Satan  concerning 
 Job  was  not  whetlier  Job  had  his  infirmities,  and  whether  he 
 was  subject  to  like  passions  as  we  are  ;  that  was  granted  ;  but 
 whetlier  he  was  an  hypocrite,  and  secretly  hated  God,  and  if 
 he  were  provoked  would  shew  it;  and  upon  trial  it  proved  he 
 was  no  such  a  man.  Nay.  all  this  may  consist  with  liis  being 
 a  pattern  of  patience;  for  though  he  did  thus  speak  unad- 
 visedly with  his  lips,  yet,  both  before  and  after,  he  expressed 
 great  submission  and  resignation  to  the  holy  will  of  God,  and 
 repented  of  his  impatience.  He  condemned  himself  for  it, 
 and  therefore  God  did  not  condemn  iiiin,  nor  must  we,  hut 
 watch  tlie  more  carefully  over  ourselves,  lest  we  sin  after  the 
 similitude  of  his  transgression.' 
 
Eliphaz's  virions. 
 
 JOB,  V. 
 
 The  miserab/n  cud  of  t lie  wicked. 
 
 7  Remember,  I  pray  thee,  "  who  ever  perish- 
 ed, being  innocent?  or  where  were  the  righte- 
 ous cut  off? 
 
 8  Even  as  I  have  seen,  '  they  that  plow  ini- 
 quity, and  sow  wickedness,  reap  tlie  same. 
 
 9  By  tlie  blast  of  God  tliey  perish,  and  ||  by 
 the  breath  of  his  nostrils  are  they  consumed. 
 
 10  The  roaring  of  the  lion,  and  the  voice  of 
 the  fierce  lion,  and  ^  the  teeth  of  the  young 
 lion.s,  are  broken. 
 
 1 1  ''  The  old  lion  perisheth  for  lack  of  prey, 
 and  the  stout  lion's  whelps  are  scattered 
 abroad. 
 
 12  Now  a  thing  was  f  secretly  brought  to 
 me,  and  mine  ear  received  a  little  thereof. 
 
 13  '  In  thoughts  from  the  visions  of  the  night, 
 when  deep  sleep  falleth  oninen, 
 
 14  Fear  fcanie  upon  me,  and  'trembling, 
 which  made  fall  my  bones  to  shake. 
 
 15  Then  a  spirit  passed  before  mj'  face  ;  the 
 hair  of  my  flesh  stood  up  : 
 
 16  It  stood  still,  hut  I  could  not  discern  the 
 form  thereof:  an  image  was  before  mine  eyes, 
 II  there  ivas  silence,  and  I  heard  a  voice,  saying, 
 
 17  'Shall  mortal  man  be  more  just  than 
 God  ?  shall  a  man  be  more  pure  than  his 
 maker? 
 
 18  Behold,  he  "put  no  trust  in  his  servants  ; 
 II  and  his  angels  he  charged  with  folly  : 
 
 19  "  How  much  less  in  them  that  dwell  in 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  15^0. 
 
 cir.  1520. 
 
 e  Pa.  37.  2b. 
 
 o  2  Cor.  4   7 
 
 *!c5    1. 
 
 /Ps.  7.  14. 
 
 p  Pb  30  5,  C 
 f  HL'b.  6car.'n 
 
 Pro.  '22.  8. 
 Hos.  10.  IS. 
 
 i>j  piecei. 
 
 Gal.  6.  7,  S. 
 
 ij  That  is,  bt, 
 hii  anger ! 
 as  la.  30. 33. 
 
 q  Ps.  .S9.  11. 
 
 St  -19.  1*. 
 rch.  36.  12. 
 
 See  Ex.  15 
 
 %.  ch.  1.  19 
 
 &  15.30. 
 
 Is    11.4- 
 
 2The8.2.8, 
 
 e  Ps.  58.  6. 
 
 A  Pa.  34.  10. 
 
 t  Heb.  hy 
 
 alea/tli. 
 
 ■  cb.  33.  15. 
 
 II  Or,  look. 
 
 II  Or,  indig- 
 
 nation. 
 
 t  Heb.  met 
 
 a  Pb.  37.  36, 
 
 36.  Jer.  12. 
 
 ft  Hiih.  S    Ifi. 
 
 2,  3. 
 
 +  Heb,  Me 
 
 mulhlude  of 
 
 b  Pa. 119. 155. 
 
 &  127   5. 
 
 C  Pa.  109.  12. 
 
 II  Or,  Ihfojd 
 a  ,t.U  to.ce. 
 I  ch.  9.  2. 
 
 d  cli.  IS.  3. 
 
 II  Or, iniij'iiti/. 
 
 e  Gen,  3.  17, 
 
 m  ch.  15.  15. 
 
 16,  19. 
 
 &  25.  5. 
 
 1  Cir  10,13. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  ^. 
 
 II  Or,  labour. 
 
 II  Or,  nor   in 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 hit  (iiigeU, 
 
 t:„t  of  the 
 
 in  wliom 
 
 burning  coal 
 
 l.f^  piitlight. 
 H  ch.  15.16. 
 
 lift  ui>  to 
 
 M 
 
 *^  houses  of  clay,  whose  foundation  is  in  t!ie 
 dust,  tvhick  are  crushed  before  the  moth? 
 
 20  ''They  are  f  destroyed  from  morning  to 
 evening:  they  perish  for  ever  without  any  re- 
 garding it. 
 
 21  ''Doth  not  their  excellency  which  is  in 
 them  go  away?  ""they  die,  even  without  wis- 
 dom. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  The  harm  of  iriconsideratJon.  3  The  end  of  the 
 wicked  is  misery.  6  God  is  to  he  regarded  lu  afflic- 
 tion.     1 7    The  happi/  end  of  God's  correction. 
 
 /^  ALL  now,  if  tiiere  be  any  that  will  answer 
 ^-^  thee  ;  and  to  which  of  the  saints  wilt  thou 
 
 II  turn? 
 
 2  For  wrath  killeth  the  foolish  man,  and 
 II  envy  slayeth  the  silly  one, 
 
 3*1  have  seen  the  foolish  taking  root:  but 
 suddenly  I  cursed  his  habitation. 
 
 4  ^  His  children  are  far  from  safety,  and  they 
 are  crushed  in  the  gate,  '^  neither  is  there  any 
 to  deliver  them. 
 
 5  Whose  harvest  the  hungry  eateth  up,  and 
 taketh  it  even  out  of  the  thorns,  and  ^  the  rob- 
 ber swallowetb  up  their  substance. 
 
 6  Although  II  affliction  cometh  not  forth  of 
 the  dust,  neither  doth  trouble  spring  out  of  the 
 ground  ; 
 
 7  Yet  man  is*  born  unto  ||  trouble,  as  f  the 
 sparks  fly  upward. 
 
 thy  ways^'— BoD^Ar.  9.  Blast  of  God,  alluding  lo  the  hlasting  of 
 
 corn  by  east  wind  (jr  mildew,  and  denoting  the  suddtii  and  easy  de- 
 struction of  the  wicktd. —Gj//.  10,  The  /tow— by  the  hons  are  meant 
 the  wicked.— jl/)cA.  Broken,  'disappointed,'  iyn3,  (frnm  nrrti  and 
 not  from  yn?,  'to  break  in  pieces.')— Zf«/e,  M.  Gnod.  '  Frustrated.' — 
 Bnothr.  II.  Old  Hon — stout  lion's  whelps — the  original  has  five  dif- 
 ferent words  to  express  a  lion.  The  Arabians  held  the  Hun  in  such 
 estimation  for  strength,  courage,  and  superiority  to  other  beasts,  that 
 they  put  their  invention  to  the  utmost  stretch  to  find  oat  names  suit- 
 able to  his  qualities.  There  are,  it  is  said,  more  than  five  hundred 
 appropriated  to  him. — Chappelnw.  Scattered,  'dashed  to  pieces.' 
 12.  ,4  thht^  was  secretly  brought,  '  a  word  came  by  stealth.' — Wil., 
 Mtirg.  Recni-fd  a  little  thereof,  '  received  a  whisper  along  with  it.' 
 ' A  h<.lIow  sepuhhral  murmur.'  13.  In  thoughts,  D'CI^U;!.  'amidst 
 
 tiuniilts.'  The  Hebrew  means  'tumultuous  thoughts.'— 3/.  Good. 
 15,  A  spirit  passed — the  very  idea  of  appearances  from  the  world  of 
 spirits  is  terrifying  to  the  heart  nf  fallen  man  ;  sin  has  broken  off  our 
 original  communication  with  it,  and  we  iii'-tinctively  dread  evil  from 
 that  quarter. — Scott,     mi  is  here  rendered  not  '  spirit,'  but  *  wind  ;' 
 
 *  a  blu>tering  wind.'— So  Vatablus,  Cocceius,  Schmidt,  Broughton.  See 
 I  Kings,  xix.  11 ;  Job,  xxxvni.  1.  17.  3/(,»rf>(f.s/— intimating  the  abso- 
 lute rectitude  of  God,  the  exceeding  imperfection  of  human  virtue,  and 
 the  impiety  of  arraigning  the  justice  of  his  moral  government. — *Scott. 
 'Shall  man  be  just  before  God  ?*— 3/.  Good,  ?>oBoot/ir.  18.  He  put  no 
 trust,  V'O^'*  VO,  '  he  did  not  put  stability  or  firmness  in  them.' — Vata- 
 blus, J  un  ,  Trevi.  *  He  did  not  give  them  power  to  stand  by  themselves.' 
 — Gill.  He  charged  with  folly,  '  in  his  angels  he  observes  defection.' — 
 Dathe.  '  And  chargeth  his  angels  with  default.'— jV.  Good.  '  Nor  as- 
 cribeth  glory  to  his  angels.' — Boothr.  This  signifies  the  imperfection 
 of  the  most  exalted  spirits  compared  with  the  infinite  perfection  of  the 
 Deity. — *Scott.  ig.  Houses  of  da  1/ — in  the  east,  many  houses  are 
 built  of  inud  dried  in  the  sun.  and  the  materials  soon  decay.  A  strik- 
 ing description  nf  our  frail  bodies.— So  Par.     Crushed  before  the  moth, 
 
 *  killed  by  the  slightest  accident.' — So  Clarke.  '  As  easily  as  a  moth 
 corrnde.-;  and  destroys  a  garment.'— Boo/Zir.  20.  Thet/  are  destroyed, 
 ^c, '  beaten  down,'  as  hutferflics  and  other  winged  insects  by  idle  boys. 
 — M.  Good.  The  meaning  is,  that  they  are  liable  to  death  every  day. 
 — Gill.  They  perish  for  ever,  '  they  are  for  ever  perishing,  and  without 
 notice.'  '  Uniegardid  they  are  ever  perishing.* — Bonthr.  21.  Doth 
 not  their  excellency  in  tht-m  go  away?  'their  fluttering  round  is  over 
 with  them.' — M.  Good.  '  Their  soul,  intellectual  endowments,  vigour, 
 and  beauty,  go  away.'— So  Gill,  also  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  V. —  1.  Co// now— these  are  the  words  ofEliphaz,  and  not  o( 
 the  apparition. — Chappelow.      If  there  be  any  that  wilt  answer  thee. 
 
 '■which  of  these  can  come  forward  for  thce^'  'Which  of  these  no- 
 things can  ri-iulcr  thee  any  assistance?'  And  to  which  nf  the  saints, 
 4'^-i  D'dp,  '  h'lly  angels.' — Boothr,  '  Or  to  whom,  among  the  hea- 
 venly hos  ts,  wilt  thou  turn  ?'  '  Whom,  amongst  the  hosts  of  the  holy 
 ones,  wilt  thou  instruct  as  thine  advocate  ?' — M.  Good.  *  These  exalted 
 spirits  know  themselves  to  be  comparatively  ignorant  and  impure; 
 which  of  them,  therefore,  will  countenance  thee  in  justifying  thyself, 
 and  complaining  against  God?' — Boothr.  The  language  here  used  is 
 a  strong   irony.  —  t.7ur/fe.  2.    Wrath,    'indignation.' — M.  Good. 
 
 Foolish — silly — terms  in  Scripture  for  impious  and  wicked  men. — *Scott. 
 The  wrath  of  God  brings  destruction  on  the  wicked,  but  not  on  the 
 righteous  ;  or  it  may  mean,  his  wrath,  envy,  and  fretfolness  would  only 
 increase  his  torment  and  shorten  his  days. — Scott.  3.  /  cursed  his 
 habitatioti,  '  I  have  denounced  his  habitation.' — M.  Good.  '  I  marked 
 his  abode  for  sudden  destruction.' — Boothr.  '  I  judged  him  unhappy; 
 and  saw  a  curse  hanging  over  all  that  belonged  to  him.' — Clark.  '  I 
 presaged  this  sudden  destruction.' — Dathe.  '  I  ventured  to  pronounce 
 their  doom,  for  I  knew  that,  in  the  order  of  Providence,  that  was  in- 
 evitable.'— A  Clarke.  4.  The  gnte,  where  was  held  the  court  of  judi. 
 cature,  (Deut.  xxv.  7;  Ruth,  iv.  1,  II;  2  Sam.  xv.  y,  ^c.)— Taylor'' s 
 Concor.  In  the  place  of  judgment,  justice  took  hold  of  them. — Bp. 
 Wilson.  This  insinuates  that  his  children  had  been  culprits. — Wit. 
 5.  Whose  hardest  the  hungry,  '  the  wild  Starveling.' — M.  Good.  A  mani- 
 fest allusion  to  the  half-starved  Arabs,  always  ready  fur  plunder. — Par. 
 And  takfth  it  ei'en  out  of  the  thorns,  '  he  seizeth  it  to  the  very  thorns  ;* 
 in  his  rapacity,  he  seizes  and  carries  off  both  together. — M.  Good. 
 '  The  weaponed  man  had  spoiled  it.* — Tyndal.  '  Armed  men,  with 
 warlike  arras,  >hall  take  it  away,'  Targ.  '  Moreover,  the  hungry  have 
 devoured  their  harvest;  armed  men  have  taken  away  their  corn; 
 robbers  have  consumed  their  substance.' — Houb.  The  Heb.  D*2^f, 
 *  thorns,'  has  also  the  signification  of  '  armour,'  particularly  of  shields. 
 — Gill.  And  the  robber  sumlloweth  tip,  Sfc,  D'T!)!J, '  the  thirsty,'  opposed 
 to  the  hungry.  The  one  shall  eat  up  the  grain,  the  other  drink  down 
 the  wine  and  oil. — So  Clarke.  Eliphaz  had  an  eye  to  the  incursions  of 
 the  Sabcans  and  the  Chaldeans. — Boothr.  It  means,  their  possessions, 
 acquired  by  unjust  means,  shall  not  be  under  the  protection  of  Provi- 
 dence. — A.  Clarke.  Substtaice,  '  subsistence.'- 3/.  Good.  6.  Although, 
 '  truly,' — Boothr.  '  For'  or  'indeed.' — So  Piscator,  cum  mulcts  aliis. 
 7-  yet,  ■•D,  '  but.*— Jun.,  Trem.,  Pise,  Coca.,  §c.  Sparks,  VW^^  '•32,  '  sons 
 of  coals.' — Mont.,  Vat.,  Pise,  Coca.,  §-c.  '  Glittermg  javelins.' — Schul. 
 '  As  the  bird  tribes  are  made  to  fly  upwards,'  literaJly,  *  as  the  sons  ol 
 the  bird  are  made  to  fly,'  and  pre-eminently,  '  as  the  sons  of  the  engle.' 
 — M.  Good,  so  the  Syr.,  Arab.,  Greek  Versions,  Mich.,  Dathe,  Houb., 
 Heath,  Rosenm.,  Boothr.     '  Sons  of  the  coal,'  bold  intrepid  men,  who 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  Boothroyd  here  observes, 
 I.  That  it  is  mtick  easier  to  teach  than  to  practise  our  lessons. 
 Job  had  instructfd  many,  but  he  now  spake  unadvisedly  with 
 his  iips,  and  gavo  occasion  to  his  friends  to  suspect  bim. 
 How  cutting  IS  tlie  reproof,  'Thou  that  leachest  otheis, 
 teachest  thou  not  thyself!'     SutcUffe  remarks, 
 
 n.    That  '  enlightened  and  holt/ people  often  form  very  different 
 
 views  of  Providtnce,  because  they  view  it  from  different  points. 
 
 Hence  as  they  grow  wiser  they  become  more  sober.     Both 
 
 David  and  Asaph  allow  that  their  faith  was  shaken  for  a  mo- 
 
 535 
 
 raent,  when  they  saw  the  wicked  fat  and  prosperous;  and  they 
 were  saved  from  their  mistake  by  viewing  the  end  of  the  un- 
 godly.' 
 
 III.  We  may  observe,  That  our  own  frailty  and  unwnrthiness 
 should  often  occupy  our  serious  meditation.  We  shall  then  be 
 found  in  our  proper  place,  seated  on  the  stool  of  humility. 
 Shall  man  be  proud,  who  has  not  the  least  remnant  of  righte- 
 ousness to  cover  bis  nakedness  before  the  all-searching  Crea- 
 tor'? Shall  a  creature  strut  about  in  consequence,  who  may 
 the  next  hour  be  the  companion  and  food  of  worms? 
 
The  happy  end  of  God's  corrections. 
 
 .Ton,  vr. 
 
 Job  justificlh  his  complaint. 
 
 8  I  would  seek  unto  God,  and  unto  God 
 would  I  commit  my  cause  : 
 
 9  '  Which  doeth  great  things  fand  unsearch- 
 able ;  marvellous  things  f  without  number  : 
 
 10  *  Who  giveth  rain  upon  tlie  earth,  and 
 sendeth  waters  upon  the  \  fields  : 
 
 1 1  "  To  set  up  on  high  those  that  be  low  ; 
 that  those  which  mourn  may  be  exalted  to 
 safety. 
 
 1-2  'He  disappoiuteth  the  devices  of  the 
 crafty,  so  that  tlieir  hands  ||  cannot  perform 
 tlieir  enterprise. 
 
 13  '  He  taketli  the  wise  in  their  own  crafti- 
 ness :  and  the  counsel  of  the  froward  is  carried 
 headlong. 
 
 14  '  They  ||  meet  with  darkness  in  the  day- 
 time, and  grope  in  the  noonday  as  in  tlie 
 night. 
 
 lo  But  ""he  saveth  the  poor  from  the  sword, 
 from  their  mouth,  and  from  the  hand  of  the 
 mighty. 
 
 16  "So  the  poor  hath  hope,  and  iniquity 
 stoppeth  her  mouth. 
 
 17  °  Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God 
 correcteth  :  therefore  despi.se  not  thou  the 
 chastening  of  the  Almighty  : 
 
 18  ■'  For  he  maketh  sore,  and  hindeth  up:  lie 
 woundeth,  and  his  hands  make  whole. 
 
 19  'He  sliall  deliver  tliee  in  six  troubles: 
 yea,  in  seven  '  there  .shall  no  evil  touch  thee. 
 
 ■20  '  In  famine  he  shall  redeem  thee  from 
 death  :  and  in  war  f  from  the  power  of  the 
 sword. 
 
 21  '  Thou  shalt  he  hid  ||  from  the  scourge  of 
 the  tongue  :  neither  shalt  thou  be  afraid  of 
 destruction  when  it  cometh. 
 
 2"2  At  destruction  and  famine  thou  shalt 
 laugh  :  "  neither  shalt  thou  be  afraid  of  the 
 beasts  of  the  earth. 
 
 B    C. 
 
 B    C. 
 
 cir.  16-0 
 
 cir.  1620. 
 
 /ch.9.  l(t.  Kj 
 
 T   Ps    !H.    12, 
 
 37.  &.  P».4I) 
 
 Hos.  2.  13. 
 
 5    &  72.  16. 
 
 St  U5.  3. 
 
 ]l  Or,  Ih/it 
 
 Rom  11  S3. 
 
 l-parr  ifi  (hi/ 
 
 t  Heb.  a„d 
 
 Ufhpr  „ncle. 
 
 there  is  n" 
 
 il  Or,  etr. 
 
 f,>in.!,rr. 
 
 f  Heb.  lift 
 
 y  Pb    112.  2- 
 
 there  be  un 
 
 tearch. 
 
 [|  r\T,m<wh 
 
 ff  ch.  2fi.  6. 
 
 r  Ps.  72.  10 
 
 Pa  65  9.  10 
 
 fe  147.  8. 
 
 1  Pro.  9    11. 
 
 Jer.  5.  '>A  & 
 
 &  10.  27. 
 
 in   13.6.51 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 16  Acta  14 
 
 atcendeth. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 iPs.  Ill- 2 
 
 o'liplacei. 
 
 h  1  Sam.  2. 7. 
 
 t  Heb.  for 
 
 Ps.  1  r.H,  7- 
 
 lh<,i.r{f. 
 
 i  Neh   4.  15, 
 
 Prov'.  9.  12. 
 
 Ps.  33    111. 
 
 Is   8    10. 
 
 II  Or.  ctiinol 
 
 f„/,„m 
 
 nr,i/  l!,i  iiff 
 
 h  Ps.  9.   13. 
 
 lC.>r..S.  10. 
 
 /  De.i.i;s.e9. 
 
 i9.  r.i.  10. 
 
 Amiis  fl  9. 
 
 llOr.rMn  liil;. 
 
 mPs   85.  10. 
 
 t  Heb.  lifted 
 
 n  1  Sam.e  9 
 
 up. 
 
 Pg,  III?.  'I.' 
 
 o  Ps    &I-  \o. 
 Prov.S    11, 
 
 a  Pro.  27.  3. 
 
 P2.  Heb.  12. 
 
 il  That  is,  / 
 
 r>.  Jam.  1- 
 
 13    Kev.  3. 
 
 lo  fxp'rtt 
 
 19. 
 r  Den  3?  39 
 
 myrri.f 
 P.    77.  .1. 
 
 I  Sam.  2.  6. 
 
 *  Pb.  S8.  2. 
 
 1b.  SO  26. 
 
 Hoa.  6.  1. 
 
 f  Ps,  88.  15, 
 
 q  Pt.  3*.  19, 
 
 16. 
 
 A  91.  3. 
 
 Prov.24.16 
 
 1  Crtr  10  1,-1. 
 
 f  Heb.  a* 
 
 f  Pn.  ill,  10. 
 
 j/rau. 
 
 t  Pb.  33.  19. 
 
 8c  37.   19. 
 
 t  Heb.  from 
 
 Ihehandl. 
 
 t  Ps.  SI.  20. 
 
 11   Or,  ir/iM 
 
 t>if  /fi'H'tie 
 
 fC'ury^rt. 
 
 «   Id.   11     9. 
 
 tc  35.  0,  & 
 
 65.  2=i 
 Eiek.34.25. 
 
 t  Heb.  m.v 
 
 f  rye  fill  ion. 
 
 23  *  For  thou  shalt  be  in  league  with  the 
 stones  of  the  field  :  and  the  beasts  of  the  field 
 shall  be  at  peace  with  tliee. 
 
 24  And  thou  shalt  know  ||  that  thy  taber- 
 nacle shall  be  in  peace  ;  and  thou  shalt  visit 
 thy  habitation,  and  shalt  not  ||  sin. 
 
 25  Thou  shalt  know  also  that  ''  thy  seed 
 shall  be  \\  great,  and  thine  offspring  "  as  the 
 grass  of  the  earth. 
 
 26  '  Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full 
 age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  f  cometh  in  in  his 
 season. 
 
 27  Lo  this,  we  have  '' searched  it,  so  it  is; 
 hear  it,  and  know  thou  il  f  for  thy  good. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  Job  sJieweth  that  his  coniptaints  tire  not  causeless.  8 
 Hewishethfordratli,  u'litTcin  lie  isasnredofcomfurl. 
 14   Hi:  reproretii  his  frienijs  ofunkindness. 
 
 "DUT  Job  answered  and  said, 
 -*-'  2  Oh  that  my  grief  were  throughly  weigh- 
 ed, and  my  calamity  flaid  in  the  balances  to- 
 gether ! 
 
 3  For  now  it  would  be  heavier  °  than  the 
 sand  of  the  sea :  therefore  ||  my  words  are 
 swallowed  up. 
 
 4  •'  For  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  are 
 within  me,  the  poison  whereof  drinketh  up  my 
 spirit  :  "^  the  terrors  of  God  do  set  themselves 
 in  array  against  me. 
 
 3  Doth  the  wild  ass  bray  f  when  lie  hath 
 grass?  or  loweth  the  ox  over  his  fodder? 
 
 a  Can  that  which  is  unsavoury  be  eaten  with- 
 out salt?  or  is  there  ani,  taste  in  the  vvliite  of 
 an  egg? 
 
 7  The  things  that  my  soul  refused  to  touch 
 are  as  my  sorrowful  meat. 
 
 8  Oh  that  I  might  have  my  request ;  and  that 
 God  would  grant  me  f  the  thing  that  I  long  for! 
 
 rise  superior  tn  misforhine.— So  Clarke.  Tor  iniquity  cometh  not 
 lortli  out  of  the  dust.'  «.c.,  i.  e.,  as  the  wickedness  of  men  dues  not 
 proceed  from  any  natural  cause,  hut  their  own  free-will,  so  neither  are 
 miseries  the  effects  of  natural  causes;  man  beinp  prone  to  sin,  is  ne- 
 cessarily born  to  sufier.  9.  /  would  seek,  •  I  would  apply  to  God, 
 by  a  full  and  free  confession  of  those  sins  which  have  drawn  this  cala- 
 mity upon  me.'— Peters.  'Truly,  1  do  seek,'  &c.,  expressing  what 
 Eliphaz  had  done  wlien  under  aflaictions  himself.— Gi//.  to.  Upon 
 the  fields,  niSin,  'valleys,'  'among  the  valleys.'— jV.  Good.  The 
 scorchiiig  sun  of  summer  dries  up  everything  iii  those  hot  climates, 
 but  autumnal  rains  produce  a  sudden  resuscitation  of  nature.— Z>r. 
 Jlu-isell.  A  fitting  emi.lem  of  a  transition  from  despairing  afijiction  to 
 prosperity  and  'y<y.—*Scott.  niSIH  may  here  mean,  '  plantations 
 laid  out  in  ridges.'  the  word  often  signifying  '  streets.'- So  Clarke. 
 12.  He  disappoiuteth,  Src,  or  '  it  disappojnteth,'  Sic. ;  that  is,  the  rain, 
 by  causing  a  plentiful  harvest,  disappoints  the  covetous  speculator. 
 —So  Aien  Ezra,  .larcM,  ^c.  u.  He  taketli  the  wise  in  their  own 
 craftiness,  '  entangling  the  wise  in  their  own  cunning.'  '  Taking  by  a 
 toil  or  snaring  net,'  1-yi.—M.  Good.  As  beasts  are  taken  in  a  pit,  or 
 birds  in  a  snare  or  net.  Carried  headlong,  like  a  man  had  to  a  preci. 
 pice,  thrown  down,  and  destroyed  at  once,  so  are  their  counsels  dashed 
 to  pieces  in  a  moment  by  the  Providence  of  God. — Gill.  15.  The 
 poor,  •  the  persecuted.'- ,V.  Good.  17.  Happy  is  the  man  wham  God 
 correcteth,  •  but  tliou  art  miserable ;  if  thy  faith  was  sound,  God  would 
 bind  up  thy  soTC'—Siit.  Despise— otir^  signifies  'to  reject  a  thing  as 
 loathsome,  unprofitable,  disgraceful,  unworthy  of  notice.'— Cmcv/. 
 Chastening,  IDIO,  'instruction.'- Cocc.  Affliction  is  a  school  of  in. 
 struction.— Gi(/.  Almighty,  >TID,  '  God  AU-sufHcient.'— Coi-c.  22.  At 
 destruction  and  famine,  *  he  assures  security  to  his  vineyards  from 
 noxious  animals.— *Scoff.  23.  Stones  of  the  field,  •  tribes  of  the 
 field.'  rnffin  '33,  '  the  sons  or  progeny  of  the  field.'  The  whole  of  the 
 noxious  animals  it  produces,  whether  reptiles  or  quadrupeds.- 3/.  Good. 
 Stones,  %c.,  may  denote  protection  in  travelling.  The  sandals  which 
 the  ancients  wore  were  a  sliirht  guard  to  the  feet  in  the  rongh  and  stony 
 ways  of  their  mountains.  There  were,  also,  various  kir.'ds  of  serpents 
 which  infested  the  deserts  of  Arabia,  and  rendered  travelling  dangerous. 
 _*.«„„»/       ■  The  stones  of  the  field  shaU  not  hurt  thee,  though  thou 
 
 ~Gr  olius.        24.  Tabernacle,  "rbriM,  '  a  tent,' 
 Ha  bitation,   ni:.  '  a  perman  ent  dwelling 
 
 —*Scott. 
 
 walkest  with  nnked  feet.' 
 or  'moveable  dwelling.' 
 
 place.' — A.Clarke.  Both  here  signify  th'e  same  thing. —  Gill.  Shott 
 visit  thy  habitation,  and  shalt  not  sin,  '  shalt  investigate  thy  household 
 and  not  miscarry.' — M.  Good.  '  Shalt  inspect  thine  abode,  and  not  be 
 disappointed.' — Boothr.  '  Shalt  visit  thy  dwelling,  and  shalt  not  go 
 astray.' — Stock.  'Shalt  not  misproper.' — Broughton.  'Shalt  not  be 
 frustrated.' — Schultsns.  The  term  H'ZTl  is  applied  to  an  archer,  Judg. 
 XX.  16,  and  rendered  miss. — Boothr.  It  alludes  to  skilful  stingers  who 
 never  miss  the  mark. — *Scotl.  The  idea  kept  in  view  in  all  these  ren- 
 derings is  domestic  prosperity. — Ed. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  3.  Heafier  than  the  sand,  includes  number  and  weight. 
 — A,  Clarke.  Swallowed  up,  '  overwhelmed,'  as  by  a  weight  of  sand. 
 — M.  Good.  '  My  words  are  swallowed  up  by  my  grief,  which  drowns 
 them  and  stops  my  mouth.' — Clarke.  '  Excess  of  grief  deprives  me 
 of  the  power  of  utterance.' — Hew.  '  Hence  my  words  are  vehement.* 
 — Boothr.,  as  Scott.  It  is  absurd  to  render  the  words  '  swallowed  up,' 
 when  Job  broke  forth  in  language  the  most  forcible  and  vehement. — 
 So  Boothr.  4.  The  arrows,  ^c. — the  art  of  poisoning  arrows  was 
 
 very  ancient  in  Arabia. — Orient.  Cost.,  U8.  Drinketh  up,  they  appear 
 to  have  had  the  eflfect  of  producing  tliirst. — Scrip.  Itlus.  This  is  ter- 
 ribly sublime.  The  arrows  nf  the  Almighty  are  represented  as  loaded 
 with  fiery  unquenchable  poison,  and  a  thirst  for  the  vital  spirit.  They 
 have  pierced  the  bowels  of  the  wretched  sufferer,  and,  incapable  of 
 being  drawn  out,  remain  within  him. — M.  Good.  Set  themselves  in 
 array,  *  make  war  against  me,  as  a  regular  army .' — Chappelow.  5.  The 
 wild  ass,  a  much  moie  dignilied  animal  than  the  domestic  ass,  called, 
 by  Latin  writers,  the  Onager. — M.  Good.  To  ver.  7.  w'e  have  reasons 
 for  Job's  complaint;  his  friends,  indeed,  were  in  perfect  ease,  and  the 
 very  brutes  were  quiet  when  well  fed. — So  Boothr.  6.  Can  that 
 which  is  unsavoury,  ifgc,  '  do  men  use  to  eat  unsavoury  meats  with  de- 
 light? how,  then,  can  they  cat  bitter?' — So  Poole, 
 
 *  Doth  insipid  food,  without  a  mixture  of  salt. 
 
 Yea,  doth  the  white  of  the  egg,  give  forth  pungency  ?' 
 
 '  Doth  that  which  hath  nothing  of  seasoning,  of  an  irritating  power  in 
 
 it,  produce  pungency  or  irritation?     I,  too,  should  be  quiet,  if  I  had 
 
 nothing  provocative  or  acrimonious.' — M.  Good.    This  is  approved  by 
 
 Reflections  on  CH.tp.  V.— I.  /Ifflictimts  come  from  God. 
 'Is  there  evil  in  the  city,  and  the  Lord  hath  not  done  it  1'  As 
 evil,  Cod  IS  not  the  author  of  affliction,  hut  he  lets  things  take 
 their  course,  and  then  sin  brings  suffering. 
 
 II.  Afflictions  are  Gods  rod  to  correct  his  children.  If  nfflic- 
 536 
 
 lions  be  ever  so  painful,  in  God's  hand  they  can  do  the  be- 
 liever no  real  injury.  It  is  a  Father  who  holds  the  rod,  to 
 correct,  and  not  to  destroy.  Behold,  then,  '  happy  is  the  inaa 
 whom  God  correctetb.' 
 
,Tob  wiskeilt  for  death. 
 
 JOB,  VU. 
 
 JTe  rcprovvth  his  friends  of  unhindness . 
 
 9  Even  **tliat  it  would  please  God  to  destroy 
 me  ;  that  he  would  let  loose  his  hand,  and  cut 
 
 nie  off! 
 
 10  Then  should  I  yet  have  comfort  ;  yea,  I 
 would  harden  myself  in  sorrow  :  let  him  not 
 spare  ;  for  "^  I  have  not  concealed  the  words  of 
 ^tlie  Holy  One. 
 
 1 1  What  is  my  strength,  that  I  should  hope? 
 and  what  is  mine  end,  that  I  should  prolong 
 my  life  ? 
 
 12  Is  my  strength  the  strength  of  stones?  or 
 is  my  flesh  f  of  brass  ? 
 
 13  Is  not  my  help  in  me?  and  is  wisdom 
 driven  quite  from  me? 
 
 14  t^To  him  that  is  afflicted  pity  shotdd  he 
 shewed  from  his  friend  ;  but  he  forsaketh  the 
 fear  of  the  Almighty. 
 
 16  ''  My  brethren  have  dealt  deceitfully  as  a 
 brook,  and  '  as  the  stream  of  brooks  they  pass 
 away  ; 
 
 16  Which  are  blackish  by  reason  of  the  ice, 
 and  wherein  tlie  snow  is  hid  : 
 
 17  Wliat  time  they  wax  warm,  fthey  vanish: 
 fwhen  it  is  hot,  they  are  f  consumed  out  of 
 their  place. 
 
 18  The  paths  of  their  way  are  turned  aside  ; 
 they  ^o  to  nothing,  and  perish. 
 
 19  The  troops  of  ''  Tenia  looked,  the  com- 
 panies of  '  Sheba  waited  for  them. 
 
 20  They  were  ""  confounded  because  tliey 
 had  hoped ;  they  came  thither,  and  were 
 ashamed. 
 
 d  1  Kin    19. 
 
 /Lev.  19.  2 
 l.s.  bl.  15. 
 Hoa.  II.  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  To 
 him  thill 
 melteth. 
 
 «^Pro.  17.17. 
 
 APR. 38.  n. 
 
 ft  II.  9. 
 ■  Jer.  15.  IS 
 
 t  Heb.  tU>>y 
 arc  cut  off. 
 t  Heb.  >>,  the 
 
 t  Heb.fj:fOi 
 
 yuiaUcd, 
 
 k  Geu2&.I5. 
 
 MKin.lO.  1. 
 
 I's.  Ti.  10. 
 
 Ezek.  S7. 
 
 2  J,  2H. 
 m  Jer.  \\.  3. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  1^30. 
 
 11  Or,  For 
 WW  ye  are 
 like  to  limit 
 
 t  Heb    to  it. 
 
 '.  cli.  13.  I'l. 
 
 t  Heb.  w.t. 
 
 oFri.  38.  II. 
 
 t  Heb.  ye 
 iMUie  to  /all 
 
 t  Heb.  /i<-A, 
 y  cli.  17.  10. 
 
 II  That  is,  I'. 
 t/iin  mailer. 
 
 t  Heb    tny 
 }>.iLt^,  cii. 
 
 12.  n.  & 
 
 31.3. 
 
 I  Or,  a  war 
 
 I  eh.'  li.  6, 
 \:i,  14.  Ps. 
 3!)  4. 
 tHeb. 
 
 p.-lh  after 
 
 2 1  II  For  now  "  ye  are  f  nothing  ;  ye  see  m^ 
 casting  down,  and  ''are  afraid. 
 
 22  Did  I  say,  Bring  unto  me?  or,  Give  a  re- 
 ward for  me  of  your  substance? 
 
 23  Or,  Deliver  me  tnmi  the  enemy's  hand? 
 or.  Redeem  me  from  the  hand  of  the  miglity  ? 
 
 24  Teach  me,  and  I  will  bold  my  tongue  :  and 
 cause  me  to  understand  wherein  I  have  erred. 
 
 23  How  forcible  are  right  words!  but  wliat 
 doth  your  arguing  reprove? 
 
 26  Do  ye  imagine  to  reprove  words,  and  the 
 speeches  of  one  that  is  desperate,  which  are  as 
 wind  ? 
 
 27  Yea,  f  ye  overwhelm  the  fatherless,  and 
 ye  ^dig  a  pit  for  your  friend. 
 
 28  Now  therefore  be  content,  look  upon  me; 
 for  it  is  t  evident  unto  you  if  I  lie. 
 
 29  '^  Return,  I  pray  you,  let  it  not  be  ini- 
 quity ;  yea,  return  again,  my  righteousness  is 
 II  in  it. 
 
 30  Is  there  iniquity  in  my  tongue?  cannot 
 f  my  taste  discern  perverse  things  ? 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 I  Job  excuseth  his  desire  of  death.     12  He  complaineth 
 of  his  own  restlessness,  17  and  God's  watchfulness. 
 
 TS  there  not  ||  '^  an  appointed  time  to  man 
 ^  upon  earth?  are  not  his  days  also  like  the 
 days  of  an  hireling? 
 
 2  As  a  servant  f  earnestly  desireth  the  shadow, 
 and  as  an  hireling  looketh  for  the  reward  of 
 his  work  : 
 
 Clmke.  10.  7  bare  not  concealed,  ^c,  '  I  dispute  not  the  decrees  of 
 the  Holy  One.' — Heath.  '  I  would  not  resist  the  commands  of  the 
 Holy  One.' — 71/.  Good.  Relief  from  lingering  misery  was  Job's  great 
 object.— *5fo?^  11.  What  is  mine  end,  that,  ffc.,  '  what  prospect  of 
 happiness  or  comfort,  that  I  should  prolong  my  breath?'  13.  Is  not 
 
 tntf  hell)  ifi  me,  f,-c.,  '  alas  !  there  is  no  help  in  me.' — M,  Good.  '  Be- 
 hold, there  is  no  help  to  me  in  myself.' — Bouthr.  '  It  is  not  in  my 
 power  to  defend  myselfagainst  these  calumnies  anil  reproaches  ;'  or  it  is, 
 '  I  have  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience  within  me.' — Gill.  IJ.  To 
 him  that  is  afflicted,  ^-c,  '  tu  him  who  is  deficient  to  his  friend,  shame  !' 
 
 •  Shaine  to  the  man  who  hath  despised  his  friend  ! 
 
 He,  indeed,  hath  departed  from  the  fear  of  the  Almighty  !' — M.  Good. 
 
 The  meaning  is,  they  who  treat  a  friend  with  such  cruelty,  will  easily 
 cast  off  the  fear  of  God. — Grotius.  15.  As  a  irooA— deep  valleys  be- 
 tween high  rocks  of  granite,  supplied  in  winter  with  temporary  streams 
 or  torrents,  disappoint  the  thin-ity  Arabian  traveller  in  summer,  who 
 finds  their  beds  dry.  This  simile  is  exquisitely  beautiful.  The  noise  of 
 these  temporary  streams  in  winter  answers  to  the  large  professions 
 made  by  a  man's  friends  in  his  prosperity  ;  the  drying  up  of  the  waters 
 at  tlie  approach  of  summer,  to  tlie  failure  of  their  frienilsbip  in  his 
 afflictinii ;  and  the  confusion  of  tlie  thirsty  caravans,  on  finding  the 
 streams  vanished,  strongly  illustrates  his  feelings  on  being  disappointed 
 of  relief  from  their  friendly  counsels.— *A>o^/.  The//  puss  away,  *  that 
 pass  away;'  the  metaphor  is  continued. — M.  Good,  so  Boofhruyd, 
 16.  Blackish  Inj  reason  of  the  ice,  Sfc. — ice  and  snow  were  frequent  on 
 the  ranges  of  Abarim,  whose  highest  summits  were  Mount  Nebn  and 
 Mount  Pisgah. — Sut.  These  streams  are  first  formed  by  the  rains  of 
 autumn,  increased  by  the  rains  and  warmth  of  spring  melting  the  ice 
 and  snow,  and  rush  in  a  turbid  state  into  the  valley,  appearing  like 
 deep  rivers.— *5co^^  7s  hid,  '  fuams  above  them.'— M.  Good.  '  Is 
 dissolved.' — Boothr.  IS.  Are  turned  aside,  ^c.,  '  are  shortened  i'  the 
 current  runs  shorter  and  shorter.— *5co//.  hito  nothing,  'into  the 
 desert. — Schultens. 
 
 *  The  paths  of  their  course  are  diminished ; 
 They  ascend  in  vapour,  and  perish.' — Boothr. 
 
 19.  Tema,  a  city  in  Arabia,  so  called  from  Tema,  a  son  of  Ishmael, 
 (Gen.  XXV.  15.)  Troops  of  Tema,  *  travelling  merchants,'  (see  Is^a. 
 xxi.  13,  14.)  Looked — expected  supplies  from  the  rivers.  Sheba,  an- 
 other people  in  Arabia,  who  went  in  companies  through  the  deserts, 
 waited  patiently  lnr)king  for  water. — Gill.      For  '  looked,'  Good  reads 
 
 *  search  earnestly.'  '  Look  for  them,  ye  troops  of  Tenia  j  ye  travellers  of 
 Sheba,  expect  them  earnestly.'- //ca^A.      20.  Ashamed, '  sink  away.'— 
 
 il/.  Good.  21.  rearfiMoMiwfi'— here  Job  applies  the  similitude. —ilrtsrn»i. 
 
 •  Thus  are  ye  become  now  unto  me.'— Boothr. 
 '  Now  ye  are  to  it,"  ^^  DrT'TT  nn3?  *3,  like  the  brook  just  described.— 
 Jar.  '  Ye  are  become  hke  that,  even  nothing.''— Brouffhton.  *  As  that 
 deceitful  brook  is  no  more,  nor  of  any  use  to  travellers  fainting  through 
 thirst,  so  ye  are  like  that,  of  no  use  and  advantag-e  to  me  in  my  afflic- 
 tion.'—Gi//.  Afraid— teniaed  at  my  calamities,  and  iristead  of  draw- 
 ing near  as  comforters,  ye  start  back  at  my  appearance.— So  Clarke. 
 22.  Did  I  sap  ?  fyc,  *  did  I  ever  ask  anything  of  you  ?'  23.  Or,  Re- 
 
 deem, SfC,  'fetch  back  my  captured  cattle  by  force  or  ransom  price.* 
 24.  Teac/i  me,  t^c— on  being  convinced  of  his  mibtakes.  he  would  in- 
 genuously acknowledge  them.— Gi7/.  25.  But  what  doth?  ^c,  '  wliat 
 reproof  is  there  in  a  reproof  from  you?' — Stock.  26.  Reprove  words, 
 '  make  me  an  offender  lor  a  word  ;  have  ye  no  facts  to  charge  me  with  ?' 
 As  windf  'treating  my  words  as  idle,  vain,  and  empty  as  the  wind?' — Gill. 
 
 •Are  the  words  of  one  desperate  but  as  wind  ?' — Boothr. 
 'Do  ye  imagine  to  reprove  mere  words?  the  speeches  of  one  that  is 
 desperate  (like  me)  are  as  wind;*  i.e.,  quite  uncontrollable.— //sty. 
 27.  Fatherless,  '  destitute. '—itf.  Good.  'Helpless.*  —  Boothr.  '  Be- 
 reaved.'—IFi7.  Dig  a  pit,  §c.  alluding  to  digging  pits  to  catch  wild 
 beasts.  28.  Look  upon  me,  Sfc,  '  Look  in  my  face,  and  you  will  soon 
 see  I  am  innocent,'  says  a  Hindoo. — Rob. 
 
 Chat.  VII.  —  I.  Is  there  not  an  appointed  time  to  man?  seems  to 
 mean,  that  before  the  flood  men  lived  many  hundred  years,  yet  now 
 tlie  general  period  of  life  is  determined  by  God  to  be  much  shorter. — 
 Colli/er.  There  is  a  stt  time  for  man's  coming  into  the  world,  conti- 
 nuance  in  it,  and  going  out. — GUI.  A  period  of  discipline  and  warfare 
 for  man  upon  earth. — Rosenm.  V'^'^i,  73?  lin:i<'?  ND^  I^'tt,  *  is  there  not 
 a  warfare  to  miserable  man  upon  the  earth  V—A.  Clarke,  so  the  Sept.^ 
 Viilg.,  Chald.,  and  most  of  the  more  Modern  Translations.  Man's  life 
 on  eaith  is  like  the  appointed  time  of  warfare  to  a  soldier,  who  earnestly 
 wishes  for  his  discharge,  that  he  may  be  exempted  from  furtlicr  labouis 
 and  perils. — Scott.  The  word  N^:J,  translated  'an  appointed  time,' 
 means  both  '  a  set  time,  task,  or  )»laee,'  and  *  a  military  stati(]n  or  life  ;* 
 hence  '  warfare  in  general.' — M.  Good.  Man— the  Hebrew  word  mi:^, 
 here  eliosen,  is  peculiarly  expressive.  It  is  descriptive  of  man  as  a 
 mortal,  and  is  equivalent  to—'  Is  there  not  a  short  and  limited  season 
 for  such  fallen,  frail,  and  sickly  mortals  upon  earth?'- £d.  To  the 
 same  purport,  Jan.,  Trem.,  Pise.  Mich.  Of  an  hireling,  the  labourer 
 who  works  by  the  day,  and  desires  the  evening  to  receive  his  wages 
 and  go  to  rest. — Scott.  2.  The  shadow,  that  is,  the  evening. —  Wil. 
 •  As  the  slave  in  a  hot  day  gasps  for  the  refreshment  of  the  shade.'— 
 Pat.    To  the  same  purport  Boothr.     The  easterns  measure  time  very 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap,  VI.  —  I.  Affliction  is  douhlt/ atft/ra- 
 vated  when  we  write  bitter  things  against  our.-ctocs.  How  de- 
 sirable, then,  is  it  to  cultivate  peace  in  the  conscience,  which 
 nothing  but  a  sense  of  pardoning  mercy  through  Christ  can 
 produce,  and  a  holy  walk  and  conversation  keep  in  exercise. 
 Lord,  let  not  iliine  arrows  drink  up  our  spirits  in  afilic- 
 tion,  nor  leave  us,  as  Job,  to  write  bitter  things  against  our- 
 selves. 
 
 537 
 
 II.  When  afflictions  come  upon  ks,  then  friendship  is  put  to  the 
 test.  How  m:my  friends  are  like  deceitful  brooks— they  be- 
 come d.'-y  when  they  arc  most  needed  !  Let  us  cease  from 
 man,  and  learn  to  put  our  trust  and  confidence  in  God.  Let  us 
 look  up  to  Heaven  ;  *  t/iereis  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a 
 brother,'  a  Friend  that  '  lovcth  at  all  times,'  and  'a  Brollicr 
 that  is  born  for  adversity.' 
 
 34z 
 
Job  excuseth  his  desire,  oj  death. 
 
 JOB,  VIII. 
 
 lie  complaineth  of  God's  watehfiilness. 
 
 3  So  am  I  made  to  possess  ^  months  of  vanity, 
 and  wearisome  niglits  are  appointed  to  me. 
 
 4  '  When  I  lie  down,  I  say.  When  shall  I 
 arise,  and  f  the  night  be  gone  ?  and  I  am  full 
 of  tossings  to  and  fro  unto  the  dawning  of  the 
 day. 
 
 5  My  flesh  is  ''  clothed  with  worms  and  clods 
 of  dust ;  my  skin  is  broken,  and  become  loath- 
 some. 
 
 6  °  My  days  are  swifter  than  a  weaver's  shut- 
 tle, and  are  spent  without  hope. 
 
 7  O  remember  that  '  my  life  is  wind  :  mine 
 eye  f  shall  no  more  ||  see  good. 
 
 8  *  The  eye  of  him  that  hath  seen  me  shall 
 see  me  no  more  :  thine  eyes  are  upon  me,  and 
 II  I  am  not. 
 
 9  As  the  cloud  is  consumed  and  vanisheth 
 away:  so  ""he  that  goeth  down  to  the  grave 
 shall  come  up  no  more. 
 
 10  He  shall  return  no  more  to  his  house, 
 '  neither  shall  his  place  know  him  any  more. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  I  will  ''  not  refrain  my  mouth  ; 
 I  will  speak  in  the  anguish  of  my  spirit ;  I  will 
 •  complain  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul. 
 
 12  Am  I  a  sea,  or  a  whale,  that  thou  settest 
 a  watch  over  me  ? 
 
 13  "  When  I  say.  My  bed  shall  comfort  me, 
 my  couch  shall  ease  my  complaint  ; 
 
 14  Then  tliou  scarest  me  with  dreams,  and 
 terrifiest  me  through  visions  : 
 
 15  So  that  my  soul  chooseth  strangling,  and 
 death  rather  f  than  my  life. 
 
 B  c. 
 
 cir-  1.9ZI). 
 b  SeecTi.-.'S 
 
 c  Deti,29  67 
 ch.  17.  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  Me 
 tvtiiiitij  be 
 ■d. 
 
 e  ch.  9.  25. 
 8c  16   52   Sc 
 17.  11.  Ps. 
 90.6.  &  ll>> 
 11.  &  103 
 15.  &  14-1  4. 
 I9   J18,  1?.  Ik 
 4(1.  6.  Jam. 
 4   14. 
 /  Ps.  78.  39. 
 &  89.  47. 
 
 t  Heb.  tliall 
 not  Tfllirn. 
 
 II  To  «'P,  that 
 is,  10  e'^jotf. 
 
 e  ch.  20.  9. 
 
 I)  That  is,  / 
 CM  Im  m 
 
 h  2  i^am.  12. 
 
 23 
 i  rh.  8.  18. 
 
 &  20.  9.  Ps. 
 
 103.  Iti. 
 *  Pa.  39.  1 , 9. 
 
 at40-  9. 
 I  I  Sam.  I  10 
 
 ch.  10.  1. 
 
 t  Htfh.  /;<u'i 
 mi/  b"iift. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  1520. 
 
 ch.  10.  1. 
 ch.  10.  -iO. 
 Jtt  14.6.  Ps. 
 39.  13. 
 p  Ps.  62.  9. 
 7  Ps.  8.  *.  & 
 144.3.  Ueb. 
 
 ■  Ps.  ^6  6. 
 ch,  16.  12. 
 
 Dcu  a 
 2  Chr. 
 ch.  3», 
 17.  Dan 
 14  Ron 
 S.  5 
 
 19.; 
 
 16  °  I  loathe  it;  I  would  not  live  alway  : 
 °  let  me  alone  ;  for  "  my  days  are  vanity. 
 
 17  ''  What  is  man,  that  thou  shouldest  mag- 
 nify him?  and  that  thou  shouldest  set  thine 
 heart  upon  him  ? 
 
 18  And  that  thou  shouldest  visit  him  every 
 morning,  and  try  him  every  moment  ? 
 
 19  How  long  wilt  thou  not  depart  from  me, 
 nor  let  me  alone  till  I  swallow  down  my 
 spittle  ? 
 
 20  1  have  sinned  ;  what  shall  I  do  unto  thee, 
 '  O  thou  preserver  of  men?  why  '  hast  tliou  set 
 me  as  a  mark  against  thee,  so  that  I  am  a  bur- 
 den to  myself? 
 
 21  And  why  dost  thou  not  pardon  my  trans- 
 gression, and  take  away  mine  iniquity  ?  for 
 now  shall  I  sleep  in  the  dust  ;  and  thou  shalt 
 seek  me  in  the  morning,  but  I  shall  not  be. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  Bilflad  shewctli  God's  justice  in  deaf  in  fj  with  men  ac- 
 cording to  timir  works.  8  lie  allt'di/eth  antiqtiity  to 
 provf^  the  certain  deslrnction  of  the  hypocrite.  20 
 He  applieth  God's  jtist  dealing  to  Job. 
 
 'pHEN  answered  Biidad  the   Shuhite,   and 
 ■*-    said, 
 
 2  How  long  wilt  thou  speak  these  things? 
 and  how  long  shall  the  words  of  thy  mouth  be 
 like  a  strong  wind  ? 
 
 3  "  Doth  God  pervert  judgment?  or  doth  the 
 Almighty  pervert  justice  y 
 
 correctly  by  the  length  of  their  shadow.  Thus  the  labourer  desires 
 THE  shadow  which  indicates  the  time  for  leaving  work.  —  So  Rob. 
 3.  So  am  I  made,  §c.,  *  thus  are  periods  of  jojiessness  allotted  to  nie.' 
 
 •  And  wearisome  nights,'  &c.  '  Even  nights  of  misery  are  mine  ;' 
 that  is,  '  my  destiny  is  worse  than  that  of  the  bondsman,  who  looks  fur 
 the  night  shade,  for  even  the  niijht  is  not  free  from  trouble  to  myself.* 
 —J/.  Good,  as  Ciiri/l.  4.  When  I  lie  down,  ^c.^Arettrus  sirnlCelsus, 
 two  medical  writers  of  antiquity,  mention  disturbing  dreams  as  at- 
 tendant on  the  elephantiasis.— Jfoi5enjH.  '  When  I  lie  down  thus  I 
 ponder—When  shall  I  rise  again?  Long  stretcheth  the  night,  and  I 
 shall  be  full  of  wild  dreams  till  the  morning.'— .1/icA.  5.  Clothed  vith 
 worms— probably  literally  true,  insects  having  deposited  their  ova  in 
 his  ulcers,  from  his  being  exposed  to  the  open  air. — So  Clarke.  Become 
 Inuthsome— the  elephantiasis  is  so  noi>ome,  that  it  might  well  pass  for 
 the  corruption  of  the  human  body  on  this  side  the  grave. — Maiindrell. 
 6.  Than  a  weaver's  shuttle,  '  slighter  than  yarn.'  And  are  spent  uith. 
 out  hope,  '  are  put  an  end  to  by  the  breaking  of  the  thread.*- .1/.  Good. 
 
 *  My  days  are  sivifter  than  the  web,'  literally ;  i.  e.,  receive  tlicir  c  im- 
 pletion  more  quickly.— Lee.  Without  hope,  hope  of  the  alleviation  of 
 his  miseries  no  longer  existed.— ^4.  Clarke.  '  All  my  happy  days  are 
 run  away  in  a  moment,  and  there  is  no  hope  I  should  recover  tliem.'— 
 Pat.  ".  O  remember,  ^c— here  Job  addresses  God,  pleading  for  mi- 
 tigation of  his  sufferings.— Booi/jr.,  as  Beza,  Vat.,  and  Mich.  My  life 
 is  wind,  or  'breath,'  mi.- C«ec.,  Mich.  'If  my  life  pass  away,  mine 
 eye  shall  turn  no  more  to  scenes  of  goodness.'  8.  Thine  eyes  are 
 upon  me,  and  I  am  «o/— his  angry  eyes,  the  frowns  of  his  countenance, 
 —Gilt.  'Let  thine  eye  be  upon  me,  and  I  am  nothing.'- Jl/.  Good. 
 Q.  Shall  come  up  no  more — this  is  not  a  denial  of  a  dying  man's  resur- 
 rection to  life,  hut  of  his  restitution  to  the  same  Mfe.— Caryl.  12.  Am 
 J  a  sea  f  ^c— this  may.  possibly,  allude  to  the  Nile,  called  a  sea,  Isaiah, 
 xxvii.  1  ;  Ezek.  xxxii.  2;  which,  when  it  overspreads  its  proper  limits, 
 sometimes  carries  away  towns  and  villages.  The  sense  may  be,  '  Am 
 I  an  inundation,  that  thou  settest  a  watch  about  me?'  Or  a  whale, 
 probably  a  crocodile,  which  is  watched  where  its  haunts  are  known, 
 to  prevent  its  dcstro>inp  animals  going  to  drink,  and  women  fetching 
 water.— Scr(>.  Illus.     *  Am  I  a  savage  bull  or  wild  buffalo  ?'—iieisAre. 
 
 'Am  I  a  savage  beast,  or  a  dragon, 
 That  thou  shouldest  appoint  a  keeper  over  me  ?* 
 In  almost  every  instance  except  the  present,  the  Heb.  D'-n  is  rendered 
 'dragon,*  and   nut  'whale,'  in  our  establislied  version;  see,  among 
 others,  chap.  xxx.  29;  Mic.  i.  8 ;  Mai.  i.  3.   The  Septuagint  has  ApaKui-, 
 
 'a  dragon.' — M.  Good.  No  doabt  but  that  the  crocodile  is  meant  here. 
 With  what  eagerness  must  the  people  of  those  countries  watch  these 
 formidab:e  animals,  and,  from  their  amazing  strength,  with  what  re- 
 peated efforts  endeavour  to  demolish  them  when  ensnared  in  their  toils. 
 In  this  view,  how  forcible  is  the  complaint  of  Job,  that  God  had  dealt 
 with  him  as  men  do  by  crocodiles,  who  watch  them  with  great  atten- 
 tion, and  fall  upon  them  with  repeated  blows,  and  give  not  over  till 
 they  have  destroyed  them. — Har.  15.  Stranglins,  a  kind  of  death 
 
 inflicted  on  capital  offenders.- G(7/.  'To  be  choaked  to  death.' — 
 Bronghton.  *  Suffocatiou,* — Jtr.  Good.  Than  my  life.  '  than  my  bones,' 
 \"n02Jy^- — Mont.,  Cocc  ,  Schmidt,  Schulte/is,  ^r.  *Thau  life  in  such  a 
 skeleton-like  body.' — Par.  'Than  my  pains  or  torments,' — Beiske. 
 '  in  comparison  with  my  sufferings.*  The  rendering  of  'a  skeleton'  is 
 a  mere  conceit.— J*/.  Good.  '  Rather  than  my  present  life.' — Doothr. 
 l6.  Let  me  alone,  '  O  release  me  1' — M.  Good.  17-  yVhat  is  man?  Sfc^ 
 '  miserable  man  is  not  worthy  of  thy  favour,  and  he  is  below  thine 
 anger.'  18.  Visit,  'punish'  or  'chasten,'  so  the  word  is  used  Exod. 
 XX.  5;  xxxii.  34;  and  xxxiv.  7.  10.  Depart  from  me,   'withdraw 
 
 thine  afflicting  hand.' — Poole.  Let  me  alone,  or  'cease  from  me.' — 
 Png.,  Mont,,  Schmidt.  '  From  afflicting  more,  or  else  continuing  life.' 
 — Gill.  Swallow  my  spittle — this  is  a  proverb  still  iu  use  amtmg  tlie 
 Arabs, — Durell,  Bib.  Research  ;  and  the  Spaniards  have  the  same,  pro- 
 bably from  the  Moors. — Poole,  Ed.  It  is  of  the  same  import  as  the 
 English  expression  '  I  have  not  time  to  breathe.' — So  Boothr.  20.  I 
 hace  sin7ttd — here  are  exquisite  breaks.  The  afflicted  subject  of  the 
 poem  can  scarcely  refrain  from  expostulating  with  the  Almighty,  and 
 occasionally  in  a  strain  too  bold  and  familiar.  In  ver.  1"  he  suddenly 
 becomes  sensible  of  it,  and  abruptly  breaks  off  with  a  rushing  convic- 
 tion of  his  own  insignificance.  He  again  relapses,  in  ver.  19,  to  the 
 same  strain  of  unbecoming  expostulation  ;  and  here  he  checks  himself 
 with  a  sudden  sense  of  its  impropriety. — M.  Good.  Preseriwr  of  men, 
 'watcher  over  man.* — Stock.  "Surveyor  of  man.' — M.  Good.  'In- 
 spector of  the  hearts  of  men.' — Boothr.  *0  eTrtCTanevof  tok  vow  rcoy 
 aiOpiiyTTuyv,  '  wlio  knowest  the  mind  of  men,*  Sept.  As  a  mark,  '  as  a 
 butt  to  shoot  thine  arrows  at.' — GUI. 
 
 Chap.  Vlll.  —  2.  The  words  of  thy  mouth  be  like  n  strong  wind? 
 '  thy  mouth  utter  the  spirit  of  pride  ?' — M.  Good.  '  Be  blustering,  bois- 
 terous, and  noisy.* — H'i7. 
 
 '  How  long. 
 How  far  will  rage  the  tempest  of  thy  tongue?' — Scott. 
 
 *  Why  dost  thou  persist  to  talk  in  this  fashion,  and  with  such  vehemence 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  — I.  Afflictions  may  well  re- 
 mind us  of  the  nature  and  brevity  of  hinnan  life.  It  is  a  state  of 
 conflict  and  toil,  and  hence  the  Ciiristian  is"  taught  to  long  for 
 his  rest.  In  the  present  state  of  mankind,  it  is  not  fit  that 
 this  world  sliould  be  our  heaven.  But  if  man's  life  be  com- 
 parable to  the  weaver's  shuttle  for  its  flight,  or  wind  for  its 
 unsubstantial  nature,  while  in  one  point  of  view  it  throws  a 
 melancholy  hue  over  our  thoughts,  there  is  another  view  in 
 which  It  should  gild  them  with  brightness,  for  the  considera- 
 tion of  a  speedy  end  to  conflicts  and  toils,  sickness  and  sor- 
 5S6 
 
 row,  should  cause  us  to  lift  up  our  beads  with  joy  in  the  pros- 
 pect of  approaching  redemption. 
 
 II.  .-ijfiiet/ons  should  cause  us  to  confess  our  sins.  God  is  the 
 supreme  Arbiter  of  our  destinies,  and  agencies  and  instru- 
 ments that  afflict  us  may  often  induce  us  to  look  at  second 
 causes ;  yet  the  infinitely  wise  and  good  God  would  not  permit 
 suffering  without  a  cause,  nor  could  any  agents  harm  us,  were 
 we  in  a  perfect  state,  it' we  turn  from  our  afflictions  to  our 
 own  hearts,  we  must  make  the  humble  confession  with  Job, 
 'I  have  sinned.' 
 
Tfie  hiijiocj  tU^s  chttfritcdon. 
 
 jon,  IX. 
 
 No  contending  with  God. 
 
 4  If  ''  thy  children  have  sinned  against  him, 
 and  he  iiave  cast  them  away  f  for  their  trans- 
 gression ; 
 
 5  '"  If  thon  wouldest  seek  unto  God  hetimes, 
 and  make  thy  supplication  to  the  Almiglity  ; 
 
 (i  If  thou  wert  pure  and  uprigiit  ;  surely  now 
 be  would  awake  for  thee,  and  make  the  habita- 
 tion of  thy  righteousness  prosperous. 
 
 7  Though  thy  beginning  was  small,  yet  thy 
 latter  end  should  greatly  increase. 
 
 8  '^  For  enquire,  I  pray  thee,  of  the  former 
 age,  and  prepare  tiiyself  to  the  search  of  their 
 fathers  : 
 
 9  (For  ^  we  are  btit  of  yesterday,  and  know 
 t  nothing,  because  our  days  upon  earth  are  a 
 shadow :) 
 
 10  Sliall  not  they  teach  thee,  and  tell  thee, 
 and  utter  words  out  of  their  heart? 
 
 11  Can  the  rush  grow  up  without  mire?  can 
 the  flag  grow  without  water? 
 
 1*2  f  Whilst  it  is  yet  in  bis  greenness,  and  not 
 cut  down,  it  withereth  before  any  other  herb. 
 
 13  So  are  the  paths  of  all  that  forget  God  ; 
 and  tlie  ^hypocrite's  liope  sliall  perish  : 
 
 14  Whose  hope  shall  be  cut  off,  and  whose 
 trust  shall  be  fa  spider's  web. 
 
 lo  ''He  shall  lean  upon  bis  bouse,  but  it 
 shall  not  stand  :  be  shall  bold  it  fast,  but  it 
 shall  not  endure. 
 
 16  He  is  green  before  the  sun,  and  his  branch 
 shootetb  forth  in  bis  garden. 
 
 17  His  roots  are  wrapped  about  the  heap, 
 and  seetb  the  place  of  stones. 
 
 18  'If  be  destroy  him  from  his  place,  then 
 
 >  ch 
 
 1.5,  IH 
 
 t  Heb 
 Im-d  uf 
 tlitir  Itant- 
 
 c  oh.  i>.  S  *t[ 
 II.  US.  &'2->. 
 23,  Sec. 
 
 d  neu.  4   3-2 
 
 A  •.i-2.  7- 
 eh.  IJ.  18. 
 
 e  Gen.  47.  9 
 ICIir.sy  l."). 
 cl>.  7.6  Pa 
 .S9  5.  &  lu:;. 
 II.  &  141. 
 4. 
 
 +  Heb.  not. 
 
 f  Pa.  129.  6. 
 Jer.  17.  G. 
 
 ff  ch.  11-20. 
 
 «t  18.  14.  h 
 
 27.  8.  I's. 
 
 112.  10. 
 
 Pi-o.  H>.  23 
 t  Heh.  aapi. 
 
 d'-T--  h<,u,e. 
 
 Is    .'in.  5,  6. 
 
 .■  ch.  7.  10. 
 &  20    9 
 P^  37.  AG. 
 
 ftps.  U3   7. 
 
 t  Heb.  lahe 
 th<-  w.a-dli/ 
 by  Hie  liuud. 
 
 1  H«b.  thont- 
 iuff  forjoif. 
 
 I  Vs.  ST)    26. 
 
 &  luy  29. 
 
 I  H**l>  thnll 
 'tut  On. 
 
 a  P«.  14.3.  2. 
 Horn.  S  2(1. 
 I!  Or,  ir/i^re 
 
 b  ch.  30.  5. 
 
 cIs  2.  IP.  21 
 Hag.'i.e,  21. 
 Heb.  \2.  26. 
 
 rfofi.  26.  11. 
 
 e  UcMi.  1.  6 
 P.s  1111.2,3. 
 
 /Gen.  I.  lb. 
 ch.  .S8.  31, 
 Ike.  Amos 
 ft.  8. 
 Heb.  ^ih, 
 
 it  sliall  deny  him,  saying,  I  have  not  seen  thee, 
 
 19  Behold,  this  is  the  joy  of  his  way,  and 
 ^  out  of  the  earth  shall  others  grow. 
 
 20  Beliold,  God  will  not  cast  away  a  perfect 
 man^  neither  will  he  f  help  the  evil  doers: 
 
 21  Till  be  fill  thy  mouth  with  laughing,  and 
 thy  lips  with  f  rejoicing. 
 
 22  They  that  bate  thee  shall  be  '  clothed 
 with  shame  ;  and  the  dwelling  place  of  the 
 wicked  f  shall  come  to  nouglit. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  Job,  acknoruled'iiTig  GotVs  justice,  sfieweth  there  is  no 
 contending  wittt  him.  2'1  Man's  Iniwcency  is  not  to 
 be  condemned  by  affiictious, 
 
 T^HEN  Job  answered  and  said, 
 •'-2   1    know   it   is  so  of  a   truth  :  but  bow 
 should  "  man  be  just  ||  with  God  ? 
 
 3  If  he  will  contend  with  him,  he  cannot 
 answer  him  one  of  a  thousand. 
 
 4  ^He  is  wise  in  heart.and  mighty  in  strength  : 
 who  hatli  hardened  himself'  against  him,  and 
 hath  prospered  ? 
 
 5  Which  removeth  the  mountains,  and  they 
 know  not :  which  overturneth  them  in  his 
 anger. 
 
 G  Which  ^  shaketb  the  earth  out  of  her  place, 
 and  ^  the  pillars  thereof  tremble. 
 
 7  Which  commandetb  the  sun,  and  it  riseth 
 not  ;  and  sealeth  up  the  stars. 
 
 8  ^  Which  alone  ."^preadetb  out  the  heavens, 
 and  treadeth  upon  the  f  waves  of  the  sea. 
 
 9  f  Which  maketh  f  Arcturus,  Orion,  and 
 Pleiades,  and  the  chambers  of  the  south. 
 
 exjiostulate  with  God?* — Put.  4.7/  th//  children  hai^e  .sinned,  f/c, 
 *  because  they  have  sinned.' — Vat.,  ffc.  '  As  thy  children  have  sinned 
 against  him,  so  he  hath  sent  them  [away]  in  (he  hand  oi  their  trespass.' 
 — Brofif^hton.  orM'D  "Vl,  'in  the  very  act  or  practice  ot  their  trans- 
 pressious.' — 31.  Good.  '  Jnto  the  place  of  their  transgression,*  Targ. 
 5.  If  thou  wouldest  seek,  S,-e.,  '  though  thy  chUdren  are  destroyed,  thou 
 mayest  yet  receive  mercy  if  thon  seekest  to  God  for  it.' — Clarke.  9-  Of 
 yesterdny,  when  compared  with  the  antediluvian  fathers,  most  of  whom 
 lived  upwards  of  pflO  jears. — Gill.  lo.  iihall  not  they  tench  thef?^- 
 '  have  they  not  transmitted  this  wise  lesson,  that  as  the  rush  cannot 
 grow  without  mire,  nor  the  Hag  without  water,  so  neither  can  any- 
 ihing  flourish  or  prosper  long  without  the  hle-singof  Almighty  God.' — 
 Peters.  Utter,  ^ti'SV,  'well  forth,' from  W!J%  'a  well' or  '  fountain,' 
 implying  short  sayings,  maxims,  or  provcri>s,  as  the  eastern  ethics  are 
 still  taught. — M.  Good.  11.  The  rush,  a^oy,  the  Egyptian  flag 7>rt/>^r«5. 
 — A.  Clarke.  The  paper  reed. — M.  Gond,  Boothr.,  so  the  Sept.  Ttiefias, 
 inn.     A  species  of  reed  growing  near  the  Nile. — Parkhnrst.  12.  It 
 
 witherFth,  ?fc. — these  marsh  vegetables,  when  not  supplied  with  usual 
 moisture,  perished  sooner  than  other  plants.  Just  image  of  transient 
 prosperity. — *Scotf.  13.  So  are  the  paths,  fyc.  —  so  the  most  pros- 
 perous sinner  is  often  destroyed  in  the  heydayof  his  enjoyments,  more 
 signally  and  abruptly  than  those  who  are  less  favoured,  and  appear  to 
 stand  more  securely. — M.  Gond.  The  hypocrite's  hope,  rather  'profli- 
 gate's hope.' — .-I.  Clnrkf,  as  Heath  and  *Scott.  15.  Upo7i  his  house, 
 •upon  the  spider's  building;'  justly  describing  the  utter  vanity  of  the 
 hopes  and  prosperity  of  the  wicked. — M.  Good.  He  shall  hold  it  fust, 
 ffC,  *  he  shall  grasp  it,  but  it  shall  not  hold.*  '  He  shall  fortify  himself 
 in  it,  yet  it  will  soon  be  battered  down.' — Mont.,  Gill.  '  Though  he 
 moat  his  house,  yet  it  shall  not  stand,*  Sept.  l(i.  He  is  green,  ^c, 
 *  He  is  verdant  as  a  vine  before  the  sun, 
 Which  shootcth  forth  its  branches  over  his  garden.' 
 
 17.  Wrapped  about  the  heap,  fyr. — 
 
 '  Which  windeth  its  roots  about  a  spring. 
 And  among  the  stones  doth  it  flourish.' — Boothr. 
 This  is  another  metaphor  of  a  flourishing  tree,  the  root  firmly  twined 
 in   the   stones,  but   suddenly  it   dies  beneath  the  blast.  —  So  Clarke. 
 
 18.  If  he  destroy  him,  '  if  the  sun  destroy  him,"  alluding  to  the  plant. — 
 H^-ath.  '  If  (Jod  put  forth  his  hand  and  touch  him.* — Bp.  Wilson.  *  It 
 shall  deny  him,'  '  his  place  shall  deny  him.'— iJosenm.  '  He  shall  be 
 forgotten.' — Bp.  Wilsun. 
 
 '  With  a  bed  of  stones  shall  he  grapple. 
 Utterly  shall  it  drink  hmi  up  from  liis  place.' 
 It  refers  to  the  dry  and  thirsty  quality  of  the  siony  soil  in  which  be  is 
 I)laiited,  which,  instead  of  affording  mois'.ure,  acts  hke  a  sucker,  and 
 absorbs  every  drop  of  his  own  juices.     Saying,  I  have   not  seen  thee, 
 '  and  say,  1  never  knew  thee.'         1<J.  Behold,  ^c. — 
 
 *  Behold,  the  Eternal,  exulting  in  his  course, 
 
 Even  over  his  dust  shall  raise  up  another.* — M.  Good. 
 
 *  liO,  this  is  its  short-Iived  prosperity, 
 
 And  from  the  ground  shall  others  shoot  forth.' — Boothr. 
 '  Behold,  this  is  the  end  of  his  glorying,  and  out  of  the  earth  shall 
 others  spring  up  like  him.' — Wit.      21.  Till  he  Jill,  ^c,  '  even  yet  may 
 he  fill,'  Sic.—M.  Good. 
 
 Chap.  IX.— 3.  If  he  will  contend,  ?fc., '  if  he  condescend  to  argue  with 
 him.' — M.  Good.  '  If  it  be  his  pleasure  to  contend  with  him.' — Boothr. 
 One  of  a  thousand,  'once  in  a  thousand  times.' — Durelt.  5,  And 
 they  know  not,  'and  they  have  no  trace.'  6.  Out  of  tier  place,  '  to 
 her  foundation.*— 71/.  Good.  This  is  evidently  descriptive  of  an  earth- 
 quake.— *Scott.  7.  Which  commandeth,  ffc,  plainly  alludes  to  the 
 thick   atmosphere   preceding  the  earthquake.  8.  Alone,  expresses 
 
 God's  unity. — *Scotf.  Spreadeth  out,  '  boweth.'  —  Stock,  Boothr. 
 Comp.  Ps.  xviii.  Q,  he.  The  Hebrew  signifying  by  bowing  the  heavens, 
 the  descent  of  black  heavy  clouds  charged  with  thunder,  &c. — *Scott. 
 Treadeth  upon  the  waves  of  the  sea,  'walkethupon  the  mountains  of 
 the  deep.'— iW.  Good.  9.  Which  maketh  Arcturus,  ^c,  'maketh  them 
 appear.'  Job  speaks  not  of  creation,  but  providence. — Caryl.  The 
 pastoral  life  of  the  Arabs  made  them  the  earliest  astronomers.  The 
 heat  of  the  climate  obliged  them  to  feed  their  flocks  by  night,  and  the 
 beauty  and  clearness  of  their  nocturnal  sky  attracted  their  attention. — 
 *Scott.  Arcturus,  ujy,  so  tran-lated,  is  derived  from  an  Arabic  word 
 signifying  '  a  bier;'  for  the  four  stars  in  the  Great  Bear,  which  nearly 
 form  a  square,  are  called,  by  the  Arabic  astronomers,  *  the  bier'  or  '  sar- 
 coptiagu-,'  in  which  the  corpse  is  carried  to  be  buried  ;  and  the  three 
 stars  which  we  call  the  tail,  they  consider  as  the  childicn  of  the  de- 
 ceased attending  the  funeral.  Acturus  rises  in  the  beginning  of  Sep- 
 tember, at  which  time  the  year  commenced  with  ail  the  ancient  eastern 
 nations. — Boch.,  Mich.,  Rosenm.  Orion,  ^^DD-  Tne  H«-brew  may  ae- 
 note  the  unsettled  state  of  the  weather,  and  the  great  changes  which, 
 in  all  climates,  were  supposed  to  attend  this  constellation. — Hew. 
 Pleiades,  'the  seven  stars,*  noO-     The  Hebrew  is  supposed  to  con- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  Observe  here.  I.  Jr/urtin 
 Bildad's  views  of  Providence  are  correct.  The  righleous  may 
 suffer,  but  God  shall  deliver  them  out  of  tlieir  trials.  The 
 wicked  may  jlourish  iind  prosper  for  a  season,  but  in  the  end 
 their  enjoyments  shall  wither,  and  their  fallacious  hopes  of 
 heaven  shall  leave  them  a  prey  to  the  most  miserable  disap- 
 pointment. 
 
 11.   Wherein  Bildad's  views  of  Providence  are  incorrect.     God 
 
 will  choo.se  his  own  time  for  tlie  deliverance  of  the  righteous 
 from  their  troubles;  but  Bildad  inferred  that  if  Job  were 
 righteou.'r,  God  would  immediately  deliver  him.  He  thought 
 that  Job's  sufferings  were  a  sure  sign  of  his  impurity,  whereas 
 the  most  holy  men  have  had  to  pass  through  some  ot  the  most 
 painful  discipline.  Nor  can  we  always  account  for  this,  but 
 God  can.  '  What  thou  knowest  not  now,  tbou  shall  know 
 hereafter,' 
 
Man  s  innocency  not  to  be 
 
 JOB,  X. 
 
 conrfriniied  by  nffliclions. 
 
 10  6  Which  doeth  great  things  past  finding 
 out ;  yea,  and  wonders  without  number. 
 
 1 1  ''  Lo,  he  goeth  by  me,  and  I  see  him  not 
 he  passeth  on  also,  but  I  perceive  him  not. 
 
 12  '  Behold,  he  taketli  away,  f  who  can  hinder 
 him?  who  will  say  unto  him,  What  doest 
 thou? 
 
 13  If  God  will  not  withdraw  his  anger,  '  the 
 t  proud  helpers  do  stoop  under  him. 
 
 14  How  much  less  shall  I  answer  him,  and 
 choose  out  my  words  to  reason  with  him  ? 
 
 15  '  Whom,  though  I  were  righteous,  yet 
 would  I  not  answer,  but  I  would  make  suppli- 
 cation to  my  judge. 
 
 16  If  I  had  called,  and  he  had  answered  me  ; 
 yet  would  I  not  believe  that  he  had  hearkened 
 unto  my  voice. 
 
 I  7  For  he  breaketh  me  with  a  tempest,  and 
 mnltiplieth  my  wounds  '"  without  cause. 
 
 18  He  will  not  suffer  me  to  take  my  breatli, 
 but  filleth  me  with  bitterness. 
 
 19  If  /  speak  of  strength,  lo,  he  is  strong: 
 and  if  of  judgment,  who  shall  set  me  a  time  lo 
 plead? 
 
 20  If  I  justify  myself,  mine  own  mouth  shall 
 condemn  me  ;  if  I  say,  I  am  perfect,  it  shall 
 also  prove  me  perverse. 
 
 21  Though  I  xeere  perfect,  yf<  would  I  not 
 know  my  soul  :   I  would  despise  my  life. 
 
 22  Tliis  is  one  thing,  therefore  I  said  it,  "He 
 destroyeth  the  perfect  and  the  wicked. 
 
 23  If  the  scourge  slay  suddenly,  he  will 
 laugh  at  the  trial  of  the  innocent. 
 
 cir.  1. 1211. 
 
 e  ch.  5.  9, 
 
 P8.  71.  15. 
 *  c'l.  23. 8, 9 
 
 ScSS   11. 
 i  la.  *5,  9. 
 
 Jer.  IS.  6. 
 
 Rom.  9.  20 
 +  Hob.  ip'io 
 
 can  luTiihim 
 
 ch,  II.  in. 
 
 A  ch.  26,  ni- 
 ls. SO.  7. 
 
 f  Heb.  fiflp- 
 er$  of  pride, 
 oi;Mirent;lh 
 
 I  ch.   10.  13. 
 
 ,  Kcclos.  (t. 
 2,  3.  Ezek, 
 21.3. 
 
 B    C. 
 cir.  1520. 
 
 o  2  Sam.  15 
 30.  8t  19.  -1. 
 Jer.  U.  4. 
 
 p  ch.  7.  6,  7. 
 
 t  Heb.  thipi 
 of  de^irf. 
 
 I]  Or,  orthip! 
 ../  Eheh. 
 
 q  Hab.  I.  8. 
 ch.  7.  IS. 
 
 Ps  119.120 
 t  Ex.  20,  7, 
 
 II  Or,  mnht 
 me  lo  be  >i6- 
 
 X  Ecclea.  6 
 III.  Is  4.^.9. 
 .)r?r.  -III.  19 
 Horn.  9.  2U 
 
 y  ver.  19. 
 I  Sam .2. 25. 
 
 \  lleb.  om 
 
 II  Or,  un,pirr. 
 
 ■h.  13   2i\ 
 
 1 .  22.  »c  33 
 
 .  Ps.  :!9  10 
 
 t  Heb.  iut  1 
 
 (im  '10/  /ly 
 
 i^ill.  .mjtflf. 
 
 I  I  Km.  19. 
 4.  ch.  7-  IC. 
 Joimh4>S,8. 
 
 II  Or,  cut  off 
 KhUt  Ilive. 
 
 b  ch.T,  II. 
 
 24  The  earth  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the 
 wicked  :  °he  covereth  the  faces  of  the  judges 
 thereof;  if  not,  where,  and  who  U  he  ? 
 
 2j  Now  ''  my  days  are  swifter  than  a  post : 
 they  dee  away,  they  see  no  fi;ood. 
 
 2G  They  are  passed  away  as  the  f  ||  swift 
 ships  :  '*  as  the  eagle  that  hasteth  to  the  prey. 
 
 27  '  If  I  say,  I  will  forget  my  complaint,  I  will 
 leave  off  my  heaviness,  and  comfort  myaelf: 
 
 28  '  I  am  afraid  of  all  my  sorrows,  1  know 
 that  thou  *  wilt  not  hold  me  innocent. 
 
 29  //■  I  he  wicked,  wliy  then  labour  I  in  vain? 
 
 30  "  If  I  wash  myself  with  snow  water,  and 
 make  my  hands  never  so  clean  ; 
 
 31  Yet  shalt  thou  plunge  me  in  the  ditch, 
 and  mine  own  clothes  shall  ||  abhor  me. 
 
 32  For  "^  he  is  not  a  man,  as  I  aw,  that  I 
 should  answer  him,  and  we  should  come  to- 
 gether in  judgment. 
 
 33  ^'Neither  is  there  fany  ||  daysman  i)e- 
 twixt  us,  that  might  lay  his  hand  upon  us  both. 
 
 34  '  Let  liim  take  his  rod  away  from  me,  and 
 let  not  his  fear  terrify  me  : 
 
 35  Then  would  I  speak,  and  not  fear  him  ; 
 t  but  it  is  not  so  with  me. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 I  Job,  taking  Jihertij  of  complaint,  e.rpostuhittth  with 
 God  about  /lis  afflictions.  18  He  complaineth  of  life, 
 and  craveth  a  little  ease  before  death. 
 
 "IVT  Y  *  soul  is  II  weary  of  my  life  ;  I  will  leave 
 ^■^  my  complaint  upon  myself ;  '' I  will  speak 
 in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul. 
 
 vey  the  idea  of  the  genial  heat  which  warms  and  ripens  the  fruits  of  the 
 carlh,  and  hence  is  rendered  Pleiades.  These  constellations  iDtroduccd 
 autumn,  winter,  and  spring,  appcarins:  then  ahove  the  horizon — Gilt, 
 Hew.  The  chambers  a/  the  south,  'the  stars  in  the  southern  hemi- 
 sphere.'— Gilt.  M.  He  goeth,  ffc. — a  description  of  the  inscrutable, 
 and  often  unobserved,  ways  of  Providence. — Mich.  12.  Be/iold,  he 
 taketh  atvaij — this  expresses  his  sovereignty,— Gi7/,  and  Job's  submis- 
 sion.— Poole,  Cart/l.  13,  The prmnl  helpers,  fjc,  'beneath  him  must 
 the  mightiest  stoop.'— Boo/Zir.  l6.  If  I  hnd  called,  Sfc, '  should  I  sum- 
 mon and  he  make  answer.'  The  terms  in  this  and  the  two  preceding 
 verses  are  forensic,  referring  to  processes  at  the  gatr  or  court  of  jus- 
 tice.— M.  Good.  17.  A  tempest,  'a  burning  tempest.* — Schultens. 
 The  tempest  common  in  eastern  countries,  which  kills  a  man  at  once, 
 and  turns  him  hlack  as  a  coal.  Without  cause,  not  but  God  had  a 
 cause,  but  not  the  cause  assigned  by  Job's  friends. — Gill.  19.  To 
 tnke  my  breath— \i  the  former  expression  refers  to  the  warm  blast  of 
 the  desert,  this  may  refer  to  i(s  suffocating  efTects,  descriptive  of  the 
 rapid  succession  of  Job's  afflictions. — So  GUI.  Bat  filleth  me,  *  yea, 
 glutting  me.'  y^MJ.  The  Hebrew  means  to  overfill.—.!/.  Good.  19-  If 
 1  speak  0/  stren^^tht  'sh'^uld  1  appeal  to  strength  ;'  i.  e.,  were  my  cause 
 to  be  decided  by  strength,  I  could  not  hope  to  prevail. — Boothr.  Who 
 shall  set  ?ne  a  time  to  plead — none  can  fix  the  hearine:  of  the  cause ;  no 
 creature  can  be  a  daysman,  arbiter,  or  umpire. — Gill.  20.  If  I  saj/, 
 I  am  perfect,  ffe. — '  it  will  render  my  cause  worse  to  say  I  am  innocent.' 
 — Pat.  21.  Though  I  trere  perfect,  yet  would  I  not  know  niy  soul,  fyr., 
 *  I  would  not  own  myself  to  be  so  before  God,  since  I  am  sensible  the 
 highest  perfection  of  a  creature  is  imptrfcction  compared  with  him  ;* 
 or,  *  should  I  say  I  were  perfect,  I  shovild  not  know  my  own  soul,  I 
 should  plainly  appear  to  be  ignorant  of  myself.' — Gill.  22.  This  is 
 one  thing,  ^c. — 
 
 This  one  thing  I  do  therefore  affirm, 
 
 That  the  upright  and  the  wicked  he  alike  destroyeth. '- 
 
 -Bouthr. 
 
 'He  lets  the  innocent  suffer  sad  things  as  well  as  the  guilty.' — Pat. 
 'They  have  an  equal  lot.' — ,4,  Clarke.  23.  If  the  scourge  shnj  sud- 
 denly,  he,  fyc,  'it  will  laugh,' that  is,  the  scourge.  —  Schulfms,  so 
 *Scott.  *  If  he  suddenly  slay  the  (scourge)  opjiressor,'  &c. — M.  Good. 
 *  When  a  plague  comes  which  kills  in  a  moment,  he  regards  not,  though 
 it  falls  on  the  innocent.'— i'o/.  Trial,  *  meanings.'— J)/.  Good.  24.  The 
 earth  is  given,  ^c.  —  the  government  of  the  world.  —  Bp.  Wilson. 
 Cotjereth  the  faces,  Sfc. — gives  up  the  judges  of  the  earth  to  judicial 
 blindness,  so  that  they  cannot  discern  what  is  right  and  just,  and  do  it, 
 (Isa.  xxix.  lQ.)~Gill,  so  Scott.      '  The  judges'  being  here  in  contrast 
 
 with  the  wicked,  that  is,  a  tyrannical  ruler,  must  mean  good  governors, 
 who  administer  justice  impartially  to  atl.  Of  tltesc  good  rulers  he  says, 
 God  'covereth  their  faces,'  that  is,  treats  them  as  condemned  male- 
 factors, overwhelming  them  in  calamities,  disgrace,  and  ruin ;  Job 
 himself  being  one  example,  (see  2  Sam.  xv.  30  ;  Esth.  vii.  8  ;  Jer.  xiv.  3  ; 
 Isa.  xxii.  17;  Mic.  iii.  7;  Mark,  xiv.  fi5.)— *.S>o/;.  If  not,  where,  fyc, 
 *  where  every  one  liveth,  is  it  nut  so  ":■' — M.  Good.  '  If  it  be  not  he  who 
 docth  this,  who  is  it?' — Boothr.  25.  My  days,  ?,c.,  tliat  is,  my  pros- 
 perous days  are  gone  in  a  moment. — Caryl.  Than  a  post,  {*i  *3*D. 
 'than  a  runner;'  the  light-footed  messenger  that  carried  messages 
 from  place  to  place.— v4.  Clarke.  There  arc  foot  messengers  in  Harbary 
 who  will  run  150  miles  in  less  than  24  hours.— /f«j-.  Dr.  Russell  sus- 
 pects this  to  be  an  exaggeration,  lint,  without  doubt,  a  succession  of 
 messengers  is  meant. — Ed.  26.  Swifl  ships,  n^H  nV3t*,  *  ships  of  de- 
 sire,' that  are  earnestly  looked  for,  and  crowd  all  sail  for  their  destined 
 port. — Peters.  'Pirate  ships,' or  'ships  of  enmity,'  which  arc  not 
 loaded,  and  so  move  swiftly. — So  Broughton.  'Ships  of  Eheh,'  a  river 
 in  Arabia,  whose  rapid  stream  hurried  the  ships  along. — Pag.,  Mo7it., 
 Vnt.  *  Ships  of  reeds,'  which,  being  light,  are  very  swift. — So  Mich., 
 Schiiltcns,  Par.,  *Sc<ttt,  Stock.  '  Ships  with  spread  sails  ;'  ships  of  pa- 
 l)yrns  may,  however,  be  meant. — M.  Good.  *  Inllated  ships.' — A.  Clarke. 
 As  the  eagle-^Joh  gi'adually  increases  his  description  of  their  flight, 
 advancing  from  the  swiftest  tiling  by  land  to  that  more  swift  by  sea, 
 and  most  swift  in  air. — Schul.        27.  1/ 1  say,  §c.;  28.  /  am  afraid — 
 
 '  When  I  say,  I  will  forget  my  complaint. 
 I  will  abandon  my  sorrow  and  look  cheerful; 
 Then  do  I  shudilcr  in  all  my  limbs.' — Bouthr. 
 
 29.  ///  t/e  wicked,  Sfc,  '  I  am  wicked  in  thine  account,  and  therefore 
 it  is  to  no  purpose  to  vindicate  mine  innocence.' — Pat.  30.  Snow 
 water,  ffc,  thought  to  cleanse  better  than  other  water.  —  Rosenm. 
 Alluding  to  the  very  ancient  rite  of  publicly  washing  the  hands  in  pure 
 water  in  token  of  innocence,  (see  Ps.  xxvi.  6;  Ixxiii.  13  ;  Matt,  xxvii. 
 24.)— 3/.  Good.  31.  Plunge  me  in  the  ditch,  '  adjudge  me  sinful.' — 
 Caryl.  God  would  prove  him  to  be  a  most  guilty  and  filthy  creature. 
 Mine  own  clothes,  Sfc.,  if  they  had  any  sense,  >vould  abhor  to  touch  me. 
 —Poole.  33.   Daysman,   pCDV:)  ^yy1,  '  a  reprover,'  '  arguer,'  or 
 
 'umpire.' — A.  Clarke.  Lay  his  hand,  'lay  his  control.' — M.  Good, 
 34.  Rod,  t2lM\  'supremacy.'— il/.  Good.  Job  might  mean  the  appalling 
 sight  of  his  majesty  on  his  judgment  seat. — A.  Clarke.  35.  But  it  is 
 not  so  with  me,  '  but  not  thus  can  I  in  my  present  state.'— Boo/Zir. 
 
 Chap.   X.— 1.  Weary,  TT^pz,  'heartsick;'  from  a  root  TDp,  signi- 
 fying'to  loathe,*  'nauseate.' — M.  Good.     I  will  leave,  BfC,  'I  will 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  IX.  — I.  Man  is  a  guiltT/  creature,    of  rent.     If  the  good  man's  enjoyments  are  soon  gone,  his  paius 
 
 All  have  sinned.     Awfully  ignorant  are  they  who  dare  to  at- 
 tempt the  work  of  justifying  themselves  before  God. 
 
 II.  It  is  dangerous  for  puUti/  creatures  to  resist  God.  The 
 arm  of  his  omnipotence  could  crush  us  in  a  moment.  Let  us 
 therefore  beware  of  rebelling  ai;ainst  him. 
 
 III.  If  we  have  our  days  of  suffering,  they  will  soon  pass  away; 
 lit  us  therefore  improve  Divine  dispensations  .so  as  toft  us  for  days 
 
 340 
 
 are  also  soon  gone.     Happy  is  he  who  can  anticipate  their  de- 
 parture with  delight,  and  sing, 
 
 '  Make  haste,  my  days,  and  reach  my  goal, 
 And  bring  my  heart  to  rest 
 On  the  dear  centre  of  my  soul, 
 My  God,  my  Saviour's  breast.' 
 
Job  erposlulateth  with  God. 
 
 JOB,  XI. 
 
 God's  tvisdum  unsearchable. 
 
 2  I  will  say  unto  Goil,  Do  not  condemn 
 me  ;  shew  me  wherefore  thou  contendest  with 
 me. 
 
 3  Is  it  good  unto  thee  that  thou  .shouldest 
 oppress,  that  thou  shouldest  despise  f  the  work 
 of  thine  hands,  and  shine  upon  tlie  counsel  of 
 the  wicked  ? 
 
 4  Hast  thou  eyes  of  flesh  ?  or  '•'  seest  thou  as 
 man  seeth  ? 
 
 5  Are  thy  days  as  the  days  of  man  ?  are  thy 
 years  as  man's  days, 
 
 0  That  thou  enquirest  after  mine  iniquity, 
 and  scarchost  after  my  sin? 
 
 7  f''Thou  knowest  that  I  am  not  wicked; 
 and  there  is  none  that  can  deliver  out  of  thine 
 hand. 
 
 8  °  Thine  hands  f  have  made  me  and  fashion- 
 ed me  together  round  about ;  yet  thou  dost 
 destroy  me. 
 
 9  Remember,  I  beseech  thee,  that  'thou  hast 
 made  me  as  the  clay;  and  wilt  thou  bring  me 
 into  dust  again  ? 
 
 10  ••'  Hast  thou  not  poured  me  out  as  milk, 
 and  curdled  mc  like  cheese  ? 
 
 1 1  Thou  hast  clothed  me  with  skin  and  flesh, 
 and  hast  f  fenced  me  with  bones  and  sinews. 
 
 1-2  Thou  hast  granted  me  life  and  favour, 
 and  thy  visitation  hath  preserved  my  spirit. 
 
 1.3  And  these  thint/s  hast  lliou  hid  in  thine 
 heart :  1  know  that  this  is  with  thee. 
 
 14  If  1  sin,  then  '■  thou  markest  me,  and  thou 
 wilt  not  acquit  me  from  mine  iniquity. 
 
 15  If  I  be  wicked,  '  woe  unto  me  ;  '  and  if  I 
 be  righteous,  yet  will  1  not  lift  up  my  head. 
 /  am  full  of  confusion  ;  therefore  '  see  thou 
 mine  affliction  ; 
 
 10  For  it  increaseth.  "  Thou  huntest  me  as 
 a  fierce  lion  :  and  again  thou  shewest  thyself 
 marvellous  upon  me. 
 
 17  Thou  renewest  ||  thy  witnesses  against 
 me,  and  increasest  thine  indignation  upon  me; 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 l..b.,,„  .f 
 lhtnet,a„d^f 
 
 I3.  64.  B. 
 c  I  Sa.  16.  7. 
 
 t  Heb.  It  is 
 
 iipuli  titlj 
 
 d  Ps.  139." 
 
 1,2. 
 «  I'a.  119  73. 
 t  Heb.  (uofr 
 paiiit  about 
 
 /'Geu.2.  7. 
 &  3  19.  Is. 
 64.  8. 
 
 S  P>.  139.  M, 
 15,  16. 
 
 ,20,  21. 
 t  Pa.  25.  18. 
 
 n  Is.  SB.  13. 
 Lam.  3    III. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 thy  phffnM. 
 Kuth  1.  -il. 
 
 0  See  cli.  7. 
 
 6,  16.  &  8. 
 
 9.  Pp.  39.  5. 
 p  Ps  39.  13. 
 V  ch.  7.  16, 
 
 19. 
 
 f  Heb.  (1  man 
 Of  tips. 
 
 a  cti    6.    10. 
 &  .0-  7. 
 
 ■  Ectles.  3. 
 11.  Kom.lt. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 heights  of 
 
 changes  and  war  are  a{j;aiiist  me. 
 
 18  "  Wherefore  then  hast  thou  brought  uie 
 forth  out  of  the  womb  ?  Oh  that  I  had  given 
 up  the  ghost,  and  no  eye  had  seen  me! 
 
 19  1  should  have  been  as  tnough  1  had  not 
 been  ;  I  should  have  been  carried  from  the 
 womb  to  the  grave. 
 
 20  "  Are  not  my  days  few  ?  ^  cease  then,  and 
 ■'  let  nie  alone,  that  I  may  take  comfort  a  little, 
 
 21  Before  I  go  u-hence  I  shall  not  return, 
 ''even  to  the  land  of  darkness  'and  the  siiadow 
 of  death  ; 
 
 22  A  land  of  darkness,  as  darkness  itself; 
 and  of  the  shadow  of  death,  without  any  order, 
 and  where  the  light  is  as  darkness. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Zophar  reprovi^tk  Job  for  justifying  himself .  5  GoiVs 
 wisdom  is  unstarchable.  lii  The  assured  blessiitg  of 
 repentance. 
 
 T^HEN  answered  Zophar  the  Naamathite,  and 
 -*-    said, 
 
 2  Should  not  the  multitude  of  words  be  an- 
 swered ?  and  should  ^  a.  man  full  of  talk  be 
 justified? 
 
 3  Should  thy  ||  lies  make  men  hold  their 
 peace  ?  and  when  thou  mockest,  shall  no  man 
 make  thee  ashamed? 
 
 4  For  "  thou  hast  said.  My  doctrine  is  pure, 
 and  I  am  clean  in  thine  eyes. 
 
 3  But  oh  that  God  would  speak,  and  open 
 his  lips  against  thee  ; 
 
 6  And  that  he  would  shew  thee  the  secrets 
 of  wisdom,  that  thei/  are  double  to  that  which 
 is  !  Know  tlierefore  that  ^  God  exacteth  of 
 thee  less  than  thine  hiiquity  deserveth. 
 
 7  *"  Canst  thou  by  searching  find  out  God  ? 
 canst  thou  find  out  the  Almighty  unto  perfec- 
 tion ? 
 
 8  It  is  f  as  high  as  heaven  ;  what  canst  thou 
 do?  deeper  than  hell ;  what  canst  thou  know? 
 
 give  a  loose  to  my  complaint.' — Boothr.  'I  will  indulge  my  grief, 
 and  not  seek  comfort.' — Wil.  My  complaint,  ^n'M?,  'gloomy  medi- 
 tations,* 'dark,  deep,  despondent  thoughts.'  Speuk,'^y^.  The  word 
 sometimes  means  more  than  to  speak,  '  to  speak  tumultuously,'  *  drive 
 forward  one's  words  with  rapid  action.' — M.  Good.  2.  Do  not  con- 
 demn me,  ^3y^U?"in  ba,  '  do  not  account  me  wickei.' — Vat.,  so  Schiil- 
 tens.  '  Thou  canst  not  deal  unjustly  with  me.'  The  Heb.  yiDI  implies, 
 in  its  primary  sense,  Mo  be  unjust,'  'to  act  unjustly,'  [It  is  true,  iu 
 the  conjugation  Iliphil,  the  word  often  means  '  to  condemn,'  but  not 
 always ;  see  2  C'hron.  x.s.  35 ;  Neh.  ix.  33.]  3.  Is  it  good?  iffc,  *  is 
 
 it  befitting  thee  V  &c. — M.  Good.  4.  Eyes  of  Jiesh,  '  Ileshy  eyes.' — 
 Tyndnl.  'Carnal  eyes,*  'evil  ones,'  iMatt.  xx.  15.) — GUI.  '  Eyes  of 
 envy  and  hatred.'  —  Schulteiis.  5.  Dni/s  of  man,  MJIDl^,  'wretched, 
 
 miserable  man.' — A.  Clarke.  As  man's  days,  '  the  days  of  mankind  ;' 
 133,  the  word  here  rendered  'mankind'  is  a  different  word  from  that 
 just  before  rendered  '  man,'  and  is  applied  to  the  whole  race  generally, 
 or  the  most  strong  and  robust,  '  Are  thy  days  as  the  days  of  a  man  ; 
 nay,  as  the  days  of  the  strongest  or  most  povverlul  of  them?'  'Are 
 the  days  of  the  whole  race  added  togetlier  to  be  compared  to  the  days 
 of  tliy  years  V — M.  Good.  y.  Not  tvickfd—nnt  tliat  he  thought  him- 
 self without  sin,  (chap.  vii.  20;  ix.  29  ;)  but  he  was  not  that  wicked 
 person  his  friends  tuok  him  to  be;  and  for  the  truth  of  this  he  could 
 appeal  to  the  searcher  of  hearts. — Gill.  8.  Round  about,  '  in  every 
 pnint.' — Broughton.  Yet  thou  dost  destroy  me,  '  wilt  thou  then  destroy 
 me  suddenly ?'—Ti/«rfa/,  The  verb  773  dnes  not  mean  simply  'to 
 destroy,*  but  '  to  devour,'  'swallow  up  u  tcrly.'  The  imate  in  the 
 speaker's  mind  is  in  ver.  16. — M.  Good.  10.  Curdled  me  like  cheese, 
 
 *  brought  me  into  shape.* — Bp.  Wilaon.  Roberts  gives  an  entirely  new 
 view  of  this  text;  he  observes,  that  the  Hindoos  pour  milk  on  their 
 heads  after  performing  funeral  obsequies,  and  that,  in  allusion  to  this, 
 if  a  father  rejects  a  profligate  son,  he  says,  '  I  have  poured  milk  on  my 
 head,  I  have  done  vrith  him.'  This  may,  then,  strongly  and  simply 
 signily,  'hast  thou  not  finally  abandoned  nie?'  Commentators  had 
 far  better  have  suppressed  their  censurable  remarks  on  this  passage, 
 of  which  Rolfcrts  stems  to  have  discovered  tlie  most  natural  meaning, 
 than  to  have  printed  them,  even  wrapped  up  in  Latin.      With  respect 
 
 to  the  allusion  to  curdled  cheese,  he  informs  us,  this  is  also  used  on 
 funeral  occasions. — Ed.  13.  These  things — these  afflictions  God  had 
 treasured  up  to  make  him  miserable.* — Boothr.  14.  //  I  6in,  ^-r., 
 
 *  have  I  utterly  fallen  away  that  thou  hast  made  a  mark  of  me  ?*  The 
 verb  wan,  translated  'to  sin,'  means  expressly  'to  deviate,'  '  wander 
 out  of  the  way.' — M.  Good.  Markest  me,  '  watch  me,'  as  if  the  Lord, 
 from  a  high  place,  made  annotations  upon  the  whole  text  of  men's 
 lives. — Broughton.  16.  It  increaseth,  i.e.,  the  affliction.  Thou 
 huntest  me,  S(c.,  '  for  uprousing,  as  a  ravenous  lion,  dost  thou  sining 
 upon  me.* — M.  Good.  '  Roused  like  the  fierce  lion,'  &c. — Boothroyd. 
 '  Ihou  huntest  me  as  if  I  were  a  fierce  lion.' — *Scott.  17.  Witnesses, 
 'trials.' — M.Good,  Boothr.  '  Changes,' &c.,  'successive  condicts come 
 upon  me.' — Boothr.  '  Fresh  harasses  and  conflict  are  about  me,'  al- 
 luding to  the  sport  which  all  the  feline  tribe  make  of  their  prey. — 
 M.  Good.  The  allusion  is  to  the  manner  of  hunting  the  lion,  wherein 
 tlie  hunters,  armed  with  spears  and  javelins,  formed  them.sulves  in  a 
 ring  about  the  beast,  and  threw  their  weapons  at  liini  one  alter  another. 
 By  this  image,  Job  represents,  in  lively  colours,  the  violent  and  rapid 
 succession  of  his  calamities.  Witnesses  may  be  rendered  *  weapons,' 
 or  'attacks,'  or  'troops,'  preserving  the  allusion  to  the  chase.  Changes 
 and  Miar— the  war  of  the  chase,  carried  on  by  repeated  attacks. — 
 
 *  Scott. 
 
 Chap.  XI.  — 2.  Should  not  the  multitude,  ^c,  'to  multiply  words 
 protiteth  nothing.' — M.  Good.  '  Shall  not  one  abounding  in  words  be 
 answered?' — Boothr.  3.  Should  thy  lies,  ^l-.,  '  sh;iU  thy  vaunting 
 make  men  silent?' — Boothroyd.  'Thy  prevarications.' — Bp.  Lnwth. 
 4.  My  doctrine  is  pure,  ^c, 'my  conduct  is  pure.' — M.  Good.  'My 
 conduct  hath  been  right.' — Boothr.  Doctrine  is  here  used  for  dis- 
 course.— Rosenm.  '  My  assumptions.' — A.  Clarke.  6.  The  secrets  of 
 u-isdom,  'the  methods  of  his  Providence.' — Clark.  'The  Divine  go- 
 vernment.'— Duthe.  'The  counsels  of  God.' — *Scott.  That  they  nre 
 double  to  that  which  is, '  for  they  are  intricacies  to  miaiaT  v.' — M.  Good. 
 'For  they  far  exceed  the  most  perfect  knowledge.*  —  Boothr.  The 
 meaning  is,  '  m  strict  justice  he  might  inflict  upon  thee  double  to  what 
 thou  now  suflferest.' — Bp.  Hall.  8.  It  is  high  as  hearen,  §x'.,  '  the 
 
 height  of  heaven,  how  canst  thou  know  ?*   Hell,  *  the  secret  or  unsc»,n 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.   X.  —  Oa  this  chapter,  Ostervald    would  have  been  better  he  had  never  been  born,    l.et  us  imi- 
 observes,  '  The  conduct  of  Job  is  an  example  of  piety  and  of    tate  his  piety,  and  acknowledge  at  all  times  the  goodness  ol 
 weakness:  of  piety  in  acknowledging  that  tlie  Ahnighty  Being,    our  Creator  ;  let  us  avoid  his  weakness,  and  submit  without 
 from  whom  he  received  his  life  and  all  things,  was  perfectly    murmuring  to  God's  chastening  hand.' 
 righteoas  in  all  his  ways  ;  of  weakness  in  complaining  tliat  it 
 541 
 
The,  hicssinij  of  repentance. 
 
 JOB,  XII. 
 
 GuiCs  uiiinijjotciicc. 
 
 9  The  measure  thereof  is  longer  than  the 
 peirlh,  and  broader  than  the  sea. 
 
 10  ''  If  he  II  cut  off,  and  shut  up,  or  gather 
 togetlier,  then  f  "lio  can  hinder  him  ? 
 
 1  I  For  °  he  knoweth  vain  men  :  he  seeth 
 wickedness  also  ;  will  he  not  then  consider  itf 
 
 12  For  f  '  vain  man  would  be  wise,  thougli 
 man  be  born  like,  a  wild  ass's  colt. 
 
 1.3  ^  If  thou  '■  prepare  thine  heart,  and  'stretch 
 out  thine  hands  toward  him  ; 
 
 14  If  iniquity  be  in  thine  hand,  put  it  far 
 away,  and  '  let  not  wickedness  dwell  in  thy 
 tabernacles. 
 
 15  '  For  then  shalt  thou  lift  up  thy  face  with- 
 out spot ;  yea,  thou  shalt  be  stedfast,  and  shalt 
 not  fear : 
 
 16  Because  thou  shalt  "'forget  thy  misery, 
 and  remember  it  as  waters  tliat  pass  away  : 
 
 17  And  thine  age  f"  shall  be  clearer  than  the 
 noonday  ;  thou  shalt  shine  forth,  thou  shalt  be 
 as  the  morning. 
 
 18  And  thou  shalt  be  secure,  because  there 
 is  hope  ;  yea,  thou  shalt  dig  about  thee,  and 
 "  thou  shalt  take  thy  rest  in  safety. 
 
 19  Also  thou  shalt  lie  down,  and  none  shall 
 make  ihec  afraid  ;  yea,  many  shall  f  make  suit 
 unto  thee. 
 
 20  But  ''  the  eyes  of  the  wicked  shall  fail,  and 
 f  they  shall  not  escape,  and  ■•  their  hope  shall 
 be  as  II  the  giving  up  of  the  gliost. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  Job  mnititniitcth  himsflf  aiiainst  his  friends  that  re- 
 jirnvf  fiim.  7  He  ucltiimvledtjetli  the  general  doctrine 
 iif  dad's  omiiijiotency, 
 
 AND  Job  answered  and  .said, 
 -'*-  2  No  doubt  but  ye  are  the  people,  and 
 wisdom  shall  die  with  you. 
 
 3  But  °  I  have  f  understanding  as  well  as 
 yon  ;  1 1  tnn  not  inferior  to  you  :  yea,  f  who 
 knoweth  not  such  tilings  as  these? 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B    C. 
 
 oir-  IS,'!) 
 
 cir.  I.=i20. 
 
 b  c\\.  16.  HI. 
 
 d  ch.  9.  12. 
 
 ft  17.  2,  6. 
 
 )t  VZ.  U. 
 
 U  21.  3.  8c 
 
 Kev.  :i.  7. 
 
 30.  1. 
 
 II  Or,  make  a 
 
 cPs.  91.  15, 
 
 chnngr. 
 
 dProV.I4.2. 
 
 \  Heb.  who 
 
 ca;  turn  him 
 
 aic/ii/  f  cb. 
 
 9.  ii. 
 
 e  rh.  21.  7. 
 
 e  Pa,   10,  11, 
 
 Ps.  S7.l,35 
 
 U.&33.2-^. 
 
 8i  "3,  II,  12. 
 
 &   9k  11. 
 
 &  9>.  7. 
 
 t  Ht'lv 
 
 Jer.  12.  1. 
 
 rmj-fv- 
 
 Mill.  3.  13 
 
 /  1'.^    ;3.  22. 
 
 *  9*.  G. 
 
 Ec.-Ws.S  IS 
 
 Rom.  1.  22. 
 
 jrli.  &.  S.  & 
 
 ■-'■J   21. 
 
 h  1  S:itii   7.3 
 
 Ps.  7^t,  8 
 
 (■  IV  ^.9.  & 
 
 1  iri.  fi. 
 
 h  Ps.  nil.  3. 
 
 /Si-.-Gcu,  1, 
 
 5,  0.  rh-  22. 
 
 ?ii    Ps    119. 
 
 /Nil.  ie.22 
 
 6. 
 
 Dan   .^.  *JS 
 
 lJolin3  2l. 
 
 Acts  17  2S 
 
 "1  Ib.  Co    IC. 
 t  Web. hall 
 
 ii  Or,  Iif: 
 t  Hel>.  all 
 
 iirhn  I'll  .<  e 
 
 /^.<;.  „fman. 
 q  i-h   91.  3. 
 
 llir  iKmudiy. 
 
 n  Ps.  S7.  G. 
 
 t  »cb. 
 
 &   112    1. 
 
 Is    b^.  fl,  10- 
 
 cli.  G,  SO. 
 
 -  I,cv.  2fi.  &, 
 
 /.  .  h  32.  7. 
 
 P.  Ps.  3   :■>. 
 
 II  rhiit  is. 
 
 fc  V.  3.  Pio. 
 
 ir.lh  God. 
 
 3    21. 
 
 i  oil,  0.  4,  & 
 
 t  Ui:\'.i',lrett 
 
 .%.  5. 
 
 ih,  fn-e. 
 
 h  ill.  11.  10 
 
 Ps.  .15.  12 
 
 /  Is.  22.  22. 
 
 ;'  I.ev.'G.ie 
 
 Pfv.  3.  7. 
 
 I'e.i.  2S.I15 
 \\\oh.1l>ght 
 
 m  t  Kin.  3 
 
 iha'l  parish 
 
 fromlhrm. 
 <t  Cl..  8.  M. 
 
 S'l.  <t(  17.  1 
 «  (ic.i  7.  11 
 
 &  18    14. 
 
 8tc. 
 
 Pro.  11.7. 
 
 11  Or,  a  fluff 
 
 0  vcr.  13. 
 
 of  (/rent 't. 
 
 0  rh.  13.  2. 
 
 p-2  Sam.  l.-i 
 
 t  Heb,  til 
 
 31   A  17. 14 
 
 hfnrt. 
 
 yi  la.  (9.12 
 
 t  Heh   tfalt 
 
 fc  29,  U, 
 
 nnt  loiBfT 
 
 1  Cor.  1.  19 
 
 tl,im  r/'.x. 
 
 7  cU    32.  9, 
 
 \  Heli.  mlh 
 
 Is.S.  1,2,3 
 
 wham  are 
 
 t  Heb    the 
 
 unt  such  at 
 
 lip  of  the 
 
 Ihi-ie  f 
 
 fnlhfui. 
 
 4  ''  I  ain  as  one  uiooked  of  lii.s  neij^libonr, 
 wlio  ^'  calleth  upon  God,  and  lie  an.swereth 
 him  :  the  just  upriglit  man  is  laughed  to 
 scorn. 
 
 5  ''  He  tliat  is  ready  to  slip  with  /it's  feet  is  as 
 a  lamp  despised  in  the  thought  of  him  that  is 
 at  ease. 
 
 6  *  The  tabernacles  of  robbers  prosper,  and 
 tiiey  that  provoke  God  are  secure  ;  into  whose 
 liand  God  brinceth  abundant///. 
 
 7  lint  ask  now  the  beasts,  and  they  shall 
 teacii  thee  ;  and  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  they 
 shall  tell  thee  : 
 
 8  Or  speak  to  the  earth,  and  it  shall  teach 
 thee  :  and  the  fishes  of  the  sea  shall  declare 
 unto  thee. 
 
 9  Who  knoweth  not  in  all  these  that  the 
 hand  of  the  Lord  hath  wrought  this? 
 
 10  ''In  whose  hand  is  the  ||  soul  of  every  liv- 
 ing thing,  and  the  breath  of  fall  mankind. 
 
 11  '^  Doth  not  tlie  ear  try  words?  and  tlie 
 f  mouth  taste  his  meat? 
 
 12  ''  Witli  the  ancient  is  wisdom ;  and  in 
 length  of  days  understanding. 
 
 13  II  '  With  him  is  wisdom  and  strength,  he 
 hath  counsel  and  understanding. 
 
 14  Behold,  "^  he  breaketh  down,  and  it  cannot 
 be  built  again  :  he  '  shutteth  f  up  a  man,  and 
 there  can  be  no  opening. 
 
 15  Behold,  he  "' withholdetli  the  waters,  and 
 they  dry  up  :  also  he  "  sendeth  them  out,  and 
 they  overturn  the  earth. 
 
 IG  °  With  him  is  strength  and  wisdom  :  the 
 deceived  and  the  deceiver  are  his. 
 
 17  He  leadeth  counsellors  away  spoiled,  and 
 ^  maketh  the  judges  fools. 
 
 18  He  looseth  the  bond  of  kings,  and  girdeth 
 their  loins  with  a  girdle. 
 
 19  He  leadeth  princes  away  spoiled,  and 
 overthroweth  the  mighty. 
 
 20  ^  He  removeth  away  f  the  speech  of  the 
 
 place  of  ihe  cleari.*— P/ir.  'The  depth  below  the  grave,  how  canst 
 thou  understand  ?* — M.  Good.         10,  If  fie  cut  tiff,  iyc. — 
 
 '  If  lie  seize,  and  bind  one  in  chains. 
 And  brinff  to  judfrnient,  who  then  can  reply  to  him  >* — Bonthr. 
 Can  hinder  him ?  'can  change  him?'  turn  liim  round,  or  make  him 
 change  his  mind?         11.  Vain  meji,  '  the  men  of  falsehood.* — iU.  Good. 
 Consider  it,  *  notice  it.' — Bonthr.         12.  For  vain  mtin,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Will  he  then  accept  the  hollow-hearted  person  ? 
 Or  shall  the  wild  a'^s  colt  assimic  the  man  ?* 
 .\  proverbial  expression,  denoting  extreme  contumacy  and  ferocity. — 
 M.  Good.      Wild  uss's  colt,  a  proverbial  expression  still  used  by  the 
 Arabs  to  describe  an  fbstinrite,  indocile,  and  contumacious  person. — 
 i'irt.  Bih.  14.  Tn/tern'ir/es,  or  tents,  were  the  earliest  dwellings, 
 
 but  houses  were  still  so  calkd  after  the  erection  of  those  more  durable 
 habitations.  It  is  certain  Job  Uved  in  a  city.  (chap,  xxix,  7.) — *Scntt. 
 1  J.  Without  spot,  a  scriptural  ptirase  for  intcgriiy,  (Num.  xix.  2;  Htb. 
 ix.  14  ;  Kplies.  V.  2/-) — Chnppelnw.  16.  That  pass  atcay,  'passed  by 
 a  calamity,'  that  is,  completely  over. — M.  Good.  'Passed  away.' — 
 Boothr.  17.  And  thine  it^e  shall  he  clearer,  ^c,  '  and  brighter  .•ihall 
 the  time  he  than  the  noon  tide.'— il/.  Good.  'Thy  latter  end  shall  be 
 full  "f  cmifurt.* — Cnri/t,  Age  here  means  the  remainder  of  Job's  life. 
 — Boxenm.  18.  Thou  shnll  dig,  fyr.,  'where  thoti  diggest,  in  safety 
 
 thnu  shait  rest.' — Boothr.  The  allusion  is  to  digging  of  wells  or 
 .'springs.— H('«M,  Boothr.  *  Dig  a  fountain  for  thy  habitation.'— H7/. 
 '  Thou  shalt  dig  thy  sepulchre,  and  calmly  lie  down.' — Mich,  ig  Make 
 suit  unto  thee,  '  entreat  thy  favour.* — Boothr.  '  Court  thy  friendship,' 
 as  in  the  instances  of  Abraham  and  Isaac,  (Gen.  xxi.  22  ;  xxvi.  28.)  — 
 Grotius.  This,  with  tlic  preceding  verse,  beautifully  alludes  to  a 
 peaceable  encampment.  The  flocks  resting  on  a  verdant  pasture,  the 
 shepherds  having  pitched  their  tents  around  them,  and  near  springing 
 wells.  Here  all  repose  secure  from  wild  beasts  and  thievish  Arabs. — 
 So  *Srott.  20.  The  eyes  of  the  wicked  shall  fail,  through  expectation 
 of  good  which  shall  never  come.— So  Gill.  Their  hopn  shnll  be  as  the 
 f^ivin^  vp  of  the  ghost,  *  they  shall  have  no  more  hopes  of  happiness 
 tlian  the  last  gasp  of  the  dying  man  affords  of  life.'— H^w. 
 
 CfiAp.  XII.  —  2.  A'o  doufit,  ^c— a  strong  irony.— *4.  Clarke;  so 
 Capellus.  The  eastern  people  take  much  pleasure  in  irony. — Roh. 
 3.  Who  knoweth  not,  I'fc. — what  you  repeat  are  proverbs  in  every 
 body's  mouth. — So  Clarke.        4.  I  am  ns  one  mocked,  ^c. — 
 
 '  A  derision  to  his  friend  am  I ; 
 "  He  calleth  on  God.  and  let  him  answer  him  ;" 
 The  just  and  upright  man  is  a  derision.' — Boothr. 
 
 5.  He  that  is  ready  to  slip,  fyc,  'he  that  is  near  to  his  ruin,  (as  I  now 
 am,)  is  (to  tliosc  that  prosper  and  are  at  ease)  like  unto  a  lamp  that  ia 
 near  burning  out  unto  the  snuff,  and  therefore  despi-^ed  by  them  for 
 the  present,  however  it  may  have  formerly  shined.'  —  Bp.  Hall. 
 6 — 10.  The  tabeniaclea  of  robbers,  ^c. — Job  here  opposes /«c/x  to  hypo- 
 thesis. Audacious  oppressors  and  impious  wretclies  often  prosper.  The 
 animal  tribes  subserve  their  pride  and  luxury,  and  ail  nature  drudges 
 to  pamper  their  lusts;  and  not  chance,  but  Gud  orders  all  things. — 
 Scott.  7.  Ask  now  the  beasts,  §-c. —  'everything  in  nature  acknow- 
 ledges God  to  be  the  universal  Creator  and  Controller  ;  but  tn  apply  it 
 as  ye  would  to  me,  and  assert  I  suffer  for  hypocrisy,  is  impertinent  and 
 impious.  He  ordains  all  in  wisdom  and  pnwer  ;  but  why  events  happen 
 as  they  happen,  ye  are  as  ignorant  of  as  myself.' — So  Good.  With  the 
 Hinfloos,  he  who  refuses  instruction,  and  will  not  be  convinced,  is  tnld 
 to  ask  the  cattle. — Rab.  11.  Doth  nut  the  ear  try  words?  ^-c,  'doth 
 not  the  understanding  judge  of  the  truth  of  wliat  is  spoken  V— Clark. 
 12.  Is  wisdom,  'should  be  wisdom.' — Boothr.  13.  With  him  is  wiKdom, 
 — a  transition  from  nien  of  lengthened  days  to  the  everlasting  God. — 
 Scoti.  14.  He  shntteth,  §•(?. — he  often  frustrates  the  best  laid  pur- 
 poses so  that  they  can  never  be  brought  to  good  effect.  15.  He  with- 
 holdeth  the  waters,  alluding  to  Gen.  i.  t), — A.  Clarke;  to  drought. — 
 *  Scott.  iG.  The  deceived,  ^c. — both  are  accountable  to  God. — Caryl. 
 17.  He  leadeth  cotinsellvrs,  §t.,  God  can  take  away  the  wisdom  of  such 
 men. — Gill.  Fools,  'distracted.' — M.  Good.  18.  Looseth  the  bnndf 
 ^c,  that  with  which  they  bind  their  subjects. — Gill.  Dissolves  their 
 authority. — Stock.  With  a  girdle,  a  cord  or  chain  that  was  tied  ai)out 
 the  waist  of  captives. — *  Scott.     Ps.  cxlix.  8.        20.  He  removeth,  Sfc. — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI. — Reproof  should  never  be  the  greatness  of  God,  and  the  ignorance  and  sinfulness  of 
 given  with  asperity.  Many  a  fine  sentiment  has  been  thrown  man  ;  the  importance  of  prayer,  and  reformation  under  afflic- 
 away  from  the  manner  in  which  it  has  been  offered.  Zophar  tion,  and  the  ultimate  happy  issue  out  of  every  trial  for  ihem 
 appears  here  to  be  anytliiny;  but  amiable.  He  says  many  good  that  are  righteous,  while  the  light  of  the  wicked  shall  be  ex- 
 things,  but  evidently  in  a  bad  spirit.  We  may,  however,  pro-  tini.;uished  in  eternal  darkness, 
 litably  separate  the  precious  from  the  vile,  anil  learn  from  him 
 542 
 
Job  reproveth  his  friends. 
 
 JOB,  XIII. 
 
 His  confidence  in  God. 
 
 trusty,  and  taketh  away  the  understanding  of 
 the  aged. 
 
 21  '  He  poureth  contempt  upon  princes,  and 
 {I  weakeneth  the  strengtii  of  the  mighty. 
 
 22  ^  He  discoveretli  deep  things  out  of  dark- 
 ness, and  bringeth  out  to  hght  the  shadow  of 
 death, 
 
 23  '  He  increaseth  the  nations,  and  destroy- 
 etli  them  :  he  enlargeth  the  nations,  and  fstrait- 
 enetli  tliem  again. 
 
 24  He  taketh  away  the  heart  of  the  chief  of 
 the  people  of  the  earth,  and  "  causeth  them  to 
 wander  in  a  wilderness  where  there  is  no  way. 
 
 25  ''They  grope  in  the  dark  without  hglit, 
 and  he  maketli  them  to  f  ^stagger  like  a 
 drunken  man. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Job  reproveth  his  frltjids  of  partiality.  14  He  pro- 
 fcsscth  his  conjijencc  in  Cud:  20  and  itttreatct/i  fu 
 know  his  own  sins,  and  God's  purpose  in  affiictinif 
 
 h  im . 
 
 T  O,  mine  eye  hath  seen  all  this,  mine  ear 
 ^  hath  heard  and  understood  it. 
 
 2  "  What  ye  know,  the  same  do  I  know  also : 
 I  am  not  inferior  unto  yon. 
 
 3  *■  Surely  I  would  speak  to  the  Almighty, 
 and  I  desire  to  reason  with  God. 
 
 4  But  ye  are  forgers  of  lies,  "  ye  are  all  phy- 
 sicians of  no  value. 
 
 5  O  that  ye  would  altogether  hold  your 
 peace!  and  ^  it  should  be  your  wisdom. 
 
 6  Hear  now  my  reasoning,  and  hearken  to  the 
 pleadings  of  my  lips. 
 
 7  "^  Will  ye  speak  wickedly  for  God  ?  and  talk 
 deceitfully  for  him  ? 
 
 8  Will  ye  accept  his  person  ?  will  ye  contend 
 for  God  ? 
 
 T  Pa.  107.40. 
 
 Dan,  2.  21. 
 It   Or,  hoifth 
 
 thf  girdle  uf 
 
 Mr  MlTiiii^. 
 t  Dan.  9,  S2 
 
 Mat,  10,2ti. 
 
 I  Cor.  4.  fi. 
 
 /  Pa.  107.  33. 
 
 Is.  9.  3.  & 
 
 26.  15. 
 t  Heb.  lead- 
 
 eth  in. 
 
 I  Deu.2fi.29 
 ch.  5.  14. 
 f  Heb. 
 
 y  Ps.  107.27- 
 
 A  ch.  9S  3. 
 &  31.33. 
 
 c  ch.  6.  81. 
 &  16.  2. 
 
 e  (1..  17.  .1. 
 36    1. 
 
 B   C. 
 
 cic.   15;'0, 
 
 t  Heb.  Be 
 •  ileal  /rtitn 
 
 9  I  Ssm.  28. 
 
 ■1\     Ps.  Il'l. 
 
 1><9 
 h  Ps.  23.  1 
 
 Pr.i.  n.3-?, 
 i  cb.  27.  5. 
 
 or,  ar^ue. 
 
 /ch   9.S4.(i( 
 33.7. 
 
 '.  neu.32.20. 
 
 Ps.  13.  I.  & 
 
 41.24.  &  88. 
 
 I  \.  Is.  S.  17. 
 o  Deu.3-2,42. 
 
 Kutb  I   21. 
 
 cb.  16  9.  & 
 
 19.  ll.&:^3. 
 
 lu.  Lam.  9. 
 
 5. 
 l>  Is.  42.  3 
 
 9  Is  it  good  that  he  should  search  you  outy 
 or  as  one  man  mocketh  another,  do  ye  so 
 mock  him  ? 
 
 10  He  will  surely  reprove  you,  if  ye  do 
 secretly  accept  persons. 
 
 1 1  Shall  not  Ins  excellency  make  you  afraid? 
 and  his  dread  fall  upon  you? 
 
 12  Your  remembrances  are  like  unto  ashes, 
 your  bodies  to  bodies  of  clay. 
 
 13  t  Hold  your  peace,  let  me  alone,  that  1 
 may  speak,  and  let  come  on  me  what  ivilL 
 
 14  Wherefore  *'do  I  take  my  flesh  in  my 
 teeth,  and  ^put  my  life  in  mine  hand  ? 
 
 15  ''Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in 
 him:  'but  I  will  j- maintain  mine  own  ways 
 before  him. 
 
 IG  He  also  shall  be  my  salvation  :  for  an  hy- 
 pocrite shall  not  come  before  bim. 
 
 17  Hear  diligently  my  speech,  and  my  de- 
 claration with  your  ears. 
 
 18  Behold  now,  I  have  ordered  my  cause  ; 
 I  know  that  I  shall  be  justified. 
 
 19  ''  Who  is  he  that  will  plead  with  me  ?  for 
 now,  if  I  hold  my  tongue,  I  shall  give  up  the 
 ghost. 
 
 20  '  Only  do  not  two  (hinf/s  unto  me  :  then 
 will  I  not  hide  myself  from  tliee. 
 
 21  "^  Withdraw  thine  hand  far  from  me  :  and 
 let  not  thy  dread  make  me  afraid. 
 
 22  Then  call  thou,  and  I  will  answer:  or  let 
 me  speak,  and  answer  thou  me. 
 
 23  How  many  are  mine  iniquities  and  sins? 
 make  me  to  know  my  transgression  and  my 
 sin. 
 
 24  "  Wherefore  hidest  thou  thy  iaca,  and 
 "boldest  me  for  thine  enemy  ? 
 
 25  ^  Wilt  thou  break  a  leaf  driven  to  and  fro  ? 
 and  wilt  thou  pursue  the  dry  stubble? 
 
 *  He  depriveth  orators  of  tlieir  eloquence, 
 
 And  tlie  discretion  of  the  aged  lie  taketh  away.' — Boot/tr. 
 
 21.  He  poureth,  ^-n. — 
 
 '  He  poureth  contempt  upon  the  nobles, 
 And  unstringeth  the  giiiUe  of  the  stout  hearted.'— J/.  Good. 
 
 22.  Deep  things,  ^c,  'he  detects  the  must  secret  conspiracies.' — Scott. 
 Bringeth  out  to  Ught,  fyc,  *  brings  to  light  that  which  has  been  con. 
 fined  in  the  greatest  obscurity.' — Pat.  24.  He  taketh  away  the 
 heart,  %c. — 
 
 '  From  the  chiefs  of  the  earth  he  taketh  away  prudence, 
 And  causeth  them  to  wander  in  a  pathless  desert.' — Boothr. 
 Chap.  XIII. —  \.  All  this,  rhnh"^,  '  all  those  things  he  had  been  dis- 
 coursing of.'— Bfza,  Mich.,  Vat.,  Pise,  Gill,  Scutt.  4.  Lies,  'falla- 
 cies.' 7-  Wickedly,  'wrongfully.'  And  talk  deceitfully,  ?fe.,  *ye 
 would  utter  fallacies  for  him.' — M.  Good.  '  Doth  God  stand  in  need  vi 
 untruths  to  justify  his  proceedings  ?  cannot  he  be  righteous  unless  I  be 
 wicked?' — Pat.        8.  Will  ye  accept  his  person?  ^c. — 
 
 *  Ve  would,  forsooth,  make  his  face  favourable. 
 And,  therefore,  for  God  would  ye  contend.' — Boothr. 
 
 9.  Is  it  good?  ^c. — 
 *  Yea,  it  would  be  profitable  that  he  shouhl  fake  notice  of  you  ; 
 And,  therefore,  with  the  beguiling  of  man  would  ye  beguile  him.' 
 
 Ji .  Good. 
 '  Will  it  be  fcood  when  he  searcheth  you  oat  ? 
 Or,  as  man  is  dehided,  will  ye  delude  him?' — Boothr. 
 W.  Fall  upon,   'overpower.'  12.  Your   remembrances,  §c.,    'your 
 
 memorable  sentences.' — Schultens. 
 
 '  Dust  are  your  stored  up  sayings, 
 Your  collections  are  collections  of  mire.' — M^  Good. 
 
 '  V<  ur  memorable  sayings,  like  ashes,  are  decayed ;  their  fire  and  spirit 
 extinct  in  their  application.'— *Sto/^  Wit.  'Your  quoted  ancient 
 proverbs  are  proverbs  of  dust,  and  your  high-flown  speeches  are  all 
 sound  and  no  sense.' — Ho  A.  Clarke.  'Are  not  your  lessons  empty 
 proverbs?' — Heath.  In  vernacular  langn-.ce, '  ihesayinijsyou  have  at 
 heart  arc  mere  trash.'— .V.  Good.         U.  Take  my  ftes'h,  SfC— 
 
 '  1  will  take  my  flesh  in  my  tc  th. 
 And  my  life  1  will  put  in  my  hand.' — Boothr 
 
 '  My  anguish  is  so  excessive,  that  I  could  even  gnaw  my  own  flesh  ; 
 and  as  I  am  not  cnnsci-ius  of  any  great  crime  for  which  I  am  thus 
 punished,  1  would  even  venture  my  life  to  have  this  matter  clcaied  up.' 
 — Scott.  15.  Though  he  slay  me,  ^c. — the  identical  expression  is 
 used  by  an  affoctionate  Hindoo  servant  when  his  master  beats  him  ;  or 
 wife,  when  beatin  by  her  husband  —Rub.  But  I  will  maintain,  ^-c, 
 'stdl  I  will  maintain  my  ways,'  &c. — Boothr. 
 
 '  Shouhl  he  even  slay  me,  I  vvouki  not  delay, 
 I  would  still  justify  my  ways  before  his  face.* 
 IC.  He  also,  ^c— 
 
 *  But  God  wouM  to  me  be  a  protection  ; 
 Ihe  wicked  al'ue  shall  not  come  before  his  face !' 
 
 ig.  Plead  with  vie,  literally, '  at  my  side,'  i.  e.,  as  an  opponent  'plead 
 against  me.'  For  now,  ffc,  'for  then  will  I  be  still,  and  not  breathe.' 
 — .V.  Good.  *  For  then  will  I  be  silent,  and  exiiire.'— Core,  Schmidt, 
 Schultens.  Boothr.  20.  Hide  mr/se/f  from   thee,  'shrink  from  thy 
 
 presence.' — Boothr.  21.  Thy  dread,  'thine  arm.' — Stock.  23.  How 
 many  are?  Sfc,  '  what  arc  ?'  Sic.—M.  Good,  Boothr.  24.  Holdest, 
 '  accountest.'        25.  Break,  'agitate.' — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XII,  — I.  Great  errors  are  com- 
 mitted from  too  high  a  conceit  of  our  own  judgments.  Owing  to 
 this  we  are  apt  to  form  wrong  opinions  of  God,  of  his  deahngs 
 with  men,  of  tbe  characters  of  others,  and  of  our  own  selves. 
 There  are  conceited  men  in  the  church  as  well  as  in  the  world. 
 How  often  have  we  seeu  these  swollen  professors  of  religion, 
 who,  imagining  themselves  far  beyond  all  the  ministers  of 
 Christ  and  the  devoted  Christians  around  them,  might  well 
 
 have  been  addressed  in  the  words  of  Job  to  his  reprovers 
 
 '  No  doubt  but  ye  are  the  people,  and  wisdom  shall  die  with 
 you  !* 
 
 II.  We  should  learn  to  improve  our  under  standi  n'/s  hy  all  the 
 means  which  God  has  afforded  us.  He  who  circumscribes  his 
 343 
 
 views  by  those  of  his  own  sect  or  party,  and  suffers  his  mind 
 to  be  bounded  by  his  own  preconceived  opinions,  is  like  a 
 man  wiio,  standing  on  a  hillock  in  a  narrow  plain,  would  be 
 foolish  enough  to  imagine  himself  exalted  above  all  the  rest  of 
 mankind,  and  to  embrace  in  his  confined  view  the  circum- 
 ference of  the  world.  Let  us  then  take  large  and  comprehen- 
 sive views  of  Nature,  Providence,  and  Grace,  and  we  shall 
 find  new  lessons  in  all  ; — lengths  and  breadths,  which  will 
 make  us  ashamed  of  our  own  limited  knowledge,  and  humble 
 us  in  the  presence  of  God  and  man.  Above  all,  let  us  often 
 present  th-^  inspired  prayer,  '  Shew  me  tliy  ways,  O  Lord  ; 
 teach  mo  ihy  patiis,  lead  me  in  thy  truth  and  teach  me.' 
 
The  instahilitt/  of  human  life. 
 
 JOB,  XIV. 
 
 Sin  the  cause  of  corruption . 
 
 26  For  thou  writest  bitter  things  against  me, 
 and  ■'  niakest  me  to  possess  the  iniquities  of 
 my  youth. 
 
 27  '  Thou  puttest  my  feet  also  in  the  stocks, 
 and  flookest  narrowly  unto  all  my  paths; 
 thou  settest  a  print  upon  the  t  heels  of  my 
 feet. 
 
 28  And  he,  as  a  rotten  thing,  consumeth,  as 
 a  garment  that  is  moth  eaten. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  Joh  intreatelh  God  for  favour,  hi/  the  shortness  of 
 lifci  and  certninti/  of  death.  7  Tiiouijh  life  once  lost 
 bv-  irrecr.verahle,  yet  he  waiteth  for  his  changi:  16  By 
 s'm  the  creature  is  suhj>ct  to  corruption. 
 
 "lYJAN  that  is  born  of  a  woman  is  f  of  few 
 ■^'-*-   days,  and  ^  full  of  trouble. 
 
 2  ^  He  Cometh  forth  like  a  flower,  and  is  cut 
 dow^n  :  he  fleeth  also  as  a  shadow,  and  con- 
 tinueth  not. 
 
 3  And  "  dost  thou  open  thine  eyes  upon  such 
 an  one,  and  '^  bringest  me  into  judgment  with 
 thee  ? 
 
 4  t  Who  "^  can  bring  a  clean  thing  out  of  an 
 xniciean  ?  not  one. 
 
 5  '"Seeing  his  days  are  determined,  the  num- 
 bor  of  his  months  arc  with  thee,  thou  hast  ap- 
 pointed his  bounds  that  he  cannot  pass  ; 
 
 (i  ^  Turn  from  him,  that  he  may  frest,  till  he 
 shall  accomplish,  ''  as  an  hireling,  his  day. 
 
 7  For  there  is  hope  of  a  tree,  if  it  be  cm 
 down,  '  that  it  will  sprout  apain,  and  that  the 
 tender  brancii  thereof  will  not  cease. 
 
 8  Though  the  root  thereof  wax  old  in  the 
 earth,  and  the  stock  thereof  die  in  t!ie  ground  ; 
 
 9  Yet  through  the  scent  of  water  it  will  bud, 
 and  bring  forth  boughs  like  a  plant. 
 
 rch.  S3.  II, 
 
 t  Heb. 
 of-servftf. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 "ill. 
 
 i  Heb.  thoTt 
 of  datf*. 
 
 aVh    5   7. 
 Kc.-lcs  9.  23, 
 
 ftch.H  y.  1*8 
 91)  5,  l>,  9  Ht 
 \0>.  II.  & 
 l«X  15.  ft 
 114.4    IH'IO 
 
 I  I   I 
 
 L  11 
 
 I  Pet.  1  . 
 c  Vs.  \ii.  s. 
 
 it  Ps.  U.I  'i 
 
 t  Hfb.  «•/,., 
 
 trill  ffivr  ¥ 
 e  lien.  5.  A 
 
 Pb.  51.  5. 
 
 Jiihn  .T.  6. 
 
 K.mi..^.  1?. 
 
 Ki.h  a.  ;t. 
 /ch.7.  I. 
 
 f  ch.  7.  Ifi. 
 
 ]9.fc  lu  -.:o. 
 
 IN.  so.  18. 
 t  Heb.  cite, 
 h  ch.  7.  I. 
 i  vcr.  ri. 
 
 t  Heb-ti 
 or,  CM/  I'ff. 
 
 k  Ps.  102.20 
 Is-  51  6,  R; 
 65.17.  &  Cti 
 22,  Acts  S. 
 21.  H..m.  fl. 
 20.  2  Pet  3, 
 7,  10,  li 
 Rev.  20.  II. 
 &2I.  1. 
 
 Ich.  13.  13, 
 III  ver.  7. 
 
 ocli-lO.R.H 
 &  l.S  i7.  f* 
 SI.  4.  fa  SI. 
 21.  Ps.56.8. 
 (d  139.  1.2, 
 :<.  Pin.  5.'l 
 Jcr.  32.  I'J. 
 
 ;>  Deu..S2.ai. 
 Hnft.  13.  12. 
 
 (  Heb. 
 
 /iideth. 
 
 t  Heb  ovfr- 
 Jlo'ceil. 
 
 7  Eccle9.9,5. 
 Is.  63.  IC. 
 
 10  But  man  dieth,  and  f  wasteth  away  :  yea, 
 man  giveth  up  the  ghost,  and  where  is  he? 
 
 1 1  As  the  waters  fail  from  the  sea,  and  the 
 flood  decayeth  and  drieth  up  : 
 
 !2  So  man  lieth  down,  and  riseth  not  :  ''till 
 the  heavens  be  no  more,  they  shall  not  awake, 
 nor  be  raised  out  of  their  sleep. 
 
 13  O  that  thou  wouldest  hide  me  in  the 
 grave,  that  thou  wouldest  keep  me  secret, 
 until  thy  wrath  be  past,  that  thou  wouldest 
 appoint  me  a  set  time,  and  remember  me ! 
 
 14  If  a  man  die,  shall  he  live  again  ?  all  the 
 days  of  my  appointed  time  '  will  I  \vait,  "'  till 
 my  change  come. 
 
 15  "  Thou  shalt  call,  and  I  will  answer  thee : 
 thou  wilt  have  a  desire  to  the  work  of  thine 
 hands. 
 
 16  °  For  now  thou  numberest  my  steps  :  dost 
 thou  not  watch  over  my  sin? 
 
 17  P  My  transgression  is  sealed  up  in  a  bag, 
 and  thou  sewest  up  mine  iniquity. 
 
 18  And  surely  the  mountain  falling  f  cometh 
 to  nought,  and  the  rock  is  removed  out  of  his 
 place. 
 
 19  The  waters  wear  the  stones  :  thou  f  wash- 
 est  away  the  things  which  growo^/^  of  the  dust 
 of  the  earth  ;  and  tliou  destroyest  the  hope  of 
 man. 
 
 20  Thou  pvevailest  for  ever  against  him,  and 
 he  passeth  :  thou  changest  his  countenance, 
 and  scndest  hiui  away. 
 
 21  His  sons  come  to  honour,  and  ''he  know- 
 eth  it  not;  and  they  are  brought  low,  but  he 
 peroeiveth  it  not  of  them. 
 
 22  But  his  flesh  upon  him  shall  have  pain, 
 and  his  soul  within  him  shall  mourn. 
 
 *  WouMst  thou  demolish  the  driven  leaf, 
 Aud  hunt  down  the  parclicd  stubbier' — M.  Good. 
 
 *To  employ  such  severe  afflictions  to  crush  so  feeble  a  creature,  is  like 
 raising  a  tempest  tn  blow  away  a  leaf  or  a  straw.' — Boothr.  26.  Makest 
 me  to  possess,  '  cntailest  on  mc' — Jiouthr.  27.  Stocks,  103.  'into 
 clogs.'— 3/.  Good.  *  In  a  clog.'— Z?oo/Ai-..  A.  Clarke.  Probably  such 
 as  was  used  tn  be  put  on  the  feet  of  fugitive  slaves,  or  rather  male- 
 factors,— Par.  Lookest  nnrroxvly,  just  as  a  man  would  watch  the  mo- 
 tions of  a  captive  or  runaway  slave. —  Wit.  Settest  a  print,  '  the  fetters 
 upon  me  leave  their  marks.* — Caryl.  ThealUision  may  be  to  the  ba^- 
 tinado,  a  very  ancient  punislimcnt  on  the  soles  of  the  feet. — Par.,  Gill. 
 Job  may  refer  to  tumours  in  the  feet,  common  in  the  elephantijisis. — 
 Mich.        28.  Aud  he,  Sfc— 
 
 '  When,  as  a  rotten  thing,  I  am  consumed, 
 
 Like  the  garment  wliich  the  moth  dcvouxeth.' — Boothr. 
 Dr.  Good  unites  this  with  the  next  chapter:— 
 '  Well  may  he  dissolve  as  corruption, 
 
 The  moth- worm  feeding  upon  him  as  a  garment, 
 
 Man,'  Sic. 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  1.  Man  that  is  born  of  a  woman,  DIM.  'Adam.' 
 'Adam  who  did  not  spring  from  woman  had  mayii/  days.* — Clarke. 
 2.  Like  a  flower,  expressive  of  the  tender  composition  of  man's  frame. 
 Asa  shadow,  expressive  of  the  emptiness  of  man's  enjoyments. — *  Scott. 
 ^.  Open,  'sharpen.'  —  Cocc.  'Cast.' — Boothr.  'Watch  narrowly, 
 I>ursue  with  eagerness  and  strict  justice  siicli  a  weak  creature,  who  had 
 flid  to  his  grace  and  mercy.'— Gi7/.         4.  Who  can  hring— 
 
 '  Who  can  become  pure  and  free  from  pollution  ?'— il/.  Good. 
 5.  Determined,  'cut  short.'  Job,  perhaps,  compared  them  with  those 
 of  antediluvian  men.*- *  Scott.  6.  As  a  hirttin^,  who,  having  done 
 his  work,  looks  for  rest.— So  Gill.  7.  There  is  hope  of  a  tree,  Sfc. — 
 trees  are  much  more  tenacious  of  life  in  the  east  than  with  us. — Rob. 
 9-  Scent — the  sense  of  smelling  is  here  elegantly  ascribed  to  the  root  — 
 
 Chappelow.  'Through  moistnro,'  literally  '  the  odour  of  water.'  The 
 Arabs  use  '  ndour'  for  any  kind  of  exhalation. — Bottthr.  10.  Wasteth 
 away,  '  mouldereth.'—iW^.  Good.  Giveth  up  the  ghost,  'expireth.' — 
 Good,  Boothr.  l\.  As  the  waters /nil,  ^c,  'as  tlie  bdlows  pass  away 
 with  the  tides.'  'As  they  pass  away  and  never  return.*— Jl/.  Good. 
 And  the  flood  decayeth,  ^c, '  and  the  flnods  are  exhausted,' &c.  '  Dried 
 up.'  He  refers  to  the  exuniiation  of  the  Nile  and  other  rivers  that 
 overflow  periodically. — M.  Good,  He  means,  as  the  waters  are  evapo- 
 rated from  the  sea,  and  the  rivers,  passing  over  the  desert,  are  partly 
 absorbed,  so  man  is  imperceptibly  removed  irnni  earth,  and  yet  the 
 human  race  is  continued. — So  Clarke.  12.  Nnr  he  raised,  fyc,  'no, 
 
 they  will  not  rouse  up  from  their  sleep.'  —  M.  Gaud.  13.  hi  the 
 
 grave,  *in  hades,'  that  is,  the  invisible  state.  Wouldest  appoint  me  a 
 set  time,  '  fix  a  time.'  14.  Appointed  time,  'warfare.* — Mont.,  Mich., 
 
 Schultens,  Boothr.  '>ny2  and  TD'bn— the  Hebrew  words  hire  u-^ed  are 
 expressive  of  the  time  a  soldier  remains  on  duly,  and  his  di'-mis'-ion 
 from  it. — Heath.  Tilt  my  change,  ^c,  'till  my  time  to  be  relieved,' 
 &c. — Boothr.  'Until  my  renovation  come.' — *  Scott,  M.  Good.  "Ewr 
 waXiv  ytviiifiai,  'till  I  am  made  anew/  or  'shall  exist  again,'  Sept.; 
 that  is,  by  a  resurrection  from  the  dead. — Poole,  Sut.  ^riD'bn,  'my 
 change,'  is  used  to  denote  the  springnig  aeain  of  grass.  Ps.xc.  5,  6. — 
 A.  Clarke.  16.  Wilt  have  a  desire,  FlCDn,  'wilt  yearn  towards.' — 
 Stock,  M.  Good,  Bouthr.,  Clarke.  16:  For  now,   ^c,    'yet  now.'— 
 
 M.  Good.  '  Behold  now.' — Retake.  Dost  thou  not  watch,  *  thou  over- 
 lonke^t  notliiiig  of  my  sins.'  17,  And  thou  sewest  up,  ^c  ,  '  yea,  thou 
 tiest  together,'  .^c.  'Thou  securest  them  against  the  day  of  judgment,* 
 as  law  documejits  are  secured  in  a  bag  in  courts  of  justice.  19.  Thou 
 washest  away,  ^c,  'as  their  overflowings  sweep  the  soil  from  the 
 land.' — M.  Good.  '  And  inundations  sweep  away  the  soil  of  the  earth.* 
 — Boothr.  'The  floudes  washe  away  the  gravell  and  the  earth.'— 
 Tyndal ;  so  Rfiske  and  Schultens.  20.  Thou  prevailest,  ffc. — 
 
 'Thou  harasses!  him  continually  till  he  perish  ; 
 Tliou  weariest  out  lii^  frame,  aud  despatchest  him.* 
 22.  But  his  flesh,  ^c— 
 
 Reflections  ok  Chap.  XIII I.  *  Tn  troubles  of  mind  and 
 
 conscience,'  says  Scott.  *  we  often  find  wen  to  he  "  phys'icians  of  no 
 value."  They  often  either  mistake  our  case,  or  attributeour 
 distress  to  a  wrong  cause,  or  prescribe  pernicious  remedies, 
 and  by  one  means  or  other  increase  our  malady.  But  when 
 the  conscience  is  wounded,  and  the  heart  dismayed  with  the 
 fear  of  wrath,  the  prevalence  of  sin,  the  force  of  temptation, 
 or  the  weT{;ht  of  affliction,  we  should  apply  to  the  Physician 
 of  our  souls,  whose  knowledge,  love,  and  power  are  infinite, 
 who  never  rejects  any  sincere  apphcation,  and  who  never 
 544 
 
 leaves  any  case  uncured.' 
 
 II.  '  Under  every  affliction  ire  should  aim  to  heep  up  a  confi- 
 dence in  the  Divine  mercy.  This  will  preserve  us,  uiuIpf  the 
 most  exquisite  agonies,  from  doing  ourselves  any  harm. 
 Though  outward  evils  and  inward  distresses  should  unite  in 
 our  case,  and  continue  unabated  tiil  death,  a  strong  and  active 
 faith,  an  acquaintance  with  the  scriptural  ground  of  a  be- 
 liever's hope,  and  conscious  integrity,  may  enable  the  poor 
 tempted  soul  to  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  to  expect  salvation 
 from  him.' 
 
Eliphaz  7-eproveth  Job. 
 
 JOB,  XV. 
 
 The  iinquictness  of  the  wicked. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 I  Eliphaz  reproveth  Job  of  impitty  in  justifyhuj  liim- 
 sdf.  17  Hfi  provetk  hi/  tradition  t/ie  umjuietness  of 
 wicked  men. 
 
 T^HEN  answered  Eliphaz  the  Teiiiaiiite,  and 
 -*-    said, 
 
 2  Should  a  wise  man  utter  f  vain  knowledge, 
 and  fill  his  belly  with  the  east  wind  ? 
 
 3  Should  he  reason  with  unprofitable  talk  ? 
 or  with  speeches  wherewith  he  can  do  no 
 good  ? 
 
 4  Yea,  f  thou  eastest  oft'  fear,  and  restrainest 
 {I  prayer  before  God. 
 
 3  For  thy  mouth  futtcreth  thine  iniquitj', 
 and  thou  clioosest  the  tongue  of  the  crafty. 
 
 6  '  Thine  own  mouth  condemneth  thee,  and 
 not  I  :  yea,  thine  own  lips  testify  against  thee. 
 
 7  Alt  thou  the  first  man  that  was  born?  '■or 
 wast  thou  made  before  the  hills? 
 
 8  °  Hast  tliou  heard  the  secret  of  God?  and 
 dost  thou  restrain  wisdom  to  thyself? 
 
 9  '■  What  knowest  thou,  that  we  know  not? 
 what  understandest  thou,  which  is  not  in  us? 
 
 10  °  With  us  are  both  the  graylieaded  and 
 very  aged  men,  much  elder  than  thy  fattier. 
 
 1 1  Arc  the  consolations  of  God  small  with 
 thee?  is  there  any  secret  thing  with  thee? 
 
 12  Why  doth  thine  heart  carry  thee  away? 
 and  what  do  thy  eyes  wink  at, 
 
 13  That  thou  turnest  thy  spirit  against  God, 
 and  lettest  such  words  go  out  of  thy  mouth  ? 
 
 14  'What  is  man,  that  he  should  be  clean? 
 
 )  Heb.  hiiou- 
 Uds,  of 
 
 f  Heb.  rtnw 
 Muku!  V,l,lt. 
 
 II  Or,  i/'Hi-i/i 
 
 t  Heb. 
 teaclifth. 
 
 aLukol9.22 
 
 c  Iloni.  11. 
 34.  I  Cor.  2 
 
 /I  Klu.S.ld 
 t  Clii  liStJ, 
 ch.  14   4. 
 
 Pro.  20   9. 
 Eccles.  7. 
 
 I.  8,  10. 
 
 ^  ch.  1    16. 
 ttta  b. 
 
 h  ch   4.  in. 
 Ps    N.  3.  & 
 
 bA.  3. 
 cb.  34.  T. 
 Prov.  19.28, 
 
 I  Joel  3.  17. 
 Ps   00.12 
 
 t  Heh. 
 
 A  S'.Uud  of 
 
 I  IThes  .'..3. 
 
 Ps.  h9.  IT) 
 
 &  1119.  10. 
 p  cli.  18.  12 
 
 7  ch.  17.  in. 
 
 and   he   tchich   is  born  of  a  woman,  that  he 
 
 shouM  be  righteous? 
 
 15  ^  Behold,  he  putteth  no  trust  in  his  saints; 
 yea,  the  heavens  are  not  clean  in  liis  sight. 
 
 16  ''How  much  more  abominable  and  filthy 
 is  man,  '  whicii  drinketh  iniquity  like  water? 
 
 17  I  will  shew  thee,  hear  me  ;  and  that  which 
 1  have  seen  I  will  declare  ; 
 
 18  Which  wise  men  have  told  '' from  their 
 fathers,  and  have  not  hid  it: 
 
 19  Unto  whom  alone  the  earth  was  given, 
 and  '  no  stranger  passed  among  them. 
 
 20  The  wicked  man  travaileth  with  pain  all 
 his  days,  ""and  the  number  of  years  is  hidden 
 to  the  oppressor. 
 
 21  fA  dreadful  sound  is  in  his  ears:  "in 
 prosperity  the  destroyer  shall  come  upon  him. 
 
 2*2  He  believeth  not  that  he  shall  return  out 
 of  darkness,  and  he  is  waited  for  of  the  sword. 
 
 23  He  °  wandereth  abroad  fijr  bread,  saying^ 
 Where  is  it?  he  knoweth  that  ''the  day  of 
 darkness  is  ready  at  his  hand. 
 
 24  Trouble  and  anguisli  shall  make  him 
 afraid  ;  they  shall  prevail  against  him,  as  a 
 king  ready  to  the  battle. 
 
 25  For  he  stretcheth  out  his  hand  against 
 God,  and  strengtheneth  himself  against  the 
 Almighty. 
 
 2G  He  runneth  upon  him,  even  on  Ms  neck, 
 upon  the  thick  bosses  of  ids  bucklers  : 
 
 27  '^  Because  be  covereth  bis  face  with  his 
 fatness,  and  maketh  coUops  of  fat  on  his  flanks. 
 
 '  For  his  flesh  shall  drop  away  from  him ; 
 And  his  soul  shall  become  a  waste  from  him.' — M.  Good. 
 'But  his  flesh  upon  him  shall  be  corrupted, 
 Aud  his  inward  frame  shall  be  wasted  away.' — Bootkr, 
 '  But  over  him  his  flesh  shall  grieve, 
 Aud  over  him  his  breath  shall  mourn.' 
 The  flesh  and  breath  are  made  conscious  beings,  the  former  lamenting 
 uver  its  putrefaction  in  the  grave,  and  the  latter  over  the  mouldering: 
 clay  it  once  enlivened. — *  Scott. 
 
 Chap.  XV.— 2.  Belly,  v^a,  *  bosom.'— UooMr.  *  Lungs.'— .^.  Clarke. 
 East  u'i/irf,D*lp-  Theallusion  is  tothesimoira,  or  wind  of  thedeserts. 
 — Mick.  What  is  called  a  Levanter,— P'tr,,  M.  Good;  and,  in  the  New 
 Testament,  'Euroclydun,'  (Acts,  xxvii.  14.)— Wi7.  In  those  climates, 
 the  east  wind  parches  tbe  fields  and  dries  up  the  rivers  and  fountains. 
 
 *  Scutt.  Eliphaz  here  intimates  that  Job's  discourse  was  vain,  bois- 
 terous, and  injurious  as  the  east  wind. — So   Gill,    cum  multis   aliis, 
 
 4.  Htstrainest  prayer,  '  suppressest  humiliation.' — M.  Good.  By  his 
 doctrine  he  discouraged  prayer,  making  it  useless  anfl  unprofitable  ;  for 
 if  God  laughs  at  the  trials  of  the  innocent,  and  suffers  the  wicked  to 
 prosper,   who   would   pray   to   Iiim  ?  —  So  Poole.   Boothr.,    Gill,   &c. 
 
 5.  Thine  i?iiquity,  or  blasphemy  a^-iinst  the  hand  that  afilicted  so  good 
 a  man  unjustly. — Sittcliffe.  Crafty,  D'QTiy,  'sophists.'  —  M.fiood. 
 8.  Ha&t  thou  heard?  ^c, '  ha.=.l  thou  herde  the  secrete  couucell  of  God?* 
 — Tyndnl.  10.  The  grayheaded  and  very  aged  men,  *  the  hoary- 
 headed  and  the  ancient.'  The  last  is  ID^TDN  'men  of  men,*  'men  of 
 generations.'  II.  Is  there  any  secret?  ^c,  *orthe  addre&sesof  kind- 
 ness before  thee?' — M.Good.  'And  a  gentle  address  of  vo  arcovnt 
 with  tliee?*— J3oo^/ir.  The  sense  is  plain:  'has  thy  unfaithfulness 
 caused  God  to  withdraw  his  comforts?'  '  Is  any  secret  sin  still  che- 
 rished in  thy  heart  ?'- So  Clarke.       12.  And  what  do  thy  eyes  wink  at  ? 
 
 *  and  to  what  would  thy  eyes  excite  thee?'         13.  That  thou  turnest, 
 
 *  For  thou  hast  let  loose  thy  spirit  against  God, 
 
 And  hast  cast  forth  remonstrances  from  thy  mouth.' — M.  Good. 
 
 *  And  pourest  forth  such  speeches  from,'  &c. — Bootkr. 
 
 14.  That  he  should  be  righteous,  'that  he  should  justify  himself.'— 
 M,  Good.  15.  hi  his  sai?its,  liDlpi.  *iu  his  ministers;'  his  minister- 
 
 ing spirits,  the  heavenly  hosts  generally,  or  a  particular  order.— 
 M.  Good.  *  In  his  holy  ones.'— BooMr.  See  chap.  iv.  18,  note. 
 Ki.  How  much  more  ubominahle,  §c..  ""D  FIX,  'how  much  less,  then, 
 abominable  and  corrupt  man?'  Who  driJiheth,  ^-c. — this  seems  to 
 be  a  proverbial  expression,  with  a  direct  allusion  to  the  prodigious 
 draught  of  water  swallowed  by  the  camel. — M.  Good.  19-  Earth, 
 
 •  land.'— 3/.  Good,  Boothr.  No  stranger,  ^c.  —  no  predatory  enemy 
 invaded  them  aud  took  away  their  property,  as  the  Sabeans,  &c.,  in 
 the  case  ot  Job. — So  Boothr.        20.  The  wicked,  Bfc, — 
 
 *  All  the  days  of  the  wicked  he  is  his  own  tormentor ; 
 
 And  a  reckoning  of  years  is  laid  up  for  the  oppressor.' — 3i.  Good. 
 
 21.  A  dreadful  sound,  §-c.,  '  his  disturbed  imagination  is  continually 
 presenting  destruction  to  him,'—*  Scott.        22.  He  believeth  not,  fyc.~ 
 
 *  He  cannot  hope  to  escape  from  darkness, 
 
 For  he  is  still  lurked  for  by  the  sword.' — M.  Good. 
 '  If  he  fall  into  trouble,  he  despairs  of  deliverance.'— C/ai-ft.        26.  He 
 runneth,  §-c.,  '  God  shall  run  at  him  with  his  neck.* — Stock. 
 '  He  (God)  shall  press  upon  him  at  the  neck, 
 
 Through  the  mailed  bosses  of  his  buckler.' — M.  Good. 
 Calmet  and  Clarke  also  refer  this  to  God,  who,  like  a  conquering  hero, 
 rushes  on  the  ungodly  and  seizes  him  by  the  throat,  which  his  mail 
 cannot  prottct.  On  the  other  hand,  many  refer  it  to  the  wicked.  The 
 Scripture  puets  represent  the  Almighty  armed  with  a  shield,  and  a 
 swoid,  and  a  bow,  and  these  hold  metaphor^,  borrowed  from  single 
 combat,  are  thought  to  denute  the  haughty  and  intrepid  attack  of  the 
 daringly  impious,  who  presumptuously  violate  God's  laws  and  con- 
 temn his  justice.— So  *.SV<i«,  Scutt,  Bp.  Hall,  Poole,  Henry,  Gill, 
 Rosenm.,  Boothr.  The  thick  bosses  allude  to  shields  embossed  in  the 
 middle,  where  they  are  thicker  than  in  utber  parts,  and  used  to  have  a 
 spike  of  iron  set  in  the  middle,  so  that  it  was  daring  and  dangerous  lo 
 run  upon  them. — Gill.         27.  Because  he  covereth,  Sfc. — 
 
 '  Though  his  face  he  enveloped  with  fatness, 
 And  heaped  up  fat  on  his  loins.' — M.  Good. 
 
 *  Though  he  covered  his  face  with  fatness.' — Boothr. 
 The  sinner  opposes  God  because  he  is  grown  rich,  powerful,  anil  suc- 
 cessful, and  his  only  care  is  to  pamper  and  please  himself.  —  Clark. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIV.  — I.  Here  we  are  reminded  of 
 Hie  frail tij  of  man.  He  is  indeed  fearfully  and  wonderfully 
 made,  but  his  texture  is  delicate  as  that  of  ibe  frail  flower. 
 We  see  him  in  all  his  beauty  and  vigour  to-day — he  is  gone 
 to-morrow.  He  is  only  a  moving  shadow,  and,  like  the  sha- 
 dow, disappears  ;  aud  so  must  all  his  enjoyments  connected 
 with  the  present  transitory  scene.  He  is  corrupt,  and  must 
 return  to  corruption.  He  who  gave  him  bis  work  on  earth 
 has  fixed  the  time  for  bis  labour  and  his  warfare,  and  at  his 
 call  he  shall  relinquish  his  toils,  and  rest  from  his  conflict, 
 liut  where  is  his  place  of  rest  \  In  the  grave.  From  that  he 
 shall  never  rise  in  this  world.  Thrice  happy  is  he  who,  be- 
 lieving in  Jesus  as  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  can  say. 
 545 
 
 '  Blessed  he  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Clirist, 
 which,  according  to  his  abundant  mercy,  hath  begotten  us 
 again  unto  a  lively  hope,  by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ 
 from  the  dead,  to  an  inheritance  incorruptible  and  undetiled, 
 and  that  fadeth  not  away.' 
 
 II.  Tilt  like  c/ia7iffcs  that  aivuit  us  shall  attend  our  successors 
 on  the  stage  of  life.  "  They  shall  come  to  honour  or  be  brought 
 low.  The  same"  trials  and  discipline  must  attend  all  the  people 
 of  God  in  their  militant  state.  We  go,  but  our  sons  spring  up 
 to  take  our  places,  and  pass  through  our  experience.  Let  it 
 be  our  aim  to  lead  them  to  the  same  God  for  support,  and  the 
 same  hopes  which,  through  a  gracious  Kedeenier,  cheer  our 
 prospects  as  we  advance  towards  the  end  of  our  days. 
 
 4    A 
 
Job  7'eproveth  his  friends. 
 
 JOB,  XVI. 
 
 He  sheiveth  his  calamity. 
 
 28  And  he  dwelleth  in  desolate  cities,  and 
 in  houses  which  no  man  inhabiteth,  which  are 
 ready  to  become  heaps. 
 
 29  He  shall  not  be  rich,  neither  shall  his  sub- 
 stance continue,  neither  shall  be  prolong  the 
 perfection  thereof  upon  the  earth. 
 
 30  He  shall  not  depart  out  of  darkness  ;  the 
 i'ame  shall  dry  up  bis  branches,  and  ''by  tlie 
 breath  of  bis  mouth  shall  he  go  away. 
 
 31  Let  not  him  that  is  deceived  "  trust  in 
 vanity  :  for  vanity  shall  be  his  recompence. 
 
 .32  It  shall  be  ||  accomplished  '  before  his 
 time,  and  his  branch  shall  not  be  green. 
 
 3.3  He  shall  shake  off  liis  unripe  grape  as  the 
 vine,  and  shall  cast  off  his  tlovi'er  as  the  olive. 
 
 34  For  the  congregation  of  hypocrites  shall 
 be  desolate,  and  fire  shall  consume  the  taber- 
 nacles of  bribery. 
 
 35  "  They  conceive  mischief,  and  bring  forth 
 II  vanity,  and  their  belly  prepareth  deceit. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  Job  reproretJi  his  friends  of  unmercifulness.  7  /A- 
 s/ieweth  the  pitifulness  of  his  case.  1 7  He  maintain- 
 eth  his  innoctJicy. 
 
 npHEN  Job  answered  and  said, 
 -'-SI  have  lieard  many  such  things:   H*  mi- 
 serable comforters  aic  ye  all. 
 
 3  Shall  fvain  words  have  an  end?  or  what 
 emboldeneth  tliee  that  thou  answerest  ? 
 
 4  I  also  could  speak  as  ye  do :  if  your  soul 
 were  in  my  soul's  stead,  I  could  heap  up  words 
 against  you,  and  ^  shake  mine  head  at  you. 
 
 5  But  I  would  strengthen  you  with  my 
 mouth,    and    the   moving  of  my  lips   should 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  1620. 
 
 ■  ch.  4.  9. 
 Is.  59.  4. 
 
 r.  cut  ^ff 
 t  ch.  ti.  16. 
 Pa.  53.  23. 
 
 H  Pa.  7   14. 
 
 Is.  59.  4. 
 
 Hos.  hi.  13 
 11  Or,  ini- 
 
 qmly 
 
 ||Or,(niH*fc- 
 a  ch.  13   4. 
 
 b  Pa-  22   7, 
 
 It   IllU.  85 
 I.am.  2.  15. 
 
 \  Heb.  vhni 
 go.,hfrom 
 
 c  ch.  10.  16, 
 17. 
 
 d  ch,  13-  24, 
 
 fi  Ps.  £2.  13. 
 
 /  I,am.  3.30 
 
 Mic    5.  1. 
 
 ff  Ps.  S5.  15. 
 
 A  ch.  I.  15, 
 
 k  oh.  SO.  19 
 Ps   7.  5, 
 
 asswage  7/oitr  grief, 
 
 6  Though  I  speak,  my  grief  is  not  asswaged  : 
 and  thoKgfi  I  forbear,  f  what  am  I  eased  ? 
 
 7  But  now  he  hath  made  me  weary:  thou 
 hast  made  desolate  all  my  company. 
 
 8  And  thou  hast  filled  me  with  wrinkles 
 which  is  a  witness  against  me  :  and  my  lean- 
 ness rising  up  in  me  beareth  witness  to  my  face. 
 
 9  "^  He  teareth  me  in  his  wrath,  who  hatetli 
 me  :  he  gnasheth  upon  me  witli  liis  teeth  ; 
 ■^  mine  enemy  sharpeneth  his  eyes  upon  me. 
 
 10  They  have  ^  gaped  upon  me  with  their 
 mouth;  they  ""have  smitten  me  upon  the 
 cheek  reproachfully;  they  have  ^gathered 
 themselves  together  against  me. 
 
 1 1  God  ''fhath  delivered  me  to  the  ungodly, 
 and  turned  me  over  into  the  hands  of  the 
 wicked. 
 
 12  I  was  at  ease,  but  he  hath  broken  me 
 asunder  :  he  hath  also  taken  me  by  my  neck, 
 and  shaken  me  to  pieces,  and  'set  me  up  for 
 his  mark. 
 
 13  His  archers  compass  me  round  about,  he 
 cleaveth  my  reins  asunder,  and  doth  not  spare; 
 he  poureth  out  my  gall  upon  the  ground. 
 
 14  He  breaketh  me  with  breach  upon  breach, 
 he  runneth  upon  me  like  a  giant. 
 
 15  1  have  sewed  sackcloth  upon  my  skin, 
 and  ^  defiled  my  horn  in  the  dust. 
 
 16  My  face  is  foul  with  weeping,  and  on  my 
 eyelids  is  the  shadow  of  death  ; 
 
 17  Not  for  any  injustice  in  mine  hands:  also 
 my  prayer  is  pure. 
 
 18  O  earth,  cover  not  thou  my  blood,  and 
 '  let  my  cry  have  no  place. 
 
 28.  And  he  dwelleth— 
 
 *  Yet  in  desolate  cities  shall  he  dwell,'  &c.— 3/.  Good. 
 This  alludes  to  the  oppressions  of  the  wicked  man,  who  has  obtained 
 them  by  conquest,  and  depopulated  them  by  slaughter  and  exaction, 
 So  *^roti.  Boothr.,  or  it  may  allude  to  the  dwelling-,  as  the  Arabian, 
 in  the  wiUlerness,  (Jer.  iii.2,)  in  desolate  places,  to  seize  upon  travellers 
 and  plunder  them  of  their  substance ;  or  be  a  prediction  of  what  the 
 state  of  his  prosperous  cities  shall  at  last  be.— So  Gill.  Note — To 
 understand  the  connexion  of  27,  28,  read  Good's  version  )ust  given  on 
 26  with  his  versions  below  it. — Ed.  29.  Neither  shall  he  prolong,  Sfc, 
 'neither  shall  his  offspring  he  propagated  upon  the  earth.' — lloub. 
 *  Neither  shall  their  prosperity  take  root  in  the  earth.*— //f/M.  A  si- 
 milar translation  by  Good  and  Boothr.  30.  Darkness,  the  darkness 
 rf  poverty,  calamity,  and  distress  he  comes  into. — GiU.  The  flame  shall 
 dtp  up  his  branches, '  his  children  shall  be  cut  oft"  by  sudden  judgments.' 
 — A.  Clarke.  The  pestilential  east  wind  is  here  alluded  to,  and  the 
 death  of  Job's  children. — Boothr.  The  destruction  of  the  tyrant  and 
 his  family  and  fortunes  is  here  represented  by  that  of  a  lofry  tree,  which, 
 on  some  dark  tempestuous  day,  is  fired  by  lightning,  torn  up  by  the 
 wind,  and  hurled  down  the  precipice  on  wfiich  it  grew. — *  Scott.  By 
 the  breath,  'with  the  breath.'— W)7.         31.  Let  not,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Let  not  his  own  ardour  make  the  transgressor  confident. 
 For  misery  shall  be  his  recompence.' — M.  Good. 
 32.  Be/ore  his  time,  fyc,  i.  e.,  '  before  his  death.'— Boft^Ar.  *  Affliction 
 shall  come  when  he  least  thinks  of  it,  like  fruit  withered  before  it  be 
 ripe.' — Bp.  Wihon.  His  branch  shall  nnt  be  green,  'shall  not  continue 
 green.'  '  His  fate  shall  be  like  that  of  a  vine  or  olive  that  is  withered 
 by  drought,  or  by  a  jioisonous  east  wind. — *  Scott.  34.  Hi/pocrites, 
 
 the  impious.        35.  Bring  forth  vanity,  '  bear  iniquity.' — Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  XVI. — 2.  Many  such  things, '  innumerable  sayings  like  these.' 
 — M.  Good.        4.  I  also  could  speak,  ^c. — 
 
 '  But  I  will  talk  on  as  well  as  you  ; 
 Surely  shall  your  own  persons  take  the  place  of  my  persoD  j 
 
 A;ainst  you  will  I  string  together  old  sayings. 
 And  my  head  will  I  shake  at  yourselves.' 
 
 5.  But  I  would  strengthen  you,  Sfc. — 
 
 '  With  my  own  mouth  will  I  overpower  you, 
 Till  the  quivering  of  my  Ups  shall  fail.' 
 
 6.  Though  I  speak,  S(c. — 
 
 '  Yet  should  I  talk  on,  my  affliction  will  not  fail.'  &c.— il/.  Good. 
 
 7.  Thou  hast  made  desolate,  Sfc,  '  thou,  Eliphaz,  by  thy  slanders,  sanc- 
 tified by  thy  years  and  character,  dnvest  away  the  few  friends  adversity 
 had  left  me.' — *  Scott.  8.  Thou  hast  filled  me  with  tirinkles,  '^iDOpH- 
 EircXa/Soi'  pov,  '  thou  hast  laid  hold  on  me,'  Sept.  The  term  is  judicial, 
 detioting  the  seizure  of  a  supposed  criminal  in  order  to  bring  him  to 
 trial. — So  Grotius.  'Thou  hast  fettered  mc,'  Sic.  He  complains  that, 
 untried,  he  was  treated  as  a  condemned  person. — Boothr.  Q.  He 
 teareth,  fyc,  '  God  teareth.'— iiet'sA-e,  Caryl.  '  This  man,  my  professed 
 fiiend.' — Scott,  so  Good.  The  metaphor  is  from  a  beast  renduig  his 
 prey. — Heath.  10.  They  have  gaped,  Sfc.,  'they  gape,'  Sic,  i.  e.,  in 
 the  manner  of  savage  beasts,  ready  to  devour  him.  The//  have  smitten 
 me  upon  the  cheek,  a  proverbial  remark,  denoting  the  greatest  insult. 
 l\.  To  the  ungodly.  Job  suspected  his  friends  from  their  unfeeling 
 insults. — Boothr.  12.  And  shaken  me  to  pieces,  ^r. — this  is  a  favourite 
 eastern  way  of  shewing  contempt  and  superiority,  and  is  finished  by 
 thrustiug  the  face  on  the  gnuind. — Rob.  I3.  Pourethout  my  gall — the 
 elephantiasis  had  a  particular  efTect  upon  the  liver,  and  a  violent 
 bilious  discharge  maybe  meant.— Heu-.  \5.  My  hnrn,  the  emblem 
 of  power,  and  this  sitjnifies  the  disgrace  or  deslrucUon  of  power, 
 authority,  and  eminence.  — Ckirke.  The  Syrinc  has  'head;*  tlie 
 Chald., '  glory.'  His  head,  of  late  so  highly  exalted,  was  now  covered 
 with  sordid  dust. — *Seott.  \y.  My  prayer  is  pure — this  disproves 
 the  calumny  of  Eliphaz,  (chap.  xv.  4  ;)  not  that  his  prayer  was  free 
 from  infirmities,  but  it  was  not  out  of  feigned  lips.— (»i7/.  18.  O  earth 
 cover  not,  ^c. — 
 
 *  O  earth  !  cover  no  blood  shed  by  me, 
 And  let  no  place  hide  a  cry  against  me.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV.  — I.  In  the  arguments  of 
 Eliphaz  we  have  the  most  important  truths.  A  wise  and  pious 
 man  will  not  be  pufi'ed  up  with  a  high  conceit  of  himself  and 
 his  piety.  He  will  not  indulge  himself  in  vain  and  useless 
 conversation  ;  his  religion  will  not  be  thrown  off  at  pleasure 
 and  his  devotion  restrained  as  with  bit  and  bridle  ;  his  heart 
 will  be  humbled  under  a  sense  of  the  greatness  of  God  and 
 his  own  depravity.  A  wicked  man  has  an  uneasy  conscience 
 while  be  continues  to  defy  God  and  his  laws,  and  for  awhile 
 rolls  in  the  luxuries  of  life,  obtained  by  the  rapine  of  the  op- 
 pressor. At  len(;th  his  day  of  reckoning  comes  ;  what  he-sows 
 he  reaps,  and  sudden  and  final  misery  overwhelms  him  and 
 54G 
 
 his  prosperity.' 
 
 II.  fn  the  application  of  the  arguments  of  Eliphaz  we  see  the 
 greatest  error.  He  had  no  right,  from  his  mere  sufferings,  to 
 infer  that  Job  was  a  prayerless,  proud,  impious  blasphemer, 
 and  that  all  the  miseries  of  the  wicked  were  in  progress  as  it 
 respected  him.  Tliis  was  judging  rash  judgment.  From  the 
 mistakes  of  Job's  friends  let  us  learn  to  exercise  Christian  can- 
 dour and  caution.  '  The  man  who  knows  liis  own  heart,'  says 
 Keyworih,  '  has  so  much  to  humble  him  before  God,  that  be 
 is  not  apt  to  think  bis  own  faults  little,  and  his  brother's 
 great.'     •  Judge  not,  that  ye  be  not  judged.' 
 
Job  appealcth  to  God 
 
 JOB,  XVII. 
 
 Ills  liope  ill  death. 
 
 19  Also  now,  behold,  ""my  witness  is  in 
 heaven,  and  my  record  is  f  on  high. 
 
 20  My  friends  f  scorn  me  :  but  mine  eye 
 poureth  out  tears  unto  God. 
 
 '21  °  O  that  one  niiglit  plead  for  a  man  with 
 God,  as  a  man  pleadeth  for  his  |l  neighbour ! 
 
 11  When  t  a  few  years  are  come,  then  I  shall 
 °  go  the  way  whence  I  shall  not  return. 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  Jub  appealcth  from  men  in  God.  6  The  unmeTciful 
 dealing  of  men  with  the  afflicted  may  astonish,  but  Jiot 
 discouratje  the  riyhteous,  11  His  hope  is  nut  in  lifet 
 but  in  di.ath. 
 
 Tl/r  Y  II  breath  is  corrupt,  my  days  are  extinct, 
 ■^*-^  ^  tlie  graves  are  ready  for  me. 
 
 2  Are  there  not  mockers  with  me?  and  doth 
 not  mine  eye  f  continue  in  their  ^provocation? 
 
 3  Lay  down  n^w,  put  me  in  a  surety  with 
 thee  ;  who  is  he  that  "  will  strilie  hands  with 
 me? 
 
 4  For  thou  hast  hid  their  heart  from  under- 
 standing :  therefore  shall  thou  not  exalt  them. 
 
 5  He  that  speaketh  flattery  to  /iis  friends, 
 even  tlie  eyes  of  his  children  shall  fail. 
 
 6  He  hath  made  me  also  *"  a  byword  of  the 
 
 (  cli.  27-  9. 
 
 Ps.66  18,19. 
 >n  Rom.  1.9 
 t  Heh.i'i  the 
 
 logh  places. 
 t  Htb.  are 
 
 m.v  >cor.,>-rt. 
 »  ch.31.  35, 
 
 Eccles6.IO. 
 
 Is-  45.  9. 
 
 Rmn.  9.20. 
 II  Or,  rrirud. 
 t  Heb.  v^Ti 
 
 ,./ nunibfr. 
 o  Ecclea-  12 
 
 I  Or,  spirit 
 
 tHeb./o'/i/e. 
 h  I  Sam.  I. 
 
 c  ProT.  6. 
 &  17-  18.  & 
 22.  26, 
 
 D.  C 
 cir    l-VJO. 
 
 Ihu-e/hU. 
 
 /■Ps.  21.  4. 
 t  H<-h. 
 
 l{  ch.  l>,  -Id. 
 
 h  ch.7.  6.  & 
 
 9.  35. 
 t  Heb   the 
 
 putteuiiim. 
 
 t  Hell.  near. 
 
 1  ch.  IS.  13. 
 •  h  oh.  :J.  17, 
 
 '     18,  19. 
 
 people  ;  and  ]|  aforetime  1  was  as  a  tabret. 
 
 7  '^  Mine  eye  also  is  dim  by  reason  of  sorrow, 
 and  all  ||  my  members  are  as  a  shadow. 
 
 8  Upright  meyi  shall  be  astonied  at  this,  and 
 the  innocent  shall  stir  up  himself  against  the 
 hypocrite. 
 
 9  The  righteous  also  shall  hold  on  his  way, 
 and  he  tliat  hath  ^  clean  hands  f  shall  be 
 stronger  and  stronger. 
 
 10  But  as  for  you  all,  ^do  ye  return,  and 
 come  now  :  for  I  cannot  find  one  wise  man 
 among  you. 
 
 11  ^  My  days  are  past,  my  purposes  are 
 broken  off,  even  f  the  thoughts  of  my  heart. 
 
 12  They  change  the  night  into  day  :  the 
 light  is  t  short  because  of  darkness. 
 
 13  If  I  wait,  the  grave  is  mine  house  :  I  have 
 made  my  bed  in  the  darkness. 
 
 14  I  have  f  said  to  corruption,  Thou  art  my 
 father:  to  tlie  worm,  T^o?/ «r^  my  mother,  and 
 my  sister. 
 
 15  And  where  is  now  my  hope?  as  for  my 
 hope  who  shall  see  it? 
 
 16  They  sliall  go  down  '  to  the  bars  of  the 
 pit,  when  our  ^  rest  together  25  in  the  dust. 
 
 They  had  accused  Job  of  being  a  tyrant,  implying  that  he  took  away 
 life  without  cause;  if  so,  then,  said  he,  let  the  bl<.'0(i  be  revenged,  fs:c. 
 — So  Boothr.  To  the  same  purport  Good,  who  observes,  the  passage 
 evidently  alludes  to  the  cry  of  Abel's  blood,  (Gen.  iv.  10.) 
 
 '  O  earth  I  conceal  not  my  wrongs  when  I  am  dead.' — Sut. 
 
 19.  My  ivittiess  is  in  fienven,  fyc,  a  good  man  dares  appeal  to  God,  and 
 commit  his  cause  to  him. — Caryl.        21.  O  that  one  might  plead,  ^c. — 
 '  O  that  a  man  might  plead  with  God, 
 As  a  man  pleadeth  with  his  fellow-man.' — Boothr. 
 22.  Wlien  a  few  years  are  come,  fyc. — 
 
 *  For  my  few  years  are  come  to  an  cnd.^—Buothr. 
 
 *  But  the  years  numbered  to  me  are  come.' 
 
 Job  contemplated  his  dissolution,  not  as  an  event  at  a  distance,  but 
 directly  before  him. — M.  Good. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.  —  I.  Alt/  breath  is  corrupt,  ^c,  n'^in  'mi,  '  my  spirit  is 
 oppressed.' — Par.  ' The  vital  power  is  exhausttd  and  consumed.' — 
 Mfrcer.  *  My  spirit  is  seized  hold  of,'  &c. — M.  Gimd.  '  My  breath  is 
 confined.' — Boofhr.  In  the  elephantiasis.  Job's  distemper,  death  is 
 usually  caused  by  a  violent  suffucation. — Par.  The  graves,  '  the 
 sepulchral  cells.' — Par.  The  cells  or  holes  in  the  sepulchral  chambers 
 for  the  coffins.  The  walls  in  these  subterraneous  rooms,  hewn  in  the 
 rock,  were  sometimes  scooped  into  rows  of  cells,  like  the  h(;les  in  a 
 pigeon  house,  wide  and  deep  enough  to  receive  a  large  coffin. — So 
 Mauiidrcll,  Sandi/,  Shaw,  in  their  Travels.  2.  A7id  doth  nut  mine  eye, 
 i^c,  '  alas  !  mine  eye  penctrateth  their  rebukes,' — M.  Good.  '  And  is 
 not  mine  eye  fixed  on  their  reproaches  ?' — Boothr.  '  Is  not  their  unjust 
 provocation  continually  in  mine  eye?'  — Bp.  Hall.  3.  Lay  down 
 now,  ^c- — 
 
 '  Come  on,  then,  I  pray  thee  ;  stake  me  against  thyself.' 
 
 Who  is  he,  §-c.,i.  e.,'  who  shall  undertake  to  be  plaintiff  in  this  cause  ; 
 or  be  advocate  for  God,  to  justify  the  way  of  his  Providence  to- 
 wards me?' — Boothr.  Strike  hands — an  ancient  proverbial  expres- 
 sion J  hence  our  phrase  *  to  strike  a  bargain.'— jV.  Good.    In  the  days  of 
 
 ancient  simplicity,  striking  hands  was  thought  a  sufficient  ratification 
 of  the  most  solemn  engagements. — *Scott.  *  Appoint,  I  pray,  my 
 surety  with  thee.'  Tliese  are  law  terms,  and  allude  to  the  custom  of 
 giving  bail  for  appearance  in  court  on  the  day  of  trial.  The  thought 
 of  the  injury  done  to  his  character  excites  in  Job  the  passionate  request 
 that  Gud  would  fix  a  time  for  his  trial  before  him  speedily. — *  Scott. 
 5.  He  that  upeaketh  flattery,  Hfc. — the  sense  seems  to  be,  the  man  who 
 expects  much  from  his  friends  will  be  disappomtcd  ;  while  depending 
 on  them,  his  children  may  fail  in  looking  for  bread.  6.  A  byword, 
 '  my  poverty  and  affliction  are  proverbial.' — ■'I.  Clarke.  And  aforetime 
 I  was  as  a  tabret,  '  I  am  his  gestynge  stock  among  them.' — Tyndat. 
 'A  dotard,'  using  the  conditional  tense  with  the  verbs. — M.  Good. 
 '  Gazing  stock.' — Boothr.  '  I  was  in  good  repute,  as  welcome  as  a 
 tabret.' — Caryl.  He  caused  joy  and  pleasure  by  his  presence. — Wil. 
 8.  Upright  men,  S,-r. — the  upright  in  heart  would  be  amazed  at  his 
 afflictions,  and  should  rise  up  with  indignation  against  such  persons  as 
 pretended  to  sanctify,  and  yet  had  no  love  nor  charity  fur  an  afflicted 
 saint. — Gilt.  10.  Do  ye  return,  §-c.,  'get  ye  hence,  and  bcgnne,  I 
 pray.' — M.  Good.  11.  The  thoughts  of  my  heart,  Eppa^ijoe  ra  upVpa 
 
 Tfic  Kap5(rtf  /xov,  'ray  heart-strings  are  broken,'  Sept.  'All  my  schemes 
 and  plans  in  relation  to  myself  and  family  are  destroyed.* — A.  Clarke. 
 lii.  They  change  the  night,  8fc.,  'night  is  assigned  me  for  day.' — 
 it/.  Good,  so  Boothr.  *  They,  the  thoufrhts  of  my  heart,  have  changed 
 the  night  for  the  day,  and  the  light  that  approaclied  for  darkness,* 
 Old  English  Trans.  '  My  great  afflictions  make  my  night  no  time  of 
 rest,  and  my  day  is  gloomy  as  night.* — So  B/i.  Hull.  13.  I  have  made, 
 fyc.,  *  I  am  making,' — M.  Good  ;  i.  e.,  henceforth,  thp  day  I  am  to  enjoy 
 is  the  night  of  death,  and  the  light  which  is  ordained  for  me  is  the 
 darkness  of  the  tomb.' — *Scoft,  so  Boothr.  15.  Where  is  now  my 
 
 hope?  that  temporal  hope  with  which  others  attempted  to  delude  him. 
 —  Wil.         16.  They  shall  go  down,  ^c. — 
 
 '  To  the  solitude  of  the  pit  it  shall  descend. 
 And  together  we  shall  rest  in  the  dust.' — Boothr. 
 
 The  bars  of  the  pit,  a  description  of  the  entrance  to  the  ancient  tombs. 
 — Hew. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XA'I.  —  We  may  here  advan- 
 tageously  abbreviate    Henry's  remarks   on    this    chapter: 
 
 I.  J(>6's  remonstrances.  His  patience  was  tried  in  various  ways. 
 By  needless  repetitions,  and  that  of  the  same  provoking 
 things.  By  unskilful  applications:  the  medicines  used  were 
 poisons,  and  his  physicians  his  worst  disease.  By  endless 
 impertinence  :  those  who  are  so  wise  as  to  speak  to  the  pur- 
 pose will  be  so  wise  as  to  know  when  they  have  said  enough. 
 By  causeless  obstinacy  :  still  continuing  to  charge  upon  him 
 crimes  which  could  not  be  proved,  and  to  pass  a  judgment  on 
 his  spiritual  state  from  a  view  of  his  outward  condition.  By 
 violation  of  the  sacred  laws  of  friendship  ;  doing  by  a  brother 
 as  they  would  not  have  been  done  by,  and  as  their  brother 
 would  not  do  to  them. 
 
 II.  Job's  coiuplaints.  That  his  family  and  friends  were  scat- 
 tered, and  all  their  company  made  desolate  ;  that  his  body  was 
 worn  away  with  diseases  and  pains  ;  that  he  had  to  contend 
 with  a  fierce  enemy  ;  that  all  about  him  were  abusive  to  him  ; 
 t)iat  God  delivered  him  into  the  hands  of  the  wicked  ;  that  at 
 the  same  time  he  had  fallen  into  God's  hands  ;  and  that  all  his 
 honour  was  laid  in  the  dust. 
 
 III.  Job's  supports.  He  was  not  quite  in  despair.  He  had 
 the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience  towards  God  and  towards 
 
 547 
 
 man.  He  had  the  satisfaction  that  God  knew  his  integrity  ; 
 he  could  pour  out  iiis  prayers  and  tears  before  God  ;  and  even 
 tears,  when  sanctified  to  God,  give  ease  to  troubled  spirits, 
 and  if  men  slight  our  griefs,  this  may  comfort  us — that  God 
 regards  them.  And  he  had  a  prospect  of  death,  whicli  would 
 put  a  period  to  all  his  troubles.  Such  confidence  had  he  to- 
 wards God,  that  he  could  take  pleasure  in  thinking  of  the  ap- 
 proach of  death,  when  he  should  be  sentenced  to  his  everlast- 
 ing state,  as  one  that  doubted  not  but  it  would  he  well  with 
 him  then  ;  *  When  a  few  years  are  come,'  the  number  of  years 
 that  are  appointed  to  me,  '  then  I  shall  go  the  way  whence  I 
 shall  not  return.'  To  die  is  to  go  a  journey — to  remove  for 
 ever  to  another  country  ;  we  must  all  of  us  very  certainly  and 
 very  shortly  go  this  journey,  and  it  is  comfortable  to  those 
 who  keep  a  good  conscience  to  think  of  it,  for  it  is  the  crown 
 of  their  integrity. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVII — Henry  remarks  on  this 
 chapter — I.  The  deplorable  condition  of  Job.  He  was  a  dying 
 man.  Wherever  we  go,  there  is  but  a  step  between  us  and 
 the  grave.  Whatever  is  unready,  that  is  ready  ;  it  is  a  bed 
 soon  made.  If  the  graves  are  ready  for  us,  it  concerns  us  to 
 be  ready  lor  the  graves.  He  was  a  despised  man  ;  a  bye-word 
 —  a  reproach  of  men.      It  is   common  for  those   who  were 
 
The  calamities  of  the  wicked. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 1  Bildad  reproveth  Job  of  presumption  and  impatitnce. 
 
 6  The  calamities  of  the  wicked. 
 'piIEN   answered    Bildad   the  Shuliite,  and 
 -*-    said, 
 
 '2  How  long  will  it  be  ere  ye  make  an  end  of 
 words?  mark,  and  afterwards  we  will  speak. 
 
 3  Wherefore  are  we  counted  *as  beasts,  and 
 reputed  vile  in  your  sight? 
 
 4  '•  He  teareth  f  himself  in  his  anger:  shall 
 the  earth  be  forsaken  for  thee  ?  and  shall  the 
 rock  be  removed  out  of  his  place? 
 
 5  Yea,  "^  the  light  of  the  wicked  shall  be  put 
 out,  and  the  spark  of  his  fire  shall  not  shine. 
 
 6  The  light  shall  be  dark  in  his  tabernacle, 
 ''and  his  ||  candle  shall  be  put  out  with  him. 
 
 7  The  steps  of  his  strengtli  .shall  be  straitened, 
 and  "  his  own  counsel  shall  cast  him  down. 
 
 8  For  'he  is  cast  into  a  net  by  his  own  feet, 
 and  lie  walketh  upon  a  snare. 
 
 9  The  gin  shall  take  him  by  the  heel,  and 
 '  the  robber  shall  prevail  against  liim. 
 
 10  The  .«nare  j.s  flaid  for  him  in  the  ground, 
 and  a  trap  for  him  in  the  way. 
 
 1 1  "  Terrors  sliall  make  him  afraid  on  every 
 side,  and  shall  f  drive  him  to  his  feet. 
 
 12  His  strength  shall  be  hungerbitten,  and 
 '  destruction  shall  he  ready  at  his  side. 
 
 13  It  shall  devour  tlie  f  strength  of  his  skin  : 
 even  the  firstborn  of  death  shall  devour  his 
 strength. 
 
 14  '  His  confiJcnce  shall  be  rooted  out  of  his 
 tabernacle,  and  it  shall  bring  him  to  the  king 
 of  terrors. 
 
 15  It  shall  dwell  in  his  tabernacle,  because 
 it  is  none  of  his:  brimstone  shall  be  scattered 
 upon  his  habitation. 
 
 16  '  His  roots  shall  be  dried  up  beneath,  and 
 
 JOB,  XVIII.,  XIX. 
 
 Job's  miscrij  represented. 
 
 b  ch.  13.  14, 
 t  Heb.  hii 
 tout. 
 
 :  Pro-  IS-  9. 
 &  :;o  20.  & 
 24.  2U. 
 
 d  ch.  21.  17 
 rs.  IS.  23. 
 II  Or,  iam;i. 
 e  cli.  S.  13. 
 
 /ch.  28.  10. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Iiiitderi. 
 
 »ch.  15.  SI. 
 &  20.  25. 
 Jer.  6.  2.1. 
 li  20  3   Kt 
 40   5.  &  49. 
 
 k  rh.8.  U. 
 ft  11.  20. 
 Ps.  112.  10 
 Pto.  10.28, 
 
 Amns2.  9. 
 Mai.  4.  1. 
 
 &  1119    13. 
 I'r-..  2.  22. 
 fc  10    7. 
 t  Heb    They 
 limit  drive 
 ttim. 
 
 i  Is.  14.  22. 
 
 Ps  37.  13. 
 
 II  Or,  t„„l 
 
 It,  him. 
 
 t   Hub.  I'K'i 
 
 h.,lj  ■■«  /ior- 
 
 ;.  Jer,  9   3. 
 )t   hi    2.1. 
 
 1  The-i.  1.5 
 
 2  Thes.  1,8. 
 Tit.  I.  16. 
 
 J  fien.  .SI.  7 
 Lev.  26.  26 
 II  Or,  linrdeit 
 
 iitjaiiiit  me. 
 
 6P>.  33 
 
 110r,rii-/Mc. 
 
 c  ch.  3.  8S. 
 Pg.  68.  8. 
 
 above  shall  his  branch  be  cut  off. 
 
 17  ■"  His  remembrance  shall  perish  from  the 
 earth,  and  he  shall  have  no  name  in  the 
 street. 
 
 18  t  He  shall  be  driven  from  light  into  dark- 
 ness, and  chased  out  of  the  world. 
 
 19  "He  shall  neither  have  son  nor  nephew 
 among  his  people,  nor  any  remaining  in  his 
 dwellings. 
 
 '20  They  that  come  after  him  shall  be  astonied 
 at  °  his  day,  as  they  that  ||  went  before  j  were 
 affrighted. 
 
 21  Surely  such  are  the  dwellings  of  the 
 wicked,  and  this  is  the  place  of  him  that 
 ^  knoweth  not  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 [  J(th,  complaining  of  his  friends"  crueltij,  sheweth  there 
 is  miscri/  enough  in  him  to  feed  their  cruellr/.  21,  "iS 
 He  cravetU  pity.     2J  He  btlitiKth  the  resjtr  reel  ion, 
 
 T^HEN  Job  answered  and  said, 
 -^    2   How   long  will    ye    vex   my  soul,    and 
 break  me  in  pieces  with  words? 
 
 3  These  "  ten  times  have  ye  reproached  me  : 
 ye  are  not  ashamed  that  ye  ||  make  yourselves 
 strange  to  me. 
 
 4  And  be  it  indeed  t/tat  I  have  erred,  mine 
 error  remaineth  with  myself. 
 
 5  U  indeed  ye  will  ^  magnify  t/ourselves 
 against  me,  and  plead  against  me  my  reproach : 
 
 (3  Know  now  that  God  hath  overthrown  me, 
 and  hath  compassed  me  with  his  net. 
 
 7  Behold,  1  cry  out  of  ||  wrong,  but  I  am  not 
 heard  :   I  cry  aloud,  but  there  is  no  judgment. 
 
 8  *^  He  hath  fenced  up  my  way  that  I  cannot 
 pass,  and  he  hath  set  darkness  in  my  paths. 
 
 9  '^  He  hath  stripped  me  of  my  glory,  and 
 taken  the  crown /row  my  head. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.  —  2.  Hnw  long,  ^c— 'how  long-  will  ye  use  cusnaring 
 words  ?' — Boothr.,  like  Schultens. 
 
 '  How  long  will  ye  plant  thorns  among  words? 
 Be  temperate,  and  then  may  we  argue.* — M.  Good. 
 
 3.  Counted  as  beast.'',  'as  if  we  had  no  reason.*  4.  He  tenreth,  ^-c., 
 i.  e.,  *  thou  art  a  madman,"  &c.  Shall  the  earth,  §-c.,  '  wouMst  thou 
 engross  all  the  care  of  Providence  to  thyself?' — A.  Clarke.  '  Is  it  not 
 more  reasonable  to  think  that  God  shouiil  do  justice  here,  than  that  the 
 works  of  nature  -hould  be  destroyed  to  make  way  for  judgment  ?' — 
 Sherlock.  6.  //<-■.  candle,  [Marff.,  'lamp  over  him')— this  refers  to  a 
 suspended  lamp.—  ir//.;  i.  e.. '  he  shall  have  no  posterity.'— ,4.  Clarke. 
 8.  He  is  cast  into  a  net,  fyc,  his  own  conduct  shall  bring  him  ruin.  The 
 metaphor  is  taken  from  a  beast  which  the  hunters  have  driven  into 
 the  toils. — Heath.  A  pit- fall,  a  snare  with  pieces  of  wood  ()r  other 
 substance  put  cross-wise  or  bar-wise,  so  as  to  sustain  the  deceitful 
 covering  of  turf  or  other  soil  put  over  it  to  hide  the  mischief  it  con- 
 reals. —  3/.  Good.  g.  The  ruhher,  'the  noose.* — JJoo^Ar. ;  perhaps 
 •  the  poacher.'  —  Wit.  II.  And  shall  drive  him   to  his  feet,   *  and, 
 
 as  if  pursuing,  shall  put  him  to  flight.' — Boothr.  13,  Devour  the 
 strenff/h  of  his  skiji,  fyc. — an  allusion  to  the  capture  of  the  elephant  in  a 
 pit- fall. — So  Clarke.        14.  And  it  shall  bring  him  to  the  king  of  terrors. 
 
 'and  DISSOLUTION  shall  invade  him  as  a  monarch.'  —  HI.  Good. 
 15.  11  shall  dwell,  ffc.,  'on  his  tent  shall  he  fix  for  its  extinction.'  This 
 terror  shall  dwell  in  his  tabernacle,  which  his  conscience  tells  him  he 
 has  gained  by  extortion  and  violence. — Bp.  Halt.  Brimstone,  Sfc. — 
 the  Hebrew  poets  and  prophets  used  the  overthrow  of  the  cities  of  the 
 plain  as  an  image  of  all  other  desolating  judgments.— Loh'/A.  i6.  His 
 roots,  fyc  ,  a  beautiful  description  of  a  tree  struck  with  lightning,  and 
 huint  and  shattered  to  pieces.— Gill.  Predicting  the  ruin  of  himself, 
 posterity,  and  property. — So  Clarke.  17-  ^o  name  in  the  street,  ffc. 
 — no  kindred  to  keep  up  his  name  among  men. — Boothr.  No  reputa- 
 tion.— Sut.  This  seems  to  be  the  idea,  for  Roberts  gives  an  example 
 illustrating  it,  in  Hindoo  terms,  '  What  kind  of  a  man  is  Ramar  ?*  '  1 
 will  tell  you :  his  name  is  in  every  street ;'  which  means,  he  is  a  per- 
 son of  great  fame. — Ed.  IQ.  Son  nor  nephew,  this  is  not  to  be  taken 
 strictly,  but  includes  kindred  of  every  degree. — Caryl.  20.  They  that 
 come — 'posterity.* — Boothr.  His  day  of  calamity  and  distress,  ruin 
 and  destruction,  (see  Ps.  xxxvii.  13.) — Gill.  'Day'  is  here  used  for 
 'life.'— J7.  Gooii. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  — 3.  Ten  times,  that  is,  many  times,  as  Neh.  iv.  12. — 
 Ref.  Bib.  Ye  are  not  ashamed,  SfC,  '  ye  relax  not,  ye  press  forward 
 upon  me.'— il/.  Good.  '  Nor  are  ye  ashamed  thus  proudly  to  treat  me.* 
 Boothr.        9.  The  crown,  may  mean  the  richer  kind  of  turban,  worn 
 
 honoured  in  their  wealth,  to  be  despised  in  their  poverty.  He 
 was  a  man  of  sorrows.  His  eyes  were  dim  with  sorrow.  The 
 sorrow  of  the  world  thus  works  darkness  and  death. 
 
 H.  The  ill  use  which  his  friends  made  of  his  miseries.  They 
 insulted  over  him,  and  condemned  bim  as  a  Iiypocrite,  because 
 he  was  afflicted.  They  both  censured  and  bantered  him.  The 
 unkindness  of  those  who  trample  upon  tlieir  friends  in  their 
 affliction  is  enough  to  try,  if  not  to  tire,  the  patience  even  of 
 Job  himself. 
 
 HI.  The  good  use  which  the  righteous  should  make  nf  Job's 
 afflictions.  To  oppose  the  evil  inferences  drawn  from  tne  suf- 
 ierings  of  the  just.  To  persevere  in  religion,  and  with  so  much 
 the  more  constancy  and  resolution  bold  on  and  press  forward : 
 those  who  keep  their  eye  upon  heaven  as  iheir  end,  will  keep 
 their  feet  in  the  paths  of  religion  as  their  way,  whatever  diffi- 
 culties and  discouragements  they  meet  with  m  it.  To  look  for- 
 ward to  their  final  rest :  if  in  this  life  believers  only  have  hope, 
 they  are  of  all  men  the  most  miserable  ;  but  they  have  some- 
 thins;  out  of  sii;ht  to  he  hoped  for;  not  things  that  are  seen, 
 .04R 
 
 that  are  temporal,  but  things  not  seen,  that  are  eternal. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVHI.  —  I.  Bildad  here  sharply 
 I'cproves  Job.  Henry  observes,  *  he  charges  him  with  idle, 
 endless  talk,  with  a  regardlessness  of  wliat  was  said  to  him, 
 with  a  haughty  contempt  and  disdain  of  his  friends,  with  out- 
 rageous passion,  and  a  proud  and  arrogant  expectation  to  give 
 law  even  to  Providence.  Thus  he  was  serving  Satan's  design 
 in  adding  to  Job's  affliction.' 
 
 H.  Bildad  describes  the  miscralile  condition  of  a  tricked  man. 
 There  is  here  a  great  deal  of  certain  truth,  which  will  be  of 
 excellent  use  if  duly  considered — that  a  sinful  condition  is  a 
 sad  condition,  and  that  iniquity  will  bo  men's  ruin  if  they  do 
 not  repent  of  it ;  but  it  is  not  true  that  all  wicked  people  are 
 visibly  and  openly  made  thus  miserable  in  this  world,  nor 
 that  all  who  are  brought  into  great  distress  and  trouble  in  this 
 world  are  tlierefore  to  be  deemed  and  adjudged  wicked  men, 
 though  no  other  proof  appenrs  against  them.  Let  us,  IlO\^■eve^, 
 stand  in  awe,  and  not  sin,  for  it  will  certainly  be  bitterness  in 
 the  latter  end. 
 
Jub  craveth  pity. 
 
 JOB,  XX. 
 
 His  belief  in  the  lesurrection. 
 
 10  He  liatli  destroyed  me  on  every  side,  and 
 I  am  gone  :  and  mine  liope  hath  he  removed 
 like  a  tree. 
 
 11  He  hath  also  kindled  his  wrath  against  me, 
 and  "he  counteth  me  nuto  him  as  one  q/"  his 
 enemies. 
 
 12  His  troops  come  together,  and  'raise  up 
 their  way  against  me,  and  encamp  round  about 
 my  tabernacle. 
 
 13  ^  He  hath  put  my  brethren  far  from  me, 
 and  mine  acquaintance  are  verily  estranged 
 from  me. 
 
 14  My  kinsfolk  have  failed,  and  my  familiar 
 friends  have  forgotten  nie. 
 
 15  They  tliat  dwell  in  mine  house,  and  my 
 maids,  coinit  me  for  a  stranger  :  I  am  an  alien 
 in  their  sight. 
 
 16  I  called  my  servant,  and  he  gave  7ne  no 
 answer  ;  I  iiitreated  him  with  my  month. 
 
 17  My  breath  is  strange  to  my  wife,  though 
 I  intreated  for  the  children's  sahc  of  f  mine 
 own  body. 
 
 18  Yea,  ||'' young  children  despised  me;  I 
 arose,  and  they  spake  against  me. 
 
 19  'All  t™y  inward  friends  abhorred  me: 
 and  they  whom  I  loved  are  turned  against  me. 
 
 20  ^  My  bone  cleaveth  to  my  skin  {{  and  to 
 my  flesh,  and  I  am  escaped  with  the  skin  of  my 
 teeth. 
 
 21  Have  pity  upon  me,  have  pity  upon  me, 
 O  ye  my  friends  ;  '  for  the  hand  of  God  hath 
 touclied  me. 
 
 22  Why  do  ye  "  persecute  me  as  God,  and 
 are  not  satisfied  with  my  flesli  ? 
 
 23  t  Oil  that  my  words  were  now  written  !  oh 
 
 «  ch.  13.  84 
 Lam.  '2.  6. 
 
 iVa.  SI.  II. 
 ft  9tj.  II.  .^ 
 
 <i9.  8.  Hi  88. 
 H,  18. 
 
 t  Heb.  my 
 bell  If. 
 
 II  Or,  Me 
 
 wi^krd. 
 A  a  Kin.  2. 
 
 •is. 
 t  Ps.  .11.9.  & 
 
 55.  l;!,  14, 
 
 •JO. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 lecTet. 
 
 ft  cii.  m.  Sii. 
 
 Ps.  1112.  5. 
 
 Lam.  4   8. 
 II  Or,  m. 
 Irh.  1     II. 
 
 Ps.  38.  2. 
 
 m  P».  69.  26. 
 t  Hcb.  iriio 
 win  pir^, 
 
 B    0 
 
 cii-.  15-20. 
 
 II  Or,  ^/l,r 
 I  limit 
 
 lh>,H^)t  tl.ii 
 body  be  tie- 
 tlrai/fd,  iftt 
 outofm,, 
 firth  ),hnU  J 
 se<-  Qi.d. 
 ■I  Pg.  17. 
 1  Ci»r.l3.l 
 
 I  Johu  3.  2, 
 \  Heb. 
 
 inmed  wilfi 
 ea^ne.^^desire 
 [for  til  at 
 day.] 
 
 t  Heb  in  mt/ 
 bosom. 
 
 o  ver.  22. 
 
 II  Or,  niiii 
 wliatro'ifo/ 
 
 ;'  Ps.  5S.  10, 
 
 t  Heb,  mv 
 
 o  Ps.  37.  35, 
 
 3ii. 
 t  Heb  from 
 
 b'u.'w.  13, 
 U,  Obad.3, 
 
 that  tliey  were  printed  in  a  book  I 
 
 24  That  they  were  graven  with  an  iron  pen 
 and  lead  in  the  rock  for  ever! 
 
 25  For  I  know  that  iny  redeemer  liveth,  and 
 that  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the 
 earth  : 
 
 '2G  II  And  thoiKjh  after  my  skin  ivorms  de- 
 stroy this  body,  yet  "in  my  flesh  shall  I  see 
 God: 
 
 27  Whom  I  shall  see  for  myself,  and  mine 
 eyes  shall  behold, and  not  f  another;  \\thoiigh 
 my  reins  be  consnmed  f  within  me. 
 
 28  But  ye  should  say,  "  Why  persecute  we 
 him,  II  seeing  the  root  of  the  matter  is  found  in 
 me? 
 
 29  Be  ye  afraid  of  the  sword  :  for  wratli 
 brincfith  the  punishments  of  the  sword,  **that 
 ye  may  know  there  is  a  judgment. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 Zophar  skeweth  the  state  and  portion  of  the  wicked, 
 
 ^HEN    answered    Zophar  the   Naamathite, 
 •^    and  said, 
 
 2  Therefore  do  my  thoughts  cause  me  to 
 answer,  and  for  this  f  I  make  liaste. 
 
 3  I  have  heard  the  check  of  my  reproach,  and 
 the  spirit  of  my  understanding  causeth  me  to 
 answer. 
 
 4  Knowest  thou  not  this  of  old,  since  man 
 was  placed  upon  earth, 
 
 5  "That  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked  is 
 f  short,  and  the  joy  of  the  hypocrite  but  for  a 
 moment? 
 
 6  ^  Tliough  his  excellency  mount  up  to  tlie 
 heavens,  and  his  head  reach  unto  the  f  clouds  ; 
 
 by  persons  of  distinction  among:  the  Arabs  at  this  day.— Sco/^. 
 10.  Removed,  'plucked  up.' — Boothr.  12.  His  troops,  §-c.— meta- 
 phors borrnwcd  from  the  works  of  a  besicg:in§:  army. —  *Scott. 
 15.  They  that  dwell,  ?fc  ,  denote,  among  the  Arabs,  those  that  put 
 tlicmsi  Ives  under  a  great  man's  protection.  17.  My  breath  isstru/ii^e 
 to  my  ivi/e,  fyc,  'she  will  not  listen  to  my  words.' — Caryl.  19.  My 
 inward  friejids,  'familiar  friends.'  'The  men  of  my  council.' — 
 M.  Good.  20.  With  the  skin  of  my  teeth— \\ie  ancient  heathen 
 knocked  out  the  teeth  of  their  prisoners,  leaving  only  their  gums. — 
 Hob.  23.  Printed  in  n  book,  '  engraven  on  a  table. '^Jl/.  Good.  '  In- 
 scribed in  a  register.'  24.  Pen,  'style.' — Bnothr.  And  lend,  'even 
 upon  lead.' — Boothr.  The  writing  on  rolls  of  lead  was  of  hi^'h  anti- 
 quity, and  came  in  practice  next  after  writing  on  the  bark  and  leaves 
 of  trees,  and  was  ti^cd  in  recording  public  transactions. — So  Pliny. 
 Jji  the  rock,  'that  they  vierc  sculptured  in  the  rock." — M.  Good.  This 
 eeems  to  be  mentioned  as  a  different  and  more  durable  method  than 
 even  engi'aving  on  lead. — Par.  It  may  refer  to  the  cutting  ont  on 
 stone  and  filling  up  the  incisions  wiMi  lead  poured  into  them, —JfircAi; 
 or  Job  might  wish  the  words  engraven  on  his  sepulchral  monument, 
 hewn  out   of  a   rock. — Gill.  25.  My  redeemer,   "hti^,   '  Restorer  or 
 
 Deliverer.'  Chald.  'O  eicXveiv  /le  neWayv,  '  He  who  will  restore  or  de- 
 liver me.'  Sept.,  so  Le  Clerc.  *  Vindicator.' — Schultens,  Geddes,  Stack. 
 'Kinsman,'  or  'ncir  relation.'— Seo/^.  And  that  he  shall  stand,  SfC, 
 '  He  will  be-iege  the  dust.' — Dathe.  '  He  will  stand  or  remain  the  last 
 upon  the  earih.'— /2f>.sej)rrt.,  ^-c.  'And  will  ascend,  at  last,  upon  the 
 earth,'  that  is,  ascend  his  tribunal  as  judge. — M.  Good.  'However 
 I  may  be  judged  by  you,  yet  1  know  I  have  a  Judge  and  a  gracious 
 Redeemer  to  come,'  fic. — Bp.  Hall.  Latter  day,  or  '  time,'  day  being 
 used  by  the  prophets  for  the  Messiah's  time  or  days,  (see  Deut.  iv.  30  ; 
 xxxi.  29  ;  Joel,  ii.  28,  29 ;  Jer.  xxiii.  20 ;  .xxxiii.  l6;  Ezek.  xxxviii.  l6; 
 Dan.  ii.  28;  x.  14.)  Job  here  speaks  of  the  Redeemer's  incarnation, 
 and  also  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  at  the  final  advent.— Pof»/e, 
 Henry,  Gill,  Bp.  Pearson,  Hales,  Ostervald,  Scott,  fyc.  ^c.  Job 
 might  have  known  the  (ir)ctrine  of  a  resurrection  and  future  judgment 
 from  Enoch  having  propliesied,  (Jude,  U,  15.)  and  he  certainly  refers 
 to  it  elsewhere,  (clinp.  xiv.  13— 15;  x.xi.  30,  &c,) — Wil.  This  passage 
 is  limited,  by  many,  to  a  mere  restoration  from  the  disease  under  which 
 Job  sufteri-d,  and  they  deny  that  it  has  any  reference  to  the  resurrec- 
 tion.   The  principal  advocates  of  this  class  are  St.  Chrysostom,   St. 
 
 Ambr:jse,  Grutius,  Le  Clere,  Reiske,  Mich.,  Vugel,  War  burton.  Stock. 
 2().  A7id  fhntrsh  after  my  skin,  ^c,  '  after  the  disease  hath  destroyed 
 my  skin.' — M.  Good.  Tror;/(s— the  word  is  not  in  the  tiriginal.  It  is 
 Dt^l  1CJ?3  ^113?  inxT,  'and  after  my  skin  they  have  destroyed  this.' 
 To  whom  or  what  can  the  they  refer  i  To  the  tcfxvns.  —  Pise,  Jif/i., 
 Trem.  Disease. — M.  Gnod,  Pye  Smith,  (seethe extracts  bclow,)soalso 
 Clarke.  Decideilly  worms,  for  the  orientals,  ancient  and  modern,  have 
 asserted  that  worms  exist  in  the  skin,  and  in  all  parts  of  the  body, 
 and  priiicijnlly  cause  its  destruction. — liob.  27.  Not  another,  '  not 
 auotlier's.'- 71/.  Good,  Boothr. 
 
 *  I  surely  do  know  my  Redeemer,  the  Living  One, 
 And  He,  the  Last,  will  arise  over  the  dust. 
 And  after  tiie  disease  has  cut  down  my  skin. 
 Even  from  my  flesh  1  shall  see  God : 
 Whom  I  shiill  see  on  my  behalf  ; 
 And  mine  ejcs  shrill  behold  him,  and  not  estranged.* — Pye  Smith. 
 
 Thonqh  my  reins,  SfC,  'such  the  hope  that  reposes  in  my  bnsom, 
 Vulg.,  Spanish  Versitin.  The  word  'though'  may  be  left  out,  and  be 
 read.  '  my  reins  are  consumed  within  me,'  or  '  within  my  bosom  ;*  both 
 being  the  seat  of  the  affections  and  desirei,  may  signify,  his  most 
 earnest  and  eager  desire  after  the  state  of  the  resurrection  from  the 
 dead. — Gill.  'Though  this  frame  be  dissolved,  I  believe  I  shall  live 
 again  hereafter,  as  truly  and  certainly  as  1  do  n(iw.* — Peters.  'Though 
 1  myself  shall  soon  be  gone,  yet  my  Redeemer  livc^,  and  will,  at  the 
 last  da\,  call  me  from  the  grave;  and  with  my  nwn  eyes  shall  I  see 
 God  my  Saviour.' — Sherlock.  28.  The  root  of  the  matter,  '  the  root 
 of  Divine  faith  and  grace,' — Scott ;  i.e.,  he  had  truth  on  his  side. — Pat., 
 Wil.        29.  There  is  a  judgment,  '  what  judgment  is.' — Boothr, 
 
 Chap.  XX.  —  2.  Therefore  do  my  thoughts,  §c. — 
 '  Whither  would  my  tumult  trans[)ort  me  ? 
 
 And  my  agitation  within  me  V — M.  Good. 
 '  Surely  my  thoughts  suggest  to  me  a  reply, 
 
 Wherefore  I  make  haste  to  produce  it.' — Boothr. 
 
 3.  I  hare  heard,  §-c.,  '  I  have  heard  (snyest  thou)  the  charge  of  my  re- 
 proach.'— M.  Good. 
 
 '  I  heard  my. reproachful  correction, '~i?oo?/i»- 
 
 Reflectio.vs    on    Chap.   XIX This  chapter  describes, 
 
 I.  Joh^s  present  sufftrinys — repeatedly  reproached  by  bis  friends, 
 afflicted  by  bis  (_iod,  and  deserted  by  all  around  him.  Good 
 men  have  often  great  trials. 
 
 II.  Job's  future  prospects.  Though  all  seemed  dark  about 
 liim,  and  the  gloon)  of  the  t^rave  was  before  him,  yet  a  bright 
 I  eana  glanced  athwart  the  dark  passage,  and  the  light  of  life 
 for  a  moment  cheered  bis  drooping  spirit.  The  same  inspira- 
 tion broke  in  upon  his  mind  that  comforted  the  dying  .Tacob, 
 649 
 
 when  be  said,  'I  have  waited  for  thy  salvation,  O  Lord!' 
 What  a  solace  it  is  to  the  mind  of  a  believer,  amidst  all  his 
 dying  hopes  and  consolations,  that  he  has  a  living  Redeemer  ! 
 Job  surely  felt  this,  and  his  language  was  equivalent  to  that 
 of  one  who  lived  under  the  brightest  dispensation — '  O  death, 
 where  is  thy  sting  ;  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  !  The  sting 
 of  death  is  sin,  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law  ;  but  thanks 
 he  to  Gnd,  which  givelh  us  the  victory  tbrougli  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ.' 
 
The  portion  and  state 
 
 JOB,  XXI. 
 
 of  the  wicked. 
 
 7  Yet  he  shall  perish  for  ever  '  like  his  own 
 dung :  they  wliich  have  seen  him  shall  say, 
 Where  is  he  ? 
 
 8  He  shall  fly  away  ''  as  a  dream,  and  shall 
 not  be  fonnd:  yea,  he  shall  be  chased  away  as 
 a  vision  of  the  night. 
 
 9  °  The  eye  also  which  saw  him  shall  sec  him 
 no  more;  neither  shall  his  place  any  more  be- 
 hold him. 
 
 10  II  His  children  shall  seek  to  please  the 
 poor,  and  his  hands  'shall  restore  their  goods. 
 
 1 1  His  bones  are  fnll  of  ^  the  sin  of  his  youth, 
 I'  wliich  shall  lie  down  with  him  in  the  dust. 
 
 12  Thongli  wickedness  be  sweet  in  his  mouth, 
 though  he  hide  it  under  his  tongue  ; 
 
 13  Thouijh  he  .spare  it,  and  forsake  it  not; 
 but  keep  it  still  f  within  his  mouth  : 
 
 14  Yet  his  meat  in  his  bowels  is  turned,  it  is 
 the  gall  of  asps  within  him. 
 
 15  He  hath  swallowed  down  riches,  and  he 
 shall  vomit  them  up  again  :  God  shall  cast 
 them  out  of  his  belly. 
 
 IG  He  shall  suck  the  poison  of  asps:  the 
 viper's  tongue  shall  slay  him. 
 
 17  He  shall  not  see  '  the  rivers,  ||  tlie  floods, 
 the  brooks  of  honey  and  butter. 
 
 18  That  which  he  laboured  for  'shall  he  re- 
 store, and  shall  not  swallow  it  down  ;  f  accord- 
 ing to  Iiis  substance  shall  the  restitution  be, 
 and  he  shall  not  rejoice  therein. 
 
 19  Because  he  hath  f  oppressed  and  hath 
 forsaken  the  poor;  because  he  hath  violently 
 taken  away  an  bouse  which  be  buihled  not  ; 
 
 '20  '  Surely  be  shall  not  feel  quietness  in  bis 
 belly,  be  shall  not  save  of  that  which  he  de- 
 sired. 
 
 21  II  There  shall  none  of  bis  meat  be  left; 
 therefore  shall  no  man  look  for  bis  goods. 
 
 22  In  the  fulness  of  bis  sufticiency  he  shall  be 
 in  straits  :  every  hand  of  the  ||  wicked  shall 
 come  upon  bim. 
 
 23  When  he  is  about  to  fill  his  belly,  God 
 
 J  I's.  7.3  20. 
 ."*  90.  6. 
 
 f  fli  7..9,  10. 
 &fi,  IS     i'B 
 
 103.  IC, 
 
 II  Or.  Tht 
 
 riTprfH  flit 
 ih'I'tre.,. 
 
 ever     13. 
 
 •J  i-h.  13.  ?6. 
 l'».  i.l.  7. 
 
 I.  ell.  21.  86. 
 
 t  Heh.  m  II, 
 mi4,l  «fhii 
 
 .rs. .■»;  9. 
 
 Jor.  17.  6. 
 II  Or,  ihmm- 
 
 '••rj  br'iokt. 
 A  V,.,-  10,  13. 
 t  llel..  »c. 
 
 rnr't'ttg  In 
 
 llir  tiil/.lniief 
 
 II  Or.  II,': 
 il,otl  Af  „o>,t 
 Uflf.,,  I 
 
 It  Or,  iTwbU- 
 
 n  Nu-  ll.:« 
 PS.T830..91. 
 
 I  Is.  V4.  IS. 
 Jer.  -19,  43. 
 AmosS.  10 
 
 u  ch.  16.  13. 
 ;icli.  19.  11. 
 
 r  ell.  27  13, 
 f.  31.  S,  3 
 
 t  He!..  ../"Ai, 
 dreti'f  fratn 
 
 a„d. 
 
 b  Jiiilg.  IS 
 19.  ch  29  9 
 &  AO.  1.  Pe. 
 
 o  rh.  12.  6. 
 P>.  17.  in. 
 M,  k  73.  3, 
 
 shall  cast  the  fury  of  his  wrath  upon  him,  and 
 shall  rain  it  upon  him  "  while  he  is  eating. 
 
 24  "  He  shall  flee  from  the  iron  weapon,  and 
 the  bow  of  steel  shall  strike  him  through. 
 
 25  It  is  drawn,  and  cometh  out  of  the  body  ; 
 yea,  °  the  glittering  sword  cometh  out  of  his 
 gall :  "  terrors  are  upon  bim. 
 
 2G  All  darkness  shall  be  bid  in  bis  secret 
 places  :  ''a  fire  not  blown  shall  consume  him  ; 
 it  shall  go  ill  with  bim  that  is  left  in  bis  taber- 
 nacle. 
 
 27  The  heaven  shall  reveal  bis  iniquity;  and 
 the  earth  shall  rise  up  against  bim. 
 
 28  The  increase  of  his  house  shall  depart, 
 and  his  goods  shall  flow  away  in  the  day  of  his 
 wrath. 
 
 29  '  This  is  the  portion  of  a  wicked  man  from 
 God,  and  the  heritage  f  appointed  unto  him 
 by  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  Job  shewth  that  even  in  the  judi/meiit  of  man  he  hath 
 reason  to  be  prievul.  7  Sornefimrs  the  ivicked  do  so 
 prospir.,  as  they  despise  God.  J  6  Sometimes  their 
 destruction  is  manifest.  2'2  The  happy  and  unhappy 
 are  alike  in  death.  27  Thtjiidi)ment  of  the  wicked  is 
 in  another  world. 
 
 T>UT  Job  answered  and  said, 
 
 -'-'  *2  Hear  diligently  my  speech,  and  let  this 
 
 be  your  consolations. 
 
 3  Suffer  me  that  I  may  speak ;  and  after  that 
 I  have  spoken,  "  mock  on. 
 
 4  As  for  me,  is  my  complaint  to  man?  and  if 
 it  were  so,  why  should  not  my  spirit  be  f  trou- 
 bled y 
 
 5  t  Mark  me,  and  be  astonished,  ''and  lay 
 ?/our  hand  upon  i/oiir  mouth. 
 
 6  Even  when  1  remember  I  am  afraid,  and 
 trembling  taketh  hold  on  my  flesh. 
 
 7  "^  Wherefore  do  the  wicked  live,  become 
 old,  yea,  are  mighty  in  power? 
 
 8  Their  seed  is  established  in  their  sight  with 
 them,  and  their  offspring  before  their  eyes. 
 
 7.  Lifte  his  oivn  rJitng.  afiijnre  of  speech  denoting  contempt  and  infamy. 
 —Sut.         10.  His-  childrfji,  {^r  — 
 
 *  His  children  shall  wander  about  beggars. 
 And  ills  branches  be  involved  in  his  iniquity.' — lif.  Oond. 
 '  His  children  shall,  hereafter,  be  compelled  to  pay  their  court  to  the 
 poor.' — Heir.         14,  Yet  hi<!  meat,  Pfc. — 
 
 *  His  meat  in  his  swallow  [stomach, — Bonthr.,']  shall  be  changed 
 To  the  gall  of  asps  in  his  bowels.'— iW".  Good. 
 
 JElian  sayc,  the  pnison  of  asps  is  extremely  subtle,  and  extends  its 
 effects  rapidly  over  the  whole  body. —  Scrip.  I/lus.,  E.ipos.  Index. 
 15.  He  hath  nirallnwed  dotvn  rirfipn—tho  original,  y'jlt  denotes  'vast 
 avidity  and  raiiidity,*  being  a  metajihTfrorn  a  ravenous  beast  devour- 
 ing its  prey. — *Sciift,  ifi.  St/rfc  the  poimtrt,  fyr. — his  ill-gutten  riches 
 Fhall  prove  as  deadly  a  tortvire  as  if  he  had  sucked  the  poison  of  asps. — 
 Put.  Such  allusions  are  extrenn  ly  natural  in  a  country  where  deadly 
 serpents  infe«t  the  paths,  and  numbers  continually  die  of  their  bite. — 
 Jiob.  17.  He  .shall  not  see  the  rivers,  ^c,  the  plenty  and  happiness 
 be  proposed  to  himself. — Bp  iJ'ilsnn.  The  brooks,  'the  valleys.' — 
 Boot/ir.  Of  hnney  and  butter,  the  common  results  of  a  rich  and  well- 
 watered  pasturage,  offering  a  perpetual  banquet  of  grass  tn  kine,  and 
 nectar  to  the  bee.— il/.  Good.  The  honey  flowing  plentifully  from  the 
 comb,  and  the  eastern  butter  being  a  kind  of  thick  cream,  may,  in 
 strong  language,  be  compared  to  a  litUe  river. — Har.,  Cut.  19.  That 
 which  he  litboured,  (fc. — 
 
 '  To  labour  shall  he  return,  but  he  shall  not  eat ; 
 A  death  liis  recompence — yea,  nothing  shall  he  taste.' 
 
 He  sliatl  return  to  barren  labour  that  shall  yield  him  nothing. — 
 M.  Guild.     AccordiJig  to  his  substance,  ^c. — 
 
 '  In  the  wealth  of  his  merchandize  he  shall  not  rejoice.'— BooMt*. 
 
 20.  Surely  he  shall  not  feel,  ^c— 
 
 *  Ilecause  he  acknowledged  not  the  r/uail  in  his  stomach. 
 In  the  midst  of  his  delight  he  shall  not  escape.' 
 
 This  is  the  version  of  Bp.  Stock,  who  from  this  to  ver.  23,  imagines 
 alhision  to  be  made  to  the  fact  recorded  in  Num.  xi.  33,  34,  and  hence 
 infers  the  date  of  ttie  poem  to  be  subsequent  to  that  event.  Dr.Ciarke 
 leans  to  his  opinion.  Dr.  Good  says,  Stork  makes  his  theory  the  basis 
 of  his  translation,  and  then  his  translation  the  basis  of  his  theory. 
 23.  Fill  his  belli/— the  expression  is  common  in  the  east,  a  hungry  man 
 addresses    you.  *  My  lord,  for  my  belly  nothing!' — Bob.  26.   All 
 
 darkness  shall  be  hid,  fyc. — 
 
 *  Every  iionaoR  treasured  up  in  reserve  for  him.* — M.  Good. 
 
 *  Darkness'  here  means  every  species  of  calamity  and  distress.  27.  The 
 bent-en  shall  rei-enl,  fyc.,  '  sh^ll  publish  his  guilt ;'  by  lightning,  for  in- 
 stance, such  as  destroyed  Job's  sheep;  and  by  storms  of  wind,  such 
 as  destroyed  his  children. — *Scolt. 
 
 CuAP.  XXI.  —  2.  And  let  this  be  your  consolations,  'and  may  this 
 produce  your  retraction.' — ^1/.  Good.  D!3\'TDin;n.  fjour  cim-tolations. 
 Met  your  retractations'  'induce  you  to  retract,'  for  the  root,  DHO. 
 signifies  not  only  'to  comfort,'  but  'to  change  one's  mind.' — So 
 Cifirke.         4.  As  for  me,  O^Nn. 
 
 Refmttions  on  Chap.  XX The  rematks  on  this  chap- 
 ter must  be  similar  to  that  of  many  preceding,  the  train  of 
 argument  being  the  same— I.  ff'icked  men  may  riot  in  their 
 wickedness  for  a  season,  but  they  shall  reap  the  fruit  of  thetr 
 doings. 
 
 11.  The  wicked  often  entail  yniserics  on  tbeir  posteritr/,  who,  as 
 Archbishop  Tillotson  observes, '  do  many  times  inherit  the  fruit 
 of  tbeir  fathers'  sins  and  vices,  and  that  not  only  by  the  just 
 judgment  of  God,  hut  from  the  natural  course  and  conse- 
 quence of  things.  How  thankful,  then,  ought  those  children 
 to  be  who  have  godly  parents,  who,  if  they  can  leave  them 
 350 
 
 much,  liave  not  obtained  it  by  the  grasp  of  the  oppressor;  or 
 if  little,  have  left  the  blessing  of  God  with  it.* 
 
 III.  The  tcrong  application  of  the  case  of  the  wicked  to  that  of 
 Job  is  here  atjain  ohviints.  Let  us  learn  from  it  to  avoid  ha*ty 
 replies  and  censures,  and  rather  to  cherish  that  charity  wjiich 
 '  beareth  all  things,  believeth  all  things,  hopeth  all  things,  en- 
 dureth  all  things.'  ()  what  miserable  comforters  do  sufferers 
 often  find  in  men  !  But  there  is  One  of  whom  it  is  said,  '  a 
 bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and  the  smoking  flax  shall 
 he  not  quench.'  Blessed  Saviour  !  thou  art  meek  and  lowly  of 
 heart  ;  may  we  come  unto  thee  and  find  rest  for  our  souls  ! 
 
The  deceitful  prosperity  of  the  wicked. 
 
 JOB,  XXII. 
 
 The  happy  and  unhappy  alike  in  death. 
 
 9  Their  houses  \ are  safe  from  fear,  ''neither 
 is  the  rod  of  God  upon  them. 
 
 !0  Their  bull  gendeieth,  and  faileth  not; 
 their  cow  calveth,  and  "  casteth  not  her  calf. 
 
 1 1  They  send  forth  their  little  ones  lilie  a 
 flock,  and  their  children  dance. 
 
 12  They  take  the  timbrel  and  harp,  and  re- 
 joice at  tlie  sound  of  the  organ. 
 
 13  They  'spend  tlieir  days  ||  in  wealth,  and 
 in  a  moment  go  down  to  the  grave. 
 
 14  ^Therefore  they  say  unto  God,  Depart 
 from  us ;  for  we  desire  not  the  knowledge  of 
 thy  ways. 
 
 15  ''  Vvhat  is  the  Almighty,  that  we  should 
 serve  him  ?  and  '  what  profit  should  we  have, 
 if  we  pray  unto  him  ? 
 
 IG  Lo,  their  good  is  not  in  their  hand  :  '■  the 
 counsel  of  the  wicked  is  far  from  me. 
 
 17  '  How  oft  is  the  ||  candle  of  the  wicked 
 put  out?  and  how  of t  comei\\  their  destruction 
 upon  them?  God  "'distributeth  sorrows  in  his 
 anger. 
 
 18  "  They  are  as  stubble  before  the  wind,  and 
 as  chaff  that  the  storm  f  carrieth  away. 
 
 19  God  layeth  up  ||  his  iniquity  "for  his  chil- 
 dren :  he  rewardeth  him,  and  he  shall  know  it. 
 
 20  His  eyes  shall  see  his  destruction,  and  ""he 
 shall  drink  of  the  wrath  of  the  Almiglity. 
 
 21  For  what  pleasure  hath  he  in  his  house 
 after  him,  when  the  number  of  his  months  is 
 cut  off  in  tlie  midst? 
 
 22  ''Shall  any  teach  God  knowledge?  seeing 
 he  judgeth  those  that  are  high. 
 
 23  One  dieth  f  in  his  full  strength,  being 
 wholly  at  ease  and  quiet. 
 
 24  His  II  breasts  are  full  of  milk,  and  his 
 bones  are  moistened  with  marrow. 
 
 25  And  another  dieth  in  the  bitterness  of  his 
 
 B.  c.  B.  c. 
 
 .  15^0.  cir.  1530. 
 
 I  lleb.  are 
 
 j'l-'ic^  frtim 
 
 fnr 
 
 d  Ps   73,  5. 
 
 e  Ki.  23.  ie. 
 
 t  Heb    tlif 
 ttiit  "fthe 
 
 /ch  30    n. 
 
 Pro.  I.  10. 
 /  ch.  18  6. 
 II  Or,  Ump. 
 
 mLu.  12.(6. 
 
 .J  Ps  t  +  ft 
 ^  5.  Is  17. 
 13.  &  20.  5 
 Hns.  13.  S. 
 
 t  H^b.  liiat- 
 
 II  Tbat  is, 
 Ihf  punish- 
 ment  of  hit 
 miqinlg. 
 
 o  Ex.  20.  5. 
 
 ;.  Ps.  75.  «. 
 Is.  SI.  17. 
 Jer.  as.  15. 
 Rev   14.  10. 
 &  19.  15 
 
 q  Is.  40.  13. 
 &  45    9. 
 K..m,  1 1 .34, 
 I  Cor.  2. 16. 
 
 )  lleb.  in  '"< 
 I'ery  ffrffc- 
 li'xi,  iir.  in 
 Ihf  ilrfiiglh 
 of  hit  per- 
 fiction. 
 
 11  Or,  milk 
 piritl. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 don  of 
 
 t  Heb.  icoftA 
 if.  the  heap. 
 
 t  Heb    trans- 
 
 Luke  17,10. 
 II  Or,  i/hP 
 mnv  he  pro- 
 JilahU,  dotll 
 h'lsg-odtur- 
 ceu  Jepend 
 
 soul,  and  never  eateth  with  pleasure. 
 
 26  They  shall  "■  lie  down  alike  in  the  dust, 
 and  the  worms  shall  cover  them. 
 
 27  Behold,  I  know  your  thoughts,  and  the  de- 
 vices 7vhick  ye  wrongfully  imagine  against  me. 
 
 28  For  ye  say,  '  Where  is  the  house  of  the 
 prince?  and  where  are  f  the  dwelling  places 
 of  the  wicked  ? 
 
 29  Have  ye  not  asked  them  that  go  by  the 
 way?  and  do  ye  not  know  their  tokens, 
 
 30  t  Tliat  the  wicked  is  reserved  to  the  day 
 of  destruction?  they  shall  be  brought  forth  to 
 f  the  day  of  wrath. 
 
 31  Who  shall  declare  his  way  "to  his  face  ? 
 and  who  shall  repay  him  ivknt  he  hath  done? 
 
 32  Yet  shall  he  be  brought  to  the  t  grave,  and 
 shall  t  remain  in  the  tomb. 
 
 33  Tiie  clods  of  the  valley  shall  be  sweet 
 unto  him,  and  "  every  man  shall  draw  after  him, 
 as  ther'e  are  innumerable  before  him. 
 
 34  How  then  comfort  ye  me  in  vain,  seeing 
 in  your  answers  there  remaineth  f  falsehood  ? 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  EUphaz  shewvth  that  mans  goodness  profitdh  not 
 God.  3  He  accuseth  Job  of  divers  sins.  21  He  ex- 
 hortetk  him  to  repeidame,  idtli  promists  of  mercy. 
 
 T^HEN  Eliphaz  the  Temanite  answered  and 
 -*■    said, 
 
 2  ^Can  a  man  be  profitable  unto  God,  ||as  he 
 that  is  wise  may  be  profitable  unto  himself? 
 
 3  Is  it  any  pleasure  to  the  Almighty,  that 
 thou  art  righteous?  or  is  it  gain  to  him,  that 
 thou  makest  t!iy  ways  perfect? 
 
 4  Will  he  reprove  thee  for  fear  of  thee  ?  will 
 he  enter  with  thee  into  judgment? 
 
 3  Is  not  thy  wickedness  great?  and  thine 
 iniquities  infinite? 
 
 12.  Or^nn,  'pipe.'— i>/.  Gotd,  Boothr.  A  kind  of  flute  composed  of 
 several  pipes  of  unequal  length  and  thickness  joined  together,  which 
 gave  an  harmonious  sound  when  they  were  blown  into  by  moving; 
 them  successively  under  the  lower  lip. — Calm.  13.  The^/  spend  their 
 days  in  wenlth  — 
 
 *  They  wear  away  their  days  in  pleasure.* 
 Jn  a  moment,  signifying  a  sudden    and    easy  death,  in  a  green  nld 
 age,  without  pain,  without  lingering  sickness,  and  while  their  families 
 are  flourishing  around  them. — *Scott.         l6.  Lo,  their  good,  §-c. — 
 
 '  But  behold  !  not  in  their  own  hands  is  their  prnsperitv  ; 
 (Far  from  me  be  the  advocacy  of  the  wicked  •)* — M.  Good. 
 1/.  Candle,  '  lamp.* — M.  Good,  Dootftr.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  long 
 standing  eastern  custom  to  keep  lamps  burning  in  the  house  all  ni^ltt ; 
 and  Maidet  assures  us,  that  in  Egypt  the  people  never  are  without 
 lights ;  the  poorest  person  would  even  rather  retrench  his  food  than 
 neglect  it.— //rtr.  18.  .^5  stuftble,  ^c. — in  the  east,  the  corn  being 
 threshed  in  the  open  field,  if  the  wind  rise,  the  shattered  straw  and 
 chafl'are  easily  carried  away.— *Sco/^  22.  Seeing  he  judgeth  those 
 that  are  high,  '  who  are  on  high.* — Boothr. 
 
 '  Unto  the  Eternal  that  ruleth  the  heights.' 
 24.  His  breasts,  SfC,  'his  sleek  skin  is  filled  with  milk.* — M.  Good. 
 •Full  of  fat  are  his  loins.'— Bow^Ar.,  so  Par.  Rather  'his  farms.'— 
 Heath.  '  His  pastures  are  full  of  milk,' that  is,  of  flocks  and  herds  ;  he 
 dies  in  opulence. — *Scott.  The  original  word,  vyc?.  occurs  nowhere 
 else  J  but  it  is  found  in  the  Arabic,  and  signifies  places  about  ponds 
 where  camels  and  sheep  go  to  drink.— Schtiltens.  Roberts,  after 
 all,  appears  to  have  thrown  the  most  light  on  this  subject.  He  says, 
 of  a  good  king  or  governor  it  is  said,  •  he  nourishes  like  the  king  whose 
 breasts  are  full  of  milk.'  It  is  evidently,  then,  a  proverbial  form  of 
 speech,  and  proverbs,  like  poetry,  are  not  to  be  limited  by  any  common 
 
 rules  of  speaking.— Erf.        25.  A?td  never  eateth  with  pleasure,  'and 
 hath  never  tasted  of  pleasure.'— 37.  Good.        28.  Where  is  the  house, 
 §-r.,— the  ancients  buried  near  the  highroads,  or  in  conspicuous  places, 
 and  reared  monuments.   On  these  were,  doubtless,  sometimes  recorded 
 the  happiest  circumstances  of  the  hfe,  and  what  was  remarkable  in  the 
 death,  of  the  person  whose  name  was  inscribed  upon  them.      They 
 usually  bespoke  attention  by  '  Stop,  traveller  I'  or  similar  words.  These 
 were  the  tokens  or  marks  alluded  to,  ver.  29.     Monuments  might  have 
 been  observed  erected  for  the  notnriou-ly  wicked,  and  hence  it  might 
 be  inferred,  that  they  were  reserved  for  a  more  snlemu  season,  the  day 
 of  retribution. —  Peter.-;.         29.  Ilarej/e  not,  SfC. — 
 '  Have  yo  not  inquired  i-f  travellers  ? 
 And  do  ye  not  know  iheir  remarks?' — Boothr. 
 To  the  same  purport.  Good.        32.  And  shall  remain  in  the  tojnb,  'and 
 around  his  tomb  shall  they  keep  watch.*— JU".  Good.    To  the  same  pur- 
 port, Boothr.        ."iS.  The  clods,  ^c— 
 '  Sweet  shall  be  over  him  the  sods  of  the  valley. 
 
 And  every  mortal  shall  march  [shall  be  borncaway,— Boo/Ar.,]  aftei 
 him. 
 
 As  an  innumerable  procession  before  him.' — 3/.  Good. 
 'As  innumerable  men  were  before  him.* — Boothr. 
 The  liveliness  of  eastern  poetry  here  represents  the  dead  as  having  the 
 same  perceptions  as  if  they  were  alive  in  their  sepulchres;  allusion  is 
 also  made  to  the  maimer  of  ornamenting  their  sepulchres,  by  planting 
 on  or  about  them  flowers  a'ld  odorilerous  herbs  and  shrubs. — Hur 
 34.  In  vain,  'with  vain  things,' — Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  XXH.  — 3.  Is  it  any  pleasure,  ^c,  *  if  thnu  art  as  upright  as 
 thou  pretendest  to  be,  still  Gnd  is  not  indebted  to  thee  for  thy  lighte- 
 ousness.' — Caryl.  4.  Will  he  reprove?  §f\,  "chastise  thee  for  fear 
 that  hurt  should  be  done  unto  him,*  or  for  thy  fear,  ^HNTOrr,  thy 
 
 Rf.ft.ections  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  Job  here  shews  us,  I.  The 
 prosverity  of  the  wicked.  Tlie  very  men  who  desire  not  to  know- 
 God — who  inquire  what  advantage  there  is  in  rehgion — who 
 live  without  ever  praying  —  these  very  men  often  prosper 
 in  the  world  and  increase  in  riches;  they  have  flourishing 
 families  around  them,  and  affliction  invades  not  their  dwell- 
 ings. Mirth  and  pleasure  attend  them  to  their  graves,  and 
 the  strength  of  youth  even  seems  reluctant  to  leave  them  in 
 their  old  age.  As  they  know  no  sorrows,  so  they  know  no 
 pains  ;  and  even  death  is  merciful  to  them,  sparing  them  their 
 last  pangs.  These  are  among  the  dispensations  of  Providence 
 that  would  confound  us,  were  it  not  that  God's  truth  makes 
 551 
 
 the  whole  perfectly  clear,  and  throws  a  light  on  the  slate  of 
 the  wealthy  sinner  beyond  the  grave.  Hence  Job  also  shews 
 us — 
 
 II.  The  end  of  the  wicked.  His  light  is  extinguished  in  per- 
 fect darkness;  death  seizes  him  as  a  prisoner  for  judgment. 
 '  The  wicked  is  reserved  to  the  day  of  destruction.  They  shall 
 be  brought  forth  to  the  day  of  wrath.' 
 
 *  That  day  of  wrath,  that  dreadful  day. 
 When  heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away; 
 What  power  shall  he  the  sinner's  stay  ? 
 How  will  he  meet  that  dreadful  day  >' 
 
Eliphaz  accuxeth  Job  nf  divers  sins. 
 
 JOB,  XXIII. 
 
 and  exhortclli  him  to  repentance. 
 
 6  For  thou  hast  ^  taken  a  pledge  from  thy 
 brother  for  nought,  and  f  stripped  the  naked 
 of  their  clothing. 
 
 7  Thou  hast  not  given  water  to  the  weary  to 
 drink,  and  thou  °  hast  withhulden  bread  from 
 the  hungry. 
 
 8  But  as  fur  f  the  mighty  man,  he  had  the 
 earth  ;  and  tlie  f  honourable  man  dwelt  in  it. 
 
 9  Thou  hast  sent  widows  away  empty,  and 
 the  arms  of''  the  fatlierless  have  been  broken. 
 
 10  Therefore  "snares  ore  round  about  thee, 
 and  sudden  fear  troubletli  thee  ; 
 
 1 1  Or  darkness,  that  thou  caust  not  see ;  and 
 abundance  of ''waters  cover  thee. 
 
 1-2  /-.■  not  God  in  the  height  of  heaven?  and 
 behold  fthe  height  of  the  stars,  how  high  they 
 are ! 
 
 1.3  And  thou  sayest,  ||  ^  How  doth  God 
 know?  can  he  judge  through  the  dark  cloud? 
 
 11  ''Thick  clouds  arc  a  covering  to  him,  that 
 he  seeth  not ;  and  he  walketh  in  the  circuit  of 
 heaven. 
 
 15  Hast  thou  marked  the  old  way  which 
 wicked  men  have  trodden? 
 
 16  Which  'were  cut  down  out  of  time, 
 t  whose  foundation  was  overflown  with  a 
 flood  : 
 
 17  ^  Which  said  unto  God,  Depart  from  ns  : 
 and  '  what  can  the  Almighty  do  ||  for  them? 
 
 18  Yet  he  filled  their  houses  with  good 
 things:  but  '"the  counsel  of  the  wicked  is 
 far  from  me. 
 
 19  "  The  righteous  see  it,  and  are  glad  :  and 
 the  innocent  laugh  them  to  scorn. 
 
 20  Whereas  our  ||  substance  is  not  cut  down, 
 but  II  tlie  rcnniaut  of  them  the  fire  coiisunieth. 
 
 21  Acquaint  now  thyself  ||  with  him,  and 
 °  be  at  peace  :  thereby  good  shall  come  unto 
 thee. 
 
 22  Receive,  I  pray  thee,  the  law  from  his 
 
 •II.  Deti  'J-1. 
 
 10,  Ac. 
 
 cli.  2A  3.  9 
 
 Kiek-.IS.I2 
 t  H«b.  itrip- 
 
 pf.l  the 
 
 cl.thtt  oflhf 
 
 ••olteii. 
 e  See  cli.  ?I 
 
 17.  Deu.15 
 
 7,  n,c.  rs.58. 
 
 7.  Eiek    13 
 
 J.  16-  Mai. 
 
 9.5    ii. 
 t  Heb.  /»« 
 
 t  Heb.  ...;.,- 
 'lent,  at,  ac- 
 c'lilrd  f'lr 
 co'tuU'iai,'e 
 
 d  v\,.  31.  21, 
 I..  10    9 
 Kiek.  yi?.  7. 
 
 fell.  18.8,9, 
 
 ID   &  19.  6. 
 
 /Ps   C9.  1, 
 
 •>.  &  1:^1.  4. 
 
 Lain.  .S.  51. 
 
 \  Heb.  the 
 
 llfld    :/ tU 
 
 •  l.irt. 
 
 ,   Or,  JVhnl. 
 3Vt.  hi.  H. 
 
 (i59.7«(73 
 
 n.  &  •>],  7. 
 h  Ps.  1.19.  II, 
 
 12. 
 
 I  ch.  IS.  32. 
 P«.  55.  i3. 
 &  1112.  24. 
 Kccle...7  17. 
 
 PH.   7.    II. 
 
 Pet.  2.  5. 
 A  cb.  21.  14. 
 ;  P«.  4.  6. 
 
 m  ch  21  16. 
 ..  Ps  59.  10. 
 b  107.  42. 
 
 11  Or,  utafe. 
 '!  Or,  th^ir 
 
 ,V,  0„d. 
 "  Is.  27.  5. 
 
 f,  Ps.  119.11 
 7  ch  3  5.  6. 
 &  II.  13,11 
 
 r  -2  Chr 
 II  Or,  0. 
 du»t. 
 
 1  !.■) 
 the 
 
 II  Or,  g 
 
 Id. 
 
 t  Heb  1 
 
 ■•/lire, 
 
 t  ch.  27 
 la.  M. 
 /Ch.  11 
 
 gth. 
 
 10 
 1-1. 
 
 15, 
 
 <  Ps   50.  14, 
 15.  Id.  53.  9. 
 
 T  Pro.  29.2.3. 
 
 Jnm.  1.  6. 
 
 1  Pel.  5.  5, 
 t  Heb.Aim 
 
 that  t,ii', 
 
 low  ryrs. 
 li  Or,  ru  in. 
 
 riocfiitthntt 
 
 deliver  the 
 
 ittai,d,Gpn. 
 
 13.  26,  &c. 
 
 t  Heb.  my 
 
 o  ch.  13.  S.Si 
 16.  21. 
 
 mouth,  and  ''  lay  up  his  words  in  thine  heart. 
 
 23  "^  If  thon  return  to  the  Almighty,  thou 
 shalt  be  built  up,  thon  shalt  put  away  iniquity 
 far  from  thy  tabernacles. 
 
 24  Then  shalt  thon  'lay  up  gold  ||  as  dust, 
 and  the  gold  of  Ophir  as  the  stones  of  tlie 
 brooks. 
 
 25  Yea,  the  Almighty  shall  be  thy  ||  defence, 
 and  thou  shalt  have  f  plenty  of  silver. 
 
 26  For  then  shalt  tliou  have  thy  'delight  in 
 the  Almighty, and  'shalt  lift  up  tliy  face  unto 
 God. 
 
 27  "Thou  shalt  make  thy  prayer  unto  liim, 
 and  he  shall  hear  thee,  and  thou  shalt  pay  thy 
 vows. 
 
 28  Thou  shalt  also  decree  a  thing,  and  it 
 shall  be  established  unto  thee  :  and  the  light 
 shall  .sliine  upon  thy  ways. 
 
 29  When  inen  are  cast  down,  then  thou  shalt 
 say,  There  is  lifting  up  ;  and  '  he  shall  save 
 t  the  humble  person. 
 
 30  II  He  shall  deliver  the  island  of  the  inno- 
 cent :  and  it  is  delivered  by  the  pureness  of 
 thine  hands. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 1  Job  lovgeth  to  appear  before  Gad,  6  in  confidi-nce  of 
 his  mercif.  8  GW,  wlio  is  invisible,  ohservttli  our 
 waj/s.  il  Job's  intiocenci/.  13  God's  decrte  is  tin- 
 mutafile.    ' 
 
 T^HEN  Job  answered  and  said, 
 ■*-    2   Even   to   day   is   my   complaint  bitter : 
 I  my  stroke  is  heavier  than  my  groaning. 
 
 3  °  Oh  that  I  knew  where  1  might  find  liim ! 
 t/iat  I  miglit  come  even  to  bis  seat! 
 
 4  I  would  order  ?)>i/  cause  before  him,  and 
 fill  my  mouth  witli  arguments. 
 
 o  1  would  know  tlie  words  which  he  would 
 answer  me,  and  understand  what  he  would  say 
 unto  me. 
 
 6  ^  Will  he  plead  against  me  with  his  great 
 
 piety,  thy  religion. —  BrouplOnn,  Jtm.,  Trem.  C.  Tnkvn.  a  pledge — be 
 is  here  charged  with  such  rapacitv  as  to  force  even  his  relations  to  give 
 security  for  iiretended  debts.  Stripped  the  naked,  seizing  the  upper 
 garnicut  of  the  poor  for  pawn,  which  answers  to  a  crerlitor  among  us 
 taking  a  man's  bed  from  under  him  for  payment;  for  the  poor  in  those 
 countries  had  no  other  covering  at  night  when  they  slept  than  their 
 outward  garment. — See  S/tnw's  Trau.  See  note,  Dent.  xxiv.  13. 
 Persons  who  have  no  hyke,  or  upper  garment,  but  only  their  tunic  and 
 shirt,  may  be  said  to  be  naked,  acccrding  to  tlie  mode  of  speaking  in 
 the  east. — *Scott.  The  sense  is,  such  as  were  poorly  clothed  were 
 stripped.  7.  ^ol  gil'en  water — rich  men   were  pnsscssed   of  tht-ir 
 
 wells  and  fountains,  and  it  was  a  favour  to  obtain  water  of  them.— 
 Gill.  Entertainment  of  travellers  was  looked  npnn  by  the  Arabs  as  a 
 duty  of  the  most  sacred  obligation.  The  vilest  of  all  characters  was 
 the  inhospitable  man. — *Srott.  8.  He  had  the  earth,  because  mightier 
 than  Job,  or  he  would  have  had  it ;  or  Job  adjudged  the  piece  of  land 
 to  him  before  the  poor  man,  if  any  cause  came  before  him. — Gill. 
 g.  The  arms  of  the  fatherless,  ^c.—they  have  been  robbed  of  their 
 power  and  property.— ..4.  Clarice.  11.  Canst  not  see,  '  not  penetrate.' 
 —3/.  Good.  To  <fiw  aoi  <7KOTor  a-nc(in,  'the  light  is  changed  info  dark- 
 ness,* Sept. ;  i.  p.,  thy  prosperity  is  turned  into  udi-ersity. — A.  Clarke. 
 Wntfrs,  'afflictions,*  often  compared  to  these. — Gill.  12.  And  be- 
 hold  the  heif^ht,  Sfc,  '  and  doth  he  not  Inok  down  upon  the  tnpmost 
 stars,  however  lofty?'  14.  fie  walketh,  ^-r.,  '  he  walketh  only,'  &c. 
 — Bnothr.,  the  like  Gund.  l6.  Out  of  time,  '  immaturelv.'  A  fii>od, 
 unilerstood  as  referring  to  Noah's  flood.— Wt7.  19.  T/ie  righteous 
 see  it,  and  are  glad,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Let  the  righteous  contemplate  and  exult, 
 And  the  innocent  hold  thera  in  derision.'— 71/.  Good. 
 
 20.  Whereas  our  substance,  f(C. — 
 '  For  our  tribe  is  not  cut  off. 
 While  even  the  remnant  of  these  a  conflagration  consumed.' 
 
 M.  Good. 
 Some  apply  the  remnant  to  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  but  how  could  these 
 be  called  all  the  remainder  of  the  wicked  }—Hea\ 
 'Truly  was  not  their  substance  cutotf? 
 And  did  not  a  fire  consume  their  e.\cellcnce?'— U'w/Zir. 
 The  fire  consinneth,  at  the  cud  of  the  worhl.— *Sco/;.         21.  Acquaint 
 now,  fyc,  *  humble  thyself  before  him,*  Sic.—Boothr.     Acquaint,  pCTl, 
 'lay  up  an  interest  now  with  him.* — A.  Clarke.        24.  And  the  gold, 
 ffC.—'Then  shall  he  make  fountains  to  gush  forth  amidst  rocks.'— 
 M.Good.     'Shalt  thou  count  the  fine  gold  as  dust,  and  the  gold  uf 
 Ophir  as  the  stones  or  pebbles  of  the  brooks,'  i.  e.,  treating  them  with 
 contempt. —  Heath,  so  Grotius,  Cocc,  Schultens.        I'S.  Thy  defence, 
 §-c.— 
 
 '  Thy  treasure. 
 Yea,  be  mountains  of  silver  unto  thee.' — M.  Good. 
 The  like,  Boothr.        29.  Whenmen,  ^c— 
 
 *  Behold,  when  thou  speakest,  the  proud  shall  humble  themselves, 
 And  the  lowly  shall  lift  up  their  eyes.' 
 30.  He  shall  deliver  the  island,  Sfc. — 
 
 'The  house  of  the  innnccnt  shall  be  delivered. — HI.  Good,  so  Par. 
 *  He  shall  deliver  every  innocent  person.'—.^.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXIII.  —  2.  Even  to  day,  fyc.,  'and  still  is  my  complaint  re- 
 bellion?*—  M.  Good.  My  stroke,  ' liis  stroke,'  Sept.,  Syr.,  Boothr. 
 3.  Where  I  might  find  him— Job  sighs  for  the  living  oracle  enjoyed  by 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII.  —  We  may  here  m:irk — 
 I.  Eliphaz  s  reproof.  Job  '  bad  spoken  of  the  prosperity  of  men 
 in  this  world  as  a  mystery  of  Providence,  but  bis  friends  took 
 it  for  a  reflection  upon  Providence,  as  countenancing  their 
 wickedness,  and  fell  foul  upon  him  accordingly.'  '  Job,  whom 
 God  himself  praised  as  the  best  man  in  the  world,  is  here  re- 
 presented,' sjiys  Henry,  'by  one  of  bis  friends,  and  he  a  wise 
 and  good  man  too,  as  one  of  the  greatest  villains  in  nature. 
 Let  us  not  think  it  strange  if  at  any  time  we  be  thus  blackened, 
 but  learn  bow  to  pass  by  evil  report  as  well  as  good,  and  com- 
 mit our  cause,  as  Job  did,  to  Him  who  judgeth  righteously.' 
 
 II.  Eliphaz's  e.vhortation.      He  gives  Job  good  counsel  and 
 
 encouragement.  Henry  adds — '  good  men,  though  tbey  may 
 perhaps  be  put  into  a  heat,  yet  sometimes  will  talk  themselves 
 into  better  temper,  and  it  may  be  sooner  than  another  could 
 talk  them  into  it.  Eliphaz  had  laid  before  Job  the  miserable 
 condition  of  a  wicked  man,  that  he  might  frighten  him  into 
 repentance.  Here  be  shews  him  the  happiness  which  those 
 may  be  sure  of  that  do  repent,  tljat  he  mij^ht  allure  and  encou- 
 rage ]iim  to  it.  Ministers  must  try  both  ways  in  dealing  with 
 people- must  speak  to  them  from  mount  Sinai  by  the  terrors 
 of  the  law,  and  from  mount  Zion  by  tlie  comforts  of  the  gospel, 
 — must  set  before  them  both  life  and  deatli,  good  and  evil,  the 
 blessing  and  the  curse.* 
 
trorf  ohserveth  our  ways. 
 
 JOB,  XXIV. 
 
 Wickedness  goeth  often  unpunished. 
 
 power?    No  ;  but  he  would  pat  strem/lh  in  nie. 
 
 7  There  the  righteous  might  dispute  with 
 him  ;  so  should  I  be  delivered  for  ever  from 
 my  judge. 
 
 8  '  Behold,  I  go  forward,  but  he  is  not  there  ; 
 and  backward,  but  I  cannot  perceive  him  : 
 
 9  On  the  left  hand,  where  he  doth  work,  but 
 I  cannot  behold  him:  he  hidetli  liimself  on  the 
 right  hand,  that  I  cannot  see  him  : 
 
 10  But  he  ''  knoweth  f  t'le  way  that  I  take  : 
 when  °  he  hath  tried  me,  I  shall  come  forth  as 
 gold. 
 
 1 1  •■  My  foot  hath  held  his  steps,  his  way  have 
 1  kept,  and  not  declined. 
 
 1'2  Neither  have  I  gone  back  from  the  com- 
 mandment of  his  lips;  t^  I  have  esteemed  the 
 words  of  his  mouth  more  than  ||  my  necessary 
 food. 
 
 13  But  he  is  in  one  mind,  and  ''who  can  turn 
 him  y  and  what  '  his  soul  desireth,  even  that 
 he  doeth. 
 
 14  For  he  performeth  the  thing  that  is  'ap- 
 pointed for  me  :  and  many  such  things  are 
 with  him. 
 
 15  Therefore  am  I  troubled  at  his  presence  : 
 when  I  consider,  I  am  afraid  of  him. 
 
 1 6  For  God  '  maketh  my  heart  soft,  and  the 
 Almighty  troubleth  me  : 
 
 17  Because  I  was  not  cut  off  before  the  dark- 
 ness, neither  hath  he  covered  the  darkness 
 from  my  face. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 I   JFickedness  goeth  often  unpunished.      17   There  is  a 
 
 secret  Judi/ment  for  the  wicked. 
 'Xl/'HY,  seeing  '  times  are  not  hidden  from 
 
 '''^  the  Almighty,  do  they  that  know  him  not 
 see  his  days? 
 
 2  Some  remove  the  ''landmarks;  they  vlo- 
 
 B-  c. 
 
 cir.  1520. 
 
 d  Pa.  139.  I, 
 
 S.S. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 Willi  tliat  is 
 
 ipiitt  mf. 
 f  Pa.  17,  3. 
 
 &  66.  iO. 
 
 .Iain.  I  1-2. 
 /  Pa.  4t.  18. 
 
 tHeb.  Ihii'f 
 
 hid,  or,  liiiii 
 
 "P 
 S  John  1.32, 
 
 3f. 
 11  Oi",  rni/ 
 
 appointed 
 
 pi'Tlii'ii. 
 h  ch    9.  12, 
 
 l.S.  &  12.  14. 
 
 Rom.  9.  19. 
 I  Pa.  1 15.  3. 
 AlThea.S.S. 
 
 n  Acta  1.  7. 
 b  Deu. 19.14 
 
 &  27.  17. 
 
 Pro.  t!-  28 
 
 &  as.  10. 
 
 Hos   5.  10. 
 
 t  Heb.  min- 
 t^ltrd  ciirii, 
 or.  iWi-tige 
 
 \  Heb.  the 
 
 tlier  the  viii- 
 titije. 
 F  V.x.  2-2.  26. 
 27.  Pen.  il 
 
 /  Lain.  4.  i 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir 
 
 1520. 
 
 li  Or 
 
 ./wd 
 
 them. 
 
 -■  oh 
 
 22.  6. 
 
 1)^ 
 
 \   Jl.ft, 
 
 l<i, 
 
 l::,  17 
 
 d  \'i 
 
 )  28. iS. 
 
 g  Ps.  10   8- 
 
 h  Piuv.  7-  9- 
 i  P8.  10.  M. 
 
 t  Heb.  *et' 
 teth  Kia  face 
 ill  secret. 
 
 lently  take  away  flocks,  and  ||  feed  thereof. 
 
 3  They  drive  away  the  ass  of  tiie  fatherless, 
 they  '^  take  the  widow's  ox  for  a  pledge. 
 
 4  They  turn  the  needy  out  of  the  way  :  ^  the 
 poor  of  the  earth  hide  themselves  together. 
 
 5  Behold,  as  wild  asses  in  the  desert,  go  they 
 forth  tt>  their  work  ;  rising  hetimes  for  a  prey  : 
 the  wilderness  yieldeth  food  for  them  and  for 
 their  children. 
 
 6  Tliey  reap  every  one  his  f  corn  hi  the 
 field  :  and  f  they  gather  the  vintage  of  the 
 wicked. 
 
 7  They  ^  cause  the  naked  to  lodge  without 
 clothing,  that  they  have  no  covering  in  the 
 cold. 
 
 8  They  are  wet  with  the  showers  of  the 
 mountains,  and  '"embrace  the  rock  for  want  of 
 a  shelter. 
 
 9  They  pluck  the  fatherless  from  the  breast, 
 and  take  a  pledge  of  the  poor. 
 
 iO  They  cause  him  to  go  naked  without 
 clothing,  and  tliey  take  away  the  &hedS  from 
 the  hungry  ; 
 
 11  Which  make  oil  within  their  walls,  awe? 
 tread  their  winepresses,  and  suffer  thirst. 
 
 1*2  Men  groan  from  out  of  the  city,  and  the 
 soul  of  the  wounded  crieth  out  :  yet  God  lay- 
 etii  not  folly  to  them. 
 
 13  Tiiey  are  of  those  that  rebel  against  the 
 liglit  ;  they  know  not  the  ways  thereof,  nor 
 abide  in  the  paths  thereof. 
 
 1 4  ^  The  murderer  rising  with  the  light  killeth 
 the  pour  and  needy,  and  in  the  night  is  as  a 
 thief. 
 
 15  ''  The  eye  also  of  the  adulterer  waiteth  for 
 the  twiliglit,  '  saying,  No  eye  shall  see  me  : 
 and  f  disguiseth  his  face. 
 
 10  In  tlie  dark    they    dig    through    houses, 
 
 Noah,  Abraham,  and  Israel.— S«^  6.  But  he  would  put  strength  in 
 me,  'rather  would  he  concede  to  me.' — 31.  Good.  'No:  surely  he 
 would  exert  it  on  my  h^hsM.'—Buothr.  7.  Sn  should  I  be  ddireved, 
 %c.,  '  triumphantly  should  I  escape  from  my  condemnation.'— il/.Gyorf. 
 '  And  should  for  ever  be  delivered  by  my  Judge.' — Bouthr.  8.  But 
 1  cannot  pcrcei»e  him — it  is  no  uncommon  tiling  for  good  men,  when 
 in  distress,  to  be  quite  at  a  loss  to  understand  tlie  providence  of  God. 
 — Boothr.  10.  He  knuweth,  ^c,  *  he  approves  of  my  conduct.' — 
 A.  Clarke.  11.  My  foot,  §-c. — these  words  express  bis  undeviating 
 obedience  to  the  law  of  God,  and  his  delight  therein. — Hales.  12.  1 
 have  esteemed,  ^c,  'in  my  bosom  have  I  stored  up  the  words  of  his 
 mouth.'         16.  Soft,  'faint.'         17.  Because  I  was  not,  §■<?. — 
 
 '  O  why  can  I  not  draw  darkness  over  my  face  i 
 Why  may  not  thick  darkness  cover  my  face  ?* 
 Chap.  XXiV.  —  1.  W/ii/,  seeing  times,  ?fC. — 
 
 *  Why  are  not  times  reserved  by  the  Almighty  ? 
 And  why  do  they  that  know  him  not  see  his  day  ?' 
 '  Time^'  and  '  days'  mean  seasons  of  Divine  vengeance. — Boothr.,  so 
 also  Schultens.  By  '  times'  are  meant  the  state  of  public  morals  among 
 God'*:  intelligent  creatures  ;  and  by 'days,'  the  particular  period.s  for 
 inflicting  vengeance  on  the  offenders. — Hew.  '  Seeing  God  has  ap- 
 pointed times  for  carrying  his  purposes  into  execution,  how  comes  it  to 
 pass  that  the  friends  of  God  are  not  arimitted  into  his  secrets,  and  can- 
 nut  see  and  observe  such  days  and  times  as  he  has  appointed  for  ad- 
 versity, prosperity,  and  judgment  ?  but,  on  the  contrary,  observe,  even 
 to  the  stumbling  of  the  greatest  saint,  that  the  wicked  prosper  and 
 increase  in  riches.'— 6"i7/.  '  Why  should  not  times  be  hidden  by  the 
 Almighty  V—Beza,   Jan.,    Tretn.,    Broughton.  2.  Landmarks—see 
 
 note  on  Deut.  xix.  14.  3.  .^sa—oj— the  latter  was  essential  for  tilling 
 the  ground,  and  the  former  for  carrying  tlie  corn  ;  hence,  to  take  these 
 was  taking  away  the  only  means  of  support.— *^v•of^  -i.  Tuni  the 
 needy,  %c.,  oppressed  in  courts  of  justice,  thry  flee  to  the  desert  to 
 escape  death  or  slavery.'— BooMr.  5.  As  wild  asses,  ^c— the  wild 
 ass  is  not  rapacious,  but  the  eastern  robber  is  compared  to  him,  be- 
 cause he  lives  in  the  desert.— So  Boch.     Go  they  forth,  not  the  op- 
 
 pressors,  but  the  oppressed  ;  driven  to  desperation,  they  become  hands 
 of  robbers. — So  M.  Good;    also  Clarke.  6.  They  reap,  ^c,  'they 
 
 reap  in  a  field  that  is  not  their  own,  and  cut  off  the  vineyard  of  the 
 wicked,'  Chald.  Pur.  '  They  make  irruptions,  and  cany  off  the  fruit 
 of  the  harvest  into  the  wilderness.' — So  Clarke.  7.  They  cause  the 
 naked,  SfC,  'naked  ihey  lodge,*  that  is,  without  their  upper  garment 
 or  byke.  See  note  on  chap.  xxii.  6.  Cold,  in  those  climates  the  nights 
 are  intensely  cold. — Duothr.,  Good,  Shaw.  9.  They  pluck,  ^r. — the 
 persons  of  men  are  not  safe  from  these  outlaws,  they  carry  off  children 
 to  be  their  slaves. — Put.  Here  the  poet  rather  returns  to  describe  the 
 oppressor. — M.  Good.  II.  Which  make  oil,  ffc. — 
 '  Between  their  walls  they  make  them  toil  at  noon-day ; 
 They  make  them  tread  their  wine  vats,  yet  suffer  thirst.' — M.  Good. 
 Rather,  '  they  work  at  mid-day  among  their  walls,  they  tread  wine- 
 presses  and  suffer  thirst,'  for  it  is  difficult  to  say  what  greater  hardships 
 attended  making  oil  within  the  walls  than  in  the  open  air.— /fur. 
 '  Between  the  walls  with  which  their  vineyards  were  enclosed,  (Prov. 
 xxiv.  31,)  tliey  labour  at  noon-day,'  or  'bear  the  noon-day  heat,* 
 (Matt.  XX.  12.)  which,  it  is  well  known,  in  tlmse  hot  ea->tern  countries, 
 is  in  the  summer  time  almost  insupportable,  particularly  near  walls.— 
 Pur.  12.  Yet  God  layeth  not,  ^c,  '  but  God  regardtth  not  the  sup- 
 plication,'~il/.  Good ;  to  the  same  purport,  Clarke.  '  Not  the  wicked- 
 ness.*— Boothroyd.  'And  God  will  not  leave  unpunished.'  Vulgate. 
 13.  Rebel  against,  '  revolt  from.* — Boothr.  14.  Killeth  the  poor  and 
 needy,  i^c. — 
 
 '  Distrest  and  destitute  he  sheddeth  blood, 
 And  at  night  go  forth  the  thieving  tribe.' — M.  Good. 
 15.  Disguiseth  his  face,  or  putteth  a  covering  on  his  face,  probably  the 
 hood  of  the  burnoose,  or  cloak,  which  the  Arabs  sometimes  throw  over 
 their  other  garments. — Greenf.  \6.  They  dig  through  houses,  the 
 mode  of  burglary  in  the  east;  there  being  no  outward  windows,  and 
 the  gate  well  secured,  the  robbers  dig  through  the  walls  of  sun  burnt 
 brick,  which  are  easily  moistened  after  showers, — Ed.,  Har.  Thieves 
 in  Bengal  dig  through  the  mud  walls  and  under  the  clay  floors. —  Ward. 
 *  He  wormeth  into  houses  amidst  the  darkness.'     It  refers  to  the  pro- 
 
 Reflections  on   Ch.'vp.    XXIII. — I.  God  is  the  last  refuge  worth,  or  beauty,  by  being  tried;  he  only  loseth  his  dross 
 
 of  the  good  man  in  the  Iwur  of  trouble  and  reproach.     The  world  anil  the  r^bish  of  his  corruptions.      Grace  is  not  only  grace 
 
 often  neitbt-r  will  nor  can  reheve  him  ;  but  with  God  be  knows  still,  but  more  gracious — even  glorious  nfter  trial.' 
 
 that  he  shall  find  both  justice  and  mercy.  III.  It  is  a  great  relief  to  the  spirit  under  ajflictive  dispensa- 
 
 II.  Even  when  the  good  man  cannot  inttrpret  the  providences  of  t'lons,  when  the  good  man  can  appdd  to  his  integrity,  that  amidst 
 
 God,  he  may  rely  upon  their  result.    '  He  who  before  was  reputed  nil  bis  failings  he  has  not  gone  back,  nor  lost  bis  relish  for  the 
 
 but  as  dross,'  says  Caryl,  'and  had  much  dross  in  liim.  comes  vvurd  of  truth. 
 out  at  the  trial  as  gold,  and  loseth  nothing  of  his  weight, 
 
 553  4   B 
 
There  is  a  secret  judgment  for  the  wicked.     JOE,  XXV.,  XXVI. 
 
 Man  cannot  be  jitstifiid  before  God. 
 
 which  they  had  marked  for  themselves  in  the 
 daytime  :  '  they  know  not  the  light. 
 
 17  For  the  morning  is  to  them  even  as  the 
 shadow  of  death  ;  if  one  know  them,  they  are 
 in  the  terrors  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
 
 18  He  is  swift  as  the  waters  ;  their  portion 
 is  cursed  in  the  earth  :  he  beholdeth  not  the 
 way  of  the  vineyards. 
 
 19  Drought  and  heat  f  consume  the  snow 
 waters  :  so  doth  the  grave  those  which  have 
 sinned. 
 
 20  The  womb  shall  forget  him  ;  the  worm 
 shall  feed  sweetly  on  him  ;  '  he  shall  be  no 
 more  remembered  ;  and  wickedness  shall  be 
 broken  as  a  tree. 
 
 21  He  evil  entreateth  the  barren  that  heavelh 
 not :  and  doeth  not  good  to  the  widow. 
 
 22  He  drawetli  also  the  mighty  with  his 
 power :  he  riseth  up,  ||  and  no  man  is  sure  of 
 life. 
 
 23  Though  it  be  given  him  to  be  in  safety, 
 whereon  he  resteth ;  yet  "'  his  eyes  are  upon 
 their  ways. 
 
 24  They  are  e.Kalted  for  a  little  while,  but 
 f  are  gone  and  brought  low  ;  they  are  j  taken 
 out  of  the  way  as  ail  other,  and  cut  off  as  the 
 tops  of  the  ears  of  corn. 
 
 25  And  if  it  be  not  so  now,  who  will  make 
 me  a  liar,  and  make  my  speech  nothing 
 worth  ? 
 
 k  John  3. 20 
 
 II  Or,  /.• 
 Iriitlflli  !,"( 
 hiH  omi 
 l./e. 
 
 mPs.  M.-l. 
 Pro.  15.  3. 
 
 \  Heb    are 
 11'./. 
 t  Hcb.  cUfsed 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir    1520. 
 
 a  Jam.  1.  17 
 
 b  oil.  i.  17, 
 ftc.  fc  t.''. 
 U,  ftc    Pi. 
 IMi.  3.  A 
 li-2.  2. 
 
 t  Or,  teilh 
 thr  inhabit- 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 Bildadsheweth  that  man  cannot  he  justified  before  God. 
 
 T^HEN  answered  Bildad  the  Slmhite,   and 
 *-    said, 
 
 2  Dominion  and  ievtx  are  with  hiin,  he  maketh 
 peace  in  his  iiigh  places. 
 
 3  Is  there  any  number  of  his  armies?  and 
 upon  whom  doth  not  "  his  light  arise  ? 
 
 4  ^  How  then  can  man  be  justified  with  God  ? 
 or  how  can  he  be  clean  that  is  born  of  a 
 woman  '? 
 
 3  Behold  even  to  the  moon,  and  it  shineth 
 not ;  yea,  the  stars  are  not  pure  in  his  sight. 
 
 6  How  much  less  man,  t/iat  is  '^  a  worm? 
 and  the  son  of  man,  ir/iich  is  a  worm? 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 1  Job,  reprovinrj  the  u?i charitable  spirit  of  Bildad,  5  ac- 
 krioivledpeth  the  power  of  God  to  be  infinite  and  ««- 
 searchable. 
 "D  UT  Job  answered  and  said, 
 -■-'   2   How  hast  tiiou  helped /(//«  Mo^  ?>  with- 
 out power?  /iowsavest  thou  the  arm//m/  hath 
 no  strength  ? 
 
 3  How  hast  thou  counselled  him  that  hath 
 no  wisdom?  and  hoir  hast  thou  plentifully  de- 
 clared the  thing  as  it  is  ? 
 
 4  To  whom  hast  thou  uttered  words?  and 
 whose  spirit  came  from  thee  ?* 
 
 3  Dead  tkinrfs  are  formed  from  under  the 
 waters,  ||  and  the  inhabitants  thereof. 
 
 gress  of  the  adulterer  rather  than  the  house-breaker.  —  M.  Good. 
 Which  they  had  marked  for  themselves  in  the  daytime,  *  in  the  day 
 time  they  seal  them?;elves  up,*  i.  c,  conceal  themselves. — So  M.  Good. 
 Boothr.  18.  He  is  swift  us  the  waters,  SfC. — 
 
 '  As  a  light  thing  on  the  waters  should  such  be  ; 
 Their  part  in  the  land  should  be  accursed,' — Boothr., 
 i.  e.,  God  shall  bu  avenged  on  the  evil  man  :  he  shall  pass  away  swiftly 
 as  a  current  of  waters  ;  and  what  he  has  here  is  with  a  curse  ;  he  shall 
 not  receive  the  benefit  of  his  seasonable  culture  of  the  earth.— B/). 
 Halt.  19.  Consume  the  snow  waters,  'carry  off  the  snow  waters.' 
 The  reference  is  to  those  dykes,  banks,  or  reservoirs  of  water  which,  in 
 the  east,  are  carefully  filled  during  the  periodical  exundations  of  the 
 large  rivers,  as  the  Nile,  Indus,  and  Ganges,  and  preserved  to  fertilize 
 the  soil  by  occasional  irrigations  through  the  rest  of  the  year. — 
 M  Good.  20.  The  ivomb  shall  forget  him,  '  his  mother  that  bare  him 
 shall  seldom  or  never  mention  him.' — Poole.  21.  He  evil  entreateth 
 the  barren,  'the  barren  who  hath  not  borne,  the  tyrant  devouretii.' 
 23.  Though  it  be  gii'en  htm,  $-c.— 
 
 '  To  such  God  giveth  safety,  on  which  they  rest, 
 Though  his  eyes  are  on  their  ways.' — Boothr. 
 It  is  usual  with  this  writer  to  mention  the  Supreme  Being  in  this  abrupt 
 manner. — Scott. 
 
 Chap.  XXV.  —  2.  He  miiketh  peace  iii  his  high  places,  in  the  high 
 places  of  the  earth,  and  among  its  great  men  ;  causing  war  to  cease 
 when  it  is  his  pleasure. — Gill.  He  establishes  and  preserves  order  in 
 the  heavens,  and  among  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  eternal  world. — 
 A.  Clarke.  4.  How,  thrn,  can  man  be  justified  with  God? — Brldad 
 here  represents  tlie  terrible  majesty  of  Deity,  and  infers  the  insufferable 
 
 arrogance  of  a  frail  and  impure  creature  to  justify  himself  to  God,  and 
 impeach  the   rectitude  of  Divine   government. — So  Boothr.  5.  // 
 
 shineth  not,  when  compared  with  H'lm.— Clark.  '  It  abidcth  not,'  it 
 shrinketh  from  his  view,  it  vanisheth  before  him. — J/.  Good.  The  stars, 
 unquestionably  the  angi-Uc  hosts,  often  so  denominated  in  the  sacred 
 Scriptures. — M.  Good.  It  may  mean  the  heavenly  host,  as  supposed  to 
 do,  chap,  xx.xviii.  7,  but  that  is  doubtful- — So  Clarke.  It  seems  the 
 most  natural  continuation  of  tlie  figure  to  under>tand  it  literally  of  the 
 stars. — Ed.  6.  Son  of  man — a  worm  ?  Tt^^^B,  '  a  maggot,'  which  is  de- 
 gradingly  expressive. — Greenf. 
 
 Chap.  XXVI.  —  2.  How  hast  thou  helped ?  ^c.  —  the  language  of 
 irony. —  Gill,  Rosenni.,  Sioc/c,  Bootlir.,  Clarke.  3.  And  how  hnst  thou 
 plentifully  ?  fyr.,  'or  made  known  much  sound  wisdom?' — Boothr. 
 4.  To  whom  hast  thou  uttered  words  F  *  dost  thou  think  me  ignorant  of 
 such  things  as  these  ?  or  canst  thou  pretend  to  any  extraordinary  inspi- 
 ration  concerning  them  i' — Fat.  '  From  whom  hast  thou  pillaged 
 speeches  ?'  The  retort  is  peculiarly  severe,  and  refers  to  the  proverbial 
 sayings  which  had  been  quoted. — M.Good.  And  whose  spirit,  'and 
 what  inspired  wurds.' — Boothr.        5.  Dead  things,  Sfc.~- 
 
 *  Yea,  the  miohty  dead  are  laid  open  from  below, 
 The  floods  and  their  inhabitants.* — M.  Good. 
 
 'The  giants  are  in  anguish  under  the  waters,  together  with  their 
 families,* — *  Scott.  By  the  giants  are  supposed  to  be  meant  the  wicked 
 inhabitants  of  the  old  wurld  who  perished  in  the  flood.  The  Hebrew 
 word  lD'HDI.  from  which  tyrants  were  called,  is  also  used  to  signify 
 *  the  dead.' — Taylor^s  Concord.,  Rosenm.,  Sut.  The  words  may  mean, 
 •can  the  mighty  antediluvian  sinners  be  regenerated  from  under  the 
 waters  which  overwhelmed  them  ?*    The  passage  may,  however,  refer 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIV.  —  I.  This  chapter  furnishes 
 ua  with — I.  A  striking  picture  of  the  wicked.  We  have  here 
 the  rich  and  the  poor — the  oppressor  and  the  oppressed— set 
 before  us.  Such  scenes  of  lawless  oppression  are  to  be  wit- 
 nessed still  in  many  parts  of  the  earth  ;  and  in  states  fenced 
 round  by  the  strongest  laws  we  see  tbe  propensity  of  the 
 strong  to  crush  the  weak  ;  while,  on  the  contrary,  the  weak 
 display  no  small  degree  of  depravity  in  opposing  the  strong. 
 Human  nature  is  tbe  same  at  all  times,  and.  whether  we  view 
 it  in  the  days  of  Job  or  now,  we  see  the  accuracy  of  our  Divine 
 Lord's  description  of  it — '  Out  of  the  heart  of  man  proceed 
 evil  thoughts,  murders,  adulteries,  fornications,  tliefts,  false 
 witnesses,  blasphemies.' — In  this  chapter  we  have  an  exhi- 
 bition of  injusticpj  cruelty,  murder,  adultery,  robbery.  This 
 is  man  by  nature,  'They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are  alto- 
 gether become  filthy,  there  is  none  that  doeth  g(*d,  no  not 
 one.'  Man,  as  a  new  creature  in  Christ,  is  a  different  being  ; 
 but  then  be  must  say  with  the  changed  Apostle  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles, *  By  the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  am.' 
 
 II.  We  may  observe,  with  Henry,  '  That  many  who  are  mis- 
 chievous to  inaiihind.  and  Uvr  i<i  open   defiance  of  all  the  laws  of 
 justice  and  common  ho/iestj/,  yet  thrive  and  succeed  in  their  un- 
 354 
 
 rif/kteotts  practices.  We  do  not  see  them  recltoned  with  in  this 
 world,' '  so  that,  upon  tbe  whole  matter,  we  cannot  say  that  all 
 that  are  in  trouble  are  wicked  ;  for  it  is  certain  all  that  are  in 
 prosperity  are  not  righteous.'  '  Job  owns  that  \vicked  people 
 will  be  miserable  at  last,  miserable  on  the  other  side  death, 
 but  utterly  denies  what  his  friends  asserted,  that  ordinarily 
 they  are  miserable  in  this  life.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.ap.  XXV.  —  I.  In  this  chapter  we  are 
 reminded  o(  the  greatness  of  God ;  and  reflections  on  the  gran- 
 deur and  dominion  of  the  Eternal  Jehovah  will  assuredly  lead 
 us  to  the  most  bumbling  views  of  ourselves. 
 
 II.  Hence  we  are  also  reminded  of  the  insiijnificancy  ofmaii — 
 a  guilty  and  polluted  creature,  a  mere  worm — a  reptile,  who 
 must  display  insufferable  arrogance  to  dare  to  justify  himself 
 in  pleading  before  his  Maker,  and  saying,  in  a  spirit  of  self- 
 righteousness,  '  God,  I  thank  thee  I  am  not  as  other  men  are.' 
 
 III.  We  are  naturally  reminded  of  our  blessed  condition  under 
 a  nwre  enlit/htened  era,  when,  thottgh  we  cannot  justify  ourselves 
 before  God,  we  can,  mverthebss,  answer  the  question,  '  How  can 
 man  be  justified  with  God?'  We  can  point  to  the  Lord  our 
 Righteousness,  and  say,  '  In  Him  shall  the  seed  of  Israel  be 
 justified  and  shall  glory,' 
 
God's  power  is  injinite  and  unsearchable. 
 
 JOB,  XXVII. 
 
 The  hypocrite  is  without  hope. 
 
 6  "  Hell  IS  naked  before  him,  and  destruction 
 
 liath  no  covering. 
 
 7  ''  He  stretcheth  out  the  nortli  over  the 
 empty  place,  and  hangeth  the  earth  upon  no- 
 Ihiug. 
 
 8  "^  He  bindeth  np  the  waters  in  his  thick 
 clouds ;  and  the  cloud  is  not  rent  under 
 tliein. 
 
 9  He  huldetii  back  the  face  of  his  throne, 
 and  spreadetli  his  cloud  upon  it, 
 
 10  ''  He  hath  compassed  tlie  waters  with 
 hounds,  f  until  the  day  and  night  come  to  an 
 cud. 
 
 1  1  Tlie  pillars  of  heaven  tremble  and  are 
 astonislied  at  his  reproof. 
 
 1-2  ^He  divideth  the  sea  with  his  power,  and 
 by  his  understanding  he  smitetli  through  f  the 
 proud. 
 
 13  ^  By  his  spirit  he  hath  garnished  the  hea- 
 vens ;  his  hand  hath  formed  ^  the  crooked  ser- 
 pent. 
 
 14  Lo,  these  are  parts  of  his  ways  :  but  how 
 little  a  portion  is  heard  of  Inin?  but  the  thun- 
 dv*r  of  his  power  wlio  can  understand  V 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 I  Joh  protestcth    his  si  neurit  t/.       8    The   hypocrite   is 
 without  hope.      11    The  hkssings  which    the   wicked 
 have  are  turned  into  curses. 
 
 TVTOREOVER  Job  fcontinued  his  parable, 
 -'^'-*-  and  said, 
 
 *2  As  God  liveth,  ''who  hath  taken  away  my 
 judgment;  and  the  Almighty,  who  hath  f  vexed 
 my  soul  ; 
 
 :3  All  the  while  my  breath  is  in  me,  and  ||  the 
 spirit  of  God  is  in  my  nostrils ; 
 
 4   My  lips  shall  not  speak  wickedness,  nor 
 
 13. 
 
 h  ch.  9  8. 
 Ps  SI.  2.  & 
 liil..  2    &c 
 
 c  Pro.  SO.  4. 
 
 rf  ch.  39.  8. 
 
 Fs.SS,  7.  gi 
 
 1(11.  9 
 
 Pro.  S.  29. 
 
 Jer.  5.  2i. 
 t  Heb.  MH/i/ 
 
 th,-  Md  ..f 
 
 Vghl  iB-tk 
 
 tUirkni-s,. 
 e  Kx.  14.  ai. 
 
 Ps.  74     13. 
 
 K  51.  15. 
 
 Jer  31.  H5. 
 +  Heb.  pride, 
 f  P>  .S3.  6. 
 g  Is.  -n.  !. 
 
 t  llfb,  fxidrd 
 to  tii/te  up. 
 
 n  ch    S.1.  5 
 t  Hel>.  -'.nd' 
 »,U   .nul  bit- 
 iPTy  Huth  I 
 'iii.-l  Kin. 
 +.27. 
 II  That  is, 
 tht  b'tnth 
 wliirh  O'-d 
 e'we  h,m, 
 Gen.  a    7. 
 
 c  ch.  2.  3. 
 dActs2-V.16. 
 
 t  Heb.  /rum 
 
 e  Mat  I6.-?6. 
 Luke  I2.'20. 
 
 /ch.  SS.  V>. 
 
 Pa.  18.  41. & 
 
 1119  7   Pro. 
 
 I.  28.  k  --'B. 
 
 9    l9    I.  \h. 
 
 Jer.  14.  1-^ 
 
 Kzek,  S.  IS. 
 
 Mic.  a.  4. 
 
 John  9.  31. 
 
 Jam.  4.  3. 
 ff  Seech.  22 
 
 26,  27. 
 II  Or,  being 
 
 in  the  hand, 
 
 A  ch.  20.  29. 
 
 Pea.  29.41. 
 Eath  9.  10. 
 Ho8.  9.  13 
 
 /  Prrt  gfi.  fl 
 Eccles  2  2ti. 
 
 m  la.   1 .  8. 
 Lam.  2.  6. 
 
 my  tongue  utter  deceit. 
 
 5  God  forbid  that  I  should  justify  you  :  till 
 I  die  ^  I  will  not  remove  mine  integrity  from 
 me. 
 
 6  My  righteousness  I  *^  hold  fast,  and  will  not 
 let  it  go  :  ^  my  heart  shall  not  reproach  me 
 t  so  long  as  I  live. 
 
 7  Let  mine  enemy  be  as  the  wicked,  and  he 
 that  riseth  np  against  me  as  the  unrighteous. 
 
 8  ®  For  what  is  the  hope  of  the  hypocrite, 
 though  he  hath  gained,  when  God  taketb  away 
 his  soul  ? 
 
 9  ^  Will  God  hear  his  cry  when  trouble 
 Cometh  upon  him  ? 
 
 10  ^  Will  he  deliglit  himself  in  the  Almighty? 
 will  he  always  call  upon  God? 
 
 1 1  I  will  teach  you  ||  by  the  hand  of  God  : 
 that  which  is  with  the  Almighty  will  1  not 
 conceal. 
 
 12  Beiiold,  all  ye  yourselves  have  seen  it  ; 
 why  then  are  ye  thus  altogether  vain  ? 
 
 i;3  ''  This  is  the  portion  of  a  wicked  man  with 
 God,  and  the  heritage  of  oppressors,  which 
 they  shall  receive  of  the  Almighty. 
 
 14  *  If  his  children  be  multiplied,  it  is  for  the 
 sword  :  and  his  offspring  shall  not  be  satistied 
 with  bread, 
 
 15  Those  that  remain  of  him  shall  be  buried 
 in  death  :  and  ^  liis  widows  shall  not  weep. 
 
 IG  Though  he  heap  up  silver  as  the  dust,  and 
 prepare  raiment  as  the  clay  ; 
 
 17  He  may  prepare  it,  but  'the  just  shall 
 put  it  on,  and  the  innocent  shall  divide  the 
 silver. 
 
 18  He  buildeth  Ids  house  as  a  moth,  and  *"  as 
 a  booth  that  the  keeper  maketh. 
 
 to  sea  monsters,  such  as  porpoises,  sharks,  ^'c. — So  Clarfcp.  6.  He!/, 
 ffc,  *  Shenl  is  naked  before  him,  and  destruction  hath  no  covering.' — 
 
 *  Scntt.  '  Sheol,'  that  is,  the  invisible  stst*  of  the  dead. — Fur.  ~.  He 
 stretcheth,  §-c.,  'he  sprcadcth  forth  Uie  North  Pole  towards  siiacc* 
 ID.  He  hath  compassed,  fyc,  'hesettt'tli  a  bawon  the  face  of  the  waters.' 
 The  waters  spoken  of  arc  not  those  of  the  sea,  but  the  clouds. — 
 M.  Good.  '  He  bath  described  a  circle  on  the  face  of  the  waters.' — 
 J)r.  Slock.  12.  He  dirideth  the  sea,  '  he  maketh  the  waters  flash.' — 
 M.  Good.  '  He  maketh  still  the  sea.' — Boothr.  This  refers  to  the  sepa- 
 ration of  the  waters  at  the  creation.— H'f/p--;,  It  is  a  manifest  allusion 
 t'l  the  dividing:  of  the  Red  Sea. — Clarke.  He  .smiteth  throitgh  the 
 proud,  'he  hath  dashed  together  tiie  proud  waves.' — *Scott.  'He 
 clcavcth  the  tempest.' — M.  Good.  '  Rcstraineth  its  proud  waves.' — 
 Boothr.  l^.  Ttte  crooked  serpent,  this  may  mean  an  heavenly  con- 
 stellation, called  the  great  dragon  or  serpent,  which,  taking  up  a  con- 
 siderable portion  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  may  be  put  for  all  the 
 rest  of  the  stars. — Poule.  Most  critics  think  the  milky-way  is  here 
 inteurted. — Sut.  Other  conjectures  have  been  formed  on  these  word^, 
 as  that  they  mean  the  ecliptic,  the  lightning,  aquatic  monsters,  and 
 some  have  thought  Satan  ii  referred  to.         14.  Lo,  these,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Lo,  these  are  the  outlines  of  his  ways. 
 And  the  mere  whisper  we  can  hear  of  him,' — M.  Good. 
 
 Chap.  XXVII.  —  1.  His  pamtjle,  "•^ITO,  from  ViJD,  'to  rule,'  ^-c, 
 'his  authoritative  weighty  speer-h  or  saying.' — P'tr,  job's  last  speeches 
 arc  calltd  by  this  name,  from  the  subhme,  the  figurative,  the  senten- 
 tious manner  which  prevails  throughout. — Lowth.  'Z.  Who  hath 
 t'iken  await  my  judgment,    'judgeth  me  thus,  or  so  heavily,*  Chatd. 
 
 *  He  hath  rejected  my  cause.* — M.Good.  'Wlio  hath  neglected  my 
 ri^ht.' — Boothr.  5.  God  forbid  that  I  should  Justifi/  i/nu — he  could 
 not  justify  them  in  their  censures,  and  say  they  did  right  in  charging 
 himwiih  hypocrisy. — Gill, so  Peters.  'Justify  niysell  before  you;  yet, 
 thouph  I  die,'  tkc.  The  meaning  is,  '  I  am  no  hypocrite,  as  ye  accuse 
 me  of  being;  God  forbid  that  I  shntild  pretend  to  sputless  purity,  or 
 boast  myself  to  be  perfectly  just  before  you.  But  I  have  honestly  en- 
 deavoured to  discharge  my  duty,*  \c. — M.  Good.  8.  For  what  is  the 
 hope  ?  §-c. — 
 
 '  the  hope  of  tlie  wicked  that  he  should  prosper  ? 
 
 That  God  should  keep  his  soul  in  quiet?'— Jl/.  Good. 
 
 ' the  hope  of  the  impious. 
 
 Though  he  hath  amassed  wealth, 
 AVhen  Uod  taketh  away  his  soul?' — Boothr. 
 10.  Will  he  delight  ?  ^c,  '  can  he  find  comfort  in  God  when  the  world 
 affords  none, as  I  do  now?' — Clark.         11.  /  uill  teach — 
 
 '  I  will  instruct  you  in  the  power  of  God.'— Z>/.  Durell. 
 'I  will  teach  yon  concerning  the  dealings  of  God. '—jl/.Goorf,  so  Boothr. 
 '  Relymg  on  Divine  assistance,  and  not  speaking  out  of  my  own  head, 
 or  quoting  what  others  have  said.  I  will  teach  you  what  the  mind  of 
 the  Almighty  is.'— J.  C/ar/:e.  12.  Why  then  are  ye  thus  altogether 
 vain  ? — 
 
 «  ___ .  should  ye  thus  babble  babblings  ?*— 3/.  Good. 
 
 ' do  ye  so  vainly  trifle  ?' — Buothr. 
 
 14.  For  the  sword,  'for  very  ruin.*  1.5.  Buried  in  death,  'entombed 
 in  corrnprion.'— Jl/.  Gourf.  'Shall  come  to  urter  and  remediless  de- 
 struction.'—.4.  Clarke.  '  Shall  have  de^th  for  their  burial.*— ScAm/^c/w. 
 *  Shall  rot  unburied;'  where  they  die  they  shall  rot,  put  in  contrast 
 with  the  costly  monuments  of  the  rich.— Heath.  'His  remnant  shall 
 be  buried  as  sonn  as  they  are  dead.* — BroughtoJi.  The  pestilence  is 
 here  meant,  which  is  cmphKtically  called  '  death'  by  the  Hebrews,  as 
 by  us  '  mortaUty,'  (Rev.  vi.  y.) — Gi'l.  l6.  And  prepare  raiment  as 
 
 ^/jf  c/'/;/,  '  as  heaps  of  mire.' — Boothr.  The  easterns  collect  an  ira 
 mense  quantity  of  furniture  and  cluthe?,  for  their  fashions  never  alter. 
 They  keep  them  in  wardrobes,  as  they  heap  up  mud  for  mortar  in 
 budding. — Har.  18.  As  a  moth,  which,  by  eatmg  into  the  garment 
 it  makes  its  habitation,  destroys  its  own  dwelling. — Boothr.  It  alludes 
 to  the  temporary  habitation  of  the  moth  in  its  caterpillar  state  during 
 its  change  from  achrysalis  to  a  winged  insect. — So  Clarke.  And  <ih  a 
 booth,  §-c.— 
 
 '  Or  like  the  shed  which  the  watchman  maketh.' — Boothr. 
 
 This  probably  alludes  to  the  lodt^e  or  hut,  pitched  for  a  season,  until 
 the  fruit  is  gathered  in,  and  then  is  taken  down  or  suffered  to  perish, 
 (see  Isa.  i.  8  ;  Lam.  ii.  6.) — Gill,  Stock.     Travellers  in  the  east  ha-  e 
 
 RtFLFCTiONS  ON   Chat.  XXVI I.  God  is prcdt.     Bildad 
 
 bad  described  him  iis  reigning  over  all  the  hosts  ofhenven,  and 
 shining  in  matchless  splendour  and  purity.  Job  enters  mi- 
 nutely into  some  instances  of  ills  powerful  dominion,  and  views 
 it  not  only  above,  but  below,  binding  in  chains  the  spirits  of 
 the  mighty  dead.  All  things  are  under  his  control,  and 
 'naked  and  open  to  the  eyes  of  him  with  whom  we  have  to  do.' 
 
 II.  God  is  incomjirehcHsibfe.  '  Who,  by  searching,  can  find 
 out  God  f  who  can  Hnd  out  the  Almighty  to  perfection  V  His 
 power  is  higher  than  heaven,  deeper  than  hell.  And  when  we 
 555 
 
 have  traced  its  greatness  in  the  heaven  above,  in  the  earth  be- 
 neath, and  in  the  waters  under  the  earth,  these  are  but  parts 
 of  his  ways,  and  how  little  a  portion  is  heard  of  him  !  How, 
 then,  can  we  attempt  to  unravel  all  his  proceedings'?  *  He 
 doth  as  he  will  among  tlie  armies  of  heaven  and  among  the 
 inhabitants  of  the  earth  ;'  and  when  glorified  intelligences 
 shall  better  understand  his  proceedings,  even  they  shall  unite 
 in  exclaiming,  '  Great  and  marvellous  are  thy  woiks.  Lord 
 God  Almighty  :  just  and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou  King  of 
 saints  I' 
 
There  is  a  knowledge  ofnnturat  l/itm/s. 
 
 JOB,  xxvni. 
 
 buf.  iinsdom  is  on  erccUent  gift  of  God. 
 
 19  The  rich  man  shall  lie  down,  but  he  shall 
 not  be  gathered :  he  openeth  his  eyes,  and  he 
 is  not. 
 
 20  "  Terrors  take  hold  on  him  as  waters,  a 
 tempest  stealeth  him  away  in  the  night. 
 
 21  The  east  wind  carrieth  him  away,  and  he 
 departeth  :  and  as  a  storm  hurleth  him  out  of 
 his  place. 
 
 22  For  God  shall  cast  upon  him,  and  not 
 spare  :  fhe  would  fain  flee  out  of  his  hand. 
 
 23  Men  shall  clap  their  hands  at  him,  and 
 shall  hiss  him  out  of  his  place. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 I    There  is  a  hiowkdtje  of  natural  thi'ir/a,      12  But 
 it'isdom  is  an  exctUent  gift  of  God. 
 
 CURELY  there  is  ||  a  vein  for  tlie  silver,  and 
 ^  a  place  for  gold  w/tere  they  fine  it. 
 
 2  Iron  is  taken  out  of  the  ||  earth,  and  brass 
 is  molten  ovt  of  the  stone. 
 
 3  He  setteth  an  end  to  darkness,  and  search- 
 eth  out  all  perfection  :  the  stones  of  darkness, 
 and  the  shadow  of  death. 
 
 4  The  flood  breaketh  out  from  the  inhabitant ; 
 even  the  waters  forgotten  of  the  foot :  they  are 
 dried  up,  they  are  gone  away  from  men. 
 
 5  As  for  the  earth,  out  of  it  cometh  bread: 
 and  under  it  is  turned  up  as  it  were  fire. 
 
 6  The  stones  of  it  are  the  place  of  sapphires  : 
 and  it  hath  ||  dust  of  gold. 
 
 7  There  is  a  path   which  no  fowl  knoweth, 
 
 A". 
 
 II  OT,gntd 
 
 Or,  Jlint. 
 
 ireejnng. 
 
 t  H.b.  f"je 
 ff:U  th'ill 
 
 f..r  it. 
 d  Pro   3.  13. 
 M,  l5.  &  8. 
 Ill,  n,  19. 
 U  la.  IG. 
 
 1  Or,  vvttrh 
 uf/mf  goUl. 
 
 and  which  the  vulture's  eye  hath  not  seen  ; 
 
 8  The  lion's  whelps  have  not  trodden  it,  nor 
 the  fierce  lion  passed  by  it. 
 
 9  He  putteth  forth  his  hand  upon  the  ||  rock; 
 he  overturneth  the  mountains  by  the  roots. 
 
 10  He  cuttetb  out  rivers  among  the  rocks; 
 and  bis  eye  seeth  every  precious  thing. 
 
 1 1  He  bindeth  the  floods  f  from  overflowing; 
 and  the  thing  that  is  hid  bringeth  he  forth  to 
 light. 
 
 12  "  But  where  shall  wisdom  be  found?  and 
 where  is  the  place  of  understanding? 
 
 13  Man  knowetii  not  the  ^  price  thereof; 
 neither  is  it  found  in  the  laud  of  tlie  living. 
 
 14  '^  The  depth  saith,  It  is  not  in  me:  and 
 the  sea  saith,  It  is  not  with  me. 
 
 !5  fit  "^cannot  he  gotten  for  gold,  neither 
 shall  silver  be  weighedyJ)/-  the  price  thereof. 
 
 lii  It  cannot  be  valued  with  the  gold  of 
 Ophir,  with  the  precious  onyx,  or  the  sap- 
 phire. 
 
 17  The  gold  and  the  crystal  cannot  equal  it: 
 and  the  exchange  o(  h  shall  not  he  for  ||  jewels 
 of  fine  gold. 
 
 18  No  mention  shall  be  made  of  |]  coral,  or 
 of  pearls  :  for  the  price  of  wisdom  is  above 
 rubies. 
 
 19  The  topaz  of  Ethiopia  shall  not  equal  it, 
 neither  shall  it  be  valued  with  pure  gold. 
 
 20  ^  Whence  then  cometh  wisdom  ?  and 
 where  is  the  place  of  understanding  ? 
 
 observed  that  such  slieds  are  mndc  of  the  lig^htcst  and  most  worthless 
 matciials.— ,^.  Clarke.         iy.  T/te  rich  man,  ^c— 
 
 •  He  licth  down  rich,  but  shall  not  do  so  agRin.'—Boritftr. 
 *  He  shall  not  be  eatliered  to  the  assembly  of  pious  souls.'    The  exprcs- 
 Biun  '  gatbcred  to  the  r  father^*  is  confined  to  the  eminently  pious,  (Gen . 
 
 XV.  15  ;    XXV.  8  ;     XXXV.  29  ;     Num.  XXvii.   1  3  ;     XXXl.  2  ;    ActS,    xiii.    36  ; 
 
 •2  Kin^s,  xxii.  20,)  but  the  general  expression  applied  to  good  nnd  bad 
 is,  '  to  lie  down,*  or  '  sleep  with  their  lathers,'  as  1  Kings,  xiv.  20,  31. 
 20.  As  waters,  '  as  a  flood,' — Gill.  21 .  The  eiist  wind,  *  the  Levantor.' 
 — M.  Good,  so  Clarke.  '  A  burning  wind,'  Sept.,  Vu/g.  '  The  samicl.' 
 —Gill,  Sut.         22.  For  God  nhall  cast,  i^c— 
 
 '  Yea,  it  driveth  upon  him,  and  alloweth  not 
 That  he  should  escape  from  its  power  by  flight. '—ilf.  Good. 
 
 '  It  driveth  upon  him  and  doth  not  spare  ; 
 From  its  power  fain  would  he  escape.' — Boothr. 
 23.  Men  shall  clap,  §'C. — 
 
 '  It  [tlie  wind]  clappeth  over  him  its  hands, 
 And  hisscth  over  liim  from  its  place." — M.  Good. 
 Here  the  storm  is  personified. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXVIII. —  \.A  vein  fur  the  sili:er,  fyr.,  alhuiing  to  mines. 
 Where  they  fnte  it,  rather'  which  they  fine.'  These  metals  arc  not  fined 
 in  the  mine  itself.  Arabia  Fflix  had  anciently  its  gold  mines,  (Ps.  Ixxii. 
 15,)  '  the  gold  of  Sheba,'  which  was  the  ancient  name  of  Arabia  Felix. 
 Job,  in  Arabia  Petrea,  mii'^t  have  known  of  these  mities. — Sfi  *  Scott. 
 2.  And  brass,  ffc.,  *  and  the  rock  pnurcth  forth  copper.' — M.  Good, 
 Boothr.     Modern    brass    is    factitious. — *Scott.  3.  Setteth    an   tiid 
 
 to  darkness,  '  delveth  into  the  region  of  darkness.'  —  AI.  Good. 
 'Carries  light  into  the  dark  mines.'  —  *  Scott.  Searcheth  out  all 
 perfection,  'searcheth  to  the  utmost  limit.' — Boothr.,  as*  Scutt  ami 
 Good.  Stones  of  darkness,  precious  st'Uies,  which  lay  in  darkness 
 from  the  beginning.— f; (7/.  The  metallic  ore.  —  Doederlein,  Scott. 
 4.  The  flood  hre'tketh  out  from  the  inhafntant.  SfC,  '  he  breaketh  up  the 
 veins  from  the  niatrice.'— 4!/.  Good.  *  They  work  a  shaft  from  where 
 they  sojourn.' — Boothr.  From  the  irihabitant,  '  so  th:tt  there  is  no  in* 
 habitant*  of  the  mine. — So  .Jan.,  2'rem.,  Pise.  'A  turret. t  bursteth 
 forth  from  the  rubbish  lorgntten,'  not  thought  of,  or  unexpectedly. — 
 Par.  'The  toiient  bursteth  forth  fi  nm  the  spring  head.' — Heath.  This 
 is  another  instance  of  the  daring  spirit  and  ingenuity  of  man ;  how  lie 
 crosses  broad  rivers,  &c.,  for  cnmmercc.— i'*:'/fr.«.  In  tliis,  Petershns 
 T\nt  many  followers. — Bonthr.  Eren  the  waters  forgotten  0/  the  foot — 
 tliere  are  many  perplexing  translations  of  this  passage ;  the  following 
 beems  the  most  lucid  : — 
 
 *  He  breaketh  up  the  valley,  near  the  bottom  of  the  mountaui . 
 
 They  are  forgotten  of  the  foot : 
 
 They  sink  down  j  they  wander  from  men.* 
 •  Breaketh  up,'  openeth  the  ground  ;  forgotten  of  the  foot,  denotes  the 
 manner  of  descent  into  the  mine,  lieinj  let  down  by  rnjies  ;  '  they  sink 
 down,'  marks  their  gradual  disappearance  or  descent;  'they  w<.ndcr 
 from  men,'  describes  their  winding  progress  in  the  mines. — *  Scott, 
 as  Cocc,  and  Schultens.  The  shalts  nr  passages  being  lnw,  they  work 
 sometimes  on  their  knees,  and  often  silting,  so  that  they  make  little 
 use  of  their  feet.  Hence,  not  only  the  descent  is  referred  to,  but  man- 
 ner of  working. — Boothr.  5.  Cometh  hread,  %c. — there  is  nothing 
 but  what  the  industry  of  man  h.ith  hrougbt  to  light,  wisdom  excepted. 
 — Peters.  As  it  were  fire,  coal,  which  is  fuel,  or  sulphureous  matter; 
 some  think  sparkling  precious  stones  are  meant,  (Ezek.  xxviii.  14.) — 
 Gill.  Subterraneous  fire. — Boothr.  He  alludes  to  the  dangers  of 
 miners,  and  which  avarice  is  ready  to  encounter. — So  *  Scott.  6.  The 
 place  of  sapphires,  or  bed  in  which  sapphire  is  found. — A.  Clarke. 
 It  hfilh  dust  of  gold,  'the  ore  of  gold  is  found  in  it.' — Boothr.  The 
 word  used  signifies 'clods,  lumps,  and  masses  of  gold.' — Gill.  7-  There 
 is  a  path,  ffc  'the  eagle  knoweth  not  itA  pathway;'  same  purpoit, 
 Boothr.  'The  piercing  eagle  could  never  look  into  the  bowels  of  the 
 e.trth  ;  in  this  it  is  outdone  by  the  miner. '—Uj7/.  Here  rivers  flow,  and 
 lakes  are  farmed  in  the  subterranean  caverns,  whicli  communicate  with 
 one  another  throughout  the  whole  e!irth,  and  preserve  it  from  explo- 
 sions.— Sut.  8.  The  lion's  whf/ps,  Sfc,  *  wild  beasts  have  not  dared 
 tn  tread  it !  such  bt■ast^,  eager  after  their  prey,  and  roving  in  dens  and 
 caves,  have  never  traversed  the  miner's  path  in  search  of  wealth.' — 
 Gill.  9.  Putteth  forth  his  hand  ttpnn  the  rock,  '  thrusteth  his  hand 
 into  the  sparry  ore.' — Jl/.  Good.  He  is  not  discouraged,  but  splits  the 
 very  rock  — Gill.  Overturneth  the  mountains,  t^c, '  undermines  them.' 
 !0.'/iuw.v,  ^-c,  to  drain  his  rainG^.— GUI.  To  wash  away  the  worih- 
 less  msAUr.— Boothr.  \\.  He  bindeth,  §r.,  'he  restiaineth  the 
 waters  from  oczing.'  02Q,  'from  weeping.'— .Von/.,  Jan.,  Trem., 
 Mich.,  Schult.,  Broughton.  '  He  prevt  nts  the  rising  of  springs  from 
 drowning  the  mines.' — A.  Clarke.  13.  Not  the  pric,  *  not  its  vahie.' 
 — Boothr.  'Not  its  source.' — M.Good.  ii.  The  depth  saith,  SfC, 
 •could  they  speak,  they  would  say  their  treasures  are  far  inferior  to 
 wisdom.' — So  Gill.  16.  Oni/.r,  resembling  a  man's  nail  in  colour. 
 — So  Clarke.  Sapphire,  azure  with  golden  spots. — Pliny.  17.  Crystal, 
 '  diamond.' — Shaw.  19.  Topaz  of  Ethiopia — Topaz,  an  island  of  the 
 Arabians  in  the  Red  Sea,  gave  name  to  the  stone. — Pliny,  Bach.  The 
 truth  rather  is,  the  stone  gave  name  to  the  island. — Gill.  The  topaz  is 
 of  a  singular  green,  and  was  at  first  preferred  to  all  other  stones. — 
 Pliny.     Another  kind  is  of  a  wun<lei1ul  golden   colour.  —  Diod.  Sic. 
 
 Rfflfctions  on  Chap.  XXVII. —I.  It  is  a  tjreat  support 
 in  affiictio7i  to  have  a  t/oori  consricnce.  To  have  lliat  as  a  worm 
 gnawing  at  the  henrtadds  greatly  to  calamities,  but  to  be  able 
 to  say.  'My  heart  shall  not  reproach  me,'  is  a  balra  of  ines- 
 timable value.  How  upriubt,  then,  should  every  believer 
 walk,  that  he  may  enjoy  tliis  conscience  void  of  offence  to- 
 wards God  and  towards  roan. 
 
 II.  It  is  the  mark  of  a  good  man  in  affliction  that  tie  still  ddights 
 in  God.  He  views  liim  ns  iiUogotlier  lovely,  though  bis  face 
 55G 
 
 he  veiled  with  a  cloud.  He  feels,  indeed,  the  pressure  of  his 
 hand,  but  he  still  pants  for  communion  with  him.  He  is  like 
 a  child  under  the  frowns  of  his  father,  but  he  loves  his  father 
 still. 
 
 III.  The  wicked  have  no  Divine  solace  in  life  or  death.  Who 
 can  read  the  description  here  given  of  them  by  Job,  and  envy 
 them  what  they  momentarily  possess  i  Merciful  God  !  gather 
 not  ray  soul  with  sinners. 
 
Job  hemoancth  himself  of  his 
 
 JOB,  XXIX. 
 
 former  prosperity  and  honour. 
 
 21  Seeing  it  is  hid  from  the  eyes  of  all  living, 
 and  kept  close  from  the  fowls  of  the  ||  air. 
 
 t>2  f  Destruction  and  death  say,  We  have 
 iieard  the  fame  tiiereof  with  our  ears. 
 
 i>3  God  uuderstandeth  the  way  thereof,  and 
 he  knoweth  the  place  thereof. 
 
 24  For  he  luoketh  to  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
 rt??rf  ^  seeth  under  the  whole  heaven  ; 
 
 2.5  '*  To  make  the  weight  for  the  winds  ;  and 
 lie  weigheth  the  waters  by  measure. 
 
 2G  When  he  '  made  a  decree  for  the  rain,  and 
 a  way  for  the  lightning  of  the  thunder  : 
 
 27  Then  did  he  see  it,  and  ||  declare  it ;  he 
 prepared  it,  yea,  and  searched  it  out, 
 
 28  And  unto  man  he  said,  Behold,  ^  tlie  fear 
 of  the  Lord,  tliat  is  wisdom  ;  and  to  depart 
 from  evil  is  understanding. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 Joh  hemoaneth  himself  of  his  former  prosperity  and 
 honour. 
 
 lY/rOREOVER  Job  |  continued  his  parable^ 
 ^^  and  said, 
 
 2  Oh  that  I  were  "as  in  months  past,  as  in 
 tlie  days  ivhen  God  preserved  me  ; 
 
 3  ^  When  his  ||  candle  shined  upon  my  head 
 and  when  by  his  light  I  walked  through  dark- 
 ness ; 
 
 4  As  I  was  in  the  days  of  my  youth,  when 
 "  the  secret  of  God  was  upon  my  tabernacle  ; 
 
 5  When  the  Almighty  icas  yet  with  me, 
 ichen  my  children  irere  about  me  ; 
 
 6  When  •'  I  washed  my  steps  with  butter, 
 and  *  the  rock  poured  f  i»e  out  rivers  of  oil ; 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  1520. 
 
 g  Pro.  1.-),  3. 
 /.  Ps.  135.  7. 
 
 Ecclei 
 13. 
 
 \nph- added 
 
 b  ch.  18   6. 
 i;  Or,  l-nny. 
 
 Vs.  18.  as. 
 
 ,i  Geii.19  II 
 Den  fi-^.  13 
 &  ;w,  '.''1. 
 ch.  -iO.   17. 
 
 »;  I's.  81.    lb 
 
 /ch.  21.  B. 
 
 f  Heb    Tl>e 
 vvic  of  the 
 
 hid. 
 
 g  Ps.  137.  6. 
 
 /.  Ps,  72.  12 
 Pro.  21.  la, 
 »(  ^-1.  II. 
 
 i  Deu.24  13. 
 
 Ps.  l.-)2    9. 
 
 Is.  i9.  17,& 
 
 61.10     Eph. 
 
 6.  14,  fcc. 
 
 1  Thes  5.8, 
 k  Nu.  I0..(1 
 I  Fro.  29.  7. 
 
 m  Ph.  59.  6. 
 
 Pro.  ao.  \A. 
 t  Heb.  //(« 
 j'lwteft/i,  or, 
 
 Ihr  ffrindert. 
 +  Heb.  co'l. 
 n  I's.  3U.  tt. 
 'I  ch.  18.  16 
 t  Heb. 
 
 iipeiied. 
 }>  Ps.  1.3. 
 
 .Jer.  17.  8 
 t  Heb.  «<•«. 
 '/  Gen.49  2-i 
 t  Heb. 
 
 changed. 
 
 7  When  I  went  out  to  the  gate  through  the 
 city,  when  I  prepared  my  seat  in  tiie  street! 
 
 8  The  young  men  saw  me,  and  hid  them- 
 selves :  and  tlie  aged  arose,  and  stood  up. 
 
 9  The  princes  refrained  talking,  and  Haid 
 their  liand  on  their  mouth. 
 
 10  t  The  nobles  held  their  peace,  and  their 
 ^  tongue  cleaved  to  the  roof  of  their  mouth. 
 
 11  When  the  ear  heard  tne^  then  it  blessed 
 me  ;  and  when  the  eye  saw  we,  it  gave  witness 
 to  me  : 
 
 12  Because  ''  I  delivered  the  poor  that  cried, 
 and  the  fatherless,  and  him  that  had  none  to 
 help  him. 
 
 13  The  blessing  of  him  that  was  ready  to 
 perish  came  upon  me :  and  I  caused  the 
 widow's  heart  to  sing  for  joy, 
 
 14  '  I  put  on  righteousness,  and  it  clotliod 
 me  :   my  judgment  was  as  a  robe  and  a  diadem. 
 
 15  I  was  ''  eyes  to  the  blind,  and  feet  was  1 
 to  the  lame. 
 
 16  I  was  a  father  to  the  poor:  and  'the 
 cause  which  I  knew  not  I  searched  out, 
 
 17  And  I  brake  "'fthe  jaws  of  the  wicked, 
 and  t  plucked  tlie  spoil  out  of  his  teeth. 
 
 18  Then  I  said,  "  1  shall  die  in  my  nest,  and 
 I  shall  multiply  my  days  as  the  sand. 
 
 19  °  My  root  was  f  spread  out  ^  by  the 
 waters,  and  tiie  dew  lay  all  night  upon  my 
 branch. 
 
 20  My  glory  loas  f  fresh  in  me, and  ''my  bow 
 was  t  renewed  in  my  hand. 
 
 21  Unto  me  men  gave  ear,  and  waited,  and 
 kept  silence  at  my  counsel. 
 
 21.  Fowls  of  the  air,  ^  figure  here  used  for  soaring;  astronomers.— 
 Crmsoz.  22.  Destruction  and  death,  the  dead— the  generations  past. 
 Tlie  ancestors,  to  whose  sayings  so  much  deference  was  paid.— Ftf^-J's. 
 25.  To  make  the  w  tight  for  the  winds,  ^c. — 
 '  When  he  made  a  balance  for  the  air, 
 And  adjusted  the  waters  by  measure.'— il/.  Good. 
 To  the  same  purport,  Boothr.  Roberts  considers  this  chapter  as  re- 
 ferring to  inRiGATJON  rather  than  mining;  and  speaks  of  that  stu- 
 prndniis  work,  the  rpservoir  of  S^ba,  or  Merab,  in  Arabia  Felix,  said  to 
 have  been  erected  by  the  famous  queen  of  Sheha.  This,  as  Bp.  Louth 
 states,  was  a  vast  lake,  formed  by  the  collection  of  the  waters  of  a 
 torrent  in  a  valley,  where,  at  a  narrow  pass  between  two  mountains. 
 a  very  high  mole  or  dam  was  built.  The  water  nf  the  lake  so  formed 
 was  nearly  twenty  fathoms  deep,  and  there  were  three  sluices  at  diffe- 
 rent hfiffhts,  by  wiiich,  at  whatever  height  the  lake  stood,  the  plain 
 below  might  be  wateied.  By  conduits  Euad  canals  from  these  sluices, 
 water  was  distributed  to  the  lands  over  the  whole  country  for  miles. 
 This  mighty  roservi.ir  at  last  bur-t,  doing  immense  damage.  The  like 
 works  are  yet  in  the  east,  and  lioberts  mentions  artiticiai  lakes,  the 
 largest  30  miles  in  circumference  ;  some  6o  feet  deep.  A  mound  54  feet 
 high,  made  of  loose  stones  of  about  three  tons  weight;  and  another  30 
 feet  high,  120  feet  thick  at  the  base,  and  24  at  the  top,  and  12  miles  in 
 length.  The  artificial  lake  in  Ceylon  is  from  15  to  20  miles  in  circum- 
 ference, and  the  mound  at  the  top  6o  feet  broad.  Hence  Roberts  applies 
 ver.  4  to  the  bursting  of  a  monnd;  and  the  drying  up  of  the  artificial 
 lake,  (ver.  5.)  as  referring  to  the  agency  of  man  in  irrigating  the  earth 
 to  make  it  produce  bread  ;  ver.  G  as  referrmg  to  the  stones  for  the 
 mounds,  taken  from  the  place  of  sapphires  ;  ver.  7  and  8  he  illustrates 
 by  mentitfning  tlie  communication  of  the  lake  McEris  with  the  Nile  by 
 a  secrtt  channel,  ^c. ;  ver.  9  he  refers  to  using  the  huge  slones  for  the 
 mounds.  On  ver.  10  he  remarks,  that  Savari/  informs  us,  the  canal 
 IJahr  Joseph  was,  in  many  parts,  cut  through  the  rock.  Ver.  li  he 
 explains  by  the  mounds. — Vide  Rob.,  Orient.  JUiis. 
 
 Chap.  XXIX.  — 3.  C'indlf,  *  lamp.'— Jl/.  Good,  Bonthr.  Shined  upon 
 tnn  head,  alluding  to  the  suspended  lamp  at  festivals.— *Scof(.  When 
 by  his  tight,  ^c. — Providence  smiled  upon  him,  and  he  enjoyed  spiritual 
 consolations;  so  that  he  lived  happily,  and  walked  securely  in  this 
 dark  and  wretched  world. — Scvtt.  The  allusion  is  to  lights  carried 
 before  caravans  in  their  night  travels  through  the  deserts.— *  Scott. 
 4.  Ml/  !/outh,  'Din,  '  my  prosperity. *~Hea//t,  Boothr.  *  My  perfection.' 
 Fiin,  the  Hebrew  word  imports  '  to  strip*  or  '  make  naked,'  but  it  may 
 b'e  explained  by  the  same  word  in  Arabic,  which  signifies  *  my  summit,* 
 and  so  means  '  my  topmost  prosperity.' — il/.  Good.  The  stripping  season 
 
 meant  autumn,  and  hence  the  passage  means,  '  in  the  days  of  my  pro- 
 ductive season,'  of  my  happiness  and  prosperity.— ScAhV^cw*,  so  Clarke. 
 The  Hebrews  and  others  began  their  year  from  autumn,  and  it  may 
 therefore  mean  the  same  as  spring  with  us  ;  *  in  the  days  of  my  youth.' 
 — Mich.  '  In  the  days  of  my  winter,'  my  moist  time,  when  1  was  like 
 a  plant,  before  the  violent  heats  and  droughts  came  on,  which  burn 
 and  scorch  up  everything. — Hnr.  When  the  seci-et,  ffc,  '  when  God 
 foriified  my  tent  over  me.'— JI/.  Good;  nearly  the  same  Boothr.  noi 
 m'JN,  'the  secret  assembly  of  God,*  meaning,  perhaps,  an  assembly  of 
 devout  people  at  his  house. — R.  Solomon,  so  Clarke.  Among  the 
 Hindoos,  they  describe  a  strong  intimacy  by  saying,  'the  secret  of  a 
 king  is  with  him.' — So  Rob.  6.  Washed  my  steps,  Sfc. — a  poetical 
 expression,  denoting  an  abundance  of  the  aiticlc. — Doedtrlein,  so  Gill. 
 And  the  rock,  ^c,  the  best  olives  grown  on  rocky  mountains. — *Scotf. 
 /.  When  I  went  out,  ^c. — a  great  man  or  saint,  in  India,  goes  attended 
 by  his  servant  carrying  a  mat  or  tiger's  skin,  which  is  placed  for  him 
 under  a  shady  tree,  &c.,  where  he  si's  to  hear  and  answer  questions. 
 — Rob.  The  gate,  the  forum,  market  place,  and  seat  of  justice  in  the 
 wide  street. — Boothr.  Prepared  my  s(?a^— sitting  on  a  cushion  is  an 
 expression  of  honour  in  the  east.  Job  here,  probably,  speaks  of  send- 
 ing his  servants  to  lay  a  cushion  or  carpet  for  him  on  the  public  seats. 
 — yo  Sir  J.  Chardin.  8.  And  hid  themselves,  'and  shrunk  back.' — 
 M.  Good.  Among  the  Hindoos,  when  a  great  man  pas^^es  a  crowd,  the 
 young  hide  behind  the  cider,  and  the  aged  rise,  9.  Laid  their  hand 
 on  their  mouth— an  act  of  high  respect  in  the  east.— i*ic/.  Bib.  In  a 
 court  of  justice,  the  Hindoo  who  listens  to  the  judge  places  his  hand  on 
 his  mouth.— JioA.  10.  Held  their  peace,  ^-c.-these  sentences  shew 
 
 the  reverence  in  which  Job  was  he\d.—Ed.  15.  Eyes— feet,  so  they 
 call  the  man  of  great  charities  among  the  Hind<tos.— iio6.  l6.  The 
 
 cause  which  I  knew  not,  '  the  cause  of  the  unknown,'  i.  e.,  the  stranger, 
 or  lowly  and  obscure.— 71/.  Good.  17.  Jaws,  '  tusks.'  The  poet  here 
 compares  the  oppressors  of  the  poor  to  wild  boars,  and  other  rapacious 
 beasts  armed  in  a  similar  manner.  18.  In  my  nest,  peaceably  and 
 quietly  at  home. — M.  Good.  The  image  expresses  security  and  ease, 
 and  is  from  the  eagle  building  his  nest  on  the  summit  of  a  rock.— 
 *Scott,  Schultens.  19.  My  root  was  spread  out,  a  metaphor  from  a 
 
 healthy  tree  growing  beside  a  plentiful  rivulet. — So  Clarke.     The  deu; 
 §c.— in  those  hot  and  dry  countries,  the  dews  contribute  much  to  as- 
 sist vegetation.— So  Boothr.        20.  My  glory,  ifc— 
 *  My  glory  was  increased  to  me, 
 And  my  bow  abode  strong  in  my  hand.' 
 A  favourite  eastern  warlike   image,  denoting  increasing  power  and 
 conquest. — Boothr, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVIII. — 1.  How  sUilfn}  is  man 
 in  arts  and  sciencis,  and  yet  how  deplorably  iynorant  in  the  thinr/s 
 of  God  f  The  most  wise  and  learned  otten  discover  an  igno- 
 rance truly  astonishing,  and  which  plainly  proves  that  their 
 undorstandings  are  darkened.  The  Apostle  accounts  for  this  ; 
 '  The  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of 
 Hod  ;  for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him  ;  neither  can  lie  know 
 5J7 
 
 them,  because  they  are  spiritually  discerned.*  ^ 
 
 II.  How  diliifent  is  man  in  obtaining  the  perishing  riches  of  the 
 world,  and  how  neglectful  of  laying  up  treasures  in  heaven  !  It  is 
 better  to  get  wisdom  than  gold.  It  is  life  eternal  to  know  the 
 only  true  God  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  be  hath  sent.  May 
 God  grant  us  wisdom  to  seek  the  pearl  of  great  price,  and  to 
 secure  for  ourselves  'durable  riches  in  righteousness.' 
 
Job's  honour  is  turned  into  contempt. 
 
 JOB,  XXX. 
 
 his  prosperity  into  caluinittj. 
 
 22  After  my  words  tliey  spake  not  again  ; 
 and  my  speech  dropped  npon  tliem. 
 
 23  And  they  waited  fur  me  as  for  the  rain  ; 
 and  they  opened  their  nioutli  wide  as  for  'the 
 latter  rain. 
 
 24  If  I  laughed  on  them,  they  believed  it 
 not ;  and  the  light  of  my  countenance  they 
 cast  not  down. 
 
 25  I  chose  out  their  way,  and  sat  chief,  and 
 dwelt  as  a  king  in  the  army,  as  one  that  com- 
 forteth  the  mourners. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 1  Job's  lionouT  is  turned  into  extreme  contempt.    15  His 
 prusfjeriti/  into  calamity, 
 
 T>UT  now  they  that  are  f  younger  than  I 
 -'-'  have  me  in  der'Lsion,  whose  fathers  I  would 
 have  disdained  to  iiave  set  with  the  dogs  of 
 my  fluck. 
 
 '2  Yea,  whereto  might  the  strength  of  their 
 )^^^u\s profit  me,  in  whom  old  age  was  perished? 
 
 3  For  want  and  famine  they  ivere  \\  solitary; 
 fleeing  into  tiie  wilderness  fin  former  time 
 desolate  and  waste. 
 
 4  Who  cut  up  mallows  by  the  bushes,  and 
 juniper  xoois  for  their  meat. 
 
 5  They  were  driven  forth  from  among  mew, 
 (they  cried  after  them  as  after  a  thief;) 
 
 6  To  dwell  in  the  cliffs  of  tlie  valleys,  in 
 f  caves  of  the  eartli,  and  in  the  rocks. 
 
 7  Among  the  bushes  they  brayed  ;  under  the 
 
 t  Heb. "/ 
 
 fr.\trr  ilttt/l 
 
 |[  Or,  darh 
 at  the  nir/ht. 
 
 t  Hcb.  mf'i 
 
 n  ch-  17-  6 
 
 Pa.  35    15. 
 
 &  69.  12. 
 
 Lam.  3.  U. 
 
 63. 
 t  Heb.  and 
 
 withhold  not 
 
 tjiilllf  from 
 
 riiu  faci-. 
 b  SV».  l>. 
 
 14    Deu  -ib. 
 
 9.  Is  ;>o  6 
 
 Mat.  Sfi.U'. 
 
 &  27.30. 
 r  See  ch.  \2. 
 
 19. 
 d  cU.  19.   IS 
 
 t  Heb.  mtf 
 principul 
 
 nettles  they  were  gatiiered  together. 
 
 8  They  were  children  of  fools,  yea,  children 
 of  t  base  men  :   they  were  viler  than  the  earth. 
 
 9  ^  And  now  am  I  their  song,  yea,  I  am  tlieir 
 byword. 
 
 10  They  abhor  me,  they  flee  far  from  me, 
 fand  spare  not  **  to  spit  in  my  face. 
 
 11  Because  he  "^  hath  loosed  my  cord,  and 
 afflicted  me,  they  have  also  let  loose  the  bridle 
 before  me. 
 
 12  Upon  my  right  hand  rise  the  youth  ;  they 
 push  away  my  feet,  and  ^  they  raise  up  against 
 me  the  ways  of  their  destruction. 
 
 13  They  mar  iiiy  patli,  they  set  forward  my 
 calamity,  they  have  no  helper. 
 
 1-i  They  came  ^ipon  me  as  a  wide  breaking 
 in  of  waters:  in  the  desolation  they  rolled 
 themselves  upon  me, 
 
 15  Terrors  are  turned  upon  me:  they  pursue 
 t  my  soul  as  the  wind  :  and  my  welfare  passeth 
 away  as  a  cloud. 
 
 16  ^  And  now  my  soul  is  poured  out  upon 
 me  ;  the  days  of  affliction  have  taken  hold 
 upon  me. 
 
 17  My  bones  are  pierced  in  me  in  the  night 
 season  :  and  my  sinews  take  no  rest. 
 
 18  By  the  great  force  of  my  disease  is  my 
 garment  changed  :  it  bindeth  me  about  as  the 
 collar  of  my  coat. 
 
 19  He  hath  cast  me  into  the  mire,  and  I  am 
 become  like  dust  and  ashes. 
 
 24.  //  /  laughed,  Sfc.,  *l  smiled  upon  them,  and  fhcy  were  pay.* — 
 M.  Garni.  •  it'  I  smiled  upon  them  they  wfic  m^t  contidcnt.'  His  very 
 smiles  were  received  with  awe.—Boui/n-.  25.  Comforteth,  Pfc,  '  up- 
 ho'iU'tti  tlip  oppressed.'— 3/.  Good. 
 
 Ch.^p.  XXX. —  1.  Set  with  the  do^s,  made  keepers  of  the  di  g:s  which 
 tended  the  flocks. — Bp,  Hall.  Fcr&ons  not  confidential  enoutrh  to  be 
 made  sliephvrds. — A .  Cinrke.  From  this  to  ver.  14  is  a  spirited  descrip- 
 tion of  those  villainous  Arabs  wlinm  Job  had  punislied  in  his  pros- 
 perity, but  who  now,  on  the  loss  of  his  authority,  came  out  of  their 
 dens  to  pour  out  their  scurrilous  abuse. — *Scott.        2.  Yen,  whereto, 
 
 *  Yoa,  what  to  me  was  the  strenfrth  of  their  hand 
 
 In  whom  manly  vigour  had  perished  j 
 
 Through  want  and  hcverc  famioe, 
 
 They  Wi.re  lately  {jnawing  the  desert,'  «'^c. — Bonthr. 
 In  whom  old  age  was  perished,  'in  whom  old  age  is  prrfligate.* — 
 *Si:uft.  'Whose  maiure  ae:^  failed.*  The  sense  appears  to  be,  that 
 their  stren^^th  failed  prematurely  througli  early  vice  aud  profligacy. — 
 M'il.  *  I  liave  never  esteemed  their  strength  even  i[i  their  m()st  vigorous 
 youth,  nor  tlicir  conduct  nor  counsel  in  old  age.' — See  Cnl.  4.  Who 
 cut  up  miilluws,  fyc,  *  salt  herbs.* — Droui^hton,  Grotius.  '  Nettles,'  &c. 
 Doch. 
 
 '  Plucking  nettle^  from  the  hushes. 
 Or  furze  roots  for  their  food.' 
 The  plant  intended  is  m{)st  likely  a  species  of  salt-wort. — M.  Good. 
 mVo.  mallows,  comes  from  the  w.  rd  n'7'3,  '  salt.'  It  is  certain  that  the 
 poor  in  the  east  boil  mallow  leaves  for  food. — Hnr.  Mallows  here 
 cannot  mean  the  herb  so  called  by  us,  which  does  not  grow  on  trees  or 
 hushes.  The  word  appears,  upon  the  whole,  to  be  the  tops  or  leaves 
 of  some  sort  of  shrub  whicli  mean  people  used  to  gather  and  live  upon. 
 — Gill.  Juniper  roots,  D^om.  with  these  the  poor  were  fed  in  the  time 
 of  want. — Schindler.  It  rather  means  the  genista  or  Spanish  broom. 
 There  is  no  modern  instance  of  the  juniper  root  being  eaten  for  food. — 
 Par:,  as  Mieh.  and  SchuH.  6.  In  caves,  the  rocks  of  Arabia  Petrea 
 abound  in  caves.  At  tliis  day  the  Arabs  who  dwell  in  the  mountains 
 of  that  country  are  a  bad  people;  the  worst  of  all  the  Arabs,  as 
 Bp.  Pococke  informs  us. — *Sci)tt.  7-  Brayed,  like  wild  asses,  to 
 which  the  wicked  are  compared,  fchap.  xi.  \2.)Sephorno.  Under  the 
 nettles,  fye.,  '  under  the  briars  did  they  huddle  together.'  8.  Thei/ 
 were  children  offotih,  §(•. — 
 
 Sons  of  confusion  !  yea,  sons  of  the  nameless. 
 
 They  were  whipped  out  of  the  country.'— -5/ocfc. 
 
 'Scourged  out  of  the  laud.'— il/.  Good,  Bootfir.        g.  Their  song,  the 
 
 most  ancient  method  of  libelling  seems  to  have  been  in  songs  and 
 
 ballads,    (see  chap.  xvii.  6;     Ps.  Ixix.  12.)  —  Wil.     Their  byword,  the 
 
 scoin  and  derision  of  the  basest  miscreants.— Boo//ir.  10.  In  my 
 face,  '  in  my  presence.* — Boothr.  A  great  insult  among  the  Arabs.— 
 See  liar.,  Obs.  xcix.  vol.  iv.  U.  Lnosed  my  cord — the  cord  may 
 
 refer  lo  the  girdle,  and  then  signifies  strengtli  and  authority,  as  in  chap, 
 xii.  18;  or  to  his  bowstring,  and  then  means  '  he  has  disarmed  me.' — 
 Wil.  The  reference  is  to  God,  '  he  hath  loosed  the  stiin<  of  my  bow, 
 or  luith  disarmed  me,  so  that  1  have  no  power  of  dcfmcc  ;  or  he  hath 
 loosed  the  rords  of  my  tent,  and  destroyed  my  family  and  property.* 
 Btintlir.  The  allusion  is  to  the  bowstring. — So  Par.  It  is  to  the 
 '  strt'tched  cords'  by  which  Job's  tent  was  fixed  to  the  ground. — Durelt. 
 Many  copies  read 'iin\  'his  cord.'  fornn',  'ray  cord;*  the  metaphor  then 
 describes  an  archer  who  lias  shut  hisarrnwat  the  mark,  and  then  thrown 
 ofi"  all  restraints. — So  Clarke.  Chains,  hands,  and  cords,  in  the  Hebrew 
 idium,  denoted  political  authority. — Hew.  They  have  also  let  hose,  fyc. — 
 
 'They  throw  off  the  bridle  in  my  presence.' — Boothr. 
 A  common  metaphor  with  the  Arabs  to  denote  'to   act  without  rC' 
 siTHint.'—Schultens.  12.  Upon  my  right  hand,  this  may  mean   to 
 
 slander  or  accuse. —  Wil.  They  push,  fft:.,  *  they  rush  into  ray  loot- 
 steps.' — M.  Good.  'They,  in  effect,  trample  me  under  their  feet.' — 
 A,  Clarke.  They  raise  vp  against  me — the  metaphor  is  Irom  a  hesie^ing 
 army  casting  u|i  trenches.  i:i.  They  haoe  no  helper,  '  nor  is  thtre 
 any  help  to  me  against  them,' — Boothr, ;  or  '  they  need  no  assistance  to 
 aggravate  my  mi>-ery.' — Hew.         14.  Thry  came,  ^c. — 
 
 '  They  advance  as  a  vast  breaker; 
 They  roll  forward,  a  tumvdtuous  ruin,' — HI.  Good. 
 
 'As  through  a  wide  breach  they  advance; 
 With  tumult  ihey  roll  themselves  forward. '—Boo^Ar. 
 There  still  appears  to  be  an  allusion  to  a  besieged  city — to  the  sap, 
 breach,  storm,  flight,  pursuit,  slaughter. —  Clarke.  15.  They  pursue, 
 ^c.,  '  my  nobility  [dignity, — *Scott,  Mi.<is  Stnith.  Jioothr.,]  is  chased 
 away  like  the  wind.' — M.  Good.  As  the  wind,  with  rapidity  and  vio- 
 lence, as  when  a  person  is  attacked  by  a  storm. — Rosetnn.  "  16.  My 
 sdJil  is  poured  out,  '  dissolved.* — .1/,  Good.  The  Arabians  call  a  fearful 
 person  one  who  has  a  watery  heart. — Pocncke.  17.  And  my  sinews, 
 
 gfC.,  '  and  my  gnawings  take  no  rest.' — M.  Good.  '  My  gnawing  pains 
 suffer  me  not  to  rest.' — Boothr.  18.  By  the  great  force,  ^r— through 
 his  disease  he  had  a  sort  of  new  coat,  formed  by  innumerable  incrusta 
 tions  from  the  ulcerated  surface,  and  as  closely  attached  to  him  as  the 
 collar  of  his  coat,  [tunic,— Bfjo^/ir.,]  —So  Clarke.  It  bindeth  me  about, 
 ^c. — my  outward  garment,  by  the  filthy  matter  of  my  sores,  being  glued 
 as  fast  to  me  as  the  collar  of  my  shirt.— P«/.  19.  He  hath  cast,  ^c. — 
 the  passage  may  he  rendered,  '  with  great  force  he  iayeth  hold  of  my 
 garment,  and  enfolds  me  by  the  collar  of  my  robe.  He  hath  cast  me 
 into  the  mire,'  &c.  The  idea  is  taken  from  a  man  struggling  with  an- 
 other, laying  hold  of  his  garment,  casting  him  to  the  cartli,  and  rolling 
 
 Reflkctions  ON  CiiAp.  XXIX.  —  In  Job  wn  here  behold,  Who  cannot  obtain  tlie  blessing  of  those  who  nre  ready  to 
 I.  /4  vatttrn  for  heads  uf  families.  His  children  were  about  perish,  and  cause  llie  widow's  heart  to  sing  for  joy'?  AVho 
 liim,  nis  house  was  the  place  of  religious  comraimion  and  in-    may  not  be  eyes  to  the  bhnd.  and  feet  to  the  lame,  and  a  fa- 
 
 struction,  and  the  secret  of  God  was  upon  his  tabernacle. 
 
 II.  A  jtattent  for  jnif/istnites.  One  to  whom  all  the  op- 
 pressed could  coniidently  look  for  justice — a  terror  to  evil 
 doers,  and  a  praise  to  those  doing  wrI[. 
 
 JH.   .'/  pattern   for  Chrii^eians  in  all  tlieir  f/enrrrd  diportmcnt. 
 
 ther  to  the  poor,  and  a  comforter  to  the  mourner  1  Let  us  thus 
 imitate  the  example  of  Job  ;  or  rather,  under  the  powerful  in- 
 fliiHuce  of  love  and  gratitude  to  Job's  Redeemer,  imitate  Him 
 who  '  went  about  doing  good.' 
 
Job  maki'lh  a  solemn  piolcstrition 
 
 JOB,  XXXI. 
 
 of' his  intctjiili)  in  scccrul  duties. 
 
 20  I  cry  unto  thee,  and  thou  dost  not  hear 
 ine  :  I  stand  up,  and  thou  regardest  me  not. 
 
 21  Thou  art  fbecome  cruel  to  me  :  with  fthy 
 strong  hand  thou  opposes!  thyself  against  me. 
 
 '22  Thou  liftest  me  up  to  tlie  wind  ;  tliou 
 causest  me  to  ride  npon  it,  and  dissolvest  my 
 II  substance. 
 
 23  For  I  know  that  thou  wilt  bring  me  to 
 death,  and  to  the  house  ''appointed  for  all 
 living. 
 
 24  Howbeit  he  will  not  stretch  out  his  hand 
 to  the  t  grave,  thougli  tliey  cry  in  his  destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 25  ^  Did  not  I  weep  ffor  him  that  was  in 
 trouble?  was  not  my  soul  grieved  for  the 
 poor  ? 
 
 2G  "  Wlien  I  looked  for  good,  then  evil  came 
 unto  me:  and  when  I  waited  for  light,  there 
 came  darkness. 
 
 ■27  My  hovels  boiled,  and  rested  not :  the 
 days  of  allhction  prevented  me. 
 
 28  '  I  went  mourning  without  the  sun  :  I 
 stood  up,  and  I  crieil  in  the  congregation. 
 
 29  ''I  am  a  brother  to  dragons,  and  a  com- 
 panion to  II  owls. 
 
 30  '  My  skin  is  black  npon  me,  and  "'  ray 
 bones  are  burned  witli  heat. 
 
 31  My  harp  also  is  turned  to  mourning,  and 
 my  organ  into  the  voice  of  tliem  that  weep. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 Jnh  iiiak(;tli  a  sol'-iiin  protestation  of  his  integrity/  in 
 sijccral  duties. 
 
 T  MADE  a  covenant  with  mine  "  eyes  ;  why 
 -*■    tiien  sliould  I  think  upon  a  maid  ? 
 
 2  For  what  ''  portion  of  God  is  there  from 
 above  ?  and  what  inlieritance  of  the  Almighty 
 from  on  higli  ? 
 
 3  /*■  not  destruction  to  the  wicked?  and  a 
 strange  punishment  to  tlie  workers  of  iniquity? 
 
 4  '  Doth  not  he  see  my  ways,  and  count  all 
 my  steps? 
 
 3  If  I  have  walked  with  vanity,  or  if  my  foot 
 
 fHeb.  turned 
 f  Hub.  tUe 
 thy  hand. 
 
 II  Or,  viiadom. 
 
 /Heb.  «.  27. 
 
 i  Heb.  heap. 
 
 t  Heb./«r 
 
 him  tU'it 
 M«»  hfird  uf 
 
 /(  Jer.  8    15. 
 
 i  Ps.  S3  6.8< 
 4-2.9.ai«2. 
 
 k  Ps.  102.  6. 
 Mic.  1.  8. 
 
 I  Pa.  119  s:l. 
 
 Lam.  4  8.  fc 
 
 5.  UK 
 m  P3.  1U2.  3 
 
 &  -17.  U. 
 
 c  2  Chr  lfi.9 
 ch.av.  21. 
 Pro.  5.  21. 
 &  15.  3. 
 Jet-  Si.  in. 
 
 d  See  Nuni 
 
 15.  ag. 
 
 Kcdes.ll.g 
 Kzek.  6.  9 
 
 Milt.  5.  20. 
 fl  Lev  '26. 1 6, 
 Deu.  28  3U, 
 
 38,  &c. 
 
 ffGcn;iS.21, 
 Lev.  U'li.  10 
 
 n..-u.  2-i.  'i. 
 
 See  ver.28. 
 
 i  cb.  SL  19. 
 Pro.  14.31, 
 
 Mai'  2.  10. 
 
 II  Or.  'tfl  l.c 
 
 IIS     ill    '•„£ 
 
 I  Or,  tfic 
 
 hatli  hasted  to  deceit ; 
 
 6  f  Let  me  be  weighed  in  an  even  balance, 
 that  God  may  know  mine  integrity. 
 
 7  If  my  step  hath  turned  out  of  the  way,  and 
 "^  mine  iieart  walked  after  mine  eyes,  and  if  any 
 blot  hath  cleaved  to  mine  tiands  ; 
 
 8  The7i  ^let  me  sow,  and  let  another  eat; 
 yea,  let  my  offspring  be  rooted  out. 
 
 9  If  mine  heart  have  been  deceived  by  a  wo- 
 man, or  if  I  have  laid  wait  at  my  neiglibour's 
 door  ; 
 
 10  T/ien  let  my  wife  grind  unto  ""another, 
 and  let  others  bow  down  upon  lier. 
 
 1 1  For  this  is  an  heinous  crime  ;  yea,  ^  it  is 
 an  iniquity  to  be  ptinishcd  by  tlie  judges. 
 
 1 2  For  it  is  a  fire  that  consumeth  to  destruc- 
 tion, and  would  root  out  all  mine  increase. 
 
 13  If  I  did  despise  the  cause  of  my  manser- 
 vant or  of  my  maidservant,  wlien  they  con- 
 tended with  me  ; 
 
 14  What  then  shall  I  do  when  ''  God  riseth 
 up?  and  when  he  visiteth,  what  shall  I  answer 
 him  ? 
 
 15  'Did  not  he  tliat  made  me  in  the  womb 
 make  him  ?  and  ||  did  not  one  fashion  us  in  the 
 womb  ? 
 
 16  If  I  have  wltldicld  the  poor  from  their 
 desire,  or  have  caused  the  eyes  of  the  widow 
 to  fail ; 
 
 17  Or  have  eaten  my  morsel  myself  alone, 
 and  the  fatherless  hath  not  eaten  thereof; 
 
 18  (For  from  my  youth  he  was  brought  up* 
 with  me,  as  ivitli  a  father,  and  I  have  guided 
 II  her  from  my  mother's  womb  ;) 
 
 19  If  I  have  seen  any  perish  for  want  of 
 clothing,  or  any  poor  without  covering  ; 
 
 20  If  his  loins  have  not  ^  blessed  me,  and  if 
 he  were  not  warmed  with  the  fleece  of  my 
 sheep  ; 
 
 21  If  I  have  lifted  up  my  hand  '  against  the 
 fatherless,  when  I  saw  my  help  in  the  gate  : 
 
 22  Then  let  mine  arm  fall  from  my  shoulder 
 blade,  and  mine  arm  be  broken  from  ll  the  bone. 
 
 him  in  the  mire.  Job  compares  the  disease  and  afflictinn  which  laid 
 hohl  of  him  to  such  a  struggle. — Houh.  20.  T  stand — this  was  the 
 usual  posture  of  prayer  among  the  Hebrews. — *Scott.  21.  Cruel,  the 
 same  word  is  used  where  God  describes  his  severe  chastisements,  {Jer. 
 XXX.  \4.)— Peters.  22.  T/iou  liftest,  ^c,  'thou  tossest  me  into  the 
 whirlwind.*  The  allusion  is  to  the  straw,  or  gossamer,  or  other  light 
 substance,  thrown  into  a  whirlwind,  driven  about  in  every  direction, 
 and  frittered  away  to  nothing  by  its  viulence. — .,1/.  Good.  Prodigious 
 pillars  uf  sand  aie  moved  i npidly  al)out  tlie  deserts  with  the  wind  of 
 tlie  sand  storm,  and  at  last  are  dispersed  in  the  air.  This  comparison, 
 tberefurc,  seems  exactly  adapted  to  the  minil  of  the  Arab. — Frug.  to 
 ('(timet.  24.  He  will  not  stretch,  SfC,  '  God's  afflicting  hand  will  not 
 pursue  me  to  the  grave  ;  for,  though  men  cry  out  when  they  are  sent 
 thitlicr,  yet,  when  they  are  there,  all  their  sufferings  and  complaints 
 are  ended.' — Put.  '  Though  I  suffer  here,  I  shall  not  suffer  hereafter.' 
 — A.  Clarke.     Though  they  cry,  ^c. — 
 
 •Surely  there,  in  its  luin,  is  freedom.'— .1/.  Good. 
 
 25.  Did  not  I  weep,  §-c. — 
 
 *  Should  I  not  then  weep  for  the  ruthless  day  ? 
 My  soul  lament  for  the  rock?' 
 
 *  Ruthless  day,' DV  miJp'?,  'for  the  stern,  rigid,  immoveable,  pitiless, 
 or  inexorable  day.'  '  For  the  rock,'  IV^M,  admits  of  the  sense  of  '  the 
 poor'  or  *  the  rock  ;'  the  meaning  here  is,  '  Should  not  my  soul  pine  for 
 the  sepulchral  ruck  ?'— jV.  Good.  TJ.  My  bowels  boiled,  a  true  oriental 
 figure.  *  Witli  love  my  heart  o'erboils.' — Hafiz.  Prevented  me,  rather 
 '  rushed  in  upon  me.'— iJwrc//.  'Press  ui)on  me.' — M.Good.  'Have 
 befallen  me.' — Boothr.      28.  /  weiit  mourning  without  the  sun,  may  be 
 
 rendered,  *  I  go,  or  am  grown  black  without  the  heat,'  namely,  by  his 
 distemper,  which  changed  the  skin  black. — So  Par.  I  cried  in  the  eon. 
 gregntion,  *  \n  the  assembly  I  cry  out.' — Boothr.  'Among  the  com- 
 pany  coming  about  me  to  behold  re\e.*— Clark.  2g.  A  brother,  the 
 easterns  use  this  term  for  affinity  in  circunistiinces. — *Scutt.  Dragons, 
 *  sea  monsters.* — Boothr.  Literally,  'howlers'  or  hissers.'  Owls, 
 'ostriches.* — Boch.,  M.  Good.  The  ostrich  will  often  howl  in  the  night 
 like  a  person  in  the  greatest  agonies. — Shaw.  Perhaps  the  best  ren- 
 dering of  tlie  word  D^SD  is  'monster.' — Pict.  Bib.  The  sense  is,  'I 
 am  like  to  wild  creatures,  notorious  for  mourning  and  whining.' — 
 Scrip.  Ill  as.,  E.tjjos.  hid.  31.  Mt/  harp,  ^c,  proverbial  expressions. 
 None  but  thnie  who  have  heard  the  mournings  for  the  dead  in  the  east 
 can  possibly  imagine  the  force  of  the  latter  expression. — *Scotf. 
 
 Chap.  XXXI.  —  \.  I  made  a  covenant  ivith  mine  eyes,  the  very  same 
 phrahc  is  in  use  among  the  Hindoos. — Rob.  Thijik  upon  a  maid,  in- 
 dulge impure  desires. — Boothr.  A  maid,  ^'h^^\l^  may  here  signify  'an 
 idol.* — A.  Clarke.  Probably  Job's  wife  was  dead,  and  as  he  expected 
 the  grave  for  his  speedy  porticm,  he  would  not  tliink  of  another  mar- 
 riage.— So  Lee.  9-  Deceived  by  a  woman,  allured  by  or  towards  an- 
 other man's  wife. — Hew.  Ai5por  erepoi-,  '  another  mau's  wife  ;'  so  it  is 
 added  by  the  Sept.  10.  Grind  unto  annther,  *  become  another's  slave,' 
 as  grinding  was  the  work  of  slaves.— T'/^/oj-'a-  Caimet.  A  decent  ex- 
 pression for  her  committing  adultery. — Paf.  13.  Contended  ivith  me, 
 — slaves,  anciently,  could  bring  no  -iction  at  law  against  their  owners, 
 but  Job  admitted  his  to  complain  even  against  himself. —  Greenf. 
 IJ.  Eaten  mi/ morsel  alone — supper  was  the  graiul  meal;  it  was  then 
 the  ancients  saw  their  friends.— .■!.  Clarke.  Hosi.itality  was,  and  still 
 is,  the  national  character  of  the  Arabs. — *Scott.  IS,  For  from  my 
 youth,  'if  from  his  youtli,'  &c. — Heath.     'Yea,  from  my  youth.* — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXX.  —  Observe  here,  I.  T/ie 
 insidts  to  which  Job  was  exposed.  Even  well  doing  will  not  al- 
 ways secure  us  against  these  from  our  fellow-men.  Under 
 such  circumstances,  we  should  remember  him  who  endured 
 such  contradiction  of  sinner.s  against  himself,  'lest  we  also  be 
 weary  and  taint  in  our  minds.' 
 
 II.  The  greatest  tjrieftvhic/i  Job  felt.  It  was  not  so  much  tliat 
 his  foes  triumphed  over  hira,  or  tliat  his  friends  forsook  him, 
 as  thai  God  had  departed  from  him.  It  is  the  withdrawnipnt 
 509 
 
 of  his  consolations  that  makes  real  misery  to  the  good  man  ; 
 when  the  heavens  seem  to  be  as  bras*  to  his  supplications, 
 and  nut  one  beam  darts  through  the  thick  cloud  that  envelops 
 the  sun  of  righteousness — when  the  storm  gatliers  nothing  but 
 blackne.ss  all  around — when  every  hope  is  threatened  with 
 shipwreck,  and  God  seems  to  have  abandoned  the  sufferer  to 
 destruction.  Lord,  if  thou  smite  us,  deprive  us  not  of  thy 
 prejience,  for  that  is  the  misery  of  hell. 
 
Job  professetli  his  intcyrity,  §-c. 
 
 JOB,  XXXII. 
 
 Elihu  reproveth  Job. 
 
 23  For '"destruction  from  God  tvas  a  terror 
 to  me,  and  by  reason  of  his  higliness  I  could 
 not  endure. 
 
 24  "  If  I  liave  made  gold  my  Iiope,  or  have 
 said  to  the  fine  i,'old,  Tliou  art  my  confidence  ; 
 
 25  °  If  I  rejoiced  because  my  wealth  icas 
 great,  and  because  mine  hand  had  f  gotten 
 much  ; 
 
 26  ■'  If  I  beheld  f  'he  sun  wlien  it  shined,  or 
 the  moon  walking  f  ;«  brightness  ; 
 
 27  And  my  heart  hath  been  secretly  enticed, 
 or  fniy  mouth  liath  kissed  my  hand  : 
 
 28  This  also  u'ere  ""an  iniquity  to bf  punished 
 by  the  judge  :  for  I  should  have  denied  tlie 
 God  that  is  above. 
 
 29  '  If  I  rejoiced  at  the  destruction  of  him 
 that  hated  me,  or  lifted  up  myself  wlien  evil 
 found  him  : 
 
 30  '  Neither  have  I  suffered  fmy  mouth  to 
 sin  by  wishing  a  curse  to  his  soul. 
 
 31  If  the  men  of  my  tabernacle  said  not,  Oh 
 that  we  had  of  his  flesh  !  we  cannot  be  satisfied. 
 
 32  '  The  stranger  did  not  \oA-j:e  in  the  street : 
 but  I  opened  my  doors  ||  to  the  traveller. 
 
 33  If  I  covered  my  transjirossions  ||"as 
 Adam,  by  hiding  mine  iniquity  in  my  bosom: 
 
 34  Did  I  fear  a  great  'multitude,  or  did  the 
 contenq)t  of  families  terrify  me,  that  I  kept 
 silence,  and  went  not  out  of  the  door? 
 
 3a  ''  Oh  that  one  would  hear  me !  ||  behold, 
 my  desire  is,  '  that  the  Almighty  would  answer 
 me,  and  that  mine  adversary  had  written  a 
 book. 
 
 36  Surely  I  would  take  it  upon  my  shoulder, 
 and  bind  it  as  a  crown  to  me. 
 
 37  I  would  declare  unto  him  the  number  of 
 my  steps  ;  as  a  prince  would  I  go  near  unto 
 him. 
 
 38  If  my  land  cry  against  me,  or  that  the  fur- 
 rows likewise  thereof  f  complain  ; 
 
 39  If  °  I  have  eateu  f  the  fruits  thereof  with- 
 out money,  or  ''  have  f  caused  the  owners 
 thereof  to  lose  their  life  : 
 
 40  Let  '^  thistles  grow  instead  of  wheat,  and 
 II  cockle  instead  of  barley.  The  words  of  Job 
 are  ended. 
 
 n.  c. 
 
 cir.  Vsia. 
 
 n  ^falk  10 
 :;t  1  Tim. 
 6    17 
 
 o  Ps.  02.  to 
 Pni,  11    '28 
 
 t  Heb  /..,</,rf 
 
 17   S 
 
 K/L-k   8.  16 
 t  Hel..  tl,e 
 
 l.,,!., 
 
 t  iMx.tfrighl 
 t  ll'-b.  mt/ 
 
 /I'.nt  /.all. 
 
 ,ulh 
 
 .  II. 
 
 t  Mat-  5.  -11 
 
 Knil)   l-i.U 
 
 t  lleh    mt/ 
 t'ulule. 
 
 G«'n  19.  S, 
 3-  .tudg.  19. 
 ■^0,  VI . 
 
 J  Ex.  23.  2. 
 V  cl>.  S-t.  ti. 
 11  Oi,  6W,„M, 
 
 tliat  Ihf  Al- 
 
 t  Hcb.  toflrp 
 a  Jam.  o  4. 
 t  Hob.  r/i» 
 
 llrength 
 
 lf,err'<f. 
 h\  KiSl.lD 
 tHeb.cn  !...•<( 
 
 0,r  K.,d  «f 
 
 iLtrrofto 
 'xi'iTff  or. 
 
 f  Heb.  /mm 
 '"""("■'■'■■«. 
 u  ch.  33.  a. 
 
 6  Gen  92.21 
 
 t  H.-l..  hit 
 •out. 
 
 /or  dtiy*. 
 
 t  lleh.fixB 
 
 iif  datii. 
 c  cli.   15.  10. 
 t  lU-b. 
 
 f.a„d. 
 
 d\  KinS.lS 
 &  4  29.  cb 
 S.-,.  II.  .\3a 
 m.  Pro  8. 
 6.  Eccl«s.2. 
 2fl.  Piui.  1. 
 17.  &  2.  21. 
 Mat.  II  25. 
 Jnio.  I.  5. 
 
 e  I  Cur.  1.20. 
 
 tHcb   uxdfi- 
 tf.indt',Kt. 
 |Hcb   ici.rd<. 
 
 /■Jer.  9  2a 
 I  Cor.  1.  2B. 
 
 II  Or,  nriUrifd 
 
 his    UOTttl. 
 
 t  Hcb.  thrj/ 
 rftnnvfd 
 
 /T',m  Ih^m- 
 
 «Wi.« 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIl. 
 
 I  Elihu  is  angry  with  Job  and  his  tliree  frintds.  6 
 Because  wisdnin  Cometh  not  from  afie,  he  excvseth  the 
 boldness  of  his  youth.  1 1  He  lej  nnelh  tliem  for  not 
 satisfying  of  Job.      16   His  zeul  to  speah. 
 
 CO  these  three  men  ceased  f  to  answer  Job, 
 ^  because  he  u^a*' righteous  in  his  own  eyes. 
 •2  Then  was  kindled  the  wrath  of  Elihu  the 
 son  of  Barachel  ''  the  liuzite,  of  the  kindred  of 
 Kam  :  against  Job  was  his  wrath  kindled,  be- 
 cause he  justified  f  himself  rather  than  God. 
 
 3  Also  against  his  three  friends  was  his  wrath 
 kindled,  because  they  had  found  no  answer, 
 and  t/et  had  condemned  Job. 
 
 4  Now  Elihu  Iiad  f  waited  till  Job  had  spoken, 
 because  they  u-rre  f  elder  than  he. 
 
 5  When  Elihu  saw  that  there  was  no  answer 
 in  the  mouth  of  these  three  men,  then  his 
 wrath  was  kindled. 
 
 6  And  Eliliii  the  son  of  Barachel  the  Buzite 
 answered  and  said,  I  am  f  young,  "and  ye  are 
 very  old  ;  wherefore  I  was  afraid,  and  f  durst 
 not  shew  you  mine  opinion. 
 
 7  I  said.  Days  should  speak,  and  multitude 
 of  years  .should  teach  wisdom. 
 
 8  But  there  is  a  spirit  in  man  :  and  ''  the  in- 
 spiration of  the  Almighty  giveth  them  under- 
 standing. 
 
 9  "  Great  men  are  not  aluat/s  wise  :  neither 
 do  the  aged  understand  judgment. 
 
 10  Therefore  I  said.  Hearken  to  me;  I  also 
 will  shew  mine  opinion. 
 
 1 1  Behold,  I  waited  for  your  words  ;  I  gave 
 ear  to  your  treasons,  whilst  ye  searched  out 
 f  what  to  say. 
 
 12  Yea,  I  attended  unto  you,  and,  behohl, 
 there  teas  none  of  you  that  convinced  Job,  ui 
 that  answered  his  words  : 
 
 13  '  Lest  ye  should  say,  Wc  have  found  out 
 wisdom  :  God  thrusteth  him  down,  not  man. 
 
 14  Now  he  hath  not  ||  directed  his  words 
 against  me  :  neither  will  I  answer  him  with 
 your  speeches. 
 
 15  They  were  amazed,  they  answered  no 
 more  :  f  they  left  off  speaking. 
 
 hatithr.  26.  //"  /  beheld  the  sun — the  only  species  of  idolatry  noticed 
 in  this  book  is  Zabiani>m,  or  the  worship  of  the  heavenly  bodies. — 
 ll'iles.  27.  Kissf'd  my  luind — the  Greeks  were  accustomed  to  wor- 
 ship the  sun  hy  kissinjt  their  hanil.— So  Luciim.  31.  If  the  men,  ffC., 
 '  if  the  man  of  my  tabernacle  do  not  say,  who  can  produce  a  person  not 
 satisfied  from  his  flesh?'  that  is,  his  provisions.— «S<.-o«.  3i.  Did  I 
 fear  ?  Sfc. — 
 
 'Then  let  me  be  terrified  at  the  grrcat  assembly. 
 And  let  the  contempt  of  the  families  strike  me  down  ; 
 Let  me  be  cut  otTand  never  go  out  of  my  door.' — Magee, 
 To  the  same  purport,  Good  and  Baolhr.        3j.  Oh  that,  ^c.— 
 'Who  will  consent  to  summon  me? 
 There  is  my  pledge— let  the  Almiijhty  take  notice  of  me. 
 And  let  mine  adversary  write  down  the  charge.' — M.  Onod. 
 The  like,  Boof/ir.      3(1.  Without  mo7/c^— Job's  meaning  is,  that  he  ate 
 not  the  fruits  of  his  own  laiidif  he  ha<l  not  paid  his  workmen  for  plough, 
 ing,   sowing,    reaping.  Sic— Gill.      Or  rauspd   l/ie   oieners  l/iereof  to 
 lose  Itieir  life ;  '  or  have  grieved  any  of  the  ploUKhmen.'— CoivtvA/Ze  : 
 or  have  exhausted  the  breath  of  its  managers,'— jl/.  Goorf;   '  ur  have 
 grieved  the  soul  of  its  managers.'— iJuoWir.     The  great  landholders  in 
 the  east  employ  men  who  find  labour  and  take  a  part  of  the  produce  of 
 the  land  for  remuneration.— «(,*.        W.T/ie  words,  'the  arguments.' 
 M.  Good.     'The  pleadings.'— BouMr. 
 
 Chap.  XXXII.  —  1 .  Because  he  was  righteous,  ffC,  i.  c,  they  looked 
 upon  him  as  too  self- conceited  and  obstinate  fur  conviction.  2.  Kin. 
 died  the  wrath ;  not  that  he  was  in  a  passion,  but  this  is  an  oriental 
 mode  of  expressing  strong  disapprobation. — So  Boothr.  T/ie  Buzite — 
 Huz  is  mentioned  in  Jcr.  xxv.  23,  with  Dedan  and  Tema;  the  former, 
 a  city  of  Idumea,  the  latter  belonged  to  the  children  of  Ishmael,  who 
 inhabited  from  Havilah  unto  Shur,  which  is  in  the  district  of  Egypt. 
 Gen.  xxv.  15,  18. — See  Relnnd's  Pulestincr.  Buz  was  the  son  of  Nahur, 
 who  was  a  Syrian. — Griitrns.  See  Gen.  xxii.  20.  Justified  himself— 
 defended  himself  in  such  a  manner  as  to  have  represented  God  to  have 
 di>ne  wr'.ng. — Boothr.  3.  Found  no  answer — no  convincing  reply. — 
 Bp-  Wttson.  4.  Tilt  Job  had  spoken — 'for  their  reply  to  Job,' — 
 Booltir. ;  '  after  Job  for  a  reply.' — .1/.  Good.  8.  .i  spirit,  '  an  aflia- 
 tion,'  'a  Divine  infliieiiee.' — M.  Good.  The  human  mind  with  its  acqui- 
 sitions as  contrasted  with  tlie  Divine  iuHuence. — Boothr.,  so  S/iurk- 
 ford.  One  man  has  understanding  as  well  as  another,  and  no  man 
 can  pretend  to  have  the  monopoly  of  reason  ;  he  means,  '  1  have  rea- 
 son as  well  as  you.* — Henry.  Elihu  had  some  reason  to  believe  that 
 he  had  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  was  under  his  inspiration.  11.  W/tilst  ye 
 searched  out  what  to  say,  v^r^  iTipptn  n?,  '  whilst  ye  were  searching 
 up  and  down  for  words,'  A  tine  irony. — .i.  Clttrke.  13.  Lest  ye 
 should  stiy,  ^c. — lest  they  should  be  too  wise  in  their  own  conceits, 
 and  attribute  too  much  to  themselves. — Gill.  God  tlirusteth,  Sfc. — God 
 should  overthrow  him,  not  man. — M.  Good.  '  It  is  God,  not  man,  who 
 must  bring  liim  down.' — Boothr.       l.s.  They  were  amazed — Elihu  here 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXL—  I.  L,t  us  ham  tocullicale 
 purity  of  the  very  thoughts  and  heart.  Oh,  how  many  have  been 
 ruined,  for  not  making  a  covenant  with  their  thoughts  and 
 eyes  .  How  many  have  irreparably  wounded  their  reputation, 
 and  how  many  liave  transtixed  an  arrow  in  their  consciences, 
 which  nothing  hut  the  hand  of  Uivine  mercy  can  pluck  out. 
 Let  us,  then,  learn  to  'abstain  from  fleshly  lusts  which  war 
 against  tlie  sou!.' 
 
 II.  ie«  KS  learn  to  be  hind  and  charitable  to  nil  It  is  not 
 5()0 
 
 enough  that  we  should  possess  mere  negative  virtues,  we 
 must  not  merely  '  cea.se  to  do  evil,*  but  also  we  must  *  learn  to 
 do  well.'  The  virtues  here  commended  should  peculiarly 
 adorn  the  Cliristinn  character,  for  a  clear  view  of  the  love  and 
 example  of  the  Redeemer  cannot  fail  to  produce  such  effects. 
 The  mere  moral  man  exhibits  tliem  that  he  may  stand  well  in 
 the  estimation  of  bis  neighbours,  but  the  sincere  Cliristian  as 
 a  practical  evidence  of  the  constraining  influence  of  the  love 
 of  rhrist. 
 
lllihu  rrpruvcth  Jolt's  friends. 
 
 JOB,  XXXIII. 
 
 How  God  calhtli-  miin  to  ripentancc. 
 
 10  When  I  bad  waited,  (for  they  spake  not, 
 but  stood  still,  and  answered  no  more  ;) 
 
 17  I  said,  I  will  answer  also  my  part,  I  also 
 will  sliew  mine  opinion. 
 
 18  For  I  am  full  of  fmatter,  f  the  spirit  within 
 me  eonstraineth  me. 
 
 19  Behold,  my  belly  is  as  wine  ivhich  fhath 
 no  vent ;  it  is  ready  to  burst  like  new  bottles. 
 
 ■20  I  will  speak,  f  that  I  may  be  refreshed  :  I 
 will  open  my  lips  and  answer. 
 
 '21  Let  me  not,  I  pray  you,  *  accept  any 
 man's  person,  neither  let  me  give  flattering 
 titles  unto  man. 
 
 •22  For  I  know  not  to  give  flattering  titles;  in 
 so  doinij  my  maker  would  soon  take  me  away. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIII. 
 
 1  FJlhu  nffcreth  hhnseJf  histcnd  (if  God,  with  sincerity 
 and  meiikness,  to  rcmton  wit/i  Jnh.  8  He  i:miset/> 
 God  friml  ffivinff  mnn  itn  acrau/d  of  his  lcai/x,  hr/  his 
 i/rvniness.  14  God  cidlvLit  man  to  rcpuHtauce  hi/ 
 visions,  19  III/  afflictions,  23  and  by  Ids  ministry. 
 ."J  I    //(-'  incitith  Job  to  attention. 
 
 WHEREFORE,  .Tob,  I  pray  thee,  hear  my 
 speeches,  and  hearken  to  all  my  words. 
 2  Behold,  now  I  have  opened  my  mouth,  my 
 tongue  hath  spoken  fin  my  mouth. 
 ;i  My  words  slutll  he  of  the  uprightness  of 
 my  heart :  and  my  lips  sliall  utter  knowledge 
 clearly. 
 
 4  "  The  Spirit  of  God  hath  made  me,  and  the 
 breath  of  the  Ahniglity  hath  given  me  life. 
 
 5  If  tliou  canst  answer  me,  set  tliy  ivords  in 
 order  before  me,  stand  up. 
 
 G  ^  Behold,  I  am  f  according  to  thy  wish  in 
 God's  stead  :  I  also  am  f  formed  out  of  the  clay. 
 
 7  '  Behold,  my  terror  shall  not  make  thee 
 afraid,  neither  shall  my  hand  be  heavy  upon 
 tliee. 
 
 8  Surely  thou  Iiast  spoken  fin  mine  hear- 
 ing, and  i  have  heard  the  voice  of  thy  words, 
 saying, 
 
 '.)  "^l  am  clean  without  transgression,  I  a^n 
 innocent ;  neither  is  there  iniriuity  in  me. 
 
 10  Behold,  he  findeth  occasions  against  me, 
 'he  counteth  me  for  his  enemy, 
 
 11  ''He  pntteth  my  feet  in  the  stocks,  he 
 marketli  all  my  paths. 
 
 1-2   Behold,  in  this  thou  art  not  just  :   I  will 
 answer  thee,  that  God  is  greater  than  man. 
 13  Why  dost  thou  ^strive  against  him?  for 
 
 fHcb.  ioarda. 
 t  Hub.  Iht 
 
 tpiril  ufmj) 
 
 belly. 
 t  Heb.  i»  not 
 
 opened. 
 
 t  Heb.  tt,al 
 
 I  innif 
 
 breathe, 
 g  Lev.  10.15. 
 
 Dcu.  I.  17. 
 
 &  10.  19. 
 
 Pro.  24.  23. 
 
 Mat.  22.  16. 
 
 t  Heb.  it, 
 palate. 
 
 b  ch.  9.  3+, 
 3^.  &  13.2.1 
 •M    &  31.35. 
 
 t  Heb.  ac- 
 cordiiit/  tu 
 tliy  mnullt. 
 
 1  Heb  cat 
 on/  fif  the 
 clay. 
 
 c  ch.  9.  S4. 
 &  13.  21. 
 
 t  Heb.  i.. 
 mine  ears. 
 
 d  cb.  9.  17. 
 
 &  10.  7.  S.- 
 
 n.  4  k  \t) 
 
 17.  &_>3    111. 
 
 II.  fc  •21.  5. 
 
 &  2!>.  U.  & 
 
 31.  1. 
 .■  cb     13.  21. 
 
 ^  16.  9.  !k 
 
 19    II. 
 /cb.  13.  27. 
 
 A^  Ik   16.  & 
 
 31.4. 
 
 (?  Is.  la,  9. 
 
 tHeb. /.«n.i- 
 
 A  i:b.  W.  b. 
 
 Vs.  r.2.  II. 
 i  Nu.  12.  C. 
 
 cU.  1.  13. 
 
 A  cb.  36.  10, 
 15. 
 
 \  Heb.  he  re- 
 vealeth,  or, 
 vacavereth. 
 
 t  Heb.  tmTk. 
 
 t  Hob.  fniti 
 paftiiig  hi/ 
 tha  svniTii. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 ./<(c.i 
 
 'ZiJay!'! 
 liiwB  liiineil, 
 
 m  2  Sam.  12. 
 
 13.  Pro.  2H. 
 
 1.3. Luke  !.'> 
 
 21.1  John 
 
 1.9. 
 a  Rom  6.21 . 
 II  Or. He  hath 
 
 rleliveretl  luij 
 
 sanl,  *c.  and 
 
 ,„„  l.je. 
 ■'  I..  38.  17, 
 t  llcb    Iwire 
 
 and  thrke 
 p  ver.  28. 
 
 Ps.  .W.  13. 
 
 I]  Ps.  31.  n. 
 
 f  he  giveth  not  account  of  any  of  his  matters. 
 
 14  '' For  God  speaketh  once,  yea  twice,  ^^/ 
 man  perceiveth  it  not. 
 
 15  '  In  a  dream,  in  a  vision  of  the  night,  when 
 deep  sleep  falleth  upon  men,  in  slumberings 
 upon  the  bed  ; 
 
 IG  ''  Then  f  he  openeth  the  ears  of  men,  and 
 sealeth  their  instruction, 
 
 17  That  he  may  witlidraw  man  from  his 
 f  purpose,  and  hide  pride  from  man. 
 
 18  He  kecpeth  back  his  soul  from  the  pit, 
 and  his  life  ffroni  perishing  by  the  sword. 
 
 19  He  is  chastened  also  with  pain  upon  his 
 bed,  and  the  multitude  of  his  bones  with  strong 
 pain  : 
 
 20  '  So  that  his  life  abliorreth  bread,  and  his 
 soul  f  dainty  meat. 
 
 21  His  flesh  is  consumed  away,  that  it  can- 
 not be  seen  ;  and  his  bones  that  were  not  seen 
 stick  out. 
 
 22  Yea,  his  soul  drawcth  near  unto  the  grave, 
 and  his  life  to  the  destroyers. 
 
 23  If  there  be  a  messenger  with  him,  an  in- 
 terpreter, one  among  a  thousand,  to  shew  unto 
 man  his  uprightness  : 
 
 24  Then  he  is  gracious  unto  him,  and  saith. 
 Deliver  him  from  going  down  to  the  pit :  I 
 have  found  ||  a  ransom. 
 
 25  His  flesli  shall  be  fresher  f  than  a  child's  : 
 he  shall  return  to  the  days  of  liis  youth  : 
 
 26  He  shall  pray  unto  God,  and  he  will  be 
 favourable  unto  him  :  and  he  sliall  see  his  face 
 with  joy  :  for  he  will  render  unto  man  his 
 righteousness. 
 
 27  II  He  looketh  upon  men,  and  if  any '"  say, 
 I  have  sinned,  and  perverted  that  ivhich  iras 
 riglit,  and  it  "  profited  me  not ; 
 
 28  II  He  will  "deliver  his  soul  from  going 
 into  the  pit,  and  his  life  shall  see  the  light. 
 
 29  Lo,  all  these  things  worketh  God  f  often- 
 times witli  man, 
 
 30  ''  To  bring  back  his  soul  from  the  pit,  to 
 be  enlightened  with  the  light  of  the  living. 
 
 31  INIark  well,  O  .lob,  hearken  unto  me  : 
 hold  thy  peace,  and  I  will  speak. 
 
 32  If  thou  hast  any  (hiiig  to  say,  answer  me  : 
 speak,  for  I  desire  to  justify  thee. 
 
 33  If  not,  1  hearken  unto  me  :  hold  thy  peace, 
 and  I  shall  teach  thee  wisdom. 
 
 atBictions. — Cavt/t.  IS.  TItc  pit,  one  nf  the  names  of  the  sepulchral 
 grot,  rienoting:  it  tube  a  plaeeof  iJutrefactinn. — *.'^ct>tt.  Sii'ord, '  arrow,' 
 or  '  dart.' — HI  Good,  Bmthr.  23.  His  uprightness.  '  what  is  his  duty.' 
 — Bnnthr.  24.  A  rnnsuw,  1-:D,  '  an  atonement.' — *Scott.  -26.  Slintl 
 see  his  face,  be  sensible  that  Clod  ioolts  graciously  upon  him. — Clittp- 
 
 turns  his  speech  to  tlie  auditors. — Cttirtc.         \H.  1  ctm  ftdl  of  matter, 
 
 □'V.0,  of  words  or  sayings,  i.e.,  wise  sentences  and  ancient  opinions. — 
 
 A.  Vltirke.     The  spirit  viitliin — he  claims  authority  iromthe  inspiration 
 
 of  the  Almighty,  by  whose  spirit  he  was  actuated,  and  wliose  oracles 
 
 he  was  delivering. — Heath.    '310^  m"l.   '  the  spirit  of  my  bosom.' —  ,       .  _ 
 
 M.  Good.     The  Hel^rew  denotes  the  mind  or  heart  in  a  state  of  strong    petutv.     His  righteousness,  '  his  due,'        27.  He  loolceth,  SfC 
 
 emotion.    The  Arabs  still  use  roa.  tlie  woril  translated  'within  me,' 
 
 for  the  mind  or  the  heart. — Btwttir.    The  margin  reads,  *  the  spirit  of 
 
 my  belly.'        ly.  Like  new  hottles—*  as  skin  bottles  of  new  wine.' — 
 
 Bontltr. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIII.  —  6.  /  am  according  to  thy  u-ish,  '  I  am  thy  fellow.' 
 — .V.  Good.      '  i  am   as  thyself  in  respect   to  God.' — Boot/ir.,  so  also 
 Poole,  Bathe.  Bosenm.         7.  Shall  not  make  thee  afraid,  alluding  to    To  the  same  purport,  Schullens,  Bootlir.         32.  If  thou  host  anything. 
 Job's  expressions,  chap.  i.t.  Zi.— Clarke.        \\.  In  the  stocks,  '  in  the    §c.,  '  but  if  there  can  be  a  reply.'— .HZ.  Good. 
 clog.' — Boothr.     That  is,  be  presseth  me  with  very  close  and  sore 
 
 '  He  .shall  sing  bef're  mankind,  and  say, 
 I  have  sinned  and  pervcited  the  right, 
 But  he  hath  not  reqiiiteil  it  unto  me. 
 He  hath  delivered  my  soul  from  going  into  the  pit. 
 And  my  life  beholdeth  the  light.' — M.  Good. 
 
 Reflections  os  Chap.  XXXII.  —  I.  We  may  here  learn 
 to  respect  the  ayed.  For  tiiou2;ii  tbey  are  not  always  wise,  yet 
 nevertheless,  '  multitude  of  years  should  teach  wisdom,'  and 
 there  was  a  commendable  motlesty  in  tlie  conduct  of  Eliliu, 
 tiiat  he  waited  for  tiie  opinion  of  liis  elders  belore  he  spoke. 
 If  we  reverence  tlie  aged,  we  may  expect  that,  if  we  live, 
 from  the  influence  produced  by  our  example,  the  young  will, 
 in  turn,  reverence  us  when  our  heads  are  covered  with  grey 
 hairs,  and  that  when  we  deliver  the  lessons  which  we  have 
 been  taui^ht  by  experience,  they  will  he  ready  to  listen  to  us. 
 
 II.  It  is  a  di.^yrace  to  the  tttjcd  lehen  they  are  not  wise.  ^Vhat 
 a  pitiable  object  is  a  srey-beaded  boy.     '  Therefore  the  aged 
 
 rising  generation  in  what  may  be  conducive  to  their  present 
 and  everlasting  happiness.' 
 
 III.  Eee7'y  good  man  .should  learn  to  exercise  plain  and  faith  ful 
 deuliny.  Flattery  is  the  vice  of  courts ;  if  it  cannot  be  expelled 
 from  them,  let  it  be  confined  there  ;  but  let  its  deceitful  word.s 
 and  smiles  be  banished  from  the  followers  of  God.  Thus  let 
 us  be  '  sincere  and  without  oflence  till  the  day  of  Christ.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  .\X.\ill. —  We  are  here  taught 
 these  lessons  :— I.  God  is  just  in  all  his  dealinys  witli  his  crea- 
 tures. Let  us  beware,  therefore,  oC  making  any  charge  against 
 bini.     '  Shall  not  the  .ludge  of  all  the  earth  do  right!' 
 
 II.    We  onjht    to   iiumlde   ourselves    under  his  afflictive  hand. 
 
 should  be  teachers  of  good  things,  and  aim  to  instruct  llie    To  mark  the  end  of  all  his  dealings  with  us,— namely,  to  divert 
 oGI  4  c 
 
God  cannot  be  unjust. 
 
 JOB,  XXXIV. 
 
 Man  must  /tumble  himself  unto  God, 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 1  EUhu  acCTiseth  Job  for  charging  God  with  injustice. 
 10  God  omnipotent  cannot  be  tnijnst.  31  Man  must 
 humble  himself  unto  God.     34  EUhu  reproveth  Job. 
 
 ■pURTHERMORE  Elihu  answered  and  said, 
 •*-  2  Hear  my  words,  O  ye  wise  tnen ;  and 
 give  ear  unto  nie,  ye  tViat  have  knowledge. 
 
 3  '  For  tlie  ear  trietVi  words,  as  tlie  f  mouth 
 tastetli  meat. 
 
 4  Let  us  clioose  to  us  judgment  :  let  us 
 know  among  ourselves  wliat  is  good. 
 
 5  For  Job  hath  said,  ''  I  am  righteous  :  and 
 "  God  liath  taken  away  my  judgment. 
 
 6  ''Should  I  lie  against  my  right?  f^y 
 wound  is  incurable  without  transgression. 
 
 7  What  man  iV  like  Job,  "  ivho  drinketh  up 
 scorning  like  water? 
 
 8  Which  goeth  in  company  with  the  workers 
 of  iniquity,  and  walketh  with  wicked  men. 
 
 9  For  'he  hath  said.  It  profiteth  a  man 
 nothing  that  he  should  delight  himself  with 
 God. 
 
 10  Therefore  hearken  unto  me,  ye  f  nien  of 
 understanding:  ^far  be  it  from  God,  t/iat  he 
 «/iO!//c/rfo  wickedness  ;  and,/>o»(  the  Almighty, 
 that  he  should  commit  iniquity. 
 
 1  I  "^  For  the  work  of  a  man  shall  he  render 
 imto  him,  and  cause  every  man  to  find  accord- 
 ing to  his  ways. 
 
 1-2  Yea,  surely  God  will  not  do  wickedly, 
 neither  will  the  Almighty  '  pervert  judgment. 
 
 13  Who  hath  given  him  a  charge  over  the 
 earth  ?  or  who  hath  disposed  f  t'le  whole 
 world  ? 
 
 14  If  he  set  his  heart  tnpo"  nian,  if  he 
 '  gather  unto  himself  his  spirit  and  his  breath  ; 
 
 15  '  All  flesh  shall  perisii  together,  and  man 
 shall  turn  again  unto  dust. 
 
 IG  If  now  tliou  hast  understanding,  hear  this  : 
 hearken  to  the  voice  of  my  words. 
 
 17  '"  Shall  even  he  that  hateth  right  f  govern  ? 
 and  wilt  thou  condemn  him  that  is  most  just? 
 
 18  "Is  it  fit  to  say  to  a  king.  Thou  art  wick- 
 ed? and  to  princes.  Ye  are  ungodly? 
 
 19  How  much  less  to  him  that  °  accepteth 
 not  the  persons  of  princes,  nor  regardeth  the 
 rich  more  than  the  poor?  for  ''  they  all  are  the 
 work  of  his  hands. 
 
 20  In  a  moment  shall  they  die,  and  the 
 people  shall  be  troubled  ""at  midnight,  and 
 pass  away :  and  f  the  mighty  shall  be  taken 
 
 t  Heb. 
 palate. 
 
 b  ch.  ai,  9. 
 c  cb.  27.  2 
 
 deb.  9.  17. 
 
 t  Heb,  laint 
 arrniP,  eb.6 
 4.  &  16.  IS. 
 
 e  cb.  15.  16. 
 
 /■cb.  3.  25. 
 S3, 90.  &  .16. 
 3.  Ma].3  H 
 
 <  Heb.  I7W/I 
 o/  It.'aTt. 
 
 g  Gen.lS.iliS. 
 Deu.  32  * 
 2Cbr.  19  7. 
 ch.  8.  S.  & 
 36.  2.'!.  Ps. 
 9-2.  15 
 Kom  9    n 
 
 ft  Ps  62.  12 
 Pro.  24-  12 
 Jcr.  32.  19, 
 Eiek.3.S,eo 
 Mai,  16,27 
 Rom.  2,  6 
 ■2  C.ir  5,10, 
 I  Pel,  1.  17, 
 
 t  Heb.  att  af 
 it. 
 f   Heb.  vpon 
 
 A  Ps.  ll>4,  29 
 i  Gen,  3.  19 
 Eccle8.I2.7. 
 
 n  Gen. 18.25. 
 
 2  .Sain, 23  3 
 
 (  Heb.  hia't 
 
 n  F,x.22   2S 
 
 a  Deu    10  17, 
 
 2Cbr   19  7 
 
 AetH  HI,  ai. 
 
 Boin    2,11 
 
 Gal   2  6. 
 
 Rjilici.  6  n 
 
 Co',  S   25 
 
 1   l-el    1.17 
 
 p  cb.  31.  15 
 
 q  V.X.  12.29, 
 
 a.oUy- 
 
 T  2  Cbr.  l-i. 
 
 9.  cb,  31.  4- 
 
 Ps.  34.  IS. 
 
 Pro.  5,21.  & 
 
 15.  3.  Jer. 
 
 16.17.  &  32. 
 
 19. 
 .  Ps.  l:19.  12 
 
 Amos  9.2,3. 
 
 Heb.  4.  13. 
 |Heb.e«. 
 
 t  Heb  irilh 
 out  jcnrcft- 
 i»if  out. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 cruihed. 
 \  Heb.  i»  thf 
 
 place  af  be- 
 
 hatder). 
 a  ga,  15.  11 
 t  Heb./f.ra 
 
 after  t,im. 
 X  Pfl   28   5. 
 
 Is.  6.  12. 
 S  ch.  35,  9 
 
 Jam.  5,  4, 
 5  Ex,  22  23. 
 
 a  1  Kin.  12. 
 
 28,  30. 
 
 2  Kin.  21  9. 
 b  Dan.  9.  J— 
 
 14. 
 
 be/roij. 
 th.-e  f 
 
 t  Heb.  0/ 
 fiiaft. 
 
 Or,  .Mil  fa- 
 ttier, let  Job 
 be  tried. 
 
 away  without  hand. 
 
 21  '  For  his  eyes  are  upon  the  ways  of  man, 
 and  he  seeth  all  his  goings. 
 
 22  '  There  is  no  darkness,  nor  shadow  of 
 death,  where  the  workers  of  iniquity  may  hide 
 themselves. 
 
 23  For  he  will  not  lay  upon  man  more  thati 
 riciht  ;  that  he  should  f  enter  into  judgment 
 with  God. 
 
 24  '  He  shall  break  in  pieces  mighty  men 
 ■f  without  number,  and  set  others  in  their  stead. 
 
 25  Therefore  he  knoweth  their  works,  and  he 
 overturneth  them  in  the  night,  so  that  they  are 
 t  destroyed. 
 
 26  He  striketh  them  as  wicked  men  fhi  the 
 open  sight  of  others  ; 
 
 27  Because  they  "  turned  back  t  from  him, 
 and  *  would  not  consider  any  of  his  ways: 
 
 28  So  that  they  ''  cause  the  cry  of  the  poor 
 to  come  unto  him,  and  he  '  heareth  the  cry  of 
 the  afflicted. 
 
 29  When  he  giveth  quietness,  who  then  can 
 make  trouble?  and  when  he  hideth  his  face, 
 who  then  can  behold  him  ?  whether  it  be  done 
 against  a  nation,  or  against  a  man  only  : 
 
 30  That  the  hypocrite  reign  not,  lest  °  the 
 people  be  ensnared. 
 
 31  Surely  it  is  meet  to  be  said  unto  God,  ''  I 
 have  borne  chastisement,  I  will  not  offend  any 
 more  : 
 
 32  That  tvhich  I  see  not  teach  thou  me  :  if 
 I  have  done  iniquity,  I  will  do  no  more. 
 
 33  f  Should  it  be  according  to  thy  mind  ?  he 
 will  recompense  it,  whether  thou  refuse,  or 
 whether  thou  clioose  ;  and  not  I  :  therefore 
 speak  what  tlion  knowest. 
 
 34  Let  men  f  of  understanding  tell  me,  and 
 let  a  wise  man  hearken  unto  me. 
 
 35  '  Job  hath  spoken  without  knowledge, 
 and  his  words  ivere  without  wisdom. 
 
 36  II  My  desire  is  that  Job  may  be  tried  unto 
 the  end  because  of  his  answers  for  wicked 
 men. 
 
 37  For  he  addeth  rebellion  unto  his  sin,  he 
 clappeth  his  hands  among  us,  and  multiplieth 
 his  words  against  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXV. 
 
 I  Comparison  is  not  to  be  made  with  God,  because  our 
 good  or  evil  cannot  extend  unto  him.  9  Many  cry  in 
 their  afflictions,  but  are  not  heard  for  want  of  faith. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIV.  — 6.  My  wound  is  incurable  uithout  trmisgressiun, 
 3?T1:D  '"73  ''l*n  iri:>*.  -"Kv  u-ound,  more  literally,  *  my  arrow  ;'  and  if  we 
 take  it  a-^  a  ci>ntracterrnonn,  '•^'n  for  D''!JrT,  the  singular  form  instead 
 of  the  plural,  it  means.  •  calamities.'  The  word  mi2«  which  we  trans- 
 late 'incurable,'  may  be  translated  'man,*  and  then  we  may  rcad^'a 
 man  of  calamities  withouttransgression.*— So  Clarke.  'A  man  cut  off 
 without  transfrression.'— Jtfi5s  Smith.  •  He  hath  reversed  my  lot  with- 
 out a  trespas:^.'  Mis.i  Smith  is  more  ingenious  than  correct.— 3/.  Good. 
 Miss  Smith's  translation  is  the  best  I  have  met  with.  7-  Drinketh  up 
 scorning,  alluding  to  the  camel's  draught-  '  He  deals  largely  in  scorn- 
 ing,' he  fills  his  heart  with  it.— .^.  Clarke.  Of  a  man  who  cares  not  for 
 contempt  or  hatred,  the  Hindoo  says,  *  He  drinks  up  their  hatred  like 
 ■water.*— fioA.  14.  1/he  set  his  heart,  SfC.~ 
 
 *  If  he  set  his  heart  ag-ainst  him, 
 He  could  recal  his  spirit  and  his  breath.'— -Boo/A/-- 
 
 23.  For  he  will  not  lay,  ^c  — 
 
 *  Behold  !  not  to  man  hath  he  entrusted  the  time 
 Of  coming  into  judgment  with  God.' — M.  Good. 
 
 *  So  that,  as  to  man,  he  needcth  no  long  inquiry. 
 
 That  he  should  come  into  judgment  with  God.'— iJoo/A/^. 
 25.  Therefore  he  knoweth,  S^c. — 
 
 '  For  he  knoweth  their  machinations, 
 
 And  roUcth  round  the  night,  and  they  are  demolished.'— il/.  Good. 
 29.  \i'hen  he  hideth  his  face,  §c.— God  is  said  to  hide  his  face  when  he 
 withdraws  his  favour. — Boolhr.  This,  perhaps,  refers  to  the  custom  of 
 covering  a  malefactor's  face  before  execution,  and  the  expression,  *  Who 
 then  can  behold  him  ?'  may  mean,  '  who  then  can  reverse  the  sentence?' 
 —So  *Scott,  Bp.  Stock.  30.  Hypocrite, '  prufligate.'— *Sco(/,  Boothr. 
 36.  U>ito  the  end,  ^c,  '  for  making  rephes  like  wicked  men.*— Boothr. 
 
 us  from  our  evil  pursuits,  and  bring  down  our  lofty  imagina- 
 tions. For  these  purposes  he  solGmnly  admonishes  us  ;  and 
 when  his  hand  touches  our  frame,  his  voice  addresses  our 
 ear,  '  Humble  thyself.' 
 
 III.  If  we  humble  ourselves  he  will  be  c/racious  to  vs.  Scotthere 
 observes,  '  The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon  all  the  children  of 
 men.  He  sees  them  when  committing  their  secret  abomina- 
 tions;  he  sees  them  when,  convinced  of  guilt,  they  condemn 
 themselves,  abhor  their  crimes,  are  covered  with  shame,  and 
 filled  with  fear  of  wrath  ;  and  when,  weary  of  their  sins,  they 
 long  for  deliverance,  he  will  assuredly  have  mercy  upon  them 
 562 
 
 and  save  them.' 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XXXIV.  — I.  God  is  riyhteous. 
 Let  this  thought  at  all  times  silence  our  lips  when  we  dare  to 
 murmur  against  him.  If  he  chastise  us,  we  have  less  than  our 
 deserts.  . 
 
 II.  Man  ou(fht  to  submit  under  God's  hand.  Our  afflictions 
 are  sanctified  when  theylead  to  holy  resolutions,  and  to  humble 
 dependence  upon  the  Divine  teaching.  O  that  we  may  know 
 wherefore  God  contends  with  us!  AVe  shall  find  that  his 
 strokes  are  not  without  cause,  and  that  sin  lies  at  the  founda- 
 tion of  all  our  sorrows. 
 
The  justice  of  God 
 
 JOB,  XXXV.,  XXXVI. 
 
 in  all  his  ways. 
 
 "OLIHU  spake  moreover,  and  said, 
 
 •"  '2  Tliiiikest  thou  this  to  be  right,  thai  thou 
 
 saidst.  My  righteousness  is  more  tlian  God's? 
 
 3  For  °  thou  saidst.  What  advantage  will  it 
 be  unto  thee  ?  ojirf,  What  profit  shall  I  have, 
 11  if  I  be  cleansed  from  my  sin  ? 
 
 4  f  I  will  answer  thee,  and  ''  thy  companions 
 with  thee. 
 
 5  '  Look  unto  the  heavens,  and  see  ;  and  be- 
 hold the  clouds  tchich  are  higlier  than  thou. 
 
 6  If  thou  sinnest,  what  doest  thou  ''  against 
 him?  or  if  thy  transgressions  be  multiplied, 
 what  doest  thou  unto  him? 
 
 7  "  If  thou  be  righteous,  what  givest  thou 
 him  ?  or  what  receiveth  he  of  thine  hand  ? 
 
 8  Thy  wickedness  -mai/  hurt  a  man  as  thou 
 ait ;  and  thy  righteousness  ?n  at/  profit  the  son 
 of  man. 
 
 9  f  By  reason  of  the  multitude  of  oppressions 
 they  make  the  oppressed  to  cry  :  they  cry  out 
 by  reason  of  the  arm  of  the  mighty. 
 
 10  But  none  saith,  ^  Where  is  God  my  maker, 
 '■  who  giveth  songs  in  the  night  ; 
 
 1 1  Who  '  teacheth  us  more  than  the  beasts  of 
 the  earth,  and  maketh  us  wiser  than  the  fowls 
 of  heaven  ? 
 
 12  '  There  they  cry,  but  none  giveth  answer, 
 because  of  the  pride  of  evil  men. 
 
 13  '  Surely  God  will  not  hear  vanity,  neither 
 will  the  Almighty  regard  it. 
 
 14  "'Although  thou  sayest  thou  shalt  not  see 
 him,  yet  judgment  is  before  him;  therefore 
 "  trust  thou  in  him. 
 
 15  But  now,  because  it  is  not  so,  \\  he  hath 
 °  visited  in  his  anger  ;  yet  ||  he  knoweth  it  not 
 in  great  extremity  : 
 
 16  ■■  Therefore  doth  .lob  open  his  month  in 
 vain  ;  he  multiplieth  words  without  knowledge. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVI. 
 
 1  Elihu  sheiccth  how  God  is  just  in  his  wai/s.  16  How 
 Job's  sins  kinder  God's  blessings.  24  God^s  works 
 are  to  be  viagnijied. 
 
 return  In  thee 
 
 d  Prnv 
 Jer.  7. 
 
 e  ch.  29.  2. 3. 
 Ps.  16.2. 
 Pro.  9.  13. 
 Rom.  11.35- 
 
 yls.  Sr.  13. 
 
 h  Ps.  49.  8. 
 
 &  77.  6.  & 
 
 1 19.  5. 
 
 Acta  IC.  25. 
 i  Ps,  9i,  \'> 
 
 t  Pro.  I.  9fl- 
 
 l  f\i    27.  9. 
 
 P.O.  15    29. 
 
 Is-  I.  15. 
 
 Jer.  11.  II. 
 )(t  ch.  9.  11. 
 
 »iPs.37.S,6, 
 
 II  That  is, 
 
 God. 
 0  Pa.  8U  .32. 
 1|  Tlial  is, 
 
 J„b. 
 p  ch   M.  35, 
 
 37.  &  aa  L'. 
 
 Y-IT  God. 
 
 1  ch.  9.  4.  8t 
 
 \2  13,  16.  & 
 
 37.  23. 
 
 Ps.  <19.  4. 
 t  Ueb.h'orl. 
 \\Or,affliclfd. 
 I>  Ps    33.  18. 
 
 &  34.  15. 
 c  Pa.  113.  8. 
 
 d  Ps.  107.10. 
 
 /  ch.  21.  13 
 Is    1.  19,20. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ihe\f 
 til- It  past 
 aw'if  by  the 
 iiourd. 
 
 ,j  Rom.  2.  5. 
 
 Ach.  15.32. 
 
 &  22.  16. 
 
 Ps  S.'j.  23. 
 t  Heh.  T/,/-.> 
 
 ioul  di^lh. 
 II  Or,  Kjdom- 
 
 ites. 
 
 Deu.  2.3.  17. 
 \lOr,nffii.tfd. 
 i  Ps.  18.  19. 
 
 &  31.8.  & 
 
 MS.  5. 
 f  Heb.  the 
 
 Tfil  of  lliy 
 
 table. 
 k  Ps.  23.  5. 
 
 I  Ps.  36,  S. 
 
 II  Or,j,.d^- 
 menl  and 
 j'iSlicf 
 should  u}i- 
 hold  thee. 
 
 m  Ps.  4«.  7- 
 \  Heb.  ('irn 
 ihet  atide. 
 
 pLIHU  also  proceeded,  and  said, 
 
 ^  2  Suffer  me  a  little,  and  I  will  shew  thee 
 
 t  that  I  have  yet  to  speak  on  God's  behalf. 
 
 3  I  will  fetch  my  knowledge  from  afar,  and 
 will  ascribe  righteousness  to  my  Maker. 
 
 4  For  truly  my  words  shall  not  be  false  :  he 
 that  is  perfect  in  knowledge  is  with  thee. 
 
 5  Behold,  God  is  mighty,  and  despiseth  not 
 any:  ^ he  is  mighty  in  strength  and  f  wisdom. 
 
 6  He  preserveth  not  the  life  of  the  wicked  : 
 but  giveth  riglit  to  the  ||  poor. 
 
 7  ^  He  withdraweth  not  his  eyes  from  the 
 righteous:  but  "^  with  kings  «?"e  thei/  on  the 
 throne  ;  yea,  he  doth  establish  them  for  ever, 
 and  they  are  exalted. 
 
 8  And  ^  if  thei/  he  bound  in  fetters,  and  be 
 hoiden  in  cords  of  affliction  ; 
 
 9  Then  he  sheweth  them  their  work,  and 
 their  transgressions  that  they  have  exceeded. 
 
 10  ^  He  openeth  also  their  ear  to  discipline, 
 and  commandeth  that  they  return  from  iniquity. 
 
 11  If  they  obey  and  serve  him,  they  shall 
 ''  spend  their  days  in  prosperity,  and  their  years 
 in  pleasures. 
 
 12  But  if  they  obey  not,  f  tliey  shall  perish 
 by  the  sword,  and  they  shall  die  without 
 knowledge. 
 
 13  But  the  hypocrites  in  heart  ^heap  up 
 wrath  :  they  cry  not  when  he  bindeth  them. 
 
 14  '' t  They  die  in  youth,  and  their  life  is 
 among  the  ||  unclean. 
 
 15  He  delivereth  the  |{  poor  in  his  affliction, 
 and  openeth  their  ears  in  oppression. 
 
 16  Even  so  would  he  have  removed  thee  out 
 of  the  strait  *  into  a  broad  place,  where  thei-e 
 is  no  straitness  ;  and  f  ^  that  which  should  be 
 set  on  thy  table  should  be  full  of  '  fatness. 
 
 17  But  thou  hast  fulfilled  the  judgment  of 
 the  wicked  :  ||  judgment  and  justice  take  hold 
 on  thee. 
 
 18  Because  there  is  wrath,  beware  lest  he 
 take  thee  away  witli  his  stroke  :  then  '"a  great 
 ransom  cannot  f  deliver  thee. 
 
 Cei.\p.  XXXV.  — 2.  Thinkest  thou?  Sfc.^  '  by  insisting  so  much  on  thy 
 own  righteousness,  and  complaining  v.f  God's  dealings  with  thee,  thou, 
 in  effect,  niakcst  thyself  more  righteous  than  Goi.*— Clarke.  My 
 ri^fitcousnc^s  is  more  than  God's,  SmO  "^pm,  'I  am  righteous  bkfore 
 God.'— .'I.  Clarke;  so  the  Sept.  ElihuS  inference  is  too  strong,  from 
 Job's  words,  chap,  xxxiii.  9.—Sut.         3.  What  profit,  Sfc. — 
 
 '  What  shall  I  benefit  more  than  by  my  going  astray  ?'— il/.  Good. 
 To  the  same  purport,  Boothr.  6,  Jf  thou  sinnest,  ^c,  'thou  canst 
 not  advantage  God  by  thy  righteousness,  nor  hart  him  by  thy  wicked- 
 ness, but  the  one  may  be  helpful,  and  the  other  hurtful  to  thyself;  and 
 to  such  an  one  as  thou  art,  if  it  were  not  so,  there  would  be  no  differ- 
 ence between  the  doing  of  good  or  evil,  as  to  the  event,  how  greatly 
 soever  they  differ  in  their  nature.' — Caryl.  10.  But  none  saith,  fyc, 
 *  night'  means  calamity,  *  songs'  thanksgivings  for  deliverance. — *Scott. 
 14.  Judgment  is,  SfC. — 
 
 •The  cause  is  before  him,  therefore  trust  in  him.' — Boothr. 
 
 •  Judgment  is  before  him  and  thou  shalt  abide  it.'— JI/.  Good. 
 Ij.  But  now,  ffc. — 
 
 '  But,  at  piesent,  because  he  hath  not  mustered  up  his  wrath, 
 Nor  manifested  his  fury  in  excess.' — M.  Good. 
 
 *  But  now,  becausL'  he  hath  rot  visited  in  his  anger. 
 Nor  noticed  great  arrogance.' — Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  XXXVI.  — 2.  That  I  have  yH  to  speak,  '  that  I  have  yet  argu- 
 ments on  behalf  of  GniX.''— Boothr.,  as  M.  Good.  Jn  God's  behalf, 
 D''7D  mbs?  1U\  '  f'T  yet  God  has  words.'— il/on^,  &c.  *  God  has  yet 
 wonis  to  ?peak  by  me.'— Gi7/.  3.  7  wilt  fetch  my   knowledge  from 
 
 ofnr,  meaning,  probably,  from  remote  antiquity  and  heaven. — A.Clarke, 
 The  identical  phrase  i.s  used  among  the  Hindoos  to  express  superior 
 knowledge. — S>o  Rob.  'I  will  exert  my  knowledge  to  the  utmost.' 
 — M  Giiod.  'I  will  bring  forth  knowledge  concerning  Him  that  is  afiir 
 off.* — Aben  Ezrti.    Ascribe  rig/iteousness^  ^c,  by  proving  the  righteous 
 
 conduct  of  God  in  governing  the  world. — So  Clarke.         4.  For  truly, 
 
 •  Behold,  truth  without  error  shall  be  my  argument; 
 Soundness  of  knowledge  shall  be  before  thee.' 
 
 'I  will  use  no  sophistical  arguments.' — Pat.  5.  Despiseth  not  any, 
 '  will  not  be  despised.' — M.  Good.  7.  From  the  Judge,  '  from  the 
 righteous.'  But  with  kings,  ^-c,  *  nor  even  from  kings  upon  the  throne,' 
 — M.  Good.  9.  And  their  transgressions,  SfC,  '  and  their  transgres- 
 sions wherein  they  have  rebelled.' — M.  Good.  '  Because  they  have 
 behaved  themselves  proudly.' — Cofc,  Mich.,  Sehult.  '  And  how  their 
 transgressions  have  prevailed.' — Boothr.;  so  Pise.,  Pag,  Sic.  10.  Dis. 
 cipline,  'correction.' — Beza,  Mich.,  Schulf.,  Good,  Boothr.  12.  Th'^y 
 shall  perish  hy  the  swnrd,  fyc. — the  expression  sometimes  means  a  signal 
 judgment  of  God. — Hew. 
 
 *They  pass  by  as  an  arrow, 
 And  die  without  remembrance.'— il/.  Good. 
 
 13.  But  the  hypocrites,  ^c,  'thus  the  depraved  in  heart,'  8ic.— Boothr. 
 *E3n,  'the  profligate,'  'the  impious,' who  have  neither  the  form  nor 
 power  of  religion,  but  hypocrites  retain  the  former.  Thei/  cry  not  when 
 he  bindeth  them,  they  are  too  obstinate  to  humble  themselves  under 
 God's  mighty  hand.— So  Clarke.  15.  And  openeth  their  ears,  ^c, 
 'when,  by  suffering,  they  are  admonished.'  —  Boothr.  'And  [will] 
 make  their  ears  tingle  with  joy  in  oppression.' — M.  Good.  The  word 
 ^r  may  be  translated  *  he  shall  make  them  exult  or  sing  with  joy.'— 
 A.  Clarke.         IJ.  But  thou  hast  fulfilled,  l^c— 
 
 •The  cause  of  the  wicked  thou  hast  supported  ; 
 Yet  the  cause  of  justice  shall  be  upheld.' — Boothr. 
 
 '  But  thou  art  consummating  the  doom  of  the  wicked. 
 The  doom  and  the  punishment  are  at  hand.'— 3/.  Good. 
 
 IS.  Because,  'when.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.vp.  XXXV.  — I.  Sin  caumtt hurt  God, 
 nor  righteousness  projit  him.  Then  in  punisiiing  sin  he  regards 
 only  the  moml  order  of  his  government  and  the  welfare  of  his 
 creatures  ;  and  iu  rewarding  rii;l)leousness,he  is  moved  by  his 
 own  grace,  and  not  by  our  deserts. 
 6G3 
 
 II.  How  many  sinners  groan  under  suffering  who  never  prny 
 under  it.  '  How  frequently/  says  Caryl,  *  even  at  this  day,  do 
 some  men  storm,  and  fret,  and  rage,  little  minding  God  in 
 their  afflictions,  though  formally  or  vocally  calling  on  him. 
 'Tis  ensy  to  complain,  but  hard  to  pr<iy,  in  the  day  of  trouble.' 
 
God's  tvorhs  are  to  be  magnified. 
 
 JOB,  XXXVII. 
 
 The  great  ivorhs  of  God. 
 
 19  "  Will  he  esteem  thy  riches  c  no,  not  gold, 
 nor  all  the  forces  of  strength. 
 
 •JO  Desire  not  the  night,  when  people  are  cut 
 off  in  their  place. 
 
 '21  Take  heed,  "regard  not  inirjuity:  for  ''this 
 hast  thou  chosen  rather  tlian  affliction. 
 
 22  Behold,  God  exalteth  hy  his  power  :  "^  who 
 teacheth  like  him  ? 
 
 23  'Who  hath  enjoined  him  his  way?  or 
 'who  can  say.  Thou  hast  wrought  iniquity? 
 
 2-t  Remember  that  thou  '  magnify  his  work, 
 which  men  behold. 
 
 25  Every  man  may  see  it ;  man  may  behold 
 it  afar  otf. 
 
 26  Behold,  God  is  great,  and  we  "  know  him 
 not,  "  neither  can  the  number  of  his  years  be 
 searched  out. 
 
 27  For  he  ^  maketh  small  the  drops  of  water  : 
 they  pour  down  rain  according  to  the  vapour 
 thereof : 
 
 28  "  Which  the  clouds  do  drop  and  distil 
 upon  man  abundantly. 
 
 29  Also  can  any  understand  the  spreadings 
 of  the  clouds,  or  the  noise  of  his  tabernacle? 
 
 30  Behold,  he  "  spreadeth  his  light  upon  it, 
 and  covereth  f  the  bottom  of  the  sea. 
 
 31  For  ''  by  them  judgeth  he  the  people  ;  he 
 °  giveth  meat  in  abundance. 
 
 32  ''  With  clouds  he  covereth  the  light  -,  and 
 commandeth  i.t  not  to  shim:  by  the  cloud  that 
 cometh  betwixt. 
 
 33  "  The  noise  thereof  sheweth  concerning  it, 
 the  cattle  also  concerning  f  the  vapour. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVII. 
 
 1   Gofl  is  to  he  feared  because  of  his  tjreat  works.      15 
 His  wisflom  is  unsearc/iable  in  them. 
 
 a.  c. 
 
 B     C. 
 
 lir     I.VJO. 
 
 cir.  1520. 
 
 ,.  Vi..\.  ll.l. 
 
 t  lleb.  Hmr 
 
 in  Ifttiiig. 
 
 „  Ps    66.  18. 
 
 ;i  Sl'c  Heb. 
 
 11    ia. 
 
 t  Hcb.  tight 
 
 t  Ueh.  W'ffi 
 
 q  U.  40.  13, 
 
 of  theeartJ,. 
 
 11.  Rom. II. 
 
 n  Pk.  29   3. 
 
 .■i-1.  1  Cor.  2 
 r  ch.  S+.  IS. 
 
 &  68.  33. 
 
 M  th.  34.  ly 
 
 (  Ps.  32.  6. 
 
 Rev.  15.  3. 
 
 /.  ch.  5.  0.  & 
 
 9.  10.  &  re 
 
 2(3   Rev.  1.^, 
 
 ^. 
 
 c  Ps.  147.  IP, 
 
 ■1  1  C'lr.  13. 
 
 17. 
 
 12. 
 
 1  Heb  au'l  to 
 
 .r  Ps.Ort.2.  Jc 
 
 Ibinhow^-T  of 
 
 Wi.  iV.  27. 
 
 mil,,  ami   io 
 
 Ik-b.  1.  IS. 
 
 tlir  tliiiwrn 
 
 y  I's.  117.  S. 
 
 ,./r«i„,./ 
 
 hi*  tirfiigth. 
 
 rfPa.  109.27. 
 
 e  Ps.  IW.  22. 
 
 r  Pro.  3.  20 
 
 t  Heb  0,,t  of 
 
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 t   Web.  teat- 
 
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 t  Heb.  the 
 
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 cl'.„dofhii 
 
 b  C1..37    13. 
 
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 ft  as.  *.'3, 
 
 (.■  Ps.  I:i0  25. 
 
 g  P».  148,  8. 
 
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 .  rh.  38.  i.'G, 
 
 27. 
 
 h  2Sa.2l.lO, 
 
 1  Kin,l8.»5. 
 
 I  Po.  111.2. 
 
 >n  ch.  36.29. 
 
 A  T  this  also  my  heart  tiemhleth,  and  is 
 -^^  moved  out  of  his  place. 
 
 2  t  Hear  attentively  the  noise  of  his  voice, 
 and  the  sound  that  guoth  out  of  liis  mouth. 
 
 3  He  directeth  it  under  the  wliole  heaven, 
 and  his  f  liglituing  unto  the  f  ^^^ti^  of  the 
 earth. 
 
 4  After  it  ''a  voice  roareth  :  he  thuudereth 
 with  the  voice  of  his  excellency  ;  and  he  will 
 not  stay  tliem  when  his  voice  is  heard. 
 
 5  God  thundereth  marvellously  with  his 
 voice  ;  "^  great  things  doeth  he,  which  we  can- 
 not comprehend. 
 
 6  For  "^  he  saith  to  the  snow,  Be  thou  on  the 
 earth  ;  f  likewise  to  the  small  rain,  and  to  the 
 great  rain  of  his  strength. 
 
 7  He  sealetii  up  the  hand  of  every  man  ; 
 "^  that  all  men  may  know  his  work. 
 
 8  Then  the  beasts  ''go  into  dens,  and  remain 
 in  their  places. 
 
 9  t  Out  of  the  south  cometh  the  whirlwind  : 
 and  cold  out  of  the  f  north. 
 
 10  ^  By  tlie  breath  of  God  frost  is  given  :  and 
 the  breadth  of  the  waters  is  straitened. 
 
 1 1  Also  by  watering  he  wearieth  the  thick 
 cloud  :  he  scattereth  f  his  bright  cloud  : 
 
 12  And  it  is  turned  round  about  by  his  coun- 
 sels :  that  they  may  ^  do  whatsoever  he  com- 
 mandeth them  upon  the  face  of  the  world  in 
 the  earth. 
 
 13  ''  He  causeth  it  to  come,  whether  for  f  cor- 
 rection, or  '  for  his  land,  or  ^  for  mercy. 
 
 14  Hearken  unto  this,  O  Job  :  stand  still,  and 
 ^  consider  the  wondrous  works  of  God. 
 
 15  Dost  thou  know  when  God  disposed  them, 
 and  caused  tlie  light  of  his  cloud  to  shiner* 
 
 IG  ""Dost  thou  know  tiie  balancings  of  the 
 
 22.  Who  teacheth  like  him  ?  '  who  like  him  can  cast  down  ?'— il/.  Good. 
 
 23.  XI'Ao  hfith  enjiiined ?  §-c.,  '  who  citn  take  upon  him  to  examine  into 
 his  ways,  and  scrutinize  them,  and  call  him  to  an  account  for  what  he 
 does?' — GilL  2".  Maketh  small,  'restrains.' — Pug.,  Vnt.  '  E.\halcth.' 
 — M.Good.      '  Drawelh  up.' — Jun.,  Trem.,  Pisr.,  Schitlt.,  Bouthroyd. 
 
 29.  Or  thenoiseofhis  tabernacle,  'tlie  rolHiig  thunders  of  his  pavilion.' 
 
 30.  Light,  'lightning.'— Bor./Ar.         31.  Fur  by  them,  Bfc— 
 
 *Vo\  thus  he  judgeth  the  nations, 
 He  passeth  sentence  amain.* — M.  Good. 
 Thus  ho  jtidged  and  punished  the  old  world  by  a  deluge,  the  Egyptians 
 by  a  violent  stnrni  of  hail,  the  Canaanites  with  hailstones,  Pharaoh 
 and  his  host  with  his  wind,  Sodom  and  (Jnmorrah  wiih  thunder  and 
 lightning,  fire  and  brimstone,  the  captains  of  fifty  with  lightning,  and 
 thus,  at  last,  will  he  burn  the  world.— G(7/.         32.  With  clourL<i,  ^c— 
 
 *  The  lightning  covereth  the  whole  skies. 
 
 But  he  chargeth  it,  as  to  whom  it  may  strike.*— Boo  Mr 
 33,  The  7wise  therenf,  S,-c.— 
 
 '  Along  with  it  rusheth  his  roar, 
 The  fierceness  of  wrath  because  of  wickedness.' — M.  Good. 
 
 *  He  announceth  to  it  who  is  his  friend  ; 
 
 But  it  possesscth  wrath  against  the  impious.'— Boo//ir. 
 Williams  has  given  the  following  translation  of  these  two  diftlcult 
 verses,  furnished  him  by  a  learned  friend  : — 
 
 'Behold,  he  spreadcth  bi'i  lightning  upon  it,  (i.e.,  his  tabernacle,) 
 And  covereth  (therewith)  the  bnttora  of  the  sea; 
 With  clouds  he  covereth  the  light, 
 And  cnntroJleth  it  by  the  cloud  that  interposeth. 
 Ill-  announceth  over  him  (man)  his  voice, 
 (And  over)  cattle,  and  over  whatsoever  riscfh  up.' 
 
 Chai".   XXXVH. — -i.  Of /lis  excelletici/,  'y^'ytix   '  of  his  majesty.'  — 
 A.  Clarke,  as  Good  and  lioothr.    And  he  will  not  stai/  them,  '  and  there 
 i-^  no  limit  to  them.'— J/.  Good,  so  Clarke.     '  He  will  not  be  traced  or 
 sought  out  when  tlie  voice  ol  his  thunder  is  heard.'— Kk^^'. 
 '  Vet  no  one,  when  he  lieareth  his  voice, 
 Can  accurately  trace  them  out.'— BooMr. 
 
 6.  The  great  rait],  Sfc.,  alluding  to  the  copious  autumnal  rains  of  those 
 coimtries,  or  the  thunder  s-howers. — Hew.  ".  ^e  sealeth  up,  fyr  , 
 •upon  the  labour  of  every  man  he  putteth  &  seal.' — M.Good.  'He 
 stops  their  labour.' — Pot.  Perhaps  the  act  of  freezing  is  here  intended. 
 — Clarke.  By  deep  snows  and  heavy  rains,  the  hand  of  man  is  re- 
 strained from  the  usual  labours  of  the  field.— Pit-/.  BiO.  9.  Out  of 
 the  south  cometh  the  ivhirlii-ind,  so  the  southern  wind  in  Egypt  some- 
 times appears  in  the  shape  of  an  impetuous  whirlwind.  Torrents  of 
 burning  sand  mil  before  it,  Ibe  firmament  is  enveloped  in  a  thick  veil, 
 and  the  sun  appears  of  the  colour  of  blood.  Whole  caravans  have 
 been  buried  in  it. — M.  Savary.  10.  The  breath  of  God — in  the  lofty 
 style  of  eastern  poetry,  a  tempestuous  wind  is  so  called,  (chap.  iv.  9.) 
 — Hew.  And  theltreadth,  ^c,  'and  the  expanded  waters  are  congealed.* 
 — Jioothr.  Frost,  snow,  &c.,  were  well  known  in  .Tndea,  which  bor- 
 dered  on  Arabia  Petrea,  Job's  supposed  country,  (I  Chron.  xi.  22;  Ps. 
 c.xlvii.  16,  1;,)  and  also  in  Arabia  Petrea,  (chap.  vi.  l6.)  Those  warm 
 climates  have  sometimes  intense  frosts.  At  Aleppo  they  sleep  on  the 
 roofs  in  summer,  yet  in  1756-7,  they  had  a  frost  which  destroyed  mil. 
 lions  of  olive  trees,  and  thousands  of  human  beings.  —  So  *Sco/^ 
 II,  Also  by  leaterijig,  ^c,  '  also  by  dripping,  the  cloud  weareth  away.' 
 — Stock.  Clouds  are  spent  by  rain  and  scattered  by  wind. —  Wit.  '13, 
 rendered  '  by  watering,'  means  a  clear  serene  sky  ;  it  may,  thcreftire, 
 siiinify,  that  sunshine  dissipates  the  cloud,  or  causes  its  vapour  to 
 rellect  light. — Hew. 
 
 'Again  his  splendour  dispelleth  the  thick  clond. 
 And  his  light  disperseth  the  extended  cloud.' — Boothr. 
 
 To  the  saraiB  purport,  M.  Good.  12.  .And  it  is  turned,  Sj-c.,  '  thus  re- 
 volveth  he  the  seasons  in  his  wisdom.' — M.  Good.  'Thus  he  turneth 
 their  courses  by  his  counsels.' — Boothr.  Upon  the  face,  ^c,  ^:D  ^3? 
 ^:l^^^  'Jin,  '  over  the  surface  of  the  habitable  world.' — A.  Clarke.  Tliis 
 vicissitude  of  sunshine  and  cloudy  weather  is  produced  by  his  counsels. 
 — Hew.         13,  He  causeth,  §-c, — 
 
 'Whether  for  correction,  or  in  mercy. 
 He  causeth  them  to  come  on  the  earth.' — Boothr. 
 15.  The  light  of  his  cloud,  '  his  luminous  clouds,'  probably  the  golden 
 tinted  clouds  fringed  by  the  setting  sun  on  a  summer  evening.— *  Scott. 
 
 Ri.FLEcTioNs   ON   Chap.    XXXVI.  — We   may   loarD   from  instruments  of  punishment  at  his  pleasure.     Wo  to  those  who 
 
 this  chapter— I.  The  (joodness  of  God.     lie  regards  tiie  poor,  '  heap  up  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath  !'     *  Who  can  stand 
 
 his  eyes  are  over  the  rigbteous.     He  chastens  them  for  their  when  he  appearetb  ?'     Neither  riches  nor  power  can  shelter 
 
 profit,  and  they  will  find  the  benefit  of  obeying  and  serving  from  bis  stroke.     Think  on  this,  ye  that  forget  God,  '  lest  he 
 
 h'TO-  tear  -you  in  pieces,  and  there  ho  none  to  deliver!"     ()  sinner, 
 
 11.    The  greatness  of  God.     God   is    mighlv.     All   the   ele-  dee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  remember  that  Jesus  is  the 
 
 nients  oi  nature  are  under  liis  control,  and  iie'uaes  lliem  as  iho  uitjv  refuse,  set  helbre  us  in  the  everlasting  Gospel! 
 304 
 
God's  wisdom  unsearchable. 
 
 JOB,  XXXVIII. 
 
 God  convinceth  Job  of  ignorance. 
 
 clouds,  the  wondrous  works  of  "  liim  which  is 
 perfect  in  knowledge? 
 
 17  How  thy  garments  are  warm,  when  he 
 quieteth  tlie  earth  by  the  south  wind? 
 
 18  Hast  thou  with  hiui  "spread  out  the  sky, 
 which  is  strong,  nnil  as  a  uiolteu  looking  glass  ? 
 
 19  Teach  us  what  we  shall  say  unto  him; 
 for  we  cannot  order  our  speech  hy  reason  of 
 
 darkness. 
 
 20  Shall  it  he  told  him  that  1  speak?  if  a  man 
 speak,  surely  he  shall  he  swallowed  up. 
 
 21  And  now  men  see  not  the  Ijriglit  light 
 which  is  in  the  clouds  :  but  the  wind  passeth, 
 and  cleanseth  them. 
 
 22  t  t'air  weather  eonieth  out  of  the  north  : 
 with  God  is  terrible  majesty. 
 
 23  Tuurhing  the  Almighty,  ""we  cannot  find 
 him  out  :  ''/ic  (.f  excellent  in  power,  and  in  judg- 
 ment, and  in  plenty  of  justice  :  he  will  not  afflict. 
 
 24  Men  do  therefore  '  fear  him  :  he  respect- 
 eth  not  any  that  are  ^wise  of  heart. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVIII. 
 
 1  Gnd  chaUengcth  Jub  to  answer.  4  God,  hi/  his 
 iniyhtif  works,  convinceth  Job  of  ignorance,  31  and  of 
 imhecility. 
 
 T^IIEN  the  Lord  answered  Job  '^out  of  the 
 •^    uliirhvind,  and  said, 
 
 2  "  Who  is  this  tliat  darkeneth  counsel  by 
 ^  words  withont  knowledge? 
 
 3  ''  Gird  up  now  thy  loins  like  a  man  ;  for  I 
 will  demand  of  thee,  and  f  answer  thou  me. 
 
 4  '^  Whore  wast  tiiou  when  I  laid  the  founda- 
 tions of  the  earth?  declare,  fif  thou  hast  un- 
 derstanding. 
 
 5  Who  iiath  laid  the  measures  thereof,  if  thou 
 knowest?  orwhohath  stretched  thelineupon  it? 
 
 G  Whereupon  are  the  f  foundations  thereof 
 
 Tt  Gen.  1 .  6. 
 la.  44.  24. 
 
 t  Heb.  GcW. 
 
 I>  ITini  0.16 
 7  cli.  36,  6 
 
 a  So  Ex.  19. 
 
 16.  Id. 
 
 1  Kin. 10  II. 
 
 E/eb.  I.  ■». 
 
 Nah.  1.  3. 
 b  ch.  34.  35. 
 
 &  +2.  3. 
 c  I  Tim.  1.7. 
 d  cli.   kt.  7. 
 t  Heb.  i/ia/-i<^ 
 
 me  kiittw. 
 e  Ps.  tut.  5. 
 
 Prn    H.  29. 
 
 8t  HO.  4. 
 \liQb.ifthou 
 
 derstandinij . 
 t  Heh. 
 
 /ch.  1.  fl. 
 
 i;  Gen.  I.  9. 
 P8   8.^.  7.  & 
 III4-.  g 
 Pro.  8.  n. 
 J«r.  5.  2S. 
 
 h  cli.  y6,  10. 
 
 \  Hel>.  the 
 
 j,r„t,- of  thy 
 
 i  Ps.  sy.  9- 
 &  m  4, 
 
 k  P.-i.  74.  IG. 
 &  148.  5. 
 
 t  Heb 
 
 (  Pb    101.  35. 
 
 n  ch.  IB  S. 
 I  Ps.  10.  IS. 
 Ps.  77.  19. 
 
 p  Pa.  9.  \9.. 
 
 t  fastened  ?    or   who    laid    the   corner  stone 
 thereof; 
 
 7  When  the  morning  stars  sang  together,  and 
 all  •"  the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy  ? 
 
 8  ^  Or  who  shut  up  the  sea  with  doors,  when 
 it  brake  forth,  as  if  it  had  issued  out  of  the 
 womb? 
 
 9  When  I  made  the  cloud  the  garment  there- 
 of, and  thick  darkness  a  swaddling  band  for  it, 
 
 10  And  II  ''  brake  up  for  it  my  decreed  place, 
 and  set  bars  and  doors, 
 
 1 1  And  said.  Hitherto  shalt  thou  come,  but 
 no  further :  and  here  shall  f  thy  proud  waves 
 ' be  stayed  ? 
 
 12  Hast  thou  ''  commanded  the  morning  since 
 thy  days  ;  and  caused  the  day.spiing  to  know 
 his  place  ; 
 
 13  That  it  might  take  hold  of  the  fends  of 
 the  earth,  that  '  the  wicked  might  be  shaken 
 out  of  it? 
 
 14  It  is  turned  as  clay  to  the  seal ;  and  they 
 stand  as  a  garment. 
 
 1 J  And  from  the  wicked  their  "^  light  is  with- 
 holden,  and  "  the  high  arm  shall  be  broken. 
 
 I G  Hast  ihou  °  entered  into  the  springs  of  the 
 sea?  or  hast  thou  walked  in  the  search  of  the 
 depth? 
 
 17  Have  ^  the  gates  of  death  been  opened 
 unto  thee?  or  hast  thou  seen  the  doors  of  the 
 shadow  of  death  ? 
 
 18  Hast  thou  perceived  the  breadtli  of  the 
 earth  ?  declare  if  thou  knowest  it  all. 
 
 19  Where  is  the  way  where  hglit  dwelleth? 
 and  as  for  darkness,  where  75  the  place  thereof, 
 
 20  That  thou  shouldest  take  it  ||  to  the  bound 
 tliereof,  and  that  thou  shouldest  know  the 
 paths  to  the  house  thereof? 
 
 17.  How  thy  garments,  ^c— the  excessive  heat  and  bright  transparency 
 of  t!ie  air  in  a  summer's  noon,  especially  in  the  warmer  climates,  per- 
 plex philosophy  with  many  difficult  questions. — *Scott.  WMiat.  are 
 warmth  and  cold?  Is  heat  a  substmice,  and  cold  only  a  quality  de- 
 scribed as  the  absence  of  heat  ?  At  most,  we  here  know  hut  a  little.— 
 So  Clarke.  18.  Looking  fffass,   'mirror.' — M,  Gimd,   Bonthr.      The 
 
 eastern  mirrors  are  of  polished  steel,  and,  for  the  most  part,  convex. — 
 Sir  J.  Chardin.  Polished  steel  has  much  of  that  brilliant  deep  blue 
 cast  which  is  very  striking  in  an  Arabian  iik-y.— Scrip.  Illus.,  Expos. 
 Index.         21.  And  now  men,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Even  now,  we  cannot  look  at  the  light, 
 When  it  is  resplendent  in  the  litavens, 
 
 And  a  wind  from  (he  north  hath  passed  along  and  cleared  them,' 
 
 HI.  Good. 
 Nearly  the  same,  Boothr.  22.  Fair  weather,  fyc,  TJTMV'  im  pDIJO, 
 '  from  the  north  cometh  gold."  Gold  was  anciently  obtained  from 
 Colchi.s,  Armenia,  &c.,  north  of  Judea  and  Idumea.  The  meaning  is, 
 each  thing  has  its  proper  characteristics  ;  we  look  for  gold  from  the 
 north,  and  so  terrible  mnje^t)  belongs  to  God. — So  Clarke.  Nt0»i  XP^"^- 
 uvfotnta,  Sic,  '  goid-ci>loiire<l  clouds,'  &c.,  Sept.  'Through  the 
 north,  the  golden  [weather]  cometh.'— Broi/ghtun.  'The  goldi-n 
 splendour  cometh  out  of  the  north.'  Aurora  borealis,  the  streamers, 
 or  northern  lights. — Slit. 
 
 '  Splendour  itself  is  with  God  ! 
 Insufferable  majesty  !' — HI.  Good. 
 
 '  By  the  north  wind  the  golden  sun  cometh  forth, 
 But  with  God  is  more  awful  majesty.'— iJoo^/ir. 
 23.  .IffUct,  'oppress.'— J/.  Good,  Boothr.        24.  Men  do,  ^c— 
 
 '  I.rt  mankind,  therefore,  stand  in  awe  of  him  : 
 lie  lookcth  all  the  wise  of  heart  to  nothing.'— JT.  Good. 
 
 *  Men,  therefore,  ought  to  fear  him, 
 Whom  none  of  the  wise  in  heart  can  see.*~Bnut/ir. 
 
 Chap.XXXVHI.  —  I.  Out  of  the  whirlwind,  '  stormy  cloud.'— *Sco//. 
 Elihu  saw  this  tempest  rising,  and  gave  hintsof  it,  {chap,  xxxvii.  2, 14,) 
 and  hastened  to  finish  his  discourse. — Gill.  It  was  out  of  a  dark  and 
 thick  cloud  that  God  sent  a  terrible  and  tempestuous  wind  as  the  har- 
 binger of  his  presence.  This  was  his  usual  method  in  those  limes,  as 
 we  see,  Exod.  xix.  18;  Num.  ix.  15,  16;  see  also  1  Kings,  xix.  II  ; 
 Ezek.  i.  4. — Poole.  3.  Gird,  ^-c. — the  allusion  is  to  the  custom  in 
 eastern  countries  to  gird  their  long  garments  about  their  loins  when 
 engaged  in  wtirk  or  wat.—  Gill.  The  same  expression  is  used  among 
 the  Hindoos  when  any  one  eng-ages  to  do  a  difficult  task. — floA.  Ati- 
 sivrr  thou  me,  ^c,  Heb.,  '  make  me  to  knovv,'  i.  e.,  teach  thy  Maker  ; 
 intended  as  an  ironical  reproof  to  Job's  presumption. —  Wit.  4.  Where 
 wast  thott  ? — the  sentiment  here  conveyed  is,  that  He  alone  who  made 
 the  world  is  capable  of  judging  how  it  (lught  to  be  gc>verned. — *  Scott. 
 7.  The  morning  stars,  '  the  lioly  angels.'  glorious  and  shining  Hke  the 
 morning  star,  (comp.  1  Kings,  xxii.  IQ;  Dan.  xii.  3;  1  Cor.  xv.  41 ; 
 Luke,  XX.  36.) — Par.  9.  A  swaddling  band — it  was  a  custom  among 
 the  ancients,  when  Ihey  had  washed  a  new-born  child,  to  wrap 
 it  in  a  cloth. — Taylor's  Frag.  10.  And  brake  up,  ^r.,  'and  brake  the 
 earth  for  it  by  my  decree.' — Brotightnn.  Made  a  vast  chasm  in  the 
 earth  to  hold  the  waters  of  the  se^.—Gill.  '  And  established  my  decree 
 upon  it.' — Durcll.  VI,  Hast  thou  roinmanded  the  tnorning?  'dost 
 thou  remember  since  the  morning  light  was  made? — Pat.  \i.  Turned 
 (IS  cloy  to  the  seal — during  darkness  the  earth  is  a  blank,  like  clay  that 
 has  received  no  impression.  By  the  morning  light  falling  upon  it,  in- 
 numerable objects  make  their  appearance  on  it,  like  clay  which  has 
 received  the  stamp  of  the  seal.  Norden  mentions  the  officers  of  the 
 Sultan  at  Grand  Cairo  sealitig  the  <!onr  of  his  granary  with  clay  instead 
 of  wax. — ''Scott.  As  a  garment,  all  things  which  appear  to  view  clothe 
 the  earth  as  a  garment.— C/m/At.  i6.  The  springs  of  the  sea—X\\G 
 submarine  rivers  are  t^ometimes  so  powerful  as  to  freshen  the  sea  water 
 for  many  leagues.  Charybdis,  in  Sicily,  is  so  powerful  as  to  give  an 
 eddy  to  the  whole  current  in  the  straits  of  Messina. — Stit.  18.  De- 
 clare if  thou  knowest  it  all, '  declare— doubtless  thou  knowest  the  whole 
 of  if.' — M.  Good,  wdio  is  surprised  that  the  irony  has  not  been  remarked 
 
 Rfflectioss  on  Chap.  XXXVIL— I.  God  is  qr  tat  in  his 
 worfis.  So  says  the  Psalmist,  '  TIio  works  of  the  Lord  are 
 great,  sought  out  of  all  them  that  have  pleasure  therein.*  The 
 devout  mind  sees  God  in  all.  Jlis  voice  is  heard  in  the 
 thunder  ;  the  flash  of  Iiis  eye  is  heheld  in  the  lightning  ;  the 
 fertdizing  snow  and  rain  fall  from  the  hollow  of  his  hand  ;  the 
 windy  tempest  is  his  hreath.  These  splendid  metaphocs  are 
 chiefly  furnished  by  the  sublime  conception  of  inspired  minds. 
 God  is  in  all  his  works,  and  ail  his  works, '  fire  and  hail,  snow 
 and  vapours,  and  sturniy  wind,  fulfil  hi.s  word.'  'Let  all  the 
 earth  stand  in  awe  of  him."  '  Stand  still,  and  consider  the 
 665 
 
 wondrous  works  of  God.' 
 
 IL  God  is  incomprehen sidle  in  his  works,    '  Great  thiags  doetb 
 lie  which  we  cannot  comprehend.' 
 
 •Great  is  the  thundering  God,  and  great  his  deeds. 
 Nor  ie.ss  his  work  our  loftiest  thoughts  exceeds.' 
 Philosophy  has  made  great  discoveries,  hut  is  still  lost  in  the 
 labyrinth  of  research.  And  if  God  be  so  marvellous  in  the 
 operations  of  nature,  need  we  wonder  that  there  are  mysteries 
 which  are  past  finding  out  in  redemption,  providence,  and 
 grace'!  Let  us  implicitly  rely  upon  his  sacred  word,  and  leara 
 to  exercise  reverence  where  we  cannot  comprehend. 
 
Ocd  cnnvinrct'i  Job  of  imlier.ility. 
 
 JOB,  XXXVIII. 
 
 Of  tilt  icild  goats  and  hvids. 
 
 21  Knowest  thou  it,  because  thou  wast  then 
 born?  or  because  the  number  of  thy  days  is 
 great? 
 
 22  Hast  thou  entered  hito  ■>  the  treasures  of 
 the  snow  ?  or  hast  thou  seen  the  treasures  of 
 the  hail, 
 
 23  '  Which  I  have  reserved  against  the  time 
 of  trouble,  against  the  day  of  battle  and  war? 
 
 24  By  what  way  is  the  light  parted,  which 
 scattereth  the  east  wind  upon  the  earth  ? 
 
 23  Who  Miath  divided  a  watercourse  for  the 
 overflowing  of  waters,  or  a  way  for  the  lightning 
 of  thunder; 
 
 26  To  cause  it  to  rain  on  the  earth,  wliere  no 
 man  is  ;  on  the  wilderness,  wherein  there  is  no 
 man  ; 
 
 27  '  To  satisfy  the  desolate  and  waste  ground ; 
 and  to  cause  the  bud  of  the  tender  herb  to 
 spring  forth  ? 
 
 28  "  Hath  the  rain  a  father  ?  or  who  hath  be- 
 gotten the  drops  of  dew  ? 
 
 29  Out  of  wliose  womb  came  tlie  ice?  and 
 the  '  hoary  frost  of  heaven,  who  hath  gendered 
 it? 
 
 30  The  waters  are  hid  as  with  a  stone,  and 
 the  face  of  the  deep  f  is  ''frozen. 
 
 31  Canst  tliou  bind  the  sweet  influences  of 
 'lit  Pleiades,  or  loose  the  bands  off  Orion? 
 
 32  Canst  thou  bring  forth  ||  Mazzaroth  in  his 
 season  ?  or  cajist  thou  f  guide  Arcturus  with 
 his  sons  ? 
 
 33  Knowest  thon  °  the  ordinances  of  heaven  ? 
 canst  thou  set  the  dominion  thereof  in  the 
 earth  ? 
 
 34  Canst  thou  lift  up  thy  voice  to  the  clouds, 
 that  abundance  of  waters  may  cover  thee? 
 
 J  Pb.  135.  7. 
 
 r  V.x.  P   IS 
 
 jn^ii.  lo.n 
 
 Is,  30  :w. 
 EMk.13  II 
 1.1.  Rev.  16 
 21. 
 
 •  cli.  28.  26. 
 
 t  Jer   1-1  22. 
 Fs,   147.  8. 
 
 ir«-U7.  10. 
 
 t  Hob.  i, 
 y  cli.  S7. 
 
 r.  10. 
 
 r  eh.  0   9 
 
 Amos  .■;.  9. 
 II  "r,  II.. 
 
 tri-Pi,  tturl. 
 
 t  Mob. 
 C.mah. 
 
 I  Htb.  rail. 
 
 II  Or,  //i^ 
 l^rrlre  tiijni. 
 
 tlleb.e.,,* 
 
 •I  Jer.  31.35. 
 
 )  Heb. 
 Bfhold  ut. 
 *  .h.  32.  8. 
 
 (  Heb.  tpfto 
 cttn  raiiK  to 
 lie  rfow... 
 
 II  Or,  When 
 the  d"er  II 
 liiined  ittto 
 
 t  Heb.  II 
 
 piiired, 
 c  Ps.  101.21. 
 
 St  145.  15. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 lire. 
 
 d  rs,  H7,  9. 
 Mat.  0.  26. 
 
 b  ch  2). 
 Jer.  2.  2 
 Hos.  3   '. 
 
 t  Heb- la 
 placet. 
 
 33  Canst  thou  send  lightnings,  that  they  may 
 go,  and  say  unto  tliee,  f  Here  we  are  ? 
 
 3G  ^  Who  hath  put  wisdom  in  the  inward 
 parts  ?  or  who  hath  given  understanding  to  the 
 heart? 
 
 37  Who  can  number  the  clouds  in  wisdom  ? 
 or  t  who  can  stay  the  bottles  of  heaven, 
 
 38  11  When  tlie  dust  fgroweth  into  hardness, 
 and  the  clods  cleave  fast  together? 
 
 39  ""  Wilt  thou  hunt  the  prey  for  the  lion?  or 
 fill  t  (lie  appetite  of  the  young  lions, 
 
 40  When  they  couch  in  their  dens,  and  abide 
 in  the  covert  to  lie  in  wait? 
 
 41  ''Who  provideth  for  the  raven  his  food  ? 
 when  his  young  ones  cry  unto  God,  they  wan- 
 der for  lack  of  meat. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIX. 
 
 I  Of  the  wild  goats  and  hinds.  5  0/  the  wifd  ass. 
 9  The  unicorn.  13  The  peacock,  stork,  and  ostrich. 
 19  The  horse.     26  The  hawk.     27  The  eagle. 
 
 1Z"N0WEST  thou  the  tune  when  the  wild 
 -^^  goats  of  the  rock  hring  forth?  or  canst 
 thou  mark  when  ^  the  lihids  do  calve? 
 
 2  Canst  thou  numher  the  months  that  they 
 fulfil?  or  knowest  thou  tiie  time  when  they 
 bring  forth? 
 
 3  Tliey  bow  themselves,  they  bring  forth  their 
 young  ones,  they  cast  out  their  sorrows. 
 
 4  Their  young  ones  are  in  good  liking,  they 
 grow  up  with  corn  ;  they  go  forth,  and  return 
 not  unto  them. 
 
 o  Wiio  hath  sent  out  the  wild  ass  free?  oi 
 who  hath  loosed  the  bands  of  tlie  wild  ass? 
 
 6  ^  Wiiose  hou-^e  I  have  made  the  wilderness 
 and  the  f  barren  laud  his  dwellings. 
 
 liy  previous  writers  before  the  21st  verse.  21 .  Ktwi»est  thou  it,  §c., 
 
 ■ — some  understand  these  words  ironically.  'Thou  knowest  the  i^laccs 
 and  bounds  of  lig:ht  and  darkness,  since  thou  art  a  very  old  man,  born 
 as  soon  as  the  world  was.'  Whereas,  he  was  of  yesterday,  and  knew 
 nothing-,  which,  to  convince  him  uf,  is  the  design  of  this  biting,  cutting 
 expression. — Gill. 
 
 '  Thou  knowest :— for  thou  wast  then  born, 
 
 And  grreat  is  the  number  of  thy  days.'— J/.  Good,  so  Boothr. 
 Both  these  writers  observe  the  irony,  as  also  do  Heath,  *Scott,  and 
 Clarke.  22,  23,  Sntiw — hait^-against  the  day  of  buttle — extraordinary 
 and  miraculous  snow  or  hail  may  be  intended,  hke  that  with  which  God 
 punished  the  Egyptians  and  the  Cana^nites. — *Srott.  Mount  Lebanon, 
 being  {)6oo  feet  high,  occasions  the  most  tremendous  storms  of  hail  in  the 
 cast,  (Ps.  Ixviii.  H.)—Sut.  24.  Light,  '  lightning.'— &Vhc^.  'Dost 
 thou  know  linw  the  lightning  breaks  forth  from  the  cloud  V—Bp.  Hull. 
 The  allusion  is,  i»erha|is,  to  the  separation  of  the  ra>s  of  light,  and  the 
 formation  of  the  prismatic  colours  in  the  rainbow. — *Scot(.  26.  Where 
 no  man  is,  for  the  sustenance  of  wild  beasts. — Scott.  28.  Hath  the 
 rain  a  father?  *  who  is  the  fathor  of  the  rain?' — *Scott,  HI.  Good, 
 lionthr.  30.  Are  hid  as  a  stone,  'grow  opaque  as  a  stone.' — M.  Good. 
 '  How  do  the  waters  harden  like  a  stine?' — Honb.  The  deep  cannot 
 mean  the  sea.  There  was  no  frozen  sea  seen  in  Arabia.  A  frozen  lake 
 might  have  been  known  there  or  in  adjacent  countries. — *Scutt. 
 31.  Cn7ist  thou  bind  ?  ffc,  '  canst  thou  alter  the  seasons  of  the  year,  or 
 cause  a  restraint  of  the  spring,  summer,'  &c. — Bp.  Halt.  Su-eet  in- 
 Jlupiices,  the  pleasant  season  of  spring.  The  Pleiades,  or  seven  stars, 
 make  their  appearance  in  spring. — M.  Good.  Bands,  the  rigours  of 
 winter,  when  the  earth  is  bound  witli  frost. — *Scott.  Orion,  a  brilliant 
 constellation  in  the  southern  hemisphere. — Sut.  This  constellation 
 appears  towards  the  end  of  November,  remaining  till  a  part  of  January, 
 and  hence  becomes  an  elegant  synecdoche  for  the  winter  at  large. — 
 M.  Good.  32.  Mazzaroth,  '  the  zodiac.'— .V.  Good.  33.  Ordinances, 
 *  laws.'— B/?,  Hall.         36.  IT'Ao  hath  put  u-isdom  ?  ^c.  — 
 
 '  W'hn  putteth  under'^tandiog  into  the  valleys? 
 And  who  giveth  to  the  shaft■^  discernment?' — M.  Good. 
 
 '  Who  hath  put  wisdom  in  their  wild  motions? 
 Or  who  hath  given  prudence  to  meteors  ?' 
 
 37.  Who  can  number  the  clouds?  §'c.,  *  who  can  make  them  as  sap- 
 phire.'— Aben  Ezra,  so  Jan.,  Trem.,  Pise,  Broughton.  '  Who,  by  wis- 
 dom, irrafiiateth  the  heavens?* — ..V.  Good.  38.  When  the  dust,  ^c. — 
 the  dust,  as  meal,  by  water  poured  into  it,  cements,  unites,  is  compacted, 
 and  ticcomcs  earth  that  may  he  cultivated.— G(7/.  3g.   Wilt  thou 
 
 hunt?  Sfc. — this  verse  should  have  begun  a  new  chapter,  fur  we  here 
 pass  to  a  new  topic,  the  brute  animals. — *Scott,  Boothr.  Lions  hunt 
 their  prey  to  the  windward,  and  smell  it  at  a  great  distance.— tVimp- 
 beirs  Trav.  in  Africa.  The  sense  is,  can  man  pnuide  food  for  wdd 
 beasts  ?—J?oo^Ar.  Fill  the  appetite,  ^c,  quality  tliem  to  provide  lor 
 themselves.— *Sco^^  41.  Thti/  u-ander—m  18-27,  abundance  of  fi:*h 
 were  thrown  on  the  western  shores  of  Scutland.  and  lelt  to  putrefy.  In 
 a  few  days  the  people  were  alarmed  with  the  muliitnde  of  ravens  that 
 appeared.  It  is  not  doubted  but  that  they  were  attracted  by  the  effluvia 
 a  thousand  miles  from  the  Norwegian  shores  ! — Sut. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIX.  —1.  Knouest  thou,  ?fc.,  *  canst  thon  watch  over  and 
 preser^-e  the  calving  of  the  hinds?*  Not  mere  knowledge,  hut  provi- 
 dential care  and  protection  is  intended  here. — *  Scott.  Wild  goats, 
 '  mountain  goats.'  Tlie  ibex  is  intended.  It  is  indigenous  to  Arabia. 
 — M.  Good.         4.  Their  young  ones,  8fC. — 
 
 'Their  nurblings  bound  away,  they  contend  over  the  field.* — M.  Good. 
 *  Their  young  ones  bound  away,  they  contend  in  the  desert.*— Boo^/ir. 
 
 '  How  their  young  ones  grow  uyt,  increase  in  the  fields,  and,  once  de- 
 parting,  return  to  them  no  more.'— Hurt  b.  'lie  animal  here  mentioned 
 does  not  feed  on  corn,  bat  on  the  few  shrubs  and  hardy  plants  of  the 
 open  country  or  desert. — Par.  5.  Wild  as>i — nild  ass— the  first,  NIDi 
 the  same  as  the  onager,  and  is  not  to  be  conluunded  with  the  zebra. 
 It  is  not  striped,  nor  so  elegantly  shaped.  The  colour  is  grey.  They 
 run  so  swift,  that  no  liorses  but  the  Arab  barbs  can  overtake  them. — 
 Clarke,  so  Dr.  T.  M.  Harris.  The  second.nt?,  *  the  brayer ;'  the  wild 
 mule  or  jirkta.  It  has  solid  hoofs,  an  uniform  colour,  no  cross  on  the 
 back,  and  the  tail  hairy  at  the  tip  only.  Brownish  on  the  upper  part  of 
 the  body,  whiti-  bcnc;ith,  and  on  the  buttocks,  with  a  hlacki^h  U;-t  along 
 the  back.  Its  limbs  resemlde  those  of  the  horse.— jV.  Good.  The  for- 
 mer, ^^^D,  signifies  the  '  wild  mule  ;'  the  latter,  mii\  '  the  wild  ass.' — 
 Oedman.  They  should  be  dij^tingnished  in  the  text,  j^iD, '  wild  ass,'  and 
 nny,  '  wild  mule.'— iJoo^Ar.,  as  M.  Good.    The  two  Hebrew  words  are 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XXXVIII.— I.  How  kindly  does 
 God  condescend  to  reason  with  his  creatures  !  He  has  no  need  to 
 give  account  to  any  of  his  matters ;  but  while  we  canuot  pene- 
 trate his  secrets,  he  yet  condescends  to  talk  with  us  as  rational 
 beings.  His  word  addresses  our  understandings  before  it 
 reaches  our  hearts.  Let  reason  bow  to  him  where  it  cannot 
 comprehend,  and  acknowledge  that  'be  doeth  great  things 
 past  finding  out;  yea,  and  wonders  without  number.' 
 
 li.  Amidst  all  his  unsearchable  wags,  what  reason  have  we  to 
 5GG 
 
 place  our  confidence  in  God  I  '  Whatever  the  Lord  doelb,'  says 
 Scott,  *  must  be  right ;  be  is  infinite  in  wisdom,  justice,  truth, 
 and  goodness.  As  the  world  was  created,  so  it  is  governed 
 by  him,  exactly  as  it  should  be.  The  contemplation  of  his 
 wise  and  surprising  contrivance,  in  ihe  economy  of  nature, 
 should  silence  all  our  objections  to  bis  providential  dispensa- 
 tions, and  teach  us  to  desire  that  he  would  choose  and  manage 
 all  tor  us  as  he  pleases.' 
 
of  the  unicorn,  peacock,  stork,  &'C. 
 
 JOB,  XL, 
 
 Job  humbleth  himself  to  Gcd. 
 
 7  He  scometh  the  multitude  of  the  city, 
 neither  regardeth  he  tlie  crying  fof  tlie  driver. 
 
 8  The  range  of  the  mountains  is  his  pasture, 
 and  he  searcheth  after  every  green  thing. 
 
 9  Will  the  '  unicorn  be  v\'iHing  to  serve  thee, 
 or  abide  by  thy  crib  ? 
 
 10  Canst  tliou  bind  the  unicorn  with  his  band 
 ill  the  furrow  ?  or  will  he  harrow  the  vallies 
 after  thee  ? 
 
 1 1  Wilt  thou  trust  him,  because  his  strength 
 is  great  ?  or  wilt  thou  leave  thy  labour  to  him  ? 
 
 12  Wilt  thou  believe  him,  that  he  will  bring 
 home  thy  seed,  and  gather  it  into  thy  barn  ? 
 
 13  Gavest  thou  the  goodly  wings  unto  the 
 peacocks  f  or  ||  wings  and  feathers  unto  the 
 ostrich  ? 
 
 14  Which  leaveth  her  eggs  in  the  earth,  and 
 warmetli  them  in  dust, 
 
 15  And  forgetteth  that  the  foot  may  crush 
 them,  or  that  the  wild  beast  may  break  them. 
 
 IG  She  is  "^  hardened  against  her  young  ones, 
 as  though  they  were  not  her's  :  her  labour  is 
 in  vain  without  fear ; 
 
 1 7  Because  God  hath  deprived  her  of  wisdom, 
 neither  hath  he  "  imparted  to  her  understand- 
 ing. 
 
 18  What  time  she  lifteth  up  herself  on  high, 
 she  scorneth  the  horse  and  his  rider. 
 
 10  Hast  tliou  given  the  horse  strength?  hast 
 thou  clothed  his  neck  with  thunder  ? 
 
 20  Canst  thou  make  him  afraid  as  a  grass- 
 hopper? the  glory  of  his  nostrils  j  is  terrible. 
 
 21  II  He  paweth  in  the  valley,  and  rejoiceth 
 in  his  strength  :  ''  he  goetli  on  to  meet  the 
 f  armed  men. 
 
 22  He  mocketli  at  fear,  and  is  not  affrighted  ; 
 neither  turneth  he  back  from  the  sword. 
 
 23  The  quiver  rattleth  against  him,  tlie  gUt- 
 tering  spear  and  the  shield. 
 
 24  He  swalloweth  the  ground  with  fierceness 
 and  rage  :  neither  believeth  he  that  it  is  the 
 sound  of  the  trumpet. 
 
 25  He  saith  among  the  trumpets.  Ha,  ha  ; 
 and  he  smelleth  the  battle  afar  off,  the  thunder 
 of  the  captains,  and  the  shouting. 
 
 2G  Doth  the  hawk  fly  by  thy  wisdom,  and 
 stretch  her  wings  toward  the  south  ? 
 27  Doth   the  eagle  mount  up  f  at  thy  com- 
 
 B   0 
 
 cjr    I3i0 
 
 I  HA.  o/rt. 
 tinttur. 
 ch.  3.  18. 
 
 r  Num.  23. 
 22.  lieut. 
 33.  17. 
 
 Or,  the  fe.t 
 Ihi-rt  of  Ihfi 
 HoTkaitdoi- 
 
 t  Heb   1^- 
 
 II  Or,  His 
 feet  difj. 
 
 f  Jey.8.  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  Me 
 aniiour. 
 
 Heb  *j/  % 
 m'lut!,. 
 
 K  Jer.  49.  16. 
 Obad.  4. 
 
 b  Ezra  9   6. 
 
 cb.  'li.  G. 
 
 Ps,  .=>! .  4. 
 c  ch.  go.  9. 
 
 Vs.  39   9 
 
 e  oh.  S.'*.  1. 
 /■ch.  12.4. 
 
 Ps.  2'i  3,  ' 
 i  Ps  93.  1. 
 iL  101.  I. 
 
 I  Or,  thf^  ele- 
 fl,„„l.  as 
 .some  think. 
 
 mand,  and  ''  make  her  nest  on  high  ? 
 
 28  She  dwelleth  and  abideth  on  the  rock, 
 upon  the  crag  of  the  rock,  and  the  strong 
 place. 
 
 29  From  thence  she  seeketh  the  prey,  and 
 her  eyes  behold  afar  off. 
 
 30  Her  young  ones  also  suck  up  blood  :  and 
 ''  where  the  slain  are,  there  is  she. 
 
 CHAP.  XL. 
 
 1  Job  himhlcth  himself  to  God.  6  God  sfi'rreth  him  up 
 to  shew  his  righteousness,  power,  and  wisdom.  15  Of 
 the  hehtmoth. 
 
 MOREOVER  the  Lord  answered  Job,  and 
 said, 
 
 2  Shall  he  that  °  contendeth  with  the  Al- 
 mighty instruct  him?  he  that  reproveth  God, 
 let  him  answer  it. 
 
 3  t  Then  Job  answered  the  Lord,  and  said, 
 
 4  ^  Behold,  I  am  vile  ;  what  sliall  I  answer 
 thee?  ^  I  will  lay  mine  hand  upon  my  mouth. 
 
 5  Once  have  I  spoken  ;  but  I  will  not  answer: 
 yea,  twice  ;  but  I  will  proceed  no  further. 
 
 6  H  "^  Then  answered  the  Lord  unto  Job  out 
 of  tlie  whirlwind,  and  said, 
 
 7  ^  Gird  up  thy  loins  now  like  a  man  :  *"  I  will 
 demand  of  thee,  and  declare  thou  unto  me. 
 
 8  ^  Wilt  thou  also  disannul  my  judgment? 
 wilt  thou  condemn  me,  that  thou  mayest  be 
 righteous? 
 
 9  Hast  thou  an  arm  like  God?  or  canst  thou 
 thunder  with  ••  a  voice  like  him  ? 
 
 10  'Deck  thyself  now  with  majesty  and  ex- 
 cellency; and  array  thyself  with  glory  and 
 beauty. 
 
 11  Cast  abroad  the  rage  of  thy  wrath  :  and 
 behold  every  one  that  is  proud,  and  abase  him. 
 
 12  Look  on  every  one  that  is  ^  proud,  and 
 bring  him  low  ;  and  tread  down  the  wicked  in 
 their  place. 
 
 13  Hide  them  in  the  dust  together;  and 
 bind  their  faces  in  secret. 
 
 14  Then  will  I  also  confess  unto  thee  that 
 thine  own  right  hand  can  save  thee. 
 
 15  t  Behold  now  ||  behemoth,  which  I  made 
 with  thee  ;  he  eateth  grass  as  an  ox. 
 
 IG  Lo  now,  his  strength  is  in  his  loins,  and 
 his  force  is  in  the  navel  of  his  belly. 
 
 rnly  two  names  for  the  same  animal. — Par.,  so  Clarke.  9.  WiU  the 
 unicorn,  'rhinoceros.* — M.  Good,  Boothr.  C'"l,  the  Hebrew  name,  is 
 the  same  as  that  given  by  the  Arabs  to  the  rhinoct  ros.  Be  tvilling  to 
 serve  thee,  or  abide  at  thy  crib  ?  i.  e.,  '  will  he  willingly  come  into  thy 
 stable  and  eat  at  thy  manger?*— Bruce.         10.  Canst  thou  bind?  ^c.~ 
 
 *  Canst  thou  make  his  harness  bind  the  rhinoceros  to  the  furrow?* 
 
 M.  Good. 
 
 *  Canst  thou  bind  him  with  a  yoke  to  the  plough  V— Boothr. 
 
 In  Bengal,  Siam,  and  other  southern  parts  of  India,  where,  perhaps, 
 the  rhinoceros  is  still  more  common  than  in  Ethiopia,  and  where  the 
 natives  are  accustomed  to  train  elephants,  he  is  looked  upon  as  an  irre- 
 claimable animal,  of  which  no  domestic  use  can  he  made. — Tai/lor's 
 Frag.,  Scrip.  Kltts.  12.  Believe,  rather  '  trust.'— J/.  Good.  13.  Gavest 
 thou  the  goodly  wings  ?  §-c. — 
 
 *  The  wing  of  the  ostrich-tribe  is  for  flapping. 
 
 But  of  the  stork  and  the  falcon  for  flight.*— 3/.  Good. 
 
 *  The  wing-  of  the  ostrich  is  expanded,'  Ike— Heath,  *Scott. 
 
 *  The  wings  of  the  ostrirh  are  expanded  ; 
 
 Her  pinions  and  feathers  are  like  those  of  the  storV.*— Boothr. 
 
 Peacocks,  D^j^l,  should  be  translated  'ostriches,*  and  nTDH,  ostrirh, 
 should  be  'stork.' — A.Clarke.  The  peacock  is  not  mentitmed  before 
 the  time  of  Solomon,  who  first  imported  it.  It  was  originally  from  India. 
 Besides,  the  ostrich  is  remarkable,  as  Dr.  Shaw  states,  for  its  quivering 
 expanded  wing,  which  it  flaps  perpetually  as  it  walks  or  runs. — *Srott, 
 
 TI'i7.  14.  Leaveth  her  eggs,  .^-c— the  ostrich  lays  from  thirty  to  fifty 
 eggs  on  some  sandy  hillock  of  the  de&ert,  where  it  is  liable  to  be  trod 
 under  foot  by  the  wild  beasts.  She  sits  upcm  her  eggs,  but  often  leaves 
 them  en  the  least  noise,  or  wanders  in  search  of  food,  and  the  e^rgs  be- 
 come rotten  fnmi  hci  long  absence. — Dr.  Shaw,  Boothr.  IG.  Her 
 labour  is  in  vain,  §-e.,  'vain  hath  been  her  travail  withdut  sulicitude.* 
 18.  What  time  she  lifteth,  ^c.  —  the  ostrich  usually  appears  in  a 
 couchant  posture,  but  rises  suddenly  to  her  full  height  when  alarmed, 
 and  pieijariijg  to  move  forward. — Stock.  Two  tame  ostriche-,  pn^sessed 
 by  Adanson,  were  so  fleet,  that  he  believed  they  would  have  distanced 
 the  fleetest  race  horses  that  were  ever  bred  in  Englaiid. — Adanson^s 
 Voyage  to  Stnegal.  IQ.  Clothed  his  neck,  §-c.— the  Htbrews  denoted 
 any  pernianent  quality  or  circumstance  by  the  metaphor  of  clothing. — 
 *  Scott.  24.  He  sivalloweth  the  ground,  an  expression  for  prodigious 
 swiftness  still  used  by  the  Arabs. — So  Clarke.  26.  The  hawk,  'the 
 falcon.'  In  the  county  of  Norfolk,  a  hawk  has  made  a  flight  at  a  wood- 
 cock, near  thirty  miles  in  an  hour. — Zoo/.,  vii.  p.  134.  The  hawk  is  a 
 bird  of  passage,  as  is  here  mentioned,  as  a  specimen  of  that  astonishing 
 insiinct  by  which  birds  know  the  times  ai.d  seasons  of  migration.^ 
 Hew. 
 
 Chap.  XL. —  \h.  Behemoth,  mona,  a  plural  word,  signifying  cattle 
 in  general,  as  distinguished  from  ^^^'U,  '  wild  or  carnivorous  animals.* 
 — A.  Clarke.  The  Hebrew  here  s^ignifies  'the  great  beast,'  for  the 
 plural  form  is  usod  to  denote  excellence  or  magnitude. — Boothr.  The 
 behemoth  is  thought  by  .some  to  be— (i.)  The  hippopotamus,  or  river 
 horse.  He  eateth  grass — thi.s  animal  feeds  on  the  herbage  of  the  Nile. 
 l6.  His  strength  is  in  his  foins,  no  creature  lias  stronger  ribs. 
 
 KfcFi.FCTioNS  ON  Chap.  XXXIX.  —  We  here  see,  I.  God's 
 suferintendintf  providence  over  all  his  inferior  crtatures.  Tlieir 
 formation,  their  qualities,  their  instincts,  all  mark  his  infinite 
 wisdom,  power,  and  goodness.  '  He  openeth  bis  hand,  and 
 satisfieth  tlip  desire  of  every  living  thing.' 
 5(i7 
 
 n.  We  may  here  learn  to  trust  the  providential  care  of  God. 
 Where  duty  calls,  we  may  safely  submit  ourselves  to  bis  guid- 
 ance. Nor  let  us  doubt.  These  instances  of  bis  care  speak 
 loudly  to  us,  *  Will  be  not  much  more  feed  and  cloibe  you,  0 
 ye  of  little  faith  V 
 
Of  the  behemoth. 
 
 17  II  He  movetb  his  tail  like  a  cedar:  the 
 sinews  of  liis  stones  are  wrapped  together. 
 
 18  His  bones  are  us  strong  pieces  of  brass; 
 his  bones  are  like  bars  of  iron.  ,.„,.„ 
 
 19  He  is  the  chief  of  the  ways  of  God:  he 
 tbat  made  him  can  make  his  sword  to  approach 
 
 unto  him.  .        , ,   .        ,  .__   r„,,t, 
 
 «0  Surely  the  mountams  '  brmg  him  forth 
 food  where  all  the  beasts  of  the  field  play. 
 
 •21  He  lietb  under  tlic  shady  trees,  in  the  co- 
 vert of  the  reed,  and  fens.  .  ,    ^    ■ 
 
 •>7  The  shady  trees  cover  bim  with  their 
 shadow  ;  the  willows  of  tlie  brook  compass 
 him  about.  .  , 
 
 0.3  Behold,  the  diinkctli  up  a  river,  and 
 liasteth  not  :  he  trnsteth  tbat  he  can  draw  up 
 •lordan  into  his  moutii.  . 
 
 24   II  He  taketh  it   with   liis  eyes  :    his  nose 
 
 picrcetii  through  snares. 
 
 CHAP.  XLI. 
 
 Of  God's  i;real  power  in  the  leviathan. 
 
 /^  ANST  thou  draw  out  ||  "  leviathan  with  an 
 ^  hook  ■?  or  bis  tongue  with  a  cord  t  which 
 thou  lettest  down? 
 2  Canst  thou  "put  an  hook  into  Ins  nose  ■■'  or 
 
 JOB,  XLI. 
 
 Of  God's  great  power  in  the  leviathan. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  1020. 
 
 I  Or,  He  I 
 utli  up. 
 
 /  Pa.  101.  M. 
 
 t  Hpb.  he 
 itylirf.Kth. 
 
 ]  Or,  tvm 
 
 l„m  i..  )"■< 
 »ij/'t/,  <ir, 
 biitu  liis  noKr 
 leilh  n  gi'i  ? 
 ch    11.  I.S. 
 
 II  Tliat  is,  a 
 ahitlr.  or, 
 Khirljtmt. 
 
 „  Ps.  1(11.20. 
 1«.  27.  I . 
 
 flleb.wliirli 
 thuU  ttrutC'i- 
 
 b  In.  sn  2<i. 
 
 c  Rom.  II. 
 35. 
 
 d  E«.  19.  5 
 UeH.  10.  l-I. 
 Pa.  2\.  1    ^ 
 50.12  1  Cor 
 10.  26,  28. 
 
 Or,u 
 
 bore  his  jaw  through  witli  a  thorn  ? 
 
 3  Will  he  make  many  supplications  unto 
 thee  y  will  be  speak  soft  words  unto  thee  ? 
 
 i  Will  be  make  a  covenant  with  thee  ?  wilt 
 thou  take  bim  for  a  servant  for  ever? 
 
 5  Wilt  thou  play  with  him  as  ii-iih  a  bird?  or 
 wilt  tbou  bind  biiii  for  tliy  maidens? 
 
 6  Shall  the  companions  make  a  banquet  of 
 him?  shall  they  part  him  among  the  mer- 
 chants? . 
 
 7  Canst  thou  fill  his  skin  with  barbed  irons  i 
 or  his  bead  with  fish  spears  ? 
 
 8  Lay  thine  liand  upon  bim,  remember  the 
 battle,  do  no  more. 
 
 9  Beliold,  the  hope  of  him  is  in  vain  :  shall 
 not  one  be  cast  down  even  at  the  sight  of  liim? 
 
 10  None  is  so  fierce  that  dare  stir  him  up  ; 
 who  then  is  able  to  stand  before  me  ? 
 
 11  "  Who  hath  prevented  me,  tliat  I  should 
 repay  him?  ^whatsoever  is  under  the  whole 
 heaven  is  mine. 
 
 1 2  I  will  not  conceal  bis  parts,  nor  his  power, 
 nor  his  comely  proportion. 
 
 13  Who  can  discover  the  face  of  his  garment? 
 or  who  can  come  to  him  \\  with  his  double 
 bridle? 
 
 ,8.H,-»  kone,  arc  as  slro.g  pieces  "/*-«»•, *'--,"°"^Crf  ^'''^^"rTn 
 more  answerable  to  this  dcscnption.-bee  /..-«•«,  D,  .DoM  'S-  '-'^ 
 Z,Te  his  su,ord,  "tath  furn.shed  hira  w,th  his  ^"°^'';.' ^^^Vhe  Wppo- 
 I4e„H,    Seotl  20.  T  le  mounlmns  bnng  htm  forth  /ooa— tne  '"VV^ 
 
 ™rtamusi""  very  voracious  animal,  and  would  consume  the  produce 
 Slwl"olefield.-.Jc/„V,«-.T,„.«».  21.  He  '.-"'';■"<■■„  f' •;';;:;'-^  'h',^^' 
 .St..  •beneath  the  wild  lotus  doth  he  couch.'--X,«.  T'>J/'^ ^^  ""jj ^ 
 she  tcrs  himself  among  the  rcerts.-Scc  Lmeth  and  Uadd.  Ji-"-' 
 ZTplrllh  ,W^A  ..."-^-the  skin  "' J"-,.";"  ^^^f,'^  ^"^^^^  ',; 
 
 has  renrescnted  the  elephant  as  known  in  Egjpt.  mi.  .'""^^  .h 
 someTstance  he  produced  in  which  the  elephant  is  a^soc.atcd  with 
 ?rcrocodUe  [generally  considered  to  be  the  leviathan.  1  presume 
 we  marcon^idfr  the  Jeight  of  evidence  as  -'toBethe^  m  avour  of 
 the  hippopotamus  as  being  the  behemoth  of  •'ob.-f"i''»'  J  "°»- 
 itr  G  Shmr  in  reply  to  those  who  object  to  its  size  and  food,  as 
 "nswerioK  the  description  here  given,  asserts  that  the  hippopotamus  ,s 
 
 iSoUr  ijfrvsi:^:^  ;5.tsir^^^,i"j"=5 
 
 He  fronuents  the  mountains,  eats  grass,  8ic.  The  " J "  '  ?f  l^  J''  't 
 goes  far  from  the  river,  and  has  no  mountains  near  the  Nile  to  resort 
 to  He  is  of  a  savage  nature,  and  carnivorous.— *S<■o/^  "J  "'e.; 
 i°ual"  on  fish?.hougl  he  sometimes  steals  out  of  the_  "vcr  -  ".gh 
 into  the  corn  fields  and  eats  a  vast  quantity  Ver  1.,  /m  toi.ms 
 irnnk  '_7)oo«r      Among  those  who  interpret  this  to  be  the  elepnam, 
 
 had' many  toe",  the  springs  which  such  a  creature  could  mal^=  -^'^  ^„'^ 
 r'a^SlJ^-Kefci:^^,?'"^  u'^e^'J^e  "^e^S  ^   ^  ^g 
 
 SSs:rsS^-^^^irb&t^= 
 
 tremendous  roar  would  not  have  escaped  '■"^'^^""yZjl  JrTvHtnrMy 
 same  writer  says,  that  the  hippopotamus  and  elephant  are  na'"raiiy 
 ^u^et  animals,  b'ut  the  behemoth  is  represented  as  of  a  feroaousnaure 
 Snd  formed  for  tyranny,  if  not  for  rapaci.y.  Theie  does  not,  however 
 annear  to  be  any  real  groimd  for  such  a  conclusion.  The  animai  is 
 dSscrYbeS  by  hi7great  ""strength,  but  that  no  ";°'<^  ■"P'.'" /"^"'."Ji  S 
 the  behemoth  than  in  the  elephant.      Adam  Clarke,  who  infers  witn 
 
 Good,  that  the  mammoth  is  meant,  and  calls  npon  us  to  admire 
 ,,"  goodness  of  God  in  the  extinction  of  these  le  ocions creatures,  v.ho 
 would  otherwise  have  extinguished  every  other  race  of  animals.  Is 
 ™"  elusion  of  the  animal  being  carnivorous  mu  t  ho  drawn  rom  the 
 appel  anee  of  its  grinders  ;  but  it  seems  more  lik.ly,  that  in  later  ages, 
 when  the  world  became  more  peopled,  such  animals  would  have  de- 
 ™mrcd  too  much  lood.  Cwier  discovered  the  lossil  remains  of  an 
 a  mal  resembling  a  huge  armadillo,  which  has  been  thought  by  some 
 ?,,  be  the  anTmarLre  described.-AV.  (iv.)  Brune  thought  the  RU.NO. 
 (KRos  was  here  intended.  ■„.„=(  thou 
 
 Ch,\p  .\LI.  — 1.  Lemulhon,  ■in'17— Afe"  Je  ipoKovro,' canst  thou 
 draw  out  ihe  dragon  ?•  Sept.  (i'.)  Some  have  iiiterprelcd  this  to  be  the 
 wSeMiis  a  lifBcienf  objection  to  this,  that  the  whale  does  not 
 n habit  the  Mediterranean,  much  less  the  nvers  winch  empty  them- 
 selves into  it.  This  family  of  marine  monsters  also  have  niinicr 
 nroner  snouJ  nor  nostrils,  nor  teeth.'-.V.  Good,  (ii.)  The  general 
 SStonTs  that  the  crocodile  is  here  intended.  This  is  an  inhabitant 
 i,f  the  N  le  and  of  other  Asiatic  and  African  rivers.  He  is  voracious, 
 strong;  and  swims  fleetly.  He  attacks  alike  men  and  the  larges 
 an^mfls  In  proportion  to  his  size,  he  has  the  largest  mouth  ol  all 
 masters  He  is  clothed  with  a  coat  of  mail  which  canimt  be  pierced. 
 -A  Clarke  With  an  *„o/,-this  voracious  animal  bites  ofTand  destroys 
 all  fishing-tackle  of  this  kind  which  is  thrown  out  in  the  river.  Homl- 
 ,,,"<  found  one  sticking  in  the  stomach  and  another  in  the  palate - 
 I'nr  ■>   An  hook  into  Ins  nose,  lead  him  about  as  oxen  and  bufTalos 
 
 are  'led  in'the  east,  with  a  ring  in  the  nose,  (2  Kings,  xix.  2S ,  Isa. 
 V Jvvii  on  1-ftorAf  Par.  Willi  a  (/lorn-the  Hebrew,  perhaps,  means 
 ^\ron-?-iiig.  which  being  put  over  his  jaws  or  through  them,  after 
 being  perforated,  would  prevent  lum  from  biting.— jWi.  »■  •«'?"' 
 Tim  for  In,  maiden.,  that  they  may  play  with  him.  Ma.nmus  T^r.us 
 mentions  an  Egyptian  woman  who  reared  a  young  crocodile  with  a 
 Ton  of  the  san^e'age,  whom  the  animal  at  length  k.lled.-Bo.^-n;j. 
 
 6  Make  a  ban./iiet.  feast  on  hun  as  on  a  camel  or  ""--So /-""f^- 
 
 7  Fill  L  skin,  his  scales  st.ck  together  so  that  they  cannot  be  sun- 
 dered.—War.  He  can  only  be  wounded  in  the  belly.— /I.  Clarke. 
 8.  Lay  thine  hand,  4'C. — 
 
 •  Make  ready  thy  hand  against  him. 
 Dare  the  contest;  be  flrm.'— W.  Good. 
 
 '  Lay  now  thy  hand  npon  him  ;  ,     „    ,i 
 
 Remember  the  conflict,  and  do  no  more.'— Boof/ir. 
 
 •  But  remember  that  thou  wilt  have  no  other  conflict.'— Dui-<;». 
 tt  ronresents  the  deadly  and  unequal  nature  of  the  conflict.— «(/. 
 0  BeZld  tte  /  iL.^c.  •  miss  thy  flJst  advantage  and  there  is  no  hope 
 afterword's  '-4  CterA-f-  ">■  S<i>  *•">  »p-whcu  satiated  with  ftsh, 
 ?"e  crocodde  reposes  asleep  upon  the  shore.-So  «/.»,.  n.Ww 
 h,fll,Zeeenled  me,  tic..  •  where  is  the  man  to  whom  1  am  a  debtor  ?- 
 'ra  '^l"  Nor  hS  power,  ic  -the  strenBth  and  structure  of  his 
 f^ame  '-M   Good.         13.  Ui.'.novey  the  face  of  his  garment,    r.p  up  the 
 
 ?ather?"wi?hin  his  double  bridle  who  wUl  comeV  The  expression  here 
 
 RKrLFcTioss  ON  CiiAP.  \l.. -\.  IIow  great  IS  His  power 
 who  creates,  restrains,  and  deslrajs  suck  mighty  animals  as  me 
 helienwih  I  iNlost  likely  the  creature  here  intended  is  extinct, 
 hut  tlie  fossil  remains  of  some  of  those  animals  of  past  ages 
 cannot  possibly  be  contemplated  by  a  pious  mind  wilhout  the 
 most  solemn  awe  of  their  Creator.  One  glance  of  this  chiei 
 of  the  ways  of  God'  must  call  forth  the  confession,  1  know 
 that  thou  canst  do  everything.' 
 
 II.  How  great  is  His  goodness  who  has  not  suffered  a  sivjid 
 world  to  be  annoyed  by  animal:  whose  voracious  apjutiles  wonhl 
 508 
 
 loon  hare  consumed  the  fruits  of  Ihe  earth,  or  whose  power  miglil 
 r:.:  torr,e.™r^.  ,^a.  .../'«..«''  He  has  left  us  specif 
 of  furious  creatures  to  shew  us  what  he  could  do,  Dut  tneir 
 breed  ,s  not  numerous,  and  these,  thinned  by  preying  on  each 
 o^r.Pr  are  conhned  to  he  recesses  of  the  lorest,  or  roam  m  he 
 w  le  wMerness  ;  while  the  creatures  chiefly  intended  for  the 
 rusteuauce  and  use  of  man  are  '-• -ore  prolific  and  quietly 
 submit  themselves  to  his  contro  .  "  L°™' '■°"  ,™'""""° 
 are  thy  works  ;   in  wisdom  hast  thou  made  them  all! 
 
Of  God's  great  power  in  the  leviathan. 
 
 JOB,  XLII. 
 
 Juh  submittelh  himself  unto  God. 
 
 14  Who  can  open  the  doors  of  his  face?  his 
 teeth  are  terrible  round  about. 
 
 15  His  t  scales  are  his  pride,  shut  up  together 
 as  with  a  close  seal. 
 
 16  One  is  so  near  to  another,  that  no  air  can 
 come  between  them. 
 
 17  They  are  joined  one  to  another,  they 
 stick  togetlier,  that  they  cannot  be  sundered. 
 
 18  By  his  neesings  a  light  doth  shine,  and 
 his  eyes  are  like  the  eyelids  of  the  morning. 
 
 19  Out  of  his  mouth  go  burning  lamps,  and 
 sparks  of  fire  leap  out. 
 
 ■>0  Out  of  his  nostrils  goeth  smoke,  as  out  of 
 a  seething  pot  or  caldron. 
 
 21  His  breath  kindleth  coals,  and  a  flame 
 goeth  out  of  his  month. 
 
 22  In  his  neck  remaineth  strength,  and  f  sor- 
 row is  turned  into  joy  before  him. 
 
 23  t  The  flakes  of  his  flesh  are  joined  to- 
 gether :  they  are  firm  in  themselves ;  they 
 caimot  be  moved. 
 
 24  His  heart  is  as  firm  as  a  stone  ;  yea,  as 
 hard  as  a  piece  of  the  nether  millstone. 
 
 2.3  When  he  raiseth  up  himself,  the  mighty 
 are  afraid  :  by  reason  of  breakings  they  purify 
 themselves. 
 
 2G  The  sword  of  iiim  tliat  layeth  at  him  can- 
 not hold  :  the  spear,  the  dart,  nor  the  ||  ha- 
 bergeon. 
 
 27  He  esteemeth  iron  as  straw,  and  brass  as 
 rotten  wood. 
 
 28  The  arrow  cannot  make  him  flee  :  sling- 
 stones  are  turned  with  him  into  stubble. 
 
 29  Darts  are  counted  as  stubble  :  he  laugheth 
 at  the  shaking  of  a  spear. 
 
 S()  t  Sharp  stones  are  under  him  :  he  spread- 
 eth  sharp  pointed  things  upon  the  mire. 
 
 •'il  He  maketh  tlie  deep  to  boil  like  a  pot  : 
 he  maketh  the  sea  like  a  pot  of  oiiitment. 
 
 32  He  maketh  a  path  to  shine  after  him  ;  one 
 
 t  Heb.i/rti..y 
 pi,  „  ,.f 
 iliieldt. 
 
 t  Heb.  i'.e 
 /all,„g,. 
 
 II  Or.  /^*<MI- 
 pl'itt. 
 
 t  H.-h  .Wn.,. 
 
 o>,l  fra 
 
 iGen.  IS. 11. 
 
 .Mat.  19.26, 
 
 Mark  10.27. 
 
 &  U  .S6. 
 
 Luke  18.27. 
 II  Or,  m 
 
 lli"i>!/ht  of 
 
 tl,i',e  can  be 
 
 tiiitdered. 
 b  ch.  38.  2. 
 c  Ps.  40.  5. 
 
 Ik  131.  1.  & 
 
 139.  6. 
 d  ch.  38.  3. 
 
 &  10.  7. 
 
 /Niim  23.1 
 S  Mat.  5  24 
 
 A  Geii  20.17. 
 Ja.ii.  a.  1.., 
 Iij.l  Jolin5. 
 
 t  Heb.  /,/• 
 /.,.,,  .„, 
 
 I  sa.  25,  as. 
 
 Mai.  1.  8. 
 
 would  think  the  deep  tu  be  lioary. 
 
 33  Upon  earth  there  is  not  Ins  like,  ||  who  is 
 made  without  fear. 
 
 34  He  behotdeth  all  high  things:  he  is  a 
 king  over  all  the  children  of  pride. 
 
 CHAP.  XLII. 
 
 1  Job  svbmitteth  himself  tint o  God.  7  God,  preferring 
 Job's  cause,  mahetlt  his  friends  suhmit  theTnselves ,  and 
 accepteih  him.  10  He  tnagnifiiifi  and  blessetk  Job. 
 16  Job's  aye  and  death. 
 
 'T^HEN  Job  answered  the  Lord,  and  said, 
 -'-2  1  know  that  thou  ""  canst  do  every  t/iingy 
 and  that  ||  no  thought  can  be  withholdeu  from 
 thee. 
 
 3  ''  Who  is  he  that  hidetli  counsel  without 
 knowledge?  therefore  have  I  uttered  that  I 
 understood  not;  '^  things  too  wonderful  for  me, 
 which  1  knew  not. 
 
 4  Hear,  I  beseech  thee,  and  I  will  speak  :  **  1 
 will  demand  of  thee,  and  declare  thou  unto 
 me. 
 
 5  I  liave  heard  of  thee  by  the  hearing  of  the 
 ear  :  but  now  mine  eye  seeth  thee. 
 
 G  Wherefore  I  ^  abhor /w^^e//",  and  repent  in 
 dust  and  ashes. 
 
 7  f  And  it  was  so,  that  after  the  Lord  had 
 spoken  these  words  unto  Job,  the  Lord  said 
 to  Eliphaz  the  Temanite,  My  wrath  is  kindled 
 against  thee,  and  against  thy  two  friends  :  for 
 ye  have  not  spoken  of  me  the  thing  that  is 
 right,  as  my  servant  Job  hath. 
 
 8  Therefore  take  unto  you  now  'seven  bul- 
 locks and  seven  rams,  and  ^  go  to  my  servant 
 Job,  and  offer  up  for  yourselves  a  burnt  offer- 
 ing ;  and  my  servant  Job  shall  "  pray  for  you  : 
 for  fhim  will  I  accept:  lest  I  deal  with  you 
 aftei-  yoxir  fully,  in  that  ye  liave  not  spoken  of 
 me  the  thing  which  is  right,  like  my  servant 
 Job. 
 
 means  the  double  fold  cf  his  jaws.— .S^ocfr.  14.  The  doors,  his  im- 
 men^e  jaws. — Boch.  His  teeth  are  terrih/e,  he  ha-s  nearly  thirty-six 
 shart'-pointed  teeth  in  each  jaw, — Dure/l ;  and  those  very  larKC- — 
 Boch.  15.  His  scales,  §-c. — the  whole  body  of  the  animal  is  covered 
 as  if  by  iron  plates  closely  united. — Boch.       18.  Bt/  his  neesings,  Sfc— 
 
 '  His  snnrtings  are  the  radiance  of  light ; 
 And  his  eyes  as  the  glancings  of  the  dawn.' — HI-  Gond. 
 
 The  crocodile  lies  yawning  in  the  sun,  a  circumstance  likely  to  create 
 sneezing,  and  the  heated  air  from  his  nose  sparkles  in  the  sun-beam. — 
 Bi-rh.,  Hew.  His  ei/es,  ^c. — when  the  crocodile  raises  his  head  above 
 water,  his  eye-^  sparkle  with  the  greatest  vivacity.  Hence  they  were, 
 with  the  Egyptians,  an  hieroglyphic  of  the  mormng.— Horapp.  Egypt, 
 lerogli/ph.,  lib.  i.  c.  65.  19.  Out  of  his  month  go  bnvjung  lajnps,  ^c. 
 
 —having  kept  his  breath  long,  when  emerging  from  the  water,  he 
 breathes  the  more  earnestly,  and  the  breath  then,  having  bocn  long 
 repressed,  becomes  so  hot,  and  breaks  forth  so  violently,  that  it  seems 
 to  vomit  out  flames  from  the  mouth  and  nostrils.— Boc/t.  '2'2.  In  his 
 7irck,  §r.,  rather  '  sorrow  goeth  before  him  ;'  that  is,  he  causes  sorrow 
 wherever  he  soe=^.~Durell.  '  Fainting  exi/lteth  before  him,'  that  is, 
 as  soon  as  men  see  him  they  faint. — Par, 
 
 '  Id  his  neck  dwcUeth  .might  ; 
 And  DEsxnucTiON  exulteth  before  him.' — M.  Good. 
 
 To  the  same  purport,  Boolhr.  23.  The  pokes,  ^c,  *his  muscles  are 
 firmly  and  strongly  compacted.' — A.  Clarke.  25.  By  reason  of  break- 
 ings,  ffc.,  'they  are  confounded  at  the  tumult  of  the  sea.'— il/.  Good.  'Et 
 ils  ne  savent  oil  ils  en  sont,  voiant  comme  il  rompt  tout,'  '  and  they  know 
 not  where  they  are,  (they  are  out  of  their  wits,)  seeing  huw  he  breaks 
 every  thing,'  French.  Tran.s.  26.  Habergeon,  here  denotes  a  kind  of 
 strong  javelin,  spear,  or  h albert. —  Par.  28.  Slingstones  are  turned, 
 
 §-c.,— a  crocodile,  twelve  feet  long,  having  had  his  moutli  tied  for  thirty- 
 
 five  days,  so  that  he  had  eaten  nothing:,  with  one  stroke  of  his  tail  up- 
 set fiv"e  or  si.K  men  and  a  bale  of  coftee  with  the  most  perfect  ease. — 
 Maillet.  30.  Sharp  stones  are  under  him,  ^c. — he  lies  on  sharp  stones 
 and  ragged  rocks  in  the  bed  of  the  Nile.— ico^i. 
 
 '  His  bed  is  the  splinters  of  flint, 
 Which  the  broken  rock  scattereth  on  the  mud.' — M. 
 
 Good. 
 
 31  He  maketh  the  deep  to  boil,  ^c. — when  a  crocodile  50  feet  in  length 
 dives  to  the  bottom,  the  violent  agitation  of  the  water  is  justly  com- 
 pared  to  liquor  boiling  in  a  caldron. — *Scott.  The  sea,  that  is,  the 
 Nile,  as  Isa.  si.  15  ;  often  so  called  by  Arabian  writers,  on  account  of 
 the  size  of  the  river. — Boch.  Like  a  pot  of  ointment,  '  thick  as  oint- 
 ment.'— Boothr.     '  He  throws  up  mud  and  slirae.' — Boch. 
 
 '  He  snuffeth  up  the  tide  as  a  perfume.'— il/.  Good. 
 
 34.  All  high  things,  rather,  *  all  high  creatures ;'  that  is.  he  looks  upon 
 them  with  defiance  and  contempt. — Stock.     A  traveller  in  Africa  re- 
 ports, that  a  tiger  leaped  on  a  sleeping  crocodile,  and  began  to  tear  his 
 scales ;  the  dragon  seized  the  tiger's  foot,  and  dragging  him  into  the 
 river,  soon  discoloured  it  with  his  adversary's  blood. 
 Chap.  XLII. — 3.  That  hideth  cottnscl,  §-c.— 
 '  That  pretendeth  wisdom  without  knowledge. 
 Therefore  I  have  been  presumptuous— 1  would  not  understand  ! 
 Wonderful  art  thou  beyond  me,  and  I  know  nothing.' — il/.  Good. 
 
 4.  Demand,  'ask.' — M.  Good,  Boothr.  ~.  Not  spoken  of  me  the  thing 
 that  is  rigfit—they  had  said  many  right  things  of  God,  and  Job  many 
 wrung,  but  Jub,  on  the  whole,  had  spoken  best. — Gill.  Job's  friends 
 had  argued  that  the  righteous  arc  never  afflicted  without  remedy  here, 
 au'l  the  wicked  never  prosperous,  on  the  whole,  in  this  life,  both  of 
 which  Job  contradicted,  and  reconciled  with  an  hereafter;  in  this,  Job 
 justified  the  ways  of  God,  but  they  spoke  unworthily  of  him.  —  So 
 
 Refiections  on   Chap.   XLI 1.  How   tremendous  is  the 
 
 potcer  of  some  of  GnrCs  creatures!  When  we  think  on  it,  we 
 cannot  but  praise  him  tiiat  that  power  is  confined  within  such 
 narrow  limits,  and  that  they  generally  avoid  the  dwellings  of 
 man.  Man's  superior  reason  would,  in  some  degree,  be  a  match 
 for  formidable  brute  strength  ;  but  awful  would  be  the  destruc- 
 tion on  both  sides,  if  they  were  continually  to  come  into  col- 
 lision. But  man's  habitation  is  not  assailed,  and  the  thousand 
 tenants  of  the  forest  remain  unmolested.  'Thus  the  Lord 
 509 
 
 preserveth  man  an  1  beast. ' 
 
 II.  If  such  be  the  po'rtr  nf  some  of  the  creatures,  what  must  be 
 that  of  the  Creator!  Tlie  thought  is  transporting  to  those  who 
 have  learned  to  put  tlieir  entire  trust  in  him;  but  to  the  sin- 
 ner whohasoftendecl  him, and  sought  no  reconciliation  tbioui;h 
 Christ,  it  is  full  of  terrors.  '  Who  has  an  arm  like  God  V 
 '  Who  can  stand  when  he  appeareth  ?'  '  Our  God  is  a  con 
 suming  fire.'    '  Let  all  the  earth  stand  in  awo  of  him.' 
 
 4   u 
 
God  niagnifieth  and  blesscth  Job. 
 
 JOB,  XLII. 
 
 Job''s  age  and  death. 
 
 9  So  Elipbaz  the  Temanite  and  Bildatl  the 
 Shuhite  and  Zophar  the  Naamathite  went, 
 and  did  accordintr  as  the  Lord  commanded 
 them  :   the  Lord  also  accepted  f  Job. 
 
 10  ^  And  the  Lord  turned  the  captivity  of 
 Job,  when  be  prayed  for  bis  friends  :  also  the 
 Lord  f  gave  Job  ''twice  as  much  as  he  had 
 before. 
 
 1 1  Then  came  tliere  unto  him  '  all  his  bretli- 
 ren,  and  all  bis  sisters,  and  all  they  that  had 
 been  of  his  acquaintance  before,  an<l  did  eat 
 bread  with  him  iu  his  house  :  and  they  be- 
 moaned him,  and  comforted  him  over  all  the 
 evil  that  the  Lord  had  brought  upon  him  : 
 every  man  also  gave  him  a  piece  of  money, 
 and  every  one  an  earring  of  gold. 
 
 12  So  the  Lord  blessed  "'the  latter  end  of 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 fnieofJnb. 
 i  Ps.   I4.7.fc 
 1-26.  I. 
 
 I  Heb  rtrfiW 
 "(/  V>nt  bad 
 been  «  J^b 
 II'.  fo  Me 
 
 k  Is.  40.  5. 
 I  See  ch.  19. 
 IS. 
 
 H  ch.  8.  7. 
 Jam   5,  II. 
 
 f  Gfii.  35.8 
 
 Job  more  than  his  beginning;  for  he  had 
 "fourteen  thousand  sheep,  and  six  thousand 
 camels,  and  a  thousand  yoke  of  oxen,  and  a 
 thousand  she  asses. 
 
 13  °He  had  also  seven  sons  and  three  daugh- 
 ters. 
 
 14  And  he  called  the  name  of  the  first,  Je- 
 mima ;  and  the  name  of  the  second,  Kezia  ; 
 and  the  name  of  the  third,  Keren-bappuch. 
 
 15  And  in  all  the  land  were  no  women  found 
 so  fair  as  the  daugiiters  of  Job  :  and  their 
 father  gave  them  inheritance  among  their 
 brethren. 
 
 16  After  this  ■'lived  Job  an  hundred  and 
 forty  years,  and  saw  bis  sons,  and  his  sons* 
 sons,  even  four  generations. 
 
 17  So  Job  died,  being  old  and  '^  full  of  days. 
 
 Peters.  11.  E^ery  man  ffavfi,  ^c. — it  was,  and  now  is,  a  custom  of 
 the  east  to  cive  presents  when  visiting  persons  of  distinction.  A  piece 
 of  money,  nt^^lTp-  It  is  niicertain  whether  this  present  was  a  sheep,  or 
 a  piece  of  money  that  had  the  figure  of  a  sheep  stamped  upon  it.  The 
 Sept.  reads  ai^vafi^  ^i■tav,  'one  ewe  lamh.' — *  Scott.  An  earring  of 
 gold,  this  was  doubtless  ring-money,  which  recent  discovery  demon- 
 strates to  have  been  prevalent  fmm  Arabia,  Egypt,  and  Nubia,  in  the 
 east,  to  the  roapt  r>{  Guinea  and  tlie  British  Isles  in  the  west ;  and  it  is 
 mnch  more  likely  that  this  was  bestowed  on  the  patriarch  as  valuable 
 property,  than  for  mere  ornaments  which  he  could  never  have  worn. — 
 Lee.  U.  Jemima,  literally  '  days  upon  days.*— jl/.  Good.  '  The  day,' be- 
 cause her  beauty  was  as  the  day,  Tn7-g.  '  Of  a  fine  clear  complexion.*^ 
 Gill.     In  Arabic  the  word  signifies   'a  dove.* — Spanheim.     Kezia,  or 
 
 Ketzia,  '  Cassia,*  the  plant  of  aromatic  fame,— itf.  Good;  perhaps  from 
 tlie  sweetness  of  her  temper.— GfV/.  Keren-hnppuch,  'the  inverted 
 or  flowing  horn,'  'the  horn  nf  plenty.'— ;i/.  Good.  Tliis  tliinl  daughter 
 was  born  as  Job  was  growing  ncU.—Sut.  Her  name  is  tnrnied  of  two 
 words,  signifying  'horn  and  stibium,'  the  latter  used  by  the  eastern 
 women  to  darken  tbeir  eyebrows,  and  render  tbcir  eyes  more  brihiant. 
 The  horn  was  not  only  the  emblem  of  pnwer.  but  of  excellence,  In  auty. 
 and  plenty.  Job'sdanghter  was,  therefore,  called  '  the  horn  of  stibium,' 
 from  having  more  natural  beauty  in  her  eyes  S:c.  than  oilier  women 
 could  procure  by  means  nf  art,— So  Merrier  and  Grotius;  ur  the  name 
 may  signify  'the  ray  of  a  precious  stone.'— (7i7/;  or  *  an  emerald,' 
 Targ.    Her  beauty  was  bright  and  dazzling.— C(7/. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XLII.  — We  may  observe  here, 
 I.  Jol>*s  humiUation.  'Ilie  best  of  men,  on  looking  into  tbeir 
 own  hearts,  instead  of  jusliiying,  will  see  sufficient  reason  to 
 abhor  themselves. 
 
 II.  Job's  intiTcession  for  his  friends.  Thus  are  we  taught  to 
 pray  for  one  nnother,  and  even  for  those  who  have  treated  us 
 unkindly  and  cruelly.  Till  we  can  do  so,  we  shall  nerer  be  like 
 ','hrist,  who  in  this  bus  'set  us  an  example,  that  we  should 
 /bilow  bis  steps.' 
 
 III.  Job's  hitter  end.  We  ought  never  to  despair.  '  At 
 evening  time  it  shall  be  light.'  When  the  righteous  disci- 
 pline of  Ciod  has  produced  the  desired  effects,  and  humbled 
 our  souls,  then,  in  due  time,  lie  will  e.^alt  us.  *  So  the  Lord 
 blessed  the  latter  end  of  Job  more  tiian  the  beginning.'  His 
 case  is  exhibited  as  an  encouragement  to  all  good  men  under 
 affliction;  'Behold,  we  count  them  happy  who  endure.  Ye 
 have  heard  of  the  patience  of  Job,  and  have  seen  the  end  of 
 the  Lord  :  that  the  Lord  is  very  pitiful  and  of  tender  mercy.* 
 
 SUMiMARY      OF      THE      ARGUMENT     IN     JOB. 
 
 The  debate  commences  in  chapters  iv.  and  v.,  in  which  Eliphaz  reproves  Job  for  grieving  so  excessively,  who  had  formerly  preached  patience, 
 md  represents  God  as  afflicting  wicked,  and  not  good  men. — In  chapters  vi.  and  vii.,  Job  apologizes  for  his  imimticnce,  by  the  greatness  of  lus 
 putferings,  confessing  that  he  is  not  unjustly  punished,  but  complaining  that  God  should  so  rigidly  punish  offences  that  cannot  injure  him.— 
 In  chapter  viii.,  B:ldad  renews  the  argument  employed  by  Eliphaz,  that  punishment  implies  guilt,  but  encourages  Job  to  hope  for  restoration  if 
 he  became  penitent.— In  chapters  ix.  and  x.,  it  appears  that  Bildad's  charges  of  hypncrisy  had  excited  Job's  indignation,  and  he  >A'ishes  only 
 to  be  confronted  with  his  accusers  before  a  proper  tribunal,  that  he  might  vindicate  his  innocence.— In  chapters  xi.and  xii.,  Zophar  charges  Job 
 with  high  crimes,  and  maintains,  that  his  alBiction  is  far  less  than  his  deseits.  He  desires  him  to  reform,  and  God  would  be  favourable. — Iu 
 chapters  xii.,  xiii.,  and  xiv..  Job  rebukes  the  contiriencc  of  his  friends  in  tlitir  own  opinion,  refutes  their  notion  that  g"od  or  evil  things  distin- 
 guished good  or  evil  men,  rejects  them  as  physicians  of  no  value,  and  pleads  with  God  for  a  release  from,  or  mitigation  of.  his  troubles. — In 
 chapter  xv,,  Eliphaz  accuses  Job  of  idle  talk  in  defying  the  Almiglity  to  a  contest,  observing,  that  his  own  langnage  would  condemn  him  ; 
 and  returns  to  his  first  position,  that  misery  implies  guilt.— In  chajiters  xvi.  and  xvii.,  Job  answers,  that  Eliphaz  had  said  nothing  new  ;  that 
 piety  would  persevere  independently  of  present  reward,  and  that  God  was  his  witness  that  he  cherished  no  secret  sin.— In  chapter  xviii., 
 Bildad  rebukes  Job  for  persisting  in  his  opinion,  and  describes  the  end  of  the  man  who  knows  not  God.— In  chapter  xix..  Job,  wearied  with  bis 
 friends,  laments  the  estrangement  of  his  other  friends  and  family,  and,  despairing  of  redress  here,  looks  forward  to  a  future  tribunal.— In  chapter 
 XX.,  Zophar  retorts  upon  Job  a  threat  uttered  by  him  at  the  close  of  his  last  speech,  and  insinuates,  that  Job  had  long  merited  to  be  ranked 
 with  the  wicked,  but  God  had  not  before  revealed  his  guilt.— In  chapter  xxi..  Job  enters  largely  into  God's  dealings  with  mankind,  to  refute 
 Zophar's  argument  of  the  short-lived  triumph  of  Ihe  wicked.— In  chapter  xxii.,tlie  argument  of  Eliphaz  is,  that  as  God  declined  Job's  challenge 
 to  bring  him  to  trial,  it  could  be  for  no  other  reason  than  that  lie  knew  his  Ruilt,  and  would  not  investigate  the  matter, — In  chapters  xxiii.  and 
 xXiV.,  Job  maintains  that  no  argument  can  be  framed,  nor  judgment  given,  of  any  man's  condition  by  the  present  ^tate,  or  the  external 
 dispensations  of  God  towards  him.— In  chapter  xxv.,  Bildad  enters  on  a  third  contest  with  Job,  dropping  the  former  subject  of  debate  respecting 
 the  troubles  nf  the  righteous  and  the  prosperity  of  tlie  wicked,  and  contrasts  the  glory,  power,  and  majesty  of  God  wiih  the  misery  and  impurity 
 of  man,  advising  Job  to  speak  more  reverently  of  God  in  future. — In  chapter  xxvi.,  Job  retorts  upon  Bildad  that  he  has  wandered  from  his 
 subject,  and  shews  how  little  he  had  said  to  the  purpose  on  that  on  which  he  had  spoken. — In  the  next  chapter  he  refutes  the  principle  on 
 whiuh  his  friends  have  argued,  and  shews  that  he  could  gain  nothing  by  being  a  hyp'xrite,  unless  it  were  an  addition  to  his  misery. — In  the 
 next.  Job  shews  how  far  the  wit  of  man  may  go  in  diving  into  the  depths  of  nature,  and  seizing  the  riches  of  it ;  but  it  does  not  therefore  follow 
 that  men  may,  by  their  wit,  comprehend  the  reasons  why  some  wicked  people  prosper,  and  others  are  punished  ;  and  why  some  good  people 
 prosper  and  others  are  afflicted.  The  caverns  of  the  earth  may  be  discovered,  but  not  the  counsels  of  heaven.  We  cannot  attain  true  wisdom 
 but  by  Divine  revelation,  and  the  matter  of  that  is  not  the  secrets  of  nature  or  providence,  but  the  rules  of  our  own  practice  ;  '  the  fear  of  the 
 Lord,  that  is  wisdom,  and  to  depart  from  evil  is  understanding,' — In  chapters  xxix.,  xxx.,  and  xxxi..  Job  describes  his  past  felicity,  and  adduces 
 facts  to  prove  his  integrity,  and  then  contrasts  his  deplorable  present  state  with  the  past ;  again  most  solemnly  asserting  his  integrity,  and 
 binding  the  heaviest  curses  on  himself  if  he  swerved  from  the  truth.— In  chapters  xxxii.  to  xxxvi.,  Elihu  blames  job  for  his  hasty  expressions 
 agafpst  God,  and  his  friends  for  their  unfounded  charges.  He  solves  the  question,  that  calamity  is  no  evidence  of  guilt,  but  still  that  the  cor- 
 r;u;,tious  of  tood  men  require  their  being  corrected,  but  they  are  salutary  intiictions.  and  not  punishments.  And  in  the  last  chapter  of  his  argu- 
 ment he  ext(jl3  the  wonderlid  power  of  God  in  the  meteors  and  weather,  rcasfming  that  if,  in  those  changes,  we  submit  to  the  will  of  God,  take 
 the  wtathcr  as  it  is  and  make  the  best  of  it,  why  should  we  not  do  so  in  other  changes  of  our  condition  ? — In  chapters  .\xxviii.  to  xlii.,  Jehovah 
 himsflf  is  introduced  with  an  answer  to  Job.  That  which  the  great  God  designs  in  his  discourse  is  to  humble  Jo!),  and  bring  him  to  repent  of, 
 and  to  recant,  his  passionafe.  indecent  expressions  concerning  God's  providential  dealings  with  him  ;  and  this  he  does  by  calling  upon  Job  to 
 compare  God's  eternity  with  his  own  time,  God's  omniscience  with  his  own  ignorance,  and  God's  omnipotence  with  his  own  impotency.  He 
 shews  Job,  that  in  the  ordinary  works  of  nature  he  was  puzzled,  how  durst  he  then  pretend  to  dive  into  the  counsels  of  God's  government,  and 
 to  judge  them  ;  thus  taking  up  the  argument  begun  by  Elihu,  who  came  nearest  the  truth,  and  prosecuting  it  in  inimitable  words,  excelling 
 his  and  all  other  men's,  in  the  loftiness  of  the  style,  as  much  as  thunder  does  a  whisper.  Thus  closes  the  argument.  After  this.  Job's  friends 
 are  severely  reproved  for  their  conduct  during  the  controversy  ;  a'sacrifice  is  demanded  of  them,  and  Job  is  appointed  their  intercessor.  He 
 prays  fir  his  friends,  and  his  prayer  is  assented  to  -.  he  is  restored  to  his  former  prosperity,  and  his  substance  is  doubled.— BooMroyrf,  Can/!, 
 Hales,  Heath,  Henry,  Michaelis,  Ostervald,  Patrick,  Peters,  Rosenmiiller,  Stock. 
 570 
 
THE  BOOK 
 
 PSALMS. 
 
 [The  title  of  this  book,  D'bnn  "iSD,  is  properly  "  the  Book  of  Praises  or  Hymns,"  as  the  greater  part  of  the  Psalms  have  for 
 
 their  subject  the  praises  of  the  Lord.      To  the  several  names  of  this  book  the  Apostle  refers  in  Eph.  v.  19  ;   Col.  iii.  16. 
 The  Jews  divide  the   Psalms  into  live  books — Book  I.,  Psalm  i.  to  xli. — II.  Psalm  xlil.  to  Ixxii. —  III.  Psalm  Ixxiii. 
 
 to  Ixxxix IV.    Psalm  xc.  to  cvi.  —  V.  Psalm  cvii.    to  cl.       Each    of  these  books  closes  with    Amen  or   Hallelujah. 
 
 Bp.Horshy  observes,  that  the  Psalms  are  all  poems  of  the  lyric  kind,  adapted  to  music.  Some  are  odes,  a  dignified  sort 
 of  song  ;  some  elegiac,  pathetic  compositions  on  mournful  subjects  ;  some  ethic,  containing  grave  maxims  and  precepts 
 in  solemn  and  simple  strains;  some  a?nigmatic,  containing  enigmas,  contrived  to  strike  the  imagination,  and  yet  easy  to 
 be  understood.  But  the  greater  part  are  a  sort  of  dramatic  ode,  consisting  of  dialogues  between  persons  sustaining 
 certain  characters.  *  Their  form,'  says  Bp.  JIant,  *  is  palpably  and  strictly  poetical.'  Seven  are  in  an  acrostic  form,  i.e.. 
 Psalms  XXV.,  xxxiv.,  xxxvii.,  cxi.,  cxii.,  cxix.,  cxlv.  ;  Psalms  xxxiv.  and  cxlv,  being  ascribed  to  David.  Bp.  Lowfh  has 
 described  the  nature  of  Hebrew  puetry  as  consisting  of  parallelisms.  A  proposition  is  made,  and  another  is  added, 
 equivalent,  or  contrasted  with  it,  in  sense,  or  similar  to  it  in  grammatical  construction.  Of  these  there  are  three  sorts — 
 I.  Parallels  Synonymous,  corresponding  one  to  another  by  expressing  the  same  sense  indifferent  terms.  2.  Parallels 
 Antitlietic,  the  second  line  being  contrasted, in  expressions  or  sense,  with  the  first,  as  in  Psalm  xx.  7,  8;  xxx.  5.  3.  Paral- 
 lels Synthetic,  or  constructive,  where  noun  answers  to  noun,  verb  to  verb,  member  to  member,  negative  to  negative, 
 interrogative  to  interrogative,  as  in  Ps.  cxiviii.  7 — 13.  The  writers  of  the  Psalms  are  many,  though  they  have  usually 
 been  called  David's  Psulms,  he  having  written  so  large  a  number  of  them.  Seventy-one  are  ascribed  to  David,  some, 
 perhaps,  mistakenly,  but  he  i)robably  wrote  others  which  now  appear  anonymously.  Besides  David,  Moses,  Samuel, 
 and  the  School  of  the  Prophets  which  he  instituted,  are  supposed  to  have  contributed  to  the  collection.  The  names  of 
 Asaph,  Heman,  Ethan,  Jeduthan,  and  the  sons  of  Korab,  appear  in  the  titles  of  some,  and  perhaps  that  of  the  pathetic 
 prophet  Jeremiah  should  be  added.  Many  of  the  Psalms  respect  the  person,  offices,  and  grace  of  Christ ;  bis  sufferings 
 and  death,  resurrection,  ascension,  and  session  at  the  right  hand  of  God.  On  these  our  blessed  Lord  himself  instructed 
 his  disciples,  (Luke,  xxiv.  44,  45.)  '  The  whole  book,'  observes  Dr,  Gill,  '  is  a  rich  mine  of  gr;ice  and  evangelical  truths, 
 and  a  large  fund  of  spiritual  experience;  and  is  abundantly  suited  to  every  cnse,  state,  and  condition  that  the  church  of 
 Christ,  or  particular  believers,  are  in  at  any  time.'  *  The  Psalms,' says  Z>r.  ^oo^Aro^^ff,  'had  a  literal  and  spiritual 
 meaning.  Few,  if  any,  are  simply  prophetical,  but  the  ancient  patriarchs,  prophets,  priesls,  and  kings,  were  typical 
 characters,  and  represented,  in  remarkable  passages  of  their  lives,  the  true  prophet,  priest,  and  King.'  *  Were  the  Messiah 
 not  concerned  in  the  Psalms,'  Bp.  Chandler  argues,  '  it  were  absurd  for  the  Jews  to  celebrate  twice  a  day,  in  their  public 
 devotions,  the  events  of  one  man's  life,  who  was  deceased  so  long  ago  as  to  have  no  relation  now  to  the  Jews  and  to  the 
 circumstances  of  their  affairs,  or  to  transcribe  whole  passages  from  them  into  their  prayers  for  the  coming  of  the  Messiali. 
 By  substituting  Messiah  for  David,  the  gospel  for  the  law,  the  church  Christian  for  that  of  Israel,  and  the  enemies  of 
 the  one  for  those  of  the  other,  the  Psalms  are  made  our  own.'  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  however,  properly  urges  caution  in 
 interpreting  the  Psalms.  He  says,  *  some  have  imagined  that  the  book  of  Psalms  is  to  be  understood  mystically  in  refer- 
 ence to  the  Christian  system,  and,  indeed,  on  this  plan  they  have  been  interpreted  and  applied  by  many  fathers,  both 
 ancient  and  modern.  To  this  opinion  I  cannot  subscribe.  That  several  of  them  are  quoted  both  by  our  Lord  and  his 
 apostles  we  have  the  fullest  proof,  and  where  they  have  shewn  the  way,  we  may  follow.*  The  opinions  of  various  inter- 
 preters will  here  be  given,  leaving  the  reader  to  exercise  his  own  judgment ;  and  may  God  give  him  understanding  in  all 
 things.  Henry  has  some  remarks  on  the  utility  of  the  Psalms  in  devotional  exercises,  to  which  we  may  do  well  to  attend. 
 *  If  we  make  David's  Psalms  familiar  to  us,  as  we  ought  to  do,  whatever  errand  we  have  at  the  throne  of  grace,  by  way 
 of  confession,  petition,  or  thanksgiving,  we  may  from  thence  be  assisted  in  the  delivery  of  it ;  wliatever  devout  affection 
 is  working  in  us,  holy  desire  or  hope,  sorrow  or  joy,  we  may  there  find  apt  words  wherewith  to  clothe  them  ;  sound  speech 
 which  cannot  be  condemned.  In  conclusion,  it  may  be  added,  in  the  words  of  Scott,  that  the  denunciation  of  vengeance 
 against  oppressors  and  persecutors  '  must  either  be  considered  as  direct  prophecies,  or  as  divinely  inspired  declarations  of 
 the  certain  doom  awaiting  all  the  oppressors  of  Christ  and  his  cause  or  people,  and  not  as  expressions  of  private  resent- 
 ment or  malevolence  against  injurious  individuals.  The  references  in  tlie  New  Testament  to  the  Psalms  are  to  be  found 
 in  Matt.  iv.  6,  7 ;  xiii.  35  ;  xxi.  16,  42  ;  xxii.  44  ;  xxvii.  ;  Mark,  xv.  ;  Luke,  xx.  42 ;  xxiii.  ;  John,  xiii.  18  ;  xix  ;  Acts, 
 i.  20;  iv.  II,  25.  26;  vii.46;  xiii.  35;  Rom.  iii.  12;  iv.  6—8;  viii.  36  ;  x.  18;  xi.  9,  10;  xv.  9,  1 1  ;  Ephes.  ii.  20; 
 iv.  7,8;  Philip,  i.  6;   Heb.  i.  5 ;  iii.  9,  15;  iv.  7;  v.  5;  x.  5;   1  Pet.  ii.  4,  7.] 
 
 PSALM  I. 
 
 1   The  happiness  of  the  godly.     4  The  unhappijtess  of 
 the  ungodly. 
 
 "DLESSED  **  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in 
 ^-^  the  counsel  of  the  ||  ungodly,  nor  standeth 
 ill  the  way  of  sinners,  ''nor  sitteth  in  the  seat 
 
 1|  Or,  wlckpd. 
 b  Pa.  26  4. 
 Jor.   15    17. 
 
 c  Ps  iio.srj, 
 
 47,  9J, 
 d  .Insti,  1.  8. 
 
 Ps    111).    I, 
 
 !'7. 
 e  Jer.   17.  8 
 
 Ezt;k.47.I2 
 
 of  the  scornful. 
 
 2  But  '  his  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  ; 
 '^and  in  his  law  doth  he  meditate  day  and 
 night. 
 
 3  And  he  shall  belike  a  tree  "planted  by  the 
 rivers  of  water,  that  bringeth  forth  his  fruit  in 
 
 Notes  on  Psalm.  \.  —  \.  Blessed,  ^c— this  psalm  is  thought,  by 
 snme,  to  he  one  of  David's;  and  the  Hebrew  doctors  affirm  that  Ezra 
 collected  tlie  Psalms,  and  placed  this  first  as  a  suitable  preface  to  the 
 rest.  In  some  MSS.  it  is  joined  to  the  second,  as  one  composition. — 
 Moristm,  Boofhr..  Scott.  Some  have  interpreted  this  psalm  of  Christ, 
 and  Ihiiik  it  properly  spoken  of  him,— GiV/;  so  Romaine  interprets  it  nf 
 the  success  ut  the  sinless  Saviour  in  his  work,  and  the  ruin  of  the 
 transgressors  not  grafted  into  him  by  faiMh.—Essnyon  Psalmody.  Tlie 
 Hebrew  translated  •  blessed'  is  a  plural  word,  and  it  may  be  read  bles- 
 sednesses, or  '  O  tlie  blessednesses  of  the  man  V—Moyit.,  Vat.,  Clarke. 
 The  word  m'is'n.  '  the  man,'  is  emphatic  ;  that  man,  that  one  among  a 
 thousand.  Walketh— standeth—silteth,  mark  tliree  degrees  of  evil, 
 each  additional  otic  worse  tlian  the  former.  Un^odty—sinnffs— scorn- 
 ful, mark  three  characters,  each  exceeding  the  othcr'iii  sinfulness,  the 
 first,  D'^UJI,  '  unjust,'  withholding  God's  due,  Sic  ;  the  second,  D'NtDn, 
 ■  transgressors,'  exceeding  the  prohibited  limits  ;  the  third,  D'^V  *  a 
 mocker*  or  'derider,' one  having  no  religion,  and  living  in  contempt 
 of  God's  laws.  2.  His  delight,  lUDfT,  '  his  will,'  •  desire,'  &c.,  every 
 mnli'^e  of  his  sr,ii\.— So  Clarke.  In  the  law,  mmD.  '  in  the  doctrine,' 
 571 
 
 the  doctrine  of  the  Messiah,  that  is,  the  Gospel. — GUI.  But  there  can 
 be  no  objection  to  the  sentiment,  that  a  genuine  believer  delights  in 
 the  moral  law. — Morison.  The  term  Maw'  signifies  all  that  God  has 
 revealed.— BwoMr.  The  Lord,  'Jehovah.'— SooMr.,  Wnlf.,  &c.  The 
 English  word  '  Lord'  expresses  dominion  only,  but  'Jehovah*  eternity 
 and  immutability,  and  should  therefore  be  retained  throughout  tlie  Old 
 Testament. —  Waif.  3.  He  shall  he  like  a  tree  planted,  ^c. — planted^ 
 b'sTW,  '  fast  set ;'  the  idea  in  the  original  is  that  of  settlin'^ ;  it  is  more 
 than  simply  to  plant  or  set. — Mant.  B//  tlie  rivers,  ^c. — in  hot  coun- 
 tries, a  tree  planted  without  water  would  perish  in  a  few  days.  Every 
 garden,  therefore,  has  a  reservoir  of  water  drawn  from  a  river  or 
 springs,  or  collected  in  the  rainy  season.  Maundrell  says,  that  at  Da- 
 mascus there  is  not  a  garden  but  has  a  fine  quick  stream  running 
 through  it.  The  orange  garden  of  the  Emir  of  Bcroot  is  divided  into 
 squares,  which  are  bordered  with  stone,  in  which  aie  cut  out  troughs, 
 which,  having  little  outlets  at  every  tree,  refre-li  it  in  passing  by. 
 Hence,  we  may  better  understand  the  rivers,  p'O  '•j'jD,  'the  dimsiunsoi 
 water,'  the  water  distributed  in  artificial  canals  here  mentioned. — 
 Lfucth.    At  a  distance   Irom  water  appear  dwiiifish  and  unhealthy 
 
The  hingdom  of  Christ. 
 
 PSALMS,  II. 
 
 Kings  are  exhorted  to  accept  i'. 
 
 liis  season  ;  his  leaf  also  shall   nut  f  wither  ; 
 and  whatsoever  he  doeth  shall  ^  prosper. 
 
 4  The  ungodly  are  not  so  :  bnt«re  ^  like  the 
 chaff  which  the  wind  driveth  away.  ^ 
 
 5  Therefore  the  ungodly  "  shall  not  stand  m 
 the  judgment,  nor  sinners  in  the  congregation 
 of  the  righteous. 
 
 G  For  'the  Lord  knoweth  the  way  ot  the 
 righteous:  but  the  way  of  the  ungodly  shall 
 perish. 
 '  PSALM  II. 
 
 1   27ie  kingdom  of  Christ.     10  Khujs  are  exhorted  to 
 accept  it.  I 
 
 WHY  "do   the   heathen    ||  rage,     and    the 
 people  t  imagine  a  vain  thing  ? 
 
 2  Tiie  kings  of  tlie  earth  set  themselves,  and 
 the  rulers  take  counsel  togetlier,  against  the 
 Lord,  and  ai^ainst  his  ^anointed,  satjiug, 
 
 3  *^Let  us  "break  their  bands  asunder,  and 
 cast  away  tlieir  cords  from  us. 
 
 4  <i  He    that   sitteth    in    the    heavens   "  shall 
 
 t  Heb.  fade 
 
 /Gen.  39-  3. 
 23.  I's-  V£^ 
 2.  U   3.  10. 
 
 oJcb  21.  18 
 Pa  35.5.  iB- 
 17. 13.  &ir9. 
 5.  Hos.13-3. 
 
 A\Vis.l.5.  I. 
 
 :  Ps.  37-  IS. 
 Nah.  I.  7. 
 Joliu  10.  14. 
 2  Tim.2  19 
 
 l'H7. 
 n  I's.  46.  6. 
 
 Acts  4.  26. 
 ^  Or.  tumul- 
 
 tuoi'thi  n»- 
 
 f  nub. 
 
 nirdil'/r. 
 b  Ps.  45.  7. 
 
 Jolm  1.11- 
 c  Jei-    S    ■'> 
 
 Lnkel9.I+. 
 d  Ps.  11-  -1. 
 e  Ps.  37.  13. 
 
 fe  59.  9. 
 Pro.  \.  26. 
 
 1]  Oi:,tr;uh<f 
 
 t  Heb. 
 ai,','nt''d. 
 
 f  Hcb.  upon 
 lu.n  IhtbM 
 of  my  hoU- 
 
 /a  Sam.5.7. 
 11  Or.  At.. 
 
 h  Ps  ??.  87. 
 
 ft  72.  8.  & 
 B9.  27. 
 Dan.  7.  l^^, 
 14  SeeJohn 
 17.  *.  5.  & 
 19.  15. 
 .  I'a.  89.  23. 
 Kev.  2.  -Jl. 
 it  12.  5. 
 
 /  Phil.  8.  12. 
 iGi-n. 41.41) 
 1  Sam  10.1. 
 Jolm  S.  2H. 
 
 .16. 
 
 P«  31.3  & 
 
 SI 
 
 1-     I'TO. 
 
 ir, 
 
 ::ii  Is  30. 
 
 IH 
 
 Jci.  17. 
 
 7. 
 
 Horn   9. 
 
 XI 
 
 8c  10.11 
 
 1 
 
 •«.  8.  6. 
 
 laugh  :  the  Lord  shall  have  them  in  tleri.'iioii. 
 
 Then    shall    he    speak   unto    them    in    his 
 wrath,  and  ||  vex  them  in  his  sore  displeasure. 
 
 6  Yet  have  1  f  set  my  king  f  '  "PO"  "'>'  h°'y 
 hill  of  Zion. 
 
 7  I  will  declare  ||  the  decree  :  the  Lord  hath 
 said  unto  me,  ^  Thou  art  my  Son  ;  this  day 
 have  I  begotten  thee. 
 
 8  "Ask  of  me,  and  I  shall  give  t/ice.  the 
 heathen /o>-  thine  inheritance,  and  the  utter- 
 most parts  of  the  earth  Jor  thy  possession. 
 
 9  '  Thou  shall  break  tliem  with  a  rod  of  iron  ; 
 thou  shalt  dash  them  in  pieces  like  a  potter's 
 vessel. 
 
 10  Be  wise  now  therefore,  O  ye  kings  :  he 
 instructed,  ye  judges  of  the  earth. 
 
 11  1^  Serve  the  Lord  with  fear,  and  rejoice 
 '  with  trembling. 
 
 1-2  "'  Kiss  the  Son,  lest  he  be  angry,  and  ye 
 peri.sh  f'rmn  the  way,  when  "  his  wrath  is  kindled 
 but  a'little.  "Blessed  arc  all  they  that  put 
 their  trust  in  him. 
 
 trees  with  scarce  a  leaf.— i!o«.  In  riis  season,  in  the  progressive  stages 
 of  the  Christian  nie.—Mnrisnn.  •  He  brings  forth  fruit  at  the  proper 
 time."  Patience  in  tribalation,  meeliness  under  insult,  generosity  in 
 jHOSi  erity.  &c.,  Jic.,  these,  probably,  aic  the  ideas  intendcil  to  be  con. 
 
 versioii.-Brf.  iv.,  and  Acts,  iv.  25.)— Dui/rf.    ■  Son  of  God' is  a  title  which  rai 
 
 liim  to  liis  kingdom.     Un'-f  I  begotten  then,  that  is.  •  adopted  thee 
 Tlie^e  words  aie  cited  by  St .  P.iul,  in  his  sermon  to  the  Jews  at  Antioch, 
 a-  prertictive  of  tho  rcsnrreclion  of  Christ;  and  by  the  author  of  the 
 Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  ihcy  are  applied  to  him  as  a  pront  of  his    being 
 „,«,!„  !...»»...  t  tHrif  ic   pvfiUcfl  tr>  hip-her  honour  and  dignity,  '  than  the 
 
 see  Rom. 
 
 raises  the 
 
 '  Whose  [i.  e.,  the  tree]  foliage  never  fadeth. 
 And  it  brings  all  its  piodiice  to  maturity.' — Street, 
 
 i.  The  unifudly,  DTlCin,  literally  '  the  rebels.'  The  original  gives  the 
 idea  of  turbulence  or  tesUess  agitation.— So  .Simr,;i;s's  Lcj-.  Are  not 
 so,  Ovx  oStuc  o\  a<re/3eit  iM.x  ourot,  Sept.  Emphatically  repeated,  '  not 
 so  the  ungodly,  tbey  are  not  fn.'— Henry.  Like  the  chaff,  ^c— cnrn 
 in  thi>  east  is  winnowed  in  the  open  air,  by  throwing  it  up  against  the 
 wind  from  a  shovel.— S/iuii'.  This  is  descriptive  of  the  instabiUty  of 
 their  principles.— //orsfcy.  5.  ShrdI  not  stand,  •  not  carry  their  cause. 
 —Mudge.  •  Not  he  able  to  bear  Hod's  wrath.'- S.  Clarke.  In  the 
 judgment,  the  last  judgment.— //ur"e,  Horsle;/.  This  is  not  to  be  re. 
 stricled  to  the  general  judgment.  The  meaning  is,  the  wicked  will  be 
 convicted  in  every  trial,  all  their  projects  will  fail,  Sic.—Walf.  The 
 congregation  of  the  righteous,  their  assembly  at  the  judgment-seat  of 
 Christ.— Horiie.  6.  Anourf/i,  '  approvetb,'    'acknowledgeth,'   (Ps. 
 
 x.xxi.  7  ;  ci.  4  ;  Hos.  viii.  4  ;  Amos,  iii.  2  ;  Matt.  xxv.  12.)  •  Attcndeth 
 to  the  way.' — Horstey.  , 
 
 Ps.  II.  — 1.  Why,  ^-c  — this  psalm  is  the  second  m  order,  and  so 
 called  in  Acts,  xiii.  a.—Oilt.  We  have  the  authorily  of  the  New  Tes. 
 timeiit  that  it  was  composed  by  David  himself,  and  with  a  more  em- 
 phatic reference  to  the  great  Son  of  David  tliau  to  his  own  personal 
 hisiory.  The  heathen,  ic  Herod  and  his  folii.wers,  who  sought  to 
 destroy  our  Saviour  when  on  infant ;  Pilate,  who  condemned  him  ;  and 
 the  Roman  soldiers,  wbo  crucified  him.— J/.  Goi«i.  Tlie  people— the 
 unbelieving  Jews  and  otlieis,  who  raged  against  our  Lord.—Boothr. 
 
 2.  The  kings,  §•<•.,  as  Herod  the  Great,  Herod  Antipas,  (Mark,  vi.  IJ,) 
 Pontius  Pilate,  w:.o  represented  the  Roman  emperor,  as  governor  of 
 Judea.  and  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  ever  since  who  have  persecuted 
 Christ  in  lis  members.- Gi«.  Set  themsetees,  that  is.  '  in  array.'— 
 Horsley.  '  Bring  their  marshalled  hosts.'— .J/<J«(.  The  rulers,  the 
 Jewish   sanhedrim.  —  Jf.  Good.     His  anointed,   David   and   Messias. 
 
 3.  Let  MS— the  Philistines,  Ivc,  speaking  of  David ;  the  Jews,  &c.,  of 
 Christ.— Ham.  Lui(g-/i— laughing  is  ascribed  to  him  according  to  the 
 language  of  men,  and  expresses  his  security  from  all  their  attempts, 
 and  the  contempt  he  has  them  in,  (Job,  v.  22  i  xli.  29-)— G'"-  •>■  '''he 
 Lord,  ':i«,  '  Adonai,'  not  Jehovah,  as  in  ver.  2,  7,  and  11.  This  name 
 of  God  signifies  'my  sustainers,'  'my  pillars.'— .-lins.  Many  MSS. 
 have  Jehovau.— Wif.  5.  Kcj-,  ■  confound.'— BiiofAr.  •Rebuke.'— 
 Pye  Smith.  6.  On  mi/  holy  Ai//— David  was  thus  set  on  Zion,  (2  Sam. 
 v.  6.)— Hammond :  and  Christ  thus  dwells  and  rules  in  the  church  of 
 God.— Gill.  7.  I  will  declare  the  decree,  '  what  God  has  decreed.'— 
 Horsley.  God  had  taken  the  kingdom  frim  the  house  of  Saul  and 
 settled  it  upon  David. —Hionniimii.  Thou  art  my  son— God  made  David 
 his  firstborn,  giving  him  the  rights  of  primogeniture,  and  so  advancing 
 
 Reklectioss  on  Ts.  I.— Two  characters  are  presented 
 to  us  in  this  Psalm  — I.  The  riyhteous,  with  their  happiness. 
 They  are  dislinguisheil  by  their  aversion  to  the  society  ol  the 
 ungodly — for  'what  fellowship  hath  light  with  darkness!' — 
 and  by  their  delight  in  Uods  law.  His  word  is  to  them  a  per- 
 petual source  of  consolation  and  pleasure,  while  by  others  it 
 is  treated  with  indifference  and  contempt.  Thus  their  souls 
 prosper  and  are  in  health,  as  a  beautiful  and  luxuriant  tree, 
 well  watered  by  the  care  of  the  gardener,  and  spreading  its 
 fertilizing  branches  over  the  refreshing  stream,  adorned  with 
 verdant  foliage,  and  enriched  with  variegated  clusters  of  fruit, 
 so  that  we  know  not  wlietlier  most  to  admire  its  beauty  or  its 
 utility.  Great '  peace  shall  he  theirs  that  love  the  law  of  God. 
 while  they  are  filled  with  the  fruits  of  righteousness,  which 
 are  by  .Tesus  Christ  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God.'  We  have 
 672 
 
 Messiah  above  men  or  angels,  (Heb.  i.  5.)  Applied  to  him  astheessen- 
 Ual  word  and  wisdom  ol  God.  set  up  from  eveilastnig.  (Heb.  '■  ^rj' 
 This  decree  was  repeated  and  conlirmcd  at  his  incarnation,  (Heb.  i.  0,) 
 and  when  rais.d  fiom  the  deail,  (Rom.  i.  4.)-HU     The  doctrine  of 
 Christ's  eternal  Sonship.  argued  from  this  passage,  has  occasioned 
 much  dispiile.  each  partv  maiiitHining  that  the  vic.vs  of  the  olhet  are 
 derogatory  to  the  essential  dignity  and  divinity  of  Christ.     '  Son,  say 
 the  opponents  of  the  eternal  Sonship,  '  implies  a  father,  and  faUier  im- 
 plies, in  reference  to  son,  precedency  in  lime.'— See  A .  Clarke  on  Luke, 
 i.  35.     On  the  other  side  it  is  argued,  '  in  reference  la  Son,  no  priority 
 of  the  Father  is  supposed  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Divine  Sonship  of  Chiist ; 
 for  no  lather,  as  father,  is  prior  to  his  son  ;  and  no  son,  ax  sun,  ■«  pos- 
 terior to  his  faiher ;  no  one  is  a  father  who  has  not  a  son.'— See  Hich. 
 Watson  on  the  Elermil  Sonship  of  Christ.     Figures  taken  from  genera, 
 tion  and  birth  are  often  used  in  the  Scripture  to  deni.te  great  changes 
 of  condition  or  character.     This  text  is  prophetic  of  this  great  change 
 in  the  apiiarent  state  and  condition  of  our  blessed  Redeemer,  vsce  Acts, 
 xiii   33,)  and  has  certainly  no  reference  to  an  ecrnal  generation  — 
 Waif.,  so  also  Calii.        8.  The  heathen  for  thine  inheritance,  the  Phi- 
 listines, Amorites,  Moahites,   Idumeans,  and  Syrians,  &c.,  were  all 
 subdued  by  David,  through  the  power  of  God,  and  subjected  to  him, 
 (2 Sam    v.,  viii..  X.;)  and  so.  upon  the  resnrrectinn  of  Christ,  lh;'U- 
 sands  of  heathens  were  brought  into  the  faith  of  Christ.— H'lin.      The 
 uttermost  parts,  ffc,  that  is,  David  should  extend  the  limits  of  his 
 kingdom  to  the  Euphrates.- Heie.     In  this  paramount  decree  ot  luii- 
 versal  empire,  we  have  a  clear  anticipation  of  the  glorious  events  ol 
 our  own  times,  and  the  still  more  glorious  successes  of  whicli  they  are 
 but  the  harbingers.— J/.  Good.    9.  Bod,  'the  sceptre,' or  ensign  of  royal 
 anlhority.     (//  iron,  expressive  of  the  irresistible  power  and  inflexible 
 justice  of  Christ's  kingdom.  Dash  them  in  pieces,  marks  the  impotence 
 of  opposers.  Like  a  potter's  vessel,  must  fly  in  pieces  at  the  hr-i  stroke 
 of  the  iron  rod.— So  Mant.         1 1 .  Kejoice  with  tremhiing.  ■  diffidence, 
 opposed  to  presumption.— Hors(ey.     '  Reverence.'— B(io</ir.     Worship 
 him  with  reverence.'— Gsdrfes.         12.  Kiss  the  Son,  •  kiss  the  chosen 
 One,'  Ij.-Boolhr.   To  kiss  a  person  when  appointed  king  was,  among 
 the  eastern  people,  an  act  of  homage.    Thus  Samuel,  when  he  had 
 anointed   Saul  king,   'kissed  him'  as  his  sovereign,   (1  Sain.  x.  1.)— 
 Green.     From  the  wan,  '  on  the  road.'— P;/e  Smith.     '  Straightway.  — 
 M  Good.     The  sense  'is,  quickly,  suddenly  ;  for  he  who  perishes  in  the 
 way,  perishes  unexpectedly  and  suddenly,  before  he  has  completed  Ins 
 journey. -So  Venema,  Dathe,  ttc. ;  see  Waif     Put  their  truf  ,n  him, 
 '  take  refuge  in  him.'— M.  Good.    Every  one  that  taketh  shelter  under 
 him  ' — Horsley. 
 
 '  the 
 
 here  exhibited — 
 
 II.  The  nni/uUla,  u-ilh  their  misery.  Light  as  vanity, 
 wrath  of  God  will  drive  them  away  in  their  wickedness,  as  the 
 wind  doth  the  chaff,  which  is  never  gathered  or  looked  alter 
 more.'  The  judgment  day  shall  find  them  without  a  refuge, 
 and  everlasting  shame  and  confusion  shall  fall  upon  their  de- 
 voted heads. 
 
 '  Gracious  Saviour, 
 Own  me  in  that  day  for  thine.' 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XL  — We  may  observe  here.  I.  The 
 opposition  tnaile  against  Messiah's  kinydom.  1  his  is  no  new 
 thing,  and  should  not  be  considered  as  a  ground  of  discourage 
 ment  in  any  enterprises  undertaken  for  the  advancement  ot  his 
 glory  in  tlie  world.  .  ,  -         . 
 
 II.  The  f  ual  success  of  Messiah  orrr  all  oppnsilwn.      He  who 
 
The  security  of  GocCs  profectto7i. 
 
 PSALMS,  III.,  IV. 
 
 David  pi  uytlh  Ju)  audience. 
 
 PSALM  in. 
 
 The  security  of  God's  irrottction. 
 A  Psalm  of  David,  *  when  he  fled  from  Absalom  his  son. 
 T  ORD,  ^  how  are  they  increased  that  trouble 
 -*-^  me?  many  arc  they  that  rise  up  against 
 ine. 
 
 2  Many  there  be  which  say  of  my  soul, 
 '■  Inhere  is  no  help  for  him  in  God.     Selah. 
 
 3  But  thou,  O  Lord,  art  ^  a  shield  ||  for  me  ; 
 my  glory,  and  '^  the  lifter  up  of  mine  head. 
 
 4  I  cried  unto  the  Lord  with  my  voice,  and 
 *  he  heard  me  out  of  his  ^  liuly  hill.     Selah. 
 
 .5  ^  I  laid  me  down  and  slept ;  I  awaked  ;  for 
 the  Loud  sustained  me. 
 
 G  "  1  will  not  be  afraid  of  ten  thousands  of 
 people,  that  have  set  theniselves  against  me 
 round  about. 
 
 7  Arise,  O  Lord  ;  save  me,  O  my  God  :  '  for 
 thou  hast  smitten  all  mine  enemies  upon  the 
 cheek  bone  ;  thou  hast  broken  the  teeth  of  the 
 ungodly. 
 
 8  ''  Salvation  belongeth  unto  the  Lord  :  thy 
 blessing  is  upon  thy  people.     Selah. 
 
 •  2  Sa.  15,  A 
 Ifi,  &  17,  & 
 
 b  2  Sa.  1C.  1. 
 
 Pe  71.  II. 
 c  Gen,  15.  ]. 
 
 Ps.  28.  7.  h 
 
 119.  114. 
 11  Or,  about, 
 d  Ps.  27.  6. 
 *■  Pb.  34    *. 
 /  Pa    S.  6.  & 
 
 W.3   &  99. 
 
 9. 
 g  I.ev.Sli.  6. 
 
 i  Job  16.  10. 
 
 &  29.  17. 
 
 Ps   58.  6. 
 
 Lam-  3,  HO. 
 k  Pro.  21   31, 
 
 Is    +3.    II. 
 
 Jer   3.  23. 
 
 Ho9.  13.  ■!. 
 
 Joimh  2.  *t, 
 
 Re 
 
 7.   lU. 
 
 &  19.  I. 
 
 Or,  be  era 
 •  iuiii  unto 
 
 ■  2Ttra.2  19 
 2  Pet.  2.  y. 
 
 b  Kph.l.  26 
 c  Ps.  77.  6. 
 a  Cor.  13.5. 
 
 d  Deu.33.19. 
 
 Ps   50-  14. 
 
 &  51.  19 
 
 asa.  15,  12. 
 e  Ps    37.  3. 
 
 «t  63.  S. 
 /Nu.  6.  26. 
 
 Ph  80.  3,  7, 
 
 ■'    '    iiy. 
 
 19 
 1.15. 
 
 PSALM  IV. 
 
 1  David  prayeth  for  audience,  2  He  reproveth  and 
 ex/iorttth  his  enenties.  6  Man's  happiness  is  in  God's 
 favour. 
 To  the  II  chief  Musician  ou  Neginoth,  A  PsaUn  of  David. 
 IIJEAR  me  when  1  call,  O  God  of  my 
 -^-^  righteousness  :  thou  hast  enlarged  me 
 ivhen  I  ivas  in  distress  ;  ||  have  mercy  upon 
 me,  and  hear  my  prayer. 
 
 2  O  ye  sons  of  men,  how  long  will  ye  turn 
 my  glory  into  shame  ?  how  lo)ig  will  ye  love 
 vanity,  and  seek  after  leasing  y     Selah. 
 
 3  But  know  that  "the  Lord  hatli  set  apart 
 him  that  is  godly  fur  himself:  the  Lord  will 
 hear  when  I  call  unto  him. 
 
 4  ''Stand  in  awe,  and  sin  not:  '^commune 
 with  your  own  heart  upon  your  bed,  and  be 
 still.    Selah. 
 
 5  Offer  "^  the  sacrifices  of  righteousness,  and 
 ^  put  your  trust  in  the  Lord. 
 
 6  There  be  many  that  say,  Who  will  shew 
 us  any  good  V  ^  Lord,  lift  thou  up  the  light  of 
 thy  countenance  upon  us. 
 
 7  Thou  hast  put  ^  gladness  in  my  heart,  more 
 
 Ps.  in.  —  \.  How  are  they  increnfted  that  trouble  me ?  ^-c. — David's 
 enemies  increased  in  the  conspiracy  ajjainst  him,  (2  Sam.  xv.  12.) — 
 GUI.  He  spake  by  tlie  Si'irit  coiicerniDg  Jesus,  in  like  manner  to  be 
 driven  out  of  J^-rusalem,  and  to  suffer  without  the  gate. — Romaine. 
 2.  Of  my  soul,  ^iED3,  'concerning  me.'  — Ains.,  Boothr.  Selah  — 
 this  word  occurs  seventy  times  in  the  psalms.  An  affirmation  of  the 
 truth  of  anything",  answering  to  'amen.' — Af/en  Ezra.  It  connects 
 what  follows  with  what  precedes,  and  marks  the  wnrds  to  he  of  eternal 
 moment. — St.  Jerome.  It  was  designed  only  to  direct  serious  atten- 
 tion to  the  passf.i^e.— P(a-.  Meditateon.— /■'enwicA-,  Dodd.  Attendto, 
 or  mind  this. — A.  Clarke.  A  note  in  music. — Pat.  A  musical  pause. 
 — liosejim. ;  or  end  of  a  tune. — Cal.  Being  always  put  after  some  re- 
 markable clause,  it  may  signify  it  was  to  be  repeated. —  Walt.  The 
 radical  idea  of  the  word  is  'elevation.'  and  doubtless  meant  the  common 
 sign  of  lifting  up  the  hand  made  by  the  leader  of  the  choir  when  the 
 performers  sliould  hnld  a  noteor  make  a  pause.— So  Wil.  Ami^aA^a, 
 '  a  change  of  the  song,'  or  '  modulation,'  or  '  singing  by  tuins,'  Sept. 
 7.  Upon  the  cheek  bone — the  allusion  is  to  a  wild  beast,  who  is  disabied 
 from  tearing  and  devouring  his  prey  by  having  his  jaw  smitten  and  his 
 teeth  broken. —  Wells.  The  Romans  fought  with  thick  short  swords, 
 and  Ctesar  used  to  bid  the  legions  aim  at  the  faces  of  their  enemies. — 
 Sut. 
 
 Ps.  IV. — Title — To  the  chief  mitsician,  n:J3?3?,  probably  from  a 
 word,  1723,  signifying  '  to  be  over,'  '  to  preside,*  and  may  refer  to  the 
 precentor  of  the  choir.— .^.  Clnrke,  so  Bythner.  The  master  or  director 
 of  the  sacred  music  of  the  temple,  (see  I  Chrnn.  vi.  31,  and  xv.  i6.) — 
 Poole.  Etc  TO  TcXoc,  '  to  the  end,'  is  the  translation  of  chief  musician , 
 given  by  the  Sept. ;  probably  the  leader  was  placed,  as  with  us,  at  the 
 end  of  the  row  of  musicians  which  he  superintended. — So  Wil.  On 
 iV^^t»o?/i,  rn3'303,  from  p3,  a  root  signifjing  'to  strike.'  Hence,  it 
 might  bean  instrument b  eaten  as  a  drum,  &c.,or  stringed  instruments 
 in  general. — So  Clarke.  Stringed  instruments  played  on  with  a  bow. — 
 Ken.  The  first  word  may  possibly  signity  a  conqueror  as  well  as  pre-, 
 center,  in  which  case  the  reading  may  be, '  a  Psalm  of  David,  dedicated 
 
 to  the  God  of  victory,  and  to  be  performed  upon  the  stringed  instru- 
 ments of  the  sanctuary.' — Morison.  I.  God  of  my  ri^hteousneas,  *0 
 my  rigliteous  God  I' — Bp.  Hare,  Edwards.  *  Who  art  to  do  me  rights; 
 to  whom  I  apply  for  justice.' — Waterland.  'Jehovah  my  justifter.'-r- 
 Boothr.  Enlarged  me,  '  set  me  free.' — Ducarel.  2.  Ye  sotis  of  men, 
 meaning  great  men,  the  nobles  of  Israel  in  Absalom's  conspiracy. — 
 Gill.  My  gloi'y,  David's  regal  power  and  majesty.— //f/m.  Jnto  shame, 
 *  defame  my  government.' — Wet/s,  Vanity — vanity  and  falsehood  here 
 mean  the  futile  and  unjust  efforts  which  were  making  to  sustain  their 
 rebelHon.— ]f'(///.  Leasing,  an  old  Sa.\on  word  for  '  lying.'— C/'/r/re. 
 3.  Set  apart, '  separated  me,  and  set  me  upon  the  throne  to  be  his  vice- 
 gerent upon  earth.' — Ham.  Him  that  is  godly,  'a  godly  one.' — Horslcy. 
 TCrn,  '  merciful.'  It  signifies  ordinarily,  a  pious,  charitable,  or  bene- 
 volent person  ;  but  when  spoken  of  man  referring  to  God,  one  tliat 
 hath  received  mercy  from  him. — Ham.  4.  Stand  in  awe,  fyc,  i^i, 
 the  Hebrew  word  means,  'to  be  agitated  with  any  passion.* — Hew. 
 OpyiCe<r0€  Kai  fit)  a/jLapravcre,  *  be  ye  angry,  and  sin  not,'  Sept.  ,■  so 
 quoted  Eph.  iv.  26  ;  so  the  Vulg.,  Syr.,  Arab.  '  When  ye  are  angry, 
 take  care  ye  do  not  sin.' — Ham.  '  Commit  not  iniquity  in  your  anger.' 
 The  Heb.  is  literally  as  rendered  in  Eph.  iv.  26,  INTOnn  'JNT  ^W^. — 
 Waif.  'Though  moved  with  anger,  yet  sin  not.' — Boothr.  The  pas- 
 sage signifies  '  murmur  or  grumble  not,*  and  refers  to  the  factious  or 
 discontented. — Hors/ey.  '  If  you  have  any  cause  for  anger,  let  not  your 
 disaftVction  e.xcite  rebellion  against  God  and  your  king.'  Be  stilt,  ^'o•y\, 
 'be  dunib,*  '  hold  your  peace.' — A.  Clnrke.  5.  The  sacrijices  of  righte- 
 ousness— some  respect  may  be  had  to  the  unrighteous  acquisitions  of 
 Absalom  and  his  men,  who  were  now  in  possession  of  Jerusalem,  and 
 of  the  altars  of  the  Lord,  and  were  sacrificing  en  them,  in  which  they 
 gloried,  and  to  which  this  may  be  opposed. — Gill.  '  Do  not  sacrifice  to 
 God  fnr  prosperity  in  your  present  rebellious  conduct.' — A.  Clarke. 
 6.  There  be  mmiy  that  say,  tV,  either  David's  men  wishing  themselves 
 home,  or  David's  enemies  wishing  he  might  die,  and  Absalom  reign. — 
 Gilt.  Light  of  thy  countenanre,  denotes  a  cheerful  agreeable  look,  in 
 opposition  to  the  gloomy  one  of  a  person  disple  used. — So  Mant. 
 
 sits  in  the  heavens  derides  the  puny  efforts  of  miserable  mor- 
 tals to  dethrone  him  who  is  decreed  to  reign.  All  nations 
 must  ultimately  submit  to  his  control,  and  the  opposition  of 
 his  foes  shall  fall  upon  their  own  heads,  for  '  be  shall  dash 
 them  iri  pieces  as  a  potter's  vessel.'  May  it  be  our  happiness 
 to  aid  in  advancing  his  universal  empire,  and  may  we  cheer- 
 fully submit  our  hearts  to  his  authority  to  reign  the  Lord  of 
 evpry  motion  there. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  Ill Remark  here,  L  David's  trials. 
 
 Affliction  is  the  lot  of  many  a  good  man.  He  has  foes  without, 
 and  foes  witiiin.  '  The  most  excellent  and  eminent  persons,' 
 says  Scott,  '  must  expect  opposition  and  ill  usage,  and  they 
 should  prepare  for  ingratitude  and  contempt,  as  the  recom- 
 pence  of  their  labours  for  the  good  of  others.  The  number 
 and  power  of  their  adversaries  may  become  very  formidable, 
 and  tiiey  may  be  astonished  to  find  among  them  such  as  they 
 have  most  depended  on  ;  nay,  their  very  confidence  in  God 
 will  often  be  derided  as  delusion  or  presumption.' 
 
 II.  David's  defence.  God  was  his  shield  —  what  arrows 
 could  tht-n  successfully  pierce  him?  In  God  he  might  glory, 
 and,  amidst  all  sufferings,  rise  above  despair.  •  If  God  be  for 
 us,  who  can  be  against  us  V 
 
 III.  David's  resource.  He  looked  to  the  strong  for  strength. 
 He  cried  1o  the  Lord;  and  to  whom  should  the  child  cry  in 
 danger  but  to  bis  father  ?    David  knew  thnt  God  was  a  shield  ■ 
 
 673 
 
 but  till  he  asked  for  his  protection,  be  gave  no  proof  that  lie 
 felt  his  need  of  it. 
 
 IV.  David's  reliif.  God  heard  him.  Did  God  ever  shut 
 his  ears  to  the  cry  of  those  that  sincerely  seek  his  aid  ?  '  Like 
 as  a  father  pitieth  his  children,  so  tbe  Lord  pitielh  them  that 
 fear  him.' 
 
 V.  David's  composure.  Sleep,  like  the  world,  often  for- 
 sakes those  that  most  need  its  aid.  Trouble  waters  the  couch 
 with  tears,  and  the  worn-out  spirit  is  weary  of  its  groaning. 
 But,  surrounded  by  appalling  dangers,  and  pierced  to  the  heart 
 with  sorrows,  David  found  the  sweetest  composure.  'I'hns,  as 
 Gill  here  remarks,  '  The  Lord  still  stays  bis  people  with  pre- 
 cious promises,  and  supports  them  with  the  discoveries  of  his 
 love,  and  upholds  them  with  the  right  hand  of  his  righteous- 
 ness.' 
 
 \J.  David's  confidence.  Now  he  is  a  hero.  *I  will  not  be 
 afraid  often  thousands  of  people.'  Talk  of  heroism,  where  is 
 the  hero  like  tbe  true  believer?  Tbe  rash  and  thoughlless 
 may  rush  to  the  mouth  of  the  cannon,  but  would  tliey  endure 
 the  scoffs  of  the  world,  and  the  loss  of  all  things  f  and  liow 
 would  tbey  appear  as  martyrs  at  the  stake  I  'The  people  that 
 know  their  God  shall  he  strong,  and  do  great  exploits.' 
 
 VII.  David's  prai-<e.  He  ascribes  salvation  to  the  Lord. 
 This  is  the  song  of  the  saints  on  earth,  and  shall  be  their  ever- 
 lasting song  in  heaven. 
 
David professeth  his  studij  in  prayer. 
 
 PSALMS,  v.,  VI. 
 
 His  complaint  in  his  sickness. 
 
 than  ill  the  time  that  their  com  and  their  wine 
 
 increased. 
 8  ''  I  will  botli   lay  me   down  in  peace,  and 
 
 sleep  :  '  for  thou.  Loud,  only  makest  me  dwell 
 
 in  safety. 
 
 PSALM  V. 
 
 1  David prai/eth,  and  professeth  his  sltirly  in  prayer. 
 4  God favourelh  not  the  wichd.  7  David,  profess- 
 ing his  faith,  prayeth  unto  God  to  r/uide  him,  10  to 
 destroy  his  e7iemies,  11  and  to  preserve  the  godly. 
 
 To  the  chief  iMusician  upon  Nehiloth,  A  Psalm  of  David. 
 
 /T^I  VE  ear  to  my  words,  O  Lord,  consider  my 
 
 ^^   meditation. 
 
 2  Hearken  unto  the  °  voice  of  my  cry,  my 
 King,  and  my  God  :  for  >■  unto  thee  will  I 
 pray. 
 
 3  '  My  voice  shall  thou  hear  in  the  morning, 
 O  Lord  ;  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  tny 
 prayer  unto  thee,  and  will  look  up. 
 
 _  4  For  thou  art  not  a  God  that  hath  pleasure 
 in  wickedness  :  neither  shall  evil  dwell  with 
 thee. 
 
 .5  ■>  The  foolish  shall  not  stand  j  in  thy  sight ; 
 thou  hatest  all  workers  of  iniquity. 
 
 G  "Thou  shalt  destroy  them  that  speak  leas- 
 ing :  '  the  Lord  will  abhor  f  the  bloody  and 
 deceitful  man. 
 
 7  But  as  fur  me,  I  will  come  into  thy  house 
 in  tlie  multitude  of  thy  mercv  :  ami  in  thy 
 fear  will  I  worship  « toward  f  thy  holy  temple. 
 
 8  ''  Lead  me,  O  Lord,  in  thy  rigliteousness 
 because  of  f  niine  enemies  ;  '  make  thy  way 
 
 /<  J..b  n.i8, 
 
 19-  rs,  S  5. 
 <  Lev,  25  Ifl, 
 19.  &  26.  5. 
 Oeu.  1:^.10. 
 
 a  Ps.  S. 
 b  Ps.  65 
 
 r  Pa   SO   5. 
 
 130.  0. 
 
 d  Hab.  I  13 
 t  Heb  lirfm 
 
 .■  Rev. 21.  .^. 
 /  Ps.  .M.  S.l 
 f  Heb.  the 
 man  n/hlnniit 
 and  rfrrril. 
 ?  1  Kio.  8. 
 89,  .3lt.  S5. 
 .S8.  Pfi.  28. 
 2.  &  132.  7. 
 &  138.  i. 
 t  Heb.  f/je 
 tei'iptetiflhjj 
 
 h  Vs.  2.i  S. 
 t  Heb.  Ihote 
 
 irh'ch  lib' 
 
 trrve  Kit. 
 
 Ps,  27.  1 1 
 i  Pfl.  25.  4. 
 
 8127. 11. 
 
 [I  Or,  ittnd- 
 
 t  Heb     in  Am 
 
 month,  tb.1t 
 
 is,  in  the 
 
 ,ll„.,tl...Jn„g 
 
 iiftliem. 
 t  Heb    ie.<  V- 
 
 tdneties. 
 k  r.u.  11.44. 
 
 Horn.  3.  13 
 /  Ps.  62  -1, 
 II  Or,  Mnlif 
 
 t/mm  y'litiif 
 m  2Sa,15SI 
 
 &  17.14,23. 
 II  Or. /rem 
 
 tlifiT  ceidi- 
 
 •eU. 
 n  Is    65.  13. 
 t  Heb.  Ihau 
 
 riit'erftt 
 
 •"■er,  or.pr... 
 
 t..<:lttt  lliem. 
 e  Ps.  115.  13. 
 ♦  Heb, 
 
 Or.fipon  ttif 
 figlith ;  See 
 ICbr. 15.21. 
 
 •Ps  12,litle, 
 Ps  S8,  1. 
 Jer.  10.  24. 
 &  4fi.  20 
 
 A  Ps.  41    '!. 
 
 c  llos.  6.  1 
 
 17. &  118.17 
 Is.  38.  13. 
 
 Straight  before  my  face. 
 
 9  For  there  is  no  ||  faitlifuhiess  f  in  their 
 mouth;  their  inward  part  is  fvery  wicked- 
 ness ;  ^  their  throat  iV  an  open  sepulchre  ; 
 '  they  flatter  with  tlieir  tongue. 
 
 10  II  Destroy  thou  them,  O  God  ;  "'let  them 
 fall  II  by  their  own  counsels;  cast  them  out  in 
 the  multitude  of  their  tran.sgressions  ;  for  they 
 have  rebelled  against  thee. 
 
 1 1  But  let  all  those  that  put  their  trust  in 
 tliee  "rejoice:  let  them  ever  shout  for  joy, 
 because  f  thou  defendest  them  :  let  them  also 
 that  love  thy  name  be  joyful  in  thee. 
 
 1'2  For  thou,  Lord,  "  wilt  bless  the  righteous  ; 
 with  favour  wilt  thou  f  compass  him  as  toith  a 
 shield. 
 
 PSALM  VI. 
 
 I   David's  complaint   in   his   siehncss.     8    By  faith  he 
 
 irium/iheth  over  his  enemies. 
 To  the  chief  Musici.in  on  Neiincitli  ||  *  upon  Slieininith, 
 
 A  P.-<:ilili  lif  Uavid. 
 /^  '  LORD,  rebuke  me   not   in   thine  anger, 
 ^-^  neither  chasten  me  in  thy  hot  displeasure. 
 
 2  ''  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  Lord  ;  for  I  am 
 weak  :  O  Lord,  '  heal  me  ;  for  my  bones  are 
 vexed. 
 
 3  My  soul  is  also  sore  vexed  :  but  thou,  O 
 Lord,  ■'  how  long? 
 
 4  Keturn,  O  Lord,  deliver  my  soul  :  oh  save 
 me  for  thy  mercies'  sake. 
 
 5  °  For  in  death  there  i.\  no  remembrance  of 
 tliee  :  in  the  grave  who  shall  give  thee  thanks  ? 
 
 7.  The  lime  thnt  their  mm  tmtt  ttieir  wine,  the  lime  of  harvest  and 
 vintage,  which  caused  universal  joy.— C;;;.     Corn  and   wine  were 
 considered  the  greatest  temporal  blessings.— C7u?*e. 
 ■Tliou  hast  given  gladness  to  my  heart. 
 Since  their  corn  and  wine  have  inerea.sed.* 
 With  Cerfrfra,  I  consider  the  text  as  referring  to  that  period  when  David 
 and  Ills  troops,  in  distress  for  provisions,   were  seasonably  relieved, 
 (2  Sam.  xvu.  27.)— S„(,Mr.  8. /liitf  .s/e^;,.  ^c.— this  was,    perhaps, 
 
 used  by  David  and  his  company  as  an  evening  hymn.— Clttrlie.  The 
 Rabbins  called  this  a  Psalm  to  the  Messiah,  whose  enemies  perished  as 
 the  rebels  against  David.— .St/^ 
 
 Ps.V.  —  1'm.K— Nehiloth,  niVn:,  ■  wind  instruments,'  Targ.  From 
 a  root,  7n,  signifying  ■  to  be  hollow,'  ■  to  bore  through,'  and  may  sig- 
 nify horn,  trumpet,  flute,  «;c.— .-1.  Clarke.  Organs  or  other  wind  in- 
 struments.— nw/s.  This  psalm  was  probably  composed  owing  to  Ab- 
 saloin  s  rebellion,— Ham..  Eilieards ;  rather  in  Saul's  persecution  — 
 tieatt.  A  prayer  of  the  Messiah  in  the  character  of  a  priest,  coming  at 
 an  early  hour  to  prepare  the  altar  of  hnrut.  offering  for  the  morning 
 sacnflce.- Hors;«/.  We  see  no  reason  for  B/i.  Hursley-s  view;  we 
 should  rather  consider  it  as  the  language  of  the  Psalmist  attending  the 
 early  devotions  of  the  temple,  preparing  his  heart  to  seek  God.  &c.— 
 H  1/.  In  Rom.  iii,  13,  St.  Paul  has  cited  a  part  of  ver.  9.  to  evince  the 
 depravity  of  mankind  till  justified  by  faith ;  the  description  here  was 
 Uurelore  not  conhned  to  the  enemies  of  the  literal  David.— //orne. 
 1.  Meditiitwn,  '  sighing.'— Hr.r.s^y.     'Dove-like  mournings.'— Hr.rae. 
 
 Aloanings.  —Boothr.  The  exiiression  denotes  mental  prayer.— (Ji/(. 
 a.  Direct  my  prityer,  (/c.,  'arrange  my  prayer.'— .Wm«.  'Set  every- 
 thing in  order  before  thee.'  i.  e  .  upon  the  altar.— Hoi-s/e»,  as  Mtiilse. 
 ITl'N,   'set  m  nnier.'—Mimt..  Mich.     Liink  up,  nESN.  'look  out.'— 
 
 Pag.,  Mtint.,  Pisc,  Mich.,  .iins.  •  Watch  for  thee.'— //orsfci/.  •  1  pre- 
 sent myself  and  wait  on  thee.'— BoofAr.  The  original  expresses  expec- 
 tation, looking  abroad  and  around  to  the  utmost  distance  to  descry  the 
 first  appearances  of  aid  that  present  themselves,  {viile  Isa.  xxi.  5.)— 
 »a//.  i.  Wickedness,  XTS,  '  a  wicked  person.'  Neither  shall  enil, 
 4'C.,  VI,  'an  evil  person  shall  not  be  thy  guest.'  The  priest  admitted 
 10  lodge  within  the  precincts  of  the  temple  was,    as  it  were,  God's 
 
 guest.— Hoes.  Uivell,  'find  protection;'  this  is  included  in  the  verb 
 11J.— flooMr.  5.  The  foolish,  □■bbin,  '  vainglorious  fools.'— Ains. 
 'Themad.'— Horn-'.  '  The  madly  profane.'— SooMr.  Iniquity,  'va- 
 nity,' i.e.,  the  rites  of  the  idolatrous  religion.— //oi-iVe^.  7.  /  u'ilt 
 come  into  thy  htnise,  the  tabernacle  of  Moses,  sometimes  caUed  the 
 house  of  God.  (1  Chroii.  ix.  23.)  for  as  yet  the  temple  was  nut  huilt. 
 David  was  now  in  a  kind  of  exile,  but  confident  of  return.  —  Gill, 
 g.  Their  inward  part,  ffc,  DJIp,  '  the  part  nearest  itself.'  '  the  midst." 
 See  2"lp.  Par.  The  persons  spoken  of  are  here  itlinlijied  with  wicked- 
 ness.—.1f«H^    Fnifhfutness,  '  certainty.'— J/n.s-.     '  Constancy.'— ///,rs. 
 
 10.  Destroy,  •  convict.'— Hers.  This  properly  signifies,  '  thou  wilt  de- 
 stroy,'&c.     'They  shall  perish  by  their  own  counsels,' S;e.—  //yrne. 
 
 1 1 .  Becfiii.se  thou  de/endesi  them,  "TDm,  '  coverest  them'  Willi  the  fea. 
 thers  of  Divine    protection   under' the  shadow  of  his  wings. —  Oi«. 
 
 12.  Conipiiss,  'inclose.'  .-Isiiilh  a  shield,  n:i'D.  The  word  denotes  a 
 Urge  kind  of  shield,  such  as  was  used  to  cover  the  whole  man.— .Wiinf. 
 Literally,  '  like  a  shield  thy  favour  wilt  crown  him,'  IDTjm.— C/»r*c, 
 as  Puff..  Mont.,  Voce. 
 
 P"-  VI.  — Title- jVc/rmofA— see  Ps.  iv.,  title.  Sheminith,  thought 
 to  mean  the  8tli,  or  octave.  A  small  harp  is  here  probably  intended, 
 tuned  an  octave  higher  than  others.— U'i;.  '  The  eight-stringed  Negi- 
 noth. '—Bo»Wr.  'To  be  sung  on  Neginoth,  a  harp  of  eight  strings,' 
 Chald.,  Pnt.  •  To  the  Giver  of  victory,  upnn  the  stringed  instruments, 
 concerning  the  superahiindance.'— //or.<(«/.  This  is  tlic  first  of  the 
 penitential  psalms.  2.  /  ttm  weak,  V7GN.  '  I  am  exceeding  weak, 
 I  cannot  take  nourishment,  and  my  strength  is  exhausted.'- .1.  Clarke. 
 Vexed,  •  racked.'— j1/ri!7(.  •  Exceedingly  troubled,'  Vtdg.  3.  How 
 foiif  ?— the  Psalmist  is  beautifully  represented  as  crying  out  withafond 
 and  longing  impatience,  "But  thou,'  &c. ;  his  strength  is  supposed  to 
 fail,  and  the  sentence  left  imperfect.- Home.  This  abrupt  exclama- 
 tion is  characteristic  of  intense  anguish.  i.  Return,  absence  and 
 desertion  are  indications  of  displeasure. —  Wntf.  5.  No  remembrance, 
 —this  can  only  refer  to  the  state  of  the  body.  The  grave  is  the  land 
 of  forgetfulness  and  of  silence,  (Ps.  Ixxxviii.  12 ;  exv.  17  ;  Isa.  xxxviii. 
 18,  19.)— Wit.  The  grtiee,  'jlNiE,  the  mansion  of  departed  souls,  where 
 they  wait  the  general  resurrection.— Hoi-sfej/. 
 
 '  Who  ill  hades  can  give  thanks  to  thee  I'—Bimthr. 
 
 RF.ri.EcTioNS  ON  Ps.  IV.  —I.  PraticT  is  the  good  man's  re- 
 medy tu  distress,  and  God  bears  prayer,  but  lie  must  call  upon 
 
 II.  God-s  favour  affords  joy  in  the  midst  of  the  qreatest  cala- 
 mutes.  If  we  have  but  the  light  of  God's  countenance  shining 
 upon  -Jl'r  souls,  W'e  need  not  (ear  though  all  be  dark  around 
 us;  and,  though  all  around  smile,  if  God  frown,  with  the  good 
 man  n  is  awlul  darkness. 
 
 Refi.kctions  on  Ps.  V.  _  We  may  here  learn  that  in  our 
 devotiona  exercises  we  should  he_I.  Fervent.  Our  prayers 
 should  not  freeze  on  our  lips.  The  cold  petitions  of  some  are 
 not  crying  to  God,  Prayer  without  fervour  is  like  incense 
 Without  hre.     1,  IS  ■  the  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  the  r.ghte- 
 
 01  ■i 
 
 ous  man'  that  '  availeth  much.' 
 
 II.  AVe  should  be  revereyid.  We  should  remember  that  we 
 have  to  do  willi  a  holy  God,  and  that  he  hates  all  workers  of 
 iniquity.  We  should  therefore  approach  him  with  clean 
 hands  and  pure  hearts,  aud  draw  near  to  hiiu  '  with  reverence 
 and  godly  fear." 
 
 III.  We  should  be  confidlny.  Believing  that  all  impedi- 
 ments to  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  those  thai  trust  in  Him 
 will  be  ere  long  removed— rejoicing  in  bis  salvation,  and  de- 
 pending upon  his  protection.  Thus,  'he  that  cometii  to  God 
 must  believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  the  rewardcr  of  them 
 that  diligently  seek  him.' 
 
David's  prayer  against  his  enemies. 
 
 PSALMS,  VII.,  VIII. 
 
 professiny  his  innoceticT/. 
 
 6  I  am  weary  with  my  groaning  ;  ||  all  the 
 night  nialce  I  my  bed  to  swim  ;  I  water  my 
 couch  with  my  tears. 
 
 7  'Mine  eye  is  consumed  because  of  grief; 
 it  waxeth  old  because  of  all  mine  enemies. 
 
 8  ^  Depart  from  me,  all  ye  workers  of  ini- 
 quity ;  for  the  Lord  hath  ''  heard  the  voice  of 
 my  weeping. 
 
 9  The  Loud  hath  heard  my  supplication  ; 
 tlie  Lord  will  receive  my  prayer. 
 
 10  Let  all  mine  enemies  be  ashamed  and  sore 
 vexed  :  let  them  return  and  be  ashamed  sud- 
 denly. 
 
 PSALM  VII. 
 
 1  David  prnyeth  afiainst  the  malice  of  his  enemies,  pro- 
 
 fessini/  ills  imiocenci/.      10  By  faith  he  seeth  his  de- 
 
 feiue,  and  tfie  destruction  of  his  enemies. 
 
 •  Sliigg:ii(in  of  Divirl,  whu'li  he  san";  unto  the  Lord, 
 
 •  ciiiieerniug  the  ||  words  of  Cush  the  Btiijiimite. 
 
 OLORD  my   God,  in  thee   do   I   put  my 
 trust  :  °  save  me  from  all  them  that  perse- 
 cute me,  and  deliver  me  : 
 2  *■  Lest  he  tear  my  soul  like  a  lion,"  rending 
 it  in  pieces,  while  tlicre  jsfnone  to  deliver. 
 ."3  O  Lord  my  God,  ''  If  I  have  done  this ;  if 
 there  be  '  iniquity  in  my  hands  ; 
 
 4  If  I  have  rewarded  evil  unto  him  that  was 
 at  peace  with  me  ;  (yea, '  I  have  delivered  him 
 that  without  cause  is  mine  enemy  :) 
 
 5  Let  the  enemy  persecute  my  soul,  and  take 
 it ;  yea,  let  him  tread  down  my  life  upon  the 
 earth,  and  lay  mine  honour  in  the  dust.  Selah. 
 
 0  Arise,  0  Lord, in  thine  anger, ''lift  up  thy- 
 self because  of  the  rage  of  mine  enemies :  and 
 I*  awake  for  me  to  the  judgment  that  thou  hast 
 
 /■Job  17.7- 
 
 '  I's   31,  y.  & 
 
 38.10.  fc  Si 
 
 9  La.  5,  17. 
 
 S  Ps    1 19. 
 
 1 15.  Milt  7 
 
 Luke  13. '27 
 /»  1*8.  3.  4. 
 
 .  P».  31.  15. 
 
 /,  l3.  38  13. 
 c  I's.  5n.  22 
 t  Heb. not  n 
 
 deliverer. 
 d  2  Sain.  16. 
 
 7,8 
 fl  1  Sam   2i. 
 
 7.  S:  26-  9. 
 
 f\  Sain.24.7, 
 &  20.  9 
 
 S  Ps.  91.  2. 
 h  P-i.  41.  23, 
 
 P3.  IS.  20. 
 &  36.  24. 
 
 k  1  Sam.  Ifi 
 7.  1  CI»r.2« 
 9.  Ps.  139  1 . 
 Jer.  11.  20- 
 &  17.  10.  U 
 20,  12- 
 Hev.  2.  -?3. 
 [  Hfb   Jl/r/ 
 huc/ilfr  ia 
 >(;•»/,  G'id 
 t  Ps.  125.  ♦ 
 11  Or,  Giit  is 
 n  righleoui 
 yidffe. 
 mDeu  32.41 
 II  Dpii,  32.23, 
 12.  Ps.  61.7. 
 
 ..  Jitl,  1.^,   35 
 Is.  S3   11.& 
 ."19  4. 
 Jam.  L  15. 
 
 f  Heb.  He 
 hcttli  digged 
 
 ),  Eslh.  7.10. 
 Job  4.8.  Ps. 
 9.  15.  &  10 
 2.  &  35  8.  & 
 94.23,S:  141 
 10  Prnv.  5. 
 22  &  26  27 
 Eecles  lO.ft. 
 
 9  I  Kiii.2  S2. 
 E»tli.  0.  25. 
 
 Ps.  81,  & 
 81,  title. 
 
 commanded. 
 
 7  So  shall  the  congregation  of  the  people 
 compass  tliee  about  :  for  their  sakes  therefore 
 return  thou  on  high. 
 
 8  The  Lord  shall  judge  the  people :  judge 
 me,  O  Lord,  'according  to  my  rigliteousness, 
 and  according  to  mine  integrity  tliat  is  in  me. 
 
 9  Oh  let  the  wickedness  of  the  wicked  come 
 to  an  end  ;  but  establish  the  just:  ''for  the 
 righteous  God  trieth  the  hearts  and  reins. 
 
 10  t  My  defence  i's  of  God,  which  saveth  the 
 '  upright  in  heart. 
 
 11  II  God  judgeth  the  righteous,  and  God  is 
 angry  tcilh  the  tricked  every  day. 
 
 12  If  he  turn  not,  he  will  "'whet  his  sword  ; 
 he  hath  bent  his  bow,  and  made  it  ready. 
 
 13  He  hath  also  prepared  for  him  the  instru- 
 ments of  death  ;  "  he  ordaineth  his  arrows 
 against  the  persecutors. 
 
 14  °  Behold,  he  travaileth  with  iniquity,  and 
 hath  conceived  mischief,  and  brought  forth 
 falsehood. 
 
 15  t  He  made  a  pit,  and  digged  it,  ''and  is 
 fallen  into  the  ditch  trhich  he  made. 
 
 16  ''  His  mischief  shall  return  upon  his  own 
 head,  and  his  violent  dealing  shall  come  down 
 upon  his  own  pate. 
 
 17  I  will  praise  the  Lord  according  to  his 
 righteousness  :  and  will  sing  praise  to  the 
 name  of  the  Lord  most  high. 
 
 PSALM  VIII. 
 
 God's  y lory  is  magnijied  by  his  works,  and  by  his  love 
 to  man. 
 
 To  the  clilef  Musician  *uponGittith,  A  Psalm  of  David. 
 
 Ev  Tb>  ain,  SfpL  The  word  is  offen  translated  hfill,  and  it  frcqiienHy 
 denotes  the  place  of  separate  spirits,  happy  or  unhappy  according  to 
 the  context;  yet  it  sometimes  must  be  understood  of  the  grave,  and 
 that  appears  to  be  the  sense  here. — Scott.  6.  Water — irith  mi/teurs, 
 — hyperbolical,   denoting   their  multitude. — Gill.  7-  Is   conaujued, 
 
 nu;it?3?i  'grown  stiff.' — Horsley.  'Wasted.' — Par.,  Bitothr.  'Blasted,* 
 •withered,'  '  sunk.'— A.  Clarke.  'Sinks  and  wastes  away.'— i*/«Hi. 
 10.  Rfturn,  '  retreat.*— //eH'. 
 
 Ps.  VII.— TiTLK— S/«Vg-«mn,  ]Vat?,  from  miU,  'to  wander.'  *An 
 artificial  song,'  (or  wandering.)— Jms.  'A wandering  ode,'  in  different 
 parts  taking  up  different  subjects,  in  different  styles  of  composition. — 
 Horsley.  '  A  wandering  song,'  composed  in  David's  wanderings  from 
 place  to  place. — Houh.,  Par.,  Fenuick,  Clarke.  'A  lamentalioD.* — 
 Gesenitts.  'An  elegy.'— l>r.  GedUes,  Boothr.  In  the  latter  sense,  it 
 may  signify  the  wanderings  of  the  mind  when  overwhelmed  with 
 grief. — Ed.  It  may  mean  a  song  expressing  grief. — Ken.,  Street. 
 It  probably  denotes  the  variable  music  to  which  the  Psalm  was  set. — 
 Scott.  Cush  —  some  think  '  Kish'  is  intended,  meaning  Saul,  and 
 giving  the  name  of  the  father  to  the  son. —  JVil.  Most  likely  it  was 
 one  of  Saul's  relations  or  courtiers,  who  brought  a  false  accusation 
 against  David. — Scott,  as  Henry.  2.  Tear,  ^c. — when  the  lion  leaps 
 on  his  prey,  he  gives  a  spring  of  ten  or  fifteen  feet,  falls  on  and  seizes 
 it  with  his  fore  paws,  tears  it  with  his  clans,  and  afterwards  devours 
 it. — Bnffon.  Z.  Jf  I  hai'e  done  this — some  crime  falsely  brought 
 agaiubt  him,  as  that  he  sought  Saul's  life,  (l  Sam.  xxiv.  9.)  4.  Hare 
 delivered  him,  ^c. — see  1  Sam.  xxiv.  4.  3,  ",  10,  17;  and  xxvi.  8,  11. — 
 Gill.  6.  Awake,  Sfc. — the  Divine  judgment  is  here  represented  as  if 
 it  were  inaifentive  and  asleep.  7.  Congregation — compass — alludes 
 to  his  surrounding  the  altar  of  God  with  songs  of  deliverance,  and  re- 
 storing tlie  neglected  worship  of  God. — Gill.     On  highy  refers  to  the 
 
 elevated  tribunals  whence  magistrates  deliver  their  judgment,  in  the 
 presence  of  surrounding  multitudes. —  Waif.  9.  Reins — the  passions 
 of  the  soul  have  a  remarkable  efTeot  on  the  reins  or  kidneys,  and  from 
 their  retired  and  enclosed  situation  in  the  body,  these  are  often  used  to 
 denote  the  secret  workings  of  the  soul.  'To  try  the  reins,'  is  to  ex- 
 amine those  most  secret  thoughts  and  desires,  (see  Ps.  xxvi.  2  ;  Jer. 
 XX.  12.)— Pur.  11.  God  is  angry  icith  the  wicked,  Sfc,  'will  he  be  angry 
 every  day  V  Vulg.  Mn  opynv  e-Kaicov  naO'  tKa<nr]v  iiiupau,  '  not  bi  inging 
 forth  his  anger  every  day,'  Sept.  '  He  is  not  angry  every  day,'  Syr. 
 '  Hence,  with  the  wicked  he  is  always  angry.' — Bouthr.  '  Althdugh  he 
 is  not  angry  every  day,'  i.  e.,  his  anger  is  not  breaking  furth  on  every 
 occasion,  yet  the  season  of  judgment  will  surely  cnme. — Hitrsley. 
 13.  Against  the  persecutors,  Cp^JlS,  the  word  signifies  'hoi'  or  *  burn- 
 ing,' and  designs  such  persons  who  burn  with  malice  and  wrath,  in 
 rage  and  fury,  against  the  saints,  and  hotly  pursue  after  \hvm.-~Gill. 
 '  Hot  persecutors.' — Ains.  The  root  pbl,  expresses  the  action  <>f  fire, 
 whicli  is  continually  yjr^Asertg- wpoT?,  and  as  it  were  pursuing,  the  fuel 
 on  which  it  feeds. — Par.  14.  And  Itrovght  forth  falsehood,  ^\int  \\c 
 shall  bring  forth  delusion,'  i.  e.,  all  his  schemes  shall  end  in  disappoint- 
 ment.— Horsley.  15.  Made  a  pit  and  digged  it — the  former  verb,  in 
 the  original,  denotes  the  cutting  with  a  spaile  ;  the  latter,  the  sinking 
 the  hole.  The  image  is  taken  from  sinking  pits  for  wild  beasts,  covered 
 with  boughs,  &c.,  to  deceive  and  catch  them. — So  Mant,  Shaw.  Ditch, 
 '  trap,'  '  snare.' — Hew.         17.  According  to,  '  on  account  of.'— Gilt. 
 
 Ps.  \Ul.  —  TiTLE~Upon  Gittith,  rrn^n  b'S.  'concernii'g  the  wioe 
 presses,  supposing  this  to  be  a  psalm  for  the  vintage,  nn3»  signifying 
 
 *  wine  press,'  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Horsley.  n3.  '  Gath,'  being  the  name  of  a 
 city,  the  Chaldee  reads,  '  a  musical  instrument  which  he  brou{,'ht  from 
 Gath.'     With  some  foiced  construction,  this   is  also   converted   int<i 
 
 *  upon  Goliath  of  Gath.'     So  conjectured  by  Hammond  and  Put.     It 
 
 Ri  FLKniONS  ON  Ps.  VI I.  How  heavily  are  some  of  God's 
 
 people  ftffiictcd!  Here  is  the  man  after  his  own  heart  perse- 
 cuted from  without  and  suffering  within— chastened  in  his 
 hody  and  in  his  soul.  Let  us  be  thankful  if  we  escape  this 
 combination  of  evils,  and  learn  under  tbera  to  look  to  the 
 Lord  for  deliverance, 
 
 II.  The  voice  of  prayer  is  powerful.  *  The  Lord  hath  heard 
 my  supplication,'  says  David.  Thus  the  harp  is  taken  from 
 the  willows,  and  David's  groans  are  changed  into  notes  of  joy. 
 This  shall  be  the  end  of  all  the  believer's  trials,  for  the  ran- 
 somed of  the  Lord  shall  return  and  come  to  Zion  with  songs 
 of  everlasting  joy  upon  their  heads  ;  they  shall  obtain  joy  and 
 gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  tlee  away.' 
 
 Kf-flections  on  Ps.  VII.  —  Here  we  see  David,  I.  Suf- 
 feriny  under  calumny  and  persfcution.  This  has  been  the  lot  of 
 many  of  God's  holy  ones,  and  of  him  who  was  *  holy,  harmless, 
 575 
 
 and  undefiled.'     The  servant  must  expect  no  better  lot  than 
 his  Lord. 
 
 II.  Appealing  to  his  integrity.  A  good  conscience  is  invalu- 
 able in  such  circumstances.  It  may  be  in  vain  to  appeal  to 
 men,  but  there  is  an  appeal  to  God,  who  '  searcheth  the  hearts 
 and  trieth  the  reins  of  the  children  of  men.' 
 
 III.  Expecting  deliverance  from  God.  Wicked  schemesshall 
 not  always  prosper,  and  the  workers  of  iniquity  shall  only  lay 
 traps  for'themselves.  Let  us  only  patiently  wait  tlje  end,  and 
 we  shall  find  there  is  a  righteous  God  that  judt;eth  in  llie 
 earth.  David,  as  a  prophet,  foretold  the  ruin  of  his  perse- 
 cutors, and  we  know  what  must  be  the  end  of  all  such,  if  they 
 die  impenitent  ;  hut  with  the  example  of  Christ  before  us,  let 
 us  never  forget  to  pray,  *  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know- 
 not  what  they  do.' 
 
God's  ylury  is  tnaynifitd  by  his  works. 
 
 PSALMS,  IX. 
 
 Duo  id  jjia  iseth  God. 
 
 r\  LORD  our  Lord,  how  "excellent  is  thy 
 ^^  name  in  all  the  earth !  who  ■*  hast  set  thy 
 glory  above  the  heavens. 
 
 2  '  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings 
 hast  thou  t  ordained  strength  because  of  thine 
 enemies,  that  thou  mightest  still  ''  the  enemy 
 and  the  avenger. 
 
 3  When  I  "  consider  thy  heavens,  the  work  of 
 thy  lingers,  the  moon  and  the  stars,  which  thou 
 hast  ordained  ; 
 
 4  '  What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of 
 liim  ?  and  the  son  of  man,  that  tliou  visitest 
 him  ? 
 
 5  For  thou  hast  made  him  a  little  lower  than 
 the  angels,  and  hast  crowned  him  with  glory 
 and  honour. 
 
 6  ^  Thou  madest  him  to  have  dominion  over 
 the  works  of  thy  hands  ;  "  thou  hast  put  all 
 l/iiiiffs  under  his  feet : 
 
 7  t  AH  sheep  and  oxen,  yea,  and  the  beasts 
 of  the  field  ; 
 
 V.8  Tlie  fowl  of  the  air,  and  the  fish  of  the  sea, 
 {i7id  iv/tatsocvcr  passeth  through  the  paths  of 
 the  seas. 
 
 9  'O  Lord  our  Lord,  how  excellent  is  thy 
 name  in  all  the  earth ! 
 
 PSALM  IX. 
 
 1  David prnisetli  God  for  txeciitinfi  (yf  judgment.  II 
 He  inciti'th  others  to  praist:  him.  lii  He  prayeth 
 that  he  may  have  cause  to  praise  him. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  upou  Muth-labben,  A  Psalm  of 
 David. 
 
 «Fs.  148 
 
 13. 
 
 b  Ps.  113 
 
 4. 
 
 cSeeMat 
 
 II. 
 
 25.  bL-il 
 
 .16. 
 
 1  Cor.  I 
 
 27. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 f^..»d^d 
 
 d  Ps.  4-1. 
 
 lb. 
 
 tVs.  Ill 
 
 2. 
 
 f  .lob  7. 
 
 7. 
 
 I'a.  144 
 
 3. 
 
 Heb.  L>. 
 
 G. 
 
 g  Gen.  1. 
 
 26. 
 
 28. 
 
 A  I  Cor. 
 
 15 
 
 27.  Hub 
 
 iS 
 
 t  Heb.F/oc*i  1 
 
 all 
 
 o/  tUeiii. 
 
 ivec.  1. 
 
 b  I's.  56.  2. 
 &  63.  18. 
 
 fHi-b   Thou 
 hntl  madt 
 rusyidS' 
 
 t   lleb    in 
 
 c  Deu.  9.  14. 
 Prov.  ID,  7. 
 
 i;  Or,  Thedf- 
 
 the. 
 
 my  are 
 
 r.  toa 
 
 }irT]tetual 
 rnd  :  and 
 their  ciliet 
 hint  ihuu  d&- 
 tlr.,t/rd,  4c- 
 
 d  Ps,.  102.12, 
 £G.  He.1,11. 
 
 e  I'a.  1*6.  13. 
 &  Lit).  9. 
 
 /  Ps.  33.  7.  & 
 37.  39.&  Hi 
 I.  «c  91.2. 
 
 t  Heb.  an 
 high  place. 
 
 §   ra.  91.  U. 
 
 A  I's,  IU7.22. 
 
 I  Or, 
 
 aj^ktett. 
 
 T  WILL  praise  theey  O  Loud,  with  my  whole 
 ■^  heart ;  1  will  sliew  forth  all  thy  marvellous 
 works. 
 
 2  1  will  be  glad  and  "rejoice  in  thee  ;  I  will 
 sing  praise  to  thy  name,  O  ^  thou  most  High. 
 
 3  When  mine  enemies  are  turned  back,  they 
 shall  fall  and  perish  at  tliy  presence. 
 
 4  For  t  tl'iou  hast  maintained  my  right  and 
 my  cause  ;  thou  satest  in  the  throne  judging 
 
 t  r>g*;t- 
 
 5  Thou  hast  rebuked  the  heathen,  thou  hast 
 destroyed  the  wicked,  thou  hast  "'put  out  their 
 name  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 6  II  O  thou  enemy,  destructions  are  come  to 
 a  perpetual  end  :  and  thou  hast  destroyed 
 cities  ;  their  memorial  is  perished  with  them. 
 
 7  ''  But  the  Lord  shall  endure  for  ever:  he 
 hath  prepared  his  tlironc  for  judgment. 
 
 8  And  "^  he  shall  judge  tlie  world  in  righteous- 
 ness, he  shall  minister  judgment  to  the  people 
 in  uprightness. 
 
 9  'The  LoitD  also  will  be  fa  refuge  for  the 
 oppressed,  a  refuge  in  times  of  trouble. 
 
 10  And  they  that  ^  know  thy  name  will  put 
 their  trust  in  thee  :  for  thou,  Lord,  hast  not 
 forsaken  them  that  seek  thee. 
 
 11  Sing  praises  to  the  Lord,  which  dwol- 
 leth  in  Zion  :  *■  declare  among  tiie  people  his 
 doings. 
 
 12  '  When  he  maketh  inquisition  for  blood, 
 he  remeinbereth  them  :  he  forgetteth  not  the 
 cry  of  the  ||  humble. 
 
 is,  perhaps,  the  name  of  some  tune  learnt  in  Gath.— Scoif.  l.  Th// 
 
 name,  the  name  of  God  is  bis  plory.  The  term  sometimes  used  fnr  God 
 himself,  (Esod.  xxiii.  1. )—«'«//.  2.  Out  of  the  mouth  of  bahes,  ^r., 
 cited  hj'  our  Lord,  Matt.  xxi.  i6.  The  import  of  tlie  word  is.  that  the 
 prai-^es  of  the  Messiah  sung  by  his  children  have  a  force  none  can 
 withstand  ;  they  can  abash  inlidelity  at  its  greatest  height,  and  strike 
 hell  dumb. — Home.  Some,  by  '  babes,'  understand  sincere  persons,  in 
 t-pposition  to  the  proud,  as  Matt.  xi.  25;  but  'sucklings'  is  never  used 
 in  tliis  sense. — Buothr.  The  sense  of  this  passage  appears  to  me  to  be, 
 that  the  faculties  and  instincts  of  infants,  which  are  so  wonderfully 
 adapted  to  promote  their  growth  and  advancement  in  life,  furnish  a 
 powerful  argument  against  irreligion  and  injustice,  by  shewing  the 
 existence  of  a  supreme  intelligent  power,  and  the  incessant  providence 
 whifli  it  exerts  in  perpetuating  and  preserving  the  race  of  man.  The 
 enemy  and  the  avenger,  are  those  who  deny  the  existence  of  God,  dis- 
 regard his  providence,  and  abandon  themselves  to  sensuality  and 
 cruelty. —  Wa!/.,  as  Buiithr.  Is  nut  this  passage  ratlier  prophetic  of 
 tlie  praises  sung  to  the  Messiah  by  children  in  the  temple,  to  whom, 
 from  our  Lord's  words.  Matt.  xxi.  l6,  viewed  in  connexion  with  those 
 of  the  writer  of  the  Hebrews,  ii.  6,  the  Psalm  seems  generally  to  apply  ? 
 — Ed.  For  'ordained  strength,'  Matthew  has  '  perfected  praise,'  as  the 
 Sept.  Michael'ui  thinks  the  Hebrew  will  admit  of  this  rendering. — So 
 Bfutthr.  3.  When  I  ninsider,  n>?"il<  O,  'because  1  will  see,'  fre- 
 qiienily  contemplate. — Clarke.  Thy  hetivetis,  ffc. — from  the  absence 
 of  the  sun  here,  the  Psalmist  had  the  heavens  in  view  as  they  appear 
 by  night. — Home.  Ordained,  'prepared  and  established,'  nn2:i3.— 
 A.  Clarkf.  4.  What  is  man P  Ci^N,  'frail,  weak,  sickly,  mortal  man.' 
 GUI.  And  the  son  of  man.  Oi,^j  pi,  '  the  son  of  Adam,'  '  the  fallen 
 chihl  of  a  fallen  parent.'— ,-1.  Clarke.  5.  Made  him  a  little  lower,  fyc, 
 D^n7N?D  TCyo  inicnm,  'somewhat  abased  him  in  comparison  of 
 angels,' — Horsier/.  '  Thnii  hast  reduced  him  a  liitle  below  the  angels.* 
 — Pf/e  Smith.  C*^'7^J.  '  Elohira,'  is  explained  of  angels,  not  only  by  the 
 Greek  and  Chnldi;\  but  al-io  Heb.  ii.  ~,  Q.~Wil.  'Thou  hast  made 
 liim  less  than  G  'd  for  a  little  time.* — A.  Clarke.  And  hast  crowned 
 him,  §-c.— the  Psalmist,  as  interpreted  by  the  Apostle  to  the  Hebrews, 
 is  looking  forward  to  the  exaltation  of  human  nature  by  the  incarna- 
 
 tion of  our  blessed  h-\xA.—Mant.  6.  Thou  hast  put  all  things,  SfC.y 
 or  '  put  them  in  subjection  to  him,'  as  the  phrase  signifies,  and  is  in- 
 terpreted, Heb.  ii.  8.  This  is  a  greater  dominion  than  was  given  to 
 the  llrst  man,  Adam. — Gill.  1  he  allusion  is  to  the  cu.stom  of  setting 
 the  foot  upon  a  conquered  enemy.  Tlie  expression  is  used  in  the  east 
 to  illustrate  proper  sui-eri'trity. — Piet.  Bib.,  Jioh.  7-  ■*^''  sheep,  §c. — 
 these  were  all  given  to  man  in  the  beginning,  (Gen.  ix.  2  p  to  this 
 passage  the  Psalmist  obviously  refers. — A.  Clarke.  That  this  Psalm, 
 in  its  highest  import,  refers  to  Christ,  is  evident  from  Matt.  xxi.  i6. 
 and  especially  from  the  second  chapter  of  the  Hebrews,  where  a  cnnsi- 
 derable  part  is  cited  by  the  Apostle,  and  expressly  applied  to  the 
 adorable  Mediator  between  God  and  xncn.—Toplarlp. 
 
 Ps.  IX.  —  TiTi.F.  —  L'pon  Mut/t.lahben,  p?  ^,^'0  b^,  '  on  the  death  of 
 the  strong  man.' — Wil.  Some  understand  the  death  of  Absalom,  the 
 son  of  David.  The  Chuldee  refers  it  to  the  death  of  Goliath.  Some 
 think  of  some  chief  of  the  enemy's  army.  Many  MSS.  join  the  two 
 first  words,  and  so  HuuOipant  reads  it,  'the  masteries  of  the  Son.' 
 Some  have  thought  that  the  words  signify  a  kind  of  tune  like  our 
 counter  tenor  ;  and  others,  that  the  name  of  a  musical  instrument  is 
 here  designed,  'Almuth,'  and  that  Ben  was  the  name  of  the  cliief 
 musician.  Ainsworth  thinks,  as  the  former  P>alm  was  on  the  propaga- 
 tion of  Christ's  kingdom,  so  this  relates  to  the  destruction  or  death  of 
 Antichrist ;  so  also  Gill.  l .  /  will  shew  forth,  mDD«,  *  I  «ill  number 
 out,*  or  '  reckon  up.' — .A.  Clarke.  Marvellous  works, '~\''T\M'h'^'i<  signi- 
 fies *  works  hidden,'  miraculous,  inexpressibly  wonde  rfnl. — Moiisou. 
 2.  Bejoice,  'exult.*  —  Boothr.  'Sing  praise,'  literally  'chant.'  — 
 Horsley.  3.  Are  turned,  §-c. — Boothroifd  translates  this  verse  in  the 
 past  tense;  so  also  Pat.  5.  Thou  hast  rebuked,  ^c,  probably  refers 
 
 to  the  exterminated  Canaanitish  naiions. — A.  Clarke.  It  rather  refers 
 to  gospel  times,  and  the  rebukes  of  the  heathen  by  the  preaching  of  the 
 Gospel. — Gill.  6.  O  thou  enemy,  destructions.  §-c.,  'desolations  have 
 utterly  consumed  the  enemy.' — Boothr.  9.  A  refuge,  DJTTO.  '  a  high 
 place.' — A.  Clarke.  *  A  strong  fortress.' — Boot/ir.  In  times  of  trovhle, 
 •  in  their  greatest  straits.' — See  Mont.  \  1 .  Doings,  either  the  mighty 
 acts  of  his  Providence,  or  his  revealed  designs. — Morison.  See  "j"?!*. 
 Par.  and  Buxt.         12.  When  he  maketh  inquibition,  ^c— past  tense. — 
 
 Rkflfctions  on  Ps.  VIIL — L  We  may  here  admire  the 
 condescending  goodness  of  God  in  his  providence.  The  exalted 
 Being  who  slrelcbeil  out  the  heavens,  and  decorated  their  sur- 
 face with  millions  of  splendid  bodies  and  unnumbered  worlds, 
 is  mindful  of  poor,  weak,  sinful,  and  rebellious  man  in  this  part 
 of  his  creation.  And  not  only  of  mankind  in  general,  provid- 
 ing tor  their  wants,  and  continually  superintending  them  by 
 his  providence,  but  of  man  individually.  Kvery  one  who 
 trusts  in  him,  is  his  peculiar  care,  and  all  events,  how  minute 
 soever  they  may  be,  are  made  to  promote  his  everlasting  wel- 
 fare. The  humblest  cottager,  whom  his  proud  fellow-creature 
 would  disdain,  is  not  hpneath  Ihs  notice,  and  even  lisping 
 infants  are  regarded  by  IIim  wljen  they  utter  his  praise. 
 
 II.  \Ve  may  here  admire  the  wonderful  benevokncc  of  God  in 
 his  grace.  '  In  the  person  of  Emmanuel/  says  Scott,  *  everv 
 67G 
 
 other  instance  of  Divine  condescension  is  eclipsed,  and  our 
 most  exalted  previous  conceptions  of  the  Divine  love  are  far 
 exceeded,  and  the  powers  of  our  minds  are  almost  over- 
 whelmed. His  love,  his  humiliation  in  assuming  our  nature, 
 his  atoning  sufferings  unto  death,  his  subsequent  glory,  and 
 bis  dominion  over  all  creatures,  which  shall  endure  till  all  ene- 
 mies are  put  under  his  feet,  can  never  sufficiently  be  admired 
 and  adored.  Thus,  our  nature  in  the  second  Adam  is  infinitely 
 more  honoured  and  exalted  than  it  could  have  been  in  the  first 
 Adam.  Thus,  also,  the  true  dignity  of  human  nature,  even 
 the  worth  of  a  rational,  immortal  soul,  though  ruined  by  sin, 
 yet  capable  of  recovery,  and  eternal  felicity,  is  clearly  shewn. 
 And  if  we  trust  in,  and  submit  to,  Christ  as  our  Saviour  and 
 Lord,  he  will  advance  us  also  to  glory,  honour,  and  immortality 
 
Tlie  outraye  of  the  wicked. 
 
 PSALMS,  X. 
 
 David prayeth  fur  remedy. 
 
 13  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  Lord  ;  consider 
 my  trouble  iv/iich  I  suffer  of  tlieni  that  hate 
 nie,  tluHi  that  liftest  nie  up  from  the  gates  of 
 death  : 
 
 1 4  That  I  may  shew  forth  all  thy  praise  in 
 the  gates  of  the  daughter  of  Zion  :  I  will  '  re- 
 joice in  thy  salvation. 
 
 15  '  Tlie  heathen  are  sunk  down  in  the  pit 
 that  tliey  made  :  in  the  net  which  they  hid  is 
 their  own  foot  taken. 
 
 IG  The  Lord  is '"  known  by  the  judgment 
 which  he  executeth  :  tlie  wicked  is  snared  in 
 the  work  of  his  own  hands.  ||  "  Higgaion. 
 Selah. 
 
 17  The  wicked  shall  be  turned  into  hell,  and 
 all  the  nations  "  that  forget  God. 
 
 18  Tor  the  needy  sliall  not  alway  be  for- 
 gotten :  ■'  the  expectation  of  the  poor  shall 
 not  perish  for  ever. 
 
 19  Arise,  O  Lord  ;  let  not  man  prevail :  let 
 the  heathen  be  judged  in  thy  sight. 
 
 20  Put  tliem  in  fear,  O  Lord  :  that  the  na- 
 tions may  know  themselves  to  be  but  men. 
 Selah. 
 
 PSALM  X. 
 
 1  David  complaineth  to  God  of  the  outrage  of  the 
 wicked.  12  He  praytth  for  reuKdy.  16  He  pro- 
 fesseth  his  conjidence. 
 
 WHY  standest  thou  afar  off,  O  Lord  ?  why 
 hidest  thou  thyself  in  times  of  trouble!* 
 2  fThe  wicked  in  his  pride  doth  persecute 
 the  poor :  °  let  them  be  taken  in  the  devices 
 that  they  have  imagined. 
 
 b  P9.  9i.  4. 
 
 t  Hel^  wuf*. 
 
 c  Pro,  28.  *. 
 
 Rom    I   3'2. 
 
 II  Or,  thf  CO- 
 
 VftOIIS  blfti- 
 
 rih  himself. 
 
 /i"  abhorrn/i 
 
 the  LORD. 
 
 *P9.  13.  5.  & 
 
 ft  Ps.  U.  2 
 
 20   5.  B.  3b. 
 
 1,  Or,  uUh.t 
 
 9 
 
 th-tii/Uli  are. 
 
 (  ['9.7.15.16. 
 
 There  U  no 
 
 &  35    8.  & 
 
 God. 
 
 r.7    b.  &  Vt. 
 
 <•  Ps.  14  1.  & 
 
 S3,  rr... :.. 
 
 53.  1. 
 
 '2-J.  Ik  L>>.  S. 
 
 /  Pro. £4    1. 
 
 &  20.  -47. 
 
 Is.  ;>6    II. 
 
 y.  Kx   7.  5.  & 
 
 ii  Ps.  12.  5 
 
 It.  I,  10.81. 
 
 /.  Ps.  30    G. 
 
 1    I'liar  is. 
 
 Eccles8.ll. 
 
 tnfdtlnr...n 
 
 Is.  56.  Vi. 
 
 ;  P.-i     ly.   11. 
 
 .  Rev.  IS    7. 
 
 &  92.  3. 
 
 t  Helj.  utJo 
 
 <;r.eT.li..n 
 
 •Hid  geiwa- 
 
 ,  .Inb  8    13. 
 
 liou. 
 
 Ph    .')0.  2J. 
 
 h  Rom.  3.14. 
 
 p  ver    IS. 
 
 f  lleb 
 
 Pv  12.  .-i 
 
 ;  Pen.  :iS  IS. 
 
 /  Job  20.  12 
 
 (^  J  I.  11. 
 
 ,n  Pa.  12.  2 
 
 II  Or,  i«i- 
 
 V"".V 
 
 .,  Hab.  3.  14 
 
 ..  Ps.  17.  11. 
 
 1  Heb.  ir,dt 
 
 IhfmselffS. 
 
 ,,  Ps,  17.  12. 
 
 Mic.  7    2. 
 
 t  Heb.  in  the 
 
 ir..ret  ulacet. 
 
 t  Heb.  He 
 
 breakflh 
 
 ki.,„df. 
 
 II  Oi,  («/o  Am 
 
 ilto'igpiirli. 
 
 7  Job  2>.  13, 
 
 Pa    73.  11. 
 
 {  Heb.  /..  tl,f 
 
 &  &1.  7 
 
 pridf  i.f  the 
 
 Eiek,  8.  12. 
 
 m  irked  he 
 
 it  9    9. 
 
 d'jth  pe r se- 
 
 r Mic.  5.  9, 
 
 ct  te. 
 
 a  Ps   7.  16. 
 
 X.  Q      ■.■).   in 
 
 aSltcled. 
 
 3  For  the  wicked  ^boasteth  of  his  f  heart's 
 desire,  and  "^  ||  blesseth  the  covetous,  whom  the 
 Lord  abhorveth. 
 
 4  The  wicked,  through  the  pride  of  his  coun- 
 tenance,'^  will  not  SQ^k  after  God:  \\  God  is 
 not  in  all  his  ^  thougiits. 
 
 5  His  ways  are  always  grievous  ;  *"  tiiy  jnd|^^- 
 ments  are  far  above  out  of  his  sight  :  as  for  all 
 his  enemies,  ^  he  puffeth  at  them. 
 
 6  '^  He  hath  said  in  his  heart,  I  shall  not  be 
 moved  :  '  for  I  shall  f  never  it'  in  adversity. 
 
 7  ^  His  mouth  is  full  of  cursing  and  f  deceit 
 and  fraud  :  '  under  his  tongue  is  mischief  "^  and 
 II  vanity ._ 
 
 8  He  sitteth  in  the  lurking  places  of  the  vil- 
 lages :  '^  in  the  secret  places  doth  he  murder 
 the  innocent :  *^  his  eyes  f  are  privily  set  against 
 the  poor. 
 
 9  ^  He  lieth  in  wait  f  secretly  as  a  lion  in  his 
 den  :  he  lieth  in  wait  to  catcli  the  poor  :  he 
 doth  catch  the  poor,  when  he  drawetli  him 
 into  his  net, 
 
 10  t  He  croucheth,  and  humbleth  himself, 
 that  the  poor  may  fall  {{  by  his  strong  ones. 
 
 11  He  hath  said  in  his  heart,  God  hath  for- 
 gotten :  ''he  hideth  his  face ;  he  will  never  see  it. 
 
 V2  Arise,  O  Lord;  O  Gorl,  Mift  up  thine 
 hand:  forget  not  the  ||  humble. 
 
 13  Wherefore  doth  the  wicked  contemn 
 God?  he  hath  said  in  his  heart,  Thou  wilt  not 
 require  it. 
 
 14  Thou  hast  seen  2/ ;  for  thou  beholdest 
 mischief    and   spite,   to  requite  it   with    thy 
 
 Boothr.      Humble,  D^'2!?,  'afflicted  ones.'— ;l/on^  13.  Have  mercy, 
 
 §-t\,  'take  pity,'  he. — Horsley. 
 
 '  To  rae  Jehovah  hath  been  gracious, 
 Seeing^  my  affliction  from  those  who  hated  me  ; 
 And  lilting  me  up  from  the  gates  of  death, 
 That  I  might,'  &c. — Boothr.,  as  most  Modern  Critics. 
 Gates  of  death — the  Hebrew  poets  abound  in  imagery  taken  from  the 
 mode  of  burying  in  u?e  among  them.     The  seimlchre^^  of  tlie  superior 
 Israelites  were  large  caverns  under  ground,  hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock, 
 with  a  vaulted  roof,  and  receptacles  cut  m  the  side  for  cof&ns.     The 
 entrance  was  narrow,  and  closed  by  a  stone  rolled  against  it. — See 
 Loii'th.  14.  Giites  of  the  daughter  of  Zion— here  is  a  beautiful  cnri- 
 
 trast  to  the  gates  of  death.— LowM.  The  gate  being  the  seat  of  justice, 
 market.  &c.,  was  the  most  frequented  part  of  tbe  city.  —  So  Mant. 
 Daughter  of  Zi>j«— the  Jews  usually  represented  the  chief  city  as  a 
 mother  city,  and  the  towns,  villages,  and  places  adjacent  as  daujrh- 
 ters.  15.  Sunk  down,  ^c. — the  metaphor  is  taken  from  hunters  who 
 dig  pits  for  the  wild  beasts  to  fall  into.  In  the  we/— the  metaphor 
 is  taken  from  fowlers  who  lay  nets  and  snares  for  birds,  and  cover  thrm 
 that  they  may  not  be  seen,  but  tall  into  them  unawares. —  Gill. 
 16.  Higguion,  "iV^Tf,  *a  thing  to  be  meditated  on  with  the  greatest  at- 
 tention.'— Jun.  Some  think  it  signifies  instruction  to  tlie  musicians, 
 like  our  largo  or  allegro.  It  may  mean  a  '  soft  whispering,'  and  Selah, 
 '  bolder  and  louder  tones.*  —Mudge,  Ken.  17-  He//— some  read  '  the 
 grave,*  alluding  to  the  wicked  peiishing  in  war.  '  Sepidchre,'  Vulg. 
 'Hades,'  Sept.  'Hades,'  the  invisible  state  of  departed  spirits.  It 
 expresses  neither  their  happiness  nor  misery,  but  oidy  the  fiunl  over- 
 throw of  his  adversaries,  and  tlie  death  and  complete  destruction  of 
 the  enemies  of  find  and  his  people. —  Wulf.  20.  Put  them  infeur,  Sfc, 
 Wrh  miO  mn^  nn^U).  *  O  Jehovah,  appoint  thou  a  teacher  lor  Ihem.' 
 —  Horsier/,  i-o  linut/ir.,  and  Clarke.  Men,  i:;i:m,  'frail  mortal  men.' 
 — Jun.,  Trem  ,  Pi^icnlor,  '  Miserable  men.' — Cocc,  Mich.,  see  also 
 Pur. 
 
 Ps.  X.  —  1.  Why  standest?  ^c— tiie  Sept.  makes  this  a  part  and 
 continuation  of  the  preceding  Psalm.  The  occasion  is  therefore  the 
 same. — See  GiU.  2.  The  poor,  here  means  the  humble,  afflicted,  and 
 helpless. — Bp.  Wilson.  3.  Boasteth,  §-c.,  shews  a  disposition  to 
 glury  in  those  lusts  which  are  the  shame  and  disgrace  of  human  nature. 
 — Bp.  Home.  'The  wicked  glnrieth  in  the  cnmpletiim  nf  his  wishes  , 
 and  the  rapacious  calieth  himself  blessed.' — Geddcs.  And  blesseth  the 
 coiyetous,  *he  blesseth  again,  despising  Jehovah.'— Hors/ey. 
 
 '  With  triumph  hails  his  liiwtess  gain, 
 And  Thee,  Jehovah,  slights.' — Mant. 
 
 5.  His  u'ays  are  always  grievous.  yy\i  lVn%  'cause  terror.' — Cocc. 
 •Are  perverse.' — Boothr.    '  Hts  ways  shall  tiavail,  or  bring  forth,  at 
 
 every  season.'  Be/JjiXoi/fTat  at  o3oi  avTpv,  '  his  ways  are  poHuted  or 
 profaned,'  Sept.,  deriving  tlie  word  from  'i^'n,  a  root  signifying,  '  to  vio- 
 late,' 'pullute,'  or  'prufane.' — Ham.  His  enemies,  who  are  the  poor 
 saints. — Gill.  Puffeth,  ri'D',  '  snuffeth  in  disdain. '^See  nD3. — Pttr. 
 [Some  derive  the  word  from  another  root  of  like  signification,  mo] — See 
 Bu.xtorf.  Great  is  the  cuutempt  shewn  among  the  easterns  by  puffing 
 through  the  mouth,  and  blowing  through  the  nostrils. — Rob.  7.  Under 
 his  tongue,  §-t'.,  alluding  to  serpents,  wlio  have  little  ba^s  of  poison 
 under  their  teeth. — Gill.  8.  In  the  lurking  places,  which  were  by  the 
 way  side,  where  thieves  and  rubbers  harboured  to  rob  passengers  in 
 passing. — Gill.  Villages,  moving  villages,  formed  of  tents,  like  those 
 of  the  ancient  Nomadcs  and  modem  Bedoween  Arabs. — Par.  For 
 DHSn,  'vdlages,'  some  read  'palaces'  or  'courts.' — Gill.  '  He  sitteth 
 ill  lurking  places  with  the  rich,'  Vulg.,  Arab.  So  also  for  Cli^n,  '  vil- 
 lages,' the  Sfpt.  substitute  D''^*'C?,  '  the  rich,'  f^era  n\ov(Titov, '  with  the 
 rich.'  'He  sitteth  in  the  ambush  of  the  rich,'  i.  e.,  he  always  takes 
 part  with  the  great  in  the  oppression  of  the  helpless.  SpntmuLhus  and 
 Jerome  read  D"*"!!!!!!  2i>tO  3^%  '  he  sitteth  prowling  about  the  farm 
 houses.'  This  is,  probably,  the  true  rendering.  The  image  is  that  of 
 a  beast  of  prey  of  the  lesser  order,  a  fox  or  aw-df,  lying  upon  the  watch 
 about  the  farm- yard  in  the  evening. — Horsley.  His  eyes  are  primly  set, 
 or  '  hide  themselves,'  scour  Tca7i.v/«/!on.  [For  llC:?',  from  the  root  ^CS, 
 '  to  hide,'  read  pE:2J\  from  the  root  ns^,  '  to  look  out.']  *  His  eyes  are 
 always  on  the  watch  for  the  poor,' — Horsley.  Tlie  original  expression 
 is  applied  to  winking  or  half  closing  the  eyes  in  order  to  see  more  dis- 
 tinctly.— So  Par.  Privily  set,  aTro/McTrot/trii',  'they  look  intently,  or 
 watch,  as  for  spoil  or  prey,'  Sejit.  The  poor,  T\y)V\.  The  original  is 
 used  only  in  this  Psalm,  in  the  8ih,  10th,  and  I4tli  verses. — Ains.  The 
 alliisim  is  to  robbers,  who  hide  themselves  in  some  secret  place,  and 
 thence  look  out  for  them  that  pass  by,  to  seize  upon  tliem.  9.  As 
 
 a  lion,  ^c. — the  two  metaphors  denote  insidious  methods.  The  second 
 is  taken  from  the  practice  of  fowlers.  10.  He  croucheth,  as  the  lion 
 before  he  leaps  and  seizes  on  his  prey,  and  as  the  fowler  crcepeth  U[jon 
 the  ground  to  draw  the  bird  into  his  net  and  cateh  it.— G'(//.  The  lion 
 squats  down  and  gathers  himself  together  that  he  may  make  the 
 greater  spring. — A.  Clarke.  That  the  poor  may  fall  by  his  strong  o?ies, 
 '  till  the  miserable  fall  into  his  strong  toils.'  The  Arabic  word  signifies 
 a  cord,  and  as  '  net'  is  before  used,  it  seems  to  imply  something  similar. 
 — Boothr.,  as  Duthe.  '  Into  his  strong  paws.' — Ains.  As  the  figure  is 
 evidently  taken  from  a  beast  of  prey,  the  '  strong  ones'  must  intend  his 
 strong  claws  or  teeth. —  Waif.  12.  Lift  up  thine  hand,  'exert  thy 
 power.'     T/ie  humble,  '  ihe  afflicted.'         1-i.  Thou  hast  seen  it,  SfC. — ■ 
 
 '  Surely  thou  seest  oppression  and  grief; 
 Thou  beholdest  so  as  to  requite  them  with  thy  hand. 
 The  miserable  committeth  himself  to  '1  hee ; 
 Thou  art,  indeed,  the  helper  of  the  friendless.' — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Ps.  IX. — This  psalm  consists  of  two  parts,  H.  Prayer.    We  may  look  to  God  for  pity  in  trouble,  for  his 
 
 J.  Praise.    We  can  at  all  times  recollect  the  great  deliverances  heart  is  full  of  tenderness  ;  and  in  our  prayers  and  pra'ses  re- 
 
 which  God  has  efiected  in  our  behalf,  and  the  refuge  he  has  lating  to  our  own  personal  wrongs,  we  do  well  to  extend  our 
 
 siflbrded  us  in  the  hour  of  distress.     Long  after  the  deliver-  views  totbe  churcbatlarse, and  to  pray  for  the  downfalofAoti- 
 
 ances,  they  may  well  be  the  matter  of  our  grateful  songs.  christ  nnd  the  universal  sprh^ad  of  our  Redeemer's  kingdom. 
 
 577  4   li 
 
The  providence  and  justice  of  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  XI.,  XII. 
 
 God^s  judgments  on  the  wicked. 
 
 hand:  the  poor  f '  committeth  himself  unto 
 thee  ;  *  thou  art  the  helper  of  the  fatherless. 
 
 15  "  Break  thou  the  arm  of  the  wicked  and 
 the  evil  man  :  seek  out  his  wickedness  till 
 thou  find  none. 
 
 16  ^  The  Lord  ix  King  for  ever  and  ever  : 
 the  heathen  are  perished  out  of  his  land. 
 
 17  Lord,  thou  hast  heard  the  desire  of  the 
 humble:  thou  wilt  ||  ^  prepare  their  heart, 
 thou  wilt  cause  thine  ear  to  hear: 
 
 18  To  ^  judge  the  fatherless  and  the  oppress- 
 ed, that  the  man  of  the  earth  may  no  more 
 II  oppress. 
 
 PSALM   XT. 
 
 1  David  encoitrageth  himself  in  God  against  his  ene- 
 mies.     4  The  providence  and  justice  of  God. 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  A  Psahn  of  David. 
 *  TN  the  Lord  put  I  my  trust :  ^how  say  ye 
 -*-   to  my  soul,  Flee  as  a  bird  to  your  moun- 
 tain ? 
 
 2  For,  lo/the  wicked  bend  thei?-  bow,"^  they 
 make  ready  their  arrow  upon  the  string,  that 
 they  may  t  privily  shoot  at  the  upright  in  heart. 
 
 3  ^  If  the  foundations  be  destroyed,  what  can 
 the  righteous  do? 
 
 4  *■  The  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple,  the 
 Lord's  ^throne  is  in  heaven  :  ^his  eyes  be- 
 hold, his  eyelids  try,  the  children  of  men. 
 
 5  The  Lord  '  trieth  the  righteous:  but  the 
 wicked  and  him  that  loveth  violence  his  soul 
 hateth. 
 
 6  ^  Upon  the  wicked  he  shall  rain  ||  snares, 
 fire  and  brimstone,  and  ||  an  horrible  tempest : 
 
 fih. 
 
 j2Tim  l.l!.>. 
 
 I  Pet.  4.19 
 t  Fs.  6S,  5. 
 
 Hos.  14  3 
 -4  Ps.  37.  17 
 
 t  Ps.  29.  10 
 &  145.  13. 
 «<  HI),  li) 
 Jpr.  10.  10 
 Lam  5  10 
 Dan  4.  »1. 
 &  6.  S6 
 1  Tim.  1  17. 
 
 II  Or.  r*- 
 labl.tli. 
 
 y  1  Chr.  29. 
 18. 
 
 s  Ps.  S2.  3. 
 Is.  II.  4 
 
 II  Or,  terrify. 
 
 T.  1060. 
 
 r.  Ps.  5G.  11. 
 
 6  See  I  .Sam. 
 
 26.  19,  ?0 
 c  Ps.  64,3,  4. 
 d  Ps.  21.  \1. 
 f  Ileb.  I.) 
 
 darhnPM. 
 f  Pa.  82.  5. 
 /Ilab.  2.20. 
 g  Ps.  ?.  4. 
 
 Ii.  Gd.  t. 
 
 Mat,  5-  34. 
 
 &  23   S2. 
 
 Acts  7.  49, 
 
 Rev.  4,  2. 
 A  Ps   SS.  l:i 
 
 f<3t.  IS,  16. 
 
 &  oa.  7. 
 i  Gen.  22.  1 
 
 Jam.  1.  12 
 A  Gen.iy.2) 
 
 Eiek.aS.L-y 
 
 ;  Or.  quid 
 
 cyalt. 
 
 Or,  a  burn, 
 i'lgtempexl. 
 
 i  SeeGeii  43 
 
 SI.l  Sam  I. 
 
 4.  &  9    V3. 
 
 Ps.  75    8. 
 m  Ps,  45-  7. 
 
 &  146.  8. 
 
 Ps.  33.  I  a 
 
 9t  34.  15. 
 
 I  Pet..S.  IS 
 
 'I  Job  36.  7, 
 
 II  Or,  tip^n 
 the  eighth. 
 
 •Pb.  6,  tidP. 
 
 II  Or,  save, 
 a  Is.  57.  1. 
 Rlic.  7.  S. 
 
 A  Ps.  10   7. 
 
 c  P«.  28  3.  & 
 63.4  Jor  y 
 S.  Ro.]«;.!8. 
 
 lCh^,l?..^^. 
 rf  1  Sam-S.S. 
 
 Ps 
 
 .  U>. 
 
 l>an  7.8,2.^. 
 t  Heb  ffrrat 
 
 I  Heb.  are 
 with  ut. 
 
 f  Ex.  S.  7.  S, 
 Is   S3.  HI. 
 
 II  Or,  ,r^„!d 
 eninare  him, 
 
 /  P.  10.  5 
 g  2  Sam.  22. 
 
 3F.  P..  18. 
 
 30,  &  19.  s. 
 
 i  119   140. 
 
 Pro.  30.  6. 
 t  Heb.  «im  : 
 
 thnt  is, 
 
 tvfry  one  Of 
 
 1  Ht'b.  the 
 tfit  of  Ihf 
 
 '  this  shall  be  the  portion  of  their  cup. 
 7  For  the  righteous  Lord  "'loveth  righteous- 
 ness ;  ■■  his  countenance  doth  behold  the  up- 
 right. 
 
 PSALM  XIL 
 
 1  David,  destitute  of  hmnnn  eomfnrt,  craveth  help  of 
 God.  3  He  comforteth  himself  with  Gnd's  j«d,)- 
 yiients  on  the  wicked,  and  confidence,  in  God's  tried 
 promises. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  li  *upon  Sheminith,  A  Psalm  of 
 David. 
 
 TTELP||,  Lord  ;  for "  the  godly  man  ceaseth  ; 
 -•--*■  for  the  faithful  fail  from  among  the  chil- 
 dren of  men. 
 
 2  ''They  speak  vanity  every  one  with  his 
 neighbour  :  '  ivith  flattering  lips  and  with  f  a 
 double  heart  do  they  speak. 
 
 3  The  Lord  .shall  cut  off  all  flattering  lips, 
 and  the  tongue  that  .'speaketh  ^  f  proud  things  : 
 
 4  Who  have  said,  With  our  tongue  will  we 
 prevail ;  our  lips  face  our  own  :  who  is  lord 
 over  us  ? 
 
 5  For  the  oppression  of  the  poor,  for  the 
 sighing  of  the  needy,  °  now  will  I  arise,  saitli 
 the  Lord  ;  I  will  set  him  in  safety //om  him 
 that  II  f  puffeth  at  him. 
 
 G  The  words  of  the  Lord  arc  *pure  words  : 
 as  silver  tried  in  a  furnace  of  earth,  purified 
 seven  times. 
 
 7  Thou  shalt  keep  them,  O  Lord,  thoushalt 
 preserve  f  them  from  this  generation  for  ever. 
 
 8  The  wicked  walk  on  every  side,  when  f  the 
 
 J!,7. ;  vilest  men  are  exalted. 
 
 '  When  the  foundatinns  of  Justice  are  subverted, 
 ■What  can  even  a  righteous  man  Aoi'—Bootftr. 
 
 IS.  Break  thou  the  arm,  >ic.,  'his  power  and  strength.'  This  may  be 
 either  a  prayer  or  a  prediction.— Sp.  Home.  Till  thmi  fiml  none,  do. 
 notes  a  thorough  search  after  sin,  full  punishment  of  it,  and  the  entire 
 
 ruin  and  destruction  of  the  wicked.— G>-«.    'Continue  to  judge  and  pCirf  nincrt 'D.  '  for  the  foundations  are  destroyed,  Sc-Piw   tlieh 
 
 punish  transgressors  tiU  not  one  is  to  be  found.'— .4.  Clarke.     •  Thou  "  intimates  this—'  all  things  are  out  of  order  in  church  and  slate  •— 
 
 Shalt  seek  the  impious  and  find  him  not.'     [The  original  is  corruptly  Bill.         i.  Eyelids,  rather  eyebrows.     When  we  examine  anything 
 
 written,  la  inDI,   lege  n   riDl.- Hors%.]          16.   T/ie   heathen   are  serirusly,  the  e>ebrows  are  sensibly  affected  and  visibly  everted  — 
 
 pensAfd  the  Canaanites.— Sco«,  Clarke,     i;.  Thau  nill prepare,  ■  thou  Oeddes.         5.  Tricth  the  righteous,  as  metals  are  tried,  for  such  is  the 
 
 nast  confirmed.  —BooMr.         18.  That  the  man  of  the  earth,  •  that  the  meaning  of  the  word.— >/rm(.      But  the  wicked,  •  and  the  wicked  ' 
 
 man  of  the  earth  never  more  play  the  tyrant.'     'That  no  man  hence.  riTl-     The  Lord  trieth  both.— 7f<im.        6.  flain  sm,re,s,  D-nD, 'quick 
 
 forth  be  expelled  from  the  land,'  that  is,  of  Israel.— So  Geddes  and  burning  coals,'  in  which  the  fire  is  still  blowing  upi   from  nC:    'it 
 
 molhroyd.     Man  is  often  said  to  be  made  of  the  dust,  but  such  a  con.  blow  with  a  bla'st  of  nit.'— Par.    By  the  word,  '  live  coals,'  or  simp'y 
 
 struction  as  the  present  nowhere  else  occurs.— Boof/i'.    'That  he  may  '  the  lightning,'  seems  to  be  understood.— iou>M. 
 
 not  add  any  more  to  drive  away  the  wretched  man  from  the  land  ' .  ^    ...        
 
 A.  Clarke.     The  construction  put  by  cr^csonThe  las?  verse  makes  it  On  the  wicked  he  raineth  flakes  of  sulphurous  fire; 
 
 probable  that  this  Psalm  was  composed  soon  afterthe  7uva-°on  of  "  ''°"""'  '''""'=^'  '"  ">'=  P°"'™  "'  '"eir  cup.' 
 
 Shalmaneser,  and  before  the  Babylonish  captivity.  —  Heic.    Several  The  allusion  is  to  the  punishment  of  Sod-m  and  Gomorrah,  which  was 
 
 cntics  think  it  was  composed  during  the  time  of  the  Babylonish  rap.  an  example  and  emblem  of  eternal  lire.  iGen.  xix.  24  •  Jude   7  )     An 
 
 tiyicy ;  among  these  are  Cal.,  Gray,  Bp.  Home.     It  was  against  some  horrible  tempest,  '  a  horrible  blasting  whirlwind.'- ylins.      '  A  burning 
 
 wicked  and  neighbouring  prince  who.  through  pride  and  thirst  for  wind.'— Gi«.     'A  scorching  blasting  wind,' the  simoom  or  samiel.-So 
 
 goia,  was  lurking  like  a  lion.    In  religion,  an  atheist;  in  war,  a  coward;  M>ch.,  Par.     The  portion  of  their  cup— (mm  the  ancient  custom  of  the 
 
 inpubUcaud  private  life,  a  prince  wiUiout  faith,  fuU  of  fraud  and  deceit,  master  of  the  feast  appointing  to  each  guest  his  cup,  that  is,  his  kind 
 
 p.    VI        ,    r     .,     ,      J      .,  and  measure  of  liquor.     'Cup' is  a  frequent  expression  in  Scripture  for 
 
 i-s.  Ai.— 1    m  the  Lord  put  I,  ^c.—thia  Psalm  has  no  name.    Ac-  'hat  portion  of  happiness  or  misery  which  God  allots  to  men.— Manl. 
 
 cording  to  Tlieodoret,  it  was  written  when  David  was  pcrscculed  by  so  St.  Basil. 
 
 Saul  and  was  advised  by  some  to  flee  for  his  safely.— Gi7(.  A  heUever  .  u    .^  n      ■    ,■ 
 
 under  persecution  professes  liis  trust  in   Goi.-Horslea       Flee  as  I  ?•      ''^'J  "'," '"'"^  "^o^''  upon  the  ungodly, 
 
 bird,  that  is,  swiftly,  without  delay  .-Boo//,,-.    '  Flee   spafrows   to    ou?  I'l^  ^'.'".fl'P'^i"''  '""'  "  ^"""'l^  ^'"'■'^  ' 
 
 KM.'-Horsle,,,  so  Mant.     Probably  proverbial,  den;^ng  a  Satio'n  of  T"''  '^"^"  ^^  '"=  """^"'^  "^  ""="  cuP-'-io""". 
 
 flfihf  ^T-^'^'',',!'""^,"'  *"'^"i'^h  there  was  no  hope  of  safety  but  in  Ps.  XII..-TiTLE-SAfm.„,7*-see  Ps.  vi  ,  Title         I    Heh   ftc  - 
 
 Seinceless  saint  -iH^^Te,       utt^-TT  ?'  """  '^"''r'°'  ".-"  'tie  a  complaint  of  the  corrupt  manners  of  that  age.->»f.    '    2  'rw„. 
 
 is    more  likeU    i^e  adSe  of  tim?d  ?r  e  h  "^|"^f  °f  enemies,  but  'falsehood.'— l/„rf^e.        4.  II7,„  hare  said,  'vve  will  prevail  by  false 
 
 *„.„,„  J     •^'  '"e  adMce  of  timid  friends.— Sro«.        2.Bendlheir  accusations,   for  who  can   call   us  to   account''— »>/fc         s    Walk 
 
 »o«;,  are  "^'^'Pf  "n-J^h'ef  .and  making  preparations  to  accompUsh  it.  o„  eeery  side.  •  go  at  large  unpuuished.'-i/e",  '  F.L/.  men  of  gr^ss* 
 
 •  •  Truly -ihe  f/undattons  the^y  are  demolishing  ■  ILXT'  ""  '"'"'"P"^'^  "^""'^  <"''  P'^^'^  '"  '"^  '"e'>«'  a"«ho'"y. 
 What  doelh  the  Just  One?'— Hors.                 ' 
 
 -Gill. 
 
 Replections  on  Ps.  X.  -  We  have  here,  I.  A  portrait  of 
 the  depraved.  In  it  we  see  many  a  modern  infidel,  and  ambi- 
 tions and  licentious  rulers  among  men.  We  see,  also,  the 
 abandoned  being  who  hates  religion— grasps  by  any  means  at 
 r^.lJ  "i:®'""',^"^'''','"  "'^  ^^'y  name  of  God.  or  at  least  per- 
 suades himself  to  ridicule  the  idea  of  his  ever  noticing  and 
 punishing  w,ckedness-and  who,  to  sum  up  his  character,  is 
 a  mass  of  blasphemy  and  deceit. 
 
 ,.J}'h"^  '"""P'"'"'  o.ftl>c  pious.  It  is  distressing  to  him  that  such 
 OTerbearing  and  profane  men  should  go  on  in  their  wicked 
 courses  unchecked  a  source  of  perpetual  anxiety  to  the  church 
 ?L^  T  X  I  '•■^^O'"'"'-  to  'lis  name  in  the  world.  But  the 
 tf'i  •J.elio^a.b  still  reigns.  Let  the  church  collectively,  and 
 the  believer  mdividually  pray,  and  ere  long,  after  the  exer- 
 578 
 
 cise  of  God's  long  suffering  and  patience,  the  displays  of  his 
 justice  and  power  shall  furnish  matter  for  everlasting  praise. 
 
 Refi.ixtions  on  Ps.  XI.  —  I.  We  see  here,  the  stait  of 
 trial  to  which  the  church  of  God  is  liable.  From  t]»e  taunts  of 
 foes  or  the  fears  of  friends.  From  the  secret  designs  of  the 
 wicked,  and  the  open  assaults  on  the  foundation  of  truth  and 
 religion.  It  has  often  had  its  dark  days,  with  scarce  a  gleam 
 of  light.  Its  friends  have  been  in  the  furnace,  but  the  church 
 still  remains  unconsumed  —  it  loses  nothing  by  its  trials  but 
 its  dross. 
 
 II.  The  state  of  punishment  to  which  the  opponents  of  Gnd's 
 church  are  exposed.  'I'lieir  time  of  trial  is  also  coming,  hut  they 
 shall  not  stand  the  fire.  Gold  must  remain  uninjured,  but 
 stubble  shflli  assuredly  be  consunipd. 
 
The  corruption  of  a  natural  man. 
 
 PSALMS,  XIII.,  XIV.,  XV. 
 
 A  citizen  of  Zion  described. 
 
 PSALM  XIII. 
 
 1  David  complaineih  of  delay  in  help.  3  He  prayeth 
 for  preventing  grace.  5  He  boasleth  of  divine 
 mercy. 
 
 To  the  II  chief  Musicim,  A  Psalm  of  David. 
 
 TTOW  long;  wilt  thou  forget  me,  O  Lord? 
 
 -*--*-  for  ever  ?  "  how  long  wilt  thou  hide  thy 
 
 face  from  me? 
 
 2  How  long  shall  I  take  counsel  in  my  soul, 
 havinri  sorrow  hi  my  heart  daily  ?  how  long 
 shall  mine  enemy  be  exalted  over  me? 
 
 3  Consider  and  hear  me,  O  Lord  my  God  : 
 ''  lighten  mine  eyes,  "  lest  I  sleep  the  sleep  of 
 death  ; 
 
 4  ''  Lest  mine  enemy  say,  I  have  prevailed 
 against  him  ;  and  those  that  trouble  me  re- 
 joice when  I  am  moved. 
 
 5  But  I  have  "  trusted  in  thy  mercy  ;  my 
 heart  shall  rejoice  in  thy  salvation. 
 
 6  I  will  sing  unto  the  Lord,  because  he  hath 
 ''dealt  bountifully  with  me. 
 
 PSALM  XIV. 
 
 1   David  (lescrihetk  the  corruption  of  a  natural  man, 
 4  He  conviiiceth  the  wicked  by  the  Ii(/hi  of  their  con- 
 science.    7  i/p  f/fnrieth  in  the  S'llra/inn  of  God, 
 To  the  chief  i\Iusician,  A  Psalm  of  David. 
 T^HE  "fool  hath  said  in  his  heart,    There  is 
 ■^    no  God.     **  They  are  corrupt,  they  have 
 done  abominable   works,   there  is  none  that 
 doeth  good. 
 
 II  Or,  ovn- 
 ieer, 
 
 2  Deu.Sl.  17. 
 Job  13.  24. 
 Pa  44.  24.. 
 &  S8.  H.  & 
 89.46.  13.59. 
 
 /Ps.  ne  7. 
 
 &  M9.  17. 
 
 a  Ps.  10-  4.& 
 53   1 ,  ftc. 
 
 h  Glt.  6.  II, 
 12.  K..m.3. 
 10,  &c. 
 
 c  Pa   S3.  13 
 &  102.  19. 
 
 d  Rom.  3.10, 
 
 n.  12. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ttinking. 
 
 e  3eT.  10.  25. 
 
 Amos  8,  4. 
 
 Mic    3    3. 
 /Ps.  79.  6, 
 
 Is.  U.  7. 
 t  Heb.  fl.Pi/ 
 fen'tdnf^i.r. 
 
 Fs   5:t'5 
 ?  Pa.  9.  9.  & 
 
 112.  5, 
 t  Hpb.  Who 
 
 See  Rom. 
 II.  26 
 /*  P.=i   5:1.  6. 
 Job  42.  10. 
 Pa.   126.  1. 
 
 a  Ps.  2-1.  3, 
 
 &c. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 in  jour  II. 
 b  Ps.  2.  6.  & 
 
 .  '1. 
 
 e  Is.  33.  13. 
 
 dZech.  8  16. 
 
 Epb.  4  2.1. 
 
 eLev.  19.16 
 
 Pa   34.  13. 
 
 /■Ex.  2.3.1. 
 
 Or,  r^e.t'- 
 
 0,,  or,  ai- 
 
 ivrelh. 
 
 g  Esth.  3.  2. 
 
 i  2  *"  The  Lord  looked  down  from  heaven 
 upon  the  children  of  men,  to  see  if  there  were 
 any  that  did  understand,  and  seek  God. 
 
 3  ''  They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are  all 
 together  become  f  filthy  :  there  is  none  that 
 doeth  good,  no,  not  one. 
 
 4  Have  all  the  workers  of  iniquity  no  know- 
 ledge? who  ^  eat  up  my  people  as  they  eat 
 bread,  and  '"call  not  upon  the  Lord. 
 
 5  There  f  were  they  in  great  fear :  for  God 
 75  in  the  generation  of  the  righteous. 
 
 6  Ye  have  shamed  the  counsel  of  the  poor, 
 because  the  Lord  is  his  ^refuge. 
 
 7  f^Oh  that  the  salvation  of  Israel  were 
 come  out  of  Zion!  'when  the  Lord  bringeth 
 back  the  captivity  of  his  people,  Jacob  shall 
 rejoice,  and  Israel  shall  be  glad. 
 
 PSALM  XV. 
 
 David  describeth  a  citizen  of  Zion. 
 A  Psalm  of  David. 
 T  ORD,  ^  who  shall  f  abide  in  thy  tabernacle  ? 
 ^  who  shall  dwell  in  ^  thy  holy  hill  ? 
 
 2  '^  He  that  walketh  uprightly,  and  worketh 
 righteousness,  and  **  speaketh  the  truth  in  his 
 heart. 
 
 3  ^  He  that  backbiteth  not  with  his  tongue, 
 nor  doeth  evil  to  his  neighbour,  ""nor  ||  taketh 
 up  a  reproach  against  his  neighbour. 
 
 4  ^  In  whose  eyes  a  vile  person  is  contemned  ; 
 
 Ps.  Xlir.  —  TiTf.E— .4  Psalm  of  Oaui'd— this  Psalm  was  probably 
 written  when  David  fled  from  Ahs&Xnm.—Theodoret.  I.  Wilt  thou 
 forget  me.  0  Lord?  for  erfir?  '  wholly  forget  me,' — Boothr.,iiO  Lid  her, 
 Mich.  2.  Ttike  rotaisel  in  my  soul,  '  be  perplexed,  not  knnwing- which 
 ■way   to   turn.' — Bp.  Home.     '  Have   ve.sation    in   my  soul.'  —  Hare. 
 
 3.  Lifjhtfin  my  eyes,  literally,  David's  eyes  might  have  been  affected  by 
 long:  fa'.ting-.'as  were  Jonathan's,  (I  Sam.  xiv.  29}  This  was  David's 
 state  when  he  came  to  Nob,  (1  Sam.  xxi.  l  ;)  also  in  Absalom's  rebellion, 
 (2Sam.xvil.  29. }  Metaphorically,  it  may  express  the  gloom  of  afflic- 
 tion and  the  cheerfulness  afforded  by  relief. — So  Hum.  With  joyful 
 feelings  the  eye  sparkles,  the  whole  face  beams  with  delight. —  Waif. 
 
 4.  A'o  knowledge,  '  no  sense.' — M.  Good. 
 
 Ps.  XIV.  —  Title — A  Psalm  of  l>«['irf— David  is,  by  most  writers, 
 supposed  to  be  the  author,  and  the  revolt  of  Israel,  in  Absalom's  rebel, 
 lion,  the  occasion,  of  this  Psalm. — Manf.  A.  Clarke  imagines  that  the 
 name  vf  David  is  improperly  afB.ted  to  this  and  the  preceding  Psalm, 
 which,  in  his  opinion,  were  written  during  the  Bab\loni.-h  caj  tivity. 
 Jl/.  Gf'r.rf  translates  the  TiUe,  'On  the  Supreme.  By  David.'  i.  The 
 fool,^2Z>  'the  infatuated,'  '  the  in>ane,'  'the  depraved,' who  departs 
 from  good  actiims. — B>/ih.  Not  any  individual  is  meant,  but  wicked 
 profligates. — Gill.  Hath  said,  'fools  say  ;'  the  Hebrew  often  uses  the 
 singular  in  a  collective  sense,  and  the  ne.^t  verses  use  the  plural. — 
 Boot/ir.  In  his  heart — the  word  iS,  signifying  *  heart,'  has  reference, 
 as  used  among  the  Hebrews,  more  to  the  intellect  than  the  feeling. — 
 Moristni.  No  God — '  there  is'  is  not  in  the  original ;  perhaps  it  may 
 express  desire  as  much  as  belief.— .Krf.  VH,  the  word  translated  '  no,' 
 seems  always  to  include  the  substant  ive  verb  '  to  be.' — Morison. 
 *  There  is  no  government  of  Gnd  on  earth,'  Paraph,  of  Targ.  Corrupt, 
 in  a  state  of  putrescency,  a  plague  of  the  most  deadly  kind,  propagating 
 but  destruction.— C/fl)'A.-e.  'They  corrupt  their  works,'  Turg.  2.  Looked 
 down,  like  a  watchman  looking  from  the  top  of  some  lofty  tower. — Bp. 
 Home.     Did  understand,  '  were  wise,   prudent.'         3.  Gone  aside,  ID, 
 
 *  declined  from  the  good  vfa-y.^—Byth.  '  They  will  not  walk  in  the 
 straight  path.' — A.  Clarke.  That  seems  not  to  be  the  notion  here,  but 
 another,  taken  from  wine  when  it  grows  dead  and  sour.  Thus,  (Hos. 
 iv.  IS,)  CN3D  ID,  'their  drink  is  gone  aside,  or  grown  sour.'  This  is 
 justified  by  what  follows.  Become  filthy,  inbN3.  Irom  a  root,  n^K.  sig- 
 nifying '  to  he  rotten'  or  '  putrefied  ;'  applied  to  corrupted  flesh,  which 
 is  thrown  away.  Hence,  the  Sept.  has  tixpe((*j^'i<7ci^,  '  are  become  un- 
 profitable,' or  'nothing  worth.' — Ham.  The  metaphor  is  taken  from 
 milk  fermented,  and  so  become  sour,  rancid,  and  worthless.— -4. C/arA-e. 
 
 4.  Have  all  the  xvorkers,  ffC,  the  wicked  Israelites,  who  insulted  and 
 persecuted  the  pious  worshippers  of  Jehovah. — Boothr.  As  they  eat 
 bread,  that  is,  their  ordinary  food.  The  principal  nourishment  of  the 
 orientals  in  general  is  fresh-baked  bread. — So  Niebuhr.  'That  vile 
 king  eats  the  people  as  he  does  his  rice,'  Hindoo  expression. — Rob. 
 
 5.  There  tvere  they,  fyc,  a  manifest  allusion  to  the  history  of  the 
 Canaanitibh  nations. — A.  Clarke.  6.  Ye  have  shamed,  Sfc,  laughed 
 at  his  dependence  upon  God. — Bp.  Wilson. 
 
 'They  deride  the  counsel  of  the  afflicted. 
 But  Jehovah  will  be  his  refuge.'— Soo/Ar, 
 
 Ps.  XV.  — 1.  Who  shall ?  Sfc— this  Psalm  is  intended  to  point  out 
 that  moral  'righteousness  is  the  qualification  which  alone  can  fit  any 
 one  to  be  a  guest  in  God's  tabernacle,'  a  citizen  of  Zion.  This,  how. 
 ever,  implies  no  merit. —  Wil.  The  author  describes  a  citizen  of  Zion, 
 or  what  is  requisite  for  a  member  of  the  Jewish  church. — T.  Edwards. 
 Abide,  "ViV,  '  sojourn'  or  '  lodge,'  as  in  an  inn. — Pag.,  Mont.  In  thy 
 tabernacle— this  was  a  kind  of  moveable  temple,  and  a  type  of  the 
 church  militant.— .4.  Clarke.  3.  Backbiteth  not,  ^y\  vh,  from  7Ji,  a 
 wiifd  signifying  'the  foot,'  and  denotes  such  a  person  who  goes  about 
 from  house  to  house  speaking  things  he  should  nut,  (i  Tim.  v.  13.) — 
 Gill.  4.  A  vile  person,  DM03.  '  the  reprobate,'  one  abandoned  to  sin. 
 7s  contemned,  nU3,  '  is  loathsome,'  as  if  covered  with  leprosy. — A.  C. 
 
 Reflkctions  on  Ps.  XII  —  I.  The  deficiency  or  loss  of  good 
 men  mtist  ahcnys  be  a  cause  of  grief  to  the  church  of  God.  "Their 
 counsel,  their  influence,  their  prayers,  their  instructions,  their 
 examples,  are  of  vast  importance.  They  are  the  salt  of  the 
 earth.  Even  in  the  best  state  of  the  church  we  have  reason  to 
 pray,  '  The  Lord  make  his  people  an  hundred  times  so  many 
 more  as  they  be  !' 
 
 II.  The  general  prevalence  of  hypocrisy  and  infidelity  must  in 
 like  manner  be  a  subject  of  bitter  lamentation.  Wliat  a  moral  con- 
 tagion is  produced  in  society  when  '  the  wicked  walk  on  every 
 side,'  and  '  the  vilest  men  are  exalted  !' 
 
 Reflections  ON  Ps.  XIIL  — I.  We  have  here.  David's 
 drsfress.  Wliat  is  more  distressing  to  the  soul  of  a  good  man 
 than  the  hidings  of  God's  countenance?  When  the  soul  wants 
 the  evidence  of  his  favour,  it  makes  all  our  sorrows  doubly 
 bitter. 
 
 II.  David's  remedy.  His  only  remedy  was  prayer.  Here  be 
 found  relief.     '  Is  any  afflicted,  let  him  pray  !' 
 
 III.  David's  deliverance.  '  It  is  observable.'  says  Bishop 
 Horne,  '  that  this  and  many  other  psalms  with  a  mournful  be- 
 ginning, have  a  triumphant  ending  ;  to  shew  us  the  prevailing 
 
 579 
 
 power  of  devotion,  and  to  convince  us  that  prayer  brings  with 
 it  the  comforts  of  heaven,  and  renews  our  weary  spirits,  in 
 the  gloomy  seasons  of  sorrow  and  temptation.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XIV. — I.  Here  is  an  exhibition  of 
 depraved  human  nature.  Men  shew  the  depraved  principles  of 
 their  hearts  by  acting  as  if  they  believed  there  was  no  God. 
 In  the  third  chapter  of  the  Romans,  the  apostle  applies  this 
 description  generally  to  Jews  and  Gentiles.  Such  are  men 
 till  their  hearts  are  changed,  and  the  gospel  makes  fhem 
 better.  '  The  way  of  peace  have  they  not  known  :  there  is  no 
 fear  of  God  before  their  eyes.' 
 
 II.  Here  is  a  reason  ivhy  we  shoidd  look  to  Christ  for  salvation. 
 We  have  no  righteousness  of  our  own  to  justify  us,  and  with- 
 out the  sanctifying  influences  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  our  hearts 
 must  still  remain  unclean.  Let  us  not  compare  ourselves 
 with  the  most  abandoned,  and  suppose  that  they  only  are  con- 
 tained in  the  description  here  given.  Our  own  hearts  will 
 tell  us  that  we  too  have  often  acted  as  if  we  thought  there  was 
 no  God— that  we  are  corrupt — that  we  have  done  abominable 
 works.  Our  only  refuge  is  in  that  salvation  which  God  has 
 provided  in  Jesus  ;  *  Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other.' 
 
Davicljleeth  to  God  fur  preservation. 
 
 PSALMS,  XVI. 
 
 I/is  hope  of  tite  resurrection. 
 
 but  he  lionoureth  them  that  fear  the  Lord. 
 He  that  ''sweaieth  to  his  own  hurt,  and 
 changeth  not. 
 5  'He  that  puttetli  not  out  his  money  to 
 usurj',  '  nor  taUetli  reward  against  the  inno- 
 cent. He  that  doeth  these  thin(/s  '  shall  never 
 be  moved. 
 
 PSALM  XVL 
 
 I  David,  ill  distrust  of  merits,  and  hatred  of  idolatry, 
 Jleet/i  to  God  for  preservation.  5  He  siieureth  the 
 hope  of  his  caltinp,  of  tile  resurreetion,  and  life  ever* 
 lasting. 
 
 II  *.Miclitam  of  DaviJ. 
 
 PRESERVE  me,  O  God  :  "for  in  thee  do  I 
 ■*-     put  my  trust. 
 
 2  O  III!/  soul,  thou  hast  said  unto  tlie  Lord, 
 Thou  art  my  Lord  :  ''  my  goodness  extendeth 
 not  to  thee  ; 
 
 3  But  to  the  saints  that  are  in  the  earth,  and 
 to  the  excellent,  in  v.hom  is  all  my  delight. 
 
 4  Tlieir   sorrows    sliall    be   multiplied   that 
 
 II  hasten  after  another  god :  tlieir  drink  offer- 
 
 c  Ex.  2;l.  13. 
 
 AJuJg.  11. 
 
 Hos.  2.  16, 
 
 35. 
 
 17, 
 
 d  Den.  32,  0. 
 
 .■  Ex.  S8.  a.-i. 
 
 Ps  73.  26  & 
 
 Lev.  2f,.  i!6. 
 
 119.57.  U 
 
 neu.23.  ia. 
 
 \4i.  S. 
 
 Ezek.  IS.  8. 
 
 Jef.  10.  16 
 
 &  -^i.  12. 
 
 Lam.  3  2i 
 
 A  Ex.  a.S.  8. 
 
 tHeb.o/mj/ 
 
 Dea.  16   19. 
 
 P'trl 
 
 I  Ps  16  a 
 
 e  Pa.  11.  6. 
 
 2Fet.  I.  10. 
 
 /Pa.  17.3. 
 
 t;  Acts  2. 1^5, 
 
 Ac. 
 
 A  P3.  73.  23. 
 
 H  1  h>,  b-  St 
 
 Psalm  0/ 
 D,irid 
 
 1  P.*.  15   5. 
 *  Pa.  30.  12. 
 
 '  S,.  P8   56, 
 
 &  57.  8. 
 +  Heb.  dwell 
 
 tk  69,  h  60 
 a  Ps.  25.  20. 
 
 I  Ps    49.  li. 
 Acts  2   27. 
 
 6  Job  22.  2, 
 
 31.  fc  IS.  35 
 
 3.  Ik  35.  7,9. 
 
 m  Le<r.ig.-,^8. 
 
 Ps.  50    9. 
 
 Niiin.  ti.  6. 
 
 Horn.  11. 
 
 >i  Mat  7.  U. 
 
 3o. 
 
 0  Ps,   17    15- 
 
 &  21.  6. 
 
 Mat   5.  8. 
 
 II  Or.  jiM 
 
 I  Cm.  13. 19. 
 
 gift*  111  aw 
 
 1  John  3,  8. 
 
 olKer. 
 
 p  Ps.  3fi.  8. 
 
 ings  of  blood  will  I  not  offer,  *^  nor  take  up 
 their  names  into  my  lips. 
 
 5  ''The  Lord  is  tlie  portion  f  of  mine  inherit- 
 ance and  ''of  my  cup:  thou  maintainest  my 
 lot. 
 
 G  The  lines  are  fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant 
 places ;  yea,  I  have  a  goodly  heritage. 
 
 7  I  will  bless  the  Lord,  who  liath  given  me 
 counsel:  'my  reins  also  instruct  me  in  the 
 night  seasons. 
 
 8^1  have  set  the  Lord  always  before  me  : 
 because  ^  he  is  at  my  right  hand,  '  I  shall  not 
 be  moved. 
 
 9  Therefore  my  heart  is  glad,  ^  and  my  glory 
 rejoicetii  :  my  flesh  also  shall  f  rest  in  hope. 
 
 10  'For  thou  wilt  not  leave  '"my  .soul  in 
 hell  ;  neither  wilt  tliou  suffer  thine  Holy  One 
 to  see  corruption. 
 
 1 1  Thou  wilt  shew^  me  the  "  path  of  life  :  "in 
 thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy  ;  ^at  thy  right 
 hand  there  are  pleasures  for  evermore. 
 
 V3'y^  m^jt  "  who  (iespiseth  himself  in  his  own  eyes. — So  Aben  Ezra, 
 &c.  To  his  own  hurt,  rt^  TrXrjo-iov  avToi;  '  to  liis  neighbour,'  Sept.  This 
 wide  difference  may  appear  singular  to  the  English  reader,  but  it 
 ari'^es  from  the  two  translations  being  derived  from  two  words  exactly 
 alike  except  with  a  trifling'  alteration  in  pointing.  But  the  one  comes 
 from  a  root,  yn,  signifying  *  to  be  evil ;'  and  the  otlier  from  a  root, 
 rry^,  signifying  '  to  minister  to,' — See  Ham.  and  Scotf,  so  the  Vtil^.  and 
 Sffr. ;  or  the  translation  might  be,  '  he  sweareth  to  afflict  himself,  and 
 does  not  rhancc.* — A.  Clarke.  5.  To  usury,  lo  any  poor  brotl>er 
 Israeliie,  God  having  forbidden  it  in  this  ca'^e,  (see  Deut.  xxiii.  19.  20.) 
 —  Wells.  Be  moved,  from  the  tabernacle  of  God  and  his  holy  liill. — 
 Gill.  Removed  or  e.vpclled  from  his  nativeiand,  which  was  considered 
 by  the  Jews  as  ihc  greatest  calamity. — Heu\ 
 
 Ps.  XVI.  — TiTLK — Michtnm,  cn3'D.  signifies  any  precious  thing.  It 
 is  from  a  root,  CDD.  which  means  'to  seal,'  'note,'  or  'engrave;*  a 
 preciou-;  thing  being  sealed  up,  or  a  precious  saying  engraven,  to  pre- 
 vent it  from  being  forgotten. — So  Ham.  2Tn^o7P«0<a,  'an  inscription 
 for  a  piilar  or  monument.' Se/)^  '  Michtam'  also  means,  'pure  or 
 stamped  gold,'  and  hence  it  has  been  supposed  that  this  P?alin  bears 
 its  title  from  its  excellence,  '  a  golden  Psalm.* — Clarke.  The  works  of 
 the  most  excellent  Arabian  poets  are  called  golden,  because  they  were 
 written  in  letters  of  g  Id"  upon  Egyptian  paper.  Might  not  the  si.^c 
 Psalms  which  are  thus  distinguished  be  so  called  from  having  been  so 
 written  and  hung  up  in  the  sanctuary? — Burder*s  Orient.  Cust.,  l68. 
 '  David's  jewel  or  nntable  sang.' — Ainft.  'A  golden  song  of  David.' — 
 Buothr.  The  Jewish  writers  have  quite  different  meanings  for  Mich- 
 tam. They  are — ii.)  A  musical  instrument.— A'im.  (ii.'i  The  name  of 
 a  tune. — Jarchi,  and  Ahen  Ezra.  I.  Preserve  me,  ^310©,  'keep  me 
 
 in  safety,'  'defend  me.'—Munt.  This  Psalm  is  addressed  to  the  pro- 
 mised Messiah  under  the  name  of  God.  'Thou  art  my  Lord,'  and  all 
 that  follows  may  be  regarded  as  the  language  of  the  Messiah  accosting 
 the  eternal  Father.— G.  Marsh.  2.  Thou  hast  said,  '  I  have  said,'  so 
 sixteen  copies,  all  the  ancient  versions  but  the  Chnld. — Mont.,  Bp. 
 Louth,  Horsier/,  Bonthr.  Thou  art  my  Lord,  ^31^^,  Adonai,  'my  prop,' 
 'stay,'  or  'support.' — A.  Clarke.  My  goodness  extendeth  not  to  thee, 
 Ttav  a-jufojv  ficy  on  xpf "ii'  €x*'f.  '  'h""  li'^st  no  need  of  my  good  things,' 
 Sept.  '  My  goodness  is  from  thee.'  Chatd.,  Syr.  '  Is  not  without  thee.* 
 Ken.  '  No  good  I  expect  but  from  thee.' — Geddes,  Boolhr.  '  Thou  art 
 my  good,  nothing  is  above  thee.' — Gussetius.  '  Thou  art  my  good  :  not 
 besides  thee.* — Horsley.  My  goodness,  Sfc,  ^Dll-,  '  my  bounty*  is  not 
 to  thee.  The  Messiah  here  speaks  to  the  Father.  '  What  I  am  doing 
 can  atid  nothing  to  thy  Divinity  ;  thou  art  not  providing  this  astonish- 
 ing Sacrifice  because  thou  canst  derive  any  excellence  from  it,  but  this 
 bounty  extends  to  the  suints  on  earth,  [in  the  earth,  "  in  the  land," — 
 Horslei/.]  and  to  the  e.rcellent,  ''Tli^,  "  the  noble  or  supereminent  ones,'' 
 who  now  inherit  the  promises.' — So  Clarke.  '  My  glorified  ones.' — 
 Horsley.  4.  Another  god,  'that  endow  another,' — Ains.,  or  *  purchase 
 by  dowry.'  The  worshippers  of  idols  are  said  to  hetroth  themselves  to 
 them. — See  Horsley.  'That  go  whoring  after  strange  gods.' — Ken. 
 '  God' is  not  in  the  original,  therefore  Messiah  might  as  well  be  substi- 
 tuted. The  Jews,  by  rejecting  the  Messiah,  have  multiplied  sorrows 
 for  ISOO  years.— C/«r/fe.  Drink  offerings  of  6l.iod— this  alludes  to  the 
 heathen  sacrifices,  in  which  the  blood  of  men  was  offered,— P^j^.  The 
 riiink-offcrings  of  the  Jews  were  of  wine  only.  Will  I  not  ujfer — the 
 person  who  speaks  through  the  whole  Psalm  now  speaks  as  a  pries^t. — 
 Boothr.  *1  will  not  receive  with  favour  their  drink-offerings,  nor  the 
 blood  of  their  sacrifices,'  Chnld.  Their  names  into  my  lips — David  here 
 declares  thai  he  will  have  no  conversation  with  idolaters. — Bp.WUsoii. 
 b.  The  Lord  is  the  portion  of  7nine,  ^c— the  phrase  is  taken  from  the 
 
 Jewish  priesthood  j  they  had  nn  pnrt  in  the  land,  but  Jehovah  was  their 
 portion. — Boothr.  My  cup — see  nnte  on  Ps.  xi.  6.  Thou  maintainest, 
 ^c,  'thy  Thummim  is  my  lot.'— Horslty.  'Thou  art  he  who  hast  ap- 
 pointed my  lot.* — Boothr.  G.  The  lints,  ^c,  'my  lot,  portinn,  or 
 kingdom  is  appointed  unto  me  in  a  pleasant  country.' — Bp.  Wilson. 
 In  surveying,  the  Israelites  used  to  measure  their  ground  with  cords. 
 D'bsn,  (Araos,  vii.  17,)  and  hence,  any  portion  of  land  so  measured 
 WHS  called  by  the  name  c.f  the  measuring  instrument. — SoW«?h.  There 
 is  an  allusion  to  the  ancient  division  of  the  land,  by  lot,  to  the  Israel- 
 ites.— A.  Clarke.  7-  /tf^"!*,  inwanl  thoughts  and  affedions. — S.  Clarke. 
 The  reins  or  kidneys  are  used  to  signify  the  interior  faculties, —  Waif. 
 8.  /  hape  set,  Sfc. — to  ver.  li,  applied  by  St.  Peter  to  the  death  and  re- 
 surrection of  Christ.  (.\cts,  ii.  25.) — A.  Clarke.  At  my  ritfhf  hand,  a 
 metaphorical  expreesiou.  signifying  that  God  was  his  chief  counsellor 
 and  guide. — Hew.  g.  My  glory,  '  my  tongue,'  so  called  because  by 
 it  man  excels  all  creatures,  and  with  it,  he,  as  celestial  spirits,  caa 
 praise  God. — So  Dodd,  Mant.,  &c.  '  My  soul,'  the  most  noble  ami  glo- 
 rious part  of  man. — Aben  Ezra,  Kimchi,  Ben  Melech.  '  Soul'  bids  as 
 fair  to  be  the  meaning. — A.  Clarke.  'H  iXucrtru  ^luv, '  my  tongue,'  Sept., 
 as  quoted  in  Acts.  10.  My  soul  in  hell,  'Tny  soul  in  hade:^.' — Boothr., 
 Waif.  Hades  is  used  lo  denote  the  place  to  which  the  spirits  of  men 
 are  gathered,  without  regard  to  their  conilition,  as  happy  ur  miserable. 
 — Dathe.  '  Thou  wilt  not  abandon  my  life  to  the  grave.' — Kcu.  '  Tbuu 
 wilt  not  leave  my  life  in  the  grave.'— P^/e  Smith.  The  life  of  the  Mes- 
 siah should  not  continue  under  the  power  if  death. — So  Clarke.  'Thou 
 wilt  not  leave  my  dead  body  in  the  grave.*  See  the  use  of  iL'El  in  Le\  . 
 xxi.  1,  &c. ;  and  from  the  ceaseless  rapacity  (>f  the  grave,  it  suitably 
 bears  the  name,  biMiD.  here  used,  derived  Irom  a  rnot,  "jptiu,  signifying 
 *  to  demand,'  '  beg,'  or  *  crave.'  This  reading  is  strengthened  by  whal 
 follows,  '  nor  wilt  thou  suffer  ifec,  corruption,"  rinm.  a  word  which  ex- 
 presses the  state  of  putrefaction  in  a  dead  body. — £rf.,vide  Par.  It 
 seems  best  to  interpret  it  of  the  grave,  for  the  word  XCD3  is  rendeied 
 'dead  body,'  Num.  ix.  6,  10,  and  xix.  II.  13.— Gill.  "jlMTU  and  ud»,t. 
 when  spoken  of  the  body,  signify  'the  grave;'  when  of  the  soul,  they 
 refer  to  that  state  in  which  the  soul  is  without  the  body,  whether  para- 
 dise or  helf,  properly  so  called. —  Usher.  Thine  Holy  One,  "TTZ^'n, 
 tliough  plural  here,  it  is  singular  in  Acts,  ii.  27 ;  xiii.  33  ;  and  in  all  the 
 ancient  versions,  so  that  the  plural  here  must  be  a  corruption. —  Clarke. 
 188  c'pies  of  Kennirolt's  collation,  and  gS  MSS.  of  JJe  Rossi's,  hava 
 "TT'Dn  instead  of  "Tl^cn,  'thy  saints.' — See  Bosenm.  To  see  corrup- 
 tion— all  human  b  eings  see  corru|)tion  ;  Christ,  being  sinless,  saw  no 
 corruption. — So  Clarke.  II.  Thou  u-ilt  shew  me  the  path  of  life,  *  I 
 
 first  shall  find  the  way  out  of  the  regions  of  the  dead,  to  die  no  more.* 
 Thus  Christ  was  the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept,  for  others  which 
 arose  died  again.  Life  is  plural,  '  lives,*  VT^,  for  this  resurrection  im- 
 plies the  life  of  the  body  and  the  soul. — So  Clarke.  It  may  carry  with 
 it  an  allusion  to  the  millions  which  shall  rise  to  life  by  reason  of  *  Him 
 that  liveth  and  was  dead,  and  who  is  alive  for  evermore,'  (Rev.  i.  14.) 
 — Morison.  Thy  presence,  'V^^,  '  thy  faces ;'  the  soul  drinks  in  bcttifi- 
 cation  fiom  the  presence  of'Tot:  Tbinttv. — So  Clarke.  Fulness  of  joy, 
 'r^iti'TMt  mrTDTT,  '  a  saturation  of  juy,'  i.  e.,  joy  the  most  exalted  I'Cfure 
 t  by  face, — Kuin.  .Some  commentators  consider  the  latter  pait  of  this 
 Psalm  as  a  prophecy  of  the  Messiah,  especially  of  his  death  and  resur- 
 rection, and  the  former  part  as  applicable  to  David,  but  prophetic  of 
 Christ. — So  Henry  and  Scott.  Some  consider  the  latter  verses  only  as 
 pointing  to  Christ. — So  Ost..  Sut.  Some  apply  the  whole  to  David, — 
 Pat.;  and  some  the  whole  to  Christ. — So  Gill,  Bp.  Home,  Horsley, 
 Boothr.,  Clarke,  Morison. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XV. —L  This  psalm  should  lead  us 
 to  make  the  grand  inquiry.  Who  is  the  man  that  is  Jit  for  haren  9 
 jNIpetness  for  heaven  does  not  consist  only  in  having  our  sins 
 pardoned  through  Christ,  but  also  our  souls  sanctified,  and 
 tbere  is  no  evidence  tliat  we  enjoy  the  one  without  the  exist- 
 eijoe  of  the  other.  If  our  souls  are  sanctified,  then  it  will  ap- 
 jipiir  in  our  actions,  words,  and  motives. 
 
 U.  To  solve  tl)is  question,  we  mitst  have  recourse  to  the  2'^oun- 
 
 tain  of  Knowledge.  God  knows  our  state,  l.et  us  continually 
 pray  thai  he  would  teach  us  by  his  word  and  Spirit,  and  so  we 
 shall  not  deceive  ourselves,  but  we  shall  have  reason  to  give 
 '  thanks  unto  the  Father,  who  hath  made  us  meet  Co  be  pur- 
 takers  of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light.' 
 
 Reillctions  on  Ps.  XVL  —  I.  Let  us  reflect  on  that  por- 
 tion of  this  psalm  which  probably  hdougs  to  David.  Here  we 
 learn,  in  our  deepest  troubles,  lo  pu'  our  trust  in  i  lod  —  to  ar- 
 
David  cravctli  defence  of  Ou<l 
 
 PSALMS,  XVII. 
 
 against  his  enemies. 
 
 PSALM  XVII. 
 
 1   David,  in  confidence  of  his  inte(/riti/,  craveth  defena 
 of  God  aqainst  his  eni-mies,     10  He  shcweth    their 
 
 pride,  craft,  and  ca(/crnf:ss,      13   He  prayeth  against 
 them  in  confidence  of  his  hope. 
 
 A  Prayer  of  David. 
 TTEAR  t  the  right,  O  Loud,  attend  unto  my 
 -^•*-  cry,  give  ear  unto  my  prayer,  that  goetfi 
 t  not  out  of  feigned  hps. 
 
 '2  Let  my  sentence  come  forth  from  thy  pre- 
 sence ;  let  thine  eyes  beliold  tlie  things  that 
 are  equal. 
 
 »*i  Thou  hast  proved  mine  heart ;  *  thou  hast 
 visited  me  in  the  night;  ^  thou  hast  tried  me, 
 and  shalt  find  nothing  ;  I  am  purposed  that 
 my  mouth  siiall  not  transgress. 
 
 4  Concerning  the  works  of  men,  by  the  word 
 of  thy  lips  1  have  kept  me  from  the  paths  of 
 the  destroyer. 
 
 5  *^  Hold  up  my  goings  in  thy  paths,  that  my 
 footsteps  fslip  not. 
 
 (J  -^  1  have  called  upon  thee,  for  thou  wilt 
 licar  me,  O  God:  incline  thine  ear  unto  me, 
 and  hear  my  speech. 
 
 7  ^  Shew  thy  marvellous  lovingkindness,  O 
 thou  II  that  savest  by  thy  right  hand  them 
 which  put  their  trust  in  thee  from  those  that 
 
 tHebj»i(ice 
 
 t  Heb   with- 
 
 a  Pa.  16.  7. 
 
 h  3ah2%  in 
 Ps.  -ie  ?.  >t 
 6G.Ul.:*.  131 
 2  Zed.  13 
 9.  %r:il.:^  ■,'. 
 3.  1  Ptt  ;  7, 
 
 cPs.llO  133. 
 
 t  Heb  bpuot 
 
 d  Pb.  lis   2. 
 e  Pb-  31.  21 
 li  Or.  tl,-Kl 
 tn^-nt  I'lfrn 
 teUich  trust 
 in  tliee 
 from  ihosf 
 Ihut  riJCT  up 
 •ig-ihisl  thy 
 T>.jht  hao'd. 
 
 ADen.S2,lO. 
 rh  2.  8. 
 if  Itiith  2  12 
 
 Ps.  36.  7.  & 
 
 :i7.  I,  Ri  61. 
 
 ■1.  .«!  03.  7. 
 
 /t(  9t.  I,  4. 
 
 >rat.  23.37. 
 t  Hi'h.  il.iil 
 
 wnslfi  >tie. 
 t  H.-b    m}, 
 
 aga 
 
 ..I  the 
 
 •ml. 
 h  Deu.3'2  15- 
 
 .Tob  15   27, 
 
 Pa  T3.  7.  & 
 
 1 1 9.  70. 
 I  S^ni.2  3. 
 
 Ps.  31.  18. 
 h  I  Sa.23.-J6. 
 I  Ps.  10  8,9, 
 
 10. 
 t  Heb.  n.? 
 
 /.i^.,r4.  of 
 
 him  (,tbal 
 
 is.   ./.,.. r^V 
 
 "'■"■r ''•-"•) 
 
 IS  ns  n  ho'i 
 
 to   nun./. 
 \  Heb.  iit- 
 
 t.ue. 
 t  Heb   pre- 
 
 ;  I-s,  in.  5 
 I  Oi",  by  thi/ 
 
 iirnrd. 
 
 I   Or,   From 
 
 >urn  bv 
 
 llii-ie  hand. 
 ',  Pa.  73.  12. 
 
 I.u,   16-  25 
 
 6,  7.  &  16.  1 
 
 hide 
 
 rise  up  against  them. 
 
 8  •"  Keep  me  as  the  apple  of  the  eye, 
 me  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings, 
 
 9  From  the  wicked  f  that  oppress  me, /'/(;/« 
 fmy  deadly  enemies,  who  compass  me  about. 
 
 10  "  They  are  inclosed  in  their  own  fat :  with 
 their  mouth  they  'speak  proudly. 
 
 1 1  Tliey  have  now  ^  compassed  us  in  our 
 steps  :  '  they  have  set  their  eyes  bowing  down 
 to  the  earth  ; 
 
 I '2  t  Like  as  a  lion  that  is  greedy  of  his  prey, 
 and  as  it  were  a  young  lion  f  lurking  in  secret 
 places. 
 
 13  Arise,  O  Lord,  f  disappoint  him,  cast  him 
 down :  deliver  my  soul  from  the  wicked, 
 "*  II  which  is  thy  sword  : 
 
 14  II  From  men  which  ore  thy  hand,  O  Lord, 
 from  men  of  the  world,  "  which  have  their  por- 
 tion in  this  life,  and  whose  belly  thou  fillest 
 witii  thy  hid  treasure:  \\  tliey  are  full  of  chil- 
 dren, and  leave  the  rest  of  their  substance  to 
 their  babes. 
 
 15  As  for  me,  °I  will  behold  thy  face  in 
 righteousness :  ^  I  shall  be  satisfied,  when  I 
 awake,  with  thy  likeness. 
 
 Jam.  5.  5.         ||  Or,  their  children  are  full.         i,  \  John  3.  2,         p  Ps.  4. 
 
 P^.  yiNW.—lvTX.'P.— A  prayer,  probably  wri'ten  in  Saul's  persecution. 
 —Thei'd.,  Pat.,  Clnrke.  1.  Hear  the  ri^ht.  O  Lord,  *  hear,  O  righte- 
 ous Jehovah.* — Boothr.,  as  Jerome,  Aqtiilla,  and  Hovsley,  after  the  Sy- 
 riftc  Version.  Kupie  tij?  iiKatoawrii  fj-ou,  '  O  Lord,  of  my  righteousness,' 
 Sept.  Davidhere  appeals  to  God  as  an  impartial  judge. —  Waif.  2.  Let 
 my  sentence,  SfC,  '  let  me  be  tried  and  judged  by  thee.' — S.  Clarke. 
 Let  thine  eyes,  ^c.  intimating  there  was  no  hope  of  seeing  justice  done 
 in  this  world,  till  God  should  do  it  himself.— Hors/e//.  3.  Jn  the  night, 
 when  the  heart  is  freest  from  disguise — Green.  When  secrecy  and 
 snlitude  prompt  the  hypncrite  to  sin. — Bp.  Home.  '  In  the  greatest 
 retirements  thou  seest  what  I  design.' — Pat.  Thou  hast  tried  me, 
 ^irDi:?.  '  thou  hast  put  me  to  the  tost,*  as  metals,  to  detect  alloy,  and 
 tn  purify  them. — A.  Clarke.  Nothin!^,  *no  wicked  designs.' — Green. 
 'No  wicked  deeds  of  mine.' — Horsley.  Pure  sincerity  and  uprightness, 
 no  hypocrisy. — Ham.  My  mouth,  ^c,  *  I  have  not  even  used  inflam- 
 matory  words.' — A.Clarke.  4.1  hnx^e  kept  me,  SfC,  have  not  ful- 
 lowed  the  example  of  those  who  practised  forbidden  means  for  my  de- 
 struction.—./I/nn/,  so  Wtflls.  '  By  treasuring  up  God's  word  as  a  rule, 
 I  have  watched,  [\~n*311?,  '  observed,'— P(«r.,  Cocc,  Ains.,'}  to  avoid 
 the  paths  of  the  destroyer.*  The  same  sentiment  with  Ps.  cxix.  II. — 
 Bp.  Home.  8.  As  the  apple  of  the  eye,  a  work  of  Providence,  pro- 
 tecling  it  with  eyelids  as  with  doors  ;  guarded  it  from  injury  by  winds, 
 with  eyelashes,  like  a  strnincr,  and  disponed  the  e\  ebrows  like  a  pent- 
 house, to  prevent  mischief  frnm  the  perspiration  of  the  head. — So  So- 
 crates, i7i  Xenophon.  This  refers  to  the  solicitude  with  which  we  guard 
 the  eye  in  time  of  danger. — Pict.  Bib.  Thy  wings,  alluding  either  to 
 the  wings  of  the  cherubim,  or  to  birds  who  cover  their  young  with 
 their  wings  to  save  them  from  birds  of  prey. — Gill.  9.  Who  compass 
 me  about,  a  metajihor  from  huntsmen,  who,  spying  game,  go  round  to 
 see  Imw  they  may  most  advantageously  pitch  their  nets  in  some  nar- 
 row passage,  and  so  encircle  the  prey,  and,  driving  them  in,  take  them. 
 — Ken.,  Clarke.  10.  They  ore  inclosed,  fyc,  'they  have  closed  their 
 net  upon  me.' — Houb.,  Ken.,  Horsley.  *  They  are  bloated  with  pride.' 
 — Bp.  Wilson.  The  figure  is  from  an  over  fed  animal. — Hew.  '  En- 
 clo-iure  in  fat'  denotes  affluence,  (Deut.  xxxii.  15,)  and  has  the  same 
 sense  here. —Boothr.  H.  Compassed  us,  ^c,  the  huntsmen.      The 
 
 metaphor  continued.     Set  their  eyes  bowing,  ^c. — the  attitude  of  hunts- 
 men taking  aim  at  an  animal  on  the  ground. — So  Horsley.    It  is  the 
 
 attitude  of  the  eastern  huntsman  looking  for  the  slot  or  track  of  the 
 hart's,  hind's,  nr  antelope's  foot  on  the  ground,  in  which  he  is  particu- 
 larly skilful.— So  Clarke.  They  stooped  down  and  looked  earnestly  at 
 him,  like  a  lion  that  is  just  leaping  at  his  prey.— Madge.  'They  fix 
 their  eyes  on  me,  like  a  lion  that  watcheth  for  his  prey,  couching  nn 
 the  ground.' — Street.  13.  Thy  sword,  the  instruments  thou  employcht 
 for  the  execution  of  thy  judgments. — 5.  Clnrke. 
 
 'Deliver  me  from  the  wicked  with  thy  sword : 
 By  thy  hand,  Jehovah,  from  such  men.' — Boothr. 
 
 As  the  Chaldee,   adopted  also  by  Houb.,  Lmvth,  Hare.  ]4.  Men  of 
 
 the  world,  'men  who  are  prosperous.* — Dnthe.  '  Men  whose  portion 
 in  lite  is  permanent.'  —  Geddes.  Which  have  their  portion  in  this 
 life,  all  goes  smoothly  with  them  in  their  lives. — Horsley.  Whose 
 belly,  ^c— 
 
 'Whose  bosom  thou  fillest  with  choice  things.' — Boothr. 
 
 '  Rare  and  costly  dainties.' — Hew.     Full  of  children,  which,  among  the 
 easterns,  was  reckoned  a  considerable  part  of  mitwarrl  prosperity  and 
 happiness,   (see  Job.  xxi.  ",  8,  1 1  ;  Ps.  cxxvii.  3.  4,  5.)— GiV/.      Babes, 
 children's  children. — Gill.     Their  si.>ns'  sons. — Mnnt. 
 'Who  are  satisfied  with  a  numerous  offspring; 
 
 And  for  their  little  ones  lay  up  the  rest  of  their  substance.' — Boothr. 
 15.  Righteousness— H^v'id.  would  then  appear  as  an  innocent  person  ; 
 or  in  perfect  holiness  ;  or  it  may  mean  in  the  righteousness  of  Christ. 
 — Gill.  When  I  awake,  seems  to  refer  to  the  resurrection. — Hammond. 
 '  When  thy  likeness  is  awakened.' — Hnrs.  It  refers  to  David's  morn- 
 ing adoration  before  the  ark,  wliich  was  the  symbolic  residence  of 
 God's  presence. —  Warh  ,  see  also  Le  Clerc.  The  literal  rendering  is. 
 '  m  the  awaking  of  thy  likeness,'  or,  '  wlien  thy  likenes'^  is  awaked.' 
 It  has  no  reference  to  a  future  life.  To  behold  God's  face  here,  means 
 in  his  wor.ship,  (see  Ps.  xlii.  3  ;  comp.  Exod.  xxxiv.  24  ;)  and  the  latter 
 clause  should  be.  '  I  shall  be  satisfied  when  thy  glory  awakcth.'  God*s 
 visible  glory.  The  word  "rnjion.  'likeness' or  'image,' is  equivalent 
 to  [another  word]  yi^.  See  Num.  xii. 8,  whereit  is  rendered  'simili- 
 tude.* Comp.  Exod.  xxxiii.  U.  iifJ7n«!ne  considers  this  as  a  prayer  of 
 Christ  against  his  enemies  and  those  of  hi';  people. 
 
 knowledge  all  our  good  is  from  God,  and  that  we  have  nothing 
 to  give  him  worthy  of  Iris  acceptance  but  what  he  himself  be- 
 stows upon  us, — to  delight  only  in  those  that  bear  his  name, 
 and  in  whom  he  delights, — to  abhor  all  accommodating  and 
 temporizing  in  rehgion, — and,  in  fine,  to  choose  God  as  the 
 portion  of  our  souls  and  the  constant  subject  of  our  medita- 
 tions. 
 
 II.  Let  us  reflect  on  that  portion  of  this  psalm  which  more 
 especially  belongs  to  Christ.  Having  expiated  sin  by  the  .sa- 
 criBce  of  himself,  the  grave  could  not  retain  him.  He  hurst 
 the  bands  of  death  and  opened  the  kingdom  of  heaven  to  all 
 believers.  Now  the  path  of  life  is  open— Jesus  has  led  the 
 way;  and  all  who  believe  in  him  shall  find  an  easy  passage 
 through  the  dark  valley  to  those  blessed  realms,  where  sin- 
 ning and  sorrowing  shall  be  done  away,  and  where  there  are 
 *  pleasures  for  evermore.* 
 
 Reflfctkins  on  Ps.  XVII.  ^  I.  It  is  a  great  mercy  toheaUe 
 to  appeal  to  God  undtT  a  co?isrioujine.ts  of  our  integrity.  It  will 
 greatly  help  to  solace  the  mind  in  trouble,  when  we  can  say 
 that  our  devotions  proceed  not  (Vom  '  lips  of  deceit' — that  our 
 hearts  are  truly  sincere — that  we  have  set  a  watch  on  the  door 
 5S1 
 
 of  our  lips,  and  that  we  have  not  imitated  the  practices  of  the 
 ungodly.  Then  we  can  with  confidence  look  to  God  to  enable 
 us  to  persevere  in  his  ways,  and  to  keep  us  from  falling— to 
 attend  to  our  earnest  supplications,  and  to  preserve  us  from 
 all  that  would  injure  us.  '  For  who  is  he  that  shall  harm  you, 
 if  ye  be  followers  of  that  which  is  good  V 
 
 II.  The  good  man,  even  when  overwhelmed  with  troubles,  has  no 
 reason  to  envy  the  prosperity  of  the  wicked.  He  miclit,  with  more 
 reason,  envy  the  fattened  sheep  preparing  for  the  slaughter. 
 They  may  be  used  as  God's  instruments  of  chastisement  for 
 his  church  and  people,  but  their  day  of  triumph  is  but  short. 
 They  have  'their  portion  in  this  lite,'  and  a  vain  and  empty 
 portion  it  is  at  the  best — '  vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity.* 
 
 III.  The  inheritance  of  the  saints  is  in  reserve  beyond  the  ijrave. 
 Hence,  like  the  holy  patriarchs,  they  louk  not  for  their  portion 
 here,  but  are  believing  in  the  promises.  They  expect  that 
 mortality  shall  be  swallowed  up  of  life,  wlum  every  sanctified 
 soul  shall  receive  its  highest  wish,  '  As  for  me.  I  shall  behold 
 tliy  face  in  righteousness  ;  I  shall  be  satisfied  when  I  awake 
 with  thy  hkeness.' 
 
David  praiscth  Gud 
 
 PSALMS,  XVIII. 
 
 for  his  manifold  blessings. 
 
 PSALM  XVIIL 
 
 David  praiseth  God  for  his  manifold  and  tnarvtUous 
 bh'ssinps. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  A  Psalm  of  David,  *  the  servant 
 of  the  Lord,  who  spake  unto  the  Lord  the  worils  ot 
 *thisson<;  in  the  day //mi  the  Loud  rlelivered  tiim  from 
 the  hand  of  ail  his  enemies,  and  from  the  hand  of  Saul ; 
 And  he  said, 
 
 T  "  WILL  love  thee,  O  Lord,  my  strength. 
 -*-   2  The    Lord  is  my  rock,  and  my  fortress, 
 and  my  deliverer  ;  my  God.  f  my  strength,  ''in 
 whom  I  will  trust ;  my  buckler,  and  the  horn 
 of  my  salvation,  and  my  high  tower. 
 
 3  I  will  call  upon  the  Lord,  "^  ir/to  is  worthy 
 to  be  praised :  so  shall  I  be  saved  from  mine 
 enemies. 
 
 4  ^  The  sorrows  of  death  compassed  me,  and 
 the  floods  of  t ungodly  men  made  me  afraid. 
 
 5  The  ||sorrows  of  hell  conjpassed  me  about: 
 the  snares  of  death  prevented  me. 
 
 6  In  my  distress  1  called  upon  the  Lord,  and 
 cried  unto  my  God  :  he  heard  my  voice  out  of 
 his  temple,  and  my  cry  came  before  him,  even 
 into  his  ears. 
 
 7  ^  Then  the  earth  shook  and  trembled  ;  the 
 foundations  also  of  the  hills  moved  and  were 
 shaken,  because  he  was  wroth. 
 
 8  There  went  up  a  smoke  font  of  his  nostrils, 
 and  fire  out  of  bis  mouth  devoured  :  coals 
 were  kindled  by  it. 
 
 9  ^  He  bowed  the  heavens  also,  and  came 
 down  :  and  darkness  was  under  his  feet. 
 
 10  ^And  lie  rode  upon  a  cherub,  and  did  fly  : 
 yea,  ''he  did  fly  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind. 
 
 1 1  He  made  darkness  his  secret  place  ;  '  his 
 pavilion  round  about  him  were  dark  waters  and 
 
 *  Pa.  36, 
 title 
 
 t  Hcb.  mjf 
 
 T-<ck. 
 
 h  neb.  2.  13. 
 
 d  Ps.  116.  S. 
 \\liih. Belial 
 ll  Or,  ciiT't*. 
 
 I  Heb.ft^i  /.<! 
 
 <j  Pa.  99.  I. 
 h  Ps.  104.3. 
 i  Ps.  9?.  S. 
 
 n  Josh.  iO. 
 10  Ps.  I«. 
 6.  Ib.  .IU-  30. 
 
 I  Ex.  IS.  8. 
 P».   lUti.  8, 
 
 Ps.  \\\.  7. 
 II  Or.  great 
 leatert. 
 
 p  Ps.  31.  6. 
 
 tt  I  m.  b. 
 
 t  Heb  Ix-f'-r 
 hi*  ttift. 
 M  I  Kill  6.32 
 
 thick  clouds  of  the  skies. 
 
 12  i"  At  the  brightness  that  was  before  him 
 his  thick  clouds  passed,  hail  stones  and  coals 
 of  fire. 
 
 13  The  Lord  also  thundered  in  the  heavens, 
 and  tlie  Higliest  gave  '  his  voice  ;  liail  stones 
 and  coals  of  fire. 
 
 14  "'  Yea,  he  sent  out  his  arrows,  and  scattered 
 them  ;  and  he  shot  out  lightnings,  and  discom- 
 fited them. 
 
 \5  "Then  the  channels  of  waters  were  seen, 
 and  the  foundations  of  the  world  were  disco- 
 vered at  thy  rebuke,  O  Lord,  at  the  blast  of 
 tlie  breath  of  thy  nostrils. 
 
 16  "  He  sent  from  above,  he  took  me,  he  drew 
 me  out  of  II  many  waters. 
 
 17  He  delivered  me  from  my  strong  enemy, 
 and  from  them  which  hated  me  :  for  they  were 
 too  strong  for  me. 
 
 18  They  prevented  me  in  the  day  of  my  ca- 
 lamity :   but  the  Lord  was  my  stay. 
 
 19  *■  He  brought  me  forth  also  into  a  large 
 place;  he  delivered  me,  because  he  delighted 
 in  me. 
 
 20  ''The  Lord  rewarded  me  according  to  my 
 righteousness  ;  according  to  the  cleanness  of 
 my  hands  hath  he  recompensed  me. 
 
 21  For  I  have  kept  the  ways  of  the  Lord, 
 and  have  not  wickedly  departed  from  my  God. 
 
 22  For  all  his  judgments  were  before  me,  and 
 I  did  not  put  away  his  statutes  from  me. 
 
 23  I  was  also  upright  fbefore  him,  and  Ikept 
 myself  from  mine  iniquity. 
 
 24  '  Therefore  hath  the  Lord  recompensed 
 me  according  to  my  righteousness,  according 
 to  the  cleanness  of  my  hands  fin  his  eyesight. 
 
 25  '  With  the  merciful  thou  wilt  shew  thyself 
 
 Ps.  XVlII.  —  TiTi.K— To  the  chief,  ^c— this  is  the  same  with  2  Sam. 
 xxii-,  with  some  variations,  omi>sions,  and  alterations.— Gi7/.  See  the 
 note  OD  2Sam.  .\.\ii.  This  P.saira  was  written  in  commemoration  of  the 
 many  victiries  and  quiet  sctilemcnt  of  the  kingdnni  of  Israel  and 
 Judah.— //«»i.  The  kinedom  oC  Messiah  is  here  pointed  at  under  that 
 of  David,  and  this  may  now  be  considered  as  a  triumphal  hymn,  to  be 
 sung:  hy  the  church,  ri-en  and  victorious  in  Christ  her  head.— B/j. 
 Hn'-nfi.  This  is  a  song:  of  the  Messiah,  celebrating  the  goodness  of  God, 
 fur  Messiahs  resurrection,  for  the  punishment  of  the  Jews,  and  for  the 
 obedience  of  the  Gentile  nations.  The  title  here  and  in  Samuel  de- 
 scribes the  time  of  the  composition,  and  does  not  mean  that  David  was 
 the  subject  of  it.— Ken.  It  refers  partly  to  David  and  partly  to  Christ. 
 —Clarke,  It  refers  primarily  to  David,  though  it  breathes  a  prophetic 
 spirit,  and  alludes  to  Messiah.— il/nn.von.  In  this  song  David  joins  his 
 sorrows  and  his  joys  to  those  of  Christ.— Sm^.  Above  all,  the  citations 
 made  from  this  Psalm  in  the  New  Testament  evince  that  the  king'iom 
 of  the  Messiah  is  here  pointed  at  under  that  of  Da.y'id.—Mftnt.  Ver. 
 4.1—50  celebrate  the  establishment  of  the  Messiah's  kingdom.  The 
 title  may  he  rendered,  'To  the  Giver  of  victory.  A  Psalm  of  the  ser- 
 vant of  Jehovah,  the  beloved,  [so  m,  David,  signifies.]  who  spake  unto 
 Jehovah  the  words  of  this  song  in  the  day  that  Jehovah  dehvered  him 
 from  the  hand  of  all  his  enemies,  and  from  the  power  of  hell.'— /fori-. 
 I.  1  uill  love  thee,  n'orrM^.  The  root.  Dm.  signifies  'to  love  with  all  the 
 tender  feelings  of  n  ature.'     '  From  my  inmost  bowels  will  I  love  Thee, 
 
 0  Lord.'— So  Cliirke,  as  Aius.  '  With  all  the  yearnings  of  affection  I 
 will  love  Thee.'— BjB.  Home.  Mt/  strength,  'my  firm  strength.'— .4i>w. 
 This  verse  was  omitted  in  ^annul,  and  probably  added  for  temple  ser- 
 vi'^e.—Boothr.  2.  Rork,  rVo.  '  refngc.'— Ham.  It  signified  craggy 
 precipices  affording  shelter  to  men  and  wild  animals.— C/arA-e.  jV/y 
 fortress,  TTO'S'O,  *  stronghold.'  CA/jW.  My  deliverer.  ■'C'?DO.  '  he  who 
 causesme  toescape.'— -4,  Clarke.  J/^Gorf. '•^m,  *  my  strong  and  mighty 
 One.'— G(V/.  My  stren£(th,  nilf.  '  my  fountain'  of  good.— itfiA.  Mai- 
 vwn,  so  Clarke.     Mi/  buckler,  •<2^'0,   'my  shield.*     //orn— see  note  on 
 
 1  Sam.  ii.  l.  3.  Who  is  worthy  to  /upraised,  'praising,  I  will  call  upon 
 the  Lord.*  Ati-wi'  €7TiKa\£aon.ai  Ki'piov,  Sept.  4.  The  sorrows  of 
 death,  according  to  the  reading  in  2  Sam.  xxii.  5. 'the  breakers  of  death,' 
 a  metaphor  from  dangerous  waves.  Cotnpassed  me,  rather, '  came  fast 
 upon  me.'—Horsley.  'The  billows  of  death.*— fioo^^r.  pT^  ''?nn, 
 •the  corns  of  death,  and  of  hell.'  in  the  next  ver!=e,  have  the  same  word 
 in  Hebrew.  These  and  the  snares  in  ver.  5  allude  to  the  custom  of 
 surrounding  the  prey  in  hunting.— ;i/an/.  See  note  on  Ps.  xvii.  11. 
 David  was  almost  taken  in  the  nets  or  stratagems  of  his  enemies.— 
 A.  Clarke.  The  alluMon  may  be  to  malefactors  being  bound  with  cords 
 to  be  led  to  execution.  The  Hebrew  word  also  signifies 'the  pains  and 
 birth-threes  of  a  woman  in  travail.'— Gi7/.  David  is  here  personified, 
 under  the  semblance  of  a  mightv  conqueror,  who  binds  his  vanquished 
 foes  in  strong  fetters.- ll'a//.  The  floods  of  ttnf^odly  »nfn— dreadful 
 and  unexpected  calamities  were  very  frequently  represented  under  the 
 image  of  overwhelming  waters.     It  seems  to  have  been  peculiar  to  the 
 
 582 
 
 Hebrews ;  for  they  had  continually  before  their  eyes  the  overflowing 
 of  Jordan,  from  the  melting  of  the  snows  of  Libanus  and  other  moun- 
 tains swelling  the  river  on  the  approach  of  summer.  The  mountainous 
 character  of  the  country  rendered  other  parts  liable  to  numerous  tor- 
 rents rushing  down  through  the  narrow  valleys. — Loivth.  '  The  floods 
 of  Belial'  intend  large  bodies  of  men,  who  rush  forward,  like  inipctiions 
 torrents,  to  overwhelm  and  destroy  whatever  opposes  tliem. —  Wnlf. 
 5.  The  sorrows  of  hell,  §-e.,  or  '  the  cords  of  the  grave.' — Musculi/s,  Ge- 
 jervs.  Dp.  Home,  Street.  The  allusion  may  be  to  the  manner  of  bury- 
 ing  among  the  Jews,  who  wound  up  the  dead  bodies  in  linen  cloths, 
 so  that  they  were  as  persons  hound  hand  and  foot,— Gi//;  or  it  may  be 
 to  the  cords  or  ropes  with  which  they  lowered  the  corpse  into  the  grave. 
 —A.  Clarke.  7.  Then  the  earth  shook,  ffc. — this  is  probably  a  figura- 
 tive ropre^^entation,  highly  poetical,  to  signify  that  the  dtliverance  of 
 David  was  the  effect  of  the  Divine  power  miraculously  exerted.  The 
 language  and  imagery  are  borrowed  Irom  an  awful  and  tremendous 
 thunder  storm,  which  is  mnsidered  as  manifesting  Jehovah's  wrath. 
 Some  think  such  a  tempest  might  actually  have  occurred  during  some 
 engagement, — Travell,  Boothr.  The  Exodns  of  the  Israelites  from 
 Egypt,  the  parting  of  the  Red  Sea  and  the  Jordan,  and  the  descent 
 upon  Sinai,  were  favourite  topics  with  the  Hebrew  bards,  Ver.  7  to 
 15  allude  to  Sinai,  and  ver.  15  to  the  Red  Sea  and  Jordan. — See  Lowth. 
 It  is  easy  to  obseive,  that  in  this  and  other  parts  of  this  majestic  ac- 
 count of  the  appearance  of  God  on  the  behalf  of  the  person,  the  subject 
 of  this  Psalm,  and  against  his  enemies,  there  are  manifest  allusions  to 
 the  giving  of  the  law  on  Mount  Sinai ;  though  it  may  be  this  shaking 
 of  the  earth,  and  what  follows,  are  to  be  understood  in  a  figurative 
 sense. — Gill.  8.  A  smoke  out  of  his  nostrils,  '  smoke  ascended  in 
 his  auger.' — Ains.  The  ancients  placed  the  seat  of  anger  in  the  nos- 
 trils, becau'^e,  when  the  passions  are  violent,  the  breath  from  them  is 
 heated. — Clarke.  And  fire,  ^c,  'living  coals  from  His  mouth  burned 
 and  consumed  around  Him.' — Chandler.  10.  A  cherub,  the  term 
 must  mean  here  the  agents  of  God's  Providence,  and  seems  parallel  in 
 sense  with  '  the  wings  of  the  wind.'  —  Boothr.  Yea,  he  did  fiy,  Nl*\ 
 the  term  here  used  denotes  majesty  and  pomp  of  motion,  such  as 
 characterizes  the  eagle  flying  with  the  full  expanse  of  his  wings.— 
 See   rrWT    in    Par.  \1.' Brightness,   rxyXi.   'lightning'      This   goes 
 
 before  him.  The  flash  precedes  the  thimder,  the  thunder  the  rain, 
 and  then  his  thick  cl"Uds  pass. — A.  Clarke.  14.  Arrows — lightning!^, 
 —  the  latter  clause  illustrates  the  former,  for  arrows  sig:nify  God's 
 lightnings.— r/^/rfre.  13.  The  channels,  alludes  to  the  manner  of 
 God's  destroying  the  Egyptians  by  drying  up  the  channels  of  the  sea. — 
 Fenton.  This  must  refer  to  an  earthquake. — A.Clarke.  At  the  blast, 
 §(?.,  *at  the  breath  of  the  wind  of  thine  anger.* — Ains.  l6.  Drew  me 
 out  of  many  waters,  either  in  allusion  to  Moses,  (Exod.  ii.  10,)  or  to  a 
 man  neardrowning.  Many  waters  express  afllictions, — Gill;  or  sudden 
 and  great  calamities. — Lowth.  18.  Prevented,  ' anticipated,' 'sur- 
 rounded.'-IKj^  ig.  .4  large  place,  a  state  of  liberty.— P«i.  23.  From 
 mine  iniquity,  •  the  iniquity  I  am  prone  to.* — Ains*    This  shews  that 
 
David  praiseth  God 
 
 rSALMS,  XVIII. 
 
 for  /lis  manifold  blessings. 
 
 merciful  ;  with  an  upright  man  thou  wilt  shew 
 thyself  upright  ; 
 liG   With    the   pure    thou  wilt  shew   thyself 
 pure  ;  and  *  with  the  froward  thou  wilt  ||  shew 
 tliyself  froward. 
 
 27  For  thou  wilt  save  the  afflicted  people  ; 
 but  wilt  bring  down  "  high  looks. 
 
 28  *  For  thou  wilt  light  my  |]  candle :  the 
 Lord  my  God  will  enlighten  my  darkness. 
 
 29  For  by  thee  I  have  ||  run  through  a  troop; 
 and  by  my  God  have  I  leaped  over  a  wall. 
 
 30  As  for  God,  ■^'  his  way  is  perfect :  ^  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  is  ||  tried  :  he  is  a  buckler 
 ^  to  all  those  that  trust  in  him. 
 
 31  ''  For  who  is  God  save  the  Loud?  or  who 
 is  a  rock  save  our  God  V 
 
 32  //  is  God  that  '^  girdeth  me  with  strength, 
 and  maketh  my  way  perfect. 
 
 3:i  '^  He  maketh  my  feet  like  hinds'/ec^,  and 
 ^'settetb  me  upon  my  high  places. 
 
 34  ^  He  teacheth  my  bands  to  war,  so  that  a 
 bow  of  steel  is  broken  by  mine  arms. 
 
 35  Thou  hast  also  given  me  the  shield  of  thy 
 salvation  :  and  thy  right  hand  iiatli  holden  me 
 up,  and  II  thy  gentleness  hath  made  me  great. 
 
 36  Thou  hast  enlarged  my  steps  under  me, 
 ^  that  t  my  feet  did  not  slip. 
 
 37  I  have  pursued  mine  enemies,  and  over- 
 taken them  :  neither  did  I  turn  again  till  they 
 were  consumed. 
 
 38  1  have  wounded  them  that  they  were  not 
 able  to  rise  :  they  are  fallen  under  my  feet. 
 
 39  For  thou  hast  girded  me  with  strength 
 unto  the  battle  :  thou  hast  fsubdued  under  me 
 
 t  Lev   ?6.'2rt, 
 24,  27,  :.'«, 
 Prov.a  3(^ 
 
 II  Or,  wifiU 
 
 H  Pb.  101.5 
 Prov.  6.  17 
 
 j:  J.ilj  18.  6. 
 
 11  Or,  latuii, 
 .lob  ^9   .1. 
 
 II  Or,  broken. 
 
 if  Deu  3:?.  4. 
 
 Diiii.  4.  37. 
 
 Rev.  1.^.  3 
 :  Pb.  is.  6 
 
 ^  119.   NO. 
 
 Pro.  M.  5 
 II  Or,  rrfiiiFii 
 a  Pa.  17.  7. 
 
 39.  1  Sam. 
 2.  S    I 
 
 .    IH. 
 
 ■1& 
 
 Ph.  91 
 :  2  Snm.  2. 
 IB.  Hab.  A. 
 19 
 
 Don.  3?. 13. 
 &  3.*.  29. 
 /l\.   111.  I. 
 
 ||0r,  w.fA  Iht/ 
 lh<>»  lin-t 
 
 g  p/o.  \.  12 
 
 t  Hphc 
 lo  b-u). 
 
 h  Job  27.  9. 
 &  3fV.  IS. 
 
 Pro 
 
 .  1 
 
 Is.  1.  15, 
 
 Jer.  II.  II. 
 
 &  U.  \i. 
 
 Ezek.  9   19. 
 
 Mic.  3.  + 
 
 Z<Th.  7  13 
 . 'Zeih  10  5. 
 k  -2  Sam  2.9, 
 
 111.  fc  3  1. 
 12  Sam  8 
 m  U    .V2.  15. 
 
 U  .'■.5.  5. 
 
 hearing  uf 
 OiF  ear. 
 t  Hfh.  th.' 
 
 II  Or,  yifld 
 
 frigiiP'i  uliC' 
 
 fi  •'■„■■  f. 
 
 t    lM:/ir. 
 'I  Mic    7.   17 
 t  Hub  ffh'i'th 
 
 p  Pa.  47   3. 
 
 Or,  dei,lrntj- 
 
 fllt, 
 q  Ps.  .')9,  I. 
 
 t  n.;b.  m»n 
 
 oj  viuUnCt. 
 r  Itoin.  1^9 
 |lOr.c«,./e«, 
 
 »  Pb.  \H.  10. 
 /2  6am, 7.13. 
 
 those  that  rose  up  against  me. 
 
 40  Thou  hast  also  given  me  the  necks  of 
 mine  enemies  ;  that  I  might  destroy  them  that 
 hate  me. 
 
 41  They  cried,  but  there  teas  none  to  save 
 them  :  ^  even  unto  the  Lord,  but  he  answered 
 them  not. 
 
 42  Then  did  I  beat  them  small  as  the  dust 
 before  the  wind  :  I  did  '  cast  them  out  as  the 
 dirt  in  the  streets. 
 
 43  ''  Thou  hast  delivered  me  from  the  strivings 
 of  the  people  ;  and  '  thou  hast  made  me  the 
 head  of  the  heathen  :  ""a  people  whom  I  have 
 not  known  shall  serve  me. 
 
 44  t  As  soon  as  they  hear  of  me,  they  shall 
 obey  me:  f  the  strangers  "shall  ||t  submit 
 themselves  unto  me. 
 
 45  °  The  strangers  shall  fade  away,  and  be 
 afraid  out  of  their  close  places. 
 
 46  The  Lord  liveth  ;  and  blessed  he  my 
 rock  ;  and  let  the  God  of  my  salvation  be 
 exalted. 
 
 47  It  is  God  that  favengeth  me,  ''and  ||  sub- 
 dueth  the  people  unto  me. 
 
 48  He  delivereth  me  from  mine  enemies  : 
 yea,  *^  thou  liftest  me  up  above  those  that 
 rise  up  against  me  :  thou  hast  delivered  me 
 from  the  f  violent  man. 
 
 49  *"  Therefore  will  1  ||  give  thanks  unto  thee, 
 O  Lord,  among  the  heathen,  and  sing  praises 
 unto  thy  name. 
 
 50  ^  Great  deliverance  giveth  he  to  his  king ; 
 and  sheweth  mercy  to  his  anointed,  to  David, 
 and  to  his  seed  *  for  evermore. 
 
 the  Psalms  shouldnotbe  applied  indiscriminately  to  the  Messiah. —  Wil. 
 26,  With  the  froward,  ^fpy,  that  is,  to  the  'perverse'  thuu  wilt  shew 
 thyself  froward,  shew  thyselt  an  adversary. — Green.  "jriDnn,  'thnn 
 wrestlest,'  or  wilt  contend  with  them  until  they  are  destroyed. — QUI. 
 A  perverse  man  is  a  source  of  annoyance  and  vexation  to  Jiis  asso- 
 ciates, and  God,  in  his  righteous  distribution,  will  treat  him  as  he  treats 
 others,  by  bringing:  trouble  and  anguish  upon  him. —  Waif.  27.  Af- 
 flicted— high  looks — the  contrast  between  '  afflicted  people'  and  'high 
 looks,'  shews  that  humUity  rather  than  suffering  was  intended,  or 
 rather,  hiimhk-  sufferers. — Scott.  28.  Light  my  candle,  '13,  'my 
 lamp,'— Pu^'.,  M'int.,  Jitn.,  ^c. ;  that  is,  'give  me  Hghtand  joy.* — Bp. 
 Wilson.  -29.  For  by  thee  I  have  run  through  a  troop,  Tn3  VIN,  '  I 
 have  run  to  a  troop.'  So  some  in  Vat.  'I  have  broken  through  a 
 ho>t.'— .'lin-s'. 
 
 •  By  thy  aid  I  have  broken  through  troops  ; 
 Through  my  God  I  have  scaled  ramparts. '- 
 
 ■Boothr. 
 
 So  Pag.,  Vat.,  Edwards,  and  Bp.  ^'ihon.  This  may  relate  to  some 
 remarkable  victory,  and  the  taking  of  some  fortified  place. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 32.  Girdeth  me  with  strength — the  girdle  of  the  loose  eastern  garment 
 was  bound  close  when  strength  and  activity  were  needed.  Hence,  it 
 intimates  here  preparation  ftir  action,  as  '  to  loose  the  girdle'  is  to  de- 
 prive of  strength  and  unfit  for  action,  (Isa.  xlv.  1 .)     'I  will  loose,'  Sec. 
 
 33.  Like  hinds*  feet,  signifying  strength  and  swiftness. — Munt.  Swift- 
 ness of  fiiot  was  a  necessary  qualification  of  an  ancient  hero.  Hence 
 Achilles  was  called  'the  swilt-footed.' — Clarke.  And  setteth,  ^c,  al- 
 luding to  the  faculty  of  these  animals  of  mounting  and  supporting 
 themselves  on  high  and  steep  places,  vrith  reference,  at  the  same  time, 
 to  the  mountain  fastnesses.— il/o7i?.  34.  A  hotv  of  .steel,  nUJinD, 
 'brass.' — Gill,  Hnrstey.  'Copper'  or  'native  brass.' — Mant.  Steel 
 was  most  likely  not  known  in  David's  days,  and  modern  brass  is  a 
 factitious  metal.— CVarAe,  Mant.  '  And  maketh  my  arras  like  a  bow  of 
 brass.' — Boothr. 
 
 '  Instructing  mine  hands  in  war. 
 And  making  mine  arms  of  the  stiffness  of  brass.'— 5^ree^ 
 
 As  Edwards  and  Lowth.  The  ancients  could  temper  brass  as  we  do 
 steel.— C(i/.  35.   Thy  gentleness,   'thy  kindness.' —  S^r(?fi.    *]ni3? 
 
 may  be  read,  *  thy  humility.'— P//^.,  Mont.,  fyc.  '  Thy  meekness.  '  — 
 Aiiis.  Either  God's  humbling  himself  to  look  upon  him  in  his  low 
 estate,  or  the  humility  he  received  from  God.—Gill.    '  Thy  humiliation,' 
 
 that  is,  the  humiliation  laid  npon  me  by  thy  providence.— Hors/ey. 
 Thou  hast  enabled  me  to  behave  with  courage  in  adversity,  and  humi- 
 lity in  prosperity,  and  thus  I  am  become  great. — A.  Clarke.  36.  En- 
 larged my  stepa,  opened  a  free  course  to  victory  and  triumph,  and  also 
 endued  me  with  strength  to  run  that  course. — Bp.  Home.  He  had 
 continual  prosperity. — A.  Clarke.  40.  The  necks,  Fji3?,  properly  'the 
 back  part  of  the  neck,'  and  so  equivalent  to  'back,'  as  the  Gree/r trans- 
 lakes  it.  It  means  put  to  flight. — So  Jllndge,  Lowth.  41.  Even  unto 
 the  Lord,  may  refer  to  the  Israelites  who  adhered  to  the  house  of  Saul, 
 or  the  heathens,  who  might  have  invoked  Jehovah  as  a  more  powerful 
 deity  than  any  of  their  own  gods. — So  Boothr,  42.  Umallas  the  dust, 
 §-c.,  denotes  utter  destruction,  as  the  chaff  of  the  summer  floor  is 
 carried  away  with  the  wind.  As  the  dirt,  expressing  indignation  and 
 contempt.— G(7/.  43.  The  head  of  the  heathen,  Ci;  ttJKI,  'the  chief 
 or  governor  of  the  nations.'  45.  Shall  fade  away.^^y, '  they  shall  find 
 their  strength  blasted  and  withered  as  a  leaf  in  autumn,  and  shall  fall 
 at  the  sound  of  my  name  and  my  victories.' — Bp.Home.  Close  places, 
 'strongholds.'  —  Boothr.  Those  who  have  formed  themselves  into 
 banditti,  concealed  in  the  rocks  and  fortified  places.— .4.  Clarke. 
 48.  The  violent  man,  Sa.ul.— Ken.,  Clarke.  No  particular  person  is 
 meant,  but  the  cruelty  of  persecutors  in  general. — Horsley.  49.  There, 
 fore,  Sfc. — these  words  are  cited  by  the  Apostle,  {Rom.  xv.  9,)  and  ap- 
 plied to  the  conversion  of  the  Gentiles,  which  is  manifestly  prophesied 
 uf  in  some  preceding  verses  of  this  Psalm. — Gill.  50.  Great  deliver- 
 nnce,  §c.,  and  sheweth  mercy  to  his  anointed,  ^c. — David,  in  most  of 
 his  Psalms,  had  respect  to  his  own  circumstances  and  experience,  and, 
 by  the  spirit  of  inspiration,  he  had  frequent  views  of  the  future  glory 
 of  his  great  antitype.  The  Hebrews  leit  much  interest  in  their  poste- 
 rity, and  David,  while  looking  for  the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  as  the 
 consummation  of  all  his  wishes  in  futurity,  looked  to  him  al^o  as  the 
 medium  of  his  personal  salvation.— So  Wil.  '  Great  deliverance  giveth 
 he  unto  his  king,'  to  king  David,  in  savinc  him  from  Saul,  Sic,  to  King 
 Messiah,  in  rescuing  him  from  death  and  the  grave,  Sic, '  and  sheweth 
 mercy  to  his  anointed  ;'  to  him  who  was  anointed  outwardly,  and  in 
 a  figure,  with  oil ;  and  to  him  who  was  anointed  inwardly,  and  in  truth, 
 with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  power.  To  David,  and  to  his  seed  for 
 erermore,  to  the  literal  David,  and  to  his  royal  progeny,  of  whom,  accord- 
 ing to  the  flesh,  Christ  came  ;  and  to  Christ  himself,  the  spiritual 
 David,  the  beloved  of  God,  with  all  those  who,  through  faith,  became 
 his  children,  the  sons  of  God,  and  heirs  of  eternal  life. — To  the  same 
 purport,  Bp.  Wilson,  Gill,  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XVIII In  this  psalm  we  find  ex- 
 pressed— I.  The  warmest  affection  towards  God.  '  I  will  love 
 thee;'  yes,  as  a  parent  loves  a  child— dearly  love  thee — love 
 thee  exceedingly— with  all  the  yearnings  of  afiection.  All 
 these  expressions  are  implied  in  the  terms  employed  by  the 
 Psalmist.     Have  we  ever  felt  towards  God  such  love  as  this  1 
 
 II.  The  strongest  confidence.  In  God  the  Psalmist  felt  sure 
 of  finding  a  place  of  refage.  In  his  protection  he  felt  cased  in 
 impenetrable  armour.  He  knew  that  he  had  but  to  ask  his 
 5S3 
 
 aid,  and  invincible  might  was  at  once  on  his  side,  so  that  lie 
 had  no  need  to  fear  all  the  powers  of  earth  and  hell. 
 
 III.  The  yreatest  dangers.  How  much  is  implied  in  'sor- 
 rows and  snares  of  death,' '  sorrows  of  hell,'  'floods  of  ungodly 
 men  !'  All  these  beset  David.  Let  us  not,  then,  wonder  if 
 we  sometimes  see  good  men  plunged  into  the  deepest  afflic- 
 tions. 
 
 IV.  The  most  extraordinary  ddiverance,  God  does  not  now 
 rend  the  heaven  and  shake  the  earth  to  accomplish  deliver- 
 
The  creatures  shew  God's  glory. 
 
 PSALMS,  XIX. 
 
 The  word  his  grace. 
 
 PSALM  XIX. 
 
 1    The  creatures  shew  Gnf1\-<  plun/.     7    The  ivord  his 
 yrace,     12  David  praytth  for  grace. 
 
 To  the  chief  ^lusiciaji,  A  Psalm  of  David. 
 T^HE  "  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God  ; 
 -*■    and  the  firmament  slieweth  his  handy  work. 
 
 2  Day  unto  day  uttereth  speech,  and  night 
 unto  night  sheweth  knowledge. 
 
 3  There  is  no  speech  nor  language,  \\\where 
 their  voice  is  not  heard. 
 
 4  "^  I)  Tlieir  line  is  gone  out  through  all  the 
 earth,  and  their  words  to  the  end  of  the  world. 
 Ill  them  hath  he  set  a  tabernacle  for  the  sun, 
 
 3  Which  is  as  a  bridegroom  coming  out  of 
 his  cliamber,  ^  and  rejoiceth  as  a  strong  man 
 to  run  a  race. 
 
 6  His  going  forth  is  from  the  end  of  the 
 heaven,  and  liis  circuit  unto  the  ends  of  it : 
 
 n  Gen.  1  6. 
 Is.  40  '12. 
 Rnm.  I.  19, 
 
 ant  thi-ir 
 
 6Rnin.l().l8 
 II  Or,  Thtir 
 
 ftilt,  or,  di- 
 
 Tret  ion. 
 c  Eccles.1.5. 
 
 d  Ts    111. 
 |i  Or.  doc- 
 
 e  Ps.  VI.  0. 
 
 /Pa.  i:i  S. 
 t  Heb.(r.-fft. 
 g  Vs.  1 19  Ti, 
 
 127.  Pro    8. 
 
 in,  II.  19 
 h  Vs.  119. 
 
 IU3 
 t  He!.,  ihe 
 
 dropiH'is  "/ 
 
 fiOfirt/ciirrtbt 
 
 i  Pro.  -dO.  18. 
 h  Ps.  40.  Vi. 
 I  Lev.  4.  -2, 
 
 ftc. 
 m  Vs.  90  8. 
 H  Gen.  20.  6. 
 
 I  Sam,  35, 
 
 3»,  as,  31, 
 
 H9. 
 o  P9.  119. 
 
 IS3.  Horn. 
 
 6.  13,  IV 
 
 and  there  is  nothing  hid  from  the  heat  thereof. 
 
 7  ^  The  II  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect,  ||  con- 
 verting the  soul :  the  testimony  of  the  Loud 
 is  sure,  making  wise  tlie  simple. 
 
 8  The  statutes  of  the  Lord  are  right,  re- 
 joicing the  heart:  ^  the  commandment  of  t' e 
 Lord  is  pure,  '^  enlightening  the  eyes. 
 
 9  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  clean,  enduring  for 
 ever:  the  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  f  true 
 and  rigliteous  altogether. 
 
 10  More  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold, 
 ^  yea,  than  much  fine  gold  :  ^sweeter  also 
 than  honey  and  fthe  honeycomb. 
 
 1 1  Moreover  by  them  is  thy  servant  warned  : 
 and  'in  keeping  of  them  there  is  great  reward. 
 
 1*2  •' Who  can  understand /n"5  errors?  'cleanse 
 thou  me  from  "^  secret  fan /ts. 
 
 13  "  Keep  back  thy  servant  also  from  pre- 
 sumptuous sins  ;  ^'let  them  not  have  dominion 
 
 PsAi.M  XIX.  —  1.  The  heavens  declare,  ^c— this  Psalm  seems  in- 
 tended to  prove  that  the  idolatry  and  irrcligion  of  mankind  were 
 wholly  inexcusable,  for  even  the  remotest  Gentiles  were  s^hewn  the 
 glory  of  God  by  the  heavenly  orhs.— Scoff .  As  the  8th  Psalm  riescribes 
 the  beauties  of  a  midnight  scene,  tliis  celebrates  the  glories  of  an  un- 
 clouded eastern  day.  — TTiV.  The  heavens  are  represented  as  the 
 instructors  of  mankind;  the  subject,  the  universality,  and  the  mannir 
 of  their  instructions  are  pointed  out ;  the  glory,  beauty,  and  pt.weriul 
 eflFectsof  the  solar  light  are  described.  Fromacitation  which  St.  Paul 
 has  made  of  the  4th  verse.  (Rem.  x.  IS.)  it  appears,  that  in  the  exposi. 
 tion  wc  are  to  raise  our  thoughts  from  things  natural  to  things  s-piritual; 
 \vc  are  to  contemplate  the  spreading  of  the  Gjspel,  the  manifestation 
 of  the  Light  of  Life,  the  Sun  of  Rigliteonsness,  and  the  efficacy  of 
 evangelical  doctrine.  The  heavens,  the  fluid  mixture  of  light  and  air 
 which  is  everywhere  diffused  about  us,  and  to  the  influence  of  which 
 are  owing  all  the  beauty  and  fruitfulness  of  the  earth,  all  vegetable 
 and  animal  life,  and  Ihe  various  kinds  of  motion  throughout  the  system 
 of  nature.— B;?.  Horfie.  as  the  Hutehinsoniam.  These  visible  heavens, 
 so  vast  and  spacious,  richly  adorned  with  st^rs.— Poole.  That  majestic 
 scene  which  meets  the  eye  in  looking  upward,  or  which  may  exist  be- 
 yond the  reach  of  mortal  vision  ;  but  without  any  reference  appa- 
 rently to  those  philosophical  theories  which  either  contravene  or  estab- 
 lish the  Newtonian  system.— ./l/omon.  The  starry  heavens.— .4. C/«rfre. 
 By  the  heavens,  we  understand  gospel  churches,- Gf// ;  and  so  he  pro- 
 ceeds throughout.  The  firmament,  'the  expanse.'- BooMr.,  Mant. 
 See  note  on  Gen.  i.  6.  2.  Day  unto  dny,  the  labours  of  these  our  in- 
 structors know  no  intermission.— B/j.  Home.  Uttereth,  or  '  welleih 
 out'  as  a  fountain,  continually  and  plenteously.— .4i«5.  3.  There  in 
 ■nn  xpeech,  ^c..  'no  speech,  no  words,  their  voice  is  not  heard.'— B;>. 
 Home.  *  It  ti't/  a  point  en  Mijr  de  langage,  ni  dc  parole  ;  et  toutefois 
 lenr  voix  e^t  enteudue.'  'They  have  neither  language  nor  speech; 
 and  yet  their  voice  is  heard,*  French  Trans. 
 
 'There  is  no  speech,  no  words. 
 
 No  voice  of  them  is  heard  : 
 
 (Yet]  their  sound  goes  throughout  the  earth.'— //or^/ey. 
 
 •  No  speech,  no  language,  nor  is  their  voice  heard  ; 
 
 Yet,  their  sound  is  gone  through  all  the  earth.'— BooWr. 
 
 *  No  human  words,  no  living  speech, 
 No  voice  articulate  they  send  : 
 
 Yet  Uirough  the  world  their  lessons  reach, 
 
 Their  signs  to  earth's  remotest  end.'—Mant. 
 They  cannot,  indeed,  use  articulate  sounds,  like  man,  nor  do  we  hear 
 them  utter  any  words  ;  but  though  destitute  of  these,  they  are  suffi- 
 ciently understood  of  all  nations,  even  the  most  barbarous,  to  whom 
 the  rays  of  human  knowledge  have  never  extended.— FairA-fs.  4.  Their 
 tine,  ^c.,  either  their  admirable  structure,  made  as  by  line,  (see  Job, 
 xxxviii.  5;  Zech.  i.  16;)  or  their  lines,  singular  being  put  instead  of 
 plural,  and  then  we  may  understand  '  their  writing.'  as  this  very  word 
 is  taken,  Isa.  xxviii.  \{i.— Poole.  The  Sept.  render  it  sonnd,  and  so  it 
 ifi  quoted  by  the  Apostle,  [Rom.  x.  18,)  im|ilying  the  intelligible  nature 
 of  that  instruction  which  the  works  of  nature  everywhere  give  to  man 
 as  to  the  being  and  perfections  of  his  Creator.- IFiV.  'Their  sound.'- 
 A.  Clarke,  as  Viilg..  .4rub.,  and  Keti.  And  their  icords  to  the  end  of 
 the  world,  'and  to  the  utmost  limit  of  the  universe  their  word.'— 
 Street.  '  And  their  indicatHms  to  the  limits  of  the  world.'— Boo/Ar. 
 'And  to  the  extremity  of  the  habitable  world  their  eloquence.'  — 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 '  Their  extension  goeth  forth  over  the  whole  earth. 
 And  their  terminations  [are]  at  the  end  of  the  world.'— //orj. 
 In  them,  that  is,  in  the  visible  heavens.— T^V.      b.Which  is  as  a  bride- 
 S*'p""'.  ^r.  — the  image  is  beautiful,  comparing  the  rising  sun  to  a 
 bridegroom,  who  wears  the  most  splendid  dress,  and  whose  appearance 
 gives  joy  to  his  frieuds,  (John,  iii.  29;)  so  he  comes  forth  and  spreads 
 
 gladness  through  all  nature. — Boothr.  Out  of  his  chamber,  a  kind  of 
 alcove  which  was  separated  from  the  larger  chambers  in  the  eastern 
 h'luses  by  a  veil,  and  in  which  their  beds  were  placed.— Jl/«n^  *  From 
 under  his  veil.' — Harslet/,  incrro  'from  under  his  vail.'  A  sort  of 
 canopy  erected  on  four  polcs.which  four  Jews  held  over  the  bridegroom's 
 head. — .4.  Clarke,  as  Dndd.  7.  Law,  niin.  the  preceptive  part  of 
 revelation, — Cnatalin,  Horsletf ;  may  signify  '  doctrine,*  or  be  taken  as 
 a  general  name  for  Divine  revelation. — Scott.  Converting  the  smil, 
 *  reviving  the  spirit,'  Vutg.  So  Waif.  The  Hebrew  properly  mear^s 
 '  bringing  back  the  spirit'  when  it  is  depressed  by  adversity,  by  refresh- 
 ing and  consoling  it;  like  food,  it  restores  the  laint,  Ikc—Wulf.  Te.-i- 
 timony,  niTS",  'he  doctrinal  part.  Cnstnito,  IJorsley,  from  "il*.  *  beyond,' 
 '  forward.*  The  types  Sic.  of  the  law,  which  referred  beyond  them- 
 selves to  the  Lamb  of  God. — Clurkr.  6.  Statutes,  □'lIpE.fr.im  tpD,  *  to 
 '  visit,'  *  appoint,'  '  charge,*  '  give  in  charge  or  trust,'  '  Appointments,' 
 charges  committed  by  God  to  man  for  his  regard  and  observance. — Par. 
 The  'firdinances  of  God,  by  which  Israel  maintained  communion  with 
 him. — Srolt.  Blight,  DniD\  from  a  root,  *iiL>\  signifying  'to  make 
 straight,'  '  upright,*  &c.,  opposed  to  crookedness  of  mind  or  conduct. 
 — A.  Clarke.  Commandment,  ni^O.  from  a  root,  T^^^3,  signifying  'to 
 command,"  order.'  'Precept,' — Par.;  or  'moral  law.* — Scott.  '  Dis- 
 cipline,' the  general  oody  of  the  divine  law  and  iXoctnne. —Ca.itafio, 
 Horsley.  Pure.  TTi^,  'clear'  or  'bright.' — Lowth,  Ken,  'Bright  as 
 the  sofar  flame.' — Par. 
 
 *  The  commands  of  Jehovah  are  clear, 
 Giving  light  to  the  eyes.'— Boo^Ar. 
 
 9.  The  fear,  pNT.  from  a  root,  ^IT,  signifying  '  to  fear,'  *  lo  venerate,' 
 '  to  reverence  religiously;'  as  a  noun  it  signifies 'reverence.' — Par. 
 The  religion  and  worship  prescribed  by  God.* — .'{ins.  '  Religious 
 fear.' — Cas.,  Horsley.  It  is  often  put  for  the  whole  of  Uivine  worship. — 
 A.  Clarke.  Clean,  Ti'WTy^,  from  a  root,  -\7VCi,  signifying  '  to  be  pure.' — 
 See  Buxtorf.  It  sets  the  soul  against  all  sin,  and  leads  to  holy  watch- 
 fulness and  diligence. — Scott.  The  judgments,  "^DTTO,  from  the  root, 
 tCC'i?.  signifying 'to  judge,'  'determine,'  'aver,*  "regulate,*  'direct.* 
 Btc. — Par.  'The  judicial  law.' — Scott.  The  civil  statutes  of  the  Mosaic 
 law,  penal  sanctions,  rules  for  deciding  questions  of  property,  &-c.— 
 Cas.,  Horsley.  True,  HON.  'truth.' — Pa^.,  Mont.,  Jan.,  Trem.,  l>fc. 
 Rifffiteous  altogether,  nrT*  1pl!J.  'give  to  all  tlieir  due  equally. — A. 
 Clarke.  10.  Gold,  'golden  ore.*  Fine  gold,  '  gold  from  ttie  refiner*s 
 flame.' — Mant.  Tlie  honeycomb,  'the  dropping  of  the  honeycomb,* 
 Margin.  This  is  the  purest  and  sweetest  of  the  honey. — Gill.  Homer 
 mentions  '  honey  spontaneously  distilling'  as  peculiarly  sweet. — Par. 
 II.  Warned,  'instructed.' — Boothr.  ^\^^Z.  from  the  root  "im.  'to  be 
 clear,"  pellucid,'  that  is,  'fully  instructed,'  'he  sees  all  clearly.* — A. 
 Clarke.  1*2.  Errors,  '  unadvised  errors,*  refers  to  Lev.  iv.  2.—  Ains. 
 '  Sins  of  ignorance  and  infirmity.' — Green.  Cleanse  thou  me,  '  make 
 me  innocent,  free,  guiltless.*  The  word  is  used  for  exempting  or  ab- 
 solving ;  free  from  punishment  due  to  sin,  (Exod.  xx.  6  ;  xxxiv.  7.) — 
 Ains.  Secret  faults,  sins  unknown  to  a  man  himself,  committed  un- 
 advisedly  and  unobserved. — Gill.  Committed  and  forgotten,  not  re- 
 pented, heart  sins,  committed  without  knowing,  and  in  private,  but 
 never  made  public. — So  Clarke.  '  From  disguises,  concealments, 
 
 or  dissimulations.'  i,  e.,  from  hypocrisy. — Horsley.  13.  Presumptuous 
 sins,  wilful  and  deliberate  sins. —  Wells.  Tlte  offspring  of  thought,  pur- 
 pose, and  deliberation.  Sins  against  judgment,  light,  and  conscience. 
 — A.  Clarke.  The  word  D'llO  is  fmm  the  root  Tii,  '  to  boil,' '  to  swell ;' 
 hence,  presumptuous  sins  are  deliberate,  done  on  set  purpose. — So 
 Ham.  Literally,  'swelling  sins,'  as  pride,  haughtiness,  tyranny. — 
 Wil.  Atto  aWoTpfoiv,  '  from  strangers,'  Sept.,  and  other  versions  that 
 follow  it.  Rather,  '  preserve  thy  servant  from  the  proud,'  i.  e.,  from 
 tyrannical  governors,  i.e.,  from  evil  spirits. — Horsley.  The  great 
 transgression,  dual  apostasy.  —  Bp.  Home.  The  great  apostasy. — 
 Horsley.  Idtilatry. — Ken.  Perhaps  the  easily  besetting  sin  of  a  man's 
 constitution  or  temperament.— jl/oris/j7i.  Pt-rhaps  the  sin  against  the 
 Holy  Ghost  maybe  intended.— Gi//.    Any  great  transgression. —  Wells. 
 
 ance  for  Ins  afflicted  servants,  but  it  bas  been  well  said,  '  they  VI.   The  liveliest  praise.     Thus  let  us  adore  the  living  Lord, 
 
 %  %^  ^  providence,  shall  never  want  a  providence  to  eye.'  the  blessed  Rock,  the  Lord  of  our  salvation.     For  the  seed  of 
 
 V.  Ihe  purest  integrity.     If  our  hearts  are   upright  before  the  spiritual  David  shall  find  that  what  he  was  to  Davul  he 
 
 Ood,  we  need  never  fear  but  that,  sooner  or  later,  he  will  ap-  will  be  to  them,  and,  indeed,  to  his  seed  for  evermore.    Amen. 
 
 pear  lor  us  amidst  hosts  of  enemies  and  floods  of  dangers. 
 584 
 
Till!  cituixli  blcssctli  ihi:  liinij  in  his  erploits.     PSALMS,  XX.,  XXI. 
 
 A  thanksgiving  fur  victory. 
 
 over  me:  then  shall  I  be  upriglit,  and  I  shall 
 be  innocent  from  ||  the  gveat  tians<;ression. 
 
 1 4  ''  Let  tlie  words  of  my  mouth,  and  tlie  me- 
 ditation of  my  lieart,  be  acceptable  in  thy  sight, 
 
 0  Lord,  f  my  strength,  and  my  ''  redeemer. 
 
 PSALM  XX. 
 
 1  The  chuTcli  hiessrth  the  king  ht  his  exploits.      7   Htj- 
 
 confidence  in  God's  shccouj'. 
 
 To  the  chief  MusiclaD,  A  Ps:ihn  of  David. 
 
 T^HE  Lord  hear  thee  in  the  day  of  trouble  ; 
 
 -*-    "the  name  of  the  God  of  Jacob  f  defend 
 
 thee. 
 
 "2  Send  f  thee  help  from  /'  the  sanctuary,  and 
 f  strengthen  thee  out  of  Zion. 
 
 ti  Remember  all  thy  offerings,  and  f  accept 
 thy  burnt  sacrifice.     Selah. 
 
 4  ^  Grant  thee  according  to  thine  own  heart, 
 and  fulfil  all  thy  counsel. 
 o  We  will  '^  rejoice  in  thy  salvation,  and  ^  in 
 the  name  of  our  God  we  will  set  up  our  ban- 
 ners:  the  Lord  fulfil  all  thy  petitions. 
 
 6  Now  know  I  that  the  Lord  saveth  '"his 
 anointed;  he  will  hear  him  ffrom  his  holy 
 heaven  f  with  the  saving  strength  of  his  right 
 hand. 
 
 7  ^  Some  trust  in  chariots,  and  some  in 
 horses:  ^but  we  will  remember  the  name  of 
 the  Lord  our  God. 
 
 8  They  are  brought  down  and  fallen  :  but  we 
 are  risen,  and  stand  upright. 
 
 9  Save,  Lord  :  let  the  king  hear  us  when  we 
 call. 
 
 p  Ps.  51.  15. 
 f  Heb.  til  If 
 
 Tvck. 
 
 Vs.  18.  1. 
 7  Is.  43   M. 
 
 &  U.  ti.  & 
 
 47.   i 
 
 I  Thes.  I. 
 
 10. 
 
 n  Pro.  18  10 
 t  Heb.  tet 
 
 high  plnce. 
 t  Heb.  % 
 
 h^lp. 
 b  I  Kiu.G.lO 
 
 2  Cbr.  -JH  8 
 
 Ps.  7.S.  17. 
 [  Heb.  ifup, 
 
 purl  llwe. 
 \  Heb.  iHTii 
 
 'i  Ps,  19.  4. 
 p  l-ix.  17.  15. 
 Ps.  60.  4. 
 
 /Pe.  2,  2. 
 
 (  Heb.  bt,  the 
 
 thfHgth  of 
 
 the  xalvolioH 
 ofh'triiihl 
 hand. 
 
 s  I'a.  a*!,  le, 
 
 17.  Pro. 21 
 31,  19.31  I 
 /t2Clu-.3-i,8 
 
 ■  9  Siim,  12. 
 30.  I  Cbr. 
 
 ■^0.  a. 
 
 t  Heb.  liPt 
 him  to  be 
 bUohiffx. 
 Gen.  12.  2. 
 Ps.  72.  17. 
 /Pa.  16.  11. 
 ft  4ft.  7. 
 Acta  2.  ■;8 
 
 t  Heb.  ffhd- 
 tlfd  him 
 with  j'1,1. 
 
 S  Ps.  lb   S, 
 
 h  1  Sftin.  :<l 
 3. 
 
 ;  hihI.  -i.  1. 
 
 *P3.  56.  1,2 
 
 P3.  18-  S. 
 
 Tb  26.  II. 
 VI  I  Kin.  13 
 
 M.  Job  19. 
 
 16,  17,  19. 
 
 Pe   .S7.  S8. 
 
 ft  \m    l.'J. 
 
 Is.  li    2ii. 
 
 PSALM  XXL 
 
 1    A  thanhsgiving  for  victor}/.     7  Conjidenee  of  further 
 success. 
 
 To  the  chief  ;\Iusician,  A  Psulm  of  Davirl. 
 
 T^HE  king  shall  joy  in  thy  strength,  O  Lord; 
 -*-  and  "in  thy  salvation  liow  greatly  shall  he 
 rejoice  I 
 
 2  ^  Thou  hast  given  him  his  heart's  desire, 
 and  hast  not  withholden  the  request  of  his  lips. 
 Selah. 
 
 3  For  thou  preventest  him  with  the  blessings 
 of  goodness:  thou  "^settest  a  crown  of  pure 
 gold  on  his  head. 
 
 4  "^  He  asked  life  of  thee,  and  thou  gavest  it 
 him,  ^  even  length  of  days  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 5  His  glory  is  great  in  thy  salvation:  honour 
 and  majesty  hast  thou  laid  upon  him. 
 
 G  For  thou  hast  f  made  him  most  blessed  for 
 ever:  ''thou  hast  fnade  hiin  exceeding  glad 
 with  thy  countenance. 
 
 7  For  the  king  trusteth  in  tlie  Lord,  and 
 through  the  mercy  of  the  most  High  he  ^shall 
 not  be  moved. 
 
 8  Thine  hand  shall  ^  find  out  all  thine  ene- 
 mies :  thy  right  hand  shall  find  out  those  that 
 hate  thee. 
 
 9  '  Thou  shalt  make  them  as  a  fiery  oven  in 
 the  time  of  thine  anger:  the  Lord  shall  ''swal- 
 low them  up  in  his  wrath,  ^  and  the  fire  shall 
 devour  them. 
 
 10  "'Their  fruit  shalt  thou  destroy  from  the 
 
 From  much  trespass. — Ains.  'Much  transgression.'  —  Mont.,  Gcj., 
 Core  ,  Ains.  The  sense  may  be,  that  he  should  be  cleared  aud  ac- 
 qnittcfl  of  a  multitude  of  transgressions  he  had  been  guilty  of;  or  be 
 preserved  from  much  sin,  which  otherwise  he  sliould  have  fallen  into. 
 — Gill.  As  presumptuous  sins  harden  the  heart,  and  lead  to  habitual 
 sinning,  and  then  to  final  despair  and  luibpHi-f,  that  ruinous  sin,  which 
 leaves  the  sinner  without  an  atonement,  may  not  this  be  the  proper 
 idea  of  '  the  great  transgression'  ? — Ed.  The  detinite  article  is  impro- 
 perly added,  the  original  is  yy  I'iJDp,  'fri^m  great  transgression.' — 
 Hew.     '  And  clear  of  great  transgression.' — Boothr. 
 
 Psalm  XX.  — Titi.k — To  the  chief,  ^c. — the  opinions  are  various  as 
 to  the  occasion  of  writing  this  Psalm,  (i.)  That  it  was  written  when 
 about  to  go  to  war,  to  be  used  by  the  people  for  David,  particularly 
 again>t  the  Ammonites  and  Syrians,  {2  Sam.  x.  6,  13.)  (ii.)  When 
 David  got  victory  over  the  Philistines,  (iii.)  By  the  singers /'*r  David. 
 ;iv.)  Concerning  the  Messiah  and  his  suft'erings.  (v.)  A  prophecy  of 
 Sennacherib's  invasion  of  Judea,  Rabshakeh's  blasphemy,  and  Heze- 
 kiah's  distress. — See  Gill.  3.  Accept,  'turn  to  ashes,'  ?lnrg.,  so 
 Kimchi,  fat.,  Mimt  ,  Ains.  By  Kennicott  this  rendering  is  disap- 
 proved. The  usual  method  of  signifying  the  Divine  acceptance  of  the 
 sacrifice. — Magee.  n3UJl^>  the  Hebrew  mot,  liUl.  signifies  '  was  fat,' 
 or  '  was  made  fat,'  and  so  is  rendered  by  the  Sept.,  TriacaToi,  'let  thy 
 holocaust  be  mude  fat,'  i.  e.,  as  fat  and  good  sacrifices  arc  wont  to  be, 
 accepted. — Ham.  5.  Set  up  our  bmmers,  in   token  of  triumph. — 
 
 Poole.  The  sen'-e  is,  '  we  will  take  the  fiehl  against  our  enemies,  in 
 full  reliance  upon  God's  assistance.' — Horslctf.  ".  Suvte  trust  in  cha- 
 riots, Sfc. — this  decides  the  occasion  of  wiiting  tlie  Psalm,  on  going 
 to  fight  with  the  Syrians. — Geddes.  9.  Save,  Lord,  §'r.,  Kt'pie  ctwctoi' 
 Tov /JaTfXea,  'Lord,  save  the  king,  and  hear  us  whensoever  we  shail 
 call  upon  thee  ;'  so  al-o  the  Vul;;.,  Ethiop-,  Arah.  The  first  verses  are 
 spoken  by  the  people,  or  priests,  on  the  king's  coming  to  sacrifice  be- 
 fore his  expedition.  With  ver.  G  the  high  priest  breaks  out  on  seeing 
 the  sacrifice  consumed.    The  three  last  verses  are  by  the  people  nr 
 
 priests  as  a  chorus. — Mndge. 
 
 Ps.  SX!.  —Title— To  the  chief,  ^-c— Ihis  is  a  Psahn  of  triumph  and 
 thanksgiving  for  victory.  It  is  generally  considered  as  describing, 
 under  the  figure  of  David,  the  exaltation,  glory,  and  majesty  of  Christ, 
 who  completely  triumphed  over  death.— Ti-«i'e//  on  Psalms.  It  is  called 
 a  Psalm  of  David,  or  may  be  rendered,  for  David,  or  concerning  David, 
 —  Vat.;  or  concerning  the  Messiah,  who  is  called  David,  Ezek.  xxxvii. 
 24,  ^b.— Jewish  Writers.  It  is  a  distinct  prophecy  of  Messiah.— H^ors. 
 This  appears  to  commemorate,  as  having  been  brought  to  pass,  what 
 the  preceding  ode  celebrates  by  anticipation.— ilZ-^m/.  3.  Preventest 
 him,  i:?Dli:n,  'Thou  shalt  go  before  him.'— ^4.  Clarke.  '  Crown  edst 
 him  with  blessings  sooner  than  he  expuctcd.'— /'oo^e.  A  crown  of  pure 
 gold— see  note  on  Ps.  xix.  10.  The  Sept.  and  Vulg.  have  'a  crown  of 
 a  precious  stone,'  and  seem  to  refer  to  the  crown  of  the  king  of  the 
 Ammonites,  set  on  David's  head,  which  had  precious  stones  in  it, 
 (2  Sam.  xii.  30.)— Pat.,  Gill,  &c.        4.  Asked  life,  ^-c- 
 
 '  Immortality  he  asked  of  thee  ; 
 Thou  hast  given  him  a  length  of  days 
 For  ever  and  ever.' — Horstey. 
 
 'When  he  went  on  a  perilous  expedition  he  asked  his  life,  which  he 
 then  put  in  his  hand,  aud  thou  nut  only  gavest  that,  but  length  of  days 
 for  ever  and  ever;*  the  assur.mce  of  a  blessed  immortahty,  and  of  the 
 continuance  of  his  kingdom  in  the  Messiah,  who  should  spring'  from 
 his  loins. — Heni-y.  6.  Made  him  most  blessed,  literally,  '  set  him  to 
 
 be  blessings  for  ever,'  marg.  Most  truly  said  of  the  King  in  whom  all 
 the  nations  of  the  earth  were  to  be  blessed. — Mant.  Q.  As  a  fieri f 
 oven— this  riesciibcs  the  smoke  uf  Messiah's  enemies,  perishing  by  fire 
 ascending  like  the  smoke  of  a  furnace.  'The  sm:ike  of  thi^r  torments 
 shall  ascend  for  ever  and  evcr.^—Hursle;/.  They  shall  be  burnt  up  by 
 God's  wrath,  and  one  class  of  sinners  shnll  be  the  means  of  consuming 
 another.— So  Clarke.  10.  Their  fruit,  meaning  the  offspring  of  wicked 
 men.    The  fruit  of  the. womb,  (Ps.  cxxvii.  3.)    The  same  with  'their 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XIX.  —  We  observe  here,  I.  God's 
 means  of  instructing  mankind.  He  has  given  the  books  of  nature 
 and  of  revelation.  There  is  light  enough  in  the  first  to  shew 
 the  greatness  and  glory  of  God  ;  so  that  even  the  heathen,  who 
 have  worshipped  the  creature  more  than  the  Creator,  are  with- 
 out excuse.  15nt,  with  the  clearer  light  of  revelation,  we  have 
 a  sure  word  of  prophecy,  whereunto  we  do  well  to  take  heed. 
 
 IL  Attendance  to  God's  jnea?is  of  insfructijig  vs  trill  keep  ns 
 from  sin.  His  word  is  in  our  hands,  and  if  we  treasure  it  up 
 in  our  hearts,  it  will  be  a  perpetual  monitorthere.  'Thy  word 
 have  I  hid  in  my  heart,'  s:iys  the  Psalmist,  '  that  I  might  not 
 sii3  against  thee.'  But,  alas  !  who  can  understand  his  errors  ? 
 Hov:  many  sins  have  escaped  our  notice,  and  bow  many  have 
 we  committed  under  the  dispensation  of  clear  light  and  know- 
 ledge, and  under  the  intluence  of  rising  depravity  !  Adored 
 be  God  that  thijre  is  a  Redeemer.  '  Pilay  we  ever  stand  in 
 the  shadow  of  that  illustrious  Kinsman,  who,  though  he  m:iJe 
 himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  ser- 
 vant, "counted  it  not  robbery  to  claim  an  equality  with  God." 
 5&0 
 
 Then,  and  then  only,  can  we  assure  ourselves  that  "  the  medi- 
 tations of  our  hearts,  and  the  words  of  our  lips,'' are  accept- 
 able in  his  sight,  who  is  our  only  refuge  in  moments  of  guilt, 
 in  seasons  of  conflict,  and  in  times  of  overwhelming  sorrow 
 and  distress.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XX.  —  We  have  here,  I.  The  langiiaqc 
 of  prayer.  Magistrates  are  of  God's  appointment.  They  are 
 essential  to  good  government,  and  they  especially  need  wis- 
 dom to  direct  them,  and  protection  from  danger.  We  are 
 praying  for  our  own  safety  while  we  pray  for  theirs  ;  and  it  is 
 our  duty  to  pray  for  kings,  and  '  all  that  are  in  authority,  that 
 we  may  lead  quiet  and  peaceable  lives  in  all  godliness  and 
 honesty.'  And  while  praying  for  the  peace  and  prosperity  of 
 our  own  kingdom,  let  us  never  forget  the  kingdom  of  Clirist, 
 in  the  advancement  of  whose  kingdom  amongst  us  wo  shall 
 enjoy  the  best  security  and  the  best  pledge  of  happiness. 
 
 IL  The  language  of  triumph.  A  praying  people  shall  have 
 reason  for  praise.  *  Happy  is  that  people  whose  God  is  the 
 Lord  !' 
 
 4    F 
 
David's  complaints  in  discouragemenL^^^^  PSALMS,  XXII. 
 
 His  prayer  in  great  lUstras. 
 
 earth,  and  their  seed  from  among  the  children 
 
 of  men.  ,        .         i  ii 
 
 1 1   For  they  intended  evil  aganist  thee  :  they 
 
 "imagined   a  mischievous  device,   u'!iich  they 
 
 are  not  able  (oper/b)"'- 
 1"   Therefore   |1  shalt   thou  make    them   turn 
 
 their  fbacl;,  tihen  tliou  shalt  make  ready  thine 
 
 arrows  upon  thy  strings  against  thefaceof  them. 
 13    Be  thou  exalted,    Lord,   ni   thuie    own 
 
 strength  :  so  will  we  sing  and  praise  thy  power. 
 
 PSALM  XXIL 
 
 1   David  compliiineth  In  prrat  discouraiiement.     9  He 
 prayeth  in  grmt  distress.     23  H<=  praistlli  God. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  upon  |1  Aijeleth  Shahar,  A  Psalm 
 of  David. 
 
 MY  '  God,  my  God.  why  hast  thou  forsaken 
 me?  why  art  thou  so  far  f  from  helpmg 
 me,  and  from  "  the  words  of  my  roaring? 
 
 •->  O  my  God,  I  crv  in  tlie  daytnne,  but  thou 
 hearest  not;  and  in" the  night  season,  and  t  am 
 
 not  silent.  •  ,    i  •.     . 
 
 3  But  thou  art  holy,  O  thou  tliat  mhabitest 
 the  ''  praises  of  Israel. 
 
 4  Our  fathers  trusted  in  thee  :  they  trusted 
 and  thou  didst  deliver  them. 
 
 5  They  cried  unto  thee,  and  were  delivered 
 
 II  Or,  «.»■■ 
 
 t'ftii  as  fl 
 b<ilt:  Sue 
 Job  7-  W. 
 
 &  16    13. 
 
 Liitii.  3.  i: 
 t  Hi-I.. 
 
 |]0r, /'t*  /liHO 
 ofthi-morii- 
 ins. 
 
 1  Mai  .27  46 
 Mark  15.;4 
 t    Hub     rrt,m 
 
 b  Hrb.  5.  7. 
 
 t  Heb  there 
 ig  f.u  tileiice 
 
 d  Fs  25.J.S 
 UtSl  1  .*«7I. 
 1.  1S..M. «:! 
 Horn.  !».  H3. 
 
 .  Job  -JS   15. 
 
 i>  n.  14. 
 
 /It..  .M    3. 
 
 0  Mat  -n  :i9. 
 M.irk  15.^« 
 I.iike  JS  31 
 
 t  lleb.  "jr.,. 
 
 /.  Job  Iti. -I. 
 I>B    tw   25 
 
 .  Mat  27  43 
 
 t  H.-b    l.r 
 Al^d  1  " 
 
 u-U' 
 
 :.  /A.- 
 
 I.OHD 
 k  Ps.  91.  It 
 1.0r,/A'"-rfe- 
 
 liyhl  lit  him 
 
 I  Ps.  71-  6 
 
 II  Or,  ktrleil 
 „.e  ,*«  Mi^f-it/ 
 
 m  Is  46.  3. 
 
 S:  49.   1. 
 t  Heb.  Hftt  n 
 
 ;„l,.ei-. 
 >.  Deu92  14 
 
 Ps.  68.  30. 
 
 Ktck  39  18 
 
 Amos  ♦.  1. 
 o  Job  16    111. 
 
 Pb  35.  21. 
 
 Luin.  2.  16. 
 
 ^  3.  46. 
 }  Hfb  o/ii-He.^ 
 
 "*"'»"  "•»■ 
 
 ;»  Dan.  ^.  6. 
 
 |l()rj«/nln"ii. 
 
 o  Josh.  7.  5. 
 Job  23    16. 
 
 r  Pro.  17.22. 
 
 #  Job  29.111 
 Lam.  4.  4 
 John  19  2H. 
 
 (  Kev  22,15, 
 
 they  trusted  in  thee,  and  were  not  confounded. 
 
 6  But  I  «)«  'a  worm,  and  no  man  ;  ^a  re- 
 proacli  of  men,  and  despised  of  tlie  people. 
 
 7  e  All  tliey  that  see  ine  lauf>h  me  to  scorn  : 
 they  fshoot  out  the  lip,  "they  shake  the  head, 
 saying, 
 
 8  'fHe  trusted  on  the  Lord  ^/jnMie  would 
 deliver  him  :  "^  let  liim  deliver  him,  ||  seeing  he 
 delighted  in  him. 
 
 9  '  But  thou  art  he  that  took  me  out  of  the 
 womb  :  thou  ||  didst  make  me  hope  when  I 
 was  upon  my  mother's  breasts. 
 
 10  I  was  cast  upon  thee  from  the  womb  : 
 "'thou  art  my  God  from  my  motliei's  belly. 
 
 11  Be  not  far  from  me;  for  trouble  is  near; 
 for  there  is  \  none  to  lielp. 
 
 12  "  Many  bulls  have  compassed  me:  strong 
 bulls  of  Bashan  have  beset  me  round. 
 
 13  °  They  tgaped  upon  me  with  their  mouths, 
 as  a  ravening  and  a  roaring  lion. 
 
 14  I  am  poured  out  like  water,  ''and  all 
 my  bones  are  ||  out  of  joint :  "  my  heart  is 
 like  wax  ;  it  is  melted  in  the  midst  of  my 
 bowels. 
 
 15  'My  strength  is  dried  up  like  a  potsherd  ; 
 and  'my  tongue  cleaveth  to  my  jaws;  and 
 thou  hast  brought  me  into  the  dust  of  deatli. 
 
 10  For  'dogs  have  compassed  me:  the  as- 
 
 sef  d-  in  the  next  clause.-G.v;,  so  Horslcy.  and  Clarke.  Jticir  P";''-  ';'• 
 rndvvm  them  their  memo.-ial.-Clarke.  12.  Therefore  sHall  tl„m 
 
 7,,k^  he^turn  their  b„ck.  when  thou  shalt  make  reud,^  thine  arrmr, 
 ;';.-theTest  sense  of  the  words  is,  ■Thou  shalt  »,':"hf ">;  °':  ^  •Jj,'i'^„\ 
 or  •  heap.'  or.  as  it  is  in  the  Hebrew  text,  ■  a  shoulder  ;  a  butt  to  shoot 
 at  being  so  called,  because  it  is  earth  heaped  up  like  a  shoulder  --Gi«. 
 •For  thou  wilt  set  them  as  a  butt;  with  thy  strings  thou  v.-.lt  make 
 ready  against  their  faces.' — Ains. 
 
 •  Truly  thou  shalt  make  them  a  butt  for  thine  arrows : 
 Thou  Shalt  take  a  steady  aim  aga\n^t  them.'— Hoi-s/cy. 
 '  Sure'v  thou  wilt  set  Ihem  a  bolt  to  thine  arrows  : 
 Whicii  against  them  thou  hast  fitted  to  thy  string.'-Boo/'^r. 
 Ps    XX 11  —Title— .4y>W*  SAoAoi-.-inM-nnVs.     This  title  is  vari- 
 onsl)'  interpreted  as  referring  to,  (i.)  A"'>;^i<^^l."'^\^™^''*-  ,^" '??,  ,j"j 
 meot  used  by  mourning  women.-J-o-Wo,  /^"r.t'' h"^  n   .he  morn 
 Wi-iters    (ii.)  A  tune.  The  translation  may  be,    the  hind  of  the  morn- 
 ing  '      f  an  instrument  be  not  meant,  it  might  be  a  melancholy  tune 
 describing  a  poor  hind  pursued  by  huntcrs.-JWurf^e.     (iii.)  A  ba  d 
 •  A  I'sa  m  of  David,  addressed  to  the  music  master  who  presides  over 
 ,he  band"  called,  Ihe  morning  hind.'-C,,/.     (iv.)  The  time  of  singing 
 the  Psalm      -To  be  sung  at  the  dawn  of  day.'— Boo^ir.      (v.)  The 
 Psalm  itself  and  its  subject.    •  Concerning  the  hind  of  the  n;";"'"^. 
 alluding  to  Christ,  persecuted  as  a  hooted  hind.-So  .<.«.!.       "'»  '  o" 
 ?he  mo?niog,'  a  Psalm  wherein  David,  under  his  oivn  person,  who  was 
 persecuted  as  a  hind  is  by  the  hunters  ear^y  in  the  .■norning,  l>„"-  >  W 
 makes  a  large  description  of  the  sufferings  of  Chnst.— Pa«.    Perhaps 
 U  potnts  ou[  0.e  SaviSur,  marked  by  Satan  from  his  hirth  for  perseeu. 
 tion   as  the  hind  or  the  hart  is  in  the  moroing  for  chace,  and  so  hunted 
 by  his  enemies.-Sco».      '  To  the  Giver  of  victory,  eonceiuing  the    o^ 
 terposition  of  the  darkness.     An  ode  of  Dav,d.'-Ho.-.v/e^.      To  Him 
 who  giveth  victory,  an  earnest  petition  for  aid.'— S(rpf(.    The  t  tie 
 ma?  b^  siinply,  •  the  hind  of  the  morning,'  eastern  compositions  o  ten 
 blaring  such  titles.     The  m-st  celebrated  Persian  poems  are  called 
 ■th?"ied  of  Roses  .'  another  volume,  'the  Garden  of  Knowledge  '  &c. 
 -Orient    1,7  1.  M»  God.  «T.-(i.)  Some  think  this  Psalm  belongs 
 
 to  Datid  This  Psalm  was  probably  written  by  David  when  at  Maha- 
 naim  where  God  appeared  to  Jacob,  which  may  illustrate  vcr.  3,  4  5 
 -Deadly  (»■)  Some  apply  it  wholly  to  Christ.  No  other  than  the 
 Messiah^an  be  meant,  see  Matt,  xjvii  35,  43  ^6i  feb  -  2;  al 
 narts  of  this  Psalm  arc  ilust rated  in  Christ.— Gi«.  The  Psalmist  per 
 urates  the  Messiah  in  the  garden,  S.c.-Hor.ley.  It  -^y  >;.=  ^"=2?  as 
 whether  David  had  any  reference  to  his  own  case  in  this  P-a  m,  as 
 everf.hng  is  applicable  to  Christ,  and  most  V""S^"","'i'he"''MSah 
 to  Dav,d.-.Sco«.  This  Psalm  belongs  exclusively  to  the  Missiah, 
 several  passages  not  meeting  the  circumstances  "f  David.-lt .(.  (i  i.) 
 Some  apply  it  primarily  to  David,  and,  in  ^'^'•'^.""{^ary  sense  to  Christ 
 The  greatest  pJrt  of  it  related  primarily  to  David  >'""!.'■'';■  ""'''X 
 a  most  pathetic  and  poetical  description  of  his  own  sufferings  and  cala- 
 
 mitics,  but  expressed  in  such  figures  as  were  most  '■'"='l'>f"'^!  ';'''' 
 the  sufferings  of  Christ.-^rcM.  Randolph,  so  G™''"/'/"  ,/''''•'; 
 Ofmu  ioarins  'njNO.  the  root  denotes  the  roaring  of  a  lion,  ami  is 
 2{t;"f  appliod^o  thfdeep  groaning  of  men  in  -<•.'<"-•-;;■  ^.^f,^^^^"-- 
 3  ;  xxxviii.  9.)  ■  My  loud  laments.'— V.m<.  .  My  B"^™"^,  "f  "°"^ 
 2  Jcru  Ac  seems  to  he  David's  own  expcrieuce.-yl.  Ctoi*?-  The 
 mpo  t'dn*  yof  the  suffering  Redeemer  -il/or,™,i,  Ii.,v^o«c  t^^me  o 
 suffering  on  the  cross.  Mght,  time  when  'P'^e  garden  ,  or  m.y 
 design  the  incessant  and  continual  P';*^"  "^^'irst.-G  »  .-l^rf '^^^^ 
 „„/  Ment,  ''I  rro-n  nVi.  The  Hebrew  siguilies  r"''  °f  q"'«  ',_""'- 
 is  not  any  quiet  to  me.  no  answer  to  prayers  for  deliierance.  -«"'". 
 TMhll^,  and  cans!  do  nothing  but  what  is  right  ^"'"''■''«' "^f 
 vraises  ir,  dwellest  in  Hie  sanetnary,  where  Praises  are  offend.- 
 A  Carke%  Edward's  Trans,  of  Psalms.  Alluding  to  he  time  when 
 h  the  ancient  Jewish  church,  Jehovah,  in  >"'  Py'l'™  ™  ^°^^^^ 
 Zion.  was  day  and  night,  without  ceasing,  surrounded  by  the  praises 
 which  were  there  offered  to  him.— H  atf. 
 
 'Bot  thou  inhabitest  the  sanctuary. 
 Amid  the  praises  of  Israel.'— CooWii-. 
 
 •Thou  that  inhabilest  the  irradiations  the  6'"^  "^  ''"^'„'-f °l'*' 
 Bn  Ham,:  The  word  allodes  to  the  glorious^  manifestations  of  Jeho. 
 Sh,  at  Sinai,  in  the  fiery  pillar,  and  in  'he  cherubim  Exori.xix  18  i 
 Dcut  iv  11-  Exod.  xiii.  21,  22;  Num.  ix.  15,  &c. ;  Lev.  xvi.  J ,  tztK. 
 i  26  2r  28  _>„.  6.  1  am  a  worm.  *c.-David  might  use  these 
 words  under'  a  Tense  of  worthlessness,  but  not  Christ^-aurAe  Cluist 
 might  so  call  himself  from  the  opinion  which  men  had  "f  h"'}--«'"- 
 ^  All  then  ic  -from  this  to  ver.  20,  the  words  are  prophetical  of  Christ, 
 ^oditeraily  fulfilled  in  him,  (Matt,  xxvii.  3i,.}-]>imock-s  Notes  on 
 fsalT  slot  out  the  Up  -  shake  the  '-""-/""""^'"e  ",f^^",Sn  g 
 lip,  and  shaking  the  head,  are  expressions,  in  the  "S.';  "f.f^f ""  "? 
 
 were  mblenfatical  of  power,  and  may  he  '>."e<lcscript.ve  of  the  Jewish 
 rulers  and  the  Roman  governor,  who  conspired  ^--ainst  Jesus  -BaoWr. 
 Bashan.  was  remarkable  for  the  size  of  its  h^eed  of  eattle.-.V«"  . 
 14   like  water    his  flesh  had  no  consistency,    as  water.  —  t-i w. 
 
 •malicious  people  have  beset  me  Bercely  as  dogs.  -«""'',  'J'l^,"^"/^ 
 is  taken  from  a  hart  or  hind  roused  early  in  the  .™<""",'f ''' "'°''»'„'  f^ 
 Lunted  and  chased  all  the  day.  and  in  the  evemng  piUled  down  tj^  U^e 
 pround  by  those  who  compassed  him,  clamouring  '«'  f„  *:°f„.  f  Jj 
 Hoi-ne     The  allusion  is  rather  to  the  dogs  of  eastern  towns  and  vu- 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXI.  —  I.  Mercies  received  from  God 
 should  be  gratefMy  achnowledqed.  O  what  reason  have  all  be- 
 lievers to  rejoice  in  his  salvation  !  How  often  has  he  pre- 
 vented them  with  his  goodness  !  And  still  is  he  cheering 
 their  hearts  with  the  prosrpoct  of  a  glorious  immortality.  1  be 
 Dlessings  enjoyed  now  are  but  the  earnest  of  future  blessings, 
 for  God  has  blessed  them  for  ever. 
 
 II.  All  the  enemies  of  the  church  of  God  shall  in  the  end  dc  rie- 
 stroyed,  for  those  who  do  not  submit  to  him  must  tall  beneath 
 586 
 
 111.  God  .Aa«  eternally  be  exalted.  His  creatures  can  never 
 exa  t  h.m,  for  he  is  now- exahed  far  above  all  their  blessings 
 and  praise.  Yes,  he  is  e:<alted  in  his  own  strength,  and  in  his 
 own  strength  he  will  be  exalted.  We  will  therefore  sing  and 
 praise  his  power-the  power  of  his  providence  in  upholding, 
 protect  ng,  and  delivering  his  church,  and  the  power  of  his 
 crace  in  redeeming  it.  'To  him  be  glory  in  the  church,  by 
 St  Jesus!rrou'ghout  all  ages,  world  without  end.   Amen.' 
 
David praiseth  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  XXIII. 
 
 His  confidence  in  God's  grace. 
 
 sembly  of  the  wicked  have  inclosed  me  :  "they 
 pierced  my  hands  and  my  feet. 
 
 17  I  may  tell  all  my  bones  :  ^  they  look  and 
 stare  npon  me. 
 
 18  ^  Tliey  part  my  garments  among  them, 
 and  cast  lots  upon  my  vesture. 
 
 19  But  '  be  not  thou  far  from  me,  O  Lord  : 
 O  my  strength,  haste  thee  to  help  me. 
 
 •20  Deliver  my  soul  from  the  sword;  'f^iy 
 darling  f  from  the  power  of  the  ""dog. 
 
 •Jl  'Save  me  from  the  lion's  mouth  :  "^ for  thou 
 hast  heard  me  from  the  horns  of  the  unicorns. 
 
 '22  '  I  will  declare  thy  name  unto  'my  breth- 
 ren :  in  the  midst  of  the  congregation  will  I 
 praise  thee. 
 
 '23  ^  Ye  that  fear  the  Lord,  praise  him  ;  all 
 ye  the  seed  of  Jacob,  glorify  him  ;  and  fear 
 him,  all  ye  tlie  seed  of  Israel. 
 
 '24  For  he  hath  not  despised  nor  abhorred  the 
 affliction  of  the  afflicted  ;  neither  nath  he  hid 
 his  face  from  him;  but  ''when  he  cried  unto 
 him,  he  heard. 
 
 '2j  '  My  praise  s/iall  be  of  thee  in  the  great 
 congregation :  '  I  will  pay  my  vows  before 
 them  that  fear  him. 
 
 «  .Mat. 27 .35 
 Maik  l.l.-^l 
 l.uke  S3  3S 
 John  l«.-i3, 
 ,S7.  & '-'».  25 
 
 X  Luke  L'3. 
 ■J7,  Sb. 
 
 V  l.uke  23 
 
 'at.JuliulS. 
 23,  •>*. 
 
 r  ver.  M. 
 Ps.  10.  1. 
 
 a  Ps.  .35.  17. 
 t  Heb.  mi/ 
 0/,/v  <""■ 
 t  Het.  /rem 
 
 Ihf  t>,i 
 b  ver.  IG. 
 c  i  Ti   .1.  17. 
 d  Is   31.  7. 
 
 Ac(B  4.  27. 
 «  Heb    2,  12. 
 
 P3.  10    0. 
 /Jolin20.l7. 
 
 K»i:i   3  29. 
 g  Ps.  135. 
 
 4  Heb.  5.  7. 
 
 iPa.  SS.ia.d 
 
 40.  n.  HI. 
 
 8c  111.  1. 
 k  Ps.  66.  13 
 
 ."Ji  116.  11. 
 
 Ecclea  5. 1. 
 
 I  I,ev.7.  II, 
 12,  15,  16 
 Pa.  09.  S2 
 l9   65.  13. 
 
 m  .lol)iiti51. 
 
 ',  Ps.  2.  8.  & 
 72  11.  &  ft6. 
 9.  &  93.  3. 
 Is  .19.  6. 
 
 o  Ps  90.  7. 
 
 ;i  Pa   47.  9. 
 Obad.  21 
 Zech.  U  9. 
 Mat.  6.  13 
 
 7  Pa,  45.  12. 
 
 f  Is   20.  19 
 Phil   .'.  10. 
 
 Ps   87.  6. 
 
 (  Ps  78.  6,  & 
 
 86  9  8:  102. 
 
 19.  la  603. 
 
 See  Rom  3. 
 
 21,  22. 
 1  Is.  40.  11. 
 
 Jer.  23.  4. 
 
 Ezek  34.11, 
 
 12,  2:1. 
 
 John  10.11. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  25. 
 
 Rev.  7  17. 
 b  Phil.  4  19. 
 c  Eie.  34  14. 
 t  Heb.  jiat- 
 
 tiiret  of  Irn- 
 
 d  Rev.  7.  17. 
 f  Heb.  waleyt 
 n/  rjtiietiieti. 
 
 •26  '  The  meek  shall  eat  and  be  satisfied  : 
 they  .shall  praise  the  Lord  that  seek  him : 
 your  heart  ""  shall  live  for  ever. 
 
 •27  "  All  the  ends  of  the  world  shall  remem- 
 ber and  turn  unto  the  Lord;  "and  all  the  kin- 
 dreds of  the  nations  shall  worship  before  thee. 
 
 '28  ■■  For  the  kingdom  is  the  Lord's  :  and  he 
 is  the  governor  among  the  nations. 
 
 29  '■AH  the;/  that  be  fat  upon  earth  shall  eat 
 and  worship:  'all  they  that  go  down  to  the 
 dust  shall  bow  before  him  :  and  none  can  keep 
 alive  his  own  soul. 
 
 30  A  seed  shall  serve  him  :  '  it  shall  be  ac- 
 counted to  the  Lord  for  a  generation. 
 
 31  'They  shall  come,  and  shall  declare  his 
 righteousness  unto  a  people  that  shall  be  born, 
 that  he  hath  done  this. 
 
 PSALM  XXIII. 
 
 David's  confidence  in  God's  f; race. 
 A  Psalm  of  David. 
 T^HE   Lord  is  *  my  shepherd;  ^  I  tsiiall  not 
 -^    want. 
 
 '2  "^He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  infgreen  pas- 
 tures :  '^  he  leadetli  me  beside  tlie  f  still  waters. 
 
 lag:es,  which,  not  being  domesticated  as  with  ns,  prowl  about  the  sliL't-ts, 
 and  are  so  dangerous  at  night  that  it  is  necessary  to  go  out  prnperly 
 armed  for  defence  against  their  attacks. — So  Pict.  Bib.  'ffu-y  have 
 pierced,  fyc. — if  David  rnigl\t  apply  this  language  to  the  wounds  he 
 might  have  received  from  Saul  and  his  fi  lends,  it  appHes  more  literally 
 to  a  crucified  Redeemer — Boof/ir.  The  other  sufferings  David,  as  a 
 type,  miglit  pass  through,  but  the  piercing  was  peculiar  to  our  Lord. — 
 J.  Cliirke.  The  application  of  the  worils  to  Christ  cannot  be  disputed, 
 {see  Luke,  xxiv.  39  ;  John,  xx.  'J5  — 27.]— W«//.  'Ihe  eastern  language 
 being  so  strongly  metupliorical,  David,  under  the  inspiration  of  the 
 spirit  of  prophecy,  might  certainly  employ  all  these  terms  with  a  pri- 
 mary reference  to  himself. — Ed.  17.  /  7n/ti/  fell  all  my  bones,  SfC. ; 
 IH.  The;/  part  my  garments — if  David's  enemies  numbered  his  bones, 
 wasted  by  watchings,  &c. ;  if  they  stared  at  him  as  a  man  deail ;  di- 
 vidid,  in  their  thi)ughts,  his  garments,  and  cast  lots  who  should  have 
 his  vesture ;  all  thei^e  things  were  literally  fulfilled  in  the  crucifixion.— 
 liuothr.  Such  as  died  the  death  df  the  cross  were  crucified  naked,  and 
 their  clothes  were  the  perquisites  of  the  executioners.  There  were  four 
 soldiers  concerned  in  the  execaiion  of  Christ,  and  these  parted  his  gar- 
 ments into  four  paits,  and  every  one  took  his  part.  And  cast  lots  upon 
 my  vesture,  which  was  a  seamless  coat,  wove  from  top  to  bottom,  and 
 therefore  tht-y  were  not  willing  to  rend  it.-G(7^  The  first  word  de- 
 notes  the  cloak,  the  large  loose  outward  garment  worn  by  the  easterns; 
 the  latter,  tlie  inner  garment,  tunic,  or  vest,  worn  next  the  body. — 
 Mant.  ly.  Ni/  strength,  ^"n'TH.  the  divinity  which  sustained  the 
 humnnily.— /I.  C/'rcAf.  20    Mif   soul,    'my    \\{e.' —  Street,    D'lthe, 
 
 Biiolhr.  My  darling,  '  my  dear  hfe.' — Bonthr.  *  My  united  One,'  the 
 humanity  ot  Christ  in  uninn  with  the  divinity. — Louth,  Horsley.  T\'VTV, 
 *  my  only  One.' — A.  Clarke.  21.  Unicnrns—the  unicorn  is  now  un- 
 dcrstddd  to  he  the  rhinoceros. —  Kd.  'From  the  buffalo's  horns  defend 
 rne.' — Street,  Dathe.  '  The  lion'  may  mean  the  Jews;  '  the  unicoins,' 
 the  Gentiles  —.-I.  Clarke.  22.  /  will  declare,  Sfc,  '  then  I  will  cele- 
 brate,* J<:c. — Bonthr.  Announce  to  tlie  Jewish  people  thy  merciful  de- 
 sign in  sending  mc  to  be  the  Saviour.  23.  Ye  that  fear,  ^c,  an  ex 
 lioitation  to  the  Jews  to  profit  by  ttie  preaching  of  the  Gospel. — A.  C. 
 25.  Great  congregation,  understand  the  Gentiles,  as  in  ver.  22;  by 
 '  congregation,'  the  Jews.—,!.  Clarke.  Pay  my  vinvs,  '  ofter  the  sacri. 
 fice  I  vowed.'  26.  The  meek  shall  eat,  of  the  sacrifice;  the  afflicted 
 shall  eat  and  praise  God  for  his  mercy. — Mudge.  In  the  true  sacrifice 
 there  shall  be  provision  for  all  believers.— -■!.  Clarke.  They  shall  praise 
 the  Lord,  §-f.— 
 
 •They  who  seek  Jehovah  shall  praise  him; 
 For  their  hearts  shall  ever  be  revived.' 
 
 27.  All  th"  eudx.  ffc,  '  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  to  its  remotest  parts. 
 
 28.  The  kingdom,  the  kingdom  of  grace,  the  mediatorial  kingtiom, 
 which  was  Christ'.^  by  the  designation  and  constitution  of  his  Father 
 fiom  eternity.— GiW.  The  universal  sway  of  the  gospel,  called  the 
 kingdom  of  God.— .4.  Clarke.     The  kingdom  of  Israel,  the  Jewish  peo- 
 
 ple, so  long  his  visible  kingdom,  are  the  sacred  property  of  Jehovah, 
 and  he  is  also  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  all  the  diversided  tribes  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles.—iVonao;i.        29.  All  they  that  be  fat,  §c.— 
 
 *  All  the  rich  of  the  earth  shall  eat  and  worship; 
 All  the  poor  and  miserable  shall  adTc  him. 
 Who  were  not  able  to  keep  themselves  alive.' — Boothr. 
 
 'The  great,  the  opulent,  the  flourishing,  the  nobles  and  princes,  shall 
 partake  of  the  fea^t.' — Bp.  Home.  And  none  can  keep  alive,  fyc,  Kai 
 n  l^l'X'l  /'"^  avjfji  f  n-  30.  A  seed,  ?fC,,  nat  to  ctttsp/iu  f-iov  dovXtvuei  aury, 
 &.C.,  '  my  soul  shall  live,  and  my  posterity  shall  serve  God.  My  seed 
 shall  be  reckoned  to  the  Lord  in  the  generation  which  shall  come ;  and 
 they  shall  declare  his  righteousness  to  a  people  which  shall  be  bora; 
 for  He,  the  Lord,  hath  done  it,'  Sept. 
 
 Ps.  XXllI. — Title — A  Psalm,  ijc,  supposed  to  have  been  written 
 by  David  in  the  forest  of  Hareth,  (1  Sam.  xxii.  5.)  Probably  written 
 when  David  uas  first  quietly  seated  on  the  thrcme  of  Israel. — So  Dathe. 
 It  is  attributed  to  David,  biit  appears  to  be  a  thanksgiving  of  the  Israel- 
 ites for  their  redemption  from  the  Babylonish  captivity. — A.  Clarke. 
 There  is  nothing  in  the  general  sentiment  or  imagery  of  the  Psalm 
 peculiarly  adapted  to  the  return  of  a  captive  people.  It  is  far  more 
 natural  to  attrihute  the  Psalm  to  David  than  to  any  one  else.  The 
 imagery,  taken  from  the  pastoral  life,  is  what  we  mit^ht  expect  from  the 
 original  pursuits  of  the  monarch  of  Israel. — So  Morison.  1.  The  Lord 
 is  my  shepherd — a  description  of  the  Deity  in  the  character  of  a  shep- 
 herd.— Loicth.  A  most  passionate  expression  of  God's  abundant  care 
 and  providence  toward  all  those  that  faithfully  depend  on  him,  and 
 hath  its  most  eminent  completion  in  Christ,  the  great  Shepherd  and 
 liishop  of  our  souls,  of  whom  this  psalm  is  a  prophecy. — Ham.  Though 
 the  character  of  shepherd  is  sometimes  given  to  Jehovah,  the  Father, 
 (Ps.  Ixxvii.  20,  and  Ixxx.  l,)  this  is  spoken  of  Jehovah  the  Son,  to  whom 
 it  is  most  frequently  ascribed,  (Gen.  xlix.  24  ;  Isa.  xl.  11 ;  Ezek.  xx.viv. 
 23,  and  xxxvii.  24;  Zech.  xiii.  7;  John,  x.  II,  14;  1  Pet.  ii.  25,  and 
 V.  4.) — Gill.  As  in  the  foregoing  Psalm,  David  represented  Christ  as 
 dying  for  the  sheep,  so  he  here  represents  Christians  receiving  the  be- 
 nefit of  all  the  care  and  tenderness  of  that  great  and  g^iod  Shepherd. — 
 Henry.  We  cannot  doubt  but  that  Christ  is  especially  intended. — 
 Scott.  My  shepherd,  'i*"!,  derived  from  a  root,  TW^,  signifying  '  to  feed.' 
 •Jehovah  fecdeth  mc.'— /Ji»s.  The  wnrd  comprehends  the  whole  duty 
 of  the  shepherd,  feeding,  guiding,  governing,  and  defending  (he  flock. 
 Hence,  kings  are  called  shephtrds,  Ps.  Jxxviii.  71,  72,  and  2  Sam.  v.  2. 
 — Boothr.  2.  Green  pastures,  ^n  ,  '  pastures  of  tender  grass.' — Pise, 
 Gejerus,  Mich.  *  In  folds  of  budding  urn^H.'—Ainsworth.  N12JT  mM33. 
 not  green  pasture,  but  cottages  of  turf  or  sods,  used  by  shtpherris  in 
 open  champaign  countries;  there  thev  and  their  flocks  reposed,  as  in 
 pens,  with  grass  or  provender  lor  the  animals. — So  Clarke.  In  this 
 figure  the  PaaJmist  hail  in  view  a  shepherd  leading  his  flock  into  luxu- 
 riant fluids,  and  causing  them  to  quench  their  thirst  and  repose  by 
 gentle  streams.     In  a  tropical  clhuc,  a  tianquil  stream  aud  a  green 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXII.  ~  Here  we  have  predicted, 
 J.  '  I'/ie  .ynjfirings  of  Christ.'  All  that  here  moves  our  pity  and 
 TDelts  our  hearts  was  endured  by  the  blessed  Jesus,  whocame 
 into  the  world  to  save  sinners.  And  this  should  remind  us 
 that  iiis  pains  were  aggravated  by  an  exact  knowledge  of  all 
 that  he  was  to  endure.  He  knew  that  every  word  heie  pre- 
 dicted must  be  iulhlled.  *  From  your  eye,'  says  Jay,  '  futurity 
 is  Kindly  concealed  :  could  some  of  you  be  immediately  in- 
 formed of  the  troubles  through  which  perhaps  one  year  only 
 will  require  you  to  wade,  you  would  be  overwhelmed  in  the 
 prospect.  Uut  He  saw  the  end  from  tlie  beginning,  and  ad- 
 vanced. Willi  Judas,  and  the  high  priest,  and  the  nails,  and  the 
 f  ross,  full  in  view.  His  suflerings,  too,  were  not  the  snflVr- 
 o87 
 
 ings  of  an  houror  aday — they  were  perpetual:  from  Bethlehem 
 to  Calvary  '  he  was  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with 
 grief.'     And  we  have  here  predicted  — 
 
 II.  '  The  glory  that  should  follow .'  The  tears  the  Redeemer 
 shed  were  not  shed  in  vain.  The  precious  blood  that  oozed 
 from  his  pores,  dropped  from  hts  brow,  streamed  from  his 
 hands  and  his  feet,  and  gushed  from  his  side,  was  not  spilt 
 in  vain.  The  prayers  he  offered,  and  the  groans  he  uttered, 
 were  all  heard  in  heaven.  Hell  s  empire  shook,  as  he  gave 
 vent  to  his  last  cry,  '  It  is  finished  !'  '  Love's  redeeming 
 work  is  done,'  and  now  '  He  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul 
 and  be  satisfied  ;'  and  '  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  see  tho 
 saivntion  of  God.' 
 
ixod's  lordship  in  the  worhl. 
 
 PSALMS,  XXIV.,  XXV. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  receive  him. 
 
 •i  He  restoreth  my  soul  :  '^  he  leadetli  me  in 
 tlie  paths  of  righteousness  for  his  name's  sake. 
 
 4  Yea,  thoiigii  I  walk  through  the  valley  of 
 '  the  shadow  of  death,   ^  I  will  fear  no  evil 
 "  for  thou  art  with  me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff 
 they  comfort  me. 
 
 5  '  Thou  prepares!  a  table  before  me  in  the 
 presence  of  mine  enemies:  thou  f'anointest 
 my  head  with  oil ;  my  cup  runneth  over. 
 
 6  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow  me 
 all  the  days  of  my  life  :  and  I  will  dwell  in  the 
 house  of  the  Lord  f  for  ever. 
 
 PSALM  XXIV. 
 
 I    Gild's  hrihhip  in  the  icorld.     3    Tlic  citizens  of  his 
 
 spiritual  kingdom.     7  An  exhortation  to  receive  him. 
 
 A  Psalin  of  Davi<l, 
 
 'T'HE  "earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  fulness 
 -*•    thereof;  the  world,  and   they  that  dwell 
 
 therein. 
 
 2  "For  he  hatli  founded  it  upon  the  seas,  and 
 establiihed  it  upon  the  floods. 
 
 3  '  Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the 
 Loed?  or  who  shall  stand  in  his  holy  place  V 
 
 4  ''t  He  that  hath  "clean  hands,  and  ''a  pure 
 heart ;  who  hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul  unto  [/«»».  sT'a' 
 
 /"Job  3  5. 
 
 &  10.  LM.Si 
 
 &  24.  17. 
 
 Ps.  41.  19. 
 ?  Ps.  S  6.  s. 
 
 27.  1.  fcI13 
 
 6. 
 A  Is.  43.  9. 
 1  Ps.  ltJ4.  15. 
 t  lleb. 
 
 k  Pa.  92,  10. 
 t  Heb.  11. 
 /'vvyrt  0/ 
 
 1017 
 o  E.I.  9   29. 
 &  I'J  5. 
 D.?u    M),  14 
 Job  41.  II. 
 Ps.  50.  12. 
 
 1  Cor.  10. 
 2w,  28. 
 
 4  Gen.  1.9. 
 J..b  33  C. 
 Ps.  101  5. 
 8c  I3G.  6. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  5. 
 c  Ps.  15.  1. 
 d  Is.  33.  15. 
 
 Ifi. 
 t  Heb.  Tlir 
 ,;,„  0/ 
 
 '.  Ps.  27.  8. 
 
 Si  lOi.  4. 
 /  Or,  O  God 
 
 of  Jacob. 
 
 Is  26.  2. 
 .  Ps.  97.  6. 
 
 H,-»S.  2.  7. 
 
 M;il.  3.  I. 
 
 1  Cor.  2.  8. 
 
 t  P»   80.  4. 
 
 (k  143.  .S. 
 
 l.ani.  3  .11. 
 A  Ps  2l\  5  & 
 
 31.  1.  &  3t 
 
 8.  Is.  2S.  10 
 
 &  49.  23. 
 
 Koin. 10.11. 
 c  Ps.  13.  4. 
 
 vanity,  nor  *  sworn  deceitfully. 
 
 5  He  shall  receive  the  blessing  from  the 
 Lord,  and  righteousness  from  the  God  of  lis 
 salvation. 
 
 6  This  is  the  generation  of  them  that  seek 
 him,  that  "  seek  thy  face,  ||  O  Jacob.     Selah. 
 
 7  '  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates  ;  and  be 
 ye  lift  up,  ye  everlasting  doors;  '  and  the  King 
 of  glory  shall  come  in. 
 
 8  Who  is  this  King  of  glory?  The  Lord 
 strong  and  mighty,  the  Lord  mighty  in  battle. 
 
 9  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye  gates  ;  even  lift 
 them  up,  ye  everlasting  doors  ;  and  the  King 
 of  glory  shall  come  in. 
 
 10  Who  is  this  King  of  glory  V  The  Lord 
 of  hosts,  he  is  the  King  of  glory.     Selah. 
 
 PSALM  XXV. 
 
 1   David's  confidence  in  praijer.     7  He  prayctti  for  re- 
 mission of  sins    16  and  for  help  in  affliction. 
 
 A  Psalm  of  David. 
 
 TTNTO  "  thee,  O  Lord,  do  I  lift  up  my  soul. 
 
 '-^    2  O  my  God,  I  ''trust  in  thee  :  let  me  not 
 
 let  not  mine  enemies  triumph 
 
 be  ashamed, 
 over  me. 
 3  Yea,  let  none  that  wait  on  thee  be  ashamed  : 
 
 pastnre  are  peculiarly  pleasing  to  the  eye.  Hence,  many  eastern  alle- 
 goiies  are  taken  from  such  scenes.— Rob.  Leadetft  me,  in  a  gentle 
 way.  So  Jacob  led  his  flock,  (Gen.  .xxxiii.  U.)— GiH.  The  vnrb  ren- 
 dered ■  lead'  has  an  appropriate  force,  signifying  '  to  lead  on,"  or  '  guide 
 genUy;'  used  Isa.  xl.  II,  as  part  of  a  beautiful  image.— So  Jl/«7i<.  Slill 
 iKrifers,  nni:o  'a,  'waters  of  rest  and  quietness.'— Pu^,,  .V(/n<.,  Sc. 
 •  Waters  inviting  to  rcht.'— Street.  '  Gently  flowing  streams.'— Sooi/iv. 
 .•).  He  restoreth,  l/e.,  •  when  I  am  ready  to  faint,  he  refreshes  me  and 
 l>rings  me  to  life  again.'— .Iludge.  In  the  paths  of  righteousness, 
 pis  "7:sn2,  ■  in  llie  circuits,'  or  ■  orbits  of  righteousness.'  Christ  is  the 
 centre  round  which  the  good  man  moves.  —  So  Clnrke,  as  Mont. 
 4.  Vatley  of  tfie  sliadote,  fyc,  an  image  borrowed  from  the  dusky  ca- 
 verns and  holes  iu  the  rocks  which  were  the  Jews'  burying  places, 
 where  death  seemed  to  hover  and  cast  over  them  a  dark  shadow.— So 
 .Jttmt.  It  may  nuan  *  a  dcathful  valley,'  where  many  might  have  been 
 -  slaughtered  by  a  victorious  enemy,  who  had  gained  the  advantage  of 
 higher  ground,  which,  in  those  times,  was  of  tlie  utmost  impor- 
 lanee.— Heii'.  It  probably  alluded  to  the  valley  of  the  forest  of  Hart  th, 
 inhabited  by  bears,  lions,  and  tijjers,  whose  dens  are  in  the  deepest 
 shades.— /)('/««(?.//.  Ilnii,  13111),  a  longish  rod  or  staff,  a  sceptre  or  en- 
 sign of  authority.- Pur.  It  may  signify  the  shepherd's  crook.— Ctorte. 
 Slujt',  r^iVC:}.  this  and  the  former  word  note  the  same  thing.— Poo/e. 
 The  latter  means  a  '  staff,'  a  prop  or  support  on  which  a  person  leans. 
 — Mant,  5.  'rtion  prepurest  n  tiitjte,  ^-c. — here  the  allusion  is  changed 
 to  a  magnificent  banquet,  prepared  by  a  generous  host. — So  Clar/te. 
 Anointest — the  allusion  is  to  the  custom  of  eastern  countries  at  feasts, 
 to  axjoint  the  heads  of  the  eue.ts  with  oil,  (see  Eccles.  i.K.  7,  8  ;  Matt, 
 vi.  17.) — Gill.  My  cup  runsiellt  over — an  overflowing  cup  was  a  piece 
 of  ancient  hospitality  to  make  a  guest  welcome.- Or/e/i/.  Cust.,  ()8«, 
 989.  These  are  images  ol  i.knty  and  prosperity.— ;i/ri!)<.  I  wiltdwrtl, 
 'nain,  ■  I  shall  return  ta.'—.i.  Chrke. 
 
 Ps.  XXIV.  — Title— '/)  Psnto  0/ David,  •  tolhc  Beloved,  an  ode.'— 
 Homle;/.  The  bringing  of  the  ark  of  God  tn  Mmint  Zion  by  David 
 (1  Chron.  xv.)  gave  occa.sion  to  this  Psalm. — Lou-th.  It  was  certainly 
 written  by  David,  under  the  inspiration  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  is  a 
 
 prophecy  of  Christ  and  of  the  gospel  church.— {?i7/.  The  ark  of  God  is 
 supposed  to  be  moving  iu  grand  and  solemn  procession  of  the  whole 
 Israelitish  nation,  towards  mount  Zion.  On  ascending  the  mountain, 
 the  Psalm  was  sung.  All  this  is  to  be  applied  to  the  Christian  church", 
 and  the  ascension  of  our  Lord  into  heaven.  I.  The  earth  is  tlie 
 Lord's,  y-li4rT  mrr^,  Messiah  is  certainly  the  Jehovah  of  this  Psalm. 
 The  fulness  titereiif,  'its  whole  furniture,'  of  animals,  plants,  stones, 
 minerals,  Kce. ;  literally,  its  fulness,  all  that  it  contains.  —  Horslei/. 
 2.  Upon  the  seas,  or,  *  with  them.' — H.  Mofies.  co^  V,  '  near  them.*— 
 Vat.,  Gej.        3,  Who  shall  ascend ?—com-p^rc  Ps.  xv.  4.  Not  lifted 
 
 up  his  soul,  fie,  1CSJ  N'C:  nV,  that  is,  'the  desires  and  affections  of 
 the  sonl.'  To  vnnitif,  Nit!?'?,  '  to  a  vain  idol,  '  to  a  vain  false  god.'— 
 Mant,  so  Par.  The  sense  is,  who  longeth  not  for  what  is  vain,  sinful, 
 and  worthless —Wn;/.  5.  Righteousness,  npiSl,  this  is  often  taken 
 for  mercy,  and  is,  no  doubt,  so  taken  here,  being  explicative  of  n3"13, 
 'blessing.' — Ham.  EXc,)/toCTi<i',iv5rapa  Oeov  CTwTiipor  aoToi',  'mercy from 
 God  his  Saviour,' .Se/l^  For  righteousness  read  'bounty,' the  paral- 
 lelism requires  something  which  corre-pnnds  with  '  blessing.'— So ira//. 
 6.  OJacob,  ■  O  God  of  Jacob,'  so  the  Sept., Vulg.,  St/r.,  Arab. ;  Boolhr., 
 Waif.  7.  Lift  up,  ^c— the  gates  of  the  sanctuary  are  addressed,  to 
 afford  admittance  to  the  King  of  GXory.-Boottir.  Zion,  the  gates  of 
 which  are  addressed,  was  a  very  strong  fortitication  or  citadel.— H^r///'. 
 10.  The  Lord  of  liosts,  n'\H2'S  mn',  the  word  '  hosts'  is  fromaroot,  N32, 
 signifying  to  assemble  together  in  orderly  troops  as  soldiers.  The  word 
 means  the  heavenly  bodies — sun,  moon,  and  stars.  These  were  wor. 
 shipped  by  the  heathen,  but  Jehovah  is  distinguished  as  Lord  of  thcni 
 all. — So  Far.  By  hosts,  understand  all  the  hosts  of  heaven  and  earth — 
 angels  and  men,  and  other  creatures.- Poo/e.  Bp.  Horslet/  thus  di- 
 vides the  performance  of  this  Psalm  by  the  Levites :— Verses  1,  2, 
 chorus;  3,  1st  voice  ;  4,  2nd  voice;  6.  chorus.  Part  II.  7,  semiehorus; 
 8,  a  single  voice,  '  Who  is  he,  this  King  of  Glory  ?'  another  voice,  '  Je- 
 hovah, strong  and  mighty,'  &c. ;  g,  semiehorus;  10,  single  voice, 
 '  Who  is  he,  this  King  of  Glory  f  •  grand  chorus ;  Jehovah  of  Hosts,  he 
 is,'  &c. 
 Ps.  X.W.  —Title— .J  Psalm,  ^-c- this  is  one  of  the  acrostic  Psalms, 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXIII.  —  We  may  mark  here,  I.  The 
 Shepherd's  care.  He  feeds  the  hungry  and  thirsty.  He  leads 
 them  gently  to  the  pastures  and  the  streams.  He  brings  back 
 tbe  strayed  sbeep,  that  would  otherwise  perish.  He  guards 
 tbem  amidst  the  tliickest  dangers.  In  all  this,  behold  '  the 
 great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls.' 
 
 II.  The  Host's  liberaliti/.  He  lays  out  a  well-spread  table- 
 he  pours  tbe  cheering  and  precious  perfume  on  the  bead.— he 
 presents  tbe  cup  full  and  overflowing.  In  all  this,  behold  the 
 provisions  of  God's  bouse,— the  feast  of  fat  things,— the  soul- 
 satisfying  food  and  wine  of  gospel  grace.  '  Thus,'  says  Bishop 
 Home,  '  will  the  Lord  our  Saviour  provide  for  us  on  earth, 
 and  conduct  us  to  heaven,'  where  we  shall  dwell  to  ■  length  of 
 days,'  even  the  days  of  eternity,  '  one  fold,  under  one  Shep- 
 herd—a fold  into  which  no  enemy  enters,  and  from  which  no 
 triend  departs  ;  wbere  we  shall  rest  from  all  our  labours,  anti 
 see  a  period  to  all  our  sorrows  ;  wbere  tbe  voice  of  praise  and 
 thanksgiving  is  beard  continually;  where  all  the  faithful, 
 from  Adam  to  his  last-born  son,  shall  meet  together,  to  be- 
 hold the  (ace  of  .lesus,  and  to  be  blessed  with  the  vision  of  the 
 .llmighty  ;  where  we  '  sliall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst 
 anymore,  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on  us,  nor  any  heat, 
 liut  the  Lamb,  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  shall  feed 
 us,  and  lead  us  to  living  fountains  of  waters.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXIV.  —  I.  This  is  God's  earth.  It 
 was  formed  for  a  theatre  on  which  to  display  his  glory.  His 
 glory  shines  forth  in  all  the  lovely  and  mighty  woiks  of  his 
 bands.  It  appeared  conspicuously  in  all  tbe  beauty  of  earth's 
 original  state  before  it  was  marred  by  sin.  This  earth  has 
 been  the  spot  on  which  God  has  given  the  most  astonishing 
 exhibition  of  bis  love;  and  ere  long  it  shall  be  the  theatre  of 
 bis  most  awful'judgments  against  the  ungodly.  All  its  affairs 
 are  under  his  providential  control,  and  shall  be  subservient  to 
 the  great  ends  of  his  wisdom. 
 
 II.  God  has  a  heaven  as  Well  as  an  earth.  Of  this  the  mount 
 Zion  below  was  but  a  type.  To  this,  with  David,  let  us  turn 
 our  thoughts,  and  remember  that  our  dwelling  on  earth  shoubl 
 be  preparatory  to  our  residence  in  heaven.  But  who  shall 
 ascend  to  that  blest  abode?  He  who  is  holy  in  practice  and 
 motive.  Him  shall  God  bless  with  the  blessings  of  salvation. 
 j\Iay  we  be  of  that  happy  race  that  seek  him  here  ;  so  shall  we 
 dwell  with  bim  for  ever. 
 
 III.  T/te  glorious  Saviour  has  ascended  from  earth  to  heaven, 
 the  forerunner  of  his  people.  Without  his  ascension  there  wonlri 
 be  no  heaven  for  us.  He  is  gone  to  prepare  mansions  for  his 
 people.  His  disciples  have  his  promise,  and  it  cannot  be 
 broken — '  Wbere  I  am.  there  shall  ye  be  also.' 
 
David prnyilh  for  remission  of  sins. 
 
 PSALMS,  XXVI. 
 
 and  for  help  in  affliction. 
 
 let  tliem  be  ashamed  which  transgress  without 
 cause. 
 
 4  ''  Shew  iiie  thy  ways,  O  Lord  ;  teach  me 
 thy  path*;. 
 
 o  Lead  ine  in  tliy  truth,  and  teach  me  :  for 
 thou  art  the  God  of  my  salvation  ;  on  thee  do 
 I  wait  all  the  day. 
 
 6  Remember,  O  Lord,  'f  thy  tender  mercies 
 and  tliy  lovingkindnesses  ;  for  they  have  been 
 ever  of  old. 
 
 7  Remember  not  '  the  sins  of  my  youth,  nor 
 my  traiisr;ressions  :  ^  according  to  thy  mercy 
 remember  thou  me  for  thy  goodness'  sake,  O 
 Lord. 
 
 8  Good  and  upright  is  the  Lord  :  therefore 
 will  he  teacli  sinners  in  the  way. 
 
 !)  The  meek  will  he  guide  in  judgment :  and 
 the  meek  will  he  teach  his  way. 
 
 10  All  the  paths  of  the  Lord  are  mercy  and 
 truth  unto  such  as  keep  his  covenant  and  his 
 testimonies. 
 
 1 1  ''  For  thy  name's  sake,  O  Lord,  pardon 
 mine  iniquity  ;  'for  it  is  great. 
 
 \i  Whatman  is  he  that  feareth  the  Lord? 
 '  him  shall  he  teach  in  the  way  tliat  he  shall 
 choose. 
 
 1.3  '  His  soul  t shall  dwell  at  ease  ;  and  "'his 
 seed  shall  inherit  the  earth. 
 
 14  "The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them 
 that  fear  him  ;  |{  and  he  will  shew  them  his 
 covenant. 
 
 d  El,  33.  r3. 
 Pa.  5,  1.  & 
 27.  ll.&Sfi. 
 
 l«.  6,  10. 
 
 f  Ps.  103.  17. 
 
 &  lUG.  I.  & 
 
 107.  I.  la 
 
 63.  15.  Jer. 
 
 33.  11. 
 I  Heb.  thy 
 
 lojeett. 
 /■Job  13.  26, 
 
 fc  20.  11. 
 
 Jer.  3.  25. 
 ^Ps.  51.  1. 
 
 ftPs  31.3.  S. 
 
 79  9  ».  109. 
 
 21.&M3.11. 
 i"  See  Rom, 
 
 5.  20. 
 k  Ps.  37.  23. 
 (  Pro.  19.  23. 
 t  Heb.  ilMll 
 
 I  Pro.  3.  32. 
 SecJ.ihn?. 
 17.  &15.  15. 
 
 oPa.  141.  8, 
 t  Heb,  bring 
 
 />  Pa   69.  16, 
 &  86.  16. 
 
 9  2  Sam.  16. 
 
 t  Heb.  hatrtd 
 u/  viultnce. 
 r  ver.  2. 
 
 n  Pa.  7.  8. 
 b  ver.  11, 
 
 2  Kin. 20. 3 
 
 Prov-  20.  7 
 c  Pa.  23.  7, 
 
 Sc  31.  U. 
 
 Pro.  39.  2.', 
 rf  Ps.  7.  9.  & 
 
 17.  3.  &  66. 
 
 10.fcI39  23. 
 
 Zecb. 13  9 
 r  2  Kin  2t>.a 
 /•Pa.  1.  1. 
 
 Jor.  15.  17, 
 
 Pa.  1.  1. 
 
 15  "Mine  eyes  are  ever  toward  the  Lord; 
 for  he  shall  f  pluck  my  feet  out  of  the  net. 
 
 16  ''Turn  tliee  unto  nic,  and  have  mercy 
 upon  me  ;  for  1  am  desolate  and  afflicted. 
 
 17  The  troubles  of  my  heart  are  enlarged:  O 
 bring  thou  me  out  of  my  distresses. 
 
 18  '  Look  upon  mine  affliction  and  my  pain  ; 
 and  forgive  all  my  sins. 
 
 19  Consider  mine  enemies;  for  they  are 
 many  ;  and  they  hate  me  with  f  cruel  hatred. 
 
 20  O  keep  my  soul,  and  deliver  me  :  'let  me 
 not  be  ashamed  ;  for  I  put  my  trust  in  thee. 
 
 21  Let  integrity  and  uprightness  preserve 
 me  ;  for  I  wait  on  thee, 
 
 22  "  Redeem  Israel,  O  God,  out  of  all  his 
 troubles. 
 
 PSALM  XXVI. 
 
 David  resurtcth  unto  God  in  confidence  of  his  integrity. 
 
 A  Psalm  of  Davitl. 
 JUDGE  "me,  O  Loiip  ;  for  I  have  »^  walked 
 ^    in  mine  integrity :  ^  I  liave  trusted  also  in 
 the  Lord  ;  therefore  I  shall  not  slide. 
 
 2  ^  Examine  me,  O  Lord,  and  prove  me  ; 
 try  my  reins  and  my  heart. 
 
 3  For  thy  lovingkindness  is  before  mine  eyes  : 
 and  ^  I  have  walked  in  thy  truth. 
 
 4^1  have  not  sat  with  vain  persons,  neither 
 will  I  go  in  with  dissemblers. 
 
 5  I  have  ^  hated  the  congregation  of  evil 
 doers ;  ''  and  will  not  sit  with  the  wicked. 
 
 as  the  llQlh,  in  the  order  of  tlie  Hebrew  ali^habet.  The  letters  are,  how- 
 ever, not  all  strictly  in  order.  Bp.  Lo«'/A  considers  the  design  to  have 
 been  to  assist  the  memory.  3.  Transgress  wUhout  cnuse,  Dp'"l  nn^llP!, 
 '  transgress  without  cause,'  '  deal  treacherously  without  cause.'  The 
 root  is  1J2,  a  covering  of  clnth  ;  hence  the  verb  to  use  a  cloak  of  dissi- 
 mulation. — See  Par.  And  it  may  refer  to  the  treacherous  treatment 
 David  received  from  his  enemies. — Ed.  'Act  treacherously  without 
 cause.'— Jh;i.,  Trem.,  Pise,  Cocc.y  Mick.  *  Prevaricate  or  deal  perfi- 
 diously with  me,  violating  their  faith  given  to  me.'— Poole.  Pour 
 shame  upon  the  face  of  those  which  rise  up  against  me  spitefully,  with- 
 out any  just  cause  or  provocation  on  my  part, — Bp.  Hull.  Let  trans- 
 gressnrs  be  ashamed  and  be  empty  ;  in  a  state  of  emptiness  and  want; 
 lose  their  wealth,  honour,  and  credit.— Gw.wc/iHs,  Gill.  Cpn,  'without 
 cause,'  or,  'in  vain,'  seems  to  mean  here  that  the  perhdy  would  be 
 unprofitable,  they  would  be  disappointed  of  their  expectations. — Ham. 
 Instead  of '  transgress  without  cause,'  read '  wlio  impiously  transgress.* 
 —So  Waif.  Dnail,  '  those  transgressing'  may  here  mean  idolatrous 
 persons;  *  they  shall  be  ashamed  who  vainly  worship  or  trust  in  false 
 gods.' — So  Clarke.  '  Let  the  revolters  to  vanity  be  brouglit  to  shame,' 
 i.  e.,  idnlators  and  infidels. — Hors.  6.  They  have  been  ever  of  old, 
 thou  hast  always  abounded  to  thy  servants  in  compassion  and  bounty. 
 — Ham.  10.  Keep  his  covenant,  regard  the  covenant  of  his  love,  and 
 the  promises  of  his  unchanging  grace. — Mor.  11.  Pardon,   T\rhu, 
 
 '  mercifully  pardon.'- .Jni.v'.  The  force  of  the  prayer  is, '  O  Lord,  pardon 
 mine  iniquity,  although  it  is  great.' — Mor.  There  is  a  beauty  in  it  as 
 it  stands.  '  My  sins  are  such  as  thou  only  canst  pardon,  and  therefore 
 it  is  I  come  to  thee  ;  for  thy  great  mercy  can  pardon  great  sins.' — Ed. 
 12.  Him  shall  he  teach,  ^c,  *  he  will  shew  him  the  way  that  he  should 
 choose,' — Boothr.;    'ought  to  choose.' — Ken.  ]\i.  His  soul  shall 
 
 dwell  at  ease,  or,  '  in  goodness,'  2^^D1•—P('g^,  Mont.,  Jun.,  Trem., 
 Aiiis.  Enjoying  an  affluence  of  good  things,  of  spiritual  blessings.— 
 Gill.  '  Rest  in  gx>odness.' — Lowth.  '  He  .shall  continue  in  prosperity.' 
 Street. 
 
 'That  man  shall  enjoy  prosperity, 
 And  his  seed  shall  inherit  the  land.'— Boof^r. 
 
 The  promise  made  to  the  obedient  children  of  Israel  was,  that  their  in- 
 
 heritance  in  the  land  of  Canaan  should  be  perpetuated  to  them  and  to 
 their  posterity. —  Waif. 
 
 '  His  soul  shall  rest  in  bliss. 
 And  his  seed  shall  inherit  the  earth.' 
 
 It  is  a  prophecy  of  the  Messiah. — Hors.  14.  The  secret,  §r.,  HID.  the 
 knowledge  of  God's  will,  so  far  as  tlieir  practice  is  concerned. — Ham. 
 His  word  and  counsel  to  direct  and  guide  them,  (verses  8,  9,  12,)  or 
 his  love  and  favour,  (Job,  xxix.  4  ;  Piov.  iii.  32.)  or  his  gracious  and 
 fatherly  providence. — Poole.  The  secret  assembly  of  the  Lord;  such 
 will  have  a  church  in  thtir  house. — Clarke.  Knowledge  of  the  glory 
 and  harmony  of  the  Divine  perfections,  Divine  communion,  peace  and 
 joy. — Scott.  Shew  them  his  covenant,  make  them  to  understand  its 
 duties  and  conditions,  blessings  and  privileges  ;  make  them  know  it 
 by  experience. — Poole.  1".  The  troubles  of  viy  heart,  Sfc^  'relieve 
 the  sorrows  of  my  heart.' — Ken.,  Lowth. 
 
 '  Regard  me,  and  be  gracious  unto  me 
 Fur  desolate  and  afilicted  am  I.' — Boi 
 
 'oothr. 
 20.  Ashamed,  '  disappointed.'— Bp.  Wilson. 
 
 Ps.  XXVI.  —  TiTLi-:- i4  Psalm  of  David,  relates  to  the  time  of  the 
 captivity. — Cat.  This  is  probable,  but  by  no  means  certain. — Clarke. 
 Most  probably  it  was  written  by  David  when  he  fled  from  Saul.— 
 Theodoref.  It  is  an  appeal  made  to  God  by  the  Psalmist,  for  his  inte- 
 grity, when  Saul  listened  to  calumnies  against  him  and  persecuted  him.— 
 Gill.  It  is  very  probable  the.  'his  Psalm  was  written  by  David  in  Philistia. 
 — Scott.  It  is  an  appeal  to  David  to  vindicate  his  integrity  and  deliver 
 him  from  his  enemies. — Ham.;  so  also  Patrick,  Henry,  Dimock,  Sut. 
 1 .  Judge  me,  take  his  cause  io  hand,  and  vindicate  him. — Gill.  '  Plead 
 for  me.' — Waterland.  '  Give  sentence  in  my  favour.' — Street,  so  Hors. 
 •Judge  thou  for  me,  O  Jehovah.' — Boothr.  Not  slide,  ISON  n"?.  trip, 
 totter,  be  shaken,  moved,  reatly  to  fall,  inconstant. — Ham.  2.  Trp, 
 nDl"12i.  as  tlie  metallist  doth  his  gold. — Ham.  As  hyjire,  even  with  the 
 sharpest  trials,  to  ascertain  his  character. — Scott.  4.  Vain  persons, 
 
 ii^^  Ti'O,  *  men  of  falsehood,'  'deceitful  mortals.' — Ed.  Go  in  tvith^ 
 that  is,  \i5ir.—Hea\  Disseinblers,  CoVlt  from  a  root  uh'S,  which  sig- 
 nifies 'hiding  himself;'  'secret  dealers.'— H«m.      'Dark  designers,* 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXV.  —  Here  we  may  remark,  L  Con- 
 fidence in  God.  He  is  a  tried  refuge,  and  those  who  have.once 
 fled  to  him  will  flee  thither  again.  We  may  safely  commit 
 ourselves  to  his  guidance,  for  all  bis  paths  are  peace  ;  it  is 
 when  we  forsake  them  that  we  bring  trouble  on  our  souKs. 
 But  the  pardon  of  our  sins  is  essential  to  the  enjoyment  of 
 genuine  peace;  and  not  only  sins  more  recently  committed,  hut 
 the  sins  of  our  youth,  which  rush  upon  the  memory,  and  gall 
 the  heart.  The  successful  plea  with  man  may  be,  Pardon  my 
 iniquity,foritisbut  the  first  offence,  or  it  is  not  of  an  aggravated 
 kind  ;  but  no  such  plea  e:m  be  made  with  God  ;  yet  we  may 
 turn  even  our  calamity  into  a  plea,  and  say,  '  Pardon  mine 
 iniquity,  for  it  is  great  ;'  pardon  it  for  thy  name's  sake— for 
 thy  mercy's  sake— for  the  Lord's  sake.  The  heart  dyed  with 
 scarlet  and  crimson  stains  can,  through  the  virtue  of  a  Re- 
 deemer's blood,  and  the  agency  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  be  fitted 
 589 
 
 to  appear  before  Him  in  matchless  purity.  Only  let  us  fear 
 God,  and  every  blessing  shall  be  ours  :  he  will  guide  us  by  his 
 counsel-,  and  give  us  the  peace  the  world  can  neither  give  nor 
 take  away  ;  his  love  shall  continually  warm  our  hearts  ;  he 
 shall  sustain  and  deliver  us  in  our  troubles  ;  integrity  and  up- 
 rightness shall  preserve  us  in  his  ways,  and  we  shall  never  he 
 ashamed  nor  confounded  here  or  hereafter. 
 
 II.  Concern  fur  the  church  of  God.  A  good  man  is  never  so 
 wholly  absorbed  in  his  own  interests  as  to  forget  the  pros- 
 perity of  Israel  at  large.  He  is  grieved  for  the  afflictions  ot 
 .Joseph  ;  and,  like  his  Divine  pattern,  when  he  surveys  the 
 church  in  tears,  '  in  all  their  afflictions  he  is  afflicted.'  Its 
 welfare  lies  very  near  his  heart :  hence  it  has  his  aid,  ins 
 prayers,  and  his  sympathising  joys  and  tears;  and  when  tne 
 dark  cloud  has  hung  over  it,  his  prayer  has  ever  been,  '  Re- 
 deem Israel,  O  God,  out  of  all  his  troubles  !• 
 
David  sustaineth  his  faith  by  love 
 
 PSAl.MS,  XXVII. 
 
 to  the  service  of  God. 
 
 6  'I  will  wash  mine  hands  in  innocency;  so 
 will  I  compass  thine  altar,  O  Lord  : 
 
 7  That  1  may  publish  with  the  voice  of 
 thankssivins.anJ  tell  of  all  thy  wondrous  works. 
 
 8  LoKD,  '■I  have  loved  the  habitation  of  thy 
 house,  and  the  place  f  where  thine  honour 
 dwelleth. 
 
 9  11  1  Gather  not  my  soul  with  sinners,  nor 
 my  life  with  f  bloody  men  : 
 
 10  In  whose  hands  is  mischief,  and  their 
 ripht  hand  is  f  full  of  "'bribes. 
 
 11  But  as  for  me,  I  will  "walk  in  mme  in- 
 tegrity :  redeem  nie,  and  be  merciful  unto  me. 
 
 1-2  °  My  foot  standeth  in  an  ''even  place:  ''in 
 the  congregations  will  I  bless  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  XXVIL 
 
 1   Darid  siislaimth  hisfailh  h/  Iha  power  of  God,  4  by 
 
 his  loee  to  tlie  service  of  God,  9  hy  prayer. 
 
 A  Psntm  of  DuviJ. 
 
 THE  Lord  is  "  my  light  and  »  my  salvation ; 
 whom    sliall    1    fear?    'the    Lord    is   the 
 strength  of  my  life;  of  whom  shall  I  be  afraid? 
 
 2  When  the  wicked,  even  mine  enemies  and 
 my  foes,  t  came  upon  me  to  ''  eat  up  my  flesh, 
 they  .stumbled  and  fell. 
 
 3  "  Thougli  an  host  .should  encamp  against 
 me,  my  heart  shall  not  fear:  though  war  should 
 rise  against  me,  in  tliis  icill  I  be  confident. 
 
 4  'One  thiiiq  have  I  desired  of  the  Lord, 
 that  will  I  seek  after ;  that  I  may  ^  dwell  in 
 tlie  house  of  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  my  life, 
 to  behold  ||  "the  beauty  of  the  Lord,  and  to 
 enquire  in  his  temple. 
 
 See  Kx   Sli 
 19.  2<l. 
 P«.  7.1.  1:1. 
 I  Tim.-i.  8 
 
 k  Pi.  !7.  4. 
 t  Hfb  of  II.' 
 
 tlh'r»ncl^  "I 
 lh„  l,.,;^'ir. 
 
 II  Or,  7'.i*« 
 
 /  Sci-  I  Sj»"i 
 
 2.';.  ■-"'. 
 
 P«.  2S    3. 
 t  »<*.  mn 
 
 ,.l  t>l',nrl 
 \'l}rl>.  Jilted 
 
 irrf/i 
 m  K>  ■.■1   " 
 
 l>i i.  11 
 
 1  i-iim   S.3 
 
 /,  IN.  ■-•; 
 J  }■,.■:■ 
 
 (<  icir. 
 
 i<t  111 
 
 aV'  ftl.  II. 
 I..  1.0.19  KO 
 MiC.  T.  (* 
 
 (.  nx.  i.v  ■:. 
 I's.  f..'.  2,  n 
 &  US.  u. 
 SI.  In  12  S 
 t  Heb.  nj.- 
 „ich.fi 
 ni',11  ntt 
 d  Fa.  It.  4. 
 1"«   3.  li 
 
 /  Pa.  815  fl. 
 
 aPs,  6r».  -1. 
 Luke  2.  37, 
 
 II  Or,  Oil 
 arii^hl 
 I,  Vs.  »0    17. 
 
 Ps  31.21' & 
 83  3  &  91. 
 1.  Ii.  4.0. 
 k  Vb.  40.  2. 
 
 J  Ps.  S.  3. 
 
 t  Heb.  "/ 
 llintlliHU. 
 
 Or,  Ms 
 
 crit  1/,'l/Jar.i 
 
 .it  I4M.  7. 
 ,  1».  49.  15. 
 
 m 
 
 t  tlt'b. 
 irnlher  ui'. 
 19.40.  II. 
 1  Ps.  26.  4. 
 U  80.  II.  fc 
 119 
 t  Heb  a  IMJI 
 <,rrlaim,u. 
 Ps    26    12. 
 I  Heb.  (/.'.« 
 tpi.iik  ..ft- 
 ps. 5.  8.  & 
 f.4.  5. 
 «  Ps.  35.  25. 
 ,■  I  Sam.  22 
 9.  aSain.tb. 
 7, 8  Ps.  35. 
 II. 
 ,  .\rt»9.  I 
 ,1"«   .W    IS. 
 &  116.  9.  <> 
 142.  5. 
 Jer    II.  19. 
 Kiek.26.2i) 
 H  Pb   31.  2*. 
 fc62   1,5. 
 ft  110   5. 
 I.  25  9. 
 Hab.  2.  .9. 
 
 0  For  '  in  tlie  time  of  trouble  he  shall  hide 
 me  in  his  pavihon  :  in  the  secret  of  Ins  taber- 
 nacle shall  he  hide  me  ;  he  shall  ■■  set  me  up 
 upon  a  rock. 
 
 G  And  now  shall  'mine  head  be  lifted  up 
 above  mine  enemies  round  about  me  :  there- 
 fore will  I  offer  in  his  tabernacle  sacrifices  t  of 
 joy  ;  I  will  sing,  yea,  1  will  sing  praises  unto 
 the  Lord.  . 
 
 7  Hear,  O  Lord,  when  I  cry  with  my  voice  : 
 have  mercy  also  upon  me,  and  answer  me. 
 
 8  II  When  thou  sairlst,  "'  Seek  ye  my  face ; 
 my  heart  said  unto  thee.  Thy  face.  Lord,  will 
 
 1  seek. 
 
 9  "  Hide  not  thy  face  far  from  me  ;  put  not 
 thy  servant  away  in  anger:  thou  hast  been  my 
 help  ;  leave  me  hot,  neither  forsake  me,  O  Ood 
 of  my  salvation. 
 
 10  "  When  my  father  and  my  mother  forsake 
 me,  then  the  Lord  f  will  take  me  up. 
 
 U  ''Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Lord,  and  lead 
 me  in  fa  plain  path,  because  of  fnune  ene- 
 mies. ...     f 
 
 1-2  1  Deliver  me  not  over  unto  the  will  ot 
 mine  enemies:  for  'false  witnesses  are  risen 
 np   against   me,   and   such   as    'breathe   out 
 
 cruelty.  ,     ,  ,    ,.       o  , 
 
 13  I  had  fainted,  unless  I  had  believed  to 
 see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  '  in  the  land  of 
 the  living. 
 
 14  "  Wait  on  the  Lord  :  be  of  good  courage, 
 and  he  .shall  strengthen  thine  heart :  wait,  1 
 say,  on  the  Lord. 
 
 ■  secret  plotters.'— .4.  Cliirke.  6.  Wash  mine  hands-see  Dcut.  sxi.  6, 
 rote  •  and  Matt,  xxvii.  24.  Externnl  ablutinns  were  an  emblem  of  that 
 internal  purily  rcniiired  by  God  of  those  that  approach  him.  1  he  Jews, 
 therefore,  washed  before  prayers,  and  the  priests  before  performing  any 
 nmcc  in  tlie  sanctuary.- So  .Manf.  The  expression  here  is  equivalent 
 t'.  the  washing  of  innocent  hands  ;  that  is,  I  wiU  perform  the  prescribed 
 rite,  but  with  hands  already  clean.— So  Wolf.  Compass  thine  aUar— 
 reference  is  liad  to  the  priests  who  used  to  go  round  the  altar  when 
 they  laid  on  the  sacrifice.- G;H.  On  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  the  peo- 
 nle  compassed  the  altar  seven  times.— .V'rnf.  8.  Thme  twnmir,  Tll^, 
 '  thy  Elorv.'-J'isc.  '  The  place  of  the  tabernacle  of  thy  gtor> .  —''"e-. 
 sn  Jan.,  Trem.,  Core.,  Boothr..  Clarke.  The  tabernacle  where  God 
 had  made  his  glory  to  dwell.— Pa^  9-  Gather  not.  FlDNn  ^N,  uiii  e 
 „ot  •—Walerland.  It  seems  to  be  a  metaphor  denved  from  the  mode 
 of  cutting  corn  and  gathering  in  the  harvest,  (see  Matt.  xiil.  24- 
 30  )—Hew  This  is  undoubtedly  the  allusion,  (see  E.vod.  xxiu.  10;  l.ev. 
 xxiii   39  1- Erf.  12    In  an  eeen  place,  ^WI^Z,  "in  a  plain,'— Ji"i., 
 
 Trem.,  Pise,  Core.  Mich. ;  that  is,  in  a  sure  place.— Gi«.  As  he  whose 
 feet  is  fixed  on  even  ground  fears  no  fall,  so  the  devout  worshipper  of 
 Jehovah  fears  no  injury  from  his  enemies.— So  Waif. 
 
 Ps  XXVII  —■tiTl.R— A  Psalm  of  David,  probably  composed  on  oc- 
 casion of  Saul's  persecution. -it<j.!r,im.  When  he  fled  from  Saul  and 
 came  to  Ahimelech.— TAeorfore/.  •  A  Psalm  of  David  before  he  was 
 anointed,'  Sept.,  Viilg..  ^c.  •  For  David,  on  account  of  an  innrmity 
 that  fell  upon  him,'  Syr.  1.  OT.'  strength,  -the  guardian  Heb. 
 liyn,  •  the  fort'  or  ■  5lronghold.'-Sr..-«ir.  2.  To  eat  up  mi/ flesti.  the 
 metaj.hor  is  from  beasts  of  prey.—Hea:  3.  In  this,  '  then.  —""'J- 
 
 Will  I  he  confident,  'still  have  confldenee  in  God's  assistance.  —Ham. 
 4.  To  beholdlhebeiiili/of  the  Lord,  mrp  CT:3.  '  Ihe  delight  anil  idea 
 sanfness  of  Ihc  l."rd.'  To  see  the  priests  and  Levites,  and  tribes  of 
 Israel,  as  tvpical  of  Christ  and  his  church  in  her  perfection  of  beauty.— 
 So  Gill,  snBoolhi:  'To  medilate  upon  God  in  his  house.  His  lioli- 
 iiess  is  his  beauty  (Ps.  ex.  3)  and  his  goodness,  (Zech.  ix.  1?.)  I  he  liar- 
 monv  of  all  his  attributes  is  the  beauty  of  his  nature,  to  be  seen  wilh 
 an  eye  of  faith  and  holy  love—Henry.  '  To  enjoy  the  morning  ser 
 vice,  and  receive  directions  from  God.'-i'n(.  5.  In  his  pamlion, 
 
 mci,  the  word  signifies  originally  a  shepherd's  cot  or  shed,  made  ol 
 
 the  boughs  and  branches  of  trees,  and  is  applied  to  »"y 'l''!'",^';""' P'^ 
 vided  it  be  private,  as  a  lion's  den,  the  king's  palace,  the  tabernacle.— 
 i^„"nmlie  allusion  may  be  to  the  shepherd's  tent  or  booth  jnto 
 ww'h  he  sometimes  takes  a  poor  sheep  and  protects  it  from  the  scorch- 
 ing beat  of  the  sun  at  noon.  Of  such  use  is  the  "'?""f '■=,'  '^"  ^^,- 
 .  6  1-G,7f  The  ro;al  tent  was  the  most  secure  place  in  the  c.imp, 
 eing  wel  gua  dcd.  The  Arabs  pitch  their  tents  in  a  circular  form 
 the  niTnce  being  secnred  at  a  respectful  distance  in  the  middlc.-See 
 
 SSi^^gu^iTd^^^^^----'":?— 
 
 ^^        ™  -,.,-,  -,1  ;,"im^T  nS  TDK  -fj.  'to  thee  he  hath  said,  my 
 
 SSSbcarSo'^r'>^:'i^-"'.=^-^^r^ 
 ^i¥Si?'i  °Sbr^rm,;;j;r?e-iyi^K; 
 
 appe  ir  j  so  the  word  means  •  to  expect  earnestly,  anxiousl> ,  or  eageriy. 
 —Par. 
 
 REFt.icTioss  ON  Ps.  X.XVI.  —  We  may  see  in  tins  psalra 
 some  of  the  most  striking  features  of  a  good  man  :— 1.  IIisup- 
 ripht  u-alkiny.  Honesty  of  motive  and  action  in  all  the  trans- 
 actions of  life.  . 
 
 11.  His  nliance  upon  God.  Tliey  only  walk  in  safety  who 
 lean  upon  the  Almighty  arm  for  support. 
 
 in.  His  cnurtinn  examination.  A  good  man  wishes  not  io 
 1  0  a  deceiver  nor  deceived.  The  character  that  falls  short  ot 
 this,  fears  to  examine  himself,  or  to  be  examined. 
 
 IV.  His  seiis<-  of  God's  mercy  and  firace.     Continually  bear- 
 ing the  most  grateful  impression  of  them  upon  his  heart,  that 
 so  they  may  influe.uce  bis  life. 
 590 
 
 \-.  His  avoidance  of  evil  company.  He  can  have  no  preten- 
 sions to  religion  wlii  can  make  the  ungodly  bis  associates 
 
 \T  His  love  to  God's  house.  He  does  not  attend  there  from 
 mere  custom,  but  bis  heart  goes  with  his  body. 
 
 Vn.  His  desh-e  to  lie  for  ever  witli  tin:  yody.  Tliat  be  mi^y 
 for  ever  share  in  the  holy  employment  an.l  e.'joyn.en  of  'be 
 saints  in  lighl.  and,  in  the  great  congregal ion  above,  amidst  all 
 the  assembled  cbiircb  of  the  fust-born,  join  with  one  heart 
 and  soul  in  blessing  the  Lord^  ^^^,,_^,^^ 
 
 Rl-  Fl  ICTIONS      ON      is.      A  A  \    11«  *■      'f'"'  ,      '^      1     •  1     ,  „ 
 
 si^ldil^pire  our  future  confidence.     The  Inend  we  have  lo.g 
 tried  and  louiid  faithful,  we  may  safely  try  again.      A  shelter 
 
David's  prayrr  Qijuinst  !iis  enemies.         PSALMS,  XXVIII.,  XXIX. 
 
 His  exhortation  to  princr- 
 
 PSALM  XXVII 1. 
 1   David prayeth  taiiiestly  Wtainst  tth  enemies.     6  He 
 litessttk  God.     9  He  prayitk  fur  the  people. 
 A  Psalm  of  Daviii. 
 TTNTO  tliee  will  I  cry,  O  Loud  my  rock; 
 '-^    "be  not  silent  f  to  me  ;  ''  lest,  if  thou  be 
 silent  to  me,  I  become  like  them  that  go  down 
 into  the  pit. 
 
 2  Hear  the  voice  of  my  supplications,  when 
 
 I  cry  unto  thee,  "  when  I  lilt  np  my  hands 
 
 II  ''  toward  thy  holy  oracle. 
 
 3  "  Draw  me  not  away  with  the  wicked,  and 
 with  the  workers  of  iniquity,  ''  which  speak 
 peace  to  their  neighbours,  but  mischief  is  in 
 their  hearts. 
 
 4  *  Give  them  according  to  their  deeds,  and 
 according  to  the  wickedness  of  their  endea- 
 vours :  give  them  after  the  work  of  their 
 hands  ;  render  to  them  their  desert. 
 
 5  Because  ''they  regard  not  the  works  of  the 
 Lord,  nor  the  operation  of  his  hands,  he  shall 
 destroy  them,  and  not  build  tliem  up. 
 
 t)  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  because  he  hath 
 heard  the  voice  of  my  supplications. 
 
 7  The  Lord  is  '  my  strength  and  my  shield  ; 
 my  heart  ''trusted  in  him,  aud  I  am  helped: 
 •  therefore  my  heart  greatly  rejoicelh  ;  aud  with 
 my  song  will  I  praise  him. 
 
 8  The  Lord  is  ||  their  strength,  and  he  is  the 
 t '  saving  strength  of  his  anointed. 
 
 9  Save  thy  people,  and  bless  "'  thine  inherit- 
 ance :  II  feed  them  also,  "  and  lift  them  up  for 
 ever. 
 
 it  Ps.  83.  1 
 tUeb.A. 
 
 6  Ps'.  8S.  i 
 «ilM   7. 
 
 cl  Kin.  6. 
 
 2?,  23.  &  8 
 
 2K,29.  Fs.j. 
 
 7. 
 |]  Or,  towitrd 
 
 tlie  oracle  of 
 
 Ihi/  saiictii' 
 
 art/, 
 d  Pa.  138  2. 
 e  Pa    2G.  9. 
 /I'a.  12.2.  & 
 
 55. 21.  &  62. 
 
 +.  Jer.  9.  8 
 ^  2  Tim.  ■!. 
 
 14.  Rev.  18. 
 
 6. 
 
 A  Job  34.  27- 
 Is.  5.  12. 
 
 i  Ps.  IS.  2. 
 k  Pa  13.  5. 
 fe  22.4. 
 
 II  o.-, ;,;. 
 
 strength. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ttteoglh  of 
 
 salvalioH*. 
 I  Vs.  2a,  6. 
 .1.  Deu  9. 29. 
 
 1  Kiu.  8.51, 
 
 53. 
 il  Or.  rule. 
 
 Ps  78  71. 
 nEzi-a  t.  4. 
 
 a  I  Chr.  Ifl. 
 
 28,  29.  Pa. 
 
 9li.  7,  a.  9. 
 I  Heb  r 
 
 soo,  of  Ike 
 
 o.^gkty. 
 t  Heb.  Il,e 
 
 hooo<iro/!,U 
 
 ll'o'r'.  ■/»  bis 
 
 '■Ji.bS".  1,5 
 II  Or.  s.,-ot 
 
 t  Ileb.  '1:1 
 
 r""'"''. 
 
 t  Hob    i't 
 ,n.,y.l,j. 
 d  Is.  ■->    13. 
 e  Pa.  114.  4. 
 
 /■Deu.  3.  9. 
 
 S  Nn.  13.  26. 
 
 h  Job  :^9.  1, 
 2,3 
 II  Or,  to  be  in 
 
 ll  Or,'ere,i/ 
 iBliit  if  it 
 otiere'lh,  ^r. 
 
 i  Gen.  6.  17. 
 Job  38,8, 25. 
 
 A  Pa.  10.  16. 
 
 I  Ps.  28.  8. 
 
 PSALM  XXIX. 
 
 i   David  exhorteth  princes  to  give  glory  to  God,  3  hy 
 
 reason  of  his  powtr,  11  and  protection  of  his  people. 
 
 A  Psalm  of  Daviil. 
 
 ""  f~^  I VK  unto  the  Lord,  O  f  ye  mighty,  give 
 ^^  unto  the  Lord  glory  and  strength. 
 
 2  Give  unto  the  Lord  f  tlie  glory  due  unto 
 his  name  ;  worship  t!ie  Lord  ||  in  •"  the  beauty 
 of  holiness. 
 
 3  The  voice  of  the  Lord  is  upon  the  waters: 
 '^  the  God  of  glory  thunderetli  :  the  Lord  is 
 upon  II  many  waters. 
 
 4  The  voice  of  the  Lord  is  f  powerful  ;  the 
 voice  of  the  Lord  is  ffull  of  majesty. 
 
 5  Tlie  voice  of  the  Lord  breaketh  the  cedars; 
 yea,  the  Lord  breaketh  **  the  cedars  of  Leba- 
 non. 
 
 6  ^  He  maketh  them  also  to  skip  like  a  calf; 
 Lebanon  and  ''Sirion  like  a  young  unicorn. 
 
 7  The  voice  of  the  Lord  f  dividetli  tlie  flames 
 of  fire. 
 
 8  The  voice  of  the  Lord  shaketh  the  wil- 
 derness ;  the  Lord  shaketh  the  wilderness  of 
 ^  Kadesli. 
 
 9  The  voice  of  tlie  Lord  maketh  •■  tlie  hinds 
 II  to  calve,  and  discovereth  the  forests  :  and  in 
 his  temple  ||  doth  every  one  speak  oUiis  glory. 
 
 10  The  Lord  'sitteth  upon  the  flood  ;  yea, 
 •^  the  Lord  sitteth  King  for  ever, 
 
 1 1  ^  The  Lord  will  give  strength  unto  his 
 people  ;  the  Lord  will  bless  his  people  with 
 peace. 
 
 Ps.  XXVIII.— Title— .4  Psahn  of  Damd,  it  might  be  written  wlien 
 persecuted  by,  or  delivered  from,  Saul. — Gill.  1.  Not  silent,  '<3^~\T[T\  "^N. 
 or  'deaf.' — Vnt.,  Jim  ,  Trem.,  Mich.,  Ai/is.  Like  them  that  go  down, 
 'them  that  are  abandoned  to  destruction,' — Pat.  Into  the  pit,  T2, 
 *  the  grave.'  In  reference  to  the  wicked,  it  denotes  the  place  of  future 
 punishment. — Scott.  2.  Lift  up  my  hands,  a  prayer  gesture,  used 
 both  by  Jews  and  heathens. — Gill.  Holy  or/icle,  tlie  piace  of  the  ark  of 
 the  covenant  and  the  mercy  seat. — Scott.  The  holy  of  liohes,  so  called 
 1  Kings,  vi.  23. — Poole.  3.  Draw  me  not,  'SD^D^n,    '  drag  me  not 
 
 away,  like  a  criminal  to  execution.' — Boothr.  'Suffer  me  not  to  be 
 drawn  away,'  i.  e.,  to  be  seduced  by  their  enticements. — Horsley. 
 4.  Give  them,  ^c,  may  be  read  in  the  future,  £is  prophecies  of  Divine 
 judgments.— S/7.  Home.  g.  Feed  them,  D?!  signifies  'to  feed'  and 
 'to  govern,' — A.  Ciarke;  as  shepherds  do  their  flock,  [see  Pnr.,  71-10 
 —Mant. 
 
 Ps.  XXIX.  —  Title— ^1  Psulm  of  David— the  subject  of  this  Psalm  is 
 a  demonstration  of  the  supreme  dominion  and  infinite  power  of  Gofl, 
 from  the  tremendous  sound  and  wonderful  opeiation  of  thunder,  which 
 the  Hebrews  call  '  the  voice  of  God.*— Lou-th.  It  seems  to  commemo- 
 rate deliverance  from  a  great  storm  ;  which  is,  however,  mystical, 
 denoting  the  violent  conflict  between  the  gospel  and  its  opponents  in 
 the  latter  ages.  The  voice  of  Jehovah  is  the  preaching  of  the  gospel. — 
 Horsley.  2.  In   the  heautif    of  holiness,    [ev  avXtj   a-yiy    avrov,  Sept., 
 
 in  atrio  sue  sancto,  Vu/g.,]  in  that  beautiful  ami  gloiinus  sanctuary 
 where  he  exhibits  his  presence  to  his  penijle. — Bp.  H'llL  In  all  the 
 solemn  magnificence  of  his  sanctuary. —  Waif.        3.  The  twice  of  the 
 
 Lord,  in  Scripture  style,  frequently  signifies  thunder. — Hmn.  Upon 
 the  waters,  collected  in  clouds. — Green.  The  Mediterranean  Sea, 
 whence  thunder  storms  generally  arose,  and  fell  on  Judea. — Mich. 
 5.  The  cedars  nf  Lebanon — there  are  a  few  still  standing,  some  being 
 from  35  to  40  feet  in  girtli,  throwing  out  branches,  each  of  which  is 
 equal  to  a  great  tree.  The  bouglis  of  one  measured  3"  yards  in  the 
 spread.— jl/«H'(rfrf//.  6.  Sirion,  the  north-east  partot  Lebanon,  com- 
 monly called  Hermon,  (Deut.  iii.  Q.) — Miint.  7-  Dii-ideth,  alludes  to 
 tlie  forked  shape  of  the  lightning. — So  Waif.  Flames  of  fire,  flashes 
 of  lightning. — Mudge,  8.  Wilderness  of  Kade-sh,  W\e  same  with  '.he 
 wilderness  of  Ztn,  (Num.  xxxiii.  36.) — Gill.  9-  Ma/ceth  the  hinas  to 
 
 calve,  thunder  has  a  like  effect  on  sheep,  and  makes  them  abortive. — 
 Arist.  Hist.  Animal,  I.  9,  c.  3 ;  Plin.  Nut.  Hist.,  1.  8,  c.  47.  And  disco- 
 vereth thcforests,  niL'iT'1,  'and  maketh  haie.' — Vat.,  Jan., Trem.,  Pisa. , 
 Gejerus,   Voce,  Mich.,  Ains. 
 
 '  The  voice  of  the  Lnrd  makeih  the  oaks  to  tremble. 
 And  layeth  bare  the  forests.' — Green,  as  Loivth,  so  Hurs.,  Boothr, 
 
 The  latter  observes,  'the  oak  struck  with  lightning  admirably  agrees 
 with  the  context.'  10.  The  Lord  sitteth  upon  the  flood,  Noah's  flood, 
 
 which  is  always  designed  by  the  word  here  used. — Gill.  See  Gen.  vi.  17. 
 l"^"*  "juob  mrr,  'Jehovah  sat  upon  the  deluge,'  commanded  those 
 waters  to  be  upon  the  earth. — A.  Clarke.  '  He  governs  the  clouds,  and 
 orders  tlie  thunder  showers.' — Pat,  Sitteth  King  for  ever,  he  is  King 
 of  the  whole  world.— GiV/. 
 
 witicli  has  enabled  us  to  weather  the  storm,  defies  our  future 
 fear. 
 
 n.  Our  confidence  may  also  he  encouraged  hy  our  own  evi- 
 dences. If  we  delii^ht  in  God's  house,  seek  his  face,  walk  in 
 the  paths  of  his  commandments,  and  continually  wait  upon 
 him  as  the  God  hearing  and  answering  prayer,  he  will  as- 
 suredly strengthen  our  hearts,  and  do  for  us  '  exceeding  abun- 
 dantly above  all  that  we  can  ask  or  think.' 
 
 Rf  FLECTIONS  ON  Ps.  XXVIIL  — We  observe  here.  I.  Prayer 
 for  preservation  from  the  snares  of  the  wicked.  The  best  of  men 
 have  reason  to  offer  up  this  prayer,  for,  alas !  how  many  have 
 been  drawn  aside  by  the  influence  of  worldly  associates,  and 
 so  ruined  their  souls  for  ever  ! 
 
 II.  E.ipressions  of  confidence  in  God,  It  greatly  encourages 
 us  in  prayer  to  recollect  wiiat  God  has  hitherto  done  for  us, 
 and  what  he  is  yet  able  to  do.  The  good  man  leans  upon  this 
 stay,  and  asks,  '  How  can  I  sink  with  such  a  prop?'  Hence, 
 in  proportion  as  he  feels  his  own  weakness,  he  looks  '  to  the 
 strong  for  strength.' 
 
 III.  Enlarged  supplications  for  the  whole  cfivrch.  Prayer  re- 
 moves all  selfish  feelings.  The  good  man's  heart  expands  at 
 the  throne  of  grace.     He  prays  not  only  for  himself,  but  for 
 
 391 
 
 others;  and  embraces  within  the  compass  of  his  devotions 
 '  all  them  that  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity  and 
 truth.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXIX.  — I.  Jf'ith  what  sublime  views 
 of  God  should  our  viiyids  be  occupied  u-hen  ice  sttrrey  the  maynifi- 
 ctnt  oiierations  of  nature.'  The  Lord  is  a  great  God  ;  who  can 
 thunder  wiih  a  voice  like  him  ?  Let  our  eyes  behold  him  rid- 
 ing in  every  whirlwind,  and  directing  every  storm. 
 
 II.  If  the  terrors  produced  liy  the  ordinary  operations  of  God  in 
 nature  be  so  great,  what  will  he  the  terrors  of  that  day  u-hen  God 
 shall  come  to  judge  the  ivorld?  When  the  heavens  shall  '  depart 
 as  the  coiling  of  a  scroll  of  parchment  ;'  when  '  the  earth  and 
 all  the  works  that  are  therein  shall  be  burnt  up  ;'  when  the 
 Son  of  Man  shall  appear  in  clouds,  and  all  liis  shining  hosts 
 with  bim,  and  the  thunders  of  his  wrath  shall  fall  upon  the 
 heads  of  all  that  have  died  impenitent  and  taken  no  refuge  in 
 him.  Oh  the  agonizing,  earth-rending,  heart-rending,  de- 
 spairing, and  useless  cry  that  shall  then  issue  from  the  lips  of 
 myriads  of  abandoned  sinners — '  Rocks,  fall  on  us,  and  hide 
 us  from  the  face  of  Him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  from 
 the  wrath  of  the  Lamb  !' 
 
David  exhorteth  to  praise  Ood. 
 
 PSALMS,  XXX..  XXXI. 
 
 His  conjtdcnce  in  God. 
 
 PSALM  XXX. 
 
 1  David  praiseth  God  for  ?tis  ddiverance.  4  He  ex- 
 horteth others  to  praise  him  by  example  of  God's 
 dealing  ivith  htm. 
 
 A  Psalm  and  Song  *  at  the  dediiMtlnn  nf  tlie  liouse  of 
 David. 
 
 T  WILL  extol  thee,  O  Lord  ;  for  thou  hast 
 -'-  "hfted  me  up,  and  hast  not  made  my  foes 
 to  "^rejoice  over  me. 
 
 2  O  Lord  my  God,  I  cried  unto  thee,  and 
 thou  hast  ^  healed  me. 
 
 3  O  Lord,  "^  thou  hast  brought  up  my  soul 
 from  the  grave  :  thou  hast  kept  me  alive,  that 
 I  should  not  ^  go  down  to  the  pit. 
 
 4  ^Sing  unto  the  Lord,  O  ye  saints  of  his, 
 and  give  thanks  ||  at  the  remembrance  of  his 
 holiness. 
 
 5  For  ^t^is  anger  endurcth  but  a  moment; 
 ''in  his  favour  is  life:  weeping  may  endure 
 f  for  a  night,  'but  fjoy  comet/i  in  the  morning. 
 
 6  And  ^  in  my  prosperity  1  said,  1  shall  never 
 be  moved. 
 
 7  Lord,  by  thy  favour  thou  hast  f  made  my 
 mountain  to  stand  strong  ;  '  thou  didst  hide 
 thy  face,  and  I  was  troubled. 
 
 8  I  cried  to  thee.  O  Lord  ;  and  unto  the 
 Lord  I  made  supplication. 
 
 9  What  profit  is  there  in  my  blood,  when  I 
 go  down  to  the  pit?  "*  Shall  the  dust  praise 
 thee?  shall  it  declare  thy  truth? 
 
 10  Hear,  O  Lord,  and  have  mercy  upon  me  : 
 Lord,  be  thou  my  helper. 
 
 1 1  "  Thou  hast  turned  for  me  my  mourning 
 into  dancing  :  thou  hast  put  off  my  sackcloth, 
 and  girded  me  with  gladness; 
 
 1*2  To  the  end  t!iat  ||  tnt/  glory  may  sing 
 praise  to  thee,  and  not  be  silent.  O  Lord  my 
 God,  I  will  give  thanks  unto  thee  for  ever. 
 
 1042. 
 
 •Deii.JO.  5. 
 2  Sam  b  \l. 
 &.  6.  SO. 
 
 n  Ps.  28.  9. 
 
 t  Ps,  S5.  2. 
 &  35. 19, 24. 
 
 cPs.  6.  2.  & 
 
 li«3,  3. 
 d  Vs.  (-6.  IS. 
 
 /I  Chr.  16, 
 ■1.  Ps.  97  12 
 
 II  Or,  lo  the 
 
 2  Cor.  4.  17 
 t  Heb    tlifie 
 
 APb   63  3. 
 f  Heb.  in  the 
 
 evening. 
 i  Pa.  126.  h. 
 t  Heb.  iing- 
 
 ing. 
 k  Job  29.  Ifi 
 
 ttrrngth  fur 
 my  n.-jim- 
 tain. 
 
 I  Pa,  lai.  29. 
 
 m  Ps.6  5.  & 
 8A.  11.  fc 
 115.  17.  & 
 119    17.  Is. 
 3S,   18. 
 
 n  2  Sam.  6. 
 11.  Is  61.  S, 
 Jer.  31.4. 
 
 IJ  That  is, 
 my  tongue, 
 or, my  tout: 
 SeoGen  49. 
 6.  Ps.  16.  9. 
 &  57.  8. 
 
 2  Pa  22  5.  & 
 25.  2.  fc7l. 
 
 1.  Ts.i9.  sa. 
 
 b  Ps.  143.   1. 
 
 rPa.  71.  2. 
 
 f  Heb  Id  me 
 for  a  rack 
 of  tlTf>,gt/i. 
 
 dFs.  18.  I. 
 
 *  P8,  23.  S. 
 &  25.  n. 
 
 A  John  10. 
 
 27. 
 i  Deu.  32..10 
 
 1  Sam.  17. 
 
 46.  i  2V  19. 
 *  Pb.  ♦.  1.  & 
 
 19.  19. 
 
 m  Ps  S2,  3. 
 8t  102.  3. 
 
 I)  Ps.  41.  9. 
 Is-  53.  +. 
 
 o  Job  19.  13 
 Pa  SS.  1 1  -  & 
 83,  S.  If5. 
 
 p  Ps.  64.  8. 
 
 PSALM  XXXL 
 
 1  David  skewing  his  conjidence  in  God  craveth  his 
 hdp.  7  He  rejoiceth  in  his  merci/.  9  He  jirat/tlh 
 in  his  calamity.  19  He  praiseth  God  for  his  good- 
 ness. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  A  Psalm  of  David. 
 
 TN  "thee,  O  Lord,  do  I  put  my  trust;  let 
 -•-  me  never  be  ashamed  :  **  deliver  me  in  thy 
 righteousness. 
 
 2  ^  Bow  down  thine  ear  to  me  ;  deliver  me 
 speedily:  be  thou  f  "ly  strong  rock,  fur  an 
 house  of  defence  to  save  me. 
 
 3  *^  For  thou  art  my  rock  and  my  fortress  ; 
 therefore  ''for  thy  name's  sake  lead  me,  and 
 guide  me. 
 
 4  Pull  me  out  of  the  net  that  they  have  laid 
 privily  for  me  :  for  thou  art  my  strength, 
 
 5  ''Into  thine  hand  I  commit  my  spirit:  thou 
 hast  redeemed  me,  O  Loud  God  of  truth. 
 
 6  I  have  hated  them  ^  that  regard  lying  vani- 
 ties :  but  I  trust  in  the  Lord. 
 
 7  1  will  be  glad  and  rejoice  in  thy  mercy  : 
 for  thou  hast  considered  my  trouble ;  thou 
 hast  ''known  my  soul  in  adversities  ; 
 
 8  And  hast  not  '  shut  me  up  into  the  hand  of 
 the  enemy  :  ^  thou  hast  set  my  feet  in  a  large 
 room. 
 
 9  Have  mercy  upon  me,  O  Lord,  for  I  am  in 
 trouble  :  '  mine  eye  is  consumed  with  grief, 
 1/ea,  my  soul  and  my  belly. 
 
 10  For  my  life  is  spent  with  grief,  and  my 
 years  with  sighing:  my  strength  faileth  be- 
 cause of  mine  iniquity,  and  "'  my  bones  are 
 consumed. 
 
 11  "1  was  a  reproach  among  all  mine  ene- 
 mies, but  "especially  among  my  neighbours, 
 and  a  fear  to  mine  acquaintance:  ''they  that 
 did  see  me  without  fled  from  me. 
 
 Ps.  XXX. — TiTi.K  —  A  Psalm  and  song  at  the  dedication,  ffc, 
 m"?  r'2n  nD;rT  TtJ  T'Dl'D-  a.  p^^alm  was  sung  upon  musical  instni. 
 ments,  a  snug  with  the  voice.  This  miglit  be  sung  both  ways. — Gill. 
 The  rendering  should  be  'a  Psalm  Song.' — Pict.  Bib.  It  was  sung  at 
 the  dedication  of  David's  house. — Ahfn  Ezra.  2  Sam.  v.  11  j  vii.  2. — 
 So  Street,  and  Wii.,  who  supposes  the  dedication  might  have  taken 
 place  ju^t  after  a  recent  illness, — At  the  dedication  of  the  place  he 
 bui!t  on  the  thresliiiig-floor  of  Araunah.  (aSam.xxiv.  25,  &c. ;  1  Chron. 
 xxi.  26.)— Cat.,  Dathe,  so  Ctarke,  Boothr.,  Morison.  At  the  dedica- 
 tion of  the  house  nf  the  sanctuary,  Targ.  At  the  purgation  of  David's 
 hnuse  from  the  wickedness  and  ince>t  of  his  son  Absalom,  upon  his 
 return  to  it.  when  the  rebellion  raised  by  him  was  extinguished  ;  which 
 might  be  reckoned  a  new  dedication  of  it,  (see  2  Sam.  xx.  'i.)—Gill. 
 A  thanksgiving  from  a  fit  of  sickness.  n!3:rT,  '  the  dedication'  is, 
 properly,  the  festive  ceremony  by  which  a  new  or  restored  building  is 
 appropriated  to  its  future  use.  Hence,  it  may  figuratively  denote 
 thanksgiving  for  the  recoverj'  of  the  body  from  the  debility  of  sick- 
 ness. This  may  be  mystical — sickness  of  soul  by  the  fall,  recovery  by 
 redemption. — Horsier/.  This  is  vague  criticism. — Morison.  Certainly 
 it  is  quite  fanciful.— Erf.  The  psalm  may,  indeed,  be  spoken  in  the 
 person  of  Messiah  ;  thanksgiving  of  deliverance  from  the  grave,  and 
 exaltation  from  humiliation.— //orA/py.  so  Theod.  1.  Lifted  me  vp, 
 ^3r*bl.  or,  '  drawn  me  up,'  or  '  oyx\..*—Ainsu'ortfi,  Gill.  The  primary 
 idea  is  that  of  drawing  water  from  a  well ;  the  word  never  signifies 
 exaltation.- Vide  nbl.  Pur.  'VTre\a/3ec.  'thou  ha^t  taken  me  up,' 
 Sept.  *  Thou  hast  brought  me  very  lovr.'—Horslei/.  The  Bishop  seems 
 to  have  taken  it  in  the  sense   of  exhaustion. — Ed.  3.   Sojil,    or 
 
 animal  frame. — Bp.  Home.  '  Life.' — Green.  From  the  grave,  ^MW  "["O. 
 '  from  hell.*— P«^.,  Mont.,  Mich.,Ains.,Bps'.  Bib.  Figuratively  used  for 
 calamities,  horrors  of  conscience,  and  terrors  of  mind. — Hew.,  Gill. 
 4.  Give  thanks,  ^c,  holiness,  '  praise  his  holy  name.* — Green.  *  Cele- 
 brate his  most  holy  doings.' — Dathe.  5.  Jot/,  'shouts  of  gladness.* 
 The  Hebrew  signifies  more  than  mere  joy. —See  Par.,  p,  Mant. 
 
 7.  By  thy  favour,  Sfc. — 
 
 •ThoQ,  by  thy  favour,  O  Lord, 
 Hadst  given  such  firmness  to  my  health  : 
 But  no  sooner  didst  thou  hide  thy  face,  than  I  was  in  disorder.* 
 
 Green. 
 
 So  the  Srpt.,  Spr.,  Vulsr.,  Hnnb.,  Mudge.  Mount  Zion  is  alluded  tn, 
 where  David  resided  ;  but  figuratively,  it  alludes  to  the  estubli^hment 
 of  his  kingdom. — .4ihs.  .  11.  Mourning,  'moans.' — Mant,  vide  ncDt 
 Par.  Into  dancing,  'T\T\'0').  'mirthful  tones.'  It  refers  to  soraefistular 
 wind  instruments.— J/an^  viile  ^n,  Par. 
 
 Ps.  XXXI. — Title  —  A  Psalm,  Sfc.,  written,  perhaps,  in  David's 
 retreat  from  Keilah,  (1  Sam.  xxiii.) — Pat.,  (h-ien.  When  the  Ziphites 
 proposed  to  deliver  him  to  Saul. — KVmchi,  Dathe.  When  he  fled  fntin 
 Absalom. — Theodoret .  Many  strokes  in  tliis  Psalm  point  to  Jeremiah 
 as  its  author,  (see  Jer.  xx.  li> — }2.)— Mudge.  Messiah  prays  for  deli- 
 verance from  the  persecution  of  his  enemies. — Horsier/.  5.  Commit 
 my  spirit — David,  in  his  distress,  micht  do  this,  but  Christ  certainly 
 did,  [Luke,  xxiii.  46.) — Bp.  Home.  When  our  Lord  used  this  expres- 
 sion on  the  cross,  he  omitted  the  next,  as  more  properly  relating  to  the 
 type  than  the  antitype. — Scott.  Redeemed  jhp,  David  means,  had  often 
 rescued  him. — Pat.  6,  Lying  vanities,  Gentile  practices  of  auguries 
 and  divination^. — Ham.  Strange  gods. — Ken.  Idols,  so  called,  be- 
 cause the  Gentiles  knew  not  what  they  worshipped. — Sut.  7.  /  wilt 
 be  glad,  Tyy^iii,  a  word  of  gesture,  denotes  feelmgs  of  joy  from  the 
 bodily  gesture. — So  Mant,  Sj.  Pf^r.  Known  my  soul  in  adversities, 
 '  relieved  me  in  the  lowest  condition.' — Ham.  8.  A  large  room,  a 
 place  of  liberty. — Green.  The  expression  is  in  contract  with  his  straits. 
 So  Waif.  9.  And  my  belly,  ''y^y\,  a  principal  part  is  often  taken  in 
 Hebrew  for  the  whole  ;  hence,  it  means  '  my  body,' — Ftniwick,  Green  ; 
 also  the  inward  part,  the  mind  of  man. — Mant.  10.  Bfcnnse  of  mine 
 iniquity,  '  through  affliction,'  Sept.,  Vutg.,  Syr.,  Arab.,  Boothr. 
 'Affliction'  is  a  preferable  word,  as  the  Psalmist  is  recounting  hia 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXX.  —  Our  thoughts  are  here  di- 
 rected— I.  Ti)  sickness.  Many  whom  the  Lord  loveth  are  sick  ; 
 they  water  their  couch  with  their  tears,  and  their  souls  are 
 brought  very  low,  under  the  hidings  of  God's  countenance. 
 
 II.  To  recovery.  lie  who  wounds  can  heal.  He  brin^js  up 
 our  forfeited  lives  from  the  borders  of  the  grave.  We  can 
 never  be  so  low  but,  if  he  pleases  in  his  sovereignty,  he  can 
 raise  us  up. 
 
 592 
 
 III.  To  gratitude.  Those  who  are  restored  should  not  for- 
 get the  hand  that  healed  them  ;  and,  be  it  remembered,  that 
 our  afflictions,  as  belipvers,  are  but  for  a  moment,  but  our  joy 
 shall  last  eternally.  So,  wlien  the  night  of  death  shall  close 
 our  eyes,  joy  shall  come  in  the  resurrection  morning,  and  then 
 shall  our  *  glory"  awake,  and  our  song  of  gratitude  endure  for 
 ever. 
 
David's  prayer  in  calamity. 
 
 PSALMS,  XXXII. 
 
 Wlio  are  blessed. 
 
 12  '■I  am  forgotten  as  a  dead  man  out  of 
 mind  :  I  am  like  f  a  broken  vessel. 
 
 13  'For  I  have  heard  the  slander  of  many  : 
 'fear  ivas  on  every  side:  while  they  'took 
 counsel  togetlier  against  me,  tliey  devised  to 
 take  away  my  life. 
 
 14  But  I  trusted  in  thee,  O  Lord:  I  said. 
 Thou  art  my  God. 
 
 15  My  times  are  in  thy  hand  :  deliver  me 
 from  the  hand  of  mine  enemies,  and  from  them 
 tliat  persecute  me. 
 
 16  "  Make  thy  face  to  shine  upon  thy  ser- 
 vant :  save  nie  for  thy  mercies'  sake. 
 
 17  '  Let  me  not  be  ashamed,  O  Lord  ;  for  I 
 have  called  upon  thee  :  let  the  wicked  be 
 ashamed,  and  ^  \\  let  them  be  silent  in  the 
 grave. 
 
 18  'Let  the  lying  lips  be  put  to  silence; 
 which  "  speak  f  grievous  things  proudly  and 
 contemptuously  against  the  righteous. 
 
 19  ''  Oh  how  great  is  thy  goodness,  which 
 thou  hast  laid  up  for  them  tliat  fear  thee  ; 
 which  thou  hast  wrought  for  them  that  trust 
 in  thee  before  the  sons  of  men  ! 
 
 20  "  Thou  shalt  hide  them  in  the  secret  of 
 thy  presence  from  the  pride  of  man  :  '^  thou 
 siialt  keep  them  secretly  in  a  pavilion  from  the 
 strife  of  tongues. 
 
 21  Blessed  be  the  Lord  :  for  "he  hath  shewed 
 me  his  marvellous  kindness  'in  a  || strong  city. 
 
 22  For  ^  I  said  in  my  haste,  "  I  am  cut  off 
 from  before  thine  eyes :  nevertheless  thou 
 heardest  the  voice  of  my  supplications  when 
 I  cried  unto  thee. 
 
 23  '  O  love  the  Lord,  all  ye  his  saints  :  for 
 the  Lord  preserveth  the  faithful,  and  plenti- 
 fully rewardeth  the  proud  doer. 
 
 24  '■  Be  of  good  courage,  and  he  shall 
 strengthen  your  heart,  all  ye  that  hope  in  the 
 Lord. 
 
 PSALM  XXXII. 
 I   Blessedness  consisteth  in  remission  of  sins.     3   Cun- 
 
 q  P«.  83.4,5. 
 
 t  Heb.  .1  ..«.- 
 Sfl  titnt  pe- 
 
 r  Jer,  i'l).  10. 
 s  JiT.  6.  25. 
 
 &  20.  3, 
 
 Lam.  2  22 
 (  Mat.  27,  1. 
 
 II  Nu.  6.  25, 
 26.  Ps.  -1.  ti 
 &  67.  1. 
 
 X  Pb.  25.  2. 
 
 V  I  Sftm.S.ft. 
 Ps.  115.  17. 
 
 II  Oi',  Irl  them 
 t,s  cut  iff  far 
 tlif  i;r'i'ie. 
 
 .TuJo  1.5. 
 t  Htb.  <i  hard 
 
 c  Ps.  27.  5. 
 
 &  32.  7. 
 d  Job  5.  21. 
 
 t  Ps.  17.  7, 
 
 fl  Sa  23.7 
 II  Or,  ffncfd 
 
 ell,,, 
 s  1  Sa  23,26. 
 
 Pa.   116.  II. 
 I.  Is.  38    II, 
 
 12.  I. am.  3. 
 
 51.  .I-mah 
 
 2.  *. 
 i  Ps.  31.  9. 
 
 II  Or,  A 
 Psalm  Iff 
 David  siv- 
 iiiif  iriiltuc- 
 tiati. 
 
 a  P«.  85.  2, 
 Roio.  -1.  6, 
 7.  S. 
 
 6  2  Cor.  5.19. 
 
 c  John  1.  47, 
 
 d  1  Sam. 5,6, 
 11.  Job  33. 
 7.  Ps.  38. 1 
 
 e  Pro.  28.  13. 
 Is,  65.  24. 
 Luko  15.18, 
 21,  &e, 
 
 1  Jubii  1.  9. 
 /ITim.l.lS. 
 
 ?  Is.  55.  6. 
 
 John  7  34 
 f  Heb.  ill  a 
 
 limt,,fjiiid. 
 
 iiig. 
 k  Ps.  9.  9,  & 
 
 27.  5.  &  31. 
 
 20.  &  119. 
 
 111. 
 i  Ei.  IS.  1. 
 
 Judg.  5.  1. 
 
 2  Sam.  22.1. 
 \  Heb  /  Witt 
 council  thee, 
 
 shall  be 
 
 vp'in  Iti.p, 
 A  Pro.  2li.  3. 
 
 Jam  3.  3. 
 i  Job  30.  II. 
 
 n  Pi-0  13,2] 
 Rom.  2.  9. 
 
 Jer.  r.  7. 
 I  Ps.  61.  10. 
 &  68.  3. 
 
 fession  of  sins  tiivistk  mse  to  the  conscience.     8  God's 
 promises  briny  joy. 
 
 II  A  Psalm  of  David,  Maschil. 
 
 "DLESSED  is  he  whose  "transgression  is  for- 
 -*-'  ^wen,  whose  sin  is  covered. 
 
 2  Blessed  is  the  man  unto  whom  the  Lord 
 ^  imputeth  not  iniquity,  and  "  in  whose  spirit 
 there  is  no  guile. 
 
 3  When  I  kept  silence,  my  bones  waxed  old 
 through  my  roaring  all  the  day  long. 
 
 4  For  day  and  night  thy  ■■  hand  was  heavy 
 upon  me :  my  moisture  is  turned  into  the 
 drought  of  summer.     Selah. 
 
 3  I  acknowledged  my  sin  unto  thee,  and 
 mine  iniquity  have  I  not  hid.  °  1  said,  I  will 
 confess  my  transgressions  unto  the  Lord  ;  and 
 thou  forgavest  the  iniquity  of  my  sin.     Selah. 
 
 6  '  For  this  shall  every  one  that  is  godly 
 ^pray  unto  thee  fin  a  time  when  thou  mayest 
 be  found  :  surely  in  the  floods  of  great  waters 
 they  shall  not  come  nigh  unto  him. 
 
 7  ''  Thou  art  my  hiding  place  ;  thou  shalt 
 preserve  me  from  trouble  ;  thou  shalt  compass 
 me  about  with  '  songs  of  deliverance.     Selah. 
 
 8  I  will  instruct  thee  and  teach  thee  in  the 
 way  which  thou  shalt  go  :  f  I  will  guide  thee 
 with  mine  eye. 
 
 9  '  Be  ye  not  as  the  horse,  or  as  the  mule, 
 ivhich  have  '  no  understanding  :  whose  mouth 
 must  be  held  in  with  bit  and  bridle,  lest  they 
 come  near  unto  thee. 
 
 10  "  Many  sorrows  shall  be  to  the  wicked  : 
 but  "he  that  trusteth  in  the  Lord,  mercy  shall 
 compass  him  about. 
 
 1 1  "  Be  glad  in  the  Lord,  and  rejoice,  ye 
 righteous  :  and  shout  for  joy,  all  ye  that  are 
 upright  in  heart. 
 
 PSALM  XXXIII. 
 
 1  God  is  to  be  praised  for  fits  f/ondness,  6  for  his  power, 
 \2  a7id  fur  his  providence.  20  Covjidence  is  to  he 
 placed  in  God. 
 
 sorrows  from  the  ill  will  of  Saul.— So  Waif.  12.  Forgotten,  §-c.,like 
 a  person  adjndgetl  to  death.* — A.  Clarke.  Like  a  broken  vessel, 
 12N  ^bDS-  'ilaet  okcvoz  aTroXwAof,  Mike  a  lost  vessel,^  Sept.,  Vulg., 
 Pug.,  Pise.  One  entirely  useless,  wholly  lost. — Gill.  13.  Slander, 
 nil,  '  aiig:ry  muttering.' — Horsley.  'Murmurs.'  The  growling  of 
 the  bear  is  from  this  root,  n. — Mant,  vide  Par.  IQ.  Before  the  so7is 
 of  men,  'in  the  view  of  the  world.' — Poole.  20.  In  the  secret  of  thy 
 presence, ^^r;,  *inD2,  'with  the  covering  of  thy  countenance. — A. 
 Clarke.      'Pride,   ^DDI.  'conspiracies.'  —  Par.,    Gesenius.  23.  i?e. 
 
 wnrdeth  the  proud  doer, '  punisheth,  in  dnetime,  the  insolent  oppressor.* 
 —We!  Is. 
 
 Ps.  XXXII.— Title  — ^  Psalm,  fyc,  'j'DtT'D.  Maschil,  'an  instruc- 
 tive Psalm  of  David.' — Boothr.,  so  Clarke.  '  A  Psalm  of  instruction 
 or  recollection.'— il/urfg-e.  Some  have  thought  Maschil  to  mean  a 
 musical  instrument;  others,  the  first  word  of  a  song. — Gill.  Com- 
 posed  on  David's  repentance  after  Uriah's  affair. — Hales,  Rosenm. 
 1 .  Transgression,  yMJD,  the  original  signifies  '  to  pass  over,'  '  trespass,' 
 'do  what  is  proliihited,'— Pa?-.,  A.  Clarke.  Is  forgiven,  '•Tffi:,  *  is  taken 
 away.' — Pise,  Cocc.  '  Borne  away,'  i.  e,  by  a  vicarious  sacrifice. — A. 
 Clarke.  An  allusion  to  the  scape  goat,  (Lev.  xvi.,)  and  the  sin-ofiFer- 
 ings,  nn  which  the  sin  of  the  culprit  was  laid  and  borne  away. — Mori- 
 son.  Sut.  Sin,  TTN'CrT,  '  to  miss  a  mark,*  not  doing  what  was  com- 
 mantled. — Par.,  A.  Clarke.  Covered,  ^iDD,  'hidden  from  the  sight.* — 
 A.  Clarke.  It  signifies  the  act  of  God's  pardoning  it. — Boothr.  2.  Im- 
 puteth, i'lTn^i  *  does  not  think  of  it.' — Pise.    'Does  not  reckon,'  'ac- 
 
 count,' 'charge.'  A  benefit  conferred  through  Christ,  {2  Cor.  v.  19; 
 Rom.  iv.  G— 8.) — Boothroyd.  Iniquity,  r\^,  'to  turn  out  of  its  proper 
 situation  or  course.' — Par.  3.  When  I  kept  silence,  'while  I  neg- 
 lected to  confess  my  sin,  I  had  no  rest  of  conscience.' — Bp.  Wilson. 
 My  bones,  Sfc,  '  my  grief  brought  on  my  animal  frame  premature  old 
 age.' — See  Merrick.  Bones,  may  mean  '  my  body'  or  '  whole  animal 
 frame.' — Hew.  Roaring,  put  here  metaphorically  for  the  pangs  which 
 occasion  it,  or  the  words  would  he  a  contradiction.— Grec?//.  4.  My 
 moisture,  fyc. — rain  in  winter,  and  none  in  summer,  is  common  in  the 
 east,  especially  in  Palestine. — See  Hay.  He  was  hke  a  plant  shrivelled 
 and  dried  up  by  the  heat  of  summer. — Boothr.  6.  Floods,  'great 
 calamities,' — Hew.;  alluding  to  the  mountain  rivers,  whicli,  though 
 inconsiderable  at  first,  swell  suddenly  by  heavy  rains,  to  the  destruc- 
 tion of  many  a  venturesome  passenger. — So  Mant.  /.  Hiding  place — 
 see  note  on  Ps.  xxvii.  5.  An  allusion  to  the  city  of  refuge. — A.  Clarke. 
 8.  I  will  guide,  fyc,  as  a  master  his  scholar.  With  mine  eye,  or  'as 
 mine  eye.'  '  With  as  much  care  as  if  thou  wert  the  apple  of  mine 
 eye.' — Drus-ius,  so  Gill.  '  I  will  instruct  thee  how  to  tread.' — Mant. 
 Q.  Whose  mouth,  ^-e.,  it  is  so  here,  much  more  in  wami  eastern 
 countries. — So  Mant.  Lest  they  come  near,  fyc,  '  lest  on  their  Lord 
 they  turn,  in  a  liostile  manner,  to  assault,  attack.' — See  Par.  on  2'\p, 
 Mant.  '  When  they  will  not  approach  unto  thee.'— Boothr.  ii.  Be 
 glad,  (fc. ;  should  probably  he  the  first  verse  of  the  next  Psalm. — Louth, 
 Ken.f  Hare,  Merrick. 
 
 Reft-ectioxs  on  Ps.  XXXI. — Tbis  psalm  is  a  mixture 
 of  prayer  and  confidence— I.  Prayer.  The  Psalmist,  in  his 
 distress,  flees  to  God  as  his  refuge  ;  and  whither  can  the  bur- 
 dened spirit  go  but  to  Him  }     '  Vain  is  the  help  of  man.' 
 
 II.  Confdence.  There  should  be  no  doubting  in  our  appli- 
 cation to  God.  Neither  his  ability  nor  willingness  should  oc- 
 casion a  doubt  in  the  mind  of  the  believer.  Happy  is  he  who 
 can  say  to  God,  '  Thou  art  my  rock  and  my  fortress' — *  I  trust 
 in  the  Lord.*  He  shall  sing  the  song  of  praise,  '  O,  love  the 
 Lord,  all  ye  his  saints  ;  for  the  Lord  preserveth  the  faithful, 
 and  plentifully  rewardeth  the  proud  doer.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXXII.  —  Remark  here,  I.  Thegrent 
 blcssinff  of  pardon,  What  is  all  the  world  without  it  ?  He  who 
 593 
 
 knows  the  heart-rending  pangs  of  guilt,  the  restless  tortures 
 of  a  spirit  bleeding  under  its  wounds,  can  alone  appreciate  its 
 value  :  worlds  would  be  a  cheap  price  to  purchase  it. 
 
 II.  The  way  to  obtain  pardon.  '  He  that  confesseth  and  for- 
 sakfih  his  sins  shall  find  mercy.*  Go  to  God,  sinner;  pour 
 nut  your  heart  before  him.  He  is  a  God  full  of  compassion  ; 
 he  will  '  abundantly  pardon.' 
 
 III.  The  evidrnce  of  pardon.  Gratitude:  the  soul  is  girded 
 round  with  praise.  Obedience  and  submission  to  the  Divine 
 guidance  and  control.  Thus  submit  to  him,  and  'he  shall 
 guide  you  by  his  counsel,  and  afterwards  receive  you  into 
 glory,' 
 
 4g 
 
The  goodnc-is  and  power  of  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  XXXIII..  XXXIV. 
 
 David  exhorteth  to  praise  God* 
 
 REJOICE  "in  the  Lord,  O  ye  righteous: 
 for  **  praise  is  comely  for  the  upright. 
 
 2  Praise  the  Lord  with  harp  :  sing  unto  !iim 
 with  the  psaltery  ""  and  au  instrument  often 
 strings. 
 
 3  '^  Sing  unto  him  a  new  song  ;  play  stilfully 
 with  a  loud  noise. 
 
 4  For  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  right ;  and  all 
 iiis  works  are  done  in  truth. 
 
 5  °  He  loveth  righteousness  and  judgment : 
 '  the  earth  is  full  of  the  ||  goodness  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 6  ^  By  the  word  of  the  Lord  were  the 
 heavens  made  ;  and  ^all  the  host  of  them  '  by 
 the  breath  of  his  mouth. 
 
 7  "^  He  gathereth  the  waters  of  the  sea  to- 
 gether as  an  heap  :  he  layeth  up  the  depth  in 
 storehouses. 
 
 8  Let  ail  the  earth  fear  the  Lord  :  let  all  the 
 inhabitants  of  the  world  stand  in  awe  of  him. 
 
 9  Fur  '  he  spake,  and  it  was  done ;  he  com- 
 manded, and  it  stood  fast. 
 
 10  *"  TKe  Lord  fbringeth  the  counsel  of  the 
 heathen  to  nought :  he  maketh  the  devices  of 
 the  people  of  none  effect. 
 
 11  "The  counsel  of  the  Lord  standeth  for 
 ever,  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  f  to  all  genera- 
 tions. 
 
 12  "  Blessed  is  the  nation  whose  God  is  the 
 Lord  ;  and  the  people  whom  be  hath  ^  chosen 
 for  his  own  inheritance. 
 
 13  **  The  Lord  looketh  from  heaven  ;  he  be- 
 holdeth  all  the  sons  of  men. 
 
 14  From  tlie  place  of  his  habitation  he  look- 
 eth upon  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth. 
 
 15  He  fashioneth  their  hearts  alike;  ■"  he  con- 
 sidereth  all  their  works. 
 
 16  '  There  is  no  king  saved  by  the  multitude 
 of  an  host :  a  mighty  man  is  not  delivered  by 
 much  strength. 
 
 17  *  An  horse  is  a  vain  thing  for  safety  :  nei- 
 ther shall  he  dehver  ani/  by  his  great  strength. 
 
 18  "Behold,  the  eye  of  the  Lord  is  "upon 
 them  that  fear  him,  upon  them  that  hope  in  his 
 mercy  ; 
 
 19  To  deliver  their  soul  from  death,  and  ^  to 
 keep  them  alive  in  famine. 
 
 20  ^  Our  soul  waiteth  for  the  Lord:  *  he  iV 
 our  help  and  our  shield. 
 
 21  For  our  ^  heart  shall  rejoice  in  him,  be- 
 
 a  Ps.  32.  11. 
 fi  97.  IS. 
 b  Ps,  147.  1. 
 
 cPs  <12.  3.  & 
 141.  9. 
 
 d  Ps.  96.1.  & 
 OS.  1.&I44 
 g.  &  119-  I. 
 Is.  12.  10. 
 Kev.  J.  9. 
 
 e  Pb.  n .  7. 
 
 &  45.  7. 
 /Fa.  111).  64. 
 [I  Or,  mercy. 
 
 g  Gen.  I  fi,7. 
 
 Heb.  lis. 
 
 2  Pet  3.  5. 
 h  Gei>.  2.  1. 
 1  Job  26.  13. 
 k  Gen.  I.  9. 
 
 Job  26.  10. 
 
 &33    8. 
 
 m  Is.  8   10. 
 &  19  S. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 jnakelli/TUt- 
 
 Irale. 
 »  .Toh  23.  13. 
 
 Pio.  19   21, 
 
 l9  46.  11) 
 t  Heb.  losf- 
 
 ntrattun  and 
 
 o  Pa.  65    4. 
 
 U  144.  15. 
 p  Ex,  19.  5. 
 
 Ucut.  7.  fi. 
 o2Cbr.  10. 
 
 9.  Jnb  ^. 
 
 84    Ps.  II. 
 
 4    b  M.  3. 
 
 Pro.  15.  3. 
 
 *■  Job  34.  21. 
 Jer.  32.  19. 
 
 1  Ps  20.  7. 
 
 &  U7.  10. 
 
 Pro.  21.  31 
 u  Job  m.  7. 
 
 Pb.  34.  15. 
 
 I  Pet.  3  12. 
 xPi.  147. 11, 
 y  Job  5.  20. 
 
 Pb.  37.  19. 
 r  P8.C2.  1,5 
 
 &  130.6. 
 n  Ps    1 15.  9, 
 
 10.  11. 
 h  Pa,  13    5 
 
 Zech.   10  ; 
 
 John  16.  i2. 
 
 Or, Achiih, 
 I  Sa.21.13. 
 
 Fph.5,  2i>. 
 
 1  rhes.S.l;*. 
 
 2  Thea  1.3. 
 ft  2.  1.3. 
 
 b  Jer.  9.  24. 
 
 1  Cor.  1.31. 
 
 2  Cor.10,17. 
 cPa    119   71 
 
 &  142.  7. 
 d  Ps    69.  30 
 
 Luke  I    46. 
 r  STat    7    7, 
 
 Luke  II.  9. 
 
 II  Or,  Thetf 
 flowed  unto 
 liim. 
 
 /Pb.  3.  4 
 
 a  ver.  17,  19 
 2  Sam. 22.1. 
 
 h  Dau  6-  22 
 Heb.  1.  14 
 
 I  See  Gen. 
 2-i.  1,  2 
 2  Kin.  6.17 
 Zecli.  9.  8. 
 
 k  I  Pet  2.  3. 
 
 (  Pa.  2.  12. 
 
 m  Pa,  31.  23. 
 
 Job  4.  10. 
 
 II. 
 oVa  84.  U. 
 
 p  Pa.  32.  9. 
 
 q\  Pet.  3.10, 
 
 n. 
 
 c  1  Pet.  2.22. 
 »  Ps.  37.  27. 
 
 Is.  1.  16.17. 
 (  Rom  12  IH 
 
 Heb.  i:.  M. 
 II  Job  36.  7 
 
 Pa.  33    Iti. 
 
 I  Pet.  3,  12 
 3c  ver,  6.  17. 
 y  Lev.  17.  10. 
 
 Jer.  41.  II. 
 
 Amns  9  4 
 ;  Pro.  10  ;. 
 rt  ver    6,  \\ 
 
 19    Ps.  145. 
 
 19,  20 
 h  Ph.  145,  le. 
 f  Pa    SI.  17 
 
 la. 67.  15,  & 
 
 6t.l.&6fi  2. 
 t  Heb.  ta  the 
 
 broken  "/ 
 
 '     \rl. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 cause  we  have  trusted  in  his  holy  name. 
 
 22   Let  thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  be  upon  us,  ac- 
 cording as  we  hope  in  thee. 
 
 PSALM  XXXIV. 
 1  David  praiseth  God,  and  exhorteth  others  thereto  hy 
 his  experikJice.  8  They  are  blessed  that  trust  in  God. 
 11  He  exhorteth  to  the  fear  of  God.  16  The  privileges 
 of  the  righteous. 
 A  Psalm  of  David,  when  he  changed  bis  behaviour  be- 
 fore 11  Abimelech  ;  who  drove  him  away,  and  he  de- 
 parted. 
 
 T   WILL  "bless  the  Lord  at  all  times:  his 
 -^  praise  shall  continually  be  in  my  mouth. 
 
 2  My  soul  shall  make  lier  ^  boast  in  the  Lord  ■ 
 ^  the  humble  shall  hear  thereof,  and  be  glad. 
 
 3  O  "^  magnify  the  Lord  with  me,  and  let  us 
 exalt  his  name  together. 
 
 4  I  '^  sought  the  Loud,  and  he  heard  me,  and 
 delivered  me  from  all  my  fears. 
 
 They  looked  unto  him,  and  were  lighten- 
 ed :  and  their  faces  were  not  ashamed. 
 
 G  ^  This  poor  man  cried,  and  the  Lord  heard 
 him,  and  ^  saved  him  out  of  all  his  troubles. 
 
 7  ''  The  angel  of  the  Lord  '  encampeth  round 
 about  them  that  fear  him,  and  delivereth  them. 
 
 8  O  ^  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good  : 
 '  blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  him. 
 
 9  '"  O  fear  tlie  Lord,  ye  his  saints  :  for  there 
 is  no  want  to  them  that  fear  him. 
 
 10  "  The  young  lions  do  lack,  and  suffer  hun- 
 ger :  °but  they  that  seek  the  Lord  shall  not 
 want  any  good  thing. 
 
 1 1  Come,  ye  children,  hearken  unto  me  :  ^  I 
 will  teach  you  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 
 
 J2  '^  What  man  is  he  that  desireth  life,  and 
 loveth  many  days,  that  he  may  see  good  r* 
 
 13  Keep  thy  tongue  from  evil,  and  thy  lips 
 from  ^  speaking  guile. 
 
 14  'Depart  from  evil,  and  do  good;  *  seek 
 peace,  and  pursue  it. 
 
 13  "  The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon  the 
 righteous,  and  his  ears  are  open  unto  their  *  cry. 
 
 16  ''The  face  of  the  Lord  is  against  them 
 that  do  evil,  ^  to  cut  off  the  remembrance  of 
 them  from  the  earth. 
 
 17  The  righteous  cry,  and  "the  LoRDheareth, 
 and  delivereth  them  out  of  all  their  troubles. 
 
 18  '' The  Lord  is  nigh  "^  junto  them  that  are 
 of  a  broken  heart ;  and  saveth  f  such  as  be  of 
 a  contrite  spirit. 
 
 Ps.  XXXIII.  —  1.  Rejoice,  ^-c— this  seems,  from  the  style  and  mat- 
 ter, to  be  a  Psalm  of  David.  2.  Harp,  -^i^^,  a  musical  instrument 
 first  invented  by  Jubal.  (Gen.  iv.  2\.)—Moi-ison.  Played  upon  with  the 
 bow. — Rosemn.  The  ancient  testiido,  or  lyre,  with  three  strings. — 
 Cal.  The  psalter!/,  ^23-  Omit  the  and,  for  one  instrument  only  is  in- 
 tended.— So  Clarke.  The  psaltery  was  made  in  the  form  of  a  leathern 
 botUe.  and  turned  rnund  in  playing-, — Will.  It  was  played  wilh  the 
 fingers. — Spanh.,  Rnsemn.  'On  the  ten-stringed  lute,*  Sept.,  Green. 
 3.  A  new  son^,  fresh,  continual,  or  excellent. — Gill.  Play  skilfully, 
 tfc.,  '  make  good  music  or  melody.' — Ains.  '  With  joyfid  notes  play 
 skilfully  upon  the  tabor.' — Horsley.  '  Loud  and  well  the  tabor  smite.' 
 — Mnnt,  vide  p3,  Par.  6.  By  the  word,  ^-c,  '  the  fiat  of  God,  and  by 
 the  instrumentality  of  the  Eternal  WoRn  and  the  Eternal  Spihit.' — 
 Bp.  Home,  as  the  Fathers  Basil  and  Theodoret.  7.  He  gathereth  the 
 waters,  ^c. — tlie  allusion  is  to  Gen.  i.  p.  15.  He  fashioneth,  fyc., 
 he  is  the  former  and  fashioner  of  the  heart,  spirit,  and  soul  of  man, 
 even  of  all  hearts  nnd  spirits,  (Heb.  xii.  9;  Zech.  xii.  l.)—Gill.  17- An 
 horse,  ^c,  may  refer  to  David's  victory  over  the  Syrians,  (2  Sam.  x.  19.) 
 — Dimock.  22.  According  as  we  hope  in  thee,  *  since  we  patiently  wait 
 for  thee.'— Greeji. 
 
 This  Psalm  is  an  acrostic,  containing,  with  a  slight  irregularity,  every 
 letter  of  the  Hebrew  alphabet  at  the  beginning  of  each  verse. 
 
 Pa.  XXXIV.— 1.  At  all  times,  713?  ^33,  i.e.,  'in  all  circumstances,  in 
 every  posture  of  my  affairs.'  6.  They  looked,  that  is,  the  humble 
 ones,  (ver.  2.) 
 
 '  Look  to  him,  and  be  enlightened, 
 And  your  faces  shall  not  be  ashamed.* — Boothr.,  and  most  Vers. 
 
 6.  This  poor  man,  ^23?  ni,  'this  afflicted  man,'  i.e.,  David. — A.  Clarke, 
 'This  afflicted  one,*  meaning  himself. — Boothr.,  Edwards,  Maytt,  so 
 Sut.  7.  The  angel  of  the  Lord,  the  presence  of  Christ  in  the  church 
 militant,  as  of  old  in  the  camp  of  Israel ;  or  the  ministration  of  created 
 spirits,  as  in  2  Kings,  vi.  \7.—Bp.  Home.  Encampeth  round  about, 
 securing  them,  as  the  Arab  prince,  in  the  centre  of  his  camp.— So  Mnnt. 
 10.  The  young  lions,  D'TDS.  '  lurking  lions,'  which  are  lusty,  strong- 
 tnothed,  fierce,  roaring,  and  ravenous.  Hereby  may  be  meant,  the  rich 
 and  mighty  of  the  world,  whom  God  often  bringeth  to  misery. — Ains. 
 'Strong  or  mighty  men  do  lack;'  reading  D'T33i  '  mighty  men,' for 
 D'TDD.  '  young  lions;'  so  the  Sept.  and  Vulg.  'The  mighty  become 
 poor  and  suffer  hunger.* — Boothr.  12.  And  loveth,  afaniav  ij^epa? 
 iSetv  afa9av,  '  who  loves  to  see  days  of  good,  or  good  days,*  Sept. 
 17.  The  righteous  cry,  ^c. — '  righteous'  seems  to  have  been  supplied  by 
 our  translators  according  to  the  Sept.,  ot  iiKatoi — to  the  same  purport, 
 the  Syr  ,  Arab.,  and  Targ.         18.  A  broken  heart,  aS  n2ttJ3,  '  the  heart 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XXXIII. —I.  God  is  the  supreme  oh- 
 iect  of  a  believer's  joy.  His  power,  and  wisdom,  and  goodness, 
 and  truth,  manifested  in  his  works  of  providence  and  grace, 
 and  revealed  in  his  word,  are  never  ending  causes  for  joy. 
 To  have  such  a  God  as  this  to  provide  for  us  and  take  care  of 
 394 
 
 us,  is  as  a  well-spring  of  joy  to  the  behever's  heart. 
 
 II.  fVith  all  our  expressions  of  joy,  u-e  must  mix  ovr  hopes  of 
 mercy.  For  what  would  all  the  attributes  of  Jehovah  oe  to 
 ua  viewed  out  of  Christ,  in  whom  alone  God  is  merciful } 
 
David pinyeth  for  his  own  safety. 
 
 PSALMS,  XXXV. 
 
 and  his  enemies'  confusion. 
 
 19  "i  Many  a;e  tlie  afflictions  of  tlie  riglUeous: 
 'but  the  Lord  deliveretli  liim  out  of  tliem  all. 
 
 20  He  keepetli  all  liis  bones:  'not  one  of 
 them  is  broken. 
 
 21  ^  Evil  shall  slay  the  wicked;  and  they 
 that  hate  the  righteous  ||  shall  be  desolate. 
 
 22  The  Lord  •'redeemeth  the  soul  of  his 
 servants  :  and  none  of  them  that  trust  in  him 
 shall  be  desolate. 
 
 PSALM  XXXV. 
 
 1  David  pray eih  for  his  own  safety,  and  his  enemies' 
 confusion,    1 1  He  complainet/i  ofthtir  wrongfid  deal- 
 ing.    132  Thtrehy  he  incitcth  God  against  them. 
 A  Psalm  of  David. 
 
 PLEAD  "  my  cause,  O  Lord,  with  them  that 
 strive  with  me:  ''fight  against  them  that 
 fight  against  me. 
 
 2  '^  Take  hold  of  shield  and  buckler,  and 
 stand  np  for  mine  help. 
 
 3  Draw  out  also  the  spear,  and  stop  the  way 
 against  them  that  persecute  me  :  say  unto  my 
 soul,  I  am  thy  salvation. 
 
 4  ^  Let  them  be  confounded  and  put  to  shame 
 that  seek  after  my  soul :  let  them  be  ^  turned 
 back  and  brought  to  confusion  that  devise  my 
 hurt. 
 
 5  *"  Let  them  be  as  chaff  before  the  wind  :  and 
 let  the  angel  of  tlie  Lord  chase  them, 
 
 6  Let  their  way  be  1^  dark  and  slippery  :  and 
 let  the  angel  of  the  Lord  persecute  them. 
 
 7  For  without  cause  have  they  ^  hid  for  me 
 their  net  in  a  pit,  which  without  cause  they 
 have  digged  for  my  soul. 
 
 8  Let  'destruction  come  upon  him  fat  un- 
 awares ;  and  ^  let  his  net  that  he  hath  hid 
 catch  himself:  into  that  very  destruction  let 
 him  fall. 
 
 9  And  my  soul  shall  be  joyful  in  the  Lord 
 '  it  shall  rejoice  in  his  salvation. 
 
 10  ^  All  my  bones  shall  say.  Lord,  "  who  is 
 like  unto  thee,  which  deliverest  the  poor  from 
 him  that  is  too  strong  for  him,  yea,  the  poor 
 and  tlie  needy  from  him  that  spoileth  him? 
 
 1 1  t  **  False  witnesses  did  rise  up  ;  f  they  laid 
 to  my  charge  things  that  I  knew  not. 
 
 d  Prov.  24. 
 
 16.  2  TUn. 
 
 3.  II,  12. 
 
 ver.  6,  17. 
 /John  19. 
 
 36. 
 
 9  Pb.  94.  23. 
 
 II  Or,  ikall  be 
 
 2  Sam.  ■!  9. 
 I  Kill.  1  29. 
 Ps    7l.23.8t 
 11)3.  ■!. 
 Lam.iJ.58. 
 
 a  Vi.  '\X  I. 
 
 &  ny  i.>4 
 
 Lain.  3   58 
 h  Ex.  1-1. 2:>. 
 
 d  ver.  26. 
 Ps  W  14,15, 
 &  70.  2,  S. 
 
 e  Pi.  129  5. 
 
 /Job  21. 13. 
 Ps.  I.  4.  «( 
 83  13.  Is.29. 
 5.  Hos.13.3. 
 t  Heb.  rfurfc. 
 
 itipperinett. 
 7  Ps.  73-   18. 
 
 Jer.  •23.  12. 
 /.  Pa.  9.  15. 
 
 i  I  Tlies-S.S, 
 t  Heb.wliich 
 
 f.e  inuuieth 
 
 uot  of. 
 4  P8.  7.  IS, 
 
 Ifi.  Ik  j7.  6. 
 
 &  HI.  9,  10. 
 
 Piov.  5.22. 
 
 /  Ps.  13.  5. 
 
 rn  SeePs.Sl. 
 
 8. 
 '1  Ex.  15-  11. 
 
 Ps.  71,  19. 
 t  Heb.  im- 
 
 u  Pa.  27.  12. 
 t  Heb.  thei/ 
 ai/ied  me. 
 
 p  Pb  38.  20. 
 &  109.3,4,5 
 Jer.  19.  ^0. 
 John  10-  32. 
 
 tHeb. 
 
 J  Job  SO.  25. 
 Ps  69.10,11. 
 
 WOr^affltclfd. 
 r  Mat.  10.13. 
 
 Luke  10.  6. 
 t  Hab. 
 
 KalkeJ. 
 t  Heb-  <w  a 
 friend,  a,  a 
 
 brol/ier  to 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 halting. 
 Pa.  38.  17. 
 
 t  Job  30.  I, 
 S,  12. 
 
 I  Job  16.  d. 
 
 u  Job  16.  9. 
 Pa.  37  12, 
 Lam.  2.  16. 
 
 J  Hab.  1.13 
 
 t  Heb.  tuif 
 
 oxlf/  one. 
 y  Pb.  22.  CO. 
 t  Pb,  22.  25, 
 
 31.  «c  40.  9, 
 
 10.(1(111.  I. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 tlrung. 
 a  Ps.  13.  4. 
 
 b  25   2.  & 
 
 3S.   16. 
 t  Heb.  rh^e/y. 
 
 Ps.  38.  19. 
 b  Jub  15.  12. 
 
 Prov  6.  13, 
 
 &  10.  10. 
 c  Vs.  69.  4. 
 
 A  109  3.  & 
 
 119.  161. 
 
 Lam.  3.  52 
 
 John  15  25 
 d  Ps.  22.  13. 
 e  Ps,  40,   15, 
 
 ■<k  54,.  7.  8c 
 
 70    3. 
 /  Ex.  3,  7- 
 
 Acls7.  31 
 S  Ps.  2S.  1. 
 
 &  83.  I. 
 h  Ps.  10-  1    fc 
 
 22.  1 1 ,  1 9.  »( 
 
 33.21    &71 
 
 12. 
 .'  Ph.  41.  23, 
 
 &  80.  2. 
 k  Ps.  26,  I. 
 12  Thes  I.e. 
 m  ver.  19. 
 
 ..  Pa.  27.  12. 
 &  70   3.  8e 
 
 1  Lam.  2.16. 
 u  ver.  4. 
 Pb.  40.  14. 
 
 12  ^  They  rewarded  me  evil  for  good  to  the 
 t  spoiling  of  my  soul. 
 
 13  But  as  for  me,  "^  when  they  were  sick,  my 
 clothing  ^vas  sackcloth  :  I  ||  liumbled  my  soul 
 with  fasting;  ^and  my  prayer  returned  into 
 mine  own  bosom, 
 
 14  I  f  behaved  myself  fas  though  he  had 
 been  my  friend  or  brother :  I  bowed  down 
 heavily,  as  one  that  mourneth/or  his  mother. 
 
 15  But  in  mine  f  adversity  tiiey  rejoiced,  and 
 gathered  themselves  together  :  yea,  "  the  ab- 
 jects  gathered  themselves  together  against  me, 
 and  1  knew  it  not ;  tliey  did  *  tear  me,  and 
 ceased  not : 
 
 16  With  hypocritical  mockers  in  feasts,  "  they 
 gnashed  upon  me  with  their  teeth. 
 
 17  Lord,  how  long  wilt  thou  "look  on? 
 rescue  my  soul  from  their  destructions,  |^my 
 darling  from  the  lions. 
 
 18  ^  I  will  give  thee  thanks  in  the  great  con- 
 gregation :  I  will  praise  thee  among  fmuch 
 people. 
 
 19  ^  Let  not  them  that  are  mine  enemies 
 t  wrongfully  rejoice  over  me :  neither  ^  let 
 them  wink  with  the  eye  ^  that  hate  me  without 
 a  cause. 
 
 20  For  they  speak  not  peace  :  but  they  de- 
 vise deceitful  matters  against  them  that  are 
 quiet  in  the  land. 
 
 21  Yea,  they  ^  opened  their  mouth  wide 
 against  me,  and  said,  "  Aha,  aha,  our  eye  hath 
 seen  it. 
 
 22  This  thou  hast  ""seen,  O  Lord:  ^keep 
 not  silence  :  O  Lord,  be  not  ^  far  from  me. 
 
 23  *  Stir  up  thyself,  and  awake  to  my  judg- 
 ment, even  unto  my  cause,  my  God  and  my 
 Lord. 
 
 24  ''  Judge  me,  0  Lord  my  God,  '  according 
 to  thy  righteousness  ;  and  "'  let  them  not  re- 
 joice over  me. 
 
 25  "  Let  them  not  say  in  their  hearts,  f  Ah, 
 so  would  we  have  it :  let  them  not  say,  °  We 
 have  swallowed  him  up. 
 
 26  ^  Let  them  be  ashamed  and  brought  to 
 confusion  together  that  rejoice  at  mine  hurt : 
 
 broken  to  shivers.'  A  contrite  spirit,  mi  VDl  '  the  beaten  out  spirit,' 
 (see  Jer.  xxiii.  29.) — A.  Clarke.  20.  Keepeth  alt  his  bones,  prophetic  of 
 Christ,  (John,  six.  36.) — Ken.  Peter  applies  the  words  to  Christ,  but  in 
 an  allusive  or  accommodated  sense. — Buotfir.  21.  Shnll  be  desolate, 
 10'1DK\  '  shall  be  condemnL-cl  as  guilty.'  22.  Shall  be  desolate,  'shall 
 not  be  condemned  as  guilty.' — AiTis. 
 
 Fs.  XXXV. — Title — A  Psalm,  ^c. — this  Psalm  seems  to  have  been 
 written  by  David  when  he  was  persecuted  by  Saul. — Gill,  Edwards, 
 Clarke.  In  some  measure  applicable  to  David,  but  more  so  to  Jesus. 
 — Dimock.  A  prayer  of  the  Messiah. — Hors/ei/.  1.  Plead,  means  in 
 a  forensic  or  law  sense. — A.  Clarke.  2.  Shield — see  note  on  Ps.  xxxiii. 
 20.  My  buckler — see  Ps.  xviii.  2,  note.  The  lesser  and  great  shield. — 
 Edwards.  3.  Draw  out  also  the  spear — warriors  reposed  with  their 
 spears  stuck  in  the  ground  near  them.  The  Greeks,  at  least,  had 
 sheaths  to  their  spears.  —  Mant.  And  stop,  '  and  secure  me.'— Boo//jr. 
 •  And  the  se>  miter.'— So  Drusiizs,  Vitr.,  Mick.,  Waif.  5.  As  chaff— 
 see  note  on  Ps.  i.  4.  It  is  here  literally  '  thistle  down.*  /.  Net—pit 
 see  notes  on  Ps.  vii.  15  j  ix.  15.  8.  Let  destruction,  ^c,  or  'a storm,' 
 nNIUJ. — Cocc  ,  so  Aitis.  Such  a  storm  as  is  caused  in  the  eastern  coun- 
 tries by  a  south  wind,  very  sudden,  violent,  and  destructive. — Gill. 
 Come  vpon  him,  the  singular  is  here  used,  perhaps  referring  to  some 
 chief,  or  including  each  in  the  distributive  form. — So  Waif.  U.  False 
 witnesses,  ^c.  —  from  this  to  ver.  l6  applies  literally  to  Christ.— So 
 Horsley.         12.  To  the  spoiling  of  my  soul,  '  to  destroy  my  life,'  '12D3. 
 
 — A.  Clarke.  ^IDH?, '  to  the  bereaving  of  it,'  'causing  it  to  be  fatherless,* 
 that  is,  comfortless. — Gill.      'To  the  abortion  of  it.' — Mudge,   Houb. 
 
 13.  When  they,  fyc,  Saul  and  his  courtiers.  —  Gill.  Returned,  ^c, 
 '  rested  or  settled  in  my  bosom,'  i.  e.,  it  was  never  without  a  prayer 
 for  them. — Mudge,  Houb.  It  may  refer  to  the  head  being  inclined 
 downwards  towards  his  bosom,  and  the  requests  were  thus  directtd  as 
 to  it.     The  posture  was  common.^^So  Waif.,  as  Koehler  and  Reland. 
 
 14.  Mourneth  for  his  mother,  DN  ?3f*D. '  as  a  mourning  mother.'—.^.  C. 
 The  common  translation  is  good.  In  the  east,  fathers  and  suns  have  a 
 limited  intercourse.  Sons,  therefore,  attach  themselves  .strongly  to  their 
 mothers.  With  an  oriental,  this  expression  indicates  the  utmost  pro- 
 fundity of  grief. — Pict.  Bib.  15.  In  mine  adversity,  ^T^!?!.  or  'at 
 my  halting.* — Png.,  Mont.,  Vat.,Gej.,  Mich.,  Ains.  The  objects,  D'D3, 
 'the  smiters;'  probably  hired  assassins,  —  A.Clarke;  or  '  vilifiers,' 
 smiting  with  their  tongues,  Targ.  *  Mean  persons,'  the  refuse  or  scum 
 of  the  earth.— G(7/.  17.  My  darling,  ^riTr?',  'my  only  one,*  'my 
 united  one,'  may  relate  to  Christ. — A.  Clarke.  His  'soul*  and  his 
 '  darling'  mean  the  same  ;  either  his  life,  than  which  nothing  Is  dearer 
 to  a  man  ;  or  his  soul,  his  more  noble  part,  now  alone  and  solitary,  for- 
 saken of  God  and  men. — Gill.  '  My  dear  and  precious  life.'— Bp.  Hall. 
 '  My  solitary  one,*  alone,  unprotected,  save  from  above. — So  Wolf. 
 
 *  Rescue  my  soul  from  their  intended  destruction  ; 
 My  dear  life  from  those  young  lions.' — Booflir. 
 
 Ri-FLECTiONs   OM    Ps.   XXXIV This  psalm  exhibits  to  speaketi.* 
 
 us — I.  Experimental  reliyion  ;  proving  that  God  is  the  hearer  II.  Practical  religion.     It  consists  in  '  the  fear  of  the  Lord.' 
 
 and  answerer  of  prayer;  that  there  is  peace,  comfort,  and  joy  Tliis  '  includes  all  grace  and  every  duty,  and  regards  the  whole 
 
 in  believing  ;  that  the  Lord  protects  those  that  trust  in  him  ;  worship  of  God  and  the  manner  of  it.'  ff     It  requires  us  to  set 
 
 that  he  is  good,  and  beUevers  have  as  lively  a  sense  of  that  a  watch  upon  tlie  door  of  our  lips,  and  to  be  exemplary  in  our 
 
 goodness  in  their  souls  as  those  who  taste  of  sweets  have  of  actions— men  of  benevolence,  and  men  of  peace  ;  so  that  they 
 
 them  in  their  palates.    Such  a  sense  of  spiritual  blessings  in-  that  are  *  of  the  contrary  part  may  be  ashamed,  liaving  no  evil 
 
 spires  the  heart  with   gratitude,  and    tills   the   mouth    with  tiling  to  say'  ot  us. 
 praise  ;  so  that,  '  out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth 
 595 
 
The  grievous  estate  of  the  ivichcd.  PSALMS,  XXXVI.,  XXXVII. 
 
 The  exctUcncy  of  GoeTs  mercy. 
 
 let  them  be  ^  clothed  witli  shame  and  disho- 
 nour that  '  magnify  theiKSilves  against  me. 
 
 27  '  Let  them  shout  for  joy,  and  be  glad,  that 
 favour  t  my  righteous  cause  :  yea,  let  them 
 'say  continually.  Let  the  Lord  be  magnified 
 "  which  hath  pleasure  in  the  prosperity  of  his 
 servant. 
 
 28  ^  And  my  tongue  shall  speak  of  thy  right- 
 eousness and  of  thy  praise  all  the  day  long. 
 
 PSALM  XXXVI. 
 1   The  grievous  estate  of  the  wiched.     5  The  excelltncy 
 of  Gud's  mercy.      10  David  prai/eth  for  favour  to 
 God's  children. 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  A  Pmlm  of  David  the  servant  of 
 
 the  Lord. 
 'T'HE  transgression  of  tlie  wicked  saith  within 
 -*•    my  heart,  that  "  there   is   nu  fear  of  God 
 before  liis  eyes. 
 
 2  For  '"  lie  flattereth  himself  in  his  own  eyes, 
 t  until  his  iniquity  be  found  to  be  liatefiil. 
 
 3  The  words  uf  bis  mouth  are  iniquity  and 
 'deceit:  ''lie  hath  left  ofl'  to  be  wise,  and  to 
 do  good. 
 
 4  "  He  deviseth  ||  mischief  upon  his  bed  ;  he 
 setteth  himself '  in  a  way  that  is  not  good  ;  he 
 abhorreth  not  evil. 
 
 5  ^  Thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  is  in  the  heavens ; 
 and  thy  faithfulness  reucheth  unto  the  clouds. 
 
 6  Thy  righteousness  is  like  f  the  great  moun- 
 tains ;  '■thy  judgments  arc  a  great  deep:  O 
 LoKD,  '  tliou  preserves!  man  and  beast. 
 
 7  '  How  t  excellent  is  tliy  lovingkindness,  O 
 God!  therefore  the  children  of  men  '  put  their 
 trust  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings. 
 
 1  Pa.  log  29. 
 
 &  l3->    19. 
 r  Pb.  S3.  16. 
 <P„iii..l2.1.i. 
 
 I  Cor.la.2e. 
 t  Heh.  ...g 
 
 I  Pa  TO.  4. 
 "  Ps.  U9.  *. 
 X  Pa.  SO.  15. 
 
 &  51.  U.  & 
 
 Tl.S-4. 
 
 I  Roiii.3.  18. 
 
 b  Dpii.  29. 
 
 19   P.I.  10. 
 
 .S.  &  -19    18. 
 t  Heb.  to  fitid 
 
 h'n  initiuity 
 
 to  hole. 
 
 •  Pa.  VI.  S. 
 d  Jei-.  4.  2-2. 
 e  Pro.  4.  10. 
 
 Mic.  2.  1. 
 
 II  Or,  vaiity. 
 /la.  M.  2. 
 
 g  \'a.  57.  10. 
 
 &  109.  -1. 
 t  H<-b.  tl,e 
 
 moontoint 
 
 Ps.  77.  19. 
 Koin.  ll.Sa. 
 J..b  7.  20, 
 P*     lt5. 9 
 1  Tim. -1.10. 
 
 *  I's.  31.  19. 
 
 t  H.-b. 
 
 01.  i 
 
 m  Pa.  65.  4. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 'J  .Ti.b  20.  17. 
 
 hev  22  1 
 ->  Pa.  16  11. 
 ;»  Jer.  2.  13. 
 
 John  4.  10, 
 
 14. 
 7  1  Pet   2.0 
 f  Hob.  <Jr„l» 
 
 r  Jer.  22-  Hi. 
 1  Pa.  7.  10. 
 
 b  94.  15.  b 
 
 97.  11. 
 
 1  ver.  7. 
 Ps.  73  S. 
 Pro.  23.  17. 
 &  24-  1,  19. 
 
 6  Pa.  90.  5,0. 
 
 t  Heb.  i;i 
 
 /rti/'i,  or, 
 
 itobiftifii. 
 r  U  58.  14 
 t  Heb.  Roll 
 
 thy  ipaif  upon 
 
 tl>^  LORD, 
 d  Pa.  65.  -2-2. 
 
 Prov.  16.  3. 
 
 Mat.  6.  -25. 
 
 I.iikc  12.2-2. 
 
 I  Pet   5.  7. 
 
 Job  11.  17. 
 
 Mic.  7.  9. 
 /Pa  62.  I. 
 t  Heb.  B« 
 
 liUiLt  to  thr 
 
 LORD. 
 i'  Is,  30.  1.1 
 
 Lam.  3.26. 
 
 8  °'  They  shall  he  f  abundantly  satisfied  with 
 the  fatness  of  thy  house  ;  and  thou  shalt  make 
 them  drink  of  "  the  river  °  of  thy  pleasures. 
 
 9  •■  For  with  thee  is  the  fountain  of  life  :  "^  in 
 thy  light  shall  we  see  light. 
 
 10  O  t continue  thy  lovingkindness  'unto 
 them  that  know  thee  ;  and  thy  righteousness 
 to  the  '  upright  in  heart. 
 
 11  Let  not  the  foot  of  pride  come  against 
 me,  and  let  not  the  hand  of  the  wicked  remove 
 me. 
 
 12  There  are  the  workers  of  iniquity  fallen: 
 they  are  cast  down, '  and  shall  not  be  able  to 
 rise. 
 
 PSALM  XXXVII. 
 
 David  persuadetk  to  patience  and  c-mfidtnce  in  God,  hy 
 the  different  estate  of  the  (jodly  and  the  wicked* 
 A  Psahn  of  David. 
 "pRET   "  not   thyself  because   of   evildoers, 
 -■-    neither  be  thou  envious  against  the  workers 
 of  iniquity. 
 
 2  For  they  shall  soon  be  cut  down  ^  like  the 
 grass,  and  wither  as  the  green  herb. 
 
 3  Trust  in  the  Lord,  and  do  good  ;  so  shalt 
 thou  dwell  in  the  land,  and  f  verily  thou  shalt 
 be  fed. 
 
 4  "^  Delight  thyself  also  in  the  Lokd  ;  and  he 
 shall  give  thee  the  desires  of  thine  heart. 
 
 5  t**  Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord  ;  trust 
 also  in  him  ;  and  he  shall  bring  it  to  pass. 
 
 6  ^  And  lie  shall  bring  forth  thy  righteous- 
 ness as  the  light,  and  thy  judgment  as  the 
 noonday. 
 
 7  '  t  ^^st  in  the   Lord,  ^  and  wait  patiently 
 
 Ps.  XXXVI.— Title  — To  the,  ^e.- this  Psalni  w.ii  written,  prnba- 
 bly,  at  the  beginning  of  Saul's  persecution.  I.  The  trmtsfjression,  §-c., 
 •  transgressiun  saith  to  the  wicked  within  my  heart,'  Targ.  ^n^^'v  6 
 napuvofiot  tow  afiapraveiv  ev  ^avTU},  ovk  etTTt  ^o/lov  Veuv,  Sic,  '  tlie 
 transgressor  said,  that  he  might  sin  in  himself,  there  is  no  fear  of  God 
 before  his  eyes,'  Sept.  yiUD,  '  transgression'  may  signify  the  apostate 
 or  devil.  '  The  devil  says  to  the  wicked  within  his  heart,  there  is  no 
 fear.'  i.  e.,  no  cause  of  fear,  '  God  is  not  before  his  cyes.'-—Horstey. 
 
 *  The  oracle  of  tra7isgre8sion  to  the  wicked 
 Is  within,  even  his  own  heart; 
 There  is  no  fear  of  God  before  his  eyes. 
 DW3.  the  word  translated  '  saith,*  is  applied  to  speeches  in  construction 
 with  some  of  the  names  of  God,  or  those  believed  to  be  gods.  It 
 occurs  only  concerning  the  word  of  men,  Num.  .\.\iv.,  where  Balaam 
 fepeaks,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  ],  and  Prov.  xx.^f.  l.and  here,  is  the  wnrd  of  men, 
 really  ur  pretendedly  under  inspiration.  The  heart  of  a  wicked  man 
 is  the  temple  of  Wickedness,  where  she  is  enthroned,  and  receives  a 
 prompt  obedience  to  her  commands.  —  Boothr.  The  oracle  of  the 
 wicked  man  is  the  corruption  of  his  own  heart,  the  true  source  of  his 
 atheism  —Wit.  The  paraphrase  of  this  may  be,  '  the  criminal  conduct 
 of  wicked  men  affirms,  that  they  have  no  fear  of  God.'  — So  Wnlf. 
 2.  For  he  flattereth,  §c  ,  '  for  he  hath  smoothed  over  {or  set  a  polish 
 to  himself  in  his  own  eyes)  with  respect  to  the  finding  out  of  his  ini- 
 quity, to  hate  it.'— Mont.  '  He  flattereth  himself  (or  dealeth  deceit- 
 fully with  himself)  as  to  the  finding  out,'  i.e.,  so  as  not  to  find  out. 
 — Merrick,  approved  by  Louth. 
 
 '  For  he  givcth  things  a  fair  appearance  to  himself. 
 In  his  own  eyes,  so  that  he  discovers  not  iniquity  to  liate  it.* 
 '  He  sets  such  a  false  gloss  in  his  own  eyes  upon  his  worst  actions,  that 
 he  never  finds  out  the  blackness  of  his  iniquity,  which,  were  it  per- 
 ceived by  him,  would  be  hateful  even  to  himself.'— Kors/cj/. 
 •  Yea,  in  his  own  eyes,  he  flattereth  himself, 
 
 Instead  of  finding  out  his  iniquity  to  detest  it.' — Boothr. 
 '  For  he  flattereth  himself  in  his  own  sight. 
 That  his  iniquity  will  not  be  found  to  be  hateful.'— IFfl//. 
 
 3.  He  hath  left  uff,  fyc.,  seems  to  point  out  one  who  had  professed  reli- 
 gion.— Gill.  5.  J.'i  in  the  heavens,  'reachelh  to  the  heavens.'  Unto 
 the  clouds,  Cpnn?  "W,  '  to  the  skies.'  C.  Like  the  great  tununtitins, 
 conspicuous  or  manifest.  A  great  deep,  to  us  unsearchable. — Btiolhr. 
 Firm  and  unmoveable. —  Wnlf.  7.  Thy  wings,  alluding  to  the  hen 
 with  her  chickens,  tir  to  the  wings  of  the  cherubim  over  the  mercy. 
 sent.— Gill.  6.  The;/  shall  he  ahundantlij  satisjied,  pT,  'they  shall 
 be  saturated,'  as  a  thirsty  field,  by  showers.  —  A.  Clarke.  Fatneas, 
 '  rich  food,'  what  is  best  in  its  kind. — Boothr.  Thy  hotise,  the  world, 
 in  which  are  good  things  provided  for  all  God's  creatures.— So  Ham., 
 Wnlf.,  Sic.  Not  the  world  only,  the  allusion  is  to  temple  sacrifices, 
 and  has  an  ultimate  reference  to  the  house  eternal  in  the  heavens. — 
 Boothr.  g.  Fountain  of  life,  D^n  "llpQ.  alluding  to  waters  flowing 
 from  a  fountain,  so  doth  life  from  God  ;  or  reading  it  *  the  vein  of  lives,* 
 alltiiling  to  mineral  veins  in  which  the  precious  metals  lie  as  life  in 
 God. — Caryl.  In  thy  U-^ht,  §c.,  '  by  thy  light  we  are  enlightened  ;'  it 
 signifies,  *  by  thy  favour  we  enjoy  prosperity.' — Dathe.  '  In  thy  diffu- 
 sive goodness  we  enjoy  happiness.'— irrt//.  When  God  speaks  light 
 into  the  dark  heart,  man  sees  his  deformity,  need  uf  salvation,  &c.— So 
 Clarke. 
 
 Ps.  XXXVII.  — TiTLK— .4  Psalm,  S(c.,  probably  written  for  Mephi- 
 bosheth's  consolation  under  Ziba's  calnmny.  —  Delaney.  A  consoling 
 ode.  intended  for  the  captives  in  Babylon. — Clarke.  The  Messiah  is,  if 
 not  exclusively,  yet  principally  the  subject  in  this  Psalm. — Hor.sley. 
 It  is  an  acrostic  Psalm. — .-I.  Clarke.  2.  As  the  green  herb,  *  as  the 
 tender  shoot.' — Vide  py.  Par.  3.  Verili/  thou  shalt  he  fed,  'feed  in 
 security.' — Horsley.  'Feed  securely.' — Boothr.,  so  Wnlf.,  who  ob- 
 serves, '  verily'  is  a  noun,  significant  of  truth,  stcdfastness,  or  security, 
 n:iDN  n^'llt  the  translation  might  he,  '  and  feed  by  faith.'  Kai  itoiiiav- 
 O'ltJt}  e-TTi  Tuj  ttXovtw  at'Trjc,  '  and  thou  shalt  feed  upon  its  riches,'  Sept. 
 i. Desires,  mbwiUO.'  '  petitions.' — A.  Clarke.  5.  Commit  thy  way,  fyc, 
 'thy  concerns.'— SooMr.  r^^rv  b^ '')^^,  'roll  thy  way,'  »ic.—Ge.senitis, 
 so  AiTis.  The  idea  may  be  taken  fiom  the  camel,  who  lies  down  till  his 
 load  be  rolled  upon  him.  He  shall  bring  it  to  pass,  niry^.  '  be  will 
 work.'- So  Clarke.  6.  Thy  judgment,  'thy  good  conduct.' — Horaley, 
 •  Thine  integrity.'— Boo/Ar.'  7.  Best  in  the  Lord,  DH.  '  be  silent,'  '  be 
 dumb.'  — Pr/g-.,  Mont.,  Pise,  Cocc,   Mich.,  Ains.,  ^c.     'Repose  on 
 
 Reflections    on    Ps.    XXXV Observe   here,    L  How 
 
 Davici*s  enemies  treated  him.  They  laid  plans  to  injure  him — 
 they  falsely  accused  him — they  even  rewarded  hira  evil  for 
 good— rejoiced  in  bis  adversity,  and  were  like  wild  beasts 
 ready  to  devour  him.  Then  let  not  good  men  be  suprised  if 
 the  same  things  sometimes  befal  them,  as  if  some  strange 
 thing  had  happened  to  them. 
 
 n.  How  David  treated  his  enemies.  When  they  were  in  dis- 
 tress he  sympathized  with  them  ;  he  carried  their  troubles  to 
 a  throne  of  grace,  when  they  neither  could  nor  perhaps  would 
 go  there  themselves;  he  acted  the  part  of  a  brother  and  a 
 tender  parent— (see  note,  ver.  14.)  Thus  may  we  leatn  not  to 
 o9G 
 
 render  evil  tor  evil,  '  but  contrariwise,  blessing,' 
 
 Rki  I.I  ciiONs  ON  Ps.  XXXVI.  —  L  How  odious  is  the  sin- 
 ner !  \V  hat  horrible  effects  sin  produces  in  his  heart,  alien- 
 ating it  irom  God  !  and  in  his  life  producing  the  most  abomi- 
 nable practices! 
 
 II.  flow  lovdy  is  God .f  We  see  here  a  contrast  of  cruelly 
 and  mercy — treachery  and  faithfulness— mischief  and  benevo- 
 lence— darkness  and  light.  The  ungodly  man  is  properly  so 
 called,  because  he  is  so  unlike  God.  How  excellent  is  His 
 loving-kindness!  What  life,  light,  and  joy  spring  up  in  the 
 soul  in  which  he  dwells  !  Lord,  may  we  hale  every  false  way, 
 and  dwell  secure  from  evil,  under  the  shadow  of  thy  wings  ' 
 
Tke  different  estate  of  the  godly 
 
 PSALMS,  XXXVIII. 
 
 and  the  wicked. 
 
 for  him  :  ""fret  not  thyself  because  of  liim  who 
 prospereth  in  his  way,  because  of  the  man  who 
 bringeth  wicked  devices  to  pass. 
 
 8  Cease  from  anger,  and  forsake  wrath  :  '  fret 
 not  tliyself  in  anywise  to  do  evil. 
 
 9  '  For  evildoers  shall  be  cut  off:  but  those 
 that  wait  upon  the  Lord,  they  shall  '  inherit 
 the  earth. 
 
 10  For  "yet  a  little  while,  and  the  wicked 
 shall  not  be  :  yea,  "  thou  shall  diligently  con- 
 sider his  place,  and  it  shall  not  be. 
 
 11  "But  the  meek  shall  inherit  the  earth; 
 and  shall  delight  themselves  in  the  abundance 
 of  peace. 
 
 12  The  wicked  ||  plotteth  against  the  just, 
 "■and  gnasheth  upon  him  with  his  teeth. 
 
 1 3  ■•  The  Lord  shall  laugh  at  him  :  for  he' 
 seeth  that  '  his  day  is  coming. 
 
 14  The  wicked  have  drawn  out  the  sword, 
 and  have  bent  their  bow,  to  cast  down  the 
 poor  and  needy,  and  to  slay  f  such  as  be  of 
 upright  conversation. 
 
 15  'Their  sword  shall  enter  into  tlieir  own 
 heart,  and  their  bows  shall  be  broken. 
 
 16  '  A  little  that  a  righteous  man  hath  is  bet- 
 ter than  tlie  riches  of  many  wicked. 
 
 17  For  "the  arms  of  the  wicked  shall  be 
 broken  :  but  the  Lord  upholdeth  the  rigliteous. 
 
 18  The  Lord  "  knoweth  the  days  of  the  up- 
 right: and  their  inheritance  shall  be  'for  ever. 
 
 19  They  shall  not  be  ashamed  in  the  evil 
 time  :  and  '  in  the  days  of  famine  they  shall  be 
 satisfied. 
 
 -20  But  the  wicked  shall  perish,  and  the  ene- 
 mies of  the  Lord  shall  be  as  f  the  fat  of  lambs : 
 they  shall  consume  ;  "  into  smoke  shall  they 
 consume  away. 
 
 21  The  wicked  borroweth,  and  payeth  not 
 again  :  but  ''  the  righteous  sheweth  mercy,  and 
 giveth. 
 
 22  '  For  such  as  be  blessed  of  him  shall  in- 
 herit the  earth  ;  and  they  that  be  cursed  of 
 him  ''shall  be  cut  off. 
 
 23  "  The  steps  of  a  ffood  man  are  I|  ordered 
 by  the  Lord  :  and  he  delightetli  in  his  way. 
 
 24  •■  Though  he  fall,  he  shall  not  be  utterly 
 cast  down  :  for  the  Lord  upholdeth  him  with 
 his  hand. 
 
 25  I  have  been  young,  and  noiv  am  old  ;  yet 
 
 i  P«.  73.  3. 
 Epli.  ■!.  26. 
 
 4  Job  27.  13, 
 
 m  Hcb    II). 
 3G,  37. 
 N  Jnb  7.  10, 
 
 II  Or,  ,mc- 
 tifth 
 p  Ps.  3:i.  IG 
 
 7  Ps.  2.  '1 
 
 r  I  Sam.  2(j. 
 10. 
 
 t  Heb.  rt* 
 
 Uj'Tiyftt  I'f 
 
 t  Pro.  15.  IC. 
 &  l(i   9. 
 1  Tim.  6.  C. 
 
 u  .Tob  3S.  15. 
 
 P«.  10    15. 
 
 Ezek    -iO. 
 
 21.  &c 
 X  Pa.   I    6. 
 if  Is.  60.  •i\. 
 
 !  Job  5   20. 
 P».  33.  19. 
 
 i/f  lamb*. 
 I  Ps.  103.  S. 
 
 d  ver.  9, 
 
 e  1  Sam.  2  9. 
 
 Pro.  16    9 
 II  Or,  ettit- 
 
 bliihed. 
 /■Ps.  34.  19, 
 ■  20.  &  40.  2. 
 
 &  91.  12. 
 
 Pro.  24.  16. 
 
 Mic.  7.  9. 
 
 2  Cor.  4.  9. 
 
 y  Job  IS.  23. 
 
 Ph.  59.13.  & 
 
 109    10. 
 A  Deut.  15. 
 
 B,  10. 
 
 Ps.  112.5,9. 
 t  Hcb.  a!l 
 
 thf  day. 
 i  Ps.  34.  14. 
 
 iB    1.  16,17. 
 4  P».  11.  7. 
 
 I  Ps.  21.  10. 
 
 Pro.  2.  22. 
 
 Is.  U.  20. 
 mPro.  2.  21. 
 
 Is.  51.  7. 
 II  Or.j.o.j,.. 
 p  Ps.  10.  3. 
 
 q  2  Pet.  2.  9. 
 
 r  Ps.  109.  31. 
 
 <  ver.  9. 
 
 Ps.  27.  14. 
 
 Pro.  20.  22. 
 /  Ps.  52.  5,  6 
 
 &9I.  8. 
 ..  Job  5.  3. 
 
 11   Or,  a  Ifrffn 
 trfe  Hint 
 grtftaeth  i'l 
 
 J  Is.  32.  17. 
 it  57.  2. 
 r  Ps.  1    4.  & 
 
 a  Ps.  3.  8. 
 4  Ps.  9.  9. 
 
 /  I  rhr.  5. 
 ■Jii.  Dau.  3. 
 17,  28.  8i  6. 
 
 »  Ps.  70, 
 title. 
 oPa.  6.  I. 
 
 b  Job  6.  4. 
 c  Pa.  32.  4. 
 
 have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his 
 seed  ^begging  bread. 
 
 26  ^  He  is  fever  merciful,  and  lendeth  ;  and 
 his  seed  is  blessed. 
 
 27  '  Depart  from  evil,  and  do  good ;  and 
 dwell  for  evermore. 
 
 28  For  the  Lord  '  loveth  judgment,  and  for- 
 saketh  not  his  saints  ;  they  are  preserved  for 
 ever :  '  but  the  seed  of  the  wicked  shall  be  cut 
 off. 
 
 29  "  The  righteous  shall  inherit  the  land,  and 
 dwell  therein  for  ever. 
 
 30  °  The  mouth  of  the  righteous  speaketh 
 wisdom,  and  his  tongue  talketh  of  judgment. 
 
 31  °  The  law  of  his  God  is  in  his  heart ;  none 
 of  his  II  steps  shall  slide. 
 
 32  The  wicked  ''watcheth  the  righteous,  and 
 seeketh  to  slay  him. 
 
 33  The  Lord  ''  will  not  leave  him  in  his  hand, 
 nor  'condemn  him  when  he  is  judged. 
 
 34  '  Wait  on  the  Lord,  and  keep  bis  way,  and 
 he  shall  exalt  tliee  to  inherit  the  land :  '  when 
 the  wicked  are  cut  off,  tliou  slialt  see  it. 
 
 35  "  I  have  seen  the  wicked  in  great  power, 
 and  spreading  hiin,self  like  ||  a  green  bay  tree. 
 
 36  Yet  be  "^passed  away,  and,  lo,  he  was 
 not :  yea,  I  sought  him,  but  he  could  not  be 
 found. 
 
 37  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the 
 upright :  for  ^  the  end  of  that  man  is  pence. 
 
 38  '  But  the  transgressors  shall  be  destroyed 
 together  :  the  end  of  the  wicked  shall  be  cut 
 off. 
 
 39  But  °  the  salvation  of  the  righteous  is  of 
 the  Lord  :  he  is  their  strength  ''in  the  time  of 
 trouble. 
 
 40  And  '  the  Lord  shall  help  them,  and  de- 
 liver them  :  he  shall  deliver  them  from  the 
 wicked,  and  save  them,  ■"  because  they  trust  in 
 him. 
 
 PSALM  XXXVIIL 
 
 David  moveth  God  to  take  compassion  of  his  pitifuk 
 
 case. 
 
 A  Psalm  of  David,  *  to  bring  to  remembrance. 
 
 /^  '  LORD,  rebuke   me   nut  in  thy   wrath  : 
 
 ^^  neither  chasten  me  in  thy  hot  di.spleasure. 
 
 2  For  ''  thine  arrows  stick  fast  in  me,  and 
 '  thy  hand  presseth  me  sore. 
 
 3  There  is  no  soundness  in  my  flesh  because 
 
 Jehovah.' — Boot  fir.  And  wait  jintienlltj  for  him,  "^  "jbinnm,  *  and  set 
 thyselt  to  expect  Him.' — A.  Clarke.  9.  Earth,  yin.  '  land,' — Boothr.; 
 of  Judea.  11.  Meek,  D'l:3?,  '  afflicted.'— .1.  Clarke.  20.  Asthefat, 
 literally,  '  as  the  precious  part  of  lambs  ;'  that  is,  their  fat.  which,  in 
 sacrifices,  was  always  consumed  in  lire  upon  the  altar. — Mant.  21.  The 
 wicked  borroweth,  is  often  reduced  to  penury. — A.  Clarke.  The  impious 
 receive  good  things  at  the  hand  of  Providence,  to  whicli  they  have  no 
 claim,  and  are  not  careful  to  make  a  due  return  of  obedience  and  devo- 
 tion.— Hordey.  23.  The  steps  of  a  good  man,  "133,  'astrongman,*  '  a 
 hero.'  Good  is  not  in  the  original.  It  means,  the  most  powerful  must 
 be  supported  by  the  Lord. — A.  Clarke.  It  can  only  refer  to  a  good  man, 
 as  appears  by  the  next  line. — Boothr.  It  refers  to  himself  as  a  man  of 
 might  and  power,  and,  therefore,  good  may  be  implied,  and  b<tth  criti- 
 cisms be  reconciled. — Ed.  25.  Nor  his  seed  hegginfr,  this  is  verified 
 in  general,  not  strictly ;  yet  the  immediate  descendants  of  the  pious 
 rarely  want  but  fiom  their  own  folly  and  vice. — So  Waif.  26.  Euer 
 merciful,  pin  CVn  bD.  '  he  is  duilr/  merciful.' — Boothr.  28.  His  saints, 
 VTCtl  DH,  '  his  merciful  ones.' — Sut.        35.  /  have  seen  the  wicked  in 
 
 great  power,  y^-c?.    It  signifies  one  formidable  and  terrible,  striking 
 terror  to  all  around. — Gill,  as  Mont.,  Vat.,  Gej.,  Mich.,  Ains. 
 *  I  have  seen  the  wicked  become  formidable. 
 And  exalting  himself  like  a  green  cedar.* — Boothr. 
 Bay,  '  cedar,'  Sept.,  Vulg.    *  A  green  tree  that  groweth  in  his  own  or 
 native  soil.' — Wit.    The  metaphor  may  denote  an  increase  of  riches 
 and  honour,  and  a  seemingly  settled  state ;  or  rather,  a  man  in  great 
 authority  and  esteem,  as  a  man  crowned  with  laurels,  and  in  a  very 
 exalted  and  triumphant  state.  —  Gill.         37.  Mark  the  perfect,  §-c., 
 '  keep  in  innocency  and  regard  uprightness  ;  for  the  perfect  man  hath 
 a  posterity,  (38.)  but  the  rebellions  sliall  be  destroyed  together;  the 
 posterity  ol  the  wicked  shall  be  cut  oflf.' — Horsley. 
 
 Ps.  X.KXVIII.— Title — A  Psalm,  ^c.,to  bring  to  remembrance,  com. 
 posed  by  David  under  some  sore  affliction,  and  when  in  great  distress 
 of  mind  by  reason  of  sin. — Gill.  To  prevail  with  God  to  remember  him  ; 
 to  enable  him  to  recal  to  mind  his  former  danger  and  misery,  and 
 God's  mercy,  while  reviewing  it;  and  that  others  might  remember 
 what  God  had  done  for  him. — Poole.        2.  Arrows,  God's  judgments  j 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XX.XVII.— L  Who  would  envy  the 
 prosperity  of  the  wicked?  Flourishing,  to  be  cut  down  ;  exalted 
 in  power,  to  be  crushed  ;  fattened,  to  be  consumed  by  the  fire 
 of  Divine  wrath  ;  now  towering  in  glory,  then  vanishing  as  a 
 cloud  ;  their  hopes  all  blasted,  and  their  names  written  in 
 dust! 
 
 II.  Who  icould  not  desire  the  ht  of  the  righteous  9  It  is  true 
 they  have  cares,  but  they  can  roll  their  burdens  on  the  Lord. 
 They  may  be  evil  spoken  of,  but  their  characters,  though 
 .597 
 
 clouded  for  a  moment,  shall  yet  shine  in  the  splendour  of  eter- 
 nal day.  They  may  be  persecuted,  but  the  weapons  of  the 
 persecutor  shall  recoil  upon  himself.  They  may  be  in  per- 
 plexity, but  God  will  be  their  guide.  Though  they  lose  for 
 a  time  the  joys  of  God's  salvation,  they  shall  be  restoreci. 
 Though  others  perish  around  tlieiu,  they  shall  be  preserveti. 
 '  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright ;  for  tlie  end 
 of  that  man  is  peace.' 
 
David's  complaint. 
 
 PSALMS,  XXXIX. 
 
 T/te  vanity  of  life. 
 
 of  thine  anger  ;  ^  neither  is  there  any  \  rest  in 
 my  bones  because  of  my  sin. 
 
 4  For  ^  mine  iniquities  are  gone  over  mine 
 bead  :  as  an  heavy  burden  they  are  too  Mieavy 
 for  me. 
 
 5  My  wounds  stink  and  are  corrupt  because 
 of  my  foolishness. 
 
 6  I  am  t  troubled ;  ^  I  am  bowed  down 
 greatly  ;  **  I  go  mourning  all  the  day  long. 
 
 7  For  my  loins  are  filled  with  a  '  loathsome 
 disease  :  and  tkere  is  ^  no  soundness  in  my 
 flesh. 
 
 8  I  am  feeble  and  sore  broken :  '  I  have 
 roared  by  reason  of  the  disquietness  of  my 
 heart. 
 
 9  Lord,  all  my  desire  is  before  thee  ;  and  my 
 groaning  is  not  hid  from  thee. 
 
 10  My  heart  panteth,  my  strength  faileth  me : 
 as  for  '"  the  light  of  mine  eyes,  it  also  f  is  gone 
 from  me. 
 
 1 1  "  My  lovers  and  my  friends  °  stand  aloof 
 from  my  fsore  ;  and  ||  my  kinsmen  ^  stand  afar 
 off. 
 
 12  They  also  that  seek  after  my  life  ''lay 
 snares /b;-  me:  and  they  that  seek  my  hurt 
 'speak  mischievous  things,  and  '  imagine  de 
 ceits  all  the  day  long. 
 
 13  But  '  I,  as  a  deaf  man,  heard  not ;  "  and  / 
 was  as  a  dumb  man  that  openeth  not  his 
 mouth. 
 
 14  Thus  I  was  as  a  man  that  heareth  not, 
 and  in  whose  mouth  are  no  reproofs. 
 
 15  For  II  in  thee,  O  Lord,  ^  do  I  hope :  thou 
 \vi!t  II  hear,  O  Lord  my  God. 
 
 16  For  I  said,  Hear  me,  "^  lest  otherwise  they 
 should  rejoice  over  me  :  when  my  ^  foot  slip- 
 peth,  they  ^magnify  themselves  against  me. 
 
 17  For  I  am  ready  j  to  halt,  and  my  sorrow  is 
 continually  before  me. 
 
 18  For  1  will  ''declare  mine  iniquity;  1  will 
 be  ^  sorry  for  my  sin. 
 
 19  But  mine  enemies  ffl?<;  lively,  and  they 
 are  strong  ;  and  they  that  '^  hate  me  wrongfully 
 are  multiplied. 
 
 '20  They  also  ^  that  render  evil  for  good  are 
 mine  adversaries;  ^because  I  follow  the  thing 
 that  good  is. 
 
 2 1   Forsake  me  not,  O  Lord  :  O  my  God,  ^  be 
 
 d  Ps.  6.  2. 
 t  Heh.  ;»rtLr, 
 
 or,  h  alth. 
 f  Ezra  9.  6. 
 
 Ps.  40.  12. 
 /Mit.  11.28. 
 
 t  Heb  irn>d. 
 (/  Ps.  35.  14. 
 
 h  Job  30   2S. 
 
 ■  Job  7.  5. 
 *  ver.  3. 
 
 /  Jub  3.  2*. 
 Ps  32.  I. 
 Is.  £9.  11. 
 
 t  Heb.  is  not 
 
 t  Ps,  31  '  11. 
 o  Luke  10. 
 
 31,  32. 
 t  Heb.  tirokf. 
 II  Or,  fny 
 
 p  I.a    23.  49. 
 7  2  Sam.  17. 
 
 1.  S,  3. 
 r  2  Sam.  16. 
 
 7,8. 
 <  Ps.  35.  20. 
 (  See  £Sam. 
 
 16.  10. 
 u  Ps.  39.  2,9. 
 
 |[  Or,  the«  do 
 
 X  2  S.iai.  16. 
 12  Ps.  39  7 
 II  Or.  o'lMirtr 
 V  Ps-  13  4, 
 I  Deu.  .S.'.35 
 a  P9.  35.  26. 
 
 f  Heb.  for 
 
 h'.lfi-ii 
 
 Ps.  35.  15. 
 b  Ps.  32.  6. 
 
 Pro    28.  13. 
 c  2  Cor.  7.  y, 
 
 ID. 
 t  Heb.  beitig 
 
 I  Pet.  3,  13. 
 J  1-8.  35.  22. 
 
 t  Heb.  ^l■ 
 
 kflp. 
 h  Pa   27    I. 
 
 &  63.  2,  6. 
 
 Is.  12.  3. 
 
 •  1  Chr.  16. 
 41.  &25.  I. 
 Ps.62,  tt  77, 
 title. 
 
 1  1  Kin.  ?.  4 
 
 2  Kin  10.31 
 t  Heb   a  bri 
 
 dl",  or.mi'i- 
 
 ilf  for  my 
 
 mo'',!!,, 
 b  Ps.  141.  3. 
 
 Jam.  3,  2. 
 c  Col.  4  5. 
 d  PB  38.  13. 
 t  Heb.  irou. 
 
 bled. 
 /•  Jer   ^0.  9. 
 /Ps.  911.   12. 
 
 '     ■    "I.  8V. 
 
 Or, 
 
 e  /  Auo* 
 
 y  Ps.  iso.  4. 
 A  ver.  It. 
 
 Ps.  62.  9.  a< 
 
 144,  4. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 teilUd. 
 t  Heb.  an 
 
 i  1  Cor.  7.31 
 Jam.  4.  II. 
 
 4  Job  27.  17. 
 EccleaS.IS, 
 21.  2b.  &  5. 
 
 14.  Luke  12. 
 
 20,  21. 
 
 /  Ps.  38.  15. 
 m  Ps.  «.  13. 
 
 &  79.  4. 
 «  Lev.  10.  3. 
 
 Job  41).  4,  5. 
 
 Ps.  38.  13. 
 
 0  2  Sam.  16. 
 
 10.  Job  2. 
 10 
 
 P  Job  9.  34.. 
 &  l.S.  21. 
 (  Heb.  con- 
 Mi- 
 
 t  Heb.  Ibat 
 which  is  to 
 br  dtiired  in 
 him  to  mcll 
 
 7  Job  4.  19. 
 
 &  13.  2d    Is. 
 
 50.  9.  Hos. 
 
 5.  12. 
 r  ver,  5. 
 
 1  Lev.  S5,23. 
 1  Chr.  19. 
 
 15.  Ps.   119. 
 19.  2  Cor. 
 5.  6.  Heb. 
 n.l3.  1  Pet. 
 I.  17-  &  2. 
 II. 
 
 (  Gen.  47  9 
 u  Job  10  20, 
 
 21.  &  11.  5, 
 6. 
 
 X  Job  14.  10, 
 
 11,  12. 
 
 not  far  from  me. 
 
 2*2  Make  haste  |  to  help  me,  O  Lord  ^  my 
 salvation. 
 
 PSALM  XXXIX. 
 
 1  David's  care  of  his  thoughts.      4  The  consideration 
 
 of  the  hrevity  and  vanity  of  life,  7  the  reverence  of 
 
 God*s  judyments,  10  and  jjrayer,  are  his  bridlts  of 
 impaticncy. 
 
 To  the  chief  IMusit-ian,  even  to  *  Juduthuu,  A  Psalm  of 
 
 David. 
 T  SAID,  I  will  ■  take  heed  to  my  ways,  that 
 -*-   I  sin  not  with  my  tongue  :  I  will  keep  t**  my 
 mouth  with  a  bridle,  ^  while  the  wicked  is  be- 
 fore me. 
 
 2  *■  I  was  dumb  with  silence,  I  held  my  peace, 
 even  from  good  ;  and  my  sorrow  was  f  stirred. 
 
 3  My  heart  was  hot  within  me,  while  I  was 
 musing  ^  the  fire  burned:  then  spake  1  witli 
 my  tongue, 
 
 4  Lord,  ^  make  me  to  know  mine  end,  and 
 the  measure  of  my  days,  what  it  is;  that  I 
 may  know  ||  how  frail  I  am, 
 
 5  Behold,  thou  hast  made  my  days  as  an 
 handbreadth  ;  and  ^  mine  age  is  as  nothing 
 before  thee:  ^verily  every  man  fat  his  best 
 state  is  altogether  vanity.     Selah. 
 
 6  Surely  every  man  walketh  in  f'^  vain 
 shew  :  surely  they  are  disquieted  in  vain:  ''  he 
 heapeth  up  riches,  and  knoweth  not  who  shall 
 gather  them. 
 
 7  And  now,  Lord,  what  wait  I  for?  '  my  hope 
 1*5  in  thee. 
 
 8  Deliver  me  from  all  my  transgres.sions : 
 make  me  not  "'  the  reproacli  of  the  foolish. 
 
 9  "  I  was  dumb,  I  opened  not  my  mouth  ; 
 because  "  thou  didst  it. 
 
 10  ''Remove  thy  stroke  away  from  me:  I 
 am  consumed  by  the  fblow  of  thine  hand. 
 
 1 1  When  thou  with  rebukes  dost  correct  man 
 for  iniquity,  thou  makest  fhis  beauty  ''  to  con- 
 sume away  like  a  moth  :  'surely  every  man  is 
 vanity.     Selah. 
 
 12  Hear  my  prayer,  O  Lord,  and  give  ear 
 unto  my  cry;  hold  not  thy  peace  at  my  tears  : 
 *  for  I  am  a  stranger  with  thee,  and  a.  sojourner, 
 '  as  all  my  fathers  were. 
 
 13  "  O  spare  me,  that  I  may  recover  strength, 
 before  I  go  hence,  and  ^  be  no  more. 
 
 the  internal  pang^s  which  pierce  the  soul. — Bp.  Home.  4.  Gone  over 
 mine  head,  like  an  inundation  of  waters,  as  the  waves  and  billows  of  the 
 sea.  The  simile  may  denote  both  the  number  and  weight  of  sins. 
 5.  Ml/  tcouniis  stink— R  comparison  of  his  wretched  condition  with  that 
 of  the  leper  infected  with  a  loathsome  disease,  and  from  contact  with 
 which  all  n\cn  fled. — So  Dathe.  The  expression  is  figurative,  and  sig- 
 nificant rather  of  the  diseased  state  of  his  mind  than  of  his  body ;  yet 
 intense  Bn^ui>h  doubtless  afl'ected  his  health.— So  Waif.  Foolishness, 
 all  sins  arise  from  foolishness. — Gill.  6.  /  am  troubled, '  I  writhe 
 with  pain.' — Manf,  vide  niy,  v. — Par.  J.  A  loathsome  disease,  '  a 
 burning  ulcer.' — Gill.     Tiip^,  *  aborning  fever,*  or  'burning  heat.* — 
 
 Boothr. 
 
 II.  Kinsmen, '>2.'y\),  'neighbours.'— -4.  CVa/A'f. 
 
 But 
 
 mine  enemies  are  lively,  *  flourishmg  in  splendour  and  power.' — Hut. 
 *  Still  mine  enemies  live.'— Boo/Ar. 
 
 Ps.  XXX I.\. —  TiTi-^—Jedutfiun,  supposed  to  be  the  same  with  Ethan, 
 fi  Chron.  vi.  44, compared  with  1  thron.  xvi.4I.)  The  occasion  the 
 same  as  the  last ;  probably  after  David's  transgression  with  Bathsheba. 
 —Clarke.  Perhaps  when  David  fled  from  Absalom,  and  was  cursed  by 
 S\\\mG\.—Theodoret.  After  the  death  of  Absalom,  when  Joab  re- 
 proached him  fur  his  grief.— //ew,  1.  A  bridle,  '  a  muzzle.*— iU«n«. 
 3.  Was  hot,  a  natural  feeling  of  repressed   grief.— ..4.  Clarke.         5.  A 
 
 handbreadth,  the  smallest  of  the  three  measures  of  stature,  the  span 
 and  the  cubit  being  also  in  use.  —  Sut.  A  handbreadth  is  the 
 transverse  measure  of  a  man's  four  fingers  laid  flat,  which  is  only 
 one-third  of  a  span.  Vanity  b^n,  'a  vapour.'  —  Mant,  Par.  The 
 sense  is — 
 
 'Also,  every  thing  is  vanity, 
 
 Every  man  swoln  (as  he  may  be  with  pride.)' — Horsley. 
 6.  In  a  vain  shew,  dV^S.  '  in  a  sliadow,'  '  like  a  shadow.' — Musculus, 
 
 '  Man  surely  pursueth  a  shadow.' — Boothr. 
 A  phantasm  seeming  to  be  something  real  and  substantial,  but  not  de- 
 serving that  character. — Par.  Human  life  is  a  semblance  of  solidity, 
 but  no  reality. — So  Wa/f.  g.  I  was  dumb,  fyc,  '  I  am  dumb,'  or 
 '  will  be  dumb,  and  will  not  open  my  mouth.^— Pag.,  Mont.,  Pise.,  Gej., 
 Aijis.  11.  Like  amoth, or  '  moth  worm,*  which  perishes  with  the  touch. 
 —  Wil.  The  body  is  as  a  garment  to  the  soul ;  in  this  garment  sin  hath 
 lodged  a  moth,  which,  by  degrees,  fretteth  away  first  the  beauty,  then 
 the  strength,  and,  finally,  the  contexture  of  its  parts.  —  Bp.  Hume. 
 '  Then  thou  destroyest  his  goodliness,  as  a  moth  destroyeth  a  garment.* 
 The  design  is  to  state,  not  that  the  moth  is  consumed,  but  that  it  is  a 
 consumer,  or  spoiler,  of  garments. —  Waif. 
 
 Reflections  ox  Ps.  XXX VIII.  —  Observe  here,  L  The 
 cause  of  David's  sujferings.  Sin  was  at  the  bottom  of  all. 
 What  miseries  it  of'ten  entails  upon  the  body,  now  slighted 
 and  despised  by  fellow  creatures!  and  what  agonies  does  it 
 inflict  upon  the  scull  Think  what  is  comprehended  in  hav- 
 ing God's  arrows  sticking  fast  in  the  conscience,  and  God's 
 hand  pressing  upon  us!  and  then  '  stand  in  awe,  and  sin  not.' 
 
 IT.  The  source  of  David's  relief.  '  In  thee,  O  Lord,  do  1 
 598 
 
 hope,'  says  the  Psalmist ;  but  mark  !  he  adds,  *  I  will  declare 
 mine  iniquity  ;  I  will  be  sorry  for  my  sin.'  So  let  us  confess 
 and  forsake  our  sins,  and  we  shall  find  mercy. 
 
 Hfflections  on  Ps.  XXXIX.  —  I.  In  our  afflietions  we 
 should  watch  our  tongues.  Not  a  word  should  be  uttered  against 
 the  justice  and  mercy  of  God,  who  is  righteous  in  all  liis 
 works,  and  merciful  even  under  his  frowns.  Such  language 
 would  be  insulting  to  God,  and  injure  his  cause  in  the  eyes  of 
 
Obedience  the  best  sacrifice. 
 
 PSALMS,  XL..  XLL 
 
 GocVs  care  of  the  poor. 
 
 PSALM  XL. 
 
 1  The  benefit  of  confidence  in  God.  6  Obedience  is 
 the  best  sucri^jice.  11  The  sense  of  David's  evds  in- 
 fiameth  his  prayer. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  A  Psahii  of  David. 
 T  t^  WAITED  patiently  for  the  Lord  ;  and 
 ^   he  inclined  unto  me,  and  heard  my  cry. 
 
 2  He  brought  me  up  also  out  of  fan  horrible 
 pit,  out  of  ^  the  miry  clay,  and  "  set  my  feet 
 upon  a  roek»  and  ^  established  my  goings. 
 
 3  ^  And  he  hath  put  a  new  song  in  my  mouth, 
 even  praise  unto  our  God:  *"many  shall  see  it, 
 and  fear,  and  shall  trust  in  the  Lord. 
 
 4  ^  Blessed  is  that  man  that  niaketh  the  Lord 
 his  trust,  and  ^  respecteth  not  the  proud,  nor 
 such  as  *  turn  aside  to  lies. 
 
 5  ''  Many,  O  Lord  my  God,  are  thy  wonder- 
 ful works  which  thou  hast  done,  '  and  thy 
 thoughts  which  are  to  us-ward  :  ||  they  cannot 
 he  reckoned  up  in  order  unto  thee  :  if  I  would 
 declare  and  speak  of  the m,  they  are  more  than 
 can  he  numbered. 
 
 6  "'Sacrifice  and  offering  thou  didst  not  de- 
 sire ;  mine  ears  hast  thou  f  opened  :  burnt 
 offering  and  sin  offering  hast  thou  not  re- 
 quired. 
 
 7  Then  said  I,  Lo,  I  come  :  in  the  volume 
 of  the  book  it  is  °  written  of  me, 
 
 8  "^  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God  :  yea, 
 thy  law  15  t  ^  within  my  heart. 
 
 9  '^  I  have  preached  righteousness  in  the 
 great  congregation  :  lo,  ^  1  have  not  refrained 
 my  lips,  O  Lord,  ^  thou  knowest. 
 
 10  '  I  have  not  hid  thy  righteousness  within 
 my  heart ;  I  have  declared  thy  faithfulness  and 
 thy  salvation  :  I  have  not  concealed  thy  loving- 
 kindness  and  thy  truth  from  the  great  congre- 
 gation. 
 
 11  Withhold  not  thou  thy  tender  mercies 
 from  me,  O  Lord  :  "  let  thy  lovingkindness 
 and  thy  truth  continually  preserve  me. 
 
 t  Heb.  in 
 
 mailing   I 
 
 wailed. 
 a  Pg.  27.  14. 
 
 &37.  7. 
 t  Heb.  a  pit 
 
 o/>,oiie. 
 6  Ps.  69  2,14. 
 
 Ps.  27.  5. 
 d  Ps.  S7.  23. 
 
 Ps.  as.  3. 
 
 /Ps.  51.  6. 
 S  Ps.  34.  8. 
 Jer.  17.  7. 
 h  Ps.  101  3.7. 
 
 I  Pa.  I?5.  5. 
 A  Ex.  11.15. 
 
 Job  5.9-Sc9, 
 10, Ph. 71  !5. 
 &  92    5.  fc 
 139.  6,  17. 
 /  Is.  55.  S. 
 
 II  Or,  nn-ia 
 cn'.  order 
 thfrn  unto 
 ihte. 
 
 m  I  Sam.  15 
 
 22.  Ps.  50.8. 
 
 &  51.  16. 
 
 Is.  I.  11.  & 
 
 66.  3.  Hos. 
 
 6  6,  Mat.  9. 
 
 13.  &  12.  7. 
 
 Heb.  10.  5. 
 tHeb. 
 
 d'9$< 
 
 ■d. 
 
 Ex.  21 
 
 n  Lu.  24.  4-*. 
 0  Ps.  119.16, 
 
 24,  47,  99- 
 
 Johu  4  34. 
 
 Rom.  7.  22 
 t  Heb.  m  Ihi 
 
 niidil  of  my 
 
 bou-eU. 
 p  Ps-  37.  SI. 
 
 Jer.  31.  33. 
 
 2  Cor.  3.  R. 
 q  Ps.  22    29, 
 
 25. &  35.  18 
 r  P«.  119.  13. 
 i  Pa.  139-  2. 
 /  Acts  20.20, 
 
 27. 
 
 -iPs.  4.1.5.  & 
 57.  3,  &  61. 
 
 t,  Pa.  73.  2C. 
 "tHeb-/.r- 
 
 siikrlh. 
 z  Pa.  70.  I, 
 
 &c. 
 a  Pa.  35.  4. 
 
 26.  &  70.  2, 
 
 3.  &  71.  13. 
 
 r  Ps.  70    5. 
 ff  1  Pet.  5.  7. 
 
 a  Pro.  14.  BI. 
 
 II  Or,  Ihe 
 
 t  Heb.  in  thf 
 d^,^  of  evil. 
 
 h  Ps.  27.  12. 
 II  Or,  do  Hol 
 thou  del.ver. 
 
 C  2  Chr.  30, 
 211,  Ps  6  2 
 &  117,  3. 
 
 12  For  innumerable  evils  have  compassed  me 
 about:  ^ mine  iniquities  have  taken  hold  upon 
 me,  so  that  I  am  not  able  to  look  up  ;  they 
 are  more  than  the  hairs  of  mine  head  :  there- 
 fore ^  my  heart  ffaileth  me. 
 
 13  '  Be  pleased,  O  Lord,  to  deliver  me:  O 
 Lord,  make  haste  to  help  me. 
 
 14  ''Let  them  be  a.shamed  and  confounded 
 together  that  seek  after  my  soul  to  destroy  it ; 
 let  them  be  driven  backward  and  put  to  shame 
 that  wish  me  evil. 
 
 lo  ^  Let  them  be  ''desolate  for  a  reward  of 
 their  shame  that  say  unto  me»  Aha,  aha. 
 
 16  ^  Let  all  those  that  seek  thee  rejoice  and 
 be  glad  in  thee  :  let  such  as  love  thy  salvation 
 '^  say  continually.  The  Lord  be  magnified. 
 
 17  '^But  I  am  poor  and  needy;  t/et  ^  the 
 Lord  thinketh  upon  me  :  thou  art  my  help 
 and  my  deliverer ;  make  no  tarrying,  0  my 
 God. 
 
 PSALM  XLL 
 
 1   God's  care  of  the  poor.     4  David  complaineth  of  his 
 enemies'  treachery.      10  He  Jieefh  to  God  for  succour. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  A  Psalm  of  David. 
 "DLESSED   "is   he   that  considereth    ||  the 
 -^  poor  :  the  Lord  will  deliver  him  tin  time 
 of  trouble. 
 
 2  The  Lord  will  preserve  him,  and  keep  him 
 alive  ;  07id  he  shall  be  blessed  upon  the  earth  : 
 ''and  II  thou  wilt  not  deliver  him  unto  the  will 
 of  his  enemies. 
 
 3  The  Lord  will  strengthen  him  upon  the 
 bed  of  languishing:  thou  wilt  f  make  all  his 
 bed  in  his  sickness. 
 
 4  I  said.  Lord,  be  merciful  unto  me  :  '^  heal 
 my  soul  ;  for  I  have  sinned  against  thee. 
 
 5  Mine  enemies  speak  evil  of  me.  When  shall 
 he  die,  and  his  name  perish? 
 
 6  And  if  he  come  to  see  me,  he  ^  speaketh 
 vanity:  his  heart  gathereth  iniquity  to  itself; 
 ivhen  he  goeth  abroad,  he  telleth  it. 
 
 Ps.  XL. —Title— To  the  chief,  §■<?.— the  subject  of  this  Psalm  is 
 the  same  with  the  two  preceding. — Kimchi.  Messiah  risen  from  the 
 dead,  returns  thanks  for  the  accomplishment  of  his  work,  and  prays 
 for  its  final  effect. — Horsley.  David  describes  his  own  experience  of 
 God*s  mercy,  and  prophesies  of  Christ,  &c. — So  Boothr.  1.  I  waited 
 patiently,  ^Tlp  mp,  'waiting  I  waited.*  —  Pag.,  Mont.,  Vat.,  Gej., 
 Mich.,  Ains.,  ffc.  It  denotes  continuance,  constancy,  and  patience. — 
 Gill.  2.  Horrible  pit — the  imagery  seems  to  be  taken  from  one  of 
 the  horrible  dungeons  of  the  Asiatic  tyrants,  (Jer.  xxxviii.  6 — 12.)  — 
 ^'d.  pWTt?  nno,  '  noisy  pit.' — Pag.,  Mont.  The  allusion  is  to  snbter- 
 raneous  caverns  or  pits,  in  which  the  falls  of  water  make  so  horrible  a 
 noise  as  to  be  intolerable;  or  to  deep  pits,  into  which  anything  cast 
 makes  a  great  sound, — Gilt ;  and  from  which  there  was  no  emerging, 
 — Mant ;  i.e.,  God  delivered  him  when  he  was  fallen  into  such  deep 
 distress  that  he  could  not  help  himself. — Pat.  6.  Mi7ie  ears  hast 
 thou  opened — this  and  the  two  fnUowing  verses  contain  a  remarkable 
 prophecy  of  the  incarnation  and  sacrificial  offering  of  Jesus  Christ. 
 'b  n'lD  D':tm,  'my  ears  hast  thou  bored,*  (see  Exod.  xxi.  6  ;)  'thou 
 hast  made  me  thy  ser\'ant  for  ever.' — So  Clarke.  *  A  body  hast  thou 
 prepared  for  me.*  A  slight  change  of  letters  makes  this  reading.  It 
 is  tliat  of  the  Septuagint  and  of  Heb.  x.  5.  It  is  another  word  which  is 
 used  [r3">]  Exod.  xxi.  6,  to  which  this  is  thought  to  allude,  to  express 
 the  boring  of  the  ear. — So  Boothr.  ".  In  the  volume  of  t/ie  book, 
 1DD  n'j^TDl. '  in  the  roll  of  the  book.'  The  ancient  Jewish  books  were 
 long  scrolls  of  parchment,  rolled  upon  two  sticks,  with  the  writing  dis- 
 
 tinguished into  columns.— Par.  The  book,  including:  the  law,  pro- 
 phets, and  Psalms,  (Luke,  xxiv.  25,  SiC.)  —  M orison.  Those  passages 
 relating  to  sacrifices. — Dulhe.  The  book  of  the  Divine  decrees,  (see 
 Rev.  V.  1.) — Waif.  12.  Mine  iniquities  have  tnken,  ^c,  the  evils 
 which  they  have  brought  upon  him.— Bishop  Hnll.  To  understand 
 this  of  Christ,  it  must  be  interpreted  of  imputed  sius,  or  punishments 
 for  them. — Merrick.  '  My  calamities.' — Waif.  14.  Let  them,  SfC, 
 'they  shall  be  ashamed.'  &c.;  not  imprecatory,  but  predictive.— So 
 Boothr.,  Bp.  Home,  Horsley. 
 
 Ps.  XLI.  —  TiTLB— To  the  chief,  ^c— probably  composed  under  per- 
 sonal afiiiction  .—Boo//ir.  It  is  generally  agreed  that  David  wrote  this 
 Psalm  during  Absalom's  rebellion.— Sco/^  so  Delnnep.  The  whole 
 Psalm  treats  of  the  humiliation  and  exaltation  of  Christ.— Gi7/.  The 
 prophet  is  speaking  in  the  person  of  Messiah. — Bp.  Home.  It  is  a 
 prayer  of  the  Messiah  in  his  humiliation. — Horsley.  Our  Lord  accom- 
 modates ver.  9  tn  the  treachery  of  Judas,  (John,  xiii.  18,)  but  the 
 Psalm  has  no  other  reference  to  Christ. — A.  Clarke.  I.  The  poor, 
 rather,  him  that  is  reduced  to  poverty.  The  Heb.  '"ji  is  literally,  '  one 
 exhausted  of  all  he  had,  and  so  made  poor,'  (comp.  Phil.  ii.  7.)— Hors- 
 ley. '  The  afflicted.'  The  word  is  applicable  to  debility  of  health  ;  the 
 context  shews  it  to  have  this  meaning  here.— So  Waff.  3.  Make  alt 
 his  bed,  'turn  all  his  couch,'  he  his  kind  nm^e.— Boothr.  nSDH,  thou 
 hast  'turned  up,'  'tossed,'  and  'shaken  it;'  thou  wilt  not  leave  one 
 uneasy   place. — A.  Clarke.  4.  Heal   r/it/  soul,  forgive  my  sins  and 
 
 restore  me  to  health. —  Wells.         6.  Ayid  if  he  come,  ^-c. — 
 
 the  world.  Nor,  indeed,  can  a  good  man  indulge  in  it  for  a 
 moment.  His  language  rather  is,  '  Why  should  a  living  man 
 complain,  a  man  for  the  punishment  of  his  sins  V 
 
 II.  In  our  afflictions  we  should  think  of  the  vanity  of  all  things 
 here  below.  Our  afflictions  are  intended  to  produce  this  im- 
 pression upon  us  ;  and  if  they  teach  us  to  look  upwards  instead 
 of  minding  the  dust  at  our  feet,  they  answer  the  intended  end, 
 and  shall  ultimately  terminate  in  everlasting  praise. 
 
 III.  In  our  afflictions,  our  yreat  concern  should  be  to  obtain  a 
 sense  of  the  Divine  furyiveness.  O.  to  have  a  sense  of  pardoned 
 sin !     This  is  to  take  away  the  sting  from  every  affliction. 
 
 *  If  sin  he  pardoned,  I'm  secure  ; 
 Death  hath  no  sting  beside.* 
 Then,  good  Lord,  ere  the  hour  of  final  calamity,  'deliver  me 
 from  all  my  transgressions.' 
 
 Rfflections   on  Ps.   XL.  —  In  this  psalm  we  may  see, 
 599 
 
 I.  A  great  deliverance.  In  the  case  of  David,  we  behold  one 
 in  the  deepest  distress.  Let  those  who  are  afflicted,  in  body 
 or  soul,  imitate  David's  example  — wait  patiently  for  the 
 Lord,  and  look  to  him  for  deliverance.  He  can  turn  groans 
 into  praises,  and  put  a  new  song  into  the  mouth. 
 
 II.  A  great  Deliverer,  One  who,  '  though  he  was  rich,  yet 
 for  our  sakes  became  poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty  might 
 be  made  rich  ;'  who,  because  the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats — 
 though  myriads  had  bled  upon  the  Jewish  altars— could  never 
 take  awaysin.  Moved  us,  and  gave  himself  for  us.'  Redeemed 
 souls,  let  the  chords  of  your  hearts  never  cease  to  vibrate  to 
 his  praise. 
 
 *  O,  for  this  love  let  rocks  and  hills 
 
 Their  lasting  silence  br*  ak  ; 
 And  all  harmonious  human  tongues 
 
 The  Saviour's  praises  speak  1' 
 
David's  treacherous  friends . 
 
 PSALMS,  XLII.,  XLIII. 
 
 His  trust  in  God. 
 
 7  All  that  hate  me  whisper  together  against 
 me  :  against  me  do  they  devise  fmy  hurt. 
 
 8  t  An  evil  disease,  say  they,  cleave th  fast 
 unto  him  :  and  now  that  he  lieth  he  shall  rise 
 up  no  more. 
 
 9  °  Yea,  t  mine  own  familiar  friend,  in  whom 
 I  trusted,  'which  did  eat  of  my  bread,  hath 
 ■[lifted  up  his  heel  against  me. 
 
 10  But  thou,  O  Lord,  be  merciful  unto  me, 
 and  raise  me  up,  that  I  may  requite  them. 
 
 1 1  By  this  I  know  that  thou  favourest  me, 
 because  mine  enemy  doth  not  triumph  over 
 mo. 
 
 12  And  as  for  me,  thou  upholdest  me  in  mine 
 integrity,  and  ^settest  me  before  thy  face  for 
 ever. 
 
 13  "  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  from 
 everlasting,  and  to  everlasting.  Amen,  and 
 Amen. 
 
 PSALM  XLIL 
 
 1   David's  zeal  to  serve  Gott  in  the  temple.      5  He  en- 
 
 courageth  las  soul  to  trust  in  God. 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  ||  Maschil,  for  the  sons  of  Korah. 
 A  S  the  hart  fpanteth  after  the  water  brooks, 
 -^*-  so  panteth  my  soul  after  tliee,  O  God. 
 
 2  °  My  soul  thirsteth  for  God,  for  ^  the  living 
 God  :  when  shall  I  come  and  appear  before 
 God? 
 
 3  '  My  tears  have  been  my  meat  day  and 
 night,  while  ''  they  continually  say  unto  me, 
 Where  is  thy  God  ? 
 
 4  When  I  remember  these  things,  °  I  pour 
 out  my  soul  in  me  :  for  I  had  gone  with  the 
 multitude,  '  I  went  with  them  to  the  house  of 
 God,  with  the  voice  of  joy  and  praise,  with  a 
 
 t  Htb.  ^ 
 thing, >f  Be- 
 lint. 
 
 t2Sa.  15  12. 
 
 Job  19.  19. 
 
 Pa.  55.  12. 
 
 IS,  20.  Jer. 
 
 20.  10. 
 t  Heb.  M« 
 
 man  of  my 
 
 f  Obad-  7. 
 
 John  13   19, 
 (Heb. 
 
 magnijkd. 
 
 a  .Tob  36.  7. 
 Ps.  3i.  15. 
 
 1023. 
 
 [I  Or,  A 
 Psalm  ftiv- 
 ing  inslruc 
 lion  of  the 
 
 iO„M,  *o. 
 
 See  I  Cbr. 
 
 6.  33,  37.  & 
 S3.  5. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 br'tyrlK 
 aPs'63.  l.fc. 
 &1.  2.  Jolm 
 
 7.  37. 
 
 b  lThcs.1.9. 
 c  Ps.  80.  6.  & 
 
 102   9. 
 d  vcr.  10. 
 
 Ps  79.10.  & 
 
 Mb.  2, 
 e  .lob  30.  16. 
 
 Pi.  02.  8. 
 / 1..  30.  89. 
 
 J  ver.  11.  & 
 Ps.  43.  5. 
 t  Heb.  boieed 
 
 A  I.ani.  3.94 
 II  Or,  j.ot 
 
 thaokt. 
 11  Or,  bit  pre. 
 
 Knee  is  *i/- 
 
 II  Or.  0,«  Ut- 
 ile fitU, 
 Ps    133.  3. 
 
 i  Jer.  4.  20. 
 Ezek.  7.26. 
 
 fc  Hs.  89.  7. 
 Jonab  2.  3. 
 
 /  Lev.o.i.  21. 
 Deu.  2fl.  3. 
 Ps    133.  3, 
 
 n.  Job  35. 10- 
 Ps  32.  7.  b 
 63.  6.  8c  149. 
 
 t  Ps.  38.  6. 
 &  43.  2. 
 
 I  Or,  kiUiiig. 
 
 y  vet.  3. 
 Joel  2.  17. 
 Mic.  7.  10- 
 
 1023 
 a  Ps    2ii-  1. 
 
 &  -35   24- 
 b  Ps.  35.  1. 
 II  Or,  ii.im^- 
 
 ciM. 
 I  Heb    froo, 
 
 a  nn,„  ofde- 
 
 multitude  that  kept  holyday. 
 
 5  *  Why  art  thou  feast  down,  O  my  soul? 
 and  why  art  thou  disquieted  in  me  ?  i*  hope 
 thou  in  God  :  for  I  shall  yet  ||  praise  him  ||/or 
 the  help  of  his  countenance. 
 
 6  O  my  God,  my  soul  is  cast  down  within 
 me  :  therefore  will  I  remember  thee  from  the 
 land  of  Jordan,  and  of  the  Hermouites,  from 
 II  the  hill  Mizar. 
 
 7  '  Deep  calleth  unto  deep  at  the  noise  of 
 thy  waterspouts:  ''all  thy  waves  and  thy  bil- 
 lows are  gone  over  me. 
 
 8  Yet  the  Lord  will  '  command  his  loving- 
 kindness  in  the  daytime,  and  "'in  the  night 
 his  song  shall  be  with  me,  and  my  prayer  unto 
 the  God  of  my  life. 
 
 9  I  will  say  unto  God  my  rock.  Why  hast 
 thou  forgotten  me?  "why  go  I  mourning  be- 
 cause of  the  oppression  of  the  enemy  ? 
 
 10  As  with  a  ||  sword  in  my  bones,  mine 
 enemies  reproach  me  ;  °  while  they  say  daily 
 unto  me.  Where  (s  thy  God  ? 
 
 11  ■' Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul? 
 and  why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me?  hope 
 thou  in  God  :  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him,  who 
 is  the  health  of  my  countenance,  and  my  God. 
 
 PSALM  XLIIL 
 
 1  David,  praying  tn  be  restored  to  the  temjile,  promtseth 
 to  stTve  God  joyfully.  6  lie  encourageth  his  soul  to 
 trust  in  God, 
 
 "  JUDGE  me,  O  God,  and  *'plead  my  cause 
 *^    against  an    ||  unpcodly  nation  :   O  deliver 
 
 me  ffroni  the  deceitful  and  imjiist  man. 
 2   For  thou  art  the  God  of  "  my  strength  : 
 
 *  If  one  of  them  como  to  see  me,  he  telleth  lies ; 
 His  heart  frathereth  up  falsehood  nffuinst  me. 
 
 And  when  he  goeth  fortli  be  immediately  spreadeth  it.' — Green. 
 
 To  the  same  purport,  Boothr. ;  that  is,  his  very  compliments  of  condo- 
 lence are  falsehoods  and  lies. — Green.  8.  An  evil  disease,  ^c,  121 
 ''y'53,  'a  thing  of  Belial,*  'some  cursed  thing.' — Horsier/.  Tlic  term 
 seems  to  imply  moral  evil,  and  is  analog'ous  to  that  of  blasphemy, 
 (Matt.  x.xvi.  65.) — Wil.  '  He  hasa  diabolical  malady.* — A.Clarke.  The 
 punishment  of  some  great  crime,  so  that  he  shall  not  escape. — Rosenm. 
 9.  Fiimiliar friend,  ^Dl^Tl?  ^*?*.  the  man  of  my  peace,  who  said,  *  peace 
 be  to  thee,'  kissed  me. — A.  Clarke.  Most  think  David  intended  Ahi- 
 thophel,  (2  Sam.  xv.  12.)  Our  Lord  applies  this  verse  to  himself, 
 .'John,  xiii.  is.) — Bonthr.  Lifted  up  his  heel,  like  the  pampered  horse 
 that  kicks  the  nia.stcr  who  feeds  him.  'Hath  shewn  great  treachery 
 towards  me.' — Mud^e,  Green.  iO.  lipquite  thrm,  as  my  office  and 
 their  wickedness  require.— Prt^  I3.  Bies-ied,  §c. — the  Jews  divided 
 the  Psalms  into  five  books  ;  this  ends  the  first  division.  This  verse  is 
 thought  to  have  been  added  to  the  Psalm  when  the  collection  was 
 made. — So  Boothr.,  §-c. 
 
 Ps.  XLII.  —  TiTLK — il/asc/ii7— see  note  on  Ps.  xxxii.  For  the  suns 
 of  Korah,  all  Korah's  posterity  were  not  cut  off,  (see  Num.  xvi.  and 
 xxvi.  1 1  ;)  some  were,  in  David's  time,  porters,  or  keepers  of  the  gates 
 of  the  tabernacle,  and  some  were  singers,  (see  1  Chrnn.  vi.  33;  ix.  19 ; 
 2  Chron.  xx.  19  ;)  and  to  the  chief  musician  was  this  Psalm  directed  for 
 them  to  sing. — Gill.  It  was,  probably,  composed  by  David,  when 
 driven  by  Absalom  from  Jerusalem. — Wells.         l.  As  the  hurt  panteth, 
 
 ^c.,  any— 
 
 •  As  the  hart  crieth  after  the  flowing  streams.'— //ori/i?^. 
 
 When  a  hart  is  spent,  and  sore  run,  his  last  refuge  is  to  the  water. — 
 Tuberville.  2.  Appear  before  God,  'behold  the  face  of  God,'  a 
 Hebraism  for  being  present  at  the  worship  of  God.— Waif.  3.  My 
 meat,  that  is,  he  could  not  eat  for  sorrow,  like  Hannah,  (I  Sam.  i.  7,  8  ;) 
 or,  whilst  eating,  tears  fell  in  plenty,  mixing  with  his  food,  (see  Ps. 
 
 Ixxx.  5.)  4.  Kept  holyday.  especially  on  the  three  great  festivals  of 
 Passover,  Pentecost,  and  Tabernacles.  5.  Help  of  his  countenance, 
 a  Hebrew  expression  denoting  tlie  aid  derived  from  God's  favour. — 
 Waif.  6.  From  the  land  of  Jordan,  rather  '  beyond  it,'  the  furthest 
 parts,  whither  David  fled.  Hcrmonites,  who  inhabited  the  mountain 
 of  Hermon,  on  the  border  of  the  land  of  Israel  eastward. — Gill.  From 
 the  hill  Mizar,  ly^Q  ino,  or  'the  little  hill.'— P«^.,  Mont..  %c.  It 
 might  be  the  name  of  sume  hill  beyond  Jordan.— .■IrcArf.  Randolph. 
 The  little  hill  on  which  Zoar  was  built.— Sw«.,  so  Kimchi.  Probably 
 means  Sion,  little  in  comparison  of  the  Hermans.  'I  will  remember 
 thee  concerning  the  land  of  Jordan  and  the  Hermons,  and  concerning 
 the  little  hill ;'  that  is,  to  raise  my  dejected  spirits,  I  will  recollect  the 
 comforts  of  thy  presence  in  the  land  of  Jordan  and  the  Hermons,  and 
 on  the  little  hill  of  Zion.  D':i*3"in,  'the  Hermons,'  plural,  because 
 Hermon  was  a  double  ridge,  joining  in  an  angle,  and  rising  in  many 
 summits. — Horsley.  7.  Deep  calleth  unto  deep,  afflictions,  compar- 
 
 able to  the  deep  waters  of  the  sea.— Gi//.  One  calamity  invites  and 
 brings  on  another. — Rosenm.  Waterspouts,  the  image  in  the  mind  of 
 David  is  a  storm  at  sea.  JJr.  Shaw  informs  us,  that  waterspouts  are 
 more  frequent  near  the  capes  ol  Latikea,  Greego,  and  Carmel,  which 
 last  every  one  knows  to  be  in  Judea,  than  in  any  other  part  of  the 
 Mediterranean.  Those  that  he  saw  were  like  so  many  cylinders  of 
 water  falling  down  from  the  clouds. — Vide  i;3,  Par.  Sandj/s,  de- 
 scribing a  storm  on  the  coast  of  the  Holy  Land,  says, '  Spouts  tif  water 
 were  seen  to  fall  against  the  promontory  of  Carmel.'  David  derived 
 these  images  from  the  circumstances  of  his  [irescnt  abode,  he  being 
 not  very  distant  from  the  cataracts  or  torrents  which  descended  from 
 the  lufty  mountains  of  Hermon  or  Antilibanus.  10.  As  with  a  suord 
 in  my  honts,  '  in'  or  '  to  the  bruising  of  my  bones.*  There  is  no  autho- 
 rity here  for  the  word  '  sword.'  His  pain,  from  his  grief,  resembles  that 
 caused  by  bruising  or  breaking  his  bones.— So  Waif. 
 
 Ps.  XLIII.  — 1.  Judge  me,  ^c.~Bp.  Lowth,  and  more  than  30  MSS., 
 confirm  the  opinion  that  this  and  the  precedmg  ate  but  one  Psalm. — 
 Street.     Mant  has  made  it  the  third  part  of  Ps.  xlii.  in  his  Metrical 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XLI.  —  I.  Let  us  be  tender  to  the  af- 
 flicted. We  know  not  what  may  befal  ourselves.  If  we  know 
 our  own  hearts,  we  must  be  sure  that  we  merit  the  most 
 severe  punishment. 
 
 II.  Lit  us  hate  treachery.  We  abhor  it  in  Ahithophel  and 
 Judas  ;  let  us  beware  that  it  lurk  not  in  our  own  hearts.  The 
 men  of  the  world  have  honour,  let  Cbristians  have  sincerity, 
 towards  each  other,  and  let  us  not  be  double-faced  in  the 
 cause  of  Christ.  How  many  kiss  the  Saviour,  and  cry,  'Hail, 
 Master!'  at  one  time,  and  betray  him  at  another!  O  may  we 
 be  of  the  number  of  those  who  'love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
 sincerity  and  truth  !' 
 
 Rkflections  on  Ps.  XLII.  — Let  us  here  notice.  I.David's 
 disquietude.  His  soul  was  cast  down  within  bim,  for  he  was 
 600 
 
 banished  from  the  house  of  God,  and  the  cause  of  religion, 
 which  lay  near  bis  heart,  was  dishonoured  by  the  reproaches 
 and  triumphs  of  his  enemies.  Every  good  man  loves  the 
 courts  of  God*s  house,  and  feels  tenderly  for  the  Divine  ho- 
 nour. 
 
 n.  David's  hope.  The  waves  and  billows  went  over  him, 
 but  he  did  not  sink.  '  A  believing  confidence  in  God  is  a 
 sovereign  antidote  against  prevailing  despondency  and  dis- 
 quiet of  spirit.  And  therefore,  when  we  chide  ourselves  for 
 our  dejections,  we  must  charge  ourselves  to  hope  in  God. 
 When  the  soul  embraces  itself,  it  sinks;  if  it  catch  bold  on  the 
 promise  and  power  of  God,  it  keeps  the  head  above  water. 
 The  way  to  forget  the  sense  of  our  miseries  is  to  remember 
 the  God  of  our  mercies.' b 
 
The  church's  cotiijihiint. 
 
 PSALMwS,  XLIV. 
 
 She  professeth  her  interjritt/. 
 
 why  ilost  tliou  cast  me  off?  ■'  why  go  1  mourn- 
 ing because  of  the  oppression  of  tlie  enemy  ? 
 
 3  "  O  send  out  thy  liglit  and  tliy  truth  :  let 
 them  h'ad  mo  ;  let  them  bring  me  unto  '  tliy 
 holy  liill,  anil  to  thy  tabernacles. 
 
 4  Then  will  I  go  unto  the  altar  of  God,  unto 
 God  t  my  exceeding  joy  :  yea,  upon  the  harp 
 will  I  praise  tliee,  O  God  my  God. 
 
 5  ^  Why  art  tlion  cast  down,  O  my  soul  ?  and 
 why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me?  hope  in 
 Go(\  :  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him,  ic/io  is  the 
 liealth  of  my  countenance,  and  my  God. 
 
 PSALM  XLIV. 
 
 1    T/ie  citurch,  in  inemort/  nf  Jufmer  fnvoitrs,   7  com- 
 phijieth  of  their  present  evils,     17  Professinr/  iter  in- 
 teifriti/,  24  she  fereently  pruyeth  for  sueeour. 
 To  the  chiff  Musician  for  tht'  sous  of  Kor.ih,  IMaschll. 
 
 "IIT E  have  heard  with  our  ears,  O  God,  "  our 
 '  '     fathers  have  told   us,   what  work  thou 
 
 didst  in  their  days,  in  the  times  of  old. 
 
 2  IIuw  ^  thou  didst  drive  out  the  heathen 
 with  thy  hand,  and  plantedst  them  ;  how  thou 
 didst  afflict  the  people,  and  cast  them  out. 
 
 3  For  "  they  got  not  the  land  in  possession 
 by  their  own  sword,  neither  did  their  own  arm 
 save  them  :  but  thy  right  hand,  and  tliine  arm, 
 and  the  light  of  thy  countenance,  ''because 
 thou  hadst  a  favour  unto  them. 
 
 4  °  Thou  art  my  King,  O  God  :  coinmand  de- 
 liverances fur  Jacob. 
 
 3  Through  thee  ''  will  we  posh  down  our  ene- 
 mies :  through  thy  name  will  we  tread  them 
 under  that  rise  up  against  us. 
 
 6  For  ^  I  will  not  trust  in  my  bow,  neither 
 shall  my  sword  save  me. 
 
 7  But  thou  hast  saved  us  from  our  enemies, 
 and  hast  "put  them  to  shame  that  hated  us. 
 
 8  '  In  God  we  boast  all  the  day  long,  and 
 praise  thy  name  for  ever.     Selah. 
 
 9  But  '""thou  hast  cast  off,  and  put  us    to 
 
 P>.  40.  II. 
 
 &  i7.  3. 
 /  P«.  3,  4. 
 
 f  Heb.  rt« 
 gliidnetS  of 
 
 H  Ps.  '12.  5, 
 
 n. 
 
 1  Ex.  12.  88, 
 27,  Ps.  78.3. 
 
 6  Ex.  15.17. 
 Deu   7.  1. 
 Ps.  78.  55. 
 &90.8. 
 
 •i  Deu.  4  37. 
 &  7-  7,  8. 
 
 /  Dan.  3.  1, 
 
 y  Ps.  S3.  IG 
 Hos.  1.  7. 
 
 h  Ps.  40.  14. 
 
 Ps.  31.  2. 
 
 .ler.  9.  24. 
 
 Rom.  2.  17. 
 k  Ps. 60.1, 10. 
 
 It  74.1  &  SS 
 
 11.  &  89.38. 
 
 U  HIS.  II. 
 
 /Lev.  21).  17. 
 Deu  28  2s. 
 Josh.7.8,12. 
 
 m  Pom.9  3 
 i  Heb.  o» 
 ihery  of 
 
 „  Dew.  4 
 
 27 
 
 S.->8  01 
 
 Ps.  till. 
 
 . 
 
 0  Is.  52. 
 
 !.4 
 
 Jer.  l.'j. 
 
 13 
 
 t  Heb.  u. 
 
 «- 
 
 p  Deu.  ^8  3", 
 Vs.  79.  4   & 
 
 80  e. 
 
 q  Jer  24.  9. 
 
 r2  Kin  19. 
 21-  Job  16. 
 4.  Ps.  -22.  7. 
 
 I  Ps.  8   2, 
 t  Dan.  9.  13 
 
 r.  Job  23,  1 1 
 Pa.  119-  51, 
 157. 
 
 II  Or.  ffo!>,p,. 
 
 X  Is.  3  J.  13. 
 Rt  35.7. 
 
 t/  Ps.  23,  .1. 
 
 ;  Job  n.  13 
 Ps.  tiw   31. 
 
 a  Job  HI.  U. 
 Ps.  130    1. 
 Jer.  17.   m 
 
 *  Rom.  6.36 
 
 r  Ps,  7.  6.  S: 
 35,  23.  &  .^9 
 4-,  5.  &  78. 
 Gd. 
 
 i  ver.  9 
 
 ■Job  13.  2+. 
 Ps.  \A.  I.  St 
 88.  14. 
 
 Version. — Ed.  An  ungodly  vfttion,'a  merciless  people.*  Deceitful 
 and  unjust 7nan — Absalom  or  Ahithophel.  3.  T/ii/  Ut^ht,  'thy  favour.* 
 —  Wiilf.  Holy  hill,  seems  to  he  Mnunt  Zion.  Tahermwles,  'the 
 tabernacle,*  called  tabernacles  because  of  the  holy  place  and  most 
 holy  ;  the  one  being'  the  fir>t,  the  other  the  second,  tabernacle,  (Heb. 
 ix.  2,  3.)~Gill,  so  Ains.,  who  observes,  or  it  might  mean  the  hi[^h 
 place  at  Gibeon,  where  the  tabernacle  was,  or  Jerusalem,  where  the 
 ark  was,  (2  Chrnn.  ii.  3,  4,)  for  in  both  was  God  worshipped.  The 
 first  mentioned  opinion  seems  most  proper,  (see  Ps.  c.K.\xii.  5 ;  xlvi.  .'"j ; 
 l.xxxiv.  2  ;) — Ed.  4.  Ml/  ej^ci-eding  joy,  '  unto  God  the  gladness  of  my 
 j'ly.* — Henry.  5.  Health,  T\S^V,  '  salvation,'  translated  *  help'  in  the 
 former  Psalm. 
 
 *  Who  is  the  Saviour  of  my  person  and  my  God.''— Horsley. 
 
 Ps.  XLIV.  —  Title — see  note  on  Ps.  xlii.  This  Psalm  was  most 
 likely  written  by  David,  to  whom  the  Targum  ascribes  it.— Gill.  Not 
 by  David,  for  in  his  days  they  were  not  oppressed  by  foreign  enemies, 
 as  the  Psalmist  here  complains.  More  likely  by  Hezekiah. — Put. 
 Perhaps,  from  vcr.  i.%  l6,  it  was  written  soun  after  the  bla^pheni'ius 
 message  of  Rabshakch.— il/«rf^f.  It  appears  to  belong  to  the  time  of 
 the  captivity. — .i.  Clarke.  It  is  a  prayer  of  the  new  Hebrew  churcli, 
 in  the  latter  times,  suffering  under  Antichrist's  persecutions. — Horsley. 
 It  was  composed  in  the  spirit  of  prophecy  for  the  afflicted  state  of  the 
 Christian  chuich  in  its  early  days,  to  which  ver.  22  is  applied  by  tlie 
 Apostle,  (Rom.  viii.  36.)  and,  indeed,  in  all  its  days  on  earth. — Henry. 
 It  is  most  probable  that  David,  or  some  other  pmphet,  composed  the 
 Psalm  for  the  use  of  the  true  church  in  evcrj-  age  when  persecuted  for 
 conscience'  sake.  —  Scutt.  2.  Heathen,  Canaanites,  (Deut.  vii.  1.) 
 
 Plantedst  them,  i.  e.,  the  house  of  Israel. — GUI.  □pTOn,  *lhoii 
 spreadest  them.' — Mudge.  And  cast  them  out,  Dn"?©."!!.  'didst  make 
 them  to  germinate,'  *  didst  propagate  tliem,' — Pise,  Ains.    And  make 
 
 sbaine  ;  and  goest  not  furLli  with  our  armies. 
 
 10  Tliou  makest  us  to  '  turn  back  from  the 
 enemy  :  and  tiiey  which  hate  us  spoil  for 
 tiiomselves. 
 
 11  '"Thou  Iiast  given  us  f  like  sheep  ap- 
 pointed  for  meat ;  and  hast  "  scattered  us 
 among  the  heathen. 
 
 12  ^  Thou  sellest  thy  people  ^iox  nought, 
 and  dost  not  increase  thy  iveatth  by  their 
 price. 
 
 13  ^Though  makest  us  a  reproach  to  our  neigh- 
 bours, a  scorn  and  a  derision  to  them  that  are 
 round  about  us. 
 
 14  "Thou  makest  us  a  byword  among  the 
 heathen,  ""a  shaking  of  the  head  among  the 
 people. 
 
 15  My  confusion  is  continually  before  me, 
 and  the  shame  of  my  face  hath  covered  me, 
 
 IG  For  the  voice  of  him  that  reproacheth  and 
 blasphemeth  ;  ''by  reason  of  the  enemy  and 
 avenger. 
 
 17  *AU  this  is  come  upon  us ;  yet  have  we 
 not  forgotten  thee,  neither  have  we  dealt 
 falsely  in  thy  covenant. 
 
 18  Our  heart  is  not  turned  back,  "neither 
 have  our  ||  steps  declined  from  thy  way  ; 
 
 19  Thougii  thou  hast  sore  broken  us  in  ^  the 
 place  of  dragons,  and  covered  us  ''  with  the 
 shadow  of  death. 
 
 20  If  we  have  forgotten  the  name  of  our  God, 
 or  *  stretched  out  our  hands  to  a  strange  god  ; 
 
 21  "^  Shall  not  God  search  this  outV  for  he 
 knoweth  the  secrets  of  the  heart. 
 
 22  ''Yea,  for  thy  sake  are  we  killed  all  tlie 
 day  long  ;  we  are  counted  as  sheep  for  the 
 slaughter. 
 
 23  *"  Awake,  why  sleepest  thou,  O  Lord  ? 
 arise,  ^  cast  us  not  off  for  ever. 
 
 24  ^  Wherefore  hidest  thou  tiiy  face,  and  for- 
 gettest  our  aflliction  and  our  oppression? 
 
 vh"^,  'to  send,'  or  'shoot  forth,' as  a 
 This  idea  is  rejected  by  Gusaettus  Ebr, 
 
 thine  Israel  spread.' — Mant. 
 tree  its  branches. — Par.  vi. 
 Comment,  p.  859. 
 
 'By  thy  hand  thou  didst  drive  out  the  nations 
 And  plantedst  them  *«  their  stead; 
 The  people  of  Canaan  thou  didst  afflict, 
 But  thou  madest  them  to  shoot  forth.'— Boo^^r. 
 4.  My  King,  the  speaker  througrhout  is  the  church  ;  hence  the  use  of 
 singular  and  plural.— So  Wnlf.  a.  Will  we  push  down,  'push  back.' 
 —Bouthr.  '  iiy  tliee  the  adverse  bands  we  gored.'  The  metaphor  is 
 taken  fnmi  cattle,  the  verb  denoting  'to  pu^h.'  '  strike,'  or  'butt  with 
 the  horns,'  n:J3.— See  riJ3  in  Par.  1 1 .  Scattered  Jts  among  the  hea- 
 then, alludes  to  the  captivity.— .4.  Clarke.  To  the  ten  persecutions 
 of  Rome  pagan,  when  the  Christians  were  scattered  up  and  down  in 
 the  Gentile  world,  (i  Pet.  i.  1  ;J  or  the  papacy,  called  Gentiles,  (Rev.  xi. 
 2,)  because  much  Gentile  idolatry  among  them.' — Gill.  14.  People, 
 'peoples.'— BooM)-.,  Waif.  \g.  The  place  of  dragons,  denotes  Egypt, 
 —So  some.  Appears  tn  mean  tlie  wilderness.- il/«H/.  Vipers,  especially 
 in  the  Wilderness  of  bin,  which  might  be  called  the  inheritance  of 
 dragons,  (see  Mai.  i.  3.)  were  very  dangerous  and  troublesome.— S/mw. 
 '  We  are  as  a  people  in  the  midst  of  a  wilderness,  amongst  dragons 
 or  serpents,  surrounded  by  a  fierce,  cruel,  and  murderous  people. — So 
 Clarke.  It  gives  an  idea  of  a  man  cast  into  a  situation  in  which 
 every  hateful  creature  surroimds  him.  Such  are  persecutors. — Scott. 
 Et/  TOTTui  KoKdJcreajt,  '  in  the  place  of  evil,'  Sept.  '  In  the  place  of  brute 
 monsters,'  alluding  either  to  savage  enemies,  or  to  being  expelled  to 
 the  de:?ert  abodes  of  wild  animals.— So  Watf.  20.  Forgotten  the 
 name  of  our  God,  fallen  into  idolatry.- S.  Clarke.  Stretched  out,  so 
 the  petitioning  Hindoo  stretclies  out  his  joined  hands  open  towards  the 
 image.— TT'«rrf.         23.  For  thy  sake,  fyc,  cited  by  the  Apostle,  and 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XLIII.  —  David  here  appeals  to  God, 
 I.  '.-fs  his  judge.  He  that  has  an  honest  cause  may  expect 
 that  God  will  plead  it. 
 
 II.  "As  his  strenpth.  It  is  hard  to  it'concile  the  mighty 
 force  of  the  church's  enemies  with  the  almighty  power  of  the 
 church's  Cod  ;  hut  the  day  will  reconcile  them,  when  all  his 
 enemies  shall  become  his  footstool. 
 
 III.  'As  his  (juide.  Those  whom  God  leads,  he  leads  to  his 
 holy  hill  and  to  his  tabernacles.  Those,  therefore,  who  pre- 
 tend to  be  led  by  the  Spirit,  and  yet  turn  their  backs  upon 
 instituted  ordinances,  certainly  deceive  ihemsrlves.     When 
 
 (iOl 
 
 God  sends  his  light  and  truth  into  our  hearts,  these  will  guide 
 us  to  the  upper  world  in  all  our  devotions,  as  well  as  in  all 
 our  aims  and  expectations  ;  and  if  we  conscientiously  follow 
 that  light  and  truth,  they  will  certainly  bring  us  to  the  holy 
 hill  above. 
 
 IV.  '  As  his  joy.  Those  that  come  unto  God  must  come  to 
 him  as  their  exceeding  joy  ;  not  only  as  their  future  bliss,  but 
 as  their  present  joy  ;  and  tliat  not  a  common,  but  an  exceeding 
 joy,  far  exceeding  all  the  joys  of  sense  and  time. 
 
 V.  '  As  his  hope.  This  is  wiiat  «'e  cannot  too  much  insist 
 upon,  for  it  is  what  we  must  live  and  die  bv.' '' 
 
 4   H 
 
The  majesty  and  grace 
 
 PSALMS,  XLV. 
 
 of  Christ's  kingdom. 
 
 25  For  'our  soul  is  bowed  down  to  the  dust 
 our  belly  cleaveth  unto  tlie  earth. 
 
 •26  Arise  f  for  our  help,  and  redeem  us  for 
 thy  mercies'  sake. 
 
 PSALM  XLV. 
 
 1    The  majesty  and  grace  of  Christ' s  kingdom.     10  The 
 duty  of  the  church,  and  the  benefits  thereof. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  *  upon  Shoshannira,  for  the  sons 
 of  Korah,  |]  IMaschil,  a  Son^  of  loves. 
 
 "lyrY  heart  fis  inditing  a  good  matter:  I 
 ■'--*■  speak  of  the  things  which  I  have  made 
 touching  the  king  :  my  tongue  is  the  pen  of  a 
 ready  writer. 
 
 2  Thou  art  fairer  than  the  children  of  men : 
 "  grace  is  poured  into  thy  lips  :  therefore  God 
 hath  blessed  thee  for  ever. 
 
 3  Gird  thy  ■■  sword  upon  thy  thigh,  "^  O  most 
 mighty,  with  thy  glory  and  thy  majesty. 
 
 t  Hob.  a  lulf 
 /or  ui. 
 
 •  Pb.  69,  & 
 
 fill,  title. 
 II  Or.  »/  ia- 
 
 itriiclioii, 
 t  Hfb,  b".l- 
 
 eth,  or,  bub- 
 
 blrth  ujj. 
 
 6  Is.  49.  t. 
 Heb.  4    12. 
 Rev.  1,  16. 
 &  19.  15. 
 
 d  Rev.  6.  2 
 
 t  Heb.pr»i- 
 per  tliou^ride 
 thou. 
 
 »  Pa.  93.  S. 
 Heb.  I.  8. 
 
 /  Pa.  33.  5. 
 II  Or.  0  a.'d 
 
 ■  Is, 
 
 .   I. 
 
 I  Kin.  1. 
 
 i  Pa.  ai.  e. 
 k  Cant.  1.  3. 
 
 4  **  And  in  thy  majesty  f  ride  prosperously 
 because  of  truth  and  meekness  and  righteous- 
 ness; and  thy  right  hand  shall  teach  thee 
 terrible  things. 
 
 5  Thine  arrows  are  sharp  in  the  heart  of  the 
 king's  enemies  ;  whereby  the  people  fall  under 
 thee. 
 
 6  **  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever : 
 the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom  is  a  right  sceptre. 
 
 7  *"Thou  lovest  righteousness,  and  hatest 
 wickedness:  therefore  ||^  God.  thy  God,  ^  hath 
 anointed  thee  with  the  oil  '  of  gladness  above 
 thy  fellows. 
 
 8  ''  All  thy  garments  smell  of  myrrh,  and 
 aloes,  and  cassia,  out  of  the  ivory  palace^ 
 whereby  they  have  made  thee  glad. 
 
 9  '  Kings'  daughters  lucre  among  thy  honour- 
 able women  :  ""upon  thy  right  hand  did  stand 
 tlie  queen  in  gold  of  Ophir. 
 
 applied  to  the  primitive  Christians,  (Rom.  viii.  36.) — Gill.  25.  Our 
 belly  cleufcth,  a  strong  metaphor,  denoting  misery  and  degradation, 
 taken  from  the  serpent  species. — Hew.  Bp.  Horsley  thus  divides  the 
 performance  of  this  Psalm:— Ver.  1 — 3,  full  chorus;  -l.the  leader  of 
 the  band;  5,  full  chorus;  6,  the  leader;  7,  8,  full  chorus;  9 — 14,  air 
 for  a  single  voice,  one  of  the  priests;  15,  1 6,  the  leader ;  17 — 22,  air  for 
 a  single,  &c.  j  23— 2fl,  full  chorus. 
 
 Ps.  XLV. — Title — Shoshannim,  the  word  □^3'ClD  signifies  'lilies,* 
 and  is  several  times  so  rendered  in  Canticles ;  as  used,  however,  in 
 the  titles  of  a  few  Psalms,  it  is  generally  understood  to  mean  an  instru- 
 ment uf  six  strings. — Scott.  On  the  hexachnrd.— Boo/Ar.  It  might 
 be  a  small  and  portable  harp.^VTi/.  Far  the  sans,  Sfc,  a  didactic  song 
 of  love,  by  the  sons  of  Korah. — Bootkr.  'To  the  Giver  of  vicfory. 
 Upon  the  lilies,  [concerning  the  lilies,  Christ  and  his  church.]  A 
 lesson  for  the  sons  of  Korah,  a  song  of  loves.'  Epithalamium,  [<ir 
 wedding  sung.]  A  mystic  song  upon  a  King's  marriage;  Messiah, 
 the  bridegroom;  the  church,  his  bride.  This  Psalm  relates  to  the 
 second  advent.  The  bridegroom,  the  conquering  Messiah,  the  mar- 
 riage  celebriited  after  his  victories;  the  bride,  the  church  catholic, 
 rescued  from  persecutions,  and  composed  of  restored  Jews  and  in- 
 grafted  Gentiles  ;  or  the  bride  or  consort  is  the  converted  Jews,  become 
 the  metropoUtical  church  of  all  Christendom,  and  the  virgins  compa- 
 nions are  the  other  churches. — Horsley.  This  poem  celebrates  the 
 virtues  and  praises  of  Messiah,  and  the  future  happiness  of  his  spouse 
 the  church. — So  Rosenm.  Scholia,  edit.  1822.  The  intention  of  this 
 Psalm  was  to  depict,  by  an  allegory,  the  indissoluble  union  between 
 the  son  of  Godand  ullhisdi^^ciples. —  Wnlf.  Maschil — see  note  Ps.  xxxii. 
 A  song  of  loves,  'of  the  wcU-belovcd  virgins.' — Mich.  Ains.  '  Of  the 
 beloved  ones.' — Jan.,  Trem.,Pisc. ;  or  friends  of  Christ, — Gill.  Certain 
 passages  of  this  Psalm  are  clearly  applied  to  tlie  king  Messiah,  by  the 
 author  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  and  in  the  book  of  Revelation. — 
 Wil.  It  is  supposed  jto  have  been  originally  written  on  occasion  of 
 S"lomou*s  marriage  with  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt. — 
 Truufill.  This  is  the  opinion  of  most  commentators,  but  a  great  part 
 of  it  is  wholly  inapplicable  to  that  transaction. — Scott.  The  figures 
 in  this  Psalm  are  all  taken  from  the  costumes  &c.  of  an  eastern  court. 
 —  Ed.  \,  Inditing,  )I2n~\,  boiling  up.'  —  Jan.,  Trem.,  Pise,  Ains. 
 'Bubbling  up.* — Pag.,  Mont.,  Mus.  The  former  idea  is  expressive  of 
 fervour,  the  latter  of  fulness,  as  an  overflowing  perennial  fountain. — 
 Ed.  The  Jews  think  the  allusion  is  to  the  frying  of  the  mincha  or 
 meat-otfering,  (Lev.  vii.  9.)  It  describes  the  agitat;ion  of  the  heart  by 
 the  spirit  of  inspiration. —  Wil.  'My  heart  labours  with  a  goodly 
 theme.' — Horsley.  'My  heart  tcenicth  with  excellent  matter.' — 
 Boothr.  'My  heart  is  full,  and  ready  to  overflow.' — Travell.  '  Warmed 
 with  its  theme,  my  bosom  swells,'  Answerable  to  this  is  this  opening, 
 which  is  abrupt,  as  if  impatient  of  restraint. — Mant.  Touching  the  king , 
 '  to*  or  '  before  the  king.'  To  be  chaunted  ia  his  presence,  as  was  cos- 
 tomary  with  the  epithalamium.— So  Wil.  2.  Thou  art  fairer,  'thou 
 art  adorned  with  beauty  beyond  the  sons  of  men.' — Horsley.  ri'C'D% 
 the  Hebrew  is  here  dDubled  in  its  radicals,  which  denotes  the  exceeding 
 great  fairness  and  beauty  of  Chnst,  especially  as  Mediator,  and  as  full 
 of  grace  and  truth. —G(7/.  The  woids  refer  literally  to  the  Messiah's 
 exterior  form,  but  designate  chiefly  his  mental  purity  and  perfection. — 
 William-!.  Gracf  is  poured,  *  floweth  through  thy  lips.  —  Nudge. 
 '  Graceful  are  thy  lips.' — Green.  In  allusion  to  the  compliments  paid 
 the  bridegroom  by  the  friends  of  the  bridegroom  and  the  companions  or 
 maids  of  the  hride  ;  it  should  seem,  with  the  exception  of  ver.  1,  the 
 whole  is  spoken  by  the  mn\  '  beloved  maids,'  (see  Title,)  or  female  com- 
 panions, who  begin  with  his  perfections,  and  then  describe  hers, — So 
 Clarke.  The  passage  may  describe  Messiah's  eloquence,  and  include 
 the  docti'ines  and  precepts  which  he  delivered,  (Luke,  iv.  22.)  The 
 virgin  choristers  may  represent  the  angels  of  Luke,  ii.  14,  wlio  also,  at 
 his  ascension,  proclaimed  the  King  of  gh->ry.— Wit.  Then-fore,  p  "jy, 
 'because,'  ftc.  —  GHl.  3.  Gird  thy  sword,  put  on  thy  royal  orna- 
 ments and  the  ensigns  of  thy  power. — Pat.  Girding  the  sword  is  a 
 principal  part  of  royal  inauguration  in  the  east.     It  is  tlie  proper  inves- 
 
 titure of  the  Grand  Seignior;  and  the  appearing  completely  armed 
 seems  essential  to  this  ceremony. — Mant.  Upon  thy  thigh — the  Turks 
 wear  their  swnrds  on  horseback  under  their  thigh. — Har.  With  thy 
 glory  and  thy  majesty,  '  buckle  on  thy  refulgent  dazzling  armour.'— 
 Horsley. 
 
 '  Gird  thy  sword  upon  thy  thigh. 
 Mighty  in  thy  glory  and  thy  majesty.' — Pye  Smith. 
 
 Sword  here  means  either  'glory'  or  '  the  Word  of  God,'  (see  Ephes.  vi. 
 \7-}—Fawkes.  It  means  either  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  Word  of 
 God,  or  the  power  of  Christ.— Gi7^  His  word,  a  sharp  two-edged 
 sword,  (Heb.  iv.  12  ;  Rev.  i.  i6  ;)  with  this  weapon  he  prevailed,  and 
 thereby  made  his  glory  and  majesty  to  be  known  throughout  the 
 world. — Bp.  Home.  The  conquests  of  Messiah  are  those  of  meekness, 
 truth,  and  righteousness,  not  for  the  destruction,  but  the  conversion  of 
 mankind. —  Wil.  4.  Ride  prosperously,  '  ride  thou;  prosper  thou.' — 
 Wil.  And  thy  right  hand,  gfC,  'let  thy  right  hand  dart  terrors.'  — 
 Boothr.  •  For  thy  own  right  hand  shall  shew  thee  wonders.' — Horsley. 
 '  Thy  right  hand  shall  render  thee  expert  in  war,  and  lead  thee  on  from 
 conquest  to  con  quest.'—, Ver  ncAr.  5.  Arrows,  may  sitjnify  convic- 
 tions. —  ^.  C/urA-e.  People,  * -peoples.* —Boothr.,  Waif.  6.  Thy 
 throne,  ffc. — see  Heb.  i.  8 — 12.  j.  Oil  of  gladness,  a  reference  to  the 
 Oriental  custom  of  pouring  perfumed  unguents  on  the  head  and  person. 
 Waif.  8.  All  thy  garments  smell — the  people  of  the  east  are  ex- 
 tremely fond  of  perfumes,  and,  being  easily  obtained,  all  enjoy  them. 
 On  festive  occasions,  their  garments  have  an  extra  djish.  —  Rob. 
 Myrrh,  the  gum  of  an  Arabian  tree.  Aloes,  an  Indian  tree.  The 
 juice  of  the  leaves  is  drawn  by  cutting  them  with  a  knife,  and  after- 
 wards it  is  received  in  bottles.  The  smell  of  the  aloes*  wood  is  exqui- 
 site. The  heart,  or  finest  part,  is  used  to  perfume  dresses  and  apart- 
 ments ;  that  of  one  sort,  from  Sumatra  andCeylon,  is  worth  more  than 
 its  weight  in  gold,  and  is  esteemed  a  sovereign  cordial  against  fainting 
 fits  and  other  nervous  disorders.  Cassia,  the  bark  of  a  tree,  very  like 
 cinnamon,  which  grows  in  the  Indie'^. — Taylor's  Cal.  Perhaps  these 
 were  the  drugs  with  which  the  anointing  oil  was  made. — Street.  Ivory 
 palaces,  houses  richly  adorned  with  that  precious  substance  ;  or,  as  the 
 ancients  were  not  very  nice  in  distinguishing  things,  they  might  pos- 
 sibly mean  houses  built  of  polished  marble,  which  is  white  and  shining 
 like  ivory. — Har.  The  palaces  of  kings  were  often  cased  with  ivory 
 in  ancient  times ;  Homer,  Horace,  and  Virgil  refer  to  this  custom. — 
 Boothr. 
 
 'Thy  garments  are  all  myrrh,  aloes,  and  cassia; 
 Excelling  ivory  palaces, 
 Excelling  those  which  delight  thee.' — Horsley. 
 
 '  From  the  ivory  palaces  they  make  thee  glad.' — Boothr. 
 
 •All  thy  garments,  out  of  the  ivory  wardrobes,  perfumed 
 With  myrrh,  aloes,  and  cassia,  delight  thee  with  their  fragrance.' 
 
 Greeii. 
 9.  Kings*  daughters,  ^c,  being  seated  on  his  throne,  the  king  is  now 
 represented  surrounded  with  a  splendid  train,  attendant  around  his 
 queen,  who  is  arrayed  in  the  most  costly  robes,  standing  at  his  right 
 hand,  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  nuptials,  according  to  the  custom  of 
 the  times  on  such  occasions. — Scott.  '  Kings*  daughters  are  among  the 
 bright  beauties  of  thy  court.* — Horsley.  The  kings'  daughters  are  in- 
 troduced to  keep  up  the  allegory. — Scott.  They  may  signify  particular 
 believers  daily  added  to  the  church,  (Acts,  ii.  47.)  — Poole.  It  may  be 
 applied  literally  to  royal  converts  to  the  Gospel. — So  Clarke.  The 
 churches  gathered  out  of  the  Gentiles,  the  queen  being  the  Hebrew 
 church. — Hors.  Serjn.  The  words  may  be  rendered  '  kings*  daughters 
 were  in  thy  precious  things,*  that  is,  '  were  arrayed  with  them.' — 
 Mont.,  Gej.  Upon  thy  right  hand,  the  place  of  dignity  and  honour. — 
 Mant.  The  queen,  signifying  the  Hebrew  church. — Horsley.  The 
 Jewish  church  as  the  basis  of  the  Christian  church. — Boothr.  The 
 church  in  general. — Poole.  The  collective  body  of  believers. — Scott. 
 The  Gentile  church.— PTi/.     Ophir,  a  place  famous  for  gold,  (I  Kings, 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Ps.  XLIV.  — I.  It  is  jtwst  pleasant  to 
 reflect  on  the  historj/  of  what  God  has  done  for  his  church  ;  how 
 often-he  has  interposed  in  their  behalf,  bestowed  unmerited 
 favours  upon  them,  and  delivered  ihem  from  the  greatest 
 dangers. 
 
 II.  It  is  most  painftd  to  reflect  on  the  history  of  what  men  have 
 done  to  persecute  God's  church.  The  ungodly  nave  always  de- 
 602 
 
 spised  and  hated  the  true  servants  of  God.  For  wise  reasons 
 he  has  suffered  them  to  be  put  to  the  test,  but  the  gold  has 
 never  been  injured  by  tbe  furnace.  Pure  religion  will  shew 
 itself  to  be  the  same  in  adversity  as  in  prosperity.  The  heart 
 that  is  right  with  God  will  ever  turn  towards  him,  as  the 
 needle  to  the  pole. 
 
The  duties  and  benefits  of  the  church. 
 
 PSALMS,  XLVI. 
 
 The  church's  confidence  in  God. 
 
 10  Hearken,  O  dangliter,  and  consider,  and 
 incline  thine  ear ;  "  forget  also  thine  own 
 people,  and  thy  father's  house  ; 
 
 1 1  So  shall  tlie  king  greatly  desire  thy  beauty : 
 "for  he  is  thy  Lord  ;  and  worship  thou  him. 
 
 12  And  the  daugliter  of  Tyre  shall  be  tliere 
 with  a  gift;  even  ''tlie  rich  among  the  people 
 shall  intreat  f  tliy  favour. 
 
 13  'The  king's  daughter  is  all  glorious  with- 
 in :   her  clothing  is  of  wrought  gold. 
 
 14  'She  sliall  be  brought  unto  the  king  in 
 raiment  of  needlework :  the  virgins  her  com- 
 panions tliat  follow  her  shall  be  brought  unto 
 thee. 
 
 15  With  gladness  and  rejoicing  shall  they  be 
 brought :  they  shall  enter  into  the  king's 
 palace. 
 
 16  Instead  of  thy  fathers  shall  be  thy  chil- 
 dren, '  whom  thou  mayest  make  princes  in  all 
 the  earth. 
 
 o  Tb   S5.  6. 
 Is.  S4.  5. 
 
 p  Ps.  29.  29. 
 
 &  72.  10. 
 
 Is.  49. 23.  & 
 
 60.  3. 
 t  Heb.  Ihy 
 pet. 
 
 yUev  19  7,8, 
 r  Cant.  1.  4. 
 
 I  .  I  Pel.  S.  9. 
 '  Kcv.  t.6.  & 
 j    5.10.  &  20.6. 
 
 II  Or,  »/-. 
 
 *P8.^s,g|  66. 
 
 »  I  Cl]r.  15. 
 
 20. 
 I,  P..  6?.  7. 
 
 9.  &  91.  2. 
 
 &  142.  S. 
 b  Deut.  4.  7. 
 
 Ps.  145.  IS. 
 
 t  Heb.  a,f 
 
 hearl  «/  ttie 
 
 sfiai, 
 c  Pb.  93.  3, 4 
 
 Jer.  5.  2-J. 
 
 Mat.  7.  23. 
 
 e  Pa  48.  1.8. 
 IB.  60.  1 1. 
 
 1  7  '  I  will  make  thy  name  to  be  remembered 
 in  all  generations  :  therefore  shall  the  people 
 praise  thee  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 PSALM  XLVL 
 
 1     The  confidence  which  the  church  hath  in  God.     8 
 ."f/i  exhortation  tu  behold  it. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  ||  for  the  sons  of  Korah,  *  A  Sung 
 upon  *  Alanioth. 
 
 /^OD  is  our  "refuge  and  strength,  ^a  ver7 
 ^-^  present  help  in  trouble. 
 
 2  Tiierefore  will  not  we  fear,  tliough  the 
 eartli  be  removed,  and  though  the  mountains 
 be  carried  into  f  the  midst  of  tlie  sea  ; 
 
 3  ^  T/iof/f/h  the  waters  thereof  roar  and  be 
 troubled,  thou f/h  the  mountains  shake  v/ith  the 
 swelling  thereof.     Selah. 
 
 4  There  is  '^  a  river,  the  streams  whereof 
 shall  make  glad  ''the  city  of  God,  the  holy 
 place  of  ihe  tabernacles  of  the  most  high. 
 
 ix.  2S,  see  note  there.)  10.  Hearken,  O  daughter,  Sfc,  this  is  the 
 beginning  of  the  address  by  tlie  companions  of  the  bride  to  their  niis- 
 tre^s,  alter  having  addressed  the  hiidcgroom. — Clarke.  Forget  also 
 thine  own  people,  U7id  th//fiit/ier's  house — practically,  the  Jewish  church 
 is  to  abrindon  her  ancient  rites,  &c. — Mors.  St^ryn.  It  is  the  Gentile 
 cluirch,  and  not  the  Jewish,  which  is  here  called  to  forget,  &c. — Wil. 
 It  is  an  address  to  the  Gentiles  to  forsake  their  idolatrous  customs  and 
 coiinexinns.  and  embrace  Christ. — So  Clarke,  This  may  icspect  every 
 individual  who  comes  to  the  Saviour.  —  Bootlir.  II.  So  shnll  the 
 kinp,'  ^c.,  so  shall  the  king  set  his  heart  upon  thy  beauty.'— -Ho ri/py. 
 '  Tlien  will  the  king  be  captivated  with  thy  beauty.' — Buuthr.  12.  The 
 dimghter  of  Tyre,  §■*?.,  she  shall  be  among  the  honourable  women. 
 This  is  a  prophecy  of  the  conversion  of  the  Tyrians,  and  their  admis- 
 sion in  a  gospel-cliurch  state,  accomplished  Mark,  vii.  24,  and  iii.  8 ;  in- 
 cluding- also  all  other  Gentiles. — Gill.  Tyre,  the  greatest  mercantile  and 
 C'tmmertial  city  in  the  world,  may  be  taken  as  representative  of  all 
 those  on  the  sea-coast,  including  the  British  Isles.  Rich,  the  most 
 powerful  and  opulent  empires. — So  Clarke.  13.  The  king's  daughter, 
 the  Christian  church,  the  queen  being  the  Hebrew  church. — Luther. 
 The  same  person  as  the  queen  is:  here  intended.  The  church  is  called 
 the  spouse,  or  the  sister,  or  the  dauKhter  of  the  heavenly  king. — 
 Bj)  Hnrrie,  so  Hors.  Seim.,  also  Gill.  M'tthin, in  her  mind,  and  snul, 
 and  spiritual  endowments. — Poole.  May  mean  the  Christian  church, 
 adorned  with  the  graces  of  the  spirit. — A.  Clarke.  'All  glorious  is 
 the  queen  in  her  apartment.'  nO'JD.  the  word  never  signifies  ttie 
 heart  or  mind,  (see  Lev.  x.  18;  I  Kings,  vi.  19.)  —  Boothr.  Tlie 
 Asiatic  queens  are  scarcely  ever  seen  in  public;  they  abide  in  luxury 
 and  splendour  in  the  harem  ;  and  to  this  the  allusion  may  be.^ 
 Clarke. 
 
 *  She  is  all-glorious— daughter  of  a  king  1 
 
 Her  inner  garment  is  studded  with  gnld  ; 
 
 Her  upper  garment  is  embroidered  with  the  needle.' — Hors. 
 14.  She  shall  be  brought,  Sfc,  the  original  'brought'  implies  the  pomp 
 and  conduct  of  a  public  procession. — Hors.  Serm.  An  Asiatic  princess 
 is  brought  to  her  spnuse  hidden  from  view  in  a  palankee,  which  is  fol- 
 lowed by  her  companions  into  the  king's  palace,  whicli  they  enter 
 with  greaf  rejoicing. — So  Clarke.  It  may  refer  to  some  remarkable  as- 
 si-itance  whicli  the  Israelites  will  receive  from  the  Christian  nations  of 
 the  Gentile  race  in  their  re-settlement  in  the  Holy  Land,  (Zcph.  iii.  in.) 
 — Horslei/.  In  raimpnt  of  nft^dleirurk,  or  embroidery.  The  different 
 graces  nf  the  faithful,  all  wrought  in  them  by  the  same  Spirit,  compose 
 that  Divine  'embroidery'  which  adorns  the  wedding  garment  of  the 
 church,  who  is  therein  presented  to  the  King. — Bp.  Home.  In  the 
 graces  of  the  Spirit,  in  the  great  day,  the  church  shall  thus  be  brought 
 into  the  King's  palace. — So  Clarke  The  virgins,  ^c,  these  are  either 
 the  single  churches,  or  holy  souls,  that  accede  to  and  accompany  the 
 spouse ;  unless  we  suppose,  as  some  do,  that  the  bride  is  the  Israelitish 
 church,  and  then  the  attendants  will  represent  the  Gentiles.  —  Bp. 
 Home.  Various  nations  are  meant,  to  be  converted  through  the  early 
 Christian  church. —  Waif.  Kings*  daughters,  in  ver.  9,  we  take  to  bethe 
 churches  of  Gentile  origin,  formed  and  established  in  the  period  of  the 
 wife's  disgrace  ;  and  these  virgins,  new  churches,  called  later  by  the 
 go'ipel,  at  the  very  season  of  her  restoration,  in  whose  conversion  the 
 Jewish  church  may  have  a  principal  share.— Horx/fy.  Such  as  are  be- 
 trnthrd,  as  chaste  virgms,  to  Christ,  and  chastely  adhere  to  him,  are 
 here  intended,  [see  Rev.  xiv.  4.)— Gill.  Every  individual  whose  affec- 
 tion and  dependence  have  been  singly  placed  ou  Christ,  shall  be  ad- 
 mitted as  a  guest  to  these  nuptials,  and  share  for  ever  the  joy  of  the 
 
 sacred  union. — Srott.  i6.  Instead  of  thy  fathers,  §-c.,  *thy  children 
 sliidl  be  what  thy  fathers  were,  "  God's  chosen  ami  peculiar  people  ;"  ' 
 or,  •  thy  sons  shall  eclipse  the  glory  of  thy  fathers,  born  to  the  inherit- 
 ance of  a  better  kingdom.' — Horsley.  Here  the  prophet  again  ad- 
 dresses Messiah,  and  asserts,  that  instead  of  his  Jewish  fathers,  from 
 whom  he  descended,  and  by  whom  he  was  rejected,  he  should  have 
 sons,  a  spiritual  seed,  whom  he  should  make  princes.  It  may,  possibly, 
 also  have  a  literal  meaning,  that  many  princes  shall  embrace  the 
 Gospel. — Boothr. 
 
 *  In  lieu  of  seers  and  patriarchs  eld. 
 
 Of  whom  she  made  her  former  boast, 
 Tlic  virgin  mother  sluiil  behold 
 
 Her  numerous  sons,  a  princely  host. 
 Installed  o'er  all  the  earth  abmad, 
 Anointed  kings  and  priests  to  God.' — Charles  Wesley. 
 
 '  In<;tead  of  boasting  of  thy  ancestors,  as  the  Jew^  are  apt  to  do,  thou 
 Shalt  have  children  who  shall  far  surpass  them  all  in  glury.'  The  sen- 
 timent  is.  beside  alluding  to  Ihe  Messiah,  that  it  is  more  honourable  to 
 he  the  founder  of  a  family,  and  to  transmit  a  name  to  posterity,  than  to 
 be  one  in  the  long  list  of  a  pedigree,  and  to  receive  it  from  genealogical 
 descent. — Hew. 
 
 Ps.  XLVI.  —  Title — Upon  Alnmoth,  mt)'?i'  ^2>.  amnsical  instrument 
 is  intended. — Ham.,  Ken.  Some  musical  iu-^tnimcnt  'T  tunc,  fl  Chion. 
 XV.  20.)  Wc  may  call  it  *  Virginals,' or  'virgin  tunes,'  having  high  and 
 shrill  notes.  'Alamoth'  signifies  virgins,  (Sol.  Song,  i.  2.) — Ains. 
 '  An  ode  for  the  sons  of  Korah,  together  with  virgins.' — Street.  The 
 word  may  signify  'concerning  the  virgins,'  possibly  meaning  a  choir 
 of  singing  girls. — A.  Clarkp.  A  song  concerning  mysteries. — Hors. 
 Yirep  Tii}v  Kpvcpiwv,  '  upou  hidden  things,' Se/J^  Opinions  vary  on  the 
 occasion  of  writing  the  Psalm.  Probably  composed  in  the  reign  of 
 Jchoshaphat,  (see  2Chron.  xx.) — Rosenm.  Written  by  the  descendants 
 of  Korah,  on  their  return  from  the  Babylonish  captivity. — Cat.  On 
 occasion  of  an  earthquake,  the  night  Sennacherib's  army  was  destroyed. 
 — Houh.  It  seems  to  be  a  prophecy  of  the  church  in  gospel  times,  and 
 may  suit  any  time  of  confusion  or  distress.— G(7/.  It  is  said  of  Luther, 
 when  he  heard  any  discouraging  news,  he  would  sav, '  Cnme,  let  us  sing 
 the  46tli  Psalm.'— //tf«j-j/.  1 .  A  very  present  help.  INO  N2tD3  mi'J^  miy. 
 •  he  is  found  an  exceeding  help  in  trouble.' — Mich.  '  An  exceeding  or 
 superlative  help  in  difficulties.' — A.  Clarke.  '  Avery  ready  help  in  time 
 of  trouble.' — Boothr.  2.  Mountaijis,  ^n.,  expressive  of  kingdoms, 
 empires,  and  cities,  (Jer.  li.  25;  Rev.  vi.  12 — 14;  viii.  8.) — Gill.  Into 
 the  midst  of  the  sea,  WfT  "1^1,  '  into  tlie  ocean's  heart.' — Mant.  Hera 
 is  an  earthquake  referred  to,  expressive  of  political  commotions.  — 
 A.  Clarke.  4.  There  is  a  river,  either  the  Kidron,  which  ran  by  Jeru- 
 salem, or  the  waters  of  Shiloah,  which,  by  different  branches,  ran 
 throngli  the  city,  supplying  it  to  its  joy  and  comfort. — Gill.  It  refers  to 
 the  Gihon,  which  was  a  copious  fountain,  west  of  Jerusalem.  Hcze- 
 kiah  made  a  subterranean  passage  for  the  water  under  the  hills  on  the 
 west  of  the  city  of  David.  From  this  fountain  a  stream  was  conducted 
 to  the  temple  and  the  pools  in  the  city,  making  them  glad.  From  this 
 fountain  many  fine  ideas  of  living  water  were  suggested  to  the  proplieta. 
 It  is  a  conspicuous  blunder  in  some  commentators  to  speak  of  Gihon 
 and  Siloam  as  two  '  streams'  from  Kidron. — Sut.  'The  holy  place  of 
 the  tabernacles  of  the  Most  High  is  a  stream,  the  branches  whereof 
 gladden  the  city  of  God.' — Mudge. 
 
 *  The  river— its  streams  make  glad  the  city  of  God  j 
 The  Most  High  hath  sanctified  his  tabernacle.' — Horsley. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XLV. — I.  The  heauty  of  Christis  a 
 suhject  uihicb  we  imiy  continually  contemplate  with  delight.  Such 
 reflections  have  a  transforming  efficac: .  The  soul  th\t  often 
 gazes  on  him  catches  something  of  his  heauty,  and,  beholding 
 here  only  a  softened  view  of  it,  through  the  medium  of  his 
 word  and  ordinances,  is  '  changed  into  the  same  image,  from 
 glory  to  glory.'  In  the  heavenly  world,  the  resemblance  will 
 be  complete,  the  view  will  be  without  a  veil,  and  '  we  shall  be 
 hive  him,  for  we  shall  see  him  ns  he  is.' 
 G03 
 
 II.  The  conquests  and  glory  of  Christ  are  a  theme  on  which  we 
 inay  continually  dwell.  Let  the  world  chaunt  the  praises  of 
 their  heroes,  whose  fame  has  been  established  on  the  moul- 
 dering heaps  of  slaughtered  victims  ;  we  will  sing  of  His 
 bloodless  triumphs  who  conquers  the  most  rebellious  hearts 
 by  his  Spirit  and  his  word.  Go  forth,  blessed  Redeemer,  in 
 the  chariot  of  thy  gospel,  conquering  and  to  conquer,  and  let 
 all  the  earth  praise  thee  for  ever  and  ever!     Amen. 
 
An  exhortation. 
 
 PSALMS,  XLVIL,  XLVIII. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  the  nations. 
 
 5  God  is  ''in  the  midst  of  lier;  she  shall  not 
 be  moved:  God  shall  help  her,  j and  that 
 right  early. 
 
 6  *  The  heathen  raged,  the  kingdoms  were 
 moved  :  he  uttered  his  voice,  ''  the  earth 
 melted. 
 
 7  '  The  LoKD  of  hosts  is  with  us  ;  the  God 
 of  Jacol)  is  t  our  refuge.     Selah. 
 
 8  '  Come,  behold  the  works  of  the  Lord, 
 what  desolations  he  hath  made  in  the  earth. 
 
 9  '  He  niaketh  wars  to  cease  unto  the  end  of 
 the  earth  ;  "'he  breaketh  the  bow, and  cutteth 
 the  spear  in  sunder;  "he  burneth  the  chariot 
 in  the  fire. 
 
 10  Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God  :  °  I  will 
 be  exalted  among  the  heathen,  I  will  be  ex- 
 alted in  the  earth. 
 
 1 1  '  The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us  ;  the  God 
 of  Jacob  is  our  refuge.     Selah. 
 
 PSALM  XLVIL 
 
 T/ie   nations  are  exhorted  chitrfnUi/  to   entertain  the 
 
 kingdom  of  Christ. 
 To  tlie  chief  Musici.iD,  A  Psalm  [[  for  the  sons  of  Kor.ih. 
 /^  "^  CLAP  your  hands, ail  ye  people;  shout 
 ^^  unto  God  with  tiie  voice  of  triumph. 
 
 /■peut.  23. 
 
 I  K  Is.  t?   *). 
 
 K/ek.  43  7, 
 
 9.   Hns.ll.y. 
 
 Joel  2.  n. 
 
 Z.rpli.3    15, 
 
 Zech.  2    b. 
 
 Ill,  II    &  S 
 
 3, 
 t  Meh.  when 
 
 the  m«r,M.,e 
 
 ai'pfnrelli  i 
 
 See  Kx.  14 
 
 2f,  27. 
 
 S  Chr  20.20 
 
 Ps,  31).  5.  & 
 
 1-lS.  ». 
 9  I'fi-  ?.  1. 
 A  Joa  -i  9,-l\. 
 i  ver.  11. 
 
 Num.  K.9. 
 
 a  Chr.  13. 
 
 \i. 
 t  Heb.  ail 
 
 high  place 
 /or  ua. 
 
 Vi.  9,  9. 
 k  Ps.  (56.  5. 
 I  Is.  S.  4. 
 m  Ps.  76.  S. 
 u  Ei.'k.89.t». 
 «  Is.  2.  11,17 
 p  ver.  7. 
 
 I  Or,  0/ 
 
 1  Is.  hb.  12. 
 
 h  Deu.  7.  ei 
 Neh.  1.  5. 
 Pb    76    12, 
 c   Mai.  Ill, 
 d  Ps    IS.  47, 
 
 /Pfl.  68.  21., 
 
 S  Zech.  1-1.9 
 h  I  Cor.  M. 
 
 15,  16. 
 II  Or,  every 
 one  iHat 
 futih  uiitier- 
 
 Mtanditiir, 
 
 i  1  Chr.  16. 
 31-  P8  9S.I. 
 
 Ki  g>).  10.  sc 
 
 97.  I.&99.1 
 hcv.  19.  6. 
 
 II  Or,  Th» 
 voluutarv  of 
 tlif  people 
 art  gulhered 
 unto  the 
 prnple  vf  the 
 G-d  «f 
 AhraUam. 
 
 k  Rom.  4.11, 
 
 l!*, 
 
 /  Ps   89.  18. 
 
 II  Or,  of. 
 
 a  Ps.  16.  4. 
 &  87,3. 
 
 2  For  the  Lord  most  high  is  ''terrible  ;  ^ he 
 is  a  great  King  over  all  the  earth. 
 
 3  "^  He  shall  subdue  the  people  under  us, 
 and  the  nations  under  our  feet. 
 
 4  He  shall  choo.se  our  ^^  inheritance  for  us, 
 the  excellency  of  Jacob  whom  he  loved. 
 Selah. 
 
 6  ^  God  is  gone  up  with  a  shout,  the  Loud 
 with  tiie  sound  of  a  trumpet. 
 
 0  Sing  praises  to  God,  sing  praises :  sing 
 praises  unto  our  King,  sing  praises. 
 
 7  *■'  For  God  is  the  King  of  all  the  earth  : 
 ■•sing  ye  praises  ||  with  understanding. 
 
 8  *  God  reignetli  over  the  heathen  :  God  sit- 
 teth  upon  the  throne  of  his  holiness. 
 
 9  II  The  ])rinces  of  the  people  are  gathered 
 together,  ^  even  the  people  of  the  God  of 
 Abraham  :  '  for  the  shields  of  the  earth  belong 
 unto  God  :  he  is  greatly  exalted. 
 
 PSALM  XLVIU. 
 
 The  ornaments  and  privilerjes  of  the  church. 
 A  Song  and  Psahu  ||  for  the  sons  of  Knr.ih. 
 /^REAT  is  tiie   Loud,  and  greatly   to 
 ^^  praised  "  in  the  city  of  our  God, 
 
 be 
 the 
 
 The  sense  in,  that  during:  all  this  commotion  of  the  waters  and  tottering 
 of  the  hills,  the  streams  near  the  city  of  God  will  run  smooth  and 
 gentle  in  their  channels,  for  the  refreshment  of  the  inhabitants.  The 
 river  and  its  streams  are  mystic,  (compare  Zech.  xiii.)  But.  perhaps, 
 the  river  and  its  streams  may  symbolize  a  regular  government  esta- 
 blished am«tng  the  restored  Jew?,  in  opposition  to  the  anarchy  prevail- 
 ing in  the  world  at  lartje.— //ors/ey.  Instead  of  those  wa'crs  which 
 overwhelm  the  world,  the  church  has  within  hcr?elf  the  fountain  of 
 consolation,  sending  forth  rivers  of  spiritual  joy  and  pleasure  ;  and,  in 
 the  place  of  secular  instability,  she  is  po*^sessed  oi  a  city  and  a  hill 
 which  stand  fast  for  ever.—Bp.  Home.  The  figure  is  descriptive  of 
 the  peaceful  slate  of  the  land  of  Israel,  contrasted  with  surrounding 
 and  agitated  nations.  Jerusalem  was  not  like  a  troubled  sea,  but  a 
 gentle  stream.— IJa/Ae,  so  Watford,  who  is  of  opinion  that  no  particular 
 river  is  intended,  but  the  words  are  entirely  figurative.— This  must  be 
 understood  spiiitually;  the  covenant  of  grace  as  the  river,  the  pro- 
 mises, streams;  the  spirit  of  grace,  the  river,  (John,  vii.  38,  3() ;)  the 
 comforts,  streams.  God's  word  and  ordinances  are  rivers  and  streams. 
 God  himself  is  to  his  church  a  place  cf  broad  rivers  and  streams,  (Isa. 
 xxxiii.  '21 .)— Henri/ .  The  words  are  to  be  understood  figuratively  of  the 
 gospel,  the  living  waters  that  went  out  from  Jerusalem,  or  tlie  Spirit 
 and  liis  graces,  compared  to  a  well  and  rivers  of  living  water  ;  or  rather 
 God's  everlasting  love,  {see  Ps.  .xxxvi.  8;  Ezek.  xlvii.  5;  Rev.  xxii.  1.) 
 —Gill.  So,  nearly  the  same,  Scott,  Wif.  Some  e.i£plain  this  as  signi- 
 fying the  waters  of  life,  but  the  context  opposes  the  sentiment.  — 
 Bouthr.  5.  Right  carl!/, '  when  the  morning  dawns.'— ira//.  '  Spee- 
 dily.'—BooMr.  6.  Melted,  '  fainted.'— //ors.  In  Hebiew  poetr>', 
 the  effect  of  fear  is  described  by  melting;  we  apply  the  same  term  to 
 ^nti.—H  etc  left.  8.  Whnt  desotutions,  ^-c— the  wliole  belt  of  nations, 
 J'hilistia,  Moab.  Ammon,  and  the  Syrians,  subdued,  as  Psalm  l.xxxiii., 
 and  now  the  leign  of  peace  is  come.— S«^  9-  He  burneth  the  chariot, 
 alluding  to  the  heathen  custom  of  burning  the  arms  of  those  they  had 
 conquered  in  honour  of  their  gods,  and  as  a  sign  of  peace.—Itp.Lowth. 
 10.  Be  still,  ffc. — Jehovah  commands  the  world  to  cease  its  opposition, 
 and  acknowledge  his  sovereignty. — Bp.  Home.  From  David's  con- 
 quest of  Syria,  and  during  the  reign  of  Solomon,  the  Israelites  had 
 peace. — Sut. 
 Ps.  XLVII.  —  Title — For  the  sons  of  Korah,  *  by  one  of  the  sons,' 
 
 &c. — Green,  *  To  the  snns,''  ^c. — AiTiS.  For  the  chief  musician  of  the 
 sons  of  Korah. — Bnothr.  This  Psalm  was  written  about  the  time  of  the 
 preceding,  and  relates  to  tlie  happy  state  of  the  Jews  when  returned  to 
 their  own  land. — A.  Clarke.  Probably  composed  on  bringing  the  ark 
 into  tiie  tabernacle  nn  Mount  Zion,  by  David  ;  or  into  the  temple  by 
 Solomon. — Writs,  Triwell.  It  rather  seems  to  be  a  prophecy,  penned 
 on  account  of  the  ascension  of  Christ  into  henven.— Gilt.  i.  flap 
 t/uur  hands,  s^igns  of  approbation  and  joy,  useil  at  the  coronation  of 
 kings,  (2  Kings,  xi.  12;  Ps.  xcviii.  8.)  All  ye  people,  *  peoples  ;'  the  na- 
 tions of  the  eaith  invited  to  praise  Jehovah.— 5oo(A)-.  2.  7.v  territile, 
 '  is  to  be  feared.'— (7 /"een,  Boothr.  '  To  be  venerated.'— W////.  3.  He 
 shall  subdue,  Sfc.  '  it  is  he  that  hath  tlestroyed  the  heathen  under  us.' 
 — Mudge.  4.  He  shall  choose,  SfC,  '  he  hath  chosen  the  good  land  of 
 Canaan  to  be  our  inheritance.' — Wells.  The  cxcellcncii  of  Jncnb,  *  the 
 excellent  lot  of  Jacob.' — Boothr.  '  Land  of  Jacob.' — Waif.  5.  With 
 a  shout,  ^c,  principally  may  refer  to  the  rejoicings  and  sounding  cif 
 trumpets  when  the  Levitcs  lifted  up  the  ark,  but  prophetically  to  the 
 ascension  of  Christ,  and  the  shout  to  tlie  exultation  of  the  evangeli.sts 
 and  apostles  in  preaching  Christ  with  success. — So  Clarke,  so  Poole. 
 See  Eph.  iv.  8.  7-  Sing  ye  praises,  Sfc,  Tit31  "j'^lDQ^  '  sing  an  instruc- 
 tive song.* — .i.  Clarke.  'Singye  an  exquisite  songof  praise.'- A'/jve/. 
 9.  The  princes,  ^c,  'the  princes  of  the  nations  arc  incorporated  with 
 the  God  of  Abraham  ;  for  God  takes  to  him  the  shields  of  the  earth  ;  he 
 is  very  highly  exalted.'— il/t/rf^'e.  This  verse  des^cribes  the  kings  of  tlie 
 Gentiles  acceding  to  the  church,  becoming,  with  their  subjects,  through 
 faith,  tlie  people  of  the  God  of  Abr  all  am.— //orH.e.  The  chiefs  of  each 
 of  the  tribes  are  here  intended,  (see  Ps.  Ixviii.  2".)— Wo//.  The  shields 
 of  the  earth,  *  Ihe  protection  ol  the  landof  Judea.^ — Hew, 
 
 Ps.  XLVlll.  — Title— J  Sung  and  Psalm,  §-e.,  'a  Song-Psalm;'  a 
 psalm  to  be  sung  vocally,  or  a  song  and  psalm  to  be  sung  vocally  and 
 iiistrumentally,  (Eph.  v.  19.) — Gill.  '  A  himg  to  be  plat/ed:  one  of  the 
 sons  of  Korah.'  The  occasion  of  the  Psalm  was  the  confederation  of 
 Kezin  and  Pekah,  (Isa.  vii.  1.) — Mudge.  The  invasion  of  Jerusalem  by 
 the  Ammonites,  &c.,  in  the  reign  of  Jehoshapliat,  (2  Cliron.  xx.) — 
 Dathe.  The  Psalm  was  composed  in  the  reign  of  Uzziah,  because  the 
 fortifications  of  Jerusalem  were  greatly  augmented  during  his  reign, 
 (2Chrf)n.  xxvi.) — Horsley.  It  was  composed  after  Israel's  return  from 
 captivity  in  Babylon. — Clarke.    Asaph  being  dead,  and  his  sons  not 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XLVI.  — We  have  here  the  picture 
 of^I.  A  troubhd  tvmid.  Such  as  history  tells  us  it  has  always 
 been  ;  such  as  we  have  seen  it,  and  see  it  still.  Like  the  boil- 
 ing sea,  never  at  rest,  but  nation  dashing  against  nation,  as  the 
 roaring  waves  contend  w-itli  each  oilier,  and  in  succession 
 overwhelming  each  other.  Such  will  probably  be  its  slate  till 
 the  Prince  of  Peace  shall  claim  the  kiiii^doms  for  his  own. 
 Then  wars  shall  cease  ;  the  weapons  sball  be  broken,  and 
 every  implement  of  destruction  consumed.  Hail,  glorious 
 day  !     We  see  thy  down  ;  Lord,  hasten  the  meridian  ! 
 
 n.  A  peaceful  church.  Amidst  the  storm,  she  is  calm.  Slie 
 feels  the  surrounding  siiock,  but  survives.  The  earthquake 
 but  devours  her  enemies,  the  billows  but  swallow  them  up. 
 She  rides  like  the  halcyon  on  the  bosom  of  the  troubled  deep  ; 
 or,  rather,  her  own  gentle  streams  present  a  contrast  sweet 
 and  soothing  ;  and  tranquillity  is  within  her  walls,  while  the 
 thunders  of  the  invading  ocean  shake  the  hearts  of  all  around. 
 And  sweet  shall  be  her  everlasting  peace  when  she  shall  drink 
 of  the  rivers  of  pleasure  in  the  new  Jerusalem  above,  when 
 the  tumults  of  earth  shall  be  no  more,  and  God's  unclouded 
 presence  shall  he  her  eternal  safeguard.  Meantime,  she  mav 
 004 
 
 refresh  herself  with  streams  of  promi.ses  and  ordinances  be- 
 low ;  and  while  devout  Christians  see  many  around  them 
 hopelessly  heating  the  billows,  they  may  sing,  '  God  is  our 
 refuge  and  strength,  a  very  present  help  in  trouble  ;  therefore 
 will  not  we  fear.' 
 
 Uei  i.F-CTiQNs  ON  Ps.  XLVIL  —  We  may  here  profitably 
 note  on  this  psalm — I.  Its  literal  menning.  The  carrying  of 
 the  ark  with  joy  to  Mount  Zion,  may  teach  us  with  what  joy 
 we  should  witness  among  us  the  return  of  God's  ordinances, 
 and  the  tokens  of  his  gracious  presence.  For  where  two  or 
 three  are  met  together  in  his  name,  he  is  in  the  midst  of 
 Ihem. 
 
 11.  Its  prophetic  meaning.  Delightful  thought  to  the  church 
 of  Christ!  lie  has  conquered  all  her  spiritual  enemies  ;  and 
 having  led  captivity  captive,  has  ascended  into  glory,  amidst 
 the  shouts  of  myriads  of  angels  and  glorihed  spirits.  There 
 he  lives  to  make  intorcession  for  us.  There  he  reigns  to  put 
 down  all  his  enemies  under  his  feet,  and  extend  the  conquests 
 of  his  love  and  mercy  in  a  ruined  world.  Thither  sluill  he  re- 
 ceive hia  redeemed  people,  and  put  them  in  possession  oi 
 their  eternal  inheritance. 
 
The  ornaments  of  the  church. 
 
 PSALMS,  XLIX. 
 
 Of  faith  in  the  resurrection. 
 
 "'mountain  of  his  holiness. 
 
 2  '  Beautiful  for  situation,  ''  the  joy  of  the 
 whole  earth,  (s  mount  Zioii,  "on  the  sides  of 
 the  north,  '  tlie  city  of  the  yreat  King. 
 
 3  God  is  known  in  her  palaces  for  a  refuge. 
 
 4  For,  !o,  *  the  kings  wore  assenihled,  they 
 passed  by  toyetlier. 
 
 3  They  saw  it,  and  so  they  marvelled  ;  they 
 were  troubled,  and  hasted  away. 
 
 G  Fear  ''took  hold  upon  them  there,  ^  and 
 pain,  as  of  a  woman  in  tiavai!. 
 
 7  Thou  Mjreakcst  the  ships  of  Tarshish  '  wilh 
 an  east  wind. 
 
 8  As  we  have  heard,  so  have  w'e  seen  in 
 "'the  city  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  in  the  city 
 of  our  God  :  God  will  °  establish  it  for  ever. 
 Selah. 
 
 9  We  have  thought  of  "  thy  lovingkindness, 
 O  God,  in  the  midst  of  thy  temple. 
 
 10  According  to  ''thy  name,  O  God,  so  is 
 thy  praise  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth  :  thy 
 right  hand  is  full  of  rigliteousness. 
 
 1 1  Let  mount  Zion  rejoice,  let  the  daughters 
 of  Judah  be  glad,  because  of  thy  judgments. 
 
 12  Walk  about  Zion,  and  go  round  about 
 her  :  tell  the  towers  thereof. 
 
 13  f  Mark  ye  well  her  bulwarks,  ||  consider 
 her  palaces  ;  that  ye  may  tell  it  to  the  genera- 
 tion following. 
 
 1 4  For  this  God  is  our  God  for  ever  and 
 ever :  he  will  ''  be  our  guide  even  unto  death. 
 
 *  Is.  'i.  !,  3. 
 
 Mic.  -11. 
 
 Zecb   8.  3, 
 C  Vs.  50.  2. 
 
 Jei".  3.  19. 
 
 I-am.  2,  15. 
 
 Dan.  8  9.  ft 
 
 II.  16. 
 rf  Kz«;k.20.G. 
 ^  Is.  l-l.  13. 
 /  Mat.  5.  35. 
 g  3  Sam.  II). 
 
 6.  14,  16, 18 
 
 19. 
 
 A  Ex.  15.  IS 
 i  llos  13.  13 
 
 p  I>eu  38.58 
 Josh.  7.  9. 
 Ph  113  3, 
 Mai.  1.  II, 
 14. 
 
 t  Hob  Sri 
 
 Vi.iiT  lii'ii  rt 
 
 II  Or,  titite 
 ,  Is,  59.  11. 
 
 II  Or,  «/. 
 
 •  Ps.  78.  2. 
 Mat.  IS.  35. 
 
 i  Job  31.  "A. 
 
 SS.  Pi.  5i. 
 
 7.  &  m    10 
 
 jMaik  10.24. 
 
 1  Tim. 6.17, 
 e  t\Iat,  16.26 
 
 g  Ps,  89.  48. 
 
 Pro,  1 1    ». 
 Kcck'S  2, 18, 
 
 PSALM  XLIX. 
 
 1  An  earnest  ptrsunsion  to  build  the  faith  of  resurrec- 
 tion, not  on  wui-Idly  power i  hut  on  God,  16  Jforldly 
 prospa-iiy  is  not  to  he  admired. 
 
 To  the  chief  IVIusician,  A  Psalra  ||  for  the  eons  of  Kurah. 
 
 [TEAR  this,  all  ye  people;  give  ear,  all  ^e 
 ^^   inhabitants  of  the  world  : 
 
 "■1   Buth  "low  and  lii^li,  rich  and  poor,  together. 
 
 3  My  mouth  .shall  speak  of  wisdom  ;  and 
 the  meditation  of  my  heart  shall  be  of  under- 
 standing. 
 
 4^1  will  incline  mine  ear  to  a  parable  :  I 
 will  open  my  dark  saying  upon  the  harp. 
 
 5  Wherefore  should  I  fear  in  the  days  of  evil, 
 wJwn  ^  the  iniquity  of  my  heels  shall  compass 
 nie  about? 
 
 6  They  that  ^  trust  in  their  wealth,  and  boast 
 themselves  in  the  multitude  of  their  riches  ; 
 
 7  None  of  them  can  by  any  means  redeem 
 his  brother,  nor  ^^  give  to  God  a  ransom  for 
 him  : 
 
 8  (For  '"the  redemption  of  their  soul  is  pre- 
 cious, and  it  ceaseth  for  ever  :) 
 
 9  That  lie  should  still  live  for  ever,  and  ^not 
 see  corruption. 
 
 10  For  he  seeth  tfiat  *^  wise  men  die,  likewise 
 the  fool  and  the  brutish  person  perish,  '  and 
 leave  their  wealth  to  others. 
 
 1 1  Their  inward  thought  is,  that  their  houses 
 shall   continue   for   ever,  and  their   dwelling 
 
 named,  it  was  prubably  composed  during:  the  Assyrian  inva'-ion,  (Tsa. 
 X.  8,  g.)-~Si/f.  It  belniigs  to  the  times  of  the  Messiah,  and  treats  of  his 
 greatness,  &:c.—Kimcki.  I.  Mountnin  of  his  IwUness,  Mount  Zion, 
 because  God's  tenip'e  was  there. --(V)7/,  so  Wdls,  Travell.  2.  Benu- 
 tiful  for  aituntion,  F^T)  nD\  '  be^^iUtiful  in  climate.'— il/'m^,  Ains. 
 '  Beautiful  in  extension,'  i.  e.,  in  the  prospect. — Mors.,  as  Bate  and 
 I'tir.  The  joy  of  the  whole  tnrth,  l>isn  ^D.  '  of  the  whole  of  ttiis  lanrl/ 
 it  has  no  other  meaning.— .^.  Clarke.  All  the  land  nf  Judah  then,  and 
 afterwards  the  whole  earth,  for  the  law  was  to  come  from  Ziun.— B/k 
 Nicholsnn.  On  the  sides  of  the  north,  Jerusalem  was  north  of  Zi^n. — 
 Gill.  *  In  the  northern  quarter  are  the  buildings  of  the  great  king,' 
 i.e.,  Jehovah.— Ho)-s.;  to  the  same  purport,  Boothr.  3.  Gad  is 
 fcnoian,  Sfc. — 
 
 '  God  is  in  the  midst  of  her  fortifications, 
 He  is  well  known  for  our  fortress.' — Green. 
 *  God,  in  her  towers,  has  made  himself  known  for  a  defence.' 
 '  God  in  the  Infty  palaces  thereof,  known  he  is  fur  a  high  refuge.' — Ains. 
 
 '  In  its  palaces,  God  is  a  known  refuge.' — Boot/ir. 
 4,  Fur,  lu,  the  kings,  ^c. — 
 
 •For,  behold,  kings  assembled  against  her; 
 But  they  all  of  them  hasted  away  tinck  again. 
 They  no  sooner  looked  upon  her,  but  were  dismayed  ; 
 'Hiey  wore  routed,  and  tied  away  in  confusion. 
 There  trembling  saddaily  seized  them. 
 And  pain  like  tliat  of  a  woman  in  travail ; 
 Or,  like  the  east  wind,  which,  in  a  moment, 
 Dasheth  in  pieces  the  ships  of  Tarshish.'— Green. 
 Much  the  same,  Bnothr.     7.  The  meaning  of /Aou  hreakest,  §■(?.,  is,  that 
 as  the  east  wind  shatters  in  pieces  the  .■■hiiis  of  Tarshish,  so  the  Divine 
 power  struck  the  heathen  kings  wilh  terror  and  astonishment.— i?/). 
 Home.         8.  As  we  have  heard,  f^c.,  '  what  vi'e  have  heard  heretofore, 
 we  ourselves  have  now  seen  verified  with  our  own  eyes,  in  the  salva- 
 liun  of  this  sacred  city. '— So  P«i, 
 
 '  As  we  have  heard,  so  have  we  now  seen, 
 Concerning  the  city  of  Jehovah,  God  of  hosts, 
 Concerning  the  liiy  of  our  God- 
 That  God  will  establish  it  for  ever.''— Boothr. 
 9.  TIV  have  thought,  §-c.,  *  we  were  waiting  for,'  8iC.— Green.     'We 
 waited  in  tranquillity,' or  *  we  sat  in  tranquil  expectation  of  thy  mercy.' 
 — Horsley.         10.  According  to  thy  name,  ?fC. — 
 'As  thy  name,  so  shall  thy  praise 
 Resound  to  the  extremities  of  tlie  earth.'— 5oo//i)'. 
 
 *  Wherever  thy  name  is  known,  thy  praises  shall  be  extended.' — 
 Travell.  1 1.  Let  the  duughter.t,  §-c.,  'let  the  cities  of  Judah  exult,' 
 
 — Bnothr.;    meaning  the  lesser  cities. — Bp.  Wilson.  13.  Murk  ye 
 
 ivell  her  bidwarku,  ^c,  take  a  distinct  survey,  and  mark  how  entire 
 they  are,  and  untouclied  by  the  enemies'  batteries. — Pat.  14.  Unto 
 death,  rno  Vy,  *  be>  ond  death.' — Vansittart.  For  this  use  of  the  He- 
 brew, see  Lev.  xv.  '■2b.—Geseniu>i. 
 
 '  For  this  God  is  our  God  fur  ever  ; 
 He  will  always  giude  and  defend  us.' 
 
 -Boothr. 
 
 Ps.  XLIX.— TiTLK— To  the  chief,  §-c.— the  two  last  words  of  the 
 former  Psahn  probably  belong  to  this,  and  fnrm  the  title,  niO  "73?,  *  unto 
 death.'  Upon  or  concerning  death.  The  last  line  of  Ps.  xlviii.  mu-.t 
 then  read,  '  He  will  be  our  guide  for  ever  and  ever.'— Hare.  The  Psalra 
 treats  on  the  uncertainty  of  riches,  and  the  certainty  of  death,'  &c. — 
 Gill.  It  is,  '  a  mysterious  song,  in  which,  the  doctrines  of  a  Redeemer 
 more  than  man,  U»e  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  a  future  retribution, 
 are  delivered  in  fenigmata.'— Hoi(6.  4.  A  parable,  "jiUQ,  short,  pointed 
 sentences,  often  figurative,  and  formed  on  comparison.  lily  dark  say- 
 ing, ^mTT,  '  my  enigma  ;'  something  clever,  sharp,  and  obscure,  winch 
 penetrates  the  mind,  and,  when  understood,  makes  a  deep  impression, 
 — Mant.  The  subjects  of  this  Psalm,  Mife  and  immortality,'  could 
 scarcely  be  cumprthcnded  before  the  publication  of  the  Gospel. — So 
 Poole.     To  7rpo/3.\i|yua  fiov,  '  s.  thing  proposed  to  be  considered,'  Sept. 
 
 '  I  will  bow  down  mine  ear  to  a  wise  moral ; 
 
 I  will  open  my  dark  question  upnn  the  harp.' — Green. 
 '  I  will  stoop  mine  ear  to  a  wise  moral ; 
 
 I  will  open  my  mystery  upon  the  harp.* — Mudge, 
 '  I  incline  mine  ear  to  the  parable  ; 
 
 I  propound  my  mysterious  doctrine  upon  the  harp.'— W^rs, 
 '  I  will  incline  mine  ear  to  the  song.' — Boothr. 
 '  I  will  open  too  with  the  harp  my  hidden  matter.' — .iins. 
 
 5.  When  the  iniquity  of  my  heels,  Up!?,  [contraction  of  D>3p3?,]  'sup- 
 planters.' — .4.  Clarke.  '  When  the  iniquity  of  supplanters  surrnundeth 
 me.' — Boothr.,  so  Lowth,  Mich.,  Hare,  Green,  Par.,  Merrick,  Horsley. 
 '  When  the  iniquity  of  my  enemies  compasses  me  about.'— ATen.,  as  the 
 Syr.  and  Arab.  8.  For  ttte  redemption,  ^c,  'it  is  too  difficult  and 
 costly  to  redeem  the  life  of  a  man,  or  rescue,  for  a  time,  his  departure.* 
 — Pu(. 
 
 *  (For  so  great  is  the  redemption  price  for  his  life. 
 That  a  brother  should  for  ever  desist  from  the  attempt.)'— Boo^Ar. 
 11.  Their  inward  thought,  SfC,  D2lp,  '  their  inward  part,'  was  doubt- 
 
 Rkfi.ections  on  Ps.  XLVIlt.  -  1.  We  have  here,  I.  The  II.   The  church  protected.    The  moat  lowering  storai  has  been 
 
 en urch  assailed.     The  kings  of  the  earth  have  often  assembled  dispersed— ihe  most  mii;hty  arm   that  ever  has  been  lifted 
 
 against  her.     Ihey  have  been  many  and  powerful.     They  have  ot^ainst  her  has  been  paralysed.      Who  could  possibly  prevail, 
 
 been  enraged  at  her  prosperity,   and,  with  much   fury,   zeal  when  God,  in  his  palaces  "of  Jerusalem,  is  a  known  refuge? 
 
 'ave  aimed  at  her  ruin.    Her  historv  'Upon  I  his  rock  he  has  built  his  church,  and  tJie  gates  of  hell 
 
 envy,  and  perse veratice,  ha 
 
 is  that  of  a  hesiefied  city 
 
 ill  not  prevail  against  it. 
 
God's  majesty  in  the  church. 
 
 PSALMS,  L. 
 
 The  inefficiency  of  ceremonies. 
 
 places  t  to  all  generations  ;    they   ^  call    their 
 lands  after  their  own  names. 
 
 12  Nevertheless  '  xx\?iwbeing  in  honour abideth 
 not :  he  is  like  the  beasts  that  perish. 
 
 13  This  their  way  is  their  "Tolly  :  yet  their 
 posterity  f  approve  their  sayings.     Selah. 
 
 14  Like  sheep  they  are  laid  in  the  grave; 
 death  shall  feed  on  them  ;  and  "  the  upright 
 shall  have  dominion  over  them  in  the  morn- 
 ing ;  "and  their  ||  beauty  shall  consume  ||  in 
 the  grave  from  their  dwelling. 
 
 13  But  God  ^  will  redeem  my  soul  ffrom  the 
 power  of  II  tlie  grave  :  for  he  shall  receive  me. 
 Selah. 
 
 16  Be  not  thou  afraid  when  one  is  made  rich, 
 when  the  glory  of  his  house  is  increased  ; 
 
 17  ''  For  when  he  dieth  he  shall  carry  nothing 
 away  :  his  glory  shall  not  descend  after  him. 
 
 18  Though  t  while  he  lived  Mie  blessed  his 
 soul :  and  men  will  praise  thee,  when  thou 
 doest  well  to  thyself. 
 
 19  t  He  shall  'go  to  the  generation  of  his 
 fathers  ;  they  shall  never  see  '  light. 
 
 20  "  Man  that  is  in  honour,  and  understand- 
 eth  not,  'is  like  the  beasts  that  perish. 
 
 PSALM  L. 
 
 1  The  majesty  of  God  in  the  church.  5  His  order  to 
 qathfr  saints.  7  The  pleasure  of  G<id  is  not  in  cere- 
 monics,  14  but  in  sincerity  of  obedience. 
 
 A  Psalm  II  of  Asaph. 
 'yHE   "mighty    God,   even   the  Lord,  hath 
 -^    spoken,    and    called    the   earth    from    the 
 rising  of  the  sun  unto  the  going  down  thereof. 
 
 2  Out  of  Zion,  ''the  perfection  of  beauty, 
 '^  (jod  hath  shined. 
 
 .3  Our  God  shall  come,  and  shall  not  keep 
 silence  :  ''a  fire  shall  devour  before  him, and  it 
 .shall  be  very  tempestuous  round  about  him. 
 
 4  "  He  shall  call  to  the  heavens  from  above, 
 and  to  the  earth,  that  be  may  judge  his  people. 
 
 k  Gen    4.  17. 
 (  ver.  21). 
 
 Ps.  :i9.  5.  & 
 
 ^•i    7 
 m  Lu.12,20. 
 
 t  Heb    de- 
 light in  thtir 
 mouth. 
 
 n  Ps.  *7.  3. 
 Pan.  7.  22. 
 aial    +.  3. 
 LiikeS2.30 
 I   Cor.  6.  2 
 
 Re 
 
 26. 
 
 St  -JO.  *. 
 o  Job  *.  21. 
 Ps.  ^9.  II. 
 
 li  Or. 
 
 I!  Or,  ik<' 
 grnxe  being 
 an  /labil'i- 
 
 f>',*  nf  Ihrm. 
 r  Ps.Vte.   IS. 
 
 H"S  13.  U, 
 I,   H,'b    from 
 
 Ihr  hnni  i.f 
 
 ;l  Or,  hrll 
 7  Job  27    19 
 j  Heb.  (»  hi> 
 
 life. 
 r  Deu.  29-19. 
 
 T.u.  12.  ly. 
 t  Heb.  The 
 
 soul  shall 
 
 go. 
 
 s  Gen.  ir.  15 
 (  Job  3.1.  flo. 
 
 Pfi.  5<J.  \a. 
 
 I,  nr./.r 
 ,-^/..;)ft.  See 
 
 1  Chr.  15. 
 IT.  k  25.  2. 
 
 2  Clir.29.3n 
 ..  Neh.  9.  32, 
 
 Is.  9,  6. 
 
 .Jcr.  32.  IS. 
 i  Pb  49.  2, 
 c  neu.  33,  2. 
 
 Ps.  so.  I. 
 d  (,0V.   10.2, 
 
 Nu.   16.  35. 
 
 .  in. 
 
 .  4    20. 
 
 «(  SI.  28  fc 
 32.  I.l6  1.2. 
 Mic.  6.  1,2. 
 
 /  Deu  33.  3. 
 
 Is.  13.  3, 
 g  Ex.  24.  7. 
 
 h  Ps.  97.  6. 
 
 i  Ps,  75-  7. 
 *  Ps.  81.  8. 
 I  Ex.  20.  2. 
 
 n  Is.  I .  II. 
 Jer.  7.  22. 
 I  Hos.  6.  0. 
 
 •  Mic.  6.  6 
 Acts  17.  25. 
 
 p  Ek.  19.  5. 
 
 Deu    10.  14 
 
 Job  41.  II. 
 
 Pb.  24,  I. 
 
 1  Cor.  10. 
 
 2fi,  28. 
 q  Hos.  14.  2. 
 
 Heb   13   1=.. 
 r  Deu.  23.21. 
 
 Job  23.  27. 
 
 Pb.  7C.  II. 
 
 Eccles.  5. 
 
 4,  5. 
 1  Job  22.  27. 
 
 Pa.  91.  Ib.k 
 
 Id;   fi,  1.3, 
 
 1 9.  28. 
 
 Zech.  13.  9. 
 t  ver.  23. 
 
 Ps.  22.  23. 
 u  Rum.  2.:i, 
 
 22, 
 X  Neb,  9.2fi 
 
 y  Rom    1  32. 
 t  Heb.  thv 
 
 z  I  Tiin.5  2>. 
 t  Heb.  Thou 
 
 ttndnl. 
 a  Pa    f.2.  2. 
 6  Eccle*.  S, 
 
 M,  12.  !<.. 
 
 26.  10.  &57. 
 
 II. 
 
 5  Gatlier  ""my  saints  together  unto  me; 
 ^  those  that  have  made  a  covenant  with  me  by 
 sacrifice. 
 
 6  And  ''the  heavens  shall  declare  his  righte- 
 ousness :  for  '  God  is  judge  himself.     Selah. 
 
 7  ''  Hear,  O  my  people,  and  I  will  speak  ;  O 
 Israel,  and  I  will  testify  against  thee  :  '  I  am 
 God,  even  thy  God. 
 
 8  "^  I  will  not  reprove  thee  "for  thy  sacrifices 
 or  thy  burnt  offerings,  to  have  been  continually 
 before  me. 
 
 9  °  I  will  take  no  bullock  out  of  thy  house, 
 7ior  he  goats  out  of  thy  folds. 
 
 10  For  every  beast  of  the  forest  is  mine,  a?id 
 the  cattle  upon  a  thousand  hills. 
 
 1 1  I  know  all  the  fowls  of  the  mountains  : 
 and  the  wild  beasts  of  the  field  are  fmine. 
 
 \-2  If  I  were  hungry,  I  would  not  tell  thee  : 
 '' for  the  world  is  mine,  and  the  fulness  thereof. 
 
 13  Will  I  eat  the  flesh  of  bulls,  or  drink  the 
 blood  of  goats? 
 
 14  ■'  Offer  unto  God  thanksgiving;  and  ""pay 
 thy  vows  unto  the  most  high  : 
 
 15  And  ''call  upon  me  in  the  day  of  trouble: 
 I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shalt  *  glorify  me. 
 
 16  But  unto  the  wicked  God  saitb,  What 
 hast  thou  to  do  to  declare  my  statutes,  or 
 that  thou  shouldest  take  my  covenant  in  thy 
 mouth  ? 
 
 17  "  Seeing  thou  hatest  instruction,  and 
 "  easiest  my  words  behind  thee. 
 
 18  When  thou  .sawest  a  thief,  then  thou 
 ^  consentedst  with  him,  and  f  hast  been  ^par- 
 taker with  adulterers. 
 
 19  fThou  givest  thy  mouth  to  evil,  and  "thy 
 tongue  frameth  deceit. 
 
 20  Thou  sittest  and  speakest  against  thy 
 brother ;  thou  slanderest  thine  own  mother's 
 sou. 
 
 21  These  things  liast  thou  done,  ''and  I 
 kept  silence  ;   *"  thou    thoughtest   that   I  was 
 
 loss  written  DIDp,  'their  sepulchres,'  so  many  Ancient  Ver.tinn.i.  Kat 
 o'l  rn<poi  amiav  oiKtat  avriav  fit  tov  auoia,  'for  thcir  praves  are  thrir 
 dwcllingrs  for  cver,'A>/?(.  '  Their  sepulchre  is  their  riwelliiiers  for  ever  ; 
 their  abode  to  all  generations;  they  put  their  names  upon  heaps  of 
 earth,'  [i.  e.,  monuments.]  — il/wrfi^^ff. 
 '  Thrir  prave  is  their  house  for  ever ; 
 
 Their  flweiling  place  throuirh  all  generations, 
 
 Though  their  names  are  celebrated  over  countries.' — Boothr. 
 12.  Ahideth  nnf,  '  unrierstandcth  nnt;'  so  many  Versin/is.  *  Restcth 
 rot;'  the  sense  seems  to  be,  is  perpetually  restless,  never  satisfied  with 
 his  present  Pitiiaiion. —  Wi(.  '  Shall  not  continue.' — Boothr.  '  They 
 must  die.*— .'I.  Clarke.  14.  Like  sheep,  fyr.,  '  like  sheep  driven  to  the 
 slaughter,  they  most  become  the  pr^y  ot  death,  and  gn  in  crowds  to  the 
 grave  ;  and  when  the  just  whom  ihey  insulted  shall  triumph  over  them 
 in  the  glorious  dawn  of  the  resurrection,  their  faded  beauty  shall 
 moulder  away  in  the  silent  habitation  of  the  grave.' — Travel/.  Death 
 shall  feed  on  them,  DJT  ^\^^.  '  death  shall  feed  them.'— .i.  Clarke. 
 'They  lie  in  the  grave  like  sheep; 
 
 Death  shall  be  their  shepherd,  and  have  dominion  over  them. 
 
 Their  honour  shall  he  no  more  ;  their  form  shall  moulder  away. 
 
 The  grave  shall  be  their  habitation.* — Lowth. 
 15.  But  God  will  redeem  mp  soul  from  the  power  of  the  f^ravr,  blNlD  TO. 
 i.  e.,  'I  shall  have  a  resurrection  from  the  dead  and  an  entrance  into 
 his  glory.*— ./I.  Clarke.  18.  Men  will  praise,  f^c,  whf^evcr  follows 
 their  steps  will  be  sure  to  have  the  praise  of  wicked  and  foolish  ])cople. 
 ~Bp.  Wilson.       ig.  They  shall  never  see  light,  '  who  shall  never  again 
 
 see  the  W^ht.*— Boothr. 
 
 Ps.  L.  —  Title- .^^'i/ifi- twelve  Psalms  are  ascribed  to  Asaph;  he 
 was  in  high  repute  in  ilie  days  <f  David,  {1  Chron.  xv.  Ip;  xxv.  i,  &c. ;) 
 and  is  mentioned  with  great  respect,  Nch.  xii.  46.  He  was  a  seer,  a 
 musician,  and  composer  of  psalms. — Clarke.  It  may  be  rendered,  'a 
 Psalm  for  or  unto  A-^aph,*  not  as  written  by  him,  but  to  be  sung  under 
 his  direction,  as  chief  musician. — Gilt.  1.  The  mightp  God,  even  the 
 Lord,  121  mrr  C^nVN  bt^, '  the  Onrl  Jehovah  hath  spoken,'  not  an  empty 
 oracle  of  a  false  god,  an  idol. — Ed. 
 
 'The  Omnipotent  God,  Jehovah,  hath  spoken, 
 
 And  hath  summoned  the  earth,'  ^c. 
 God  summons  all  mankind  to  be  present  to  hear  his  appeal,  and  the 
 solemnity  is  held  on  Sion.  where  he  is  attended  with  the  same  terrible 
 pomp  as  on  Sinai. — Lowth.    From  the  rising,  Sfc,  from  east  lowest. 
 2.  Out  of  Zion,  ^c. — 
 
 •The  perfection  of  beanty  from  Zion 
 
 Hath  God  displayed.'— //oj-A-/fy. 
 'The  perfection  of  the  beauty  of  God  [which  is  Christ]  hath  shined  out 
 of  Zion.' — De  Dieu.  4.  Heai'e7is— earth — literally,  by  a  figure  of 
 speech,  or  to  angels  and  men  as  witnesses. — Poole.  His  people,  the 
 Jewish  nation,  his  professing  people,  the  same  that  Peter  speaks  of, 
 {1  Pet.  iv.  17.) — Gi/l.  14.  CyTcr  unto  God  thanksgiving:,  '  render  to  mea 
 spiritual  and   reasonable  service.' — Boothr.  16,  I'nfn  the  wicked, 
 
 many  even  of  the  Jewish  teachers  were  superstitious,  formal,  and  atro- 
 ciously wicked,  and  yet  cloaked  their  crimes  with  apparent  zeal. — 
 Scott.     See,  in  illustration,  Rom.  ii.  17,  &c.        21.  Thou  thoughtest. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XLIX Behold  here,  I.    The  vanity 
 
 of  riches.  They  can  neither  save  our  lives  nor  our  souls.  Tliey 
 often  leave  their  possessors,  nnd  assuredly  liieir  possessors 
 must  leave  them.  The  rich  frequently  gather  them  with  much 
 care  during  their  whole  lives,  and  they  are  dispersed  at  their 
 death  even  among  those  for  whom  they  never  felt  concern. 
 Alas  !  how  men  set  their  hearts  on  that  which  is  not  !  '  This 
 their  way  is  their  folly  ;  yet  their  posterity  approve  their 
 sayings.' 
 
 II.  The  certainty  of  death.  Tlie  most  wealthy  ungodly  man 
 is  but  as  a  sheep  fattening  for  the  slaughter.  The  most  jinm- 
 (i06 
 
 pered  body  must  become  the  food  of  worms.  Nor  will  the  al- 
 liance of  beauty  with  wealth  secure  any  respect  for  the  pros- 
 trate corpse.  Tlie  Christian,  too,  must  die,  and,  like  the  un- 
 godly, return  to  his  native  dust.  But  he  has  laid  up  treasure 
 in  lieaven.  He  goes  not  away  /rojn  his  wealth,  but  to  it.  His 
 body  loses  its  beauty,  but  his  soul  shines  in  all  the  splendours 
 of  a  glorious  immortality,  and  his  body,  too,  shall  be  bright  and 
 fair  in  the  morning  of  the  resurrection.  Thus  he  dies  in  pos- 
 session of  this  sure  and  certain  hope,  '  but  (jod  will  redeem 
 my  soul  from  the  power  of  the  grave  ;  for  he  shall  receive  me. 
 
David's  prayer  for  remission  of  sins. 
 
 PSALMS,  LI. 
 
 He  pray elh  for  the  church. 
 
 altogether  such  an  one  as  thyself:  but  '■  I  will 
 reprove  thee,  and  set  them  in  order  before 
 thine  eyes. 
 
 22  Now  consider  this,  ye  that  '  forget  God, 
 lest  I  tear  you  in  pieces,  and  there  be  none  to 
 deliver. 
 
 2.3  "■  Whoso  offereth  praise  glorifieth  me  : 
 and  *  to  him  f  that  ordereth  his  conversation 
 aright  will  I  shew  the  salvation  of  God. 
 
 PSALM  LL 
 
 1  David  prayeth  for  remission  of  sins,  whereof  he 
 maketh  a  deep  confession.  6  He  prayetlt  for  snncti- 
 Jicalion.  16  God  delighteth  not  in  sacrifice,  but  in 
 sincerity.     IS  He  prayeth  for  tlie  church. 
 
 To  the  chief  .Musician,  A  Psalm  of  David,  *  when  Nathan 
 the  prophet  came  uuto  him,  after  he  had  gone  in  to 
 Bathsheba. 
 
 TTAVE  mercy  upon  me,  O  God,  according 
 ■*--'-  to  thy  lovingkindness :  according  unto 
 the  multitude  of  thy  tender  mercies  "  blot  out 
 my  transgressions. 
 
 2  ^  Wash  me  throughly  from  mine  iniquity, 
 and  cleanse  me  from  my  sin. 
 
 3  For  '  I  acknowledge  my  transgressions : 
 and  my  sin  is  ever  before  me. 
 
 4  ''  Against  thee,  thee  only,  have  I  sinned, 
 and  done  this  evil  "in  thy  sight  :  ^that  thou 
 mightest  be  justified  when  thou  speakest,  and 
 be  clear  when  thou  judgest. 
 
 5  *  Behold,  I  was  shapen  in  iniquity  ;  ''  and 
 in  sin  did  my  mother  f  conceive  me. 
 
 6  Behold,  thou  desirest  truth  'in  the  inward 
 parts  :  and  in  the  hidden /)«;■/  thou  shalt  make 
 
 d  Ps.  90.  8. 
 
 k  Lev.  li.  4, 
 
 6,  49. 
 
 Num. 19.18 
 
 e  Job  8.  13. 
 Pfi    9.  17. 
 
 Heb.  9    19. 
 Ms.  1.  13. 
 
 Is.  b\.  13- 
 
 m  Mat.  6.  4. 
 
 f  Pii   27.  6, 
 
 "  Rom.  12.  1. 
 
 p  Gal.  6.  16. 
 
 n  Jer.  16.  17. 
 
 1  Heb.  rta( 
 
 0  ver.  1. 
 
 ditpatetk  hifl 
 
 v>ay. 
 
 p  Acta  15.  9. 
 
 Kph.  2.  10. 
 
 II Or,  0  con- 
 
 stiini  tp'rit. 
 
 q  V-cn.  I..  14. 
 
 2  Kin.  13.23. 
 
 r  Horn.  3.  9. 
 
 Krli    4.  30. 
 
 *  2  Cor.  3.17. 
 
 cir  rn.t!-. 
 
 •  'J  S<itn    12. 
 
 1,  Sell. 2,*. 
 
 t  HL-b. 
 
 bi>.  ds. 
 
 t  2  Siim.  II. 
 
 17.  &  12.  9 
 
 Ti  P9.  35.  28. 
 
 1  vcr   9.  Is. 
 
 43.  a.'i   &  U. 
 
 ?2Xol.2.l-l 
 
 6  Heb.  9.  M. 
 
 1  John  1.  7, 
 
 X  Nnm    15. 
 
 9.  Rev.  1.5, 
 
 27,  30.  Pa 
 
 r  Ps.  S?.  5. 
 
 10.  6.  &  50. 
 
 fc  38.  IS. 
 
 8.  la    1     11 
 
 d  Gen.  20.  6 
 
 Jer.  7.  22. 
 
 Ht  39  9. 
 
 Ho9.  6.  6. 
 
 Lev.  5.  19. 
 
 II  Or,  that  I 
 
 he,  2 
 
 should  give 
 
 2  Pa.  1  >.  1.1. 
 
 it. 
 
 flLii,   15    '21. 
 
 1/  Ps    3-1.  18. 
 
 /'K.im    3.  4 
 
 ~  U.  67,  15.  & 
 
 g  .U,h  It.  1. 
 
 66.  2. 
 
 P.1    hR.Z. 
 
 John  3.  6 
 
 Horn    5.  12, 
 
 :  Ps.  4.  5. 
 
 Eph.e.3. 
 
 Mai.  S.  3. 
 
 A  Job  |.t.  4. 
 
 f   lleb.  warm 
 
 i  Job  38.  36, 
 
 me  to  know  wisdom. 
 
 7  ''  Purge  me  with  hyssop,  and  I  shall  be 
 clean  :  wash  me,  and  I  shall  be  '  whiter  than 
 snow. 
 
 8  Make  me  to  hear  joy  and  gladness  ;  that 
 the  bones  ivhich  thou  hast  broken  ""may 
 rejoice. 
 
 9  "  Hide  thy  face  from  my  sins,  and  "  blot 
 out  all  mine  iniquities. 
 
 10  ^Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God; 
 and  renew  ||  a  right  spirit  within  me. 
 
 1 1  Cast  me  not  away  ''  from  tliy  presence  ; 
 and  take  not  thy  ""holy  spirit  from  me. 
 
 12  Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  thy  salvation  ; 
 and  uphold  me  ivith  thy  ^  free  spirit. 
 
 13  Then  will  I  teach  transgressors  thy  ways; 
 and  sinners  shall  be  converted  unto  thee. 
 
 14  Deliver  me  from  f  *  bloodguiltiness,  O 
 God,  thou  God  of  my  salvation:  and  "my 
 tongue  shall  sing  aloud  of  thy  righteousness. 
 
 15  O  Lord,  open  thou  my  lips;  and  my 
 mouth  shall  shew  forth  thy  praise. 
 
 16  For  ^  thou  desirest  not  sacrifice  ;  ||  else 
 would  I  give  it :  thou  delightest  not  in  burnt 
 offering. 
 
 17  ^The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken 
 spirit :  a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God, 
 thou  wilt  not  despise. 
 
 18  Do  good  in  thy  good  pleasure  unto  Zion: 
 build  thou  the  walls  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 19  Then  shalt  thou  be  pleased  with  ^  the 
 sacrifices  of  righteousness,  with  burnt  offer- 
 ing and  whole  burnt  offering  :  then  shall  they 
 offer  bullocks  upon  thine  altar. 
 
 §-e.,  *thou  hast  thought  that  I  AM  i?  such  an  one  as  thyself.' — Hors. 
 22.  Lest  I  tear,  ^c,  metaphorical  from  the  fury  of  the  lion,  against 
 which  the  shepherd  has  no  defence. — Wat/. 
 
 Ps.  LI. — Title — Jl'/tfn  Ntithein,  ^c. — the  4tli  verse  opposes  this 
 title,  since  David  had  sinned,  not  only  against  God,  but  Uriah,  ^c. ; 
 and  ver.  18  refers  tu  Jerusalem  in  a  ruined  state  after  the  captivity. — 
 Horsley.  It  was  written  during  the  captivity  and  cessation  of  templR 
 worship;  the  author  is  under  great  depression  from  some  compliance 
 with  heathen  idolatry,  not  murder  nor  adulterit,  for  he  says.  '  Against 
 THEK  OMLY  havc  I  Sinned.' — Ken.  He  had  sinned  against  Bathshcba 
 and  Uriah,  &c. ;  hut  against  none  as  against  God,  and  therefore,  this 
 he  lays  the  most  sorrowful  accent  upon,  *  against  thee,'  &c.  Respect- 
 ing the  walls  nf  Jerusalem,  he  prayed  that  these,  which  perhaps  were 
 now  in  building,  might  be  built,  and  that  good  work  finished. — Henry. 
 1.  Have  merry,  fyc. — a  striking  gradation  here,  ''^^n,  *  have  mercy,'  or 
 'pity.'  Thy  lovingkindness,  ^IDH,  a  strong  disposition  to  bounty. 
 Thy  tender  mercies,  "I'JDm,  the  highest  degree  of  compassion  of  which 
 nature  is  sns(-eptible.— C/«rfrc,  see  also  on  Chandler.  Blot  out,  nFTDi 
 wipe  out;  alludes  to  an  indictment;  he  pleads  guilty,  but  begs  the 
 writing  may  be  defaced.  2.  Wash  me,  *3D3D  711177,  '  wash  me  again 
 and  again  >'  '  cause  my  washing  to  be  multiplied.' — A.  Clarke.  Three 
 words  here  and  in  the  preceiling  verse  deserve  special  notice:  *3?ll?D, 
 transgressions,  the  word  signifies  '  rebellion  ;'  all  sin  has  in  it  rebellion 
 against  the  lawgiver:  py,  iniquity,  perverseness,  crookedness;  sin 
 being  a  going  out  of  the  plain  way  of  God's  righteous  law:  riNtCn, 
 sin,  a  missing  the  mark,  going  beside  it,  or  not  coming  up  to  it.  All 
 are  to  set  forth  the  malignity  of  sin.— G/7^  4.  Against  thee—'  my 
 sin  was  known  to  thee  only.' — Dathe.  That  thou  mightest  be  justi- 
 fied, ^'c.  So  that  thou  art  rightefius  in  thy  sentence  and  jubt  in  thy 
 judgment. — Edwards.  I  have  siimed  against  men;  but  it  is  thy  law 
 that  I  have  violnted,  in  that  is  mine  offence. — Bp.  Halt.  That  thou 
 mighest,  ^c,  rather  'therefore  thou  wilt  be  justified  when  thou  speak- 
 est ;  i.  e.,  to  pronuunce  sentence,  and  clear  wheu  thou  judgest.' — Bp. 
 
 Home.  5.  Shapen  in  iniquity — this  is  alleged  as  the  cause  of  trans- 
 gression, not  as  the  excuse. — Bp.  Home.  6.  Thnu  desirest  truih, — 
 God  was  now  teaching  him  this  by  the  correction  he  made  him  suffer. 
 And  in  the  hidden,  SfC.  'and  thou  art  teaching  me  wistlom  deep  in 
 secret.' — Mtidge.  *  So  in  the  hidden  part  do  tliou  teach  me  wisdom.' 
 — Boothr,  7.  Purge,  'purify,*  ^^Nicnn.  make  a  Fin  cfferiog  for  me. 
 See  on  the  Leper,  Lev.  xiv.  i.—  Clarke.  Alluding  to  tlie  modes  of 
 purification  appointed  by  the  Levitical  law  for  the  ieiTosy.  See  Lev. 
 xiv.  6,  7,  49,  52;  Num.  xix.  6,  S;  Heb.  ix.  13,  ii.— Boothr.  Purge  me 
 with  hyssop — he  had  not  respect  here  to  tlie  ceremonial  sprinklings 
 and  purifications,  for  then  he  would  have  applied  to  a  priest,  but  to  the 
 sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Christ  typified  thereby.— G(7/.  8.  Make  me 
 to  hear,  §-c. — renew  the  joy  of  my  heart  in  the  comfortable  assurance 
 of  thy  forgiveness. — Bp.  Hall.  Bones — broken — henrt-breakings  are 
 more  painful  than  bone-breakings,  and  are  therefore  expressed  by 
 breaking  the  bones,  because  that  to  sense  is  most  painfuL — Caryl. 
 10.  A  right  spirit,  jOS  nn,  a  constant,  steady,  determined  spirit. — A. 
 Clarke.  *  Make  anew  in  me  a  spirit  firmly  stayed.' — Mudge.  'And  a 
 firm  spirit  renew  thou  within  me.' — Ains.  'A  stcdfast  spirit.* — Waif. 
 12.  Free  spirit,  712*13  m").  princely  spirit,  or  beneficent.  So  some  in 
 Vatnblus,  so  Waif.  'And  firmly  sustain  me  with  a  free  spirit.* — ■ 
 Ains.  16.  Desirest  not  sacrifice  —  understand  this  comparatively; 
 see  ver.  19. — Poole.  17.  A  broken  spirit,  n"l3U?3  nil,  a  spirit  shivered, 
 broken  into  pieces.  And  a  contrite,  n3131,  beaten  out  as  metal  into 
 laminae.— So  Clarke.  18.  Build  thou,  fyc. — let  its  walls  which  I  have 
 begun,  (2  Sam.  v.  g,)  be  perfectly  finished,  (1  Kin.  iii.  1.) — Pat. 
 19.  Sacrifices  of  righteousness,  such  sacrifices  as  are  offered  with  true 
 piety  of  heart. — Rosenm.  Burnt  offering,  nbll?.  whole  burnt  offering, 
 yb'2,  the  former  was  the  daily  sacrifice,  and  the  additional  ones  of 
 beasts  and  birds,  (Lev.  i.)  and  the  latter,  the  meat  offering  of  tiie 
 priests,  which  was  wholly  consumed,  (Ltv.  vi,  22,  23,)  though  this  is 
 sometimes  used  of  beasts. — Aben  Ezra,  Kimchi. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  L.  —  In  this  call  of  the  Israelitish 
 people  to  judgment,  we  learn — I.  That  forms  and  ceremonies  are 
 nothing  before  God  without  the  religion  of  the  heart,  for  it  is  'with 
 the  heart  man  believeth  unto  Vigbteousness,  and  with  the 
 mouth  confession  is  made  unto  saU-ation.' 
 
 II.  We  also  see  a  representation  of  that  day  when  God  shall  judge 
 an  assembled  world ;  when  the  saints  shall  be  safely  gathered 
 together;  when  every  man's  wickedness  and  hypocrisy  shall 
 be  exposed,  and  the  justice  of  God  vindicated  in  the  everlast- 
 ing punishment  of  the  ungodly. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LI.  —  We  have  here,  I.  The  ctynfes- 
 sion  of  a  penitent.  Here  is  no  paUiation  of  crime.  Sin  is  seen 
 and  acknowledged  to  be  exceeding  sinful.  It  is  viewed  in  its 
 origin  as  proceeding  from  a  corrupt  heart,— in  its  enormity, 
 as  committed  against  a  holy  God, — in  its  consequences,  as  de- 
 607 
 
 filing  the  soul,  harassing  it  like  a  spectre,  inflicting  on  it  the 
 most  torturing  pains,  and  depriving  it  of  all  sense  of  the  Di- 
 vine favour,  which  forms  a  hell  here,  and  will  be  the  hell  of 
 eternity. 
 
 II.  Tie  supplication  of  a  penitent.  His  great  cry  is  for 
 mercy.  He  beholds  the  awful  catalogue  of  his  sins,  now  all 
 called  to  remembrance,  and  his  first  concern  is,  that  they 
 should  be  blotted  out.  He  wants,  not  only  to  be  pardoned, 
 but  purified  ;  and  he  who  has  been  convinced  and  converted 
 by  the  Holy  Spirit,  seeks  that  purity  through  the  application 
 to  his  conscience  of  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.  He  is  not 
 satisfied  short  of  a  sense  of  the  Divine  forgiveness,  and  the 
 light  of  the  Divine  favour.  It  is  this  which  makes  heaven  on 
 earth  in  the  soul,  and  without  it  there  can  be  no  heaven  here- 
 after. 
 
Doeg's  destruction  prophfsieJ. 
 
 PSALMS,  LII.,  LlII  ,  LIV.  David  complaineth  of  his  enemies. 
 
 PSALM  LIL 
 
 1  David,  cnnifemning  the  sp'trfulness  nf  Doefj,  prnp/ie- 
 sieth  /lis  dt'striiction.  6  Hie  righitmifi  sitalt  rejoice 
 at  it.  8  Dnrid,  upon  his  conjidence  in  God's  mercy, 
 fjivetlt  thanks. 
 
 To  the  chief  Blusician,  IMaschil,  A  PsaJm  of  David, 
 *  when  Does:  the  Eiioniite  came  and  *  told  Saul,  and 
 said  unto  him,  David  is  come  to  the  house  of  Ahiiiie- 
 Icch. 
 
 WHY  boastest  thou  thyself  in  mischief,  O 
 "  mighty  man  ?  the  goodness  of  God  en- 
 dureth  continually. 
 
 '2  ''Thy  tongue  deviseth  tnischiefs ;  '  like  a 
 sharp  razor,  working  deceitfully. 
 
 3  Thou  lovest  evil  more  than  good  ;  and 
 •'lying  rather  than  to  speak  righteousness. 
 Se'lah. 
 
 4  Thou  lovest  all  devouring  words,  ||  O  thou 
 deceitful  tongue. 
 
 5  God  shall  likewise  f  destroy  thee  for  ever, 
 he  shall  take  thee  away,  and  pluck  thee  out  of 
 thy  dwelling  place,  and  "  root  tliee  out  of  the 
 land  of  the  living.     Selah. 
 
 6  '  The  righteous  also  shall  see,  and  fear, 
 'and  shall  laugh  at  him  : 
 
 7  Lo,  tliis  is  the  man  that  made  not  God  his 
 strengtli  ;  but  ''  trusted  in  tlie  abundance  of  his 
 riches,  and  strengthened  himself  in  his  ||  wick- 
 edness. 
 
 8  But  I  nm  '  like  a  green  olive  tree  in  the 
 house  of  God  :  I  trust  in  the  mercy  of  God  for 
 ever  and  ever. 
 
 9  I  will  praise  thee  for  ever,  because  thou 
 hast  done  it :  and  I  will  wait  on  tliy  name  ; 
 '  for  !^  is  good  before  thy  saints. 
 
 PSALM  LIIL 
 
 1   David  descrihcth  the  corruption  of  a  natural  man. 
 4  He  convincclh  the  wictted  bt/  the  lii//i/  of  their  own 
 conscience.      6  ffe  ghirietli  in  the  safvaiion  of  God. 
 To  the  chief  Musician  upon  Mahalith,  Maschil,  A  Psalm 
 
 of  Daviil. 
 ^HE  "fool  hath  said  in  his  heart.  There  is  no 
 ■*■  God.  Corrupt  are  they,  and  have  done 
 abominable  iniquity  :  ''there  is  none  that  doeth 
 good. 
 2  God  "^  looked  down  from  heaven  upon  the 
 children  of  men,  to  see  if  there  were  any  that 
 
 •  1  Sam.  ss. 
 
 9. 
 
 •  Ezek.  22. 
 
 b  Vs.  50.  19- 
 :  Ps  57.  +.  ft 
 59,7.  &  61.3. 
 
 Ij  Or,  and  I'lf 
 d^rriljul 
 
 t  Hcb.  hml 
 
 /Job  22  19. 
 Ps.  S7SI  N 
 40.  3.  &  fil, 
 9.  ^^[ll    f  5. 
 
 g  Ps   6W.  lu. 
 
 't  Ps.  49.  6. 
 
 11  Or,  ,.,b- 
 
 Jcr.  II.  ir, 
 Hos.  U.  6. 
 
 1  Ps.  10.  4 
 h  14   1,  Kc. 
 
 6  HoiTl.a.  10. 
 c  Pa.  33    13. 
 
 d2  Chr.  15. 
 2.  &  19.  3. 
 
 /■Lev.  26, 
 
 17,  .S6, 
 
 Pni-  29.  1. 
 I  Heh. /l-v 
 
 fearrdaleat 
 
 Pb.  11.5. 
 y  Eiek.  G.  5. 
 
 I,  Ps.  14  7. 
 I  Heb,  ;/'A& 
 
 4c. 
 
 '  1  Sam.  23. 
 19.  &  20.  I. 
 
 t  Hell.  IU«ir 
 Hint  lAl&ri'f 
 Mir    Ps,  5  8 
 
 c  Ps,  89.  49 
 
 d  Ps.  52.  9. 
 
 did  understand,  that  did  ''  seek  God. 
 .3   Every  one  of  them  is  gone  back  :  they  are 
 altogether  become  filtliy  ;  there  is  none  that 
 doetli  good,  no,  not  one. 
 
 4  Have  the  workers  of  iniquity  ''no  know- 
 ledge? who  eat  up  my  people  as  they  eat 
 bread  :   they  have  not  called  upon  God. 
 
 5  '  There  f  were  they  in  great  fear,  u'here  no 
 fear  was :  for  God  hath  ^  scattered  the  bones 
 of  him  that  encainpeth  of/iiinst  thee  :  thou 
 hast  put  t/itm  to  .shame,  because  God  hath 
 despised  them. 
 
 G  ''fOh  that  the  salvation  of  Israel  uere 
 come  out  of  Zion  !  When  God  bringeth  back 
 tlie  captivity  of  his  people,  Jacob  shall  rejoice, 
 and  Israel  shall  be  glad. 
 
 PSALM  LIV. 
 
 1   David,  cmnphtininrj  oft/ie  Ziphims,  prayclh  for  sal- 
 
 vatio7i.     4  Upon  his  confidence  in  Gorfs  Itdp  he  pro- 
 
 miseth  sacrifice. 
 To  the  chief  IMusici.m  on  Nc^inoth,  IMaschil,   A  Psahit 
 
 of  David,  *when  the  Zipliims  came  and  said  to  Said, 
 
 Doth  not  David  hide  himself  with  us? 
 CAVE  me,  O  God,  by  thy  name,  and  judge 
 '^  me  by  thy  strength. 
 
 2  Hear  my  prayer,  O  God  ;  give  ear  to  the 
 words  of  my  mouth. 
 
 3  For  '  strangers  are  risen  up  against  me, 
 and  oppressors  seek  after  my  soul  :  they  have 
 not  set  God  before  tliem.     Selah. 
 
 4  Behold,  God  is  mine  helper  :  ^  the  Lord  is 
 with  them  that  uphold  my  soul. 
 
 5  lie  shall  reward  evil  unto  fniiiie  enemies  : 
 cut  them  off 'in  thy  truth. 
 
 6  I  will  freely  sacrifice  unto  thee :  I  will 
 praise  thy  name,  O  Lord  ;  ''for  it  is  good. 
 
 7  For  he  hath  delivered  me  out  of  all  trouble : 
 "and  mine  eye  hath  seen  his  desire  upon  mine 
 enemies. 
 
 PSALM  LV. 
 
 1  I) (I rid  in  his  jirai/ir  complaineth  of  his  fearful  case. 
 9  He  prai/ith  ayainst  his  eneviits,  of  whose  wicked- 
 ness and  tviucltery  he  complaineth.  16  He  comforteth 
 himself  in  God's  pj-eservation  of  him,  and  confusion 
 of /us  eiicmies. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  on  Neo;inoth,  Maschil,  A  Psa'm 
 of  David. 
 
 Ps.  LII.  —  TiTi.K — Maschil— Bee  Title,  note,  on  Psalm  xxxii.  When 
 Dneg,  ^c. — The  occasion  is  related  1  Sam.  xxi.  7,  and  xxii.  8,  y.  10, 
 18,  21,  22.  1.  O  might!/  mon  .^—referring  to  Doeg's  office  as  chief  of 
 Saul's  herdsmen,  and  set  over  his  servants,  1  Sam.  xxi.  7,  and  xxii.  9  ; 
 or,  ironically,  to  the  mighty  deed  he  had  done  in  slaying  the  unarmed 
 priests. — Gill.  The  goodness,  ^c. — 'the  gnodness  <if  Gnd  fnvuureth 
 me  daily.' — Green.  '  The  goodne<;s  of  God  is  daily  shewed  unto  me.^ — 
 Boothr.  2.  Like  a  sharp  razor,  inflicting  deep  and  dreadful  wounds. 
 —  Waif.  JVorkinir  rfccfi7/i///y— tiirnin;^  aside  in  the  hand  of  him  who 
 uses  it.  4.  Devouring  words — such  as  are  raischievms,  and  by  which 
 the  innocent  maybe  destroyed. — Rosenm.  6.  And  shall  lavgh — not 
 that  they  rejoice  at  God's  vengeance,  but  that  it  is  expressive  ol  God's 
 care  over  them. — Gill.  8.  But  J  am  like — it  should  be,  'I  shall  be 
 like,*  &c. — Pise,  Coca.,  GeJ.  A  green  olive  tree,  green  here  refers  not 
 so  much  to  colour  as  to  a  fresh  and  flourishing  c<-ndition. — Pict.  Bib. 
 Q.  It  is  good,  ffc. — it  looks  well  before  the  friends  of  God  to  see  me 
 praising  and  trusting  him. — Madge. 
 
 Ps.  LIII — Title — Upon  Mahalatr,  n^nTO  b^,  'upon  the  diseases.* 
 i.e.,  'the  moral  diseases  of  the  world,' — Horsley.  Upon  the  hollow 
 instrument  (flute  or  pipe,}  to  the  tune  of  Ma'^chtl. — Pat.  Some  sort  of 
 musical  instrument.  —  Rosenm.,  Edwards.  Maschil,  see  Title,  note. 
 Psalm  xxxii.        5.  Hath  scattered,  '  will  scatter.'  ^c.  j  that  is,  uttL'rly 
 
 destroy. — IJ^'ilf.  See  notes  on  Psalm  xiv.,  from  which  tills  is  thought 
 to  he  iiUered  by  some  later  prophets,  to  adapt  it  to  another  occasion. — 
 Will. 
 
 Ps.  LIV.  —  TiTLK — AVg-mo/Zi,  see  Title,  note,  PsEilm  iv.  The  occa- 
 sion is  written  in  1  Sam.  xxiii.  14,  19;  and  xxvi.  i.  i.  Judge  me — 
 do  me  justice.— Grec«.  a.  S/rangers — '  the  pri^ud.' — Mttdge,  Green. 
 The  Ziphites  were  David's  countrymen,  and  not  strangers.  —  Ed. 
 4.  My  soul.  ■•ITD:,  'my  life.*— ^.  Clarke.  5.  Cut,  ^-c— ihou  shalt  cut, 
 &c. — Bp.  Horne.  6.  J  will  freriij,  ffc,  I  will  sacrifice  a  vulantaiy 
 oblati<)n. —  Ham.  ".  For  he  hnth  drlivered,  '•3,  for  thou  hast,  &c. — 
 Seeker.  And  mine  eye,  !ffc. — '  and  lettest  mine  eyes  look  micie  enemies 
 in  the  face.* — Green.  'My  eye  hath  seen  my  enemies.  1  have  seen 
 them,  and  yet  they  were  not  iiermitted  to  approach  me.  God  has  been 
 my  deliverer.' — A.  Clarke.  Desire  —  the  Targum  has  reeenge.  Not 
 that  he  delichteih  in  the  destruction  of  his  enemies,  but  in  the  justice 
 of  God  glorified  therein. — Gill. 
 
 '  When  thou  hast  delivered  me  from  all  trouble. 
 And  I  have  seen  mine  enemies  punished.' — Bunfhr. 
 
 Ps.  LV.  — Title  — AV^inoM.  see  Title,  note,  Psalm  iv.  M/tschil— 
 see  Title,  note,  Psalm  xxxii.  The  occasion  of  this  Psalm  was  the  per- 
 secution of  Saul,  or  conspiracy  of  Absalom.— GtV^    The  latter.— //or*., 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LII.  —  I.  Persecutors  boast.  But '  they 
 that  glory  in  their  sin,  glory  in  their  shame  ;  and  then  it  be- 
 comes yet  more  shameful.  Mighty  men  are  often  miscliievous 
 men,  and  boast  of  their  heart's  desire,'  (Ps.  x.  3. )  i> 
 
 II.  Persecutors  shall  be  destroyid.     They  who  hurt  God's  ser- 
 vants touch  the  apple  of  his  eye  ;  but  their  day  of  reckoning 
 sliall  come,  and  they  shall  eternally  wither  under  his  frowns, 
 while  the  righteous  shall  flourish  in  immortal  bloom. 
 COS 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LIII-  — See  those  on  Ps.  xiv. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LIV.  —  I-  The  tin.e  of  trouble  is  a 
 time  for  special  prai/ir.  If  all  the  world  are  the  good  man*3 
 enemies,  he  may  find  a  faithful  friend  in  God. 
 
 II.  The  time  of  del/veranee  is  a  time  for  special  praise.  Then 
 Wt?  rught  to  sacrifice  to  God,  '  to  present  our  bodies  living 
 sacrifices,  holy  and  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  our  reason- 
 able service.' 
 
David's  complaint. 
 
 PSALMS,  LVI. 
 
 Heprayeth  ayainst  his  enemies. 
 
 GIVE  ear  to  my  prayer,  O  God  ;  and  hide 
 not  thyself  from  my  supplication. 
 2  Attend  unto  me,  and  hear  me  :  I  °  mourn 
 in  my  complaint,  and  make  a  noise  ; 
 
 ;}  Because  of  the  voice  of  the  enemy,  because 
 of  the  oppression  of  the  wicked  :  ''  for  they  cast 
 iniquity  upon  me,  and  in  wrath  they  hate  me. 
 
 4  '  My  heart  is  sore  pained  within  me  ;  and 
 the  terrors  of  death  are  fallen  upon  me. 
 
 5  Fearfulness  and  trembling  are  come  upon 
 me,  and  horror  hath  f  overwhelmed  me. 
 
 6  And  I  said,  O  that  I  liad  wings  like  a  dove  ! 
 for  then  would  I  fly  away,  and  be  at  rest. 
 
 7  Lo,  then  would  I  wander  far  off,  and  re- 
 main in  the  wililerness.     Selah. 
 
 8  I  would  hasten  my  escape  from  the  windy 
 storm  and  tempest. 
 
 !)  Destroy,  O  Lord,  and  divide  their  tongues  : 
 for  1  have  seen  ■'  violence  and  strife  in  the  city. 
 
 10  Day  and  night  they  go  about  it  upon  the 
 walls  thereof:  mischief  also  and  sorrow  are  in 
 the  midst  of  it. 
 
 11  Wickedness  is  in  tlie  midst  thereof;  de- 
 ceit and  guile  depart  not  from  lier  streets. 
 
 12  '  For  it  was  not  an  enemy  that  reproached 
 me  ;  then  I  could  have  borne  it ;  neither  iras 
 it  he  that  hated  me  that  did  ^  magnify /((/»,«(■//' 
 against  me  ;  then  I  would  have  hid  myself 
 from  him  : 
 
 J 3  But  it  teas  thou,  f  a  man  mine  equal,  "^  my 
 guide,  and  mine  acquaintance. 
 
 14  t  We  took  sweet  counsel  together,  anrf 
 ^  walked  unto  the  house  of  God  in  company. 
 
 15  Let  death  seize  upon  them,  and  let  them 
 '  go  down  quick  into  ||  hell  :  for  wickedness  is 
 in  their  dwellings,  and  among  them. 
 
 16  As  for  me,  I  will  call  upon  God  ;  and  the 
 Lord  shall  save  me. 
 
 17  'Evening,  and  morning,  and  at  noon,  will 
 
 (  S  S.iin.  16 
 7,  8.  &  ]9. 
 
 t  Hcb.  C( 
 
 f  Ps.  S5.  26. 
 
 gc  S8.  16. 
 
 mv  rattlt. 
 g  2  Ram,  15 
 
 12.  Ki  16.23. 
 
 Ps.  41.9. 
 
 Jer.  9.  +. 
 t  Heb.  Who 
 
 ttefflP'tfd 
 
 coil 
 
 Deu33.27. 
 
 H  Or,  inth 
 xoliuti  al9o 
 there  be  un 
 ihniigpi,  yet 
 I'lri/ Jeiir  nol 
 
 II  Acts  12.  I. 
 o  Pa.  7.  t. 
 t  Heb.  he 
 
 halh  pro- 
 
 f„..ed. 
 ]>  PS.28S.  & 
 
 57.  4.  &  ti2. 
 
 4.  &  04.  .S. 
 
 Pro.  5.  3,  4. 
 
 &  1-2.  IS. 
 
 7  Pa.  .S7.  5. 
 M.-it.  6  2r>. 
 Luke  i2.-.;2 
 1  Pet.  5,  7. 
 
 11  Or,  gi/l. 
 
 r  Ps.  37.  24. 
 
 ,.-!. 
 
 I,  Ps. 
 
 ;  Xu.  16.  30 
 
 II  Or,  Oie 
 grave. 
 
 »  Dan.  6.  10. 
 Luke  IS  1. 
 Aols  3.  I.gi 
 10  3.  9.  30 
 1  Thes.o  17. 
 
 .  Ps.  5,  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  men 
 afbl.mdi 
 and  deceit 
 
 t  Heb.  e'lall 
 not  lial/  IheiT 
 
 t  Job  15.  32. 
 Pro.  10.  27. 
 Eccte8,7.17. 
 
 II  Or,  a 
 
 cM„ 
 
 P.alin  „f 
 
 Dnvid.     So 
 
 Ps.  16. 
 •  1  Sam.  2L 
 
 11. 
 n  Ps.  57   1. 
 t  Heb.  Jtline 
 
 (tliieri'ers. 
 
 Ps.  54.  5. 
 b  Ps.  57.  3. 
 
 I  pray,  and  cry  aloud  :  and  he  shall  hear  my 
 voice. 
 
 18  He  bath  delivered  my  soul  in  peace  from 
 the  battle  that  was  against  me  :  for  '  there 
 were  many  with  me. 
 
 19  God  shall  hear,  and  afflict  them, '"  even 
 he  tliat  abidetli  of  old.  Selah.  |]  Because 
 they  have  no  clianges,  tlierefore  they  fear  not 
 God. 
 
 20  He  hath  "  put  forth  his  hands  against  such 
 as  °  be  at  peace  with  him  :  flie  bath  broken 
 his  covenant. 
 
 21  ■■  The  ivords  of  bis  mouth  were  smoother 
 than  butter,  but  war  tvas  in  his  heart  :  bis 
 words  were  softer  than  oil,  yet  ivere  they  drawn 
 swords. 
 
 22  "i  Cast  thy  ||  burden  upon  the  Loud,  and 
 he  shall  sustain  thee:  'lie  shall  never  suffer 
 the  righteous  to  be  moved. 
 
 23  But  thou,  O  God,  slialt  bring  tliem  doun 
 into  tlie  pit  of  destruction  :  'f'^lo^'ly  ^ind  de- 
 ceitl'ul  men  f  '  shall  not  live  out  half  tlieir  days  ; 
 but  I  will  trust  in  tliee. 
 
 PSALM  LVL 
 
 !  David,  praying  to  God  in  confidence  of  his  word^ 
 complaintth  qf/iis  enrmifs.  9  lie  profvsseth  his  cow 
 Jidence  in  God's  word,  and  promiseth  to  praise  him. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  upon  Jonatli  -  elem  -  rechokim, 
 ]|  Michtara  of  David,  when  the  *  Philistines  took  him 
 in  Gath. 
 
 T>E  ^  merciful  unto  ine,  O  God:  for  inau 
 -*-'  would  swallow  iiie  up  ;  lie  fighting  daily 
 oppresseth  me. 
 
 2  f  Mine  enemies  would  daily  ^swallow  7ne 
 up  :  for  i/irjj  be  many  that  fight  against  me,  O 
 thou  most  high. 
 
 3  What  time  I  am  afraid,  I  will  trust  in  thee. 
 
 4  '^  In  God  I  will  praise  his  word,  in  God  I 
 
 Trctrelf.  2.  I  mourn  in  mij  complaint,  Tf'ira.  'in  my  meditation.'— 
 Mimt.,  Jan.,  Trcm.,  cum  mult.  al.  'In  my  siglung.'  —  A.  Clarke. 
 '  In  my  complaint  I  weep  and  cry  aloufi.'— Gree/*.  '  I  am  dejected  in 
 my  meditation,  and  am  in  a  violent  tumultuous  agitation,  as  the  waves 
 of  the  sea.*— Byj-  Home.  '  I  am  distressed  in  musing,  and  roar  out.* 
 Bonthr.  3.  They  rrtst   iniquity  upon  me,  literally,    '  slide    iniquity 
 
 upon  me,' i.e..  by  oblique  and  "artful  insinuations  they  asperse  my 
 character. —  //ors/t-v.  *  Thev  charge  me  wiih  horrible  crimes.*— -4. 
 Clnrke.  4.  The  terrors  of  death,  i.  e.,  I  am  brought  to  the  brink  of 
 deMruction.— JB/J.  \Vil.ton.  6.  Wings  like  a  do'-e—he  pitches  on  this 
 creature,  being  harmless  and  trembling,  while  his  enemies,  as  the  ra- 
 vennus  hawk,  pursued  him.— G(7/.  He  was  so  hemmed  in,  that  only 
 wing5  could  save  him.  The  dove  is  a  bird  of  rapid  wing.  One  now 
 befire  him  might  suggest  the  idea.— So  Clarice.  7-  And  remain  in 
 the  wilder ness-~the  sentiment  is,  that  he  should  with  more  ease  provide 
 a  shelter  against  the  storms  in  the  wilderness,  than  against  the  malice 
 of  man  in  the  city.  9.  Destroy,  *  con{oaad.*-~Horsley.  Divide  their 
 tongues — 
 
 •  Let  his  counsellors  give  opposite  advice  ; 
 JjCt  them  never  agree,  and  let  their  devices  be  confounded.* — A.  C. 
 
 See  2  Sam.  xv.,  xvi.,  and  svii.  15,  Seize  —  the  principal  idea  here 
 is  the  exaction  of  a  debt,  and  not  the  seizure  of  a  person. — Horsley. 
 
 '  Death  claims  his  due.     They  quick  to  hell's 
 Sepulchral  gloom  descend.' — Mant. 
 
 17.  Enening.  at  the  time  of  the  c-'ening  sacrifice.  The  ninth  hour,  (see 
 Ps.  cxli.  2;  Act'*,  iii.  I  ;  X.  20.)  Morning,  at  the  time  of  the  morning 
 sacrifice,  the  third  hour  of  the  day,  (Acts,  ii.  1,  15.)  Noon,  sixth  hour 
 of  the  day,  (see  Acts,  x.  Q.) — Gill.  The  Jewi-.h  day  was  divided  into 
 twelve  h"urs,  bccinning  at  six  in  the  morning.  They  had  four  quar- 
 ters : — 1st  quarter,  6  to  9,  called  the  3rd  hour;  2nd  quarter,  9  to  12, 
 called  the  6rh  hour ;  3rd  quarter,  12  to  3  in  the  afternr^on,  called  the 
 Qth  hour;  4'h  quarter,  3  to  6  at  night,  called  the  Uth  ho^xr. —Tatjlm-^s 
 Cat.  18.  He  knth,  'he  shall.'- Green,  Mudge.  22.  Cast  thy  bur. 
 den  vpon  the  Lord,  Enippi\l/ov  cm  Kuptov  Trjv  fxeptuvav  aov,  *  cast  thy 
 
 care  upon  the  Lord,'  Sept.;  Gill-  The  original  Hebrew  is  most  ex- 
 pressive, '  for  a  man's  cares  are  his  burdens.' — Kd.  It  alludes  to  tlie 
 casting  of  the  burthen  on  the  cami.1.— Cj7^  He  shall  nerer  suffer  the 
 righteous  to  he  moved,  pn^j'l  tllO  u'^^^Tb  in""  Hb,  '  he  shall  never  suffer 
 the  righteous  to  be  moved  forever.' — Muse.,  Giissetius,  Gej.,  Luther, 
 Ains.  23.  Destruction,  nnil\  'corruption.' — Vat.,  Muse,  Pise,  ^c. 
 Shftll  not  lice  out  half  their  days,  ^^Jl",  'do  not  halve  their  days,* 
 Vulg. ;  Pag.,  Mont. 
 
 Ps.  LVI. — Title — Upon  Jonath-eUm-rechukim,  ^c,  the  beginning 
 of  a  song. — Aben  Ezra.  '  To  the  tune  of  the  dove  in  the  remote  woods.' 
 — Boch.  To  the  roaster,  for  '  tlie  pigeon  of  the  distant  groves,'  some 
 well-known  piece  of  music— il/urfg-e.  Some  take  it  for  a  mu>ical  in- 
 strument, '  on  the  Jonath,'  ^c.—Boothr.  Rather  the  words  desi;;n  the 
 subject  matt'T  of  the  Psalm,  and  may  be  rendered  'concerning  the 
 mute  dove,  among  them  that  are  afar  ofi",'  or  '  in  far  places,'  and  refer 
 to  David,  wlm,  when  he  wrote  this  Psulm,  was  among  the  Piulisiines. 
 — Gill.  'Concerning  the  dumb  dove  in  foreign  place-^ ;'  possibly-mean- 
 ing, a  prayer  to  Gort  in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  oppressed  band  thut 
 followed  him  and  shared  his  misfortunes  in  distant  places. — A.  Clarke. 
 '  On  the  affliction  of  the  brave  that  were  at  a  distance ;'  *  concerning 
 the  oppression  of  the  handful,  or  little  flock  afar  oft;'  i.e.,  the  little 
 flock  of  true  believers  dispersed  among  the  Gentiles. —  Fenwick.  'To 
 the  giver  of  victory  concerning  the  doves.  Ihe  band  of  those  who  are 
 in  a  far  country.  A  mystical  (or  figurative)  Psiilm  of  David,'  &c. 
 *  Doves,  "  those  who  are  in  a  far  cnuntry ;"  the  faithful  w  ho  are  in  a 
 state  of  persecution  among  the  heathen.'  A  prayer  of  the  Messiah. — 
 Horsley.  1.  Would  swallow  me  up  —  or,   *  P'lnteth  for   my   life.' — 
 
 Boothr.  2.  That  fight  against  me,  O  thou  most  high.  miO,  *  that 
 make  war  upon  me  with  a  high  hand.' — Mudge.  '  Fight  against  nte 
 on  high,' or  highly,  proudly,  and  haughtily. —J^«/j.,  Trmn.,  §-c..  ^c.  *  In 
 thi-ir  pride  fisht  against  me.' — Boothr,  '  Fight  against  me  from  tlie 
 high  or  elevated  place,'— the  place  of  authority  .■  the  cuurt  and  cabinet 
 of  ShuI. — A.  Clarke.  The  Hebrew  word  DIT^  is  nowhere  found  in  the 
 Scriptures  as  applicable  singly  to  God  ;  it  means  elevation  of  condition. 
 — Houh.  4.  In  God  ivill  1  praise  his  word—'  through,'  or  *  by  the 
 
 help  of  God.*— .-i.  Clarke.    '  God  shall  be  the  theme  of  my  praise— he 
 
 Reflections  ON  Ps.  LV. — We  see  here  exhibited,  I.  A/an's 
 faithless ne-fis.  We  feel  abhorrence  at  it  when  we  see  it  dis- 
 played in  the  cases  of  Ahithopbel  and  Judas;  let  us  beware 
 that  we  are  not  guilty  of  the  same  crime.  Let  us  not  kiss  our 
 friends,  and  betray  them  ;  and  let  us  dread  the  idea  of  such 
 duplicity  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
 609 
 
 II.  God's  fait' fulness.  Whoever  changes,  be  changes  not, 
 lie  is  the  same  yesterday,  to  day,  and  for  ever.  His  pro- 
 mises are  the  same,  because  his  perfections  are  tjje  same. 
 Here,  then,  we  may  lean  on  a  stay  that  will  neither  wound  us 
 nor  fail  us.  *  Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  shall 
 sustain  thee  :  he  will  never  suffer  the  righteous  to  be  moved." 
 4   I 
 
DaviiVs  conjidtnce  in  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  LVIL,  LVIII. 
 
 He  praiscth  God, 
 
 have  put  my  trust ;  ^  1  will  not  fear  what  flesh 
 can  do  unto  me. 
 
 5  Every  day  they  wrest  my  words  :  all  their 
 thoughts  are  against  me  for  evil. 
 
 6  *  They  gather  themselves  together,  they 
 hide  themselves,  they  mark  my  steps,  *"  when 
 they  wait  for  my  soul. 
 
 7  Shall  they  escape  by  iniquity?  in  thine 
 anger  cast  down  the  people,  O  God. 
 
 8  Thou  tellest  my  wanderings  :  put  thou  my 
 tears  into  thy  bottle  :  ^  are  they  not  in  thy 
 book  ? 
 
 9  Wlien  I  cry  unto  thee^  then  shall  mine  ene- 
 mies turn  back  :  this  1  know ;  for  "  God  is  for 
 me. 
 
 10  '  III  God  will  I  praise  his  word  :  in  the 
 Lord  will  I  praise  his  word. 
 
 11  In  God  have  1  put  my  trust:  I  will  not 
 be  afraid  what  man  can  do  unto  me. 
 
 12  Thy  vows  are  upon  me,  O  God  :  I  will 
 render  praises  unto  thee. 
 
 13  For  •'thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  from 
 death :  tcilt  not  thoii  deliver  my  feet  from 
 falling,  that  I  may  walk  before  God  in  '  tlie 
 light  of  the  living  ? 
 
 PSALM  LVII. 
 1  David  in  prayer  fieciyig  inilo  God  complaiuith  of  his 
 dangerous  case.      7  Ht  enconrar/tt/i  fiirnsil/'to  pr'ii:>e 
 God. 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  ||  Al-taschitli,  IMichtam  of  David, 
 
 *  when  he  fled  from  Saul  in  the  cave. 
 T>E  *  merciful  unto  me,  O  God,  be  merciful 
 -'-'  unto  me  :  for  my  soul  trusteth  in  thee  : 
 ''  yea,  in  tlie  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  I  make 
 my  refuge,  '^  until  these  calamities  be  overpast. 
 2  I  will  cry  unto  God  most  high  ;  unto  God 
 •*  that  performeth  all  things  for  me. 
 
 d  Ps  ns.  6. 
 
 Is.  31.  3. 
 Heb.  13.  6. 
 
 e  Ps.  59.  3. 
 
 &  140.  S. 
 
 /Ps.  71.  10. 
 
 kPs    Md   B. 
 t  Job  3S.  30. 
 
 II  Or,  Detlrnij 
 
 Psalm. 
 •  1  Sam.  22. 
 
 1.  &  24.  S. 
 
 Ps.  142, 
 
 title. 
 a  Ps.  66.  1. 
 b  Ps.  17.  8. 
 
 &  63.  7. 
 c  Is.  20.  20. 
 d  Ps.  IS8,  9. 
 
 /Ps.  50.  1. 
 j^Ps. 40.11  & 
 W.3.  &6I  7. 
 
 i  Ps   65.  •: 
 St  IH.  3. 
 
 11  Or,  pre- 
 Jiarrd. 
 
 n  Pe.  16,  0. 
 &  3U.  12.  & 
 1*18.  I,  ->. 
 
 o  I'a,  103.  3. 
 
 p  Ps.  36.  5. 
 &  71.  19.  & 
 IO.S.  11.  & 
 
 Pflalm  uf 
 
 3  "^  He  shall  send  from  heaven,  and  save  me 
 Wfrom  tlie  reproach  of  him  that  would  ''swal- 
 low me  up.  Selah.  God  ^  shall  send  forth  his 
 mercy  and  his  truth. 
 
 4  My  soul  is  among  lions  :  and  I  lie  even 
 amoiuj  them  that  are  set  on  fire,  ex^en  the  sons 
 of  men,  ''whose  teeth  are  spears  and  arrows, 
 and  'their  tongue  a  sharp  sword, 
 
 5  ^  Be  thou  exalted,  O  God,  above  the 
 heavens  ;  let  thy  glory  he  above  all  the  earth. 
 
 6  ^  They  have  prepared  a  net  for  my  steps  ; 
 my  soul  is  bowed  down  :  they  have  digged  a 
 pit  before  me,  into  the  midst  whereof  they  are 
 fallen  themselves.     Selali. 
 
 7  "'  My  heart  is  ||  fixed,  O  God,  my  heart  is 
 fixed  :  I  will  sing  and  give  praise. 
 
 8  Awake  up,  "  my  glory  ;  awake,  psaltery 
 and  harp  :   I  7fi j/sc If  wiW  awake  early. 
 
 9  °  1  will  praise  thee,  O  Lord,  among  the 
 people  :  I  will  sing  unto  thee  among  the 
 nations. 
 
 10  ''  For  thy  mercy  is  great  unto  the  heaven.s, 
 and  thy  truth  unto  the  clouds. 
 
 11  ''Be  thou  exalted,  O  God,  above  the  hea- 
 vens :  let  thy  glory  be  above  all  tlie  earth. 
 
 PSALM  LVIIL 
 
 1  David  rcprovcth  teichcd  judges,  3  describeth  the  na- 
 ture of  the  wickedi  (j  devntitU  thim  in  God's  judg- 
 7ntnts,  10  iv/it'Tvat  the  righteous  shall  rrjuice. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  ||  *  Al-taschith,  Michtam  of 
 David. 
 
 "pvO  ye  indeed  speak  righteousness,  O  con- 
 
 ^-^  gregation  ?  do  ye  judge  uprightly,  O  ye 
 
 sons  of  men  V 
 
 2  Yea,  in  heart  ye  work  wickedness;  ''ye 
 weigh  the  violence  of  your  hands  in  the  earth. 
 
 3  '■  The  wicked  are  estranged  from  the  womb  : 
 
 hath  passed  his  word.'— //ors/^'y,  *  In  God  will  I  glory  on  account  of 
 his  word.' — Donthr.  The  oritrinai  signifies,  not  devotional  praise  ad- 
 dressed to  God  himself,  but  tlic  praising  of  God  to  men. — Horsley. 
 What  fiesh,  *  what  feeble  mortals.'  The  Hebrew  is  '  flesh  :'  i.  e..  men 
 who  are  but  flesh,  &c. — Boathr.  6.  My  soul,  ''11?C3.  '  niy  life,' the 
 animal  life.— .4.  Clarke,  so  Horsley  and  Boothr.  7.  Shnll  they  escape, 
 h(i-.~-'  jn  vanity,  or  iniquity,  is  the  escape  for  them  ;*  j.  e.,  they  place 
 their  security  in  a  false  religion. — Homley.  *Kor  this  their  iniquity 
 deliver  me  from  them.'— Buothr.  8.  Tfinu  tellest,  Sfc. — 'while  1  shift 
 my  retreat,  thou  numberc-^t  all  my  hiding  places.* — A.  Clarke.  Tears 
 ill  a  bottle— ?^o  the  Greeks  and  Romans  preserved  tears  shed  for  the 
 dead,  and  deposited  them  in  their  sepulchres.  The  Jews  had  no  such 
 custom.  A  like  figure  is  used  among  the  Hindoos,  who  know  nothing 
 of  the  custom  of  Greece  and  Rome.— iioA.,  Clarke,  Wil.,  Boothr.  We 
 have  little  doubt  that  the  Psalmist  does  refer  to  some  custom.  In  the 
 annual  lamentations  for  the  sonsof  Ali,  the  Persians,  moved  by  tragical 
 discourses,  shed  tears,  which  the  priests  certainly  do  collect  with  pieces 
 nf  cotton,  and  then  press  them  into  a  bottle.— Pl(■^  Bih.  Jn  thy  book; 
 i.  e.,  thou  hast  taken  an  exact  account  of  them. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Vs.L.\\\.~~TiT\.v.—Al-tfisrhith,  rrtCD  b^,  'destroy  not.*  the  be- 
 ginning of  a  song  to  the  tune  of  which  tliis  Psalm  wasset.— .-Ji^en  Ezra, 
 Mud^e.  Very  hkcly  the  words  were  a  diviue  warning  wliich  Uavid 
 received  not  to  kill  Saul  when  he  cut  oflT  his  skirts,  and  when,  after- 
 wards, he  composed  this  Psalm,  he  adopted  it  for  a  title. — So  Clarke. 
 Tlie  words  refer  to  the  charge  David  gave  his  men  not  to  kill  Saul.— 
 Sut.  Probably  this  was  a  prayer  to  God  not  to  suffer  David  to  be  de- 
 stroyed.—TVr7.  A  prayer  of  the  Messiah.— Hors/e^.  1 .  Be  viernifat, 
 or  •  be  gracious. '—.A«n.,  Tretn.,  Cocc,  Pise,  Ains.,  Boothr.     Shadow— 
 
 u'in^.t,  alluding  to  the  hen,  or  the  chenihim. — Gill.  2.  Unfo  God  that, 
 '')tib,  '  nnto  the  strong  God,  against  whom  neither  human  nor  diabo- 
 lical might  can  prevail.*  Per/ornieth,  "voy,  '  woTks,*  'completes.* — A. 
 Clarke.  4.  Among  lions,  nti^b  "|in3.  'dwells  in  parched  places.' — 
 Ken.,  so  Clarke.  '  Dwells  with  the  linn's  dams  ;'  meaning  cruel  and 
 bloody  enemies. — Bp.  Hall,  Mant,  as  Boch.  Set  on  Jire ;  i.e.,  their 
 tongues,  of  hell,  with  wrath  and  fury,  (James,  iii.  6.) — Gill.  G.  Pre' 
 pared  «  net — a  huntsman's  gin  or  springe. — A.  Clarke.  As  the  fowler. 
 — Gill,  Pat.  See  note,  Ps.  vii.  16.  /.  Fixed,  '  prepared.'  or  '  ready.' 
 — Pftff.,  Mont.,  Green,  Horsley.  8.  My  glory — may  be  the  soul,  which 
 Jacob  calls  his  honour,  (Gen.  xlLx.  6;)  or  his  tongue,  (Ps.  xvi.  g,  com- 
 pared with  Acts,  ii.'JG,  and  Ps.  xxx.  12,)  and  so  may  design  vocal  sing- 
 ing.— Gi7/.  The  tongue  is  intended. — Gnen.  The  psaltery  and  harp,  in 
 which  David  delighted. — Hew.  J  myself,  Sf<\  early — that  ia,  in  the 
 morning. — Gilt.     *  I  will  awaken  the  morning.' — Jarchi,  Dathe. 
 
 Ps.  LVIII. — TiThVi—Al'tascliith,  see  Psalm  Ivii.  Saul  had  probably 
 convened  his  coimsellors,  who  had  adjudged  David  guilty  of  treason. — 
 So  Pat.  and  Green.  Some  think  this  Psalm  was  composed  when 
 Saul  condemned  the  priests  to  be  slain,  (1  Sam.  xxii.) — Boothr.  It  is 
 a  prophecy  of  God's  just  judgment  against  the  judges  of  our  Lord. — 
 Horsley.  2.  Ye  tveigh,  §-c. — '  ye  portion  out  the  injustice  of  your 
 hands  upon  tlie  earth.* — Mudge.  'And  with  your  hands  ye  cnnmiit 
 violence  in  the  land.' — Qreen,  so  Boothr.  *  You  concert  your  schemes 
 of  violence.' — Horsley. 
 
 '  Ye  exactly  adapt  the  violence  of  your  hands.' 
 
 To  weigh,  means  here  to  determine  with  exactness — deliberate  villany. 
 —  Waif.         3.  The  wicked,  ^r..— 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LVI,  —  We  here  see,  I.  .^  ^/ood man's 
 practice  in  trouble.  Instead  of  murmuring  or  complaining  to  help- 
 less fellow-creatures,  be  has  recourse  to  prayer.  AVho  would 
 go  to  the  stream  when  he  can  refresh  hiraselt'  at  the  fountain? 
 
 II.  A  good  jnan's  consolation  iii  trouble.  IJis  tears  are  not  un- 
 noticed by  an  unwearying  eye;  be  is  not  alone,  for  God  is 
 with  him.  God  has  delivered  him  in  former  difficulties,  and 
 can  deliver  him  again. 
 
 III.  A  good  man  s  resolution  in  trouble.  He  resolves  to  pay 
 the  debt  of  gratitude  for  deliverance.  Has  God  preserved 
 our  lives,— saved  us  from  our  bitter  enemies,— rescued  us 
 from  our  false  friends?  Let  a  new  song  of  gratitude  flow  from 
 our  lips,  and  a  new  consecration  to  his  service  mark  our  lives. 
 
 Reflections   on    Ps.  LVII.  — This  psalm  leads  us  to  note 
 David*s — I.  Danger,   Some  good  men  have  more  troubles  than 
 610 
 
 others.     David's  lot  will  illustrate  Bunyan's  quaint  descrip- 
 tion of  his  Pilgrim  : — 
 
 *  Tlie  Christian  man  is  seldom  long  at  ease. 
 For  when  one  trouble  doth  him  leave,  another  doth  him  seize.' 
 Perhaps  good  men  have  often  as  much  to  endure  from  the 
 tongues  of  the  world  and  the  slander  of  professors  as  from  any 
 other  cause.     The  tongue  is,  indeed,  '  an  unruly  member,* 
 and  is  often  '  set  on  fire  of  hell.' 
 
 II.  Deliverance.  If  David  had  to  sing  of  trials,  he  had  al- 
 ways to  affix  a  song  of  mercy.  In  the  experience  of  those  who 
 watch  the  band  of  God,  *  be  bath  also  set  the  one  over  agaiust 
 the  other.' 
 
 III.  Praise.  This  is  the  end  of  a  good  man's  trials;  and 
 when  the  last  trial  is  over,  '  praise  shall  employ  our  nobler 
 powers.' 
 
David  reprovLth  the  wicked. 
 
 PSALMS,  LIX. 
 
 He  piai/ethfor  tleliveran 
 
 ft'. 
 
 tliey  go  astray  f  as  soon  as  they  De  bom, 
 speaking  lies. 
 
 ■t  '  Their  poison  is  f  like  the  poison  of  a  ser- 
 pent :  they  are  like  ''  the  deaf  ||  adder  that 
 stoppeth  her  ear  ; 
 
 o  Which  uill  not  hearken  to  tlie  voice  of 
 clianners,  ||  charming  never  so  wisely. 
 
 (5  "  Break  tlieir  teeth,  O  God,  in  their  mouth  : 
 hreak  out  the  great  teeth  of  the  young  lions, 
 
 0  I.ORO. 
 
 7  '  Let  tliem  melt  away  as  waters  xihich  run 
 continnally  :  H-hcn  he  hendetli  /*/.«  boiD  to 
 shoal  liis  arrows,  let  them  lie  as  cut  in  pieces. 
 
 8  As  a  snail  which  meltetli,  let  ere/-//  one  of 
 ihem  pass  away  :  ^  lihe  the  untimely  birth  of  a 
 wcinnui,  ihot  they  may  not  see  the  sun. 
 
 9  Before  yonr  pots  can  feel  tlie  thorns,  he 
 shall  take  them  away  ''as  with  a  whirlwind, 
 f  both  living,  and  in  his  wrath. 
 
 10  '  The  righteous  shall  rejoice  when  he  seeth 
 the  vengeance  :  ''  he  shall  wash  his  feet  in  the 
 blood  of  the  wicked. 
 
 1 1  '  So  tliat  a  man  .shall  say.  Verily  there  is 
 fa  reward  for  tlie  righteous:  verily  he  is  a 
 God  that  '"judgeth  in  the  eaith. 
 
 PSALM  LIX. 
 
 1  Diivid  prayeth  to  be  dvlicen  d  from  his  enemies.     6 
 
 He  comphtineth  of  their  crutlty.  8  Jh:  trtisMh  in 
 God,  II  He  prayeth  ayainst  them.  16  He  praiseth 
 God. 
 
 t  Heb./ro 
 the  belly. 
 
 t  Heb.  nc- 
 
 rorrfirjjD-   In 
 
 Ihe  likeiufs. 
 tZJer.  8.  17. 
 II   Or,  (!*;» 
 II  Or,  be  th- 
 
 rharmer  n^- 
 
 ejnb  4    10. 
 
 Fa.  :i    7. 
 /Josh.  7.  .'. 
 
 1'h.  113.  It 
 
 i  I's.  52.  6 
 
 St  04.  10.  & 
 
 107.  42. 
 k  Ps.  63.  23. 
 I  Pa.  92.  15. 
 t  Heb./r.i(7 
 
 I'f  Hie,  <S-c. 
 
 is.  3.  10. 
 
 II  Oi, Deilrni, 
 Hi)  i,  A  golden 
 PsaUn  of 
 Da<id. 
 
 •  Ps.  57, 
 titl.-. 
 
 •  1  Sam.  19 
 It. 
 
 nPs,  18.  4S. 
 \  Het..  stt  ,ne 
 uii  high. 
 
 b  Ps.  56.  e. 
 c  I  Sam.  "ii 
 
 4  IV.  :«.a.^ 
 J*.  M.  as, 
 
 \  Heb. to  nice/ 
 
 /Pa.  .57.  -I. 
 
 12 
 
 K  Ps.  10.  II, 
 l.'J  f<  64.  5. 
 fc  n.  11.  & 
 
 at.  7, 
 A  I  Sara.  19. 
 
 16.  Pb.2.4. 
 I  ver.  17.  8t 
 
 Pa.  62,  2. 
 \  Heb.  mv 
 
 higli]tlac<'. 
 k  Ps.  21.  3, 
 /  Pa.  54..  7. 
 
 fc  02.  n ,  & 
 
 112   8. 
 t  Heb.  mi;- 
 nhsftiiTS. 
 Vs.  56.  2. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  ||  *  Al-taschith,  Rlichtam  of 
 Da.vi(I;  *wliea  Saul  sunt,  and  they  watched  the 
 Lumje  to  kill  him. 
 
 T^ELIVER  ■'me  from  mine  enemies,  O  my 
 -^  God  :  f  defend  me  from  them  that  rise  up 
 aj^aiii.st  me. 
 
 2  Deliver  me  from  the  workers  of  iniquity, 
 and  save  me  from  bloody  men. 
 
 3  For,  lo,  they  lie  in  wait  for  my  soul  :  ^  the 
 miglity  are  gathered  against  me  ;  '^  not  for  my 
 transgression,  nor  for  my  sin,  O  Loud. 
 
 4  They  run  and  prepare  themselves  without 
 mi/  fault :  '*  awake  f  to  help  me,  and  behold. 
 
 5  Thou  therefore,  O  Lord  God  of  hosts,  the 
 God  of  Israel,  awake  to  visit  all  the  heathen  . 
 be  not  merciful  to  any  wicked  transgressors. 
 Selah. 
 
 6  ''■  They  return  at  evening  :  they  make  a 
 noise  like  a  dog,  and  go  round  about  the 
 city. 
 
 7  Behold,  they  belch  out  with  their  mouth  : 
 •"swords  are  in  their  lips:  for  *''who,  sai/  thet/t 
 doth  hear? 
 
 8  But  •*  thou,  O  Lord,  shalt  laugh  at  them  ; 
 thou  shalt  have  all  the  heathen  in  derision. 
 
 9  Because  of  his  strength  will  I  wait  upon 
 thee  :  'lor  God  is  t  "ly  defence, 
 
 1 0  The  God  of  my  mercy  shall  ^  prevent  me  : 
 God  shall  let  '  me  see  tui/  desire  upon  frifihie 
 eiieuiies. 
 
 *  The  wicked  are  strangers  to  pity,  [Dm  by  metononiy  put  for  bowels,] 
 They  turn  aside  from  compassion,  telling  lies.' — Green. 
 
 '  They  stray  from  sincerity  and  speak  falsehood. '—Gerff/c*. 
 1.  The  de II f  udder,  tliere  is  a  serpent  believert  to  be  deaf,  or  very  dull  of 
 hearint^,  called  'the  beaver  serpent.'  The  bite  is  mortal  in  a  few 
 minutes,  and  it  never  gets  out  of  the  way.  5.  Charmers — serpent 
 eharmers  arc  to  be  fuund  in  every  village  of  India.  The  fangs  of  those 
 to  whom  tliey  play  their  music  are  no  duubt  drawn.  One  who  seemed 
 however,  to  rely  on  his  charms,  ventured  to  try  their  efficacy  on  a 
 Cobra  Capelia,  or  hooded  snake,  let  out  of  a  gentleman's  cage,  and  the 
 creature  fastening  on  his  arm,  he  was  dead  before  night. — Ruh.  A 
 particular  cbiss  of  Hindoos  read  incantations  to  serpents  as  an  antidote 
 against  their  poison,  &c. —  Ward.  The  notion  of  charming  serpents 
 prevails  throughout  Barbary. —  Dr,  Shaiv.  Some  species  of  serpents 
 appear  to  love  music.  On  hearing  the  drum,  they  naturally  rear  their 
 head  and  the  upper  part  of  their  bodies,  and  this  is  what  they  call 
 dancing.  —  I^iiebuhr,  Trav.  in  Egypt.  The  custom  is  mentioned  by 
 Vugil : 
 
 '  Frigidus  in  pratis  cantando,  rumpitur  anguis.' 
 
 *  In  the  meadows,  the  cold  snake  is  burst  by  incantation.' 
 
 JEct.  viii.  71. 
 6.  Break  their  teeth — said  still  in  reference  to  the  serpents  whose 
 power  to  hurt  is  destroyed  by  the  charmer  extracting  their  poisonous 
 Tangs. — So  Boofhr.,  Mant,  Rob.  It  alludes  to  the  lions,  and  means 
 'lessen  their  power,'  for  much  of  the  lion's  power  to  destroy  is  in  his 
 teeth. — So  Clarke.  The  great  teeth,  'the  grinders.' — Hursley,  Mnnf, 
 Boothr.  /.  Melt  away  as  waters  —  'as  speeds  the  mountain  flood 
 away.'  The  comparison  is  to  the  rapid  passing  away  of  the  mountain 
 tnrrents,  wliich  are  evaporated  by  the  sun  or  drunk  in  the  desert. — So 
 HJant  and  Clarke. 
 
 '  Let  them  waste  away  like  water  which  runneth  continually.* 
 
 Green. 
 Lt't  them  be  as  cut,  ^c. — '  when  devising  mischief  and  shooting  out 
 bitter  words,  let  it  be  as  if  the  string  of  his  bow  and  arrows  were  all 
 cut  to  pieces.'— Gi7/.  The  impotence  of  human  efforts  against  the 
 divine  counsels  is  here  described  by  the  broken  arrow,  which,  instead 
 of  hitting  the  mark,  falls  useless  at  the  feet,— So  Nant ;  or  '  when  God 
 bends  his  bow.  (Ps.  vii.  12,  13,)  let  his  enemies  be  cut  off  as  the  tops  of 
 the  ears  of  corn  ;'  as  the  word  used  signifies,  (Job,  xxiv.  24.) — Gill.  The 
 words  may  be  rendered,  'let  him  (God)  direct  his  arrows;  as  the  tops 
 of  the  ears  of  corn  are  cut  off,  so  let  them  be.' — Mich. 
 
 '  Let  God  shoot  his  arrows  at  them,  and  let  them  be  cut  off.' 
 
 Green. 
 
 '  When  they  aim  the  arrows,  let  them  miss  the  mark.'— iJoo/Ar. 
 8.  As  a  snail—'  like  wa.\,'  Sept.,  Vidg.;  Horsley.    '  Let  them  be  like 
 
 a  flood,  [from  impetuous  thunder  storms,]  flowing  swiftly  off.*  The 
 word,  ^ib^UJ,  here  translated  '  snail,'  is  of  the  same  import  with  nbaiD, 
 (Ps.  Ixix.  )5,)  and  the  image  more  appropriate.  —  Boothr.,  and  some 
 others.     Like  the  untimely,  §c. — 
 
 '  Like  an  abortion  which  seeth  not  the  sun.'— BooMr. 
 
 9.  Before  your  7)0^5— they  heat  their  pots  in  the  east  with  thorns,  or 
 small  twigs,  which  burn  remarkably  quick.— War.  chap.  iv.  obs.  20. 
 
 •  Or  ere  the  cavildron's  side  have  felt 
 The  crackhng  thorn.' — Munt. 
 '  Deforc  their  pots  are  healed  with  boughs,' — Boothr. 
 ().  A  whirlwind— B.  camel  was  lifted  and  thrown  a  great  distance  by  one 
 of  the  whirlwinds  of  the  desert,  and  three  of  his  ribs  broken. — So  Bruce. 
 
 10.  Wash  his  feet  in  the  A/(j'*f^— expressive  of  great  slaughter.  —  ^. 
 (Uarke.  A  similitude  from  the  effusion  of  blood  in  fierce  battles,  so 
 that  the  feet  of  the  victors  are  moistened  in  it. — Waif.  \\.  A  reward, 
 'ID.  *  fruit,*  Viilg.;  Pag.,  Mant. 
 
 Ps.  LIX. — TiTLK — When  Saul  sent,  ^c. — see  I  Sam.  xix.  II.  Pro- 
 bably composed  on  the  inroad  of  the  Assyrians,  in  the  time  of  Heze- 
 kiah. — Mudge.  Most  probably  on  the  confederacy  of  the  Ammonites 
 and  Syrians,  (2  Sam.  x.)— Horsley.  Probably  written  by  Nehemiah 
 or  Esdras, — Cat.,  and  composed  on  the  opposition  of  Sanballat. — 
 Clarke.  A  prayer  of  the  Messiah,  complaining  of  his  enemies,  and 
 predicting  their  punishment. — Horsley.  I.  Defend  me,  fyc.,  ^i3:irn, 
 *  set  me  on  higti  alinve  them,'  out  of  their  reach. —  Vat.,  so  Pise, 
 Core.  8fC.  3.  The  mighty,  Saul  and  his  courtiers.— iJooMr.  Trans- 
 gression, 'y^UD,  'my  rebellion.' — Gej.,  Mirh.  4.  Without  my  fault, 
 as   it  respected   Saul.  —  Boothr.  5.   Be   not   merciful,    'shew  no 
 
 favour  to  any  of  those  who  practise  idolatry.' — Green.  'Take  thee 
 no  pity  upon  any  who  revolt  to  idolatry.'— Hor.s/ey.  Apostates  may 
 be  meant,  such  as  deal  perfidiously  and  treacherously,  ^132.  Selah 
 — see  note,  Ps.  iii.  2.  The  Lord's  mercy  and  patience  towards  the 
 inveterate  enemies  of  his  cause  appeared  to  David  ruinous  to  the 
 interests  of  true  religion  in  Israel,  but  the  words  are  also  a  predic- 
 tion.—i'wC/.  6.  Like  a  dog,  and  go,  §-c.— dogs  abound  in  the  streets 
 of  Aleppo,  without  any  owners,  and  live  upon  the  most  putrid  sub- 
 stances.—flwsse//.  The  Turks  reckon  a  dog  a  filthy  creature,  and 
 drive  them  from  their  houses. — Busbequius.  In  like  manner,  dogs 
 seem  to  have  been  looked  upon  by  the  Jews  in  a  disagreeable  light, 
 (1  Sam.  xvii.  43  ;  2  Kings,  viii.  13;)  yet  they  had  them  in  considerable 
 numbers  in  their  cities.  They  seem  to  have  been  forced  to  seek  their 
 food  where  they  could  fiml  it  —Har.  The  image  is  that  of  a  rapacious 
 beast,  returning  at  a  stated  season  for  a  sly  purpose.— Hors^e//.  Under- 
 stand the  allusion  to  beasts  of  pi*ey,  which  leave  their  dens  and  go 
 prowling  about  the  cities  and  villages  to  get  offal,  and  entrap  domestic 
 animals.- So  Clarke.        9-  Because  of  his  strength,  '  O.  my  strength.* 
 
 Rf.flections  on  Ps.  LVIIL  —  We  behold  here,  L  A/u/i's 
 injustice.  There  is  enough  of  this  in  the  world  to  slievr  man's 
 depravity.  The  elements  of  it  come  into  the  world  with  him, 
 and,  like  a  serpent,  he  wounds  and  emits  the  deadly  poison. 
 The  history  of  the  church  and  the  world  is  a  history  of  injus- 
 tice. 
 
 11.  GoiVs  riyhteousness.  Let  us  not  imagine  that  the  righte- 
 ous God  is  insensible  to  the  ahounding  uiiquity  of  mankind. 
 Oil 
 
 Every  criminal  must  one  day  meet  the  charges  against  him, 
 and  appear  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ;  then,  how- 
 great  soever  may  have  been  bis  power  on  earth,  and  how  in- 
 significant soever  the  creature  of  (jod"s  love  whom  he  has 
 wronged,  the  Almighty  Lawgiver  shall  deal  with  the  oftender 
 in  a  way  answerable  to  the  everlasting  perfection  of  his  na- 
 ture, and  men  and  angels  shall  say,  '  there  is  a  reward  for  the 
 righteous — Ciod  is  just.' 
 
David  complaineth  of  his  enemies. 
 
 PSALMS,  LX.,  LXI. 
 
 and  of  former  jit  dfjmcnts. 
 
 1 1  ""  Slay  them  not,  lest  my  people  forget  : 
 scatter  tliem  by  thy  power  ;  and  bring  them 
 down,  O  Lord  our  shield. 
 
 12  "  For  the  sin  of  their  mouth  and  the  words 
 of  their  lips  let  them  even  be  taken  in  their 
 pride  :  and  for  cursing  and  lying  which  they 
 speak. 
 
 13  **  Consume  them  in  wrath,  consume  them, 
 that  they  may  not  he:  and  ""let  them  know 
 that  God  ruleth  in  Jacob  unto  the  ends  of  the 
 earth.     Selah. 
 
 14  And  **  at  evening  let  them  return  ;  and  \e\, 
 them  make  a  noise  like  a  dog,  and  go  round 
 about  the  city. 
 
 15  Let  them  •"  wander  up  and  down  ffor 
 meat,  [J  and  grudge  if  they  be  not  satisfied. 
 
 16  But  I  will  sing  of  thy  power;  yea,  I  will 
 sing  aloud  of  thy  mercy  in  the  morning  :  for 
 thou  hast  been  my  defence  and  refuge  in  the 
 day  of  my  trouble. 
 
 17  Unto  thee,  ^  O  my  strength,  will  I  sing: 
 *  for  God  is  my  defence,  and  the  God  of  my 
 mercy. 
 
 PSALM  LX. 
 
 1  David,  coinpluininff  to  God  of  former  mdyment,  4 
 7101C,  upon  better  hope,  jirayeih  for  diUveranci:  6 
 Comfortinij  himself  in  God's  promises,  he  craveth 
 that  help  whereon  hetrusteth. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  *  upon  Shuslian-eduth.  [|Michtam 
 of  David,  to  teach ;  *  when  he  strove  with  Aram- 
 naharaim  and  with  Aram-zobah,  when  .loab  returned, 
 and  smote  of  Edo:n  in  the  valley  of  salt  twelve  thou- 
 sand. 
 
 r\  GOD,  "  thou  hast  cast   us  off,  thou  hast 
 ^^  t^f^^ttered  us,  thou  hast  been  displeased  ; 
 O  turn  thyself  to  us  again. 
 2  Thou   hast   made    the   earth   to   tremble ; 
 
 'II  Su  Gen.  4 
 12,  15. 
 
 «Prf>.  12.13, 
 &  18.7. 
 
 o  Ps.  7.  9. 
 p  Ps,  83.  18. 
 
 rjnb  15.23. 
 
 Ps.  109.  111. 
 t  Hoh.  loeal. 
 \\Ov,i/th'v 
 
 he  wit  lalit- 
 Jirrl,  thrn 
 
 thri,  MiiU 
 
 it  ay  all 
 
 mght. 
 
 iPs.  19.  1. 
 (  vcr.  9,  10. 
 
 ♦  Ps,  ao 
 
 II  Or..1soldfii 
 Paalni. 
 
 ♦  2  Sain. 8.3, 
 13.  1  Chr. 
 18.3,  13. 
 cir.  low. 
 
 a  Ps.  It.  9. 
 
 d  Is   51.  17, 
 22.  Jer.  35. 
 
 /Ps,  108.  6, 
 
 ;.  Josh.  1.  6- 
 i  Gen.  12  fi. 
 frjosh.  IS.27. 
 
 /  See  Deut. 
 33.  17. 
 »  Geu.49.10. 
 
 1  2  Sam  8.2. 
 '  Pa.  IU8.  9. 
 
 2  Sara.  8  M, 
 p2  Sain. 8.1. 
 II  Or,  Iri- 
 
 um}>h  thou 
 
 (by  an 
 
 m>ny!) 
 
 Sec  Ps.  1U8. 
 
 la. 
 t  Heb.  ciVy 
 
 ofttrength. 
 
 •i  Sam.  1 1. 1. 
 
 It  12.  2(i. 
 Q  ver.  1.  8e 
 
 Pa   41.  9.  & 
 
 103.  II. 
 r  Josh.  7.  12. 
 (  Ps.  Ill,  S. 
 
 &  Mn.  3. 
 
 t  Hcb.  Sfilm- 
 
 I  Nu  &■).  IS. 
 ICIir.lil  13, 
 u  Is.  63.  8. 
 
 thou  hast  broken  it :  ^  heal  the  breaches 
 thereof  ;  for  it  shaketh. 
 
 3  '^  Thou  hast  shewed  thy  people  hard  things  : 
 ''  thou  hast  made  us  to  drink  the  wine  of 
 astonishment, 
 
 4  "-'  Thou  hast  given  a  banner  to  them  that 
 feared  thee,  that  it  may  be  displayed  because 
 of  the  truth.     Selah. 
 
 5  *"  That  thy  beloved  may  be  delivered  ;  save 
 with  thy  right  hand,  and  hear  me. 
 
 6  God  hath  ^  spoken  in  his  holiness  ;  I  will 
 rejoice,  1  will  ^divide  '  Shechein,and  mete  out 
 ^  the  valley  of  Succoth. 
 
 7  Gilead  is  mine,  and  Manasseh  is  mine , 
 '  Ephraim  also  is  the  strength  of  mine  head  ; 
 "^  Judah  is  my  lawgiver; 
 
 8  "  Moab  /*■  my  washpot ;  °  over  Edom  will 
 I  cast  out  my  shoe  :  ■'  Philistia,  ||  triumph  thou 
 because  of  me. 
 
 9  Who  will  bring  me  into  the  f  strong  city? 
 who  will  lead  me  into  Edom? 
 
 10  Wilt  not  thou,  O  God,  ichich  ''  hadst  cast 
 us  off?  and  thou,  O  God,  which  didst  ""not  go 
 out  with  our  armies? 
 
 11  Give  us  help  from  trouble:  for  "vain  is 
 the  t  help  of  man. 
 
 1*2  Through  God  *  we  shall  do  valiantly  :  for 
 he  it  is  that  shall  "  tread  down  our  enemies. 
 
 PSALM  LXI. 
 1    David  Jiecth  to  God  upon  his  former  experience.     4 
 He  vow  tth  perpetual  service  unto  him,  because  of  his 
 promises. 
 To  the  chief  Musician  upon  Neginah,  A  Ps(dm  of  David. 
 TTEAR  my   cry,  O  God  ;  attend  unto  my 
 -*--*-  prayer. 
 2  From  the  end  ot  the  earth  will  I  cry  unto 
 
 —Boothr.  'My  defence/  n:iao,  '  my  high  refuge,'  or  'high  tower.' 
 —  Vut.,  Pise,  Gej..  Slick.  1 1 .  Slur/  them  not,  ^c,  '  do  not  utterly  de- 
 stroy them,  lest  my  countryman  lose  the  remembrance  of  it;  but  let 
 them  remain  a  just  monument  of  Uiine  anger.*— Tj'ui.'e//.  The  won!?, 
 1 1—15,  have  a  prophetic  character  ;  had  Israel  been  wholly  extirpated, 
 or  incorporated  amont'  the  nations,  their  crime  and  punishment  had 
 been  forgotten,  but  their  continuance  as  a  separate  and  scattered 
 people  is  of  vast  consequence  to  the  world  at  large.— So  Scott.  12.  For 
 the  sin,  fyc. — 
 
 *  For  the  sin  of  their  mouth— the  word  of  their  lips. 
 And  for  their  haughtiness,  let  them  be  taken. '—Boothr. 
 13.  Consume  them,  let  th^m  be  sensibly,  but  graduallv,  wasted,  that 
 standers-by  may  see  the  hand  of  God.— So  Henri/.  'Finish.'  'bring 
 to  an  end,'  i.  e.,  tl.i;  banditti ;  '  slay  them  not  as  individuals,  but  put  an 
 end  to  their  con-piiicy.'  It  cannot  allude  to  the  Jews,  for  verses  5  and 
 R  speak  of  the  hciithen.— W'tV.  14.  Let  them  make  a  noiV  — the 
 punishment  of  David's  persecutors  would  be  answerable  to  their 
 crimes— howling  for  hunger.  The  passage  may  prophetically  point 
 out  the  extreme  famine  in  Jerusalem  when  bcsiejred  by  the  Komaiis. 
 Scolt. 
 
 Ps.  LX. — Title— ShusfiaJi-edufh,  the  beginning  of  a  song  to  the 
 tune  of  which  this  Psalm  was  set.— .^Ae«  Ezra.  7irn2,  Shuskan,  from 
 IflD,  s(>,  an  instrument  of  six  strings;  rm?,  'a  testimony.'  may  sig- 
 nify the  oracle  or  ark  of  the  testimony,  and  so  the  hexichord  was  an 
 instrument  that  solemnly  waited  on  that ;  or,  understanding  testimo- 
 nies as  expressions  of  gratitude,  it  may  signify  'a  musical  instrument 
 used  in  thanksgivings.' — Ho  Ham.  When  he  strove,  Sfc,  'when  he 
 was  at  strife  with  the  Syrians  of  Mesopotamia,  and  the  Svrians  ofZoba; 
 wlienJoab  returned  from  smiting  12,000  Edomitesin  the  Vaie  of  M*  lah.' 
 — Bonthr.  Messiaii  trusting  in  God.  His  enemies  warned  of  their  im- 
 pending late.— Hoes.  i.  Thou  hast  scattered  us,  i:nS~iD.  *  thou  hast 
 broken  usj'  as  in  Ps.  Ixxx.  12.— Mont.,  Mich.,  &c.  2.  Made  the  earth 
 t'l  tremble,  a  poetic  hyperbole,  expressive  of  great  conflicts  and  wars. — 
 Waif.  3.  The  wine  of  astonish  me>it—rt)^'\r\,  'thick,  turbid  wine.'— 
 Hew.  The  word  means  agitation,  confusion,  like  that  occasioned  by 
 intoxicating  liquor;  vide  bS'i—Par.    This  metaphor  is  common  to  the 
 
 prophet.s. — Boothr.  It  is  equivalent  to  our  metaphor  of  swallowing  a 
 bitter  draught. — Hew.  The  cup  and  the  wine  are  used  as  emblems  both 
 of  prosperity  and  adversity;  the  latter  is  here  intended. — .So  Waif. 
 4.  Thou  hast  given,  '  give  thou,' &c.  The  meaning  is,  '  Do  thou,  O  God, 
 become  our  leader-,  carry,  as  it  were,  a  banner  before  us,  and  lead  us 
 on  to  victory.* — Buothr.  6  In  /tis  holiness,  in  his  sanctuary. — Madge. 
 By  his  holy  one,  by  a  holy  pri'phet. — Bp.  Home.  '  By  his  holy  oracle  ;' 
 it  seems  to  refer  to  ttie  piomi.se  of  dividing  the  whole  land  of  Canaan, 
 (Josh.  i.  6;  Ps.  Ixx-xix.  35.)  Shccheni— Succoth.  both  in  the  tribe  of 
 Gad.  They  seem  to  have  been  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  but  God 
 promises  to  divide  them  among  his  people.  7-  Gilead  ismijie,  ^c. — 
 on  my  side.  The  strength  of  mine  head — the  helmet. — Green.  '  Equi- 
 valent to  Ephraim  is  my  horn,  the  chief  instrument  of  my  power.' — 
 Hew.  Lawgii'er,  or  ratlier  'sceptre;'  the  original  signifies  'a  ruler's 
 staff,*  ppna,  Diivid  means  that  this  tribe  was  the  support  ol  his  crown. 
 —  Green.  Vide,  pn,  Par.  8.  Washpot,  wasliing  basin. —  Wulf.  A 
 vessel  for  low  and  mean  service,  denoting  the  servile  subjectit)n  of  the 
 Moabites  to  David,  (2  Sam.  viii.  -2.) — GUI.  Amasias,  king  of  Egypt,  ex- 
 pressed the  meanness  of  his  own  origin  by  comparing  himself  to  an 
 image  that  had  been  fvirmed  from  a  washpot. — Le  Clerc.  Cast  out  my 
 shoe,  as  a  token  of  possessing  the  land,  (Uuth,  iv.  7,)— So  Wil.  Trample 
 on  their  necks, — A.  Clarke,  Munt,  (see  Josh.  x.  24  ;  compare  2  Sam. 
 viii.  14 ;)  they  '  shall  serve  me  like  slaves,  taking  care  of  my  sandals 
 when  put  off.' — Boothr.,  (seeMat.iii.  11  ;  Lukc.iii.  l6;)  hohXso  Gataker, 
 so  likewise  Par.  Cast  his  shoe,  as  into  an  obscure  corner,  such  as  tliey 
 threw  their  sandals  into  before  they  sat  down  to  meat. — See  Merrick. 
 He  would  put  his  foot  on  Edom  as  on  a  stool  to  loose  his  shoe. — Rusenm. 
 Philislia,  ^c,  the  language  of  irony. —  Wil.  'Over  Philistia  give  a 
 shout  of  triumph.* — Bp.  Hume.  'Is  my  shout  of  triumph.' — Hurs. 
 'Shall  I  triumph.' — Boothr.  p.  The  strong  city — Edom,   both  the 
 
 same.  Edom  was  situated  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock,  and  on  the  height 
 of  the  hill,  (Jer.  xlix.  16.)— G(7/,  so  Mant.  12.  Tread  down— as  wine 
 in  tlie  streets,  or  grapes  in  a  wine  press. — Gilt. 
 
 Ps.  LXI.  —  TiTLK — Upon  Negi7iah,  Sfc. — the  like  word  to  that  in  the 
 title  of  Psalm  iv.,  where  see  the  note.  This  Psalm  was  probably  written 
 at  Mahanaim,  (2  Sam.  xvii.  22,  24.) — Gill.  It  was  prohably  written  at 
 the  close  of  the  captivity.— So  Clarke.        2.  From  the  end  of  the  earth. 
 
 Rlflections  on  Ps.  LIX.  —Here  we  see,  I.  A  good  man 
 sufftving.  Let  us  not  be  grieved  if  we  suffer  for  well-doing  ; 
 that  leaves  no  sting  in  the  conscience. 
 
 II.  A  good  jnan  pleading  under  sufferinq.  It  is  obvious  that 
 David's  great  concern  was,  lest  the  honour  of  God  should  be 
 implicated  in  bis  forbearance.  One  test  of  a  pious  man  is  a 
 tender  concern  for  God's  honour. 
 
 Ref!,£ciions  on  Ps.  LX We  may  improve  our  reflec- 
 tions on  this  psalm  by  recollecting— I.  That  in  the  Christian 
 6 1  -2 
 
 warfare  there  are  great  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  nor  can  we 
 ever  subdue  the  enemies  in  their  strongholds  but  by  Almighty 
 aid. 
 
 IL  Th-ii  in  the  Cliristian  warfare  Divine  promises  are  pledged 
 for  our  aid.  Kvery  obstacle  shall  yield  before  us,  for  God  has 
 promised  it  shall. 
 
 '  The  feeblest  saint  shall  win  the  day, 
 Though  death  and  hell  obstruct  the  way.* 
 
David's  confidence  in  Gi>d. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXII.,  LXIII. 
 
 His  manner  of  blessing  God. 
 
 thee,  when  my  heart  is  overwhelmed  :  lead  me 
 to  the  rock  that  is  higher  than  I. 
 
 3  For  thou  hast  been  a  shelter  for  me,a)ic?''a 
 strong  tower  from  the  enemy. 
 
 4  ''  I  will  abide  in  thy  tabernacle  for  ever : 
 "^  I  will  II  trust  in  the  covert  of  thy  wings. 
 Selah. 
 
 5  For  thou,  O  God,  hast  heard  my  vows  :  thou 
 hast  given  me  the  heritage  of  those  that  fear 
 thy  name. 
 
 C  ''  t  Thou  wilt  prolong  the  king's  life  :  and  his 
 years  fas  many  generations. 
 
 7  He  shall  abide  before  God  for  ever :  O 
 prepare  mercy  °  and  truth,  wAi'cA  may  preserve 
 him. 
 
 8  So  will  I  sing  praise  unto  thy  name  for  ever, 
 that  I  may  daily  perform  my  vows. 
 
 PSALM  LXIL 
 
 I  Zfavid proftssiiifi  his  confidence  in  God  discovrageth 
 his  enemies.  5  la  the  same  confidence  he  encourageili 
 the  t  odhj.  9  No  trust  is  to  be  put  in  wortdhj  Uiinys. 
 1 1  Power  a7td  mercy  htlong  to  God. 
 
 To  till"  fliit-'f  Musician,  to  *  Jeduthun,  A  Paalra  of  David. 
 
 ||'1"^RULY  "my  soul  f  waiteth  upon  God: 
 -*-    from  him  cometli  my  salvation. 
 
 2  ''  He  only  is  my  rock  and  my  salvation  ; 
 he  is  my  f  defence  ;  "  I  shall  not  be  greatly 
 moved. 
 
 3  How  long  will  ye  imagine  mischief  against 
 a  man  ?  ye  shall  be  slain  all  of  you  :  ^  as  a 
 bowing  wall  shall  ye  he,  and  as  a  tottering 
 fence. 
 
 4  They  only  consult  to  cast  him  down  from 
 his  excellency:  they  delight  in  lies:  'they 
 bless  with  their  mouth,  but  they  curse  f  in- 
 wardly.    Selah. 
 
 5  ''  My  soul,  wait  thou  only  upon  God  ;  for  my 
 expectation  is  from  him. 
 
 6  He  only  is  my  rock  and  my  salvation  :  he 
 is  my  defence  ;  I  shall  not  be  moved. 
 
 7  ^  In  God  is  my  salvation   and  my  glory  : 
 
 b  Ps.  27.  '1. 
 
 c  Ps.17.8.  «i 
 57.  1.S.91  4. 
 
 II  Or,  muke 
 mti  refuge. 
 
 d  Pa,  21.  4. 
 
 t  Heb.  Tl,m 
 *k.>/t  add 
 ii.iy*  til  the 
 diiyi  It/  tlie 
 
 1019. 
 •  1  Chr.  25. 
 
 1,3. 
 II  Or,  Only. 
 «  P«.  S3.  20. 
 t  Heb.  ;• 
 
 iilmt 
 
 Ps,  ti5    \. 
 I,  ver,  6, 
 t  Heb,  liitjli 
 
 rl,,c,. 
 
 I's.  69,9,  17, 
 f  rs,  ,H7  2^, 
 d  Is,  30,  13, 
 
 /\ec.  I, 
 
 ff  Jer,  3,  23, 
 
 h  1  Sam,  1, 
 15.  Ps.  42  4, 
 Lam,  2,  19, 
 
 i  Pb.  is,  2. 
 
 k  Ps  39   5, 
 II.  Is.  4U, 
 Ifi,l7,  Hoai, 
 3,  4. 
 
 II  Or,  aiihe. 
 
 I  Job  31.  25, 
 Ps   52,  7, 
 Luke  12,15, 
 I  Tim, 0,17, 
 
 -J  .Tob  33.  14, 
 
 ,.  Kev,  10,  I, 
 
 ||Or.  ttrenglh. 
 
 o  Ps,  86,  15, 
 *<  103,  8 
 I>aii,  9,  9, 
 
 ;t,Iob  34,  11, 
 Pro,  24,  12, 
 Jer.  32,  19, 
 Kzek,  7,  27, 
 &  3,S.  20, 
 Rial,  16,  27, 
 Kijm,  2.  6, 
 
 1  Cnr,  3,  S. 
 
 2  Cor,  5.10, 
 Kpli.  6,  8, 
 Col,  3,  25, 
 
 I  Pet.  1.  17, 
 Uev.  22. 12. 
 
 •  1  Sam.  22. 
 5,  &  23,  14, 
 15,  16, 
 
 t  Heb-i 
 t  Heb.  t, 
 
 ith- 
 
 .ater. 
 
 b  See  1  Sam 
 4,  2 
 
 16,11 
 4,  & 
 8,  b 
 c  Ps.  30.  5. 
 
 1  Cbr  It 
 PaV7.  , 
 
 d  Ps.  10433, 
 &  lib.  2. 
 
 tHeb,/.<. 
 
 /  Ps,  42  8. 
 t,  119,55,8 
 149,  5. 
 
 tlie  rock  of  my  strength,  and  my  refuge,  is  in 
 God. 
 
 8  Trust  in  him  at  all  times ;  ye  people,  "  pour 
 out  your  heart  before  him  :  God  is  '  a  refuge 
 for  us.     Selah. 
 
 9  '  Surely  men  of  low  degree  are  vanity,  and 
 men  of  high  degree  are  a  lie  :  to  be  laid  in  the 
 balance,  tliey  are  \\  altogether  lighter  than 
 vanity. 
 
 10  Trust  not  in  oppression,  and  become  not 
 vain  in  robbery  :  '  if  riches  increase,  set  not 
 your  heart  npvn  them. 
 
 1 1  God  hath  spoken  "'  once  ;  twice  have  I 
 heard  this ;  that  "  ||  power  bclongeth  unto 
 God. 
 
 12  Also  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  bclongeth  "mer- 
 cy :  for  '■  thou  renderest  to  every  man  accord- 
 ing to  his  work. 
 
 PSALM  LXin. 
 1  David's  thirst  for  God.     4  His  manner  of  blessing 
 
 God.      9  His  conjidence  of  Ids  etttmits'  destruction, 
 
 and  his  own  safety , 
 A  Psalm  of  David,  *  when  he  was  in  the  wilderness  of 
 
 Juduh. 
 r\   GOD,  thou  art  my  God  ;   early   will   I 
 ^-^  seek  thee:   ^my  soul  thirsteth  fur  thee, 
 niy  flesh  longcth  for  thee  in  a  dry  and  f  thirsty 
 land,  f  where  no  water  is  ; 
 
 2  To  see  ^  thy  power  and  thy  glory,  so  as  I 
 have  seen  thee  in  the  sanctuary. 
 
 3  '^  Because  tiiy  lovingkindness  is  hetter  than 
 life,  my  lips  shall  praise  thee. 
 
 4  Thus  will  I  hless  thee  *•  while  I  live  :  I  will 
 lift  up  my  hands  in  thy  name. 
 
 5  ]\Iy  soul  shall  be  ^  satisfied  as  u-ith  f  mar- 
 row and  fatness  ;  and  my  mouth  shall  praise 
 thee  with  joyful  lips  : 
 
 6  When  •"  I  remember  thee  upon  my  bed, 
 and  meditate  on  thee  in  the  night  watches. 
 
 7  Because  tbou  hast  been  my  help,  therefore 
 ^  in  the  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  1  rejoice. 
 
 — yiN,  seems  to  mean  the  country  beyond  the  Euphrates,  as  in  Ps.  Ixv. 
 5,  s. — A.  Clark/'.  The  extremity  of  the  land  of  Canaan. — .-tins.  Lead 
 me,  SfC,  '  raise  tbou  me  up  and  direct  mc. '—Buothr.  Higher  than  I — 
 '  than  I  can  climb  tn.^—Ains.  '  Lead  mc  to  a  place  of  refuge  and  safety.' 
 —A.  Clarke.         6.  Tltou  wilt  prolong,  ^c— 
 
 'Add  days  to  the  days  of  the  king:; 
 His  years  as  many  generations.' — Mndge. 
 
 The  Psalmist  seems  here  to  use,  in  reference  to  himself,  the  congratu- 
 latory eastern  expression  ;  *  may  you  live  long,  or  a  tliousand  years; 
 may  you  enjoy  a  good  old  age.' — Ed. 
 
 'Days  to  days  wilt  tbou  add  1 1  the  king; 
 His  years  shall  be  from  generation  to  generation.' 
 
 That  is,  in  his  posterity,  and  especially  in  the  person  of  Messiah. — 
 Boothr.  The  words  are  too  strong  to  apply  to  David  ;  they  undoubtedly 
 relate  to  the  Messiah,  whose  throne  is  for  ever  and  ever. — Snt. 
 
 P^.  LXII. — TrTi.E — Jediit/iuii,  §c>.— see  Title,  note,  P=alm  xxxix. 
 1.  Tnili/,  f(c.,  ^TT!::  rT'O'n  cnVx  bti  IW,  '  surely  to  God  only  is  my  soul 
 dumb.'  '  I  am  subject  to  (Jod  Alnii  ghty ;  be  has  a  right  to  do  with  me 
 as  he  pleases.' — .4.  Clarke.  The  expression  is  proverbial,  significant  of 
 the  full  information  he  had  obtained  on  the  subject. —  Waif.  3.  Ima- 
 gine mischief,  ^irntOctrOe,  'set  upon,'  'rush  upon,'  Sept.  As  a  bowing 
 Kv///— the  walls  of  Asia,  being  made  of  earth,  divide  in  this  manner 
 from  lop  to  bottom.— il/(/H^  How  long  threaten  destructiun  to  those 
 approaching  them. — Br.  Dudd.  Tottering  fence — there  are  walls  in  the 
 Holy  Land  built  of  loose  stone,  probably  here  alludeilto.— SeeZ>oui(/(i/i. 
 The  prophet  here  expostulates  with  his  enemies  fnr  plotting  airamsthim, 
 and  foretell  their  sudden  and  irremediable  destruction.— JJ/j.  Home. 
 4.  Thry  only  consult,  Sfc. — 
 
 *  They  consult  only  against  my  dignity, 
 'i'o  caial  me  down.' — Boothr. 
 
 5.  Mr/  expectation,  '  my  hope,'  Targ.  '  Patience,'  Sept.,  Vulg.,Arab., 
 7.  In  God,  ^-c,  ^TOH  "jy, '  upon  Goil,'  &c. ;  'he  has  taken  it  upon  him- 
 self.'— A.  Clarke.  9.  Vanity,  the  word  means  'an  exhalation,'  '  a  va- 
 pour,' particularly  that  seen  in  the  deceitful  mirage  mistaken  by  tra- 
 vellers  for  water. — See  on  blTi,  Par.  '  Lighter  together  than  a  pufTof 
 air.' — Waif.  'Their  promises  are  empty.'  A  lie — false  and  treacherous. 
 —Hew.  To  be  laid  in  the  balance,  m'?3?b  C'21N03.  'in  the  balances 
 they  ascend,'  kick  the  beam.  11.  God  hath  spoken,  S^c,  literally, 
 
 '  once  hath  God  spoken ;  these  two  things  have  I  heard,  that  strength 
 is  the  Lord's,  and  to  thee,  Lord,  is  mercy.'  The  two  things  revealed 
 are,  God  is  the  origin  of  power  and  the  fountain  of  mercy. — A.  Clarke. 
 12.  For  thou  renderest,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Yet  wilt  thou  assuredly  render 
 To  every  man  according  to  his  works.' 
 
 Ps.  LXin. — Title — Jn  the  wilderness,  S,-c.,  either  when  persecuted 
 by  Saul,  or  when  Absalom  rebelled.— Gi7/.  1.  In  a  dry—'  as  a  dry,* 
 
 &c. — Seeker,  Hare.  '  Like  a  dry,  thirsty,  waterless  land.' — Boothr. 
 The  idea  is,  a  land  that  creates  weariness  by  the  roughness  of  the 
 ways,  the  steeimess  of  the  hills,  and  the  want  of  all  aeconimodations. 
 — Horsley.  Where  no  water  is — where  it  is  extremely  scarce. — Mant. 
 4.  Lift  up  —  in  prayer  and  Thanksgiving. — Wells.  'Swear  fidelity  to 
 thee.*  The  heathen  did  the  same  to  their  idols,  (Job,  xxxi.  27;  P.s. 
 xliv.  20.)  So  David's  generals  when  they  swore  fidelity  to  Solomon, 
 (1  Chr.  xxix.  24  ) — Sut.  5.  As  with  marrotv,  Sfc,  this  '  is  to  me  as 
 fatness  and  marrow  to  the  epicure.'  6.  In  the  night  watches,  'at 
 every  watch-hour.' — Boothr,         7.  PFmg's— alluding  to  the  cherubim. 
 
 Rfflections  on  Ps.  LXI Observe  here,  I.  David's  rc- 
 
 fur;e  tji  troidile.  Oh,  how  many,  with  hearts  overwhelmed  with 
 guilt  and  .sorrow,  seek  refuge  in  tbe  world  !  David's  refuge 
 was  in  God.  There  he  bud  formerly  taken  shelter,  and  there 
 he  felt  assured  he  should  find  shelter  still. 
 
 11.  Dai'id's  rtsoludon  in  proxpect  of  deliverance.      He  would 
 
 dwell  in  God's  tabernacle,  praise  his  name,  and  daily  perform 
 
 his^vows.     So  let  us  worship,  praise,  and  pay  our  vows  to  the 
 
 iMost  High.    Let  our  religion  be  dud!/  religion.    AVe  have  need 
 
 til  3 
 
 of  daily  aid,  and  should  daily  pray  for  help  ;  we  are  the  sub- 
 jects of  daily  mercies,  and  should  give  to  God  daily  praise. 
 
 Reilfctions  on  Ps.  LXII.  —  This  psalm  teaches  us,  I.  To 
 trust  in  God.  He  is  the  strength,  salvation,  hope,  acd  refuge 
 of  his  people. 
 
 11.  Not  to  trust  in  man.  Man  is  too  much  of  a  selfish  and 
 interested  creature  to  lean  upon  him.  There  are  happy  ex- 
 ceptions among  men,  hut  there  is  no  certainty  in  creatures. 
 God  only  is  unciiangeuhle. 
 
David  pray eth  for  deliverance. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXIV.,  LXV. 
 
 The  blessedness  of  God's  chosen. 
 
 8  My  soul  followeth  hard  after  thee  :  thy 
 right  hand  upholdeth  me. 
 
 9  Rut  those  that  seek  my  soul,  to  destroy  it, 
 shall  go  into  the  lower  parts  of  the  earth. 
 
 10  t "  They  shall  fall  by  the  sword  :  they  shall 
 be  a  portion  for  foxes. 
 
 1 1  But  the  king  shall  rejoice  in  God  ;  '  every 
 one  that  sweareth  by  him  shall  glory  :  but  the 
 mouth  of  them  that  speak  lies  shall  be  stopped. 
 
 PSALM  LXIV. 
 
 I  David  pratft'th  fur  tldiverance,  i-nmp1iiininrj  of  his 
 niemies.  7  lie  prumiseik  hiinsflf  tn  see  tt'ich  an  evi- 
 lU-ut  disinwtion  of  his  enemies,  as  the  riifhleous  shall 
 r'jiiicx  at  it. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  a  Psalin  of  Dnvicl. 
 
 TTEAR  my  voice,   O   God,  in  my  prayer: 
 
 -'--'■   preserve  my  life  from  fear  of  the  enemy. 
 '2   Hide  me  from   the  secret  counsel  of  the 
 
 wicked  ;  from  the  insurrection  of  the  workers 
 
 of  iniquity  : 
 
 3  *  Who  whet  their  tongue  like  a  sword, 
 ''  and  bend  their  bows  to  shoot  their  arrows, 
 eoen  bitter  words  : 
 
 4  That  they  may  .shoot  in  secret  at  the  per- 
 fect :  suddenly  do  they  shoot  at  him,  and  fear 
 not. 
 
 5  "^  They  encourage  themselves  in  an  evil 
 Ij  matter  :  they  commune  f  of  laying  snares 
 privily  ;  "^  they  say.  Who  shall  see  them  ? 
 
 6  They  search  out  iniquities  ;  |]  they  accom- 
 plish t  a  diligent  searcli  :  botli  tlie  inward 
 ihotir/hl  o{  every  one  of  them,  and  tlie  heart,  is 
 deep. 
 
 7  "  But  God  shall  shoot  at  them  u-ith  an 
 arrow  ;  suddenly  f  shall  they  be  wounded. 
 
 8  So  they  shall'make  '  tlieir  own  tongue  to  fall 
 
 like  water 
 ftr,  (/(?  hi't'li 
 
 /i'Kj!ek.:t5  5 
 Deii.  fi.  IS. 
 Is.  \b.  23,  & 
 65    IC 
 Zepli.  I,  5. 
 
 k  P3.  3i!.  II. 
 &  58.  10.  8e 
 
 Vs.  r.?.  1 
 la.  66   S3. 
 
 upon  themselves :  ^  all  that  see  them  shall  flee 
 away. 
 
 9  ''  And  all  men  shall  fear,  and  shall  '  declare 
 the  work  of  God  ;  for  they  shall  wisely  consider 
 of  his  doing. 
 
 10  '  The  righteous  shall  be  glad  in  the  Lord, 
 and  shall  trust  in  him  ;  and  all  the  upright  in 
 heart  shall  glory. 
 
 PSALM  LXV. 
 
 I  David  praiseth  God  for  his  grace.      4  The  blessed- 
 ness of  Gud^s  chosen  bi/  reason  ofbitefit-^. 
 
 To  the  chief  IMusician,  A  PsaJin  and  Sunjx  of  David. 
 
 "pllAISF,  fwaitetli  for  thee,  O  tiod.in  Siou  : 
 
 -'-     and  unto  tliee  sliall  the  vow  lie  performed. 
 
 il.  6-,  1 
 
 b  Ps.  fiS. 
 Jer.  9  : 
 
 (1. 
 
 Innrft. 
 d  Vh.  It).  11. 
 
 K.  .^5.  7. 
 II  o,-,  ,„  „„ 
 
 ■»•-' '  '.•/ 
 
 |/,.-'.,..,,IJ,/ 
 I   n''l,!a' 
 
 ..  IN  7  i-J^lS 
 t  lleh.  Ih^ir 
 
 b  Ps  S8. 
 
 4. 
 
 tk  w  v. 
 
 t  Hoh- 
 
 (r"r'l<. 
 
 ■ir, 
 
 M'lU-r, 
 
 ■■f 
 
 in-l'iiti 
 
 c  P«  51- 
 
 If.  & 
 
 79   9    U 
 
 .  fi. 
 
 7.  Hfb. 
 
 9 
 
 U    1  Ji 
 
 m 
 
 1.7.  y. 
 
 d  Ps.  :w 
 
 12- 
 
 &  S-l.  4 
 
 e  Ph.  1.  H.        \ 
 
 /Ps.  86 
 
 8. 
 
 ^  Pa.  2-2 
 
 27. 
 
 h  Vs.  93 
 
 1. 
 
 i  r».  89 
 
 9  h 
 
 107   gfl 
 
 M.it,  8 
 
 •2a. 
 
 A  Ps.  7li 
 
 HI 
 
 Is.  17.1 
 
 .M-j- 
 
 2  ()  thou  tliat  liearest  prayer,  "  unto  thee 
 shall  all  fle.sh  come. 
 
 3  *' I  Iiiiciuities  prevail  against  me:  as  for 
 our  transgressions,  thou  shalt  ^  purge  them 
 away. 
 
 4  '^  Blessed  is  the  vtan  whom  thou  '^  cboosest, 
 and  causest  to  approach  ujtto  thee,  that  he 
 may  dwell  in  tliy  courts  :  '  we  shall  be  satisfied 
 with  the  goodness  of  thy  liuuse,  even  of  thy 
 holy  temple. 
 
 5  Hi/  terrible  tbinirs  in  righteousness  wilt 
 thou  answer  n^,  ()  God  of  our  salvation;  who 
 art  the  confidence  of  ^  all  the  ends  of  the 
 earth,  and  of  thorn  that  are  afar  oft'  upon  the 
 sea  : 
 
 6  Which  by  !iis  strength  setteth  ,fast  the 
 mountains  ;  ^^ bein(j  girded  with  power: 
 
 7  '  Which  stilU'tii  the  noise  of  the  seas,  the 
 noise  of  their  waves,  ''and  tlie  tumult  of  the 
 people. 
 
 B  They  also  that  dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts 
 are  afraid  at  thy  tokens  :  thou  makest  the  out- 
 
 er the  tender  fowl.— So  Clarke.  8.  FoUowrth  hard,  npai-— So  Clarke. 
 •  Cleaveth  unto  thee.^—Mont.,  Gfj.,  Green,  fyc.  '  Is  glned.'  expressive 
 of  fast  hold. — Clarke.  *  Seeking  thee  wiUi  ardour.' — Hew.  'j.  Lniver 
 purls—'  seeking  to  take  my  life  they  shall  lose  their  own.' — Pttl.  Hell 
 is  meant.— Gi7/.  10.  A  /j(»r/mH/yr/*«.r<^.s— '  jackaW.' — Wil.     In  Min- 
 
 dostan.jaekals  may  be  seen  every  day  devtmring  human  bodies. —  Ward. 
 These  liave  been  known  to  devour  persons  intoxicated  as  they  lay  in  the 
 ttrcets  of  Calcutta. — Orient.  Lit.  773.  Jackals  ransack  the  depositories 
 i)f  the  dead,  and  greedily  devour  the  innst  putrid  bodies. —  Ttii/inr's  Cat. 
 i'alling  by  the  sword,  they  should  be  left  unhuried. — Scott,  as  Gill. 
 
 Ps.  LXIV.  — 3.  T/teir  arrows,  even  bitter  words— the  Chaldec  para- 
 I'liraat  renders  the  passage  with  allusion  to  poisoned  arrows,  wliicli  ap- 
 ]icar  (from  Job,  vi.  4,)  to  have  been  of  very  ancient  use  in  Arabia. — 
 Muni.  This  may  be  an  allusion  to  the  practice  of  fixing  letters  on 
 iurows,  and  shooting  or  directing  them  whr-'re  it  was  desired  they  should 
 fall.  Thus  the  Jews  say  Shebna  and  Joab  sent  letters  to  Sennacherib, 
 Actiuainting  him  that  all  Israel  were  willing  lo  make  peace  with  him, 
 but  Hezekiah  would  not  suffer  them. — ('i/l.  4.  T/ie  perfect — David 
 was  perfectly  innocent  of  those  crimes  whtch  were  laui  to  his  cliarge. 
 — Scott, B,s  Pat.  J).  Shall  f ear,  fyc,  'dread  his  righteous  judgments, 
 
 and  acknowledge  his  peculiar  work  of  vent;caiice.' — Ham. 
 
 P<i.  LXV. —Title— .4  I'sahn  iind  Sh'ilt  of  David,  written,  perhaps, 
 on  Ihe  restoration  of  plenty,  altrr  the  three-years'  famine,  (2  Sam.  xxi.) 
 — Ham.  1.  M'aitet/i—'  is  silent,'  Murg.  '  For  thou  alone  art  worthy 
 of  praise.' —  ..4.  Clarke.  '  Waitcth  as  a  servant  whose  duty  it  is  to 
 do  what  thou  commandest.' — Jtaolhr.  The  allusion  in  this  sense  is 
 beautiful,  when  we  remember  that  eastern  servants  wait  in  silence, 
 watching  their  lords  fi>r  tlie  signs  of  their  will  and  pleasure.— .Srf. 
 There  is,  perhaps,  an  allusion  to  the  daily  service  in  which  God  was 
 praised. — Boot/tr.  *  Upon  thee,  O  God,  praise  resteth  in  Zion.'— //or*. 
 The  Old  Testament  Church  waited  in  silent  expectation  for  Messiah. — 
 Scott.        3.  Iniquities — 
 
 '  The  account  of  iniquities  is  too  great  for  me  ; 
 Thou  shalt  expiate  our  crimes.' — Horsley. 
 
 '  Our  iniquities  have  prevailed  over  us  ; 
 Hut  our  trespasses  thou  hast  covered.' — Boothr. 
 
 *  Our  iniquities  prevail  against  us  ; 
 But  thou  art  He  who  blotteth  out  our  transgressions.' 
 
 -Mar. 
 
 '  The  words  [and  devices]  nf  iniquity  are  strong  against  me;  i.  e.,  the 
 lies  and  slanders  of  wicked  men.  "  Asforour  transgressions,"  the  sins 
 we  have  really  committed,  "thou  shalt  purge  them  away"  by  the 
 blood  of  atonement.' — Sut.,a%  ('I'trke.  5.  Bt/  terrible,  ^c. — the  ter- 
 rible judgments  executed  on  Jews  and  Gentiles  who  opposed  the 
 establishment  of  Christianity  are  here  predicted  ;  because  they  happened 
 at  the  season  when  God  became  the  confidence  of  all  the  ends  of  the 
 earth  and  the  isles. — So  Scott,  (iod's  terrible  things  are  the  rebukes 
 of  his  providence  sometimes  to  his  own  people,  or  rather  his  judgments 
 upon  their  enemies. — Hen.  God's  judgments  ou  the  wicked  are  his 
 terrible  things,  displaying  his  justice  towards  them,  and  his  mercy 
 towards  his  people.— UyoMr. 
 
 '  Adorable  art  thou  \ 
 In  righteousness  thou  wilt  answer  us,  O  God  of  our  salvation.' 
 
 Horsiej/. 
 6.  Girded  with  power,  alluding,  perhaps,  to  the  vesture  of  the  Levitical 
 priests  or  high  priest,  whose  rubes  were  for  glory  and  for  beauty.  The 
 Hebrews  could  think  of  no  higher  illustration  of  the  immense  majesty 
 of  God,  whom  they  inlrnduce  'clad  with  glory,  invested  with  magni- 
 ficence, girt  with  power.' — Lowth.  8.  They  also  that  dwell,  Sfc. — 'the 
 most  distant  and  barbarous  people  behold  tlie  signs  of  God's  power  and 
 goodness  with  wonder  and  amazement.'  —  Travell.  TukcTis,  God's 
 power  in  providence,  but  especially  in  his  works  of  nature. — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXIII.  —I.  God  is  the  supreme  object 
 of  a  believer's  desires.  Wbile  otliers  pant  for  honours,  wealth, 
 :ind  pleasures,  he  earnestly  seeks  the  sense  of  the  Divine 
 favour,  which,  to  bis  renewed  heart,  is  even  far  '  lielter  than 
 lift?"  itselt.  DaviJ  was  now  in  a  most  unenviuhle  outward 
 condition,  but  in  a  most  enviable  frame  of  mind.  How  exalted 
 are  his  sensations  who  leaves  every  stream  of  earthly  enjoy- 
 ment far  below  him,  and  approaches  the  pure  Kountaui  Head 
 to  which  '  the  angels  owe  their  bliss  I'  Whatever  his  outward 
 d. ^privations,  he  has  food  lo  eat  which  the  world  knows  not 
 ot,  and  gatliers  precious  and  sweet  manna  in  the  most  naked 
 and  dreary  wilderness. 
 Gil 
 
 11.  God  is  onlt/  to  he  found  in  the  use  of  means.  If  we  would 
 see  his  power  and  glory,  we  must  go  to  his  sanctuary  ;  if  we 
 would  eiijoy  his  lovinj^-kindness,  we  must  there  praise  and 
 pray.  If  we  would  be  satisfied  as  witli  marrow  and  fatness,  even 
 the  night  watches  must  not  pass  without  sacred  meditation. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXIV.  —  I.  How  odious  is  slander! 
 Let  us  iearn  to  hate  it,  for  it  is  the  weapon  of  the  wicked. 
 
 11.  Jfoic  equitable  is  God.'  Let  those  who  unjustly  sufler 
 from  ilie  wicked  professor  or  profane,  commit  their  cause  to 
 him,  and  be  will  make  the  envenonu-d  arrow  recoil  on  him 
 who  shoots  it.  lu  the  end,  'all  the  upriiiht  in  heart  shall 
 glory.' 
 
An  exhortation  to  praise  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXVI.,  LXVII. 
 
 God's  goodness  to  David. 
 
 goings  of  the  mornitio;  ami  evening 
 
 to  re- 
 
 joice. 
 
 9  Thou  '  visitest  the  eartli,  and  1|  '"  waterest 
 it  :  thou  greatly  enrichest  it  "wiili  the  river  of 
 (Jod,  which  is  full  of  ivater  :  thou  preparest 
 them  corn,  when  thou  hast  so  provided  for  it. 
 
 10  Tliou  waterest  tlie  ridges  thereof  abun- 
 dantly :  II  thou  settlest  the  furrows  thereof  : 
 f  thou  makest  it  soft  with  showers  :  tliou  bless- 
 est  tlie  springing  tliereof. 
 
 11  Thou  crownest  fthe  year  with  thy  good- 
 ness ;  and  thy  paths  drop  fatness. 
 
 1-2  They  drop  upon  the  pastures  of  the  wil- 
 derness ;  and  tlie  little  hills  \  rejoice  on  every 
 side. 
 
 13  The  pastures  are  clothed  with  flocks; 
 "  the  valleys  also  are  covered  over  with  corn  ; 
 they  shout  for  joy,  they  also  sing. 
 
 PSALM  LXVL 
 
 1  David  exhorteth  to  priiise  God,  5  to  ohsiTve  /lis  great 
 works,  8  lo  bless  Aim  fur  /lis  gracious  licnefils.  12 
 Jfe  vowel/i  for /tiviself  religious  serviie  to  God.  16 
 He  declaret/i  God's  spei  ial  yooduess  to  /limse/f 
 To  the  ctief  Musician,  A  Song  or  Psalm. 
 °  IVTAKE  a  joyful  noise  unto  God,  fall  ye 
 -L^'J-  lands  : 
 
 2  Sing  forth  the  honour  of  his  name :  make 
 his  praise  glorious. 
 
 3  Say  unto  God,  How  ''  terrible  art  thou  in 
 thy  works!  "  through  the  greatness  of  thy 
 power  shall  thine  enemies  ||  f  submit  them- 
 selves unto  thee. 
 
 4  •■  All  the  earth  shall  worship  thee,  and 
 '  shall  sing  unto  thee  ;  they  shall  sing  to  thy 
 name.     Selali. 
 
 5  '  Come  and  see  the  works  of  God  ;  he  is 
 terrible  in  his  doing  toward  the  children  of 
 men. 
 
 (j  ^  He  turned  the  sea  into  dry  land :  '  they 
 v.ent  through  the  flood  on  foot :  there  did  we 
 rejoice  in  him. 
 
 7  He  ruleth  by  his  power  for  ever  ;  '  his  eyes 
 
 /Deu.  II.  12. 
 Or,  nfter 
 'hint  hniijl 
 
 13.  Jer.  5. 
 :;i. 
 
 >t  Ps   46.  *. 
 
 II  Or,  IttoH 
 C'lii'eat  ruin 
 /„  lificenil 
 into  II.efitT- 
 
 I  Helf.  llK'ti 
 dhi'il'  nt  it. 
 
 \  Heb.  Ihi' 
 ijear  of  thy 
 goidneai. 
 
 t  Heb.  arc 
 girded  loiUi 
 
 ,t  Is-  55.  12. 
 
 a  P^.  100.  I. 
 t  Heb.  all 
 
 h  Pi  M.  .',. 
 
 c  Ps,  18.   14. 
 
 II  Or,  v.VM 
 fi,S,.t,l  „h. 
 
 di„Kr,   P«. 
 
 18.44.  &8I 
 
 15. 
 I  Heb.  !ia 
 d  Pi    22.  27. 
 
 &  07.  3.  & 
 
 117    1. 
 e  Pi   yo.  1,2, 
 /Ps.  10.  H. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 P'lllith 
 h  Ps.  121. 
 
 /  Ps.  17.  3. 
 Is.  '18-  10. 
 I.  /.ech.  1.1. 
 9.  I  Pet.  I. 
 0.  7. 
 I  Lajn.  1.13. 
 
 I  Is.  51.  23. 
 I>  Is.  13.  2. 
 
 t  Heb.  moi^t. 
 
 I]  Pr,  100   4. 
 
 «<  110.  II. 
 
 I",  IW,  19, 
 r  Kerles.  5  1 
 I  Heb- 
 
 t  Heb, 
 <Ps-  31    II, 
 
 t  Jnb  27,  9. 
 Pro.  15   29, 
 (ti  2rt,  !l, 
 U.  I.  15, 
 Jolui  0.  31, 
 jAtn   4.  :i. 
 
 u  Ps,IIO,  1,2 
 
 Ps.  4,  li  & 
 31.  16.  XiHO 
 3,  7,  10.  g. 
 
 b  Aels  ia,25 
 c  Luke  2  30, 
 31,  Tit  2  11. 
 
 behold  the  nations :  let  not  the  rebellious 
 exalt  themselves.     Selah. 
 
 8  O  bless  our  God,  ye  people,  and  make  the 
 voice  of  his  praise  to  be  heard  : 
 
 9  Which  f  holdeth  our  soul  in  life,  and 
 '  suffereth  not  our  feet  to  be  moved. 
 
 10  For  '  thou,  O  God,  hast  proved  us  :  ""  thou 
 hast  tried  us,  as  silver  is  tried. 
 
 1 1  "  Thou  broughtest  us  into  the  net  ;  thou 
 laidst  affliction  upon  our  loins. 
 
 12  °  Thou  hast  caused  men  to  ride  over  our 
 heads  ;  ''we  went  through  fire  and  through 
 water  :  but  thou  broughtest  us  out  into  a 
 t  wealthy  place. 
 
 13  ''  I  will  go  into  thy  house  with  burnt 
 off'erings  :  '  I  will  pay  thee  my  vows, 
 
 14  Which  my  lips  have  f  uttered,  and  my 
 mouth  hath  spoken,  when  I  was  in  trouble. 
 
 15  I  will  otter  unto  thee  burnt  sacrifices  of 
 f  fallings,  with  the  incense  of  rams  ;  I  will  ofl'er 
 bullocks  with  goats.     Selah. 
 
 IG  '  Come  and  hear,  all  ye  that  fear  God, 
 and  I  will  declare  what  he  hath  done  for 
 my  soul. 
 
 17  I  cried  unto  him  with  my  mouth,  and  he 
 was  extolled  with  my  tongue. 
 
 18  '  If  I  regard  iniquity  in  my  heart,  the  Loid 
 will  not  hear  mr  : 
 
 19  Bi/f  verily  tjod  "hath  heard  ?ne ;  he  hath 
 attended  to  the  voice  of  my  prayer. 
 
 •20  Blessed  be  God,  which  hath  not  turned 
 away  my  prayer,  nor  his  mercy  from  me. 
 
 PSALM  LXVIL 
 
 1  A  prayer  for  the  enlargement  of  God\i  khir/chniy  3  to 
 the  joij  of  the  people,  6  and  the  increase  of  God's 
 blessings. 
 To  the  chief  Musician  on  Neginoth,  A  Psalm  or  Song. 
 
 /^  OD  be  inercifii]  unto  us,  and  bless  us; 
 ^^  atid  ^c&use  his  face  to  shine  f  upon  us. 
 Selah. 
 
 2  That  ^  thy  way  may  be  known  upon  earth, 
 ^  tliy  saving  health  among  all  nations. 
 
 Thou  makest  (he  outgoings,  fyc. — from  the  sun  rising  to  the  sun  i;n\n^ 
 down  God  should  not  only  become  dreadful,  but  also  be  the  atitlmr  of 
 j-yand  gladness. — Calvin.  How  contrary  soever  light  and  darkness 
 aic  to  each  other,  both  aie  equally  welcome  to  the  world  in  its  sea- 
 son.— Henrp.  9.  TAe  riner  of  God,  according  to  the  oriental  idiom, 
 may  mean  the  treasures  of  water  in  the  clouds,  or  any  pleasant  stream, 
 as  Siloam  or  Jordan, — Hew.,  i.e.,  an  abundant  supply  of  water. — 
 Srhtillejis.  11.  T/i^  paths,  "T^^jyOi  'thy  chariot  wheels  ;'  the  oihs 
 of  heaven,  on  which  Jehovah,  according:  to  the  imag:ery  of  the  Psalmist, 
 rideth, — Horslei/ ;  or,  as  denoting  the  clouds  on  wiiicli  he  rideth,  or 
 which  he  maketh  his  chariot.  See  Isaiah,  xix.  !,  and  Ps.  civ.  3. — 
 Murit.  Thy  orbits,  all  the  circling  seasons  of  the  year,  as  ruled  by  the 
 courses  of  the  heavtnly  btulics. — Suf.  12.  Rfjoice  on  every  side,  or, 
 •joy  girds  the  hills  ;*  or,  '  they  are  girded  with  joy,'  or  '  gird  them- 
 selves  with  joy.' — Jun.,  Trem.,  Pise,  Ains.,  Pag.,  Mo?it.  Curiously 
 wrouglit  or  embroidered  girdles  are  stdl,  as  theywere  of  old,  an  essen- 
 tial part  of  eastern  finery,  both  to  men  and  women.  Probably  the 
 Psalmist  alludes  to  such  surnptunns  girdles,  worn  particularly  on 
 joyful  occasions. — Murif.  i:i.  Clnthi-d  with  flocks,  covering  the  pas- 
 ture-like garment. — Ed.  Eastern  sheep  are  astonishingly  prolific.  See 
 Ps.  cxliv.l3.— iVan/.  They  shout  for  joy—s^rouf;  but  beautiful  exprcs- 
 siuusof  oriental  poetry,  to  denote  the  cheerful  verdure  and  abundant 
 
 fcriility  of  the  rich  val'eys,  Bic. — Hew. 
 
 Ps.  LXVI.  — T[TLB  — A  Song  or  Psalm — the  Arabic  version  ascribes 
 tliis  to  Uavid.  The  writtT  is  supposed  to  have  been  David.  5,  G.  Is 
 tfriible,  fjc. — 'reverend.' — J>in-,  Trem.  To  be  feared  and  revcreticed 
 with  a  godly  fe-ir  on  account  of  them. — Gill.  The  flood,  or  '  river.' — 
 Gfj.    The  river  Jordan,  Targ. 
 
 'Awful  are  his  doings  towards  men  ; 
 He  once  turned  the  sea  into  dry  land  ! 
 On  foot  our  fathers  went  through  the  flood  ! 
 Then  did  we  rejoice  in  him.' — Buulhr. 
 
 12.  To  ride  over — this  may  have  reference  to  the  trampling  of  war 
 horses  in  the  day  of  battle.  — i1/"m^  Through  flre  and  through  water — 
 through  afHictions  of  the  most  torturing  and  overwhelming  nature,  so 
 expressed  in  Scri])ture  by  these  metaphors.  Wealthy  place — Judea. — ■ 
 Clarke.  IS.  //  /  regard,  Tl'MT  DN,  '  if  I  inok  upon  it.'— Pag.,  Mont.t 
 Gfj.     Inwardly  regard  and  cherish. — Bp.  Hnrrtp. 
 
 PsAL.M  LXVII. — Title — Neginoth — see  Title,  note  Ps.  iv.  *A  Hymn 
 for  the  feast  of  the  tabernacles,  prophetic  of  the  general  conversion  of 
 the  world  to  the  worship  of  God.*  Probably  sung  in  this  manner: 
 verse  1,  first  voice;  2,  second  voice;  -■*,  chorus;  4.  first  voice;  5, 
 chorus;  6,  second  voice;  7,  first  voice. — Horsley.        2.  Thy  way,  i.e.. 
 
 Rfflecttons  on  Ps.  LXV.  — I.  Prayer  is  our  duty  ami 
 priciJeye.  All  flesh  should  come  unto  God.  We  must  ask, 
 that  we  may  receive  the  gifts  of  his  providence  and  grace. 
 He,  indeed,  in  the  plenitude  of  his  bounty,  bestows  much  on 
 multitudes  who  never  come  to  him  ;  but  these  know  nothing 
 of  the  blessedness  of  the  man  whom  he  chooses  and  causes  to 
 approach  unto  him. 
 
 II.  God  is  both  able  and  willing  to  answer  our  prayers.  What 
 can  he-— what  will  he  not  do  for  his  people,  wio  fises  the 
 mountains,  calms  the  seas,  and  refreshes  and  fertilizes  the 
 earth .  providing  abundance  of  necessaries  for  the  use  of  man  1 
 '  Let  all  the  common  gifts  of  the  Divine  bounty,  of  which  we 
 615 
 
 yearly  and  daily  partake,  increase  our  love  to  God,  as  the  best 
 of  Heings,  and  engage  us  to  glorify  him  with  our  bodies,  for 
 which  he  thus  so  well  provides.' 
 
 Rffi  ECTioNS  ON  Ps.  LXVI.  —  1.  We  should  remember,  with 
 (fratitude,  God^s  interpositions  for  us,  in  bringing  us  through  dan- 
 gers and  difficulties.  We  tiave  our  mercies  to  record  as  well  as 
 Israel  of  old.  We  have  been  in  the  fire,  but  we  were  notcon- 
 sumrd, — in  the  water,  but  we  were  not  overwhelmed. 
 
 II.  We  should,  at  proper  seasons,  encourage  our  fellow  Chris- 
 tians u-ith  a  recital  of  God*  s  singular  interpositions  for  us.  In  so 
 doing,  we  honour  God,  encourage  each  other,  and  excite  new 
 feelings  of  gratitude,  and  awaken  new  songs  of  praise. 
 
A  priiyer  at  removing  the  ark. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXVIII. 
 
 An  exhurtatioii  to  prahe  GoiK 
 
 3  "i  Let  the  people  praise  thee,  O  Goa  ;  let  all 
 the  people  praise  thee. 
 
 4  O  let  the  nations  he  glad  and  sing  for  joy  : 
 for  '  tlion  shalt  jndt;e  the  people  righteously, 
 and  f  govern  the  nations  upon  earth.     Selah. 
 
 5  Let  tlie  people  praise  thee,  O  God  ;  let  all 
 the  people  praise  thee. 
 
 0  'Then  sliall  the  earth  yield  herincrea.se; 
 and  God,  even  our  own  God,  sliall  hless  us. 
 
 7  God  shall  bless  us  ;  and  '  all  the  ends  of 
 tlie  earth  shall  fear  him. 
 
 PSALM  LXVIH. 
 
 I  A  prat/er  at  the  removing  of  the  ark.  4  An  exhorta- 
 tion to  praise  God  for  his  inrrcies,  1  for  his  care  of 
 the  church,  \9for  his  great  ivorhs. 
 
 To  tbe  chief  Musician,  A  Psalm  or  Song  of  David. 
 T  ET  °  God  arise,  let  his  enemies  be  scatter- 
 ■^  ed  :  let  them  also  that  hate  him  flee  f  he- 
 fore  him. 
 
 2  ^  As  smoke  is  driven  away,  so  drive  them 
 away  :  ''as  wax  meltetii  before  tlie  fire,  so  let 
 the  wicked  perish  at  the  presence  of  God. 
 
 3  But  ^  let  the  righteous  be  glad  ;  let  tiiem 
 rejoice  before  God:  yea,  let  them  f  exceed- 
 ingly rejoice, 
 
 4  ^^  Sing  unto  God,  sing  praises  to  his  name  : 
 
 e  pR  96.  10, 
 13.  &  fiS.  9. 
 t  Heb.  Uad. 
 
 f  I-ev.  26    -I 
 Ps    83.    12 
 
 a  Num.  la 
 35.  Is.  as.  3 
 
 \  Heb.  from 
 htt/dctt. 
 
 b  Is.  9.  t8. 
 
 llos    13.  3 
 
 c  I'a.  97.  5. 
 
 Mic 
 
 1.4. 
 
 d  Vs.  33,  1 1 
 
 &  5S.  10.  St 
 61    lU. 
 \  Heb.  rrjnice 
 wilh  iflad- 
 
 e  Va.  66.  4. 
 
 j7  Kx.  6   3, 
 A  Pe.  Id,  14, 
 tS.&  U(i.  9. 
 
 1  I  Sam. 2  5 
 
 Ps.  ns.  9. 
 
 \  Heb.  in  n 
 
 halite. 
 k  Ps.  107.  10, 
 
 14    &  146  7 
 
 Acts  12.  6, 
 
 *i<C. 
 /  P3.  107.  SI. 
 
 10. 
 m  Ex.  13  21 
 
 Judg.  4    U 
 
 Hab.  3.  13 
 n  Ex.  19    IC, 
 
 Id    Judg. 5 
 
 4.  Is.  M. 
 
 1,3. 
 
 •I  Deut.  11. 
 
 II,  13. 
 
 K^ek.3t.26, 
 t  Heb.  *hahe 
 
 out. 
 
 {  Heb.  con- 
 Am  il. 
 II  Ueu  36  ."i, 
 
 9.  Ps.  74.19. 
 
 t  Heb.  did 
 fi^t,  did  fin. 
 
 'extol  him  that  rideth  upon  the  heavens  ^by 
 his  name  JAH,  and  rejoice  before  him. 
 
 5  '^  A  father  of  tiie  fatherless,  and  a  judge  of 
 the  widows,  i&  God  in  his  holy  habitation. 
 
 6  '  God  setteth  the  solitary  f  in  families  :  ^  lie 
 bringeth  out  tliose  which  are  bound  with 
 chains:  but  'the  rebellious  dwell  in  a  dry 
 land. 
 
 7  O  God,  "*  when  thou  wentest  forth  before 
 thy  people,  when  thou  didst  march  through 
 the  wilderness  ;  Selah  : 
 
 8  "The  earth  shook,  the  heavens  also  dropped 
 at  the  presence  of  God  :  tven  Sinai  itself /roy 
 moved  at  the  presence  of  God,  the  God  of 
 Israel, 
 
 9  "  Tiiou,  0  God,  didst  fsend  a  plentiful  rain, 
 whereby  thou  didst  f  confirm  thine  inlieritance, 
 when  it  was  weary. 
 
 iO  Thy  congregation  hath  dwelt  therein  : 
 P  thou,  O  God,  hast  prepared  of  thy  goodness 
 for  the  poor. 
 
 11  The  Lord  gave  the  word  :  great  iias  the 
 t  company  of  those  that  publisiied  it. 
 
 12  ''  Kings  of  armies  ] i\\(\  flee  apace:  and 
 she  that  tarried  at  home  divided  tlie  spoil. 
 
 13  ■"  Though  ye  have  lien  among  the  pots, 
 '^ yet   shall  ye    be   as    the    wings    of    a   dove 
 
 the  Gospel.  —  Waif.  Thy  saving  health,  "Tn^llT'.  '  thy  solvation. 
 6.  Then  shall  the  earth,  §-c.— the  people  shall  be  multiplied,  the  harvests 
 ample,  the  converts  numerous. — Clarke. 
 
 Ps.  I,XV1I1.  —  Title — A  Psalm  or  Song,  concerning:  the  war  of 
 David  with  the  Philistines  and  others,  (2  Sam.  tiii.  1,  Sic.)—Aben  Ezra. 
 Concerning  Sennacherib's  army,  i^c. — Kimchi.  Rather  on  occasion  of 
 the  ark  being  brought  to  the  city  of  David,  (2  Sam.  vi.  14,  15.)  It 
 begrins  with  the  same  words  Moses  used  when  the  ark  set  fDrward  in 
 his  time.  (Num.  x.  35.; — Gill,  Lowth,  Sut.  Prophetic  of  the  final  re- 
 storatiou  of  Israel. — Hors.  In  the  mysticnl  sense,  authorized  Ephes. 
 iv.  8,  it  refers  to  the   ascension    of  Christ. — Lowth.  4.  Upon  the 
 
 heavens,  rn2"lS'3,  '  in  the  deserts.'— ..itns-.Loif/'/j,  Hors.,  Ken., Chandler, 
 Boothr.,  Clarke,  %c. 
 
 '  Cast  up  a  way  for  him  that  is  riding  through  the  wilderness.' 
 
 Horslet/. 
 The  imagery  is  borrowed  from  the  custom  of  eastern  princes,  who 
 employed  pioneers  to  remove  obstructions  in  their  progress.  —  So 
 Waif. 
 
 '  Extol  him  who  rideth  through  deserts.'— Boo/Ar. 
 
 •Riding,'  here  means,  to  proclaim  the  name  of  Jehovah  or  Jah,  an 
 abridgment  of  Jehovah,  (Deut.  x.xxii.  3.)— H'lV.  Jah  is  used  only  in 
 Bolemn  forms  of  speech. —  Waif.  Jah  is  the  simplest  name  in  the 
 Hebrew  for  God,  expressing  the  absolute  and  independent  nature  of 
 his  existence.  It  is  the  I  AM  of  Moses.— /ffu-.  It  might  be  trans- 
 lated  the  Self-existent. — A.  Clarke,  irsil?  n'2,  'in  Jah  is  his  name;' 
 i.  e,,  his  name  who  is  riding  through  the  wilderness  is  in  Jehovah, 
 the  self-existent  One.  *  He  who  led  Israel  was  Christ ;  Christ's  name  is 
 in  Jehovah.  Name  him  :  you  name  the  All-glorious  One.  Name  the 
 AU-glorious  One  ;  you  name  him.  Name  hira  as  distinct  from  the 
 All-Good  and  Glorious:  you  name  him  not  aright.* — Hors.  6.  The 
 solitary,  D^^^^*,  to  dwell  in  familie.';,  'the  single  persons.'  He  is  the 
 author  of  marriage. — Clarke,  as  the  Jewish  \Vriters.  God  provides  for 
 those  that  are  destitute,  and  settles  them  in  comfortable  habitations. — 
 Pat.  *  Gi>d  is  bringing  home  his  chosen  ones,'  'his  oniy  ones,' the 
 race  which  dwelt  alone  ;  i.  e,.  from  the  captivity  in  Babyhn!.— Wor^. 
 'God  makctb  outcasts  to  dwell  at  home.'  There  is,  probably,  a  refer- 
 ence to  the  Israeli/es  in  Egypt,  who  were  as  outcasts,  solitary  in  a 
 strange  land. — Boothr.  In  a  dry  land,  'in  a  barren  wilderness.' — 
 Merrick.  8.  The  earth  trembled,  i.e.,  Sinai  and  its  vicinity.— R'«//. 
 The  heavens  also  dropped,  ^c,  the  '  heavens  also  dropped  down' 
 [water].— i/or«. 
 
 '  The  heavens  were  dissolved  ; 
 Dissolved  were  the  clouds  into  water!  (Judg.  v.  4,  5.) 
 The  mountains  melted  at  the  presence  of  God.' — Boothr. 
 9-  A  plentiful  rain,  refers  to  the  manna  which  God  is  said  to  rain  down. 
 Exodus,  xvi.  4;    Ps.  Ixxviii.    23,    24.— Srott,   Buuthr.,    Clarke.        Not 
 manna,  as  the  Latin  critics,  but  rain  and  snow. — Sut.     Rain  in  the 
 wilderness  and  in  Canaan.  (Deut.  xi.  10,  \l.)— Poole.     Literally,  'a 
 plentiful   rain,'   but,    used    metapburically,  a   'shower  of  unmerited 
 kindness  thou  didst  scatter,  O  God,  upon  thine  inheritance.* — Horsley. 
 
 Either  the  effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  consequence  of  Christ's  as- 
 censi'in,  prophesied  of  in  this  Psalm  ;  or  the  ministration  of  the 
 giispel  compared  to  rain,  (Deut.  x.wii.  2  ;  Is.  Iv,  9,  10,  11.) — Gilt.  As 
 the  htavens,  at  the  command  of  God,  rained  down  manna,  f^c,  to 
 strengthen  and  refresh  tbe  well  nigh  famished  people  in  the  wilder-^ 
 ness;  so,  by  the  descent  cf  the  Spirit  from  above,  bringing  with  him 
 the  word  of  life,  the  church,  in  her  infant  and  languid  state,  was 
 mightily  confirmed  and  invigorated. — Dp.  Home ;  to  the  same  pur- 
 port, Scott.  Confirm — '  refresh.' — Lowth.  *  Support.* — Hors.,  Boothr. 
 Thine  inheritance — 'the  promised  land.' — Lowth.  'The  people  of 
 Israel,*  (Deut.  ix.  29;  Ps.  xxviii.  Q;  xciv.  5.) — Boothr.  Prophetically, 
 •ihe  church.' — Gill,  Bp.  Home.  10.  Thy  congregation,  means  any 
 living  thing,  and  marks  uut  the  immense  numbers  of  creatures  con- 
 tinually maintained  in  an  astonishing  manner.— Sf*/^  Hath  dwelt 
 therein — 
 
 'As  to  thy  food,  they  dwelt  amidst  it.* — Boothr. 
 
 'Thy  flocks  dwelt  in  the  mansion  which  thou  preparcdst 
 Of  thy  goodness,  O  God,  for  the  pour.' — Horsley. 
 
 *  Thy  congregation  took  possession  of  it ;  thou,  O  God, 
 In  thy  goodness,  hadst  provided  it  for  tlie  di'^tressed.' — Green. 
 
 11.  The  Lord  gave  the  word,  Iffc,  to  Moses,  whom  he  inspired  to  write 
 martial  odes,  which  the  people  sung ;  and  good  men  published  the  law 
 ill  tiie  camp,  and  in  all  the  synagogues  of  the  Hebrews.  So  in  the 
 Christian  church.— ^•H^  Grrnt  was  the  company,  n  NIS  milT'^tDrT, 
 liicrally,  '  of  the  female  preachers  there  was  a  great  host.' — A.  Clarke. 
 -1C2.  the  root,  means,  'to  U\\  as  a  messenger.'- Bi/x/oc/.  To  tell  a 
 g.  odand  joyful  thing. — Leigh.  To  spread  abroad. — Par.  Dr.  darkens 
 ilea  of  female  '  preachers,*  in  this  case,  therefore,  seems  not  to  be  war- 
 ranted from  the  original ;  they  were  '  messengers,*  or  '  publishers,'  of 
 glad  tidings.  Now,  though  a  preacher  publishes  glad  tidings,  a  person 
 may  publish  glad  tidings  without  being  a  preacher. — Ed.  Thuse  that 
 published,  is  feminine  in  the  original ;  and  points  out  the  singing  and 
 dancing  women,  who  celebrated  the  victories  of  the  Israelites  over  their 
 enemies,  according  to  the  custom  of  those  times.  See  verse  25  ;  Exod. 
 XV.  20  ;  I  Sam.  xviii.  6. —  Chandler.  Published  it,  that  which  is  con- 
 tained  in  the  next  verse, — Ham.,  Lowth;  in  the  two  next  verses. — 
 Chandler,  Dr.  Dodd. 
 
 'The  Lord  gave  the  matter  for  a  song  of  triumph ; 
 
 Great  was  the  company  of  those  who  sung  it.' — Green. 
 '  The  Lord  God  hath  n'  w  given  the  word. 
 
 And  female  choirs  joyfully  publish  it.' — Boothr. 
 
 12.  Kings  of  armies — Jal<in.  and  the  kings  of  the  Canaanites.  And 
 she — Deborah,  the  prophetess,  a  woman  accustomed  to  tarry  at  home. 
 —Clarke.  The  spoil  was  so  great  that  the  women  who  staid  at  home 
 shared  in  its  division. — Bp.Hall.  'And  the  families  at  home  share 
 the  spoil. '—Bo'»/Ar.  Theorisinal  words,  ri'3  mj.  imply  the  women  and 
 children,   (compare  Num.  xxxi.,  and  1   Sam.   xxx.  18 — 25.)  —  Boothr. 
 
 13.  Though  ye  have  lien  among  the  pots,  ^c. — D^DDll?  means  rows  of 
 stones  on  which  the  cauldrons,  or  pots,  were  placed  for  boiling,  as  still 
 used  by  the  wauclering  Arabs.     Lying  among  these  denotes  the  most 
 
 REFLECTinNs    ON   Ps.    LXVII.  —  I.  The  ckurch  here  praj/s 
 
 for  herself  For  mercy,  for  reconciliation  ;  '  no  favours  are  so 
 valuable  as  these.  If  God  be  not  gracious,  and  smile  upon  us 
 through  Christ,  we  are  undone  for  ever.  As  sinners,  we  need 
 his  pardoning  grace  ;  and  as  miserable,  we  need  his  peace  and 
 love.' 
 
 II.  The  church  here  prays  for  the  world.     The  Jewish  church 
 616 
 
 was  interested  in  the  fulfilment  of  the  promise  made  to  Abra- 
 ham, that  in  Ips  seed  should  all  tbe  nations  of  the  earth  be 
 blessed ;  and  it  belongs  to  tbe  Cliristian  church  to  stietcb  for- 
 ward the  wini^s  of  desire  to  that  day  '  when  tlie  heathen  shall 
 be  given  to  Jesus  ibr  his  inheritance,  and  tbe  utlermo.st  parts 
 of  the  earth  for  Iiis  possession.'  'The  first  fruits  have  already 
 been  gathered,  and  the  harvest  shall  ere  long  be  reaped.' 
 
God  is  to  be  praised 
 
 PSALMS,  LXVIII. 
 
 for  his  care  of  the  church. 
 
 covered  with  silver,  and  lier  feathers  with  yel- 
 low gold. 
 
 U  ^  When  the  Almighty  scattered  kings  (|  in 
 it,  it  was  ichite  as  snow  in  Salmon. 
 
 13  The  hill  of  God  is  as  the  hill  of  Bashan  ; 
 an  high  hill  as  the  hill  of  Bashan. 
 
 16  "  Why  leap  ye,  ye  high  hills  ?  "^  this  is  the 
 liill  u'hich  God  desireth  to  dwell  in  ;  yea,  the 
 Loud  will  dwell  in  it  for  ever. 
 
 17  *The  chariots  of  God  are  twenty  thousand, 
 ||<ye/i  thousands  of  angels  :  the  Lord  is  among 
 them,  as  in  Sinai,  in  the  \\o\y  j)lace. 
 
 (Num.  SI, 3. 
 
 Josh.  10  10, 
 
 &  12.  1,  &€ 
 \\OT,f<,T  her, 
 
 she  w-» 
 H  Pa.  II4.4.fi. 
 X  Den,  I'i.  5, 
 
 II.  I  Kin. 
 
 9    S.  Ps,  87. 
 
 1,2.  fc   VM. 
 
 l.S,  H. 
 yj  neu.  S.*!,  S. 
 
 ■2  Kiii.O.  16, 
 
 17.    Dan    7. 
 
 10.  Hpb  \2. 
 2:.  Rev. 9. 10. 
 II  Or,  even 
 
 :  Arts  I.  9. 
 E|.h.  I.  fl. 
 
 b  Act.s  i.  4, 
 
 <  Ih 
 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 e  Deu.  3-2  39, 
 
 Pi  (I,  4.  23. 
 
 Rev.  1.  IR. 
 
 U  20.  1. 
 /Ps.   IIO    6. 
 
 Hab.  3.  la 
 
 18  ^  Thou  hast  ascended  on  high,  ""  thou  hast 
 led  captivity  captive:  ^  thou  hast  received 
 gifts  t  tor  men  ;  yea,  for  "  tlie  rebelUous  also, 
 ^  that  the  Lord  God  might  dwell  among 
 them . 
 
 19  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  daily  loadeth 
 us  with  benefits, even  tlie  God  of  our  salvation. 
 Selah. 
 
 20  He  that  is  our  God  is  the  God  of  salva- 
 tion ;  and  *  unto  God  the  Lord  belong  the 
 issues  from  death. 
 
 ^21   But  *"  God  shall  wound  the  head  of  his 
 
 abject  slavery ;  for  this  seems  to  have  been  the  place  of  ret^t  allotted  to 
 the  vJleit slaves.— iVieAHAr,  I'av.  'Though  you  were formeily  oppressed 
 slaves,  making  bricks  and  pottery  in  Egypt,  you  shall  now  be  as  glori- 
 ous as  you  were  contemptible,*  &c. — Detaney.  'Though  ye  have  lain 
 among  the  fire  ranges,  ye  resemble  the  wings  of  a  dove,  silvered,  and 
 her  feathers  of  verdant  gold.  The  afflicted  Israelites  in  Egypt  are 
 here  first  represented  by  the  squalid  and  disgusting  appearance  of  per- 
 sons eraplnyed  in  menial  occupations,  and  in  the  next  by  the  beautiful 
 plumage  of  a  dove,  bilvery  and  shaded  with  golden-coloured  shouts.' — 
 So  Wiilf.  'Thnugh  ye  had  been  treated  by  the  Egyptians  as  a  com- 
 pany of  contemptible  slicphcrds,  and  were  held  in  abomination  by 
 them  as  such.  (G'-n.  xivi.  34,)  yet  when  Jehovah  took  you  under  his 
 protection,  and  fouglit  your  battles,  ye  appeared  to  be  a  great  and 
 mighty  nation  in  the  eyes  of  all  around  you.' — Green.  It  was  the  cus- 
 tom for  the  Hebrew  armies,  as  well  as  the  Syrians  and  Assyrians,  to 
 have  a  dove  for  their  standard,  to  which  tlie  Psalmist  alludes,  and 
 says,  *  If  you  shall  abide  by  your  standard,  the  silver-coloured  dove, 
 whose  wings  are  gilt  with  gold,  when  the  Almighty  by  its  means 
 has  scattered  the  kings,  the  marking  of  victory  shall  be  displayed  in 
 your  ensign,  and  your  dove  appear  white  as  snow.' — William  Baxter, 
 from  Buuyer*s  Tract,  Reliqiia;  B'txteriuTKB.  The  dove  was  used  as  a 
 military  ensign.  It  was  worshipped  by  the  Assyrians,  and  might  be 
 their  appropriate  banner.  D^ri!:il?.  the  word  translated  '  pots,*  might 
 be  an  instrument  rendered  of  use  in  war  :  in  Ezek.  xl.  43,  it  means  a 
 kind  of  hooks  or  catches,  and  might  be  appended  to  a  spear  or  lance,  as 
 to  the  English  brown-bill,  and  Lochabar  axes,  &c.  The  spear  of  an 
 Egyptian  king,  among  the  hieroglyphical  scidptures  of  Egypt,  answers 
 to  this  shape.  If,  then,  this  hooked  implement  was  an  Egyptian  or 
 Canaanitish  weapon,  either  of  wur,  or  a  sacred  badge  of  the  priest 
 accompanying  the  stamlard  bearer,  to  see  the  venerated  standard  of  the 
 dove  trampled  tm  by  enemies,  together  with  the  arms  which  should  de- 
 fend it,  was  an  event  which  mit;ht  well  confound  into  paleness  the 
 kings  which  surrounded  it,  and  who  had  expected  victory  from  its  as- 
 sistance. In  this  sense  the  passage  may  read — 
 '  Kings  and  armies  did  flee,  did  flee. 
 And  the  homestead  of  their  pursuers  divided  the  spoil ; 
 Yes,  surely  ye  cast  down  among  the  crooks  of  war 
 The  dove,  nf  wings  imbricated  with  silver. 
 And  pinions  embroidered  with  yellow  guld. 
 In  this  dispersion,  directed  by  the  Almighty, 
 The  kings  became  white  as  snow  on  Salmon.'— Scrips  Illttst. 
 'Did  ye  not  lie  among  the  sheep  folds,  O  ye  wings  of  a  dove  covered 
 with  silver,  and  with  burnished  gold  in  her  feathers?' — Durell. 
 
 '  Thouph  in  the  land  nf  Gnshen  ye  had  lain  among  the  folds  ; 
 Yet  were  ye  then  like  a  dove 
 Whose  wings  are  covered  with  silver 
 And  whose  feathers  with  the  yellowest  gold.* — Green. 
 '  When  ye  l)e  down  within  your  own  boundaries 
 Ye  shall  be  as  the  wings  of  a  dove  covered  with  silver. 
 And  whose  pinions  are  streaked  with  gold.' 
 There  is  no  authority  for  the  common  version  '  between  the  pots.'    No 
 one  of  the  old  translators  has  so  rendered  it.    The  above  sense  is  that 
 of  the  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Chald.,  and  Arub.     T\ii  Psalmist  first  notices  the 
 victory,  then  the  glory  of  the  conquerors;  when  repassing  within  their 
 own  territories,  they  should  be  beautiful  as  au  eastern  dove  displaying 
 its  rich  and  variegated  plumage. — Boothr.  U.   White  as  snow  in 
 
 SH/mo7i— interpreters  have  blindly  followed  the  Septuagint,  who  ig 
 norantly  or  wilfully  rendered  the  passage  obscure;  not  wishing  to 
 gratiiy  the  S>  rians  by  mentioning  their  deity,  {Uir  they  worshipped  a 
 dove,;  instead  of  translating  the  lieorew  word  'a  standard,'  as  they 
 ought  to  have  done,  they  made  a  proper  name  of  it,  and  rendered  it, 
 •  Mount  Selmon.' — Win,  Buxter.  Bouthroyd  renders  pobs,'  Salmon,' 
 '  darkness,'  or  '  shadow.' 
 
 '  The  Almighty,  having  scattered  those  kings, 
 Hath  by  this  turned  death-shade  to  splendour.' — Boothr. 
 Snow  is  much  less  common,  and  lies  a  much  shorter  time,  in  Judea, 
 than  with  us;  it  is  proportionally  more  admired. — Mant.      15.  The  hill 
 of  God.  fyc.         16.  Why  leap  ye,  f^c. 
 
 'The  mountain  of  Bashan  is  a  lofty  mountain  ; 
 The  mountain  of  Bashan  has  many  eminences. 
 Ye  mountains  of  many  eminences,  why  do  ye  leap? 
 This  Sion  is  the  mountain  in  which  God  delightetb  to  dwell ; 
 Yea,  and  the  Lord  Will  dwell  in  it  for  ever.'— Green. 
 Bashan,  and  the  mountains  about  it,  are  poetically  represented  as  leap- 
 ing for  joy  at  Jehovah's  presence,  and  ambitious  of  his  abode  upon 
 them  ;  as  if  there  was  a  rivalship  among  them  which  should  be  honoured 
 with  it. — Green. 
 
 '  An  excellent  mount  is  mount  Bashan ; 
 A  very  hi^h  mount  is  mount  Bashan. 
 Why  arc  ye  jealous,  ye  high  mounts, 
 Of  the  mount  which  God  desireth  for  his  abode? 
 Yea,  Jehovah  will  dwell  there  for  ever.' — Boothr. 
 617 
 
 '  Why  leap,'  &c.,  should  be, '  why  look  ye  with  envy  on  Zion  V—Bishop 
 Home. 
 
 'Though  high  the  hill  of  Bashan  swell, 
 Is  Bashan's  hill  the  hill  of  God  ? 
 Scowl  not,  proud  mounts  !  God  loves  to  dwell 
 Ev'n  here;  ev'n  here  his  fix'd  abode.'— iJ/an^. 
 \\Ticn  the  ark  came  in  view  of  Mount  Sion,  and  probably  when  they 
 began  to  ascend  it,  this  and  the  two  following  verses  were  sung.  '  The 
 hill  of  God,  that  hill  which  God  hath  chosen  to  inhabit,  *'  is  it  the  hiU 
 of  Bashan,  the  hill  with  its  craggy  eminences,  the  hill  of  Bashan?" 
 Bashan  may  boast  of  its  proud  eminences,  its  high  summit,  but  is  that 
 the  hill  where  God  will  iLx  his  re=.iilence.'—  Chandler,  Bp.  Home. 
 17.  The  chariots.  §-c.— that  is,  *  angels.'  See  2  Kings,  vi.  16,  1?  ;  Heb. 
 .\ii.  22.  Eoen  thousands,  literally,  '  duplicated  thousands,'  or,  '  thou- 
 sands upon  thousands  1*  meaning  a  multitude  innumerable.— PTi/. 
 '  Twenty  thousand,  thousands  of  thousands  is  the  cavalry  of  Or  d,'  or 
 'The  car  of  God  is  drawn  by  ten  thousand  pair,  by  thousand  thou- 
 sands.' The  first  is  to  be  preferred.  The  cavalry  of  God  is  everything 
 in  nature  which  he  employs  as  the  instruments  or  vehicles  of  his 
 power.'— Horsley.  As  in  Sinai,  rather, '  Sinai  (its  pomp  and  glory)  is  in 
 the  holy  place. '—U'i7.  'The  Lord  is  among  tliem  in  the  holy  place,  as 
 at  Sinai.'— ilooMr.  18.  Thou  hast  ascended,  ^n.—'  Thou  art  gone  up 
 to  thy  sanctuar>-  on  high;  Ihou  hast  led  thy  captivity  captive  ;  thou 
 hast  received  gifts  amongst  men,  yea,  even  the  refractory,  that  the 
 Lord  God  may  be  lodged.*— il/z/rf^-*.  Hust  led  captivity,  ^c— a  prey 
 of  people  taken  inwar.— .-li/w.  The  allusion  may  be  to  public  triumphs, 
 when  captives  were  led  in  chains,  even  kings  and  great  men,  that  bad 
 captivated  others.— Gi7/.  Received  gifts— eXafi^^,  '  thou  hast  received,* 
 Sept.  'Given  gifts,' ^ncim^  Versions.  *  Distributed  gifts  among  men.' 
 —Boothr.  •  Given  gifts  for  men.'  At  such  times  the  conqueror  threw 
 money  among  the  crowd.— -4.  Clarke.  The  procession  is  now  sup- 
 posed to  have  ascended  mount  Zion,  and  the  ark  is  now  brought  within 
 the  holy  place,  (compare  Ps.  xlvii.6,  and  2  Sam.vi.  13.)  The  rebellious, 
 —had  been  so,  but  were  now  subdued,  and  made  captives,  even  the^^e 
 shared  in  the  gifts  of  the  glorious  conqueror,  and  were  permitted  to 
 enjoy  all  the  benefits  of  his  church.  The  apostle  applies  this  verse  to 
 the  ascension  of  our  Lord,  and  to  the  distribution  of  the  gifts  of  his 
 Spirit  amongst  his  people,  (Eph.  iv.  8;)  and  if  the  Saviour  of  Israel 
 were  the  same  person  who  became  incarnate,  the  application  of  this 
 passage  to  him,  when  he  had  conquered  all  his  enemies,  and  returned 
 triumphant  to  heaven,  is  not  only  proper,  but  the  whole  becomes  more 
 magnificent  and  interesting.  The  a.scent  of  the  ark  to  mount  Zion, 
 and  the  grand  procession  in  honour  of  a  splendid  victoiy,  were  de- 
 signed to  represent  the  future  triumph  of  Messiah.— J?oo//ir.  We  may 
 read,  'Thou  hast  received  gifts  for  men,  DINS.  '  in  man','  'in  human 
 nature;'  God,  manifest  in  human  flesh,  dwells  among  mortals.— 4. 
 Clarke.  The  gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  qualify  men  for  the  ministry, 
 (Eph.  iv.  U,)  which  Christ  received  from  his  Divine  Father  in  human 
 nature,  when  he  ascended  up  into  heaven,  in  order  to  give  them  to 
 men ;  which  he  did  in  a  very  extraordinary  manner  on  the  day  of  Pen- 
 tecost.—Gi7/.  That  the  Lord  God  might  dif d/— '  The  conqueror  now 
 coming  to  fix  his  abode  among  the  conquered,  to  govern  and  dispense 
 justice,*  &c. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 '  Here,  Jah,  [O]  God,  fixes  his  dwelling.'— Hors/ey. 
 '  Among  whom  thou,  O  God,  Jah,  dvvellest.'— Bo&//ir. 
 '  That  by  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Spirit,  thrir  hearts  might  become 
 a  fit  habitation  for  God,'— GjV/;  or,  that  they  might  dwell  with  God  in 
 the  tabernacle  of  his  ordinances.- P(sc.,  Pag.         19.  Blessed  be  the 
 Lord,  fyc— 
 
 '  Blessed  he  the  Lord, 
 Wlio  daily  layeth  thista^k  upon  us,  [of  thanksgiviug,] 
 The  God  our  salvation.'— Hors/ey. 
 '  Blessed  be  Jehovah  from  day  to  day  1 
 When  oppressed,  this  is  God  our  salvation.'— 2?oo?/jr. 
 The  word,  VOV,  which  we  translate  '  to  load,'  signifies  '  to  lift,  bear  up, 
 support,  or  to  hear  a  burthen  foranothfr.'    Hence  we  might  translate 
 the  passage,  '  blessed  be  the  Lord,  day  by  day,  who  bears  our  burthens 
 for  us.*— t/arA-e.     'Who  beareth  the  burthen  of,'  that  is,  supporteth 
 \i%.~Lowfh.     As  an  active  verb   it  signifies  '  to  load,  to  lay  a  burthen 
 on  another;'  but  in  no  instance  to  bear  or  support  one,  (1  Kin.  xii.U.) 
 — Boothr.         20.  And  ^c.  the  issues  of  deaths 
 
 '  And  for  death  are  the  goings  forth  of  the  Lord  Jehovah.' 
 When  Jehovah  takes  the  field,  deadly  is  the  battle  to  his  enemies.— See 
 Hare,  and  Hnub.,  Horsley.     '  Issues  from  death,'  mean  the  many  pro- 
 vidential escapes  and  deliverances  from  death.— Heu;. 
 
 '  For  to  Jehovah  we  owe  our  escapes  from  AQa.Xh.''— Boothr. 
 
 'To  God  the  Lord  belong  the  ways  unto  death,'  mwSin  mo'*?.- Pis'-. 
 Mont.  At  6u^oboi  70V  0avaTov,  'the  passages  to  death,'  Sept.  So  it 
 should  be  transla'ed,  expressing  the  ways  by  which  death  goes  out 
 upon  men  to  destroy  them.— Lowth.  It  is  an  allusion  to  one  that 
 keeps  a  passage  or  a  door ;  God  is  a  faithful  keeper,  who  will  open  the 
 4  K 
 
God  is  to  be  praised  for  his  works. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXIX. 
 
 David's  coviplaint  ofaJfUctiun. 
 
 enemies,  ^  and  tlie  liairy  scalp  of  such  an  one 
 as  goetli  on  still  in  liis  trespasses. 
 
 •22  Tlie  Lord  said,  I  will  bring  '"  again  from 
 Bashan,  I  will  bring  mi/  people  again  '  from 
 the  depths  of  the  sea  : 
 
 23  '  That  thy  foot  may  be  ||  dipped  in  the 
 blood  of  t/ii)ie  enemies,  '  und  the  tongue  of 
 thy  dogs  in  the  same. 
 
 24  Tliey  have  seen  thy  goings,  O  God  ;  even 
 the  goings  of  my  God,  my  King,  in  the  sanc- 
 tuary. 
 
 25  "■  The  singers  went  before,  the  players  on 
 instraments  followed  after  ;  among  them  were 
 the  damsels  playing  with  timbrels. 
 
 26  Bless  ye  God  in  the  congregations,  even 
 the  Lord,  ||  from  "  the  fountain  of  Israel. 
 
 27  There  ts  "  little  Benjamin  with  their  ruler, 
 the  princes  of  Judah  ||  and  their  council,  the 
 princesof  Zebulun,  anrf  the  princes  of  Naphtali. 
 
 28  Thy  God  liath  ''commanded  thy  strength  : 
 strengthen,  O  God,  that  which  thou  hast 
 wrought  for  us. 
 
 29  Because  of  thy  temple  at  Jerusalem  ''  shall 
 kings  bring  presents  unto  thee. 
 
 30  Rebuke  ||  the  company  of  spearmen,  "■  the 
 multitude  of  the  bulls,  with  the  calves  of  the 
 people,  till  every  one  'submit  himself  with 
 pieces  of  silver  :  ||  scatter  thou  the  people  that 
 delight  in  war. 
 
 31  '  Princes  shall  come  out  of  Egypt ;  "  Ethi- 
 opia shall  soon  'stretch  out  her  hands  unto 
 God. 
 
 g  Ps.  55.  2!, 
 
 A  Nu.8l.33. 
 i  Es.  14.  22. 
 
 4  Ps.  58.  ro. 
 II  Or,  nd. 
 I\  Ki.2J.I9. 
 
 m  1  CUr.  IS 
 8.  &  15  16 
 Pb.  4T.  5. 
 
 il  Or,  ye  that 
 are  of  the 
 
 n  Ueu  33.28. 
 Ts.  48    I 
 
 o  I  ! 
 
 9   21. 
 
 II  Or,  will, 
 
 pnny. 
 
 p  SdPs.42.8. 
 q  I  Kin.  lu. 
 
 10,  24,  -25. 
 
 2Chr.32  23. 
 
 Ps.  72.  ln.& 
 
 7t).ll.  Is.GO. 
 
 16,  17. 
 [I  Or,  (/■.« 
 
 beuili  of  the 
 
 51.  32.  33 
 
 Ps.2 
 
 12. 
 
 Sa.  8.2,6. 
 UOr,  ht 
 
 mntlereth. 
 I  Is.  19.  19, 
 
 21. 
 «  Ps.  72.  9. 
 
 Is.  45.  H. 
 
 Zcph   3. 10. 
 
 Acts  8.  27. 
 X  Ps.  44.  20. 
 
 V  Ps  IS  10.  & 
 101  3.  1  cr  4 
 I  Ps.  29.  3, 
 
 6P8  45.4.  & 
 65.  5.  &  66. 
 5.  &  76    12. 
 
 •P«.4S,mle. 
 
 A  Ps.  40.  2. 
 t  Helv  the 
 ml«  ,/ 
 
 drpth. 
 
 t  ileb-  drpth 
 of  maleri, 
 c  Pa.  6    6. 
 
 e  Pa    .35    19. 
 John  15.25. 
 
 32  Sing  unto  God,  ye  kingdoms  of  the  earth  ; 
 
 0  sing  praises  unto  the  Lord  ;  Selah  : 
 
 33  To  him  ^  that  rideth  upon  the  heavens  of 
 heavens,  which  uere  of  old  ;  lo,  '  he  doth 
 t  send  out  his  voice,  and  that  a  mighty  voice. 
 
 34  "  Ascribe  ye  strength  unto  God  :  his  ex- 
 cellency is  over  Israel,  and  his  strength  is  in 
 the  II  clouds. 
 
 35  O  God,  ■'  thou  art  terrible  out  of  thy  holy 
 pjaces ;  tlie  God  of  Israel  is  he  that  giveth 
 strength  and  power  unto  his  people.  Blessed 
 be  God. 
 
 PSALM  LXIX. 
 
 1  David  cnmplaineth  of  his  affiiction.  10  He  prayeth 
 for  deliverance.  22  He  daotUh  his  enemies  to  de- 
 struction.    30  He  praisctli  God  with  tlianksgiving. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musiciin  *  upon  Shoshaiinira,  A  Psalm  of 
 David . 
 
 C  AVE  me,  O  God  ;  for  ""  tlie  waters  are  come 
 ^   in  unto  my  soul. 
 2^1  sink  in  f  deep  mire,  where  there  is  no 
 standing  :     I     am    come    into    f  deep    waters, 
 wliere  the  floods  overflow  me. 
 
 3  "  I  am  weary  of  my  crying  :  my  throat  is 
 dried:  ''mine  eyes  fail  while  I  wait  for  my 
 God. 
 
 4  They  that  ^hate  me  without  a  cause  are 
 more  than  the  hairs  of  mine  head  :  they  that 
 would  destroy  me,  being  mine  enemies  wrong- 
 fully, are  mighty  :  theu  I  restored  thai  which  I 
 took  not  away. 
 
 door  for  the  escape  of  his  people,  when  they  rry  unto  him.— C'(rv^ 
 21.  God  shall  &ic.  the  hairy  scatp,  'the  hairy  crown.'  Perhaps  an  al- 
 lusion to  the  usa^'e  of  tlie  people  in  those  Arabian  regions,  who  nourish 
 their  hair  on  tlie  crown  of  their  bead,  shewing  hy  their  unshorn  heads 
 and  shaggy  hair  the  ferocity  of  the  disposition.— //ore.  The  words, 
 T5ir  "Iplp,  perhaps  refer  to  a  helmet  or  head-cap.— .4.  Clarke.  Tliis 
 language,  still  used  in  the  east,  is  equivalent  to  saying,  '  I  will  klU 
 you.*— Rob.         22.  /  will  bring  again,  §c.— 
 
 ' 1  will  bring  the  enemy  from  Bashan, 
 
 And  from  tlie  deep  shores  of  the  sea.* 
 Bashan  was  ea^t  of  Judea,  and  the  sea  on  the  west,  so  that  the  mean- 
 ing is,  that  God  would  bring  his  enemies  from  every  quarter  to  be  slain 
 by  his  people.— Boo/Ar.  The  allusion  seems  to  be,  the  deliverance  of 
 God's  people  from  the  pursuing  Egvptians,  and  their  subsequent  victory. 
 —Ed.  i  see  Gilt  and  Mor.        24.  They  have  seen,  §c.— 
 
 'Thy  processions,  O  Gid,  men  behold,'  &c.—Boothr. 
 25.  The  singers,  ^c— this,  no  doubt,  is  the  descripUon  of  a  religious 
 procession  in  the  time  of  David.— KoA.  Does  it  not  mean,  they  have 
 seen  that  the  presence  of  God  himself  was  in  his  holy  place,  the  arK,  as 
 it  moved  before  the  armies  of  his  people  }—Ed.  26,  27.  Blfss  ye  God 
 Sfc.  from  the  fountitiu—a,  metaphor  denoting  the  posterity  of  Israel 
 spiinging  from  a  common  source.— il/uni.  This  is  what  they  sung.— 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 'They  bless  God  in  the  congregation, 
 The  Lord  of  the  &tock  of  Isiael.'— Hors/tfj/. 
 '  In  distinct  bands  they  bless  God, 
 The  ofr>pring  of  Israel  bless  Jehovah. 
 Here  Benjamin,  the  youngest,  is  their  leader; 
 The  princes  of  .Tudah  13  their  strength,'  &.c.—Boothr. 
 
 Benjamin,  though  the  youngest  tribe,  is  named  first,  and  called  'the 
 ruler,'  because  trom  that  tribe  sprang  Saul,  the  first  king  of  Israel. — 
 Up.  Home.  2".  There  is  little  Benjamin— t\i\%  is  a  description  of  an- 
 other part  of  the  piocession.  28.  Thy  God,  ^c,  is  what  this  part 
 sung.— So  Clarke. 
 
 '  It  is  thy  God,  O  Israel,  who  giveth  thee  thy  strength. 
 ConfiiTn.  O  God,  for  Jerusalem's  sake, 
 That  which  thou  hast  wrought  for  us  from  thy  temple. — Green. 
 
 '  Give  commission,  O  God,  to  thy  power; 
 Hasten  that  thou  dost  for  us. 
 For  thy  temple's  sake,  at  Jerusalem,*  &c. — Horsley. 
 
 30.  The  company  0/  spearmeji,  T\^p  TVT^,  the  wild  beast  of  the  reeds, 
 the  crocodile,  or  hippopotamus;  emblematical  of  the  Egyptian  king 
 and  his  army.  — So  the  Versions.     The  lion.—  Wa//.,  as  Bp.  Lowth, 
 
 Rusenm.,  fyc.  The  multitude  of  the  bulls,  §/?. — *robnke  the  wild 
 beast  of  the  recils,'  (the  Egyptian  power,}  the  congregation  of  the 
 mighty  among  the  calves  of  the  nations,  (their  objects  of  worship. 
 Apis,  Oshis,  ^c,  around  which  they  assembler!,)  skipping  or  exulting 
 with  (or  in)  pieces  of  silver;  with  tinkling  instruments  made  of  silver, 
 or  •  glorying  in  pieces,  &c.,  riches.' — Bp.  Home. 
 
 •  Rebuke  the  wild  bea'^t  which  liveth  among  the  reeds ; 
 The  assembly  of  the  mighty,  the  lords  of  the  people. 
 Who  proudly  march  along  arrayed  in  tissue  of  sliver,'  &c.- 
 
 ■Green. 
 
 '  Rebuke  tJie  wild  bea^t  of  the  rushes. 
 
 The  assembly  of  those  who  place  their  streng'h  in  the  calves  ; 
 The  peoples  who  excite  themselves  to  the  dance  with  rattles  of 
 silver,'  &c. — Horsley. 
 
 By  bulls,  we  may  understand  *  men  of  mature  age  and  influence  ;'  by 
 calves,  'young  men  of  neither  rank  nor  power.' — Hew.  People,  read 
 'peoples,'  nations.— TP'i/. 
 
 'The  assembly  of  the  mighty— the  lords  of  nations, 
 Who  tread  on  tiles  of  silver. 
 Scatter,*  &c. 
 31.  Princes,  ^c,  'let  ambassadors  come,  &C.,  let  thy  future  triumphs 
 induce  the  Egyptians  and  Ethiopians  to  form  alliance  with  thy  people 
 and  to  honour  thec.—Boothr.      The  eunuch    whom  Philip  baptized 
 planted  a  church  in  this  country. — So  Eusebiits.        ST*.  Terrible  out  of 
 thy  holy  places,  '  formidable  from  his  sanctuary.'- GreeM,     'Adorable 
 art  thou,  O  God,  in  thy  sanctuary.'— Hors/ey.     'Awful  is  God  in  his 
 sanctuary.' — Buothr. 
 
 Ps.  LXIX. — Title— Shoshannim— see  Title,  note.  Psalm  xlv.  This 
 Psalm  is  partly  prophetic ;  it  mi^ht  be  composed  during  the  reign  of 
 Absalom.  David,  rejected  and  persecuted,  was  a  lively  type  of  his 
 son,  Jesus.— i3oo/Ar.  The  citations  from  this  Psalm  are  so  numer- 
 ous as  to  leave  no  doubt  whatever  of  its  prophetic  character.  It  is 
 referred  to  at  least  seven  times  as  a  prophecy  of  Christ  and  the  times 
 of  the  gospel.  See  John,  xv.  25  ;  ii.  17  ;  Rom.  xv.  3  ;  Luke,  xxiii.  34— 
 38;  John,  xix.  28,29;  R"m.  xi.  9,  10;  Acts.  i.  16,  20.— it/or.  i.  The 
 waters  are  come,  ^c. — '  I  am  almost  overwhelmed  with  calamities.' 
 — Wells.  The  allusion  is  to  a  leaky  vessel,  or  inundation.  4.  / 
 restored  that,  ^c— may  not  this  refer  to  David's  surrendering  up 
 Jerusalem  to  the  party  of  Absalom  ? —  Wil.  The  expression  is  pro- 
 verbial,  like  'those  that  suffered  the  wrong  paid  the  costs.' — Clarke, 
 so  Cat.  It  seems  to  denote  the  situation  of  an  innocent  person  un- 
 justly treated.  Morison.  The  phrase  means,  '  I  have  been  accoimt- 
 able  for  the  crimes  of  others.'  —  Horsley.  Christ,  the  only  inmcent 
 person  in  the  world,  suffered  for  all  its  guilt,  making  satisfaction  for 
 wrongs  which  he  never  did,  and  '  restoring  that  which  he  took  not 
 away.'— Bp.  Home.    Such  applications  are  very  gratuitous. — Clarke. 
 
 Reflections   on   Ps.  LXVIII Two  leading  ideas  here 
 
 present  themselves  to  our  notice — I.  God  is  great.  Who  can 
 withstand  his  power  *  How  numerous  are  the  mighty  agents 
 under  his  control  !  How  eflectually  can  he  subdue  all  the 
 enemies  of  his  church  and  people  ! 
 
 II.  God  is  gracious.  The  fatherless  and  the  widows,  that 
 618 
 
 often  escape  the  eye  of  human  beings,  are  tenderly  noticed 
 by  him.  He  showers  the  bounties  of  his  providence  on  the 
 needy  ;  he  rescues  the  oppressed.  But  in  the  munificent 
 gifts  shed  upon  us  abundantly  tlirough  Christ  Jesus,  who  has 
 ascended  into  his  glory,  we  see  the  exceeding  riches  of  his 
 grace.     O  '  blessed  be  God  !' 
 
David's  prayer  for  deliverance. 
 
 PSALMS.  LXIX. 
 
 He  devoteth  his  enemies. 
 
 5  O  God,  thou  knowest  my  foolishness  ;  and 
 my  t  sins  are  not  hid  tVoni  tliee. 
 
 6  Let  not  them  that  wait  on  thee,  O  Lord 
 God  of  hosts,  be  ashamed  for  my  sake  :  let  not 
 those  that  seek  thee  be  confounded  for  my 
 sake,  O  God  of  Israel. 
 
 7  Because  for  thy  sake  I  have  borne  re- 
 proach ;  shame  hath  covered  my  face. 
 
 S  ^  \  am  become  a  stranger  unto  my  brethren, 
 and  an  alien  unto  my  mother's  children. 
 
 9  ®  For  the  zeal  of  tliine  house  hath  eaten 
 me  up  ;  ^  and  the  reproaches  of  them  that  re- 
 proached thee  are  fallen  upon  me. 
 
 10  'When  I  wept,  and  chastened  my  soul 
 with  fasting,  that  was  to  my  reproacli. 
 
 1 1  I  made  sackclotli  also  my  garment ;  ^  and 
 I  became  a  proverb  to  them. 
 
 1'2  Tliey  that  sit  in  the  gate  speak  against 
 me  ;  and  '  I  was  the  song  of  the  f  drunkards. 
 
 13  But  as  for  me,  my  prayer  is  unto  thee,  O 
 Lord,  '"  in  an  acceptable  time  :  O  God,  in  the 
 multitude  of  thy  mercy  hear  me,  in  the  truth 
 of  thy  salvation, 
 
 i4  Deliver  me  out  of  the  mire,  and  let  me 
 not  sink  :  "let  me  be  delivered  from  them  that 
 hate  me,  and  out  of  °  the  deep  waters. 
 
 15  Let  not  the  waterflood  overflow  me, 
 neither  let  the  deep  swallow  me  up,  and  let 
 not  the  pit  "^shut  her  moutli  upon  me. 
 
 16  Hear  me,  O  Lokd;  ""for  thy  lovingkindness 
 1*5  good  :  ^  turn  unto  me  according  to  the  mul- 
 titude of  thy  tender  mercies. 
 
 17  And  ^  hide  not  tliy  face  from  thy  servant ; 
 for  I  am  in  trouble  :  f  hear  me  speedily. 
 
 18  Draw  nigh  unto  my  soul,  and  redeem  it : 
 deliver  me  because  of  mine  enemies. 
 
 19  Thou  hast  known  Mny  reproach,  and  my 
 shame,  and  my  dishonour:  mine  adversaries 
 are  all  before  thee. 
 
 20  Reproach  hath  broken  my  heart  ;  and  1 
 am  full  of  heaviness  ;  and  "  I  looked  for  some 
 t  to    take  pity,  but  there  ivas  none  ;    and  for 
 
 /Ps.  31    u. 
 U.  53.  3. 
 Johu  I.  )l. 
 U  7.  S. 
 
 ,j  PB.ii9.in9 
 
 John  -i.  17. 
 /(  See  I's.  89. 
 
 50,51.  Rom. 
 
 15    S. 
 i  Ps    bj    13, 
 
 k  1  Kin.  0.7 
 
 I  Job  30.  9. 
 Pa. ;i5. 1-5,16 
 
 (Heb.rfri'iA- 
 
 era  <,f  tlr<in<, 
 
 drxnk. 
 m  la.  W.  8. 
 
 S(  5.5.  B. 
 
 2  Cor.  6    •>. 
 
 n  Ps.  I  U    7. 
 
 '.  ver.l.?,  15 
 
 Nu.  16.  S3. 
 I'B.  63.  3. 
 
 t  Heb.  mahfi 
 liaite  to  hear 
 
 I  Pe    22  6,  7 
 
 Is  b:i.  a. 
 
 Ilcb.  \-2   2. 
 
 II  Ps.  \'Vi   4. 
 
 Is.  61.  h. 
 t  Heb.  to  In- 
 
 utP'it  with 
 
 y  Mat.  97  34, 
 4rt.  IMaik 
 [.•..y;i  Jolin 
 
 a  Is    6.9.  lit 
 John  12  SS, 
 40.  Horn. 
 lllO.aCor. 
 3.  14 
 
 (,  1  Tbc8.  2. 
 
 c  Mat  23,38. 
 Acts  I.  -20. 
 t  Heb    titeir 
 
 ■t  lleb    let 
 
 titers  >,ut  he 
 
 a  .Iw.ll.-r. 
 d  See-iChr. 
 
 23.  9    Zech. 
 
 I.  15. 
 ->  Is    53.  4. 
 t  Heb    I'y 
 
 w-und''d. 
 /■Rmij.l   •>%. 
 II  Or.  }>u„Uli- 
 
 ,H.;,t  uf  ini- 
 
 qu.tfj 
 ^  Is.  L'6,    10, 
 
 Hum.  9.31. 
 I,  Kx,  32   a2. 
 
 Phil, 
 
 Rev,:i.  5.  *^ 
 
 i  Ezi-k    l.S!l. 
 
 Luke  10.3(1. 
 
 Heb.   l-».>3. 
 *  Ps.  28.  7. 
 /  Ps.  60,  13, 
 
 U    23 
 ".  Ps.  3-1.  2. 
 ;|  Or,  m-vA. 
 ft  Ps.  -d-i.  ^6 
 
 o  Eph.  3.  I. 
 
 p  Vs.  ilfi.  II, 
 &  148,   1. 
 la.  44.  2S  & 
 49.  1.3- 
 
 q  Is   55.  12. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 CTPtllfth. 
 
 T  Pa,  51.  18. 
 Is.  41    2li. 
 
 s  Ps.  lOi.  28. 
 
 "  comforters,  but  I  found  none. 
 
 21   They  gave   me   also   gall  for  my  meat; 
 
 and  in  my  thirst  they  gave  me  vinegar  to 
 drink. 
 
 "2-2  ^  Let  their  table  become  a  snare  before 
 tliem  :  and  that  which  should  have  been  for 
 their  welfare,  let  it  become  a  trap. 
 
 23  ^  Let  their  eyes  be  darkened,  that  they 
 see  not ;  and  make  their  loins  continually  to 
 siiake. 
 
 24  ^  Pour  out  thine  indignation  upon  them, 
 and  let  thy  wrathful  anger  take  hold  of  them. 
 
 25  ""  Let  t  their  habitation  be  desolate  ;  and 
 f  let  none  dwell  in  their  tents. 
 
 26  For  ^  they  persecute  "him  whom  thou 
 hast  smitten  ;  and  tliey  talk  to  the  grief  of 
 f  those  whom  thou  hast  wounded. 
 
 27  ^Add  II  iniquity  unto  their  iniquity  :  ^and 
 let  them  not  come  into  thy  riglUeousness. 
 
 28  Let  them  ^^  be  blotted  out  of  the  book  of 
 the  living,  *  and  not  be  written  with  the  right- 
 eous. 
 
 29  But  I  am  poor  and  sorrowful  :  let  thy 
 salvation,  O  God,  set  me  up  on  high. 
 
 30  ^  I  will  praise  the  name  of  God  with  a 
 song,  and  will  magnify  him  with  thanksgiving. 
 
 31  '  IVds  also  shall  please  the  Loud  better 
 than  an  ox  or  bullock  that  hath  horns  and 
 hoofs. 
 
 32  "^  The  II  humble  shall  see  this,  and  be 
 glad  :  and  "  your  heart  shall  live  that  seek 
 God. 
 
 33  For  the  Lord  heareth  the  poor,  and  de- 
 spiseth  not  °  his  prisoners. 
 
 34  P  Let  the  heaven  and  earth  praise  him,  the 
 seas,  *"  and  every  thing  that  f  nioveth  therein. 
 
 35  "■  For  God  will  save  Zion,  and  will  build 
 the  cities  of  Judah  :  that  they  may  dwell 
 there,  and  have  it  in  possession. 
 
 36  '  The  seed  also  of  his  servants  shall  in- 
 lierit  it :  and  they  that  love  his  name  shall 
 dwell  therein. 
 
 5.  My  fouUahnesSt  'Thou,  O  God,  who  art  privy  to  my  follje';,  and 
 from  whom  none  of  my  sins  can  be  concealed,  thou  knowest  that  I 
 never  did  them  any  injiry.'— Ti«ye//.  '  Th"U  knowest  tliat  I  am  nut 
 guilty  01  tlie  sin  with  which  mine  enemies  charge  me.' — Boothr.  These 
 words  are  plain  enough  in  the  mouth  of  David,  or  any  sinful  son  of 
 Adam  -,  they  may,  neverlheles.s,  be  spoken  by  Christ  concerning  the 
 iniquities  committed  by  us  and  laid  on  liim. — Bp-  Home.  The  lanfjuage 
 applied  to  Messiah  is  tqnivalent  to  this,  '  if  I  had  any  fnlly  or  sin  in  me, 
 from  thee  it  could  not  be  liid.  Thou  art  the  witness  and  judge  of  my 
 umlcviating  rectitude.' — 3Ioriso7t.  We  can  by  no  means  allow  the 
 application  to  him.  If  a^ked,  how  we  shall  decide  respecting  the  ap- 
 plicable parts,  we  reply,  we  admit  all  so  applied  by  Christ  and  his 
 apostles,  aud  object  not  to  such  accommodations  as  are  not  inconsist- 
 ent with  Messiah's  character. —  Wil.  How  can  such  wirds  a.s  are  in 
 tliis  verse  be  attributed  to  our  blessed  Lord,  however  twisted  or 
 turned? — A  Clarke.  Perhaps  it  should  be  e.xplaioed  as  the  language  of 
 the  type,  ratherthaii  of  the  antitype. — Scott.  AH  the  fir.st  critics  read  the 
 text  subjunciively.  *Thou  knowest  whether  the  accusatiun  of  fully 
 which  is  brought  against  me  be  true.' — So  Bezn,  Clnudc,  see  SutcUffe. 
 
 6.  Let  not  Sfc.  be  nshamfd,  ffc.,  that  is,  that  his  suftei  .ngs  might  not 
 prove  an  occasi.n  of  discouragement  to  his  pinus  br<-thren.— St'y/(. 
 
 7.  Shame  hath  covered,  ^-c,  as  with  mourners  and  condemned  persons. 
 — Mnnt.  9.  The  zeal,  ^c.,  ps^p.  rather '  zeal  for  thine  house  cmsumes 
 me.'— //ctt'.  The  radical  idea  of  ihe  Hebrew  word  is, '  to  eat  into,'  '  to 
 corrode  as  fire.'  It  is  generally  used  for  the  fervent  or  ardent  affec- 
 tions of  the  human  frame,  which  in  their  effects  are  like  fire  corroding 
 and  consuming. — Mnnt,  Pur.  *]nbDt4,  not  only  means  '  to  eat,*  but  '  to 
 corrotle'  or  'consume.' — Vide  "jDNi  .'^w''.  Fallen  upon  vie,  they  weie 
 the  wicked  that  opposed  bnth  David  and  Christ. — Boothr.  12.  They 
 that  sit  in  thp  gate — vain  and  idle  persons  that  spent  their  time  there, 
 in  which  there  u^ed  to  be  a  confluence  of  people. — Rosenm.  13.  Ac- 
 cef.itnhle  tiine — not  the  less  acceptable  for  being  the  time  of  affliction. — 
 Henry.  'A  time  of  good  will.' — Pag.,  Mont.  '  Though  I  now  suffer 
 trouble,  thou  hnst  a  time  wherein  thon  hast  appointed  my  deliverance.' 
 — Scott.  The  truth  of  thy  salvation,  i.  e.,  a<'Cording  to  the  promises 
 thou  hast  made  of  saving  me. —  Wf.lls.  i6.  Thy  lorinffkindnesSf-JiOTT, 
 the  word  icrr  signifies  *  exuberance  of  kindness.'  Thy  tender  mercies, 
 TOm,  these  signify  such  as  mothers  bear  to  their  young,  and  Gttd  has 
 a  '  multitude'  of  Wic^e.— Clarke.  21.  Gull,  \i;«"i,  now  generally  ad 
 onitted  to  he  '  hemlock.' — Boothr.,  as  Celsius  and  Michaclis.  Bitters  in 
 general. —  Wil.    Or  any  poisonous  drug.— f;efit/ji«s.     Vinegar,  tliis  is 
 
 619 
 
 given  to  the  slave  or  wretched  prisoner  iu  the  east,  while  people  in 
 better  circumstances  take  lemon  or  pomegranate  juice.— //«r.  Here 
 the  word  must  mean,  not  an  ordinary  beverage  of  weak  vinegar  used 
 to  quench  thirst,  (Num.  vi.  3;  Ruth,  ii.  14  ;  Prov.  x,\v.  20;)  but  some- 
 thing  disagreeable.  This  verse  is  applied  to  the  tre.itment  or  uur  Lord, 
 (Mat.  xxvii.  34;  John,  xix.  28— 30.)— Boo/Ac  There  was  a  strong: 
 vinegar  used  in  sauces,  and  not  proper  for  diinkin^',  at  least,  till  well 
 diluted.— iV(/«^  22.  Let,  §-e.,  should  be  iu  the  future  tense;  the 
 whole  paragraph  seems  to  refer  to  the  judgments  which  should  fall  on 
 the  Jews  for  their  sins.— fioo^Ar.  That  which  should  hm^e  been/or  their 
 welfare,  fyc,  'their  feast  offerings,'  so  Chald. ;  llouh  ,  Boothr.  'Their 
 peace  oftcrings.'— iI/D»^,  i/omc.  'Their  friendly  entertainments.'— 
 Hare,  Green. 
 
 *  Let  their  table  [spread]  before  them  become  a  snare. 
 
 And  for  retribution,  for  a  trap.'— Hors. 
 So  Ancient  Versions,  and  Rom.  xi.  9-  This  cnmmination  fulfilled  in 
 the  final  siege  of  Rnme,  when  many  thousands  of  Jews  were  a^^sembled 
 to  eat  of  the  paschal  lamb.— JI/icA.  23.  Their  eyes,  figuratively,  of 
 their  understanding,  that  they  conld  not  discern  the  siL^ns  of  the  times 
 when  the  Messiah  must  come.— So  Gill.  25.  Their  habitation,  DnTTO, 
 their  palaces,  castles,  mansions.  This  literally  happened  to  David's 
 enemies  after  the  battle  of  Gilboa.  and  extensively  so  after  the  Romans 
 burned  Jerusalem.— 5u(.  Gese/jiHsexphiins  it  of  avillage  of  moveable 
 tents,  which  seems  to  suit  best  the  context— »rt7.  26.  Talk  to,  §:c., 
 •add  to  the  grief,'  the  Versiims.  so  Boothr.  Those  whom  thou  hast 
 u'oiinded,  '  thy  wounded.'— W(7.  27.  Add  iniquity,   SfC,   ?S  J'3?  HDn 
 
 D3iy,  add  '  perverseness  to  their  pervcrseness,'  so  the  original ;  *  act  in 
 thy  judgments  as  crookedly  towards  them  as  they  dealt  crookedl)  to- 
 wards thee.' — Clarke. 
 
 '  Give  them  punishment  upon  punishment, 
 And  admit  them  not  to  thy  justification.' — Hors. 
 
 '  Thou  sufferest  them  to  add  iniquity  to  their  iniquity ; 
 And  by  thee  shall  tliey  not  be  satisfied.' 
 28.  The  book  of  the  living,  alludes  to  the  custom  of  registering  the 
 names  of  citizens,  who  when  ihey  became  apostates,  fugitives,  and 
 criminals,  were  erased.— Jl/an(.  29-  Poor  and  sorrowful,  '  humbled 
 and  afflicted.'— i?ooMr.  32.  Your  heart,  '  their  hearts.'  *  Seek  God, 
 and  let  your  heart  be  joyous.'- Hors/^j/.  33.  And  despiseth  not,  SfC-, 
 —this  verse  and  to  the  end  might  be  added  in  the  time  of  the  captivity. 
 — So  Vcnema  and  others. 
 
David's  confidence  in  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXX,  LXXI. 
 
 He  prayeth  for  perseverance. 
 
 PSALM  LXX. 
 
 David  soliciteth  God  to  the  speedy  destruction  of  tlic 
 
 wicked,  and  preservation  of  the  godli/. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  A  Psalm  of  David,  *  to  bring  to 
 
 remembrance. 
 
 TIJAKE  haste,  °  O  God,  to  deliver  me ;  make 
 ■'■'■*■    haste  t  to  help  me,  O  Lokd. 
 
 •2  ''  Let  them  be  ashamed  and  confounded 
 that  seek  after  my  soul  :  let  tliem  be  turned 
 backward,  and  put  to  confusion,  that  desire 
 my  hurt. 
 
 3  °  Let  them  be  turned  back  for  a  reward  of 
 their  sliame  that  say.  Aha,  aha. 
 
 4  Let  all  those  that  seek  thee  rejoice  and  be 
 glad  in  thee  :  and  let  such  as  love  thy  salva- 
 tion say  continually.  Let  God  be  magnified. 
 
 o  ''  But  I  am  poor  and  needy  :  "^  make  haste 
 unto  me,  O  God  :  thou  art  my  help  and  my 
 deliverer ;  O  Lord,  make  no  tarrying. 
 
 PSALM  LXXL 
 
 1  Dnvid,  in  confidence  of  faith,  and  experience  of  God's 
 favour,  praijeth  both  for  Itimself,  and  ai/ainst  the  aie- 
 mies  of  his  souL  14  He  promiseth  constancy,  17 
 He  praijeth  for  perseverance.  19  He  praisetk  God, 
 and  promiseth  to  do  it  chetrfuUi/, 
 
 TN  "thee,  O  Lord,  do  I  put  my  trust :  let  me 
 ■*-   never  be  put  to  confusion. 
 
 2  ''  Deliver  me  in  thy  ri^liteousness,  and  cause 
 me  to  escape  :  '  incline  thine  ear  unto  me,  and 
 save  me. 
 
 .3  ''t  Be  thou  my  .strong  habitation,  whereunto 
 I  may  continually  resort :  thou  hast  given 
 "  commandment  to  save  me  ;  for  thou  art  my 
 rock  and  my  fortress. 
 
 4  'Deliver  me,  O  my  God,  out  of  the  hand 
 of  the  wicked,  out  of  the  hand  of  the  unright- 
 eous and  cruel  man. 
 
 5  For  thou  o?7  ^  my  hope,  O  Lord  God  :  thou 
 art  my  trust  from  my  youth. 
 
 6  "^  By  thee  have  I  been  holden  up  from  the 
 womb  :  thou  art  he  that  took  me  out  of  my 
 mother's  liowels :  my  praise  shall  be  continu- 
 ally of  thee. 
 
 7  '  I  am  as  a  wonder  unto  many  ;  but  thou 
 art  my  strong  refuge. 
 
 t  Heb.  to   mr/ 
 
 b  Pa.  fih  4, 
 &  71.13. 
 
 H  Ps.  "10.  17, 
 sPs.  111.  1. 
 
 1023. 
 ■I  Pb.  25.  2, 3. 
 &  31.  1. 
 
 h  Pa   SI.  1. 
 c  Ps.  17.  fl. 
 
 ri  P«   31.9,3. 
 
 t  Hi-b.  Be 
 tf.uu  to  me 
 f„  a  rath  of 
 Imbilalioit. 
 
 e  Ps.  44.  4. 
 
 /.  Pb   28.  9. 
 10.  Is.  46. 3 
 
 I  Is.  8.  13. 
 Zech.  3.  8. 
 1  Cor.  4.  9 
 
 r. -iSa.  17.  1, 
 Mat.  27.  I. 
 
 1  Ps.  22.  11, 
 19  &  35.  Zi. 
 
 h  33  21,  aa. 
 
 .  P9.  70.  I. 
 I  ver.  S'l. 
 I's.35.  4.26, 
 &  10.  14.  & 
 70.  2. 
 
 g  ver.  9.  24. 
 Ps,  as  2S. 
 Fs.  40.  5  & 
 1S9.  17,  18. 
 
 »  ver.  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  tint" 
 ol,/  nff-  and 
 >J"-!I  '<"'" 
 
 t  Hub.  thw 
 
 t  Heb.  with 
 the  imlra- 
 
 piniteri/. 
 :  Ps.  W   1,?, 
 
 3.  &  ISO.  3. 
 rt  SKiii.  19 
 
 22.  1 3   0O.9. 
 &  Ps.  103.  4. 
 
 8  Let  ^  my  mouth  be  filled  zvith  thy  praise 
 and  with  thy  honour  all  the  day. 
 
 9  '  Cast  me  not  oft'  in  the  time  of  old  age, 
 forsake  me  not  when  my  strength  faileth. 
 
 10  For  mine  enemies  speak  against  me  ;  and 
 they  that  flay  wait  for  my  soul  "'  take  counsel 
 together, 
 
 11  Saying,  God  hath  forsaken  him  :  persecute 
 and  take  him  ;  for  there  is  none  to  deliver  him. 
 
 \'2  "  O  God,  be  not  far  from  nie  :  O  my  God, 
 '*make  haste  for  my  help. 
 
 13  ''  Let  them  be  confounded  ctfid  consumed 
 that  are  adversaries  to  my  soul  ;  let  them  be 
 covered  icith  reproach  and  dishonour  that  seek 
 my  hurt. 
 
 14  But  I  will  hope  continually,  and  will  yet 
 praise  thee  more  and  more. 
 
 15  •*  My  mouth  shall  shew  forth  thy  righteous- 
 ness and  thy  salvation  all  the  day  ;  for  '  I  know 
 not  the  numbers  thereof. 
 
 IG  I  will  go  in  tlie  strength  of  the  Lord  God  : 
 I  will  make  mention  of  thy  righteousness,  ct'^K 
 of  thine  only. 
 
 17  O  God,  thou  hast  taught  me  from  my 
 youtli  :  and  hitherto  have  I  de(^lared  thy 
 wondrous  works. 
 
 IS  'Now  also  fwhen  I  am  old  and  grey- 
 headed, O  God,  forsake  me  not ;  until  1  have 
 shewed  t  thy  strength  imto  this  generation, 
 and  thy  power  to  every  one  that  is  to  come. 
 
 19  *  Thy  righteousness  also,  O  God,  is  very 
 high,  who  hast  done  great  things :  "  O  God, 
 who  is  like  unto  thee! 
 
 20  '^  ThoUy  which  hast  shewed  me  great  and 
 sore  troubles,  ^shalt  quicken  me  again,  and 
 shalt  bring  me  up  again  from  the  depths  of  the 
 earth. 
 
 '21  Thou  shalt  increase  my  greatness,  and 
 comfort  me  on  every  side, 
 
 22  I  will  also  praise  thee  f'with  the  psaltery, 
 evai  thy  truth,  O  my  God  :  unto  thee  will  I 
 sing  with  the  harp,  O  thou  "  Holy  One  of 
 Israel. 
 
 23  My  lips  shall  greatly  rejoice  when  I  sing 
 unto  thee;  and  ''my  soul,  which  thou  hast 
 redeemed. 
 
 Ps.  LXX.— Title— To  bring.  §-c.— see  Tiilo,  note,  Ps.  xs.\viii.  This 
 Psalm  is  thotiglit  to  have  been  taken  by  David  fr-mi  Ps.  xl.,  and  a  little 
 altered,  to  be  used  constantly  during  Absalom's  rebellion.-  Wells. 
 Notes  on  Ps.  Ixx.,  see  notes  on  Ps.  .\1.,  verse  13  to  the  end. 
 
 Ps.  LXXI.  — The  conjectures  respecting  this  Psalm  are— That  it  was 
 by  David  composed  when  Saul  troubled  him,  Sr/r.  When  he  fled  from 
 Absalom.— A'irticAi,  Arntmi,  Ham.,  TrnveU,  Wil.  After  Absalom's 
 rebellicin  \v.is  suppressed. — Boothr.  Written  by  David  in  the  person  of 
 the  captives  of  Babylon.— TAcorf.  '  A  Psalm  cf  David  for  the  sons  of 
 Jonadab,  and  the  first  of  those  who  were  led  captives,'  Sept.,  Vulg., 
 Arab.  The  title  is  omitted,  it  being  part  of  the  preceding  Psalm  ;  so  it 
 is  made  in  twenty-seven  of  Kennicott's  and  De  Rossi's  MSS.  4.  Cniel, 
 yoin,  'leavened'  with  the  leaven  of  malice. — Mich.     *Sour,*  'ill- 
 
 natured,'  leavened  with  malice  and  wickedness.  Perhaps  Ahithopel  is 
 intended. — Gill.  Leaven  seems  tu  be  an  image  fur  habitual  depravity 
 of  any  kind. — Ilnrsley.  /.  A  wonder,  *  a  gazing-stock.' — Green.  'A 
 prodigious  sight,'  a  sign  which  shall  be  spoken  against,  (Luke,  il.  34.) 
 — Horsley.  riDITSS.  'as  a  portent'  or  'type.*  '  I  am  a  typical  person, 
 and  many  things  happening  to  me  refer  to  Him  of  whom  I  am  a  type  -,* 
 or  *  I  am  a  continual  prodigy,  constantly  preserved  amidst  dangers.' — 
 So  Clarke.  14.  And  will  yet  praise  ther, '  will  add  to  all  thy  praise/  to 
 former  praises  and  thanksgivings,  fresh  ones,  Tigurine  Version;  Dr, 
 Gill.  '  And  shall  I  be  added  to  the  sum  of  thy  praise.' — Hors.  20.  From 
 the  depths  of  the  earth,  irom  the  grave. — Wulf.  E.xpressive  of  UiG 
 lowest  state  of  misery  and  suffering. — Hew. 
 
 Keflections  ON  Ps.  LXIX.  — L  Christians  are  oftcjt  in  af- 
 fiiction,  hut  what  are  their  suffirinf/s  compared  ivith  those  of  their 
 suffering/  Lord?  He  was  in  deep  mne  and  overwhelmint; 
 floods, — he  poured  out  strong  cries  and  tears,— be  was  hated, 
 indeed,  without  cause,  and  his  hfe  was  eagerly  sought  after 
 by  his  relentless  enemies.  His  zeal  for  the  salvaLion  of  men 
 consumed  him,  while  their  ingratitude  and  unbelief  drunk  up 
 his  spirits.  He  n-as  a  constant  subject  of  reproach  and  heavi- 
 ness ;  and  when  he  most  needed  comfort,  even  his  disciples 
 forsook  liim  and  ik'd.  His  last  moments  were  embittered  by 
 the  most  insulting  and  cruel  treatment,  and  he  drained  the 
 most  bitter  of  cups  to  the  very  dregs.  Then  '  consider  him 
 who  endured  sulU  contradiction  of  sinners  against  himself, 
 lost  ye  also  be  weary  and  faint  in  your  minds.' 
 
 II.  The  bitter  eriemies  of  Christ  and  his  ptop/e  shall,  in  the  end, 
 meet  with  their  reward.  If  their  hearts  do  not  bend  before  him, 
 they  must  break.  They  are  then  only  spared,  in  their  hardness 
 620 
 
 and  impenitence,  to  *  treasure  up  wrath  against  the  day  of 
 wrath,  and  revelation  of  the  righteous  judgment  of  God.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXX. — Mark,  I.  David's  dcstription 
 of  his  condition — '  poor  and  needy.'  Such  are  those  who  spi- 
 ritually discern  their  condition  by  nature.  Impoverished  by 
 sin,  and  thrown  out  of  their  inheritance.  Such  are  the  most 
 holy  men,  pensioners  daily  on  the  Divine  bounty.  Hence 
 these  seek  after  God's  favours  sincerely;  while  others  think 
 themselves  rich  and  increased  in  good,  and  in  need  ot  no- 
 thing, and  know  not  that  they  are  wretched,  aud  miserable, 
 and  poor,  and  blind,  and  naked. 
 
 II.  David's  earnest  cry  fur  rdiitf.  He  who  feels  his  need  of 
 God's  mercy  and  grace  will  supplicate  incessantly  for  it.  And 
 'poverty  and  necessity  is  a  very  good  plea  in  prayer  to  a  God 
 of  infinite  mercy,  who  despiseth  not  the  sighing  of  a  contrite 
 heart.  :md  hath  pronounced  a  blessing  upon  the  poor  in  spirit ; 
 who  fitlelh  the  hungry  with  good  things.' 
 
David's  prayer  for  Solomon. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXII. 
 
 He  blesstth  God. 
 
 24  ''  My  tongue  also  shall  talk  of  tliy  riglite- 
 ousness  all  the  day  long  :  for  ''  they  are  con- 
 founded, for  they  are  brought  unto  sliarae,  that 
 seek  my  hurt. 
 
 PSALM   LXXIL 
 
 1  David,  prar/in(j  for  Suhmon,  sheweth  the  ffoodness 
 ajtd  glory  of  his,  in  tyiw.,  and  in  truth,  of  CItrisfs 
 kingdom.      18  He  blesattli  God. 
 
 A  Psalm  II  *  for  Solomon. 
 f~^  IVE  the  king  thy  judgments,  O  God,  and 
 ^-*   thy  righteousness  unto  the  king's  son. 
 
 2  "  He  shall  judge  thy  people  with  righteous- 
 ness, and  thy  poor  with  judgment. 
 
 3  ''  The  mountains  shall  bring  peace  to  the 
 people,  and  the  little  hills,  by  rigliteousness. 
 
 4  '  He  shall  judge  the  poor  of  the  people,  he 
 shall  save  the  children  of  the  needy,  and  shall 
 break  in  pieces  the  oppressor. 
 
 5  They  shall  fear  thee  ^  as  long  as  the  sun 
 and  moon  endure,  throughout  all  generations. 
 
 6  °  He  shall  come  down  like  rain  upon  the 
 mown  grass  :  as  showers  that  water  the  earth. 
 
 7  In  his  days  shall  the  righteous  flourish  ; 
 "■and  abundance  of  peace  fso  long  as  the 
 moon  endureth. 
 
 8  ^  He  shall  have  dominion  also  from  sea  to 
 ."sea,  and  from  the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the 
 earth. 
 
 9  ^  They  that  dwell  in  the  wilderness  shall 
 bow  before  him  ;  '  and  his  enemies  shall  lick 
 the  dust. 
 
 c  ver.  8,  15. 
 d  ver.  13. 
 
 II  Or,  0/ 
 •  Ps.  127, 
 title. 
 1015. 
 
 a  Is.  II.?,  3, 
 i.  &  S3.  I. 
 
 b  Pa.  85.  10, 
 Is.  32.  17.  & 
 
 e  2  Sam.  23. 
 1.  Hoa.  6. 3. 
 
 /la   S.  t. 
 Dan.  2,  44. 
 I.uke  I.  3.1. 
 f  Heb    lilt 
 there  be  no 
 
 e  See  Ex.23. 
 
 31    I  Kiu.4 
 
 21,24.  Pa.li 
 
 8.  &  SO.  11. 
 
 &  89.  25. 
 
 Zech.  9  10. 
 It  Pa.  74.  14. 
 
 Is.  49.  23. 
 
 Mic.  7.  17. 
 
 t2Chr  9.21. 
 Pa.  45  12-  & 
 63  29  Is  49. 
 7.  &  60.  C,  9. 
 
 I  Is.  49.  22, 
 
 t  Heb.  one 
 thatl  give. 
 
 0  1  Kin  4  20. 
 p  Ps.  89.  36. 
 t  Heb.  shall 
 
 be. 
 
 t  Heb.  shall 
 be  lis  a  son  to 
 
 fir  ever. 
 9  Gen.  12.  3. 
 
 Si  22.  18. 
 
 Jer.  4.  2. 
 r  Lukel.-jfl. 
 
 1  1  Chr.  29. 
 10,  Pb.  W. 
 13.  &  106. 
 '18. 
 
 I  V.X.  \5.  II. 
 
 vs.n.  U.& 
 
 136.  4. 
 n  Neh.  9.  5. 
 r  Nu.  H2l 
 
 Zech.  \A.  9. 
 
 10  ''  The  kings  of  Tarshish  and  of  the  isles 
 shall  bring  presents  :  the  kings  of  Sheba  and 
 Seba  shall  offer  gifts. 
 
 1 1  '  Yea,  all  kings  shall  fall  down  before  him  : 
 all  nations  shall  serve  him. 
 
 12  For  he  ""shall  deliver  the  needy  when  he 
 crieth  ;  the  poor  also,  and  him  that  hath  no 
 helper. 
 
 13  He  shall  spare  the  poor  and  needy,  and 
 shall  save  the  souls  of  the  needy. 
 
 14  He  shall  redeem  their  soul  from  deceit 
 and  violence  :  and  "precious  shall  their  blood 
 be  in  his  sight, 
 
 13  And  he  shall  live,  and  to  him  f  shall  be 
 given  of  the  gold  of  Sheba  :  prayer  also  shall 
 be  made  for  him  continually ;  and  daily  shall 
 he  be  praised. 
 
 16  There  shall  be  an  handful  of  corn  in  the 
 earth  upon  the  top  of  the  mountains  ;  the  fruit 
 thereof  shall  shake  like  Lebanon:  *^and  they 
 of  the  city  shall  flourish  like  grass  of  the  earth. 
 
 17  ''His  name  f shall  endure  forever:  fhis 
 name  shall  be  continued  as  long  as  the  sun  : 
 and  '^jnen  shall  be  blessed  in  him  :  'all  nations 
 shall  call  him  blessed. 
 
 18  'Blessed  be  the  Lord  God,  the  God  of 
 Israel,  *  who  only  doeth  wondrous  things. 
 
 19  And  "  blessed  be  his  glorious  name  for 
 ever:  ''and  let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with 
 his  glory  ;  Amen,  and  Amen. 
 
 20  The  prayers  of  David  the  son  of  Jesse  are 
 ended. 
 
 Ps.  LXXIL  — Title— .4  pAn/m /or  So/omoff.rno'^'O'j,  the  Hebrew  may 
 certainly  read  '  of  or  '  for,*  but,  as  in  other  like  cases  the  former  inter- 
 pretatiim  has  been  adopted,  it  seems  doing:  violence  here  not  to  ascribe 
 this  Psalm  to  Solomon. — Wil.  Probably  composed  by  David  on  Solo- 
 mon's being  appointed  his  successor. — Travell.  In  this  noble  ode, 
 David,  under  the  figure  probably  of  Solomon's  peaceful  and  glorious 
 reign,  portraying  in  most  lively  and  beautiful  colours  the  peaceful 
 glories  of  Messiah's  reign. — Hales,  so  Mnnt.  1.  Gire,  a  prediction, 
 not  a  prayer.  'Thou  shalt  give,'  8iC.—Hors.  Thy  judgments,  *  cause 
 him  to  govern  the  kingdom  according  to  thy  precepts.' — JFtosenm. 
 Kiiig^s  son,  king  and  king's  son  united  at  once  in  Solomon.— 3/ ((rf,?e. 
 Messiah  was  to  spring  from  the  loins  of  David. — Boothr.  3,  The 
 mnnntains  shall  bring  peace — it  was,  and  still  is,  common  in  the  east 
 to  announce  good  or  bad  news  from  the  tops  of  mountains,  or  other 
 eminences;  by  this  means,  acts  of  justice  were  speedily  communicated 
 to  the  remotest  part  of  the  country. — Boothr.  Perhaps  by  'mountains' 
 and  'hills' we  should  here  understand  princes  and  petty  governors, 
 and  is  a  prediction  of  their  administration  of  equal  righteousness.  The 
 tittle  hills,  by  righteousness — the  division  is  wrong,  it  should  read — 
 Ver.  3,  'The  mountains  and  the  hills  shall  bring  prosperity  to  the  people.' 
 Ver.  -J,  '  In  righteousness,  npl^i,  he  shall  judge  the  poor,'  &c. — Clarke^ 
 so  the  division  of  the  Sept.        5.  They  shall  fear — 
 
 '  He  shall  "  endure"  {Sept.l  as  long  as  the  sun. 
 And,  like  the  iiioon,  through  all  generations.' — Boothr. 
 *  Generation  after  generation  shall  reverence  him, 
 So  long  as  the  sun  and  moon  endure.' — Green. 
 
 6.  The  mown  grass,  'the  shorn  meadow.' — Boothr.  ^^,  'pastured 
 grass'  or  '  land.'  It  seems  to  refer  to  the  thick  night  dews  which,  in 
 summer,  fall  on  the  pasturages,  and  restore  the  gra^s  consumed  by  the 
 cattle  in  the  day. — A.  Clarke.  '  Grass  that  has  been  eaten  down,'  for 
 in  the  cast  they  seldom,  if  ever,  make  hay  ;  or  it  siiznifies  wool  shorn 
 off  a  tleecc,  so  the  Stpt. ;  Mant,  Gill.  7-  Moon  endureth,  an  Hebrew 
 idiom,  designating  the  eternity  of  the  Messiah's  kingdom. — Sutcliffe. 
 8.  From  sen  to  sen,  from  the  Dead  Sea  to  the  Mediterranean,  and  from 
 the  Euphrates  to  the  other  boundaries  of  the  promised  land ;  Solomon, 
 however,  inherited  these  from  David,  and  the  passage  refers  to  the  tinal 
 triumph  of  Chri"it  over  all  nations,  (comp.  Zech.  ix.  10.) — Boothr. 
 g.  They  that  dwell  in  the  wilderness,  perhaps  may  mean  the  wild  Arabs, 
 — Boothr.    Lick  the  dust — this  alludes  to  the  custom  of  the  easterns. 
 
 still  extant  among  the  Turks,  that  as  soon  as  an  ambassador  sees  the 
 sultan  he  falls  on  his  knees  and  kisses  the  ground. — Gill.    An  eastern 
 prince  is  said  to  have  fallen  at  the  feet  of  his  conqueror,  and  kissed  the 
 prints  that  his  victorious  enemy's  horse  had  made  there. — D^Herbelot. 
 The  expression  denotes  profound  submission, — Mant;  or  it  may  refer 
 to  the  convulsive  movements  of  a  mortally  wounded  foe. — So  Sut. 
 10.  Tarshish— seG  note  on  I  Kings,  x.  22.     Bring  presents — the  eastern 
 monarchs  consider  presents  as  tokens  of  subjection,  where  so  intended 
 or  not. — Har.,  from  Sir  J.  Chardin.     rmiO.  the  word  here  used  signifies 
 a   gratitude   or  friendly  offering. — A.Clarke.      Sheba — see   note  on 
 I  Kings,  X.  1.     Seba,  probably  also  in  Arabia  Felix. — Mant.     Prophe- 
 tically this  means,  all  nations  shall  receive  the  Gospel,  and  every  knee 
 bow  to  Christ. — Sut.     11.  Bow  down,  'do  homage.' — Boothr.      14.  Re- 
 deem,  'rescue'or' deliver.' — Hew.     l6.  There  shall  be  an  handful,  §-c. — 
 '  Plenty  of  corn  shall  be  on  the  earth  ; 
 Its  fruit  shall  shake  like  the  cedars  of  Lebanon 
 On  the  top  of  the  mountains  ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  city 
 Shall  flouri^^h  like  the  grass  of  the  earth.' — Green. 
 
 Such  should  be  the  fruitfulness  of  the  country,  that  from  *  an  handful 
 cf  com,'  sown  on  the  most  barren  spot,  should  issue  a  produce,  the 
 ears  of  which  would  shake  and  wave  in  the  winds  hke  the  woods  of 
 Lebanon.  And  in  the  city  a  new  progeny  should  be  springing  up  like 
 unnumbered  blades  of  grass. — Bp.  Home.  IJ.  His  name  shall  be 
 
 continued,  *  the  Gospel  shall  be  preached  in  his  name ;  in  his  name  shall 
 the  Gentiles  trust ;'  {Matt.  xii.  21  ;  Rom.  xv.  12.)  As  long  as  the  sun, 
 '  shall  be  propagated,'  continued  in  his  offspring. — Frey,  so  Leigh, 
 Crit.  Sac.  r2\  from  r3,  '  a  son.' — Ains.  The  Heb.  is,  '  He  shall  be  a 
 son  tocontin  ue  his  fat  her's  name  for  ever.' — Caryl.  Princes  are  con- 
 tinued in  their  posterity,  so  Christ  is  in  himself,  'filiabitur  nomenejus.' 
 — Henry.  '  His  memory  and  fame  shall  never  die,  but  be  propagated 
 from  father  to  son,  so  long  as  the  sun  shall  shine.' — Pat.  We  may 
 rather  interpret  it  of  the  seed  or  children  of  Christ,  his  name  is  con- 
 tinued by  snns,  (Isa.  liii.  10.) — Caryl.  20.  The  prayers,  §c.— this  was, 
 probably,  the  last  Psalm  David  ever  wrote ;  the  end  of  his  poetic 
 prayers.  Several  places  in  the  after  part  of  the  book  were,  most  likely, 
 previously  written  by  him. — So  Clarke.  This  verse  is  merely  a  note  of 
 the  prophet  or  scribe  who  collected  or  arranged  the  Psalms. — So  Ains., 
 Pat.,  Ken.,  Mich  ,  &c.  This,  according  to  the  Jewish  division,  is  the 
 end  of  the  second  book  of  Psalms. — Sut. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXXL— L  God  has  been  the  guardian 
 iifour  youth.  If  we  are  still  preserved,  we  owe  it  to  his  care. 
 Let  our  mouths  be  filled  with  bis  praise  I 
 
 W.  Lit  us  confide  in  God  for  old  age.  That  is  a  season  for 
 which  many  feel  concern.  Friends  and  acquaintance  belong- 
 ing to  former  days  are  put  far  from  us, — heart  and  flesh  fail, — 
 the  solemnities  of  eternity  approach  with  most  certain  and 
 rapid  speed.  Ob,  whither  shall  we  flee  in  this  time  of  neces- 
 sity ?  To  the  Hope  of  Israel,  who  never  casts  away  those  that 
 trust  in  him. 
 
 Keflections  on  Ps.  LXXII.  —  A  greater  than  Solomon  is 
 62 1 
 
 here,  One  whose  reign  is — I.  A  reign  of  righteousness.  A  strict 
 regard  to  righteousness  marks  all  his  dispensations,  both  in 
 providence  and  grace.  'Just  and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou 
 King  of  saints  !' 
 
 II.  A  reign  of  peace.  Jesus  is  the  Prince  of  Peace.  He  hath 
 reconciled  God  and  man,  and  made  peace  for  us  by  the  blood 
 of  the  cross. 
 
 III.  A  reign  of  prosperity.  '  In  his  days  shall  the  righteous 
 flourish,  blessing  each  other,  and  blessed  by  hira,  the  showers 
 of  whose  grace  shall  descend  upon  them  in  rich  abundance. 
 His  dominion  shall  know  no  bounds,  his  enemies  shall  fall 
 
David's  great  temptation 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXIII. 
 
 371  seeing  the  uicktd prosperous. 
 
 PSALM  LXXIII. 
 
 1  The  prophet,  prevailing  in  a  tempfation,  2  shtwcth 
 the  occasion  thereof,  the  prosperity  of  the  loicked.  13 
 The  icoimd  ijiven  thereby,  diffidence.  15  2%e  vic^ 
 tory  ovi  r  it,  hmnvh.dije  of  God's  purpose,  in  dvstroying 
 of  the  wickedy  and  sustaining  the  riyhteoiis. 
 
 [|  A  Psalm  of  *Asap!i, 
 
 T^RULY   II  God  is  good  to  Israel,   even  to 
 •^    such  as  are  fof  a  clean  heart. 
 
 2  But  as  for  me,  my  feet  were  almost  gone  ; 
 my  steps  had  well  iiigli  slipped. 
 
 3  ^  For  I  was  envious  at  the  foolish,  icken  I 
 saw  the  prosperity  of  the  wicked. 
 
 4  For  there  are  no  hands  in  their  death  :  but 
 their  strength  is  ffirm. 
 
 5  ^  They  arc  not  f  ii>  trouble  as  other  men  ; 
 neither  are  they  plagued  flike  other  men. 
 
 6  Therefore  pride  compasseth  them  about  as 
 
 ||Or,^  Piih, 
 for  Jtiapk. 
 
 •i'a.an.  title 
 
 II  Or.  I'W. 
 
 t  Heb.  cUan 
 of/^jrl. 
 
 a  Job  21.  7. 
 I's.  37  I. 
 Jer.  IS.  I. 
 
 t  Hcb./ar. 
 
 b  .T«h?1.6. 
 t  lleh  in  tht 
 trouble  of 
 
 c  So  Va.  109. 
 
 18. 
 
 rf  Job  16.27 
 
 Ps.  17.  10.& 
 
 119    70. 
 
 Jer  5.  28. 
 t  Heb.  thrtf 
 
 pa  It  the 
 
 thought*  of 
 
 Ihf  lieart. 
 e  Pa.  fi3.  1. 
 /Hos   7.  16, 
 i?2  1'et.2.l8. 
 
 Jndt-  10. 
 /.  Kev.  13.  6. 
 I-  Ps.  75.  fi. 
 *  Job  22.  13. 
 
 Ps    10.11.  & 
 
 91.  7. 
 I  ver.  3. 
 
 »i  Job  SI.  IS. 
 
 3.  Mal..<i  14 
 n  Ps.  26.  0. 
 
 t  Heb.  mif 
 
 violence   covereth   them   *^  a5  a  gar- 
 
 tthej 
 
 a  chain  ; 
 ment, 
 
 7  **  Their  eyes  stand  out  with  fatness  : 
 have  more  than  heart  could  wish. 
 
 a  ''  Tliey  are  corrupt,  and  ^  speak  wickedly 
 concerniiif}  oppression  :   they  ^  speak  loftily. 
 
 9  They  set  their  mouth  ^  against  the  heavens, 
 and  their  tongue  walketh  through  the  earth. 
 
 10  Tiierefore  his  people  return  hither :  'and 
 waters  of  a  full  cup  are  wrung  out  to  them. 
 
 11  And   they   say,   ^  How^  doth  God  know? 
 and  is  there  kuow^ledge  in  the  most  high? 
 
 12  Behold,  these  are  the  ungodly,  who  'pros- 
 per in  i\\e  world  ;  they  increase  in  riches. 
 
 13  "^  Verily  I  liave  cleansed  my  heart  in  vain, 
 and  "washed  my  hands  in  innocency. 
 
 14  For  all  the  day  long  have  I  been  plagued, 
 and  t  chastened  every  morning. 
 
 15  If  I  say,   I   will    speak   thus;    behold,   I 
 
 Ps.  LXXIII. — Title — Asnph—Yiere  commence  seventeea  Psalms, 
 jnost  of  thorn  by  Asaph.  The  name  of  Asaph  occurs,  as  a  musician, 
 1  Chron,  vi.  TiQ;  xvi,  y  ■  as  a  seer,  in  the  days  of  Hezeldah,  2Chron 
 xxix.  30  ;  and  as  the  father  of  Joah,  the  recorder,  2  Kmgs,  xviii.  13. 
 The  two  last  were,  perhaps,  the  same  person,  and  author  of  Uiese 
 Psahiis.— So  Pat.  Some  think  this  Psalm  was  written  by  Davi^l,  and 
 sent  to  Asaph  for  public  service. — GUI.  2.  Slipped,  the  allusion  is  to 
 standJnp  on  wet  an^l  slippery  ground.— rv«7/.  *  I  had  nearly  givi-n  up 
 my  confidence.' — A.  Clar/te.  3.  The  foolish,  'the  madly  profane.* — 
 Boothr.  4.  No  handi,  §f.,  '  no  fatality  of  their  death,'  no  immediate 
 connexion  between  wickedness  and  death. — Hufs.  They  have  no  knots 
 (perplexing  difficulties  in  life)  in  their  way  ;  their  strength  is  perfect 
 and  firm. — B'lle.  '  They  have  no  bands  until  tlieir  death  ;'  no  straits, 
 no  difhi'ulties,  all  their  life  long. — So  Jun.,  'L'lem  ,  Pise,  Gej.,  Mich. 
 '  There  i-^  no  respect  to  their  dea'h  ;'  1.  e.,  they  take  no  notice  of  it, 
 Vulcj.  *  They  are  n'>t  terrified  or  troubled  on  account  <■!  the  day  of  their 
 death,'  Cktild.  They  are  not  dragged  to  death,  either  by  the  hand  or 
 sentence  oi  the  magistrate,  which  >et  they  deserve;  nor  by  any  linger- 
 ing or  grievous  torments  of  mmd  or  body,  which  is  the  casewiih  many 
 good  men  ;  but  they  enjoy  a  sweet  and  quiet  death,  dropping  into  the 
 grave  like  ripe  fruit  from  the  tree,  without  any  violence  used  to  them, 
 (comp.  Jnb,  V.  26;  and  xxi.  \Z.]—Poi)le.  5.  Not  in  trouble,  Mlley  do 
 Dot  toil  like  other  mortals.'  &c. — Mud^e ;  to  the  same  purport,  Street. 
 'They  are  not  in  hthour,*  ^053,  Vtilg.;  P't^.,  Mont.,  Jun.,  Trcm  ,  &c. 
 *  They  do  not  get  their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brow,  as  poor  men 
 do.* — So  Arnnia. 
 
 '  In  the  troubles  of  mortality  they  are  not  involved. 
 They  have  no  shares  in  tlie  plagues  of  man.' — Hors. 
 
 'The  misery  of  men  they  do  not  experience, 
 Nor  like  other  men  are  they  afflicted.' — Boothr. 
 
 6.  Pride— as  a  chain,  '  they  hind  it  about  themselves  as  a  chain,  fancy- 
 ing it  to  be  an  ornament.' — Gill.  This  is  a  metaphorical  allusion  to 
 the  lich  Collars  or  rlmins  worn  about  the  necks  of  great  personages, 
 (comp.  Prov.  i.  Q;  and  Cant.  iv.  9.}—Bouthr.  There  may  be  an  allu- 
 sion to  the  oRice  which  some  of  tliem  bore  ;  chains  of  gold  being  among 
 the  ensiijiis  of  magi-^tracy  and  civil  power. — Clarke.  Violence — ns  a 
 j^'irmerit— it  appcareth  outwardly  in  all  they  say  ft  do,  and  engrosseth 
 the  whole  man  ;  they  are,  as  the  English  phrase  is,  'maife  up  of  it.'— 
 Bp.  Home. 
 
 '  And  ^n  with  pride  they  fondly  deck. 
 As  with  a  chain  of  gold,  their  neck ; 
 And  so  with  violence  invest 
 Their  loins,  as  with  a  raiment  drest.' — M^int. 
 
 7.  Their  eyes,  ^c,  or  '  their  face,'  their  eyes  being  put  for  their  whole 
 face,  Targ.  '  Their  face  is  changed  because  of  fatness,'  (see  Job,  xv. 
 ■2",)  otherwise,  '  through  fatness  the  eyes  are  almost  enclosed.' — Gill. 
 '  It  goes  forth  from  the  fatness  of  their  eyes  ;'  i.  e.,  their  pride. — Mich. 
 '  Their  ev  es  go  out  through  latness  ;•  i.  e.,  in  Inst,  owing  to  th».ir  ful 
 ness.' — Mont.  They  have  more  than  heart,  fyc,  '  they  exceed  the  ima- 
 ginations of  tlieir  heart.' — Cocc,  Mich.  '  They  surpass  the  thoughts 
 of  their  heart,'  'they  have  more  than  they  expected,  though  not  more 
 than  thpy  wish.' — A.  Clarke.  *  They  transgress  by  the  imaginations  of 
 the  heart. ' — Gej. 
 
 *  Through  fatness  their  iniquities  were  excessive. 
 The  thoughts  of  their  hearts  were  corrupt.' — Street. 
 So  the  Syr.,  Sept.,  Vulg..  Ainb. 
 
 '  Their  wickedness  proceedeth  from  their  fulness, 
 in  this  they  surpass  the  imaginations  of  their  heart.' — Green, 
 
 'From  within  is^ueth  their  iniquities, 
 The  designs  of  the  heart  burst  forth.' — Boothr. 
 
 8.  Thpy  are  corrupt,  ^c,  ^p^O\  'they scoff,  mock,  act  dissolutely.'  — 
 Be  Dieu,  A.  Clarke.  'They  cause  to  consume  or  melt  away;'  i.  e., 
 they  melt  or  dissolve  others.— So  Vat.,  Core,  Gej.,  Mich.  Speak 
 xvivkedly,  in  a  boasting,  glorying  manner. — So  Aruma.  Concerning 
 oppression,  'of  oppression  they  speak  haughtily.' — Boothr.  Loftily, 
 CTiO-O,  'from  en  hi(::h.'— Muse,  Jun.,  Trem.,  Pise,  &c.  As  if  they 
 were  in  heaven  and  above  all  creatures,  and  even  God  himself.— GiV/. 
 
 'They  behave  corruptly  and  speak  wickedly  ; 
 They  pronounce  oppression  from  on  high.' — Mtidge. 
 
 'Tliey  are  in  the  last  stage  of  degeneracy,  and  they  'alk  for  evil ; 
 
 They  pronounce  oppression  from  on  high,' — Homley. 
 •  They  scoflF.  and  speak  wickedly  ; 
 
 Of  oppression  they  speak  haughtily.' 
 
 g.  Walketh,  ffc,  'attacks  all  on  earth.' — Boothr.  They  find  fault  with 
 the  memory  of  the  just — the  saints — the  dispensations  of  God. — CUnke. 
 10.  Therefore  his  people,  fyc. — waters — all  sorts  of  affliction  and  npiires- 
 sion.  Bcturn  hither,  or  '  to  them  ;'  i.  e.,  seduced  by  tlie  boasting  lan- 
 guage of  these  profane  men,  they  arc  sometimes  tempted  back  to  tlie 
 woild,  and  then  it  co^ts  them  abundance  of  tears  and  sufferings  before 
 they  can  reiurn.  Of  a  full  cup,  means  'aimndance.' — Heiv.  Waters 
 in  full  yneasure  is  a  proverbial  expression. — Mudge. 
 'Therefore  let  his  people  come  before  them. 
 And  waters  in  full  measure  would  be  wrung  out  from  them.' 
 
 Mudge. 
 i.  e.,  as  Mudge  seems  to  understand,  '  should  God's  pcoi)le  fall  into  their 
 hands,  they  would  squtcze  them  to  the  full ;  they  would  wring  out  all 
 the  juice  in  their  bodies.' — Bp.  Home. 
 
 'Therefore  Gnd's  people  falleth  off  to  them, 
 And  from  thence  they  reap  no  small  advantage.' — Green. 
 
 'Therefore  my  people  turned  unto  them, 
 And  they  squeezed  for  themselves  that  which  was  fuU.'- 
 
 -Street. 
 
 'Therefore  his  people  (i.  e.,  God's  people)  sit  woe  begone. 
 And  waters  are  abundantly  wrung  from  them.' 
 
 Horsley,  with  slight  alteration  of  original. 
 
 *  My  people,  therefore,  turn  aside  hither, 
 That  they  may  find  water  in  abundance.* 
 
 i.  e.,  the  Israelites,  seeing  the  prosperity  of  the  heathens,  were  temp'ed 
 to  doubt  the  providence  of  God,  become  idolators,  that  they  might  find 
 'water,'  every  good  thing  in  abumiance. — Bnuihr.  Wrung  out  to, 
 or  'of  them.' — Williams.  'Therefore,'  on  account  of  the  audacious 
 speeches  of  the  proud,'  '  his  (God's)  people  return  afflicted,  and  abundant 
 waters  (tears)  are  wrimg  from  them.' — Par.  The  Psalm  refers  to  the 
 Babylonish  captivity,  and  the  reading  should  be,  '  therefore  shall  my 
 people  be  converted,  where  they  shall  find  abundance  of  waters.' — 
 Clarke.  11.  Arid  they  say—God's  people  reason  on  these  things  as  so 
 contrary  to  their  expectations  under  the  Mosaic  dispensation,  and 
 hence  doubt  the  first  principles  of  their  religion. — Ken.  Tempted  by 
 the  success  of  the  ungodly  to  distrust  God's  providence,  his  people  ven- 
 ture to  question  whether  Godhad  any  regard  to  what  passed  here 
 below. — Mant.  12.  Riches,  ^^n.  become  mighty  and  powerful,  as 
 
 the  word  for  'riches'  signitSes. — So  Gill,  so  Jun.,  Trem..  Pise.  'In 
 riches  and  power,'  so  the  two  ideas  of  the  word  are  retained  by  Boothr. 
 \4.  Plagued,  yi3:.  'smitten  or  scourged,'  Vulg.;  Pag.,  Mont.,  Gej. 
 'Afflicted.'— Boo^/i)-.         15.  If  I  say,  ^r.— 
 
 '  If  I  should  say,  I  will  reason  like  these  men. 
 Behold,  then  I  should  be  false  to  tlie  generation  of  thy  people.' 
 
 Green. 
 
 moon  shall  wane  for  the  last  time  ;  the  sun  shall  set  to  rise  no 
 more  ;  but  all  his  enemies  being  under  his  feet,  and  all  his 
 
 before  him,  'all  nations  shall  serve  him,' and  in  every  nation 
 
 'incense  shall  be  offered  to  him,  anil  a  pure  offering.*     His 
 
 subjects  shall  increase   to  a  '  number  no  man  can  number,    subjects  gathered    in,   the    King  of  Zion  shall  sit  upon  his 
 
 Rathered   from  "  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and   people,   and    tlirone.  surrounded  with  immortal  suhjccts  and  with  liis  own 
 
 tongues  "  '^  unwasting  splendour.    May  his  kingdom  come  !  '  :iiij  let  the 
 
 IV".  .-i  relm  of  perpetuity.     Solomon's  reign  has  come  to  an    whole  earth  be  filled  with  his  glory.     Amen,  and  Amen.' 
 end;  but  the  throne  of  Christ  shall  endure  for  ever.     The 
 
The  destruction  of  the  wicked. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXIV. 
 
 David  pi  aycth  for  (he  sancfuarif. 
 
 should  offend  against  the  generatiun  of  thy 
 children. 
 
 16  °  When  I  thought  to  know  this,  fit  was 
 too  painful  for  me  ; 
 
 17  Until  P  I  went  into  the  sanctuary  of  God  ; 
 Uien  understood  1  '^  their  end. 
 
 18  Surely  'thou  didst  set  them  in  slippery 
 places  ;  thou  castedst  them  down  into  destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 19  How  are  they  brought  into  desolation, 
 as  in  a  moment  I  they  are  .utterly  consumed 
 with  terrors. 
 
 20  "  As  a  dream  when  one  awaketh  ;  so,  O 
 Lord,  *  when  thou  awakest,  thou  shalt  despise 
 their  image. 
 
 21  Thus  my  heart  was  "grieved,  and  I  was 
 pricked  in  my  reins. 
 
 22  ^  So  foolish  was  I,  and  f  ignorant:  I  was 
 «,v  a  iieast  f  hefore  thee. 
 
 23  Nevertheless  I  am  continually  with  thee; 
 thou  hast  holden  me  hy  my  right  hand, 
 
 24  ''Tliou  slialt  ^^uide  me  with  thy  counsel, 
 and  afterward  receive  me  to  glory. 
 
 2o  ''  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  f  and 
 there  is  none  upon  earth  that  1  desire  beside 
 thee. 
 
 2G  "  ]My  flesh  and  my  heart  faileth  :  but  God 
 T>  the  t  strength  of  my  heart,  and  ''my  portion 
 for  ever. 
 
 27  For,  lo,  *^  they  that  are  far  from  thee  shall 
 perish  :  thou  hast  destroyed  all  them  that  ^  go 
 
 "EccIes.S.t?. 
 t  Heb.i/was 
 
 P  Ps.  7'-  I 
 7  Ps.  37. 3 
 
 s  Job  20.  8. 
 I  Pa.  m  5. 
 i    Is.  gn.  7,  8 
 
 t  Ps.  78.  65. 
 
 u  ver.  S. 
 
 X  Ps.  92-  6. 
 
 Vrov.  30.2. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 a  Ps.  8*.  9. 
 
 &  n9.  81. 
 t  Hfb.  rork 
 b  Ps.  IS.  5. 
 
 &  n9  57 
 tr  Ps  no  13 
 d  Ex.  31   I 
 
 Nu.  15.  S! 
 
 e  Heb.  10.22. 
 
 fV&.  107. 2S 
 bl)8.  17. 
 
 |FOr,APsalm 
 
 J,.T  A>.-vh  l,S 
 
 give  i'Htruc- 
 
 a  Pa'.  ^4.  9, 
 2%  8c  eo.  1, 
 
 HI.  &77.  7. 
 
 Jer.31.  37. 
 
 &  S3.  2*. 
 b  Oeu  29.20. 
 c  Ps.  95.  7. 
 
 &  IttO.  3. 
 J  E-t    IS    16. 
 
 Deiii  9  29 
 II  Or,  tr.be. 
 t!  Deiil  32  9. 
 
 Jei-.  lU.  16. 
 
 /Lam.  2.  7. 
 g  Dan.  6.  27. 
 
 h  1  Kin.  6. 
 18.29,3V,:'5. 
 
 i2Kia.2.=i9. 
 
 t  Heb  TifX) 
 hniineut  lltif 
 Htncliin  riJ 
 
 a  whoring  from  thee. 
 28  But  it  is  good  for  me  to  *dra\v  near  to 
 God  :  I  have  put  my  trust  in  the  Lord  God, 
 that  I  may  *"  declare  all  thy  works. 
 
 PSALM  LXXIV. 
 
 i  The  prophet  compJainelh  oft/ie  dcsnlation  of  the  sanc- 
 tuary. 10  He  ynowth  God  to  ht!p  in  consideration 
 of  his  power,  18  of  his  rvproacl.ftd  enemies,  of  his 
 children^  and  of  his  covenant. 
 
 II  Mascliil  of  Asaph. 
 f\  GOD,  why  hast  thou  ^  cast  us  off  for  ever? 
 ^^  ichy  doth  thine  anger  ^  smoke  against  ^  the 
 sheep  of  thy  pasture  ? 
 
 2  Rememher  thy  congregation,  "^  which  thou 
 hast  purchased  of  old  ;  the  [|  *  rod  of  thine  in- 
 lieritance,  which  tliou  hast  redeemed ;  this 
 mount  Zion,  wherein  thou  hast  dwelt. 
 
 3  Lift  up  thy  feet  unto  the  perpetual  desola- 
 tions ;  cve)i  all  that  the  enemy  hath  done 
 wickedly  in  the  sanctuary. 
 
 4  "^  Thine  enemies  roar  in  the  midst  of  thy 
 congregations  ;  ^  they  set  up  their  ensigns  for 
 signs. 
 
 5  A  man  was  famous  according  as  he  had 
 lifted  up  axes  upon  the  thick  trees. 
 
 6  But  now  they  hreak  down  ^  the  carved 
 work  thereof  at  once  with  axes  and  hammers. 
 
 7  'fThey  have  cast  fire  into  thy  sanctuary, 
 they  have  defiled  ^  by  casting  down  the  dwell- 
 ing place  of  thy  name  to  the  ground. 
 
 '  If  I  resolve  to  argue  thus, 
 I  should  be  a  traitor  to  the  generation  of  thy  children.' 
 
 i.  e.,  instrumental  to  their  fatal  delusion. — Horsier/.  l6.  Painful, 
 
 *hard.'— Gree/?..  •  Perplexing:.'— //yr.?.  '  Diffieult.'— £ooMr.  17-  ^Vcnt 
 into  the  sanctuary,  the  original  word  is  plural,  and  is  never  so  u^ed  for 
 the  sanctuary  ;  understand,  then, '  till  I  entered  into  the  secret  grounds 
 of  God's  dealings  with  mankind.' — Hors.  Then  understood,  §c.,  'and 
 attended  to  the  end  of  those  men.*— Green.  'And  learned  to  consider 
 their  latter  end.' — Boothr.        20.  As  a  dream,  ^-c. — 
 
 *  As  a  dream,  when  they  awake,  xmnisheth  awat/. 
 So  shalt  tliou,  O  Loril,  when  thuu  rousest  them  op, 
 Make  their  imaginary  liappine^s  to  disappear.' — Green. 
 
 •Like  the  dream  of  a  man  hc'j;inning  to  wake  publicly, 
 
 0  Lord,  thou  renderest  their  vain  show  contemptible.' — Hors. 
 '  Like  to  a  dream  after  one  awaketh. 
 
 So  wilt  thou,  O  Jehovah,  when  thou  risest  up, 
 Destroy  their  shadowy  grandeur.' — Clarice. 
 
 21.  Thus  my  heart,  ^-c,  '  my  heart,  indeed,  was  in  a  ferment.'— /fors. 
 I  was  pricked  in  my  reins,  deeply  wounded  with  disquieting  thoughts 
 and  tormenting  passions,  envy,  sorrow,  and  anger.— Poo/e.  The  word 
 indicates  acute  pain  felt  from  a  sharp  weapon. — See  on  pMJ,  Par. 
 
 'When  my  heart  was  vexed,  and  my  reins  pierced, 
 
 1  also  was  stupid  and  understood  not.' 
 
 23.  Nevertheless,  ^c,  '  notwitlistanding  these  foolish  thoughts,  I  am 
 under  the  care  of  thy  good  Providence.' — Pat,         23.  Whom  have  I  ? 
 
 '  WTiom  have  I,  in  the  heavens  or  on  the  earth. 
 That  I  delight  in  so  much  as  in  Thee?' — Buothr. 
 17 .  Are.  far  from  thee,  'depart  from    thee'     Go  a  whoring,  ^-c,   i.e., 
 forsake  God  for  false  gods,  which  is  spiritual  adultery. — Sut.     '  All  who 
 revolt  from  thee  shall  be  destrnyed.' — Boothr.         28.  Declare  all  thy 
 works,  '  in  the  gates  of  the  daughter  of  ilion  ;'  sn  adds  the  Sept. 
 
 Ps.  LXXIV. — Title  —  3/«acAi7,  ^c— the  conjectures  as  to  the  time 
 alluded  to  in  this  Psalm  are: — (i.)  The  Babylonish  captivity. — Cat., 
 Poole,  Wells.  Mant,  (ii.)  The  persecution  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes. — 
 Rosenm.  (iii.)  The  Roman  invasion  and  destruction  of  the  temple. — 
 Theod.,  so  the  Jews,  (iv.)  The  various  afflictions  to  which  the  church 
 of  God  would  at  diflTerent  times  be  exposed. — Calo.,  Coca.  2.  Thy 
 congregation,  'thine  own  people.' — Dnthe,  Boothr.  The  rod,  §x'., 
 TDSffi.  'tribe,'   'thy  chosen  inheritance.'        3.  Lift  up  thy  feet,  l^c. 
 
 'hasten  ihy  steps,'  &c. — Boothr.    God  is  represented  as  having  with- 
 drawn himself,  and  urged  speedily  to  return.— So  Bp.  Home. 
 '  Lift  up  thy  footsteps  a<;ainst  the  pride  of  the  conqueror, 
 The  foe  committeth  evil  in  thy  sanctuary.'— S/ree/. 
 
 4.  Roar,  send  up  shouts  of  triumph.— Pai.  Thy  congregations,  '  thy 
 place  of  worship. *—S^w^  Set  up  their  ensigns  for  s/g-;*-, '  standards 
 ill  tokens  of  victory. '-P^i.  'They  set  up  their  staiidaids  in  the  place 
 vf  ours.' — A.  Clarke. 
 
 'Thy  foes  roar,  where  thy  set  feasts  were  kept ; 
 Their  own  s>mbols  have  they  set  up  fur  tigns  V— Boothr 
 
 5.  A  man  was  famous,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Like  one  tha'  lifteth  up  axes  amidst  an  entangled  wood, 
 So  now  thi-y  utterly  dash  in  pieces  all  the  carved  work  of  it  with  a 
 picka\e  and  hammers.' — Street. 
 
 'They  appeared  like  those  who  lifted  up 
 
 Their  axes  on  high  to  fell  the  thick  trees  j 
 
 And  now  they  have  beaten  down  all 
 
 The  carved  works  of  it  with  axes  aud  hammers.'— Green. 
 *  And  now,  as  one  lifting 
 
 Axes  over  the  thicker, 
 
 They  have  at  once  cut  down  its  carved  work, 
 
 They  have  knocked  it  down  with  hatchets  and  mallets.' 
 
 Horsley,  as  Hare  and  Lowth. 
 '  As  men  are  seen,  with  uplifted  axes, 
 
 Cutting  down  the  tluck  wood  ; 
 
 .So  the  whole  carved  work  of  thy  temple, 
 
 With  chisel  aud  mallet,  they  have  hewed  down.'— iJooWr. 
 It  wa":  formerly  thought  an  honour  to  cut  down  and  prepare  trees  for 
 the  building  of  the  sanctudry,  but  now  every  man  thinks  himself  most 
 deserving  that  can  do  the  greatest  havoc  in  thy  temple. '-B/j.  Hall. 
 '  It  is  well  known,  from  the  sacred  records  of  our  nation,  to  what  ad- 
 mirable beauty  the  skilful  hand  oi  the  artificers  brought  the  rough 
 cedar  trees,  which  were  cut  down  by  the  hatchets  of  Hiram's  woodmen 
 in  the  thick  Tyrian  forests.  But  n<.w  ihey  tear  down  all  the  curious 
 carvings,  that  c  1st  so  much  time  aud  exquisite  labour,  with  axes  and 
 hammers,  ami  other  rude  instrnm-uts  cif  iron.' — Dr.  A'icholls.  7.  Cast 
 fire,  or  'thy  sanc'uary  into  tiie  fire,' -iunp»3  ^ii2.—P"g;  Vat.,  Cocc, 
 Gej.,  Mich.  This  (^enotes^ utter  destruction.— Gi//.  Th^y  have  defied, 
 Sfc,  ~\Ki'C  plCO  yibrf  V'Mtb, '  to  the  earth  they  have  defiled  the  haii-ta- 
 ttonu'f  thy  name.'— -U  use,  Gej.  Mich.,  Cocc.    To  the  last  aud  lowest 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps,  I-XXIII.  —  Observe  here,  I.  The 
 prosperity  nfthe  wichcd.  Here  we  learn  what  we  are  taught  in 
 the  Dook  of  Job.  that  God's  bounty  in  providence  is  no  test  of" 
 a  man's  final  state.  A  man  may  have  much  of  the  weaUh  of 
 this  world,  and  yet  not  be  rich  towards  God,— his  body  may 
 be  in  iiealth,  but  las  soul  may  not  prosper. 
 
 II.  The  perplexity  of  the  righteoJis.  Gud's  ways  are  not  as  our 
 ways,  not  his  thoughts  as  our  thoughts.  The  good  things  of 
 623 
 
 this  world  are  not  the  good  things  he  bestows  generally  upon 
 his  children.  Rich  men  are  apt  to  grow  proud,  tyrannical, 
 iicentinus.  worldly-minded;  from  many,  therefore,  wealtli  is 
 withheld  in  mercy,  that,  as  God's  people,  they  may  be  humble, 
 meek,  holy,  aud  spiritually  minded.  Human  reason  may  be 
 puzzled  in  this  matter;  but  devout  meditation  will  open  our 
 eyes  to  the  end  of  these  things,  and  shew  that  the  Lord  is  the 
 only  satisfactory  portion  of  the  soul. 
 
The  prophet  moveth  God  to  help. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXV. 
 
 He  praiseth  God, 
 
 8  '  They  said  in  their  hearts,  Let  us  fdestroy 
 them  together :  they  have  burned  up  all  the 
 synaeoeues  of  God  in  the  land. 
 
 9  We  see  not  our  signs  :  "  there  is  no  more 
 any  prophet :  neither  is  there  among  us  any 
 that  knoweth  how  long. 
 
 10  O  God,  how  long  shall  the  adversary  re- 
 proach? shall  the  enemy  blaspheme  thy  name 
 forever?  ,      ,       . 
 
 1 1  "  Why  withdrawest  thou  thy  hand,  even 
 thy  right  hand?  pluck  it  out  of  thy  bosom. 
 
 12  For  °  God  is  my  King  of  old,  workmg  sal- 
 vation in  the  midst  of  the  earth. 
 
 13  ""Thou  didst  f  divide  the  sea  by  thy 
 strength:  ■•  thou  brakest  the  heads  of  the 
 II  dragons  in  the  waters. 
 
 U  Thou  brakest  the  heads  of  leviathan  ui 
 pieces,  and  gavest  him  '  to  be  meat  '  to  the 
 people  inhabiting  the  wilderness. 
 
 15  'Thou  didst  cleave  the  fountam  and  the 
 flood:  "thou  driedst  up  t  mighty  "^'"5-  ,. 
 
 16  The  day  is  thine,  the  night  also  is  thme  : 
 '  thou  hast  prepared  the  light  and  the  sun. 
 
 17  Thou  hast  >'set  all  the  borders  of  the 
 earth  :  '  thou  hast  f  made  summer  and  wniter. 
 
 18  "  Remember  this,  that  the  enemy  bath 
 reproached,  O  Lord,  and  that  "the  foolish 
 people  have  blasphemed  thy  name. 
 
 19  O  deliver  not  the  soul  '  of  thy  turtledove 
 
 I  Ps.  K).  t. 
 \  Heb.  6re«ft. 
 
 ™  I  Sa.  3  1 
 Amoa  8.11 
 1  .Mac  4.46 
 
 I  Lam  2.  3. 
 Ps.  44.  4 
 
 r  r,«.  1*.  21. 
 t  Heb,  brmh. 
 oU  51.9. 10. 
 
 Eielc.  29.  3. 
 
 8t  32,  2 
 
 I  Or,  tottala. 
 
 r  PTum.U.y. 
 
 t  Ps.  ;a.  9. 
 
 (  El.  17.  5,6. 
 
 Num.2t>.ll. 
 
 Pa.  105.  41. 
 
 Is.  4a.  21, 
 u  Josh.  3. 13, 
 
 &c. 
 t  Heb.  river) 
 
 ofttrtngtlt- 
 X  Geu.  1.11. 
 
 &c. 
 V  Acts  I"  26. 
 '  Gen.  8.  2-;. 
 t  Heb    fiadf 
 
 Ihrm. 
 <•  ver.  22. 
 
 Rev.  16.  19. 
 i  Ps.  39.  S. 
 c  Caiit.  2. 14. 
 
 d  Ps.  68.  10. 
 
 e  Gen-  17  7, 
 8.  Lev.  26. 
 44.  43.  Ps. 
 106.45.  Jer 
 33.21. 
 
 /ver.  13. 
 -1.89.61. 
 
 t  Heb.  m- 
 crwletli,  Jo- 
 nah 1.  2. 
 
 II  Or,  Dettrot/ 
 
 t" Ps.  67. 
 title. 
 I  Or,  fir 
 
 II  Or,  irhm 
 I  th^tt  take 
 d  let  time. 
 
 unto  the   multitude  of  the   icicked :   ''forget 
 not  the  congregation  of  thy  poor  for  ever. 
 
 20  '  Have  respect  unto  the  covenant  :  for 
 the  dark  places  of  the  earth  are  full  of  the 
 habitations  of  cruelty. 
 
 21  O  let  not  the  oppressed  return  ashamed  : 
 let  the  poor  and  needy  praise  thy  name. 
 
 22  Arise,  O  God,  plead  thine  own  cause : 
 'remember  how  the  foolish  man  reproacheth 
 thee  daily. 
 
 23  Forget  not  the  voice  of  thme  enemies  : 
 the  tumult  of  those  that  rise  up  against  thee 
 f  increaseth  continually. 
 
 PSALM   LXXV. 
 
 1  The  prophet  praheth  God.  2  He  prom! seth  to  judge 
 vpriiihlli/.  4  fh-  rebuheth  the  proud  hij  consideration 
 of  God's  providinre.  9  He  praiselh  God,  and pro- 
 miseth  to  execute  justice. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  ||  *  .\l-taschith,  A  Psalm  or  Song 
 y  of  Asaph. 
 
 UNTO    thee,   O  God,   do  we  give  thanks, 
 jinto  thee  do  we  give  thanks :  for  that  thy 
 name  is  near  thy  wondrous  works  declare. 
 
 2  II  When  I  shall  receive  the  congregation  I 
 will  judge  uprightly. 
 
 3  The  earth  and  all  the  inhabitants  thereol 
 are  dissolved  :  I  bear  up  the  pillars  of  it. 
 Selah. 
 
 deEree.-GiK.  8.  All  the  ,ynngogues-\t  this  rentier.nK  be  admitted 
 then"  must  be  after  the  time  of  the  Babylonish  «ptiv  ty .  for  tl  re 
 wprl  n^e  before.-fi(n>.ff».      The  word,  nSIO.  translated     s> .  a 
 
 *  Thpv  qftv  in  their  hearts,  Let  us  suppress  them  entirely ; 
 ^Sey  burn  the  whofe  place  of  worship  of  Jehovah  to  the  ground^ 
 
 ■They  said  in  their  hearts.  Let  us  wholly  destroy  them  ; 
 Let  us  abolish  aU  God's  set  feasts  "'""S^VJJ^^^-'.-.^e  Versions. 
 
 inactivity,  and  to  draw  it  forth  indicates  exertion. 
 '  Why  rests  thy  arm  within  thy  raiment's  fold? 
 Why  sleep  the  terrors  of  thy  red  right  hand?'-.V.<nf. 
 
 12.  My   Kin,,   -our  ^'''^::''^^'J^'^;„„y'tSfS:^:^ 
 
 fish,  who  dwelt  ori  the  shores  of  the  Red  S'ea  »nd  ?^'"'"       |^^^„    , 
 
 intended. 
 
 •  The  heads  of  crocodiles  thoii  didst  crush  : 
 And  gavest  food  to  the  people  in  the  desert.  -Boottir 
 Tothe  same  purport,  St,-eet.         15    T/.ou  mst ^a,,e  thefounUun  .ni 
 the  flood,  the  rocks  at  Horeb  and  at  kadesh.-&i«. 
 
 •  In  the  parched  places  thou  didst  cause  a  spnng. 
 Yea,  a  torrent  to  burst  forth  1  , 
 
 Thou  didst  dry  up  mighty  nvers. -Sd-eef-  ,„„^„„ 
 
 t^^:tX^i:^  ^^--F^f  ^i2?S^ 
 
 ravenous  beast ;'  the  rendering  then  is.  •  Give  not  up  to  beasts  a  som 
 confessing  thce.'-.M-.,,;.    CHI.  Notes-,  the   S.^  .     ^^20.  Unio^h^^ 
 
 r ^s^o7'di?uTcss';":d"r;^ne':'i5v,..<.  •  F-„^'-,-vj.wer  s 
 
 ones  of  the  earth  with  the  gratiflcatmris  ,Df  "°'^""  .-""jSi  was 
 representation  n,ay  apply  cither  to  C'"W^«  or  Jurfm^  Judea  was 
 at  this  time,  little  better  than  a  .en  of  robber^ ;  its  °""  "^^'J™ '° , 
 habitants  being  removed.  Ch,^"-  jv^^^ret  from  tSe'^hron e 
 or/rice  nnanrwe^ed  -G./;  or  U  may  be  to  thetr  own  land,  so  dimi- 
 nishXamidstttiese  habitations  of  crielty.  as  to  become  a  mere  hand- 
 
 '"prLXxr-T,Tt.F.-.«.^«cAi(A-see  Psalm  Ivii.,  note.  OfMnph. 
 ■  f„^;-A';a,fh'^-p!;""/.".(.,  Jun..Trem    Pise.     Not  composed^by  the 
 
 Sj^r-o7fr^he'^s-ir^t9^jiS«f 
 
 If  Asaph  wrote  this  Psalm,  it  was  at  David's  desire  on  1^'^  a^"//'™' 
 and  seems  well  soiled  to  that  occasion.— ScoW.  1-  i^'"-  ''""''•' 
 m;L,T.  -we  invoke  thy  name  and  declare  thy  wonders.'-BooWr., 
 as  Sept..  and  other  .ineient  Vei-sions. 
 
 ■The  wondrous  works  which  Thou  hast  wrought. 
 Proclaim  thy  presence  nigh.'— Jl/mi/. 
 
 execute  righteous  judgment.'-.Vi.'is-f.  nearly  so  Horsley. 
 'Since  I  obtained  a  convenient  season, 
 I  have  judged  with  integrity.'— Boc.(/n-. 
 
 ?„ji;??;?^r;;;;rr-s^ir^'riS;^Sa,5fihaos;L,am 
 
 fcft  alone  to  support  the  sinking  clmroh  and  state.- >*.(. 
 ■  The  land  and  all  its  inhabitants  are  melted  away, 
 
 But  1  will  set  up  the  pilUirs  of  it.'—Gieea. 
 •  The  land,  with  its  inhabitants,  was  dissulved  ; 
 
 But  its  pillars  1  have  established.  — BoolAr. 
 
 Reflections  on 
 
 .EE.Et..o„»  o.    PS.  LXXIV.- Observe  here,  I.  Isra^  ^'^.^'^^1^!:^^:^^^^^^^^ 
 
 distress,  occasioned  by  the  loss  of  the  means  ol  Rrace.     Ihe  Uay  "°'^S  m,  j^.g,,-  ^„  jo  in  his  covenant  of  grace.     He  hath 
 
 temple'  destroyed,  and  no  prophet  remaining  !     Rf ''f  °"J  .^;.  S^u^red    ar^dTan  deliver  ;  he  is  ■  able  to  d°  e^oeeding  aW^ 
 
 honoured,  and  Gods  people  reproached  !    Let  us  bless  God  loi  deUverea    «  ^^  ^^^  „^  jh,„k,'  and  his    faithfulness 
 
 our  sanctuaries,  and  that  ou-  eyes  behold  our  teachers  ?„"  betl^  'o  'I'e  clouds.' 
 
 II.  Israels  hope.     In  the  darkest  seasons  we  may  cheer  our  reacUem  to 
 hearts  with  reHections  on  God's  power  and  faithfulness,-on 
 G24 
 
The  proud  rebuked. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXVl. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  serve  God. 
 
 4  I  said  unto  the  fools.  Deal  not  foolislily  : 
 and  to  tlie  wicked,  ^  Lift  not  up  the  horn: 
 
 5  Lift  not  up  your  horn  on  higli  :  speaU  7iol 
 icith  a  stitf  neck. 
 
 6  For  promotion  cometh  neither  from  the 
 east,  nor  from  the  west,  nor  from  the  f  south. 
 
 7  But  ''God  /V  the  judge  :  "he  puttelh  down 
 uMP,  and  setteth  up  another. 
 
 8  For  ^'m  the  hand  of  the  Loan  there  is  a 
 cup,  and  the  wine  is  red;  it  is  *"  full  of  mix- 
 ture; and  he  poureth  out  of  the  same:  *"  but 
 the  dregs  tliereof,  all  the  wicked  of  the  earth 
 shall  wring  them  out,  and  drink  them, 
 
 9  But  I  will  declare  for  ever;  1  will  sing 
 praises  to  the  God  of  Jacob. 
 
 10  ^  All  tlie  horns  of  the  wicked  also  will  I 
 cut  off;  but  ••  the  horns  of  the  righteous  shall 
 be  exalted. 
 
 PSALM  LXXVL 
 
 1   A  declaration  of  God's  majesty  in  the  church.    1 1  An 
 exhortation  to  serve  hhn  reverentlt/. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  on  Neginotb,  A  Psalm  or  Song 
 |[  of  Asaph. 
 
 T  N  "  Judah  is  God  known  :  his  name  is  great 
 -*■  iu  Israel. 
 
 t  Weh.diicrt. 
 
 b  Vs.  50  6. 
 
 &  5S.  U. 
 C  I  Sain.  2  7 
 
 Dan.  2.  21. 
 
 d. lob  21.  an. 
 
 ?s.  60.  3. 
 
 Jer.  25.  15. 
 
 Rev.  14  10. 
 
 Sc  Itj.  19. 
 "  Pro    S3  30. 
 /I's,  73.  10. 
 
 g  Pr.  101.8 
 Jer.  -IS.  25. 
 
 /.  Pfi.  89.  17. 
 &  143.  14- 
 
 I  Or,  for 
 1  Vs.  18.  1, 
 
 A  Ps.  W.  9. 
 Ezek  39.  9. 
 
 cEze.SS.  12, 
 13.  &  39.  +. 
 
 d  l9   4G.  12. 
 
 f  Ps.  13.  3. 
 Jer.  31. 39. 
 
 /E».l.'i.l,21. 
 Eze.  39.  ao 
 Nah.  2  13 
 Zecli.  12.  1. 
 
 <j  Nab.  I.  6. 
 
 A  Ezek.  S8. 
 
 iO 
 i  2Chr.  20. 
 
 1:9.  30. 
 /:  I's.  9   7,  8, 
 
 9   &  1>.  1. 
 
 /  See  Ex.  9. 
 16.  &18  ir 
 P8.  65.  7. 
 
 "I  Eccles   5. 
 
 ^,  5,  6 
 r.  2Chr.  32. 
 
 22,  23.  Ps. 
 
 63.  29.  &  S9. 
 
 7. 
 tHeb  iafe,T. 
 0  Pa.  (-8'  35. 
 
 '2  In  Salem  also  is  his  tabernacle,  and  his 
 dwelling  place  in  Zion. 
 
 3  ^  There  brake  he  the  arrows  of  the  bow,  the 
 shield,  and  the  sword,  and  the  battle.     Selah. 
 
 4  Thou  art  more  glorious  and  excellent 
 '^  than  the  mountains  of  prey. 
 
 3  '*  The  stouthearted  are  spoiled,  "^  they  have 
 slept  their  sleep  :  and  none  of  the  men  of  might 
 have  found  their  hands. 
 
 6  f  At  thy  rebuke,  O  God  of  Jacob,  both  the 
 chariot  and  horse  are  cast  into  a  dead  sleep. 
 
 7  Thou,  even  thou,  art  to  be  feared  :  and 
 ^  who  may  stand  in  thy  sight  when  once  tliou 
 art  angry  ? 
 
 8  ''Thou  didst  cause  judgment  to  be  heard 
 from  heaven  ;  '  the  earth  feared,  and  was  still. 
 
 9  When  God  ''  arose  to  judgment,  to  save  all 
 the  meek  of  the  earth.     Selah. 
 
 10  '  Surely  the  wrath  of  man  shall  praise 
 thee  :  the  remainder  of  wrath  shalt  thou  re- 
 strain. 
 
 1 1  "'  Vow,  and  pray  unto  the  Lord  your  God  : 
 "let  all  that  be  round  about  him  bring  presents 
 f  unto  him  that  ought  to  be  feared. 
 
 1*2  He  shall  cut  otf  tlie  spirit  of  princes  :  ° he 
 is  terrible  to  the  kings  of  the  earth. 
 
 This  and  the  preceding  verse  are  the  Divine  answer  to  the  prayer  of 
 Asaph.  —  Clarke,  so  Nudge  and  Ken.  The  governors  of  Abyssinia 
 sometimes  wear  a  large  broad  fillet  upon  their  foreheads,  in  which  is  a 
 silver  hurn  aboat  four  incites  long,  the  shape  of  an  extinguisher,  and 
 that  it  may  not  fall  forward,  they  hold  their  necks  stiff  and  their  heads 
 erect.  To  such  a  custom  there  may  be  an  allusion. — S.  Burder,  see 
 Bruce.  5.  Lift  not,  ^r.,*not  use  power  to  oppress  and  destr'-y.' — 
 Vtarke.  With  a  stiff  neck,  pn?  IMIZii,  '  with  a  retorted  neck;'  a  well- 
 known  gesture  of  pride,  contempt,  or  disdain.— Pur,  G.  i< or  from 
 the  south,  but  from  the  north,  where  is  the  city  of  the  great  king  Jeho- 
 vah, (Ps.  xlviii.  '2,)  the  supreme  dispoFer  of  all  events. — Green.  7.  But, 
 *3,  'because.' — Pu^.,  Mont.,  M  use, Gej.  8.  A  ci(/j— there  seems  to  be 
 an  allusion  here  to  the  '  cup  of  malediction,'  as  the  Jews  called  that 
 mixed  cup  of  wine  and  frankincense  which  used  to  be  given  to  crimi- 
 nals before  their  execution,  to  take  away  their  senses. — Pur.  Full  of 
 mixture,  *  mixed  wine,'  'wine  of  greater  strength.' — Boothr.  '  Mixed 
 with  spices  and  drug.s,'  causing  intoxication  and  stupefaction.  The 
 dregs,  the  thickest  sediment  of  the  strong  ingredients  of  the  cup. — 
 Lowth,  Mant.  The  best  wines  of  the  ea^t  are  much  mixed  with  dregs  ; 
 so  that  commonly,  when  drawn  out,  the  liquor  is  strained  for  use. — 
 Pict.  Bit}.  Cup,  means  afflictions,  calamities,  and  judgments.  Wiue, 
 — c^rf— an  emblem  of  the  wrath  of  GoA.— Gill.  10.  Cut  off,  they 
 shall  be  reduced  to  insignificance. — Wil.  Horns — exalted — see  1  Sam. 
 ii.  I,  note. 
 
 Ps.  LXXVI.— Title  —  Neginoth  —  sce  Ps.  iv.,  note.  A  Psalm, 
 written  on  the  taking  of  Rabbah,  belonging  to  Ammon,  fii/r.  Written, 
 probably,  when  Jerusalem  was  delivered  from  Sennacherib. —  Green, 
 Hiirslri/,  cum   fnultis  uliis.  1.  God  known,  the  true  God  revealed 
 
 hmiself  tn  the  Jews.  2.  Sal''m,  the  ancient  name  of  Jebus,  after- 
 wards called  Jerusalem. — .-1.  Clarke.  3.  Broke  he  the  urrows,  Sfc, 
 expressive  of  making  wars  to  cease,  andcausing  peace. — Gill.  Arrows, 
 ^Cffil,  '  winged  arrows.' — Mich.,  Dathe,  Buothr.  '  Burning  arrows.' — 
 Ains.  '  Sparkhng  arrows.' — Poole.  'Glittering  flashing  arrows,' 
 •fiery  or  tire-bearing  arrows.* — Par.  Arrows  with  heads  covered 
 with  inrtammable  matter,  then  ignited  and  sent  into  towns  to  burn 
 them,  with  their  towers  and  wooden  works.  Shield— sword — if  Sen- 
 nacherib be  referred  to,  this  was  astonishingly  the  case.  —  Clarke. 
 4.  Mountains  of  preij,  metaphorically,  great  princes,  mighty  con- 
 querors.— Mant.  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  (Isa.  xli.  15  ;  Jer.  1.  25  ; 
 Zech.  iv.  7,)  may  be  called  'mountains  of  prey,'  in  allusion  to  moun- 
 
 tains inhabited  by  beasts  of  prey,  as  lions  and  leopards,  (Cant,  iv.  8.) — 
 Gill.  'The  mountains  stored  with  prey,'  the  kingdoms  whieh  had 
 robbed  and  plundered  others. — Boothr.  'Jehovah  is  superior  to  the 
 gods  of  the  mountains,  under  whose  protection  the  spoilers  of  the  earth 
 made  their  deep  depredations.'— Gree??.  *Thou,  O  Ziun,  art  more  im- 
 pregn;ible  than  the  mountains,  on  which  the  spoilers,  the  Assyrians, 
 have  futified  themselves.* — Hew.  'Thou  shinest  forth  glorious  (rom 
 the  mountains  of  prey.' — Mudge.  *  Thou  art  more  radiant  than  light ; 
 thou  art  higher  than  the  eternal  mountains.*— //o«6.  '  Thou  art  more 
 terrible,  thou  glorious  mountain,  than  the  hills  of  the  beasts  of  prey.' — 
 Mich.  'Thou  shinest  forth  from  the  mountains  of  prey,'  either  the 
 Arabian  mountains,  the  haunts  of  robbers,  or  rather  Zion,  because 
 destined  by  the  enemy  for  plunder,  whence  lightning  seems  to  have 
 been  hurled,  (Fs.  xxix.  9,)  so  Sept. ;  or  should  it  he,  '  the  green  lofly 
 mountains,*  the  Mount  of  Olives? — Mudge.  5.  Stouthearted,  the 
 
 Assyrian  army  and  generals  that  came  up  against  Jerusalem.  Slept 
 their  sleep,  the  sleep  of  death,  as  did  the  Assyrians  when  smitten  by 
 the  angel.  Found  their  hands,  '  been  able  to  fight.'  6.  The  chariot 
 and  horse,  i.e.,  'the  riders  on  chariots  and  horseii.'- G(7^  so  Wil. 
 *  The  rider  and  the  horse.' — Horslei/.  The  chariot  horses  as  well  as 
 the  men.  Into  n  dead  sleep,  'suffocated.' — A.  Clarke.  8.  Judgment 
 to  b'i  heard,  a  violent  clap  of  thunder  is  supposed  to  have  been  heard. 
 — Gill.  The  earth  feared,  and  was  still,  *  trembled,  and  was  quiet' 
 again,  Vulgate.     Some  think  there  was   an  earthquake.  lo.  The 
 
 wrath,  ^c.  'the  fury  of  man  thou  quellest.' — Houft.  The  remainder, 
 that  which  remains  in  a  man's  breast,  which  a  man  has  not  yet 
 vented.' — Gill.  'The  remainder  of  wraihs  thou  wilt  gird.'  —  Pug., 
 Mont.,  Vat.,  §-c. 
 
 '  When  thou  dost  gird  on  wrath, 
 The  residue  of  mankind  pay  homage  to  thcQ.*— Street. 
 
 '  Yes,  the  fury  of  man  shall  pay  homage 
 To  ihec  ;  what  remaiueth  of  furies 
 Shall  attend  thy  festivals.'— J/i/d^'e. 
 
 II.  Ought  to  be  feared,  Hyiiy>,  'he  is  the  fear,'  so  the  word  is;  'his 
 name  is  glorious  and  fearful,  and  he  is  the  proper  object  of  fear,'  so  he 
 is  called  'the  fear  of  Isaac,'  (Gen.  xxxi.  42.)— Henri/.  12.  Spirit, 
 '  pride.' — Merrick. 
 
 '  He  controlleth  the  spirit  of  pnnccs.*— Boothr. 
 
 Reflectioss  on  Ps.  LXXV. —  L  The  government  of  the 
 world  is  in  the  hand  of  God.  This  should  quiet  the  believer 
 amidst  all  its  commotions.  Not  a  monarch  rises  to  the  throne, 
 or  is  deposed,  wiihoul  his  superintendence.  Men  act  as  free 
 agents  tor  their  own  purposes,  but  they  all  do  his  will,  and  all 
 our  private  concerns  are  alike  under  his  control  ;  our  prospe- 
 rity and  adversity  are  subject  to  his  overruUng  power.  This 
 thought  should  calra  every  fear,  and  quiet  every  murmur — 
 '  The  l.ord  reigneth  !' 
 
 IT.  f.'ud,  as  the  righteous  Governor  of  the  tvorld,  will  have  a 
 ftarful  ncf.onini/  with  the  wicktd.  Believers  are  often  called  to 
 drink  the  cup  of  uffliction,  but  impenitent  sinners  shall  drink 
 the  cup  of  wrath.  IIow  vast  (he  difference  between  an  af- 
 thcted  mind  and  a  tortiyed  conscience!  O  God  of  our  salva- 
 tion !  to  thy  beloved  Son  we  cast  our  eyes,  who  drank  tlte 
 bitter  cup  liM"  sinners,  even  to  the  very  dregs.  May  we  be- 
 lieve on  Him,  so  that  this  cup  may  not  be  our  eternal  portion, 
 but  that  we  may  drink  of  the  new  wine  of  joy  and  felicity  in 
 G:25 
 
 our  Father's  everlasting  kingdom  ! 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXXVI.  —  We  beLold  here,  I.  The 
 destruction  of  Zion's  enemies.  The  deeds  of  the  mighty  are 
 praised  in  many  an  ode  and  song.  Let  Zion  arouse  her  grate- 
 ful emotions,  and  tune  her  grandest  melodies,  in  praise  of  Him 
 who  hath  triumphed  gloriously  in  her  behalf.  How  insignifi- 
 cant is  every  power  that  opposes  his  !  The  army  of  Senna- 
 cherib melts  before  his  touch,  like  snow  on  the  sides  of  the 
 mountains.  So  shall  it  be  at  last  with  all  his  church's  ene- 
 mies;  and  the  friends  of  Zion  shall  find  that  Abraham's  God 
 is  still  the  same  as  when  he  said,  '  I  am  God  Almighty.' 
 
 II.  Tiie  duty  of  Zion  s  inhabitants.  To  place  the  most  im- 
 plicit confidence  in  God, — to  pay  their  vows  to  iiim,  and  to 
 present  to  him  their  bodies,  souls,  and  spirits,  living  sacri- 
 fices, which,  while  tliey  will  be  acceptable  to  him,  will,  on 
 their  parts,  be  but  a  reasonable  service.  *  Having  taken  him 
 for  our  King,  lot  us  bring  presents  to  bini,  as  subjects  to  a 
 Sovereign.' 
 
 4   L 
 
The  psalmist's  diffidence. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXVII.,  LXXVIII.  Gods  r/reat  and  gracious  worlts: 
 
 PSALM  LXXVH. 
 
 1  The  psalmist  sheweth  what  fierce  combat  he  had  with 
 diffidince.  10  The  viclori/  which  he  had  hi/ consi- 
 deration of  God^s  great  and  gracious  works. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,   '  to  Jeduthun,   A  Psalm   ||  of 
 Asaph. 
 
 *  T  CRIED  unto   God  with  my  voice,  even 
 -'-  unto  God  with  my  voice  ;   and  he  gave 
 ear  unto  me. 
 
 2  ''  In  the  day  of  my  trouble  I  •■  sought  the 
 Lord  :  t  'Tiy  sore  van  in  the  night,  and  ceased 
 not :  my  soul  refused  to  be  comforted. 
 
 3  I  remembered  God,  and  was  troubled  :  I 
 complained,  and  ''  my  spirit  was  overwhelmed. 
 Selah. 
 
 4  Thou  boldest  mine  eyes  waking :  I  am  so 
 troubled  that  I  cannot  speak. 
 
 5  °  I  have  considered  the  days  of  old,  the 
 years  of  ancient  times. 
 
 6  I  call  to  remembrance  'my  song  in  the 
 night :  *  I  commune  with  mine  own  heart : 
 and  my  spirit  made  diligent  search. 
 
 7  ■■  Will  the  Lord  east  off  for  ever?  and  will 
 he  '  be  favourable  no  more  V 
 
 8  Is  his  mercy  clean  gone  for  ever?  doth 
 '  his  promise  fail  f  for  evermore  ? 
 
 9  Hath  God  'forgotten  to  be  gracious?  hath 
 he  in  anger  shut  up  his  tender  mercies? 
 Selah. 
 
 10  And  I  said,  This  is  "  my  infirmity  :  but  I 
 will  remembir  the  years  of  the  right  hand  of 
 the  most  high. 
 
 11  °I  will  remember  the  works  of  the  Lord: 
 surely  I  will  remember  thy  wonders  of  old. 
 
 •  Ps.  39,  & 
 62.  title. 
 II  Or, /or 
 
 ■  I'B.  3.'  4. 
 
 6  Pa.  50. 15. 
 c  Is.Cfi  9,16 
 +  Hel,    tny 
 hi„d 
 
 r  Deu.  3-2.  7. 
 Ps.  \V\.  5. 
 I»,51.  0. 
 
 /  P«,  ■12.  8. 
 
 4r  Pa.  ♦.  4. 
 
 »  Pa.  7.1.  1. 
 i  Ps.  ei.  I. 
 
 k  tlom.  0.  6. 
 t  Heb-  10  jr. 
 
 0  Pb.  73.  17. 
 p  Ex.  15.  11. 
 
 Josh.  11.  15, 
 16  Pa.  lU. 
 3.  Hab.  3.8, 
 
 t  Heb.  The 
 C'Oud*  wrre 
 ....... rd/.n/i 
 
 inilh  iT'ifrr. 
 
 ,  2  Sn  *i.  15. 
 Hab-  3.  II. 
 
 I  Pa.  97.  4. 
 
 u  2  Sa.  22.  8. 
 
 jrHab.  3.  15, 
 
 y  E».  14.  88. 
 
 ;  Ex.  13.21. 
 &  14.19.  Ps. 
 78.  52.  &  80. 
 I.  la. 63.  II, 
 13.  Hoi.  12. 
 13. 
 
 •Ps.71,Ul]e 
 f|Or,.APsalm 
 /or.4.nj./i/« 
 ffire  initrvc- 
 
 a  Is.  51.  4. 
 
 r  Pa.  19,  4, 
 Malt,  13  35, 
 
 12  I  will  meditate  also  of  all  thy  work,  and 
 talk  of  thy  doings. 
 
 13  °  Thy  way,  O  God,  is  in  the  sanctuary: 
 ■■  who  is  so  great  a  God  as  our  God ! 
 
 14  Thou  art  the  God  that  doest  wonders: 
 thou  hast  declared  thy  strength  among  the 
 people. 
 
 15  ''  Thou  hast  with  thitie  arm  redeemed  thy 
 people,  the  sons  of  Jacob  and  Joseph.     Selah. 
 
 16  '  The  waters  saw  thee,  O  God,  the  waters 
 saw  thee  ;  they  were  afraid  :  the  depths  also 
 were  troubled. 
 
 17  t  the  clouds  poured  out  water:  the  skies 
 sent  out  a  sound  :  '  tliine  arrows  also  went 
 abroad. 
 
 18  The  voice  of  thy  thunder  was  in  the 
 heaven  :  •  the  lightnings  lightened  the  world  : 
 "  the  earth  trembled  and  shook. 
 
 19  *  Thy  way  is  in  the  sea,  and  thy  path  in 
 the  great  waters,  'ahd  thy  footsteps  are  not 
 known. 
 
 20  '  Thou  leddest  thy  people  like  a  flock  by 
 the  hand  of  Moses  and  Aaron. 
 
 PSALM  LXXVIII. 
 
 1  ^n  exhortation  both  to  Larn  and  to  preach  the  law  of 
 God.  9  The  story  of  God*s  wrath  against  the  in- 
 credulous and  disobi'dii-nt,  67  The  Israelites  heing 
 rejected t  God  chose  Judah,  Zion,  and  David. 
 
 *1|  Maschll  of  Asaph. 
 f~^  IVE  ear,  O  my  people,  to 
 
 your 
 
 ears   to   the 
 
 my 
 words 
 
 cliiie 
 mouth. 
 
 *2  *•  I  will  open  my  month  in  a  parable 
 utter  dark  sayings  of  old  : 
 
 aw  :  in- 
 of  my 
 
 I  will 
 
 Ps.  LXXVII. —TiTLK  — To  Jeduthun—see  Title,  note,  Ps.  xxxix. 
 a.  Ml/  sore  ran,  fyc.,  m33  nb'b  ^T.  '  niy  hand  was  stretched  out  in  the 
 night  without  intermission.' — Bp.  Home,  Lowth.  *  My  hand  hath 
 been  stretched  out,'  i.  e.,  in  prayer. — Horsley. 
 
 •  By  night  my  hand,  without  ceasing. 
 
 Is  stretched  out  unto  him.'— BooM?-.,  so  also  Clarke. 
 3.  7  remembered  God,  and  was  trnnbled,  'his  attributes  were  terrible 
 when  I  lost  cnnfidence  in  him  as  my  God.* — Ed. ;  to  the  same  purport, 
 Poole  and  Scott.  Troubled, 'r\''y27fH.  The  inward  perturbation  is  here 
 described  by  a  word  expressive  of  the  tumults  of  the  waves  in  a  storm, 
 or  that  of  an  cnrae:ed,  disorderly  multitude. — Scott,  vide  TTDn,  Par. 
 Overwhelmed,  'overpowered  in  itself.* — A.Clarke.        i.Thou  holdest, 
 
 *  Watchfulness  seizes  fast  hold  of  my  eyes  ; 
 
 I  make  repeated  eflforts,  but  I  cannot  speak. *^Hors/ey. 
 '  I  am  so  confounded  that  I  cannot  speak.* — Boothr. 
 6.  Considered,  ^n^UJn,  '  I  have  counted  up,'  reckoned  up  the  various 
 dispensations  of  thy  mercy.        6.  /  call  to  remembrance,  ^c,  *  I  call  to 
 remembrance  songs  composed  to  celebrate  ancient  mercies.* — Pat. 
 '  In  the  night  I  commune  with  my  heart ; 
 I  muse,  and  my  spirit  thus  searcheth.* — Boothr. 
 Commune,   T^TT^'^H,    'meditated,*  Vulgate;    Mont.,   Jun.,    Trem.,  ^c. 
 'Looked  into,'  'put  questions,'    'conversed   with.' — Gill,      Diligent 
 aenrch.-^ti'n,  'aseaich  by  stripping  or  uncovering,  examining  every 
 fold. — So  Clarke.         7.  Favourable,  'propitious,'  'gracious.' — Ains., 
 ^c.         10.  And  I  said,  ^c— 
 
 '  Then  I  said  in  my  dejection, 
 
 This  proceeds  from  a  change  in  the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High.' 
 i.e.,  the  arm  employed  for  us  is  turned  against  us.— Gree/i;  to  the 
 •ame  purport,  Tf'a?e;7«nrfand  Horsley. 
 '  Then  I  say,  This  is  mine  infirmity  ; 
 I  will  call  to  mind  the  changes  eflFected  by 
 The  right  hand  of  the  Most  High.'— S/ree/. 
 
 '  Then  I  said.  This  is  the  time  of  my  sorrow. 
 But  the  riglit  hand  of  the  Most  High  can  change  it.' 
 
 -Boothr. 
 
 To  pray,  this  is  my  business;  to  change,  the  right  hand  of  the  Most 
 High.' — De  Dieu.  '  To  grieve  is  my  portion,  to  change  belongs  to  the 
 right  hand  of  the  Most  High;*  i.e.,  he  alone  can  change  it. — N.M. 
 Berlin.  '  At  last  I  came  to  this  poynte,  that  I  thought :  O  why  ait  thnu 
 so  fonlish?  The  right  hande  of  the  Most  Hyest  can  chaunge  all.' — 
 Coverdale.  'Then  I  said,  this  is  my  weakness  of  faith,  to  entertain 
 such  thoughts,*  &c. —  Wells,  Bp.  Home.  13.  Tfiy  way,  'the  method 
 of  thy  Providence.' — Pat.  Is  in  the  sanctuary,  '  is  in  sanctity.* — Ains. 
 '  Is  holy.' — Green.  "OGod,  in  holiness  is  thy  way.' — Mudge,  Horsley. 
 Bp.  Home,  Lnwth  ;  nearly  the  same  Boothr.,  so  Pag.,  Mont.,  Mich., 
 ^c.  16.  Ttte  waters,  alluding  to  the  miracles  of  the  Red  Sea  and 
 Jordan,  (comp.  Ps.  civ,  3.)  17.  Arrows,  alluding  to  the  hail  stones, 
 
 lightning,  and  thunder,  which  discomfited  the  heathen  armies.  18.  The 
 voice,  fyc,  imagery  from  Sinai. — Hew.  19.  In  the  sea,  'through  the 
 sea.' — Green.  'On  the  sea.' — Boothr.  And  thy  footsteps,  'though 
 thy  footsteps  were  not  seen.*  God  walked  before  his  people  through 
 the  sea,  though  he  left  no  footsteps  of  himself  behind  him. — Mudge. 
 Allusion  to  the  Red  Sea. — Bishop  Home,  Wil. 
 
 Ps.  LXXVIII.  — Title— jV/istAiV— see  Ps.  xxxii.,  Title,  note.  This 
 Psalm  pursues  the  history  of  the  Israelites  from  the  time  of  their  de- 
 parture from  Egypt  to  the  reign  of  David. — Bp.  Lowth.  2.  Parable, 
 7irO.  niay  denote  any  sentence  or  axiom  excellently  or  gravely  uttered, 
 concise,  and  confined  to  a  certain  form  and  manner.  —  Lowth.  See 
 Num.  xxiii.  "  ;  Job,  xxvii.  1,  notes.  The  term  '  parable'  is  surely  im- 
 proper here,  it  should  be'  wise  remarks.'  Dark  sayings,  miTl,  'pointed 
 truths.' — Street,  'Pointed  sayings.* — Lowth.  'Mrmorable  things;' 
 it  most  frequently  denotes  some  weighty  and  pointed  saying,  (Ps.xlix. 
 4  ■,  Matt.  xiii.  35.) — Boothr.  Tlie  word  seems  to  refer  here  to  the  his- 
 torical facts  mentioned  in  the  subsequent  verses,  considered  as  enig- 
 mas of  spiritual  concerns,  (comp.  Matt.  xiii.  35  ;  I  Cor.  x.  6,  II.) — in, 
 Par.  As  facts,  these  thiuKs  were  heard  and  known,  and  hamled  down ; 
 but  with  respect  to  the  instructions  and  admonitions  comprehended 
 in  them,  they  were  like  parables,  requiring  wisdom  and  attention  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXXVII.  —  We  see  here,  I.  A  good 
 man  siiiking  under  dejection.  Religion  is  always  the  same,  but 
 the  subjects  of  it,  in  the  present  stale,  are  variable.  The  frail 
 condition  of  the  body  vrill  often  affect  the  mind.  Providential 
 dispensations  are  then  seen  by  many  as  in  shade,  and  God's 
 countenance  as  in  frowns.  The  soul,  conscious  of  its  guilt, 
 looking  only  on  itself,  is  overwhelmed  with  misery  at  the 
 sight.  It  is  then  truly  in  a  storm,  nnd  the  trembling  creature 
 feels  himself  sinking  in  the  waves  ;  he  lifts  up  his  eyes,  and 
 con  scarcely  exclaim,  '  Lord,  save,  or  I  perish  !* 
 
 II.  A  good  man  reviving  after  dejection.  He  sees  that  his 
 weak  faith  is  an  infirmity, — that  there  is  no  reason  to  mistrust 
 626 
 
 God, — that  all  power  is  in  his  hand  for  the  preservation  of  hig 
 church  and  people, — that  his  way  is  '  in  holiness,'  and  so  con- 
 sists with  bis  testimonies,  his  promises,  and  his  covenant, — 
 that  it  is  '  in  the  sanctuary,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  man's 
 wisdom  to  understand,  except  by  those  who  weifih  all  things 
 in  its  balances.'  His  soul  now  becomes  buoyant,  and  rises 
 above  the  troubled  elements  ;  and,  in  proportion  as  faith  rises 
 into  lively  exercise,  he  clears  the  waves,  and  treads  fearlessly 
 on  the  smoother  surface.  Asaph  thought  on  what  God  had 
 done  for  his  church  at  the  Red  Sea  and  in  the  Wilderness  : 
 and,  in  addition  to  these,  what  reason  is  there  to  calm  our 
 fears,  if  we  think  on  what  he  has  done  for  us  at  Calvary  ! 
 
God's  ivralk  ngniiist 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXVIII. 
 
 the  incredulous  and  disobedient. 
 
 3  °  Which  we  have  heard  and  known,  and  our 
 
 fathers  have  told  iis. 
 
 4  ''  We  will  not  hide  them  from  their  chil- 
 dren, °  shewing  to  the  generation  to  come  the 
 praises  of  the  Lord,  and  his  strength,  and  his 
 wonderful  worlis  that  he  hath  done. 
 
 3  For  'he  estahlished  a  testimony  in  Jacob, 
 and  appointed  a  law  in  Israel,  which  he  com- 
 manded our  fathers,  ^  that  tliey  should  make 
 them  known  to  their  children  : 
 
 6  ''That  the  generation  to  come  might  know 
 them,  even  the  children  which  should  be  born  ; 
 who  should  arise  and  declare  them  to  their 
 children : 
 
 7  That  they  might  set  their  hope  in  God, 
 and  not  forget  the  works  of  God,  but  keep  iiis 
 commandments  : 
 
 8  And  'might  not  be  as  their  fathers,  ''a 
 stubborn  and  rebellious  generation  ;  a  genera- 
 tion t '  that  set  not  their  heart  aright,  and 
 whose  spirit  was  not  stedfast  with  God. 
 
 9  The  children  of  Ephraim,/>e»(.r7  armed,  and 
 t  carrying  bows,  turned  back  in  the  day  of 
 battle. 
 
 10  ""They  kept  not  the  covenant  of  God, 
 and  refused  to  walk  in  his  law  ; 
 
 11  And  "forgat  his  works,  and  his  wonders 
 that  he  had  shewed  them. 
 
 12  °  Marvellous  things  did  he  in  the  sight  of 
 their  fathers,  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  ''in  the  field 
 of  Zoan. 
 
 13  ''  He  divided  the  sea,  and  caused  them  to 
 pass  through  ;  and  '  he  made  the  waters  to 
 stand  as  an  heap. 
 
 14  'In  the  daytime  also  he  led  them  with 
 a  cloud,  and  all  the  night  with  a  light  of 
 fire. 
 
 13  '  He  clave  the  rocks  in  the  wilderness, 
 and  gave  them  drink  as  out  of  the  great  depths. 
 
 16  He  brought  "streams  also  out  of  the  rock, 
 and  caused  waters  to  run  down  like  rivers. 
 
 17  And  they  sinned  yet  more  against  him  by 
 '  provoking  the  most  high  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 18  And  ''  they  tempted  God  in  their  heart  by 
 asking  meat  for  their  lust. 
 
 19  ^  Yea,  they  spake  against  God  ;  they  said. 
 Can  God  f  furnish  a  table  in  the  wilderness? 
 
 20  '  Behold,  he  smote  the  rock,  that  the 
 waters  gushed  out,  and  the  streams  over- 
 flowed; can  he  give  bread  also?  can  he  pro- 
 vide flesh  for  his  people  ? 
 
 21  Therefore  the  Lord  heard  this,  and  ''was 
 wroth  :  so  a  fire  was  kindled  against  Jacob, 
 and  anger  also  came  up  against  Israel  ; 
 
 22  Because  tliey  "  believed  not  in  God,  and 
 trusted  not  in  his  salvation  : 
 
 23  Though  he  had  commanded  the  clouds 
 from  above,  ''and  opened  the  doors  of  heaven. 
 
 ^F.i 
 
 1!!, 
 
 86, 
 
 '.^7. 
 
 ik  If. 
 
 s 
 
 11. 
 
 .rosh 
 
 4 
 
 (i,  7 
 
 /I's 
 
 117. 
 
 10 
 
 ?  Deu.4  9  & 
 6.7.  «i  11.19 
 
 h  Vs.  I0M9 
 
 Kin  t7.M. 
 ;/i.'k  20.18. 
 *  I'X  39.  9 
 &  33.  3  & 
 Hi.  9.  Deu 
 9,  G,  13  «£ 
 SI.  a7.  Pb. 
 
 \  Heb.  tiiat 
 
 ll.fir  heart. 
 I  ver.  37. 
 
 SChr^d.S.S 
 I  Heb.Mr-iu 
 
 inn  f-"h. 
 m  2  Kill.  17. 
 
 15 
 'I  Ps.  106  V.i 
 Kx.  7,  &  B, 
 
 &  i',  Ik  I0,«( 
 
 II,  Kc  Vi. 
 Gen.  A2  3 
 
 ,Niim-lS.-2-2 
 
 ver.  *3.  Is 
 
 la    II,  13 
 
 F.7ck  30.14- 
 7  Ex.  14.  21. 
 ■  Kx.  15.  8. 
 
 Ps.  .'13.  7. 
 
 Kx    13.  21. 
 
 ifc   11.  24. 
 
 Ps.  105.  39. 
 
 /  Ev.  17.  6. 
 Num.20.U 
 Pa.  105,41- 
 I  Cor.  10  4- 
 <  Deu.  9.  21 
 P8.  105.  41. 
 
 r  Deu.  9  22 
 Ps.  95.  8, 
 Hcb,  3.  16. 
 
 y  Ex.  l(i.  2. 
 
 .-Num.  11.4. 
 
 t  Heb  order. 
 
 a  Kx.  17.  6- 
 Nuai.20.11. 
 
 ■  Heb.  3,  18 
 Jude  5. 
 
 i  Gen.  7. 11 
 Mai.  3.  10. 
 
 --Ft 
 
 IR.4,14. 
 
 Ps 
 
 105.40. 
 
 .I'<l 
 
 n  6,  SI. 
 
 10 
 
 or.  10.3. 
 
 II  Or 
 
 ,  Every 
 
 dtd  ent 
 
 the 
 
 bt-ead  of 
 
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 Pa 
 
 103    SO. 
 
 /Nu.  II.  31.1 
 
 t  Hob.  to  so.  ■ 
 
 t  Heb.  made 
 
 to  IlltUt. 
 
 II  Or,  t/oviig 
 
 K  Deu  32.  4, 
 ih,  .11. 
 
 >  Ex.  i5.  I.S. 
 Deut.  7.  9 
 Is.  41.  HA 
 4i.  6.  &  63 
 9, 
 
 p  Eze.  83.31, 
 
 .  Is.  48.  9. 
 /li  Ki.-ii    y9. 
 t.  Ps.  103.14, 
 
 16. 
 J- Gen.  6.  S. 
 
 J-.lm  3.6. 
 1/  .lob  7.  7, 
 
 16  Jam  4. 
 
 14. 
 11  Or,  r.Jff 
 
 ngttnill  liint 
 
 "Pa    9.5  9,10 
 
 la,  7    l:i.  & 
 
 lili    10. 
 
 F.ph.  4.  SO. 
 
 Hcb,  3.  10, 
 
 17 
 a  ^u.  14.  22. 
 
 Dent.  6.  16. 
 h  ver.  20. 
 II  Or,  from 
 
 „J)l.c,io,.. 
 c  vei.l2,  Ps. 
 
 105.27,  &c. 
 t  Heb   Ml. 
 d  Ek.  7.  20, 
 
 Ps    105    29 
 i  E«,  8.  24. 
 
 Pa     10,5   31. 
 /Ex.  8   6 
 
 Pa.  105   30 
 ff  Kx    10   1.x, 
 
 15.  Pa.  105. 
 
 34,35. 
 A  Ex   9.  23, 
 
 •25.  Pb.  105. 
 
 t  Hob.A,7f.J. 
 II  Or.  sre:it 
 haihto'.et. 
 
 24  '  And  had  rained  down  manna  upon  them 
 to  eat,  and  had  given  them  of  the  corn  of 
 heaven. 
 
 23  II  Man  did  eat  angels'  food  :  he  sent  them 
 meat  to  the  full. 
 
 26  '  He  caused  an  east  wind  f  to  blow  in  the 
 heaven  :  and  by  his  power  he  brought  in  the 
 south  wind. 
 
 27  He  rained  flesh  also  upon  them  as  dust, 
 and  t  feathered  fowls  like  as  tlie  sand  of  the 
 sea : 
 
 28  And  he  let  it  fall  in  the  midst  of  their 
 camp,  round  about  their  habitations. 
 
 29  ^  So  they  did  eat,  and  were  well  filled  : 
 for  he  gave  them  their  own  desire  ; 
 
 30  They  were  not  estranged  from  their  lust. 
 But  ''while  their  meat  tca^yet  in  their  months, 
 
 31  The  wrath  of  God  came  upon  them,  and 
 slew  the  fattest  of  them,  and  f  smote  down  the 
 II  chosen  men  of  Israel. 
 
 32  For  all  this  '  they  sinned  still,  and  ''  be- 
 lieved not  for  his  wondrous  works. 
 
 33  '  Therefore  their  days  did  he  consump  in 
 vanity,  and  their  years  in  trouble. 
 
 34  "'  When  he  slew  them,  then  they  sought 
 him  :  and  they  returned  and  enquired  eaAy 
 after  God. 
 
 35  And  they  remembered  that  "  God  was 
 their  rock,  and  the  high  God  °  their  redeemer. 
 
 36  Nevertheless  they  did  ''flatter  him  with 
 their  mouth,  and  they  lied  unto  him  with  their 
 tongues. 
 
 37  For  ''  their  heart  was  not  right  with  him, 
 neither  were  they  stedfast  in  his  covenant. 
 
 38  'But  he,  being  full  of  compassion,  forgave 
 their  iniquity,  and  destroyed  them  not  :  yea, 
 many  a  time  '  turned  he  his  anger  away,  '  and 
 did  not  stir  up  all  his  wrath. 
 
 39  For  "  he  remembered  "  that  they  were  but 
 flesh  ;  ''a  wind  that  passeth  away,  and  cometh 
 not  again. 
 
 40  How  oft  did  they  ||  ^  provoke  him  in  the 
 wilderness,  and  grieve  him  in  the  desert! 
 
 41  Yea,  "they  turned  back  and  tempted  God, 
 and  ''limited  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 
 
 42  They  remembered  not  his  hand,  nor  the 
 day  when  he  delivered  them  ||  from  the  enemy. 
 
 43  How  *•'  he  had  f  wrought  his  signs  in  Egypt, 
 and  his  wonders  in  the  field  of  Zoan  : 
 
 44  ''  And  had  turned  their  rivers  into  blood ; 
 and  their  floods,  that  they  could  not  drink. 
 
 43  "  He  sent  divers  sorts  of  flies  among  them, 
 which  devoured  them;  and  'frogs,  which  de- 
 stroyed them. 
 
 46  ^  He  gave  also  their  increase  unto  the 
 caterpiller,  and  their  labour  unto  the  locust. 
 
 47  "  He  f  destroyed  their  vines  witli  hail,  and 
 their  sycomore  trees  with  ||  frost. 
 
 understand  and  apply  them.— Bp.  Home.  5.  Testimony,  or  soleran 
 cliarEe.— ;i/Mrf^e.  9.  Ephrnim— (or  the  history  referred  to,  see  Num. 
 xiv.  40—45  i  Deut.  i.  42.  The  Ephraimites  being  the  most  warlike 
 tribe,  probably  led  on  to  battle.— Hai-e,  Green.  12.  Tlie  field,  'the 
 territory.'  0/  Zoan,  Egypt  in  general.— S/i/rio.  An  ancient  city  of 
 Egypt.  (Num.  xiii.  22,)  the  metropolis  of  the  land,  where  Pharaoh  kept 
 his  court;  hence  we  read  of  the  princes  of  Zoan,  (Is.  xix.  11, 13.)— Gi7(. 
 The  Vuls.  has  'the  field  of  Tanis."  This  was  the  capital  of  Pharaoh, 
 where  Moses  wrought  his  miracles.  It  was  seated  on  the  Delta. — See 
 Cat.  13.  Their  lust,  OIDC:,  '  their  souls,'  'their  lives.'— yl.  Clarke. 
 
 21.  A  fire  u-as  L-iitdted—see  Num.  xi.  1,  and  note.  24.  0/  hem'eii, 
 D'DO,  the  word  is  frequently  used  for  the  atmosphere.  —  Clarke. 
 S.'i.  Angels'  fond,  WflU  Cn';.  '  the  bread  of  the  mighty  ones.'  Angels 
 are  not  mentioneii  ;  the  original  means  persons  of  the  higher  classes, 
 signifying  that  it  was  bread  fit  for  princes.— Il'i7.  The  food  of  nobles, 
 exquisite,  delicate  food— SmiOTi/,!,  Tny.  Heb.  Cone.  It  would  affront 
 the  reader's  understanding  to  argue  that  angels  do  not  eat  manna.— 
 Par.  'Angels'  food'  is  a  figurative  expression  for  food  coming  from 
 627 
 
 the  skies. — Mant.  30.  Not  estranged  from  their  lust,  indulged  with 
 \K.—Gilt.  39.  A  wind,  fyc.,  31©'  vh")  '^b^l^  mi,  'the spirit goeth  away 
 and  it  doth  not  return.' — A.  Clarke.  41.  Limited,  *  provoked,' 5/73^., 
 Vi/lff.,  Sr/r.  'Set  bounds  to  his  power.' — Scott,  i5.  Flies — see  note 
 on  Exod.  viii.  21.  In  New  England,  some  years  ago,  a  sort  of  insect 
 came  out  of  little  holes  in  the  ground  in  the  form  of  maggots,  and 
 turned  to  flies,  which,  for  the  space  of  200  miles,  poisoned  and 
 destroyed  all  the  trees  in  the  country. — Ffiil.  Trans.,  vol.  ii.,  pp.766 
 and  781.  46.  Caterpiller — locust — meaning  the  same;  for  we  read 
 
 but  of  the  locust  only  in  Exod.  x.  13. — Gill.  See  Exod.  x.  4,  note.  They 
 are  distinguished  from  each  other.  "j'Dn,  the  Hebrew  name  of  the 
 caterpiller,  is  taken  from  its  devouring  the  fruits  of  the  earth  ;  and,  in 
 Joel,  i.  4,  it  is  mentioned  as  eating  up  that  which  the  otluT  species  had 
 left.  Some  take  it  to  be  the  cockchafer.  Michaelis  takes  it  to  he  the 
 mole  cricket,  which,  in  its  grub  state,  cankers  the  ro'its  of  corn,  grass, 
 ^■c.  Parkhnrst  says  it  was  a  species  of  locust. — See  'jDn,  Par.,  Mont. 
 47.  Sycomore,  the  wood  of  which  was  of  great  use  to  make  tlieir  coffins, 
 Sic,  and  the  fruit  the  food  of  the  common  people.  —  Shaw,  Clarke. 
 
Israel  rej'ectci/,  Jiidah  chosen. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXIX. 
 
 David's  complaint  fur  the  church. 
 
 48  'f  He  gave  up  their  cattle  also  to  the  hail, 
 and  their  flocks  to  ||  hot  thunderbolts. 
 
 49  He  cast  upon  tlieni  tlie  fierceness  of  his 
 an<;er,  wrath,  and  indignation,  and  trouble,  by 
 sending  evil  angels  iiitioiitj  them. 
 
 50  t  He  made  a  way  to  bis  anger;  he  spared 
 not  tlieir  soul  from  deatli,  but  gave  ||  their  life 
 over  to  the  pestilence  ; 
 
 ol  'And  smote  all  the  firstborn  in  Egypt; 
 the  chief  of  their  strength  in  '  the  tabernacles 
 of  Ham  ; 
 
 32  But  ^  made  liis  own  people  to  go  forth 
 like  sheep,  and  guided  them  in  tlie  wilderness 
 like  a  flock. 
 
 53  And  he  "led  them  on  safely,  so  tliaf  they 
 feared  not:  but  the  sea  "  f  o^s''^^h^l'n^' J  tlieir 
 enemies. 
 
 54  And  he  brought  them  to  the  border  of  his 
 ■"  sanctuary,  even  to  this  mountain,  ''  which  his 
 riglit  liand  Ijad  purchased. 
 
 55  '  He  cast  out  tlie  heathen  also  before  them, 
 and  '  divided  them  an  inheritance  by  line,  and 
 made  the  tribes  of  Israel  to  dwell  in  their  tents. 
 
 56  'Yet  they  tempted  and  provoked  the  most 
 high  God,  and  kept  not  his  testimonies  : 
 
 37  But  "  turned  back,  and  dealt  nnfaitlifnlly 
 like  their  fathers:  they  were  turned  aside  ^like 
 a  deceitful  bow. 
 
 38  ^  For  they  provoked  him  to  anger  with 
 their  '  high  places,  and  moved  him  to  jealousy 
 witli  their  graven  images. 
 
 39  When  God  heard  this,  he  was  wroth,  and 
 greatly  al)horred  Israel  : 
 
 UO  ''  So  that  he  forsook  the  tabernacle  of  Shi- 
 lob,  the  tent  which  he  placed  among  men  ; 
 
 CI  "And  delivered  his  strength  into  captivity, 
 and  his  glory  into  the  enemy's  liand. 
 
 6'2  '  He  gave  his  people  over  also  unto  the 
 sword  ;  and  was  wroth  with  his  inheritance. 
 
 03  The  fire  consumed  their  young  men  ;  and 
 ''  their  maidens  were  not  f  given  to  marriage. 
 
 C4  "  Their  priests  fell  by  the  sword  ;  and 
 'their  widows  made  no  lamentation. 
 
 05  Then  the  Lord  ^awaked  as  one  out  of 
 sleep,  and  ''  like  a  mighty  man  that  sliouteth 
 by  reason  of  wine. 
 
 66  And  '  he  smote  his  enemies  in  the  hinder 
 part:  he  put  them  to  a  perpetual  reproach. 
 
 67  Moreover   he  refused  the    tabernacle  of 
 
 i  Ex.  9  23, 
 
 24.  2.^.  Ps. 
 
 10^    .T2 
 
 t  Heb.  m 
 
 k  Ps.  87.  2. 
 
 tliiil  up. 
 
 [|  Or,  Ci^fil- 
 
 I  1  Kin.  6. 
 
 ninfft. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 /uundtd. 
 
 t  Heb.   //- 
 
 iw.y/.e.i  u 
 
 m  1  Sam.  16 
 
 }>ath. 
 
 II.  12. 
 
 II  Or,   fhe.r 
 
 2Saui.  7.8, 
 
 beatti  la  llir 
 
 \  Heb.  From 
 
 Ex.  3    '3,  6. 
 
 a  fur. 
 
 k  E.T.   I2.-J!'. 
 
 n  Geu  33.13. 
 
 Ps.  105.  M. 
 
 Is.  40.  11. 
 
 &  135.  10. 
 
 <i2Sa.5.  2. 
 
 I  Ph.  HiG.-w 
 
 1  Chr.  II.-2. 
 
 m  l's.77.  2l' 
 
 P  1  Kiu,  9.  4. 
 
 H  E.X.  11.  10. 
 
 SO. 
 
 0  Ex.  It.  27. 
 
 23  *«  IJ.IO 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 covmii. 
 
 P  Ex-  IS.  17. 
 
 9  Ps.  U.  3. 
 
 11  Or,/,r 
 
 ^nifh. 
 
 rPs.  It.?. 
 
 a  Kk,    Ifj.  17. 
 
 Ps.  71    2. 
 
 i  J..sh.  IS  7 
 
 (>  I's.  74.  7. 
 
 fc  IM.Jil.  Ps. 
 
 1  M-ic.  r.si, 
 
 Ua.  iM.l'J. 
 
 ri9 
 
 MuJg.S.U, 
 
 f -2  Kill  ^5. 
 »,10.  2Cl<r. 
 
 3iJ,  19.  Mic 
 
 S.  !-?. 
 
 u  vrr.  11. 
 
 d  JiT.  7.  S3. 
 
 Kz,,li -20.77. 
 
 &  16    +.  & 
 
 L'9 
 
 S4.  -.'O. 
 
 I  Hos.  7.  18. 
 
 1  Mac  7.17. 
 
 vDcii  3MR, 
 
 -■  Ps.  J4I.  7, 
 
 21    Judges 
 
 Jer.  14.  16. 
 
 2.  13,  2i> 
 
 &  16.  4. 
 
 Eiek2i>33, 
 
 Kev.  119 
 
 t  De.i.  IJ,  t>. 
 
 /P«.  44.  13. 
 
 4.  1  Kill  II. 
 
 &  SO.  6. 
 
 7.  &  1:^-31. 
 
 n  \  '^A   4.  n 
 
 S  Pb.  74. 1.9. 
 
 ,1ei.7.l?,ll 
 
 10.  &85.  5. 
 
 &  llli   6.  0. 
 
 &  811.  46. 
 
 AJu.lg.IS30. 
 
 A  Zeph.  1.18. 
 A3,  8. 
 
 1  Jer.  10.  25 
 
 Kev.  16.  1. 
 
 c  I  Saul. 4  10. 
 
 h  IB.  45.  4.  5. 
 
 2Tliefl    1.8 
 
 /  P8.  53.  4, 
 
 m  Is.  64.  9. 
 
 it  Jer.  7.  M. 
 
 I]  Or,  th>-  i:i^ 
 
 &  16.  9.  & 
 
 qu.t.^»  nf 
 
 25    10. 
 
 thrm.  that 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 wi^e  brfvTt 
 
 e  I  .-^a    4.  1 1 . 
 
 n  ben.  29  43 
 
 8;  •2-2.  Irt. 
 
 Pb,  142-  C. 
 
 /Jnb-'7    15. 
 
 0  2  Clir.  14. 
 
 En'k. 24.23. 
 
 II. 
 
 g  1*8.44.  23 
 
 pJer.  14.7, 
 
 /.  In    12.  13 
 
 21. 
 
 i  I  Sam.  5  6, 
 
 <^  P9  42    10. 
 
 12.  &fi.  4. 
 
 ft  1  l.'i.  2. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 vt..ge<Lnct 
 
 Joseph,  and  chose  not  tlie  tribe  of  Epiiraim  : 
 
 08  But  chose  the  tribe  of  Judah,  the  mount 
 Zion  '  which  he  loved. 
 
 69  And  he  '  built  his  sanctuary  like  high 
 palaces,  like  the  earth  which  he  bath  f  esta- 
 blislied  for  ever. 
 
 70  '"  He  chose  David  also  his  servant,  and 
 took  him  from  the  sheepfolds  : 
 
 71  t  From  following  "the  ewes  great  with 
 young  be  brought  him  "to  feed  Jacob  his 
 people,  and  Israel  his  iidieritance. 
 
 72  So  he  fed  them  according  to  the  ''inte- 
 grity of  his  heart ;  and  guided  them  by  the 
 skilfulness  of  his  bands. 
 
 PSALM  LXXIX. 
 
 1  Tlte  psalmist  complainctli  of  the  dtsolation  of  Jrrusn- 
 Itm.  8  He praycthfor  diliienmce,  13  ami promisel/i 
 tliuiikfulness. 
 
 A  Psalui  II  of  Asaph. 
 
 f\  GOD,  the  heathen  are  come  into  °  thine 
 ^^  inheritance  ;  ''  thy  holy  temple  have  they 
 defiled  ;  '  they  have  laid  Jerusalem  on  heaps. 
 
 2  ''  The  dead  bodies  of  tliy  servants  have 
 they  given  to  be  meat  unto  the  fowls  of  the 
 heaven,  the  flesh  of  thy  saints  unto  the  beasts 
 of  the  earth. 
 
 3  Their  blood  have  they  shed  like  water 
 round  about  Jerusalem  ;  "and  there  uas  none 
 to  bury  them. 
 
 4  '  We  are  become  a  reproach  to  our  neigh- 
 bours, a  scorn  and  derision  to  them  that  are 
 round  about  us. 
 
 3  *  How  long.  Lord?  wilt  thou  be  angry  for 
 ever?  shall  thy  "i jealousy  hum  like  fire? 
 
 0  '  Pour  out  thy  wrath  upon  the  heathen  that 
 have  '  not  known  thee,  and  upon  the  kingdoms 
 that  have  '  not  called  upon  thy  name. 
 
 7  For  they  have  devoured  Jacob,  and  laid 
 waste  his  dwelling  place. 
 
 8  ""  O  remember  not  against  us  ||  former  ini- 
 quities :  let  thy  tender  mercies  speedily  pre- 
 vent us  :  for  we  are  "  brought  very  low. 
 
 9  "  Help  us,  O  God  of  our  salvation,  for  the 
 glory  of  thy  name  :  and  deliver  us,  and  purge 
 away  our  sins,  ''for  thy  name's  sake. 
 
 10  '  Wherefore  should  the  heathen  say. 
 Where  is  their  God?  let  him  be  known 
 among  the  heathen  in  our  sight  bi/  the  t  re- 
 
 ■19.  EbU  angels,  D^yi  *3n'?0.  'messengers  of  evil.* — Jun.,  Trcm  ,  Pise., 
 .iins.  Moses  and  Aaron. — Ains.,  Poole.  The  plagues. — Gtiides.  The 
 angels  of  God  were  the  instruments  employed  in  e.\ecuting  these  judg- 
 ments.— Heniy.  Some  think  demons  or  wicked  spirits  were  sent. — 
 Gill.  55.  Bti  tine,  so  exactly  mtasuied,  that  every  tribe  had  its  pro- 
 per portion.— Gi//.  57.  A  deceitful  l/ow — llie  eastern  bow  must  be 
 recurved,  or  turned  tlie  contrary  way.  If  not  well  made,  it  sometimes 
 recovers  its  quiescent  state,  injuring  the  archer  in  discharging  the 
 arrow.  The  bow  of  Jonathan  turned  not  back,  (2  Sam.  i.  22.)  Tlie 
 Israelites  recoiled,  relapsed  into  their  former  state. — Clarice.  63.  Were 
 not  given  to  marriage,  ^^')^^^  n"?,  '  were  not  praised  with  epithalamiiims 
 and  nuptial  songs.' — Mont  ,  Bneh.  Ci.  Made  no  lamentation— this 
 implies  gi-eat  destruction.  In  ordinary  cases,  lamentation  is  usual;  but 
 in  a  plague,  or  other  devastating  calamity,  no  condoling  friends  visit  the 
 house  of  mourning ;  the  stupefaction  of  grief  follows,  and  a  new  death 
 is  received  only  with  sighs  and  tears. — Pict.  Bib.  (J6-  In  the  hinder 
 
 parts,  alludes  to  the  hgemorrhoids.— Gi//.  The  language  here  emplojed 
 is  often  used  in  reference  to  those  who  have  run  away  in  battle,  and  it 
 is  considered  exceedingly  disgraceful  to  be  wounded  in  the  back. — Rob. 
 72.  Fed  them,  or  'reigned  over  llicm,'  Turg. 
 
 Ps.  LXXIX.  —  Title — -4  Psalm,  fyc. — the  argument  is  the  same  as 
 the  7Jth ;  refers,  as  is  supposed  to  the  times  when  Shishak,  king  of 
 Egypt,  invaded  Judea,  {1  Kings,  xiv.  25  ;  2  Chron.  xii.  2.)— S«^  To 
 the  distresses  of  Mana^seh's  reign. — Horsley.  To  the  de.-triiction  of 
 the  Jewish  nation  by  Nebuchadnezzar. — Dr.  Dodd.  To  the  times  of 
 Antiochus  Epiphanes. — Theod.  It  may  include  the  times  of  Nebochad. 
 nezzar,  Antiochus,  and  Titus,  and  also  the  afflictions  (^f  the  Christians 
 und^T  Rome  pagan  and  papal. — Gilt.  Some  think  it  was  composed  by 
 Jeremiah,  the  6th  and  7th  verses  being  the  same  with  Jer.  x.25. — .4.  C. 
 2.  Meat  iijtto  the  fowls — in  tlie  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  the  Chaldeans 
 did  not  bury  the  bodies  ( f  the  slain,  but  left  them  to  be  devoured  by 
 beasis  and  birds  of  prey.  3.  None  to  bury  them  —  the  Chaldeans 
 would  not,  and  the  Jews  were  canied  away. — A.  Clarke.  Want  of 
 burial  was  esteemed  by  most  nations  of  antiquity  one  of  the  greatest 
 of  puidshmcnts. — Mant.  4.  .4  reproach,  so  the  Jews  were  to  the 
 Edomites,  especially  at  the  time  of  the  Babylonish  captivity,  {Ps. 
 exxxvii.  7.)  5.  How  long?  ^e.,  'how  long,  Jehovah,  wilt  thou  be 
 angry  ?*  6.  That  hare  not  k/iou'n  thee,  '  who  own  thee  not.' — BotttJtr. 
 7.  Jacob,  i.e..  his  posterity. — Gill.  8.  Prevent  11s,  'comeqiiickly.' — 
 Street,  so  Boothr.         g.  Purge  away,  1D3,   'expiate,*  'atone  for.* — 
 
 Reflections   o.m    Ps.   LXXVIII From   tliis    psalm  we 
 
 may  learn  tbat — I.  Scripture  tnstory  is  a  most  interestiny  record 
 of  the  power,  faithfulntss,  and  mercy  of  God.  His  dealings  with 
 his  people  were  those  of  an  unchangeable  Being.  How  much 
 have  they  to  fear  who  Late  liiin  and  trample  on  his  laws  !  How 
 much  have  they  to  expect  who  love  Lim,  and  obey  bis  pre- 
 cepts ! 
 
 n.  Scripture  hiblory  is  a  painful  record  of  the  ingratilude,  uii- 
 C-28 
 
 hdief,  rehUion.deecitfalness,  and  yeneral  deprarily  of  man.  Phi- 
 losophers may  boast  of  human  nature,  but  neither  human  his- 
 tory nor  divine  shew  it  favourably  as  a  whole  ;  they  display  it 
 in  its  true  colours.  Yet,  even  from  these  melancholy  descrip- 
 tions  we  rise  with  hope,  when  we  see  the  goodness  aiul  p:race 
 of  God  towards  such  a  race.  'There  is  forgiveness  with  him, 
 that  he  may  be  feared,' 
 
The  psalm^'sl's  complaint. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXX.,  LXXXI. 
 
 //(■  prai/ethfor  deliverance. 
 
 venging  of  the  blood  of  thy  servants  wtiich  is 
 shed. 
 
 1 1  Let  '  the  sighing  of  the  prisoner  come 
 before  thee  ;  according  to  the  greatness  of 
 t  tliy  power  f  preserve  thou  those  that  are 
 appointed  to  die  ; 
 
 l'2  And  render  unto  our  neiglibours 'seven- 
 fiild  into  their  bosom  '  tlieir  reproacli,  where- 
 with they  have  reproached  thee,  O  Lord. 
 
 13  So  "we  thy  people  and  sheep  of  thy  pas- 
 ture will  give  tliee  thanks  for  ever :  '  we  will 
 shew  forth  thy  praise  f  to  all  generations. 
 
 PSALM    LXXX. 
 
 ]  T/ie psalmist  in/iisprai/frcomplainct/toftlie  miseries 
 of  the  c/iurch.  8  Gtid's  former  favours  are  turned 
 into  jiulyments.      14  He  prayeth  for  dcliotraiice. 
 
 To  the  chief  I\Iusici.in   *  upon  Shoshanuim-Eduth,  A 
 Psalm  II  of  Asjph. 
 
 /^IVE  ear,  O  .shepherd  of  Israel,  thou  that 
 ^-^  leadest  Josepli  "lilie  a  flock  ;  '' tliou  that 
 dufllest  between  tlie  cherubims,  'sliiue  forth. 
 
 •J  •'  Before  Eplu-aim  and  Benjamin  and  Ma- 
 iKisseh  stir  up  tliy  strength,  and  \  come  and 
 save  us. 
 
 it  "  Turn  us  again,  O  God,  '  and  cause  thy 
 face  to  shine  ;  and  we  shall  be  saved. 
 
 4  O  Lord  God  of  hosts,  liow  long  fwilt  thou 
 be  angry  against  tlie  prayer  of  thy  people? 
 
 !i  5  Tliou  feedest  them  with  llie  bread  of 
 tears  ;  and  givest  them  tears  to  drink  in  great 
 measure. 
 
 0  ''  Thou  makest  us  a  strife  unto  onr  neigh- 
 bours :  and  our  enemies  laugli  among  them- 
 selves. 
 
 7  '  Turn  us  again,  O  God  of  hosts,  and  cause 
 tliy  face  to  shine  ;  and  we  sliall  be  saved. 
 
 8  Tliou  hast  brought  '  a  vine  out  of  Egypt : 
 '  tliou  liast  cast  out  the  heathen,  and  planted  it. 
 
 r  Ps     102.20. 
 
 t  Ileb.  //..«.. 
 I  Helt.  r.f- 
 
 .rrr^  lilt 
 cliilrjTrii  of 
 
 .I<--1 
 
 ;)■;. 
 
 0  xa. 
 
 I  I's.  74.  ly, 
 22  fc  yii.  7. 
 
 >  p.<. ;.]  I. 
 
 it  toil.  .1. 
 X  (b    13   21. 
 t   Het,.  to  i/r~ 
 
 t^eiiKTiitiuii. 
 
 '  P^  l.'i.fc  00, 
 title. 
 II  nr,/.r 
 
 a  Ps.  77.  20. 
 i  Kx.  25.  20, 
 
 22.  I  .sa.  -1. 
 
 J.  2  Sa.  6.2. 
 
 Ps.  99.  I. 
 !Ut.S3.2. 
 
 II  Ileb.  CTme 
 fi,T  snlvuliw, 
 
 ver.  7,  10. 
 
 ».  SI 
 
 /Num.  6.25 
 
 Ps.  4.  6.  & 
 
 07.  I. 
 tHelj    mil 
 
 Ihiiu  itnohc, 
 
 Ps.  li    1 
 S  Ps.  42.  S. 
 
 &  102  9. 
 
 Is.  :'0   20 
 I,  Ps   41    13. 
 
 St  79,  4. 
 i  ver.  3.  19. 
 A  Is.  6.  1,  7. 
 
 .ler.  2  21. 
 
 Kick.  15. 6 
 
 Xt  17  6.  & 
 
 19    10. 
 I  Ps.  14.  3. 
 
 Si  78.  55. 
 
 •l,„!..JG<td 
 
 ,  Ps   79.  8. 
 
 I  Ps  SO.  10. 
 II.  Is  .'...', 
 Nail.  2  2. 
 
 Ps.  30   II. 
 Is  70.  7. 
 Ps.  80.21. 
 
 •  P«  8.  title 
 II  Or,.Ar 
 visiiph. 
 
 9  Tliou  "'  preparcdst  ?-ooin  before  it,  and  didst 
 cause  it  to  take  deep  root,  and  it  filled  the  laud. 
 
 10  The  hills  were  covered  with  tlie  .shadow 
 of  it,  and  the  bouglis  thereof  ircre  like  f  the 
 goodly  cedars. 
 
 1 1  She  sent  out  her  boughs  unto  the  sea,  and 
 her  branches  "  unto  tlie  river. 
 
 1-2  Why  hast  thou  t/icn  "broken  down  her 
 hedges,  so  that  all  tliey  which  pass  by  the  way 
 do  pluck  herV 
 
 l.l  The  boar  out  of  the  wood  doth  waste  it, 
 and  the  wild  beast  of  the  field  doth  devour  it. 
 
 14  Keturii,  we  beseech  thee,  O  God  of  hosts  : 
 look   down    from   heaven,   and   behold,   and 
 
 visit  this  vine  ; 
 
 15  And  the  vineyard  which  thy  right  hand 
 hath  planted,  and  tlie  branch  that  thou  madest 
 strong  ''  for  thyself. 
 
 16  Jt  is  burned  with  fire,  it  is  cut  down  : 
 ''they  perish  at  the  rebuke  of  thy  countenance. 
 
 17  'Let  thy  hand  he  upon  the  man  of  thy 
 right  hand,  upon  the  son  of  man  rchoin  thou 
 madest  strong  for  thyself 
 
 18  So  will  in. t  we  go  back  from  thee  :  quicken 
 us,  and  we  will  call  upon  thy  name. 
 
 19  '  Turn  iis  again,  O  Lord  God  of  hosts, 
 cause  thy  face  to  sliine ;  and  we  shall  be 
 saved. 
 
 PSALM   LXXXL 
 
 1  An  exhortatiau  to  a  sohmn  praLsi/ip  of  God.  4  God 
 c/iatlenffeth  that  diiti/  hj  reason  of  )iis  benefits.  8 
 God,  exhorting  to  obedience,  eomplaineth  of  t/ieir  dis- 
 obedience, which  provfth  their  own  hurt. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  *  upon  Gittith,    A   Psalm  \\  of 
 Asaph. 
 
 CING  aloud  unto  God  our  strength:  make  a 
 ^  joyful  noise  unto  tlie  God  of  Jacob. 
 2  Take  a  psalm,  and  bring  hitlier  tlie  timbrel, 
 the  pleasant  harp  with  the  psaltery. 
 
 Pfi^.,  Mo7it.  11.  Appointed  to  die,  nmT^n  ^31,  'sons  of  death,'  con- 
 
 demned for  crimes,  worthy  of  death  because  of  sius  against  God,  or 
 condemned  by  their  oppres^.ors. — Clarice. 
 
 Ps.  LXXX.  — TiTi-K — Slioshannim — see  Ps.  xlv,.  Title,  note.  Shitsan 
 Edulh—^ee  Ps.  Ix.,  Title,  note.  Occasion,  perhaps  during  the  siege  of 
 Samaria. — Ilovslep.  Invasion  of  Sennacherib,  (see  2Clirun.  ,\xxii.  1.) 
 — Fenton.  I.  S/iepherd,  'protector,'  'ruler,'  and  'guide.'  Leudesf, 
 as  the  eastern  custom  is  for  the  shepherd  to  go  before  the  flock. —  \J'il. 
 Joseph,  mentioned  as  chief,  because  the  birihright  was  taken  fioni 
 Reuben  and  given  to  him,  (i  Chron.  v.  1,  2j  Ps.  Ixxvii.  i6,  •2\.) — Ahis. 
 Benjamin  being  incorporated  with  Judah,  Manassth  comprehending 
 the  country  beyond  Jnrdnn,  andEphraim  all  the  rest. — Dudd.  Between 
 the  cherubims,  there  he  dwelt  at  Shiloh,  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  before 
 the  ark  was  stationed  at  Jerusalem. — Scott.  Shine  forth,  in  allusion 
 to  the  Shechinah,  or  visible  glory  which  dwelt  upon  the  mercy-seat, 
 above  the  ark,  and  was  overshadowed  by  the  cherubim. — Sut.  2.  Eph- 
 rnim  and  Mu7ia.->.seh,  put  for  all  Israel.  The  allusion  is  to  these  three 
 tribes  marching  immediately  after  the  Kohathites,  who  carried  the  ark 
 on  thrir  shoulders  in  jnurneyiog,  (Num.  ii.  17 — 24;  x.  IM — 24.)  Thy 
 strength,  i.  e.,  the  ark,  (Ps.  Ixxviii.  6l,  and  cxxxii.  8.) — OiU,  as  Henry 
 and  Gudu'in.  3.  Turn  us  again,  '  restore  US,' — Boothr. ;  irom  capti- 
 
 vity.— Gill.  5.  The  bread  of  tears,  seems  to  have  been  proverbial.  A 
 Hindoo  master  or  father,  when  angry,  says  to  his  children  or  servants, 
 '  Ves,  in  future  you  shall  have  rice  and  the  water  of  your  eyes  to  eat.' — 
 Rub.  6.  .-l  strife,  who  should  plunder  them  ;  Israel,  lying  between 
 Egypt  and  Babylon,  was  the  perpetual  source  of  quarrels  between 
 them. — Boothr.  8.  A  vine,  an  allegorical  description  of  the  Jewish 
 people. — Lou'th,  Boothr.,  &c.    This  was  the  ordinary  figure  to  repre- 
 
 sent  the  Jewish  church,  (Isa.  v.  I,  Sec.  ;  Jer.  ii.  21  ;  Ezek.xvii.  5,  6,  &c.) 
 10.  The  hills  were  covered  ivith  the  sUadinv,  in  Judea,  the  vine  formed 
 a  shelter  from  heat,  and  a  tent  to  eat  and  drink  in,  (1  Kings,  iv.  25 ; 
 Mic.  iv.  4.)  So  the  Jews  in  David  and  Solomon's  days  oversjiread  all 
 the  neighbouring  nations;  Syrians,  Idumeans,  Philistines,  Moabites, 
 and  Ammonites  were  subdued. —  Clarke.  11.  Cnto  the  sen,  Israel 
 
 extended  its  dominion  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  Euphrates. — 
 Wells.  13.  The  boar,  ^c. — wdd  hugs  are  exceedingly  numerous  and 
 destructive  in  the  east.  A  fine  garden  or  orchard  will,  in  one  night, 
 be  completely  destroyed  ;  and  men  are  placed  day  and  night  to  guard 
 them.  These  animals  are  also  very  ferocious. — Rob.,  Ward.  They  do 
 more  mischief  with  their  feet  and  tusks  than  they  do  by  eating- — So 
 Pict.  Bib.  There  are  very  large  herds  of  hoars  on  tlie  other  side  of 
 Jordan,  where  it  flows  out  of  the  sea  of  Tiberias.  The>=e  animals  lie 
 among  the  reeds  by  the  sea. — Pocorke.  This  figure  represents  the  per- 
 secutor of  Israel.— -Bp.  Home.  Points  out  the  kings  of  Assyria  and 
 Babylon,  who,  like  wild  beasts,  laid  waste  the  co<-Uitiy.~  Bout  fir. 
 15.  Brnnrh,  pt.'oi)le  of  Israel. — Rosenm.  The  family  of  David,  from 
 whom  sprung  Messiah. — Bp.  Home.  Messiah,  so  culled  Na.  xi.  I  ; 
 Jer.  xxiii.  5  ;  Zech.  iii.  8j  vi.  1-2.— Sut.  IJ-  Upon,  'over.'— i/'»oMr. 
 
 The  mutt  uf  thy  right  hand,  the  people  of  Israel. — Rosenm.  The  Mes- 
 siah-— Bji.  Home. 
 
 Ps.  LXXXI. —Title— £7)071  GittiCh—see  Ps.  viii..  Title,  note.  Jt 
 seems  to  have  been  composed  for  the  feast  of  trumpets  in  the  first  new 
 moon  of  the  ci^il  year,  (Lev.  xxiii.  24.] — Louth,  Hurs.  The  seventh 
 new  moon,  or  first  day  of  the  seventh  month  of  the  ecclesia'-tical  >ear, 
 (Num.  xxix.  1.) — Bp.  Horiii'.  2.  Take  a  psalm,  1i<\!),  'lift  one  up,* 
 or  the  voice,  in  singing  a  psalm.— 6"i//.      *  Raise  the  psalm.'' — Boothr. 
 
 REFLifTioNS  ON  Ps.  LXXIX.  —  We  here  see,  1.  Perse- 
 cutors triumphant.  By  sue))  means  God  has  made  the  wrath 
 of  man  to  praise  hira,  and  in  these  sore  chastisements  his 
 church  has  been  puritied  as  precious  nieial  in  the  burning  fur- 
 nace. What  rciison  Iiave  we  to  be  thankful  that  such  sufi'er- 
 ings  are  not  ours!  Let  us  improve  the  better  days  that  smile 
 upon  us. 
 
 II.  The  j)cr scented  humbled.  *  Affiiclion  hath  then  its  in- 
 tended effect  when  it  iiuth  convinced  us  of  sin,  and  led  to  re- 
 pentance ;  when  brought  back  by  it,  like  the  returning  pro- 
 digal, to  the  house  and  presence  of  our  heavenly  Father,  we 
 acknowledge  our  guilt  as  the  cause  of  our  misery,  and  entreat 
 forgivfness  of  Ibe  one,  in  order  to  obtain  a  releabf  from  the 
 (y-Zi* 
 
 other,  not  pleading  our  own  merits,  but  the  mercies  of  God 
 our  Saviour,  and  the  glory  of  his  name.' 
 
 Refllctions  UN  Ps.  LXXX.  —  I.  How  the  church  prospers 
 whui  God  protfcfs  it!  J.,Pt  us  then  constantly  look  to  liim  to 
 be  our  shepherd  and  guide.  '  ].,et  us  beseech  him  to  heurken 
 to  our  prayers,  and  to  manifest  the  glory  of  his  power  in  our 
 defence.* 
 
 II-  Haw  the  church  suffers  when  God  forsakes  it.  Let  us  then 
 be  afraid  lest  our  worltlly-mindedness,  lukewarmness,  and  in- 
 <litference  to  our  privileges,  should  cause  him  to  witlihold  the 
 light  of  his  favour,  and  leave  us  to  the  blackness  and  darkness 
 in  which  our  own  sins  would  involve  us.  '  Quicken  us,  O 
 Lord,  and  we  will  call  upon  thy  name.' 
 
All  exhortation  to  praise  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXXII.,  LXXXIII.        David  reproveth  negligtnt  judge,. 
 
 3  Blow  up  the  trumpet  in  the  new  moon,  m 
 the  time  appointed,  on  our  solemn  feast  day. 
 
 4  For  °  this  teas  a  statute  for  Israel,  and  a 
 law  of  the  God  of  Jacob. 
 
 5  This  he  ordained  in  Joseph /or  a  testimony, 
 when  he  went  out  ||  through  the  land  of  tgypt: 
 "  where  I  heard  a  language  that  I  understood 
 
 "g  '  I  removed  his  shoulder  from  the  burden  : 
 his  hands  t  were  delivered  from  "  tlie  pots. 
 
 7  '  Thou  calledst  in  trouble,  and  I  deUverea 
 thee  •  '  1  answered  thee  in  the  secret  place  of 
 thunder :  I  '  proved  thee  at  the  waters  of 
 II  Meribah.     Selah. 
 
 8  "  Hear  O  my  people,  and  I  will  testify  unto 
 thee-  O  Israel,  if  thou  wilt  hearken  unto  me  ; 
 
 9  '  There  shall  no  '  strange  god  be  in  thee  ; 
 neither  .shalt  ttiou  worship  any  strange  god. 
 
 10  nam  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  brought 
 thee  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt :  "■  open  thy 
 mouth  wide,  and  I  will  fill  it. 
 
 1 1  But  my  people  would  not  hearken  to  my 
 voice  ;  and  Israel  would  "  none  of  me. 
 
 1-2  °So  I  gave  them  up  1|  unto  their  own 
 hearts'  lust :  and  they  walked  in  their  own 
 counsels.  ,       ,        j       . 
 
 13  P  Oh  that  my  people  had  hearkened  unto 
 me,  and  Israel  had  walked  in  my  ways!      _ 
 
 14  I  sliotild  soon  have  subdued  their  enemies, , 
 and  turned  my  hand  against  their  adversaries.   ] 
 
 15  iTlie  haters  of  the  Lord  should  have 
 lit  submitted  themselves  unto  him:  but  their 
 time  should  have  endured  for  ever. 
 
 16  He  slionld  'have  fed  them  also  fw'th  the 
 finest  of  the  wheat:  and  with  honey  out  ol 
 the  rock  should  1  have  satisfied  thee. 
 
 „  Lev  ffl--31 
 Num. 10.10 
 
 Or,»}nmJ( 
 
 t  Htb.  /JTii- 
 
 /Mic.  3   1. 
 
 Join.  10.  SI 
 
 t  Heb    vith 
 
 PSALM  LXXXII. 
 
 1    The  psalmist,  havin,,  exhorted  the  j,,dffes,  5  a^d  re- 
 proved their  neyligenee,  8  prayeth  God  to  judge. 
 A  Psalm  II  of  Asaph. 
 
 GOD  °  standeth  in  the  congregation  of  the 
 mighty  ;  he  judgeth  among  "  the  gods. 
 
 2  How  long  will  ye  judge  unjustly,  and  ac- 
 cept the  persons  of  the  wicked  ?     Selah.     _ 
 
 3  t  Defend  the  poor  and  fatherless :  do  jus- 
 lice  to  the  afflicted  and  needy. 
 
 4  «  Deliver  the  poor  and  needy  :  nd  tliem 
 out  of  the  hand  of  the  wicked. 
 
 5  They  '  know  not,  neither  will  tliey  under- 
 stand ;  they  walk  on  in  darkness :  ^  all  the 
 foundations  of  the  earth  are  tout  of  course. 
 
 6  "  I  liave  said.  Ye  are  gods  ;  and  all  ot  you 
 are  children  of  the  most  liigh. 
 
 7  But  '  ye  shall  die  like  men,  and  fall  like 
 one  of  the  princes.  ,      ,  r-     ,i 
 
 8  "  Arise,  O  God,  judge  the  earth  :  for  thou 
 shalt  inherit  all  nations. 
 
 !  PSALM  LXXXIII. 
 
 I  A  complaint  to  Godof  the  aumies-conspiraeies.   9/1 
 prayer  ariainst  them  that  oppress  tlie  church. 
 A  Son-;  or  Psilm  Ijof  Asniili. 
 
 KEEP  '  not  thou  silence,  O  God  :  hold  not 
 thy  peace,  and  be  not  still,  O  God. 
 
 2  For,  lo,  ■■  thine  enemies  make  a  tumult : 
 and  they  that  '  hate  thee  have  lifted  up  the 
 
 head.  ,        .     .  .i, 
 
 3  They  have  taken  crafty  counsel  against  ttiy 
 people,  and  consulted  "against  thy  hidden 
 ones. 
 
 ■  seeF.ths      4  They   have  said.   Come,  and     let  us  cut 
 tsVs.'™    them  off  from  being  a  xr.xUon  :  that  the  name 
 of  Israel  may  be  no  more  in  remembrance. 
 
 II  0,,for 
 
 a  Ps.  29.  1. 
 
 ft  S5  22.  ft 
 
 109.  I. 
 b  P«.  !.  1. 
 
 Acts  i.  25. 
 c  Pa.  81.  16 
 
 d  Ps  S7   5 
 &.1I.  20. 
 
 Sin^ilar  to  •  Strike  up  a  psa;m.'-|^«-  ,l'„';f°""aT?;'  nttfZref. 
 a  musical  instrument  (see  Ps.  xc  ..  J.'-."";;-  ^'"^''^.jte.  3.  Blow 
 -'1^'t^i  jub"c  ';  &:rw-Tnnoinced  by -trumpet,  (see  Num. 
 "''•,!     nl    Hume  5    This  l,c  ordained,  this  feast  A2ty. -Green.    For 
 
 '^^.^'ir.^'-s^^-oiy^^^^ 
 
 ?r"/i    ut^."//,:-   'The  Hchrew  demotes  a  large  vessel  iu  which 
 o.    Tvvvir  _TiTiE— .4  Ps'i/m,  4(^.,  composed  by  Asaph  the  seer, 
 
 --Si^Sr^T°rJ.?™J5;;rc?^^^^"He-he 
 
 XXXI.,  and  XXIX.  30.)— /''jt.  ^  '    ,1,      «,„'.    Sur     '  In  the  con- 
 
 views  the  proceedings  of  judges  on  earth.— «»'».,  aj>i . 
 
 _»■  „  „f  rnrt  •  Vu  mT-5    i  c  of  his  own  people.     '  In  the  assem- 
 socaiieo.     """'•.       .  ioiU '— jBooMr.  2.  .iecept  the  cniise,  ^c, 
 
 high  perfection  and  dignity,  as  ye  have  done.-.-l.  Clarke. 
 
 • like  common  men, 
 
 And  fall  like  one  of  the  poor.'— Gi-fra. 
 •  And  f.ill.  as  well  as  they,  O  ye  princes.'— BooWi'". 
 8   TAou  Shalt  inherit.  S,e..  '  thou  art  the  rightful  possessor  of  all  things. 
 •  thou  ha.st  power  over  all  nations.'-BooM--. 
 
 pq   I  XXXIII  — TiTLE-.t  song,  ^c.-written  in  the  re.gn  of  Jeho- 
 shrphai  when  seve  It  powers  con'pired  against  him,  (2  Cbron.  xx.) 
 
 -^     ^aga^rhim-f^r'hrr^rgnr'o^er^l'if'^-^Lll-^hrs-S! 
 
 ^;;a;s?^|:^J|2^SS'^'- the  Plot  ^.a-a-^vy.. . 
 
 Zr*"'-  h"HH?n  fn  thv^lreasurrs;'  i!  e  .  he  riches  of  the  temple, 
 't:^  •  Treasured' oL^'-.V«*e,  Bp.  Ho™..  'Those  whom  thoi. 
 p  oTectest.'- Cre.«.     'Thy  samts,'  Sept..   Vulg..  Syr..  Arab.;  Street. 
 
 RprtECTiONS  ON  Ps.  LXXXI.-Mark  here,  I. .  W's 
 duty  o  God.  To  •  sing  alotjd,-  .nd  praise  him.  P'^J"^  ^^o^ 
 ,s  not  onW  a  good  thing,  winch  we  may  do  well  to  do,  but  .t 
 is  our  ind  spensable  duty,  winch  we  are  obliged  to  do.  i\ow 
 ■thev  on  t'heir  solemn  feast  days,  were  thus  ">  cal';°J  "^^ 
 their  redemption  out  of  Egypt,  much  more  ought  we,  on  the 
 Christian  sabbath,  to  call  to  mind  a  much  more  glorious  re- 
 demption wrought  out  for  us  by  Jesus  Christ,  from  worse  than 
 Egyptian  bondage,  and  the  many  gracious  answers  he  hath 
 given  to  us,  notwithstanding  our  manifold  provocations. 
 
 11  Israel's  departure  from  God,  '  manifested  by  their  disobe- 
 dience to  his  commands,  and  their  dislike  to  his  covenant 
 relation  to  them.  Thev  beard  his  voice  so  as  never  any  people 
 did  but  thev  would  not  hearken  to  it ;  God  was  willing  to  oe 
 to  them  a  God,  but  they  were  not  willing  to  be  to  him  a 
 people  ;  they  did  not  like  bis  terms.  All  the  wickedness  of 
 this  wicked  world  is  owing  to  the  wilfulness  ot  the  wickea 
 will.  The  reason  why  people  are  not  religious,  is  because 
 they  will  not  be  so.' 
 030 
 
 III.  Israel  abandoned  by  God.  •  God  withdrew  h's  SP'"' 
 from  them,-took  off  the  bridle  of  restraining  grace,  left  them 
 ^Themselves,  and  justly  :  they  will  do  as  they  will  and  there- 
 fore  let  them  do  as  they  will :  Ephraim  is  joined  to  idols,  let 
 him  alone  •  "  '  May  be  then  incline  our  hearts  to  obey  his 
 caU  and  walk  in  his  ways  ;  and  may  be  enlarge  and  assist  our 
 nravers  that,  being  delivered  from  our  enemies,  we  may 
 P.  open  o-  mouths  wide,"  in  copious,  and  fervent,  and  large 
 requests,  and  take  in  abundantly  the  waters  of  lite  and  salva- 
 tion, and  BO  drink  that  we  may  live  for  ever. 
 
 Hef,  ACTIONS  ON  Ps.  LXXXII. -We  learn  l>ere,  L  GoJ'» 
 observance  of  all  actions.  None  are  too  mean  for  him  to  over- 
 look  or  too  high  for  bim  to  wink  at  their  conduct. 
 
 II  GoTs  hatred  of  iyustice.  And  let  us  remember  that  here 
 are  many  ways  of  doing  injustice  besides  deciding  wrongly  as 
 a  fudge  May  every  heart  offer  David's  prayer,  'Let  integrity 
 nnd  uprightness  preserve  me  !'  '  What  hath  the  Lord  thy 
 G"od  reqiiired  of  thee  but  to  do  justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk 
 humbly  with  thy  God?' 
 
A  complaint  for  the  church. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXXIV. 
 
 The  blessings  of  the  sanctuary. 
 
 5  For  they  have  consulted  togetlier  with  one 
 t  consent :  they  are  confederate  against  thee  ; 
 
 G  '  The  tabernacles  of  Edom,  and  the  Ish- 
 niaelites  ;  of  Moab,  and  the  Hagarenes  ; 
 
 7  Gebal,  and  Animon,  and  Anialek  ;  the 
 Philistines  with  the  inhabitants  of  Tyre  j 
 
 8  Assur  also  is  joined  with  them:  fthey 
 have  holpen  the  children  of  Lot.     Selah. 
 
 9  Do  unto  them  as  iinio  the  •■'  Midianites;  as 
 to  •■  Sisera,  as  to  Jabin,  at  the  brook  of  Kison  : 
 
 10  Which  perished  at  En-dor:  'they  became 
 as  dung  for  the  earth. 
 
 1 1  Make  their  nobles  like  ^  Oreb,  and  like 
 Zeeb  :  yea,  all  their  princes  as  '  Zebah,  and  as 
 Zalmunna  : 
 
 12  AVho  said,  Let  us  take  to  ourselves  the 
 houses  of  God  in  possession. 
 
 13  ""O  my  God,  make  them  like  a  wheel  ; 
 "as  the  stubble  before  the  wind. 
 
 14  As  the  fire  bumeth  a  wood,  and  as  the 
 flame  °  setteth  the  mountains  on  fire  ; 
 
 lo  So  persecute  them  ''with  thy  tempest, 
 and  make  them  afraid  with  thy  storm. 
 
 IG  ''Fill  their  faces  with  shame;  that  they 
 may  seek  thy  name,  O  Lord. 
 
 17  Let  them  be  confounded  and  troubled  for 
 ever ;  yea,  let  them  be  put  to  shame,  and 
 perish  : 
 
 18  'That  7nen  may  know  that  thou,  whose 
 
 /  See  2  Chr. 
 SO.  I,  10,  M. 
 
 t  Ileb.  tr,^ 
 
 ;......  6f™  rv. 
 
 arm  to  the 
 childre.,  «f 
 
 i7  Num.  31.7 
 Jud".  7.  J3. 
 
 A  Judg.4.15, 
 ii.  Si  5  SI. 
 
 i'2Kin.9.37. 
 Zeph.  1.  17 
 
 A  Judg.  7  25 
 
 /  Judg.  8.12, 
 
 m  Is.  17.  1.3, 
 
 14. 
 n  Pa.  35.  5. 
 
 '>Deu.3?.22. 
 ;>  Job  9.  17. 
 
 7  Ps.  .«.  4, 
 
 J  F.I.  6.  3. 
 /  Pb.  92.  8. 
 
 •Pa.  8,  title. 
 II  O',  ■/ 
 
 I,  Pa.  42.  1,0. 
 8(63  I.&73. 
 
 26. &  iiy.oo. 
 
 II  Or,  „fm«t. 
 berry  treei 
 mahehtma 
 wellj  4'c. 
 
 d  2  Sam.  5. 
 22,  23. 
 
 t  Heb.  cover- 
 ell,. 
 
 11  Or,  from 
 company  to 
 eiioipantf. 
 
 e  Prnv   4.18 
 2  Cor. 3,  18, 
 
 /Deu.  16  16 
 Zecli.  14.16. 
 
 'name   alone  is  JEHOVAH,  art  'the  most 
 liigh  over  all  the  earth. 
 
 PSALM  LXXXIV. 
 
 I  The  prophett  longing  for  the  communion  of  the  sanc- 
 tuurt/,  4  slitweth  how  blessed  they  are  that  dunll  there- 
 in.     8   He  priiytth  to  be  restored  unto  it. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician  *  upon  Gittith,  A  Psalm  ||  for  the 
 sons  of  Korah. 
 
 TITOW  ^amiable  are  thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord 
 -"--*-  of  hosts! 
 
 '2  ^  My  soul  lonj^eth,  yea,  even  fainteth  for 
 the  courts  of  the  Lord  :  my  heart  and  my 
 flesh  crieth  out  for  the  living  God.    , 
 
 3  Yea,  the  sparrow  hath  found  an  house,  and 
 the  swallow  a  nest  for  herself,  where  she  may 
 lay  her  young,  even  thine  altars,  O  Lord  of 
 host.*!,  my  King,  and  my  God. 
 
 4  '^  Blessed  are  tiiey  that  dwell  in  thy  house : 
 they  will  be  still  praising  thee.     Selah. 
 
 5  Blessed  is  tlie  man  whose  strength  is  in 
 thee  ;  in  whose  heart  are  the  ways  of  them. 
 
 6  Who  passing  through  the  valley  y-^of  Baca 
 make  it  a  well;  the  rain  also  ffiHeth  the  pools. 
 
 7  They  go  ||  ^  from  strength  to  strength, 
 evert/  one  of  t hern  in  Zion  ^appeareth  before 
 God. 
 
 8  O  Lord  God  of  hosts,  hear  my  prayer : 
 give  ear,  O  God  of  Jacob.     Selah. 
 
 5.  With  one  consent,  MH*  zb,  '  with  one  heart.' — Pag.,  Mont.  6.  Ha- 
 ^«i-en«,  the  same  with  the  Hagarites,  (1  Chron.  V.  10,  19,  20.)  y.Gebnl, 
 the  same  with  the  Giblite?;,  fJosh.  xiii.  5;  1  Kings,  v.  18,)  or  men  of 
 Gi?hal,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  9.}  They  dwelt  in  Phoenicia,  near  Tyre,  wliere 
 Plht^  mentions  Gabal.— G(7/.  11.  Lake  Oreb,  §■(?.,  Midianitish  chiefs 
 slaiu  bvEphraim,  (Judg.  vii.24.  25.)— .4.  CMrAf.  I3..4  wAfe/.  "j:"?;.  the 
 word  signifies  a  light  rolling  thing  before  the  wind,  as  a  wisp  of  straw 
 or  stubble,  chaff,  thistle  down,  &c.  —  Kimchi,  Gill,  Hare,  Luivth, 
 Seeker.  *  Like  wliirling  chaff.* — Boothr.  14.  As  the  fire  bumeth  a 
 u'onrf,  or  '  forest ;'  alluding,  perhaps,  to  setting  woods  on  fire  in  un- 
 cullivatetl  countries  in  order  to  clear  the  land. — Heic.  Setteth  the 
 pjoun^/ins,  orraihcrtliegra.ss  and  trees  that  grow  npnn  them.  I6.  That 
 they  may  seek — not  those  mentioned  ver.  17,  but  others,  as  in  ver.  IS. 
 '  That  men  may  seek  thy  name,'  or  '  that  thy  name  may  be  sought.'^ 
 Gill.  17.  Let  them,  §c.,  or  'they  shall  be   confounded,*  &c. — Bp. 
 
 Home. 
 
 Ps.  LXXXIV.  —Title— GtV^iM— see  Ps.  viii..  Title,  note.  Korah— 
 see  Ps.  xlii.,  Title,  note.  This  Psalm  was  probably  composed  by  some 
 devout  Levite  when  Sennacherib's  army  blocked  up  the  way  to  Jeru- 
 salem.— Pat.  It  breatlics  the  spirit  of  David,  and  is  much  like  Ps. 
 Ixiii. ;  he  was  probat)ty  its  autlior. — Henry.  David  seems  to  have 
 written  it  during  Ab'^alom's  rebellinn. — Poole.  1.  Amiable,  'lovely.' — 
 Boothr.  Tabernacles,  erected  hy  Moses  ;  the  temple  was  not  yet  built 
 in  David's  time.  Called  tabernacles  because  of  the  several  parts ;  first 
 and  second  tabernacles,  (Heb.  ix.  2,  3,)  holy  place,  holy  of  holies,  and 
 court  of  the  people  ;  or  it  may  refer  to  the  taliernacle  David  had  bnilt 
 for  the  ark  in  Zion,  and  to  the  old  tabernacle  at  Gibeon,  (2  Sam.  vj.  17  ; 
 1  Chron.  xxi.  29.) — Gill.  2.  My  soul  lungeth,  ^c,  '  my  frame,  nCcS^. 
 is  grown  pale,'  or  '  wan,'  rrn'JD  D3.  it  even  '  wasteth'  or  '  pineth  away,' 
 miSrr?,  'for  the  courts  of  Jehovah.' — Par.  Crieth  out,  133T,  '  rejoice.' 
 — Ains.      '  Raiseth  a  shout  to.' — Mich.  3.  Sparroii;  the  word  here 
 
 u^sed  signifies  any  bird;  *  dove,'  Targ.  Swillou;  'turtledove,'  Sept., 
 Vulg.,  Syr.,  Arab.  'The  turtle  a  nest  for  herself,  whose  young  are  fit 
 to  he  offered  up  upon  thine  altars,'  Targ.;  so  Lowfh,  Mercer,  Mant. 
 •The  wild  pigeon.'— See  BofA.  'Even  (as)  the  sparrow  findcth  her 
 house,  and  the  dove  her  nest,  where  she  hath  laid  her  young  (so  should 
 1  find)  thine  altars,  O  Jehovah  of  Hosts,  my  King  and  my  God.'— i*«r.  ; 
 nearly  similar,  Bonthr.  David  expresses  his  vehement  longing  bytliat 
 joy  and  delight  with  which  birds  return  to  their  brood  after  being  ab- 
 sent.— Vide  11,  vii.,  II,  Par.  Even  thine  altars,  ffc. — '  even'  is  not  in 
 thenriginal;  it  is  an  abrupt  exclamation,  'O  thine  altars!' — Calvin. 
 'Thine  altars,'  without  expressing  more  of  his  feelings;  the  true  elo. 
 quence  of  the  heart,  expressing  more  than  a  thousand  words. — Vii 
 Bosc.  There  were  two  altars,  one  for  sacrifice,  the  other  for  incen=;e; 
 doubtless  David  had  an  eye  to  b-th. — Henry.  5.  Blessed,  ^c.  are  the 
 ways,  Sfc,  031*71  m7DD,  '  the  high  ways  are  in  their  hearts,'  i.  e.,  the 
 roads  winding  to  the  temple.     Their  hearts  lunged  to  be  travelling  in 
 
 them.— Clarke. 
 
 *  Happy  is  the  man  whose  strength  is  in  thee, 
 And  whose  heart  is  bent  on  travelling  the  ways  to  thy  temple.* 
 Green,  to  the  same  purport,  Mudge. 
 '  Happy  the  men  whose  strength  thou  art. 
 Confidence  reigns  in  their  heart.' — Boothr. 
 
 Literally,  '  steep  ascents  are  in  their  hearts.' 
 
 'They  are  beut  upon  climbing  the  steep  ascents.'— /Jors/sy, 
 'In  whose  heart  are  [thy]  highways.' — Wil. 
 
 '  Ascensions  in  his  heart,'  Vulg.,  Sept. ;  i.  e.,  the  affections  of  his  heart 
 go  up  to  God  like  pillars  of  smoke  perfumed  with  frankincense. — Gilt. 
 The  meaning  is,  *  whose  huart  is  bent  on  travelling  the  ways  to  tliy 
 temple.'— (rreen,  Mercer.  6.  Of  Baca,  'of  springs  or  fountains.' 
 
 The  name  of  a  place  or  valley,  where  were  mulberry  trees,  under  whicli 
 were  dug  reservoirs  of  stone  to  catch  rain  water. — Kimchi,  Aben  Ezra. 
 Thought,  by  some,  to  be  the  same  with  Rephaim,  where  we  read  of 
 mulberry  trees,  (2  Sam.  v.  22,  23.)  'The  valley  of  weeping,'  Sept. 
 *  Valley  of  tears,'  Vulg.  A  rugged  valley,  with  bushes  and  stones, 
 passed  with  labour  and  tears  ;  such  in  Judea,  (Deut.  xxi.  4. J — Celsius. 
 '  Bochim,'  so  some,  a  place  so  called  from  Israel  weeping  there,  (Judsr. 
 ii.  1,  5.) — Gill.  Baca  means  a  large  shrub,  which  the  Arabs  still  call 
 Baca,  and  which  probably  was  so  named  from  its  distilling  an  odori- 
 ferous  gum. — Mant.  It  does  not  seem  to  design  any  particular  place, 
 through  which  all  the  males  from  all  parts  could  not  pass  in  tlieir  way 
 to  Zion,  at  the  three  grand  festivals,  hut  any  difficult  and  troublesome 
 place,  rdugh  valley,  (rr  dry  and  thirsty  land. — Gill.  Baca  is  rather  an 
 appellative  than  a  proper  name,  'the  valley  of  weeping,' or  '  the  vale 
 of  tears.' — Pict.  Bib.  Thn/  make  it  a  well^ 
 ' they  make  it  a  fountain, 
 
 The  pools  which  the  rain  hath  filled.' — Horsley. 
 'Though  they  pass  through  a  desolate  valley, 
 
 Yet  shall  they  drink  from  a  foimtain  ; 
 
 Yea,  the  rain  shall  cover  it  with  blessings.* — Boothr. 
 
 Pools  or  reservoirs  of  water  are  found  in  considerable  numbers  in  Judea, 
 and  are  common  in  eastern  deserts.  Many  8re  made  for  the  travellers 
 to  Mecca. — So  Rauwolff.  7.  From  strength  to  strength,  Vn  Sn.  yno, 
 '  from  army  to  army,'  or,  'from  company  to  company.' — Pise,  Jun., 
 Trem.  This  sense  cannot  be  implied  here,  when  all  the  companies  are 
 designed. — Boothr.  '  From  one  valley  to  another.' — Kimclii,  Mich., 
 Simnnit.  '  From  stage  to  stage.' — Merrick.  *  From  one  pool  to  an- 
 other,'  as  practised  by  caravans;  according  to  Bp.  Porocke.  '  From 
 wall  to  wall,'  from  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  to  that  of  Mount  Sion. — Hors., 
 Houb.  The  meaning  is,  they  persevere  through  all  difficulty  and  oppo- 
 sition.   Every  one,  Sfc,  'the  God  of  gods  shall  appear  [to  them]  in 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXXXIII.  —  Notice  here,  L  Tbe 
 persecutors  and  their  schemes.  They  make  a  tumult,  lift  up  the 
 bead,  talce  crafty  counsel,  are  confederate.  The  enemies  of 
 pure  religion  have  generally  been  blasphemers,  haughty, 
 proud,  and  arrogant  men  ;  their  schemes  have  been  laid  with 
 deep  subtilty,  and  even  enemies  have  here  been  united, — 
 Herod  and  Pontius  Pilate  have  become  friends.  Their  object 
 has  ever  been  to  extirpate  pure  religion  from  the  world. 
 
 IL  T.'ie  persecuted  and  their  prayers.  They  are  God's  hidden 
 631 
 
 ones,  whom  the  world  know  not.  God's  saints,  with  whom 
 llie  unholy  cannot  hold  communion,  for  'what  fellowship 
 hafh  light  with  darkness  1'  Their  prayers  are  not  from  a  vin- 
 dictive feeling  ;  but,  while  they  leave  it  to  the  righteous  God 
 to  execute  justice  on  oppressors,  it  is  for  his  glory  they  feel, 
 that  men  may  know  he  alone  is  Jehovah.  A  good  man  can 
 feel  no  pleasure  in  seeing  a  sinner  destroyed,  nor  does  God 
 himself  take  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but  he  would 
 rather  he  should  turn  from  his  wickedness  and  live. 
 
tHeb  I^o'iU 
 chonif  rathfT 
 If}  til  al  Ifie 
 Ihreifwtd. 
 
 h  U.  60.  19. 
 .  Gen    15    1, 
 
 rer-  9    Ps 
 
 ll.i  9,10,11. 
 
 &  119.  in. 
 
 Prov  9.  7- 
 APs  3+9.10. 
 I  Pa.  2.  1-2. 
 
 Davul  praycthfor  mercy. 
 
 9  Behold,  ^O  God  our  shield,  and  look  upon  3  Ge».i5. 1 
 the  face  of  thine  anointed. 
 
 10  For  a  day  in  thy  courts  is  better  than  a 
 thousand.  \'\  had  rather  be  a  doorkeeper  in 
 the  house  of  my  God,  than  to  dwell  in  the 
 tents  of  wickedness. 
 
 11  For  the  Lord  God  is  ■■  a  sun  and  'shield: 
 the  Lord  will  give  grace  and  glory:  'no  good 
 thing  will  he  withliold  from  them  that  walk 
 upiightlv. 
 
 1-2  O  Lord  of  hosts,  '  blessed  is  the  man 
 that  trusteth  in  thee. 
 
 PSALM   LXXXV. 
 
 1  The  psalmist,  out  of  the.  experience  of  former  mercies, 
 pruycth  for  the  amlinnance  thereof.  8  He  promiseth 
 to  wait  thereon,  out  of  confidence  of  God's  goodness. 
 
 To  the  chief  .Musician,  A  Psalm  *  ||  for  the  sons  of  Korah. 
 
 LORD,   thou   hast   been    ||  favourable  unto 
 thy   land  :    thou  hast  "  brought  back  the 
 captivity  of  .lacob. 
 
 2  •'Thou  liast  forgiven  the  iniquity  of  thy 
 people,  thou  hast  covered  all  their  sin.    Selah. 
 
 3  Thou  hast  taken  away  all  thy  wrath:  ||tliou 
 hast  turned  l/iysclf  horn  the  fierceness  of  thine 
 anger. 
 
 4  '  Turn  us,  O  God  of  our  salvation,  and 
 cause  tliine  anger  toward  us  to  cease. 
 
 5  ''  Wilt  thou  be  angry  with  us  for  ever?  wilt 
 thou  draw  out  thine  anger  to  all  generations? 
 
 C  Wilt  thou  not  "  revive  us  again  :  tliat  thy 
 people  may  rejoice  in  thee  ? 
 
 7  Shew  us  thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  and  grant  us 
 thy  salvation. 
 
 8  '  I  will  hear  what  God  the  I-ord  will  speak  : 
 for  ^he  will  speak  peace  unto  his  people,  and 
 to  his  saints  :  but  let  them  not  "  turn  again  to 
 folly. 
 
 9  Surely  '  his  salvation  is  nigh  them  that  fear 
 him  ;  ''  that  glory  may  dwell  in  our  land. 
 
 in  Mercy  and  truth  are  met  together; 
 '  rigliteousiiess  and  peace  have  kissed  each 
 other. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXXV.,  LXXXVL 
 
 His  conjiiience  in  Coil. 
 
 H  V9. 8t.  n. 
 
 Jam.  1.  17. 
 o  Ps,  Ii7.  6. 
 
 p  Ps.  89.  U 
 
 •P--.4'2,title, 
 II  Or,  ./. 
 II  Or,  uell 
 
 vlfaied. 
 
 Ps.  77   7. 
 a  Ezra  I.  II 
 
 US.  IPs. 
 
 14-  7   Jer. 
 
 30.  19.  &31. 
 
 ?3.  Eie  39. 
 
 95.  Joel  3.1. 
 6P»   S?.  I. 
 II  Or,  rftou 
 
 'lall  iLrntil 
 
 thine  nugrr 
 
 /ro 
 
 Deu.  13.  17, 
 e  Ps.  fiO.  7 
 d  Pi.  74    I 
 
 gc  79,  5.  J 
 
 eo.  4. 
 
 t  Hab.  3.  I 
 
 ,  ).ol. 
 
 Proifcr,  lie- 
 iiig.i  Psalin 
 ,fj  Dmtd. 
 
 II  Or,  one 
 Khom  ihKU 
 /,™.,|-«(. 
 
 a  Is.  S6.  3. 
 
 b  Ps.   50.  1. 
 
 St  57.  I. 
 II  Or,  oil  l/i< 
 
 t  Ps.  55.  I. 
 &  |.|3.  S. 
 
 d  rcr.1.5.  Ps 
 
 130.  7.&I45. 
 9  Joel  S. 
 
 /■Ex.  15. 
 Ps,  89  C 
 g  Dou.  3, 
 
 for  I  cry 
 
 /Hab,  2.  1. 
 
 ^Zech.  9.10. 
 
 h  2  Pet.  2. 
 20,  21. 
 
 fc  Zeeh.  2,  5. 
 Jolm  I.  14. 
 
 (  Ps  72.  S. 
 Is.  32.  17. 
 Luke  S   14. 
 
 ;.  Pi.  52.  SI. 
 «c  102.  18. 
 Is.  AX  7. 
 Kev.  13.  4. 
 
 i  E«.  15.  11. 
 Ps.  72.  18. 
 &  77.  15. 
 
 k  Deu.  6,  3 
 ft  32.  39.  Is. 
 37. 16.  fc  4-4 
 6.  Mark  12 
 29.  1  Cor.  8- 
 4   Epb.  4.6 
 
 /  Ps.  25.  4  & 
 27,11,1<.  119. 
 33.  &  113.8. 
 
 1 1  "'Truth  .-ihall  spring  out  of  the  earth  ;  and 
 righteousness  shall  look  down  from  heaven. 
 
 1-2  "Yea,  the  Lor.n  shall  give  that  uhich  is 
 good  ;  and  "our  land  shall  yield  her  increase. 
 
 13  ''  Righteousness  shall  go  before  him  ;  and 
 shall  set  us  in  the  way  of  his  steps. 
 
 PSALM  LXXXVL 
 
 I  David  sirengtheneth  his  praijrr  hy  the  conscience  of 
 his  r:li</ion,'  ,5  lii/  the  r/oodncss  and  power  of  God. 
 11  He'desiretit  the  coniimuince  of  former  flracr.  14 
 Complaininn  of  the  proud  he  craveth  some  token  of 
 God's  goodness. 
 
 II  A  Prayer  of  David. 
 
 BOW  down  thine  ear,  O   Lord,  hear  inc : 
 for  I  am  poor  and  needy. 
 '2    Preserve    my  soul ;  for   I   am    ||  holy  :    O 
 thou  my  God,  save  thy  servant  "  that  trustetli 
 in  thee. 
 
 3  >■  Be  merciful  unto  me,  O  Lord  ; 
 unto  thee  ||  daily. 
 
 4  Rejoice  the  soul  of  thy  servant :  'for  unlo 
 thee,  O  Lord,  do  I  lift  up  my  soul. 
 
 3  '"For  thoii,  Lord,  art  good,  and  ready  to 
 forgive;  and  plenteous  in  mercy  unto  all  them 
 that  call  upon  thee. 
 
 0  Give  ear,  O  Lord,  unto  my  prayer;  and 
 attend  to  the  voice  of  my  supplications. 
 
 7  "  In  the  day  of  my  trouble  I  will  call  upon 
 thee  :   for  thou  wilt  answer  me. 
 
 8  '  Among  the  gods  there  is  none  like  unto 
 thee,  O  Lord ;  ^^  neither  are  there  any  works 
 like  unto  thy  works. 
 
 9  "  All  nations  whom  thou  hast  made  shall 
 come  and  worship  before  thee,  O  Lord  ;  and 
 shall  glorify  thy  name. 
 
 10  For  thou  art  great,  and  '  doest  wondrous 
 things  :  '  thou  art  God  alone. 
 
 1 1  '  Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Lord;  I  will  walk 
 in  thy  truth  :  unite  my  "heart  to  fear  thy  name. 
 
 12  I  will  praise  tliee,  O  Lord  my  God,  with 
 all  my  heart :  and  I  will  glorify  thy  name  for 
 evermore. 
 
 Zion.'— WiV.  1 1.  .1  511)1  and  sliield,  '  a  light,  a  glory,  and  defence.'— 
 Sn.  Witmn. 
 
 Ps.  IJCXXV'.  — Title— .-1  Psalm,  ^r„  it  was  perhaps  composed  after 
 Manasseh's  restoration.— Hurs/fj/.  It  seems  to  have  been  written 
 durinir.  or  after  the  return  from,  the  Babj  lonish  captivity.— .1.  Clarke. 
 The  Psalmi.«t  is  carried,  by  a  prophetic  impulse,  to  foretel  a  much  greater 
 deliverance  by  the  coming  of  Christ.— Wmoi-A-.  1.  Ttiou  hast  beni. 
 '  thou  art,*  i.  e.,  thou  art  the  God  whose  property  it  is  to  be  favourable 
 tothyland.— Dp.Hoi-iif.  "Tliou  wast,'  i.e.,  in  former  times.— Boo""'. 
 ■Cnptiritii,  '  captives.'— f.vy.,  Mich.  2.  TItou   hiut  forgiven  the  ini- 
 
 quity, iVy  risir^.  '  U'ou  hast  borne  or  carried  away  tl;e  captivity ;'  al- 
 luding to  the  scape  goat  —Clarke.  4.  Turn  i,s,  •  restore  us.'— Street. 
 The  metaphor  seems  to  be  taken  from  the  shepherd  who  drives  back  his 
 wanderinE  sheep.'— i)'Oi(/.'/ and  Manl.  8.   I  will  hear.   IfC,  'wait 
 
 patienUy  for  an  answer  to  my  prayers.— B/t-  Wilson.       10.  Mercy  and 
 
 truth  are  met,  'grace  and  truth.'-Cocc,  Gej  M,ch.  Whcie?-m 
 Christ.  When  were  they  reconciled?— when  he  died  on  Calvary.— 
 Clarke.  11.  Shall  spring,  ^c.  shall  abound  and  be  general  as  tlie 
 fruits  of  the  earth.-Boo(*r.  13.  And  shall  set  us.  'and  he  [God] 
 shall  set  us  in  the  way  in  which  he  walkcth.'  •  To  set'  denotes  con- 
 stancy in  so  doing.— Poo/e.  .  .  £,„..,,„ 
 Ps  LX.XXVI  —Title— .4  Prauer,  ^c,  this  was  Written  under  Saul  s 
 persecution,  or  some  revolt  of  wicked  men.-Si/(.  2.  For  I  am  holy. 
 '3(4  TCm,  '  thy  favoured  one.'-il/iirf;?e.  •  I  love  thee. -iUicA.  1 
 ami.ious.'-S/ree(.  •  Mereiful.'-Green.  A.  Clnrke  'Thy  gracious 
 saint  '-Ains.  '  One  whom  thou  favourest.'-Poo?e,  Marg.  '  T  hou  art 
 merciful.'  Syr..  Arab. ;  Boolhr.  The  sense  is,  I  have  not  done  any 
 wrong  to  Saul,  or  Absalom,  &c.-Si<(.  s..immg  the  gods,  \^e 
 kings  and  princes  of  the  gentiles.-Su(.  1 1 .  Vmte  my  heart,  to  thee. 
 —Green. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXXXIV.  —  We  may  view  this 
 psalm  as  eihibilinR — I.  A  i;ood  man's  anticipation  of  puljic  wor- 
 ship. How  intcnsi"  the  desire  here  expressed  !  How  highly 
 devotional  the  feelings!  The  good  man  languishes  for  the 
 object  dearest  to  his  heart,  and  even  envies  the  birds  who 
 alight  be  privileged  to  build  their  nests  near  the  sacred  altars. 
 When  will  our  anticipations  of  Divine  worship  bear  a  compa- 
 rison with  these  * 
 
 II.  .1  qood  man  going  to  public  worship.  No  distance,  how 
 far  soeve"r  it  might  be,— no  accommodation,  how  mean  soever 
 it  might  be, — no  faligue,  how  great  soever  it  might  be — pre- 
 vented the  ardent  sou!  from  taking  the  journey  to  Jerusalem. 
 What  a  contrast  to  those  hearers  who  scarcely  care  about 
 gathering  the  spiritual  manna  at  their  very  doo...  ind  drinking 
 of  the  spiritual  streams  that  flow  in  rich  abundance  around 
 them  ! 
 
 III.  A  good  man's  reflections  on  enjoying  public  worship.  He 
 here  remembers  what  it  had  been  heretofore.  *  A  day  in  lliy 
 conrtB  is  better  than  a  thousand.'  Are  such  our  acknowledi;- 
 nients,  or  is  the  sabbath  a  weariness  to  us?      Those  only  who 
 
 632 
 
 enjoy  the  Divine  courts  below  can  be  fit  for  the  Divine  courts 
 above.  And  such  are  truly  blessed  ;  God  will  be  their  sun  to 
 cheer  them  in  every  hour  of  solitude  and  trouble  ;  their  shield 
 to  protect  them  in  every  danger  ;  and  he  will  give  them  grace 
 here,  and  glory  hereafter.  ,.„.,.  ,         r       , 
 
 Reflictions  on  Ps.  LXXXV.  —  I.  This  psalm  refers  to 
 captiritn;  and,  of  whatever  nature  it  was,  sin  was  the  cause. 
 All  national  suffering  may  be  traced  to  this  source.  But  it 
 men  are  turned  from  sin,  God's  anger  will  cease.  Me  are 
 here  reminded  of  a  worse  captivity  than  that  of  either  J-.gypt 
 or  Babylon.  Such  is  the  captivity  of  all  the  sons  of  Adam  till 
 God  has  turned  their  hearts,  'led  captive  by  Satan  at  his 
 will,' '  tied  and  bound  wiih  the  chain  ot  their  sins. 
 
 II.  But  this  psalm  also  refers  to  reelemplion.  Ood  restorea 
 the  captives  :  and  he  did  so  to  the  end  that  they  might  rejoice 
 in  him,  and  not  turn  again  to  folly.  Let  this  remind  us  ot  the 
 design  of  the  redemption  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  He  gave 
 himself  for  us  to  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  us 
 unto  himself,  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good  works. 
 
r>afid  complahifth  oftlw  prov,!.       PSALMS,  LXXXVII.,  LXXXVIII. 
 
 I/is  coniphniit  in  (iffliciinn. 
 
 1;J  For  j;roat  is  thy  mercy  towaril  me:  ami 
 tlion  hast  '"  delivered  my  soul  from  the  lowest 
 II  hell. 
 
 14  O  God,  "  the  proud  are  risen  against  me, 
 and  the  assemblies  off  violent  men  have  sought 
 after  my  soul ;  and  have  not  set  thee  before 
 llieni. 
 
 15  "  But  tlion,  O  Lord,  art  a  God  full  of  com- 
 passion, and  gracious,  longsuffering,  and  plen- 
 teous in  mercy  and  truth. 
 
 IG  O  ■'turn  unto  me,  and  have  mercy  upon 
 me  ;  give  tliy  streugtii  unto  thy  servant,  and 
 save  ''  the  son  of  thine  handmaid. 
 
 17  Shew  me  a  tolien  for  good;  tliat  they 
 which  hate  me  may  see  it,  and  he  ashamed  : 
 because  thon,  Lord,  hast  holpen  me,  and  com- 
 forted me. 
 
 PSALM  LXXXVII. 
 
 I    The  nature  aittlglortj  uf  the  church.     4  Tlie  increase, 
 tionour,  and  comfort  of  the  members  tliereof. 
 
 A  Psalm  or  Son^  ||  for  the  sons  of  Korah. 
 
 TTIS  foundation  is  "in  the  holy  mountains. 
 LJ.  2  ^  Tlie   Lord   loveth   the  gates  of  Zion 
 more  than  all  tlie  divellings  of  Jacob. 
 3  '  Glorious  things  are  spoken  of  thee,  O  city 
 of  God.     Selah. 
 
 1  Ps.  56   13. 
 
 t:   lie    8. 
 
 /I  F«.  SI,  3. 
 t  Heb.  lerri 
 
 o  Ei.  SJ,  C. 
 
 Nu.  U.  18. 
 
 Neh.  0.  17. 
 
 ver.  5.  I's. 
 
 103.  8.  8c 
 
 111.  «.& 
 
 WO.  4,  7.  8. 
 
 145   B.  Juel 
 
 3.  13 
 p  P>.  25.  16. 
 
 8c  m    16. 
 9  P».  1  l(i.  16. 
 
 10r,o/. 
 a  P8.  4S.  I . 
 6  Ps-  78.  67, 
 
 Ps.  22.  30. 
 /  Eie.  13.  0. 
 
 II  O.-,  0/ 
 
 jlOr.APs^lm 
 ofHrm;,, 
 
 ttruriitm. 
 *  I  Kin.  4. 
 
 31.  I  Clir. 
 
 2.  6. 
 t  Ps.  27.  9. 
 
 &  r.l.  14 
 6  Luke  16.  7 
 cPs.  107.  18. 
 d  Ps.  2S.  I. 
 cPs.  31,  12. 
 
 4  1  will  make  mention  of  ^  Rabat)  and  Baby- 
 lon to  them  that  know  me  :  behold  Philistia, 
 and  Tyre,  with  Ethiopia ;  this  man  was  born 
 there. 
 
 5  And  of  Zion  it  shall  be  said.  This  and  that 
 man  was  horn  in  her  :  and  the  highest  binisell 
 shall  establish  her. 
 
 6  "The  Lord  shall  count,  when  he  ''wiitotli 
 up  the  people,  that  this  man  was  born  there. 
 Selah. 
 
 7  As  well  the  singers  as  the  players  on  in- 
 struments shall  he  there :  all  my  springs  are 
 in  thee. 
 
 PSALM  LXXXVIII. 
 
 A  prayer  containing  a  grievous  complaint. 
 A  Song  or  Psalm   ||  for  the  sons  of  Korah,  to  the  chief 
 
 Musician    upon    Mahalath    Leannoth,     ||  Maschil   of 
 
 *  Heman  the  Ezrahite. 
 /^  Lord  "God  of  my  salvation,  I  have  ^ cried 
 ^-^  day  and  night  before  thee  : 
 
 2  Let  my  prayer  come  before  thee  :  incline 
 thine  ear  unto  my  cry  ; 
 
 3  For  my  soul  is  full  of  troubles  :  and  my  life 
 ■^  draweth  nigh  unto  the  grave. 
 
 4  '^  I  am  counted  with  them  that  go  down 
 into  the  pit:  ''I  am  as  a  man  that  hatli  no 
 strength  : 
 
 13.  My  soul  from  the  lowest  hell,  *  my  life  from  extreme  dangers.' — 
 Wells.  'The  grave  beneath.' — Green.  *My  soul  from  a  hell  below 
 in-ll,'  a  place  of  perdition  for  the  soul. — A.  Clarke i  a  like  idea,  Peters. 
 \j.  A  token,  some  striking  visible  interposition  in  his  favour. — Scott, 
 
 linothr. 
 
 Ps.  LXXXVII.— Title— .4  Psalm,  §c.— thought,  by  most  commen- 
 tators,  to  liave  been  composed  on  layint;  the  foundation  of  Solomon's 
 temple.  \.  His  foundation — the  Psalmist  having:  meditated  on  the 
 strength,  the  beauty,  and  the  glory  of  Jerusalem,  being  smitten  with 
 love  of  the  holy  city,  and  imagining  tlie  thoughts  of  his  hearers  or 
 readers  to  have  been  employed  on  the  same  subject,  breaks  forth  at 
 once  in  this  abrupt  manner.  '  It  is  His  foundation  on  the  holy  moun- 
 tains.*— Mant.  'God's  ftiundations,'  meaning  the  temple,  'is  on  the 
 hills  of  holiness,  or  hallowed  hills,'  the  whole  city  being  consecrated 
 to  God. — Dr.  Cliandlvr.  Mountains,  the  temple  occupied  a  part  of 
 Mount  Moriah  as  well  as  Zion.  2.  More  than  nil  the  dwellings,  a 
 C'imparisoii  betwixt  Sion,  the  place  of  God's  worship,  and  all  Jiulea 
 besidts. — Ham.  God  takes  more  pleasure  in  his  tabernacle  and  temple 
 tlian  in  all  the  rest  of  the  land. — Bp.  Hull.  3.  Glorious  things  are 
 spoken,  Sfc, '  the  glories  of  the  wilderness  are  in  thee.'  '  The  Shechinah 
 has  now  ti.xed  its  residence  in  thee.' — Hors.  Are  spoken  of  thee,  by  the 
 prophets;  Isa.  Ixii.  1,  7  j  Ixv.  18.  &c.,  and  Ixvi.  10,  &c. ;  Zech.  i.  14, 
 A:c. ;  ii.  4,  12,  and  viii.  3,  &c. ;  these  point  to  the  future  glory  of  the 
 church  by  the  accession  of  the  Gentiles.  4.  I  will  make  mentioji — 
 <^od  is  here  introduced  as  speaking. — Boothr.  Rahub,  'Assyria,' — 
 Mivh.;  that  is,  Kgypt,  (so  Ps.  Ixxxlx.  10;  Isa.  li.  g.)— Par.,  Boothr., 
 Wil.  The  Hebrew  word  signifies  'proud,*  and  the  name  is  given  lo 
 Kgypt  from  the  pride  and  insolence  of  its  princes  and  inhabitants. — 
 Par.  To  them  that  know  me,  'among  those  who  acknowledge  me.' — 
 Boothr,,  nearly  as  Hors.  Ethiopia,  UJi^,  rather  'Arabia.'  —  Poole, 
 Wrlls.  See  Num.  xii.  I,  note. — Egypt,  Babylon,  Tyre,  Philistia,  and 
 Ethiopia  are  not  so  honourable  as  Jerusalem. — A.  Clarke.  5.  This 
 and  that  man  was  ftorn,  alluding  to  the  number  of  converts  under  the 
 Gospel,  the  soiis  of  that  Jerusalem  which  is  the  mother  of  us  all.— i//>. 
 Home.  TD^i^T  TC^i^,  '  men  of  all  sorts  and  of  different  nations.' — Pag., 
 Mont.,  Vat.,  Gej.,  Mich.  'The  man  of  men,'  the  most  eminent  man, 
 Christ. — liurell.  Every  one  shall  confess,  to  the  honour  of  the  Israel- 
 ites, that  the  Saviour  was  a  native  Jew. — Hors.  It  will  be  an  honour 
 to  any  person  to  have  been  born  in  Zion.— J.  Clarke.  6.  The  Lord 
 shall  count,  ^c,  'Jehovah  shall  record  in  the  Scriptures  of  the  peoples.' 
 God  shall  provide  that  the  circumstance  of  Christ's  nation  shall  be 
 particularly  recorded  in  the  Scripture  of  the  peoples;  the  historical 
 books  of  the  New  Testament,  intended  fur  the  instruction  of  the  whole 
 
 world.- //ors.  This  is  an  allusion  to  princes  or  governors  of  a  city, 
 that  used  to  write  and  keep  a  register  of  all  their  people.  Hence,  holy 
 men  and  true  Israelites  are  said  to  be  written  'among  the  living  in 
 Jerusalem,'  (Isa.  iv.  3.) — Poole.  "■  All  mij  springs,  ffc. — Jerusalem, 
 in  the  b')som  of  mountains,  was  a  well-watered  city. — Sat.  Springs  of 
 water  afford,  in  hot  eastern  countries,  a  refreshment  and  delight  of 
 which  we,  in  this  part  of  the  world,  can  form  hut  an  imperfect  con- 
 ception.— Par.  The  verse  may  be  rendered,  '  [The  people^  shall  sing 
 as  in  leading  up  a  choir,*  "all  my  fountains  [the  springs  of  my  happi. 
 ness}  are  in  thee.*'— J.  Clarke.  '  Springs*  are  used  figuratively  for 
 posterity,  fProv.  v.  15,  l6;  Ps.  Ixviii.  26;  isa.  xlviii.  1,  and  Rev.  xvii. 
 15.)  All  my  friends,  family,  children,  are  in  thee,  are  thy  citizens, 
 enjoy  thy  privileges,  &c. — Hew. 
 
 Ps.  LXXXVl II .  —  Title  —  Mahalath^&ec  Ps.  liii.,  Title,  note.  Lean- 
 noth,  m^y"?,  '  to  create  dejection,'  '  to  raise  a  pensive  gloom  or  melan- 
 choly iu  the  mind.'— il/urf^e.  '  Mahalath'  appears  to  have  been  a  de- 
 scription of  wind  instrument.  There  were  the  'Negiloth,' or  stringed, 
 and  the  'Nehiloth,'  or  wind,  instruments.  Mahalath,  from  Ps.  liii. 
 and  this,  was  particularly  adapted  to  plaintive  and  mournfid  subjects. 
 Leannoth  evidently  refers  to  an  alternate  performance,  cither  in  turn 
 with  other  instruments,  or  with  female  mourners. —  Wtl.  Both  words 
 are  the  beginning  of  a  song,  to  the  tune  of  which  this  was  set. — Aben 
 Ezra.  The  two  words  intend  the  subject  matter  of  the  Psatm,  '  con- 
 cerning the  disease  to  afflict,  or  the  afflicting  disease.'— P(.sc.,  Gusse^ 
 tins,  Stc.  Probably  the  prayer  of  a  person  shut  up  with  the  leprosy, 
 su|)posed  to  be  indicted  immediately  by  the  hand  of  God. — Ken.  Pro- 
 bably it  personates  Israel  in  the  captivity. — Cat.,  as  Targ.,  Jarchi, 
 Kimrhi,  and  Syr.  The  author  Hemau  was  very  likely  a  confined  indi- 
 vidual  suflering  in  the  captivity. — So  Pat.  Probably  an  earlier  period, 
 in  Egypt.— Z,f.^ A ^/oo^.  The  Psalm  is  prophetical,  '  the  lamentation  of 
 Messiah.' — Hors.,  so  V'itringa,  &c.  The  translation  of  the  whole  title 
 may  be,  '  A  poem  to  be  sung  to  the  Conqueror,  by  the  sons  of  Korah, 
 responsivcly,  in  bcbaU  of  a  distressed  person  j  to  give  instruction  to 
 Heman  the  Ezrahite.' — A.  Clarke.  Maschil — see  Ps.  xxxii.,  Title,  note. 
 //r;/m«— .some  take  this  to  be  the  author.  There  were  two  Hemans, 
 one  famed  for  wisdom,  (1  Chron.  ii.  6 ;  1  Kings,  iv.  31  ^)  another  a 
 singer  and  king's  seer,  {I  Chron.  vi.  33  ;  xv.  17, 19,  and  xxv.  1,  5.)  This 
 was  most  likely  the  author. — Gill.  The  Ezrahite, '  Israelite,'  Sept.  A 
 descendant  of  Zcrah,  the  son  of  Judah. —  Wells.  4.  I  am,  ^c, '  I  have 
 been,'  &c. — Hors.  The  pit— mnny  Hebrew  words  are  rendered  '  pit' in 
 our  translation,  meaning  a  pitfall,  or  dungeon,  or  well,  or  grave,  S:c. 
 The  idea  is  taken  from  catching  wihl  atdmals  in  pits,  and  must  have 
 been  very  familiar  ia  the  east  before  ftre  arms  were  used,  and  usually 
 
 Reflections   on    Ps.    LXXXVI We   may   here   learn, 
 
 1.  How  we  shouhl  ajypronch  God  in  trouhle.  Confessing  oar  po- 
 verty and  need.  We  may  also  plead  the  holy  desires  and 
 atFections  of  our  hearts,  not  meritoriously,  but  as  the  evidence 
 of  our  sincerity,  for  supplication  for  mercy  must  form  an  in- 
 Rredient  in  our  prayers,  and  be  their  beginning  and  end  ;  and, 
 if  we  wish  for  his  interposing  hand,  we  can  expect  it  only  as 
 our  hearts  are  desirous  of  walking  in  bis  truth,  fearing  bis 
 name,  and  glorifying  him  for  evermore. 
 
 il.  What  encouragement  we  hanc  to  approach  God  in  trouhle. 
 lie  is  good,  ready  to  forgive,  plenteous  in  mercy,  the  hearor 
 of  prayer,  the  great  God  \vhose  power  is  as  boundless  as  his 
 mercy.  Let  us  then  approach  him  through  Christ,  as  '  tite 
 Iratlier  of  all  mercies,  and  the  (iud  uf  all  comfort.' 
 633 
 
 Reflection's  on  Ps.  LXXXVIL  —  I.  Glorious  things  are 
 spoken  of  our  Sion.  She  is  '  built  on  the  foundation  of  the 
 apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief 
 corner  slone.'  Her  citizens  are  '  a  peculiar  people,  a  holy 
 nation,  a  royal  priesthood.'  *  The  gates  of  hell  shall  not  pre- 
 vail against'  her. 
 
 IL  Lrt  us  be  concerned  to  have  onr  nnnos  enrolled  as  citizens  of 
 Sion.  The  record  of  our  natnes  as  tellow-citizens  with  the 
 saints  on  earth  shall  raise  us  to  everlasting  dignity,  when  all 
 earth's  records  of  the  great,  and  illustrious,  and  mighty,  shall 
 perish  in  the  general  conflagration  of  all  things.  May  it  be 
 our  liappiness,  then,  to  And  our  names  '  written  in  the  Lamb's 
 book  of  life.* 
 
 4  M 
 
David's  grievous  complaint. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXXIX. 
 
 He  praiseth  God. 
 
 5  Free  among  the  dead,  like  the  slain  that 
 lie  in  the  grave,  whom  thou  rememberest 
 no  more:  and  they  are  'cut  off  ||  from  thy 
 hand.  .     . 
 
 6  Thou  hast  laid  mc  in  the  lowest  pit,  in 
 darkness,  in  the  deeps. 
 
 7  Thy  wrath  lieth  hard  upon  me,  and  ^^  thou 
 hast  afflicted  me  with  all  thy  waves.     Selah. 
 
 8  "  Thou  hast  put  away  mine  acquaintance 
 far  from  me  ;  thou  hast  made  mo  an  abomina- 
 tion unto  them  :  'lam  shut  up, and  I  cannot 
 come  forth.  . 
 
 9  ''  Mine  eye  mourneth  by  reason  of  affliction: 
 Lord,  '  I  have  called  daily  upon  thee,  '"  I  have 
 stretched  out  my  hands  unto  thee. 
 
 10  "Wilt  thou  shew  wonders  to  the  dead? 
 shall  the  dead  arise  and  praise  thee?     Selah. 
 
 1 1  Shall  thy  lovingkinduess  be  declared  in 
 the  grave?  or  thy  faithfulness  in  destruction  ? 
 
 12  °  Shall  thy  wonders  be  known  in  the  dark? 
 ■•  and  thy  righteousness  hi  the  land  of  forgeU 
 fulness  ? 
 
 13  But  unto  thee  have  I  cried,  O  Lord  ; 
 and  ''  in  the  morning  shall  my  prayer  prevent 
 thee. 
 
 14  Lord,  'why  easiest  thou  off  my  soulr' 
 why  '  hidest  tliou  thy  face  from  me  ? 
 
 15  1  am  afflicted  and  ready  to  die  from  mt/ 
 youth  up  :  while  '  I  suffer  thy  terrors  I  am 
 distrsctGti . 
 
 16  Thy  fierce  wrath  goeth  over  me  ;  thy  ter- 
 rors have  cut  me  off. 
 
 17  They  came  round  about  me  ||  daily  like 
 water  ;  they  "  compassed  me  about  together. 
 
 18  ^  Lover  and  friend  bast  tbou  put  far  from 
 me,  and  mine  acquaintance  into  darkness. 
 
 f  Is.  53.  8. 
 iJ  Or.  ij,  l/Lff 
 hand. 
 
 •i  Ps.  i2.  7- 
 
 /,  .ToblO.  13 
 19.  Ps  S\. 
 
 Lmn.  3.  7. 
 
 I  Ps.  Sl>.  3. 
 m  J*.b  II  13. 
 
 Ps.  I  IS.  G. 
 n  Ps.  6.  5.  & 
 
 3rt.9.?(  115. 
 
 17.&UIS,  17 
 
 Is.3S.  IS. 
 
 Job  10.  21. 
 Ps.  143.3. 
 J,  Fs.  31.  12. 
 r.5,  EccL 
 10.  &?.». 
 
 J  Pa.  5.  S.  & 
 119.  147. 
 
 f  P8.  43.  2. 
 
 *  Job  IS.  24. 
 P8.  13.  1. 
 
 II  Or,  all  the 
 dty. 
 u  Vs.  22.  16. 
 X  Job  19.  13. 
 
 P3.  SI.    II. 
 
 &33.  II. 
 
 llOr,APsaIn 
 for  Elhan 
 iKf  Ezra- 
 hitf,  to  giv 
 
 31.  IClir.2. 
 
 <i  Pa.  101.  I. 
 \  Heb.  to  lie- 
 
 Ps.  119.  ill'. 
 .  P.I.  1 10  89. 
 ■  1  Kin 
 
 .  I. 
 
 (/  2  Sam 
 
 11.     &!.'. 
 
 I  CliT.  17. 
 
 in,  &<>.  See 
 
 Jcr.  31).  9. 
 
 Kze.  »1.  23. 
 
 H..H.  3.  5. 
 fi  vpr.  29,  3i; 
 /  See  vcr    \ 
 
 Lti.  I.S2.33. 
 S  Ps,  19.  I. 
 
 &9;.6.Hev 
 
 7.  111,11,12 
 '.  ver.  7- 
 
 ;  p^.  10.  5-& 
 71.  19.  StSti. 
 
 8.  ft  113.  b. 
 h  Pfl.-6  7,ll. 
 IKx.  15.  II- 
 
 I  Sam,  2-  2. 
 P.*.  35.  ly  & 
 71.  19. 
 
 m  Ps.  65.  7. 
 
 &  M.  3,-l.& 
 
 107.  29. 
 n  En.  1*  26, 
 
 27,  28.  Ps 
 
 &7.  +.  Ib.30. 
 
 7.  &  51.  9. 
 
 II  Or,  Ei-ypl. 
 t  Heb.  with 
 
 ti.eanu  of 
 Ihi/  ttreniilh. 
 1  Gen.  1,  I. 
 I  Cbr.-jy.ll 
 I's.  21.  1,  2. 
 &  50.  12. 
 
 PSALM  LXXXIX. 
 
 1  T/ie  psalmist  praisith  God  for  his  covennnt,  5  for  hi!, 
 wonderful  power,  \b  for  the  care  of  Ills  church,  I9jur 
 h!s  favour  to  the  kiuffdom  of  David.  38  Then  com- 
 plranivii  of  contrary  events,  i6  lie  eipostulateth,pTay- 
 etlt,  and  bitsseth  God, 
 
 II  Moscbil  of  *  Ethan  the  Ezraliite. 
 
 "  T  WILL  sing  of  the  mercies  of  the  Lord 
 J-  fur   ever :   with   my  mouth   will  I   make 
 
 known  thy  faithfulness  f  to  all  generations. 
 
 2  For  I  have  said,  Mercy  shall  be  built  up 
 for  ever  :  '•  thy  faithfulness  shall  thou  establi.sh 
 in  the  very  heavens. 
 
 3  '^  I  have  made  a  covenant  with  my  chosen, 
 I  have  ''  sworn  unto  David  my  servant, 
 
 4  "Thy  seed  will  I  establish  fur  ever,  and 
 build  up  thy  throne  'to  all  generations.  Selah. 
 
 5  And  ''the  heavens  shall  praise  thy  won- 
 ders, O  Lord  :  thy  faithfulness  also  in  the 
 cungregation  ''  of  the  saints. 
 
 0  For  '  who  in  the  heaven  can  be  compared 
 unto  the  Lord?  who  among  the  sons  of  the 
 mighty  can  be  likened  unto  the  Lord? 
 
 7  '  God  is  greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  assem- 
 bly of  the  saints,  and  to  be  had  in  reverence  of 
 all  Ihcm  that  are  about  him. 
 
 8  O  Lord  God  of  hosts,  who  is  a  strong 
 Lord  '  like  unto  thee?  or  to  thy  faithfubiess 
 round  about  thee? 
 
 9  ■"  Thou  rulest  the  raging  of  the  sea  :  when 
 the  waves  thereof  arise,  thou  stillest  them. 
 
 10  "  Thou  hast  broken  ||  Rahab  in  pieces,  as 
 one  that  is  slain  ;  thou  hast  scattered  thine 
 enemies  fwith  thy  strong  arm. 
 
 1 1  "  The  heavens  are  thine,  the  earth  also  is 
 
 expressed  diffleulties  that  seemed  inextricable.  —  Heii'.  ..  5- jT"", 
 amrmg  the  dead,  tfc,  '  I  am  in  a  state  of  separation  among  Uie  dead. 
 — Green. 
 
 '  Like  the  dead  I  am  esteemed. 
 Like  the  slain  that  lie  in  the  sepulchre.'— Sireef. 
 IBDn  D'nol,  '  stripped  among  the  dead,'  Uke  the  mortally  wounded  on 
 tlic  field  of  battle.— /I.  Clarke. 
 
 •  Cast  out  among  the  dead,  like  the  wounded  on  the  field  of  batUe ; 
 Like  them  that  lie  in  the  grave.'— Hora. 
 •  I  dwell  in  solitude,  immurcil  and  exempt  from  the  duties  of  Ufe."— 
 iut  This  alludes  to  the  separation  of  lepers,  who  were  as  much  re- 
 moved  from  all  society  as  if  they  were  really  dead.-Ffa(o'i-  «  ''<"" 
 thou  rememberest  no  more,  i.e.,  as  living  objects  of  Providence  on 
 earth  —Bp.  Home.  10.  The  dead.  C'NDl,  '  reduced  or  resolved  into 
 
 Uieir  original  dust;'  ■  remains;'  the  signification  is  more  intense  than 
 any  other. — Par. 
 
 ■  Shall  they  who  lie  in  dissolution  arise  and  praise  thee  ?  —Hors. 
 
 •  Shall  the  shrunk  corse  arise  and  speak  thy  praise  >'— ITanf. 
 13   Premit  thee,  come  before  the  usual  hour  of  morning  prayer.- Tr.7. 
 
 5  Frmnnv  youth.  f,c..  '  from  my  youth  I  have  borne  thy  errors  till 
 am  distracted,' &c^G,-f«..  '  I  have  been  afHicted  and  tormented 
 from  my  youth'  Scc.-Slreet.  '  1  have  been  afflicted  and  BiJI]  ont  of 
 breath!  panting  from  my  youth.'  The  word  signifies  •  to  labour'  or 
 '  pant  for  breath.'— Par. 
 
 •  1  have  been  afflicted  and  ready  to  die  from  my  youth ; 
 I  have  borne  thy  terrors,  and  am  distracted.  —Boollir. 
 
 17   Like  water.  •  hke  floods  of  water.'-Green.  18.  And  minear. 
 
 maintance  f<c.,  '  and  keepest  mine  acquaintance  out  of  my  sight.  — 
 G«m ,  to  thi  same  purport,  Hors.     A  figurative  expression  to  denote 
 
 ''%"s"LXXxix"^iTT?E-Jl/<iit7ii7  of  Ethan,  'to  give  instruclion  to 
 Ethanrthe  Ezrahite.'-.J.  Clarke.  There  was  a  singer  of  'his  name  in 
 David's  time,  probably  the  person  here  ineutioned.-GiH.  ™5  P^^m 
 is  thought  to  have  been  written  during  the  captivity,  and  is  so  classed 
 
 by  Tovmsend.  It  was,  perhaps,  composed  by  Isaiah,  as  a  solemn  and 
 public  address  to  God,  at  the  time  when  Rezin  and  Pekah  were  ad- 
 vancing  against  Jerusalem.— A>n.  It  might  be  composed  alter  the 
 defeat  and  death  of  Josiah.— How.  Many  of  the  Jewish  expositors 
 refer  this  Psalm  to  Messiah.— Sotomon  and  Aben  Ezra,  &c.  1 .  Mer- 
 cies of  the  Lord  for  erer.  ■  I  will  sing  thy  everlasting  kindness  ;  I  will 
 celebrate  thy  truth  to  all  posterity.  -Dathe.  '  I  will  sing  the  perpe- 
 tual  mercies  of  Jchovali.'— Hors/fj/. 
 
 *  The  mercies  of  th'  Eternal  King. 
 Perpetual  as  himself,  I  hing.'—.llant. 
 2   Establish  in  the  very  heavens,  make  it  appear  to  be  firm  and  staple  as 
 the  heavens.— Gi».  3.  I  hane  made  a  covenant— yer.  3  and  4  arc 
 
 parenthetical.— .V«rff,'f.  Must  be  changed  in  the  second  person,  '  Be- 
 cause  thou  hadst  made,  &C.,  and  sworn,'  &c.-Gr<-ra.  The  verses  are 
 misplaced,  and  should  follow  ver.  3i.—Horsle;i.  '  I  have  made,  saidst 
 thou,'  tfc—liouthr.  The  latter  is  perfectly  clear.— Erf.  A  covenant 
 was  made  with  David,  and  a  promise  made  to  him  of  the  perpetuity  of 
 his  throne  and  kingdom  in  his  family,  (Ps.  Ixxviii.  ;0 ;  1  Sam.  vn.  lb ;) 
 but  rather  understand  mystical  Daviil,  the  Messiah.  David  s  son  ami 
 antitype.— GiV;.  The  covenant  of  royally  is  made  with  David  as  the 
 father  of  his  family,  a«d  with  his  seed  through  him,  and  for  his  sake  ; 
 representing  the  covenant  of  grace  made  with  Christ,  as  head  ut  tiie 
 church,  and  with  all  believers  as  his  spiritual  seed.— Wenry.  Iliese 
 verses  are  the  words  of  Jehovah,  (1  Chron.  xvii.  11.)  and  they  have 
 only  their  completion  in  our  Lord,  (Luke,  i.  69,  iiC.)—Boothro;icl. 
 6.  Sons  of  the  mighlu.  '  sons  of  strength.'— So  some  MSS.  •  Sons  ol 
 the  mighty  angels.'— iJp.  Wilson.  '  Sons  of  God ;'  we  nowhere  read  ot 
 'the  sons  of  angels  or  heavenly  powers.'— SooWir.  8.  O  Lord  Go,l 
 of  hosts,  .^c. — 
 
 •  Jehovah,  God  of  hosts,  who  is  like  thee  ? 
 Mighty  Jehovah  !  and  thy  faithfulness  encircles  thee.'— ftors. 
 
 •Jehovah,  God  of  hosts,  who  is  hke  thee  ? 
 Powerful  art  thou,  O  Jehovah, 
 And  thy  truth  surroundeth  thee  r—Boothr. 
 10.  Broken  Rahab,  destroyed  the  power  of  Egypt.— /I.  Clarke.   Sec  Ps. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  LXXXVIII — 1.  Here  is  a  man  of 
 prayer  in  severe  bodili/  and  mental  affliction  ;  — one  that  prayed 
 '  day  and  night.'  Prayer  does  not  always  preserve  us  troin 
 affliction,  but  it  is  the  best  remedy  to  support  us  under  it.  It 
 is  then  the  weak  leaning  upon  the  strong— the  infant  resting 
 upon  the  parent— the  dying  looking  to  the  everlasting  God. 
 
 II.   The  pleas  and  complaints  he  emploi/s  in  his  prayer.     '  hhall 
 the  dead  arise  and  praise  thee  ?    Shall  thy  loving-kindness  be 
 declared  in  the  grave  '.  or  thy  faithfulness  in  destruction  V 
 G3-t 
 
 The  good  man  desires  recovery  only  that  he  may  praise  God 
 and  promote  bis  glory  in  the  world.  But  that  which  embit- 
 ters his  pain  is,  when  he  feels  God's  terrors,  and  can  take  no 
 comfort.  The  dark  valley  itself  may  be  cheerfully  traversed 
 with  the  hght  of  God's  countenance,  but  without  it,  it  is  lull 
 of  the  most  appalling  horrors.  May  the  Lord  God  be  our  sun 
 and  shield ;  then  by  his  light  we  shall  walk  through  darkness, 
 and  under  his  protection  we  need  fear  no  evil. 
 
God's  favour  to  David. 
 
 PSALMS,  LXXXIX. 
 
 David's  complaint  and  prayer. 
 
 tliiiie  :  as  for  the  world  and  the  fulness  thereof, 
 thou  hast  founded  them. 
 
 l-l  ''The  north  and  the  soutli  thou  hast 
 created  them  :  ''  Tahor  and  '  Hermon  shall 
 rejoice  in  thy  name. 
 
 l:i  Thou  hast  fa  mighty  arm  :  strong  is  thy 
 liand,  and  high  is  tliy  right  hand. 
 
 14  "Justice  and  judgment  arc  the  ||  habita- 
 tion of  thy  throne  :  '  mercy  and  truth  shall  go 
 before  thy  face. 
 
 15  Blessed  is  the  people  that  know  the  "joy- 
 ful sound  :  they  shall  walk,  O  Loud,  in  the 
 "^  light  of  thy  countenance. 
 
 l(j  Li  thy  name  shall  they  rejoice  all  the  day  : 
 and  in  thy  righteousness  shall  they  be  exalted. 
 
 17  For  thou  art  the  glory  of  their  strength: 
 ''and  in  thy  favour  our  horn  shall  be  exalted. 
 
 18  For  II  the  Loud  is  our  defence  ;  and  the 
 Holy  One  of  Israel  is  our  king. 
 
 1!)  Then  thou  spakest  in  vision  to  thy  holy 
 one,  and  saidst,  I  have  laid  help  upon  one  that 
 is  mighty ;  I  have  exalted  otie  '  chosen  out  of 
 the  people. 
 
 20  "  I  have  found  David  my  servant ;  with 
 my  holy  oil  have  I  anointed  him  : 
 
 21  *■  With  whom  my  hand  shall  be  esta- 
 blished :  mine  arm  also  shall  strengthen  him. 
 
 22  '  The  enemy  .shall  not  exact  upon  him ; 
 nor  the  son  of  wickedness  afflict  him. 
 
 23  ''  And  I  will  beat  down  his  foes  before  his 
 face,  and  plague  them  that  hate  him. 
 
 24  But^  my  faithfulness  and  my  mercy  shall 
 he  with  him  :  and  '  in  my  name  shall  his  horn 
 be  exalted. 
 
 2j  ^  I  will  set  his  hand  also  in  the  sea,  and 
 his  right  hand  in  the  rivers. 
 
 2G  He  shall  cry  unto  me.  Thou  art  '■  my 
 father,  my  God,  and  '  the  rock  of  my  salvation. 
 
 27  Also  I  will  make  him  '  my  firstborn, 
 '  liigher  than  the  kings  of  the  earth. 
 
 28  "'  My  mercy  will  I  keepforhimfor evermore, 
 and  "my  covenant  shall  stand  fast  with  him. 
 
 29  °  His  seed  also  will  I  make  to  endure  for 
 ever,  ''and  his  throne  '■  as  the  days  of  heaven. 
 
 30  '  If  his  children  'forsake  my  law,  and  walk 
 not  in  my  judgments  ; 
 
 31  If  they  f  break  my  statutes,  and  keep  not 
 my  commandments  ; 
 
 32  Then  'will  I  visit  their  transgression  with 
 the  rod,  and  their  iniquity  with  stripes. 
 
 ilututes. 
 
 ■!Siim.7.M. 
 
 IIvm.ll.3t. 
 
 f  Heb    /;<■«.'/ 
 
 n<-l  fwil.P 
 
 p  Job  26.  7. 
 
 voidfr.m 
 him. 
 
 7  JnHh.19.22. 
 
 t  Hob.  to  lie. 
 
 r  Josh.  12.  I. 
 
 t  Hfh.  an 
 
 X  Amos  i.  2. 
 
 arm  toilU 
 
 t  Heb.  IJ  I 
 
 might. 
 
 lie. 
 
 t  Ps.  97.  2. 
 
 i/2Sa.7.  Ifi 
 
 II  Or,  esta- 
 
 Luke  I .  .S.S 
 
 blixhmen/. 
 
 John  12.31. 
 
 t  Vs.  85.  13. 
 
 ver.  1,  29 
 
 rPs. 72-5.17. 
 
 u  Nil   10.  ID. 
 
 Jcr.  33  20- 
 
 8c  '2:i    21. 
 
 Pa.  ys.  IJ. 
 
 a-  Ps.  I.  6.  & 
 
 a  I  Chr.  2S. 
 
 4.1.  3. 
 
 9.  Ps.  U.  0. 
 
 &  60.  I.  Ifl 
 
 6  Ucu. 32.19. 
 
 Ps.  7S.  59. 
 
 c  Ps.  7-1.  7. 
 
 Lam.  5.  IC. 
 
 V  vor  24.  Ps, 
 
 75    111.  «c92. 
 
 d  Ps.  80,  12 
 
 10  fc  132.17. 
 
 11  Or,  our 
 
 shif Id  is  of 
 
 the  LORD, 
 
 and  iiurking 
 
 e  Pa-  11.  13. 
 -5t  79.  1. 
 
 Oneo/n- 
 
 met. 
 
 Ps.  47.  fl. 
 
 I  vcr.  3. 
 
 IKin.ll.a^i 
 
 a  1  Sam.  10 
 
 I.  12. 
 
 b  Pa.  60.  17. 
 
 c  a  Sam.?- 13. 
 
 t  Hcb 
 briffhtllP^S. 
 
 f  ver.  39. 
 
 d2Sam.7.  9 
 
 e  Pk.  01.  7. 
 
 g  Pa.  79.  5. 
 
 /ver.  17. 
 
 A  P6,  78   63, 
 
 .Job  7-  7.fe 
 
 10-9  &  III. 
 
 y  Ps   72  .S. 
 
 Ps.  39.  6.  & 
 
 &  80.   11. 
 
 119.  M. 
 
 A  Pa.  49.  9. 
 
 A2Sitni.7.Il. 
 
 /  Heb.  il.  5. 
 
 1  Chi-ir2.io. 
 
 i2Sa.22.-17. 
 
 k  P-«.  2.  7. 
 
 Coll. 15,18. 
 /Num.  24.  7. 
 
 m2  Pam.  7. 
 15.  Is.  55.3. 
 
 yn  Is.  S5.  3. 
 
 >,  Ps.  54.  5. 
 
 71  ver.  34. 
 
 0  ver.  4, 36. 
 
 0  Ps.G9.n,19. 
 
 p  ver.4.  I8.9. 
 
 7.Jer,33.l7. 
 
 q  Dcu,11.2l. 
 
 p  Pa.  74.  22. 
 
 '  2  Sa.  7.  14. 
 
 J  Pa.  119.53 
 
 Jer.  9.  13. 
 
 t  Heb.  pro- 
 
 fane  my 
 
 y  Pe.  41.  13. 
 
 33  "  Nevertlieless  my  lovingkindness  f  will  I 
 not  utterly  take  from  him,  nor  suffer  my  faith- 
 fulness t  to  fail, 
 
 34  My  covenant  will  I  not  break,  nor  alter 
 the  thing  that  is  gone  out  of  my  lips. 
 
 .35  Once  have  I  sworn  *  by  my  holiness  fthat 
 I  will  not  lie  unto  David. 
 
 3G  ''  His  seed  shall  endure  for  ever,  and  his 
 throne  "  as  the  sun  before  me. 
 
 37  It  shall  be  established  for  ever  as  the 
 moon,  and  as  a  faithful  witness  in  heaven. 
 Selah. 
 
 38  But  thou  hast  "cast  oif  and  ^'abhorred, 
 thou  hast  been  wroth  with  thine  anointed. 
 
 39  Thou  hast  made  void  the  covenant  of  thy 
 servant :  ^  thou  hast  profaned  his  crown  l/y 
 casting  it  to  the  ground. 
 
 40  '^  Thou  hast  broken  down  all  his  hedges  ; 
 thou  hast  brought  his  strong  holds  to  ruin. 
 
 41  All  that  pass  by  the  way  spoil  him  :  he  is 
 "a  reproach  to  his  neighbours. 
 
 42  Thou  hast  set  up  the  right  hand  of  his 
 adversaries ;  thou  hast  made  all  his  enemies 
 to  rejoice. 
 
 43  Thou  hast  also  turned  the  edge  of  his 
 sword,  and  hast  not  made  him  to  stand  in  the 
 battle. 
 
 44  Thou  hast  made  his  f  glory  to  cease,  and 
 'cast  his  throne  down  to  the  ground. 
 
 4.5  The  days  of  his  youth  hast  thou  shorten- 
 ed :  thou  hast  covered  him  with  shame.  Selah. 
 
 46  ^  How  long.  Loud  ?  wilt  thou  hide  thy- 
 self for  ever?  ''shall  thy  wrath  burn  like  fire? 
 
 47  '  Remember  how  short  my  time  is :  where- 
 fore hast  thou  made  all  men  in  vain  ? 
 
 48  '  What  man  is  he  that  liveth,  and  shall 
 not  '  see  death  ?  shall  he  deliver  his  soul  from 
 the  hand  of  the  grave?     Selah. 
 
 49  Lord,  where  are  thy  former  lovingkind- 
 nesses,  which  thou  "'  swarest  unto  David  "  in 
 thy  truth  ? 
 
 30  Remember,  Lord,  the  reproach  of  thy 
 servants;  "how  I  do  bear  in  my  bosom  the 
 reproach  q/'all  the  mighty  people  ; 
 
 51  ''  Wherewith  thine  enemies  have  reproach- 
 ed, O  Lord  ;  wherewith  they  have  reproached 
 the  footsteps  of  thine  anointed. 
 
 32  ''  Blessed  be  the  Loud  for  evermore. 
 Amen,  and  Amen. 
 
 Ixxxvii,  4,  note.  12,  Tahor  and  Hermon,  Mlie  cast  and  tlie  west,' — 
 WtUerlfind.  These  two  famous  mountains  were  east  and  west  of  Jiidca, 
 and  aie  )iere  put  for  the  eastern  and  western  quarters  of  the  world, — 
 Hew.  15.  T/tiit  know  the  joyfitt  .soumi,  that  live  within  tlie  sound  of 
 the  silver  trum]»et  which  cong^regated  the  people  of  God  and  gave  no- 
 tice of  their  meetings  for  piihlic  worship. — Cnri/t.  That  are  spared  to 
 hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet  on  the  morning  of  tlie  jubilee,  wliich 
 proclaims  deliverance  to  the  captives.  —  .-J.  Clarke.  Some  refer  it 
 to  the  shout  made  for  victory,  and  some  to  the  sound  of  the  liigh 
 priest's  hells.— A'.;.  16,  All  the  day,  DVn,  '  that  day,'  the  jubilee  day, 
 — .A.  Clarke.  He  referred  to  times  past,  when  these  privileges  were 
 enjoyed. — Btjothr.  17.  Our  horn  shall  he,  ^c.,  'our  horn  was,'  &c, 
 —Bootlir.  ig.  Thy  holy  one,  'thy  holy  ones,'  Tarfr.,  Vulg.,  63  MSS. 
 of  Kennicott,  71  MSS.  of  De  Ronsi.  It  most  probably  means  Samuel. 
 — A.  Clarke.  Samuel,  to  whom  the  Lord  spal%e  in  vision,  or  by  a  spirit 
 of  prophecy,  concerning  David,  (l  Sara,  xvi.  l.)—Oi/l.  22.  E.rait, 
 'subdue  him,' — JUisemn.  '  Exact  tribute.'  as  of  one  subdued. — Boothr. 
 '  Make  exaggerated  demands,'  as  an  unjust  creditor. — So  Wit.       25.  / 
 
 teill  set  his  hand,  ffe. — the  dominions  of  David  and  Solomon  extended 
 from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  Euphrates,  &c.  The  empire  of  Christ  is 
 universal,  over  .lews  and  Gentiles,  throughout  all  the  earth,  (see  Ps. 
 Ixxii.  8,  Sic.)—Bp.  Home.  30.  My  law,  Tmn,  'my  revealed  word.' 
 
 — Gej.  'My  law  and  doctrine.' — Mich.  My  judgments,  ^CCT'D,  'judi- 
 cial laws.' — Poole.  31 .  My  statutes,  \-lj?rT. '  lixed,  settled,  appointed  or- 
 dinances.— flill.  My  commnndinents,  'nii^Q,  it  is  used  of  any  precept 
 or  commands,  of  what  sort  soever.—Letffh.  37.  A  faithful  witness— 
 it  seems  best  to  interpret  this  of  the  rainbow,  which  u'lll,  to  the  end  of 
 the  world,  be  a  faitliful  witness  of  the  covenant  of  God  made  with  all 
 creatures  that  he  will  no  more  destroy  the  world  by  a  flood,  (Gen.  ix. 
 12,  13,  16,  17.)— Gi'«.  This  maybe  intended,— (Vur/te.  I  prefer  the 
 rainbow. — Mont.  40.  His  hedf^es,  a  general  term  for  means  of  secu- 
 rity and  defence, — Hew.  These  fences  or  enclosures  were  around  the 
 lesser  towns,  and  served  to  protect  from  robbers,  but  were  not  dig- 
 nified with  the  name  of  walls  adapted  for  war.— So  Blayney.  51 .  He- 
 proaehed  the  footsteps,  pursued  him  with  revilings. — Mud^e,  Merrick. 
 Mocked  at  the  tardy  advent  of  Messiah.— iJy).  Home,  so  Talmud. 
 
 Rrrr-ECTiONS  on  Ps.  LXXXIX. —This  psalm  records, 
 ].  God's  cmuluet  lu  /lis  clmrc/i  and  people  nfold.  He  made  a  co- 
 venant with  tliem,— blessed  tliem  witli  many  distini;uislied 
 privileges,— beat  down  their  haughty  enemies,  and  established 
 iheir  nation,  securing  in  perpetuity  the  tlirone  (o  David  and 
 liis  seed.  JSut  Israel  becoming  'rebellious,  idolatrous,  and 
 profligate,  the  rod  was  lilted  up,  and  due  chastisement  in- 
 flicted.' I'o  Israel  sinned,  and  Israel  was  punished.  Sin  always, 
 sooner  or  later,  brings  puuishiuent.  '  But  still  the  "  cove- 
 635 
 
 nant"  of  God  in  Christ  stood  sure  ;  the  Jewish  nation  was  pre- 
 served, through  all  changes  and  revolutions,  till  tlie  seed 
 came  to  whom  the  promise  was  made,  nor  was  .Terusalem  de- 
 stroyed before  the  new  and  spiritual  kingdom  of  JMessiah  was 
 set  up  in  the  earth.''"*    Hence  we  may  have  a  pattern  of — 
 
 II.  God's  conduct  to  his  church  and  people  noiu.  What  lie  was 
 he  always  is, — he  is  unchangeable.  Ilis  covenant  remains 
 unalternblo  to  his  spiritual  seed.  The  covenant  of  grace, 
 made  with  Christ,  while  it  promises  and  ensures  the  greatest 
 
TheffdiUi  of  hninan  life. 
 
 PSALMS,  XC,  XCI. 
 
 77(6  state  of  the  godly. 
 
 PSALM  XC. 
 
 1   Moses,  setting  forth  God's  proviticrice,  3  compiainet/i 
 of  human  fiaijilitij,  7  divine  cttastisementSy   \0  and 
 brevity  of  life.     12  He  prayeih  fur  thr  knoicltdgc  and 
 sensible  experience  of  God's  good  prouidenre. 
 It  A  Prayer  *of  Moses  the  man  of  God. 
 
 T  ORD,  °  tliou  hast  been  our  dwelling  place 
 
 ■^-^  fi'i  sll  generations. 
 
 2  ^  Before  tlie  mountains  were  brought  forth, 
 or  ever  thon  hadst  formed  the  eartli  and  tlie 
 world,  even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting, 
 thou  art  God. 
 
 3  Tliou  turnest  man  to  destruction  j  and  say- 
 est,  "^  Keturn,  ye  children  of  men. 
 
 4  '  For  a  thousand  years  in  thy  sigh'  are  but 
 as  yesterday  ||  when  it  is  past,  and  as  a  watch 
 in  the  night. 
 
 5  Tliou  carriest  them  away  as  with  a  flood  ; 
 'they  are  oi  a  sleep  :  in  the  morning  '  t/ici/ 
 are  like  grass  tc/iic/t  \\  groweth  up. 
 
 6  ^  In  the  morning  it  flourisheth,  and  grow- 
 eth up  ;  in  the  evening  it  is  cut  down,  and 
 withereth. 
 
 7  For  we  are  consumed  by  thine  anger,  and 
 by  thy  wrath  are  we  troubled. 
 
 8  ''Thou  hast  set  our  iniquities  before  thee, 
 our  ^<iecret  sins  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance. 
 
 9  For  all  our  days  are  f  passed  away  in  thy 
 wrath  :  we  spend  our  years  ||  as  a  tale  that  is 
 told. 
 
 10  t  The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore 
 years  and  ten  ;  and  if  by  reason  of  strengtli 
 thei/  be  fourscore  years,  yet  is  their  strength 
 
 |lOr,.4  Prnt/- 
 fr,  beiii^  a 
 Psalm  '-f 
 
 •  Deut.SS  I. 
 1  Den.  3:127. 
 
 F;zrk.U.16. 
 t  Hch.  in  g/y 
 
 npTtlii,!,  ftnii 
 
 h  Pro.  8.  is, 
 86. 
 
 c  Gen.  S.  19. 
 
 Eccl-».12.7. 
 dEcilu^.  18. 
 
 10,  ^I'vt.  3. 
 
 S, 
 II  Or,  M'i^«  A.. 
 
 hnlh  piiited 
 
 them. 
 '  I>8.  73  M. 
 /Ps   IiW   15. 
 
 Is.  40.  e. 
 
 I  Or,  i. 
 
 chaiii/ett. 
 
 ,  Ps.  y-i  7. 
 Job  u.  a. 
 
 /.  Ps.  50.  21. 
 Jer.  16.  17. 
 .  Ps.  19.  12. 
 t  Hcb.  l-r,i' 
 
 II  Oi ,  a«  1) 
 meitilulinn, 
 
 tHeb.Asfor 
 
 our  ^eari,  i. 
 
 ■"'J'.V'" 
 
 iDeo..'«.S6. 
 Ps-  1S5.  1.1. 
 
 o  P3.  27.  4. 
 p  Is.  25.  12. 
 
 a  Ps.  27.  5  ^ 
 SI.^O.'^J-'.;. 
 I  Hcb.  l-Jije. 
 6  Ps.  17.  8. 
 
 c  Pa.  14S.  5, 
 
 labour  and  sorrow  ;  for  it  is  soon  cut  off,  and 
 we  fly  away. 
 
 11  Who  knowetli  the  power  of  thine  anger? 
 even  according  to  thy  fear,  so  is  thy  wrath. 
 
 12  ''  So  teach  ns  to  number  our  days,  that  we 
 may  t^PP'y  our  hearts  unto  wisdom. 
 
 13  Return,  O  Lord,  how  long?  and  let  it 
 '  repent  thee  concerning  thy  servants. 
 
 14  O  satisfy  us  early  with  thy  mercy  ;  "'  tliat 
 we  may  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  our  days. 
 
 15  Make  us  glad  according  to  the  days 
 wherein  thou  hast  afQicted  us,  and  the  years 
 wherein  we  have  seen  evil. 
 
 16  Let  "  thy  work  appear  unto  thy  servants, 
 and  thy  glory  unto  their  children. 
 
 17  ''And  let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our 
 God  be  upon  us:  and  '•establish  thou  the 
 work  of  our  hands  upon  us  ;  yea,  the  work  of 
 our  hands  establish  thou  it. 
 
 PSALM  XCL 
 
 1  The  state  of  the  fjodh,.  3  Their  safety.  _  9  Their 
 hahltiition..'  II  T/it/r  servants.  14  Their  frit nd : 
 xcith  the  effects  of  thnn  all. 
 
 TITE  "  that  dwclleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the 
 ^^  most  high  shall  f  abide  ^  under  the  sha- 
 dow of  the  Ahnighty. 
 
 2  *^  I  will  say  of  the  Lord,  He  is  my  refuge 
 and  my  fortress  :  my  God ;  in  him  will  I 
 trust. 
 
 3  Surely  "^  he  shall  deliver  thee  from  the 
 snare  of  the  fowler,  and  from  the  noisome 
 pestilence. 
 
 Ps.  XC  — TiTLK— .^  Prai/er  of  Mf>se%  §t.— prayed  when  the  penple 
 of  Israel  sinned  in  the  wilderness,  Targ.  During,  or  afti-r,  the  capti- 
 ■v\X.y.~Cltirke.  Tins  begins  the  fourth  Jewish  division  of  the  Psalms. 
 1.  Dwelling  place^  \VJ"0,  'refuge,'  Sept.,  Arab.,  Vul?.;  Vat.,  Bonthr. 
 '  Asylum.* —  G'-J.  Our  dwelling  place  in  all  g^neratiimx — '  tlioug-h  we 
 have  been  strangers  in  a  land  that  was  not  ours,  and  afflicted  f  .r  400 
 years,  according  to  t!iy  prediction.  Gen.  xv.  13.)  and  thou;?h  we  still 
 are  in  a  howling  wilderness,  dwelling  in  tents,  yet  thou  hast  fully  sup- 
 plied this  want,  by  thy  watchful  and  gracious  providence  at  all  times.' 
 — Poole.  3.  Thou  turnest  man,  ^c,  'thou  bringest  poor  mortals 
 down  to  dust,  if  thou  dost  but  say,  Return,  ye  sons  of  men.*— iVurfg-e. 
 Somewhat  similar,  Boothr. 
 
 *  Turn  not  frail  man  to  destruction. 
 And  say  not.  Return  to  dust,  ye  children  of  mGn.*— Green. 
 Children  ofmeit,  DIN  *:3.  'sons  of  Adam.'  '  Return  to  that  dust  out  of 
 which  ye  were  originally  formed.'- /feir.  Literally,  'thou  shnlt  turn 
 dying  man  (tn:S;  to  the  small  dust  'HDD,  but  thou  wilt  say.  Return, 
 ye  children  of  Adam.'  A  promise  of  the  resurrection.— C'/rt^Ae.  i.As 
 a  watch,  fye. — the  loiifrest  life  of  man,  to  a  person  who  looks  back  upon 
 it,  may  appear  only  as  tliree  hours,  or  one  quarter  of  the  night. — Bp. 
 Home.  9.  Passed  away  in  t/tr/  wriith,  our  sins  daily  provoke  thy 
 wrath.— iic/.  Bib.  As  a  tale,  77371  lOD,  'as  a  meditation,'  or  'passing 
 thought.'— G^y.,  Mich.,  Ains.  'As  a  word.'— Pu^.,  JUont.  '  Wc  con- 
 sume our  years  like  a  groan.'— C/ur/rff,  '  Our  years  pass  away  like 
 those  of  the  spider,'  Vulg.  10.  Fur  it  is  sonn  cut,  ffc,  '  for  the  mower 
 is  coming  in  ha=te,  and  we  faint.*— //ors/f-.v.  11.  Who  knoweth  ttic 
 powers  ^c— the  afflictions  of  this  life  are  nnt  to  be  rnmpared  to  the 
 miseries  which  await  those  who  die  without  Christ.— So  Clarke.  So  is 
 thy  K;ru/A— God's  wrath  is  equal  to  the  apprehensirns  which  the  most 
 thuught/ul  serious  people  have  of  it. — Henry.  'Thy  wraih  is  to  be 
 dreaded  tn  proportion  to  thine  awful  maje^^ty.' — Wil.  God's  wrath  is 
 full  a»  great  as  men  fear  it  is,  and  more  so. — GUI. 
 
 '  Yet  who  legardeth  the  power  of  thine  anger. 
 Or  thy  wrath,  with  reverence  becoming  thee?' — Boothr. 
 
 *  Who  knoweth  the  power  of  thy  anger, 
 
 Or  of  thy  indignation,  so  as  to  fear  thee  aright  >*—Wal/. 
 
 13.  Return,  0  Lord,  fyc— 
 
 *  At  lengih,  O  Lord,  return  unto  U9, 
 
 And  be  reconciled  to  thy  servants.' — Green. 
 
 *  Be  thou  reconciled,'  &c.  l6.  Thy  leork,  of  grace  and  mercy  j  giving 
 us  repentance,  and  saving  us  from  our  enemies.  Thy  ^/or//— God's 
 works  of  mercy  are  his  glorv,  as  they  display  his  perfections. — Bonthr. 
 Ps.  XCI.— This  Psalm  is  ascribed  to  David  hy  the  Sept..  Syr.,  Vnlg., 
 Arab.,  Sfc.  It  is  thought  to  have  been  penned  on  account  of  the  pesti- 
 lence, as  recorded  2  Sim.  xxiv. — Gill,  liavid  wrote  this  Psalm. — 
 Boothr.,  Sut.  Moses  wa*^  probably  the  auihnr.  and  it  seems  to  Iiave 
 been  composed  soon  after  tlie  decree  was  jtassed,  (Num.  xiv.  29.)  The 
 13th  verse  points  out  the  period  and  state. — Peters,  so  Williams.  It  is 
 a  writ  of  protection  for  all  true  believers.— //cjirv.  1.  l>welfet/i,  here 
 signifies  to  put  ourselves  under  the  Divine  protection. — Green.  The 
 secret  place,  his  heart,  his  bosom,  called  tlie  secret  of  his  presence,  (Ps. 
 xxxi.  20;)  or  rather  Christ,  the  rock,  in  whose  cleft  is  the  believt-r's 
 hiding-place,  (Cant.  ii.  14.)  There  is,  aKo,  the  secret  of  G'  td's  taber- 
 nacle, iu  which  he  hides  his  people,  (Ps.  xxvii.  5.)  The  most  holy 
 place  is  called  his  secret  place,  (Ezek.  vii.  22.)  and  may  reler  to  tlic 
 ministry  of  the  word  and  ordinances  where  saints  dwell.— GiV/.  Where 
 God  resides,  on  his  mercy-seat,  there  the  refugee  covers  himself  with 
 the  shield  of  Omnipotence. — Sut.  The  expression  means  the  favour  0/ 
 God,  as  also  does  his  shadow. 
 
 '  Sitting  under  the  covert  of  the  Most  High, 
 Lodging  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty, 
 I  say,  '*  Jehovah  is  my  refuge,"  '  Sic— Boothr. 
 
 3.  The  snare  of  the  fowler— the  image  is  here  changed,  and  the  believ- 
 ing Israelite  is  compared  to  the  young  eagle,  under  the  wings  of  the 
 royal  parent  bird,  whose  nest  no  fowler  dare  approach,  (comp.  Obad. 
 i.  3,  4.)— in/. 
 
 blessings,  leaves  no  offending  children  without  chastisement. 
 ^  et  our  spiritual  David  shall  '  see  his  seed,'  and  '  prolong  his 
 days.'  His  church  and  people,  his  kingdom  and  interest  in 
 the  world,  shall  remain.  His  throne  is  established  upon  an 
 unshaken  basis,  and,  amidst  all  the  vicissitudes  of  earthly 
 thrones,  it  shall  ever  endure. 
 
 RtFi.KcnoNs  ON  Ps.  XC.  —  We  are  here  reminded,  1.  Of 
 God's  eten/ity,~()(  that  *  uncliaiigeable  Being,  who  has  been 
 from  the  eternity  tluit  is  past  before  time  began,  and  who  will 
 be  to  tlie  eternity  that  is  after,  when  time  shall  have  an  end. 
 How  much  is  the  proper  conception  of  God's  eternity  fitted  to 
 impress  upon  worms  of  the  dust  a  sense  of  their  frailty  and  no- 
 thingness, and  to  call  forth  a  greater  reverence  and  admiration 
 of  the  Divine  majesty  and  perfection.  On  the  other  hand, 
 what  a  fountain  uf  consolation  does  the  doctrine  of  God's  eter- 
 Lity  open  upon  the  church  I     She  may  be  called  to  undergo 
 
 innumerable  vicissitudes  ;  and,  like  the  Israelites  in  the  wil- 
 derness, she  may  be  left  to  wander  amidst  inhospitable  sceni  & ; 
 but  the  eternal  God  is  her  refuge,  who  remains  uuchang'd 
 and  unchangeable  —  "the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for 
 ever." '  •" 
 
 II.  Afan*s  mortality.  His  life  may  be  counted  by  days  rather 
 than  years.  He  is  swept  away  as  a  mere  straw  down  the  flood 
 of  time.  He  reposes  his  frail  body  in  the  sleep  of  the  grave  ; 
 even  in  his  full  growth  and  vigour  he  is  cut  down  as  the  grass 
 by  the  scythe  of  the  mower  ;  and,  under  the  frowns  of  Provi- 
 dence, who  sometimes  awfully  visits  man  for  sin  with  pesti- 
 lential diseases,  lie  is  blasted  with  his  breath  at  one  moment. 
 And  what  it"  he  runs  to  the  end  of  his  race?  his  goal  is  the 
 tomb,  be  soon  reaches  it,  and  strait  is  seen  no  more.  The 
 longest  life  is  a  mere  tale.  *  So  teach  us  to  numbct  our  days, 
 that  we  may  upjily  our  hearts  unto  wisdom!' 
 
God  the  friend  of  the  righteous. 
 
 PSALMS,  XCII. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  praise  God, 
 
 4  °  He  sliall  cover  ttiee  with  his  feathers,  and 
 liiider  liis  winji'?  shalt  thou  trust :  his  truth 
 shall  he  thy  sliield  and  hnckler. 
 
 3  'Thou'slialt  not  he  afraid  for  the  terror  by 
 night ;  nor  for  the  arrow  that  flieth  by  day  ; 
 
 6  Nor  for  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in 
 darkness  ;  nor  for  the  destruction  that  wasteth 
 at  noonday. 
 
 7  A  tliousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side,  and  ten 
 thousand  at  thy  right  hand  ;  but  it  shall  not 
 come  nigh  thee. 
 
 8  Only  ^  with  thine  eyes  shalt  thou  behold 
 and  see  the  reward  of  the  wicked. 
 
 9  Because  thou  hast  made  the  Loed  uhich 
 is  ''  my  refuge,  even  the  most  high,  '  thy  habi- 
 tation ; 
 
 10  '^  There  shall  no  evil  befall  thee,  neither 
 shall  any  ]>lagne  come  nigh  thy  dwelling. 
 
 I  I  '  For  he  shall  give  his  angels  charge  over 
 thee,  to  keep  thee  in  all  thy  ways. 
 
 \i  They  shall  bear  thee  up  in  their  hands, 
 "'  lest  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone. 
 
 13  Thou  shalt  tread  upon  the  lion  and  ||  ad- 
 der :  the  young  lion  and  the  dragon  shalt  tliou 
 trample  under  feet. 
 
 14  Because  he  hath  set  his  love  upon  me, 
 therefore  will  I  deliver  him  :  I  will  set  him  on 
 high,  because  he  halh  "  known  my  name. 
 
 13  "  He  shall  call  upon  me,  and  I  will  an- 
 swer him  :  ''  I  u'lll  be  witli  him  in  trouble  j  I 
 will  deliver  him,  and  ''honour  him. 
 
 IG  With  flong  life  will  I  satisfy  him,  and 
 shew  him  my  salvation. 
 
 PSALM  XCIL 
 
 1  The  propli  ft  fxhorteih  to  praise  God,  A  for  his  great 
 n-orks,  ii  for  hisjmJgmtnts  on  the  wicked)  10  and  for 
 his  goodness  to  the  godlg. 
 
 A  Psalm  or  Song  for  the  sabbath  day. 
 
 /Job  5.  19, 
 &c  Ps  112. 
 7.  h  \i\.&. 
 Prov.  3.  23, 
 21.  Is.  43.  2 
 
 g  Ps.  S7.  34. 
 Mai.  I.  5. 
 
 i  l's-71.  S. 
 tk  90.  1. 
 
 ;  Ps.  St.  7.8t 
 71.  3.  Mat. 
 4.  6.  Luke 
 4  10,  11. 
 Heb.  1.  14. 
 
 jH.lnb  5.  23. 
 Ps.  37.  24. 
 
 II  Or,  a,p. 
 
 u  Pa.  9.  10. 
 ..  Ps-  50.  15 
 ^  Is.  43.  2. 
 y  1  Sa.  2. 30. 
 I  Heb  length 
 Prov.  3.  : 
 
 b  Pe.  89.  1. 
 
 \  Heb.  in  the 
 nights. 
 c  2  Chr.  23 
 
 i.  Fb.  ai.  2. 
 
 Or,  'ip'i'i 
 lie  ii-lemu 
 MundiTith 
 hr  harp 
 t  Heb.  His- 
 l!ai..n,  Ps.9. 
 16. 
 
 d  Ps,  40.  5. 
 &  I.S9.  17. 
 Is.  23.  29. 
 Kom. 11.33, 
 
 /  Ps    73.  22. 
 
 &  94.  9. 
 S  .lob  1:;.  6  & 
 
 21.7-Fs  37 
 
 I,  J,  ai.3S. 
 
 Jer.  12   1,2. 
 
 Mai.  a    15. 
 /.  Ps    he.  2. 
 
 &  83.  IS. 
 
 .■  Ps.  C3.  I. 
 
 &  89.  10, 
 4  Ps.  S'J.  17, 
 
 71  Ps.  51.  7. 
 &  59.  10  & 
 112   6. 
 
 )  Ps.  52.  8. 
 Is.  65.  22. 
 Hoa.  1 1. £,6. 
 
 n  Pa.  lOil.  ♦. 
 &  135.  2. 
 
 i  Heb.jr*"! 
 p  Deu.  32.  4 
 
 TT  is  a  "  good  t/iiitf/  to  give  thanks  unto  tlie 
 *  Lord,  and  to  sing  praises  unto  thy  name,  O 
 most  high  : 
 
 2  To  ''  shew  forth  thy  lovingkindness  in  the 
 morning,  and  thy  faithfuhiess  f  every  night, 
 
 3  "^  Upon  an  instrument  of  ten  strings,  and 
 upon  the  psaltery;  ||  upon  the  harp  with  fa 
 solemn  sound. 
 
 4  For  thou,  Lord,  hast  made  me  glad  through 
 thy  work  :  I  will  triumph  in  the  works  of  thy 
 hands. 
 
 5  '^  O  Loud,  how  great  are  tliy  works  I  and 
 ®  thy  thoughts  are  very  deep. 
 
 G  ^A  brutish  man  knoweth  not;  neither  dotli 
 a  fool  understand  this. 
 
 7  When  ^  the  wicked  spring  as  the  grass,  and 
 when  all  the  workers  of  iniquity  do  flourish  ; 
 it  is  that  they  shall  be  destroyed  fur  ever  : 
 
 8  ^  But  thou,  Lord,  art  most  high  for  ever- 
 more. 
 
 9  For,  lo,  thine  enemies,  O  Lord,  for,  lo, 
 thine  enemies  shall  perish  ;  all  the  workers  of 
 iniquity  shall  '  be  scattered. 
 
 10  But  ''my  horn  shalt  thou  exalt  like  the 
 horn  o/"an  unicorn  :  I  shall  be  '  anointed  witli 
 fresh  oil. 
 
 11  '"Mine  eye  also  shall  see  7/>j/  desire  on 
 mine  enemies,  and  mine  ears  shall  hear  ruj/ 
 desire  of  the  wicked  that  rise  up  against  me. 
 
 12  "  The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the 
 palm  tree  :  he  shall  grow  like  a  cedar  in  Le- 
 banon. 
 
 13  Those  that  be  planted  in  the  house  of 
 the  Lord  shall  flourish  '^  in  the  courts  of  our 
 God. 
 
 14  They  shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old 
 age  ;  they  shall  be  fat  and  f  flourishing  ; 
 
 lo  To  shew  that  the   Lord  is  upright:  ^ he 
 
 '  He  who  dwtlleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  Most  High, 
 
 Whn  aljideth  under  the  shadow  oi  the  Ahnighty ; 
 
 Who  saith  of  the  Lord,  He  is  ray  refuge  and  my  fortress. 
 
 My  God,  in  whom  I  will  trust — 
 
 Surely  he  shall  deliver  thee  from  the  snare  of  the  fowler,'  Sec. 
 
 Bp.  Loivth. 
 4.  His  feathers,  as  the  bird  her  young,  signifying  aflfection  and  pro- 
 tevtinii.  5,  Arrow,    any  disease  or   plague,    (Deut.  xxxii.  23,  42.) 
 
 6.  The  di'struction,  as  the  pestilence  (iccasioned  by  David's  numbering 
 the  people. — Gill.     Allusion  to  the  simoom. — Mmit.  10.  There  shall 
 
 no  evil,  SfC. — if  Moses  wrote  this  Psalm,  these  promises  may  refer  to 
 exemption  from  the  plagues  and  judgments,  the  serpents  and  wild 
 beasts,  the  pestilence  and  tempest,  by  which  those  were  not  annoyed 
 wlin,  wliile  the  unbelieving  murmured,  put  their  trust  in  God,  and 
 relied  on  his  protection  in  the  wilderness. — So   U'(7.  ii.  Give  his 
 
 atiffels  charge — the  mutilated  and  sophistical  quotation  Satan  made  of 
 this  text  ;see  Matt.  iv.  5 — 7,}  seems  to  imply  that  the  Messiah  was  sup- 
 posed to  be  principally,  though  not  exclusively,  meant.  This  might 
 be,  and  probably  was,  the  case,  but  the  subtle  enemy  that  misquoted, 
 could  also  misapply  the  sacred  scripture,  and  his  testimony  contains 
 no  ijroof. — Scott.  It  can  hardly  be  thought  that  Satan  would  have 
 ventured  to  have  used  this  passage  could  a  misapplication  have  been 
 objected  :  or  if  this  had  not  been  the  received  sense  of  the  place,  he  was 
 to  be  blame  1  for  using  it  for  a  wrong  purpose,  and  omitting  what  fol- 
 lows.— Gill.  13.  Tread  upon  the  lion  and  adder, '  the  asp  and  basilisk.' 
 — Horsley.  These  are  figurative  expressions  for  Satan  and  his  pro- 
 geny of  wicked  men,  over  whom,  believers,  like  their  Captain,  shall 
 triumph. — Scott.  DrngoJi—sce  Deut.  xxxii,  33,  and  Ps.  xliv.  19,  notes. 
 Perhai's  means  the  crocodile  or  alligator.— .^.  Clarke.  Mure  probably 
 a  serpent. — Ed.  14.  Knuivn  mt/  name,  'acknowledged  and  relied  on 
 my  power.* — Put. 
 
 P<.  XCII. — TiTLB — A  Psalm^for  the  sabbath  dat/,  probably  written 
 by  David,  to  whom  the  Arabic  Version  ascribes  it ;  the  musical  instru- 
 ment.s.  the  number  of  enemies,  and  the  mention  of  the  house  and 
 courts  of  tlie  Lord,  best  agree  with  his  times.— (;///.  Probably  written 
 by  David  after  God  had  '  given  him  rest  round  about  from  all  his  ene- 
 
 mies,'(2  Sara.  vii.  1.) — Pat.  Probably  composed  by  Levites  at  the 
 close  of  the  Babylonish  captivity.  —  Cal.  2.   Thy  lomnf^lcindnesSf 
 
 "rnDn,  '  thy  abundant  mercy.' — A.  Clarke.  4.  Thy  work,  ot  crea'ion. 
 —Bp.  Home,  Of  providence. — Rosenm.  To  these  may  be  added  the 
 work  of  grace  in  us,  and  of  redemption  for  us. — Hem-y,  Gilt.  lO.  ilni- 
 cor«, 'rhinoceros.' — .4.  Clarke.  The  Antelope  Leueoryx,  a  species  of 
 goat  with  long  and  sharp  horns. — Winer.  Fresh  oil,  'fresh  or  green 
 oil.' — Ains.  It  probably  means  cold-drawn  oil,  that  which  has  been 
 expressed  or  squeezed  from  the  nut  or  fruit,  without  the  processof  boil- 
 ing. The  Orientals  prefer  this  kind  for  anointing ;  it  is  the  most  pre- 
 cious and  the  most  pure  and  efficacious. — Rufi.  Oil  of  olive,  Targ.  Of 
 myTth.—Abfu  Ezra.  On  feast  days,  they  were  accustomed  to  anoint 
 their  heads  with  oil,  (Ps.  xxiii.  5,)  and  they  used  it  as  a  medicine  to  in- 
 crease their  strength.  Hence  the  sense  is,  'thou  wilt  increa'^e  my 
 strength,  and  give  me  occasion  of  rejoicing.' — Buothr.  'Oil'  often 
 signifies  the  Spirit  of  God,  his  gifts  and  graces;  and  fresh  oil  may 
 intend  new  supplies  of  grace,  and  the  renewed  joys  and  comforts  <'f 
 the  Holy  Ghost.— Gi7/.  Hi.  Like  the  palm  tree,  or  date  tree.  This 
 lofty  tree  is  one  of  the  most  useful  in  the  east.  Its  fruit  is  agreeable 
 food  ;  its  stone  is  ground  down  for  the  camels  to  eat ;  its  leaves  make 
 brushes,  mats,  &c. ;  its  small  branches,  cages  and  fences;  its  fibres 
 under  the  branches,  make  thread,  ropes,  and  rigging  :  its  sap,  spiritu- 
 ous liquor  and  medicine;  and  its  trunk,  fuel,  it  lives  a  hundred 
 years,  and  bears  fruit  every  year  for  seventy,  yielding  about  three  or 
 four  hundred  weight  of  dates. — Dr.  T.  M.  Harris.  This  metaphor  may 
 describe  the  utility  of  the  righteous,  aud  his  tendency  to  revive  under 
 all  oppression;  for  it  is  said  to  be  the  property  of  the  palm  tree  to  rise 
 with  increasing  vignur  after  being  crushed, — Ed.;  also  the  fragrance 
 of  his  rharacter,  and  tlie  perjictuity  of  his  security  and  bliss. — Morisun, 
 Like  a  cedar  in  Lebanon~si.c  Ps.  xxix.  5,  note.  It  has  been  sup. 
 posed  that  some  of  the  cedars  of  Lebanon  have  stood  more  than  a 
 thousand  years.  The  wood  is  incorruptible  and  long-lived. —  Clarke. 
 13.  Those  that  be  planted,  godly  men  are  often  designated  in  scrip- 
 tiu-e  uuder  the  imagerv  of  fruitful,  shadv,  and  luxuriant  trees.  — 
 Hew. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XCI.  —  Two  things  attract  our  notice  nal  God  is  his  refuge.     And  should  death  itself  overtake  him 
 
 in  this  psalm — I.  Dangers.     These  mny  be  spiritual  or  tern-  in  a  common  calamity,  what  has  the  believer  to  fear,  to  whom 
 
 poral.     To  both  we  are  exposed  in  our  journeying  through  to  live  is  Christ,  and  lo  die  is  gain? 
 this  wilderness. 
 
 II.  Prouclon.     In  every  dan.er,  the  believer  Las  a  sure  re-  '  ^  '^ST^^trTfo^M^M'S^  °'  """ 
 
 luge.    It  be  IS  not  preserved  Irom  temptation,  n  is  because  lio  But  Jurtah's  Linn  guards  the  way. 
 
 neglects  to  hide  under  tbe  |.;ii'nt  wing.     If  be  sinks  under  Aud  guidi-s  Uic  tiavellcr  liume.' 
 
 persecution  or  calamity,  it  isliecause  he  forgets  thai  the  et.r- 
 C37 
 
The  majesty  of  Christ's  kingdom.  PSALMS,  XCIII.,  XCIV.,  XCV. 
 
 The  blessedness  of  ajjiiction. 
 
 is  my  rock,  and  "■  there  is  no  unrighteousness 
 in  him. 
 
 PSALM  xcin. 
 
 The  majcsfi/,  poii-er,  and  hvJincss  of  Cfirists  kingdom. 
 
 ^HE  "Lord  reigneth,  ''he  is  clothed  with 
 -^  majest}' ;  the  Lord  is  clothed  with  strength, 
 "  vhcrcivith  lie  hath  girded  himself:  ''  the 
 world  also  is  stablished,  that  it  cannot  be 
 moved. 
 
 2  °Thy  throne  is  established  f  of  old:  thou 
 art  from  everlasting. 
 
 ■i  The  floods  have  lifted  up,  O  Lord,  the 
 floods  have  lifted  up  their  voice  ;  tlie  floods 
 lift  np  tlieir  waves. 
 
 4  'The  Lord  on  high  is  mightier  than  the 
 noise  of  many  waters,  yea,  than  the  mighty 
 waves  of  the  sea. 
 
 5  Thy  testimonies  are  very  sure :  holiness 
 becometh  thine  house,  O  Lord,  f  for  ever. 
 
 PSALM  XCIV. 
 
 ]  Tin--  prophet,  callimj  for  jusCici-,  complainrth  of  ty- 
 ranni/  and  impiity.  8  He  Uocltvih  God's providrncc. 
 12  He  s/iewtt/i  the  blessedness  of  affliction.  \ii  God 
 is  tlie  defnder  ofllie  ujfiieted. 
 
 (~\  Lord  f  God,  "  to  whom  vengeance  be- 
 ^^  longeth  ;  ()  God,  to  whom  vengeance  be- 
 
 longetli,  fslicw  tliyself. 
 •2  ''  Lift  np  tliyself,  tliou  ''judge  of  the  earth: 
 render  a  reward  to  the  proud. 
 
 3  Lord,  •'  how  long  shall  the  wicked,  how 
 long  shall  the  wicked  triumph  y 
 
 4  Ifow  lone/  shall  they  ^' utter  and  speak 
 hard  things?  and  all  the  workers  of  iniquity 
 boast  themselves? 
 
 5  They  break  in  pieces  thy  people,  O  Lord, 
 and  afflict  thine  heritage. 
 
 0  They  slay  the  widow  and  the  stranger,  and 
 murder  the  fatherless. 
 
 7  '  Yet  they  say.  The  Lord  sliall  not  see, 
 neither  shall  the  God  of  Jacob  regard  it. 
 
 8  ^  Understand,  ye  brutish  among  the  people  : 
 and  ye  fools,  when  will  ye  be  wise? 
 
 9  ''  He   that  planted   the  ear,  shall  he  not 
 
 q  Rom.  9. 14. 
 
 a  Pa.  96.  10. 
 &97.1.&99 
 1.  I9.  5-'.  7. 
 Rev.  19.  (j. 
 
 /j  I'a.  KM.  1. 
 
 r  Ps,  dh.  6. 
 
 J  Pa.  96.  10. 
 
 t  Hub.  /o 
 .las: 
 
 t  Hfb.  0.,J 
 
 n  ltc(i.S-;.  35. 
 
 Nah.  I,  2. 
 t   Hcb.  »'..V 
 
 .   I. 
 
 !>  Ps.  7   6. 
 c  Gen.  IS.M. 
 d  Job  -iH.  5. 
 
 /Pa.  10.  n, 
 13  &59.  7. 
 
 e  Tt  -3.  I 
 &  92.  0. 
 
 /  Job  5.  17. 
 Pro,  3.11. 
 I  Cor. 11,32. 
 Heb.  \i.  5, 
 8cc. 
 
 m  I  Sam.  19. 
 i2.  Bnm.ll. 
 
 t  Heb.  shall 
 be  a/ier  il. 
 
 <i  rs.l9t.l,2. 
 ||Or,?..K»(s, 
 
 I>  Amos  6  3 
 
 ?  Ps,  m.  •-', 
 Is.  10.  1. 
 
 t  Ex.  23.  7. 
 Pro.  17.  i:,. 
 
 h  Deu.  .12.15 
 2  Sa,  22,  17 
 
 liear?  he  that  formed  the  eye,  shall  he  not 
 see? 
 
 10  He  that  chastiseth  the  heathen,  shall  not 
 he  correct?  he  that  '  teacheth  man  knowledge, 
 shall  not  he  know  f 
 
 1 1  I"  The  Lord  knoweth  the  thoughts  of  man, 
 that  they  are  vanity. 
 
 1-2  '  Blessed  is  the  man  whom  thou  chas- 
 tenest,  O  Lord,  and  teachest  him  out  of  thy 
 law  ; 
 
 13  That  thou  mayest  give  him  rest  from  the 
 days  of  adversity,  until  the  pit  be  digged  for 
 the  wicked. 
 
 14  "'  For  the  Lord  will  not  cast  off  his  people, 
 neither  will  he  forsake  his  inheritance. 
 
 15  But  judgment  shall  return  unto  righteous- 
 ness :  and  all  the  upright  in  heart  t  shall  fol- 
 low it. 
 
 16  Who  will  rise  up  for  me  against  the  evil- 
 doers? or  who  will  stand  up  for  me  against 
 the  workers  of  iniquity  ? 
 
 17  "  Unless  the  Lord  liad  been  my  help,  my 
 soul  had  II  almost  dwelt  in  silence. 
 
 18  When  I  said,  °  My  foot  slippetli  ;  thy 
 mercy,  O  Lord,  held  me  up. 
 
 19  In  the  multitude  of  my  thoughts  within 
 me  thy  comforts  delight  my  soul. 
 
 '20  Shall  ''  the  throne  of  iniquity  have  fellow- 
 ship with  thee,  which  '  frameth  mischief  by 
 a  law  ? 
 
 ■21  '  They  gather  themselves  together  against 
 the  soul  of  the  righteous,  and  'condemn  the 
 innocent  blood. 
 
 22  lint  the  Lord  is  '  my  defence  ;  and  my 
 God  is  the  rock  of  my  refuge. 
 
 23  And  "  he  shall  bring  upon  them  their  own 
 iniquity,  and  .shall  cut  them  ofT  in  their  own 
 wickedness  ;  yea,  the  Lord  our  God  sliall  cut 
 them  off. 
 
 PSALM  XCV. 
 
 1  An  cxkortatimi  to  ;  raise  Gntf,  3  for  his  ffreufncss, 
 
 G  and  for  hts  gnodncsa,  8  and  not  to  tempt  him. 
 r\   COME,  let  us  siiifT  unto  the  Lord  ;  °  let 
 ^-^  us  make  a  joyful  noise  to  ''  the  rock  of  our 
 salvation. 
 
 Ps.  XCIII.  — David  most  probably  wrote  this  Psalm.— G(7/.  This 
 Psalm  was,  v^i^haps,  cc/raposed  on  occasion  of  some  violent  inundation. 
 — Murff^f.  More  probably  a  fipprativc  description  of  David's  enemies, 
 and  of  those  of  the  church. — Mnrison.  Girded,  a  Hindoo  startiiiffon  a 
 journey,  or  about  to  lift  a  burden,  or  use  any  exertion,  binds  firmly  his 
 loose  upper  garment  around  his  loins. —  Ward.  3.  Floods,  the  rage 
 and  rlamonr  of  the  enemies  of  God's  people  are  frequently  represented 
 by  the  raEring;  and  roaring  of  the  sea. — Green. 
 
 Ps.  XCIV. — 1 ,  O  Lord  God,  ti>  whom  veti^eancet  fyc. — this  is,  probably, 
 a  prayer  of  the  captives  in  Babylon. — A.  Clnrke.  Written  under  grent 
 oppression  in  war,  but  hasnomnrks  of  being  written  in  Babylon. — Sut. 
 Shew  thr/sclf,  or  '  thine  forth,'  as  Ps.  I.-txx.  I,  y'r^n.- jI/oh^.      13.  UtitH 
 
 the  pit  he  diqged,  rather,  'while  the  pit  is  digging.* — Jfenry.  15.  Jvd'^- 
 ment  shall  return,  ^c.,  God's  goveromeDt— the  seeming  disorders  of 
 Providence  shall  be  rectified.  —  Henry.  \8.  Held  me  up,  *nyD\ 
 •  propped  me,'  a  metaphor  frnnj  a  thing  shored  up. — .-I.  Clnrke.  ly.  In 
 the  multitude  nf  my  thoughts,  which  arc  noisy,  like  a  multitude, 
 crowding  and  justling  one  another  like  a  multitude,  and  very  unruly 
 and  ungovernable  ;  *  in  the  multitude  of  my  sorrowful,  solicitous,  timor- 
 ous thoughts.'- //e?)r^. 
 
 Ps.  XCV.  — Composed  by  David,  (Heb.  iv.  7.)— Dp.  Home.  Rather, 
 during  the  captivity  ;  the  Apostle  only  followed  the  common  opinion 
 in  ascribing  it  to  David. — Cnl,  It  is  certainly  preferable  to  yield  to  the 
 authority  of  the  apostle,  who  most  probably  made  his  assertion  under 
 
 Kr.Fi.FCTioNs  ON  Ps.  XCII.  —  I.  Pmi."€  is  the  cmplo^icnt 
 of  the  f/odh/,  hut  juiihcted  hi/  the  ungudh/.  The  believer  sees  God 
 in  all  his  works.  He  surveys  those  of  nature,  anil  exclaims 
 with  delight,  '  My  Father  made  them  all  !' — those  of  Provi- 
 dence, and  exuhing)y  cries,  *  My  Father  sits  at  the  helm  !' — 
 those  of  grace  and  redemption,  and  looks  up  with  joy  to  a  re- 
 conciled Fatlierin  Christ  Jesus.  The  brutish  man  — the  fool 
 — regards  none  of  these  works  of  God's  hands,  or  gives  them 
 but  a  passing  and  transient  attention.  •  God  is  not  in  all  his 
 thoughts.* 
 
 II.  The  ijodhj  shall Jlourisk  in  immortal  vigour,  the  wicked  shall 
 eternally  peri  Jt,  Those  'shall  be  exalted  and  dignified,'  'these 
 shall  be  scattered  and  destroyed.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XCIII.  — This  psalm  describes,  I.  j4 
 storm.  Under  the  figure  of  the  noisy  and  rising  floods,  we 
 behold  the  numerous  and  Irequent  persecutors  of  the  church 
 of  God.  We  raayalso  liai.sfer  our  thoughts  to  those  frequent 
 calamities  incidental  to  htiman  life,  and  to  which  Christians, 
 as  others,  are  liable.  The  water-spout  bursts  over  their 
 heads,  and  the  waves  :;nd  billows  threaten  to  swallow  them 
 638 
 
 up.     But  notice — 
 
 II.  The  linler  nf  the  storm.  'The  Lord  reigneth.'  At  his 
 nod  the  most  boisterous  elements  of  nature  are  still.  He  is 
 mightier  than  all  the  combined  fo^s  of  the  church.  As  tlie 
 earth,  with  its  rocky  bounds,  remains  unmoved  by  the  beating 
 waves,  so  is  Christ's  church  after  every  storm.  '  The  Lord  on 
 high  is  mightier  than  the  noise  of  many  waters,' — they  arc 
 but  as  floating  feathers  when  he  pleases  to  control  their  move- 
 ments. His  word  and  bis  promise  are  pledv:ed  for  the  safety 
 of  his  people,  and  heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away  rather 
 than  these  shall  fail. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XCIV.  —  I.  Let  us  learn  to /(^nrc  our 
 injuries  in  the  liandsofGod.  *  Vengeance  is  mine  j  I  will  repay, 
 sailh  the  Lord.' 
 
 II.  Let  us  view  the  permitted  injuries  of  our  enemies  as  God's 
 chdsttnim/s.  How  much  does  it  deduct  from  the  anguish  of 
 sutfering,  when  we  view  the  rod  in  the  hands  of  a  kind  Fatlier! 
 *  Blessed  is  the  man  whom  thou  chastenest,  O  Lord,  and 
 teachest  biiu  out  of  thy  law.' 
 
An  exiiortatiun  to  praise  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  XCVI.,  XCVII. 
 
 The  majesty  uf  Go</'s  Jiiiitjdom. 
 
 2  Let  us  t  come  before  his  presence  with 
 thanksgiving,  and  make  a  joyful  noise  unto 
 him  with  psahus. 
 
 3  Tor  "  tlie  Lord  is  a  great  God,  and  a  great 
 King  above  all  gods. 
 
 4  t  111  his  hand  arc  the  deep  places  of  the 
 earth  :   ||  the  strength  of  the  hills  is  his  also. 
 
 5  f*  The  sea  is  his,  and  he  made  it :  and  his 
 hands  formed  the  dry  land. 
 
 6  O  come,  let  us  worship  and  buw  down  : 
 let  °  US  kneel  before  the  Loud  onr  maker. 
 
 7  For  he  is  our  God  ;  and  'we  are  the  people 
 of  his  pasture,  and  the  sheep  of  his  hand.  ^  To 
 day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice, 
 
 8  Harden  not  your  heart,  '■  as  in  the  f  provo- 
 cation, and  as  in  the  day  of  temptation  in  the 
 wilderness : 
 
 9  When  'your  fathers  tempted  me,  proved 
 me,  and  '"■  saw  my  work. 
 
 10  '  Forty  years  long  was  I  grieved  with  this 
 generation,  and  said,  It  is  a  people  that  do 
 err  in  their  heart,  and  they  have  not  known 
 my  ways  : 
 
 1 1  Unto  whom  "  I  sware  in  my  wrath  t  t'lat 
 they  should  not  enter  into  my  rest. 
 
 PSALM  XCVL 
 
 I    An  exhortation  to  praise  God,  4  for  Jiis  ffreatness, 
 8  for  his  kingdom,  1 1  for  his  guicral  judymcnt, 
 
 r\  ^SING  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song:  sing 
 ^-'   unto  the  Lord,  all  the  earth. 
 
 2  Sing  unto  the  Lord,  bless  his  name  ;  shew 
 forth  his  salvation  from  day  to  day. 
 
 3  Declare  his  glory  among  the  heathen,  his 
 wonders  among  all  people. 
 
 4  For  ''the  Lord  is  great,  and  "" greatly  to  be 
 praised  :  ''he  is  to  be  feared  above  all  gods. 
 
 5  For  ^all  the  gods  of  the  nations  are  idols: 
 ^but  the  Lord  made  the  heavens. 
 
 t  Heb.  pre- 
 vent It'll  fuel. 
 
 t  Met).  In 
 
 II  Or,  lh« 
 hfighttvflhi 
 
 t  Heb  /rhof 
 thf  tea  is. 
 rfGen.1.9,10. 
 
 /Fs.  79.  13. 
 
 R<  SiK  I .  & 
 
 3. 
 
 ff  Hi-b.  3.  7, 
 
 ir>.  &  4.  7. 
 A  Kx.  )7.?.7. 
 
 Nil    11.  '*■>, 
 
 kc.Ht-Zt)  IS. 
 
 Deti  6.  It), 
 t  Heb.  eoii- 
 
 tpiitinn. 
 i  Vs.  78.  18, 
 
 4(1.  5ii. 
 
 I  Coi-  10.  9- 
 h  Nil.  I4.'2-J. 
 /  Heb.  3.  10, 
 
 17. 
 
 m  Niiin.  U. 
 
 23,  -iS,  30. 
 
 Heb.  3.  n, 
 
 19.  «i  4.  8,3. 
 t  Heb  i/lhey 
 
 eulir  iuto 
 
 my  real. 
 
 n  I  Chr.   Ifi. 
 L'l— 3.S. 
 I'a.  33.  3. 
 
 h  Pa,  \\5.  S 
 c  Ps.  I».  3. 
 d  Ps.  9j.  3. 
 e  See  Jer.lO. 
 
 II,  IS. 
 /P?.  IIS.I.S. 
 
 Is.  4-2.  5. 
 
 g  Pi.  29.  2. 
 A  Ps.  29.  1,2, 
 
 I  P9.  39.  2. 
 
 &  no.  3. 
 
 li  Or.  tn  Me 
 
 k  Pa,  mS.h 
 
 97.  I.  Rev. 
 
 11.  15. &  as. 
 
 6. 
 /ver.13.  Ps 
 
 67  1  *9fl.9. 
 m  Ps.  f'9.3i. 
 I,  Pa.  'JS.  7, 
 
 o  P9.  67.  4. 
 Rev.  19.  H. 
 
 .  Va.  9fi.  10. 
 t  Heb,  marl/, 
 
 or,  ^reat 
 
 izlri. 
 A  Is.  6i>.  9. 
 
 I  Kin.  8  12. 
 
 Ps.  18.  II. 
 d  Ps.  89.   14. 
 II  Or,  M/rt- 
 
 bliihment. 
 c  Pa.  19.  8. 
 
 k  50.  3. 
 
 Dan.  7.  IH. 
 
 Hab.  3,  5. 
 /Ex.  19.  18. 
 
 Ps.77.  18Kt 
 
 104.  32. 
 
 G     Honour    and    majesty   are   before   him 
 strength  and  ^beauty  are  in  his  sanctuary. 
 
 7  ••  Give  unto  the  Lord,  O  ye  kindreds  of 
 the  people,  give  unto  tlie  Lord  giory  and 
 strength. 
 
 8  Give  unto  the  Lord  the  glory  ^  due  unto 
 his  name  :  bring  an  ottering,  and  come  into  his 
 courts. 
 
 9  O  worship  the  Lord  '  |[  in  the  beauty  of 
 holiness  :  fear  before  him,  all  t!ie  earth. 
 
 10  Say  among  the  heathen  that  ''the  LoRr> 
 reigneth  :  the  world  also  shall  be  established 
 that  it  shall  not  be  moved:  '  he  shai!  judge 
 the  people  righteously. 
 
 11  '"Let  the  heavens  rejoice,  and  let  the 
 earth  be  glad  ;  "let  the  sea  roar,  and  the  ful- 
 ness thereof. 
 
 12  Let  the  field  be  joyful,  and  all  that  is 
 therein  :  then  shall  all  the  trees  of  the  wood 
 rejoice 
 
 13  Before  the  Lord  :  for  he  cometh,  for  he 
 Cometh  to  judge  the  earth:  °  he  shall  judj^e 
 the  world  with  righteousues.s,  and  the  people 
 with  his  truth. 
 
 PSALM  XCVIL 
 
 I  The  majesti/  of  God*s  kingdom.  7  The  church  re- 
 juici'th  at  God's  jJid(/mfi7its  upon  ithhiters.  10  Ail 
 exhurtatiun  to  godliness  and  <,hidness, 
 
 ^HE  ^  Lord  reigneth  ;  let  the  earth  re- 
 -*-  joice;  let  the  fmultitude  of ''isles  be  glad 
 thereof 
 
 2  '^Clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about 
 him:    ** righteousness  and  judgment  are   the 
 
 II  habitation  of  his  throne. 
 
 3  "  A  fire  goetli  before  him,  and  burneth  up 
 his  enemies  round  about. 
 
 4  '  His  lightnings  enlightened  the  world:  the 
 earth  saw,  and  trembled. 
 
 inspiration. — Ed.  The  Jews,  with  one  consent,  refer  this  Psnlm  to  tlie 
 days  of  the  Messiah.  It  was  composed  by  David  when  God  had  put  ail 
 adjacent  nations  under  his  power. — Sut.  4.   The  strength   of  the 
 
 hills,  *the  loftiest  and  largest  hills.' — Hnm.  *  Tlie  inaccessible  sum- 
 mits of  the  mountain';.' — Hitrsley.  /.  Today — when  David  said,  *to 
 day,'  meaning  his  own  age,  the  gospel  day  was  also  intended,  (Heb. 
 iii.  7;  iv.  7 — in.) — Snt.  9.  As  in  the  provocation,  Sfc, '  as  in  Meribah.' 
 — Pfig.,  Mo7it.,  Muse.,  GeJ.,  Mich.,  Ains.  As  in  the  day  nf  temptution, 
 *as  in  Massa.*— i'*/^.,  Mont.,  Muse,  ^c.  rCQ  DV3  nr"l03.  The 
 places  were  denominated  by  names  taken  from  transactions  that 
 occurred  in  them  ;  and  the  introduction  of  those  names  gives  more 
 liveliness  t"  the  allusion. —  Mant.  II.  Rest,  Canaan,  the  type  of 
 
 heaven. —  Wells.  Heaven,  of  which  the  Sabbath  and  land  of  Canaan 
 were  but  figures. — Sut. 
 
 Ps.  XCVI.  — '  A  Song  of  David,  when  the  house  was  built,  after  the 
 captivity,'  ^nlff.,  Sept.,  Ethiop.,  Arab.  'A  Song  of  David,'  Syi\  We 
 learn  from  1  Chron.  .tvi.,  that,  on  the  removal  of  the  ark  to  the  place 
 prepared  for  it  on  Mount  Zion,  David  delivered  this  Psalm  to  be  sung 
 in  commemoration  of  God's  special  presence  among  them.  By  com- 
 mon consent  of  Jews  and  Christians,  it  is  applied  to  the  times  of  the 
 Messiah. — Home,  Travfll.  We  learn  from  the  Greek  Version,  it  was 
 used,  with  some  alterations,  at  the  dedication  of  the  second  temple. — 
 Rosenm.        1.  NeWt  'famous,'  'excellent.' — Gill,        2.  Sheiu  forth. 
 
 £vayfe\iretr6e  iyficpav  ef  hp-epazro  crtarnp'oy  avrov,  '  evangelize  his  salva- 
 tion,' ike,  Sept.  3.  His  wonders,  vmN?33,  '  his  miracles.'  Dwell  on 
 the  works  which  he  shall  perform  in  Judeaj  alluding  to  Christ's 
 miracles.        4.  Fur  the  Lord,  ffc. — 
 
 '  Jehovah  is  great,  and  greatly  to  be  praised  ! 
 Elohim  is  to  be  feared  above  all.' — .4.  Clarke. 
 
 5.  Idols,  'vain  idoLs.' — Ains.  Literally  'things  of  nought.' — Boothr. 
 8.  The  glory  due,  ^c,  lO^D  1133,  *  the  glory  of  his  name.' — Pag.,  Mont.^ 
 Ains.,  Pise,  ^c.  9.  In  the  heauty  of  holiness,  UJlp  rmni.     Ev  ai/Arj 
 
 a7ia  auToif,  *  in  his  ijoly  temple,'  Sept.  'In  the  tabernacle  or  sanc- 
 tuary.'— Sherlock.  'In  holy  garments,*  such  as  the  high  priest  wore, 
 given  him  for  glory  and  beauty. — Clarke. 
 
 Ps.XCV'lI.— 1.  The  multitude  of  isles,  0>2T  n"t4.  'its  numerous 
 regions.' — Boothr.,  as  Mich.  'The  various  settlements  of  man.' — 
 Horsley,  'The  isles  arc  many  thousands.'  Colainbns  saw  3"00  when 
 he  first  discovered  America.  Gejerus  mentions  a  converted  Indian 
 king,  in  155.3,  who  ruled  over  l!,0(io.  tn  Maldavar,  there  are  reckoned 
 l6,000. — Gill.  2.  Clouds  and  darkness,  'impenetrable  obscurity.' — 
 
 Truvell.  Images  borrowed  from  the  descentof  God  on  Sinai.— Sow/Ar. 
 Righteous7iess,  pi:?,  the  princiiile  aciing  according  to  justice  and 
 etiuity.  And  judgment,  TCDTUO,  the  principle  that  discerns,  orders, 
 directs,  and  determines. — A.  Clarke.     The  huOitation,  'the  platform.' 
 
 Rffi.i-ctions  on  Ps.  XCV.  —  L  '  The  Lord  is  a  great  God.' 
 What  sublime  ideas  of  the  Supreme  Being  are  presented  to 
 us  in  the  Scriptures  !  Yet,  when  we  look  upon  his  magnifi- 
 cent works,  how  little  do  tbey  affect  our  minds!  The  heavens 
 above  us,  and  the  earth  around  us  and  beneath  us,  teem  with 
 displays  of  his  grandeur.  Nature  is  a  volume  which  may  be 
 most  profitably  read  under  the  guidance  of  revelation.  God 
 will  then  dwell  in  our  minds,  whether  in  the  cavern  or  on  the 
 mountain  ;  whether  riding  on  the  majestic  ocean,  or  travelling 
 on  the  surface  of  (he  earth. 
 
 II.  *  Let  US  kneel  Ik  fire  the  Lord  our  Mak<.T.^  A  right  view  of 
 God  in  his  works  will  draw  from  our  hearts  the  grateful  ho- 
 mage which  is  due  to  him.  lie  who  made  all  things  around 
 us,  is  '  our  Maker,'  by  whose  bands  we  are  fearfully  and  won- 
 derfully made  ;  and  if  we  are  made  'new  creatures  in  Christ 
 Jesus,'  we  have  to  adore  him  not  only  as  the  original  framer, 
 but  as  the  restorer  of  our  frame.  Then,  is  this  great  God  be- 
 639 
 
 come  our  Shepherd,  and  we  the  sheep  of  his  pasture— the  ob- 
 jects of  his  pecuhar  love  and  care  ?  May  our  souls  feed  in  his 
 pastures,  and  we  finally  enter  into  his  rest !' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  XGVI. — I.  if^to  have  suck  reason  to 
 praise  God  as  those  who  enjoy  his  great  salvation  ?  Indeed,  in- 
 gratitude here  is  unpardonable,  and  tlie  tongue  of  the  redeemed 
 soul  cannot  be  silent  in  its  Kedei'mer's  praise.  We  must  shew 
 forth  his  salvation  from  day  to  day. 
 
 11.  Who  can  enjog  this  great  salvation  unthout  aiming  to  extend 
 it  to  others?  and  especially  shall  we  pity  the  condition  of  the 
 heathen  world,  and  declare  tiie  Saviour's  glories  there.  Chris- 
 tians cannot  all  engage  in  this  work,  hut,  by  their  earnest 
 prayers  and  liberal  conlributions  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel, 
 they  may  '  say  among  the  heathen  that  the  Lord  reigneth.'  So 
 shall  heaven  and  earth  wear  a  more  delightful  aspect,  while 
 He  shall  judge  the  universal  world,  whose  is  tlie  kingdom,  tlie 
 power,  and  the  glory.     Amen. 
 
An  crhortation  to  praise  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  XCVTII.,  XCIX.         The  Jews  exhorted  to  worship  God. 
 
 5  ^  The  hills  melted  like  wax  at  the  presence 
 of  the  Lord,  at  the  presence  of  the  Lord  of 
 tlie  whole  earth. 
 
 6  I"  The  heavens  declare  his  righteousness, 
 and  all  the  people  see  his  glory. 
 
 7  '  Confounded  be  all  they  that  serve  graven 
 images,  that  boast  themselves  of  idols  :  '  wor- 
 ship him,  all  pe  gods. 
 
 8  Zion  heard,  and  was  glad  ;  and  the  daugh- 
 ters of  .Tndah  rejoiced  because  of  thy  jndg- 
 nientii,  O  Lord. 
 
 9  For  thou.  Lord,  art  '  high  above  all  the 
 earth  :  "'  thou  art  exalted  far  above  all  gods. 
 
 10  Ye  that  love  the  Lord,  "  hate  evil  :  °he 
 prescrvetli  the  souls  of  his  saints;  '"be  deli- 
 veretli  them  out  of  the  band  of  the  wicked. 
 
 1 1  ''  Light  is  sown  for  the  righteous  and 
 gladness  for  tlie  upright  in  heart. 
 
 1'2  '  Rejoice  in  the  Loud,  ye  righteous  ;  'and 
 give  thanks  |{  at  the  remembrance  of  his  holi- 
 ness. 
 
 PSALM  XCVIIL 
 
 1    The  jisahnist  crhorlelfi  the  Ji^ws,  4  tJie  Gentiles,  7  and 
 ait  t/te  creaturts  to  praise  Gud. 
 
 A  Ps.ilm. 
 
 (~\  "SING  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song;  for 
 ^^  ^  lie  bath  done  marvellous  things :  '  his 
 right  hand,  and  his  holy  arm,  hath  gotten  him 
 the  victory. 
 
 '2  ''  The  Loud  hath  made  known  his  salvation : 
 •  his  righteousness  hath  he  ||  openly  shewed  in 
 the  sight  of  the  heathen. 
 
 3  He  hath  'remembered  his  mercy  and  his 
 truth  toward   the   house  of  Israel:   ^all   the 
 
 g  J.idg.  5.  5 
 
 Mio.  1.  4. 
 
 Nail,  1.  5. 
 
 k  Pb    19.  1. 
 
 h  Ps.  05.  1. 
 
 &  50-  6. 
 
 &  lO-J.  I. 
 
 i  Kx    20.  4. 
 
 Lev.  26.  1. 
 
 Dtiut.  b.  8. 
 
 &  27.  15. 
 
 k  Heb.  1.6. 
 
 t  Pa.  83.  18. 
 
 m  Ex.  l».\\. 
 
 Ps-  93.  3.  & 
 
 .  Nu.  10   10. 
 
 06,  +. 
 
 1  Chriass. 
 
 n  Ps.  U    11 
 
 :iLlir.2!l.27 
 
 &  37.  27.  Ik 
 
 A  Ps.  96.  11, 
 
 101.  3. 
 
 &r. 
 
 .Airtos.'i.  13 
 
 Kdiii.  1-'.  V. 
 
 0  Ps.  31.  t-i. 
 
 /  Is.  55.  12. 
 
 h  S7.  23.  & 
 
 1+."..  20. 
 
 Prov.  2.  8. 
 
 m  Pb.  99.  10, 
 
 ;i  Pa.  37.  3P, 
 
 13. 
 
 40.  Dan.  -S. 
 
 29.  &  6.  22, 
 
 27. 
 
 q  Job  92.  29. 
 
 Ps.  1  li.  4. 
 
 Ptov.  4    18, 
 
 r  Ps    33    1, 
 
 «  Pa.  30.  1. 
 
 II  Or,  it  ifta 
 
 tn^iiio'iat. 
 
 a  Ps.  a3,  3, 
 
 &  M    1.  la. 
 
 4i.  10. 
 
 1  Ps.  93.  1. 
 
 6  Ex. 15    11 
 
 Ps.77  14.  K. 
 
 AKx,  S5   2i. 
 
 80  I0,&  Ul,^ 
 
 Ps.  IS.  10. 
 
 a.  ft  ISO.  1. 
 
 &  81).  1. 
 
 &  ISO.  M. 
 
 t  Hob. 
 
 c  Kx,  15.  U 
 
 >l'IK!i«T. 
 
 Is.  fjit    16.  & 
 
 c  Ps.  97-  9. 
 
 m.  3. 
 
 <l  Is.  5?.  M. 
 
 d  Deu.  28  Sfl 
 
 Luke  2.  3(1, 
 
 Kev.  15  4 
 
 SL 
 
 f  U.  02.  2 
 
 f  Job  30   5, 
 
 koin.  S  25, 
 
 6,  7. 
 
 ||Or,  r*i'«W 
 
 /Luke  l.M, 
 
 t>b.  Ti. 
 
 r  vcr.  0. 
 
 g  Is.  4!)  6   & 
 
 g  1  Ohr.  28.2 
 
 5-.M0.  Luke 
 
 Ps-  1S2    7. 
 
 2.  30.  31,  8i 
 
 II  or,  it  is 
 
 3.  6.  Acta 
 
 l.oly. 
 
 13.  47.  &S3. 
 
 l,l.L-v.  19.2. 
 
 23. 
 
 i  Jer.  15.  L 
 
 ends  of  the  earth  have  seen  the  salvation  of  our 
 God. 
 
 4  "  Make  a  joyful  noise  unto  the  Lord,  all 
 the  earth  :  make  a  loud  noise,  and  rejoice,  and 
 sing  praise. 
 
 o  Sing  unto  the  Lord  witli  Ibc  harp  ;  with 
 the  harp,  and  the  voice  of  a  |isalni. 
 
 6  '  With  trumpets  and  sound  of  cornet  make 
 a  joyful  noise  before  the  Lord,  the  King. 
 
 7  '■Let  tlie  sea  roar,  and  the  fnliiess  thereof; 
 the  world,  and  they  that  dwell  therein. 
 
 8  Let  the  floods'  '  clap  their  hands  :  let  the 
 bills  be  joyful  together 
 
 9  Before  the  Lord;  "for  he  Cometh  to  judge 
 the  earth  :  with  righteousness  shall  he  judge 
 the  world,  and  the  people  with  equity. 
 
 PSALM  XCIX. 
 
 I  The  proj'ht-t,  setting  forth  the  hinpihm  of  God  in 
 Zion,  5  ixhorteth  all,  Oi/  the  e.tainjjtc  of  forefather  s, 
 to  worship  God  at  his  kuly  hill. 
 
 npHE  °  Lord  reigneth  ;  let  tlie  people  trcm- 
 -■-  ble  :  ^'he  s'lttetli  between  the  cherubims  ; 
 let  the  earth  f  be  moved. 
 
 2  The  Lord  is  great  in  Zion  ;  and  he  is 
 ■■'high  above  all  the  people. 
 
 3  Let  them  praise  ^  thy  great  and  terrible 
 name  ;  for  it  is  holy. 
 
 4  **  The  king's  strength  also  loveth  judgment ; 
 thou  dost  establish  equity,  thou  executest 
 judgment  and  rigiiteousness  in  Jacob. 
 
 5  'Exalt  ye  the  Lord  our  God,  and  worship 
 at  ^  his  footstool  ;  foi-  \\  "  lie  is  holy. 
 
 6  '  Moses  and  Aaron  among  his  priests,  and 
 Samuel  among  them  that  call  upon  his  name  ; 
 
 — Hoi-slpt/.  Tlie  seat,  basis,  and  support.— Gi7/.  5.  The  Lord  of  the 
 whole  earth,  '  i\\e  director,  stay,  and  support  of  the  whole  earth.' — A. 
 Clarke.  ".  0/  idols,  Wybtt2,  '  in  nothings.'— So  some  in  Viit.,  Core, 
 SfC.  *  No  gods,'  {-2  Chron.  xiii.  9.)  All  ye  gods,  kings  and  princes,  (Ps. 
 xcv.  .i.an.l  Ixx.xii.  1.  6.)—Gili.  *  All  that  is  God's.'— Gussettux.  Does 
 not  the  Apostle  e.xplain  it  to  mean  '  ang-i'Is  "-'  ;Heb.  i.  6.)-~Boothr.  It 
 is  probable  the  Apostle  cited  rather  from  this  passage  than  from  Dout. 
 3f.x.xii.    43. — Num.  8.    D'uiL^hters,    cities,    of  which  Zion    was    tlie 
 
 mutliercity.— Zfoo//j»-.  Churches.— G'(7/.  II.  Lig-Ai.  that  is,  joy  and  glad- 
 ness,  asjn  next  clause.— G'(7/.  See  Estli.  viii.  Ifi.  Is  sown,  'dawns 
 on,'  Tnrff.,  Sept.,  Ancient  Versions.  'Uatli  shone  on,'  Sr/r.  '  Is  dif- 
 fused.* — Wa(/.  This  Psalm  is  not  so  much  a  description  of  G'd's  do- 
 minion over  the  Jews,  as  a  prophecy  of  the  dominion  of  Christ  over  all 
 nations. —  Osfervuld. 
 
 Ps.  XCVIII.— Title  — ^  P.snlm,  of  Pavid,  so  Sept.,  Vuh^.,  St/r., 
 Arah.,  KUtiop.  Prophetic  of  the  Messiah. — Gill.  Probably  written  to 
 celebrate  the  deliverance  from  the  llabylonisli  captivity,  but  prophetic 
 of  Christ's  redemption.— C/firAe.  It  resembles  Ps.  xcvi.  3.  Ends, 
 countries.— WW/i.  The  most  distant  parts  of  Judea.—/feif,  6.  With 
 trumpets,  T^^'^':S'27\~curnef,  IDITT-  Both  these  words,  in  the  Hebrew, 
 signify  trumpets,  but  where  they  occur  together,  our  translators  render 
 the  latter  'cornet.'  In  the  Common  Prayer  Book  translation,  it  is 
 'shawms.'— il/fi«/.  '  V^^ith  ductile  trumpet's/  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Etfiiop. ; 
 meaning  such  as  were  made  of  silver,  as  tlie  two  trumpets  for  the 
 calling  of  the  assembly,  (Num.  x.  Q.'i  Jonephus  says  they  were  near 
 a  cubit  ill  length,  narrow  in  the  pipe,  somewhat  thicker  than  a  flute, 
 having  a  mouth  piece,  and  ending  like  a  bell.  The  cornet  was  a 
 trumpet  or  pipe  made  of  hum,  such  as  the  priests  used  at  Jericho, 
 
 (Josh.  vi.  4.)— Gill.  As  the  root  of  this  word  signifies  *  goodly,'  '  beau- 
 tiful,' Sic,  the  instrument  might  have  derived  its  name  trom  its  goodly, 
 majestic,  eheeiingsnunil.  —  Far.  B'-fore  the  Lord,  the  King,  ~tb'3n^3D'l 
 7T)rt^,  'before  the  Kintr,  the  LortS,'—Piig.,Jiin.,  Trent.,  ^c. ;  or'  perhaps 
 better,  'before  the  King  Jkiiuvah.* — Ed.  'Before  Jehovah,  tiie 
 King.'— Horsley.  7.  The  sea  roar,  fyc.—:dl   creation,  animate  and 
 
 inanimate. — Home,  Tnti'ell.  The  rivers  and  moun'ains  are  personified. 
 — Boolhr.  Maritnne  countries  and  commercial  nations  may  be  in- 
 tended. 8.  The  floods,  fmn],  'the  rivers,'  proi)ably  meaning  im- 
 mense continents,  where  Inrge  rivers  are  found. 
 
 Ps.  XCIX.  —  l.Sittefh  between  the  cherubims  — t\\\s  implies  God's 
 grace  and  mercy,  alluding  to  the  ark,  and  the  clierub  of  glory  at  each 
 end,  on  the  lid  of  which,  called  also  the  mercy-seiit,  the  SheehmJih 
 appeared.  This  symbol  was  not  in  the  second  temple,  but  it  had 
 become  one  of  his  titles. — A.  Clarke.  4.  The  king's  strength,  ^-c.,  vt 
 '  he  who  is  a  strong  and  mighty  king.* — Gill.  Although  the  strength 
 of  our  king  be  infinite,  yet  it  is  never  e.verted  but  in  'righteousness' 
 and  just  'judgment.' — Bp.  Home.  IS",  which  we  render  'strength,* 
 may  be  an  adjective  signifying  '  mighty,'  and  belong,  with  its  copu- 
 lativei, '  and,'  to  the  end  of  the  preceding  verse,  which  would  then  read, 
 '  for  it  is  holy  and  mighty.' — Street. 
 
 '  Let  these,  therefore,  celebrate  his  great  and  awful  name, 
 For  he  is  holy  and  powerlui; 
 The  king  loves  judgment,'  &c.~Green. 
 
 6.  il/o.ies  and  Aaron  among  his  priests — Moses  officiated  as  a  priest  be- 
 fore Aaron  was  called  and  separated  to  that  service;  he  consecrated 
 and  installed  him  in  it,  and,  among  other  things,  by  olTering  sacrifice, 
 
 Reflectio.vs   on   Ps.   XCVII I.   God's  government  of  the 
 
 world  and  the  dmrch  shovhl  fill  cvirij  heart  with  jog.  AVliat  a 
 world  would  tiiis  be  if  the  Lord  did  not  reign  !  IIow  much  of 
 depravity  breaks  forth  which  hf  subdues  !  Low  much  does  he 
 restrain  ;  and  willi  wbat  wisdom  he  overrules  all  for  the  fiood 
 of  the  church  and  his  own  glory,  futurity  will  unfold.  While 
 in  his  providence  he  governs  tlie  world  as  '  King  of  kings,'  he 
 rules  in  grace  as  King  in  Zion,  and  Israel  have  reason  to  rejoice 
 in  his  merciful  sway.  *  Let,*  then,  '  the  children  of  Zion  be 
 joyful  in  their  King.* 
 
 II.  God's  government  of  the  world  and  the  church  is  always 
 righteous  and  just,  thoujh  often  involved  in  mystery.  When  the 
 enemies  of  his  church  have  accomplished  his  purposes,  and 
 even,  by  their  enmity,  caused  it  to  rise  more  beautiful  in  holi- 
 ness and  more  sublime  from  its  threatened  ruin,  they  shall  he 
 cast  aside  as  the  useless  scaffolding  of  the  building.  Those 
 whose  hearts  do  not  melt  in  sorrow  before  him,  shall  be  burned 
 640 
 
 up  in  his  wrath  ;  while  the  righteous,  who  have  sown  in  tears, 
 shall  '  reap  in  joy, 'and  eternally  '  give  thanks  at  the  remem- 
 brance of  his  holiness.' 
 
 llKf  LECTIONS  OS  Ps.  XCVIIL  —  I.  The  work  of  redemption 
 demands  a  most  e.rctlient  song,  and  never  shall  we  celebrate  it  iu 
 strains  worthy  of  such  a  theme  till  we  join  Uie  chorus  of  the 
 redeemed  above.  I'ben,  as  tiie  theme,  so  the  song  will  be 
 ever  new,  never  wearying,  never  ending. 
 
 II.  In  this  song  all  nations  shall  unite,  for  the  salvation  and 
 righteousness  of'Christ  are  no  longer  limited  to  one  favoured 
 land,  but  extend  to  the  continents  and  islands  of  the  whulo 
 world.  Men  of  every  tribe  and  colour  now  levirn  tiiai '  there 
 is  neither  Jew  nor  Greek,  Barbarian,  Scythian,  bond  nor  free, 
 but  Cbrist  is  all  and  in  all.'  And  all  nations  shall  swell  the 
 eternal  chorus  of  praise.  '  Thou  art  worthy,  for  thou  hast 
 redeemed  ua  to  God  by  thy  blood,  out  of  every  kindred,  and 
 tongue,  and  people,  and  nation.' 
 
Alt  exiwriaiion  to  praise  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  C,  CI.,  ClI. 
 
 David's  profession  of  godliness. 
 
 they  '  called  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  answered 
 them. 
 
 7  '  He  spaUe  unto  them  in  the  cloudy  pillar: 
 they  kept  his  testimonies,  and  the  ordinance 
 that  he  gave  them. 
 
 8  Tliou  ausweredst  them,  O  Lord  our  God  : 
 "'  thou  wast  a  God  that  forgavest  them,  though 
 "  thou  tookest  vengeance  of  their  inventions. 
 
 9  °  Exalt  the  Lord  our  God,  and  worship 
 at  his  holy  hill  ;  for  the  Lokd  our  God  is 
 holy. 
 
 PSALM  C. 
 
 1  An   exiiortatloii  tu  praise  God  dieerfiilli/,  3  for  liis 
 
 greatness,  4  and  for  ids  power. 
 
 *  A  Psalm  of  ||  praise. 
 
 IVr  AKE  "  a  joyful  noise  unto  the  Lord,  fall 
 -'■'-'-  ye  lands. 
 
 2  Serve  the  Lord  with  gladness  :  come  be- 
 fore his  presence  with  singing. 
 
 3  Know  ye  that  the  Lord  he  is  God  :  ''  it  is 
 he  that  hath  made  us,  ||  and  not  we  ourselves  ; 
 '  we  are  his  people,  and  the  sheep  of  his  pasture. 
 
 4  ^  Enter  into  his  gates  with  thanksgiving, 
 and  into  his  courts  with  praise  :  be  thankful 
 unto  him,  and  bless  his  name. 
 
 .5  For  the  Lord  is  good  ;  "his  mercy  is  ever- 
 lasting ;  and  his  truth  endureth  f  to  all  gene- 
 rations. 
 
 PSALM  CL 
 
 David  makelli  a  row  and  profession  of  godliness. 
 A  Psalin  of  David. 
 °  T  WILL  sing  of  mercy  and  judgment  :  unto 
 ■*-  thee,  O  Lord,  will  I  sing. 
 
 k  Ek.  H.  15. 
 
 fc  15  :;5. 
 
 1  Sam.  7.  9. 
 
 m  Xu.  14  20. 
 
 Jer.   16.  29. 
 
 Zt-ph.  .3.  7. 
 (I  See  Ex.32. 
 
 2,  f<c.  Nu. 
 
 iO.  12,  24. 
 
 Dcu.  9.  20. 
 0  vor.  6. 
 
 Ex    15.  2. 
 
 Ps.  U.  3.  & 
 
 1 18.  28. 
 
 •  Ts.  145. 
 title 
 II  Or,  thnnki 
 
 t  Ueh.aUlhe 
 
 b  Pa.  119.73. 
 
 &  139   13, 
 
 &c,  &  149.2. 
 
 Kpli.  2.  10. 
 II  Or,  and  hU 
 
 ice  are. 
 c  Pa.  05.  7. 
 
 Ezek.  31.30, 
 
 31. 
 ,t  Ps.  66.  13, 
 
 &  110.17, 
 
 18,  19.      • 
 *•  Ps.  130.  1, 
 
 &.■. 
 t  Hcb.  to  ffc- 
 
 uaalim  tmd 
 
 gentriit'On. 
 
 Pa.  83.  1. 
 
 r  1  Kill.  9    1. 
 &  11.  4 
 
 t  Ilfb.  Il.wg 
 of  Beliid. 
 d  Pa.  97.  10. 
 c  Josh.  23.  6 
 
 1  Sam.  12. 
 20,21.  Ps. 
 m.  4.  &  125. 
 5. 
 
 AlWat   7.  il 
 
 2  Tim.  2  19. 
 g  Ps    IB   27 
 
 Piov.  6.  17. 
 
 11  Or,  r/^rfget 
 in  the  tnoi/. 
 Ps.  119.  l. 
 
 t  Heb.  thnll 
 mil  be  fitii- 
 MMed. 
 
 Ps.  48.  2,  8. 
 
 II  0r,/,r, 
 •  Ps.  61.  2 
 
 &  142,  2. 
 o  Ex.  2.  23. 
 
 1  Sam  9.  16 
 
 Ps-  18.  G. 
 b  Ps-  27   9. 
 
 ft:  69-  17. 
 
 •2  I  will  ''  behave  myself  wisely  in  a  perfect 
 way.  O  when  wilt  thou  come  unto  ine '?  I 
 will  '^  walk  within  my  house  with  a  perfect 
 heart. 
 
 3  I  will  set  no  f  wicked  tiling  before  mine 
 eyes  :  ^  I  hate  the  work  of  them  '  that  turn 
 aside  ;  it  shall  not  cleave  to  me. 
 
 4  A  froward  heart  shall  depart  from  me  :  I 
 will  not  '  know  a  wicked  person. 
 
 5  Whoso  privily  slandereth  his  neighbour, 
 him  will  I  cut  off:  ^him  that  hath  an  high 
 look  and  a  proud  heart  will  not  I  suffer. 
 
 6  Mine  eyes  shall  be  upon  the  faithful  of  the 
 land,  that  they  may  dwell  with  me  :  he  tliat 
 walketh  ||  in  a  perfect  way,  he  shall  serve  me. 
 
 7  He  that  worketli  deceit  shall  not  dwell 
 within  my  house:  he  tliat  telleth  lies  f  shall 
 not  tarry  in  my  sight. 
 
 8  I  will  '■  early  destroy  all  the  wicked  of  the 
 land  ;  that  1  may  cut  off  all  wicked  doers 
 '  from  the  city  of  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CI  I. 
 
 1  TIic  propJiet  in  ids  pray.r  makef/t  a  grievous  com- 
 plaint. 12  He  tiiliCtli  comfort  in  lite  elirnili/  and 
 mercy  of  God.  18  Ttie  mercies  of  God  arc  to  be  re- 
 cordvd.  2:3  He  snstaineth  ids  weakness  by  tiie  un~ 
 c/tangeableness  of  God. 
 
 A  Pi-.iyer  ||  of  the  afflicted,  *  when  he  is  overwhelmed, 
 antl  poureth  out  his  complaint  before  the  Lord. 
 
 TTEAR  my  prayer,  O  Lord,  and  let  my  cry 
 ■*--'•  "  come  unto  thee. 
 2  ''  Hide  not  thy  face  from   me  in  the  day 
 when  I  am  in  trouble  ;  '  incline  thine  ear  unto 
 
 ^Exod.  .\-xix.  1  ;  see  also  Excel,  xxiv.  7,  8  ;  Num.  vii.  1,  &c.)  —  GUI. 
 These  are  here  cited  as  examples.  8.  A  God  that  forgavest  tttem, 
 perhaps  an  allusion  to  the  golden  calf,  and  to  Moses'  sinful  distrust  at 
 Meribah. — Hew. 
 
 Ps.  C.  — Title — 0/ praise,  supposed  to  have  been  used  when  peace- 
 offerings  for  thanksgivings  were  olTered  np,  (Lev.  vii.  11,  12.)  The 
 scope  is  to  exhort  tlie  Gentiles  to  praise  the  Messiah. — Gilt.  It  is  pro. 
 bable  this  Psalm  was  composed  after  the  captivity. — .4.  Clarice.  There 
 is  not  the  slightest  grouml  for  such  a  conjecture. — Sut.  1.  All  ye 
 lands,  yiwrt  '73,  'all  the  earth,'  i.  e..  all  its  inhabitants,  Vulg. ;  Pag., 
 fllont.'efc.  Not  only  Jews,  but  Gentiles. — .i.  Clarke.  This  is  doubt- 
 less the  prophetic  meaning,  but  the  Psalm  appears  primarily  to  have 
 called  upon  all  the  Israelites,  *  all  the  land'  of  Judea,  to  unite  as  one 
 body  in  praising  God. — Kd.  4.  G«?cs,  of  his  sanctuary. — Pat.  Witti 
 tfianksgifing,  mini,  'with  the  confession-offering  or  sacrifice.' — A. 
 Cliirke.  '  With  confession.'  5.  Trutti,  so  it  is  literally,  but  it  implies 
 steadfast  love. — Hurslcy.  His  faithfulness  in  fulfilling  his  promises  and 
 performing  his  engagements. — Gill. 
 
 Ps.  CI.  —  TiTLK — A  Psalin  of  Da»id,  probably  written  by  htm  at 
 Hebron,  at  the  commencement  of  his  reign  ;  for  from  ver.  2,  it  may  be 
 inferred  be  was  now  under  .Saul's  pcrsccutiun,  (see  2  Sam.  ii.  1 — 4  ;  v. 
 3 — 5.) — Put.  It  was  evidently  written  wlien  David  was  well  established 
 on  his  throne. — Chandler.  1.  Sing  fif  mercy  and  of  judgment,  thank 
 God  for  adverse  and  prosperous  providences;  or,  probably,  on  being 
 called  to  the  government,  he  resolved  to  mingle  justice  and  mercy  in 
 
 all  his  legal  decisions.— aurte,  Wil.  2.  In  a  perfect  way,  O'nn  "IT13, 
 '  in  the  way  of  perfect  and  upright  men.*So  some  in  Mich.  O 
 when,  Sfc,  '  when  thou  comest  unto,'  &c. ;  i.  e.,  when  thuu  inspires! 
 me  with  the  gift  of  thy  Holy  Spirit.— Doedertin.  I  will  ivulk,  linnM, 
 '  1  will  set  myself  to  walk,'  '  I  will  make  a  determined  point  'thus  to 
 walk.'—.!.  Clarke.  With  a  perfect  Iieart,  'aab  DHl,  in  the  integrity 
 of  my  heart.'  —  Pise,  Cocc.GeJ.  3.  /  will  sel  no  teicked,  ^-c.,  'I 
 will  not  bear  with  any  lawless  deed.'— iJoo^Ar.  Turn  aside,  a  Hebrew 
 phrase  for  apostasy  to  idolatry.  Instead  of  going  up  to  Zion,  they 
 turned  asiile  to  some  lieathen  feast.— 5H^  4.  Froward,  perverse 
 and  stubborn.— T.  Edwards.  i\ol  know,  'not  countenance  or  en- 
 coura;e.'— )Fi7.  5.  Will  not  I  suffer,  baiN  n"3,  'I  cannot.'— i'uf., 
 
 IiIont~,  Gej.  '  I  cannot  bear  him  in  my  presence  and  company.'— G(7/. 
 6.  In  a  perfect,  ^c,  'in  the  way  of  inttgrity,  he  it  is  that  sliall  be  my 
 servant.' — Green.  7.  Sliall  not  tarry  in  my  sight,  ViT  N*?,  '  shall  not 
 be  established  before  mine  eyes.'— Pas'.,  Mont.  8.  /  will  early, 
 '  assiduously.' — Riisenm.  D'lp^'?,  '  in  the  mornings.' — Mont.,  l^at., 
 Jan.,  Treyn.,  Ains.,  ^-c.  'Every  morning  conslanlly.'— GiV/.  He 
 would  devote  his  mornings  to  administer  justice,  as  is  common  in 
 eastern  countries,  (2  Sam.  xv.  2  ;  Jer.  xxi.  1-2.}— Chandler.  He  means, 
 he  would  speedily  malte  an  example  of  them,  before  they  should  have 
 time  or  opportunity  to  corrupt  others. — Hew.  In  the  commencement 
 of  his  reign. —  Wil. 
 
 Ps.  ClI.  —  TlTi.E  — .1  Praver  of  the  afflicted,  ^c,  of  the  Jews  in 
 Babylon.— .J4en  Ezra,  Jarchi,  Kinichi.     Probably  written  by  Nehc- 
 
 Replf.ctions  on  Ps.  XCI.V.  —  We  have  here,  I.  A  descrip- 
 tion of  the  Lord's  liingdom,  distinguished  hy  majesty  and  terror 
 towards  his  adversarios  ;  by  equity,  judgment,  and  justice,  in 
 its  general  dispensations  ;  and  by  patience  and  clemency  in 
 giving  audience  to  his  servants. 
 
 IL  Tlie  praise  dm  to  him  from  Ids  subjects.  '  It  is  the  duty  of 
 those  who  liave  the  liappiness  to  know  God,  and  to  be  the 
 sulijecis  of  his  kingdom,  to  fear  him,  to  reverence  his  majesty, 
 to  worship  him  with  the  profoundest  humility,  and,  withoiit 
 ceasing,  to  celebrate  his  name,  which  is  great,  terrible,  and 
 holy.' " 
 
 Kefif.ctio>:s  on  Ps.  C.  —  I.  This  psalm  calls  upon  us  to 
 praise  God.  And  tliis  we  are  to  do  by  a  public  acknowledg- 
 ment of  him. 
 
 '  Low  at  his  gates  adoring  bend, 
 His  courts  with  gi-ateful  strauis  ascend. 
 With  vows  of  homage  due,  and  hymns  of  praise. *m 
 
 IL  It  gives  us  Me  reasons  why  God  is  to  he  praiacd.  He  is 
 God  alone  ;  he  is  our  Creator,  and  if  he  has  renewed  us  in 
 Christ  Jesus,  ho  is  doubly  to  be  endeared  to  us;  indeed, 
 without  this,  wo  cannot  praise  him  aright  wilh  truly  joyful 
 lips,  tied  our  Saviour  is  the  great  Shepherd  by  w  hose  care 
 alone  our  souls  are  and  can  be  fed.  He  is  good,  plenteous  in 
 mercy,  and  eternally  faithful  to  all  wlio  put  their  trust  in  him  : 
 641 
 
 let  us  then  'be  thankful  unto  him,  and  bless  his  name.' 
 
 RupLECiioss  ON  Ps.  CI.  —  This  psalm  is,  I.  A  lesson  for 
 maoistrates.  jMagistrates  are,  in  a  degree,  partalicrs  of  the 
 crimes  of  transgressors  when  they  themselves  wink  at  them. 
 How  fearful  is  the  responsibility  of  those  who,  placed  by  Pro- 
 vidence in  influential  spheres  of  authority,  neglect  to  fulfil 
 their  offices  as  God's  vicegerents  upon  earth  !  Magistrates 
 are  to  be  '  a  terror  to  evil  doers,  and  a  praise  to  them  that  do 
 well.' 
 
 II.  A  lesson  for  heads  of  fomiUes.  To  walk  in  the  midst  of 
 their  families  with  an  upright  heart,  acting  conscientiously, 
 and  diligently  observing  God's  commandments.  To  walk  in 
 wisdom  and  circumspectly,  so  that  the  way  of  truth  be  not  evil 
 spoken  of.  To  avoid  men  of  wicked  dispositions  and  actions, 
 not  merely  the  more  notorious  offenders  against  God,  and  god- 
 liness, but  the  slanderer  and  backbiter  ;  the  proud  and  over- 
 bearing ;  the  deceitful  insinuator  and  liar.  To  make  such 
 neither  companions  nor  servants.  To  seek  out  the  modest, 
 pious,  and  devoted  friends  of  God,  as  the  objects  of  patronage 
 and  friendship.  It  is  lamentable  that,  in  making  this  choice, 
 pious  persons  are  often  deceived  by  a  fair  semblance  ;  but 
 where  the  reality  is  to  be  found— and  it  happily  does  exist— 
 such  a  friend,  and  such  a  servant,  is  invaluable;  such  charac- 
 ters are  '  the  faithful  in  tlie  land." 
 4    N 
 
The  prayer  of  the  afflicted. 
 
 PSALMS,  cm. 
 
 An  fjhorlation  to  hlcss  God. 
 
 me  :  in  the  day  ?r//c-H  1  call  answer  ine  speedily. 
 
 3  ^  For  my  days  are  consumed  ||  like  smoke, 
 and  '-'my  bones  are  burned  as  an  hearth. 
 
 4  l\Iy  heart  is  smitten,  and  ''withered  like 
 grass  ;  so  that  I  forget  to  eat  my  bread. 
 
 3  By  reason  of  the  voice  of  my  groaning  ^  my 
 bones  cleave  to  my  ||  skin. 
 
 6  '^  I  am  like  '  a  pelican  of  the  wilderness  :  I 
 am  like  an  owl  of  the  desert. 
 
 7  1''  watch,  and  am  as  a  sparrow  '  alone  upon 
 the  house  top. 
 
 5  Mine  enemies  reproach  me  all  the  day; 
 and  they  that  are  ""  mad  against  me  are  "sworn 
 against  me. 
 
 9  For  I  have  eaten  ashes  like  bread,  and 
 °  mingled  my  drink  with  weeping. 
 
 10  Because  of  tliine  indignation  and  thy 
 wrath:  for ''thou  iiast  lifted  me  up,  and  cast 
 me  down. 
 
 1 1  '^  My  days  are  like  a  sliadow  that  de- 
 clineth  ;  and  ''I  am  withered  like  grass. 
 
 12  But  ^  thou,  O  Lord,  shalt  endure  for  ever  ; 
 and  *  thy  remembrance  unto  all  generations. 
 
 13  Thou  shalt  arise,  and  "have  mercy  upon 
 Zion  :  for  the  time  to  favour  her,  yea,  the  'set 
 time,  is  come. 
 
 14  For  thy  servants  take  pleasure  in  ''her 
 stones,  and  favour  tlie  dust  thereof. 
 
 15  So  the  heathen  shall  ^  fear  the  name  of 
 the  Lord,  and  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  thy 
 glory. 
 
 16  When  the  Lord  shall  build  up  Zion,  "  he 
 shall  appear  in  his  glory. 
 
 17  ''He  will  regard  the  prayer  of  the  desti- 
 tute, and  not  dc'^pi'^e  their  prayer. 
 
 18  This  .shall  be  "^  written  for  the  generation 
 to  come  :  and  '^  the  people  wliich  shall  be 
 created  shall  praise  the  Lord. 
 
 1 9  For  he  liatli ""  looked  down  from  the  height 
 of  his  sanctuary  ;  from  heaven  did  the  Lord 
 behold  the  earth  ; 
 
 20  *"  To  liear  tlie  groaning  of  the  prisoner  ;  to 
 loose  f  tliose  that  are  appointed  to  death  ; 
 
 21  To  ^declare  the  name  of  the  Loud  in 
 Zion,  and  his  praise  in  Jerusalem  ; 
 
 22  When  the  people  are  gathered  together, 
 and  the  kingdoms,  to  serve  the  Lord. 
 
 23  He  f  weakened  my  strength  in  the  way ; 
 
 :  Ps.  110  PI. 
 
 Jam.  4    II. 
 J  Or,  (as 
 some  read) 
 
 I'./u  t 
 
 I  ..A* 
 
 Job  :iO  3". 
 
 Ps.  31    10 
 
 Lato.  1.  13. 
 /  Ps.  37    2. 
 
 ver.  II. 
 J  Job  19.  2lt. 
 
 I.am.  4.  8. 
 II  Or./-*/.. 
 /.  Job  30.  29. 
 .  Is  S+.  11. 
 
 Zppli.  2.  U 
 h  Pg.  T7.  4 
 I  Ps.  S8.  II. 
 
 m  Acts  26. 
 
 II. 
 n  Acts  2.1, 12. 
 
 V  Job  14.  2. 
 
 Ps.  h>f>.  23. 
 
 &  14+   -1. 
 
 Kccles.  e. 
 
 13. 
 r  ver.  4.  Is 
 
 40.  6,  7,  8. 
 
 Jam.  1.  10. 
 *  ver.  2ti. 
 
 Ps.  9. 
 
 .  b.  in. 
 
 (  Ps.  135.  IS 
 -.  Is.  60.  10. 
 
 Zech.  I.  12. 
 J-  Is.  40.  8. 
 V  Ps   '9.  I 
 1  I  Kin.  B. 
 
 4:1.  Ps    IS-*. 
 
 4    Is.  10.  S. 
 
 ■■  Rom   l.'i. -l. 
 
 I  Cor  10  11 
 f/Ps.  22.  31. 
 
 Is.  43.  21. 
 
 e  Deu.  26.15. 
 Ps,  U.2  & 
 3a.  13,  14. 
 
 /Ps.  79.  11. 
 
 t  n.-h.  il^ 
 childrat  of 
 deith, 
 
 g  Pa.  22.  £3. 
 
 t  Heb, 
 
 k  pH   (10.  2, 
 Hab.  1.  12. 
 
 m  Is,  M.  4. 
 
 8i51.  6.  fc 
 
 C5.  17.  &66. 
 
 S.'.  Horn.  8 
 
 VO    2  Pet. 
 
 •S,  7,  10,11, 
 
 12 
 '-  \i'V.  12. 
 t  Heh   Uand. 
 <>  Mai.  3.  6. 
 
 Hell.   13. 
 
 .  1.  r 
 
 /'  Ps    C9.  i 
 
 4  Pa.  120.  tl. 
 Is  33.  24. 
 Mat  9.  2,0. 
 Mark  3.  5. 
 in.  II. 
 I-uke  7.  47. 
 ;  F.x  15.  20 
 IV.  147.  3. 
 
 .  14. 
 
 if  Ps.  i*e.  7. 
 
 ;.  Ps.  117.  10 
 .Kj.  a*.  6. 7 
 
 Num. 14  18. 
 
 Dout.  6.  10 
 
 Nib    9.  17. 
 
 Pa.  86.  15. 
 
 Jcr.  32.  18, 
 \  Htb.  great 
 
 ttf  mercy, 
 k  Pa.  30."  5. 
 
 Is   57.  10. 
 
 Jer.  S   5. 
 
 Mic.  7.  19. 
 /  Ezras.  13, 
 iH  Pb.57.  10 
 
 Kph.3.  18 
 (  Ileb.  ac- 
 
 niTiiinff  III 
 
 ll.e  hriffhl  <■/ 
 
 the  /."c 
 <i  Is.  43.  25 
 
 he  "shortened  my  days. 
 
 24  '  I  said,  O  my  God,  take  me  not  awa)  in 
 the  midst  of  my  days  :  ^  thy  years  are  through- 
 out all  generations. 
 
 25  '  Of  old  hast  thou  laid  the  foundation  of 
 the  earth  :  and  the  heavens  are  the  work  of 
 thy  hands. 
 
 26  "■  They  shall  perish,  but  "  thou  shalt  f  en- 
 dure :  yea,  all  of  them  shall  wax  old  like  a  gar- 
 ment ;  as  a  vesture  shalt  thou  cliaiige  them, 
 and  tiiey  shall  be  changed  : 
 
 27  But  °  thou  art  the  same,  and  thy  years 
 shall  have  no  end. 
 
 28  ''  The  ciiildren  of  thy  servants  shall  con- 
 tinue, and  their  seed  .shall  be  established  before 
 thee. 
 
 PSALM  cm. 
 
 I  An  exhortation  to  hiss  God  for  his  mercy,   \b  ami 
 fur  the  constancy  thereof, 
 
 A  PsaJm  of  David. 
 
 T>  LESS  °  the  Lord,  O  my  soul :  and  all  tliat 
 -*-'   is  witiiiii  me,  l}lcs$  his  holy  name. 
 
 2  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  forget  not 
 all  his  benefits  : 
 
 3  ^  Wiio  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities;  who 
 '^healeth  all  thy  diseases  ; 
 
 4  AVho  ''redeemeth  thy  life  from  destruction  ; 
 ^  who  crowiieth  thee  with  lovingkindness  and 
 tender  mercies  ; 
 
 5  Who  satisfieth  thy  moutli  with  good 
 things  ;  so  that  ^  thy  youth  is  renewed  like  the 
 eagle's. 
 
 (>  ^  The  Lord  executcth  righteousness  and 
 judgment  for  all  that  are  oppressed. 
 
 7  ''  He  made  known  his  ways  unto  Moses,  his 
 acts  unto  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 8  '  Tlie  Loud  is  merciful  and  gracious,  slow 
 to  anger,  and  f  plenteous  in  mercy. 
 
 9  ''  He  will  not  always  chide  :  neither  will  he 
 keep  his  anger  for  ever. 
 
 10  '  He  hath  not  dealt  with  us  after  our  sins  ; 
 nor  rewarded  us  according  to  onr  iniquities, 
 
 11  "*  For  t  as  the  heaven  is  high  above  the 
 earth,  so  great  is  his  mercy  toward  them  that 
 fear  him. 
 
 12  As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west,  so  far 
 liath  he  "  removed  our  transgressions  from  us. 
 
 miah,  in  the  time  of  thecaptiiity,  (see  Keh.  \.Z.)—Dr.  Dodd.  In  the 
 Hebrews,  ver.  25— *i7  are  applied  to  the  perpetuity  of  Christ's  kingdom. 
 — Chtrke.  3.  Coiusumed  like  smoke,  grief,  like  fire  upon  fuel,  exliansts 
 the  radical  moisture,  aod  sonn  consumes  the  substance. — Bp.  Home. 
 Ati  hearth,  '  a  firebrand.' — Wnll,  Doothr.  6.  Pe/icn}i—^ee  Lev.  .\i. 
 18,  note.  The  pelican  generally  builds  its  nest  in  mossy,  turfy  places, 
 in  the  islands  of  rivers  or  lakes,  far  from  the  abude  of  man. — Mant. 
 The  voice  of  this  bird  is  harsh  and  dissonant,  which,  some  say, 
 resembles  a  man  (grievously  complaining.  —  T.  M.  Harris.  An  oivl, 
 DID.  may  mean  the  cormorant, — Hew.  ;  or  a  kind  of  water-fowl. — 
 Bor/t.  0/  the  desert,  rather,  '  of  desert  places,'  such  as  old  walls  and 
 rained  houses.  —  See  T/gwrme  Version,  Gill.  n^y\^,  'of  desolate 
 ruinated  buildings.'— Par.  7.  Sparrow, '  screech-owl.'— BocA.  'The 
 solitary  sparrow,'  an  oriental  bird  which  sits  alone  on  the  tops  of  old 
 buildings  and  rocfs  of  churches,  singiner  very  sweetly,  especially  in  the 
 morning.— Par.  9.  Eaten  ashes,  a  strong  proverbial  expression  for 
 the  lowest  state  of  affliction  and  misery.—Hew.  Ashes  are  a  symbol 
 of  grief;  the  sense  therefore  is,  grief  is   my  food.  10.   Thou  hast 
 
 lifted  me  up,  ^c,  as  if  by  a  storm  or  whiihvind,  which  forcibly  takes 
 
 me  from  the  ground,  and  dashes  me  down  again. — Waif.  13.  The 
 set  time,  the  time  fj.xed  fnr  the  ccmtinuance  of  the  Babylonish  captivity, 
 which  wa*i  seventy  years,  (Jer.  jcxix.  10.)  14.  PlensttJ'e  in  her  stones, 
 'bear  affection  for  her  rains.' — Green.  I".  The  destitute,   lyiSTf, 
 
 '  one  laid  in  utter  ruin.'— CVn/'/re.  26.  Shall  wax  old,  '  may  be  worn 
 out.' — Boothr.  28.  Children—nhali  continne — there  shall  always  be  a 
 church  and  a  holy  seed. — Bp.  Home. 
 
 Ps.  cm.  —  5.  Like  the  en^le's—As  the  old  age  of  an  eagle  is  lively 
 and  vigorous,  like  the  youth  of  another  creature,  so  saints,  through  the 
 grace  of  God,  even  in  old  age,  run,  and  are  not  weary,  walk,  and  faint 
 not.  (Is.  xl.  31.)— Gi7/.  The  popular  opinion  was,  that  the  eagle  molted 
 in  old  age,  and  renewed  his  feathers,  and,  with  them,  his  youth. — 
 Lnwth.  It  was  enough  for  a  poet,  profane  or  sacred,  to  have  the  au- 
 thority of  popular  opinion  to  support  an  image  introduced  for  illustra- 
 tion or  ornament. — Mant.  8.  Slow  to  anger,  or  long-suffering-, 
 O^tti  ~r\H.  —Jan.,  Trern.,  Pise,  ^c.  Q.  Not  always  chide,  'not 
 always  contend.' — Pag.,  Mont.  II.  So  great,  ?fc.,  or,  *  his  mercy 
 has  prevailed  over  them  that  fear  him.' — Muse.,  Cocc,  Mich.  As  the 
 waters  of  the  flood  prevailed  upon  the  earth,  and  reached  and  over- 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CIL  —  L  God  is  the  only  refuqe  in 
 trouble.  1q  such  a  season  it  has  ever  been  the  practice  ot'holy 
 men  to  appeal  to  him. 
 
 *  Our  sorrows  and  our  tears  we  pour 
 Into  the  bosom  of  our  Grod ; 
 He  hears  us  in  the  mournful  hour, 
 And  helps  us  bear  the  heavy  load.'  w 
 IL    TVhen  the  cinirch  of  God  is  desolate,  it  is  one  of  the  prmtest 
 ci.uses  oflhe  grief  of  holy  minds.     *  Sucli  were  the  sentiments  of 
 642 
 
 good  men  during  the  Babylonish  captivity;  and  the  Lord  had 
 compassion  on  his  people.' 
 
 IH.  In  every  changing  scene  of  time,  it  is  one  great  source  of 
 consolation  that  God  is  unchangeable.  Christians,  as  you,  with 
 the  church,  are  tossed  upon  the  waves  of  trouble,  remember 
 who  guides  the  helm  of  affairs,  and  let  this  be  your  support, 
 that  '  Jesus  Christ  is  'the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and 
 for  ever.* 
 
God's  mercy  to  the  riijhttous. 
 
 PSALMS,  CIV. 
 
 The  power  and  providence  of  God. 
 
 13  "Like  as  a  father  pitietli  ]iis  children,  so 
 the  LoBD  pitieth  them  tliat  fear  him. 
 
 14  For  he  knoweth  our  frame;  ''he  remem- 
 bereth  that  we  are  ■*  dust. 
 
 1 J  As  for  man,  '  his  days  are  as  grass  :  'as  a 
 flower  of  the  field,  so  he  flourisheth. 
 
 16  For  the  wind  passeth  over  it,  and  fit  is 
 gone  J  and  '  the  place  thereof  shall  know  it  no 
 more. 
 
 17  But  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  t's  from  everlast- 
 ing to  everlasting  upon  them  that  fear  him,  and 
 his  righteousness  "  unto  children's  children  ; 
 
 18  ''To  such  as  keep  his  covenant,  and  to 
 those  that  remember  his  commandments  to  do 
 them. 
 
 19  The  Lord  hath  prepared  his  ^  throne  in 
 the  heavens  ;  and  '  his  kingdom  ruleth  over  all. 
 
 20  "  Bless  the  Lord,  ye  his  angels,  f  that  ex- 
 cel in  strength,  that ''do  his  commandments, 
 hearkening  unto  the  voice  of  his  word. 
 
 '21  Bless  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye  '  his  hosts  ;  ^ye 
 ministers  of  his,  that  do  his  pleasure. 
 
 •22  °  Bless  the  Lord,  all  his  works  in  all 
 places  of  his  dominion  :  '  bless  the  Lord,  O 
 my  soul. 
 
 PSALM  CIV. 
 
 1  A  mcditatimi  upon  the  niir/hti/  powtr,  7  cmd  wonderful 
 providence  of  God.  31  God's  fjlory  is  eternal.  33 
 The  prophet  vowet/t  perpetualli/  to  praise  God. 
 
 "D  LESS  "the  Lord,  O  my  soul.  O  Lord 
 ■^  my  God,  thou  art  very  great  ;  ''  thou  art 
 clothed  with  honour  and  majesty. 
 
 •2  '  Who  coverest  thyself  with  light  as  with  a 
 parment :  ■'  who  stretchest  out  the  heavens 
 like  a  curtain  : 
 
 3  "  Who  layeth  the  beams  of  bis  chambers  in 
 the  waters  :  '  who  maketh  the  clouds  his  cha- 
 
 0  Rial.  3.  17. 
 
 g  F8.  18.  10. 
 
 p  Pb.  78.  S9. 
 
 h  Heb.  1.  7. 
 
 g  Geo   3,  19, 
 
 1  2  Kin.  2. 
 
 Eccles    IS. 
 
 11.  8c  6    17. 
 
 7. 
 
 t  Heb.  He 
 
 T  Ps  90.  5,  6 
 
 hutii  found- 
 ed tlv  earth 
 
 I  Pet.  1.  24. 
 
 s  Job  H.  1.2. 
 
 v{>uii  her 
 
 Jam.  1.  10, 
 
 brwt. 
 
 II. 
 
 k  J..b  26.  7- 
 
 t  Heb.  it  is 
 
 &  K8.  4,  6. 
 
 nut. 
 
 Ps.  24.  :;.  & 
 
 t  Job  7.  10. 
 
 I3S.  6. 
 
 fc  20.  9. 
 
 Eccles.  1.4 
 
 iGeu.7.  19. 
 
 m  Gen- 8.  1. 
 
 ..  Ex.  20.  6. 
 
 II  Or,  The 
 
 nt'iii'ilii'is 
 
 z  Deu.  7.  9. 
 
 a/.cr„ii,  Ihe 
 
 T  alleys  de- 
 
 scend. 
 
 n  Ucn    S.  5 
 
 0  Jub  38.  10, 
 
 V  Ps.  11.4. 
 
 11. 
 
 r  I's    47.  •*. 
 
 ;,  Jub  26.  10 
 
 Dati.  4.  25, 
 
 Ps.  H3.  7. 
 
 H+,  .H.3 
 
 Jer.  5.  22. 
 
 1  Ps.  113.  2. 
 
 q  Geu.  9.  11 
 
 t  Heb- 
 
 15. 
 
 ilrenglli  ; 
 See  Pa.  79. 
 
 t  Heb,  irho 
 
 temlelh. 
 t  Heb.  walk. 
 
 25 
 
 +  Heb.  break. 
 
 b  Mat.  6.  10. 
 
 Heb.  1.  14. 
 
 c  Geu.  32   a 
 
 jiieh.girea 
 
 Josli.  5.  14. 
 
 voice. 
 
 Ps.  G8.  17. 
 
 d  Dan.  7.  9, 
 
 r  Ps.  147.  8. 
 
 10.  Heb.  1. 
 
 1 1. 
 
 *P3  05.  9,10 
 
 e  Ps.  145.  10 
 /  ver.  1. 
 
 /  Jer.  10.  13 
 &  14.  22. 
 
 u  Geu.  1.  99 
 
 SO.  fc  3.  13. 
 
 ft  9.  3. 
 
 1'8.  147.  8. 
 
 xPs.  1S6.25 
 
 a  Ph.  irS.  1. 
 
 &  147.  9. 
 
 vei-.  35. 
 
 Job  -Jfi.  n. 
 
 i.  Ps,  its.  1. 
 
 V  Juil-'  9  13 
 
 '  Ps.  -^i.  b. 
 
 Pro  ;11.6,7 
 
 c  n:in   7.  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  to 
 
 m"ke  bis 
 
 rf  Is.  10.  22. 
 
 /I'v  i/ime 
 
 fe  A6.  12. 
 
 wUh  <jil,  or 
 
 mure  lUan 
 
 sAmos  9    6. 
 
 oil 
 
 I  Nu.  C4.  6 
 
 /Is    19.  1. 
 
 u  Pi o.  30  2b 
 
 riot :  ^  who  walketh  upon  the  wing,s  of  the  wind  : 
 
 4  ^  Who  maketh  his  angels  spirits  ;  '  his  mi- 
 nisters a  flaming  fire  : 
 
 5  t''  W/io  laid  tlie  foundations  of  tlie  earth, 
 that  it  should  not  be  removed  for  ever. 
 
 6  '  Thou  coveredst  it  with  the  deep  as  with  a 
 garment :  the  waters  stood  above  the  mountains. 
 
 7  "'  At  thy  rebuke  they  fled  ;  at  the  voice  of 
 thy  thunder  they  hasted  away. 
 
 8  II  "  They  go  up  by  the  mountains  ;  they  go 
 down  by  tlie  valleys  unto  °  the  place  which 
 thou  hast  founded  for  them. 
 
 9  ^'  Thou  hast  set  a  bound  that  they  may  not 
 pass  over;  ^  that  they  turn  not  again  to  cover 
 the  earth. 
 
 10  t  He  sendeth  the  springs  into  the  valleys, 
 which  frun  among  the  hills. 
 
 1 1  They  give  drink  to  every  beast  of  the 
 field  :  the  wild  asses  f  quench  their  thirst. 
 
 12  By  them  shall  the  fowls  of  the  heaven 
 have  their  habitation,  ivhich  f  sing  among  the 
 branches. 
 
 13  '  He  watereth  the  hills  from  his  chambers : 
 'the  earth  is  satisfied  with  *  the  fruit  of  thy 
 works. 
 
 14  "  He  causeth  the  grass  to  grow  for  the 
 cattle,  and  herb  for  the  service  of  man  :  that  he 
 may  bring  forth  "^food  out  of  the  earth  ; 
 
 lo  And  *'wine  that  maketh  glad  the  heart  of 
 man,  «»<:/ f  oil  to  make  his  face  to  shine,  and 
 bread  which  strengtheneth  man's  heart. 
 
 16  The  trees  of  the  Lord  are  full  of  sap; 
 the  cedars  of  Lebanon, '"  which  he  hath  planted  ; 
 
 17  Where  the  birds  make  their  nests  :  as  for 
 the  stork,  the  fir  trees  are  her  liouse. 
 
 18  The  high  hills  are  a  refuge  for  the  wild 
 goats  ;  and  the  rocks  for  "  the  conies. 
 
 fiuwed  the  highest  liills,  (Gt-n.  vii.  18.)  soabiinolant  and  super  abundant 
 is  the  grace  of  God  over  ihem  that  tear  him.— GiV/.  li.  Like  as  n 
 father,  fyc,  'as  the  tender  compassions  of  a  lather  towards  children, 
 HO  the  tender  compassions  of  Jehovah  towards  tliera  that  fear  lum.' — 
 A.  Clarke.  16.  T/ie  wind  passeth,  ^c  .  tlie   hot   wind  in  the  east 
 
 destroys  at  once  every  green  thing.— ^Vun*.  17-  Merc//,  IDH, '  exu- 
 
 berant  goodness.'— .4.    Clarke.  20.   Excel   m  strength,    PIID  ^113. 
 
 *  migiity  in  streugtli.' — Pa^.,  Monf. 
 
 Ps.  CIV.  —  'A  Phalm  of  David  when  he  went  with  the  priest-^  to 
 adore  the  Lord  before  the  ark,*  Sjyr.  '  A  Psalm  of  David  concerning 
 the  formation  of  tlie  world,'  Sept.  As  tliere  i-s  no  allusion  to  the 
 Mosaic  riiual.nor  any  mention  of  the  deliverance  of  the  Israelites  from 
 Egypt,  it  should  seem  that  it  was  of  an  earlier  age  than  the  Exodus. — 
 Horsle//.  Nothing  either  exists  or  can  be  conceived  more  perfect  than 
 Uns  hymn,  whether  regard  he  had  to  the  poem  itself  nr  to  the  kind  of 
 composition.  —  Lowth.  For  regularity  of  composition,  richness  vt 
 imagery,  sublimity  of  sentiment,  and  elegance  and  perspicuity  of  die 
 tion,  it  is,  perhaps,  the  principal  poem  in  the  whole  cnllcttion  of  these 
 inspired  song?. — Hi}rt,ley.  2.  Curtain,  '  canopy.' — Mudffc.  Perhaps 
 alluding  to  the  awning  stretched  over  an  area  in  which  companies  sit 
 at  weiulings,  feasts,  &c.,  under  which  are  devices  like  the  spangled 
 heavens.— H'';rrf.  3.  Who  tuj/tth  the  beams,   ^-c,  *  he   flooreth    his 
 
 chambers  with  waters,*  i.  e.,  the  clouds  make  ihe  flooring  of  his  hea- 
 vens.—iI/«(/fl-c.  The  hiah  clouds  he  elej^antly  considers  as  the  upper 
 chamber  of  God's  palace,  the  floors  of  which  are  the  waters  which  the 
 clouds  contain.— iJooMr.  Walkvth  upon  the  wings,  SfC,  'walketh,' 
 abeaiitiiul  exjiression  of  calmness  and  cnntiol  over  the  most  boister- 
 ous tlement,  in  its  utmost  speed  and  rage.— So  Hervep.  4.  Who 
 maketh  his  angels,  ffc,  '  who  maketh  the  winds  his  messengers,  and 
 flaming  fire  his  minister.' — Berkeley  ;  same  purport.  Boothr.,  >n  Waif. 
 ITie  apostle  (Heb.i.?.)  informs  us,  that  the  words  have  a  further  reference 
 to  immaterial  angels  j  either  because  tliosc  angels  often  appeared  in 
 
 the  likeness,  or  because  they  wore  endued  witli  the  properties,  of  wind 
 and  flame. — Bp.  Home.  6.  Coi^ereilst  it  with  the  deep,  alluding  to 
 the  huge  mass  of  waters  which  lay  upon  the  earth  at  its  first  creation. 
 — Gill,  Clarke.  The  icitttrs  stood,  §c. — the  original  in  the  future  tense, 
 and  mit^ht  also  be  rendered,  'the  waters  stand  upon,' &c.,  referring, 
 perhaps  to  a  very  usual  phenomenon,  though  never  satisfactorily  ex- 
 plained, that  of  springs,  ponds,  &c.,  being  frequently  found  on  the 
 tops  of  high  hills  and  mountains.  7-  ^l  Ike  voice  of  thy  thutider,  '  at 
 ihy  sovereign  commEind.  —  Hew,  Probabiy  God  here  employed  the 
 electric  fluid  for  his  purpose.  8.  They  go  up— go  down,  l^c,  possibly 
 vapours  and  exhalations  are  referred  to,  which,  by  evaporation,  ascend, 
 are  condensed,  and  precipitated.  9.  A  bound,  the  flux  and  reflux  of 
 the  sea,  occasioned  by  the  solar  and  lunar  attraction;  tlie  riitaiion  of 
 ttie  earth  <tu  its  axis,  and  the  gravitation  of  the  waters  to  the  centre  of 
 the   earth. — Clarke.  11.  Wild   asses,   the   animal   meant   is   called 
 
 *  onager.'  Wild  asses  are  particularly  mentioned,  because  they  live  in 
 remote  and  sandy  deserts,  yet  here  has  God  i:aught  them  the  way  to 
 the  waters,  and  travellers  watching  their  herds  descending  to  the 
 streams  find  tliem  the  best  guides. — Bp.Home.  15.  Th  make  his 
 face  to  shine,  as  oil  does,  by  anointing  with  it,  for  which  it  is  much 
 used  in  eastern  countries. — Gill.  It  is  a  healthy  and  useful  stimulus 
 to  the  skin  under  the  parching  influence  of  a  warm  and  depressing 
 clmiate. — Morison.  l6.  Treesof  the  Lord,  may  be  an  epithet  for  the 
 tallest  and  most  stately  trees.— BooMr.  Are  fall  of  sap,  *  drink  theii' 
 fill.'— Jl/tcA.  '  Are  full  grown.'— Soo/Zi/-.  The  reader  will  observe,  that 
 the  original  is  only  'are  full.'— £rf.  17-  The  stork,  the  fir— ^tor]x.s 
 often  cover  the  air  as  a  cloud,  in  parts  of  the  Holy  LauA.—Doubdnn. 
 They  breed  plentifully  in  Barbary,  where  they  build  their  nests  with 
 dry  twigs,  on  the  highest  parts  of  old  ruins  and  bouses ;  the  fir  trees, 
 when  these  are  wanting,  are  a  dwelling  for  the  stork. — Shaw.  The 
 roofs  in  Palestine  being  fiat  and  frequented,  might  be  the  reason  for 
 the  stork  there  preferring  the  fir  and  cedar. — Gili.        18.  Wild  goats — 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CIII 1.   We  should  often  aivaken our 
 
 souls  to  the  exercise  of  praise.  We  dwell  too  much  upon  our 
 crosses,  losses,  cares,  and  sorrows,  and  are  too  apt  to  fori^et 
 God's  benefits.  How  many  of  these  may  we  call  to  miiul ! 
 and  tlie  recollection  of  them  will  infallibly  tend  to  sweeten 
 our  griefs.  The  pardon  of  sin — the  healing  of  diseasesof  body 
 and  .soul — the  many  interpositions  of  his  providence  and  grace 
 on  our  behalf — the  mel'ci^■s  which  still  flow  in  upon  us  in  rich 
 abundance— the  long-suft'ering,  ilie  forbearance,  the  fatherly 
 compas.sion,  the  exuberant  goodness  of  God. — these  may  af- 
 foxd  everlasting  springs  of  jov  and  themes  of  praise. 
 643 
 
 II.  Blessitiff  God,  and  giving  him  glory,  must  he  the  alpha  and 
 the  ume'ia  of  aU  our  services.  David  be^an  with  '  Bless  the 
 Lord,  O  my  soul ;'  and  when  he  had  penned  and  sung  this  ex- 
 cellent hymn  to  his  honour,  be  does  not  say,  '  Now,  O  my 
 soul,  thou  hast  blessed  the  Lord,  sJt  down  and  rest  thee  ;*  but 
 '  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,'  yet  more  and  more.  When  we 
 have  done  never  so  much  in  the  service  of  God,  yet  still  we 
 must  stir  up  ourselves  to  do  more  :  God's  praise  is  a  subject 
 tliat  will  never  be  exhausted,  and  therefore  we  must  never 
 think  tins  work  done  till  we  come  to  heaven,  where  it  will  be 
 for  ever  in  the  doing,  fa 
 
The  eternity  of  GotCs  glory. 
 
 PSALMS,  CV. 
 
 God's  providence  over  Abraham. 
 
 »  Gen.  1.  II. 
 
 0  Job  33.  12. 
 
 d  U.  45.  7. 
 
 II  Hcb.  oH  I'.c 
 b^atli  ti.ere- 
 
 pU  on  Ike 
 
 tf  Job  38.  39. 
 Joel  1.  SO. 
 
 19  *■  He  appointed  the  moon  for  seasons  :  the 
 sun  '  Unoweth  bis  going  down. 
 
 20  ''  Thou  maliest  darkness,  and  it  is  night : 
 wherein  fall  the  beasts  of  the  forest  do  creep 
 forth. 
 
 21  '  The  young  hons  roar  after  their  prey, 
 and  seek  their  meat  from  God. 
 
 22  The  sun  ariseth,  they  gatlier  themselves 
 together,  and  lay  them  dovn  in  their  dens. 
 
 23  Man  goeth  forth  unto  '  his  work  and  to  his  /G"'-  'i-  "■ 
 labour  until  the  evening. 
 
 24  ^O  Lord,  how  manifold  are  thy  works!  jp™. 3. 19. 
 in  wisdom  hast  thou  made  them  all  :  the  earth 
 is  full  of  thy  riches. 
 
 25  So  is  this  great  and  wide  sea,  wherein  are 
 things  creeping  innumerable,  both  small  and 
 great  beasts. 
 
 26  There  go  the  ships  :  there  i.5  that  "levia- 
 than, ivho7n  thou  hast  fmade  to  play  therein. 
 
 27  '  These  wait  all  upon  thee ;  that  thou 
 mayest  give  them  tlieir  meat  in  due  season. 
 
 28  That  thou  givest  them  they  gather  :  thou 
 openest  thine  hand,  they  are  filled  with  good. 
 
 29  Thou  hidest  thy  face,  they  are  troubled  : 
 ^  thou  takest  away  tlieir  breath,  they  die,  and 
 return  to  their  dust. 
 
 30  '  Thou  sendest  forth  thy  spirit,  tliey  are 
 created :  and  thou  renevvest  the  face  of  the 
 earth. 
 
 31  The  glory  of  the  Lord  f  shall  endure  for 
 ever  :  the  Lord  "'  shall  rejoice  in  his  works. 
 
 32  He  looketh  on  the  earth,  and  it"trem- 
 bleth  :  °he  toucheth  the  Iiills,  and  they  smoke. 
 
 33  ''  I  will  sing  unto  the  Lord  as  long  as  I 
 live  :  I  will  sing  praise  to  my  God  wliile  I  have 
 my  being. 
 
 34  My  meditation  of  liim  shall  be  sweet :  I 
 will  be  glad  in  the  Lord. 
 
 35  Let  ''  the  .sinners  be  consumed  out  of  the 
 earth,  and  let  the  wicked  be  no  more.  '  Bless 
 thou  the  Lord,  O  my  soul.  I'raise  ye  the 
 Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CV. 
 
 1  An  exhortation  to  praise  God,  and  to  seek  out  ftis 
 works.  7  The  story  of  God's  providence  over  Abra- 
 ham, 16  over  Joseph,  23  over  Jacob  in  Egypt,  26  orir 
 Motes  dilivering  the  Israelites,  37  over  tlie  fsratliles 
 brought  out  of  Egypt,  fed  in  the  uilderness,  and 
 planted  in  Canaan. 
 
 O'  GIVE  thanks  unto  the  Lord  ;.  call  upon 
 his  name  :  ''  make  known  his  deeds  among 
 
 t  Heb. 
 fanned, 
 i  Pa.  i:Jti.  ^5. 
 
 k  Job  31.  11. 
 15.  F's,  IIG. 
 *,  Ecoleii. 
 
 ( 1..  3?.  I.!. 
 Ezck.  37.  S 
 
 t  Hnh. 
 
 m  Gen.  1.31 
 n  Hab.  a.  10. 
 o  I'a   111.5. 
 
 1  Ps.  37.  .13. 
 Pro  2  SS. 
 r  vcr.  I. 
 
 jl.ukcl.' 
 
 h  r.en.  17.  2. 
 &22.  ia,&c. 
 &  2(1.  H.  Jlc 
 ■^A.  IS.  &.SO 
 11.  l.nkc  I 
 73.  Hcb.  6. 
 
 iGen.  13.15 
 fc  15.  IS. 
 t  lieb    the 
 
 I  Hcb.  II.  9 
 
 the  people. 
 
 2  Sing  unto  hiin,  sing  psalms  unto  him  ;  '  talk 
 ye  of  all  his  wondrous  works. 
 
 3  Glory  ye  in  his  holy  name  :  let  the  heart 
 of  them  rejoice  that  seek  the  Lord. 
 
 4  Seek  the  Lord,  and  his  strength  :  ''  seek 
 his  face  evermore. 
 
 5  "  Remember  his  marvellous  works  tliat  he 
 liatli  done  ;  his  wonders,  and  the  judgments  of 
 his  mouth  ; 
 
 6  O  ye  seed  of  Abraham  his  servant,  ye  chil- 
 dren of  Jacob  Ills  chosen. 
 
 7  He  is  the  Lord  our  God  :  'his  judgments 
 are  in  all  the  eartli. 
 
 8  He  hath  ^  remembered  his  covenant  for 
 ever,  tlie  word  which  he  commanded  to  a 
 thousand  generations. 
 
 9  "  Which  covenant  he  made  with  Abraham, 
 and  his  oath  unto  Isaac  ; 
 
 10  And  confirmed  the  same  unto  Jacob  for  a 
 aw,  and  to  Israel yb/  an  everlasting  covenant: 
 
 I  fien 
 fc  so. 
 
 .  ,15.5. 
 12  17 
 
 II   S; 
 
 ayiug 
 
 Unto  thee  will  I  give  tlie  land  of 
 
 Gctl.  41.51 
 ;.  I.pv,?r.  26 
 
 l!i.  :l.  I. 
 
 Ezrk    1   16 
 ,;  Gcii  'W  h 
 
 &  50.  20. 
 r  G..II.  37. 
 
 ■JS.  35. 
 *  Gen.  :i9. 20. 
 
 it;  10,  I.-., 
 I   Heb.  *i. 
 
 iuit  c<im« 
 
 i>,tu  ir.ui. 
 I  (ien.ll.2^. 
 •I  Gen  41.1.1. 
 
 I  Ileb. 
 jmiteuion. 
 
 If  Gen.  46.  6. 
 
 ;  r.«.  7S.  .'>1. 
 h  IOC,  22. 
 o  Ex.  I.  7. 
 
 5  Ei.  I . 
 
 Canaan,  f  the  lot  of  your  iiiherilaiice  : 
 
 12  ''  When  there  were  ttttt  a  few  men  in  num- 
 ber ;  yea,  very  few,  '  and  strangers  in  it. 
 
 13  When    they   went   from    one   nation    to 
 another,  from  one  kingdom  to  another  people  ; 
 
 14  "'  He  suffered  no  man  to  do  tliem  wrong : 
 yea,  "  he  reproved  kings  for  their  sakes  ; 
 
 15  Saying,  Touch  not  mine  anointed,  and  do 
 ray  prophets  no  harm. 
 
 16  Moreover  "he  called  for  a  famine  upon 
 the  land  :  he  brake  the  whole  '"  stall'  of  bread. 
 
 17  ''  He  sent  a  man  before  them,  even  Joseph, 
 who  '  was  sold  for  a  servant : 
 
 18  '  Wliose  feet  they  hurt  with  fetters  :  t 'le 
 was  laid  in  iron  : 
 
 19  Until  the  time  that  his  word  caine  :  '  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  tried  liim. 
 
 20  "  The  king  sent  and  loosed  him  ;  even  the 
 ruler  of  the  people,  and  let  him  go  free. 
 
 21  *  He  made   liim  lord  of  his   house,  and 
 ruler  of  all  his  f  substance  : 
 
 22  To  bind  his  princes  at  his  pleasure  ;  and 
 teach  his  senators  wisdom. 
 
 23  ^  Israel  also  came  into  Egypt ;  and  Jacob 
 sojourned  '  in  the  land  of  Ham. 
 
 24  And  °  he  increased   his   people   greatly ; 
 and  made  them  stronger  than  their  enemies. 
 
 25  ''  He  turned  their  heart  to  Irate  his  people, 
 to  deal  subtilly  with  his  servants. 
 
 see  Job,  xxxix.  1,  note.  Conies— see  Lev.  xi.  5,  notes,  25,  And 
 wide,  O'T  ami.  'and  broaii  of  hands.'— jl/oiif.  Encorapassiug  and 
 embracintj  the  whole  earth  as  it  were. — Gill.  Bcnsts, '  animals,' — Hew. 
 26,  LniaUmn,  though  used  ill  Job  for  the  en  codde,  appears  here  to 
 mean  the  whale,— i'ai-.  The  erocodile,— Si//,  2/,  These  waU  all 
 upon  thee — the  immense  creation  forming  onegreatfamily,  maintained 
 upon  the  riches  and  bounty  of  Jehovah,  as  the  great  Householder,  is 
 a  very  striking  idea,— Si^a«.  32.  It  Irembleth,  as  Sinai,  when  he 
 descended  upon  it,  {Ps,  Ixviii.  S;  Ixxvii,  19.)  Snwice,  as  Sinai,  (Exod, 
 xix,  18,)  God,  with  a  touch  of  liis  liauJ,  can  set  mountains  ou  fire,  open 
 volcanoes,  &c, — Gill. 
 
 Psalm  CV,  —  The  former  part  of  this  Psalm  was  composed  ly 
 David,  on  his  having  brought  the  arli  to  Zion,  (I  Chron,  xvi„)  and 
 it  is  highly  probable  that  he  afterwards  enlarged  it, — Edwards.  2,  fits 
 u-ondrons  works,  "l'ril.47D3.  'his  miracles,' — A.  Clarke.  4.  And  his 
 strength,  '  and  be  strong,'— /fors.  Understand  the  ark,  which  is  called 
 
 Ills  strength,  and  the  ark  of  his  strength,  Ps,  Ixxviii.  Gl  i  cxx,xii,  8. 
 because  he  had  shewn  his  great  strength  by  it  at  Jordan,  Jericho,  &e, 
 — Gill.     His  face,  the  ark  of  his  presence,- Gi-ei-n,  14,  Ueproved 
 
 kings— Gen,  xii,  17,  Abimelcch,  {Gen,  xx,  S.)—Boolhr.  13,  Jl/iii« 
 nnointed,  the  patriarchs,  say  some  ;  but  all  Israel  may  be  intended, — 
 Clarke.  16,  He  called  for  a  f>nnine,  '  he  called  to  Famine,'  Famine 
 is  here  finely  represented  as  a  servant,  ready  to  come  and  go  at  the 
 call  and  commanil  of  God. — Bp,  Home,  Brake  the  whole  s/ir^— bread 
 is  called  *  Ihe  staff  of  life  ;'  the  breaking  of  this  staff,  therefore,  is  an 
 expression  equivalent  to  producing  a  famine,  and  thus  the  parallelism 
 of  the  verse  is  preserved, — Hew.         ig.  t/ntil  the  time,  ^c.-^ 
 
 '  tTnfil  his  prediction  had  come  to  pass. 
 And  the  word  of  Jehovah  had  cleared  him,' 
 
 '  L'ntil  the  time  arrived  which  was  appointed. 
 The  word  of  Jehovah  tried  him.' — Waif. 
 
 -Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CIV.  —  Observe  here,  I.  The  greatness 
 of  God's  ivorhs.  What  wisdora,  what  skill,  what  order,  what 
 power,  what  beauty,  what  [grandeur,  are  impressed  on  the 
 whole  !  If  such  be  the  works,  what  is  tbeir  Autbor  1  '  O 
 Lord,  my  God,  thou  art  very  great  !* 
 
 II.   The  effect  produced  on  a  pious  mind  by  a  contemplation  of 
 
 God's  works.    'Ihe  infidel  philosopher  must  have  a  heart  of 
 
 stone  that  can  survey  them  unmoved.     The  devout  soul  looks 
 
 upon  them  with  admiration,  not  so  much  of  their  beauty  as  of 
 
 644 
 
 tbeir  Former.  The  holy  man  breaks  forth  into  songs  of  praise, 
 and  ills  sacred  musings  operate  as  a  sweet  charm.  He  sees  all 
 in  God,  and  God  in  all.  The  blind  devotee  of  nature  is  never 
 fitted  to  praise  the  God  of  nature,  and  must  perish  out  of  liis 
 sis;bt ;  but  the  holy  heart  strikes  that  noto  of  praise  which  it 
 shall  not  cease  to  awaken  for  ever.     With  the  devout  mind, 
 
 '  God  is  ever  present,  ever  felt. 
 In  the  void  waste,  as  in  the  city  full ; 
 Ami  where  he  vital  breathes,  there  must  be  joy.' 
 
God's  providence  over  the  Israelites. 
 
 PSALMS,  CVI. 
 
 Their  rebellion  and  God's  mercy. 
 
 26  "  He  sent  Moses  his  servant;  and  Aaron 
 ■■  whom  he  had  chosen. 
 
 27  "  They  shewed  t  'li'  sifjns  among  them, 
 •■  and  wonders  in  tlie  land  of  Ham. 
 
 2S  ^  He  sent  darkness,  and  made  it  dark; 
 and  '■  tliey  rebelled  not  a<^ainst  his  word. 
 
 29  '  He  turned  their  waters  into  blood,  and 
 slew  their  fish. 
 
 30  ^  Their  land  brought  forth  frogs  in  abun- 
 dance, in  tlie  chambers  of  their  kings. 
 
 31  '  He  spake,  and  there  came  divers  sorts  of 
 flies,  and  lice  in  all  their  coasts. 
 
 32  '"  t  He  gave  tbeni  hail  for  rain,  and  flaming 
 fire  in  their  land. 
 
 33  "  He  smote  their  vines  also  and  their  fig 
 trees  ;  and  brake  the  trees  of  their  coasts. 
 
 3-t  °  He  spake,  and  the  locusts  came,  and 
 caterpillers.  and  that  without  number, 
 
 35  And  did  eat  up  all  the  herbs  in  their  land, 
 and  devoured  the  fruit  of  their  ground. 
 
 36  ''  He  smote  also  all  the  firstborn  in  their 
 land,  ''  the  cliief  of  all  their  strength. 
 
 37  '  He  brought  them  forth  also  with  silver 
 and  gold  :  and  there  was  not  one  feeble /)e?'son 
 among  their  tribes. 
 
 .38  ■  Egypt  was  glad  when  they  departed  :  for 
 the  fear  of  them  fell  upon  them. 
 
 39  '  He  spread  a  cloud  for  a  covering ;  and 
 fire  to  give  light  in  the  night. 
 
 40  "  the  people  asked,  and  he  brought  quails, 
 and  'satisfied  them  with  the  bread  of  heaven. 
 
 41  ^  He  opened  the  I'ock,  and  the  waters 
 gushed  out ;  they  ran  in  the  dry  places  like  a 
 river. 
 
 42  For  he  remembered  '  his  holy  promise, 
 and  Abraham  his  servant. 
 
 43  And  he  brought  forth  his  people  with  joy, 
 and  bis  chosen  with  f  gladness  : 
 
 44  °  And  gave  them  the  lands  of  the  heathen  : 
 and  they  inherited  the  labour  of  the  people  ; 
 
 45  ''  That  they  might  observe  his  statutes, 
 and  keep  his  laws.     \  Praise  ye  the  Lord 
 
 PSALM  CVL 
 
 1  TIte  Psalmist  exhortetti  to  praise  God.  4  Heprayetti 
 for  pardon  of  sin^  lis  God  did  with  the  fatlttrs.  7  Tlie 
 story  of  the  peoptcs  rcbdliout  and  God^s  mercy.  47  //«' 
 concludetU  with  prayer  and  praise. 
 
 pRAISE  tye  the  Lord.  ^O  "give  thanks 
 -*-  unto  the  Lord  ;  for  lie  is  good  :  fur  his 
 mercy  cndureth  for  ever. 
 
 2  '^  Who  can  utter  the  mighty  acts  of  the 
 Lord  ?  ivho  can  shew  forth  all  his  praise  '? 
 
 3  Blessed  are  they  that  keep  judgment,  and 
 he  that  ''  doeth  righteousness  at  "  all  times. 
 
 ■  Kx.7.  )t  8, 
 &  'J,  &  10, 
 
 ■la, 
 
 t  Htfb.  woTiU 
 
 ffliin  aigiis. 
 /Ps-lOli  22 
 if  Kx.  ID.  22. 
 A  Ps.  99.  7. 
 i  Ex.  7.  20, 
 
 Pi.  18.  4-1. 
 4  Ex.  9.  B. 
 
 1'9.  7S,  .1.-.. 
 ;  Ex.  8.  17, 
 
 24,  Pb.  73. 
 
 •15, 
 ...  Ex.  9.  23, 
 
 8a.  Ps,  78, 
 
 48. 
 f  Hcb.  ffc 
 
 g„,  tl.c:, 
 
 rain  hail. 
 .1  Pa.  7.^.  47 
 0  Ex,  10.  4, 
 
 13,  14,  Ps. 
 
 7fl.  46. 
 
 f  Ex.  IS,  29, 
 
 Ps   7P.  51. 
 7  Gen,  49.  3. 
 
 Ex.  12.  35. 
 
 /  Ks  13.81. 
 Ni-li.  9.  12, 
 
 ■.  Ex  16. 1?, 
 &i.  Ps.  78. 
 Is,  27 
 
 X  Ps.  73.  24, 
 2.1. 
 
 ./  lix,  17,  6, 
 
 t  Hell. 
 
 n  Dell,  6,  10, 
 
 11,  Josh, 13, 
 
 7,  &c, 
 
 Ps   7S,  .55. 
 b  Deu.  4,  I, 
 
 40,  &  G,  21 
 
 —25. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 Hallelujah, 
 
 i  Heb. 
 
 H«lM«j'A. 
 It  1  Chi-.  IG. 
 
 31, 
 4Ps,  107,  1, 
 
 &  na  i.k 
 
 d  Ps.  15.  2. 
 
 *.  Acts  24  10 
 
 Gal.  6.  9. 
 
 J  Lev,  26,40, 
 I  Kill,  8,47, 
 Diiil.  9,  5, 
 
 Ejek.  20. 
 14. 
 h  Ex,  9,  16, 
 
 /  Ex.  U  21, 
 Ps,  IS  15, 
 N.ih.  1.  4. 
 
 ...  I...  G3,  II, 
 12.  13,  14 
 
 ..  Ex,  14,  30, 
 
 a  Ex.  11.27, 
 28.  &  IS.  5. 
 
 r  Ex.  14.31 
 k  15.  I. 
 
 7  Ex.  15,  ':i 
 &  16,  2   & 
 
 17,  2.  Ps. 
 78.  11. 
 
 I  Heb.  n-ii 
 nt'idr  hnxlr, 
 Ih^ij  furgat. 
 
 r  >-u  II  4, 
 33,  Ps.  7S. 
 
 18.  1  Cor. 
 
 10,  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  ^w/ed 
 
 a  hut. 
 •  Nu.  II   31. 
 
 Ps.  78.  29. 
 Ms.  10.  IG. 
 
 (  r.ini,  le, 
 
 1,  Kc. 
 
 ..  Num.  16. 
 
 31,  .32. 
 
 Deu.  11.6. 
 w  Num.  16. 
 
 &5,  46. 
 
 .  Ex.  32.  4. 
 »  Jer.  2.  II. 
 
 Rom.  I,  23, 
 b  Ps,  78.  11, 
 
 c  Ps  79  51. 
 S:  105.  23, 
 
 /(.is.  32.  10, 
 
 11,  32. 
 Deu.  9,  19. 
 25.  &  10-  10, 
 Ezek  20,13, 
 Ezek.  13  5 
 &  22-  .30 
 
 /  Deu,  8,  7, 
 
 Jer, 
 
 19, 
 
 Ezek,  21 
 +  Heb  ft  I'lud 
 
 of  deiiri: 
 g  Heb,  3  I 
 h  Num,  14, 
 
 2,  27. 
 i  Num.  14, 
 
 28,  &c. 
 
 Ps.  95.  II. 
 
 E7ck, 20,15, 
 
 Heb.  3,  11, 
 
 19. 
 k  Ex,  G.  3. 
 
 Deu.  32. 40. 
 
 4  f  Remember  me,  O  Lord,  with  the  favour 
 that  thou  bearest  unto  thy  people  :  O  visit  me 
 witli  tliy  salvation  ; 
 
 5  That  I  may  see  the  good  of  thy  chosen, 
 that  1  may  rejoice  in  the  gladness  of  thy  na- 
 tion, that  I  may  glory  with  tliine  inheritance. 
 
 6  *■■  We  have  sinned  with  our  fathers,  we  have 
 committed  iniquity,  we  have  done  wickedly. 
 
 7  Our  fathers  understood  not  thy  w^onders  in 
 Egypt ;  they  remembered  not  the  multitude  of 
 thy  mercies ;  ''but  provoked  him  at  the  sea, 
 even  at  the  Red  sea. 
 
 8  Nevertheless  he  saved  tliem  '  for  bis  name's 
 sake,  ^  tliat  he  might  make  his  mighty  power 
 to  be  known. 
 
 9  '  He  rebuked  the  Red  sea  also,  and  it  was 
 dried  up  :  so  "'he  led  them  through  the  depths, 
 as  through  the  wilderness. 
 
 10  And  he  "  saved  them  from  the  hand  of 
 him  that  hated  them,  and  redeemed  thcin  from 
 the  hand  of  the  enemy. 
 
 1 1  "  And  the  waters  covered  their  enemies  : 
 there  was  not  one  of  them  left. 
 
 12  ^  Then  believed  they  his  words  ;  they  sang 
 his  praise. 
 
 13  ''  t  They  soon  forgat  his  works ;  they 
 waited  not  for  his  counsel  : 
 
 14  '  But  f  lusted  exceedingly  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, and  tempted  God  in  the  desert. 
 
 15  'And  he  gave  tlicm  their  request;  but 
 'sent  leanness  into  tlieir  soul. 
 
 16  "  Tliey  envied  Moses  also  in  the  camp, 
 and  Aaron  the  saint  of  the  Lord. 
 
 17  'The  earth  opened  and  swallowed  up 
 Dathan,  and  covered  the  company  of  Abiram. 
 
 18  *'  And  a  fire  was  kindled  in  their  company ; 
 the  flame  burned  up  the  wicked. 
 
 19  '■  They  made  a  calf  in  Horeb,  and  wor- 
 shipped the  molten  image. 
 
 20  Thus  °  they  changed  tlieir  glory  into  the 
 similitude  of  an  ox  that  cateth  grass. 
 
 21  They  ''forgat  God  their  saviour,  which 
 had  done  great  things  in  Egypt ; 
 
 22  Wondrous  works  in  ■•'  the  land  of  Ham, 
 and  terrible  things  by  the  Red  sea. 
 
 23  ■*  Therefore  he  said  that  he  would  destroy 
 them,  had  not  Moses  his  chosen  °  stood  before 
 him  in  tlie  breach,  to  turn  away  his  wrath,  lest 
 he  should  destroy  them. 
 
 24  Yea,  they  despised 'f  the  pleasant  land, 
 they  ^  believed  not  his  word  : 
 
 25  ''  But  murmured  in  their  tents,  «nrf  heark- 
 ened not  unto  the  voice  of  the  Lord. 
 
 26  '  Therefore  he  ''  lifted  up  his  hand  against 
 them,  to  overthrow  them  in  the  wilderness  : 
 
 27.  They  shewed  his  signs,  v,~nn«  ^Ml,  '  the  words  of  his  siRns.' — Pii^., 
 Mont.,  i'ltt..  &c.  They  declared  tlie  words  of  God  to  them,  that  he 
 would  do  such  signs  and  wonders,  in  case  they  did  not  let  Israel  go. — 
 Gitt.  28.  They  rebelled  not,  i.e.,  Israel;  referring  to  some  special 
 act  of  obedience,  perhaps  circumcision  prior  to  eating  the  passover, 
 (Exnd.  xii.  48  ) — Lightf.  Moses  and  Aaron  are  meant ;  they  executed 
 their  commission  in  everj'  particular.  They  '  feared  not  the  wvalh  of 
 theking.' — Scott.  '  Still  they  rebelled,'  Sept.,  Vulg.,  .irab. ;  soBoothr. 
 30.  Frogs  in  abundance — in  an  eastern  wet  monsoon,  myiiads  of  frogs 
 make  their  appearance.  They  leap  about  the  rooms  in  every  direction. 
 — Rot}.  The  racist,  marshy,  and  watery  places  of  Egypt,  and  banks  of 
 the  Nile,  were  prepared  with  abundance  for  eftecting  the  plague  at 
 God's  command. — (Jill,  Ed.  44.  Inherited  the  labour,  ^c,  took  pos- 
 session of  what  others  had  built  and  planted. — Pat. 
 
 Ps.  CVI.  —  This  seems  to  be  an  appendix  to  the  preceding  Psalm; 
 and  the  concluding  verses,  on  which  the  opinion  is  founded,  by  many 
 commentators,  of  its  being  written  in  the  Babylonish  cai'tivity,  are 
 found  in  substance  in  the  Psalm  used  when  Uavid  removed  the  ark  to 
 Mount  Zion,  (1  Chron.  xvi.  34.) — So  Scott.  1.  Praise  ye  tlie  Lord, 
 without  doubt  this  is  the  title  of  the  Psalm. — Pat.  6.  With  our  fa- 
 thers, after  their  example  of  unbelief. — Bp.  Home.  13.  Soon  forgat, 
 three  days  after,  at  the  waters  of  Marah,  (Exod.  xv.  24 .)  Waited  not 
 for  bis  counsel,  i.  e.,  till  God  should,  in  his  own  way,  fulfil  his  own  de- 
 signs.— A.  t'larke.  15.  Leanness,  'satiety,'  or  'loathing.' — Houb., 
 Loivth.  See  Num.  xi.  20.  'Wasting  diseases  among  them.'  The 
 II.  brew,  'on  their  soul,'  signifies  on  their  persons  or  themselves. — 
 Bijotiir.  20.  Changed  their  glory,  the  glory  of  their  Lord,  Targ. 
 So  Rom.  i.  23.         26.  Lifted  up  his  hand,  a  gesture  used  in  swearing. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  t'.V. — I.  How  many  are  God's  works  II.  It  is  onr  duty  yratefuUy  to  cull  to  rememhrnnce  God's  yra- 
 of  providence  in  behalf  of  his  church  and  people  !  Tbe  history  of  clous  providences.  Worldly  men  may  slightly  notice  his  inter- 
 the  church  now,  as  of  old,  exhibits  many  wonderful  interpo-  positions,  even  for  them,  as  lucky  incidents  and  escapes  ;  but 
 sitions  of  God  for  its  preservation  ;  and  individuals  may  soon  to  Ilie  Christian  they  sliouhl  be  soul-stirring  recollections,  ex- 
 form  a  catalogue  of  God's  providential  favours.  citing  to  the  deepest  giaiitude  and  praise. 
 645 
 
The  rebe.llion  of  the  Israelites, 
 
 PSALMS,  CVII. 
 
 Go(Vs  manifold  providence. 
 
 27  f  '  To  overthrow  their  seed  also  among  the 
 nations,  and  to  scatter  them  in  the  lands. 
 
 t>8  "'  They  joined  tiiemselves  also  unto  Baal- 
 peor,  and  ate  the  sacrifices  of  the  dead. 
 
 29  Thus  they  provoked  him  to  anger  with 
 their  inventions  :  and  the  plague  brake  in  upon 
 them, 
 
 30  "  Then  stood  up  Phinehas,  and  executed 
 judgment :  and  so  the  plague  was  stayed. 
 
 31  And  tliat  was  counted  unto  liim  "  for 
 righteousness  unto  all  generations  for  ever- 
 more. 
 
 32  ^  They  angered  him  also  at  the  waters  of 
 strife,  ■'  so  that  it  went  ill  with  Moses  for  their 
 sakes : 
 
 33  ''  Because  they  provoked  his  spirit,  so  that 
 lie  spake  unadvisedly  with  his  lips. 
 
 34  *  They  did  not  destroy  tlie  nations,  ^con- 
 cerning whom  the  Lord  cunnnaudcd  them  : 
 
 35  "  But  were  mingled  among  the  heathen, 
 and  learned  tlieir  works. 
 
 36  And  '^  they  sewed  their  idols:  *  which 
 were  a  snare  unto  them. 
 
 37  Yea,  ^  they  sacrificed  their  sons  and  their 
 daughters  unto  "devils, 
 
 38  And  shed  innocent  blood,  even  the  blood 
 of  their  sons  and  of  their  daughters,  whom  they 
 sacrificed  unto  the  idols  of  Canaan  :  and  ^  the 
 land  was  polluted  with  blood. 
 
 39  Thus  were  they  *"  defiled  with  their  own 
 works,  and  ''went  a  whoring  witli  their  own 
 inventions. 
 
 40  Tlierefore  ''  was  the  wrath  of  tlie  Lord 
 kuidled  against  his  people,  insomuch  that  he 
 abhorred  *^lus  own  inheritance. 
 
 41  And  ^  lie  gave  them  into  the  hand  of  the 
 heathen  ;  and  they  that  hated  them  ruled  over 
 them. 
 
 42  Their  enemies  also  oppressed  tliem,  and 
 they  were  brought  into  subjection  under  their 
 hand. 
 
 43  ^  Many  times  did  he  deliver  them  ;  but 
 they  provoked  him  with  their  counsel,  and 
 were  |[  brouglit  low  for  their  iniquity. 
 
 44  Nevertiieless  he  regarded  their  affliction, 
 when  '  lie  heard  tlieir  cry  : 
 
 45  ^  And  he  remembered  for  them  his  cove- 
 nant, and  'repented  '"according  to  the  multi- 
 tude of  bis  mercies. 
 
 46  "  He  made  them  also  to  be  pitied  of  all 
 those  that  carried  them  captives. 
 
 47  °  Save  us,  O  Loud  our  God,  and  gather  us 
 from  among  the  heathen,  to  give  thanks  unto 
 
 t  Heh    T" 
 
 make  Ihrm 
 
 fall. 
 t  Lev.  26.  33 
 
 Ve  +1    n. 
 
 Eiek.2i>.-'S, 
 m  Nura.S5. 
 
 2.  3   S:3I- 
 16.  Deu.  4. 
 
 3.  &  Si    17 
 Hos.  0    10 
 Wis,  14.  15. 
 Rev,  2.  1 1. 
 
 n  Num.  26. 
 
 7,  B. 
 0  Num.  2.V 
 
 n,  12,  \X 
 
 nNinn   21  n, 
 i:(.  l's.81  7. 
 
 J  Num.  L'U. 
 12.  I>pu.  1. 
 37.  &  S  2r.. 
 
 r  Ku.  20   10. 
 
 ..Tu-ly.  I.2I, 
 27,  SS,  -49, 
 
 /  Deu,  7   2, 
 
 16.  Judg.  2. 
 
 2. 
 r<  Ju«ig.  2.  2. 
 
 Ik  3.  5.  6. 
 
 Is,  2    6. 
 
 I  Cor.  5.  6. 
 
 x.iuag2,r;. 
 
 I.'*,!?.  19.  S" 
 3,  6,  7- 
 J,  Kx.  2S.S3 
 Deu.  7.  lli. 
 Judg. «.  8, 
 U,  15. 
 
 I  2Km.I6.3. 
 Is    57.  6. 
 Ezek. 16.20. 
 (t  20.  26. 
 
 a  T,ev.  17.  7. 
 
 Deu.  32.  17. 
 
 2Chr,ll  15, 
 
 lCor.10.20. 
 6  Ku.  .15.  S3, 
 c  Ezek.  20. 
 
 18,  3U,  31. 
 d  Lev.  17.7. 
 
 Nu.  15.  39. 
 
 EzeV.SO  .SO. 
 e  Judg.2.14. 
 
 &c.  Ps.  78. 
 
 6y,  62. 
 /  Deu.  9.  29 
 J  Judg  2.1  V. 
 
 Neh.  9.  27, 
 
 fcc. 
 A  Jud!i.2.16. 
 
 Neh^  9.27, 
 
 &c, 
 
 II  Or,  impo- 
 Verith^lt,  or, 
 
 i  Judp.  3.  9 
 &  +.  3.  &  6. 
 7.  &  10.  10. 
 Neh.  9.  27, 
 
 A  Lev.  26. 
 
 ■II,  42. 
 UuAg.2   19, 
 IH  Ps.  51.  I. 
 
 h  09.  16. 
 
 1b,  03.  7. 
 
 Lam.  3.  32. 
 'I  EziaO.  9. 
 
 Jer.  42.  12. 
 
 0  I  Chr.  16. 
 35,36. 
 
 Holklujah. 
 
 a  r»-  lOii.  I. 
 
 ft  n.s   I.  & 
 
 136    1. 
 
 b  Vs.  no.  na. 
 
 Milt.  19    17. 
 
 c  Ps.  lue.  10. 
 
 rfPs.  100.47, 
 Is,  43.  h,  6. 
 Jer.  29.  U. 
 X:  HI.  U.  Ill 
 Ktek  3tl.27, 
 
 t  Hcb.  /r.,m 
 the  tfn. 
 t  ver,  40. 
 /Deu.  Si. 10 
 
 ?  ver.  13,  19, 
 28.  Ps.  50. 
 15.  Hos.  5. 
 
 JtPs.  <M.  10, 
 I.uke  I.5.S. 
 
 I  Luke  1.79 
 
 m  Job  36.  9, 
 
 'I  Lam.  3. 42 
 
 o  Ps.  73.  24 
 ft  119.  24. 
 I,ukr7   ?lo. 
 A.:ls20.  27. 
 
 p  Ps   29.  U 
 
 Is.  di.  5. 
 J  ver.  (j,  19, 
 
 r  Ps.  fifl  6.H: 
 
 I IH.  7. 
 
 Acts  12,  7, 
 
 fto.  ft  16. 
 
 26,  ftc. 
 4  ver.  8.  21, 
 
 31. 
 
 thy  holy  name,  and  lo  triumph  in  thy  praise. 
 
 48  ^  Blessed  he  the  Loud  God  of  Israel  from 
 everlasting  to  everlasting :  and  let  all  the 
 people  say,  Amen,     f  Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  cvn. 
 
 1  The  psalmist  exlwrteth  the  redeemed,  inpraising  God, 
 to  ohserve  his  m'ltiifold  jrrovidenee,  i  over  travellers, 
 10  oyer  captives,  17  ocer  sick  men,  23  oc- r  seamen, 
 03  and  in  ijivirs  varieties  of  life, 
 
 r\  '  GIVE  tlianks  unto  the  Lord,  for  '• /ic  is 
 ^-^  good  :  fur  liis  mercy  endureth  for  ever, 
 
 2  Let  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  .say  .«>, 
 °  whom  he  hath  redeemed  from  the  hand  of 
 tlie  enemy  ; 
 
 3  And  ■'gathered  them  out  of  the  hinds,  from 
 the  east,  and  from  the  west,  from  the  north, 
 and  f  from  the  soutli. 
 
 4  They  "wandered  in  'the  wilderness  in  a 
 solitary  way  ;  they  found  no  city  to  dwell  in. 
 
 5  Hungry  and  thirsty,  their  soul  fainted  in 
 them. 
 
 6  ^  Tlien  they  cried  unto  the  Lord  in  their 
 trouble,  and  he  delivered  them  ont  of  their 
 distresses. 
 
 7  And  he  led  tliem  forth  by  tlie  'Might  way, 
 that  they  miglit  go  to  a  city  of  habitation. 
 
 8  '  Oh  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for 
 his  goodness,  and  /'or  his  wonderful  works  to 
 the  children  of  men  ! 
 
 9  For  ''  lie  .satisfieth  the  longing  soul,  and 
 filleth  the  hungry  soul  with  goodness. 
 
 10  Such  as  'sit  in  darkness  and  in  the  shadow 
 of  death,  beiiuj  "'  bound  in  affliction  and  iron  : 
 
 11  Because  they  "rebelled  against  the  words 
 of  God,  and  contenmed  "the  counsel  of  the 
 most  High  : 
 
 12  Therefore  he  brought  down  their  heart 
 with  labour  ;  they  fell  down,  and  there  ivas 
 ''  none  to  help. 
 
 13  '  Then  they  cried  unto  the  Lord  in  their 
 trouble,  and  he  saved  them  out  of  tlieir  dis- 
 tresses, 
 
 14  'He  brought  them  out  of  darkness  and 
 the  shadow  of  death,  and  brake  their  bands  in 
 sunder. 
 
 15  '  Oh  that  7nen  would  praise  tlie  Lord  for 
 his  goodness,  and  for  his  wonderful  works  to 
 the  children  of  men  ! 
 
 16  For  he  hath  'broken  the  gates  of  brass, 
 and  cut  the  bars  of  iron  in  sunder, 
 
 1 7  Fools  "  because  of  their  transgression,  and 
 because  of  their  iniquities,  are  afBicted. 
 
 Gill.  Equivalent  to  swearinp,  (see  Deut.  xxxii.  40;  Num.  xiv.  30  ;) 
 nuirginid  rending,  Ken. ;  or  in  a  way  of  jinlpmeiit,  ('see  Isa,  xxvi.  11 ; 
 XXX.  3(i.)—GiU.    The  preparatory  act  of  Diviue  punishment.— iifw. 
 
 '  Hence  he  swore  concerning  tliem, 
 That  they  should  fall  in  the  desert.' — Boothr. 
 
 28.  The  dend,  '  irlols,'  so  called  in  opposititin  to  the  living  God. — Ponle. 
 D^nO,  '  dead  mill,'  nieii  deified  after  death.  36.  Jduis,  cn^Qi'y. 
 'laliniirs,*  or  '  priels,'  so  called,  being  formed  with  labour,  worshipped 
 with  toil,  and  producing  siicf  as  the  result  of  the  Divine  displeasure, 
 occasioned   by    their  wor^hijiping   Iliein.  37.  Unto    devils,   D'TiD"?, 
 
 •  demons.'  Devil  is  never  plural ;  there  are  many  demons,  but  only 
 one  devil. — So  Clarke.     Demons  were  the  spirits  of  dead  men,  and 
 
 devils  fallen  angels. — Boothr.  39,  A  whoring,  expressive  of  idola. 
 trous  acts, — So  Ctitrke.  45,  His  eovenont,  with  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
 Jacob,  (sec  Ps.  cv,  8,  9,  10.)— GiH,  Repented,  'relented.'— i?oo(A>.. 
 Note — For  further  exjilanations  ot  this  Psalm,  see  notes  on  the  pa.s- 
 sages  referred  to  in  the  margin. 
 
 Ps.  CVII.  —  Frdiu  exprc-sVins  in  ver.  16,  it  may  be  inferred,  that 
 this  Psalm  was  written  after  the  delivery  from  the  Babylonish  capti- 
 vity.— Street.  Tliis  Psalm  seems  to  have  been  sung  in  parts,  the  inter- 
 calary verses,  beginning,  '  Oh  1  that  men,'  fiC,  forming  the  burden 
 and  chorus, — Ho  Cloyke.  3.  T/te  sonth,  D't3.  'the  sea,'  i.e.,  the 
 Soiithei  n  Sea,  Torg.  The  Rea  Sea,  or  Sea  of  Sodom,  must  be  intended, 
 for  the  Mediterranean  was  on  the  west  of  Canaan. — Boiitlir.  10.  StrvU 
 us  sit  in  darkness  —  ancient  prisons  were  mostly  dark  and  noisome 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps,  CVL  —  I,  We  shall  always  find  reasoji  to    bestow  upon  liis  people. 
 praise  the  Lord.     Even  in  the  night  his  raercies'will  furnish  us        III.  In  readinii  the  history  of  Israel,  hoii}  vuiny  painful  and 
 with  songs.      Praise  is  a  theme  we  can  never  exhaust.      *  Who    pleas  wj  recolleetions  must  oeenr  to  our  own  minds  !     Our  ingrati- 
 
 can  shew  ibrth  all  liis  praise 
 
 II.  Happy  are  they  who,  in  every  chantjinq  circumstance,  still 
 adhere  to  God,  tloini^  righteousness  'at  all  times.'  Such  may 
 still  rejoice  in  file  favour  of  Ciud,  look  for  deliverance  from 
 every  evil,  and  tlie  onjoyment  of  every  blessing  which  the 
 covenant  God  of  Ahraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  has  promised  to 
 040 
 
 tude,  and  God's  mercies,  like  two  streams,  run  side  by  side  ; 
 and  still  he  iiiis  spared  us,  and  still  he  is  blessing  us.  Awake, 
 sweet  gratituiie,  and  sing  his  praise,  '  Blessed  be  the  I^ord 
 God  of  Israel  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,*  'Praise  ye 
 ilie  Lord.' 
 
God's  manifold  providence. 
 
 PSALMS,  CVIII. 
 
 David prai/cth  fur  Gud's  assistance. 
 
 18  "  Their  soul  abhorretli  all  maimer  of  meat; 
 and  they  'draw  near  unto  tlie  gates  of  death. 
 
 19  "Then  tliey  cry  unto  the  Lord  in  their 
 trouble,  and  he  saveth  them  out  of  their  dis- 
 tresses. 
 
 'JO  '  He  sent  his  word,  and  'healed  them,  and 
 'delivered  them  from  tlieir  destructions. 
 
 21  ''Oh  that  men  would  praise  tlie  Lord  for 
 his  goodness,  and  for  liis  wonderful  works  to 
 the  children  of  men! 
 
 2-2  And  °  let  them  sacrifice  the  sacrifices  of 
 thanksgiving,  and  ^  declare  his  works  witli  f  re- 
 joicing. 
 
 23  They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships, 
 tliat  do  business  in  great  waters  ; 
 
 24  These  see  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his 
 wonders  in  tlie  deep. 
 
 25  For  he  comniandeth,  and  f^raiseth  the 
 stormy  wind,  wliich  lifteth  up  the  waves 
 thereof. 
 
 20  They  mount  up  to  the  heaven,  they  go 
 down  again  to  tlie  depths  :  ''  their  soul  is 
 melted  because  of  trouble. 
 
 27  They  reel  to  and  fro,  and  stagger  like  a 
 drunken  man,  and  t  are  at  tlieir  wit's  end. 
 
 28  '  Then  tliey  cry  unto  the  Lord  in  their 
 trouble,  and  he  bringeth  them  out  of  tlieir  dis- 
 tresses. 
 
 29  '  He  maketh  the  storm  a  calm,  so  that 
 the  waves  thereof  are  still. 
 
 30  Then  are  tliey  glad  because  they  be  quiet ; 
 so  he  bringetli  tliem  unto  their  desired  haven. 
 
 31  '  Oh  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for 
 his  goodness,  and  fur  liis  wonderful  works  to 
 the  children  of  men  ! 
 
 32  Let  them  exalt  him  also  "'in  the  congre- 
 gation of  tlie  people,  and  praise  him  in  tlie 
 assembly  of  the  elders. 
 
 33  He  "  turneth  rivers  into  a  wilderness,  and 
 the  watersprings  into  dry  ground  ; 
 
 34  A  "fruitful  land  into  f  barrenness,  for  the 
 wickedness  of  them  that  dwell  therein. 
 
 35  ''  He  turneth  the  wilderness  into  a  stand- 
 ing water,  and  dry  ground  into  watersprings. 
 
 3(>  And  there  he  makelli  the  hungry  to  dwell, 
 that  they  may  prepare  a  city  for  habitation  ; 
 
 37  And  sow  the  fields,  and  plant  vineyards, 
 which  may  yield  fruits  of  increase. 
 
 38  '  He  blesseth  them  also,  so  that  they  'are 
 mnUiplied  greatly ;  and  suffercth  not  their 
 cattle  to  decrease. 
 
 39  Again,  they  are  'minished  and  brought 
 low  through  oppression,  affliction,  and  sorrow. 
 
 40  '  He  poureth  contempt  upon  princes,  and 
 
 y  Job  S3.  S2. 
 ■  Pd.  9    13.  & 
 
 rt  2  Kiu.  90. 
 
 4,5.  I'a.l47 
 
 1.'.,  19. 
 
 Mat.  8.  S. 
 A  Pa   30.  3 
 
 &  103  3. 
 c  Job  S3.  28, 
 
 SO.  Ps    LiO 
 
 3  &  4a.  ir,. 
 
 &  56    13.  & 
 
 103  4. 
 d  v«r.  S,  l.% 
 
 31. 
 e  Lev.  7.  12. 
 
 Ps  50.  n. 
 
 &  no.  17. 
 
 Heb   13.  15 
 /P»   9.  11. 
 
 &  7:1.  28.  & 
 
 lis.  i;. 
 
 t  H.'b. 
 1  H..-b 
 
 h  Ps.  22.  14. 
 ft  1 19   -28. 
 Nah.  2.  10. 
 
 b.  oH 
 
 h  Ps.  80.  9. 
 Mai.  8  26. 
 
 ■.8,  15, 
 
 19.  2b. 
 t  Htb. 
 
 p  Pt-  lU    8. 
 Is.  41.  18. 
 
 fl  Gen.  12  2. 
 &  17.16.20. 
 r  Ex.  1.  7. 
 
 .  2  Kin.  10. 
 .32. 
 
 /Job  12.  SI, 
 24. 
 
 Ij  Or,  mid 
 
 pl„i. 
 u  1  Sam  2  fl 
 
 Ps.  113- 7,S 
 il  Or,  ,./l„. 
 X  Ps.  78  62. 
 
 /  Job  22.  10 
 Ps  52.  6.  S- 
 58  10, 
 ;  Job  5.  16 
 Ps.  63  11. 
 Pio.  10  II. 
 Koin-  3.  19. 
 
 6-1  9. 
 J,  r.  9  12. 
 Hos.  14,  9. 
 
 a  1 
 
 F».  67   7. 
 
 /.  Ps.  57   fi- 
 ll. 
 
 Or,  ,],i,;. 
 Ps.  57.  5, 
 
 /  I's.  60.  9. 
 
 g  Ps.  60.  15. 
 
 causeth  them  to  wander  in  tlie  |j  wi]dernes.s, 
 wliere  there  is  no  way. 
 
 41  "Yet  setteth  be  the  poor  on  high  ||  from 
 affliction,  and  "  maketh  him  families  like  a 
 flock. 
 
 42  '  The  righteous  shall  see  it,  and  rejoice  : 
 and  all  '■  iniquity  shall  stop  her  montli. 
 
 43  °  Whoso  is  wise,  and  will  observe  these 
 things,  even  they  shall  understand  the  loving- 
 kindness  of  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CVHL 
 
 I  rtartJ  cncourar;eth  hiinsvlf  to  praise  Gad.  5  He 
 />nr,r/ti  for  God's  assisfanc  '  according  to  liis  promise. 
 1 1   Jlis  corifidetice  in  God's  help. 
 
 A  Song  or  Ps,alm  of  David. 
 
 0°GOD,  my  heart  is  fixed ;  I  will  sing  and 
 give  praise,  even  with  my  glory. 
 
 2  ''Awake,  psaltery  and  harp:  I  myself  vi'\]\ 
 awake  early. 
 
 3  I  will  praise  thee,  O  Lord,  among  the 
 people :  and  I  will  sing  praises  unto  thee 
 among  the  nations. 
 
 4  For  thy  mercy  is  great  above  the  heavens: 
 and  thy  truth  reaclieth  unto  the  ||  clouds. 
 
 5  °  15e  thou  exalted,  O  God,  above  the  hea- 
 vens :  and  thy  glory  above  all  the  earth  ; 
 
 G  ''  That  thy  beloved  may  be  delivered  :  save 
 witli  tiiy  right  hand,  and  answer  me. 
 
 7  God  hath  spoken  in  his  holiness  ;  I  will  re- 
 joice, I  will  divide  Shechem,  and  mete  out  the 
 valley  of  Snccoth. 
 
 8  Gilead  i's  mine;  Manasseh  is- mine  ;  Ephraim 
 also  is  the  strength  of  mine  head  ;  °  Judali  is 
 my  lawgiver ; 
 
 9  Moab  is  my  wa.slipot ;  over  F.doin  will  I 
 cast  out  my  shoe ;  over  Philistia  \\'\\\  I 
 triumph. 
 
 10  '  Who  will  bring  me  into  the  strong  city? 
 who  will  lead  me  into  Edom  ? 
 
 1 1  Wilt  not  thov,  O  God,  wlio  hast  cast  ns 
 off?  and  wilt  not  thou,  O  God,  go  forth  with 
 our  hosts? 
 
 12  Give  us  help  from  trouble:  for  vain  is  the 
 help  of  man. 
 
 13  ^Through  God  we  .shall  do  valiantly:  for 
 he  it  is  that  shall  tread  down  our  enemies. 
 
 PSALM  CIX. 
 
 1  Daviff,  cnmphiining  of  his  slanderous  rnemics,  under 
 the  persiin  of  Judas  devoitt/i  than.  16  He  sheweth 
 their  sin.  21  Complain in:i  nf  his  own  misvry,  he 
 pra^/eth  fur  help.     29  He  promiseih  thankfulness. 
 
 To  tlie  chief  Blublfiiin,  A  Psalm  of  David. 
 
 places,  tlie  air  and  effluvia  calculated  to  generate  disease  and  death.—  Ps.  CVIH.  — This  Psalm  is  composed  of  parts  taken  from  Ps.  Ivii. 
 
 Sut.        33.  Ilf  turneth  rii^ers,  §-f.—  7—11.  and  Ps.  Ix.  5—12.     Fur  notes,  refer  to  those  Psalms, 
 
 '  He  turneth  a  well- watered  country  into  a  wilderness,  Ps.  CIX.  —Title— *  A  Psalm  of  David,  whi^n  they  created  Ab'^alom 
 
 And  the  water  springs  into  dry  ground.'— Green.  king,' Syr.      On  the  persecution  of  Sdu\.—Kimchi.     It   is   generally 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CVII. —  We  have  here,  I.  A  tale  nf 
 tHcrcits.  Redemption,  the  first  and  great  mercy,  reminds  us 
 of  the  redemption  that  Is  in  Christ  Jesus.  '  God  has  redeemed 
 us  from  Satan,  a  greater  foe  than  Pharaoh  ;  from  sin,  more  de- 
 grading than  the  Egyptian  servitude  ;  from  death,  more  to  be 
 feared  than  the  sea.'  And  here  are  enumerated  mercies  be- 
 stowed upon  the  weary  traveller,  (he  miserable  captive,  the 
 sick  and  dying,  the  storm-beaten  mariner.  Who  can  read  this 
 psalm ,  and  not  call  to  mind  some  of  the  distinguishing  mercies 
 wliich  it  enumerates? 
 
 JI.  We  have  here  a  chorus  of  praise.  Insensible  and  un- 
 grateful indeed  must  we  be,  if  we  can  fail  to  join  in  this  chorus  : 
 '  Oh,  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness,  and  for 
 his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men  !' 
 
 Rekllctions  on  Ps.  CVIII.  —  This  psalm  celebrates — 
 I.  God*s  mtrcy — a  theme  that  caa  never  be  touciied  without 
 647 
 
 awakening  the  most  lively  emotions  of  gratitude  in  every  re- 
 newed heart. 
 
 II,  God's  faithfulness — 
 
 '  His  very  word  of  grace  is  strong 
 As  that  which  built  the  sides ; 
 The  voice  that  rolls  the  stars  along 
 Speaks  all  the  promi.ses.'  w 
 
 III.  GoiVs  power,  exerted  constantly  for  the  protection  and 
 deliverance  of  his  church  and  people.  'He  it  is  that  shall 
 tread  down  our  enemies.'  *as  mire  in  the  street,  or  as  grapes 
 in  the  winepress,  even  kings,  captains,  mighty  men,  and  all 
 the  antichristian  nations  and  states  ;  the  beast,  false  prophrt, 
 and  Satan  himself.  (Rev.  xix.  15,  18,  19,  20  ;  and  xx.  2,  10;) 
 and  so  tliere  will  be  an  end  of  all  tlie  enemies  of  Christ  and  his 
 people  ;  after  which  they  will  spend  an  endless  eternity  toge- 
 ther, in  joy,  peace,  and  pleasure.' b' 
 
David  devoteth  his  cni-mies. 
 
 PSALMS,  CIX.,  ex. 
 
 He  prai/eth  for  help. 
 
 HOLD  "not  thy  peace,  O  God  of  my  praise; 
 2  For  the  moiitli  of  the  wicked  and  the 
 t  moutli  of  the  deceitful  fare  opened  against 
 me:  they  have  spolien  against  nie  with  a  lying 
 tongue. 
 
 3  They  compassed  me  about  also  with  words 
 of  hatred  ;  and  fought  against  me  ''  without  a 
 cause. 
 
 4  For  my  love  they  are  my  adversaries  :  but 
 I  give  m>isplf  unto  prayer. 
 
 3  And  'tlieyhave  rewarded  me  evil  for  good, 
 and  hatred  for  my  love. 
 
 ()  Set  thou  a  wicked  man  over  him  :  and  let 
 ■"11  Satan  stand  at  liis  right  liand. 
 
 7  Wlien  he  sliall  be  judged,  let  him  fbe  con- 
 demned :  and  °  let  his  prayer  become  sin. 
 
 8  Let  his  days  be  few;  and  'letanother  take 
 his  II  office. 
 
 9  '■■  Let  his  children  be  fatherless,  and  his  wife 
 a  widow. 
 
 10  Let  his  children  be  continually  vagabonds, 
 and  beg :  let  them  .seek  their  bread  also  out 
 of  their  desolate  places. 
 
 11  ''Let  tlic  extortioner  catch  all  that  he 
 hath  ;  and  let  the  strangers  spoil  bis  labour. 
 
 12  Let  there  be  none  to  extend  mercy  unto 
 him  :  neither  let  there  be  any  to  favour  his 
 fatherless  children. 
 
 13  •  Let  liis  posterity  be  cut  oflF;  and  in  the 
 generation  following  let  their  'name  be  blotted 
 out. 
 
 14  '  Let  the  iniquity  of  his  fathers  be  remem 
 bered  with  tlie  Lord  ;  and  let  not  the  sin  of 
 his  motlier  "'  be  blotted  out. 
 
 15  Let  them  be  before  the  Lokd  continually, 
 that  he  may  "  cut  off  the  memory  of  them 
 from  the  earth. 
 
 16  Because  that  he  remembered  not  to  shew 
 mercy,  but  persecuted  the  poor  and  needy 
 man,  that  he  might  even  slay  the  °  broken  in 
 heart. 
 
 17  ■'  As  he  loved  cur.sing,  so  let  it  come  unto 
 him  :  as  he  delighted  not  in  blessing,  so  let  it 
 be  far  from  him. 
 
 18  As  he  clothed  himself  with  cursing  like 
 
 f  riob.  mniitft 
 "f  dtcpil. 
 >,  HL-b.  hare 
 
 llK-m- 
 selves. 
 
 6  Ps.  So.  7. 
 &  09.  4. 
 JobD  15.  25. 
 
 ■  Vs.  35   7. 
 12.  &  3$.  20. 
 
 iJZcch.S.  1. 
 II  Or.  nti 
 
 ntit'friari/. 
 t  Heb  <i,',tml 
 
 e:„ll,/.  or, 
 
 Kicked. 
 e  Prnv   ?8  9. 
 /  Acts  1 .  20 
 II  0,,cha,c' 
 a  Ex.  22.21. 
 
 1  ?v(i   5.  23. 
 
 t  lU-h.  wilh 
 
 n  tiitn. 
 
 i  Job  >S  19. 
 Ps  37.  2S. 
 *  Pro.  10.  7 
 
 m  Nell   -1.  5 
 Jer.  18.  23. 
 
 ,.  .7ob  18.  17. 
 P»,  »1.  10. 
 
 pPro.  M.  M. 
 Ezek.  35.  C. 
 
 /  Ps.  23.  6, 7. 
 t<  Mat-27.39 
 
 1/  2  Sam    IG 
 
 11.  12 
 ;  Is    C5.  U. 
 
 a  P».  as.  20 
 d  132.  IS. 
 
 k  P«   S.'i.  19. 
 
 Id  111.  I. 
 c  P«.  16.  9. 
 
 St  73  23.  8c 
 
 no.  5.  & 
 
 121,  a. 
 t  Hcl.  .A"r.i 
 
 iMat.28.'ll. 
 Mark  12  36. 
 Luke  20  42. 
 Arts  2  31. 
 1  Cor  15  2-1. 
 Heb.  I  13 
 1  Pet  3  22. 
 See  Ps.  45. 
 
 as  with  his  garment,  so  let  it  ''come  finto 
 his  bowels  like  water,  and  like  oil  into  his 
 bones. 
 
 19  Let  it  be  unto  him  as  the  garment  which 
 covciclh  him,  and  for  a  girdle  wherewith  he  is 
 girded  continually. 
 
 20  Let  this  be  the  revi-ard  of  mine  adversaries 
 from  the  Lord,  and  of  them  that  speak  evil 
 against  my  soul. 
 
 21  But  do  thou  for  me,  O  God  the  Lord,  for 
 tliy  name's  sate  :  because  thy  mercy  is  good, 
 deliver  thon  me. 
 
 22  For  I  am  poor  and  needy,  and  my  heart 
 is  wounded  within  me. 
 
 23  I  am  gone  'like  the  shadow  when  it  de- 
 clineth :  I  am  tossed  up  and  down  as  the 
 locust. 
 
 24  My  "  knees  are  weak  through  fasting ; 
 and  my  flesh  faileth  of  fatness. 
 
 25  I  became  also  '  a  reproach  unto  them  : 
 when  they  looked  upon  me  "they  shaked  their 
 heads. 
 
 20  Help  mo,  O  Lord  my  God  :  O  save  mo 
 according  to  thy  mercy  : 
 
 27  "  That  they  may  know  that  this  is  thy 
 band  ;  that  thou.  Lord,  hast  done  it. 
 
 28  ^  Let  them  curse,  but  bless  thou  :  when 
 they  arise,  let  them  be  ashamed  ;  but  let  '  thy 
 servant  rejoice. 
 
 29  °  Let  mine  adversaries  be  clothed  with 
 shame,  and  let  them  cover  themselves  with  their 
 own  confusion,  as  with  a  mantle. 
 
 .'!0  I  will  greatly  praise  the  Lord  wilh  my 
 mouth  ;  yea,  ''  I  will  praise  hiin  among  tlie 
 multitude. 
 
 31  For '^  he  shall  stand  at  the  right  hand  of 
 the  poor,  to  save  him  j horn  those  that  con- 
 demn his  soul. 
 
 PSALM  ex. 
 
 1    T/tc  /ihtfjthm,  4  the  priisthoofl,  5  the  conguest,  7  and 
 the  passion  of  Christ. 
 A  Ps;ilm  of  David. 
 ^HE  *  Loud  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit  tlioii  at 
 -*-    my  riglit  band,  until  I  make  tliine  enemies 
 thy  footstool. 
 
 thought  to  bk-  an  invective  apainst  Doeg.  prophetically  pointing:  to 
 Jnda'!,  (Acts,  i.  iG.) — Fenton.  Miiny  of  the  Christian  fathers  associate 
 Ahithophcl  with  Doep. — Sut.     Probahly,  in  it'i  primaty  meaning:,  the 
 
 •  to  them  I 
 6.  Set 
 
 Psalm  may  refer  to  Ahithophcl. — Clarke.       4.  For  luy  lo< 
 have  shewn  kindness,  an<l  thus  they  repay  roc.' — So  Clarke, 
 thou,  Sfc. — 
 
 •  Give  thou  the  Evil  One  charge  over  him. 
 And  let  Satan  stand  at  bis  right  hand.' — Horsley. 
 
 i.  e.,  give  this  people  up  to  the  devil's  persecution. — Ilorslei/. 
 
 *  Let  his  wickedness  be  visited  on  hira, 
 And  the  Accuser  stand  at  bis  right  hand.' — Boof/ir. 
 
 The  imprccatinns  from  tliis  verse  to  vcr.  17,  were  pronoimced 
 David  upon  his  enemies,  but  by  David's  enemies  upon  him. 
 wicked  man  over  him,  say  tlicy,'  &c. — Si/I:es,  Green,  Kente,  Partridge. 
 Many  prefer  the  received  translation  .~/?rf.  S/jfan,  '  r\n  adversary;* 
 signifying,  Met  him  be  opposed  and  ihwartcri  in  all  his  purposes.' — 
 A.  Clarke.  No  uninspired  person  should  adopt  such  language,  for  it 
 would  only  evidence  the  malice  of  his  own  depraved  heart.  As  pro- 
 phetic language,  it  does  but  declare  the  destiny  of  the  individual  to 
 
 not  by 
 *  Set  a 
 
 whicli  it  alludes.— i?oo(A»'.,  Ed.  At  his  right  hand,  alluding  to  Jewish 
 courts  of  justice,  where  the  accuser  stood  at  tlie  right  hand  of  the  ac- 
 cusvd.—Ruseiim.  ".  Be  eoiidemned,  I'lTi  N"\  '  let  him  come  out  a 
 wicked  man,'  i.e.,  let  his  wickedness  be  made  manifest.— .4.  Clarke. 
 His  pvfiyer  become  sin — it  wuuld  be  abomination  offered  without  true 
 contrition,  repentance,  faith,  hope,  or  charity. — Bp.  Hui-ne.  10.  Let 
 his  rhildren,  his  wickedness  shall  entail  misery  on  his  children.— 
 Triivpll.  18.  Like  wnfer—like  oi7  — marking  a   dee|>-rootC'l    curse, 
 
 penetrating  the  body,  as  tlie  water  one  drinks,  or  the  oil  with  which 
 one  is  rubbed.— CVi/.  Perhaps  the  waters  of  jeahnisy  arc  alluded  to, 
 (see  Num.  v.  17,  18.) — Hfiub.  Oil  applied  to  a  naked  bone  is  -said  to 
 cause  exquisite  pain,  ami  render  it  carious.— //*•«'.  ly.  As  tin-  gar- 
 
 i/ictt—a  girdle,  *  let  him  be  encompassed  about  on  all  sides  with  the 
 wr.itli  of  God.'  —Gill.  2.1.  Like  the  shadow,  ffc,  whieli  grows  fainter 
 as  it  Ictigtliens,  and  suddenly  disapjiears. — Hors.  Astheloritaty  swarms 
 of  locusts  are  easily  agitated  hitlier  and  thither  by  the  shifting  wind. — 
 See  Shaw. 
 
 Ps.  ex. — TiTi.K— .4  P.vrt/nio/Dfl''((/— commentators  in  general  agrte 
 in  viewing  this  Psalm  as  a  prophecy  of  the  Messiah ;  see  alsn  the  (pui- 
 tations  from  it,  Matt.  xvii.  42 — !.■. ;  Acts,  ii.  34  ;  i  Cor.  xv.  25  ;  Heb.  i. 
 13,  and  X.  13.  ].  The  Lord  said  — God  the  Father,  in  his  eternal 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CIX. — T.  Goorl  men  have  oft<.7i  been 
 vikh/ treated.  So  was  David,  so  were  the  apostles,  sn  was 
 their  blessed  Lord.  '  The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God,' 
 and  this  enmity  shewed  itself  in  the  spirit  of  Ahitbopliel  and 
 Doeg  against  the  Lord's  anointpd  ;  aj^ainst  the  apostles  who 
 trod  so  closely  in  the  steps  of  their  great  Master  ;  and  against 
 Jesus  himself,  '  God  manifest  in  the  flesh,'  who,  when  be 
 'dwelt  among  us,'  only  *went  about  doing  good.' 
 
 II.  T/ic  persecutor  shaU  not  escape  pimishmevi.  It  is  a  dan- 
 gerous thing  to  persecute  those  whom  God  loves.  The  blow 
 is  virtually  aimed  at  him,  and  sl)all  recoil  upon  the  head  of  the 
 striker.     Happy  is  he  whose  conscience  is  awakened  in  time. 
 
 who  hears  the  All-powerful  voice  addressing  him,  'Whv  per- 
 secutest  tliou  me  !'  nnd,  humbled  under  a  sense  of  his  guilt, 
 seeks  refuge  in  that  God  and  Saviour  against  whom  he  has 
 manifested  his  hatred,  earnestly  crying,  '  Lord,  what  wouldst 
 thou  have  me  to  do  V 
 
 III.  The  resort  of  the  ivnoccnt  sufferer  must  he  to  his  G"d. 
 Thither  David  fled,  and  David's  Lord,  in  the  trying  hour, 
 looked  up  to  his  Father. 
 
 '  God  is  a  refuge  f<"r  his  saints, 
 
 Wien  storms  nf  sharp  <listress  invade  > 
 Ere  we  can  offer  our  complaints. 
 Behold  him  present  with  his  aid.' 
 
A  description  of 
 
 2  Tlie  Lord  shall  send  the  rod  of  lliy  strength 
 out  of  Zion  :  rule  thou  in  the  midst  of  thine 
 enemies. 
 
 3  I"  Thy  people  sha/l  be  willing  in  the  day  of 
 thy  power,  '  in  the  beauties  of  holiness  ||  from 
 the  womb  of  the  moniing  :  thou  hast  the  dew 
 of  thy  youth. 
 
 4  The  Lord  hath  sworn,  and  ''will  not  re- 
 pent, °  Thou   art  a  priest  for  ever   after  the 
 
 PSALMS,  ex. 
 
 Christ's  kinydom. 
 
 «Judg  5.2. 
 c  P>.  96.  9. 
 [I  Op,  more 
 
 itian  the 
 
 <mmb  o/lhr 
 
 Ikon  iliitlt 
 hnve,  fyv. 
 
 d  Nil.  23.  19. 
 
 e  Heb  5.  G, 
 &6.S0.  &7. 
 17,  21.  See 
 Zecli.  6.  13. 
 
 /p». 
 
 16 
 
 3. 
 
 jPs. 
 Hon 
 Kev 
 
 2.5 
 1.  ■.? 
 .  11 
 
 .'2 
 5. 
 16 
 
 /■P» 
 Hab 
 il  Or 
 
 68 
 .  3. 
 
 21. 
 13. 
 
 It. 
 
 i  In, 
 5,  (i 
 4  Is. 
 
 53. 
 
 12. 
 
 order  of  IMelchizedek. 
 
 5  The  Lord  *"at  thy  right  liand  .shall  strike 
 through  kings  ^in  the  day  of  his  wrath. 
 
 G  He  shall  judge  among  the  heathen,  he 
 shall  fill  the  places  with  the  dead  bodies  ;  ""he 
 shall  wound  the  heads  over  ||  many  countries. 
 
 7  '  He  shall  drink  of  the  brook  in  the  way  : 
 ''  therefore  shall  he  lift  up  the  head. 
 
 counsel,  said  unto  his  Son, '  TalveThou  all  power  and  authority,  as  the 
 only  Mediator  and  true  King  of  tliy  church,  until  I  shall  utterly  have 
 subdued  all  those  tliat  dare  to  rise  up  against  Thee  ;  then  do  Tliou  de- 
 liver up  this  royal  state  and  kingdom  of  thy  Mediatorship.' — Bp.  Hull. 
 Unto  mij  Lorrf— these  are  the  words  of  Jehovah,  the  Father,  to  his  Son, 
 the  Messiah;  the  Adan,  or  Lord,  spoken  of  in  Isa.  vi.  1  ;  Mai.  iii.  1  ; 
 the  one  Lord  Jesus  and  only  potentate,  the  Lord  of  all,  the  Lord  of 
 David,  and  of  every  believer. — Gill.  Al  mi;  right  hand,  expressive  of 
 the  highest  honour  and  majesty;  alluding  to  the  conduct  of  earthly 
 princes,  who  place  those  on  their  right  hand  whom  they  intend  to 
 honour. — Morison.  Ps.  xlv.  9.  Thi/  footstool,  the  allusion  is  to  the 
 custom  of  conquerors  treading  upon  the  necks  of  the  conquered,  (see 
 Jos.  X.  24.)— G^7^  The  easterns  sit  on  broad  couches  around  their 
 rooms,  but  a  chair  of  ttate  among  them  requires  a  footstool  to  raise 
 them  up  and  support  tlie  legs.  The  Persians  use  chairs  only  at  the 
 consecration  of  tiieir  kings;  these  are  so  high  as  to  require  a  footstool. 
 Besides  the  six  steps  to  Solomon's  throne,  there  was  a  footstool  of 
 gold  fastened  to  the  seat,  (-iCliron.  ix.  18.) — Lowth,  Chardin.  2.  Ihid 
 of  thy  strength,  '  sceptre  of  thy  power.'—Green,  Mors.  '  His  Word  ac- 
 companied by  his  Spirit.'— B/*.  Home.  Out  of  Zion — the  Gospel  was 
 first  preached  in  Zion,  or  Jerusalem,  and  went  out  from  thenee  into  all 
 parts  of  the  world ;  the  first  ministers  had  their  commission  tliere,  and 
 were  sent  from  that  piuce  to  give  it  universal  publicity,  (see  Isa.  ii.  3  ; 
 Luke,  xxiv.  47;  Acts,  i.  4  ;  \'\\\.  4.)~Gill.  "i.  Thy  people,  ^-c,  'in 
 
 the  day  of  thy  power  shal  my  people  oti're  the  free-will  offeringes  with 
 an  holy  worship.' — Coverdule,  so  Tyndal,  Cardmarden,  Beck. 
 
 'Thy  people  shall  freely  offer  tliemselves 
 On  the  day  when  thou  shalt  assemble  thy  forces 
 Upon  the  holy  hills.    The  youth  of  thine  army 
 Khali  be  like  the  dew  from  the  womb  of  the  jnoining.'— Green. 
 
 '  With  thee  shall  be  offerings  of  free-will, 
 In  the  day  of  thy  power,  in  the  beauties  of  holiness. 
 The  dew  of  thy  progeny  is  more  than  the  womb  of  the  morning.' 
 
 Horsley. 
 
 '  Thy  people  shall  offer  themselves  voluntarily  in  the  day  of  thy  arma- 
 nient,  in  the  beauties  of  the  sanctuary  ;  thy  youth  shall  be  ready  at  thy 
 hand,  as  dew  from  the  womb  of  the  mormng.'^Mudge. 
 
 *  Unto  thee  shall  belong  the  dominion  in  the  day  of  thy  power, 
 Willi  holy  honours  from  the  womb. 
 
 Thy  birth  shall  be  comparable  to  the  dewy  dawn.' — Stniet. 
 
 *  Most  willing  shall  be  thy  people. 
 
 In  the  day  when  thy  power  is  displayed 
 On  these  hallowed  mountains; 
 
 Thy  progeny  as  dew  from  tlie  womb  of  the  morn.' — Boothr. 
 'Exuberant  shall  be  tliy  people 
 In  the  day  of  thy  power; 
 In  the  glories  of  holiness. 
 Beyond  the  womb  of  the  morning 
 Shall  How  the  dew  of  thine  increase.' — M.  Good,  so  Lowth. 
 
 The  Lord  shall  send  the  rod,  or  'sceptre,'  of  thy  power  out  of  Zion,  i.e., 
 out  of  the  tribe  of  Juddli,  comp.  Gen.  xlix.  10,  and  Ps.  Ixxviii.  68.) 
 Kule  thou  over  thy  free-will  people ;  for  none  hut  such  are  fit  to  he 
 Christ's  subjects,  (see  Malt.  xi.  29.)  In  the  midst  of  thine  enemies, 
 Jews  and  heathens;  or,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  the  world,  the  flesh,  and 
 the  devil.  In  the  day  of  thy  power,  i.e.,  when  all  power  shall  he 
 given  Him,  both  in  heaven  and  earth,  (Matt,  xxviii.  18  )  in  the 
 beauties  of  holiness,  which  is  the  peculiar  characterii^lic  of  Christ's 
 reign  and  of  his  religion. — Univ.  Hist.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  i!^3.  Willing, 
 '  voluntaries,'  or  *  volunteers,'  such  as  shall  freely  and  liberally  present 
 both  themselves  and  their  oblations. — Ains.  l)ny  of  thy  power,  season 
 of  their  conversion,  when  the  corruptions  of  nature  can  no  longer  hold 
 out  against  the  prevailing  influences  of  grace,  and  they  make  a  free 
 and  voluntary  offering  of  themselves  to  their  Redeemer. — Bp.  Home. 
 Beauties  of  holiness,  alludes  to  the  beautilid  garments  of  the  high 
 priest, — A.  Clarke;  which  may  typify  the  graces  and  virtues  of  the  Holy 
 Spirit,  (see  Rev.  xix.  !4.) — Ains.  '  Adorned  with  humility,  faitii,  hope, 
 love.' — Bp.  Home.  May  be  read,  '  i[i  the  beautiful  sanctuary,*  mean- 
 ing, perhaps,  that  Messiah's  volunteers  were  there  to  assemble. — Sec 
 Dr.  Durell.  From  the  womb  of  the  inoriiing,  'as  the  dew  flows  frnni 
 the  womb  of  the  morniii?,  so  shall  all  the  godly  from  thee.'  The  dew 
 of  thy  youth,  they  are  the  offspring  of  thy  own  nativity.     Youth  [nay 
 
 here  signify  soldiers,  persons  of  courage,  activity,  and  vigour,  as  were 
 the  apostles,  and  first  preachers  of  the  Gospel. — A.  Clarke.  *  More  than 
 the  dew-drops  from  tlie  womb  of  the  morning  is  the  dew  of  thy  pro- 
 geny.'— Lowth.  Thy  children,  begotten  to  thee  tlirough  the  Gospel, 
 sliall  exceed  in  number,  as  well  as  brightness  and  beauty,  the  spangles 
 of  early  dew  which  the  morning  discloscth  to  the  delighted  eye  of  the 
 beholder. — Bp.  Home.  Among  the  earliest  Greek  writers,  dew  seems 
 to  have  been  a  figurative  expression  lor  the  young  of  any  animal. — 
 Horsley. 
 
 'And,  lo  !  thy  royal  courts  to  grace, 
 An  offspring  fair,  a  countless  lace, 
 Shall  to  thy  youthful  prime  be  born. 
 Like  dew-drops  from  the  womb  of  morn.' — Mant. 
 
 The  word  rendered  *  the  youth,'  may  refer  to  the  first  publication  of  the 
 Gospel,  the  early  days  of  the  gloritted  Iledcemer's  kingdom,  when  con- 
 verts, numerous  as  the  drops  of  dew,  '  gladly  received  the  Word,'  and 
 willingly  yielded  themselves  to  the  Lord  Jesus. — Scott.  Widely  dif- 
 ferent from  others  is  the  following  opinion,  that  'the  womb  of  the 
 morning  designates  the  eternity  of  Christ,  (see  Prov.  viii.  22  ;  Mic.  v.  2,) 
 and  'dew,'  perpetuity,  one  with  theFatherfor  ever,  (see  Isa.  xxvi.  19.) 
 This  is  the  view  taken  by  Sutcliffe.  4.  The  Lord  hath  stvom—tUe 
 
 oath  of  God  was  the  great  seal  of  heaven,  designed  to  intimate  the  im- 
 portance of  the  deed  to  which  it  was  set,  and  '  to  shew  the  heirs  of  pro- 
 mise the  immutabdity  of  his  counsel.' — Bp.  Home.  A  priest — after  the 
 order  of  Melchizedtk— the  two  o&ices  oi  ytriGift  and  king  were  incom- 
 patible, according  to  the  Mosaic  law,  at  least  after  the  appointment  of 
 David  and  his  family  to  the  kingdom  ;  and  the  ancient  Jews  must  have 
 known,  if  they  had  not  been  blinded  by  prejudice,  that  a  new  order  and 
 constitution  must  take  place  at  the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  who  was 
 to  be  '  a  Priest  upon  his  throne,'  (Zeeh.  vi.  12,  13 ;)  a  priest,  not  after 
 Aaron's  order,  which,  as  David's  s<in,  he  could  not  be,  but  after  the 
 order  of  Mctchizcdek.  'As  Mclehizedek,  the  figure  of  CJirist,  was  both 
 king  and  pnest,  so  the  effect  cannut  be  accnmplished  in  any  king,  save 
 only  Christ.' — Scott.  5.  The   Lord  at   thy   right  hand— the  Psalm 
 
 speaks  of  David,  expressing  this, — 'as  Jesus  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
 so  he  will  be  at  thy  light  hand,  giving  thee  all  the  support  and  comfort 
 requisite.' — Venema.  Understand  here  the  person  mentioned  in  ver.  1, 
 as  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  Jehovali.  The  Psalmist,  who  has  hitherto 
 addressed  himself  to  the  Son,  must  now  btj  supposed  to  make  a  sudden 
 apostrophe  to  tiie  Father.  Shall  strike,  fyc. — the  Neros,  the  Domitian^,, 
 &C.,  shall  endeavour  to  destroy  his  religion  and  kingdom,  hut  the  Lamb 
 sliall  overcome  them.— Bp.  Home.  This  will  be  accomplished  La  a 
 tremendous  way  when  all  antichristian  powers  are  destroyed,  and 
 Christ's  kingdom  set  uii  throughout  the  earth,  (see  Ps.cxlix.  7—9  ;  Isa. 
 xxxiv. ;  Ixiii.  1— 6  ;  Ezek.  xxxviii.,  xxxix. ;  Rev.  vi.  0 — 17;  xix.  11 — 21.) 
 — Scott.  6.  He  sha/l  Judge— Da.\ki  shall  greatly  extend  his  dominion, 
 and  rule  overthe  lUumeans,  Moabites,  Philistines,  &c. — A.  Clarke.  The 
 heads,  ll'MI,  'the  leader'  or  '  commander.' — Leigh.  Over  many  coun- 
 tries, 'over  a  great  country.' — Horsley.  'Over  many  a  country.' — 
 Ken. 
 
 •  He  shall  give  judgment  among  the  heathen. 
 
 The  chief  glutted  with  carnage 
 
 Shall  he  smite  throughout  the  wide  earth.' — il/.  Good. 
 '  He  will  execute  judgment  on  the  nations. 
 
 Filling  them  with  the  bodies  of  the  slain  : 
 
 He  smiteth  the  chitftain  over  a  great  country.'— P^e  Smith. 
 '  He  shall  strive  with  the  heathen,  filling  all  with  slaughter. 
 
 Wounding  the  head  of  mighty  ones  upon  the  earth.' — Horsley. 
 
 7.  Drink  of  the  brook — the  imagery  is  borrowed  from  the  case  of  a  con. 
 queror,  who,  faint  and  thirsty  in  the  battle,  refreshes  himself  at  the 
 stream  he  passes,  and  pursues  the  enemy  with  renewed  vigour.  The 
 Saviour,  for  our  sakcs,  endured  many  bitter  conflicts,  and  was  encou- 
 raged and  supported  by  communications  from  above;  such  may,  there- 
 fore, be  supposed  here  referred  to,  (see  Matt.  iv.  11  ;  John,  xii.28.) — 
 Wit.  The  critics  whose  names  are  appended  thus  render  this  passage  : 
 
 '  The  occupier  in  the  way  will  he  set  on  high, 
 
 So  that  he  shall  be  exalted  a  chief.'— ./I/.  Good. 
 '  lie  shall  drink  of  the  brook  beside  the  way, 
 
 Therefore  shall  he  lift  high  his  head.' — Horsley. 
 '  He  will  drink  of  the  stream  by  the  path, 
 
 And  will  therefore  (triumphautlyj  lift  up  his  head.'— Pyc  Smith. 
 
 Reflections   on   Ps.  CX 1.   *  Our  ascenrhd   Saviour   is 
 
 King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords.  The  decree  has  been  accom- 
 plished ;  the  Mediator  reigns  in  human  nature  over  all  worlds, 
 and  shall  reign  till  death,  the  last  enemy,  has  been  destroyed 
 by  him. 
 
 Satan,  sin,  and  every  foe,  and  be  for  ever  happy  in  His  pre- 
 sence. 
 
 III.  To  those  who  stdf  oppose  and  neglect  the  Saviour^  hispower 
 will  be  iremniiiims  beyond  all  expression.  Many  have  felt,  and 
 many  more  will  feel,  the  weight  of  his  vengeance.     Let 
 
 1 1.  He  passed  through  sufferings  in  his  tcaif  to  ghry.     So  also    then,  bow  to  the  sceptre  of  his  grace,  and  yield  ourselves  to 
 must  His  people  ;  nnd,  having  drunk  of  the  bitter  waters  of    him  as  his  willing  subjects.' « 
 deathj  they,  too,  shall  lift  up  their  heads,  be  delivered  from 
 
 649  4  o 
 
The  gracious  works  of  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXI.,  CXII. 
 
 Tilt  advantar/es  of  godliness. 
 
 PSALM  CXL 
 
 1  The  psalmist  hy  his  example  ivciteth  othirs  to  prrtis< 
 God  fir  his  phrioiis,  5  and  gracious  works.  10  Tltf 
 fear  of  God  bncdtth  true  u-isflom. 
 
 T)RAISE  tye  the  Lord.  M  will  praise 
 -*■  the  Lord  with  7711/  whole  heart,  in  the 
 assembly  of  the  upright,  and  in  tlie  congre- 
 gation. 
 
 2  ^  The  works  of  the  Lord  «r^  great,  "^  sought 
 out  of  all  them  that  have  pleasure  tiierein. 
 
 3  His  work /s^honourahle  and  glorious  :  and 
 his  ri*jhteoufiness  cndureth  for  ever. 
 
 4  He  hath  made  his  wonderful  works  to  be 
 remembered  :  ^  the  Lord  is  gracious  and  full 
 of  compassion. 
 
 5  He  hath  gix-en  fmeat  unto  them  that 
 fear  him  :  he  will  ever  be  mindful  of  his  cove- 
 nant. 
 
 6  He  hath  shewed  his  people  the  power  of 
 his  works,  that  he  may  give  them  the  heritage 
 of  the  heathen. 
 
 7  The  works  of  his  hands  are  ^verity  and 
 judgment ;  *^  all  his  commandments  are  sure. 
 
 8  *  They  f  stand  fast  for  ever  and  ever,  and 
 are  ^  done  in  truth  and  uprightness. 
 
 9  *  He  sent  redemption  unto  his  people  :  he 
 hath  commanded  his  covenant  forever:  "'holy 
 and  reverend  is  his  name. 
 
 10  "  Tlie  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of 
 wisdom  :  II  a  good  understanding  have  all  they 
 t  that  do  his  co7n7nandmcnts :  his  praise  en- 
 dureth  for  ever. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 1  I's.  3^.  18. 
 
 H«.  I. 
 
 b  Job  3ft,  ft 
 39,  &  Kl,  A 
 *l.  Ps.  92  5- 
 81  139   n 
 Rev.  ir>  3 
 
 c  Ps.  n.3.  5. 
 
 d  I's    145.  4, 
 5,  10. 
 
 e  Ps    flO  3. 
 &  103  8. 
 
 f  Feb.  prny 
 /  Mat.  6.  26, 
 33. 
 
 J)  Rev.  15.  S. 
 A  Ps.  19.  7. 
 .  Is.  40.  8. 
 
 Mat.  5.  18, 
 t  Heb  are 
 
 tilabli^Ked. 
 k  Pa.  Id.  9. 
 
 Rev,  15.  3. 
 
 I  Mat.  1.  2i. 
 Luke  I.  69. 
 
 m  Lu.  I.  49. 
 u  Deu.  4.  6. 
 
 Job  28,  2.S. 
 
 Prov.  1.  7. 
 
 (t  9.  10. 
 
 Eccles.  12. 
 
 i;i. 
 
 Ecclus.  1. 
 16. 
 
 II  Or,  good 
 
 Prnv.  3.  4. 
 f  Heb.  that 
 do  them. 
 
 t  Hi'b. 
 
 H.iUel'mh. 
 a  Ps,  li.S.  1. 
 6Ps.  119.  16, 
 
 ?.a,  47,7", 
 
 1  1:1. 
 c  Va  S.-"-.  13. 
 
 A  37.  -26.  ft 
 
 <l  Mat.  6.  .13. 
 
 ^  Job  U.  17 
 Ps.  97.  11. 
 
 /P9.  37.  26 
 I.iike  6.  3.-> 
 
 ff  Kph.  ^.  16. 
 Col.  4.  5. 
 
 t  H*-b. 
 
 j-idf^mf'it. 
 
 A  Ps-  l.-i.  5. 
 
 I  Pro.  10.  7. 
 
 k  Pro.  1.  S3. 
 
 /  Ps  57,  7. 
 m  I's    61    10 
 n  Ph..  3.  33. 
 
 0  Ps.  .".g.  10. 
 
 8t  lid. ;. 
 
 p  3  Ci.r.  9,  9. 
 
 7  Dcu.  21  13. 
 
 ver.  3. 
 r  P9.75.  10. 
 »See  I.uke 
 
 13.  89. 
 
 1  Ps.  37.  1?. 
 u  Pa.  58. 7,  H. 
 X  Pio  10 -^8. 
 
 ft  11.  7 
 
 PSALM  cxn. 
 
 I  Godliness  hath  the  promises  of  this  life,  4  and  oft/.r 
 life  to  come.  10  The  prosperity  of  the  godly  shait 
 he  an  eyesore  to  the  wicked, 
 
 pRAISE  tye  the  Lord.  °  Blessed  is  the 
 -*-  man  that  feareth  the  Lord,  Mrt^  ^delight- 
 eth  greatly  in  his  commandments. 
 
 2  -"  His  seed  shall  be  mighty  upon  earth  :  the 
 generation  of  the  upright  shall  be  blessed. 
 
 3  ^  Wealth  and  riches  shall  be  in  his  house  : 
 and  his  righteousness  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 4  ^  Unto  the  upright  there  ariseth  light  in 
 the  darkness  :  he  is  gracious,  and  full  of  com- 
 passion, and  righteous. 
 
 5  *■  A  good  man  sheweth  favour,  and  lendeth  : 
 he  will  guide  his  affairs  ^with  f  discretion. 
 
 6  Surely  *•  he  shall  not  be  moved  for  ever: 
 '  the  righteous  sliall  be  in  everlasting  remem- 
 brance. 
 
 7  ■'  He  shall  not  be  afraid  of  evil  tidings  :  his 
 '  heart  is  fixed,  ""  trusting  in  the  Lord. 
 
 8  His  heart  is  established,  "  he  shall  not  be 
 afraid,  until  he  °see  his  desi)-e  upon  his  enemies. 
 
 9  "^  He  hath  dispersed,  he  hath  given  to  the 
 poor;  "^his  righteousness  endureth  forever; 
 Miis  horn  shall  be  exalted  with  honour. 
 
 10  '  The  wicked  shall  see  //,  and  be  grieved  ; 
 Mre  shall  gnash  with  liis  teeth,  and  "melt 
 away  :  ^  the  desire  of  the  wicked  shall  perish. 
 
 PSALM  CXIU. 
 
 1   An  exhortation  to  praise  God  for  his  exceUency,  6  for 
 his  mercy. 
 
 Vr  CXI  — Tolielpthe  mCTiiory,  the  br^nnjng  and  middle  of  each 
 Terse  of  this  Psalm  contains,  in  order,  the  letters  of  the  Hcbicw  alpha- 
 bet. The  two  last  have  three  !etttrs  each.— .^rf.  This  Psalm  ci'U'bn.tes 
 tlie  siRnal   blessings  bestowed   on   the  Jewish   nation.— T.  Bdwnnh. 
 
 1.  Piirise  7/e,  fy,\—as  this  is  an  alphabetical  Psalm,  and  the  first  letter 
 of  liallelujali  does  not  bcein  tlie  alphabet,  it  should  seem  that  where  a 
 Psalm  begins  with  '  Praise  ye  the  Lord,'  it  is  rather  the  title  than  the 
 first  veTSG.—Scntt.  as  Pnt.  and  Lowth.  In  the  assembly,  •\^C1,  '  in  the 
 secret  assembly,'  the  private  rtligious  meetings.  Tfie  congregation, 
 Tny,  'the   general  assembly,'   the  public  congregation.— .<.   Clnrke. 
 
 2.  Great,  U'^iy,  'vast  in  magnitude.'— .^.  Clarke.  Sought  out,  SfC., 
 *  studied.'— Green.  *  Worthy  of  being  inquired  into  by  all  that  delight  in 
 him.*— Street.    '  Exqui-itcly  contrived  for  all  their  purposes.'— il/Mrfg-e. 
 
 3.  Honourable  and  glorious,  -nm  mn,  'glory  and  honour.'—  Pag., 
 Slant.,  Gej.,  Mich.  5.  Mmt,  Vvy^,  or  'a  prey.'— J/on^.,  Vat..  Muse, 
 Ain$.  May  alhuje  t"  the  quails' in  the  wilderness,  also  food  taken  in 
 hunting,  and  spoils.— C/wr/.?.  8.  Stand  fast.  i:010D,  'are  propped 
 up,*  'buttressed.'  — .4.  Clarke.  Q.  Redemption,  deliverance  from 
 Egypt,  the  type  of  Christ*s  redemption. — Poole,  Reverend,  nn:,  '  ter- 
 rible,*  \(\.  Beginning,  'pcrfectinn.'  The  original  order  of  the  words 
 is,  'the  becinning  of  wisdom  is  the  fear  of  Jehovah,'  wisdom  itself  be. 
 gins  with  this  fear.— ,4.  Clarke.  A  good  understandings  2V^  ^3;i;,  •  good 
 success.'— Jkw.,  Trem.,  Aim. 
 
 Ps.  CXII.  —  Another  alphabetical  Psalm.  2.  Shall  be  might//, 
 '  grow  to  a  great  increase  and  strength.'— i?J*pos.  of  Psalms,  1586.  In 
 old  time,  the  proof  of  this  doctrine  was  more  apparent  under  the  law, 
 because  it  behoved  the  rude  and  weak  people  to  be  trained,  by  little 
 and  little,  to  better  hope,  hy  eartlily  blessings.— Crt/fjn.  3.  Weallft 
 and  riches,  this  is  often  the  case;  a  godly  man  must  save  both  time 
 and  money. — A.  Clarke.        4.  Unto  the  vprigltt,  ffc. — 
 
 *  There  ariseth  light  in  the  darltness  unto  upright  men, 
 To  the  gracious,  the  compassionate,  and  the  just  one.* 
 
 Here  is  an  allusion  to  the  plague  of  darkness,  and  exemption  of  the 
 Israelites,  (Exod.  x.  21,  &c.) — Ilorsley.  Light  in  darkness,  joy  for 
 faintness,  sorrow,  and  affliction. — Mant.  He  is  gracious,  that  is,  the 
 Lord,  Arab.,  Etltiop.  That  is,  the  rigliteous  man.— Green.  5.  Lendeth, 
 without  usury.  With  discretion — he  will  economize  and  have  some- 
 thing  to  give. — Gilt.  He  will  take  heed  to  whom  he  gives  and  to  whom 
 he  lends. — A.  Clarke.  He  will  neither  be  prodigal  nor  sordid. — Morison. 
 He  shall  support  his  matters  in  judgment. — Mudge,  Horsley.  7.  Nut 
 be  afraid  of  evil  tidings,  '  evil  report,'  '  calumnies.' — Hew.  He  knov/s 
 that  God  governs  the  world,  and  fears  not  for  futurity.  8.  Esta- 
 
 blished. "IIOD.  'propped  up.' — A.  Clarke.    Until  liesee,  ^c,  *  while  lie  is 
 looking  'his  adversaries  in  the  face.' — Green. 
 'the  wicked  one.' — A.  Clarke. 
 
 10.  The  wicked,  Tin, 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  C\\. -- I.  Let  us  learn  to  contemplate 
 God  in  his  works.  To  admire  his  wisdom,  power,  and  good- 
 ness, in  creation  and  providence,  and  especially  these  with 
 his  amazing  love  in  redemption.  The  lover  of  the  fine  arts 
 finds  much  to  delight  him  in  the  works  of  men,  but  bis  plea- 
 sure falls  infinitely  below  that  of  him  whose  lieart  continually 
 dwells  on  the  works  of  God.  These  shall  form  a  subject  of 
 everlasting  praise  in  the  church  below  and  the  world  above. 
 '  They  sing  the  song  of  Moses  the  servant  of  God,  and  of  the 
 Lamb,  saying,  Great  and  mnrvellous  are  thy  works,  Lord  God 
 Almighty  ;  just  and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou  King  of  saints.' 
 
 II.  Let  Its  cultivate  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  AH  wisdom  that 
 does  not  begin  and  end  here  is  vanity,  and  less  than  vanity. 
 What  does  all  our  knowledge  amount  to  if  we  know  every 
 thing,  and  do  not  know  God  1  And  if  we  know  him.  then  we 
 must  fear  him—fear  to  neglect  him— fear  to  offend  liira  ;  fear 
 him.  not  as  a  judge,  but  as  a  father.  So  may  we  fear  him,  and 
 he  will  love  us. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXIL— I.  Trtte  piety  often  hrinr/s 
 wtth  It  prosperity.  Temporal  promises  are  not  now  to  be  taken 
 in  the  latitude  in  which  they  could  he  received  bv  Old-Testa- 
 ment believers,  and  many  of  God's  people  are  poor  and  de- 
 650 
 
 spised  ;  yet  it  still  remains  a  truth,  that '  godliness  is  profitable 
 for  all  things,  having  the  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and  of 
 that  which  is  to  come.*  Abundance  of  wealth,  and  numerous 
 families,  are  not  among  spiritual  blessings  ;  but  the  good  man 
 is  truly  ricli  with  God's  blessing  on  what  he  does  acquire  and 
 possess  ;  and  he  has  often  to  reproach  himself  with  neglect  or 
 imprudence  if  he  see  not  bis  seed  prospering  in  the  fear  of 
 God. 
 
 JI.  True  piety  is  philanthropic.  Kindness  and  benevolence 
 dwell  in  every  gracious  heart.  A  man  may,  however,  be  very 
 merciful  and  liberal,  and  yet  not  truly  pious;  but  it  is  ven- 
 turing too  much  to  say  that  a  man  can  be  pious  who  is  not 
 merciful  and  liberal.  The  saints  recorded  in  tiie  Bible  com- 
 mitted various  sins,  and  some  sad  ones,  for  which  they  deeply 
 grieved,  and  obtained  pardon,  but  none  were  ever  marked  by 
 the  sin  of  covetousness. 
 
 III.  True  piety  is  connected  icith  peace.  Let  tliickest  darkness 
 gather  around  the  believer,  he  looks  for  the  light  to  shine  in 
 his  dwelling.  Let  the  evil  one  assail  him,  evil  tidings  reach, 
 or  evil  reports  be  falsely  circulated  against  him,  yet  be  is  un- 
 moved. He  is  kept  in  perfect  peace,  because  his  mind  is 
 slayed  upon  God.     '  His  heart  is  fixed,  trusting  in  the  Lord 
 
An  cjrhortutiuH  lo  praise  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXIII.,  CXIV.,  CXV. 
 
 The  vanity  of  idols. 
 
 "pRAISE  tye  the  Lokd.  "Praise,  O  ye 
 -*-  servants  of  the  Lord,  praise  the  name  of 
 tlie  Lord. 
 
 2  "^  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  from 
 this  time  forth  and  for  evermore. 
 
 3  '  From  the  rising  of  tlie  sun  unto  the  going 
 down  of  the  same  the  Lord's  name  is  to  be 
 praised. 
 
 4  The  Lord  is  "■  liigh  above  all  nations,  and 
 '  his  glory  above  the  heavens. 
 
 5  '  Who  is  like  unto  the  Lord  our  God,  who 
 f  dwelleth  on  high, 
 
 (i  ^  Wlio  humbleth  himself  to  behold  the 
 things  that  are  in  heaven,  and  in  the  earth! 
 
 7  ''  He  raiseth  up  the  poor  out  of  the  dust, 
 and  lifteth  the  needy  out  of  the  dunghill; 
 
 8  That  he  may  '  set  him  with  princes,  even 
 with  the  princes  of  his  people. 
 
 9  '  He  maketh  the  barren  woman  f  to  keep 
 house,  and  to  be  a  joyful  mother  of  children. 
 Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CXIV. 
 
 An  exhoriatiotti  ht/  the  example  of  the  dumb  creatures, 
 to  far  God  in  /it's  church. 
 
 XtrUEN  Msrael    went   out   of  Egypt,    the 
 
 ^^  house  of  Jacob  ''from  a  people  of  strange 
 language  ; 
 
 *2  *"'  Judah  was  his  sanctuary,  and  Israel  his 
 dominion. 
 
 ^  '^  The  sea  saw  iij  and  fled :  "  Jordan  was 
 driven  back. 
 
 4  ^  Tlie  mountains  skipped  like  rams,  a/ic?  the 
 little  liills  like  lambs. 
 
 .5  ^  What  aUed  thee,  O  thou  sea,  that  thou 
 fleddest?  thou  Jordan,  that  thou  wast  driven 
 back? 
 
 6  Ye  mountains,  that  ye  skipped  like  rams  ; 
 and  ye  little  hills,  like  lambs? 
 
 Hcb. 
 a  Ps.  135.   I. 
 
 b  DaQ.  2.  20. 
 
 d  Ps.  97   9. 
 
 &  9i».  2. 
 
 Ps.  8.  I. 
 
 f  Ps.  89.  6. 
 
 t  HoIj.  ex-' 
 nltflli  him- 
 Belt  to  dwell. 
 
 if  Pa.  n.  *. 
 
 ■  &  138.  6. 
 I9.  bl.  15. 
 
 h  I  Sain.  S.8- 
 Ps.  107.41. 
 
 i  Job  36.  7. 
 
 k  1  Sam.  2.5 
 
 Ps.  (ie.  6. 
 
 Is   H.  1. 
 
 Gal   4.27. 
 t  Heb.  to 
 
 diDplt  in  an 
 
 /lUUSB. 
 
 a  Ex.  13.  3. 
 b  Ps.  81.  3. 
 
 c  Et.  6.  7.  «( 
 19    G.  &  25 
 8    »f  29.  45, 
 4lj.  Deut. 
 27.  9. 
 
 rf  Kx.  14.  21. 
 Pb.  77.  16. 
 
 fiJosh.3.  13, 
 16. 
 
 /  Ps.  29.  6. 
 S:  rs,  16 
 Hah.  3.  6, 
 
 ff  Hab.  3.  8. 
 
 A  Ex-  17.  6. 
 Nu.  2U.  II. 
 Ps.  1U7  ao. 
 
 1  See  Is.  43, 
 11.  Ezek, 
 Slj.  32. 
 
 b  Ps.  ■)«.  3, 
 
 10  &73   10. 
 
 Joel  2.  1". 
 c  1  Chr.  10. 
 
 26.  Pa.  135. 
 
 6.  Dau.  4. 
 
 35. 
 d  Deu.4.  28 
 
 Ps.  135.  I.% 
 
 16,  17-  Jer. 
 
 10.3,  &c. 
 
 e  Pb.  135.  19 
 Is  44.  y,  10, 
 ll.JoiuLli  2. 
 8.  Hab.  2. 
 18,  1!1. 
 
 /See  Ps,  118 
 2,  3,  4    & 
 I3^  19,  20. 
 (  Ps.  3.t,  no, 
 Pio    30.  5 
 
 A  Ps.  128.1,4. 
 t  Heb.  with. 
 
 7  Tremble,  thou  earth,  at  the  presence  of 
 the  Lord,  at  the  presence  of  the  God  of  Ja- 
 cob ; 
 
 8  ^  Which  turned  the  rock  into  a  standing 
 water,  the  flint  into  a  fountain  of  waters. 
 
 PSALM  CXV. 
 
 1  Btcausc  God  is  truli/  glorious,  4  and  idols  are  vanity. 
 9  he  cxhorteth  to  conjidtuce  in  God.  12  God  is  to 
 he  blessed  for  his  bhssinc/s. 
 
 IVTOT  ''unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but 
 •^^  unto  thy  name  give  glory,  for  thy  mercy, 
 atid  for  thy  truth's  sake. 
 
 2  Wlierefore  should  the  heathen  say,  ^  Where 
 is  now  their  God  ? 
 
 3  ^  But  our  God  is  in  the  heavens  :  he  hath 
 done  whatsoever  he  hatli  pleased. 
 
 4  ^  Their  idols  are  silver  and  gold,  the  work 
 of  men's  hands. 
 
 5  They  have  mouths,  but  they  speak  not : 
 eyes  have  they,  but  they  see  not : 
 
 6  They  have  ears,  but  they  hear  not :  noses 
 have  they,  but  they  smell  not : 
 
 7  They  have  hands,  but  they  handle  not : 
 feet  have  they,  but  they  walk  not :  neither 
 speak  they  through  their  throat. 
 
 S  *^'They  that  make  them  are  like  unto  them  ; 
 so  is  every  one  that  trustetli  in  tlieni. 
 
 9  '"O  Israel,  trust  thou  in  the  Lord  :  ^he  is 
 their  help  and  their  shield. 
 
 10  O  house  of  Aaron,  trust  in  the  Lord  :  he 
 is  their  help  and  their  shield. 
 
 1 1  Ye  tiiat  fear  the  Lord,  trust  in  the  Lord  : 
 he  is  their  help  and  their  shield. 
 
 12  Tlie  Lord  hath  been  mindful  of  us  :  he 
 will  bless  us ;  he  will  bless  the  house  of  Israel ; 
 he  will  bless  the  house  of  Aaron. 
 
 13  •'  He  will  bless  them  that  fear  the  Lord 
 both  small  f  and  great. 
 
 Ps.  CXIII.— This  Psalm  and  the  five  following  were  called  Hallel, 
 oi"  hymns,  which  used  to  be  sung  at  the  Jewi^^h  festivals,  particularly 
 at  the  feast  of  tahernacles  and  passover.  These  are  thought  to  have 
 been  sung  by  Christ  and  his  apostles  after  the  passover. — Pat.,  GUI. 
 See  Matt.  xxvi.  30;  Mark,  xiv.  26.  3.  From  the  rising,   §rc.,  i.  e., 
 
 either  from  morning  to  evening,  or  east  and  west. — Merrick.  5.  Who 
 ttivefleth  on  high,  ni'C?  ''TT'a.JOrT,  'who  exalteth  himself  to  dwell.'  — 
 Mont.;  nearly  the  same,  Pni^.,  so  Targ.,  also  Green. 
 
 *  Who  dwelleth  high, 
 AVho  looketh  low, 
 
 In  heaven  and  in  earth.* — Horsley. 
 To  the  same  purport,  Mudge. 
 
 *  High  in  heaven  his  shrine  is  plac'd. 
 Low  on  earth  his  eye  is  cast.' — Mnnt. 
 
 7.  Out  of  the  dunghill,  *  from  a  low  condition.'— Wu//.  g.  He  maketh 
 the  barren,  ffc. — 
 
 •  It  is  he  who  maketh  the  barren  woman  to  be  mistress  of  a  family, 
 And  a  joyful  mother  of  children.* — Green, 
 
 '  I  le  maketh  her  who  was  barren  in  the  family  to  sit  as  a  joyful  mother 
 
 of  sons.'  The  instances  of  Sarah,  Rachel,  Hannah,  &c.,  are  supposed 
 to  have  typified  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  when  that  immense  portiun 
 of  the  earth  which  had  so  long  been  barren  produced  multitudes  of 
 true  converts,  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  church,  and  of  the  Lord 
 Almighty,  who  has  espoused  her  to  himself. — Scott. 
 
 Ps.  CXIV. —  I.  A  people  of  strange  language — they  understood  not 
 the  Egyptian  language,  (see  Ps.  Ixxxi.  5;  Gen.  xlii.  23.— GUI.  *  A  ty- 
 rannical people.' — Horslfy.  2.  Was  his  sanctuary,  *  his  holiness,* — 
 Pag.,  Vat. ;  or  *  was  holiness  to  the  Lord,'  the  Lord's  holy  people,  (see 
 Jer.  ii.  2,  3;)  they  were  separated  from  all  other  people.— G(7/;  to  the 
 Bame  purport,  Boothr.  5.  What  ailed  thee?  'what  to  thee?'&c. 
 The  original  is  abrupt,  bohi,  and  striking. — Clarke^  Boothr.  6,  Ye 
 
 mountains,  Horeb  and  Sinai,  (comp.  Exod.  xix.  18;  Ps.xxix.  6;  Ixviii. 
 8  ;  and  Hab.  iii.  6,  10.)  8.  Flint, '  granite,'  for  such  is  the  rock  of 
 Horeb. — A.  Clarke.  The  Hebrew  is,  literally,  '  callous,'  or  very  hard 
 rock.  They  had  not  the  Gothic  *  grouan,'  or  granite,  the  real  name  of 
 the  rock. — Sut. 
 
 Ps.  CXV. — This  Psalm  was  probably  composed  on  occasion  of  Jeho- 
 shaphat  seeing  a  great  army  coming  against  him,  (2  Chron.  xs.  2,  14, 
 \':,  20.) — Pat.  No  occa'-ion  seems  more  probable  than  the  flight  of 
 Sennacherib  after  the  mortality  in  his  army. — Horsley.      10.  House  of 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXIII L  God  is  to  he  praised.    Let 
 
 the  frequent  repetition  of  this  truth  in  the  Psalms  remind  us 
 of  the  importance  of  the  duty  of  praise.  Where  it  can  be  exer- 
 cised in  family  worship,  it  is  desirable.  Ryland  somewhere 
 remarks  to  this  purport:  '  He  who,  in  his  "family,  reads  the 
 Scriptures,  does  well  ;  he  who  prays  and  reads,  does  better; 
 but  he  who  prays,  reads,  and  sings  or  praises,  does  best  of  all.' 
 II.  God  is  injinitelt/  condescending.  If  we  were  angels,  it 
 would  be  condescension  in  him  to  notice  us  ;  but  when  wa 
 consider  that  we  are  men— sinful,  rebellious,  t^'uilty  men — () 
 Iiow  condescending  in  hira  so  to  notice  us  as  even  to  regard 
 our  most  minute  concerns  ! 
 
 *  He  overlooks  all  mortal  things. 
 And  manages  our  mean  affairs; 
 On  humble  souls  the  King  of  kings 
 Bestows  Ids  counsels  and  his  cares.'  w 
 
 And  yet  more  does  his  exuberant  goodness  manifest  itself  in 
 raising  us  from  our  vile  dunghill  condition  to  which  we  have 
 (iol 
 
 reduced  ourselves,  and  exalting  us  to  his  heavenly  glory. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXIV. —  I.  Whcd  sublime  displays  has 
 God  given  of  his  power  in  Nature  .f  The  sea,  whose  rage  ia 
 irresistible,  has  been  obedient  to  his  nod,  and  the  solid  earth 
 has  been  convulsed  at  his  appearance  ;  and  though  he  may 
 have  used  one  element  to  control  or  operate  upon  another,  this 
 act  but  serves  the  more  lo  shew  the  obedience  of  all  nature  to 
 Lim  when  required  to  be  his  servant  to  eflect  his  purposes. 
 Hence  we  may  infer — 
 
 II.  What  sidjlime  displays  will  God  yet  give  of  his  power  in 
 Nature/  When  rocks  an^  mountains,  the  whole  visible  hea- 
 vens and  the  earth,  shall  flee  before  him.  When  all  the  in- 
 flammatory materials  of  this  corrupted  world,  the  scene  of  so 
 much  rebellion  against  the  Divine  authority,  shall  be  called 
 into  action,  and  '  the  earth,  and  all  the  works  that  are  therein, 
 shall  be  burnt,  up.'  *  Who  may  abide  the  day  of  his  coming  ? 
 And  who  shall  stand  when  he  appeareth?  for  he  is  like  a  re- 
 finer's fire,  and  like  fullers*  soup.' 
 
David professeth  his  love 
 
 PSALMS.  CXVI ,  CXVII. 
 
 and  duly  to  God. 
 
 14  The  Lord  shall  increase  you  more  and 
 more,  you  and  your  children. 
 
 15  Ye  are  'blessed  of  the  Lokd  'which  made 
 heaven  and  earth. 
 
 16  The  heaven,  even  the  heavens,  are  the 
 Lord's:  but  the  earth  hath  he  given  to  the 
 children  of  men. 
 
 17  '  The  dead  praise  not  the  Lord,  neither 
 any  that  go  down  into  silence. 
 
 18  "  But  we  will  bless  the  Lord  from  this 
 time  fortli  and  for  evermore.     Praise  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CXVL 
 
 1    The  psalmist  profcssttti  his  love  and  duty  to  God  for 
 his  deliverance.      \2  He  studitth  to  be  thajtkfid. 
 
 T  "LOVE  the  Loud,  because  he  hath  heard 
 -*-  my  voice  and  my  supplications. 
 
 2  Because  he  hath  inclined  his  ear  unto  me, 
 therefore  will  I  call  upon  him  fas  long  as  I 
 live. 
 
 .3  ''  The  sorrows  of  death  compassed  me,  and 
 the  pains  of  hell  f  gat  hold  upon  me  :  I  found 
 trouble  and  sorrow. 
 
 i  Then  called  I  upon  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  ;  O  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  deliver  my 
 soul. 
 
 5  "Gracious  is  the  Lord,  and  ''righteous; 
 yea,  our  God  is  merciful. 
 
 6  The  Lord  preserveth  the  simple :  I  was 
 brought  low,  and  he  helped  me. 
 
 7  Return  unto  thy  "rest,  O  my  soul;  for  'the 
 Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee. 
 
 8  ^  For  thou  hast  delivered  my  soul    from 
 
 1  Gra.  U.IO. 
 k  Gen,  I.  I- 
 Pb.  66.  5. 
 
 /  Rs.  6-  r,,  S, 
 S8.  10,  M, 
 12.  Is.  3.-^. 
 
 n  Ps.  MS   S 
 Dan.  2.  -10. 
 
 t  Heb.  ill  my 
 
 fi  Ps.  19.  4, 
 5,  6. 
 t  Heb,  /mud 
 
 c  Ps.  10,1.  8. 
 d  Ezra  9.  15, 
 
 Neh,  9.  fl. 
 
 Ps.  119.1:17. 
 
 &  145.  17. 
 
 «.!cr,  6   16. 
 
 Mat.  n .  39. 
 /Ps    IS.  6. 
 
 &  n9-  17. 
 ^  Pa.  56.  13. 
 
 Ps  SS.  55 
 .loiiah  2.  9. 
 I.  Ps,  7S.  U. 
 
 s,  143  12 
 119    125, 
 143.  12. 
 p  Ps,  96.  16. 
 
 J  Lev.  7.  12. 
 Ps.  ho.  14. 
 Ik  107.  22. 
 
 r  Ps  00  8. 
 A  100  4.  & 
 135.2. 
 
 death,  mine  eyes  from  tears,  and  my  feet  from 
 falling. 
 
 9  I  viill  walk  before  the  Lord  ""iii  the  land 
 of  the  living. 
 
 1 0  '  1  believed,  therefore  have  I  spoken  :  I 
 was  greatly  afflicted  : 
 
 11  '  1  said  in  my  haste,  '  All  men  are  liars. 
 
 12  What  sliall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  yb?- 
 all  his  benefits  toward  me? 
 
 13  I  will  take  the  cup  of  salvation,  and  call 
 upon  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 1-t  ""  I  will  pay  my  vows  unto  the  Lord  now 
 in  the  presence  of  all  his  people. 
 
 15  °  Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Loud  is  the 
 deatli  of  his  saint';. 
 
 IG  O  Lord,  truly  "  I  am  thy  servant ;  I  nm 
 thy  servant,  ayiil  ''  the  son  of  thine  handmaid  : 
 thou  bast  loosed  my  bonds. 
 
 1 7  I  will  offer  to  tiiee  ''  the  sacrifice  of  thanks- 
 giving, and  will  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 18  'I  will  pay  my  vows  unto  the  Lord  now 
 ill  the  presence  of  all  his  people, 
 
 19  In  the  'courts  of  the  Lord's  house,  in 
 tlie  midst  of  thee,  O  Jerusalem.  Praise  ye  the 
 Loud. 
 
 PSALM  CXVIL 
 
 An  exhortation  to  praise  God  for  /its  mcrct/  and  truth 
 t~\  "  PRAISE  the  Loud, all  ye  nations:  praise 
 ^^  him,  all  ye  people. 
 
 2  For  his  merciful  kindness  is  great  toward 
 us:  and  ^'the  truth  of  the  Lokd  tndurcth  for 
 ever.     Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 Aaron,  i.e.,  priests  and  Levites. —TratW/.  H.  The  Lord  shall  in- 
 crease,  fyc. 
 
 '  The  Lord  will  heap  his  blessings  upon  you, 
 Upon  you  and  your  children.' — Green. 
 l6.  Bvtthe  earth  hath,  Sfc,  'and  the  earth,*  which  'he  bath  given,' 
 &c.,  that  is  liis  also.— So  Jnn.,  and  Trem.         1".  The  dead  praise  not, 
 i.e., 'if  thou  sufferest  us,  thy  people,  to  perish  by  the  hnnd  of  our 
 enemies,  who  will  there  be  on  earih  to  praise  thee?'— Boo//»-.      Into 
 silence,  '  the  grave,'  so  called,  because  everything  is  mute  there.— GiV/. 
 Ps.  CXrV'I.  — Written   by  David,   after  Absalom's  rebellion.- i'«/., 
 WiL     By  Hczekiah,  on  his  recovery  from  illness.  —  Horsier/.        3.  The 
 sarroics,  'cords,'  may  allude  to  bands  and  fetters  in  captivity,  or  of 
 malefactors.— J.  Clarke.    See  Ps.  xviii.  4,  note. 
 ,  'The  cords  of  death  entwined  me  round.' — Mant. 
 
 Pains  of  hell  f  the  horrors  of  a  guilty  conscience;  or  it  may  read,  'the 
 pains,  ^'y>'0,  or  '  straitnesses,'- Pag-.,  Mont.,  ffc,  of  ^tMiT. '  the  grave,' 
 such  pains  as  often  bringa  man  there.— ^'a^,Ju^^.,  Treif^iu  Pi^c,  Wells, 
 Gill.  The  pains  of  shcol.  or  a5.ic,  that  is,  the  fears  of  wlj.it  will  befal 
 them  in  the  world  of  cep'irted  spirits. — Dwight.  4.  J. "fin  the  name, 
 or  •  in  the  name,'  mri'  CC1-— i^/o«^,  Masc.,  Vat.  In  si  name  of  the 
 Messiali,  the  only  Mediator.— Gi//.  G.  Simple,  CHHD,  '  the  hasty,' 
 
 or  thnse  that  offend  not  through  malice,  but  frail  impetuosity. — Sut. 
 *  Little  ones,'  '  babes,'  so  the  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Syr.,  Sic. ;  opposed  here  to 
 crafty. — Green.  7.  lieturn  unto  thy  rest,  be  composed,  after  the 
 
 storm  of  Absalom's  rebellion,  and  rest  in  God's  perfections. — So  Sal. 
 9.  /  will  ivalk,  "I'^rrriN,  '  I  wiU  set  myself  to  walk,'  '  I  am  determined  to 
 walk.' — A. Clarke.  \\.  In  my  haste,  ' ecstacy,'  Sept.  '  In  an  ecstacy 
 of  despair.'— i/o»-s.     '  In  my  agitation. '-Boci^Ar.    All  men  are  liars. 
 
 'are  deceitful.'— Gree;i.  'The  whole  race  of  man  is  a  lie.' — Madge. 
 '  All  the  race  cf  man  is  a  rlelusion.* — llors.  '  Tliat  every  man  was  a 
 liar.'  no  reliance  can  be  safely  placed  in  human  aid.  The  Psalm  is,  by 
 many,  referred  to  Hezekiah.and  perhaps  hedoubtcfl  the  trn'h  of  God's 
 promise  by  Isaiah,  for  which  he  now  reproved  himself. — Boothrot/d. 
 12.  What  shall  I  render?  yz^n  no,  *  wliat  shall  I  return  f—A.  Clarice. 
 Some  render  this  '  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  ?  All  his  benefits 
 overcome  me.' — Scott.  13.  The  cup  of  salvation,  in  allusion  to  a 
 master  of  a  family,  who,  at  the  close  of  a  (east  or  meal,  used  to  take  up 
 a  cup  iu  his  hands,  and  give  thanks,  (sie  Matt.  x.wi.  27.) — Gill.  Call, 
 ^c,  may  mean,  in  praise,  acknowledgement  of  mercies,  in  prayer  and 
 supplication. — Scott.  15.  Pret-ioas,  ^c,  i.e.,  the  L'tU  will  not  rea- 
 dily allow  the  impious  to  take  away  the  lives  of  his  saints. — So  Grotius, 
 Roscain.  16.  The  son  of  thy  handmaid,  like  one  born  in  thy  house, 
 already  thy  properly.  Alluding  to  the  servant  who,  in  the  year  of 
 jubilee,  refused  his  liberty,  and  had  his  ear  nailed  to  the  dnor-posts  of 
 his  master's  house,  resolved  to  be  his  forever, — ^o  A.  Clarke;  or  it 
 may  be  taken  literally,  that  the  suppliant  was  the  son  of  a  mnther  who 
 was  herself  devoted  to  the  service  of  God.  and  who  dedicated  him  also 
 to  that  service. — Morison,  as  Gill.  Loosed  my  bonds,  rescued  me  from 
 the  power  of  death. — Pat. 
 
 Ps.  CXVII.  —  Ihis  Psalm  contains  a  prophetic  intimation  of 
 the  Kathcring  of  the  (ientilcs  to  the  Messiah,  (see  Rom.  xv.  8 — 11.) — 
 31r,rison.  This  is  but  a  part  of  the  next  Psalm. — Hors.  2.  Js  great 
 toward  us,  M^b^  123,  *  prevailed  over  us.' — Vat.  The  word  is  used  of 
 the  prevailing  of  the  flood  over  the  earth,  fGen.  vii.  18,}  and  may  de- 
 note  the  abounding  and  superaboundiuK  of  the  grace  of  God. — Gilt. 
 It  is  strong,  powerful.— /'a^'.  It  prevails  over  sin,  Satan,  death,  and 
 hell.— ^i.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXV.^On  reading  tbis  psalm  we 
 should  be  moved  with — L  Pity  far  idolaiors.  "^^  ere  we  not 
 acquainted  with  tiie  fact  from  the  frequent  tei'timony  of  our 
 eastern  travellers,  it  would  require  the  utmost  stretch  of  our 
 faith  to  believe  the  testimony  of  the  Divine  word  itself  re- 
 specting the  stupidity  of  idolators.  Is  it  possible  that  men 
 endowed  with  rational  faculties  can  make,  or  import  from  dis- 
 tant lauds,  figures  cut  out  in  tlie  most  barbarous  shapes,  bear- 
 ing some  resemblance  to  men  or  animals,  and  call  ibem  gods, 
 and  bow  before  tbem  f  It  is  possible— it  is  fact !  After  this, 
 let  us  hear  no  more  of  boasted  human  reason.  Infidels  owe  it 
 to  Cbristianity  that  they  are  not  idolators  ;  Ijad  they  been 
 born  in  hpathen  lands,  they  would  have  no  such  ideas  of  the 
 Supreme  Being  as  those  they  now  entertain;  though  tbey  still 
 prove  the  truth  of  the  Apostle's  inspired  words,  *  The  world 
 by  wisdom  knew  not  God/  On  reading  tbis  psalm  we  should 
 be  moved — 
 
 11.  JVith  gratitude  to  God  that  we  are  not  idolators.  Our 
 Druidical  ancestors  were  so.  Millions  under  the  British 
 sceptre  are  so.  Hundreds  of  millions  in  other  parts  of  the 
 632 
 
 world  still  are  so.  To  him,  then,  our  praises  are  due  who  has 
 made  us  to  differ  ;  and  '  let  all  the  people  praise  thee,  O  God, 
 yea,  let  all  the  people  praise  thee  !'  '  Hallowed  be  thy  name, 
 thy  kingdom  come,  thy  will  be  done,  in  earth,  as  in  heaven.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXVI.  —  I.  Tbis  psalm  records,  Some 
 great  deliverance  effected.  It  looks  as  if  the  writer  had  been  on 
 ihe  point  of  death  and  was  recovered,  and,  therefore,  much 
 resembles  the  circumstances  of  Hezekiah.  '  It  is  God's  great 
 mercy  to  us  that  we  are  alive  ;  and  the  mercy  is  the  more  sen- 
 sible if  we  have  been  at  death's  door,  and  yet  have  been  spared 
 and  raised  up, — just  turned  to  destruction,  and  yet  ordered  to 
 return  :  tiiat  a  life  so  often  forfeited,  and  so  often  exposed, 
 should  yet  be  lengthened  out,  is  a  miracle  of  mercy.''' 
 
 II.  This  psalm  expresses — The  duty  incionhent  on  those  for 
 whom  God  has  yracionshf  interposed.  I'o  love  the  Lord,  to  call 
 upon  him,  to  acknowledt^e  bis  mercies,  to  make  God  the  rest 
 of  the  soul,  to  walk  continually  in  bis  ways,  to  offer  up  to  liim 
 the  most  grateful  odours  of  praise  and  thanksgiving,  and  to 
 worship  him  in  bis  courts. 
 
An  exhortation  to  praise  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXVIII. 
 
 Christ's  kingdom  foresheivn. 
 
 PSALM  CXVIIL 
 
 1  An  exhortation  to  praise  God  fiyr  his  mercy,  5  The 
 psalmist  Inj  his  experience  shewcth  how  good  it  is  to 
 trust  in  God.  19  Under  the  type  of  the  psalmist  the 
 coming  of  Christ  in  his  kinydum  is  expressed. 
 
 C\  '  GIVE  thanks  unto  tlie  Lord  ;  for  he  is 
 ^-^  good :  because  his  mercy  endureth  for 
 ever. 
 
 2  ''  Let  Israel  now  say,  that  his  mercy  en- 
 dureth for  ever. 
 
 3  Let  the  house  of  Aaron  now  say,  that  his 
 mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 4  Let  them  now  that  fear  the  Lord  say,  that 
 his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 3  "^  I  called  upon  the  Loud  fin  distress  :  the 
 Lord  answered  me,  and  ^  set  me  in  a  large 
 place. 
 
 6  °  The  Lord  is  \  on  my  side  ;  I  will  not 
 fear:  what  can  man  do  unto  me? 
 
 7  ''The  Lord  taketh  my  part  with  them  that 
 help  me  :  therefore  shall  ^  I  see  my  desire 
 upon  them  that  hate  me. 
 
 8  "/<  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord  than  to 
 put  confidence  in  man. 
 
 9  '  It  is  better  to  trust  in  the  Lord  than  to 
 put  confidence  in  princes. 
 
 10  All  nations  compassed  me  about :  but  in 
 the  name  of  the  Lord  will  I  f  destroy  them. 
 
 1 1  They  '  compassed  me  about ;  yea,  they 
 compassed  me  about :  but  in  the  name  of  the 
 Lord  I  will  destroy  them. 
 
 1-J  They  compassed  me  about  'like  bees; 
 they  are  quenched  "'as  tlie  fire  of  thorns: 
 for  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  I  will  f  destroy 
 them. 
 
 13  Thou  hast  thrust  sore  at  me  that  I  might 
 fall :  but  the  Lord  helped  me. 
 
 14  °  The  Lord  is  my  strength  and  song,  and 
 
 SSeePB.nS 
 9,  &c. 
 
 c  Ps.  1!0.  1. 
 t  Heb.  (.»/ 
 
 d  Ps.  18.  19. 
 
 e  Ps.  S7.  I. 
 
 &  5fi.  4,  11. 
 
 h  HG   5. 
 
 If.  51.  12. 
 
 Heh.  IS.  6. 
 t  Heb.  /.,r 
 
 /Ps.  51.  4. 
 g  Ps-  59.  10. 
 h  Ps   40-  4. 
 
 &  65.  8,  9. 
 
 Jer.  17.5,7. 
 :  Ps.  I'lti.  3. 
 
 t  Heb.  c"f 
 k  Ps.  bS.  17. 
 
 /  Deu-  ].  44 
 
 J"  EcpleB.7  6. 
 ^..ih-  1.  10. 
 t  H.'b.  rul 
 
 1  Ei,  15.  » 
 Is.  12-  2. 
 
 ;.  Ps.  6.  S. 
 
 Hab    1.  12. 
 q  Ps   TA.  2H. 
 
 r2Cor.  6.  9. 
 
 (  Ps.  24.  7. 
 
 «  Is.  35.  9. 
 Kev.  21.27 
 f<  'i-l.  M,  15. 
 
 X  Ps.  116.  1- 
 
 tj  ver.  14. 
 
 :  Mat.21.42. 
 
 !\Iaik  12. 
 
 10.  Luke 
 
 20    17. 
 
 Arts  4.  II. 
 
 Eph.  2.  20. 
 
 1  Pet.  2  4,7. 
 t  Heb.  Tlut 
 
 i,fr„tn  Ikt 
 
 LORD. 
 
 r  Mat.  21.9 
 &  2S.  39. 
 Mark  11,9 
 Luke  19  SS. 
 See  Zech. 
 4.7. 
 
 6  Fsth.  8.16 
 1  Pet.  2.  9. 
 
 cEx.  15.2. 
 
 Is.  2b.  I. 
 d  ver.  I 
 
 is  become  my  salvation. 
 
 15  The  voice  of  rejoicing  and  salvation  is  in 
 the  tabernacles  of  the  righteous :  the  right 
 hand  of  the  Lord  doeth  valiantly. 
 
 16  °  The  right  band  of  the  Lord  is  exalted  : 
 the  right  band  of  the  Lord  doeth  valiantly. 
 
 17  ■'I  shall  not  die,  but  live,  and  ''declare 
 the  works  of  tlie  Lord. 
 
 18  The  Lord  bath  'chastened  me  sore  :  but 
 he  hath  not  given  me  over  unto  death. 
 
 19  '  Open  to  me  the  gates  of  righteousness  : 
 I  will  go  into  them,  and  I  will  praise  the 
 Lord  : 
 
 20  '  This  gate  of  the  Lord,  "  into  which  the 
 righteous  shall  enter. 
 
 21  I  will  praise  thee:  for  thou  hast  'heard 
 me,  and  ""art  become  my  salvation. 
 
 22  ^  The  slone  which  the  builders  refused  is 
 become  the  head  stone  of  the  corner. 
 
 23  t  This  is  the  Lord's  doing ;  it  is  marvel- 
 lous in  our  eyes. 
 
 24  This  is  the  day  tvhicJi  the  Lord  hath 
 made  ;   we  will  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  it. 
 
 23  Save  now,  I  beseech  thee,  O  Lord  :  O 
 Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  send  now  prosperity. 
 
 26  '  Blessed  be  he  that  cometh  in  the  name 
 of  the  Lord  :  we  have  blessed  you  out  of  the 
 house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 27  God  is  the  Lord,  which  hath  shewed  us 
 I"  light:  bind  tlie  sacrifice  with  cords,  eye/i  unto 
 the  horns  of  tiie  altar. 
 
 28  Thou  art  my  God,  and  I  will  praise  thee: 
 'thou  art  my  God,  I  will  exalt  thee. 
 
 29  ■'  O  give  tlianks  unto  the  Lord  ;  for  he  is 
 good  :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 PSALM  CXIX. 
 
 This  psalm   cottiaiitt-t/i  sundry  pnn/erSi  praises,  and 
 professions  of  obtditnce. 
 
 Ps.  CXVIII.  —  A  kinf  of  Israel  here  appears  leading  his  people  in 
 solemn  procession  to  the  temple  [or  tabernacle)  to  offer  sacrifices  after 
 victory. — Bp.  Home.  r*.  In  a  large  pUice,  *  at  liberty.' — Green.  *  At 
 large.* — Street.  7,  Shall  I  see  my  desire,  S(c.,  *  I  shall  be  able  to  face 
 those  who  hate  rae.' — Green.  10.  All  nations  compassed  me,  fyc,  this 
 can  only  be  applied  to  the  heginning  of  David's  reign,  when  surround- 
 ing nations  made  a  league  against  him. — Sitt.  Will  I  destroy  them, '  I 
 cut  them  to  pieces.' — Horsley  ;  to  the  same  purirort,  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Ains., 
 Home.  12.  As  f/ie  fire  of  thorns,  an  imago  descriptive  of  the  rapidity 
 of  the  conquest.  Such  a  tire  is  vehement  and  furious,  but  speedily  ex- 
 tinguished.—  Waif.  13.  Thou  hast  thrust.  §-c. — an  apostrophe  to 
 some  particular  enemy,  as  Saul  was  to  David. — Gill.  Spoken  of  his 
 enemies  generally. — Jiosenm.        15.  The  voice  of  rejoicing,  Sfc— 
 
 '  In  the  tents  of  the  righteous  is 
 The  voice  of  shouting  and  triumph,  proclaiming 
 The  right  hand,' &c. 
 
 19.  Open  to  me — David  being  come  to  the  temple,  speaks  this  verse.— 
 Mudtre.      Gates  of  righteousness,    '  gates  of  ttie  sanctuary.' — Wells. 
 
 20.  The  gate,  %-c. — spoken  by  the  persons  opening  the  gate.  21.  I 
 will  praise — spoken  by  David  as  he  enters.  22.  The  slone,  Sfc,  to 
 ver.  25  inclusive,  spoken  by  king  and  peoide. — Madge.  The  author  of 
 Htstoria  Scholastica  records  a  tradition  among  the  Jews,  that  at  the 
 building  of  the  second  temple,  they  dug  up  a  ^tone  which  the  builders 
 several  times  rejected  and  laid  aside  ;  at  length,  however,  they  placed 
 it  as  the  head  stone  of  the  corner.  This  circumstance  gave  rise  to  the 
 national  proverb. — Sut.  2-1.  This  is  the  day,  J^c., '  this  is  the  day  the 
 Lord  has  called  me  to  triumph.  aeracioLisojiportunity  to  be  improved.' 
 — Clarke.    '  He  hath  made  it,  distinguished  it,  and  made  it  illustrious.' 
 
 If  this  referred  to  the  day  on  which  David  was  raised  to  the  throne,  ifc 
 may  be  more  emphatically  applied  to  the  day  when  our  Lord  was  rai'^ed 
 from  the  dead,  and  which  has  been  honoured  as  holy  to  the  Lord. — 
 Boothr.  26.  Blessed  be  he,  ^c. — spoken  by  the  priests,  the  first  part 
 to  the  king,  the  other  to  the  people. — Nudge.  27.  Bind  the  sacrifice^ 
 — the  Hebrew  jn  signifies  both  a  sacrifice  and  a  festival,  at  which, 
 however,  victims  were  offered. — Sut.  '  Keep  the  feast  wiih  thick 
 boughs,  [i.  e.,  the  feast  of  tabernacles,]  (brought  as  far  as)  to  the  horns 
 of  the  altar,'  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Houb.  There  was  no  such  custom  as  tying 
 the  sacrifice- ili^t  was  to  be  killed  to  the  horns  of  the  altar. — Ham.  Ihe 
 meaning  isV'fJfeit  perhaps  the  accustomed  place  for  the  victims  w^uld 
 not  now  be''*^*^e  enough  to  hold  them. — D'Oyly  and  Mnnt.  Spoken 
 by  the  people.*  '  23.  Thou  art  my  Gorf— spoken  by  the  king.  29.  O 
 gice  thanks,  chorus. — Madge.  Dr.  M.  Good  imagines  ttie  choral  divi- 
 sion of  the  poem  to  be  thus  :— Ver.  l,  general  chorus,  or  house  of  Israel ; 
 2,  chorus  of  priests,  or  house  of  Aaron;  3,  general  chorus;  4,  chorus 
 of  priests;  5,  6,  7,  David ;  8,  9.  chorus  of  priosts;  10—14,  Davidj 
 15,  chorus  of  priests;  I6,  general  chorus;  17 — 19,  David;  20.  (chorus 
 of  priest'^,)  opening  the  gates,  before  which  the  congregmion  had 
 hitherto  been  standing;  21,  David,  (having  entered  with  the  congre- 
 gation;) 22,  23,  chorus  of  priests;  24,  general  chorus;  25,  David; 
 26,  chorus  of  priests ;  27,  general  chorus ;  28,  David ;  29,  general 
 chorus.  id- 
 
 Ps.  CXIX.  ^fthxB  is  an  alphabetical  or  acrostic  Psalm.  It  con'^ists 
 of  twenty-two  >)arts,  that  is,  as  many  as  there  are  letters  in  the  Hebrew 
 alphabet,  and  these  parts  are  again  divided  into  eight  distinct  periods. 
 Every  verse  in  each  division  begins  with  the  same  letter.  The  whole 
 P«alm  consists  of  important  ma.\ims,  to  shew  the  value  of  the  Divine 
 law.     It  was  probably  written  for  the  instruction  of  youth.     It  is  as- 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXVII.  —  I.  God's!  kindness  is  great 
 towards  us.  W  ho  can  describe  'the  kindness  and  love  of  God 
 our  Saviour?' 
 
 II.    The  exuberance  of  God's  kindness  towards  vs  should  he  a 
 ground  for  our  endeavours  to  bring  aU  nations  to  praise  him. 
 '  From  all  that  dwell  below  the  skies, 
 Let  the  Creator's  praise  arise  ; 
 Let  the  Redeemer's  name  be  srmg. 
 Through  every  land  by  every  tongue.*  w 
 
 Reflections    on    Ps.    CXVIII.   —  I.    The    celebration   of 
 David's  victories  u'as  a  day  of  the  hi(/hcst  glori/  the  Israelites  rrer 
 sate.     It  laid  the  i'ouudation  ot"  all  their  wealth  and  power. 
 GoS 
 
 The  Toice  of  joy  and  salvation  was  beard  in  every  bouse,  and 
 
 the  name  of  their  deliverer  was  extolled  above  the  kings  of 
 the  earth.  Hence  he  who  for  seven  years  was  rejected  by  the 
 ten  tribes  after  the  death  of  Saul,  besides  his  previous  perse- 
 cutions, was  nbw  made  head  of  the  corner.  The  elders  of 
 Israel,  therefore,  and  the  officers  of  state,  followed  him  into 
 the  sanctuary  to  give  thanks  to  God. 
 
 II.  Thus  Christ,  having  vanquished  Death,  returned  victorious  ta 
 the  Zion  above.  The  everlasting  door.5  were  opened  to  receive 
 him,  and  all  heaven  sung  a  new  song  when  he  went  up  to  the 
 tiirone  above.  Truly  the  right  hand  of  the  Lord  doth  valiantly; 
 the  right  hand  of  the  Lord  bringeth  wonderful  things  to  pass. 
 
Sundry  prayers,  praises,  and 
 
 PSALMS,  CXIX, 
 
 professions  of  oOcclii  ncc. 
 
 ALEPH. 
 
 BLESSED  are  the  ||  undefiled  in  the  way, 
 "  who  walk  in  the  law  of  the  Lord. 
 
 2  Blessed  ore  they  tliat  keep  his  testi- 
 monies, and  that  seek  liim  with  the  whole 
 heart. 
 
 3  '■  They  also  do  no  iniquity :  they  walk  in 
 liis  ways. 
 
 ■J  Thon  hast  commanded  us  to  keep  thy  pre- 
 cepts diligently. 
 
 5  O  tliat  my  ways  were  directed  to  keep  thy 
 statutes ! 
 
 6  "  Then  shall  I  not  be  ashamed,  when  I  have 
 respect  unto  all  thy  commandments. 
 
 7  ■"  I  will  praise  tliee  with  uprightness  of 
 heart,  when  I  shall  have  learned  f  thy  righte- 
 ons  judgments. 
 
 8  I  will  keep  thy  statutes :  O  forsake  me  not 
 utterly. 
 
 BETH. 
 
 0  Wherewithal  shall  a  young  man  cleanse 
 his  way  ?  by  taking  heed  tliereto  according  to 
 thy  word. 
 
 10  With  my  whole  heart  have  I  'sought 
 thee  :  O  let  me  not  "■  wander  from  tliy  com- 
 mandments. 
 
 1 1  ^  Tliy  word  have  I  hid  in  mine  heart,  that 
 1  might  not  sin  against  thee. 
 
 1-2  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord:  •'teach  me 
 thy  statutes. 
 
 Or,  per/etf, 
 a  Pa.  128.  I. 
 
 b  1  .Tnhn  3.9. 
 &  5.  18. 
 
 c  Job  2?.  26 
 lJolinS.28. 
 
 d  ver.  1-1. 
 
 )  Hob  j'«l<i 
 mfiili  ':f  11'!/ 
 rightfQU 
 tutt. 
 
 k  P8.    I.  2- 
 
 r,  KJ,  49, 
 
 /  Ps.  1.  8 
 ver.  35,  47, 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Hevtal. 
 
 n  G.'n.  47   9. 
 
 1  (:lir.29,15. 
 Ps  99.  12. 
 
 2  Cor.  5.  6 
 Heb.  II.  13 
 
 oPs  4-;.  I.S. 
 
 &  o:i.  I-  fc 
 
 84.  2. 
 
 ver.  10, 131. 
 H  Vfr  lu,110, 
 
 118. 
 
 ./  Ps.  39  8. 
 
 e  g  Clir-  15. 
 
 r  ver.  15. 
 
 15. 
 
 /ver.21,113. 
 
 (  ver.  77,  92. 
 
 ff  P8.  37.  31. 
 
 Luke  a.  19. 
 
 t  Heb   mm 
 
 51. 
 
 h  ver.  2G,.1:^ 
 
 .W 
 
 61,  6s.  1118, 
 
 /  IN.  14.  25. 
 
 l'?4,  i:i5. 
 
 n  ver   10. 
 
 Fs.  25.  \: 
 
 Pa.  113.  11 
 
 13  With  my  lips  have  1  'declared  all  llie 
 judgments  of  thy  mouth. 
 
 14  1  have  rejoiced  in  the  way  of  thy  testimo- 
 nies, as  i/mch  as  in  all  riches. 
 
 15  1  will  ''  meditate  in  thy  precepts,  and  have 
 respect  unto  thy  ways. 
 
 16  1  will  ^  delight  myself  in  thy  statutes  :  I 
 will  not  forget  thy  word. 
 
 GIMEL. 
 
 17  ""Deal  bountifully  with  thy  servant,  Ma^ 
 I  may  live,  and  keep  thy  word. 
 
 18  fOpen  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold 
 wondrous  things  out  of  tiiy  law. 
 
 19  "  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  earth  :  hide  not 
 thy  commandments  from  me. 
 
 20  **  My  soul  breakcth  for  the  longing  tJiat  it 
 hath  unto  thy  judgments  at  all  times. 
 
 21  Thou  hast  rebuked  the  proud  that  are 
 cursed,  which  do  ''err  from  thy  command- 
 ments. 
 
 22  *■  Remove  from  me  reproach  and  con- 
 tempt ;  for  1  have  kept  thy  testimonies. 
 
 23  Princes  also  did  sit  and  speak  against 
 me  :  but  thy  servant  did  Mueditate  in  thy  sta- 
 tutes. 
 
 24  *  Thy  testimonies  also  are  my  delight  and 
 fmy  counsellors. 
 
 DALETH. 
 
 25  'My  soul  cleaveth  unto  the  dust:  "quicken 
 thou  me  according  to  tliy  word. 
 
 crihcd  to  David,  but  some  think  it  was  composed  long  after  his  rcig:n. 
 —Mnrison,  Pat.  1.  Undefiled  in  the   uai,,  'sincere  in  the  way.'— 
 
 Buiithr.  '  Keep  themselves  pure,'  and  are  habitually  sincere  in  their 
 intintions.— //cnrv.  Late,  niin.from  the  root  HT, '  to  direct,'  'snide,* 
 •teach.*— .^.  Clarke.  To  walk  in  the  luw,  is,  within  the  boundaries 
 and  rules  of  it.  The  word  '  law,*  or  '  doctrine,*  as  it  sigrnifics,  may  de- 
 si{jn  every  revelation  of  the  Divine  \\'\\\.~Gilt.  2.  His  trsthiumies, 
 Vmy,  from  the  root  ny,  '  beyond,'  *  further,'  &c.  The  rites  and  cere- 
 m  nies  pointing  beyond  themselves.— C/arAre.  The  testimonies  testify 
 of  the  mind  cif  God  in  the  method  of  salvation,  testify  of  Christ.— Gi7^ 
 We  may  understand  by  '  testimonies,'  God's  truths  or  covenant.  With 
 the  whofe  heart,  for  if  the  heart  be  divided  between  God  and  the  world, 
 it  is  faulty. —  Henry.  3.  The;/  also  do  no  iniquity,  ffc,  *  for  they  com- 
 mit no  iniquity  who  walk  in  his  ways.* — Green.  It  is  when  we  deviate 
 from  God's  ways  that  we  sin.— trf.  'They  work  not  iniquity,*  Sept., 
 so  Ains.     SeelJnhn,iii.6— 10.     In  his  wai/s,  V3"n2.from  the  root -jm, 
 
 *  to  CO,*  '  put  forwards,*  '  proceed,*  or  stretch  out  or  forth.*— P'tr.  It 
 evitlently  denotes  perseverine-,  and  still  pursuing  an  object  before  us, 
 God's  ways  being  a  nearer  and  nearer  advance  towards  perfection. — 
 Ed.         4.  Thij  precepts,  TlpC,  from  the  root  ipDi  '  to  visit,'  '  review,' 
 
 *  oversee,'  'take  notice  or'care  of.'  Hence,  the  word  means,  charges 
 committed  by  find  to  man  for  his  care  and  observance, — Par. ;  or  the 
 word  ha-^  reference  to  the  notice  these  precepts  takeof  our  way,  super- 
 intinriing,  overlooking,  and  visiting  us  in  all  the  concerns  of  life. 
 Diligently,  It^o,  *  superlatively.' — So  Clarke.  To  make  religion  our 
 business. — Henry.  5.  Directed,  guided  and  influenced  by  the  Spirit 
 of  GoA.^Henry.  Thy  statutes,  TpTT,  from  the  root  pJl,  '  to  describe,' 
 '  mark  or  trace  out.'  definite  ordinances  or  appciintracnts. — Par.  God's 
 statutes  mark  out  our  way,  describe  the  line  of  conduct  we  should 
 pursue,  and  urdain  what  we  are  to  observe. — A.  Clarke.  6.  Ashamed, 
 to  retire  into  themselves,  and  reflect  upon  themselves,  for  their  hearts 
 fchall  not  condemn  them.— Hi-nry.  When  I  have  respect,  '•'Cani, 
 '  look  at  them,'— Jun.,  Trem.,  Pise,  Get..  Mirh. ;  that  is,  look  at  them 
 constantly  as  the  rule  of  walk  and  conversation. — Gill.  All,  God  re- 
 quires universal  ohedicnce.— ^4.  Clarke.  Thy  commandments,  "I'rn^IO, 
 from  the  root  mi*.  '  to  command,'  '  order,'  '  ordain.'— F«j*.  These 
 shew  us  what  we  ^honld  do,  and  what  should  be  left  undone,  and 
 exact  our  obedience. — So  Clarke.  7-  Judgmeyits,  ^ICSCD,  from  the 
 root '^DtJ,  *  to  judge,' '  discern,*  'determine,'  'order,'  'regulate,' '  di- 
 rect.* Righteous  jttdf^ments,  'judgments  of  thy  righteonsness.'—P«:j^., 
 Mont.    All  God's  precepts  are  founded  on  the  strictest  rules  of  justice 
 
 and  equity.— Gi7/.  8.  Not  vfterfy.  lam  1?,  '  to  utter  dereliction  .* 
 never  leave  me  to  my  own  strength,  nor  to  my  own  heart. — A.  Clarke. 
 9.  Bi/  taking  heed,  ^c,  '  by  observing  what  is  according  to  thy  word,* 
 ■T-12-I3  inirb. — Cucc.  ll'orrf.  from  the  ruoti^i,  '  to  discourse,'  'speak 
 c  on^^ecutively  and  intdligibly.'  In  the  book  of  Revelation,  God  speaks 
 to  lis  in  a  clear,  rational,  and  intelligible  way. — So  Clarke.  Ii.  Hid 
 in  my  heart, '  treasured  up.' — Green.  '  I  understand  and  remember  it, 
 and  am  affected  to  it  and  with  it.' — Majiton.  i;i.  With  my  lips,  fft\, 
 — this  David  did  as  a  king,  in  making  orders,  and  giving  judgment, 
 according  to  the  word  of  God  j  as  a  prophet,  by  his  Psalms  and  in  his 
 common  discourse. — Henry.  U.  As  much  as  in,  ^c,  pn  ^D  ^JD)  '  as 
 above  all  riches.' — Pug.,  Jun.,  Trem.,  Mich.,  Ains.  15.  Hare  respect, 
 n™''3S.  'look  unto  them.'— Po^.,  Mnnt.  l6.  /  will  delight  rnysetf, 
 '  I  will  solace  and  recreate  myself.' — Ains.  A  beautiful  illustration  uf 
 the  refreshment  of  the  word,  when  tired  out  with  the  toilsome  incum- 
 bering cares  of  the  world. — Bridges.  19.  /  am  a  stranger  in  the  earth, 
 hide  7iiit,  ^c,  '  As  a  stranger,  I  need  a  guide,  guard,  companion,  com- 
 forter, and  such  is  God's  word.'— So  Heriry.  '  As  a  stranger,  I  need  a 
 guide  to  a  more  durable  state,  and  there  is  not  sufficient  direction  but 
 in  the  Word  of  God.* — Manton,  Bp.  Home.  20.  My  soul  breaketh, 
 
 'is  worn  down  with  longing.' — Buothr.  *  It  fainted.' — Gill.  *  Is 
 wasted.' — T.  Edwards.  Synonymous  with  our  expression  of  being 
 heart-broken.— CVflrA-p.  '  I  shall  think  myself  quite  broken  and  undone, 
 if  I  want  the  Word  of  God,  the  conduct,  converge,  and  comfort  of  it.* — 
 Henry.  21 .  The  proud  that  are  cursed,  '  the  proud,  the  accursed.* — 
 Bofithr.  '  The  proud,  cursed  are  they  that  stray  from  thy  command- 
 ments.'— Mudge.  22.  Remove,  ^c,  ^"jyo  "ja,  'roll  from  me.' — Png., 
 Mont.,  Jttn.,  SiC.  It  lay  as  a  heavy  burden  upon  him. — Gilt.  Reproach, 
 ^c,  '  that  disgrace  and  shame  unto  which  they  expose  me,  as  a  traitor  to 
 my  king  and  country,  for  1  am  not  guilty,*  &c. — Put.  23.  Princes,  ^c. — 
 'When  princes  sit  and  speak  against  me, 
 Thy  servant  will  meditate  on  thy  statutes.' — Boothr. 
 Understand  here,  Saul  and  his  courtiers  sitting  in  council,  and  speaking 
 all  manner  of  evil  falsely  against  David. — Scott.  Dr.  A.  Clarke,  con- 
 sidering tliis  as  desciiptive  of  the  Jews  in  Babylon,  infers,  that  the 
 nobles  often  misrepresented  them,  and  made  the  kings  evil  affected  to- 
 wards them.  25.  Cleaveth  unto  the  dust,  §-c.,  '  I  am  brought  exceed- 
 ingly low  by  thy  afflicting  hand  :  oh  !  do  thou  raise  and  comfort  me.' 
 — Bp.  Hail,  so  Boothr.  Understand  ^ir33,  'my  life,'  rather  than  'my 
 soul,'  and  then  tlie  words  signify  apprehension  of  approaching  death. 
 Quicken  me.^ZTf,  '  make  me  alive,'  *  help  me  from  going  down  into  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXIX.,  v.  1  to  24.  —  L  God's  jvord  is 
 preceptive.  Many  forget  this,  and  embrace  it  as  a  system  of 
 doctrine,  without  considering  that  it  is  designed  to  influence 
 the  conduct.  ReUgion  in  the  head  is  notliing,  if  it  does  not 
 appear  in  the  life.  Our  light  must  not  be  hid  under  a  bushel, 
 but  be  like  the  useful  lamp  that  gives  light  to  all  that  are  in 
 the  house. 
 
 II.  God's  word  is  the  lest  gtiide  of  our  youth.  O  were  the 
 young  to  attend  to  its  instructions,  and  bide  it  in  their  hearts, 
 from  bow  many  snares,  temptations,  and  avenues  of  ruin 
 would  it  preserve  tbem  !  By  making  this  their  guide,  they 
 are  withheld  from  sin,  and  become  truly  blessed;  for  sin  is 
 654 
 
 the  cause  of  all  misery.  The  young  man  who  has  not  cleansed 
 bis  way  by  God's  word,  will  have  an  awful  load  upon  his  con- 
 science when  he  comes  to  die.  How  many  have  then  regretted 
 their  neglect  of  it, — but  who  ever  regretted  making  it  his 
 guide  ? 
 
 in.  God's  word  must  he  understood  hy  God's  light.  It  is,  in- 
 deed, light  in  itself,  but  as  tlie  bhnd  cannot  see  liglit,  we  must 
 have  the  constant  illumination  of  the  Divine  Spirit  to  under- 
 stand the  sacred  page,  and  so  to  feel  its  sacred  influences 
 There  are  so  many  things  in  this  world  calculated  to  veil  the 
 eyes  of  our  minds,  that  we  have  need  continually  to  pray, 
 *  Open  thou  mine  eyes.' 
 
Sundry  praifers,  praises,  and 
 
 PSALMS,  CXIX. 
 
 professions  of  obedience. 
 
 •26  I  have  declared  my  ways,  and  thou  heaid- 
 est  me  :  "^  teach  ine  tliy  statutes. 
 
 27  Make  nie  to  uTidcrstand  the  way  of  thy 
 precepts:  SO  ^ shall  I  talk  of  thy  wondrous 
 works. 
 
 28  '  My  soul  f  inelteth  for  heaviness :  strength- 
 en tliou  me  accoidhi^  unto  thy  word. 
 
 29  Remove  from  me  the  way  of  lying :  and 
 grant  me  thy  law  graciously. 
 
 30  I  have  chosen  the  way  of  truth  :  thy  judg- 
 ments have  I  laid  before  me. 
 
 31  I  have  stuck  unto  thy  testimonies  :  O 
 Lord,  put  me  not  to  shame. 
 
 32  I  w  ill  run  the  way  of  thy  commandments, 
 when  thou  shalt  "  enlarge  my  heart. 
 
 HE. 
 
 33  "•  Teach  me,  O  Lord,  the  way  of  thy  sta- 
 tutes ;  and  I  shall  keep  it  '^  unlo  the  end. 
 
 34  ''  Give  nie  understanding,  and  I  shall  keep 
 thy  law;  yea,  I  shall  observe  it  with  ?«^  whole 
 heart. 
 
 35  Make  me  to  go  in  the  path  of  thy  com- 
 mandments ;  for  tlierein  do  I  °  deliglit. 
 
 36  Incline  my  heart  unto  thy  testimonies, 
 and  not  to  'covetousness. 
 
 37  ^fTurn  away  mine  eyes  from  ''beholding 
 vanity  ;  and  '  quicken  thou  me  in  tliy  way. 
 
 38  '  Stablish  thy  word  unto  thy  servant,  who 
 is  devoted  to  thy  fear. 
 
 39  Turn  away  my  reproach  which  I  fear  :  for 
 thy  judgments  are  good. 
 
 40  Behold,  I  have  '  longed  after  thy  precepts  : 
 "  quicken  me  in  thy  righteousness. 
 
 v.vu. 
 
 41  "Let  thy  mercies  come  also  unto  me,  O 
 Lord,  even  thy  salvation,  according  to  thy 
 word. 
 
 42  II  So  shall  I  have  wherewith  to  answer 
 him  tiiat  reproacheth  me  :  for  I  trust  in  thy 
 word. 
 
 43  And  take  not  the  word  of  truth  utterly 
 
 t/  Ps.Ho  5,l>. 
 
 .■Ps  107.88. 
 t  Neb. 
 dri-i'i'eth. 
 
 1  I  Kin.4.29 
 Is   60.  5. 
 'iCor.  6.  II. 
 
 b  ver.  12. 
 
 c  ver.  112. 
 
 Milt.  10  2?. 
 
 Rev.  9  20, 
 -i  ver.  73 
 
 Pro.  3   6. 
 
 James  I.  5. 
 
 /Eze.  33.S1. 
 
 Mark.  7.21, 
 
 22-  Luke 
 
 12.  la. 
 
 1  Tim. G, 10 
 
 Heb.  13  f,, 
 g  Is.  33.  15. 
 1  Heb.  M,ike 
 
 U,  ;».. 
 h  I'ro-  23  5 
 i  ver.  10. 
 k  -i  Sam.  7. 
 
 25. 
 
 I  ver.  20. 
 m  ver.  25.37, 
 
 88.  107,  140, 
 
 IJC,  1.=.9. 
 n  Ps.  h«    4. 
 
 ver.  77. 
 
 (Or,  So<*»« 
 
 pruaclieth 
 
 \  Heb.  o( 
 
 I  Ps  ne.  I. 
 
 Mat.  10.  IH. 
 10.  AcIs-6. 
 
 q  ver.  15. 
 
 ver.  74   81, 
 
 147. 
 
 Horn.  15.4. 
 
 ( .Toh  23.  1 1 . 
 Pf.  11.  18. 
 ver.  157. 
 
 y  Ps.  C3.  6. 
 
 2  Ps.  16.  5. 
 
 Jer.  10.  16. 
 Lam.  3.  24 
 
 Jnb  II.  19. 
 a  ver.  41. 
 
 I  Luke  15, 
 17,  18. 
 
 out  of  my  mouth  ;  for  I  have  hoped  in  thy 
 judgments. 
 
 44  So  sliall  I  keep  thy  law  continually  for 
 ever  and  ever. 
 
 43  And  1  will  walk  fat  liberty:  for  I  seek 
 thy  precepts. 
 
 46  °  1  will  speak  of  thy  testimonies  also  be- 
 fore kings,  and  will  not  be  ashamed. 
 
 47  And  I  will  ''deliglit  myself  in  thy  com- 
 mandments, which  I  liave  loved. 
 
 48  My  hands  also  will  1  lift  up  unto  thy  com- 
 mandments, which  I  have  loved  ;  and  I  will 
 ^  meditate  in  thy  statutes. 
 
 Z.\IN. 
 
 49  Remember  the  word  unto  thy  servant, 
 upon  uhich  thou  hast  caused  me  to  'hope. 
 
 50  This  is  my  "comfort  in  my  aflliction  :  for 
 thy  word  hath  quickened  mc. 
 
 51  The  proud  have  had  me  greatly  '  in  deri- 
 sion :  yet  have  I  not  "  declined  from  thy  law. 
 
 52  I  remembered  thy  judgments  of  old,  O 
 Lord  ;  and  have  comforted  myself. 
 
 53  "  Horror  hath  taken  hold  upon  me  because 
 of  the  wicked  that  forsake  thy  law. 
 
 54  Thy  statutes  have  been  my  songs  in  the 
 house  of  my  pilgrimage. 
 
 55  ''  I  have  remembered  thy  name,  O  Lord, 
 in  the  night,  and  have  kept  thy  law. 
 
 50  This  I  had,  because  1  kept  thy  precepts. 
 
 CHETH. 
 
 57  ^  Thoic  art  my  porticni,  O  Lord  :  I  have 
 said  that  1  would  keep  tliy  words. 
 
 58  I  intreated  thy  f  favour  with  my  whole 
 heart  :  be  merciful  unto  me  "  according  to  thy 
 word. 
 
 59  I  ''thought  on  my  ways,  and  turned  my 
 feet  unto  thy  testimonies. 
 
 00  I  made  haste,  and  delayed  not  to  keep 
 thy  commandinent.s. 
 
 01  The  II  bands  of  the  wicked  have  robbed 
 me  :  but  I  have  not  forgotten  thy  law. 
 
 dust.*  Both  senses  are  adoiited  by  Scott.  56.  Declared,  \"l"l!:c, 
 *  numbered,' '  searched  tliem  out.' — Clnrtte.  '  I  recount.' — Boottir. 
 '  I  have  di-.tinctly,  and  witliout  hyprcrisy.  laid  open  the  state  of  my 
 heart.' — Mfintati.  27.  So  nlitilt  I  tnlk,  rUTlTNl.  'meditate.' — Pn^., 
 Mont.,  GeJ.,  Mich.  28.  Mfllelh,  nS71,    '  (lr..ps.'— P(/^.,   JMontanus. 
 
 *Distiis.' — Vitt.,  ^c.  'nroppeth  away.' — Manton.  For  tieuvincus, 
 '  dissolves  into  lears  through  grief  anil  sorrow  for  sins  committed.' — 
 Gitl.  '  Languisheth  through  grief.' —  Buotlir.  Slrengtttcn  tfiou  nie, 
 '  lift  me  up.' — Bp.  Home,  29.  T/te  wiy  of  lijing,  those  false  ways  by 
 which  men  deceive  themselves  and  ntliers,  or  are  deceived  by  Satan 
 and  his  instruments. — Scott.  Some  have  thought  David  alludes  here 
 to  his  feigning  himself  mad  before  Achish. — Ed.  David  does  not  mean 
 the  way  of  lying  to  men,  for  this  he  was  not  addicted  to,  but  false  doc. 
 trine  and  worship  ;  all  ern.rs  and  heresies,  superstition  and  idnlatry. — 
 Giil.  He  wished  to  be  removed  far  from  the-.e  evils  which  he  might 
 see  around  him,  both  locally  and  in  heart. — Ed.  Grant,  'teacli.'so 
 Syr.,  Bootlir.  31.  i  A«pp  sfwrfr,  ^-ip^t,  'cleavedto,*  'been  glued  to  ;' 
 same  word  as  in  ver.25 . — ,^ .  Clarice.  32.  TlVie/i.O, '  because.' — .4 .  Clarke. 
 Enlarge,  with  wisdom,  as  I  Kings,  iv.  29;  or  wi'h  comfort,  as  Isa. 
 Ix.  v.—Baotlir.  Tile  former,  Sectter.  God's  work  must  be  done  in 
 God's  strength. —  Willinon,  Si.  Tlte  end,  'as  long  as  I  live,'  or  'I 
 shall  observe  it,  even  the  enil,'  now  the  end  of  the  commandment  is 
 charity  and  love. — Gi'l.  36.  Incline,  '  suffer  not  my  heart  to  be  in- 
 clined.'—ii/j.  Home.  Not  to  covetonanesa,  hereby  meaning,  all  other 
 vices,  as  c  .vctousness  is  the  rout  of  all  evil,  fl  Tirn.  vi.  6—10  )—Pnt, 
 37.  Eyes,  here  put  for  senses,  which  are  the  iiitets  of  temp:ntion  to  the 
 heart.— .Scot;.  38.  Statittsli  tliy  tcord,  ihy  promise,  by  lulfilhng  it, 
 (comp.  Jnsh-  .xxi.  45  ;  xxiii.  \i.)— Bootlir.  Who  is  devoted  to  tliy  fear, 
 ^DNt';  "nUN,  or,  '  which  is  unto  thy  fear,'  i.  c.,  which  word  is  unto  thy 
 
 fear,  leads  to  it,  promotes  and  increases  it. — Gill,  as  Pa;:.,  Mont.,  Muse, 
 Sclimidt,  Midi.  39.  Turn  away,  S,-c.,  *  it  is  a  small  thing  to  be  judged 
 of  man'.^  judgment,  while  he  thatjudgeth  us  is  the  Lord  ;'  or  thu.^,  '  thy 
 word  and  ways,  and  thy  holy  religion,  are  very  good  ;  hut  the  reproaches 
 cast  f-n  nic  will  fall  on  them  ;  therefore,  Lord,  turn  them  away,  let  not 
 religion  be  wounded  through  my  side.' — Henry.  There  is  a  reprcach 
 that  we  have  no  cause  to  fear,  but  ralher  to  glory  in  ;  but  there  is  a  re. 
 proarh  that  David  liad  cause  to  dread,  from  the  deed  which  gave  occa- 
 sion to  the  enemies  of  the  Lord  to  blasplieme. — Bridges.  41.  Come 
 ^c,  '  be  exercised  towards  me.' — Bootlir.  42.  Wliertwitli  to  answer, 
 then  it  will  appear  beyond  disijute  that  it  was  not  in  vam  to  tru~t  in 
 God.  43.  Take  not  the  word,  ^-c,  '  let  the  word  of  trnlh  he  always  in 
 my  month,  let  me  have  wisdom  and  cnurage  to  enable  me  to  use  my 
 knowledge  for  the  instruction  of  others.' — Henry.  He  means  the  an- 
 swer which  he  had  to  assert  his  innocence. —  Waif.  45.  /  will  walk  iit 
 lilierty,  not  straitened  by  tear,  but  set  at  large  by  love. — Manton. 
 46.  Before  kings,  as  Saul  and  Achish. -Hewrv.  Delaney.  The  words 
 may,  with  more  propriety,  be  considered  as  written  during  Uie  B.aby- 
 lonish  captivity,  and  refer  to  Ihc  ca^e  nf  Daniel,  and  other  bnld  Israel- 
 ites, who  spoke  courageoii-ly  before  Nebuchadnezzar,  Hclshizzar,  and 
 Darius. — Clarke.  4S.  My  hnndsalso  will  1  lift  up,  fyc, '  1  will  cmbiace 
 thy  commandments.'  50.  For  tliy  word  liatli,  ^c,  •  thy  word  reviveth 
 me.'— i?or///(r.  53.  Horror,  nDi'^h  'trembling,'  sorrow  aod  distress 
 to  a  great  degree,  like  a  stijrni,  c.r  a  blustering,  scorcbiig,  burning 
 wind,  as  the  word  signifies,  which  is  very  terrible. —  Gilt,  as  Jun., 
 Trem.,  Pise  ,  Sclimidt,  Cocc.  56.  Tliis  I  had,  fyc,  'this  hath  been 
 my  consolation.' — Bootlir.,  as  the  Versions,  Because  1  kept,  ^3,'thatl 
 kept,'  he— Pug.,  Mont.  bS.  Thy  faeour,  y^r,,  'thy  face.'— i'"/?.. 
 Nunt.    59.  Tltouglit,  \~ll'ijrT,  '  deeply  pondered'.'— .4.  Clarke.      61.  The 
 
 RtFLECTinNS  ov  T.  2.5  to  43.  —  I.  The  good  man  is  sometimes 
 Irimght  very  low.  It  is  his  grief  tbat  bis  heart  is  too  much 
 attraeteJ  by  the  things  of  earth  ;  be  adheres  to  tliat  which  is 
 perishinj.  instead  of  setting  liis  afiections  on  things  above. 
 '  The  penitent  soul  melts  in  sorrow  for  sin,  and  even  the 
 patient  soul  may  melt  in  the  sense  of  affliction.' h 
 
 \l.    There  is  no  better  consolation  for  the  distressed  spirit  than 
 the   Word  of  God.     ]f  this  be  stablisbed  to  us,  we  may  face 
 everv  fear  and  every  foe. 
 035 
 
 III.  There  is  no  better  evidence  of  our  inti  rests  in  the  blessings 
 of  God's  word,  than  our  living  under  its  infuenc-s.  We  must 
 licep  God's  law  '  continually  without  trilling  ;  God  must  be 
 served  in  a  constant  course  of  obedience  every  day,  and  all 
 the  day  long,  and  forever  and  ever,  without  backsliding;  we 
 must  never  be  weary  of  well-doing.' ''  Help  us.  O  Lord,  to 
 ■seek  thy  precepts,'  ihnt  we  may  'walk  at  liberty'  in  iliy 
 ways,  free  from  the  slavery  of  sin  and  Satan,— walk  in  the 
 glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God. 
 
Siindn/  prayera,  praisi  s,  ninl 
 
 PSALMS,  CXIX. 
 
 professions  of  obeiliexce. 
 
 62  *■  At  niitliiiglit  I  will  rise  to  give  thanks 
 unto  thee  because  of  tliy  riglitcous  judgments. 
 
 63  I  am  a  companion  of  all  thoii  that  fear 
 thee,  and  of  them  that  keep  tli\'  precepts. 
 
 64  ''  The  earth,  O  Loud,  is  full  of  thy  mercy  : 
 "  teach  me  thy  statutes. 
 
 TtTH. 
 
 fij  Thou  hast  dealt  well  with  thy  servant,  O 
 Loud,  according  unto  thy  word. 
 
 66  Teach  me  good  judgment  and  knowledge: 
 for  I  have  believed  thy  commandments. 
 
 67  'Before  I  was  afflicted  I  went  astray:  but 
 now  have  I  kept  thy  word. 
 
 68  Thou  ait  ^good,  and  doest  good;  ''  teach 
 me  thy  statutes. 
 
 69  The  proud  have  '  forged  a  lie  against  me  : 
 but  I  will  keep  thy  precepts  with  my  whole 
 heart. 
 
 70  '  Their  heart  is  as  fat  as  grease ;  but  I  '  de- 
 light in  thy  law. 
 
 71  ™  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been 
 afflicted  ;  that  I  might  learn  thy  statutes. 
 
 72  "  The  law  of  thy  mouth  is  better  unto  me 
 than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver. 
 
 JOD. 
 
 73  "  Thy  hands  have  made  me  and  fashioned 
 me  :  ""give  me  understanding,  that  I  may  learn 
 thy  commandments. 
 
 74  ''  They  that  fear  thee  will  be  glad  when 
 they  see  me  ;  because  '  I  have  hoped  in  thy 
 word. 
 
 7.3  I  know,  O  Lord,  that  thy  judgments  arc 
 ■fright,  and  ^ that  thou  in  faithfulness  hast 
 afflicted  me. 
 
 76  Let,  1  pray  thee,  thy  merciful  kindness  be 
 t  for  my  comfort,  according  to  thy  word  unto 
 thy  servant. 
 
 77  '  Let  thy  tender  mercies  come  unto  me, 
 that  I  may  live  :  for  "  thy  law  is  my  delight. 
 
 78  Let  the  proud  'be  ashamed;  'for  they 
 dealt  perversely  with  me  without  a  cause :  but 
 
 d  Ps  33.  5. 
 e  ver.  12. 86. 
 
 /ver.  -1. 
 
 Jer.  31    18, 
 
 19  H»b.  12. 
 
 11. 
 «■  P,i-  lOG    r. 
 
 &  107.  1. 
 
 Mat.  19. 17. 
 h  ver.  12. 2G. 
 i  Job  13.  .1. 
 
 Ps.  109.  2. 
 
 A  Ps.  17.  10. 
 
 Is.  6.  10. 
 
 Acts  2^.27. 
 I  ver,  85. 
 m  ver.  67. 
 
 Hob.  12. 10, 
 
 .  1? 
 
 Ps.  19.  lo. 
 Pro.  s.  10, 
 11,  19. 
 
 '..lob  10.fi, 
 Ps.  1011   3. 
 
 ft  ln!f.  s.  ft 
 
 139.  II. 
 p  ver.M,144. 
 q  Ps.  31.  2. 
 
 r  ver.  49,H7. 
 
 ♦  Heb  rfjiJ/e. 
 outiteit 
 t  Hob.  12,  10. 
 
 t  Heb.  to 
 rttmfmt  me. 
 
 I  ver.  "ll, 
 ti  ver  2i,  47, 
 
 n  Ps   73,  26- 
 
 &  8-1   2. 
 A  ver,  7 1,  111 
 
 e  Ps.  .39.  4, 
 /  Kcv,  6,  10. 
 
 t"rb./oi/A- 
 
 h  ver,  78. 
 «■  Ps,  Xt.  19, 
 &  M,  19, 
 
 I  Pa.  89.  2. 
 
 Mat  24,  34 
 
 3S.  1  Pet.  1 
 
 25. 
 t  Heb,  tn  sr- 
 
 neration  and 
 
 eenerntioii. 
 
 Pa,  89,  I. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 4landelh, 
 m  Jer,  33,25, 
 »i  ver,  24. 
 
 I  will  '  meditate  in  thy  precepts. 
 
 79  Let  those  that  fear  thee  turn  unto  me,  and 
 those  that  have  known  thy  testimonies. 
 
 80  Let  my  heart  be  sound  in  thy  statutes ; 
 that  I  be  not  ashamed. 
 
 CAPH. 
 
 81  "  My  soul  fainteth  for  thy  salvation  :  hut 
 ''  I  hope  in  thy  word. 
 
 82  '  Mine  eyes  fail  for  thy  word,  saying,  When 
 wilt  thou  comfort  me? 
 
 S3  For  ''  I  am  become  like  a  bottle  in  the 
 smoke  ;  yet  do  1  not  forget  thy  statutes. 
 
 84  "  How  many  are  the  days  of  thy  servant  ? 
 'when  wilt  thou  execute  judgment  on  them 
 that  persecute  meV 
 
 85  *  The  proud  have  digged  pits  for  me, 
 which  are  not  after  thy  law. 
 
 86  All  thy  commaudmeuts  are  f faithful: 
 ■■  they  persecute  me  '  wrongfully  ;  help  thou 
 me. 
 
 8?  They  had  almost  consumed  me  upon 
 earth  ;  but  I  forsook  not  thy  precepts. 
 
 88  ''  Quicken  nie  after  thy  lovingkiudness  ; 
 so  shall  I  keep  the  testimony  of  thy  mouth. 
 
 LAMED. 
 
 89  '  For  ever,  O  Loud,  thy  word  is  settled  in 
 heaven. 
 
 90  Thy  faithfulness  is  f  unto  all  generations  : 
 thou  hast  established  the  earth,  and  it  fabidetli, 
 
 91  They  continue  this  day  according  to 
 ""  thine  ordinances  :  for  all  are  thy  servants. 
 
 92  Unless  "  thy  law  hart  been  my  delights,  I 
 should  tlien  have  perished  in  mine  affliction. 
 
 93  I  will  never  forget  thy  precepts  :  for  with 
 them  thou  hast  quickened  me. 
 
 94  1  am  thine,  save  me ;  for  I  have  sought 
 thy  precepts. 
 
 95  The  wicked  have  waited  for  me  to  destroy 
 me  :  but  1  will  consider  thy  testimonies. 
 
 96  °  I  have  seen  an  end  of  all  perfection  :  but 
 thy  commandment  is  exceeding  broad. 
 
 bands  of  the  Kicked  have  robbed  ?ne,  '  the  '•b^rtt  snares  of  the  wicked 
 enclose  me.* — Boothr,  fi4,  Mercy,  "prrt.  '  thy  pnortncss  or  grace.' — 
 Cocc.t  GeJ.  65.  T/iou  hist  deiiU  welt;  fiiltilicd  all  thy  word  has  pro- 
 mised.— Clarke.  66.  Go'idjudicmeTit  and  kn(ii(t>'d^e,  '  discretion  and 
 knowledge.'— Boo/Ar.  6i),  Forged  u  lie,  pretctidiiig  that  David  Iwd 
 sought  the  life  of  Saul, — S»^  70,  Fat  an  grease,  ^c,  that  i-,  stupid, 
 insensible,  like  fat.  It  is  well  known  that  the  fat  of  the  human  body  is 
 absolutely  insensible,  (comp.  Isa,  vi,  10,) — Sec  on  ITDQ.  i^ar.  73,  T/ty 
 hands,  §-c.,  *  as  thnu  hast  raised  me  above  the  beasts  that  perish  in  my 
 form  and  mode  of  life,  teach  me  to  live  for  a  higher  and  nobler  end,* — 
 Clarke.  74.  Thetj  that  fear,  ^-c.—'  it  will  be  a  great  comfort  to  all 
 good  men,  when  they  see  me  delivered  out  of  all  these  troubles,  for  they 
 will  be  confirmed  in  the  promises.' — Pat.  75.  Thy  judgments,  thy 
 dispensations  of  providence,  —  Clarke.  ".  Thy  tender  mercies, 
 T'Dm,  *  thy  fatherly  and  affectionate  feelings,' — .i. Clarke.  80,  Sound, 
 — this  denotes  strict  integrity  and  sincerity,  in  opposition  to  hypocrisy. 
 — Scott.  82.  mine  eyesfail,  fyc,  as  the  eyes  grow  weary, lookingin- 
 tenUy  for  a  distant  approaching  object.— Erf.        83.  Like  a  bottle  in  the 
 
 smoke,  a  bottle  of  skin,  such  as  is  used  in  the  east,  which,  hung  in  the 
 smoke,  becomes  black,  parched,  and  dry. — Manton.  Some  medicinal 
 oils,  honey,  and  various  drugs,  are  kept  very  long  by  hanging  them  in 
 the  skin  bottles  in  the  smoke,  which  soon  causes  them  to  become 
 black  and  shrivelled.— iio*.  85.  Digged  pits,  aimed  at  his  ruin  by 
 craft  and  power,  as  they  dug  and  covered  over  pits  to  ensnare  wild 
 beasts. — Scott,  Which  are  not  after  thy  law,  '  they  who  act  not  ac- 
 cording to  thy  law.'  87,  They  had  almost  consumed  me,  Sfc,  '  soon 
 would  they  consume  me  on  earth,' — Boothr.  89,  For  ever,  O  Lord, 
 fyc,  'thou  art  for  ever,  O  Lord;  thy  word,'  &c.  —  Scott.  91.  They 
 continue,  Sfc,  that  is,  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  just  before  mentioned. 
 ■—Gill,  Hew.  Ttj  5<aTufe(  aou  dm^ei-et  lin€pa,  Sept.  'By  thy  constitu- 
 tion the  day  con'tinueth.'i,  e.,  the  reguiarsuccession  of  time,  the  vicis- 
 situdes of  day  and  night, — Horsleti.  All  are  thy  serrauts,  '  all  creatures 
 are  thy  servants,' — Boothr,  96.  I  have  seen  an  end  to  all  perfection, 
 •there  is  an  end  often  of  things  most  perfect.' — Dathe.  'To  every 
 study  I  see  a  limit,' — Street.  *  1  have  seen  bounds  and  a  limit  to  every 
 thing,'— Green.    '  I  see  tliat  the  most  perfect  things  will  have  an  end. 
 
 Reflections  on  t.  49  to  72.  —  I.  Hapjnj  are  they  who  can 
 in  faith  remind  God  of  his  prcnnises.  They  are  given  us  for  the 
 very  purpose  that  we  should  plead  them.  In  the  hour  of  af- 
 fliction, how  sweet  is  the  recollection  of  that  word  on  wliicb 
 God  has  caused  us  to  hope.  Nor  less  important  is  the  recol- 
 lection of  our  ohedience  to  the  Divine  precepts,  since  God 
 has  connected  his  precepts  and  promises  together,  and  we 
 have  no  reason  to  plead  the  latter  if  we  neglect  the  former. 
 
 II.  Happy  are  they  who  can  in  faith  claim  God  as  their  portion. 
 All  the  blessings  and  benefits  be  lias  to  bestow  then  belong 
 to  them.  And  this  will  keep  the  soul  in  a  continual  course  of 
 holy  obedience.  He  who  feels  assured  he  has  such  an  in- 
 heritance, will  never  wander  in  unhallowed  ways  to  seek  an 
 other  portion. 
 
 III.  Happy  they  u-ho  can  in  faith  testify  lo  the  c/oodness  and 
 fidelity  of  God :  who  in  all  their  afflictions  can  trace  the  hand 
 ot  a  gracious  Father,  who 'doth  not  afflict  willingly,  nor  grieve 
 the  children  of  men  without  cause;'  who  can  see  iliat  if  thev 
 were  not  neglected  by  his  chastising  hand,  when  they  needed 
 
 656 
 
 the  strokes  of  his  rod.  it  is  the  best  evidence  on  his  part  of 
 fulfilling  the  terms  of  his  unchangeable  covenant.  '  Even  in 
 those  trials  when  we  have  almost  been  disposed  to  suspect 
 the  Lord  of  dealing  hardly  with  us,  a  clearer  view  of  his  judg- 
 ments, and  a  more  simple  dependence  on  his  faithfulness  and 
 love,  will  rebuke  our  impatience  and  unbelief,  and  encourage 
 our  trust  in  God.'  i"  Record  it,  then,  believer,  to  the  honour 
 of  your  God  and  Saviour,  '  thou  bast  dealt  well  with  thy  ser- 
 vant, O  Lord,  according  to  thy  word.' 
 
 Reflections  on  v.  73  to  96. — I.  God's  people  in  their  trials 
 matj  look  for  deliverance  in  the  exercise  of  his  m-.rcy.  This  they 
 may  expect  for  tbe  encouragement  of  others,  who  will  see  in 
 it  the  fulfilment  of  those  gracious  promises  which  he  lias 
 spoken  ;  and  '  all  these  dispensations  of  Providence  will  thus, 
 ill  the  end,  make  the  truth  and  faithfulness  of  God  at  last 
 the  more  illustrious.' p  In  the  meantime,  'the  persuasion 
 that  sin  is  pardoned,  and  God  reconciled,  will  make  the  be- 
 liever comfortable  even  before  his  trials  are  removed.' » 
 
 II.  God's  people  in  their  trials  Jind  their  greatest  comfort  in  ad- 
 
Sundry  prayers,  praises,  and 
 
 PSALMS.  CXIX. 
 
 professions  of  obedience. 
 
 97  O  how  love  I  thy  law !  ''  it  is  my  medita- 
 tion all  the  day. 
 
 98  Thou  through  thy  commandments  hast 
 made  me  '' wiser  than  mine  enemies:  for  fthey 
 are  ever  with  me. 
 
 99  I  have  more  understanding  tlian  all  my 
 teachers  :  Tor  thy  testimonies  are  my  medita- 
 tion. 
 
 100  '  I  understand  more  than  tlie  ancients, 
 because  I  Iceep  tliy  precepts. 
 
 101  I  have  '  refrained  my  feet  from  every  evil 
 way,  that  I  might  keep  thy  word. 
 
 102  I  have  not  departed  from  thy  judgments  : 
 for  thou  hast  taught  me. 
 
 103  "  How  sweet  are  thy  words  unto  my 
 f  taste!  yea,  sweeter  than  honey  to  my  mouth! 
 
 104  Through  thy  precepts  I  get  understand- 
 ing:  therefore  "I  hate  every  false  way. 
 
 NUN. 
 
 105  'Thy  word  is  a  ||latnp  unto  my  feet,  and 
 a  light  unto  my  path. 
 
 106  '  I  have  sivorii,  and  I  will  perform  it,  that 
 I  will  keep  tliy  righteous  judgments. 
 
 107  I  am  alllicted  very  much  :  "  quicken  me, 
 O  Lord,  according  unto  thy  word. 
 
 108  Accept,  I  beseech  thee,  ''the  freewill 
 offerings  of  my  nioutli,  O  Lord,  and  '^  teach  me 
 thy  judgments. 
 
 109  ■'  My  soul  !.<  continually  in  my  hand  :  yet 
 do  I  not  forget  thy  law. 
 
 110  "The  wicked  have  laid  a  snare  for  me: 
 yet  I  ''erred  not  from  thy  precepts. 
 
 111  *Thy  testimonies  have  I  taken  as  an 
 heritage  for  ever:  for  ''they  are  the  rejoicing 
 of  my  heart. 
 
 1 12  I  have  inclined  mine  heart  f  ta  perform 
 thy  statutes  alway,  ^even  unto  the  end. 
 
 BAMECH 
 
 113  I  hate  vain  thoughts  :  but  thy  law  do  I 
 love. 
 
 114  '■Thou    art   my   hiding   place   and  my 
 
 7  Deu.4.6,S. 
 t  Hcb.  it  ia 
 eveTKithme. 
 
 r2Tim.3.i5. 
 
 t  Job  3?.  7, 
 8,9. 
 
 I  Tm.  1.  15. 
 
 Pro   8,  II, 
 t  Hob. 
 yalitte. 
 
 '  Pro.  6.  2S. 
 Or,  candU 
 
 b  \\m.  U.  2. 
 Urb.  i:i  l.s 
 i;vcr.  12,20, 
 
 e  Pg.  I4n.  S. 
 
 &  141.  9. 
 /"ver.  10.  21 
 
 j7  Deil.  33.  ■!. 
 
 A  vor.  77,  92, 
 
 t  Heb.  ta  An 
 i  TOT.  33, 
 
 A  Pg.  32.  7, 
 &91.  I. 
 
 11  Pg.  6.  8. 
 Sc  1.39.  19. 
 Mat.  7.  23. 
 
 1  l'».  2!>.  2. 
 RoiTi.  5.  b. 
 81  !).  as.  & 
 lU    11. 
 
 p  Kic.  22. 18. 
 7  llab.  3.  10. 
 
 /  vcr.  12. 
 H  Pa.  116.  IG 
 
 X  ver   72. 
 Pb.  19,  in. 
 Pro.  8.  II, 
 
 shield  :  '  I  hope  in  thy  word. 
 
 115  "'Depart  from  me,  ye  evildoers:  for  I 
 will  keep  the  commandments  of  my  God. 
 
 1 16  Uphold  me  according  unto  tliy  word,  that 
 I  may  live  ;  and  let  me  not  "be  ashamed  of  my 
 hope. 
 
 117  Hold  thou  me  up,  and  I  shall  be  safe: 
 and  I  will  have  respect  uuto  thy  statutes  con- 
 tinually. 
 
 118  Thou  hast  trodden  down  all  them  that 
 "err  from  thy  statutes:  for  their  deceit  (;>■  false- 
 hood. 
 
 119  Thou  fpnttest  away  all  the  wicked  of 
 the  earth  ''like  dross:  therefore  I  love  thy  tes- 
 timonies. 
 
 120  ■"  My  flesh  trembleth  for  fear  of  thee ;  and 
 I  am  afraid  of  thy  judgments. 
 
 AIN. 
 
 121  I  have  done  judgment  and  justice:  leave 
 me  not  to  mine  oppressors. 
 
 122  Be  '  surety  for  thy  servant  for  good  :  let 
 not  the  proud  oppress  me. 
 
 123  '  Mine  eyes  fail  for  thy  salvation,  and  for 
 the  word  of  thy  righteousness. 
 
 124  Deal  with  thy  servant  according  unto  thy 
 mercy,  and  '  teach  me  thy  statutes. 
 
 125  "I  n»i  thy  servant ;  give  me  understand- 
 ing, that  I  may  know  thy  testimonies. 
 
 126  //  is  time  for  thee,  Lord,  to  work  :  for 
 they  have  made  void  thy  law. 
 
 127  'Therefore  I  love  thy  commandments 
 above  gold  ;  yea,  above  fine  gold. 
 
 128  Therefore  I  esteem  all  t/iy  precepts  con- 
 cerniny  all  tilings  to  be  right;  and  I  'hate 
 every  false  way. 
 
 PE. 
 
 129  Thy  testimonies  are  wonderful:  there- 
 fore doth  my  soul  keep  them. 
 
 130  Tlie  entrance  of  thy  words  giveth  light  ; 
 '  it  giveth  understanding  unto  the  simple. 
 
 131  I  opened  my  mouth,  and  panted  :  for  I 
 "  longed  for  thy  commandments. 
 
 and  that  the  end  of  them  Is  at  hand.— Gi7i.  Broad,  '  infinite,'  extend, 
 ing  to  all  creatures  and  to  all  times. — Aitis.  99.  Than  ail  my  teachers, 
 — David  excelled  in  the  law  of  God  all  the  priests  and  prophets  of  his 
 day.  E\'en  Samuel  was  not  privileged  to  edify  the  church,  as  David 
 with  his  Psalms.— S«;.  lOO.  More  than  the  ar>cients—the  maxims 
 of  the  ancients  were  held  in  great  veneration.— Krf.  105.  A  lightunto 
 my  path,  tfc.  alludes  to  the  custom  of  travelling  by  night  in  hot 
 eastern  countries  and  through  dreary  deserts,  carrying  a  wood  tire 
 blazing  in  a  sort  of  grate  at  the  top  of  a  pole.  Each  caravan  or  com- 
 l»any  has  one  of  these  lights.— Scrip,  lllrts.  106.  I  haee  sworn,  §-c. — 
 David  kept  Gnd'.s  judgments  before,  but  now  he  would  be  more  strict 
 than  before  in  keeping  them.- C^rr^/.  10".  Verti  much.  l^TD  ly,  •  to 
 
 extremity,"  '  exces.sively.'— /I.  Clarke.  108.  Freewill  nffn-inas  of  my 
 mouth,  spiritual  sacrifices  of  prayer  and  praise.— GiH.  Free-will  offer, 
 ings  were  such  sacrifices  as  were  not  otTered  by  the  law,  or  for  any 
 fault,  but  for  the  sake  of  thanksgiving. — Rosenm.  log.  My  soul, 
 '1IJD3, '  my  life.'  In  my  A/inrf— to  have  one's  soul  or  life  in  one's  hand, 
 implies  going  in  continual  danger  of  one's  life,  (see  Judg.  xii.  3  j  1  Sam. 
 xix.  5;  LVviii.  21  ;  Job,  xiii.  14.)— JIfont.  113. Vain  thoughts,  D'EID. 
 napnfoiioi/r,  •  transgressors,'  Sept.  The  Hebrew  seems  to  denote  here, 
 violent  persons,  tearing  and  rending  those  who  come  in  their  way  ; 
 D3?D.  the  root,  means  '  to  split,'  '  divide.' — Par.,  so  Jerome.  ['  Tumul- 
 tuosos,']  '  tumultuous,'  '  turbulent.'— Hors;«/.    •  Those  who  think  vain 
 
 thoughts,*  Targ.  'Thinkers  or  devisers  of  evil  things.  — Jnrchi,  Ahen 
 Ezra,  'The  hesitating  and  sceptical  in  religion.' — Gesenius.  'The 
 light-minded.' — Luther.  Ainsworth  thinks  the  reference  is  to  the  top 
 branches  of  trees  continually  waving  in  the  wind;'  the  sense  may  be, 
 '  I  hate  speculations,'  meaning  sceptical  notions  in  religion.  116.  Up- 
 Iiotd  me,  *330D,  'prop  me  up,'  'give  me  thyself  to  lean  upon.' — A. 
 Clarke.  118,  Their  deceit  is  fahehood,  '  their  cunning  hath  been  fal- 
 lacious,' i.e.,  it  hath  deceived  themselves  and  brought  on  their  ruin. — 
 Horstey,  as  Hare,  'Their  falsehood  to  thee  deceiveth  them.' — Green. 
 120.  My  fiesh,  ^c— the  Heb.,  lOD.  expresses  that  state  of  the  skin  vul- 
 garly called  goosejlesh  ;  it  means,  '  a  thrilling  horror  curdles  my  skin.' — 
 Horsley.  122.  Be  surety,  ^c,  'take my  cause  upon  thee,  and  stand 
 out  for  the  protection  of  mine  innocence.'  126.  Time  for  thee. 
 
 Lord,  to  work,  to  shew  thy  hatred  of  the  wicked  courses  of  men,  by 
 executing  due  judgments  upon  them. — Bp.  Hall.  '  Time  to  work  for 
 the  Lord,' Katpoc  TOO  Ttottjaat  rifiKvpit^,  Sept.  '  It  is  time  to  do  the  will 
 of  the  Lord,'  Targ.  Made  void  thy  law,  this  is  done  by  all  who  deny 
 the  authority  and  suffiiicncy  of  God's  word  to  instruct  and  direct  us. — 
 Ed.  129.  Wonderful,  in  matter,  manner,  and  eflfects.r-i?/».  Home. 
 1 30.The  entrance,  nnD,  it  may  signify  the  interpretation  of  it,  or  the  word 
 that  opens,  as  well  as  what  is  opened. — Gill.  The  simple,  the  most  un- 
 learned.—  Wells.  131.  Panted,  expressive  of  vehement  desire. — Ed. 
 Like  as  a  traveller  in  hot  countries  gasps  and  pants  for  the  cooling 
 
 Iierinp  fn  his  word.  As  a  word  of  promise,  calculated  to  keep 
 Lope  in  lively  exercise,  and  as  a  preceptive  word,  in  doing  of 
 which  they  have  tlie  evidence  of  their  state  and  condition  be- 
 fore God. 
 
 III.  God's  people  in  their  trials  have  an  unshaken  gjound  of 
 confidence  by  a  consideration  of  his  faithfulness.  His  word 
 not  only  promises  good,  but  he  will  perform  what  he  has  pro- 
 mised. His  word  is  settled  in  heaven,  and  every  iota  of  it 
 shall  be  fulfilled  that  relates  to  his  people  on  earth. 
 
 Reflections  on  v.  97  to  120. —  I.  The  hiw  of  God  is  worthy 
 ofouTl)esttiff,clions.  It  is  this  alone  which  can  make  us  un- 
 derstand the  thinijs  of  God,  which  are  not  known  by  many  of 
 the  most  exalted  philosophers  of  the  world,  being  only  spi- 
 657 
 
 ritually  discerned, — this  alone  which  can  make  us  wise  unto 
 salvation.  The  sacred  influence  of  this  will  preserve  us  from 
 persevering  in  a  course  of  sin,  and  a  continual  meditation  on  it 
 will  afford  the  sweetest  gratifications  to  the  soul. 
 
 II.  Wliat  changes  soever  may  happen  to  a  good  man,  he  still 
 cleaves  to  God's  law.  He  wanders  through  a  wilderness,  but 
 he  takes  this  for  his  guide  ;  he  is  afflicted,  but  this  is  bis  com- 
 forter; be  is  at  the  point  of  death,  this  is  his  minister;  he  is 
 in  many  straits  and  difficulties,  but  this  is  his  counsellor. 
 
 III.  Whatever  is  opposed  to  the  law  of  God  is  tlie  ahhorreuce  of 
 the  good  man  ;  such  as  vain  thoughts,  and  evil  doers,  and  back- 
 sliding ways  ;  for  he  knows  that  God  abhors  them,  and  that 
 the  fire  of  his  justice  will  consume  the  wicked. 
 
 4  p 
 
Sundry  prayers,  praijes,  and 
 
 PSALMS,  CXIX. 
 
 professions  of  obedience. 
 
 132  ""Look  thou  upon  me,  and  be  merciful 
 unto  me,  °fas  thou  usest  to  do  unto  those 
 that  love  thy  name. 
 
 183  •'  Order  my  steps  in  thy  word  :  and  'let 
 not  any  iniquity  have  dominion  over  me. 
 
 134  '  Deliver  me  from  the  oppression  of  man  : 
 so  will  I  keep  thy  precepts. 
 
 135  ^  Make  thy  face  to  shine  upon  thy  ser- 
 vant ;  and  "  teach  me  thy  statutes. 
 
 136  '  Rivers  of  waters  run  down  mine  eyes, 
 because  they  keep  not  thy  law. 
 
 TZADDI. 
 
 137  '■  Righteous  art  thou,  O  Lord,  and  up- 
 right are  thy  judgments. 
 
 138  '  Thy  testimonies  that  thou  hast  com- 
 manded are  f  righteous  and  very  f  faithful. 
 
 139  ■"  My  zeal  hath  f  consumed  me,  because 
 mine  enemies  have  forgotten  thy  words. 
 
 140  "Thy  word  is  very  tpure:  therefore  thy 
 servant  loveth  it. 
 
 141  I  am  small  and  despised:  yet  do  not  1 
 forget  thy  precepts. 
 
 14'2  Thy  righteousness  is  an  everlasting  righ- 
 teousness, and  thy  law  is  °  the  truth. 
 
 143  Trouble  and  anguish  have  f  taken  hold  on 
 me :  yet  thy  commandments  are  ""my  delights. 
 
 144  The  righteousness  of  thy  testimonies  is 
 everlasting  :  ■*  give  me  understanding,  and  I 
 shall  live. 
 
 KOPH. 
 
 145  I  cried  with  )ny  whole  heart;  hear  me, 
 0  Lord  :  I  will  keep  thy  statutes. 
 
 14G  I  cried  unto  thee;  save  me,  ||and  I  shall 
 Keep  thy  testimonies. 
 
 147  'I  prevented  the  dawning  of  the  morning, 
 and  cried  :  '  I  hoped  in  thy  word. 
 
 148  '  Mine  eyes  prevent  the  night  watches, 
 that  1  might  meditate  in  thy  word. 
 
 149  Hear  my  voice  according  unto  thy  loving- 
 kindness  :  O  Lord,  "  fjuicken  me  according  to 
 thy  judgment. 
 
 150  They  draw  nigh  that  follow  after  mis- 
 chief: they  are  far  from  tliy  law. 
 
 151  Thou  art  'near,  O  Lord  ;  'and  all  thy 
 commandments  are  truth. 
 
 152  Concerning  thy  testimonies,  I  have 
 known  of  old  that  thou  hast  founded  them 
 '  for  ever. 
 
 6  Ps.  106.  4. 
 
 c  9  Thes.  1. 
 
 t  Heb.  ac- 
 cording Itt 
 the  cmloni 
 
 lftn.f,  ^e. 
 d  Ps.  17.  6. 
 e  Pb.  19.  \%. 
 
 Koin   6.  19. 
 /•Luke  1.74. 
 e  Ps.  1.  6. 
 A  vcr.  19, 26. 
 
 i  Jer.  9.  l.«i 
 14.  17.  See 
 
 k  Ezra  9.  15. 
 
 Neh.  9.  33. 
 
 Jer.  12.  I. 
 
 Dan.  9.  7. 
 /  P».  19.  7, 
 
 t  Hei>.  right- 
 
 t  Heb,  failh- 
 
 /</«»* 
 
 m  Ps,  69   9. 
 
 Jobn  2.  17. 
 f  Heb.  cut 
 
 m,  of. 
 n  Ps.  19.  «. 
 
 &  18.  30    8( 
 
 19.  ft.  Pro. 
 
 30   5. 
 t  Heb.  tritd, 
 
 or,  rrjiufd. 
 >  ver.  1.^1. 
 
 Ps.  19.  9. 
 
 John  17. 17. 
 t  Heb,  <i>t4nd 
 
 II  Or,  that  I 
 inai/  Jtecj). 
 
 r  Ps.  5.  3.  & 
 
 as.  13  & 
 
 130.  C 
 f  ver  74. 
 f  Ps.  G3.  1,6. 
 
 X  Ps.  1+.V18. 
 g  ver.  142. 
 
 /Ps.  44.  IS 
 ■er.  51. 
 
 g  ver.  136. 
 Eiek.  9.  4. 
 
 t  Heb.  TA' 
 br^inniug  ^f 
 tfii/  Vird  is 
 
 i  I  Sam.  24. 
 n,  14.  li<96. 
 IS.  ver.  23 
 
 6  1  Sam.  St. 
 
 15-  Ps.  35.1. 
 
 Mic.  7.  9. 
 c  ver.  40. 
 d  Job  5.  1. 
 
 Or,  Mang. 
 e  ver    U9. 
 
 t,  Pro.  S.  5. 
 
 Is.  39.  17. 
 t  Heb.  Itiry 
 
 •hall  harem 
 
 ,l,„M,„g 
 
 htuch. 
 
 I  Gen.  49.18. 
 er.  174. 
 
 RESH. 
 
 153  °  Consider  mine  affliction,  and  deliver 
 me  :  for  I  do  not  forget  thy  law. 
 
 154  ''  Plead  my  cause,  and  deliver  me: 
 ■^quicken  me  according  to  thy  word. 
 
 155  ''Salvation  is  far  from  the  wicked:  for 
 they  seek  not  thy  statutes. 
 
 156  II  Great  are  thy  tender  mercies,  O  Lord  : 
 "quicken  me  according  to  thy  judgments. 
 
 157  Many  are  my  persecutors  and  mine  ene- 
 mies ;  yel  do  I  not  'decline  from  thy  testi- 
 monies. 
 
 158  I  beheld  the  transgressors,  and  ^  was 
 grieved  ;  because  they  kept  not  thy  word. 
 
 159  Consider  how  I  love  thy  precepts  : 
 ''  quicken  me,  O  Lord,  according  to  tliy  lov- 
 ingkindness. 
 
 160  t  Thy  word  is  Une  from  the  beginning: 
 and  every  one  of  thy  righteous  judgments  en- 
 dureth  for  ever. 
 
 SCHIN. 
 
 161  'Princes  have  persecuted  me  without  a 
 cause  :  but  my  heart  standeth  i-n  awe  of  thy 
 word. 
 
 162  I  rejoice  at  thy  word,  as  one  that  findeth 
 great  spoil. 
 
 163  I  hate  and  abhor  lying  :  but  thy  law  do 
 I  love. 
 
 164  Seven  times  a  day  do  I  praise  thee  be- 
 cause of  thy  righteous  judgments. 
 
 165  ''  Great  peace  have  they  which  love  thy 
 law  :  and  f  nothing  shall  offend  them. 
 
 166  '  Lord,  I  have  hoped  for  thy  salvation, 
 and  done  thy  commandments. 
 
 167  My  soul  hath  kept  thy  testimonies;  and 
 I  love  them  exceedingly. 
 
 168  I  have  kept  thy  precepts  and  thy  testi- 
 monies :  ■"  for  all  my  ways  are  before  Ihee. 
 
 TAU. 
 
 169  Let  my  cry  come  near  before  thee,  O 
 Lord  :  °  give  me  understanding  according  to 
 thy  word. 
 
 170  Let  my  supplication  come  before  thee: 
 deliver  me  according  to  thy  word. 
 
 171  °  My  lips  shall  utter  praise,  when  thou 
 hast  taught  me  thy  statutes. 
 
 172  My  tongue  shall  speak  of  thy  word  :  for 
 all  thy  commandments  are  righteousness. 
 
 breeze. — Bp.  Rotate.  132.  Lofk  thoii  upon  me,  ^^n  nSD,  'turn  unto 
 me,*  as  in  Ps.  xxv.  I6,  and  lx.x.\vi.  16. —  Mich.,  Ains.  133.  Order  my 
 steps,  pn.  '  make  tht-ra  Jimi,'  let  me  not  walk  with  a  halting  and  un- 
 steady step.  Orel*  me,  '2,  '  in  me.' — -i.  Chtrke,  134.  So  wilt  I  keep, 
 f[C.,  he  would  keep  God's  precepts  though  he  should  be  continued  under 
 oppression,  but  when  delivered  he  could  keep  them  more  cheerfully.— 
 Henry.  140.  Tlip  witrd  is  vert/  pure,  IMO  ~ini'0t4  nSl"lL'.  '  is  purilica- 
 tion,'  not  a  purified  thing,  but  a  thing  that  purifies. — .A.Clarke,  'Ex- 
 ceedingly purified.* — Mont.  'Tried,  refined,  purified,  like  gold  in  the 
 furnace  ;'  absolutely  perfect,  without  the  dross  of  vanity  and  fallibiUty, 
 which  runs  through  human  writings. — Bp.  Home.  2Vi' J  om  sntatl 
 and  dettpised,  fyc. — the  meaning  is,  that  although  he  were  tried  with 
 poverty  and  many  other  miseries,  yet  he  contiuued  steadfastly  in  the 
 study  of  godliness. — Cotvin.  142.  T/iy  rig/tteotisness  is  an  everlasting 
 righteousness — tlie  word  ^^^^  is  a  word  of  very  extensive  meaning  in 
 the  Bible.  It  signifies  not  only  God's  inherent  righteousness  and  per- 
 fection of  nature,  but  also  his  method  of  treating  others ;  his  plan  of 
 redemption  ;  his  method  of  saving  sinners.— .-l.C/or/fe.  147.  Iprenented, 
 '  anticipated,*  or,  '  I  rose  before  the  dawning  of  the  morning.' — Hew. 
 149.  The  night  utatches,  '  the  day  break,'  or  morning  watch,  Sept.,Vtttg. 
 152.  Concerning,  or  ■from,"  "I'miMa.- So  Cocc,  GeJ.         153.  Consider, 
 
 7TN1,  as  in  Ps.  xxv.  18. — Pag.,  Mont.,  Muse,  Core.  154.  Plead  my 
 cause,  ^•y^  nn'1,  '  be  my  advocate  in  my  suit.' — A.  Clarke.  156.  Great, 
 D'i"l,  'many.— Prt^.,  Mont.,  ^r.  'Multitudes.' — A.Clarke.  158.  Trans. 
 gressors,U^H2,  'treacherous  persons.' — Vat.,  Cocc,  Mich.  It  may 
 mean  not  only  the  profane,  but  professors. — Gill.  Was  grieved—the 
 original  word  denotes  disgust  as  well  as  sorrow. — Scott.  See  Mark, 
 iii.  5.  160.  From  the  liegiitning,  or,  as  the  Margin,  '  the  first  pro- 
 
 mise to  fallen  Adam  of  a  Redeemer,  and  the  first  promise  to  Abraham, 
 concerning  his  posterity,  were  truth  itself. — Scott.  'Every  word  from 
 Genesis,  called  by  the  Jews  n"">*"l3,  "in  the  beginning,**  to  the  end 
 of  the  law  and  prophets,  and  all  thou  wilt  yet  speak,  as  flowing  from 
 the  fountain  of  truth,  must  be  true.' — .4.  Clarke.  \^1.  As  one  that 
 findeth  great  spoil,  '  I  take  far  more  delight  in  doing  thy  will,  and  in 
 what  thou  hast  promised  to  do  for  me,  than  in  the  completest  victory 
 over  all  my  enemies.' — Pat.  Every  discovery  of  wonders  in  Gud'3 
 law,  was  like  finding  a  great  prize. — -4.  Clarke.  l63.  Lying,  ^p'CS, 
 'falsehood.' — Mont.,  Trem.,  Cocc.,Rie.  l64.  .Scren  times,  i.e..  many 
 times. — Bp.  Hall.  '  Often  and  sundry  times.' — Bp.  Home.  165.  iVo. 
 thing  shall  offend  tliem,  'shall  cause  them  to  stumble  or  fall./ — Heiv. 
 Literally,  '  there  is  no  stumbUng.block  to  them,'  ^llT^D  lo'?  |'WV — 
 Cocc,  Gej.,Mich.        171.  Shall  utter,  na3?in,  the  word  signifies  'to 
 
 Reflections  on  v.  121  to  144.  —  I.  /(  is  the  liappiness  of  lite 
 good  man  tliat  he  can  appeal  to  God  for  liis  inlegriti/.  Tills  affords 
 him  comfort,  that  he  carries  about  with  him  any  evidences  of 
 his  interest  in  the  Divine  favour  and  protection.  He,  there- 
 fore, to  whom  God  will  shew  mercy  as  his  faithful  servant,  who 
 loves  his  precepts,  and  hates  every  false  way,  may,  in  every 
 difficulty,  confidently  wait  and  hope  for  the  salvation  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 658 
 
 II.  IVIiatsoever  of  cxceTlency  the  tjoorl  man  possesses,  he  owes  to 
 God's  word.  It  is  this  which  enlifihtens  his  understanding, 
 chonges  the  bent  of  those  aftections  which  are  by  nature 
 earthly,  sensual,  and  devilish,  and  overcomes  the  domineering 
 power  of  sin. 
 
 III.  Tliat  which  makes  the  word  of  God  valuable  as  the  good 
 man's  rule  is  its  purittj.  God's  word  is  righteous  as  well  as 
 faithful.     It  is  very  pure. 
 
David  prayetk  against  Doeg. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXX.,  CXXI. 
 
 The  great  safety  of  the  godly. 
 
 173  Let  thine  hand  help  me;  for  ''I  liave 
 chosen  thy  precepts. 
 
 174  "  1  liave  longed  for  thy  salvation,  O  Lord; 
 and  '  thy  law  is  my  delight. 
 
 1 75  Let  my  sonl  live,  and  it  shall  praise  thee ; 
 and  let  thy  judgments  help  me. 
 
 176  'I  have  gone  astray  like  a  lost  sheep; 
 seek  thy  servant;  for  1  do  not  forget  thy  com- 
 mandments. 
 
 PSALM  CXX. 
 
 I  David  pratjeth  ai/ainst  Doeg,  3  reproveth  his  tongite, 
 b  complaituth  of  his  ncctssari/  conversation  with  the 
 tricked. 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees. 
 
 TN  °my  distress  I  cried  unto  tlie  Lokd,  and 
 ■*•  he  heard  me. 
 
 2  Deliver  my  soul,  O  Loud,  from  lying  lips, 
 atid  from  a  deceitful  tongue. 
 
 3  li  What  shall  be  given  unto  thee  ?  or  what 
 shall  be  f  done  unto  thee,  tliou  false  tongue  ? 
 
 4  II  Sharp  arrows  of  the  mighty,  with  coals  of 
 juniper. 
 
 pjDsh.24  23, 
 
 b  Gen.  III.  2 
 
 Pro.  1.  29. 
 
 Kzek.J7  13, 
 
 La.  10.  i-i. 
 
 (  Geu   25,13 
 
 g  vcr  160. 
 
 lSam.25.1. 
 
 rver   16.  21, 
 
 £9. 
 
 +7.7;,  HI, 
 
 II  Or,  a  man 
 
 o/pmct. 
 
 I  Ta   53.  6. 
 
 I.uke  1^.4, 
 
 &c    1  Pel. 
 
 2   :i'>. 
 
 II  Or,  Shnlt 
 
 I  lift  up 
 
 cir    10.^9, 
 
 mine  pi/i-i  to 
 
 a  PM.   lis    5 
 
 the  hilU  i 
 
 Jonah  2.  2. 
 
 u/iFHce 
 
 II  Or,  irhat 
 
 Mhmdd  my 
 
 sliaH  Ihe 
 
 help  ojw  9 
 
 (Icceittal 
 
 See  Jer.  a. 
 
 ti-njfiie  ffive 
 
 2:1. 
 
 u',1.1  thef  f 
 
 a  I'a    121   8. 
 
 vv.irhatJiaH 
 
 b  1  Sam.  2,9. 
 
 it   J.TOfil 
 
 Pro.  S,  23, 
 
 II.'-  i 
 
 26. 
 
 \  Heb  added. 
 
 e  P8.  127.  I. 
 
 II  Or,  It  IS  as 
 
 Is   27.  3. 
 
 d  Is.  25.  4. 
 
 .rr.^t  if 
 
 e  Pfi.  16.8. 
 
 the  mn;/ily 
 
 &  lOfl.  31 
 
 mau,  with 
 
 /Ps    91.  h 
 
 c<.oU  ofyi- 
 
 Is,  19    111. 
 
 niper. 
 
 Kev.  7.  16. 
 
 5  Woe  is  me,    that  I  sojourn  in  ^  Mesech, 
 •■  that  I  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Kedar  I 
 
 6  My  soul   Iiath  long  dwelt  with  him   that 
 hateth  peace, 
 
 7  1  a?fi  Wfor  peace  :  but  when  I  speak,  they 
 are  for  war. 
 
 PSALM  CXXI. 
 
 The  great  safety  of  the  godly,  who  put  their  trust  in 
 
 God's  proticfioit. 
 
 A    Song   of  degrees. 
 
 T   II  WILL  lift  Up  mine  eyes  unto  tlie  hills, 
 
 -*-  from  whence  cometh  my  help. 
 
 2  ^  My  help   cometii  from   the   Lord,  which 
 made  heaven  and  earth. 
 
 3  ^  He  will  not  suffer  tliy  foot  to  be  moved  : 
 '"he  that  keepeth  thee  will  not  slumber. 
 
 4  Behold,  he  that  keepeth  Israel  shall  neither 
 slumber  nor  sleep. 
 
 5  The  Lord  is  thy  keeper:  the  Lord  is  ''thy 
 shade  ^upon  thy  right  hand. 
 
 6  ^  The  sun  shall  not  smite  thee  by  day,  nor 
 the  moon  by  night. 
 
 poiirforth  continually.' — Scott.  '  Freely  utter.' — Bvothr.  Like  water, 
 flowing:,  bubbling  up,  and  boiling;  from  a  fountain,  a.s  the  wurtl  signi- 
 fies.— Mantun,  Gill,  Vat.,  J)Iu.tc.,  ^-c.  Praise,  T\bT\T\,  'a  song  nf 
 praise. — A.  Clarke,         175.  Lt;t  my  suul  live — i.  e.,  preserve  my  life. — 
 
 \yii. 
 
 Ps.  CXX.  — Title— .4  Song  of  degrees,  mVon  TID,  'a  Song  of  de- 
 grees or  ascents,*  referring  to  the  music  or  tune.  —  j4ben  Ezra. 
 Marking,  perhaps,  a  peculiar  species  of  Hebrew  composition,  the 
 Psalms  being  all  short,  and  in  several  of  them  there  is  a  grad.ition  of 
 meaning,  and  a  degree  of  point  towards  the  close  almost  eiii^rammic. 
 — Ges.  Songs  sung  by  the  Levites  on  the  fifteen  steps  by  winch  they 
 went  up  from  the  court  of  the  women  to  the  court  of  the  Israelites,  or 
 came  down  them  ;  and  on  each  step  sung  one  of  these  Psalms. — Kim. 
 They  may  signify  Psalms  sung  upon  occasion  of  the  Jews  coming  up 
 from  the  country,  as  they  did  three  times  a  year,  to  pay  their  devotions 
 at  Jerusalem. — Madge.  They  might  have  been  sung  by  the  people 
 going  up  to  Jerusalem  at  the  time  of  their  return  from  the  Babylonish 
 captivity. — Lowt/t.  They  may  be  so  called  from  their  excellency  ;  a 
 song  of  degrees  being  an  excellent  song,  as  an  excellent  man  is  a  man 
 of  high  degree,  (I  Chron.  xvii.  17.) — Jan.,  Trem.,  Gilt.  It  is  generally 
 thought  this  Psalm  was  composed  by  David,  on  account  of  Doeg,  the 
 Edomite,  as  it  resembles  Ps.  iii. — Gill.  3.  Wliat  shall  be  giren  unto 
 thfie  ?  "t"?  Trr*  rr^,  '  what  shall  it  give  unto  thee?' — Pag.,  Mont..  3Jusc., 
 fyc.  ''W  hat  shall  the  deceitful  tongue  give  unto  thee  f  * — Gill.  Whnt 
 E/iall  be  dune?  fyc.  "|^  Fi''D'  7\iy\,  '  wliat  shall  the  false  tongue  add  unto 
 thee?'  —  Mont.,  Jun:,  Trem.  4,  Coals  of  jumper — a  fire  that  burns 
 fiercely  and  burns  long,  like  that  which  was  made  of  'juniper,'  or  some 
 wood  used  in  those  days  remarkable  for  increasing  and  retaining  heat. 
 — Bp.  Home.  CTDn  may  mean  the  Spanish  broom,  the  coals  are  men- 
 tioned either  as  affording  the  fiercest  fire  of  any  fuel  that  the  Psalmist 
 met  with  in  the  desert,  or  because  the  Spanish  genista  or  rethmna 
 ppHrkles,  burns,  and  crackles  more  vehemently  than  other  wood. — Par. 
 The  mciining  is,  that  the  false  lips  and  lying  tongue  are  keen  and 
 piercing  as  tlie  sharp  arrow  shot  by  a  powerful  strong  man  ;  or  scorch- 
 ing as  an  intense  fire.         b.  hi  Mesech  —  Mesech  was  the  son  of 
 
 Japheth,  CGen.  x  2.)  from  whom  the  Mosihi  descended,  who  dwelt  be- 
 tween the  Euxine  and  Caspian  Seas,  and  afterwards  peopled  Russia. 
 Kediir,  was  the  son  of  Abraham,  (Gen.  xxv.  13,)  and  his  posterity 
 peopled  a  part  of  Arabia.  Both  these  people  were  fierce,  and  led  a 
 wandering  life  ;  and  the  author  compares  the  state  of  the  Jews  to  one 
 sojourning  among  them,  unsettled  and  insecure. — Boothr. 
 
 Ps.  CXXI.  —  Title — A  Song  of  degrees,  'one  of  the  songs  of  ascent 
 out  of  Babylon,' S^r.  Composed  on  account  of  Israel,  when  in  siege 
 and  distress;  or  on  account  of  the  children  of  the  captivity.— .<46en 
 Ezra.  Written  by  David  at  the  time  of  the  battle  with  Absalom. — 
 Grotius.  It  is  the  language  of  a  king  of  Israel  going  to  battle,  and 
 looking  up  to  the  oracle  on  Mount  Zion  for  support.— Loiu/A.  It  is  the 
 language  of  an  Israelite  going  up  to  the  tabernacle  to  keep  one  of  the 
 sacred  festivals.— B/j.  Home.  Had  the  scene  been  military,  we  should 
 have  heard  of  shield,  sword,  and  buckler,  but  the  protection  implored 
 is  from  the  dangerous  influences  of  the  sun  and  mooa.^Wil.  1,  / 
 will  lift  up  mine  eyes,  •>ys  NIDN.  '  shall  I  lift  up  mine  eyes  to  the  hills  ?' 
 —Jan.,  Trem.,  Margin,  Boothr.  To  tlie  hills,  Dnnn  iii,  '  upon  the 
 hills,'  looking  up  to  the  heavens.— Ku^.  '  Above  or  beyond  the  hills  ;* 
 so  the  word,  'jn,  translated  '  to,'  sometimes  signifies. — See  Nol.  The 
 hills  alluded  to  are  Zion  and  Mount  Moriah,  on  which  the  temple 
 stood.— Sut.  Whence  cometh,  ^c, '  shall  help  thence  come  to  me?'— 
 Boothr.  3.  He  will  not  suffer,  ^c,  has  the  form  of  a  prayer  in  this 
 verse,  '  May  he  not  suffer,^  ^ic—Homley.  5.  Thi/  shade,  like  the 
 shadow  of  a  rock  in  a  weary  land,  or  of  a  sprearting  tree,  (see  Isaiah, 
 xxxii.  2  ;  Cant.  ii.  3  )  The  allusion  may  be  to  the  pillar  of  cloud  by 
 day,  which  was  a  shadow  from  the  heat,  [Isa.  iv.  5,  6.  and  xxv.  4,  5.) — 
 Gill,  it  may  refer  to  the  umbrella^  and  charms  employed  by  eastern 
 priuces  for  their  protection,  intimating,  that  what  they  vainly  hoped 
 for  from  their  royal  umbrellas  and  sacred  charms,  Jehovah  himself 
 would  he.—Har.  Upon  thy  right  hund—\\c  may  suppose  a  reference  is 
 here  meant  to  the  scorching  heat  of  the  south;  because,  unless  the 
 contrary  is  mentioned,  a  person  was  always  considered  by  the  Hebrews, 
 with  respect  to  position,  as  facing  the  east.— Keif.  fi.  Sun  shall  not 
 smite,  alludes  to  a  sun-stroke.  —  C/'»7.-e.    'A  stroke  of  the  sun,'  in 
 
 Reflfctions  on  v.  145  to  176.  —  The  chief  traits  of  the 
 writer's  mind  in  this  division  of  the  psalm  are — I.  Meditation 
 on  God's  word.  '  He  that  delights  in  the  word  is  much  con- 
 versant with  it.' 
 
 II.  Remembrance  of  God's  ivord.  'This  implies  a  carefully 
 observing  it  and  never  departing  from  it,  whatever  tempta- 
 tions there  were  to  the  contrary.' "» 
 
 III.  Grief  for  mcji^s  neulect  of  God's  word.  We  cannot  always 
 prevent  the  sins  of  others,  but  we  shew  a  pity  for  tbeir  souls 
 and  a  love  to  God  when  we  weep,  or  discover  a  feeling  equi- 
 valent to  weeping  on  account  of  those  sins,  which  are  ruinous 
 to  themselves,  and  insulting  to  God's  honour. 
 
 IV.  Joy  ill  God's  word.  'The  godly  find  glad  tidings  in  the 
 word  suitable  to  their  souls'  necessities,  and  therefore  rejoice 
 in  it.  The  saints  have  felt  benefit  by  it.  They  love  God,  and 
 they  bear  more  of  him  in  the  word  than  they  can  elsewhere.  '■" 
 
 V.  Love  to  God's  word.  The  sacred  writer  says  of  God's 
 testimonies,  *I  love  them  exceedingly.'  We  are  fond  of 
 thinking  on  what  we  love,  and  of  conversing  with  what  we 
 love  ;  we  yield  to  tlio  influence  of  what  we  love  ;  and,  in  fact, 
 are  imbued  witli  what  we  love.  I\Iay  it  be  our  happiness  to 
 he  numbered  with  the  blessed,  *  who  walk  in  the  law  of  the 
 Lord,'  and  who  *do  not  forget'  his  commandments. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXX.  —  We  may  notice  here,  I.  The 
 calumniator.  It  would  be  well  if  this  character  were  confined 
 to  the  notoriously  wicked  only  ;  but  calumny  is  often  too 
 much  indulged  in  by  those  who  are  otherwise  moral,  or  even 
 strict  professors  of  religion.  It  is  nut  wholly  conHned  to  the 
 attacks  of  tlie  ungodly  on  those  who  walk  worthy  of  their  high 
 6j9 
 
 vocation,  but  brethren  sometimes  thus  wound  each  other.  We 
 have  need,  therefore,  to  be  reminded  of  the  apostolic  exhorta- 
 tion, *  Speak  not  evil  one  of  another,  brethren.'  Amiable  was 
 the  spirit  manifested  by  a  late  venerable  divine,  who,  when 
 his  family  happened  to  make  any  censor^us  remarks  on 
 other  fellow-Christians,  would  instantly  checK  them  with  some 
 such  remark  as,  '  Stop!  have  you  no  faults  of  your  own  V  or, 
 *  Enough  hits  been  said  of  their  frailties  ;  now,  can  you  find 
 no  virtues  in  them  which  it  would  be  well  to  imitate  V  This 
 psalm,  however,  seems  more  especially  to  have  reference  to  a 
 persecuting  tongue,  and  censorious  expressions  used  more 
 out  of  hatred  than  thoughtlessness.  Let  those  pause  and  re- 
 flect on  the  consequences  who  vent  a  vocabulary  of  abuse  on 
 those  whose  chief  crime,  in  their  estimation,  is,  that  they  fear 
 God  above  many.     For  this  psalm  exhibits — 
 
 II.  The  punis'iinent  of  the  calumniator.  The  tongue  of  the 
 calumniating  persecutor  is  '  set  on  fire  of  helL'  Let  him  be- 
 ware lest  the  flames  which  he  kindles,  like  those  of  the  perse- 
 cutors of  Shadrach,  Meshech,  and  Abednego,  do  not,  in  the 
 end,  recoil  upon  himself.  Insults  offered^  and  injuries  done, 
 to  them  that  love  God,  because  they  maniiest  their  love  to 
 him,  are  reckoned  as  insults  and  injuries  offered  through 
 them  against  our  Divine  Lord  himself.  *  What  shall  be  done 
 unto  thee,  thou  false  tongue?'  '  Why  persecutest  thou  me  ?' 
 Let  such  dread  all  that  is  comprehended  in  the  expressions  of 
 '  (he  sharp  arrows  of  the  mighty,'  and  the  *  burning  coals'  of 
 Him  who,  to  his  inflexible  and  impenitent  enemies,  is  'a  con- 
 suming fire.' 
 
David's  pniyrr  for  the  church.         PSALMS,  CXXII.,  CXXIII.,  CXXIV. 
 
 The  covfidence  nf  the  rjodhi. 
 
 7  The  I.ouD  shall  preserve  thee  from  all  evil: 
 he  shall  ^  preserve  thy  soul. 
 
 8  The  Lord  shall  "  preserve  thy  going  out 
 and  thy  coming  in  from  this  time  forth,  and 
 even  lor  evermore. 
 
 PSALM  CXXIL 
 
 1   David  professeth  his  joy  for  the  chitrc/i,  6  andprayeth 
 
 for  the  peace  thereof 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees  of  David. 
 
 T   WAS  glad  when  they  said  unto  me,  °  Let  us 
 
 -'-  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 2  Our  feet  shall  stand  within  thy  gates,  O 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 3  Jerusalem  is  huilded  as  n  city  that  is  ''com- 
 pact together : 
 
 4  '  Whitlier  the  tribes  go  up,  the  tribes  of  the 
 LoiiD,  unto  ''  the  testimony  of  Israel,  to  give 
 thanks  unto  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 o  "For  there  fare  set  thrones  of  judgment, 
 the  thrones  of  the  house  of  David. 
 
 0  '  Pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem  :  they 
 shall  prosper  that  love  thee. 
 
 7  Peace  be  within  tiiy  walls,  and  prosperity 
 within  thy  palaces. 
 
 8  For  my  brethren  and  companions'  sakes,  I 
 will  now  say,  Peace  be  within  thee. 
 
 9  Uecause  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  our  God 
 1  will  ^  seek  thy  good. 
 
 PSALM  CXXIIL 
 
 1    The  ijodli/  profess  their  confidence  in  God,  3  andpray 
 
 to  be  ddivered  fom  contempt. 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees. 
 
 n    1*B.   II.  2. 
 
 &  9;.  10.  & 
 1.15.  w. 
 h  Deu.  28   6. 
 Pro.  2.  S).  8c 
 3   6. 
 
 b  See  3  Bam. 
 6.9. 
 
 c  Ex.  S3.  17. 
 
 Pcu.  16.  16. 
 
 d  Kx.  IC.  3-1 
 
 «  Deu.  17.  9. 
 2CUr.  19.8. 
 t  Hcb  du  til. 
 
 /Ps.  51.  13 
 
 rtPa.  121. 
 &  111.  8. 
 b  Pb,  2   4. 
 
 dPa.  121  2 
 «  G«u.  1.1. 
 Pa.  Ul.  3. 
 
 TTNTO  thee  "  lift  1  up  mine   eyes,  O   thou 
 '-^    ^  that  dwellest  in  the  heavens. 
 
 2  Behold,  as  the  eyes  of  .servants  look  unto 
 the  hand  of  their  masters,  and  as  the  eyes  of  a 
 maiden  unto  the  hand  of  her  mistress  ;  so  our 
 eyes  ivait  upon  the  Lord  our  (iod,  until  that 
 he  have  mercy  upon  us. 
 
 3  Have  mercy  upon  us,  O  Lord,  have  mercy 
 upon  us  :  for  we  are  exceedingly  filled  with 
 contempt. 
 
 4  Our  soul  is  exceedingly  filled  with  the 
 scorning  of  those  that  are  at  ease,  ««</ with  the 
 contempt  of  the  proud. 
 
 PSALM   CXXIV. 
 
 The  church  bicsscth  God  for  a  mirncu/ovs  ckliverance. 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees  of  David. 
 TF  it  had  not  been  the  Lord  wlio  was  on  our 
 -^  side,  "^  now  may  Israel  say  ; 
 
 2  If  it  had  not  been  the  Lord  who  was  on 
 our  side,  when  men  rose  up  against  ns  : 
 
 3  Then  they  liad  ''swallowed  ns  up  quick, 
 when  tiieir  wiath  was  kindled  against  us  : 
 
 4  Then  the  waters  liad  overwhelmed  us,  tiie 
 stream  had  ^one  over  our  soul  : 
 
 5  Then  the  proud  waters  liad  gone  over  our 
 soul. 
 
 6  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  hath  not  given 
 ns  as  a  prey  to  their  teeth. 
 
 7  Our  soul  is  escaped  "as  a  hird  out  of  the 
 snare  of  the  fowlers  :  the  snare  is  broken,  and 
 we  are  escaped. 
 
 8  ^Onr  help  is  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
 °who  made  heaven  and  earth. 
 
 loilin,  sometimes  smites  man  and  beast  with  instant  death.— Ro6.  In 
 one  part  of  the  country,  near  Benares,  upward.s  of  a  hundred  people 
 died  in  one  season  througli  being  sun-smitten. — Bap.  Period.  Ace. 
 Nor  the  moon  by  nit^ht — the  monn  ticre  really  strikes  and  affects  the 
 sight,  when  you  sleep  exposed  tn  it,  much  more  than  the  sun.  The 
 sight  of  a  person  who  should  sleep  witli  his  face  exposed  at  night 
 would  soon  be  utterly  impaired  or  destroyed. — Carnc's  Letters  from 
 the  East. 
 
 Ps.  CXXII. —  Title — A  Son^,  ^-c,  when  Cyrus  commanded  the 
 captivity  to  go  up,  Syr.,  so  Clnrke.  It  seems  to  be  designed  for  the 
 use  of  the  Israelites,  and  to  be  sung  by  them  when  they  went  up  to  the 
 feasts  three  times  a  year. — Gill.  2.  Sh>ilt  stand,  'stood,'  or  '  arc  stand- 
 ing.'— Hecker.  'Are  now  standing.*— fi'<"i*/jr.  3.  A  city  that  is 
 compact — in  David's  time,  tlie  upper  and  lower  city  were  joined  toge- 
 ther, the  streets  regularly  built,  the  houses  contiguous,  not  straggling 
 about,  here  and  there  one. —  Gill.  Hecitirus,  an  heathen  writer,  de- 
 scribes Jerusalem  as  a  strong  fortified  city,  fifty  furlongs  in  circumfer- 
 ence, and  inhabited  by  120,000  men.—Euseb.  It  was  also  firmly  united 
 by  mutual  harmony  and  friendship.— 6'A«?irf/er.  4.  The  testimony, 
 *the  ark  of  the  testimony,' a  symbol  of  the  diviue  presence. — Gill. 
 so  HV//S  and  Merrick.  '  Unto  the  congregatinns  of  Israel.' — Horsley, 
 h.  Thrones  of  judgment,  courts  of  judicature,  and  thrones  for  the 
 judges  to  sit  upon. — Gill.  9.  Because  of  the  house  of  the  Lord,  this 
 raised  Jerusalem  to  the  most  peculiar  honour,  and,  for  the  sake  of  God's 
 house,  his  servants  sought  its  welfare  and  prosperity. — Boothr. 
 
 Ps.  CXXII!.— TiTLK—.l  Son^,  Sfc,  probably  written  hy  one  of  the 
 Jews,  jeered  at  in  captivity  by  the  Babylonians. —  AOen  Ezra,  so 
 Clarke.  By  Isaiah,  in  Hczekiah's  time,  when  Rabshakeh  poured  out 
 his  contempt. — Pat.  2.  Servants  took  unto  the  hand,  to  direct  them 
 in  their  business,  which  is  often  done  in  tha  cast  by  significant  signs. 
 Among  the  Turks  in  Asia  Minor,  every  order  is  given  by  a  sign  of 
 the  hands  ;  hence  the  mutes  of  tlie  seraglio.  The  same  obtains  in  the 
 Persian  court.— rJi//,  Sir  J.  Chardin.  In  Egypt,  the  slaves  or  servants 
 stand  at  the  bottom  of  the  room,  with  their  hantis  joined  before  them, 
 watching,  with  the  utmost  attention,  every  ni';tion  of  their  master, 
 who  commands  them  by  signs.  —  Pococke.  The  eastern  ladies  are 
 waited  on  even  at  tlie  least  wink  of  the  eye  or  motion  of  the  fingers, 
 and  that  in  a  manner  uot  perceptible  to  strangers. — La  Mufraye.  '  As 
 a  slave,  ordered  by  a  master  or  mistress  to  be  chastised  for  a  fault, 
 turns  bis  or  her  imploring  eyes  to  that  superior,  till  that  motion  of  the 
 hand  appears  which  puts  an  end  tn  the  bitterness  that  is  felt;  so  our 
 eyes  are  up  to  thee,  our  God,  till  thy  hand  shall  give  the  signal  for  put- 
 ting an  end  to  our  sorrows. *-//«/•.  The  latter  sense  is  adapted  by 
 Bnnthr.,  and  Clarke. 
 
 Ps. CXXIV.  —  TiTiB—.l  Song,  fyc,  probably  written  prophetically 
 concerning  the  enemies  of  the  Jews,  nn  their  return  from  Babylon. — 
 Theod.  Probably  written  on  account  of  the  deliverance  at  thr  lied  Sea. 
 Arama.  Most  likely  on  account  of  the  escape  of  the  Jews  from  Hainan's 
 massacre. — Clarke.  5.  The  proud  waters,  'waters'  sometimes  signify 
 '  many  people,*  as  in  Isa.  lix.  \g. — Boothr. 
 
 Rf.flections  on  Pa.   CXXI.  — I.  Dangers  conthiually  sur- 
 round us.     This  is  the  case  with  regard  to  our  lives  : 
 *  Dangers  stand  thick  through  all  the  ground, 
 To  pusii  us  to  the  tomb  ; 
 And  fierce  diseases  wait  around 
 To  hurry  mortals  home.' 
 
 It  is,  perhaps,  still  more  the  case  with  regard  to  our  souls. 
 To  what  snares,  temptations,  and  evils  of  every  kind  are  tbey 
 liablo  I 
 
 II.  God  contitiuidly  watches  and  protects  us.  Our  bodies  and 
 souls  are  both  under  his  care.  The  Lord  *  will  preserve  them 
 from  all  real  evil,  and  make  all  seeming  evil  work  together  for 
 their  i?ood  ;  he  will  protect  the  lives  of  his  saints  during  the 
 appointed  period,  and  order  all  tiie  circumstances  of  their  de- 
 parture :  he  will  preserve  their  souls,  and  take  care  of  them 
 in  going  out  and  coming  in  ;  when  present  with  their  bodies, 
 and  wlien  separated,  and  when  again  united  to  tliem,  from 
 ibis  time  forth  for  evermore. '^ 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXXIL  — This  psalm  expresses, 
 I.  Love  to  God's  house.  '  It  is  the  will  of  God  that  we  should 
 worship  him  in  consort;  that  many  should  join  together  to 
 wait  upon  him  in  public  ordinances.  We  ought  toT\orship 
 God  in  our  own  houses,  but  that  is  not  enough,— we  must  go 
 into  the  house  of  the  Lord  to  pay  our  homage  to  him  there, 
 GfiO 
 
 and  not  forsake  the  assembling  of  ourselves  together.  David 
 himself,  though  be  had  as  little  need  of  a  spur  to  )us  zeal  in 
 religious  exercises  as  any,  yet  was  so  far  from  taking  it  as  an 
 affront,  that  he  was  glad  of  it  as  a  kindness  when  he  was  called 
 to  go  up  to  the  house  of  the  Lord  with  the  meanest  of  his  sub- 
 jects.'i» 
 
 II.  Prayer  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem.  This  was  'a  type  of 
 the  Gospel  church,  which  is  compacted  together  in  holy  love 
 and  Christian  communion,  so  that  it  is  all  as  one  city.''' 
 '  Union  and  harmony  are  the  ornament  and  stability  of  the 
 church  on  earth  ;  and  if  all  the  disciples  of  Christ  were  ol  one 
 mind,  and  "  endeavoured  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in 
 llie  bond  of  peace,"  their  enemies  would  be  deprived  of  their 
 chief  advantage  against  tht'ra.'e 
 
 Rkflections  on  Ps.  CXXIII.  —  We  have  here,  I.  The 
 church  of  God  in  trouble.  '  Filled  with  contempt  and  scorn.' 
 Such  has  often  been  its  coudition,  and  such  that  of  many  of  its 
 most  devoted  members. 
 
 II.  The  conduct  Jit  to  he  adopted  hy  the  church  of  God  in 
 trottble.  To  watch  the  Divine  hand,  and,  while  exercising 
 prayer,  patiently  to  wait  for  the  intimations  of  the  Divine 
 will.  *  It  is  good  that  a  man  should  both  hope  and  quietly 
 wait  for  the  salvation  of  the  Lord.' 
 
The  safety  oftne  righteous. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXXV..  CXXVI.,  CXXVII. 
 
 The  prosperiti/  of  the  church. 
 
 PSALM  CXXV. 
 
 1    The  saftty  of  such  as  trust  in  God.     4  A  prayer  for 
 
 the  godly,  and  against  the  wicked. 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees. 
 
 npiIEY   that  trust  in  tlie  Lord  shall  be  as 
 
 -'-  mount  Zion,  which  cannot  be  removed, 
 but  abideth  for  ever. 
 
 2  As  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jerusa- 
 lem, so  tlie  Lord  is  round  about  his  people 
 from  henceforth  even  for  ever. 
 
 ;3  For  "  the  rod  of  fthe  wicked  shall  not  rest 
 upon  the  lot  of  tlie  righteous  ;  lest  the  righte- 
 ous put  forth  their  hands  unto  iniquity. 
 
 4  Do  good,  ()  Lord,  unto  those  that  be  good, 
 and  to  them  that  are  upright  in  their  hearts. 
 
 5  As  for  such  as  turn  aside  unto  their 
 ^  crooked  ways,  the  Lord  shall  lead  them 
 forth  with  the  workers  of  iniquity  :  but  "  peace 
 shall  be  upon  Israel. 
 
 PSALM  CXXVL 
 
 I  T/ie  chrtrch,  celebrating  her  incredible  re/urn  out  of 
 caplivitif,  4  prayeth  fur,  ttnd  prophesieth  the  good 
 success  thereof, 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees. 
 
 AITIIKN  the  Lord  f  turned  again  the  capti- 
 
 ^'     vity  of  Zion,  "^  we  were  like  tliem  that 
 
 dream. 
 
 •2  Then  ^'was  our  mouth  filled  with  laughter, 
 
 c  Ps.  128.  6, 
 Gal.  6.  Iti. 
 
 rtlur„,„g  .,f 
 
 Zi»n. 
 
 I's    53.  6.  & 
 S3.   I    iros 
 6.  1 1 .  Joel 
 3.  1. 
 .1  Acts  12  9- 
 b  Jots,  91. 
 
 t  Heb.  hath 
 iiiiff'iified  to 
 
 11  Or,  unffn.y 
 II  Or.  leed 
 batkct. 
 
 II  Or,  of 
 S'll'tnan. 
 Ps.  72,title, 
 
 \  Heh.  that 
 are  biiildeit 
 of  it  in  it. 
 
 a  Vs.  lii.a, 
 
 4,5. 
 
 19. 
 
 c  Gen.  S3,  b. 
 
 &  4M.  -1. 
 
 Josli  2-l.S,'l. 
 d  Oeu.  28-1. 
 t  Heb.  hath 
 filUd  his 
 
 quiver  wilh 
 
 Ihnn. 
 
 and  our  tongue  with  singing:  then  said  they 
 among  the  heatiien,  The  Lord  fhath  dune 
 great  things  for  them. 
 
 3  The  Lord  hatli  done  great  things  for  us ; 
 whereof  WQ  are  glad. 
 
 4  Turn  again  our  captivity,  O  Lord,  as  the 
 streams  in  the  south. 
 
 5  "^Tliey  that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in  ||  joy. 
 
 6  He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing 
 II  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again 
 with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him, 
 
 PSALM  CXXVIL 
 
 I  The  virtue  of  God's  blessing.  3  Good  children  are 
 his  gift. 
 A  Song  of  degrees  ||  for  Solomon. 
 "PXCEPT  the  Lord  build  tlie  house,  they 
 -*-^  labour  in  vain  t  that  build  it :  except  °  the 
 Lord  keep  the  city,  the  watcliman  waketh  but 
 in  vain. 
 
 2  It  is  vain  for  you  to  rise  up  early,  to  sit  up 
 late,  to  ''eat  the  bread  of  sorrows :  ybr  so  he 
 givelh  his  beloved  sleep. 
 
 3  Lo,  ^  children  are  an  heritage  of  the  Lord  : 
 and  "^  the  fruit  of  the  womb  is  his  reward. 
 
 4  As  arrows  are  in  the  hand  of  a  mighty 
 man  ;  so  are  chiklren  of  the  youth. 
 
 5  Happy  is  the  man  that  f  hath  his  quiver  full 
 
 Ps.  CXXV. — Title— J  Song-,  ^c,  probably  made  by  David  jiii-t  be- 
 fore tlie  attack  of  the  strongholds  of  Zion. — Dehmeij.  2.  Muimtfiins 
 are  round  about — Jerusalem  was  encompassed  with  mountains,  and 
 naturally  as  well  as  artilicially  fortified.  Tacitu.t  describes  it  as  inac- 
 cessible,—  walls  and  mountains,  rocks  and  towers,  surroundinj:  it. 
 3.  The  rod  of  the  wicked,  ^c.,  the  sceptre  or  power  of  the  wicked  shall 
 not  always  rule  over  and  oppress  God's  people,  lest  tliey  should  be 
 overcome  by  their  sufferings,  and  apostatize  from  God  to  idols. — 
 Boothr. ;  to  the  same  purport,  Merrick.  4.  Do  good,  ^c,  '  Jehuvah 
 dotli  fjood  to  those  who  are  good,'  &c.  5.  Such  us  turn  aside,  ^c., 
 not  only  the  openly  profane,  but  carnal  professors,  who,  through  afflic- 
 tion and  iiersccutinn,  because  of  the  wnrd,  are  offended,  nnd  desert  ihe 
 good  ways  of  God.— GUI.  Lend  them  forth,  as  criniitjal'^,  condemncil 
 to  undergo  the  sentence  of  the  law. — iioothr.  Pence — this  word  cotn- 
 prehended,  among'  the  Jews,  every  kind  of  prosperity,  happiness,  and 
 virtuous  enjoyment, — Hew. 
 
 Ps.  CXXVI.  — Title— .4  song,  §f.— there  is  little  doubt  that  this 
 Psalm  was  expressly  composed  on  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  Baby- 
 lon.— Trtirell.  1.  Turned  again,  '  reversed,'  put  an  end  to  it  by  the 
 decree  of  Cyrus. — Boothr.  '2.  Then  stiid  they,  ^c. — the  heathen  na- 
 tions owned  that  the  God  of  Israel  had  done  great  things  for  them,  and 
 the  Jewish  people  gratefully  echoed  the  acknowledgment,  (ver.  3  ) — 
 Ed.  4.  Turn  iiisnin,  Sfc,  '  rfstnre  our  capti\  ity,*  i.  e.,  our  captive 
 people,  who  yet  remain. — Boothr.  TheJcwish  captives  did  not  all  re- 
 turn at  once;  Ihey  came  back  at  different  times  and  under  different 
 leaders,- Ezra,  Nchcmiah,  Zcrubbahcl,  &c. — A.  Clarke.  A  different 
 turn  may  be  given  to  the  words — '  the  turning  of  our  captivity,  O 
 Lord,  is  as  streams  in  the  south,'  or  desert  of  Judea;  equally  wel- 
 come and  delightful  as  rain  upon  the  thirsty  lands. — JJurell.  As  the 
 streams,  as  the  autumnal  rains  are  made  to  restore  those  mountain  tor- 
 rents which  had  been  dried  by  the  heat  of  summer,  and  thus  they 
 return  to  their  deserted  channels  in  the  deserts  to  the  south  of  Judea. — 
 Boothr.,  Lowth.        5.  Sow  in  tears,  these  figures  are  taken  from  agri- 
 
 cultiirnl  pursuits.  In  Palestine,  the  farmer  soraetimea  sows  with  an 
 armed  man  attending  him,  lest  he  should  be  rubbed  of  his  seed. — Hnr. 
 Owing  to  the  depredations  committed  by  wandering  herdsmen,  he  is 
 counted  happy,  in  exposed  neighbourbourts  of  the  east,  who  sows  and 
 reaps  iu  ptace. — Pict.  Bib.  Ttie  seed,  being  well  watered,  will  pro- 
 duce a  plenteous  harvest.  The  Jews  in  their  captivity  had  been  sow- 
 ing good  seed,  had  watered  it  with  their  tears,  and  now  would  gather 
 their  sheaves  rejoicing. — Rob. 
 
 Ps.  CXXVII. — Title — For  Solomon,  'for  the  sake  of  Solomon.' — 
 Aben  Ezru.  'Concerning  Solomon.' — Jarchi,  as  Syr.  It  should  most 
 probably  be  read,  '  of  Solomon,'  being  like  a  pious  maxim  of  his,  often 
 repeated  in  Proverbs,  that  it  is  in  vain  to  attempt  anything  if  the  Lord 
 doth  not  prosper  the  design. — Pat.  See  Prov.  iii.  5,  6;  Eccles.  ix.  11. 
 [For  this  use  of  7,  vide  Buxtorf,  Tbes.  Gram.,  p.  .162.]  The  Turgum 
 renders  it,  *a  Song  by  the  hand  of  Solomon.'  Probably  composed  by 
 Solomon  at  the  time  of  building  his  own  house  or  the  temple. — Wil. 
 Perhaps  it  was  written  by  Zerubbabel  at  the  building  of  the  second 
 temple,  called  Solomon,  because  descended  from  him. — Theod.  He  was 
 not  in  the  line  of  Solomon,  but  of  Nathan,  ;Luke,  iii.  27,  31.)  Perhaps 
 it  was  composed  by  David,  »fter  Nathan  told  him  Solomon  should 
 build  the  temple. — Gill.  The  Messiah  is  meant,  called  Solonn  n,  Cant, 
 iii.  7,  11;  \iii.  11,  12;  to  whom  many  passages  may  be  applied. — 
 Kimchi.  1.  Except,  $c.,  '  if  Jcliovah  build  not  up  a  house,' alluding 
 to  the  family  and   property. — Boothr.  2.  For   so,   'since.' — Ham. 
 
 'Surely.' — Bp.  Home.  His  beloved,  in  allusion  to  Solomon's  name, 
 Jedediah,  {2  Sam.  xii.  25.)— Wil.  3.  Children  are  un  heritage,  ^e.» 
 good  ones  are  designed,  Turg.  4.  Ctiildren  of  the  youth,  '  young 
 children.' — Roseum.,  Street.  Not  young  children,  nor  children  in  their 
 youth,  but  such  as  are  born  to  their  parents  when  they  are  in  their 
 youth. — Gill.  The  expression  may  be  opposed  to  the  chddren  of  old 
 age,  being  the  strongest. — Dr.  Dodd.  5.  His  quiver  full  of  them— in 
 ancient  eastern  books,  and  also  among  the  learned  in  common  conver- 
 sation,  sons  are  spoken  of  as  the  arrows  of  their  fathers. — Rob.    There 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Ps.  CXXIV.  —  We  have  here,  L  The 
 church  in  danger.  Enemies,  wily  and  powerful,  beset  her.  So 
 has  she  often  been  beset,  since  '  your  adversary,  the  devil,  as 
 a  roaring  lion,  goeth  about  seeking  whom  he  may  devour.' 
 
 II.  The.  church  delivered.  So,  'when  the  enemy  comes  in 
 like  a  Hood,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  shall  lift  up  a  standard 
 against  Iiim.'  ^  *  More  is  he  that  is  with  us  than  are  they  that 
 be  against  us.' 
 
 REFi-EnioNS  ON  Ps.  CXXV. —  We  may  notice  here,  L  r/ie 
 snftg  of  the  godJg.  W'liat  storms  soever  miiy  beat  around 
 them,  they  shall  not  be  shaken.  Whatever  may  be  swept 
 away,  they  shall  abide.  The  omniscient,  omnipotent,  and 
 omnipresent  God  surrounds  them,  and  all  his  attributes  are 
 engaged  for  their  protection.  His  wisdom,  his  power,  his 
 faithfulness,  his  love,  are  more  impregnable  and  durable  than 
 tiie  everlasting  hills. 
 
 II.  The  ruin  of  the  um^odlg.  Those  who  forsake  God,  for- 
 sake their  own  happiness.  *  Destruction  and  misery  are  in 
 fbeir  ways;  the  way  of  peace  tliey  have  not  known.*  Pre- 
 serve us,  O  God,  for  in  thee  do  we  put  our  trust,'  and  '  thou 
 wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  upon 
 thte,  because  he  trusteth  in  thee.' 
 
 Kj-FLECTioNs  ON  p5.  CXXVI. —  Wo  here  learn,  1.  The 
 66! 
 
 value  of  redemption,  and  our  thoughts  are  directed  to  a  greater 
 redemption  than  that  from  Babylonish  captivity.  *Tbe  poor, 
 trembling  sinner,  being  deeply  convinced  of  his  guilt  and 
 danger,  having  long  sought  and  waited,  perhaps  with  dis- 
 couragement, for  peace  and  liberty  ;  when,  by  looking  to  a 
 crucified  Saviour,  he  is  freed  from  his  burden,  and  receives 
 peace  to  his  conscience,  and  power  to  break  off"  liis  sins,  re- 
 views the  misery  which  he  has  escaped,  the  price  and  method 
 of  his  rescue,  and  the  prospect  which  opens  to  him,  and  can 
 often  scarce  believe  liis  happiness  a  reality.  We  also  learn — 
 II.  That  the  sied  of  a  joyful  harvest  is  often  sown  in  .'sorrow. 
 *  \\  hen  we  mourn  for  our  sins,  or  sympttthize  with  the  atHicted, 
 or  suffer  for  Christ's  sake,  or  endure  chastisements,  we  are 
 sowing  in  tears  to  reap  in  joy.  But  let  us  be  sure  that  we  are 
 sowing  good  seed,  thus  to  be  watered  with  our  tears  ;  exer- 
 cising repentance,  faith,  love,  and  patience;  continuing  in- 
 stant in  prayer,  and  in  the  use  of  every  means  of  grace  ;  and 
 being  unwearied  in  every  good  work,  though  we  should  meet 
 with  ingratitude  and  discouragement  from  all  quarters  :  then 
 we  shall,  doubtless,  at  leni;th  joyfully  bring  our  sheaves  with 
 us;  none  of  our  labours,  sorrows,  or  prayers  will  be  lost ;  and. 
 if  others  are  not  profited  by  them,  they  will  return  inio  our 
 own  bosom,  and  augment  our  gracious  and  eternal  reward."^ 
 
The  blessings  of  the  righteous. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXXVIII.,  CXXIX. 
 
 2'A e  uicked  are  cursed. 
 
 of  them :  °  they  shall  not  be  ashamed,  but  they 
 II  shall  speak  with  the  enemies  in  the  gate. 
 PSALM  CXXVIIL 
 
 T/ie  sundry  hlus^iui/s  ichkh  follow  llitm  that  fear  God. 
 A  Sons  of  degrees, 
 
 BLESSED  'is  every  one  that  feareth  the 
 Lord  ;  that  walketh  in  his  ways. 
 
 2  ■■  For  tlioii  .shalt  eat  the  labour  of  thine 
 hands  :  happy  shall  thou  be,  and  it  shall  be 
 well  with  tliee. 
 
 3  Thy  wife  shall  6e  '  as  a  fruitful  vine  by  the 
 sides  of  thine  house  :  thy  cliildren  ''  like  olive 
 plants  round  about  thy  table. 
 
 4  Behold,  that  thus  shall  the  man  be  blessed 
 that  feareth  the  Lord. 
 
 5  'The  Loud  shall  bless  thee  out  of  Zion  : 
 and  thou  sluilt  see  the  good  of  Jerusalem  all 
 the  days  of  thy  life. 
 
 C  Yea,  thou  shalt  'see  thy  children's  children, 
 and  *■'  peace  upon  Israel. 
 
 PSALM  CXXIX. 
 
 1  An  cr'nirlnfion  to  praise  God  for  savina  Israel  in 
 their  great  afflictions.  5  The  haters  of  the  church 
 are  cursed. 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees. 
 
 ;SpeJob5.4 
 Pro.  27.  n. 
 
 II  Or,  shntl 
 luhdtt^.  as 
 Ps.  I«-  47. 
 or,  deilrat/. 
 
 •  P«   1 1  >.  I 
 
 MIS.  ID.  fli 
 111).  I. 
 
 c  Ezek    19. 
 
 10. 
 d  Ps.  hi.  8. 
 
 &  14k  l-J. 
 
 /Gpil.  iO.  ?3. 
 Job  ^L'.  Hi. 
 g  I's.  120    5. 
 
 II  Or,  .VucA. 
 a  See  Ezek. 
 23.  S.  Hos. 
 
 T\/rANY  II  a  time  have  they  afllicted  me  from 
 -'-'-'■   °  my  youth,  ''  may  Israel  now  say  : 
 
 2  Many  a  time  have  they  afflicted  me  from 
 my  youth  :  yet  they  have  not  prevailed  against 
 me. 
 
 3  The  plowers  plowed  upon  my  back  :  they 
 made  long  their  furrows. 
 
 4  The  Lord  (S  righteous  :  he  hath  cut  asim- 
 der  the  cords  of  the  wicked. 
 
 5  Let  them  all  be  confounded  and  turned 
 back  that  liate  Zion. 
 
 6  Let  them  be  as  ^  the  grass  npon  the 
 housetops,  which  withereth  afore  it  groweth 
 up: 
 
 7  Wherewith  the  mower  fiUeth  nut  his  hand  ; 
 nor  he  that  bindeth  sheaves  his  busom. 
 
 8  Neither  do  they  which  go  by  say,  ''  The 
 blessing  of  the  Lord  be  upon  you  :  we  bless 
 you  in  the  name  of  the  Loud. 
 
 PSALM  CXXX, 
 
 I  The  psalmist  prnfessrth  his  hope  in  prai/er,  5  anfl  his 
 pritiince  in  hope.  7  He  txttorttth  Israel  to  hope  in 
 God. 
 
 A  Song  of  dt'grec3. 
 
 is  a  Chinese  proverb,  '  When  a  son  is  liorn  into  a  family,  a  bow  and 
 arrow  are  hung  up  befnre  his  g:atc,*  (ifriiratively  describing  a  new  pro. 
 tector. — Mender.  A"/  he  nshn}ned~-w\\\\  the  Romans,  those  t)iat  hat! 
 wives  and  cliildren  were  piefcrreil  in  hoiionr  to  senior  persons  that  had 
 none. — Gilt.  Sfmll  .tjieiik  with  the  eneiiiies  in  the  pate,  under  the  p<.>rcli 
 of  the  'gate*  was  the  place  of  resort  for  public  business  and  justice. 
 The  sense  is,  that  the  children  should  plead  the  cause  of  their  parents 
 against  their  adversaries  in  courts  of  judicature. — Mudge,  Gill,  Hew. 
 Tlie  gate  was  sometimes  the  seat  of  war,  (Juclg.  v.  8  ;}  consistency  of 
 meta-phor  here  requires  the  military  meaning. 
 
 'Though  war  within  the  gates  appears, 
 He  lonks  unmoved  on  spear  and  sword.* — Mant. 
 Ps.  CXXVIII.  —  Title — A  Sonp,  ^r.,  generally  considered  as  a  mar- 
 riage song  used  by  the  Israelites. — Trnvell.  It  seems  to  be  a  continna- 
 ti'in  or  second  part  of  the  preceding  Psalm. — Clarke.  3.  A  fruitful 
 f-ine— thepeoiile  of  the  east  are  very  fund  of  covering  thtir  iiou^es  with 
 vines. — Rob.  Vines  are  actually  planted  in  the  eastern  houses,  and 
 cnver  the  stairs  leadingtothe  upper  apartments  of  the  harem. — Ru-iselL 
 This  silences  the  nbjcctii  n  of  Boothrtn/d,  who  says  that  there  is  no 
 proof  of  vines  being  trained  against  the  sides  or  walls  of  houses,  &c. — 
 Ed.  The  vine,  a  lowly  plant,  raised  with  tenrler  care,  becoming,  by 
 its  luxuriancy.  its  beauty,  and  its  clusters,  the  ornament  and  glory  of 
 the  house  to  which  it  is  joined,  and  by  which  it  is  supported,  forms  the 
 finest  imaginable  emblem  of  a  fair,  virtuous,  anfi  fruitful  wife. — Bp. 
 Horne.  Bi/  the  sides  of  thine  hnuse,  '  in  the  apartment  of  thy  house.' 
 The  women  ever  had,  and  now  have,  in  the  east,  separate  apartments ; 
 and  as  their  houses  form  a  square,  with  an  open  area  in  the  midst,  and 
 the  rooms  on  each  side,  ihc  sides  of  the  house  may  mean  the  apart 
 nri^nts  of  the  wife. — Boothr.,  as  Hnr.  A.  Clarke  is  not  satisfied  with 
 this  criticism ;  he  says  of  the  wi  rd  "[T.  the  plurai  of  which  is  translated 
 'sides,'  'I  know  not  one  p!ac(  in  th?  Hebiew  Bible  wlieic  it  can  be 
 fairly  interpreted  into  the  "  inner  apartment;"  it  means  simply  "a 
 side,"  or  anything  that  may  be  denominated  "lateral  length."'— 
 darkens  Notes  on  Hnrmer.  Like  olive  plants — the  olive  trees,  planted 
 by  the  inhabitants  of  the  east  around  their  tables  or  banqueting  places 
 in  their  gardens,  to  eheer  the  eye  by  their  verdure,  and  refresh  the  body 
 by  their  cooling  shade,  significantly  set  forth  the  pleasure  which  parents 
 feel  at  the  sight  of  a  numerous  and  flourishing  offspring. — Bp.  Horne. 
 5.  Thou  shall  see,  ^c. — the  original   is  in  the  imperative  or  optative 
 
 mood,  and  not  the  future.  '  Mayest  thou  sec,'  &c.  '  Yea,  mayest  thou 
 see  thy  children's  children,'  &c. — Pat. 
 
 Ps.  CXXIX.  — Title — ,.4  song,  §c.,  it  is  not  improbably  conjccturetj 
 that  this  Psalm  was  composed  about  the  time  when  Sennacherib  in- 
 vaded Judah.^-Scott.  Probably  written  after  the  Jews'  return  from 
 captivity. — Gill.  Composed  by  Ezra  or  Nehemiah  for  the  consolation 
 of  the  Jews  when  the  enemies  obstructed  the  rebuilding  of  the  city  and 
 temple. — Dimnck.  This  is  the  language  of  the  Jews  just  emerging 
 from  captivity. —  Wil.  1.  From  mt/  youth,  when  Israel  first  went  into 
 Egypt,— *<f«/.  2.  A'n/  previiili'd,   the   Egyptians   could  not   prevail 
 
 against  literal  Israel ;  the  more  they  were  alHicted,  the  more  they  grew 
 and  multiplied  ;  in  the  times  rf  the  Judges,  one  after  another  were 
 raised  up  as  deliverers  of  them  ;  neither  tlie  Assyrians,  Chaldeans,  nor 
 Romans,  nor  any  other,  have  been  able  to  cut  them  off  from  being  a 
 nation. — Gill.  3.  The  plowers  plowed,  §c.— strong;  metaphorical  v\- 
 pressions,  describing  the  effects  of  severe  public  scourging. —  Hetv. 
 Their  backs  were  cut  as  the  ploughers  cut  the  soil. — Boothr.  When  a 
 Hindoo  is  in  trouble  through  oppressors,  he  employs  the  same  meta- 
 phor, '  How  they  plough  me,  and  turn  me  up!*— i?o6.  Their  furrow^, 
 uri'^Zt'Ch,  '  their  weals.'  the  effects  of  a  severe  stroke  on  the  skin  ;  also 
 used  in  English  for  *  green  ridges,'  for  the  purpose  of  separatmg  dis- 
 tinct portions  of  land  in  common  fields.— Weu-.  4.  Hath  cut  asuinlrr 
 the  cords,  the  cords  of  the  joke  of  oppression. — Boothr.  Alluding  to 
 the  cords  with  which  the  plough  is  fastened  to  the  oxen,  which  being 
 cut,  they  cannot  go  on  ploughing;  or  to  the  cords  of  whips,  which, 
 when  cut,  cannot  be  used  to  any  purpose.— GiV/.  There  appears  really 
 to  be  a  reference  to  their  having  been  actually  yoked  like  beasts  to  the 
 plough  ;  and  so  Jerome  understood  it. — Clarke.  5.  Let  them  all  be 
 
 ron/oHnrf»d— though  this  is  an  imprecatory  form,  it  is  rather  predic- 
 tive of  speedy  deliverance  and  the  righteous  retribution  of  heaven  upon 
 the  enemies  of  the  Jewish  people.— B/j.  Horne.  6.  Grass  upon  the 
 housetops;  this  is  sometimes  to  be  seen  in  Judca,  the  roofs  being  flat 
 and  covered  with  plaister  of  terrace,  seed  falling  on  them  will  vegetate, 
 but  it  is  small  and  weak,  and  being  on  high,  e.xposed  to  the  parching 
 sun,  soon  withers. — ^haw.  7.  His  bosom,  the  fold  made  in  the  bosom 
 part  of  the  mantle,  in  which  to  receive  anything,  (so  Neh.  v.  13  :  and 
 Luke,  vi.  38.)— Hew.  8.  The  blessing  of  the  Lord,  ^c,  as  was  usual 
 with  passengers  when  they  went  by  where  mowers,  reapers,  aud  binders 
 were  at  work  in  the  field,  (Ruth,  ii.  4.) 
 
 Ps.  CXXX.— Title- ,-1  song,  §c.,  written  probably  by  David. —i'a^, 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXXVII.  —  We  lipre  learn.  I.  77te 
 importance  of  God's  blessing  on  our  affairs.  Hence  we  should 
 never  neglect  to  implore  that  blessing  before  the  family  altar. 
 '  Our  care  raust  be  to  keep  ourselves  in  the  love  of  God,  and 
 then  we  may  be  easy,  whether  we  have  much  or  little  in  ibis 
 world.' h 
 
 II.  The  importance  of  GofTs  blcssinp  on  our  children.  We 
 cannot  call  wicked  children  a  berit:ic;e  from  the  Lord,  and 
 '  children  will  he  what  he  makes  them' to  us,  *  our  comforts 
 or  crosses.'  h  The  pra\%r  of  the  good  man  will  ever  be,  '  Lord, 
 let  not  our  family  "be  multiplied  for  wickedness."  '  'Child- 
 ren also  should  remember  their  obligation  to  their  parents, 
 and  study  to  requite  thpmbybein;;  ready  to  supply  their  wants, 
 to  vindicate  their  ch;iracters,  and  to  protect  them  from  op- 
 pression in  their  old  age.'  s 
 
 Reflfptions  on  Ps.  CXXVIII.  — I.  We  here  see //feti'ay 
 fo  attain  Ues.^edinss.  It  is  by  fearing  the  I>ord  and  walking  in 
 his  ways.  This  will  sweeten  our  domestic  enjoyments  and 
 insure  true  blessedness  in  every  situation  of  life ;  and  there  is 
 no  blessedness  without. 
 
 II.  We  see  whence  true  blessedness  proceeds^'  out  of  Zion." 
 G62 
 
 I'lie  man  is  truly  happy  in  every  station  and  relative  connexion 
 w  ho  i.s  '  blessed  with  all  spiritual  blessings  in  heavenly  things 
 in  Christ  Jesus.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXXIX.  —  I.  The  church  of  God  has 
 been  persecuted  in  every  aye.  Christianity,  like  Judaism,  has 
 suffered  many  severe  persecutions  from  its  very  infancy. 
 
 II.  God  has  ddietred  his  church  from  repented  suffirinys.  The 
 Strongest  cords  have  been  cut  asunder,  and  the  devices  which 
 the  wicked  liave  contrived  have  bei  n  brought  to  nought.  His 
 cliurch  has  been  purified  iu  its  trials;  but  in  reality  it  has 
 been  hurt  by  no  persecution.  It  still  continues,  and  still 
 looks  forth  against  its  enemies,  *  terrible  as  an  army  with 
 banners.* 
 
 III.  The  enemies  of  God's  church  u-ill,  in  the  end,  meet  with 
 their  reward.  Some  of  them  have  been  fearfully  punished  here  ; 
 but  how  great  will  be  their  reckoning  in  the  day  of  God  ! 
 Where  are  the  nations  that  aimed  to  destroy  Israel  \  Where 
 are  the  persecutors  of  the  church  of  Christ  1  They  have  been 
 confounded,  and  are  truly  become  as  the  withered  grass  upon 
 the  house-top. 
 
The  psalmist's  hope  m  prayer.        PSALMS,  CXXX.,  CXXXI.,  CXXXII. 
 
 David's  care  for  the  ark. 
 
 OUT  "  of  the  depths  have  I  cried  unto  thee, 
 ()  Lord. 
 
 2  Lord,  hear  my  voice  :  let  tliine  ears  be  at- 
 tentive to  tlie  voice  of  my  supplications. 
 
 .3  ''  If  tliou,  Lord,  shouldest  mark  iniquities, 
 
 0  Lord,  who  shall  stand '? 
 
 4  But  there  is  '  forgiveness  with  thee,  that 
 ■■  tliou  mayest  be  feared. 
 
 3  ■■  I  wait  fur  the  Lord,  my  soul  doth  wait, 
 and  'in  his  word  do  I  hope- 
 
 C  ^  My  soul  icaitcth  for  the  Lord  more  than 
 they  that  watch  for  the  morning  :  \\I say, more 
 than  they  tliat  watch  for  the  morning. 
 
 7  '"  Let  Israel  hope  in  the  Lord  :  for  '  with 
 the  Lord  there  is  mercy,  and  with  him  is 
 plenteous  redemption. 
 
 8  And  '  he  shall  redeem  Israel  from  all  his 
 iniquities. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXI. 
 
 1  David,  professing  his  /niwiliti/,  3  exhorteth  Israel  to 
 
 hope  in  God. 
 A  Song  of  degrees  of  David. 
 T  ORD,  my  heart  is  not  haiiglity,  nor  mine 
 -^  eyes  lofty:  *  neither  do  I  fexercise  myself 
 in  great  matters,  or  in  things  too  f  '"g^^  f^^"" 
 me. 
 -2  Surely  I  have  behaved  and  quieted  f  myself, 
 ^as  a  child  that  is  weaned  of  his  mother :   my 
 soul  is  even  as  a  weaned  child. 
 
 iiLam  3  55 
 Jonah  2.  2. 
 
 b  Ps.  113.3. 
 
 Rom.  3.21), 
 
 23,  s;4. 
 c  Ex.  34.  7, 
 
 d  I  Kin.  8. 
 
 4(1.  Ps  2  tl, 
 
 JiT.  33  B.9 
 e  Fa.  27.   H. 
 
 &  33.  2y.  & 
 
 ■10.  1.  Is.  8. 
 
 17.  (t  2t>.  8. 
 
 &  30    18. 
 /Ps,  119.81. 
 ^  Ps    63.  6. 
 
 &  119.  117. 
 II  Or,  whicit 
 
 tp/ilch  U'llo 
 
 thf  11 
 
 'Ji"(/. 
 
 h  Ps.  131.  ], 
 .  Ps    86   5, 
 
 15.  Is.  56.7. 
 A  Pb.  IU3.  S. 
 
 4    Mat.  I. 
 
 21. 
 
 a  Bo.  12.  ir>. 
 +  Hel).  wa/fc. 
 t  Heb.  mon- 
 
 J.)b  ■l^  3. 
 Ps.  139  0. 
 t  Heb.  my 
 
 >j  mat.  18  3. 
 I  Cur.  14  20. 
 
 a  Ps.  65.  1. 
 t  Gen.  19.24 
 
 d  Acts  7.  4G. 
 
 /  1  Sam  7  I . 
 ff  I  CI11-.I3.5 
 /(  Ps    5.  7-  & 
 
 Nii.  10.  35. 
 2Cl)r  6. -Il, 
 
 APa.  7fl.  6! 
 I  J  ob  29. 
 
 Is,  61.  10. 
 
 14. 
 
 3  ""Let  Israel  hope  in  the  Loud  ffrom  hence- 
 forth and  for  ever 
 
 PSALM  CXXXIL 
 
 1  David  in  iiis  prayer  commendetk  unto  God  the  reli- 
 yioHS  care  tie  had  for  the  ark.  8  His  prayer  at  ilie 
 remorintf  of  the  ark,  U  with  a  repetition  of  God's 
 promises. 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees. 
 
 T  ORD,  remember  David,  and  all  his  afflic- 
 ■*-'  tions  : 
 
 2  How  he  snare  unto  the  Lord,  'and  vowed 
 unto  ''  tlie  mighty  God  of  Jacob  ; 
 
 3  Surely  I  will  not  come  into  tlie  tabernacle 
 of  my  house,  nor  go  up  into  my  bed  ; 
 
 4  I  will  '  not  give  sleep  to  mine  eyes,  or 
 slumber  to  mine  eyelids, 
 
 5  Until   I  ''find    out  a  place  for  the   Lord, 
 fan  habitation  for  the  mighty  God  of  .Tacob. 
 
 6  Lo,  we  heard    of  it  "  at    Ephratah  :    '  we 
 found  it  ^  in  the  fields  of  the  wood. 
 
 7  We  will  go  into  his  tabernacles  :  ''  we  will 
 worship  at  his  footstool. 
 
 8  '  Arise,  O  Lord,  into  tliy  rest ;  thou,  and 
 '  the  ark  of  thy  strength. 
 
 9  Let  thy  priests  'be  clothed  with  righteous- 
 ness ;  and  let  thy  saints  shout  for  joy. 
 
 10  For   thy  servant    David's   sake  turn  not 
 away  the  face  of  thine  anointed. 
 
 Stit.  Descriptive  of  Israel  in  captivity. — Atten  Ezra.  It  seems  to  have 
 been  composed,  or  at  least  used,  on  occasion  of  the  public  penitence, 
 tor  which,  see  Ezra,  ix.  x. — Rosenm.  I.  Depths,  or  'deep  waters,' 
 i.  e.,  troubles  and  calamities. — Green.  The  figure  describes  those  who 
 aie  in  prison,  plunged  in  a  deep  ditch,  so  horrible  were  eastern  piisons. 
 — Clarke,  Ed.  3.  Jl/«rA-  inirp/itie.';,  *  mark  down.' — Buothr.,  as  many 
 Cummeiittttors.  '  Charge  us  with  all  our  sins.' — Bp.  Wilaon.  6.  Walrli 
 for  the  mor7nng,  may  allude  to  the  city  guards. — Buot/ir.  To  the 
 priests,  who  were  appninted  to  watch  the  break  of  day  from  a  tower, 
 for  the  purpose  of  offering  the  nii>riiing  oblation. — Ham.  See  Exod. 
 XXX.  7.  To  the  case  of  the  bewildered  and  weary  traveller,  or  the  en- 
 dangered mariner,  who  eagerly  looks  forward  to  the  brealt  of  day. — 
 Green/. 
 
 Ps.  CXXXI.  — Title— .4  Song  of  Diimd,  written,  probably,  before  he 
 came  to  the  throne,  and  while  in  Saul's  court,  under  some  calumny, 
 as  if  he  had  ill  designs  against  Saul. — Gill.  1.  Haughty,  proud  and 
 assuming. — Bonthr.  Eyes  lofty,  denotes  arrogance  and  pride. — Hero. 
 Surely  1  have  behaved,  Sfe. — a  child  of  three  years  old  forms  no  schemes 
 of  power  and  wealth. — Boothr.  The  words  mean,  '  I  depend  wholly 
 on  God's  providence  for  the  way  and  time  of  bringing  me  to  the  king- 
 dom, as  the  infant  deprived  of  the  breast  leans  on  the  mother  for  sup- 
 port.'— Poole. 
 
 Ps.  C.X.\X1I.  — Title— .1  Song,  lye.,  probably  written  by  David  after 
 he  had  numbered  the  people  and  brought  the  pestilence.  — Alfen  Ezra, 
 Kimchi.  Written  for  the  solemnity  of  bringing  up  the  ark. —  Wall. 
 Probably  penned  by  Solomon,  to  he  sung  at  the  dedication  of  the 
 temple. — Henry.  A  prayer  of  the  captives  in  Babylon. — Theod.  This 
 is  most  likely,  for  it  refers  to  the  building  of  the  second  temple,  and  the 
 placing  of  the  ark  in  it.— --I.  Clarke.  1.  All  his  afflictions,  'all  his 
 pious  labours.* — Boothr.  *  His  labours.' — Dathe,  Mich.  There  follows 
 nothing  about  bis  afflictions,  but  about  his  humble  piety  in  seeking  for 
 the  ark. — Seeker.  3.  Into  the  tabernacle  of  my  house — David  conlU 
 not  go  into  his  new  house  with  pleasure  till  this  was  done,  (2  Sam.  v. 
 1 1  ;  vii.  2.) — Gill.  Go  up  into  ttiy  bed,  this  ascent  is  illustrated  by  the 
 Moorish  clianiber,  at  one  end  of  which  there  is  a  gallery  raised  several 
 feet  above  the  floor,  with  a  balustrade  and  steps ;  here  is  placed  the 
 bed. — Shaw.  4.  S'ot  give  sleep,  at  noon. — .^ben  Ezra.  Rather,  he 
 means  comfortably  and  quiL'tly. —GiV/.  We  have  a  like  expression, 
 almost  prnverbial,  for  one  full  of  anxiety,  that  he  can  scarcely  sleep  on 
 account  of  it.— Ed.        s.  A  place  for  the  Lord,  to  build  a  house  for  the 
 
 Lord.— GiVf.  6.  We  heard  of  it  at  Ephratah,  '  we  at  Ephratah,'  i.  e., 
 Bethlehem  and  surroonding  places.  '  heard  of  it,'  that  it  was  at  Jair, 
 or  Kirjath  jearini,  and  '  we  found  it  there,  and  fetched  it  up  '—Wall. 
 The  meaning  is,  '  in  former  times  men  used  to  say,  "  We  have  heard 
 from  the  mouths  of  the  prophets  that  the  chosen  place  was  near  to 
 Bethlehem  Ephratah ;"  only  the  precise  place  was  not  known.'  — 
 Alien  Ezra. 
 
 '  Lo,  we  have  heard  of  it  as  near  Ephratah, 
 We  have  found  it  in  the  district  of  the  forest.' 
 i.  e.,  we  have  beard  of  the  place  which  God  chose  for  his  own  residence, 
 as  near  to  Ephratah  or  Bethlehem,  the  place  where  David  was  born. 
 *  We  have  found  it,'  &c.  It  is  probable  the  mountain  might  have  been 
 a  forest,  part  of  which  remained  before  the  temple  was  buUt,  (l  Cluon. 
 XX.  18,  and  xxii.  \.)— Bonthr.  'As  I  had  determined  to  build  a  temple 
 for  the  ark.  and  heard  that  it  was  at  Ephratah,  I  went  and  found  it  in 
 the  fields  of  Jaar.'  hi",  not  the  wood,  but  Kirjath  jaar  or  Jearim. where 
 the  ark  was  then  lodged.)  and  having  found  it,  he  entered  the  taber- 
 nacle, (ver.  ".)— .4.  Clarke.  When  David  was  young  at  Bethlehem- 
 Ephratah,  he  first  heard  of  the  ark  being  at  Shiloh  ;  but  on  going  out 
 to  meet  it,  he  found  it  had  advanced  as  far  as  the  woody  country  of 
 Kirjath  jearim,  (I  Sam.  vii.  1;)  thence  he  brought  it  to  .terusalem, 
 (2  Sam.  vi.  1,  fic.)—Fe}iton.  /.  At  his  footstool,  any  place  of  worship 
 on  earth  mav  be  called  the  footstool  of  God,  with  respect  to  heaven, 
 his  throne,  (Isa.  Ixvi.  1,)  particularly  the  ark  is  so  called,  IChron. 
 xxviii.  2.  8.  Thu  rest,  a  (irm  and  stable  place,  for  since  the  exodus  he 
 had  not  dwelt  in  "a  house,  but  only  a  moving  tabernacle.— Gi/(.  The  ark 
 was  never  removed  from  the  holy  of  holies,  in  the  temple,  till  the  cap- 
 tivity, when  it  was  lost  or  destroyed,  'ibis  was,  therefore,  'the  Best' 
 of  the  symbol  of  the  Lord's  gracious  presence  with  liis  people.— Sc««. 
 Mount  Sion  is,  therefore,  termed  God's  rest,  because  God  would  not 
 hereafter  be  worshipped  in  any  place  else.— C«/cm.  T/ie  ark  of  thy 
 strength,  '  the  pleadings  of  thy  mighty  presence.'— WeJov/.  The  ark 
 was  the  visible  symbol  of  God's  strength  and  power,  and  from  it  he 
 declared  his  might  and  majesty.— So  A  Bight  Godly  Exp.  of  the  Psalm, 
 1586.  9.  Be  clothed  with  righteousness,  be  as  remarkable  for  inward 
 holiness  as  they  are  for  the  splendour  of  their  holy  vestments.—^.  C. 
 Justly  and  holily  administer  the  priest's  offiee.— Boothr.  Appear 
 righteous  both  in  their  administrations  and  conversations.— Herjry. 
 10.  Tui-M  not  away,  literally,  'repulse,'  '  reject  him  not ;'  lor  a  repulse 
 
 Rffiections  on  Ps.  CXXX.  — Behold  here,  I.  Tiie  peni- 
 tent's trouble.  It  is  sin — horrible  sin!  the  root  of  all  misery 
 in  time  and  in  eternity.  Oh,  its  aggravated  nature  !  its  awful 
 consequences ! 
 
 II.  Tiie  penitent's  prayer.  It  is  a  cry^a  cry  of  distress — 
 ■  Lord,  save,  or  I  perish!'  A  humble  plea  from  a  contrite 
 heart.  But  it  is  a  strong  plea.  God's  mercy  couKl  never  be 
 bestowed  if  he  were  'strict'  to  marlc  our  sins.  He  does  not 
 wink  at  them,  he  will  make  us  feel  tliat  they  are  sins;  but 
 then  there  is  forgiveness  with  him  that  he  may  he  feared, — 
 'this  fear  leads  to  God's  throne,  as  a  merciful  and  pardoning 
 God.'<^ 
 
 III.  The  penitent's  perseverance.  He  waits,  and  looks,  and 
 hopes.  So  let  the  sinner  humbly  hope,  and  quietly  wait  for  the 
 salvation  of  the  Lord,  for  'vvitii  him  is  plenteous  redemption.' 
 
 663 
 
 Reflkctioss  on  Ps.  CXXXI.  —  I.  It  is  well  when  we  can 
 appeal  to  God  that  our  spirits  are  humhle  and  submissive  under 
 his  hand.  This  frame  of  mind,  while  it  shews  confidence  in 
 God,  will  be  most  conducive  lo  our  own  happiness  ;  for  '  God 
 resisteth  the  proud,  but  giveth  grace  to  the  humble.' 
 
 II.  It  is  well  when  we  can  appeal  to  our  fellow-men,  and  urge 
 them  to  follow  our  example.  In  many  things  we  c'end  all,  and 
 we  can  only  in  general  say,  '  Follow  us  so  far  as  we  follow 
 Christ.'  David  could  here  unequivocally  say,  '  Let  Israel 
 liope  in  the  Lord,'  in  allusion  to  his  own  simple  child-like 
 confidence  in  God.  His  language  amounts  to  this — 'Act  all 
 as  1  have  done  ;  trust  in  Him  who  is  the  God  of  justice  and 
 compassion  ;  and,  after  you  have  suffered  awhile.  He  will 
 make  bare  his  arm  and  deliver  you.'' 
 
The  cormmmion  of  saints. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXXXIII.,  CXXXIV.,  CXXXV.       An  exhortation  to  bless  God. 
 
 11  "'The  Loud  liatli  sworn  in  truth  unto 
 David ;  he  will  not  turn  from  it ;  "Of  the  fruit 
 off  thy  body  will  I  set  upon  thy  throne. 
 
 12  If  thy  cliildren  will  keep  my  covenant  and 
 my  testimony  that  I  shall  teach  them,  their 
 children  shall  also  sit  upon  thy  throne  for 
 evermore. 
 
 13  "For  the  Lord  hath  chosen  Zion ;  he 
 hath  desired  it  for  his  habitation. 
 
 14  ""This  is  my  rest  for  ever:  here  will  I 
 dwell  ;  for  I  have  desired  it. 
 
 15  ''  I  will  II  abundantly  bless  her  provision  : 
 I  will  satisfy  her  poor  with  bread. 
 
 16  '  I  will  also  clothe  her  priests  with  salva- 
 tion: 'and  her  saints  shall  shout  aloud  for  joy. 
 
 1 7  '  There  will  I  make  the  horn  of  David  to 
 bud :  "  I  have  ordained  a  ||  lamp  for  mine 
 anointed. 
 
 18  His  enemies  will  I  ^clothe  with  shame: 
 but  upon  himself  shall  his  crown  flourish. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXIIL 
 
 The  benefit  of  the  communion  ofsai?its. 
 A  Song  of  degrees  of  David. 
 "DEHOLD,  bow  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is 
 -^  for  ** brethren  to  dwell  f  together  in  unity! 
 2  //  is  like  "^  the  precious  ointment  upon  the 
 head,  that  ran  down  npon  the  beard,  evt'7i 
 Aaron's  beard  :  that  went  down  to  the  skirts 
 of  his  garments  ; 
 
 m  Pa  R9.  3, 
 i,  :w,  &c. 
 ft  no.  4-. 
 
 -;  2  Sa.  7.  12. 
 
 I  Kin.  8.25- 
 
 2Chr.  6.  16. 
 
 Luke  1   69. 
 
 Acts  2.  30. 
 t  H(.b.   % 
 
 beliy. 
 
 0  Pa.  43.  1,2. 
 
 q  Ps   147.  14. 
 II  Or,  surely. 
 
 r  2ChrG.  41. 
 
 ver.  9. 
 
 Ps.  149.  4. 
 I  Hos    II.  I'.; 
 
 I  t:te.  «9.  SI. 
 I.uke  I.  09 
 
 u  See  I  Kill. 
 II.:jG.Sc  15. 
 4..  2Chr. 
 21.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  candle. 
 JT  Ps.  35.  26. 
 
 ft  1U9.  £9. 
 
 a  Gen.  13.  8. 
 Hob.  IS.  I. 
 t  Ileb    CKfi 
 
 (-  Ki,  W.  25, 
 RO. 
 
 *■  Deu.  4.  48. 
 
 d  I-ev.?5? 
 Deu.  i^S.  3 
 Fa.  12.  6. 
 
 a  P8.I35  l.S. 
 AlChr.P33. 
 
 1  Tim.  2. 8. 
 Or,  in 
 
 .  Ps.  128.  6. 
 ft  I3S.  £1. 
 
 t  Luke  2  37. 
 
 c  Pa.  9-'.   13. 
 
 &  96.  8.  & 
 
 lie.  19. 
 rfpB.  119.  68 
 e  P8.  U7.  1. 
 /■Ex.  19.  5. 
 
 Deu.  7,  6,7 
 
 fc  10.  15. 
 ?  Ps    9?.    H. 
 
 U  97,  9. 
 
 ;3  As  tlie  dew  of  ""  Hermon,  atid  as  the  dew 
 that  descended  upon  the  mountains  of  Zion  : 
 for  ■*  there  the  Lord  commanded  the  blessing, 
 even  life  for  evermore. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXIV. 
 
 An  exhortr.tinn  to  hJcss  God. 
 
 A  Song  of  degrees. 
 
 "DEHOLD,  bless  ye  the  Lord,  **  all  j5^<5  ser- 
 
 -*-'   vants  of  the  Lord,  ^  which  by  night  stand 
 
 in  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 2  "  Lift  up  your  hands  ||  in  the  sanctuar)', 
 and  bless  the  Lord. 
 
 3  '^  The  Lord  that  made  heaven  and  earth 
 *"  bless  thee  out  of  Zion. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXV. 
 
 I  An  exhortation  to  praise  God  for  his  mercy,  5  for  his 
 pouur,  8  for  his  judomnjts.  \h  The  vanity  ofidoh. 
 19  An  ij-hortatlon  to  hlcss  God. 
 
 p RAISE  ye  tlie  Lord.  Praise  ye  the  name 
 -^  of  the  Lord  ;  "praise  him,  O  ye  servants 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 2  '' Ve  that  stand  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 in  "  the  courts  of  tlie  house  of  onr  God, 
 
 3  Praise  the  Lord  ;  for  ^  the  Lord  is  good  : 
 sing  praises  unto  his  name  ;  ''for  it  is  pleasant. 
 
 4  For  ^  the  Lord  hath  chosen  Jacob  unto 
 himself,  and  Israel  for  his  peculiar  treasure. 
 
 5  For  I  know  that  ^  the  Lord  is  great,  and 
 that  our  Lord  is  above  all  gods. 
 
 makes  a  smitcr  •  turn  away  liis  face,'  and  depart  sadly  and  hcavilv.— 
 Mnnt.  II.  Hath  sworn,  by  Nathan,  (2  Sam.  vii.  5,  12,  l6.)  The 
 Apostle  Peter  is  express  that  there  was  an  oath  added,  though  not  there 
 mentioned ;  it  may,  however,  be  rendered,  '  the  Lord  hath  sworn  truth 
 unto  David,*  nON  miC:.— So  Pap.,  Mont.,  Trem.,  Mich.,  fiC,  Gill. 
 The  fruit  of  thy  htidij,  ffc,  meaning,  not  Solomon,  but  a  greater  than 
 Solomon,  (Acts,  ii.  30.) — Gill.  It  hasatwofold  sense,  relating  to  Solo- 
 mon in  type  and  shadow,  and  to  Christ  in  truth  and  substance. — Bp. 
 Home.  12.  For  evermoi-f — the  line  of  David  continued  till  the  birth 
 of  Christ,  when  the  spiritual  kingdom  commeDced  in  the  Son  of  David, 
 of  which  there  shall  be  no  end. — Dimock.  17.  Horn,  an  emblem  of 
 sovereignty.  To  bud,  as  one  horn  dropped  off,  another  was  to  spring 
 up. — Mudge;  or  'to  grow,'  i.e..  the  kingdom  and  power  to  increase. — 
 Boothr.  A  lamp — a  successor  to  perpetuate  his  memory,  (see  I  Kings, 
 XV.  4.) — Wil.  His  lamp  or  family  should  never  be  extinguished.  This 
 is  an  allusion  to  the  ever-burning  lamp  of  the  temple. — Mudpe.  This 
 alhides  to  the  power  and  authority  of  the  spiritual  David. — A.  Clarke. 
 The  Jews  confess  that  this  verse  mystically  refers  to  [the]  Christ. — 
 Bp.  Home.  18.  His  enemies,  the  enemies  of  him  called  the  horn  of 
 
 David,  the  Messiah. — Boothr. 
 
 Vs.  CXXXIII.  — TiTLii~.4  Song,  ^-c,  probably  written  when  Abner 
 persuaded  the  tribes  to  unite  under  David's  government,  (2  Sam.  v.  1.) 
 — Henry,  Scott,  Wil.  When  the  tribes  contended  who  should  bring 
 the  king  back  after  Absalom's  rebellion. — Fenton.  2.  Precious  oint- 
 ment, the  holy  nil,  (Exod.  xxx.  23.)  Skirts,  means  rather  the  upper 
 part  of  the  garment  about  the  neck,  near  the  beard.  This  garment  was 
 put  over  the  head,  and  the  neck  part  or  collar,  where  the  head  came 
 through,  is  the  part  meant.— fleeces.  The  Elabbinical  writers  inform 
 us,  that  the  oil  was  poured  on  the  top  of  the  priest's  head,  which  was 
 bare,  so  plentifully,  as  to  run  down  his  face  upon  his  beard,  to  the 
 collar,  not  the  '  lower  skirts'  of  his  robe. — See  Jennings*  Jew.  Antiq. 
 The  Hebrew  is  'mouth,'  the  upper  hole  or  border,  which  was  bound 
 about  that  it  might  not  be  rent,  [E.\od.  xxxix.  23.)      It  never  means 
 
 'skirts.' — Bno/hr.        .1.  Dew  of  Hevmon — our  tents  were  as  wet  with 
 this  as  if  it  had  rained  all  night. — Mnnndrell.     Such  dews  communi- 
 cate a  copious  moisture,  even  to  the  sands,  in  a  country  where  it  rarely 
 rains  during  the  summer  months.— So  Sh<tw.     Of  Zion^ 
 '  Or  like  the  dew  of  Hermon,  which  flowed  down 
 
 To  the  hills  of  Zion.' 
 Hermon  is  a  mountain  on  the  north  of  Judea,  which  was  also  called 
 Sion.  (Deut.  iv.  48.)  The  hills  of  Sinn  here  mentioned  were  probably 
 situated  on  the  lower  psirts  of  this  mountain.  Irr>m  whence  the  dews 
 fiowed  down  upon  them. —  Green.  Not  Mount  Zion,  p'^,  in  JenisiUem, 
 but  TN'ii;, '  ^ion,'  which  is  a  part  of  Ilcrmun,  (see  Deut.  iv.  43.) — Clurke. 
 'And  pleasant  as  the  dewy  rills, 
 
 Which  on  fair  Hermon's  mighty  hills. 
 
 Or  Zion's  mount  descend.' — Mant. 
 As  understood  by  Louth  and  Bp.  Home;  so  also  Boothr.  Lowlh  is 
 decidedly  of  opinion  that  Mount  Sion  in  Jerusalem  must  be  referred  to  ; 
 the  last  verse,  especially,  alludes  to  the  blessing  of  life  for  evermore, 
 which  was  nowhere  dispensed  hut  on  the  holy  hill  of  Zion,  and  siems 
 to  corroborate  this  opinion. — Morison.  The  sense  is  injured  by  making 
 a  double  rain.  When  the  experienced  Hebrew  saw  the  mortdug  dew 
 spread  on  all  the  ground,  he  said,  the  sun  will  gain  the  ascendancy,  and 
 we  shall  have  a  hot  day  ;  but  when  he  saw  the  cloud  on  Herincui,  he 
 augured  rain  on  Zion  and  all  the  happy  land  ;  and  with  the  ruin,  he 
 augured  the  continuance  of  all  the  promised  blessings,  long  and  happy 
 life;  yea,  by  association,  life  eternal. — Sut. 
 
 Ps.  CXXXIV.  —  TiTLK— .4  Song,  SfC,  probably  sung  by  the  priests 
 on  shutting  up  the  gate  of  the  temple  in  the  evening. — Pat.  I.  By 
 
 night  stand — the  priests  and  Levites  watched  nightly  in  their  courses, 
 (Deut.  X.  8  ;  Lev.  viii.  35  ;    1  Chron.  ix.  33.) — Boothr. 
 
 Ps.  CXXXV.  —  This  Psalm  is  thought  to  have  been  the  morning 
 h>Tnn,  sung  by  the  Levites  at  the  opening  of  tlie  temple. —  Wells,  Pat. 
 1.  The  name  of  the  Lord,  mPP  CU?  T)>t,  '  the  name  Jeliovah.' — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.    CXXXII This  psalm  consists  of 
 
 two  parts — T.  Prayer.  In  which  is  manifested  the  deepest 
 concern  for  the  Divine  worship,  presence,  and  favour.  The 
 promises  are  pleaded,  'Remember  David,'  —  the  covenant 
 made  with  him,  and  his  sincere  efforts  to  advance  the  inte- 
 rests of  religion.  The  holy  resolution  is  made  of  going  into 
 the  sacred  place.  God  is  implored  to  be  present  to  give  his 
 blessing.  The  priests  are  remembered  that  they  may  worship 
 the  Lord  in  the  beauties  of  holiness,  and  the  people  that  they 
 may  joy  with  God's  heritat^e. 
 
 II.  The  promises  on  which  the  prayer  is  founded, — promises 
 confirmed  by  oath,  that  the  heirs  of  them'might  have  strong 
 consolation.  These  are  promises  which  relate  to  the  life  that 
 now  is  and  to  that  which  is  to  come.  And  what  God  has  said 
 concerning  Israel  and  David's  seed  are  still  applicable  to  the 
 gospel  church— to  the  seed  of  the  Son  of  David,  whose  'crown 
 shall  endure  to  all  eternity,  and  the  crowns  reserved  for  his 
 faithful  subjects  are  such  as  fade  not  away.'  h 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXXXIII. —  I.  There  may  he  vnitij 
 without  uniformity.  This  is  an  important  distinction  to  be  ob- 
 G64 
 
 served  in  matters  of  religion.  Believers  '  are  all  one  in  Christ 
 Jesus,'  and  yet,  as  the  different  members  of  a  family  may  vary 
 in  features,  so  they  may  vary  in  many  things  which  are  not 
 essential  to  salvation. 
 
 II.  Unity  among  rjood  me7i  is  lovely  and  desirahlc.  One  ob- 
 serves, that  things  may  be  good  without  being  pleasant,  but 
 this  is  both  good  and  pleasant.  It  is  good  in  itself,  agreeable 
 to  the  will  of  God,  the  conformity  of  earth  to  heaven.  It  is 
 good  for  us,  for  our  honour  and  comfort  :  it  is  pleasant  and 
 pleasing  to  God,  and  all  good  men;  it  brings  constant  delight 
 to  those  who  do  thus  live  in  unity.'  ^ 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXXXIV-  — I.  We  are  to  hiess  the 
 Lord.  Christians  are  kings  and  priests  unto  God,  and  though 
 we  can  bestow  no  benefits  upon  him,  it  shews  the  devotedness 
 of  our  hearts  to  him  when  we  invoke  all  our  pov^-ers  to  bless 
 his  holy  name. 
 
 11.  The  Lord  will  hIess  us.  In  blessing  God,  we  are  blessed  ; 
 and,  *  ere  long,  all  the  true  servants  of  God  shall  praise  him 
 in  the  sanctuary  above,  and  bless  his  name,  and  be  blessed  in 
 him,  uninterruptedly  for  evprmoro.'* 
 
The  vanity  of  idols. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXXXVI. 
 
 Thankfulness  fo7-  God's  mercies. 
 
 6  "  Whatsoever  the  Lord  pleased,  that  did 
 he  in  heaven,  and  in  earth,  in  the  seas,  and  all 
 deep  places. 
 
 7  '  He  causeth  the  vapours  to  ascend  from 
 the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  '  he  maketh  lightnings 
 for  tlie  rain  ;  he  bringeth  the  wind  out  of  his 
 '  treasuries. 
 
 8  ■"  Who  smote  the  firstborn  of  Egypt,  fboth 
 of  man  and  beast. 
 
 9  "  Who  sent  tokens  and  wonders  into  the 
 midst  of  tliee,  O  Egypt,  °  upon  Pharaoh,  and 
 upon  all  his  servants. 
 
 10  ■'  Who  smote  great  nations,  and  slew 
 mighty  kings  ; 
 
 1  1  Sihon  king  of  the  Amorites,  and  Og  king 
 of  Bashan,  and  ''  all  the  kingdoms  of  Canaan  : 
 
 1-2  '  And  gave  their  land  for  an  heritage,  an 
 heritage  unto  Israel  his  people. 
 
 13  'Thy  name,  O  Lord,  endureth  forever; 
 and  thy  memorial,  O  Loud,  f  throughout  all 
 generations. 
 
 \i  '  For  the  Lord  will  judge  his  people,  and 
 he  will  repent  himself  concerning  his  servants 
 
 1.5  "  The  idols  of  the  heathen  are  silver  and 
 gold,  the  work  of  men's  hands. 
 
 16  They  have  mouths,  but  they  speak  not ; 
 eyes  have  they,  but  they  see  not ; 
 
 17  They  have  ears,  but  they  hear  not ;  neither 
 is  there  atii/  breath  in  their  mouths. 
 
 18  They  that  make  them  are  like  unto  them: 
 so  is  every  one  that  trusteth  in  them. 
 
 19  "  Bless  the  Lord,  O  house  of  Israel :  bless 
 the  Lord,  O  house  of  Aaron  : 
 
 20  Bless  the  Lord,  O  house  of  Levi:  ye  that 
 fear  the  Lord,  bless  the  Lord. 
 
 ■21  Blessed  be  the  Lord  'out  of  Zion,  which 
 dwelleth  at  Jerusalem.     Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXVL 
 
 An  exfiortatioJi  to  give  thanks  to  God  for  particular 
 mercies, 
 
 (~\  "GIVE  thanks  unto  the  Lord;  for  Ae  is 
 ^^  good  :  ^  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 2  O  give  thanks  unto  °  the  God  of  gods  :  for 
 his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 3  O  give  thanks  to  the  Lord  of  lords  :  for  his 
 mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 Jer.  10.  13. 
 
 tkSI.   16. 
 *  Job  29.  25, 
 
 I'G.  fc  38.  24, 
 
 &c.  Zech. 
 
 10.  1. 
 t  Job  38.  22. 
 m  Ex.  12. 12, 
 
 29.  Fa.  79. 
 
 51.  &  136. 
 
 10. 
 t  Heb. /rom 
 
 ..  Kx.  7,  &  9, 
 &  9,  fit  10, 
 Hi  II. 
 
 0  P8.  136.  15. 
 p  Nu  21-  21, 
 
 2."),  26,  31, 
 
 35.  Ps.  136. 
 
 17,  &c. 
 7  Josh.  12.7. 
 r  1'8.  78.  55. 
 
 b  136.  21, 
 
 22. 
 ,  Ei.  3.  15. 
 
 Pa.  102.   12 
 t  Heb.  Ii/S"- 
 
 „rTfili>>rt  U'td 
 
 gtiternliifn. 
 
 1  Deu.  32. 36. 
 
 »  Pa.  115.  4, 
 5,  6, 7,  9. 
 
 e  Gen.  1.  I. 
 
 Pro.  3.  19. 
 
 Jev.  51.  15. 
 /Geo.  I.  9. 
 
 Ps    24.  2. 
 
 Jer.  10.  12. 
 f  Geo.  1.  14 
 
 h  Gen.  1.  16. 
 t  Heb,/or 
 
 the  ruliii^s 
 
 btf  day. 
 
 :  Ej.  12.  29. 
 Ps.  135.  6. 
 
 ft  Ex.  12,  51 
 &  13.  3,  17, 
 
 'oEx.  14.21, 
 22.  Ps.  79. 
 
 n  Ex.  14.  27. 
 
 Pa.  135.  9. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 tlmkxd  off. 
 
 1  Ei.  13.  19. 
 &  15.  22. 
 Deu.  3.  15. 
 
 q  Don.  29.7. 
 
 a  Pg.  106.  1. 
 
 fc  107.  1.  b 
 
 118-  1. 
 b  1  Clir.  16. 
 
 34,41. 
 
 2Chr  20.91 
 cDeu.  10.17. 
 
 t  Josli.  12   1, 
 8tc.  Ps.  135. 
 
 *  Gen.  P.  1. 
 Deu. 32.  36 
 Pa.  113.  7. 
 
 r  Pa,  104  27, 
 &  145-  15.8c 
 147.  9. 
 
 4  To  him  ^  who  alone  doeth  great  wonders : 
 for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 3  '  To  him  that  by  wisdom  made  the  heavens  : 
 for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 6  '  To  him  that  stretched  out  the  earth  above 
 the  waters:  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 7  ^  To  him  that  made  great  lights  :  for  his 
 mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 8  "  The  sun  f  to  rule  by  day  :  for  his  mercy 
 endureth  for  ever : 
 
 9  The  moon  and  stars  to  rule  by  uight :  for 
 his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 10  '  To  him  that  smote  Egypt  in  their  first- 
 born :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 1 1  '  And  brought  out  Israel  from  among 
 them  :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 12  '  With  a  strong  hand,  and  with  a  stretched 
 out  arm  :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 13  ""To  him  which  divided  the  Red  sea  into 
 parts  :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 14  And  made  Israel  to  pass  through  the  midst 
 of  it :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 15  "But  t  overthrew  Pharaoh  and  his  host 
 in  the  Red  sea :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for 
 ever. 
 
 16  °  To  him  which  led  his  people  through  the 
 wilderness  :  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 17  ""To  him  which  smote  great  kings:  for  his 
 mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 18  "  And  slew  famous  kings  :  for  his  mercy 
 endureth  for  ever : 
 
 19  'Sihon  king  of  the  Amorites:  for  his 
 mercy  endureth  for  ever : 
 
 20  'And  Og  the  king  of  Bashan:  for  his 
 mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 21  '  And  gave  their  land  for  an  heritage  :  for 
 his  mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 22  Even  an  heritage  unto  Israel  his  servant : 
 for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 23  Who  "  remembered  us  in  our  low  estate  : 
 for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever  : 
 
 24  And  hath  redeemed  us  from  our  enemies: 
 for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 23  '■  Who  giveth  food  to  all  flesh  :  for  his 
 mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 26  O  give  thanks  unto  the  God  of  heaven  : 
 for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 
 
 7.  Ue  ciiu^eth — they  who,  in  old  time,  paid  tlieir  devotion  to  the  ele- 
 ments imagined  them  to  be  capable  of  giving  or  witliholding  them  at 
 pleasure.  Jupiter  ruled  the  thunder  and  lightning,  and  .iilolus  the 
 winds.  Therefore  we  find  the  prophet  reclaiming  that  power  for 
 Jehovah,  (Jer.  xiv.  22.) — Bp.  Home.  The  vapours,  D'NUJ3.  '  clouds.' — 
 Har.,  so  the  Greek.  The  Hebrew  is  '  elevation,'  whicli  most  natu- 
 rally signifies  the  clouds.  —  Boothr,  A  squall  of  wind  and  clouds  of 
 dust  are  the  sure  forerunners  of  the  first  autumnal  rain. — Shaw. 
 From  the  ends  of  the  earth,  *  the  extremities  of  the  horizon,'  i.  e.,  ail 
 quarters. — Dathe,  Boothr.,  Wit.  He  maketh  ti^litjiiiif^s  for  the  rabi, 
 '  he  maketh  lightnings  to  attend  the  rain.' — Green.  Lightning  in  the 
 west  or  south-west  is  a  sure  sign  of  rain,  in  September,  as  observed  at 
 Aleppo. — ■  Russett.  10.  Great   nations,   or   'many   nations,'   D'13 
 
 D'2"l. — Pug.,  Mont.,  Muse.  14.  The  Lord  wilt  judge,  'plead  for,'  oi 
 'avenge.' — Ham.  'Do  justice  to,' — Houb.;  or 'S,  'though  the  Lord 
 judges  his  peoplQ^hastises  them  in  a  fatherly  way.' — Jan.,  Trem.,Gill. 
 
 Ps.  CXXXVI.  —  Very  probably  composed  by  David,  and  given  to  the 
 Levites  to  sing  every  day,  (I  Chron.  xvi.  41.)— Gi».  The  chorus  was 
 sung  on  several  occasions,  which  see  1  Chron.  xvi.  34  ;  2  Chron.  vii. 
 
 3,  6 ;  XX.  21.  This  is  called  by  the  Jews,  the  great  Hallel,  or  Psalm  of 
 praise,  and  it  is  used  in  their  daily  service.— Sm<.  It  is  little  else  than 
 a  repetition  of  the  preceiling.— .4.  Clarke.  \.  For  liis  mercy  en. 
 dureth,  ^c.,  MOn  ub^^'^  'D, '  for  his  tender  mercy  is  to  the  coming  age ;' 
 meaning,  probably,  that  peculiar  display  of  his  compassion,  the  re- 
 demption of  the  world  by  the  Lord  Jesus.  2.  To  the  God  of  gods, 
 D'3"TNn  '3n«^,  not  meaning  idols,  he  is  not  the  God  of  them,  but  it  may 
 refer  to  the  priests  and  spiritual  rulers,  as  '  Lord  of  lords'  may 
 apply  to  kings  and  magistrates.—  So  Clarke.  The  words  mean, 
 'Sovereign  of  all  the  heavenly  hosts,'  (see  Exod.xviii.  11.)— J'a(.,  Dim. 
 
 4.  Wonders,  mx'jD],  '  miracles;'  the  inversion,  suspension,  or  destruc- 
 tion of  the  laws  of  nature.— C/ur^e. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXXXV. — God  is  to  be  praised, 
 I.  Because  he  is  good.  *  He  is  good  to  all,  and  we  must  give 
 him  the  praise  of  that ;  his  goodness  is  his  glory,  and  we  must 
 make  mention  of  it  to  his  glory. '•* 
 
 I I.  Because  he  is  great,  both  'in  the  kingdoms  of  nature,  and 
 in  the  kingdoms  of  men.'  "^ 
 
 III.  Because  he  is  uncliangeahle  and  everlasting.  God  is,  and 
 will  be,  always  the  same  to  his  church — a  gracious,  faithful, 
 wonder-working  God  ;  and  his  church  is,  and  will  be,  the 
 same  to  bim — a  thankful,  praising  people  ;  and  thus  his  name 
 endures  for  ever.' '» 
 
 I  \  .  Because  he  is  just.     Inflicting  vengeance  on  his  incor- 
 rigible enemies,  and  chastising  his  own  offending  people  that 
 they  may  not  be  condemned  with  the  world. 
 6G5 
 
 V.  Because  he  is  the  onlg  living  and  true  God.  Do  the  vain 
 worshippers  of  idols  praise  them,  and  shall  our  tongues  be 
 silent  in  the  praises  of  Him  in  whom  we  live,  and  move,  and 
 have  our  being,  and  with  whom  we  hope  to  live  for  ever  ! 
 '  Ye  that  fear  the  Lord,  bless  the  Lord.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CX.XXVI.  —  I.  It  is  good  to  enter 
 into  tlie  detail  of  God's  favours,  and  not  to  view  them  in  the 
 gross  ;  and,  in  each  instance,  to  observe  and  own  that  '  God  s 
 mercy  endureth  for  ever.' 
 
 II.  Especially  let  us  remember  his  great  redemption.  Of  this 
 all  other  redemptions  were  but  types.  '  We  have  a  great  deal 
 of  reason  to  say,  "he  remembered  us,  the  children  of  men,  in 
 our  low  estate,  in  our  lost  estate  ;  for  his  mercy  endureth  for 
 ever  :  and  sent  his  Son  to  redeem  us  from  sin,  and  death,  and 
 4  Q 
 
The  Jews'  constancy  in  captivity.      PSALMS,  CXXXVII.,  CXXXVIII. 
 
 David  praiseth  God. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXVIL 
 
 1    Tlte  constancy  of  t/te  Jt-ws    in  captivity.       7 
 
 TIte 
 
 prop/let  cursettt  Edom  and  Babel, 
 
 "D  Y  the  rivers  of  Babylon,  tliere  we  sat  down, 
 ■^-^   yea,  we  wept,  wlieii  we  remembered  Zion. 
 
 2  We  banged  our  barps  upon  the  willows  in 
 the  midst  thereof. 
 
 3  For  there  they  that  carried  us  away  cap- 
 tive required  of  us  fa  song  ;  and  they  that 
 ■f "  wasted  us  required  of  ns  mirth,  saying.  Sing 
 us  one  of  the  songs  of  Zion. 
 
 4  How  shall  we  sing  the  Lord's  song  in  a 
 t strange  land? 
 
 5  If  I  forget  thee,  O  Jerusalem,  let  my  right 
 hand  forget  her  citniiinrj. 
 
 6  If  I  do  not  remember  thee,  let  my  'tongue 
 cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth  ;  if  I  prefernot 
 Jerusalem  aliove  f  my  chief  joy. 
 
 7  Remember,  O  Lord,  '  the  cliildren  of  Edom 
 in  the  day  of  Jerusalem  ;  who  said,  ]  Rase  it, 
 rase  it,  even  to  the  foundation  thereof. 
 
 8  O  dauglitcr  of  Babylon,  '' wlio  art  to  be 
 t  destroyed  ;  happy  sha/l  he  be,  fthat  reward- 
 etb  thee  as  thou  hast  served  us. 
 
 9  Happy  shall  he  he,  that  taketh  and  'dash- 
 eth  thy  little  ones  against  ftlie  stones. 
 
 PSALM  cxxxvin. 
 
 1  David  praisetli  God  for  the  truth  of  his  word.     4  He  ^^^^ 
 prophesieth  that  the  hittys  of  the  earth  s/tall  praise 
 
 t  Heb.  Ifie 
 leoTiJt  of  a 
 
 t  Heb.  laid 
 
 a  Ps.  79.  I.  ' 
 tHeb  Inndof 
 
 a  ilraiiner, 
 ftZze.S.  -26. 
 t  Heb.  /A* 
 
 hrad  of  my 
 
 c  Jer.  49.  7, 
 .<iC  Lam.+ 
 n.  E7Ck. 
 
 Oba,  lO.ttc. 
 
 1  Esd.  +.'15. 
 t  Heb.  Mahr 
 
 b'ire. 
 dU.  13.1,6, 
 
 «<c.  K(47.  1 
 
 .let-.  25.  12. 
 
 &  50,  2. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 t  Heb.  thni 
 rfcfotpfiit. 
 tlh  tiulo  ther 
 t!iy  lUed 
 tch'ch  thntt 
 didtl  to  V). 
 
 e  Jer.  50,  15, 
 20.  Rev.  18. 
 
 5  Ps   28   2 
 c  I  Kin  «.2P, 
 30.  Ps.  5.  7 
 d  Is.  42.  21. 
 
 /Ps.  113.  .5, 
 '    Is.  57.1.^. 
 
 ff  Pro.  3.34. 
 James  4  6. 
 1  Pet.  5.  5. 
 
 f>  Pe.  23  3,1 
 
 Ps.  57.  2. 
 Pltil.  1.  C. 
 
 *  See  Job  10. 
 .3,8.  8t  14.16. 
 
 God. 
 
 7  He professeth  his  cunfidtncc  in  God. 
 A  Psalm  of  D^ivid. 
 
 T  WILL  praise  thee  with  my  whole  heart: 
 -*-  "before  the  gods  will  I  sing  praise  unto 
 thee. 
 
 2  "■  I  will  worship  '  toward  thy  holy  temple, 
 and  praise  thy  name  for  thy  lovingkindness 
 and  for  thy  truth  :  for  thou  hast  ■'  magnified 
 thy  word  above  all  thy  name. 
 
 3  lu  the  day  when  1  cried  thou  answeredst 
 me,  and  strengthenedst  me  with  strength  iu 
 my  soul. 
 
 4  °  All  the  kings  of  the  earth  shall  praise 
 thee,  O  Lord,  when  they  hear  the  words  of 
 thy  mouth. 
 
 6  Yea,  they  shall  sing  in  the  ways  of  the 
 Lord  :  for  great  !*■  the  glory  of  the  Lord. 
 
 6  '  Though  the  Lord  lie  high,  yet  ^  hath  be 
 respect  unto  the  lowly :  but  the  proud  he 
 knoweth  afar  off. 
 
 7  "  Though  I  walk  in  the  midst  of  trouble, 
 thou  wilt  revive  me  :  thou  shalt  stretch  forth 
 thine  hand  against  the  wrath  of  mine  enemies, 
 and  thy  right  liand  shall  save  me. 
 
 8  '  The  Lord  will  perfect  that  irhieh  con- 
 cerneth  me  :  thy  mercy,  O  Louu,  endureth  for 
 ever:  'forsake  not  the  works  of  thine  own 
 hands. 
 
 PSALM  CXXXIX. 
 
 1   David  praiseth  God  for  his  aUseeing  providence,  17 
 
 Ps.  CXXXVII.  —  Lamentation  of  a  captive  Jew  in  Babylon. — Mudge, 
 Trarell.  Probably  composed  by  the  prophet  Haggai,  who  was  born  in 
 Habylnn. — Sut.  1.  By  the  ri vers~if  hy  Babylon  is  meant  the  coun- 
 try, then  the  rivers  of  it  are — Chebar,  Ulai,  Tig:ris,  Euphrates,  and 
 others,  (see  Ezek.  i.  1  ;  Dan.  viii.  2  ;)  but  if  the  city  itself,  then  only 
 the  Euphrates,  which  ran  through  it,  and  is  expressed  by  'rivers,' 
 because  of  the  largeness  of  it,  and  its  Feveral  canals,  called  *  many 
 waters,*  (Jer.  li.  13.) — Gill.  The  captive  Jews  were  probably  dispersed 
 along  tlie  sides  of  the  rivers,  and  not  allowed  to  enter  the  towns. — 
 St.  C/iri/sostom.  It  is  supposed  they  were  employed  in  draining  the 
 marshy  grounds. — Hew.  Sat  down,  a  posture  of  mourning  and  deep 
 distress,  (see  Lam.  ii.  10;  Job,  ii.  i3.)—Lowf/i.  2.  Harps,  used  in  the 
 temple  service  by  the  Levites,  who  seem  to  be  the  persons  here  speak- 
 ing, who  took  care  of  thrm,  and  preserved  them  from  the  plunder  of 
 the  enemy,  in  hopes  of  returning  with  them,  or  to  solace  tliemsclvcs 
 in  captivity. —  Gill.  Upon  the  willows,  these  were  plentiful;  their 
 quantity  on  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates  caused  Isaiah  (^chap.xv.  7) 
 to  call  it  'the  brook  or  river  of  willows.' — Clarke.  2.  Wasted  vs, 
 plundered  them  of  their  substance,  &c. — Gill.  Sing,  fyc,  the  cele- 
 brity of  the  Hebrew  choir,  it  is  evident,  stood  foremost  in  the  musical 
 profession  throughout  the  east.— Si/?.  4.  Hotv  s/tall  wc  sing,  §c.— 
 many  singers  were  carried  captive,  (Ezra,  ii.  41.)  Thc^e  would,  of 
 course,  carry  their  instruments  with  them,  and  be  insulted,  as  here. 
 Their  songs  were  sacred,  and  unfit  to  be  sung  before  idolaters.  "  How 
 shall  we  sing.'  is  not  an  answer  to  their  enemies,  but  the  free  utterance 
 of  the  Jews  amongst  them';elves. — Seeker.  5.  Her  cunning,  skill  in 
 playing  on  the  harp.—  Welts.  See  1  Sam.  xvl.  i6,  18.  The  words 
 mean,  Met  my  right  hand  lose  its  power.' — Hew.  'May  thou  CO  G-^d) 
 forget  my  right  hand,'  i.  e.,  to  hold  me  by  it  in  need. —  Gcj.,  Gill. 
 7. Remember — Edom  ;  the  Idumeans  joined  the  army  of  Nebuchadnezzar 
 against  their  brethren,  the  Jews  ;  and  they  were  main  instruments  in 
 rasing  the  walls  even  to  the  ground,  (see  Jer.  xii.  6  ;  .\xv.  14  ;  Lam.  iv. 
 21,22;  Ezek.  XXV.  12;  Obad.  \\  —  \i.)— A.  Clarke.  The  Edoniites, 
 in  rejdicing  in  the  fall  c.f  Jerusalem,  rejtiiced  in  the  ruin  of  those  of  the 
 same  blood,  and,  in  five  years  after,  the  Chaldeans  ioilictcd  the  same 
 calamity  on  them. — Sut.  Day  of  Jerusalem,  the  day  on  which  it  was 
 destroyed. — linsemn.         8.  Daughter,  the  capital. — Sut.      Who  art   to 
 
 he  destruned,  after  its  caption  by  Cyrus,  a.m.  3468,  it  could  never 
 be  considered  as  a  capitnl  city,  and  dwindled  away  till  it  was  wholly 
 destroyed. — Clarke.  As  thou  hast  served  us—y/txen  Darius  Hystaspes 
 took  this  city  after  it  bad  revolted,  he  slaughtereil  the  inhabitants, 
 men  and  women,  in  a  barbarous  manner.  —  Herod.,  lib.  iii.  9.  Dash, 
 eth,  fyc. — the  Babylonians  probably  used  this  cruelty  to  the  Israclitish 
 children,  (see  Lam.  ii.  II,  and  Isa.  xiii.  1 6.) — Dim,  Against  the  stones, 
 ^'bs  iv,  'against  a  rock.' — Pag.,  Mont.,  ^c. 
 
 Ps.  C.\XXVII1.  —  1.  iJ(?/ore  (/jc  g-orf*-,  the  angels.— Most  of  the  Ancient 
 Versions.  Princes  and  rulers  of  the  earth. — Hew.  Vs.  Ixxxii,  6,  /. 
 Cn'rh*  133,  'in  the  presence  of  Elohim,*  i.  e.,  probably  before  the  ark, 
 where  were  the  sacred  symbols  of  the  Supreme  Being. — Clarke.  Be- 
 fore the  idols,  which  neighbouring  kings  and  nations  adored. —  Wulf. 
 '2.  Thy  holj  temple,  not  at  Jerusalem,  which  was  not  yet  built,  but  the 
 tabernacle  of  Moses,  in  which  was  the  ark.— G(7/,  as  Aben  Ezra  and 
 Kimchi.  Wherever  the  ark  was,  there  was  the  temple  of  Jehovah, 
 (see  1  Sam.  iii.  Z.)—Dim.  Thou  hast  magnified,  §c.,  'thou  hast  mag- 
 nified thy  name  in  every  word  of  ihinc  ' — Kimchi.  'Thou  hast  magni- 
 fied  thy  name,  (even)  thy  word  abv;ve  all.' — Bp.  Home. 
 •  Thon  hast  magnified,  through  thy  promise, 
 Thy  name  above  every  name.' 
 
 That  the  word  of  promise  is  intended  most  expositors  agree. — Boothr. 
 He  preferred  faithfulness  to  his  promise  to  the  attribute  of  his  power. — 
 Ken.  'Thnu  hast  magnified  above  all  things  thy  name  and  thy  power.* 
 — Ben  Melenh,  so  Diinock  and  the  Old  Translation.  3.  Strengthenedst 
 me,  'made  me  vigorous  and  full  of  courage.' — Boothr.  '  Incited,  em- 
 boldened ,  nr  encouraged  me  in  my  soul  or  person.' — Pat.  4.  .All  the 
 kings  of  the  earth,  the  future  kings  of  Israel.— v4.  Clarke.  Shall  praise 
 thee,  or,  '  let  them  confess  and  praise  thee,'  "inv,  Vulg.  ;  Pag.,  Mont. 
 5.  In  the  u'ai/s,  nin'  0113.  or,  '  of  the  ways,'— i'iic.,  Schmidt.  6.  But 
 the  proud  he  knoweth  afar  off,  '  high  things  be  knoweth  afar  ofl,'  Sept., 
 Vvlg.  'Tbe  Hiiih  One  knoweth  afar  off.'— Pug.  'The  Lord  is  high, 
 but  secth  low  ;  ami  lofty,  but  knoweth  afar  off,' — Hmih.  Knoweth,  ^-c, 
 '  noticeth  at  a  ili<tai^cc.'— Boothr.  8.  Thf  Lord  will  perfect,  nrS  1^3\ 
 or.  'may  the  Lord  perform  for  xm.*~Mont.,  Muse.  Forsake  not,  'jM 
 ^in.  '  tbnu  wilt  not  f(>rsake.' — Pag.,  Mont. 
 
 liell.  and  all  our  spiritual  enemies  ;  for  his  mercy  endureth 
 for  ever  :  us,  and  not  the  angels  that  sinned  not;  for  his  mercy 
 endureth  for  ever."  ' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXXXVII.  —  I.  Here  is  Zion^s  deso- 
 lation. How  often  has  the  cause  of  God  been  brought  very 
 low,  and  superstition  and  infidelity,  as  well  as  heathenism, 
 have  cried,  respecting  Zion, '  Rase,  rase  it  to  the  foundations  !* 
 
 II.  Here  is  IsracVs  sorrow.  Ordinances  neglected  and 
 slighted  had  hrought  them  into  this  miserable  condition  ;  and 
 now  they  know  their  worth  by  being  deprived  of  them.  Yet, 
 it  was  a  pleasing  sign  that  they  were  arousing  from  their 
 lethargy,  when  they  hegan  to  weep  at  the  remembrance  of  Zion. 
 
 III.  Ilere  is  Babylon's  punishment,  and,  with  proud  Babylon, 
 revengeful  Edom.  In  these  we  see  '  the  fall  of  the  New- 
 Testament  Babylon,  which  will  be  the  triumph  of  all  the 
 saints.'  ii 
 
 GG6 
 
 Ri-:i  i.tcTiuNS  ON  Ps.  CXXXVIII.  — Remark  here.  I.Da- 
 vid's resolution,  founded  on  the  retrospect  of  what  God  had 
 done  for  him.  *  I  will  praise  thee  with  my  whole  heart.' 
 '  They  that  walk  in  the  ways  of  tbe  Lord  have  reason  to  sing 
 in  tliose  ways,  i.  e.,  to  go  on  in  them  witli  a  great  deal  of 
 cheerlulness,  for  ihey  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  it  be- 
 comes us  to  be  pleasant  in  ihem.'^i 
 
 II.  David's  consolatiouy  founded  on  the  favour  of  God  to  the 
 humble,  his  care  of  his  afflicted,  and  his  assurance  that  he 
 would  perform  the  good  work  begun  in  him.  '  Whatever  good 
 there  is  in  us,  it  is  the  work  of  God's  own  hands  ;  he  worketh 
 in  us.  both  to  will  and  to  do  ;  it  will  fail  if  he  forsake  it  ;  but 
 his  glory  as  .Tchovali,  a  perfecting  (Jod,  is  so  much  concerned 
 in  tiie  progress  of  it  to  the  end,  that  we  may,  in  faith,  pray, 
 "  Lord,  do  not  forsiike  it.** '  ^ 
 
God's  all-seeiiif/  providence. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXXXIX.,  CXL. 
 
 DaviiTs  ilcfiancc  of  the  wicked. 
 
 and  for  his  in/jiiite  mercies,     19  //e  dejittli  the  wicked. 
 
 23  He  prayeih  for  sinccriti/. 
 
 To  the  chief  Musici.in,  A  Psahn  of  Davii). 
 (^   Lord,  °  thou  hast  searched  me,  and  known 
 ^-^  me. 
 
 2  ■■  Thou  knowest  my  downsilting  and  mine 
 uprising,  thou  '^  understandest  my  thought  afar 
 otf. 
 
 3  ■'  Thou  II  compassest  my  path  and  my  lying 
 down,  and  art  acquainted  irith  all  my  wa5's. 
 
 4  For  t/iere  is  not  a  word  in  my  tongue,  but, 
 lo,  O  Lord,  '  thou  knowest  it  altogether. 
 
 o  Thou  hast  beset  me  behind  and  before, 
 and  laid  thine  hand  upon  me. 
 
 6  'Such  knowledge  is  too  wonderful  forme; 
 it  is  high,  I  cannot  attain  unto  it. 
 
 7  ^Whither  shall  I  go  from  thy  spirit?  or 
 whither  shall  I  flee  from  tliy  presence  ? 
 
 8  "  If  I  ascend  up  into  heaven,  thou  art 
 there  :  'if  1  make  my  bed  in  hell,  behold,  thou 
 art  there. 
 
 9  //"  I  take  tlie  wings  of  the  morning,  and 
 dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea  ; 
 
 10  Even  there  shall  thy  hand  lead  me,  and 
 thy  right  hand  shall  hold  me. 
 
 1 1  If  I  say.  Surely  the  darkness  shall  cover 
 me ;  even  the  night  shall  be  light  about  me. 
 
 12  Yea,  ''the  darkness  fhideth  not  from 
 tliee  I  but  the  night  shineth  as  tlie  day  :  f  the 
 darkness  and  the  light  are  both  alike  to  thee. 
 
 13  For  thou  hast  possessed  my  reins  :  thou 
 hast  covered  me  in  my  mother's  womb. 
 
 14  I  will  praise  thee  ;  for  I  am  fearfully  and 
 wonderfully  made  :  marvellous  ore  thy  works  ; 
 and  that  my  soul  knoweth  f  right  well. 
 
 15  '  My  II  substance  was  not  hid  from  thee, 
 when  I  was  made    in   secret,   arid   curiously 
 
 1  Pa.  17.  3. 
 Jer.  12.  3. 
 
 c  Mat  fl.  4. 
 John  2.  Si; 
 
 /Job  42.  3. 
 IN.  40.  .'1.  & 
 131.  1. 
 
 A  AraoB  9.  2, 
 
 3,4. 
 i  Job  26.  6. 
 
 Pro.  15.  II. 
 
 *  Job  26.  6. 
 
 &  .'^1.  L'2. 
 
 Dan.  9.  92. 
 
 Heb  4. 13. 
 t  Heb.  d>ijk- 
 
 erfl/i  mil. 
 t  Heb.  ai  is 
 
 the  dark- 
 
 oest,  Kt  is  Mir 
 
 {  Hob. 
 
 t  Job  10.  8,9 
 Eccles  1 1 .5 
 
 II  Ov,'tr^n^lh 
 or,  hndi/. 
 
 \  H«b. 
 ttfm 
 
 !l  Or, 
 
 alUj 
 
 H'hat 
 iltmiU  be 
 
 m  Ps.  40.  5. 
 
 Is.  II.  4. 
 
 Pb.  1 19. 
 15. 
 p  Jude  15. 
 
 p  2  Clir  19  2, 
 Ps.  119.158, 
 
 'Job  31.  6 
 Ps.  26.  2. 
 
 t  Hf!..  1 
 gri.f. 
 
 t  Heb    mn'i 
 of  tiwtfiicfi, 
 
 b  Ps.  56.  6. 
 
 c  Ps.  .^iS.  4. 
 Rom.  3.  13. 
 
 wrought  in  the  lowest  parts  of  the  earth. 
 
 IG  Thine  eyes  did  see  my  substance,  yet 
 being  imperfect ;  and  in  thy  book  f  all  mi/ 
 members  were  written,  ||  which  in  continuance 
 were  fashioned,  when  as  yet  there  was  none  of 
 them. 
 
 1 7  "  How  precious  also  are  thy  thoughts  unto 
 me,  O  God  !  bow  great  is  the  sum  of  them  ! 
 
 18  7/'  I  should  count  tliem,  they  are  more  in 
 number  tlian  the  sand  :  when  I  awake,  I  am 
 still  with  (hee. 
 
 19  Surely  thou  wilt  "  slay  the  wicked,  O  God : 
 °  depart  from  ine  therefore,  ye  bloody  men. 
 
 20  For  they  ''speak  against  thee  wickedly, 
 and  thine  enemies  take  thy  name  in  vain. 
 
 21  '  Do  not  I  hate  them,  O  Lord,  that  hale 
 thee?  and  am  not  I  grieved  with  those  that 
 rise  up  against  thee? 
 
 22  I  hate  them  with  perfect  hatred  :  I  count 
 them  mine  enemies. 
 
 23  'Search  me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart  : 
 try  me,  and  know  my  thoughts  : 
 
 24  And  see  if  there  be  any  f  wicked  way  in 
 me,  and  '^  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting. 
 
 PSALM    CXL. 
 
 1  David  prayeth  to  he  delivered  from  Said  and  Doeg. 
 8  He  pro ijeth  against  them.  12  He  cow forttth  him- 
 self by  confidence  in  God, 
 
 To  the  chief  Musician,  A  Psalm  of  Davicl. 
 "pvELlVER  me,  O  Lord,  from  the  evil  man: 
 ^-^  "  preserve  me  from  the  f  violent  man  ; 
 
 2  Wliich  imagine  mischiefs  in  their  heart ; 
 •^continuallj'are  they  gathered  together /o;*  war. 
 
 3  They  have  sharpened  their  tongues  hke  a 
 serpent;  '^adders'  poison  is  under  their  lip'i. 
 Selah. 
 
 Ps.  CXXXIX.  —  1.  Searched,  >2mpn.  '  investigated.' —.-I.  Clarke. 
 2.  My  thought,  'i''i'?,  '  my  cogitalioo.'— .J.  Clurke.  '  All  my  reasoning;* 
 and  purpose^.' — Boolhr.  .\fnr  off,  pimo.  '  ofnld,'  even  before  they  are. 
 —  Gej.  3.  Com}}  issestiny  puth,  ri'll,  '  tli<ju  winnowest.' — Pag-,  Mont., 
 Ains.  He  discerns  and  '  winnnwa'  the  good  from  the  bad,  or  the  good- 
 ness of  an  action  from  the  evil  and  imperfection  of  it. — Gill.  '  Thou 
 siftest.' — Mudge,  so  Boothr.  '  Thou  examinest  thoroughly.' — Mant. 
 •Thou  ha'^t  traced  out.'  —  Par.  '  Watchest  my  actions.' — Trtwell. 
 Art  acquainted,  pD,  'thou  trcasurest  up,'  hast  the  whole  number  of 
 my  ways.  ft.  Behiud  and  befnrf,  oifTT  "linj^.  '  the  hereafter  and  the 
 
 past.' — Bp.  Home.  L'lid  thine  hand,  '  restrained  me.' — Put.  ~.  Thy 
 spirit,  God  himself,  who  is  a  spirit,  but  rather  understand  it  of  the 
 blessed  Spirit,  which  proceeds  from  the  Father  and  the  Snn. — Gt/l,  so 
 Clarke,  as  most  of  the  Fathers.  '  From  thy  mind  or  knowledge,'  as 
 the  word  is  used,  Isa.  xl.  13,  comp.  Rom.xi.  34.  This  last  sense  seems 
 to  be  best  supported  by  the  context.— Boo^Ar.  Thy  pre'ience,  "r:DO. 
 *lhy  faces;'  from  the  frequent  use  of  this  term  in  reference  to  Gud, 
 A.  Clarke  argues  the  plurality  of  persons  in  the  Godhead.  It  may  he 
 probable,  from  such  an  expression  ;  but  great  truths  must  be  defended 
 oil  more  than  probabilities,  or  the  arguments  for  them  are  weakened. 
 The  expression  here  may  forcibly  and  fairly  describe  the  omniscience 
 of  Goft,  who  is  a  Spirit,  seeing  erery  way. —  Rd.  Siitcliffe  distinctly 
 marks  the  Tr[V[tv,  as  here  expressed  ;  'Here  we  have  Jkhovah,  his 
 Spirit,  and  his  Presence,  ~|*:D,  his/«rf".-  or  appearances ;  viz.,  the  Mes- 
 siah,  of  whom  Isaiah  says,  "  the  Angel  of  his  presence  saved  them."  ' 
 '  The  doctrine,'  says  he,  '  of  an  adorable  Trinity,  beams  out  in  the  ra- 
 dianceof  revelation,  (Gen.  1.  2;  Isa.lxiii.  7.)'— C"ni.  inloc.  8.  Heaven, 
 •heavens.'     Hell,  'the  grave.*— SecAer.      'Hades,' two  opposites  set 
 
 against  each  other  for  height  and  depth. — Boothr.  A  great  depth  be- 
 low is  intended,  without  any  reference  to  the  dead. — Par.  9.  Wings, 
 meanine  the  rays  of  M^ht.— Boothr.  Sea,  Mediterranean,  far  west  of 
 Judea.  —  Dim.  13.  For,  'because.' — Dim.,  Green.     Covered  me,  this 
 
 covering  is  illustrated,  Job,  x.  \\.—Mant.  14.  /  will  praise  thee.  '  I 
 
 will  confess  thee.'  Fitr  I  am  /ear/ulli/  and  wonderfully  made,  'for 
 wonderfully  am  I  composed,'  or  '  wonderful  is  my  organization.'  The 
 verb  gives  the  idea  of  a  body,  consisting  of  a  variety  of  distinct  parts, 
 wonderfully  united  in  a  whole,  and  adjusted  to  each  other  by  the  nicest 
 sjmmetry  and  most  perfect  sympathy. —  Horsley.  Knoweth  right  well. 
 '  readily  acknowlcdgeth.' — Dathe.  15.  Mi/ substance,  Marg., '  strengtli' 
 or  '  body.'  The  Hebrew  means,  the  solid  parts  of  the  body,  particu- 
 larly the  bones,  (Eccle*:.  xi.  5.) — Wit.  Curiously  wrought,  TiDpi,  '  em- 
 broidered.'— Ains.  'Wrought  as  with  a  needle.' — Lowth.  'iliere  is  a 
 reference  to  the  most  curious  needle- work,  such  as  was  wrought  in 
 the  veil-)  for  tlie  entrance  of  the  tabernacle,  (Exod.  xxvi.  36,  and  xxviii. 
 39j)  illustrative  of  the  indescribable  texture  of  the  whole  human  fabric, 
 ■ — TCins,  arteries,  fibres,  and  membranes,  &c. — Boothr.  In  the  lowest 
 parts  of  the  earth,  delicately  expressing  the  formation  in  the  molhir. — 
 Ed.  16.  My  substance,  ^0*73.  '  my  embryo  btate.'— .-J.  Clarke.  '  My 
 nieukbers,  '[probably  '•'313, not  ""X^Sy,  ^sSecker.'\ — Boothroyd.  1".  Thy 
 thoughts^  ~)'yi.  means  '  pastora^I  cares  and  attentions,'  as  of  a  shepherd 
 for  his  fioc'k.— See  n3?"l,  iv.,  Par.  24.  Wirked  waif,  ^yy  -[11,  a  way 
 of  idolatry  and  of  error.'  hi  the  way  everlasting,  □'j'lV  ~[Tia;  '  in  the 
 old  way,'  the  way  in  which  our  fathers  walked  who  wo  rsbipped  thee. 
 —J.  Clarke.     See  Job,  xxii.  Ki. 
 
 Ps.  CXL.  — TrTLE— .4  Psalm  of  David,  when  Saul  endeavoured  to 
 transfix  David  with  his  spear,  Syr.  I.  Deliver  me,  *3abn,  'snatch 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXXXIX. — I.  We  have  here  a  fine 
 description  of  God's  omniscierice  and  oiiiniprisence.  And  tlie 
 thought  that  he  sees  all  tilings  and  pervades  all  things  is  com- 
 forting to  the  mind  of  a  believer  amidst  all  the  changing  scenes 
 of  life  ;  and  when  he  is  pressed  down  under  a  sense  of  his  in- 
 firmities, he  may  equally  gather  comfort  from  it,  as  did  Peter, 
 when  he  said,  '  Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things,  thou  knowest 
 that  I  love  thee.*  Let  these  perfections  also  be  deeply  en- 
 graven OQ  our  memories  as  a  preventive  to  sin ;  when  the  snare 
 is  laid,  and  the  temptation  presented,  *  God  sees  all,  God 
 knows  all,'  if  duly  felt,  will  be  a  powerful  bulwark  against  the 
 threatening  evil. 
 
 *  O  may  these  thoughts  pns<;ess  my  breast 
 
 Where'er  I  rove,  where'er  I  re-it ; 
 
 Nor  let  my  weaker  passions  dare 
 
 Consent  to  sin,  for  God  is  there  !'  w 
 6G7 
 
 IL  We  have  also  here  a  fine  description  o(  the  human  frame. 
 Let  us  then  adore  Ilim  by  whom  we  are  so  fearfully  and  won- 
 derfully made  ;  let  us  admire  his  care  in  preserving  us,  for  we 
 are  daily  miracles. 
 
 *  Strange,  that  a  harp  of  thousand  strings 
 Should  keep  in  time  so  long  !*  w 
 
 And  let  us  *  present  our  bodies  living  sacrifices,  holy  and  ac- 
 ceptable, unto  God,  which  is  our  reasonable  service.'  Let  us 
 mourn  over  the  effects  of  sin,  which  has  consigned  these  cu- 
 riously-wrought frames  to  the  dust,  and  rejoice  in  that  glorious 
 redemption  wrought  out  by  the  divine  Saviour,  'who  shall 
 change  these  vile  bodies,  and  fashion  them  like  unto  bis  own 
 glorious  body,  according  to  the  mighty  working  whereby  he 
 hath  subdued  all  things  unto  himself.* 
 
David^s  prayer  for  sincerit/. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXLL,  CXLII. 
 
 His  comfort  in  prayer. 
 
 4  ^  Keep  me,  O  Lord,  from  tlie  hands  of  the 
 wicked ;  "  preserve  me  from  the  violent  man ; 
 who  have  purposed  to  overthrow  my  goings. 
 
 5  '  The  proud  have  liid  a  snare  for  me,  and 
 cords  ;  they  have  spread  a  net  by  the  wayside ; 
 they  have  set  gins  for  me.     Selah. 
 
 G  I  said  unto  the  Lord,  Thou  art  my  God: 
 hear  the  voice  of  my  supplications,  O  Lord. 
 
 7  O  God  tlie  Lord,  the  strength  of  my  salva- 
 tion, thou  hast  covered  my  head  in  the  day  of 
 battle. 
 
 8  Grant  not,  O  Loud,  the  desires  of  the 
 wicked  :  further  not  his  wicked  device  ;  Wriest 
 tliey  exalt  tliemselves.     Selah. 
 
 9  As  for  the  head  of  those  that  compass  me 
 about,  ■■  let  the  mischief  of  their  own  lips  cover 
 them. 
 
 10  'Let  burning  coals  fall  upon  them:  let 
 them  be  cast  into  the  fire  ;  into  deep  pits,  that 
 they  rise  not  up  again. 
 
 1 1  Let  not  t  II  an  evil  speaker  be  established 
 in  the  earth  :  evil  shall  hunt  the  violent  man 
 to  overthrow  hint. 
 
 12  I  know  that  the  Lord  will  '^maintain  the 
 cause  of  the  afflicted,  and  the  right  of  the  poor. 
 
 13  Surely  the  righteous  shall  give  thanks 
 unto  thy  name  :  the  upright  shall  dwell  in  thy 
 presence. 
 
 PSALM  CXLL 
 
 1    David  pray eth  that  his  suit  may  he  acceptahfef  0  his 
 conscience  sincere,  7  and  his  life  safe  from  snares. 
 A  Psalm  of  David. 
 T  ORD,  I  cry  unto  thee  :  "  make  baste  unto 
 -*-^   me  ;  give  ear  unto  my  voice,  when  I  cry 
 unto  thee. 
 
 2  Let  ^^  my  prayer  be  +set  forth  before  thee 
 ^  as  incense  ;  and  ''  the  lifting  up  of  my  hands 
 as  *^  tlie  eveniiiir  sacrifice. 
 
 3  Set  a  watch,  O  Lord,  before  my  mouth  ; 
 keep  the  door  of  my  hps. 
 
 /Pa.  35.  7  & 
 £7-6.  «cny. 
 no  &I41. 
 
 9  Jer.  18. 
 
 S  Deu. 32.27. 
 
 A  Ps  7.  16  ft 
 &t.  23.  I'ro 
 li.  13.  «t  18. 
 
 t  Heb .  t  nuin 
 "/  lo'iffue. 
 II  Or,  a'i  evil 
 
 vicked  man 
 
 be  fttablith- 
 fd  in  the 
 earlh:   let 
 htmbehunt- 
 ed  I.'  his 
 
 k  I  Kin.  6. 
 45.  Ps.  9.  4. 
 
 A  Rev.  S.  8. 
 
 &  S   .%  4. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 dirrctfl. 
 c  Ilev    8.  3. 
 d  Va    l»l.  2, 
 
 1  Tim.  2.  I* 
 t  Est.  2'J.  39. 
 
 /  Pro.  23.  6. 
 
 3  Pro.S.S.fc 
 19.  25.  &  25- 
 12.  Gal.  0.1. 
 
 11  Or,  Ut  the 
 righteoiit 
 tmite  me 
 kindly,  and 
 
 let  not  tbeir 
 preciotiM  oil 
 brviilt  tny 
 head,  •j'c. 
 
 I  2  Chr.  20. 
 
 12.  Ps.  2;.. 
 
 15    &  123, 
 
 1,  2. 
 t  Heb.  maAc 
 
 ifit  my  tout 
 
 k  Pa.  119. 
 no  &  110 
 b.  &  142.  3. 
 
 I  Vs.  35.  8. 
 
 f  Hob.  pan 
 
 Psalio  of 
 David,  giv- 
 ing iiulruc- 
 
 •  1  Sam.  22 
 1.  &  -2-1.  3. 
 
 a  Ps    |ci2, 
 title.  la.  26 
 in. 
 
 b  I'B.  143   4. 
 
 o  Pa.  MO.  5. 
 
 d  Ps.  69.  SO. 
 
 il  Or,  Lit'i't 
 on  the  Tit;Kl 
 hand,  w.d 
 
 <p8  81.  n, 
 
 &  83  8,  19. 
 
 t  Hoh.pfTiiA- 
 fdftnm  mt 
 
 t  Heb.  no 
 man  sought 
 aftrr  mg 
 
 /Pfl,  46.  I. 
 &  91.2. 
 
 4  Incline  not  my  heart  to  ani/  evil  thing,  to 
 practise  wicked  works  with  men  that  work  ini- 
 quity :  ^and  let  me  not  eat  of  their  dainties. 
 
 5  ^  II  Let  the  rigliteous  smite  me  ;  it  shall  be 
 a  kindness  :  and  let  bim  reprove  me  ;  it  shall 
 he  an  excellent  oil,  which  shall  not  break  my 
 head  ;  for  yet  my  prayer  also  shall  be  in  their 
 calamities. 
 
 6  When  their  judges  are  overthrown  in  stony 
 places,  they  shall  hear  my  words  ;  for  they  are 
 sweet. 
 
 7  Our  bones  are  scattered  ^at  the  grave's 
 mouth,  as  when  one  cuttetb  and  cleaveth 
 wood  upon  the  earth. 
 
 8  But  •  mine  eyes  are  unto  thee,  O  God  the 
 Lord  :  in  thee  is  my  trust ;  f  leave  not  my  souV 
 destitute. 
 
 9  Keep  me  from  ^  the  snares  which  they  have 
 laid  for  me,  and  the  gins  of  the  workers  oi 
 iniquity. 
 
 10  '  Let  the  wicked  fall  into  tbeir  own  nets, 
 whilst  that  I  withal  f  escape, 
 
 PSALM  CXLIL 
 David  sheweth  that  in  his  troiihle  all  his  comfort  was  in 
 
 prayer  ntito  God. 
 *  II  Maschil  of  David ;  A  Prayer  *  whea  lie  was  in  the 
 
 cave. 
 T  CRIED   unto  the   Lord  with  my   voice; 
 ■*-  with  my  voice  unto  the  Lord  did  1  make 
 my  supplication. 
 
 2^1  poured  out  my  complaint  before  him  ;  I 
 shewed  before  him  my  truuble. 
 
 3  **  Wiien  my  spirit  was  overwhelmed  within 
 me,  then  thou  knewest  my  path.  '^  In  tlie  way 
 wherein  I  walked  have  they  privily  laid  a  snare 
 for  me, 
 
 4  '^  II  I  looked  on  mj/  right  hand,  and  beheld, 
 but  "^  there  teas  no  man  that  would  know  me  : 
 refuge  ffiiiled  me ;  -fuo  man  cared  for  my  soul. 
 
 5  I  cried  unto  thee,  O  Lord  :  I  said,  *^  Thou 
 
 me,* — Pag.  From  the  evil  man,  O'DOrT  1U^W>3.  'from  the  violent  man,' 
 or  '  the  man  of  violences.' — Pise.,  Gej.,  Mich.  5.  Hid  a  snare,  as  if 
 he  were  a  dangrerous  wild  beast. — So  Clarke  and  Boothr. 
 
 Ps.  CXLI.  —  2.  As  i7tce7ise,  which  was  offered  every  morning  and 
 evening  before  the  Lcrd,  on  the  gohlen  altar,  (Ex'id.  x\ix.  3<) ;  Num. 
 xxviii.  4.) — A.   Clarke.  5.  Let    the   righteous   tmite   me,   ^c,  '  the 
 
 righteous  God.'— So  some,  Henry. 
 
 '  Let  the  rijhtcutis  man,  out  of  l<indness,  correct  me. 
 And  reprove  me;  but  let  not  the/rH^r/in/  oil 
 Of  the  wicked  anoint  my  head  :  for  my  prayer 
 Shall  ever  be  against  their  wicked  practices.'— Gr^en. 
 
 B,  6.  M'hen,  fye.,  '  let  not  the  oil  of  the  impious  anoint  my  head,'  (i.e., 
 let  me  not  be  prevailed  upon  to  enter,  as  a  guest,  the  habitations  of  the 
 wicked,  or  to  receive  any  hospitable  attentions  from  them,  '  but  let  my 
 prayer  be  ever  against  their  wickedness,  saying,  May  their  judges  be 
 overthrown  on  the  edge  of  a  rock,  that  they  may  hearken  to  the  words 
 of  Jehovah,  for  they  are  sweet.'— .SVrce/-  When  their  judges,  '  let  their 
 judges  be  cast  down,'  alluding  to  the  punishment  of  precipitating  from 
 the  rocks.— il/M7Is^,  Gill.  Elijah  slew  the  false  prophets  on  the  stony 
 bed  of  the  river.  This  was  the  Hebrew  custom  of  putting  criminals  to 
 death  in  rough  places  or  streams  of  water.  The  sense  seems  to  refer  to 
 the  massacre  of  the  eighty  priests  by  Saul,  whose  words  were  sweet; 
 but  whose  bones  were  profanely  scattered  on  the  ground.— S«^    The 
 
 sense  seems  to  be,  that  certain  great  men,  whose  course  of  life  the 
 Psalmist  reproves,  when  they  find  themselves  involved  in  the  evil  con- 
 sequences of  their  own  folly,  will  then  listen  to  his  advice,  and  be  sen- 
 sible of  the  propriety  of  ii. — Hursley.  This  interpretation  is  prefer.iule 
 to  any  other. — Mant.  /.  Our  bones  are  scultered,  ^c. — the  image  is 
 that  of  a  great  slaughter,  that  the  bones  of  the  unburicd  dead  made  a 
 litter  upon  the  surface  of  the  earth,  like  a  carpenter's  chips  about  a 
 saw-pit. — Horstey.  liruce  says,  in  his  Travels,  *  we  arrived  at  a  village 
 whose  inhabitauts  had  perished  with  hunger  the  year  before,  their 
 wretched  bones  being  all  unburied  and  scattered  upon  the  surface  of 
 the  ground  where  the  village  formerly  stood.'  On  tliis  passage, 
 C.  Titylor  observes,  *  what  must  have  been  the  sufferings  of  the  ancient 
 Jews  at  such  a  sight,  when  to  have  no  burial  was  esteemed  by  them 
 amongst  the  greatest  calamities,  and  when  pollution  was  connected 
 with  the  touch  or  exposure  of  a  dead  body.' — Frag,  to  Cal.  As  when 
 one  cutteth,  §c.,  and  the  chips  fly  here  and  there  and  are  disregarded. 
 — Gill.  The  passage  may  be  read,  '  like  as  when  one  cutteth  and 
 cleaveth,  (so)  have  our  bunes  been  scattered  on  the  earth,  at  the  com- 
 mand of  Saul.' — Peters.  This  is  supposed  to  alhidt;  to  the  massacre  of 
 the  priests  at  Nob,  (85  persons,)  by  Doeg.  under  tlie  command  of  Saul, 
 whose  name  signifies,  'the grave'  or  'hell.' — M'il. 
 
 Ps.  CXLII.  —  Title — In  the  cave,  of  En-gedi,  or  Adullam,  (see  1 
 Sam.   xxii.  1;   xxiv.   1 — 3.)         I.  I  cried,   'I  will  cry.' — Bp.  Hume. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXL.  — This  psalm  exhibits,  I.  The 
 spirit  of  persecutiirs.  Evil,  violent,  subtle,  proud,  and  confe- 
 derate against  tiie  servants  of  God. 
 
 II.  The  end  of  perseciiiors.  This  is  a  prophetic  prayer. 
 They  shall  be  disappointed,  they  shall  be  destroyed  ;  while 
 the  upright  shall  dwell  in  God's  presence,  and  praise  his  name 
 for  ever. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXLI.  —  I.  We  should  pray  against 
 all  sin.  It  besets  us,  in  various  forms,  every  day  and  every 
 hour.  Our  lips  may  sin,  and  that  even  when  not  employing 
 tlie  language  of  the  profane,  as,  by  railing,  slandering,  back- 
 biting, murmuring;  these,  therefore,  need  a  bridle.  Our 
 hearts  may  sin,  by  desiring  what  we  dare  not  express,  as  a 
 matter  of  covetousness,  or  revenge,  or  concupiscence.  '  While 
 608 
 
 we  live  in  such  an  evil  world,  and  carry  about  with  us  such 
 evil  hearts,  we  liave  need  to  pray  that  we  may  neither  be 
 drawn  in  by  any  allurement,  nor  driven  on  by  any  provoca- 
 tion, to  do  any  evil  thing.'  •>  We  may  sin  in  our  associates  ; 
 and,  in  ibe  mixed  society  of  the  world,  it  requires  the  utmost 
 caution  lest  tbe  most  innocent  conformity  he  evil  spoken  of, 
 and  lest,  in  partaking  of  their  dainties,  we  may  partake  of  their 
 sins. 
 
 II.  We  should  be  thanhful  to  those  who  reprove  us  when  in  dan- 
 ger of  sin.  The  snares  and  temptations  that  everywhere  beset 
 us  require  that  we  should  ourselves  be  continually  on  tin- 
 watcb-tower,  and  that  the  friendly  voice  should  admonish  us. 
 '  Watch  and  pray.' 
 
David  complaineth  of  his  griefs. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXLIII..  CXLIV. 
 
 He  prayeth  for  deliverance. 
 
 art  my  refuge  and  ^  my  portion  •>  in  the  land  of 
 the  living. 
 
 (!  Attend  unto  my  cry ;  for  I  am  '  brought 
 very  low  :  deliver  me  from  my  persecutors  ; 
 for  they  are  stronger  than  I. 
 
 7  Bring  my  soul  out  of  prison,  that  I  may 
 praise  thy  name  :  '  the  righteous  shall  compass 
 me  about ;  '  for  thou  shall  deal  bountifully 
 with  me. 
 
 PSALM  CXLIII. 
 
 1  David  prat/eth  for  favour  in  jitdyment.  3  He  com- 
 plai/titk  of  his  griefs.  5  He  strcn'jthmvth  his  faith 
 by  meditation  and  prayer.  7  He  prayeth  for  grace, 
 9  for  dtliverance^  10  for  sanctijicatiuii,  12  for  de- 
 struction of  his  enemies. 
 
 A  Psalm  of  David. 
 
 HEAR  my  prayer,  O  Lord,  give  ear  to  my 
 supplications  :  °'  in  thy  faithfulness  answer 
 nie,  and  in  thy  righteousness. 
 
 2  And  ''enter  not  into  judgment  with  thy 
 servant :  for  ^'in  thy  sight  shall  no  man  living 
 be  justified. 
 
 ;3  For  the  enemy  hath  persecuted  my  soul  ; 
 he  hatli  smitten  my  life  down  to  tlie  ground  ; 
 he  hath  made  me  to  dwell  in  darkness,  as  those 
 that  have  been  long  dead. 
 
 4  ^  Therefore  is  my  spirit  overwhelmed  within 
 me  ;   my  heart  witiiin  me  is  desolate. 
 
 5^1  remember  the  days  of  old  ;  I  meditate 
 on  all  thy  works ;  I  muse  on  the  work  of  thy 
 hands. 
 
 G  ^  I  stretch  forth  my  hands  unto  thee  :  ^  my 
 soul  thirsteth  after  thee,  as  a  thirsty  land. 
 Selah. 
 
 7  Hear  me  speedily,  O  Lord  :  my  spirit  fail- 
 eth  :  hide  not  thy  face  from  me,  "  ||  lest  I  be 
 like  unto  them  that  go  down  into  the  pit. 
 
 8  Cause  me  to  hear  thy  lovingkindness  '  in 
 
 e  Ps.  16  5. 
 
 &  73.  26.  & 
 
 119   57. 
 
 Lam,  3  24 
 h  Ps,  27.  13. 
 I  Pa.  n6.  6. 
 
 r  Ex.  ai    7- 
 Job  4    17. & 
 9.  2.  &  15. 
 M.  &  25.  4. 
 Pa.  13(1.  3. 
 Kccles   7. 
 
 d  P9   77.  S 
 &  142.  3. 
 
 e  Pa.  77.  5, 
 10,  II. 
 
 /  Ps   89.  9. 
 ^  Pe.  63.  J. 
 
 avi  become 
 like,  f(C. 
 
 t  Heb.  hide 
 me  with  thee, 
 m  Ps.  2h.  4, 
 5.&I39  2t. 
 I  Neh  9  20. 
 .  Is.  26.  10. 
 
 p  Ps.  1 19.  25, 
 37,  4U,  .-c 
 
 q  Ps.  54.  S. 
 
 r  Ps  no.i6. 
 
 t  Heb.  my 
 
 T.x-k. 
 
 pB,  13.2,31. 
 a2Sa.  22.35 
 
 Ps    19.34 
 t  Heb.  lo  the 
 
 war,  ^c. 
 6  2  Pam-  22. 
 
 2,  3,  40,  48. 
 II  Or,  My 
 
 c  Job  7.  17. 
 Ps.  8.  4. 
 Heb.  2.  6. 
 
 d  Job  4   19. 
 
 &  14  2.  Pe. 
 
 39,5  Rr  62.0. 
 e  Ps.  102.  11. 
 /Ps.  18.9. 
 
 Ls.  fit.  1. 
 g  Ps.liH.  32. 
 
 the  morning  ;  for  in  thee  do  I  trust :  ''  cause 
 me  to  know  the  way  wherein  I  should  walk  ; 
 for  '  1  lift  up  my  soul  unto  thee. 
 
 9  Deliver  me,  O  Lord,  from  mine  enemies : 
 I  fflee  unto  thee  to  hide  me. 
 
 10  *"  Teach  me  to  do  thy  will ;  for  thou  art 
 my  God  :  "  thy  spirit  is  good  ;  lead  me  into 
 "  the  land  of  uprightness. 
 
 1 1  ^  Quicken  me.  ()  Lord,  for  thy  name's 
 sake :  for  thy  righteousness'  sake  bring  my 
 soul  out  of  trouble. 
 
 12  And  of  tliy  mercy  ^  cut  oft"  mine  enemies, 
 and  destroy  all  them  that  afflict  my  soul :  for 
 ^  I  am  thy  servant. 
 
 PSALM  CXLIV. 
 
 1  David  hh'ssfth  God  for  his  mrrcy  hoth  to  him  and  to 
 man.  5  He  prayeth  that  God  wouhl  powtrfuUy  de- 
 liver him  from  his  enemies.  9  He  promiseth  to 
 praise  God.  11  He  prayeth  for  the  happy  state  of 
 the  kingdom. 
 
 A  Psalm  of  David, 
 
 "DLESSED  be  the  Lord  f  my  strength, 
 -'-'  "*  which  teacheth  my  hands  f  to  war,  and 
 my  fingers  to  fight : 
 -2  ^  II  My  goodness,  and  my  fortress;  my  high 
 tower,  and  my  deliverer  ;  my  shield,  and  he  in 
 whom  I  trust;  who  subdueth  my  people  under 
 me. 
 
 3  ^  Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thou  takest 
 knowledge  of  him !  or  the  son  of  man,  that 
 thou  makest  account  of  him  ! 
 
 4  ^  Man  is  like  to  vanity  :  ^  his  days  are  as  a 
 shadow  that  passeth  away. 
 
 5  ^  Bow  thy  heavens,  O  Lord,  and  come 
 down:  ^  touch  the  mountains,  and  they  shall 
 smoke. 
 
 6  ^  Cast  forth  lightning,  and  scatter  them  : 
 shoot  out  thine  arrows,  and  destroy  them. 
 
 7.  My  sou/, 'T2?D3,  'my  life.'— .4.  Clarke.  Prison,  *  the  cave.'  — Pu^ 
 •Compass  me  about  to  join  my  party  and  assist  me.* — Bp.  Home. 
 Shiill  co7npa.ss,  TiflD'.  'shall  crown  me,'  meaning-,  perhaps,  that  the 
 piou^iJews,  on  the  death  of  Saul,  would  ciiecrfuUy  join  together  to  make 
 him  king:. 
 
 Ps.  CXLIII.  — TiTLK—^  Psalm  of  David,  when  he  fled  from  Absa- 
 lorn,  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Ethiop..  Arab. ;  Tlieud.,  ^c.  2.  Enter  not  into  judg- 
 ment, 'the  house  of  judpment,'  Targ.  ni^n  ^H-  'do  n<it  come  into 
 court,  either  as  a  witness  against  me,  <jr  as  a  judge,  else  I  am  ruined.* 
 ^A.  Clarke.  Justified,  in  a  law  sen^c,  acquitted  in  open  cowri.— Gill. 
 3.  In  darkness,  'in  the  sides  of  the  grave,' — Kimchi ;  or,  'in  great 
 afflictinn  of  body  and  mind.  Long  dead,  or,  'of  old,'  an  age  or  two 
 aso,  nut  of  mind  and  forgotten.  5.  Days  of  old,  '  former  times,' 
 when  delivered  from  the  lion  and  the  bear,  &c.  6.  Stretch  forth  my 
 hands,  a  prayerful  gei^ture,  (1  Kings,  viii.  38;  Isa.  i.  1.5.) — Gill.  As  a 
 thirsty  land,  '  gasps  as  a  thirsty  land.' — Mnnt.  The  figure  is  from  the 
 cracking  of  the  lands  in  the  east,  when  dried  up,  the  chinks  of  which 
 are  too  deep  to  see  the  bottom.  —  Chardin.  Ttiey  are  sometimes  a 
 cubit  wiile,  and  deep  enough  to  receive  the  greater  part  of  a  human 
 bidy.— W'ord.         %.In  the  morning,  i.  e.,  .speedily.  —  Dim.  lO.Tfiy 
 
 spirit  is  good;  lead,  ^c., '  let  thy  good  Spirit  lead  me,  &c. — Muse. ,  Jan., 
 
 Trem.,Pisc.,^r.  Into  the  land  of  uprightness,  or  through  plain  ground; 
 in  a  plain  level  way,  such  as  that  of  God's  law,  which,  if  he  forsook, 
 he  would  stumble.  A  similar  expression  in  Ps.  .\xvii.  W.—  Mndgc. 
 12.  Cut  off,  4c.— these  clauses,  with  those  in  the  preceding  versr,  are 
 read  in  the  future  tense,*  thou  shalt  quicken,'  'bring out,'  'cutoff,' 
 destroy,'  in  the  Sept.,  J'ulg.,  and  Arab. 
 
 Ps.  CXLIV.— Title— ,4  Psalm  of  David,  pToha.h\y  composed  after 
 the  death  of  Absalom,  when  peace  was  restored.— Cn/.  After  victories 
 over  the  Philistines,  at  the  beginning  of  his  reign.— Fentnn.  1.  Teach- 
 eth my  hands  to  war,  ^c—  Gud  took  David  from  the  sheepfold  and 
 made  him  a  soldier.— G  if  I.  He  taught  his  hands  to  use  sword,  battle, 
 axe,  and  spear  ;  and  his  Jirigers  to  use  bow  and  arrows,  and  hiing. — A. 
 Clarke.  2.  My  goodness,  '  mercy,'  Marg.  '  Fortress,'  as  Ps.  xviii.  2, 
 Syr.  '  Refuge.'— Bnothr.  Subdueth  my  people, '  hath  reduced  them  to 
 obedience,'  perhaps  alluding  to  Absalom's  rebellion.  —  So  Clarke. 
 3.  What  is  m«n  .?— see  Ps.  viii.  4,5,  notes.  Takest  knowledge,  'carest 
 f.T  ;'  '  to  know,'  in  such  a  connexion,  means  to  favour.  4.  Like  to 
 vanity,  '  resembleth  the  empty  vapour.'— Boo/Ar.  '  The  breath  of  his 
 mouth.'— A'rmc At.  nOl  blTO  Dll^,  literally,  '  Adam  hketo  Abel,'  liable 
 to  the  same  assaults,  &c.— So  Clarke.  5.  Mountains, '  mighty  kings,' 
 strong  as  mountains  and  kingdoms,  as  the  Babylonish  empire,  (Zech. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXLIL^  Observe  here,  I.David's 
 distressed  state,  '  Persecuted  by  his  own  countrymen,  dis- 
 missed by  Acbish,  and  not  yet  joined  by  Ids  own  relations,  or 
 any  other  attendants,  he  took  refuge  in  the  cave,  and  was  there 
 alone.'  How  often  must  we  bear  our  sorrows  alone  !  We  can 
 unbosom  tbem  to  no  human  being,  and  the  heart  is  half  broken 
 beneath  their  weight ;  for  '  a  wounded  spirit  who  can  bear?' 
 
 II.  David's  resort  in  his  tronhle.  In  that  disconsolate,  and 
 seemingly  desperate,  situation,  he  desponded  not.  He  bad  a 
 Friend  in  heaven,  into  whose  bosom  be  'poured  frtli  his 
 complaint,'  and  toUi  him  the  sad  story  of  his  trouble  and  dis- 
 tress. Let  us  learn,  from  his  example,  to  '  cast  our  burdens 
 upon  the  Lord,  who  can  sustain  us,  and  who  will  never  suffer 
 the  righteous  to  be  moved.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXLIII — Here  is,  I.  A  confession  of 
 quilt.  And  who  is  there  that  dare  adopt  any  other  hmguage  be- 
 fore the  most  lioly  and  omniscient  .tehovah  than  that  of  the 
 Psalmist— 'in  thy  sight  can  no  flesh  living  be  justified  V  At 
 the  same  time  here  is — 
 669 
 
 II.  A  supplication  for  mercy.  'Enter  not  into  judgment  with 
 thy  servant,  O  God.'  This  plea  will  only  avail  us  as  we  look 
 at  the  blood  of  the  atonement,  at  that  great  propitiation  made 
 in  behalf  of  sinners;  and  this  consideration  will  keep  the  sup- 
 plicant humble,  pleading  guilty,  crying  for  mercy,  living  by 
 faith,  and  perceiving  more  and  more  preciousness  in  Christ 
 and  his  salvation,  to  the  end  of  his  days.'  ^     Here  is — 
 
 III.  A  statement  of  distress.  Trouble  is  no  meritorious  ground 
 on  which  to  plead  with  God.  David  does  not  therefore  plead 
 '  though  I  am  a  guilty  sinner,  see  wbat  I  have  suffered,  and 
 let  my  sufferings  do  something  toward.s  atoning  for  my  sins.' 
 He,  however,  follows  up  his  prayer  for  mercy  with  a  com- 
 plaint of  bis  sorrows,  and  earnestly  implores  the  consolations 
 of  God.     Here  are — 
 
 I\^  Holy  aspirations  after  God.  We  may  hope  that  we  pray 
 to  God  in  a  right  spirit,  and  that  be  will  hear  our  prayers, 
 when  we  desire  to  do  his  will,  to  be  led  into  the  land  of  up- 
 rightness, and  '  to  be  quickened  in  God.' 
 
David  praiseth  God  for  his  goodness^ 
 
 PSALMS,  CXLV, 
 
 and  for  his  saving  mercy. 
 
 7  *  Send  thine  fliand  from  above;  "^  rid  me, 
 and  deliver  me  out  of  great  waters,  from  the 
 band  of  '  strange  cliildren  ; 
 
 8  Whose  mouth  '"speaketh  vanity,  and  their 
 right  hand  is  a  right  hand  of  falsehood. 
 
 9  1  will  "sing  a  new  song  unto  thee,  O  God: 
 upon  a  psaltery  and  an  instrument  of  ten 
 strings  will  I  sing  praises  unto  thee. 
 
 10  °  It  is  he  that  giveth  ||  salvation  unto 
 kings  :  who  delivereth  David  his  servant  from 
 the  hurtful  sword. 
 
 1 1  ^  Rid  me,  and  deliver  me  from  the  hand  of 
 strange  children,  whose  mouth  speaketh  vanity, 
 and  their  right  hand  is  a.  right  hand  of  falsehood  : 
 
 12  That  our  sons  tnaij  he  ''as  plants  grown 
 lip  in  their  youth  ;  (hat  our  daughters  may 
 be  as  corner  stones,  f  poli.slied  after  the  simili- 
 tude of  a  palace  : 
 
 13  Thai  our  garners  may  be  full,  affording 
 fall  manner  of  store:  that  our  sheep  may 
 bring  forth  thousands  and  ten  thousands  in  our 
 streets  : 
 
 14  That  our  oxen  may  be  |  strong  to  labour; 
 that  there  be  no  breaking  in,  nor  going  out ; 
 tliat  there  be  no  complaining  in  our  streets. 
 
 \o  ^  Happy  75  that  people,  that  is  in  such  a 
 case  :  yeay  happy  is  that  people,  whose  God  is 
 the  Loud. 
 
 PSALM   CXLV. 
 
 1  David  praiseth  God  for  his  fame,  Sfor  his  goodness, 
 I  I  for  ins  kingdom,  \Afor  his  providence,  17  for  his 
 saving  mercy. 
 
 David's  *  Psalm  of  Praise. 
 
 T  WILL  extol  thee,  my  God,  O  king;  and  1 
 -^   will  bless  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 2  Every  day  will  I  bless  thee  ;  and  I  will 
 praise  thy  name  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 a  ^  Great  is  tlie  Lord,  and  greatly  to  be 
 praised  ;  fand  '  iiis  greatness  is  unsearchable. 
 
 4  **  One  generation  shall  praise  thy  works  to 
 
 I  Pb    is.  16. 
 
 i  vcr.  n. 
 
 Ps    139    I,  «, 
 
 U, 
 I  Ps   5+.  3. 
 
 Mai.  2.  11. 
 
 I  Pb.  12.  2. 
 
 0  Ps.  18    50 
 [|  Or,  victoTi/. 
 
 q  Ps.  1 28.  3, 
 t  Hob.  cut. 
 
 \  Heb    from 
 
 dfHt 
 
 with 
 
 l>aden 
 flosb. 
 r  Deu.  3S.29 
 Ps.33.  IS  & 
 6J.4.&  146. 
 5. 
 
 6  Ps    96.  4. 
 8c  U7.  !V. 
 
 t  Heb.  and 
 nf  hii  stent- 
 iifu  there  v 
 n<,  varch. 
 
 C  Jub  5  fl  & 
 <l.  10.  Kum 
 II    .■«- 
 
 die.  3S.  19 
 
 t  Heb. 
 thingM,  or 
 
 I  Et.34  6,7. 
 
 Num.14  18 
 
 Pa  Sfl,  5,15. 
 
 «c  1 1)3  S. 
 f  Heb.  great 
 
 in  merrt/ 
 /■Ps    11)0.5. 
 
 Nab    I.  7. 
 
 g  P8.   19     I. 
 
 h  Ps.MC.  in. 
 
 1  Tim.  I  17 
 t  Hob    a 
 hingdum  of 
 alt  agti. 
 
 I  Pa.  lie    8. 
 
 APa.KM  27. 
 
 II  Or,  look 
 unto  thee. 
 
 I  Ps.  196.25 
 ./.  Ps.  104.^1. 
 &  147.  9. 
 
 11  Or,  mtrei- 
 ful,  or, 
 boutlifiil. 
 
 •I  Deu  4   7. 
 
 0  John  4.  24 
 
 another,  and  shall  declare  thy  mighty  acts. 
 
 5  I  will  speak  of  the  glorious  honour  of  thy 
 majesty,  and  of  thy  wondrous  f  works. 
 
 6  And  7ne7i  shall  speak  of  the  might  of  thy 
 terrible  acts  :  and  I  will  f  declare  thy  greatness. 
 
 7  They  shall  abundantly  utter  the  memory 
 of  thy  great  goodness,  and  shall  sing  of  thy 
 righteousness. 
 
 8  *  The  Lord  is  gracious,  and  full  of  compas- 
 sion ;  slow  to  anger,  and  t  of  great  mercy. 
 
 9  'The  Lord  is  good  to  all  :  and  his  tender 
 mercies  are  over  all  his  works. 
 
 10  ^AU  thy  works  shall  praise  thee,  O  Lord; 
 and  thy  saints  shall  bless  thee. 
 
 1 1  They  shall  speak  of  the  glory  of  thy  king- 
 dom, and  talk  of  thy  power  ; 
 
 1*2  To  make  known  to  the  sons  of  men  his 
 mighty  acts,  and  tlie  glorious  majesty  of  his 
 kingdom. 
 
 13  ''Thy  kingdom  is  jan  everlasting  kingdom, 
 and  thy  dominion  endureth  throughout  all  ge- 
 nerations. 
 
 14  The  Lord  upholdeth  all  that  fall,  and 
 'raiseth  up  all  those  that  be  bowed  down. 
 
 15  ''  The  eyes  of  all  \\  wait  upon  thee  ;  and 
 '  thou  givest  them  their  meat  in  due  season. 
 
 16  Thou  openest  thine  hand,  ""and  satisfiest 
 the  desire  of  every  living  thing. 
 
 17  The  Lord  is  righteous  in  all  his  ways, 
 and  II  holy  in  all  his  works. 
 
 18  "  The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  all  them  that  call 
 upon  him,  to  all  that  call  upon  him  °in  truth. 
 
 19  He  will  fulfil  the  desire  of  them  that  fear 
 him  :  he  also  will  hear  their  cry,  and  will  save 
 them. 
 
 20  ^  The  Lord  preservelh  all  them  that  love 
 him  :  but  all  the  wicked  will  be  destroy. 
 
 2!  My  mouth  shall  speak  the  praise  of  the 
 Lord  :  and  let  all  flesh  bless  his  holy  name  fur 
 ever  and  ever. 
 
 iv.  7  ;  Jer.  li.  2h.)~GiU.  '.  Great  tenters,  'many  enemies,'  like 
 overwhelming:  inundations,  C/iu/d. ;  Kimchi.  Strange  children,  'sons 
 nf  stxangers,'  Heb.  A  foreig^n  people. — Boothr.  Philistines  or  idola- 
 tors. — Dim.  S.  Spenketh  vanity,  not  sincerely,  lies. —  Boothr.  A 
 ri^ht  hand  of  fntsehond,  i.  e.,  their  strength  and  power  is  fallacious,  or 
 their  covenants.  sig:ned  with  their  right  hand,  are  treacherous. 
 10.  Salvation,  or  '  victory.*— Gi7^  12.  That  our  sons,  §r.,  Met  nur 
 sons  become,'  &c. — Boothr.,  as  Mich.  Corntr  stones, '  corner  columns,' 
 i.  e..  of  the  fittest  and  best  proportions,  combining  strength,  s>mmetry, 
 and  beauty. — Boothr.  Hather,  'as  the  carved  corners,*  ailmling  to  the 
 carved  figures  on  the  walls  of  the  holy  of  holies  in  Solomon's  temple, 
 (1  Kings,  vi.  29,  30,)  the  corners  of  which  walls  were  highly  orna- 
 mented, and  the  w-ishing  any  one  to  be  as  beautiful  was  the  highest 
 stretch  of  Hebrew  fancy. — Street.  Like  angles,  or  corners,  carved 
 (aftcrl  the  likeness  {of  those)  of  a  palace,  [sec  rm,  in  /oc.}~Pur. 
 13.  Garners,  '  storehouses.' — Green.  Thousands,  5c. — the  pastures  are 
 said  to  be  clothed  with  them,  Ps.  Ixv.  13.       The  eastern  sheep  will 
 
 bring  forth  even  three  or  four  at  a  time,  and  that  twice  a  year. — Bnrh. 
 Streets,  'pastures,*  Sept.,  Mich.  '  Fields.' — Lowth.  So  in  Job,  v.  10. 
 In  many  oriental  towns  there  were,  however,  hovels  of  the  poor  be- 
 tween the  houses  of  the  rich,  and  also  farmhouses,  where  sheep  were 
 penned  at  night  to  save  them  from  woU■es.^S(/^  The  word  m:fin 
 literally  means  'outplaces,'  and  here  signifies  out-pastures,  in  com- 
 mons and  deserts;  it  is  different  from  that  rendered  'streets'  in  the 
 next  verse,  and  is  rendered  'fields.' in  Job,  v.  10.— So  Pict.  Bib. 
 14.  Strong  to  labour,  '  able  to  bear  burdens,' //cA.  Nnbreakingin,  ^n., 
 no  irruption  of  the  enemy,  no  captivity,  and  no  outcry  or  howling,  on 
 account  of  public  calamity  in  our  streets.' — Lowth,  Boothr.  '  Xo 
 hostile  invasion,  nor  going  into  captivity.* — Green. 
 
 Ps.  CXI.V.  — Title— C'li'id'a-  Psalm,  §■<■.,  this  is  the  last  of  the 
 acrostic  Psalms. — A.  Clarke.  5.  /  tvilt  speak,  '  thev  shall  talk,'  Ac. — 
 Horslei/.  14.  All  that  fall,  D'?CD.  'the  falling.*— >u^.,  Mont.,  Jan., 
 Trem.,  Pise.  1/.  Holi/,   §c.,  TUTt,  'merciful.*  —  Pag;  Mont.,  so 
 
 Aim. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXLIV.  —  Welmve  here,  I.  David's 
 
 grateful  recollections.  He  calls  to  mind  what  God  had  been  to 
 liim,— bis  strength,  his  goodness,  his  fortress,  his  deliverer, 
 his  shield  :  and  'what  he  bad  done  for  bim  ;*  he  had  taught 
 his  shepherd's  band  to  war,  and  bis  fingers  to  fight,  as  Israel's 
 champion. 
 
 II.  David's  kiimhle  ncknowltdrjments.  He  is  astonished  at 
 God's  condescension  and  care,  considering  his  own  insignifi- 
 cance and  unwortbinpss. 
 
 III.  David's  sacred  ambition.  He  aspired  to  subdue  the 
 enemies  of  Israel  and  of  God,  strangers  to  bim,  and  incorri- 
 gible idolators. 
 
 IV.  David's  ardent  pi-aises.  God  had  delivered  him  in  dan- 
 ger, and  for  iliis  bis  tongue  and  his  harp  should  be  employed 
 to  his  glory. 
 
 \.  David's  patriotic  prayer.  For  the  protection  of  his  coun- 
 try, for  the  rising  generation,  and  for  peace  and  prosperity. 
 But  no  nation  lias  reason  to  rejoice  in  its  security  and  happi- 
 ness that  regards  not  the  IMost  High.  As  a  nation  abounds 
 in  pure,  in  undefiled  rehgion,  its  welfare  will  be  increasingly 
 advanced  and  secure.  *  Happy  is  that  people  that  is  in  such 
 670 
 
 a  case  ;  yea,  happy  is  that  people  whose  God  is  the  Lord.' 
 
 Rfflections  on  Ps.  CXL\'.  —  Observe  here,  I.  Thcfre- 
 qvtnci/ and  ]>erpetuiti/  of  David's  praise.  '  Every  day,'  and  'for 
 ever  and  ever.'  '  God's  people,  towards  the  end  of  their  life, 
 should  abound  much  in  praise,  and  the  rather  because,  at  the 
 end  of  their  life,  they  hope  to  remove  to  the  world  of  everlast- 
 ing praise;  and  the  nearer  they  come  to  heaven,  the  more  they 
 should  accustom  themselves  to  the  work  of  heaven. 'h 
 
 II.  The  suhjccts  of  David's  praise — God's  greatness  and 
 power;  whicb,  while  they  are  a  terror  to  his  enemies,  are  a 
 source  of  joy  to  tiiem  tijat  love  him.  God's  goodness  and 
 mercy  ;  and  a  view  of  these,  as  exercised  in  Christ,  is  that 
 which  takes  away  the  dread  of  his  greatness  and  power.  God's 
 righteousness  and  holiness  in  all  the  dispensations  of  his  pro- 
 vidence and  in  all  the  dealings  of  his  grace  ;  God's  condescen- 
 sion towards,  and  attention  to,  his  people.  '  He  is  nigh  to 
 hear  and  answer  their  prayers  ;  to  fulfil  their  holy  and  pious 
 desires  ;  to  pre.serve  them  in  the  greatest  danger,  and  to  save 
 them  from  all  their  enemies:  while  he  destroys  the  wicked, 
 as  opposed  to  bis  nature,  and  as  refusing  to  yield  to  him  a 
 reasonable  service  and  spiritual  homage.'*' 
 
An  exhortation 
 
 PSALMS,  CXLVT.,  CXLVIL,  CXLVIII. 
 
 to  praise  God, 
 
 \  Heb. 
 
 H'Mftujtfi. 
 a  PB.  IM.  I. 
 
 c  Ps.  no  9, 
 
 9  Is.  2   2i. 
 I)  Or,  tfjlva- 
 
 li-n. 
 d  Ps.  101.  ?9 
 
 Eccles  12  7 
 
 PSALM  CXLVL 
 
 1  The  psalmist  vowelh  perpetual  praises  to  God.  3  He 
 exhorteth  not  to  trust  in  man.  5  G<>(/,J'or  his  poiver, 
 Jusfice,  mercy,  and  kingdom,  is  only  worthy  to  he 
 trusttd. 
 
 1311AISE  iye  the  Lord.     "  Praise  the  Lord, 
 
 ■^     O  my  soul. 
 
 2  ^  While  I  live  will  I  praise  the  Lord  :  1 
 will  sing  praises  unto  my  God  while  I  have 
 any  being, 
 
 3  *^  Put  not  your  trust  in  princes,  i}or  in  the 
 son  of  man,  in  whom  t/terc  is  no  ||  help. 
 
 4  ■'  His  breath  goeth  forth,  he  returneth  to  his 
 earth  ;  in  that  very  day  ^  bis  thoughts  perish. 
 
 5  *"  Happy  is  he  that  hat/t  the  God  of  Jacob 
 for  bis  help,  whose  hope  is  in  the  Lord  his 
 God: 
 
 G  ^  Which  made  heaven,  and  earth,  the  sea,  ^jf/^/^  V 
 and  all  that  therein   is:  which  keepeth  trutli 
 for  ever  : 
 
 7  ^  Wliich  executeth  judgment  for  the  op- 
 pressed :  '  which  giveth  food  to  the  hungry. 
 '■  The  Lord  loosetb  the  prisoners  : 
 
 8  '  The  Lord  openeth  the  eyes  ofi\\e  blind  : 
 "'  the  Lord  raiseth  them  that  are  bowed  down  : 
 the  Lord  lovetli  the  righteous  : 
 
 9  "  The  Lord  preserveth  the  strangers  ;  he 
 relieveth  the  fatherless  and  widow:  "but  the 
 way  of  the  wicked  be  turneth  upside  down. 
 
 10  ^  The  Lord  shall  reign  for  ever,  even  thy 
 God,  O  Ziou,  unto  all  generations.  Praise  ye 
 the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CXLVIL 
 
 1     The  prophet  exhorttih  to  praise  God  for  his  care  of 
 the  church,  4  his  poicpr,  6  and  his  mercy  :   7  to  praise 
 him  fur  his  proindmce  :     12  to  praisf   him  for  h 
 hlessinys  upon  the  hinadoni,   lb  for  his  potver  over  the 
 meteors,  19  and  for  his  ordinances  in  the  cliurch. 
 
 *P>RAISE  ye  the  Lord:  for  **  iV  is  good  to 
 -*-  sing  praises  unto  our  God;  ^'for  it  is 
 pleasant ;  and  ^  praise  is  comely. 
 
 2  The  Lord  doth  •*  build  up  Jerusalem:  ^he 
 gatheretb  together  the  outcasts  of  Israel. 
 
 3  *"  He  healeth  the  broken  in  heart,  and  bind- 
 cth  up  their  f  wounds. 
 
 4  ^  He  telleth  the  number  of  the  stars;  he 
 calleth  them  all  by  their  names. 
 
 /•  Ps.  103. 
 Ps.  107. 
 
 h  Ps.fiS.  6.& 
 
 107.  Ill, 
 /  Mat-  9. 
 
 Julm  9.  7— 
 
 32. 
 
 n  Ps.  143. 
 
 14   &  117.  6. 
 
 Luke  13  13 
 .Deu.  10.18 
 
 Ps    C3.  5. 
 .  Ps.  147.  6. 
 
 .  Ex.  W.  Ifi, 
 Ps   in.  1C.& 
 U5.  13. 
 Rev.  II.  15. 
 
 A  1  Chr.  !6 
 S5.  Ps.  43  I. 
 k  eu.  4.  Sc 
 Mb.  S 
 I  Nah    1.  3 
 f  Heb.  ofhii 
 underttaiid- 
 ing  there  is 
 no  number. 
 h  Is.  40.  2S 
 /  Pa   14S.s,9 
 ri  Job  38. 16, 
 27    Ps.  IIH 
 13,  U. 
 
 M  Job  38-  +1. 
 
 Ps.  lOkST, 
 
 2S   ft  1.%. 
 
 •2b  fe  14.  15. 
 
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 ri  ver.l.').  See 
 
 Job  37.  lU. 
 
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 ft  10.1.  7. 
 
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 teordt. 
 
 V  Mat.  1.  4 
 
 r  See  Deu  .4 
 32,  33,  34 
 Roin.S.  1,2. 
 
 f  Heb. 
 Hullehj'.h. 
 
 5  ^  Great  is  our  Lord,  and  of  '  great  power  : 
 f  ■■  his  understanding  is  infinite. 
 
 6  *  The  Lord  lifteth  up  the  meek  :  he  casteth 
 the  wicked  down  to  the  ground. 
 
 7  Sing  unto  the  Lord  with  thanksgiving; 
 sing  praise  upon  the  harp  unto  our  God  : 
 
 8  "'  Who  coveretli  tlie  heaven  with  clouds, 
 who  prepareth  rain  for  the  earth,  who  maketh 
 grass  to  grow  upon  the  mountains. 
 
 9  "  He  giveth  to  the  beast  his  food,  and  °  to 
 the  young  ravens  which  cry. 
 
 10  ^  He  delighteth  not  in  the  strength  of  the 
 horse  :  he  taketh  not  pleasure  in  the  legs  of  a 
 man. 
 
 11  The  Lord  taketh  pleasure  in  them  that 
 fear  him,  in  those  that  hope  in  bis  mercy. 
 
 1-2  Praise  the  Lord,  O  Jerusalem  ;  praise 
 tiiy  God,  O  Zion. 
 
 13  For  he  hath  strengthened  the  bars  of  thy 
 gates ;  he  hath  blessed  thy  children  within 
 tliee. 
 
 ]4.  ■f^  He  maketh  peace  in  thy  borders,  and 
 ""filleth  thee  with  the  f  finest  of  the  wheat. 
 
 15  ^  He  sendeth  forth  his  commandment ?//7on 
 earth  :  his  word  runneth  very  swiftly. 
 
 16  '  He  giveth  snow  like  wool :  hescattereth 
 the  hoarfrost  like  ashes. 
 
 17  He  casteth  forth  his  ice  like  morsels:  who 
 can  stand  before  bis  cold? 
 
 18  "  He  sendeth  out  his  word,  and  melteth 
 them  :  be  causeth  his  wind  to  blow,  and  the 
 waters  flow. 
 
 19  ^  He  sheweth  fhis  word  unto  Jacob,  ^his 
 statutes  and  his  judgments  unto  Israel. 
 
 20  ^  He  bath  not  dealt  so  with  any  nation  : 
 and  as  for  A?.*;  judgments,  they  have  not  known 
 them.     Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CXLVIII. 
 
 1    The  rsahnist  evhorteth  the  celestial.   7  the  terrestrial, 
 \  I    and  the  rational  creatures  to  praise  God. 
 
 "pRAISE    tye    the    Lord.     Praise   ye    the 
 -■-     Lord  from  the  heavens  :  praise  him  in  the 
 
 heights. 
 
 2  ""  Praise  ye  him,  all  his  angels  :  praise  ye 
 him,  all  his  hosts. 
 
 3  Praise  ye  him,  sun  and  moon  :  praise  him, 
 all  ye  stars  of  light. 
 
 Ps.  CLXVI.  —  Probably  written  after  the  captivity,  when  Cyrus 
 witlidrew  his  order  fcr  rebuilding  the  walls  of  Jerusafera. — Clarke. 
 It  is  most  probable  David  wrote  it  towards  the  close  of  his  rei^n, — 
 Scott.  It  is  ascribed  to  Haggai  and  Zechariah,  by  the  Vidg.,  Ethinp., 
 and  Arab.  2.  White  I  have  any  being,  ^my^,  'in  ray  eternal  eNi--t- 
 ence.* — A.Clarke.  3.  Help,   nVllTn,   'salvation.'         4.  His   brenth, 
 
 '  his  spirit.' — Buothr.  His  thon-rkts,  vnimui',  '  all  his  reasonings  and 
 calculations,' .Sep;.  '  Hi^  projects.' — Mudge.  'His  devices  and  con- 
 trivances.' —  Wail.  '  His  designs.' — Buothr.  'His  splendours,' 
 '  glories.'— See  on  n^?,  P-ir.  '  His  false,  deceitful  show,'  literally, '  his 
 glitterings.'— /for.9/ev. 
 
 Ps.  CXLVIL  — 4.  Calleth,  ^c,  has  an  exact  Itnowledge  of  them.— 
 Gilt.  Q.  young  rai^ens— the  raven  expels  her  young  from  the  nest 
 as  soon  as  they  can  G.y.—Boch.       io.  The  horse,  here  put  for  cavalry. 
 
 King.s  value  them,  but  the  great  King  prefers  the  humblest  wnr?hipper. 
 He  taketh  not  pleasure,  §c.,  'nor  hath  pleasure  in  the  stout  waiii  t,' 
 (comp.  Ps.  x.x.tiii.  15,  l6.)  15.  Runneth  veri/  swiftly,  in  allusion  to  the 
 messengers  of  kings,  whose  decrees  are  speedily  made  known  and 
 executed. — Boothr.  16.  Snow  like  u'oo/— towards  the  Black  Sea,  in 
 
 Iberia  and  Armenia,  and  probably  in  other  parts,  snow  falls  in  light 
 flakes,  as  big  as  walnuts. — Chnrdin.  I/.  Ice,  rather  'hail  stones.' — See 
 TT\'p,  Par.  Morsels,  'pieces,'  or  'fragments.'  —  Mant.  Before  his 
 co/rf— many  instam-es  are  cited  by  Hartner,  of  persons  perishing  with 
 the  cold  in  Palestine  and  the  neighbouring  countries. — Ob.teri'.,  vol.  i., 
 p.  16,  old  edit.  20.  Any  nation,  ^i:  '^D?,  'every  nation.' — Pag.,  Mont., 
 Gej. 
 
 Ps.  CXLVIII.  — Attributed  to  Haggai  and  Zechariah.  by  the  Sep/, 
 and  Ethiop.  1.  In  the  heights,  'in  the  high  places,'  meaning  the 
 
 Rfflections  on  Ps.  CXLVI — Two  things  are  taught  us 
 in  this  psalm  — I.  Put  no  confidence  in  man.  This  ial'erence, 
 however,  requires  some  qualification.  There  are,  happily, 
 men  who  swear  to  their  own  hurt,  and  change  not,  and  friends 
 on  whose  probity  we  may  rely  ;  but  we  must  always  remem- 
 ber that  they  are  but  men,  and  we  must  remember  that,  at  the 
 best,  they  are  dying  men.  We  must  not,  therefore,  commit 
 our  happiness  into  the  hands  of  mutable  and  mortal  creatures. 
 
 II.  Put  entire  confidence  in  God.  He  made  the  world,  and 
 has  all  power  to  help  us  in  need.  He  is  faithful,  and  will 
 never  leave  us  nor  forsake  us.  He  is  just,  and  will  remedy 
 all  our  wrongs.  He  is  bountiful,  and  will  supply  our  wants. 
 He  is  merciful  and  compassionate,  and  will  pity  our  sorrows. 
 He  loves  his  people,  and  it  is  with  the  affection  of  a  God  He 
 is  eternal,  and  what  he  is  to-day  he  will  be  to-morrow  ;  and 
 671 
 
 those  who  submit  to  his  government  shall  eternally  be  blest 
 under  his  reign. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Ps.  CXLVII.  —  The  psalmist  here  shows, 
 I,  If'hy  we  should  praise  the  Lord.  Because  it  is  '  pleasant.' 
 *  Praising  God  is  work  that  is  its  own  wages,  it  is  heaven  upon 
 earth.'  ^  It  is  'comely.'  '  In  giving  honour  to  God,  we  really 
 do  ourselves  a  great  deal  of  honour.'  •' 
 
 II.  For  what  tee  shoidd  praise  him.  For  bis  care  of  his  peoplp  ; 
 for  his  tenderness  towards  penitents;  for  his  grace  to  the 
 lowly.  We  are  not  to  forget  bis  bounties  as  manifested  to- 
 wards all  creatures,  and  his  regulation  of  all  the  changes  of 
 nature  ;  but  especially  let  us  remember  his  distinguishing 
 goodness  in  favouring  us  with  his  word  and  ordinances. 
 
 '  He  hath  not  sent  his  sacred  word 
 To  every  land;  praise  ye  the  Lord.*  "■ 
 
An  exhortation  to  praise  God. 
 
 PSALMS,  CXLIX  ,  CL. 
 
 Exhortations  to  praise  God. 
 
 4  Praise  him,  *■  ye  heavens  of  heavens,  and 
 "  ye  waters  that  he  above  the  heavens. 
 
 5  Let  ttiem  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  : 
 for  '^  he  commanded,  and  tliey  were  created. 
 
 6  "  He  hath  also  stablished  them  for  ever  and 
 ever :  he  hath  made  a  decree  which  shall  not 
 pass. 
 
 7  Praise  the  Lord  from  the  earth,  'ye  dra- 
 gons, and  all  deeps  : 
 
 8  Fire,  and  hail ;  snow,  and  vapours  ;  stormy 
 wind  *  fulfilling  liis  word  : 
 
 9  ''  Mountains,  and  all  hills  ;  fruitful  trees, 
 and  all  cedars  : 
 
 10  Beasts,  and  all  cattle  ;  creeping  things, 
 and  t flying  fowl  : 
 
 1 1  Kings  of  the  earth,  and  all  people ; 
 princes,  and  all  judges  of  the  earth  ; 
 
 12  Both  young  men,  and  maidens  ;  old  men, 
 and  children  : 
 
 13  Let  them  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord: 
 for  'his  name  alone  is  f  excellent;  'his  glory 
 is  above  tlie  earth  and  heaven. 
 
 14  '  He  also  exalteth  the  horn  of  his  people, 
 "■  the  praise  of  all  his  saints  ;  even  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  "a people  near  untoliim.  Praise 
 ye  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CXLIX. 
 
 1  T/ie  prophet  exhnrttih  to  praise  God  for  his  love  to 
 the  church,  5  and  for  that  power  which  he  hath  given 
 to  the  church. 
 
 "DRAISE  tye  the  Lord.  °  Sing  unto  the 
 ■*-  Lord  a  new  song,  and  his  praise  in  the 
 congregation  of  saints. 
 
 2  Let  Israel  rejoice  in  ''him  that  made  him  : 
 let  the  children  of  Zion  be  joyful  in  their 
 '  King. 
 
 h  1  Kin.SS", 
 SCtr  12  i. 
 c  Gen.  I.  7. 
 
 e  Ps.  fig.  37. 
 
 &  119   90. 
 
 91.  Jer.  HI. 
 
 S5,  Stj.  &  33 
 
 ■.'5. 
 /  Ifl.  .V3.  20. 
 
 ^  Is.  U.  23, 
 &  i9.  13.  & 
 h&.  \:i. 
 
 t  Heb.  bird, 
 of  wing . 
 
 I  Pa,  S    1. 
 
 Is,  12.  1. 
 t  Heb, 
 
 fxatted. 
 k  Ps.  113,  4 
 /  Pa  75    10, 
 m  Ps,  U9.  9. 
 n  Ei)h.  2.  17. 
 
 t  Ilcb, 
 
 «  P§,  33    3, 
 IB.  '12.   10. 
 
 *  See  .Tob  35. 
 
 10.  Ps.  IW1. 
 
 S.  Is.  H.  6, 
 c  Zech,  9.  9, 
 
 M.-.t   21.  5. 
 
 rM 
 
 .iPs.  81.; 
 
 &  l£0.  \. 
 II  Or. 
 
 tke  P']>^. 
 
 c  Ps.  35.  27. 
 /Pa.  132.  16. 
 
 J  Job  35.  10 
 t  Htb.  in 
 
 i  Deu  7. 1,5. 
 *  Pa.  149.11. 
 
 t  Ilt'b. 
 HaiUlnjah. 
 
 a  Pa.  115  5,6. 
 
 I]  Or.  corn*/. 
 
 Pa   98.  6. 
 cPs.  81.  8. 
 
 fc  149  3. 
 d  E,t,  15.20, 
 II  Or,  p.p.. 
 
 Pa.  149.  3. 
 a  Pa.  3^  2.& 
 
 92.3  fc  144. 
 
 9.  la.  38.90. 
 /  1  Chr.  15. 
 
 10.  19,28.  & 
 113.  5.  8(25. 
 1,9. 
 
 3  ''  Let  them  praise  his  name  ||  in  the  dance  : 
 let  them  sing  praises  unto  him  with  the  timbrel 
 and  harp. 
 
 4  For  °  the  Lord  taketh  pleasure  in  his 
 people:  'he  will  beautify  the  meek  with  sal- 
 vation. 
 
 5  Let  the  saints  be  joyful  in  glory  :  let  them 
 ^sing  aloud  upon  their  beds. 
 
 6  Let  the  high  praises  of  God  be  f  in  their 
 mouth,  and  ''a  tvvoedged  sword  in  their  band  ; 
 
 7  To  execute  vengeance  upon  the  heathen, 
 and  punishments  upon  the  people  ; 
 
 8  To  bind  their  kings  with  chains,  and  their 
 nobles  with  fetters  of  iron  ; 
 
 9  '  To  execute  upon  them  the  judgment 
 written :  ''  this  honour  have  all  his  saints. 
 Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 PSALM  CL. 
 
 I    All  exhortation   to  praise  God,   3   tvitk   all  kind  oj 
 i/tstrume7its. 
 
 ■pRAISE  tye  the  Lord.  Praise  God  in  his 
 -*-  sanctuary  :  praise  him  in  the  firmament  of 
 his  power. 
 
 2  "  Praise  him  for  his  mighty  acts  :  praise  him 
 according  to  his  excellent  ''greatness. 
 
 3  Praise  him  with  the  sound  of  the  ||  trumpet  • 
 *^  praise  him  with  the  psaltery  and  harp. 
 
 4  Praise  him  ''  with  the  timbrel  and  ||  dance  . 
 praise  him  with  "stringed  instruments  and 
 organs. 
 
 5  Praise  him  upon  the  loud  '"cymbals  :  praise 
 him  upon  the  high  sounding  cymbals. 
 
 6  Let  every  thing  that  hath  breath  praise  the 
 Lord.     Praise  ye  the  Lord. 
 
 celestial  powers,  as  in  the  next  vcrse.~Bont/ir.  4.  Waters  that  be 
 above  the  tieavens,  refers  to  Gen.  i.  7,  and  is  expressive  t)f  clouds, 
 vapours,  antl  exhalations  of  every  kind. — Clarke.  '1  he  waters  are  sus- 
 tained  by  the  material  lieavens. — Bp.  Home.  /.  Dragons,  ^'•yiT\, 
 '  larpe  aquatic  animals,'  '  .Nea  monsters.'  *  whale?.' — See  prii  Par.,  and 
 Tni/lur's  Heb.  Concord.  «.  Fire,   '  lightning.'— Dim.  p.  Cedars, 
 
 including  all  forest  trees. — Travell.  10.  Beasts,  rrnn. 'wild  beasts.* 
 Cttttle,  nonn.  '  domestic  animaN.'— .■!.  Clarke.  14.  He  also  exalteth 
 tfte  horn  of  his  people,  *  he  hath  strengthened  their  power.* — Ed.  '  He 
 i«  a  subject  of  praise  to  all  his  saints,'  &:c.-~Lowth.  Some  understand 
 this  as  alluding  to  David,  as  a  type  of  Christ,  whom  God  has  exalted 
 to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour. — Henrij. 
 
 Ps.  CXLIX.  —  Perhaps  suns;  by  the  Israelites  as  they  advanced  to 
 fight  against  the  Syrians  at  \\\:\7in\.~ Street.  It  applies  to  the  Israelites 
 who  built  the  wall  of  Jerusalem,  armed  as  if  ready  for  battle,  and  per- 
 haps was  sung  to  animate  and  encourage  them.  (Neh.  iv.  13,  he.) 
 :i.  In  the  dance,  binrD^.  this  was  a  musical  instrument,  (see  Ps.  cl.  4.) 
 Cert;iin!y  they  did  not  dance  in  the  worship  of  the  temple.— .Su(.  It 
 really  denotes  a  pipe,  or  S'ime  other  fistular  wind  instrument,  with 
 holes. — See  hXJ,  Par.  It  never  means  '  dance.* — A.  Clarke.  The  women, 
 hr>wevtr,  went  nut  after  Miriam  with  timbrels  and  dances,  (Exod-  xv. 
 20,}  and  David  danced  before  the  Lord,  (2  Sam.  vi.  \i.)—Hew.     Tim- 
 
 firet,  on,  like  the  tambour.  The  harp,  1133,  an  instrument  struck  with 
 the  finj;ers. —5u/.  4.  He  will  beautify,  ^c,  '  he  decorateth  the  hum- 
 ble with  victory.* — Mudge.  5.  lit^  jtnjful  in  glory,  '  e.'cult  in  or  with 
 glory,*  that  is,  gloriously  exult.— iI«o/Ar.  Upon  their  beds,  i.e.,  in  a 
 state  of  perfect  ease  and  security. — lip.  Home.  It  means  their  couches, 
 on  which  they  reclined  at  their  banquets  and  ordinary  meals. — 
 Doddridge.  '  While  conversing  trgether  on  the  divan,  let  them  sing 
 praises.'— Boo/Ar.  6.  Let  the  his^h  praises,  ^c,  the  Jews  sung  in 
 going  to  battle,  (2  Mac.  xiii.  1.5;  \v.'26.)— Street.  See  2  Chron.  xx. 
 •2\.  9.  Written,  in  the  law,  (Dcut.  vii.  24,  and  xxxii.  4l-~U.;— 
 Wells. 
 
 Ps.  CL.  —  Probably  composed  on  purpose  to  close  the  book ;  per- 
 haps by  Ezra. — Scott.  1.  In  hit  sanctuary,  '  in  the  temple,'  or,  'in 
 his  holiness,' through  his  own  holy  influence  in  your  hearts, — A. Clarke. 
 In  the  firmament,  in  heaven. —  Rosenm.  2.  His  excellent  greatness, 
 ^^'^\y  3l5,  '  according  to  the  multitude  of  his  magnitude.'  3.  Psaltery, 
 ^33,  perhaps  like  the  guitar.  i.  Timbrel — rfunre— see  Ps.  cxlix.  3, 
 note.  Stringed  in.struTnenfs,  CDO.  may  be  the  sambuch  or  psaltery, 
 or  some  such  instrument. — .-J.  Clarke.  fl.    Lnud  cymbals,    Dv^bS. 
 
 two  convex  plates  of  brass,  or  other  metal,  struck  together.  —  Par. 
 High  sounding  cymbals,  perhaps  of  a  larger  make. — Clarke,  Munt. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ps.  CXLVIII L  All  creatures  are  maiie 
 
 for  God's  praise.  The  glontieil  spirits  praise  him  ;  the  visible 
 heavens  declare  his  glory  ;  the  brute  creation  shew  his  wisdom 
 in  their  various  instincts,  and  his  bounty  in  providing  them 
 with  necessary  food. 
 
 II.  Let  Tnan^  then,  praise  the  Lord.  He  on  whom  God  has 
 conferred  so  many  obligations  is  often  the  most  ungrateful  of 
 all  his  creatures.  He  Las  a  heart  and  a  tongue  that  can  praise 
 God,  but  he  employs  neither  in  his  service.  O,  may  kings 
 and  subjects,  old  and  young,  throughout  the  whole  world, 
 soon  swell  an  universal  chorus  of  praise  to  his  glory  !  But  he 
 is  now  'the  praise  of  all  his  saints  ;'  and  if  we  enjoy  their  pri- 
 vileges, we  shall  not  fail  to  unite  in  their  praises. 
 
 Reflections   on    Ps.  CXLIX Here  is,   I.   'Abundance 
 
 of  joy  to  all  the  people  of  God.' ^  He  is  their  king— he  delights 
 in  them  to  do  them  good — he  will  beautify  them  with  eternal 
 salvation. 
 
 1 1.  '  Abundance  of  terror  to  the  proudtst  if  their  tnemies. ' ''    '  No 
 
 weapon  that  is  formed  against  them  shall  prosper,  and  ihey 
 shall  finally  come  off  more  than  conquerors.' 
 
 RtfLKTiONS  ON  Ps.  C  L.  —  I.  JJurid's  prayers  are  vow  all 
 turned  to  praise.  So  shall  the  prayers  be  of  all  those  who  pray 
 with  the  same  spirit  and  fervour  in  the  name  of  David's  Lord. 
 The  sorrows  of  the  church  shall  end  in  songs  ;  and  *  the  ran- 
 somed of  the  Lord  shall  return  and  come  to  Zion,  with  songs 
 of  everlasting  joy  upon  thrir  heads  ;  they  shall  obtain  joy  and 
 gladness,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away.' 
 
 11.  David's  call  for  a  grand  chorus  shall  be  deliyhtfuUy  an- 
 swered in  the  heavenly  worhl.  There  shall  the  redeemed  of  all 
 nations  mingle  their  praises  in  one  harmonious  song,  their 
 Hosannas  shall  never  cease ;  and  who  shall  even  anticipate  the 
 raptures  of  their  glorified  spirits,  while  they  shake  the  heavens 
 with  the  loud  chorus,  '  Blessings,  and  honour,  and  glory,  and 
 power,  be  unto  him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the 
 Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever  !'    Amen. 
 
THE 
 
 PROVERBS. 
 
 [The  ancients  often  communicated  wisdom  by  sayings — striking,  sentenlions,  and  tlierefore  easily  to  be  remembered.  As 
 maxims  of  life,  founded  on  tbe  true  knowledge  of  the  Divine  will,  these  Proverbs  stand  pre-eminent.  Solomon  wrote 
 three  thousand,  some  of  which  only  have  been  preserved.  Of  those  in  this  book,  Solomon  is  generally  considered  to 
 have  been  the  author,  but  Grotitis  supposed  them  to  have  been  collected  by  liim.  '  They  stand,'  says  Mr.  JRuhard 
 Watson,  '  as  a  noble  monument  of  Solomon's  inspired  wisdom.  It  is  a  difficult  matter  to  make  a  proverb,  for  it  must 
 be  at  once  so  just,  useful,  and  so  universally  applicable,  that  all  shall  perceive  and  .ndmit  its  force.  The  most  profound 
 knowledge  of  human  nature  and  human  things,  therefore,  was  requisite  to  produce  these  little  gems  of  opinion  on  various 
 subjects.  Like  real  gems,  too,  they  are  conveniently  portable,  and  by  all  men  are  esteemed  to  be  of  a  value  which  the 
 smallness  of  their  bulk  does  not  diminish.'  'It  maybe,  those  Proverbs  were  not  all  written  at  once,  but  at  certain 
 times  ;  it  is,  however,  not  to  be  doubted  but  that  they  were  written  under  the  inspiration  of  God.  The  writers  of  the 
 New  Testament  have  confirmed  this  opinion,  h.iving  cited  passages  out  of  this  book;  see  Uom.  xii.  '20;  Heb.  xii.  5,  6; 
 2  Pet.  ii.  '2'2.  Cited  from  Prov.  xxv.  21,22;  iii.  11,  12;  and  xxvi.  11.  This  book  consists  of  five  parts; — first,  a  preface 
 or  introduction,  in  the  first  nine  chapters;  containing  admonitions,  directions,  cautions,  and  excitements  to  the  study  of 
 wisdom  ; — second,  the  Proverbs  of  Solomon,  put  together  by  himself,  beginning  at  chap.  x.  to  xxv. ; — third,  the  Proverbs 
 of  Solomon  copied  by  the  men  of  Hezekiah,  beginning  at  chap.  xxv.  to  xxx.  ; — fourth,  the  words  of  Agur,  chap.  xxx. ; — 
 and  fifth,  the  instruction  of  Solomon's  mother,  Bathsheba,  xxxi. ' — SoGz7/.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 I  The  use  of  the  proverbs.  7  An  exhortation  to  fear 
 God,  a7td  believe  his  word.  10  To  avoid  the  enticiiujs 
 of  sinntrs,  20  Wisdom  complaineih  of  her  contempt. 
 2-4  Siie  threateneth  her  contemners, 
 
 T^HE  'proverbs  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David, 
 ■*■    king  of  Israel  ; 
 
 2  To  know  wisdom  and  instruction  ;  to  per- 
 ceive the  words  of  understanding  ; 
 
 3  To  "^  receive  the  instruction  of  wisdom, 
 justice,  and  judgment,  and  f  equity  ; 
 
 4  To  give  subtilty  to  the  '  simple,  to  the 
 young  man  knowledge  and  ||  discretion. 
 
 5  ''  A  wise  man  will  hear,  and  will  increase 
 learning  ;  and  a  man  of  understanding  shall 
 attain  unto  wise  counsels  : 
 
 6  To  understand  a  proverb,  and  ||  the  inter- 
 pretation ;  the  words  of  the  wise,  and  their 
 "  dark  sayings. 
 
 7  1'  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  ||  the  beginning 
 of  knowledge  :  but  fools  despise  wisdom  and 
 instruction. 
 
 8  ^  My  sou,  hear  the  instruction  of  thy  father, 
 and  forsake  not  the  law  of  thy  mother  : 
 
 9  For  •■  they  shall  be  fan  ornament  of  grace 
 unto  thy  head,  and  chains  about  thy  neck. 
 
 10  1  My  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee,  'consent 
 thou  not. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 iviiHen 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  iitoa. 
 
 cir.  lOOti. 
 
 /(  Jer   5.  25. 
 
 /  Pe.  23.  I.Pt 
 
 1«   7. 
 
 a  I  Kiu.  1. 
 
 S3,  cli.  10. 
 
 I.  &  25  r. 
 
 Ecclea.l2.9. 
 
 6ch.  2.  1,  9. 
 
 "i  Pa,  I.  1, 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 cb.  4.  14. 
 /,  Ps.  119. 
 
 rgiiilirt. 
 
 101. 
 
 c  ch.  9.  4. 
 
 o  la.  59.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  advite- 
 
 Bom.  Ji.  15. 
 
 rrtPHl. 
 
 d  ch.  9.  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  in  Up 
 
 eijrs  i.fevPTi, 
 
 thing  Hull 
 
 hath  a  wing 
 
 |[  Or,  a;  eU,- 
 
 gueiil  i]}eevh. 
 
 p  Ch.  15.  27 
 
 >■  Vs.  7fl.  2 
 
 1  Tira.6.11). 
 
 /■Ji.l.  28,  '-'6. 
 
 Ps-  111     10. 
 
 ch.  9   lu. 
 
 Eccles.  12. 
 
 t  Heb    jru- 
 
 I-* 
 
 donis,  thrtt 
 
 [|  Or,  thf 
 
 is,  extellmt 
 
 pari. 
 6.  W 
 
 wUdom. 
 ych.S.  1, 
 
 &c    &  9.  3. 
 
 Jobu  7-  37. 
 
 A  cli    3    2->. 
 
 t  Heb.  an 
 
 adding. 
 
 i  Gen.  39.  7, 
 
 &c,  Ps  I,  1. 
 
 Epb.  5.  n. 
 
 H  If  tbey  say.  Come  with  ii.s,  let  us  ''lay 
 wait  for  blood,  let  us  lurk  privily  for  the  inno- 
 cent without  cause  : 
 
 12  Let  us  swallow  them  up  alive  as  the 
 grave  ;  and  whole,  '  as  those  that  go  down 
 into  the  pit : 
 
 13  We  shall  find  all  precious  substance,  we 
 shall  fill  our  houses  with  spoil  : 
 
 14  Cast  in  thy  lot  among  us  ;  let  us  all  have 
 one  purse  : 
 
 15  My  son,  "^walk  not  thou  in  the  way  with 
 them  ;  "refrain  thy  foot  from  their  path  : 
 
 16  °  For  their  feet  run  to  evil,  and  make  haste 
 to  shed  blood. 
 
 17  Surely  in  vain  tbe  net  is  spread  ^\n  the 
 sight  of  any  bird. 
 
 18  And  they  lay  wait  for  their  oivti  blood; 
 they  Uuk  privily  for  their  own  lives. 
 
 19  ^  So  are  the  ways  of  every  one  that  is 
 greedy  of  gain  ;  ichicli  taketh  away  the  life  of 
 the  owners  thereof. 
 
 20  Iff*  Wisdom  crieth  without  ;  she  uttereth 
 her  voice  in  tbe  streets  : 
 
 21  She  crieth  in  the  chief  place  of  concourse, 
 in  the  openings  of  the  gates :  in  the  city  she 
 uttereth  her  words,  saying, 
 
 22  How  long,  ye  simple  ones,  will  )'e  love 
 simplicity?  and  the  scorners  delight  in  their 
 scorning,  and  fools  hate  knowledge  ? 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.—  \.  Proverbs,  D'b^DO.  from  the  root  bu?n.  which 
 signifies  *  to  rule'  or  'have  dominion,"  because  of  the  commanding 
 power  and  influence  which  wise  and  weighty  sayings  have  upon  the 
 children  of  men. — Henry.  Many  of  the  modern  eastern  pliilosophers 
 have  scarcely  any  other  wisdom  than  the  sayings  of  the  ancients.  A 
 man  in  argument  gains  a  decided  advantage  over  his  iipponent  by  an 
 apt  quotation  of  a  proverb.  A  man  hesitating  on  some  difficuUy, 
 makes  his  resolve  under  the  guidance  of  *  an  old  saying.'— floi.  The 
 term  D''?ii;'0.  rendered  '  Proverbs.'  imports,  not  mcrelv  brief  axiomatic 
 sentences  of  practical  morality,  but  brief  authoritative  illustrations  of 
 moral  duties,  delivered  in  sirong  and  elevated  language,  under  any 
 other  form,  wliether  of  personification,  similitude,  or  personal  address 
 and  embellished  description.  It  means  parables  as  well  as  proverbs. 
 Hence,  it  includes  allegorical  or  other  figurative  illustrations  of  moral 
 duties,  as  well  as  moral  and  sententious  maxims.  And  here  they  are 
 not  loosely  thrown  together,  but  arranged  in  a  nice  progressive  order, 
 admirably  adapted  to  their  respective  purposes.— jV.  Good.  2.  To  know, 
 *  to  impart.'— Bno/Ar.  They  were  written  for  the  purpose  of  conveying 
 religii.us.  moral,  and  political  knowledge.— FTiV.  4.  Suhfiltij,  '  pru- 
 dence.'—//orfg-.  *  Discernment. '—ifooMi-.  6.  To  under stinid  n  pro- 
 verb, a  study  much  in  vogue  in  Solomon's  time,  as  appears  from  the 
 '  hard  questions*  proposed  by  the  queen  of  Sheba.— Ca^  Dark  sayings, 
 nrn,  'enigmas,'  or  'riddles,'  in  which  the  Asiatics  abounded. —.4. 
 Clarke.  ?.  The  fear  of  the  Xord— this  term  is  often  put  for  godliness 
 in  general,  for  the  true  fear  of  God  induces  a  man  to  please  and  obey 
 God.— Bereridge.  This  is  the  first  lesson  here  given,  for  all  saving 
 knowledge  is  founded  in  humble  and  pious  reverence  towards  God.— 
 673 
 
 Ham.  Is  the  beginning  of  knowledge,  ITWI,  *  the  sum,'  (see  Job,  xxviii. 
 28.) — Boothr.  It  puts  a  >oung  man  into  the  right  road,  leading  to 
 glory  and  virtue. — Sut.  Fools,  D^b'^Mi,  *  evil  men.'— .4.  Clarke.  9.  An 
 ornament  of  grace,  'a  graceful  ornament,'  or  'turban.'  —  Boothr. 
 C/iuins,  fyc.—a.  ring  of  gold  round  the  neck,  often  bestudded  with  f;ems, 
 fiom  which  the  robe  was  sometimes  suspended. — Sut.  10.  If  sinners 
 entice  thee— it  would  seem,  that  many  young  men  in  Israel  were  in- 
 duced to  join  the  bands  of  robbers,  whose  haunts  were  in  the  deserts  and 
 tlie  woods,  and  whose  end  was  destruction  ;  being  outlawed,  they  went 
 on  in  acoursc  of  crimes  till  seized  by  justice. — Stit.  12,  Swallow  them, 
 ^c,  seems  to  refer  to  the  destruction  of  a  whole  village  by  banditti  lor 
 bt-'Oty. — So  Clarke.  14  Hafe  one  purse,  throw  all  our  booty  into 
 one  common  stock.  l6.  Run  to  evil,  to  commit  robberies  and  niur- 
 
 der.  Tn  shed  blood,  of  innocent  persons,  to  get  their  substance. — Gill. 
 17.  hi  vai?i  the  net,  fyc,  the  simplest  bird  that  sees  the  net  flies  away. 
 — Boolhr.,  Gej.  And  if  a  bird  take  warning,  why  not  those  youths  ? — 
 Stitcbffe.  18.  For  their  own  blood,  not  so,  but  the  blood  oi  the  inno- 
 cent is  mc^nt.— Clarke. 
 
 '  But  these  lay  wait  for  their  own  blood, 
 They  lay  snares  for  their  own  lives.' — Boolhr. 
 19.  Taketh  away  the  life,  fyc,  occasioning  their  murder  to  rob  them. — 
 So  Boothr.  20.  Wisdom,  fyc,  here  personified  as  one  opening  a 
 school  in  a  public  place,  &c. — Bouthr.  In  the  streets — in  the  chief 
 place,  §-r.,  the  public  places,  where  proclamations  were  made;  high- 
 ways, streets,  gates,  tops  of  houses,  fic. — Ham.  Conversations  on 
 religion  and  morals  take  place  in  the  cast  in  the  places  of  public  resort. 
 — Pict.  Bib.  22.  Simple  ones,  D*nD.  who  have  been  '  seduced'  and 
 4    R 
 
Wisdom  threnteneth  her  contemners. 
 
 PROVERBS,  II.,  III. 
 
 Wisdom's  promises. 
 
 23  Turn  you  at  my  reproof:  behold,'!  will 
 pour  out  my  spirit  unto  you,  I  will  make  known 
 my  words  unto  you. 
 
 24  1 '  Because  I  have  called,  and  ye  refused  ; 
 I  have  stretched  out  my  hand,  and  no  man 
 regarded  ; 
 
 25  But  ye  '  have  set  at  nought  all  my  counsel, 
 and  would  none  of  my  reproof: 
 
 26  "  I  also  will  laugh  at  your  calamity;  I  will 
 mock  when  your  fear  cometh  ; 
 
 27  When  '  your  fear  cometh  as  desolation, 
 and  your  destruction  cometh  as  a  whirlwind  ; 
 when  distress  and  anguish  cometh  upon  you. 
 
 28  'Then  shall  they  call  upon  me,  but  I  will 
 not  answer  ;  they  shall  seek  me  early,  but  they 
 shall  not  find  me  : 
 
 29  For  that  they  '  hated  knowledge,  and  did 
 not  'choose  the  fear  of  the  Lord  : 
 
 30  ■>  They  would  none  of  my  counsel  :  they 
 despised  all  my  reproof. 
 
 31  Therefore  'shall  they  eat  of  the  fruit  of 
 their  own  way,  and  be  filled  with  their  own 
 devices. 
 
 32  For  the  ||  turning  away  of  the  simple  shall 
 slay  them,  and  the  prosperity  of  fools  shall  de- 
 stroy them. 
 
 33  But  ''  whoso  hcarkeneth  unto  me  shall 
 dwell  safely,  and  "shall  be  quiet  from  fear  of 
 evil. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1   Wisdom  promiseth   fjodltness  to  her  chiltlrt-ny  10  and 
 anfriy  from  evil  compnnvy  20  and  direction  in  good 
 
 wai/s. 
 
 "IVTY  son,  if  thou  wilt  receive  my  words,  and 
 -^"-■-  *  hide  my  commandments  with  thee  ; 
 
 2  So  that  thou  incline  thine  ear  unto  wisdom, 
 n«(^/ apply  thine  heart  to  understanding; 
 
 3  Yea,  if  thou  criest  after  knowledge,  and 
 fliftest  up  thy  voice  for  understanding ; 
 
 4  *"  If  thou  seekest  her  as  silver,  and  searchest 
 for  her  as^b;-  hid  treasures  ; 
 
 3  Then  shalt  thou  understand  the  fear  of  the 
 Lord,  and  find  the  knowledge  of  God. 
 
 6  '^  For  the  Lord  giveth  wisdom :  out  of  his 
 mouth  cometh  knowledge  and  understanding. 
 
 7  He  layeth  up  sound  wisdom  for  the  ris:hte- 
 ous :  ^he  is  a  buckler  to  them  that  walk  up- 
 rightly. 
 
 t  Is.  65.  IS.ft 
 .  4.  Jer. 
 13.  Zech 
 It. 
 
 *Pb.  107.  11. 
 
 1/  Job  S7.  9. 
 &  3.5.  li.  Is. 
 I.  15  Jer. 
 M.  II.  id  14. 
 IL'.  Eiek.a 
 19.  Wic.3,4. 
 Zech  7.  13. 
 James  i.  3. 
 
 I  Job -21.  n 
 
 ver.  22 
 a  Fs.  119. 
 
 173 
 b  ver.  25. 
 
 Pb,  81.  II. 
 c  Job  -1  8. 
 
 ch.  14.  14. 
 
 ft  22,  8.  Is. 
 
 3.  II.  Jer. 
 
 e.  lt» 
 
 II  Or,  e„te  of 
 th»  timpU. 
 
 d  Ps,  25.  12, 
 
 IS. 
 e  Pa.  112.  7. 
 
 I  ch.  4.  21. 
 &7.  I. 
 
 t  Heb.ffiV«r 
 
 (A^  vaic 
 h  ch.  3.  14. 
 Mat.  13.44. 
 
 c  I  Kin.  3  9, 
 1*3.  Jam. 1. 5, 
 
 4  Ps.  84.  11, 
 ch.  30.  5. 
 
 c  I  Sam.  2.9- 
 Ps.  66,  9. 
 
 g  John  3. 19, 
 U  ch.  10.  23. 
 
 JCT.    II.    \U. 
 
 i  Horn   1.32. 
 *  Ps    125.  5. 
 
 cli ,  5.  8.  & 
 
 }>  Ps  37.  20 
 
 q  Job  19  17 
 Ps  37.  -29. 
 ft  101    St 
 
 II  Or,  pluehtd 
 up. 
 
 n  Deii.  8   t. 
 
 &  SO   IC,  -^l* 
 
 t  Heb.  vpnri 
 
 ../i.fi. 
 
 APs.llS.lll.'i 
 c  Ex.  13.  9. 
 
 Deu.  6   R. 
 
 ch.  6.21.  & 
 
 7.  3. 
 
 8  He   keepeth    the  paths  of  judgment,  and 
 preserveth  the  way  of  his  saints. 
 
 9  Then  shalt  thou  understand  righteousness, 
 and  Judgment,  and  equity  ;  t/ea,  every  good 
 path. 
 
 10  f  When  wisdom  entereth  into  thine  heart, 
 and  knowledge  is  pleasant  unto  thy  soul ; 
 
 1 1  Discretion  shall  preserve  thee,  '  under- 
 standing shall  keep  thee  : 
 
 1'2  To  deliver  thee  from  the  way  of  the  evil 
 man,  from  the  man  that  speaketh  froward 
 things  ; 
 
 13  Who  leave  the  paths  of  uprightness,  to 
 ^  walk  in  the  ways  of  darkness  ; 
 
 14  Who  "rejoice  to  do  evil,  anrf  '  delight  in 
 the  frowardness  of  the  wicked  ; 
 
 15  '  Whose  ways  are  crooked,  and  thei/  fro- 
 ward in  their  paths  : 
 
 1(3  To  deliver  thee  from  '  the  strange  woman, 
 "'even  from  the  stranger  which  flattereth  with 
 her  words  ; 
 
 17  °  Which  forsaketh  the  guide  of  her  youth, 
 and  forgetteth  the  covenant  of  her  God. 
 
 18  For  "her  house  inclineth  unto  death,  and 
 her  paths  unto  the  dead. 
 
 19  None  that  go  unto  her  return  again, 
 neither  take  they  hold  of  the  paths  of  life. 
 
 20  That  thou  mayest  walk  in  the  way  of  good 
 men,  and  keep  the  paths  of  the  righteous. 
 
 21  "^  For  the  upright  shall  dwell  iu  the  land, 
 and  the  perfect  shall  remain  in  it. 
 
 22  ''  But  the  wicked  shall  be  cut  off  from  the 
 earth,  and  the  transgressors  shall  be  ||  rooted 
 out  of  it. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  An  exhortation  to  obedience,  5  to  fuithf  7  to  mortifi- 
 cation, 9  to  dn'otiun^  1 1  to  jmiience.  13  The  happy 
 gain  of  wisdom.  19  The  power,  21  and  the  benefits 
 of  wisdojn.  *J7  /In  exhortation  to  charilablenrss, 
 30  peaceablencss ,  31  and  contentedness.  33  The 
 cursed  state  of  the  wicked. 
 
 lYTY  son,  forget  not  my  law  ;  "  hut  let  thine 
 ^^•^   heart  keep  my  commandments  : 
 
 2  For  length  of  days,  and  t^^'^g  ^i^^*  ^"^ 
 ^  peace,  shall  they  add  to  thee. 
 
 3  Let  not  mercy  and  truth  forsake  thee : 
 ^  hind  them  ahout  thy  neck  ;  •*  write  them  upon 
 the  table  of  thine  heart : 
 
 'deceived.' — A.  Clarke.  2".  As  desolation,  'as  a  great  noUe  and 
 tumult,' throwing  the  mind  into  alarm  and  confusion. — Ham.  As  a 
 whirliinnd — there  are  violent  whirlwinds  in  the  east  connected  with  the 
 destroying  hot  wind  called  sarnie'. — Hur.  32.  The  turning  away, 
 \.  €.,  from  the  paths  of  rectitude. —  Wil. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  I .  Hide,  ^c.,  as  a  treasure  is  secured  in  the  cabinet,  or 
 as  the  law  was  put  within  the  ark. — Sut.  3.  Cries/— the  Chnldee 
 expresses  it  hy  the  impatient  crying  of  a  child  to  its  mother.  Describing 
 the  vehement  desire  for  grace  and  wisdom  which  distinguishes  piety. — 
 Ham.  4.  Seekest,  as  merchants  in  search  of  silver  and  gold  cross  the 
 deserts,  and  miners  e.vplore  for  their  ore. — Sut.  For  hid  treasures — 
 treasures  hidden  in  revolutions.  As  they  are  often  hidden  under 
 ground  in  the  east,  one  business  of  sorcerers  is  to  profess  to  direct 
 to  them,  and  the  people  are  often  seeking  for  them.  —  See  Hew., 
 Chardin  in  Har.  ".  Sottnd  wisdom,  TV^C^T\,  '  essence,'  *  suhstance.' — 
 Png.,  Mont.,  Gej.,  ^c.       13.  Ways  of  darkness,  gloomy,  crooked  paths, 
 
 that  lead  to  eternal  misery.— H-fm.  i6.  Slranfffi  woman,  estranged 
 in  her  afTectionsfrom  her  husband  or  her  God.— Durell.  The  practice 
 here  alluded  to  was  chiefly  carried  on  by  heathen  women,  who  would 
 also  seduce  to  idolatry.— Jor/m.  18.  Dew/A— plagues  and  miseries 
 in  this  world,  and  eternal  death.— Ham.  22.  Cut  off,  by  the  hand  of 
 justice  or  the  curse  of  Qod.—Hnin.  Transgressors,  D''1313,  'the  gar- 
 ment men,'  'the  hvpocrites,' those  who  act  borrowed  characters,  under 
 a  cloak.— .4.  Clarke.  Rooted  o?//- the  Hebrew  is  inc  'shall  be 
 scraped  off,'  or  'swept  away,'  as  the  dust  and  dross  of  the  earth,  and 
 the  offsconringof  all  things.'— .Ifrtn?.,  Cej.,  Gill,  fyc. 
 
 Chap.  III.— 3.  Let  not  ^c.  forsake  ffc,  nr,  'forsake  not  them.'  Bind 
 them  about  thy  neck,  B.'i  chains  for  ornament. — Gill.  Alluding  to  the 
 custom  of  wearing  on  their  foreheads  and  wrists  the  precepts  of  the 
 'LorA.—Isham.  Write  them  vpon  the  table,  ^c— the  allusion  is  to  the 
 writing  of  the  law  on  tables  of  stone.  See  both  precepts  illustrated, 
 Deut.  vi.  8,  9.— Gill.    This  precept  derives  particular  significance  from 
 
 Reflections  ox  Chap.  L  —  I.  The  fear  of  God  is  the  best 
 protection  against  all  evil  practices.  *  Only  fear  the  Lord  and 
 serve  him,  and  it  shall  be  well  with  thee.' 
 
 II.  Those  who  listc"n  not  to  the  voice  of  wisdom  must  reap  the 
 fruit  of  their  fully.  *  They  live  and  die  fools,  and  perish  with- 
 out hope  and  without  remedy.  Let  us,  then,  "receive  in- 
 struction, and  be  wise,"  that  we  may  not  thus  perish,  but  live 
 and  be  happy  for  ever.*^ 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  II I,  Heavenly  wisdom  liiads  to 
 
 safety,  and  '  if  we  are  truly  wise,  it  will  appear  by  our  care  to 
 674 
 
 avoid  all  evil  company  and  evil  practices.'  i» 
 
 II.  Sinful  practices  lead  to  ruin.  How  many,  yielding  to  the 
 force  of  corruption,  have  never  returned  with  weeping  and 
 supplication  to  the  God  whose  laws  they  have  so  shamefully 
 violated,  but  have  been  carried,  as  by  a  vortex,  to  eternal  de- 
 struction? and  how  many  have  wounded  their  peace,  thoufih 
 they  may  have  returned  to  the  God  who  is  ready  to  pardon. 
 May  we  *  ask  for  the  good  old  way,  and  walk  therein,  and  we 
 shall  find  rest  for  our  souls.' 
 
The  happy  gain  of  wisdom. 
 
 PROVERBS,  IV. 
 
 Solomon  persuadeth  to  obedience. 
 
 4  '  So  shall  thou  find  favour  and  ||  good  un- 
 derstanding in  tlie  siglit  of  God  and  man. 
 
 .5  1''  Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thine  heart ; 
 ^  and  lean  not  unto  thine  own  understanding. 
 
 G  ^  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him,  and  he 
 shall  '  direct  thy  paths. 
 
 7  t ''  Be  not  wise  in  thine  own  eyes  :  '  fear 
 tlie  Lord,  and  depart  from  evil. 
 
 8  Itshallbef  health  to  thy  navel,  and  f"  mar- 
 row to  thy  bones. 
 
 9  °  Honour  the  Lord  with  thy  substance, 
 and  with  the  firstfruits  of  all  thine  increase  : 
 
 10  °  So  shall  thy  barns  be  filled  with  plenty, 
 and  thy  presses  shall  burst  out  with  new  wine. 
 
 11  t  ""My  son,  despise  not  the  chastening  of 
 the  Lord  ;  neither  be  weary  of  his  correction  : 
 
 12  For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  correcteth  ; 
 ''  even  as  a  father  the  son  in  whom  he  delighteth. 
 
 13  t  ■■  Happy  is  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom, 
 and  t  the  man  that  getteth  understanding. 
 
 14  '  For  the  merchandise  of  it  is  better  than 
 the  merchandise  of  silver,  and  the  gain  thereof 
 than  fine  gold. 
 
 15  She  is  more  precious  than  rubies  :  and 
 '  all  the  things  tliou  canst  desire  are  not  to  be 
 compared  unto  her. 
 
 16  '■'  Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand  ;  and 
 in  her  left  hand  riches  and  honour. 
 
 17  '  Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and 
 all  her  paths  are  peace. 
 
 1 8  She  is  '  a  tree  of  life  to  them  that  lay  hold 
 upon  her :  and  happy  is  ecery  one  that  retain- 
 eth  her. 
 
 19  '  The  Lord  by  wisdom  hath  founded  the 
 earth  ;  by  understanding  hath  he  {|  established 
 the  heavens. 
 
 20  "  By  his  knowledge  the  depths  are  broken 
 up,  and  ^  the  clouds  drop  down  the  dew. 
 
 21  t  My  son,  let  not  them  depart  from  thine 
 eyes  :  keep  sound  wisdom  and  discretion  : 
 
 2-2  So  shall  they  be  life  unto  thy  soul,  and 
 'grace  to  thy  neck. 
 
 23  ^  Then  shalt  thou  walk  in  thy  way  safely, 
 and  thy  foot  shall  not  stumble. 
 
 24  "  When  thou  liest  down,  thou  shalt  not  be 
 afraid  :  yea,  thou  shalt  lie  down,  and  thy  sleep 
 shall  be  sweet. 
 
 25  '  Be  not  afraid  of  sudden  fear,  neither  of 
 the  desolation  of  the  wicked,  when  it  cometh. 
 
 26  For  the  Lord  shall  be  thy  confidence,  and 
 shall  keep  thy  foot  from  being  taken. 
 
 27  1l  ^  Withhold  not  good  from  f  them  to 
 whom  it  is  due,  when  it  is  in  the  power  of 
 
 1000. 
 
 «Ps.   111.  1". 
 
 See  I  Sa.  S. 
 
 26.  Lu   8. 
 
 52,  Acts  2. 
 
 +7.  Rom. 14. 
 
 13. 
 n  Or,  good 
 
 f  Ps.  37.  3,5. 
 S  Jer.  9  S3. 
 A  1  Chr  29  9 
 i  Jer.  10.  23. 
 k  Bo.  12.  16. 
 (  Jiib  1.  I. 
 
 eh.  16.  6. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 mptiicine, 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 wtitrriiig,  or, 
 
 moitte'iiiig. 
 m  J.,b  21.24. 
 n  Kx.  22.  29. 
 
 &  23.  19.  & 
 
 3-1.  26. 
 
 Deu.  26.  2, 
 
 &c.  Mai.  3- 
 
 II),  ftr. 
 
 Luke  14  13- 
 o  Deu.  28.  8. 
 p  Job  5     17. 
 
 Pfl.  94    12. 
 
 Heb.  12.5,6. 
 
 Rev,  3.  19. 
 q  Deu.  8  5. 
 r  ch.  8.  34, 
 
 35. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 man  that 
 
 draioeth  out 
 
 underitand- 
 
 •  Job  28.  13, 
 
 &c.  Ps.  19. 
 
 10.  ch.  2.4. 
 
 fo  8.  II,  19 
 
 &  16.  IG, 
 /  Mat.  13.  44. 
 «  ch,  8.  18. 
 
 I  Tim.  4. 8. 
 J-  Mat.  11. 
 
 29,  30. 
 J  Gen.  2.9.& 
 
 3.  22. 
 ;  Ps.  104.  24. 
 
 &  136.  5. 
 
 ch.  8.  27. 
 
 Jer    10.  12. 
 
 «£5I.  15. 
 II  Or,  pre- 
 
 pared, 
 a  Geu.  1.  9, 
 b  Deu  3.i.28. 
 
 Job  36.  28. 
 
 d  Ps.  37  S4. 
 Sc  91  11,12. 
 ch.  10-  9. 
 
 e  Lev.  go.  6. 
 Ps,  3.  5.  & 
 4.  8. 
 
 S  Rom.  13,7 
 Gal,  6.  10. 
 f  Heb,  li.e 
 
 I  Lev.  10,13. 
 Deu.^.  15. 
 
 4  Ps   37.  1 . 
 
 &  73.  .1. 
 
 ch,  24.  1. 
 t  Heb.  o  moo 
 
 of  violence. 
 I  Ps.  25.  14. 
 
 m  Lev-26-14. 
 
 &c-   Ps-  37. 
 
 22.  Zech.5- 
 
 4    Mai.  2,  2. 
 n  Ps    1.  3. 
 o  Jam.  4.  6. 
 
 1  Pet.  5.  5. 
 
 t  Heb.  exatt. 
 eth  Ihe/ooU. 
 
 a  Ps,  34.  II. 
 ch.  1.  8. 
 
 6  1  Chr.  29.1. 
 
 c  1  Clir,28.9. 
 
 Eph.  6.  4. 
 d  ch.  7.  a. 
 
 /a  Thes.  2. 
 
 ich.  1.9.  & 
 
 3.  22. 
 II  Or,  Mhethnlt 
 
 comjiau  ill  " 
 
 ir.(/,  a  eroi 
 
 of  glory. 
 
 *  ch.  3. 2. 
 
 ;  Ps.  19.  36. 
 
 thine  hand  to  do  it. 
 
 28  "  Say  not  unto  thy  neighbour.  Go,  and 
 come  again,  and  to  morrow  I  will  give  ;  when 
 thou  hast  it  by  thee. 
 
 29  II  Devise  not  evil  against  thy  neighbour, 
 seeing  he  dwelleth  securely  by  thee. 
 
 30  1  '  Strive  not  with  a  man  without  cause, 
 if  he  have  done  thee  no  harm. 
 
 31  1  ^  Envy  thou  not  f  the  oppressor,  and 
 choose  none  of  his  ways. 
 
 32  For  the  froward  is  abomination  to  the 
 Lord  :  '  but  his  secret  is  with  the  righteous. 
 
 33  H  "  The  curse  of  the  Lord  is  in  the  house 
 of  the  wicked  :  but  "  he  blesseth  the  habitation 
 of  the  just. 
 
 34  °  Surely  he  scorneth  the  scorners  :  but  he 
 giveth  grace  unto  the  lowly. 
 
 35  The  wise  shall  inherit  glory  ;  but  shame 
 t  shall  be  the  promotion  of  fools. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Solomon^  to  persuade  obedience,  3  sheweth  what  in- 
 struction he  /lad  of  /lis  parents,  5  to  study  wisdom,  14 
 and  to  stiun  the  path  of  the  wicked.  20  He  ex/iorteth 
 to  faith,  23  and  sanctrjication, 
 
 TTEAR,  'ye   children,  the  instruction  of  a 
 ■*--'-  father,  and  attend  to  know  understanding. 
 
 2  For  I  give  you  good  doctrine,  forsake  ye 
 not  my  law. 
 
 3  For  I  was  my  father's  son,  ''  tender  and 
 only  beloved  in  the  sight  of  my  mother. 
 
 4  '  He  taught  me  also,  and  said  unto  me.  Let 
 thine  heart  retain  my  words  :  ''  keep  my  com- 
 mandments, and  live. 
 
 5  °  Get  wisdom,  get  understanding  :  forget  it 
 not ;  neither  decline  from  the  words  of  my 
 mouth. 
 
 6  Forsake  her  not,  and  she  shall  preserve 
 thee  :  'love  her,  and  she  shall  keep  thee. 
 
 7  ^  Wisdom  is  the  principal  thing  ;  therefore 
 get  wisdom  :  and  with  all  thy  getting  get  un- 
 derstanding. 
 
 8  ^  Exalt  her,  and  she  shall  promote  thee  : 
 she  shall  bring  thee  to  honour,  when  thou  dost 
 embrace  her. 
 
 9  She  shall  give  to  thine  head  '  an  ornament 
 of  grace  :  ||  a  crown  of  glory  shall  she  deliver 
 to  thee. 
 
 10  Hear,  O  my  son,  and  receive  my  sayings, 
 'and  the  years  of  thy  life  shall  be  many. 
 
 1 1  I  have  taught  thee  in  the  way  of  wisdom  ; 
 I  have  led  thee  in  right  paths. 
 
 12  When  thou  goest,  '  thy  steps  shall  not  be 
 
 the  custom  which  the  Jews  had  of  wearing  tablets  on  the  breast.— See 
 P'lole.  8.  Health  to  t/tt/  navel — throutrh  mismanagement  in  the  birth 
 of  eastern  children,  this  part  is  <<ften  enlarged  and  diseased.  The  fear 
 of  the  Lord  would,  therefore,  be  as  medicine  and  health,  causing  it  to 
 prow  and  prosper.  The  navel  is  often  proverbially  mentioned  in  the 
 east,  as  a  criterion  of  prosperity. — So  Hob.  g.  With  thefirfstfruits, 
 
 the  allusion  is  to  the  maintenance  of  the  priests  and  Levites  under  the 
 law. — Gill.  iO.  Burst  out,   'overflow,'  Targ.,    Sept..   I'ulg.,  Syr., 
 
 .irttb.  13.  Getteth.  pn*,  '  draws  out,'  as  metals  are  drawn  out  of  the 
 earth  by  searching  and  digging  for,  or  as  water  out  of  a  well. — Mont., 
 Gtlt.  15.  Itnliies,  probably  pearls,  esteemed  at  a  high  rate  by  Jews, 
 P.omans,  Medes,  Persians,  and  Indians. —  Boch.,  so  Mont.,  ^c, 
 Ifi.  Riches,  not  tempor.-U,  lor  these  are  not  always  to  the  wise,  but  spi- 
 ritual, the  riches  of  grace. — Gilt.  18.  A  tree  of  life— Wisdom  is  here 
 allegorized  as  a  tree  of  life,  yielding  delicious  shade,  fruit,  and  protec- 
 
 tion, to  those  that  approach  her  branches.— Jl/.  Good.  There  seems  an 
 allusion  to  the  tree  of  hfe  in  paradise,  and  which  was  to  give  man  life, 
 health  and  immortality.— Cn/.  Retaineth  her,  n'Don,  this  signifies 
 firmness  and  constancy  in  holding  her. — Mich.,  so  Mercerns.  28.  Say 
 not— Go,  ^c. — God  having  dealt  bountifully  with  us,  we  should  he 
 bountiful  to  our  needy  neighbours  ;  let  us  give  speedily  when  we  can 
 with  prudence. — Sut.  30.  Strive  not,  fyc,  '  be  not  litigious. — Sut. 
 32.  His  secret  is  with  tlte  righteous  —  denotes  friendship  and  fami- 
 liarity.—Gi7^  35.  Sliall  be  the  promotion  of  fools, '  shall  lift  up  fools,' 
 hold  them  forth,  or  make  them  manifest  and  conspicuous. — Jun., 
 'Trem.,  Gill. 
 Chap.  IV. — 3.  For  I  was,  ^c— 
 
 '  For  I  was  a  sod  very  dear  to  my  father. 
 And  well  beloved  in  the  sight  of  my  mother.'- HoWen. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III. — We  learn  here,  I.  The  hap- 
 piness of  true  religion.  Is  there  any  such  happiness  as  is  to  be 
 found  in  the  ways  of  heavenly  wisdom?  Ve  can  answer  who 
 have  tried  sin,  and,  after  its  pleasures,  tasted  its  bitterness. 
 Hut  '  wisdom's  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her 
 paths  are  peace.* 
 075 
 
 II.  Tlic  practice  of  true  rdiqion.  Adhering  to  mercy  and 
 truth  ;  trusting  firmly  in  the  Lord  ;  departing  from  all  evil  ; 
 honouring  the  Lord  with  our  substance;  submitting  patiently 
 to  God's  chastisement;  and  exercising  the  spirit  of  benevo- 
 lence, charity,  and  peace  towards  all  men. 
 
Sohmon  exhorteth  to  faith. 
 
 PROVERBS,  V. 
 
 The  mischief  tif  whoredom  and  riot. 
 
 straitened  ;  ""  and    when   thou   runnest,   thou 
 shall  not  stumble. 
 
 13  Take  fast  hold  of  instruction  ;  let  her  not 
 go  :  keep  her  ;  for  she  is  thy  life. 
 
 14  1°  Enter  not  into  the  path  of  the  wicked, 
 and  go  not  in  the  way  of  evil  men. 
 
 15  Avoid  it,  pass  not  by  it,  turn  from  it,  and 
 pass  away. 
 
 16  "For  they  sleep  not,  except  they  have 
 done  mischief;  and  their  sleep  is  taken  av\'ay, 
 unless  they  cause  some  to  fall. 
 
 17  For  they  eat  the  bread  of  wickedness,  and 
 drink  the  wine  of  violence. 
 
 18  'But  the  path  of  the  just  ''is  as  the 
 shining  light,  that  shineth  more  and  more  unto 
 the  perfect  day. 
 
 19  'The  way  of  the  wicked  is  as  darkness: 
 they  know  not  at  what  they  stumble. 
 
 20  t  My  son,  attend  to  my  words ;  incline 
 thine  ear  unto  my  sayings. 
 
 "21  '  Let  tliem  not  depart  from  thine  eyes  ; 
 '  keep  them  in  the  midst  of  tliine  heart. 
 
 22  For  they  are  life  unlo  those  that  find 
 them,  and  "f  health  to  all  their  flesh. 
 
 23  H  Keep  thy  heart  fwith  all  diligence  ;  for 
 out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life. 
 
 24  Put  away  from  thee  f  a  froward  mouth, 
 and  perverse  lips  put  far  from  thee. 
 
 25  Let  thine  eyes  look  right  on,  and  let  thine 
 eyelids  look  straight  before  thee. 
 
 26  Ponder  the  path  of  thy  feet,  and  ||  let  all 
 thy  ways  be  establisljcd. 
 
 27  '  Turn  not  to  tlie  right  hand  nor  to  the 
 left :  '  remove  thy  foot  from  evil. 
 
 CHAP.   V. 
 
 1    Snlomoji   exhorteth   to  the  stud}/  of  wisdom.     3  lie 
 
 shewct/i  the  mz^chief  of  w'lumtain  and  riot.      15  He 
 
 exhortdh  to   contentedness,  iiiiernlifj/i  and  chastity. 
 
 22  The  wick'^d  are  overtaken  with  thtir  own  sins. 
 
 "jV/TY  son,  attend  unto  my  wisdom,  and  bow 
 
 -^'-'-   thine  ear  to  my  understanding  : 
 
 2  That  thou  mayest  regard  discretion,  and 
 that  thy  lips  may  °  keep  knowledge. 
 
 3  t  '■  For  the  lips  of  a  strange  woman  drop  as 
 an  honeycomb,  and  her  f  mouth  is  °  smoother 
 than  oil  : 
 
 B  c. 
 
 rir-  inon 
 I  Pb.9l.  11, 
 
 n  Ps    I.  1. 
 
 ch.  I    10,15. 
 
 0  Pb.  3G.  4. 
 
 Is.  57.  liO. 
 
 p  Mat  5-  U, 
 ■lb  Phil.  2 
 15. 
 
 V2.S».  23.  4. 
 
 r  1  Sara.  2  9 
 Job  18  5,  6 
 Is  59.  9,  10. 
 Jer.  23.  IS 
 John  12.35 
 
 .  ch.S  3,21 
 I  cli.  8.  1. 
 
 «  ch.  S.  8,  & 
 
 12.  18. 
 t  Hi'b. 
 
 mtflicinf. 
 \  Heb.  nbove 
 
 nil  lyfrj'in^. 
 I  Hi-b.  fr«- 
 
 v:,rd..i,.  .f 
 
 ni„«lh,  «,J 
 
 pt'  I'erifneu 
 
 o/tipM, 
 
 V  Is    1.  IB. 
 Horn.  12.  1). 
 
 a  Mil    «.  7. 
 A  rli    2-  16. 
 S.L  0.  2*. 
 t  llel.  polite. 
 c  Ps.  55.21. 
 
 e  Heh.  4   IS 
 /ch.  7.  27. 
 
 t  H«b  ll,f/ 
 
 Itrriiglk. 
 
 3  ch.  1.  29. 
 
 i  Mai  2.  I«. 
 
 h  See  Cant. 
 
 2.9.  &i  b. 
 
 ft  7   3. 
 1  Ilcb.  Wa/«r 
 
 1   lleb.  frr 
 
 m2Chr.  16. 
 
 9.  Job  31.4. 
 
 &Sl.2!.ch. 
 
 15.3  Jer-IB. 
 
 17.  &  .S.'.IO. 
 
 Hos   7,  2. 
 
 Hcb  4.  13. 
 n  Ps.  9.  15. 
 I  Hcb-  <«.. 
 ».Iob  i    21. 
 
 &  30    12. 
 
 4  But  her  end  is  ''bitter  as  wormwood,  "sharp 
 as  a  twoedged  sword. 
 
 5  '  Her  feet  go  down  to  death  ;  her  steps 
 take  hold  on  hell. 
 
 6  Lest  thou  shouldest  ponder  the  path  of 
 life,  her  ways  are  moveable,  that  thou  canst 
 not  know  them. 
 
 7  Hear  me  now  therefore,  O  ye  children,  and 
 depart  not  from  the  words  of  my  mouth. 
 
 8  Remove  thy  way  far  from  her,  anil  come 
 not  nigh  the  door  of  her  house  : 
 
 9  Lest  thou  give  thine  honour  unto  others, 
 and  Ihy  years  unto  the  cruel : 
 
 10  Lest  strangers  be  filled  with  f  thy  wealth  ; 
 and  thy  labours  be  in  the  house  of  a  stranger  ; 
 
 11  And  thou  mourn  at  the  last,  when  thy 
 flesh  and  thy  body  are  consumed, 
 
 12  And  say.  How  liave  I  ^  hated  instruction, 
 and  my  heart  ••despised  reproof; 
 
 13  And  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  my 
 teachers,  nor  inclined  mine  ear  to  them  that 
 instructed  me! 
 
 14  I  was  almost  in  all  evil  in  the  midst  of  the 
 congregation  and  assembly. 
 
 15  1  Drink  waters  out  of  thine  own  cistern, 
 and  running  waters  out  of  thine  own  well. 
 
 16  Let  thy  fountains  be  dispersed  abroad, 
 and  rivers  of  waters  in  the  streets. 
 
 17  Let  tliem  be  only  thine  own,  and  not 
 strangers'  with  tlice. 
 
 18  Let  tliy  fountain  be  blessed  :  and  rejoice 
 with  '  the  wife  of  thy  youth. 
 
 19  ''Let  her  be  as  the  loving  hind  and 
 pleasant  roe  ;  let  her  breasts  f  satisfy  thee  at 
 all  times ;  and  f  be  thou  ravished  always  wiih 
 her  love. 
 
 20  And  why  wilt  thon,  my  son,  be  ravished 
 with  '  a  strange  woman,  and  embrace  the  bosom 
 of  a  stranger'? 
 
 21  "'  For  the  ways  of  man  arc  before  the  eyes 
 of  the  Loud,  and  he  pondereth  all  his  goings. 
 
 22  f  "  His  own  iniquities  shall  take  the 
 wicked  himself,  and  he  shall  be  holden  with 
 the  cords  of  his  f  .sins. 
 
 23  °  He  shall  die  without  instruction  ;  and 
 in  the  greatness  of  his  folly  he  shall  go  astray. 
 
 15.  Airoidit,  or  *  flee  from  it,'  Vutg,  17.  Eat  the  bread  of  wickedness, 
 live  by  robbery  and  spoil. — Pat.  23.  Thy  heart — used  bere  to  de- 
 uote  the  aftccti-ins,  passions,  and  desires.  —  Watertand,  We  must 
 maintain  a  holy  jealousy  of  ourselves,  and  set  a  strict  guard  upon  all 
 the  avenues  of  the  soul ;  keep  our  hearts  from  doing  hurt  and  getting 
 hurt.  The  issues  of  life— out  of  a  heart  well  kept  will  flow  living 
 issues,  good  products,  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  edification  of  others. 
 —  Henri/.  '  Issues'  is.  literally,' goings  forth  ;'  probably  a  latent  met-i. 
 phor,  alluding  to  the  heart  as  the  fountain  of  blood  diffused  through  the 
 body. — So  Pict.  Bih.  2i.  Put  nu-at/ — a  froirard   mouth,    beware    ol 
 
 hastiness,  anger,  and  rash  sp:^eches. — A.  Clarke.  lb.  Look  right  on — 
 that  is,  pursue  a  straightforward  course. —  Wit.  It  implies  circumsijec 
 tion  and  caution. — Hew.  2".  Turn  not,  ^'C,  avoid  all  crooked  ways. 
 —A.Clarke. 
 
 Chip.  V.  —  3.  Drop  as  on  honeyeomb.  are  full  of  sweet  enticements. 
 Up.  Hall.  5.  To  death,  both  here  and  hereafter.— P(i«.  Take  hold  on 
 hell.  '  lead  on  to  the  tomb.' — Hodffson.  The  word  may  be  rendered 
 'the  grave,'  and  may  respect  those  women  who  haunted  burying 
 places,  and  prostituted  themselves  among  the  graves. — See  Gilt. 
 fi.  Lest  thou  shouldest  ponder,  ^-e.,  '  she  does  not  ponder,'  &c. — Gej.,  so 
 Luther,  Sfc.  Moveable,  *  wandering,'  '  dangerous,'  *  unstable.' — Ham. 
 9.  Thine  /lonotii — wealth  or  riches,  which  make  men  honourable;  or 
 fame,  credit,  and  reputation,  which  are  lost  by  keeping  company  with 
 such  persons.     The  Tarffum  reads,  'strength.'— GiH.      The  cruel,  a 
 
 selfish  and  unfeeling  prostitute. — Heio.  It.  Mourn,  or  'roar,'  riona, 
 as  a  lion,  as  the  word  signifies  ;  see  chap.  xi.x.  12  ;  xx.  2;  and  xxviii.  15. 
 Expressing  great  distress  of  mind,  horror  of  conscience,  and  vehement 
 lamentations. — Gill.  Thy  flesh  and  thy  body,  '  the  flesh  of  thy  body.'— . 
 Hade;.  Body,  ^NIC,  'remains,'  *  residue,'  *  remnant,'  of  a  thing;  it  de- 
 notes the  breathing  carcise,  putrid  with  the  concomitant  disease  of 
 debauchery.  14.  In  all  eril — this  vice,  like  a  whiilffiud,  sweeps  all 
 
 others  into  its  vortex. — .^.  Clarke.  15.  Drink  waters,  §'c. — under  this 
 emblem  marriage  is  recommended,  for  marriage  is  honourable  to  ail. 
 (Comp.  Num.  xxiv. ";  Isa.  xlviii.  I  ;  li.  1.) — Bovthr.  16.  Thy  fountains 
 lie  dispersed,  grown  up  ofifspring,  united  to  otlier  families,  and  so  be. 
 ct.me  fountains  to  others,  and  public  blessings. — Gilt,  "rhe  passage 
 rather  refers  to  the  wife,  and  reads^ 
 
 '  Should  thy  fountains  be  dispersed  abroad? 
 Thy  streamlets  of  water  through  the  stieets  ?* — Boothr. 
 18.  Rejoice  with  the  tcife  of  Ihy  youth,  the  young  man's  heart  will  then 
 rest  in  the  bosom  of  virtue.— Au^.  19.  .is  the  toeing  hind,  §-c.,  the 
 
 males  of  the  deer  kind  are  remarkably  attached  to  their  partners,  and, 
 though  timid,  will  endanger  their  lives  for  their  protection. — Durell, 
 20.  A  strange  woman,  m33,  '  aliens  from  religion.'  Such  were  Solo- 
 mon's wives  and  concubines,  which  Solomon  had  loved  and  multiplied 
 excessively,  and  with  the  most  pernicious  effects ;  so  he  here  warns 
 his  son  and  reader  from  following  his  example. — Robertson,  Scott. 
 
 RiFi.FCTioNs  ON  Chap.  IV.  —  I.  Solomon's  porents  instructed  these  precepts.     Sin  can  never  lead  to  holiness,  and  '  without 
 
 h^m  in  heavenly  wisdom.     He  was  the  object  of  their  tender  holiness  no  man  can  see  the  Lord.*     Holiness  will  teach  us  to 
 
 aflfection,  and  this  was  the  best  way  in  which  they  could  mani-  shun  all  sin,  and  he  who  departs  from  sin  will  pursue  his  way 
 
 fest  that  they  loved  him.  to  eternal  life. 
 
 TI.   The  lessons  of  heavenly  wisdom  lead  to  the  most  important        Rlfi.ections  on   Chap.  V.  —  We  behold  here,  I.  The  con- 
 
 ronsequences.  Life  itself  is  depending  upon  the  practice  of  senucnces  of  indulginij  in  unlawfrd  desires.  They  entail  disgrace 
 676 
 
Against  suretiship,  §'c. 
 
 PROVERBS,  VI. 
 
 Tht  blessings  of  obedience. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  Against  suTftiship,  6  idleness,  12  and  miscfiievousness. 
 16  Seven  things  liaUful  to  God.  '20  The  blessings  of 
 obedience.     25  2^Ue  mischiefs  of  whoredom. 
 
 TX/T  Y  son,  °  if  tlioii  be  surety  for  thy  friend, 
 
 ■'•'■*•  ;■/'  tliou  hast  stricken   thy  hand  with  a 
 
 stranger, 
 
 2  Tliou  art  snared  with  the  words  of  thy 
 mouth,  thou  art  talcen  with  the  words  of  thy 
 moutli. 
 
 3  Do  this  now,  my  son,  and  deliver  thyself, 
 when  thou  art  come  into  the  hand  of  thy 
 friend  ;  go,  humble  tliyself,  {{  and  make  sure 
 thy  friend. 
 
 4  ■■  Give  not  sleep  to  thine  eyes,  nor  slumber 
 to  thine  eyelids, 
 
 5  Deliver  thyself  as  a  roe  from  the  hand  of 
 the  hunter,  and  as  a  bird  from  tlie  hand  of  the 
 fowler. 
 
 6  U  "  Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard  ;  consider 
 her  ways,  and  be  wi.se  : 
 
 7  Which  haviiig  no  guide,  overseer,  or  ruler, 
 
 8  Provideth  her  meat  in  the  summer,  and 
 gatlieretli  her  food  in  the  harvest. 
 
 9  ''  How  long  wilt  thou  sleep,  O  sluggard  ? 
 when  wilt  thou  arise  out  of  thy  sleep  ? 
 
 10  Yet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber,  a  little 
 folding  uf  the  hands  to  sleep  : 
 
 11  "  So  .sliall  thy  poverty  come  as  one  that 
 travelletli,  and  thy  want  as  an  armed  man. 
 
 12  H  A  naughty  person,  a  wicked  man,  walk- 
 eth  with  a  froward  mouth. 
 
 13  '  He  winketh  with  his  eyes,  he  speaketh 
 with  his  feet,  he  teacheth  witli  his  Angers ; 
 
 14  Frowardness  is  in  his  heart,  ^  he  deviseth 
 mischief  continually  ;  ''he  fsoweth  discord. 
 
 15  Therefore  shall  his  calamity  come  sud- 
 denly; suddenly  shall  he  '  be  broken  '  without 
 remedy. 
 
 16  If  These  six  things  doth  the  Lord  hate  : 
 yea,  seven  are  an  abomination  f  unto  him  : 
 
 17  't  A  proud  look,  °'a  lying  tongue,  and 
 "hands  that  shed  imiocent  blood. 
 
 1  ch.  II.  15 
 
 &  17  18.  «( 
 'io.  IG,  \t2. 
 20.  ft  'il.  13 
 
 I  Or,  to  skill 
 than  prevnil 
 with  thy 
 
 fri„,d. 
 
 b  Ps.  13-2.  4. 
 
 d  ch.  21.  S3, 
 84. 
 
 t  ch.  10.  t  li 
 
 13.  4.  &  :;o. 
 
 /Job  15.  12 
 Pa.  .15  19. 
 ch.  10.  10. 
 
 J  Mic.  2    \. 
 
 k  i-er.  19, 
 
 t  Heb.  cail- 
 elh/iTlh. 
 
 i  Jer,   19.  11. 
 
 f  Hcb.  o/*f 
 K.ul. 
 I  Ps.  13.  37. 
 
 t  Heh. 
 Haiighti/ 
 
 m  Ps.  120.  2, 
 3. 
 a  Is.  I.  15. 
 
 B.  C 
 cic.  1000. 
 
 o  Geii.  6.  5. 
 p  Is.  59.  7. 
 
 Rom,  3   15. 
 q  Ps    27.  12. 
 
 cli.  19   5,9. 
 r  vev.  1 4. 
 4  ch    1.9. 
 
 Fph.  6.  1. 
 (  ch.  3.  3.  & 
 
 7.  .1. 
 
 n  ch.  3.  53, 
 X  cii.  2.  11. 
 
 J  Pa.  19,  8. 
 &  119.  111.-,. 
 II  Of,  ciindle. 
 
 I  ch.  S.  16.  & 
 5.  3.  &  7.  5. 
 
 I!  Or,  "fllie 
 
 a  Mat.  'S.  23 
 
 4  ch,  29.  3. 
 
 cGeii   39.14. 
 t  Hub.  Ihr 
 
 /ch.  7.  7. 
 t  Heb.  heart. 
 
 t  Heb.  H« 
 
 will  llUf  "C- 
 
 ciit  thefacf 
 ./..,j,r.„- 
 iitn. 
 
 18  °  An  heart  that  deviseth  wicked  imagina- 
 tions, ''feet  tliat  lie  swift  in  running  to  mischief, 
 
 19  "I  A  false  witness  that  speaketh  lies,  and 
 he  '  that  soweth  discord  among  brethren. 
 
 20  IT  '  My  son,  keep  thy  father's  command- 
 ment, and  forsake  not  the  law  of  thy  motlier  ; 
 
 21  '  Bind  them  continually  upon  thine  heart, 
 and  tie  them  about  thy  neck. 
 
 22  "  When  thou  goest,  it  shall  lead  thee  ; 
 when  tliou  sleepest,  "  it  shall  keep  thee  ;  and 
 when  thou  awakest,  it  shall  talk  with  thee. 
 
 23  ^  For  the  commandment  is  a  ||  lamp  ;  and 
 the  law  is  light;  and  reproofs  of  instruction 
 are  the  way  of  life  : 
 
 24  ^  To  keep  thee  from  the  evil  woman,  from 
 the  flattery  ||  of  the  tongue  of  a  strange  woman. 
 
 25  "  Lust  not  after  her  beauty  in  tliine  heart; 
 neither  let  her  take  thee  with  her  eyelids. 
 
 26  For  ''  by  means  of  a  whorish  woman  a  man 
 is  brought  to  a  piece  of  bread  ;  '  and  f  the 
 adulteress  will  ''  hunt  for  the  precious  life. 
 
 27  Can  a  man  take  fire  in  his  bosom,  and  his 
 clothes  not  be  burned  V 
 
 28  Can  one  go  upon  hot  coals,  and  his  feet 
 not  be  burned  ? 
 
 29  So  he  that  goeth  in  to  his  neiglibour's 
 wife  ;  whosoever  touchetli  her  shall  not  be  in- 
 nocent. 
 
 30  Men  do  not  despise  a  tliief,  if  he  steal  to 
 satisfy  his  soul  when  he  is  hungry  ; 
 
 31  But  if  he  be  found,  'he  shall  restore 
 sevenfold  ;  he  shall  give  all  the  substance  of 
 his  house. 
 
 32  But  whoso  committeth  adultery  with  a 
 woman  'lacketh  funderstanding  :  he  that(liOet\\ 
 it  destroyeth  his  own  soul. 
 
 33  A  wound  and  dishonour  shall  he  get ;  and 
 his  reproach  shall  not  be  wiped  away. 
 
 34  For  jealousy  ('a-  the  rage  of  a  man  :  there- 
 fore he  will  not  spare  in  the  day  of  vengeance. 
 
 35  t  He  will  not  regard  any  ransom  ;  neither 
 will  he  rest  content,  though  thou  givest  many 
 gifts. 
 
 Chap.  VI. —  1.  Stricken  thy  hand  —  to  strike  or  join  hands  seems 
 to  have  been  an  ancient  form  of  entering  into  cimtracts  in  all  ages  and 
 countries. — Hew.  2.  Thou  artsjiared,  fyc,  as  in  a  net,  held  fast,  and 
 canst  not  get  free  witliout  paying  tlie  debt.— GiV;.  3.  Art  come  into  the 
 hand  uf  thy  friend,  'when  thou  art  cime  into  the  hand  of  rigorous 
 men  fur  thy  friend,'  Sept.  Go,  humble  thyself,  ^c,  'On,  neglect  not, 
 stir  lip  thy  friend  for  whom  thou  ait  surety,'  i.  e.,  to  pay  his  deht. — 
 Wall,  Solomon  bcems  to  mean,  hy  this  advice,  that  we  should  never 
 be  bound  in  behalf  of  another  for  more  than  we  can  afford  to  lo^e  with- 
 out any  c  nsidcrable  detiimeiit  to  our  fortunes  (t  families. — Jortin. 
 Make  sure  thy  friend,  '  stimulate  him,'  Sept.  "l^yi  im.  '  magnify  thy 
 fjiend,'  to  tlie  creditor,  as  a  responsible  and  ho'nest  man  who  will  pay 
 in  due  time.  Some  read  it,  '  multiply  thy  friends,'  get  as  many  as 
 possible  to  intercede  fur  thee.— GjV^  5.  Ddii-er,  fyc  ,  make  every 
 strangle  and  exertion  to  get  free  from  thy  captivity.  —  ^.  CMr^e. 
 8.  Provideth  her  meat,  ^c,  a  prevailing  passion  in  the^e  litile  animals 
 (the  ants)  is  to  amass  stores  of  grain  ;  and,  lest  the  humidity  of  the 
 celts  should  make  the  corn  shoot  up,  we  are  tfld  for  a  certainty  that 
 tlicy  gnaw  <ff  the  buds  wliich  grow  at  the  point  of  the  grain,— Puz-ArAwrs^. 
 
 10.  Yet  It  little  sleep — the  instruction  here  is,  that  indolence  and  inat 
 tention  to  one's  business  is  spcLdily   followed  by  |ioverty. — Boothr. 
 
 11.  As  one  that  trarell''th,i.  e., with  slow,  but  surely  approaching  steps.— 
 A.  Clarke.  As  an  armed  man,  which  thou  canst  find  no  means  to  resist. 
 — Pat.  12.  A  naughty  persnn^^^'^hl  DIN,  '  Adam  good  f<T  nothing,* 
 i.e..  when  lie  lost  his  innocence. — A.  Clarke.  *  .\  worthless  man,'  it 
 describes  a  malignant  buflfoon. — So  Boothr.  It  denotes  an  idle,  foolish, 
 wicked  man,  who  cares  not  for  God's  directions  of  his  tongue  or  life. 
 With  a  froward  mouth,  *  with  perverseness  of  mouth.'  —  Ham. 
 i'3.  Winketh — this  practice  is  known  amongst  us,  and  generally  implies 
 deception. — .Erf.  Speaketh  with  his  feet,  signs  made  with  the  feet  are 
 used  among  the  Hindoos  also  ;   when  guests  wish  to  speak  with  each 
 
 other  so  as  not  to  be  observed  by  the  host,  they  convey  the  nie:ining 
 by  the  fett  and  t<  cs,  the  sandals  b(  ing  ofT.  Tearheth  with  his  fingers, 
 — so  merchants  bargain  between  themselves  in  the  preeence  of  others, 
 putting  each  a  hand  under  a  piece  of  cloth  thrown  over  the  lap  as  they 
 sit  on  the  grounl.  In  the  same  way  the  Brahmins  teach  their  disciples 
 under  the  folds  of  their  robes.— /ioA.  The  Orientals  are  expert  in 
 speaking  by  signs  and  gestures  with  the  eyes,  hands,  or  feet.  The 
 number  of  their  current  signs  of  this  sort  is  very  great. — Pict.  Bib. 
 15.  Broken  ivithout  remedy^  alludes  to  an  earthen  vessel,  which,  when 
 broken  into  piece-;,  cannot  be  made  whole. —  Wells.  16.  These  six 
 things,  Sfc,  a  proverbial  way  of  sptaking,  (see  chap.  xxx.  15,  18,  29; 
 Job,  V.  19:  Amos.  i.  3  )— Boothr.  Yea,  seven— \.\\\s  is  a  Hebraism, 
 which,  by  di'-tingui:^hing  the  seventh,  confers  greater  emphasis  on  the 
 whole  ;  it  is  a  mode  of  speech  borrowed  from  the  days  of  the  week. — 
 Sut.  22.  Talk  with  thee,  suggest  good  thoughts  to  thee.— WVYs. 
 23.  Commntidment—lnw,  put  for  revelation  in  general. — Scott.  25.  Her 
 eyelids— hi:Q  2  King«,  ix.  30,  nnte.  26.  For  by  means,  ^c,  'for  the 
 price  (if  a  harlot  is  only  a  jiiece  of  hrcAd.*— Boothr.  So  many  were 
 there  in  the  land  that  they  hiied  themselves  out  for  a  bare  subsistence. 
 — A.  Clarke.  Understand  the  pas^sage  as  expressive  of  the  extreme 
 poverty  to  which  such  practices  have  brought  many. — Scott.  Hunt 
 fur  the  precious  life—^he  thus  laid  a  train  tor  the  punishment  of  the 
 adulterer,  who  for  a  sinful  lust  would  lose  his  dearest  life. — Pat.  See 
 Ezek.  xiii.  IS.  Adultery  was  punished  by  the  law  of  Moses  as  a  capital 
 crime.— Henry.  29.  So  he  that  goeth  in,  he   is   burnt  thereby. — 
 
 A.  Clarke.     He  docs  it  to  his  own  injury.— £■(/.  31.  Sevenfold,  i.e., 
 
 make  a  full  and  complete  satisfaction  and  restitution. — Holden.  See 
 Exod.  xxii.  1 — 4  ;  Lev.  xxv,  39.  32.  Destroyeth  his  own  soul,  he  will 
 be  punished,  not  merely  in  his  estate,  but  w  ith  the  loss  of  his  life,  (Lev. 
 XX.  10.)— Pat. 
 
 on  the  reputation,  disease  on  the  body,  misery  on  the  mind, 
 and,  most  frequently,  through  the  hardening  nature  of  sin, 
 ruin  on  the  soul. 
 
 II.   The  arguments  against  such  evil  jrractices.     The  wicked 
 deception  of  the  flattering  womun  ;  regard  to  character  ;  se- 
 curity of  property,  for  none  are  more  lavish  in  expenditure  ; 
 677 
 
 the  preservation  of  the  body  from  disease,  and  the  mind  from 
 the  remorse  it  occasions  in  a  dying  hour;  the  chaste  enjoy- 
 ments of  the  marriage  state  ;  the  omniscience  ot  God,  »  ho  sees 
 every  deed  of  darkness  ;  and  the  awful  termination  of  such 
 wicked  courses,  for  '  the  way  of  transgressors  is  bard.' 
 
Familiarity  with  wisdom  recommended.       PROVERBS,  VIII.,  IX. 
 
 Wantonness  condemned. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  Solommi  persuadet/i  io  a  aincere  and  kind  familiariti/ 
 with  wisdom.  6  In  an  example  of  his  own  experience, 
 he  sheivtth  \0  the  vunninq  of  an  whore,  22  and  the 
 desperate  simplicity  of  a  young  wanton.  24  He  de- 
 horttth  from  such  wickcd7iess. 
 
 IV/rY  son,  keep  my  words,  and  ^  lay  up  my 
 ■^  ^   commandments  with  thee. 
 
 t2  ^  Keep  my  commandments,  and  live  ;  '^and 
 my  law  as  the  apple  of  thine  eye. 
 
 .*J  ^  Bind  them  upon  thy  fingers,  write  them 
 upon  the  table  of  thine  heart. 
 
 4  Say  unto  wisdom.  Thou  art  ray  sister;  and 
 call  understanding  thtj  kinswoman  : 
 
 o  ''  That  they  may  keep  thee  from  the  strange 
 woman,  from  the  stranger  tvhich  flattereth  witli 
 her  words. 
 
 6  1  For  at  the  window  of  my  house  I  looked 
 through  my  casement, 
 
 7  And  beheld  among  the  simple  ones,  I  dis- 
 cerned among  f  the  youths,  a  young  man  ''void 
 of  understanding. 
 
 8  Passing  through  the  street  near  her  comer ; 
 and  he  went  the  way  to  her  house, 
 
 J)  ^  In  the  twilight,  fin  the  evening,  in  the 
 black  and  dark  night : 
 
 10  And,  behold,  tliere  met  him  a  woman  ivith 
 the  attire  of  an  harlut,  and  subtil  of  heart. 
 
 M  C' Slie  is  loud  and  stubborn;  'her  feet 
 ai)ide  nut  in  her  house  ; 
 
 12  Now  in  she  without,  now  in  the  streets, 
 and  lieth  in  wait  at  every  corner.) 
 
 13  So  she  caught  liim,  and  kissed  him,  and 
 f  with  an  impudent  face  said  unto  him, 
 
 14  f/  have  peace  offerings  with  me;  this 
 day  have  I  paid  my  vows. 
 
 15  Tlierefore  came  I  forth  to  meet  thee,  dili- 
 gently to  seek  thy  face,  and  1  have  found  thee. 
 
 16  I  have  decked  my  bed  with  coverings  of, 
 
 6  Lev.  18.  5 
 
 cli.  -1.  4. 
 
 Is.  55.  3. 
 cl>ou    32.10, 
 d  Veu.  6.  8. 
 
 ft  II.  IS. 
 
 ch.  3.  3.  & 
 
 0.  21. 
 
 /cli.  6.32. 
 it  9.  4,  16. 
 
 t  tW'b.  in  Ih 
 
 t  Hcb.  >!,» 
 
 hrr  /acf,Hiit 
 taiii. 
 
 t  Heb-  in  A, 
 
 II  Or,  the  ntw 
 
 f  Heb. 
 suddenly. 
 
 tapestry,  with  carved  works,  \s\i\\  ^  fine  linen  of 
 
 Egypt. 
 
 17  I  have  perfumed  my  bed  with  myrrh,  aloes, 
 and  cinnamou. 
 
 18  Come,  let  us  take  our  fill  of  love  until  the 
 morning  :  let  us  solace  ourselves  witii  loves- 
 
 19  For  the  goodman  is  not  at  home,  he  is 
 gone  a  long  journey  : 
 
 20  He  hath  taken  a  bag  of  money  f  "ith  him, 
 and  will  come  home  at  ||  the  day  appointed. 
 
 21  With  'her  much  fair  speech  slie  caused 
 him  to  yield,  "'with  the  flattering  of  her  lips 
 she  forced  him. 
 
 22  He  goetii  after  her  f  straightway,  as  an  ox 
 goeth  to  the  slaugliter,  or  as  a  fool  to  the  cor- 
 rection of  the  stocks ; 
 
 23  Till  a  dart  strike  through  bis  liver ;  "  as  a 
 bird  hasteth  to  the  snare,  and  knoweth  not  that 
 it  is  for  bis  life. 
 
 24  H  Hearken  unto  me  now  therefore,  O  ye 
 children,  and  attend  to  the  words  of  my  mouth. 
 
 25  Let  not  thine  heart  decline  to  her  ways, 
 go  not  astray  in  her  paths. 
 
 26  For  she  bath  cast  down  many  wounded  : 
 yea,  °  many  strong  lucti  have  been  slain  by  her. 
 
 27  ^  Her  house  is  the  way  to  liell,  going 
 down  to  the  chambers  of  death. 
 
 CHAP.   VIII, 
 
 I  The  fame,  Q  and  cridency  of  wisdom.  10  The  excel- 
 lency, 12  the  jiature,  15  the  power,  18  the  rtcJtes,  22 
 and  the  cttruity  of  wisdom.  32  Wisdom  is  to  he  de- 
 sired for  the  blessidntss  it  hringtth. 
 
 "P\OTH  not "  wisdom  cry  ?  and  understand- 
 -*-^   ing  put  forth  her  voice? 
 
 2  She  standctli  in  the  top  of  Iiigh  places,  oy 
 the  way  in  the  places  of  t!ie  paths. 
 
 3  Slie  crietli  at  the  gates,  at  the  entry  of  the 
 citj',  at  the  coming  in  at  the  doors. 
 
 Chap.  VII. — I.Apple,  'pupil.' — Dur'-ll.         3.  Upon  thy  fingers,  as 
 rings  both  memorial  aud  ornampntal.— rji//.  4.  Thou  art  my  sister. 
 
 bo  as  tamiliar  with  wisdom  as  wiUi  a  natural  sif-ter.  —  Bp.  Hall. 
 fi.  Casement,  '  lattice  work.'— P«r.  g.  Twilight — evening,  fyc,  mcau- 
 inia:,  in  various  periods  of  the  meUt.—Schu Itens.  Some  time  after  sun- 
 set, before  it  was  quite  dark.— .^.  Clmke.  \{i.  Attire  of  an  harlot, 
 ffescribed  Gen.  xxxviii,  14, 15,  19.  hut  that  was  the  day  attire  ;  this  was 
 lirobably  with  showy  gaudy  garments,  such  as  were  used  for  like  pur- 
 poses  among  the  Atlienmns  and  Romans.— Gi7/.  I'emiiles  of  that  class 
 are  generally  dressed  in  scarlet,  have  their  robes  wound  tightly  round 
 their  bodies,  their  eyelids  and  linger  nails  are  painted  or  stained,  and 
 tliey  wear  numerous  ornaments,  (-2  Kings,  ix.  30.]— Rob.  14.  Peace 
 
 offerings,  the  greater  part  of  which  was  returned  to  the  offerer,  to  feast 
 with  his  friends,  (Dent.  xii.  6,  J.)— Pat.  It  means,  she  said  she  had  a 
 fea.Rt.—Durell.  The  Hindoo  gods  aro  worshipped  in  brothels,  and 
 fragments  of  the  offerings  are  divided  among  the  wretches  who  fall 
 >nto  the  snare  of  the  priistitnte. —  Ward.  I6.  Carded  works,  probalily 
 means,  figmed  tapestry. — Par.  '  With  works  beautified  with  the  thread 
 of  Egypt.' — Htirmer.  22.  As  afoot  to  the  correction,  §-c.,  'as  a  hart 
 bofindeth  into  the  toi\%.'—Hiiiif,  Maiden,  Bnot/ir.  '  Vea,  like  a  fool,  he 
 iiinneth  on  to  punishment.'— //of/^.  '  As  a  fettered  fool  to  correction.' 
 —  Par.  26.  Many  wounded,  '  many  warriors.' — Ken. ;  witness  Solo- 
 mon, Samson,  &c. — Pat.         '27.  Down  to  the  chamhers,  alluding  to  the 
 
 descent  to  the  Jewish  sepulchres,  cut  in  large  vaults  or  caves. — Par. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.  —  1.  Doth  not  uisdomcry  ?—'Wi&dum  is  here  allegorized 
 as  a  sage  and  eloquent  monitor,  lifting  up  her  warning  voice,  denounc- 
 ing to  the  young  the  snares  and  dangers  to  which  they  are  exposed, 
 aud  exhorting  them  to  abandon  '  the  ways  of  the  wicked.* — ilif.  (iood. 
 Christ  is  called  the  wisdom  of  God,  (Luke,  \i.  49  ;)  by  him  all  things 
 were  created,  (Jolin,  i.  1 — 3;  he  made  known  the  Divine  will  to  the 
 prophets  from  the  beginning,  (!  Pet.  i.  II,  and  iii.  18;)  and  tlierefore 
 the  Spirit  might  here  intend  to  give  such  a  representatiua  as  would 
 suit  both  the  natural  attrimite  of  Divine  wisdom,  and  our  J.nrtt,  by 
 whom  it  was  exercised  and  dis|)layed. — Boolhr.  If,  by  Wisdom,  Christ, 
 or  the  preaching  of  his  Gospel  by  him  personally,  and  afterwards  by 
 his  apnstli's,  evangelists,  and  ministers,  be  meant,  or  if  wc  interpret  it 
 of  him  and  liis  doctrine  thus  promulgated,  the  appeal  to  mankind  here 
 made  must  be  far  more  emphatical  and  impressive  than  «in  any  other 
 intcrprct.ition. — Scott.  Tins  view  is  favoured  by  Gill,  Henry,  Sxit. 
 Wisdom  is  represented  in  tins  chapter  in  a  twofold  p'int  of  view — (i.) 
 The  power  of  judi,'ing  rightly,  implying  the  knowledge  of  divine  and 
 human  things ;  and  (ii.)  as  an  attribute  of  God,  particularly  displayed 
 in  the  various  and  astonishing  works  of  creation.  Nor  has  it  any  other 
 meaning,  as  the  Fathers  have  supposed,  who  find  allegorical  meanings 
 everywhere. — A.  Clarke.  This  opinion  is  favoured  by  Pat.,  SchuUens, 
 and,  as  above,  by  M.  Good.     The  character  may  have  a  double  sense. 
 
 REFt.FCTinNs  ON  Chap.  VI. — Tlie  language  of  this  cliaptef 
 is — T.  Beware  of  svniyshij).  'J'o  ibe  young  and  inexperienced 
 it  is  highly  vahiable.  Many  liave  ruined  tbemselves.  and  in- 
 volved an  innocent  family  in  the  ruin,  by  thoughtlessly  be- 
 coming sureties.  The  pai'ties  requiring  it  are  often  in  a  state 
 of  insolvency,  and  the  parties  who  engage  for  them  should  see 
 that  tbey  are  able  to  bear  the  worst  consequences  without  in- 
 juring their  families. 
 
 II.  Beware  of  idleness.  There  are  even  persons  professing 
 jidigion  who  need  this  caution.  Such  should  remember,  that, 
 in  the  apostolic  exhortations.  '  diligence  in  business'  is  con- 
 nected with  fervency  in  spirit,  *  serving  the  Lord.'  By  idle- 
 ness the  professor  disgraces  religion,  and  to  the  young  man, 
 hy  begetting  other  evil  habits,  it  has  often  become  tho  parent 
 of  many  a  sin. 
 
 HI.  Bewire  of  uncleanness.  Tbink  on  its  consequences! 
 Modern  laws  may  not  punish  for  it.  but  the  law  of  God  still 
 does  for  '  whoremongers  and  adulterers  God  will  judge.'  Let 
 073 
 
 the  word  of  Christ  therefore  dwell  in  tlie  memory  and  heart, 
 as  the  best  monitor  to  warn  against  this  and  all  vicious  prac- 
 tices. *  Thy  word,' says  the  psalmist, '  have  I  hid  in  mine 
 heart,  that  I  might  not  sin  against  thee.' 
 
 RF.rLtrTioNS  on  Chap.  VIL  —  We  have  here,  I.  The  dan- 
 gei-ous  woman  described.  Distinguished  by  her  attire,  ber 
 subtlety,  her  boldness  and  impudence,  and  her  artful  pre- 
 tences. 
 
 IL  The  victim  of  her  arts  described.  A  simple  youth,  who, 
 wandering  perhaps  for  the  guilty  purpose,  the  beguiling  ser- 
 pent allured  to  her  house  ;  there  he  fell,  as  many  strong  men 
 have  fallen — fell  as  a  beast  in  the  slaughter-house.  Young 
 man,  beware!  lest  the  dart  which  has  transfixed  many  a  life 
 bring  you  to  an  early  grave  ;  or  lest,  by  one  fatal  transgression, 
 those  arrows  of  (be  Almighty  stick  fast  in  your  conscience, 
 which  nothing  but  his  merciful  hand,  whose  authority  you 
 have  insulted,  ciiu  ever  draw  out. 
 
The  eternity  of  wisdom. 
 
 PROVERBS,  IX. 
 
 The  cliscipline  of  wisdom. 
 
 4  Unto  you,  O  men,  I  call  ;  and  my  voice  is 
 to  the  sons  of  man. 
 
 3  O  ye  simple,  understand  wisdom  :  and,  ye 
 fools,  be  ye  of  an  understanding  heart. 
 
 C  Hear  ;  for  I  will  speak  of ''  excellent  things , 
 and  the  opening  of  my  lips  shall  he  riglit  tilings. 
 
 7  For  my  montli  shall  speak  trntli  ;  and  wick- 
 edness is  t  an  abomination  to  my  lips. 
 
 8  All  the  words  of  my  moutli  are  in  righte- 
 ousness; there  is  nothing  f  froward  or  perverse 
 in  them. 
 
 9  They  are  all  plain  to  him  that  understand- 
 etli,  and  right  to  them  that  find  knowledge. 
 
 10  Receive  my  instruction,  and  not  silver; 
 and  knowledge  r.Ulier  than  choice  gold. 
 
 1 1  '  For  wisdom  is  better  than  rubies  ;  and 
 all  the  tilings  tliat  inay  be  desired  are  not  to 
 be  compared  to  it. 
 
 1-2  I  wisdom  dwell  with  ||  prudence,  and  find 
 out  knowledge  of  witty  inventions. 
 
 13  ''The  fear  of  the  Lokd  is  to  hate  evil: 
 '  pride,  and  arrogancy,  and  tlie  evil  way,  and 
 '  tlie  froward  mouth,  do  I  hate. 
 
 14  Counsel  is  mine,  and  sound  wisdom:  I 
 am  understanding  ;  ^  I  have  strength. 
 
 15  i"  By  me  kings  reign,  and  princes  decree 
 justice. 
 
 16  By  me  princes  rule,  and  nobles,  even  all 
 the  judges  of  the  earth. 
 
 17  '  I  love  them  that  love  me;  and  'those 
 that  seek  me  early  sliall  find  inc. 
 
 18  '  Riclies  and  honour  are  witli  me;  yea 
 durable  riches  and  rigliteousness. 
 
 19  "My  fruit  is  better  than  gold,  yea,  than 
 fine  gold  ;  and  my  revenue  than  choice  silver 
 
 20  I  II  lead  in  the  way  of  rigliteousness,  in 
 the  midst  of  the  paths  of  judgment : 
 
 21  That  I  may  cause  those  that  love  me  to 
 inherit  substance  ;  and  I  will  fill  their  treasures. 
 
 22  "  The  Lord  possessed  me  in  the  beginning 
 of  his  way,  before  his  works  of  old. 
 
 23  °  I  was  set  up  from  everlasting,  from  the 
 beginning,  or  ever  tlie  earth  was. 
 
 24  When  there  icere  no  depths,  1  was  brought 
 forth  ;  when  there  ivere  no  fountains  abound- 
 ing with  water. 
 
 23  ''  Before  the  mountains  were  settled,  before 
 the  hills  was  I  brought  forth  : 
 
 c  Job  28.  15, 
 &C  Ps.  19. 
 111.  Jtc  119. 
 127.  ch.  3. 
 14,  15.  &  .1. 
 5.  7.  &  10. 
 
 in. 
 
 II  Or,  suh- 
 liltif 
 d  cli.  111.  6. 
 e  cli.  6.  17. 
 
 /"ch.  4.  24. 
 
 S  Ecclea.  7. 
 
 i  1  Sa.  9.  SO. 
 
 P3.  91.  14. 
 
 Jnlin  14.21. 
 k  .lam.  I.  6. 
 /.'h.  3,  16. 
 
 Mat.  6.  33. 
 
 m  ch.  3.  11. 
 
 II  Or,  <taU. 
 
 ,  ch.  3.  19. 
 Ecclaa  24. 
 9.John  I.I 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 Cir.  Um. 
 
 II  Or.  op»n 
 
 II  Or,  Iht 
 Chirf  pnrt. 
 
 II  Or,  . 
 
 q  Gen.  1.  9, 
 111.  Job  as. 
 10,  11.  Ps. 
 Xi.  7.  &  104 
 9   Jet.  5. 
 
 .*■  Ps.  119.  I, 
 2.  &  123.  I 
 2.  Luke  II 
 
 t  Hcb.  i 
 /»rrt 
 I  ch.  12. 
 
 a  Mat.  16.18. 
 
 Kph.  2.  20, 
 
 21,  22. 
 
 I  Pet.  2.  5 
 b  Mat.  22.  3, 
 
 &c. 
 t  Hcb.  hrr 
 
 killini;. 
 c  ver.  .5. 
 
 ch    23.30. 
 rf  Rom.  10. 
 
 *  ch.  8.  1,  2. 
 /ver-  14. 
 J  ver.  16. 
 
 ch.  C.  32. 
 
 Mat.  11.85. 
 ',  ver.  2. 
 
 Cant.  5.  I. 
 
 ]«.  .-.S.  1. 
 
 John  6.  27. 
 
 26  While  as  yet  he  had  not  made  the  earth, 
 nor  the  ||  fields,  nor  ||  the  liighest  part  of  the 
 dust  of  the  world. 
 
 27  When  he  prepared  the  heavens,  I  was 
 there  :  when  he  set  ||  a  compass  upon  the  face 
 of  the  depth  : 
 
 28  When  he  established  the  clouds  above  : 
 when  he  strengthened  the  fountains  of  the 
 deep  : 
 
 29  ''  When  he  gave  to  the  sea  his  decree,  that 
 the  waters  should  not  pass  liis  commandment : 
 when  'he  appointed  the  foundations  of  the 
 earth  : 
 
 30  ^  Then  I  was  by  him,  as  one  brought  up 
 with  him:  'and  I  was  daily  his  delight,  re- 
 joicing always  before  him  ; 
 
 31  Rejoicing  in  the  habitable  part  of  his 
 earth  ;  and  "  my  delights  were  with  the  sons 
 of  men. 
 
 •32  Now  therefore  hearken  unto  nie,  O  ye 
 children  :  for  '  blessed  arc  they  that  keep  my 
 ways. 
 
 33  Hear  instruction,  and  be  wise,  and  refuse 
 it  not. 
 
 34  ''  Blessed  is  the  man  that  heareth  roe, 
 watching  daily  at  my  gates,  waiting  at  the 
 posts  of  my  doors. 
 
 33  For  whoso  findeth  me  findeth  life,  and 
 shall  t '  obtain  favour  of  the  Lord. 
 
 36   But  he  that  sinneth  against  me  °  wrongeth 
 
 his  own  soul  :  all  they  that  hate  me  love  death. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1   77(6  discipline^  4  and  doctrine  of  wisdom.      13  TIte 
 
 ci/stmn,  16  and  error  of  folly. 
 "VVTISDOM    hath  "builcled    her   house,  she 
 '  '     hath  hewn  out  her  seven  pillars  : 
 
 2  **  She  hath  killed  fher  beasts;  "'she  hatli 
 mingled  her  wine  ;  she  hath  also  furvished  her 
 table. 
 
 3  She  hath  •'sent  forth  her  maidens:  *she 
 crieth  'upon  the  highest  places  of  the  city, 
 
 4  ^  Whoso  is  simple,  let  him  turn  in  hither: 
 afi  for  him  that  wanteth  understanding,  she 
 saith  lo  him, 
 
 5  ''  Come,  eat  of  my  bread,  and  drink  of  the 
 wine  irhich  I  have  mingled. 
 
 6  Forsake  the  fuoli.sh,  and  live  ;  and  go  in  the 
 way  of  understanding. 
 
 and  refer  both  to  the  Divine  attribute  anri  to  a  Divine  person. — Wil. 
 8.  Froward,  '5nD3i  '  tortuous,'  *  involved,'  or  *  difficult.'  ITJ?!*.  '  dis- 
 torted.*— A.  Clarke.  10.  And  not  silver,  in  preference  to  silver. — Cal. 
 14.  Sound  wisdom,  rCTDin,  '  essence,'  '  substance,'  '  reality,'  the  source 
 and  substance  of  good. — A.  Clarke.  I  have  strength,  inspiring  men 
 with  true  and  rational  courage  to  persist  in  what  is  good. — So  Wells. 
 22.  The  Lord  possessed  me,  ffc,  '  the  Lord  possessed  me  the  beginning,' 
 &c. ;  intimating  that  wisdom  was  the  source  of  all  God's  works. —  Wil. 
 
 'Jehovah  held  me  the  chief  of  his  train, 
 Before  his  works,  in  the  outset. 
 From  everlasting  was  I  anointed  : 
 From  the  beginning,  from  tlie  forecastings  of  the  earth.' 
 
 Wisdom  is  here  represented  as  the  clmracteristic  attribute,  the  dazzling 
 oflTspring  c»f  the  Deity,  who  was  with  him  as  his  chief  object  of  delight 
 when  he  planned  the  mighty  frame  of  tlie  creation. — ^f.  Good.  27.  Set 
 ft  compdss,  '  described  a  circle.'— B;;.  Loivth.  30.  As  one  brought  up, 
 ?inn.  *  a  foster  child.'— GescHfws.  'A  nursling,'  *a  darling  child. '— 
 A.Clarke.  'Then  I  was  by  him  (lir^N)  constantly.'— 7'ur.  'Then  I 
 was  as  a  workman  with  him.' — Boot  hr.  'As  a  companion.' — Hodgson. 
 *  As  a  fabricator.' — Holden.  31.  My  delights  were  with  the  sons  of 
 men,  made  in  the  image  of  God,  and  after  his  likeness,  and  capable  of 
 holding  converse  with  me.— Pat.        34.  Waiting  at  the  posts  of  viy 
 
 doors,  going  to  the  places  where  tnie  religion  and  piety  are  taught. — 
 WpUs.  Alludes  to  the  custom  of  waiting  at  the  gates  of  palaces  either 
 on  duty  or  in  expectation  of  a  favour  from  the  sovereign.— Pjc/.  Bil>. 
 Chap.  IX.  —  1.  Wisdom  hath  builded,  ^c. — Wisdom,  under  another 
 similitude,  is  rei)resented  as  a  princely  potentate,  preparing  a  rich  ban- 
 quet in  his  splendid  palace,  sending  forth  his  invitations  freely  into 
 every  quarter,  and  making  proclamation  himself  from  the  heights  of 
 the  city,  for  all  who  stand  in  need  of  his  counsel. — M.  Good.  Rather, 
 Wisdom  here  speaks  as  a  queen,  as  remarked  by  Pat.  Perhaps  Solo- 
 mon here  referred  to  his  magnificent  temple,  to  which  men  were 
 invited  to  resort  for  the  worship  of  God,  in^teail  of  frequenting  scenes 
 of  vice  and  dissipation  ;  but  even  this  was  typical  of  Christ  and  his 
 Gospel. — Scott.  2.  Killed  her  beasts,  made  a  plentiful  provision  for 
 all  hungry  and  thirsty  souls, — Put. ;  which  may  denote  the  ordinances 
 and  blessings  of  grace.  3.  Her  maidens,  may  denote  the  ministers  of 
 the  word. — Boothr.  Hasselquist  saw  ten  or  twelve  women  going  about 
 at  Alexandria  and  inviting  people  iii  this  way  to  a  banquet,  making  a 
 particular  kind  of  cry  or  noise. — Par.  Upon  the  highest  places,  on  high 
 places  were  the  schools  of  the  pruphets,  (i  Sam.  x.  5,  10  ;)  to  these  it 
 may  allude,  the  invitation  being  to  receive  instruction, —  Pat.;  or  to 
 the  tops  of  houses,  whence  proclamation  was  often  made. — Cal.  See 
 Matt.  X.  27.  4.  Si7nple,    thoughtless  and    inexperienced, — Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  I.  Let  jis  admire  the  wisdom 
 of  God  in  creation.  Let  us  learn  from  the  book  of  his  works  to 
 adore  and  reverence  him.  The  Christian  philosopher  can 
 contemplate  with  inexpressible  pleasure  the  master  hand  of 
 Divine  Wisdom,  not  only  in  the  most  vast  and  gloriousof  God's 
 works,  but  even  in  tlie  most  minute  insect  and  vegetable  pro- 
 duction which  we  tread  under  our  feet.  '  O  Lord,  how  mani- 
 679 
 
 fold  are  thy  works !  in  wisdom  hast  thou  made  them  all.' 
 
 II.  Let  us  direct  our  tliouglits  to  Him  iu  whom  are  all  the  trea- 
 sures of  wisdom  and  knowltdrje.  By  whose  Spirit  we  may  be 
 made  wise  unto  salvation.  Tlie  wisdom  of  God  incarnate. 
 Whoso  findeth  Mira,  indeed  '  findeth  life,  and  shall  obtain 
 favour  of  the  Lord.'  May  lie  of  God  be  *  made  unto  us  wis- 
 dom, righteousness,  sanctification,  and  redemption.' 
 
3To>'al  virtves,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  X. 
 
 their  contrary  vices. 
 
 7  He  that  reproveth  a  sconier  gettetli  to 
 himself  shame  :  and  he  that  rebuketh  a  wicked 
 man  getteth  himself  a  blot. 
 
 8  '  Reprove  not  a  scorner,  lest  he  hate  thee  : 
 ■■  rebuke  a  wise  man,  and  he  will  love  thee. 
 
 9  Give  instruction  to  a  wise  wan,  and  he  will 
 be  yet  wiser:  teach  a  just  rnan,  'and  he  will 
 increase  in  learning. 
 
 10  "The  fear  of  the  Lokd  is  the  beginning 
 of  wisdom  :  and  the  knowledge  of  the  holy  is 
 understanding. 
 
 11  "  For  by  me  thy  days  shall  be  multiplied, 
 and  the  years  of  tliy  life  shall  be  increased. 
 
 12  °  If  thou  be  wise,  thou  shalt  be  wise  for 
 thyself:  but  (/'thou  scornest,  thou  alone  shall 
 bear  it. 
 
 13  t  ■'  A  foolish  woman  is  clamorous  :  she  is 
 simple,  and  knowelh  nothing. 
 
 14  For  .she  sittetb  at  the  door  of  her  house, 
 on  a  seat  ''  in  the  liigh  places  of  the  city, 
 
 15  To  call  passengers  who  go  right  on  their 
 ways  : 
 
 Ifi  '  Whoso  is  simple,  let  him  turn  in  hither 
 and  as  for  him   that    wanteth  understanding, 
 she  sailh  to  him, 
 
 17  '  Stolen  waters  are  sweet,  and  bread  ^ eaten 
 in  secret  is  pleasant. 
 
 18  But  he  knoweth  not  that  '  the  dead  are 
 there  ;  and  that  her  guests  are  in  the  depths 
 of  hell. 
 
 CHAP.  X 
 
 From  this  chapter  tn  the  Jive  and  tjcentieth  are  suiidri/ 
 ofis<  rvations  nf  moral  virturs,  and  their  coittran/  vices. 
 
 'T'HE   proverbs   of  Solomon.     °A    wise  son 
 
 maketh  a  glad  father  :  but  a  foolish  son  is 
 
 1 
 the  heaviness  of  liLs  mother. 
 
 2  *■  Treasures  of  wickedness  profit  nothing : 
 'but  righteousness  delivereth  from  death. 
 
 3  ■'  The  Lord  will  not  suffer  the  soul  of  the 
 righteous  to  faniLsh  :  but  he  casteth  away  ||  the 
 substance  of  the  wicked. 
 
 4  "  He  becometh  poor  that  dealeth  irith  a 
 slack  hand  :  but  '  the  hand  of  the  diligent 
 maketh  rich. 
 
 5  He  that  gathereth  in  summer  !,<  a  wise  son  : 
 but  he  that  sleepeth  in  harvest  is  ^  a  son  that 
 causeth  shame. 
 
 B.  0. 
 
 B   C. 
 
 cir    liNXI 
 
 cir    IlKHl. 
 
 It  ver.   11. 
 
 Kslh.  7.  S. 
 
 i  Mat    7.  6- 
 
 .  Ps.  y.  h,  6 
 
 k  Ps,  III.  5. 
 
 &  112    6. 
 Eccles.  8. 
 
 10. 
 
 /  Mat.  13   12. 
 
 h  ver.  10. 
 
 t  Heb.  n  f^o 
 
 of  Up,. 
 
 m  Job  29.  2S. 
 
 U  Or,.;.a//  be 
 
 ?§.  111.  10. 
 
 bfalrn. 
 
 ch.  1.  7. 
 
 I  P3.  23.  4. 
 
 Ch.  28,  19. 
 
 Is  33.  15,16. 
 
 /<ch   3.9,16. 
 Si  ly.  'j;. 
 
 T/i  Ch.  6.  13. 
 
 n  ver.  8. 
 
 II  Or,  $hnll  be 
 
 b'-il,„. 
 
 0  Job  S5. 6,7. 
 
 o  Ps.  37   30 
 
 ch.  16.  £6. 
 
 h.   13    U 
 
 &  la.  +. 
 
 P  Ps.  107.  42. 
 
 viT.  6. 
 
 /'Cli.  7.  U. 
 
 7  eh.  17.  9. 
 
 1  C..r.  l.H  4. 
 
 1  Pet.  ♦    8. 
 
 r  rb.  '?6.  3. 
 
 [  Heb  A-.r/. 
 
 q  ver.  3. 
 
 .  eh.  18.  7. 
 8;  21.  23. 
 
 Oob^l.21. 
 
 r  ver.  4. 
 
 Ch.'  18'  I'l'. 
 
 1  Tim.  6  17. 
 
 1  Ph.  90.  17. 
 
 t  Heb.  "/ 
 
 irCTtcift. 
 
 (Ob.  2.  18. 
 
 i;  Or,  c'uteth 
 
 &7.  27. 
 
 lu  •-rr. 
 
 t<  Pe.  15    3. 
 
 X  EccIcs..")  3. 
 
 V  Jam.  3.  2. 
 
 '1  rli.  15  20. 
 
 ft  \7.2\,'ib. 
 
 h  19    I.S.  & 
 
 29.  .S,  15. 
 
 t  Heb.  of 
 
 b  Ps.  49.  G, 
 
 f.^rt.      ' 
 
 Ike  ch  11  +. 
 
 *Gei..?JS5. 
 
 r.uke  12. 
 
 #<  26.  12. 
 
 If),  -'Q 
 
 Pb.  :17.  22. 
 
 f  Dan.l.  27- 
 
 1  cb.  U.  9. 
 
 d  Ps.  10.  14. 
 
 &  15.81. 
 
 Sc  -i-\    9.  10. 
 
 fc  S7.  25. 
 
 6  Job  15.  21. 
 
 1  O. ,  thf 
 
 ,ci.k.-4  f.,r 
 
 c  Pa.  145.  19. 
 
 tbeir  J.ck. 
 
 Mat.  5    6 
 
 rdn'-U. 
 
 1  John  5.14, 
 
 -.b.  12   21. 
 
 15. 
 
 A  10,  15. 
 
 rf  P8.  37.  9, 
 
 f''\u  l.S   4. 
 
 10. 
 
 A:  n.  5, 
 
 e  ver.  SO. 
 
 ;  i-b    l'>.  4. 
 
 Ps.   15,  5. 
 
 &  17    2.  & 
 
 Mat.  7.  2t. 
 
 13.  26. 
 
 25.  &  16.  18. 
 
 6  Blessings  are  upon  the  head  of  the  just : 
 but  ■■  violence  covcreth  the  mouth  of  the 
 wicked. 
 
 7  '  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed  :  but 
 the  name  of  the  wicked  shall  rot. 
 
 8  The  wise  in  heart  will  receive  command- 
 ments :  ''  but  fa  prating  fool  ||  shall  fall. 
 
 9  '  He  that  walketli  uprightly  walketh  surely: 
 but  he  that  perverteth  his  ways  shall  be  known. 
 
 10  ■"  He  that  winketh  with  the  eye  causeth 
 sorrow  :  "  but  a  prating  fool  ||  shall  fall. 
 
 1 1  °  Tlie  mouth  of  a  righteous  7nun  is  a  well 
 of  life:  but  ''violence  covereth  the  mouth  of 
 the  wicked. 
 
 12  Hatred  stirreth  up  strifes:  but  ''love 
 covereth  all  sins. 
 
 13  In  the  lips  of  him  that  hath  understanding 
 wisdom  is  found  :  but  'a  rod  is  for  the  back  of 
 him  that  is  void  of  f  understanding, 
 
 14  Wise  men  lay  up  knowledge:  but  'the 
 mouth  of  the  foolish  is  near  destruction, 
 
 la  '  The  rich  man's  wealth  is  his  strong  city  : 
 the  destruction  of  the  poor  is  their  poverty. 
 
 1()  The  labour  of  the  righteous  tendeth  to 
 life  :   the  fruit  of  the  wicked  to  sin. 
 
 17  He  is  in  the  way  of  life  that  keepeth 
 instruction :  but  he  that  refuseth  reproof 
 II  erreth. 
 
 18  He  that  hideth  hatred  tvith  lying  lips,  and 
 "  he  that  uttereth  a  slander,  is  a  fool. 
 
 19  '  In  the  multitude  of  words  there  wanteth 
 not  sin  :  but  '  he  that  refraineth  his  lips  is  wise. 
 
 20  The  tongue  of  the  just  is  as  choice  silver: 
 the  heart  of  the  wicked  zs  little  worth. 
 
 21  The  lips  of  the  righteous  feed  many  :  but 
 fools  die  for  want  f  of  wisdom. 
 
 22  ^  The  blessing  of  the  Lord,  it  maketh 
 rich,  and  he  addeth  no  sorrow  with  it. 
 
 23  ^It  is  as  sport  to  a  fool  to  do  mischief: 
 but  a  man  of  understanding  hath  wisdom. 
 
 24  ''  The  fear  of  the  wicked,  it  shall  come 
 upon  him  :  but  '  the  desire  of  the  righteous 
 shall  be  granted. 
 
 '  the   righteous 
 
 the 
 
 an 
 
 25  As   the    whirlwind    passeth,   ''so   i.i 
 wicked   no   tnore :  but 
 everlasting  foundation. 
 
 26  As  vinegar  to  the  teeth,  and  as  smoke  to 
 
 7.  Getteth — a  blot,  'unworthy  usage.' — XJ'ells.  9.  Reprove  not  n 
 scojfer,  synonimoiLs  with  *  cast  not  your  pearls  before  swine.'— Boo/Ar. 
 9.  Vet  wiser,  recei\e  profit  from  it.— .1.  Clarke.  10.  Knowledge  of  the 
 holji,  'of  hilly  things.'— Boo/Ar.,  so  Isham.  •  Of  the  holy  Ones,  the 
 blessed  Trinity.'— Ho/rfpn,  Pye  Smith.  12.  Wise  for  Wivse'/— wisdom 
 gives  blessings  to  men,  but  receives  nothing  from  them.  {comp.  Job, 
 XXXV.  S—a.)—Boothr.  Bear  it,  the  punishment  for  it.— Wells.  1,1.  A 
 foolish  woman,  ^c,  '  Folly.'  As  Wisdom  is  represented  as  a  queen, 
 invitnig  guests,  so  Folly  is  represented  as  also  inviting  guests,  and  using 
 like  language.— JJooMr.  When  rightly  translated,  the  latter  part  of 
 this  allegory  affords  a  wonderful  contrast— 
 
 'The  esspncc  of  Foli.v  is  turbulence, 
 Thoughtlessness,  and  vanity.     Can  she  know  anything  .' 
 She,  too.  sitteth  at  the  opening  of  her  pavilion  ; 
 On  the  throne  of  the  heights  of  the  city, 
 To  call  out  the  travellers  on  the  way,'  &c. — M.  Good. 
 The  foolish  woman  may  here  be  an  emblem  of  worldlv  pleasures  and 
 idolatrous  practices,  alluring  souls  from  '  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.' 
 — Scott.  H.  At  the  door,  so  prostitutes  still  sit  in  the  east,  in  the 
 
 most  alluring  pomp.— //«r.  I".  Bread  eaten  in  secret,  ^c,  '  and 
 delicious  the  feast  of  the  clandestine.'— jV.  Good.  18.  Tliedead,  D'ND"1, 
 —some  think  reference  is  had  to  the  giants  of  the  old  world,  that  cor- 
 rupted their  way  on  earth  and  brought  a  deluge  on  it,  (see  chap.  vii. 
 
 26.) — Gill.  Are  there,  ^c,  she  invites  him  to  the  utter  ruin  of  body 
 and  soul. — Par.  With  this  fearful  and  forcible  stroke  the  allegory  con- 
 cludes. The  general  object  being  to  inculcate  upon  the  young  the 
 great  duties  of  fearing  God,  and  reverencmg  parents ;  of  practising 
 virtue,  temperance,  and  nioriestv,  and  kecpini^  the  passions  in  subjec- 
 tion, and  to  warn  them  against  pride,  arrogance,  self-conceit,  forward- 
 ness, envy,  mischief,  making,  backbiting,  hasty  and  imprudent  friend- 
 ships and  engagements  ;  and.  above  all.  profiiLracy,  debauchery,  and 
 scofhng  or  making  a  mock  at  religion. — M.  Goad. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  2.  Treasures,  ^(.'..  gained  by  rubbeiy,  bring  untimely 
 death ;  but  righteous  dealing  brings  no  such  consec|uences. — Clarke. 
 6.  Cot'cret/t  the  month,  perhaps  an  allusion  to  the  cuhtom  of  covering 
 the  faces  of  criminals,  (see  Esth.  vii.  8,  and  Job,  ix.  24,)  or  it  may  al- 
 lude to  mourners,  (comp.  Ezek.  xxiv.  I".) — Hew.  Of  the  wicked,  X\\c\t 
 own  wickedness  shall  overwhelm  them,  to  their  utter  confusion. — Pat. 
 10.  He  that  winketh,  §c.— 
 
 *  He  that  winketh  with  the  eye  causeth  sorrow. 
 But  he  that  reproveth  freely,  worketh  safety,'  Sept.,  Si/r.,  Arah. 
 
 M.  A  welt  of  life,  'a  living  well,'  supplied  by  a  perennial  spring ;  it 
 means,  that  the  conversation  of  the  righteous  is  a  continual  source  of 
 happiness,  prosperity,  and  virtue.— Heic,  19,  Wanteth  not  sin,  exag- 
 gerations, or  depressions  of  character,  anger,  kc.—Sut.  20.  Little 
 worth,  TorTDD,  or  '  like  dross. •— ./I.  Clarke.     26.  As  vinegar,  gfC,  as  acids 
 
 REFLicTinNs   ON    Chap.  IX Here  are  set   before  us— 
 
 I.  Theinvitation  of  wisdom.  To  '  forsake  the  foolish  and  live.' 
 For  this  purpose  ber  ministers  are  sent  forth,  and  her  feast  is 
 provided  It  is  full,  it  is  free.  Happily,  lliere  are  many 
 who  are  her  guests.  But  the  lips  of  Incarnate  Wisdom  have 
 told  us,  that  '  yet  there  is  room.'  ■  Whosoever  will,  let  him 
 come. 
 
 680 
 
 '  Rivers  of  love  and  mercy  here 
 In  a  rich  ocean  join  ; 
 Salvation  in  abundance  flows, 
 Like  floods  of  milk  and  wine.'  w 
 
 Notice.  II.  The  invitations  of  folly.  To  what  does  she  invite  ? 
 Name  it  not!  Where  end  all  her  pleasures'!  'The  end  of 
 these  things  is  death  !' 
 
Moral  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XI. 
 
 (hiir  cuhlrary  vices. 
 
 the  eyes,  so  is  the  sluggard  to  them  tliat  send 
 him. 
 
 27  '  The  fear  of  the  Lord  f  proh^ngeth  days  : 
 hut  ^  the  years  of  the  wicked  shall  be  short- 
 ened. 
 
 28  The  hope  of  the  righteous  s/iall  be  glad- 
 ness :  hut  the  '■  expectation  of  the  wicked  shall 
 perish. 
 
 29  The  way  of  the  Lord  is  strength  to  the 
 iipriglit :  '  hut  destruction  shall  be  to  the 
 workers  of  iniquity. 
 
 30  ''  Tlie  rigliteous  shall  never  he  removed  : 
 but  the  wicked  sliall  not  inhabit  tlie  earth. 
 
 ;il  '  Tlie  mouth  of  the  just  bringetli  forth 
 wisdom  ;  but  the  frovvard  tongue  shall  be  cut 
 out. 
 
 32  The  lips  of  the  righteous  know  what  is 
 acceptable  :  but  the  mouth  of  the  wicked 
 speakcth  f  frowardness. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 A  °t  FALSE  balance  is  abomination  to  the 
 Lord  :    but  fa  just  weight  (.<;  his  delight. 
 
 2  i"  When  pride  cometh,  then  cometh  shame  : 
 but  with  the  lowly  is  wisdom. 
 
 3  '  The  integrity  of  the  upright  shall  guide 
 them  :  but  the  perverseness  of  transgressors 
 shall  destroy  them. 
 
 4  •'  Riches  profit  not  in  the  day  of  wrath  : 
 but  'righteousness  delivereth  from  death. 
 
 5  The  righteousness  of  the  perfect  shall  -f  di- 
 rect his  way :  but  the  wicked  shall  fall  by  his 
 own  wickedness. 
 
 6  Tlie  rigliteousness  of  the  upright  shall  de- 
 liver them  :  but  '  transgressors  shall  be  taken 
 in  their  own  naughtiness. 
 
 7  ^  VVlien  a  wicked  man  dieth,  his  expecta- 
 tion shall  perish  :  and  the  hope  of  unjust  men 
 perisheth. 
 
 8  '■  Tbe  righteous  is  delivered  out  of  trouble, 
 and  the  wicked  cometh  iu  his  stead. 
 
 9  An  '  hypocrite  with  his  mouth  destroyeth 
 his  neighbour:  but  througli  knowledge  shall 
 the  just  be  delivered. 
 
 10  '  When  it  goeth  well  with  the  righteous, 
 the  city  rejoiceth  :  and  when  the  wicked 
 perish,  there  is  shouting. 
 
 1 1  '  By  the  blessing  of  the  upright  the  city  is 
 exalted:  but  it  is  overthrown  by  the  moutli  of 
 tlie  wicked. 
 
 12  He  that  is  f  void  of  wisdom  despiseth  his 
 
 /•di.9.  M. 
 t  lieb. 
 
 5  Job  15.  32, 
 
 38.  Be  22.  \i. 
 
 I's.  55   83. 
 
 Ecc'cs  717. 
 /i  Job  8.  18. 
 
 Ik  11.20. 
 
 Ps,  113    10. 
 
 ell.  II.  7. 
 
 i  Pa.  1.  6. 
 
 &  37.  no. 
 
 It— lb. 
 
 cu.  la.  II. & 
 
 ■M.  ID,  '13. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 balance!  of 
 deceit. 
 
 t  Heb.  o  per- 
 fect itiMie. 
 
 6ch.  15,  S3. 
 &  16.  IB.  & 
 19.  I'J.  Dan. 
 4.  30,  31. 
 
 c  c\\.  13.  6. 
 
 deh.  10.  2 
 Kzek.  7.  Ifl. 
 '/..|>h.  I.  18 
 Ercliis  5  3. 
 
 c  lien.  7.  1. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 rml.f). 
 
 /ill.  S.  i2. 
 KecK-3.  10. 
 
 *  Esth.  8.15. 
 ch.'.!8. 12,28. 
 
 t  Heb.  rfcjd'- 
 tiUr  tif  heart. 
 
 cir.  UIOO. 
 
 I  Lev.  19  16. 
 cli.  -.iO.  Ifl. 
 I  H.b,  He 
 Ihalwal/iet/i, 
 beii.B  a  l,.le 
 
 IKii 
 
 ■12.  1, 
 
 ch,  fi.  I, 
 t  Heb.  ihall 
 
 be  ,.,re 
 
 t  Heb.  Ib»ie 
 tbal  ttrike 
 liaiidR. 
 
 ,  ch.  31.  30. 
 
 Hos  10.  19, 
 Ual,  C,  8,  y, 
 Juiii.  3.  Id. 
 
 I  eh.  16.  5. 
 I  Ps.  112.2. 
 
 t  Heb.de- 
 par/eth 
 frum . 
 
 <t  Rom.  2.  f 
 
 y2Cor.  0.  6, 
 7,8,9,  10. 
 
 tHeb.  Tke 
 touivfblesi- 
 
 b  Job  20.  13 
 c  Ksth.  7.  10 
 
 Pn,  7.  15,16. 
 
 &  9.  1.5,  It). 
 
 &  10.2.  & 
 
 57.  fl. 
 d  Job  31 .  2+. 
 
 Ps.  52.  7. 
 
 Mark  10. 
 
 24.  Luke 
 
 12.  21. 
 
 I  Tim  6.17. 
 «Ps,  I.  3.  & 
 
 52.  S.  &  9i, 
 
 12,  &c.  Jer. 
 
 17.  8. 
 /Eccles.  5. 
 
 16. 
 5  n:m.  12.  3 
 
 I  Cor,  9.  19, 
 
 &e.  James 
 
 5.  20. 
 
 tHeb.fnU/ft. 
 ;.  Jer.  2J.  29. 
 
 I  Pet.  4.  17, 
 
 neighbour  :  but  a  man  of  understanding  hold- 
 eth  bis  peace. 
 
 13  "'  t  A  talebearer  revealeth  secrets  :  but  he 
 that  is  of  a  faithful  spirit  concealeth  the  matter. 
 
 14  "  Where  no  counsel  is,  the  people  fall  : 
 but  iu  the  multitude  of  counsellors  there  is 
 safety. 
 
 Ij  "He  that  is  surety  for  a  stranger  f. shall 
 smartjci;-  it :  and  he  that  hateth  fsuretisbip  is 
 sure. 
 
 16  ""A  gracious  woman  retaineth  honour: 
 and  strong  7ncn  retain  riches. 
 
 17  ''  The  merciful  man  doeth  good  to  his  own 
 soul:  huthe  that  /«cruel  troubleth  hisown  flesh. 
 
 18  The  wicked  worketh  a  deceitful  work  : 
 but  'to  him  that  soweth  righteousness  shall  be 
 a  sure  reward. 
 
 19  As  righteousness  tcndeth  to  life;  so  he 
 that  pur,sueth  e\\\  inirsueth  it  to  his  own  death. 
 
 20  They  that  are  of  a  froward  heart  are 
 abomination  to  the  Lord  :  but  such  as  are 
 upright  in  their  way  are  his  delight. 
 
 21  *  Thijiiyh  hand  jom  iu  baud,  the  wicked 
 shall  not  be  nnpuiii.shed  :  but  '  the  seed  of  the 
 righteous  shall  be  delivered. 
 
 22  As  a  jewel  of  gold  in  a  swine's  snout,  so 
 IS  a  fair  woman  which  f  is  without  discretion. 
 
 23  The  desire  of  the  righteous  is  only  good  : 
 but  the  expectation  of  the  wicked  "  i.H  wrath. 
 
 24  There  is  that  "  scattereth,  and  yet  iiicrea.s- 
 eth  ;  and  there  is  that  withholdeth  more  than 
 is  meet,  but  it  tendeth  to  poverty. 
 
 25  ""tThe  liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat: 
 'and  he  that  watereth  shall  be  watered  also 
 himself. 
 
 2G  "  He  that  withholdeth  corn,  the  people 
 shall  curse  him  :  but  ''  blessing  shall  be  upon 
 the  head  of  him  that  selleth  it. 
 
 27  He  that  diligently  seeketh  good  procureth 
 favour  :  '  but  he  that  seeketh  mischief,  it  shall 
 come  unto  him. 
 
 28  •'  He  that  trusteth  in  his  riches  shall  fall  : 
 but "  the  righteous  shall  flourish  as  a  branch. 
 
 29  He  that  troubleth  his  own  house  fshall 
 inherit  the  wind  :  and  tbe  fool  shall  be  servant 
 to  the  wise  of  heart. 
 
 30  Tbe  fruit  of  the  righteous  is  a  tree  of  life  ; 
 and  ^  he  that  f  wiinieth  souls  is  wise. 
 
 31  ''  Behold,  the  righteous  shall  be  recom- 
 pensed iu  the  earth  :  much  more  the  wicked 
 and  the  sinner. 
 
 to  the  teeth,  ami  smol<e  to  the  eyes,  so  tioublesome  and  disagreeable  is 
 a  loitering;  messenger.' — Wil.  31.  Cut   out,    '  piinislied.' — Wells. 
 
 Tliis  punisiimciit  is  sometimes  inflicted  in  Persia,  and  to  such  a  prac- 
 tice the  te.xt  probably  refers.— So  Fid.  Bib.  32.  .^cet'/^^aWc,  pleasing 
 to  God  and  eddying  to  man,  (see  Epli.  iv.  29,  and  v.  3,  4.) — hkain. 
 
 Chap.  XI.  —  \.  A  just  wnight,  nr^^lD  ]a«,  '  the  perfect  stone,'  tllc  an- 
 cient practice  being  to  make  use  of  stones  for  weiglits. — JlIont.,Gij., 
 Gilt.  4.  Profit  nut  in  the  day  of  wrath — severe  tines  often  saved  from 
 punishment  under  tlie  feudal  system,  but  in  cases  of  high  crimes  tlie 
 criminal  fell. — So  Sut.  5.  By  his  own  wickedness,  iri3?in3,  or  '  in 
 his  own,' itiC— iVort/.,  Mich.,  &c.  g.  A  hypocrite,  n:rT,  better  '  in- 
 fidel.'—.4.  Clftr/ie.  With  his  month,  §-c.,  i.  e.,  wisdiim'instructs  many 
 how  to  evade  those  snares  which  the  profane  hypocrite,  witll  counter- 
 feit friendship,  lays  to  destroy  his  neighbour. — J'ltt.  10.  When  it 
 goeth  well,  ^c. — good  men  are  generally  well  beloved  by  their  neigh- 
 bours, but  nobody  cares  for  wicked  people. — Henry.  12.  Ihildeth  his 
 peace,  conceals  his  thoughts,  and  wUl  not  ulter  anything  to  the  re- 
 proach of  another.— Bp.  Hall.  13.  A  taleliearer,  'yyy  "I5in,  ■  the 
 walking  busy. body,'  the  trader  in  scandal. — A.  Clarke.  *  A  tale- 
 bearer walking  about  revealeth  secrets.' — Hod'^e.         18.  Worketh  a 
 
 deceitful  work — wicked  men,  who  attempt  to  deceive  others,  deceive 
 themselves. — Scott.  20.  A  frowtird  heart — the  original  signifies  hypo, 
 crisy  and  double  dealing;  pretending  justice,  but  intending  wrong. — 
 Henry.  ^l.  Hand  join  in  hand — this  was  anciently,  and  still  con- 
 tinues in  the  east,  a  solemn  mode  of  taking  an  oath  and  making  an  en- 
 gagement.— Orient.  Cnst.  The  Hindoos  thus  lay  the  right  hand  on  the 
 hand  of  the  other  party. — Ward.  Though  the  wicked  form  confede- 
 racies to  support  their  power,  the  day  of  retribution  will  come. — Boothr. 
 22,  In  a  swiyie's  snout — the  eastern  women  wear  a  jewel  of  goUl  in  their 
 nostrils,  sometimes  of  great  beauty  and  value.  But  as  is  that  jewel 
 in  the  snout  of  a  swine,  so  is  beauty  in  a  woman  without  discretion — 
 she  is  like  the  swine  with  a  gem  in  his  nose. — Roh.,  so  Ward. 
 24.  Scattereth,  i.  e.,  giveth  liberally. —  Wells.  25.  Shalt  lie  watered, 
 'shall  be  as  rain,'  so  some.  Recruited  as  the  clouds. — Hen.  "26.  He 
 that  withholdeth  corn,  who  aims  to  enrich  himself  by  ojipressing  the 
 public. — Sat.  28.  Shall  fall — our  riches  shall  tail  us  in  the  greatest 
 
 need. — Henry.  30.  Winneth,  '  catchetb,'  or  '  takelb,'  an  allusion  to 
 htinters.  si.  Much  more — as  the  just  shall  be  rewarded  or  chastened, 
 so  assuredly  the  wicked  shall  not  go  unpunished. — Wil. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.ap.  X.  —  I.  We  may  learn  how  much 
 wisdom  and  piety  are  to  be  preferred  to  riches  and  wickedness.  Tli  e 
 former  give  joy  to  our  best  friends,  and  secure  to  ourselves, 
 as  evidences,  peace  and  safety  on  eurtli,  and  Lappiiiess  here- 
 after in  heaven. 
 
 II.  We  also  learn,  that  our  lanijuagc  and  converse  will  discover 
 U8I 
 
 our  wisdom  or  our  full;/.  On  tbe  lips  of  the  prudent  wisdom  is 
 found  ;  because  tliey  have  diligently  sought  it,  and  treasured 
 it  up  in  their  hearts;  and  from  the  abundance  of  their  hearts 
 their  lips  speak. 
 
 Reiuctions   on    Chap.  XI.  —  Behold  here,  I.    U'liomGnd 
 hates  and  punishes.     The  fraudulent ;  tlie  proud  ;  the  profane; 
 4  s 
 
Moral  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XII,  XIII. 
 
 their  cmitrary  vices. 
 
 w 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 HOSO  loveth   instruction  lovetii  know 
 ledge :   but   lie    tliat   hatetli   reproof  is 
 brutisli. 
 
 2  "  A  good  man  obtainetli  favour  of  the 
 Lord  :  but  a  man  of  wicked  devices  will  he 
 condemn. 
 
 3  A  man  shall  not  be  established  by  wicked' 
 ness  :  but  the  ''root  of  the  righteous  shall  not 
 be  moved. 
 
 4  '  A  virtuous  woman  is  a  crown  to  her  hus- 
 band :  but  she  tliat  uiaketh  ashamed  is  ""as 
 rottenness  in  his  bones. 
 
 5  The  thoughts  of  the  righteous  are  right ; 
 but  the  counsels  of  the  wicked  are  deceit. 
 
 6  '  The  words  of  the  wicked  are  to  lie  in 
 wait  for  blood  :  '  but  the  mouth  of  the  upright 
 shall  deliver  them. 
 
 7  *  The  wicked  are  overthrown,  and  are  not : 
 hut  the  house  of  the  righteous  shall  stand. 
 
 8  A  man  shall  be  commended  according  to 
 his  wisdom:  •■but  he  tliat  is  f of  a  perverse 
 heart  shall  be  despised. 
 
 9  '  He  that  is  despised,  and  hath  a  servant, 
 is  better  than  he  that  honoureth  himself,  and 
 lacketh  bread. 
 
 10  '  A  righteous  man  regardeth  the  life  of  his 
 beast :  but  the  ||  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked 
 are  cruel. 
 
 1 1  '  He  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  be  satisfied 
 with  bread  :  but  lie  that  foUoweth  vain  persons 
 "  is  void  of  understanding. 
 
 12  The  wicked  dcsireth  ||  the  net  of  evil 
 men .-  but  the  root  of  the  righteous  yieldeth 
 fruit. 
 
 13  f  "The  wicked  is  snared  by  the  transgres- 
 sion of  his  lips:  "but  the  just  shall  come  out 
 of  trouble. 
 
 14  PA  man  shall  be  satisfied  with  good  by 
 the  fruit  of /u'.f  month  :  ''and  the  recuni|)ence 
 of  a  man's  hands  shall  be  rendered  unto  liim. 
 
 15  '  The  way  of  a  fool  is  right  in  his  own  eyes : 
 but  lie  that  hearkeneth  unto  counsel  is  wise. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.  C 
 
 cir.  1000. 
 
 cir.  mud. 
 
 .cli.  29.  11 
 
 t  Heb    m 
 
 Unit  day. 
 
 t  Cli.  U.  5. 
 
 u  Pa-  57.  4. 
 
 ac  .=>9.  7.  & 
 
 <i  ch.  9.  35. 
 
 W    3. 
 
 X  Ps.  52.  5. 
 
 6  cb,  10.  £5. 
 
 ch.  IS.  9. 
 
 c  ch.  31.2-1. 
 
 1  Cor    II  7. 
 
 d  ch.  H.  30. 
 
 1,  eh.  6.  17. 
 
 &  i\.20. 
 
 lie V.  22.  IS 
 
 •  ch.l.  11,13. 
 
 ;  ch.  13.  16 
 
 &  15.  2. 
 
 /ch.  14.  3. 
 
 fl  ch.  10.  1. 
 
 S  Ps.  37.  se, 
 
 II  Or,  ti^eii- 
 
 37.  ch.  11, 
 
 /tU. 
 
 ■i\.  M:it.  7. 
 
 h  ch.  15.  IS. 
 
 84,Sa,-ili,27. 
 
 c  U.  bO  ^ 
 
 k  1  Sam.  25. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 17. 
 
 abwtdanl. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ptnerie  of 
 
 1  ch.  is.  7. 
 
 k  Deo.  25.  1 
 
 II  Or,  btjweU. 
 
 1  Geo.  .1.  19 
 
 ch.  28.  13. 
 
 m  oh.  6.  32. 
 
 II  Or,  (fcc/ur- 
 
 a  1  Sam.  i. 
 
 IrtU, 
 
 25 
 
 b  ch.  13.  14 
 
 t  Heh.  Th, 
 
 ',,.., r.  „/,/,, 
 
 wickeil  U  in 
 
 c  Ps   39.  1. 
 
 ll,e  Irani. 
 
 ch.2l.  23. 
 
 f^"-"' 
 
 Juuies  a.  2 
 
 n  cli.  18.  7. 
 
 .,  2  Pet.  2.  9. 
 
 d  ch.  li>   t. 
 
 p  oh.  i:i.  a. 
 
 &  18,  20. 
 
 q  Ia.S.lii,  n 
 
 r  cli    3.  7. 
 
 LtikL>  lU.ll. 
 
 1 G  **  A  fool's  wrath  is  f  presently  known  :  bnt 
 a  prudent  mayi  covereth  shame. 
 
 17  *  He  that  speakcth  truth  sheweth  forth 
 righteousness:   but  a  false  witness  deceit. 
 
 18  "  There  is  that  speaketh  like  the  piercings 
 of  a  sword;  but  the  tongue  of  the  wise  is 
 health. 
 
 19  The  lip  of  truth  shall  be  established  for 
 ever:  ^  but  a  lying  tongue  is  but  for  a  mo- 
 ment. 
 
 20  Deceit  is  in  the  heart  of  tliem  that  imagine 
 evil :   but  to  the  counsellors  of  peace  is  joy, 
 
 21  There  shall  no  evil  happen  to  the  just: 
 but  the  wicked  shall  be  filled  with  mischief. 
 
 22  ^  Lying  lips  are  abomination  to  the  Lord: 
 but  they  that  deal  truly  are  his  delight. 
 
 23  ^  A  prudent  man  concealeth  knowledge  : 
 but  tlie  heart  of  fools  proclaimeth  foolishness. 
 
 24  "  The  hand  of  the  diligent  shall  bear  rule: 
 but  the  II  slothful  shall  be  under  tribute. 
 
 2j  ^  Heaviness  in  tlie  heart  of  man  maketh  it 
 stoop  :   but  "^  a  good  word  maketh  it  glad. 
 
 2i)  The  righteous  is  more  ||  excellent  than  his 
 neighbour:  but  the  way  of  the  wicked  seduceth 
 them. 
 
 27  The  slothful  man  roasteth  not  that  which 
 he  took  in  hunting:  bnt  the  substance  of  a 
 diligent  man  is  precious. 
 
 28  In  the  way  of  righteousness  is  life  ;  and 
 in  the  pathway  thereof  there  is  no  deatli. 
 
 CHAP.  XIH 
 
 \  WISE  son  heareth  his  father's  instruction : 
 ^  *■   *  but  a  scorner  licareth  not  rebuke. 
 
 2  ^  A  man  shall  cat  good  by  the  fruit  of  his 
 moutii :  but  tlie  soul  of  the  transgressors  shall 
 eat  violence. 
 
 3  '^  He  that  keepeth  his  mouth  keepeth  his 
 life  :  but  he  that  openeth  wide  his  lips  shall 
 have  destruction. 
 
 4  ''  The  soul  of  the  sluggard  desireth,  and 
 hath  nothing:  but  tlie  soul  of  the  diligent 
 shall  be  made  fat. 
 
 5  A    righteous    man    hateth    lying :    hut    a 
 
 Chap.  XII.— 1.  But  he  that  hateth,  ffc,  'but  he  that  tiatetli  Cdrrcc- 
 tioD  abidetli  ignorant.' — Buothr.  4.  Js  a  crou^n,  alltMliiijc  to  tlie  cus- 
 tom of  wearing  chaplets  and  nuptial  crowns. —  Wil.  As  ruttfiintss,  an 
 incurable  grief  and  vexation  consuniins  him. — Pat.  S.  According  to 
 his  tvisdom — the  best  reputation  is  that  which  attends  virtue  and  serious 
 piety. — Henri/.  g.  He  that   is  despi.'ied,   and   hath  a  servant,    Sfc, 
 
 ^^  12yi, '  is  servant  to  himself,*  or  'his  own  servant.'— il/on^,  fi'il. 
 Better  is  the  poor  man  who  provides  for  himself,  than  the  proud  who 
 is  destitute  of  bread,  Vul^.  It  is  not  labour,  but  idleness  that  ought  to 
 cause  shame.— C'/i.  10.  Re^nrdfth  the  life  of  his  beast — pity  rules 
 the  heart  of  a  pious  man,  and  he  can  do  nothing  that  is  cruel. — A.  C. 
 The  tender  merries  of  the  wicked,  ^c,  even  their  pretended  kindnesse? 
 are  only  a  cover  for  mischievous  designs. — Welts.  11.  Vain,  'idle.' 
 
 —  Wells.  12.  The  net,  S,c.,  i.  e.,  the  means  used  by  the  crafty. — Bp. 
 Hall.  The  allusion  is  to  the  act  of  spreading  the  net  in  hunting  for 
 game. — Sut.  The  root — yieldeth,  their  riches  have  a  root  in  their  in- 
 dustry.—  Wil.  16.  Is  presently  known,  but,  ?fc. — a  wise  man  will 
 pause  before  he  shews  his  anger.— Vfi/.  IQ.  Is  but  for  a  moment,  a 
 
 liar  is  soon  detected. — pat.        21.  No  evil,  the  worst  troubles  shall  be 
 
 ovf^rrulcd  for  their  good. — Henry.  No  penal  evil  shall  befal  them. — 
 Gill.  Boothroyd  reads,  '  not  anything  hinful  doth  a  just  man  desire, 
 but  the  wicked  are  full  of  evil.'  2-1.  Shall  bear  rule,  industry  is  the 
 way  to  preferment. — Henry.  26.  More  excellent,  '  more  successful;* 
 in',  the  root  nveaos,  he  abounded  as  well  as  e.xcelled.  The  rishteous 
 is  most  successful,  because  the  course  of  life  of  the  wicked  seduceth 
 thtm  into  extravagance  and  crime. —  Wil.  Boothroyd  renders  this, 
 *  the  righteous  examinelh  his  own  thoughts.'  27.  lioasteth  not,  fyc, 
 n*a  —  "tin'  nS  '  shall  not  catch  his  prey  in  the  toil.'— Pn/*.  Lo^es, 
 througli  indoleuce,  the  fruit  o£  his  former  labours. — D'Oyly  and  Mant. 
 "iin,  the  Hebrew  means  'to  seize  or  secure;*  'the  slothful  (hunter) 
 secures  not  his  prey.' — Pict.  Bib.  Instead  of  slothful  man,  read,  rPOIf 
 'fraudulent;'  then  the  meaning  is,  '  the  justice  of  Gud  sna'ches  from 
 his  mouth  what  he  had  acquired  imrighteously.  28.  Is  life,  D^^H* 
 'lives,*  life  temporal,  and  life  eternal. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XIII.  —  2.  Shall  eat  good  by  the  fruit  of  his  mouth,  if  he  use 
 his  tongue  to  God's  gl  ry  and  the  profit  of  his  neiglibour,  God  shall 
 bless  him. — Scott.  3.  Keepeth  his  life,  a  guard  upon  ti.e  lips  is  a 
 guard  to  the  soul. — Henry. 
 
 the  hypocrite;  the  oppressor  and  covetous;  dealers  in  mis- 
 chief. 
 
 XL  Whom  God  fovea  and  blesses.  The  upright ;  the  bountiful  ; 
 the  well-doer;  the  man  who  strives  to  save  souls.  Let  us, 
 then,  see  to  it,  that  our  hearts  are  sincere  before  God;  that  our 
 motives  are  pure;  and,  that  we  are  not  weary  in  well  doing,  for 
 '  in  due  time  we  shall  reap,  if  we  faint  not.' 
 
 REFLtcTioNs  ON  CiiAP.  XII.  —  We  may  here,  I.  Contrast 
 the  conduct  of  the  fjovd  man  and  the  conduct  of  the  wirhedman. 
 The  good  man  loves  instruction  and  faithful  reproof;  he  is 
 actuated  by  pure  motives  ;  he  is  diligent  in  business;  he  is 
 tender  and  humane  ;  he  is  prudent  in  his  speech  ;  be  governs 
 his  temper  ;  he  speaks  the  truth  ;  he  is  open  and  sincere  ;  he 
 is  '  more  excellent  than  his  neighbour.'  The  wicked  man 
 hates  reproof;  acts  deceitfully  ;  is  obstinate  and  seU-willed  ; 
 proud  and  self-conceited.  In  fact,  lie  is  full  of  evd,  and  his 
 actions  appear  in  bis  life.  Tlie  world  do  not  reckon  these  as 
 682 
 
 sins  ;  but  it  appears  that  God  does, — *  For  the  Lord  seetb  not 
 as  man  seelh  ;  for  man  looketh  at  the  outward  appearance,  but 
 the  Lord  looketh  at  the  heart.' 
 
 11.  Contrast  the  reward  and  end  of  the  fjood,  and  the  reward  and 
 end  of  the  wicked  man.  The  former  '  obtainelh  favour  from  the 
 Lord  ;*  he  has  his  soul  fixed  and  firm  amidst  the  vicissitudes 
 of  time ;  God  will  bless  him  in  his  family  ;  God  will  deliver 
 him  out  of  trouble;  he  shall  have  peace  nnd  satisfaction  of 
 miud  ;  he  shall  be  preserved  from  real  evil ;  be  is  in  the  way 
 to  obtain  respect  and  confidt»nce ;  and,  finally,  shall  obtain  life 
 eternal.  The  latter  can  have  no  stability  of  good  ;  he  is  fre- 
 quently overthrown  in  his  sins  ;  he  often  sinks  into  contempt  ; 
 his  tonc^ue  brings  him  to  ruin  ;  he  is  his  own  seducer  ;  he  will 
 '  not  gain  the  point  he  aims  at,  nor  enjoy  the  good  he  hopes 
 for  ;*  he  will,  indeed,  have  his  wages  for  his  work,  but '  ihti 
 wages  of  sin  is  death.' 
 
Mural  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XIV. 
 
 their  contrary  vices. 
 
 loathsome,   and    cometh    to 
 
 wicked   man 
 
 ^^r^Ri^'hteousness  keepelh  him  that  is  upright 
 in  the  way:  but  wickedness  overthroweth  \  the 
 
 '"7"f"'here  is  that  niaketh  himself  rich,  yet 
 hath  MotUi.ig:  there  ts  that  maketh  himseli 
 poor,  yet  hath  great  riches.  ,  .      .  , 
 
 8  The  ransoui  cf  a  man-s  life  are  his  riches : 
 hat  ttie  poor  heareth  not  rebuke. 
 
 y  The  light  of  the  righteous  rejoiceth  :  ^  but 
 the  II  lamp  of  llie  wicked  shall  be  put  out. 
 
 10  Only  by  pride  cometh  contention:  but 
 witli  the  well  advised  is  wisdom.  . 
 
 11  "  Wealth  qotten  by  vanity  shall  be  dimi- 
 nished :  but  he"  that  gatheretli  f  by  labour  shall 
 
 lo  Hope  deferred  maketh  the  heart  sick  :  buti 
 '  ahen  the  desire  cometh,  it  is  a  tree  of  life. 
 
 13  Whoso  "  despiseth  the  word  shall  be  de- 
 stroyed :  but  he  that  feareth  the  commandment 
 II  shall  he  rewarded.        .       .       ,,       ^  ■     „fi;f„ 
 
 14  '  The  law  of  the  wise  is  a  fountain  of  lite, 
 to  depart  from  "  the  snares  of  death. 
 
 13  Good  understanding  giveth  favour:  but 
 the  way  of  transgressors  is  hard. 
 
 16  "  Every  prudent  man  dealeth  with  know- 
 ledge :  but  a  fool  tlayeth  open  hs  foUy. 
 
 17  A  wicked  messenger  falleth  into  mischiei. 
 but  "  t  a  faithful  ambassador  !s  health. 
 
 18  Poverty  and  shame  shall  be  to  him  that 
 refuseth  instruction:  but  "he  that  regardeth 
 reproof  shall  be  honoured.  .  .    .,, 
 
 )  n  ••  The  desire  accomplished  is  sweet  to  the 
 soul :  but  it  is  abommation  to  fools  to  depart 
 from  evil.  .  ,    ,,  , 
 
 oo  He  that  walketh  with  wise  men  shall  be 
 wTse  :  but  a  companion  of  fools  t  shall  be  de- 
 
 ^'21  "'■  Evil  pursueth  sinners  :  but  to  the  righte- 
 ous good  shall  be  repaid. 
 o-^  A  good  man  leaveth  an  inheritance  to  his 
 children's   children  :  and  "  the   wealth  of  the 
 sinner  is  laid  up  for  the  just 
 
 B.C. 
 civ.  ItWO. 
 
 ach.  11.  3, 
 5,6. 
 t  Heb.  111. 
 
 /ch.  IS.  9. 
 
 1).  C. 
 cir-  1000. 
 
 icli.  IS.  U. 
 
 ,  ch.  19.  19. 
 &  ?3  15  * 
 23.  13  &2y 
 15,  17. 
 X  Fa.  ;^4.  10 
 &  37.  3. 
 
 "3  '  Much  food  is  in  the  tillage  of  the  poor: 
 but  there  is  that  is  destroyed  for  want  ol  judg- 
 
 "04"  "  He  that  spareth  his  rod  hateth  his  son  : 
 
 but  he  that  loveth  him  chasteneth  hi.n  betimes 
 
 05  »  The  righteous  eateth  to  the  satisfying  ol 
 
 hrs  soul :  but    the   belly  of  the  wicked  shall 
 
 want.  „    „ , ,, 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 EVERY  "  wise  woman  ^  buildeth  her  house  : 
 but  the  foolish  plucketh  it  down  with  her 
 
 hands.  .  ,  r        *i 
 
 o  He  that  walketh  in  his  uprightness  feareth 
 
 the  Lord  :  '  but  he  that  is  perverse  in  his  ways 
 
 despiseth  him.  ,    ,.  ,     .  j     p 
 
 3  In  the  mouth  of  the  foolish   is  a  rod  of 
 
 pride  :  "  but  the  lips  of  the  wise  shall  preserve 
 
 r  Where  no  oxen  are,  the  crib  is  clean  :  but 
 much  increase  is  by  the  strength  of  the  ox. 
 
 5  "  A  faithful  witness  will  not  he  :  but  a  false 
 witness  will  utter  lies.  a  i:  ^  ,1    ; 
 
 6  A  scorner  seeketh  wisdom,  and  >!rff?/'  it 
 not:  but  f  knowledge  is  easy  unto  him  that 
 understandeth.  r    v  i    „,„„ 
 
 7  Go  from  the  presence  of  a  foolish  man 
 when  thou  perceivest  not  in  him  the  lips  ot 
 knowledge.  ,  , 
 
 8  Tlie  wisdom  of  the  prudent  is  to  under- 
 stand his  way:   but  the  fully  of  fools  is  deceit. 
 
 9  6  Fools  make  a  mock  at  sm  :  but  among  the 
 righteous  there  is  favour. 
 
 10  The  heart  knoweth  f  his  own  bitterness; 
 and  a  stranger  doth  not  intermeddle  with  his 
 
 •""a  "  The  house  of  the  wicked  shall  be  over- 
 thrown :  but  the  tabernacle  of  the  upright  shall 
 
 flourish.  1-1.1       t 
 
 10  .  There  is  a  way  which  seemeth  right  unto 
 a  man,  but  '  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways  ot 
 
 death.  .  <.  , 
 
 13  Even  in  laughter  the  heart  is  sorrowful  ; 
 and  '  the  end  of  that  mirth  «  beav.ness.__^ 
 
 14  The  backslider  in  heart  shall  be      tillea 
 
 ?-r;^'t"otn';^iSi? fthrfor^er  mentlone.  >n  this  verse^  .s  «.e  r.ch 
 
 '^.  ri^-et^i3^^3n^- - -:-- -^ 
 
 rf'H;i;"u   T;rL°°f/*ru';«?heVules  by  which  tta 
 sol7"Z'or  the  iJstructioJwhich  they  give.    ^^ 'Lf^^'^'^:^ '^'J,]; 
 
 ■  ^  '>^^''"l„Zf  "'\o''T/;;i''  etc"  ,°;.'v!'ri^^^^^^^^     satisfaction 
 
 'tfxtxfv^-l.  B,WWc«.  rather  ■snpports.'-He.c.     Herknus^.^^e 
 alo^I^by  her  prudent  -^'"■'ff-'''^\:f,tfo1,°isTl"    b"ncS  Lenct 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  Xlll.-We  see  here,  I.  Tl.at  th, 
 practice  of  relhion  is  wisdom,  and  it  alwam  leads  to  happn,j^ss. 
 it  is  m-anifesled  in  discretion,  prudence,  industry,  integrity  • 
 and  produces  humility,  contentment,  and  satisfaction . 
 683 
 
 'follow,    oxen,  in  the  east,  are  emPl°ye^i,n  Ploughing  ca^^^^ 
 
 mock,   f,c.,  ^^^nt""ly,™'':'™\V;nr     excuse  •'J7er".i/<.^0"'-,  the 
 Mock.  V'V.  may  signify,  '  P»"'"?.'^„"     "l",  '  an  -Wells.        10.  TUe 
 righteols  mutually  confer  what  "'nduess  the>  can.     »  « 
 d,rt  kno.'cth,  *c.    7  ">an  -s  compe  ent  to  judge  of  the  m^^^  ^.^^^_ 
 guish  or  pleasure  of  others  who  are  often  more  n  WY  ^  ^^^^^^^  ^.^^,_ 
 
 able  than  they  appear  ««''<=•-*':"":  hteousness,'  enthusiasm,  and  m 
 formal  worship,  superstition,  =«'/„ "Shteousness^  e  ^j^,    ^g 
 
 short,  all  that  is  <^alled  reljpon,  but  is  unscnptural,  m  ^^^  ^^^^ 
 
 intendcd,-Sc»«,  13..  E^enm  '"'^f^'^^'J'ii.Jdostan,  for  they  can 
 adepts  iu  di-guising  tbeir  feelings  ^^  those^o^H  ^^^^^^^  evidenUy 
 huieh  or  weep  as  "''""/'^nces  requ  re.  ^_^^^^,  g^^^;„^,._ 
 
 allurtrs  to  this  d'^B;''*=v,,'",-^'„,'^tS  once  apparently  full  of  mirth 
 it  IS  stated,  that  when  the  Co™eI  was  once  ^|^  ^^^ 
 
 amidst  his  gay  ™°^Pf '°"'' "\\';/^'  m/t  Go?, "«  a  dog  entering  the 
 of  a  gu  ty  conscieure  as  a  sinner  agaiusi  ^"  •  ,  ,  ,  '  (hat  dog  !• 
 ?oom,  he  sighed  within  h-m^e  f  and  said      O    ha    I  were  tn  ^j^^ 
 
 Such  is  the  concealed  sorrow  of  maiiy  %«!-^.^l';^'J^%.    he  that  foi- 
 
 dcUghted.-Sro«,     ShotI  be  sutisped  from  lamself- 
 
 "The  backslider  in  heart  shall  be  filled  wi;h  his  own  ways , 
 And  a  good  man  shall  be  ftUed  with  h.s.'-Holden. 
 
 Ana  a  tu"-*"  "'»■"  " —    — 
 
 .  But  a  good  man  with  the  fruits  of  his  works.'     How  a  good  man  can 
 
 :iS^S=SH!S;:SrSiF 
 
Mural  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XV. 
 
 l/icir  conlrari/  vices. 
 
 with  his  own  ways  :  and  a  good  man  shall  be 
 satisfied  from  himself. 
 
 15  The  simple  believeth  every  word:  but 
 the  prudent  man  looketli  well  to  his  going. 
 
 IG  "  A  wise  man  fearetli,  and  departeth  from 
 evil  :  but  the  fool  rageth,  and  is  confident. 
 
 1 7  He  that  is  soon  angry  dealeth  foolishly . 
 and  a  man  of  wicked  devices  is  hated. 
 
 18  The  simple  inherit  folly:  but  the  prudent 
 are  crowned  with  knowledge. 
 
 19  The  evil  bow  before  the  good;  and  the 
 wicked  at  the  gates  of  the  righteous. 
 
 •20  °  The  poor  is  hated  even  of  his  own  neigh- 
 bour :   but  t  tlie  rich  hath  many  friends. 
 
 21  He  that  despiseth  his  neighbour  sinneth  : 
 ''  but  he  that  hath  mercy  on  the  poor,  happy  is 
 he. 
 
 22  Do  they  not  err  that  devise  evil  ?  but 
 mercy  and  truth  shall  be  to  them  that  devise 
 good. 
 
 2.3  In  all  labom-  there  is  profit :  but  the  talk 
 of  the  lips  ti-ndith  only  to  penury. 
 
 24  The  crown  of  tlie  wise  is  their  riches :  but 
 the  foolishness  of  fools  is  folly. 
 
 2.5  ''  A  true  witness  delivereth  souls :  but  a 
 deceitful  witness  speaketh  lies. 
 
 20  In  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  strong  confi- 
 dence :  and  his  children  shall  have  a  place  of 
 refuge. 
 
 27  'The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  a  fountain  of 
 life,  to  depart  from  the  snares  of  death. 
 
 28  In  the  multitude  of  people  is  the  king's 
 honour :  but  in  the  want  of  people  is  the  de- 
 struction of  the  prince. 
 
 29  '  He  that  is  slow  to  wratli  is  of  great 
 understanding:  but  he  that  is  f  hasty  of  .spirit 
 exalteth  folly. 
 
 30  A  sound  heart  is  the  life  of  tlie  flesh  :  but 
 *  envy  "  the  rottenness  of  the  bones. 
 
 31  '  He  that  oppresseth  the  poor  reproacheth 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  IdiKl. 
 
 cir.  ItHtO. 
 
 u?iee  JobSl. 
 
 15,  16. 
 
 Ch.  22.  2. 
 
 z  Job  13.  15. 
 
 n  ch.  ^2.  S. 
 
 &  19  20.  Ps. 
 
 •23  .1    8t  37. 
 
 37.  SCi>r   1. 
 
 9.  Sc  5.  8 
 
 2  Tim.  4.18. 
 
 a  ch    12.  16. 
 
 &i.'9,  II. 
 
 f     H.b.     (Q 
 
 nntiurut. 
 
 6  Mat.  21  45, 
 
 •  47. 
 
 «  ch.  19.  7. 
 
 \  Hob.  Miantj 
 
 oj  thp.rich. 
 
 n  Juds-  f  -  ■  ■ 
 I.',  3.  iih.  25 
 
 ;<  Ps.  -11.  I. 
 
 15. 
 
 &  iia  9. 
 
 b  1  Sam.  2,i 
 
 III.  \c. 
 
 IKiK.li.M3, 
 
 It.  16. 
 
 c  vcr.  2rt. 
 
 ch.  li.iS.fc 
 
 13,  IG, 
 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 brh-Mh,  or. 
 
 hubblrlh. 
 
 rf  JobSl,  21. 
 
 Ch.b.  21. 
 
 Jor.  16    17. 
 
 &  a2. 19. 
 
 q  vcr.  5. 
 
 ih>b.  4.  I.t. 
 
 i  Unh.  Thf 
 
 b' It  ling  uf 
 
 Iht  tungut. 
 
 f  Ch.   111.   1. 
 
 /Ch.  13.  19. 
 
 vcr.  31,  3 J 
 
 t  ch.  IS.  1*. 
 
 gch.  21.27. 
 
 &  28.  9.  Is. 
 
 1.  11.  »:1>1. 
 
 8.  &  66.  3. 
 
 Jpr.  0   20. 
 
 &7.  22. 
 
 Amos  5. 22. 
 
 (  ch.  16.  32. 
 
 h  cli.  21.  21. 
 
 Jam.  1.  19 
 
 1  Tim.  till 
 
 t  Heb.  ihort 
 
 0/ spirit. 
 
 (1  Or, /H»/r«c- 
 
 t  Pa.  112.10. 
 
 i  IKin  22.B. 
 
 >i  ch,  IS.  +. 
 
 k  cli    6.   12. 
 
 X  ch.  17.  5. 
 
 &  10.  17. 
 
 Mat.  25.40, 
 
 I  Job  26.  6. 
 
 45. 
 
 Ps  i»y.  8. 
 
 'his  Maker:  but  he  that  honoureth  him  hath 
 mercy  on  the  poor. 
 
 32  The  wicked  is  driven  away  in  his  wicked- 
 ness :  but  '  the  righteous  hath  hope  in  his 
 death. 
 
 33  Wisdom  resteth  in  tlie  heart  of  him  that 
 hath  understanding:  but  'that  which  is  in  the 
 midst  of  fools  is  made  known. 
 
 34  Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation  :  but  sin 
 is  a  reproach  f  to  any  people. 
 
 3j  ''  The  king's  favour  ?s  toward  a  wise  ser- 
 vant :  but  his  wrath  is  against  him  that  causeth 
 shame. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 A  °  SOFT  answer  turneth  away  wratli  :  but 
 ■'^  ''grievous  words  stir  up  anger. 
 
 2  The  tongue  of  the  wise  useth  knowledge 
 aright :  ''  but  the  mouth  of  fools  f  poureth  out 
 foolishness. 
 
 3  '■  The  eyes  of  the  Louu  are  in  every  place, 
 beholding  the  evil  and  the  good. 
 
 4  t  A  wholesome  tongue  is  a  tree  of  life  :  hut 
 perverseness  therein  is  a  breach  in  the  spirit. 
 
 5  "■  A  fool  despiseth  his  father's  instruction : 
 '  but  he  that  regaideth  reproof  is  prudent. 
 
 6  In  the  house  of  the  righteous  is  much 
 treasure :  but  in  the  revenues  of  the  wicked  is 
 trouble. 
 
 7  The  lips  of  the  wise  disperse  knowledge : 
 but  the  heart  of  tlie  foolish  dueth  not  so. 
 
 8  ^  The  sacrifice  of  the  wicked  is  an  abomi- 
 nation to  the  LoKD  :  but  the  prayer  of  the 
 upright  is  his  delight. 
 
 9  Tlie  way  of  the  wicked  is  an  abomination 
 unto  the  Lord  :  but  he  loveth  him  that  ''fol- 
 lovveth  after  righteousness. 
 
 10  I]  Correction  is  'grievous  unto  him  that 
 forsaketh  the  way  :  and  ^  he  that  hateth  re- 
 proof shall  die. 
 
 1 1  '  Hell   and    destruction    are   before    the 
 
 be  satisfied  or  filled  frnm  himself,  I  cannot  conceive  ;  but  God  may  so 
 bless  his  works  of  righteousness  that  with  their  fruits  he  may  be  filled. 
 — Boothr.  He  shall  have  the  testimony  of  his  own  conscience  that  he 
 has  had  his  conversation  in  simplicity  and  godly  siDcerity.— C/«rA'c. 
 From  himself,  yh'Sn,  '  from  above  himself,'  from  the  grace  that  is  in 
 Christ ;  out  of  the  fulness  that  is  in  him.— iI/o;j;.,  inlt.  1 1).  The  evil 
 bow,  §-c. — it  often  happens  in  providence  that  the  wicked  have  to  make 
 submissions  to  the  righteous  ;  witness  Joseph's  brethren  before  Joseph. 
 — So  Scott.  The  evil  are  almost  constrained  to  shew  respect  to  the 
 good.— Clfirke.  The  passage  means,  that  the  wicked  are  brought  low 
 when  they  are  arraigned  before  the  tribunal  of  the  J  udge.— i>Hrc//. 
 •23.  The  talk  of  tlie  lips,  be  that  spends  bis  time  in  idle  talk.— B/;.  Hall, 
 Working,  without  talking,  will  make  men  rich  ;  talking,  without  work- 
 ing, will  make  men  poor.— ifen.  24.  The  foolishness  of  fools  is  folly, 
 '  the  fool,  from  his  foolishness,  produces  acts  of  folly.' — Clarke.  27.  Is 
 a  fountain  of  life,  §-c.,  they  wlio  fear  the  Lord  have  a  strong  ground  of 
 confidence  in  his  promises,  and  will  generally  be  preserved  from  dis- 
 tressing fears  in  life  and  death. — Scott.  30.  .4  sound  heort,  §-c.,  an 
 upright,  contented,  and  benevolent  mind,  conduces  greatly  to  health 
 and  long  life,  as  well  as  to  comfort  and  enjoyment. — Scott.  31.  i?e- 
 proacheth  his  Maker,  as  if  he  had  formed  the  poor  of  another  species,  or 
 had  cast  tbem  down  on  purpose  tbafc  they  should  be  trampled  upnn. — 
 
 Scott.  32.  Driven  away — he  cleaves  so  close  to  the  world,  that  he 
 cannot  find  in  his  heart  to  leave  it,  but  is  dliven  away  out  of  it. 
 33.  iyisdom  rchtclh,  §-c. — modesty  is  the  badge  of  wisdom,  openness 
 and  ostentation  are  the  marks  of  fully.  Many  a  foolish  man  takes  more 
 pains  to  shew  his  folly,  than  a  wise  raau  thinks  it  worth  bis  while  to 
 take  to  shew  his  wisdom. — Henry. 
 
 Chap.  XV. — \.  A  wholesome  tongue,  14D1D,  *a  healing  tongue,' 
 which  pacifies  contending  parties,  and  heals  the  divisions  between 
 them. — So  some  in  i'ttt..  Gill,  Durell.  'The  healing  medicine  of  the 
 tongue,'  kind  and  tender  discourse,  and  its  power  to  heal  the  sorrow- 
 ing mind,  may  aptly  be  compared  to  the  tree  of  life  in  the  garden  of 
 Eden.     Is  a  breach  in  the  spirit,  '  affllcteth  the  spirit.' — Holden, 
 
 '  A  healing  tongue  is  as  the  tree  of  life. 
 But  a  mischievous  one  is  like  a  destructive  blast.' 
 
 -Hodg. 
 
 7.  Disperse,  'winnow.*— Hodg.  8.  Sacrifice  of  t/ic  wicked,  ^-c,  even 
 those  of  divine  appointment,  when  they  were  offered  by  wicked  men, 
 without  faith  in  Christ,  repentance,  reformation,  &c. ;  much  more  pagan 
 sacrifices, — Gill ;  signifies,  no  religious  acts  will  do  in  place  of  holi- 
 ness.— A.  Clarke.  For  further  illustration,  read  chap.  x-xi.  27  ;  1  Sam.xv. 
 22;  Ps.  li.  17,  &c. ;  Isa.  i.  11  ;  Ixi.  8;  Ixvi.  3;  Jer.  vi.  20;  Amos,  v.  22; 
 Mai.  i.  10.         11.  Hell  and  destruction,  ^niNI  ilNffi,  'hades,'  the  in- 
 
 RErLECTioNS  ON  Chap.  XIV.  —  Inselecting  the  subjects  of 
 remark  from  this  chapter,  we  may  observe — I.  A  prudent  wife 
 is  an  invaluable  btcssinq.  She  is  a  blessing  to  Ler  husband, — for 
 e.xtravagance,  pride,  luxury,  and  indolence,  in  the  wife,  bus 
 oilen  brought  ruin  upon  the  husband.  Sbe  was  intended  to 
 be  a  helpmeet  for  man,  and  not  a  burden  upon  bim.  She  is  a 
 blessing  to  ber  children,  by  her  example,  ber  instruction,  and 
 her  prayers  ;  sl]e  trains  tllem  up  in  a  way  that,  while  they  do 
 honour  to  ber  family,  will  lead  at  length  to  the  promotion  of 
 tbeir  own  welfare  and  happiness,  and  of  the  happiness  of  even 
 iuture  generations. 
 
 II.  An  injidet  scoffer  is  one  of  the  most  awful  of  characters. 
 Grace  has  been  displayed  towards  the  vilest  of  the  vile,  but 
 infidelity  holds  the  heart  in  that  state  that  it  scorns  to  plead 
 ior  mercy.  Infidelity  shuts  up  every  avenue  to  conviction, 
 and  e.tolijdps  evidence  in  revelation,  wliicb  in  other  cases  it 
 ;idmits  with  the  greatest  readiness.  Infidelity  aims  not  to  in- 
 quire buttocavil.  Tbose  that 'seek  the  Lord' shall  find  him, 
 684 
 
 but  tbose  that  shut  their  eyes  against  Ibe  light  must  be  given 
 up  to  judicial  blindness  and  hardness  of  heart. 
 
 III.  An  apostate  from  Godmu^t  meet  witti  certain  ruin.  The 
 man  who  has  made  a  profession  of  religion,  and  then  decidedly 
 turns  back  to  the  corruption  of  the  world  through  lust,  that 
 man's  last  end  sball  be  worse  tlian  bis  beginning.  '  The  back- 
 slider in  heart,'  that,  for  fear  of  suffering,  or  in  hope  of  profit 
 or  pleasure,  forsakes.  God  and  bis  duty,  '  shall  be  filled  with 
 bis  own  ways, — God  will  give  him  enough  of  tbem  ;  he  would 
 not  leave  his  brutish  lusts  and  passions,  and  therefore  they 
 shall  stick  by  biin,  to  bis  everlasting  terror  and  torment;  '  be 
 that  is  filtby  sball  be  filthy  still.'  "  Son,  remember,"  sball 
 fill  bim  with  his  own  ways,  and  set  bis  sins  in  order  before 
 bim.  Backsliding  begins  in  the  heart,  it  is  the  evil  bcart  of 
 unbelief  that  departs  from  God  ;  and  of  all  sinners,  backsUd<  is 
 will  have  most  terror  when  they  reflect  on  tbeir  own  ways,' 
 (Luke,  .\i.  2o. ) — Hen. 
 
Moral  virtueSj  una 
 
 PUOVERBS,  XVI. 
 
 their  contrary  vices. 
 
 Lord:  bow  much  more  then  "'the  liearts  of 
 the  children  of  men  ? 
 
 12  "A  scorner  loveth  not  one  that  reprovetli 
 him  :  neither  will  he  go  unto  the  wise. 
 
 13  "  A  merry  heart  maketh  a  cheerful  coun- 
 tenance: but  ^by  Sorrow  of  the  heart  the 
 spirit  is  broken. 
 
 14  The  heart  of  liiin  that  liath  understanding 
 seeketli  knowledge  :  but  the  mouth  of  fools 
 feedeth  on  foolishness. 
 
 1.3  All  the  days  of  the  afflicted  are  evil  : 
 ••but  lie  that  is  of  a  merry  heart  hath  a  con- 
 tinunl  feast. 
 
 16  '  Better  is  little  with  the  fear  of  the  Lord 
 than  great  treasure  and  trouble  therewith. 
 
 17  "  Better  is  a  dinner  of  herbs  where  love  is, 
 than  a  stalled  ox  and  hatred  therewith. 
 
 18  '  A  wrathful  man  stirreth  up  strife  :  but 
 he  that  is  slow  to  anger  appeaseth  strife. 
 
 19  "The  way  of  the  slotliful  man  is  as  an 
 hedge  of  thorns  :  but  the  way  of  the  righteous 
 t  is  made  plain. 
 
 t20  *"  A  wise  son  maketh  a  glad  father  :  but  a 
 foolish  man  de^^piseth  bis  mother. 
 
 '21  ^  Folly  is  joy  to  /lim  that  is  f  destitute  of 
 wisdom  :  '''  but  a  man  of  understanding  walketh 
 uprightly. 
 
 2-2  ^  Without  counsel  purposes  are  disap- 
 pointed :  but  in  the  multitude  of  counsellors 
 they  are  established. 
 
 23  A  man  hath  joy  by  the  answer  of  his 
 mouth  :  and  ''a  word  spoken  fin  due  season, 
 how  good  is  it ! 
 
 24  "^  The  way  of  life  is  above  to  the  wise, 
 that  he  may  depart  from  hell  beneath. 
 
 25  '^  The  Loud  will  destroy  the  house  of  the 
 proud  :  but  ^  be  will  establish  the  border  of  the 
 widow. 
 
 2d  ^  The  thoughts  of  the  wicked  are  an  abo- 
 
 ...  2  (hi-.  6. 
 
 S(i.  I's,  7.  9. 
 
 X:.H    21. 
 
 J"lm  2,  '2\, 
 
 ■:5.  (<  21.17. 
 
 Acts  I.  -ZA. 
 'I  AmnsS.lO. 
 
 S  Tiiii.  4.  S. 
 ;  ch.  17.  22- 
 p  ch.  12.  23, 
 
 •J  ch.  17.  22. 
 
 r  Ps.  37.  16. 
 Cti.   16.  8. 
 I  Tim.  6.  l>. 
 
 t  Heb.  is 
 
 Tntned  up 
 
 '"  '^  '■'"'.■';/■ 
 
 X  ch.  M).   I. 
 
 &  29  .^. 
 ./  ch.  10.  S.S. 
 t  Heb.  void 
 
 ofh,art. 
 r  Eph.  Q.  15. 
 
 a  Lh    11.  14. 
 &  :iU.  18. 
 
 b  ch.  55.  11. 
 t  Hob.  '\n  hit 
 
 traion. 
 c  Pliil.  S-  20. 
 
 Col.  3.  I,  2. 
 
 d  ch   12,  7. 
 
 h  14.  n. 
 
 e  Ps.GS.5,6. 
 &  116.  9. 
 
 /ch.  6.16,18. 
 
 g  Ps.  Wl.  m. 
 t  Heb.  'mirdt 
 vfpUmwU- 
 
 h  fh.  II.  19. 
 
 Is.  5.  ». 
 
 Jer.  17.  II. 
 i  1  l'ct.3.  IS. 
 
 k  Ps.  10.  1. 
 
 J<:  M.   16. 
 ;  Pa.  Hb.  18. 
 
 11  Or,  ubi'i/eth 
 t  H.h   ,.«.- 
 
 «  cli.  1 .  7. 
 u  cli.  IS.  12. 
 
 ch.  19.31. 
 St  20.  24. 
 Jer.  lit.  23. 
 
 20. 
 
 c  ch.  21.  2. 
 d  1  fSa.  16.  7. 
 .f  Pb.  37   3. 
 
 &  .i5.  22. 
 
 Mat.  6.  25. 
 
 Luke  \-2.-ii. 
 
 Phil   4   0. 
 
 1  Pet.  5.  7. 
 t  Heb.  Iti.ll 
 /Is,  43    7. 
 
 Kom.  11..%. 
 .Ic.b  21.  SO 
 
 Ho 
 A  ch.  6.  17. 
 
 &  8.  13. 
 (■  ch.  11,  21. 
 t  Heb   held 
 
 ill  HOC  flit, 
 k  Dan.  4  27. 
 
 Tohit  12.  y. 
 
 Lukpll.41, 
 /ch.  14.   Itj. 
 
 mination  to  the  Lord:  ^but  the  tvords  of  the 
 pure  are  f  pleasant  words. 
 
 27  ''  He  that  is  greedy  of  gain  troubleth  his 
 own  house  ;  but  he  that  hateth  gifts  shall 
 live. 
 
 28  The  heart  of  the  righteous  '  studieth  to 
 answer  :  but  the  mouth  of  the  wicked  poureth 
 out  evil  things. 
 
 29  ^  The  Lord  is  far  from  the  wicked  :  but 
 '  he  heareth  the  prayer  of  the  righteous. 
 
 30  The  light  of  the  eyes  rejoiceth  the  heart : 
 (fnd  a  good  report  maketh  the  bones  fat. 
 
 31  "^  The  ear  that  heareth  the  reproof  of  life 
 abideth  among  the  wise. 
 
 32  He  that  refuseth  ||  instruction  despiseth 
 his  own  soul :  but  he  tliat  ||  heareth  reproof 
 f  getteth  understanding. 
 
 33  "  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  instruction 
 of  wisdom  ;  and  "before  honour  is  humility. 
 
 CHAP.  XVL 
 
 T^HE  °  II  preparations  of  the  heart  in  man, 
 -*•  ^  and  the  answer  of  the  tongue,  is  from  the 
 Lord. 
 
 2  *^  Ail  the  ways  of  a  man  are  clean  in  his 
 own  eyes  ;  but  'Uhe  Lord  weigheth  the  spirits. 
 
 3  ^t  Commit  thy  works  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 thy  thoughts  shall  be  established. 
 
 4  *"  The  Lord  hath  made  all  M//?'?**  for  him- 
 self:  ^  yea,  even  the  wicked  for  tiie  day  of  evil. 
 
 5  ^  Every  one  that  is  proud  in  heart  is  an 
 abomination  to  tiie  Lord  :  '  though  hand  join 
 in  hand,  he  shall  not  be  f  unpunished. 
 
 6  ^  15y  mercy  and  truth  iniquity  is  purged  : 
 and  '  by  the  fear  of  the  Lord  men  depart  from 
 evil. 
 
 7  When  a  man's  ways  please  the  Lord,  be 
 maketh  even  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with 
 him. 
 
 visible  world  ;  the  place  of  separate  spirits  till  the  resurrection,  and 
 'abatUlon,'  the  place  of  torment,  are  ever  under  the  eye  and  control 
 of  the  Loi  d. — A.  Clarke,  The  former  is  rendered  *  the  grave,'  by  Munst., 
 Pise,  &c. 
 
 '  Death  and  the  grave  are  manifest  to  the  Lord.' — Hodg. 
 
 1 1.  All  the  days,  §-c.,  '  the  eyes  of  the  wicked  are  every  day  expecting 
 evil,  but  the  good  enjoy  constant  repose.' — Snt,  l?.  A  dinner  of 
 herOs,  or  of  green  pottage  ;  this  was  the  poorest  entertainment  in  eastern 
 cdiiritries. — Boch.  Herbs  fried  in  oil  and  mixed  with  rice  is  the  food 
 of  indigent  Hindoos. —  y\'nrd.  Thitn  a  stullcdox,  than  an  ox  kept  up  in 
 the  stall  for  fattei.ing;  or,  than  a  fatted  one,  which,  with  the  ancients, 
 was  the  principal  of  a  grand  entertainment. — GilL  Ip.  As  a  hedge  of 
 thurns,  because  he  is  slothful,  he  imagiues  ten  thousand  difticuUies  in 
 the  way. — A.  Clarke.  2-2.  In  the  multitude  of  counsellors,  W'SV^''  i*1, 
 'master  of  the  counsellors.' — Hales.  'Tlie  chief  or  master  of  the 
 council.*  '  the  prime  minister.' — Clarke.  But  y\,  the  word  rendered 
 *  multitude,' is  always  t-o  rendered  in  Proverbs,  or  '  much/ *  abund- 
 ance,' J<rc.,  but  never  '  master  ;*  beside^,  wa-s  there  ever  sucli  an  ofRcei 
 35  master  of  the  counsellors  ?—//o/(/e;i.  2i.  Is  above — the  way  to 
 
 attain  life  is  for  a  man  to  set  his  heart  on  things  above,  that  he  may 
 live  liolily  there.— -Boo /Ar.  25.  The  border,   '  landmark,'— Ho^/^'. , 
 
 i.  e.,  the  boundary  which  enclo-cs  her  inheritance. — Hew. 
 
 Chap.  XVI. —  1.  The  prep 'trntinns,  fyc,  *  from  man  is  the  counsel  of 
 the  heart,  but  from  the  Lord  is  the  answer  or  speech  of  the  tongue.' 
 Turg.  *  It  is  the  part  of  man  to  prepare  his  soul,  it  is  the  prerogative 
 of  tlie  Lord  ti>  govern  the  tongue,  Vulg.  I'j  Oiyo,  'the  orderings  or 
 niarshallings  of  the  heart  '—3/on^,  Vuf.,  Cucc,  Mich.,  ^-c.  '  The  ar- 
 rangements of  the  mind,'  i.e.,  the  counsels,  schemes,  deliberations. — 
 Holdfu.  '  It  is  in  man  to  prepare  discourse  within  himself;  it  is  in 
 the  Lord  to  moderate  or  rule  the  tongue.' — Hnub.  'To  man  are  the 
 dispositions  of  the  heart,  but  from  the  Lord  is  tlie  answer  of  the  ton^rue.' 
 —  Wog-iii.  '  The  preparations  oi  the  heart  are  in  man.  or  man  hatl,  the 
 disposing  of  the  heart  j  hut  the  answer  of  the  tongue  is  from  the  Lo  d.' 
 Wuterl'tnd. 
 
 '  Man  may  prepare  his  thoughts, 
 But  the  utterance  ol  the  tongue  is  from  the  Lord.' — Hodg. 
 
 *  Tlie  preparfitions  of  the  heart  belong  to  m;in, 
 But  the  utteiauce  of  the  tongue  is  from  Ji-hovah.* — Boothr. 
 
 i.  e.,  man  proposes  his  wishes,  but  God  answers  as  he  thinks  proper. — 
 A.  Clarke.  The  answer — the  word  n^yo  does  not  here  mean  '  answer,' 
 but  '  the  power  of  answering,'  utterance. — Mercer.  *  The  counsel  of 
 the  heart  are  man's,  but  tlie  answer,'  &c.,  is  unjustifiable,  for  the 
 schemes  of  the  heart  are  as  much  from  Jehovah  as  the  answer  of  the 
 tongue;  in  both  lie  gives  the  power;  the  use  belongs  to  thefice  will  of 
 man. 
 
 '  The  deliberations  of  the  heart  in  man, 
 And  the  utterance  of  the  tongue,  are  from  Jehovah.' — Holden. 
 
 2  Clean  in  his  own  eves— ignorance,  heedlessness,  pride,  and  self  flat- 
 tery, render  men  very  partial  judges  in  their  own  cause  ;  but  the  Lord 
 judges  with  perfect  impartiality,  and  « ith  complete  knowledge. — Scott. 
 3.  Commit,  ffC.,  "]*ir!rO  mrp  ba  ^2,  '  roU  thy  works  on,  or  unto  the  Lord;* 
 thy  common  car  es,  the  business  of  thy  salvation,  as  on  one  better  able 
 to  bear  it.— Gilf,  as  Ju7t.,  Trent.,  Pise,  fyc.  4.  Yea,  even  the  wicked, 
 §7?.,  belter  rendered,  '  Gnd  hath  ordained  everything  to  that  which  is 
 fit  to  it,  and  the  wicked  hath  he  ordained  for  the  day  of  evil ;  i.  e.,  the 
 wisdom  of  God  hath  fitted  one  thing  to  another,  punishment  to  sin,  the 
 evil  (lay  to  the  evil-doer. — Tillotson. 
 
 '  Jehovah  maketh  all  things  to  serve  his  designs.' — Boothr. 
 
 '  Jehovah  hath  maile  all  things  for  himself; 
 Yea,  even  llic  wicked  he  daily  sustains.' 
 
 Should  'the  day  of  evil'  be  correct,  the  sense  will  be,  'even  the 
 wicked,  who  are  reserved,  or  who  suhject  themselves  to  theday  of  evil;' 
 i.e.,  'the  day  of  punishment.' — Holden.  It  is  not  the  sense  of  this  pas- 
 sage that  God  made  man  to  damn  him  ;  but,  for  his  own  glory,  God 
 made  man  upright,  and  \e  has  made  himself  wicked,  and,  being  so, 
 God  may  justly  appoint  him  to  damnation  for  his  wickedness,  iu  doing 
 which  he  glorifies  his  justice. — Gill.  God  is  not  the  author  of  man's 
 wickedness,  but  he  foresaw  it,  and  formed  his  plan  with  a  \iew  to  it. — 
 Srult.  6.  Js  purged,  'is  covered.'  (see  Ps.  Ixix.  g,  same  word;)  by 
 the  exercise  of  mercy,  fulfilling  his  promise,  God  covers  or  pardons 
 iniquity. — Boothr.  7.  He  maketh  eren  his  enemies,  '  he  makes  even 
 his  fues  to  become  his  friends.' — Scott.    The  image  of  God  appearing 
 
 IvEtLECTiONS  ON  CiiAP.    XV We  have  here  rules  for,  ^  For  the  regulation  of  the  Ju  art.     We  must  make  it  a  trea- 
 
 I.    The  regulation  of  the  tongue.     The  soft  answer,  the  healing  sur>  of  divine  knowledge,  and  see  that  it  is  sincere  in  acts  of 
 
 toiiRue,  the  wise  lips,  are   here  commended.      '  If  any   man  devo'ion.     Then  shall  we  enjoy  the  approbation  of  the  Most 
 
 bridleth  not  his  tongue,  tliis  man's  religion  is  vain.*     '  Let  High   ^od  possess  the  joyful  heart  and  the  cheerful  counte- 
 
 Vour  speech  he  seasoned  with  salt.'  nance 
 685 
 
3fjral  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XVII. 
 
 their  contritrt/  vices. 
 
 8  "  Better  is  a  little  with  righteousness  than 
 great  revenues  without  right. 
 
 9  "A  man's  heart  deviseth  his  way:  "but  the 
 Lord  directeth  his  steps. 
 
 10  f  A  divine  sentence  is  in  the  lips  of  the 
 king  :  his  mouth  transgresseth  not  in  judgment. 
 
 11  ^  A  just  weight  and  balance  are  the 
 Lord"s  :  fall  the  weights  of  the  bag  a)-e  his 
 work. 
 
 12  It  is  an  abomination  to  kings  to  commit 
 wickedness  :  for  '  the  throne  is  established  by 
 rigliteousness. 
 
 13  '  Righteous  lips  are  the  delight  of  kings  ; 
 and  they  love  liim  that  speaketh  right. 
 
 14  '  The  wrath  of  a  king  is  as  messengers  of 
 death  :  but  a  wise  man  will  pacify  it. 
 
 15  In  the  light  of  the  king's  countenance  zs 
 life;  and  'his  favour  is  "as  a  cloud  of  the 
 latter  rain. 
 
 l(')  "  How  much  better  is  it  to  get  wisdom 
 than  gold  ?  and  to  get  understanding  rather 
 to  be  chosen  than  silver? 
 
 17  Tlie  highway  of  the  upright  is  to  depart 
 from  evil  :  he  that  keepeth  his  way  preserveth 
 his  soul. 
 
 18  >"  Pride  ffoeth  before  destruction,  and  an 
 haughty  spirit  before  a  fall. 
 
 \U  Better  it  is  to  be  of  an  humble  spirit  with 
 the  lowly,  than  to  divide  the  spoil  with  the 
 proud. 
 
 W  II  He  that  handleth  a  matter  wisely  shall 
 find  good  :  and  whoso  ^trusteth  in  the  Lord, 
 happy  is  he. 
 
 21  The  wise  in  heart  shall  be  called  prudent : 
 and  the  sweetness  of  the  lips  increaseth  learn- 
 ing. 
 
 22  *  Understanding  is  a  wellspring  of  life 
 unto  him  that  hath  it :  but  the  instruction  of 
 fools  is  folly. 
 
 23  '•  The  heart  of  the  wise  f  teacheth  his 
 mouth,  and  addeth  learning  to  his  lips. 
 
 24  Pleasant  words  arc.  as  an  honeycomb, 
 sweet  to  tlie  soul,  and  healtli  to  the  bones. 
 
 25  '  There  is  a  way  that  seemeth  right  unto 
 a  man,  but  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways  of 
 death. 
 
 u.  c. 
 
 a.  c 
 
 Cir.  lOOO. 
 
 cir.  IOW>. 
 
 m  Ps   37    16. 
 
 d  See  ch.  9. 
 
 ch    15.   16. 
 
 12.  Eccles. 
 
 1  ver    1. 
 
 6    7. 
 
 cli.  19.  21. 
 
 t  Heb.    The 
 
 -  Ts.  37.  23 
 
 .oulofkim 
 
 Pro.  SO.  21.. 
 
 that  iaboUT- 
 
 Jlt.  10.  Zi. 
 
 fM. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 \  Heh-bowlh 
 
 Dhnnalioii. 
 
 until  him. 
 
 P  Lev.  19  3o. 
 
 i  Heb.J  ma,, 
 
 ch.    11.  1. 
 
 ofB^l.nl. 
 
 \  Heb.  all  the 
 
 poh.  6.  14, 
 
 itui.a. 
 
 19.  &  15.  IS, 
 
 &  -Id.  21.  & 
 
 29.  22 
 
 ■I  ch.  25.5. 
 
 (  Heb.  Knd- 
 
 &  aO.  H. 
 
 €th  filJth. 
 
 /ch.  17.  9. 
 
 r  cb.  14.  35. 
 
 i/<-h.  1.  10, 
 
 &  22.  1 1. 
 
 SiO. 
 
 ;.  rli.20.  29. 
 
 $  ch.  J9.  12. 
 
 ich.  19.  II. 
 
 ft  yo.  2. 
 
 /ch,   19.  13. 
 
 H  J,>b  29   L'3 
 
 Zech.  10.  1. 
 
 jTch.  S.  II, 
 
 19. 
 
 a  ch.  15.  17. 
 
 II  Or,  good 
 
 chear. 
 
 b  Ch.  10.  5. 
 
 &  19.  26. 
 
 y  ch    11.  S. 
 
 fc  17.  19.  & 
 
 18.  12. 
 
 c  Ps,  26.  2. 
 
 ch.  27.  21. 
 
 Jcr.  17.  10. 
 
 Mai.  3.  3 
 
 p  Or,  ffs  that 
 
 d  Ph.  It.  SI, 
 
 under  lit 'id- 
 
 ff  J..b  St.  1:9. 
 
 flh  a  maltfr. 
 
 Ol-iid,  12. 
 
 .-  I»9    2.  IS 
 
 t  Heb    held 
 
 fit  -S'l.  8.  St 
 
 innocent. 
 
 12i.  I. 
 
 fV&.  127.  3. 
 
 Is.  30.  19, 
 
 ■  &  I2S.  3. 
 
 .ler.  17.  7, 
 
 t  Heb    a  Up 
 
 0/  ejTcet- 
 
 IflClj. 
 
 t  H*>'b.  a  lip 
 
 1  ch.  13.  li. 
 
 <>/h-"9- 
 
 &  U  27. 
 
 H  ch    13.  16 
 
 &   Iff.  6. 
 
 \  Heb    a 
 
 iio'ie  «/ 
 
 h  Pit   37.  30. 
 
 era  re. 
 
 Mat.   12  34 
 
 h  ch.   10.  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  rnuA. 
 
 II  Or,  pro. 
 
 tth  Vite. 
 
 curflh. 
 
 i  ch,   16.  28. 
 
 11  Or,  yi  re- 
 
 lyri.ofaii-eth 
 
 c  ch.  14,  12. 
 
 niore  a  leiie 
 
 man,  than 
 
 l'>  itrike  a 
 
 /■•ot  an  hun- 
 
 dred timft. 
 
 20  ''fHe  tliat  laboureth  labouretli  lor  him- 
 self; for  his  mouth  f  craveth  it  of  him. 
 
 27  t  An  ungodly  man  diggeth  up  evil  :  and 
 in  his  lips  t/ierc  is  as  a  buciiing  fire. 
 
 28  °A  froward  man  fsoweth  strife:  and  'a 
 whisperer  separateth  chief  friends. 
 
 29  A  violent  man  <=  enticeth  his  neighbour, 
 and  leadeth  him  into  the  way  that  is  not  good. 
 
 30  He  shutteth  his  eyes  to  devise  froward 
 things  :  moving  his  lips  he  briiigeth  evil  to 
 pass. 
 
 31  '•The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glor)',  if 
 it  be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness. 
 
 32  '  He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than 
 the  mighty  ;  and  he  that  ruleth  his  .spirit  than 
 he  that  taketh  a  city. 
 
 33  The  lot  is  cast  into  the  lap ;  but  the 
 whole  disposing  thereof  is  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 TDETTER  is  °a  dry  morsel,  and  quietness 
 -^  therewith,  than  an  house  full  of  ||  sacri- 
 fices ivilh  strife. 
 
 2  A  wise  servant  shall  have  rule  over  'a  son 
 that  causeth  shame,  and  shall  have  part  of  the 
 inheritance  among  the  brethren. 
 
 3  "  The  fining  pot  is  for  silver,  and  the  fur- 
 nace for  gold  :  but  the  Lord  trieth  the  hearts. 
 
 4  A  wicked  doer  giveth  heed  to  false  lips ; 
 and  a  liar  giveth  car  to  a  naughty  tongue. 
 
 .5  ''  Whoso  mocketh  the  poor  reproacheth  his 
 Maker :  and  °  he  that  is  glad  at  calamities 
 .shall  not  be  f  unpunished. 
 
 6  ""Children's  children  are  the  crown  of  old 
 men ;  and  the  glory  of  children  are  their 
 fathers. 
 
 7  t  Excellent  speech  becometh  not  a  fool ; 
 much  less  do  flyi'ig  lips  a  prince. 
 
 8  ^  A  gift  is  OS  fa  precious  stone  in  the  eyes 
 of  him  that  hath  it :  whithersoever  it  turneth, 
 it  prospereth. 
 
 9  i"  He  that  covereth  a  transgression  ||  seek- 
 eth  love ;  but  '  he  that  repeateth  a  matter 
 separateth  veri/  friends. 
 
 10  II  A  reproof  entereth  more  into  a  wise 
 man  than  an  hundred  stripes  into  a  fool. 
 
 upon  the  righteous  is  enough  to  recommend  them  to  the  respects  of  all. 
 — Henrt/.  10.  A  divine  sentence,  ^c— CDp  sig^nifies  'divination.'  Wnat 
 he  says  is  as  an  oracle,  and  should  be  strictly  true.— GiV/.  '  Mature 
 counsel  should  be  on  the  lips  of  a  king,  that  his  mouth  may  not  trans- 
 gress in  judgment.' — Bootlir.  11,  A  just  weight,  Sfc,  alluding  to  the 
 standard  weights  of  the  sanctuary. — A.  Clarke,  These  are  of  his  de- 
 vising.— Gill.  13,  Of  liingR,  i.e.,  of  good  kings, — Henry.  14.  As 
 messengers  uf  dentil,  as  the  wrath  of  Ahasucrus  was  to  Haman. — Gilt. 
 Wlien  tiie  enemies  of  a  great  man  in  Turkey  have  gained  influence 
 enough  over  the  prince  to  procure  a  warrant  for  his  death,  a  capidgi, 
 or  executioner,  is  sent  to  him,  and  shews  him  the  order  he  has  to  carry 
 back  his  head;  the  other  kisses  it.  and  freely  gives  it  up. — Tfievenot. 
 A  similar  custom  exists  in  Persia,  and  the  messenger  armed  with  the 
 terror  of  the  royal  name  no  one  dares  resist. — Sir  J.  Cltardin.  A  like 
 custom  was  evidently  adopted  in  Palestine,  (1  Kings,  ii  25  ;  Matt,  xiv, 
 10.)— War,  15,  Is  life — it  must  be  so  especially  with  an  eastern 
 prince,  whose  absolute  power  lenders  his  frowns  death, — Ed.  As  a 
 cloud  of  the  latter  ram,  which  promises  an  abundant  harvest. — Pat. 
 17.  Highway,  habitual  accustomed  course, —  Wagan.  '21.  And  the 
 sweetness,  '  and  his  honeyed  lips  will  increase  learning.'  Eloquent  lips 
 increase  the  eflfect  of  sound  doctrine. — Holden.  Those  that  have  wis. 
 dom  have  a  happy  education,  and,  if  they  communicate  it  well,  they 
 
 diffuse  and  propagate  knowledge  to  others,  and  in  so  doing  increase 
 their  own  stock, — Henry.  23,  The  heart  of  the  wise,  Sfc. — wisdom  in 
 the  heart  is  the  main  matter  for  true  eloquence, — Henry.  25.  7'hfit 
 seemeth  right,  §-c. — see  chap,  xiv.  12,  note,  26,  L  i/joureth  for  hiin. 
 self—no  thanks  to  a  man  for  his  industry  ;  if  he  do  not  work,  he  must 
 starve.— .<.  Clarke.  30.  Moving,  '  biting,'  Viilg.  31,  The  lot,  fsc 
 i.e.,  the  pebble  is  cast  into  the  lap,  p'm, '  into  the  bosom,'  that  is,  pro- 
 bably, of  an  urn  or  vase.  It  does  not  appear  that  the  bosom  of  a  per- 
 S'ln.  that  is,  of  a  garment  worn  by  a  person,  was  ever  used  to  receive 
 lots,  lot  pebbles.  The  root  of  bcv,  'to  cast,'  means  *  to  cast  out,'  rather 
 than  '  to  cast  in  ;'  it  however  sometimes  means,  '  to  cast  in  all  direc- 
 tions,' and  hence  the  passage  may  read,  '  In  a  Int-vasc,  the  lots  are 
 shaken  in  all  directions;  nevertheless,  from  the  l.ord  is  their  whole  de- 
 cision— ^judgment,' — Taylor's  Calm. 
 
 Cu.\p.  XVll.  —  I.  A  (try  morsel,  min  HQ,  '  a  broken  piece  of  hard 
 mouldy  bread. — Gill,  as  Gej.,  Jan.,  Trern.,  §c.  An  house  fall  of  sacri- 
 fices, i.  e.,  good  provision,  the  remains  of  peace-ofFerings  being  taken 
 home  for  a  feast. — Cal.,  Holden.  2.  A  wise  servant,  ^-c. — wisdom 
 tends  to  advance  men,  and  folly  to  depress  them  ;  and  this  causes  a 
 constant  fiuctuation  in  ilunian  affairs, — Scott.  9.  He  that  covereth, 
 ^c. — he  that  conceals  the  offence  of  a  friend  will  preserve  love  ;  but  he 
 that  calls  every  little  unkindness  into  question,  and  expostulates  ou 
 
 Reflfctidns  on  Chap.  XVI Let  us  remember,  I.  What 
 
 is  here  recommended.  Let  us  roll  our  cares  upon  the  Lord.  A 
 gracious  God  condescends  to  relieve  us  of'our  burdens,  and  we 
 can  never  press  down  the  shoulders  of  Omnipotence.  Let  us 
 fear  the  Lord,  as  the  best  preventive  against  evil — evil  to  the 
 mind  and  evil  to  the  body  ;  evil  for  time  and  evil  for  eternity. 
 If  Uod  gives  us  a  little,  let  us  be  content  with  a  little  ;  a  little, 
 honestly  acquired,  leaves  no  sting  on  the  conscience  ;  but 
 much,  otherwise  gained,  is  a  continual  thorn  in  the  bosom  of 
 the  possessor  ;  or,  if  be  feels  not  tlie  thorn  now,  it  may  more 
 keenly  pierce  bim  on  a  dying  pillow.  Let  us  cultivate  bumi- 
 (i8G 
 
 lily,  for  '  God  resistetb  the  pioud,  but  giveth  grace  to  tbe 
 humble.'  Let  us  cherish  the  meeli  and  quiet  spirit,  aiming 
 as  much  as  possible  to  give  no  ofi'ence  to  any,  ana,  in  a  quar- 
 relsome world,  to  live  peaceably  with  all  men.  Let  us  avoid — ■ 
 II.  What  is  here  condemned — pride,  injustice,  dishonesty, 
 strife  ; 
 
 '  So  let  our  lips  and  lives  express 
 
 The  holy  gospel  we  profess ; 
 
 So  let  oirr  works  and  virtues  shine. 
 
 To  prove  the  doctrine  all  divine.'  ^v 
 
Moral  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XVIII. 
 
 their  contrary  vices. 
 
 1 1  An  evil  man  seeketli  only  rebellion ; 
 therefore  a  cruel  messenger  shall  be  sent 
 against  him. 
 
 1'2  Let  'a  bear  robbed  of  her  wlielps  meet  a 
 man,  rather  than  a  fool  in  his  folly. 
 
 13  Whoso  '  rewardeth  evil  for  good,  evil 
 shall  not  depart  from  his  house. 
 
 14  The  beginning  of  strife  is  as  when  one 
 letteth  out  water:  therefore  "'leave  off  con- 
 tention, before  it  be  meddled  with. 
 
 16  "  He  that  justifieth  the  wicked,  and  he 
 that  condemneth  the  just,  even  they  both  are 
 abomination  to  the  Lord. 
 
 16  Wherefore  is  there  a  price  in  the  hand  of 
 a  fool  to  get  wisdom,  °  seeing  he  hath  no 
 heart  to  it  ? 
 
 1 7  ''A  friend  loveth  at  all  times,  and  a  brother 
 is  born  for  adversity. 
 
 15  ''  A  man  void  of  f  understanding  striketh 
 hands,  n/ic/becometh  surety  in  the  presence  of 
 his  friend. 
 
 19  He  loveth  transgression  that  loveth  strife: 
 and  'he  that  exalteth  his  gate  seeketh  de- 
 struction. 
 
 20  t  He  ''i=it  hath  a  froward  heart  findeth  no 
 good :  and  he  that  hath  '  a  perverse  tongue 
 falleth  into  mischief. 
 
 21  '  He  that  begetteth  a  fool  doeth  it  to  his 
 sorrow:  and  the  father  of  a  fool  hath  no  joy. 
 
 22  "A  merry  heart  doeth  good  ||  like  a  medi- 
 cine :  'but  a  broken  spirit  drieth  the  bones. 
 
 23  A  wicked  man  taketh  a  gift  out  of  the 
 bosom  '  to  pervert  the  ways  of  judgment. 
 
 24  '  Wisdom  is  before  him  that  hath  under- 
 standing ;  but  the  eyes  of  a  fool  are  in  the 
 ends  of  the  earth. 
 
 25  °  A  foolish  son  is  a  grief  to  his  father,  and 
 bitterness  to  her  that  bare  him. 
 
 26  Also  ^  to  punish  the  just  is  not  good,  nor 
 to  strike  princes  for  equity. 
 
 27  °  He  that  hath  knowledge  spareth  his 
 words  :  and  a  man  of  understanding  is  of  ||  an 
 excellent  spirit. 
 
 28  ''  Even  a  fool,  when  he  holdeth  his  peace, 
 is  counted  wise  :  and  he  that  shutteth  his  lips 
 is  esteemed  a  man  of  understanding. 
 
 /  Pa.  109  4,5. 
 Jer.  19.  ^(1. 
 See  Ko.  U. 
 17.  1  Thea, 
 h   15.  1  Ptt 
 
 m  eh  90.  3. 
 lTheB.4.11. 
 
 II  Ex.  23  7. 
 ch.  24.  24, 
 Is.  5.  2-3. 
 
 p  Ruth  1  16. 
 ch.  18.  24. 
 
 q  ch.  6.  I. 
 fc  11.  10. 
 t  Heb.  heart 
 
 t  Heb.  Tl,e 
 fr»„„d  0/ 
 hftrt. 
 
 I  Jain.  3.  8. 
 
 r  ch.  10.  I. 
 
 ^  1«.  13. 
 
 ver.  25. 
 u  ch,  15.  13, 
 
 15,  &12.25. 
 t  Or.  lo  a 
 
 Tii'dicine. 
 X  P«.  22.  IS 
 \j  Ex.  23.  6. 
 
 X  ch.  14.  6 
 Ercles.  2. 
 14   &  8.  I. 
 
 1  ch.lO.  1.& 
 15.  20.  &  19, 
 13.  ver  21. 
 
 c  Jam.  I.  19, 
 
 II  Or,  11  tool 
 
 Or,  Wr  thnt 
 ii'paiitteth 
 
 flh  accord- 
 ing tuhis  de- 
 lire,  and  m- 
 leriiieddteth 
 
 linen:  See 
 Jude  19. 
 
 ich.  10.  CI. 
 fc  20.  5. 
 b  Pa.  78.  8. 
 
 :T.ev.  19.  IS 
 Deu,  1,17,81 
 lis.  19.  ch 
 24.  23.  &28, 
 21. 
 
 d  ch.  10.  14. 
 
 &  12-  13.  & 
 
 13.  3 
 
 Eccles.  10. 
 
 12. 
 e  ch.  19.  19. 
 
 &  26   22. 
 II  Or,  vihit- 
 
 prrer. 
 II  Or,  like  ai 
 
 usliei,  men 
 
 are  wiund- 
 
 ed. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 chamberi. 
 /ch   28.94. 
 e  2  Sa.  22.  3, 
 
 51   Ps.  18.  2 
 
 &  27.  1 .  «: 
 
 61.3,4  R91. 
 
 2.  &  144.  2. 
 II  Heb.  i.  let 
 
 h  ch.  10.  15. 
 i  Ch    II,  2.  & 
 
 15.31.  &16, 
 
 18. 
 t  Heb.  re- 
 
 I'lrrietti  a 
 
 mrd. 
 A  JuhaT.  51 
 
 I  Gen.  32  20. 
 1  Sa.  25.  27- 
 ch.  17.  3.  It 
 21.  14. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 THROUGH    II  desire  a  man,   having  sepa- 
 rated himself,  seeketh  and  iutermeddleth 
 with  all  wisdom. 
 
 2  A  fool  hath  no  delight  in  understanding, 
 but  that  his  heart  may  discover  itself. 
 
 3  Wlien  the  wicked  cometh,  then  cometh 
 also  contempt,  and  with  ignominy  reproach. 
 
 4  "  The  words  of  a  man's  mouth  are  as  deep 
 waters,  ''and  the  wellspring  of  wisdom  as  a 
 flowing  brook. 
 
 5  "  It  is  not  good  to  accept  the  person  of  the 
 wicked,  to  overthrow  the  righteous  in  judg- 
 ment. 
 
 6  A  fool's  lips  enter  into  contention,  and  his 
 mouth  calleth  for  strokes. 
 
 7  ''  A  fool's  mouth  is  his  destruction,  and  his 
 lips  arc  the  snare  of  his  soul. 
 
 8  "  The  words  of  a  ||  talebearer  are  \\  as 
 wounds,  and  they  go  down  into  the  f  inner- 
 most parts  of  the  belly. 
 
 9  He  also  that  is  slothful  in  his  work  is 
 '  brother  to  him  that  is  a  great  waster. 
 
 10  ^The  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower  : 
 the  righteous  runneth  into  it,  and  fis  safe. 
 
 1 1  '■  The  rich  man's  wealth  is  his  strong  city, 
 and  as  an  high  wall  in  his  own  conceit. 
 
 12  '  Before  destruction  the  heart  of  man  is 
 haughty,  and  before  honour  is  humility. 
 
 13  He  that  fanswereth  a  matter  'before  he 
 hearcth  if,  it  is  folly  and  shame  unto  him. 
 
 14  The  spirit  of  a  man  will  sustain  his  infir- 
 mity ;  but  a  wounded  spirit  who  can  bear? 
 
 15  "The  heart  of  the  prudent  getteth  know- 
 ledge; and  the  ear  of  the  wise  seeketh  know- 
 ledge. 
 
 16  '  A  man's  gift  niaketh  room  for  him,  and 
 bringeth  him  before  great  men. 
 
 17  He  that  is  first  in  his  own  cause  seemeth 
 just  ;  but  his  neighbour  cometh  and  searcheth 
 him. 
 
 18  The  lot  causeth  contentions  to  cease,  and 
 parteth  between  the  mighty. 
 
 19  A  brother  offended  is  harder  to  he  won 
 than  a  strong  city  :  and  their  contentions  are 
 like  the  bars  of  a  castle. 
 
 every  occasion,  will  be  sure  to  lose  his  friends. — Bp.  Hall.  12.  -i  bear 
 rofihed  of  tier  w/tetps — the  she  bear  is  most  furious  when  robbed  of  her 
 young. — Par.  l-t.  As  wfien  one  letlet/t  out  u'w^er.  is  like  the  break- 
 ing down  the  banks  of  a  river,  till  the  whole  country  is  overflowed. — 
 Holden.  16.  -i  price,  ^-c. — the  riches  of  a  wealthy  fool  cannot  pur. 
 chase  wisdom. — Bp.  Hall.  \s.  Strilcef/i  hands — see  chap,  vi  l,  note. 
 19.  That  exulteth  hiagute — Thei'ejwt  ttUs  us  that  the  dour  of  the  house 
 in  which  the  t'rcnch  merchants  lived  at  Rama  was  not  three  feet  high, 
 and  that  all  the  houses  were  the  same,  to  hinder  the  Arabs  from  enter- 
 ing their  houses  on  horseback,  it  being  their  practice  to  ride  into  the 
 houses  of  those  they  mean  to  harass.  If  bands  of  Arabs  took  this  ad- 
 vantage of  high  gates  on  tlie  confines  of  Solomon's  kingdom,  there 
 is  a  graceful  vivacity  in  the  apophthegm. — Har.  He  that  widenethhis 
 opening,  i.  e.,  the  door  of  his  lips,  (see  Ps.  c.xli.  3.) — Weston.  He  that 
 makes  a  splendid  entrance  to  his  house  is  likely  to  excite  envy. — Wil., 
 as  Jarchi  and  Ahen  Ezra.  20.  A  froward  heart  findeth  no  good — 
 what  can  a  man  gain  by  a  peevish,  stormy,  ungovernable  temper  ? — 
 Stif.  22.  Drieth  the  hones,  '  preys  upon  the  strength.'— B/j.  Home. 
 23.  .'I  gi/t  out  of  the  bosom — here  the  Hebrews  carried  their  purse, 
 money,  and  valuables ;  it  therefore  signifies  not  only  something  secret, 
 hut  precious. — So  Cat.  24.  In  the  ends  of  the  earth,  i.  e.,  any  where 
 but  before  him,  to  direct  his  conduct. — Hew.  26.  To  strike  princes 
 for  equity—it  just  punishments  fall  hard  on  individuals,  they  should 
 not  rebel  against  the  prince  who  faithfully  executes  tlie  laws. — So 
 Scott. 
 
 CnAP.  Xvni.  —  1.  Through  desire,  4*c.— 'the  self.Qpiniated  seeketh 
 his  own  desire;  he  ridiculeth  all  sound  wisdom.' — Boothr.,  as  Cocc, 
 SchuU.fSfC.    The  real  rendering  seems  to  be  nearly  as  translated  in  our 
 
 bibles,  and  signifies  that  a  man,  finding  he  can  make  little  progress  in 
 the  investigation  of  divine  and  natural  things  if  he  have  much  to  do 
 with  secular  or  trifling  matters,  separates  himself  from  unprofitable 
 pursuits  and  frivolous  company.  —  A.  Clarke.  'A  harebrained  man 
 seeks  to  satisfy  his  fancy,  and  intermLxeth  himself  with  all  things.'— 
 So  rendered  by  Lord  Bacon.  *  He  who  prepares  dissensions  seizes  all 
 occasions,  he  leaves  nothing  untried.'— //o((6.  2.  But  that  his  Jieart 
 may  discover  itself,  '  but  in  discovering  the  thoughts  of  his  heart.' — 
 Boothr.  Should  be  translated,  '  But  a  fool  doth  not  delight  in  under- 
 standing, though  it  should  even  manifest  itself.' — A.Clarke.  3.  When 
 the  wicked  cometh.  Sfc,  enters  into  company. — Heu^.  He  is  apt  to  cast 
 reproach  and  contempt  on  others. — Bishop  Hall.  When  placed  in  situa- 
 tions of  trust,  they  bring  disgrace  upon  themselves  and  otlrers. —Sco//. 
 The  sense  is,  '  folly  is  accompanied  with  contempt ;  vile  and  ignomini- 
 ous conduct  with  reproach.' — Holden.  4.  -'is  deep  tcaters—thc  intelli- 
 gent man  has  in  him  a  good  treasiu-e  of  useful  things  ;  his  knowledge, 
 as  deep  waters,  may  make  no  noise,  but  never  runs  dry.  5.  Not  good 
 to  accept  the  person — the  merits  of  the  cause  must  be  regarded,  but  not 
 the  person.  8.  Are  as  wounds,  'are  greedily  swallowed.'— BorjfAr., 
 as  Scfiult.,  so  A.  Clarke.  They  wound  him  of  whom  they  are  spoken, 
 his  credit  and  interest;  to  whom  spoken,  his  love  and  charity;  by 
 whom  spoken,  they  wound  his  conscience. — Henry.  The  received 
 translation  is  approved  by  Holden.  14.  Infirmity,  some  bodily  in- 
 firmity ;  but  wlien  the  spirit  is  wounded,  howcan  this  be  supported? — 
 Boothr-  iG.  -4  man's  gift,  fsa. — in  Asiatic  countries,  without  a  gift  to 
 a  great  man,  no  audience,  favour,  or  justice.  18.  The  lot — this  is  still 
 much  used  in  the  east  to  determine  disputed  questions  where  the  judg- 
 ment is  perplexed. — So  Fict.  Bib.         19.  .4  brother  offended — when 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.  XVII We  have  here,  I.  Valu- 
 
 iihtc  cvliortatiuns  to  peace,  harmony,  charity,  and  love.  The 
 apostle's  l.inguase  contains  the  spirit  of  these  exhortations — 
 '  l.pt  brotherly  love  continue.' 
 
 II.  Vatuxihle  cautious  against  strife,  obstinacy,  bribery ,  and 
 687 
 
 rebellion.  The  proverbs  connected  with  public  and  private 
 life,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  are  mingled  together.  So- 
 ciety is  joined  in  one  by  many  lin  s.  One  grand  link,  never 
 broken,  would  bring  down  heaven  to  earth  ;  in  heaven  it  unites 
 all  eternally  together,  — that  link  is  love. 
 
Moral  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XIX. 
 
 their  contrary  vice?. 
 
 20  "  A  man's  belly  shall  be  satisfied  with  the 
 fruit  of  his  mouth  ;  and  with  the  increase  of 
 his  lips  shall  he  be  filleil. 
 
 21  "Death  and  life  are  in  the  power  of  the 
 tongue  :  and  they  that  love  it  shall  eat  the 
 fruit  thereof. 
 
 22  °  Whoso  findeth  a  wife  findeth  a  good 
 thing,  and  obtaineth  favour  of  the  Lord. 
 
 23  The  poor  useth  intreaties  ;  but  the  rich 
 ansvvereth  '' roughly. 
 
 24  A  man  that  hath  friends  must  shew  him- 
 self friendly  :  ''  and  there  is  a  friend  tliat  stick- 
 eth  closer  than  a  brother. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 "DETTER  *  is  the  poor  that  walketh  in  liis 
 ^-*  integrity,  than  he  that  is  perverse  in  his 
 lips,  and  is  a  fool. 
 
 2  Also,  that  the  soul  he  without  knowledge, 
 it  is  not  good  ;  and  he  that  hasteth  with  his 
 feet  sinneth. 
 
 3  The  foolishness  of  man  perverteth  his  way  : 
 ''and  his  heart  fretteth  against  the  Loud. 
 
 4  "^  Wealth  maketh  many  friends  ;  hut  the 
 poor  is  separated  from  his  neighbour. 
 
 5  ''  A  false  witness  shall  not  be  f  unpunished, 
 and  he  that  speaketh  lies  shall  not  escape. 
 
 6  "  Many  will  intreat  the  favour  of  the  prince : 
 and  '  every  man  is  a  friend  to  fhim  that  giveth 
 gifts. 
 
 7  ^  All  the  brethren  of  the  poor  do  hale  him : 
 how  much  more  do  his  friends  go  ''  far  from 
 him?  he  pnrsueth  them  with  words,  yet  they 
 are  wanting  to  him. 
 
 8  He  that  getteth  t"'>sdoni  loveth  his  own 
 soul  :  he  that  keepeth  understanding  '  shall 
 find  good. 
 
 9  '  A  false  witness  .shall  not  be  unpunished, 
 and  he  that  speaketh  lies  shall  perish. 
 
 10  Delight  is  not  seemly  for  a  fool  ;  much 
 less  'for  a  servant  to  have  rule  over  princes. 
 
 11  "The  II  discretion  of  a  man  defcrreth  his 
 anger ;  "  and  it  is  his  glory  to  pass  over  a 
 transgression. 
 
 12  °  The  king's  wrath  is  as  the  roaring  of  a 
 lion  ;  but  his  favour  is  ''as  dew  upon  the  grass. 
 
 b.  (\ 
 
 B    C. 
 
 Cir    liil'O. 
 
 cii-.  1000. 
 
 m  ch    V.'.  l-I. 
 
 q  <!h.    to     1. 
 
 &  13-  2. 
 
 &  15.  20.  & 
 
 t  See  Mat. 
 
 17,  21.  25- 
 r  ch.  21    9, 
 
 I'J.  37. 
 
 1ft,  &57.  15 
 
 .2Cor,l-J.I-l 
 
 t  ch.  Ifi.  22. 
 
 t(  oh.  6.  9 
 
 0  di.  19   4. 
 
 X  ch.  10.  4 
 
 &  31.  10. 
 
 &  20.  13.  & 
 
 23,  21. 
 
 ti  Luke  10 
 
 "24).  ft.  n,2s 
 
 p  Jam.  2.  3. 
 
 =  cli.  28  27. 
 
 EccK's  ll.l. 
 
 7  cli.  17.  17. 
 
 M.it   10,4:2 
 
 &  -ij.  40. 
 
 2  Cor.  9-  6, 
 
 7,  8.  Heb. 
 
 6.  10. 
 
 II  Or,  hit 
 
 derd. 
 
 a  ch.  S9.  6. 
 
 och.  13.2;. 
 
 &  23.  13    St 
 
 29    17. 
 
 II  Or,tohU 
 
 ti'-tlrtlCtio'l  : 
 
 or,  locifiie 
 
 /(■III  In  liin. 
 
 f  H^h.  add. 
 
 6  Ps.  37  37. 
 
 f  J..I.  23,  13, 
 
 Ps.3S.IO,ll, 
 
 Ch.  10    1,9 
 
 6  Ps.  37.  7. 
 
 Is.  l4.-iG,37. 
 
 &  46    10. 
 
 c  ch.  U  20. 
 
 Acts  5    .-iO. 
 
 Hub.  0.  17. 
 
 d  ver.  !). 
 
 d\  Tim  -l.S 
 
 Ex.  as    J. 
 
 Den.  I<>.  10, 
 
 19.  ch  fi.l9. 
 
 &  21.  28. 
 
 t  Heb.  hfld 
 
 f  ch.  1.1.  Ifl. 
 
 iiii'jC'fit. 
 
 ech.  29.  -I'fl. 
 
 &  20. 13, 15. 
 
 /ch.  17-  8. 
 
 &  18-  Iti. 
 
 #f  SI,  14. 
 
 fch.2\.  II. 
 
 t  Heb.  a  matt 
 
 t  Heb    win 
 
 -f^if"' 
 
 b.  c'..,„i.,e. 
 g  Deu,  1:1.11. 
 A  ch.  9.  8. 
 
 e  ch.  t-1.  80 
 A  1*8  S9.  11. 
 
 t  Heb.  an 
 
 htart. 
 
 i  cb.  16.  20. 
 
 t  ch.  17.  2. 
 
 /  ch,  SO  22, 
 Kcclea.  10. 
 6,  7. 
 
 m  ch.  M.2i>. 
 ,IaTiie8  1.19. 
 
 II  Clr,,,r... 
 
 n  ch.  16.  32. 
 
 .-  ch.  Hi.  11, 
 
 i:>    fi  ','0.  2. 
 
 t  Ilch.  A 
 
 leiliK^tt  of 
 
 ririM. ' 
 
 k  ,I.,l)  1.1,  16. 
 8.  L'O  IJ,  IJ. 
 
 Hi  :n  7. 
 /  ch.  in.  13. 
 
 &  2G,  3, 
 
 13  ■■  A  foolish  son  is  the  calamity  of  his 
 father :  '  and  the  contentious  of  a  wife  are  a 
 continual  dropping. 
 
 14  '  House  and  riches  are  the  inheritance  of 
 fathers:  and  'a  prudent  wife  isfrom  the  Lord. 
 
 15  "  Slothfulness  casteth  into  a  deep  sleep; 
 and  an  idle  soul  shall  "■  sutler  hunger. 
 
 16  '  He  that  keepeth  the  commandment 
 keepeth  his  own  soul ;  but  he  that  despiseth 
 his  ways  shall  die. 
 
 17  "  He  that  hath  pity  upon  the  poorlendeth 
 unto  the  Lord  ;  and  ||  that  which  he  hath 
 given  will  he  pay  him  again. 
 
 18  °  Chasten  thy  son  while  there  is  hope,  and 
 let  not  thy  soul  spare  |1  for  his  crying, 
 
 19  A  man  of  great  wrath  shall  suffer  punish- 
 ment:  for  if  thou  deliver  him,  yet  thou  must 
 t  do  it  again, 
 
 20  Hear  counsel,  and  receive  instruction, 
 that  thou  mayest  be  wise  ^  in  thy  latter  end. 
 
 21  '  There  are  many  devices  in  a  man's 
 heart ;  nevertheless  the  counsel  of  the  Lord, 
 that  shall  stand. 
 
 22  The  desire  of  a  man  is  his  kindness  :  and 
 a  poor  man  is  better  than  a  liar. 
 
 23  •'  The  fear  of  the  Lord  tcndeth  to  life  : 
 and  he  that  hath  it  shall  abide  satisfied  ;  he 
 shall  not  be  visited  with  evil. 
 
 24  "  A  slothful  man  liideth  his  hand  in  his 
 bosom,  and  will  not  so  much  as  bring  it  to  his 
 mouth  again. 
 
 25  'Smite  a  scorner,  and  the  simple  f^will 
 beware:  and  ''reprove  one  that  hath  under- 
 standing, and  he  will  understand  knowledge. 
 
 20  He  that  wasteth  his  father,  and  chaseth 
 away  his  mother,  is  '  a  son  thatcau,seth  shame, 
 and  bringeth  reproach. 
 
 27  Cease,  my  son,  to  hear  the  instruction 
 that  causeth  to  err  from  the  words  of  know- 
 ledge. 
 
 28  t  An  ungodly  witness  scorneth  judgment: 
 and  ''  the  mouth  of  the  wicked  devoureth  ini- 
 quity. 
 
 29  Judgments  are  prepared  for  scorncrs,  'anil 
 stripes  for  the  back  of  fools. 
 
 brothers  fall  out,  it  is  with  extreme  difficulty  that  thpy  can  he  recon. 
 cileri,  20.  Fruit  fif  his  ?tt<iut/i — our  own  words  frequently  shape  our 
 good  or  evil  forlune  in  life.  21.  Deatli  and  life,  §c.— many  have  lost 
 or  saved  their  lives  by  it;  it  applies  forcibly  to  public  pleaders, — A. 
 Clai-ke.  22,  .'1  uji/e— ,1,1/aiKa  a^a^lt]„,  '  a  good  wife,'  Sept.,  so  Old 
 Versions. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  —  \.  Perverse  in  his  lips,  and  is  a  foot,  ' perverse  with 
 his  liijs,  though  he  be  nch.'—Holdrn.  2,  Hastelh—simielh—he  ihat 
 comes  rashly  to  his  determinations  cannot  but  stumble  and  err  — B/j, 
 Hfilt.  10,  Delight,  §'C, — a  foolish  man  is  unable  to  make  a  good  use 
 of  pleasures.— Ci//,  'Authority  becometh  not.' Sic— Buo?/ii',  \2.  T/ie 
 binges  wrath,  Sfc. — the  king  who  is  above  the  la-v,  and  rules  without 
 law,  is  like  the  lion.  So.  generally,  is  the  Asiatic  sovereign.— So 
 Clarke.  13,  .i  continual  dntppijig,  as  water  dropping  wears  away 
 the  stones,  so  she  the  peace  and  patience  of  her  husbanti,— If' (7,    She 
 
 is  as  great  an  annoyance  as  a  house  with  a  had  Toof.— Clarke,  as  Cfil. 
 and  Gill.  The  idea  may  be  taken  from  the  arbours  and  wicker-work 
 closets  of  the  orientalists,  suitable  for  dry  weather,  hut  disagreeable  in 
 wet :  and  they  that  lodge  in  them  must,  from  the  flatness  of  the  roofs, 
 be  exposed  to  'a continual  dropping,' — Hew.,  from  liar.  18,  Spare 
 
 for  his  crying,  'hear  the  burden  of  his  destruction,' — M.Good. 
 24.  Hideth  his  hand  in  his  ffosojn — the  word  nn'rS  everywhere  signifies 
 'a  pot,  or  '  dish,'  The  Arabs  dip  into  the  dish  with  their  hands,  and 
 take  the  food  from  their  palms  ;  '  a  slothful  man  liideth  bis  hand  in  the 
 dish,  and  will  not  so  much  as  bring  it  to  his  mouth  again.' — Har.  He 
 is  too  lazy  to  feed  himself, — .4,  Clarke.  The  Easterns  dip  the  fingers 
 only  in  tiie  dish,  but  this  intimates  that  the  slothful  man  would  be 
 guilty  of  the  indecorum  of  dipping  in  his  whole  hand  to  save  the 
 trouble  of  repeating  the  whole  action,— So  Ptct.  Bib. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.    XVIII We  are  taught,  I.   To 
 
 cultivate  our  minds,  or  they  will  be  as  gardens   overrun  with 
 every  noxious  weed. 
 
 II.  Tn  he  prtiiteat  in  our  words.  Or  they  will  do  harm  both  to 
 ourselves  and  others. 
 
 III.  To  be  upri(iht  in  our  actions.  This  is  the  best  way  to 
 maintain  a  conscience  void  of  offence  towards  God  and  to- 
 wards man. 
 
 IV.  To  maJte  God  our  refuge.  When  the  world  is  stormy 
 around  us,  or  when  the  soul  is  stormy  within  us,  oh  whitlier 
 can  we  flee  but  to  Him  who  is  '  tlie  high  and  lofty  One,'  the 
 '  hiding  place  from  the  storm,  and  the  covert  from  the  tem- 
 pest,'—the  •  strong  tower'  into  which  the  righteous  runneth 
 ■and  is  sale. 
 
 REri.rrrioNs  ov  Ch.»p.  XIX.  -Observe,!.  Tiie  ertl  thinns 
 (i88 
 
 here  condemned.  An  ill  tongue  ;  an  igtiorant  soul ;  precipi- 
 tate steps;  insubordination;  fretful  dispositions;  slothful- 
 ness ;  anger  ;  and  prodigality.  These  are  evils  enough  in  so- 
 ciety around  us,  but  when  any  of  then  enter  into  the  domestic 
 life,  how  raucii  do  they  mar  enjoyment,  and  how  greatly  must 
 they  affect  family  religion  !  '  A  man  of  great  wrath,'  '  a  con- 
 tentious wife,'  '  a  foolisii,  lewd,  loose,  rakish,  proud,  foppish, 
 and  conceited  son,' and  an  insubordinate  servant,  are  either 
 of  them  evils  enough  to  embitter  all  the  sweets  of  domestic 
 society. 
 
 II.  The  good  thini/s  here  commended  :  Hoiiesty  and  inte- 
 grity ;  knowdedge  arid  discretion  ;  a  prudent  wife;  a  kind  be- 
 nefactor; parental  discipline  ;  anil  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  And, 
 indeed,  the  latter  is  the  foundali""  of  all  the  lest.  '  Serious 
 godliness  has  a  direct  tendency  to  all  good.'  h 
 
Moral  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XX.,  XXI. 
 
 t/ieir  contrary  vices. 
 
 CHAP.   XX. 
 
 WINE  ''is  a  mocker,  strong  drink  is  raging: 
 and  whosoever  is  deceived  thereby  is  not 
 wise. 
 2  ^  The  fear  of  a  khig  is  as  the  roaring  of  a 
 lion  :  iv/ioso  provoketh  him  to  anger  *^  sinneth 
 (tf/aiiist  his  own  soul. 
 U  '^  It  is  an  honour  for  a  man  to  cease  from 
 strife  :  but  every  fool  will  be  meddling. 
 
 4  *■'  The  sluggard  will  not  plow  by  reason  of 
 the  11  cold  ;  ^therefore  shall  he  beg  in  harvest, 
 and  have  nothing. 
 
 5  ^'  Counsel  in  the  heart  of  man  vV  //ke  deep 
 water ;  but  a  man  of  understanding  will  draw 
 it  out. 
 
 6  ^  Most  men  will  proclaim  every  one  his 
 own  II  goodness:  but  'a  faithful  man  who  can 
 tind  y 
 
 7  ''The  just  man  vvalketh  in  his  integrity: 
 '  ills  children  are  blessed  after  him. 
 
 8  "'  A  king  that  sitteth  in  the  throne  of  judg- 
 ment scattereth  away  all  evil  with  his  eyes. 
 
 9  "  Who  can  say,  1  have  made  my  iicart  clean, 
 I  am  pure  from  my  sin? 
 
 H)  ^fDivers  weights,  a^//./ f  divers  measures, 
 both  of  them  are  alike  abomination  to  the 
 Loud. 
 
 11  Even  a  child  is  ^  known  by  his  doings, 
 whether  his  work  be  pure,  and  whether  it  be 
 riL;ht. 
 
 12  '  The  hearing  ear,  and  the  seeing  eye,  the 
 Lord  hatli  made  even  both  of  them. 
 
 13  '  Love  not  sleep,  lest  thou  come  to 
 poverty  ;  open  thine  eyes,  and  thou  shalt  be 
 satisfied  with  bread, 
 
 14  It  is  naught,  it  is  naught,  saith  the  buyer: 
 but  when  he  is  gone  his  way,  then  h.e  boasteth. 
 
 \5  There  is  gold,  and  a  multitude  of  rubies  : 
 but  ^  the  lips  of  knowledge  are  a  precious 
 jewel. 
 
 16  'Take  bis  garment  that  is  surety /(?/■  a 
 stranger :  and  take  a  pledge  of  him  for  a 
 strange  woman. 
 
 1 7  "  t  Bread  of  deceit  is  sweet  to  a  man  ;  but 
 afterwards  his  mouth  shall  be  filled  with  gravel. 
 
 18  ^  Enery  purpose  is  established  by  counsel : 
 'and  with  good  advice  make  war. 
 
 a  Gen.  fl.  2r. 
 ch.23.2<i,S0 
 Is.  28.  7. 
 Hos.  4.  11. 
 
 b  ch.  16,  14. 
 fc  19.  12. 
 c  cb.  8.  86. 
 
 II  Or,  vinlfT 
 /ch.  19.  15. 
 
 h  ch.  25.  II- 
 
 Mat.  fi.  s;. 
 
 Luke  18.  II. 
 I  Or,  b-junl^. 
 I  Pa.  12.  I. 
 
 tuke  18.8. 
 A2Cor.  1.12 
 I  Ps.  37.  20. 
 
 &   112.2. 
 m  rer.  26. 
 
 .T,>b  1+.  4. 
 
 Ps.  51.  5. 
 
 Kccles.7.20. 
 
 I  Cor-  4..  4. 
 
 I  J..hu  I    8 
 oDeii.25   IS, 
 
 fcc.  ver.  2:i 
 
 ch.  n.  I.  & 
 
 16.  n.  Mic 
 
 6.  10,  M. 
 t  Heb.  A 
 
 tt-ne  and  a 
 
 St  -w, 
 
 t  Heb.  an 
 rf,/..,!,  niid 
 on  ryln.h. 
 
 P  Mat.  7.  16. 
 
 3  Ex.  1.11. 
 Pa   n.  9. 
 
 r  ch.  6.  9.  & 
 12.  M.  &  1!), 
 I. 5.  Rom.  12. 
 11. 
 
 s  Job  2fi.  12, 
 
 16,  l7,lH.lfi. 
 
 ch.  3.  15.  & 
 
 8.  11. 
 t  ch.  2-2.  20. 
 
 27.  &  27.  13. 
 
 u  ch.  9.  17. 
 t  Heb.  Bread 
 
 of  liiiug,  or, 
 faUeho-'d. 
 
 X  ch.  I.'j.  22 
 &  24.  15. 
 
 (/  Lu.  11.31. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  1000. 
 
 :  ch.  II.  i:{ 
 
 Kn.  \r,.  IS, 
 11  Or,  fii- 
 
 b  Ex    21.  17 
 Lpv.  2)1.  9 
 ^^at,    15.4. 
 Job  19.5,0. 
 ch.  24.  ail. 
 
 II  Or,  cn'i'Uf. 
 
 <l  ii\\.  28   -Jn 
 
 ?  Hab.  2.  6. 
 
 /■ncii,3:3' 
 ch.  17.  I.'M^ 
 ■i\l\K\\.>m 
 
 12.  17,  !(•. 
 1  Thps..'.  15 
 1  Pit.  A.  n 
 
 'J  'i  Sam.  16. 
 
 12. 
 h  vcr,  10. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 tllllllliCPS  I'/ 
 
 fit. 
 
 i  Ps.  :^7■  !?3. 
 
 ch.  16    9 
 
 Jer.  10.  23 
 k  Eccles.  5, 
 
 4.  5, 
 /  Ps.  1.  1.  S, 
 
 *c.  ver.  W, 
 '..  1  Cor  l;, II 
 It  Or,  lamp. 
 
 o  ch.  16.  .SI, 
 
 t  Heb.  ia  a 
 purgim; 
 
 medtcine 
 ngiitnilevii. 
 
 a  ch.  16.  2. 
 A  ch    24.  12. 
 
 Luke  16. 15. 
 c  1  Sam.  15 
 
 22,  Pa. 50.8- 
 
 ch.  15.  8. 
 
 Is.  I.  Il,&c. 
 
 Hns.  6.  6. 
 
 Mic.6.  7,  8. 
 d  ch    6.  17. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 H'tiifflitin'ti 
 
 of  it/e). 
 II  Or,  ,hr. 
 
 licUuflhr 
 
 wickrd. 
 e^\\.   10    -1. 
 
 &  13.  4. 
 /ch.  10-  2. 
 
 2  Pet    2.  8. 
 t  Heb.  iaw 
 
 19  ''He  that  goeth  about  as  a  talebearer  re- 
 vealeth  secrets:  therefore  meddle  not  with 
 him  "^  that  ||  flattereth  with  his  lips. 
 
 20  ^  Whoso  cnrseth  his  father  or  his  mother, 
 '^  his  II  lamp  shall  be  put  out  in  obscure  dark- 
 ness. 
 
 21  *^An  inheritance  may  he  gotten  hastily  at 
 the  beginning  ;  ®  but  the  end  thereof  shall  not 
 be  blessed. 
 
 22  '^  Say  not  thou,  I  will  recompense  evil  ; 
 hut  ^wait  on  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  save  thee. 
 
 23  ^  Divers  weights  are  an  abomination  unto 
 the  Lord  :  and  fa  false  balance  is  not  good. 
 
 24  '  Man's  goings  are  of  the  Lord  ;  how  can 
 a  man  then  understand  his  own  way? 
 
 25  It  is  a  snare  to  the  man  who  devoureth 
 that  irhich  is  holy,  and  ''after  vow\s  to  make 
 enquiry. 
 
 26  '  A  wise  king  scattereth  the  wicked,  and 
 bvingeth  the  wheel  over  them. 
 
 27  "^  The  spirit  of  man  is  the  ||  candle  of  the 
 Lord,  searching  all  the  inward  parts  of  the 
 belly. 
 
 28  "  Mercy  and  truth  preserve  the  king:  and 
 his  throne  is  iipholden  by  mercy. 
 
 29  The  glory  of  young  men  is  their  strength  : 
 and  °the  beauty  of  old  men  is  the  grey  head. 
 
 30  The  blueness  of  a  wound  fcleanseth  away 
 evil  :  so  do  stripes  the  inward  parts  of  the 
 belly. 
 
 CHAP.  XXL 
 ^HE  king's  heart  is  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord, 
 -*-     as    the    rivers    of   water :    he    turneth    it 
 whithersoever  he  will. 
 
 2  *  Every  way  of  a  man  is  right  in  his  own 
 eyes  :  ^but  the  Lord  pondereth  the  hearts. 
 
 3  *^  To  do  justice  and  judgment  is  more  ac- 
 ceptable to  the  Lord  than  sacrifice. 
 
 4  ^t  An  high  look,  and  a  proud  heart,  and 
 II  the  plowing  of  the  wicked,  is  sin. 
 
 5  ^  The  thoughts  of  the  diligent  tend  only  to 
 plenteousness  ;  but  of  every  one  that  is  hasty 
 only  to  want. 
 
 6  *"  The  getting  of  treasures  by  a  lying  tongue 
 is  a  vanity  tossed  to  and  fro  of  them  that  seek 
 death. 
 
 7  The  robbery  of  the  wicked  shall  f  destroy 
 them  ;  because  they  refuse  to  do  judgment. 
 
 Chap.  XX.  —  1.  7s  n  mocker,  §-c.,  '  makcth  one  to  scoff,  strong-  drink 
 to  rage,'  Sic.—Bouthr.  Strong  drhiK;  i^n?,  any  strong  fermented 
 liquor.—,^.  Clarke.  2.  Against  his  own  soul,  incurs  the  dang^er  of 
 death.— 7i7i«(;H.  Seech,  xix.  12,  note.  6.  His  own  goodness,  llDJl, 
 •his  mercy,'— Pag-. ;  or  kindness  to  the  poor.— Gill.  16.  That  is 
 
 surety  for  a  stranger,  Sfc. — 
 
 ' that  issiirt^ty  for  another, 
 
 And  is  pledge  for  the  debts  of  strangers.'— BooMr. 
 
 Strange  nomnn,  O'l^;,  'strangers,'  the  proper  meaning  of  the  word.— 
 Hew.  This  is  not  so  much  a  precept,  as  a  caution  to  avoid  suretyship, 
 from  the  general  consequences  of  it.~Bouthr.  The  raelanchoiy  in. 
 stances  of  ruin  in  consequence  of  becoming  surety  for  others  are  ex- 
 ceidingly  numerous  in  the  east.— iJoA.  The  sense  here  is,  use  the 
 greater  caution  where  an  unknown  person  becomes  surety. — Clarke. 
 In  such  a  case,  take  a  sufficient  pawn  or  pledge,  as  an  additional 
 security. — Durcll.  It  was  common  among  the  Israelites  to  lend  on 
 pleilgp,  which  was  sometimes  grossly  Tihuaed.—H olden.  17,  Dread 
 of  deceit,  (see  chap.  ix.  17,)  means,  illicit  pleasures  terminate  in  pain 
 and  misery.— Ho/rfen.  22.  Say  nnt  thou,  I  will  recompense,  take  not 
 revenge  for  injury.— Pr/i,  26.  The  wheel,  '  the  threshing  wain.'— 
 
 Bouthr.  Grain  was  separated  from  the  husks,  in  Palestine,  by  the  oxen 
 trampling  among  the  sheaves,  or  bringing  a  rough-shod  wheel  over 
 them  —Clarke.  Ti;e  allusion  here  must  be  to  a  capital  and  severe 
 punishment  inflicted  in  this  way.— BmoMi-.  Though  the  punishment 
 of  the  wheel  prevailed  in  Greece,  there  is  no  evidence  of  it  among  the 
 
 Hebrews.— HftWe«.  The  passage  signifies,  the  crushingoftlie  power  of 
 the  wicked,  and  quashing  their  projects. — Henry.  Cru.'^hing  tbem  by 
 the  wci|,'ht  of  his  anthnrity. —  Wit.  27.  Candle,  'lamp.'  —  Boothr. 
 It  seems  here  to  refer  to  the  conscience,  which,  as  the  lamp  of  God  in 
 the  temple  ftlie  sacred  chiindelier)  illuminated  the  holy  place,  and 
 shewed  all  the  sacred  furni'ure,  so  the  conscience  of  man,  when  not  put 
 out  by  sin,  discovers  all  the  secret  recesses  of  tl;e  human  heart. —  Wil. 
 30.  The  blueness,  miin.  'the  suppuration.'  The  blueness  of  a  wound 
 cannot  be  said  to  cleanse  it,  but  suppuration  thmws  off  the  evil  matter. 
 — Boothr.  [See  1311,  *t->  conjoin,'  'join,' or  '  fit  together.' — ParJ]  Does 
 it  nnt  refer  to  the  cicatrice  nf  a  wound,  when,  from  its  healing,  the  two 
 lips  are  'brought  together  f* — A.  Clarke. 
 
 CuAP.  XXI.  —  1.  As  the  rivers  of  ivater,  ^c.ralher,  as  a  watercourse 
 eastern  farmers  irrigate  their  tields  by  conveying  water  in  gutters. — 
 Ward.     An  allusion  to  the  method  of  watering  eastern  gardens  ;  the 
 gardener  directing  the  little  rills  from  one  stream   into   any  part 
 which  he  pleases, — Sn  Clarke.  4.  An  high  look  ^c.  plowing  of  the 
 
 wicked,  Sfc. — 
 
 '  Haughty  looks  and  a  puffed-up  heart, 
 And  the  light  of  the  wicked,  shew  their  sjn,' — Boothr. 
 Plowing,  13,  '  the  Ir^mp,'  ■  the  posterity,'  an  evil  root,  an  evil  branch. 
 — Clarke.  It  means  that  the  loftiness,  pride,  splendour,  and  prosperity 
 of  the  wicked  are  sinful. — Holden.        6.  Is  a  vanity,  ^c. — 
 
 *  Pursueth  vanity  and  the  snares  of  death.' 
 7.  Because  they  refuse,  ^c,  *  yet,  they  refuse  to  do  what  is  right.' 
 
 RtFLKiiDNs  ON  Chap.  XX We  shall  notice  two  things 
 
 in  this  chapter — 1.  The  consequence  of  druiikenncss.     It  mocks 
 and  makes  a  fool  of  the  sinner  himself.     *  When  the  wine  is 
 in,  the  wit  is  out.'  ^     '  Be  not  drunk  with  wine,  but  be  filled 
 with  the  Spirit.' 
 C89 
 
 II.  The  cnnseqnence  of  disobedience  to  parents.  To  curse 
 father  or  mother  was  a  capital  crime  under  the  law,  (Exod. 
 xxi.  17 ;  Matt.  xv.  4,)  as  well  as  a  violation  of  all  the  bonds  of 
 duty,  natural  affection,  and  gratitude.  ^  '  Honour  thy  father 
 and  thy  mother.' 
 
 4  T 
 
Moral  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXII. 
 
 their  contrary  vices. 
 
 8  The  way  of  man  is  frDward  and  strange  : 
 but  as  for  tlie  pure,  his  work  is  right. 
 
 9  ^  It  is  better  to  dwell  in  a  corner  of  the 
 housetop,  than  with  fa  brawling  woman  in  fa 
 wide  house. 
 
 10  ''  The  soul  of  the  wicked  desireth  evil :  his 
 neighbour  ffindeth  no  favour  in  his  eyes. 
 
 1 1  '  When  the  scorner  is  punished,  the  simple 
 is  made  wise  :  and  when  the  wise  is  instructed, 
 he  receiveth  knowledge. 
 
 12  The  righteous  man  wisely  considereth  the 
 house  of  the  wicked  :  /lut  God  overthroweth 
 the  wicked  for  their  wickedness. 
 
 13  ''  Whoso  stoppeth  his  ears  at  the  cry  of 
 the  poor,  he  also  shall  cry  himself,  but  shall 
 not  be  heard. 
 
 14  '  A  gift  in  secret  pacifieth  anger  :  and  a 
 reward  in  the  bosom  strong  wrath. 
 
 15  It  is  joy  to  the  just  to  do  judgment : 
 "but  destruction  shall  be  to  the  workers  of 
 iniquity. 
 
 16  The  man  that  wandereth  out  of  the  way 
 of  understanding  shall  remain  in  the  congrega- 
 tion of  the  dead. 
 
 I  7  He  that  loveth  |j  pleasure  shall  be  a  poor 
 man  ;  he  that  loveth  wine  and  oil  shall  not  be 
 rich. 
 
 18  "  The  wicked  shall  be  a  ransom  for  the 
 righteous,  and  the  transgressor  for  the  upright. 
 
 \9  °  It  is  better  to  dwell  fin  the  wilderness, 
 than  with  a  contentious  and  an  angry  woman. 
 
 20  ''  There  is  treasure  to  be  desired  and  oil 
 in  the  dwelling  of  the  wise  ;  but  a  foolish  man 
 spendeth  it  up. 
 
 21  ^  He  that  foUoweth  after  righteousness 
 and  mercy  findeth  life,  righteousness,  and 
 honour. 
 
 22  '  A  wise  man  scaleth  the  city  of  the 
 mighty,  and  casteth  down  the  strength  of  the 
 confidence  thereof. 
 
 23  '  Whoso  keepeth  his  mouth  and  his  tongue 
 keepeth  his  soul  from  troubles. 
 
 24  Proud  a7id  haughty  scorner  is  his  name 
 who  dealeth  t  hi  proud  wrath. 
 
 2o  '  The  desire  of  the  slothful  killeth  him  ; 
 for  his  hands  refuse  to  labour. 
 
 26  He  coveteth  greedily  all  the  day  long : 
 but  the  "  righteous  giveth  and  spareth  not. 
 
 27  '  The  sacrifice  of  the  wicked  is  abomina- 
 tion :  how  much  more,  when  he  bringeth  it 
 t  with  a  wicked  mind  ? 
 
 28  ^t  A  false  witness  shall  perish:  but  the 
 man  that  heareth  speaketh  constantly. 
 
 29  A  wicked  man  hardeneth  his  face  :  but  as 
 for  the  upright,  he  ||  directeth  his  way. 
 
 B.  C 
 
 li.  U, 
 
 cir.  1C1H) 
 
 cir.  UlOO. 
 
 ;  Is    a   9,  10, 
 
 -r  ver.  IR. 
 
 Jer.  9.  83. 
 
 ch.   19.  13. 
 
 Acts  5.  S9. 
 
 &  25   2*.  & 
 
 a  Ps.  20.  7. 
 
 27.  15. 
 
 8c  3.1.  17. 
 
 f  Heb.  a 
 
 Ii.  31.  1. 
 
 tevmiii  •>/ 
 
 A  Ps.  3.  8. 
 
 CO'.ti-iilioiu. 
 
 II  Ot,  victory 
 
 t  Heb.  d/i 
 
 a  Eccles.  7  1 
 
 hotitf  of 
 
 laeifty. 
 
 II  Or,/.Mour 
 
 h  Jam.  4.  5. 
 
 it  bellrr 
 
 t  Heb.  11  u-'t 
 
 Hiii'i,  <S-c. 
 
 fovour'd. 
 
 Ach.-_»0    13. 
 
 i  Ch.  19.  25. 
 
 I  Cor.l-:.Sl 
 
 c  Job  .-11.  li 
 
 ch    11    31- 
 
 dch.  U.  16 
 
 &  27.  12. 
 
 h  yut.  7.  2. 
 
 &  19,  SO.Sc. 
 
 Jam.  2.  IS. 
 
 f  Ps.  112.3 
 
 Mat    6    3-1. 
 
 Il  Or.  T/ic  rc- 
 
 I  rli    17    8, 
 23.  &  18.  16. 
 
 mihlil,  Src 
 /■ch    13    10. 
 
 jlJohii.^.  18- 
 
 m  ch.  10.  211, 
 
 h  Eph.  (1.  4. 
 
 2  Tim.  3.15. 
 
 11  Or. 
 
 Cat'chite. 
 
 f  Heb   I'l  All 
 
 ICII/. 
 
 i  Jam    2.  6. 
 
 t  H«b    /')  the 
 
 nm..  that 
 
 II  Or,  tpoTt- 
 
 U-.d.'tl,. 
 
 *Job4   8. 
 
 Hob.  10.  13 
 
 11  Or,  'inrf 
 
 with  Iht  rod 
 
 «  Ch    1 1 .  S, 
 
 ofhi.<i>.grT 
 
 la.  -J-l.  S,  4. 
 
 A,-  than  tie 
 
 /2Cor.  9"fi. 
 
 0  v<*r.  9. 
 
 t  Heb    0-<-d 
 
 t  Heb.  i"  Ihf 
 
 m  Gen.  21  n, 
 
 df.vrl 
 
 10.  Pa.  101. 
 
 p  \H.  112    S 
 
 5. 
 
 Mar^..Vi. 
 
 nPs.  101.  6. 
 
 ch.  10.  IS. 
 
 II  Or.  aud 
 
 q  rh    IS.  9. 
 
 bath  if  race 
 
 Mat.  5.  6. 
 
 in  hit  lipt. 
 
 |]  Or,  the 
 
 mattert. 
 
 r  Ecclea.  0. 
 
 0  ch.  2C.  IS 
 
 U,  &c. 
 
 p  ch,  2   IB. 
 
 &  5.  3.  &  7 
 
 »ch.  12    13. 
 
 5.  h  2.1.  27. 
 
 &  13.  3.  >k 
 
 q  Ecclea.  7. 
 
 IH    21. 
 
 26. 
 
 Jam,  3.  8. 
 
 t  Heb.  intht 
 
 r  ch.  IS.  24. 
 
 ur.fh  0/ 
 
 &  19,  19.  & 
 
 pr  idf. 
 
 23    13.  14. 
 
 1  cU.  13.  4. 
 
 &S9.  1^,17 
 
 uPb   ^.£6. 
 
 &  112-9. 
 
 X  Ps   50.  9. 
 
 ch    IS    S. 
 
 Is.  G6,  3. 
 
 Jer.  G.  ao. 
 
 Amos  5  22 
 
 t  Heb.  in 
 
 U->rkfd>.fn  f 
 
 V  ch.  19.5,ii. 
 
 1  Heb.  in  thy 
 
 t  Heb.  a  vil- 
 ni-Mtortiet. 
 
 b.Uy.          ' 
 
 11  Or,  i:o.ui- 
 
 d^relh. 
 
 no  '  There  is  no  wisdom  nor  vniderstanduig 
 nor  counsel  against  the  Lord. 
 
 31  '  The  horse  is  prepared  against  the  day  of 
 battle  :  but  ''  ||  safety  is  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 A  "GO  OD  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than 
 ■'-^  great  riches,  and  ||  loving  favour  rather 
 than  silver  and  gold. 
 
 2  ''  The  rich  and  poor  meet  together  :  ■"  the 
 Lord  is  the  maker  of  them  all. 
 
 3  ''  A  prudent  man  foreseeth  the  evil,  and 
 hideth  himself;  but  the  simple  pass  on,  and 
 are  punished. 
 
 4  '■  II  By  humility  and  the  fear  of  the  Lobd 
 are  riclies,  and  honour,  and  life. 
 
 5  '  Thorns  and  snares  are  in  the  way  of  the 
 froward  :  *  he  that  doth  keep  his  soul  shall  be 
 far  from  them. 
 
 6  '■  II  Train  up  a  child  fin  the  way  he  should 
 go ;  and  when  he  is  old,  he  will  not  depart 
 from  it. 
 
 7  '  The  rich  ruleth  over  the  poor,  and  the 
 borrower  is  servant  f  to  the  lender. 
 
 8  '  He  that  soweth  iniquity  shall  reap  vanity : 
 II  and  the  rod  of  his  anger  shall  fail. 
 
 9  '  t  He  that  bath  a  bountiful  eye  shall  be 
 blessed  ;  for  he  giveth  of  his  bread  to  the 
 poor. 
 
 10  '"Cast  out  the  scorner,  and  contention 
 shall  go  out ;  yea,  strife  and  reproach  shall 
 cease. 
 
 11  °  He  that  loveth  pureness  of  heart,  \\for 
 the  grace  of  his  lips  the  king  shall  be  his  friend. 
 
 12  The  eyes  of  the  Lord  preserve  knowledge, 
 and  he  overthroweth  ||  the  words  of  the  trans- 
 gressor. 
 
 13  "  The  slothful  man  saith,  There  is  a  lion 
 without,  I  sliall  be  slain  in  the  streets. 
 
 14  '' The  mouth  of  strange  women  is  a  deep 
 pit:  ''he  that  is  abhorred  of  the  Lord  shall 
 fall  therein. 
 
 15  Foolishness  is  bound  in  the  heart  of  a 
 child  ;  but '  the  rod  of  correction  shall  drive  it 
 far  from  him. 
 
 16  He  that  oppresseth  the  poor  to  increase 
 his  riches,  and  he  that  giveth  to  the  rich,s/ia// 
 surely  come  to  want. 
 
 17  Bow  down  thine  ear,  and  hear  the  words 
 of  the  wise,  and  apply  thine  heart  unto  my 
 knowledge. 
 
 18  For  it  is  a  pleasant  thing  if  thou  keep 
 them  t  within  thee  ;  they  shall  withal  be  fitted 
 in  thy  lips. 
 
 19  That  thy  trust  may  be  in   the  Lord,  I 
 
 Bnothr.  g.  A  comer  of  thp  tiouaftop,  ^c.,  a  corner  covered  with 
 boughs  or  rushes,  and  made  into  ei  little  arhour,  In  which  they  used  to 
 sleep  in  summer,  but  which  mu^thave  been  a  very  incomrandious  place 
 to  have  made  an  entire  dwellin(^. — H(ir.  A  wide  houi^e,  "12n  r'3.  '  a 
 house  of  fellowship,*  that  is,  a  lodging:  house,  inhabited  by  several 
 families. — Clarke.  This  mode  of  living  was  usual  amonp  the  eastern 
 people. — Hftr.  A  house  where  you  are  obliged  to  a'^^ociate  with  her. 
 — See  Tat/tor's  Heb.  Concord.,  No.  639.  12.  Comideretti  the  house, 
 
 investigates  their  conduct. — Wit.  14.  A  reward  in  tfte  Itosom,  a  present 
 given  privately,  (see  chap.  xvii.  23.)— Heic.  l6.  Shall  remain,  fyc, 
 '  shall  rest  in  the  assembly  of  departed  sinners  ; '  D'i^C"!  certainly  means 
 •the  miserable  Aead.'—Boothr.  17.  Wine  and  oil,  i  e.,  eating  and 
 drinkine-— i^/'^n^    The  Arabs,  on  extraordinary  occasions,  or  the  rich 
 
 Arabs,  dip  their  bread  in  fine  oil  of  olives,  but  the  generality  are  obliged 
 to  be  more  frugal. — So  Har.  IS.  A  ransom,  thus  Achau  was  a  ransom 
 for  righteous  Israel,  and  Haman  fir  Mordecai, — Poole;  and  the  seven 
 sons  of  Saul  for  the  kingdom  of  rtgliteousDa\  id. — Henry-  God  ransomed 
 Israel  by  desolating  Egypt,  and  he  slew  Sennacherib's  army  to  ranscm 
 Hezekiah  and  Jeru>alcm. — Scott.  25.  Kilteth  tiim,  he  dies  of  chagrin 
 in  his  poverty,  because  he  is  indolent. — Ed.  3].  The  horse  is  pre- 
 pared, Sfc. — amongst  the  ancient  Asiatics,  the  horse  was  used  only  for 
 war. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXII.  —  2.  Meet  together,  they  live  together,  and  need  one 
 another's  assistance. — Boothr,  3.  The  evil,  'foreseeth  evil.' — Hetv. 
 14.  Deep  pit,  alluding  to  the  pit  with  the  snare  to  catch  wild  animals, 
 (see  Ps.  Ixxxviii.  4.) — Hew. 
 
 REFtECTlONs  ON  Chap.  XXI. — I.  We  are  here  encouraged 
 inour  praycrsfvr  kings.  God  rules  their  hearts.  Then,  if  our 
 prayers  he  not  heard  to  the  utmost  extent,  yet,  if  under  them 
 .'we  lead  quiet  [ind  peaceable  lives  in  all  godliness  and  ho- 
 nesty,' we  have  sufficient  reason  to  bless  God,  and  to  pray  for 
 bis  continual  influences  to  operate  on  the  minds  of  our  princes 
 and  rulers.  Thus  let  us  '  pray  for  king.s,  and  for  all  that  are 
 in  authority.' 
 «90 
 
 II.  We  are  here  cautioned  to  look  to  the  sincerity  of  our  prai/ers. 
 If  neither  love  nor  gratitude  operate  upon  our  minds, — if  we 
 come  with  unsanctitied,  and  consequently  unprepared,  hearts 
 before  God,  our  sacritices  will  not  ascend  as  sweet  smelling 
 incense,  perfumed  with  the  Saviour's  merits  and  intercession, 
 but  they  will  be  as  .smoke  in  the  Divine  nostrils, — no  better 
 than  those  of  Biilaam  and  Lialuk. 
 
M  oral  virhies,  mid 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXIII. 
 
 Iheir  contrary  vices. 
 
 have  made  known  to  thee  this  day,  ||  even  to 
 thee. 
 
 20  Have  not  I  written  to  thee  'excellent 
 things  in  counsels  and  knowledge, 
 
 21  'That  I  might  make  thee  know  the  cer- 
 tainty of  the  words  of  truth  ;  "  that  thou  niight- 
 est  answer  the  words  of  trutli  ||  to  tliem  that 
 send  nnto  thee  ? 
 
 22  '  Rob  not  the  poor,  because  he  is  poor: 
 '  neitlipr  oppress  the  afflicted  in  tlie  gate  : 
 
 23  "  For  the  Lono  will  plead  their  cause, and 
 spoil  the  soul  of  those  that  spoiled  tliem. 
 
 24  I\Iake  no  friendship  with  an  angry  man  ; 
 and  with  a  furious  man  tliou  shall  not  go: 
 
 25  Lest  thou  learn  his  ways,  and  get  a  snare 
 to  thy  soul. 
 
 26  ■  Be  not  thou  one  of  them  that  strike 
 hands,  or  of  them  that  are  sureties  for  debts. 
 
 27  If  thou  liast  nothing  to  pay,  why  sliould 
 he  ""take  away  thy  bed  from  under  thee? 
 
 28  '  Remove  not  the  ancient  ||  landmark, 
 which  thy  fathers  have  set. 
 
 29  Seest  thou  a  man  diligent  in  his  business? 
 he  shall  stand  before  kings  ;  he  shall  not  stand 
 before  fmean  men. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 WHEN  thou  sittest  to  eat  with  a  ruler,  con- 
 sider diligently  what  is  before  thee  : 
 
 2  And  put  a  knife  to  thy  throat,  if  thou  be  a 
 man  given  to  appetite. 
 
 3  Be  not  desirous  of  his  dainties  :  for  they 
 are  deceitful  meat. 
 
 4  ^  Labour  not  to  be  rich  :  "'  cease  from  thine 
 own  wisdom. 
 
 5  t  ^Vilt  thou  set  thine  eyes  upon  that  which 
 is  not?  for  riches  certainly  make  themselves 
 wings ;  they  fly  away  as  an  eagle  toward 
 heaven. 
 
 6  '  Eat  thou  not  the  bread  of  liiin  that  hath 
 ■"  an  evil  eye,  neither  desire  thou  his  dainty 
 meats  : 
 
 7  For  as  he  thinketh  in  his  heart,  so  !s  he  : 
 Eat  and  drink,  "saitli  he  to  thee;  but  his  heart 
 is  not  with  thee. 
 
 8  The  morsel  which  thou  hast  eaten  shall 
 thou  vomit  np,  and  lose  thy  sweet  words. 
 
 !)  '  Speak  not  in  the  ears  of  a  fool :  for  he 
 will  despise  the  wisdom  of  thy  words. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 It.  C. 
 
 cir.   1000. 
 
 cir.  100  1. 
 
 II  Or,  trust 
 
 ff  Deu.  19. U 
 
 tlfu  also. 
 
 (t  27.   17- 
 
 t  ch.  8.  6. 
 
 ch.  23.  -iS. 
 
 i;  Or,  bnund. 
 
 h  Job  31.  21. 
 
 /  Luke  1,3,1. 
 
 ch.  82.  23. 
 
 u  1  Pet.  3.15. 
 
 11  Or,  lo  thoie 
 
 .  ch.  I.S.  24. 
 
 Ih'il  tend 
 
 &  19.  19.  & 
 
 thee. 
 
 2'M5.  &29. 
 
 X  Ex.  23.  6. 
 
 15,  17. 
 
 Job  31.  IC, 
 
 yZech.l.  10 
 
 k  1  Cur.  5.  5. 
 
 Mai  3.  5- 
 
 ;  1  Sam.  2*. 
 
 I  vcr.  24,  25. 
 
 12.  &  23.39. 
 
 ch.  29.  3. 
 
 Pa.  12.  5.  & 
 
 ;i  Or,  even  J 
 
 S5.  1,  10.  (k 
 
 will  rejoice. 
 
 08  a   &  140 
 
 12.  ch.  23. 
 
 It.  Jer.  51. 
 
 36. 
 
 mPs.  37.  1. 
 
 &  7.-J.  3.  ch 
 
 a  ch.  6.  1.  fc 
 
 3.  31.  &  :i4. 
 
 11.  15. 
 
 I. 
 
 nch.  28.  U. 
 
 0  Ps    37.  S7. 
 
 ch.  2+.  14. 
 
 b  ch.  20.  16. 
 
 I.uke  16.25 
 
 cDeu.  19. 14. 
 
 II  Or,  rneurd. 
 
 8c  27.  17. 
 ch.  23.  10. 
 
 P I  h.  4-  23. 
 
 11  Or,  fround. 
 
 n  Is.  5.  22. 
 
 Mai.  24.49. 
 
 Luke  21.31 
 
 t  Meb.  ob- 
 
 Kom.  IS.U. 
 Ej.h.o.  18 
 
 icure  men. 
 
 t  Heh.  *./ 
 
 thfir  firth. 
 
 r  ch.  "19.   15. 
 
 t  eh    1.  8,  9. 
 
 Sc  3(1.  17. 
 
 Eph.6.  1,2. 
 
 /  ch.  4.  5,  7, 
 
 Mat.  13.44. 
 
 u  ch.  10.  I. 
 
 &  I.'').  20. 
 
 a  ch.  28.  20. 
 1  Tim.  6.  9, 
 
 ver.  15. 
 
 10 
 
 6  ch.  3  5. 
 
 Rom    13. IG. 
 
 t  Heb.  H'./r 
 
 IIkiii  caiitf 
 
 thing  ef/ti  (a 
 
 Jl-f  upon. 
 
 c  Ps.  141.  4. 
 
 X  ch.  22.  14. 
 
 d  Deu    15.  9 
 
 V  th.  7.  12. 
 
 Efcles  7.:6 
 
 11  Or,  as  a 
 
 e  Ps.  12.  2. 
 
 rnbher 
 :  Is.  5.11, 2» 
 
 a  Gen  49  12. 
 
 b  ch.  20.  1 
 
 /ch.  9.  9. 
 
 Epb.  b.  18. 
 
 Mat,  7.  fi. 
 
 c  Ps.  75    8. 
 
 ch.  9.  2. 
 
 10  *  Remove  not  the  old  ||  landmark ,  and 
 enter  not  into  the  fields  of  the  fatherless  : 
 
 1 1  *■  For  their  redeemer  is  mighty  ;  he  shall 
 plead  their  cause  with  thee. 
 
 12  Apply  thine  heart  unto  instruction,  and 
 thine  ears  to  the  words  of  knowledge. 
 
 13  '  Withhold  not  correction  from  the  child  : 
 for  if  thou  beatest  him  with  the  rod,  he  shall 
 not  die. 
 
 14  Thou  shalt  beat  him  with  the  rod,  and 
 '  shalt  deliver  his  soul  from  hell. 
 
 15  I\Iy  son,  '  if  thine  heart  be  wise,  ray  heart 
 shall  rejoice,  ||  even  mine. 
 
 IG  Yea,  my  reins  shall  rejoice,  when  thy  lips 
 speak  right  things. 
 
 17  "'Let  not  thine  heart  envy  sinners:  but 
 "  be  thou  in  the  fear  of  the  Loitn  all  the  day 
 long. 
 
 18  °  For  surely  there  is  an  ||  end  ;  and  thine 
 expectation  shall  not  be  cut  off. 
 
 19  Hear  thou,  my  son,  and  be  wise,  and 
 ''  guide  thine  heart  in  the  way. 
 
 20  ■"  Be  not  among  winebibbers  ;  among  riot- 
 ous eaters  f  of  flesh  : 
 
 21  For  the  drunkard  and  the  glutton  shall 
 come  to  poverty:  and  '  drowsiness  shall  clothe 
 a  man  with  rags. 
 
 22  '  Hearken  unto  thy  father  that  begat 
 thee,  and  despise  not  thy  mother  when  she  is 
 old. 
 
 23  '  Buy  the  truth,  and  sell  it  not ;  also  wis- 
 dom, and  instruction,  and  understanding. 
 
 24  "  The  father  of  the  righteous  shall  greatly 
 rejoice  :  and  he  that  begetteth  a  wise  child 
 shall  have  joy  of  him. 
 
 25  Thy  father  and  thy  mother  shall  be  glad, 
 and  she  that  bare  thee  shall  rejoice. 
 
 26  My  son,  give  me  thine  heart,  and  let  thine 
 eyes  observe  my  ways. 
 
 27  "  For  a  whore  is  a  deep  ditch  ;  and  a 
 strange  woman  is  a  narrow  pit. 
 
 28  'She  also  lieth  in  wait  \\asfor  a  prey, 
 and  increaseth  the  transgressors  among  men. 
 
 29  ^  Who  hath  woe?  who  hath  sorrow?  who 
 hath  contentions?  who  hath  babbling?  who 
 hath  wounds  without  cause  ?  who  °  hath  red- 
 ness of  eyes? 
 
 30  ''  They  that  tarry  long  at  the  wine  ;  they 
 that  go  to  seek  '^  mixed  wine. 
 
 22.  The  gate — 'oppress  him  not  in  courts  of  justice,' for  these  were  held 
 at  Ihe  gate. — So  Clarke.  23.  livvwve  not,  §-c. — so  chap,  xxiii.  10; 
 agreeable  to  the  law,  Deut.  xix.  14;  xxvii.  17;  i.e.,  a  man  should 
 be  content  with  his  paternal  estate,  and  not  use  unjust  means  to  in- 
 crease it.  —  Hij/den.  29,  Stand  before  /fine's,  not  be  dependent, 
 but  become  respectable. — A.  Clarke.  Wait  upon  kings,  for  'to  stand' 
 here  is  an  Hebraism  for  '  to  serve.'  — Hew. 
 
 CH.\r.  XXI 11. —2.  Ptit  a  knife  to  tity  throat,  when  at  a  splendid  table, 
 eat  in  moderation. — Ed,  i  so  Clarke.  Restrain  the  appetite,  so  this 
 bold  eastern  phrase  signifies, — Dtirell.  The  origin-il  means  '  set  a 
 stinter  over  thy  throat'— Taj/Zor's  Heft.  Concord.  '  Set  a  theclt,  stop, 
 or  restraint.' — Park,  Hodgson.  6.  Eat  tliou  not  tlie  bread,  court  not 
 the  acquaintance. — Ma/it.  Eeil  eye,  this  does  not  allude  to,  and  so 
 sanction  the  superstition  of,  the  evil  eye,  but  means  a  niggardly  per- 
 son, who  regards  what  another  consumes  at  his  table. — So  Pict.  Bib. 
 IQ.  Enter    not   into   the  fields,    ^r.,   invade  not   the  estates.— n'f//i-. 
 
 11.  For  their  Redeemer,  ^c. — 
 
 '  For  Jehovah  their  avenger  is  mighty, 
 He  will  plead  their  cause  against  thee.* 
 
 Boothr.,  as  Sept.  and  Arab. 
 
 13.  Not  die,  be  preserved  from  destruction. — Isham.  20.  Riotous 
 eaters  of  flesh,  flesh  is  not  habitually  eaten  in  the  east,  by  some  rarely, 
 and  tb,'n  indulged  in  most  intemijerately. — Pict.  Bib.  23.  Buy  the 
 truth,  ajidsetl  it  not,  a  metaphor  from  mercantile  transactions. — Holden. 
 Solumon  excites  us  to  endeavour  to  actiuire  that  disposition  of  mind 
 whicli  makes  us  give  to  every  question  the  time  and  attention  it 
 deserves  ;  to  each  proof,  its  evidence  ;  to  each  difficulty  its  weight;  to 
 every  good  its  real  value. — Saurin.  24.  And  he  that  begetteth,  &ic., 
 the  father  of  a  wise  son  shall  have  joy  in  him. — Boothr.  26.  Thine 
 heart,  give  thy  affections  to  God, — .4.  Clarke.  30.  Tarry  long  at  the 
 ivine — orientals  drink  to  excess,  aud  keep  up  their  festive  boaids  for  a 
 
 Refiections  on  Chap.  XXII.  —  Let  us  notice  a  few  of 
 these  proverbs  : — I.  '  A  good  name  is  rather  to  be  cfiosen  than 
 tfreat  riches.^  It  is  valuable  among  men  ;  but  how  much  more 
 desirable  is  it  to  bave  a  good  name  before  God  !  ]\Iay  ours  be 
 written  among  '  the  saints,  tlie  excellent  of  the  earth,  in 
 which,'  tliougii  ridiculed  liy  the  profane,  is  all  his  delight. 
 
 11.  *  The  rich  and  the  poor  meet  toijether.'  Let  us,  then,  con- 
 sider tliat  God  lias  blended  the  poor  with  society,  and  that,  if 
 tiiey  cannot  do  without  us,  we  cannot  do  without  them.  We 
 have,  at  least,  many  comforts  which  we  owe  to  tlieir  industry, 
 from  their  inferior  stations.  Let  us  also  recollect  that,  in  our 
 devotional  exercises,  we  alt  meet  together  before  God,  for  wo 
 are  alike,  by  nature,  guilty  sinners,  and  '  tiiere  is  no  respect 
 691 
 
 of  persons  with  God.'  And,  at  his  solemn  bar,  we  must  all 
 meet  together,  and  then  there  will  be  no  distinction  but  that 
 of  righteous  and  wicked.  The  wicked  among  the  ricli  shall 
 be  banished  from  God's  presence  into  everlasting  misery  ;  the 
 righteous  among  the  poor  '  shall  be  made  kings  and  priests 
 unto  God,  and  shall  reign  with  liim  for  ever  and  ever.' 
 
 III. '  Train  up  a  child  in  the  wat/  he  should  ijo. '  Early  instruc- 
 tions make  a  deep  impression,  and,  in  general,  those  children 
 that  are  trained  up  in  the  fear  of  God  will  continue  to  walk  in 
 his  ways.  Rules  have  always  exceptions,  and  there  are  some 
 p;iinful  exceptions  to  this  rule  ;  but  duty  is  ours,  and  we  may 
 then  leave  the  event  with  God. 
 
Mural  virtues,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXIV. 
 
 thfir  conlrarif  vices. 
 
 31  Look  not  thou  upon  the  wine  wlien  it  is 
 red,  when  it  givetli  his  colour  in  the  cup,  when 
 it  moveth  itself  aright. 
 
 32  At  the  last  it  biteth  like  a  serpent,  and 
 stingeth  like  [|  an  adder. 
 
 33  Thine  eyes  shall  behold  strange  women, 
 and  thine  heart  shall  utter  perverse  things. 
 
 34  Yea,  thou  sbalt  be  as  he  that  lieth  down 
 fin  the  midst  of  the  sea,  or  as  he  that  lieth 
 upon  the  top  of  a  mast. 
 
 30  ''  They  have  stricken  me,  shaH  thou  say, 
 and  I  was  not  sick  ;  they  have  beaten  me, 
 and]'' I  felt  it  not:  *"  when  sliall  I  awake?  I 
 will  seek  it  yet  again. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 "OE   not    thou   ^  envious   against   evJ.    men, 
 -*-'   ^neither  desire  to  be  with  them. 
 
 2  '^  For  their  heart  studieth  destruction,  and 
 their  lips  talk  of  mischief. 
 
 3  Tiirough  wisdom  is  an  house  builded  ;  and 
 by  understanding  it  is  established  : 
 
 4  And  by  knowledge  shall  the  chambers  be 
 filled  with  all  precious  and  pleasant  riches, 
 
 5  '^  A  wise  man  ]  is  strong;  yea,  a  man  of 
 knowledge  f  incri^aseth  strength. 
 
 6  "  For  by  wise  counsel  tliou  shalt  make  thy 
 war:  and  in  multitude  of  counsellors  there  is 
 safety. 
 
 7  ^  Wisdom  is  too  high  for  a  fool  :  he  openeth 
 not  his  mouth  in  the  gate. 
 
 s  He  that  ^  deviseth  to  do  evil  shall  be  called 
 a  mischievous  person. 
 
 y  The  thought  of  foolishness  is  sin  :  and  the 
 scorner  is  an  abomination  to  men. 
 
 10  If  tiiou  faint  in  the  day  of  adversity,  thy 
 strength  is  f  small. 
 
 11  'Mfthou  forbear  to  deliver  thein  that  are 
 drawn  unto  death,  and  those  that  are  ready 
 to  be  slain  ; 
 
 \'2  If  thou  sayest,  Behold,  we  knew  it  not; 
 doth  not  '  he  that  pondereth  the  heart  consider 
 it?  and  ho  that  keepeth  thy  soul,  doth  not  he 
 know  it  ?  and  shall  not  he  render  to  every  man 
 ^  according  to  his  works? 
 
 13  My  son,  'cat  thon  honey,  because  it  is 
 good  ;  and  the  honeycomb,  ivhich  is  sweet  fto 
 tliy  taste  : 
 
 t  Heb.  in  tht 
 hrart  o/thA 
 
 d  Jer.  5.  3. 
 
 ch.  27.  22. 
 t  Heb.  / 
 
 knew  it  not 
 e  Eph.  +.  19. 
 /SeeDeu.29. 
 
 19    Is.  56. 
 
 V2. 
 
 a  Ps.  37    I, 
 
 &c.  ft  73.  3 
 ch.  3.  31.  id 
 -'S.  17.  ver. 
 10 
 
 6  Pro.  I.  15. 
 
 c  Ps.  lU.  7. 
 
 '/oh.  51.  S3. 
 KciU-s.9  16 
 t  Hob   is  in 
 
 t  Heb 
 
 Hhmi'jhl, 
 ich    11    M. 
 
 »■   1.'..  -ii     & 
 
 2i)    IS, 
 
 LuVeU.Sl 
 fVi.  10.  5. 
 
 ch.  \A    C. 
 7Kn,n    I.  :H0 
 
 hVi  ft '.  4 
 b    h9.  IS,  7. 
 1  John  J.  16 
 
 k  Job  SI    1 1 
 
 Ps.  I 
 
 12 
 
 Jcr    S2. 
 
 Kom.  2.  6 
 
 K.-I-.  2.  *J3. 
 
 ?c  2i.  12. 
 /raot   5    I. 
 t  Heb.  ";>uii 
 
 ih^  palalt. 
 
 Ps.  Ai.  19. 
 
 &  37.  2*. 
 
 Mic.  7.3. 
 q  Esth.  710 
 
 Amos  5.2.  b 
 
 8   I*    Kev. 
 
 IS.  21. 
 r  Job  31.  29 
 
 Fa  3.')  15, la. 
 
 Ch    17  5. 
 
 Obad.  12. 
 t  Heb.  (/  be 
 
 •  Ps  :C.  1.& 
 7.^  3  ch.23, 
 1/.  ver    I. 
 
 11  Or,  AVrp 
 
 u-iih  the 
 ttitched. 
 
 I  Vs.  II.  6. 
 <i  Job  1ft.  5. 
 
 6.  e>  21.  17. 
 
 ch.  I.H.  9,  Pc 
 2(1    20 
 
 II  Or.  lamp. 
 I  Koin.  13.7. 
 
 1  Pot.  2.  17. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 chani/rrn. 
 ',   Lev.  19.15. 
 
 Ueii 
 
 I.  17 
 
 &  Itt    ly. 
 ch.  Irt.  5    9r 
 2H,  21. 
 John  7,  24. 
 ;cti.  17.  15. 
 Is    5.  21. 
 
 t  Hrb    a 
 gi..,d. 
 
 \  Heb.  that 
 a-iiatrtth 
 tight  u!ora4. 
 
 a  I  Kin.  St. 
 17,  IK. 
 Luko  11.28. 
 
 14  "'So  shall  the  knowledge  of  wisdom  Ac 
 unto  thy  son!  :  when  thou  hast  found  it,  "then 
 there  shall  be  a  reward,  and  thy  expectation 
 shall  not  be  cut  off. 
 
 15  ^  Lay  not  wait,  O  wicked  /ho«,  against  the 
 dwelling  of  the  righteous  ;  spoil  not  his  resting 
 place : 
 
 16  "For  a  just  man  falleth  seven  times,  and 
 ri.seth  up  again  :  '^but  the  wicked  shall  fall  into 
 mischief. 
 
 17  'Rejoice  not  when  thine  enemy  falleth, 
 and  let  not  thine  heart  be  glad  wlien  he 
 stumbleth  : 
 
 18  Lest  the  Lord  see  it,  and  fit  displease 
 him,  and  he  turn  away  his  wrath  from  him. 
 
 19  ^  II  Fret  not  thyself  because  of  evil  men, 
 neither  be  tliou  envious  at  the  wicked  ; 
 
 20  For  *  there  shall  be  no  reward  to  the  evil 
 man;  "the  ||  candle  of  the  wicked  siiall  be 
 put  out. 
 
 21  My  son,  ^  fear  thou  the  Lord  and  the 
 king :  and  meddle  not  with  f  them  that  are 
 given  to  change  : 
 
 2-J  For  their  calamity  shall  rise  suddenly  ; 
 and  who  knoweth  tiie  ruin  of  them  both? 
 
 23  These  things  also  belong  to  the  wise.  ^'  It 
 is  not  good  to  have  respect  of  persons  in  judg- 
 ment. 
 
 24  ''  He  that  saith  unto  the  wicked,  Thon  art 
 righteous  ;  him  shall  the  people  curse,  nations 
 shall  abhor  liiin  : 
 
 25  But  to  them  that  rebuke  him  shall  be  de- 
 light, and  fa  good  blessing  shall  come  upon 
 them. 
 
 2G  Every  man  shall  kiss  his  lips  fthat  giveth 
 a  right  answer. 
 
 27  "  Prepare  thy  work  without,  and  make  it 
 fit  for  thyself  in  the  field  ;  and  afterwards  build 
 thine  house. 
 
 28  "  Be  not  a  witness  against  thy  neighbour 
 without  cause  ;  and  deceive  riot  with  thy  lips. 
 
 29  *^  Say  not,  I  will  do  so  to  him  as  he  hath 
 done  to  me  :  I  will  render  to  the  man  accord- 
 ing to  liis  work. 
 
 30  I  went  by  the  field  of  the  slothful,  and 
 by  the  vineyard  of  the  man  void  of  under- 
 standing ; 
 
 31  And,   lo,   ''it   was   all   grown   over  with 
 
 wliole  day,  nr  a  whole  night,  or  both  together.— So  Pict.  Bih.  MUfid 
 u'ine— the  Hebrew  means,  'wine  mi.>ced  with  the  lees,'  which  wis 
 of  a  highly  into.xicatinff  quality.— /'ar.  31.  n'A^n  i7  is  rcd—ren  wine 
 is  more  esteemed  in  the  east  than  white,  and  in  various  parts  it  is 
 coloured  yet  more,  to  msike  it  more  tempting  to  the  eye. — So  Hnr. 
 35.  Stricken  nie~I  wns  not  sick,  felt  no  more  than  a  stock,  or  being 
 insensible. — Henry,  so  Clarke, 
 
 Chap.  XXIV. —  3.  An  house — i.  e.,  a  family;  houselmid  affairs,  Cchap. 
 ix.  1.)  p.  The  thought  nf  foolishness  is  sm.  riN-rr  nVl«  nQT,  '  tlie 
 device  of  the  foolish  is  sin.' — A.  Clarke.  'The  foolish*  here  means 
 '  the  wicked'  man  ~~GiU,  Clarke.  U.  Drawn   unto  death,  taken  by 
 
 thieves  and  robbers,  and  used  barbarously. — G>lf.  Taken  by  the  hand 
 nf  lawless  power  or  superstitious  zeal. — .4.  Clarke.  It  misht  allude  to 
 the  custom  am.ong  the  Jews  of  crying  before  a  man  leading  to  execu- 
 tion, '  Tbis  man  is  now  going  to  be  executed  for  such  a  crime,  and 
 
 such  and  such  are  witnesses  against  him  ;  whoever  knows  him  to  be 
 innocent,  let  him  come  forth  and  make  it  appear.'  —  Doddndge;  so 
 Pict.  Bib.  15.  l6.  Lay  not  wait,  SfC,  to  a  just  man's  dwelling,  to  do 
 
 him  any  hurt ;  for  though  he  should  be  ensnared,  and  stumble,  and  fall 
 into  distress  and  calamity,  yet  he  will  ri.se  again  out  of  it,  and  so  all 
 attempts  upon  him  are  vain  and  fruitless,— f7j7/;  to  the  same  purport, 
 Hiilden  and  Clarke.  20.  Candle — put  out,  he  shall  not  prosper,  (Job, 
 xviii.  5;  xxi.  1/.) — Hew.  He  shall  be  driven  into  outer  darkness. — 
 Sut.  21.  Given  to  change — rebtrion  atul  loyalty  must  go  together. 
 Innovations  are  to  be  dreaded.  Have  nothing  to  do,  he  doth  net  say, 
 with  them  that  change,  for  there  may  be  cause  to  change  for  the  better, 
 but  'are  given  to  chfinge,*  that  affijct  it  for  change' sake,  out  of  a 
 peevish  discontent  with  that  which  is,  and  a  fondness  for  novelty,  or  a 
 desire  to  fish  in  trouiibd  waters. — Henry.  26.  Kiss  his  tips, love  and 
 respect  him.     Afi'ection  and  obedience  are  signified  by  a  kiss  (Ps.  ii. 
 
 IlirLixi  inNs  OK  Chat.  XXIII Here  are  several  im- 
 portant cautions  to  be  noticed— I.  We  are  cautioned  against 
 intemperance.  An  intemperate  man  places  himself  on  a  level 
 Willi  the  lowest  of  the  beasts.  How  many  professors  of  reli- 
 gion spend  that  in  profusion  at  their  tables  which  might  help 
 to  feed  many  a  starving  mouth,  and  make  many  a  sorrowful 
 heart  glad.  '  Take  heed,  lest  at  any  time  your  hearts  be  over- 
 charsed  with  surfeiting  and  drunkenness,  and  so  that  day  come 
 upon  you  at  unawares.* 
 
 II.  We  are  cautioned  apain&t  covetousncss.  '  Riches  will 
 leave  us  ;  those  that  bold  them  never  so  fast  cannot  hold  them 
 long  ;  either  they  must  be  taken  from  us,  or  we  must  be  taken 
 irom  them.'  '• 
 
 ill.  We  are  cautioned  against  parental  iuduh/ence.  '  Soiirp 
 692 
 
 the  rod,  and  spoil  the  child.'  '  If  thou  beatest  him  with  the 
 rod,  he  shall  not  die."  Give  him  a  gentle  correction  ;  the  rod 
 will  not  kill  him;  nay,  it  will  prevent  his  killing  himself  by 
 tliose  vicious  courses  wbich  the  rod  will  be  necessary  to  re- 
 strain him  from.  '  Our  great  care  must  be  about  our  children's 
 souls  ;  we  must  not  see  them  in  danger  of  hell,  and  must  use 
 all  possible  means,  with  the  utmost  care  and  concern,  to  snatch 
 them  as  brands  out  of  the  everlasting  burnings.  Let  the  body 
 smart,  so  that  "  the  spirit  be  saved  in  the  day  of  the  Lord 
 Jesus."  '  h  But  here  we  have  need  to  pray  for  wisdom,  that 
 we  may  not  be  so  severe  as  to  produce  a  rebellious  feeling,  and 
 dispositions  opposite  to  those  we  would  wish  to  cherish  ;  nor 
 so  lenient  as  to  spare  where  we  should  chastise. 
 
Ohservations  about  kings. 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXV. 
 
 Canscs  of  quarrels  to  be  avoided. 
 
 thorns,  and  nettles  had  covered  the  face  there- 
 of, and  the  stone  wall  thereof  was  broken  down. 
 
 32  Then  I  saw,  anrf  t  considered  /<  well :  I 
 looked  upon  it,  and  received  instrnction. 
 
 33  "  Yet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber,  a  little 
 foldin<;  of  the  hands  to  sleep  : 
 
 34  So  shall  thy  poverty  come  as  one  that 
 travelleth  ;  and  thy  want  as  f  an  armed  man. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1  Observations  about  kinfls,  8,  and  about  avoiding  catises 
 ofgttarreh,  and  sundry  causes  thertof. 
 
 'T^HESE    are    also     proverbs   of    Solomon, 
 
 -'-  which  the  men  of  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah 
 copied  out. 
 
 •2  ''  It  is  the  glory  of  God  to  conceal  a  thing  : 
 but  tlie  honour  of  kings  is  '  to  search  out  a 
 matter. 
 
 3  The  heaven  for  height,  and  the  earth  for 
 depth,  and  the  heart  ofkinasf  i.s  unsearchable. 
 
 i  ''  Take  away  the  dross  from  the  silver,  and 
 there  .sliall  come  forth  a  vessel  for  the  finer. 
 
 o  "  Take  away  the  wicked  from  before  the 
 king,  and  '  his  throne  shall  be  established  in 
 rigliteousness. 
 
 G  t  Put  not  forth  thyself  in  the  presence  of 
 the  king,  and  stand  not  in  the  place  of  great 
 men  : 
 
 7  "^  For  better  it  is  that  it  be  said  unto  thee. 
 Come  up  liither  ;  than  that  lliou  shouldest  be 
 put  lower  in  tlie  presence  of  the  prince  wliom 
 tliine  eyes  have  seen. 
 
 8  '■  Go  not  fortli  hastily  to  strive,  lest  t?wu 
 /mow  not  what  to  do  in  tlie  end  thereof,  when 
 tliy  neiglibour  liath  put  thee  to  shame. 
 
 9  '  Debate  thy  cause  with  thy  neighbour 
 himself;  and  ||  discover  not  a  secret  to 
 another  : 
 
 10  Lest  he  that  heareth  it  put  thee  to  shame, 
 and  tliine  infamy  turn  not  away. 
 
 11  '  A  word  t  fitly  spoken  is  like  apples  of 
 gold  in  pictures  of  silver. 
 
 B.  C, 
 
 B,  C. 
 
 cir.  10»n. 
 
 cir.  TOO. 
 
 t  Heb.  tft 
 
 my  henrl. 
 
 /ch.  13.  i7. 
 
 ech.6.9,&c 
 
 tHeb.  nmn« 
 
 m  ch.  20.  G, 
 
 of  ih  if  Id. 
 
 t  Heb   i-.  n 
 
 gifioffrlsc- 
 
 hn-.d. 
 
 n  Ji.de  1?. 
 
 n  G.-n,  3;.  4, 
 
 &c    1  Sam. 
 
 25.  2^,  ^c 
 
 cir.  700. 
 
 eh.   I.=i.  1.& 
 
 <!  I  Kin.  4. 
 
 IB,   I'J. 
 
 32. 
 
 ;.  ver.  27. 
 
 II  Ov,  J^l  thi, 
 
 /....lb.-,rl- 
 
 A  Den.  29.29 
 
 d(.m  in  thij 
 
 nritjhb'nir't 
 
 Rom.  11  33. 
 
 c  Job  29.  16 
 
 \  Heb.  full 
 
 i>J  thett. 
 
 ./  Ps.  57.  4. 
 
 &  120.3,4. 
 
 +  Heb.  there 
 
 Ch.  12.  IS. 
 
 is  no  search- 
 
 ins- 
 
 d  2  Tim.  a. 
 
 21. 
 
 e  ch.  20.  8. 
 
 fch.  16.  12. 
 
 Ik  29.  U. 
 
 1  Heb.  Srt 
 
 r  Drrn  6   tS. 
 
 7int  out  thy 
 glory. 
 
 Knm-  12.15. 
 a  E.'(.23.4.&. 
 
 Mat.  5.  44. 
 
 R(.m.  12.20. 
 
 g  Luke  11 
 
 9,  9,  10. 
 
 I  2  Pa.  16.12. 
 
 «  Job  37   22. 
 
 [j   (»r,  Thr 
 
 h  ch.  17.  14. 
 
 nnrlh  fifid 
 
 Mat.  5.  25. 
 
 hTfig--th 
 
 forth  rnin: 
 
 so  d-.rl,  n 
 
 backbiting 
 
 ,■  Mat.  5.  25. 
 
 tongue  nn 
 
 h.  16.  15. 
 
 nngrti  enun- 
 
 11  Or, discover 
 
 teii'inC. 
 
 not  the  secret 
 
 X  I'S.  101.  f). 
 
 0/ another. 
 
 HcU.  19.  13 
 
 &  21.  9,  19. 
 
 h  ch.  15.  23. 
 
 Is.  50.  4. 
 
 t  HL-b.  sjwheu 
 
 vpnn  hi) 
 
 irhr^lt. 
 
 12  As  an  earring  o'f  golO,  and  an  ornament  of 
 fine  gold,  50  is  a  wise  reprover  upon  an  obedi- 
 ent ear. 
 
 13  '  As  the  cold  of  snow  in  the  time  of  har- 
 vest, 50  is  a  faithful  messenger  to  them  that 
 send  him  :  for  he  refresheth  the  soul  of  his 
 masters. 
 
 14  ■"  Whoso  boasteth  himself  f  of  a  false  gift 
 is  like  "clouds  and  wind  without  rain. 
 
 15  °  By  long  forbearing  is  a  prince  persuaded, 
 and  a  soft  tongue  breaketli  the  bone. 
 
 16  ''  Hast  thou  found  honey?  eat  so  much  as 
 is  sufficient  for  thee,  lest  thou  be  filled  there- 
 with, and  vomit  it. 
 
 17  [[Withdraw  thy  foot  from  thy  neighbour's 
 house  ;  lest  he  be  f  weary  of  thee,  and  so  hate 
 thee. 
 
 IS  **  A  man  that  heareth  false  witness  against 
 his  neighbour  is  a  maul,  and  a  sword,  and  a 
 sharp  aiTow. 
 
 19  Confidence  in  an  unfaithful  man  in  time  o 
 trouble  is  like  a  broken  tooth,  and  a  foot  out 
 of  joint. 
 
 20  As  he  that  taketh  away  a  garment  in  cold 
 wt'ather,  and  as  vinegar  upon  nitre,  so  is  he 
 that  ""singeth  songs  to  an  heavy  heart. 
 
 21  Mf  thine  enemy  be  hungry,  give  him 
 bread  to  eat ;  and  if  he  be  thirsty,  give  him 
 water  to  drink  : 
 
 22  For  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  upon  his 
 head,  '  and  the  Loud  shall  reward  thee. 
 
 23  "II  Tlie  north  wind  driveth  away  rain, 
 so  doth  an  angry  countenance  '^  a  backbiting 
 tongue. 
 
 24  ^  It  is  better  to  dwell  in  the  corner  of  tlie 
 housetop,  than  with  a  brawling  woman  and  in 
 a  wide  house. 
 
 25  ^5  cold  waters  to  a  thirsty  soul,  so  is 
 good  news  from  a  far  country. 
 
 26  A  righteous  man  falhng  down  before  the 
 wicked  ?5  fl 5  a  troubled  fountain,  and  a  corrupt 
 spring. 
 
 12;  Cant.  viii.  l.)— Gi//.  31.  Stone  wall— stone  walls  were  fre- 
 quently used  for  the  preservation  of  vineyards,  as  well  as  living 
 fences. — Har. 
 
 Chap.  XXV.  —  1.  The  men  of  Hezekiah,  ^c,  probably  in  the  purging 
 and  cleansing  of  the  temple,  which  Hezekiah  performed  in  the  begin- 
 ning of  his  reign,  this  part  of  Solomon's  proverbs  was  found,  and  wa-s 
 transcribed  out  of  the  old  manuscript,  which,  it  is  likely,  was  much 
 snilcd  and  ■spotted  with  time  and  neglect. — Lightfoot.  They  seem  to 
 have  been  cullected  from  traditionary  sayings  of  Solomon.  The  men 
 of  Hezekiah  may  mean,  Shebna,  Isaiah,  ami  other  inspired  men,  who 
 lived  in  his  time. — Cttirke.  His  ministers  are  named,  2  Kings,  xviii. 
 26.  2.  To  conceal,  fyc,  his  word  is  concealed  under  parables,  alle- 
 gories, metaphors,  similitude.=s,  &c.,  his  prophecies  and  his  providential 
 dealings. — So  Clarke.  3.  The  heart  of  kinf^s,  means  the  secrets  of 
 states.— Poi.,  Durell.  It  is  difficult  to  discover  the  heart  of  kings 
 amidst  the  flatterers  of  royalty,  state  mysticism,  and  court  intrigue. — 
 Holden.         4.  And  there  shall  cume  forth  a  vessel,  ^-c. — 
 
 '  And  the  finer  (or  workman)  will  make  a  vessel  of  it.* — So  Dnlhe. 
 
 '  And  pure  metal  shall  come  forth  lo  the  refiner.'— Horfg-.,  Boothr. 
 
 May  it  not  be  rendered,  'take  away  the  dross  from  the  silver,  and  it 
 (the  silver)  shall  come  out  pure  to  him  that  maketh  vessels'  ? — Holden. 
 11.  A  word  fitly  spoken,  or  a  parable  or  figure  well  wrought  up,  alluding 
 to  the  manufacture  of  pottery  on  the  wheels. —  Wil.  '  A  word  spoken 
 on  its  wlieels,'  marg.;  figuratively  expressing  a  discourse  which  is 
 grateful,  which  flows  smoothly,  agreeably,  and  without  harshness. — 
 Cal.  Like  apples  of  ^old,  ^c,  '  as  oranges  [or  citrons)  in  curiously  en- 
 graved  work  of  silver.' — Par.  '  Like  golden  balls  I'or  beautiful  apples) 
 presented  in  a  silver  network  basket.'  It  expresses  the  value  and 
 gratefulness  of  a  word  of  counsel,  reproof,  or  comfort,  delivered  in 
 due  time  and  place.— Pa?.  It  means,  a  word  spoken  fitly  and  in  sea- 
 son is  as  grateful  to  the  soul  as  delicious  fruits,  served  up  at  banquets. 
 
 are  to  the  guests  in  hot  and  sultry  regions.  The  '  curion=;ly-wrought 
 baskets'  alludes  to  those  ornamented  baskets  in  which  fruit  was  served 
 up  at  royal  banquets. — Hold.  '  Apple?  of  gold  in  a  network  of  s.lver.' 
 — Lnu'th.  'Apples  of  gold  enchased  in  silver,*  or  'among  figures  of 
 silver,'  that  is,  figures  of  fruit  in  the  precious  metfd.  This  is  preferred 
 by  the  Pict.  Bib.  13.  As  the  cold  of  snow,  Sfc,  as  the  mixing  of  snow 
 with  wine,  in  the  sultry  time  of  harvest,  is  pleasing  and  refreshing,  so 
 a  successful  messenger  revives  the  spirit  of  his  master  who  sent  him, 
 and  who  was  ready  to  faint  fn^m  an  apprehensinn  of  his  failure.  The 
 practice  of  cooling  wines  with  snow  was  usual  among  the  eastern  na- 
 tions. Mount  Hebron,  which  was  always  covered  with  snow,  plenti- 
 fully supplied  the  inhabitants  of  the  coimtry  near  it,  from  whence  it 
 was  often  carried  to  Tyre.— B'7rr^.  14.  A  false  gift,  one  pmraised, 
 but  never  bestowed. — .4.  Clarke.  15.  A  .mft  tongue,  fyc,  a  gentle  and 
 submissive  answer  renders  supple  the  most  inflexible  heart.— J5/).  Home. 
 16.  Hast  thou  found  honey,  ^c.  moderately  use  the  delights  of  sense, 
 but  take  heed  of  excess. — Henrtj.  18.  A  maul,  or  hammer,  to  beat 
 
 down  a  man's  fame,  or  break  in  pieces  his  estate. — Pat.  20.  Upoji 
 nitre,  not  what  we  call  nitre,  but  the  nitre  of  the  ancients  was  oui 
 soda,  which  nccasions  a  strong  fermentation  with  all  acids.  Thus, 
 singing  scngs  to  a  heavy  heart  is  compared  to  the  opposition  between 
 vinegar  and  nitre. — So  Dr.  Shaw.  22.  Heap  coals,  %c.,  not  to  cnn. 
 snmc,  but  to  melt  him  intn  kindness  ;  a  metaphor  taken  from  smelling 
 metallic  ores.  23.  Driveth  nwnr/,  '  bringeth  forth,'  murg.  The  latter 
 is  the  correct  readinc:,  for  the  north  wind  brings  forth  rain  at  Jeru- 
 salem, because  it  brings  with  it  the  vapours  arising  from  the  sea,  that 
 lies  north  of  it.— C/'/rfre.  1i.  A   brnwiing  u'om«7i— see  chap.  xxi.  9, 
 
 note.  The  termagants  in  the  east  are  complete  furies.  See  their  fiery 
 eyes,  dishevelled  hair,  uplifted  hands  :  they  are  more  like  furies  from 
 another  region  than  human  beings. — Rob.  26.  Falling  down,  'slid- 
 ing.'— Par.  'Erring.' — Holden.  '  OfiTend  ng,' — Boothr.;  i.e.,  falling 
 into  immorality.      As  a  troubled  fountain,  fyc. — grieves  his  friends  and 
 
 Reflections  os  Ch.\p.  XXIV — We  shall  here  notice  some  cherish  a  spirit  of  revenge.     There  may  be  a  holy  joy  in  the 
 
 other  proverbs- 1.  'Be  not  envious  against  evil  men.'     Could  destruction  of  God's  enemies,  as  it  tends  lo  the  glory  of  God 
 
 we  be  contented  with  their  unlawful  gains,  and  would  we  not  and  the  welfare  of  the  cliurch  (Ps.  Iviii.  10);  but  in  the  ruin 
 
 deprecate  their  end '!     Tbey  have  their  portion  in  this  life,  but  of  our  enemies  we  must  by  no  means  rejoice;  it  savours  too 
 
 they  shall  have  no  blessed  reward  hereafter.  mucli  of  the  spirit  of  revenge,  and  God  has  said,  '  Vengeance 
 
 II.  '  Rijvice  not  when  thine  enemy  falleth.*     We  should  never  is  mine,  and  1  will  repay.* 
 rejoice  in  the  miseries  of  others,  and  especially  should  we  not 
 693 
 
Observations  about  fools,  and 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXVI. 
 
 about  co?iteiitious  bust/bodies. 
 
 27  It  is  not  good  to  eat  mucli  honey  :  so  for 
 men  "  to  search  their  own  glory  !s  tiot  glory. 
 
 28  ''  He  that  hath  no  rule  over  his  own  spirit 
 is  like  a  city  thai  is  broken  down,  anrf  without 
 walls. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 1   Observations  about  fools,  13  about  sbr  gnrdst    17  and 
 
 about  contentious  bu^'i/borHes. 
 
 A  S  snow  in  summer,  ''and  as  vain  in  harvest, 
 
 -^~^  so  honour  is  not  seemly  for  a  fool. 
 
 2  As  the  bird  by  wandering,  as  the  swallow 
 by  flying,  so  ^  the  curse  causeless  shall  not 
 come. 
 
 3  "^  A  whip  for  the  horse,  a  bridle  for  the  ass, 
 and  a  rod  for  the  fool's  back. 
 
 4  Answer  not  a  fool  according  to  bis  folly, 
 lest  thou  also  be  like  nnto  him. 
 
 5  •'  Answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly,  lest 
 he  be  wise  in  f  his  own  conceit. 
 
 6  He  that  sendeth  a  message  by  the  hand 
 of  a  fool  cutteth  of  the  feet,  and  drinketb 
 |(  damage. 
 
 7  The  legs  of  the  lame  j  are  not  equal :  so  is 
 a  parable  in  the  mouth  of  fools. 
 
 8  [|  As  he  that  bindeth  a  stone  in  a  sling,  so 
 is  he  that  givetli  honour  to  a  fool. 
 
 9  As  a  thorn  goeth  up  into  the  hand  of  a 
 drunkard,  so  is  a  parable  in  tlie  mouth  of  fools. 
 
 10  II  The  great  God  tiiat  formed  all  things 
 both  rewardeth  the  fool,  and  rewardcth  trans- 
 gressors. 
 
 11  **  As  a  dog  returneth  to  his  vomit,  ^  so  a 
 fool  t  returneth  to  his  folly. 
 
 12  ^  Seest  thou  a  man  wise  In  his  own  con- 
 ceit? there  is  more  hope  of  a  fool  than  of  him. 
 
 13  ^  Tlie  slothful  man  saitli,  There  is  a  lion 
 \w  the  way  ;  a  lion  is  in  the  streets. 
 
 14  As  the  door  turnetli  upon   his  hinges,  so 
 
 ;  ver.  Hi 
 .<  c!i.  27.  •>. 
 ''  cli.  16.  R-2. 
 
 a  I  SaDi.  \2 
 17. 
 
 A  Xam.?S.S. 
 Deu.  23.  5 
 
 d  Mat   IC.  I 
 — *.  &  L'l . 
 
 \  Heb.  ;.-■« 
 own  eye*. 
 
 t  Heh.  «fr 
 
 I'/lrd  fl]l. 
 
 II  Or,  ^t  hr 
 a  precious 
 
 \\Or/j^ffrc.U 
 
 'M  nil,  at,d 
 ht  hirtth  We 
 foul,  he 
 hireth  alto 
 
 "  2  Pet   ?.22. 
 
 fKx.  8.  15. 
 
 t  Hcb.  iter- 
 ntfth  hit 
 filly. 
 
 C  oil.  20.  20. 
 I.ukeld  II 
 R-.m.  I2.1fi 
 Hev.  3    17. 
 
 h  cb.  :i->.  13. 
 
 t  Heh./f/imM, 
 
 k  Epli.  fi.  4. 
 \  Heb  B'.rt- 
 
 I  c\\.  23.  li>. 
 
 II  Or,  ifAi*- 
 perrr. 
 
 t  Ufb.  II 
 Milrut. 
 m  cli.  15.  8. 
 
 &  sy.  22. 
 
 t  Hob. 
 chmnberi. 
 
 o  Pe.  28.  S. 
 Jet.  9.  8. 
 t  Heb   ma  A. 
 
 rlh  hit  vuict^ 
 graciMUt. 
 \\  Or.  hotrtd 
 
 tecrel. 
 
 pP8  7.  15.16. 
 A  9.  15,  & 
 
 fi   ch.28.  Ill 
 Ecclos.10.6. 
 
 doth  the  slothful  upon  liis  bed. 
 
 \5  "  The  slothful  iiideth  his  hand  in  his  bo- 
 som ;  II  it  grieveth  him  to  bring  it  again  to  his 
 mouth. 
 
 IG  The  sluggard  is  wiser  in  his  own  conceit 
 than  seven  men  that  can  render  a  reason. 
 
 17  He  that  passotii  by,  and  \\  meddleth  with 
 strife  behnging  not  to  him,  is  like  one  that 
 taketh  a  dog  by  the  ears. 
 
 18  As  a  mad  771011  who  casteth  f  firebrands, 
 arrows,  and  death, 
 
 19  So  is  the  man  that  deceiveth  his  neigh- 
 bour, and  saith,  ''  Am  not  I  in  sport? 
 
 20  t  Where  no  wood  is,  thei-e  the  fire  goeth 
 out :  so  '  where  there  is  no  ||  talebearer,  the 
 strife  t  ceaseth. 
 
 21  "^As  coals  are  to  burning  coals,  and  wood 
 to  fire ;  so  is  a  contentious  man  to  kindle 
 strife. 
 
 22  "  The  words  of  a  talebearer  rt/c  as  wounds, 
 and  they  go  down  into  the  f  innermost  parts  uf 
 the  belly. 
 
 23  Burning  lips  and  a  wicked  heart  are  like 
 a  potsherd  covered  with  silver  dross. 
 
 24  He  tiiat  hateth  ||  dissembleth  with  his 
 lips,  and  layeth  up  deceit  within  him  ; 
 
 25  °  When  he  t  speaketh  fair,  believe  him 
 not :  for  there  are  seven  abominations  in  his 
 heart. 
 
 26  Whose  ||  hatred  is  covered  by  deceit,  his 
 wickedness  shall  be  shewed  before  the  whole 
 congregation. 
 
 27  ■*  Whoso  diggeth  a  pit  shall  fall  therein  : 
 and  he  tliat  roUeth  a  stone,  it  will  return  upon 
 him. 
 
 28  A  lying  tongue  hateth  those  that  are  af- 
 flicted by  it ;  and  a  flattering  mouth  worketh 
 ruin. 
 
 di^igraces  his  character,  just  as  dirt  and  rubbish,  thrown  into  a  foun- 
 tain, defile  and  render  it  nseles.'i. — Wit.  It  was  one  method  of  annoy- 
 ini;  an  enemy  t(t  tliiow  filth  into  his  streams.  To  this  Solomon  might 
 i.cre  allude.  —  Har.  27.  Nut  goad  fa  eat  much  honey — the  English, 
 
 under  Edward  I.,  died  in  consequence  of  so  doin^,  in  the  Holy  Land, 
 in  creat  numbers, — Har.  So/or  men,  ^-e.^all  the  pleasures  of  sense 
 will  surfeit,  but  never  satisfy. — Henry, 
 
 Cn.\p.  XXVI.  —  2.  As  the  bird,  ^c,  '  as  the  wandering  bird,  or  cir- 
 cling  swallow.'— i?'*o//ir.  Maybe  rendered,  'as  the  spnrrow  for,  or 
 with  respect  to,  its  wandering,  and  the  swallow  for,  or  with  respect  to, 
 its  flying,'  that  is,  arc  apparently  without  object,  'so,*  &c.,  shall  not 
 arrive  at  its  object. — Hotden.  As  these  birds  fly  here  and  there,  with- 
 out any  particular  intention,  so  imprecations,  uttered  ra-^hly,  shall  have 
 no  effect — Bnttttir.  3.  A  whip  for  the  horse — eastern  horses,  often 
 caught  wild,  and  being  badly  broken,  need  the  whip.— Gr^en/,  A  OriJle 
 for  the  ass— eastern  a>ses  are  much  larger,  more  beautiful,  and  better 
 goers  than  ours,  and,  no  doubt,  were  so  anciently  in  Palestine,  (see 
 Job,  xxxix.  7.) — Pitr.  Being  active  and  well  broken,  they  needed  only 
 a  bridle  to  guide  them. — Greenf.  4,  5.  Answer  not  afoot,  ^c. — in  the 
 first  instance  ii  means,  enter  not  into  contest  with  a  fool.  In  the  second, 
 suffer  not  his  folly  to  go  unrcproved ;  both  to  be  determined  by  times 
 and  circumstances, — Mnnt.  6.  Cutteth  oj?— the  sense  is,  'he  who 
 sends  a  me->sage  by  a  fnol,  does  as  if  he  cut  off  the  messenger's  feet, 
 and  suffers  damage  by  having  his  message  delayed,  mistaken,  or  per- 
 verted. Drinketh,  often  denotes  injuiy,  (Job,  xxi.  20  ;  Ps.  Ixxv.  8  j 
 Jer.  x.xv.  16;  xlix.  12;  Obad.  16;  Habak.  ii.  16.)— Ho/Jen. 
 
 *Like  one  eager  after  phuHler,  but  whose  feet  have  been  cut  tiff. 
 Is  he  who  committeth  a  despatch  to  the  hand  of  a  fool.' — Hodg. 
 'As  one  lame  on  his  feet  yet  drinketh  violence, 
 Is  he  that  sendeth  a  message  by  a  fool.' 
 
 Understand  it  as  a  lame  man  who  drinketh  violence,  or  is  eager  after 
 
 spoil, but  unable  to  obtain  it,  is  he  that,  &c. ;  that  is,  he  is  disappointed, 
 because  he  employs  an  unfit  instrument. — Boothr.      7>  3'/ie  legs,  ^■a.~~- 
 
 'As  the  legs  are  weak  through  lameness. 
 So  is  a  proverb  in  the  mouth  of  fools.* — Huhlen. 
 
 Nearly  the  same.  Boothr.,  i,  e.,  as  the  legs  are  weak  through  lameness, 
 so  a  proverb  in  the  mouth  of  lools  is  destitute  of  strength  and  energy, 
 because  it  is  applied  improperly  and  injudiciun^ly. — Hotden. 
 
 '  As  dancing  to  a  cripple,  so  is  a  parable,'  &c. — Pat. 
 
 9.  A  stone  in  a  sling,  so  is  he  that  giveth  honour,  ^c,  it  is  thrown  away. 
 — Durcll.  By  binding  it  ii|*,  he  so  fastens  it  that  it  becomes  u--eless. — 
 Gill i  so  Pict.  Bih.  g.  Asa  thorn,  ^c. — fools  should  no  more  meddle 
 
 with  a  wise  sptech  than  a  drunken  man  with  thorns. — Dp.  Hall. 
 14.  Hinges,  rather  '  pivots,'  eastern  doors  do  not  turn  on  hinges. — 
 Pict.  Bib.  15.  Hiilfth  Itis  Arinrf— see  chap.  xix.  21,  note.  17.  Tuketh 
 a  dog,  fie,  that  is,  a  strange  dog :  for  dogs  in  the  ea-'^t  run  wild,  and 
 are  n-t  domesticated  as  with  us.— IT'i7.  If  he  let  him  go,  he  flies  at 
 him;  if  he  keep  his  hold,  he  has  his  hands  full,  and  can  do  nothing 
 else. — Htnry.  is.  As  n  mad  man,  ^c. — a  female  of  spotless  character 
 was  once  severely  injured  in  her  reptitntion  by  a  jocular  remark  from 
 one  that  she  was  in  the  habit  of  driuking.  This  may  illustrate  Solo- 
 mon's meaning,  and  be  a  suitable  caution  against  sporting  with  repu- 
 tation.— Ed.  -12.  The  words,  fyc. — see  chap,  xviii.  8.  2!.  Burning 
 lips,  lyc,  'warm  lips,'  that  is.  lips  making  warm  and  eacer  professions, 
 and  a  bad  deceitful  heart. — Pur.  Covered  ivith  silrer  dross,  as  this  ap- 
 pear^ beautiful,  and  hides  tlie  cKiy,  so  flattering  lips  are  often  agreeable, 
 but  they  are  only  the  gilding  of  a  wicked  heart. — Boothr.  lib.  Seven, 
 •a  great  variety,' — Bp.  Hall:  i.  e.,  he  is  lull  of  abominations. — A.  C. 
 26.  Whole  congregation,  a  public  court  of  judicature.— We//s.  28.  A 
 lying  tongue  hateth,  ^c,  a  liar  hates  those  he  has  wronged,  knowing 
 he  has  deserved  their  hatred. — Dp.  Hall. 
 
 Reflkptions  on  Chap.  XXV This  chapter  says,  I.  ^  Be 
 
 not  ambitious.*  John  Banyan's  proverbial  remark  may  illustrate 
 this  :— 
 
 '  He  that  is  low,  need  fear  no  fall.' 
 
 II.  'Be  not  litigious.'  '  Keep  from,  this  pit  of  the  bottom- 
 less deep,'  says  Adam  Clarke,  *  unless  urged  by  the  direst  ne- 
 cessity.' 
 
 III,  '  Be  not  intrusive.*  Your  neighbour's  time  may  be  bis 
 property,  and  his  table  is  not  furnished  without  cost.  Do  to 
 Inm  as  you  would  he  should  do  unto  you.  These  are  moral 
 maxims,  hut  much  depends  upon  ilieir  practice,  and  pure  re- 
 ligion   will    not   fail   to    produce   sound   morality.      It   is  not 
 
 6f>4 
 
 enouj;h,  however,  to  say  these  things  will  be  manifest  with- 
 out teaching  them  ;  the  Bible  instructs  us  in  precepts  as  well 
 as  principles,  and  the  purest  mimJ  has  sometimes  need  to  be 
 stirred  up  '  l)y  way  of  remembrance.' 
 
 Reflections  un  Chap.  XXVI. — I.  '  We  are  admonished  to 
 avoid  slothfulncss  by  several  of  the  proverbs  read.  Let  us, 
 then,  cultivate  habits  of  industry,  as  best  adapted  to  our 
 health,  as  affording  high  enjoyments  of  every  kind;  and  es- 
 pecially lei  us  give  all  diligence  to  make  our  calling  and  elec- 
 tion sure. 
 
 II.  '  IFe  are  cautioned  apainst  a  quarrelsome,  mischievous, 
 meddling  ttrnpcr.       He    that  interferes  with    the   concerns    or 
 
Observations  vf  self-love,  ^'c. 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXVII ,  XXVIII. 
 
 Of  huusehuld  care. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 1   OhsiTVttiions  of  selflove,  b  nf  truL  love,   II  of  care  to 
 
 avoid  njf',  nccs,  23  and  oftli<^  Itmtscfiuld  care. 
 "DOAST  "not    thyself  of  f  to   morrow;  for 
 -'-'  tliuu  knovvest  not  wliat  a  day  may  bring 
 forth. 
 
 2  '•  Let  another  man  praise  thee,  and  not 
 tliine  own  mouth  ;  a  stranger,  and  not  tliine 
 own  hps. 
 
 3  A  stone  is  f  heavy,  and  the  sand  weighty  ; 
 but  a  fool's  wrath  is  heaver  than  them  both. 
 
 4  t  VVrath  is  cruel,  and  anger  is  outrageous ; 
 but  '  who  is  able  to  stand  before  |)  envy  ? 
 
 5  ''  Open  rebuke  is  better  than  secret  love. 
 
 6  "  Faithful  are  the  wounds  of  a  friend  ;  but 
 the  kisses  of  an  enemy  are  ||  deceitful. 
 
 7  The  full  soul  t'oa'lietb  an  honeycomb; 
 but  '■  to  the  hungry  soul  every  bitter  thing  is 
 sweet. 
 
 8  As  a  bird  that  wandereth  from  her  nest,  so 
 is  a  man  that  wandereth  from  his  place. 
 
 9  Ointment  and  perfume  rejoice  the  heart : 
 so  doth  the  sweetness  of  a  man's  friend  f  by 
 hearty  counsel. 
 
 10  Thine  own  friend,  and  thy  father's  friend, 
 forsake  not  ;  neither  go  into  thy  brother's 
 house  in  the  day  of  thy  calamity  :  for  ^  better 
 IS  a  neighbour  that  is  near  than  a  brother  far 
 off. 
 
 1 1  *"  My  son,  be  wise,  and  make  my  heart 
 glad,  '  that  I  may  answer  him  that  rcproacheth 
 me. 
 
 12  '■  A  prudent  Jitan  foreseeth  the  evil,  a7id 
 hideth  himself:  but  the  simple  pass  on,  and 
 are  punished. 
 
 13  '  Take  his  garment  that  is  surety  for  a 
 stranger,  and  take  a  pledge  of  him  for  a  strange 
 woman. 
 
 14  He  that  blesseth  his  friend  with  a  loud 
 voice,  rising  early  in  the  morning,  it  shall  be 
 counted  a  curse  to  him. 
 
 15  "'A  continual  dropping  in  a  very  rainy 
 daj'  and  a  contentious  woman  are  alike. 
 
 10  Whosoever  hideth  her  hideth  the  wind, 
 and  the  ointment  of  his  right  hand,  which  be- 
 wrayeth  itself. 
 
 n  I.uke  12. 
 19,  20. 
 .lain.  '1.  13, 
 
 t  Heb. 
 henvinrti. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 H'ralh  ia 
 crrielli/,  nnd 
 
 umpiring, 
 r  lJobn3  12. 
 
 cli   a.  31. 
 d  c!i.  L'8.  23 
 
 G»l.  2  n. 
 >■  Ps.  \\\.  5. 
 11  or,  rttrnpsl, 
 
 .„■,  f„i.ml. 
 t  Heb.  Zn-ad- 
 
 elli  under 
 
 f.„l. 
 /Job  6.  7. 
 
 t  Heb./rom 
 llie  counsel 
 of  the  lout. 
 
 sch.  17.  17. 
 Ik  18.  21. 
 Seech. 19,7. 
 
 /iCh.  10.1.8 
 23.  15,  21. 
 i  Ps.  127.  5- 
 
 m  eh.  19.  13. 
 
 B  C. 
 
 rir.  700. 
 
 0  ch   30.  IG. 
 Hab   2   5. 
 
 t  Heb.  not. 
 p  Ecclea.  I. 
 8.  &ti.  7. 
 
 1  ch.  17.  3. 
 
 r  Is.  1.  5. 
 Jer.  5  3. 
 ch.  23.  35 
 
 t  Heb.  itt  llttj 
 
 t  Heb. 
 ttrFni^lh. 
 t  Heb.  lor/fi. 
 
 geiiernliuii. 
 •  Ps.  101.  14 
 
 t  Heb.  /./(. 
 
 iT,ev.  26, 17, 
 36.  Ps.  .«.&. 
 
 II  Or,  bi/  men 
 ofuoiirr. 
 standing 
 and  inhdoiii 
 lUnll  they 
 likewite  be 
 prolo'n'ed 
 
 b  fliat.  19.28 
 
 {  Heb.  u-ilh- 
 00,/ood. 
 
 r  Ps.  10.  3. 
 &  49.  18. 
 Horn.  1.32, 
 
 ■;  I  Kill.  18. 
 
 18,21,  Mat 
 .3  7  «i  14.4. 
 Eph.  5.  II. 
 
 e  Ps.  92  6. 
 
 /Jobu7.  17 
 I  Cor. 2  15 
 I  John  2.20, 
 27. 
 
 17  Iron  sharpeiu'th  iron  ;  so  a  man  sharpen- 
 etli  the  countenance  of  his  friend. 
 
 18  °  Whoso  keepeth  the  fig  tree  shall  eat  the 
 fruit  thereof:  so  he  that  waiteth  on  his  master 
 shall  be  honoured. 
 
 1 9  As  in  water  face  ansiverith  to  face,  so  the 
 heart  of  man  to  man. 
 
 20  °  Hell  and  destruction  are  f  never  full ;  so 
 ■'  the  eyes  of  man  are  never  satisfied. 
 
 21  ''As  the  fining  pot  for  silver,  and  the  fur- 
 nace for  gold  ;  .so  is  a  man  to  liis  praise. 
 
 22  '  Though  thou  sliouldest  bray  a  fool  in  a 
 mortar  among  wheat  with  a  pestle,  _y£7  will  not 
 his  foolishness  depart  from  him. 
 
 23  Be  thou  diligent  to  know  the  state  of  thy 
 flocks,  atid  jlook  well  to  thy  herds. 
 
 24  For  t  riches  are  not  for  ever :  and  doth 
 the  crown  endure  t  to  every  generation  ? 
 
 25  '  The  hay  appeareth,  and  the  tender  grass 
 sbewetli  itself,  and  herbs  of  the  mountains  are 
 gathered. 
 
 •26  The  lambs  are  for  thy  clothing,  and  the 
 goats  are  the  price  of  the  field. 
 
 27  And  thou  shalt  have  goats'  milk  enough 
 for  thy  food,  for  the  food  of  thy  household,  and 
 for  tbe  t  maintenance  for  thy  maidens. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 General  observations  of  impiety  and  relii/itnis  inteyriiij. 
 T^HE  ■*  wicked  flee  when  no  man  piir.suetli  : 
 -*-    but  the  righteous  are  bold  as  a  lion. 
 
 2  For  the  transgression  of  a  land  many  arc 
 the  princes  thereof:  but  ||  by  a  man  of  under- 
 standing flHf/ knowledge  the  state  i/iereq/" shall 
 be  prolonged. 
 
 3  '■  A  poor  man  that  oppresseth  the  poor  is 
 like  a  sweeping  rain  f  which  leaveth  no  food. 
 
 4  ^  They  that  forsake  tbe  law  praise  the 
 wicked  :  ■^  but  such  as  keep  the  law  contend 
 with  them. 
 
 3  ^  Evil  men  understand  not  judgment :  but 
 *"  they  that  seek  the  Loud  understand  all 
 things. 
 
 6  ^  Better  is  the  poor  that  walketh  in  his  up- 
 rightness, than  he  that  is  perverse  in  his  ways, 
 tbouffh  he  be  rich. 
 
 Chap.  XXrVII.  —  5.  Open  rebuke,  fyc. — he  who  kimily  tells  another 
 of  his  faults,  shews  more  true  friendship  than  he  who  has  not  cnuraffe 
 so  to  do.— So  Pat.  9.  Ointment  nnd  per/u/ne—At  the  clo.se  of  a  visit 
 
 in  the  eastern  countries,  it  is  common  to  sprinkle  rnsewater  &c.  on 
 the  guests,  and  to  perfume  them  with  aloes  woo*!. — Hnr.  10.  And 
 
 thy  fid  hei's  friend — he  is  a  tried  friend,  and  lias  a  particular  concern 
 for  thee;  tlierefure  be  advised  by  him. — Henry,  Thy  brother's  house, 
 go  not  even  to  a  brother,  unless  assured  that  he  is  also  a  friend  j  for 
 a  neighbour  who  is  a  friend  is  better  than  a  brother  who  is  not.— So 
 Wells.  13.  Ttike  his  garment — see  chap.  x.\.  16,  note.  U.  Blesseth, 
 compliments  with  adulalion. — Hetv.  The  proverb  means,  '  excessive 
 commendations  of  gratitude  and  friendship  arc  always  to  be  suspected 
 as  insincere  andselfish.' — Scott.  17.  Iro7i  shtnpenefh,  probably  alludes 
 to  ihe  file.— Pict.  Bib.  18.  Keeptth   the  figtrce,   ffc,  'as  he  who 
 
 looks  after  his  tender  fig  tree,  preserving  it  from  drought,  vermin,  and 
 wild  beasts,  &c,,  shall,  at  last,  eat  its  pleasant  fruits,  so  shall  the  ser- 
 vant who  attends  to  his  master's  interests  reap  his  reward.' — Pat. 
 19.  As  in  water,  fyc, '  as  the  water  sheweth  the  face  to  the  face,  so  doth 
 the  heart  the  man  to  the  man.* — Castellio,  Le  Cterc,  Grey,  Hnlden, 
 Hodgson.  This  may  signify,  that  the  man  may  have  a  knowledge  of 
 his  heart,  imperfect  indeed  and  confused,  by  looking  into  it,  as  well  as 
 he  has  of  his  face  by  seeing  it  in  the  water.— So  Hew.     '  As  faces  are 
 
 like  faces,  so  is  the  heart  of  one  man  to  another.' — Houb.,  so  Clarke. 
 
 21.  So  is  a  mmi  to  his  praise,  if  he  can  bear  praise  without  injury,  as 
 precious   metals   bear  the   fire,    his  character   is    sterling.  —  So  Wtl. 
 
 22.  In  a  mortar  among  wheat,  before  there  were  public  mills,  the  pestle 
 and  mortar  were  used  to  beat  corn.— So  Cal.  25.  The  hay,  hay  is  not 
 made  in  the  east.— Pict.  Bib.  'The  grass  shuoteth,  the  tender  herb 
 appeareth.' — Boothr. 
 
 Chat.  XXVIII.  — 2.  Jl/ow^— none  long  reign.— Pa^ 
 
 'By  rebiUion  in  a  land,  tj-rants  shall  become  its  rulers: 
 But  where  a  people  are  wise,  an  able  prince  shall  reign  long.' 
 
 Hodgsmi. 
 3.  A  poor  man,  ^c— a  rich  oppressor  leaves  a  man  poor,  but  a  poor  op- 
 pressor  leaves  to  him  nothing.— B/j.  //'///.  '  A  man  in  power  who 
 oppresseth  the  poor  is  like,'  &c. — Houb..  Doederl'in.  '  A  man  in  power 
 that  is  needy  and  oppresseth  the  poor,'  &c. — Ho/den  ;  to  the  same  pur- 
 port.  Hunt,  Hodg.,  and  Boothr.  Like  a  sweeping  rain,  SfC. — for  many 
 months  together,  in  the  east,  there  is  not  a  drop  of  rain,  and  then  it 
 descends  as  if  the  heavens  were  breaking  up  and  the  earth  would  be 
 dissolved  ;  and  when  the  waters  go  off,  scarcely  any  food  remains  fnr 
 man  or  beast.- i?o6.  4.  They  that  forsake,  ^-c,  that  cast  off  God's 
 
 law,  encourage  wickedness.        5.  Alt  things,  all  their  daty.—Bp.  Hall. 
 
 quarrels  of  others  will  find  that  he  interferes  to  his  own  hurt. 
 Sluch  less  should  we  be  tale-bearer.^;,  and  sow  dissensions 
 among  friends  and  neighbours.  The  pit  which  such  have  dug 
 for  others,  into  it  ibey  shall  at  last  themselves  fall.*b 
 
 RiFLECTioNs  ON  Chap.  XXVII.  —  We  select  for  remarks 
 from  these  proverbs— I.  '  Boast  not  th>/s>If  of  to-morrow.'  Let 
 us  fasten  this  on  our  memories.  To-morrow  the  rich  man  may 
 become  poor.  To-morrow  the  dearest  ties  of  nature  may  be 
 severed.  To-morrow  the  youngest  and  most  vigorous  may  lie 
 prostrate  in  the  coffin.  Amidst  these  chani^ing  scenes  let  our 
 lime,  talents;,  and  property  be  used  dilii;ently  for  God's  glorv  : 
 
 '  whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  all  thy  might.' 
 II.  'Be  thou  diiif,ent  to  knotv  ihe  state  of  thy  Jiocks.'  If  the 
 Proverbs  of  Solomon  were  more  read  and  regarded,  there 
 would  be  less  extravagance  among  men  professing  godliness, 
 and  fewer  families  ruined.  By  living  beyond  their  means,  and 
 by  dissipating  pleasure  on  one  hand,  and  extravagant  specu- 
 lation on  the  other,  how  many  bring  their  names  into  the  Cia- 
 zette,  their  families  to  poverty  and  dependence,  and  the  reli- 
 gion they  profess  into  disgrace.  *  The  diligent  soul  shall  Le 
 made  fat.* 
 
Of  impiety  and  religious  intef/riti/. 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXIX. 
 
 Of  j>iil>lic  government. 
 
 7  *"  Whoso  keepeth  tlie  law  is  a  wise  son  ; 
 but  he  that  ||  is  a  companion  of  riotous  men 
 shameth  liis  father. 
 
 8  '  He  tliat  by  usury  and  f  unjust  gain  in- 
 creascth  Ills  substance,  he  shall  gather  it  for 
 him  that  will  pity  the  poor. 
 
 9  '  He  tliat  tunieth  away  his  ear  from  hear- 
 ing tlie  law,  '  even  his  prayer  s/iall  he  abomi- 
 nation. 
 
 10  '"  Whoso  causeth  the  righteous  to  go  astray 
 in  an  evil  way,  lie  shall  fall  himself  into  his  own 
 pit :  °  but  the  upright  sliall  have  good  things 
 in  possession. 
 
 1 1  The  rich  man  is  wise  f  in  his  own  conceit ; 
 but  the  poor  that  hath  understanding  searcheth 
 him  out. 
 
 12  °  When  righteous  men  do  rejoice,  there  is 
 great  glory:  but  when  tlie  wicked  rise,  a  man 
 is  II  hidden. 
 
 13  ^'  He  that  covereth  his  sins  shall  not  pros- 
 per :  but  whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh  thetn 
 shall  have  mercy. 
 
 14  Happy  is  the  man '' that  feareth  alway: 
 '  but  he  that  hardeneth  his  heart  shall  fall  into 
 mischief. 
 
 15  'As  a  roaring  lion,  and  a  ranging  bear  ;  *^so 
 is  a  wicked  ruler  over  tlie  poor  people. 
 
 16  The  prince  that  wanteth  understanding  is 
 also  a  great  oppressor :  but  he  that  liateth 
 covetousuess  shall  prolong  his  days. 
 
 17  "  A  man  that  doeth  violence  to  the  lilood 
 o{  any  person  shall  flee  to  the  pit ;  let  no  man 
 stay  him. 
 
 18  ^  Whoso  walketh  uprightly  shall  be  s,tved : 
 but  ''he  that  is  perverse  in  his  ways  shall  fall 
 at  once. 
 
 19  ^  He  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  have  plenty 
 of  bread  :  but  he  that  followeth  after  vain  per. 
 sons  shall  have  poverty  enough. 
 
 20  A  faithful  man  shall  abound  with  bless- 
 ings :  "but  he  that  maketh  haste  to  be  rich 
 shall  not  be  ||  innocent. 
 
 21  '■  To  have  respect  of  persons  is  not  good  : 
 for  '  for  a  piece  of  bread  that  man  will  trans- 
 gress. 
 
 22  II'' He  that  hasteth  to  be  rich  hath  an  evil 
 eye,  and  considereth  not  that  poverty  shall 
 come  upon  him. 
 
 2.3  "  He  that  rebnketh  a  man  afterwards  shall 
 find  more  favour  than  he  that  tiattereth  with 
 the  tongue. 
 
 24  Whoso  robbeth  his  father  or  his  mother, 
 and  saith,  It  is  no  transgression  ;  the  same  'is 
 the  companion  of  fa  destroyer. 
 
 23  ^  He  that  is  of  a  proud  heart  stirreth  up 
 strife  :  ''  but  he  that  putteth  his  trust  in  the 
 
 Ctr    700. 
 
 A  ch.  l-'S   3 
 li  Or.  fi<-^.lh 
 
 glntt'.',,. 
 >  Job  27    16, 
 
 17.  ih.  13. 
 
 ■22.  E.  .-les. 
 
 2.  26. 
 f  Heb.  Ay 
 
 ftZ.'.-li  7   U. 
 I  rs   6ti.  18. 
 
 &  KHt-  7. 
 
 ch    15 
 m  ch   :iG 
 
 tHeb. 
 etjei. 
 
 0  vcr.  28. 
 
 ch    II    10. 
 
 &  -'9.  2. 
 
 E.tles  10  6 
 II  Or,  fiushl 
 
 I  J.'hii  I.  .M. 
 9,  lU. 
 
 fh  23  17. 
 T  Horn.  2.  -S. 
 k  11.20. 
 
 1  I  PM.6.  8, 
 (  Kx.  1.  U, 
 
 IG    ^* 
 
 .Mat.  2.  16, 
 
 r  ch.  10.  ! 
 25. 
 y  vcr.  6. 
 
 1  ch.  i.r  11. 
 
 ft  2<i  21.  & 
 23  1.  .  cr. 
 28    I  Tim. 
 «.  9. 
 II  nc,  ..,,- 
 
 *  ch    IH    5. 
 &  21.  23. 
 ■  I'^c.  1.3.19 
 [Hi,  h..  (/,„, 
 /..(fA  nn  '•'iV 
 
 Iff/^    lllltl"!)! 
 
 .  hr  r.c/,. 
 .  20. 
 
 fey,   18  9. 
 t  Hch  n  mnn 
 
 ff  ch.  13   10 
 
 h  I  Tim  B.fi 
 
 :  neu   15.  7, 
 J(ic  ch.  I<1 
 17.  Hi  22.  9. 
 
 ch.  29.  2, 
 /  Jub  24.  4 
 
 t  Hcb.  «  .„„,, 
 
 Qf,Vro„fi. 
 a  I  Sa.2.  25, 
 
 2  Clii  36  l(i. 
 
 ch.  1.  2't— 
 
 27. 
 Ii  Eklh   8  1.^ 
 
 ch.  II.  10. 
 
 S:2<.  I2,2S. 
 il  Or,  ,■„- 
 
 cr.'".C'/. 
 c  E^th.  3,15 
 rfch.  It),  I. 
 
 &  1.'J  20.  A 
 
 27.  II. 
 c  ch.  5  9.10 
 
 ft  fi.  26.  A 
 
 2<.  7.  L..k. 
 
 15     13,  30. 
 t  Heh.  n   F„r,„ 
 
 llf  tlttUllioHt . 
 
 /Job  29.  16. 
 8.  31,  13. 
 Pb,  *1-  1. 
 
 «  Or.  . 
 
 (Hcb   Mn 
 .<(  hh.'"l 
 ft  Gen.  .1..S.8 
 o  3. 1 '. 
 Mitdff  Ifi.r 
 
 ch 
 
 16. 
 
 «.  !■).  .S3. 
 
 /I  Pfi   72.  S, 
 4,  IS,  14. 
 vcr.  17. 
 cb.  10.  I. ft 
 17.  81,  25. 
 
 Vs  37  36. 
 ft  5«.  10  ft 
 9'.  8.  ft- 92. 
 
 Lord  shall  be  made  fat. 
 
 26  He  that  tru.steth  in  his  own  heart  is  a 
 fool  :  but  whoso  walketh  wisely,  he  shall  be 
 delivered. 
 
 27  '  He  that  giveth  unto  the  poor  shall  not 
 lack  :  but  he  that  hideth  his  eyes  shall  have 
 many  a  curse. 
 
 28  ^  When  the  wicked  rise,  'men  hide  them- 
 selves :  but  when  they  peri'^li,  the  rigliteous  in- 
 crease. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 I  Ohscrralions  of  jmhlick  t.i.irrn},,  iif,  \5  and  of  pri- 
 vate. 2:1  Of  aiigir,  jjridc,  t/ii.  I'trt/,  cowardice,  and 
 corntjition, 
 
 f  TJE,  that  being  often  reproved  hardeneth 
 -'■•*■  his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed, 
 and  that  without  remedy. 
 
 2  I"  When  the  nghteons  are  ||  in  authority,  the 
 people  rejoice  :  but  when  the  wicked  beareth 
 rule,  '  the  people  mourn. 
 
 3  ''  Whoso  loveth  wisdom  rejoicetli  bis  father: 
 °but  he  that  keepeth  company  with  harlots 
 spendeth  his  substance. 
 
 4  The  king  by  judgment  establisheth  the 
 land:  but  fbe  tliat  receiveth  gifts  overthrow- 
 eth  it. 
 
 5  A  man  that  flattereth  his  neighbour  spread- 
 eth  a  net  for  his  feet. 
 
 6  In  the  transgression  of  an  evil  man  there  is 
 a  snare  :  but  the  righteous  doth  .sing  and  re- 
 joice. 
 
 7  'The  righteous  considereth  the  cause  of 
 the  poor:  but  the  wicked  regaideth  not  to 
 know  it. 
 
 8  ^  Scornful  men  ||  bring  a  city  into  a  snare  : 
 but  wise  men  "  turn  away  wrath. 
 
 9  If  a  wise  man  contendetli  with  a  foolish 
 man,  '  whether  he  rage  or  laugh,  there  is  no 
 rest. 
 
 10  t '  The  bloodthirsty  hate  the  upright :  but 
 the  just  seek  his  soul. 
 
 11  A  '  fool  uttcreth  all  his  mind  :  hut  a  wise 
 man  keepeth  it  in  till  afterwards. 
 
 12  If  a  ruler  hearken  to  lies,  all  his  servants 
 are  wicked. 
 
 13  The  poor  and  ||  the  deceitful  man  "meet 
 together :  "  the  Lord  lighteneth  both  their 
 eyes. 
 
 14  "The  king  that  ''faithfuHy  judgeth  the 
 poor,  his  throne  .shall  be  established  for  ever. 
 
 15  ''  The  rod  and  reproof  give  wisdom:  but 
 ■■a  child  left  to  /(/mseZ/'hringeth  his  mother  to 
 shame. 
 
 16  When  the  wicked  are  multiplied,  trans- 
 gression increase th  :  'but  the  righteous  shall 
 see  their  fall. "» 
 
 8.  He  shall  gather  it  far  him,  ^c— God's  Providence  will  give  his  es- 
 tate to  one  who  wilt  better  pny  the  duties  he  requires.  —  Beveridge. 
 
 9.  Hearing,  i.e.,  obeying.— 7'i7/o^son.  11.  Seiirchetlt  him  nut,  dis- 
 covers his  vanit>-  and  ignorance.— //»Wp;i.  14.  Feareth  alieay,  sig. 
 nifies,  is  prudent  and  cautious,  or  has  a  reverential  fear  of  offending 
 God.— If'iV.  17.  Let  no  man,  or  *  no  man  shall,*  ^Q.—  Wells.  18.  .U 
 once,  •  without  resource,'  '  altogether.'— Clarke.  '  Into  the  pit,'  Se/il  ; 
 Boothr.  21. /IpieM  o/«r«(rf,  a  paltry  bribe.— Wcflrj/.  27.  Hideth 
 his  eyes,  will  not  regard  the  miseries  of  cithers.- i'nf. 
 
 Chap.  XXIX. —  1.  Hardeneth  his  neck,  is  perverse,  refractory,  con- 
 tumacious;  metaphorical  expressions,  taken  from  untractable  o.xcn, 
 
 which  do  not  submit  quiefiy  to  the  yoke. — Glossitis,  Dathe.  i.  He 
 that  receiveth  gifts.  rviTDIiri  IT'N.  '  a  man  of  oblations.'  When  causes 
 were  heard  by  tlie  principal  priesis,  it  is  probable  they  were  sometimes 
 bribed  b>  the  oblations  ofTcred  at  the  tabernacle,  and  this  term  con- 
 tinued to  be  applied  to  the  bribes  of  the  secular  judj,'es. — Wil.  5.  Far 
 his  feet,  leads  him  unawares  into  danger. — Pat.  He  shall  fall  into  the 
 snare  made  for  his  neighbour. — So  Gersom.  6.  There  is  a  snare, 
 rather  'the  wicked  is  snared  by  transgression,  (so  chap.  xii.  13.) — 
 Duretl.  9.  Whether  he  rage,  ffc,  may  be  rendered  '  either  be  (the 
 fool)  wilt  rage,  or  langh,  and  there  is  no  rest.' — Htdcn.  Whether  the 
 wise  man  deal  seriously  or  jestingly,  he  will  not  be  able  to  prevail. — 
 
 Reflection's  on  Chap.  XXVIII.  —  From  several  portions  Those  that  know  by  experience  the  miseries  oC  poverty  should 
 
 of  this  chapter  we  remark— I.    ffickcdiiess  se,ret!t/  iiiakis  men  be  compassionate  to  those  who  sutler  tlie  lite. 
 
 cowards.     They  can  have  no  true  enjoyment  of  themselves,  no  J\.  It  is  foolish  to  indulge  sin,  and  hmejiciul  to  part  with  it. 
 
 confidence,  no  courage,  but  a  *  fparfuUooking  for  of  judgment. '  In  the  former  case  there  is  neither  pardon  nor  peace  of  con- 
 
 II.  A'ational  sins  bring  national  disorders.  The  people  suifer  science  ;  but  when  we  confess  sin,  and  return  not  to  it  at;ain, 
 for  the  sins  of  the  prince,  and  the  government  sometimes  suf-  we  shall  find  mercy.  '  When  we  set  sin  before  our  face,  God 
 iers  for  the  sins  of  the  people.  casts  it  behind  his  back.'  i" 
 
 III.  Poor  pcojde  are  often  Itard  hearted  one  towards  another. 
 
 696 
 
Of  fUiffCi;  pride,  ^'c. 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXX. 
 
 Afjitr's  confession  and  prayer. 
 
 17  'Correct  thy  son,  and  lie  sliall  give  thee 
 rest  ;  yea,  he  sliall  give  delight  unto  thy  soul. 
 
 18  "  Where  there  is  no  vision,  the  people 
 ]|  perish  :  but  ^  he  that  kcepeth  the  law,  happy 
 is  he. 
 
 19  A  servant  will  not  be  corrected  by  words: 
 for  tliou^i^h  he  understand  he  will  not  answer. 
 
 ^0  Seest  thou  a  man  that  is  hasty  ||  in  his 
 words'?  ^  there  is  more  liope  of  a  fool  than  of 
 him. 
 
 21  He  that  delicately  bringeth  up  his  servant 
 from  a  cliild  shall  have  bim  become  his  son  at 
 the  lengtli. 
 
 2-2  '  An  angry  man  stirreth  up  strife,  and  a 
 furious  man  aboundeth  in  transgression. 
 
 23  "  A  man's  pride  shall  bring  bim  low  :  but 
 honour  shall  uphold  the  humble  in  spirit. 
 
 24  Whoso  is  partner  with  a  thief  hateth  his 
 own  soul  :  ''  he  heareth  cursing,  and  bewrayeth 
 it  not. 
 
 25  ''  The  fear  of  man  bringeth  a  snare  :  but 
 whoso  putteth  his  trust  in  the  Lord  f  shall  be 
 safe. 
 
 26  *'  Many  seek  f  tli^  ruler's  favour ;  but  every 
 man's  judgment  eoineth  from  the  Lord. 
 
 27  An  unjust  man  is  an  abomination  to  the 
 just:  and  he  that  i.^  upright  in  the  way  is 
 abomination  to  the  wicUed. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 I  AAir'sc'itifssionnfhisf.iith.  1  The.  two  points  of 
 his  prai/rr.  10  T.>e  ntniricst  arc  not  to  be  wronged. 
 11  Fvr  wnkrd  generatiuns.  15  Fonr  t/iings  in- 
 satiah/c.  17  Parents  arc  tint  to  !'€  despised.  18  Four 
 thinns  liard  to  he  known.  21  Fo7tr  tfiings  intolrahle. 
 24  F-inr  things  exceeding  wise.  29  Four  things 
 statchj.     32    Wrath  is  to  he  prcomhd. 
 
 THE  words  of  Agur  the  son  of  Jakeh,  even 
 "  the  prophecy  :   the  man  spake  unto  Ithiel, 
 
 7m>. 
 
 I  el>.  13.  2-1. 
 ^:  19.  18  & 
 22.  15.  Si  2:1. 
 l:^  H,  ver. 
 
 I  I  S.-iin.S.l. 
 AmoB  8.U, 
 
 IS 
 
 11  Or,  i*mod< 
 
 xJolinlS  17 
 Jam,  I.  '25. 
 
 I  Or,  in  l.,i 
 mnttrts 
 
 y  ch.  26.  12 
 
 r  cli.  15,   IS. 
 &2G.  St. 
 
 I  Jol>':-2  ?0. 
 
 cii.  ir.  as  & 
 
 H.I2.  Is.li6 
 
 Acts  li.23 
 
 .l;un.4  6.10. 
 
 1  I\-t.  f).  S 
 h  I,ev.  5  I. 
 eGoii    12  12 
 
 &  ao.  ■-',  1 1 . 
 t  Hell    thall 
 
 d  S?pe  rs.  20. 
 9  ch.  Ifl.  C 
 t  lU-b.  the 
 
 rider. 
 
 b  Ps.  73.  22. 
 t  Ileb    k'wiB. 
 
 c  John.S.  13 
 
 d  J.ib  :iS.  -1. 
 fcc,  I'M  104. 
 3.  &c.  Is.'lU, 
 
 rVa.  12.  r>.  & 
 
 \H.  S(l  &  19 
 
 s  ik  nil. 
 Ill) 
 
 t   Ht'b. 
 
 J  I's  18.  30. 
 &  81.  I!,  fe 
 1159,111,11 
 
 g  Di'ii.  'I.  si 
 
 Itev.2i.  IS 
 
 rj. 
 
 I  Heb   \o\lU- 
 
 hnbi  nut 
 
 Jrom  mi: 
 h  M.il.C,  U 
 t  Heb   ofmv 
 
 nUownnce. 
 Vicn.  fl.  12, 
 
 II,  i;.  &SI 
 
 ■ay  Ki.ti.ii 
 
 Nell.  9.  2.'i, 
 2fi.  J..b  31. 
 
 2-1,  s.-),  as. 
 
 Hos    iri.  6. 
 t   H-h.  brUc 
 
 t  Hi'b.  ;/'<-( 
 
 »;t  wirh  lln) 
 k  tu.  18,   II 
 
 /rs. 
 
 ch.  I 
 
 tSl    I. 
 
 t«  Job  ?D  17 
 .4.  cli  12 
 
 even  unto  Uhiel  and  Ucal, 
 
 2  ^  Surely  I  am  more  brutish  than  any  man, 
 and  have  not  the  understanding  of  a  man. 
 
 3  I  neither  learned  wisdom,  uor  f  have  the 
 knowledge  of  the  holy. 
 
 4  '^  Who  bath  ascended  up  into  heaven,  or 
 descended?  ''who  bath  gathered  the  wind  in 
 his  fists?  who  hath  bound  tlte  waters  in  a  gar- 
 ment? who  hath  established  all  the  ends  of  the 
 earth?  what  is  his  name,  and  what  is  bis  sou's 
 name,  if  thou  canst  tell? 
 
 5  '^  Every  word  of  God  is  jpure;  *'he  is  a 
 shield  unto  them  that  put  Ibcir  trust  in  him. 
 
 G  ^  Add  thou  not  unto  his  words,  lest  be  re- 
 prove thee,  and  thou  be  found  a  liar. 
 
 7  Two  thinf/sha\e  I  required  oftbce;  fdeny 
 me  them  not  before  I  die  : 
 
 8  Remove  far  from  me  vanity  and  lies:  give 
 me  neither  poverty  nor  riches  ;  ''feed  me  with 
 food  t  convenient  for  me: 
 
 9  *  Lest  I  be  full,  and  f  deny  thee,  and  say, 
 Who  is  the  Lord  ?  or  lest  1  be  poor,  and  steal, 
 and  take  the  name  of  my  God  in  vain. 
 
 10  f  Accuse  not  a  servant  unlo  bis  master, 
 lest  be  curse  thee,  and  thou  be  found  guilty. 
 
 11  There  is  a  generation  that  curseth  their 
 father,  and  doth  not  bless  their  mother. 
 
 12  There  is  a  generation  ^  thai  are  pure  in 
 their  own  eyes,  and  yet  is  not  v^ashed  from 
 tlieir  fiUhiness. 
 
 13  There  is  a  generation,  O  huw  'lofty  are 
 their  eyes!  and  their  eyelids  are  lifted  up. 
 
 14  "  TJiere  is  a  generation,  whose  teeth  are  as 
 swords,  and  their  jaw  teeth  as  knives,  "  to  de- 
 vour the  poor  from  off  the  earlb,  and  the  needy 
 from  anfong  men. 
 
 15  The  horseleach  bath  two  daughters,  t'/;iy- 
 ing.  Give,  give.     There  are  three  things  that 
 
 Bp.  Hull.  The  dcpigrn  is  to  shew,  that  all  labour  to  rec'aim  a  fool  from 
 his  fully  is  lost,  let  a  man  take  what  methods  he  will.— Gj7/.  18.  No 
 vision,  'no  revelation.' — Core.,  Dnthe.  *  Instl-ucti'm'  or  *  prnphftic 
 vi:-ton'  is  meant  hj'  the  word  pin,  as  one  part  of  the  pn^phctic  cffice 
 wastotr-ach  the  law  to  the  pVople.— H'»We«.  Perish,  yir.  'become 
 idle.' — Mont.  '  Be  dissolute. ' — Buolhr  ;  i.e.,  are  stripjied  of  all  r^li- 
 g'ion  and  gn^d  morals,  as  the  heaihen  arc. —  Wit.  '  Will  break  loose  or 
 aposta'tize.'— See  yiC,  P"r. ;  also  Robertson^s  Clavis  Pent.  21.  Bring- 
 eth up  his  serriint — young  slaves  liked  by  their  masters,  are.  in  the 
 east,  often  treated  with  great  kindness,  and  made  adopted  children. — 
 Pict.  Bih.  24.  Hntfth  his  own  sou/,  111)53.  'his  Iife;\places  it  in  con- 
 stant jeopardy  from  the  law.— So  Clarke.  Cursing,  TOii.  *  the  adjura- 
 tion,' the  oath  administered  by  the  judge ;  it  was  customary  for  ma- 
 gistrates to  demand  of  accused  persons  or  witnesses,  in  any  cause,  in 
 Uie  name  of  God  to  speak  the  truth,  (Lev.  v.  1  ;  Num.  v.  21  ;  1  Kings, 
 xxii.  I6-,  2  Chron.  xviii.  15;  Matt.  xxvi.  63.)— See  Michaelis*  Com. 
 Art.  256. 
 
 Chap.  XXX,  —  1.  Thewords  ofAgttr—thQse  appear  to  be  the  prudent 
 admonitions  which  Agur,  the  son  oif  Jakeh,  delivered  to  the  pupils  Ithiel 
 and  Ucal. — Grn!/.  Some  make  Agur  to  be,  not  the  name  of  the  author, 
 but  his  character,  '  a  gatherer,'  ho  it  signifies,  and  think  he  made  ab- 
 stracts of  tlie  writings  of  others.— /y'/fy.  But  the  name  does  not  sig. 
 Diiy  'a  gatherer,'  but  *  gfithcral. ^—Hi^lems.  Solomon  is  meant,  and 
 the  clause  is,  *  the  recollected  son  of  the  obedient.' — Cocc.  It  was  sup- 
 posed to  be  Solomon  by  the  Fathers.  This  idea  is  now  generally  given 
 up. — Scott.  Agur  may  have  been  one  of  those  prophets  whom  Divine 
 Pnwidence  raised  up  to  comfort  his  chosen  people.  Eoen  the  pro- 
 phectj,  Nicon,  a  term  fiequently  applied  to  the  undoubted  productions 
 of  the  iiropiiL-tic  spirit  ;  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  authors  meant, 
 by  the  adnj'tinn  of  this  term,  to  lay  claim  to  the  character  of  inspira- 
 tion.—/////'f'^n.  Ithivl  and  Ucnl—ihc  common  opinion  is,  that  these 
 ■were  Agur's  ttisciples  or  pupils. — Scott.  We  have  one  of  these  persons 
 mentioned  Neh.  xi.  y.—Boothr.        2,  3.  Sureli/,  §-e. — 
 
 Though  of  men  I  be  the  least  learned, 
 
 And  human  wisdom  possess  not, 
 
 And  though  in  science  I  have  had  no  instruction, 
 
 Yet  of  holy  things  have  I  knowledge.' — Hodg. 
 
 'Surely,  I  am  more  ignoiant  than  any  one, 
 
 Nor  have  I  the  understanding  of  some  men  : 
 
 For  1  have  never  learned  wisd<'m  ; 
 
 Nor  have  I  the  knowledge  o£  holy  things.' — Buothr. 
 These  expressions  are  applicable  to  Amos,  who  was  no  prophet,  neither 
 a  prophet's  son,  that  is,  had  no  regular  education  in  the  schools  of  the 
 prophets,  but  was  a  herdsman,  (Amos,  vii.  U  ;  and  likewise,  to  anj  in 
 spired  writer,  who  had  not  been  early  instructed  in  Divine  things,  aud 
 had  not  the  benefit  of  learning.  Hence,  they  could  not  apply  to  Solo- 
 mon, (see  1  Kings,  iii.  5,  12.)— /fo'rfpH.  4.  U'Ao  liuth  ascended,  §(?., 
 applied  by  the  Saviour  to  himself,  {Jnlm,  iii.  13.)  And  uhitt  is  his  soji's 
 name?  fyc. — this  verse  contains  a  clear  intimation  tif  a  pluiality.  To 
 apply  it  to  the  first  and  second  persons  in  tlie  Trinity  is  a  natural  and 
 untorced  int<^rpreta'ion,  very  suitable  to  the  context.  8.  Vanity,  ^c, 
 is  taken,  by  some,  for  idolatry,  but  may  signify  all  kinds  of  sin  and 
 error.  For  they  arc  dcceitfid,  and  disappoint  e.\pectation.  This  petition 
 relates  to  the  mind,  the  other  to  the  outward  condition.— Ho/rfcH.  Nei- 
 ther poi^erty  nor  riches,  but  the  middle,  between  both,  for  that  is  the 
 easiest  and  most  desirable.- Jo>-/in.  His  prayer  is  for  grace  sufficient, 
 and  food  sufficient.— //t'n;-?/.  Food  convenient,  '•pTJ  cn'l,  properly  signi- 
 fies,  an  aUowance  or  proportion  of  food  ;  alludiutr  to  the  custom  which 
 then  prevailed,  of  gi\ing  d-dly  to  servants,  and  other  dependents,  a  cer- 
 tain  daily  supply.— S.  Burder.  Q.  Lest  I  be  full,  and  too  much  make 
 me  worldly  minded,  profiine,  and  ineligious. — Jor.  II — 14.  Tliere 
 is  a  generutinn,  fye.—tvur  descriptions— (i.)  Graceless  childten;  (ii.) 
 false  hypocrites;  (iii.)  proud  men-,  (iv.)  cruel  oppressors.— Bp.  Hall. 
 15.  The  horseleach,  §c- — tlic  easterns  know  nothing  of  our  use  of  the 
 leech,  hilt  its  insatiable  thirst  f-r  bhod  is  looked  upon  by  them  with 
 disgur-t  and  horror,  as  it  la-^tens  on  the  tongues  of  animals  when  drink 
 ing,  and  often  causes  them  to  bleed  to  death.— PiW.  Bih.  This  is  taken 
 as  an  answcrto  a  question  proposed  by  the  pupils. — SoP(((.  The  answer 
 is  given  after  the  manner  uf  enigmatical  discourses,  or  riddles,  and  tiic 
 question  seems  to  have  been,  '  Wliat  is  most  insatiable?' — Wells.  The 
 word  \"i'0,  translated  '  two,'  means  probably,  '  are  ever  crying.' 
 *  As  the  progeny  of  the  horseleech  cry  ever,  Give,  give  ; 
 So  are  there  three  things  which  never  are  satisfied,'  &c. — Hodg. 
 The  passage  belongs  to  ver.  14,  and  is  descriptive  of  ihose  cruel  aud 
 
 Rkflections  on    Chap.    XXIX.—  I.  ' Hmv  drca'/fnl  is  the  them.     O  that  such  would  be  warned,  and  flee  from  the  wrath 
 
 stfife  of  in  cor  ri gillie  sinner.-^  !     Parents  and  friends  miiy,  in  pity  wliicb  will  surely  come  ! 
 
 and    compassion,  address   them;   ministers  may    plead  with  II.  '  Let  us  he  thavkfnt  for  God's  word,  and  improve,  it.    AVith- 
 
 tliom  ;  God,  in  his  providence,  reproves  and  rebukes  them  ;  out  it,  ignorance,  folly,  and  vice  prevail,  nn<l  the  people  perish 
 
 and  their  consriences  admonish  them.     But  they  stiffen  the  for  want  of  knowledge.      They  are  dissolute,  proflignte,  and 
 
 neck,  brave  all  danger,  insult  the  patience  and  mercy  of  God,  shameful  in  their  conduct.      Happy,  then,  arn  they  that  have 
 
 and    defy  his   power,  until,  at   length,  vengeance  come.s  on  the  law,  and  still  happier  they  that  keep  it.  ^ 
 
 697  4  u 
 
I'arcnts  not  to  be  despised. 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXXI. 
 
 Wrath  to  be  prevented. 
 
 are  never  satisfied,  i/ea,  four  things  say  not, 
 t  It  is  enough  : 
 
 16  °  The  grave;  and  the  barren  womb;  the 
 earth  that  is  not  tilled  with  water  ;  and  the  fire 
 that  saitli  not,  It  is  enongh. 
 
 17  'The  eye  that  mocketh  at  his  father,  and 
 despiseth  to  obey  liis  niotlier,  tlie  ravens  of 
 II  the  valley  shall  pick  it  out,  and  the  young 
 eagles  shall  eat  it. 
 
 18  There  be  three  things  which  are  too  won- 
 derful for  me,  yoa,  four  which  I  know  not : 
 
 19  The  way  of  an  eagle  in  the  air;  the  way 
 of  a  serpent  upon  a  rock  ;  the  way  of  a  ship  in 
 the  t  midst  of  the  sea  ;  and  the  way  of  a  man 
 with  a  maid. 
 
 •20  Such  is  the  way  of  an  adulterous  woman  ; 
 she  eateth,  and  wipeth  her  mouth,  and  saith,  I 
 have  done  no  wickedness. 
 
 21  For  three  things  the  earth  is  disquieted, 
 and  for  four  which  it  cannot  bear : 
 
 22  '  For  a  servant  when  he  reigneth  ;  and  a 
 fool  when  he  is  filled  with  meat ; 
 
 23  For  an  odious  woman  when  slie  is  married  ; 
 and  an  handmaid  that  is  heir  to  her  mistress. 
 
 24  There  be  (our  things  ivhich  act- little  upon 
 the  earth,  but  they  are  f  exceeding  wise  : 
 
 2.J  '  The  ants  are  a  people  not  strong,  yet 
 they  prepare  their  meat  in  the  sununer  ; 
 
 2i>  '  The  conies  are  but  a  feeble  folk,  yet 
 make  they  their  houses  in  the  rocks ; 
 
 27  The  locusts  have  no  king,  yet  go  they  forth 
 all  of  them  fhy  bands  ; 
 
 28  The  spider  takcth  hold  with  her  hands, 
 and  is  in  kings'  palaces. 
 
 cir.  7yO 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 fl  ch.  27.  2(1. 
 Hib.  2.  :>. 
 
 p  Gen.  9.  1i 
 
 Lev.  20.  9. 
 
 ch.  20.  20.& 
 
 23.  22. 
 II  Or,  the 
 
 braiik. 
 
 J  ch.  19.  10. 
 Ecdes.10.7. 
 
 t  Heb.  ifrV, 
 maiie  teif. 
 T  cti.  0.6,  &c. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 gathered  tO' 
 nether. 
 
 II  Or,  h-Tte. 
 t  lleb  ijirtiu 
 tU-  tU.*. 
 
 t  Job  21.  5. 
 fc  ^0.4. 
 Ecclca,  P.3 
 Mic.  7.  16. 
 
 /Hos-'l.  11. 
 
 t  Heb.  "tier. 
 t  lleb.  o/n// 
 the  ,.,„  ./ 
 
 g  1'8  IW  I.,, 
 t  Heb.  hitter 
 
 ./,»„/. 
 
 1  Sain.1.10. 
 
 29  There  be  three  things  which  go  well,  yi:i, 
 four  are  comely  in  going: 
 
 SO  A  lion  ivhich  is  strongest  among  beasti;, 
 and  turneth  not  away  for  any  ; 
 
 31  A  II  t  greyhound  ;  an  he  goat  also  ;  and  a 
 king,  against  wlium  there  is  no  rising  up. 
 
 32  If  thon  hast  done  foolishly  in  lifting  up 
 thyself,  or  if  thou  hast  thought  evil,  ^  lai/  thine 
 hand  upon  thy  mouth. 
 
 33  Surely  the  churning  of  milk  bringeth  forth 
 butter,  and  the  wringing  of  the  nose  bringeth 
 forth  blood  ;  so  the  forcing  of  wrath  bringeth 
 forth  strife. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 1  luCinnd's  lesson  of  chastity  and  temperance.  6  7Vle 
 afflicted  are  to  be  comforted  and  defended.  10  TJie 
 praise  and  properties  of  a  pood  wife. 
 
 T^HE  words  of  king  Lemuel,  "  the  prophecy 
 ■'-    that  his  inotlier  taught  liim. 
 
 2  What,  my  son  y  and  what,  ''the  son  of  my 
 womb?  and  what,  the  son  of  my  vows? 
 
 3  ^  Give  not  thy  strength  unto  women,  nor 
 thy  ways  *■  to  tliat  which  destroyeth  kings. 
 
 4  '^  It  is  not  for  kings,  O  Lemuel,  it  is  not  fur 
 kings  to  drink  wine ;  nor  for  princes  strong 
 drink : 
 
 5  '  Lest  they  drink,  and  forget  the  law,  and 
 t  pervert  the  judgment  jo(  any  of  the  af- 
 flicted. 
 
 G  ^  Give  strong  drink  unto  him  that  is  ready 
 to  perish,  and  wine  unto  those  tliat  be  f  "f 
 heavy  hearts. 
 
 7  Let  him  drink,  and  forget  his  poverty,  and 
 remember  his  misery  no  more. 
 
 rapacious  tyrants  who  are  restrained  by  no  motives  of  humanity  and 
 virtue  from  gratifying  their  hit-t,  their  pride,  and  their  avarice.  People 
 of  such  insatiable  desires  are  like  the  hors.  leech,  the  grave,  &-c.  Read, 
 'they  are  like  the  horseleech,  which  huth  two  daughters,  cr>ing.  Give, 
 give  ;  thei/  are  like  three  things  Uiat.'  Sic.—Holden.  17.  tihali  pick  it 
 out,  he  sliall  come  to  an  infamous  end. — I'at.  Ravens  were  under- 
 stood to  prey  on  criminal^  who  had  been  executed. — Orient.  Cast.,  1034. 
 19.  There  be  three  things,  fyc. — another  liddle  resolved  as  to  things 
 most  obscure  and  unacctmntable,  though  ordinary  and  common.— Ph^ 
 19-  The  way  of  an  en^le,  ^c. — the  particle  fp)  clearly  connects  tl.is  with 
 ver.  20,  and  it  is  the  comparison  bet\\ecri  the  way  of  an  adidtcrous 
 woman  and  the  things  here  described.  The  prying  eagle  looking  for 
 prey— the  wily  serpent  winding  along  the  recks— the  ship  sailing,  in 
 danger  of  bein^  wrecked— and  the  man  endcnvouring  to  conceal  his 
 immodest  crime. — So  Hnlden.  A.  Clarke  commends  this  view,  and 
 there  is  something  of  impi  rtant  instruction  in  ir,  but  as  a  mere  enigma 
 it  is  certainly  not  enough  important  for  insertion  herein  the  latter  view. 
 Dr.  Durell  views  the  serpent  on  the  rock,  the  eagle  in  the  air,  and  the 
 ship  on  the  sea,  as  leaving  no  traces;  and  hence,  the  movements  of 
 these,  and  nut  the  things  themselves,  are  the  points  he  seizes.— £d. 
 The  Latin  Tran.slatinn rea-ds,  'the  wayof  a  man  in  hisyouth,'  he  grows 
 secretly  and  imperceptibly.— So  Cat.  21—23.  For  three  things,  ^c., 
 
 and  for  four,  ^c. — (i.)  A  slave  when  he  comes  to  bear  rule  is  an  unprin- 
 cipled  tyrant.  This  has  often  been  the  case,  (ii.)  An  over-fed  fool, 
 (iii.)  An  iH-tompercd  woman,  when  she  becomes  embarrassed  with 
 domestic  affairs.  (iv.)  A  servant-maid,  when  raised  by  circum- 
 stances to  become  mistress  of  the  family.  24—23.  Four  things  which 
 are  iittle~{\.}  Ants,  which  lay  up  in  simimer  for  autumn  and  spring, 
 for  in  winter  they  sleep,  (ii.)  Coneys,  C']DU3,  or  the  animal  called 
 hy  Dr.  Shaw  the  'Daman  Israel.'  —  Clarke.  See  Lev.  xi.  5,  notes, 
 (iii.)  Locusts— se&  Exod.  x.  4,  notes.  Some  have  thought  the  lizard  is 
 here  meant,  but  it  is  the  spider,  according  to  the  Targum,  Jarchi,  and 
 Gersom.     These  little  creatures  are  noticed  for  that  instinct  which  im- 
 
 pels them  to  provide  for  their  future  support  and  welfare. — Bnothr. 
 3i.  A  greyhound,  tlie  Hebrew  signifies,  'girt  or  narrow  in  the  loins;' 
 hence  some  suppose  a  war-horse  is  meant.  Bochnrt  says,  a  greyhound. 
 Dr.  Russell  informs  us,  that  the  grtyhounds  of  Aleppo  are  light,  slender, 
 and  fleet.  Probably  the  same  breed  were  in  Judea. — Par.  An  he  goat, 
 that  leads  the  Af  ck.— Henry.  A  kin^',  a  king  with  firm  and  united 
 counsels,  who  walks  boldly  and  mnjestically  abnut,  safe  in  the  affec- 
 tions of  his  people. — .1.  Clarke.  Rather,  an  eastern  monarch,  wliose 
 presence  is  awful,  mien  1  ighty  authoritative,  and  power  absolute. —  Ed. 
 Chap.  XXXI.  —  1.  King  Lemuel,  means,  'nne  belonging  to  God,'  is 
 synonymous  with  Jedidiah,  and  perhaps  by  it  we  shoidd  undcrstanil 
 Solomon. — Gray,  so  Schullens,  so  Henry,  so  the  Jewish  If'rilers.  Some 
 have  thought  that  this  means  Solomon,  as  he  is  elsewhere  called  also 
 by  another  name,  Jedidiah ;  but  the  reason  for  that  name  is  given,  as  is 
 also  that  of  others,  applied  in  like  matmer,  but  no  reason  is  given  here. 
 — Holden.  There  is  no  evidence  whatever  that  Lemuel  means  Solo- 
 mon. — A.  Clarke.  He  was,  perhaps,  a  pnnce  in  Chaldea,  since  aChaldee 
 word  is  three  times  used  in  his  mother's  addrtss  tn  him,  and  another 
 word  in  a  Chalilee  termination.  His  mother  might  be  a  Jewi-^h  lady. — 
 So  Pat.  The  prophecy,  .vil^o  may  be  the  name  of  a  place, '  the  wfTdsof 
 Lemuel,  kingof  Massa,  with  which  his  mother  instructed  him.' — Ilouh. 
 His  mother — some  siippo--e  that  Batlisheha  was  the  author  oi  these  pro- 
 verbs, hut  she  was  not  distinguished  for  inspired  knowledge  and  supe- 
 rior wistlom,  nor  is  it  probable  she  would  dictate  to  a  son  trained  up  by 
 so  wi--e  and  excellent  a  father  as  David  ;  still  less  likely  that  her  admo- 
 nitiniis  would  be  recorded  by  a  son,  Idmself  so  eminent  in  wisdom,  and 
 so  much  better  qualified  to  give  lessons  to  posterity. —  Hnlden.  2.  What, 
 my  son?  *  my  sonnc,  thou  son  of  my  body.  Omy  dcare  beloved  Sonne  " 
 —  Coverdale.  Of  my  womb,  whom  I  bore  in  sorrow.  Of  my  ooit'S,  whom 
 I  asked  of  God,  and  pmniised  to  give  up  to  him  again. — Gill.  A  child 
 born  after  vows  entreating  for  riffspring,  is  so  called  by  the  Hindoos.— 
 Ward.  6.  That  is  ready  to  perish — to  criminals  on  the  point  of  exe- 
 cution, to  render  their  dc-parture  more  easy,  as  was  the  Jewish  custom. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXX.  — Let  us  select  Amur's 
 prayer  for  our  remarks,  and  here  observe — L  What  he  uotdd 
 have  removed .  *  A'anity  and  lies;'  'false  and  erroneous  prin- 
 ciples in  religion  ;  tbe  empty  enjoyments  of  tbe  world  ;  self- 
 deception  ;  pride  and  self-conceit  ;  fraud,  and  dissimulation.' 
 
 II.  W/iut  he  would  have  bestowed:  'Convenient  food — 
 "daily  bread.'*  Providence  is  humbly  submitted  to,  and 
 cordially  approved.' 
 
 IIL  What  are  the  reasons  for  his  petition  :  1.  'Lest  I  be  full, 
 and  deny  tbee,  and  say,  Wbo  is  tbe  Lord?*  'Strange,  tbat 
 those  who  are  distinguished  from  others  by  the  largest  pos- 
 sessions, and  the  greatest  fulness  of  all  temporal  mercies, 
 should  be  tbe  most  prone  to  wickedness  of  all  sorts,  but  espe- 
 cially that  they  should  be  inclined  to  forgetfulness  and  con- 
 tempt of  God.  Vet  so  it  is  in  truth.  An  easy  and  affluent 
 fortune  affords  the  means  of  i;ratifymg  every  lust  and  appe- 
 tite. The  indulgence  of  pleasure  insensibly  induces  a  habit, 
 698 
 
 and  leads  men  to  place  their  happiness  in  such  enjoyments, 
 and  a  great  variety  of  sensible  enjoyments  render  the  mind 
 not  only  less  attentive  to  things  of  a  spiritual  nature,  but,  in- 
 deed, less  able  to  understand  them.  And,  when  the  better 
 part  is  thus  neglected,  vice  will  spring  up  iu  the  soul  like 
 weeds  and  thorns  in  an  uncultivated  ground.'  2.  '  Lest  I  be 
 poor,  and  steal,  and  take  the  name  of  my  God  in  vain.*  Per- 
 sons in  poverty,  being  strongly  solicited  by  the  appetites 
 common  to  all  men,  and  not  having  of  their  own  wherewith  to 
 gratify  their  desires,  are  tempted  to  lay  hold  of  the  property 
 of  others,  and  then,  to  conceal  the  crime,  are  often  guilty  of 
 perjury  or  false  swearing.  Let  us  be  thankful  for  a  daily  pro- 
 vision, if  not  in  abundance,  yet  in  fulness  and  sufficiency.  An 
 humble,  thankful  disposition  is  our  duty,  and,  at  the  satnM 
 time,  is  the  richest  and  sweetest  ingredient  in  all  lempoial 
 mercies.' — Dr.  Jfitht rspoon. 
 
The  praise  and  properties 
 
 PROVERBS,  XXXI. 
 
 of  a  virtuous  woman 
 
 8  '■Open  thy  mouth  for  the  liiiinb  'in  the 
 cause  of  all  tsiicli  as  are  appointed  to  destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 9  Open  thy  mouth,  'judge  righteously,  and 
 '  plead  the  cause  of  the  poor  and  needy. 
 
 10  U"  Who  can  find  a  virtuous  woman?  for 
 her  price  is  far  above  rubies. 
 
 1 1  The  heart  of  her  liusband  doth  safely 
 trust  in  lier,  so  that  he  sliall  have  no  need  of 
 spoil. 
 
 12  She  will  do  him  good  and  not  evil  all  tlie 
 days  of  her  life. 
 
 13  Slie  seeketli  wool,  and  flax,  and  worketli 
 willingly  with  lier  hands. 
 
 14  Slie  is  like  the  merchants'  ships;  she 
 bringeth  her  food  from  afar. 
 
 15  "Slie  riseth  also  while  it  is  yet  niglit, 
 and  "giveth  meat  to  her  houshold,  and  a  por- 
 tion to  her  maidens. 
 
 IG  She  eonsidereth  a  field,  and  fbuyeth  it: 
 with  the  fruit  of  her  hands  she  planteth  a  vine- 
 yard. 
 
 17  She  girdeth  her  loins  with  strength,  and 
 strengtheneth  her  arms. 
 
 18  t  She  perceivetli  that  her  merchandise  !s 
 good  :  her  candle  goeth  not  out  by  night. 
 
 19  She  layetb  her  hands  to  the  spindle,  and 
 her  hands  hold  the  distaff. 
 
 u.  c. 
 cir.  luia. 
 
 '.  See  Job  29. 
 
 IS,  16. 
 i  1  Sa-  19.  4. 
 
 E9th.  4.  16. 
 t  Heb   llm 
 
 !<■»*  of  de- 
 
 tlriittinri. 
 k  Lev.  19.15 
 
 Deu    1.  16 
 /  .Ti.b  29.  U'. 
 
 la.  I.  17. 
 
 Jer.  22.  16, 
 m  c!i.  12.  4 
 
 &  18.  22.  & 
 
 19.  14. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 laktth. 
 
 f  Heb   Shf. 
 Uttelh 
 
 cir.  U)15. 
 
 1  Heb.  Sht 
 ilirrailelfi. 
 
 t>  Kpb.  4.  28. 
 Heb.  13   16. 
 
 II  Or,  liare 
 g'ltU't  richei. 
 
 20  t^Slie  stretcheth  out  her  hand  to  the 
 poor  ;  yea,  she  reacheth  forth  her  hands  to  the 
 needy. 
 
 21  She  is  not  afraid  of  the  snow  for  her  hous- 
 hold :  for  all  her  houshold  are  clothed  with 
 II  scarlet. 
 
 22  She  maketh  herself  coverings  of  tapestry  ; 
 her  clothing  is  silk  and  puqjle. 
 
 23  *'  Her  husband  is  known  in  the  gates, 
 when  he  sitteth  among  the  elders  of  the  land. 
 
 2*J  She  maketh  line  linen,  and  selleth  it; 
 and  delivereth  girdles  unto  the  merchant. 
 
 25  Strength  and  honour  are  her  clothing; 
 and  she  shall  rejoice  in  time  to  come. 
 
 26  She  openeth  her  mouth  with  wisdom  ; 
 and  in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness. 
 
 27  She  looketh  well  to  the  ways  of  her  hous- 
 hold, and  eateth  not  the  bread  of  idleness. 
 
 28  Her  children  arise  up,  and  call  her  bless- 
 ed ;  her  husband  also,  and  be  praiseth  her. 
 
 29  Many  daughters  ||  Iiave  done  virtuously, 
 but  thou  excellest  them  all. 
 
 30  Favour  is  deceitful,  and  beauty  is  vain  : 
 dut  a  woman  that  feareth  the  Lord,  she  shall 
 be  praised. 
 
 31  Give  her  of  the  fruit  of  her  bands  ;  and  let 
 her  own  works  praise  her  in  the  gates. 
 
 —  \Vi7itle.         10.  Who  canfind,  ^c.~ 
 
 *  Who  is  he  that  bath  found  a  virtuous  wife  ?'  &c. 
 ^\.  So  that  he  shall  have  no  need  of  sjtoH,  '  and  abundance  Shalt  lie  never 
 lack,' — Uudg.  *  And  of  liis  propeity  he  will  not  be  deprived.' — Buuthr. 
 13.  Wnrketh  willingly — women  even  of  the  highe&t  ranks  among  the 
 Grt-eks,  Romans,  and  Israelites,  worked  at  every  kiud  f>f  occupation 
 npces>ary  for  the  support  of  a  family. — A.Clarke.  17.  Girdtth  her 
 fuins,  ^-c,  denotes  to  prepare  ami  nerve  the  body  for  any  strenuoas 
 labour  or  exercise. — Hotde'i.  18.  Her  candle,  '  lamp,'  Ac,  The  Greek 
 women  embroider  from  morning  till  night,  and  the  lamp  is  Ht  even  he- 
 fore  day. — De  Grey.  21.  Not  afraid  of  the  snoic,  is  careful  to  provide 
 winter  clothing  for  her  family. — Wells.      With  scarlet,  D'iH?,  double 
 
 garments  are  probably  mer.nt.  The  ordinary  coat  and  surtout,  or  great 
 coat  or  cloak.— Pirr.,  Dnrefl,  Clarke.  22.  Silk.  ©■©,  *  linen.'  Silk 
 was  unknown  out  of  China  till  the  reign  of  Juslinian. — Holden,  Par. 
 23.  Known  in  the  gates,  respected  as  the  husband  of  a  woman  so  pru- 
 dent and  excellent.— //&/</fH.  24.  And  selleth  it — tlie  Egyptian  women 
 used  to  carry  on  commerce. — Herod.  Girdles,  these  were  sometimes 
 of  so  fine  and  rich  a  te.\iure  as  to  be  considered  a  valuable  present, 
 (2  Sam.  xviii.  11,  comp.  l  Sam.  xviii.  i.)—Har.  They  are  an  essential 
 part  of  eastern  finery  to  men  and  wtjmen. — Par.  30.  Ftivour,  *  a&cc- 
 tion,'  or  outward  expressions  of  it. — Par.  A  handsome  shape  and 
 gractful  behaviour.— Pa^  'Gracefulness  fadeth,  and  beauty,'  Sic.~ 
 Bouthr.  From  ver.  10,  the  poem  is  alphabetical,  and  so  cvi  fently  de- 
 signed to  be  specially  noticed  and  fastened  in  the  memory.— ^t^. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXXI We  have  here  exhibited, 
 
 I.  The  good  mother^  aflectionately  instructing  her  son.  '  It  is 
 tlie  duty  of  mothers,  as  well  as  fathers,  to  teach  their  tliildren 
 what  is  good,  tlmt  they  may  do  it,  and  what  is  evil,  that  they 
 may  avoid  it.  W'iien  they  are  young  and  tender,  they  are  under 
 tlie  mother's  eye,  and  she  lias  then  an  opportunity  of  moulding 
 and  fashioning  their  minds  well,  which  she  ought  uot  to  let 
 slip.'  h 
 
 II.  The  good  wife.  She  is  trust-worthy  ;  she  seeks  her  hus- 
 band's interest,  and  promotes  bis  reputation  ;  she  is  diligent, 
 industrious,  and  looks  alter  the  aff'ah-s  of  her  family.  Her 
 prudence  enables  her  to  be  charitable   to  the  poor,  '  seeking 
 
 opportunities  to  do  good,  and  to  communicate.'  Her  cbiltlrt-'n 
 share  in  her  aft'ectionate  solicitudes,  and  she,  in  return,  is  the 
 object  of  their  love.  '  The  law  of  love  and  kindness  is  writ- 
 ten in  her  heart,  and  shews  itself  in  her  tongue.'  And,  lo 
 crown  all,  she  'fears  the  Lord.'  The  beauty  of  the  body  will 
 soon  decay,  the  sparkling  eye  will  grow  dim,  and  the  bloom- 
 ing cheeks  will  fade  ;  the  finest  form  will  lose  its  symmetry, 
 and  bend  beneath  the  weight  of  years  ;  but  '  the  fear  of  God 
 reigning  in  the  heart,  is  the  beauty  of  the  soul  ;  it  is,  in  the 
 sight  of  God,  of  great  price  ;  it  will  last  for  ever,  and  bid  de- 
 fiance to  death  itself.'  ^ 
 
 ECCLESIASTES; 
 
 OB, 
 
 THE     PREACHER. 
 
 [Jewish  and  Christian  writers  consider  this  book  as  from  the  pen  of  Solomon,  whose  circumstances  it  evidently  describes. 
 If  it  was  written  in  the  decline  of  life,  which  seems  most  probable,  then  it  bears  strong  marks  of  repentance  after  his 
 departure  from  righteousness.  Hut  some  are  of  opinion  it  was  written  before  that  period,  since,  say  they,  in  his  old  age, 
 he  fell  into  his  sins,  and  tlicrc  is  no  proof  of  his  recovery.  Of  this  opinion  is  J)r.  Adam  Clarke.  It  may,  however,  he 
 met  by  strong  objections,  and  especially  one  which  is  exceedingly  forcible,  that  is,  that  the  inspired  writers  were  'holy 
 men  of  God,'  and  in  this  case  Solomon  would  then  be  an  exception.  Grotius,  and  some  others,  have  argued  for  the  book 
 being  of  a  much  more  modern  date,  from  the  Chaldaisms,  Syriasms,  and  Hellenisms,  thai  occur  in  it ;  but  to  this  argu- 
 ment it  has  been  replied,  tiiat  *  Solomon  was  acquainted  with  the  literature  of  Chaldea,  of  India,  and  of  Egypt;  and 
 learned  men,  of  every  age,  and  of  every  nation,  have  always  introduced  foreign  words  and  phrases.'  '  It  may  be  con- 
 sidered as  an  in(juiry  into  the  Chief  Good;  an  inrjuiry  conducted  on  .sound  jirinciples,  and  terminating  in  a  conclusion 
 which  all,  on  mature  reflection,  must  a[)prove.'  The  contents  of  it  were  probably  delivered  in  public;  nor  was  it  be- 
 neath his  dignity,  as  a  man  of  wisdom,  thus  to  instruct  those  who  came  to  him  to  actjuiru  knowledge.  The  references 
 in  the  New  Testament  to  Kctlesiastes  arc  to  be  fuu.id  in  Matt.  xxv.  3-! — 41  ;  Kom.  it.  G ;  iit.  *J3 ;  viii.  20;  2  Cor.  v.  10; 
 James,  iv.  14.] 
 699 
 
The  preacher  sheweth  that 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  I.,  II. 
 
 oil  htimnn 
 
 courses  arc  ram. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  T/ie  preacher  sfirtretli  that  all  human  courses  are  vatn: 
 4  because  the  creutuves  are  restless  in  their  courses, 
 9  they  brim/  forth  nothiiu]  new,  and  all  old  thifu;s 
 are  forgotten,  12  ntid  because  lie  bath  found  it  so  in 
 the  studies  of  wisrlooi. 
 
 T^HE    words  °  of  the    Preacher,   the  son  of 
 -*-    David,  king  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  ''  Vanity  of  vanities,  saith  the  Preacher, 
 vanity  of  vanities  ;  '  all  is  vanity. 
 
 3  <'  What  profit  hath  a  man  of  all  his  labour 
 which  he  taketh  under  the  sun  ? 
 
 4  One  generation  passeth  away,  and  another 
 generation  cometh  :  °  hut  the  earth  abideth  for 
 ever. 
 
 5  '  The  sun  also  ariseth,  and  the  sun  goeth 
 down,  and  fhasteth  to  his  place  where  he 
 arose. 
 
 6  ^  The  wind  goeth  toward  the  sontli,  and 
 turneth  about  unto  the  north ;  it  whirleth 
 about  continually,  ami  the  wind  returneth 
 again  according  to  his  circuits. 
 
 7  ''  A\]  tile  rivers  run  into  the  sea ;  yet  the 
 sea  is  not  full  ;  unto  the  place  from  whence 
 the  rivers  come,  thither  they  f  return  again. 
 
 8  All  things  are  full  of  labour  ;  man  cannot 
 ntter  it :  'the  eye  is  not  satisfied  with  seeing, 
 nor  the  ear  filled  with  hearing. 
 
 9  '  The  thing  that  hath  been,  it  is  thai 
 which  shall  he ;  and  that  which  is  done  is  that 
 which  shall  be  done  .■  and  there  is  no  new 
 thiiiij  under  the  sun. 
 
 10  Is  there  uni/  thing  whereof  it  may  be  said. 
 See,  this  is  new  ?  it  hath  been  already  of  old 
 time,  which  was  before  us. 
 
 1 1  There  is  no  remembrance  of  former  things ; 
 neither  shall  there  be  any  remembrance  of 
 things  that  are  to  come  with  tlwse  that  shall 
 come  after. 
 
 12  H  '  I  the  Preacher  was  king  over  Israel  in 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 13  And  I  gave  my  heart  to  seek  and  search 
 out  by  wisdom  concerning  all  things  that  are 
 done  under  heaven  :  "'  this  sore  travail  hath 
 ( jod  given  to  the  sons  of  man  ||  to  be  exercised 
 therewith. 
 
 14  I  have  seen  all  the  works  that  are  done 
 under  the  sun;   an<l,  behold,  all  is  vanity  and 
 
 c  Rom.  8, 20. 
 d  ch.  2.  22. 
 &3   9. 
 
 «Pb.  I01.fi. 
 &  119.90. 
 
 fVs-  19.5,6. 
 1  HcS. 
 
 g  J.ilin  .1.  8. 
 
 h  Job  Sa.  1ft. 
 Pa.  101. 8,  9. 
 
 t  Hcb.  rf- 
 tnrr,  to  t/O. 
 
 i  Pro.  27.  20. 
 A  ch   S.  1.5. 
 
 m  Gen.  3.10. 
 ch.  3.  10. 
 
 o  1  Kin  3.12, 
 IS.  &  4.  ,sn. 
 fc  10.  7,  23. 
 
 7  ch.  12.  12. 
 
 dch.  I.  17. 
 t  Htb.  ti 
 
 /b-h  vttl, 
 
 Ihrn  tije. 
 
 t  Mob. .»,. 
 
 >  I  Kui.  0 
 28   ft  IIP  10, 
 II,  21,  NC. 
 
 t  Hob  ni..i,- 
 
 tl,u„„„fi. 
 /ch.  1.  16. 
 
 vexation  of  spirit. 
 
 !5  "  7^hat  tchich  is  crooked  cannot  be  made 
 straiglit:  and  ftbat  which  is  wanting  cannot 
 be  numbered. 
 
 16  I  communed  with  mine  own  heart,  saying, 
 Lo,  I  am  come  to  great  estate,  and  have  gotten 
 "more  wisdom  than  all  thn/  that  have  been 
 before  ine  in  Jerusalem  :  yea,  my  heart  f  had 
 great  experience  of  wisdom  and  knowledge. 
 
 17  ''And  I  gave  my  heart  to  know  wisdom, 
 and  to  know  madness  and  folly  :  I  perceived 
 that  this  also  is  vexation  of  .spirit. 
 
 18  For  ''in  much  wisdom  is  much  grief:  and 
 he  that  increaseth  knowledge  increaseth  sorrow. 
 
 CHAP.   II. 
 
 1    ITie  vanity  of  human  courses  in  the  works  of  pleasure. 
 
 12  Thouph  the  wise  he  better  than  the  fool,  yvt  hiith 
 have  one  event.  18  The  vanity  of  human  labour,  in 
 leaving  it  thty  knoiv  not  to  idioni.  24  Nothiny  better 
 than  joy  in  our  labour  ;  hut  that  is  God's  gift. 
 
 "  T   SAID  in  mine  heart.  Go  to  now,  I  will 
 ■*-   pvove    thee    witli   mirth,   therefore    enjoy 
 pleasure  :  and,  behold,  "^this  also  is  vanity. 
 
 2  '^  I  said  of  laughter,  It  is  mad;  and  of  mirth. 
 What  doeth  it? 
 
 3  '^  I  sought  in  mine  heart  f  to  give  myself 
 unto  wine,  yet  acquainting  mine  lieart  with 
 wisdom  ;  and  to  lay  hold  un  folly,  till  1  mi^ht 
 see  what  ivas  that  good  for  the  sons  of  men, 
 whicii  they  should  do  under  the  heaven  fall 
 the  days  of  their  life. 
 
 4  I  made  nie  great  works ;  I  builded  me 
 houses  ;   I  planted  me  vineyards  : 
 
 5  I  made  me  gardens  and  orchards,  and  I 
 planted  trees  in  them  of  all  kind  of  iwnis  : 
 
 6  I  made  me  pools  of  water,  to  water  there- 
 with the  wood  that  bringetli  forth  trees  : 
 
 7  I  got  me  servants  and  maidens,  and  had 
 t  servants  born  in  my  house  ;  also  I  had  great 
 possessions  of  great  and  small  cattle  above  all 
 that  were  in  Jerusalem  before  me  : 
 
 8^1  gathered  me  also  silver  and  gold,  and 
 the  peculiar  treasure  of  kings  and  of  the  pro- 
 vinces :  1  gat  mo  men  singers  and  women 
 singers,  and  the  delights  of  the  sons  of  men,  as 
 t  musical  instruments,  and  that  of  all  sorts. 
 
 9  So  •"!  was  great,  and  increased  more  than 
 
 NoTBS  ov  CiiAr.  I.  — 1.  The  preacfier  —  ribnp  signifies  'one  who 
 gathereth,'  cnJlcrt-^  a  coneiefe-ation  to  give  instruction.— 5c«//.  EkkXij- 
 (TunTTnr,  *  a  speaker  in  an  assembly,'  Sept.  King  vf  Jerusalem,  *tVo 
 D't-'lTi,  'king:  in  Jeru-^alem  ;*  it  should  he,  'the  words  [discourses]  of 
 the  preacher,  the  son  cf  David,  who  reigned  at  Jerusalem.* — Hodffsun, 
 so  Boothr.  2.  Vanity  ofi-anities,  %-c..  i.  e.,  *  most  vain,'  the  Hebrew 
 way  of  expressing  a  superlative.— Boo^Ar.  The  words  are  properly  an 
 exclamation,  and  should  be  rendered,  'O  vanity  of  vanities!*  All 
 created  g-ood.  abstracted  from  the  love  and  service  of  God,  is  unsuit- 
 able and  insufficient  to  make  ns  happy. — Scnft.  3.  Whnt  profit,  Sfc, 
 '  what  is  the  sum  of  all  he  has  gained  by  his  toils  ^— does  it  make  him 
 contented  or  happy?'— fV'/rA-p.  One  generation,  fyc,  m  ini  "ihri  Tl, 
 *  generation  goeth  and  generation  come\h.*—HtKlg.  Abideth  'forerer, 
 Dbl?\  *  during  the  whole  course  of  time.' — A.  Clarke.  According  to  its 
 circuit.t — in  Judea,  and  many  other  parts,  the  winds  are  less  variable 
 than  with  us,  returning  i)eriodical!y. — Htfiv.  Q.  No  new  thing,  in  the 
 appearance  nf  nature,  or  in  the  moral  world,  and  the  same  causes  wiil 
 produce  the  same  effects.— I>Hrf//.  12.  /  t/ie  Preacher  was,  ^n.,  •  I, 
 
 king  over  Israel,  at  Jerusalem,  am  the  preaclier.'- jBooMr.       14.  Seen, 
 
 'n'NIi '  I  have  contemplated.' — Hew.  Andve-rntiun  of  spirit ,  *  and  a.  feed- 
 ing on  iYic  winti.'~.B«oMr.  17.  Madness  and  folly,  nV'JDlDT  m^^n, 
 '  imprudence  and  fnlly.' — Hodg.  '  Excellence  and  prudence.'— BooCAr. 
 'Gaiety  and  sobriety.' — Clarke.  napa/3oXar  nai  eTriu-rntim',  '  parables 
 and  science,'  Sept.  18.  Jncrenseth  knowledge,  fyc. — an  attentive  ex- 
 amination of  false  systems  tends  to  becloud  the  understanding,  and  to 
 induce  a  spirit  of  scepticism  which  it  is  difficult  wholly  to  avoid,  but 
 which  injures  the  peace  and  joy  of  early  piety. — Svt. 
 
 Chap.  II.  — 2.  Laughter, '  exf  essive  laughter .'^Pnt.  It  is  mad,  §-c., 
 *0  mad  one!  and  to  mirth,  What  is  this  one  doing?' — A.  Clarke.  In- 
 temperate pleasure  is  here  personated  under  tlie  names  of  'laughter* 
 and  •  mirth,*— So  Green/,  6.  Fools, '  t;inksand  resL-rvoirs.'— ^.  Clarke. 
 The  wood,  ^c,   'nurseries.' — De.si-oeux.  8.  The  peculiar  treasure, 
 
 taxe«  and  tribute. — .'J.  Clarke.  Musical  i?istni7nents.  and  ttint  of  alt 
 sorts,  nntUT  miU,  'sweetest  instruments  of  music* — Hodg.,  so  Boofhr. 
 
 *  Fair  captives'  may  be  intended,  taking  the  word  from  the  root  mil), 
 
 •  to  destroy*  or  '  waste.* — Dest.'oeu.r.  '  A  wife  and  wives.' — Oes.  It 
 certainly  alludes  to  the  harem,  to  which  there  is  otherwise  no  refer- 
 ence.— Williams,     rmu  is  '  a  field,'  niTC,  'fields;*  may  it  not  mean 
 
 Reflectiovs  ON'  Chap.  I.  —  We  here  learn  that.  1.  Human 
 toil  is  vain.  And  yet  how  many,  who  have  a  comfortable  com- 
 petency, toil  for  more!  lie  is.  indeed,  a  wise  man  who  knows 
 when  he  has  enough.  For  what  *  profit  hath  a  man  of  all  his 
 labour  under  the  sun  V  His  goods  increase  his  cares,  and  bis 
 greatest  riches  will,  as  it  regards  him.  make  unto  themselves 
 wings  and  fly  away.  '  We  brousbt  nothing  with  ns  into  this 
 world,  and  it  is  certain  we  ran  carry  nothing  ovit.*  What 
 iolIy,then,  is  there  in  such  labour! 
 
 '  They  toil  for  heirs  they  know  not  who, 
 And  sti'eiight  are  seen  no  more  '  w 
 
 700 
 
 II.  Human  life  is  vain.  The  busy  men  of  the  world,  whether 
 hifih  or  low,  are  but  us  the  passing  billows  of  the  river,  which 
 are  soon  gone  and  emptied  into  the  ocean.  Thus  generation 
 goeth,  and  generation  cometli. 
 
 III.  Hvmitn  linou-hd.e  is  vain.  Let  us  then  not  suffer  it  to 
 check  our  pursuits  after  divine  knowledge.  '  Learning  will 
 not  alter  miMi's  natural  tempers,  nor  cure  them  of  ibeir  sinful 
 distempers;  nor  will  it  chance  the  constitution  of  things  in 
 this  world  ;  a  vale  of  tpars  it  is,  and  so  it  will  be  when  all  is 
 donp.'  1'  But  '  this  is  life  eternal,  to  know  Thee,  the  only  true 
 God,  and  Jesus  C'hiist,  whom  thou  hast  sent.' 
 
Tht  vanity  of  human  labour. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  III. 
 
 A  time  for  every  tiling. 
 
 all  that  were  before  me  in  Jerusalem  :  also  my 
 wisdom  remained  witli  me. 
 
 10  And  whatsoever  mine  eyes  desired  I  kept 
 not  from  them,  I  witlilield  not  my  heart  from 
 any  joy  j  for  my  heart  rejoiced  in  all  my 
 labour :  and  ^  thi.s  was  my  portion  of  all  my 
 labour. 
 
 1 1  Then  I  looked  on  all  the  works  that  my 
 hands  had  wrought,  and  on  the  labour  that  I 
 had  laboured  to  do :  and,  behold,  all  was 
 '■  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit,  and  there  icas 
 no  profit  under  the  sun. 
 
 I'2  II  And  I  turned  myself  to  behold  wisdom, 
 '  and  madness,  and  fully  :  for  what  can  the  man 
 do  that  Cometh  after  the  king?  ||  even  that 
 which  hath  been  already  done. 
 
 13  Then  I  saw  f  that  wisdom  excelleth  folly, 
 as  far  as  liglit  excelleth  darkness. 
 
 14  'The  wise  man's  eyes  are  in  his  head; 
 but  the  fool  walketh  in  darkness  :  and  I  myself 
 perceived  also  that  '  one  event  happeneth  to 
 them  all. 
 
 1.5  Then  said  I  in  my  heart,  As  it  happeneth 
 to  the  fool,  so  it  f  liappeneth  even  to  me  ;  and 
 why  was  I  then  more  wise?  Then  I  said  in  my 
 heart,  that  this  also  is  vanity. 
 
 16  For  there  is  no  remembrance  of  the  wise 
 more  than  of  the  fool  for  ever;  seeing  that 
 which  now  is  in  the  days  to  come  shall  all  be 
 forgotten.  And  how  dieth  the  wise  man  ?  as 
 the  fool. 
 
 17  Therefore  I  hated  life  ;  because  the  work 
 that  is  wrought  under  the  sun  is  grievous  unto 
 me  :  for  all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit. 
 
 18  II  Yea,  I  hated  all  my  labour  which  I  had 
 I  taken  under  tlie  sun  :  because  "'  I  should 
 leave  it  unto  the  man  that  shall  be  after  me. 
 
 19  And  vvlio  knoweth  whether  he  shall  be  a 
 wise  man  or  a  fool  ?  yet  shall  he  have  rule 
 over  all  ray  labour  wherein  I  have  laboured, 
 and  viherein  I  have  shewed  myself  wi.se  under 
 the  sun.     This  is  also  vanity. 
 
 20  Therefore  I  went  about  to  cause  my  heart 
 to  despair  of  all  the  labour  which  I  took  under 
 the  sun. 
 
 21  For  there  is  a  man  whose  labour  is  in  wis- 
 dom, and  in  knowledge,  and  in  equity  ;  yet  to 
 a  man  tliat  hatli  not  laboured  therein  shall  he 
 t  leave  it  _/()/■  his  portion.  This  also  is  vanity 
 and  a  great  evil. 
 
 ■22  "  For  what  lialli  man  of  all  his  labour,  and 
 of  the  vexation  of  his  heart,  wherein  he  hath 
 
 B  c 
 
 cir.  977. 
 
 g  ch.  3  22  .It 
 5.  18.  &  9.9. 
 
 »cli.l.  3,11. 
 
 t   He!'.  (/("/ 
 
 cti.  !).  2,  .1, 
 II. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 InhotttM. 
 m  l'&.  49.  10. 
 
 (  Heb.  siue. 
 n  ch.  1-  3-  & 
 
 p  ch   3    12. 
 
 1  %  2?,  &  5. 
 IS   &  a.  I.'i. 
 11  Or,  dci>i/ttt 
 hit  tenses. 
 
 tHcb.tf/ore 
 h'm- 
 
 Gcn   7.  I, 
 I.uke  1.  C. 
 
 9  Job  27.  16, 
 17.  Prov. 
 23.  8. 
 
 1  vcr.  17. 
 ch.  S.  li. 
 
 t  Heb.  to 
 h  Heb.  9.  27. 
 
 r  Jnel  2.  18. 
 I  Coi-.  7.  5. 
 t  Heb.  to  Itc 
 fnr  from. 
 II  Or,  trek. 
 d  Amos  5. 13 
 
 /ch.  1.  3. 
 
 ff  ch.  1.  13. 
 
 laboured  under  the  sun  ? 
 2.3  For  all  his  days  are  °sorrow.s,  and  his  tra- 
 vail grief;  yea,  his  heart  taketh  not  rest  in  the 
 night.     This  is  also  vanity. 
 
 24  H  ''  There  is  nothing  better  for  a  man, 
 than  that  he  should  eat  and  drink,  and  that  he 
 II  should  make  his  soul  enjoy  good  in  his 
 labour.  This  also  I  saw,  that  it  was  from  the 
 hand  of  God. 
 
 25  For  who  can  eat,  or  who  else  can  hasten 
 hereunto,  more  than  I? 
 
 26  For  God  giveth  to  a  man  that  is  good  fin 
 his  sight  wisdom,  and  knowledge,  and  joy: 
 but  to  the  sinner  he  giveth  travail,  to  gather 
 and  to  heap  up,  that  ^  he  may  give  to  him  that 
 is  good  before  God.  This  also  is  vanity  and 
 vexation  of  spirit. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  Bi/  the  necessary  change  of  times,  vanity  is  added  to 
 human  travaiL  11  There  is  an  e.xctilency  in  God^s 
 works,  16  Bvt  as  for  man,  God  shall  jiul<je  his 
 ivor/is  there,  and  here  he  shall  be  like  a  htast. 
 
 T^O  every  fhinr/  (here  is  a  season,  and  a  "time 
 -'-    to  ever)'  purpose  under  tlie  heaven  : 
 
 2  A  lime  t  to  be  born,  and  ^  a  time  to  die  ;  a 
 time  to  plant,  and  a  time  to  pluck  up  that 
 which  is  planted  ; 
 
 3  A  time  to  kill,  and  a  time  to  heal ;  a  time 
 to  break  down,  and  a  time  to  build  up  ; 
 
 4  A  time  to  weep,  and  a  time  to  laugh  ;  a 
 time  to  moiu'u,  and  a  time  to  dance  ; 
 
 5  A  time  to  cast  away  stones,  and  a  time  to 
 gather  stones  together ;  a  time  to  embrace,  and 
 '^  a  time  f  to  refrain  from  embracing  ; 
 
 6  A  time  to  II  get,  and  a  time  to  lose;  a  time 
 to  keep,  and  a  time  to  cast  away  ; 
 
 7  A  time  to  rend,  and  a  time  to  sew;  "^a  time 
 to  keep  silence,  and  a  lime  to  speak  ; 
 
 8  A  time  to  love,  and  a  time  to  ^'hate;  a 
 time  of  war,  and  a  time  of  peace. 
 
 9  ''  What  profit  bath  he  tlial  worketh  in  that 
 wherein  he  laboureth? 
 
 10^1  have  seen  the  travail,  whicli  God  hath 
 given  to  the  sons  of  men  to  be  exercised  in  it. 
 
 1 1  He  bath  made  every  ^A/wr/ beautiful  in  his 
 time:  also  be  hath  set  the  world  in  their  heart, 
 so  that  ''  no  man  can  find  out  the  work  that 
 God  maketh  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
 
 12  '  1  know  that  there  is  no  good  in  them, 
 but  for  a  man  to  rejoice,  and  to  do  good  in  his 
 life. 
 
 13  And  also  ^  that  every  man  should  eat  and 
 
 farms  upon  farms,  or  estates  upon  estates  ? — A.  Clarke.  14.  Eyes  are 
 in  his  hfiid,  i.e.,  he  uses  as  lie  ought  the  powers  which  God  has  given 
 him. — Hew.        24.  There  is  nothing  better,  ^c. — 
 
 •  The  good  of  man  is  not  that  he  may  eat  and  drink, 
 And  delight  himself  amidst  his  labour ; 
 Also  this,  I  perceive,  is  from  the  hand  of  God.' — Boothr. 
 
 It  is  not  proper  for  man  to  place  his  felicity  in  eating  and  drinking:,  &c. 
 — So  Duthe  nnd  others.  Enjoii,  a  moderate  and  sober  enjoyment  of 
 what  he  gets. —  lIV/Zs.  25.  For,  n/io  can  ent,  6fc.,  'who,  therefore, 
 has  eaten  and,  though  with  temperance,  more  gratified  himself  than  1  ?' 
 -Hudg. 
 Chap.  III.  —  3.  To  kill,  ^c,  may  allude  to  judicial  execution  and 
 
 pardon.  So  Wil.}  or  to  sickness  and  health.— Pff(.  5.  Cast  away 
 stones,  fyc,  from  a  sling,  and  gather  into  a  bag ;  to  collect  for  building 
 and  pulling  down  ;  to  raise  the  heap  as  a  memorial,  and  demolish  it 
 after  ages.  For  these  opinions  on  the  allusion,  see  Cnl.,  Hnr.  7.  Rend 
 — sew,  i.  e..  rend  the  garment  as  an  expression  of  sorrow  ;  sen;  make 
 (lew-garment.s,  the  puttmg  on  which  was,  in  the  east,  a  time  of  joy. — 
 Har.  In  these  allusions,  Solomnn  shews  the  vanity  of  life  from  its 
 changing  circumstances.  u.  He  hnth  set  the  world,  ^c,  '  he  hath  put 
 it  in  their  heart  to  survei/  the  world.'— BooZ/i/',  0^V7\  DN.  *  that  hidden 
 time,'  the  period  beyiuul  the  present — i^TEriNiTV.  It  should  be,  also, 
 •  that  eternity  hath  He  placed  in  tlieir  heart,  without  which  man  could 
 not  tind  out  the  work  which  God  hath  mnde  from  the  commencement 
 to  the  end.'  —  Clarke,  so  Peters,  Desrocux,  Gausset,  and  Hales.     By 
 
 Rkflf.ctions  on  Chap.  II.  — What  do  we  here  learn? 
 I.  There  is  no  satisfaetion  in  dissivating  pleasures.  Mirth 
 stretches  the  cords  of  the  mind  too  far,  and  then  they  relax. 
 The  mind,  unduly  elated,  sinks  again,  and  far  below  its  level. 
 True  pleasure  is  only  to  be  found  in  religion  ;  and  those  who 
 know  its  enjoyments  can  sing — 
 
 *  Religion  never  was  designed 
 To  make  our  pleasures  less.'  w 
 Let,  then,  the  time  past  of  your  life  suffice  '  to  have  wrought 
 the  will  of  gentiles  and  walked  after  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  in 
 701 
 
 banquetings,  revellings,  and  abominable  idolatries.* 
 
 II.  There  is  no  satisfaction  in  worldly  possessions.  These  are 
 comfortable  things,  and,  amidst  them,  the  rich  fool  may  say, 
 '  Soul,  take  thine  ease  ;  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry:'  but  they 
 will  never  satisfy  the  soul.  The  rich  man  may  survey  them 
 as  one  did  with  a  sigh,  and  exclaim,  'Oh,  that  death  spoils 
 ail!' 
 
 '  He  huilds  too  low,  who  builds  beneath  the  skies. 
 T51t>ssed  be  God,  if*  he  hath  begotten  us  again  to  an  inherit- 
 ance' which  is  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  fadeth  not  away.' 
 
Of  opprension. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  IV. 
 
 Of  envy,  idkitess,  §r. 
 
 drink,  and  enjoy  the  good  of  all  liis  labour,  it 
 is  the  gift  of  God. 
 
 14  I  know  that,  whatsoever  God  doeth,  it 
 shall  be  for  ever  :  '  nothing  can  be  put  to  it, 
 nor  any  thing  taken  from  it :  and  God  doeth 
 it,  that  men  should  fear  before  him. 
 
 15  "'  That  which  hath  been  is  now  ;  and  that 
 which  is  to  be  hath  already  been ;  and  God 
 requireth  f  tliat  which  is  past. 
 
 16  IT  And  moreover  "  I  saw  under  the  sun 
 the  place  of  judgment,  that  wickedness  was 
 there  ;  and  the  place  of  righteousness,  that 
 iniquity  was  there. 
 
 17  I  said  in  mine  heart,  "God  shall  judge 
 the  righteous  and  the  wicked  :  for  there  is  ''a 
 time  there  for  every  purpose  and  for  every  work. 
 
 18  1  said  in  mine  heart  concerning  the  estate 
 of  the  sons  of  men,  ||  that  God  might  manifest 
 them,  and  that  they  might  see  that  they  them- 
 selves are  beasts. 
 
 19  ''  For  that  which  befalleth  the  sons  of  men 
 befalleth  beasts ;  even  one  thing  befalleth 
 them  :  as  the  one  dieth,  so  dieth  the  other ; 
 yea,  they  have  all  one  breath  ;  so  that  a  man 
 hath  no  preeminence  above  a  beast :  for  all  is 
 vanity. 
 
 20  All  go  unto  one  place;  'all  are  of  the 
 dust,  and  all  turn  to  dust  again. 
 
 •21  '  Who  knoweth  the  spirit  f  of  man  that 
 tgoeth  upward,  and  tlie  spirit  of  the  beast  that 
 goeth  downward  to  tlie  earth  ? 
 •J2  '  Wherefore  I  perceive  that  tltere  is  no- 
 thing better,  than  that  a  man  should  rejoice  in 
 his  own  works  ;  for  "  that  is  his  portion  ;  'for 
 who  shall  bring  him  to  see  what  shall  be  after 
 him  ? 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 1    Vanity  is  iti>-reased  utitn  laen  bi/  oppression,    4  by 
 envy,  5  by  iilltwess,  7  by  covetuusntss,  9  by  solitari- 
 ntss,  1:3  by  wltfuliiess. 
 
 CO  I  returned,  and  considered  all  the  "op- 
 *^  prcssions  that  are  done  under  the  sun:  and 
 behold  the  tears  of  such  as  were  oppressed, 
 and  they  had  no  comforter ;  and  on  the  f  side 
 of  their  oppressors  there  was  power  ;  but  they 
 had  no  comforter. 
 2  "I  Wherefore  I  praised  the  dead  which  are 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  9"7. 
 
 f  Heb.  Iliat 
 
 dritienaieay. 
 n  cli.  5.  8. 
 
 2  Cor.  5.  10, 
 a  Thes.  1. 
 6.  7 
 p  ver.  I. 
 
 11  Or,  r'l'.f 
 
 elfir  Gixl, 
 
 'I  Ps.  49.  12, 
 20.  St  7.S  2-J. 
 ch.  2.  IQ 
 
 ,  rh.  12.  7. 
 1  Hcb.  <,r 
 
 the  imu  of 
 
 t  Het>.  it 
 lucejtiling, 
 
 I  ver-  IS. 
 Ch,  2.  eA.  & 
 5-lrt  St  11.9. 
 
 «  ch  2,  10, 
 
 xch,  6,  12.& 
 8.  7.  &  10. 
 1-1. 
 
 B.C. 
 cir,  977. 
 
 /  Pro.  27, iU. 
 1 .1uhii2  16, 
 ff  Ps.  39.  ti. 
 
 t  Heb. oHifa 
 rtshlHM  uf 
 
 \  Heb.  thitis 
 
 a,„a«/nm 
 
 boiir. 
 <t  Pr...  6.  10. 
 
 &  24.  33. 
 «  Pro,  10.  16, 
 
 t  H,.-b, 
 
 already  dead  more  than  the  living  which  arc 
 yet  alive. 
 
 3  '  Yea,  better  is  he  than  both  they,  which 
 hath  not  yet  been,  who  hath  not  seen  the  evil 
 work  that  is  done  under  the  sun. 
 
 4  U  Again,  I  considered  all  travail,  and  f every 
 right  work,  that  f  for  this  a  man  is  envied  of 
 his  neighbour.  This  is  also  vanity  and  vexa- 
 tion of  spirit. 
 
 5  ''The  fool  foldeth  his  hands  together, and 
 eateth  his  own  flesh. 
 
 C  ^  Better  w  an  handful  tvith  quietness,  than 
 both  the  hands  full  icith  travail  and  vexation 
 of  spirit. 
 
 7  IT  Then  I  returned,  and  I  saw  vanity  under 
 the  sun. 
 
 8  There  is  one  alone,  and  there  is  not  a  se- 
 cond ;  yea,  he  hath  neither  child  nor  brother: 
 yet  is  there  no  end  of  all  his  labour ;  ncitlier 
 is  his  '  eye  satisfied  with  riches  ;  ^  neither  saith 
 he.  For  whom  do  I  labour,  and  bereave  my 
 soul  of  good  ?  This  is  also  vanity,  yea,  it  is  a 
 sore  travail. 
 
 9  t  Two  are  better  than  one  ;  because  they 
 have  a  good  reward  for  their  labour. 
 
 10  For  if  they  fall,  the  one  will  lift  up  his 
 fellow  :  but  woe  to  him  that  is  alone  when  he 
 falleth  ;  for/ie  hath  not  another  to  help  him  up. 
 
 1 1  Again,  if  two  lie  together,  then  they  have 
 heat:  but  how  can  one  he  warm  alone? 
 
 12  And  if  one  prevail  against  liiin,  two  shall 
 withstand  him  ;  and  a  threefold  cord  is  not 
 quickly  broken. 
 
 13  U  Better  is  a  poor  and  a  wise  child  than 
 an  old  and  foolish  king,  f  who  will  no  more  be 
 admonished. 
 
 14  For  out  of  prison  he  cometh  to  reign  ; 
 whereas  also  he  that  is  born  in  his  kingdom 
 becometh  poor. 
 
 1.5  I  Considered  all  the  living  which  walk 
 under  the  sun,  with  the  second  child  that  shall 
 stand  up  in  his  stead. 
 
 16  There  is  no  end  of  all  the  people,  even 
 of  all  that  have  been  before  them  :  they  id.so 
 that  come  after  shall  not  rejoice  in  him. 
 Surely  this  also  is  vanity  and  vexation  of 
 spirit. 
 
 C^rrr.  here  some  understaml  *  obscurity.* '  darkness.' — So  Par,,  lluilg., 
 Hoilfu.  15.  Gitd  refiiiirrth  that  u-ttictt  is  past,  that  it  shall  return 
 ag:aiD  in  its  proper  onler.— .-!.  Clarice.  •  God  e;iuseth  all  things  to.  re- 
 volve.'—//ot/^.  '  God  brineeth  again  what  is  past.'— iJ**ofAr.  18.  That 
 they  misfit  see,  ^r.,  'and  shew  them  that  they  are  no  better  than  the 
 lieasts.' — To  this  purport,  Hiidg.,  and  Boothr.  21.   Who  kriouelh, 
 
 i.  e.,  that  the  S"Ul  <  f  a  man  is  immortal.  How  few  men  seem  to  know 
 it ' — So  Wella,  and  Pat.  22.  Should  rejoice,  make  a  cheerful  and 
 rational  use  of  God's  hlcs-ings,  and  not  turn  them  into  sin  by  perverse- 
 ncss  and  complaining.— B/*.  Hall,  Boothr.,  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  — 2.  2  prained  the  dead,  considered  those  persons  the  most 
 happy  who  were  out  of  such  an  oppressing  woild. — Til.  5.  Eateth 
 Ilia  own  flesh,  '  consumes  liis  own  substance,' — Desroeux;  or.he  hereby 
 brings  to  ruin  his  family,  wife,  and  children. — Gill.  From  what  is 
 mentioned  before,  Solomon  here  describes  an  envious  and  idle  man. — 
 DesvueiLT.  We  say  proverbially,  'eaten  up  with  idleness.'  8.  There 
 is  one  a/o«^— here  he  describes  an  indefatigable  covetous  man. — Desv. 
 fl.  Two  are  better  than  one — married  life  is  to  be  preferred  to  the  single. 
 — A,  Clarke.    It  implies  that  society  is  productive  of  much  comfort  and 
 
 benefit. — Bp,  Hall.  11.  Then  thet/  hare  heat — the  allusion  is  to  me- 
 dicinal purposes  in  so  doing,  (I  Kings,  i.  2,)  for  in  hot  coiinlnes,  as  in 
 Egypt,  husbands  and  wives,  and  even  slaves,  sleep  apart. — Hew  ,  Mail, 
 let.  The  allusion  m^y  be  to  winter,  in  wbich  cold  season  tlie  Ife- 
 brews  might  not  habitually  sleep  apart. — P/et.  Bib.  \:i.  Belter,  'far 
 happier.' — Pat.  14.  For  out  of  prison — Solomon  perhaps  referred  to 
 Joseph. — Wells.        15.  /  considered  all  the  living,  fyc. — 
 
 '  .\11  the  liWng,  who  walk  under  the  sun, 
 I  saw  attending  a  second  yunth, 
 Who  is  about  to  stand  up  in  his  stead.' 
 
 Solomon  adverts  to  the  inconstancy  of  popular  favour,  even  towards 
 princes.         Ki.  There  is  no  end  of  all  the  people,  Sfc. — 
 
 '  There  is  no  end  to  fill  the  people, 
 To  all  to  whom  he  becomes  a  leather ; 
 But  they  that  come  after  shall  not  rejoice  in  him.' 
 
 They  shall  in  like  manner  slight  the  present  heir  when  he  comes  to  be 
 old.— H'cHs. 
 
 Reflecttons  on  Ch.ip.  III.  — I.  Since  '  t/iere  is  a  time  to 
 ecery  prir/inse  unrl,r  hearrn,' let  us  remember  our  ^accepted  time.' 
 This  is  tlie  only  'day  of  salvation.'  This  is  the  time  to  sow, 
 and  in  eternity  we  must  reap.  Be  it  fastened  on  our  memories, 
 that  there  is  a  time  for  the  body,  and  a  time  tor  the  soul.  A 
 time  to  labour,  and  a  time  to  worship  God.  A  time  to  live, 
 and  a  lime  to  die.  A  time  to  do  whatsoever  our  bands  find  to 
 do  ;  and  a  time  to  answer  '  for  all  the  deeds  done  in  the  body, 
 whether  they  be  good  or  whether  they  be  evil.'  '  God  shall 
 judge  the  righteous  and  the  wicked.' 
 
 II.  Why  slioulU  we  atlcnii  so  mui.li  to  the  bodu,  seeiua  t/iat  it  re- 
 702  '  ■' 
 
 turns  to  diisf,  while  the  soul  is  immortal?  Brutes  may  live  to 
 eat,  and  drink,  and  glut  iheir  animal  appetites,  but  sliall  a  man 
 degrade  himself  to  a  level  with  the  beasts  ?  As  possessing  an 
 animal  frame,  his  body,  indeed,  drops  like  the  beast's  inio 
 dust;  but,  as  possessing  a  spirit  capable  of  knowing,  loving, 
 serving,  enjoying,  and  living  with  its  God,  he  may  aspire  (o 
 glory,  honour,  immortality,  eternal  life. 
 
 -  be  wise,  nor  make 
 
 Heaven's  highest  blessing-,  vengeance;  O  be  wise, 
 Nor  make  a  curse  of  iiuuiurtaiity.'  y 
 
Vaiiitiis  in  divine  Kiirricf. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  V.,  VI. 
 
 The  vanilij  of  riches. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Vanities  in  divine  service  8  in  murmuring  against 
 n/iprtsslon,  9  and  in  ric/tis.  18  Jog  in  riches  is  tJ,e 
 gift  of  God. 
 
 T/'EEP  'thy  foot  when  thou  goest  to  the 
 •^^  house  of  God,  and  be  more  ready  to  hear, 
 ''  than  to  give  the  sacrifice  of  fools  :  for  they 
 consider  not  that  they  do  evil. 
 '2  Be  not  rash  with  tliy  mouth,  and  let  not 
 thine  heart  be  hasty  to  utter  aiit/  |{  thing  be- 
 fore God  :  for  God  is  in  heaven,  and  thou 
 upon  earlli  :  therefore  let  thy  words  '  be  few. 
 
 3  For  a  dream  cometli  through  the  multitude 
 of  business  ;  and  ''  a  fool's  voice  is  known  by 
 multitude  of  words. 
 
 4  °  When  thou  vowest  a  vow  unto  God,  defer 
 not  to  pay  it;  for  he  hath  no  pleasure  in  fools : 
 ''  pay  tliat  which  thou  hast  vowed. 
 
 5  "^  Better  is  it  that  thou  shouldest  not  vow, 
 than  that  thou  shouldest  vow  and  not  pay. 
 
 6  Suffer  not  thy  month  to  cause  thy  flesh  to 
 sin  ;  ''  neither  say  tbou  before  the  angel,  that 
 it  was  an  error :  wherefore  should  God  be 
 angry  at  thy  voice,  and  destroy  the  work  of 
 thine  hands? 
 
 7  For  in  the  multitude  of  dreams  and  many 
 words  there  are  also  divers  vanities:  but  'fear 
 thou  God. 
 
 8  U  If  thou  '  seest  the  oppression  of  the  poor, 
 and  violent  perverting  of  judgment  and  justice 
 in  a  province,  marvel  not  f  at  the  matter  :  for 
 '  he  that  is  higher  than  the  highest  regardeth  ; 
 and  there  be  higher  than  they. 
 
 9  If  Moreover  the  profit  of  the  earth  is  for  a 
 the  king  himse/J'is  served  by  the  field. 
 
 10  He  that  loveth  sih'er  shall  not  be  satisfied 
 with  silver;  nor  he  that  loveth  abundance  with 
 increase  :  tliis  /*■  also  vanity. 
 
 1 1  When  goods  increase,  they  are  increased 
 that  eat  them  :  and  what  good  is  there  to  the 
 ovvners  thereof,  saving  the  beholding  of  them 
 with  their  eyes? 
 
 n  See  Kx.  3 
 5.  Is.  I.  13, 
 
 6  I  Sam.  15. 
 
 Si  Ps.fid.a. 
 
 Pro.  15   8. 
 
 &  21.  27. 
 
 H'<a.  6   6. 
 II  Or,  Kr.rrf. 
 
 ■  Pro.  10  19. 
 M.it   6.  7. 
 
 Nu.  30.  2. 
 Deu.  ■IS.il. 
 22,  23 
 Ps.  51).  14 
 &  76.  U. 
 /  Ps.  6G.  I.'!, 
 
 14. 
 
 ich.  12.  13. 
 t  ih.  3.  16. 
 
 1  Heb    at  (lie 
 u-H,  or, 
 
 t  Ps    12.  5. 
 
 &  .'.fl    11.  & 
 
 .  1. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 eir.  977. 
 
 n  Job  1    21. 
 
 P»    19.  17. 
 
 o  ch.  1.3. 
 p  Pro.  11.29. 
 
 r  cli    2   24. 
 
 &  .1.  12,  13. 
 
 22.  &  9-  7. 
 
 &  It.  9. 
 
 1  Tim. 6  17, 
 t  Heb.  tliere 
 
 is  a  giiud 
 
 t  Heb    the 
 „„»,/,»„/ 
 
 (■1.. 
 
 .  10. 
 
 3.  22 
 
 (ch.2.  2i.  k 
 3   13.  fc6.  2. 
 
 1,  Or,  Thiuyh 
 he  give  not 
 much,  yet 
 /le  rfuicjit- 
 bereth,  ^c. 
 
 A  .lob  21.  10, 
 S,c.  Ps  17 
 II    ?<73.  7 
 
 12  The  sleep  of  a  labouring  man  is  sweet, 
 whether  he  eat  little  or  much  :  but  the  abun- 
 dance of  the  rich  will  not  suffer  him  to  sleep. 
 
 13  '"There  is  a  sore  evil  which  I  have  seen 
 under  the  sun,  naniely,  riches  kept  for  the 
 owners  thereof  to  their  hurt. 
 
 1 4  But  those  riches  perish  by  evil  travail :  and 
 be  begetteth  a  son,  and  there  is  nothing  in  his 
 hand. 
 
 15  "  As  he  came  forth  of  his  mother's  womb, 
 naked  shall  he  return  to  go  as  he  came,  and 
 shall  take  nothing  of  his  labour,  which  he  may 
 carry  away  in  his  hand. 
 
 16  And  this  also  is  a  sore  evil,  that  in  all 
 points  as  he  came,  so  shall  he  go  :  and  "what 
 profit  bath  be  ''that  bath  laboured  for  the 
 wind  ? 
 
 17  All  his  days  also  "■  he  eateth  in  darkness, 
 and  he  hath  much  sorrow  and  wrath  with  his 
 sickness. 
 
 18  t  Behold  that  which  I  have  seen  :  'f  //  is 
 good  and  comely  /b?'  or>e  to  eat  and  to  drink, 
 and  to  enjoy  the  good  of  all  his  labour  that  lie 
 taketh  under  the  sun  f  all  the  days  of  bis  life, 
 which  God  giveth  him  :  'for  it  is  his  portion. 
 
 19  '  Every  man  also  to  whom  God  hath  given 
 riches  and  wealth,  and  hath  given  him  power 
 to  eat  thereof,  and  to  take  his  portion,  and  to 
 rejoice  in  his  labour ;  this  is  the  gift  of  God. 
 
 20  II  For  he  shall  not  much  remember  the 
 days  of  his  life  ;  because  God  auswereth  him 
 in  the  joy  of  bis  heart. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  Tlie  vaniftj  of  riches  iv'ithout  icse.  3  Of  children,  6 
 ami  nil  aije  idthout  riches.  9  The  vanity  of  siyht 
 and  u'ltnclvrinf/  de.-iins.  II  The  cuuclu^ion  tf  cani- 
 ties. 
 
 "*  T^HERE  is  an  evil  which  I  have  seen  untlt'r 
 '-  the  sun,  and  it  is  common  among  men  : 
 •2  A  man  to  whom  God  hath  given  riches, 
 wealth,  and  honour,  ''so  tliat  he  wanteth  no- 
 tliing  fur  Ills  soul  of  all  that  lie  desireth,  '^  yet 
 God  giveth  him  not  power  to  eat  thereof,  bnt 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  I.  Keep  thy  foot,  §-c. — the  allusion  is  to  the  custom  of 
 the  Jews  keeping  tlieir  feet,  or  taking  off  their  sanrtals  frnm  them,  and 
 preserving-  them  uiicovcrert,  when  they  went  into  the  sanctuary  ;  wor- 
 shipping God  harefontcd,  in  token  of  reverence,  (ExoH.  iii.  5.) — Mede. 
 3.  For  a  dream,  fyc, '  fur  as  a  dream,  &c.,so  cometh  idle  speech  thrcmgh 
 many  words.' — Hodg.;  to  the  same  effect,  Desvoeux,  Hvtden,  and 
 Bftnthrojid.  6.  Suffer  not  thij  mtmth,  ^c,  alludes,  perhaps,  to  vnws 
 of  celibacy.— f(7^  Make  not  a  rash  vow. — Til.  The  nngft.  *the 
 priest.' — Bnothr.  It  was  the  priest's  business  to  take  cignizanceof 
 vows  and  offerings,  (see  Lev.  v.  4,  5.)  In  Mai.  ii.  7,  he  is  called  '  the 
 angel.' — Clarke.         7.  For  in  the  multitude  of  dreams,  ^c. — 
 
 *  For  as  in  many  dreams  is  great  vanity, 
 So  also  in  many  words.' — Boothr. 
 
 *For  as  a  multitude  of  business  produces  dreams,  so  a  profusion  of 
 words   indicates  the  conversation  of  a  fool.' — Doederlein,  9.  The 
 
 kinfc  himself  is  served  by  the  field,  an  argument  against  opposing  the 
 poor  agriculturist.— Wi7.         U.  They  are  increased  that  eat  them,  he 
 
 must  have  a  greater  family  and  retinue,  and  enjoys  himself  but  a  small 
 part. — So  Pat.  12    Ahiindiinee — not  suffer  him  to  sleep — banks  are 
 
 not  common  in  the  east;  property  is  kept  in  the  luiuse,  or  in  some 
 secret  place.  The  rich  live  in  constant  dread  of  having  it  stolen,  and 
 are  watched  if  they  go  often  to  a  particular  spot  in  their  houses,  gardens, 
 or  fields  ;  some  literally  watth  their  treasures  a  great  part  of  tlie  night, 
 and  sleep  in  the  day. — Rub.  17-  Enteth  in  darkness,  his  enjoyments 
 
 are  embittered  by  uncertainty.— .4.  Clarke.  18.  Comely  to  eut  and  to 
 drink  —  obviously  Solomin  does  not  recommend  sen'-uallty,  but  lie 
 means  when  God  gives  us  wealth  we  shuuhl  be  ci  ntent  with  it,  and  use 
 it  with  sobriety  and  gratitude. — So  Ostervald.  '20.  For  lie  shutl  n<it 
 much  remember,  ^c,  hence  he  will  not  be  anxiou'^  about  the  durntion 
 of  his  life,  since  God  blesseth  him  with  cheerfulness  of  he;irt. — Hudii. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  2.  Not  power,  §-c.,  'not  the  spirit  to  enjoy  them.' — 
 Boothr.  To  eat,  from  want  of  health  or  heart. —  Wil.  A  stranger  eateth 
 it — it  falls,  at  bis  decease,  mto  hands  he  perhaps  never  saw.— £(f.  Tlie 
 richer  families  in  Israel  had  often  foreign  servants,  who  rose  to  intlu- 
 ence  in  their  master's  house;  but  greater  was  tlie  affliction  from  in- 
 
 Rp-FLErTiONS  ON  Chap.  IV.  —  I.  Let  us  learn  to  hate  op- 
 pression, aitd  relieve  the  oppressed.  Masters,  give  unto  your 
 servants  that  which  is  just  acd  equal,  knowiog  that  ye  also 
 have  a  Master  in  heaven. 
 
 II.  Let  us  cvltivate  a  social  spirit.  Not  that  spirit  falsf^Iy  so 
 called,  which  induces  men  to  associate  for  purposes  of  intem- 
 perance, but  let  us  not  live  for  ourselves,  but  for  the  purpose 
 of  mutually  benefiting  each  other.  Two  are  better  than  one  : 
 it  is  especially  so  among  Christians.  These  may  soothe  each 
 other's  sorrows,  bear  one  another's  burdens,  participate  in 
 each  other's  joys,  and  'provoke  one  another  to  love  and  good 
 works.' 
 
 Rt:FLECTiONS  ON  Chap.  V. —  We  are  here  taught,  I.  Re- 
 verence in  Divine  u-orsJiip.  *  If  an  angel  had  appointed  to  meet 
 me,'  says  Baxter,  '  I  should  be  full  of  awe  ;  how  much  n;orp 
 703 
 
 when  I  am  about  to  meet  with  God!'  Let  Jacob's  feelings 
 operate  upon  our  hearts,  when  we  enter  God's  courts  for 
 solemn  worship—'  This  is  none  other  than  the  house  of  God, 
 and  this  is  the  gate  of  Heaven.' 
 
 II.  The  vanity  of  riches.  As  the  love  of  money  is  a  besetting 
 sin  among  mankind,  and  has  an  awful  tendency  to  alienate  the 
 heart  from  God,  it  is  an  evil  against  which  we  are  very  fre- 
 quently cautioned.  Let  us  also  think  how  many  reasons  there 
 are  against  it,— it  is  unsatisfactory,  it  increases  anxiety,  and 
 we  must  leave  it  when  we  die.     Blessed  Saviour  ! — 
 
 *  Let  others  stretch  their  arms  like  seas, 
 And  grasp  in  all  the  shore; 
 Grant  me  the  visits  of  thy  grace. 
 And  i  desire  no  more.'  w 
 
The  conclusion  of  vanities. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  VII. 
 
 Remedies  against  vanity. 
 
 a  stranger  eateth  it :   this  is  vanity,  and  it  is 
 an  evil  disease. 
 
 3  K  If  a  man  beget  an  hundred  chilihen,  and 
 live  many  years,  so  that  the  days  of  liis  years 
 be  many,  and  his  sonl  be  not  filled  with  good, 
 and  ^  also  that  he  have  no  bniial  ;  I  say,  that 
 °  an  untimely  birth  is  better  tlian  he. 
 
 4  For  he  cometh  in  with  vanity,  and  departeth 
 hi  darkness,  and  his  name  shall  be  covered  with 
 darkness. 
 
 3  Moreover  he  hath  not  seen  the  sun,  nor 
 known  any  thing  :  this  hath  more  rest  than  the 
 other. 
 
 6  1  Yea,  though  he  live  a  thousand  years 
 twice  told,  yet  hath  he  seen  no  good  :  do  not 
 all  go  to  one  place? 
 
 7  •■  All  the  labour  of  man  is  for  his  mouth, 
 and  yet  the  f  appetite  is  not  filled. 
 
 8  For  wliat  liath  the  wise  more  than  the  fool? 
 what  hath  the  poor,  that  knoweth  to  walk  be- 
 fore the  living? 
 
 9  1  Better  is  the  sight  of  the  eyes  t  than  the 
 wandering  of  the  desire  :  this  is  also  vanity 
 and  vexation  of  spirit. 
 
 10  That  vvliich  hath  been  is  named  already, 
 and  it  is  known  that  it  is  man  :  ••'  neither  may 
 he  contend  with  him  that  is  mightier  than 
 he. 
 
 11  t  Seeing  there  be  many  things  that  in- 
 crease vanity,  what  is  man  the  better? 
 
 1-2  For  who  kiioweth  wliat  is  good  for  man  in 
 this  life,  fall  the  days  of  his  vain  life  which  he 
 spendetli  as  ''asliadow?  for  'who  can  tell  a 
 man  what  shall  be  after  him  under  the  sun  ? 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  Remedies  at/ninst  vanity  are,  a  good  i>nme,  2  mortifi- 
 cation, 1  iialience,  \l  wisdom.  23  The  difficulty  of 
 wisdom. 
 
 \  "  GOOD  name  is  better  than  precious 
 -^  ointment ;  and  the  day  of  death  than  the 
 day  of  one's  birth. 
 
 •2  %  It  is  better  to  go  to  the  house  of  mourn- 
 ing, than  to  go  to  the  house  of  feasting  :  for 
 
 d  2  Kill.  9. 
 
 33,  Is.  H. 
 
 19,  20.  Jlt. 
 
 22-  19, 
 f  Job  .S,  16. 
 
 Ps,  hS  8 
 
 ch.  l.  3. 
 
 /Pro.  16.26 
 t  Hob.  lorii. 
 
 t  Heb.  rt™.i 
 Ihe  u-i/tiiiir 
 of  Uie  mill. 
 
 t;  Job  0.  S2. 
 |9.  a:i   g 
 Jer.  •lU.  19. 
 
 t  H.-b.  ttif 
 
 l.llllitUT  lit 
 
 ikrd.ii4-<,f 
 
 tl.r  hi'  ef 
 
 liii  fiiiliiv. 
 APs.  Il)2"ll 
 
 fc  109,  2:1. 
 
 lb  M4,  i. 
 
 Jam,  4.  U. 
 i  Ph.  39   6, 
 
 ch.  9.  7. 
 
 1  Pro  l,'i,3 
 &22.  I. 
 
 c  ScpPs.MI. 
 fi.  Pin  la, 
 Ii^.  81  15.81, 
 
 d  Ps.  I  IS- 12 
 cli.  2.  2. 
 t  Heb.  ii>wid. 
 
 Ki.  2.1,  8. 
 Dcu.  16.  19, 
 
 /Pro.  11, '29. 
 
 ff  Pro.  1 1.  17. 
 &  16.  32- 
 Jiim,  I-  19. 
 
 t  Hi-l.,  .»Io/ 
 
 II  Or,  n.j'.oij 
 
 rliiiicr.  -^rii, 
 IflL-r  I..,,. 
 
 tl  rli     1  I     7. 
 
 t   lli-h. 
 
 l/l'll/LIC. 
 
 .< Ii.b  12 
 
 1 1.  rli.  1.1,1 
 Is.  H.  27 
 
 h  di.  3  1. 
 Dfii.  2S,  47. 
 
 Bom.  12, 
 t  lli'b.  Ill 
 •Utiiliiii: 
 
 that  is  the  end  of  all  men  ;  and  the  living  will 
 lay  it  to  his  heart. 
 .3   I]  Sorrow  is  better  than  laughter:  ''for  by 
 the  sadness  of  the   countenance  the  heart  is 
 made  better. 
 
 4  The  heart  of  the  wise  is  in  the  house  of 
 mourning;  but  the  heart  of  fools  is  in  the  house 
 of  mirtli. 
 
 5  "  It  is  better  to  hear  the  rebuke  of  the  wise, 
 than  for  a  man  to  hear  the  song  of  fools. 
 
 6  ''  For  as  the  f  crackling  of  thorns  under  a 
 pot,  so  is  the  laugliter  of  the  fool :  this  also  is 
 vanity. 
 
 7  1  Surely  oppression  makcth  a  wise  man 
 mad  ;  '■  and  a  gift  destroyetb  the  heart. 
 
 8  Better  is  tlie  end  of  a  thing  than  the  begin- 
 ning tliereof;  and  't\\e  patient  in  spirit  is  bet- 
 ter than  tlie  proud  in  .spirit. 
 
 9  ^  Be  nut  hasty  in  thy  spirit  to  be  angry  ;  for 
 anger  resteth  in  the  bosom  of  fools. 
 
 10  Say  not  thou.  What  is  the  cause  that  the 
 former  days  were  better  than  these  ?  for  thou 
 dost  not  enquire  f  wisely  concerning  this. 
 
 11  1i  Wisdom  II  is  good  willi  an  inlicritance  : 
 and  by  it  there  is  profit  ''  to  them  that  sec  the 
 sun. 
 
 12  For  wisdom  is  a  f  defence,  o;(rf  money  is 
 a  defence  :  but  the  excellency  of  knowledge 
 is,  that  wisdom  givetli  life  to  them  that  have  it. 
 
 13  Cou,sider  the  work  of  God  :  for  '  who  can 
 make  that  straight,  which  he  hath  made 
 crooked  ? 
 
 14  '  In  the  day  of  prosperity  be  joyful,  but  in 
 the  day  of  adversity  consider:  God  also  hath 
 fset  the  one  over  against  the  other,  to  the  end 
 that  man  should  find  nothing  after  him. 
 
 13  All  things  have  I  seen  in  the  days  of  my 
 vanity  :  '  there  is  a  just  vian  tliat  perislieth  in 
 his  righteousness,  and  there  is  a  wicked  man 
 that  prolongeth  his  life  in  his  wickedness. 
 
 IG  '"Be  not  righteous  over  much;  "neither 
 make  thyself  over  wise:  why  shouldest  thou 
 f  destroy  thyself? 
 
 17   Be  not  over  much  wicked,  neither  be  thou 
 
 vadlnf?  armies,  who  devourcfj  the  houses  of  the  rich,  and  scattered 
 their  bones  in  the  open  fields.  .3.  Beffet  an  hundied  rtiitdrtn,  like 
 an  oriental  monarch. — Sut.  .ind  /lis  soul  be  not  filled,  /Jc.,aii<l  he  will 
 not  allow  himself  what  is  fitting  while  lie  lives. — Wells.  No  bni-xal — 
 mi3j?,  '  biirying-place,*  such  as  men  of  rank  provided  in  Jiirica,  Illc 
 want  of  which  sliewed  the  most  sordid  disposition. — Hew.  An  untimely 
 f)irt/t,  §•<?. — '  I  say,  that  the  very  abortive,  though  of  burial  deprived,  is 
 lietter  than  he.' — Hodg.,  so  Bunl/iy.  4,  5.  For  tie  romelA,  Sfc. — 
 *  For  though  it  'the  abortive)  came  in  vain,  and  went  in  darkness. 
 
 And  though  its  name  be  covered  with  darkness  ; 
 
 Though  it  saw  not  the  sun,  nor  knew  aught, 
 
 Yet  had  it  more  rest  than  the  other.' 
 8.  Before  ttte  living,  '  among  the  living.' — Bnnthr.        9.  Better  ts  the 
 sight,  fyc,  better  to  make  a  wise  use  of  what  lies  before  us  than  to 
 let  onr  desires  be  coiitiiiually  running  after   fre>h    objects. — Bfil;^iti/. 
 10.  That  it  is  iivc,  D~iN.  '  that  it  is  Adam.'  (of  Ihe  earth.) 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  \.The  day  of  death,  puts  an  end  to  those  mistries 
 which  his  birth  betiiiis,  and  cpens  that  happiness  wbich  this  life  can 
 never  yield. — .So  B/i,  llnU.  2.  Better  logo  to  the  house  of  mourning, 
 ttian— feasting — we  may  lawfully  go  to  both,  as  Christ  feasted  at  Cana 
 and  wept  in  Bethany  ;  but  the  former  will  do  iis  more  good,  and  make 
 belter  impressions  upon  iis. — Henry.  Biithdays  Wire  kept  with  great 
 festivity ;  tliese  are  doubtless  referred  to,  in  opposition  to  the  day  of 
 death. — Clarke.  6.  As  the  ernokling,  ^c.,  like  a  blaze,  noi<y,  but 
 soon  spent.— Hiir.  7.  Mad,  *  to  be  praised,*  i.  e,,  when  brought  into 
 difficulties,  he  displays  bis  wisdom  and  other  virtues.— fioo//ir.  shall 
 give  lustre  to  a  wise  man;  the  word  is  from  a  root  bbn,  which  signifies 
 'to  glisten,'  'irradiate,'  as  well  ns  'make  mad.'— (V«i-A-^.  A  gift  de- 
 stroyelh,  S/c.,  a  bribe  destroys  or  corrupts  the  heart— VJ'iHs.  8.  The 
 end  of  a  thing,  better  consider  its  end  than  beginning,  for  what  pro- 
 mises fair  may  end  ill,  and  the  contrary.— W'eHs.    The  wi  rd  rendered 
 
 '  thing'  is  121,  '  speech,'  '  promise,'  or  '  advice,'  and  it  means  that  'ac- 
 tions are  better  tlian  words.' — Hew.  10.  Former  days  were  better — 
 it  is  folly  to  CI  y  up  the  goodness  of  former  times,  as  if  former  ages  had 
 not  the  same  things  to  complain  of  that  we  have,  or  as  if  God  had  been 
 unjust  and  unkind  to  us  in  casting  our  lot  in  an  iron  Q.^c.— Henry. 
 13.  Consider  the  work  of  God,  ^c. — when  he  punishes  men,  and  gives 
 them  up  to  disorder,  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  human  means  to  rectily 
 them.—Bp.  Hall.  15.  A  just  man  l/mt  perisheth,  fyc.— hence  he  seems 
 to  infer  that  this  vain  world  could  not  be  all,  but  that  a  future  state  of 
 retribution  might  be  expected.- Sco/^  16.  Be  ?wt  righteous  orer 
 
 mueh,  do  not  exercise  justice  with  too  much  rigour.— Wnterland.  In 
 acts  of  righteousness,  even  zeal  for  God,  be  not  transported  into  intem- 
 perate heats  of  passions.  There  may  be  overdoing  in  welldoing.— //t-ii. 
 Observe  the  connexion  here  ;  when  we  see  a  just  man  perish  through 
 his  integrity  or  righteousness,  or  the  wicked  prolong  his  life  through 
 his  wickedness,  let  not  any  one  pretenii  to  be  '  more  righteous  or  wise 
 than  God,'  by  arraigning  the  wisdom  or  justice  of  his  providence;  for 
 he  lias  reasons  for  permitting  these  things,  though  they  are  inscrutable 
 to  us.  Destroy  thyself,  by  impenitence  as  it  respects  thy  own  sins,  and 
 unbelief  as  it  reg.ards  the  wise  government  of  (;od.  Some  think  Solo- 
 mon was  advising  magistrates  &c.  not  to  be  too  severe,  and  bring  a 
 reaction  upon  themselves.— BooMi-.  The  Hebrew  word  designates 
 'alms;'  'do  not  your  alms  before  men,'  ;Matt.  vi-  1.)  Some  turn  it  to 
 excess  of  fasting,  and  severity  of  bodily  exercises. — Sut.  1".  Over 
 much  iiiicArerf— ytinn  "jW,  it  should  be  rendered,  '  be  not  too  busy,  or  too 
 anxiously  engaged  in  worldly  pursuits.' — Hew.  The  two  verses  may 
 be  thus  translated  ; — 
 
 '  Carry  not-justice  to  an  excess,  nor  be  rigorously  exact: 
 Wherefore  shouldest  thou  cause  thyself  to  be  shunned? 
 Neither  be  slack  to  excess,  nor  foolish  : 
 Wherefore  shouldest  thou  perish  before  thy  time?' — Hodg. 
 
 REFLrcTioNs   ON    Chap.  VI I,  Observe,   '  From  the  be- 
 
 Ktowment  ofeart/t's  good  tilings  on  so  many  worthless  men,  we  may 
 be  sure  they  are  not  God's  best  things.      ],et  us  then  seek  belter 
 blessings  and  more  substantial  gootl, 
 704 
 
 11.  '  iniatevi  r  differences  and  distinctions  there  are  among  men, 
 thiyallgo  to  one  fikice.  Let  tliis  thought  check  the  risings  of 
 pri'de.  envy,  and  dotraction  j  anil  promote  candour,  meekness, 
 and  love.'  ^ 
 
The  difficulty  of  getting  wisdom. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  VIII. 
 
 ICiiigs  to  be  respected. 
 
 foolisli  :  "  why  shouldest  lliou  dio  ]  before  tby 
 time  ? 
 
 18  It  is  good  that  thou  slioiildest  take  hold 
 of  tliis  ;  yea,  also  from  this  withdraw  not  thine 
 hand  :  for  he  that  fearetli  God  sliall  cuine  forth 
 of  them  all. 
 
 19  '■  Wisdom  strengtheneth  the  wise  more 
 than  ten  mighty  men  which  are  in  the  city. 
 
 20  ''  For  ihere  is  not  a  just  man  upon  earth, 
 that  doetli  good,  and  sinneth  not. 
 
 21  Also  I  take  no  heed  unto  all  words  that 
 are  spoken ;  lest  thou  hear  thy  servant  curse 
 thee  : 
 
 22  For  oftentimes  also  thine  own  heart  know- 
 e(h  that  thou  thyself  likewise  hast  cursed 
 others. 
 
 23  H  All  this  have  I  proved  by  wisdom  :  'I 
 said,  I  will  be  wise  ;  bnt  it  was  far  from  me. 
 
 24  '  Tliat  which  is  far  off,  and  '  exceeding  deep, 
 who  can  find  it  out? 
 
 2j  t"I  applied  mine  heart  to  know,  and  to 
 search,  and  to  seek  out  wisdom,  and  the  reason 
 oft/iiiii/s,  and  to  know  the  wickedness  of  folly, 
 even  of  foolishness  and  madness  : 
 
 26  '  And  I  fnid  more  bitter  than  death  the 
 woman,  whose  heart  is  snares  and  nets,  aiid 
 her  hands  as  bands  :  f  w'hoso  pleaseth  God 
 shall  escape  from  her ;  but  the  sinner  shall  be 
 taken  by  her. 
 
 27  Behold,  this  have  I  found,  saith  ''  the 
 preacher,  ||  counting  one  by  one,  to  find  out 
 the  account : 
 
 28  Which  yet  my  soul  seeketh,  but  I  find 
 not :  ^  one  man  among  a  thousand  have  I 
 found  ;  but  a  woman  among  all  those  have  I 
 not  found. 
 
 29  Lo,  this  only  have  I  found,  "that  God  hath 
 made  man  upright;  but ''they  have  sought  out 
 many  inventions. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  Kims  are  greatly  to  he  respected.  6  The  divine  pro- 
 vidciire  is  to  be  observed.  12  It  is  better  loith  the 
 (lodti/  in  adversiti/t  than  with  the  tviehed  in  prosperity. 
 16    The  worlz  of  God  is  unsearchable. 
 
 HO  is  as  the  wise  man?  and  who  know- 
 eth    the   interpretation   of  a  thing?   °a 
 
 >  Job  15,  S2. 
 Pa.  »,  23. 
 
 I  Hd..  . 
 
 p  Pra.  21.22. 
 
 &  -2+   5. 
 
 ch.  9-  16,18. 
 f  I  Kill.  8.16. 
 
 2  Chr.  6.36. 
 
 Pro.  20   9. 
 
 Ki.in.  3.  2.1. 
 
 1  .Ir.hn  1.  S. 
 t  Heb,  ffive 
 
 n'>t  Ihiita 
 
 w 
 
 (  llom.ll.»3. 
 Ilkb.  land 
 
 J  ch.  I. 
 &  2.12. 
 
 .r  Pro.  5.  3, 
 4.  &  22.  I* 
 
 t  Hcb    lie 
 
 tbal  is  gnod 
 k-firc  Gild. 
 
 y  di.  1.  1, 
 
 II  Or,  weigh- 
 ing oiif/Ai»a 
 
 E  Job  33.  23. 
 Pa.  12.  I. 
 
 a  Gen,  1,27. 
 6  Gen.  8.  6,7. 
 
 a  Pro.  «  8, 
 9.  &  17.  21. 
 See  Acts  6 
 15. 
 
 t  Deb.  the 
 
 tUmfflk. 
 b  Deu.  28.50 
 c  I  Cbr.  2ti. 
 
 21    Kze.  17. 
 
 18   Koin. 
 
 13.  5, 
 d  oil,  10.  I. 
 
 ..  Job  34.  18 
 t  Heb.  iUtf 
 
 /ch    3.  1. 
 
 ff  Pro.  21.22 
 cli.G  I2.&g. 
 12.  &  10  14 
 
 [I  0|..  Iioa  it 
 thill  lie. 
 
 h  Ps   49.  6.7 
 
 i  Job  11.  5. 
 
 II  Or.  ™«- 
 u'eapoiia. 
 
 A  Pa    in.  6. 
 
 »  60.  21. 
 I3.  20.  10. 
 
 /  Is.  Ci.  20. 
 Horn.  2   5. 
 
 m  Pa. 37.  11. 
 18,  19.  Pro. 
 1  32,  33 
 Is  3  10,  11 
 Mat.  25.31, 
 41. 
 
 /I  Pa  73.  14 
 ch.  2.  14  & 
 7.  15.  X.  9. 
 1,  2,  S. 
 
 o  ch.  2.  24. 
 ft  3.  12,  22. 
 &  6  IB.  8t 
 9.  7. 
 
 man's  wisdom  maketh  his  face  to  shine,  and 
 t ''  the  boldness  of  his  face  shall  be  changed. 
 
 2  I  counsel  thee  to  keep  the  king's  command- 
 ment, *■  and  that  in  regard  of  the  oath  of  God. 
 
 3  ''  lie  not  hasty  to  go  out  of  his  sight :  stand 
 not  in  an  evil  thing ;  for  he  doeth  whatsoever 
 pleaseth  him. 
 
 4  Where  the  word  of  a  king  is,  there  is  power 
 and  "who  may  say  unto  him,  Whatdocst  tliou? 
 
 5  Whoso  keepeth  the  commandment  f  shall 
 feel  no  evil  thing  :  and  a  wise  man's  heart  dis- 
 cerneth  both  time  and  judgment. 
 
 6  t  Because  'to  every  purpose  there  is  time 
 and  judgment,  therefore  the  misery  of  man  is 
 great  upon  hiin. 
 
 7  ^  For  he  knoweth  not  that  which  shall  be  : 
 for  who  can  tell  him  ||  when  it  shall  be? 
 
 8  ''  There  is  no  man  that  hath  power  '  over 
 the  spirit  to  retain  the  spirit ;  neither  hath  he 
 power  in  the  day  of  death  ;  and  there  is  no 
 II  discharge  in  that  war;  neither  shall  wicked- 
 ness deliver  those  that  are  given  to  it. 
 
 9  All  this  have  I  seen,  and  a|iplied  my  lieart 
 unto  every  work  that  is  done  under  the  sun  : 
 there  is  a  time  wherein  one  man  ruleth  over 
 another  to  his  own  hurt. 
 
 10  And  so  I  saw  the  wicked  buried,  wdio  had 
 come  and  gone  from  the  place  of  the  holy,  and 
 they  were  forgotten  in  the  city  where  they  had 
 so  done  :   this  is  also  vanity. 
 
 1 1  '  Because  sentence  against  an  evil  work  i,s 
 not  executed  speedily,  therefore  the  heart  of  the 
 sons  of  men  is  fully  set  in  Ihem  to  do  evil. 
 
 12  1'  Though  a  sinner  do  evil  an  hundred 
 times,  and  his  days  be  prolonged,  yet  surely  I 
 know  that  ""it  shall  be  well  with  them  that 
 fear  God,  which  fear  before  him  : 
 
 13  But  it  shall  not  be  well  with  tlie  wicked, 
 neither  shall  he  prolong  /»'.<days,  irhich  are  as 
 a  .shadow;  because  he  fearetli  not  before  God. 
 
 14  There  is  a  vanity  which  is  done  upon  the 
 earth  ;  that  there  be  jnst  men,  unto  whom  it 
 "  happeneth  according  to  the  work  of  the  wick- 
 ed ;  again,  there  be  wicked  jncn,  to  whom  it 
 happeneth  according  to  the  work  of  the  righte- 
 ous :   I  said  that  this  also  is  vanity. 
 
 13  "Then  I  commended  mirth,  because  a  man 
 
 The  meaning  is,  that  excessive  wickedness  soon  ends  in  the  death  of 
 those  who  praoti'ie  it.  18.  Stmll  come  forth  of  them  tttt,  shall  escape 
 both  evils. — Buntltr.  21.  Cwri-c  Mce,  "iV^pO,  'make  light  of  thee,* 
 '  speak  evil  of  thee.'  22,  Thou — Imst  \-ursed,  ri'jVp,  'spoken  evil  of,' 
 'vilified'  others. — .t.  Clarke.  26.  'rite  womttn,  whose  Iteart  is  snares 
 and  nets — one  methoa  of  ensnaring  t!ie  traveller  has  been  used  in  Ihe 
 east.  A  handsome  woman,  with  dishevelled  hair,  meets  him  and  im- 
 plores his  compassion  ;  he  takes  her  up  behind  him,  and  hears  her 
 tale  of  wn,  when  she  throws  a  snare  about  his  neck  and  strani^les 
 him,  or  stuns  him  till  aided  by  a  gang  of  robbers  lying  in  wait.^ 
 Tlievenot.  One  reason  of  Solomon  so  speaking,  was  his  having  been 
 seduced  liy  evil  women,  (1  Kings,  xi.) — Ostervntd.  29,  Muni/  in. 
 ventions,  many  means  of  rendering  themselves  vicious  and  miserable. 
 — Jiew. 
 
 Chap.  VllI,  —  I.  Mahettt  his  face  to  shine — the  wisdom  which  will 
 make  ns  happy  in  the  world  must  not  make  us  morose  and  superci- 
 lious, but  kind  anl  benign,  gentle  and  easy.  —  Fat.  The  wisdom 
 hei-e  commended  gives  a  man  a  fair  reputation. — Mant.  It  puts  an 
 honour  upon  a  man,  and  a  lustre  upon  his  whole  conversation. — 
 
 Henry.  There  is  such  an  evidence  of  the  contented,  happy,  pure,  be- 
 nevolent state  of  the  soul  in  the  face  of  the  truly  pious  man,  that 
 must  be  observed,  and  cannot  be  mistaken.— C/nrA-e.  2.  The  oath, 
 of  allegiance,  {conip.  1  Chron.  xi.  3;  xxix.  24;  Ezek.  xvu.  iS,  18.)— 
 Brmthr.  5.  Diseernrth  both  time  and.  judgment,  both  what  he  ought 
 to  do,  and  what  are  tlie  fittest  seasons  for  doing  il.—l'oole.  6.  Be. 
 cause  to  erery  purpose,  $'C. — 
 
 '  For  there  is  a  proper  time  for  every  purpose ; 
 
 Yet,  the  misery  of  man  is  great  in  ihis  respect. 
 
 That  he  knovvcth  not  what  shall  be  ; 
 
 For,  what  shall  be,  who  can  inform  him  ?' 
 8.  There  is  no  man,  fyc, — 
 
 •As  no  man  hath  power  over  the  wind  to  restrain  it; 
 .  So  no  one  hatli  power  in  the  day  of  death.'— B»o/Ai'.,  as  Desf. 
 Hodgson  agrees  with  our  translation,  and  so  docs  Williams.     10.  From 
 the  place  of  lite  liolii,  hAVmn:  been  anointed  as  kings  or  priests.— Ciai-Ac. 
 From  tlie  courts  of  judieatine  and  tribunals  of  justice,  where  they  pre- 
 sided  as  God's  vicegerants.— Oi^.        1.5.  Commended  mii-Wi— Solomon 
 
 Reklections  on  Chap.  VII. — I.  ffow  opposite  are  t/ie  wise 
 man*s  7naxims  to  those  of  the  world  /  He  coiriraends  Ihe  day  of 
 death,  the  iiouse  ol' mourning,  sorrow,  antl  the  language  of  re- 
 buke. 'I'hey  commend  life,  rairth,  and  the  songs  of  revellers. 
 To  the  one,  deatli  opens  lite;  mourning  leads  to  joy;  and 
 faithful  rebukes  preserve  from  error  and  sin.  To  the  other, 
 life  here  is  the  chief  good  ;  mirth  is  the  best  remedy  to  stiHe 
 conscience  ;  and  rebuke  is  obnoxious  as  bitter  medicine  to  the 
 sick. 
 
 11.  Let  us  be  content  and  thankful  with  ihe  dispensations  of 
 Providence.  He  orders  all  things  wisely,  and  we  can  alter  no- 
 705 
 
 thing  that  he  orders.  lie  governs  the  world  better  than  we 
 coidd  do  it,  and  he  knows  best,  amidst  all  its  changing  scenes, 
 bow  to  promote  our  good  and  his  own  glory. 
 
 III.  Whatevir  evil  there  is  in  the  u-orbt  is  to  be  ascribed  to  our- 
 selves, and  nut  to  God.  '  Conduct  is  Fate,'  has  become  a  com- 
 mon maxim,  and  it  is  our  sins  that  occasion  our  sorrows.  It 
 is  our  waywardness  that  hurries  us  on  towards  our  ruin. 
 'Search  me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart;  try  me,  and  know 
 my  tboushts  ;  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me,  and 
 lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting.' 
 
 4    X 
 
The  necessity  of  death. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  IX. 
 
 God^s  providence  over  all. 
 
 hath  no  better  thing  under  the  sun,  than  to 
 eat,  and  to  drink,  and  to  be  merry  :  for  that 
 shall  abide  with  liim  of  his  labour  the  days  of 
 his  life,  which  God  giveth  him  under  the  sun. 
 
 16  H  When  I  applied  mhie  heart  to  know 
 wisdom,  and  to  see  the  business  that  is  done 
 vipon  the  eartli  :  (for  also  there  is  that  neither 
 day  nor  night  seeth  sleep  with  his  eyes:) 
 
 17  Tlien  I  beheld  all  the  work  of  God,  that 
 ■"a  man  cannot  find  out  the  work  that  is  done 
 under  the  sun  :  because  though  a  man  labour 
 to  seek  it  out,  yet  he  shall  not  find  it;  yea 
 farther ;  though  a  wise  man  think  to  know  it, 
 ''  yet  shall  he  not  be  able  to  find  it. 
 
 CHAP.   IX. 
 
 1  Liitie  ttiinps  happen  to  good  and  hcul.  4  T/iere  is  a 
 necessity  of  dcatli  wifo  men.  7  Comfort  is  all  tticir 
 portion  in  iftis  life.  1 1  God^s  providence  rtdetli  over 
 all.      13    IVisdom  is  better  t/ian  strength. 
 
 "P"OR  all  this  f  I  considered  in  my  heart  even 
 ■^  to  declare  all  this,  "  that  the  righteous,  and 
 the  wise,  and  their  works,  are  in  the  hand  of 
 God  :  no  man  knoweth  either  love  or  hatred 
 bt/  all  that  is  before  them. 
 
 2  ••  All  things  come  alike  to  all :  there  is  one 
 event  to  the  righteous,  and  to  the  wicked  ;  to 
 the  good  and  to  the  clean,  and  to  the  unclean  ; 
 to  him  that  sacrificeth,  and  to  him  that  sacri- 
 ficeth  not :  as  is  the  good,  so  is  the  sinner  ; 
 QHrfhe  that  sweareth,  as  he  that  feareth  an  oath. 
 
 3  This  is  an  evil  among  all  things  that  are 
 done  under  the  sun,  that  there  is  one  event 
 unto  all  :  yea,  also  the  heart  of  the  sons  of 
 men  is  full  of  evil,  and  madness  is  in  their 
 heart  while  they  live,  and  after  that  they  go  to 
 the  dead. 
 
 4  t  For  to  him  that  is  joined  to  all  the  living 
 there  is  hope  :  for  a  living  dog  is  better  than  a 
 dead  lion. 
 
 5  For  the  living  know  that  they  shall  die  :  but 
 "  the  dead  know  not  any  thing,  neither  have 
 they  any  more  a  reward  ;  for  ''  the  memory  of 
 them  is  forgotten. 
 
 6  Also  their  love,  and  their  hatred,  and  their 
 envy,  is  now  perished  ;  neither  have  they  any 
 
 p  Job  5.  9. 
 ch  .'..  11. 
 Rom.  n. 33. 
 
 J  r«.  73,  16. 
 
 \  Heb.  1 
 gave,  or,  tft 
 lo  my  heart. 
 
 a  cb.  e.  14. 
 
 I>  Job  81.  7, 
 JljC.  Ps    7S. 
 
 s,  r>,  13. 
 
 Mai.  3.  15. 
 
 c  Job  U.  81. 
 
 l«.  (;3.  16. 
 
 rf  J..b  7.  8, 9, 
 10    K.  86. 
 U 
 
 f  Hcb.  .'?*^ 
 or,  ei'joy 
 
 /oh. 2.10,21 
 gc  3.  I.S.  W 
 &  5.  J8. 
 
 I  Pro.  29.  6. 
 Luke  12.50, 
 39.  8t  17.20, 
 &c  I  Tlics. 
 5.  3. 
 
 A  See  3  Sam. 
 
 80  16— ua. 
 
 I  Pro  21.22 
 &  21.  5.  ch- 
 
 j  .r.,sh.  7 
 11,  li 
 
 more  a  portion  for  ever  in  any  t/iinff  that  is 
 done  under  the  sun. 
 
 7  H  Go  thy  way,  ^eat  thy  bread  with  joy, and 
 drink  thy  wine  with  a  merry  heart ;  for  God 
 now  accepteth  thy  works. 
 
 8  Let  thy  garments  be  always  white  ;  and 
 let  thy  head  lack  no  ointment. 
 
 9  t  L>ive  joyfully  with  the  wife  wliom  thou 
 lovest  all  the  days  of  the  life  of  thy  vanity, 
 which  he  hath  given  thee  under  the  sun,  all 
 the  days  of  thy  vanity  :  *"  for  that  is  tliy  portion 
 in  t/tis  life,  and  in  thy  labour  which  thou  takest 
 under  the  sun. 
 
 10  Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  // 
 with  thy  might ;  for  there  is  no  work,  nor  de- 
 vice, nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom,  in  the  grave, 
 whither  thou  goest. 
 
 1 1  1 1  returned,  ^  and  saw  under  the  sun,  that 
 the  race  is  not  to  the  swift,  nor  the  battle  to 
 the  strong,  neither  yet  bread  to  the  wise,  nor 
 yet  riches  to  men  of  understanding,  nor  yet 
 favour  to  men  of  skill;  but  time  and  chance 
 happenetii  to  them  all. 
 
 \'2  For  ''man  also  knoweth  not  his  time  :  as 
 the  fishes  that  are  taken  in  an  evil  net,  and  as 
 the  birds  that  are  caught  in  the  snare  ;  so  are 
 the  sons  of  men  'snared  in  an  evil  time,  when 
 it  falleth  suddenly  upon  them. 
 
 13  t  This  wisdom  have  I  seen  also  under  the 
 sun,  and  it  sctmed  great  unto  me  : 
 
 14  ''  There  icas  a  little  city,  and  few  men 
 within  it ;  and  there  came  a  great  king  against 
 it,  and  besieged  it,  and  built  great  bulwarks 
 against  it : 
 
 15  Now  there  was  found  in  it  a  poor  wise 
 man,  and  he  by  his  wisdom  delivered  the  city; 
 yet  no  man  remembered  that  same  poor  man. 
 
 16  '  Then  said  1,  Wisdom  is  better  than 
 strength:  nevertheless  ""the  poor  man's  wis- 
 dom is  despised,  and  his  words  are  not  beard. 
 
 17  The  words  of  wise  men  arc  heard  in  quiet 
 more  than  the  cry  of  him  that  ruletb  among 
 fools. 
 
 18  "Wisdom  is  better  than  weapons  of  war: 
 but  °  one  sinner  destroyeth  much  good. 
 
 would  only  commend  the  moderate  and  lawful  use  of  good  things. — 
 So  Ostervald.  Of  earthly  thintrs.  there  is  nothinj;;  better  than  for  a 
 man  freely  and  cheerfully,  with  moderation  and  thankfulness,  to 
 enjoy  what  God  has  given  him. — GUI.  These  are  to  be  considered 
 as  the  words  put  into  the  mouth  of  a  libertine.— //o/rfe«.  17.  Then  J 
 beheld,  fyc. — 
 
 '  Yet,  I  saw,  that  as  to  any  work  of  God, 
 
 A  man  cannot  find  it  out, 
 
 As  to  any  work  that  is  done  under  the  sun,'  &c. — Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  \.  No  man  knoweth  either  love,  fyr. — if  prosperity  were 
 a  certain  sign  of  God's  love,  and  affliction  of  his  hatred,  then  it  might 
 justly  be  an  offence  to  us  to  see  the  wicked  and  godly  fare  alike.  But 
 the  matter  is  not  so. — Henry.  5.  Anp  more  a  reward,  no  enjoyment 
 of  any  worldly  felicity. — David  Collyer.  y.  Eat  thy  Arenrf,  improve 
 the  advantages  of  life,  and  make  a  wise  use  of  what  is  possessed. — Ost., 
 
 so  Boothr.  8.  Garments  he  always  ivJiite,  in  token  of  joy  and  cheer- 
 fulness. (Rev.  iii.  4.) — Henry.  In  India,  white  cotton  is  worn,  and 
 the  beauty  of  garments  consists  in  their  being  clean.  An  European 
 loses  the   force  of  this  exhortation. —  Ward.  in.  Do   it   with   thy 
 
 might — if  the  work  of  life  be  nut  done  when  our  time  is  done,  we  are 
 undone   for  ever. — Henry.  11.  Time  and  chance,   ni,   *  time'   or 
 
 '  opportunity.' and  y^D. '  incident'  or  '  occurrence.' — A.  Clarke.  15.  No 
 man  remembered  that  same  poor  man — this  was,  probably,  a  case  in 
 fact,  in  some  neighbouring  country,  and  reminds  us,  that  many  that 
 have  well  merited  of  their  prince  and  country,  have  heen  ill  paid,  such 
 an  ungrateful  world  do  we  live  in. — Henry.  17.  The  words  of  wise 
 men — 
 
 '  The  mild  words  of  the  wise  are  more  attended  to 
 Than  the  clamour  of  a  most  foolish  ruler.' — Boothr. 
 
 18.  Sinner,  '  eriov. '—Desvocux. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  I.  We  should  com.mend  rdi- 
 ffion  by  our  cheerfid  piety.  Let  the  world  see  that  religion  has 
 not  destroyed,  but  only  changed,  those  faculties  which  God  has 
 bestowed  upon  us.  Religion  looks  lovely  when  it  is  without 
 gloom. 
 
 II.  Since  death  will  come,  and  none  can  resist  the  adversary's 
 stroke,  it  is  in  vain  to  smothtr  the  thought  of  it.  Let  us  meet  the 
 adversary  in  anticipation,  so  that  we  may  look  death  in  the 
 t'jce.  If  there  be  no  discbarge  in  this  conflict,  yet  the  enemy 
 may  be  overcome.  Death  is  the  plague  of  man,  bat  Christ  is 
 the  plague  of  Death.  Through  him  we  may  be  more  than  con- 
 querors, and  sing,  *0  death,  where  is  thy  sting!  O  grave, 
 where  is  thy  victory  !' 
 
 III.  Because  the  sinner  is  not  suddenly  cut  ojf  in  his  sinst  let 
 him  not  presume.     Sin  only  tends  to  harden  the  heart ;  and  the 
 
 706 
 
 more  he  presumes,  the  further  will  he  be  from  repentance. 
 *1  am  struck  with  horror,'  says  Saurin,  '  when  I  consider  this 
 disposition  in  its  true  point  of  light. ..  .Were  we  convinced 
 that  God  had  the  formidable  design  of  plunging  us  into  the 
 depths  of  hell  on  the  first  act  of  rebellion,  who  is  he  that 
 would  have  the  madness  to  rebel  \  Why  then  are  we  rebels  \ 
 The  wise  man  tells  us,  "  Because  sentence  against  an  evil  work 
 is  not  executed  speedily."  '  Yes,  were  a  voice  from  heaven  to 
 cry,  '  Stay,  sinner,  stay  !'  he  would,  perhaps,  forbear  ;  yet  does 
 not  God  speak  by  his  word,  by  conscience,  by  providence,  and 
 the  sinner  will  not  hear  1  He  seems  resolutely  bent  upon  his 
 own  destruction.  Sovereign  grace  alone  can  arrest  his  steps, 
 awaken  his  conscience,  soften  his  heart,  bend  his  will,  and 
 bring  him  with  a  bleeding  bosom  to  the  foot  of  the  cross,  ex- 
 claiming, *  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner  !' 
 
Of  wisdom  and  fully. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  X 
 
 Of  riot,  slothfulness,  and  money. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  Observations  of  wisdom  and  foUy  :  16  of  rioU  18 
 shitf I  fulness,  19  and  money.  20  Men*s  thoughts  of 
 hiiujs  ought  to  be  reverent. 
 
 T\EAD  t  flies  cause  the  ointment  of  the 
 -*--^  apothecary  to  send  forth  a  stinking  savour : 
 so  ifoth  a  little  folly  liim  that  is  in  reputation 
 for  wisdom  and  lionour. 
 
 '2  A  wise  man's  heart  is  at  his  right  hand  ; 
 hut  a  fool's  heart  at  his  left. 
 
 ij  Yea  also,  wlien  he  that  is  a  fool  walketh  by 
 the  way,  fliis  wisdom  faileth  /H'/«,^and  he  saith 
 to  every  one  that  lie  is  a  fool. 
 
 4  If  the  spirit  of  the  ruler  rise  up  agamst  thee, 
 ''leave  not  thy  place;  for  ^"yielding  pacifieth 
 great  offences. 
 
 .3  There  is  an  evil  irhic/i  I  have  seen  under 
 the  sun,  as  an  error  tv/iich  proceedeth  f  from 
 the  ruler  : 
 
 0  '^  Folly  is  set  f  in  great  dignity,  and  the  rich 
 sit  in  low  place. 
 
 7  I  have  seen  servants  *  upon  horses,  and 
 princes  walking  as  servants  upon  the  earth. 
 
 8  ^  He  that  diggeth  a  pit  shall  fall  into  it ; 
 and  whoso  breaketh  an  hedge,  a  serpent  shall 
 bite  him. 
 
 9  Whoso  removeth  stones  shall  he  hurt  there- 
 with ;  a7id  he  that  cleaveth  wood  shall  be  en- 
 dangered thereby. 
 
 10  If  the  iron  be  blunt,  and  he  do  not  whet 
 the  edge,  then  must  he  put  to  more  strength  : 
 
 H  c. 
 
 cir.  977. 
 
 t  Heb.  Fliet 
 
 t  n«b.  hit 
 
 hfiTt. 
 
 flrio.is.i6. 
 
 &  IS.  :.'. 
 
 6  ch.  9.  3. 
 c  I   Sam.  25. 
 
 L'l.  tkc. 
 
 Pro.  25. 15. 
 
 t  Heb.  from 
 
 h-/<.Te. 
 
 d  Esth.  S.  1. 
 f  Heb.  t'l 
 great 
 
 e  Pro.  Ill  10. 
 
 8c  .^1.  22. 
 /Ps.  7.  IS. 
 
 Pro.  26.  Ti 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  977. 
 
 g  Ps  53.4,5 
 
 Jer.  8.  17. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 mait^r  o/the 
 
 tongue. 
 ft  Pro.  10  32. 
 
 &  12    13. 
 t  Heb.  grnc^ 
 i  Pro. 10. 14. 
 
 &  18    7. 
 t  Heb.  hia 
 
 mouth. 
 
 k  Pro.  15.  2. 
 t  Heb.  inulti- 
 
 ptielh  wordt. 
 I  ch.  3.  22.S: 
 
 6.  12.8c  8.7. 
 
 m  Is.  3.  A,  5. 
 12.  &5.  II. 
 
 0  Ps.  lOi.  15. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 malii-th  glad 
 
 the  lif<^. 
 p  Ex.  22.  2S 
 
 Acts  2A.  5. 
 II  Or,  co',- 
 
 tcieiice, 
 
 figure  like, 
 
 Lu.  19.  40. 
 
 but  wisdom  is  profitable  to  direct. 
 
 ]  I  Surely  tiie  serpent  will  bite  ^  without  en- 
 chantment ;  and  fa  babbler  is  no  better. 
 
 I'2  ''The  words  of  a  wise  man's  mouth  are 
 t  gracious  ;  but  '  the  lips  of  a  fool  will  swallow 
 up  himself. 
 
 13  The  beginning  of  the  \vords  of  his  mouth 
 is  foolishness:  and  the  end  of  fhis  talk  is 
 mischievous  madness. 
 
 14  ^  A  fool  also  fisfull  of  words:  a  man  can- 
 not tell  what  shall  be  ;  and  '  what  shall  be  after 
 him,  who  can  tell  him  ? 
 
 ]o  The  labour  of  the  foolish  wearieth  every 
 one  of  them,  because  he  knoweth  not  how  to 
 go  to  the  city. 
 
 16  1["'\Voe  to  thee,  O  land,  when  thy  king 
 is  a  child,  and  thy  princes  eat  in  the  morning! 
 
 17  Blessed  art  thou,  O  land,  when  thy  king 
 is  the  son  of  nobles,  and  "  thy  princes  eat 
 in  due  season,  for  strength,  and  not  for  drunk- 
 enness ! 
 
 18  1[  By  much  slothfulness  the  building  de- 
 cayeth  ;  and  through  idlene.ss  of  the  hands  the 
 house  droppeth  through. 
 
 19  1^  A  feast  is  made  for  laughter,  and  °  wine 
 fmaketh  merry:  but  money  answereth  all 
 things. 
 
 20  1[  P  Curse  not  the  king,  no  not  in  thy 
 II  thought ;  and  curse  not  the  rich  in  thy  bed- 
 chamber:  for  a  bird  of  the  air  shall  carry  the 
 voice,  and  that  which  hath  wings  shall  tell  the 
 matter. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  I.  Dead Jlies— these  cause  a  fermentation  and  putrefac- 
 tion ;  hence,  apothecaries  take  care  to  prevent  flies  coming  to  their 
 syrups  and  other  fermcDtable  preparations. — Schtuchxer.  The  repu- 
 tation  that  is  hardly  got,  and  by  a  great  deal  of  wisdom,  may  be 
 easily  lost,  and  by  a  little  folly. — Henry.  2.  Heart  is  at  his  right — 
 his  judgement  never  fails  him,  he  always  resolves  right. — Put.  His 
 mind  is  always  ready  to  a-^sist  him.  The  right  hand  was,  in  ancient 
 courts  of  judicature,  the  place  of  the  advocate  or  defender. — Hew.  The 
 aacients  used  to  call  things  wise  and  prudent,  the  right  hand  ;  and 
 things  foolish,  the  left  hand.— Gi7/.  Suidti.t,  in  voce  Aefia.  3.  His  wis. 
 dom,  %-c. — in  every  thing  he  opt-nly  betrays  his  want  of  judgment, 
 and  virtually  says,  he  is  a  fool,  especially  hy  holding  all  for  fools  in 
 comparison  with  himself.  4  Leave  not  t/if/  pf fire,  quit  not  the  duty  of 
 a  subject. — Put.  5,  6.  An  error— /mm  the  rvler^utli/,  fyc.,  men  of 
 parts  and  estates  are  often  neglected  and  disregarded.  —  Bp.  Hnfl. 
 J.  Servants  upon  horses — in  the  east,  it  is  honourable  to  ride  on  horse- 
 hack.  The  Turks  ride  in  a  slow  and  stately  way,  attended  by  a  number 
 of  ser^'ants. — Har.  In  the  more  ancient  times,  the  great  in  Judea  rode 
 en  asses  and  mules,  but  this  use  of  the  horse  seems  tn  have  begun  in 
 Solomon's  time,  who  brought  many  horses  out  of  Egypt. —  Hew. 
 8 — 10.  Diggeth  a  pit,  may  fall  into  it  while  doing  so.  Breaketh  an 
 hedge,  or  wall  of  stones,  common  in  the  east,  which  has  stood  for  an 
 old  landmark,  and  become  the  harbour  of  vipers,  he  is  likely  to  be  bitten. 
 Removeth  stones,  hastily  pulls  down  a  wall  or  building,  may  have  the 
 rubbish  fall  upon  him.  That  chnreth  ivood,  may  be  injured  by  the 
 chips  or  asehead  ;  so  if  prince^  become  tyrants,  or  subjects  rebel'*,  all 
 history  will  tell  theirfate,  and  their  wisdom  is  to  keep  their  own  bounds. 
 — Henry.  The  general  meaning  i'^,  that  persons  who  do  wrong  and 
 foolish  things  may  expect  to  be  punished  by  their  ovra  folly. —  Wd. 
 1 1.  Without  enrhnntment,  i.  e.,  without  he  be  charmed,  {Ps.  Iviii.  4,  5.) 
 Meet  the  babbler  not  with  words,  but  prudent  management,  to  enchant 
 him. — Henry.  BubfAer,  'calumniator,*  'detractor.* — Hew.  12.  Gra. 
 cious,  or  'grace.' — Mont.,  Merc,  Cocc.,  §■(?.  Kind  and  condescending, 
 or  graceful,  sensible,  and  becoming,  i^ivallow  up  himself,  i.  e.,  become 
 his  own  ruin. — Wil.         14.  Cannot  tell  what  shall  be,  but  the  foolish 
 
 boaster  talks  about  what  he  will  do  and  what  he  will  have.— //enry. 
 He  cannot  tell  the  drift  of  the  fool's  discourse.— GiV^.  15.  Not  how 
 to  go  to  the  ciV^,  probably  a  proverb.  'He  knows  nothing;  he  does 
 not  know  his  way  to  the  next  village.  *  '  He  may  labour,  but,  fur  want 
 of  judgment,  he  wearies  himself  to  no  purpose.  l6.  Thy  king  is  a 
 child,  minorities  are  in  general  veiy  prejudicial  to  a  state. — .-I.  Clarke. 
 Not  so  much  a  child  in  a^e  as  understanding, — weak  and  foolish,  fickle 
 and  changeable,  fretful  and  huraorsome. — H'^nry,  so  Bootftr.  Eat  in 
 the  morning— the  eastern  people,  as  soon  as  they  rise,  break  fast  on  fried 
 eggs,  cheese,  honey,  Stc. — Rus.selt.  But  to  eat  early  in  the  morning 
 is  considered  by  the  Hindoos  most  gross,  most  disgraceful,  and  ruin- 
 ous.— Rob.  All  eating  is  not  here  forbidden,  but  feasting  and  drinking 
 wine,  so  as  to  prevent  and  unfit  fur  the  tiuties  of  government. — Hew. 
 Ey  '  eating'  is  evidently  here  meant,  feasting,  carousing,  (see  Isa.  v.  1 1 .) 
 —  U'(7.  Perhaps  this  verse  refers  to  one  of  the  forms  of  oriental  excels, 
 beginning  in  the  morning  a  carouse  designed  to  last  the  day. — So 
 Pict.  Bib.  17.  The  son  of  nobles,  one  who  comes  to  the  throne  in 
 a  legi'imate  way.— -•!.  Clarke.  The  kingdom  of  Israel  presents  us  with 
 a  black  catalogue  of  usurpers,  and  of  the  awful  consequences  of  their 
 usurpations.— £rf.  18.  By  much  slnlhfu'ness— a.  kingdom  is  ruined 
 by  the  sloth  of  its  government, —  Wells. 
 
 *  By  negJect,  the  floor  beams  decay, 
 And  by  idlene^s,  the  house-roof  is  full  of  drops.' — Boothr. 
 
 19.  A  feast  is  made  for  laughter,  cn7D^©?  pino';,  or  '  who  make  bread 
 for  laughter  ?'—JI/(>/;/.,  Pag.,  Merc,  P\:ic.  liakers  make  bread  for 
 commi'U  use,  but  luxurious  men  for  revelling.  —  GUI.  But  money 
 answereth  all  things— case  must  be  taken  that  too  much  money  be  not 
 spent  on  such  occasinns.— TTW^s.  •  And  money  supplitth  all  these 
 things,'  which  ought  to  be  improved. — Boothr.  20.  Curse  not,  ^c, 
 think  not  treason,  lest  it  break  out  into  overt  acts. — So  Clarke.  For  a 
 bird,  i^c.,  in  some  surprising  way,  the  thought  may  shew  itself  and 
 be  discovered  as  if  a  passing  bird  carried  it  off  on  its  wings  and 
 communicated  it. — So  Boothr.  This  may  possibly  allude  to  pigeon  car- 
 riers, which  are  of  ancient  origin. — So  Pict.  Bib. 
 
 RErt-ECTiONS  OS  Chap.  IX. —  I.  God's  providaitial  dispen- 
 s^tions  are  rnysterinn-i.  Events  happen  alike  to  the  righteous 
 and  the  wicked.  But  wait,  believer,  exercise  faith  and  pa- 
 tience, and  '  what  thou  knowest  not  now,  thou  shalt  know 
 bTeal'ter.'     '  \'erily  there  is  a  reward  for  the  righteous.' 
 
 II.  Since  we  are  Jiasttniiuj  to  the  grave,  let  us  aim  to  be  useful 
 u-hilf  tee  live.  Some  people,  at  best,  are  but  blanks  in  creation, 
 and  the  end  of  their  history  w-ill  be,  they  have  done  nothing  ; 
 or  they  have  spent  their  days  in  laboriously  doin^  nothing. 
 '  'J"o  be  good,  and  to  do  good,  are  the  ^reat  ends  of  life.' 
 
 Hi;FLErTi('Ns  ON  Chap.  X.  —  1.  Welearn  here  the  importance 
 
 of  circumsvection  to  the  end  of  life.    For  want  of  this,  even  many 
 
 a    pure   cliaracter    has    been    tarnished.       '  Envy'  especially 
 
 fastens  upon  erainoncv,  and  makes  the  worst  of  the  mistakes 
 
 7f)7 
 
 and  miscarriages  of  those  that  are  cried  up  for  wisdom,  and 
 improves  them  to  their  disadvantage  ;  so  that  the  folly  which 
 in  another  would  not  be  taken  notice  of,  in  them  is  severely 
 censured.  Those  that  make  a  great  profession  of  rehgion  have 
 need  to  walk  very  circumspectly,  to  '  abstain  from  all  appear- 
 ance of  evil,'  and  approaches  towards  it,  because  many  eyes 
 are  upon  them  that  watch  for  their  halting  ;  their  character  is 
 soon  sulhed,  and  they  have  agi'eat  deal  of  reputation  to  lose.'h 
 II.  The  government  of  the  to7igtie  is  of  vast  importance.  It  is 
 the  wnnt  of  this  which"  distinguishes  a  fool;  shews  his  empti- 
 ness; makes  him  mischievous  and  idle,  and  often  brings  him 
 to  ruin.  Well  might  the  psalmist  pray,  •  Set  a  watch  upon  the 
 door  of  ray  lips.' 
 
charity  recommended 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  XI.,  XII. 
 
 The  Creator  tu  be  remembered. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Directions  for  charity.  7  Death  in  life,  9  and  the 
 day  of  judyment  in  the  days  of  youthy  are  to  be 
 thuutjht  on. 
 
 /^AST  thy  bread  "^  f  upon  the  waters:  ''for 
 ^^   thou  shalt  find  it  after  many  days. 
 
 2  *^  Give  a  portion  **  to  seven,  and  also  to 
 eight  ;  "  for  thou  knowest  not  what  evil  shall 
 be  upon  the  earth. 
 
 3  If  the  clouds  be  full  of  rain,  they  empty 
 themselves  upon  the  earth  :  and  if  the  tree  fall 
 toward  the  south,  or  toward  the  north,  in  the 
 place  where  the  tree  falleth,  there  it  shall  be. 
 
 4  He  that  observeth  the  wind  shall  not  sow  ; 
 and  he  tliat  reyardeth  the  clouds  shall  not 
 reap. 
 
 5  As  ^  thou  knowest  not  what  is  the  way  of 
 the  spirit,  ^  nor  how  the  bones  do  grow  in  the 
 womb  of  her  that  is  with  child  :  even  so  tliou 
 knowest  not  the  works  of  God  who  maketh  all. 
 
 6  In  the  morning  sow  thy  seed,  and  in  the 
 evening  withhold  not  thine  hand  :  for  thou 
 knowest  not  whether  f  shall  prosper,  either 
 this  or  that,  or  whether  they  botli  shall  be 
 alike  <;ood. 
 
 7  IT  Truly  the  light  is  sweet,  and  a  pleasant 
 thinfj  it  is  for  the  eyes  ^  to  behold  the  sun  : 
 
 8  13utifaman  live  many  years,  a?^/ rejoice 
 in  them  all ;  yet  let  him  remember  the  days  of 
 darkness  ;  for  they  shall  be  many.  All  that 
 Cometh  is  vanity. 
 
 9  IT  Rejoice,   O  young  man,  in  thy  youth  ; 
 
 I  See  Is.  32 
 
 t  Heb  uptn 
 ./,«  of 
 •  wntrrs. 
 
 h  Deu  15.10 
 Pro  19.17, 
 Mat  10  Ai 
 a  Cor  9.  8 
 Gal,  6.9.10. 
 Heb    6.  111. 
 
 c  I's  112.  9 
 Luke  C  31). 
 ITim  eia, 
 19. 
 
 d  Mic.  5  5, 
 Eph.  5.  10 
 
 /Johns.  8. 
 g  P3.  139.  11, 
 
 II  Ov, anger, 
 
 I  -2  Cor.  7.  I 
 2  Titn.'iSJ 
 
 in  p6.  ay.  J 
 
 I  Pio.  22  0. 
 Lam.  3.if7. 
 
 II  Or,  th« 
 
 ffTirulfTlfllif, 
 Oecii;.^  thfy 
 giiuil  liUle. 
 
 c  2  Sam.  19. 
 
 and  let  thy  heart  cheer  thee  in  the  days  of  thy 
 youth,  'and  walk  in  the  ways  of  thine  heart, 
 and  in  the  sight  of  thine  eyes:  hut  know  thon, 
 that  for  all  these  things  '"God  will  bring  thee 
 into  judgment. 
 
 10  Therefore  remove  ||  sorrow  from  thy  heart, 
 and  '  put  away  evil  from  thy  flesh  :  "'for child- 
 hood and  youth  are  vanity. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  The  Creator  is  to  be  renicmhrrcd  in  due  time.  8  The 
 preacher's  care  to  edify,  13  The  fear  of  God  is  the 
 chief  antidote  nf  vanity, 
 
 "DEMEMBER  ^now  thy  Creator  in  the  days 
 -'-*'  of  thy  youtli,  while  the  evil  days  come 
 not,  nor  the  years  draw  nigh,  ^when  thou  shalt 
 say,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  them  ; 
 
 2  While  the  sun,  or  the  light,  or  the  moon, 
 or  the  stars,  be  not  darkened,  nor  the  clouds 
 return  after  the  rain  : 
 
 3  In  the  day  when  the  keepers  of  the  house 
 shall  tremble,  and  the  strong  men  shall  bow 
 themselves,  and  ||  the  grinders  cease  because 
 they  are  few,  and  those  tliat  look  out  of  the 
 windows  be  darkened, 
 
 4  And  the  doors  shall  be  shut  in  the  streets, 
 when  the  sound  of  the  grinding  is  low,  and  he 
 shall  rise  up  at  the  voice  of  the  bird,  and  all 
 *"  the  daughters  of  musick  shall  be  brought 
 low  ; 
 
 5  Also  ivhen  they  shall  be  afraid  of  that 
 which  is  high,  and  fears  shall  he  in  the  way, 
 and   the  almond   tree  shall   flourish,  and   tlie 
 
 Chap.  XL  —  1.  Cast  thy  bread  upon  the  waters— rice  is  the  staple 
 commodity  of  India.  The  surest  method  of  ohtainiug:  a  large  crop  is 
 to  sow  the  seed  on  a  wclI-cultured  t-put,  and  when  the  plants  li;tvc 
 risen  a  few  inches,  take  them  up  with  a  ball  of  earth  and  drop  them 
 into  the  fields  while  overflowed  with  water. — Slatfutm.  The  rico 
 grounds  in  Egypt  arc  inundated  from  the  time  of  sowing-  nearly  till 
 harvest ;  the  seed  is  commouly  cast  ou  the  water. — Dr.  E.  D.  Clarke. 
 •  Sow  thy  bread-corn  before  the  rains  come'  There  may  here  be  a 
 secret  sense,  recommending  charity. — Bouthr.  Bread  is  to  be  given 
 to  such  as  are  in  distress  and  affliction,  that  have  waters  of  a  full  cup 
 wrung  out  to  tliem.~Git7/.  'Sow  thy  seed  or  cnrn  upon  the  face  of 
 the  waters,  like  seed  cast  upon  the  sea  ;*  i.  e.,  without  any  liopc  of  an 
 harvest.  'Enforcing  disinterested  liberality,*  though  'after  many 
 days,'  in  a  future  wurld,  it  shall  be  found. — Jebb.  2.  Give  a  portion 
 to  neeen,  ^c,  never  cease  giving  whilst  thou  seest  one  in  distress,  and 
 hast  wherewithal  to  relieve  h'wa.— Clarke,  3.  They   empti/.   ^c., 
 
 so  the  charitable  will  dispense  their  bounties.  And  if  the  tree  fall,  fyc., 
 there  is  uo  more  ot  its  vieldiui?  fruit ;  wr  can  we  do  good  after  we  are 
 cut  otr  by  death. — Boothr.  Whether  your  benevolence  falls  in  a  right 
 or  wrong  direction,  your  intemiun  ol  doing  good  still  remains.— So 
 some.  4.  He  that  obseructh  the  u'ind,  §t, — probably  there  was  some 
 superstitious  regard  paid  liy  the  vulgar  to  the  wind  and  clouds,  as  was 
 notoriously  the  case  with  the  heathen. —  Wit.  '  Let  not  every  circum- 
 stanc;;  of  vain  fear  di-cuurage  thee  from  doing  good  and  distributing.' 
 — Bp.  Ball.        5.  As  t/tou  knowest  not,  Sfc.^ 
 
 '  As  tlioii  knowest  not  what  is  the  way  of  the  wind, 
 Nor  how  the  bones  grow  in  the  pregnant  womb.'— BooMr. 
 
 The  import  of  this  parenthesis  i--,  that  all  the  works  of  God  are  full  of 
 mystery;  our  duty,  then,  is  to  embrace  every  opportunity  of  doing 
 good,  and  leave  events  to  him. — 117/.  6.  In  the  morning  sow  thyseed, 
 take  all  opportunities  of  exercising  thy  charity,  as  long  as  thou  livest. 
 —  Wells.  10.  Remove  sorroic,  Di^D.   '  anger,' every  kind  of  violent 
 
 passion,  all  filihiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit.— .4.  Clarke.  Soirow  is 
 here  put  for  its  cause.     Live  not  so  in  youth  as  to  biing  sorrow  in  old 
 
 age. — D'Oyley  and  Munt. 
 
 Chap.  Xli. —  1.  T/iy  Creator,  "I'l-tm,  'creators' — on  this,  Jones  of 
 Nayland,  and  others,  have  raised  an  argument  for  the  doctrine  of  the 
 trinity  ;  but  as  there  are  multitudes  of  MSS.  which  all  have  the  word 
 in  the  singular,  it  is  only  weakening  the  ti  uth  to  defend  it  on  grounds 
 which  may  bepruv*  d  untenable. — Ed.,  see  Clarke  audBuothr.  H.White 
 tfie  sun,  ^c,  ill  ihc  spring,  prime,  and  prosperity  of  \\ie.~-  Clarke. 
 The  sun,  light,  nnd  moon,  mean  the  snperiur  and  inferior  faculties  of 
 the  soul, — thf  understanding,  mii.d,  judgment,  will,  and  affections; 
 and  the  stars,  those  bright  notions  and  ideas  raised  in  the  fancy  and 
 imagination,  and  fixed  in  tlie  memory,  all  which  are  greatly  im- 
 paired or  lost  in  old  age.— G)'//;  to  the  same  purport.  Dr.  John  Smilh 
 and  Dr.  R.  Mead.  Nor  the  clouds  return,  'the  infirmities  of  old  age.' 
 — Clarke,  Gill.  Alluding  to  that  continued  rain  in  the  winter  of  J  udea, 
 when  the  lights  of  heaven  are  obscured.  This  seems  the  origin  of  the 
 metaphor,  which  strongly  paints  old  age  as  the  winter  of  life. — Ruothr. 
 3.  Keepers,  'the  hands  become  paralytic* — Clarke.  'Arms.*  —  Bp. 
 Hall.  '  Hands  ami  arms,'  the  body  which  they  defend  being  often 
 called  a  house,  (Job,  iv.  19,  and  2  Cor.  v.  I.)  —  Boothr.,  as  Gill. 
 Strung  men,  legs  unable  to  support  the  body. —  Clarke,  Bp.  Hull, 
 Bnnthr.  '  Thighs,  legs,  and  (ect.'— GUI.  Grinders, '  teeth.'— iJ/j.  Hull, 
 Gill,  Clarke.  Teeth  which  grind  down  the  food  for  the  body. — Boothr. 
 Lonk  out,  §'c.,  'eyes.*— Bp.  Hall.  '  Optic  nerves.'  4.  Donrs,  'lips,' 
 '  doors  of  the  moutli.'  Streets,  cavities  of  the  checks,  through  which  the 
 food  may  be  said  to  travel.  The  lips  are  now  closed,  to  prevent  the  food 
 from  droppmg  out,  from  loss  of  teeih. —Cltirke,  Suujid  low,  little  noise 
 in  eating,  the  teeth  being  gone. — Clarke.  Loss  of  appetite  and  indi- 
 gestion are  meaut. — Boothr.  Rise  vp,  SfC,  sleep  being  unsound. —  Gill, 
 Clarke,  Bnolhr.  Daughters  of  music,  the  voice,  with  its  vaiiety  of 
 tones. — Clarke.  The  lungs,  throat,  teeth,  mouth,  and  lips,  which 
 make  music;  or  the  ears  by  which  music  is  received. — Gill.  5.  Afraid 
 of  that  which  is  high,  step%  or  .'-tairs,  owing  to  feebleness. — Vlmke, 
 Boothr.  Fears,  of  danger  in  all  their  movements,  having  no  agdity  to 
 escape.  Almond  tree  shall  Jlnurish,  ^MV,  *  fall  off,'  the  hoary  locks  fall 
 off. — Clarke.     *  Shall  flourish  ;*  thia  tree  puts  out  white  flowers  in 
 
 REFLtCTiONS  ON  CiMP.  XI. — I.  Let  US  lam  to  exercise 
 charily.  If  God  has  been  bountiful  to  us,  let  us  be  bountiful 
 to  others  ;  and  if  he  has  given  us  but  a  little,  out  of  that  little 
 let  us  give  tu  those  that  have  less.  L'ut  let  us  remember  that 
 charity  is  not  to  be  conHned  to  the  bojy,  but  must  extend  to 
 the  soul.  ]\Iany  will  give  to  buy  the  famishing  food,  and  tlie 
 naked  clothing,  who  have  uo  compassion  on  those  that  are 
 perisbin:.;  for  luck  of  knowledge.  Let  us  feed  the  starving 
 minds  that  are  around  us,  and  let  our  charities  be  extended 
 wide  as  the  benevolence  of  our  Creator  to  all  our  fellow-men. 
 '  For  he  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  for  to  dwell 
 on  all  the  i'ace  of  the  earth.'  And  while  we  look  for  our  reward 
 in  heaven,  let  us  also  remember,  that  it  will  be  bestowed  as  an 
 act  of  grace.  For  when  we  have  done  all  these  things,  we  are 
 but  '  unprofitable  servants.'  What  can  we  merit  from  him  to 
 708 
 
 whom  we  owe  everything  ? 
 
 II.  Let  us  not  forget  the  days  of  darkness.  There  will  come 
 days  when  we  can  do  no  good  ;  it  will  then  be  sweet  to  recol- 
 lect, if  we  have  done  any.  There  will  come  days  when  pains 
 and  afflictions  shall  fall  upon  us,  and  in  the  consolations  of  the 
 sjmpalhising  what  we  have  meted  to  others  shall  be  meted  to 
 us  again.  Young  man,  it  may  be  you  abuse  life  instead  of 
 using  it.  You  are  selfish,  living  only  to  promote  your  own 
 gratification,  and  that  gratification  is,  perhaps,  of  the  worst 
 kind.  But,  oh  !  remember,  the  days  of  darkness  will  come! 
 We  have  seen  them  come  suddenly  ;  gaiety  has  been  turned  to  . 
 the  most  awful  gloom.  The  sun  has  set  at  noon-tlay,  and  the 
 voice  of  justice  has  sounded  in  the  ear  of  the  sinner  as  de- 
 spairingly he  groped  his  way  into  eternity,  *  For  all  these 
 tilings  God  will  bring  ihee  into  judgment !' 
 
The  Creator  to  be  remembered. 
 
 ECCLESIASTES,  XII. 
 
 The  preacher's  care  to  edify. 
 
 grasshopper  shall  be  a  burden,  and  desire  shall 
 fail  :  because  man  goeth  to  "  his  lonp;  home, 
 and  "  the  mourners  go  about  the  streets  : 
 G  Or  ever  the  silver  cord  be  loosed,  or  the 
 golden  bowl  be  broken,  or  the  pitcher  be 
 broken  at  the  fountain,  or  the  wheel  broken  at 
 the  cistern. 
 
 7  '  Then  shall  the  dust  return  to  the  earth  as 
 it  was:  ''and  the  spirit  shall  return  unto  God 
 '■  who  gave  it. 
 
 8  1 '  Vanity  of  vanities,  saith  the  preacher ; 
 all  is  vanity. 
 
 9  And  II  moreover,  because  the  preacher  was 
 wise,  he  still  taught  the  people  knowledge  ; 
 yea,  he  gave  good  heed,  and  sought  out,  and 
 '  set  in  order  many  proverbs. 
 
 1?  Jnb  17.  13 
 Jer.  y.  17. 
 
 /Oen.3.  19. 
 .Inb  31    15. 
 Ps.  ilO  3. 
 g  cti.  3.  21. 
 h  Nu.  16.  9:2. 
 8c  27.  16 
 .Lib  S4.H. 
 1^.  57.   16. 
 1 
 
 7pr 
 
 h.  12 
 
 1    I'M 
 
 ti;'  y 
 
 .•h 
 
 I.  a. 
 
 11  nr 
 
 ,  iiif 
 
 II,'' 
 
 .-Mtft 
 
 VU 
 
 .  4-c- 
 
 t   Hfb.  n-nrd^ 
 ofdelishl. 
 
 /ch.  1.  II 
 
 II  Or.rrn'ii 
 
 \\  Or.  TKt  eud 
 of  Ihf  mat- 
 ift,  even  'ill 
 llial  haih 
 hrr'i  luard, 
 
 u  i)eu.  6.  2. 
 Be  10    12 
 
 ,  ch.  11.9 
 Milt.  12  ;S6. 
 Act9  17.80, 
 31.  Rom.  2 
 16.  &  14.  10, 
 12.  1  Citr. 
 4.5.  2  Cor. 
 5.  10. 
 
 10  The  preacher  sought  to  find  out  t  accept- 
 able words:  and  that'ichich  teas  written  loas 
 upright,  even  words  of  trutli. 
 
 1 1  The  words  of  the  wise  are  as  goads,  and 
 as  nails  fastened  by  the  masters  of  assemblies, 
 which  are  given  from  one  sliepherd. 
 
 1-2  And  further,  by  these,  my  son,  be  admo- 
 nished :  of  making  many  books  there  is  no 
 end  ;  and  '  much  ||  study  is  a  weariness  of  the 
 flesh. 
 
 13  If  |]  Let  us  hear  the  conclusion  of  the 
 whole  matter  :  "'  Fear  God,  and  keep  his  com- 
 mandments :  for  this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man. 
 
 14  For  "God  shall  bring  every  work  into 
 judgment,  with  every  secret  thing,  whether  it 
 be  good,  or  whether  it  be  evil. 
 
 does  not  die  with  the  body,  that  it  does  not  sleep,  but  retains  its  own 
 
 consciousness,  and  it  goes  to  God  to  be  treated  according  to  the  deeds 
 
 of  the  hoAy. -Boothr.         1(1.  Acceptnble  words,  those  which  the  people 
 
 could  best  understand. -.4.  Clarke.         11.  As  goitds,  with  whicli  they 
 
 urged  on  the  ox.     Tliese  words  would  prick  sinners  in  the  heart,  and 
 
 stir  up  the  slotliful ;  and  as  nnits  to  fasten  truth  to  tlie  heart.-Gi«. 
 
 «'■:  "iheT.rng  tollow'g'roTns 'and"  throat     The   nails  or  pins  of  the  ancients  were  firmly  ftxed  to  the  wa  Is  m 
 
 MS,  '""=      "K  noi  jw  b  building.-Lon'(A.     Fastened  ii,  Ihe  masters  of  asseaMies,  wltiUi  me 
 
 men  -G  0    T™  «V '«•  corrf,     giren  from  one  shepl,erd~the  assemblies  might  he  for    he  Porpose  of 
 
 .men.-G,«.    b.  l/,e  Me,  co         J,ronouncing  discourses  of  an  eloquent  and  philosophical  nature  ;  they 
 
 have  at  Ica^t  been  common  in  the  cast  since  the  days  of  boloraon.— bo 
 
 liar     riECN  'Vyi.  Mhe  masters  of  collections,'  in  allusion  to  those 
 
 who  gathered  together  the  choice  and  pithy  sentences  and  sayings  ol 
 
 other;,  like  tlie  men  of  HezcUiah,  (Prov.  xxv.  l.)-G,/;.     Supposed  to 
 
 Fountain,  the     have  been  public  persons  appointed  by  the  l'""<^^ '!™^'' J;  "'JL „,fw° 
 see  that  nothing  improper  was  put  into  the  people  s 
 
 December,  and  may  signify  that  wliite  locks  are  the  attendants  of  old 
 „pe  —Bonlhr.  Grasshopper— a  burden,  the  most  inconsiderable  weight 
 is'ti.omuch  to  hear.— So  Clarke.  '  And  the  locust-be  a  burden  to  itsell. 
 An  old  man  is  compared  to  a  locust  on  account  of  his  emaciated  frame 
 and  its  bending  posture ;  in  this  state  a  man  is  a  burden  to  liim- 
 fclf.  ilcsire  sltalt  fail,  appetite  or  relish  for  past  pleasures  and  de 
 lights. — Bi'othr.  The  mourners, 
 raltlings  which  proceed  from  him 
 ceased,  or  the  mourning  men  and  w  _.  . 
 
 the  bond  of  union  belween  soul  and  b.dy.— G«.  The  spinal  marrow 
 having  an  exact  simililude  to  ot,e.— Clarke,  Bp.  Home.  Hudg  ,  Boothr. 
 The  golden  Imwl  •  tlie  heart.'— Bp.  Horne,  Hodg.  The  brain  contained 
 in  tlie  cranium,  the  container  being  put  for  the  contamed.— t(fir(te. 
 The  inward  membrane  of  the  skull,  which  contains  the  brain.— Gi«. 
 
 -Boothr 
 
 T/ie  ;)i(c'/ifr.  '  the  jar,' the  stomach  or  lungs.     — - --  ...  ,k„„,,„,H  •  t„  =p, 
 
 heart,  or  right  ventricle  of  the  heart,  is  meant ;  the  spring,  or  original  sheplicrd     to  se 
 
 of  the  veins,\vhich  are  the  pitcher  that  receives  the  blood,  and  trans,  hands.— yl.  Clark 
 
 mils  il  to  the  several  parts  of  the  bodv  :  when  tliey  cease  to  do  their  ,  q^  ^g  ^^ug  which  were  deeply  fixed  ; 
 
 ofiicp  the  blood  stagnates,  and  death  follows.— Gi7/.    Broken,  unfit  for  .j.^^,  collectors  were  appointed  by  one  shepherd. 
 
 its  funetions.-C.,..e.  ^;^-''^'!^:^-^^^Z]:^^^-::^£^  By  •  one  shepherd,'  Solomon  means  himself  as  king- 
 
 thehiarl.—Bii.Hornf,  Hodg.        _  ,  ^        . 
 
 blood  is  circulated  through  the  system .-iJooZ/ir.  The  great  aorta, 
 which  receives  the  blond  from  the  cistern,  the  left  ventricle  of  the  heart, 
 and  distributes  it  to  the  different  parts  of  the  system.  The  allusion  is 
 to  the  Asiatic  wheels  by  which  they  false  water  from  their  wells,  and 
 tanks,  and  deep  cisterns,  for  domestic  purposes,  or  to  irrigate  the 
 grounds.— C/«r/re.  7.  Then  shall  the  rfns<-putrefaction  and  solution 
 takes  place,  the  whole  mass  becomes  decomposed,  and  then  turns  to 
 AiiSt.— Clarke.     And  the  spirit  return— here  we  learn  that  the  spirit 
 
 Embracing  all  things  observed  by  one,' 
 that  is,  Solomon  only  wrote  what  had  fallen  under  his  own  observa- 
 tion, and  this  was  enough  for  religious  instruction,  without  writing 
 more  —So  Vathe.  12.  Making  many  books-  books  were  tlien  written 
 and  copied  on  rolls  of  cloth  or  parchment,  so  that  book-makiug  was  a 
 laborious  exercise.— l^i/. 
 
 Cr;afo7"and"th'e'ir'oblisations  to  love  and  serve  liim.     Let  '^jf'!-"^^"^'  f°'°|_^  ever  "it  might  be   could  ever  penetrate, 
 
 them  -fear  God  and  keep  h.s  commandments,  for  th.s  .s  the  eye,  ,^^0"   Prymg  J^^ever^.t.mig^^^                 .b.oughthemind 
 
 whole  duty  and  happiness  of  man.                   ,„.,,,-      ,    v„  ^-in   „nnrnfit'ihle   evil'    Lord,  mark  not  our  misdoings  and 
 
 IL  The  lamentable  injirmitks  of  old  ape.     All  that  live  to  be  —vain,  unprohtanie,  eviK    j  oiu    '                         ^^  iniquity,  O 
 
 old  must,  in  successioi^  make  the  eomploii.t  of  Barzilla.  to  J-f  ^-^^^^  ,f  tand  ^buV^h e t  irforg  v^^^^^^             Thee 
 
 David:  'Can  I  discern  between  good  and  ev.lt  can  thy  ser-  Jr"/,'^;  "^°^:^,f^j"'b  "feared  '^^^^^^^^^^^         Christ  may  we  obtain 
 
 7,L"ir/ Jlllf^mr:  :  f  . L  ""Vor„  l  'T„7r,I  Zi:  Z\  H:^^:^:^  "^ta  shaH  be\ver,astin,  life.    Amen. 
 
 evils  come  upon  us  when  the  friends  of  youth  are  frequently 
 
 THE 
 
 SONG     OF     SOLOMON. 
 
 [This  book  vras  always  received  atid  esteemed  by  the  anci 
 
 ient  Jews  as  a  valuable  part  of  the  sacred  writings,  and  they  called  it 
 
 •     the  time  of  our  Saviour  and 
 
 .TbrHoly  of  Holies.'  Dr.  Henderson  observes,  '  It  formed  a  part  of  the  Jewish  eanon  in  he  tim  °  -■"  ™  ^"^ 
 his  apostles,  and  we  are  bound  to  receive  it  as  the  Word  of  God,  and  apply  ourselves  to  the  =^'"7  °'/' ^'"N^'Y^'^Pg '^"5^^ 
 humiiitv,  and  prayer,  which  are  indispensable  .0  our  attaining  .0  a  ^"■■.'■^^' ""'^^^ V:"/'"^  °  /  '^^ia  Jerl  ofthe 
 general!-;  supposed  that  it  was  written  on  tlie  marriage  of  Solomon  with  Pharaoh  s  d.iughte  ^;.  f  ^™;;^'\°^'„^a 
 fame  op  nion,  but  that  be  had  a  Jewish  queen,  who  is  frequent  y  referred  to  .n  the  --.k;,^_Tie  Jew  shw  iters  viewed 
 
 i,  as  a  sacred'aUegory,  descriptive  of  the  union  between  God  and  his  ancient  church,  of  which  he  .s  »ty  ed    be  husband. 
 Th  s  idea  has  been 'followed  up  by   Orisien,  and  many  modern  divines,  "'^^f^^'^"^-}^  .'^'.^'"'^^^^^^^^ 
 Ainsu-ortH,lio,naine,  Gill,  ani  others,  treat  it  as  an  aUegory  respecting  Chr.st^and  Is  el^e^^ 
 
 that   'it  must  be  interpreted  mystically,  for  to  suppose  that  a  mere  epithalammni  — 
 
 canon  is  improbable  ;  and  tc  imagine  tiiat,  if  it  liad  crept  in  through  accident  or  negligence,  our   SaMour  would  not 
 709 
 
Tlic  church's  love  to  Christ. 
 
 SOLOMON'S  SONG,  I. 
 
 She  confesseth  her  deformity. 
 
 _, ,      „  ,  ,,       ,c,i,  p„Im  i«  a  sone  of  loves;  and  accordingly  we  find 
 
 have  rectified  the  mistake,  is  incredible.  Fakr  observes,  J-^^J^fJ^^^^  „>  ^  marriage.  This  n,eta,,bor  is  uniformly 
 it  treats  of  the  union  of  Chr.st  and  h.s  church  ""'•'''•  '-J^JJ^^ffiXf;  and,  in  strict°analogy  to  this  -dea,  ulolatry  ts 
 preserved  by  the  prophets;  see  Isa.  hv.5;  Jer.  xxxi.  32  ,  "°  ■"•-,/ Xpoealypse,  xix.  7;  xxi-  9;  and  Ephes.  v.  3-2; 
 Lntinually  called  adultery.  The  very  same  .mage  -  .l'-"-' ;'-^'^,.  .^^  ^fote  Lamb,  and  the  overthrow  of  b.s  enem.es. 
 and  the  page   of  scripture  .s  tr.urapbantly  closed  7'''     he  m     .a   c^  o  .^^  pronouncing  this  port.on  of  Ser.p 
 
 From  a  co.^ideration  of  all  these  crcu.nstances,  our  tr.ansla  o,  s  ^>^^^j"^  > /  .^^_      Dr  Bennett  says,  '  The  hypotheses  that 
 
 ture  to  betypical  of  the  mutual  love  of  Cbr.s  and  h.s  <^  '"^f , -^"..^^.tZy,  and  lead  many  minds  astray.  Solomon  s 
 have  been  formed  eoi,corniug  the  occasion  of  the  Song,  lav^   lone  g.^a.U     y,        .^   .^   ^  ^^  ^,_^  ^     ,^„,  ,o       of 
 
 marriage  with  Pharaol.-s  daughter  has  bee.,  the  '^-"'""te  folly-  I  ^"^l^^^^^U  but  an  epitome  of  Solomon's  .Song.  Who 
 Christ °nd  the  church,  and  nothing  else.      Such  .s  the  4oth  1  s,.hn,  wh  e.    .  ^  ^^^  ^^,^^^.^  ,,_^j  ,^  ^p^^ks 
 
 th  ks  it  necessary  to  find  some  ...a,_riage  of  Dav.d  as  the  ---  '^^^^  Tno  trm  the  same  conclusio..  concerning  the 
 solelv  of  the  marriage  of  Christ  and  b.s  church  ?     Why,  t''^'"'     ''™'^  ,;7^  unnatural  and  indecorous  lor  the  br.de 
 
 Canticles  ?•  He  ft.rther  argues,  that  the  whole  .s  P-P-  ^  "^^^^^^f,  of  all  pro^'-iety,  and  h.eonsistent  with  the  jealousy 
 to  ask  for  the  bridegroom's  love,  as  .n  ch.  v.  1  ;  a  ,'"°"^'™'';„"'^,;X  the  b  ide  in  such  a  case  would  speak  .n  d.sparag- 
 of  female  love  to  sing,  '  the  virgins  ove  thee,  and  absurd  '"  "PP°.^f„X  interpretation  he  has  given.  '  Adm.tt.ng  the 
 in^  ter...s  of  herself,  as  i,.  eh.  v.  o,  &e.,  but  all  easily  accounted  »"■■"'':,  v..ig.ns,  the  d.aughters  of  Jerusalem,  and 
 conj.  gal  relation,'  says  TV7//;„„«,  ■  the  quest.on  ,s,  who  are  ...t  nded  ^^  '  -J^'^^J^.  ;,.  ,5-  John,  iii.  29.  Cbnst 
 the  compa.,ions  of  the  bridegroon.  ?  Tins  m-ay  reeeve  son  e  S  '' ^^J^'^-^jf  (  Rev.  xxi.  9. )  Those  who  love  Cl.r.st, 
 here  is  ?he  Bridegroom,  and  the  Chr.st.an  church  '';;;  J^^^''^'  '^^^  ^Tgi.  rompanions  of  the  bride.'  Dr.  Mason  Good 
 but  are  not  formally  members  of  h.s  church,  are  h.s  fr  ends,  «^  ";«  ^ '^S"' ^  .V  ^^j„,„  ciarhe  observes,  '  W  e  do  not 
 considers  the  book  as  a  spiritual  allegory,  but  does  not  «"  "^'/^^eh  at  e.' ory  is  to  be  explained.'  '  Where,  says  he, 
 know  that  it  is  an  allegory  ;  and  if  one,  '''^P^'^'P'f  °";.  '  [^'^Xer  the  ch/reh  of  the  Gentiles,  and  the  Jew.sh  queen 
 ■  is  the  intimation  that  Solomon  represents  C'>"f  -  Pl'^rao  I'laugM  ^^^^  ^^^^  considered  .t  as  an  ode    o  be 
 
 the  church  of  the  Israelites  ?  Nowhe.-e.'  As  to  the  "'■>'"  '•<""^^  ^"""^^  p  gmith  says,  '  I  can  discover  no  ev.dence 
 s,.ng  with  music;  some  as  an  idyl,  or  shortpoem  "^  »"-  -'~ti„„  of  eclogues.'  bI  Lon-th  takes  it  to  be  .sacred 
 to  c^onceive  of  it  as  any  other  tha..  a  pastoral  .'''■';7"^'  "  '"/"S'tXos  Sacros  Veteris  1'c.deris.  Some,  as  Dr.  GooJ^^ 
 pastoral  drama.     S,>  Bauer,  Ilerm.  Sacr.,  and  Mn   Introd.  ad  L  hros  ^^.^^^^^.^  ^^^^.^,^^^  ^,,_^  „,  , 
 
 series  of  distinct  sacred  idyls  ;  some  as  a  pasto,-al  •-'?'f^'"'';.S  would  not  occur  during  the  marr.age  test.val,  and 
 pastoral,  because  Solomon  is  represented  as  tend.ng  h.s  fl"^!-^.  '.''^'^'^  ^j™  ^^_  ^.  ciarke  views  it  as  a  sort  of  mask, 
 ?hat  it  is  only  intended  to  exhibit  the  chaste  P^X"dramatircharac  eV;  and  most  as  an  epitbalamium  or  co..gratu. 
 an  entertainment  for  marriage  guests,  P-rtak.ng  ot  '^e  dramat  c  char.  ,^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^  .^^,^^  assoc.ated  w.th  Cah.et 
 
 latorv  song,  addressed  to  the  marr.ed  pa.,-  '" ''".^,°P'"'°"  ^' 'f^"^',  .nitnble  to  the  division  of  the  seven  days  occupied 
 Bp.  r.rr„::md  T.  Williams.  It  has  also  been  d.v.ded  .nto  ^";"  P^  ^'  '"  ,\„reeably  to  the  generally-rece.yed  op.n.on 
 in  the  Jewish  .narriages;  though  Dr.  Good  has  made   twehe   ^'visions.  „  y  ,    ^         ^.^  Royal  13r.de,  and 
 
 them..nes  of  the  speaker's  are  here  given  in  the  divisions  "/''<=-;- ;;;^:;rverVesfespectively  marked  (K.)  (B.). 
 Virgin  attendants  They  will  he  understood  as  speak.ng  ^'t^--^^'^'  ,  f™"^,;X„  „otes.  The  Ne«-Testan.ent  refcenee, 
 Idl  V^),  to  the  next  verse  which  bears  an  excha.,geds,g,.ature.n    he  folk,«.np^     Eph.v.-27;  vi.   15;    Phil.  .M-  12, 
 
 k^1^°;^^"%:i?;So:''-^;wkti"^^^^ 
 
 example  of  Dr.  Boothroyd,  the  Reflections  are  orattted.] 
 
 CHAP.  L 
 
 1  Tl,a  cimrdrs  lore  unto  C/,rlst.  5  She  confcsselh  h,r 
 deformity,  7  and  pr„;/eth  to  l,e  directed  to  l.>s  foci 
 SCInist  directeth  her  to  the  sl,ept,erds'  tents.-  9  and 
 shewing liisloi-etoher.Wnireth  tier uraciouspromises. 
 12  2'/ic-  c/im;-cA  and  Christ  congratulate  one  anotlier. 
 
 THE  °  song  of  songs,  which  is  Sulomon'.s. 
 2  Let  him  kiss  me  with  the  kisses  of  his 
 mou'th  :  "  for  t  thy  h)ve  is  better  than  wine. 
 
 3  Because  of  the  savour  of  thy  good  oint- 
 ments thy  name  i.i  as  ointment  poured  forth, 
 therefore  do  the  virgins  love  thee. 
 
 4  '  Draw  me,  •■  we  will  run  alter  thee  :  the 
 kins  "hath  brousjlit  me  into  his  chambers  :  we 
 wilf  be  glad  and  rejoice  in  thee,  we  w-ill  re- 
 member thy  love  more  than  wine  :  ||  the  up- 
 right love  tiiee. 
 
 5  I  am  black,  but  comely,  O  ye  daughters  of 
 
 1  Kin.».S2 
 
 6  ch.  4.  10. 
 t  Heb.  rAy 
 tvvtt. 
 
 c  Hos.  .1.4. 
 
 Jn.m6.  44. 
 
 8[  .2.  32. 
 rf  Pliil.  3.  12, 
 
 18.  11. 
 e  Ps.  A5    14, 
 
 15,.Jolm  14. 
 
 2.  Eph.  2.6 
 II  Or,  a,rv 
 
 Imp  (V,-  up- 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 /ch.  5.  9.  ft 
 6.  I. 
 
 a  ch.S.2.  in, 
 19  «ci.l,7. 
 &  !i  -i  8t  6  4. 
 John  15  11, 
 15. 
 
 .  2  Chr.  1. 
 .6,  .7. 
 
 Jerusalem,  as  the  tents  of  Kedar,  as  the  cur- 
 tains of  Solomon.  , 
 
 6  Look  not  upon  me,  because  I  am  black, 
 because  the  sun  hath  looked  upon  me  :  my 
 mothers  children  were  angry  with  trie  ;  they 
 made  me  keeper  of  the  vineyards;  but  mine 
 own  vineyard  have  I  not  kept. 
 
 7  Tell  me  O  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth, 
 where  thou  feedest,  where  thou  makest  thy 
 Jiock  to  rest  at  noon  :  for  why  should  I  be  1,  as 
 '^we  that  turneth  aside  by  the  flocks  of  thy 
 
 ''rrif'thOT  know  not,  'O  thou  fairest  among 
 women,  go  thy  way  forth  by  the  footsteps  of 
 Uie  flock,  and  feed  thy  kids  beside  the  shep- 
 
 iTfha"f;omparedthee,'=On,ylove,Hoa 
 I  company  of  horses  in  Pharaoh's  chariots. 
 
 Chap  I  —■V-.T^.K—Song  of  songs,  'most  excellent  song.'— Boo'Ar. 
 2  m)  Let  Mm  *i.«-scenf,  the  royal  apartments  of  the  women.-W.  . 
 IhL'^ahruptly  expresses  her  conjugal  »ff^^«-.f°//"  „^''°"^Vw  f  o'm 
 Wit  Boothr.  Better  than  wine-moTe  cxtiuisite  than  can  flow  liom 
 theexhil/raUon  of  svine.-ScoH.  3.  'rty  ,mme  ,s  „s  omtmeni  «-c  -- 
 this  h,  e  i^s  vlaced  in  a  parenthesis  by  Willhms.  Fragrant  ".ntn.ents 
 w-e're  especially  used  at  nuptials,  ami  on  <"""  ««','"  n  ™°Ttet  me 
 Ps  xlv  8  -  Prov.  vii.  17  ;  Amos,  vi.  6.)-Perey.  4.  Uniw  me-let  nic 
 have  the  hill  assurance  of  thy  affection.  We.  modestly  si-eakn  g  of 
 herself  m  the  ph.ral.  The  Iting.  my  spouse  is  a  p,.tc.itate.  '  '"  '''i 
 chamhers,  •  his  confidence.'-.4.  Clarke.  '  He  hath  admitted  mc  t"  be  >,is 
 „;i-e.'— H'.V.  Tlie  upright,  the  most  perfect  and  accomplished  tmd  tnee 
 worthy  of  the  highest  esteem.— .4.  Clarke. 
 
 (V.)  *  We  will  exult  and  rcjiMce  in  thee  ; 
 
 We  will  celebrate  thy  love  more  than  wine; 
 Thou  art  most  justly  beloved.'— Boofir. 
 R    fB  1  The  tents,  of  the  Bedovveen  Arabs,  woven  of  goat's  or  camel's 
 hair,  are  black  <a-  brown.-rohiej/.    So  are  the  tents  of  the  wild  Arabs, 
 710 
 
 .elngmadeof.he^shaggT.;air<>f.he.rWaekg^^ 
 
 destly  states  her  own  ™1>"'«*;''"V  Kedar  but  c.C-ly  as  the  curtains 
 Hodg.  ■  1  am  black  as  the  ten«  of  K^f  ^^^u  c^  n  ^  l„bia.-iiW„.<f. 
 of  Solomon. '—B/i.  Lotet/i.  ,'^«"',' •  ""...I  "n  of  lier  mother  by  her  for- 
 6.  Ms,  mother's  children,  perhaps  the  "^^ilton  "•  Mer  m  ) 
 
 merhusband.-H..„«.  '''!'''";f'';j^^eT'fcr  own  pesnn  through  the 
 fair  bride  had  been  ™mpellcd  10  neglect  her  envoi  _^^^^^_.^ 
 
 perpetual  toil  and  attention  ^hich  was  d  m^^^^^^ 
 
 ami  sisters.-BooMr.  , .  ^°  "'"'",,' .„„  towards  some  shady  tree, 
 and  their  flocks  may  be  ^^f"  tal  ofThe  daV-X//.  One  that  turneth 
 where  they  recline  during  the  beat  of  ""<>  '•"J'-  ,v  ,  jf  i,,,,,,  know 
 
 aside,  '  a  wanderer.'- Ho«4.,  ^f  ^'^^'^ ^f th^'fontsteps  of  the  flock,  and 
 «„(,  *e.-the  virgins  '''J^,='  '\" '"^^^^XX'  teL-     ^"•'  J'"''  ""> 
 
 ^/'L^-^ir^r '"{"oi'i'eTthe  ^re-ldsTn-pCaoh's  chariot.'-^/.  «»o,f. 
 
Love  of  Christ  and  his  church. 
 
 SOLOMON^S  SONG,  II. 
 
 Hope  and  calling  of  the  church. 
 
 10  'Thy   cheeks   are    comely  with   rows   of 
 jewels,  thy  neck  with  chains  off/old. 
 
 1 1  We  will  make  thee  horders  of  gold  with 
 studs  of  silver. 
 
 12  If  While  the  king  sitteth  at  his  table,  my 
 spikenard  sendeth  forth  the  smell  thereof. 
 
 13  A  handle  of  myrrh  is  my  wellbeloved  unto 
 me  ;  he  shall  lie  all  night  betwixt  my  breasts. 
 
 14  My  beloved  is  unto  me  as  a  cluster  of 
 II  camphire  in  the  vineyards  of  En-gedi. 
 
 \d  ^  Behold,   thou    art    fair,   ||  my  love;  be- 
 hold, thou  art  fair ;  thou  hast  doves'  eyes. 
 
 16  Behold,  thou   art   fair,  my  beloved,  yea, 
 pleasant :  also  our  bed  is  green. 
 
 17  The  beams  of  our  house  are  cedar,  and 
 our  II  rafters  of  fir. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  The  mutual  love  of  Christ  a?id  his  church.  8  The 
 hope,  10  ami  lalh'/K/  of  the  church.  14  Christ's  care 
 of  the  cli  arch.  16  2'lie  profession  of  the  church,  her 
 faith  and  hope. 
 
 T  AM  i\\Q  rose  of  Sharon,  and  the  lily  of  the 
 •*-  valleys. 
 
 II  Or,  C^pr(>l». 
 .-li    4.  13. 
 k  c\\   4.  ).  8e 
 
 II  <-)'■.  "'V 
 cumpaitiii 
 
 ]  Or,  Kat- 
 ie riet. 
 
 t  Hch,  /  fir- 
 
 t  !Ieb.  house 
 
 ufwine. 
 t  Heb   ittnw 
 
 nie  Kith  ap. 
 
 b  di.  8.  3 
 
 ;  cli.  3.  £.  & 
 8.  4. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 JtuuTtthiiig. 
 
 As  the  lily  among  thorns,  so  is  my  love 
 among  the  daughters. 
 
 3  As  the  apple  tree  among  the  trees  of  tlie 
 wood,  so  is  my  beloved  among  the  sons,  f  I 
 sat  down  under  his  shadow  with  great  delight, 
 ■  and  his  fruit  was  sweet  to  my  f  taste. 
 
 4  He  l)rought  me  to  the  f  banqueting  house, 
 and  his  banner  over  me  was  love. 
 
 5  Stay  me  with  flagons,  f  comfort  me  with 
 apples  :  for  I  am  sick  of  love. 
 
 6  ^  His  left  hand  is  under  my  head,  and  his 
 right  hand  doth  embrace  me. 
 
 7  f "  I  charge  you,  O  ye  daughters  of  Jerusa- 
 lem, by  the  roes,  and  by  the  hinds  of  the  field, 
 that  ye  stir  not  up,  nor  awake  mi/  love,  till  he 
 please. 
 
 8  t  The  voice  of  my  beloved!  behold,  he 
 Cometh  leaping  upon  the  mountains,  skipping 
 upon  the  hills. 
 
 9  ''  My  beloved  is  like  a  roe  or  a  young  hart : 
 behold,  he  standeth  behind  our  wall,  he  look- 
 eth  forth  at  the  windows,  f  slicwing  himself 
 through  the  lattice. 
 
 10  My  beloved    spake,  and    said   unto    me. 
 
 Boothr.  'To  the  horse  in  Pharaoh's  chariots.'  The  Arabians  are 
 extravagantly  fond  of  their  horses,  and  caress  them  as  if  they  were 
 children, — Hnr.  The  horses  of  Egypt  are  remarkable  for  their  staieli- 
 ness  and  beauty. — Maillet.  Formerly,  the  kings  of  Syria  and  the  Hit- 
 tites,  as  well  as  Solomon,  bought  their  horses  at  a  high  rate.  The  qua- 
 lities which  forraiheir  beauty  are — tallness,  proportionable  corpulency, 
 and  stateliness  of  manner;  the  same  qualities  which  they  admire  in 
 their  women. — See  Esmoyit  and  Herman's  Trav.,  and  Niebuhr^s  Trnv. 
 Upon  this  principle  is  founded  the  compliment  of  Solomon  ;  and  it  is 
 remarkable,  that  the  eh^gant  Theocritus,  in  his  Epithalaminm  for  the 
 celebrated  queen  Helen,  uses  exactly  the  same  language,  comparing 
 her  to  the  horse  in  the  chariots  of  Thessaly.  Plato  and  Horace  have 
 also  both  preserved  the  same  image,  and  many  Greek  names  of  women 
 are  compounded  with  tliat  of  the  horse,  as  Hippe,  Hippodamia,  Mer- 
 cippe,  Alcippe,  &c. — Percy,  WU.  On  tiiis  comparison  it  appears,  that 
 the  opinion  is  chiefly  founded  of  this  poem  being  written  on  occasion 
 of  the  marriage  with  Pharaoh's  daughter.  But  the  mention  of  the 
 horses  in  Pharaoh's  chariot,  and  the  spouse's  coming  up  out  of  the 
 wilderness,  (a  wilderness  lying  between  Egypt  and  Canaan.)  will  hardly 
 be  considered  as  arguments  by  impartial  reasoners.  We  might  as  well 
 insist  on  it,  that  she  came  frnm  Syria  or  Moab,  because  the  bridegroum 
 calls  her  to  come  from  Lebanon  and  from  Hermon. — Scott.  10.  Comely 
 with  rows  of  jeivels—Olearius  supposes  the  head-dress  of  the  bride  to  be 
 the  same  with  that  now  frequently  used  in  the  east.  He  says,  tliat  all 
 the  head-diess  of  the  Persian  ladies  consists  in  two  or  three  rows  of 
 pearls  worn  round  the  head,  beginning  at  the  forehead,  and  descending 
 down  the  cheeks  and  under  the  chin,  so  that  their  faces  seem  to  be  set 
 in  pearls. — Hnr,  The  Arabian  ladies  have  gold  cuius  hanging  di>wn  on 
 their  foreheads  and  cheeks,  and  wear  gold  chains  about  their  necks. — 
 Greenf.  11.  Wewill  make  thee  borders  of  ffold,  fyc,  that  is,  ornaments 
 of  jewellery,  in  which  there  may  bean  allusion  to  the  dress  or  furniture 
 of  Pharaoh's  horses, — Wil.  ]>.  (B.)  While  the  kini:,  fyc,  viy  spike- 
 
 nard, or  nard,  a  plant  growing  in  the  east,  whose  root  is  small  and 
 slender  ;  it  puts  forth  a  long  stalk,  and  has  several  ears  or  spikes  e\  en 
 with  the  groujid. — Cut.  i3.  A  bundle  of  myrrh,  this  is  a  gum,  and 
 must,  therefore,  have  been  enclosed  in  a  casket,  in  which  form  it  was 
 commonly  worn  in  the  bosoms  of  females  of  the  higher  class. — so  Hnr. 
 14.  Camphire,  '  cypress  flowers.'  Its  flowers  are  collected  into  clusters 
 like  the  lilac,  and  diffuse  around  the  sweetest  odours.  The  women  of 
 Egypt  carry  them  in  their  hand,  and  perfume  their  bosoms  with  them. 
 — Boothr.  This  does  not  refer  to  the  tree  known  by  that  name,  but  an 
 aromatic  plant,  properly  called  cj  prus. — Put.  The  henna  is  meant,  an 
 elegant  and  odoriferous  plant,  which,  Sovnini  says,  was  worn  by  ladies 
 as  a  nosegay. — Shaw,  Sir  W.  Jones  j  see  SonninVs  Trav.  The  Chinese 
 put  the  perfumes  here  mentioned  into  large  jars,  with  holes  at  the  top, 
 to  perfume  the  rooms  when  full  of  company. — Sut.  En-gedi,  was  a 
 place  near  Jerichn,  famous  for  palm  trees. — Gill.  The  Helirews  did  not 
 restrict  the  term  vineyards  to  ground  devoted  to  the  culture  of  vines, 
 but  included  in  it  every  kind  of  plantation  for  the  culture  of  curious  and 
 exotic  plants. — Cat.,  Har.  15.  (K.)   Behold,   thou  art  fair,  means 
 
 beautiful,  without  any  reference  to  the  skin. —  Wil.  Doves'  eyes—Xo 
 conceive  the  force  of  this  exptession,  we  must  see  the  large  and  beau- 
 tiful eyes  of  the  doves  of  Syria.— fioo/Ar.  The  comparison  is  not  with 
 their  eyes,  but  with  the  doves  themselves,  'thine  eyes  are  doves.' — 
 Wit.  'Are  like  doves.'— Kr/rfg".  l6.  (B.)  Behold,  §-c.,  our  bed  is  i:reen, 
 'verdant  is  our  carpet.' — Wil.  'How  green  is  our  spread  couch  !' — 
 Boothr.,  so  Hodff.  She  describes  the  grove  in  which  they  were  sitting", 
 where  the  spreading  branches  of  the  firs  and  the  cedars  are  poetically 
 called  the  beams  and  the  roof  of  their  chamber. — Boothr.  %  to  the  same 
 purport,  HI.  Good  and  Percy.  17.  Rafters,  'roof.' — Hodg.  With  this 
 chapter,  the  first  day  of  the  marriage  ceremonies  is  supposed  to  end. — 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  H.  —  1.  (BninE  in  continuation.)     T  am  the  rose  of  Sharon — 
 Sharon  was  a  fertile  plain,  famous  for  its  pastures. — 1  Chron.  xxvii.  29. 
 The  soil  being  dry  and  sandy  was  well  adapted  for  roses,  and  it  is  pro- 
 bable they  were  here  cultivated  for  their  use  in  perfumes,  which  form 
 711 
 
 an  important  article  of  commerce  in  the  east.— TF(7.  AvOos  tw  TreSiw, 
 '  tlie  flower  of  the  field,'  Sept.  '  The  rose  of  the  field,'  so  most  A7icietH 
 Versio?ts.  It  is  most  obvious  to  suppnse  that  the  bridegroom  here 
 spcRks. —Scntt,  who  usually  follows  Henr?/  ;  the  same  opinion  is  adopted 
 by  Dr.  Watts,  Durham,  Sut.,  &c.  Whether  the  bridegroom  or  bride  is 
 here  speaking  is  not  certain.— So  Gill.  The  bride  now  speaks,  and 
 seems,  with  becoming  modesty,  to  represent  her  beauty  as  nnthing 
 extraordinary,  as  a  mere  common  wild  flower.— Perry ;  this  opinion  is 
 that  of  the  Jewish  Doctors,  of  Ains.,  Brightmnn,  Lyra,  Vnt.,  Cocc, 
 Mich.,  Har.,  Wi/.,  Boothr.,  M.  Good,  and  Clarke.  Lily  of  the  valleys, 
 —not  the  litautiful  flower  so  called  by  us,  but  a  Syrian  plant  of  the  lily 
 kind,  wont  to  grow  in  low  lands. — Hnr. 
 
 '  I  am  only  a  rose  of  Sharon, 
 A  mere  lily  of  tlio  valleys!' — Boothr, 
 
 2.  (K.I  As  the  lily— this  is  the  reply  to  the  modest  observation  in  the 
 preceding  verse.— Hetc.  3.  (B.)  Apple,  'citron,*  Chnld. ;  Par.,  Wit., 
 Boothr.  The  eastern  apples  are  very  indifferent,  but  the  citrons  are 
 very  fine. — RusseWs  Aleppo.  J  sat  down  under  his  shadow — having  com- 
 pared her  beloved  to  a  tree,  she  compares  the  enjoyment  of  his  com- 
 pany to  sitting  under  its  shadow,  and  eating  plentifully  of  its  fruit  — 
 Wil.  This  language  is  addressed  to  the  virgin  attendants,  the  biide- 
 gronm  being  supposed  to  have  retired  to  rest.  4.  He  brought  vie,  ^c, 
 'O  bring  me'.'— Boothr.,  as  Sept.  Banqueting  house,  'the  house  of 
 wine.' — Hodg.  Probably  a  wine  cave,  or  cool  recess  in  the  royal  gar- 
 dens.-U'lV.  The  ancients  preserved  their  wine  in  large  pitchers,  raised 
 against  the  wall  in  some  upper  apartment  of  the  house.— See  Hojh. 
 Odyss.,  lib.  ii.  *Wine  grotto.'— Gfven.  'House  of  delight,'— iV.  Good. 
 Banner— it  is  possible  that  the  Hebrews  might  raise  a  banner  over  their 
 tents  on  occasions  of  festivity.— TFi7.  6.  Stay  me  with  Jlagons— this 
 
 describes  one  falling  into  a  swoon,  and  to  be  restored  with  strong 
 reviving  smells. — Pai 
 
 '  Support  me  with  refreshments  ; 
 
 Strew  citrons  round  me  ; 
 
 For  I  am  sick  of  love.' 
 The  second  line  gives  us  the  idea  of  a  person  seated  on  a  carpet,  as  in 
 the  east,  and  surrounded  with  fruit  and  other  delicacies. — Wil. 
 
 '  Support  me  with  cordials, 
 Support  me  with  citrons. 
 For  still  I  languish  with  love.'— Boof/ir. 
 
 6.  His  left  hand,  ^c.,  '  O  that  his  left  hand,'  &c.,  to  support  her  in  the 
 act  of  fainting.— So  Doerff/7cfrt.  'His  left  hand  was,*  8i.c.~Wil.,  for 
 the  next  verse  evidently  represents  him  as  in  sleep. — Hew.  7.  By  the 
 roes  andby  the  hinds,  a  rural  form  of  conjuring  ;  it  is  natural  to  con- 
 jure a  person  by  whatever  is  most  aflfccting,  dear,  or  valued. — Percy. 
 
 *  Before  the  antelopes,  and  before  the  hinds  of  the  field,* — Wil. 
 Among  the  Hindoos  it  would  be  considered  barbarous  in  the  extreme  to 
 wake  a  person  out  of  his  sleep.— 7to6.  8.  The  voice,  ^c— these  words 
 open  a  new  scene,  and,  according  to  many  expositors,  a  new  day_:  but 
 as  repose  is  usual  in  warm  countries  in  the  day  time,  this  may  refer  to 
 the  afternoon  or  evening.— Wf7.  The  bride  relates  how  the  bridegroum, 
 accompanied  with  his  companions,  and  equipped  for  rural  sports,  was 
 come,  and  called  on  her,  under  her  window,  inviting  her  to  come  forth 
 and  enjoy  the  beauties  of  the  spring.- Boo/Ar.  Leaping— this  appears 
 to  be  highly  characteristic  of  the  gambols  of  the  shepherds,  and  points 
 out  the  ecstasy  with  which  those  who  were  enamoured  ran  to  their 
 mates.— ^.  Clarke.  9-  Like  a  roe  or  a  young  hart,  animals  much 
 esteemed  for  the  beauty  of  tlieir  eyes,  the  elegance  of  their  form,  and 
 their  graceful  agility,  (comp.  2  Sara.  i.  \Q.)— Boothr.  Behind  our  wall, 
 ^c.— the  eastern  buildings  generally  surrounded  a  square  inner  court. 
 The  bridegroom  seems  here  to  be  described  as  entering  tlie  outward 
 apartments,  and  gradually  seen  as  he  made  his  fniproach  ;  first,  behind 
 the  wall ;  then  looking  through  thcwiiulow;  and,  lastly,  putting  his 
 
C/irist's  care  of  the  church. 
 
 SOLOMON'S  SONG,  III.,  IV. 
 
 "  Rise   up,  my  love,  my  fair   one,   and   come 
 away. 
 
 1 1  For,  lo,  the  winter  is  past,  tlie  rain  is  over 
 and  gone ; 
 
 12  The  flowers  appear  on  the  earth  ;  the  time 
 of  ihe  singing  of  birds  is  come,  and  the  voice 
 of  the  turtle  is  heard  in  our  land  ; 
 
 13  The  tig  tree  putteth  forth  her  green  figs, 
 and  the  vines  with  the  tender  grape  give  a 
 good  smell.  'Arise,  my  love,  my  fair  one,  and 
 come  away. 
 
 14  1l  O  my  dove,  that  art  in  the  clefts  of  the 
 rock,  in  the  secret  places  of  the  stairs,  let  me 
 see  thy  conntenance,  ^  let  me  hear  thy  voice  ; 
 for  sweet  is  thy  voice,  and  thy  countenance  is 
 comely. 
 
 13  Take  us  ''  the  foxes,  the  little  foxes,  that 
 spoil  the  vines :  for  our  vines  have  tender 
 grapes. 
 
 IC  K  '  My  helovcd  is  mine,  and  I  am  his:  he 
 feedeth  among  the  lilies. 
 
 17  '  Until  tiie  day  break,  and  the  shadows 
 flee  away,  turn,  my  beloved,  and  he  thou  '  like 
 a  roe  or  a  young  hart  upon  tlie  mountains  ||  of 
 Bether. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 The  church'' s  Ji'ihf.  and  victory  in  temptation, 
 church  qloricth  in  Christ, 
 
 6  Th( 
 
 "DY  °  night  on  my  bed  I  sought  him  whom 
 •^  my  soul  loveth  :  I  sought  him,  but  I  found 
 him  not. 
 
 2  I  will  rise  now,  and  go  about  the  city  in 
 the  streets,  and  in  the  broad  ways  1  will  seek 
 him  whom  my  soul  loveth  :  I  sought  him,  but 
 I  found  him  not, 
 
 .3  ^  The  watchmen  that  go  about  the  city 
 found  me  :  to  whom  I saidy  Saw  ye  him  whom 
 my  soul  loveth? 
 
 4  It  was  but  a  little  that  I  passed  from  tliem, 
 but  I  found  him  whom  my  soul  loveth  :  I  lield 
 him,  and  would  not  let  him  go,  until  I  had 
 
 /.  Tfi.  so.  13, 
 Er.ek.  13.4. 
 I. like  1:1.3::. 
 
 til,  H.  \A. 
 II  Oi,  o/di- 
 
 I  cli.  1.   16. 
 «:  5.  12. 
 
 A  cli,  6.  5. 
 <|  Of,  that  ear 
 of.  *c. 
 e  ch.  6.  6. 
 
 The  chnrcKs  fight. 
 
 brought  him  into  my  mother's  house,  and  into 
 the  chamber  of  her  tliat  conceived  me. 
 
 5  "  I  charge  you,  O  ye  daughters  of  Jerusa- 
 lem, by  the  roes,  and  by  the  hinds  of  the  field, 
 that  ye  stir  not  up,  nor  awake  my  love,  till  he 
 please. 
 
 6  IT  "  Who  is  this  that  cometh  out  of  the  wil- 
 derness like  pillars  of  smoke,  perfumed  with 
 myrrh  and  frankincense,  with  all  powders  of 
 the  merchant? 
 
 7  Behold  his  bed,  which  is  Solomon's  ;  three- 
 score valiant  men  are  about  it,  of  the  valiant 
 of  Israel. 
 
 8  They  all  hold  swords,  being  expert  in  war: 
 every  man  hath  his  sword  upon  his  thigh  be- 
 cause of  fear  in  the  night. 
 
 9  King  Solomon  made  himself  ||  a  chariot  of 
 the  wood  of  Lebanon. 
 
 10  He  made  the  pillars  thereof  of  silver,  th^ 
 bottom  thereof  o/'gold,  the  covering  of  it  of 
 purple,  tile  midst  thereof  being  paved  with 
 love,  for  the  daughters  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 1 1  Go  forth,  O  ye  daughters  of  Zion,  and  be- 
 hold king  Solomon  with  the  crown  wherewith 
 his  mother  crowned  him  in  the  day  of  his  es- 
 pousals, and  in  the  day  of  the  gladness  of  his 
 heart. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 1  Chri&t  setteth  forth  the  (/races  of  the  church.     8  He 
 shewiih  his  love  to  her.      16    The  church  prayetk  tu 
 he  math  fit  fur  his  pnse'ice. 
 
 "DEHOLD,  "  thou  art  fair,  my  love  ;  behold, 
 -'-'  thou  art  fair ;  thou  ha,^t  doves'  eyes  within 
 thy  locks  :  thy  hair  is  as  a  ''flock  of  goats,  ||  that 
 appear  from  mount  Gilead. 
 
 2  ''Thy  teeth  arc  like  a  flock  of  sJieep  that 
 are  even  shorn,  wiiicb  came  up  from  the  wash- 
 ing ;  whereof  every  one  bear  twins,  ar.d  none 
 is  barren  among  them. 
 
 3  Thy  lips  are  like  a  thread  of  scarlet,  and 
 thy  speech  is  comely  :  ^  thy  temples  are  like  a 
 piece  of  a  pomegranate  within  thy  locks. 
 
 head  Uirongh  the  lattice.— Pfrri/.  The  wall  may  signify  the  '  ffrcen 
 wall.'  as  it  were,  of  a  kinsk,  or  eastern  aibour.— //(jr.  12.  0/the 
 singing,  rrir  To/irit,  '  of  cutting,'  Sept.,  i.  e.,  of  pruning  vines,  which  the 
 word  may  signify,  and  which  agrees  with  the  season.— TT'i/.  The 
 turtle,  'a  bird  of  passage.'  as  appears  from  Jcr.  viii  ",  where  it  is  said 
 lo  know  its  time,  Script.  Illus. ;   Expos.  Jnd,  13.  With  the  tender 
 
 grape,  ffc,  '  with  their  tender  huds  yield  fragrancy.' — Mil.  The  ver- 
 sions understand  this  of  the  /lowers  of  the  vinej  tliese  were  formerly 
 put  into  the  new  wine  to  give  it  a  One  flavour.— .-1.  Clarke,  so  Fercj. 
 Eastern  vines,  when  in  blonm,  arc  extremely  fragrant.  \\.  In  the 
 
 clefts,  fyc. — doves,  in  those  countries,  usually  take  up  their  abode  in  the 
 hollow  places  of  rocks  and  cliffs.— //«r.  The  king  requests  her  to  quit 
 the  clefts,  Stc,  to  which  he  conipiires  her  palace  of  stone  or  mar. 
 ble. — Boothr.  Windows  in  the  east  are  not  only  narrow,  but  have 
 bars;  the  interposition  of  these  prevents  a  full  view  of  tlie  lady's 
 person,  sothatshr-  resembles  thL  dove  partly  seen  from  within  the  clefts. 
 — Hew.  Stairs,  njllDn.  'precipices.' — Green,  Har.,  Boothr.  It  may 
 refer  here  to  the  ancient  custom  of  building  towers  in  the  east  to  accom- 
 modate doves. — Hob.  15.  Take  us  the  fvaes,  ffc,  *  and  ye  companions 
 take  for  us  the  jackals.*— itoo/Ar.  Jackals  of  the  lesser  kinds  eat  roots 
 and  fruits,  and  trequent  the  gardens  every  night. — Shaw.  Guards  are 
 obliged  to  be  set  over  the  vines  to  preserve  them  every  night  from  these 
 cteailnres.—nussefqtiist.  The  literal  sense  is,  'take  care  of  the  vine- 
 yard: set  Die  traps  for  the  fo.\es  which  are  spoiling  the  vines  and 
 destroying  the  >  oung.' — Clarke.  I6.  Feedeth  among  the  lilies—so  sweet 
 is  his  breath,  that  he  may  be  said  to  feed  among  lilies. — Boothroyd. 
 17-  Break,  '  breathe.* — WiL,  as  Percy  and  Hndg.  There  is  a  peculiar 
 beauty  in  iliis  expression  :  in  those  warm  climates  the  morning  opens 
 with  a  refrcshiiif^  breeze. — So  Pereij.  Be  thou  like  a  roe— the  spouse 
 desires  bis  speedy  return  with  the  swiftness  of  the  antelope  or  young 
 heart.— T^tV.  With  this  chapter  the  second  night  is  supposed  to  end.— 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  HI.  —  i.  (Bride  still  speaks.)  Bi/  night  on  my  bed—she  here 
 relates  a  dream.  She  sought  her  absent  beloved  about  the  city,  and  at 
 length  found  him.  —  Hufwigel,  Dathe,  Voederlein,  Wil.,  Boothr. 
 4.  House,  rather  *  apartments,'  in  the  seraglio.  6.  Who  is  t/iis?— the 
 procession  is  here  seen  at  a  distan*  e,  from  the  bride's  apartment.— 
 Hew.  This  dialogue  is  considered  hy  Boothroyd  as  taken  up  by  the 
 bride  from  a  kiosk  or  arbnur;  but  r^rcij  and  Williams  think  the  com- 
 pauions  here  ^[^eaM.  from  the  wilderness,  i.e.,  Uvm  the  quarter  of  the 
 71l> 
 
 royal  gardens  towards  the  wilderness. — Percy.  Smoke,  perfumed  — 
 probably  rich  incense,  or  other  perfumes,  might  be  burnt  to  regale  the 
 monarch  as  he  was  borne  along.— /Jo o^/ir.  It  is  customary  at  eastern 
 m:^rriages  to  lead  the  procession  with  silver-giit  pots  of  perfumes  j  these 
 were  here  so  liberally  burnt  as  to  form  pillars. — Orient.  Cast.  7.  (V.j 
 Behold  his  bed,  ffc,  'Behold!  this  is  the  palanquin  of  Solomon.' — 
 Boothr.,  as  Har.,  so  Wxt.        9.  Made  himself  a  chmiat— 
 
 I hath  made  for  himself 
 
 This  couch  of  the  wood  of  Lebanon.' 
 
 For  the  daughters,  f,c.,  *  by  the  daughters,'  &c.— Boothr.  lO.  Paved 
 with  loi'c—a.  Turkish  couch  is  made  of  wooden  latiices  painted  and 
 gilded;  the  inside  is  painted  with  flowers  and  niottos.  Solomon's 
 couch  might  thus  be  decorated,  and  the  paving  with  love  may  refer  to 
 the  most  striking  of  the  chaste  history  of  this  event  being  worked  iu 
 embroidery  by  the  daughters  of  Jerusalem. — Clarke,  and  JW.  Good.  The 
 Jewish  women  were  famous  for  these  curious  works,  (see  Jurig.  v,  30; 
 Prov.  xxxi.  '22,  24.)— Par.  II.  (B.)  Go  forth,  §c.,  his  mother  crowned 
 him — crowns  or  g'lrlands  were  commonly  put  on  the  h^ads  of  new- 
 married  people.  One  of  the  parents  seem  to  have  performed  it  among 
 the  Jews.  Among  the  Greeks,  the  mother  crowned  the  bride.  The 
 nuptial  crowns  of  the  Greeks  and  Roman';  were  chaplets  of  leaves  and 
 flowers.  The  Hebrews  olten  used  gold,  silver,  \c.— Pert'//.  Day  vf  his 
 espousals,  'the  day  of  his  contracting  atftnity  by  marriage.' — Vl'il. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  (K.)  Behold,  ^c. — Solomon  being  introduced  to  the 
 bride,  commends  her  person,  ^c.  Fair,  'beautiful.'  Thou  httst  doves* 
 eyes,  'thine  eyes  are  doves  behind  thy  veil.' — Wil.  'Are  as  doves' 
 eyes.'  Thy  hair  is  as  n  flock  of  goats — the  hair  of  the  Oriental  go:it  is 
 soft  as  the  most  delicate  silk,  aud  bears  much  resemblance  to  the  fine 
 curls  of  a  woman's  hair. — Boch.  That  appear  from  mount  Gilead,  the 
 comparison  may  chiefly  turn  on  the  head  being  covered  uith  the  fine 
 flowing  lock';,  as  Mount  Gilead  was  with  the  shaggy  herd.  —  jT/icA. 
 2.  Like  u flock,  'a  shorn  flock.'— fforfg'.,  Boothr.  Refers  to  whiteness, 
 order,  and  perfection.— BooMr.,  as  Loath.  3.  A  thread  of  scarlet, 
 
 thin,  slender,  and  brigh*  red. — Lowth.     Thy  temples,  Sfc. — 
 
 '  Like  the  flower  of  the  pomegranate 
 
 Are  thy  cheeks  behind  thy  veil.'— Ifi7. 
 '  As  the  blossom  of  the  pomegranate 
 
 So  are  thy  cheeks  beneath  thy  locks.*— Boo/Ar. 
 
C/irisl'.i  love  t(i  the  church. 
 
 SOLOMON'S  SONG,  V 
 
 A  description  of  Chriit. 
 
 4  "^  Thy  neck  is  like  tlie  tower  of  David 
 biiiided  'for  an  armoury,  vvliereon  tliere  hang 
 a  thousand  bucklers,  all  sliields  of  mighty 
 men. 
 
 5  i^  Thy  two  breasts  arc  like  two  young  roes 
 tliat  are  twins,  which  feed  among  the  lilies. 
 
 G  "  Until  the  day  f  break,  and  the  shadows  flee 
 away,  I  will  get  me  to  the  mountain  of  myrrh, 
 and  to  the  hill  of  frankincense. 
 
 7  '  Thou  art  all  fair,  my  love  ;  there  is  no  spot 
 111  thee. 
 
 8  H  Come  with  me  from  Lebanon,?))^  spouse, 
 with  me  from  Lebanon  :  look  from  the  top  of 
 Amana,  from  the  top  of  Shenir  '  and  Hermon, 
 from  the  lions'  dens,  from  the  mountains  of  the 
 leopards. 
 
 9  Thou  hast  ||  ravished  my  heart,  my  sister, 
 my  spouse  ;  thou  hast  ravished  my  heart  with 
 one  of  thine  eyes,  with  one  chain  of  thy 
 neck. 
 
 10  How  f;\ir  is  thy  love,  my  sister,??!^  spouse! 
 '  how  much  better  is  thy  love  than  wine  I  and 
 tlie  smell  of  tliine  oiutm'ents  than  all  spices! 
 
 1 1  Thy  lips,  O  my  spouse,  drop  as  the  honey- 
 comb :  "'  honey  and  milk  arc  under  thy  tongue  ; 
 and  the  smell  of  thy  garments  is  "like  the 
 smell  of  Lebanon. 
 
 12  A  garden  f  inclosed  is  my  sister,  my 
 spouse  ;  a  spring  shut  up,  a  fountain  sealed. 
 
 13  Thy  plants  ocean  orchard  of  pomegranates, 
 with  pleasant  fruits  ;  ||  camphire,  with  spike- 
 nard, 
 
 14  Spikenard  and  saffron;  calamus  and  cin- 
 namon, witli  all  trees  of  frankincense  ;  myrrh 
 and  aloes,  with  all  the  chief  spices  : 
 
 13  A  fountain  of  gardens,  a  well  of  "living 
 waters,  and  streams  from  Lebanon. 
 
 IG  H  Awake,  O  north  wind  ;  and  come,  thou 
 south  ;  blow  upon  my  garden,  that  the  spices 
 thereof  may  flow  out.  ''  Let  my  beloved  come 
 into  his  garden,  and  eat  his  pleasant  fruits. 
 
 B.  c 
 cir.  lOM. 
 
 .  jh.  7   I-. 
 /Ncli..1.  13 
 
 g  See  Pro.  5 
 19.  ch.  7-  3. 
 
 A  ch.  2.  17. 
 t  Het>. 
 brftilhe. 
 
 i  Eph.  5.  37. 
 
 1]  Or,  tahen 
 
 Jch    I.  II. 
 
 •  l.nkc  If..  7, 
 1(1,  .l.jhn  3. 
 29.  iS(  15. U 
 
 II  Or,  i/,(i  be 
 
 Willi  lam. 
 d  Hl-v..'1.W, 
 
 m  Pro.  24. 
 
 13,  1-1.  ch. 
 
 b    1. 
 ,1  Gen  .27.27 
 
 Ho».  11  6,7 
 f  Hcb. 
 
 1  Or,  eiifrfit, 
 cb.  1".  H. 
 
 o  .lohn  4.  in 
 Si  7.  38, 
 
 p  ch.  5.  I. 
 
 B.  <:. 
 
 cir.  loll. 
 
 II  Or,  (as 
 some  read) 
 
 t  Hcb.  piiis- 
 iti'ig  itbi'Ul. 
 
 /ch   3  3 
 
 (  Heb.  wlu:i 
 
 H  ch,  1, 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  C/irist  awahetli  tlie  rliureli  kUIi  liis  callimj.  2  T/ie 
 cliurcli  Imviiiij  a  taste  nf  ClirhVs  love  is  sick  of  love. 
 9  A  descrijition  of  Clirist  by  liis  i/riiees. 
 T  "  AM  come  into  my  garden,  my  sister,  my 
 -•-  spouse  :  I  have  gathered  my  myrrh  with  my 
 spice  ;  "  I  have  eaten  my  honeycomb  with  my 
 honey  ;  I  have  drunk  my  wine  with  my  milk  : 
 eat,  O  '  friends  ;  drink,  |]  yea,  drink  abundantly, 
 O  beloved. 
 
 2  II  I  sleep,  but  my  heart  waketh  :  it  is  the 
 voice  of  my  beloved  •"  that  knocketh,  sayiiu/, 
 Open  to  me,  my  sister,  my  love,  my  dove,  my 
 undeflled  :  for  my  head  is  filled  with  dew,  and 
 my  locks  with  the  drops  of  the  night. 
 
 3  I  have  put  oft'  my  coat ;  how  shall  I  put  it 
 on?  I  have  washed  my  feet ;  how  shall  I  defile 
 them  ? 
 
 4  My  beloved  put  in  his  hand  by  the  hole  of 
 the  door,  and  my  bowels  were  moved  ||  for 
 him. 
 
 3  I  rose  up  to  open  to  my  beloved  ;  and  tny 
 bands  dropped  icith  myrrh,  and  my  fingers  with 
 t  sweet  smelling  myrrh,  upon  the  bandies  of 
 the  lock. 
 
 6  I  opened  to  my  beloved  ;  but  my  beloved 
 had  withdrawn  himself,  and  was  gone  :  my  soul 
 failed  when  he  spake  :  '  I  sought  him,  but  I 
 could  not  find  him  ;  I  called  him,  but  he  gave 
 me  no  answer. 
 
 7  'The  watchmen  that  went  about  the  city 
 found  me,  they  smote  me,  they  wounded  me: 
 the  keepers  of  the  walls  took  away  my  veil 
 from  me. 
 
 8  I  charge  you,  O  daughters  of  Jerusalem,  it 
 ye  find  my  beloved,  f  that  ye  tell  him,  that  I 
 am  sick  of  love. 
 
 9  t  What  is  thy  beloved  more  than  another 
 beloved,  ^  O  thou  fairest  among  women  ?  what 
 is  thy  beloved  more  than  another  beloved,  that 
 thou  dost  so  charge  us  ? 
 
 '  Thy  cheeks  are  as  a  piece  of  pomegranate,'  which,  when  cut  up,  is  a 
 beautiful   vermilion.— Z>Mre^/.  4.  T/ii/  neck  is  tike  the  tower,  from 
 
 the  comparison,  this  tower  must  have  been  tall,  slemlcr,  erect,  and 
 elegant.— »'i7.,  as  Lowlh.  As  the  Jews  built  wilh  white  stnue  or 
 marble,  this  has  been  supposed  a  compliment  to  the  spouse's  com- 
 plexion. 6.  Breasts  are  like  two  ynung  roes,  elegant  in  form,  like 
 those  lovely  animals.— Tf')7.  6.  To  the  mountain  of  myrrh,  §c.— the 
 bridegroom  here  compares  the  bride  to  a  heap  of  precious  essences.— 
 Percy.  8.  Come  leith  me,  §-c.— the  summits  of  the  mountains  men- 
 tioned were  inliabited  by  wild  beasts,  and  he  invites  his  bride  to  his 
 arms  as  to  a  place  of  safety.  This  figurative  language  assures  her  of 
 his  protection  in  all  dangers. — So  Bootlir.,  as  Percy.  !).  My  sister, 
 SfC,  '  my  sister-spouse.' — Percy,  adopte<i  by  Boothr.  '  Sister'  seems 
 here  used  as  a  term  of  endearment.  With  one,  ^c„  *  with  one  glance 
 oi.*— Percy,  so  Clarke.  '  At  once  with  thine  eyes.^— Boothr.  It  may 
 mean,  witii  a  side  view,  as  in  snme  parts  of  the  East  Indies  ladies  raise 
 only  one  side  of  their  veil  in  conversation. — Wil.  Tertullian  mentions 
 a  custom  in  tlie  east,  of  women  unveiling  only  one  eye  in  conversation, 
 while  they  keep  the  other  covered  ;  and  .\ieljuhr  mentions  a  like  custom 
 in  some  parts  of  Arabia.— IFi/.  Wilh  one  chain,  'one  lock  of  hair  of 
 thy  neck,'  Vulg. ;  or  *  one  curl  or  ringlet.' — Percy.  '  With  the  turning 
 of  thy  ugqV.'— Boothr.  It  refers  to  the  play  of  the  cervical  muscles.— 
 Clarke.  U.  Drop  as  t/te  honeycomb,  with  sweet  and  melting  words. 
 — Percy.  Honey  and  milk— the  ancients  described  eloquence  and  per- 
 suasive speech  by  these  terms. — Clarke.  Like  the  smell  of  Lebanon — 
 the  ancients  scented  tlicir  garments. — Gilt.  From  the  trees  in  the 
 forest  uf  Lebanon  came  many  sweet  spices,  particularly  frankincense. 
 —Pat.  12.  A  garden  inclosed,  ^c. — the  king  compares  his  spouse  to 
 a  garden  secured  from  intruders,  an  inaccessible  spring  of  pure  water, 
 an  unsullied  fountain  under  tlic  sanction  of  an  imbroken  seal. — So 
 Percy.  Afoujilitin  sealed— the  allusion  may  be  to  the  sealed  fountains 
 great  personages  reserved  for  their  own  use,  such  as  the  kings  of  Per.^ia 
 had.  of  which  tlie  king  and  his  eldest  son  only  might  drink. — Gill. 
 13.  Thy  plants,  ^c,  describing  her  virtues  and  accomplishments. — 
 Percy.  It  seems  to  refer  to  the  fecundity  of  the  bride.— .4.  Clarke. 
 U.  Calamus,  sweet  scented  cane. — Par.  Aloes — see  Ps.  xlv.  8,  note. 
 15.  .i  fountain  of  gardens— 
 
 '  A  garden  fountain,  a  well  of  waters,  alive, 
 And  flowing  from  Lebanon." — Hodg. 
 713 
 
 IS.  Come,  tlwu  south,  f,c.-the  air  of  Egypt  is  sometimes,  in  summer 
 like  a  sweet  perfume,  and  almost  suffocates  the  spirits,  caused  by  the 
 wind  that  brings  the  odours  of  the  Arabian  Sjiices  -Sir  «'••'"««•  ^^ 
 tlie  east  wind  carries  sweet  odours  to  Egypt,  so  they  would  be  carried 
 to  Judea  by  the  south.— Wit. 
 
 CiiAr  V.  —  1 .  (K.)  /  nm  come  into  my  garden,  ^c— the  bridegroom 
 answers  the  invitation  of  the  bride,  and  partakes  of  the  fruits.  iWj/ 
 lioneu,  a  favourite  food  in  the  east,  (see  Gen.  xliu.  11  ;  2  ^am.  xvii.  29.) 
 Wine  and  milk,  comprehend  all  the  liquors  given  at  the  feast.— /of. 
 Eat  0  friends,  *c.— addressed  by  the  bridegroom  to  his  companions, 
 who  are  invited  to  rejoice  with  him,  and  partake  the  marriage  feast. 
 2.  (B.)  I  sleep,  i-c,  '  I  was  sleeping,  hut  my  heart  was  awake.  Evi- 
 dently recording  a  dream.-Wii.  ;i.  I  hare  "'"^/lerf  my /?e(-a  Hindoo 
 never  wears  shoes  within  doors,  and  wipes  or jvasties  hl^-f'  before 
 he  retires  to  rest,  and  if  called  up  in  the  night,  of  e"  P'^^.'l^  '.^at  he 
 shaU  daub  his  feet.-Ward.  This  is  the  excuse  of  the  bride  for  not 
 rising.-C/.r./.-.,  Boollir.  4.  By  the  hole  of  tlie  door-it  was  the  an- 
 cient  custom  to  secure  the  door  of  an  house  by  a  ."o^^bar  or  bolt 
 which,  at  night,  was  fastened  by  a  little  button  or  pin.  In  the  upper 
 part  of  the  door  was  left  a  round  hole,  through  which  any  .Person  f.om 
 without  might  thrust  his  arm  and  remove  the  bar,  unless  ths  additional 
 security  was  superadded.  It  is  clear  the  bridegroom  attempted  to  open 
 the  door  by  removing  the  bar.  but  failed,  and  then  departed.  She 
 thought  that  she  arose  to  open  the  door  to  Inm,  Irat  he  was  gone_,  &c 
 -Booth,:,  see  Le  Clerc.  5.  Dropped  with  myrrh,  she  had  anointed 
 herself  with  such  luxuriancy,  tliat  her  fingers  were  stm  wet  with 
 my?rh,-  r;;.  The  bridegroom  had  been  to  gather  myrrh,  his  hands 
 might  have  left  some  on  the  lock,  and  the  spouse  have  gathered  it  with 
 her  fingers  in  opening  it.-Uar.  Tliis  may  be  a  strong  poetic  expres- 
 sion to  denote  the  delight  her  fingers  seemed  to  enjoy  in  Performmg 
 th's  ofBce  -Hew.  The  Romans  and  others  were  accustomed  to  con- 
 duct the  bride  to  the  house  of  the  bridegroom  with  lighted  torches,  and 
 to  anoint  the  door-posts  with  fragrant  oils ;  sometimes  the  bride  her- 
 self did  so.  This  custom,  perhaps,  existed  among  the  Jews  —See  Vo.- 
 sius'  Etymohgicon.  /.  Tlie  watchmen,  ffc,  very  properly  stopt  her 
 in  the  streets,  drew  aside  her  veil,  and  insisted  on  knowing  wlio  she 
 was:  and  receiving  no  satisfactory  answer,  treated  her  roughly.-tF.i. 
 9.  fV.)  What  is  thy  beloved?  §c.— this  gives  her  an  opportunity  ot  de- 
 scribing the  personal  charms  of  Solomon.— iiooMr. 
 4  Y 
 
The  church's  faith  in  Christ. 
 
 SOLOMON'S  SONG,  VI.,  VII. 
 
 The  r/r  rices  of  the  church. 
 
 10  My  beloved  is  white  and  ruddy,  t  the 
 chiefest  among  ten  thousand. 
 
 1 1  His  head  is  as  the  most  fine  gold,  his  locks 
 are  ||  bushy,  and  black  as  a  raven. 
 
 12  ■•  His  eyes  are  as  the  eyes  of  doves  by  the 
 rivers  of  waters,  washed  with  milk,  and  f  fltly 
 set. 
 
 13  His  cheeks  are  as  a  bed  of  spices,  as 
 II  sweet  flowers :  his  lips  like  lilies,  dropping 
 sweet  smelling  myrrh. 
 
 14  His  hands  arc  as  gold  rings  set  with  the 
 beryl ;  his  belly  is  as  bright  ivory  overlaid  with 
 sapphires. 
 
 15  His  legs  are  as  pillars  of  marble,  set  upon 
 sockets  of  fine  gold  :  his  countenance  is  as 
 Lebanon,  excellent  as  the  cedars. 
 
 16  t  His  mouth  is  most  sweet :  yea,  he  is  al- 
 together lovely.  This  is  my  beloved,  and  this 
 is  my  friend,  0  daughters  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 CHAP.   VL 
 1  The  diurcti  profcsstik  tar  faith  in  Christ.     4  Clirist 
 shewcth  t/ie  graces   of  tlie  cimrch,   10  and  his  love 
 towards  her. 
 
 "ITTHITHER  is  thy  beloved  gone,  °  O  thou 
 ^'     fairest   among  women?   whither  is  thy 
 beloved  turned  aside  ?  that  we  may  seek  him 
 with  thee. 
 
 2  My  beloved  is  gone  down  into  his  garden, 
 to  the  beds  of  spices,  to  feed  in  the  gardens, 
 and  to  gather  lilies. 
 
 3  ''  I  am  my  beloved's,  and  my  beloved  is 
 mine  :  he  feedeth  among  the  lilies. 
 
 4  t  Tliou  art  beautiful,  O  my  love,  as  Tirzah, 
 comely  as  Jerusalem,  "  terrible  as  an  ai-viy 
 with  banners. 
 
 t  Heb.  ,1 
 
 xlaiidarit 
 
 !l  Or,  ciirletl. 
 h  ch.  I.  15. 
 «c  4-.  I. 
 
 tiiHt  \i,Jiily 
 pUiCfit,  and 
 »W  as  n  jire- 
 ciotit  ilnne 
 in  tht/^d  of 
 a  Ting. 
 II  Or,  I'tctn 
 °fl'"0«na 
 
 t  Heb.  Hii 
 palate. 
 
 6  ch    S    IC. 
 &7.  10. 
 
 /cti.  i.  3. 
 
 S  VIC,  1. 
 *  cb.  7.  12, 
 
 t  Heb.  / 
 *..■•  ml. 
 I  Or.  trt  me 
 an  thr  rlia- 
 rM.afms 
 leilliitg 
 people. 
 
 Or,  0/ 
 Mahaaaim. 
 Gcu.  m.  s. 
 
 3  Turn  away  thine  eyes  from  me,  for  ||  they 
 have  overcome  me  :  thy  hair  is  ■■  as  a  flock  of 
 goats  that  appear  from  Gilead. 
 
 6  "  Thy  teeth  are  as  a  Hock  of  sheep  which  go 
 up  from  the  washing,  whereof  every  one  bcar- 
 eth  twins,  and  there  is  not  one  barren  among 
 them. 
 
 7  '  As  a  piece  of  a  pomegranate  arc  thy 
 temples  within  thy  locks. 
 
 8  There  are  threescore  queens,  and  fourscore 
 concubines,  and  virgins  without  number. 
 
 9  My  dove,  my  undefiled  is  hut  one  ;  she  is 
 the  only  one  of  her  mother,  .she  is  the  choice 
 one  of  her  that  bare  her.  The  daughters  saw 
 her,  and  blessed  her ;  yea,  the  queens  and  tlie 
 concubines,  and  they  praised  her. 
 
 10  11  Who  is  she  that  looketh  forth  as  the 
 morning,  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  sun, 
 'and  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners? 
 
 11  I  went  down  into  the  garden  of  nuts  to 
 see  the  fruits  of  the  valley,  and  ''  to  see  whe- 
 ther the  vine  flourished,  onrf  the  pomegranates 
 budded. 
 
 12  t  Or  ever  I  was  aware,  my  soul  ||  made  me 
 like  the  chariots  of  Amminadib. 
 
 13  Return,  return,  O  Shulamite;  return,  re- 
 turn, that  we  may  look  upon  tliee.  What  will 
 ye  see  in  the  Shulamite?  As  it  were  the  com- 
 pany II  of  two  armies. 
 
 CHAP.  vn. 
 
 I  A  further  description  of  the  churcJi's  graces.     10  The 
 
 church  profvsseth  hir  faith  and  desire. 
 TLTOW  beautiful  are  thy  feet  with  shoes,  "  O 
 -■--'-  prince's  daugliter!  the  joints  of  thy  thighs 
 
 10.  (B.)  JJfy  beloved  is  white  and  rtiddt;,  '  beautiful  and  healthful.'— iri/. 
 \}.  As  the  most  fine  gold,  his  hair  is  said  to  be  black  ;  the  expression, 
 therefore,  probably  alludes  to  the  custom  which  then  prevailed,  of  using 
 a  powder  of  a  golden  colnur,  as  also  golden  ornaments  in  the  hair,— 
 Durell ;  or  to  the  eastern  custom  of  tinging  the  hair  and  face  with 
 a  vegetable  substance,  called  henna,  which  gives  them  a  yellowish  or 
 golden  tincture.— i)/t"c/i.  The  term  is  used  for  excellence  of  any  kind. 
 Black  ns  a  raven,  still  the  favourite  hue  among  the  Orientals.  12.  As 
 the  eyes  of  doves  by  the  rivers  of  waters,  ^c. 
 
 '  His  eyes  are  those  of  doves,  washed  with  milk, 
 Sitting  at  rest  by  the  rivers  of  wAicr. '—Bootlir. 
 
 '  His  eyes  are  like  doves,  by  ['p'DN,]  canals  of  waters,— 
 Washed  in  milk— sitting  by  trie  full  [pool.y—Wii. 
 
 13.  As  a  bed  of  spices — 'spices'  sometimes  signify  odoriferous  plants 
 and  flowers  of  the  garden.  It  may  here  mean  '  ruses,'  and  convey  the 
 idea  of  the  pleasing  ruddiness  which  health  diflfused  over  his  cheeks, 
 like  the  colour  of  a  bed  of  roses.— //ar.  His  tips  like  lilies,  *  like  ruby 
 lilies,'  [C'j'Clir,]  much  esteemed  in  Syria. — Putrick.  Dropping  sweet 
 smelling  myrrh — allusion  seems  to  be  made  to  honey-drops,  observable 
 in  invertcd-flowertd  lilies,  similar  to  the  standing  sweet  dew  on  the 
 crown  imperial,  now  common  among  us. — Sir  T.  Biown.  Oriental 
 writers  have  this  a'lusion — '  Him  whose  lips  are  like  a  red  lotus  in  full 
 hloom.'— Asiatic  Research.,  vol.  iii.  p.  392.  It  refers  to  the  sweetness 
 of  the  bridegroom's  conversation. — Boot/tr.  14.  As  gold  rings,  ^c. 
 —an  Indian  poet  sings  In  like  manner-'  O  my  shepherd  1  thou  art  my 
 life  :  each  finger  has  a  ring  on  every  joint,  and  thy  arms  have  brace- 
 lets.'—0^^■e7i^  Col.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  399.  Beryl,  this  is  green.  TClDin, 
 'beryl'  is  better  translated  chrysolite,'  which  is  of  a  gold  colour.— 
 Clarke.  His  belly,  '  his  body.'— Iri7.,  Boothr.  Overlaid,  ?fc.,  a  sap- 
 phire  robe  over  an  ivory  skin,- Wi7. ;  or  a  white  skin  and  purple  robe. 
 —Mich.  The  expressions  may  mean,  that  the  blue  veins  appeared 
 like  sapphire  through  the  white  skin.— Boothr.  15.  Legs  pillars  of 
 marble,  strong  and  firm.— Ph«.  Exquisitely  turned  and  well-shaped. 
 Sockets,  ^c,  may  refer  to  his  slippers;  on  these  a  profusion  of  gold 
 and  ornaments  are  still  lavished  in  Asiatic  countries.  —  A.  Clarke. 
 As  Lebanon,  for  dignity  and  grandeur  ;  an  idea  of  tallne^s  of  stature  is 
 also  here  included.— So  Wil.  -,  nearly  the  same,  Lowth,  Boothr.,  and 
 Clarkr.  iQ.Muuth  most  su-ee^  eluquence  great,  voice  charming. — 
 A.  Clarke.     Lovely,  *  desirable.'— lFi7. 
 
 Chap.  VI. —  1.  (V.)  Whither,  §-c.— the  bride  having  finished  her 
 eulogiums,  the  virgins  ask  where  the  bridegroom  i%.  — Boothr. 
 4.  (K.)  Thou  art  beautiful — here  the  bridegroom  returns,  and  expresses 
 his  admiration  of  the  beauty  and  graces  of  his  hriAe.— Boothr.  Tirzah 
 was  a  beautiful  s-iruation  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  chosen  by  Jeroboam 
 for  the  seat  of  his  kingdom.  The  name  implies,  'a  delightful  city.'— 
 Pat.  As  Jerusalem,  calicd  the  perfection  of  beauty,  (Ps.xlviii.  2,  3  ; 
 Lam.  u.  15.)  Thus  the  poet  compares  the  bride's  beauty  to  the  two 
 finest  places  m  Palestine.— C/«rfte.  Terrible,  '  awe-striking  as  armies 
 714 
 
 when  their  banners  fiy. *  —  Hodg.      May  be  rendered,  'dazzling  as 
 
 bannered  hosts.' — Percy.  Supposed  to  have  an  allusion  to  caravans 
 in  the  east,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  travel  by  night, —  some 
 tliou'-ands  marching  in  companies,  each  company  carrying  a  light, 
 which  must  produce  a  splendid,  if"  not  terrible  appearance. — Clarke. 
 It  combines  the  idea  of  spk-ndid  beauty  and  dignity  forbidding  familiar 
 approaches. — Ed.,  see  Pat.  5.  Have  overcome  me,  I  am  surprisc<l, 
 charmed,  conquered. —  ]ViL  .is  a  flock  of  goats,  ^-c. — see  chap.  iv.  1, 
 notes.  6.  Thy  teeth — see  cll.  iv.  2,  noti?s.         7.  As — piunrgranate — 
 
 see  ch.  iv.  3,  notes.  The  ancients,  and  even  the  modtrn  poets  of  the 
 east,  are  not  scrupulous  about  repetition. —  Wil.  S.  There  are  three- 
 score queens,  ^c. — 'though  there  are  these  concubines,  or  secondary 
 wives,  and  virgins  innumerable  in  my  harem,  yet  thou  art  (9.)  but  one, 
 nnt*,  ojJK,  the  ONLY  ON-E,  shc  in  whom  I  most  delight.'  Ttte  daughters, 
 fyc  ,  the  Jewish  women,  and  his  queens  and  concubines.  —  Clarke. 
 The  latter  would  not  have  been  so  disposed  to  admire  a  rival;  rather 
 under-stand  the  cnurt  and  family  of  Pharaoh,  and  the  compliments  she 
 received  on  setting  out  for  Judea. —  Williams.  10.  .-Is  the  moriung — 
 lovely  as  the  dawn  of  day.  Fair  as  the  vinon — the  comparison  of  a 
 fine  woman  to  the  splendour  of  the  full  moon  is  continually  occurring  in 
 the  Asiatic  poets. — A.  Clarke.  Terrible,  ^c. — it  may  be  read,  *  dazzling 
 as  the  streamer-flames  of  heaven?'  Is  not  a  comet  meant? — bo  au 
 Arabic  Versioti  in  Richardson. 
 
 'When  I  describe  your  beauty  my  thoughts  are  perplexed. 
 Whether  to  compare  it 
 
 To  the  sun,  to  the  moon,  or  to  the  wandering  star,  [comet.] 
 See  Taylor''s  Frag,  to  Cal 
 
 Thelatter  figure  may  rather  be  referred  to  the  aurora  borealis,  as  per- 
 fectly corresponding  with  the  word  *  awful*  or  terrible,  and  as  well  de- 
 scribing the  splendour  of  the  spouse,  and  the  awe  inspired  by  her 
 majestic  presence. —  Wil.  11.  Nuts,  not  the  hazel,  but  the  almond  is 
 probably  intended. — ,'1.  Clarke.  Jos^phus  tells  us  that  the  nut  tree, 
 though  a  curious  exotic,  flourished  in  Galilee. —  TJ'it.  12.  Amminadib, 
 may  be  a  proper  name  of  one  celebrated  for  driving,  as  Jeliu. — A. 
 Clarke.  The  meaning  seems  to  be,  th'dt  the  aflfections  of  the  prince 
 carried  him  to  meet  hi-,  love  with  the  rapidity  of  a  chariot.  —  II'i^ 
 13.  (V.)  Return,  return,  O  Shulamite,  n'obliD-  Shulamite  may  signify 
 an  inhabitant  of  Jerusalem,  or  '  Solima,'  implying  her  relation  to  So- 
 lomon. Of  the  latter  opinion  are  Menocius,  Aquila,  Percy,  and  Wit- 
 Hams.  *  O  btide  of  Solomun.' — Boothr.  (B.)  What  ivill  ye  see  ?  ^c. — 
 '  why  woulrl  ye  look  on  the  bride  of  Solomon  ? '  (V.)  As  it  ivere,  SfC, 
 'as  we  would  on  tlie  squadron  of  two  hosts.' — Boothr.  The  word 
 n'jnD,  applies  properly  to  a  company  of  dancers  or  singers,  and  the 
 allusion  is  here,  probably,  to  the  two  choruses  which  accompanied 
 the  brific  and  bridegroom. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  1.  (V.)  How  beautiful—this  is  the  language  of  the 
 virgins  while  they  undress  the  bride  for  the  purpose  of  bathing,  or 
 gomg  to  rest. — Boothr.  Are  thy  feet  with  shoes,  '  within  thy  sandals. 
 
Description  of  the  church's  graces.  SOLOMON'S  SONG,  VIII. 
 
 The  church's  love  to  Christ. 
 
 are  like  jewels,  the  work  of  the  hands  of  a 
 ciiTiiiiiif;  workman. 
 •2  Tliy  navel  is  like  a  round   goblet,  which 
 wantetli  not  f  liquor  :  tliy  belly  is  like  an  heap 
 of  wheat  set  about  with  lilies. 
 
 3  ''  Thy  two  breasts  are  like  two  young  roes 
 that  are  twins. 
 
 4  '  Thy  neck  is  as  a  tower  of  ivory ;  thine 
 eyes  like  the  fishpools  in  Heshbon,  by  the  gate 
 of  Bath-rabbim  :  thy  nose  is  as  the  tower  of 
 Lebanon  which  luolieth  toward  Damascus. 
 
 .*)  Thine  head  u|)on  thee  is  like  ||  Carniel,  and 
 the  hair  of  thine  head  like  purple  ;  the  king  is 
 t  lield  in  tlie  galleries. 
 
 ()  How  fair  and  how  pleasant  art  thou,  O  love, 
 for  del'iglits! 
 
 7  This  tliy  stature  is  like  to  a  palm  tree,  and 
 thy  breasts  to  clusters  of  grapes. 
 
 8  I  said,  I  will  go  up  to  the  palm  tree,  I  will 
 take  hold  of  the  boughs  thereof:  now  also  thy 
 breasts  sliall  be  as  clusters  of  the  vine,  and  the 
 smell  of  tliy  nose  like  apples  ; 
 
 9  And  the  roof  of  thy  mouth  like  the  best 
 wine  for  my  beloved,  that  goetli  down  f  sweetly, 
 causing  the  lips  ||  of  tliose  that  are  asleep  to 
 ■speak. 
 
 10  f''  I  am  my  beloved's,  and  °  bis  desire  is 
 toward  me. 
 
 11  Come,  my  beloved,  let  us  go  forth  into 
 the  field  ;  let  us  lodge  in  the  villages. 
 
 1"2  Let  us  get  up  early  to  the  vineyards  ;  let 
 us  'see  if  the  vine  flourish,  tvhcthcr  the  tender 
 grape  fappear,  and  the  pomegranates  bud  fortli : 
 there  will  I  give  thee  my  loves. 
 
 13  Tlie  ^mandrakes  give  a  smell,  and  at  our 
 gates  "are  all  manner  of  pleasant/VuiVs,  new 
 
 u.  c. 
 
 Cir.  IIJU. 
 
 (  Heb. 
 bowid. 
 
 t  :l.-h. 
 
 mi'iii/lurit, 
 ii  or,  vf  tfif 
 
 d  cli.  5.  10. 
 
 &  r,   :i. 
 e  I's.  ».  1 1 . 
 
 /^ch.  fi.  11. 
 t  Heb.  upen. 
 
 <;Geil.30.  14. 
 h  Mat.  13.52. 
 
 f  Heb.  they 
 ,l,„ul,l  „„| 
 dcspim  me. 
 
 t  Heb, 
 
 \ohji 
 
 should 
 
 '/' 
 
 W/..V.  -V 
 
 d  cb.  3 
 
 li. 
 
 ..  Is.  4!l.  10, 
 .fer.  S2.  S4. 
 H.ig.  S.  2.1. 
 
 t  Heb.  Uurd. 
 
 /Pro.  0.  Sj, 
 
 and  old,  which  I  have  laid  up  for  thee,  O  my 
 beloved. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  The  luve  of  the  church  to  Christ.  6  The  vehcTnifuy 
 of  love.  8  The  callhu/  of  the  Gentiles.  14  The 
 church  prayeth  for  Chr'tsCs  cominij. 
 
 /^  THAT  thou  tvert  as  my  brother,  that 
 ^-^  sucked  the  breasts  of  my  mother!  when 
 I  should  find  thee  without,  I  would  kiss  thee  ; 
 yea,  f  I  should  not  be  despised. 
 
 2  1  would  lead  thee,  and  bring  thee  into  my 
 mother's  house,  ivho  would  instruct  me :  I 
 would  cause  thee  to  drink  of  ^spiced  wine  of 
 the  juice  of  my  pomegranate. 
 
 3  ^  His  left  hand  should  be  under  my  head, 
 and  his  right  hand  should  embrace  me. 
 
 4  "^  I  charge  you,  O  daughters  of  Jerusalem, 
 t  that  ye  stir  not  up,  nor  awake  /n//  love,  until 
 he  please- 
 
 5  "^  Who  is  this  that  cometh  up  from  the 
 wilderness,  leaning  upon  her  beloved?  I  raised 
 thee  up  under  tlie  apple  tree  :  there  thy  mo- 
 ther brought  thee  forth :  there  she  brought 
 thee  forth  that  bare  thee. 
 
 0  1'''  Set  me  as  a  seal  upon  thine  heart,  as  a 
 seal  upon  thine  arm  :  for  love  is  strong  as 
 death;  jealousy  is  f  cruel  as  the  grave:  the 
 coals  thereof  are  coals  of  fire,  which  hath  a 
 most  vehement  flame. 
 
 7  Many  waters  cannot  quench  love,  neither 
 can  the  floods  drown  it:  ^if  a  man  would  give 
 all  the  substance  of  his  house  for  love,  it  would 
 utterly  be  contemned. 
 
 8  1[  '^  We  have  a  little  sister,  and  she  hath  no 
 breasts  :  what  shall  we  do  for  our  sister  in  tlie 
 day  when  she  shall  be  spoken  for? 
 
 — Percy,  Boothr.;  nearly  the  same,  Hodg.,  Vf'il.  The  Heiirew  women 
 were  remarkably  nice  in  adorning  their  sandals,  and  having  tliem 
 neatly  fitted  to  display  the  fine  shape  of  the  foot, — Perci/.  The  words 
 mean,  Miow  graceful  is  thy  walking.* — A.  Clarke.  The  joints,  8fc.^- 
 '  the  mouldings  of  thy  limbs,'  &c. — Green,  Boothr.  This  must  be  sap- 
 poaed  to  apply  to  that  part  uf  the  dress  called  femoralia,  which  the 
 eastern  women  wore,  through  which  the  shape  of  the  limbs  was  seen. 
 — Hew.  It  must  reicrtn  the  ornaments  on  the  beautiful  drawers  gene, 
 rally  used  by  ladies  of  quality  in  the  east. — -4.  Clarke.  'The  cincture 
 ut  thy  loins,'  &c. —  Wit.  A  ciuuiing  workman^  *  a  skilful  artist ;'  same 
 purport,  Hodg.,  WU.         2.  Thy  navel,  ^c— 
 
 *Thy  waist  is  as  a  well-turned  goblet, 
 Which  is  full  of  mixed  wiue.' — Boothr. 
 
 '  Thy  navel  is  like  a  round  goblet 
 Intended  to  hold  the  draught.' — Hodg. 
 
 Sec  on  Prov.iii.  8,  note.  *Thy  clasp  a  round  goblet,  which  wanteth  not 
 mixed  wine.'— iri/.  This  may  refer  to  some  ornamental  dress  about 
 the  loins.— .-1.  Clarke.  Belli/,  *  body.' —  l^'jV.  'Bosom.'  —  Boothr. 
 Wheat  set  about  with  lilies— the  Jews  laid  their  wheat  in  heaps  when 
 first  threshed  and  farmed,  which  perhaps  they  sportively  strewed  over 
 with  flowers  in  the  joyous  time  of  harvest,— Lamy  ;  so  also  Percy  and 
 Arthur  Jackson.  4.  As  a  tower  of  iiwry.  high,  white,  and  ornamented 
 with  jewellery,  as  the  tower  of  David  with  bucklers. — A.  Clarke.  See 
 chap.  iv.  4,  notes.  Like  fishpools,  clear,  dark,  and  i\x\\.—Wil.  Thy 
 nose,  Sfc,  finely  formed  as  the  tower  of  Lebanon.  —  Percy,  Dodd. 
 5.  Thine  head,  'thine  erect  head.' — Boothr.  Like  Curmel,  rising  ma- 
 jestically above  thy  shoulders  hke  Carmel  in  its  district.— C/«rA-e.  Hair, 
 may  be  rendered,  'hair  lace,*  'a  fillet  or  bandage.' ~  Pat.,  Durell. 
 i^ujy^/e— perhaps  the  word  means  what  we  call  auburn.— Horfg-.  The 
 colour  may  not  be  so  much  meant  as  the  miirex,  or  Tyrian  shell  fish, 
 which  produces  it.  The  beautiful  spiral  concli  of  this  fish  might  be 
 very  aptly  compared  to  the  fine  tresses  of  an  eastern  lady's  head, 
 wound  up  in  a  ijyramidal  form,  and  plaited  with  ribands.— J!/iWi. ,-  so 
 Percy,  preferred  by  Wit.  'Tlie  tresses  of  thy  hair  are  like  the  royal 
 purple,  which  hangs  in  festoons  from  the  ceiling.* — Hoiib.  It  means, 
 the  hair  was  ornamented  with  ribands  and  jewellery  of  purple  tint. — 
 Clarke.  The  king  is  htld  in  the  galleries,  '  is  bound  captive  in  its  flow- 
 ing tresses'— Horfg-.  'Is  held  captive  in  the  ringlets.'— BooMr.  The 
 king  is  suiiposed  to  have  been  waiting  in  the  galleries  or  antechamber, 
 where  he  was  detained  till  the  virgins  had  properly  adnrned  the  bride 
 to  receive  him:  afrer  this  he  is  mtroductd. —  Wil.,  so  also  Clarke. 
 7.  A  palm  tree,  straight,  taper,  and  elegant. — A.  Clarke.  This  tree  is 
 remarkable  for  its  slenderness  and  height.  —  Har.  Tallncss  is  an 
 c^t.^tern  beauty;  so  Hafez  speaks  of  damsels,  'tall  as  cypresses.*  — 
 Wil.  As  clusters  of  the  vine — meaning  luxuriant  fulness  ;  a  beauty 
 which  the  orientaiist*  particularly  admire.— //eu'.  The  clusters  of  the 
 71o 
 
 palm  are  dates,  and  these  are  meant. — Clarke.  They  are  changed  for 
 grapes  to  improve  the  coni;iliuient. —  Wil.  8.  And  the  smell,  fyc, 
 
 '  and  the  odour  of  thy  breatli  like  citrons.* — Wil.,  so  Boothr.  '  Nose,* 
 is  read,  by  some,  *  nostrils,*  and  no  doubt  the  sentence  refers  to  breath. 
 9.  And  the  roof,  ffc— 
 
 '  Also  tliy  mouth  is  as  the  best  wine, 
 Which  1.S  stnt  to  those  whom  I  luve  for  their  integrity. 
 And  causeth  the  lips  of  them  who  are  asleep  to  murmur.* — Wil. 
 
 *  Yea,  thy  speech  is  as  the  choicest  wine, 
 Which goeth  down  most  pleasantly, 
 Flowing  through  the  lips  and  the  teeth.' — Boothr. 
 Boo/here  literally  signifies  'palate.'  and  is  figuratively  put  for  speech, 
 which  issues  thence.— Perc^.     It  means  that  the  charnK-.  of  her  cun- 
 vcrsaiion    must  cause  the  most    taciturn    to   speak   in    her   praise. — 
 A.  Clarke.  13.  Mandrakes — sec  Gen.  xxx.  14,  note.     At  our  gateSt 
 
 may  mean  '  in  our  hoards.' — Percy. 
 
 Chap.  VIII. —  I.  (BftinE  in  continuation.)  0  that,  ^c— the  spouse 
 had  invited  the  beloved  to  partake  an  entertainment  she  had  provided 
 fur  him  in  an  adjacent  village,  where  she  promises  to  give  every  proof 
 of  her  aft'ection  ;  but  here  the  modesty  of  her  sex  seems  to  check  the 
 expression  of  lier  attachment,  and  she  suggests  a  wish  that  her  relation 
 to  liini  were  rather  tliat  of  an  infant  brother  than  a  husband,  that  she 
 might  be  at  liberty  to  express  her  afi'ection. — Wil.  2.  Spiced  wine — 
 this  is  thought  to  allude  to  a  custom  of  the  parties  drinking  wine  iruni 
 the  same  cup,  in  one  part  of  the  marriage  ceremony  :  spiced  wine  was 
 a  great  delicacy  in  the  east, — Har.  Of  the  juice  of  my  pomegranate — 
 as  we  frequently  ase  lemon-juice  with  wine,  to  make  a  cooling  refresh- 
 ing liquor,  it  should  seem  the  si>ouse  proposed  something  like  it  maile 
 with  pomegranates.  Liquors  resembling  tliis  are  very  common  in  the 
 east  to  this  day.—Hfiv.  5.  (V.)  Who  is  this,  ^c.— the  virgins  see  the 
 bride  leaning  on  Solomon,  coming  from  the  way  in  the  royal  grounds 
 towards  the  wilderness,  and  they  converge  together.  (K.)  I  raised  thee, 
 ^(;_ — the  bridegroom  reminds  her  of  his  first  interview  with  her,  and  of 
 the  place  where  her  mother  plighted  her  to  him.—Boothr.  ti.  (B.)  Set 
 me  as  a  seal — i.  e.,  keep  me  always  in  miud.— P«^  So,  when  a  Hindoo 
 is  going  to  a  distant  country,  his  wife  says,  'Ah,  place  me  as  a  seal 
 upon  thy  heart,*  let  me  be  impressed  on  thy  affections. — Rob.  The 
 seal,  or  signet,  was  sometimes  worn  over  the  breast,  suspended  by  a 
 chain  from  the  neck  ;  hence  the  signet  became  expressive  of  affection, 
 CJer.  xxii.  24;  Prov.  vi.  2I  ;  vii.  3.) — Boothr.  The  coals  thereaf,  'the 
 darts  thereof  are  darts  of  fire  of  a  most  vehement  flame.' — Hew.  It 
 may  mean  '  as  hghttiing.' — See  Clarke.  7.  (K.)  Many  waters,  SfC— 
 the'king  catches  the  metaphor,  and  intimates  that  no  trials  can  destroy 
 love. — So  Boothr.  8.  (B.)  We  have  a  little  sister — the  queen  alludes 
 to  a  young,  unmarried  sister,  for  whom  she  wishes  some  recommenda- 
 tion to  a  neighbouring  prince  and  ally. — Wil.  No  breasts,  'not  mar- 
 riageable.'    Spoken  for,  'demanded  iuiniaiTiage.'- .4.  Clarke. 
 
The  calling  of  the  Gentiles. 
 
 SOLOMON'S  SONG,  VIII. 
 
 ChrisCs  coming  prayed  for. 
 
 9  If  she  be  a  wall,  we  will  build  upon  her  a 
 palace  of  silver :  and  if  she  he  a  door,  we  will 
 inclose  her  with  boards  of  cedar. 
 
 10  I  am  a  wall,  and  my  breasts  like  towers  : 
 then  was  I  in  his  eyes  as  one  that  found 
 t  favour. 
 
 U  Solomon  had  a  vineyard  at  Baal-hamon  ; 
 ''he  let  out  the  vineyard  unto  keepers  ;  every 
 one  for  the  fruit  thereof  was  to  bring  a  thou- 
 sand pieces  of  silver. 
 
 /.  Mat.SI.33. 
 
 n.  C. 
 
 cir.  UIH. 
 
 k  Sep  Rev, 
 22.  17,  20. 
 t  Heb.  Fiee 
 
 1*2  My  vineyard,  which  is  mine,  is  before 
 me  :  thou,  O  Solomon,  inust  have  a  thousand, 
 and  those  that  keep  the  fruit  thereof  two  hun- 
 dred. 
 
 13  Thou  that  dwellest  in  the  gardens,  the 
 companions  hearken  to  thy  voice  :  '  cause  me 
 to  hear  it. 
 
 14  t"*!  Make  haste,  my  beloved,  and  'be 
 thou  like  to  a  roe  or  to  a  young  hart  upon  the 
 mountains  of  spices. 
 
 9.{^^..)Ifshebe  a  wall,  i.e.,  adapted  to  rear  and  support  a  family,  we  will 
 provide  for  her  in  marriage,  that  she  may  bear  an  otfspring  like  tuirets 
 of  silver,  these  bcin^  usually  erected  on  city  walls  -,  or  perhaps  a  hand- 
 some dowry  in  silver  is  promised,  which  would  form  a  mass  like  a 
 tower  or  palace.— irtV.  In  plain  language,  he  would  give  heran  ample 
 fortune. — Boothr.  If  she  be  a  door,  i.e.,  capable  of  bearing  children, 
 she  shall  be  honoured  like  the  door  of  a  palace,  and  brinj;  forth  a  royal 
 offspring. —  U'lV.  These  expressions  simply  shew  it  was  necessary  to 
 provide  a  husband  for  this  young  sister  ;  for  a  woman  without  a  hus- 
 band is  like  a  wall  without  towers,  or  a  door  without  bar  or  lock; 
 they  must  therefore  provide  a  rich,  powerful,  and  illustrious  man — 
 qualities  prefigured  by  towers  of  -silver  and  doors  of  cedar.  The  ex- 
 pressions, therefore,  point  out  defence,  protection,  and  guardianship. — 
 Cal.  10.  (B.)  /  am  a  wall,  ^c. — "  I  am  become  marriageable, stood  in 
 need  of  thy  defence,  and  have  found  favour  in  thy  sight.  When  my 
 sister  becomes  marriageable,  let  a  proper  match  be  found  for  her.' 
 These  expressions  shew  solicitude  for  the  future  welfare  of  the  sister. — 
 So  Clarke.  Commentators  unanimously  apply  the  character  of  the 
 little  .lister  to  the  Gentile  church.— IftV.  11.  Solomon  h-id  a  vine- 
 yard, !fc. — the  bride  here  i)romises  to  do  him  her  best  service,  and  ira. 
 
 prove  his  vineyard  by  her  care  and  diligence. — Pat.       \l.  My  vineyard, 
 which  is  mine,  ?fC. — 
 
 '  This  vineyard  which  belonged  to  me, 
 But  which  is  now  thine,  O  Solomon, 
 Brouglit  in  to  me  a  thuusand  pieces  of  silver; 
 And  two  hundred  were  the  salary 
 To  those  who  kept  the  fruits  thereof.' — Boothr. 
 14.  Of  spires,  where  spices  grow. — Pat.    The  nuptial  ceremony  being 
 finished,  the  poem  concludes  with  some  pastoral  expressions  of  tender- 
 ness.   The  seven  nights  of  the  ceremony  have  been  thus  divided  : — 
 Nicnr  1.,  chap.  ii.  4,  5,  6;  Night  II.,  cliap.  ii.  8,  y,  &c. ;  Night  III., 
 chap.  iii.  i— 4  ;  Night  IV.,  chap.  vi.  9  ;  Night  V.,  chap.  vii.  J  ;  Nicur 
 VI.,  chap,  vii,  13;  Night  VII.  chap.  viii.  5. 
 
 Thus  the  drama  and  metaphors  of  this  poem  have  been  noticeil. 
 .Tcwish  and  Christian  writers  generally  agree  that  it  is  a  sacred  allegory  ; 
 but  in  describing  the  mutual  affection  between  Christ  and  his  church, 
 great  caution  is  required,  or,  as  Bp.  Lowth  observes,  '  there  is  consider- 
 able risk  of  impairing  the  dignity  of  holy  writ.*  It  is  easy  for  the  ima- 
 gination to  invent  a  thousand  illu'^trations  of  this  poem,  but  let  us  be- 
 ware of  playing  with  the  pages  of  inspiration. — Ed. 
 
 THE     BOOK 
 
 THE    PROPHET    ISAIAH 
 
 ['  The  Hebrew  name  for  prophet  is  N*32,  a  speaker,  preacher,  or  oratory  a  yncssenper,  or  interpreter,  that  delivers  God's 
 messages  to  tlie  children  of  men  ;  as  a  herald  to  proclaim  war,  or  an  ambassador  to  treat  of  peace.' — M.  Ilcnry.  *  The 
 prophets  floiirislied,  in  a  continued  succession,  for  a  thousand  years,  reckoning  from  Moses  to  Malachi, — ;il!  co-operating 
 in  the  same  designs,  and  conspiring  in  one  spirit  to  deliver  the  snine  doctrines,  and  to  prophesy  concerning  the  same 
 future  blessings.' —  Gray,  '  The  subjects  of  prophecy  are  various  and  extensive;  indeed,  so  much  so,  as  has  been  shewn 
 by  Bishop  Newton,  that  they  form  a  chain  of  predictions  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  Bible  and  the  world  ;  but 
 the  grand  subject  of  prophecy  is  the  coming  and  kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  who  was  promised  as  the  seed  of  the  woman 
 and  of  Abraham,  the  son  of  David  and  of  God.  This  is,  indeed,  the  prominent  topic  of  most  of  the  prophets  now 
 before  us,  and  especially  of  Isaiah.  Many  of  his  predictions  will  be  found  to  refer  to  Him  alone  ;  and  others,  though 
 they  may  have  a  partial  accomplishment  in  nearer  events  and  inferior  circumstances,  have  in  Him  tlieir  final  and  com- 
 plete accomplisliment.* — Williams,  The  prophetic  ])ocsy  is  more  ornamented,  more  splendid,  and  more  florid,  than  any 
 other.  It  abounds  more  in  imagery — in  metajjhors,  allegories,  comparisons,  and  even  in  copious  and  ditfuse  descriptions; 
 it  excels  in  the  brightness  of  imagination,  and  in  clearness  and  energy  of  diction,  and  consequently  rises  to  an  uncommon 
 pitch  of  sublimity. — Lowth.  It  is  calculated  that  Isaiah  prophesied  nearly  sixty  years. — Soothroyd,  The  references  to 
 this  prophet  in  the  New  Testament  are  very  numerous  and  obvious.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 I  Isaiah  complaincth  of  Jiidah  for  her  rebdlion.  6  He 
 lamenieth  her  judgments.  10  He  uphraideih  thdr 
 whole  service.  16  He  exhorteth  to  repentance,  with 
 promises  and  threatenings.  21  BvwaiVmg  thdr 
 wickedness,  he  denotmceth  God's  Judgments.  25  He 
 promiseth  grace,  28  and  thrcateneth  destruction  to  the 
 wicked. 
 
 T^HE  "vision  of  Isaiah  the  son  of  Anioz, 
 -*-  which  he  saw  concerning  Judali  and  Jern- 
 saleni  in  the  days  of  Uzziah,  Jotham,  Aiiaz, 
 and  Hezekiah,  kings  of  Jndah. 
 
 cir.  7d0. 
 
 A  Deu.  82.  I. 
 
 Jer,S.12.  & 
 
 6.  I0.&  22. 
 
 29.  Kzc.  36. 
 
 4.  Mid   '2. 
 
 &  G.  I,  2. 
 c  ch.  5.  1,8. 
 d  Jcr.  8.  7. 
 «  Jer.  9.  3,  6. 
 /Hi    5.  12. 
 t  Heb.  0/ 
 
 g  ch.  67.3,1. 
 
 Mat.  3.  7. 
 *  Hcb. 
 
 nlienafed,ov, 
 
 s'pnrated. 
 
 Pa.  68.  3. 
 
 2  ''  Hear,  O  heavens,  and  give  ear,  O  earth  : 
 for  the  Lord  hath  spoken,  '^  I  have  nourished 
 and  brought  up  children,  and  they  have  re- 
 belled against  me. 
 
 3  "^  The  ox  knoweth  his  owner,  and  the  ass 
 his  master's  crib  :  hut  Israel  "^  doth  not  know, 
 my  people  ""doth  not  con.sider. 
 
 4  Ah  sinful  nation,  a  people  f  laden  with 
 iniquity,  ^a  seed  of  evildoers,  children  that  are 
 coiTUpters  :  they  have  forsaken  the  Lord,  they 
 have  provoked  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  unto 
 anger,  they  are  fgone  away  backward. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  l.  The  vision,  or  revelation  of  the  will  of  God, 
 made  known  to  Isaiah  by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  prophecy.  The  prophecy 
 in  this  chapter  stands  single  and  nuconuected.  It  contains  a  severe 
 remonstrance  against  tlie  c  -iroptions  prevaihng  among  the  Jews  of 
 that  time ;  powerful  exhortations  to  repentance ;  grievous  threatenings 
 to  the  impenitent ;  and  gracious  promises  of  better  times,  after  being 
 reformed  by  the  judgments  of  God.— Lowth.  2.  Hear,  O  heaiwns.  §-c. 
 — as  m  many  other  passages,  tlie  Lord  here,  with  peculiar  majesty  and 
 sublimity,  appeals  to  the  whole  c^jation,  in  the  controversy  between  him 
 716 
 
 and  his  people,  (see  Deut.  iv.  26 ;  xxxii.  I  ;  Ps.  I.  3,  4  ;  Jer.  ii.  12,  &c.) — 
 Scott.  For  the  Lord  hath  spoken,  *  it  is  Jehovah  that  speaketli.'— 
 Lowth.  Nourished,  ^ubn, '  magnified,'  or  '  made  great.' — Mo?it.,  Vat. 
 Brought  up,  TTOQIII,  '  exalted.'— iV/«Hs/e)-,  Jun.,  Trem.  God  had 
 greatly  exalted  Israel,  which  aggravated  the  guilt  of  their  reheilinn. — 
 Scott.  3.  Crib,  or  manger. — Gill.  Israel  doth  not  know,  they  were 
 worse  than  the  roost  stupid  beasts. — Macculloch.  4.  Sinful  iintivn,  ^ij 
 t*TQrT,  *  sinning  nation,'  continually  sinning,  doing  nothing  else  but  sin  j 
 the  reverse  of  what  they  werechoscu  to  be,  (Deut. vii. 6.>—GiW.   Children 
 
Isaiah's  complaint  for  Judah, 
 
 ISAIAH,  I. 
 
 He  exhorteth  to  repentance. 
 
 5  H '^  Why  slioiilti  ye  be  stricken  any  more? 
 ye  will  t  revolt  more  and  more:    tlie    wliol 
 head  is  sick,  and  the  whole  heart  faint. 
 
 6  From  the  sole  of  the  foot  even  unto  the 
 head  there  is  no  soundness  in  it  ;  but  wounds, 
 and  bruises,  and  putrifying  sores  :  '  they  have 
 not  been  closed,  neither  bound  up,  neither 
 mollified  witli  ||  ointment. 
 
 7  ^  Your  country  is  desolate,  your  cities  ar 
 bnri\ed  with  fire  :  your  land,  strangers  devour 
 it  in  your  presence,  and  it  is  desolate,  fas  over- 
 tlirown  by  strangers. 
 
 8  And  the  daugliter  of  Zion  is  left  '  as  a  cot- 
 tage in  a  vineyard,  as  a  lodge  in  a  garden  of 
 cucumbers,  "'as  a  besieged  city. 
 
 9  "  Except  the  Lord  of  Iiosts  bad  left  unto 
 us  a  very  small  remnant,  we  should  have  been 
 as  '^  Sodom,  and  we  should  have  been  like 
 unto  Gomorrah. 
 
 10  1[  Hear  tlie  word  of  the  Lord,  ye  rulers  ''of 
 Sodom  ;  give  ear  unto  the  law  of  our  God,  ye 
 jieople  of  Gomorrah. 
 
 1 1  To  what  purpose  is  the  multitude  of  your 
 ''sacrifices  unto  ine?  saith  the  Lord:  I  am 
 foil  of  the  burnt  offerings  of  rams,  and  the  fat 
 of  fed  beasts  ;  and  I  deliglit  not  in  the  blood  of 
 bullocks,  or  of  lambs,  or  of  f  he  goats. 
 
 12  When  ye  come  f'to  appear  before  me, 
 who  hath  required  this  at  your  hand,  to  tread 
 my  courts  ? 
 
 J 3  Bring  no  more  "vain  oblations;  incense 
 is  an  abomination  unto  me  ;  the  new  moons 
 and  sabbaths,  'the  calling  of  assemblies,  I  can- 
 not away  with  ;  it  is  \\  iniquity,  even  the  so- 
 lemn meeting. 
 
 14  Your  "new  moons  and  your  ''appointed 
 feasts  my  soul  hateth  :  they  are  a  trouble  unto 
 me  ;  ^  I  am  weary  to  bear  them, 
 
 I J  And  ^  when  ye  spread  forth  your  hands,  I 
 will  hide  mine  eyes  from  you  :  ^  yea,  when  ye 
 t  make  many  prayers,  I  will  not  hear :  your 
 hands  are  full  of  '^  f  blood. 
 
 16  IT*^  Wash  you,  make  you  clean  ;  put  away 
 the  evil  of  your  doings  from  before  mine  eyes; 
 ■^  cease  to  do  evil ; 
 
 17  Learn  to  do  well;  ^  seek  judgment,  ||re- 
 
 13. 
 
 h  ch 
 Jer.  2.  30. 
 8i  5.  3. 
 
 f  Heb.  in- 
 crfiae  re- 
 volt. 
 
 II  Or,  nil 
 k  Deu.  2 
 
 I  Job  27.  18. 
 Lam.  2.  6. 
 
 »»  .Ter  4-.  17. 
 n  Lain.  I),  2?. 
 
 Ki.>m.  9  29, 
 <i  Geu  lO-Ji 
 }>  Ueii,;<-J,32 
 
 Ezek.lt)  -IG. 
 '/  )  Sam.  13. 
 
 22.  Ps.  .bO  8, 
 
 0,  &  5 
 
 15 
 
 ch  Oti.  3. 
 Jer,  e  -iO. 
 &7,  21. 
 
 Am.is5.  21, 
 
 22  nnc  C.7. 
 
 t  Heb    ^^eat 
 fir  g<,„U. 
 t  Heh.  to  be 
 
 T  E.i!  L'3,  17. 
 
 &  34.  23. 
 s  Mat.  15.  !). 
 /Joel  1.  I'l. 
 
 &  2.  15. 
 II  Or,  cri^r 
 u  Nu.  28.  11, 
 X  Lev.  23.  9., 
 
 &c.  Lam, 2. 
 
 6. 
 
 V  Ch.  43.  24 
 z  Job  27.  9. 
 
 Ps.  ISJ..  2. 
 
 Pro    t,  28. 
 
 ch.  59.  2. 
 
 Jer.  U.   12. 
 
 Mic,  3   4. 
 0  Ps.  i,G.   I  ft. 
 
 I  Tim.  2  8 
 t  Heb.  tiud- 
 
 tiply  prnt/KT. 
 b  ch.  59. 'S. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 bhi.dt. 
 
 d  V 
 
 .  \.  14. 
 3t.  H. 
 ^  37.  27. 
 Amos  5  15. 
 Rom.  12  9, 
 1  Pet.  3.  II. 
 Jer  22.  S, 
 Hi.  Mic.6  8 
 Zech.  7.  9 
 
 &  8.  le. 
 
 II  Or,  Tighleit 
 
 /ch.  43.  20. 
 Mic,  6.  a. 
 
 ff  Va.  51    7. 
 Rev,  7,  11- 
 
 .  Num.  93. 
 19.  Tit.  1.2 
 
 /  Ht>s   9.  15. 
 m  Fio.  29. 
 
 2+. 
 -.  Jer  22.  17. 
 
 Eze.  22.  12. 
 
 Hos.  4,  18. 
 
 Mic,  3.  11. 
 
 &  7.  3. 
 o  Jer.  5.  23. 
 
 Zech. 7. 10 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 according  lo 
 
 pureufss. 
 g  Jer,  0.  29. 
 
 Jt  !)    7. 
 
 Mai,  3.  3. 
 
 '  Jer.  33.  7. 
 J  Zech.  8.  3. 
 
 II  Or,  th«j/ 
 thnt  return 
 <.fher. 
 
 t  Job  :n.  3. 
 
 Pa.  I.  6. Si  Ti 
 G.  U  73.  27 
 &  92.  9.  & 
 1114   35. 
 t-  Heb. 
 
 u  ch.  57.  6. 
 JT  ch    li5    3. 
 
 t/  Eze.S2.9l. 
 I  ch   43    17. 
 
 [I  Or,  a:d 
 
 lieve  the  oppressed,  judge  the  fatherless,  plead 
 
 for  tiie  widow. 
 
 18  Come  now,  and  *'let  us  reason  together, 
 saith  the  Lord:  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet, 
 ^  they  shall  be  as  white  as  snow  ;  though  they 
 be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool. 
 
 19  If  ye  be  willing  and  obedient,  ye  shall  eat 
 the  good  of  the  land  : 
 
 20  But  if  ye  refuse  and  rebel,  ye  shall  be  de- 
 voured witli  the  sword  :  "for  the  mouth  of  the 
 Lord  hath  spoken  it, 
 
 21  H '  How  is  the  faithful  city  become  an 
 harlot!  it  was  full  of  judgment;  righteousness 
 lodged  in  it ;  but  now  murderers. 
 
 22  ^  Thy  silver  is  become  dross,  thy  wine 
 mixed  with  water : 
 
 23  '  Tliy  princes  are  rebellious,  and  "'  com- 
 panions of  thieves:  "every  one  loveth  gifts, 
 and  followeth  after  rewards  :  they  °  judge  not 
 the  fatherless,  neither  doth  the  cause  of  the 
 widow  come  unto  tliem. 
 
 24  Therefore  saitli  the  Lord,  the  Lord  of 
 hosts,  the  mighty  One  of  Israel,  Ah,  ^' I  will 
 ease  me  of  mine  adversaries,  and  avenge  me  of 
 mine  enemies  : 
 
 25  f  And  I  will  turn  my  hand  upon  thee,  and 
 t '*  purely  purge  away  thy  dross,  and  take  away 
 all  thy  tin  : 
 
 26  And  I  will  restore  thy  judges  ^  as  at  the 
 first,  and  thy  counsellors  as  at  the  beginning : 
 afterward  Mhou  shalt  be  called,  The  city  of 
 righteousness,  the  faithful  city. 
 
 27  Zion  shall  be  redeemed  with  judgment, 
 and  II  her  converts  with  righteousness. 
 
 28  if  And  the  'f  destruction  of  the  transgres- 
 sors and  of  the  sinners  sha/l  be  together,  and 
 they  that  forsake  the  Lord  shall  be  consumed. 
 
 29  For  they  shall  be  ashamed  of  "  the  oaks 
 which  ye  have  desired,  ^  and  ye  shall  be  con- 
 founded for  the  gardens  that  ye  have  chosen. 
 
 30  For  ye  shall  be  as  an  oak  whose  leaf 
 fadeth,  and  as  a  garden  that  hath  no  water. 
 
 31  *'  And  the  strong  shall  be  ''  as  tow,  ||  and 
 the  maker  of  it  as  a  spark,  and  they  shall  both 
 burn  together,  and  none  shall  quench  them. 
 
 that  «)•<?  curruptcrs,  'who  have  corrupted  themselves.* — Rosenm.  'De- 
 generate chikhen.' — Boofhr.  ."j.  Head  is  sick^heart  faint,  taken 
 frnm  the  desperately  diseased  or  wounded  condition  of  the  bndy. 
 Magistrates,  ministers,  and  the  mass  of  tlie  people,  were  corrupt. — 
 Hcotf.  6.  Not  brcii  closed,  §-c. — the  comparison  is  taken  from  the 
 plaisters,  ointments,  oi!s,  &c.,  which  are  used  in  the  east  upon  the  belly 
 and  stomach  in  most  maladies. — Chardin.  7.  Your  countri/  is  desolate, 
 Sfc,  '  dcJiolRtion  itself.' — Mnccul.  This  description  agrees  withthetime 
 of  Ahaz,  when  Judea  was  ravaged  by  the  invasion  of  I&rael,  by  Syrians 
 from  the  north,  the  Edomites  from  the  south,  and  the  Philistines  from  the 
 west,  fsee2  Chron.  x.xviii.)  8.  As  a  cottage  in  a  viueiiard,  us  a  lodge, 
 8fc.,  little  temporary  huts,  covered  with  boughs,  straw,  turf,  or  the  like 
 materials,  for  a  shelter  for  the  watchmen  who  guarded  the  fruit  against 
 foxes,  jackals,  &c.,  (see  Cant,  ii.is.)  C«c«miers— fruits  of  the  gourd  kind 
 are  in  great  request  in  the  Levant,  for  their  eoollng  quality. — Bp.Loiuth. 
 See  Num.  ,\i.  5,  note.  This  mefaphor,  taken  from  the  mean  and  in- 
 significant appearance  of  the  lodge,  and  its  consequently  being  over- 
 looked  and  neglected,  afforded  a  striking  lepresentation  of  Zion  in  her 
 solitary  deserted  state.  10.  Ye  rulers  of  Sodum,  so  the  Jewish  rulers 
 ore  here  called,  intimating  their  re.semblanee  in  luxury,  impurity, 
 pride,  oppression,  and  other  abominations.  11.  To  what  puvpuse  ? 
 ffc. — tlie  multitude  of  sacrifices  might  be  pleaded  in  excuse.  But  these 
 were  not  demanded  on  account  of  any  intrinsic  worth  in  them. — Mace. 
 They  disregarded  their  typical  intentinn,  and  used  them,  not  as  a 
 means  of  sanctification,  hut  hypocritically,  and  under  the  idea  of  merit. 
 — So  Scott.  13.  The  new  moons,  ^c— at  these  seasons  they  were 
 ordered  to  oflfer  unto  the  Lord  an  additional  burnt  offering,  a  meat- 
 
 offering, drink-offerings,  and  a  sin-offering, beside  their  daily  sacrifice, 
 (see  Num.  x.wiii.  U,  S;c.) — Mnccul.  l6.  Wash  you,  alludes  to  the 
 legal  washings  commanded  on  several  occasions. — Lowt/i.  See  Lev. 
 xiv.  8,  g,  4/.  18.  As  scarlet — this  was  the  favourite  colour  of  the 
 ancient  heathen  prostitutes,  (Jer.  iv.  ^0.)—Uob.  To  discharge  this 
 strong  colour,  which  was  produced,  like  cochineal,  from  a  worm  or  in- 
 sect, was  impossible  to  human  art  or  power. — Loivth.  This  appears  to 
 he  an  allusion  to  the  custom  of  fastening  a  piece  of  scarlet  cloth  to  the 
 horn  of  the  scape  goat,  (  comp.  Ps.  11.  7  ;  Rev.  vii.  14  ;  and  see  Lev. 
 xvi.  22.) — Hew.  21.  Become  aji  harlot,  '  gone  after  idols.' — Bouthr. 
 22.  Mi.red  with  water,  'infatuated  with  water,"  degenerated.  —  Gw.?. 
 Though  mixed  wine  usually  denotes  wine  made  strong  by  more  stimu- 
 lating ingredients,  (Prov.  xxiii.  30;  Song,  viii.  2,)  yet  here  the  ingre- 
 dient water  means,  doubtless,  deterioration. —  Boothr.  Adulterated 
 viiwQ.—Ptct.  Bib.  23.  Gifts,  '  bribes.'— //ch'.  S,").  Tin,  which  of  all 
 metals  is  most  hurtful  to  silver  ;  a  very  small  admixture  of  it  rendering 
 silver  as  brittle  as  glass,  and  being  very  hardly  separable  from  it  again. 
 —Par.  26.  Restore  thy  judges— i\m  relates,  in  the  primary  sense,  to 
 the  restoratiiiu  of  the  Jews  after  seventy  yeius  of  captivity. —  P»r6, 
 Lowth.  27.  Her  converfs,  '  they  that  return  of  her.'— Low/A.  Turned 
 from  the  service  of  dead  idols  and  lying  vanities,  to  serve  the  living 
 God.— Macciil.  -2Q.  Ashamed  of  the  oaks,  'ilexes,*  or  holly  trees,— 
 Lowth  : '  terebinths,'  or  turpentine  trees, — Boothr.;  under  whose  shelter 
 idolatrous  worship  was  performed. — Hew.  30.  A  garden  that  hath  no 
 water — rivers,  reservoirs,  and  canals  are  cnmmon  provisions  made  for 
 eastern  cardcns,  without  which  they  would  soon  be  burned  up.— So 
 Maundrell,  Russell,  ^c. ;   see  Harmer  and  Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  L  —  We  observe  here,  \.  A<inrn- 
 vated  sinfulness.  Here  are  great  crimes  :  rebellion  agaiost  the 
 authority  of  God;  insensibility  and  ingratitude;  and  these 
 augmented  in  consequence  of  peculiar  favouis  bestowed  by  a 
 gracious  God  ;  evil  conduct  of  the  worst  kind,  not  merely  con- 
 717 
 
 fined  to  those  who  practised  it,  but  communicated,  like  a 
 spreading  plague,  to  others;  formality  and  hypocrisy  in  reli- 
 gion ; — in  fact,  God  was  abandoned,  and  daringly  insulted  ; 
 and  even  the  infliction  of  fatherly  cliaslisement  did  but  pro- 
 duce an  increase  of  crime,  and  that  from  the  highest  to  the 
 
A  prophecy  of  Christ's  kingdom. 
 
 ISAtAH,  II. 
 
 The  poiverful  effects  of  God's  majesty. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Isaiah  prnp'iesktk  trie  cunihuj  of  ChrisVs  kingdom. 
 6  Wichcdntss  is  the  cause  of  God's  forsaking.  10 
 He  exhortelh  to  feitit  because  of  the  powerful  effl'ct.8 
 of  God's  majcslr/. 
 
 T^HE  word  that  Isaiah  the  son  of  Amoz  saw 
 -■-    concerning  Judah  and  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  And  "^  it  shall  come  to  pass  ''in  the  last 
 days,  '^  that  the  mountain  of  llie  Lord's  house 
 siiall  be  II  established  iu  the  lop  of  the  moun- 
 tains, and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills  ; 
 ^  and  all  nations  sliall  flow  unto  it. 
 
 3  And  many  people  shall  go  and  say,  '^  Come 
 ve,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mtjuntain  of  the 
 I.oKD,  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob  ;  and 
 be  will  teach  us  of  liis  ways,  and  we  will  walk 
 in  bis  patlis  :  ''for  out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth 
 the  law,  and  the  word  of  the  Louu  from  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 4  And  be  sliall  judge  among  the  natiuny,  and 
 shall  rebuke  many  people  :  and  ^  they  shall 
 beat  their  swords  into  plowshares,  aud  tlieir 
 spears  into  ||  pruningbooks  :  nation  shall  not 
 lift  up  sword  against  nation,  ''neither  shall  they 
 learn  war  any  more. 
 
 5  O  bouse  of  Jacob,  come  ye,  and  let  us  'walk 
 in  the  light  of  the  Lord. 
 
 6  If  Tlierefore  thou  hast  forsaken  thy  people 
 the  bouse  of  Jacob,  because  they  be  replenislied 
 11''  from  the  east,  and  '  are  soothsayers  like  the 
 Philistines,  '"and  they  ||  please  themselves  in 
 the  children  of  stranger.-'. 
 
 7  "Their  laud  also  is  full  of  silver  and  gold, 
 neither  is  there  any  end  of  their  treasures; 
 their  laud  is  also  full  of  liorses,  neither  is  there 
 a/)j/  end  of  their  chariots  : 
 
 l>  Geii.  ID.  I. 
 Jar  -i'-i.  20, 
 c  Ps.  6S.  15, 
 
 ir>. 
 t  Or,  pre- 
 
 d  Ts.  72.  8. 
 ch.  S7.  i:t 
 
 •-J.T.SI     0. 
 Jt  :»(P.  5. 
 Ztcli.  8.  !*l, 
 ■J3. 
 
 /  r.uke  24. 
 
 ^  IN.  Ifi  f). 
 H.is.'J.  IS. 
 Zecli.y.  III. 
 
 llOr,  jcj//A.#, 
 i  Kvli.  5.  S. 
 
 tli'it,  the  rait. 
 *Nuiii.S3.7, 
 iDeu.  IS  J4 
 mI'n.IlHS  :j5. 
 
 J.'r,  IU,  ■* 
 II  Or.  ..'.»'<../ 
 
 cir.  7tio. 
 .  Jor,  2.28. 
 
 p  vcr.  ID,  21 
 
 Hcv.  e.  ID. 
 q  ver,  17. 
 
 ch  b  Ifi,  ID. 
 
 H  l.-t.  II. 
 "  c\\    \.  1.  & 
 
 II.  ID,  II.  Ki 
 
 ia.i,-i.&si. 
 
 Cl.ilt25.  !l. 
 ^  26.  I.  & 
 ■27.  1,2.12, 
 l.-i.  fc  S8.  5. 
 iLSg.  18.  & 
 30.  -l-A.ti  W. 
 6.Jei-.30.7, 
 S.  Kiek  as. 
 I-J,  13.&  39 
 II,  12.  Una 
 •2  Hi,  18,21. 
 .loel  3.  la. 
 .4mus9.  II. 
 Oba.l.  8. 
 
 Mi 
 
 •1  (1.  h 
 
 _.  It).  & 
 
 ll,12.Zepli. 
 
 H.  II,  10. 
 
 Z.-ch.y.lO. 
 *  .'!>,  U    9- 
 
 8t  37.  21. 
 
 i:iek.3l,3. 
 
 Zee  II.  1,2. 
 /  ch.  30.  as. 
 M  1  Kill.  10. 
 
 t'Hcb. 
 
 pic  I  Ht ft  of 
 
 dt.iirf, 
 X  vpr-  It. 
 V  vcr.  II. 
 II  Or,  thti 
 
 Xiltrrly  jiittt 
 
 3  ver.  10. 
 
 Hos.  10,  fi. 
 
 LuUfl  23,30. 
 
 Hev.  6.  16. 
 
 &U.  6. 
 +  Hcb.  Ih/i 
 
 dust. 
 <i2The9.\-9. 
 icl).  30  32 
 
 (1.1*20,21. 
 
 Ik'b,  12,20. 
 
 8  "  Their  laud  also  is  full  of  idols  ;  tliey  wor- 
 ship the  work  of  their  own  bands,  that  which 
 their  own  fingers  have  made: 
 
 9  And  the  mean  man  bowetb  down,  and  the 
 great  man  humbleth  himself:  therefore  forgive 
 them  not. 
 
 10  ir^  Enter  into  the  rock,  and  hide  thee  in 
 the  dust,  for  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  for  the  glory 
 of  his  majesty. 
 
 1 1  The  ■'  lofty  looks  of  man  shall  be  humbled, 
 and  the  haughtiness  of  men  shall  be  bowed 
 down,  and  the  Lord  alone  shall  be  exalted '^iu 
 that  day. 
 
 12  For  the  day  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  shallbc 
 upon  every  one  that  is  prond  and  lofty,  and 
 upon  every  one  that  is  lifted  up;  aud  he  shall 
 be  bronglit  low  : 
 
 13  Aud  upon  all  ^  the  cedars  of  Lebanon,  that 
 are  high  aud  lifted  up,  and  upon  all  the  oaks 
 of  Bashau, 
 
 14  Aud  '  upon  all  the  hi};h  mountains,  and 
 upon  all  the  bills  that  are  lifted  np, 
 
 15  And  upon  every  high  tower,  and  upon 
 every  fenced  wall, 
 
 16  "  And  upon  all  the  ships  of  Tarshisb,  and 
 upon  ail  f  pleasant  pictures. 
 
 17  ^  Aud  the  loftiness  of  man  shall  be  bowed 
 down,  and  the  haughtiness  of  men  shall  be 
 made  low  :  aud  the  Lord  alone  sliall  be  ex- 
 alted *'  in  that  day. 
 
 18  And  II  the  idols  he  shall  utterly  abolish. 
 10   Aud   they  shall  go  into  the  'holes  of  the 
 
 rocks,  and  into  the  caves  of  f  the  earth,  "  for 
 fear  of  the  Lord,  and  for  the  ^lory  of  his  ma- 
 jesty, when  he  ariseth  '"  to  shake  terribly  the 
 earth. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  1.  That  Isaiah  saw,  'which  was  revealed  to  Isaiah.' — 
 Lowth,  so  Boolhi\  Snppuseil  to  have  been  delivered  in  the  reign  of 
 Uzzidh,  ill  the  tinieof  pi'.ue,  weajth,  aud  luMiry. — Bnothr.  *i.  And 
 
 it  shall  come  to  puns  in  tliu  last  days,  i.  e.,  in  the  times  of  the  Messiah, 
 sii  called  by  tlie  prophets. — li'imrhi,  Preb.  Lowth.  This  verse  to  Ihe 
 6th  foretth  the  kingdom  of  the  Me'^'-iah.  —  Low/A.  The  mountnin, 
 fjc. — the  temple  was  built  on  Mount  Moriah,  which  was  contiguous 
 to  Mount  Zion,  if  not  a  part  <if  it.  E,tiiUcd,  esteemed  and  regarded. 
 The  church  of  God  ^hnuld  he  t;lorious.  All  nnliuns,  its  gates  shall  be 
 opened  to  all. — Bnothr.  Flow,  an  obvious  reference  fo  the  waters  of 
 a  river  llowing  on  iu  their  course  toward  the  sea. — Mttcc.  3.  Let 
 
 us  go  np  to  the  mounttiin,  join  ourselves  to  the  Christian  church; 
 alluding  to  the  Jews  coing  up  to  Jerusalem  at  their  soUran  feasts. — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  Out  of  Zimi  shall  go  forth  the  I'ttv,  and  the  word,  ^c, 
 seem  to  signify  the  doctrines  and  precepts  of  the  Gospel.  4.  lient 
 their  swords  into  plowshares,  ^c. — the  prophets  often  spcalc  hyper 
 iiolically.  This  piediction  relates  solely  to  the  genuine  disci['lcs  of 
 Ctirist,  who  are  the  real  subjects  of  his  kingdom,  and  not  to  princes  and 
 their  subjects,  merely  professing  Chrisiianity. — Mnccul.  5.  O  house 
 of  Jacob — the  pious  Jews  are  here  addressed. — Boothr.  In  the  light, 
 {^c,  in  the  light  of  God's  W^rd  it  Gospel. — Jackson.  Perhaps  here  is 
 an  allusion  to  the  lamps  which  were  lighted  up  in  the  evenings  of  the 
 solenm  feast  days. — Boothr.  6.  Therefore,  '  for  this  reason." — Preb. 
 Lnwth.  T/ion  hnst  forsiiken,  i^c.,  from  this  tn  the  end  foretels  the  pu- 
 nishment of  the  unbel'e^i^g  Je.\s  for  their  idolatrous  practices,  &c. — 
 Lowth.  Replenished,  ^-c., '  tilled  with  diviners,*  &c  , — Lowth  ;  i.  e  ,  they 
 are  full  of  the  rites,  and  customs,  and  vices,  of  the  people  inhabiting  the 
 eastern  countries.  The  Arabians.  Syrians,  and  Chalde;iiis,  in  parti- 
 cular, were  famous  frr  magic  arts,  &c. — Jackson.  From  the  eitst, 
 3"lpO.  or  '  more  than  the  cast ;'  i.e..  they  were  more  filled  with  witeh- 
 cralts  and  sorceries  than  the  Syrians  and  Chaldeans.  —  Vat.,  Gill. 
 The  east  still  continues  to  .send  her  diviners  and  jugglers  toall  the  con- 
 tiguous isles  and  nations. — Rob.  Please  themselves  in  the  children  nf 
 i^lratigers,  follow  their  ntcs  and  customs. — Jackson.  *  Antl  thty  mul- 
 tiply a  spurious  brood  of  strnnge  children.* — So  rendered  by  Lowth. 
 Children  irregidarly  and  casually  begotten.  —  Boothr.  ".  Full  of 
 
 silr^er,  Sfc,  describes  avarice,  trust  in  riches,  human  grandeur,  and 
 power,  as  reasons  for  God  foisaking  them,  (see  Deut.  .wii.  Ki,  17) — 
 Mac.  9-  Humbleth  himself,  to  the  idol.— Ed.  All  ranks  bow  down 
 to  idols.— t*'i7. 
 
 '  Therefore  shall  the  mean  man  be  bowed  down, 
 And  the  mighty  man  shall  be  humbled  : 
 And  [For]  thou  wilt  not  forgive  them.'— Lou'^A,  so  Boothr. 
 
 The  rendering  of  the  last  line  removes  the  idea  of  tlic  prophet  Impre. 
 eating  divine  vengeance  on  his  countrymen. — Ed.  10.  Enter  into 
 the  rocA-— the  remainder  of  the  chapter  predicts  some  general  judg- 
 ment,  ending  in  the  utter  destruction  of  the  Jewish  land  and  govern- 
 ment :  such  was  that  of  the  capti\  ity.  Many  of  the  expressions  relate 
 to  the  labt  judgment.— iVei.  Lowth.  The  rock  of  Horeb  on  which 
 Moses  stood,  and  from  which  he  brought  water  for  the  Israelites,  we 
 are  assured,  by  an  inspired  writer,  was  a  remarkable  type  of  Christ. 
 This  is  the  spiritual  rock  into  which  the  proplict  invites  the  house  of 
 Jacob  to  enter.  13.  Cedirs  of  Lebanon—theic.  in  prophetic  language, 
 meant  kings  and  princes,  high  and  lofty.— il/«cci//.  The  kings  anci 
 princes  of  Syria  are  here  meant.— Gro^ws.  Oaks  of  Bushan,  great  and 
 mighty  kings,  seemingly  firm,  durable,  and  extending  their  branches. 
 — Mnccvl.  Meaning  here  the  kings  and  princes  of  Israel. —  (wf^/ius. 
 14.  Mountains,  may  refer  to  tho:^e  who  lived  on  them,  iu  contrast  to 
 those  in  the  plains,  rr  rather  k-ngdtms,  states,  and  cities.  iS.  High 
 ton'cr—%oxx\\i  were  for  watchmen  in  the  vineyards,  and  some  for  shep- 
 herds, aud  some  for  citadels  and  fortresses,  commonly  built  on  high 
 grounds.  Ei-ery  fenced  wall,  built  for  defence  round  houses,  cities,  and 
 fortresses.  We  may  here  understand  counsellors,  able  statesmen,  and 
 military  ofl!icers,  who  are  the  guardians  an<l  protectors  of  'litir  country. 
 I6.  Ships  of  Tarshish,  see  1  Kings,  x.  ^2,  notes.  Works  cf  art  or  inven- 
 tion may  be  here  intended,  or  rather,  the  merchants  enriched  by  com- 
 merce, and  abounding  with  the  luxuries  of  life. — Macrnl.  And  upon 
 all  pleasant  pictures, '  and  against  every  lovely  (desirable)  work  of  ait.* 
 —Lowth,  so  Boothr.  It  may  refer  to  their  m'  Uen  images  and  higb 
 places.— See  Kum.  xx.xiii.  52.  19-  Holes  of  the  rrjt/w—J'ideaabonpdi-d 
 in  rocks  and  caverns,  natural  and  artificial,  which  in  times  of  ckuigcr 
 
 lovcpst.     Observe  here,  again — 
 
 II.  Severe  punishment.  The  offenders  reduced  to  a  state  of 
 entire  desolation,  and  given  up  into  the  huiids  of  those  idola- 
 tors  whose  evil  practices  Ihey  had  followed.  They  who  have 
 shghted  ordinances  shall  know  the  want  of  ordinances  ;  they 
 who  have  loved  idolatry  shall  know  the  tender  mercies  cf 
 idolaters.     Observe — 
 
 IlL  Astonishing  niercg.  These  rebels — these  backsliders — 
 these  evil-doers,  vile  as  Sodom  and  Ciomorrah — are  vet  invited 
 7 !  :■> 
 
 to  return  to  an  offended  God,  who  even  condescends  to  reason 
 with  them,  and  assures  them  that  sins  of  scarlet  and  crimson 
 dye  are  not  beyond  the  reach  of  his  pardon  ;  notliiiig  but  sub- 
 mission is  required  for  their  purt,  but  continn-nl  rebellion 
 must  bring  on  (inal  ruin.  Let  us  learn  I'rom  this  to  cast  off  our 
 unbelief,  and,  though  we  be  ever  so  vile,  to  forsake  our  sins, 
 and  come  with  weeping  and  supplication  to  the  cross  of  .Iesn.s 
 Christ.     '  Kor  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cloanseth  from  all  sin.' 
 
The  great  confusinn  ivhich  cometh  hi/  sin. 
 
 ISAIAH,  111. 
 
 The  oppression  §'r.  nf  (he  ruhrs. 
 
 20  '  In  that  clay  a  man  shall  cast  f  his  idols 
 of  silver,  and  his  idols  of  gold,  |j  which  they 
 made  each  one  for  himself  to  worship,  to  tlie 
 moles  and  to  the  bats  ; 
 
 21  ''To  go  into  the  clefts  of  the  rocks,  and 
 into  the  tops  of  the  ragged  rocUs,  °  for  fear  of 
 the  Lord,  and  for  the  glory  of  his  majesty, 
 when  he  ariseth  to  shake  terribly  the  earth. 
 
 '22  '  Cease  ye  from  man,  whose  "  breath  is 
 in  his  nostrils :  for  wherein  is  he  to  be  ac- 
 counted of? 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1    The  great  confusion  which  comcih  by  sin.     9   The 
 
 imptitieiit't/  of  the  people,      12    The  oppression  and 
 
 covetoiisness  of  the  rulers.      16    Thejml(;incnts  which 
 
 shall  be  for  the  pride  of  the  women. 
 
 "POR,  behold,  the  Lord,  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 
 -^    "  doth  take  away  from  Jerusalem  and  from 
 
 Judah  '•  the  stay  and  the  staff,  the  whole  stay 
 
 of  bread,  and  the  wliole  stay  of  water, 
 
 2  '  The  mighty  man,  and  the  man  of  war,  the 
 judge,  and  the  prophet,  and  the  prudent,  and 
 the  ancient, 
 
 3  The  captain  of  fifty,  and  f  the  honourable 
 man,  and  the  counsellor,  and  the  euuning  ar- 
 tificer, and  the  {|  eloquent  orator. 
 
 4  And  I  will  give  ''children  to  it- their  princes, 
 and  babes  shall  rule  over  them. 
 
 5  And  the  people  shall  be  oppressed,  every 
 one  by  another,  and  every  one  by  his  neigh- 
 bour :  the  child  shall  behave  himself  proudly 
 against  the  ancient,  and  the  base  against  the 
 honourable. 
 
 6  When  a  man  shall  take  hold  of  his  brother 
 of  the  house  of  his  father,  sayinrj.  Thou  hast 
 clothing,  be  thou  our  ruler,  and  let  this  ruin  be 
 under  thy  hand  : 
 
 7  In  that  day  shall  he  fswear,  saying,  I  will 
 not  be  an  fliealer;  for  in  my  house  is  neither 
 bread  nor  clothing  :  make  me  not  a  ruler  of  the 
 people. 
 
 8  For  "  Jerusalem  is  ruined,  and  Judah  is 
 fallen  :  because  their  tongue  and  their  doings 
 are  against  the  Lord,  to  provoke  the  eyes  of 
 his  glory. 
 
 9  1  Tlie  shew  of  their  countenance  doth  wit 
 
 I  ll.-li.  Mr- 
 i.l,,ll  ,■/ hi, 
 
 II  Or,  lo'ijc'i 
 
 r,,',  hhn. 
 d  vor.   lit. 
 
 /■  Pa.  1 16  3. 
 .ler.  17.  5. 
 ti  Job  27.  3. 
 
 1  Jcr  37.21 
 S.  SI.  'J 
 ,  Lev.  2(i  20. 
 
 F.ccles.  8. 
 h  Vt.  129.  2. 
 
 Ps.  11.  6 
 Eccli;«8.l3. 
 
 /ch.  9    16 
 II  Or,  Ihry 
 ioliicli  cult 
 lf(f  blmrd. 
 t  Heh.  Mw„l' 
 
 II  Or, .,«,;/..( 
 
 <l  liccles.  10. 
 
 t  Hcl..  lift 
 
 llji  tlio 
 
 Land. 
 
 Gen.  11.  22. 
 t  Ueb. 
 
 bindrr  up, 
 
 f  Mic.  3.  12, 
 
 I  .Mi 
 
 H/t. 
 
 .  b,  2 
 
 „cl..5.  7. 
 Mat.  21.33. 
 
 (  Ueb.  rfe- 
 
 V  Deu.28.  27 
 
 t  Heb    >Wih' 
 
 '/  cb.-17  2,3 
 Jer.  13.  22. 
 Nab.  3.  6. 
 
 (I  Or,  H^/ 
 ui'trkt. 
 rJudg-S.2l. 
 
 II  Or,  aiutut 
 
 ||nr,.,i..»i,fo/ 
 
 t  Hcb  /.OT/i' 
 lif  the  mill. 
 
 ness  against  them  ;  and  they  declare  their  sin 
 as  '  Sodom,  they  hide  it  not.  Woe  unto  their 
 soul !  for  they  have  rewarded  evil  unto  them- 
 selves. 
 
 10  Say  ye  to  the  righteous,  ^  that  it  shall  be 
 well  with  him :  ""for  they  shall  eat  the  fruit  of 
 their  doings. 
 
 1 1  Woe  un  to  the  wicked  !  '  it  shall  be  ill  tuith 
 him :  for  the  reward  of  his  hands  shall  be 
 f  given  him. 
 
 12  "i  As  fur  my  people,  ''children  are  their 
 oppressors,  and  women  rule  over  them.  O  my 
 people,  '  11  they  which  lead  tliee  cause  lliec  to 
 err,  and  f  destroy  the  way  of  thy  paths. 
 
 13  The  Lord  standeth  up  '"to  plead,  aiiQ 
 standeth  to  judge  the  people. 
 
 14  The  Lord  will  enter  into  judgment  with 
 the  ancients  of  his  people,  and  the  princes 
 thereof:  for  ye  have  ||  eaten  up  "the  vineyard; 
 the  spoil  of  the  poor  is  in  your  houses. 
 
 13  What  mean  ye  that  ye  "  beat  my  people  to 
 pieces,  and  grind  the  faces  of  the  pour?  saith 
 the  Lord  God  of  hosts. 
 
 16  t  Moreover  the  Lord  saith,  Because  the 
 daughters  of  Zion  are  haughty,  and  walk  with 
 stretched  forth  necks  and  f  wanton  eyes,  walk- 
 ing and  II  mincing  as  they  go,  and  making  a 
 tinkling  with  their  feet : 
 
 17  Therefore  the  Lord  will  smite  with  ''a 
 scab  the  crown  of  the  head  of  the  daughters  of 
 Zion,  and  tlie  Lord  will  f*"  discover  their  secret 
 parts. 
 
 18  In  that  day  the  Lord  will  take  away  the 
 bravery  oi  their  tinkling  ornaments  about  their 
 feet,  and  their  \\  cauls,  and  their  ''round  tires 
 like  the  moon, 
 
 19  The  II  chains,  and  the  bracelets,  and  the 
 II  mufilers, 
 
 20  The  bonnets,  and  the  ornaments  of  the 
 legs,  and  the  headbands,  and  the  f  tablets,  and 
 the  earrings, 
 
 21  The  rings,  and  nose  jewels, 
 
 22  The  changeable  suits  of  apparel,  and  the 
 mantle.s,  and  the  wimples,  and  the  crisping  pins, 
 
 23  The  glasses,  and  the  fine  linen,  and  the 
 hoods,  and  the  vails. 
 
 were  U'scil  as  pl-ices  of  retreat. — See  Judges,  vi.  2  ;  1  Sam.  xiii.  6  ;  xxiv. 
 3  ;  Jer.  -xli.  9.  To  sluike,  e-\'pres-ive  of  terrible  commotions. — Miiccut., 
 LiHi'tli.  20.  To  tlie  molts,  ^e,,  rather  tlie  musk  rat  is  intended,  a 
 disicn-ting  ercatmc,  which  dwells  among  tlie  bat^,  and  is  said  to  be 
 atira^-tcd  I)y  their  ordure. —  Rob.  Into  dark  and  obscure  places,  such  as 
 those  creatures  inhabited. — Mttcoul, 
 
 (;itAP.  III.  —  1.  Slai/  of  bread,  bread,  commonly  called  the  staff  of 
 life.  (Lev.  xxvi.  26;  Ezek.  xiv.  13.) — Pref).  Lowlli.  2.  Pindeut — an. 
 cient.    'diviner,'   'sage.' — Lowth,  .1.  Children  —  Imbes,   such    weak 
 
 kines  as   Jehoiachin,   Jehoiachim,    and   Zedekiah.  —  Hew,  7- A'or 
 
 elothina — the  eastern  treasures  anciently  consisted  in  large  quantities 
 of  clothing,  and  are  still  the  same. — Lowth.  Great  nun  keep  a  stock  of 
 clothes  ill  readiness  for  presents,  as  well  as  of  ptovisions.  Hence  the 
 person  desired  to  rule  excuses  himself  that  he  cannot  support  the  dig- 
 nity of  the  station. —  Chnrdin.  8.  Eyes  of  his  glory,  an  Hebraism  for 
 glorious  eyes. — Rosenm,  11.  Children — women,   weak  governors, 
 
 called,  metaphorically.women  and  children.— Pj-e6.  Lowth.  16.  Wanton 
 eyes,  '  deceiving  with  their  eyes,'  or  falsifying  their  eyes,  through  the 
 colouring  of  their  eyes  with  stabium  or  alcohol,  (see  2  Kings,  ix.  3n  ; 
 Jer.  iv.  30  ;  Ezek.  xxiii.  40.).— Lowth.  Tinklini;.  alluding  to  the  orna- 
 ments of  the  feet,  chains  or  rings,  which  the  eastern  ladies  wore,  and 
 which  made  a  tinkling  sound  as  they  moved  nimbly  in  walkiug. — See 
 Dr.  Hunt,  Eugene  Rogers,  Sir  W.  Jones.  Hindoo  women  of  ill- fame 
 wear  loose  ornaments  one  above  another  on  their  ancles,  which,  at 
 every  motion  of  their  feet,  produce  a  tinkling  noise. —  Ward.  17.  The 
 Lord  will  discover,  .5'C.,  this  alludes  to  the  barbarous  custom  of  those 
 times,  of  stripping  the  captives  naked,  whatever  might  be  their  dignity, 
 or  of  either  sex. — Lowth.        is.  Cauls — the  caul  is  a  strap  or  girdle. 
 
 about  four  inches  long,  placed  on  the  top  of  the  head.  It  extends  to 
 the  brow  in  a  line  with  the  nose  ;  it  is  made  of  gold,  has  many  joints, 
 and  is  set  with  rubies  or  pearls,  which  give  it  a  net- work  appearance. 
 Round  tires  like  the  moon — these  are  usually  of  gold,  and  crown  the 
 head  like  a  skull  cap.  The  shape  of  an  ornament  like  the  crescent 
 moon  is  a  great  favourite  in  all  parts  of  the  east.  No  dancing  gii'l  is 
 in  full  dress  without  tliis  ornament.  ly.  CA«;?is— the  Hindoo  ladies 
 usually  have  one  beautifully  worked,  with  a  pendent  ornament  for  the 
 neck,  and  to  this  they  add  a  profusion  of  others.  Bracelets,  these  are 
 large  ornanieuts  for  the  wrists,  in  which  are  sometimes  enclosed  small 
 bulls.  Mu0ers,  these  appear  to  be  for  the  breasts. — Rob.  The  original 
 rattier  denotes  veils  for  the  face.— P/ci.  Jiib.  20.  Headbands,  the 
 
 headband  is  a  golden  girdle,  which  surrounds  the  head  like  a  belt,  and 
 binds  together  some  other  ornaments. — Rob.  Tablets, '  perfume  boxes.' 
 — Lowth.  *  Houses  of  the  soul,'  marg.  Many  women  wear  an  orna- 
 ment resembling  an  house,  and  sometimes  a  temple,  which  contains  an 
 image.  'il.  Nose  jewels,  t\\cs^  are  worn  in  the  nostrils  by  Hindoo 
 ladies, — Rob. ;  and  in  other  parts  of  the  east,  they  are  fastened  in  the 
 left  nostril. —  Clarke.  22.  Changeable  suits — tlic  eastern  ladies  take 
 
 great  pride  in  having  many  changes  of  apparel,  because  their  fashions 
 never  alter.  Wimples,  probably  the  fine  muslin  which  is  sometimes 
 thrown  over  the  bead  and  body.  Crisping  pins,  ratlier  a  clasp  or  gold 
 hoop,  which  holds  together  several  tails,  into  which  the  hair  is  divided, 
 one  of  which  is  foldeti  in  a  knot  on  the  top  of  the  bead. — So  Roh.  In 
 Abyssinia,  the  women  curl  their  hair  with  a  wooden  stick,  by  which 
 they  lay  hold  of  it  in  small  locks,  which  they  twist  into  whatever  form 
 they  please.  Such,  probably,  were  the  crisping-pins  here  mentioned. — 
 Hew.         23.  Fine  linen,  alludes  to  garments  of  the  Lacedajmonian 
 
 RrFT.F.rTlONS  ON  Chap.  II I.  Gnd  itill  always  have  a  people  II.    Those  that  will  not  have  God's  ordinances  must  have  God's 
 
 for  himself.     Israel  and   Zion  were  but  types  of  future  and  judefments.     Better  have  the  wlioIe  world  armed  against  us  t!i:in 
 
 more  glorious  days,  when   tlie  nations,  like  so  many  rivers,  Hiiu  who  made  the  world  and  all  things  a\  iiicii  are  therein, 
 
 shall  be   blended  into  one  stream,  and  to  Christ    shall  the  '  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  faU  into  the  hands  of  the  living  Cod.' 
 gathering  of  the  people  be. 
 719 
 
Christ's  kingdom  a  sanctuary. 
 
 "0+  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  instead  of 
 sweet  smell  there  shall  be  sti^nk  ;  and  mstead 
 of  a  girdle  a  rent  ;  and  instead  of  well  set  hair 
 ■baldness;  and  instead  of  a  stomacher  a  girdmg 
 of  sackcloth  ;  and  bnrning  instead  of  beauty. 
 
 25  Thy  men  shall  fall  by  the  sword,  and  thy 
 t  mighty  in  the  war. 
 
 06  t  And  her  gates  shall  lament  and  mourn  ; 
 and  she  being  ||t  desolate  "shall  sit  upon  the 
 ground. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 In  the  extremity  of  evils,    Cl.risfs  kingclnm  shall  be  a 
 sanctuary. 
 
 AND  "in  that  day  seven  women  shall  take 
 hold  of  one  man,  saying,  We  will  "eat  our 
 own  bread,  and  wear  our  own  apparel :  only 
 tlet  us  be  called  by  thy  name,  |1  to  take  away 
 '  our  reproach.  ,     r .,      i 
 
 o  In  that  day  shall  '  the  branch  of  the  Loud 
 be  t  beautiful  and  glorious,  and  the  fruit  of  the 
 eartli  shall  be.  excellent  and  comely  t  for  them 
 that  are  escaped  of  Israel.  ,     .,    .  ■ 
 
 :l  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  he  that  is 
 left  in  Zion,  and  he  that  remaineth  in  Jerusalem, 
 '  shall  be  called  holy,  even  every  one  that  is 
 'written  11  among  the  living  in  Jerusalem  : 
 
 4  When  8  the  Lord  shall  have  washed  away 
 the  filth  of  the  daughters  of  Zion,  and  shall  have 
 nurced  the  blood  of  Jerusalem  from  the  midst 
 Ihereof  by  the  spirit  of  judgment,  and  by  the 
 snirit  of  burning. 
 
 5  And  the  LoKD  will  create  upon  every 
 dwelling  place  ot  mount  Zion,  and  upon  her 
 assemblies,  '-  a  cloud  and  smoke  by  day,  and 
 i  tiie  shining  of  a  flaming  tire  by  night ;  tor 
 II  upon  all  tiie  glory  shall  be  \  a  defence. 
 
 6  And  there  shall  be  a  tabernacle  for  a  sha- 
 dow in  the  daytime  from  the  heat,  and     tor  a 
 
 ISAIAH,  IV.,  V. 
 
 God's  judgments  on  covetousness. 
 
 ,  cli.  C-3. 
 Mic.  I. 
 
 tHeb.m.'j?/./ 
 
 (  Jer.  14.  2. 
 I.am.  1.  *■ 
 
 llOr.  emjJUfd 
 t  Heb. 
 
 „  Lam- 2-10. 
 
 cli.2.11,17 
 
 b  i  Thea.  S. 
 12. 
 
 t  Heb.  hi  thy 
 \m,ibtcM 
 
 td  i(/io'i  "*. 
 11  Or,  Ukr 
 
 Ihfi  rtwnV- 
 c  Luke  I  .!Ja. 
 d  Jer. 'i.1  5. 
 
 Zech.  3.  8. 
 
 &  6.  12. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 t  Hob.  A 
 
 place  of  refuge,  and  for  a  covert  from  storm 
 and  from  rain. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 Viider  the  parable  nf  a  vineyard  God  excuseth  his 
 stvere  judgment.  8  His  jndginents  upon  covetous- 
 ness, 11  upon  lascino,isness,  13  upon  .mptety  20a,ul 
 upon  injicstice.  26  The  executioners  oj  Gods judy- 
 ments. 
 
 ,  Ps.  80.  3 
 Cant.  8.  12 
 ch.  27    2. 
 Jer.  2.  21. 
 
 ^^:^t.2l.s:^. 
 
 Mark  U.  1. 
 
 Luke  -iO.  9. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 horn  of  the 
 
 ,on  ../oU 
 ll  Or,  made  a 
 
 vmll  about 
 
 it 
 
 A  Deii  S2.  6 
 ch.  I.  2,  3. 
 
 //.»■'' 
 
 :•!)" 
 
 0/  J.rm-L 
 *.-li.  GO.  21 
 rriuV  4.3. 
 
 Rev.  3.  &. 
 
 II  Or,  lo  hfi 
 
 Mai.  3.2,3 
 
 ,  Zerli  2.  5. 
 IJ  Oi-.«6'.ce. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 a  coveriug. 
 
 ch    8    14. 
 k  ch,  25,  \ 
 
 dPs.SO.  12 
 
 t  Heb.  for  « 
 Ireaiiin/i. 
 
 t  Hob    pla>, 
 of  hii  j<lea 
 
 t  Hebatcab 
 
 N  OW  will  I  sing  to  my  wellbcloved  a  song 
 of  my  beloved   touching   "his  vineyard. 
 My  wellbeloved  hath  a  vineyard  in  fa  very 
 
 fruitful  hill  :  ,        ,       j       ,  ,i,„ 
 
 "  And  he  1|  fenced  it,  and  gathered  out  the 
 st'lines  thereof,  and  planted  it  with  the  choicest 
 vine,  and  built  a  tower  in  the  midst  uf ''•/'"'"' 
 also  imade  a  winepress  therein:  "  and  he 
 looked  that  it  should  bring  forth  grapes,  and  it 
 brought  forth  wild  grapes.        „  .,  ,  , 
 
 3  And  now,  O  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  and 
 men  of  Judah,  '^  judge,  I  pray  you,  betwixt  me 
 and  my  vineyard. 
 
 4  What  could  have  been  done  more  to  my 
 vineyard,  that  I  have  not  done  in  itV  wherefore, 
 when  I  looked  that  it  should  bring  forth  grapes, 
 broughtit  forth  wild  grapes? 
 
 5  And  now  go  to  ;  1  will  tell  you  what  I  will 
 do  to  my  vineyard  :  "  I  will  take  away  the  hedge 
 thereof,  and  it  shall  be  eaten  up  ;  and  break 
 down  the  wall  thereof,  and  it  shall  be  f  trodden 
 
 down  :  .      ,    ,1        I  !,„ 
 
 6  And  I  will  lay  it  waste :  it  shall  not  be 
 pruned,  nor  digged  ;  but  there  shall  come  up 
 briers  and  thorns :  I  will  also  command  the 
 clouds  that  they  rain  no  rain  upon  it. 
 
 7  For  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  is 
 the  house  of  Israel,  and  the  men  of  Judah  fins 
 pleasant  plant;  and  he  looked  for  judgment, 
 but  behold  t  oppression  ;  for  righteousness,  but 
 behold  a  cry. 
 
 Uin,l,  v.-hich  might  l,e  seen  through. -B,7/,  yf'^'j^,;'">^''ll  ^ulVt 
 those  worn  by  eastern  women  with.n  'loors.-I'.'-^  i3,4.  -*■  ^'^^^ 
 ,,,,..11  or  '  ncrfume  '     The  As  atic  larties  mdulgcd  in  baths,  ana  r  J^i";*^ 
 
 -r/r;^^n;Vttatr'oTert^i-.i;e^;^^-,^re:,ttu.ntf4oSrM„. 
 
 ^'^'^r.p'lV-'tVi.^om'-r*"  -the  meaning  is,  •  .he  numbers 
 
 Sn^TT  ehnrcl^^^L..  X^S^tl^^'^^nl^em 
 sha  I  be  destroyed   and  the  Jewish  nation  extirpated  and  ri.si'ersed, 
 
 l?^;r'"''r"".«f  ';  r„r„  :r  •a'bTa'stor'b,!?nTn^;;  aLdln'g  .0  the 
 
 Cdlker'e'n't'pllees'' wheVe  the  per,„1e  ^rr^-^T^l^XZ":^- 
 celebrate  their  festivals.-fi»senm^  A  condor  ^""".'"^z.eh  ii  5  ) 
 pearances  of  the  pUlar  of  cloud  and  tire.  (Esod.  xl,  3S  ;  see  zecn.      =■) 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  -The  two  leading  sins  espe- 
 cially reproved  in  this  chapter  are-L  Oppression.  1  he  whole 
 Bible— Old  and  New  Testament— are  so  much  opposed  0  any 
 thing  like  man  tyrannizing  over  man,  that  whoever  lairly  ex- 
 amines the  scriptures  can  never  accuse  God  of  being  ^  ti  r.4NT. 
 If  kingb  acted  according  to  its  laws,  they  would  be  the  most 
 honoured  of  sovereigns,  and  their  people  the  most  peaceaDie 
 and  happy  of  subjects,  , 
 
 II,  jranlonnes.!.  '  Whether  they  will  hear,  or  whether  they 
 will  forbear,' says  Henry,  'let  it  be  known  that  God  takes 
 notice  of.  and  is  much  displeased  with,  the  folly  and  vanity  ot 
 proud  women,  and  his  law  takes  cognizance  even  of  their  dress. 
 Two  things  they  here  stand  indicted  for— haughtiness  and  wan- 
 720 
 
 R^n^^-^f  to  the  cities  -ren-.-^ ';■-»-„'>  r^l'-Leth. 
 
 -i"'SlS.rt,s:^T:;,;^,^s^t^?wmSii^i-'i: 
 
 rt';hT;a%e''o%rp',a^err"4Ue.wich,byac     .^^^^ 
 
 Si-!3H;E  "SiHf^;s^=|ij?: 
 
 ?A"lF,7rS«/c/-  he  prophet  may  here  mean  the  -gl'tshfe^ 
 
 Evil  worlis.— GH(.        a,  tsrteii  u7.^  L  ,     .p,       ,      1,  n^^t  Ihev  ram 
 
 Irr-l^iSVrpLTtl'Tud  Ser1%7^^-.e^tsVi;'^n  may  be  here 
 
 "t^nness-  directly  contrary  to  that  modesty  and  shamefaced- 
 ness  and  sobriety,  with  which  women  ""Bht  '»;"'""  .'j'';"'- 
 splves  •  (1  Tim  ii,  9,)  These  sins  brought  on  ruin,  II  sin 
 be  hai'biured  wilMn  /he  walls,  lamentation  and  mournmg  are 
 near  the  gates,'  jr.re  is  pride  rewarded  by 
 
 c.!^^;Sw;;'.  "Vrs-eMktwiU  not  huSb.o  themselves 
 
 ''Tl!'rm:'t-humb,edstateofhis  church,   (^IJ-^Oi^^^^ 
 „„,,,  c;„.,r;„,  primuses.      The  sweepuig  aw.y  °f  -  0,"   ^^J^;'- 
 
 -:'^;iiir  ^!:;s^s,°V" -"  ^^^^ '  ^-  ""^  "'" 
 
 be  to  them  a  guide  and  a  guard.' 
 
God's jut/ffinents  upon  impiety. 
 
 ISAIAH,  V. 
 
 The  executioners  of  God's  judgments. 
 
 8  t  Woe  unto  them  that  johi  "house  to 
 house,  that  lay  field  to  field,  till  thci-e  be  no 
 place,  that  f  they  may  be  placed  alone  in  the 
 midst  of  the  earth  ! 
 
 9  '  II  In  mine  ears  said  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 t  Of  a  truth  many  houses  shall  be  desolate, 
 even  great  and  fair,  without  inhabitant. 
 
 10  Yea,  ten  acres  of  vineyard  shall  yield  one 
 ^bath,  and  the  seed  of  an  homer  shall  yield  an 
 epliah. 
 
 11  H  ''  Woe  unto  them  that  rise  up  early  in 
 the  morning,  tliul  they  may  follow  strong  drink ; 
 that  continue  until  night,  till  wine  ||  inflame 
 them ! 
 
 12  And  '  the  harp,  and  the  viol,  the  tabret, 
 and  pipe,  and  wine,  are  in  their  feasts  :  but 
 'they  regard  not  the  work  of  the  Loud,  neither 
 consider  the  operation  of  his  hands. 
 
 13  t  '  Therefore  my  people  are  gone  into 
 captivity,  "'  because  thi-y  have  no  knowledge  : 
 and  f  their  honourable  men  are  famished,  and 
 their  multitude  dried  up  with  thirst. 
 
 14  Therefore  hell  hath  enlarged  herself,  and 
 opened  her  mouth  without  measure  :  and  their 
 glory,  and  their  multitude,  and  their  pomp,  and 
 he  that  rejoiceth,  shall  descend  into  it. 
 
 15  And  "the  mean  man  shall  be  brought 
 down,  and  tlie  mighty  man  shall  be  humbled, 
 and  the  eyes  of  the  lofty  shall  be  humbled  : 
 
 16  But  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  be  e.x.altedin 
 judgment,  and  ||  f  fiod  that  is  holy  shall  be 
 sanctified  in  righteousness. 
 
 17  Then  shall  the  lambs  feed  after  their  man- 
 ner, and  the  waste  places  of  "  the  fat  ones  .shall 
 strangers  eat. 
 
 18  Woe  unto  them  that  draw  iniquity  with 
 cords  of  vanity,  and  sin  as  it  were  with  a  cart 
 rope  : 
 
 19  ''That  say.  Let  him  make  speed,  and 
 hasten  his  work,  that  we  may  see  it :  and  let 
 the  counsel  of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  draw 
 nigh  and  come,  that  we  may  know  it! 
 
 20  IT  Woe  unto  them  f  tliat  call  evil  good, 
 and  good  evil;  i.hat  put  darkness  for  light,  and 
 light  for  darkness ;  that  put  bitter  for  sweet. 
 
 R.  c 
 
 cir.  7li0. 
 
 f  Heb.  tje. 
 
 II  ()!■,  r/i.iis 
 
 saith  the 
 LIIKD.  ^c. 
 t  Heb.  If 
 
 7  See  Ezek. 
 45.  U. 
 
 h  Pro.  2S.2% 
 3U.  Kccies. 
 10.  Iti.  vcr. 
 
 h  Job  34  27, 
 Ps.  28,  5. 
 
 ;  Ho9.  1   6. 
 
 mch.  i.  3, 
 Luke  19.44. 
 
 t  Heh    their 
 gtorit  are 
 me,:„ffa. 
 
 rli.2.9,  n, 
 
 II  rix.thehult, 
 
 G.,d. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 Godttie  hull/. 
 
 o  ch.  10.  16. 
 
 p  oil.  66.  5. 
 Jer.  17.  15. 
 Ainoso.  18. 
 2Pet.3.3,  4. 
 
 i»i  evil.  It 
 
 n  c. 
 
 cir.  7C0. 
 
 7  Pin.  3.  7. 
 Rem   I.  ^: 
 
 &  li.  16. 
 I  Hob.(.s/.,r, 
 
 I',.,r/«cc 
 r  ver.  11. 
 
 ,  Pro   17.  15 
 &  2-1.  24. 
 
 /  El.  IS.  7. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 tf'ngiiK  ff 
 
 Jive. 
 
 F.  J.ib  IS.  111. 
 
 Kos.  9    16 
 
 Amos  2.  9 
 
 ;r  a  Kin.  22. 
 13,  17. 
 
 ,y  Jer.  4.  Si 
 
 WOr^idun^. 
 
 =  Lev.26-M, 
 &c.  cb.  9. 
 12,  17,  2I.& 
 10.4. 
 
 »ch.  II.  12 
 6  ch,  7.  18. 
 
 c  Dcu  28.49 
 Ps.  72.  8. 
 Mill.  1.  II. 
 
 rf  Joel  2.  7. 
 
 /Jer.  5. 
 
 g  cl>.  8.  22. 
 Jer.  4.  VS, 
 L.^m.  3.  2. 
 Ezc  32  7, 8. 
 I  Or,rf(30('«, 
 
 il  Or,  when  it 
 it  light,  il 
 fhntlbettarh 
 ill  the  rfc- 
 
 tLnof. 
 
 and  sweet  for  bitter! 
 
 21  Woe  unto  them  that  are  ''wise  in  their 
 own  eyes,  and  prudent  tin  their  own  sight! 
 
 22  '  VVoe  unto  them  that  are  mighty  to  drink 
 wine,  and  men  of  strength  to  mingle  strong 
 drink  : 
 
 23  Which  ''justify  the  wicked  for  reward,  and 
 take  away  the  righteousness  of  the  righleuiis 
 from  him ! 
 
 2-t  Therefore  'as  fthe  fire  devoureth  the 
 stubble,  and  the  flame  consumeth  the  chaff,  s« 
 "  their  root  .shall  he  as  rottenness,  and  their 
 blossom  shall  go  up  as  dust :  because  they 
 have  cast  away  the  law  of  the  Lord  of  host.---, 
 and  despised  the  word  of  the  Holy  One  of 
 Israel. 
 
 25  *  Therefore  is  the  anger  of  the  Lord 
 kindled  against  his  people,  and  he  hath 
 stretched  forth  his  hand  again.^t  them,  and 
 hath  smitten  them  :  and  ''the  hills  did  tremble, 
 and  their  carcases  were  ||  torn  in  the  midst  of 
 the  streets.  ^  For  all  this  his  anger  is  not 
 turned  away,  bat  his  hand  is  stretched  out 
 still. 
 
 26  H  °  And  he  will  lift  up  an  ensign  to  the 
 nations  from  fin-,  and  will  '■hiss  unto  them  from 
 '  the  end  of  the  earth  :  and,  behold, ''  they  shall 
 come  with  speed  swiftly  : 
 
 27  None  shall  be  weary  nor  stumble  among 
 them  ;  none  .shall  .slumber  uor  .sleep  ;  neither 
 •^  shall  the  girdle  of  their  loins  be  loosed,  nor  the 
 latchct  of  their  shoes  be  broken  : 
 
 28  '  Whose  arrows  are  sharp,  and  all  their 
 bows  bent,  their  horses'  hoofs  shall  be  counted 
 like  flint,  and  their  wheels  like  a  whirlwind  : 
 
 29  Their  roaring  shall  he  like  a  lion,  they 
 shall  roar  like  young  lions  :  yea,  they  shall 
 roar,  and  lay  hoid  of  the  prey,  and  shall  carry 
 it  away  safe,  and  none  shall  deliver  it. 
 
 30  And  in  that  day  they  shall  roar  against 
 them  like  the  roaring  of  the  sea:  and  \{  one 
 ^look  unto  the  land,  behold  darkness  and 
 II  sorrow,  ||  and  the  light  is  darkened  in  the 
 heavens  thereof. 
 
 intended  by  the  clouds. — Mttr^mtl.  10.  Tfn  (teres— shuU  yiettl~\.\wy 
 were  intent  on  nddins:  house  to  house,  and  field  to  ticld,  but  their 
 labour  is  vain ;  for  their  houses  shall  be  uninhabited,  and  their  fields 
 barren,  so  that  a  vineyard  of  ten  acres  shall  produce  but  one  bath  (not 
 eight  gallons)  of  wine,  and  the  husbandman  shall  reap  but  a  tenth  part 
 of  the  seed  which  he  has  sown.  11.  Strong  drink.  nDlL\  propeily 
 
 palm  wine,  or  date  wine,  which  was  and  is  much  in  use  in  the  cast. — 
 Boothr.  13.  Fuminhetl — thirst — they  that  indulged  in  feasting  and 
 drinkinpr  are  to  perish  with  hunejer  and  thirst.  14.  Hell,  is  here  in- 
 troduced as  a  ravenous  monster,  opening  wide  his  immeasurable  jaws, 
 and  swallowing  his  prey  a^agetlier. — Lowth.  17.  The  lambs,  the 
 meaning  is,  tlu-y  shall  feed  in  their  own  way,  without  guidance  or  re- 
 straint.— Wit.  As  their  own  will  shall  lead  them. — Lowth.  We  must 
 certainly  understand  this  figuratively.  The  peculiar  people  of  God, 
 then,  and  more  especially  the  young  and  feeble  among  them,  are  the 
 lambs.  These  should  feed  on  their  high  and  sacred  enjoyments  in 
 peace  and  safety,  at  the  time  to  which  this  prophecy  refers. — Mticent. 
 IW.  With  cords  of  tyiinitt/,  as  a  long  cable.  The  metaphor  may  be 
 derived  from  a  rope-maker,  who,  by  adding  hemp,  lengthens  the  cord, 
 and  by  twisting  several  together  makes  it  as  tliick  as  he  pleases.  The 
 meaning  is,  that  men  from  less  faults  proceed  to  greater,  till,  at  length, 
 they  reach  the  highest  pitch  of  wickedness. — Boothr.,  as  the  Chatdee 
 Pantphrast.  It  rather  appears  that  here  is  an  allusion  to  the  silken 
 strings  with  which  they  led  the  decorated  victims  to  the  idol  sacrifices. 
 — Ctfirke.  May  it  not  allude  to  the  immense  cables  with  which  the 
 heathen  draw  their  sacred  ears  ? — Rub.  20.  Enil  gotid,  ^-c,  confound 
 the  nature  of  virtue  and  vice.        -25.  Hitls  did  treintite — some  refer  to 
 
 the  earthquake  in  the  days  of  Uzziah.  Jarchi  explains  hills  or  moun- 
 tains to  mean  kings  and  princes. — Boot/ir.  For  trll  this,  ^v.*,  notwith- 
 standing these  dreadful  threatenings,  God's  wrath  was  btill  unabated, 
 his  hand  was  still  prepared  to  afflict  the  persevering  transgresj^ors.— So 
 Macctil.  26.  Lift  tip  tin  en.sign.  as  a  direction  to  proceed  on  a  jour- 
 ney. The  nations,  the  Clialdeans.— .B/i.  Hiitt.  Not  the  Chaldeans,  for 
 they  were  not  nations.  The  Romans,  who  consisted  of  many  nations. 
 From  fur,  for  they  extended  their  empire  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. — 
 Gill.  First  from  Chaldea,  and  afterwards  from  the  Roman  empire.  bo(h 
 (if  which  kingdoms  were  situated  at  a  grent  distance  fioni  Canaan. — 
 Mticcnt.  Hiss  unto  them,  the  allusion  seems  to  be  to  a  shepherd 
 whislhng  for  his  sheep ;  to  shew  that  the  Ircarts  of  all  were  in  his 
 hands.  rFiVA  s/ieerf,  indicative  of  swift  destruction. — Gilt.  The  meta- 
 phor  is  taken  from  the  practice  of  those  that  keep  bees,  who  draw  them 
 out  of  their  hives  into  the  fields  and  lead  lliem  back  again  by  a  hiss  or 
 a  whistle,  (see  chap.  vii.  18.) — Lowth.  27.  Girdle  be  liaised,  to  lie 
 down  and  take  sleep. — Gill.  A  girdle,  an  essential  pall  (f  the  eastern 
 soldier's  accoutrement ;  it  denotes  strength  and  activity. — Lnteth.  All 
 the  expressions  here  used  shew  their  indefatigabteness,  diligence,  in- 
 tenseness,  and  resolution. — Gill.  2S.  Hoofs — like  fiint,  Mike  ada- 
 mant.* Before  the  invention  of  shoeing,  a  firm  hoof  was  of  the  greatest 
 importance. — Lowth.  Like  ti  tchirluind,  spreading  abroad,  as  the  in. 
 vaders  of  Judea,  irresistible  violence,  desolation,  and  ruin. — Maccn'. 
 29.  Carry  iiwnt/  the  prey — the  rich  had  been  spoilers  of  the  poor,  and 
 must  now  be  spoiled. — So  Maccul.  30.  The  land,  Judea.  Darkness, 
 '  tribidatinn.'  Sorrow,  'calamities.'  T^e  AenueiM,  civil  and  church 
 state.— GiH. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  This  parable  reprosents  the 
 church  in  three  conditions— I.  Cultivation  ,-  reminding  us  of 
 our  great  privileges,  who  are  blessed  with  the  scriptures,  or- 
 dinances, and  ministers. 
 
 II.  Unfriiitftthiess.  Let  us  beware  of  the  '  wild  grapes' that 
 spoil  the  vineyard.  '  The  wickedness  of  those  who  profess 
 religion,  and  enjoy  the  means  of  grace,  is  the  most  unreason- 
 721 
 
 able,  unaccountable  thing  in  the  world  ;  and  the  whole  blame 
 of  it  must  lie  ujjun  the  sinners  themselves.''' 
 
 III.  Desnlatiun.  They  lose  their  protection,  are  neglected 
 and  left  to  themselves,  a  prey  to  every  foe.  God  forbid  that 
 his  providence  should  neglect  to  prune  us, — tiiat  his  gracious 
 influences  sliouki  be  withheld  from  us, — that  we  should  spend 
 our  davs  in  mirth  and  pleasure,  strangers  to  God  and  godli- 
 4  z 
 
Isaiah's  vision. 
 
 ISAIAH,  VI.,  VII. 
 
 His  mission  to  A/tuz. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  Isaiah,  in  a  vision  of  the  Lord  in  /its  glory,  5  being 
 terrified,  is  cotijirmed  for  itis  message,  9  He  sftew~ 
 et/t  t/ie  ohstinacg  of  Vie  people  unto  their  desolation. 
 13  A  remnant  shall  be  saved. 
 
 TN  the  year  that  °king  Uzziah  died  I  ''saw 
 -*-  also  the  Lord  sitting  upon  a  throne,  high 
 and  lifted  up,  and  ||  his  train  filled  the  temple. 
 
 2  Ahove  it  stood  the  seraphims  :  each  one 
 had  six  wings;  with  twain  he  covered  his  face, 
 and  '  with  twain  he  covered  his  feet,  and  with 
 twain  lie  did  fly. 
 
 .S  And  t  one  cried  unto  another,  and  said, 
 ''  Holy,  holy,  holy,  ?*■  the  Lord  of  hosts:  f"  t'le 
 whole  earth  is  full  of  his  glory. 
 
 4  And  the  posts  of  the  fdoor  moved  at  the 
 voice  of  him  that  cried,  and  '  the  house  was 
 filled  with  smoke. 
 
 5  t  ^  Then  said  I,  Woe  is  me!  for  I  am  fnn- 
 done;  because  I  nm  a  man  of  unclean  lips,  and 
 I  dwell  ill  the  midst  of  a  people  of  unclean 
 lips :  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  King,  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 6  Tlien  flew  one  of  the  seraphims  unto  me, 
 t  having  a  live  coal  in  his  hand,  whirh  he  had 
 taken  with  the  tongs  from  oft' ''the  altar: 
 
 7  And  he  f '  laid  it  upon  my  mouth,  and  said, 
 Lo,  this  hath  touched  thy  lips;  and  thine  ini- 
 quity is  taken  away,  and  thy  sin  purged. 
 
 8  Also  I  heard  tlie  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying. 
 Whom  shall  I  send,  and  who  will  go  for  'us? 
 Then  said  I,  f  Here  nm  I ;  send  me. 
 
 9  f  And  he  said.  Go,  and  tell  this  people, 
 '  Hear  ye  ||  f  indeed,  hut  understand  not ;  and 
 see  ye  f  indeed,  hut  perceive  not. 
 
 10  Make  "'the  heart  of  this  people  fat,  and 
 make  their  ears  heavy,  and  shut  their  eyes  ; 
 "lest  they  see  vrith  their  eyes,  and  hear  with 
 
 i2Kit 
 
 .15.: 
 
 1  Kin 
 
 l9..Iohn  12. 
 
 II.  Rev, 4.2. 
 '1  Or,  /A-* 
 
 thirtt  there- 
 
 -f 
 oKiek   1.11 
 t  Heb.  th\i 
 
 cried  lo  thiM 
 d  Rev  4.  8. 
 I  Hcb.  *,, 
 
 fflurrj  19  l\e 
 
 /ur,;e.s  ../ 
 
 Iht  vhole 
 
 'OTtH. 
 
 'Pb  72.  19. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 rh.esholdi. 
 /Kx.  W  ai, 
 
 1  Kin  8  10 
 ir  Ex.  4,  10. 
 
 fc  6.  SO. 
 
 Judif.  fi.  S2 
 
 A  Vi   22. 
 
 Jcr.  I.  6. 
 t  Hfb 
 
 rut  of. 
 +  Heh.t'.d 
 
 1  lit- 
 
 ,al. 
 
 ft  Rev.  e.  3 
 \  Heb.caru.rd 
 
 it  to  touch. 
 .  SeeJer.l.S. 
 
 Ddn.  10.  If.. 
 k  Gen    1.26 
 
 &3  2'J.&ll 
 
 ♦  'fleb 
 
 Jtrhold  me. 
 t  ch.  43.  B. 
 
 Mat.  18.  II. 
 
 Miirk  -).  la 
 
 Luke  8.  lU. 
 
 Jifhn  l->.40. 
 
 Acts  23.  26. 
 
 Rom.  11.  B. 
 11  Or,  witfiortt 
 
 f/f   !• 
 
 .  «S-c. 
 
 M  Pe  119  7U. 
 ch.  Ki.  17. 
 n  Jor.  S.  SI. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  753. 
 
 t  Heb-  rfcio- 
 /..«  wilh 
 de.'<-l;tion- 
 
 p  2  Kio  25. 
 21. 
 
 9  B^ra  9  2 
 Mai.  2.  15. 
 Rom.  11.5 
 
 t  H.-b  rei/rth 
 on  Bphraim. 
 
 hch.  10.21 
 
 II  That  is, 
 Th'-Ttmiifil 
 ifMllretHrn: 
 Seech  0.13 
 &  10.  21. 
 
 C  2  Ivin.  IS. 
 ITch.Sr-.  2 
 
 II  Or,  cans'}/- 
 tray 
 
 their  ears,  and  understand  with  their  heart,  ami 
 convert,  and  be  liealed. 
 
 II  Then  said  I,  Lord,  how  long?  And  lie 
 answered,  °  Until  the  cities  be  wasted  without 
 inhabitant,  and  the  houses  without  man,  and 
 the  land  be  f  utterly  desolate, 
 
 1*2  •' And  the  Lord  have  removed  men  far 
 away,  and  there  be  a  great  forsaking  in  the 
 midst  of  the  land. 
 
 13  H  But  yet  in  it  shai/  be  a  tenth,  ||  and  it 
 shall  return,  and  shall  be  eaten  :  as  a  teil  tree, 
 and  as  an  oak,  whose  ||  substance  is  in  them, 
 when  they  cast  their  leaves  :  so  ''  the  lioly  seed 
 shall  be  the  substance  thereof. 
 
 CHAP.  VIL 
 
 1  Ahaz,  being  trouhhd  wWi  fear  of  Jitzin  and  Ptkah, 
 is  comforted  by  Isaialt.  10  Ahuz,  having  liberty  to 
 choose  a  «/<;«,  and  refusing  it,  hat/t  for  a  sign,  Christ 
 promised.  17  Jlis  judgment  is  prophesied  to  come  by 
 Assyria. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  days  of  °  Ahaz 
 -^~*'  the  son  of  Jotliain,  the  son  of  Uzziah,  king 
 of  Judali,  thtit  Kezin  the  king  of  Syria,  and 
 Pekah  the  son  of  Remaliah,  king  of  Israel, 
 went  up  toward  Jerusalem  to  war  against  it, 
 but  could  not  prevail  against  it. 
 
 2  And  it  was  told  the  house  of  David,  saying, 
 Syria  "fis  confederate  with  Kphraim,  And  his 
 heart  was  moved,  and  the  heart  of  his  people, 
 as  the  trees  of  the  wood  are  moved  with  tiie 
 wind. 
 
 3  Then  said  the  Lord  unto  Lsaiah,  Go  forth 
 now  to  meet  Ahaz,  thou,  '' and  1|  Shear-jashub 
 thy  son,  at  the  end  of  the  "^  conduit  of  the 
 upper  pool  in  the  ||  highway  of  the  fuller's 
 field  : 
 
 4  And    say    unto   hiin,  Take  heed,  and  be 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  1.  Sitting  upon  n  throne,  Sfr. — the  literal  allusion  is  to 
 royal  majesty,  as  displayed  by  the  mnnarclis  of  the  east.  —  Loivffi. 
 The  scene  of  this  vision  is  the  temple,  and  particularly  the  mo?t  holy 
 place,  where  were  the  ark  and  cherubim,  above  which  Jehovah  re- 
 sided, attended  by  his  miDisters,  (conip.  Jer.  xvii.  12  ;  Ezck.  xliil.  7 ; 
 Rev.  iv.) — Boof/ir.  Train,  skirts  of  his  robes. — Henry.  Somewhat 
 nscmbling  a  flowing  prarment,  an  emblem  of  consummafe  dignity  and 
 supreme  majesty. — Mnccnl.  2.  Sernphima,  'seraphim,*  from  the 
 root  FjlTD,  'to  burn,'  signifying:  the  excellency,  simplicity,  purity,  zeal, 
 and  activity  of  celestial  spirits  in  executing  the  commands  of  Jehovah. 
 — Maccul.  Covered  fiis  feet— when  a  person  sits  down  in  the  east,  it  is 
 n  great  mark  of  respect  to  concenl  his  feet  and  to  look  down  on  the 
 ground. — .*•'(>  J.  Chardin.  3.  One  cried  unto  another — the  hymn  was 
 performed  by  the  cherubim,  divided  into  two  choirs. — Lowfh.  4.  Filled 
 with  smoke,  the  allu'iion  may  be  to  the  cloud  of  incense  that  covered 
 the  mercy-seat  on  the  day  of  atonement,  (Lev.  xvi.  13.)— GUI.  5.  Un- 
 done, 'struck  dumb,'  so  28  HISS.,  ffc.  ;  and  the  reason  for  it  wa-^, 
 because  of  his  polluted  lips.  6.  The  altar,  of  burnt-offerings  before 
 the  door  of  the  temple,  on  which  the  fire  that  came  down  from  heaven 
 (Lev.  LX.  24  ;  2  Chron.  vii.  i,i  uas  perpetually  kept  burning,  (Lev.  vi. 
 12,  13.) — Lowth.  y.  Thine  i/tiijuifi/  i.f  taken  away — the  altar  was  con- 
 sidered as  peculiarly  holy,  and  wha'soever  touched  it  was  holy.  It 
 sanctified  the  gift  offered  on  it.  The  prophet  might  now  become  the 
 messenger  cf  God. — Boothr.         10.  Fnt — human  fat  is  supposed  to  be 
 
 insensible ;  hence  this  allusion.— So  Hew.  Shut,  '  close  up.'  may  alluile 
 to  the  practice  of  .sealin;;:  up  the  eyes  as  a  kind  of  punishment  used  in 
 the  east. — Har.  ll.  I'ritil  the  cities,  fjc. — have  not  tlie  Jows  laboured 
 under  this  spiritual  blindness  and  infatuation.  '  hearing  but  not  under- 
 standing, seeing  but  not  perceiving,'  the  Messiah,  after  the  accom- 
 plishment of  so  many  prophecies,  and  the  performance  of  so  mariy 
 miracles/—/?/).  Newton.        13.  But  yet,  ^c.^ 
 
 •  But  yet  in  it  shall  he  [left,— Loivth,}  a  tenth; 
 And  it  shall  recover  and  serve  for  pasture 
 As  the  elm,  and  as  the  oak. 
 
 Which,  wlicn  they  cast  their  leaves,  have  their  sap  in  them, 
 So  an  holy  seed  shall  be  the  sap  thereof.' 
 
 Stock,  as  De  Diett,  sec  Rosenm. 
 Teil  tree,  a  lime  tree. — Hew. 
 
 Chap.  VII. —  I.  Could  not  prevail,  hat  they  slew  many  and  carried 
 off  many  captives. — Preb,  Lowth.  2.  Kphraim,  being  chief  of  the 
 ten  tribes,  is  put  fir  the  whole. — Bp.  Newton.  3.  Conduit,  the  word 
 rather  means  aqueduct. — Scott.  Upper  pool—tvro  pools  supplied  Jeru  - 
 salem  with  water,  one  mentioned  here  and  chap,  xxxvi.  2;  and  the 
 other,  chap.  xxii.  9 — Preb.  Lowth.  Tiie  upper  was  the  pool  of  Solo- 
 mon ;  the  lower,  the  pool  of  Siloam  or  the  pool  of  Bethsaida.  The-^c 
 pools  were  supplied  by  two  conduits  from  the  pool  of  Siloam  on  the  top 
 of  Mount  Acra,  on  which  stood  part  of  Jerusalem.        4.  Take  heed— 
 
 ness.  What  car.  we  expect  to  be  tbe  result  to  any,  but  more 
 especially  to  those  who  are  better  instructed?  What  but 
 misery  at  the  last,  and  the  righteous  judgment  of  the  great 
 Lord  of  the  vineyard.  He  bas  long  been  patient :  But  we  have 
 too  long  been  unfruitful.  O  that  we  may  have  our  '  fruit  unto 
 holiness,  and  the  end  everlasting  life  !' 
 
 Rfflfitions  on  Chap.  VL  —  Notice  here,  L  God's  ghry. 
 How  majestic  the  description  !  Yet,  if  words  can  so  describe 
 It,  what  must  the  real  vision  be  !  and  O  bow  changed  must  we 
 be  to  behold  it,  and  even  to  reflect  it !  Yet  this  is  the  faith  of 
 the  servant  of  God—'  I  shall  behold  thy  face  in  righteousness  ; 
 I  shall  be  satisfied  when  I  awake  in  thy  likeness.' 
 
 II.  God's  holiness.  This  beautiful  robe  of  the  Divine  Ijeing 
 IS  his  glory— be  is  *  glorious  in  holines.s.'  This  view  of  him 
 overwhelmed  the  spirit  of  the  prophet,  and  the  words  of  the 
 722 
 
 celestial  choirs  pierced  his  heart,  *  Holy,  holy,  holy,  is  the 
 Lord  of  Hosts  ! '  'Wo  is  me,' said  be,  '  for  1  am  undone!' 
 '  We  are  all  men  of  polluted  lips,  have  said  many  rash  and 
 unholy  things,  are  unfit  to  appear  before  the  Lord,  and  un- 
 worthy to  be  employed  as  his  servants.  Yet  be  can  remove 
 our  pollution,  pardon  our  iniquity,  and  fit  us  for  bis  service, 
 however  difficult,  and  give  a  heart  to  discharge  it.''> 
 
 III.  God's  justice.  The  Jews  hardened  their  hearts,  and 
 God  gave  them  up  to  their  obduracy.  Tbpy  shut  their  under- 
 standing, and  he  gave  them  up  to  their  wilful  ignorance.  How 
 was  this  manifest  when  the  Messiah  came  to  his  own,  and  his 
 own  received  bim  not!  How  awfully  is  it  still  manifested .  in 
 their  obstinate  rejection  of  every  evidence  in  favour  of  the 
 Messiah  !  Nor  less  deplorable  will  be  the  end  of  all  tho^e 
 '  that  obey  not  the  gospel.' 
 
A  prophecy  of  Christ. 
 
 ISAIAH,  VII. 
 
 His  judgment  shall  come  by  Assyria. 
 
 quiet ;  fear  not,  \  neither  be  faintliearted  for 
 tlie  two  tails  of  these  smoking  firebrands,  for 
 the  fierce  anger  of  Rezin  witli  Syria,  and  of  tlie 
 son  of  Remaliah. 
 
 5  Because  Syria,  Ephraim,  and  tlie  son  of 
 Kenialiah,  have  taken  evil  counsel  against 
 thee,  saying, 
 
 6  Let  us  go  up  against  Judali,  and  ||  vex  it, 
 and  let  us  make  a  breacli  therein  for  us,  and 
 set  a  king  in  the  midst  of  it,  even  the  son  of 
 Tabeal  : 
 
 7  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  '•It  shall  not 
 stand,  neither  shall  it  come  to  pass. 
 
 8  °  For  the  head  of  Syria  is  Damascus,  and 
 the  head  of  Damascus  is  Rezin  ;  and  within 
 threescore  and  five  years  shall  Ephraim  be 
 broken,  f  that  it  be  not  a  people. 
 
 9  And  the  head  of  Ephraim  is  Samaria,  and 
 the  head  of  Samaria  is  Remaliah's  son.  ''  ||  If 
 ye  will  not  believe,  surely  ye  shall  not  be 
 established. 
 
 10  ft  Moreover  the  Lord  spake  again  unto 
 Ahaz,  saying, 
 
 11  ^  Ask  thee  a  sign  of  the  Lobd  thy  God; 
 II  ask  it  either  in  the  depth,  or  in  the  height 
 above. 
 
 12  But  Ahaz  said,  I  will  not  ask,  neither  will 
 I  tempt  the  Lord. 
 
 1.3  And  he  said.  Hear  ye  now,  O  house  of 
 David  ;  7s  it  a  small  thing  for  you  to  weary 
 men,  but  will  ye  weary  my  God  also? 
 
 14  Therefore  the  Lord  himself  shall  give  you 
 a  sign  ;  "  Behold,  a  virgin  shall  conceive,  and 
 bear  'a  son,  and  ||  shall  call  his  name  '  Imma- 
 nuel. 
 
 t  Heh.  l<^t  Hit 
 lliif  lieart  be 
 
 dPro  SI. 30. 
 ch.  8.  10. 
 
 t  H.-I,.  /ro»i 
 
 a  jif.jiie. 
 f  See  •>  Chr. 
 
 yo.  20. 
 11  Or,  Di)  ye 
 
 not  believe  9 
 
 it  is  becaiite 
 
 ye  are  not 
 
 stable. 
 t  Heb.  .lud 
 
 the  LI/HD 
 
 ad.lrd  to 
 
 .,„«*. 
 
 j;  JuJg.  6  Sti 
 
 as. 
 
 II  Or,m.'ke 
 
 h  Mai.  1.  -IX 
 t.uke  I.  31, 
 3+. 
 
 i  ch.  9   C. 
 
 II  Or./ftoH,  O 
 Virgin, 
 shall  a,ll : 
 See  Geo.  4. 
 
 I,  25.  &  16. 
 
 I I .  &  S9  32. 
 &  31),  6.  8. 
 
 1  Siim,+.2l. 
 k  cb.  S.  8. 
 
 'h2  Kiu,  15, 
 3U,  &  16.  9 
 
 p  ch.  5  ! 
 
 /  ch.  2.  19. 
 Jer.  IB.  16- 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 8. 2  Chr  2H 
 3iP,  21.  See 
 Ezek    5.  I. 
 
 t  Heb.  in  Ihf 
 midUo/the 
 
 15  Butter  and  honey  shall  he  eat,  that  he  may 
 
 know  to  refuse  the  evil,  and  choose  the  good. 
 
 16  '  For  hefore  the  child  shall  know  to  refuse 
 the  evil  and  choose  the  good,  the  land  that 
 thou  abhorrest  shall  be  forsaken  of ""  both  her 
 kings. 
 
 17  If "  The  Lord  shall  bring  upon  thee,  and 
 upon  thy  people,  and  upon  thy  father's  house, 
 days  that  have  not  come,  from  the  day  that 
 °  Ephraim  departed  from  Judah  ;  even  the  king 
 of  Assyria. 
 
 18  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  the  Lord  ^  shall  hiss  for  the  fly  that  is  in 
 the  uttermost  part  of  the  rivers  of  Egypt,  and 
 for  the  bee  that  is  in  the  land  of  Assyria. 
 
 19  And  they  shall  come,  and  shall  rest  all  of 
 them  in  the  desolate  valleys,  and  in  ■•  the  holes 
 of  the  rocks,  and  upon  all  thorns,  and  upon  ail 
 II  bushes. 
 
 20  In  the  same  day  shall  the  Lord  shave 
 with  a  '' razor  that  is  hired,  namely^  by  them 
 beyond  the  river,  by  the  king  of  Assyria,  the 
 head,  and  the  hair  of  the  feet :  and  it  shall  also 
 consume  the  beard. 
 
 21  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  a  man  shall  nourish  a  young  cow,  and  two 
 sheep  ; 
 
 2'2  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  for  the  uliun- 
 dance  of  milk  that  they  shall  give  he  shall  eat 
 butter :  for  butter  and  honey  shall  every  one 
 eat  that  is  left  fin  the  land. 
 
 23  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  Mrt^ 
 every  place  shall  be,  where  there  were  a  thou- 
 sand vines  at  a  thousand  silverlings,  Mt  shall 
 even  be  for  briers  and  thorns. 
 
 the  Hebrew  word  1D\yn,  >itcuiiies  'to  prevent'  or  'keep  off*  any 
 threatening  evil.  It  connects  duty  with  the  promise.  These  smoking 
 Jirehrands—ihe  confederate  princes  are  compared  to  the  tails  only  of 
 two  smokinK,  not  burning-,  firebrands,  but  nearly  consumed  j  this  ex- 
 hibits them  in  a  very  diminutive  point  of  view,  as  incapable  of  doing 
 niuch  hurt,  and,  therefore,  not  the  proper  objects  of  terTor.—Mficcid. 
 6.  Set  a  king,  to  be  tributary.  Son  of  TaOeal  —  who  this  was  is  mere 
 conjecture.— .^ufAsij/*.  He  might  have  been  a  factious  Jew  revolted 
 from  h\s  master, —Pndenu.r;  or  a  Syrian  set  up  by  Rezin.— t'lVWwg-ri. 
 8.  Fur  the  liend  of  Syria,  ^c— the  head  citj-  of  Ephraim  hath  long  been 
 Samaria,  and  the  head  man  in  Samaria  is  now  Pekah,  the  son  of  Re- 
 maliah: each  of  these  have  their  bounds  fixed,  and  they  shall  not 
 enlarge  them  by  Jerusalem.— //p/iry.  *  Though  the  head  of  Syria,'  &c. 
 — Jubb.     Within  threescore  and  five  yenrs — 
 
 Ahax  reigned  after  the  time  that  Isaiah  received  this  message    14  years. 
 
 Hezekiati  reigned 29 
 
 Manas^eh,  prior  to  its  accomplishment       22 
 
 65 
 1 2.  Neither  will  I  tfmpt — Aliab  seems  to  have  made  some  sht>w  of  piety, 
 though  he  acted  under  the  influence  of  unbelief. — Scott.  It  was  no 
 tempting  of  G'ld  when  God  himself  made  the  proposal. — Ed.  13.  O 
 house  of  David,  A\iRz  was  the  representative  of  the  house  of  David, 
 thougli  utterly  unlike  his  pious  ancestor. — Scott.  Weary  men,  reject 
 and  contemn  me.— i?^.  Hnll.  \^.  Therefore  the  Lord  hitnself  shall 
 give  ynu  a  sign,  notwithstanding  the  perverseness  of  Ahaz,  the  Lord 
 wonhi  comfort  the  house  of  David  and  all  mankind  with  a  sign  which 
 shnuld  establish  the  faith  of  his  people  in  his  promise. — Chandler,  Mac. 
 Behnld,  a  virgin,  §-c. — these  words  are  expressly  applied  by  Matthewto 
 the\'irgin  Mary  and  her  Son  Je.'jus.  In  him  the  prophecy  was  fulfilled 
 in  its  literal  and  proper  sense.  They  could  not  be  referred  to  the  wife 
 of  Ahaz  and  his  son  Hezekiah,  who  had  long  been  burn  ;  nor  to  the 
 wife  of  Isaiah,  and  any  of  his  sons,  (as  suggested  by  Kennicott,)  none 
 of  whom  ever  ascended  the  throne ;  nor  to  any  other  declared  event. 
 The  sign  promised  was  the  miraculous  nativity  of  Christ. — Mnccul. 
 It  was  the  manner  of  this  prophet  to  connect  spiritual  and  temporal 
 deliverances  together;  and  frequently  the  view  of  the  latter,  rushing 
 powerfully  on  his  mind,  absorbs,  as  it  were,  the  former. — Dr.  J.  Smith, 
 see  af-^o  Louth,  Chandler,  Hurd,  Pye  Smith.  15.  Butter  find  honey, 
 
 butter  means  various  other  preparations  of  milk,  or  milk  in  its  simple 
 state  may  be  here  understood.  Feeding  with  milk  and  honey  expresses 
 prosperous  bringing  up. — Pict.  Bib.  Upon  this  provision  of  peaceful 
 times  the  child  was  to  be  sustained,  after  the  countries  which  now 
 distressed  Judah  were  to  he  desolated.  That  he  may  know,  .5<.,  for 
 'that'  read  '  when,'  &c. — Lowth.  When  he  should  kn.w  the  differ- 
 ence between  good  and  bad,  the  distressful  times  of  war  should  be 
 over,  and  the  land  rche\cd  fiom  it.s  enemies,  i6.  Forsukr.n  of  both 
 723 
 
 her  kings,  within  five  years  after,  Tiglath  Pileser,  king  of  Assyria, 
 overturned  Syria,  (see  2  Kings,  xvi.  9.)  In  the  twentieth  year  of 
 Jotham,  Hoshea  hlew  Pekah,  the  king  of  Israel,  and  the  kingdom  of 
 Ephraim  was  almost  totally  destroyed,   (2  Kings,  xv.  30.)  17.  The 
 
 Lord  shall  bring,  fyc. — though  the  Jewish  nation  should  be  delivered 
 from  the  confederate  kings,  yet  they  should  be  punished  for  their  sins 
 by  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Assyria.  Tiglath  Pileser  distressed  and 
 spoiled  Ahaz,  (iChron.  xxviii.  20 ;)  Sennacherib,  in  the  reign  of  Heze- 
 kiah, possessed  himself  of  tlie  cities  of  Judah,  (2  Chron.  xxxii. ;)  Ma- 
 nasseh  was  carried  to  Babylon,  (2Chron.xxxhi.  II :)  so  was  Jchoiachin, 
 (2  Chron.  xxxvi.  \0.)—IHaccut.  18.  Shalt  A(.ss— though  Lowth,  after 
 Cyril  aiitXTheodoret,  considers  this  hissing,  or  rather  whisUing,  as  allud- 
 ing to  the  practice  of  drawing  bees  from  their  hives  into  the  fields,  it 
 would  seem  from  Roberts,  that  facts  are  against  this  getierally  adopted 
 opinion,  for  '  the  people  in  the  east  were  never  in  the  habit  of  keeping 
 bees  in  hives,  or  iu  any  other  artificial  way  ;  because  they  principally, 
 if  not  exclusively,  collected  their  honey  from  rocks  and  trees.'  We 
 must,  therefore,  the  rather  adopt  the  opinion  of  Gtll,  respecting  the 
 shepherd  and  sheep,  as  given  on  chap.  r.  2(5,  (see  notes  there.)  though  ia 
 this  place  he,  too,  falls  into  the  general  notion.— ,K(/.  For  the  fty— 
 aimies  are  often  compared  to  flies,  bees,  and  other  insects,  both  for 
 their  numbers  and  the  destruction  they  make,  (see  Deut.  i.  44  ;  Judg. 
 vi.  5  ;  Ps.  cxviii.  12  ;  Joel,  ii.  25.)  Egypt— Assyria— thesevfexe  the  two 
 great  oppressors  of  God's  people.— PreA.  Lowth.  The  Egj-ptians,  under 
 Pharaoh-Nechoh,  and  the  Assyrians,  under  Sennacherib,  Esarhaddon, 
 and  Nebuchadnezzar,  one  after  another,  desolated  Judea.  —  Lowth. 
 Hirers  of  Egypt,  mean  the  seven  mouths  of  the  Nile.— Si".  Jerome. 
 19.  Shall  rest,  ^c,  in  shoals  in  lower  grounds,  and  like  bees  in  rocks,  ■ 
 (see  Deut.  xxxii.  13;  Ps.  Ixxxi.  l6.)—Preb,  Lowth.  Upon  all  thorns^ 
 itfc,  still  in  allusion  to  flies  and  bees  ;  the  sense  is,  there  would  be  no 
 place  free  fromthem— no  escaping  out  of  their  hands. —GiV/.  20.  S/(owe, 
 denotes  utter  devastation.— K^u-.  Shaving  and  cutting  off  the  hair 
 were  tokens  of  slaves,  therefore  proper  signs  to  denote  that  servitude 
 to  which  the  Jews  were  to  be  reduced  by  their  enemies.— L.  Holden. 
 Hired,  because  the  executioners  of  God's  vengeance  received  their 
 wages,  (Ezek.  xxix.  18—20;  see  also  2  Kings,  x.  30.)  Ahaz  had  also 
 hired  the  king  of  Assyria  to  assist  him,  (2  Kings,  xvi.  r»  f* ;  2  Chron. 
 xxviii.  2'l.)~Preb.  Lowth.  The  riaer,  Euphrates.- So  Gill  and  others. 
 Head,  higher  orders.  Feet,  common  people.  Beard,  the  king,  the 
 high-priest,  supreme  in  dignity,  the  beard  being  held  in  highest  venera- 
 tion.— Louth.  By  these  expressions  among  the  Hindoos  is  understood, 
 reducing  to  the  most  abject  conditiun.  Shavingoff  the  hair  of  the  feet 
 alludes  to  some  eastern  practices,  for  special  reasons  expressed  in  this 
 manner  in  the  Hebrew. — See  Roberts  and  Calmet.  21.  Shall  nnu7-ish 
 a  i/oung  cow,  ^c,  denoting  a  scarcity  of  men  and  cattle.  22.  For 
 the  abjmdaj)ce  of  milk  that  they  shall  gitw,  there  being  few  cattle  and 
 much  pasture. — Gill.  Honey — there  would  be  but  enough  people  left 
 to  share  the  produce  of  the  bees  plentifully  among  them.— i?rf.     23.  At 
 
The.  subduing  of  Judah  foretold. 
 
 ISAIAH,  VIII. 
 
 God's  judyments  unrcsistible. 
 
 24  With  arrows  and  with  bows  shall  men 
 come  thither ;  hecause  all  the  land  shall  be- 
 come briers  and  thorns. 
 
 •2j  And  on  all  hills  that  shall  be  digged  with 
 the  mattock,  there  shall  not  come  thither  the 
 fear  of  briers  and  thorns  :  but  it  shall  be  for 
 the  sending  forth  of  oxen,  and  for  the  treading 
 of  lesser  cattle. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  In  Maher~shalal~hash~haz,  he  prnphesieth  that  S>/r!a 
 aiid  Israd  shall  be  subdued  hi/  Assyria,  5  Judah 
 likewise  for  their  htjideliti/.  9  God's  judgments  shall 
 he  jmresistible.  1 1  Comfort  shall  be  to  them  that  fear 
 God.     19  Great  afflictions  to  idolatirs. 
 
 IV/rOREOVER  the  Lord  said  unto  me.  Take 
 -'-'-*•  thee  a  great  roll,  and  "  write  iu  it  with  a 
 inan*s  pen  concerning  f  Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 
 '2  And  I  took  unto  me  faitlifiil  witnesses  to 
 record,  ^  Uriah  the  priest,  and  Zechariah  the 
 son  of  Jeberechiah. 
 
 3  And  I  fwent  unto  the  prophetess;  and  she 
 conceived,  and  bare  a  son.  Then  said  the 
 Loud  to  me.  Call  his  name  Maher-shalal-hash- 
 baz. 
 
 4  "^  For  before  the  child  shall  have  knowledge 
 to  cry,  My  father,  and  my  mother,  (|'' the  riches 
 of  Damascus  and  the  spoil  of  Samaria  shall  be 
 taken  away  before  the  king  of  Assyria. 
 
 5  H  The  Lord  spake  also  unto  me  again, 
 saying, 
 
 6  Forasmuch  as  this  people  refuseth  the 
 waters  of  *  Shiloah  that  go  softly,  and  rejoice 
 •"in  Rezin  and  Remaliah's  son; 
 
 a  ch.  no-  s 
 
 Hab.  2.  2. 
 t  Heb.  in 
 mnkini/  fjvM 
 to  Ihe  si-uil 
 ho  hatlenflh 
 the  f>rpj/y  i)r, 
 TtiaAa  tytgd, 
 
 6  3  Kin.  16. 
 10. 
 
 c  Sco  ch.  7. 
 
 16. 
 II  Or.Ue  t!i.it 
 
 iai'/ore  Mi- 
 
 ti/rin,  thnll 
 titkeamatf 
 Ihe  Ticket, 
 
 cii-.  711. 
 rf2  Kin.  ir.. 
 
 '29.  &  16.  9. 
 
 ch.  17.  S. 
 e  Neh.  S.\5. 
 
 Jnhn  9-  7. 
 /ch.  7.  1,2, 
 
 Ach.30.  29. 
 
 t  Seb.  Ihf 
 fulnMofthe 
 brfndlh  of 
 thy  land 
 thrill  bi  the 
 tlrrtch  ings 
 oat  of  hit 
 lohiffl. 
 
 II  Or,  f,ct. 
 I  Job  5.  I'i. 
 
 >i  ch,  7.  11. 
 
 Acii  3.  38, 
 
 •SO    Horn- 8. 
 
 I.t. 
 t  Heb.  iH 
 
 ttTeiiglh  of 
 
 hand. 
 
 p  I  Pet    3. 
 
 II,  iS. 
 g  Nu  20.  12 
 
 I  Em.  11.16. 
 
 /  ch.  2n.  Ifl 
 Luke  2.  S). 
 Koin.  9.  S3. 
 1  Pet.  2.  e. 
 
 »  JTat.SI.-M 
 Luko20  18. 
 Bom.  9.  3--', 
 &  1 1 .  25. 
 
 7  Now  therefore,  behold,  tlie  Lord  bringeth 
 up  upon  them  the  waters  of  the  river,  strong 
 and  many,  eve}i  ^  the  king  of  Assyria,  and  all 
 liis  glory  :  and  he  shall  come  up  over  all  his 
 channels,  and  go  over  all  his  banks : 
 
 8  And  he  shall  pass  tlirough  Judah  ;  he  shalU 
 overflow  and  go  over,  ^  he  shall  reach  eve?i  to 
 the  neck  ;  and  fthe  stretcliing  ont  of  his  wings 
 shall  fill  the  breadth  of  thy  land,  O  '  Immanuel. 
 
 9  IT  ''Associate  yourselves,  O  ye  people,  ||  and 
 ye  shall  be  broken  in  pieces;  and  give  ear,  all 
 ye  of  far  countries:  gird  yourselves,  and  ye 
 shall  be  broken  in  pieces;  gird  yourselves,  and 
 ye  shall  be  broken  in  pieces. 
 
 10  '  Take  counsel  together,  and  it  shall  come 
 to  nought;  speak  the  word,  '"and  it  shall  not 
 stand:  "for  God  is  with  us. 
 
 1 1  t  For  the  Loud  spake  thus  to  me  f  witli  a 
 strong  hand,  and  instructed  me  that  I  should 
 not  walk  in  the  way  of  this  people,  saying, 
 
 12  Say  ye  not,  A  confederacy,  to  all  the?n  to 
 whom  °  tins  people  shall  say,  A  confederacy  ; 
 ''neither  fear  ye  their  fear,  nor  be  afraid. 
 
 13  ''Sanctify  the  Lord  of  hosts  himself;  and 
 ^  let  him  be  your  fear,  and  AV  him  be  your 
 dread, 
 
 14  And  *  he  shall  be  for  a  sanctuary ;  hut  for 
 *  a  stone  of  stumbling  and  for  a  rock  of  offence 
 to  both  the  houses  of  Israel,  for  a  gin  and  for  a 
 snare  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 15  And  many  among  them  shall  "stumble, 
 and  fall,  and  be  broken,  and  be  snared,  and  be 
 taken. 
 
 a  thousand  sil)?erlings,  supposed  to  be  shekels. — Hew.  Sold  or  let  out 
 forasmuch.  Becotnebriersand thorrts,  iorvtant  of  lahouieis.  24.  With 
 arrowsy  ^c,  because  tii'ild  beasts  and  robbers  would  overrun  the  deso- 
 late land.  25.  The  fear  of  briers,  ?fc.,r\Q  fences  shall  keep  off  the  cattle 
 from  entering  the  fields  and  vineyards. 
 
 Chap.  Vlll. —  \.  A  great  ro//— the  eastern  people  roll  their  papers, 
 and  do  not  fold  them,  because  their  paper  is  apt  to  fret. — Chnrdin.  The 
 Egyptian  papyrus  was  much  used,  and  the  brittle  nature  of  it  made  it 
 proper  to  roll  what  they  wrote.— //or.  The  word  ly"?;.  translated  'a 
 roll,'  is  not  regularly  formed  from  the  root  Sb^.  '  tn  roll,'  but  from  n?3, 
 'to  shew,'  *  to  reveal,*  'to  render  clear  and  bright  by  rubbing:,'  'to 
 polish ;'  it  may  therefore  sig'nify  a  polished  tablet  of  metal,  sucli  as 
 anciently  was  used  for  a  mirror.  It  may  therefore  mean  a  brazen  po. 
 lished  tablet,  large  enough  to  engrave  upon  it  in  deep  characters  tlie 
 prophecy  to  be  delivered.— Lnw/Zi.  It  may  signify  a  tablet  of  polished 
 marble. — Mich,.  It  vas  usual  to  write  on  tablet*;  of  wood  or  lead,  as 
 well  as  on  skins  or  pi; .  hment. — Boothr.  With  a  vinn*s,  pen,  in:K '^1113, 
 '  with  a  workman's  r  r-ving  tool,'— .4.  Clarke;  or  a  style,  made  of  iron 
 or  steel,  sharp  at  mie  end,  for  indenting  nr  r-arving  characters,  and 
 broad  at  the  other,  for  scraping  or  effacing  what  had  been  written.— 
 L.  Hoiden.  Concertiing  Maher-xhnlnl  hfish-bnz—zs  it  is  usual  to  put 
 a  significant  title  before  a  hook,  the  prophet's  title  is  to  be,  '  Maher- 
 shatal-hash-baz,'  'Make  .speed  to  the  spoil,  hasten  to  the  prey,'  inti- 
 mating that  tlie  Assyrian  army  should  come  upon  them  with  great 
 speed,  and  make  great  spoil— //e»irj/.  These  four  words  may  be  con- 
 sidered as  the  authority  of  the  Assyrians  for  spoiling  the  cities.— 
 Clarke.  2.  Witnesses,  probably  to  subscribe  their  names  to  the  pro- 
 phecy intended  for  public  use.  that  they  might  give  weight  to  the  pre- 
 diction for  the  conviction  d  Ahaz  and  his  people.— il/flc(?«/.  This 
 would  preclude  all  doubt  of  the  real  delivery  of  the  prophecy  before  the 
 event.— Lowth.  3.  The  prophetess,  Isaiah's  wife,  because  the  wife  of 
 a  prophet,  is  called  a  prophetess.  Cull  his  name— every  time  it  was 
 uttered,  it  would  serve  as  a  memorandum  of  the  judgments  approach- 
 ing.—Ht^jry.  4.  Before  the  child.  §-e.— this  prophecy  was  accord- 
 ingly accrmplished  within  three  years  by  Tiglath-Pileser,  king  of 
 Assyria,  who  took  Damascus,  &c.,  (2  Kings,  xv.  29;  xvi.  g  ;  i  Chron. 
 V.  afi.) — Boothr.  6.  Shiloah,  or  Siloam,  (see  chap.  vii.  3,  note.)  These 
 gentle  waters,  emblem  of  the  house  of  David,  are  finely  contrasted  with 
 
 those  of  the  Euphrates,  great,  rapid,  and  impetuous,  the  image  of  the 
 Babylonian  empire.  8.  To  the  npc/c- Jerusalem  being  the  head  city, 
 like  a  head  to  the  human  body,  the  king  of  Assyria's  coming  up  to 
 Jerusalem  was  like  a  flood  reaching  to  the  neck. — Lowth,  as  Kiinchi. 
 This  is  as  high  as  the  flood  could  roach  without  drowning  a  man. —//eic. 
 Wings,  the  Hebrews  call  botli  cavalry  and  infantry  by  the  name  of 
 wings.— Crro/iu.s,  Bn.'ienm.  Wc  mav  possibly  suppose  that,  by  a  bold 
 figure,  the  prophet  represents  the  Syrian  despot  under  the  image  of 
 an  immense  bird  of  prey  hovering  over  the  whole  land  with  out- 
 stretched wings,  and  threatening  it  with  utter  destruction,  (cnmp. 
 Ezek.  xvii.  3.)  O  Immnnuel  —  the  most  probable  conjecture  on  this 
 expression  is,  that  the  prophet  called  his  devoted  country  Uie  land  of 
 Immanuel,  because  he  believed  that  the  Messiah  would  spring  from  it. 
 —Hew.,  Bp.  Hall,  and  Stanhnne.  9.  Associate,  ^c— this  and  the 
 following  verse  are  addressed  to  the  conteilcrated  Israelites  and  Syrians, 
 assuring  them  that  all  their  efforts  would  be  fruitless,  for  that  the  pro- 
 mised Inimatmel  would  be  the  defence  of  his  people,  and  the  faithful 
 should  find  security  while  the  generality  of  the  nation  should  be  in- 
 Vfdved  in    the   utmost   distress. — Dr.  J.  Smith.  II.  With  a  strong 
 
 hand— the  spirit  of  prophecy  is  similarly  expressed,  2  Kings,  iii.  15; 
 Ezek.  iii.  14  ;  viii.  \.—Preb.  Lmeth.  13.  Their  /?ur— Hindoo  super- 
 Etitions  extend  to  numerous  objects,  visible  and  invisible  ;  certain  cries 
 of  jackals,  owls,  &c.,  and  spiritual  messengers. — So  Ward.  Vi.Sfinc 
 tify,  ^c— these  words  point  out  an  effectual  remedy  for  preventing 
 and  allaying  those  dismaying  fears  which  the  prophet,  with  all  the 
 godly,  are  cautioned  carefully  to  avoid.  Men  are  said  to  sanctify  God 
 when  they  venerate  his  glorious  majesty,  ^'C.  Your  fear,  exercise  com- 
 posed reverence  and  awe  of  the  Almighty  Parent.  14.  A  sanctuary. 
 a  place  set  apart  for  the  defence  of  those  who  resort  to  it  for  safety  in 
 the  time  of  danger.— jV'/cc»/.  A  stone  of  stumbling,  as  a  stone  lying  in 
 the  way,  at  which  men  stumble.  A  rock  of  offence,  as  a  rock,  against 
 which  if  8  man  or  ship  casts  violenUy,  it  will  bruise  and  break  them. 
 These  expressions  are  ajiplied  to  Christ  in  many  pa--sages,  (see  Acts,  iv. 
 II  ;  Rom.  ix.  32,  33;  1  Pet.  ii.  7.  8  ;  see  also  Matt.  xxi.  42,  and  Ps. 
 ex  viii. 22.) — .Utckson.  To  both  the  houses — the  prophet  evidently  enlarges 
 his  views  beyond  the  existing  confec'eracy,  for  at  this  lime  Judah  and 
 Israel  were  in  different  interests.— Pre*.  Lowth.  Li.  Snared^tuken, 
 as   birds  and    fishes,    caught  in  the  net  spread  for  them. — Mac. 
 
 Keflections  on  Chap.  \'1I Three  leading  points  at- 
 tract our  notice  in  this  chapter— I.  Faith  commaJided.  When 
 (jods  messengers  bring  us  the  command  to  believe  bis  word, 
 It  is  our  duty  to  belieTe.  Let  us  only  obey,  and  God  will  be 
 sure  to  perform  his  word.      Here  is 
 
 IJ.  A  si,/n  pranted.  God  condescends,  by  the  strongest 
 tokens,  to  confirm  the  truth  by  bis  messengers.  This  truth  is 
 accompanied  by  signs  enough  to  convince  us  on  any  other 
 subject.  It  we  believe  it  not  with  these,  neither  would  we 
 though  one  should  rise  from  tho  dead.  These  tokens  hon*- 
 724 
 
 ever,  are  enough  to  convince  those  who  do  not  '  hate  the 
 light,'  while  those  who  do  roust  grope  on  in  their  darkness. 
 Here  is — 
 
 III.  Punishme?it  inflicted.  God  here  shewed  that  *  affliction 
 comelh  not  from  the  dust;'  that  the  instruments  of  inflicting 
 punishment  are  all  in  bis  hand,  and  that  he  can  send  or  re- 
 move tliem  at  his  pleasure;  that  if  one  will  not  accomplish 
 bis  purpose,  he  can  provide  another  ;  and  that  the  longer  men 
 continue  in  sin,  the  sorer  punishments  they  have  reason  to 
 expect.' 
 
The  afflictions  of  idolate 
 
 ISAIAH,  IX. 
 
 The  kingdom  and  birth  of  Christ, 
 
 16  Bind  up  the  testimony,  seal  the  law  among 
 uiy  disciples. 
 
 17  And  I  will  wait  upon  the  Lord,  that 
 '  hideth  his  face  from  the  house  of  Jacob,  and 
 I  'will  look  for  him. 
 
 18  '  Behold,  I  and  the  children  whom  the 
 Lord  hath  pven  me  "  are  for  signs  and  for 
 wonders  in  Israel  from  the  Loed  of  hosts, 
 which  dwelleth  in  mount  Zion. 
 
 19  %  And  when  they  shall  say  unto  you, 
 ''Seek  unto  tliem  tliat  have  familiar  spirits,  and 
 unto  wizards  '  that  peep,  and  that  mutter : 
 should  not  a  people  seek  unto  their  God  ?  for 
 the  living  ■<  to  the  dead  ? 
 
 20  "  To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony:  if  they 
 speak  not  according  to  this  word,  it  is  because 
 'there  is  f  no  light  in  them. 
 
 21  And  they  shall  pass  through  it,  hardly  be- 
 stead and  hungry  :  and  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
 that  when  they  shall  be  hungry,  they  shall  fret 
 themselves,  and  ''curse  their  king  and  their 
 God,  and  look  upward. 
 
 22  And  •>  they  shall  look  unto  the  earth;  and 
 behold  trouble  and  darkness,  '  dimness  of 
 anguish;  and  they  shall  be  driven  to  darkness. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  Whatjnij  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  afflictions,  by  the 
 kinffdom  and  birth  of  Christ.  8  The  judgments  upon 
 Israel  fur  their  pride,  13  for  their  hypocrisy,  \Q  and 
 for  their  impienitency, 
 
 IVTEVERTHELESS  "  the  dimness  shall  not 
 -*-^    be  such  as  xvas  in  her  vexation,  when  at 
 
 X  ch.  54,  8. 
 
 y  Hab.  2,  S, 
 LuUe  2.  25. 
 38. 
 
 :  Heb.  2.  13. 
 
 a  Ps.  71.  7. 
 Zech,  3.  8. 
 
 cir.  741. 
 b  1  Sam.  29. 
 8.  ch.  19.  3, 
 c  ch.  29.  1 
 
 dVs.  106,23. 
 e  Luke  IC. 
 
 /■.Mic.  3.6. 
 t  Heb.  no 
 
 ?Rev.  16.n 
 
 h  ch.  5.  30. 
 i  ch.  9.  I. 
 
 (•  2  Kin.  15. 
 
 29. 
 
 2Chr.l6.4. 
 c  Lev.26.  2-1. 
 
 i  Kin.  17.  5, 
 
 5    i  Chr.  5. 
 
 i6. 
 cir.  '71, 
 
 d  Mat.  4.  16. 
 Eph.  5.  8, 
 
 II  Or,  to  him 
 
 cJudg.  5.  30. 
 II  Or,  tVhm 
 
 than  break- 
 
 ett. 
 /ch.  10.5. 
 
 &  14.  5. 
 fi-Judg.7.22 
 
 Ps.  83.  9. 
 
 ch.  10.  26. 
 :i  Or,   triicn 
 
 tlie  ifhiile 
 
 bnttU  oflht 
 
 15. 
 
 II  Or,  and  it 
 
 t  Heb.  mral. 
 i  ch.  7. 14. 
 
 Luke  2.  11. 
 A  Johns.  16. 
 I  Mat.  28.  18. 
 
 1  Cor.  1 5.25. 
 m  Judg,  13. 
 
 18. 
 n  Tit.  2    13. 
 o  Eph.  2,  14. 
 p  Dan.  2.  44 
 
 Luke  I.  3i, 
 
 33. 
 q2  Kin.  19. 
 
 31.  ch.  37. 
 
 the  ''first  he  Hghtly  afflicted  the  land  of  Zebu- 
 lun  and  tlie  land  of  Naphtah,  and  ^afterward 
 did  more  grievously  afflict  her  by  the  way  of 
 the  sea,  beyond  Jordan,  in  Galilee  ||  of  the 
 nations. 
 
 2  ^  The  people  that  walked  in  darkness  have 
 seen  a  great  light :  they  that  dwell  in  the  land 
 of  the  shadow  of  death>  upon  them  hath  the 
 light  shined. 
 
 3  Thou  hast  multiplied  the  nation,  and  ||  not 
 increased  the  joy:  they  joy  before  thee  accord- 
 ing to  the  joy  in  harvest,  and  as  men  rejoice 
 ^  when  they  divide  the  spoil. 
 
 4  II  For  thou  hast  broken  the  yoke  of  his 
 burden,  and  *"  the  staff  of  his  shoulder,  the  rod 
 of  his  oppressor,  as  in  the  day  of  ^  Midian. 
 
 5  II  For  every  battle  of  the  warrior  is  with 
 confused  noise,  and  garments  rolled  in  blood  ; 
 "  II  but  this  shall  be  with  burning  and  f  fuel  of 
 fire. 
 
 6  '  For  unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a 
 •' son  is  given:  and  '  the  government  shall  be 
 upon  his  shoulder :  and  his  name  shall  be 
 called,  "^  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  "  The  mighty 
 God,  The  everlasting  Father,  ^  The  Prince  of 
 Peace. 
 
 7  Of  the  increase  of  his  government  and 
 peace  ^  there  shall  be  no  end,  upon  the  throne 
 of  David,  and  upon  his  kingdom,  to  order  it, 
 and  to  establish  it  with  judgment  and  with 
 justice  from  henceforth  even  for  ever.  The 
 ''zeal  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  will  perform  this. 
 
 16.  Bind  up — the  Hebrew  word  Ti^j,  signifies  also  •  to  inscribe,'  or  '  en- 
 grave,* which  seems  the  preferable  interpretation.  Seal — this  may  em- 
 brace all  the  uses  of  sealing  to  authenticate  a  deed—to  shew  whose 
 workmanship  a  thing  is — to  conceal  frum  public  view — to  preserve  from 
 the  hand  of  violence  or  fraud. — Maccid.  Here  is  an  intimation  that 
 the  prophecy  should  licreafter  be  more  clearly  understood. — Chandler. 
 18.  And  the  children— ihe  prophet  probably  speaks  of  his  own  children, 
 whose  names  were  divinely  given  for  si^ns— Shear- jashub,  '  a  remnant 
 shall  return;'  and  Maher-shalal  hash-baz,  'haste  to  the  spoil,  quickly 
 take  the  prey.'—Boothr.  Understand  other  prophets  and  pious  men, 
 (Ezek.  xxiv.  24  ;  Zech.  iii.  S.)~Jerome.  These  words  are  applied  to  the 
 Great  Head  of  the  church,  (Heb.  ii.  13.)— Boothr.  ig.  For  the  living 
 to  the  dead,  '  should  they  seek,  insteadof  the  living,  unto  the  dead  ?' — 
 Lowth.  'Concerning  the  living  unto  the  dead?' — Boothr.  The  an- 
 cient diviners  pretended  to  call  up  and  consult  the  deari,  (see  Deut. 
 xxvi.  14,  &c.)— Z..  Hfilden.  20,  21.  To  the  law  atid  to  the  testimomj, 
 nnyn, '  testimony,'  may  mean  the  attested  prophecy  ;  and  min. '  law,' 
 the  command. —  Seeker. 
 
 '  Unto  the  command,  and  unto  the  testimony  let  them  seek. 
 If  they  will  not  speak  according  to  this  word, 
 In  which  there  is  no  obscurity, 
 Every  one  of  them   shall  pass   through   the  land  distressed  and 
 
 famished  : 
 And  when  he  is  famished  and  angry  with  himself, 
 He  shall  curse,' Arc. — Lowth,  chiefly  adopted  by  Boothr. 
 Chap.  IX.  —  l.  Xevertheless,  ^-c. — 
 
 'But  there  shall  not  hereafter  be  darkness  in  the  land 
 Which  was  distressed.' — Lowth. 
 '  For  as  in  the  former  time  he  debased 
 The  land  of  Zebulun  and  the  land  of'Naphtalij 
 So,  in  the  latter  time,  he  wiil  make  glorious 
 The  way  of  the  sea,  along  the  Jordan, 
 Even  Galilee  of  the  nations.' — Boothr. 
 Zebulun,  Naphtali,  MauEisseh  ;  that  is,  the  country  of  Galilee,  all  round 
 the  sea  of  G&nnesareth,  were  the  parts  that  principally  suffered  in  the 
 first  Assyrian  invasion    under   TiglathPilcser,  fsee  2  Kings,  xv.  29; 
 1  Chron.  v.  26,)  and  they  first  enjoyed  Christ's  preaching  and  miracles. 
 — Mede.     Then  was  fulfilled  this  prophecy,  (Matt.  iv.   I6.) — Boothr. 
 
 2.  Have  seen  a  great  light,  the  prophet,  seeing  in  his  mind's  eye  the 
 events  he  foretels,  ofteu  speaks  oi  them  as  if  p^st.— Givi 77 jv7/e  Sharp. 
 
 3.  Multiplied  the  nation,  and  not  increased,  fyc,  for  K7,  '  ni.t,'  11  MSS. 
 of  Kennicotrs,  and  6  of  De  Rossi's  read  V"?.  '  it.*— Clurkr.  *  Thod  hast 
 increased  the  joy  to  it. — Preh.  Lowth;  or,  'thou  hast  increased  their 
 jay.'—Lotvth,  so  Boothr.  Joy  in  harvest,  i.e.,  great  rejoicing,  (see 
 chap.  xvi.  10  ;  1  Sam.  xxx.  16.)  4.  Staff  0/  his  shoulder,  a  staff  laid 
 across  the  shouldtr,  on  v.hich  slaves  bare  burdens.— Par.  There  is  an 
 obvious  allusion  here  to  severe  taskmasters  beating  slaves  on  the  back 
 with  a  slaff.-Iilucciil.        5-  For  every  battle,  i^c. — 
 
 '  For  the  greaves  of  the  afflicted  warrior  in  the  conflict, 
 And  the  garments  rolled  in  much  blood. 
 Shall  be  for  a  burning,  even  fuel  for  the  fire.* — Lowth. 
 The  greave  was  the  half  boot  of  the  soldier,  defended  with  chains.— 
 Hew.  Boothroyd  connect^  this  and  the  former  verse,  as  do  Dttthe  and 
 Funkins,  with  the  verse  preceding,  and  make  it  refer  to  what  occurred 
 when  the  Midianit^  were  destroyed,  (Judg.  vii.)  It  seems  to  have 
 been  a  custom  witi?  che  Israelites  to  burn  the  enemies'  armour  and 
 blood-stained  garments,  (Josh.  xi.  6;  Nah.  ii.  13  ;  Ps.  xlvi.  9;  Ezek. 
 xxxix.  Q-YO.j— Boothr.  So  it  was  with  many  other  nations.— il/rtc, 
 §-e.  The  sense  seems  to  be,  that  all  instruments  of  warfare  should  be 
 destroyed  and  become  fnel  for  fire,  as  in  Ps.  xlvi.  9,  where  the  image  is 
 emploved  to  express  complete  victory  and  a  perfect  establishment  of 
 peace— Lou'^A.  6.  For  unto  us,  %c.,  refers  to  the  incarnation  of  the 
 Snn  of  God.— il/accH/.  This  is  the  reason  for  what  is  said  in  the  pre- 
 ceding verses.— Boo/Ar.  The  prophet  directs  Gnd's  people  to  look 
 beyond  temporal  deliverance  to  higher  hopes.— Bp.  Hall.  A  son  is 
 given— John,  iii.  16.  The  governnimt  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder,  i.  e., 
 the  ensign  of  government,  the  sct-ptre,  the  sword,  the  key,  or  the  like, 
 which  was  borne  or  hung  from  the  shoulder.— Low^/i.  His  iiame  shall 
 be  called,  i.e.,  he  shall  hQ.— Jackson,  Kidder,  Pierce.  It  is  the  pro- 
 phetic method,  by  the  imposition  of  a  name  to  declare  the  quality. — 
 Mede.  The  evnlasting  Father,  ii".  ^2.^,  'the  Father  of  eternity,'  i.  e., 
 the  Eternal.— jl/oni.,  Cocc,  Dathe,  Stock.  'The  Father  of  the  future 
 age,'  i.e.,  the  Christian  dispensation.— Lo»'//i,  «:c..  as  Sept.,AT\d.Vulg. 
 7.  Upon  the  throne  of  David,  on  which  Messiah  is  said  to  sit,  because 
 all  the  promises  respecting  his  kingdom  were  fulfilled  in  him.— Pre*. 
 Lowth.     A/id  to  establish  it,  myo'jl  signifies 'to  support,*  '  to  hold  up 
 
 RtFi-FCTioNS  ON  CIIJ^P.  VIII. — I.  God's  word  is  true.  It 
 is  *  a  sure  word  of  prophecy,  attested  by  credible  witnesses,' 
 and  no  '  cunningly  devised  fable.' 
 
 II.  Believers  in  G'>d''s  tcord  are  secure  in  the  worst  of  times. 
 He  who,  through  the  unbelief  of  others,  is  to  them  a  stone  of 
 stumbling,  and  a  rock  of  oflence,  is,  to  every  genuine  beUever, 
 'a  sanctuary  where  he  may  take  refuge  at  all  times.'  *  God  is 
 a  refuge  for  us.' 
 
 III.  Let  us  make  God's  word  our  continual  guide.  It  may  con- 
 tain some  mysterious  truths,  but  '  in  God's  light  we  shall  see 
 
 725 
 
 light;'  all  will  be  gradually  cleared  up.  The  world  reject 
 what  they  cannot  comprehend  ;  but  wait  the  Divine  develop- 
 ment, and  all  will  be  clear  as  the  sun  at  noon-day.  If  we  are 
 satisHed  respecting  the  truth  of  the  record,  we  shall  know 
 enough  here  to  give  our  souls  comfort  and  satisfaction  ;  we 
 shall  be  led  into  all  truth  ;  in  a  certain  degree  we  shall  know 
 the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and  at  last  we  shall  no 
 longer  see  through  a  glass  darkly,  but  the  whole  mystery  of 
 God  will  be  unveiled  to  our  admiring  view. 
 
Judyinents  upon  Israel. 
 
 ISAIAH,  X. 
 
 The  woe  of  tyrants. 
 
 8  H  The  Lord  sent  a  word  into  Jacob,  and  it 
 liath  liijlited  upon  Israel. 
 
 9  And  all  tlie  people  shall  know,  even 
 Ephraim  and  tlie  inliabitant  of  Samaria,  tliat 
 say  in  the  pride  and  stoutness  of  heart, 
 
 10  The  bricks  are  fallen  down,  but  we  will 
 build  with  hewn  stones :  the  sycoinores  are 
 cut  down,  but  we  will  change  them  into 
 cedars. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  the  Lord  shall  set  up  the  ad- 
 versaries of  Rezin  against  him,  and  t  jo'"  '"s 
 enemies  together  ; 
 
 M  The  Syrians  before,  and  the  Pliilistines 
 behind  ;  and  they  shall  devour  Israel  f  with 
 open  mouth.  'For  all  this  his  anger  is  not 
 turned  away,  but  his  hand  is  stretched  out 
 still. 
 
 1.3  H  For 'the  people  turneth  not  unto  him 
 that  smiteth  them,  neither  do  they  seek  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 14  Tlierefore  the  Lord  will  cut  off  from 
 Israel  head  and  tail,  branch  and  rush,  '  in  one 
 day. 
 
 15  The  ancient  and  honourable,  he  is  the 
 head  ;  and  the  prophet  that  teacheth  lies,  he 
 !S  the  tail. 
 
 le  For  "  II  the  leaders  of  tliis  people  cause 
 thcin  to  err ;  and  ||  they  that  are  led  of  them 
 (irr  t  destroyed. 
 
 17  Therefore  the  Lord  *  shall  have  no  joy  in 
 their  younii  men,  neither  shall  have  mercy  on 
 their  fatherless  and  widows  :  ''  for  every  one  is 
 an  liypocrite  and  an  evildoer,  and  every  mouth 
 speaketh  |1  folly.  "  For  all  this  his  anger  is  not 
 turned  away,  but  his  hand  is  stretched  out 
 still. 
 
 18  f  For  wickedness  °  burneth  as  the  fire  :  it 
 shall  devour  the  briers  and  thorns,  and  shall 
 kindle  in  the  thickets  of  the  forest,  and  they 
 shall  mount  up  like  the  lifting  up  of  smoke. 
 
 19  Through  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  of  hosts 
 
 \  Heb  tc.M 
 
 T  rli.  R.  is. 
 &  lU   4. 
 Jev.  '1.  8. 
 
 (  cti.  10.  17 
 Itev-  l».  fi 
 
 ;  oh    3.  is. 
 II  Or,  an 
 
 th^t  rtit 
 
 l/in»  btftifd. 
 
 II  f'l-.  rt'S 
 
 //.'if  are 
 
 .dofll^,. 
 t  H«-b.  tieai- 
 
 j  I's.  1.17. 10, 
 
 II. 
 1/  Mic.  7.  S. 
 I,  i\r,i>illa><y. 
 .'  v,.,-.  12,21. 
 
 ch.  5.  25.  & 
 
 10.  4. 
 ,<  eh.  10.  17. 
 
 Mai.  ♦    1. 
 
 d  Lov.  'JO  26. 
 ch  40  ifi. 
 Jer.  10   9. 
 
 /ver-1?,  17 
 ch.  5.  25.  & 
 10.4. 
 
 cir  713. 
 a  Pb   5S  -2. 
 
 ft  0*.  20. 
 Il  Or,  tc  Ihc 
 
 xerileri  thnt 
 
 OMiiett. 
 
 b  Job  31.  1  1- 
 c  HoK.  0  7- 
 
 II  Or.  «•.,. 
 \  Hob 
 
 II  Or,  «.....»/,. 
 /cli.  10.  17. 
 ff Jer.  ;H.22 
 
 'I'S- 
 A  Gen  50  20. 
 
 is  '  the  land  darkened,  and  the  people  shall  be 
 as  the  t  fuel  of  the  fire ;  "  no  man  shall  spare 
 his  brother. 
 
 ■20  And  he  shall  f  snatch  on  the  right  hand, 
 and  be  hungry  ;  and  he  sliall  cat  on  the  left 
 hand,  •'  and  they  shall  not  be  satisfied  :  '  they 
 shall  eat  every  man  the  flesh  of  his  own  arm  : 
 
 •21  Manasseh,  Ejihraim  ;  and  Ephraim,  Ma- 
 uasseh  :  and  they  together  shall  be  against 
 Judah,  '  For  all  this  his  anger  is  not  turned 
 away,  but  his  hand  is  stretched  out  still. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  The  u'oe  of  It/rants,  b  Assi/ria,  the  rod  of  hypocrites, 
 for  his  pride  shall  he  hruken.  20  W  remnant  of  Israel 
 sliall  be  saved.  24  Israel  is  comforted  with  promise 
 of  deliverance  from  Assi/rta. 
 
 "IVTOE  unto  them  that  °  decree  unrighteous 
 ''     decrees,  and    ||  that   write  grievousness 
 
 which  they  have  prescribed  ; 
 •2  To  turn  aside   the  needy  from  judgment, 
 
 and  to  take  away  the  right  from  the  poor  of 
 
 my  people,  tliat  widows  may  be  their  prey,  and 
 
 that  they  may  rob  the  fatherless ! 
 
 3  And  ''  what  will  ye  do  in  "  the  day  of  visita- 
 tion, and  in  the  desolation  which  shall  come 
 from  far?  to  whom  will  ye  flee  for  help?  and 
 where  will  ye  leave  your  glory  ? 
 
 4  Without  me  they  shall  bow  down  under  the 
 prisoners,  and  they  shall  fall  •■nider  the  slain. 
 •'  For  all  this  his  anger  is  not  turned  away,  but 
 his  hand  e.s-  stretched  out  still. 
 
 5  t  II  O  t  Assyrian,  °  the  rod  of  mine  anger, 
 II  and  thestaft'iu  their  hand  is  mine  indignation. 
 
 6  I  will  send  him  against '^  an  hypocritical 
 nation,  and  against  the  people  of  my  wrath  will 
 I  ^  give  him  a  charge,  to  take  the  spoil,  and  to 
 take  the  prey,  and  f  to  tread  them  down  like 
 the  mire  of  the  streets. 
 
 7  I"  Howbeit  he  meaneth  not  so,  neither  doth 
 his  heart  think  so  ;  but  it  is  in  his  heart  to  de- 
 stroy and  cut  off'  nations  not  a  few. 
 
 from  falling:,*  or  *  coming  to  decay.* — L.  Holden.  8.  The  Lm-d  sent, 
 tills  is  a  distinct  propiiecy,  addressed  to  the  kingdom  ol  Israel.— Lou-Z/i. 
 It  hnlh  lighted  upon  Israel,  that  i.s,  the  word  of  threatened  ruin,  as 
 seed  falling  on  the  ground. — See  Jackson.  10.  BtiC  we  will  build,  fyc., 
 will  easily  repair  our  losses. — Lotcth.  II.  .s>(  vp  the  adversaries  of 
 
 Rezin,  fyc. — when  Assyria  had  subdued  the  Syrians,  the  king  made 
 them  join  liim  in  invading  Israel. — Preh.  Lowt/i.  12.  For  alt  tliis, 
 ,Sr. — see  chap.  v.  2.S,  note.  l.'i.  tie  is  the  tail,  the  most  vile  r>nd  des- 
 picable of  all  the  pet'plc.— /J/j.  Hu'l.  1".  (in  their  fatherless,  S;c., 
 for  the  incorrigible  obstinacy  and  pride  ol  this  people,  he  would  not 
 have  mercy  even  on  those  whom  he  commonly  treated  with  the  greatest 
 tenderness  and  respect.  Every  one  is  a  hypocrite,  understand  this  with 
 limitation,  asmany  similar  phrases  in  scripture  ;  it  denotes,  that  though 
 there  were  some  upright  people  in  Israel,  yet  hypocrisy  was  an  abound, 
 iiig  and  reigning  iniquity. — Maccul.  18.  Briers  and  thorns,  denote 
 
 the  wicked,  who  arc  worthless  and  unprofitable.  Thickets  of  the  forest, 
 —Ephraim,  so  called  on  account  of  tlieir  vast  numbersj  it  may  also 
 
 allude  to  the  most  populous  parts.  19.  Wrath,  this  is  not  a  passion 
 in  God,  but  in  his  dispensa'ions  towards  men  he  acts  like  one  highly 
 displeased  from  insults  received. — Maccul.  20.  The  flesh  of  his  own 
 
 arm,  rov  flpax'ovov  rov  a6e\<pu"  anTou,  'the  arm  of  his  brother  or  his 
 neighbour,'  Sept.,  Alexand.  Edit.  Hence  some  critics  infer,  that  we 
 should  read  lyi,  '  his  brother'  or  *  his  neighbour,'  instead  of  im,  •  his 
 arm.' — So  Seeker,  Lowth,  Soothe. 
 
 CuAP.  X. —  I.  Woe  unto  them,  fyc,  this,  to  ver.  5,  is  addressed  by 
 the  prophet  to  the  proud  oppressors  of  his  peopie  at  home.'-Henrt/. 
 3.  From  afar,  from  Assyria,  far  off  compared  with  the  Philistines,  Sy- 
 rians, Aic. — Vitrini^a.  4.  Without  me,  i.  e.,  without  my  aid  they 
 shall  be  taken  captive  even  by  the  captives,  and  shall  be  subdued  even 
 by  the  vanquished. — -4.  Clarke.  5.  O  .isst/rion,  '  woe  to  the  .Assyrian,' 
 &-C. — Jioothr.  Here  the  prophet  is  dealing  with  the  threatrned  invader 
 of  his  people.  7.  He  meaneth  not  so — God  designs  to  correct  his  peo- 
 pie  for,  and  Soto  cure  them  of,  their  hypocrisy,  and  bring  them  nearer 
 to  him;  but  was  that  Sennacherib's  design  ?    No. — Henry.    The  Assy- 
 
 Rfft.ections  on  Chap.  IX.  —  I.  We  have  here  a  predic- 
 tion of  the  birth  and  empire  of  the  M-ssiah.  Tbe  only  begotten 
 Son  '  given,'  like  the  sacritices  oF  old,  which  were  all  typical 
 of  him,  and  of  the  great  benefits  of  bis  salvation.  The  go- 
 vernment of  the  church  anil  of  tbe  world  are  'upon  his 
 shoulder  ;'  all  power  is  his,  '  in  heaven  and  in  earth  ;'  and  be 
 lias  *  the  keys  of  death  and  of  hell.'  He  is  '  wonderful,'  as 
 God  IMan  Mediator.  In  this  great  •  Counsellor'  are  '  hidden 
 all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge.'  He  is  *  the 
 mighty  God,'  and  therefore  '  able  to  save  to  the  very  utter- 
 most.' He  is  '  tbe  everlasting  Father,'  '  the  same  yesterday, 
 to-day,  and  for  ever  ;'  the  Father  of  the  gospel  age  and  of 
 tiiose  eternal  ages  in  which  his  own  eternity  shall  ensure  the 
 bliss  of  all  bis  subjects.  He  is  'the  Prince  of  Peace,'  who 
 '  bath  made  peace  for  us  by  tbe  blood  of  his  cross,"  and  whose 
 sceptre  is  no  iron  sceptre,  but  a  sceptre  of  peace.  His  go- 
 vernment shall  extend  and  endure  when  all  ilie  greatest  em- 
 7-.'6 
 
 pires  of  the  world  shall  have  mouldered  into  dust,  and  when 
 all  his  enemies  shall  be  put  under  his  feet,  and  '  of  the  in- 
 crease of  bis  government  and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end.' 
 He  shall  set  tbe  spiritual  David  upon  his  throne,  ruling  over 
 tbe  innumerable  true  Israelites  in  the  new  Jerusalem.  On 
 the  pillars  of  judgment  and  justice  shall  this  throne  be  ordered 
 and  established,  and  it  shall  be  '  for  ever.' 
 
 II.  Here  is  a  prediction  '  typical  of  the  final  destruction  of  all 
 the  enemies  of  the  Son  of  David  and  his  hinydom.'  i>  '  With  hu- 
 mility and  'reverence  'let  us  submit  to  this  Governor  among 
 tbe  nations,  and  study  to  demean  ourselves  as  his  loyal  and 
 dutiful  subjects,  making  the  service  he  demands  the  business 
 of  our  lives.  Then  mav  y;<i  hope  to  enjoy  tbe  felicity  of  his 
 people,  to  smile  at  tbe  approach  of  calamity,  and  to  rejoice 
 that  he  reigneth,  amid  all  the  confusions  that  arise  in  tbe 
 world. '  ">"'^ 
 
The  punishment  of  Assyria. 
 
 ISAIAH,  X. 
 
 A  remnant  of  Israel  shall  he  saved. 
 
 8  '  For  he  saitli,  Are  not  my  princes  alto- 
 gether kiogs? 
 
 9  Ts  not  '  Calno  '  as  Carchemish  ?  is  not 
 Hamatli  as  Arpad  ?  is  not  Samaria  "  as  Da- 
 mascus ? 
 
 10  As  my  hand  hath  foinid  the  kingdoms  of 
 the  idol?,  and  wliose  graven  images  did  excel 
 them  of  Jerusalem  and  of  Samaria  ; 
 
 1 1  Shall  I  not,  as  1  liave  done  unto  Samaria 
 and  her  idols,  so  do  to  Jerusalem  and  her 
 idols? 
 
 12  Wherefore  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
 when  the  Lord  hath  performed  his  whole  work 
 "  upon  mount  Zion  and  on  Jerusalem,  °  I  will 
 t  punish  the  fruit  f  of  the  stout  heart  of  the 
 king  of  Assyria,  and  the  glory  of  his  high 
 looks. 
 
 13  ''  For  he  saith.  By  the  strength  of  my  hand 
 I  have  done  it,  and  hy  my  wisdom  ;  for  I  am 
 prudent :  and  I  have  removed  the  bounds  of 
 the  people,  and  have  robbed  their  treasures, 
 and  I  have  put  down  the  inhabitants  ||  like  a 
 valiant  man  : 
 
 14  And  'my  hand  hath  found  as  a  nest  tlie 
 riches  of  the  people :  and  as  one  gatheretli 
 eggs  that  arc  left,  have  I  gathered  all  the 
 earth  ;  and  there  was  none  that  moved  the 
 wing,  or  opened  the  month,  or  peeped. 
 
 15  Shall  'the  ax  boast  itself  against  him  that 
 heweth  tlierewitli?  or  sliall  the  saw  magnify 
 itself  against  him  that  shaketh  it?  ||  as  if  tlie 
 rod  should  shake  iV^cZ/'agnhist  tliem  that  lift  it 
 up,  or  as  if  the  staff'  should  lift  np  ||  itsel/i  as 
 if  it  were  no  wood. 
 
 16  Therefore  shall  the  Lord,  the  Lord  of 
 hosts,  send  among  his  '^  tat  ones  leanness  ;  and 
 under  his  glory  he  shall  kindle  a  burning  like 
 the  burning  of  a  fire. 
 
 17  And  the  liglit  of  Israel  sliall  be  for  a  fire, 
 and  his  Holy  One  for  a  flame :  *  and  it  shall 
 burn  and  devour  his  thorns  and  his  briers  in 
 one  day ; 
 
 18  And  shall  consume  the  glory  of  his  forest, 
 and  of  "  his  fruitful  field,  fboth  soul  and  body  : 
 and  they  shall  be  as  when  a  standardbearer 
 fainteth. 
 
 19  And  the  rest  of  the  trees  of  his  forest  shall 
 be  ffew,  that  a  child  may  write  them. 
 
 20  H  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  the  remnant  of  Israel,  and  such  as  are 
 escaped  of  the  house  of  Jacob,  "  shall  no  more 
 
 >  2  Kill.  18. 
 2-1,  33.  (tc 
 &  ly  ]II..X<c 
 
 /t  AmnB  C.  ■^ 
 
 /  2  Chr.  3i 
 20. 
 
 m  2  Kill.  Iti- 
 
 t  il-b   ,./  //,. 
 
 lite  hf>lrt 
 />  In.  37.  2'1. 
 Ezfk,3S.  4. 
 &c.  Dan.  ■! 
 30. 
 
 [I  Or,  tS^n 
 nifint/  iimiiti 
 
 7  Jol>3l.25. 
 
 Ikot  ti/c  It 
 up. 
 II  Or,  that 
 which  is 
 nut  tui'Oit. 
 
 u  2  Kin.  13. 
 23. 
 
 t  Heb.  fron 
 rhrsnul.nnc 
 ft'fn  lo  the 
 
 t  Heb.  niim 
 
 6cr. 
 
 r  See  2  Kin 
 16  7.  2Chr. 
 29.  20. 
 
 y  ch.  7.  3. 
 
 Rom. 9  27. 
 
 ch,  e.  13. 
 t  Heb. Ill,  or 
 mma. 
 I>  ch   28.  22. 
 
 II  Or,  *,,/  ),, 
 .l,.,lll,f,.,i, 
 
 K\.   I  t. 
 
 •:  "= 
 
 b\ 
 
 i  Judg,  7,  S5, 
 ch,  n.  4, 
 k  Ex.  U.  2G, 
 
 I  ch.  H. 25. 
 I  Heb.  .;,«(/ 
 
 m  Vs.  1115 
 lf>.  Pun.  9. 
 2^    I Juhn 
 
 2,  20, 
 
 .<  I  Siiin,  13. 
 23. 
 
 1  1  Sam.  tl 
 
 1. 
 t  Heb.  Crv 
 
 thrill  ic.t/i 
 
 Ihy  toicf. 
 ;i  I  Sam,  25. 
 
 11 
 «.1ii.lg,l8,  7. 
 rj,.»h.21  la. 
 X  Josh. 15. 31. 
 tl  Sam  21.1. 
 
 &  22.  19. 
 
 Neh.ll.32. 
 «  ch,  13.  2. 
 *  ch.  37.  22. 
 
 y  See  Amos 
 2.  9. 
 
 II  Or, 
 m>ghlily. 
 
 again  stay  upon  him  that  smote  them  ;  but  shall 
 stay  upon  the  Lord,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 
 in  truth. 
 
 21  '^The  remnant  shall  return,  even  the  rem- 
 nant of  Jacob,  unto  the  mighty  God. 
 
 22  '  For  though  thy  people  Israel  be  as  the 
 sand  of  the  sea,  "yet  a  remnant  f  of  them 
 shall  return  :  ''  the  consumption  decreed  shall 
 overflow  ||  with  righteousness. 
 
 23  '  For  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  shall  make  a 
 consumption,  even  determined,  in  the  midst  of 
 all  the  land. 
 
 24  K  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of 
 hosts,  O  my  people  that  dwellest  in  Zion,  ''  be 
 not  afraid  of  the  Assyrian  :  he  shall  smite  thee 
 with  a  rod,  ||  and  shall  lift  up  his  staff  against 
 thee,  after  the  manner  of "  Egypt. 
 
 25  '  For  yet  a  very  little  while,  ^and  the  in- 
 dignation sliall  cease,  and  mine  anger  in  their 
 destruction. 
 
 2G  And  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  stir  up  "^  a 
 scourge  for  him  according  lo  the  slaughter  of 
 '  Midian  at  the  rock  of  Oreb  :  and  '  as  his  rod 
 loas  upon  the  sea,  so  shall  he  lift  it  up  after 
 the  manner  of  Egypt. 
 
 27  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  tJiat 
 '  his  burden  f  shall  be  taken  away  from  off  thy 
 shoulder,  and  his  yoke  from  ott'  thy  neck,  and 
 the  yoke  shall  be  destroyed  because  of  ""  the 
 anointing. 
 
 28  He  is  come  to  Aiath,  he  is  passed  to 
 Migron ;  at  Michmash  he  hath  laid  up  his 
 carriages  : 
 
 29  They  are  gone  over  "  the  passage :  they 
 have  taken  up  their  lodging  at  Geba  ;  Ramah 
 is  afraid  ;  °  Gibeah  of  Saul  is  fied. 
 
 30  t  Lift  up  thy  voice,  O  daughter ''of  Gal- 
 lim  :  cause  it  to  be  heard  unto  ''  Laish,  '  O 
 poor  Anathoth. 
 
 31  "  Madmcnah  is  removed;  the  inhabitants 
 of  Gebim  gather  themselves  to  flee. 
 
 32  As  yet  shall  he  remain  'at  Nob  that  day: 
 he  shall  "  shake  his  hand  against  the  mount  of 
 '  the  daughter  of  Zion,  the  hill  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 33  Behold,  the  Lord,  the  Lord  of  hosts,  shall 
 lop  the  bough  with  terror :  and  '  the  high  ones 
 of  stature  shall  he  hewn  down,  and  the  haughty 
 shall  be  humbled. 
 
 34  And  he  shall  cut  down  the  thickets  of  the 
 forest  with  iron,  and  Lebanon  shall  fall  ||  by  a 
 mighty  one. 
 
 rian's  tlesign  was  purely  to  extend  his  conquests  and  gratify  his  own 
 ambition. — Preh.  Loivth.  8.  Altngetliei-  kings,  equal  in  riches,  power, 
 and  rank  with  kings  in  general. — Bouthr.  9.  Calno,  probably  the 
 same  as  Closiphoii,  on  the  Tigris.  Carchemish,  on  the  Euphrates, 
 (Jer.  xlvi.  2  ;  2Chron.  x.xxv.  20.) — Boothr.,  Wells.  Hamnth,  a  priu. 
 cipal  city  of  Syria. — Relnnd.  Arpad,  thought  to  have  been  a  city  of 
 Syria.  None  of  these  cities  could  resist  his  attacks,  and  he  presumed 
 that  Hezekiah  would  attempt  to  oppose  him  in  vain.  —  Boothrot/d. 
 10.  Images  did  excel,  of  better  metal,  or  more  ornamented,  or  more 
 pompously  worshipped,  or  more  numerous  than  those  of  Jerusalem  and 
 Samaria. — Gill.  14.  That  opened,  ^c,    '  that  opened  the  beak  or 
 
 chirped.' — Boothr.  15.  i<haU  the  ajc,  the  sense  is,  that  the  Assyrian 
 monarch  was  only  an  instrument  in  the  hand  of  God. — Gill.  |6.  A 
 
 burning,  denotes  the  stroke  on  Sennacherib's  army.  —  Preh.  Lowth. 
 20.  Stay  upon  him  that  smote  them,  as  Ahaz  upon  the  king  of  Assyria, 
 who  afterwards  proved  the  worst  enemy  of  the  Jews,  (see  2  Kings,  xvi. 
 7  ;  2  Chron.  xxviii.  20.) — Preb.  Lowth.  26.  Of  Egijpt,  as  Egypt  in  the 
 Red  Sea. — Lowth.  2/.  Because  of  the  anointing,  i(\T  the  saite  of  God's 
 chosen  people,  called  his  anointed,  {Ps.  cv.  15.) — Wells,  Preh.  Lowth. 
 28.  He  is  come  to  Aiath,  Sfc. — the  places  mentioned  are  all  in  the  neigh- 
 
 bourhood of  Jerusalem,  and  this  is  a  description  of  the  march  of  Sen- 
 nacherib's army  approaching  Jerusalem  in  order  to  invest  it. — Lowth. 
 Aiath,  probably  Ai,  (Josh.  viii.  28,)  rebuilt  in  Nehemiah's  time,  three 
 miles  from  Jericho.  Migron,  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  mentioned 
 1  Sam.  xiv.  2.  Michmash — here  was  a  passage  between  two  rocks, 
 (!  Sam.  xiii.  23,  and  xiv.  4,  5,  31.)  Mention  is  made  of  it  in  the  Misna 
 as  famous  for  tiour;  this  the  Assyrian  made  his  magazine,  for  here  he 
 laid  up  his  carriages,  some  read  'arms.'  2(1.  The  passage,  of  Mich- 
 mash, (1  Sam.  xiii.  23.)  Ge6a,  aeity  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  (1  King«, 
 XV.  22.)  Ramah,  in  the  same  tribe,  (Josh,  xviii.  25,)  about  seven 
 miles  from  Jerusalem.  Giheah  of  .Saul  js  Jled,  i.e.,  the  inhabitants  of 
 it  fled.  A  city  of  Benjamin,  (I  Sam.  xi.  4  ;  xiii.  2.)  30.  Daughter, 
 means  here  inliabitants.  Galtiui,  whence  was  Phalti,  who  marrieit 
 Saul's  daughter  Michal.  Laish,  probably  the  place  named  by  the 
 Danites,  Dan.  Anathoth,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  (Josh.  xxi. 
 18.)  three  miles  from  Jerusalem.  31.  Mnduteuah,  perhaps  Madman- 
 nah,  (Josh.  xv.  31.) — Gitt.  Gefjim,  perhaps  the  city  called  Joshehe 
 Haggebim. — Hitlerus.  34.  Lebanon  shall  fall — the  king  of  Assyria  is 
 called  a  cedar  in  Lebanon,  Ezek.  xxxi.  3. — See  Rosenm. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.  —  In  this  chapter  we  see, 
 I.  The  oppressor  oppressing, — '  robbing  the  poor,  and  seizing 
 upon  the  property  ot'llie  orplians  and  widows,  under  colour  of 
 law  and  justice.*  What  a  barbarous  being  is  man  to  man! 
 This  is  human  nature,  wherever  there  is  the  power  to  injure, 
 727 
 
 from  the  domineering  child  over  his  weaker  fellow,  to  the 
 banghty  ruler  over  many  nutions. 
 
 11.  The  oppressor  oppressed.  God  is  never  at  a  loss  for  in- 
 struments to  effect  his  purpose.  Let  him  only  take  ofl'  the 
 restraint  from  ambitious  neiglibours,  anil  tliey  will  instantly 
 
The  peaceable  kingdom  of  Christ. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XI. 
 
 The  restoration  of  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  The  peaceable  kinpdom  of  the  Branch  out  of  the  root 
 of  Jesse.  10  The  victorious  restoration  of  Israel, 
 and  vocation  of  the  Gentiles. 
 
 AND  "  there  shall  come  forth  a  rod  out  of 
 the  stem  of  "  Jesse,  and  "  a  Branch  shall 
 grow  out  of  his  roots  : 
 
 2  ■*  And  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  shall  rest  upon 
 liim,  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  understanding, 
 tlie  spirit  of  counsel  and  mijiht,  the  spirit  of 
 linowledge  and  of  the  fear  of  the  Lord  ; 
 
 3  And  shall  make  him  of  f  quicli  understand- 
 ing in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  :  and  he  shall  not 
 judge  after  the  sight  of  his  eyes,  neither  re- 
 prove after  the  hearing  of  his  ears  : 
 
 4  But '  witli  righteousness  shall  he  judge  the 
 poor,  and  ||  reprove  with  equity  for  the  meek 
 of  the  earth :  and  he  shall  '  smite  the  earth 
 witli  the  rod  of  his  mouth,  and  witli  the  breath 
 of  his  lips  shall  he  slay  the  wicked. 
 
 5  And  ^  righteousness  shall  be  the  girdle  of 
 his  loins,  and  faithfulness  the  girdle  of  his 
 reins. 
 
 6  "  The  wolf  also  shall  dwell  with  the  lamb, 
 and  the  leopard  shall  lie  down  with  the  kid  ; 
 and  the  calf  and  the  young  lion  and  the  falling 
 together;  and  a  little  child  shall  lead  them. 
 
 7  And  the  cow  and  the  bear  shall  feed  ;  their 
 young  ones  shall  lie  down  together :  and  the 
 lion  shall  eat  straw  like  the  ox. 
 
 8  And  the  sucking  child  shall  play  on  the 
 hole  of  the  asp,  and  the  w^eaned  child  shall  put 
 
 o  cll.  6S,  2. 
 
 Zt-ch.6   12 
 
 Rev.  5.  5, 
 6AcH  13  23. 
 
 ver.  10. 
 c  cli.  4.  2. 
 
 Jer.  2.S.  5 
 fl  cll.  61.  I. 
 
 Mat  3.  ir>. 
 
 J.-liu  I.  32, 
 
 33.  «( 3.  31. 
 
 Rev.  19    11. 
 
 II  Or,  urgur 
 
 /Job  4.  9. 
 
 MaJ.  .1.  6. 
 
 2  Thes  9.S 
 
 Her.  1.  16. 
 
 &2    16.  & 
 
 13.  15. 
 
 ff  SceEpl).6 
 
 U. 
 
 Ach   65.  25 
 
 Kiok.34,a6 
 
 Hos.  H.  IS. 
 
 II  Or.addrr's. 
 t  Job  6.  23. 
 cb.  2.  -1.  & 
 
 /ch.  S.  tl. 
 mver.  I. 
 Kom.  15.13. 
 
 nRom.15.lO. 
 o  Heb.  1.  1, 
 
 t  neb.gl'-Ty. 
 p  ch.  2.  II. 
 
 T  John  7.  35. 
 
 Jam.  1. 1. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 wingt. 
 *  JtT.  S.   18. 
 
 Kick. 37,16, 
 
 17,  2i. 
 
 Uns.  1.  II, 
 t  Heb.  thr. 
 
 childrfu  of 
 
 tht  east. 
 I  Dan. II. 41 
 t   Heb.E'inm 
 
 n„d  JUoat, 
 
 iXmW  be  the 
 
 laying  on  of 
 
 thfir  hand. 
 t  Heb.  Me 
 
 eU,ldtrn  <./ 
 
 their  obedi- 
 ence. 
 
 \t  Ob  60.  II 
 X  Zech.  10. 
 II. 
 
 his  hand  on  the  ||  cockatrice'  den. 
 
 9  '  They  shall  not  hurt  nor  destroy  in  all  my 
 holy  mountain  :  for  ^  tlie  earth  shall  be  full  of 
 the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  water? 
 cover  the  sea. 
 
 10  t  ^  And  in  that  day  ""  there  shall  be  a  root 
 of  Jesse,  which  shall  stand  for  an  ensign  of  the 
 people  ;  to  it  shall  the  "  Gentiles  seek  :  and 
 "  his  rest  shall  be  f  glorious. 
 
 11  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  ^in  that  day, 
 that  the  Lord  shall  set  his  hand  again  the 
 second  time  to  recover  the  remnant  of  his 
 people,  which  shall  be  left,  **  from  Assyria,  and 
 from  Egypt,  and  from  Pathros,  and  from  Cash, 
 and  from  Elam,  and  from  Shinar,  and  from  Ha- 
 math,  and  from  the  islands  of  the  sea. 
 
 12  And  be  shall  set  up  an  ensign  for  the 
 nations,  and  shall  assemble  the  outcasts  of 
 Israel,  and  gather  together  'the  dispersed  of 
 Judab  from  the  four  f  corners  of  tlie  earth. 
 
 13  ^  The  envy  also  of  Epbraim  shall  depart, 
 and  the  adversaries  of  Judab  shall  be  cut  off: 
 Epbraim  shall  not  envy  Judali,  and  Judab  shall 
 not  vex  Epbraim. 
 
 14  But  they  shall  fly  upon  the  shoulders  of 
 the  Philistines  toward  the  west ;  they  sliall 
 spoil  t  them  of  the  cast  together  :  ^  f  they  sliall 
 lay  their  band  upon  Edom  and  Moab  ;  fand 
 the  children  of  Amnion  "shall  obey  them. 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  'shall  utterly  destroy  the 
 tongue  of  the  Egyptian  sea ;  and  with  his 
 mighty  wind  shall  he  shake  bis  hand  over  the 
 
 Chap.  XI.  —  I.  ^  rod  out  of  the  s/em— here  is  one  instance  of  the 
 mctliod  of  the  prophets  to  launch  out  from  temporal  to  spiritual  deliver- 
 ances.  In  the  last  chapter,  the  Assyrian  is  compared  to  a  cedar  in  Le- 
 banon, in  opposition  to  which  Christ  is  described  only  as  a  slender 
 twig  (rom  the  trunk  of  an  old  tree  cut  down. — Lmvth.  This  is  a  dis- 
 tinct prophecy,  and  has  nn  allusion  to  the  former. — Bnothr.  Such  was 
 the  reduced  slate  of  David's  family  when  Christ  was  born.— (?i7/.  Of 
 Jesse — by  mentioning'  Jesse,  who  was  not  a  king,  but  a  private  person, 
 Isaiah  seems  to  hint  at  the  obscure  and  weak  condition  in  which  Christ 
 should  appear.— .4//i.r.  A  branch,  ny;,  'a  shoot,'  'a  scion.*  Those  who 
 apply  this  to  Hezckiah  should  remember  that  he  was  already  born,  that 
 sacred  knowledge  was  not  diffused  inliis  reign  among  the  Gentiles,  nor 
 was  there  any  universal  gathering  of  the  people  in  his  day. — Sut. 
 1.  The  spirit  of  the  Lord  shall  rest  upon  him — by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
 he  was  consecrated  to  the  sacred  office,  and  perfectly  qualified  for  sus- 
 taining the  high  character  in  which  he  was  to  act,  and  for  performing 
 aU  the  promises  of  grace  respecting  the  redemption  of  the  church. — 
 Maccnl.  Wisdvm  <md  vndcrstaiiiiiiig,  for  disputation  with  adversaries, 
 and  instructing  his  disciples.  Counsel,  to  give  advice.  Might,  or 
 power,  to  preach  the  Gospel  with  authority,  do  miracles,  bear  the  sins 
 of  his  people,  conquer  their  enemies. — Gill.  Of  knowledge — he  per- 
 fectly knew  the  Father,  and  revealed  him  to  men  ;  knew  the  mind  of 
 the  Lord,  and  communicated  it  to  us. — Maccul.  Fear,  ffc,  a  rever- 
 ence for  his  Father,  regard  to  his  will,  doing  all  things  to  please  him, 
 (see  Heb.  v.  7.)— Gill.  3.  Of  quick  understanding,  'scent'  or  'smell/ 
 as  Ihc  Hebrew  signifies,  and  such  was  the  quick  discernment  and  acute 
 understanding  of  Christ,  that  he  could  infallibly  determine  respecting 
 men's  characters.  After  the  sight,  ^-c,  i.e.,  according  to  appearances. 
 4.  Judge  the  poor,  the  poor  and  the  meek  nf  the  earth  are  the  subjects 
 of  Messiah's  kingdom.  Smite  the  earth,  earthly  men. — Maccul.  M'ilh 
 the  rod  of  his  mouth — the  meaning  is,  that,  as  a  Judge,  he  shall  doom 
 every  incorrigible  offender  to  be  cut  off. — Boothr.  5.  Righteousness, 
 — the  righreousness  here  designed  is  that  personal  excellency  whereby 
 this  illustritius  person  should  govern. — Maccul.  The  girdle,  ^c— the 
 meaning  is,  that  a  zeal  lor  justice  and  truth  shall  make  him  active  and 
 strong  in  executing  his  great  work. — Lowth.  6.  The  wolf  also,  fyc, 
 
 — the  heathen  potts  describe  the  felicity  of  the  golden  age  by  represent- 
 ing the  ra|)acious  beasts  f>f  prey  as  gentle  and  harmless,  the  flocks  and 
 herds  as  dreading  no  danger  from  them.— See  Virg.  Eclog.  iv.  21  ; 
 V.  60  ;  Claudian  in  Proleg.,  lib.  ii. ;  and  Theocr.  Idyll,  xxiv.  84.  The 
 expressions  here  mean,  as'  great  a  change  in  the  world  as  if  the  animals 
 were  so  changed. — Dr.  T.  Burnett.  For  the  full  completion  of  this 
 prophecy  we  look  for  the  destruction  of  Antichrist,  when  the  church 
 shall  enjoy  tranquillity  and  large  measures  of  Divine  knowledge,  holi- 
 ness, and  consolation. — Maccul.  10.  A  root  of  Jesse,  the  passage  is 
 elliptical,  *  there  shall  be  one  from  the  root  of  Jesse  ;'  in  Rom.  xv.  12, 
 the  Apostle  so  quotes  the  Greek  Version.  An  ensign,  referring  to  the 
 ancient  practice  of  princes  and  commanders,  who,  in  times  of  imminent 
 
 danger,  ordered  banners  to  be  erected  on  the  tops  of  eminences,  that 
 the  country  might  be  instantly  assemliled.  Like  an  ensign,  Christ  is 
 thus  publicly  exhibited  to  multitudes  in  tite  preaching  of  the  Gospel ; 
 to  him  they  shall  resort  as  the  centre  of  union.  &c.  His  rest,  his 
 church,  the  place  of  his  residence  and  rest.  Shall  be  glorious,  beauti- 
 fied with  the  Divine  Presence.  11.  .^  second  time^thc  expression 
 plainly  alludes  to  the  wonderful  deliverance  which  God  wrought  for  the 
 posterity  of  Israel  from  servitude  in  Eicypt,  designed  to  be  an  eminent 
 type  of  redemption  by  the  Messiah. — Maccvl.  From  Assi/ria  and  from 
 ^^//P'— Egypt  and  other  places  following  being  joined  witli  Assyria, 
 shew  that  this  cannot  be  understood  of  deliverance  from  the  Babylonish 
 captivity,  but  design  the  several  places  where  Christ  would  have  a 
 people  in  gospel  times.  Pathros,  a  country  in  Egj'pt,  (Jer.  xliv.  I ; 
 Ezek.  xxix.  14.)  Ctish,  that  district  of  Arabia  where  the  sons  of  Cush 
 first  settled.— HoM.  See  on  Num.  xii.  1,  note.  Elnm,  probably  Persia. 
 —  Vitr.  See  Dan.  viii.  2  ;  Acts,  ii.  9.  Shinar,  in  Chaldea,  the  plain  on 
 which  Babel  was  built,  (Gen.  x.  10  ;  xi.  2.)— Gill.  The  countries  here 
 named  are  chiefly  called  after  the  names  of  the  fathers  who  first  inha- 
 bited them.— So  Sut.  Islands  of  the  sea,  not  only  islanders,  but  the 
 scripture  style  signifies  all  who  dwell  on  the  sea  coast;  primarily,  per- 
 haps, those  on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  ;  all  distant  nations, 
 which  may  best  appear  from  chap.  xlix.  1 ;  Jer.  xxxi.  10  ;  all  to  the 
 west  of  Canaan.  These  last  were  the  isles  of  the  Gentiles,  to  be  peo- 
 pled by  the  posterity  of  Japhet,  [Gen.  x.  5.)— Vitr.  13.  The  envj/,  Sfc, 
 the  adversaries  of  Judah,  fyc. — 
 
 '  And  the  jealousy  of  Ephraim  shall  cease. 
 And  the  enmity  of  Judah  shall  be  no  more.' — Boothr. 
 
 14.  Shall  fill  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  Philistines,  the  ships  of  the  Phi- 
 listines anil  Phtenicians,  &c.,  should  be  used  to  convey  the  Israelites 
 from  the  east  to  the  west.  —  So  Stock.  \U7aaOr\aovTat  f.v  TrXoioe 
 a\.\o(fi'\i.<i',  *  they  shall  fly  in  the  ships  of  strangers,'  Sept.  These 
 dwelt  on  the  western  borders  of  Canaan,  and  were  anciently  the  inve- 
 terate foes  of  Israel.  The  prophecy  means,  that  in  enlarging  the 
 boundaries  of  the  kingdom  of  their  common  Lord,  they  should  receive 
 friendly  aid  from  those  who  were  once  their  greatest  adversaries. — Mac. 
 
 '  But  they  shall  invade  the  Phili^^tines  on  the  west ; 
 Together  shall  they  spoil  the  children  of  the  cast.'— Boothr. 
 
 Nearly  the  same  as  Lowth.  To  fly  'against  the  shoulder'  seems  to  be 
 idiomatical,  and  to  signify  they  shall  invade  and  attack  the  Philistines. 
 If  we  understand  this  literally,  it  may  apply  to  the  conquests  of  Judas 
 Maccabeus  and  his  brethren,  who  subdued  all  these  neighbouring 
 nations ;  or  if  in  a  figurative  sense,  it  is  certain  that  the  Gospel  pre- 
 vailed  at  an  early  period  among  them. — Boothr.  15.  To7tgite,  the 
 Nile.— fftmcAt,  Abarb.  A  bay  of  the  Egyptian  Sea,  enclosed  among 
 the  mouths  of  the  Nile,  and  in  the  form   of  a  tongne.— So  Bryant. 
 
 become  the  scourge  of  a  guilty  nation.    They  mean  one  thing,  bis  power.     Not  a  strolte  can  they  inflict  beyond  his  permis- 
 
 but  he  means  another  ;  and,  while  they  think  that  they  are  ex-  sion,  and  when  they  have  done  his  work  in  humbling  otbers, 
 
 ecuting  their  own  projects,  they  aro  but  the  rod  in  thp  ban'!  nf  they  shall  be  humbled  themselves. 
 728 
 
A  thnnltsgiving  fur  God's  mercies. 
 
 ISAIAH.  XII..  XIII. 
 
 The  tirmies  of  Goifs  wrath. 
 
 river,  and  shall  smite  it  in  the  seven  streams, 
 "  and  make  men  ^o  over  f  dryshod. 
 
 IG  And  'there  shall  be  an  liiglnvay  for  the 
 remnant  of  his  people,  which  shall  be  left, 
 from  Assyria;  "like  as  it  v.-as  to  Israel  in  the 
 day  that  he  came  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 A  toilful  thanksgiving  of  the  faitlful  for  the  mercies  of 
 GmI. 
 A  ND  °in  that  day  thou  slialt  say,  O  Lord, 
 ■^^  I  will  praise  thee  :  though  thou  wast  angry 
 with  me,  thine  anger  is  turned  away,  and  thou 
 comfortedst  me. 
 
 2  Behold,  God  is  my  salvation  ;  I  will  trust, 
 and  not  be  afraid  :  for  the  Lord  "JEHOVAH 
 is  my  '^  strength  and  my  song ;  he  also  is  be- 
 come my  salvation. 
 
 3  Therefore  with  joy  shall  ye  draw  •'water 
 out  of  the  w  ells  of  salvation. 
 
 4  And  in  that  day  shall  ye  say,  °  Praise  the 
 Lord,  ||  call  upon  his  name,  "■  declare  his  do- 
 ings among  the  people,  make  mention  that  his 
 *  name  is  exalted. 
 
 5  ''  Sing  unto  the  Lord  ;  for  he  hath  done 
 excellent  things :  this  is  known  in  all  the 
 earth. 
 
 6  'Cry  out  and  shout,  thou  f  inhabitant  of 
 Zion  :  for  great  is  ^  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  in 
 the  midst  of  thee. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 I  God  mustereth  the  armies  of  his  wrath.     Q  He  threat- 
 cneth  to  destroy  Babylon  by  the  Medcs.      19  The  di 
 solation  of  Babylon. 
 HE  "burden  of  Babylon,  which  Isaiah  the 
 son  of  Amoz  did  see. 
 
 T 
 
 B.C. 
 
 rir.  713. 
 
 V  K.-..H. 
 t    n.-l.,   in 
 
 ^John-1  10, 
 
 14.  &  7.  87, 
 38. 
 c  I  Chr.16.8. 
 Ps.  105.  1. 
 
 II  Or,  ;*. 
 
 cln 
 
 hU 
 
 f  Ps    U5.  4, 
 
 r>,  6. 
 g  Ps.  :^4.  3. 
 /.  Kx.  1ft.  I, 
 
 21.  Ps.  68. 
 
 3;-.  &  9S.  I . 
 
 .  ch.  M,  I. 
 Zech.  S.  1+ 
 >t  Hcb.  inhn- 
 
 hi(Tf„. 
 
 4Ps.  71.  22. 
 H  S9.  \d. 
 cli. 41. 14,16. 
 
 h  ch.  .=i    JG. 
 
 It  \S.  3. 
 
 jiT  rut,  2 
 
 T  Jer  .'.1.25. 
 d  ch.  lU.  .2. 
 
 e  Joel  3.  II. 
 
 /P^     no.  2, 
 
 g  Zeph    I-  7. 
 
 11  ev.  6    17. 
 /.  J..b:il.  13. 
 
 J<M  1.  16. 
 
 II  Or.  /.// 
 
 :  Ps.  IS   6. 
 ch.  21.  3. 
 
 t  Heb,  €<i-T(f 
 
 \  Heb.  faces 
 ••fth*fian,ta 
 
 rMal.  4-  1. 
 
 /Ps  \<i%.  33. 
 Pro.  2.  2:;. 
 
 m  ch.24.21, 
 '>3.fCzek.3?. 
 7.  Jnel2.3l. 
 8t  .3.  15. 
 Mat  2t  ?0. 
 Jlarkia  24 
 T,)ike2l.25, 
 
 Mcli.  9.  17 
 
 2  ^  Lift  yc  lip  a  banner  "^  upon  the  liigh 
 mountain,  exalt  tlie  voice  unto  them,  "^  shake 
 the  hand,  that  they  may  go  into  the  gates  of 
 the  nobles. 
 
 3  I  have  comniantlcd  iny  sanctified  ones,  I 
 liave  also  called  "^  my  mi^lity  ones  for  mine 
 anger,  even  them  that  *"  rejoice  in  my  high- 
 ness. 
 
 4  The  noise  of  a  multitude  in  the  mountains, 
 flike  as  of  a  great  people  ;  a  tumultuous  noise 
 of  the  kingdoms  of  natinns  gatliered  together  : 
 the  Lord  of  hosts  musteretli  the  host  of  the 
 battle. 
 
 5  They  come  from  a  far  country,  from  the  end 
 of  heaven,  even  tlie  Lonn,  and  tlie  weapons  of 
 liis  indignation,  to  destroy  tlie  whole  land. 
 
 6  1[  Howl  ye  ;  ^for  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  at 
 hand  ;  ^it  shall  come  as  a  destruction  from  the 
 Almighty. 
 
 7  Therefore  shall    all    hands 
 every  man's  heart  shall  melt : 
 
 8  And  they  shall  be  afraid  : 
 rows  shall  take  hold  of  them  ; 
 pain  as  a  woman   that   travaileth  :  they  shall 
 t  be  amazed  f  one  at  another  ;  their  faces  shall 
 be  as  f  flames. 
 
 9  Behold,  ^  the  day  of  the  Lord  cometh, 
 cruel  both  with  wrath  and  fierce  anger,  to  lay 
 the  land  desolate  :  and  he  shall  destroy  '  the 
 sinners  thereof  out  of  it. 
 
 10  For  the  stars  of  heaven  and  the  constella- 
 tions thereof  shall  not  give  their  light :  the  sun 
 shall  be  "'darkened  in  his  going  forth,  and  the 
 moon  shall  not  cause  lier  light  to  shine. 
 
 11  And  1  will  punish  the  world  for  their  evil, 
 and  the  wicked  for  their  iniquity  ;  "and  I  will 
 
 II  be  faint,  and 
 
 '  pangs  and  sor- 
 tliey  shall  be  in 
 
 That  which,  out  of  the  main  ocean,  shoots  up  into  the  land  between 
 Arabia  and  Egypt,  in  the  form  and  fashion  of  a  tongue,  broader  at  the 
 first,  but  growing  narrower. — Jackson.  'Tongue,'  applied  to  sea,  sig- 
 nifies a  bay;  so  rendered  Josh.  xv.  2  ;  xviii.  ig. — PreO.  Loicth.  With 
 /lis  might!/  wind,  alludes  to  the  passage  of  the  Red  Sea,  (E.Kori.  xiv.  21.) 
 — Louth.  Implies  the  removing  of  all  impediments  that  might  hinder 
 the  return  of  God's  people. — Preb.  Lowth.     See  Rev.  xvi.  12. 
 
 *As  Jehovah  formerly  smote  with  a  draught 
 The  tongue-like  strait  of  the  Efryptian  Sea; 
 So  shall  he  shake  his  hand  over  the  river. 
 The  Euphrates  with  his  vehement  wind.' 
 
 If  we  may  believe  Herodotus,  Cyrus  turned  the  course  of  this  river,  so 
 that  what  is  here  said  was  literally  fulfilled. — Boothr.  l6.  There 
 
 shall  be  a  highwat/,  be?ause  the  ten  tribes  that  were  already  carried 
 into  Assyria,  or  were  shortly  to  be  carried  thither,  would  seem  to  be 
 utterly  lost,  being  carried  much  further  than  Judah  into  Babyhm,  and 
 not  liking  to  return  when  Jndah  did,  the  prophet  intimates  that  even 
 they  should  at  length  be  brought  home  to  Christ  by  the  preaching  of 
 the  Gospel. — Jnckson. 
 
 Chap.  XII.  —  1.  That  dap,  i.  e.,  when  the  root  of  Jesse  shall  be  lifted 
 up.  Thou,  my  clinrch  and  people. — Jackson.  3.  With  joj/ — draw 
 water,  alludes  to  the  Hebrew  custom  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  when 
 the  virgin  train,  dressed  in  white,  drew  water  from  the  pool  of  Siloam 
 with  a  golden  pitcher,  and  snng  psalms  all  the  way  to  tlie  temple,  and 
 then  poured  the  water,  mixed  with  wine,  on  the  sacrifices.  Our  Savi- 
 our applied  the  ceremony  and  the  intention  of  it  to  himself,  and  to  the 
 effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  promised,  and  to  be  given,  by  him. — Lowth. 
 
 CiT.^p.  XIII.  — 1.  The  burden  of  Babi/ Ion,  a  prophecy  of  the  destruc- 
 tion of  Babylon,  a  type  and  exemplar  of  the  destruction  of  the  mystical 
 Babylon. — Gill.  The  word  rendered  '  burden,'  thnugh  s.ime  translate 
 it  '  oracle,*  [as  does  Boothroyd,']  seems  to  denote  the  heavy  vengeance 
 predicted,  which  the  prophet  diil  see  in  vision,  as  if  already  fallen  upon 
 Babylon. — Scott.  2.  Lift  ye  vp  a  banner — God's  command  to  gather 
 the  forces  which  he  had  destined  to  his  service  against  Babylon. — 
 Lowth.  High  mountain,  Babylon,  so  called  because  of  her  power, 
 though  built-in  a  plain,  (Jer.  li.  'a.J—Sut.  Into  the  gates  of  the  nobles, 
 enlist  under  their  several  commanrlers  by  going  to  their  gates  and 
 giving  in  their  names. — So  Preb.  Lowth.  it  may  mean,  the  gates  oi 
 the  ntbli's  of  Babylon,  to  find  rich  plunder. — Gill.  'That  they  may 
 enter  the  gates  of  princes.*— J3ooMr.  The  princely  palaces  of  Babylon. 
 —Hew.  3.  My  sanctified  ones,  '•t^lpn,  '  conhecratcd  or  appointed  for 
 the  purpose.' — Clarke.  '  My  enrolled  warricrs.' — Lowth.  '  My  select 
 warriors.' — Boothr.  Them  that  rejoice  in  my  highness,  'those  who 
 c.vuit  in  their  own  dignity.' — Boothr.  4.  Nations— Cyruses  army  was 
 made  up  of  many  different  nations,  (Jer.  1.  9,  and  ii.  27,  28.) — See 
 Xeiioph.  Cyrop.,  Hew.  5.  From  the  end  of  heaven,  some  very  distant 
 parts  of  the  earth  under  heaven. — Rosenm.  6.  H/>H7//e— addressed 
 
 to  the  Babylonians,  now  in  the  zenith  of  their  power" — Boothr.,  so 
 Gill.  1  his  was  probably  in  the  reign  of  Ahaz,  200  years  before  the  ful- 
 filment.—  Vitr.  7.  H«n(/s—/«i«i— alluding  to  the  effects  of  a  para- 
 lytical  disorder. — Maccul.  10.  For  the  stars,  ^c.—the  overthrow  of 
 
 kingdoQis  is  represented  by  the  darkening  of  thtse  luiiiinaries,  (comp. 
 Joel,  ii.  10;  iii.  15,  16;  Amos,  viii.  9;  Matt.  xxiv.  2f).}  —  See  Lowth, 
 Sir  I.  Xewton.  11.  The  world,  the  Babylonish  empire.  In  other  in- 
 stances, the  general  term  is  used  for  a  particular  empire  or  country, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XL  —  Messiah's  kinEjdom  is  here 
 exhibited — I.  In  its  peaceableness.  Happy  tbey  who  arp  under 
 his  sceptre  !  they  enjoy  peace  with  God — a  peace  winch  the 
 world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.  Happy  shall  tlie  churc  )i 
 be  when  feuds  and  dissensions  among  Cbri:itians  shall  yield 
 to  love  and  unity  ;  and  happy  shall  the  world  be  when  Jew 
 and  Gentile,  united  under  the  standard  of  the  cross,  shall 
 shew  to  ail  nations  the  batmony  of  the  gospel.  Messiah's 
 kinsdora  is  also  here  exhibited  — 
 
 II.  In  its  universnlity.  While  the  outcasts  of  Israel  shall 
 flock  to  Christ,  the  Gentiles  shall  also  rally  around  the  ensign 
 that  shall  be  lifted  up,  and  the  prediction  of  Jacob  concerning 
 the  Messiah  sliall  receive  its  accomplishment,  '  to  him  shnll 
 the  gathering  of  the  people  be.'  Let  us  pray  for  this  desir- 
 able period,  and  use  our  best  oiTorts  to  promote  its  advance- 
 ment. 
 
 729 
 
 Reflections  ox  Chap.  XIL  —7  I.  '  Even  God's  frowns 
 must  not  put  ns  out  of  tune  for  praisiiiff  him.  Though  he  be 
 angry  witu  us,  though  he  slay  ns,  yet  we  must  put  our  trust 
 in  liim,  and  give  him  thanks.  God  has  often  just  cause  to  be 
 angry  with  us  ;  but  we  have  never  any  reason  to  be  angry  with 
 him,  nor  to  speak  otherwise  than  well  of  him. 
 
 II.  *  Those  that  have  God  for  their  salvation  may  enjoy  them- 
 selves ivith  a  hvhf  Security  and  serenity  of  mind.  We  must  trust 
 and  not  he  afriiid,  not  be  afraid  that  the  God  we  trust  in  will 
 fail  us ;  no,  there  is  no  danger  in  that ;  not  be  afraid  of  any 
 creature,  though  never  so  formidable  and  threatening. 
 
 III.  '  God's  promises  revealed  and  ratijied,  and  given  out  to  us 
 in  his  ordinances,  are  wells  of  salvation,  for  in  them  salvation  is 
 made  known  to  us.  It  is  our  duty,  by  faith,  to  draw  water 
 out  of  these  wells,  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  and  satisfac- 
 tion.'h 
 
 5  A 
 
The  desolation  of  Bahiflon 
 
 ISAIAH,  XIV. 
 
 The  lmini}}h  of  Israil. 
 
 cause  the  arrogancy  of  the  proud  to  cease, 
 and  \\\\\  lay  low  tlie  haughtiness  of  the  ter- 
 rilile. 
 
 I '2  I  will  make  a  man  more  precious  than  fine 
 gold  ;  even  a  man  tlian  the  golden  wedge  of 
 Ophir. 
 
 13  ^  Tlierefore  I  will  shake  the  heavens,  and 
 the  earth  shall  remove  out  of  her  place,  in  the 
 wrath  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  in  ''  the  day  of 
 his  fierce  anger. 
 
 14  And  it  shall  be  as  the  chased  roe,  and  as 
 a  sheep  that  no  man  taketh  up  :  **  they  shall 
 every  man  turn  to  his  own  people,  and  flee 
 every  one  into  his  own  land. 
 
 15  Every  one  that  is  found  shall  be  thrust 
 through ;  and  every  one  that  is  joined  unto 
 them  shall  fall  by  the  sword. 
 
 16  Their  children  also  shall  be  "^  dashed  to 
 pieces  before  their  eyes;  their  houses  shall  be 
 spoiled,  and  their  wives  ravished. 
 
 17  '  Behold,  I  will  stir  up  the  Medes  against 
 them,   which  shall   not  regard   silver;   and  as 
 
 for  gold,  they  shall  not  delight  in  it. 
 
 18  Their  bows  also  shall  dash  the  young 
 men  to  pieces;  and  they  shall  have  no  pity  on 
 the  fruit  of  the  womb  ;  their  eye  shall  not 
 spare  children. 
 
 19  1[  ^  And  Babylon,  the  glory  of  kingdoms, 
 the  beauty  of  the  Chaldees'  excellency,  shall 
 be  fas  when  God  overthrew  "Sodom  and 
 Gomorrah. 
 
 20  ^  It  shall  never  be  inhabited,  neither  shall 
 it  be  dwelt  in  from  generation  to  generation  : 
 neither  shall  the  Arabian  pitch  tent  there ; 
 neither  shall  the  shepherds  make  their  fold 
 there. 
 
 -1\  -  But  f  wild  beasts  of  the  desert  shall  lie 
 there  ;  and  their  houses  sliall  be  full  of  f  dole- 
 ful creatures;  nnd  ||  f  owls  shall  dwell  there, 
 and  satyrs  shall  dance  there. 
 
 22  And  f  the  wild  beasts  of  the  islands  shall 
 cry  in  tlicir  {{  desolate  houses,  and  dragons  in 
 
 P  ps.  no.  5. 
 
 Lain.  1.  ii. 
 
 ■  Pa  IS7.  5 
 Nah.  .1.  IM 
 Zecli.  11.2 
 
 M  ch.  21.  2 
 Jer.  51.  I 
 2S  Dan. 
 28,  .SI. 
 
 /oI..U.-l,-> 
 
 25   Deu  29 
 
 VS.  Jep.  49. 
 
 16.  &  50.  Ill 
 X  Jer  50  3 
 
 S9  8i51,-J9, 
 
 62. 
 H  ch.  .•!+.  n, 
 
 t  H.-b. 
 
 0(hi>... 
 \  Or. 
 
 Oiirichet. 
 t  Hcb.       . 
 
 tlaughlen  o/ 
 
 Ikf  o\cl. 
 \  Heb.  lim. 
 ,1  Or,  pn/a«». 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 dr.  712, 
 
 :  Jer.il    3:1 
 
 aps,  102.13, 
 
 6  Zeeh.  r.l7. 
 
 fc  2.  I  ■*. 
 c  ch,fi0.4,  5, 
 
 10.  Epb.  2. 
 
 12,  \A,  &c. 
 
 d  ch.  49.  22. 
 
 fi.  m.  9.  & 
 
 6ti.  80. 
 
 t  Heb.  ll,'^l 
 
 hod  l..lf,:, 
 thfin  C"]l- 
 
 /■ch.  13    19. 
 
 Hab.  2.  6. 
 II  Or,  tauut- 
 
 inir  ipffcfi 
 II  Or,  exac' 
 UfSi  iifgold 
 g  Rev  18,  Hi. 
 h  Ps    125.  3. 
 
 \  Heb    , 
 
 ilroke  I 
 
 ch.  55.  12. 
 Kiek,31.16. 
 
 *E7ek,.'i?.21. 
 II  Or,  The 
 grave, 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 tender  t. 
 11  Or.  jf  rei/ 
 
 S'-alt 
 
 their  pleasant  palaces  :  ^  and  her  time  is  near 
 to  come,  and  her  days  shall  not  be  prolonged. 
 
 CHAP.  xiy. 
 
 I  God's  merciful  restoration  of  hrad.  4  Their  tri- 
 umphant itisnltation  over  Balcl.  24  God's  par fose 
 against  Assyria.      29  Palestina  is  titrcateveit. 
 
 "POR  the  Lord  *  will  have  mercy  on  Jacob, 
 -*•  and  ^\vill  yet  choose  Israel,  and  set  them 
 in  their  own  land  :  'and  the  strangers  shall  be 
 joined  with  them,  and  they  shall  cleave  to  the 
 house  of  Jacob. 
 
 2  And  the  people  shall  take  them,  ''  and 
 bring  them  to  their  place  :  and  the  house  of 
 Israel  shall  possess  them  in  the  land  of  the 
 Lord  for  servants  and  handmaids  :  and  they 
 shall  take  them  captives,  f  whose  captives  they 
 were ;  ''and  they  shall  rule  over  their  op- 
 pressors. 
 
 3  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  day  that 
 the  Lord  shall  give  thee  rest  from  thy  sorrow, 
 and  from  thy  fear,  and  from  the  hard  bondage 
 wherein  thou  wast  made  to  serve, 
 
 4  t  That  thou  ''shalt  take  up  this  ||  proverb 
 against  tiie  king  of  Babylon,  and  say.  How 
 hath  the  oppressor  ceased!  the  {{  ^golden  city 
 ceased ! 
 
 o  The  Lord  hath  broken  ^  the  staff  of  the 
 wicked,  nnd  the  sceptre  of  the  rulers. 
 
 6  He  who  smote  the  people  in  wrath  with 
 fa  continual  stroke,  he  that  ruled  the  nations 
 in  anger,  is  persecuted,  and  none  hindereth, 
 
 7  The  whole  earth  is  at  rest,  and  is  quiet  ; 
 they  break  forth  into  .singing. 
 
 8  '  Yea,  the  fir  trees  rejoice  at  thee,  and  the 
 cedars  of  Lebanon,  saifinf/.  Since  thou  art  laid 
 down,  no  feller  is  come  up  against  us. 
 
 9  ^  II  Hell  from  beneath  is  moved  for  tlice  to 
 neet  thee  at   tliy    coming  :    it  stirreth   up  the 
 
 dead  for  thee,  even  all  tlie  f  ||  chief  ones  of  the 
 earth  ;  it  hath  raised  up  from  their  tln'ones  all 
 the  kings  of  the  nations. 
 
 (comp.  Luke,  ii.  l.ati.i  Act^,u.5.)  — Lout /t,  Boothr.  It  is  htre  so  called 
 from  its  large  extent  ami  the  number  of  its  inhabitants.  —  GUI. 
 12.  More  prerwjtx.  so  fpw  shall  be  le(t  in  the  general  destruction,  that 
 even  one  shall  be  esteemed  invaluable,  (comp.  chap.  iv.  1,  and  1  Sam. 
 iii.  \.)—Bnothr.  13.  Shake  the  heavenx,  §-c.— images  from  violent 
 storms  ami  earthquakes.— //enj.  u.  And  if,  i.e.,  to  Kara^etfifxa, 
 '  the  remnant,'  Sfpt. ;  adopted  by  Loicth,  and  Boofhr.  Chased  roe,  ^c  , 
 timid  and  fleeing  n.\vay.—Boothr,  15.  Everi/  one,  fyc.,  neither  shall 
 
 those  escape  who  flee  singly,  nor  those  in  compact  bodies.— Lou'M. 
 17.  /  u-ifl  stii'  up  the  Medos,  at  that  time  an  inconsiderable  nation.— 
 Silt.  18.  Their  Aoks— the  Persians  were  celebrated  for  archery  ;  their 
 hows  were  very  large.— See  Herod.,  Xenoph.  19.  Shall  be,   ^c.~ 
 
 B.ibylon  was  a  great  square,  45  miles  in  compass,  enclosed  by  a  wall 
 200  feet  high  and  titty  broad,  in  which  there  were  a  hundred  gates  of 
 brass.  Cyrus  took  the  city  by  diverting  the  waters  of  the  Euphrates, 
 which  ran  through  the  miilst  of  it,  and  entering  the  place  at  night  by 
 the  dry  channel.  The  ri\'er  being  never  restored,  overflowed  the 
 country,  and  made  it  a  morass.  The  inhabitants  left  were  but  fevv, 
 owing  to  the  great  slaughter.  Darius  Hystaspis,  not  long  after,  pu- 
 nished the  city  for  a  revolt,  greatly  depopulated  it,  lowered  the  walls, 
 and  demolished  the  gates.  Xer.xes  destroyed  its  temples.  The  build- 
 ing of  Seleuci;»  on  the  Tigris  exhausted  the  remaining  population, 
 which  was  drained  by  Seleueus  to  pc  pie  his  new  city.  A  king 
 of  the  Parthians  afterwards  carried  away  a  great  number  of  its  inha- 
 bitants into  slavery,  and  burnt  and  destroyed  the  most  beautiful  parts 
 of  the  city.  Modern  travellers  now  describe  the  who!e  surrounding 
 country  as  a  scene  of  desolation,  and  the  exact  site  of  this  wonder  of 
 the  world  is  unknown.— //erorf.,  Arriati,  Strabo -,  see  Lowlh.  20.  Net 
 ther— pitch  tent— make  their  fotd—Xhe  desolation  should  be  such,  that 
 
 tliere  sliould  not  even  be  ruins  for  eastern  shepherds  to  shelter  their 
 flncks,  as  is  their  cu>tom.  —  Hnr.  2i.   Satyrs,  C^^'ll?.  a  sort  of 
 
 monkey,  according  to  some  ;  a  sort  of  goat,  according  to  others.— So 
 Harris'.'!  Script.  Nat.  Hist. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  1.  Jncnh— Israel— thes-G  names,  including  the  twelve 
 tribes,  and  other  circumstances  here  mentioned,  seem  to  intimate  tVvat 
 the  whole  prophecy  e.xtends  its  views  beyond  the  return  from  Babylon. 
 — Lou-th.  The  full  and  final  completion  of  this  prophecy  is  only  to  be 
 looked  for  in  the  days  of  Messiah. —  VHringa.  Stmnffers,  probably 
 many  became  proselytes  in  the  captivity. — Preb.   Lnwth.  4.  The 
 
 golden  city,  being  renowned  for  its  immense  riches  and  incnmparalde 
 splendnur.  6.  Persecuted,  fyc  ,  pursued,  overtaken,  and  seized  by  the 
 justice  of  God,  and  qiuckly  brought  to  condign  punishment.  8.  Fir 
 
 trees — cedars,  princes,  rulers,  great  men  of  tfiose  kingdoms,  which  had 
 been  hara-^sed  by  the  king  of  Babylon  before  the  overthrow  of  that 
 empire. — Mamd.  9.  Hell,  '  Hades.' — Lnwth,  Boothr.  The  regi'ins 
 of  the  dead  arc  here  laid  open,  and  Hades  is  represented  as  rousing  up 
 the  shades  of  the  departed  monarehs  ;  they  rise  from  their  thrones  to 
 meet  the  King  of  Babylon  at  his  comitig,  and  insult  him  on  his  being 
 reduced  to  the  same  estate  of  impotence  and  dissolution  as  themselves. 
 This  is  one  of  the  boldest  figures  that  ever  was  attempted  in  poetry. 
 We  must  form  to  ourselves  an  image  of  the  eastern  sepulchral  vault,  a 
 vast  gloomy  cavern,  all  round  the  sides  of  which  there  are  cf  lis  to  re- 
 ceive  the  dead  bodies ;  here  the  deceased  monarehs  lie  in  a  distinguished 
 sort  of  state,  each  on  his  couch,  with  his  arms  beside  him,  and  his 
 sword  at  his  head,  fsee  Ezek.  xxxii.  2",)  on  which  place  Chardin  re. 
 marks  that  this  is  the  custom  in  Mingrelia.  These  illustrious  shades 
 rise  at  once  from  their  couches,  as  from  tbeir  thrones,  and  advance  to 
 the  entrance  of  the  cavern  to  meet  the  King  of  Babylon,  and  to  re- 
 
 Refiections  on  Chap.  XHI.  —  I.  If  God's  temporal  judg- 
 ments have  been  so  trcmejidotis,  what  must' it  be  to  suffer  the  vm- 
 ycarice  of  eternal  Jirc  !  Fire  being  the  most  furious  and  pain- 
 giying  element,  is  used  to  describe  the  consequences  of  tbe 
 Divine  wrath  against  the  hypocrite  and  the  bold  blasphemer  ; 
 but,  oh  !  who  can  dwell  in  that  state  which  no  flames  can  de- 
 pict, '  where  the  fire  is  not  quenched,*  '  in  everlastinir  burn- 
 ings i' 
 
 730 
 
 II.  If  God's  predictions  by  his  prophets  have  been  so  strictly  and 
 lit- rally  fvljUled  in  the  temporal  punishment  of  tviched  natious, 
 U'itli  what  i/ood  reason  may  we  e.rpect  the  cxnrt  fuljilment  of  all 
 those  thnattninfis  which  rdate  to  the  final  destruction  of  the  impe- 
 nitent !  Let  the  sinner  '  hear  and  fear, and  turn  unto  tbe  Lord.' 
 '  Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time  ;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of 
 salvation.* 
 
Israel's  triumph  over  Babylon. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XIV. 
 
 God's  purpose  against  Assyria. 
 
 10  All  they  shall  speak  ami  say  unto  thee, 
 Art  thou  also  become  weak  as  we  ?  art  thou 
 become  like  unto  us? 
 
 1 1  Tliy  pomp  is  brought  down  to  the  grave, 
 anil  the  noise  of  thy  viols  :  the  worm  is  spread 
 under  thee,  and  the  worms  cover  thee. 
 
 12  '  How  art  thou  fallen  from  heaven,  ||  O 
 Lucifer,  son  of  the  morning'  how  art  thou  cut 
 down  to  the  ground,  which  didst  weaken  the 
 nations ! 
 
 1.3  For  thou  hast  said  in  thine  heart,  "  I  will 
 ascend  into  heaven,  "  I  will  exalt  my  throne 
 above  the  stars  of  God  :  I  will  sit  also  upon 
 the  mount  of  the  congregation,  °  in  the  sides  of 
 tlie  north  : 
 
 14  I  will  ascend  above  the  heights  of  the 
 clouds  ;  ■'  I  will  be  like  the  most  High. 
 
 15  Yet  thou  "i  shalt  be  brought  down  to  hell, 
 to  the  sides  of  the  pit. 
 
 IG  They  that  see  thee  shall  narrowly  look 
 upon  thee,  and  consider  thee,  sai/inr/,  Ts  this 
 the  man  tliat  made  the  earth  to  tremble,  that 
 did  shake  kingdoms ; 
 
 17  IViut  made  the  world  as  a  wilderness,  and 
 destroyed  the  cities  thereof ;  that  ||openednof 
 the  house  of  his  prisoners? 
 
 18  All  tlie  kings  of  the  nations,  even  all  of 
 them,  lie  in  glory,  every  one  in  his  own  house. 
 
 19  But  tliou  art  cast  out  of  thy  grave  like  an 
 abominable  branch,  and  as  the  raiment  of 
 those  that  are  slain,  thrust  through  with  a 
 sword,  that  go  down  to  the  stones  of  the  pit ; 
 as  a  carcase  trodden  under  feet. 
 
 20  Thou  shalt  not  be  joined  with  them  in 
 burial,  because  thou  hast  destroyed  thy  land, 
 and  slain  thy  people  :  ■"  the  seed  of  evildoers 
 shall  never  be  renowned. 
 
 21  Prepare  slaughter  for  his  children  'for  the 
 iniquity  of  their  fathers  ;  that  they  do  not  rise, 
 nor  possess  the  land,  nor  fill  the  face  of  the 
 world  with  cities. 
 
 22  For  I  will  rise  up  against  them,  saith  the 
 
 SI,  i. 
 ti  (ir,  0  lint/ 
 
 n  MM.  n. 
 
 23, 
 
 ,  Piiii   8  10. 
 
 2  'nm8.2  4 
 q  niat.M.23. 
 
 ||0r,  dMn 
 M  hit  ;>r 
 
 r  Jnll 
 
 P«.  2 
 S7.  21 
 inf). 
 
 18.  in 
 
 1  III  & 
 
 18  & 
 
 /  Pro.  10   7. 
 
 Jer-  51.  62 
 a  I  Kin.  H, 
 
 10. 
 J- Job  19.  19. 
 y  ch,  3+.  II. 
 
 Zepb.  2.  14. 
 
 ii8Chr,20.6. 
 
 Job  9,  12.  & 
 
 23.  13.  Pe. 
 
 3.3.  11.  Pro. 
 
 I9.2I.&  21. 
 
 JO.  ch,  -13, 
 
 13.  Dan.  4. 
 
 31,  35 
 6  2  Km.  16. 
 
 20. 
 726. 
 
 II  Or,  n'IdM. 
 ,(2  Kin  18,M 
 
 IjOr.liesliall 
 ,„„  be  almp. 
 jl  Or,  nMCm- 
 
 e  Ps,  87, 1,  5 
 &  102,  16. 
 
 /"Zepb.  3.12. 
 Zech-ll.ll 
 
 II  Or,  bftike 
 
 Lord  of  hosts,  and  cut  oil'  from  Babylon  '  the 
 name,  and  "remnant,  'and  son,  and  nephew, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 23  •'  I  will  also  make  it  a  possession  for  the 
 bittern,  and  pools  of  water :  and  I  will  sweep 
 it  with  the  besom  of  destruction,  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 24  f  The  Lord  of  hosts  hath  sworn,  saying. 
 Surely  as  I  have  thought,  so  shall  it  come  to 
 pass;  and  as  I  have  purposed,  so  shall  it 
 stand  : 
 
 j  That  I  will  break  the  Assyrian  in  my 
 land,  and  upon  my  mountains  tread  liim  under 
 foot :  then  shall  "  his  yoke  depart  from  oft" 
 them,  and  his  burden  depart  from  oft'  their 
 shoulders. 
 
 26  This  is  the  purpose  that  is  purposed  upon 
 the  whole  earth  :  and  this  is  tlie  hand  that  is 
 stretched  out  upon  all  tlie  nations. 
 
 27  For  tlie  Lord  of  hosts  hath  "  purposed, 
 and  who  shall  disannul  it?  and  his  hand  is 
 stretched  out,  and  who  shall  (urn  it  back? 
 
 28  In  the  year  that  '■king  Aliaz  died  was  this 
 burden. 
 
 29  1  Rejoice  not  thou,  whole  Palestina,  '  be- 
 cause the  rod  of  him  that  smote  thee  is  broken  : 
 for  out  of  the  serpent's  root  shall  come  forth  a 
 II  cockatrice,  ''  and  his  fruit  shall  be  a  fiery 
 flying  serpent. 
 
 30  And  the  firstborn  of  the  poor  shall  feed, 
 and  the  needy  shall  lie  down  in  safety :  and  1 
 will  kill  thy  root  with  famine,  and  he  shall  slay 
 thy  remnant. 
 
 31  Howl,  O  gate  ;  cry,  O  city  ;  thou,  whole 
 Palestina,  art  dissolved  :  for  there  shall  come 
 from  the  north  a  smoke,  and  ||  none  shall  be 
 alone  in  his  ||  appointed  times. 
 
 32  What  shall  one  llien  answer  the  mes- 
 sengers of  the  nation?  That  "the  Lord  hath 
 founded  Zion,  and  '  the  poor  of  his  people  shall 
 II  trust  in  it. 
 
 coive  him  with  insults  en  his  fall.  —  Lowlli.  12.  Lucifer,   Ihe 
 
 King  of  Bab}  Ion  is  here  so  addressed  by  the  Jews. — Loivt/i.  As  lie 
 <mtshone  other  stars,  he  is  here  represented  by  the  morning  star. 
 The  expression  also  alludes  to  Satan's  fall,  {Luke,  .\.  18.) — Pref).  Lnwth. 
 13.  Ascend  into  heaven,  be  above  all  men,  rule  over  the  whole  VTorld. 
 .s/«»-s  of  God,  kings  and  princes  of  the  earth.— tJiV/.  Heaven  may 
 mean  the  sanctuary,  the  stars,  Clod's  ministers,  hi  the  sides  of  the 
 north.  Mount  Zion,  or  rather  Mount  Moriah  on  the  north  side  of  it, 
 on  which  the  temple  was  built.—  Vitringn.  The  '  mount  of  the  coiigre- 
 pation,'  or  rather  '  mount  of  the  convention,'  may  be  a  poetic  descrip- 
 tion of  the  North  Pole,  because  it  appears  to  be  the  highest  part,  anil  as 
 if  the  centre  of  the  heavens  around  which  the  .stars  revolve.  The  souih 
 part  of  the  heavens  are  called  'the  chambers  i.f  the  south,'  (Job,  ix.  D.) 
 —  Doederlein.  Id.  Xnrrowlr/  took  upon  thee — the  naked  and  disli- 
 
 gured  corpse  of  the  king  of  Babylon  is  here  accosted  with  the  severest 
 taunis  and  most  bitter  reproaches. — Lowth.  18.  House,  '  sepulchre.' 
 — Lowth,  Boothr.  19.  Cast  out,  not  suffered  to  have  burial.  Like 
 an  :tliontiniibte  branch,  cast  upon  the  ground,  where  it  lies  and  rots. — 
 Gill.  *  Like  the  tree  abominated.' — Clarke.  So  the  Jews  called  the 
 tree  on  which  a  person  was  executed,  and  used  to  bury  it  along  witli 
 the  criminal  who  suffc-red  on  it,  as  involved  equally  with  him  in  the 
 malediction  of  their  law,  (Deut.  x.^i.  23.)  see  Sept. ;  contp.  Gal.  iii.  13. 
 — See  Itosenm.  To  the  stones,  i.  e.,  to  the  very  bottom. —  Hew.  Rai. 
 tnent  of  those  that  are  stain — the  touching  of  such  clothes  contracted 
 uncleanness  according  to  the  law,  (Num.  xix.  l6.) — Preh.  Lowth. 
 20.  Joineil,  ^c,  he  buried  in  the  same  ceremonious  and  splendid  man- 
 ner, embalmed,  &c. — Gilt.  Belshazzav's  carcase  was  trodden  under 
 ft  ot,  being  slain  at  the  feast  by  the  Medes. — .Su/.  21.  For  his  children, 
 v^c. — the  Medes  and  Persians  are  called  to  make  ready  and  cut  off  the 
 whole  roj  al  family,  which  was  to  be  destroyed  root  and  branch. — 
 Maccul.    The  whole  family  was  destroyed  with  Belsiiazzar.— G(7/. 
 
 22.  Son  and  nephew,  or  '  son  and  grandson,*  as  it  should  be  rendered, 
 of  their  king  Nebuchadnezzar;  accordingly  p:vil-mcrodach  the  son. 
 and  lielshazzar  the  grandson,  were  both  cut  off  by  a  violent  death  in 
 the  flower  of  their  age.— Pr(Wf'r'/.r,  Xenop/ion.  l^c.  23.  For  the  bit- 
 tern, a  bird  nearly  as  big  as  the  heron  ;  it  lurks  among  the  reeds  and 
 rushes  in  marshy  places ;  it  hath  a  rloleful  cry,  and,  when  it  soars  aloft 
 into  the  air,  it  is"  said  to  make  a  hideous  noise.  This  highly-celebrated 
 city  was  to  be  so  desolated  that  it  should  become  a  proper  habitation 
 for  this  lonely  hitd.—.Maccul.  Itp  may  signify  the  hedgehog  or  porcu- 
 pine. Straf/o  remarks  that  this  animal  grows  to  a  gieat  size  in  the 
 islands  near  the  mouth  of  the  Euphrates.— Bocft</i'(  and  Par.  in  lac. 
 .ind  pools—the  ciiy  stood  in  a  plain,  and  occupied  the  low  grounds 
 through  which  flowed  the  Euphrates,  which,  for  the  sake  of  commerce 
 and  watering  the  adjacent  country,  was  divided  into  several  streams  ; 
 the  course  of  the  river  being  interrupted  by  the  rivers  of  this  large  city, 
 the  water  would  stagnate  and  be  formed  into  pools.— il/uccu^  Alex, 
 ander,  who  intended  to  have  made  Babylon  the  seat  of  his  empire,  set 
 about  remedying  the  mischief;  but,  difficulties  arising,  he,  soon  after, 
 dying,  and  the  work  being  never  more  tlioiight  of,  th;it  country  has 
 remained  bog  and  marsh  ever  since. — See  Prid.  J  will  sweep,  §-c  ,  ! 
 will  plunge  it  iu  the  miry  gulph  of  destruction.— i.o«'^A,  as  Sept. 
 28.  In  the  year,  ^c,  a  distinct  prophecy;  probably  delivered  at  another 
 time.— Seo«.  29.  Whole  Palestina,  all  the  tribes  or  clans  of  the 
 
 Philistines,  who  had  five  lords  or  heads  over  them,  (see  Josh.  xiii.  3; 
 1  Sam.  vi.  \Q.)—Preb.  Lowth.  The  rod  of  him  that  smote  thee,  ^-c. — 
 Uzziali  must  here  be  meant,  and  he  was  the  serpent  from  whom  should 
 spring  the  flying  fiery  serpent,  (ver.  29,)  i.e.,  Hezekiah,  a  much  more 
 terrible  enemy  than  even  Uzziah  had  been.  31.  .i  smoke,  i.e., 
 
 dust  raised  by  the  march  of  Hezekiah's  army  against  Philistia.  — 
 Clarke.  32.  The  messengers,  i.  e.,  any  sent  to  congratulate  on  the 
 victory. — Gill. 
 
 Refi.kctions  on  Ch,4P.  XIV  —  T.  Gotl  will  graciously  re- 
 incml^er  /tis  people,  liuw  much  socuer  for  a  time  tliei/  mat/  be  af- 
 Jlicleit.     Appearances  may  be  dark,  but, 
 
 '  Behind  a  firowning  providence 
 He  hides  a  smihng  face.' 
 II.   God  trill  seuireli/  punish  his  euemiis,  though   for  a  scnsim 
 731 
 
 the;/  mai/  triumph  andpro.'fper.  His  favour  is  not  always  to  be 
 deiermined  by  the  outward  evetils  nbich  may  happen  under 
 the  sun.  Behold  proud  Babylon  prostrate— emblem  of  all  the 
 mighiiost  opposers  of  God  and  bis  cause  !  Tbose  powers  are 
 all  shaking,  and  ibe  cburch  on  earth  and  the  cbureb  in  lieaven 
 shall  shout  over  their  ruins—'  Babylon  is  fallen,  is  ialleu  I' 
 
The  lamentable  stale  of  Moab. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XV  ,  XVI. 
 
 She  is  exhorted  to  obedience. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 The  lamentable  state  of  Moab. 
 
 THE  "  burden  of  Moab.  Because  iu  the 
 iiiabt  *■  Ar  of  Moab  is  laid  waste,  and 
 II  brought  to  silence  ;  because  iu  the  night  Kir 
 of  Moab  is  laid  waste,  a)id  brought  to  silence  ; 
 
 •2  "  He  is  gone  up  to  Bajitb,  and  to  Dibon, 
 the  high  places,  to  weep :  Moab  shall  howl 
 over  Nebo,  and  over  Medeba :  •■  on  all  their 
 heads  shall  be  baldness,  and  every  beard  cut 
 off. 
 
 .3  In  their  streets  they  shall  gird  themselves 
 with  sackcloth  :  °  ou  the  tops  of  their  houses, 
 and  in  their  streets,  every  one  shall  howl, 
 t  weeping  abundantly. 
 
 -t  And  Heshbon  shall  cry,  'and  Elealeh : 
 their  voice  shall  be  heard  ei'en  unto  Jahaz  : 
 therefore  the  armed  soldiers  of 'Moab  shall  cry 
 out ;  his  life  shall  be  grievous  unto  liim. 
 
 5  "^  My  heart  shall  cry  out  for  Moab  ;  ||  his 
 fugitives  shall  flee  unto  Zoar,  an  ''  heifer  of 
 three  years  old:  for  'by  the  mounting  up  of 
 Luhith  with  weeping  sliall  they  go  it  up  ;  for 
 in  the  way  of  Horonaim  they  shall  raise  up  a 
 cry  of  f  destruction. 
 
 G  For  the  waters  'of  Nimrim  shall  be  f  deso- 
 late :  for  the  hay  is  withered  away,  the  grass 
 faileth,  there  is  no  green  thing. 
 
 7  Therefore  the  abundance  they  have  gotten, 
 and  that  which  they  have  laid  up,  shall  they 
 carry  away  to  the  ||  brook  of  the  willows. 
 
 8  For  the  cry  is  gone  round  about  the  borders 
 of  Moab  ;  the  howling  thereof  unto  Eglaim, 
 and  the  howling  thereof  unto  Beer-clim. 
 
 9  For  the  waters  of  Dirnon  shall  be  full  of 
 
 o  Jcr.  ]8.  1, 
 ^c   Eze.  25. 
 
 8—11. 
 
 Amos 2.  I. 
 b  ^■u.2l.  28 
 II  Or,  c"(o/' 
 c  ch.  16.  13. 
 
 <iSoeI.ev.2l. 
 5.  ch.  .S.  24. 
 fc22.  12, 
 Jcr.  47. 6.  Si 
 ■13.  1,37,38. 
 EiL'k.  7.  IS. 
 
 J  ncl>.  ilr- 
 
 ^cli.  16.  II. 
 Jet  48.  31. 
 
 II  Or,  to  the 
 
 tZ"'f.,„n 
 
 ijs  nn  htifer. 
 h  ('h  16.  W. 
 
 Jcr.  -IS.  31. 
 i  Jer.  M.  5. 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 brrnkiriff. 
 A  Nu.  3-,'.  3G. 
 t  Hc-b.  dao- 
 
 latiom. 
 
 t  Or,  vnUeti 
 af  the  Ara- 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  726. 
 
 t  Heb.  addi- 
 
 lions. 
 I  ■>  Kin.  17. 
 
 A2Kin.ll7. 
 i!    Of.    /V/ro. 
 
 !|  Or,  a  .. 
 c  .Nil    il. 
 
 d  D;n..7,U, 
 27.  Mil-  4. 
 7.  Luko  I. 
 S3. 
 
 H  Or,  pre- 
 
 c  Pfi.  72  2, 
 .V  DC.  13.  ft 
 08   9. 
 
 /Jcr,  4S.  29. 
 Zeph.  2.  10. 
 
 if  ch.  as,  15 
 
 /.  .icr.  43.  :eo 
 
 iiKui.3.25. 
 II  Or,  nir.ricr. 
 
 blood  :   for   I   will  bring  f  more  upon  Dimon, 
 'lions  upon  him  that  escapeth  of  Moab,  and 
 upon  the  remnant  of  the  land. 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 I  Moab  is  exhorted  to  yield  obedience  to  C/irisfs  king- 
 dom. 6  Moab  is  t/ireafened  for  her  jride.  9  The 
 prophet  betcaileth  her.      12    The  jiuhjmcnt  of  Moab, 
 
 "  C  END  ye  tiie  lamb  to  the  ruler  of  the  land 
 ^  ''from  llfScla  to  the  wilderness,  unto  the 
 mount  of  the  daughter  of  Zion. 
 
 2  For  it  shall  be,  that,  as  a  wandering  bird 
 
 II  cast  out  of  the    nest,   so  the  daughters  of 
 Moab  shall  be  at  tlie  fords  of  *^  Arnon, 
 
 3  fTake  counsel,  execute  judgment;  make 
 thy  shadow  as  the  niglit  in  tlie  midst  of  the 
 noonday  ;  hide  the  outcasts  ;  bewTay  not  him 
 that  wandereth. 
 
 4  Let  mine  outcasts  dwell  with  thee,  Moab; 
 be  thou  a  covert  to  them  from  the  face  of  the 
 spoiler  :  for  the  f  extortioner  is  at  an  end,  the 
 spoiler  ceasetb,  f  the  oppressors  are  consumed 
 out  of  the  land. 
 
 5  And  in  mercy  "^  shall  the  throne  be  ||  esta- 
 blished :  and  he  shall  sit  upon  it  in  truth  in 
 the  tabernacle  of  David,  "^judging,  and  seeking 
 judgment,  and  hasting  righteousness, 
 
 6  H  We  have  heard  of  the  *"  pride  of  Moab; 
 he  is  very  proud  :  even  of  his  hauglitiness,  and 
 his  pride,  and  his  wrath  :  ^but  his  lies  shall  not 
 be  so. 
 
 7  Therefore  sliall  Moab  '^howl  for  Moab, 
 every  one  shall  howl:  for  the  foundations  '  of 
 Rir-bareseth  shall  ye  ||  mourn  ;  surely  they  are 
 stricken, 
 
 8  For  ''  the  fields  of  Heshbon  languish,  and 
 '  the  vine  of  Sibmah  :  the  lords  of  the  heathen 
 
 Chap.  XV.—  1.  Burden  o/iVofli— Joshua  had  spared  this  nation  by 
 divine  command,  being  descendants  of  Lot,  (Deut.  ii.  9.)  but  they  made 
 no  returns.  'E.^X^n  oppressed  Israel  eighteen  years  i  pride,  blofd, 
 idolatiy,  made  her  weight  of  irnilt.  She  caused  Israel's  greatest 
 crimes,  [Deut.  xxiii.  3.)  David  chastii^ed  her,  (Ps.  Ixxxiii. ;}  and  when 
 she  fell  under  the  power  of  the  ten  tribes  and  rebelled,  she  was  again 
 vanquished,  but  now  the  bitlerest  cup  remains  to  be  drank  by  her. 
 When  Shalmaneser  warred  with  the  ten  tribes,  the  Assyrian  army 
 marched  circiiitoosly  from  Samaria  to  Moab,  to  Amnion,  and  back  to 
 Nineveh  across  the  Euphrates.  Three  years  before  this,  Isaiah  was 
 called  to  prophes^y  the  burden  of  Moab.— So  Sut.  In  the  night,  like 
 Babylon.— So  Maccnf.  Kot  probable  that  botli  should  have  so  lalien, 
 rather  suddenly,  r.nrxpectedly.— Booi/ir.,  Vitr.  Ar,  a  chief  city  of 
 Moab.— See  Num.  x.\i.  28  ;  Deut.  ii.  9,  18.  Kh\  another  city,  called 
 Kirof  Moab.  to  distinguish  it  from  Kir  in  Assyria,  (Amos,  i.  5;  2King:s, 
 xvi.  9,)  and  Kir  in  Media,  (Isa.  xxii.  6.)— Gill.  2.  He,  the  people  of 
 Moab.— PreA.  Lowth.  The  king  of  Moab.— iV^cck/.  Bnjitfi,  a  hou^c 
 of  idolatry,  as  the  word  signifies  '  an  idol's  temple.'  Dibon,  another 
 citv,  (Nuin.  xxi.  30.)  where  probably  were  high  places  for  idolatrous 
 worship.- Gi//.  To  weep,  to  bemoan  their  condition  ;  sacriQce  to.  and 
 ask  aclvice  from,  their  God.  Nebo— Medeba,  two  cities  of  the  land 
 which  were  made  desolate.— il/rtcru/.  Baldness,  ^c,  tokens  of  great 
 mourning,  (chap.  xxii.  12;  Jer.  vii.  29;  Ezra.ix.  3.)  3.  Tops  of  their 
 /*o»sM— see  Deut.  xxii.  8,  note.  All  pagans  sacrifice  on  high  places 
 and  tenaces.— C/i«rf/i;j.  4.  Heskbon,  a  famous  city  that  stood  over 
 against  Jericho.  Elealeh,  another  city,  near  Heshbon.  —  il/«ccK/. 
 Jnhaz,  a  frontier  town  at  the  utmost  borders  of  the  land,  (Num.  xxi.  2.T  ; 
 Deut.  ii.  32.)  The  armed  so/diers,  even  these  would  be  dispirited. 
 .1.  Ml/  heart  shall  cry— \.\\Q  prophet  pities  the  Moabites  as  fellow-crea- 
 tures. His  fu-^itives  i>htiU  fiee,  SfC,  or  shall  cry  out  unto  Zoar,  which 
 should  hear  tiie  distant  cry.— Gill. 
 
 '  Her  fugitives,  along  even  unto  Zoar, 
 Cry  out  like  the  lowing  of  a  young  heifer.'— Booi/tr. 
 An  heifer— the  mourning  of  Moab  shall  be  like  the  lowing  of  a  young 
 cow  deprived  of  her  calf,  and  running  from  place  to  place. — Btayney. 
 Eglath  Shelishiah.  tran^^lated  'an  heifer  of  three  years  old,'  is  the  name 
 of  a  place,  and  the  reading  should  be,  'his  fugitives  shall  fiee  unto 
 
 Zoar,  unto  the  third  Eglath.'— Li^-ZtZ/yo/.  For  by  the  mouniingvp,  ffc— 
 
 *  Yea,  the  ascent  of  Luhith  with  weeping  shall  they  ascend  ; 
 Yea,  in  the  way  of  Horonaim  they  raise  a  cry  of  destruction.' 
 
 Lowth. 
 
 Luhith,  thought  to  be  the  Lysa  of  Ptolemy,  mentioned  in  Jer.  xtviii.  5. 
 Horonaim  signifies  'two  Horons.* — Gill.  Probably  one  was  called  the 
 upper  and  the  other  the  lower,  by  way  of  distinction.  0.  Nimrim, 
 either  a  town  sitnaterl  near  seme  fine  springs  of  water,  which  seldom 
 failed,  or  the  valley  in  which  these  waters  took  their  ri^e.  The  hny  is 
 withered,  ^c,  the  low  grounds  were  to  assume  a  dismal  appearance. — 
 Maccnl.  7-  Brook,  'valley.' — Lowth,  Boothr.;   i.e.,  to  Babylon, 
 
 (see  Ps.  cxxxvii.  2.)—Prfb.   Lowth  8.  Eglaim  signifies  a  border. 
 
 Beer-elim,  the  same  with  Beer,  (Num.  xxi.  l6.)— Gill.  9.  Dimnn, 
 the  same  with  Dibon,  ver.  2. — St.  Jerome.  Full  of  blond,  discoloured 
 frnm  slaughter.  Linns—those  who  flee  to  the  desert  sliall  fall  a  prey 
 to  wild  beasls. — L.  Hnldrn. 
 
 Chap.  XV!.  —  1.  Send  ye  the  /«m6— pay  to  the  king  of  Judah  that 
 tribute  which  ye  obliged  yourselves  to  pay  to  David  and  his  posterity, 
 (see  2  Sam.  viii.  2 ;  2  Kings,  iii.  4,  5,)  for  the  dispersion  of  your  people 
 will  soon  come  to  pass. — Stoe/c.  Sfla,  the  chief  city  in  the  southern 
 parts. — L.  Hofdpn.  2.  At  the  fnrds,  ^c,  endeavouring  to  seek  their 
 lodging  in  foreign  parts. — Bp.  Hall.  3.  Take  counsel — the  address 
 
 is  to  Zion,  exhoniog  her  people  to  consider  their  duty  towards  the  dis- 
 tressed Moabites. — Lowfh.  The  command  is  to  Moab,  to  let  the  people 
 of  God  take  shelter  in  their  country  from  their  spoilers  ;  for  they  would 
 not  always  be  in  that  weak  state. — So  Sentt.  Thy  shodow,  the  noon- 
 day heat  is  insupportable  under  a  nearly  vertic;il  vnn,  and  beautifully 
 represents  the  intense  and  intolerable  affliction  of  the  Moabites.  In 
 this  state,  the  Jews  are  to  make  a  shadow  to  protect  them. — Bnothr. 
 5.  And  he,  SfC,  '  and  in  truth  shall  one  sit  thereon.'  G.  But  his  ties, 
 ^■f.,  *  but  vain  are  his  lies,* — Boothr.;  i.  c..  of  his  false  prophets. — 
 Hosenm.  ~,  To  Moab,  '  for  Moaii,'  i.  e.,  every  man  to  his  neighbour 
 throughout  the  land. —  IVil.  For  the  foundation  of,  Sfc,  '  the  men  of,' 
 as  Jer.  xlviii.  31.— So  Lowth,  8.  Sibmah,  (see  Num.  xxxii.  3,  .38.) 
 seems  to  have  been  famous  for  vines  aud  vineyards.— GiVf.  The  lords, 
 Sfc,  they  are  come  even  unto  Jazer,  ^c. — 
 
 Reft.ections    on    Chap.    XV.  —  I.    God's  judqments   often  unawares.' 
 
 risitsinners  in  the  niqht.     Whilst  they  are  intoxicating  them-  II.  ^  How  worthless  are  mc>i*s  iihVzvd  treasures!     How  soon 
 
 selves  with  the  enjoyments  of  tliis  world,  and  revelling  in  will  every  possession  be  torn  from  them,  or  made  a  burden  to 
 
 pleasure,  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  tbey  are  visited  by  the  them !     Let  us  seek  an  inheritance  with  tiie  redeemeii  of  the 
 
 most  awful  providences,  •  and  straight  are  seen  no  more.'   Let  Lord,  in  that  kingdom  which  cannot  be  moved." " 
 us   then  'be  sober  and    vigilant,  lest   that  day  corao  upon  us 
 732 
 
The  prophet  bewaileth  Moub. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XVII. 
 
 The  punishment  for  impiety. 
 
 have  broken  down  the  principal  plants  thereof, 
 they  are  come  ecen  unto  Jazer,  they  wandered 
 through  the  wilderness :  her  branches  are 
 II  stretched  ont,  tliey  are  gone  over  the  sea. 
 0  H  Therefore  "'  I  will  bewail  with  the  weep- 
 ing of  Jazer  the  vine  of  Sibmah  :  I  will  water 
 thee  witli  my  tears,  "  O  Heshbon,  and  Elealeh  : 
 for  II  tlie  shouting  for  thy  summer  fruits  and 
 for  tiiy  harvest  is  falleM. 
 
 10  And  "gladness  is  taken  away,  and  joy  out 
 of  the  plentiful  field  ;  and  in  tlie  vineyards 
 there  shall  be  no  singing,  neither  shall  there  be 
 shouting  :  the  treaders  shall  tread  out  no  wine 
 in  their  presses;  I  have  made  their  vintage 
 sliouting  to  cease. 
 
 11  Wherefore  ''my  bowels  shall  sound  like 
 an  harp  for  Moab,  and  mine  inward  parts  for 
 Kir-haresh. 
 
 )-2  f  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  it  is 
 seen  that  Moab  is  weary  on  ''  the  high  place, 
 that  he  shall  come  to  his  sanctuary  to  pray  ; 
 but  be  shall  not  prevail. 
 
 13  Tliis  is  the  word  that  the  Loud  hath 
 spoken  concerning  Moab  since  tliat  time. 
 
 14  But  now  the  Lord  hath  spoken,  saying. 
 Within  three  years,  'as  the  years  of  an  hire- 
 ling, and  the  glory  of  Moab  shall  be  con- 
 tfmned,with  all  that  great  multitude;  and  the 
 remnant  sliall  be  very  small  and  \\  feeble. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  Syria  and  Israel  are  threatened.  6  A  remnant  shall 
 fnrsd/te  idolatry.  9  The  rest  shall  be  plagued  fur 
 their  impiety.      12    The  woe  of  IsraeVs  enemies. 
 
 '■PHE  "burden  of  Damascus.  Behold,  Da- 
 ■*-  mascus  is  taken  away  from  beinr/  a  city 
 and  it  shall  be  a  ruinous  heap. 
 
 2  The  cities  of  Aroer  are  forsaken :  they 
 shall  be  for  flocks,  vvhicli  shall  lie  down,  and 
 ^  none  shall  make  them  afraid. 
 
 3  °  The  fortress  also  shall  cease  from  Ephraim, 
 and  tlie  kingdom  from  Damascus,  and  the  rem- 
 nant of  Syria  :  they  shall  be  as  the  glory  of  the 
 
 Or, phickifil 
 n  Jer.48  32. 
 
 n  ch.  15    I. 
 
 II  Or,  /),. 
 
 /Met  iip>n, 
 
 r.h.  31.  S. 
 Jer.  48.  S.1. 
 
 ,f  ch.  15   5. 
 Ik  Ki.  15. 
 Jer.  lA.  ;iO. 
 
 q  cb.  15. 
 
 II  Or, .,» 
 jnniiy. 
 
 cir.  741. 
 a  ,Ier.4y.  91 
 Amos  1.  3 
 Zccli.  9.  1 
 fulfilled740, 
 '1  Kin.  16.9. 
 
 :  ch.  7.  16. 
 &  8.  *. 
 
 d  ch.  10.  16. 
 t  Jer.  51.3.1. 
 
 /ch.  ai  13. 
 
 II  Or, ..«. 
 itnngitt. 
 
 |Or,  rmiorcrf 
 in  the  day  of 
 iiifieTilaiiCf, 
 and  there 
 sliall  he 
 dmdly  loT- 
 
 II  Or,  noif. 
 
 I  P3   3.1.  13. 
 Ho8.  1.1.  .1. 
 
 children  of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 4  And  in  (liat  day  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
 the   glory  of  .lacob  shall  be  made  thin,  and 
 
 the  fatness  of  liis  flesh  shall  wax  lean. 
 
 3  "  And  it  shall  be  as  when  tlie  harvestman 
 
 athereth  the  corn,  and  rcapetb  the  ears  with 
 his  arm  ;  and  it  shall  be  as  he  that  gathereth 
 ears  in  the  valley  of  Rephaim. 
 
 6  t '  Yet  gleaning  grapes  shall  be  left  in  it,  as 
 the  shaking  of  an  olive  tree,  two  or  tliree 
 berries  in  the  top  of  the  uppermost  bough,  four 
 
 five  ill  the  outmost  fruitful  branches  thereof, 
 saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel. 
 
 7  At  that  day  shall  a  man  ^  look  to  his  Maker, 
 and  his  eyes  shall  have  respect  to  the  Holy 
 One  of  Israel. 
 
 8  And  he  shall  not  look  to  the  altars,  the 
 work  of  his  bands,  neither  shall  respect  that 
 which  his  fingers  have  made,  either  the  groves, 
 or  the  II  images. 
 
 9  H  In  that  day  shall  his  strong  cities  be  as  a 
 forsaken  bough,  and  an  uppermost  branch, 
 which  they  left  because  of  the  children  of 
 Israel  :  and  there  shall  be  desolation. 
 
 10  Because  thou  hast  forgotten  ''the  God  of 
 thy  salvation,  and  hast  not  been  mindful  of  the 
 rock  of  thy  strength,  therefore  shalt  thou  plant 
 pleasant  plants,  and  shalt  set  it  with  strange 
 slips : 
 
 11  In  the  day  shalt  thou  make  thy  plant  to 
 grow,  and  in  the  morning  shalt  thou  make  thy 
 seed  to  flourisli  :  but  the  harvest  shall  be  ||a 
 heap  in  the  day  of  grief  and  of  desperate 
 sorrow. 
 
 12  t  Woe  to  the  ||  multitude  of  many  people, 
 ivhich  make  a  noise  '  like  the  noise  of  the  seas ; 
 and  to  the  rushing  of  nations,  that  make  a  rush- 
 ing like  the  rushing  of  ||  mighty  waters  ! 
 
 13  The  nations  shall  rush  like  the  rushing  of 
 many  waters:  but  God  shall  '■rebuke  them, 
 and  they  shall  flee  liir  off,  and  '  shall  be  chased 
 as  the  chaflFof  tlie  mountains  before  the  wind, 
 and  like  ||  a  rolling  thing  before  the  whirlwind. 
 
 '  Whose  generous  shoots  overpowered  the  mighty  lords  of  the  na- 
 tions ; 
 They  reached  unto  Jazer;  they  strayed  to  the  desert; 
 Her  branches  e.vtended  themselves,  they  passed  over  the  sea.* 
 
 Lowth. 
 '  The  lords  of  nations  have  broken  the  vine  of  Sibmah, 
 Whose  generous  shoots  reached  unto  Jazer, 
 Her  branches  strayed  even  to  the  desert,'  &c. — Boothr. 
 
 Juxer,  fifteen  mile^  from  HoshbLin,  called  Jaazer,  (Num.  xxi.  32,  and 
 xxxii.  35  ;  see  Josh.  x,\'i.  30.)  II.  Li/fe  a  harp,  i.e.,  make  a  great 
 noise. — Bp.  Hall.  13.  Since  that  time,  i.e.,  a  good  wlide  ago;  in 
 former  times,  by  Amos,  ii.  1. —  Preb.  Lowth.  14.  Of  an  hireling — 
 
 Deut.  XV,  18.  The  remnant,  §-r.-.— Mnab  recovered,  but  not  to  her 
 fnrmer  glory.  She  continued  to  increase  120  years,  and  live  years  after 
 the  fall  of  Jerusalem,  Nebuchadnezzar  gave  her  a  final  overthrow,  as 
 the  prnpliets  had  foretold,  (Amos,  ii.  1^3;  Jer.  xlviii.) — Sitt. 
 
 Cii.\p.  XVII. —  1.  Of  Damascus,  it  also  relates  no  less  to  the  king- 
 dom of  Samaria,  confederated  with  Damascus  and  Syria  against  Jeru- 
 salem. It  was  fulfilled  by  Tiglath  Pileser's  taking  Damascus,  and  car- 
 rying the  people  captives  to  Kir,  &c.,  f2  Kings,  xvi.  9.)  2.  Of.iroer, 
 a  city  by  the  river  Arnon,  on  the  borders  ot  Mnab  and  Ammon,  (Dent, 
 ii.  36,  and  iii.  12,)  originally  belonging  to  the  Amorites,  latterly  to  the 
 Syrian.^.— So  Gilt.  What  has  Aroer,  on  the  river  Arnon,  to  do  with 
 Damascus?  The  common  text  is  unintelligible;  the  5e/)^..  instead  of 
 "Ti^ty,  'Aroer,'  read,  ny  'ny,  ei,  ruf  aiwt-rt,  '  for  ever.' — Lowth. 
 
 '  The  cities  arc  deserted  for  ever.' — Boothr. 
 
 For , Hocks,  expressive  of  utter  desolation — for  men,  sheep;  for  houses, 
 
 tents.  3.  The  fortress  also  shall  cease  from  Ephraim,  the  ten  tribes, 
 now  in  confederacy  with  the  Syrians,  whose  metropolis  or  fortress  was 
 Samaria.  They  shall  be  fr";  the  fflory,  ^c,  i.  e..  the  Syrians  in  alliance 
 with  Israel  shall  share  the  same  fate.  4.  Tlie  glory  of  Jacob,  the 
 Bame  with  Ephraim  and  Israel,  the  ten  tribes,  -whose  glory  lay  in  the 
 superior  number  of  their  tribes  to  Juilah.  .5.  And  reapeth  the  ears 
 
 with  his  arm,  with  one  hand  he  gathers  the  standing  corn  in  his  fist, 
 with  the  other  arm  he  reaps.  Israel  were  like  a  field  of  standing  com 
 for  number,  beauty,  and  glory ;  the  Assyrian,  like  the  harvest  man, 
 should  cut  them  down. — Gill.  The  valley  of  Rephaim,  famed  for  its 
 harvests,  used  here  poetically  for  any  fruitful  country. — Lowth. 
 6.  Gleaning  grapes,  §-c.,  a  remnant  should  he  saved. — Gill.  As  the 
 tihak-ing  of  an  olive  tree,  the  remnant  is  here  compared  to  the  few  ber- 
 ries left  on  an  olive  tree  that  has  been  beaten  by  the  owner,  to  be  shaken 
 off  by  the  poor,  (see  Deut.  x.siv.  20.) — Har.  Some  of  the  ancient  in- 
 habitants of  the  ten  tribes  were  left  after  Shalmaneser's  captivity,  and 
 even  after  that  of  Esar-haddon;  and  some  turned  to  serve  the  true 
 God,  (sec  2  Chron.  xxx.  10,  11  :  xxxv.  18.)— Pre*.  Lowth.  g.  As  a 
 forsatien  bough,  of  a  tree  stripped  of  its  leaves,  .ind  an  vppermost 
 branch,  dead  and  d:y,  lied  or  slain  before  the  enemy. — Gill.  Instead  of 
 '  as  a  lorsakcn  bough,'  read  '  like  the  leaving  of  a  ploughed  field.'— So 
 Par.,  V.  12J"irT.  See  Lev.  xix.  9,  10;  Deut.  xxiv.  19— 21.— S/ocA-. 
 10.  Pleasant  plants,  Sfc. — allegorical  expressions  for  strange  and  idol- 
 atrous worship  and  practices. — Lowth.  11.  A  heap,  all  thrown  to. 
 gether  in  a  heap,  and  be  spoiled  by  the  enemy. — Gill.  12.  Wete  to 
 the  mvltiturle,  §-c. — this  and  the  two  following  verses -describe  the  for- 
 midable invasion  and  sudden  overthrow  of  Sennacherib.  —  Lowth. 
 13.  Chaff  upon  the  mountains — the  Jews  used  to  thresh  their  corn  upon 
 hills  and  places  exposed  to  the  wind. — Preb.  Lowttt. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.  XVI I.  LetnsataU  times  shew  111.*  Numbers,  when  driven  to  distress,  weary  tliemsehes  to  no 
 
 viercy  and  kindness  to  ot/ters,  as  we  hnow  not  u'itat  mercy  a7id /ilud-  purpose.'^     ^Vllile  they  go  formally  to  their  prayers,  let  us 
 
 ■ness  we  may  need  oursel ecs.  remember  witli  humility  and  joy  tlie  mercy-seat  where  we 
 
 II.  Let  us  pity  the  miseries  of  sinners,  and  weep  over  that  ohsti-  may  obtain  mercy,  and  'find  grace  to  help  in  every  time  of 
 
 nate  impenitence  which  must  produce  their  ruin.     So  the  prophet  need.' 
 mourned  over  Moa'o;  so  Christ  wept  over  Jerusalem. 
 7.33 
 
The  destruclion  of  the  Ethiopians. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XVIII.,  XTX. 
 
 The  increase  of  the  chinch. 
 
 14  And  behuld  at  eveiiingtide  trouble;  and 
 before  the  morning  he  is  not.  This  is  the 
 portion  of  tliem  that  spoil  us,  and  the  lot  of 
 them  that  rob  us. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 1   God  in  care  of  hh  people  will  destrmj  the  Ethiopians. 
 7   An  access  therebi/  shall  yrow  unto  the  church. 
 
 WOE  ^  to  the  land  shadowing  with  wings, 
 which  is  beyond  the  rivers  of  Ethiopia: 
 i2  That  sendeth  ambassadors  by  the  sea  ;  even 
 ui  vessels  of  bulrushes  upon  the  waters,  saying, 
 Go,  ye  swift  messengers,  to  Sanation  ||  scat- 
 tered and  peeled,  to  a  people  terrible  from  tiieir 
 beginning  hitherto  ;  |jt  a  nation  meted  out  and 
 trodden  down,  ||  whose  land  the  rivers  have 
 spoiled ! 
 
 3  All  ye  inhabitants  of  the  world,  and  dwellers 
 on  the  earth,  see  ye,  ^  when  he  liftetii  up  an  en- 
 sign on  the  mountains;  and  when  lie  bloweth 
 a  trumpet,  hear  ye. 
 
 4  For  so  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  I  will  take 
 my  rest,  and  I  will  ||  consider  in  my  dwelling 
 place  like  a  clear  heat  ||npon  herbs,  and  like 
 a  cloud  of  dew  in  the  Iieat  of  harvest. 
 
 5  For  afore  the  harvest,  when  the  bud  is  per- 
 
 Kiek.Sil  4, 
 2.  12.  &  3. 
 
 '>  ver.  7. 
 
 il  Or,  o,,/- 
 tyend  and 
 pnlUf,fd. 
 
 I  Or,  a  na- 
 l'<n„  thai 
 niftfth  oHi, 
 and  tTfadeth 
 
 t  Heb.  a  na- 
 Uunvfline, 
 l,nt..,nd 
 
 dfr  /vol. 
 II  Or,  Wio« 
 lund  th« 
 TivfTi  de- 
 
 c  ch.  5.  26. 
 
 II  Or,  rfff'irit 
 niysrtdtc^U 
 i:g. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.  —  1.  Shadowing  with  jvings,  D'C3!D  bsb",  '  the  wiiigid 
 cymbal.' — Bnch.,  Lowtk.  It  is  very  difficult  to  determine  what  land  is 
 liere  meant.— G(//.  It  must  be  left  for  lime  to  sliew.  The  principal 
 matter  of  the  projihccy  is,  probably,  a  promi-^c  of  the  final  restoratinn 
 nf  the  I?raehtes,  and  it  has  no  respect  to  Egypt  or  any  of  the  conti- 
 guous countries ;  the  time  of  its  completion  is  yet  future,  being,  indeed, 
 the  season  of  the  advert  of  our  Lord. — Horsley.  The  generally  re- 
 ceived sense  is,  that  Eirypt  or  Ethiopia  are  here  pointed  at.— Gill. 
 Ethiopia. ~/if^isc/ifn.  Egypt.— Vitrinffa.  'The  land  sliadowing  with 
 wing^'  seems  to  mark  out  Egypt  as  connected  with  Ethiopia,  and  it 
 may  be  so  called  on  account  of  the  ridges  of  mountains  wliicli  sha- 
 dowed it  on  each  side;  or  rather,  because  the  Egyptians  pretended  to 
 shadow  the  Jews  under  their  protection,  as  wilh  wings,  agamst  the 
 incursions  cf  the  Assyrians.— Sfo/i,  The  Hebrews  had  the  cymbal, 
 but  not  the  Egyptian  sistrum,  which  was  something  like  it,  but  having 
 some  small  rods  of  metal  running  through  from  side  to  side,  which, 
 being  shaken,  gavo  a  like  sound  ;  these  projecting,  are  probably  called 
 wings. — Loivlh.  The  idea  of  Louth  seems  forced,  though  countenanced 
 by  the  Vulgate.  The  opinion  is  preferable,  that  the  expressions  here 
 employed  are  on  account  of  the  Jews  fleeing  under  the  wing  of  Egypt 
 for  help. — Booth)-.  Beyond  thf.  ririrs^  the  land  was  *  beyond,'  or  which 
 borders  on  '  the  rivers  of  Cush.'  llie  river  Nile  flows  through  Ethiopia 
 and  Etrypt.  2.  Thnt  sendeth,  ffc. — the  land  intended  was  remarkable 
 for  seiidint:  ambassadors  or  messengers  upon  the  seas  and  rivers,  in 
 vessels  of  bulrushes,  or  formed  of  the  papyrus ;  and  this  was  peculiar  to 
 the  Egyptians,  who  made  vessels  of  that  plant  for  this  purpose.  A 
 nation  scntterrd  and  peeled,  or  '  stretched  out  and  smoothed  ;'  this  may 
 refer  to  the  length  of  the  land  of  Egypt  from  north  to  south,  being  a 
 vale  on  each  side  of  the  Nile  above  /OO  miles  long ;  Ethiopia  extends  to 
 a  considerable  length  on  the  south  of  it;  and  the  whole  was  smoothed 
 or  made  level  by  the  constant  inundations  of  the  Nile. — Scott.  It  is 
 supposed,  by  some,  to  allude  to  the  practice  of  the  Egyptian  priests, 
 who  made  their  bodies  perfectly  smooth  by  shaving  off  all  the  hair. — 
 Hew.  A  people  terrible  from  their  grim  and  black  appearance,  aud 
 their  prodigious  armies.  A  rintion  meted,  may  refer  to  the  frequent  re- 
 measuring  of  the  lands  after  the  inundations  of  the  Nile.  Trodden, 
 may  refer  to  the  Egyptian  method  of  sowing  their  land  and  driving  in 
 their  cattle  to  tread  down  the  seed  after  the  watered  grounds  had  be- 
 come somewhat  dry.  Spoiled,  having  no  sufTiciont  protection  from  the 
 encroachments  of  the  water.  Some  render  it  *  nourished,'  which  may 
 denote  the  happy  effects  produced  by  the  Nile. — Mnccul.  3.  See  ye, 
 whpn  he  lifteth,  ^r.,  '  when  the  standard  is  raised  en  the  hills,  behold!' 
 —  Boothfoyd.  1  suppose  that  the  prophecy  was  delivered  before 
 Sennacherib's  return  from  his  Egyptian  expedition,  and  that  it  was 
 designed  to  give  to  the  Jews,  and  likewise  to  the  Egyptians,  an  inti- 
 mation of  Gud's  counsels  in  regard  to  the  destruction  of  their  great  and 
 
 Zeph  S.  10, 
 Mul.  I.  11. 
 1  O.-,  ..ut- 
 
 .<,..m<i  ..,.d 
 
 pidisln-d  : 
 Ste  ver.  2. 
 
 30. 
 b  Pg.  18    10. 
 
 fc  nil.  3. 
 c  Ex.  IS.  12. 
 
 Jer.  «.  12. 
 
 feet,  and  the  sour  grape  is  ripening  in  the 
 flower,  be  shall  both  cut  off  the  sprigs  with 
 pruning  hooks,  and  take  away  and  cut  down 
 the  branches. 
 
 (>  Tliey  shall  be  left  together  unto  the  fowls 
 of  the  mountains,  and  to  the  beasts  of  the 
 earth  :  and  the  fowls  shall  summer  upon  them, 
 and  all  the  beasts  of  the  earth  shall  winter 
 upon  them. 
 
 7  t  lu  that  time  ''  shall  the  present  be  brought 
 unto  the  Loud  of  hosts  of  a  people  j]  .scattered 
 and  peeled,  and  from  a  people  terrible  from 
 their  beginning  hitherto  ;  a  nation  meted  out 
 and  trodden  under  foot,  whose  land  the  rivers 
 have  spoiled,  to  tiie  place  of  tlie  name  of  the 
 Lord  of  hosts,  the  mount  Zion. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 1  The  confusion  of  E(iypt.  11  The  foolishness  nf  their 
 princes,  18  The  cnlliug  of  Er/i/pt  to  the  church. 
 23    The  covenant  of  Eyypt,  Assyria,  and  Israel. 
 
 ''PHE  ^burden  of  Egypt.  Behold,  the  Lord 
 "*■  ''  ridetli  upon  a  swift  cloud,  and  shall  come 
 into  Egypt :  and  *^  the  idols  of  Egypt  shall  be 
 moved  at  his  presence,  and  the  heart  uf  Egypt 
 shall  melt  in  the  midst  of  it. 
 
 powerful  enemy.  I  take  God  to  be  the  agent  in  this  verse,  and  that 
 by  the  standard  and  the  trumpet  are  meant  the  meteors,  the  thunder, 
 the  lightning,  the  storm,  earthquake,  and  tempest,  by  which  Senna- 
 cherib's army  should  be  destroyed,  or  by  which,  at  least,  the  destruc- 
 tion shovild  be  accompanied. — Loivth.  Viti-hign  interprets  this  of  the 
 mountains  of  Judea,  where  the  Assyrians  would  set  up  their  banners 
 and  blow  their  trumpets.— Gi7/.        4.  /  will  take  my  rest^ 
 
 '  I  will  sit  still  and  regard  my  own  abode, 
 I  wdl  be  to  it  as  the  clear  heat  after  rain.' — Boothr. 
 
 While  Sennacherib  pursued  his  conquests,  invaded  Egypt,  &c.,  the 
 Lord  is  reprc?<?nted  as  sitting  still,  and  protecting  his  own  land  ;  and 
 mitigating  the  violence  of  their  afflictions,  as  the  dew  does  the  heat  of 
 harvest. — So  Kimchi,  Linvth,  Hjc.  5.  For  afore  the  hnrvent,  ^c. — God 
 here  describes  how  he  would  act  towards  the  enemies  of  his  people, 
 who  were  destined  to  destruction.  The  nation,  the  subject  of  this  pre- 
 diction, is  compared  to  a  vine  after  it  hath  budded  and  flowered,  &c., 
 and  there  is  the  seeming  approach  of  a  vintage.  In  this  promising  con- 
 dition, it  is  suddenly  destroyed,  &c.  The  Assyrian  nation  is  the  vine; 
 the  buds,  flowers,  and  grapes,  represent  the  particular  state  of  that 
 people,  whose  counsels  and  hostile  designs  against  Jerusalem  were  ad- 
 vancing to  maturity.  At  this  juncture,  when  they  looked  for  harvcsr, 
 sprigs  and  branches  were  cut  off.  By  one  terrible  stroke,  great  and 
 small  were  killed  in  their  numerous  army. — Mncriil.  7.  Shall  the 
 prfst-nt — the  nation  before  described,  delivered  by  the  ruin  of  Sen- 
 nacherib's army,  would  send  presents  to  the  Lord.  Some  understand 
 this  of  the  conversi'jn  of  the  Ethiopians  to  the  faith  ot  Christ  in  the 
 latter  days,  (Acts,  viii.  27.)  Others,  of  the  spoil  of  Sennacherib's  army, 
 ovit  of  which,  as  usual,  presents  were  brought  to  the  Lurd  of  hosts, 
 (Num.  .xxxi.  .50.)  Bp.  Horsley  and  Falter  refer  this  to  the  destruction 
 of  Antichrist  and  the  restoration  of  the  Jews  as  converted  to  Christ; 
 but  •  the  vessels  or  bulrushes,' '  the  land  meted  out  and  trodden  down,* 
 will  scarcely  apply  to  any  country  beside  that  of  Egypt.  Their  inter- 
 pretation is  by  no  means  satisfactory.— friV.,  Scott.  As  the  next 
 chapter  contains  a  prophecy  on  Egypt,  the  reference  of  this  is  more 
 likely  to  some  adjacent  country.— Krf. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  —  1.  The  Intrdcn  of  Egypt,  a  detail  of  the  judgments  to 
 fall  on  that  land  from  the  time  of  tiie  prophet  downwards.— Wo^-i/ey, 
 so  Scott.  After  the  destruction  of  Sennacherib's  army  before  Jerusa- 
 lem, the  Egyptians  were  freed  from  that  enemy;  but  intestine  broils 
 succeeded  ;  then  twelve  princes  ruled  ;  then  Psammiticus,  during  .54 
 years;  then  Nebuchadnezzar  conquered  the  land;  and.  subsequently, 
 the  Persians  under  Cambyses,  the  son  of  Cyrus.— Lowth.  The  pro- 
 phecy includes  the  time  of  its  subjugation  by  the  Macedonian  kings, 
 the  successors  of  Alexander  the  Great ;  terminating  with  prophecies  of 
 spiritual  blessings  to  be  conferred,  at  length,  on  many  of  the  inhabit- 
 
 Reflections  on   CiiAi'.    XVII I.  JVc  here  see  the  folhj  of 
 
 trusting  in  an  arm  of  flesh.  Israel  was  now  in  alliance  with  the 
 Syrians,  (chap.  vii.  I,  'J,)  and  was  therefore  to  be  overthrown 
 by  the  same  enemy,  and  at  the  same  time. — i/ors% ;  (chap, 
 viii  4.)  '  Wo  to  the  maa  that  trusteth  in  man,  and  maketh 
 Hesh  his  arm.' 
 
 II.  We  here  see  God  jmnishing  the  conqueror  and  the  co7if/uered. 
 '  They  that  sin  alike  shall  in  the  end  suffer  alike.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIII.— I.  God,  from  his  dwelling 
 placjc,  beholds  and  protects  his  church.  Whatever  tumults  dis- 
 turb the  church  or  the  world,  there  he  sits  and  reigns  in  all 
 the  tranqudlity  of" his  glorious  luaiesly.  '  He  doth  as  he  will 
 734 
 
 among  the  armies  of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
 earth.' 
 
 II.  The  mostpowerful  enemies  of  God^s  church  must  fall  beneath 
 his  pmrir.  Their  plans  maybe  well  laid,  and  nearly  brought 
 to  perfection,— their  instruments  may  be  suitable  and  nume- 
 rous,— hut  one  blast  of  his  breath  can  wither  all  iheir  pros- 
 pects.    '  God  is  the  King  over  all  the  earth.' 
 
 III.  God  will  reap  for  himself  that  'jlory  which  his  ambitions 
 creatures  would  arrotjaie  for  ihansdces.  'Thus  the  nations  of 
 the  earth  shall  be  convinced  that  Jfiiovah  is  God,  and  Israel 
 his  people,  and  shall  concur  in  presenting  their  spiritual  sa- 
 crifices to  bis  glory.'  ^ 
 
The  foolishness  of  thi'  jirinri's  of  Eijiipt. 
 
 2  And  I  will  f"'  set  the  Efiyptians  against  the 
 Egyptians :  and  tliey  shall  fight  every  one 
 against  his  hrother,  and  every  one  against  liis 
 neighbonr ;  city  against  city,  and  kingdom 
 against  kingdom. 
 
 3  And  the  spirit  of  Egypt  f  shall  fail  in  the 
 midst  thereof ;  and  I  will  f  destroy  the  counsel 
 thereof:  and  they  shall  "seek  to  tlie  idols,  and 
 to  the  charmers,  and  to  them  that  have  fami- 
 liar spirits,  and  to  the  wizards. 
 
 4  And  the  Egyptians  will  I  ||  give  over  'into 
 the  hand  of  a  cruel  lord  ;  and  a  fierce  king 
 shall  rule  over  them,  saith  the  Lord,  the  Lord 
 of  hosts. 
 
 5  ^  And  the  waters  shall  fail  from  the  sea, 
 and  the  river  shall  be  wasted  and  dried  np. 
 
 6  And  they  sliall  turn  the  rivers  far  away  ; 
 and  the  hrouks  '' of  defence  shall  he  emptied 
 and  dried  up  :   the  reeds  and  flags  shall  wither. 
 
 7  The  paper  reeds  by  the  brooks,  by  the 
 mouth  of  the  brooks,  and  every  thing  sown  by 
 the  brooks,  shall  wither,  be  driven  aw'ay,  fand 
 be  no  mure. 
 
 8  The  fishers  also  shall  mourn,  and  all  they 
 that  cast  angle  into  the  brooks  shall  lament, 
 and  they  that  spread  nets  upon  the  waters 
 shall  languish. 
 
 9  Moreover  they  that  work  in  '  fine  flax,  and 
 they  that  weave  |{  networks,  shall  be  con- 
 founded. 
 
 10  And  they  shall  be  broken  in  the  tP'"'- 
 poses  thereof,  all  that  make  sluices  and  ponds 
 t  for  fish. 
 
 1 1  H  Surely  the  princes  of  '  Zoan  are  fools, 
 the  counsel  of  the  wise  counsellors  of  Pharaoh 
 is  become  brutish  :  how  say  ye  nnto  Pharaoh, 
 I  am  the  son  of  the  wise,  the  son  of  ancient 
 kings  ? 
 
 12  '  Where  arr  they?  where  are  thy  wise 
 men?  and  let  them  tell  thee  now,  and  let 
 them  know  what  the  Loud  of  hosts  hath  pur- 
 posed upon  Egypt. 
 
 13  The  princes  of  Zoan  are  become  fools, 
 "'the  princes  of  Noph  are  deceived;  they 
 have  also  seduced  Egypt,  even  W^lhey  that 
 are  the  stay  of  the  tribes  thereof. 
 
 ISALVH,  XIX. 
 
 The  calling  of  Egypt  to  the  church.^ 
 
 a.  c. 
 
 i?ir.  711. 
 
 I   HW,, 
 
 I  s.mi,  14. 
 
 Hi,  ■-'!) 
 
 ■;ciir  JOJS, 
 tllfl..  iWl 
 brrmjiti'd 
 
 lior,  ,;„,/., p. 
 
 /oil.  iio.  4 
 .Iff    46.  ,'l). 
 Kick  JS  10 
 
 i;.Il.l-..^,l.  SI) 
 Kielt.iill  \-2. 
 
 t  Hpb.  .f,/.i. 
 Til  ./,...r- 
 
 ;,  .Iri-..'i1.;i(l 
 
 r  ZepI,.  .1.  9 
 t  n.-h. 
 
 Ilirlip. 
 
 II  Oi-,  »/• 
 
 H,r«,nr,./ 
 
 Ill/'  t»n. 
 1  Gen.2fi.lfi 
 
 Bxod. 34.  4 
 
 .ToHli.  2i.l(l, 
 
 26,  27. 
 /  Sce.I-ish.4, 
 0  8*22  27, 
 
 t  Hi'b. 
 /„„,„l„lh 
 
 t  H,b.,i/-;;o- 
 
 *  Nu.  13.  22 
 
 !  I  Citr.  1.20. 
 
 /«  .ler.  2.  IG 
 Or,  j}in:^- 
 
 14  The  Lord  hath  mingled  \"a  perverse 
 spirit  in  the  midst  thereof:  and  they  have 
 caused  Egypt  to  err  in  every  work  thereof,  as 
 a  drunken  man  staggereth  in  his  vomit. 
 
 15  Neither  shall  there  be  aiiij  work  for  Egypt, 
 which  °  the  head  or  tail,  branch  or  rush,  may 
 do. 
 
 IG  In  that  day  shall  Egypt  ''be  like  unto 
 women  :  and  it  shall  be  afraid  and  fear  because 
 of  the  shaking  of  the  hand  of  the  Lord  of 
 hosts,  ''  which  he  .shaketh  over  it. 
 
 17  And  the  land  of  Judah  shall  be  a  terror 
 unto  Egypt,  every  one  that  maketh  mention 
 thereof  shall  be  afraid  in  himself,  because  of 
 the  counsel  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  which  he 
 hath  determined  against  it. 
 
 18  H  In  that  day  shall  five  cities  in  the  land 
 of  Egypt  'speak  \\.\\e  language  of  Canaan, 
 and  swear  to  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  one  shall  be 
 called.  The  city  ||  of  destruction. 
 
 19  In  that  day  'shall  there.be  an  altar  to  the 
 Lord  in  the  midst  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  a 
 pillar  at  the  border  thereof  to  the  Lord. 
 
 '20  And  '  it  shall  he  for  a  sign  and  for  a  wit- 
 ness unto  the  Lord  of  hosts  in  the  land  of 
 Egypt :  for  they  shall  cry  nnto  the  Lord  be- 
 cause of  the  oppressors,  and  he  shall  send  them 
 a  saviour,  and  a  great  one,  and  he  shall  deliver 
 them. 
 
 21  And  the  Lord  shall  be  known  to  Egypt, 
 and  the  Egyptians  shall  know  the  Lord  in 
 that  day,  and  "  shall  do  sacrifice  and  oblation  ; 
 yea,  they  shall  vow  a  vow  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 perform  it. 
 
 ■11  And  the  Lord  shall  smite  Egypt:  he 
 .shall  smite  and  heal  it :  and  they  shall  return 
 even  to  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  be  intreated  of 
 them,  and  shall  heal  them. 
 
 23  i  In  that  day  *  shall  there  be  a  highway 
 out  of  Egypt  to  Assyria,  and  the  Assyrian 
 shall  come  into  Egypt,  and  the  Egyptian  into 
 As.syria,  and  the  Egyptians  shall  serve  with 
 the  Assyrians. 
 
 24  In  that  day  .shall  Israel  be  the  third  with 
 Egypt  and  with  Assyria,  etje«  a  blessing  in  the 
 midst  of  the  land  : 
 
 ants. — Scnlt.  As  the  Jews  placed  real  confidence  in  tticir  Egyptian 
 allies,  this  prophecy  was  to  break  their  confidence.  Ridel/i,  expressive 
 of  state  and  majesty,  (Ps.  l.wiii ;  civ.  3.)— GUI.  Swi/t  clnnd,  denoting 
 speed. — Bp.  Newton,  Gill.  Shall  rome,  hy  his  own  power  and  provi- 
 dence, jl/ofer/,  or  tremble  before  him.— ^'(7/.  4.  f:i-iirl  /tirrf,  Senna- 
 cherih. — .iljen  E.zrt,  Jurchi,  Kimchi.  The  word  is  plural,  and  the  cruel 
 Persian  emperors  Cambyses  and  Ocbus  are  meant.—  Vitriiisa.  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar and  the  Persian  kings. — Linvth,  Newtitn.  h.  Writers 
 sliall  f (lit,  the  king  of  Assyria  shall  destroy  the  Efjyptians  a.s  tlic  Witters 
 of  the  Nile  are  dried  up  —Kimchi.  Either  there  was  a  great  drought, 
 or  some  of  the  princes  might  much  iiiminisli  tlie  use  oftlie  Nile.— So 
 Gill.  It  more  probably  denotes  the  decay  of  Egyptian  sirengtb,  the 
 Nile  causing  its  plenty  and  prosperity. —  Vitrini^a,  Prelt.  Laivth. 
 6.  BrooUf;  tjf  defence  shall  he  emptied—  tliis  was  literally  done  hy  Mega- 
 byzus,  a  Persian  general. —  Welts.  7.  Paper  reeds,  of  which  paper 
 was  anciently  made.  The  paper  manufactories  in  Egypt  were  many, 
 and  the  trade  and  consumption  of  this  article  was  incredible. — Cham- 
 bers* Cyclop.  Brooks,  canals  drawn  from  the  Nile.— //«*■.  Shall 
 wittier — this  must  have  been  a  great  national  calamity,  for  besides 
 paper,  they  made  of  this  rush,  sails,  ropes,  and  other  naval  rigging,  as 
 mats,  blankets,  clothes,  and  even  ships ;  and  the  priests  wore  shoes  of 
 it.  9.  Fine  Jla.r.  of  which  they  made  finer  linen  cloth  anti  yarn,  for 
 which  other  nations  trafficked  with  them,  (l  Kings,  x.  23  ;  Ezek.  xxvii. 
 7.) — Gill.  Networtcs,  '  white  works,'  Mnrf;. ;  i.e.,  wicker  works,  white 
 from  the  peeling  of  the  twigs  made  use  of.  Fish  may  be  caught  by 
 wicker-work  as  well  as  by  nets.— ff(/r  ,  Par.  ll).  Purposes,  signifies 
 '  foundations."  as  in  Ps.  xi.  3,  and  may  design  dams  and  banks.— GiVf. 
 '  And  its  nets  shall  be  broken.' — Kimchi.  Alt  that  mafie  sluices,  '  they 
 shall  be  broken  in  their  purposes,  ashamed,  confounded,  and  dispirited.' 
 — Gilt.  11.  Znan,  or  Tanis. — Preh.  Lawfh.  A  very  ancient  city  of 
 Egypt,  (Num.xiii.  22;  see  Ps.  Ixxviii.  12,  43.)  It  appears  to  have  been 
 the  royal  city.— f?iV;.  Wnph.  better  known  by  the  name  (if  Memphis.— 
 Preh.  Lou-th.  17.  .Judah  shall  lie  a  terror,  not  from  Wfir  between 
 them,  but  on  account  of  what  they  should  hear  had  befallen  Judah  by 
 73,3 
 
 the  invasion  of  Sennacherib,  which  had  laid  waste  the  cities.— GiV/. 
 IS.  Five,  SfC,  i.e.,  several,  a  common  way  of  speaking  in  sciipture. 
 They  shall  worship  God  with  the  true  Israelites.— i'lc/i.  Lowth.  The 
 whole  passage,  to  the  end  of  the  cliaptcr,  is  an  intimation  of  the  future 
 propagation  of  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God  in  Egypt  and  Syria  under 
 the  successors  of  Alexander;  and  in  consequence  of  this  piopagation, 
 of  the  early  reception  of  the  Gospel  in  the  .'ame  ernntries,  when  it 
 should  be  published  to  the  world.— Z,oii>(/i.  Many  Jews,  after  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar had  taken  Jerusalem,  fled  into  Egypt,  carrying  along  «ith 
 them  Jeremiah,  who  there  prophesied  chiefly  concerning  the  conquest 
 of  Egypt  by  Nebuchadnezzar.  Alexander  transplanted  many  Jews 
 into  Alexandria ;  the  first  Ptolemy  carried  more,  and  llii'  Syrian  kings 
 greatly  favoured  them.— B;).  Kealon.  One  sliall  lie  called,  the  citij  of 
 tiestrnction,  or  'of  the  sun,'  uiar^.  The  Jews  of  Egypt,  alter  the  Imild- 
 ing  of  the  temple  at  lleliopolis,  called  that  city,  then  become  the  rival 
 of  Jerusalem,  p73n  Tl\  'the  city  of  righteousness.'  The  Palestine 
 Jews,  despising  the  place,  and  hearing  in  mind  its  ancient  appclla'ion, 
 that  is,  Dinn  Ti',  'the  city  of  the  son,'  whenever  ttiey  spoke  of  it, 
 turned  it,  in  contempt,  by  a  kind  of  alliteration  usual  among  them, 
 into  Dirrn  Tl*",  'the  city  of  destruction.' — Boiithr.  It  is  conjectured, 
 by  some,  that  the  Jews,  out  of  contempt  for  a  rival  temple,  falsified  tlie 
 reading  of  Isaiah.— .s'<i/.  The  majority  of  MsS.  lavours  reading,  '  the 
 city  of  the  sun.'  The  Sitriac  has,  '  the  city  of  destruction.'  The 
 Chiddee  takes  in  both  readings.— CTarArc.  20.  .4  siiriniir,  Alexander, 
 
 who  was  vicweil  as  a  saviour,  and  hailed  by  the  Egyptians  as  a  deli- 
 verer from  the  cruel  Persian  yoke. — So  Lowlh  and  Bp.  Newton,  Eitlier 
 Alexander  or  Ptolemy,  the  son  of  Lagus.  is  meant,  whose  epithet  was 
 Snter,  'the  saviour.'— Ti/r.  21.  The  Lord  shall  be  known  to  KKyp:, 
 
 —the  Bible  was  translated  into  Greek  by  means  of  Ptolemy,  king  of 
 Egypt,  the  language  being  then  understood  in  that  country  ;  the  Gospel 
 was  aflcrwards  brought  thither  by  the  Evangelist  Mark  and  others. 
 2:1.  .i  hif^hwaij,  signifies  peace  between  these  nations.— Gi7/.  The  grand 
 accompiishnVent  of  these  verses  is  yet  probably  to  be  lulfilled.— S(.■'y^^ 
 
Egypt  and  Ethiopia's  captivity  prejignred.      ISAIAH,  XX.,  XXI. 
 
 A  vision  of  the  fall  of  Babylon, 
 
 26  Whom  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  bless,  say- 
 ing, Blessed  be  Egypt  my  people,  and  Assyria 
 ^the  work,  of  my  hands,  and  Israel  mine  in- 
 heritance. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 A  type  pre  figuring  the  shameful  captivity  of  Egypt  and 
 
 Ethiopia^ 
 
 IN  the  year  that  "  Tartan  came  unto  Ashdod, 
 (when  Sargon  the  king  of  Assyria  sent  him,) 
 and  fought  against  Aslidod,  and  took  it ; 
 
 2  At  the  same  time  spake  the  Lord  f  l>y 
 Isaiah  the  son  of  Anioz,  saying.  Go  and  loose 
 ^  the  sackclotli  from  off  thy  loins,  and  put  off 
 thy  shoe  from  thy  foot.  And  he  did  so, 
 ""  walking  naked  and  barefoot. 
 
 3  And  llie  Loro  said.  Like  as  my  servant 
 Isaiah  hatii  walked  naked  and  barefoot  three 
 years  '^for  a  sign  and  wonder  upon  Egypt 
 and  upon  Ethiopia  ; 
 
 4  So  shall  the  king  of  Assyria  lead  away 
 t  the  Egyptians  prisoners,  and  the  Etliiopians 
 captives,  young  and  old,  naked  and  barefoot, 
 •"even  with  their  buttocks  uncovered,  to  the 
 t  shame  of  Egypt. 
 
 j  ^And  they  shall  be  afraid  and  ashamed  of 
 Ethiopia  their  expectation,  and  of  Egypt  their 
 glory. 
 
 6  And  the  inhabitant  of  this  ||  isle  shall  say 
 
 (  Hot),  hi, 
 
 I  Sam.  19 
 21-  Mic.  I. 
 
 t  Heb.  tht- 
 rnpl.vify 
 of  F.y„i,t. 
 
 e  ■>  s;.iiii.  10. 
 4.  di.  3.  17 
 .I.T.  111.  *>, 
 26.  Mic  I. 
 II. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ASKiii.  Ifi, 
 91.ch..1ll.S. 
 5.7    AHfi.li, 
 
 1!  Or.c<J.»Wry, 
 Jer.  ^7.  ■!■. 
 
 t  Heb.  hnrd 
 irh.  S3.  1. 
 
 d  c\\.  15,  5. 
 &  lt>.  II. 
 rcll,   13.8. 
 
 II  Or.  M^ 
 
 t  Hch    ;.p.f. 
 g  Dan.  5.  5. 
 
 in  that  day.  Behold,  such  is  our  expectation, 
 whither  we  flee  for  help  to  be  delivered  from 
 the  king  of  Assyria :  and  how  shall  we  escape  ? 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  TUc,  prophiti  beivailinff  the  captivity  of  /ils  penpl^ 
 sceth  in  a  vision  the  fall  of  Babylon  by  the  Medis  amil 
 Persians.  11  Edom,  scorning  the  prop  hi  t,  is  tiuwed 
 to  repentance.     13  The.stttime  of  A  labia's  eulamily, 
 
 T^HE  l)urden  of  the  desert  of  the  sea.  As 
 ■^  "  whirlwinds  in  the  south  pass  through  ;  so 
 it  cometii  from  the  desert,  from  a  terrible  land. 
 
 2  A  t grievous  vision  is  declared  unto  me; 
 ''  the  treacherous  dealer  dealeth  treacherously, 
 and  the  spoiler  spoileth.  '"Go  up,  O  Elam  : 
 besiege,  O  Media  ;  all  the  sighing  thereof  have 
 I  made  to  cease. 
 
 3  Therefore  ''are  my  loins  filled  with  pain: 
 °  pangs  have  taken  hold  upon  me,  as  the  pangs 
 of  a  woman  that  travaileth :  I  was  bowed 
 down  at  the  hearing  ofit;  1  was  dismayed  at 
 the  seeing  ofit. 
 
 4  II  My  heart  panted,  fearfulness  affrighted 
 me:  ""the  night  of  my  pleasure  iiath  he 
 t  turned  into  fear  unto  me. 
 
 5  ^  Prepare  the  table,  watch  in  the  watch- 
 tower,  eat,  drink  :  arise,  ye  princes,  and  anoint 
 the  shield. 
 
 Chap.  XX.  —  1.  In  the  i/ ear — the  last  prophecy  was  general  against 
 Egvpt,  this  forctcls  its  conquest  by  Sennacherib.  —  Preb.  Lowth. 
 Tnftan,  one  of  Sennacherib's  generals,  ('i  Kings,  xviii.  1/.)  Ashdod,  a 
 frontier  city  of  Jiulah,  taken  by  Hezckiah  from  tlie  Phihstines,  (2  Kings, 
 xviii.  8,  13.)  Snr^on,  generally  thought  to  be  the  same  with  Scnna- 
 chciib,  since  Tartan  was  one  of  his  generals. — Gill.  Sargon  was,  pro- 
 bably, the  immediate  successor  of  his  father.  Shalmancscr,  and  was 
 succeeded  on  the  throne  by  his  younger  brother,  Sennacherib.  — 
 Rosenm.  Took  it,  probably  when  Sennacherib  took  all  the  fenced 
 cities,  (2  Kings,  xviii.  13.'^ — Preh.  Lowth.  2.  Nuked,  without  his  upper 
 garment,  the  rough  mantle  worn  by  the  prophets,  (Zech.  xiii.  -i.) — Wil. 
 .T.  Three  years,  probably  three  days,  to  denote  the  accomplishment  of 
 the  event  in  three  years  :  a  day  for  a  year,  according  to  the  prophetical 
 rule,  (Num.  xiv.  34  ;  Ezek.  iv,  6.) — Lowth.  This  was  not  a  sign,  but  a 
 vision,  and  therefore  three  years  may  be  understood.— So  Rosenm.  The 
 Hebrew  words  are  so  placed,  that  they  may  either  be  understood  of  the 
 distance  or  continuance  of  the  predicted  judgment.  Though  the  pro- 
 phet's figure  might  seem  surprising  and  absurd,  it  was  designed  to 
 awaken  his  fellow  citizens  from  their  insensibility,  and  to  arouse  the 
 attention  of  all  who  beheld  him  to  his  predictions  and  discourses. 
 4.  Captives — naked — to  the  EgyptiaTis  especially,  who,  like  other  po- 
 lished nations,  were  accustomed  to  wear  fine  clothes,  and  to  value 
 themselves  on  account  of  their  dress,  this  harsh  treatment  must  liavc 
 produced  great  shame.  The  Ethiopians  being  less  polished,  did  not 
 feel  it  as  the  Egyptians, — Muccnl.  5.  They  shall  be  afraid   and 
 
 ashamed,  that  is,  those  who  trusted  and  depended  upon  the  Egyi^tians 
 and  Ethiopians,  as  did  the  Jews.  6.  Thift  isle,  land  of  Israel,  so 
 
 called  because  it  bordered  on  the  sea.  as  such  countries  are  sometimes 
 called  isles,  (see  Jer.  xxv  22;  Ezek.  xxvii.  3,  15.)— Gi//.  Rather 
 'country.' — Maccul.,z?,\.\\Q  Lowths.     Behold,  such  is  our  expectation — 
 
 '  Behold,  such  are  the  objects  of  our  confidence, 
 To  whom  we  fled  for  assistance.*— BooMr. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  1.  The  burden  of  the  desert  of  the  sea,  or  'the  oracle 
 concerning  the  desert  of  the  sea.' — Mncciil.  Babylon,  which  was 
 seated  in  a  plain,  and  surrounded  by  water.  In  the  Oriental  style, 
 any  large  collection  of  waters  is  called  a  sea,  and  the  i>laccs  about  Ba- 
 bylon  arc  said  from  the  beginning  to  have  been  overflowed  with 
 waters,  and  to  have  been  called  the  sea,  (comp.  Jer.  li.  \2.)  —  Bp. 
 Newton.  The  city,  especially  towards  the  sea,  was  a  large  flat  morass, 
 often  overflowed  by  the  waters  of  the  Tigris  and  the  great  river  Eu- 
 phrates. Such  was  its  original  state,  such  it  became  after  the  taking 
 of  the  city  by  Cyrus,  and  such  it  continues  to  this  day.  The  burden 
 of  Babylon  was  related  in  chap,  xiii,,  but  the  subject  is  resumed  to  es- 
 tablish the  faith  of  Cnd's  people,  and  so  to  induce  ihem  neither  to  trust 
 nor  fear  the  Babylonians. — Maccnl.  ,'!•.■  uhirlnnnds,  ^e. — the  first  ten 
 verses  contain  adescription  of  the  taking  of  Babylon  by  the  Medesand 
 Persians.  —  Lowth.  Whirlwinds  are  expressive  of  great  calamities, 
 since  thev  tore  up  large  trees  by  the  roots,  and  demolished  strong  edi- 
 fices. They  were  most  frequent  in  southern  countries,  (Job,  xxxvii.  9.) 
 A  terrihte  Innd,  on  account  of  its  prodigious  extent.  2.  Treacherous 
 dealer,  ^c.  —  the  king  of  Babylon  is,  doubtless,  meant.  He  set  no 
 bounds  to  his  avarice,  ambition,  and  injustice.— il/accu/. 
 
 *  The  spoiler  is  spoiled  !  the  destroyer  is  destroyed  !'— Boo/Ar. 
 
 Nearly  the  same,  Lowth.  Eluni,  Persia. —  Vitr.  So  called  from  Elam, 
 a  province  in  Persia.— Gi7/.  jl/cf/iA,  anciently  a  kingdom  in  Asia,  it 
 was  afterwards  united  with  Persia  in  one  great  empire,  Cyrus  being 
 king.  4.  The  niaht  of  my  pleasure,  the  season  of  repose,  enjoyed  by 
 the  prophet,  became  to  him  a  season  of  perplexity,  fear,  and  dread. 
 He  anticipated  the  state  of  the  king  of  Babylon. — Maccul.  This  and 
 the  preceding  verse  are  spoken  hy  the  prophet  in  the  language  of  the 
 Babylonians,  and  especially  Belshazzar. — Gill,  so  Bnothr.  h.  Pre- 
 pare the  table,  so  It  was  on  the  night  when  Babylon  was  taken. — 
 Maccul.    Anoint  the  shield,  '  prepare  your  arms.*    Anointing  was  used 
 
 Rkflf-CTIons  ok  CfiAP.  XIX.  —  We  learn  here  that,  I.  Na- 
 tional evih  are  the  work  of  God's  providence.  *  Is  ihere  evil  in 
 the  city,  and  the  Lord  hath  not  done  it?'  A  course  of  events 
 occurred  in  the  Egyptian  history,  bv  which  the  prophecy  here 
 recorded  was  fultilled  ;  but,  tliougii  ihey  all  seemed  to  arise 
 from  natural  causes,  God  foresaw  them,  and  determined  they 
 should  come  to  pass.  Every  individual  concerned  in  these 
 events  acted  of  his  own  free  will;  but  God  overnded  that  free 
 will  to  promote  his  own  great  designs.  Let  this  humble  us 
 when  suffering,  as  Egypt  did,  from  civil  commotions,  per- 
 plexed counsels,  famine,  decrease  of  commerce,  imbecile  sove- 
 reigns, and  universal  consternation  ;  and,  while  we  look  at  the 
 hand  of  man  in  such  a  posture  of  affairs,  let  us  bow  at  the 
 footstool  of  mercy,  '  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God.' 
 
 IL  iSfilionol  chastisemcjits  are  the  work  of  GoiVs  grace.  He 
 does  nDt  always  take  a  nation  in  hand  to  extirpate  it.  He  bad 
 mercy  in  store  for  Egypt,  and  perhaps  may  yet  have  mercy  in 
 store.  In  that  land  many  piuu.s  exiled  Jews  found  protection 
 and  comfort;  and  that  land  was  the  asylum  of  the  infant  Saviour 
 himself  when  pursued  by  the  merciless  Herod.  No  service  is 
 ever  done  for  God  that  he  does  not  amply  reward. 
 736 
 
 Reflections  on  Cuap.  XX.  — We  may.  L  Remark  on  the 
 sign  given  by  the  prophet.  '  Tlie  appointment  of  God  renders 
 those  things  and  actions  which  in  themselves  seem  mean  and 
 contemptible,  momentous  and  usefid  ;  it  stamps  them  with 
 real  dignity  and  importance,  and  makes  them  truly  instructive. 
 View  the  ceremonial  institutions  of  the  Old  Testament :  such 
 as  circumcision;  abstinence  from  particular  kinds  of  food  and 
 of  raiment ;  uncleanness,  contracted  by  touching  certain  ob- 
 jects; and  sprinkling  the  tabernacle  with  blood; — they  appear 
 trifling  and  ridiculous.  Contemplate  them,  again,  as  the  ordi- 
 nances of  God,  infinitely  wise  and  gracious,  and  you  may  dis- 
 cern their  excellence  and  extensive  utility.' 
 
 IL  Remark  the  folly  of  baiting  on  an  arm  nf  jlesk.  'Those 
 who  trust  to  human  aid,  without  proper  regard  to  God,  sliall 
 certainly  be  afraid  and  ashamed.'  'Trust  not,  then,  in  princes, 
 nor  in  the  son  of  man,  in  whom  there  is  no  help.  If  they  have 
 inclination,  they  are  often  unable  to  assist  and  protect  tbeir 
 friends  ;  though  they  may  have  both  will  and  power,  their 
 breath  maydepart,  all  their  thoughts  perish,  and  all  your  hopes 
 be  buried  with  them.'  *  Happy  is  the  man  that  hath  the  God 
 of  Jacob  for  his  help,  whose  hope  is  in  the  Lord  his  God.''"« 
 
The  set  lime  o/  Arabia's  fall. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXII. 
 
 The  prophet's  lament  fur  Jewry. 
 
 6  For  thus  liatli  the  Lord  said  unto  me.  Go, 
 set  a  watchman,  let  him  declare  what  lie  seeth 
 
 7  "  And  he  saw  a  chariot  with  a  couple  of 
 horsemen,  a  chariot  of  asses,  and  a  chariot  of 
 camels ;  and  he  hearkened  diligently  with 
 much  heed : 
 
 8  And  II  he  cried,  A  lion  :  My  lord,  I  stand 
 continually  upon  the  '  watchtower  in  the  day- 
 time, and  I  am  set  in  my  ward  ||  whole  nights  : 
 
 9  And,  behold,  here  cometh  a  chariot  of  men, 
 leith  a  couple  of  horsemen.  And  he  answered 
 and  said,  ''  Babylon  is  fallen,  is  fallen  ;  and  'all 
 the  graven  images  of  her  gods  he  liath  broken 
 unto  the  ground. 
 
 10  ■"  O  my  threshing,  and  the  fcorn  of  my 
 floor :  that  which  I  have  heard  of  the  Lord 
 of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  have  I  declared 
 unto  you. 
 
 11  t"The  burden  of  Dumah.  He  calleth 
 to  me  out  of  Seir,  Watchman,  vvliat  of  tlie 
 night?     Watchman,  what  of  the  night? 
 
 12  The  watclnnan  said.  The  morning  cometh, 
 and  also  the  night:  if  ye  will  enquire,  enquire 
 ye  :  return,  come. 
 
 13  If"  The  burden  upon  Arabia.  In  the 
 forest  in  Arabia  shall  ye  lodge,  O  ye  travelling 
 companies  ^  of  Dedanim. 
 
 14  The  inhabitants  of  the  land  of  Tema 
 II  brought  water  to  him  that  was  thirsty,  they 
 prevented  with  their  bread  him  that  fled. 
 
 15  For  they  fled  Hffrom  the  swords,  from 
 the  drawn  sword,  and  from  the  bent  bow,  and 
 from  the  grievousness  of  war. 
 
 16  For  tlius  hath   the   Lord  said   unto  me, 
 
 I  Hiib   2,  1 . 
 
 II  Or,  ,,ay 
 ,„I,U. 
 
 4  ,Iei-    51    S. 
 
 Re---  1 1.  8 
 
 &  18.  2 
 (  ch.  \t)    I. 
 
 Jer  £0.  2  & 
 
 51.  U. 
 m.!er.5l.33. 
 t  Heb,  4m. 
 
 ,  I  Chr.l.Sn. 
 Jer.  19  7,8. 
 Ezek.  35.  8 
 Obad.  1. 
 
 o  Jer.  W.  28 
 
 0  1  Chr.  1.9, 
 32. 
 
 11  Or,  Irr.g 
 
 II  Or,/«r 
 
 f.ar. 
 t   iieb.  froyn 
 
 tJte  f'tc'e. 
 
 Q  ch.  16.  14. 
 
 r  t'B    120,  5 
 
 fl..60.7. 
 
 t  Heb.  buwi. 
 
 f  Heb,  (.///« 
 
 A  Jer   ♦.  19. 
 
 &  9.  1. 
 \  Heb.  /  IP./, 
 
 6e  biKtr  in 
 
 c  ch.  S7.  S, 
 
 d  I. am.  I    5 
 &2.  2 
 
 /ch    li.  I 
 \  Heb.  made 
 naked. 
 
 Within  a  year,  ''according  to  the  years  of  an 
 hireUng,  and  all  the  glory  of'  Kedar  shall  fail  : 
 17  And  the  residue  of  the  numher  of  f  arch- 
 ers, the  mighty  men  of  the  chiUhcn  of  Kedar, 
 shall  he  diminished  :  for  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel  hath  spoken  ii. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  The  prophet  Icimenteih  the  invasion  of  Jewry  hi/  the. 
 Persians.  8  He  reprovetit  their  hronan  wisdom  and 
 icorldly  joy,  15  He  pritphcsivth  Shebnas  deprivation, 
 20  and  Eliahiut,  prejiynring  the  kinydom  of  Christf 
 his  substitution. 
 
 ^HE  harden  of  the  valley  of  vision.  What 
 -*-  aileth  thee  noAv,  that  thou  art  wholly  gone 
 up  to  the  housetops  ? 
 
 2  Thou  that  art  full  of  stirs,  a  tumultnnus 
 city,  "a  joyous  city:  thy  slain  7ne7i  are  not 
 slain  with  the  sword,  nor  dead  in  hattle. 
 
 3  All  thy  rulers  are  fled  together,  they  are 
 bound  fhy  the  archers:  all  that  are  found  in 
 thee  are  bound  together,  ichich  have  fled  from 
 far. 
 
 4  Therefore  said  I,  Look  away  from  me  ; 
 "^  t  I  will  weep  bitterly,  labour  not  to  comfort 
 me,  because  of  the  spoiling  of  the  daughter  of 
 my  people. 
 
 5  "  For  it  is  a  day  of  trouble,  and  of  treading 
 down,  and  of  perplexity  ''  by  the  Lord  God  of 
 hosts  in  the  valley  of  vision,  breaking  down  the 
 walls,  and  of  crying  to  the  mountains. 
 
 6  ^  And  Elam  bare  the  quiver  with  chariots 
 of  men  and  horsemen,  and  ^  Kir  f  uncovered 
 the  shield. 
 
 to  make  the  shields  smoutli  and  slippery,  that  darts  might  fly  off;  and 
 to  polish  and  brighten  them,  (see  2  Sam.  i.  21.)  The  Medes  and  Per- 
 sians are  here  bidden  to  take  arms  and  enter  the  city  during  the  feast. 
 — Gill.  Compare  this  prophecy  with  its  wonderful  accomplishment, 
 Dan.  \.~Tounsend.  Q.  Set  a  7vatch?nfin—Wie  prophet  himself  per- 
 sonates a  watchman  on  the  walls  of  Babylon. — Gill.  7.  A  chariot, 
 ^c. — the  eastern  nations  anciently  used  chariots  in  war,  in  which  was 
 one  person  to  manage  the  horbcs  and  one  to  use  ihe  weapons.  Assi's, 
 these,  or  mules,  were  commonly  used  by  the  Persians.  Cumels,  these 
 by  the  Medes.  The  whole  army  may  here  be  signified. — Maccul.,  Gill. 
 8.  A  lion,  the  watchman  'cried  as  a  lion,'  i.  e.,  loudly. — Alien  Ezra. 
 Cyrus  is  compared  to  one  for  fierceness,  courage,  and  strength. — Gill. 
 'Lion*  might  be  the  watchword  given  in  case  of  danger. — Maccul. 
 Doubtless  the  true  reading  is  not  ri'lN.  '  a  lion,'  but  nt<in.  '  the  seer ;' 
 so  the  Syriac  seems  to  untluistand  it. — Lowth.  9.  Is  fallen,  is  fallen, 
 — repeated  to  shew  the  certainty. — Gill.  Images  —  broken  —  Xerxes, 
 passing  through  Babylon,  performed  this  service,  completing  this  and 
 other  prophecies,  (Jer.  1.  2;  li.  4i,  47,  52.) — Prid.  10.  O  my  thresh- 
 
 ing, and  the  corn — the  prophet  having  foreiseen  the  fall  of  Babylon  160 
 years,  or  more,  before  it  occurred,  cast  next  a  yearning  look  on  his  own 
 country,  as  foreseeing  their  captivity. — Siit.  The  church  is  the  thresh- 
 ing-floor, in  which  the  corn  is  broken  off  from  the  straw  and  separated 
 from  the  chaff.  The  words  mean,  '  Ye,  the  objects  upon  whom  I,  the 
 prophet,  exercise  the  well  meant  severity  of  my  discipline,  and  "the 
 corn"  committed  to  my  care,  which  I  am  to  prepare  for  the  Master's 
 use,  to  you  1  make  knuwn  these  revelations.' — Maccul.  '  O  my  much 
 pitied  countrymen  and  brethren,  that  have  been  so  often  threshed,  as 
 corn  in  the  floor,  and  are  like  to  be  again  in  Babylon,  know  for  your 
 comfort  thit  this  prophecy  concerning  Babylon  shall  certainly  come  to 
 I>ass.'— So  Jackson.  i\  Of  Dumah,  i.  e.,  Edom  or  Idumea,  from  the 
 mention  of  Seir,  a  name  commonly  given  to  Edom  in  Scripture. — So 
 Wflls.  Dumah  seems  to  be  a  contraction  of  Idumea. — Maccul.  He 
 calleth — it  seems  best  to  interpret  this  of  an  Edomite,  calling  to  the 
 watchman.— (?t7/.  Bciug  now  under  the  Babylonian  yoke,  the  Edom- 
 ites  inquire  with  great  and  redoubled  eagerness  concerning  Babylon. — 
 Sut.  Watclnnan— ihe  prophets  are  often  compared  to  watchmen,  as 
 foreseeing  evils  at  a  distance,  and  warning  the  people,  (comp.  chap. 
 lii.8;  ixii.6;  Ezek.iii.  17.)— Prei.  Lou-^/i.  TAe  7fii^/(^  ishere  a  symb  d 
 of  calamity  and  di-.trcss.  The  meaning  is,  '  watchman,  have  you  any 
 revelatinu  to  say  when  the  calamities  of  Idumea  will  be  o^■cr?'  — 
 Mncrul.  Perhaps  this  is  an  insulting  inquiry,  concerning  the  duration 
 of  the  tifflictions  of  the  Jews  in  tlie  Babylonish  captivity.  12.  The 
 morning  cometh,  ^c,  may  signify,  that  the  deliverance  of  the  Jews 
 
 would  come  in  its  appointed  time ;  but  after  a  short  continuance  of 
 approaching  prosperity  to  the  Edomites,  a  dreadful  ruin  would  come 
 on  them,  of  which  the  prophet  saw  no  end.— Scoi/.  The  Edomites,  as 
 well  as  the  Jews,  were  subdued  by  the  Babylonians.— Lo«'/A.  Jf  ye 
 will  enquire,  seriously  and  in  good  earnest.  Return,  come,  '  return  by 
 repentance,  and  come  to  God.'  13.  In  the  forest,  driven  by  flight 
 from  their  tents.  Travelling  companies,  shephcrd^^,  who  went  in  com- 
 panies, or  merchants,  who  travelled  in  caravans  and  tmops,  (see  Ezek. 
 xxvii.  15,  20.)— Gill.  Dedanim,  these  were  the  posterity  of  Dedan, 
 Abraham's  grandson.— Prcft.  Loicth.  14.  Inhabitants  of —Tema  — 
 
 these  people  were  also  Arabians.  The  country  had  its  name  from 
 Tema,  one  of  the  sons  of  Ishraael,  (Gen.  xxv.  15.)  The  language  here 
 describes  the  coming  distress,  that  the  subjects  of  the  prophecy  should 
 lodge  in  a  forest,  be  hungry  and  thirsty,  and  flee  before  their  enemies, 
 as  in  next  verse.— Gf/^  16.  Within  a  year,  i.e.,  before  the  present 
 year  is  ended.— 5«/.  Perhaps  fulfilled  under  Sennacherib;  when  he 
 invaded  Judah,  he  might  take  Arabia  in  his  way.  Kedar,  these  were 
 anotlier  sort  of  Arabians,  descended  from  Kedar,  a  son  of  Ishmael, 
 (Gen.  xxv.  13;)  their  glory  was  in  their  multitude,  riches,  and  sub. 
 stance;  chiefly  flocks. — Gill. 
 
 CnAP.  XXII.  — 1.  T^eiurrfen  0/,  or 'oracle  concerning.'  The  valley 
 of  vision,  i.  e.,  Jerusalem,  because  it  was  the  place  of  prophecy,  and 
 lav  in  a  valley  encompassed  by  mountains. — Lowth,  Gill.  The  pro. 
 ph'ecy  foretels  the  Assyrian  invasion  under  Sennacherib,  or  the  Chal- 
 dean under  Nebuchadnezzar,  or  hoWx.—Lotcth,  Vitr.  Housetops— see 
 Deut.  xxii.  g,  note.  The  people's  running  all  to  the  housetops  gives  a 
 lively  image  of  a  sudden  general  alarm. — Lntrth.  2.  Art  full  of  stirs, 
 'wast  full  of  stirs,'  or  'noises,' as  a  populous  trading  city  is. — Gill. 
 But  how  is  thy  condition  changed  I  Thy  sl'iin  mm  are  not  slain  tvith 
 the  sword,  as  valiant  men  should  be,  but  by  flight,  or,  being  shut  up  in 
 the  city,  by  famine  and  pestilence— Jdc/fvora.  3.  All  thy  rulers  arc 
 
 fled  together,  they  arc  bound,  §-c.— if  they  were  bound,  how  could  they 
 flee?    Render  the  words — 
 
 '  All  thy  leaders  are  gone  off  together ;  they  are  fled  from  the  bow  : 
 All  that  were  found  in  thee  are  tied  together,  they  are  gone  far 
 away.' — Lowth,  as  Huub. 
 6.  Elam,  or  the  Elamites,  that  is.  the  Persians,  who  were  at  this  time 
 subject  to  the  Assyrians,  and  served  in  Sennacherib's  army.  Kir,  a 
 city  in  Media,  and  signifies  the  Medes.— Gi//.  Tiie  Medes  were  also 
 then  tributary  to  the  Assyrians,  (see  2  Kings,  xvi.  9 ;  xvii.  6.)— FiVr. 
 Uncovered  the  shield— in  times  of  peace,  shields  were  wrapt  up  to  pre- 
 serve Uiem  from  rusting  ;  and  uncovered  on  the  day  of  battle,  so  as  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chai'.  XXI. — T.  God yives  his  church  re- 
 peated warnings  of  their  dangers.  ' 'i'hey  have  line  upon  lino, 
 and  precept  upon  precept.'  '  He  ihat  bath  ears  to  hear,  lot 
 mm  bear.' 
 
 11,  Repentance  and  reformation  are  the  best  fiieans  to  avert  the 
 srorm  of  Divine  judrfments.  God  can  protect  every  lowly  soul 
 737 
 
 that  trusts  in  him,  nnd  even  if  such  fall  in  the  general  cala- 
 mity, llieir  death  will  then  bo  gain.  'God  usually  gives  a 
 morning  of  opportunity  before  he  sends  a  nigbt  of  calamity, 
 tliat  bis  own  people  may  be  prepared  for  the  storm,  and  others 
 left  inescusnble.'  ''  Now  is  our  niornin;;.  but  the  night  of 
 death  cometh.  '  Seek  ye  the  Lord,  while  he  may  be  found.' 
 5   B 
 
Human  wisdom  reproved. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXIII. 
 
 Chrisfs  kingdom  prefigured. 
 
 7  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  f  thy 
 choicest  valleys  shall  be  full  of  chariots,  and 
 the  horsemen  shall  set  themselves  in  array  ||  at 
 the  gate. 
 
 8  If  And  lie  discovered  the  covering  of  Judah, 
 and  tliou  didst  look  in  that  day  to  the  armour 
 ^  of  the  house  of  the  forest. 
 
 9  ^  Ye  have  seen  also  the  breaches  of  the 
 city  of  David,  that  they  are  many  :  and  ye 
 gathered  together  the  waters  of  the  lower 
 pool. 
 
 10  And  ye  have  numbered  the  houses  of 
 Jerusalem,  and  the  houses  have  ye  broken 
 down  to  fortify  the  wall. 
 
 1 1  '  Ye  made  also  a  ditch  between  the  two 
 walls  for  the  water  of  the  old  pool  :  but  ye 
 have  not  looked  unto  ''  the  maker  thereof, 
 neither  had  respect  unto  him  that  fashioned  it 
 long  ago. 
 
 12  And  in  that  day  did  the  Lord  God  of 
 hosts  ■  call  to  weeping,  and  to  mourning,  and 
 "'to  baldness,  and  to  girding  with  sackcloth  : 
 
 13  And  behold  joy  and  gladness,  slaying 
 oxen,  and  killing  sheep,  eating  flesh,  and 
 drinking  wine  :  "  let  us  eat  and  drink  ;  for  to 
 morrow  we  shall  die. 
 
 14  °  And  it  was  revealed  in  mine  ears  by  the 
 Loud  of  hosts.  Surely  this  iniquity  *"  shall  not 
 be  purged  from  you  till  ye  die,  saith  the  Lord 
 God  of  hosts. 
 
 15  IT  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  hosts.  Go, 
 get  thee  unto  this  treasurer,  even  unto ''  Sheb- 
 na,  '  which  is  over  the  house,  and  say^ 
 
 16  What  hast  thou  here?  and  whom  Iiast 
 thou  here,  that  thou  hast  hewed  thee  out  a 
 sepulchre  here,  ||  as  he  *  that  heweth  him  out 
 a  sepulchre  on  high,  and  that  graveth  an  habi- 
 tation for  himself  in  a  rock  ? 
 
 17  Behold,  ||  the  Lord  will  carry  thee  away 
 with    fa   mighty  captivity,  *  and    will   surely 
 
 thy  vallei/s. 
 \  Or,  toteard. 
 
 g\  Kin.  7.  2. 
 
 8e  10.  17. 
 /.  •!  Kin,  -^0. 
 
 21).  2  Clir. 
 
 'Si.  4,  5,  SO, 
 
 *  See  ch.  37. 
 
 m  See  Ezra 
 9.  3.  ch.  15. 
 2.  Mic.1.16. 
 
 -1  oh.  56.  12. 
 Wild.  2.  6. 
 I  Cor.  15.32. 
 
 0  ch.  5.  9. 
 p  \  Sand.  S 
 
 11.  Eze.  S4. 
 
 13. 
 a  2  Kin,  18- 
 
 37.  ch.36.3. 
 r  I  Kin.  4.  6. 
 II  Or,  0  he. 
 $  Pee  2  Sam. 
 
 18.  18. 
 
 ^ra^.27. 60, 
 
 II  Or.  //.« 
 LOliO  wha 
 cvfted  V.f- 
 Kilh  an  ex- 
 ctlU»t  <",■ 
 
 clothed  thee 
 gorgeouttii, 
 jliall  i'lreli/, 
 Src.  ver.  18. 
 t  Heb.  Ihe 
 cnptiviti,  0/ 
 
 1  F.stli.  7-  8. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  71?. 
 
 t  Heb,  hrpe 
 of  tpaQ»s, 
 
 y  Ezra  9.8. 
 
 I  Or,  inttrn  ■ 
 vioU. 
 
 cir.  715. 
 a  Jer.  25.  22. 
 
 &  17.  4. 
 
 Eiek.gfi,  & 
 
 87.  &  S8. 
 
 Amns  I    9. 
 
 Zedi.9.2,4 
 b  ver,  12. 
 
 cover  thee, 
 
 IS  He  will  surely  violently  turn  and  toss 
 thee  lihe  a  ball  into  a  f large  country:  there 
 shalt  thou  die,  and  there  tlie  chariots  of  thy 
 glory  shall  be  the  shame  of  thy  lord's  house. 
 
 19  And  I  will  drive  tliee  from  thy  station, 
 and  from  thy  state  shall  he  pull  thee  down. 
 
 20  %  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  1  will  call  my  servant  "  Eliakim  the  son  of 
 Hilldah  : 
 
 21  And  I  will  clothe  him  with  thy  robe,  and 
 strengthen  him  with  thy  girdle,  and  I  will  com- 
 mit thy  government  into  his  hand:  and  he  shall 
 be  a  father  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  and 
 to  the  house  of  Judah. 
 
 2'2  And  the  key  of  the  house  of  David  will  I 
 lay- upon  his  shoulder;  so  he  shall  ^  open,  and 
 none  shall  shut ;  and  he  shall  shut,  and  none 
 sliall  open. 
 
 23  And  I  will  fasten  him  as  ''  a  nail  in  a  sure 
 place  ;  and  he  shall  be  for  a  glorious  thione  to 
 his  father's  house. 
 
 24  And  they  shall  hang  upon  him  all  the 
 glory  of  his  father's  house,  the  offspring  and 
 the  issue,  all  vessels  of  small  quantity,  from 
 the  vessels  of  cups,  even  to  all  the  ||  vessels  of 
 flagons. 
 
 25  In  that  day,  .saith  the  Loud  of  hosts,  shall 
 the  nail  that  is  fastened  in  the  sure  place  be 
 removed,  and  be  cut  down,  and  fall ;  and  the 
 burden  tliat  ivas  upon  it  shall  be  cut  off:  for 
 the  Lord  hath  spoken  if. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIIi. 
 
 1    The   miserable  overtlirtm   of  Tyre.      17  T/teir   vn- 
 
 happtf  re/urn, 
 n^WE  "burden  of  Tyre.      Howl 
 -*-    Tarshish  ;  for  it  is  laid  waste, 
 is  no  house,  no  entering  in :  ''from  the  land  of 
 Chittim  it  is  revealed  to  them. 
 
 ,  ye  .'ihips  of 
 so  that  there 
 
 glitter  Id  the  sun.— £,.  Holden.  ".  The  choicest  valleys,  that  usert  to 
 be  covered  with  corn,  vines,  grass,  and  sheep. — Gill.  8.  And  he  dis- 
 covered, §-c. — 
 
 'And  the  veil  of  Judah  shall  be  removed, 
 And  thou  shalt  look,'  &e. 
 
 Thou  shalt  be  treated  with  insult  and  disgrace,  as  a  modest  woman 
 would  be  by  having  her  veil  removed  and  lier  person  violated. — Boothr. 
 By  *  the  covering'  understand  the  fenced  cities,  which  were  taken  and 
 dismantled,  (2  Kings,  xviii.  13.)  To  the  armour,  i^c  ,  to  seewhat  store 
 they  had  for  defence.  For  this  armory,  see  1  Kings,  vii.  2,  and  x.  l6, 
 17  ;  see  also  Cant.  iv.  4. — Gill.  'And  the  barrier  of  Judah  shall  be 
 laid  open.' — Lowth,  g.  The  breaches,  the  fortifications,  in  time  of 
 peace,  had  gone  to  decay.  Gathered — waters,  to  deprive  the  enemy 
 and  supply  the  city,  (see  2  Chron.  xxxii.  3.  4.)  10.  Ntnnbered  the 
 hou.^ps,  to  ascertain  the  number  of  men,  or  the  quantity  of  provisions, 
 or  what  money  cnulti  be  raised,  or  what  could  be  pulled  down  to  mend 
 the  walls.  II.  Made  also  a  ditch,  ^c. — so  the  Ass.yrians  were  deprived 
 of  the  water,  and  Jerusalem  more  abundantly  supplied.  Not  looked 
 vnto  the  maker,  trusted  in  their  warlike  preparations,  and  not  in  Je- 
 hovah.— Gi'l.  Baldness,  shaving  off  the  hair,  a  symbol  of  intense 
 grief . —i)/ac.  13.  Behold  Joy  and  glnd?iess— luxury  anA  intemperance 
 were  indulged  ;  having  obtained  armour,  repaired  the  waits,  and  tnok 
 care  of  provisions,  the  people  thought  themselves  secure.  14.  Till  yp 
 die,  and  if  not  then,  not  after. — Gilt.  15,  Unto  Shebna—he  might 
 have  been  a  principal  leader  of  the  luxury  and  profaneness. — Lowth. 
 16.  What  hast  thou  here ^ — what  business.  And  whom,  of  ancestors, 
 children,  relations,  to  succeed  thee  ?  That  thou  hast  hewed?  ^c.  as  if 
 he  thought  to  live  and  die  here. — Gill.  Persons  of  high  rank  in  Judea 
 were  buried  in  large  sepulchral  vaults,  hewn  out  in  the  rock.  Shebna 
 had  chosen  one  on  high,  in  a  conspicuous  situation,  (corap.  2 Chron. 
 xxxii.  33.) — Boothr.  A  sepulchr'-  on  high — Sir  R.  K.  Porter  \va.s  drawn 
 up  by  ropes  to  one  hewn  in  a  rock,  sixtv  feet  from  the  ground,  and 
 others  were  yet  above  him.— So  Pict.  Bib.  '  17.  Cover  (7tee— the  allusion 
 
 seems  to  be  to  persons  in  disgrace,  or  condemned  to  die,  (Esth.  vii.  8 ; 
 Jnb,  ix.  24.)  20.  Eliakim — Kimchi  thinks  this  was  the  same  with 
 Azariah,  the  son  of  Hilkiah,  who  might  have  two  names,  and  was  a 
 ruler  over  the  house  of  God  in  the  times  of  Hezekiah,  (1  Cliron.  vi,  13  j 
 2Chron.  xxxi.  15.)  21.  Strengthcnhim  with  thy  girdle,  a  symbol  of 
 
 power  and  strength.  23.  Kpy— shoulder— in  allusion  to  magistrates 
 
 carrying  a  key  on  their  shoulder,  hanging  down  and  fastened  by  a 
 hook,  or  one  embroidered  on  their  garment,  or  carried  before  them. — 
 Gill.  He  shall  open,  ^f.— nothing  shall  be  done  in  the  government 
 without  his  advice,  nothing  that  is  contrary  to  his  instructions. — 
 L.  Holden.  23.  .is  a  nail,  or  rather  a  peg.  In  eastern  houses,  the.'-e 
 are  large  and  strong,  and  not  driven  in  the  walls,  but  fastened  in  tlie 
 building.— So  Chardiu.  For  a  glorious  throne— hy  his  wise  and  up- 
 right administrfitir>n.  he  should  prove  as  great  an  honour  and  orna- 
 ment to  his  father's  family  as  a  splendid  throne  is  to  the  prince  who  is 
 seated  upon  \t.—Mac.  24.  Hang  upon  him,  ffc.  like  vessels  of  every 
 kind  hung  upon  a  nail,  they  shall  depend  upon  him  for  rank  and  honour. 
 25.  Nail  thatis fastrued,  i.e.,  Shebna. — Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  XXIII.— 1.  Tvtp— this  seems  to  mean  old  Tyre,  on  the  con- 
 tinent, built  by  tlie  Phccnicians  240  years  before  Ihe  temple  of  Solomon. 
 It  exceeded  in  renown  and  grandeur  all  the  cities  of  Syria  and  Phoe- 
 nicia.— Gi//.  There  was  also  insular  Tyre,  hut  the  chief  edifices  were 
 on  the  main  lan<l,  and  to  these  the  denunciations  of  total  ruin  strictly 
 apply.  Nebuchadnezzar's  army  is  said  to  have  lain  before  Tyre  thir- 
 teen years;  when  taken,  its  destruction  must  then  have  been  entire; 
 all  the  inhabitants  were  put  to  the  sword,  or  led  into  captivity,  the 
 walls  were  razed  to  the  ground,  and  it  was  made  a  terror  and  a  deso- 
 lation.— Cnl.  Tyre  had  its  own  kings,  among  whom  was  Hiram,  who 
 loved  David.  Howl,  ye  ships— a  mournful  address  to  Tyrian  seamen, 
 who  traded  to  Tarshish.— J>/"rcu/.  The  destruction  of  such  a  mart  as 
 Tyre  mu*it  have  been  a  great  loss  to  all  merchant  adventurers,  here 
 alluded  tc.—Preb.  Lowth.  Tarshish  —  see  livings,  xxu.  48,  note. 
 From  the  land  of  Chitlim—see  on  Num.  x.\iv.  24.  note.  From  Chittim 
 the  report  of  the  destruction  of  Tyre  was  to  be  communicated  l»y  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII.  —  I.  Observe  here,  the  final  that  day  shall  come— and  they  know  not  hut  it  is  at  the  door — 
 
 misery  of  wicked  men.     '  Oh  that  wicked  nipn  could  see  their  then  shall  they  be  all  gloom,  indecision,  and  despair.' "" 
 
 own  portraits  in  the  sentiments  of  the  wicked  shut  up  in  Jeru-  II.  Observe  Mr  inestinmhle  value  of  a  qnod  minister  at  the  head 
 
 salem  !     They  promise   themselves   impunity  in   crimes  ;  they  of  government.      When  such  a  man  is  placed  over  us,  we  ought 
 
 talk  of  a  mercy  nowhere  promised  in  the  sacred  writings,  and  to  Value  him.     All  rulers  are  to  be  esteemed  who  are  '  a  terror 
 
 hope  that  the  end  of  a  sinful  course  will  be  happy.     But  when  only  to  evil-doers,  and  a  praise  to  tiiem  that  do  well.' 
 
The  ovcrthroiv  of  Tyre. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXIII. 
 
 Their  return. 
 
 2  Be  t  still,  ye  inhabitants  of  tlie  isle  ;  tliou 
 whom  tlie  merchants  of  Zidon,  that  pass  over 
 the  sea,  have  replenished. 
 
 3  And  by  great  waters  llie  seed  of  Sihor,  the 
 harvest  of  the  river,  is  her  revenue  ;  and  '  she 
 is  a  mart  of  nations. 
 
 4  Be  thou  ashamed,  O  Zidon  :  for  the  sea 
 hath  spoken,  eL-en  the  strength  of  the  sea,  say- 
 ing, I  travail  not,  nor  bring  forth  children, 
 neitlier  do  I  nourish  up  young  men,  nor  bring 
 up  virgins. 
 
 5  ''  As  at  the  report  concerning  Egypt,  so 
 .shall  they  be  sorely  pained  at  the  report  of 
 Tyre. 
 
 6  Pass  ye  over  to  Tarshish  ;  howl,  ye  inha- 
 bitants of  the  isle. 
 
 7  Is  this  your  "joyous  CiC^,  whose  antiquity 
 is  of  ancient  days?  her  own  feet  shall  carry 
 her  f  at'ar  off  to  sojourn. 
 
 8  Wlio  hath  taken  this  counsel  agahist  Tyre, 
 '  the  crowning  cifij,  whose  nierclianls  /irc 
 princes,  whose  traffickers  are  the  honourable 
 of  the  earth  '? 
 
 9  The  Lord  of  hosts  hath  purposed  it,  f  to 
 stain  the  pride  of  all  glory,  and  to  bring  into 
 contempt  all  the  honourable  of  the  earth. 
 
 10  Pass  through  thy  land  as  a  river,  O  daugh- 
 ter of  TarshLsh  :  t/iere  is  no  more  f  strength. 
 
 11  He  stretched  out  his  hand  over  the  sea, 
 he  shook  the  kingdoms  :  the  Lord  hath  given 
 a  commandment  ||  against  f  the  merchant  city, 
 to  destroy  the  ||  .strong  holds  thereof. 
 
 12  And  he  said, '  Thou  shalt  no  more  rejoice, 
 
 cir.  715. 
 t  lieb.v. (-■'<(. 
 
 t  Hub  from 
 
 ,./:.,  ,.f. 
 /Si.-e  FzeK. 
 
 ■:s  2,  I  ■2. 
 
 t   neb.  10 
 piti'le. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 ■I  Re>   18  32 
 
 Ezek  27.26, 
 
 t  Heb.  ■/ 
 
 ihall  hei'iito 
 Tare  m  ll„ 
 
 0  thou  oppressed  virgin,  daughter  of  Zidon: 
 arise,  ''pass  over  to  Chittim  ;  there  also  shalt 
 thou  have  no  rest. 
 
 13  Behold  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans  ;  this 
 people  was  not,  till  the  Assyrian  founded  it  for 
 'them  that  dwell  in  the  wilderness :  they  set 
 up  the  towers  thereof,  they  raised  up  tlie 
 palaces  thereof;  and  he  brought  it  to  ruin. 
 
 14  ''Howl,  ye  ships  of  Tarshish:  for  your 
 strength  is  laid  waste. 
 
 15  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  Tyre  shall  be  forgotten  seventy  years, 
 according  to  the  days  of  one  king  :  after  the 
 end  of  seventy  years  f. shall  Tyre  sing  as  an 
 harlot. 
 
 16  Take  an  harp,  go  about  the  city,  thou 
 harlot  that  hast  been  forgotten  ;  make  sweet 
 melody,  sing  many  songs,  that  thou  niayest  be 
 remembered. 
 
 17  t  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  after  the  end 
 of  seventy  years,  that  the  Loud  will  visit  Tyre, 
 and  she  shall  turn  to  her  hire,  and  '  shall  com- 
 mit fornication  with  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
 world  upon  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 
 18  And  her  merchandise  and  her  hire  '"shall 
 be  holiness  to  the  Lord  :  it  shall  not  be 
 treasured  nor  laid  up ;  for  her  merchandise 
 shall  be  for  them  that  dwell  before  the  Lord,  to 
 eat  sufficiently,  and  for  f  durable  clothing. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  T/ic  dultful  judgments  of  God  upon  the  land.  13  A 
 7'emnant  shall  joyfuUy  praise  him.  16  God  in  his 
 jud^imcnts  shall  advance  his  kingdom. 
 
 Tyrian  seamen,  and  from  tlience  to  be  spread  over  Ihe  western  world. 
 -~Mttccul.  2.  Be  stilf,  be  silent,  as  mourners. — Gill.  Inhitbifunts  of 
 the  isle,  thnse  wbo  inhabited  the  sea  coasts,  and  also  the  islands  of  the 
 Mediterranean.  Zidon,  an  ancient  and  famous  city  in  Phoenicia,  which 
 was  five  or  six  miles  from  Tyre,  the  merchants  df  which  carried  on  ex- 
 tensive commerce. — MaccuL  3.  The  seed  of  Sihor,  or  Shichor,  the 
 Nile,  as  in  1  Cliron.  xiii.  5  ;  Jer.  ii.  18  ;  so  called  from  tlie  blackness  of  its 
 waiers.  The  produce  of  Egypt,  conveyed  to  Tyre  on  the  Nile,  and  ex- 
 ported thence  to  other  nations,  is  metaphorically  called  '  the  seed  and 
 harvest  of  the  rivet.''— Lowth,  Hew.  'The  seed  of  Sihnr  amidst  abun- 
 dant  waters.' — Boothr.  4.  Ashamed,  O  '/.idon—Snlon,  as  the  mother 
 city,  is  supposed  to  be  deeply  affected  with  the  calamity  other  daughter. 
 — Lowth.  The  sea  hath  spoken — Tyre  is  so  called,  beingsurrounded  by 
 it.  Euen  the  strength,  '  fortress  ;'  so  called  from  its  amazing  strength, 
 —Bonthr. ;  or  because  the  Tyrians  claimed  the  emjiire  of  the  ocean. 
 /  trnvnit  not,  expressive  of  the  decrease  of  her  citizens. — So  Mnccid. 
 5.  As  at  ihe  report  concernin'^  Egi/pt—thQ  destruction  of  Tyie,  here 
 spoken  of,  was  before  that  of  Egypt;  hence  some  render  it,  *as  soon 
 as  the  report  of  Tyre  shall  come  to  Egypt,  they  shall  be  in  great  pain,' 
 because  they  exported  their  corn  to  Tyre,  and  made  great  gain  by  it, 
 (see  ver.  3.)—Preb.  Lowth.  6.  Pass,  ^r.—the  prophet  advises  tlie 
 remaining  inhabitants  to  remove  to  Tarshish,  [Tartessus,  in  Spain.]  — 
 Mficcul.  This  is  rather  a  prediction,  for  the  Tyrians  fled  to  Carthage, 
 or  some  islands  of  the  Ionian  and  ^Egean  Sea.— B/j.  Neivtan,  so  St. 
 Jerome.  10.  As  a  rirer,  O  diuighter  of  Tarshish,  whose  banks  are 
 broken  down,  and  its  waters,  let  loose  and  overftowing  all  the  neigh- 
 hoiwing  plains,  are  wasted  and  lost.  Tyre  is  called  the  daughter  of 
 Tarshish,  because  the  Tyrian  people  had  become  its  inhabitants,  and  it 
 was  as  their  metropolis. —Lok-^A.  The  Hebrew  iriinm  admits  not  of 
 Lowth^s  con*^truction,  for  as  the  daughters  of  Zion  mean  its  citizens, 
 so  the  daughter  of  Tarshish  means  its  original  inhabitants,  and  nnw, 
 being  under  no  restraints  from  the  mother  country,  the  pro|)het  inti- 
 mates that  they  would  increase  and  prosper,  spread  abroad  like  a  fer- 
 tilizing river. — So  Buuthr.  12.  No  more  rejoice— to  be  understood 
 with  some  restrictions,  to  be  con.sistent  with  ver.  15  and  l6.  The  words 
 import,  that  the  Tyrians  should  not,  for  a  long  period  of  time,  rejoice 
 as  in  their  former  state  of  affluence  Oppressed  virgin,  who  had  been 
 renowned  for  her  unsullied  charms.— Tl/accwV.  Daughter  of  Zidon, 
 Tyre  is  so  called,  because  it  was  a  colony  of  Zidonians,  and,  at  first, 
 
 built  and  supported  by  them.— Gill.  Chittim,  some  part  of  Greece  us 
 in  Num.  xxiv,  24,  nnte.  Have  no  rest,  since  those  countries  woulu  lull 
 into  the  enemies'  hands.— GiV;.         13.  This  people,  ^c.—- 
 
 *  (This  people  were  formerly  of  no  account ; 
 Wanderers  of  the  desert,  till  the  Assyrians  founded  tlicm  :) 
 They  raise  up  their  towers  ngainst  Ti/re ; 
 They  make  an  assault  on  her  palaces } 
 They  make  her  an  utter  desolution.' 
 
 15.  Seven f)/  pears,  according  to  the  dui/s  of  one  king— l^ehuch&Aoezzar 
 began  his  conquests  in  the  first  year'of  his  reign  ;  from  thence  to  the 
 capture  of  Babylon,  by  Cyrus,  was  seventy  years,  when  the  nations 
 conquered  by  Nebuchadnezzar  were  to  be  restored  to  liberty.  These 
 seventy  years  limit  the  duration  of  the  Babylonish  monarchy.  Tyre 
 was  taken  about  the  middle  of  that  period,  so  did  not  serve  the  king  of 
 Babylon  during  the  whole  periud,  but  only  for  the  remaining  part  of  it. 
 This  seems  to  be  the  meaning  of  Isaiah — the  days  allotted  to  the  one 
 king,  or  kingdom,  are  seventy  years  ;  Tyre,  with  the  rest  of  the  con- 
 quered nations,  shall  continue  in  a  stateof  subjection  and  desolation  to 
 the  end  of  that  perio  I.  (comp.  Jer.  xxv.  l\.i—Boothr,  Sing  as  an 
 harlot,  i  e.,  with  great  gaiety  and  mirth,  (comp.  Rev.  xviii.  3,  7,  22, 
 Sic.)—Wil.  This  shews  the  manner  in  which  these  women  attracted 
 attention.  At  the  time  predicted,  the  Tyiians  were  restored,  and  al- 
 lowed their  own  king.  For  it  was  just  seventy  years  from  the  taking 
 of  Tyre  when  Darius  Hvstaspes  granted  this  for  their  naval  services  ; 
 they  recovered  their  former  prosperity,  and  made  a  greater  stand 
 against  Alexander  than  all  the  Persian  empire  beside.— F'id.,  Scott. 
 
 16.  Thou  harlot— \he  allusion  is  kept  up  to  signify  her  traffic  with  all 
 nations. — Boothr.  !8.  Her  hire,  the  gain  of  employment.— Hi^Hr?/. 
 Shall  be  holiness,  i^v?.— the  sense  seems,  that  in  after  times,  some  of  the 
 Tyrians  should  become  Jewish  proselytes,  and  devote  part  of  their  sub- 
 stance  to  tlie  service  of  the  temple  at  Jerusalem.— Prei.  Lowth.  The 
 Gospel  was  early  planted  in  Tyre,  and  a  church  was  founded  there, 
 which  became  a  kind  of  mother  church  to  others  connected  with  it, 
 (Acts,  xxi.  l—&.)—Scntt.  For  them  that  divell  hffore  the  Lord,  the 
 ministers  of  the  Gospel,  who  stand  before  the  Lord,  and  minister  in 
 holy  things.— Gf//.  An  allusion  to  the  oflfice  of  the  priests  and  Lcvites, 
 who,  by  turns,  gave  constant  service  at  the  temple.— Pre6.  Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIII.  —  In  this  chapter  we  have 
 an  exhibition  of —  I.  Judymcnt.  Tyre,  the  flourishing,  the 
 rich,  the  proud,  is  overthrown,  and  its  people  scattered.  God 
 has  iiis  eye  upon  tiie  empires  of  the  world,  and  upon  each  in- 
 dividual in  those  empires.  He  can  and  does  at  pleasure  raise 
 them  up  and  cast  them  down.  They  may  flourish  for  awhile, 
 but  the  day  of  punishment  shall  come,  and  he  will  let  all  men 
 .9ee  tliat  there  is  a  God  that  judgeth  in  the  earth.  We  have 
 also  an  exhibition  of — 
 
 il.  Mercy.  Tyre  restored,  and  restored  yet  to  be  honoured 
 739 
 
 with  the  communion  of  saints,  and  inscribed,  like  the  frontlet 
 of  the  high  priest,  with  '  Holiness  to  the  Lord.'  When  mer- 
 chandize is  so  consecrated,  it  is  the  host  sign  of  God's  favour 
 among  a  people.  'Thus  should  Christians  conduct  business 
 as  the  servants  of  God,  and  use  riches  as  his  stewards.  As 
 vital  godliness  shall  abound,  such  characters  will  become  more 
 numerous,  and  their  commerce  will  be  rendered  a  blessing, 
 not  only  to  the  cities  where  it  is  conducted,  but  to  the  huniau 
 species  at  large.'  s 
 
The  judgments  of  God  upon  the  land. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXIV. 
 
 The  advancement  of  God*s  hingdom. 
 
 "OEHOLD,  the  Lord  maketli  the  earth 
 -'-'  empty,  and  maketh  it  waste,  and  f  turneth 
 it  upside  down,  and  scattereth  abroad  the  in- 
 habitants thereof. 
 
 •2  And  it  shall  be,  as  with  the  people,  so  with 
 the  II  Spriest  ;  as  with  the  servant,  so  with  his 
 master;  as  with  the  maid,  so  witb  her  mistress  \ 
 ^  as  with  the  l)iiyer,  so  with  the  seller;  as  with 
 the  lender,  so  with  the  borrower  ;  as  with  the 
 taker  of  usury,  so  with  tiie  giver  of  usury  to 
 him. 
 
 ^  The  land  shall  be  utterly  emptied,  and 
 utterly  spoiled:  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken 
 this  word. 
 
 4  The  earth  mournetb  and  fadeth  away,  the 
 world  languisheth  and  fadeth  away,  f  the 
 haughty  people  of  the  earth  do  languish. 
 
 .J  "^  The  earth  also  is  defiled  under  the  inha- 
 bitants thereof;  because  tliey  have  transgressed 
 the  laws,  changed  the  ordinance,  broken  the 
 everlasting  covenant. 
 
 <3  Therefore  hath  ^  the  curse  devoured  the 
 earth, and  they  that  dwell  therein  are  desolate: 
 therefore  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  are 
 l)urned,  and  few  men  left. 
 
 7  ''  The  new  wine  mournetb,  the  vine  languish- 
 eth, all  the  merryhearted  do  sigh. 
 
 8  The  mirtli  ■"  of  tabrets  ceaseth,  the  noise  of 
 them  that  rejoice  endeth,  the  joy  of  the  harp 
 ceaseth, 
 
 9  They  shall  not  drink  wine  with  a  song; 
 strong  drink  shall  be  bitter  to  them  that  drink 
 it. 
 
 10  The  city  of  confusion  is  broken  down: 
 every  house  is  shut  up,  that  no  man  may 
 come  in. 
 
 1 1  There  is  a  crying  for  wine  in  the  streets  ; 
 all  joy  is  darkened,  the  mirth  of  the  land  is 
 gone. 
 
 1*2  In  the  city  is  left  desolation,  and  the  gate 
 is  smitten  with  destruction. 
 13  1[  When  thus  it  shall  be  in  the  midst  of 
 
 t  Heb  per- 
 verleth  the 
 fuce  tliereof 
 
 ftEzek.T.tS, 
 
 [  Heh,  the 
 heghtofthf 
 
 c  Gen.  3,  17 
 Nu.  35.  a.S. 
 
 e  ch.  16.  S,0 
 Joel  1.10,12. 
 
 /■Jer.  7  S*. 
 St  16.  9.  & 
 25.  10. 
 Eiek  26.13 
 Hos.  3.  n. 
 Rev.  IS.  S-2, 
 
 t  Heb.  L^n- 
 Hftt  to  mr, 
 or,  My  se- 
 cret to  "It. 
 
 Jer.  b.  n. 
 
 *  See  I  Kin. 
 19.  17.  Jor. 
 4S,  H,  «. 
 Amos  5.  19, 
 
 i  Htfb.  t'hil 
 
 P  Ps.  76.  12. 
 
 t  Ilfb.  loilh 
 l)i*  gathfriiig 
 o/t'rU..„>rs. 
 
 II  Or,  'iu„. 
 
 II  Or,  found 
 
 v,a..ti',g. 
 
 q    Cl>.    13.     10. 
 
 &  fiO.  19. 
 Ezek.  32.  7 
 Joel  2.  31. 
 fc  .S.  15. 
 r  Rev.  19.  ■!, 
 6. 
 
 I  Heb.  1?.  ?■? 
 
 II  Or.  there 
 shaU  be 
 ghiTu  hrf'^ri 
 
 the  land  among  the  people,  ^  there  shall  he  as 
 the  shaking  of  an  olive  tree,  and  as  the  glean- 
 ing grapes  when  the  vintage  is  done, 
 
 14  They  shall  lift  up  their  voice,  they  shall 
 sing  for  the  majesty  of  the  Lord,  they  shall 
 cry  aloud  from  the  sea. 
 
 15  Wherefore    glorify   ye   the   Loud   iu    the 
 
 II  fires,  even  ^  the  name  of  the  Lord  God  of 
 Israel  in  the  isles  of  the  sea. 
 
 16  t  From  the  f  uttermost  part  of  the  earth 
 have  we  heard  songs,  even  glory  to  the  righte- 
 ous. But  I  said,  f  My  leanness,  my  leannes.*, 
 woe  unto  me!  'the  treacherous  dealers  have 
 dealt  treacherously;  yea,  tlie  treacherous  deal- 
 ers have  dealt  very  treacherously. 
 
 17  ''Fear,  and  the  pit,  and  the  snare,  are 
 upon  thee,  O  inhabitant  of  the  earth. 
 
 18  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  he  who 
 fleeth  from  the  noise  of  the  fear  shall  fall  into 
 the  pit;  and  he  that  cometh  up  out  of  the 
 midst  of  the  pit  shall  be  taken  in  the  snare: 
 for  '  the  windows  from  on  high  are  open,  and 
 "'  the  foundations  of  the  earth  do  shake. 
 
 19  "The  earth  is  utterly  broken  dov^n,  the 
 earth  is  clean  dissolved,  the  earth  is  moved 
 exceedingly. 
 
 20  Tlie  earth  shall  °  reel  to  and  fro  like  a 
 drunkard,  and  shall  be  removed  like  a  cottage; 
 and  the  transgression  thereof  shall  be  heavy 
 upon  it ;  and  it  shall  fall,  and  not  rise  again, 
 
 '21  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  tlie  Lord  shall  f  punish  tlie  host  of  the 
 high  ones  that  are  on  high,  ^aiid  the  kings  of 
 the  earth  upon  the  earth. 
 
 22  And  they  shall  be  gathered  together,  "frts 
 prisoners  are  gathered  in  the  ||  pit,  and  shall 
 be  shut  up  in  the  prison,  and  after  many  days 
 shall  they  be  ||  visited. 
 
 2.')  Then  tlie'^  moon  shall  be  confounded,  and 
 the  sun  ashamed,  when  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall 
 r  reign  in  ^  mount  Zioii,  and  in  Jerusalem,  and 
 
 I II  before  his  ancients  gloriously. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV. —  1.  Maketh  the  enrth.  i^-c. — a  prophecy  of  the  dread- 
 ful judgments  impending:  over  the  people  of  Jiidah  and  l.'^rael,  desig. 
 Dated  by  the  earth,  the  land,  the  worhl.  —  Clarke,  Lotcth,  Boothr. 
 Perlmps  the  prophecy  nny  allude  to  the  three  desolations  of  Judah  by 
 Shalmaneser,  NchuchaUnczzRr,  and  the  Romans. —  Wit.  2.  .4.s  with, 
 fyc. — all  shall  he  involved  i'l  the  same  ruin.  4.  The  enrth  moumeth 
 — the  land  is  represented  as  one  mourning  in  weeds,  and  fading  like 
 scorched  grass. — L.  Ho/dcu.  5.  The  everlasting  covenant,  made  be- 
 tween God  and  Abraham,  and  all  his  posterity.  This  shews  Israel  is 
 here  designed. — Poole.  0.  Burned,  in  prophetic  langnafje,  signifies 
 consumed  by  war. — Sir  Isaac  Newtnn,  7.  Moumeth,  for  want  of 
 drinkers,  or  bein^  wasted. — Gill.  The  fruits  of  the  earth  are  consumed 
 by  hostile  invasion^. — Preb.  Lowth.  9.  Strong  drink  shall  he  bitter, 
 means  all  enjoyment  shall  cease. — Lowth.  10,  The  city  of  confusion 
 is,  ffc.—Gill  understands  this  of  Rome. — Ed.  *The  city  is  broken 
 down,  it  is  desolate.' — Boothr.  l."!.  As  the  shaking — see  on  chap, 
 xvii.  6,  note.  U.  Then  shall  ihey  lift,  ^c,  'those  left  s-hall  lift,'  &c. 
 — Boothr.  (?(//,  interpreting  this  of  Home,  says,  'those  left  upi>n  the 
 earth.* — Ed.  The  dispersed  Jews  in  Egypt,  Asia  Minor,  the  islands 
 and  coasts  of  Greece,  &c.,  had  many  synagogues,  and  were  greatly 
 instrumental  in  propagating  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God, — Lowth. 
 The  chief  accomplisliment  of  this  prophecy  seems  to  have  been  after 
 the  de'^triiction  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Romans.  At  that  season,  there 
 was  a  smalt  company,  like  the  gleanings  of  the  vine  or  of  the  olive, 
 which  had  embraced  Christianity  ;  these,  dispersed  among  the  nations, 
 lifted  up  their  voice  in  songs  of  praise. — Scott.  15.  Glorify — in  the 
 fires — though  not  yet  delivered  from  the  scorching  flames  of  great  tii- 
 bulation,  yet  hope  and  trust  in  God,  wherever  ye  may  be  dispersed. — 
 L.  Holden.  These  are  the  words  of  the  scattered  remnant. — Gill. 
 They  may  be  the  words  of  the  prophet,  stirring  up  God's  people  to  go 
 on  in  praising  Imn. — Jackson. 
 
 •Wherefore,  in  "  the  distant  regions"  iSept.,"]  glorify  ye  Jehovah, 
 Among  the  dislant  isles  of  the  sea, 
 The  name  of  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel.'— Boo/Ar. 
 l6.  Glory  to  the  righteous,  to  the  Righteous  One.  for  his  righteoasjudg- 
 mcnts;  or  that  they  should  spread  abroad  the  glory  of  Christ,  thtir 
 Redeemer;  or  righteous  men,  who  follow  after  righteousness,  may  be 
 intended.— J«rA-so7i,  Gill,  Macnd.     My  leanness,  SfC,  *  my  flesh  wasies 
 away  with  sorrow,  for  the  cruelties  of  the  king  of  As.svria.  who  is  a 
 trenchcrous  dealer,  and  a  covenant  breaker.'— Sh/. 
 740 
 
 '  Hut,  I  said,  Alas,  my  calamity,  my  calamity  ! 
 Wo  is  me  !  the  plunderers  yet  plunder  ; 
 Yea,  the  plunderers  continually  plunder.' — Boothr. 
 
 17.  Fear,  and  the  pit,  and  the  snare,  alluding  to  the  different  nuthods 
 of  taking  wild  beasts.  The  fear  or  terror  was  a  line  strung  with 
 feathers  of  different  colours,  which  was  sn  cnn^tructcd  as  to  flutter  in 
 the  air,  and  to  make  a  terrifying  noise  that  friglitened  the  beasts  into 
 the  i)it  or  the  snare.  The  pit  was  digged  deep  and  covered  over  with 
 boutjhs,  $ic. ;  the  snare  was  composed  of  nets,  enclosing  a  large  space 
 of  ground  which  the  beasts  haunted,  and  these  were  gradually  drawn 
 closer  to  take  them. — Lowth.  The  sense  is,  if  they  escape  one  cala- 
 mity they  shall  fall  into  another.  (Amos,  v.  I0.)^naolhr.  I8.  The 
 windows,  a  plain  alhision  to  the  deluge,  (Gen.  vii.  11.)— Frei.  Lowth, 
 ly.  Clean  dissolred  —  s^X'iW  alluding  to  the  deluge  — Gill.  20.  The 
 earth,  here  seem^  to  mean  kingdoms,  states,  and  empires.  Shall  reel, 
 ^c,  in  prophetic  style,  signifies  great  public  cal.-mities  and  remarkable 
 changes.  —  Mnccul.  A  cottage,  'a  night  lodge.' — Lowth,  Boothr., 
 Clarke.  21.  The  host  of  the  high  ones,  may  mean  vast  numbers  of 
 persons  elevated  to  high  rank,  sueh  as  ecclesiastical  and  political  rulers. 
 22.  As  prisoners,  who  are  bound  fast,  collected  together  and  thrown 
 into  dungeons;  so  Satan,  Rev.  xx.  1,  &c. — Maccul.  Be  visited,  witha 
 judicial  judgment. —  Vitringa,  Jackson,  Mac,  Gift.  23.  The  moon — the 
 images  of  tlie  ^uii  and  moon,  which  are  metaphorically  said  to  blush, 
 or  be  confounded,  because  they  were  not  able  to  save  their  idolatrous 
 worshippers. — Grotins.  The  whole  body  of  the  common  people;  the 
 sun,  the  whole  species  and  race  of  kings  ;  the  figurative  language  ofthe 
 prophets  being  taken  from  the  analogy  between  the  world  natural  and 
 an  empire  or  kingdom  consi<lcred  as  a  world  politic. — Sir  I.  Newton. 
 With  such  exccedmg  glory  and  brightness  shall  the  greatness  and 
 majesty  of  God  shine  forth  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  that  the  sun  and 
 moon  shall  be  ashamed  to  shew  their  faces,  their  brightness  shall  be  as 
 no  brightness,  yea,  as  mere  darkness  in  cotnparison. — Jackson.  Before 
 his  ancients,  the  old  Jewish  church  ;  the  apostles  and  elders  of  the 
 gospel  churches.— Gt//.  An  allusion  to  the  elders  of  Israel,  (compare 
 Rev.  iv.  4;  xix.  4,  (i.)—Preb.  Lowth.  The  prophets  wrote  on  several 
 scrolls  of  parchment,  and  those  who  compiled  them  have  not  always 
 been  happy  in  the  arrangements.  From  chap.  xiii.  to  xxv.  is  a  series 
 of  pedictions  res|iccting  the  fall  of  nations,  without  any  crder,  for 
 Babylon,  which  happened  among  the  last,  stands  first. — Sut. 
 
The  prophet  praiseth  God, 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXV.,  XXVI. 
 
 for  his  judgments  and  salvation. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 I   T/ie  prophet  praiseth  God,  for  /its  judf/mentSy  6  for 
 fi's  saving  hcnejits,  9  attdfor  /lis  victorious  sa/vution. 
 
 (  \  Lord,  tliou  art  my  God  ;  "  I  will  exalt 
 ^^  tliee,  1  will  praise  thy  name;  ''for  thou 
 hast  done  wondeiful  things ;  '  thy  counsels  of 
 old  arc  faithfulness  and  truth. 
 
 2  For  thou  hast  made  "^  of  a  city  an  heap  ;  of 
 a  defenced  city  a  ruin  :  a  palace  of  strangers 
 to  be  no  city  ;  it  shall  never  he  built. 
 
 3  Therefore  sliall  tlie  strong  people  °  glorify 
 thee,  the  city  of  the  terrible  nations  shall  fear 
 thee. 
 
 4  For  thou  hast  been  a  strength  to  the  poor, 
 a  strength  to  the  needy  in  his  distress,  'a  re- 
 fuge from  the  storm,  a  shadow  from  the  heat, 
 when  the  blast  of  the  terrible  ones  is  as  a  storm 
 against  the  wall, 
 
 5  Tliou  shall  bringdown  the  noise  of  strangers, 
 as  the  heat  in  a  dry  place  ;  et'en  the  heat  with 
 the  shadow  of  a  cloud  :  the  branch  of  the  ter- 
 rible ones  shall  be  brought  low. 
 
 6  1[  And  in  ^  this  mountain  shall  '■  the  Lord 
 of  hosts  make  unto  '  all  people  a  feast  of  fat 
 things,  a  feast  of  wines  on  the  lees,  of  fat  things 
 full  of  marrow,  of  wines  on  the  lees  well  re- 
 fined. 
 
 7  And  he  will  f  destroy  in  this  mountain  the 
 face  of  the  covering  |  cast  over  all  people,  and 
 ''  the  vail  that  is  spread  over  all  nations. 
 
 8  He  will  '  swallow  np  death  in  victory;  and 
 the  Lord  God  will  ""  wipe  away  tears  from  off 
 all  faces ;  and  the  rebuke  of  his  people  shall 
 
 a  Ex.  16.  s. 
 Ps    U8. -'S 
 
 6  Ps.  ys.  1. 
 
 (Job.  21.9. 
 &  -23.  IS. 
 JfV.  51.  sr. 
 
 S?  ch.  2.  8,  3. 
 h  I'lo.  9.  3. 
 
 Mat.  22.  *- 
 i  Dnn.  7.  14. 
 
 Mat.  8.  II. 
 
 f  H.-b. 
 
 IWIllluUt   up. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 «2Cor  3.15. 
 
 EiJh.  4.  18. 
 I  llvs   13.  H. 
 
 1  Cur.  15.5 1 
 
 Rev.  20.  14 
 
 &  21.  4. 
 m  Rer.  7.  17. 
 
 &  21.  4. 
 
 BC. 
 
 cir.  712 
 
 fGen.'M.  18. 
 Tit.  2.  13. 
 
 II  Or, 
 tl.reshe'i. 
 a  Or, 
 
 IliTFih'd    l". 
 
 cir.    72. 
 a  cb.  S.  II. 
 
 c  Ps.  113.  19, 
 20. 
 
 )  nfb.lr„lhi. 
 t  Hi-h.  yea^f, 
 
 th  67.  19. 
 II  OT,llio>'ffbt, 
 or,  i'liii^i'ia- 
 
 he  take  away  from  off  all  the  earth  :  for  the 
 Lord  hath  spoken  it. 
 
 9  f  And  it  sliall  be  said  in  that  day,  Lo,  tliis 
 is  our  God  ;  "  we  have  waited  for  him,  and  he 
 will  save  us :  this  is  the  Lord  ;  we  have 
 waited  for  him,  "  we  will  be  glad  and  rejoice 
 ill  his  salvation. 
 
 10  For  in  this  mountain  sliall  the  hand  of  the 
 Lord  rest,  and  Moab  shall  be  ||  trodden  down 
 under  liim,  even  as  straw  is  ||  trodden  down 
 for  the  dunghill. 
 
 1 1  And  he  shall  spread  forth  his  hands  in  the 
 midst  of  them,  as  he  that  swimmeth  s])ieadeth 
 forth  his  hands  to  swim  :  and  he  shall  bring 
 down  their  pride  together  with  the  spoils  of 
 their  hands. 
 
 1-2  And  the  ■' fortress  of  the  high  fort  of  thy 
 walls  shall  he  bring  down,  lay  low,  and  bring 
 to  the  ground,  even  to  the  dust. 
 
 CHAP.   XXVI. 
 
 I  A  song  inciting  to  conjidence  in  God.,  5  for  Uisjudy- 
 7nejits,  12  and  for  his  favour  to  his  fiOjJc.  20  7ln 
 ixhvrtation  to  wait  on  Gud. 
 
 T  N  "  that  day  shall  this  song  be  sung  in  the 
 -*-  land  of  Judah  ;  We  have  a  strong  city ; 
 ^  salvation  will  God  appoint /b?"  walls  and  bul- 
 warks. 
 
 2  ■""  Open  ye  the  gates,  that  the  righteous  na- 
 tion which  keepeth  the  f  truth  may  enter  in. 
 
 3  Thou  wilt  keep  him  fin  perfect  peace, 
 whose  II  mind  is  stayed  on  thee:  because  he 
 trusteth  in  thee. 
 
 -Chap.  XXV. —  1.  I  will  praise  thy  name,  for  the  jatlgments  of  God 
 on  the  impious  Assyrians,  and  his  gracious  care  in  preserving  his 
 faithful  people.— S»;.  2.  A  city,  great  Baljylon. — Mac,  Boothr, 
 A  paliice  of  strnn'^ern,  some  great  commercial  city  is  meant,  where 
 splendid  residences  \vcre  built  for  foreigners  engaged  ■with  the  people 
 in  commerce. —  Wil.  Inhabited  by  Assyrians  and  Babjloniaus,  called 
 strang:ers,  Ezek.  xi.  9.  This  was  an  eminent  type  of  great  rayslical 
 Babylon,  (Rev.  xviii.  20.) — Maccul.  Rome  and  its  dependencies  must 
 be  intended.— So  Gill.  It  may  apply  to  Nineveh,  Babylon,  &c.,  or 
 any  olhcr  fortress  po.sscssed  by  the  enemies  of  God's  people. — Lowth. 
 *  City'  may  be  taken  for  cities  in  general,  and  so  chap.  xxvi.  5  ;  x.\vii. 
 10.— Prei.  Lowth.  3.  The  strong  people,  stoutest  enemies  shall 
 glorify  Gnd's  power. — Puole.  The  city  vf  the  terrible  nutions,  may 
 mean  Babylon  or  Rome.  At  Rome,  the  prophecy  was  remarkably  ful- 
 filled at  the  first  pmpngatinn  of  the  Gospel,  (Rom.  i.  8.)~Maccul. 
 4.  /i'  'IS  n  stnrm  against  ihe  unit,  'as  an  inundation.' — Monf.,  Loivth. 
 '  Was  as  a  rapid  torrent.' — Boolhr.  5.  Than  s/uUt  bring  down,  ^c, 
 i.  e.,  as  a  thick  cloud  interposing,  tempers  the  heat  of  the  sun  on  a 
 burnt  soil,  so  shalt  tliou,  by  the  interposition  of  thy  power,  bring  low 
 and  abate  the  tumult  of  the  proud,  and  the  triumph  of  the  formidable. 
 — Lowth.  'Thou  shalt  bring  down,'  &C.,  witli  as  much  ease  as,  in  the 
 common  course  of  providence,  God  allays  the  heat  of  a  dry  season  and 
 place,  either  by  the  shadow  of  chiuds  or  by  the  rain. — Poole.  6.  This 
 mountain,  the  church,  comparable  to  one  for  its  visibility  and  immove- 
 ableness. — Gill,  see  Puole.  A  fenst,  the  establishment  of  Christ's  king, 
 dom,  frequently  represented  in  the  Gospel  as  a  feast,  (Matt.  viii.  11; 
 Luke,  xiv.  16  ;  xxii.  29,  ZG.)— Lowth.  A  feast  is  a  proper  and  usual  ex- 
 pression of  joy  in  consequence  of  victory  or  any  other  great  success. — 
 A.  Clarke.  Fat  things,  'the  best  things.' — Ed.  The  words  evidently 
 respect  the  times  of  the  Messiah,  since  under  the  law  fat  wns  not  to  be 
 eaten.— G(7/.  Wines  on  the  lees,  wines  long  kept,  that  is,  old  wines. — 
 Clarke.  This  may  allude  to  an  eastern  custom  of  pouring  new  wine 
 on  old  lees. — Pict.  Bib.  7.  Destroy  in  this  mountai?i,  at  Jerusalem 
 shall  the  Gospel  begin,  &c. —  Wells.  The  face  of  the  covering — he  will 
 unveil  all  the  Mosaic  ritual,  and  shew,  by  his  apostles,  that  it  referred 
 to,  an<l  was  accomplished  in,  the  sacrificial  oflfering  of  Jesus  Christ. — 
 A.  Clarke,    He  will  remove  the  darkness  of  the  Gentile  world. — Sut. 
 
 8.  Swallow  up  death,  8,c. — the  expression  is  taken  from  things  cast  into 
 the  sea,  or  the  fire,  or  some  marshy  place,  which  aie  immediately  ab- 
 sorbed and  disappear, — Maccul.  The^e  forms  vf  speech  may  refer  to 
 the  punishment  of  certain  criminals — they  were  obliged  to  drink  a  cup 
 of  poison.  That  cup  which  every  criminal  in  the  world  must  have 
 drunk,  Jesus  Christ  drank  for  them,  and  thus  he  swallowed  up  death  ; 
 but  as  he  arose  from  the  grave,  compiete  victory  was  gained. — So 
 Clarke.  These  promises  cannot  be  made  good  till  the  general  resur- 
 reclioQ, — Preb.  Lowth.  Rebuke,  '  reproach,'  '  contempt.'  —  Poole. 
 10.  Hand  of  the  Lord  rest,  his  protecting  hand,  which  had  long  been 
 withdrawn,  was  again  to  be  restored  to  bless,  defend,  and  emich  his 
 people.  Moab  shall  be  trodden  down,  §'t'. — 
 '  And  Moab  shall  lie  threshed  in  his  place 
 
 As  the  straw  is  threshed  under  the  wheels  of  the  car.* — Louth. 
 See  Deut.  x.w.  4,  note.  This  metaphor  expressed  severe  calamities 
 inflicted  on  na'ions  and  people,  (see  2  Kings,  xiii.  7  ;  Amos,  i.  3  ;  Hab. 
 iii.  12;  comp.  Isa.  xxi.  10  ;  xli.  15;  Dan.  ii.  35,}— Pw;-.  By  Moab,  the 
 enemies  of  the  church  are  meant,  and  it  is  put  for  them  all.— G(V/,  as 
 Vitringu.  1 1 .  He — the  Lord  is  designed  by  the  pronoun  he. — Poole. 
 Shall  spread,  ^c. — he  would  exert  the  power  of  his  might ;  strike  on 
 both  sides,  as  the  swimmer.— Gi//.  As  the  swimmer  cuts  the  waters 
 with  outstretched  hands.  Thus  the  Lord  would  stretch  forth  his  hands 
 so  as  to  reach  the  remote  corners  of  Moab.— il/act'«^  Perhaps  there 
 may  be  an  allusion  to  the  extended  arms  of  the  Saviour  on  tlie  cross 
 when  he  triumphed  overhis  enemies. — Scott.  The  tigure  rather  applies 
 to  Moab  struggling  like  a  drowning  man  in  deep  waters,  and  exerting 
 his  etforts  to  swim. — Lowth,  so  Bouthr.,  who  renders  the  passage — 
 
 *  And  he  shall  stretch  out  his  hands  amidst  thereof, 
 As  the  swimmer  stretchcth  out  his  hands  to  swim  : 
 Bttt  God  shall  bring  down  his  pride, 
 Together  with  the  vigour  of  his  hands.' 
 Chap.  XXVI.  —  1.  A  strong  city,  in  opposition  to  that  of  the  enemy, 
 which  God  had  destroyed,  (chap.  xxv.  2.)— Lowth.    The  church  is  the 
 city  of  God,  (see  Fs.  xlvin.  1 ;  Ixxxvii.  3 ;  Heb.  xii.  22.) — Preb.  Lowth. 
 2.  Open  ye  the  gates — the  phrase  denotes  a  lar;;e  increase  of  members 
 to  the  church. — Gill,  as  Preb.  Lowth.      The  righteous  nation,  \\iq  pious 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.  XXIV We  see  here,  I.  Israel 
 
 punished.  Sin  turns  a  nation  upside  down.  As  it  reverses 
 God's  laws  and  ordinances,  so  it  reverses  his  original  design 
 of  making  his  crealures  happy.  God's  justice  and  hohness 
 require  its  punishment,  or  lie  would  no  longer  act  as  the  moral 
 Governor  of  the  world.  Hence  he  visits  it  with  punishment. 
 He  will  'by  no  means  clear  the  guilty,' and  his  own  people 
 found  among  the  transgressors  shall  not  go  unpunished. 
 
 II.  Israel  delivtnd.  A  few  olives  shall  yet  be  left  in  the 
 tree  after  the  shaking  ;  a  few  grapes  on  tlie  vine  after  the 
 visitation  of  the  reaper.  The  righteous  shall  yet  glory  in  the 
 Righteous  One.  The  enemies  of  the  church  of  God  shall  be 
 punished,  and  he  shall  reign  gloriously  ovor  a  happy  people 
 741 
 
 on  his  holy  hill  of  Zion. 
 
 IIeflecmons  on  Chap.  XXV.  —  We  have  here,  I.  The 
 churdi's  enemies  co7ifounded.  Their  pride  and  haughtiness 
 brought  low,  and  the  Lord  alone  exalted. 
 
 II.  The  church  triumphant.  Partaking  with  joy  of  the  feast 
 of  salvation,  breaking  forth  througli  the  surrounding  darkness, 
 like  the  sun  when  he  goeth  forth  in  his  might,  and  in  the  light 
 of  immortality  tinally  triumphing  over  all  and  the  worst  of 
 enemies.  Here  we  are  reminded  of  the  apostle's  explanation 
 of  a  portion  of  this  prophecy — '  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting! 
 O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  !  The  sling  of  death  is  sin,  and 
 the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law.  But  thanks  be  to  God  which 
 c'lveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  .lesus  Christ.' 
 
A  sony  of  cotifidmce  in  God. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXVII. 
 
 God's  care  over  his  vineyard. 
 
 i  Trust  ye  in  the  Lord  for  ever  :  •'  for  in  the 
 Lord  JEHOVAH  !s  f  everlasting  strength  : 
 
 o  H  For  lie  bringeth  down  them  that  ilwell  on 
 liigh  ;  °  the  lofty  city,  be  layeth  it  low  ;  he 
 layeth  it  low,  even  to  the  ground  ;  be  bringeth 
 it  even  to  the  dust. 
 
 6  The  foot  shall  tread  it  down,  even  the  feet 
 of  the  poor,  and  the  steps  of  the  needy. 
 
 7  The  w  ay  of  the  just  is  uprightness  :  '  thou, 
 most  upriglit,  dost  weigh  the  path  of  the  just. 
 
 8  Yea,  °  in  the  way  of  thy  judgments,  O 
 Lord,  have  ive  waited  for  thee  ;  tlie  desire  of 
 our  soul  is  to  thy  name,  and  to  the  remem- 
 lirance  of  thee. 
 
 i)  ■'  With  my  soul  have  I  desired  thee  in  the 
 night  ;  yea,  with  my  spirit  within  me  will  I 
 seek  tliee  early:  for  wlien  thy  judgments  are 
 in  the  eartli,  the  inhabitants  of  the  world  will 
 learn  righteousness. 
 
 10  '  Let  favour  be  shewed  to  the  wicked,  i/et 
 will  he  not  learn  righteousness  :  in  '  the  land 
 of  uprightness  will  he  deal  unjustly,  and  will 
 not  behold  the  majesty  of  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  Lord,  u-/ien  thy  hand  is  lifted  up,  '  they 
 will  not  see  :  but  they  shall  see,  and  be  ashamed 
 for  their  envy  ||  at  the  people ;  yea,  the  fire 
 of  thine  enemies  shall  devour  them. 
 
 12  t  Lord,  thon  wilt  ordain  peace  for  us;  for 
 thou  also  bast  wrought  all  our  works  ||  in  us. 
 
 13  O  Lord  our  God,  "'  other  lords  beside 
 thee  have  had  dominion  over  us  :  but  by  thee 
 only  will  we  make  mention  of  thy  name. 
 
 14  Thei/  are  dead,  they  shall  not  live  ;  t/iey 
 are  deceased,  they  shall  not  rise  :  therefore 
 hast  thou  visited  and  destroyed  them,  and  made 
 all  their  memory  to  perish. 
 
 15  Thou  bast  increased  the  nation,  O  Lord, 
 thou  bast  increased  the  nation  :  thou  art  glo- 
 rified :  tliou  hadst  removed  it  far  unlo  all  the 
 ends  of  the  earth. 
 
 16  Lord,  "in  trouble  have  they  visited  thee, 
 they  poured  out  a  fpr^.ver  when  tliy  chasten- 
 
 d  ch    4-'..  17. 
 t  Heb   the 
 
 ror*  ../'aj... 
 
 /  fs   37  23. 
 g  ch.  64.  5. 
 
 h  Ps.  r.3.  6. 
 Cant-  3.  I. 
 
 i  Ecclej  fi  1?. 
 Roiii   J  4 
 k  Pa.  14:1  II'. 
 
 /  J,>b  S4  27 
 Ps.  M.  5. 
 ch.  5.  12. 
 Or,  r'lpnrd 
 thy  I'rople. 
 
 llOr./.r.... 
 m  2  Chr,  12, 
 
 ,  ch.  13.  8. 
 John  16  21 
 
 p  Ps.  17.  14. 
 
 o  Eiek.  37. 
 
 1,&C. 
 r  Dan.  12.2 
 
 (  Ps  .16.  .1. 
 ch.  54   7,  fi 
 2  Cor.  4.  17 
 I  Mic.  1   3 
 Ju^le  14. 
 
 n  Hos   .5.  \h 
 (  Heb.  itcii-l 
 
 i  Or,  mt 
 i„3  lifte 
 
 6ch.  51.  9. 
 
 Ezck   29.3. 
 
 &  S2.  2. 
 c  ch  S.  1. 
 d  Pa   80.  fl 
 
 Jcr.  8.:! I. 
 «P8.  I21.4,J 
 
 /a  Pam.  2.1. 
 -    cU.y.  18 
 
 tl  Or.  ,nof,J 
 
 »e«„„i. 
 
 y  ch.  25  4. 
 
 ing  was  upon  them. 
 
 17  Like  as  "  a  woman  with  child,  that  draw- 
 eth  near  the  time  of  her  delivery,  is  in  pain, 
 and  crieth  out  in  her  pangs  ;  so  have  we  been 
 in  thy  sight,  O  Lord. 
 
 18  We  have  been  with  child,  we  have  been 
 in  pain,  we  have  as  it  were  brought  forth  wind ; 
 we  have  not  wrought  any  deliverance  in  the 
 earth  ;  neither  have  ''  the  inhabitants  of  the 
 world  fallen. 
 
 19  '■  Thy  dead  7nen  shall  live,  together  ivith 
 my  dead  body  shall  they  arise.  'Awake  and 
 sing,  ye  that  dwell  in  dust :  for  thy  dew  is  as 
 the  dew  of  herbs,  and  the  earth  shall  cast  out 
 the  dead. 
 
 iO  H  Come,  my  people,  '  enter  thou  into  thy 
 chambers,  and  shut  thy  doors  about  thee  :  hide 
 thyself  as  it  were  '  for  a  little  moment,  until 
 the  indignation  be  overpast. 
 
 21   For,  behold,  the  Lord  "  cometh  out  of  his 
 
 place  to  punish  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  for 
 
 their  iniquity:  the  earth  also  shall  disclose  her 
 
 t  blood,  and  shall  no  more  cover  her  slain. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 1   The  care  of  God  over  his  inneyard.     7  His  chas- 
 
 iisemaits  diffir  from  judgments.     12    The  church  of 
 
 Jiws  and  (icntihs. 
 TN  that  clay  the  Loud  with  liis  sore  and  great 
 -^  and  strong  sword  sliall  pnnish  leviathan  the 
 II piercing  serpent,  "*  even  leviathan  tliat  crooked 
 serpent ;  and  he  shall  slay  ''  the  dragon  that  is 
 in  the  sea. 
 
 2  In  that  day  "^  sing  ye  nnto  her,  ''  A  vineyard 
 of  red  wine. 
 
 3^1  the  Lord  do  keep  it ;  I  will  water  it 
 every  moment :  lest  (wtj  hurt  it,  I  will  keep  it 
 night  and  day. 
 
 4  Fury  is  not  in  me:  who  would  set  ^the 
 hriers  and  tliorns  against  me  in  hattle  ?  I 
 would  II  go  through  them,  I  would  burn  them 
 together. 
 
 5  Or  let  him  take  hold  ^of  my  strength,  that 
 
 Israelites.  13.  But  by  thee  only,  ^-c,  'Thee  only,  and  thy  name,  will 
 we  celebrate.' — Bnnthr.  14.  T/iey  aye  dend,  Sfc. — the  oppressors  of 
 God's  penjile  shall  never  riscacaio.  15.  Hemovfd  it  far,  '  spread  oren- 
 larg^cd  the  church.' — Preb.  Lowlh.  18.  Broni^/it  furfh  u-ind,  conceived 
 or  indulged  the  hnpe  of  deliverance  and  safety,  but  had  hitherto  been 
 disappointed. — Boothr.  I9.  Thy  dead  men,  ^c. — the  dissolution  of  a 
 body  politic  is,  in  figurative  languag^e,  signified  by  death,  and  the  re- 
 vival of  a  dissolved  dominion,  by  the  resurrection  of  the  dead. — Sir  I. 
 Newton.  The  restoration  of  the  Jews  is  represented  as  a  rising  apain, 
 (Ezek.  xxxvii.  1,  &c.)  Doubtless  this  verse  was  one  of  those  texts  on 
 which  the  ancient  Jews  grounded  their  belief  of  the  resurrection, 
 founded  on  the  writings  of  the  law  and  the  prophet*,  (Acts,  xxiv.  u.) — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  The  passai^e  m"an<!,  those  who  have  been  exposed  to  the 
 greatest  dangers,  and  have  sufiTered  the  severest  affiictions,  shall  he  re- 
 stnred  to  prosperity  and  happiness.  — //ew'.  God  assures  the  Jewish 
 rti'irch,  that  though  she  was  spiritually  and  politically  dead,  the  dead 
 l)"dies  of  her  members  should  be  raised  to  life. — Boothr.  With  my  dead 
 tii/dy  shfill  they  nrise — Messiah  is  the  speaker  here. — Sut.  '  The  Gen- 
 tiles, being  dead  in  their  sins,  shall  with  nny  body,  when  it  rises,  rise 
 again  also  from  their  death.  Nay,  asapait  of  my  mystical  body.'— 
 highffoot;  to  the  same  etTect.  Poole.  As  the  dew  of  herbs,  'as  the  dew 
 of  mallows.'  The  mallow  was  anciently  thought  to  he  a  kind  of  uni- 
 versal remedy.  It  attracts  a  great  portion  of  dew,  and  hence  was  green 
 and  flourishing.  There  was  a  power  as  reviving  to  the  Jewish  church 
 as  the  dew  to  the  mallow.— BonMc.  Literally,  *  as  a  dew  of  rays,'  that 
 is,  perhaps,  such  as  would  cntinue  long  after  the  rising  of  the  sun. 
 The  comparison  of  the  iiro|)het  obviously  means,,that  the  refreshment 
 and  consolation  of  Israel  should  not  be  transient,  but  lasting. — Hew. 
 As  the  rain  revives  the  vegetation,  so  the  sweet  promises  of  grace  re- 
 vive the  saints  when  God's  judgments  are  in  the  earth.— 5k(.      Shall 
 
 cast  out,  'shall  cast  forth,  as  an  aboition,  Ihe  deceased  tyrants.* — Lowth. 
 The  dead.  D'NDl,  'giants,'  *  tv  rants,'  alluding  to  ver.  14.  whose  carcases 
 are  reprrsented  as  'cast  forth,'  but  not  resuscitated. —  \Vil.  See  note  on 
 Job,  \xvi.  5.  20.  Come,  ^c— an  exhortation  to  patience  and  resigna- 
 tion under  oppression,  witn  a  contident  expectation  of  deliverance. — 
 Louth. 
 
 CnAP.  XXVIl. —  1.  Leviathan,  m-iy  refer  to  the  inflexible  crocodile, 
 the  flexible  sci-pent  or  dragon,  and  the  sea  monster  or  whale.  These 
 are  u'-ed  allesorically  fnr  great  potentates,  enemies,  and  persecutors  of 
 the  people  of  God.— Lo«VA.  Generally  supposed  lo  mean  the  crocodile, 
 a  symbol  of  Egypt,  (Ezek.  xxix.  \— 7.)— Boothr.  Tlie  crocodile,  str- 
 pent,  and  sea  monster,  designate  the  Grecian,  Turkish,  and  Roman  em- 
 pires. The  dragon  of  the  sea  seems  to  mean  some  nation  of  strong 
 naval  force  and  extensive  commerce. —  Clarke,  Whatever  spiritual 
 adversary  is  alluded  to  in  this  pa-sage,  it  seems  highly  probable  that  a 
 future  spiritual  enemy  is  in  contemplation,  the  old  serpent,  whnst:  des- 
 tiny is  related.  Rev.  xx.  10. — Stock.  2.  A  vineyard,  the  church,  con. 
 stantJy  so  called,  (see  clmp.  v.)  Red  wine,  the  m(  st  esteemed  in  the 
 east. — Har.  See  Prov.  xxiii.  31,  note.  5.  Take  hold  0/  my  strength, 
 have  recourse  to  God  by  faith  in  his  power  and  grace.  The  allusion  is 
 to  the  transgressor  taking  h*  Id  of  the  horns  of  the  altar. — Mace. 
 •To  the  beloved  viTieyard,  sing  ye  a  responsive  song. 
 
 3.  (J.)  It  is  I,  Jkhovah,  tiiat  preserve  her,  &c. 
 
 4.(V.j  I  have  no  wall  for  my  defence  : 
 
 0  that  I  had  a  fence  of  the  thorn  and  brier  ! 
 (J.)  Against  them  should  I  march  in  battle, 
 
 1  should  burn  them  up  together. 
 
 5.         Ah  1  let  lier  rather  take  hold  of  my  protection. 
 (V.)  Let  him  make  peace  with  nif  ; 
 Peace  let  him  make  with  me  ! 
 
 REFLFcnnNs  ON  Chap.  XXVL  —  I.  '  Blessed  are  they  who  their  iniquity."  Let,  then,  sinners  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
 tnisf  in  Gad.'  Proportioned  to  our  holy  confidence  in  him  come,  whilst  the  Judge  is  upon  tfie  mercy-seat  dispensing 
 shall  be  our  unspeakable  peace  ;  and  he  deems  himself  bound  pardons  ;  speedily  he  will  remove  to  his  awful  judgment-seat, 
 in  honour  toanswertlie  expectations  ofall  who  renounce  every  from  which  he  will  denounce  and  execute  deserved  punish- 
 other  dep  ndence.  to  rely  on  his  faithful  word.  ment  upon  all  unbelievers,  but  especially  on  those  who  liave 
 
 IL  *  L't  the  uni.odly  tremble  at  the  Divine  threaten'* nn a.     The  slied  the  blood  of  his  saints  and  martyrs,  from  enmity  to  his 
 
 Lord  is  at  hiind  •*  to  punish  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  for  holy  imaije  and  holy  religion.'" 
 7-1 -J 
 
TIte  church  uf  Jeivs  and  Gentiles. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXVllI. 
 
 Ephraim's  pride  and  drunkenness. 
 
 he  may  "make  peace  with  me;  and  he  shall 
 make  peace  with  me. 
 
 6  He  shall  cause  them  that  come  of  Jacob 
 '  to  take  root  :  Israel  sliall  hlossom  and  bud, 
 and  fill  the  face  of  the  world  with  fruit. 
 
 7  T  Hath  he  smitten  him,  f  as  he  smote 
 those  that  smote  him?  or  is  he  slain  accord- 
 ing to  the  slaughter  of  them  that  are  slain  by 
 him  ? 
 
 8  ^  In  measure,  ||when  it  shooteth  forth,  thou 
 wilt  debate  witli  it :  ||  '  he  stayeth  his  rough 
 wind  iu  the  day  of  the  east  wind. 
 
 9  By  this  therefore  shall  the  iniquity  of 
 Jacob  be  purgi-d  ;  and  this  is  all  the  fruit  to 
 take  away  his  sin  ;  when  he  maketh  all  the 
 stones  of  the  altar  as  chalkstones  that  are 
 beaten  in  sunder,  the  groves  and  |{  images 
 shall  not  stand  up. 
 
 10  Yet  the  defenced  city  shall  be  desolate, 
 and  the  habitation  forsaken,  and  left  like  a  wil- 
 derness :  "'  there  shall  the  calf  feed,  and  there 
 sliall  he  lie  down,  and  consume  the  branches 
 thereof. 
 
 1 1  When  the  boughs  thereof  are  withered, 
 they  shall  be  broken  off:  the  women  come, 
 anil  set  them  on  fire  :  for  "  it  is  a  people  of  no 
 nnderstanding  :  therefore  he  that  made  them 
 will  not  have  mercy  on  them,  and  "lie  that 
 formed  Ihem  will  shew  them  no  favour. 
 
 12  t  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  tlie  Lord  .sliall  beat  off  from  the  channel 
 of  the  river  unto  the  stream  of  Egypt,  and  ye 
 shall  be  gathered  one  by  one,  O  ye  children  of 
 Israel. 
 
 1.3  •'And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 "^  that  the  great  trumpet  shall  be  blown,  and 
 they  shall  come  which  were  ready  to  perish  in 
 the  land  of  Assyria,  and  the  outcasts  in  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  and  .shall  worship  the  Lord  in 
 the  holy  mount  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 t  Heb.  ac- 
 
 et'riliits  to 
 ll.r  ,lT„k  ./ 
 
 *  Job  23.  6. 
 
 Ps   6.  I. 
 
 Jer.  10  iM. 
 
 &  30.  II.  & 
 
 M.  28. 
 
 1  Cor. to. 13. 
 ]|  Or,  whri 
 
 Ifarlh. 
 
 Or, 
 
 'Bhen 
 
 ftp  removetli 
 
 m  Scecb.17 
 •J,  &  32.  1-1. 
 
 ,  neil.  32. 18. 
 oh.  43  1,7.& 
 H.  2,21,2-1. 
 
 7»  cli.  2. 
 o  Mat. : 
 
 I  Ileb. 
 
 brok^H. 
 
 t  Heb.n 
 e  vcr.  I. 
 
 t  Ueh. 
 
 MwiiUowelh. 
 
 /Pro.  2(1.  I. 
 Ho8.  4.  11. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 1  The  prophet  ihreatenefh  Ephrahn  for  their  pride  and 
 drunkeiiniss.  5  The  residue  shall  be  advanced  in  the 
 kingdom  of  Christ.  7  He  rebukcth  their  error.  9 
 Their  untoirardncss  to  I 'am,  14  and  their  security. 
 J  6  Christ  the  sure  fmndatioti  is  promised.  18  Their 
 security  shall  be  tried.  23  They  are  incited  to  the 
 consideration  of  God' s  discreet  providence. 
 
 "\1^0E  to  °  the  crown  of  pride,  to  the  druiik- 
 '  *     ards  of  Ephraiin,  whose  ^  glorious  heauty 
 
 is  a  fading  flower,  which  are  on   the  head  of 
 
 the  fat  valleys  of  them  that  are  f  overcome 
 
 with  wine ! 
 
 2  Behold,  the  Lord  hath  a  mighty  and  strong 
 one,  '^  which  as  a  tempest  of  hail  and  a  de- 
 stroying storm,  as  a  flood  of  mighty  waters 
 overflowing,  shall  cast  down  to  the  earth  with 
 the  hand. 
 
 3  ^  The  crown  of  pride,  the  drunkards  of 
 Ephraim,  shall  be  trodden  f  under  feet : 
 
 4  And  "^  the  glorious  beauty,  which  is  on  the 
 head  of  the  fat  valley,  shall  be  a  fading  flower, 
 and  as  the  hasty  fruit  before  the  summer ; 
 which  ichen  he  that  looketh  upon  it  seeth, 
 while  it  is  yet  in  his  hand  he  feateth  it  up. 
 
 5  1  In  that  day  shall  the  Lord  of  hosts  be 
 for  a  crown  of  glory,  and  for  a  diadem  of 
 beauty,  unto  the  residue  of  his  people, 
 
 6  And  for  a  spirit  of  judgment  to  him  that 
 sitteth  in  judgment,  and  for  strength  to  them 
 that  turn  the  battle  to  the  gate. 
 
 7  t  But  tiiey  also  *"have  erred  through  wine, 
 and  through  strong  drink  are  out  of  the  way  ; 
 ^  the  priest  and  the  prophet  have  erred  through 
 strong  drink,  they  are  swallowed  up  of  wine, 
 they  are  out  of  the  way  througli  strong  drink  ; 
 they  err  in  vision,  they  stumble  in  judgment. 
 
 8  For  all  tables  are  full  of  vomit  and  flUhi- 
 ness,  so  that  there  is  no  place  ctmn. 
 
 9  If  '■  Whom  shall  he  teach  knowledge  ?  and 
 
 6.  (J.)  Tliey  ttiat  corae  from  tbe  root  of  Jacob  shall  flourish,  Israel 
 sliall  huO  fnrth ; 
 And  Uiey  sliall  fill  the  face  of  the  world  with  fruit.'— LoiW/i. 
 Nearly  the  same,  Bnothr,         7.  Hath  he  smitten,  ^c. — the  proplift  now 
 resumes   the   discuurse ;   'hath   he   smitien  Israel   as  Babylon?'    &c. 
 
 8.  In  measure,  that  is,  'with  moderation  will  God  punish  his  people.' — 
 Boothr. 
 
 '  In  just  measure,  when  thou  inflictest  the  stroke,  wilt  thou  debate 
 with  her; 
 With  due  deliberation,  even  in  the  rough  tempest,  in  the  day  of 
 the  cast  wind.' — Lowth. 
 *In  measure,  when  he  inflicteth  the  stroke, 
 He  will,  indeed,  debate  with  him  ; 
 But,  by  his  stronf?  wind,  on  tbe  day  nf  his  tempest, 
 Will  he  boil  with  anger  against  them.' — linolhr.,  as  Dathe. 
 
 9.  By  this,  ^-c,  purged,  'expiated;'  i.e.,  when  Israel  has  been  chas. 
 tirted  and  brought  to  repentance,  he  shall  renounce  all  his  idols,  and 
 destroy  every  monument  of  idolatry  which  were  the  occasion  of  his 
 sin,  (comp.  Deut.  ix.  21 ;  Hos.  x.  8.)— Boothr.  10.  Yet — shall  //e  de- 
 solute,  before  these  happy  day.s  come,  great  calamities  shall  betal  them. 
 — Pi-eh.  Lowth.  The  calf  feed — see  chap.  vii.  25,  notes.  11.  Are 
 withered — vine  twigs  are  used  for  fuel  in  the  east,  where  this  article  is 
 scarce.  Tlie  vines  themselves  nf  the  beloved  vineyard  are  here  repre- 
 senied  as  blasted,  and  only  fit  for  burning. — Lowth.  Of  no  under- 
 s/M7frf(H^,  wilfully  blind. — Preb.  Lowth.  Comp.  chap.  i.  3 ;  vi.lO;  Deut. 
 xxxii.  2S.  12.  That  the  Lord  shrill  beat  off,  'that  Jehovah  shall 
 gather  up  his  fruit.' — Boothr.  The  allusion  is  to  the  heating  otf  of 
 fruit  from  the  tree,  or  of  grain  from  the  car.  The  rod  of  the  Lord's 
 strength,  the  Gospel,  must  do  the  work. — So  GUI.  13.  The  great 
 ttntmpet,  ^c. — does  not  this  refer  to  the  times  spoken  of  by  our  Lord  ? 
 (Matt.  xxiv.  31.) — Clarke.  As  a  king  or  captain  gathers  his  army  by 
 trumpets,  so  dispersed  Israel  should  be  gathered ;  the  return  from 
 Babylon  is  primarily  designed,  but  tlie  spiritual  gathering  in  of  God's 
 
 people  to  the  church  of  Christ  is  chiefly  intended,  the  Gospel  being  the 
 trumpet.  The  expression  alludes  either  (i.)  to  the  silver  tiumpets, 
 which  called  the  Israelites  to  the  tabernacle,  or  (ii.)  to  the  jnljilee 
 trumpet,  which  proclaimed  liberty  to  the  captives.— J«f?A-so7? 
 
 CuAr.  XXVIII.  —  1.  The  crown  of  pride,  Sehastc,  the  ancient  Sa- 
 maria,  beautifully  situated  on  the  top  of  around  hill,  and  surrounded 
 wiih  a  rich  valley,  and  a  circle  of  otlicr  hills  beyond  it,  sutrge-^ted  the 
 ii!ea  of  a  chaplet,  worn  at  festiviti«.-s  by  the  Greeks,  Romans,  and  Jews, 
 (Wisd.  ii.  7t  8.) — Lowth.  Dninkurds,  the  character  probably  inclurtes 
 those  stupified  by  divine  judgments,  and  so  intoxicated  by  self-conceit 
 as  to  form  the  most  foolish  resolutions.  They  did  nut  act  soberly,  ac- 
 cording  to  the  dictates  of  sound  judgment. — Macvul.  2.  A  mighty 
 and  strong  one,  i.e.,  Shalmanescr,  who  should  carry  away  the  lea 
 tribes  captive  and  destroy  their  kingdom,  (comp.  chap.  xxix.  6  ;  xxx. 
 30.) — Preb.  Lowth.  Other  strong  ones,  as  Nebuchadnezzar  anri  Sen- 
 nacherib, might  he  included. — Maccul.  4.  Shall  be  a  fading  flower, 
 
 •Shall  be  as  the  early  fruit  before  the  summer, 
 Which  whoso  seeth,  he  instantly  plucketh  it.'— Boo/Ar.,  as  Hnub. 
 
 Early  fruit  is  most  delicious,  and  eagerly  sought  and  plucked. — Dr. 
 Shaw.  Looketh — eateth,  expresses  the  great  ease  with  which  the  Assy- 
 rians should  take  the  kingdom,  and  the  avidity  with  which  they  should 
 seize  their  prey. — Lowth.  5.  A  diadem — unto  the  residue,  alludes  to 
 
 the  state  of  affairs  in  Judah  under  Hezekiah.        fi.  Turn  the  buttle  to 
 the  gate,  pursue  the  fleeing  enemy  to  the  very  gates  of  their  own  city, 
 (2  Sam.  xi.  23,  and  l  Sam.  xvii.  52  ) — Lowth.         7.  Err  in  vision,  per- 
 haps sought  inspiration  from  their  liquor,    and,  by  substituting  the 
 dreams  of  intemperance  for  prophetic  visions,  mocked  the  true  prophets 
 of  the  Lord. —  Wil.      Stumble  in  judgment,  more  properly  signifies,  '  iu 
 resolving  cases  of  conscience.' — Peters.        g.  Whom  shall?  §-c. — ■ 
 '  Whom  can  such  teach  knowledge  ? 
 To  whom  can  they  impart  instruction  ? 
 They  are  like  children  weaned  from  the  milk,'  &c. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVII Observe  here,  I.    The  whatever  is  injurious,  and  to  make  his  vine  bear  precious  fruit 
 
 church's  security.     As  a  tender  vine,  she  is  under  tbe  protection  to  bis  honour  and  glory. 
 
 of  the  great  Husbandman.     He  waters  her  with  the  dews  of       III.    The  church's  inyatherinp.     All  the  precious  fruit  shuW 
 
 his  grace,  and  keeps  her  night  and  day.  nt  last  be  saved;  and,  after  the  great  Vinedresser  has  long  ex- 
 
 II.    The  church's  treatment.     All  tbe  proceedings  of  the  great  ercised  his  patience  and  care,  he  shall  safely  house  his  fruit, 
 
 Vinedresser  manifested  towards  us  are  only  designed  to  cut  off  while  the  refuse  shall  perish. 
 743 
 
The  promise  of  Christ. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXVIII 
 
 GoiCs  providence  to  be  considtred. 
 
 wliom  shall  he  make  to  understand  f  doctrine: 
 them  that  arc  weaned  from  the  milk,  and 
 drawn  from  the  breasts. 
 
 10  For  precept  ||  mvst  he  npon  precept,  pre- 
 cept upon  precept ;  line  upon  line,  line  upon 
 line  ;  here  a  little,  and  there  a  little : 
 
 11  For  with  f' stammering  lips  and  another 
 tongue  II  will  he  speak  to  this  people. 
 
 12  To  whom  he  said,  This  is  the  rest  where- 
 with ye  may  cause  the  weary  to  rest ;  and  this 
 is  the  refreshing :  yet  they  would  not  hear. 
 
 13  But  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  unto  them 
 precept  upon  precept,  precept  upon  precept  ; 
 line  upon  line,  line  upon  line  ;  here  a  little, 
 and  there  a  little  ;  that  they  might  go,  and  fall 
 backward,  and  be  broken,  and  snared,  and 
 taken. 
 
 14  t  Wherefore  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
 ye  scorjiful  men,  that  rule  this  people  which  is 
 in  Jerusalem. 
 
 15  Because  ye  have  said,  We  have  made  a 
 covenant  with  death,  and  with  hell  are  we  at 
 agreement ;  when  the  overflowing  scourge 
 shall  pass  through,  it  shall  not  come  unto  us  : 
 '  for  we  have  made  lies  our  refuge,  and  under 
 falsehood  have  we  hid  ourselves  : 
 
 16  IT  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Be- 
 hold, 1  lay  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  '  a  stone, 
 a  tried  stone,  a  precious  corner  stone,  a  sure 
 foundation :  he  that  believeth  shall  not  make 
 haste. 
 
 17  Judgment  also  will  I  lay  to  the  line,  and 
 righteousness  to  the  plummet:  and  the  hail 
 shall  sweep  away  "  the  refuge  of  lies,  and  tlie 
 waters  shall  overflow  the  hiding  place. 
 
 18  t  And  your  covenant  with  death  shall  be 
 disannulled,  and  your  agreement  with  hell 
 shall  not  stand  ;  when  the  overflowing  scourge 
 shall  pass  through,  then  ye  shall  be  f  trodden 
 down  by  it. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 II  Or,  hath 
 
 I  Heb.  tinnt- 
 
 l>rs. 
 
 i\  Cor  I4.SI, 
 
 II  Or,l.rliOth 
 
 iir.i;*.  you 
 tit  tmdrr- 
 itand  dtK- 
 
 n  1  Sa  r..  2n. 
 
 I  Chr  11  n  . 
 
 -i.lDsh-  lu  111, 
 
 l-,"JS..in  5 
 
 2r>.  1  Chr. 
 
 ,.  l.ai, 
 
 3  S3. 
 
 -;  oh.  in.  2-?. 
 iS   Dan  9. 
 
 II  Or,  the 
 
 h  Amos  2.  ♦. 
 
 wheni  ill  I/if 
 
 place,  anii 
 
 bnrl.yi,.thf 
 
 appointed 
 
 pi  lice. 
 
 /Gen  49  2*, 
 
 11  Or,  tpelt. 
 
 I'P.  118  22, 
 
 t  Heb, 
 
 Mat.  SI.  4^. 
 
 border  9 
 
 Acta  4    II. 
 
 11  Ox^And  hf 
 
 Rom.  9  33. 
 
 bi'idtlh  it  in 
 
 &  lt>.  11. 
 
 iiicliM'irl  at 
 
 Kph    ^f.  20. 
 
 Am  G->d  d'dl, 
 
 I  Pet  2. 0, 
 
 t(f'ic/i  hint. 
 
 7,9. 
 
 r  Ecclus.  7. 
 
 (  Ps.92.  6. 
 Jer.  S2.  19. 
 
 19  From  the  time  that  it  goeth  forth  it  shall 
 take  you  :  for  morning  by  morning  shall  it 
 pass  over,  by  day  and  by  night :  and  it  shall 
 be  a  vexation  only  ||  to  understand  the  report. 
 
 20  For  the  bed  is  shorter  than  that  a  man 
 can  stretch  himself  o/i  it:  and  the  covering 
 narrower  than  that  he  can  wrap  himself  in  it. 
 
 21  For  the  Lord  shall  rise  up  as  in  mount 
 "  Perazim,  he  shall  be  wroth  as  in  the  valley 
 of  °  Gibeon,  that  he  may  do  his  work,  ^  his 
 strange  work  ;  and  bring  to  pass  his  act,  his 
 strange  act. 
 
 22  Now  therefore  be  ye  not  mockers,  lest 
 your  bands  be  made  strong:  for  1  have  heard 
 from  the  Lord  God  of  liosts  *"  a  consumption, 
 even  determhied  upon  the  whole  earth. 
 
 23  H  Give  ye  ear,  and  hear  my  voice  ;  heark- 
 en, and  iiear  my  speech. 
 
 24  Doth  the  plowman  dIovv  all  day  to  sow? 
 doth  he  open  and  break  tiie  clods  of  his 
 ground  ? 
 
 25  When  he  hath  made  plain  the  face  thereof, 
 doth  he  not  cast  abroad  t!ie  fitches,  and  scatter 
 the  cummin,  and  cast  in  ||  the  principal  wheat 
 and  the  appointed  barley  and  the  |]  rie  in  their 
 t  place  ? 
 
 26  [[""For  his  God  doth  instruct  him  to  dis- 
 cretion, and  doth  teach  him. 
 
 27  For  the  fitches  are  not  threshed  with  a 
 threshing  instrument,  neither  is  a  cart  wheel 
 turned  about  upon  the  cummin  ;  but  the 
 fitches  are  beaten  out  with  a  staff,  and  the 
 cummin  with  a  rod. 
 
 28  Bread  corn  is  bruised  ;  because  lie  will 
 not  ever  be  threshing  it,  nor  break  it  with  the 
 wheel  of  his  cart,  nor  bruise  it  with  his  horse- 
 men. 
 
 2y  This  also  cometh  forth  from  the  Lord  of 
 hosts,  *  which  is  wonderful  in  counsel,  and  ex- 
 cellent in  workiug. 
 
 Such  drunken  priests  and  propliets  were  as  unqualified  for  their  office 
 as  newly- weaned  infants. — Bouthr.  10.  For  precept,  §c.— this  verse 
 beautifully  represents  the  amiable,  condescending  manner  in  which  the 
 Lord  God  conveyed  instruction,  with  equal  attention,  diligence,  and 
 care  as  to  the  youngest  children. — Maccul.  I  am  inclined  to  the  opi- 
 nion of  Aieruillius,  that  the  text  eontaiDs  not  words,  but  syllables,  to 
 paint  more  strongly  the  imperfect  utterance — the  stammering  of  these 
 drunken  priests.  In  ihis  view  we  may  render,  •  Now  they  utter  one 
 syllable,  then  annther  ;  one  word,  and  then  another  they  stammer  out ; 
 here  a  little — and  then  there  a  little.*  Tiiis  version  introduces  more 
 pertinently  what  follows,  ver.  11,  which  means,  that  as  they  stammer 
 and  know  not  what  they  teach,  so  God  will  speak  to  them  by  a  people 
 whose  language  they  do  not  understand.— Boo^/ir. ;  so  also  Rosenrn., 
 and  Koppe.  It  is  the  scoffers,  mentioned  ver.  14,  who  are  speaking. 
 What,  say  they,  doth  God  treat  us  as  children  ?  perpetually  inculcating 
 the  same  elementary  instruction,  precept  after  precept,  &c. ;  ridiculing 
 the  concise  pmplietical  manner.  Then  God  retorts,  that  they  should 
 be  taught  by  a  strange  tongue,  Sec,  and  when  carried  into  captivity, 
 be  forced  to  learn  like  children. — Lowth,  as  Jerome,  Jarchi,  and  Chald. 
 Paraph.  12.  The  rest,  namely,  trust  in  God's  word. —  WiL  13.  Was, 
 '  sUiall  he.^—Boothr.  Precept,  i3-c.— those  signal  advantages  for  spiri- 
 tual improvement  which  they  enjoyed  were,  by  the  just  judgment  of 
 Gnd,  made  to  serve  another  and  vei'y  opposite  purpose.  —  Muccul. 
 15.  Made  a  cnrennnt  with  death,  fyc,  a  proverbial  expression  to  denote 
 perfect  security  against  evil. — Pret).  Lowth.  l6.  Behold,  I  Itip— in 
 opposition  to  thoee  who  thought  they  had  laid  a  firm  foundation,  God 
 declares  he  only  can  lay  such  a  foundation.  Peter  applies  this  to  our 
 Lord,  (1  Pet.  ii.  7-} — Boothr.  A  precious  corner  stone — the  idea  of  the 
 corner  stone,  so  often  mentioned  in  Scripture,  is  not  to  be  taken  from 
 modern  or  classical  architecture,  but  from  that  of  ruder  ages.  Imagine 
 a  massive  stone,  like  one  at  Stonebenge,  cut  to  a  right  angle,  and  laid 
 
 in  the  building,  so  that  its  two  sides  should  lie  along  the  two  walls, 
 which  meet  at  a  corner,  and  thus  binding  them  together  in  such  away 
 that  neither  force  nor  weather  could  dissever  them. — E.rtr.  in  Weekly 
 Visitor.  Not  make  haste,  *  not  be  ashamed,'  Sept.  Not  use  unlawful 
 means  of  security. — Picb.  Lowth.  'Shall  not  be  thrown  into  any  tu- 
 mult of  passion,  hurry  of  terror,  or  agony  and  torture  of  despair,' 
 through  the  disappointment  of  his  hope,  or  failure  of  the  object  of  his 
 dependence.  —  L.  Holden.  17.  Jt/dgment,  fyc.  —  the  metaplior  of 
 
 building  continued,  and  expressing  that  God  woulii  square  his  actions 
 by  the  severest  rules  of  justice.  20.  The  bed  is  shorter,  Sfc. — pro- 
 verbial expressions,  importing  here,  that  human  devices  could  not 
 secure  against  the  hand  of  Providence. — Preb.  Lowth.  This  figure, 
 taken  from  persons  who  sleep  in  an  uncomfortable  state,  denotes  un- 
 easiness and  distress. — Hew.  21.  As  in  mount  Pcrazim — see  Marg. 
 Be/.  Then  God  rose  to  deliver,  but  now  he  will  act  contrary. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  25.  Fitches,  *  vetches.*  Cutmnin,  resembling  fennel,  grown 
 Still  in  Malta. —  Wit.  27.  Tbreshed^Unn  methods  of  threshing  are 
 here  mentioned  ;  —  (i.l  By  the  flail  or  staff,  used  for  tender  grain,  (ii.) 
 The  drag,  a  frame  of  strong  planks,  made  rough  at  the  bottom  by  hard 
 stone  or  iron,  drawn  by  beasts  over  the  floor  strewed  with  sheaves,  the 
 driver  sitting  on  it.  (iii.)  The  wain,  having  wheels  with  iron  edges, 
 like  a  saw.  (iv.)  By  the  treading  of  oxen.  28.  Brend  corn  is  bruised, 
 ^c. — the  lesson  here  taught  is,  that  as  the  husbandman  regularly 
 carries  forward  the  operations  of  agriculture,  so  Almighty  God  pro- 
 coeds  in  dealing  with  his  people. — Maccul.  As  the  husbandman,  when 
 he  us>cs  rougher  means,  will  not  do  it  incessantly,  so  neither  will  God, 
 when  he  punisheth  his  people,  contend  with  then\  for  ever,  nr  proceed 
 to  the  utter  destroying  of  them. — Jackson.  Nor  bruise  it  with  his  horse- 
 men, 'nor  tread  it  with  the  hoofs  of  his  cattle." — Lowth.  '  Neither  do 
 his  riders  bruise  it  to  dust.' — Stock. 
 
 Revlections  on  Chap.  XXVIIL  — We  here  see,  L  T/,e 
 rvn  of  drunkenness.  '  Itorercomes  men,  deprives  them  of  their 
 reason,  stupifies  their  understanding,  leads  them  into  fatal 
 errors,  and  exposes  them  to  the  practice  of  every  iniquity.' 
 
 Uie  word  of  God  pronounces  a  wo  upon  such,  and  assures 
 us  that  tliey  sbull  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.' 
 
 n.  The  evil  uf  vrofamty.  '  There  were  scoffers  in  Jerusa- 
 lem, who  ruhculed  the  prophet's  reproofs  and  admonitions: 
 7U 
 
 God  therefore  made  their  chastisement  more  severe,  and  gave 
 them  up  to  tlieir  own  hearts*  lusts.  They  were  held  in  fetters 
 of  iniquity,  as  well  as  made  captives  by  the  Assyrians.  \\  hen 
 men  despise  the  word,  and  become  sermon-proof,  sin  gains 
 dominion  over  tiiem;  and,  whether  they  hear  and  believe  or 
 not,  tho  threatenings  of  God  shall  he  executed,  and  the  con- 
 sumption determined  shall  destroy  them.''^ 
 
Gods  judgment  upon  Jerusalem. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXIX.  rromise  ofswictification  to  the  go 
 
 .<;;... 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 I  Go(Vs  heaivj  judrpnent  upon  Jerusabm.  7  The  un- 
 satiablcness  nf  htr  enemies.  9  T/ie  senselessness^  Id 
 and  diep  In/pocnsij  nf  the  Jews.  18  A  promise  of 
 sanetijication  to  the  godly. 
 
 WOE    II  "  to    Ariel,    to    Ariel,    ||  the    city 
 ^  where  David   dwelt!    add   ye  year  to 
 year  ;  let  them  f  kill  sacrifices. 
 •2  Yet  I  will  distress  Ariel,  and  there  shall  be 
 heaviness  and  sorrow  :  and  it  shall  be  unto  me 
 as  Ariel. 
 
 3  And  I  will  camp  against  thee  round  about, 
 and  will  lay  siege  against  thee  with  a  mount, 
 and  I  will  raise  forts  against  thee. 
 
 4  And  thou  shalt  be  brought  down,  and  shalt 
 speak  out  of  tbe  ground,  and  thy  speech  shall 
 be  low  out  of  tlie  dnst,  and  thy  voice  shall  be, 
 as  of  one  that  bath  a  familiar  spirit,  '  out  of  the 
 ground,  and  thy  speech  shall  f  whisper  out  of 
 the  dust. 
 
 .5  aioreover  the  multitude  of  thy  ''strangers 
 shall  be  like  small  dust,  and  the  multitude  of 
 tbe  terrible  ones  shall  be  "  as  chaif  that  passeth 
 away:  yea,  it  shall  be  'at  an  instant  sud- 
 denly. 
 
 6  ^  Thou  shalt  be  visited  of  the  Lord  of  hosts 
 with  thunder,  and  with  earthquake,  and  great 
 noise,  with  storm  and  tempest,  and  the  flame 
 of  devouring  fire. 
 
 7  1''  And  the  multitude  of  all  the  nations 
 that  fight  against  Ariel,  even  all  that  fight 
 against  her  and  lier  munition,  and  that  distress 
 her,  shall  be  '  as  a  dream  of  a  night  vision. 
 
 8  I"  It  shall  even  be  as  when  an  hungry  man 
 dreameth,  and,  behold,  be  eateth  ;  but  he 
 awaketh,  and  his  soul  is  empty  :  or  as  when  a 
 thirsty  man  dreameth,  and,  behold,  he  drink- 
 etb  ;  but  he  awaketh,  and,  behold,  he  is  faint, 
 and  his  soul  hath  appetite  :  so  shall  the  mul- 
 titude of  all  the  nations  be,  that  fight  against 
 mount  Zion. 
 
 9  IT  Stay  yourselves,  and  wonder ;  ||  cry  ye 
 out,  and  cry:  'they  are  drunken,  ""but  not 
 with  wine  ;  they  stagger,  but  not  with  strong 
 drink. 
 
 10  For  °  the  Lord  hath  poured  out  upon  you 
 the  spirit  of  deep  sleep,  and  hath  "closed  your 
 eyes  :  the  prophets  and  your  f  rulers,  ^  the 
 seers  hath  he  covered. 
 
 11  And  the  vision  of  all  is  become  unto  you 
 as  the  words  of  a  ||  book  ''  that  is  sealed, 
 which  men  deliver  to  one  that  is  learned,  say- 
 
 Or.OATiei, 
 that  i«, /fte 
 lim«fO«d. 
 Ezek.  43. 
 19,  16. 
 
 llOr,  o/rte 
 ci/y. 
 
 6-JSara.  5  9. 
 
 t  Keb.c'foJ?' 
 rite  hendt. 
 
 t  Heb.  prfp, 
 
 e  Job  51. 19. 
 
 cli.  17.  13 
 /ch   SO.  13. 
 
 ^cb.  29.  2. 
 St  aLl.  30. 
 
 <  Job  20.  8. 
 
 4  ps.73  ;:o. 
 
 [I  Or,  tnhr 
 .'/■>'"■  pl^<*- 
 
 I  See  ch.  2S 
 7,  6. 
 
 mch.  .'>1.2I. 
 ,i  Horn,  n  S 
 'J  Ps.  ti9  L*;i 
 
 ch.C.  10. 
 i  lleb  he«dt: 
 
 i;»och.S.2. 
 
 Jer.  20  H. 
 ;,  I  Sain.  y.9. 
 
 II  Or,  hltfr. 
 1  cb.  8.  10. 
 
 Dan. 12  4,9. 
 Rev.5. 1—5, 
 9.  &  6.  I. 
 
 Hab.  I.  5. 
 t  Heb   /  W.7J 
 
 H4d. 
 X  Jer.  19.  7. 
 
 Ob.id.  8 
 
 1  Cor.  1.19. 
 
 y  eh.  30.  1. 
 
 =  Ps.  M.  7 
 n  Kcclus.  -3 
 
 b  cb.  45.  9. 
 Rom.  9  211 
 
 c  ch.  32.  15. 
 
 f  ch    CI.  1. 
 I  Heb.  il.till 
 
 /Jam.  2.  5. 
 
 J  cb.  28    11, 
 /.'mIc-  2.  I. 
 
 i  Amos  .^).  10, 
 
 1?. 
 APi-o.  28.  21. 
 
 <t  ch.  19  L'5 
 &  15.   II.  & 
 GO.  21. 
 Epb. 2    10 
 
 «  ch. S8. 7 
 t  Heb.  ./.../( 
 hiiuis  under- 
 tlaitdi'tg. 
 
 ing.  Read  this,  I  pray  thee:  'and  he  saitb,  1 
 cannot ;  for  it  is  sealed  : 
 
 1'2  And  the  book  is  delivered  to  him  that  is 
 not  learned,  saying.  Read  this,  I  pray  thee  : 
 and  he  saith,  I  am  not  learned. 
 
 13  H  Wherefore  the  Lord  .said,  'Forasmuch 
 as  this  people  draw  near  mc  with  their  mouth, 
 and  with  their  lips  do  honour  me,  but  have  re- 
 moved their  heart  far  from  me,  and  their  fear 
 toward  me  is  taught  by  'the  precept  of  men  : 
 
 14  "Therefore,  beliold,  f  I  will  proceed  to  do 
 a  marvellous  work  among  this  people,  even  a 
 marvellous  work  and  a  wonder :  '  for  the  wis- 
 dom of  their  wise  men  shall  perish,  and  the 
 understanding  of  their  prudent  men  shall  be 
 hid. 
 
 15  "  Woe  unto  them  that  seek  deep  to  hide 
 their  counsel  from  the  Lord,  and  their  works 
 are  in  the  dark,  and  "  they  say,  "  Who  seeth 
 US'?  and  who  knoweth  usV 
 
 16  Surely  your  turning  of  things  upside  down 
 shall  be  esteemed  as  the  potter's  clay  :  for  shall 
 the  ''work  say  of  him  that  made  it.  He  made 
 me  not?  or  shall  the  thing  framed  say  of  him 
 that  framed  it.  He  had  no  understanding? 
 
 17  7s  it  not  yet  a  very  little  while,  and  '  Le- 
 banon shall  be  turned  into  a  fruitful  field,  and 
 the  fruitful  field  shall  be  esteemed  as  a  forest? 
 
 18  t  And  ''  in  that  day  shall  the  deaf  hear  the 
 words  of  the  book,  and  the  eyes  of  the  blind 
 shall  see  out  of  obscurity,  and  out  of  darkness. 
 
 19  "The  meek  also  f  shall  increase  their  joy 
 in  the  Lord,  and  "■  the  poor  among  men  shall 
 rejoice  in  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 
 
 20  For  the  terrible  one  is  brought  to  nought, 
 and  ^  the  scorner  is  consumed,  and  all  that 
 '' watch  for  iniquity  are  cut  off: 
 
 21  Tliat  make  a  man  an  offender  for  a  word, 
 and  '  lay  a  snare  for  him  that  reproveth  in  the 
 gate,  and  turn  aside  the  just  <•  for  a  thing  of 
 nought. 
 
 22  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord,  '  who  re- 
 deemed Abraham,  concerning  tbe  house  of 
 Jacob,  Jacob  shall  not  now  be  ashamed, 
 neither  shall  his  face  now  wax  pale. 
 
 23  But  when  he  seeth  his  children,  ""the 
 work  of  mine  hands,  in  the  midst  of  him,  they 
 shall  sanctify  my  name,  and  sanctify  the  Holy 
 One  of  Jacob,  and  shall  fear  the  God  of  Israel. 
 
 24  They  also  "that  erred  in  spirit  fsl'sll 
 come  to  understanding,  and  they  that  mur- 
 mured shall  learn  doctrine. 
 
 Chap.  XXIX.  —  1.  Ariel,  means  a  stout  linn.  In  ancient  times,  the 
 Orientals  called  cities  after  the  name  of  some  animal.  The  Persian 
 city  Schiraz  also  signifies  'lion;'  the  prophet  so  calls  Jerusalem,  to 
 signify  the  strength  of  the  city,  and  the  pride  and  stubbornness  of  the 
 inhabitants. — Boothr.;  see  Orient.  Cust.,  1074.  Probably  this  city  is 
 named  '  the  lion  of  God,'  because  it  was  the  metropolis  of  the  tribe  of 
 Judah,  whose  ensign  was  '  a  lion,'  from  the  time  of  Jacob's  prophecy, 
 (Gen.  xli.^.  9.} — Stock,  Add  ye  year  to  year,  ffC. — ironically:  'go  on 
 year  after  year,  keep  your  solemn  feasts  -,  yet  know,  that  God  will 
 punish  you  for  your  hypocritical  worship,'  &e.  2.  Be  nnto  me  as 
 Ariel,  'as  the  hearth  of  the  gre^t  altar;'  that  is,  it  shall  be  the  seat  of 
 the  fire  of  God;  which  shall  issue  from  thence  to  consume  his  ene- 
 mies ;  or  perhaps  all  on  flame,  or  covered  with  carcases  and  blood.— 
 Lowth.  '  Vet,  as  to  me,  will  she  be  as  Ariel,'  [a  stout  liok.]  3.  A 
 mount,  '  a  mound.* — Boothr.  4.  As  one  that  hntji  a  famifiur  spirit, 
 
 D1ND.  'Hf  ot  tptavoi'i'Tei  cK  Tuc  .yrs,  '  like  those  who  speak  from  under 
 the  ground,' Se;o^  ;  signifying  ventriloquism. — tteui.  5.  Thy  strangers, 
 'thy  proud  enemies.'  Yea,  it  shall //e,  ^c.,  'this  shall  be  done  suddenly 
 — in  an  instant;'  descriptive  of  the  overthrow  of  Sennacherib. — Boothr. 
 8.  As  when  an  hnugryman  dreameth,  Sfc. — the  Assyrians  had  swallowed 
 up  Jerusalem  in  imagination,  but  God  intended  suddenly  to  disappoint 
 their  hopes. — Preh.  Lawfh.  9.  Stny  yourselves,  Sfc.,  make  a  solemn 
 pause,  and  seriously  contemplate  the  effects  of  God's  displeasure. — 
 Maccul. 
 
 745 
 
 'They  are  amazed  ;  they  stand  astonished  ; 
 They  look  on  themselves,  and  are  agitated ; 
 They  are  drunken,'  S^c— Boothr. 
 Their  drunkenness  is  that  of  intellect.— //ors(«/.  II.  And  tlie  vision 
 
 of  all,  tfc,  that  is,  by  reason  of  judicial  blindness,  neitlier  the  leai-ned 
 nor  the  unlearned,  nor  the  simple  unlettered  people,  would  reap  any 
 good  from  prophetic  instruction.— Jf/cArson.  14.  Perish,  'vanish'  or 
 '  disappear,' so  the  Hebrew.— Jllaccul.  15.  Seek  deep  to  hide,  as  men 
 hide  anything  under  ground. — Jackson.  Their  counsel,  their  wicked 
 projects,  which  they  had  designed.— i>/accu(.  16.  Surely  your  turn- 
 ing, fte  — 
 
 '  Perverse  as  ye  are,  shall  the  potter  be  esteemed  as  the  clay  ?' 
 
 Loufth. 
 •Such,  indeed,  are  your  perverse  thoughts  1 
 But,  shall  the  potter  be?'  &c. — Boothr. 
 1;.  Lebanon,  Sfc.,  that  which  is  now  a  desert,  or  encumbered  with 
 trees,  shall  become  a  fruitful  field,  and  the  reverse.   To  quit  the  figure, 
 the  poor  and  illiterate  shall  change  conditions  with  the  great  and  wise, 
 with   respect  to  happiness,   when  the  Gospel  shall  be  promulged. — 
 Stuck.    The  prediction  looks  to  future  times,  to  the  rejection  of  the 
 Jews  and  the  c.iUing  of  the  Gentiles  ;  the  first,  the  cultivated  vineyard, 
 should  become  a  wilderness ;  the  last,  originally  barren,  should,  by  the 
 grace  of  God,  become  fruitful. — Lowth. 
 5  c 
 
The  people's  confidence  in  Egypt. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXX. 
 
 GoiVs  mcrcirs  towards  /lis  church. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 I  Tlie  prophet  t/ireulcnttti  the  people,  for  their  cotijit/ence 
 in  Egypt,  8  (iitd  cmitenipt  of  GoeTs  word.  18  God's 
 mercies  towards  his  church.  27  God's  wrath,  and 
 the  pecple-^s  jot/,  in  the  di-struction  of  Assyria. 
 
 WOE  to  the  rebellious  children,  saith  the 
 Loan,  "  that  take  counsel,  but  not  of  me  ; 
 and  that  cover  witli  a  covering,  but  not  of  my 
 spirit,  ''  lliat  they  may  add  sin  to  sin  : 
 
 2  '  That  walk  to  go  down  into  Egypt,  and 
 ''have  not  asked  at  my  mouth  ;  to  strengtlicn 
 themselves  in  the  strength  of  Pharaoh,  and  to 
 trust  in  tlie  shadow  of  Egypt! 
 
 3  '  Therefore  sliall  tlie  strength  of  Pharaoh 
 be  your  shame,  and  the  trust  in  the  shadow  of 
 Egypt  your  confusion. 
 
 4  For  his  princes  were  at  'Zoaii,  and  his  am- 
 hassadors  came  to  Haiies. 
 
 5  *  They  were  all  ashamed  of  a  people  that 
 could  not  profit  tlicrn,  nor  he  an  lielp  nor  profit, 
 but  a  slianie,  and  also  a  reproach. 
 
 6  ''  The  burden  of  tlie  beasts  of  the  south  : 
 into  the  land  of  trouble  and  anguish,  from 
 whence  come  the  young  and  old  lion,  '  tlie 
 viper  and  fiery  flying  serpent,  they  will  carry 
 their  riclies  upon  the  slioulders  of  young  asses, 
 and  tlieir  treasures  upon  tlie  bundles  of  camels, 
 to  a  people  that  shall  not  profit  them. 
 
 7  '  For  the  Egyptians  shall  help  in  vain,  and 
 to  no  purpose  :  therefore  liave  I  cried  ||  con- 
 cerning tills,  '  Their  strengtli  is  to  sit  still. 
 
 8  H  Now  go,  ■"  write  it  before  tlieni  in  a  table, 
 and  note  it  in  a  book,  tliat  it  may  be  for  f  the 
 time  to  come  for  ever  and  ever  : 
 
 0  That  "  this  /.';  a  rebellions  people,  lying 
 cliililren,  children  that  will  not  hear  tlie  law  of 
 the  Lord  : 
 
 10  °  Wliich  say  to  the  seers.  See  not ;  and  to 
 the  prophets,  Propliesy  not  unto  us  right 
 tilings,  I' speak  unto  us  smooth  tliing.s,  pro- 
 phesy deceits  ; 
 
 1 1  Get  you  out  of  the  way,  turn  aside  out  of 
 the  path,  cause  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  to 
 cease  from  before  us. 
 
 1-2  Wherefore  thus  saith  the  Holy  One  of 
 Israel,  Because  ye  despise  this  word,  and  trust 
 
 6Dea  29. 19. 
 c  cli.  31.  1 
 
 I  Kin.  22.7. 
 Jer   21.  2. 
 fc12   2,  SO. 
 .•ch.  20.5. 
 Jer.  37.  5.7 
 
 /■ch.  19.  11. 
 J  Jer.  2.  36. 
 
 *  Jer.  37.  7 
 
 y  Or,  /"  At. 
 
 /  vcr.  15. 
 
 Cli.  7.  -l 
 m  Ihb.  2.  2, 
 
 (  Heb    Ihr 
 latUT  d'llt 
 
 ■  clt   29  i 
 
 I  Ps.  2  9. 
 
 Jer.  19.  II. 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 bi/tite  u/put- 
 
 tert. 
 
 k  32  30. 
 JoaU   ; 
 
 Or, 
 
 1.1(1. 
 
 (rre 
 
 6rn/ieft«,nr 
 5i.u?'ii  ..  or 
 
 »  P..  2.  12. 
 
 .^31.  S. 
 
 Pro.  16.20. 
 
 Jer,  17.  7. 
 r  ch.  Of».  9. 
 
 1  I  KiD.  22 
 27    Ps.  127. 
 
 c  Josli.  1.  7. 
 .iiClir.  31  1. 
 
 ch.  2,  20.  & 
 
 31.  7. 
 t  Heb 
 
 the  grnvfit 
 •f 
 
 11,1/ 
 
 ,h  I 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 in  II  oppression  and  perversenes.',  and  stay 
 lliereon  : 
 
 13  Therefore  this  iniquity  shall  be  to  you 
 '  as  a  breach  ready  to  fall,  swelling  out  in  a 
 liigli  wall,  whose  breaking  '  cometh  suddenly 
 at  an  instant. 
 
 14  And  'be  shall  break  it  as  the  breaking  of 
 t  the  potters"  vessel  that  is  broken  in  pieces  ; 
 he  sliall  not  spare  :  so  tliat  tliere  shall  not  be 
 found  ill  tlie  bursting  of  it  a  slierd  to  take  fire 
 from  the  hearth,  or  to  take  water  uithul  out  of 
 the  pit. 
 
 15  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  tlie  Holy 
 One  of  Israel  ;  '  In  returning  and  rest  sliall  ye 
 be  saved  ;  in  quietness  and  in  confidence  shall 
 he  your  strength  :  "  and  ye  would  not. 
 
 IG  But  ye  said.  No;  for  we  will  flee  upon 
 horses;  therefore  shall  ye  flee  :  and.  We  will 
 ride  upon  the  swift ;  tlierefore  shall  tliey  that 
 pursue  you  be  swift. 
 
 17  *  One  thousand  shall  JJee  at  the  rebuke 
 of  one  ;  at  the  rebuke  of  five  shall  ye  flee  : 
 till  yc  ho  left  as  ||  a  beacon  upon  the  top  of  a 
 mountain,  and  as  an  ensign  on  an  hill. 
 
 18  f  And  therefore  will  the  Loud  wait,  that 
 he  may  be  gracious  unto  you,  and  therefore 
 will  he  be  exalted,  that  he  may  have  mercy 
 upon  you  :  for  the  Lord  is  a  God  of  judg- 
 ment :  '  blessed  are  all  they  tliat  wait  for 
 him. 
 
 19  For  the  people  'shall  dwell  in  Zion  at 
 Jerusalem  :  thou  shalt  weep  no  more  :  he  will 
 be  very  gracious  unto  thee  at  the  voice  of  thy 
 cry  ;  when  he  shall  hear  it,  he  will  answer 
 thee. 
 
 '20  And  though  the  Lord  give  you  °  the  bread 
 of  adversity,  and  the  water  of  ||  affliction,  yet 
 shall  not  '■  thy  teachers  be  removed  into  a 
 corner  any  more,  but  thine  eyes  shall  see  thy 
 teachers  : 
 
 21  And  thine  ears  shall  hear  a  word  behind 
 thee,  saying.  This  !s  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it, 
 when  ye  ''  turn  to  the  right  hand,  and  when  ye 
 turn  to  the  left. 
 
 22  ■^  Ye  shall  defile  also  the  covering  of  f  thy 
 graven  images  of  silver,  and  the  ornament  of 
 thy  molten  images  of  gold  :  thou  shalt  \  cast 
 
 CnAp.  XXX.  —  1.  Cover  leit/i  a  roverhi^,  may  mean,  seeking  protec- 
 tion from  Egypt,  without  Divine  direction. — Prelt.  Lou'lh.  *  That  pour 
 out  a  libation.* — so  Mimt.;  for  all  the  ancients  ratified  their  covenants 
 or  treaties  with  sacrifices. — Sut.  2.  To  trust  in  the  shadow,  tliis,  in 
 eastern  language,  means  protection. — Hot).  4.  Zoan — seecliap.  xix. 
 13,  note;  Hones,  chief  cities  of  Egypt;  the  latter  called  Teliapancs, 
 &c.,  (Jer.  ii.  Ill;  xliii.";  Ezek.  x.tx  18.) — Preli.Lowth.  It  lay  towards 
 the  south,  and  was  the  last  royal  city  in  Egypt,  going  to  Ethiopia. — 
 Sut.  So  fond  were  the  Jews  of  their  Egyptian  allies,  that  even  Htze- 
 kiah  sent  ambassadors  to  treat  with  them  for  succours  against  Senna- 
 cherib.—  Wogan.  5.  They  were  all  ostLutned,  bolh  the  messengers 
 and  they  who  sent  them. — Poole.  6.  Ttie  Ijurden  of  the  heusts  of  t/ie 
 south,  '  the  beasts  travelling  southward.'  *  Burden'  is  here  literally 
 understood,  'a  load  '  The  same  deserts  are  here  spoken  of  which  the 
 Israelites  passed  through  when  they  came  out  of  Egypt,  (see  Dcut.  \iii. 
 15.) — Preh.  Lowtli,  as  Vitr.  There  is  no  reason  why  '  burden'  should 
 not  here  be  taken  as  in  other  places,  for  the  inscription  of  an  oracle  or 
 prophecy,  concerning  the  ill-judged  measure  of  asking  aid  of  the  Egypt, 
 ians. — Stock.  7.  Therefore  tiiire  I  cried  cotteerning  this,  or  '  to  her,* 
 that  is,  Jerusalem,  that  their  best  security  will  be  to  be  quiet  and  see 
 
 the  salvation  which  God  shall  work  for  them.  10.  Proptiesy  not  unto 
 Its  right  t/iings,  l^c,  tliougli  not  the  very  words,  this  was  tlie  meaning 
 of  what  they  spoke ;  see  tlieir  behaviour  to  Jeremiah,  (Jer.  xx.  1  ; 
 xxxviii.  4,  6  ;)  to  Amos,  (Amos,  vii.  10  ;)  and  to  Micaiah,  ( 1  Kings,  xxii. 
 8.  2".) — Prett.  Lttwth.  13.  Hwelling  out  in  a  high  woll,  alluding  to  the 
 mod  walls  in  Asia.  The  Psalmist  uses  the  figure  for  sudden  and  utter 
 destruction.— J.f»«'M.  14.  A  sherd  to  tithe  Jire,  gfc.— to  appreciale  this 
 idea  it  should  be  remerabeied,  that  nearly  all  the  cooking  vessels  in  the 
 east  arc  of  earlhenware,  so  that  nut  to  have  a  potsherd  or  a  fragment 
 left  shews  the  greatest  misery.  Should  the  good  woman's  fire  be  ex- 
 tinguished in  the  night,  she  takes  a  potsherd  in  the  morning  and  gois 
 to  her  neighbour  for  a  litUe  fire  to  rekindle  her  own. — Pol/.  l~.  .is 
 
 a  betieon,  which,  being  usually  alone  on  a  hill,  represented  their  scat- 
 tered condition.— L.  Holden  ;  as  a  warning  to  others. — Gill.  Isi.  Tliere- 
 fore, '  after  this.* — Bloyney.  '  Nevertheless.'  19-  Shnlt  dwell  in 
 Zion,  fyc. — the  prophet  seems  carried  on  to  the  latter  days  under  the 
 Gosi>eh—Preh.  Liiwth.  21.  Behind  thee,  alluding  ciUier  to  school 
 masters,  who  stand  behind  their  scholars,  or  at  their  backs,  to  teach 
 them,  &c. ;  or  to  shepherds,  following  their  flocks,  who  call  those  back 
 that  go  astray.— GiV/.        23.  Ye  slinll  defile,  ffc.,  as  when  Jehu  made 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.   XXIX I.   •  External  pricileyes 
 
 and  distinctions  icill  not  exempt  from  icoc  any  of  those  who  are 
 destitute  of  true  yoilUniss.  ]\len  may  persist  in  attendance  on 
 wearisome  and  expensive  forms;  nay,  even  on  the  instituted 
 ordinances  of  God,  and  glory  in  their  supposed  relation  to 
 him,  when  the  whole  of  their  apparent  devotion  consists  of 
 pride  and  hypocrisy. 
 
 II.  '  Pride,  ambition,  avarice,  lust,  or  any  headstrong  passion, 
 priiilucis  a  perfect  intoxi.alion  of  the  soul ;  and  so  do  erroneous 
 principles  in  religion:  hence  originates  the  most  inconsiderate 
 746 
 
 and  infatuated  conduct,  hy  which  men  rusli  upon  their  own 
 destruction.  This  should  caution  every  one  not  to  sin  against 
 conviction;  not  to  scofl' at  divine  truth;  and  not  to  lean  to 
 his  own  understanding  or  heart,  and  so  despise  the  teaching 
 and  salvation  of  Uod  ;  (or  thus  he  is  provoked  to  pour  on  num- 
 bers "  the  spirit  of  deep  sleep,'  or  "  strong  delusion;"  then 
 they  grope  at  noon-day  as  if  it  were  midnight;  and  ihe  most 
 learned  and  sagacious — without  excepting  high  priests,  or 
 chief  priests,  rulers,  and  teachers — are  covered  with  impene- 
 trable error  and  ignorance.  '■ 
 
God's  wralh  in  the  destriution  ofAsKi/ria.       ISAIAH,  XXXI. 
 
 Thefolli/  of  trusting  in  Ec/ypt. 
 
 them  away  as  anienstruoiis  cloth  ;  "  thou  shall 
 say  unto  it,  Get  thee  hence. 
 
 23  '  Then  shall  he  give  the  rain  of  thy  seed, 
 tliat  lliou  slialt  sow  the  ground  withal ;  and 
 bread  of  the  increase  of  the  earth,  and  it  shall 
 be  fat  and  plenteous  :  in  tliat  day  shall  tliy 
 cattle  feed  in  large  pastures. 
 
 'li  The  oxen  likewise  and  the  young  asses 
 that  ear  the  gromid  shall  cat  ||t  clean  pro- 
 vender, whicli  hatli  been  winnowed  with  the 
 shovel  and  with  the  fan. 
 
 '2,»  And  there  shall  be  ^  upon  every  high 
 mountain,  and  upon  every  t'l'S''  '''"■  rivers 
 ami.  streams  of  waters  in  tlie  day  of  the  great 
 slaugliter,  when  the  towers  fall. 
 
 '21J  Moreover  ''  the  light  of  the  moon  shall  be 
 as  the  liglit  of  tlie  sun,  and  the  light  of  the  sun 
 shall  be  sevenfold,  as  the  light  of  seven  days, 
 in  the  day  that  the  Loud  bindeth  up  the 
 brcacli  of  liis  people,  and  healeth  th2  stroke  of 
 tlieir  wound. 
 
 •27  K  Behold,  the  name  of  the  Lord  cometh 
 ivom  far,  burning  u'ith  his  anger,  ||  and  the 
 burden  thereof  is  t  heavy  :  his  lips  are  full  of 
 indigiiation,  and  his  tongue  as  a  devouring 
 fire : 
 
 •28  And  '  his  breath,  as  an  overflowing  stream, 
 ''  shall  reach  to  the  midst  of  the  neck,  to  sift 
 tlie  nations  with  the  sieve  of  vanity  :  and  there 
 shall  be  'a  bridle  in  the  jaws  of  the  people, 
 causing  litem  to  err. 
 
 '29  Ye  shall  have  a  song,  as  in  the  night 
 '"  when  a  holy  solenmity  is  kept ;  and  glad- 
 ness of  heart,  as  when  one  goeth  with  a  pipe 
 to  come  into  "  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  to 
 the  t  mighty  One  of  Israel. 
 
 DO  "And  the  Lord  shall  cause  f  bis  glorious 
 voice  to  be  heard,  and  shall  shew  the  lighting 
 down  of  bis  arm,  with  the  indignation  of  /(/*■ 
 anger,  and  tcilh  the  flame  of  a  devouring  fire, 
 with  scattering,  and  tempest,  ''and  hailstones. 
 
 31  For  ''  through  the  voice  of  the  Loud  shall 
 the  Assyrian  be  beaten  down,  'which  smote 
 with  a  rod. 
 
 B   C. 
 
 H.  C. 
 
 i-ii-,  7i:i. 
 
 cir.  713. 
 
 f  Hos.  U,  8 
 
 t  Heb.  Pi'Ti/ 
 
 /Milt.  6.  S:t. 
 
 rauti.g  <>J 
 
 1  Tiui   +  8. 
 
 thf.  tod 
 
 fouudrd. 
 
 t  Neb,  <■«"« 
 
 tti  reil  iii'iin 
 
 him. 
 
 »ch    11.  15. 
 
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 firm 
 
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 tfeilerd'H). 
 
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 15.  &  Ai.  S. 
 
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 :p. 
 
 h  ell    CO.  19, 
 
 fir    713 
 
 20. 
 
 n  cl.    .^11.  i. 
 
 &  8f.  G. 
 
 K/.ek.  17.15. 
 
 b  Vs  yii.  7. 
 
 ch,  ;'0.  9. 
 
 (  Dim.  9    !3 
 
 n«.s.  7  7. 
 
 II  Or,  and  the 
 
 d  Mu.  2S   19 
 1  |i,>t]. 
 
 of.H'nn,. 
 
 triWJVe. 
 
 t  Hell. 
 
 tieaviiieis. 
 
 «rs.  146.3,5. 
 
 ■  ch    11     I 
 
 2  Thes  '>S 
 
 k  ch   b.  8. 
 
 fell.  37.  29. 
 
 ..i  Ps.  42.  i. 
 
 /Hos.U.lO 
 
 Amos  3.  S, 
 
 H  Ch   2,  3. 
 
 t  Hob.  KicA, 
 
 ll  Oy,m«lU- 
 
 I>eu.  !V.'.  i. 
 
 tlflr. 
 
 „  v\i.  yn.  fi. 
 
 K  ch.  4.a.  13 
 
 t  (U-b    the 
 
 i/lorti'lt  hit 
 
 voice. 
 
 /,  Deu.33.l! 
 
 Pfi.  91.'!. 
 
 i>  i-ii.  -'H,  a. 
 
 i  Vs.  37.  40. 
 
 ti  S',   19. 
 
 .;  ch    :t7,  30. 
 
 r  ch.  U),r.,2-1. 
 
 k  [[OS.  9   9. 
 
 3-2  And  t  in  every  place  where  the  grounded 
 staff  shall  pass,  which  the  Lord  shall  flay 
 upon  him,  it  shall  be  with  tabrets  and  harps  .- 
 and  in  battles  of  "shaking  will  he  fight  ||  with 
 it. 
 
 33  '  For  Tophet  is  ordained  f  of  o'^'  i  yea, 
 for  the  king  it  is  prepared  ;  he  hath  made  it 
 deep  and  large :  the  pile  thereof  is  fire  and 
 much  wood  ;  the  breath  of  the  Lord,  like  a 
 stream  of  brimstone,  doth  kindle  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 1  The  prophet  shtwcth  the  nirscd  foil;/  in  trusting  to 
 Egypt,  and  forsahing  of  God.  G  He  exhorteth  to 
 conversion.     8  He  sheweth  the  fall  of  Assyria. 
 
 WOE  to  them  "  that  go  down  to  Egypt  for 
 help  ;  and  ""stay  on  horses,  and  trust  in 
 chariots,  because  they  are  many  ;  and  in  horse- 
 men, because  they  are  very  strong;  but  they 
 look  not  unto  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  'neither 
 .seek  the  Lord  ! 
 '2  Yet  he  also  is  wise,  and  will  bring  evil,  and 
 will  not  t  call  back  his  words  :  but  will  arise 
 against  the  house  of  the  evildoers,  and  against 
 the  help  of  them  that  work  iniquity. 
 
 3  Now  the  Egyptians  are  "  men,  and  not 
 God  ;  and  their  horses  flesh,  and  not  spirit. 
 When  the  Loud  shall  stretch  out  his  hand, 
 both  he  that  belpeth  shall  fall,  and  he  that  is 
 holpen  shall  fall  down,  and  they  all  shall  fail 
 together. 
 
 4  For  thus  hath  the  Loud  spoken  unto  me, 
 '  Like  as  the  lion  and  the  young  lion  roaring 
 on  his  prey,  when  a  multitude  of  shepherds  is 
 called  forth  against  him,  he  will  not  be  afraid 
 of  their  voice,  nor  abase  himself  for  the  ||  noise 
 of  them:  ^so  shall  the  Lord  of  hosts  come 
 down  to  fight  for  mount  Zion,  and  for  the  hill 
 thereof. 
 
 3  ''  As  birds  flying,  so  will  the  Loud  of  hosts 
 defend  Jerusalem  ;  '  defending  also  he  will  de- 
 liver it ;  and  passing  over  he  will  preserve  it. 
 
 6  H  Turn  ye  unto  him  from  whom  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  have  '  deeply  revolted. 
 
 llic  temple  of  Baal,  in  Samaria,  a  draught  house. — Sut.  23.  Ruinofthi/ 
 sred,  i.e.,  '  rain  to  water  thy  seed.' — Henry.  24.  Ear,  i.  e.,  plough. — 
 I'irr.  25.  Rivers undslreamStOiWn  denote  the  graces  and  consolations 
 ofthespiiit. — Sir  1.  Newton.  25.  Towers,  may  here  denote  the  great 
 ones  of  the  earth. — Preb.  Lnwth.  25.  Ligtit  of  the  moon,  ^-c.,  sevenfold, 
 ^■c,  denuting  increasing  prosperity  and  happiness,  represented  hy  the 
 l)rophcts  by  figures  taken  from  the  heavenly  bodies. — Lowth,  so  Faivties. 
 27.  Burning  with  his  anger,  ^c,  denotes  God's  vengeance  on  the  Assy- 
 rian army,  consuming  it  like  fire. — Preb.  Lowth.  28.  To  sift,  fye.,  'to 
 toss  the  nations  in  the  van  of  perdition.'— lioofAr.,  as  Lowth.  The  van  uf 
 the  ancients  was  only  a  large  kind  of  shovel,  with  which  they  tossed 
 the  corn  mixed  witli  tlie  chafl"  into  the  air,  that  tlie  wind  might  sepa- 
 rate them.  But  Kimclii  obseives,  that  God's  van  would  sweep  away 
 all. — Buittlir.  29.  Night — lioly  solemnity,  alludes  to  the  Passover, 
 kept  in  the  evening,  and  concluded  with  a  hymn,  (Matt,  x.xvi.  30.) — 
 Preb.  Litwth.  32.  The  grounded  staff,  •  the  taming  rod,'  or  '  roil  of 
 suljjection,'  Syriac.  'The  rod  of  correction.' — Lowth,  so  Boothroyd. 
 *  The  sceptre  of  Jehovah,'  grounded,  rooted,  strongly  fixed. — Hob.  The 
 king  of  Assyria,  with  his  army,  was  the  grounded  staff  or  rod  of  cor- 
 rection,  (see  Hab.  i.  12.)    The  Assyrian  empire  was  the  rod  or  staff 
 
 with  which  God  corrected  the  nations. — liloceot.  In  battles  of  shaking, 
 •  and  with  liercc  battles  shall  he  fight  against  tticni.'— Loic^A,  so  Baolhr. 
 The  proud  Assyrians  were  to  fight  against  Jehovali's  sceptre  in  battles 
 of  shaking.  IT'iVA  tabrets  and  tiarps—viiVo  these  the  emancipated 
 .lews  would  shew  their  joy.— /!o4.  33.  ro;)/ic^— see  2  Kings,  xxiii. 
 10,  note.  This  place  was  considered  a  striking  emblem  of  Uie  place  of 
 torment.  Is  ordained— the  literal  Tophet  for  the  destruction  of  the  vast 
 army  of  Sennacherib— the  allegorical  for  the  king,  the  prince  of  this 
 world.    The  pile,  '  pyre.' 
 
 Chap.  XXXI.  —  1.  To  Egypt  for  help,  a  sin,  defying  the  law.  (Deut. 
 xxviii.  68.)  5.  As  birds  flying,  !,c.,  '  as  tlie  mother  birds  hover  over 
 the  young.'  The  similitude  is,  as  the  mother  bird  spreads  licr  wings 
 to  cover  her  young,  throws  herself  before  them  and  oppn-es  the  rapa- 
 cious bird  that  assaults  them,  so  shall  tlie  Lord  defend  Jerusalem. — 
 Lowth,  as  Henry.  Passing  over  he  will  preserve  ;7— the  word  (or  '  pass- 
 ing over'  is  used  only  in  that  sense  here,  and  Exod.  xii.  12,  23,  27,  con. 
 cerning  the  destroying  angel's  passing  over  the  houses  of  the  Israelites, 
 when  he  slew  all  the  firstborn  of  the  Kgyptians,  to  which  this  refers. — 
 Henry.  '  Protecting  and  delivering  ;  leaping  forward  and  rescuing 
 her.' — Lowth.      The  comparison  expresses  the  aclion  of  the  mother 
 
 Revlections   on    Chap.  XXX.  —  Here  is,   I.  '  A  just  re- 
 
 ?  roof  to  those  who  in  distress  trusted  to  the  Egyptians  for  help. 
 f  we  sit  still  in  a  day  of  distress,  hoping  and  quietly  waitiii}; 
 for  the  salvation  of  the  Lord,  and  using  only  lawful,  regular 
 methods  for  our  preservation,  this  will  be  the  strength  of  our 
 souls,  both  for  services  and  sutferings,  and  it  will  engage  Di- 
 vinti  strength  for  us.  \\'ben  we  have  tried  ourselves  by  seek- 
 ing for  help  I'lom  creatures,  we  shall  find  it  the  best  way  of 
 recruiting  ourselves,  to  repose  in  the  Creator.      Here  is  — 
 
 II.  ^  A  terrible  threatenini/  against  those  that  slighted  the  good 
 advice  of  God's  prophet.  Those  have  reason  to  fear  perishing 
 in  their  sins  that  cannot  bear  to  be  frightened  out  of  them. 
 Here  is — 
 
 717 
 
 III.  '  A  gracious  promise  to  those  who  trusted  in  God  that  they 
 should  not  only  sre  through  their  trouble,  but  see  happy  days  after 
 it.  It  is  a  matter  ofcomrort  to  the  people  of  Goil,  when  the 
 times  are  very  bad.  that  all  will  be  well  yet— well  with  them 
 that  fear  God,  when  we  say  to  the  wicked  it  shall  be  ill  with 
 iheni. 
 
 IV.  'A  prophecy  of  the  total  rout  and  ruin  of  the  Assyrian  army. 
 And  as  the  prophet,  in  the  foregoing  promises,  slides  insen- 
 sibly into  the  promises  of  gospel  grace  and  comforts,  so  here, 
 in  the  threatening  of  the  luin  of  Sennacherib's  army,  lie  points 
 at  the  final  and  everlasting  destruction  of  all  impenitent  sin- 
 ners. ■ '' 
 
The  blessings  of  Christ's  hiuffdom. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXXll.,  XXXIII. 
 
 The  promise  of  the  spirit. 
 
 7  For  in  that  day  every  man  shall  'cast  away 
 his  idols  of  silver,  and  fhis  idols  of  gold,  which 
 yonrown  hands  have  made  unto  you_/o?"'"asin. 
 
 8  t  Then  shall  tlie  Assyrian  "fall  with  the 
 sword,  not  of  a  mighty  man  ;  and  the  sword, 
 not  of  a  mean  man,  shall  devour  him  :  but  he 
 shall  flee  ||  from  the  sword,  and  his  young  men 
 shall  be  ||t  discomfited. 
 
 9  And  "  t  he  shall  pass  over  to  ||  his  strong 
 hold  for  fear,  and  his  princes  shall  be  afraid  of 
 the  ensign,  saith  the  LoRn,  whose  fire  is  in 
 Zion,  and  liis  furnace  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXII. 
 
 1    T/ic  bhixinps  uf  C/irUt's  kingdom.     9  Desolation  is 
 forcshiwn.      15  Rtstorution  is  promised  to  succeed, 
 
 BEHOLD,  °a  king  shall  reigu  in  righteous- 
 ness, and  princes  shall  rule  in  judgment. 
 •2  And  a  man  shall  be  as  an  hiding   place 
 from  the  wind,  and  ^  a  covert  from  the  tem- 
 pest ;  as  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place,  as  the 
 shadow  of  a  to'"'?'''  'O'^"  '"  ^  weary  land. 
 
 3  And  "^  the  eyes  of  them  that  see  shall  not 
 be  dim,  and  t\ie  ears  of  them  that  hear  shall 
 hearken. 
 
 4  The  heart  also  of  the  f  rash  shall  under- 
 stand knowledge,  and  the  tongue  of  the  stam- 
 merers shall  be  ready  to  speak  ||  plainly. 
 
 3  The  vile  person  shall  be  no  more  called 
 liberal,  nor  the  churl  said  to  be  bountiful. 
 
 6  For  the  vile  person  will  speak  villany,  and 
 his  heart  will  work  iniquity,  to  practise  hypo- 
 crisy, and  to  utter  error  against  the  Lord,  to 
 make  empty  the  soul  of  the  hungry,  and  he 
 will  cause  the  drink  of  the  thirsty  to  fail. 
 
 7  The  instruments  also  of  the  churl  are  evil : 
 he  deviseth  wicked  devices  to  destroy  the 
 poor  with  lying  words,  even  ||  when  the  needy 
 speaketh  riglit. 
 
 8  But  the  liberal  deviseth  liberal  things  ;  and 
 by  liberal  things  shall  he  ||  stand. 
 
 9  1  Rise  up,  ye  women  ''  that  are  at  ease ; 
 hear  my  voice,  ye  careless  daughters;  give  ear 
 
 if.  713. 
 /  ch   '2.  20. 
 
 t  Hcl».  M^ 
 ..M,c/I.i, 
 f,  t,l 
 
 w  I  Kill.  12. 
 
 ,.  SfO  -2  Kill. 
 
 19.  35,  ^. 
 
 cli.  37   SO. 
 |lOl../.r/<a, 
 
 of  the  tivuril. 
 il  Or, 
 
 tribulartf. 
 t  IU\>.  ft,r 
 
 Jnrlti.1^, or, 
 
 Iribiite. 
 ocli.  37.  37. 
 t  Ifi-b.  h,i 
 
 ruck  than 
 
 J'Ut 
 
 •  naff 
 
 f.r  /.« 
 
 Il  Or,  Am 
 
 b  ch   4.  6.  jt 
 
 ■  iLh.  29.  18. 
 &  3i.  5,  G, 
 
 t  \U\}J«itty. 
 
 1'  Or. 
 
 !|Or.  wftmAi 
 
 *;».vi 
 
 k,-th 
 
 ■A^A 
 
 list 
 
 tiit 
 
 i'""- 
 
 iiij 
 
 «Jy- 
 
 II  Or 
 
 (f 
 
 ita 
 
 /,/.. 
 
 f.i. 
 
 d  Al 
 
 K,   1 
 
 f  Heb.  Dayt 
 \buveaytar. 
 
 f  tlet<.  i\e 
 
 fifltt 
 
 f 
 
 /C)l. 
 
 31.  13. 
 
 H."f 
 
 9.  6. 
 
 ilOr 
 
 6'.r«M, 
 
 i/pc 
 
 ,fl-C. 
 
 fCh. 
 
 'i-i.  it. 
 
 3Cli. 
 
 S7.  10 
 
 II  Or,  cUftt 
 wt<t  u.<i:cA- 
 
 A  Ps.  Ui*  311 
 Joel  2.  S5. 
 ch  29.  17. 
 &  25.  2. 
 
 h   .in.  30, 
 
 Ztfcli.11.2. 
 
 il  Or,  nnd  Ihf 
 
 lit!/  tlinll  U 
 
 abnieit. 
 
 I  ch.  30.  2; 
 
 rir.  713. 
 (I  ch.  21.2. 
 Hal).  2.  S. 
 
 unto  my  speech. 
 
 10  t  Many  days  and  years  shall  ye  be 
 (roubled,  ye  careless  women  :  for  the  vintage 
 shall  fail,  the  gathering  shall  not  come. 
 
 1 1  Tremble,  ye  women  that  are  at  ease  ;  be 
 troubled,  ye  careless  ones :  strip  you,  and 
 make  you  bare,  and  gird  sackcloth  upon  >/oiir 
 loins. 
 
 1'2  They  shall  lament  for  the  teats,  for  t  the 
 pleasant  fields,  for  the  fruitful  vine. 
 
 13  °  Upon  the  land  of  my  people  shall  come 
 up  thorns  and  briers ;  ||  yea,  upon  all  the 
 houses  of  joy  in  '  the  joyous  city  : 
 
 14  ^Because  the  palaces  shall  be  forsaken; 
 the  multitude  of  the  city  shall  be  left ;  the 
 II  forts  and  towers  shall  be  for  dens  for  ever,  a 
 joy  of  wild  asses,  a  pasture  of  flocks  ; 
 
 \5  Until  ''  the  spirit  be  poured  upon  ns  from 
 on  high,  and  '  the  wilderness  be  a  fruitful  field, 
 and  the  fruitful  field  be  counted  for  a  forest. 
 
 16  Then  judgment  shall  dwell  in  tlie  wilder- 
 ness, and  righteousness  remain  in  the  fruitful 
 field. 
 
 17  '  And  the  work  of  righteousness  shall  be 
 peace  ;  and  the  eftect  of  righteousness  quiet- 
 ness and  assurance  for  ever. 
 
 18  And  my  people  shall  dwell  in  a  peaceable 
 habitation,  and  in  sure  dwellings,  and  in  quiet 
 resting  places ; 
 
 19  '  When  it  shall  hail,  coming  down  "'  on 
 the  forest ;  ||  and  the  city  shall  be  low  in  a 
 low  place. 
 
 20  Ble.^sed  are  ye  that  sow  beside  all  waters, 
 that  send  forth  thither  the  feet  of  "  the  ox  and 
 the  ass. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIII. 
 
 1    God^s  judf/menfx  aqahist  the  eitnnirs  of  the  church. 
 1 3    The  privileges  of  the  godhj. 
 
 "ITTOE  to  thee  "  that  spoilcst,  and  thou  wast 
 '  '  not  spoiled  ;  and  dealest  treacherously, 
 and  they  dealt  not  treacherously  with  tliee! 
 "when  thou  shalt  cease  to  spoil,  thou  shalt  be 
 spoiled  ;  and  when  thou  shalt  make  an  end  to 
 
 hiid,  springing  forward  to  coi'er  her  young  with  her  wings. — Boothr. 
 8.  Discomjttfd,  may  rather  be  translated  'melted.*  —  L.  Holdcn. 
 p.  Ft'iv,  alluding  to  the  burning  altar,  the  symbol  of  his  presence,  or  to 
 God's  being  a  consuming  fire  to  his  enemies. — So  Boothr.  Furnace, 
 expressive  of  those  trying  afflictions  by  which  God  puritied  his  penplc. 
 — MnecuL  Both  seem  to  denote  the  fire  of  God's  wrath  to  defend  his 
 people  and  destroy  his  enemies,  ;Zech.  ii.  5.)— J/ncf «/. 
 
 CirAP.  XXXII.  —  1.  ii  A-f'n^,  llezekiah,  but  only  glanced  at  here;  his 
 reign  was  an  image  and  ^hadow  of  the  great  improvements  in  grace 
 and  hohness  which  belong  to  the  reign  of  Christ.— So  Louth,  as  Hm. 
 2.  T/ie  u'(/jJ— travellers  describe  the  eastern  winds  as  most  terrific  and 
 destructive  in  tlieir  effects,  and  especially  the  sammielor  hot  winds. — 
 Ed.  The  shadow  of  a  great  nirk,  the  most  refreshing  that  is  possible 
 in  a  hot  country,  perfectly  excluding  the  rays  of  the  sun.— Loh-M. 
 4.  Stammerers,  *  the  most  rude  and  illiterate  shall  speak  well  on  divine 
 things.* — So  Preb.  Lowlh.  5.  The  vile,  Sfc. — men  shall  be  esteemed 
 and  treated  according  to  their  real  characters,  not  as  under  a  wicked 
 king. — Boothr.     Churl,  'niggard,* — Loicth,  Boothr.  9.  Ye  women, 
 
 — here  commences  a  new  prophecy,  which  has  respect  to  the  dcs<Iati<'a 
 of  the  land  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  and  even  to  gospel  WvaGs.— Boothr. 
 Women,  i.e.,  cities.  Daughters,  villages,  &c.,  (comp.  Ezek.  xvi.  41,) 
 Targ,;  Kimchi,  Grottus,  Slaccul.     Sinners,  spoken  of  as  women  u  bo 
 
 yielded  to  indolence.— So  Wil.  This  is  a  hard  stroke  at  the  women  of 
 Israel  themselves,  who  contributed,  by  their  corrupt  manners,  to  the 
 rain  of  Ihe  state.— So  Sut.        12.  They  shall  lament  for  the  teats— 
 
 '  Upon  your  loins,  upon  your  breasts, 
 Mourn  ye  for  the  pleasant  field,  for  the  fruitful  vine.* 
 
 Lowfh,  so  Boothr. 
 
 13.  Upon  all  the  Aoi/.ses— thorns  should  grow  on  the  deserted  flat  roofs, 
 which  in  prosperity  were  kept  frtc  from  such  annoyances,— So  Wit. 
 15.  The  spirit— the  glory  of  the  hitter  day  is  uniformly  said  to  com- 
 mence with  an  effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  (Isa.  xliv.  3  ;  Joel,  ii.  280— 
 Sitt.  19.  Shall  hail— this  often  denotes  Divine  judgmenis,  (comp. 
 chap.  xxvi.  5  ;  xxviii.  2, 17.) — Boothr.  Shall  be  low,  ^c,  *  shall  he  laid 
 level  with  the  plain.* — Lowlh,  so  Boothr.  20.  Sow  beside  all  water.i, 
 the  allusion  is  to  the  planting  of  rice  by  water ;  it  signifies  the  success 
 of  those  who,  in  gospel  times,  should  sow  the  word  in  all  lands. — 
 Chardin,  Vitr.  The  Hindoo  furmer  sows  his  rice  near  a  pnol,  tha^.  if 
 the  rains  be  less  than  usual  he  may  water  his  young  rice. —  Ward. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIII.  —  1.  Woe  to  thee — a  triumphant  ode  on  the  dcstruc. 
 tinn  to  ScniiacLerib*s  army. — Preb.  Lowth.  Addressed  to  Sennache- 
 rib's army. — Lowth.  To  Atitiochus  Epii'hanes. —  Vitr.,  Mac.  The 
 Romish  antichrist.- Gt7^     When   thou  shalt  cease,    ^c,   so  Ihut  he 
 
 IlnFLECTiONS  ON  Chap.  XXXI.  —  I.  God IS  stvong  fur  thede- 
 fence  of  his  church,  and  ever  read//  and  prompt  to  prottct  it.  That 
 which  applied  to  Israel  genorally  may  be  appropriated  by  every 
 true  believer.  On  whom  else,  but  God,  can  we  surely  rely  in 
 every  time  of  need  ?     He  is  '  a  very  present  help  in  trouble.' 
 
 II.  The  best  insurance  of  the  Dicine  protection  is  to  keep  up  the 
 aflame  of  devotion.  Those  who  love  God,  God  loves.  *  If  ue 
 keep  up  the  6re  of  Loly  love  and  devotion  in  our  hearts  and 
 houses,  we  may  depend  upon  God  to  be  a  protection  to  us 
 and  them.'  i' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXII.  — I.  Happy  are  the// who 
 rnjoythc  reign  of  Christ.  What  storm  can  eventually  injure 
 Ihum,  bo  it  of  temptation,  affliction,  or  persecution,  or  the 
 748 
 
 tempests  of  the  great  day  itself?     He  is  their  eternal  hiding- 
 place — their  rock  is  Christ. 
 
 II.  7'/iose  need  to  trcmhle  who  are  indifferent  to  this  protection  ,■ 
 who  live  at  ease,  insensible  of  danger.  Such  is  too  much  the 
 case  with  multitudes:  careless  women,  careless  of  their  own 
 souls  and  of  those  of  their  own  family  and  children;  and  care- 
 less men,  revelling  in  luxury,  as  the  most  eft'eminate. 
 
 III.  Let  vs  prat/ for  the  plentiful  diffusion  of  the  Hoh/  Spirit; 
 and  when  his  in'Huences  are  poured  out  from  on  h\i;h  as  at 
 Pentecost,  and  become  universal  with  the  preaching  of  the 
 gospel,  our  moral  world  shall  look  like  a  fruitful  fieUl,  and  the 
 fruitful  field  shall  become  a  forest  'of  trees  of  the  Lord's  own 
 right-hand  planting,  that  ho  may  be  glorified.' 
 
Judgments  against  the  church's  enemies. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXXIII. 
 
 The  privileges  of  the  godly. 
 
 deal   treacherously,  they  shall  deal  treacher- 
 ously vritli  thee. 
 
 2  O  Lord,  be  gracious  unto  us ;  '  we  have 
 waited  for  thee :  be  thou  their  arm  every 
 raoriiing,  our  salvation  also  in  the  time  of 
 trouble. 
 
 3  At  the  noise  of  the  tumult  the  people  fled  ; 
 at  the  lifting  up  of  thyself  tlie  nations  were 
 scattered. 
 
 4  And  your  spoil  shall  be  gathered  lihe  the 
 gathering  of  the  caterpiller  :  as  the  running  to 
 and  fro  of  locusts  shall  he  run  upon  them. 
 
 5  ''  The  LoKD  is  exalted  ;  for  he  dwellethon 
 high  :  he  hath  filled  Zion  with  judgment  and 
 righteousness. 
 
 0  And  wisdom  and  knowledge  shall  be  the 
 stability  of  thy  times,  and  strength  of  f  salva- 
 tion :  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  his  treasure. 
 
 7  Behold,  their  ||  valiant  ones  shall  cry  with- 
 out: "the  ambassadors  of  peace  shall  weep 
 bitterly. 
 
 8  '  Tlie  highways  lie  waste,  the  wayfaring 
 man  ceaseth  :  ^  he  hath  broken  the  covenant, 
 he  hath  despised  the  cities,  he  regardeth  no 
 man. 
 
 9  "  The  earth  mourneth  and  languisheth : 
 Lebanon  is  ashamed  and  |{  hewn  down  :  Sha- 
 ron is  like  a  wilderness ;  and  Bashan  and 
 Camiel  shake  oK  their  fruits. 
 
 10  'Now  will  I  rise,  saith  the  Lord;  now 
 will  I  be  exalted  ;  now  will  I  lift  up  myself. 
 
 11  ''Ye  shall  conceive  chaff,  ye  shall  bring 
 forth  stubble :  your  breath,  us  fire,  shall  de- 
 vour you.  , 
 
 1'2  And  the  people  .shall  be  as  the  burnings 
 of  lime  :  '  as  thorns  cut  up  shall  they  be 
 burned  in  the  fire. 
 
 13  f  Hear,  "ye  that  are  far  off,  what  I  have 
 done  ;  and,  ye  that  are  near,  acknowledge  my 
 might. 
 
 14  The  sinners  in  Zion  are  afraid;  fearful- 
 ness   hath    surprised    the    hypocrites.      Who 
 
 \  Hcb.  saha- 
 
 II  Or.  m«- 
 
 e  2  Kin'  IS. 
 IH,  37. 
 
 /  Judg.  5.  6. 
 
 ^  2  Kin.  18. 
 H,15,  16,17. 
 
 II  Or,  leilker- 
 ed  away. 
 
 k  Pfl.  7.  U. 
 ch.  59.  4. 
 
 /  cb.  9.  18. 
 
 771  cli.  41)    I. 
 
 n  Pfl.  15.  ?. 
 &  2.I.  4. 
 
 t  Heb.  in 
 righteout- 
 nfttet. 
 
 \  Hcb.  1/p- 
 righlnettet. 
 
 \\  Or,  devciti. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 bl'>0dl. 
 
 <>  Ps-  119.37. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Ui-igkU^  or, 
 high  placet. 
 
 t  Heb   Ihe 
 Ixnd  of  Jar 
 diataiictt. 
 
 p  1  Cor.  1.20. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 aeigher. 
 
 tj  2  Kin.  19. 
 
 32. 
 rDeu,  Sfl-IO, 
 
 50.Jer,.'J,15. 
 II  Or.  Tid,- 
 
 cutotit. 
 
 t  Pa.  48.  12. 
 
 /  Pa.  16.  5. 
 St  125.  1,  2 
 
 u  ch.  37-  33. 
 
 X  ch.  £4.  2. 
 
 t  Heb.  broa 
 of  f  paces,  o 
 handt. 
 
 V  Jam.  -1.12. 
 t  Heb.  tla- 
 
 tiite  maker. 
 z  P8.89.  18. 
 [1  Or,  theu 
 
 have/or. 
 
 snken  Ihy 
 
 tackling  s. 
 
 among  us  shall  dwell  with  the  devouring  fire  ? 
 who  among  us  shall  dwell  with  everlasting 
 burnings  ? 
 
 15  He  that  "  walketh  f  righteously,  and 
 speaketh  f  uprightly;  he  that  despiseth  the 
 gain  of  II  oppressions,  that  shaketh  his  hands 
 from  holding  of  bribes,  that  stoppeth  his  ears 
 from  hearing  of  fblood,  and  "shutteth  his  eyes 
 from  seeing  evil ; 
 
 16  He  shall  dwell  on  ^h\%\\  :  his  place  of  de- 
 fence shall  be  the  munitions  of  rocks  :  bread 
 shall  be  given  him  ;  his  waters  shall  be  sure. 
 
 17  Thine  eyes  shall  see  the  king  in  his 
 beauty:  tliey  shall  behold  f  the  land  that  is 
 very  far  off. 
 
 18  Thine  heart  shall  meditate  terror.  ^Where 
 is  the  scribe?  where  is  the  f  receiver?  where 
 is  he  that  counted  the  towers  ? 
 
 19  "*  Thou  shalt  not  see  a  fierce  people,  "■  a 
 people  of  deeper  speech  than  thou  canst  per- 
 ceive ;  of  a  II  stammering  tongue,  that  thou 
 canst  not  understand. 
 
 20  *  Look  upon  Zion,  the  city  of  our  solem- 
 nities: thine  eyes  shall  see  Jerusalem  a  quiet 
 habitation,  a  tabernacle  that  shall  not  be  taken 
 down;  "not  one  of  *  the  stakes  thereof  shall 
 ever  be  removed,  neither  shall  any  of  the  cords 
 thereof  be  broken. 
 
 21  But  there  the  glorious  Lord  ivill  be  unto 
 us  a  place  f  of  broad  rivers  aiid  streams; 
 wherein  shall  go  no  galley  with  oars,  neither 
 shall  gallant  ship  pass  thereby. 
 
 22  For  the  Lord  is  our  judge,  the  Lord  is 
 our  ^'t lawgiver,  Mhe  Lord  is  our  king;  he 
 will  save  us. 
 
 23  II  Thy  tacklings  are  loosed  ;  they  could 
 not  well  strengthen  their  mast,  they  could  not 
 spread  the  sail:    then  is  the  prey  of  a  great 
 
 '  spoil  divided  ;  the  lame  take  the  prey. 
 I    24  And  the  inhabitant  shall  not  say,  I  am 
 sick:  ^  the  people  that  dwell  therein  s/ia// Ac 
 '  forgiven  their  iniquity. 
 
 would  not  desist  from  rapineandtreachery,  but  whenhe  had  exhausted 
 his  spoils,  then  a  just  recompence,  in  kind,  was  to  be  nia^le  to  him. — 
 Macctil,  2.  Be  grdciou.K—ihe  Jews  here  supplicate. — Loivth.  The 
 church,  under  the  persecutions  of  Antichrist.— GiV^.  3.  At  the  noise, 
 ^c,  'from  tliy  terrible  voice  the  peoples  fled.'  4.  Yonr  spoil—fid. 
 dressed  ag-ain  to  Sennacherib,  that  the  wealth  he  unjustly  accumulated 
 should  become  a  prey  to  others. — Boothr.  Seems  to  have  been  ad- 
 dressed to  the  enemy.— J)/«cc«/.  This  is  the  answer  of  the  Lord  to  the 
 prayers  of  his  church,  that  they  should  enjoy  the  spoils  of  their  enemies. 
 —Gill.  5.  The  Lord,  ^c— a  chorus  of  ^ev!S.—Lowth.  6.  And 
 wisdom,  Sfc, — 
 
 '  The  security  of  thy  times  shall  be  power. 
 Salvation,  wisdom,  and  knowledge  ; 
 The  fear  of  Jehuvah,  this  shall  be  thy  treasure.' 
 
 -Boothr. 
 
 The  variation  of  per.nons  here  is  not  uncommon. —  Vitr.  y.  Shall 
 en/,  a  description  of  the  despair  of  ihi?  Jews  Ui»in  the  king  of  Assyria's 
 marching  against  Jerusalem,  after  their  treaty  with  him,  (2  Kings, 
 xviii.  14 — 16.) — Loivth.  g.  Lebnnon  is  ashamed,  §y-. — shame  is  as- 
 cribed to  Lebanon,  whose  cedars  might  be  used  to  construct  military 
 machines  for  the  enemy.  Sharon,  rich  in  com,  grass,  and  roses,  was 
 to  be  a  desert ;  as  also  Bashtin,  fertile  in  pastures,  and  Tarme/.'a  moun- 
 tain covered  with  fruit  trees,  corn,  and  pasturage. — Maccul.  These 
 denote,  figuratr\'ely,  those  places  in  Christendom  where  the  Gospel 
 most  flourished,  and  which  suflered  under  Antichrist.— Gt//.  111.  Now 
 I  will  ari5f— God  now  declares  that  in  the  moment  of  emergency  he 
 will  interpose.  Ii.  Your  breath  as  fire,  §c., '  my  Spirit,  like  fire, 
 shall  consume  yon.''— Luwth.  12.  As  the  bnritings  of  lime,  stone  so 
 consumed  as  to  fall  into  fire. — Maccul.  M.  A/raid— God  describes 
 the  dreadful  apprehensions  of  the  wicked  in  these  times  of  danger. 
 i6.  He  shall  dwell,  ^c,  finely  contrasts  the  security  of  the  righteous. — 
 Boothr. 
 
 *  He  shall  dwell  on  the  high  places. 
 The  strongholds  of  the  rocks  shall  be  his  lofty  fortress.* — Lowth. 
 i.  e.,  such  a  man  shall  be  as  safe  and  fearless  as  if  he  dwelt  in  some  in- 
 accessible rock. — Jackson.  Bread — waters,  denote  all  necessary  pro- 
 vision, and  sometimes  all  spiritual  comforts. — Maccul.  17.  King  i?t 
 his  beauty,  not  in  sackcloth,  as  a  mourner. — Boothr.  Shall  'behold 
 the  beauty  of  the  Lord,"  in  the  peaceable  worship  of  the  temple  restored. 
 — Sut.  They  shall  behold,  ^c,  '  tliey  shall  see  thine  own  land  far  ex- 
 tended.—  Lnu'tli.  As  our  translation.  They  may  visit  any  part  of 
 the  land  at  pleasure,  or  any  foreign  land. — Boothr.  18.  Shall  medi. 
 tate  terror,  'shall  reflect  on  the  past  terror.' — Loivth.  The  scribe^ 
 who  wrote  down  the  names  of  persons  to  pay  tribute. — Boothr.  The 
 receiver,  or  collector  of  ta.\es.  He  that  counted,  ^c-,  tlie  master  of  the 
 artillery,  to  survey  the  fortifications.  19.  Of  a  dei'per  speech,  ^c, 
 the  Hebrews  so  express  a  foreign  language. — Preb.  Lowth.  Whose 
 very  language  being  misunderstood,  had  rendered  them  more  for- 
 midable.— Scott.  21.  A  place  of  broad  rivers,  the  metaphor  is  taken 
 from  the  wide  and  deep  fosses  that  surround  fortified  towns. — Hew. 
 Thougli  Jerusalem  be  not  compassed  about  with  any  great  river,  as 
 Babylon  and  Nineveh,  yet  God  will  be  to  us  in  their  stead.  No  galley, 
 ^■c,  no  enemy,  great  or  small,  shall  be  able  to  break  through  or  assail 
 MS.— Jackson.  The  security  and  privileges  of  the  Christian  church, 
 when  Israel  shall  be  converted  and  reinstated  in  their  own  land,  seems 
 principally  intended  ;  for,  after  Isaiah's  days,  JerusaU-m  was  never  long 
 togetlier  free  from  hostile  invasions. — Scott.  23.  Thy  tacklings,  ffc. 
 
 —the  prophet  addresses  the  enemy,  comparing  Assyria  to  an  old  ship 
 with  loose  sails  and  broken  mast,  exposed  to  be  cast  upon  the  hostile 
 strand,  and  their  cargo  to  become  plunder. — Boothr.,  Scott.  24. 1  am 
 sick,  hiriguish  from  the  siege;  all  shall  forget  their  sufferings  and  live 
 in  peace.— iJoo^^r.  Pestilence,  as  well  as  war,  is  now  removed.— Wj7. 
 The  idea  seems  to  be,  that  the  most  infirm  shall  be  able  to  come  in  for 
 spoil  from  their  easy  prey. — Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.    XXXIII,  —  Here  we  see,  I.  Re-  commerce  destroyed,  lands  laid  waste, — these  and  numerous 
 
 tributive  justice.    What  Babylon  did  to  others  is  done  to  herself,  other  evils  follow  war  in  its  train,     *  Give  peace  in  our  time. 
 
 Those  who  are  above  human,  shall,  in  the  end,  know  that  they  O  Lord!' 
 
 are  not  above  divine  power.  HI.  The  blessings  of  the  promised golde.n  age*     Not  that  fahled 
 
 II.   The  miseries  of  war.     Men's  hearts  failing  them  for  fear,  by  heathen  imaginations,  but  promised  by  '  llie  God  of  Peace  ; 
 749 
 
The  judgments  wherewith 
 
 ISAIAII,  XXXIV. 
 
 God  reveiiycth  liis  church. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 1  The  jiidqments  wherewith  God  reiienfieih  his  church. 
 1 1  The  desolation  of  her  enemies.  16  The  certainty 
 of /he  prophecy. 
 
 */^OME    near,   ye   nations,   to   hear;     and 
 ^^   liearken,  ye  people  :   '^  let  the  earth  hear, 
 and  ftill  that  is  therein;    the  world,  and  all 
 things  tliat  come  forth  of  it. 
 
 t2  For  the  indignation  of  the  Loud  is  npon 
 all  nations,  and  hi.i  finy  upon  all  their  armies  : 
 he  hath  utterly  destroyed  them,  lie  liath  de- 
 liverod  them  to  the  slaughter. 
 
 a  Tlieir  .slain  also  shall  be  cast  out,  and 
 *' their  stink  shall  come  up  out  of  their  car- 
 cases, and  tlie  mountains  shall  be  melted  with 
 their  blood. 
 
 4  And  **  all  tlie  host  of  heaven  shall  he  dis- 
 solved, and  the  heavens  shall  be  *^  rolled  to- 
 gether as  a  scroll  :  ''and  all  their  liost  shall 
 fall  down,  as  the  leaf  falleth  oiF  from  the  vine, 
 and  as  a  ^  falling _/?V/  from  the  fig  tree. 
 
 5  For  'Mny  sword  shall  be  batlied  iu  heaven  : 
 belioid,  it  'shall  come  down  npon  Idumea, 
 and  upon  the  people  of  my  curse,  to  judg- 
 ment. 
 
 6  The  sword  of  the  Lord  is  filled  witli  blood, 
 it  is  made  fat  with  fatness,  and  with  the  blood 
 of  lambs  and  goats,  with  the  fat  of  the  kidneys 
 of  rams  :  for  ^  the  Lord  hath  a  sacrifice  in 
 Bozrah,  and  a  great  slaughter  in  the  land  of 
 Idumea. 
 
 7  And  the  ||  unicorns  shall  come  down  with 
 them,  and  the  bullocks  with  the  bulls;  and 
 their  land  siiall  be  [|  soaked  with  blood,  and 
 their  dust  made  fat  with  fatness. 
 
 8  For  it  is  the  day  of  the  Lord's  '  vengeance, 
 and  the  year  of  reconipences  for  the  contro- 
 versy of  Ziou. 
 
 fl  Pe.  49.  I. 
 b  Deu.  3».  I. 
 
 t  Heb.  Iht 
 
 /•tt:Mt 
 
 :-l,  iw  A    15, 
 M.t.Sl   2  1 
 
 :;  ivt  :<.  lo 
 
 U  JiT.lG    10 
 
 h  ,h,  G.-i   I. 
 .1.-^     HI.  13, 
 Ztph  1.7. 
 
 \tOr, -Iriiithtn. 
 lv\i.  6J.  -1. 
 
 I  Rev  M.  U 
 ft  IS.  18.  f* 
 K".  » 
 
 .  Will    1.4. 
 
 p  cli.  14.  23. 
 Zeiih.  ?.  1-1 
 Rev.  18.  2. 
 OrtPtlici't, 
 ■iKn\.  21. 
 13   I. am  2. 
 
 t  Hel.. 
 ilnui/hltrt  -f 
 Ce  Old.        ' 
 
 t  Hob,  /j'», 
 II  Or,  „ii,/,l 
 mamtrr. 
 
 9  "'  And  the  streams  tliereof  shall  be  turned 
 into  pitch,  and  the  dust  thereof  into  brimstone, 
 and  the  laud  thereof  shall  become  burning 
 pitch. 
 
 10  It  shall  not  be  quenched  night  nor  day  ; 
 "  tiie  smoke  thereof  shall  go  up  for  ever: 
 "from  generation  to  generation  it  sliall  lie 
 waste  ;  none  shall  pass  through  it  for  ever  and 
 ever. 
 
 11  f^But  the  II  cormorant  and  the  bittern 
 shall  possess  it ;  the  owl  also  and  tl)e  raven 
 shall  dwell  in  it:  and  '' he  .shall  stretch  out 
 npon  it  the  line  of  confusion,  and  the  stones  of 
 emptiness. 
 
 12  They  shall  call  the  nobles  thereof  to  the 
 kingdom,  but  none  shall  be  tliere,  and  all  her 
 princes  shall  be  nothing. 
 
 lii  And  '  thorns  shall  come  up  in  her  palaces, 
 nettles  and  brambles  iu  the  fortresses  thereof: 
 and  ''it  shall  be  an  iiabitation  of  dragons,  and 
 a  court  for  ||  f  owls. 
 
 14  t  The  wild  beasts  of  the  desert  sliall  also 
 meet  with  f  tlie  wild  beasts  of  the  island,  and 
 the  satyr  shall  cry  to  liis  fellow;  the  \\  screech 
 owl  also  shall  rest  there,  and  find  for  herself  a 
 place  of  re.st. 
 
 15  Tliere  shall  the  great  owl  make  her  nest, 
 and  lay,  and  hatch,  and  gather  under  her 
 shadow  :     there    shall    the    vultures    also    be 
 
 athered.  every  one  with  her  male. 
 
 IG  H  Seek  ye  out  of  *  the  book  of  the  Lord, 
 and  read  :  no  one  of  these  shall  fail,  none  shall 
 want  her  mate:  for  my  mouth  it  hatli  com- 
 manded, and  his  spirit  it  hath  gathered  iIumu. 
 
 1 7  And  he  hath  cast  the  lot  for  them,  and  his 
 hand  hath  divided  it  unto  them  by  line  :  tliey 
 shall  possess  it  for  ever,  from  generation  to 
 generation  shall  they  dwell  therein. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIV. —  1.  Come  near, ye  jw/i'on.?— cliaptersxxxiv.audxxxv. 
 make  one  distinct  prophecy,  the  first  part  containing  a  demmci-Uinn 
 of  Divine  vengeance  against  tbe  enemies  of  the  people  or  church  nf 
 God;  the  second  (lescribing;  the  flourisliiug  state  of  the  church  of  (J'^d, 
 consequent  on  the  execution  of  these  judgments.  Edom  is  parii. 
 cularly  si>cfified,  whose  principal  provocation  was,  insulting  the  Jews 
 in  their  distress,  and  j'uning  against  them  with  their  enemies,  the 
 ChalOeans,  (see  Ps.  ix.xxvii.  7;  Eztk.  xxv.  12;  xxxv,  13  ;  Amos,  i.  !1.) 
 Accordingly,  the  E-loniites  were,  with  the  rest  of  the  nciijhbnuring 
 nations,  ravaged  and  laid  waste  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  (see  Jer.  xxv. 
 15—26,  and  Mai.  i.  3.  4.)— Lo«7/j.  2.  All  nations,  i.  c.,  which  perse- 
 cute tlie  church.— Jif'i(?(?M/.  Those  here  comprised  as  the  subjects  of 
 the  Uivinc  disiilrasur^-  aie  named  in  Jer.  xxv.— S«i.  4.  Hust  of 
 heaven,  persons  occvipying  superior  stations,  such  as  kings,  princes,  and 
 subordmate  great  men.  The  /teuuens  nhnlt  be  rolled  tnget/icr,  the  ex. 
 pression  p(;ints  at  the  total  abolition  of  the  political  system  of  the  king- 
 dom. 5.  Bathed  in  heaven,  may  signify  in  the  blood  of  eminent 
 men.  6.  Is    tilled  with  blnnd,   intimating  prodigious   devastation. 
 
 The  Lord  hath  a  sttcrt/tce- sacrifices  were  aticiei.tly  instituted  fur  the 
 h'luour  of  Old,  to  demonstrnte  his  hatred  of  sin,  and  the  necessity  of 
 blood  being  shed  to  make  expiation  for  the  guilt  of  the  tiansgre^bors. 
 Fur  tliese  purposes,  a  sacrifice  was  tn  be  m^de  at  Bnzrah,  of  the  licli, 
 the  great,  and  powerful  enemies  of  the  people  of  God.  In  the  pro- 
 phetic st)  le.  the  names  of  various  animals  aie  here  syniboheally  given 
 to  men.  Tlie  fierce,  pioud,  and  powerful  are  called  liuns  anit  bull^; 
 the  fat  and  mighty  ones  of  the  eaith,  lambs,  goats,  and  rams.  Bnzruh, 
 a  chief  city  of  the  Kdomitcs,  and  sr^'nitics  a  fiutress.— Gi7/.  7-  t'lir- 
 corns — bullocks — bulla,  ehietly  to  be  cuusideied  ;is  embhmatical  of  the 
 powerful,  fierce,  obstinate  enemies  of  the  people  of  God.  9.  Into 
 pilch,  at)  all usion  to  the  overthrow  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah .  lO.  It 
 sliall  not  he  quenched — Isaiah  seems  to  look  beyond  temporal  to  eternal 
 evils,  and  declares  that  the  miseries  of  which  he  speaks  shall  have 
 neither  interruption  nor  eiul.— 3/occ-u/.  None  shall  pa&n  through  it-- 
 numbers  of  modern   travellers  have  endeavoured   to  penetrate  into 
 
 Idumea,  but  in  vain;  the  jealousy  of  the  Arab  tribes  is  so  great,  that 
 there  is  scarcely  the  impe  of  escape  if  any  venture  so  far,  and  guides 
 arc  not  to  be  obtained  at  any  price.  Cuplaius  Irby  and  Mangles  did, 
 after  removing  m<iuntains  of  difliculties,  just  get  a  sight  of  the  ruins  of 
 the  ancient  capital,  but  through  Idumta  tliey  could  not  pass. — See 
 Keith  on  Prnpheci/.  II.  The  cormora?it,  resorts  to  solitary  places. 
 The  bittern,  to  marshy  grounds.  The  owl,  to  old  ruins.  T/te  raven, 
 feeds  upon  the  carcases  of  the  dead.  All  these  were  to  take  up  their 
 residences  in  this  desolate  country.  The  line  of  confusion,  with  the 
 accuracy  of  a  builder  he  shall  mete  out  whatever  is  destined  to  destruc- 
 tion. Stones  of  emptiness,  not  solid,  unlit  forany  useful  work.  13.  And 
 thorns  shall  come  up,  ^r.—Uie  liiid  of  Idumea  and  (hi.-  city  of  Uozrah 
 shall  become  an  uufiequented  desert. — Muccul.  i6.  The  book  of  the 
 Lord,  of  the  law  of  Moses. — Kimehi.  Of  Genesis. — Jarrhi.  Of  Isaiah. 
 — Gill,  linothr.  God's  omniscience  is  described  in  Scripture  as  a 
 register  book,  (sec  chap.  Ixv.  6;  Dcut.  xxxii.  34  ;  I's.  Li.  8  ;)  so  this  pro- 
 phecy is  a  register  by  which,  in  after  times,  to  compare  tlie  event. — 
 Preb.  Loath.  At  that  time  it  included  the  books  of  Moses,  Psalms, 
 Joel,  and  Amos,  and  esi>ecially  Isaiah;  see  the  predictions  iu  Num. 
 xxiv.  IS,  19 ;  Ps.  cxxxvii.  7 ;  Joel,  iii.  19;  Amos,  i.  II.  A'o  one  of  these 
 shall  fail— the  most  intimate  connexion  subsists  between  all  the  parts 
 of  Divine  revelation. — Maccul.  Not  one  of  the  beasts  or  birds  men- 
 tioned shall  be  wanting. — Gill.  17.  By  line,  alluding  to  the  division 
 of  inheritances,  (Josh,  xviii.  0.)  The  creatures  mentioned  were  to  have 
 their  proper  jilaccs  assigned  to  them;  according  to  tluir  several  in- 
 stincts, and  the  laws  of  Provitleucc,  they  were  lo  resort  thither. — Mac. 
 The  fulfilment  of  thc>e  propliecics  is  one  of  the  mopt  remarkable  things 
 in  the  worhl.  The  Idiimeaos  were  a  populous  and  powerful  nation  long 
 posterior  to  their  delivery.  At  the  time  of  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem 
 they  were  almost  as  numerous  as  the  Jews ;  yet  now  tlic  Arabs  report, 
 that  within  three  days'  journey  there  are  upwards  of  thiity  deserted 
 cities,  and  their  ruins  swarm  with  enormous  scorpions.  Idumea  forms 
 a  shorter  route  than  an  ordinary  one  to  India,  and  yet  it  has  not  been 
 visited  by  any  traveller. — See  Keith. 
 
 and  from  lliese  our  minds  may  soar  to  that  state  where  the 
 glorious  Lord  shall  eternally  be  'a  place  of  broad  rivers  and 
 streams  to  bis  people,  and  tbe  inhabitant  shall  no  more  sav, 
 '  I  am  sick.' 
 
 Hpi.LCTiONS  ON  CiiAP.  XXXIV .  —  1.  How  terrible  are  the 
 Divine  threateninas  /     Let  none,  then,  dream  of  their  being  dis- 
 pensed with  in  the  case  of  the  impenitent,  by  painting  to  their 
 iuiaginalioiis  a  Uod   whose  onlv  utlribuio   is  mercy.      God  is 
 760 
 
 also  a  God  of  justice,  and,  in  proporlion  to  the  greatness  of 
 otleiK-es  committed  against,  not  mere  creatures,  but  hnnself, 
 so  will  be  the  punishment  of  the  guilty.  The  total  destruction 
 of  Edom  reminds  us  of  tliat  misery  which  must  he  endured 
 by  all  the  enemies  of  God,  the  smoke  of  whose  torment  '  sLail 
 ascend  up  for  ever  and  ever.' 
 
 II.  How  true  tire  the  Divine  predictions  !     The  truth  of  IVevo- 
 lation  is  gradually  unfolding,  and  darting  forth  on  the  human 
 
The  flourishing  of  Christ  s  kimjdom.         ISAIAH,  XXXV.,  XXXVI. 
 
 Sennacherib's  invasiotl  nf  Jitduh. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXV. 
 
 1    The  joiffid  Jlnurishing  of  Christ's  kinfjtiom.     3    Th 
 weak  are  encunraf/ed  hi/  the  virtuts  and  prlvilet/ts  of 
 the  gnsfiet, 
 
 '^PHE  "  wiUemess  and  the  solitary  place  shall 
 -*-  be  ^lad  for  them  ;  and  the  desert  shall  re- 
 joice, and  blossom  as  the  rose. 
 ■2  ''Itsliall  blossom  abundantly,  and  rejoice 
 even  with  joy  and  singing  :  the  glory  of  Leba- 
 non sliall  be  given  unto  it,  the  excellency  of 
 (yanuel  and  Sharon,  they  shall  see  the  '^\ovy  of 
 tlie  Lord,  atid  the  excellency  of  our  God. 
 
 3  II '  Strengthen  ye  tlie  weak  hands,  and  con- 
 firm the  feeble  knees. 
 
 4  Say  to  them  that  are  of  a  f  fearful  lieart. 
 Be  strong,  fear  not :  beliold,  your  God  will 
 come  u'ilh  vengeance,  even  God  with  a  recom- 
 pence  ;  lie  will  come  and  save  you. 
 
 5  Then  tlie  •'eyes  of  tlie  blind  shall  be  open- 
 ed, and  ■-■  the  ears  of  the  deaf  shall  be  un- 
 stopped. 
 
 6  Then  shall  the  ■■  lame  7nan  leap  as  an  liart, 
 and  the  ^  tongue  of  the  dumb  sing  :  for  in  the 
 wilderness  shall  i"  waters  break  out,  and  streams 
 ill  tlie  desert. 
 
 7  And  the  parched  ground  shall  become  a 
 pool,  and  the  thirsty  land  springs  of  water :  in 
 '  the  habitation  of  dragons,  where  each  lay, 
 shall  be  \\  grass  with  reeds  and  rushes. 
 
 8  And  an  highway  shall  be  there,  and  a  way, 
 and  it  shall  be  called  The  way  of  holiness; 
 '  the  unclean  shall  not  pass  over  it ;  ||  but  it 
 shall  be  for  those  :  tlie  wayfaring  men,  though 
 fools,  shall  not  err  therein. 
 
 9  '  No  lion  shall  be  there,  nor  any  ravenous 
 beast  shall  go  up  thereon,  it  shall  not  be  found 
 there  ;  but  the  redeemed  sliall  walk  there : 
 
 10  And  the  "'ransomed  of  the  Loud  shall 
 return,  and  come  to  Zion  with  songs  and  ever- 
 lasting joy  upon  their  heads:  tliey  shall  obtain 
 joy  and  gladness,  and  "sorrow  and  sighing 
 shall  flee  away. 
 
 li  c 
 
 cir.  713. 
 
 B.  C.  713. 
 
 a  ch. 66,  12 
 
 ..  2  Khi.  IS. 
 
 13.  17. 
 
 2Clir.3a.  1. 
 
 t,  ch.  ;<2.  ir.. 
 
 71U. 
 
 cjobi.s,*. 
 
 Heb.  VI.  M. 
 
 t  Hcb  /.«.i/y. 
 
 II  Or,  tccre- 
 
 tl  ch.  S9.  18 
 
 '"'.V- 
 
 &  3_',  a.  4. St 
 
 •Vil.  Mill, 9. 
 
 />  2  Kill.  18. 
 
 '11,  fee  8c  II 
 
 la,  etc. 
 
 5    B<  VI.  2i. 
 
 &L'U.30.  &c. 
 
 Jic  •>!.  tl. 
 
 John  9.  (5,-: 
 
 e  %rat.  II    b. 
 
 Mark  7.  3i, 
 
 t  Heb  a  word 
 
 Ike. 
 
 of  Up,. 
 
 /Mat.  11.  ."i. 
 
 11  Or,  but 
 
 «t  15.  30    & 
 
 coumel  and 
 
 21.  l4.Johu 
 
 st-en^th  aie 
 
 5.8,9.  Acta 
 
 fir  thu  wir. 
 
 3   2,  &c.  & 
 
 See  Eze.  ;.'9. 
 
 8.  7.&  M. 
 
 G,  7. 
 
 8.  &c. 
 
 <j  cli.S-2.  A. 
 
 Mat  9.  32, 
 
 :w.  «t  VI  ■>■> 
 
 Sc  15   :m 
 
 li  ch.  41.  18. 
 
 A:    1-1.    Ift, 
 
 J,.hii7.  3^*, 
 
 ■M. 
 
 1  ch.  3t.  13. 
 
 II  y)r,.,...url 
 
 f.ru.d.. 
 
 Sfc. 
 
 A  ch.  52.  1. 
 
 Joel  3    17- 
 
 Hev.  21.2". 
 
 11  Or, 
 
 11  nr,/<,r  /it* 
 
 hoitagfs. 
 
 shall  tic 
 
 wi//i  th'in. 
 
 I  Lev    'IV,.  tj 
 
 ch.  11.  y. 
 
 K/L'-  31.  25 
 
 m  ch.  51.  11. 
 
 n  ch.  25.  a. 
 
 tt  65.  19. 
 
 Kev.  7.  17. 
 
 iv  ^;i.  4. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVI. 
 
 I  Stnnachm'h  invadtth  Judah.  4  Rahshaheht  sr7it  In/ 
 Sen/idc/wrib,  1)1/  blasphemous  ptrsuas/'uns  solicitit/i 
 the  people  to  rtvuU.  122  His  words  are  told  to  Heze- 
 hiah. 
 
 "iVrOW  ^it  came  to  pass  in  the  fourteenth 
 ■^^  year  of  king  Hezekiali,  that  Sennacherib 
 king  of  Assyria  came  up  against  all  the  de- 
 fenced  cities  of  Judah,  and  took  thein. 
 
 2  And  the  king  of  Assyria  sent  Rabshakeh 
 from  Lachish  to  Jerusalem  unto  king  Heze- 
 kiah  with  a  great  army.  And  lie  stood  by  the 
 conduit  of  the  upper  poul  in  the  higliway  of 
 the  fuller's  field. 
 
 3  Tiien  came  forth  unto  him  Eliakim,  Hil- 
 kialfs  son,  which  was  over  the  house,  and 
 Sliebna  the  ||  scribe,  and  Joah,  Asaph's  son, 
 the  recorder. 
 
 4  1^  And  Rabshakeh  said  unto  them,  Say  ye 
 now  to  Hezekiah,  Thus  saith  tlie  great  king, 
 the  king  of  Assyria,  What  confidence  is  this 
 wherein  thou  trustest? 
 
 5  I  say,  sayest  thou.,  (but  they  are  hut  f  vain 
 words)  II  I  have  counsel  and  strengtli  for  war: 
 now  on  whom  dost  thou  trust,  that  thou  re- 
 bellest  against  me? 
 
 G  Lo,  thou  trustest  in  the  "^ staff  of  this  broken 
 reed,  on  Egypt ;  whereon  if  a  man  lean,  it  will 
 go  into  liis  hand,  and  pierce  it :  so  is  Pharaoh 
 king  of  Egypt  to  all  that  trust  in  him. 
 
 7  But  if  thou  say  to  me.  We  trust  in  the 
 Lord  our  God  :  is  it  not  he,  whose  higli  places 
 and  whose  altars  Hezekiah  hath  taken  away, 
 and  said  to  Judah  and  to  Jerusalem,  Ye  shall 
 worship  before  tliis  altar  V 
 
 8  Now  therefore  give  ||  pledges,  I  pray  thee, 
 to  my  master  the  king  of  Assyria,  and  1  will 
 give  thee  two  thousand  horses,  if  thou  be  able 
 on  thy  part  to  set  riders  upon  them. 
 
 9  How  then  wilt  thou  turn  away  the  face  of 
 one  captain  of  the  least  of  my  master's  servants, 
 and  put  thy  trust  on  Egypt  for  chariots  and  for 
 horsemen  ? 
 
 Chap.  XXXV. —  1.  The  tvilderness — shall  be  glad — this  chai)ter  de- 
 scribes the  flourishing-  state  of  the  church  of  God  consequent  upon 
 the  execution  of  the  judgments  before  predicted. — Lou-th.  Christ  and 
 his  apostles  have  applied  several  passages  in  this  chapter  to  the  g-nspcl 
 times,  (see  Matt.  xi.  3—5.)  By  tlie  wdderness  is  meant  the  church, 
 fsee  Rev.  xii.  14.)  2.  lilosaom  abundimtly — spiritual  blessings  are 
 often  set  forth  under  the  emhlem  of  fruitful  ness. — Preb.  Lowth.  Lt-ba- 
 ii-m — Cttrmcl — Sharon — see  chap,  xxxiii.  9,  note.  5.  Theii  the  eyes 
 itf  the  blind— o\ir  Saviour  appealed  to  this  prophecy  as  literally  fulfilled 
 by  him,  (Malt.  xi.  2 — 5,)  yet  the  words  may  be  capable  of  further  ac- 
 complishment in  the  removal  of  all  blindness  and  prejudice.  fi.  The 
 liime  man  Ivnp,  denotes  that  the  cliurch  and  its  members  should  renew 
 their  strcnarlh. — Preb.  Laivth.  It  expresses  alacrity  in  peri'orniing 
 spiritual  duties.  Dumb — Mark,  vii.  37.  Waters  break  out,  emblema- 
 tical of  the  extensive  communication  of  Divine  influences. — Mnccul., 
 as  Preb.  Luicth.  7.  And  thepurched  ground, '  and  the  glowing-sand.' 
 — Lowth.  The  Arab  word  signifies  the  deceitful  mirage,  often  seen  in 
 sandy  plains  of  the  east,  about  noon,  resembling  a  lake  of  water  in 
 motion,  and  occasioned  by  the  reverberation  of  the  sun's  beams.  It 
 sometimes  even  tempts  thirsty  travellers  out  of  their  way. — Sale,  Lutoth, 
 see  Shaw'n  Trav.  In  tlie  habitation  of  dragoyis,  that  is,  in  the  desert 
 and  dry  places  where  such  lay,  shall   be  grass,   &c.,  which  grow  in 
 
 moist  places ;  signifying,  that  the  most  desolate  and  waste  places  shail 
 flourish  again,  and  the  most  savage  and  brutish  people,  no  better  than 
 dens  of  devils,  shall  be  furnished  with  the  graces  of  God's  Spirit. — 
 Jackson.  8.  A  highway — the  lemoving  of  all  obstacles  to  the  resto. 
 ration  of  God's  people  is  elsewhere  expressed  by  '  preparing  the  way  of 
 the  Lord,'  &c.,  (chap.  xl.  3  ;  see  also  xlii.  ItJ.)  This,  probably,  relates 
 to  the  restoration  of  the  Jews  in  later  ages,  though  it  may  have  an  im- 
 mediate aspect  to  a  return  from  Babylon.— Pre6.  Lowth,  It  shall  be 
 called  the  way  of  holiness,  crowded  with  devout  travellers  tn  Zion,  (see 
 chap.  ii.  J  Mic.  iv.}— 5«/.     But  it  shall  be  fur  those — 
 
 '  But  God  shall  be  with  them,  walking  in  the  way, 
 And  the  foolish  shall  not  err  therein.'— J5rjo(Ar.,  as  Lowth. 
 
 9.  No  lion  shall,  fyc. — beasts  of  prey  haunt  the  wilderness  between 
 Babylon  and  Judea. — Btwlhr.  Denotes,  in  general,  protection  against 
 persecution,  persecutors  being  compared  to  wild  beasts,  (see  Ps.  xxii. 
 12,  21  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  17.)  10.  Come  to  Zion  with  so7igs,  an  allusion  to 
 the  expressions  of  joy  when  the  Jews  went  up  to  their  sclem  u  lestivals. 
 Joy  upon  their  heads — the  phrase  alludis  to  the  crowns  or  garlands 
 Ubed  at  times  of  public  rejoicing. — Preb.  Lowth.  These  were  marks  of 
 honour  and  dignity.— il/afCM/. 
 Chap.  XXXVI.  — See  on  2  Kings,  xviii.  13,  &c.,  notes. 
 
 mind  in  beams  of  light,  which  nothing  but  the  thickest  veil  of 
 infidelity  can  resist.  Our  enemies  may  here  be  judges.  Vol- 
 ney  himself  may  be  called  as  a  witness.  The  wonderful  ruins 
 of  Petra  speak  from  their  solitude  in  a  voice  of  thunder  :  '  Lot 
 all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  hear.'  The  magnificent  cily, 
 once  teeming  with  life,  commerce,  and  wealth,  and  cut  out  of 
 the  rocks,  so  that  it  threatened  to  be  the  last  consumed  in  the 
 destruction  of  the  globe  itself,  is  now  only  a  fit  residence  for 
 the  wild  beasts  of  the  desert.  'Let  God  be  true,  and  every 
 man  a  liar.' 
 
 HKFLtc'KONs  ON   Chap.    XXXV. —  I.  The  GvntiU  world  is 
 CdUid  a  wihlerness,  (Cant.  viii.  5. )     This  was  made  to  bud  and 
 blossom  as  a  rose  by  the  grace  of  the  gospel.     It  lay  in  a  dark 
 751 
 
 and  desolate  state  ;  but  when  the  gospel  came,  truth,  righte- 
 ousness, and  piety,  flourished  in  myriads  of  converts  to  the 
 Lord. 
 
 n.  The  preaching  of  the  f;ospel  was  accompanied  with  an  effu- 
 sion of  the  Spirit.  Waters  broke  out  in  the  wilderness,  and 
 pools  in  the  parclied  ground,  when  the  Spirit,  in  all  his  grace 
 and  I'ulness,  descended  from  on  high.  Churches  were  every 
 where  formed,  and  the  waste  places  of  the  GentUes  became  the 
 *  gardens  of  the  Lord.'^"  Let  us  frequently  pour  out  our  fer- 
 vent and  united  supplications  for  tlie  full  accomplishment  of 
 all  that  is  here  foretold,  fur  the  felicity  and  glory  of  the  llo- 
 deemer's  kingdom,  and  for  his  bUssing  on  the  means  em- 
 ployed for  its  advancement.  >"^<^ 
 
Rabshakeh's  blasphemous  persuasions. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXXVII. 
 
 Hezekiah's  mounting. 
 
 10  And  am  I  now  come  up  without  the  Lord 
 against  this  land  to  destroy  it?  the  Lord  said 
 unto  me,  Go  up  against  this  land,  and  destroy 
 it. 
 
 1 1  II  Then  said  Eliakim  and  Shebna  and 
 Joah  unto  Rabshakeh,  Speak,  I  pray  thee, 
 unto  tliy  servants  in  the  Syrian  language  ;  for 
 we  understand  it .-  and  speak  not  to  us  in  the 
 Jews'  language,  in  the  ears  of  the  people  that 
 are  on  the  wall. 
 
 12  1  But  Rabshakeh  said,  Hath  my  master 
 sent  me  to  tliy  master  and  to  thee  to  speak 
 these  words?  hath  he  not  sent  me  to  the  men 
 that  sit  upon  the  wall,  that  they  may  eat  their 
 own  dung,  and  drink  tlieir  own  piss  with  you? 
 
 13  Then  Rabshakeli  stood,  and  cried  with  a 
 loud  voice  in  the  Jews'  language,  and  said. 
 Hear  ye  the  words  of  the  great  king,  the  king 
 of  Assyria. 
 
 14  Thus  saith  the  king.  Let  not  Hezckiah 
 deceive  you  :  for  he  shall  not  be  able  to  de- 
 liver you. 
 
 15  Neither  let  Hezekiah  make  you  trust  in 
 the  Lord,  saying,  The  Lord  will  surely  de- 
 liver us  :  this  city  shall  not  be  delivered  into 
 the  hand  of  the  king  of  Assyria. 
 
 IG  Hearken  not  to  Hezekiah  :  for  thus  saith 
 the  king  of  Assyria,  ||  f  Make  an  arfreement 
 with  me  by  a  present,  and  come  out  to  me  : 
 ••and  eat  ye  every  one  of  his  vine,  and  every 
 one  of  his  fig  tree,  and  drink  ye  every  one  the 
 waters  of  his  own  cistern  ; 
 
 17  Until  I  come  and  take  you  away  to  aland 
 like  your  own  land,  a  land  of  corn  and  wine,  a 
 land  of  bread  and  vineyards. 
 
 18  Beware  lest  Hezekiah  persuade  you,  say- 
 ing. The  Lord  will  deliver  us.  Hath  any  of 
 the  gods  of  the  nations  delivered  his  land  out 
 of  the  band  of  the  king  of  Assyria? 
 
 19  Wliere  are  the  gods  of  Hamath  and  Ar- 
 phad  ?  where  are  the  gods  of  Sepharvaim  ? 
 and  have  they  delivered  Samaria  out  of  my 
 hand  ? 
 
 20  Wlio  are  tliey  among  all  the  gods  of  these 
 lands,  that  have  delivered  their  land  out  of  my 
 hand,  that  the  Lord  should  deliver  Jerusalem 
 out  of  my  hand? 
 
 21  But  they  held  their  peace,  and  answered 
 him  not  a  word  :  for  the  king's  commandment 
 was,  saying.  Answer  him  not. 
 
 22  t  Then  came  Eliakim,  the  son  of  Hilkiah, 
 that  iras  over  the  housbold,  and  Shebna  the 
 scribe,  and  Joah,  the  son  of  Asaph,  the  recorder, 
 to  Hezekiah  with  their  clothes  rent,  and  told 
 him  the  words  of  Rabshakeh. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVII 
 
 1  Hezvkiah  inouminri  sendeih  to  Isaiah  to  pray  for 
 i/iem.  6  haiali  comfurtet/i  them.  8  Sennacherib, 
 (loing  to  encounter  Tirhakah,  sendeth  a  blasphemous 
 letter  to  Hezekiah.  14  Hezekialis  prayer.  21 
 lsaiah\  prophecy  of  the  pride  and  destruction  of 
 Sennacherib,  and  the  good  of  Zion.  36  -^«  ani;el 
 slayeth  the  Assyrians.  ;J7  Stnnneherib  is  slain  at 
 Nineveh  by  his  own  sons. 
 
 ND  "  it  came  to  pass,  when  king  Hezekiah 
 heard   it,  that  he   rent   his  clothes,  and 
 
 1  Or,  pro- 
 vocation. 
 
 11  Or,  S'eli 
 ml/  fnvouT 
 I'ltn  preifit. 
 
 t  Heb.  Motut 
 
 ti.,.,"'r.° 
 
 d  Zecb.  S.10. 
 
 A 
 
 t  Heb./ounil. 
 
 covered  himself  with  sackcloth,  and  went  into 
 the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 2  And  he  sent  Eliakim,  who  rras  over  the 
 housbold,  and  Shebna  the  scribe,  and  the  elders 
 of  the  priests  covered  witli  sackcloth,  unto 
 Isaiah  the  prophet  the  son  of  Amoz. 
 
 3  And  they  said  unto  him,  Tlius  saith  Heze- 
 kiah, Tbis  day  is  a  day  of  trouble,  and  of  re- 
 buke, and  of  II  blasphemy  :  for  the  children  are 
 come  to  the  birth,  and  there  is  not  strength  to 
 bring  forth. 
 
 4  It  may  be  the  Lord  thy  God  will  hear  the 
 words  of  Rabshakeh,  whom  the  king  of  As- 
 syria his  master  hath  sent  to  reproach  the 
 living  God,  and  will  reprove  the  words  which 
 the  Lord  thy  God  hath  lieard  :  wherefore  lilt 
 up  thy  prayer  for  the  remnant  that  is  f  left. 
 
 3  So  the  servants  of  king  Hezekiah  came  to 
 Isaiah. 
 
 6  f  And  Isaiah  said  unto  them.  Thus  shall 
 ye  say  unto  yourmaster,  Tlius  saith  the  Lord, 
 Be  not  afraid  of  the  words  that  thou  hast  beard, 
 wherewith  the  servants  of  the  king  of  Assyria 
 have  blasphemed  me. 
 
 7  Behold,  1  will  ||  send  a  blast  upon  him,  and 
 he  shall  bear  a  rumour,  and  return  to  his  own 
 land  ;  and  I  will  cause  him  to  fall  by  the  sword 
 in  liis  own  land. 
 
 8  t  So  Rabshakeh  returned,  and  found  the 
 king  of  Assyria  warring  against  Libnah  :  for  he 
 had  heard  that  he  was  departed  from  Lachish. 
 
 9  And  he  heard  say  concerning  Tirhakah 
 king  of  Ethiopia,  He  is  come  forth  to  make 
 war  with  thee.  And  wlien  he  heard  it,  he  sent 
 messengers  to  Hezekiali,  saying, 
 
 10  Thus  shall  ye  speak  to  Hezekiah  king  of 
 Judah,  saying,  Let  not  thy  God,  in  whom  thou 
 trustest,  deceive  thee,  saying,  Jerusalem  shall 
 not  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of 
 Assyria. 
 
 1 1  Behold,  thou  hast  heard  what  the  kings  of 
 Assyria  have  done  to  all  lands  by  destroying 
 them  utterly  ;  and  shalt  thou  be  delivered? 
 
 12  Have  the  gods  of  the  nations  delivered 
 them  which  my  fathers  have  destroyed,  as 
 Gozan,  and  Haran,  and  Rezepli,  and  the  chil- 
 dren of  Eden  which  tcerc  in  Telassar? 
 
 13  Where  is  the  king  of  '' Hamath,  and  the 
 king  of  Arphad,  and  the  king  of  the  city  of 
 Sepharvaim,  Hena,  and  Ivah  ? 
 
 14  If  And  Hezekiah  received  the  letter  from 
 the  hand  of  the  messengers,  and  read  it :  and 
 Hezekiah  went  up  unto  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  and  spread  it  before  tlie  Lord. 
 
 15  And  Hezekiah  prayed  unto  the  Lord, 
 saying, 
 
 16  O  Lord  of  hosts,  God  of  Israel,  that 
 dwellest  beticecn  the  cherubims,  thou  art  the 
 God,  even  thou  alone,  of  all  the  kingdoms  of 
 the  earth  :  thou  bast  made  heaven  and  earth. 
 
 17  ""Incline  thine  ear,  O  Lord,  and  hear; 
 open  thine  eyes,  O  Lord,  and  see  :  and  hear 
 all  the  words  of  Sennaclierib,  which  hath  sent 
 to  reproach  the  living  God. 
 
 18  Of  a  truth.  Lord,  the  kings  of  Assyria 
 have  laid  waste  all  the  f  nations,  and  their 
 countries, 
 
 Chap.  XXysni.  —  See  on  2  Kings,  xbt.,  notes. 
 
 752 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVI See  those  on 'J  Kings,  xviii. 
 
Isaiuh  comforteth  Htzehiah. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXXVIII. 
 
 Hezekiah's  life  lengthened. 
 
 19  And  have  feast  their  gods  into  the  fire 
 fur  they  were  no  gods,  but  the  work  of  men's 
 hands,  wood  and  stone  :  therefore  tliey  have 
 destroyed  them. 
 
 20  Now  therefore,  O  Lord  our  God,  save  us 
 from  his  hand,  that  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
 earth  may  know  that  thou  art  the  Loan,  even 
 thou  only. 
 
 21  f  Then  Isaiah  the  son  of  Amoz  sent  unto 
 Hezekiah,  saying,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God 
 of  Israel,  Whereas  thou  liast  prayed  to  me 
 against  Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria  : 
 
 22  This  is  tlie  word  which  tlie  Lord  hath 
 spoken  concerning  him  ;  Tlie  virgin,  the  daugh- 
 ter of  Zion,  hath  despised  thee,  and  laughed 
 thee  to  scorn  ;  the  daughter  of  Jerusalem  hath 
 shaken  her  head  at  thee. 
 
 23  Whom  hast  thou  reproached  and  blas- 
 phemed? and  against  whom  hast  thou  exalted 
 thy  voice,  and  lifted  up  thine  eyes  on  high  ? 
 even  against  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 
 
 24  f  By  thy  servants  hast  thou  reproached 
 the  Lord,  and  hast  said.  By  the  multitude  of 
 my  chariots  am  I  come  up  to  the  height  of  the 
 mountains,  to  the  sides  of  Lebanon  ;  and  I 
 will  cut  downf  the  tall  cedars  thereof,  and  the 
 choice  fir  trees  thereof:  and  I  will  enter  into 
 the  height  of  his  border,  and  \\  the  forest  of 
 his  Carmel. 
 
 25  I  have  digged,  and  drunk  water ;  and 
 with  the  sole  of  my  feet  have  I  dried  up  all 
 the  rivers  of  the  ||  besieged  places. 
 
 26  II  Hast  thou  not  heard  long  ago,  how  I 
 have  done  it ;  and  oi  ancient  times,  that  I  have 
 formed  it?  now  have  I  brought  it  to  pass,  that 
 thou  shouldest  be  to  lay  waste  defenced  cities 
 into  ruinous  heaps. 
 
 27  Therefore  their  inhabitants  were  f  of  small 
 power,  they  were  dismayed  and  confounded  : 
 they  were  as  the  grass  of  the  field,  and  as  the 
 green  herb,  as  the  grass  on  the  housetops,  and 
 as  corn  blasted  before  it  be  grown  up. 
 
 28  But  I  know  thy  ||  abode,  and  thy  going 
 out,  and  thy  coming  in,  and  thy  rage  against 
 me. 
 
 29  Because  thy  rage  against  me,  and  thy 
 tumult,  is  come  up  into  mine  ears,  therefore 
 ^  will  I  put  my  hook  in  thy  nose,  and  my 
 bridle  in  thy  lips,  and  I  will  turn  thee  back  by 
 the  way  by  which  thou  camest. 
 
 .■30  And  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  thee.  Ye 
 shall  eat  l.liis  year  such  as  groweth  of  itself; 
 and  tlie  second  year  that  which  springeth  of 
 the  same  :  and  in  the  third  year  sow  ye,  and 
 reap,  and  plant  vineyards,  and  eat  the  fruit 
 thereof 
 
 31  And  fthe  remnant  that  is  escaped  of  the 
 house  of  Judah  shall  again  take  root  downward, 
 and  bear  fruit  upward  : 
 
 32  For  out  of  Jerusalem  shall  go  forth  a  rem- 
 nant, and  t  they  that  escape  out  of  mount 
 Zion  :  the  °  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  do 
 this. 
 
 33  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  concerning 
 the  king  of  Assyria,  He  shall  not  come  into 
 this  city,  nor  shoot  an  arrow  there,  nor  come  be- 
 fore it  with  f  shields,  nor  cast  a  bank  against  it. 
 
 B.  C.  7H» 
 f  Heb.gitfe/i, 
 
 t  Heb.Hi///j( 
 hand  'if  thy 
 I  rvojitt. 
 
 t  Heb-  thti 
 t'lllnfM'  ff 
 Ihe  cedari 
 iliereuf,  and 
 th'  choKf  of 
 the  fir  trefi 
 IH,Veof. 
 
 \  Or,  the 
 forest  and 
 hii  frnitful 
 
 Ji'ld. 
 
 \\  Or,  f-nced 
 
 II  Or,   H.,i( 
 
 llu.u  .,..( 
 lirnrd  ttrrw  / 
 
 and  formed 
 it  nf  ancient 
 
 be  laid  anUe 
 aiidri--/V„.--.d 
 ci/iw  to  be 
 
 hpnps?  as 
 ■i  Kin. 19  25 
 
 t  Heb.  *'.i.W 
 ufhaud. 
 
 II  Or,  i.lttug. 
 
 d  oil.  30   28, 
 Ezek.  38.  1. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 ficaping  of 
 the  houte  iif 
 Judah  that 
 remaineth. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 escaping. 
 
 e  2  Kin.  19. 
 31.  ch.  9.7. 
 
 t  Heb- 
 ihield. 
 
 f'2  Kin.  9(P. 
 6.  ch.  88.  G 
 
 713. 
 2  Kin.  20. 
 
 I,«tc. 
 
 2  Clir.  33. 
 
 24. 
 b  S  Sam.  17 
 
 2S.  I  Mac. 
 
 9  55. 
 t  Heb.  Gi'-ft 
 
 ch.tTge  con- 
 
 t  Heb.  with 
 grrat  teeep- 
 mg. 
 
 d  ch,  37.  35, 
 
 !2Kin.  20. 
 B,  Ac.  ch. 
 7.  M. 
 
 t  Heb.  de- 
 grei-s  btf,  or, 
 Miith  the  tun. 
 
 /pp.27,  13. 
 &  116.9. 
 
 g  Job  7-  6- 
 
 34  By  the  way  that  he  came,  by  the  same 
 shall  he  return,  and  shall  not  come  into  this 
 city,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 3d  For  I  will  ^  defend  this  city  to  save  it  for 
 mine  own  sake,  and  for  my  servant  David's 
 sake. 
 
 36  Then  the  ^  angel  of  the  Lord  went  forth, 
 and  smote  in  the  camp  of  the  Assyrians  a 
 hundred  and  fourscore  and  five  thousand  :  and 
 when  they  arose  early  in  the  morning,  behold, 
 they  ivere  all  dead  corpses. 
 
 37  1  So  Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria  de- 
 parted, and  went  and  returned,  and  dwelt  at 
 Nineveh. 
 
 38  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  was  worship- 
 ping in  the  house  of  Nisroch  his  god,  that 
 Adrammelech  and  Sharezer  his  sons  smote  him 
 with  the  sword  ;  and  they  escaped  into  the 
 land  of  t  Armenia :  and  Esar-haddon  his  son 
 reigned  in  his  stead. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVIII. 
 
 1  Hezekiah^  having  received  a  message  of  death,  Li/ 
 prayiT  hath  his  life  lenglUeited.  8  The  sun  gueth 
 ten  degrees  backward,  for  a  sign  of  that  promise, 
 9  His  song  of  tltanlisgiving. 
 
 TN  "those  days  was  Hezekiah  sick  unto 
 ■*-  death.  And  Isaiah  the  prophet  the  son  of 
 Amoz  came  unto  him,  and  said  unto  him, 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord,  ""f  Set  thine  house  in 
 order  :  for  thou  shalt  die,  and  not  live. 
 
 2  Then  Hezekiah  turned  his  face  toward  the 
 wall,  and  prayed  unto  the  Lord, 
 
 3  And  said,  '  Remember  now,  O  Lord,  I 
 beseech  thee,  how  I  have  walked  before  thee 
 in  truth  and  with  a  perfect  heart,  and  have 
 done  that  which  is  good  in  thy  sight.  And 
 Hezekiah  wept  fsore. 
 
 4  f  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  to 
 Isaiah,  saying, 
 
 5  Go,  and  say  to  Hezekiah,  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord,  the  God  of  David  thy  father,  I  have 
 heard  thy  prayer,  I  have  seen  thy  tears  :  be- 
 hold, I  will  add  unto  thy  days  fifteen  years. 
 
 6  And  I  will  deliver  thee  and  this  city  out  of 
 the  hand  of  the  king  of  Assyria :  and  "^  I  will 
 defend  this  city. 
 
 7  And  this  shall  be  "  a  sign  unto  thee  from 
 the  Lord,  that  the  Lord  will  do  this  thing 
 that  he  hath  spoken  ; 
 
 8  Behold,  I  will  bring  again  the  shadow  of 
 the  degrees,  which  is  gone  down  in  the  f  sun 
 dial  of  Abaz,  ten  degrees  backward.  So  the 
 sun  returned  ten  degrees,  by  which  degrees  it 
 was  gone  down. 
 
 9  1  The  writing  of  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah, 
 when  he  had  been  sick,  and  was  recovered  of 
 his  sickness  : 
 
 10  I  said  in  the  cutting  off  of  my  days,  I 
 shall  go  to  the  gates  of  the  grave  :  I  am  de- 
 prived of  the  residue  of  my  years. 
 
 11  I  said,  I  shall  not  see  the  Lord,  even  the 
 Lord,  '  in  the  land  of  the  living  :  I  shall  behold 
 man  no  more  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  world. 
 
 12  ^  Mine  age  is  departed,  and  is  removed 
 from  me  as  a  shepherd's  tent :  I  have  cut  off 
 like  a  weaver  my  life  :    he   will   cut   me  oft' 
 
 Chap.  XXXVIII,  —  I.  In  those  days,  ^c— see  on  2  Kings,  xx,  1— II,  |  11.  See  the  Lord,  in  his  sanctuary. — Poole.        12.  ^s  a  shepherd^s  tent, 
 notes.        9.  The  writing  of  Heze/iiah—tiiis  song  is  not  in  ttie  Kings.  |  —shepherds  do  not  pitch  their  tents  long  in  one  place,  but  remove  for 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVII.- 
 
 733 
 
 •  See  those  on  2  Kings,  xix. 
 3  D 
 
Hezekiah's  song  of  thanksgiving . 
 
 ISAIAH,  XXXIX.,  XL. 
 
 The  Buhi/lunish  captivity  forcluld. 
 
 Il  with  pining  sickness  :  from  day  even  to  night 
 wilt  thou  make  an  end  of  nie. 
 
 13  I  reckoned  till  morning,  that,  as  a  lion,  so 
 will  he  break  all  my  bones  :  from  day  even  to 
 night  wilt  thou  make  an  end  of  me. 
 
 14  Like  a  crane  or  a  swallow,  so  did  I  chat- 
 ter:  "i  I  did  mourn  as  a  dove  :  mine  eyes  fail 
 ivith  looking  upward  :  O  Lord,  I  am  oppress- 
 ed ;   II  undertake  for  me. 
 
 15  What  shall  I  say?  he  hath  both  spoken 
 unto  me,  and  himself  hath  done  it :  I  shall  go 
 softly  all  my  years  '  in  the  bitterness  of  my 
 soul. 
 
 16  O  Lord,  by  these  things  men  live,  and  in 
 all  these  tilings  is  the  life  of  my  spirit :  so  wilt 
 thou  recover  me,  and  make  me  to  live. 
 
 1 7  Behold,  II  for  peace  I  had  great  bitterness : 
 but  t  thou  hast  in  love  to  my  soul  delivered  it 
 from  the  pit  of  corruption  :  for  thou  hast  cast 
 all  my  sins  behind  thy  back. 
 
 18  For  'the  grave  cannot  praise  thee,  death 
 can  not  celebrate  thee  ;  they  that  go  down 
 into  the  pit  cannot  hope  for  thy  truth. 
 
 19  The  living,  the  living,  he  shall  praise  thee, 
 as  I  do  this  day  :  '  the  father  to  the  children 
 shall  make  known  thy  truth. 
 
 20  The  Lord  ivas  ready  to  save  me  :  there- 
 fore we  will  sing  my  songs  to  the  stringed  in- 
 struments all  the  days  of  our  life  in  the  house 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 21  For  "Isaiah  had  said,  Let  them  take  a 
 lump  of  figs,  and  lay  it  for  a  plaister  upon  the 
 boil,  and  he  shall  recover. 
 
 22  °  Hezekiah  also  had  said,  What  fs  the 
 sign  that  I  shall  go  up  to  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  ? 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIX. 
 
 1  Mi'Todach-baJadan,  sending  to  visit  Hezekia/i  h^cau&e 
 oftltc  wonder,  hath  notice  of  his  treasures.  3  Isaiah, 
 understandinj  tltereof,  foreielleth  the  Babi/lunian 
 captivity. 
 
 A  T  °  that  time  Merodach-baladan,  the  son 
 -'*-  of  Baladan,  king  of  Babylon,  sent  letters 
 and  a  present  to  Hezekiah  :  for  he  had  heard 
 
 Job  7.  11. 
 &  10.  I. 
 
 II  Or,  on  niv 
 pFace  came 
 gmlb.ller- 
 
 t  Heb.Miu 
 
 fl'Ul  lobpti 
 
 mt,  inul/rom 
 
 the  pil. 
 k  Ps,  6.  S.k 
 
 30.  y.  S;  «8. 
 
 II.  fte  115. 
 
 17,  Eccles. 
 
 9.  10. 
 
 I  Dpu.  1.  9. 
 &  (i    7- 
 Ps.  78.  S,  4 
 
 S  2  Chr.  S2. 
 31. 
 11  Or,  ipicery. 
 
 1!  Or,  jeieeh, 
 t  Heb.  vu- 
 
 ilni'iituti. 
 
 II  Fulfilled, 
 D-.1II.  I.  2, 
 S,  7. 
 
 f  Heb.  to  the 
 
 A/arl. 
 llOr,  afifoint- 
 
 td  time. 
 
 that  he  had  been  .sick,  and  was  recovered. 
 
 2  ''  And  Hezekiah  was  glad  of  them,  and 
 shewed  them  the  house  of  his  ||  precious 
 things,  the  silver,  and  the  gold,  and  the  spices, 
 and  the  precious  ointment,  and  all  the  house 
 of  his  II  f  armour,  and  all  that  was  found  in  his 
 treasures  :  there  was  nothing  in  bis  house,  nor 
 in  all  his  dominion,  that  Hezekiah  shewed  them 
 not. 
 
 3  H  Then  came  Isaiah  the  prophet  unto  king 
 Hezekiah,  and  said  unto  him.  What  said  these 
 men '?  and  from  whence  came  they  unto  thee  ? 
 And  Hezekiah  said,  They  are  come  from  a  far 
 country  unto  me,  even  from  Babylon. 
 
 4  Then  said  he,  What  have  they  seen  in 
 thine  house  ?  And  Hezekiah  answered.  All 
 that  is  in  mine  house  have  they  seen :  there  is 
 nothing  among  my  treasures  that  I  have  not 
 shewed  them. 
 
 5  Then  said  Isaiah  to  Hezekiah,  Hear  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  : 
 
 6  Behold,  the  days  come,  '  that  all  that  is  in 
 thine  house,  and  that  which  thy  fathers  have 
 laid  up  in  store  until  this  day,  shall  be  carried 
 to  Babylon  :  nothing  shall  be  left,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 7  And  of  thy  sons  that  shall  issue  from  thee, 
 which  thou  sbalt  beget,  shall  they  take  away; 
 and  II  they  shall  be  eunuchs  in  the  palace  of 
 the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 8  Then  said  Hezekiah  to  Isaiah,  ''  Good  is 
 the  word  of  the  Lord  which  thou  hast  spoken. 
 He  said  moreover,  For  there  shall  be  peace 
 and  truth  in  my  days. 
 
 CHAP.  XL. 
 
 1  Tlie  promulgation  oftheyospel.  3  The  preaching  of 
 John  Baptist.  9  The  preaching  of  the  Apostles. 
 12  The  prophet  by  the  omnipotencg  of  God,  18  and 
 his  incomparableness,  26  comfortttk  the  people. 
 
 /^OMFORT  ye,  comfort  ye  my  people,  saith 
 ^^  your  God. 
 
 2  Speak  ye  f  comfortably  to  Jerusalem,  and 
 cry  unto  her,  that  her  ||  warfare  is  accomplished 
 
 the  convenience  of  pasture. — Preh.  Lowth.    J  have  cut  off,  fyc. — 
 
 •  My  life  is  cut  off  as  the  weaver's  web  from  the  thrum  ; 
 In  the  course  of  the  day  thou  wilt  finish  me.* — Boot/tr. 
 
 From  day  even  to  night,  §-c.,  '  in  the  course  of  the  fiay  thou  wilt  finish 
 my  web.* — Lowth.  13.  Till  morning,  'when  night  came,   that   I 
 
 should  die  in  the  morning.*  15.  Wfiat  shall  I  sny  ?  *  my  sudden  de- 
 
 liverance sQi-prises  me,  and  I  want  words  to  speak  gratitude.' — Preb. 
 Lowth.  I  shall  tro  snfth/,  ^c.,  '  I  will,  so  long  as  I  live,  remember  this 
 bitterness  of  my  life,*  Old  Trans.  '  I  will  go  to  procession  all  my  years 
 on  account  of  the  sufferings  of  my  soul,'  never  forget  them. — Gesenius. 
 •Through  the  rest  of  my  years  will  1  reflect  on  this  bitterness  of  my 
 soul.' — Lowth. 
 
 '  \A1iat  shall  T  say  ?  be  hath  given  to  me  a  promise. 
 And  he  hath  already  performed  it.* — Boothr.  and  Lowth. 
 
 •Through  the  rest  of  my  years  I  will  go  to  his  house. 
 On  account  of  this  bitterness  of  my  soul.* — Boothr. 
 
 16.  O  Lord,  bp  these  things  men  live,  §f .,  '  by  troubles  like  these  do 
 men  acquire  the  true  life  and  light  of  the  soul.' — Stock. 
 
 'For  this  cause  shall  it  be  declared,  O  Jehovah,  concerning  thee. 
 That  thou  hast  restored  my  health  and  prolonged  my  life.' 
 17-  Behold, /or  peacp — 
 
 'Behold,  my  anguish  is  changed  into  ease.' — Lowth. 
 
 '  Behold,  my  bitter  grief  is  changed  to  peace.' — Boothr. 
 21.  A  lump  of  Jigs — see  2  Kings,  xx.  7,  note. 
 Chat.  XXXIX.— See  2  Kings,  xx.  12— ig,  notes. 
 Chap.  XL.  —  1.  Comfort  ye,  fyc. — the  course  of  prophecies  to  the  end 
 of  the  book  was  probably  delivered  in  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of 
 Hezekiah.  The  chief  subject  is  the  restoration  of  the  church,  em- 
 bracing deliverance  from  captivity,  destruction  of  idols,  the  consola- 
 tion, invitation,  infidelity,  impiety,  and  rejection  of  the  Jews;  the 
 calling  of  the  Gentiles;  the  happiness  of  the  righteous,  and  the  final 
 destruction  of  the  wicked.  The  redemption  from  Babylon  here  pro- 
 mised is  employed  as  a  shadow  of  an  infinitely  higher  redemption.  The 
 one  is  hardly  ever  mentioned  without  allusion  to  the  other,  and  some- 
 times the  latter  overwhelms  the  whole.  The  prophets  being  employed 
 upon  two  dispensations,  it  might  naturally  be  supposed  that  they  would 
 frequently  intermingle  them.  —  Lowth,  Bp.  Newton,  Dr.  J.  Smitht 
 Richards's  Bampton  Lectures.       2.  Comfortably,  l^j  "jy,  '  to  the  heart/ 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVIII.  —  I.  Those  who  are  in 
 affliction  shovM  pray.  So  says  an  apostle — *Is  any  afflicted,  let 
 him  pray.*  God  hears  and  answers  prayer:  he  may  not,  indeed, 
 ahvays  answer  us  as  we  desire — it  may  not  be  for  our  good — 
 but  the  truth  remains,  that  '  the  effectual,  fervent  prayer  of 
 the  righteous  man  availeth  much.'  Many  days  have  doubt- 
 less been  prolonged  by  the  earnest  supplication  ot"  the  penitent. 
 
 II.  Those  n-ho  are  dtUvercrl  from  affliction  should  praise.  Have 
 we  been  delivered  from  gairing  affliction,  and  especially  from 
 the  verge  of  the  grave  *  Have  we  there  made  vows  to  God  if 
 he  would  restore  us  ?  Then  we  are  pledged  to  praise  him,  and 
 shall  be  doubly  criminal  if  we  do  not.  Have  we  been  so  in- 
 754 
 
 sensible  as  not  to  resolve  to  remember  our  Benefactor  1  Then 
 let  us  now  arouse  from  our  insensibility,  and  say,  with  Heze- 
 kiah— '  The  living,  the  living,  he  shall  praise  thee  as  I  do  this 
 day.'  Have  we  forgotten  past  favours  1  Let  us  now  call  tbem 
 to  remembrance.  '  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  all  that  is 
 within  me  bless  his  holy  name.  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul, 
 and  forget  not  all  his  benefits  :  who  bealeth  all  thy  diseases; 
 who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities  ;  who  redeemeth  thy  life 
 from  destruction,  who  crowneth  thee  with  loving-kindness  and 
 lender  mercies.* 
 
 Reflections    on  Chap.    XXXIX.  —  See  2  Kings,  xx.— 
 Reflections  IV.,  V.,  VL 
 
The  preaching  of  John  Baptist, 
 
 that  her  iniquity  is  pardoned:  "for  slie  hath 
 received  of  the  Lord's  hand  double  for  all  her 
 sins. 
 
 3  1'  The  voice  of  him  that  crieth  in  the  wil- 
 derness, '  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
 ^  make  straight  in  the  desert  a  highway  for  our 
 God. 
 
 4  Every  valley  shall  be  exalted,  and  every 
 mountain  and  hill  shall  be  made  low :  "  and 
 the  crooked  shall  be  made  ||  straight,  and  the 
 rough  places  ||  plain  : 
 
 5  And  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  re- 
 vealed, and  all  flesh  shall  see  it  together:  for 
 the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it. 
 
 6  The  voice  said,  Cry.  And  he  said.  What 
 shall  I  cry  ?  '  All  flesh  is  grass,  and  all  the 
 goodliness  thereof  is  as  the  flower  of  the 
 field: 
 
 7  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth : 
 because  ^  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  bloweth  upon 
 it :  surely  the  people  is  grass. 
 
 8  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth:  but 
 ''  the  word  of  our  God  shall  stand  for  ever. 
 
 9  H  II  O  Zion,  that  bringest  good  tidings,  get 
 thee  up  into  the  high  mountain  ;  ||  O  Jerusa- 
 lem, that  bringest  good  tidings,  lift  up  thy 
 voice  with  strength  ;  lift  it  up,  be  not  afraid  ; 
 say  unto  the  cities  of  Judah,  Behold  your 
 God! 
 
 10  Behold,  the  Lord  God  will  come  ||  with 
 strong  hand,  and  '  his  arm  shall  rule  for  him  : 
 behold,  '  his  reward  is  with  him,  and  ||  his 
 work  before  him. 
 
 11  He  shall  '  feed  his  flock  like  a  shepherd  : 
 he  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and 
 carry  them  in  his  bosom,  and  shall  gently  lead 
 those  II  that  are  with  young. 
 
 12  U  "  Who  hath  measured  the  waters  in  the 
 hollow  of  his  hand,  and  meted  out  heaven 
 with  the  span,  and  comprehended  the  dust  of 
 
 ISAIAH,  XL. 
 
 and  of  the  Apostles. 
 
 cir,  712 
 
 Luke  3.  4. 
 
 J..hn  1.  S3. 
 c  Mai.  3.  1. 
 d  Pa,  68.  i. 
 
 ch.  49.  11. 
 
 e  ch.  45.  2. 
 
 11  Or,  9 
 
 ttraight 
 
 rl;ce. 
 II  Or,  a  plain 
 
 phce. 
 
 /Job  U.  2. 
 Pb.  90.  5.  & 
 103.  II.  & 
 103.  15. 
 Jam.  I.  10. 
 I  Vet.  1.21. 
 
 ff  Ps.  103.16. 
 
 A  John  12.34. 
 1  Pet.  1.  25. 
 
 II  Or,  0  Ihou 
 that  lellrit 
 giiud  Itdin^t 
 to  Ziu'i. 
 Ch.  41.  27. 
 &  52.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  O  thou 
 that  lelieit 
 giHid  tidings 
 to  Je.ruta- 
 
 II  Or,  againtt 
 the  Slrong. 
 
 I  rh.  59  IG. 
 /(  ch.  C2.  II. 
 
 Rev.  22.  12. 
 
 II  Or,  recom- 
 pence /OT  liii 
 tuork. 
 
 ch.  49.  4 
 /  ch.  -l^   10. 
 
 Eze.  Si.  23. 
 
 8t  37.  21. 
 
 John  10.  II. 
 
 Heb    13.  20. 
 
 1  Pet  2.  25. 
 
 &  5.  -1. 
 
 Rev.  7.  17. 
 II  Or,  that 
 
 give  Suck, 
 m  Pro.  30.  4. 
 
 t  Hpb. 
 
 a  t,erre. 
 
 .  Job  21,  22. 
 
 fc  36  -J*,  23 
 
 Wisd  9,  13. 
 
 Koiii.ll.3'1. 
 
 I  Cor.  2,  16. 
 t  Heb.  ma', 
 
 of  his  cuwrt- 
 
 t  Heb.  mad'' 
 him  under- 
 Uniid. 
 
 t  Heb,  wder- 
 standings  f 
 
 0  Dan.  4.  35. 
 p  Pa.  62.  9. 
 
 9  ver.  S5. 
 ch.  46.  5. 
 Acts  17.  29. 
 
 ■ch  41.  fl,7. 
 &4-1.  l2,Scc. 
 Jet,  10.  3, 
 
 t  Heb.  is  poor 
 of  Motion. 
 
 t  Ps.  19.  1. 
 Acts  II.  17 
 Kom.  I.  19 
 
 |]  Or,  Him 
 that  sitteth, 
 
 ffC. 
 
 u  Job  9,  8. 
 P«.  104.  2. 
 ch.  43.  5.  & 
 44.24.  &  51 
 13.  Jer.  10. 
 12. 
 
 z  Job  12.21. 
 Ps.  107.  40. 
 
 the   earth  in  fa  measure,  and  weighed   the 
 mountains  in  scales,  and  the  hills  in  a  balance? 
 
 13  "  Who  hath  directed  the  Spirit  of  the 
 Lord,  or  beiiuj  fliis  counsellor  hath  taught 
 him  ? 
 
 14  With  whom  took  he  counsel,  and  who 
 t  instructed  him,  and  taught  him  in  the  path  of 
 judgment,  and  taught  him  knowledge,  and 
 shewed  to  him  the  way  of  f  understanding? 
 
 15  Behold,  the  nations  are  as  a  drop  of  a 
 bucket,  and  are  counted  as  the  small  dust  of 
 the  balance:  behold,  he  taketh  up  the  isles  as 
 a  very  little  thing. 
 
 16  And  Lebanon  is  not  sufficient  to  burn, 
 nor  the  beasts  thereof  sufficient  for  a  burnt 
 oifering. 
 
 17  All  nations  before  him  are  as  "nothing; 
 and  ^  they  are  counted  to  him  less  than  no- 
 thing, and  vanity. 
 
 18  tTo  whom  then  will  ye  ''liken  God?  or 
 wljat  likeness  will  ye  compare  unto  him  ? 
 
 19  '' The  workman  melteth  a  graven  image, 
 and  the  goldsmith  spreadeth  it  over  with  gold, 
 and  casteth  silver  chains. 
 
 20  He  that  f  is  so  impoverished  that  he  hath 
 no  oblation  chooseth  a  tree  that  will  not  rot ; 
 he  seeketh  unto  him  a  cunning  workman  '  to 
 prepare  a  graven  image,  that  shall  not  be 
 moved. 
 
 21  *  Have  ye  not  known?  have  ye  not  heard? 
 hath  it  not  been  told  you  from  the  beginning? 
 have  ye  not  understood  from  the  foundations 
 of  the  earth  ? 
 
 22  II  It  is  he  that  sitteth  upon  the  circle  of 
 the  earth,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  are  as 
 grasshoppers;  that  "  stre.tcheth  out  the  hea- 
 vens as  a  curtain,  and  spreadeth  them  out  as  a 
 tent  to  dwell  in  : 
 
 23  That  bringetli  the ''princes  to  nothing;  he 
 maketh  the  judges  of  the  earth  as  vanity. 
 
 i.  e.,  in  the  most  pleasant  and  winning  manner.  \Varfare,  the  state 
 of  the  church  on  earth,  especially  under  the  former  dispensation,  is 
 properly  represented  as  a  warfare. — Maccul.  Her  iniquity  is  pardonrd, 
 sacrifices  restored  the  offender  to  the  privileg^es  of  the  commonwealth 
 of  Israel,  but  could  never  cleanse  the  conscience.  For  this  purpose, 
 the  blood  of  Christ  had  a  retrospective  efficacy,  and  was  the  only  ground 
 cf  consolation  for  a  convinced  sinner  frum  the  beginning  of  the  world. 
 Double  for  all  her  sins — the  true  sense  is,  that  Jerusalem  should  re- 
 ceive blessings  double,  much  greater  than  all  the  afflictions  which  sin 
 had  brought  upon  her. — John  Netvton.  3.  The  voice  of  him   that 
 
 rrieth— the  idea  is  taken  from  the  practice  of  eastern  monarchs,  who, 
 whenever  they  passed  through  desert  countries,  sent  harbingers  to  pre- 
 pare all  things,  and  pioneers  to  open  the  passes  and  level  the  waj'S. — 
 Lowth.  Though  the  primary  reference  was  to  the  return  of  the  Jews 
 from  Babylon,  John  the  Baptist  applied  this  to  himself,  {John,  i.  23  ;  so 
 Matthew  to  John,  iii.  "i,)— Maccul.  Our  God — this  being  spoktn  of 
 }lim  of  whom  John  the  Baptist  was  the  forerunner,  is  a  conclusive 
 cvid*?nce  of  the  deity  of  Christ.— So  Wogan.  4.  Every  valley  shall  be 
 exalted,  ^c. — Diodorus  Siculus  states,  that  when  Semiramis  marched 
 into  Media  and  Persia,  she  ordered  precipices,  and  even  mountains,  to 
 be  cut  down,  and  hollow  places  to  be  filled  up  with  earth,  and,  at  a  vast 
 expense,  made  the  ways  level  and  plain  ;  and,  in  low  places,  she  raised 
 mounds,  on  which  she  built  monuments,  and  even  cities.  On  her 
 march  to  Ecbatane,  she  cut  down  the  craggy  precipices  and  filled  up 
 the  deep  hollows  of  the  mountain  Zarkeum,  and,  at  a  great  expense, 
 made  a  plain  open  road,  afterwards  known  by  the  name  of  the  road  of 
 Semiramis.  This  fact  shews  a  beauty  in  the  prophetic  declaration. — 
 Har.  5.  The  glory  of  the  Lord,  his  glorious  power,  mercy,  and  faith- 
 fulness in  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  Babylon  ;  or  alluding  to  Christ, 
 the  brightness  of  his  glory,  or  the  wonderful  work  of  man's  redemption, 
 in  which  is  the  most  transcendant  display  of  the  Divine  attributes.— 
 Jackson.  All  flesh  shall  see,  ^c,  that  is,  all  nations,  both  Jews  and 
 Gentiles. — Poole.  This,  according  to  the  opinion  of  some,  signifies, 
 that  people  of  every  place  and  age  shall  behold  the  fulfilment  of  this 
 prophecy. — Maccul.      'And  all  flesh  shall  see  together  the  salvation  of 
 
 our  God.' — Lowth,  as  Sept.         Kat  O-^/erat  TTacra    uapf    to    trcornpiov    tov 
 
 eeow.  It  is  SO  in  the  parallel  place,  irn'7M  Vi^W  Viit.  fseechap.  Iii.  10.) 
 — Lowth.  6.  The  voice  of  God — he  said — the  prophet,  desiring  to 
 know  God's  mind. — Poole.  'And  I  said,  what  shall  I  proclaim?' — 
 Lowth.  All  flesh  is  grass,  ^c. — the  certainty  of  the  thing  is  declared  ; 
 everything  relating  to  man  is  soon  brnught  to  nothing,  but  God's  word 
 is,  like  himself,  immutable  and  irresistible.— Poo/p.  Here  is  a  plain  (op- 
 position of  the  flesh  to  the  spirit;  of  the  carnal  Israel  to  the  spiritual ; 
 755 
 
 of  the  temporary  Mosaic  economy,  to  the  etennal  Christian  dispensa. 
 fion.  Peter  so  understood  the  words,  (l  Pet.  i.  23,  24.)— See  Lowth, 
 Boothr.  g.  0  Zion,  that  bringest  good  tidings,  to  whom  they  were 
 
 first  published  for  the  benefit  of  the  world,  by  Christ  and  his  apostles. 
 — So  Poole.     Get  thee  up  into  the  high  mountain — 
 
 'Ascend,  O  daughter,  upon  a  high  mountain, 
 Thou  that  bringest  good  tidings  to  Zion  ; 
 Exalt  thy  voice  with  strength, 
 Thou  that  bringest  good  tidings  to  Jerusalem.' 
 
 Booth}-.,  nearly  as  Lowth. 
 
 The  word  daughter  is  added,  to  express  the  feminine  gender  of  the 
 Hebrew  particle.— Lou'^A.  V^^omen  celebrated  with  songs  any  signal 
 victory  or  joyful  event,  (Exod.  .xv.  20,  21 ;  Judg.  xi.  34  ;  1  Sam.  xviii. 
 6,  7.)  The  women  are  here  exhorted  by  the  prophet  to  publish  the 
 joyful  news  with  a  loud  voice,  from  eminences,  whence  they  might  best 
 be  heard  all  over  the  country;  the  burden  of  the  song  was  to  be,  '  Be- 
 hold your  God.'— Z-OM'M.  lO.  With  a  stro7)g  hand,  'against  the 
 strong,'  marg.  *  Against  the  strong  one.'— Lowth.  '  With  might. '^ 
 Boothr.,  as  Mich.  'In  might.'— f^iV.  *  Behold,  the  Lord  Jehovah 
 mighty  shall  come.'— Dafhe,  Schroeder.  His  work,  'the  recompence 
 of  his  work.'— Loit'M.  '  Behold,  the  recompence  which  he  giveth.  is 
 with  him,'— Boo ^Ar. ;  or  '  before  him,'  alluding  to  the  eastern  purse  car- 
 ried in  front,  fastened  to  the  girdle.- Hcic.  11.  His  flock,  the  chosen, 
 called,  and  faithful,  of  every  age  and  condition.— il/accu/.  Like  a 
 shepherd,  §-c.— the  pastoral  nflSce  in  the  east  is  far  more  responsible 
 than  in  England.  Here,  flocks  are  generally  in  fine  fields  surrounded 
 by  fences,  but  there,  generally  in  the  wilderness,  hable  to  stray,  or  be 
 stolen  by  wild  beasts.  It  is  an  interesting  sight  to  see  the  shepherds 
 carrying  the  lambs  in  their  bosoms,  and  also  to  witness  how  gently 
 they  'lead  those  that  are  with  young.'— iIo6.  That  the  greatest  care 
 in  driving  the  cattle,  in  regard  to  the  dams  and  the  young,  was  neces- 
 sary,  appears  clearly  from  Jacob's  apology  to  his  brother  Esau,  (Gen. 
 xx.xiii.  \3.)— Lowth.  12.  Who  hath  measured,  ^.— the  prophet  re- 
 
 presents the  greatness,  wisdom,  power,  and  glory  of  God  to  be  such, 
 that  all  people  are  as  nothing  in  comparison  with  him.  He  can  there- 
 fore accomplish  his  promises  in  spite  of  all  opposition.— Boo^/tro^d. 
 15.  Taketh  up,  'bearethup,*  prevents  from  sinking  into  the  ocean. — 
 Hew.  \6.  Lebanon  is  not  sufficient,  fyc.  —  the  most  excellent  and 
 costly  sacrifices  cannot  add  to  his  felicity. — Maccul.  This  intimates 
 that  some  other  offering  was  necessary.  18.  LikeJi  God~an  appeal 
 to  idokitors,  on  their  folly  in  attempting  to  make  an  image  of  God.— 
 Boothr.  ig.  Melteth   a   gratw.n    image,    'overspreads  the   graven 
 
GoiTs  mercies  to  the  church. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLI. 
 
 His  promises. 
 
 24  Yea,  they  shall  not  be  planted  ;  yea,  they 
 shall  not  be  sown  :  yea,  their  stock  shall  not 
 take  root  in  the  earth  :  and  he  shall  also  blow 
 upon  them,  and  they  shall  wither,  and  the 
 whirlwind  shall  take  them  away  as  stubble. 
 
 25  '  To  whom  then  will  ye  liken  me,  or  shall 
 I  be  equal  ?  saith  the  Holy  One. 
 
 2G  Lift  up  your  eyes  on  high,  and  behold  who 
 hath  created  these  thimjs,  that  bringeth  out 
 their  host  by  number  :  '  he  calleth  them  all  by 
 names  by  the  greatness  of  his  niiglit,  for  that 
 he  is  strong  in  power  ;  not  one  faileth. 
 
 27  Why  sayest  thou,  O  Jacob,  and  speakest, 
 
 0  Israel,  My  way  is  hid  from  tlie  Lord,  and 
 my  judgment  is  passed  over  from  my  God? 
 
 28  IT  Hast  thou  not  known?  hast  thou  not 
 heard,  that  the  everlasting  God,  the  Lord,  the 
 Creator  of  the  ends  of  the  earth,  fainteth  not, 
 neither  is  weary  ?  '  there  is  no  searching  of  his 
 understanding. 
 
 29  He  giveth  power  to  the  faint ;  and  to 
 them  that  have  no  might  he  increaseth  strength. 
 
 30  Even  the  youths  shall  faint  and  be  weary, 
 and  the  young  men  shall  utterly  fall : 
 
 31  But  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  ''shall 
 f renew  their  strength;  they  shall  mount  up 
 with  wings  as  eagles  ;  they  shall  run,  and  not 
 be  weary ;  and  they  shall  walk,  and  not  faint. 
 
 CHAP.  XLI. 
 
 1  God  expostulateth  tvith  Ins  people,  about  tiis  mercies 
 to  the  chunti,  10  aboitt  his  promises,  21  and  about 
 the  vanity  of  idols. 
 
 '  EEP  silence  before  me,  O  islands  ;  and 
 let  the  people  renew  their  strength  :  let 
 them  come  near ;  then  let  them  speak  :  let  lis 
 come  near  together  to  judgment. 
 
 2  Who  raised  up  f  the  righteous  man  ''from 
 the  east,  called  him  to  his  foot,  "^  gave  the  na- 
 tions before  hmi,  and  made/nm  rule  over  kings? 
 he  gave  them  as  the  dust  to  bis  sword,  and  as 
 (hnven  stubble  to  his  bow. 
 
 3  He  pursued  them,  and  passed  f safely; 
 even  by  the  way  that  he  had  not  gone  with  his 
 feet. 
 
 4  ■"  Who  hath  wrought  and  done  it,  calling 
 the  generations  from  the  beginning?  I  the 
 Lord,  the  "  first,  and  with  the  last ;  I  am  he. 
 
 5  The  isles  saw  it,  and  feared  ;  the  ends  of 
 tlie  earth  were  afraid,  drew  near,  and  came. 
 
 K^ 
 
 a  Pa.   U-7.  S. 
 Roin.lI.3S 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 chnHj(«. 
 
 f  Heb   figh- 
 
 tfoiiin'-U. 
 b  ch.46.   II. 
 c  See  Gen, 
 
 n.  \i,  kc. 
 
 ver.  V5. 
 
 ch.  m.  I. 
 
 t  Heb.  .■ 
 ptace. 
 
 d  ver.  2fl. 
 
 ch    41    7.  & 
 
 4fi.  10. 
 e  ch    43.  lU. 
 
 &  U.  6    & 
 
 48,  12.  Rev 
 17.  &2a. 
 
 13. 
 
 cir.  712. 
 
 fch.  40.  19. 
 
 «c  -n   12. 
 t  Heb.  fie 
 
 tlrutijf. 
 e  ch    '10.  19. 
 II  Orj/<iuiii(*r. 
 II  Or,  the 
 
 II  CiT,t<\\f\ng 
 
 ./  the  loder. 
 
 It  is  K-ixd. 
 A  ch.  4".  2(1. 
 .  Veu.  7.  6 
 
 &  III    \b. 
 
 fc  14    y. 
 
 Ps.  IJ&.  4. 
 
 ch.  -13.  I. 
 
 &  ++.  I. 
 *  2Chr.'?n.7 
 
 Jam.  a.  23. 
 
 I  ver.  IS,  14. 
 
 ch.  43.  6. 
 m  Deii.  31. 
 
 6,8. 
 
 1  Er,  29.  22 
 
 ch.  4h   24. 
 
 fc  60    12. 
 
 Zech.  12.  3. 
 t  Heb  V,e 
 
 AUn  of  thy 
 
 «"■./;■. 
 
 t  Heb.  ths 
 men  n/  % 
 contanttiin. 
 
 \  Heb.  the 
 ,neao/th3 
 
 Or,  feie 
 
 p  Mic.  4.  13. 
 
 2  Cor.  10. 
 
 4,6. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 moutht. 
 
 qJct.  51.  2. 
 
 ich,  35.6,7 
 &  1^.  19.  & 
 44.3. 
 
 6  ^  They  helped  every  one  his  neighbour; 
 and  everi/  one  said  to  his  brother,  f  Be  of  good 
 courage. 
 
 7  ^  So  the  carpenter  encouraged  the  ||  gold- 
 smith, a}id  he  tliat  smootheth  with  the  ham- 
 mer |[  liim  that  smote  the  anvil,  ||  saying.  It  is 
 ready  for  the  sodering  :  and  he  fastened  it  with 
 nails,  "  that  it  should  not  be  moved. 
 
 8  But  thou,  Israel,  art  my  servant,  Jacob 
 whom  I  have  '  chosen,  the  seed  of  Abraham 
 my  ''  friend. 
 
 9  Thou  whom  I  have  taken  from  the  ends  of 
 the  earth,  and  called  thee  from  the  chief  men 
 thereof,  and  said  unto  thee.  Thou  art  my  ser- 
 vant ;  I  have  chosen  thee,  and  not  cast  thee 
 away. 
 
 10  If '  Fear  thou  not;  ""for  I  am  with  thee  : 
 be  not  dismayed  ;  for  I  am  thy  God  :  I  will 
 strengthen  thee  ;  yea,  I  will  help  thee  ;  yea, 
 I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my 
 righteousness. 
 
 1 1  Behold,  all  they  that  were  incensed  against 
 thee  shall  be  "ashamed  and  confounded:  they 
 shall  be  as  nothing  ;  and  fthey  that  strive  with 
 thee  shall  perish. 
 
 12  Thou  shalt  seek  them,  and  shalt  not  find 
 them,  even  f  them  that  contended  with  thee: 
 fthey  that  war  against  thee  shall  be  as  no- 
 thing, and  as  A  thing  of  nought. 
 
 13  For  1  the  Lord  thy  (Jod  will  hold  thy 
 right  hand,  saying  uuto  thee,  "Fear  not ;  I  will 
 help  tliec. 
 
 14  Fear  not,  thou  worm  Jacob,  and  ye  ||  men 
 of  Israel  ;  I  will  help  thee,  saith  the  Lord, 
 and  thy  redeemer,  tiie  Holy  One  of  Israel. 
 
 15  Behold,  ^'  I  will  make  thee  a  new  sharp 
 threshing  instrument  having  f  teeth :  thou 
 shalt  thresh  the  mountains,  and  beat  thein 
 small,  and  shalt  make  the  hills  as  chaff. 
 
 16  Thou  shalt  ''  fan  them,  and  the  wind  shall 
 carry  them  away,  and  the  whirlwind  shall 
 scatter  them:  and  thou  shalt  rejoice  in  the 
 Lord,  and  'shalt  glory  in  the  Holy  One  of 
 Israel. 
 
 1  7  When  the  poor  and  needy  seek  water,  and 
 there  is  none,  and  their  tongue  faileth  for 
 thirst,  I  the  Lord  will  hear  them,  /  the  God  of 
 Israel  will  not  forsake  them. 
 
 18  I  will  open  "rivers  in  high  places,  and 
 fountains  in   the  midst  of  the  valleys  :   I  will 
 
 image.'— Par.  'Casteth  an  image.*— Lou-/ A,  so  Boothr.  24.  Not  be 
 planted— not  be  aoum,  ^c.  —  great  ones  of  the  earth  represented  as 
 stately  trees  ;  acd  the  different  terms  express  total  extermination. — 
 Macriil.  27.  Why  sniiest  thou  f — the  prophet  reproves  the  Israelites 
 for  want  of  conlidence  in  GoA.—Boothr.  The  Jews,  supposed  to  be  in 
 captivity,  are  here  meant,— /arcAi.  Kimchi;  or  it  may  be  the  church 
 and  people  of  God,  sufTering  under  Rome  papal  or  pagan. — Gill.  And 
 7»i/  judgment,  ^c,  '  and  my  cause  passcth  unregarded  by  my  God.' — 
 Ltiwth.     '  Is  passed  nver  by  my  God.' — Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  XLI.  —  2.  Tfte  Wj™-Afeft?/s  r/ian,  one  who  should  execute  justice 
 on  the  oppressors,  and  deliver  the  oppressed. — Boothr.  From  the  east, 
 — Abraham  and  his  posterity  are  here  meant,  who  were  placed  in 
 Canaan  as  a  barrier  against  idolatry. — Jackson,  Henry,  Scott,  Lowth  ; 
 as  Targ  ,  and  Talmud.  Cyrus,  who  is  expressly  named  by  the  prophet, 
 {chap,  xliv.,  and  xlv.,)  in  the  last  verse  of  the  former  being  called  '  the 
 
 Lord's  shepherd,'  and,  in  the  first  of  the  latter,  Mhe  Lord's  anointed.' 
 WiL,  as  Preb.  Lowth,  Gntaker,  Jtr.  J.  Smith,  Boothr.  3.  That   he 
 
 had  not  gone,  Sfc  ,  '  that  his  feet  had  never  trodden.'  4.  Dune  it, 
 these  things.  5.  Saw,  the  power  of  God  in  delivering  his  people  and 
 punishing    idolatrous    nations. — Boothr.  6.  Helped   every    one   his 
 
 iifighbnur,  associated  together,  that  they  might  contribute  to  support 
 and  extend  idolatrous  prartices. — Macctil.  The  passage  may  fitly  be 
 applied  to  the  heathen  powers  combining  together  to  support  their  ido- 
 latry, and  suppress  theChristian  religion.  9.  Ends  of  the  earth,  may 
 refer  tn  Chaldea,  Abraham's  original  abode,  and  Egypt,  whence  Israel 
 was  delivered. — Preb.  Lowth.  15.  A  new  sharp  threshing  instrument, 
 — under  the  image  of  a  threshing-  door,  the  prophet  here  repi  esents  the 
 ruin  and  dispersion  of  the  wicked,  the  enemies  of  Israel. — Lowth. 
 Hlottntains — hills,  'kingdoms — emi)ires.' — Hew.  \G.  Fan  tliem—^es 
 
 on  chap.  XXX.  28,  note.         17.  Seek  u-ater,  alluding  to  the  miraculous 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XL.  —  I.  The  gospelis  the  language        II.  All  God's  promises  shall  he  accomplished.     Believers  have 
 f>f  comfort.    It  is  glad-tidings.     The  spirit  of  Christ  here  spake    them  sealed  by  the  blood  of  Christ.      'Tbey  are  yea  and  amen 
 
 in   Christ  Jesus.'     Whatever  may  fail,  these  shall  not  fail; 
 '  The  word  of  our  God  shall  stand  for  ever.' 
 
 III.  Lit  ns,  then,  wait  upon  God  in  di^pendence  on  his  word  and 
 faithfuhuan.  Then  shall  we  acquire  holy  vigour;  our  atlec- 
 tions  shall  soar  upwards,  being  inconceivably  drawn  by  the 
 power  of  Divine  love ;  we  shall  be  constrained  by  the  love  of 
 Christ  to  walk  more  diligently  in  his  ways,  and,  without  faint- 
 ing or  turning,  appear  at  length  before  the  God  of  gods  in 
 
 by  the  prophets,  as  afterwards  by  the  apostles.  But  to  be 
 capable  of  this  comfort,  observes  a  late  estimable  divine  of  the 
 church  of  England,  '  the  mind  must  be  in  a  suitable  disposi- 
 tion. A  free  pardon  is  a  comfort  to  a  malefactor,  but  it  im- 
 plies guilt-,  and  therefore  they  who  have  no  apprehension 
 that  they  have  broken  the  laws  would  be  rather  otfended  than 
 coniforted  by  an  offer  of  pardon.  This  is  one  principal  cause 
 of  that  neglect,  yea,  contempt,  which  the  gospel  of  the  grace 
 of  God  meets  with  from  the  worid.'— /uAn  Newton, 
 756 
 
The  vanity  of  idols. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLII. 
 
 The  office  of  Christ. 
 
 make  the  '  wilderness  a  pool  of  water,  and  the 
 dry  land  springs  of  water. 
 
 19  I  will  plant  in  the  wilderness  the  cedar, 
 the  shittah  tree,  and  tlie  myrtle,  and  the  oil 
 tree  ;  I  will  set  in  the  desert  the  fir  tree,  and 
 the  pine,  and  the  box  tree  together  : 
 
 20  "  That  they  may  see,  and  know,  and  con- 
 sider, and  understand  together,  tliat  the  hand 
 of  the  Lord  hath  done  tliis,  and  the  Holy  One 
 of  Israel  hath  created  it. 
 
 *21  f  Produce  your  cause,  saitli  the  Lord; 
 bring  forth  your  strong  reasons,  saith  the  King 
 of  Jacob. 
 
 •22  "  Let  them  bring  tliem  forth,  and  shew  us 
 what  shall  happen  :  let  them  shew  the  former 
 things,  what  tliey  be,  that  we  may  f  consider 
 ttiem.and  know  the  latter  end  of  them  ;  or  de- 
 clare us  things  for  to  come. 
 
 23  'Shew  the  things  that  are  to  come  here- 
 after, that  we  may  know  that  ye  are  gods  :  yea, 
 ^  do  good,  or  do  evil,  that  we  may  be  dismayed, 
 and  behold  it  together. 
 
 24  Behold,  °  ye  are  \\  of  nothing,  and  your 
 work  II  of  nought :  an  abomination  is  he  that 
 chooseth  you. 
 
 2j  I  have  raised  up  one  from  the  north,  and 
 he  shall  come  :  from  the  rising  of  the  sun 
 ■'shall  he  call  upon  my  name:  ^and  he  shall 
 come  upon  princes  as  upon  morter,  and  as  the 
 potter  treadeth  clay. 
 
 2G  '■  Who  hath  declared  from  the  beginning, 
 that  we  may  know?  and  beforetime,  that  we 
 may  say.  He  is  righteous?  yea,  there  is  none 
 that  sheweth,  yea,  there  is  none  that  declareth, 
 yea,  there  is  none  that  heareth  your  words. 
 ■  27  '  The  first  'shall  sai/  to  Zion,  Behold,  be- 
 hold them  :  and  I  will  give  to  Jerusalem  one 
 that  bringeth  good  tidings. 
 
 28  ^  For  I  beheld,  and  there  was  no  man  ; 
 even  among  them,  and  there  was  no  counsellor, 
 that,  when  I  asked  of  them,  could  f  answer  a 
 word. 
 
 29  i"  Behold,  they  are  all  vanity  ;  their  works 
 
 t  Heb.  Ciw. 
 
 t  Heb.  *-■/ 
 our  hrarl 
 upoDtbem 
 
 «  ch.  42.  0. 
 
 fc  U.  7,  8. 
 
 &  45.  3. 
 
 John  13  19. 
 s  Jer.  JO.  5. 
 
 oP«    11.5.  8. 
 
 ch.  44.  9. 
 
 I  Cor.  8.  4. 
 il  Or,  ivorso 
 
 thi'/i;. 
 II  Or,  worse 
 
 Ihir,  of  a 
 
 viper. 
 6  Eiral.  2. 
 c  ver.  2, 
 
 <ch.  4  3.  0. 
 
 /cli.4a  9. 
 
 }  ch.  63,  5. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Ttturn, 
 
 cir.  712. 
 a  til.  4-1.  10 
 
 fc  49.  3,  fi  & 
 
 52.  l.S.  &  53 
 
 II.  Mai   12. 
 
 18,  19,  20. 
 
 I'l.il.  2.  7. 
 6  Mat  3.  17. 
 
 Ik  17.  5. 
 
 Kpb.   I.  6. 
 c  ch.  11.  2. 
 
 Jolia  3.  34. 
 II  Or,  d.ml) 
 
 (,.,r,„.j. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 y.ie,icfi  .7. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 d  Qeu.J9.10. 
 
 /  Pa.  136.  6. 
 ff  Acta  17.25. 
 
 i  ch.  49.  3. 
 
 A  ch.  49.  6. 
 I.uke  2.  ft!. 
 .\ctsl3  47. 
 
 I  cb.  35.  5. 
 
 m  ch.  (51.  I. 
 Luke  4.  18 
 2  Tim.  2.26 
 Heb.  2.  14, 
 
 15. 
 
 ;.  Va    33   3. 
 
 Mi  10  3.  Si 
 
 9.S    1. 
 7  Pa,  107.  23. 
 t  Heb.  Hie 
 f,.in„, 
 
 ihereof. 
 
 are   nothing:    their  molten  images  are  wind 
 and  confusion. 
 
 CHAP.  XLII. 
 
 1  The  office  of  Christ,  graced  with  meekness  and  con- 
 staJicy.  5  God^s  promise  unto  him,  10  An  ex- 
 hortation to  praise  God  fur  his  gospel.  17  He  re* 
 proveth  the  people  of  incredulity. 
 
 BEHOLD  "my  servant,  whom  I  uphold; 
 mine  elect,  in  ivhom  my  soul  ^  delighteth  ; 
 ^"  I  have  put  my  spirit  upon  him:  he  shall  bring 
 forth  judgment  to  the  Gentiles. 
 
 2  He  shall  not  cry,  nor  lift  up,  nor  cause  his 
 voice  to  be  heard  in  the  street. 
 
 3  A  bruised  reed  shall  lie  not  break,  and  the 
 smoking  flax  shall  he  not  fcpiench:  he  shall 
 
 bring  forth  judgment  unto  truth, 
 
 4  He  shall  not  fail  nor  be  f  discouraged,  till 
 he  have  set  judgment  in  the  earth  :  '*  and  the 
 isles  shall  wait  for  his  law. 
 
 3  1  Thus  saith  God  the  Lord,  'he  that 
 created  the  heavens,  and  stretched  them  out ; 
 •"he  that  spread  forth  the  earth,  and  that  which 
 Cometh  out  of  it ;  ^  he  that  giveth  breath  unto 
 tlie  people  upon  it,  and  spirit  to  them  that 
 walk  therein  : 
 
 G  ''  I  the  Lord  have  called  thee  in  rigliteous- 
 ness,  and  will  liold  tliiue  hand,  and  will  keep 
 thee,  'and  give  thee  for  a  covenant  of  the  peo- 
 ple, for  ■'  a  light  of  the  Gentiles  ; 
 
 7  '  To  open  the  blind  eyes,  to  ""bring  out  the 
 prisoners  from  the  prison,  and  them  that  sit  in 
 "darkness  out  of  the  prison  house. 
 
 8  I  am  the  Lord  :  that  is  my  name:  and  my 
 °  glory  will  I  not  give  to  another,  neither  my 
 praise  to  graven  images. 
 
 9  Behold,  the  former  things  are  come  to  pass, 
 and  new  things  do  I  declare :  before  they  spring 
 forth  I  tell  you  of  them. 
 
 10  ''Sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song,  and 
 his  praise  from  the  end  of  the  earth,  ''ye  that 
 go  down  to  the  sea,  and  fall  that  is  therein  ; 
 the  i.sles,  and  tlie  inhabitants  thereof. 
 
 1 1  Let  the  wilderness  and  the  cities  thereof 
 
 supply  in  the  wilderness,  an  emblem  of  iinespected  relief  in  distresa.— 
 liurd.  ig.  I  ivill  ptnnt~Go  Aw  ow\<i  change  the  state  of  the  Israelites 
 in  captivity  as  much  as  a  barren  waste  is  changed  by  being  brought 
 ioto  the  highest  state  nf  cultivation. — Bnothr.  In  a  figurative  sense 
 intimates,  that  God  would  raise  up,  for  the  benefit  of  his  church,  men 
 of  distinguished  eminence  and  usefulness. — lUaccul.  It  means  con- 
 verted persons  in  the  Gentile  world,  in  whom  as  great  a  change  was 
 wrought  as  if,  instead  of  briars  and  thorns,  came  up  such  trees  as  these. 
 — Gilt.  Trees  of  righteousness,  both  ornamental  and  fruitful,  shall 
 flourish  in  abundance  throughout  the  barren  desert  of  the  Gentile 
 world. — Scott.        21.  Produce  your  cause,  iffc. — 
 
 'Draw  near,  ye  mighty  ones,  saith  Jehovah  ; 
 Approach,  ye  strong  ones,  saith  the  King  of  Jacob.'— BooCAr. 
 
 22.  Let  them  shew  the  former  things,  ffc,  events  long  since  decreed. — 
 Rosenm. 
 
 ■  What  shall  first  happen,  let  them  declare  to  us. 
 That  we  may  consider  and  know  the  event.'— BooWr. 
 
 Sfi.  From  the  nor^/i— Cyrus  is  described  as  coming  fmm  the  east,  (ver.  2,) 
 and  here  he  is  represented  as  coming  from  the  north  and  the  east  too, 
 because  his  father  was  a  Persian,  and  his  mother  a  Midian.  Media  lay 
 northward  of  Babylon  ;  accordingly,  the  army  which  Cyrus  led  against 
 Babylon  is  described  as  coming  out  of  the  north,  (Jer.  1.  9,  41 ,)  because 
 it  chiefly  consisted  of  Medes. — PreO.  Lnwth.  26.  He  is  rigktemis, 
 *  it  is  right.'— Booi/ir.,  as  Sept.  27.  The  first,  ^c.,  '  I  first,'  &c.— 
 Boothr. 
 
 *  I  first  to  Sion,  [give  the  word,]  Behold,  they  are  here.' — Lowth. 
 
 Chap.  XLII.  —  l.  My  serjtf/n(— Messiah  is  here  brought  under  full 
 view,  without  any  allegory. — Low/h.  Whnrp.  I  vphold,  *  I  will  support 
 him.' — Pye  Smith.     Judgment,  meaning  the  law  to  be  published  by  the 
 
 Messiah,  the  institution  of  the  Gospel. — Lowth.  2.  Not  cry,  after  the 
 manner  of  those  who  agitate  controversies  in  conrts  of  judicature.  In 
 the  street,  in  an  ostentatious  manner,  to  attract  popular  applause. — 
 Miiccul.  Has  a  person  gained  or  lost  a  cause  in  the  court  of  justice,  he 
 vnciferates  his  story  again  and  again  to  his  companions  as  he  goes 
 along  the  road. — Rob.  The  meaning  is.  he  would  not  raise  a  sedition 
 nor  excite  tumult. —  Wit.  He  would  not  use  the  least  force  or  violence 
 in  tlic  propagation  of  the  new  law  till  it  prevailed  against  all  opposition. 
 —  Hurd.  He  would  patiently  endure  the  contradiction  of  sinners 
 against  himself,  and  not  vindicate  himself  in  a  clamorous  manner. — 
 Fau'kes.  3.  A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  '  crush.' — Fi/e  Smith. 
 
 A  reed  being  injured  or  bruised,  its  value  as  an  instrument  uf  music 
 was,  of  course,  destroyed  ;  to  this  the  allusion  seems  to  be. — So  S. 
 Burder.  The  broken-hearted,  almost  crushed  beneath  tem])tations  and 
 afflictions,  he  will  not  break. — Scott.  Smoking  Jla.v,  or  wick  of  a  lamp, 
 which,  through  deficiency  of  oil,  becomes  very  dim  and  ready  to  go 
 out,  so  that  little  remains  but  smoke. — Mac.  He  encourages  the  first 
 beginnings  of  holy  desires  in  the  young  convert,  and  revives  the  almost 
 expiring  spark  in  the  baffled  and  backsliding  believer. — Scott.  4.  The 
 isles,  the  Gentile  nations.  The  Hebrew  signifies  all  nations  or  coun- 
 tries, whether  encompassed  by  the  sea  or  situated  on  the  continent. 
 6.  Hold  thine  hand,  support  thee  in  every  trying  emergency.  A  cove- 
 nnnt — n''ia  here  should  not  be  translated  'covenant,'  but  'covenant 
 sacrifice.' — A.  Clarke.  7-  ^'>  open  blind  eyes,  fyc. — allusion  has  here, 
 by  some  writer,  been  thought  to  have  been  made  to  the  horrible  custom 
 oi"  putting  out  the  eyes  of  stale  prisoners. — Ed.  Q.  The  former  things, 
 may  refer  to  deliverance  from  Egypt,  and  the  conquests  of  enemies  on 
 entering  Canaan. — Mac.  'The  prophecies  respecting  Babylon  will  be 
 so  soon  completed,  that  I  regard  them  as  things  past.' — Hurd.  1 1 .  Let 
 the  wilderness,  the  most  uncultivated  countries  and  the  most  rude  and 
 uncivilized  people. — Lowth.     The  villages  that  Kedar  doth  inhabit,  or 
 
 Reftections  on  Chap.  XLL  — We  are  here  reminded, 
 I.  Of  the  evidences  of  our  religion.  It  challenges  all  arguers 
 against  it.  It  can  stand  the  test  of  examination.  The  opera- 
 tions of  God  are  seen  in  it,  and  none  can  work  like  hiro. 
 
 II.  Of  the  consolations  of  our  religion.  It  abounds  in  '  ex- 
 757 
 
 ceeding  great  and  precious  promises,'  that  believers  may  have 
 'strong  consolation,' — promises  that  meet  us  in  every  case, 
 and  nre  adapted  to  all  the  varied  circumstances  and  changing 
 scenes  to  which  we  may  be  exposed.  Truly  our  God  is  '  the 
 Father  of  mercies  and  the  God  of  all  comfort. 
 
The  people  reproved  for  incredulity. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLIII. 
 
 The  Lord's  promises  to  the  church- 
 
 Wit  up  their  voice,  the  villages  that  Kedar  doth 
 inhabit :  let  the  inhabitants  of  the  rock  sing, 
 let  them  shout  from  the  top  of  the  mountains. 
 
 12  Let  them  give  glory  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 declare  his  praise  in  the  islands. 
 
 13  The  Lord  shall  go  forth  as  a  mighty  man, 
 he  shall  stir  up  jealousy  like  a  man  of  war:_  he 
 shall  cry,  ■■  yea,  roar  ;  he  shall  ||  prevail  against 
 his  enemies. 
 
 14  I  have  long  time holden  my  peace;  I  have 
 been  still,  and  refrained  myself:  now  will  I 
 cry  like  a  travaihng  woman  ;  I  will  destroy  and 
 t devour  at  once. 
 
 13  I  will  make  waste  mountains  and  hills, 
 and  dry  up  all  their  herbs  ;  and  I  will  make  the 
 rivers  islands,  and  I  will  dry  up  the  pools. 
 
 IG  And  I  will  bring  the  blind  by  a  way  that 
 they  knew  not ;  1  will  lead  them  in  paths  that 
 they  have  not  known  :  I  will  make  darkness 
 light  before  them,  and  crooked  things  t  straight. 
 These  things  will  I  do  unto  them,  and  not  for- 
 sake them. 
 
 17  t  They  shall  be  'turned  back,  they  shall 
 be  greatly  ashamed,  that  trust  in  graven  images, 
 that  say  to  the  molten  images,  Ye  are  our  gods. 
 
 18  Hear,  ye  deaf;  and  look,  ye  blind,  that  ye 
 may  see. 
 
 19  '  Who  is  blind,  but  my  servant?  or  deaf,  as 
 my  messenger  that  I  sent?  who  is  blind  as  he 
 that  is  perfect,  and  blind  as  the  Lord's  servant? 
 
 20  Seeing  many  things,  "  but  thou  observest 
 not ;  opening  the  ears,  but  he  heareth  not. 
 
 21  The  Lord  is  well  pleased  for  his  righte- 
 ousness' sake  ;  he  will  magnify  the  law,  and 
 make  ||  it  honourable. 
 
 2-2  But  this  is  a  people  robbed  and  spoiled  ; 
 II  they  arc  all  of  them  .snared  in  holes,  and 
 they  are  hid  in  prison  houses :  they  are  for  a 
 prey,  and  none  delivereth  ;  for  fa  spoil,  and 
 none  saith.  Restore. 
 
 23  Who  among  you  will  give  ear  to  this? 
 
 It.  31.  4. 
 II  Or,  bfh'wt 
 
 .ushiily. 
 
 i  Ps.  97.  7. 
 clt.  I.  29.  & 
 ■11,  11.8(45. 
 16. 
 
 ;  ch.  43.  8. 
 Ezek  12.  2. 
 See  John  9. 
 39,41. 
 
 t  Heb- 
 a  treading. 
 
 2Km  85  9. 
 J/  Hon.  7.  9. 
 
 t  lleb.  fiT 
 
 cir.  712. 
 ver.  7, 
 1  ver.  21  ch. 
 4.1.2,21,21. 
 c  ch.  44,  6. 
 d  rh.  42.  0. 
 &   IS.  4. 
 
 f  Ps.  GB.  12. 
 
 &  91.3,  &c. 
 /  Di-u.  31. 
 
 6,8. 
 
 f  Dan.  3  25, 
 27. 
 
 I  Oe,ptrsan. 
 i  civ  41.  10, 
 
 II.  &  44  :. 
 
 Jer.  30   10, 
 II.  fc46  27, 
 
 who  will  hearken  and  hear  ffor  the  time  to 
 come  ? 
 
 24  Who  gave  Jacob  for  a  spoil,  and  Israel  to 
 the  robbers?  did  not  the  Lord,  he  against 
 whom  we  have  sinned?  for  they  would  not 
 walk  in  his  ways,  neither  were  they  obedient 
 unto  his  law. 
 
 25  Therefore  he  hath  poured  upon  him  the 
 fury  of  his  anger,  and  the  strength  of  battle  : 
 '  and  it  hath  set  him  on  fire  round  about,  ''  yet 
 he  knew  not ;  and  it  burned  him,  yet  he  laid 
 it  not  to  heart. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIIL 
 
 1  TVifi  Lord  comforteth  the  church  with  his  promises. 
 8  ITe  appealeih  to  the  people  for  witness  of  his  omni- 
 pntency.  14  He  fontelfrth  them  the  destruction  of 
 Babylon,  18  and  his  nondirftil  deliverance  of  his 
 people,     22   He  reprovcth  the  people  as  inexcusable. 
 
 13  UT  now  thus  saith  the  Lord  °  that  created 
 -■-'  thee,  O  Jacob,  ^  and  he  that  formed  thee, 
 O  Israel,  Fear  not:  "^  for  I  have  redeemed 
 thee,  "^  I  have  called  thee  by  thy  name  ;  thou 
 art  mine. 
 
 2  *  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters. 
 *"  I  will  hi',  with  thee  ;  and  through  the  rivers, 
 they  shall  not  overflow  thee :  when  thou 
 ^  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be 
 burned  ;  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon 
 thee. 
 
 3  For  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the  Holy 
 One  of  Israel,  thy  Saviour  :  ^  I  gave  Egypt^r 
 thy  ransom,  Ethiopia  and  Seba  for  thee. 
 
 4  Since  thou  wast  precious  in  my  sight,  thou 
 hast  been  honourable,  and  I  have  loved  thee  : 
 therefore  will  I  give  men  for  thee,  and  people 
 for  thy  II  life. 
 
 5  '  Fear  not :  for  I  am  with  thee  :  I  will 
 bring  thy  seed  from  the  east,  and  gather  thee 
 from  the  west ; 
 
 6  1  will  say  to  the  north,  Give  up  ;  and  to 
 the  south,   Keep   not   back  :    bring   my  sons 
 
 •  the  tents  j*  the  Kedarines  were  Arabians,  and  dwelt  in  tents.  Let  the 
 inhnbitants  of  the  rock  sing,  or  of  Petra.  the  metropolis  of  Arabia 
 Petrjea,  cut  out  of  solid  rocks,  and  built  among^  rorks;  the  whole 
 country'  may  here  be  meant ;  they  had  reason  to  sing  when  the  Gospel 
 was  preached  to  them,  as  it  was  by  Paul  in  Arabia,  (Gal.  i.  l".)^Gi7/, 
 Ed.  13.  Jealousy,  '  vengeance. '—I-oh'^A.  '  Zeal.'— Boo^/jr.  l6.  The 
 blind,  understand  it  of  the  Gentiles,  who,  before  the  light  of  the  Gospel, 
 were  blind.— Gi7;.         19-  Who  is  blind,  ^c. — 
 
 •  Vi\\o  is  blind  but  my  servant ; 
 
 And  deaf,  as  he  to  whom  I  have  sent  my  messengers  ? 
 Who  is  blind  as  he  who  is  perfectly  instructed; 
 And  deaf  as  the  servant  of  Jehovah  ?' — Lowth. 
 
 These  expressions  seem  to  apply  to  certain  prophets  and  priests,  who 
 were  inattentive  to  God's  promises  and  threatenin^s. — Hew.  The 
 Jewish  people  are  included.— Pre*.  Lowth.  The  words  apply  to  the 
 agent  employed  by  the  Lord,  that  he  was  so  absorbed  by  his  message 
 ns  to  be  blind  and  deaf  to  all  other  attractions.  This  accords  with  cer- 
 tain expressions  used  by  the  Hindoos  relative  to  their  supposed  mes- 
 sengers from  the  gods.— So  Rob.  21.  For  his  righteousness'  sake— 
 '  Yet  Jehovah  was  well  pleased  with  him  for  his  truth's  sake  ; 
 He  hath  exalted  his  own  praise,  and  made  it  glorious.* — Lowth. 
 
 '  Yet  Jehovah  Icveth  him  for  his  own  righteousness'  sake ; 
 He  will  exalt  and  make  honourable  the  law.' 
 The  Israelites  had  brought  God's  law  into  contempt,  but  God  would 
 restore  its  authority  and  make  it  honourable.— BwoMr.     God  was  not 
 
 forward  to  destroy  the  professors  of  his  law,  lest  it  should  be  exposed 
 to  contempt. — Poole.  25.  Knew  not,  considered  not  the  causes  from 
 which  the-^e  calamities  proceeded. — Maccul. 
 
 Chap.  XLIH.  — 1.  Bt/  thy  name,  seems  to  require  a  slight  alteration 
 in  the  original,  and  to  be  read,  'by  my  name.'  When  God  calls  Jacob 
 Israel,  he  calls  him  by  the  name  of  God.  (see  Exod.  xxxi.  1.)— Seeker. 
 When  a  person  of  great  dignity  calls  an  inferior  by  his  name,  it  is  a 
 token  of  a  particular  intimacy,  and  doing  him  a  great  deal  of  honour, 
 (comp.  chap.  xlv.  4;  xlix.  I;  Exod.  xxxiii.  12.)  —  PrpA.  Lowth. 
 2.  Walkest  through  the  fire,  seems  to  allude  to  the  ancient  stratagem 
 and  practice  of  setting  cf  the  grass  and  undergrowth  on'  fire,  to  annoy 
 the  enemy.— Har.  Under  the  symbols  of  waters,  rivers,  fire,  are  pre- 
 dicated the  severest  trials  and  afflictions.— //e«'.  3.  Egypt  for  thy 
 ransom— \\<s,  destroyed  the  firstborn  of  Egypt  and  saved  those  of  Israel ; 
 he  drowned  the  Egyptians,  and  saved  the  Israelites.— Gt"/;.  When 
 Shalmaneser  had  a  design  upon  Judea,  after  he  had  destroyed  Samaria, 
 he  was  diverted  by  carrying  the  war  against  the  Egyptians,  Cusheans, 
 and  Sabeans. —  Vitr.  This  is  commonly  referred  to  the  time  of  Senna- 
 chcrib's  invasion,  who,  when  he  was  just  ready  to  fall  upon  Jerusalem, 
 was  diverted  from  that  design,  and  turned  his  arms  against  the  Egyp- 
 tians, and  their  allies,  the  Cushean  Arabians,  with  their  neighbours, 
 the  Sabeans,  probably  joined  with  them,  under  Tirhakah,  (see  chap. 
 XX..  and  xxxvii.  ^.)— Lowth.  He  gave  Egypt  as  a  reward  to  Cyrus  for 
 releasing  the  Jews. — Seeker,  Rosenm.,  Stock.  5.  East,  Arabia, 
 Chaldea,  Persia,  Medea.  West,  Greece,  Italy,  Spain,  and  other  king- 
 doms westward  of  Palestine.  North,  Scythia.  Germany,  Gaul,  and 
 other  empires  northward  of  Judea.     South,  Egypt,  Lybia,  Ethiopia. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLIL— We  may  here  meditate 
 on — I.  The  office  of  the  Messiah.  Iq  the  lowly  form  of  a  ser- 
 vant, the  beloved  Son  of  God  *  came  into  the  world  to  save 
 sinners.'  With  the  greatest  tenderness  be  bas  treated  the 
 contrite  spirit,  and  cherished  the  buddings  of  grace  In  the 
 soul.  Let  the  same  tenderness  be  manifested  by  every  Chris- 
 tian, and  especially  by  every  minister. 
 
 IL    The  extension  of  Messiah''s  kingdom.     The  prophet  Isaiah 
 
 never   loses   sight   of  this  subject.     The  future    glories   and 
 
 spreading  dominions  of  the  Messiah  gave  new  and  continual 
 
 spirit  to  his  predictions.     His  righteousness  shall  chase  away 
 
 763 
 
 cruelty  and  injustice, — his  light  shall  dissipate  the  darkness 
 of  ignorance  and  superstition;  tyranny,  temporal  and  spiritual, 
 holds  no  sway  where  he  reigns  ;  and  the  nations  under  the 
 mifibty  influence  of  his  truth  shall  have  reason  to  sing  for  joy. 
 IIL  The  confusion  of  those  who  reject  the  Messiah.  What  an 
 example  was  made  of  the  blind  and  obstinate  Jews  !  And  are 
 there  not  many  professing  Christians  blind  to  the  glories  of 
 the  Saviour,  and  deaf  to  the  calls  of  his  gospel  1  Let  us  take 
 heed  that  we  sin  not  after  the  similitude  of  their  transgres- 
 sions to  whom  the  God  of  love,  in  consequence,  became  '  a 
 consuming  fire.' 
 
Babylon's  destruction  foretold. 
 
 ISAIAH.  XLIII. 
 
 The  people's  deliverance. 
 
 from  far,  and  my  daughters  from  the  ends  of 
 the  earth  ; 
 
 7  Even  every  one  that  is  '  called  by  my 
 name  :  for  '  I  have  created  him  for  my  glory, 
 "  I  liave  formed  him  ;  yea,  I  have  made  him. 
 
 8  1i  "  Bring  forth  the  blind  people  that  have 
 eyes,  and  the  deaf  that  have  ears. 
 
 9  Let  all  the  nations  be  gathered  together, 
 and  let  the  people  be  assembled :  "  who 
 among  them  can  declare  this,  and  shew  us 
 former  tilings  ?  let  them  bring  forth  their  wit- 
 nesses, that  they  may  be  justified  :  or  let  them 
 hear,  and  say.  It  is  truth. 
 
 10  ■'Ye  are  my  witnesses,  saith  the  Lord, 
 "i  and  my  servant  whom  I  have  chosen  :  that 
 ye  may  know  and  believe  me,  and  understand 
 that  I  am  he  :  '  before  me  there  was  ||  no  God 
 formed,  neither  shall  there  be  after  me. 
 
 11  I,  even  \,  'am  the  Lord  ;  and  beside  me 
 there  is  no  saviour. 
 
 12  I  have  declared,  and  have  saved,  and  I 
 have  shewed,  when  there  ivas  no  '  strange  god 
 among  you  :  "  therefore  ye  are  my  witnesses, 
 saith  the  Lord,  that  I  am  God. 
 
 13  "  Yea,  before  the  day  teas  I  am  he  ;  and 
 there  is  none  that  can  deliver  out  of  my  hand: 
 I  will  work,  and  who  shall  f^let  it? 
 
 14  1[  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  your  redeemer, 
 the  Holy  One  of  Israel  ;  For  your  sake  I  have 
 sent  to  Babylon,  and  have  brought  down  all 
 their  f  nobles,  and  the  Chaldeans,  whose  cry  is 
 in  the  ships. 
 
 13  I  am  the  Lord,  your  Holy  One,  the 
 creator  of  Israel,  your  King. 
 
 16  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  which  'maketh  a  way 
 in  the  sea,  and  a  "path  in  the  mighty  waters  ; 
 
 17  Which  ''briiigeth  forth  the  chariot  and 
 horse,  the  army  and  the  power  ;  they  shall  lie 
 
 n.  c. 
 
 U.  U. 
 
 clr.  712. 
 
 cir.  7 12. 
 
 k  ch.  63.  19. 
 
 c  Jer.  16.  14. 
 
 .lam.  -2.  7. 
 
 &  23.  7. 
 
 /  Ps.  100.  3. 
 
 ch.  89,  23. 
 
 J?Cor.5.17. 
 
 John  3.  3,5. 
 
 Rev.  81.5. 
 
 8  Cor.  5.17. 
 
 (  Ex.  17.  6. 
 
 Eph.  8.  lU. 
 
 Nu-20.  11. 
 
 m  ver.  1. 
 
 Deu   8-  15, 
 
 nch.  6.9.  & 
 
 Ps.  78    16. 
 
 48.  19. 
 
 ch.  35.  6.  & 
 
 Ezck.  IS.  8. 
 
 41.  18. 
 
 0  ch.  -11.  81, 
 
 11  Or, 
 
 88,  26. 
 
 'jf/rit'ie*. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 dituffhters '/ 
 
 the  owl. 
 
 /Ch.  48.21. 
 
 .  P«.  108.18 
 
 vec.  1,  7. 
 
 J.  ch. «.  8. 
 
 Luke  1.  74, 
 
 7Ch.  42.  1. 
 
 75.  Eph.  1. 
 5,  0. 
 
 &  55   4. 
 
 h  Mai.  1.13. 
 
 rch.  41.  4. 
 
 fc  .H.  fi. 
 
 i]  Ol\H'>lhi'>ff 
 
 iAmo95.25. 
 
 fmmtd  ,J 
 
 f  Heb.i<in.6i, 
 
 G„.t. 
 
 or,  kidt. 
 
 .ch.45.  21. 
 
 Ho..  13.  4. 
 
 iDeu.  32.16- 
 
 P«.  91.9. 
 
 1,  ch.  44.  e. 
 
 t  Heh.  mi<Jf 
 
 ver.  10. 
 
 nie  driiiiA.or, 
 
 t  P«   90.  5. 
 John  8,  58. 
 
 abv'idantty 
 irifiittened . 
 k  ch.  1.  14. 
 
 Mai.  a.  17. 
 
 t  Heh.  f.irn 
 
 ;  ch.44.  22. 
 
 it  back  f 
 
 &  48,  9. 
 
 If  Job  9.  18. 
 
 Jer,  50  20. 
 
 ch.  14.  27. 
 
 Acts  3.  19. 
 
 m  Eiek.  36. 
 
 88,8.0. 
 
 ,.  ch.  1.  13. 
 
 t  Heb.  hart. 
 
 Jer.  31.  &1. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 interpreltrs 
 
 Mai.  2.7,8 
 
 0  ch.  47.  6. 
 
 rEl.  14.  16, 
 
 Lam.  8.  2, 
 
 82.  Pa.  77. 
 
 6,  7. 
 
 19.  ch.  61. 
 
 11  Or,  holy 
 
 10. 
 
 priiicfi. 
 
 a  JoBh.  3  13, 
 
 p  Ps.  79.  4. 
 
 16. 
 
 Jer,  84.  9. 
 
 b  E-r.  14.4- 
 
 nau.  9    11. 
 
 9,85. 
 
 Zcch.e.  13 
 
 down  together,  they  shall  not  rise  :  they  are 
 extinct,  they  are  quenched  as  tow. 
 
 18  IF'  Remember  ye  not  the  former  things, 
 neither  consider  the  things  of  old. 
 
 19  Behold,  I  will  do  a  ■' new  thing;  now -it 
 shall  spring  forth;  shall  ye  not  know  it?  °I 
 will  even  make  a  way  in  the  wilderness,  and 
 rivers  in  the  desert. 
 
 20  The  beast  of  the  field  shall  honour  me, 
 the  dragons  and  the  ||  f  owls  :  because  '  I  give 
 waters  in  the  wilderness,  and  rivers  in  the  de- 
 sert, to  give  drink  to  my  people,  my  chosen. 
 
 21  ^Tbis  people  have  I  formed  for  myself; 
 they  shall  shew  forth  my  praise. 
 
 22  t  But  thou  hast  not  called  upon  me,  O 
 Jacob  ;  but  thou  ^  hast  been  weary  of  me,  O 
 Israel. 
 
 23  'Thou  hast  not  brought  me  the  f small 
 cattle  of  thy  burnt  offerings;  neither  hast  thou 
 honoured  me  with  thy  sacrifices.  I  have  not 
 caused  thee  to  serve  with  an  offering,  nor 
 wearied  thee  with  incense. 
 
 24  Thou  hast  bought  me  no  sweet  cane  with 
 money,  neither  hast  thou  f  filled  me  with  the 
 fat  of  thy  sacrifices  :  but  thou  hast  made  me  to 
 serve  with  thy  sins,  thou  hast  '  wearied  me 
 with  thine  iniquities. 
 
 25  I,  even  I,  am  he  that  '  blotteth  out  thy 
 transgressions  "'  for  mine  own  sake,  "  and  will 
 not  remember  thy  sins. 
 
 26  Put  me  in  remembrance  :  let  us  plead  to- 
 gether :  declare  thou,  that  thou  mayest  be 
 justified. 
 
 27  Thy  first  father  hath  sinned,  and  thy 
 t  teachers  have  transgressed  against  me. 
 
 28  Therefore  °  I  have  profaned  the  ||  princes 
 of  the  sanctuary,  ''and  have  given  Jacob  to  the 
 curse,  and  Israel  to  reproaches. 
 
 and  other  regions  south  of  Judea.  From  all  these  countries,  wherein 
 his  people  were  scattered,  Jehovah  promises  to  collect  them. — Maccul. 
 e.  Blind  people  that  have  eyes,  ^-c.,  i.e.,  heathen  idolators,  who,  like 
 the  images  they  worship,  liave  eyes  and  see  not,  (Ps.  cxv.  9.) — Freb. 
 Lowlh,  so  Lowth.  9.  Who  among  them  can  declare  this,  ^p.,  among 
 
 the  idol-gods,  or  the  idolatrous  nations  by  revelation  from  them,  can 
 foretel  the  deliverance  from  Babylon  and  the  redemption  by  Christ.— 
 Jackson.  10.  i'e  are  7nf/ M'i7/iesses,  witnesses  of  his  divinity,  mani- 
 
 fested by  his  foreknowledge,  and  power,  and  grace  in  saving  his  peo. 
 pie. — Boothr.  All  nations,  who  had  seen  many  striking  proofs  of  the 
 glory  of  Jehovah. — Maccul.  My  people,  that  have  seen  the  accom- 
 plishment of  predicted  things. — Jackson,  so  Gill,  Scott,  A.  Clarke.  Atid 
 my  servant,  espeeiaily  his  pecuhar  people, — Maccul. ;  or  Isaiah,  or  the 
 prophets,  or  rather  the  Messiah. — So  Gill.  Isaiah. — Scott.  12.  When 
 there  was,  §'C.,  rather,  '  and  not  any  strange  god  among  you.* — Wells. 
 13.  Before  the  day,  'before  time  was.' — Lowth.  14.  /  have  sent  to 
 Bahylon,  sent  the  Medes  and  Persians  to  fight  against  it,  and  lay  it 
 waste.  And  the  Chaldeans,  soldiers  celebrated  for  valour  and  courage. 
 Wliose  cry  is  in  the  ships,  in  the  small  vessels  of  the  Euphrates,  which 
 river  ran  through  the  city,  and  by  which  they  hastened  to  escape. — 
 Maccul.  The  Vulgate  version  is  better,  '  the  Chaldeans,  boasting  of 
 their  ships,*  which  were  said  to  be  three  thousand  galleys,  trading  from 
 the  Persian  Gulph.— 5«^  *  Exulting  in  their  ships.' — Lowth,  so  Boothr. 
 16.  Mtiketh  a  way  in  the  sea,  alluding  to  the  deliverance  in  the  Red  Sea. 
 — Poole.  '  W'ho  made  away,' &c. — Loicth.  Israel  is  here  reminded  of 
 the  Red  Sea,  to  let  them  know  that  they  had  no  cause  to  question  thei  r 
 promised  deliverance  out  of  Babylon. — Jackson.  17.  Which  bringeth 
 forth.  Sic— 
 
 *  W'ho  brought  forth  the  rider  and  the  horse,  the  army  and  the  warrior ; 
 Together  they  lay  down,  they  rose  no  more.* — Lowth. 
 
 19.  Make  a  way  in  the  wildemesSt  §-c.,  *  as  of  old,  so  now  I  will  give 
 
 pregnant  proofs  of  my  presence  when  I  return  my  people's  captivity.'— 
 Preb.  Lowth.  It  seems,  the  way  from  Babylon  to  Canaan,  as  well  as 
 from  Egypt,  lay  through  a  desert  land,  which,  while  the  returning  cap- 
 tives passed  through,  God  would  well  provide  for  them.— f/fnrv.  This 
 might  primarily  refer  to  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  Babylon  to  tneir 
 own  land,  but  it  rather  appears  to  be  a  prophecy  of  the  conversion  of 
 tlie  Gentiles.— it/accu/.  The  Lord  would  make  a  way  in  the  Gentile 
 world,  comparable  to  a  wilderness  for  its  barrenness  and  unfruitfulness. 
 —Gill.  20.  T/ie  beast— shall  honour  me,  5c.— God  will  give  such  an 
 
 abundant  miraculous  supply  to  his  people,  traversing  the  desert  on 
 their  return,  that  even  the  creatures  that  haunt  those  regions  shall  be 
 sensible  of  the  blessing.— /.owM.  The  allusion  may  be  to  the  deliver- 
 ance from  Babylon,  but  understand  by  these  creatures  the  Gentiles, 
 savage,  tierce,  and  stupid,  who  should  honour  God  for  his  gospel.— 
 Gill.  Possibly  the  beasts  of  the  field  may  mystically  signify  the  Gen- 
 tiles, whom  the  Jews  reputed  as  beasts.- Poofc,  so  Wells.  22.  Upon 
 me— here  is  the  emphasis.  Israel  had  run  after  strange  gods.  They 
 had  performed  worship,  but  not  spiritual  and  in  faith,  and  their  obla- 
 tions were  most  frequently  made  to  their  idols. — Lowth.  24.  Sweet 
 cane,  to  make  the  incense  daily  offered,  (E.xod.  xxx.  7,  34— 36.)— Pre*, 
 Lowth,  so  Grolius.  Made  me  to  serve,  rather,  ■  burdened  me.'— Hew. 
 27.  Tliy  first  father,  •  thy  chief  leader.'— ioioWi.  The  king  had  sinned 
 by  patronizing  idolatry  and  joining  in  its  rituals. — Sat.  'Adam.'— 
 Kim.  'Abraham.'— JnrcSi.  Ancestors,  from  Adam  downwards,  (comp. 
 Ezek.  xvi.  3.;  It  may  also  include  prophets  and  teachers. — Preb, 
 Lowth.  23.  Therefore  I  have  profaned,  ^c,  or  '  I  will  do  it."  The 
 past  tense  for  the  future,  common  in  prophetic  writings.— GiW.  '  1  have 
 caused  that  thy  priests  shall  Uve  without  being  distinguished  from  the 
 common  people.' — Hew. 
 
 '  And  thy  princes  have  profaned  my  sanctuary : 
 Therefore  will  I  give  up  Jacob  for  a  devoted  thing. 
 And  Israel  to  reproach.' — Bp.  Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLIII I.  Here  are  encouratiinri 
 
 iissitrances  In  Israel.  '  If  we  are  not  only  called  by  the  name 
 of  the  Lord  our  Creator  and  Redeemer,  but  are  really  partakers 
 of  his  grace,  and  aim  to  live  to  his  glory,  we  can  liave  no  just 
 cause  to  fear  anything  that  can  befal  ourselves,  the  church,  or 
 the  world.' « 
 
 II.  Here  are  charges  against  Israet.  Alas  !  like  them,  *  too 
 many  professed  C'hristians  love  a  cheap  and  easy  religion,  and 
 are  negligent  or  weary  of  every  duty,  and  grudge  all  expense 
 or  trouble!  How  often  we  neglect  to  call  upon  Him,  or  seem 
 weary  of  his  ordinances  I  We  are  scanty  in  our  measure  of 
 739 
 
 services,  as  if  we  grudged  him  our  time  ;  we  often  grieve  his 
 Holy  Spirit,  and  weary  out  his  patience  with  our  relapses  into 
 sin,  and  our  ingratitude  and  folly  ;  so  that,  from  first  to  last, 
 he  blotteth  out  our  transgressions  for  "  his  own  sake,"  and 
 not  because  we  have  any  claim  to  such  a  benefit.  "  Where 
 sin  hath  abounded,  grace  hath  much  more  abounded."  Yet 
 let  none  sin  on,  that  grace  may  abound.  We  have  no  reason 
 to  expect  pardon,  except  we  seek  it  by  faith  in  Christ  ;  and 
 this  is  always  attended  by  deep  repentance,  and  followed  by 
 newness  of  life,  from  hatred  of  sin  and  love  to  God  our  Sa- 
 viour.' " 
 
The  vanity  nfidoh. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLIV. 
 
 Exhortation  to  praise  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIV. 
 
 1  God  comforteth  t/te  church  with  his  prnjnisfs.  7  T/ie 
 vaniti/  of  idoU,  9  and  ftjUij  of  idol  makfrs.  2 1  He  cx~ 
 horU'th  to  jiraisf  God  fur  his  redemption  and  omni- 
 
 m  potency. 
 
 "VT'ET  now  hear,  '  O  Jacob  my  servant ;  and 
 •*■     Israel,  wlioni  I  have  chosen  : 
 
 2  Thus  saith  tlie  Lono  that  made  thee,  ''and 
 formed  thee  from  the  womb,  which  will  help 
 tliee ;  Fear  not,  O  Jacob,  my  servant ;  and  thou, 
 '  Jesurun,  whom  I  have  cliosen. 
 
 3  For  I  will  "•  ponr  water  upon  him  that  is 
 thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry  ground  :  I  will 
 pour  my  spirit  up(m  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing 
 upon  thine  offspring; 
 
 4  And  they  shall  spring  up  as  among  the 
 grass,  as  willows  by  the  water  courses. 
 
 5  One  shall  say,  I  am  the  Lord's  ;  and  an- 
 other shall  call  himself  hy  the  name  of  Jacob; 
 and  another  shall  subscribe  ttilh  his  hand  unto 
 the  Lord,  and  surname  himself  hy  the  name  of 
 Israel. 
 
 C  Thus  saith  the  Lord  the  King  of  Israel, 
 °  and  his  redeemer  the  Loud  of  liosts  ;  '  I  am 
 the  first,  and  I  am  the  last ;  and  beside  me 
 there  is  no  God. 
 
 7  And  ^  who,  as  I,  shall  call,  and  .shall  declare 
 it,  and  set  it  in  order  for  me,  since  I  appointed 
 the  ancient  people?  and  the  things  that  are 
 coming,  and  shall  come,  let  them  shew  unto 
 them. 
 
 8  Fear  ye  not,  neither  be  afraid :  ''have  not  I 
 told  thee  from  that  time,  and  have  declared  it? 
 'ye  are  even  my  witnesses.  Is  tliere  a  God 
 beside  me  ?  yea, '  there  is  no  t  Ciod  ;  I  know 
 not  atii/. 
 
 9  U  '  They  that  make  a  graven  image  a?e  all 
 of  them  vanity  ;  and  their  f  delectable  things 
 shall  not  profit ;  and  they  are  their  omi  wit- 
 nesses ;  "'  they  see  not,  nor  know  ;  that  they 
 may  be  ashamed. 
 
 10  Who  hath  formed  a  god,  or  molten  a 
 graven  image  "that  is  profitable  for  nothing? 
 
 1 1  Behold, all  his  fellows  shall  be  "ashamed: 
 and  the  workmen,  they  are  of  men  :  let  them 
 all  be  gathered  together,  let  them  stand  up  ; 
 1/ct  they  shall  fear,  and  they  shall  be  ashamed 
 together. 
 
 12  ""The  smith  ||nith  the  tongs  both  worketh 
 in  the  coals,  and  fashionetb  it  with  hammers, 
 and  worketh  it  with  the  strength  of  his  arms  : 
 yea,  he  is  hungry,  and  his  strength  faileth  :  he 
 drinketh  no  water,  and  is  faint. 
 
 13  The  carpenter  stretcheth  out  his  rule; 
 he  marketh  it  out  with  a  line  ;  he  fitteth  it  with 
 planes,  and  be  marketh  it  out  with  the  com- 
 pass, and  maketh  it  after  the  figure  of  a  man, 
 according  to  the  beauty  of  a  man  ;  that  it  may 
 remain  in  the  house. 
 
 14  He  heweth  him  down  cedars,  and  taketh 
 the  cypress  and  the  oak,  which  he  ||  strength- 
 
 avev  21   ch. 
 
 41    8.  &  43. 
 
 I.  Jer  ^0 
 
 10.  &  Ifi.  27, 
 
 2S. 
 b  cli.43.  1,7. 
 
 c  Dcu,3'2.15. 
 
 d  ch.  35.  7. 
 Juel  2  28. 
 John  7.  S8. 
 Acts  2.  18. 
 
 ver.  24. 
 
 ch  43  1,14. 
 /ch   41    4. 
 
 &  4S.  12. 
 
 K.-i-  1.8,17. 
 
 «<22    13. 
 g  ch.  11.  4, 
 
 22.  &45.  SI. 
 
 i  ch.  43.  10, 
 
 12 
 k  Deu.4.  35, 
 
 39.  8(  S2,  S9 
 
 1  Sam  2,2. 
 
 2Sa  22  32. 
 
 ch.  45.  5. 
 t   Heb-  r.,ck, 
 
 Deu.  :i!.  4. 
 ich.  41.  24, 
 
 29. 
 tHeb. 
 
 m  Ps.  113.4, 
 
 p  ch.  40    19. 
 
 fc  41.  0. 
 
 Jer.  10.  3, 
 
 «ic.  Wis.  13. 
 
 II,  8ic. 
 II  Or,  ailli  at, 
 
 Or,  laketk 
 coura/re. 
 
 7  Ch,  15.  20. 
 '  2  Thes.  2. 
 
 t  Heh  leftell, 
 r.  h,t  heart. 
 I  Ch.  4e.  8. 
 
 t  Heh.  (hal 
 
 of  a  l,t,1 
 I  Ho9.  4.  12 
 Rmil  1.  21 
 2Thes.2.11. 
 
 1/  ch,  1.3.  1. 
 
 &  4S.  20. 
 
 1  Cnr.  6.20 
 
 I  Pel.  1.13, 
 
 19. 
 z  Pa.  69   SI 
 
 &g6  11,12 
 
 ch.  42.10.  & 
 49.  13. 
 Jer.  51.  48 
 Kev,  IS  20. 
 
 •:  ch    13.  14. 
 
 ver.  6. 
 Ach    43.  1. 
 c  .Tob  9.  8. 
 
 104 
 
 ch.4n. 
 
 42,  5.  «(  45 
 
 12.  &  51  13. 
 
 d  ch.  47.  13 
 
 e  Jer.  50.  36 
 
 eiieth  for  himself  among  the  trees  of  the  forest : 
 he  planteth  an  ash,  and  the  rain  doth  nourish 
 it. 
 
 15  Then  shall  it  be  for  a  man  to  burn  :  for  he 
 will  take  thereof,  and  warm  himself ;  yea,  he 
 kindleth  it,  and  baketh  bread  ;  yea,  he  maketh 
 a  god,  and  worshippeth  it;  he  maketh  it  a 
 graven  image,  and  faileth  down  thereto. 
 
 16  He  burneth  part  thereof  in  the  fire  ;  with 
 part  thereof  he  eateth  flesh;  he  roasteth  roast, 
 and  is  satisfied  :  yea,  he  warmeth  liimsclf,  and 
 saith.  Aha,  I  am  warm,  I  have  seen  the  fire  : 
 
 17  And  the  residue  thereof  he  maketh  a  god, 
 even  his  graven  image  :  he  faileth  down  unto 
 it,  and  worshippeth  iV,  and  prayeth  unto  it,  and 
 saith.  Deliver  me  ;  for  thou  art  my  god. 
 
 18  ''  They  have  not  known  nor  understood  : 
 for 'he  hath  fshut  their  eyes,  that  they  can- 
 not see  ;  and  their  hearts,  that  they  cannot  un- 
 derstand. 
 
 19  And  none  f '  considereth  in  his  heart, 
 neither  is  there  knowledge  nor  understanding 
 to  say,  I  have  burned  part  of  it  in  the  fire  ;  yea, 
 also  I  have  baked  bread  upon  the  coals  thereof; 
 I  have  roasted  flesh,  and  eaten  it :  and  shall  I 
 make  the  residue  thereof  an  abomination  ?  shall 
 I  fall  down  to  f  the  stock  of  a  tree? 
 
 20  He  feedeth  on  ashes  :  '  a  deceived  heart 
 hath  turned  him  aside,  that  he  cannot  deliver 
 his  soul,  nor  say.  Is  there  not  a  lie  in  my  right 
 hand  ? 
 
 21  IF  Remember  these,  O  Jacob  and  Israel; 
 for  "  thou  art  my  servant :  I  have  formed  thee  ; 
 thou  art  my  servant :  O  Israel,  thou  shalt  not 
 be  forgotten  of  me. 
 
 22  ^  I  have  blotted  out,  as  a  thick  cloud,  thy 
 tran.sgressions,  and,  as  a  cloud,  thy  sins  :  re- 
 turn unto  me  ;  for  >■  I  have  redeemed  thee. 
 
 23  ''  Sing,  O  ye  heavens  ;  for  the  Lord  hath 
 done  it :  shout,  ye  lower  parts  of  the  earth  : 
 break  forth  into  singing,  ye  mountains,  O 
 forest,  and  every  tree  therein  :  for  the  Lord 
 hath  redeemed  Jacob,  and  glorified  himself  in 
 Israel. 
 
 24  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  °  thy  redeemer,  and 
 ''  he  that  formed  thee  from  the  womb,  I  am  the 
 Lord  that  maketh  all  thinr/s  :  'tliat  stretcheth 
 forth  the  heavens  alone;  that  spreadeth  abroad 
 the  earth  by  myself; 
 
 25  That "  frustrateth  the  tokens  '  of  the  liars, 
 and  maketh  diviners  mad  ;  that  turueth  wise 
 men  backward,  'and  maketh  their  knowledge 
 foolish  ; 
 
 26  *  That  confirmeth  the  word  of  his  servant, 
 and  performeth  the  counsel  of  his  messengers; 
 that  saith  to  Jerusalem,  Thou  shalt  be  inha- 
 bited ;  and  to  the  cities  of  Judah,  Ye  shall  be 
 built,  and  I  will  raise  up  the  f  decayed  places 
 thereof: 
 
 27  •>  That  saith  to  the  deep.  Be  dry,  and  I 
 will  dry  up  thy  rivers: 
 
 Chap.  XLIV.  —  2.  Jesturun — see  on  Deut.  x.xxii.  15,  note.  3.  Pour 
 water,  ^c.,  signifies  the  abundant  communication  of  spiritual  bles. 
 sings.  The  renewing,  sanctifying,  and  comfortiner  influences  of  the 
 Holy  Spirit  are  often  spoken  of  in  Scripture  under  the  name  of  water, 
 (John,  vii.  37,  38,  3g.)—MaccJil.  4.  As  among  III,'  grn.w,  '  as  gra.ss 
 among  the  waters."  5.  One  shall  say,  ^c.,  rienotis  the  accession  of 
 the  Gentiles,  and  increase  of  the  chyirch.— Wells.  Xlmll  cull  himself, 
 '  shall  be  called.'— iou'M,  as  Symmaehvs.  Siibscrihe  with  his  hand— 
 '^'i'h' is  not  in  the  original,  and  probably  should  not  be  snpijlied, — 
 Wtl.  Rather 'shall  mark  his  hand.'— //<■«•.  Here  seems  to  be  an  allu- 
 sion to  the  marks  which  were  made  by  punctures,  rendered  indelible  by 
 fire,  or  by  staining  upon  the  hand,  or  some  other  part  of  the  body,  sig- 
 nifying the  state  or  character  nf  the  person,  and  to  whom  he  belonged  : 
 the  slave  was  marked  with  the  name  of  his  master  ;  the  soldier,  of  his 
 commaoder;  the  idolator.  with  the  name  or  ensign  of  his  god.  9.  Tie- 
 760 
 
 lectable  things,  '  most  curious  works.' — Lowth.  Idols  made  of  gold  and 
 other  precious  metals. — Mucciil.  18.  Hath  shut  their  eyes,  'tlieir 
 eyes  are  stopi  ed,'  OldTrnnsttitinn,  '  Are  closed  up.' — Lowth,  so  Boothr. 
 20.  Feedeth  on  ashes,  a  proverbial  expression  for  labouring  to  no  pur- 
 pose.—  Wil.  SliU  used  among  the  Hindoos.  —  Hob.  22.  And  as  a 
 cloud  thy  sins,  '  and  thy  sins  like  a  vapnur.* — Loivth.  23.  Sing,  0  ye 
 heavens — a  poetical  appeal  to  inanimate  creation,  but  it  admits  of  a 
 figurative  sense.  Heavens,  cele'-tial  inhabitants.  Lower  parts  of  the 
 earth.  Gentiles  in  their  humble  state.  Mountains,  those  who  possessed 
 higher  privileges.  Forest,  and  every  tree,  large  cities  and  towns  in- 
 habited by  persons  of  opulence,  &c. — MacfuL  27.  /  ivill  dry  7ip  thy 
 rivers — the  dr>'ing  up  of  the  waters  of  one  of  the  largest  rivers  which 
 flow  thmugh  the  earth,  must  surely  rank  in  the  number  of  the  must 
 novel  events,  and  must  be  acknowledged  to  be  far  beyond  the  reach  of 
 human  sagacity  or  prescience.     Ytt  it  was  predicted  by   Isaiah  and 
 
r'^  call  of  Cyrus. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLV. 
 
 God  challengeth  obedience. 
 
 28  That  saitli  of  Cynis,  He  is  my  shepherd, 
 and  shall  perfoim  all  my  pleasure :  even  say- 
 ing to  Jerusalem,  '  Thou  shalt  he  built ;  and 
 to  the  temple,  Thy  foundation  shall  be  laid. 
 
 CHAP.  XLV. 
 
 1  God  callcth  Ci/rus  for  his  church's  sake.  6  Bif  his 
 omnipotency  he  ckallcngeth  ohedlenct\  20  He  con- 
 vlnceth  the  idols  of  vanity  hy  tiis  saving  power. 
 
 'T'HUS   saitli  the  Lord  to  his  anointed,  to 
 
 -*-  Cyrus,  whose  "  right  hand  I  ||  have  holden, 
 ^  to  subdue  nations  before  him  ;  and  I  will 
 loose  the  loins  of  kings,  to  open  before  him 
 the  two  leaved  gates  ;  and  the  gates  shall  not 
 be  shut ; 
 
 2  I  will  go  before  thee,  '  and  make  the 
 crooked  places  straight  :  ''  I  will  break  in 
 pieces  the  gates  of  brass,  and  cut  in  sunder  the 
 bars  of  iron  : 
 
 .3  And  I  will  give  thee  the  treasures  of  dark- 
 ness, and  hidden  riches  of  secret  places,  °  that 
 thou  mayest  know  that  I,  the  Lord,  which 
 'call  ihee  by  thy  name,  am  the  God  of  Israel. 
 
 4  For  ^  Jacob  my  servant's  sake,  and  Israel 
 mine  elect,  I  have  even  called  thee  by  thy 
 name :  I  have  surnamed  thee,  though  thou 
 liast  ''  not  known  me. 
 
 .511'  am  the  Lord,  and  '  there  is  none  else, 
 there  is  no  God  beside  me  :  '  I  girded  thee, 
 tliough  thou  hast  not  known  me  : 
 
 6  "  That  they  may  know  from  the  rising  of 
 the  sun,  and  from  the  west,  that  there  is  none 
 beside  me.  I  am  the  Lord,  and  there  is  none 
 else. 
 
 7  I  form  the  light,  and  create  darkness  :  I 
 make  peace,  and  "  create  evil  :  I  the  Lord  do 
 all  these  t/uiKj.i. 
 
 8  °  Drop  down,  ye  heavens,  from  above,  and 
 let  the  skies  pour  down  righteousness  :  let  the 
 earth  open,  and  let  them  bring  forth  salvation, 
 and  let  righteousness  spring  up  together  ;  I 
 the  Lord  have  created  it. 
 
 9  Woe  unto  him  tliat  striveth  with  ''  his 
 Maker !  Let  the  potsherd  strive  with  the 
 potsherds  of  the  earth.    ''  Shall  the  clay  say  to 
 
 7i'2. 
 
 2  Cltr.  3ij. 
 
 K/>a  i.  1, 
 
 Sc. 
 
 ch.  15.  la. 
 
 ■li.   11.  13. 
 II  Or, 
 
 t>  ch.  41.  -i 
 Dau.  5.  30. 
 
 'J  ch.  41).  4. 
 d  Ps.  107.  10. 
 
 /i  1  Thea.  4.5. 
 
 i  Deu.  4.  35, 
 
 39.  &  32.  S3. 
 
 ch.  M.  8.  & 
 
 46   9. 
 *■  ver.  11, 1?, 
 
 '2\,  22. 
 t  Ps.  13.  32, 
 
 39, 
 7nPs,in2.l5. 
 
 cli.  H7.  2(1, 
 
 JIal.  I.  11. 
 
 1  Pg.  72.  3. 
 fi  85.  11. 
 
 p  cli    64.  8. 
 q  ch.  29.  16. 
 
 Jer.  18.  0. 
 
 Kom.  9.  20. 
 
 Jcr.  31.  9 
 
 Is  29.  2.3. 
 
 /  ch.  4-2.  5. 
 Jer.  27.  S. 
 I  Gvn.  I    26, 
 27. 
 r  Gcu,  2.  1. 
 
 V  cli. 
 
 II  Or,  , 
 
 nhe 
 
 :  2  Chr.  36. 
 
 2S,  23, 
 
 Ezra  I.  I. 
 
 &c.  ch.  41. 
 
 S3. 
 
 I  ch.  52.  3. 
 
 Sec  Koni.  3. 
 
 24. 
 4  Ps,  68  31 
 
 bis.  19.  11, 
 
 ch.  49. 2.1  i 
 
 60.9,  10.  14. 
 
 16.  Zech.  B. 
 
 22,  23, 
 Ps    149  S. 
 d  1  Cor.  14. 
 
 25. 
 «  vcr.  6. 
 
 f  Ps.  44.  £4. 
 ch.  8.  17.  A 
 i7.  17. 
 
 t'  ch.  41.  11 
 h  ch.  26.  4. 
 
 him  that  fa.shioneth  it.  What  makest  thou?  or 
 thy  work.  He  hath  no  hands? 
 
 10  Woe  unto  him  that  saith  unto  his  father, 
 Wliat  begettest  thou  ?  or  to  the  woman,  What 
 hast  thou  brought  forth  ? 
 
 1 1  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  the  Holy  One  of 
 Israel,  and  his  Maker,  Ask  me  of  things  to 
 come  concerning  'my  sons,  and  concerning 
 "  the  work  of  my  hands  command  ye  me. 
 
 12  '  I  have  made  the  earth,  and  "created 
 man  upon  it  :  I,  even  my  hands,  have  stretched 
 out  the  heavens,  and  "■  all  their  host  have  I 
 commanded. 
 
 13  ''I  have  raised  him  up  in  righteousness, 
 and  I  will  ||  direct  all  his  ways  :  he  shall 
 '  build  my  city,  and  he  shall  let  go  my  cap- 
 tives, "  not  for  price  nor  reward,  saith  the  Lord 
 of  hosts. 
 
 14  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  ■=  The  labour  of 
 Egypt,  and  merchandize  of  Ethiopia  and  of  the 
 Sabeans,  men  of  stature,  shall  come  over  unto 
 thee,  and  they  shall  be  thhie  :  they  .shall  come 
 after  thee  ;  "  in  chains  they  shall  come  over, 
 and  they  shall  fall  down  unto  thee,  they  shall 
 make  supplication  unto  thee,  saying,  ''  Surely 
 God  is  in  thee  ;  and "  there  is  none  else,  there 
 is  no  God. 
 
 15  Verily  thou  art  a  God  '  that  liidest  thy- 
 self, O  God  of  Israel,  the  Saviour. 
 
 IG  Tiiey  shall  be  ashamed,  and  also  con- 
 founded, all  of  them  :  they  shall  go  to  confu- 
 sion together  that  are  ^  makers  of  idols. 
 
 17  ^  But  Israel  shall  be  saved  in  the  Lord 
 with  an  everlasting  salvation  :  ye  shall  not  be 
 ashamed  nor  confounded  world  without  end. 
 
 18  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  '  that  created  the 
 heavens  ;  God  himself  that  formed  the  earth 
 and  made  it  ;  he  hath  established  it,  he  created 
 it  not  in  vain,  he  formed  it  to  be  inhabited  : 
 ''  I  am  the  Lord  ;  and  there  is  none  else. 
 
 19  I  have  not  spoken  in  '  secret,  in  a  dark 
 place  of  the  earth  :  I  said  not  unto  the  seed  of 
 Jacob,  Seek  ye  me  in  vain  :  ""  I  the  Loud 
 speak  righteousness,  I  declare  things  that  are 
 right. 
 
 Jeremiah. — Ric/mrtls's  Bampton  Lectures.  Cyrus  took  Babylon  by 
 draining  the  bed  of  the  Euphrates,  and  leading  his  army  into  the  city 
 by  night  through  the  channel  of  the  river,  the  water  not  reaching  above 
 the  middle  of  the  thigh. — See  Herod.,  and  Xenoph.  2S,  Cyrus — here 
 Isaiah,  200  years  beforehand,  names  the  person;  and  Jeremiah  (chap, 
 xxix.  10)  points  out  the  yG^i.—Berrimmi.  My  shepherd,  to  gather  his 
 people  and  lead  them  home,  as  a  shepherd  his  flock. — Hew. 
 
 Chap.  XI^V.  —  1.  To  his  anointed — an  obvious  allusion  to  the  ancient 
 practice  of  anointing  those  who  were  invested  with  royal  majesty 
 and  authority. — Mnccul.  To  subdue  nations — Cyrus  conquered  the 
 following :— the  Syrians,  Assyrians,  Arabians,  Cappadocians,  both  the 
 Phrygians,  the  Lydians,  Carians,  Phcenicians,  and  Babylonians.  He 
 moreover  reigned  over  the  Baetrians,  Indians,  Cilicians,  the  Sacie, 
 Paphlagones,  and  Maryandini. — Xenoph.  Cyrop.  Loose  the  toi7is,  the 
 bracing  the  loins  with  a  girdle  denoted  streitgth  ;  loosing  the  loins,  de- 
 priving of  strength.— So  Louth.  To  open,  .Jc.— the  gates  of  the  city 
 were,  by  some  neglect,  left  open,  and  the  king  imprudently  ordered 
 those  of  his  palace  to  be  opened,  to  inquire  into  the  tumult  ivitbont, 
 when  the  Persians  rushed  in.— So  Xenoph.  2.  Nntie  t/ie  crooked 
 places  struight,  '  make  the  mountains  level.' — Lowth.  Gates  of  dross — 
 all  round  the  city,  in  its  wall,  were  one  hundred  gates  of  brass,  and  also 
 within  the  city,  at  the  end  of  the  streets  opening  to  the  river. — Herod. 
 3.  Treasures  of  darkness,  ]mii  up  in  private  for  many  years.  Babylon 
 had  long  been  heaping  up  treasures. — Up.  Newtoii.  Xenophon  says, 
 that  Cyrus  found  an  image  of  gold,  40  cubits  long,  doubtless  that  of 
 Nebuchadnezzar,  which  stood  60  cubits  high,  the  pedestal  being  24 
 
 cubits. — Sut.  When  Cyrus  conquered  Asia,  he  brought  away  34.000 
 pfiunds  of  gold,  besides  golden  vessels,  and  500,000  talents  of  silver, 
 and  the  cup  of  Serairamis,  which  weighed  fifteen  talents.— P/(hj/.  The 
 gold  and  silver  in  this  account  would  amount  to  120,224,000^  sterling. 
 — Brerewood.  The  easterns  bury  their  jewels  and  money  under  the 
 house  floor,  to  preserve  them  from  rapacious  native  princes. — Ward. 
 5.  Though  thou  hast  not  known  me,  though  an  heathen  prince  and 
 ignorant  of  him.—Gill.  7.  Form  the  tight— create  darkness— Ihese 
 words  are  directed  to  Cyrus,  king  of  Persia,  in  reference  to  the  Persian 
 sect  of  the  Magians,  who  lield  light  and  darkness,  good  and  evil,  to 
 be  supreme  beings.— Prirf.  8,  Drop  down,  S,-c.,  taken  from  dew  and 
 rain  making  the  earth  fruitful,  denoting  the  flourishing  state  of  re. 
 stored  Israel,  but  further  alluding  to  the  blessings  of  redemption. — 
 Louth.  Let  the  earth  open,  let  its  inhabitants  he  prejiared  to  give  a 
 welcome  reception  to  that  righteousness  which  is  accompanied  with 
 salvation. — Maccul.  9.  Woe  unto  him  that  sfrieeth,  §■(.'.— the  pro- 
 phet answers  or  prevents  the  cavils  of  tbe  unbelieving  Jews,  disposed 
 to  arraign  the  dispensations  of  God  in  |»erniitling,  instead  of  preventing, 
 their  captivity.— So  Jloolhr.  11.  Ask  of  me,  ^c.— God  was  pleased, 
 through  his  prophets,  to  resolve  any  questions  concerning  his  people's 
 future  Aeatiny .-PreljeJldory  Lowth.  13.  Him,  Cyrm.— Lowth,  ffc. 
 
 14.  ;i/e7i  of  stature,  may  signify  of  affluence,  influence,  and  authority. 
 —Muccul.  They  shall  come,  predicts  that,  in  after  times,  proselytes  of 
 various  nations  should  submit  to  the  cluircb  of  God. —  Vitr.  15.  Ttiat 
 hidest  thyself— mcD  act  on  the  great  theatre  of  the  world,  but  God  is 
 behind  the  scenes.— So  Sut.       19.  Not  spoken  in  secret,  as  the  heathen 
 
 RErLECTiONS  ON    CiiAP.    XLIV^  —  Observe  here,   I.    Tlie  selves  to  their  sculptured  idols.     But,  at  the  .same  time,  let 
 
 prospects  of  tlie  c/iurc/i— prospects  which  are  now  every  day  us  not  be  idolators  of  the  world,  for  idolatry  is  not  confined  to 
 
 enlarging,  and  of  w-hich  we  have  the  sure  tokens  as  well  as  tlie  worshipping  of  those  made  things  called  gods,   but  on 
 
 the  prediction.     God  will  yet  pour  out  more  largely  of  his  whatever  the  heart  is  supremely  fi.xecl,  that  is  a  god  to  that 
 
 Spirit,  and  the  whole  earth  shall  yield  its  increase.  heart.     Some  make  a  child  a  god,_some  gold,— some  plea- 
 
 II.  Tlie  absurdity  of  idolators.    Let  us  pitv,  and  pray  for,  and  sure.     Dear  readers,  '  keep  yourselves  from  idols.' 
 send  the  gospel  to  the  deluded  beings  wlio  yet  devote  them- 
 
 7GI  5  g 
 
The  saving  power  of  God. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLVI.,XLVII. 
 
 The  utter  inefficiency  oftdott. 
 
 20  1  Assemble  yourselves  and  come  ;  draw 
 near  together,  ye  that  are  escaped  of  the 
 nations:  "they  have  no  knowledge  that  set  up 
 the  wood  of  their  graven  image,  and  pray  unto 
 a  god  that  cannot  save. 
 
 21  Tell  ye,  and  bring  them  near;  yea,  let 
 them  take  counsel  together :  °  who  hath  de- 
 clared this  from  ancient  time  ?  who  hath  told 
 it  from  that  time  ?  have  not  I  the  Lord  ?  ''  and 
 there  is  no  God  else  beside  me ;  a  just  God 
 and  a  Saviour  ;  there  is  none  beside  me. 
 
 22  ^  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the 
 ends  of  the  earth  .-  for  I  am  God,  and  there  is 
 none  else. 
 
 23  '  I  have  sworn  by  myself,  the  word  is  gone 
 out  of  my  moutli  in  righteousness,  and  shall 
 not  return.  That  unto  me  every  '  knee  shall 
 bow,  'every  tongue  shall  swear. 
 
 24  II  Surely,  shall  one  say,  in  the  Lokd  have 
 I  "t righteousness  and  strength:  even  to  him 
 shall  men  come  ;  and  *  all  that  are  incensed 
 against  him  shall  be  ashamed. 
 
 25  '  In  the  Lord  shall  all  the  seed  of  Israel 
 be  justified,  and  '  shall  glory. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVI. 
 
 I  The  idols  of  Bahyhm  couhl  not  save  themselves.  3 
 God  saveth  his  people  to  the  end.  5  Idols  are  not 
 comparable  to  God/or  power,  12  or  present  salvation. 
 
 "DEL  °  boweth  down,  Nebo  stoopeth,  their 
 -•-'  idols  were  upon  the  beasts,  and  upon  the 
 cattle  :  your  carriages  were  heavy  loadeii ; 
 ''  they  are  a  burden  to  the  weary  beast. 
 
 2  They  stoop,  they  bow  down  together;  they 
 could  not  deliver  the  burden, '^but  f  themselves 
 are  gone  into  captivity. 
 
 3  if  Hearken  unto  me,  O  house  of  Jacob,  and 
 all  the  remnant  of  the  house  of  Israel,  '■which 
 are  borne  l>y  me  from  the  belly,  which  are 
 carried  from  the  womb  : 
 
 4  And  even  to  your  old  age  "  I  am  he  ;  and 
 even  to  hoar  hairs  'will  I  carry  you:  I  have 
 made,  and  I  will  bear  ;  even  I  will  carry,  and 
 
 B.C. 
 
 B   C. 
 
 cir.  712. 
 
 cir.  712. 
 
 ff  ch.  4U.  18, 
 
 ncli.  44.  17. 
 
 25. 
 
 IS,  ly.  &-i^. 
 
 7   &  4S   7. 
 
 Rom.  1.  L'2, 
 23. 
 
 h  ch.  10.  19. 
 
 &  41.  6.  & 
 
 44.   12,  I'J. 
 
 och.  41.  22. 
 
 Jer.  10.  3. 
 
 &-13.9.&14. 
 
 7.  f*  46.  10. 
 
 &  19.  N 
 
 t  Jer.  10  5. 
 
 p  ver.  5,  It, 
 
 18    cl.  14  8. 
 
 &  16.  g.  & 
 
 \6.  3,  &c. 
 
 9  Pa   22.27. 
 
 A  ch.  45.  20. 
 
 &  65.  6. 
 
 r  Gen.  22. 16. 
 
 I  ch.  U.  19. 
 
 Heb.  6.  13. 
 
 8(  47.  7. 
 
 mDeu..*)2.7. 
 
 *nom.M.ll. 
 
 n  ch.  45,  5, 
 21. 
 
 Phil.  2.  Ui- 
 
 /  Gi-n.  31,53 
 
 DfU.  6.  13. 
 Ps.  OJ   11. 
 
 och.  45,  21. 
 
 cb.  65    16. 
 
 11   Or.  Snrtly 
 
 fie  ,h<lll  $ny 
 
 p  Ps.  S^.  11. 
 
 ofme.L.ih'- 
 
 Pro    |y.  21. 
 
 Lord  \i  nil 
 
 &  21   SO. 
 
 righlfouintt* 
 
 Acts  5.  39. 
 
 aiiditrenath. 
 
 Heb.  0.  17. 
 
 u  Jer.  23   6. 
 
 q  ch.  41.  2, 
 
 ICor.  1.30. 
 
 25. 
 
 t  Hcb.  rt>A- 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 ttoutntttel. 
 
 man  of  n>y 
 
 X  ch.  41     11. 
 
 CKiimel. 
 
 y  ver.  17. 
 
 r  ch    44,  28. 
 
 i  1  Cor.  l.St. 
 
 &  45.  13. 
 
 i  Nu.  23.  19. 
 
 (  Ps.  76.  5, 
 
 uHom.  10  3. 
 
 J  ch   51.5, 
 
 a  oh   *21."9 
 Jlt  50.  2,  A 
 51.  4-1. 
 
 K.im    I.  17. 
 &  S.  21. 
 jf  Hab.  2.  3. 
 
 *ch.  62.  11. 
 
 b  Set.  10.  B. 
 
 c  Jer.  48   7. 
 
 t  Htb.  their 
 
 tout. 
 
 d  Ex   19.  4. 
 
 cir.  712. 
 
 Deu    L.Hlft 
 
 1  Jer.  48.  IB. 
 
 8>     II     P3. 
 
 ft  ch.  3.  20. 
 
 71.  fl.  ch. 
 
 C»    9. 
 
 e  Pa   li^.e?. 
 
 Mai.  3   G- 
 
 /  Pfl.  +S    14. 
 
 c  Ei    11.5 
 
 &  71.  18, 
 
 Jii.Ig,ltj.2l. 
 
 Mat.  21. 11. 
 
 will  deliver  you. 
 3  1l  '  To  whom  will  ye  liken  me,  and  malce 
 jne  equal,  and  compare  me,  that  we  may  be 
 Hke  ? 
 
 6  "  They  lavish  gold  out  of  the  bag,  and 
 weigh  silver  in  the  balance,  and  liire  a  gold- 
 smith ;  and  he  maketh  it  a  god  :  they  fall 
 down,  yea,  they  worsliip. 
 
 7  '  They  bear  him  upon  the  shoulder,  they 
 carry  him,  and  set  liim  in  liis  place,  and  he 
 standeth  ;  from  his  place  shall  he  not  remove  : 
 yea,  '  one  shall  cry  unto  him,  yet  can  he  not 
 answer,  nor  save  liim  out  of  his  trouble. 
 
 8  Remember  thi^;,  and  shew  yourselves  men  : 
 '  bring  it  again  to  mind,  O  ye  transgressors. 
 
 9  "'  Remember  tlie  former  things  of  old  :  for 
 I  ain  God,  and  "  there  is  none  else  ;  J  am 
 God,  and  there  is  none  like  me, 
 
 10  "  Declaring  the  end  from  the  beginning, 
 and  from  ancient  times  the  things  that  are  not 
 yet  done,  saying, ''  My  counsel  shall  stand,  and 
 I  will  do  all  my  pleasure  : 
 
 U  Calling  a  ravenous  bird  "^  from  the  east, 
 t  the  man  '  that  executetli  my  counsel  from  a 
 far  country  :  yea,  '  I  have  spoken  it,  I  will  also 
 bring  it  to  pass  ;  I  have  purposed  it,  I  will  also 
 do  it. 
 
 12  U  Hearken  unto  me,  ye  'stouthearted, 
 "  that  are  far  from  righteousness  : 
 
 13  "I  bring  near  my  righteousness;  it  shall 
 not  be  far  off,  and  my  salvation  '  sliall  not 
 tarry :  and  I  will  place  "  salvation  in  Zion  for 
 Israel  my  glory. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVII. 
 
 1  God's  judgmint  upon  Bah^hn  and  Chaldca,  6  for 
 t/ieir  umncrcifuhicsSy  7  pride,  10  and  overholdnessj 
 1 1  shall  he  utircsistible. 
 
 /^OME  "down, and  ^'sit  in  the  dust,  O  virgin 
 ^  daughter  of  Babylon,  sit  on  the  ground  : 
 there  is  no  throne,  O  daugliter  of  the  Clial- 
 deans  :  for  thou  shalt  no  more  be  called  tender 
 and  delicate. 
 2  ^  Take  the  millstones,  and  grind  meal :  un- 
 
 oracles,  in  an  obscure  manner  or  ainbiguous  terms. — Maccul.  The 
 heathen  oracles  were  generally  delivered  from  some  deep  and  obscure 
 cavern  ;  such  was  the  seat  of  the  Cumcan  Sybil,  meutiuncd  in  Virgil; 
 such  that  of  the  famous  oracle  at  Delphi. — Lnwth.  23.  Unto  me, 
 applied  by  the  Apostle  Paul  to  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  joyful  consequence 
 and  reward  of  liis  obcdi«  nee  unto  death,  (Pliil.  ii.  10,  II.} — Maccul. 
 24.  Surely,  shallonesny,  J^c. — 
 
 shall  every  tongue  swear. 
 
 Saying,  Only  to  Jehovah  belongeth  salvation  and  power.' 
 
 Lnwllt. 
 
 ■  every  tongue  shall  swear,  saying, 
 
 Only  in  Jehovah  is  righteousness  and  strength.* — Boothr. 
 25.  Seed  of  Israel,  the  sulijects  of  Messiah's  kingdom. — Mncntl. 
 
 Chap.  XLVI. —  1.  Bel  boueth  down — these  words  denounce  the 
 overthrow  of  Babylonian  idolatry.  Belts  probably  a  name  of  tliesame 
 id'  '1  which,  in  other  places  of  Scripture,  is  called  Baal,  a  word  that  sig- 
 nifies '  a  lord  ;*  or  it  may  be  the  contraction  of  Belus,  who  was  the 
 father  of  Ninus,  the  founder  of  t)ie  Babylonian  monarchy,  in  honour 
 of  whom  that  image  might  have  been  erected. — Nucml.  Bd  is  called, 
 by  profane  writers,  Jupiter  B^iXns.— Boothr.  Bel  was  supposed  to  have 
 meant  the  sun.— KiVr.     Neho,  was  the  queen  of  Bel,  and  represented 
 
 the  moon,  and  is  called,  in  Jer.  xUv.  \7,  the  queen  of  heaven.  Boweth 
 dotrn— stoopeth,  expresses  a  state  of  ignominy  and  contempt.  Their 
 idols  were  upon  the  bensts,  camels,  horses,  oxen,  asses,  cniplnyed  in 
 carrying  away  the  idnlsof  Babylon  into  Media  and  Persia.  From  their 
 immense  size,  number,  and  weight,  the  animals  must  have  felt  them 
 an  intolerable  burden.  It  was  the  ancient  praciice  to  carry  away  the 
 gods  of  conquered  lands  into  tb(.>se  of  the  cinqnenTS.  So  Cyrus  and 
 bis  soldiers  carried  off  the  BabyIoni^h  idols,  which  were  made  of  the 
 mo'it  precious  materials.— ..l/«f?c«/.  3.  Borne  hy  me— God.  like  an  in- 
 duttrent  father,  had  carried  his  father  'as  a  man  fioth  his  son,'  (Dcut. 
 i.  31,)  had  protected  them,  and  delivered  them  from  their  distresses. 
 7.  They  bear  him  upon  the  shoulder,  ^c— this  alludes  to  the  way  in 
 which  the  heathen  carry  out  their  id<ds  in  procession  at  the  time  of 
 tlieir  great  festivals,  and  during  the  periods  of  general  sickness.— fioi. 
 In  this  way  the  Hindoos  carry  their  gods. —  Ward.  11.  A  rnvenous 
 bird,  Cyrus,  under  the  emblem  of  the  eagle,  a  golden  eagle  being  his 
 ensign.— LohY/j.  From  the  ettstjrom  Persia,  eastward  of  Canaan  and 
 hahylon.—Mitccul. 
 
 Chap.  XLVII.  — 1.  Virgin,  Babylon,  so  called  because  it  had  never 
 been  conquered  till  the  time  of  Cyrus. — Gill.  Set  on  the  ground,  a 
 posture  demiting  mourning  and  deep  distress. — Louth.  Daughter  of 
 the  Chiildeitns,  because  built  and  enlarged  by  them. — Boothr.     2.  Grind 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLV.  —  We  h  arn  here,  I.  That 
 the  revolutions  of  the  world  are  to  promote  the  prosperiti/  of  the 
 chnrch.  Israel  is  to  be  cured  of  idolatry,  and  the  otner  na- 
 tions, in  the  mysterious  movements  of  his  providence,  are  to 
 pour  in  the  tributary  streams  of  converts  to  the  church  of 
 God. 
 
 II.  That  it  is  impious  to  arraign  the  dispensations  of  the  Al- 
 mighty. He  could  have  punished  Israel  without  sending  them 
 into  captivity,  but  his  infinite  wisdoni  knew  best  how  to  fit 
 the  means  to  the  end.  Men  are  often  audacious  enough  to 
 say,  '  Could  not  God  easily  have  done  so  and  so,  instead  of 
 doing  so  and  sol'  Bold  and  presumptuous  worms!  '  Woe  unto 
 him  that  striveth  with  his  Maker  !' 
 
 III.  That,  'as  Gud  redaintd  and  restored  Israel  by  Cyrus,  so 
 
 762 
 
 he  has  ransomed  the  nations  by  Christ  Jesus.' ^^  Let  them  be- 
 hold him  as  tlieir  Saviour — their  only  Saviour.  To  v/hom  be- 
 side can  a  perishing  sinner  direct  his  trembling  eye  through- 
 out the  whole  universe?  And  to  him  every  knee  shall  bow 
 in  submission  to  his  authority  or  beneath  the  weight  of  bis 
 judgment. 
 
 Keflfctions  on  Chap.  XLVI.  —  I.  Idols  must  perish. 
 Whether  idols  of  Babylon,  or  any  other  idols,  whatever  robs 
 God  of  his  honour,  and  steals  away  the  heart  from  him,  shall 
 at  length  be  taken  away  from  the  idolator,  or  he  from  it. 
 
 II.  God  is  the  only  sure  support  of  his  creatures.  On  none 
 else  can  the  aged  lean,  when  flesh  and  heart  fail.  Happy  they 
 who  can  then  say,  'God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my 
 portion  for  ever.' 
 
Judgments  upon  Babylon  and  Chaldea. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLVIII. 
 
 God's  purpose  in  revealing  prophecies. 
 
 cover  thy  locks,  make  bare  the   leg,  uncover 
 the  tliigli,  pass  over  the  rivers. 
 
 3  ■■  Thy  nakedness  shall  be  uncovered,  yea, 
 thy  shame  shall  be  seen  :  "  I  will  take  ven- 
 geance, and  I  will  not  meet  thee  as  a  man. 
 
 4  As  fur  '  our  redeemer,  the  Lord  of  hosts  is 
 his  name,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 
 
 5  Sit  thou  ^silent,  and  get  thee  into  darkness, 
 O  daughter  of  the  Chaldeans:  "  for  thou  shall 
 no  more  be  called.  The  lady  of  kingdoms. 
 
 G  t '  I  was  wroth  with  my  people,  ''  I  have 
 polluted  mine  inheritance,  and  given  them  into 
 thine  hand  :  thou  didst  shew  them  no  mercy  ; 
 '  upon  the  ancient  hast  thou  very  heavily  laid 
 thy  yoke. 
 
 7  t  And  thou  saidst,  I  shall  be  "'  a  lady  for 
 ever:  so  that  thou  didst  not  "lay  these  things 
 to  thy  heart,  °  neither  didst  remember  the  latter 
 end  of  it. 
 
 8  Therefore  hear  now  this,  thou  that  art 
 given  to  pleasures,  that  dwellest  carelessly, 
 that  sayest  in  thine  heart,  ■"  I  am,  and  none 
 else  beside  me  ;  ''  I  shall  not  sit  as  a  widow, 
 neither  shall  I  know  the  loss  of  children  : 
 
 9  But  'these  two  things  shall  come  to  thee 
 '  in  a  moment  in  one  day,  the  loss  of  children, 
 and  widowhood :  they  shall  come  upon  thee 
 in  tjieir  perfection  '  for  the  multitude  of  thy 
 sorceries,  and  for  tlie  great  abundance  of  tlnne 
 enchantments. 
 
 10  t  For  thou  "  liast  trusted  in  tliy  wicked- 
 ness :  '  thou  hast  said.  None  seeth  me.  Thy 
 wisdom  and  thy  knowledge,  it  hath  ||  perverted 
 tliee  ;  'and  thou  hast  said  in  thine  heart,  I  am, 
 and  none  else  beside  me. 
 
 1 1  II  Therefore  shall  evil  come  upon  thee  ; 
 thou  slialt  not  know  f  from  whence  it  riseth  : 
 and  miscliief  shall  fall  upon  thee  ;  thou  shalt 
 not  be  able  to  fput  it  off:  and  'desolation 
 shall  come  upon  thee  suddenly,  which  thou 
 shalt  not  know. 
 
 12  Stand  now  with  thine  enchantments,  and 
 with  the  multitude  of  tliy  sorceries,  wlierein 
 thou  hast  laboured  from  thy  youth;  if  so  be 
 thou  shalt  be  able  to  profit,  if  so  be  thou  may- 
 est  prevail. 
 
 13  "Thou  art   wearied   in   the  multitude  of 
 
 B.  0. 
 cir.  712. 
 
 13. 
 
 '26. 
 
 Nah.  3.  5. 
 
 Horn  13.19 
 
 /ch.  43  3,14, 
 
 Jer.  50.  34. 
 
 ch  13.  19. 
 D.in.  S  37. 
 i  See  2  Sain. 
 21    14. 
 
 2Clir  l*  9. 
 
 Zi-ch  I.  ir>. 
 
 *  ell.  43  I'a 
 /  Leu.  28.50. 
 
 m  ver   5. 
 Rev,  18.  7. 
 >i  ch.  46.  3. 
 o  Deu.  32,29. 
 
 p  vcr.  10. 
 
 Zeph.  S.  15. 
 7  Hev.  IS.  7. 
 
 rch.  51.  19. 
 s  1  Thes.  5.3. 
 
 «  Ps   52   7. 
 
 jr  eh.  29.  15 
 Ezek,8,  12, 
 81  9.  9. 
 
 II  Or,  cauKd 
 tfieif  to  lurri 
 
 ij  ver    8. 
 
 t  Heb,  Ifie 
 
 Ih.m/. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 expinte. 
 1  I  Thee, 5,3, 
 
 i  ch,  44.  25. 
 Dan.  2.  2. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 viimn  i,r 
 
 i  Heb.  (A.I/ 
 
 cerninn  the 
 
 montlm. 
 c  Nah.  1,  10. 
 
 Mai.  4,   1. 
 t  Heb.  lUitr 
 
 i'luU, 
 
 b  Peu  0.  If 
 ch  05.  111. 
 Zeph.  1.6, 
 
 e  Mlc   3,  II- 
 Uom.  2.  17. 
 
 /■ch  41.  22, 
 &  42  9  itt 
 43.  9  &  41 
 7,  s.  &  45. 
 21.  &  46.  9, 
 10. 
 ff  J.ish  21  45 
 t  Heb.  Uard 
 
 /i  Ex.  :12,  9 
 Deu  31,  27 
 
 thy  counsels.  Let  now  ''  the  f  astrologers,  the 
 stargazers!,  fthe  monthly  prognosticators,  stand 
 up,  and  save  thee  from  these  things  that  shall 
 come  upon  thee. 
 
 U  Behold,  they  shall  be  "^as  stubble;  the 
 fire  shall  burn  them ;  they  shall  not  deliver 
 t  themselves  from  the  power  of  the  flame  : 
 there  shall  not  be  a  coal  to  warrp  at,  nor  fire 
 to  sit  before  it. 
 
 15  Thus  shall  they  be  unto  thee  with  whom 
 thou  hast  laboured,  even  ""thy  merchants,  from 
 thy  youth  :  they  shall  wander  every  one  to  his 
 quarter  ;  none  shall  save  thee. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVIII. 
 
 I  Gud,  to  convince  the  people  of  their  foreknown  obsti- 
 nacy, Ttvcahd  his  prophecies.  9  Jle  saveth  thtm  for 
 his  own  sake.  12  He  exhortcth  them  to  ohedienci', 
 because  of  his  power  and  providence.  16  He  htment- 
 eth  their  backwardness.  *20  He  powerfully  delivireth 
 his  out  of  Babylon. 
 
 "LTEAR  ye  this,  O  house  of  Jacob,  which  are 
 J--*-  called   by  the  name  of  Israel,  and  *  are 
 
 come  forth  out  of  the  waters  of  Judah,  ^  which 
 swear  by  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  make 
 mention  of  the  God  of  Israel,  *^  but  not  in 
 truth,  nor  in  righteousness. 
 
 2  For  they  call  themselves  ''of  the  holy  city, 
 and  '^  stay  themselves  upon  the  God  of  Israel  ; 
 The  Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name. 
 
 3  *^  I  have  declared  the  former  things  from 
 the  beginning  ;  and  they  went  forth  out  of  my 
 moutii,  and  1  shewed  them  ;  I  did  them  sud- 
 denly, ^and  they  came  to  pass. 
 
 4  Because  I  knew  that  thou  art  f  obstinate, 
 and  ^  thy  neck  is  an  iron  sinew,  and  thy  brow 
 brass  ; 
 
 3  '  I  have  even  from  the  begiiming  declared 
 it  to  thee  ;  before  it  came  to  pass  I  shewed  it 
 thee  :  lest  thou  shouldett  say,  Mine  idol  hath 
 done  them,  and  my  graven  image,  and  my 
 molten  image,  hath  commanded  them. 
 
 G  Thou  hast  heard,  see  all  this  ;  and  will  not 
 ye  declare  it?  I  have  shewed  thee  new  things 
 from  this  time,  even  hidden  things,  and  thou 
 didst  not  know  them. 
 
 7  They  are  created   now,  and  not  from  the 
 
 meid,  the  wirk  of  captives  and  slaves,  (see  Exod.  xi.  5,  note ;  see  also 
 Judg.  XVI.  21  )  M'ike  bare  the  Ipg,  see  on  chap.  iii.  \7,  note.  Piiss 
 oner  the  rivers — there  being  hut  few  bridges  in  the  east,  those  who  are 
 in  a  low  conflition  are  obliged  to  ford  the  rivers;  thus  ihe  tender  and 
 dehcate  daughters  of  Babylon  were  red  need  to  the  condition  of  menials. 
 — Rob.  3.  I  will  not  meet  thee  as  a  man,  take  no  common  vengeance, 
 like  a  man. — Preft.  Lnwth.  'Neither  will  I  suffer  man  to  intercede 
 with  me.'— LouY//,  so  Boothr.  4.  Our  redeemer,  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 '  iie  who  redeemed  us  from  Egypt  will  redeem  us  from  Babylon.'— Swi. 
 6.  The  lady  of  kht^doms,  the  mistress  and  governess  of  them,  as  she 
 had  been. — Gill.  6.  Didst  shew  them  no  merry — God  accuses  the 
 Babylonians,  thmigh  employed  by  himself  to  chastise  his  people,  with 
 treating  them  cruelly.  Ancient,  'age^.^—Lowth.  Q.  The  luss  of 
 children,  and  widowhood,  the  loss  of  empire,  and  the  destruction  of  in- 
 habitants, arc,  to  cities  possessed  of  dominion,  like  widowhood  and 
 loss  of  children.— Sro/(.  Cyrus  took  Babylon  in  the  night;  and, 
 though  he  was  famed  for  humanity,  his  troops  committed  horrible  car- 
 nage, and  slew  all  that  they  found  in  the  streets. — So  Sut,  This  pro- 
 phecy was,  perhaps;,  accomplished  when  Babylon  was  be^ieged  by  Da- 
 rius, whft,  to  save  provisions,  strangled  all  their  own  women,  wives, 
 sisters,  daughters,  and  all  their  children,  reserving  only  one  wife  and 
 maid  servant  to  a  man. — Prid.  Sorceries — the  Chaldean-^  were  famous 
 for  these,  (sec  Dan.  ii.  2.)— f?i7;.  Baliylon  was  the  cradle  of  idolatry 
 and  all  the  occult  sciences.     Her  raemoiy  still  remains  in  the  impurity 
 
 and  devilism  of  eastern  heathenism.  The  *  astrologers'  and  'prognos- 
 ticators' which  she  gave  to  India  are  still  in  existence.— /ioA.  II.  Thuu 
 shalt  not  know,  neither  by  politics,  sorceries,  astronomy,  or  any  part  of 
 their  wisdom,  should  they  foresee  or  prevent  their  ruin.— Bp.  Wihon. 
 13.  Monthly  prognosticators,  that  is,  prognosticating  with  every  new 
 moon.— Lowth.  14.  A  coal  to  tvarm  at,  seems  to  be  a  proverliia!  ex- 
 pression of  poverty  and  distress.— Rose nm.  15.  Merchants,  dealers 
 in  divination,  or  traffickers  in  general. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Chap.  XLVIII.—  1.  Hear  ye  this,  .^p.,  reproofs  to  the  Jews  as  under 
 the  state  of  captivity.  Which  are  called  by  the  name  of  Israel,  who 
 value  yourselves  for  your  descent  from  Jacob,  but  shew  by  your  deeds 
 that  you  are  not  true  Israelites.— Priei.  Lowth.  2.  Are  come  forth, 
 
 'flow  from.' — Lowth.  Waters  of  Judah,  as  streams  from  a  fountain, 
 expressive  of  posterity .~P/t6.  Lowth,  Bp.  Lowth,  3. 1  have  declared, 
 ^•c.,  *  the  former  things  I  shewed  unto  you  from  the  first,' — Lowth; 
 i.  e.,  from  an  early  period  of  time,  saith  God,  I  clearly  foretold  by  my 
 servants  the  e\ents  which  afterwards  came  to  pass.  6.  T''ou  hast 
 heard,  often  the  predictions  of  my  servants.— iliaccui. 
 
 •  Thou  didst  hear  it  beforehand  ;  behold,  the  thing  is  accomplished  : 
 And  will  ye  not  openly  acknowledge  this?' — Lowth. 
 
 *  What  things  thou  didst  hear,  lo,  all  aje  fulfilled,'  Scc.—P    thr. 
 7.  They  are  created  now,  ^c— 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLVII.  —  This  chapter  affords  an 
 instructive  lecture — I.  On  luxury  and  pride.  How  soon  God 
 can  bring  them  down;  and  be  it  remembered,  they  may  be 
 brought  down  in  other  ways  than  by  war.  \Ve  have  often 
 seen  the  most  affluent  reduced  to  poverty,  and  the  tender  and 
 delicate  lady  obliged  to  lake  the  most  humble  station. 
 
 Here  is  lecture  II.  On  Divine  retribution.  Tlio.se  who  liad 
 haughtily  viewed  the  miseries  of  others  elevated  on  their  In-h 
 7(J3 
 
 stations,  are  now  seated  as  mourners  on  the  ground  ;  and  those 
 who  had  cruelly  treated  Israel  are  themselves  made  grinding 
 slaves  to  their  Persian  masters ;  those  who  had  trusted  in 
 their  divinations  were  deceived  by  them  ;  and  those  who  had 
 become  rich  by  tyranny  and  unhallowed  traffic  were  stripped 
 of  all  their  treasures-  I\Ian  is  unrighteous,  but  God  is  riijhle- 
 00.=;.  So  shall  the  v.  iiole  world  witness  in  that  day  when  ^e 
 sicill  judge  the  world  iu  righteousness.* 
 
The  people  exhorted  to  obedience. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLIX. 
 
 Christ  comphtinetli  of  the  Jews. 
 
 beginning ;  even  before  the  day  when  thou 
 heardest  them  not ;  lest  thou  shouldest  say, 
 Behold,  I  knew  them. 
 
 8  Yea,  thou  heardest  not  ;  yea,  thou  knew- 
 est  not ;  yea,  from  that  time  that  thine  ear 
 was  not  opened  :  for  I  knew  that  thou  wouldest 
 deal  very  treacherously,  and  wast  called  '■  a 
 transgressor  from  the  womb. 
 
 9  H  '  For  my  name's  sake  '"  will  I  defer  mine 
 anger,  and  for  my  praise  will  I  refrain  for  thee, 
 that  I  cut  thee  not  ott". 
 
 10  Behold,  "I  liave  refined  thee,  but  not 
 II  with  silver ;  I  liave  chosen  thee  °  in  the  fur- 
 nace of  affliction. 
 
 J I  ^  For  mine  own  sake,  even  for  mine  own 
 sake,  will  I  do  it :  for  '■  how  should  my  name 
 be  polluted?  and  'I  will  not  give  my  glory 
 unto  anotlier. 
 
 1-2  H  Hearken  unto  me,  O  Jacob  and  Israel, 
 my  called  ;  '  I  am  he  ;  I  am  the  '  first,  I  also 
 aiii  the  last. 
 
 13  "  Mine  hand  also  liath  laid  the  foundation 
 of  the  earth,  and  ||  my  right  band  liath  spanned 
 the  heavens :  wlten  *  I  call  unto  them,  they 
 stand  up  together. 
 
 14  ''All  ye,  assemble  yourselves,  and  bear; 
 which  among  them  hath  declared  tliese  thinrjxf 
 ''  Tlie  Loud  bath  loved  him  :  °  he  w  ill  do  liis 
 pleasure  on  Babylon,  and  his  arm  shall  be  on 
 the  Chaldeans. 
 
 15  I,  even  I,  have  spoken  ;  yea,  ''  I  have 
 called  bim  :  I  liave  brought  bim,  and  be  shall 
 make  bis  way  prosperous. 
 
 IG  H  Come  ye  near  unto  me,  hear  ye  this; 
 ''  I  have  not  spoken  in  secret  from  the  begin- 
 ning ;  from  the  time  that  it  was,  tliere  am  I : 
 and  now  •>  the  Lord  God,  and  his  Spirit,  bath 
 sent  me. 
 
 17  Thus  saitb  'the  Lord,  thy  Redeemer,  the 
 Holy  One  of  Israel  ;  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God 
 wbich  tcacbetb  thee  to  profit,  '  wliich  leadetb 
 thee  by  the  way  that  tliou  shouldest  go. 
 
 IS  ^  O  that  thou  hadst  hearkened  to  my  com- 
 mandments! '■  tlien  bad  thy  peace  been  as  a 
 river,  and   thy  righteousness  as  the  waves  of 
 
 I  Ps  79.  (1.  & 
 100,  S.  cli. 
 ■IS.  25.  ver. 
 II.  Eio.  iu. 
 9,  U.^J.-Jl 
 
 m  Ps.  78.  :19. 
 ■I  Hs.  66    III. 
 
 II  Or,  fir  ,il- 
 !■«■,  See 
 Ezc.  S2.  SO, 
 
 ■I  KccltiR.2.5. 
 ;•  ver    (i. 
 </  bie  Lli'iit 
 
 Hi.  SS,  ^7. 
 
 Ezfik.  2a  9. 
 r  ch.  4£.  8. 
 
 J  Dcu.3?,S9. 
 /  ch.  -11.4.  & 
 
 4J.6.  Hev.1. 
 
 17.  ft  -^2.  IS 
 li  Pa.  m-^.23. 
 ,1  Or,  fhe 
 
 Tight  hand 
 hal/i  ipread 
 out. 
 
 X  ch.  40.  26. 
 
 vch.  il.  ?,'. 
 &  4.-t.  ».  & 
 U.  7-  &  ^5 
 2U,  21. 
 
 t  ch.  45.  1. 
 
 a  ch.  44.  iS. 
 
 A  eh.  45.  I, 
 2,  Sic. 
 
 rfch.fil    I. 
 
 Zech.  a  H, 
 
 9,  II. 
 ecli.  43.  14. 
 
 &  44.  «,  -.'i 
 
 ver.  '20. 
 
 f  Ps.  32,  8, 
 
 ff  Deu.S2.29 
 
 Ps  ai.  U. 
 
 h  Ps.  U9. 
 165. 
 
 *  ch.  52.  II. 
 Jer,  60. 8.  & 
 51 .  6,  45. 
 Zirch.  2.G,7. 
 Rev.  18.  4 
 
 IF.x 
 
 19 
 
 \, 
 
 .■),  ti 
 
 ch 
 
 4t 
 
 2-i. 
 
 a:*. 
 
 m See  ch 
 
 41 
 
 17, 
 
 M. 
 
 ;  Kx 
 
 17 
 
 G 
 
 Nil 
 
 ■•-o 
 
 It 
 
 Ps. 
 
 105. 
 
 41. 
 
 och 
 
 b7. 
 
 ., 
 
 a  ch.  41.  1. 
 6  ver-  5. 
 
 Jpr.  I.  5. 
 
 Mat.  I.  20, 
 
 21.   Luke  I. 
 
 15,  :il, 
 
 J..lm  I't  3r.. 
 
 Gill  I.  ir., 
 rch,  11.4,  & 
 
 61,  16.  Ho9. 
 
 0.  5.  Heb.I 
 
 12.  Rev.  1. 
 
 16. 
 <t  ch   51    16. 
 I-  Vs.  ib  b. 
 /ch.  42.  I. 
 
 Zech.  3.  s 
 ff  ch.  41.  '2i 
 
 John  13  31 
 
 fc  15.  8. 
 
 Kph.  1  0. 
 h  Kze  3  19 
 II  Or,  m.v  rf- 
 
 WHj-ff.ch  10, 
 
 lU.  «co2.  II. 
 i  ver.  1. 
 II  Or,  Ih^'l 
 
 hrue/  • 
 
 •nn 
 
 he  /fathered 
 t->  hitn,  and 
 I  mat/,  fl"c. 
 k  M;it  iH.S7, 
 II  Ui-.  Avt 
 th,m  l<ffhl.'T 
 thnn  tl.nt 
 thuu  ,h,>uld- 
 
 L.ike  2.  39 
 Acts  l.t.  47 
 
 the  sea  : 
 
 19  '  Thy  seed  also  had  been  as  the  sand,  and 
 the  offspring  of  thy  bowels  like  the  gravel 
 thereof;  his  name  should  not  have  been  cut 
 off  nor  destroyed  from  before  me. 
 
 •20  H  ^  Go  ye  forth  of  Babylon,  flee  ye  from 
 the  Chaldeans,  with  a  voice  of  singing  declare 
 ye,  tell  this,  utter  it  even  to  the  end  of  the 
 earth  ;  say  ye,  The  Lord  hath  '  redeemed  his 
 servant  Jacob. 
 
 •21  And  they  "'  thirsted  not  when  he  led  them 
 through  tiie  deserts  :  he  "  caused  the  waters 
 to  flow  out  of  the  rock  for  them  :  lie  clave  the 
 rock  also,  and  the  waters  gushed  out. 
 
 '22  °  There  is  no  peace,  saith  the  Loud,  unto 
 the  wicked. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIX. 
 
 I  Clirhty  being  sent  to  the  Jncs,  complainetJt  of  them. 
 5  He  is  Sent  to  the  Gentihs  with  yrncioits  promises* 
 13  GoiCs  love  is  perpetual  to  his  church,  18  The 
 ample  restoration  of  the  church.  24  The  powerful 
 diliverance  out  of  captivity, 
 
 T  ISTEN,  "  O  isles,  unto  me  ;  and  hearken, 
 ^  ye  people,  from  far ;  ^  The  Lord  hath 
 called  me  from  the  womb;  from  the  bowels  of 
 my  mother  hath  he  made  mention  of  my  name, 
 
 2  And  he  batli  made  ^  my  mout!i  like  asharp 
 sword;  •■  in  tlie  shadow  of  his  hand  hath  he 
 hid  me,  and  made  me  "a  polished  shaft ;  in  his 
 quiver  hatli  lie  hid  me  ; 
 
 3  And  said  unto  me,  ^  Thou  art  my  servant, 
 O  Lsrael,  '''in  whom  I  will  be  glorified. 
 
 4  ^  Then  I  said,  I  have  laboured  in  vain,  I 
 have  spent  my  strength  for  nought,  and  in 
 vain  :  v/t7  surely  my  judgment  is  with  the 
 Lord,  and  ||  my  work  with  my  God. 
 
 5  H  And  now,  saitli  the  Lord  '  that  formed 
 me  from  the  womb  to  be  his  servant,  to  bring 
 Jacob  again  to  him,  ||  Thuugh  Lsrael  '  be  not 
 gathered,  yet  shall  I  be  glorious  in  the  eyes  of 
 the  Lord,  and  my  God  shall  be  my  strength. 
 
 G  And  he  said,  |1  It  is  a  light  thing  that  thou 
 shouldest  be  my  servant  to  raise  up  the  tribes 
 of  Jacob,  and  to  restore  the  ||  preserved  of 
 I  Israel :  I  will  also  give  thee  for  a  ^  light  to  the 
 
 *  They  are  produced  now,  and  not  of  old  ; 
 And  before  this  day  thou  hast  not  heard  them,*— Lmvth. 
 
 They  were  conceaIe<l  in  God's  purpnse  till  Isaiah  exercised  his  ministry. 
 — Marctil.  8.  .-I  transgressor  from  thy  tromb,  addicted  to  idolatry 
 from  thy  very  infancy  in  Egypt.  lO.  Refined  thee,  but  not  with  silver, 
 — such  a  furious  heat  as  is  requisite  to  melt  down  silver  would  have 
 consumed  thee,  (see  Jer.  xx.it.  11;  Ezek.  xxii.  "20.) — Preb.  Lnulh. 
 11.  For  hoiv  should  my  name  be  polluted — though  the  Jewish  people 
 justly  deserved  destruction  from  God,  yet  he  spared  them  for  the  honour 
 of  his  name,  and  to  prevent  their  enemies  from  profaning  and  abusing 
 \X.—Maccul.         14.  The  Lord  hath  loved  him,  ^c— 
 
 *He  whom  Jkuovah  hath  loved,  will  execute 
 His  will  on  Babylon,  and  his  power  on  the  Chaldeans.'— Z.oh'/^. 
 
 16.  Come,  ^n.—GoiWs  here  the  speaker.  The  words  are  intended  to 
 shew  that  the  predictions  relative  to  the  above  mentioned  event  were 
 published  long  before  they  were  fulfilled. — Maccul.  From  the  begin- 
 ninf^,  '  from  the  first  time  that  I  took  you  to  be  my  people.'— JacA'Aon. 
 From  the  time  it  u'us,  from  the  time  the  expedition  ot  Cyrus  began 
 first  to  exist,— /)r.Z>o(fd;  that  is,  was  foretold.  There  nm  I,  'I,  the 
 Lord,  made  it  known  as  a  certain  approaching  event.'  And  now,  fyr. — 
 here  Isaiah  affirms  his  Divine  mission.— J/(icc«/.,  so  Bonthr.  The  fore- 
 going  part  of  the  verse  shevvs  that  the  words  arc  spoken  by  God  ;  and 
 since  it  is  affirmed  that  the  Lord  Gnd  hath  sent  him,  this  must  signify 
 the  second  person  of  the  Trinity,  (see  chap.  xi.  2  ;  xlii.  1 ;  Ixi.  1  ;  Zech. 
 II.  10,  11.) — preb.  Lnwth.  Comparing  the  preceding  verses  12 — 15, 
 with  chap,  xlv.,  latter  part,  these  are  the  words  of  the  Messiah.— Pye 
 Smith.  \ii.  As  a  river,  abundant  and  in  a  continued  course. — Jackson. 
 Righteousness,   covenant  blessings. — Sut.     Peace   and   prosperity,  so 
 
 called,  from  these  being  the  fruits  of  righteousness,  (see  also  i  Sam. 
 xii.  7;  Hos.  x.  12.) — Poole.  May  here  signify  acts  of  righteousness. 
 .As  the   waves,   large,    abundant,   numerous. — Gill.  21.  And   they 
 
 thirsted  nnt—t\\Q  Divine  care  and  protection  seems  illustrated  here  by 
 allusion  to  the  miraculous  eacit  of  their  fathers  from  Egypt.  Explicit 
 assurance  is  here  given  of  like  protection.  This  was  fulfilled  to  Ezra 
 and  about  50,000  jieople  that  accompanied  him  from  Babylon,  and  re- 
 ceives a  spiritual  fulfilment  in  those  who  take  the  benefit  of  the  pro- 
 clamation of  spiritual  liberty  through  the  Messiah. 
 
 Chap.  XLIX.  —  1.  Listen,  O  isles,  fyn. — the  Messiah  being  rejected 
 by  the  Jews,  his  mission  is  directed  tn  the  Gentiles, — Wil.  His  cha- 
 racter and  office  were  exhibited  chap,  xlii.,  but  here  he  is  introduced 
 in  persnn,  declaring  the  full  extent  of  his  commission,  not  only  to 
 restore  the  Israelites  to  their  Lord,  from  whom  they  Iiad  revolted,  but 
 to  call  the  Gentiles  to  the  knowledge  of  God. — Lowth.  Isaiah  speaks 
 these  words  in  the  name  of  Christ,  by  whose  Spirit  they  were  dictated 
 to  him.  (1  Pet.  i.  11.)  2.  Made  my  tnoiith  like  a  sharp  sword,  made 
 
 me  the  great  teacher  of  his  church,  and  my  word  and  doctrine  sharp  to 
 kill  men's  lusts.  &c.,  (see  Heb.  iv.  I2.)  —  Poole.  Comp.  Rev.  i.  I6.  Of 
 his  hand,  may  denote  his  power  and  providence. — Maecul.  A  polished 
 shaft,  or  bright  arrow,  the  great  weapon  in  Gnd's  hand,  by  which  he 
 has  smitten  and  wounded  the  cause  of  the  grand  adversary,  and  de- 
 stroyed the  empire  of  sin. — Sut.  3.  Israel,  means  '  the  prevailer  with 
 God;'  shadowed  out  in  Jacob,  fulfilled  in  Christ,  (comp.  Gen.  xxxii. 
 28.) — Stock,  This  verse  announces  the  mediatorial  office.  4.  La- 
 boured in  vain — Messiah  complains  of  his  little  success  among  the  Jews. 
 Yet  surely  my  judgment,  he  felt  confident  of  ultimate  success  and  re- 
 ward.— Mncrul.  5.  Though  Israel  be  not  gathn-ed,  Sfc,  though 
 Christ's  ministry  should  not  succeed  with  the  Jews,  it  should  with  the 
 Gentiles.— So  Preb.  Lowth.        6.  .4  light  thing,  that  so  glorious  a  per- 
 
 Refiections  on  Chap.  XLVIII We  have  here,  I.  Israel  God  puts  his  people  in  the  furnace ;  and  with  what  eagerness 
 
 fo^cj^f^Tned  of  captivity  for  disobedience.     God  graciously  warns  he  anticipates  their  deliverance.     While  they  are  in  the  fur- 
 
 before  he  strikes.  nace  he  waits  to  be  gracious — '  \Vbo  is  a  God  like  unto  thee?' 
 
 31.  Israel  assured  of  ddivcrance.      See  with  whnt  rehiclanco 
 764 
 
Christ  sent  to  the  Gentiles. 
 
 ISAIAH,  XLIX. 
 
 The  restoration  of  the  church. 
 
 Gentiles,  that  thou   mayest  be   iny  salvation 
 unto  the  end  of  the  earth. 
 
 7  Tluis  saith  the  Lord,  the  Redeemer  of 
 Israel,  and  his  Holy  One,  °'  ||  to  him  whom 
 man  despiseth,  to  him  whom  the  nation  abhor- 
 reth,  to  a  servant  of  rulers,  "  Kings  shall  see 
 and  arise,  princes  also  shall  worship,  because 
 of  tlie  Lord  that  is  faithful,  and  the  Holy  One 
 of  Israel,  and  he  shall  choose  thee. 
 
 8  Thus  saith  the  Loud,  "in  an  acceptable 
 time  have  I  heard  thee,  ond  in  a  day  of  salva- 
 tion have  I  helped  thee  :  and  I  will  preserve 
 thee,  "■  and  give  tliee  for  a  covenant  of  tlie 
 people,  to  II  establish  the  earth,  to  cause  to 
 inherit  the  desolate  heritages  ; 
 
 9  That  thou  mayest  say  '  to  the  prisoners. 
 Go  forth  ;  to  tliem  that  are  in  darkness.  Shew 
 yourselves.  They  shall  feed  in  the  ways, 
 and  their  pastures  shall  be  in  all  high 
 places. 
 
 10  They  shall  not  '  hunger  nor  thirst  ; 
 'neither  shall  the  heat  nor  sun  smite  them: 
 for  he   that   hath   mercy  on   them  '  sliall   lead 
 
 ~  them,  even   by   the   springs  of  water  shall   he 
 guide  them. 
 
 1 1  "  And  I  will  make  all  my  mountains  a 
 way,  and  my  highways  shall  be  exalted. 
 
 12  Behold,  "  these  shall  come  from  far:  and, 
 lo,  these  from  tlie  north  and  from  the  west;  and 
 these  from  the  land  of  Sinim. 
 
 13  t '  Sing,  O  he.ivens  ;  and  be  joyful,  O 
 earth  ;  and  break  forth  into  singing,  O  moun- 
 tains: for  the  Lord  hath  comforted  his  people, 
 and  will  have  mercy  upon  his  afflicted. 
 
 14  "  But  Zion  said.  The  Lord  hath  forsaken 
 me,  and  ray  Lord  hath  forgotten  me. 
 
 o  See  P8.  69 
 l:i  2  Cor. 
 fi   2. 
 
 ,.  ih.  \2.G. 
 1  Or,  r»„r 
 
 .  Bev.  7.  Ifi 
 1  Ps.  121.  e 
 I  r«.  23.  2. 
 
 n  ch   40  4. 
 X  oil.  43  5,6, 
 
 g  See  eli,  !A. 
 I.  2.  Zeeh, 
 '.>    4    &  lu. 
 
 Mat.  3.  9. 
 Hmn   n.ll, 
 II',  Sec. 
 
 kch.  60  4. 
 &  6li.  20. 
 
 15  "Can  a  woman  forget  her  sucking  child, 
 t  that  she  should  not  have  compassion  on  the 
 son  of  her  womb  ?  yea,  they  may  forget,  '  yet 
 will  I  not  forget  thee. 
 
 IG  Behold,  '  1  have  graven  thee  upon  the 
 palms  of  my  hands  ;  thy  walls  are  continually 
 before  me. 
 
 1 7  Thy  children  shall  make  haste  ;  ■■  thy  de- 
 stroyers and  they  that  made  thee  waste  shall 
 go  forth  of  thee. 
 
 18  1[°  Lift  up  thine  eyes  round  about,  and 
 behold  :  all  these  gather  themselves  together, 
 and  come  to  thee.  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord, 
 thou  shall  surely  clothe  thee  with  them  all, 
 '  as  with  an  ornament,  and  bind  them  on  thee, 
 as  a  bride  doeth. 
 
 19  For  thy  waste  and  thy  desolate  places, 
 and  the  land  of  thy  destruction,  ^  shall  even 
 now  be  too  narrow  by  reason  of  the  inhabitants, 
 and  they  that  swallowed  thee  up  shall  be  far 
 away. 
 
 20  '■  The  children  which  thou  shalt  have, 
 '  after  thou  hast  lost  the  other,  shall  say  again 
 in  thine  ears.  The  place  is  too  strait  for  me: 
 give  place  to  me  that  1  may  dwell. 
 
 21  Then  shalt  thou  say  in  thine  heart.  Who 
 hath  begotten  me  these,  seeing  I  have  lost  my 
 children,  and  am  desolate,  a  captive,  and  re- 
 moving to  and  fro?  and  who  hath  brought  up 
 these  ?  Behold,  I  was  left  alone  ;  these,  where 
 had  they  been  f 
 
 22  '  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Behold,  I  will 
 lift  up  mine  hand  to  the  Gentiles,  and  set  up 
 my  standard  to  the  people  :  and  they  shall 
 bring  thy  sons  in  their  f  arms,  and  thy  daugh- 
 ters shall  be  canied  upon  their  shoulders. 
 
 snn  should  he  sent  to  one  inconsiderable  nation  ;  no,  he  must  instruct 
 mankind   and   save  all   nations  — liootftr.  7-  To   Jtiin    wfi'jin   yuan 
 
 despiseth.  iffc. — these  words  are  certainly  to  be  understood  concerning 
 Christ,  yet  withal,  we  must  know,  that  many  learned  expositors  do 
 understand  it  of  Christ  and  the  primitive  church  (the  body  of  Christ) 
 jointly  together.— Jf(cA\ion.  Some  would  refer  this  to  the  Jews,  who 
 were  despised  by  other  nations ;  but  how  much  more  natural  to  con- 
 sider it  as  descriptive  of  the  contempt  with  which  God's  servant,  the 
 Messiah,  should  he  treated  when  he  should  come,  (comp.  liii.  3.) — 
 Bnathr.  Kin^s  sfi'tlt  see  nnd  arise,  rise  from  their  seats  in  token  of 
 respect  and  'inmage,  as  was  the  ancient  custom  on  the  appearance  of 
 some  superior  personage.  Thus  Lot  and  Abraham  rose  from  their  seats 
 before  their  strange  visitors. — Stit.  8.  In  an  acceptable  time,  ffc. — 
 
 this' is  supposed  to  he  an  aMusion  to  court  days,  and  the  customs  of 
 princes  to  set  apart  certain  portions  of  their  time  for  recei\nng  petitions 
 and  addresses  from  their  subjects. — L.  Hofden  God  the  Father  speaks 
 here  again  to  Clirist.  The  meaning  is  clearly  this,  that  when  the  set 
 time  should  come  for  the  accomplishment  of  man's  redemption  by  the 
 death  of  Christ,  the  Father  would  then  hear  his  prayers  and  intercession 
 for  his  people ;  and  because  by  preactiing  the  Gospel  this  great  work  of 
 redemption  was  made  knnwn,  and  the  doing  of  this  in  the  time  deter, 
 mined  by  God  of  his  free  grace,  for  the  salvation  of  his  redeemed  ones, 
 and  that  even  among  ttie  (4entilcs  was  a  part  of  the  office  of  Christ,  as 
 Mediator,  this  acccptaijlc  time  must  here  be  comprehended,  (see  2  Cor. 
 vi.  2  ) — Jackson,  For  a  curenunt  of  the  peopte—coven&nts  are  at  all 
 times  the  sign  of  peace  and  friendship ;  and  by  Christ's  being  given  for 
 a  covenant  of  the  people,  it  is  intimated  that  he  should  be  the  centre  of 
 unifn  between  fiod  and  man,  so  that  sinners  of  every  description  should 
 h)ok  to  him  as  the  way  of  peace  and  reconciliation.  His  being  given 
 *  for  a  covenant'  seems  also  to  imply,  that  Christ  should  be  the  sum  and 
 substance  of  all  the  blessings  promised  to  his  people. — t<ut.  To  esta/flish, 
 iffc,  rather  '  to  restore  the  land  ;  t<<  give  possession  of  the  desolate  herit- 
 ages.'— Louth.  The  expression  seems  to  allude  to  the  desolate  state  of 
 kingdoms  and  cities  laid  waste  by  war,  and  again  to  be  raised  to  a 
 prosiierous  condition.  It  may  further  allude  to  the  change  to  be  pro- 
 duced on  the  nations,  fruitless  as  to  good  things,  but  which  were  to  be 
 sown  with  the  good  seed,  &c.  9.  To  the  prisoners — Jews  and  Gentiles 
 are  here  represented  as  being  in  prison  and  darkness,  from  whence 
 they  were  to  be  rescued  by  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel. — Maccut.  Go 
 forth,  the  allusion  is  to  the  year  of  Jubilee,  when  all  that  were  in  bon- 
 dage were  set  at  liberty.  They  shall  feed,  ^-c— Cyrus  was  the  Lord's 
 shepherd  ;  he  was  to  collect  the  scattered  tiock  of  Israel,  and  send  them 
 back  to  their  own  land.  Under  this  beautiful  figure  is  shadowed  forth 
 the  Great  Shepherd. — Hat.  He  now  speaks  of  the  collected  church 
 under  the  emblem  cf  aUtick  feeding  in  commodious  pastures  under  the 
 care  of  the  good  Shepherd. — Maccut.  iO.  Shall  not  hanger,  ^-c. — 
 illustrative  of  the  tender  care  ol  the  great  Shepherd. — Sut.  They  shall 
 be  free  from  all  uneasy  desires  nf  things  earthly  and  sensual,  and  enjoy 
 pleasing  satisfaction  iii  abundance  ol  spiritual  blessings  and  the  conso- 
 76j 
 
 lations  they  afford.— il/accu/.  Neither  shall  the  heat,  %c.,  In  hotter 
 climates  the  traveller  is  often  sun  smitten,  and  dies.— Swi.  11.  Moan- 
 tains  a  wot/— hig/tways—ed-alted— every  obstacle  should  be  removed. 
 12  From  far — the  Gentiles  were  to  resort  in  great  numbers  from  all 
 parts  of  the  world  into  the  church  of  Christ — the  distant  eastern  king- 
 doms were  Persia,  Syria,  Chaldea.— .1/f/ccM/.  May  mean  Babylon, 
 which  was  far  and  east. — Seeker.  North,  by  this  some  understand 
 Medea,  hut  rather  Babylon,  which  was  north  of  Judea.— Gi7/.  Lesser 
 Asia,  Europe,  and  Tartary.— Jl/«cc«/.  West,  or  *  from  the  sea,'  the 
 Mediterranean  and  countries  beyond  it,  which  lie  west  of  Judea.— Gi//. 
 Greece,  llalv,  Spain. — Maccul.  Land  of  Sinim,  '  south  country,'  Valg. 
 It  was  the  name  of  a  strong  city  in  Egypt,  and  may  here  he  intended 
 to  signify  Egypt,  Sheba,  and  Arabia,  which  lay  southward  of  Canaan. 
 —Maccul.  SeeMatt.Tiii.il.  13.  Sing,  (J  heavens,  ^c— see  chap, 
 xliv.  23,  note.  18.  Graven,  'delineated.'    This  is  certainly  an  allu. 
 
 sion  to  some  practice,  common  among  the  Jews  at  that  time,  of  mak. 
 ing  marks  on  their  hands  or  arms,  by  punctures  on  the  skin,  with  some 
 sort  of  sign  or  representation  of  the  city  or  temple,  to  shew  their  affec- 
 tion and  zeal  for  it.  They  had  a  method  of  making  such  punctures 
 indelible  by  fire  or  by  staining.  The  pilgrims  at  the  holy  sepulchre  get 
 themselves  marked  in  this  manner,  with  what  are  called  the  ensigns  of 
 Jerusalem,  and  this  art  is  practised  by  travelling  Jews  all  over  the 
 world.— iou'^A,  Maundrell.  It  is  common  in  India  to  make  punctures 
 on  the  arms  and  wrists  in  memory  ol  visiting  any  holy  place,  or  to  re- 
 present the  deity  to  whom  the  individual  is  cnnsecrated.  The  palms  of 
 the  hands  are  believed  to  have  written  on  them  the  fate  of  the  indivi- 
 dual. To  this  heathen  fancy  the  fact  may  allude.— Sec  Rol>.  17.  Tht/ 
 children,  -r:3,  it  may  be  'thy  builders,'  who  are  employed  in  rearing 
 up  the  wal'ls  of  Jerusalem  and  the  cities  of  Zion.— JI/accu(.  Shall  go 
 forth  of  thee,  INS'  "lOO. '  become  thy  offspring ;'  proceed,  spring,  issue 
 from  thee  as  thy  chil'dren.  The  phrase  is  frequently  used  in  this  sense, 
 (see  chap.  xi.  1 ;  Mich.  v.  2  ;  Nah.  i.  11.)  Translate  the  verse  thus  :— 
 '  They,  that  destroyed  tliee,  shall  soon  become  thy  builders ; 
 And  they,  that  laid  thee  waste,  shall  become  thine  ofTspring.' 
 
 Lotrth. 
 
 18.  Clothe  thee— as  a  liride—ihe  church  is  represented  as  Christ's  bride, 
 so  this  conversion  of  Jews  and  Gentiles  may  be  represented  by  the 
 adorning  of  the  bride  with  jewels,  &c.,  (Rev.  xix.  7,  8.)— Wells.  '  .Is 
 a  hride  her  jewels.' — Lowth.  20.  Children — after  thou  hast  lost  the 
 
 other,  ^c— the  greatest  part  of  the  Jewish  people  were  to  fall  by  a  de- 
 plorable apostasy,  (see  chap.  x.  20,)  but  theu"  defection  was  to  be 
 abundantly  suppUed  by  the  accession  of  the  Gentiles. — Berriman.  By 
 '  other  lost,'  understand  not  the  rejected  Jews,  but  those  cut  off  by 
 heathen  and  anti-christian  persecutions;  and  by  '  children  alter,'  the 
 great  numbers  of  converts  upon  the  fall  of  Antichrist. — Gill.  22.  On 
 their  shoulders,  •  being  on  horseback,  they  carry  their  young  children 
 on  their  shoulders  with  great  dexterity.  The  children  hold  by  the  head 
 of  him  who  carries  them,  whether  he  be  on  horseback  or  on  foot.'— 
 
Christ's  ahilily  to  siive. 
 
 ISAIAH,  L. 
 
 His  patient  suffering. 
 
 23  '  And  kings  shall  be  thy  f  nursing  fathers, 
 and  their  f  queens  tliy  nursing  mothers  :  they 
 shall  bow  down  to  thee  with  their  face  toward 
 the  earth,  and  "'  lick  up  the  dust  of  thy  feet  ; 
 and  thou  slialt  know  that  I  am  the  Lord  :  for 
 "they  shall  not  be  ashamed  that  wait  for  me. 
 
 24  I  "  Shall  the  prey  be  taken  from  the 
 mighty,  or  f  the  lawful  captive  delivered  ? 
 
 25  But  thus  saith  the  Lord,  Even  the  f  cap- 
 tives of  the  mighty  shall  be  taken  away,  and 
 the  prey  of  the  terrible  shall  be  delivered  :  for 
 I  will  contend  with  him  that  contendeth  with 
 thee,  and  I  will  save  thy  children. 
 
 20  And  I  will  ^  feed  them  that  oppress  thee 
 with  their  own  fiesh  ;  and  they  shall  be  drunken 
 with  their  own  ''  blood,  as  with  ||  sweet  wine : 
 and  all  flesh  'shall  know  that  I  the  Lord  am 
 thy  Saviour  and  thy  Redeemer,  the  mighty 
 One  of  Jacob. 
 
 CHAP.   L. 
 
 1  Christ  sheu'eth  that  the  derdiction  of  the  Jews  is  7tot 
 to  be  imputed  to  him,  by  his  ability  to  shvp,  5  by  his 
 obedience  in  that  work,  7  a7id  hy  his  ioitfidtnce  in  that 
 assistance.  10  An  exhortation  to  trust  in  God,  and 
 not  in  onrselvtS. 
 
 'pHUS  saith  the  Lord,  Where  is  "  the  bill  of 
 -■-  your  mother's  divorcement,  whom  I  have 
 put  away?  or  which  of  my  ''creditors  is  it  to 
 whom  I  have  sold  you?  Behold,  for  your  ini- 
 quities *^  have  ye  sold  yourselves,  and  for  your 
 transgressions  is  your  mother  put  away. 
 
 2  Wherefore,  when  I  came,  was  there  no 
 man?  ''when  I  called,  teas  there  none  to 
 answer?  *^  Is  my  hand  shortened  at  all,  that 
 it  cannot  redeem?  or  have  I  no  power  to  de- 
 liver? behold,  ^at  my  rebuke  I  ^  dry  up  the 
 sea,  I  make  the  *"  rivers  a  wilderness:  'their 
 
 5-i.  15.  &  6i». 
 
 16. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 timnishfT). 
 t  Heb. 
 
 priiiC'Uft. 
 m  Ps.  7-^.  9. 
 
 Mic   7.   17. 
 n  Ps    34    22. 
 
 Rnni.b  5  & 
 
 9    33    8t   10 
 
 11. 
 o  Mat    12.29 
 
 Luke  U 
 
 t  Hub    rtif 
 <^..pli<„ty  ../ 
 (h'juil. 
 
 t  H.-!j.  r.i/>- 
 
 tivilf/. 
 
 p  cli.  9.    20 
 
 a  Peu.  21.  1. 
 
 Jer.  .S.  *<. 
 
 H..S  2    2- 
 b  S(,.e  2  Kin 
 
 4    I.  Mat. 
 
 18.25. 
 
 c  ch.  52.  3. 
 
 d  Pro.  1.  2-1. 
 ch.  C5.  12. 8t 
 66.  *,  Jer.7- 
 13.  &  35.  15. 
 
 (  .\u.  1!    23 
 
 I'^.  h9.  1. 
 
 /  Fs.  icfi.  9. 
 
 Nah.  1.  *. 
 
 g  E«   11.21. 
 
 h  J.isb   3   16. 
 
 18, 
 
 Ex. 
 21. 
 
 m  Ex.4.  11- 
 n  Rtat.  1 1  28 
 
 c  P*   40.  6, 
 
 7.  8. 
 p  Mat.  26.39. 
 
 Jnlui  14  31. 
 
 Pliil    2  9. 
 
 Heb.  10.  5. 
 
 \  Heb.  the 
 mnilrrofmi/ 
 
 u  .I.tb  IS  28. 
 I's.  11)2.  26 
 th    51.  fi. 
 
 X  Cli.  &1.  8. 
 
 s2Clir  20  2ti 
 Ps.  20.  7. 
 
 a  Julin  D.  39. 
 4  Ps    le.  4 
 
 fish  stinketh,  because  there  is  no  water,  and 
 dieth  for  thirst. 
 
 3  ''  I  clothe  the  heavens  with  blackness,  '  and 
 I  make  sackcloth  their  covering. 
 
 4  "'  The  Lord  God  hath  given  me  tlie  tongue 
 of  the  learned,  that  I  should  know  how  to  speak 
 a  word  in  season  to  htm  that  is  "weary  :  he 
 wakeneth  morning  by  morning,  he  wakeneth 
 mine  ear  to  hear  as  the  learned. 
 
 5  H  The  Lord  God  *^  hath  opened  mine  ear, 
 and  I  was  not  ^'rebellious,  neither  turned  away 
 back. 
 
 6  ''  I  gave  my  back  to  the  smiters,  and  '  my 
 cheeks  to  them  that  plucked  off  the  hair:  I 
 hid  not  my  face  from  shame  and  .spitting. 
 
 7  t  For  the  Lord  God  will  help  me  ;  there- 
 fore shall  I  not  be  confounded  :  tlierefore  have 
 '  I  set  my  face  like  a  flint,  and  I  know  that  I 
 shall  not  be  ashamed. 
 
 8  *  He  is  near  that  jnstifieth  me  ;  who  will 
 contend  with  me?  let  us  stand  together  :  who 
 is  t  mine  adversary?  let  him  come  near  to  me. 
 
 9  Heboid,  the  Lord  God  will  help  me;  who 
 is  he  that  shall  condemn  me?  "  lo,  they  all 
 shall  wax  old  as  a  garment ;  *  the  moth  shall 
 eat  them  np. 
 
 10  f  Who  is  among  you  that  feareth  the 
 Lord,  that  obeyeth  the  voice  of  his  servant, 
 that  ^'  walketh  in  darkness,  and  hath  no  light? 
 '  let  him  trust  in  the  name  of  the  Loud,  and 
 stay  upon  his  God. 
 
 U  Behold,  all  ye  that  kindle  afire,  that  com- 
 pass yourselves  about  with  sparks  :  walk  in  the 
 light  of  your  fire,  and  in  the  sparks  that  ye 
 have  kindled.  '' This  shall  ye  have  of  mine 
 hand  ;  ye  shall  lie  down  ""in  sorrow. 
 
 Dandini^s  Votj.  to  Mount  Lebanus.  CliiMrcn  of  both  sexes  are  canitd 
 on  the  shoulders;  the  little  fellow  sits  astride  on  his  father's  shoulders, 
 with  his  hands  hnlding  the  head.  Girls  sit  on  the  shoulders  as  if  on  a 
 chair,  the  lcf;s  hanging  in  front.  Thousands  of  parents  so  carry  their 
 children  from  the  heathen  festivals. — Rob.  23.  Kings  shall  bt,  ^n. — 
 great  personatres  of  both  sexes,  elevated  to  thrones,  slmuld  manifest 
 tender  solicitude  for  advancing  the  interests  of  the  church  of  God. — 
 Maccul.  Their  fnee  toivtrd  the  earth,  expressions  of  submission, 
 homage,  and  reverence  have  been,  and  are  still,  carried  to  a  great  de- 
 gree of  extravagance  in  the  east,  (Gen.  xliii.  6.)  The  kings  of  Persia 
 never  admitted  any  one  to  their  pn^sence  without  this  act  of  adoration. 
 — Lowth.  24.  Shrill  the  preii,  i^c. — an  objection  started  to  the  fnfil- 
 ment  of  the  predictions  from  the  formidable  enemies  to  be  overcome. 
 — rreb.  Lowth.  Mncriil.  26.  Feed — with  their  own  fiesh — the  sword 
 
 is  said  to  dev<air.  The  oppressors  of  God's  people  should  become  hos- 
 tile to  each  o\.\\QT.~Mnceut. 
 
 Chap.  L. — 1.  Where  is  the  bill?  ^-c. — God's  covenant  with  his  church 
 is  often  represented  as  a  marriage  contract;  he  now  asks  of  the  cap- 
 tive where  is  the  bill  of  divorce,  which  he  had  given  his  mother,  being 
 himself  ready  to  receive  her  whenever  she  would  return  from  her  idol- 
 a'ries,  (see  Pent.  xxiv.  1  ;  Matt,  xix,  7.)  Which  of  my  creditors,  the 
 p -rsnos  and  liberties  of  children  were  answerable  fnr  the  debts  of  their 
 fathers,  (see  2  Kings,  iv.  I ;  Matt,  xviii.  25.}— Pre*.  Lowth.  2.  When 
 I  came,  was  there  no  man?  '  He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  re- 
 ceived him  not.'  Having  expected  for  ngi  s  the  desire  of  all  nations,  in- 
 stead of  paying  homage  to  Inm,  they  unju-tly  condemned  him.  Dry 
 up  the  sen,  alluding  to  the  Red  .Sea  and  to  Jordan  ;  by  these  interposi- 
 tions of  mercy.  Jchnvah  urges  his  servants  to  place  their  trust  in  him. 
 — Maccnl.  Stinketh,  '  is  dried  up.' — Lowth^  as  Sejit.  3.  The  heavens, 
 the  political  horizon,  as  when  Babylon  fell,  and  the  Egyptians  were 
 
 given  into  the  hands  of  the  Medes  and  Persians. — Maccul.  4.  Given 
 me  the  tongue,  9fc. — in  the  preceding  versc-^,  Christ  sp;ike  as  Jkhcvah, 
 here  as  Mediator,  for  there  is  no  intiraatinn  of  any  change  in  the 
 s^icaker. — Scott.  This  precious  gift  was  cimferred  in  a  superlative  de- 
 gree upon  Christ,  as  the  great  Prophft  of  his  church. — Maccul.  See 
 Matt.  xi.  28.  He  wakeneth,  sfcms  an  allusion  to  the  manner  of  pro- 
 phetic inspiration,  (^ce  I  Sam.  iii.  1~10.)  —  Wil.  5.  Hath  oprtvd 
 mine  ear — this  intimates  the  obedience  of  Christ  as  Mediator.  And  I 
 was  not  rebellious — see  Ps.  xl.  6,  7,  8  ;  Heb.  x.  7.  —  Ed.  6.  My  bark 
 to  tfie  smiters — John,  xix.  1.  'I  gave  my  back  to  lashes,  and  my 
 clieeks  to  slaps  on  the  face.'  Sept.  Plucked  nff  the  hair,  one  of  the 
 greatest  pot^sible  indignities  that  could  be  fiffered  to  a  Jew,  (Neh.  siii. 
 25.)  —  W\l-  Shame  and  spitting,  a  severe  punij^hment  aqd  mark  of  gre.nt 
 disgrace,  (Dent.  xxv.  g.] — Lowth.  Spitting  in  the  face  is  f.n  indignity 
 of  great  antiquity  in  the  Qa.sX..  —  Hnnway.  7.  Like  a  flint,  signifying 
 unshaken  firmness.  9,  Condemn  me,  pronounce  upon  me  a  righte- 
 ous sentence  of  condemnation.  10.  His  servant,  the  Messiah. — 
 Maccul. 
 
 'Who  is  there  among  you  that  feareth  Jehovah? 
 Let  him  hearken  unto  the  voice  of  his  servant.' — Lowth. 
 
 In  darkness,  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  troubles  which  afforded  no  light. 
 — Sut.  11.  All  ye  that  kindle,  ^c. — an  ironjc.il  expression,  bidding 
 them  take  comfort  and  satisfaction  in  their  own  works  and  doings. — 
 Gill.  They  who  leave  the  Lord,  and  warm  themselves  at  idolatrous 
 fires,  shall  surely  lie  down  in  sorrow. — Sut.  It  may  mean  the  factious 
 Jews,  who,  in  the  times  succijeding  those  uf  Christ,  stirred  up  war  with 
 the  Komans,  and  kindled  a  fire  which  consumed  their  city  and  nation. 
 —  Vitringa. 
 
 RtFLEciio>s  ON  CiiAP.  XLIX.  —  We  have  here,  L  The 
 vast  extent  of  redemjfiim.  It  would  be  'but  a  ligbt  thing,'  in 
 comparison  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  for  a  small  nation  to  be 
 saved,  but  the  salvation  of  Christ  reaches  lo  the  ends  of  the 
 earth  ;  and  all  nations  shall  be  blessed  in  bim.  Tbougb  God 
 made  Israel  liis  peculiar  witnesses  amidst  an  idolatrous  world, 
 yet  even  on  that  world  he  bad  mercy,  and  sent  bis  Son  lo  he 
 •  a  light  to  ligbten  the  Gentiles,'  as  well  as  '  the  glory  of  bis 
 people  Israel. ' 
 
 n.  The  large  incr  ase  of  the  church.  Great  shall  be  her  ac- 
 cession from  the  Gentiles:  men  of  rank  and  influence  sball 
 smde  upon  her  ;  while  '  many  shall  come  from  the  east,  and 
 from  the  west,  and  from  the  north,  and  from  the  south,  and 
 766 
 
 shall  sit  down  in  the  kingdom  of  God.  Hence,  a  nt-ble  as- 
 sembly, which  *  no  man  can  number,'  shall  at  lent;th  be  ga- 
 tbered  togeiber  to  the  praise  of  tbe  glory  of  bis  grace.  *  out  of 
 every  kindred,  nation,  tongue,  and  people.' 
 
 Rkflfctions  on  Chap.  L. — Remark  here,  I.  The  sins  of 
 Israel  led  to  their  sujferinys;  and  wherever  God  afflicts,  it  is  be- 
 cause man  sins.  \  ft  bow  forbearing  is  he  towards  bis  people! 
 They  would  have  vindictively  put  away  a  sinning  wife,  but  be 
 claimed  not  a  bill  of  divorcement — he  bated  putting  away. 
 
 II.  The  obedience  of  Messiah  ltd  to  his  triumphs.  Unshaken 
 in  his  confidence  in  bia  Father,  he  steadily  resolved  to  do  bis 
 will ;  and  our  great  Surety  was  at  length  justified  of  tbe  Spiril, 
 an  earnest  of  tbe  justification  of  all  that  believe  in  him. 
 
An  exhortation  to  trust  in  Christ, 
 
 ISAIAH,  LI. 
 
 Jerusalem's  afflictions  bewailed. 
 
 CHAP.  LI. 
 
 I  An  exhortation,  after  the  pattern  of  Ahraham,  tu 
 trust  in  Christ,  J3  bi/ reason  of  his  comfortable  pro- 
 mises, 4  of  Ills  riyhteous  salvation,  7  and  inans  mor- 
 ttlity.  9  Christ  by  his  sanctified  arm  defendeth  his 
 from  the  fear  of  man,  17  He  bewnileth  the  afflic- 
 iions  of  Jerusalem,  21  and  promiseth  deliuerance. 
 
 'XTEARKEN  to  me,  "ye  that  follow  after 
 -'--'-  righteousness,  ye  that  .seek  tlie  Lord  : 
 look  unto  the  rock  lohence  ye  are  hewn,  and 
 to  the  hole  of  the  pit  whence  ye  are  digged. 
 
 2  '  Look  unto  Abraham  your  father,  and 
 unto  Sarah  that  bare  you  :  ''for  I  called  him 
 alone,  and  "  blessed  him,  and  increased  him. 
 
 3  For  the  Lord  'shall  comfort  Zion :  he  will 
 comfort  all  her  waste  places;  and  he  will  make 
 her  wilderness  like  Eden,  and  her  desert  ^  like 
 the  garden  of  the  Lord  ;  joy  and  gladness 
 shall  be  found  therein,  thanksgiving,  and  the 
 voice  of  melody. 
 
 4  1  Hearken  unto  me,  my  people  ;  and  give 
 ear  unto  me,  O  my  nation  :  "  for  a  law  shall 
 proceed  from  me,  and  I  will  make  my  judg- 
 ment to  rest  '  for  a  light  of  the  people. 
 
 5  '  My  righteousness  is  near ;  my  salvation 
 is  gone  forth,  'and  mine  arms  shall  judge  the 
 people;  "'the  isles  shall  wait  upon  me,  and 
 "  on  mine  arm  shall  they  trust. 
 
 6  "  Lift  up  your  eyes  to  the  heavens,  and 
 look  upon  the  earth  beneath  :  for ''the  heavens 
 shall  vanish  away  like  smoke,  ''and  the  earth 
 shall  wax  old  like  a  garment,  and  they  that 
 dwell  therein  shall  die  in  like  manner:  but  my 
 salvation  shall  be  for  ever,  and  my  righteous- 
 ness shall  not  be  abolished. 
 
 7  H  '  Hearken  unto  me,  ye  that  know  righte- 
 ousness, the  people  '  in  whose  heart  is  my 
 law  ;  '  fear  ye  not  the  reproach  of  men,  neither 
 be  ye  afraid  of  their  revilings. 
 
 8  For  "  the  moth  shall  eat  them  up  like  a 
 garment,  and  tlie  worm  shall  eat  them  like 
 wool :  but  my  righteousness  shall  be  for  ever, 
 and  my  salvation  from  generation  to  genera- 
 tion. 
 
 OH"  Awake,  awake, ''  put  on  strength,  O  arm 
 of  the  Lord  ;  awake,  ^  as  in  the  ancient  days, 
 in  the  generations  of  old.  "  Art  thou  not  it 
 that  hath  cut  ^  Rahab,  and  wounded  the 
 '  dragon  ? 
 
 10  Art  thou  not  it  which  hath  ''dried  the 
 sea,  the  waters  of  the  great  deep  ;  that  hath 
 made  the  depths  of  the  sea  a  way  for  the  ran- 
 somed to  pass  over? 
 
 11  Therefore   "the    redeemed   of  the   Lord 
 
 li.  c. 
 cir.  712 
 
 i  Horn  9.  30, 
 31,  32. 
 
 c  Horn.  *.  1, 
 
 IG.  Hob.  n. 
 
 II,  12. 
 d  Gen.  12.  I, 
 
 2 
 
 Gen.  21.  I, 
 
 35 
 /■Ph.  ia3   13 
 
 rh.  iiK   I.  & 
 
 6,>.9.ver.l2 
 g  Gen    III  10. 
 
 Joel  2.  3. 
 
 /.  rh.  2.  3.  & 
 12.  4. 
 
 If  ch.  46.  13. 
 
 &  5t>.  I. 
 
 Roiu.  1.  16, 
 
 17. 
 (  Ps.  67.  4. 
 
 &  98.  9. 
 
 ,.  ch.  60.  9. 
 
 ,  Rom.  1    16. 
 
 0  ch.  .W.  26 
 p  Pa.  10.'.  26. 
 
 W^t.  24.  35, 
 2  Pet.  3.  10, 
 
 1  ch.  50.  9. 
 
 rer.  I. 
 
 Pa  37.31. 
 
 I  Mat.  10.29. 
 Acta  5.  41. 
 
 X  P».  14   23. 
 
 ch.  52    I. 
 Pa.  93.  1. 
 
 Rev.  II    17. 
 r  Pa   44.  1. 
 a  .lob  26    12. 
 
 .  Ps.  S7.  4. 
 
 &  89    10. 
 
 :  Pa   74.  13, 
 
 14.  ch.  27  I. 
 
 F.zck.  29.  3, 
 
 dK%.  14  21. 
 
 h.  43.  16. 
 
 /  vei.  3. 
 2  Coc    1,3 
 If  Pa.  lis   0. 
 
 /,  cli   40.  0. 
 1  Pet    1.  24 
 
 I  Job  9.  B. 
 Ps    104.  2. 
 ch   40.  22. 
 Sc  42.  5.  & 
 41.  24. 
 
 II  Or,  ma<le 
 hiiii,ielf 
 n-» ,/,!,. 
 
 *  Job  20.  7. 
 
 1  Deu  IS.  18. 
 ch.  59.  21. 
 John  3.  34 
 
 5  ch  52.  1. 
 
 •Job  21.  20. 
 Jet.  25.  15, 
 16. 
 
 :  See  Dent 
 28  28,  34 
 P«  60.  3.  & 
 75.  8  Ezek 
 2.1.  32,33,34. 
 Zech.  12.  2. 
 Kev.  14.  10. 
 
 I  ch.  47.  9. 
 t  Heb. 
 Iiappeited. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 '(  Amos  7.2. 
 X  Lain.  2.11, 
 12. 
 
 y  See  ver.l7, 
 *  Iiam.  3.  15. 
 
 s  Jer.  50.  34. 
 
 Zech. 12.2 
 6  Pa.  66.  11, 
 12. 
 
 shall  return,  and  come  with  singing  unto  Zion  ; 
 and  everlasting  joy  shall  he  upon  their  head: 
 they  shall  obtain  gladness  and  joy  ;  and  sor- 
 row and  mourning  shall  flee  away. 
 
 12  I,  even  I,  am  he  'that  coinforteth  you: 
 who  art  thou,  that  thou  shouldest  be  afraid  ^  of 
 a  man  that  shall  die,  and  of  the  son  of  man 
 which  shall  be  made  '■  as  grass  ; 
 
 13  And  forgettest  the  Lord  thy  maker,  'that 
 hath  stretched  forth  the  heavens,  and  laid  the 
 foundations  of  the  earth  ;  and  hast  feared  con- 
 tinually every  day  because  of  the  fury  of  the 
 oppressor,  as  if  he  ||  were  ready  to  destroy? 
 ■■and  where  is  the  fury  of  the  oppressor? 
 
 14  The  captive  exile  hasteneth  that  he  may 
 be  loosed,  '  and  that  he  should  not  die  in  the 
 pit,  nor  that  his  bread  should  fail. 
 
 15  But  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  that  '"di- 
 vided the  sea,  whose  waves  roared  :  The  Lord 
 of  hosts  is  his  name. 
 
 16  And  "  I  have  put  my  words  in  thy  mouth, 
 and  "  I  have  covered  thee  in  the  shadow  of 
 mine  hand,  ''  that  I  may  plant  the  heavens, 
 and  lay  the  foundations  of  the  earth,  and  say 
 unto  Zion,  Thou  art  my  people. 
 
 17  1 ''  Awake,  awake,  stand  up,  O  Jerusalem, 
 which  'hast  drunk  at  the  hand  of  the  Lord 
 the  cup  of  his  fury;  "thou  hast  drunken  the 
 dregs  of  the  cup  of  trembling,  and  wrung  them 
 out. 
 
 18  There  is  none  to  guide  her  among  all  the 
 sons  whom  she  hath  brought  forth  ;  neither  /,v 
 there  any  that  taketh  her  by  the  hand  of  all 
 the  sons  that  she  hath  brought  up. 
 
 19  '  These  two  things  fare  coine  unto  thee  ; 
 who  shall  be  sorry  for  thee  ?  desolation,  and 
 t  destruction,  and  the  famine,  and  the  sword  : 
 "by  whom  shall  I  comfort  thee? 
 
 20  "  Thy  sons  have  fainted,  they  lie  at  the 
 head  of  all  the  streets,  as  a  wild  bull  in  a  net : 
 they  are  full  of  the  fury  of  the  Lord,  the 
 rebuke  of  thy  God. 
 
 21  li  Therefore  hear  now  this,  thou  afflicted, 
 and  drunken,  ''but  not  with  wine  : 
 
 22  Thus  saith  thy  Lord  the  Lord,  and  thy 
 God  ^  that  pleadeth  the  cause  of  his  people. 
 Behold,  I  have  taken  out  of  thine  hand  the 
 cup  of  trembling,  even  the  dregs  of  the  cup  of 
 my  fury  ;  thou  shalt  no  more  drink  it  again  : 
 
 23  But  "I  will  put  it  into  the  hand  of  them 
 that  afflict  thee  ;  ■>  which  have  said  to  thy  soul, 
 Bow  down,  that  we  may  go  over :  and  thou 
 hast  laid  thy  body  as  the  ground,  and  as  the 
 street,  to  them  that  went  over. 
 
 CnAP.  LT. —  1.  Look  unto  the  rock,  recollect  tlie  ori|E;inal  of  your  na- 
 tion ;  hnw  small  your  first  rise  was,  not  unlike  a  hard  rnck  in  a  qiian-y, 
 that  nevertheless  has  been  wrought  into  a  spacious  building.  —L.  Hold. 
 See  what  God  did  in  callins  Abraham  and  in  giving  an  heir  to  the 
 wi-rld  by  those  two  righteous  persons  whose  bodies  were  as  good  as 
 dead. — Sut.  5.  Mr/  righteout:ness  is  near,  the  faithful  completion  of 
 God's  promises  to  deliver  his  people.  6.  Shnll  die  in  like  manner, 
 'shall  perish  like  the  vilest  insect.'— Lon'(A.  'As  a  gnat.'— Boo(A)-. 
 9.  Rtthnb,  another  name  for  Egypt. — Preb.  Lnwth.  See  Ps.  l.^xxvii.  4, 
 note.  M.  The  redeemed,  ^c.—see  chap.  wxv.  10,  note.  14.  Hast- 
 eneth that  he  map  tie  loosed,  '  will  quickly  be  delivered.'— B;;.  Wilson. 
 In  the  pit,  in  one  of  the  horrible  underground  dungeons  into  which 
 easte.n  prisoners  were  often  plunged.— Erf.        16.  Put  my  words,  ^c. 
 
 '  made  thee  my  oracle.'  Understand  Christ.— Prei.  Lowth.  *  Im- 
 parted to  thee  my  truths,  commands,  promises,  threatenings,  that  thou 
 mayest  openly  avow  and  confess  them  before  men.'  Shadow— see 
 ch;ip.  xlix.  2,  note.  Plant  the  heavens,  ffc,  make  Israel  into  a  state 
 and  political  world. — Mede.  17.  Cnp  of  tremtiling,  as  producing 
 
 intoxication  and  stupefaction,  Jerusalem  staggering  under  its  effects, 
 ig.  Two  things,  thBi  is,  desolation  by  famine,  and  destruction  by  the 
 s-woid.— Lowth.  21 .  Bat  not  with  wine,  but  with  the  cup  of  the  Lord's 
 fury. — Maecut.  23.  Bow  down,  ^e, — a  strong  description  of  the  pride 
 of  eastern  conquerors.  The  Emperor  Valerian  being  taken  i)risoner  by 
 Sapor,  king  of  Persia,  was  commanded  to  bow  himself  down  and  offer 
 his  back,  on  which  the  Persian  monarch  set  his  foot,  in  order  to  mount 
 bis  chariot  or  his  horse,  whenever  he  had  occasion. — Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  LI.  — Metlitate  on,  I.  The  church's 
 origin.  Abraham,  called  out  of  l;r  of  the  Chaldees,  a  set  of 
 idolaters;  and  from  him,  a  vpneruble  man,  sprung  up  as  many 
 as  the  sands  upon  the  sea  shore.  '  Thia  is  the  Lord's  doing, 
 and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes.'  When  Christians  think  of 
 the  rock  from  wbencp  they  were  hewn,  and  the  hole  of  the  pit 
 from  whence  they  were  digged— out  of  what  materials  Gcd 
 767 
 
 has  formed  a  people  for  his  praise,  the  consideration,  as  one 
 observes,  must  fill  them  with  low  thoughts  of  themselves,  and 
 hiiili  thoughts  of  Divine  grace. 
 
 II.  The  church's  ajfiictions.  These  may  be  heavy,  but  they 
 shall  not  last  for  ever.  The  afflicted  shall  hear  a  voice  from 
 heaven,  saying,  '  Behold,  I  have  taken  out  of  thine  hand  the 
 cup  of  trembling,  even  the  dregs  of  the  cup  of  my  fury  ;  thou 
 
Christ's  free  redemptlnn. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LIT. 
 
 The  exaltation  of  his  kingdom. 
 
 CHAP.   HI. 
 
 1  CItrist  persuadeth  the  church  to  htUcve  his  free  re- 
 demption, 1  to  receive  the  Viiuisters  thereof,  9  to  jrt/ 
 in  the  power  thereof  11  and  to  free  themselves  from 
 bniidagc.      13   Christ's  hinydom  shall  be  exalted, 
 
 AWAKE,  °  awake  ;  put  on  thy  strength,  O 
 Zion  ;  put  on  thy  beautiful  garments,  O 
 Jerusalem,  ''  the  holy  city  ;  fur  "  henceforth 
 there  shall  no  more  come  into  thee  the  uncir- 
 cised  ''  and  the  unclean. 
 
 2  °  Shake  thyself  from  the  dust ;  arise,  aiid 
 sit  down,  O  .Jerusalem  :  '  loose  thyself  from 
 the  bands  of  thy  neck,  O  captive  daughter  of 
 Zion. 
 
 3  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  °  Ve  have  sold 
 yourselves  for  nought ;  and  ye  shall  be  re- 
 deemed without  money. 
 
 4  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  My  people 
 went  down  aforetime  into  "  Egypt  to  sojourn 
 there  ;  and  the  Assyrian  oppressed  them  with- 
 out cause. 
 
 3  Now  therefore,  what  have  I  here,  saith  the 
 Lord,  that  my  people  is  taken  away  for 
 nought?  they  that  rule  over  them  make  them 
 to  howl,  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  my  name  conti- 
 nually every  day  is  '  blasphemed. 
 
 6  Therefore  my  people  shall  know  my  name: 
 therefore  thej/  shall  knoiv  in  that  day  that  I 
 am  he  that  doth  speak  :  behold,  it  is  1. 
 
 7  H ''  How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are 
 the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good  tidings,  that 
 publisheth  peace  ;  that  briugeth  good  tidings 
 of  good,  that  publisheth  salvation  ;  that  saith 
 unto  Zion,  '  Thy  God  reigueth  ! 
 
 b  >'e1».  n.  1 
 ch.  IS.  2. 
 :ilat.  1.  5. 
 Hi-v.  -il.  2 
 
 c  ch.  .■*.,.  8. 
 &  W1.  21- 
 Nah.  I.  I.'i. 
 
 rf  Key.  21. -(7 
 
 e  See  ch.  .S, 
 26   ft  51.2.S. 
 
 /  Zech.  2.  7. 
 
 g  Ps.  .M.  12 
 cti  4.i.  IS. 
 Jer.  15.  13. 
 
 '.  Gen.  4fi.  6. 
 AcU  7.  II. 
 
 i  Kick.  36. 
 i'\  23. 
 Kuiu.  2.21. 
 
 *  Nah.l.  15 
 Koin.  10.15 
 
 /  Ps.  93.  1. 
 »i  06.  10,  & 
 97.  1. 
 
 ch.  51.  3. 
 ch.  48.  CO. 
 
 o  Ps.  99.  2,3. 
 p  Luke  .3.  6. 
 
 7  ch.  48.  20. 
 
 Jer.  50.  8.& 
 
 51.6,45. 
 
 Zech.  2.6.7. 
 
 2Cnr.  6.  17. 
 
 Rev.  18.  4. 
 r  Lev.  22.  2. 
 
 &c. 
 t  See  Ex.12. 
 
 33,39. 
 /  Mic,  2.  13. 
 M  Nu.  10.  25. 
 
 ch,53  8.  See 
 
 Ex.  14.  19. 
 
 II  Or,priiiptT 
 Ch.  53  10. 
 Jer.  23.  5. 
 y  Phil  2.  9, 
 ■;  Ps.  22.  6.7. 
 ch.  53.  2,  3. 
 
 a  Eie.  36.  'a. 
 
 Acts  2.  33. 
 
 Heb.  9.  13, 
 
 14. 
 6  ch.  ■19.7,23. 
 c  ch.  55.  5. 
 
 Horn,  15  21. 
 
 &  16  25,26. 
 
 Eph.  3.  5, 9. 
 
 8  Thy  watchmen  .shall  lift  up  the  voice ; 
 with  the  voice  together  shall  they  sing  :  for 
 they  shall  see  eye  to  eye,  when  the  Lord 
 shall  bring  again  Zion. 
 
 9  H  Break  forth  into  joy,  sing  together,  ye 
 waste  places  of  Jerusalem  :  "'  for  tlie  Lord 
 hath  comforted  his  people,  "  he  hath  redeemed 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 10  "  The  Lord  hath  made  bare  his  holy  arm 
 in  the  eyes  of  all  the  nations;  and  ''all  the 
 ends  of  the  earth  sliall  .see  the  salvation  of  our 
 God. 
 
 11  IT ''Depart  ye,  depart  ye,  go  ye  out  from 
 thence,  touch  no  unclean  thing ;  go  ye  out  of 
 the  midst  of  her  ;  '  be  yc  clean,  that  bear  the 
 vessels  of  the  Lord. 
 
 12  For  '  ye  shall  not  go  out  with  haste,  nor 
 go  by  flight;  'for  the  Lord  will  go  before 
 you;  "and  the  God  of  Israel  will  \lic  your 
 rereward. 
 
 13  K  Behold,  ^  my  servant  shall  ||  deal  pru- 
 dently, 'he  shall  be  exalted  and  e.xtolled,  and 
 be  very  high. 
 
 14  As  many  were  astonished  at  thee;  his 
 '  visage  was  so  marred  more  than  any  man, 
 and  his  form  more  than  the  sons  of  men  : 
 
 15  °  So  shall  he  sprinkle  many  nations;  ''the 
 kings  shall  shut  their  mouths  at  him  :  for  tliat 
 '  which  had  not  been  told  ihein  shall  they  see ; 
 and  that  which  they  had  not  heard  shall  they 
 consider. 
 
 CHAP.  LIH. 
 
 1  The  prophit,  comphiining  of  htcrcduVity ,  excus  th 
 the  scandal  of  tht  cross,  4  hy  the  benefit  of  his  pas- 
 sion, 10  and  the  yood  success  thereof. 
 
 Chap.  LIT. —  I.  Awike,^c. — the  prophet  congratulates  Jerusalem  ori 
 lier  restoration,  and  has  plainl>'  an  eye  to  the  renovation  of  the  church 
 under  the  Gospel. — Prtb.  Lnwth.  Put  on  thy  beautiful  garments— i\\G 
 ca.sterns  clothe  themselves  in  their  meanest  apparel  in  times  of  public 
 sorrow,  but  in  returning  prosperity  they  put  on  their  beautiful  gar* 
 meats. — Rob.  The  uncircumrised,  the  Assyrian,  who  had  so  greatly 
 afflicted  them  ;  or  spiritually,  the  uncircumciscd  in  heart.— flooMr. 
 2.  Arise,  and  sit  down,  '  ascend  thy  lofty  seat.' — Lntvtb.  '  Rise  up,  sit 
 on  high.'— Brto^/o-.  The  common  manner  of  sitting  in  eastern  coun- 
 tries is  on  the  floor,  with  the  Ic^s  cro'^'^ed  ;  but  when  sitting  is  spoken 
 of  as  a  posture  of  more  than  ordinary  state,  it  is  quite  of  a  different 
 kind,  and  means  sitting  on  high,  on  a  chair  of  state,  or  throne.  ".  How 
 bea'ili/ul,  i^-c.—ibe  watclmien  discover  afar  off.  on  the  mountains,  the 
 messengers  bringing  tlie  expected  and  much -wisheil-for  news  of  the 
 deliverance  from  the  Babylonish  captivity,  and  immediately  spread  the 
 joyful  tidings,  (ver.  8.' — Lowth.  Are  the  feet,  even  the  dusty  feet  of 
 the  messengers,  wearing  sandals,  are  represented  as  improved  and 
 beautiful  on  account  of  the  good  tidings  they  brought.—/,.  Holdcn. 
 Critics  in  general  interpret  this  passage  of  the  messengers  from  Baby- 
 lon, bringing  Cyrus's  proclamation  for  the  rebuilding  of  the  city  and 
 temple  of  Jerusalem  ;  but  there  was,  at  that  time,  no  Jerusalem,  no 
 watchman  to  sec  them  coming,  and  no  cities  of  Judah  to  participate  in 
 Ziiin's  joy.  All  were  in  ruins,  all  was  waste,  that  the  land  might  enjoy 
 her  sabbaths ;  and,  therefore,  for  the  sake  of  accommodation  only  can 
 this  text  be  understood  of  Babylon.  In  the  apostles  and  heralds  of  the 
 Gospel  we  see  its  true  completion.- S«(.  It  may  be  spoken  figura- 
 tively in  both  cases,  and,  in  that  sense,  is  as  conect  in  the  one  appli- 
 cation as  in  the  other. —  Ed.         S.  They  shall  see  fye  to  eye,  Hfc. — 
 
 '  For  with  their  own  eyes  shall  they  sec 
 That  Jehovah  restoreth  Zion.' — Jioot/tr. 
 
 10.  Made  bare — from  the  form  of  the  eastern  hykcs,  or  outer  garments, 
 which  having  no  sleeves,  and  their  arms  being  frequently  wrapped  up 
 in  them,  it  was  necessary  when  the  people  proposed  exerting  them- 
 selves,  to   make  their   arms   bare,    {Ezek.  iv.  "^  )~OriL'n(.  Cust.,  '26~. 
 
 11.  Depart ;//?— the  people  are  exhorted  to  linger  no  longer  in  Babylon. 
 The  mystical  sense  is  extended,  by  St.  Paul,  to  all  Christians;  and  the 
 passage  applied  by  St.  John  to  the  mystical  Babylon. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 12.  For  i/e  shall  not  go  out  with  hast'-,  ^c.,  as  was  the  case  in  Egypt. 
 The  Persian  court  liberated  the  captives  with  counsel,  and  restored  all 
 the  vessels  of  gold  and  silver  which  the  Chaldeans  had  brought  away 
 from  the  temple. — Sut.  13.  Behold,  ^c— the  subject  of  the  prophecy, 
 from  chap.  xl.  inclusive,  has  been,  in  general,  the  deliverance  of  the 
 people  of  God.  This  includes  three  distinct  parts,  yet  closely  con- 
 nected ;— the  deliverance  of  the  Jews  from  cai-tivity — of  the  Gentiles 
 from  ignorance  and  idolatry — and  of  mankind  from  sin  and  death;  the 
 two  latter  are  shadowed  out  under  the  image  of  the  former. —  Lowth. 
 Shall  deal  prudently,  '  shall  prosper.* — Lowth.  15.  So  s/inll  he  sprinkle, 
 — he  shall  purify  whole  nations  with  his  blood,  and  present  them  holy 
 to  God  ;  the  expression  alludes  to  the  legal  sprinklings,  by  which  tho 
 people  were  sanctified,  (comp.  £zek.  xxxvi.  25 ;  Heb.  ix.  13,  14;  1  Pet. 
 i.  2.) — Prtb.  Lowth.  At  an  eastern  feast  a  person  stands  with  a  silver 
 vessel,  shaped  like  a  flask,  with  a  top  like  that  of  a  watering-pot.  full 
 of  perfumed  liquid,  with  which  he  sprinkles  the  guests  on  their  ap- 
 proach. The  object  is  to  shew  that  they  are  now  the  great  mau's 
 guests,  and  are  in  his  favour  and  under  his  protection.  Shut  their 
 tnouths,  indicating  submission  and  respect. — Hob. 
 
 shah  no  more  drink  it  again.*  'Throwing  away  the  cup  of 
 trerablins  will  not  do,  nor  saying  we  will  not,  we  cannot  ilriiik 
 it;  but,  ii"we  patiently  submit,  he  that  put  it  into  our  hands 
 will  himself  take  it  out  of  ourhands.'  ^ 
 
 III.  The  church's  oppressors.  '  Observe  how  justly  God  will 
 reckon  with  those  wno  have  carried  it  so  imperiously  towards 
 his  people.  "  The  cup  of  trembling  shall  be  put  into  their 
 hand."  Babylon*s  case  shall  be  as  bad  as  ever  Jerusalem's 
 was.  Daniel's  persecutors  shall  be  thrown  into  Daniel's  den, 
 and  the  Lord  is  known  by  these  judgments  which  he  exe- 
 cuteth.'  ^ 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap,  LII I-  JVe  should  receive  the  gos- 
 pel with  f/ladness.  What  news  can  be  so  charming  to  the  sinner 
 convinced  of  his  misery,  as  that  of  emancipation  from  the 
 thraldom  of  sin,  death,  and  helH  and  bow  much  are  they  to 
 be  esteemed  who  devote  their  lives  to  the  publication  of  these 
 tidings  }  '  How  beautiful  are  the  feet  of  them  that  preach  the 
 768 
 
 gospel  of  peace,  and  bring  glad-tidings  of  good  things  !' 
 
 II.  Let  us  rejoice  in  the  exaltation  of  Messiah.  lie  has  indeed 
 been  humbled  for  us,  but  *  God  hath  highly  exalted  him.'  Wo 
 see  Jesus,  who  was  made  a  little  while  lower  than  the  angels, 
 crowned  with  glory  and  honour.  For  God  raised  him  from  the 
 dead,  and  set  him  at  his  own  rii^ht  hand  in  heavenly  places  ; 
 far  above  all  principality,  and  might,  and  dfmiiuion,  and  every 
 name  that  is  named,  not  only  in  this  world,  but  also  in  that 
 which  is  to  come,  and  hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet,  and 
 giveu  him  to  be  the  bead  over  all  things  to  the  church,  which 
 is  his  body,  'the  iulness  of  him  tliat  fiUetli  all  in  all.'  There 
 the  Mediator  sits  on  his  eternal  throne;  the  world  is  at  his 
 feet  and  under  his  control,  and  at  his  name  '  every  knee  shall 
 bow,  and  every  tongue  confess  that  ('hrist  is  Lord,  to  the 
 glory  of  God  the  Father.*  And,  '  Let  all  the  angels  of  God 
 worship  him;  and  let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  his  glory 
 Amen,  and  Amen/ 
 
Christ's  sufferings  forttolJ. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LIII.,  LIV. 
 
 The  henefitit  arisinrf  therefrom. 
 
 WHO  "hath  believed  our  ||t  report?  and  to 
 whom  is  ''the  arm  of  the  Lord  revealed? 
 '2  For  '  he  shall  grow  up  before  him  as  a 
 tender  plant,  and  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry 
 ground  :  ''  he  hath  no  form  nor  comeliness  ; 
 and  when  we  shall  see  him,  there  is  no  beauty 
 that  we  should  desire  him. 
 
 3  '  He  is  despised  and  rejected  of  men  ;  a 
 man  of  sorrows,  and  'acquainted  with  f;rief: 
 and  II  t  we  hid  as  it  were  uur  faces  from  him  ; 
 he  was  despised,  and  ^  we  esteemed  him  not. 
 
 4  1  Surely  ''  he  hatli  borne  our  griefs,  and 
 carried  our  sorrows:  yet  we  did  esteem  him 
 stridden,  smitten  of  God,  and  afflicted. 
 
 5  But  he  was  \\  '  wounded  for  our  transgres- 
 sion.s,  he  ivas  bruised  for  our  iniquities  :  the 
 chastisement  of  our  peace  «.v;,s  upon  him;  and 
 with  his  I"  f  stripes  we  are  healed. 
 
 O  '  All  we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray  ;  we 
 liave  turned  every  one  to  his  own  way  ;  and 
 the  Lord  f  hath  laid  on  him  the  iniquity  of  us 
 all. 
 
 7  He  was  oppressed,  and  he  was  afflicted,  yet 
 "'he  opened  not  his  mouth  :  "  he  is  brought  as 
 a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  before 
 her  shearers  is  dumb,  so  lie  openeth  not  his 
 mouth. 
 
 8  II  He  was  taken  from  prison  and  from  judg- 
 ment:  and  who  shall  declare  liis  generation  ? 
 for  "he  was  cut  off  out  of  tlie  land  of  the 
 living:  for  the  transgression  of  my  people 
 t  was  he  stricken. 
 
 mei't :  bi't,  ^c. 
 
 B,  C 
 cU".  712. 
 
 .i.lnim  12  S«. 
 Rum.  Ill  lli. 
 II  Or,  d«c- 
 
 t  H.-.b.  Iiear- 
 
 h  ch.  51.  9. 
 
 Hum.  I.  lli. 
 
 I  Cur.  I.  IS 
 c  ch.  II.  I. 
 d  cli.  5>    H. 
 
 .Mark  9.  VI. 
 e  i-s.  2>.  6. 
 
 ch.  19.  7. 
 r  Hcb.  .1.  15. 
 II  Or.  I,e  hid 
 
 hia/.J 
 /■orn  "i. 
 t  Ih-b.  a>  on 
 
 llidillir  iif 
 
 Viim,  or/rom 
 
 g  John  I.  10, 
 
 II. 
 /.  Mat.  8.  17- 
 
 Heb.  9.  23. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  24. 
 t  Or,  I'lr- 
 
 i  R.iin.  ♦.  Srt. 
 I  Cor.  15.  3 
 1  I'et.  3.  18 
 
 A  1  Pet.  2.24. 
 
 I  Heb  iniin. 
 
 /Ps.  1I9.17G. 
 1  Pet.  2.25 
 
 I  Heb.  Ivilh 
 riiadt  llif  iiii- 
 
 all  It)  meet 
 an  him. 
 m  >Iat.26.6;1 
 lk-^7.  12,  14. 
 Mark  U. 
 61    Sc  15.  5. 
 
 1  Pet.  '2rr^ 
 •I  Acts  8.  a-,* 
 
 II  Or,  He  u-at 
 
 If  diilri'it 
 
 \„d  yidg- 
 
 t  Heb.  was  the  stroke  up.n  Aii 
 
 Cir.  71-2. 
 
 ,>  fllat.  27. 
 67.  5H,  BO. 
 f  Heb, 
 
 7  I  Pet.2.92. 
 1  John  3.  5. 
 
 uiA^  . 
 
 ■2Cnr  S.21. 
 
 I  Pet.  2.  -ZA. 
 t  Rom.  0.  9. 
 e  Eph.  i.5,9. 
 
 STlies.l.ll. 
 
 I  John  17.  3. 
 
 a  Pet.   1.3. 
 
 rl  J.ihn2.1. 
 y  ch.  ■12.   I. 
 ■  Si  19.  3. 
 t  Horn.  BAH, 
 
 19 
 
 I  ver,  1,  5. 
 i  Pa    2    8. 
 
 Phil.  2.  9. 
 ;  C.-.I.  •>.  15. 
 i  Maik  \h. 
 
 2tt.  I, like 
 
 22.  S7. 
 'I,uk-e33  34- 
 
 Kom.  8.34. 
 
 Heb    7  2.'>. 
 
 &  9.  24. 
 
 I  J..lin  2.  I. 
 
 1  Zei>h  3  H 
 Gal.  4.  27. 
 
 9  ''  And  he  made  Ids  grave  with  tlie  wicked, 
 and  with  the  rich  in  his  f  death;  because  he 
 had  done  no  violence,  neither  was  any  ^  deceit 
 in  his  mouth. 
 
 10  1  Yet  it  pleased  the  Loro  to  bruise  him  ; 
 he  hath  put  /tim  to  grief:  ||  when  thou  shalt 
 make  his  soul  ^  an  offering  fur  sin,  he  shall  see 
 his  seed,  Mie  shall  prolong  his  days,  and  '  the 
 pleasure  of  the  Lohd  shall  prosper  in  his  hand. 
 
 1 1  He  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and 
 shall  be  satisfied  :  "  by  his  knowledge  shall 
 "my  righteous  ''servant  ^justify  many;  "for 
 he  shall  liear  their  iiiifjuities. 
 
 12  ^Therefore  will  1  divide  him  n  portion 
 with  the  great,  ^  and  he  shall  divide  the  spoil 
 with  the  strong  ;  because  he  hatii  poured  out 
 his  soul  unto  death:  and  he  was  ''numbered 
 with  the  transgressors  ;  and  he  bare  the  sin  of 
 many,  and  '^  made  intercession  for  the  trans- 
 gressors. 
 
 CHAP.  LIV. 
 
 I  The  prophet,  for  the  comfort  of  the  G-tiiil  s,  prophv- 
 sieth  the  amjilitude  of  their  church,  4  their  safety^ 
 Q  t'leir  certain  dtUcercoice  out  of  affliction,  II  their 
 fair  edif  cation,  15  and  their  sure  joeservutiou. 
 
 CINC,  O  barren,  thou  thai  didst  not  bear; 
 ^  break  fortli  into  singing,  and  cry  aloutl, 
 thou  that  didst  not  travail  with  child  :  for 
 ''more  aie  the  children  of  the  desolate  tlian 
 the  children  of  the  married  wife,  sailii  tlie 
 Lord. 
 
 2  "^  Enlarge  the  place  of  thy  tent,  and  let 
 them  stretch  forth  the  curtains  of  thine  habita- 
 
 Chap.  LIII.  —  I.  Our  report  — the  message  Jehovah  sent  hy  his 
 servants  to  his  people. — Maceul.  The  good  tiilings  mentioned  chap. 
 lii.  y.~Jackson.  The  report  of  the  prophets,  of  John  the  Baptist,  and 
 Christ's  own  report  of  liimself. — Clnrke.  Ann,  iiis  niiglity  power,  ex- 
 erted by  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel. — Mticcul.  2.  He,  the  Messiah. 
 Before  him,  '  before  Jehovah.'— If'j/.,  as  Ancient  Jeunsh  Writers.  '  In 
 their  sight.'  Plant,  '  sucker.' — Lowth,  so  Bootlir.  It  means  a  com- 
 mon shoot,  and  intimates  that  our  Lord  should  spring  from  a  poor  and 
 decayed  family.  No  furm,  ^c,  not  the  attire  nor  splendour  of  wealth 
 and  rank. — Boothr.  3.  We  hid,  speaking  in  the  person  of  the  .Jewish 
 nation.— U'(/.  *  Like  one  that  hideth  his  face  from  us.' — Boothr.,  as 
 Lowth.  Mourners  covered  the  lower  i»art  of  their  face-*,  (see  2  Sam. 
 XV.  30  ;  Ezek.  xxiv.  17.)  5.  The  chnstisement,  Sfc,  '  the  chastisement 
 by  which  our  pence  is  effected  was  laid  upon  him.^—Lowth.  6.  Lnid 
 o?i  Aim,  ^c,  alluding  to  the  custom  in  making  atonement,  of  laying 
 hands  on  the  head  of  the  sacrifice. — Bp.  Wilson.  See  Lev.  xvi.  ai,  22. 
 *  Hath  made  to  light  upon  liim,' — Lowth;  or  '  to  rush  upon  Inm.'^ 
 Boothr.  7.  He  j/vfx  oppressed,  ^c,  '  it  was  exacted,  (i.  e.,  the  penalty 
 of  sin,)  and  he  was  made  answerable.*  —  Lowth,  Chandler,  Boothr., 
 Scott.  '  It  was  exacted,'  "0:^2  signifies  to  demand  what  is  due  from  a 
 debtor,  (Deut.  xv.  2,  3  ;  2  Kintrs,  xxiii.  35  ;  and  Dan.  xi.  20.)  '  To  exact 
 service,'  (E.vod.  iii.  7 ;  v.  6,  10,  13  ;  Isa.  ix.  4,  &c.)  This  sense  best 
 suits  here;  'it  was  exacted,'  the  punishment  due  to  the  iniquities  of 
 man,  and  he  was  made  answerable  as  the  surety  is  for  the  debtor,  ('■ee 
 Gen.  xhii.  9;  xliv.  32;  Prov.  vi.  l,  ike,  and  xi.  15;  Heb.  vii.  22.)— 
 Boothr.  As  a  lamb,  %■€.,  expressive  of  re>igned  innocence. — B/t.  Home. 
 8.  He  WIS  taken  from  prison,  ^c. — the  original  words  may  siyrnify,  he 
 exchanged  a  mean,  distressed  state,  the  state  of  confinement  and  op- 
 pression wherein  he  had  been  detained,  for  a  glorious,  happy  condition, 
 — ■  He  was  received  up  into  glory,'  (1  Tim.  iii.  16.)  Who  shall  declare 
 his  generation  ?  '  whn  can  exhibit  the  felicity  and  joy  of  that  condition 
 til  which  he  shall  be  elevated  as  his  reward  V—Maccul.  The  manner 
 of  the  Hebrews  wa^,  as  in  Oriental  nations,  when  the  more  distin- 
 guished criminals  were  executed,  to  publish  their  pedigree,  (see  Josh, 
 vii.  I  ;  Lev.  xxiv.  11  :  but  who  'shall  declare  the  generation  of  Him 
 whom  the  Lord  possessed  before  his  works  of  old.'— A'u£. 
 By  an  oppressive  judgment  he  was  taken  off; 
 And  his  manner  of  life,  who  would  declare?' — Lowth. 
 '  Who  would  testify  to  his  innocence  i*  Before  any  one  was  punished 
 for  a  capital  crime,  proclamation  was  made  before  the  prisoner  thus— 
 '  Whosoever  knows  anything  of  his  innocence,  let  him  come  and  declare 
 it.' — Kvn.,  from  the  Mishna  and  Gemara  of  Babylon. 
 
 '  In  his  low  estate  his  judgment  was  taken  away. 
 And  the  men  of  his  generation  v\ho  can  describe?' — Boothr. 
 
 Boothro!/d*s  opinion  seems  to  be  that  of  C'/r^/.-  say  some,  his  eternal 
 generation  is  meant;  the  mystery  of  liis  incarnation,  say  others;  the 
 duration  of  his  future  existence,  say  others;  the  numbers  of  the  holy 
 seed,  say  others ;  but  most  probably  it  means  the  wickedness  of  the 
 age  in  which  he  should  Uve.—Kjpos.  on  Job.  'His  judgment  was 
 taken  away'  signifies,  that  in  his  ti  ial  no  regard  was  paid  to  justice,  or 
 that  his  integrity  availed  him  nothing. — Boothr.  9.  He  made  his 
 grave,  ^c. — 
 
 *  And  his  grave  was  appointed  with  the  wicked  ; 
 But  with  the  rich  man  was  his  tomb.' — Lowth. 
 
 'And  he  was  placed  with  the  wicked  in  his  death. 
 But  with  the  rich  man  in  liis  sepulcitrc* — Boothr. 
 Ho  w.^s  buried  in  the  rich  man's  tr  mb,  with  care  and  cost,  by  persons 
 of  rank  and  quality,  (see  the  Evangelists.) — Kidder.  Because,  ^c. — t^w 
 this  account  the  Roman  governor  gave  permission  that  he  should  be 
 h'innurably  interred.— S^oc/c.  '  Although  he  had  done  no  wrong,  &c., 
 yet  it  pleased,'  hQ.— Lowth.  10.  To  bruise  him,  '  to  cru>h  him  wilh 
 
 afflict  inn.' — Lowth.  11.  Seeof  the  travail,  rejoice  to  tindthat  his  death 
 and  sufferings  have  not  been  m  vain  — Pref).  Lowth.  By  his  know- 
 ledge—niTiny  shall  be  justified  by  the  knowing  of  him.— Beueridge. 
 12.  Therefore  wilt,  ffc— there  seems  to  be  an  allusion  to  tlie  signal  ad- 
 vaiitaj;es  of  a  mighty  conqueror  sharing  the  spoils  after  victory.  Di- 
 vide the  spoil  wilh  the  strorig,  distribute  the  fruits  of  his  victory  among 
 his  faithful  f.aiovpers— '  stnmg  in  the  Lord.'  Rescue  powerful  nations 
 from  under  the  empire  of  Satan. — Marvul. 
 
 •Therefore  will  I  distribute  to  him  the  many  for  his  portion  ; 
 
 And  the  mighty  people  shall  be  share  for  his  spoil.' — Lowth. 
 
 Hath  poured  out,  ^c. — the  metaphor  is  taken  from  the  blood  of  the 
 
 animals  offered  in  sacritice,  and,  by  Divine  appointment,  jjoured  out 
 
 upon  the  altar,  (Deut.  xii.  'i7 .)—Maccnl. 
 
 CtiAP.  LIV.  —  1.0  barren,  the  Old-Tcitament  church. — Loioth.  She 
 had  long  been  barren  before  the  death  of  the  Messiah. — Maccul.  The 
 apostle  applies  the  text  to  the  Jerusalem  above,  the  mother  of  us  all, 
 the  then  purest  gospel  church,  (Gal.  iv.  26,  2/.)  which  before  Pentecost 
 was  like  a  barren  woman,  there  being  few  instances  of  conversion.— 
 Gill.  2.  Enlarge,  Sfc,  alluding  to  the  manner  in  which  the  Patri- 
 archs dwelt  in  tents.  Each  tent  must  be  made  larger,  and  more  tents 
 must  be  fixed  to  receive  and  contain  the  increasing  spiritual  seed. — 
 
 Reflictions  on  Chap.  LHI.  — Let  us  reflect  here,  T.  On 
 ClirisVs  sufferings.  How  exactly  the  prophet  doscribes  wliat 
 came  to  pass  in  the  sufferings  of  Christ.  How  much  did  this 
 innocent  sufferer  bear  for  us!  What  love  must  have  con- 
 strained Ijim  to  make  such  sacrifices  !  ' 
 
 II.  On  Christ's  tr,}phies.    The  Captain  of  our  salvation  having 
 
 brten  '  iiiade  perfect  throut,'h  suffering/  now  shares  liis  spoils. 
 
 '  He  triumphed  over  principahties  and  powers,  and  made  a 
 
 show  of  tliem  openly,'  when  he  expired  on  the  cros<!.     T^n  i*; 
 
 769 
 
 now  subduing  the  people  lo  himself;  succeeding  ages  shall 
 witness  yet  greater  things.  His  love  to  munlund  was  great  ; 
 his  lieart  was  large  ;  and  he  shall  see  of  the  tnivail  of  his  soul, 
 and  be  satisfied.  O,  what  countless  myriads  of  redeemed  shall 
 al  length  eternally  adore  his  love  !  Their  number  is  continually 
 augmenting,  and  new  voices  swell,  and  slill  swell,  and  shall 
 yet  swell  the  everlasting  song,  till  the  universe  shall  ring  wilh 
 Messiah's  praises. 
 
 5  F 
 
The  deliverance  of  t/ie  Gentiles. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LV. 
 
 T/ic people  called  to  lepentance. 
 
 lions :     spare    not,    lengthen    tliy    cords,    and 
 strengthen  thy  stakes  ; 
 
 3  For  thou  shall  break  forth  on  the  right 
 hand  and  on  the  left ;  '^  and  thy  seed  shall  in- 
 herit the  Gentiles,  and  make  the  desolate 
 cities  to  be  inhabited. 
 
 4  Fear  not ;  for  thou  shall  not  be  ashamed  : 
 neither  be  thou  confounded ;  for  thou  shall 
 not  be  put  to  shame  :  for  thou  shall  forget  the 
 sliame  of  thy  youth,  and  shall  not  remember 
 the  reproach  of  thy  widowhood  any  more. 
 
 5  "  For  thy  Maker  is  thine  husband ;  ihe 
 '  Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name  ;  and  thy  Re- 
 deemer Ihe  Holy  One  of  Israel;  ^  The  God 
 of  the  whole  earth  shall  he  be  called. 
 
 6  For  the  Lord  ''  hath  called  thee  as  a  wo- 
 man forsaken  and  grieved  in  spirit,  and  a  wife 
 of  youth,  when  Ihou  wast  refused,  sailh  thy 
 God. 
 
 7  '  For  a  small  moment  have  I  forsaken  thee ; 
 but  with  great  mercies  will  I  gather  thee. 
 
 8  In  a  little  wrath  I  hid  my  face  from  thee 
 for  a  moment ;  '  but  with  everlasting  kindness 
 will  I  have  mercy  on  thee,  saith  the  Lord  thy 
 Redeemer. 
 
 9  For  this  is  as  the  waters  of  '  Noah  unto 
 me :  for  as  I  have  sworn  thai  the  waters  of 
 Noah  should  no  more  go  over  the  earth  ;  so 
 have  I  sworn  that  I  would  not  be  wroth  with 
 thee,  nor  rebuke  thee. 
 
 10  For  '"the  mountains  ."shall  depart,  and  the 
 hills  be  removed  ;  "but  my  kindness  shall  not 
 depart  from  thee,  neither  shall  the  covenant  of 
 my  peace  be  removed,  sailh  the  Lord  that 
 hath  mercy  on  thee. 
 
 11  HO  thou  afnictcd,  tossed  with  tempest, 
 and  not  comforted,  behold,  I  will  lay  thy 
 stones  witli  "  fair  colours,  and  lay  thy  founda- 
 tions witli  sapphires. 
 
 12  And  I  will  make  thy  windows  of  agates, 
 and  thy  gates  of  carbuncles,  and  all  thy  bor- 
 
 !  Jer.  3.  14. 
 ^Liike  1.32 
 
 S  Zecli.  M  9. 
 Rom   3.  29. 
 
 P«   SO.  S. 
 
 ch.  2fi   20. 
 &  (341.  10. 
 SCor.'i.  17. 
 
 k  ch.  5.f,  S. 
 Jcr.  31.  3. 
 
 I  Gen.  fl.  21. 
 &9.  11. 
 ch.  b'n,  II 
 Seejer  31. 
 35,  SO, 
 
 n  Pr.  -16   8. 
 oh   51.  6, 
 Mat    5.  18. 
 
 ,  Ps.  89  33, 
 S*. 
 
 0  ICht  29  S. 
 Hev.  SI    18, 
 
 cir.  7  IS. 
 
 p  cli.  11.  9. 
 Jer.  31.  34. 
 JoliD  G-  4.^ 
 1  Cor.  2.10 
 I  Theft.  4.  9. 
 IJohnsao. 
 
 y  Ps.  119. 
 
 r  ch.  45  24, 
 85 
 
 a  John  4  14. 
 
 ft!  ^. 
 
 Kev.  81.  6. 
 
 A  22.  17 
 b  l-^cclus.ai 
 
 23.  Mat  13. 
 
 44,  46.  Rev 
 
 3.  18. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 wtigh. 
 
 c  Mat.  I1.S8. 
 dch.  W.  3, 
 
 8t  61.  S. 
 
 Jer.  38.  40 
 ee  Sam.  7.  S, 
 
 «cc.  Ps.  8<( 
 
 28.  Acta  13. 
 
 31. 
 /■.lohn  18.37 
 
 Hev.  1.  S. 
 g  Jer.  30.  9. 
 
 Eie.  34.  23 
 
 Hob.  S  5. 
 
 Dan   9.  25. 
 
 ders  of  pleasant  stones. 
 
 13  And  all  thy  children  shall  he  ''taught  of 
 the  Lord  ;  and  ''  great  shall  he  the  peace  of 
 thy  children. 
 
 14  In  righteousness  shall  thou  be  establish- 
 ed :  thou  shall  be  far  from  oppression ;  for 
 thou  shall  not  fear :  and  from  terror ;  for  it 
 shall  not  come  near  thee. 
 
 15  Behold,  they  shall  surely  gather  together, 
 hut  not  by  me  ;  whosoever  shall  gather  to- 
 gether against  tliee  shall  fall  for  thy  sake. 
 
 16  Behold,  I  have  created  the  smith  that 
 bloweth  the  coals  in  the  fire,  and  that  bringeth 
 forth  an  instrument  for  his  work  ;  and  I  have 
 created  the  waster  to  destroy. 
 
 17  IF  No  weapon  that  is  formed  against  thee 
 shall  prosper  ;  and  every  tongue  that  shall  rise 
 against  thee  in  judgment  thou  shall  condemn. 
 This  76-  the  heritage  of  the  servants  of  the 
 Lord,  'and  their  righteousness  is  of  me,  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.   LV. 
 
 I  The  p7-op/itt,  with  the  promises  of  Christ,  calleth  to 
 faith,  6  and  to  repentance,  8  The  happy  success  oj 
 than  that  bcliei^e. 
 
 TITO,  "  every  one  that  thirsteth.  come  ye  to 
 -^-*-  the  waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money  ; 
 ''come  ye,  buy,  and  eat;  yea,  coine,  buy  wine 
 and  milk  without  money  and  without  price. 
 
 2  Wherefore  do  ye  f  spend  money  for  that 
 which  is  not  bread?  and  your  labour  for  that 
 which  satisfieth  not?  hearken  diligently  unto 
 me»  and  eat  ye  that  irhich  is  good,  and  let 
 your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness. 
 
 3  Incline  your  ear,  and  ^  come  unto  me  : 
 hear,  and  your  soul  shall  live  ;  ^  and  I  will 
 make  an  everlasting  covenant  with  you,  even 
 the  °  sure  mercies  of  David. 
 
 4  Behold,  I  have  given  \\\mfor  '^a  witness  to 
 the  people,  ^  a  leader  and  commander  to  the 
 people. 
 
 Tioothr.  The  allasion  is  to  the  tabernacle,  and  the  image  presents  an 
 enlargement  of  the  sacred  tent  to  contain  new  crowds  of  worshippers. 
 3.  Thy  seed  shall  inheiit  the  Gf-ntilts—our  Lord  auci  liis  apostles  were 
 the  natural  seed  of  the  Jewish  church  ;  and  he,  as  the  head  of  the 
 church,  now  inherits  the  nations. — lioothr.  The  desolate  cities—cit'ws 
 dc'ititute  nf  Christ  an rl  his  salvation  should  be  inhabited  by  spiritusl 
 men;  witness  Rome,   Corinth,  Ephesus,  &c.—Gi7/.  4.  Shall  forget 
 
 the  shame,  ^c. — the  glorv  and  bliss  of  her  future  state,  and  multituiie 
 of  her  children,  shall  make  her  forget  her  former  miseries. — Jackmrn. 
 The  shame  of  her  yonth  refers  to  the  hondace  in  Egypt,  and  widow- 
 hood to  the  captivity  in  Babylon.  These  events  shall  hereafter  be  fnr. 
 gotten  in  tlie  joy  and  prosperity  of  the  cluirch,  {comp.  Gen.  xli.  51  ; 
 John,  X.  \&.)— Seeker.  5.  Thy  Maker  is  thine  husband,  "VVt  y^TI, 
 
 'thy  husbands,'  'thy  makers.' — Pise.  The  mystery  of  the  blessed 
 Trinity  is  intimated  ;  and,  in  this  place,  the  term  is  to  be  undcrt^tood  of 
 the  Snn  in  the  communion  of  the  Father  and  Holy  Spirit.—  Vitringa. 
 Mentioned  to  shew  the  love  of  God,  and  to  assure  them  that  he  could 
 and  would  fulfil  hi*;  promi-^cp. — Bouthr.  The  whole  earth,  Jew  nnd 
 Gentile,  Csee  Rom.  iii.  29O — Jackson.  6.  As  a  womany  fyc. — the  Jews 
 had  a  right  of  giving  their  wives  a  hill  of  divorce,  and,  in  some  cases, 
 nf  recalling  them.  So  would  Qnd  do  to  them.— Boo/A*-.  Refused, 
 cast  off  fur  a  time.— HW/s.  p.  For  this  is  as  the  waters  of  Noah,  §c., 
 — the  covrnant  God  would  make  with  his  church  should  be  as  firmly 
 and  certainly  accomplished  in  all  succeeding  generations,  as  that  had 
 been,  and  should  he,  to  the  end  of  the  world.— JacAson.  10.  Hloun- 
 
 taiiis,  ffc,  Babylonian  and  Roman  tyranny  shall  be  brought  down. — 
 Sut.  It  may  be  understood  comparatively  as  well  as  figuratively; 
 sooner  shall  these  depart  than  the  kindness  and  covenant  of  God.— 
 Gill.  W.I  will  lay  thy  stones,  fyc. — the  jjassage  alludes  to  the  mag 
 nificent  Mosaic  work  &c.  of  the  east,  in  which  costly  stones  are  some- 
 times used.— So  Pict.  Bib.  These  seem  to  be  general  images,  to  ex- 
 press beauty,  magnificence,  purity,  strength,  and  soliditv,  agreeably  to 
 the  ideas  of  the  eastern  nations.- /-ouM.  This  and  the  next  verse 
 may,  in  a  qualified  sense,  be  applied  to  the  rebuilding  of  the  city  and 
 
 temple  after  the  captivity,  but  must  have  some  further  meaning.— 
 Preb.  Lowth.  It  contains  a  promise  of  God's  raising  his  church  from 
 its  sad  condition  to  a  state  of  most  transcendent,  and  almost  incre- 
 dible, excellency  and  z^ory .—Jackson.  13.  Taught,  by  the  gosjiel  out 
 wardly,  by  the  Spirit  inwardly, — Jackson.  M.  Fur  from  oppression, 
 alhides  to  the  period  when  the  anti-christian  powers  shall  be  no  more. 
 ~~Gill.  15.  They,  Gog  and  Magog. — Aben  Ezra,  Kintchi,  Ben  Mo- 
 loch. Not  by  me,  to  execute  God's  pleasure,  as  did  Sennacherib,  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar, and  others. — Gill.  16.  /  have  created,  §t. — seeing 
 that  the  smith  that  makes  weapons  of  war,  and  the  soldier  that  nseth 
 them,  arc  both  God's  creatures,  they  must  needs  be  in  his  power,  and 
 disposed  of  according  to  liis  will. — Jackson.  Shall  fall  for  thy  sake,  or 
 *  before  thee.'— /*oo/e.  '  Shall  fall  to  thee.'— Scott.  '  Shall  come  over 
 to  thy  ^\de.'— Lowth.  17.  The  heritnge—thc  benefits  contained  in  the 
 preceding  promises  are  their  most  valuable  portion, — Maccul. 
 
 Chap.  LV.—  1.  Ho,  every  one,  ^c,  Ihe  words,  not  of  the  prophet, 
 but  of  the  Lord.— G(7/.  The  prophet  publishes  the  free  ofTers  of  grace 
 by  the  gospel.  Divine  grace  is  often  represented  under  the  similitude 
 of  streams  and  springs  of  water.— /Vei.  Lo«7/i.  Waters,  ordinances. 
 — Gill.  No  money,  no  merits  of  his  own.— iJ/7.  Wilson.  Buy,  intimates 
 that  something  must  he  parted  with  ;  corrupt  passions,  sinful  practices, 
 bad  company,  an.\ions  worldly  solicitudes,  9ic. — Mac.  2.  Money, 
 time,  strength,  and  cost.— Poole,  so  Gill.  For  that  which  is  not  bread, 
 for  such  knowlt'dge  as  will  not  pr^  fit  yuw.^Prrh.  Loioih.  Such  as  the 
 vain  philos'iphy  of  the  Gentiles,  the  traditions  of  the  Jews,  and  the 
 errors  and  heresies  of  false  teachers. —  Gill.  3.  /  will  make  an  ever- 
 lastijtg  covenant,  D?!?  n'12  W^b  TtD'Oti.  '  I  will  cut  the  old  or  everlast- 
 ing covenant  sacrifice  with  you.'— .-I.  Clarke.  David,  put  for  the  Mes- 
 siah, who  was  to  be  David's  son  and  successor,  and  who  is  therefore 
 called  David  in  the  prophetical  scriptures,  (Jer.  xxx.  9;  Ezek.  xxxiv. 
 2.3,  2-1 ;  xxxvii.  24,  25  ;  Hos.  iii.  5.)  This  is  the  more  probable  because 
 the  next  verse,  closely  connected  with  this,  is  confessedly  understond 
 of  Christ.— Poo/e.  4.  Him,  '  Christ:— Wells.  Poole,  Gill.     A  leader 
 
 and  commander,  a  sovereign  prince  to  give  his  people  laws. — Poole. 
 
 REFLtCTiONS  ON  Chap.  LIV.  —  Observe  here,  I.  The 
 certnirt  prosper iti/ a7id  safety  of  the  church.  She  is  here  exhi- 
 bited in  the  number  of  her  converts,  in  the  Vmld  attitude  she 
 shall  assume  in  the  face  of  Iier  enemies,  and  in  the  lasting  in- 
 terest she  shall  possess  in  the  Divine  f:\vour.~.*;inall  /noni,  nfs 
 of  sorrow  boins  beautifully  contrasted  with  (jrcat  wrrci'S.  nn*!  n 
 110 
 
 Utile  wrath  with  everlasting  hindness, 
 
 II.  Th&certain  discomfiture  and  ruin  of  her  enemies.  Kvery 
 hostile  weapon  shall  iail,  and  every  hostile  tongue  be  silenced  ; 
 and  at  the  great  day  sinners  shall  answer  for  all  their  •  hard 
 speeches'  spokfU  aeaiaat  Christ  and  bis  church. 
 
The  happy  success  of  believers. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LVI.,  LVII. 
 
 The  promise  of  sanctijication. 
 
 5  "  Behold,  thou  shall  call  a  nation  that  thou 
 knowest  not,  '  and  nations  that  Icnew  not  thee 
 sliall  inn  unto  thee  because  of  tlie  Lord  thy 
 God,  and  for  tlie  Holy  One  of  Israel ;  '  for  he 
 hath  glorified  thee. 
 
 C  K  '  Seek  ye  the  LoRi>  while  he  may  be 
 found,  call  ye  upon  him  while  he  is  near : 
 
 7  '"  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  tthe 
 unrighteous  man  "  his  thoughts  :  and  let  him 
 return  inito  tlie  Lord,  "and  he  will  have  mercy 
 upon  him  ;  and  to  our  God,  for  f  he  will  abun- 
 dantly pardon. 
 
 8  K  ''  For  my  thoughts  are  not  your  thoughts, 
 neither  are  your  ways  my  ways,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 9  ''  For  as  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the 
 earth,  so  are  my  ways  higher  than  your  ways, 
 and  my  thoughts  than  your  thoughts. 
 
 10  For  'as  the  rain  cometh  down,  and  the 
 snow  from  heaven,  and  returneth  not  thither, 
 lint  vvatereth  the  earth,  and  maketli  it  bring 
 forth  and  bud,  that  it  may  give  seed  to  the 
 sower,  and  bread  to  the  eater  : 
 
 1 1  "  So  shall  my  word  be  that  goeth  forth  out 
 of  my  mouth  ;  it  shall  not  return  unto  me  void, 
 but  it  shall  accomplish  that  which  I  please,  and 
 it  shall  prosper  in  the  thinr/  whereto  I  sent  it. 
 
 I'2  'For  ye  shall  go  out  with  joy,  and  be  led 
 forth  with  peace  :  the  mountains  and  the  hills 
 shall  "break  forth  before  you  into  sin.  :ing,  and 
 'all  the  trees  of  the  field  shall  clap  their  hands. 
 
 13  ''  Instead  of  ^  the  thorn  shall  come  up  the 
 fir  tree,  and  instead  of  the  brier  shall  come  up 
 the  myrtle  tree  :  and  it  shall  be  to  the  Lord 
 "for  a  name,  for  an  everlasting  sign  that  shall 
 not  be  cut  off. 
 
 CHAP.  LVI 
 
 I  Tlte  prophet  exhortetli  to  sanctijication.  3  He  pl'O- 
 ntisetti  it  s/tali  be  general  wit/iottt  respect  of  persons. 
 9  He  inveifftictti  ayainst  blind  watchmen, 
 nPHUS  saith  the  Lord,  Keep  ye  j|  judgment, 
 ■*-  and  do  justice  :  "  for  my  salvation  is  near 
 to  come,  and  my  righteousness  to  be  revealed 
 
 2  Bles.sed  is  the  man  that  doeth  this,  and  the 
 son  of  man  that  layeth  hold  on  it;  ''  that  keep- 
 eth  the  sabbath  from  polluting  it,  and  keepeth 
 his  hand  from  doing  any  evil. 
 
 3  t  Neither  let  "  the  son  of  the  stranger,  that 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir   712. 
 
 A  c-h.  52.  15. 
 
 Kfli.  2.  11, 
 
 1-i. 
 .  cli.  60.  5. 
 k  cli.  IKi  9. 
 
 Acts:!.  13 
 /  P>.  32.  6. 
 
 Hi  .It.  5.  25. 
 
 ^  25.  II. 
 
 .John  7  'H 
 
 ft  8.  21. 
 
 2  Cor.  0.1, 2 
 
 IIl.|>.  3.  13 
 .»  cli.  I.  111. 
 t  Het>.  Itt.i 
 
 ,.„l.,. 
 
 ,  Zei-h.  8  17 
 /  I's  VtO.  7 
 Jer  M  12. 
 t  Hell,  he 
 will  mnll,- 
 pitj  l»  pur- 
 
 It  2  Sn,  7.  19 
 7  Ps.  103  1 1. 
 
 (ch.  S"i.  10. 
 &65. 13,  14 
 
 u  Ps  96.  12, 
 8<  9^1  S.  ch 
 11.  8.  &  33 
 I,  2.  fa  42. 
 II. 
 
 X  I  Chr.  16. 
 33. 
 
 ysh.  41.  19. 
 
 I  Mic.  7   4. 
 
 li  Jer.  13.  II 
 
 II  Or,  ,qu,ls. 
 
 n  ch.  16.  13 
 Mat.  3.  2  & 
 4.  17  Kom. 
 13.  11,  12. 
 
 b  ch.  58.  13. 
 
 c  See  Deut. 
 23.  I,  2,  3 
 AclH  S.  27. 
 &  In.  I.  2, 
 31.  8t  17.  4 
 &  18.  7. 
 I  Pet.  I.  1. 
 
 /ch.  a.  8 
 IFet.1.1,2. 
 
 g  Bora.  12. 1. 
 
 Hrt.  13.  15. 
 
 i  Pet.  2.  5. 
 A  Mat.  21.  13 
 
 .Mark  11.17. 
 
 Luke  10.46. 
 
 Mai.  1-  II. 
 
 k  Ps.  147.  2. 
 
 ch    II.  12. 
 /  Johu  10.16 
 
 Kph.  I.IO  & 
 
 2.  14,15,  16. 
 t  Heb.  lo  hit 
 
 .^itthntd. 
 m  Jer.  12.  9. 
 
 ..Mat.  15.14 
 8(  23    16. 
 .  Phil.  3.  2. 
 
 II  Or,  Jrram- 
 iug,  or,  t'llk- 
 itili  It,  fftsir 
 
 t  Heb  itruiig 
 "f  lyp^tite. 
 
 p  Mic.  3    11 
 
 t  Heb.  hmvi 
 mil  to  be 
 i'llisjieit. 
 
 q  Eze.  34.2,3 
 
 •  P».  10.  6. 
 Pro.  23.  35. 
 ch.  22.  13. 
 Luke  12  19. 
 I  Cor.  15.32. 
 
 t  licb  ',• 
 kiii.t.ici 
 Si.iHii.,, 
 
 hath  joined  himself  to  the  Lord,  speak,  saying, 
 The  Lord  hath  utterly  separated  me  from  his 
 people  :  neither  let  the  eunuch  .say.  Behold,  I 
 am  a  dry  tree. 
 
 4  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  the  eunuchs 
 that  keep  my  sabbaths,  and  choose  the  things 
 that  please  me,  and  take  hold  of  my  covenant ; 
 
 3  Even  unto  them  will  I  give  in  ''mine house 
 and  within  my  walls  a  place  "and  a  name 
 better  than  of  sons  and  of  daughters  :  I  will 
 give  them  an  everlasting  name,  that  shall  not 
 be  cut  off. 
 
 6  Also  the  sons  of  the  stranger,  that  join 
 themselves  to  the  Lord,  to  serve  him,  and  to 
 love  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  be  his  servants, 
 every  one  that  keepeth  the  sabbath  from  pol- 
 luting it,  and  taketh  hold  of  my  covenant ; 
 
 7  Even  them  will  I  '  bring  to  my  holy  moun- 
 tain, and  make  them  joyful  in  my  house  of 
 prayer  :  '^  their  burnt  offerings  and  tlieir  sacri- 
 fices s/io//  be  accepted  upon  mine  altar;  for 
 "  mine  house  shall  be  called  an  house  of  prayer 
 
 for  all  people. 
 
 8  The  Lord  God  ''  which  gathereth  the  out- 
 casts of  Israel  saith,  '  Yet  will  I  gather  others 
 to  him,  t  beside  those  that  are  gathered  unto 
 him. 
 
 9  IT  ■"  All  ye  beasts  of  the  field,  come  to  de- 
 vour, yea,  all  ye  beasts  in  the  forest. 
 
 10  His  watchmen  are  "  blind  :  they  are  all 
 ignorant,  °  they  are  all  dumb  dogs,  tliey  cannot 
 bark  ;  ||  sleeping,  lying  down,  loving  to  slum- 
 ber. 
 
 1 1  Yea,  they  are  f ''  greedy  dogs  which  f ''  can 
 never  have  enough,  and  tliey  are  shepherds 
 that  cannot  understand  :  they  all  look  to  their 
 own  way,  every  one  for  his  gain,  from  his 
 quarter. 
 
 12  Come  ye,  say  they,  I  will  fetch  wine,  and 
 we  will  fill  ourselves  with  strong  drink  ;  '  and 
 to  morrow  shall  be  as  this  day,  a7id  much  more 
 abundant. 
 
 CHAP.  LVII. 
 
 1  The  hlesstd  death  of  the  righteous.  3  God  nprovith 
 the  Jews  for  their  whorish  idoUitry.  13  He  givfth 
 evangelical  promises  to  the  penittiU. 
 
 T^HE  righteous  perisheth,  and  no  man  layeth 
 -*-    it  to  heart:  and  f^  merciful  men  am  taken 
 
 •J.  Abundant ty  pardon,  TV\^zh  TT^T.  'multiply  to  pardon,'  as  innrf^in. 
 8.  My  t/ioiiffhts,  fyc,  my  revelatiim  of  mercy,  and  pardon,  and  faithful- 
 ness in  fullilling  prumises.  far  exceed  the  measures  uf  human  proceed- 
 ings.— Preh.Lowth,  12.  Ye  shull  ^o  out  with  joy,  ^c,  may  flistantly 
 allude  to  the  return  from  Babylon,  biit  far  greater  events  are  evidently 
 intended.— Sco/^  13.  Instead  off  he  thorn,  ^C-,  instead  of  the  Wicked 
 shall  arise  the  just ;  and,  instead  of  sinners,  sn>h  as  fear  to  sin,  Chald. 
 For  a  name,  bring  much  honour  to  Gnd. — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  LVI.  —  1.  My  sahmtion  is  near,  the  time  was  fa-.t  approaching 
 when  God  would  fulfil  his  many  promises. — B'lothr.  3.  Strarif^er — 
 eunuch,  two  descriptions  of  persons  who,  looking  at  tlic  economy  of 
 tlie  Old  Testament,  might  expect  an  inferior  share  in  the  kingdom  of 
 Christ,  (see  Deut.  xxiii.  1 — 3.) — Vitr.  Dry  tree — people  without  pos- 
 terity are,  in  the  east,  still  called  dry  trees. — Itolt.  ."j.  Better  than  of 
 sons  and  of  dmighters — it  was  deemed  a  great  misfortune,  and  even 
 disgrace,  among  the  Jews,  to  be  childless. — Scott.         7.  Mine  house. 
 
 i.  e.,  '  my  church.*  All  ^ieople,  GfntV.c^  as  well  as  Jews. — Jackson. 
 9.  AH  ye,  ^c,  this  is  a  new  prophecy.— /*;  ^6.  Lowth.  'Ihis  is  a  new 
 section.— LouVA,  Jackson.  The  prophet,  having  comforted  the  faithful 
 Jews,  now  sharply  reproves  the  wicked,  &c.,  who  woulii  still  draw 
 down  his  judgments  upon  the  nation. — Luwtk.  Beasts  of  the  field,  un. 
 derstand  Egyptians,  banditti  of  Chaldeans,  Sj  rians,  Moabites,  Ammon- 
 ites, &c.— So  Hew.  and  Preh.  Lou-th.  10.  Dumb  dogs— it  was  their 
 duty  to  sound  the  alarm  and  admonish  the  people,  which  they  neg- 
 lected-— So  Boot hr.  it.  For  his  gain,  from  his  quarttr,  getting  as 
 much  as  possible  from  all  soits  of  persons  underhis  jurisdiction. — Gill. 
 inilpD.  *  from  his  extremity,'  i.  e.,  perhaps,  let  the  object  of  hi.s  gain  be 
 ever  so  remote,  he  pursues  it. — Hew. 
 
 Chap.  LVII.  —  1.  The  righteous  perisheth,  inN  pH^jn.  There  is  an 
 emphasis  here  which  seems  to  point  out  a  paiticular  person.  There 
 are  very  few  places  in  Isaiah  where  Jesus  Christ  is  not  intended,  and 
 He  is  probably  intended  here,  '  that  Just  One.'    That  his  death  was 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  LV,  —  Behold  here,  I.  The  frec- 
 ness  and  fuhuss  of  Divine  grace.  This  is  the  language  of  the 
 gospel — '  Whosoever  will,  let  him  come,  and  take  of  the  water 
 of  life  freely.' 
 
 II.  The  folly  of  earthly  pursuits.  Can  any  of  them  satisfy  the 
 soul  1     '  Vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity.' 
 
 III.  The  importa?ire  ofin.^tant  attention  to  spiritual  and  eternal 
 blessings.  God  now^  waits  to  be  gracious.  His  feast  of  mercy 
 is  spread,  and  though  myriads  of  guests  have  partaken  of  it, 
 '  yet  there  is  room.*  The  door  is  now  open,  but  who  knows 
 bow  soon  it  may  be  shut. 
 
 IV.  The  idtimate  success  of  the  goxpel  invitation.  Though 
 many  may  be  so  infatuated  as  to  disregard  God's  call,  vet  in 
 
 771 
 
 the  end,  his  word  shall  not  return  unto  him  void.  Crowds 
 shall  rush  in  to  *  the  feast  of  fat  things  ;'  they  shall  repent  and 
 forsake  their  lying  vanities  ;  ihey  shall  cheerfully  embrace  the 
 sweet  promises  made  to  sinners  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  and,  feeding 
 on  this  bread  of  life,  shall  live  for  ever. 
 
 RtFLECTioNs  ON  Chap.  LVL  —  I.  Let  us  love  andkeert  God*s 
 sabbaths  with  all  their  privik'jes,  and  so,  while  we  attend  to  the 
 means  of  grace,  we  shall  enjoy  the  grace  of  the  means. 
 
 II.  Let  us  rejoice  in  the  extension  of  Divine  privileges.  They 
 belong  to  the'Gentile  and  to  the  Jew;  and  strangers,  to  the 
 commonwealth  of  Israel,  and  aliens  from  the  covenant  of  pro- 
 mise, may  now,  through  Christ,  all  meet  in  one  temple^  and 
 be  made  joyful  in  the  house  of  prayer. 
 
The  Jews  reproved  for  idolatry. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LVII. 
 
 Promises  to  the  penitent. 
 
 away,  ''  none  considering  that  the  righteous  is 
 taken  away  ||  from  the  evil  to  come. 
 
 2  He  siiali  ||  enter  into  peace  :  they  shall 
 rest  in  *"  tlieir  beds,  each  one  walking  ||  in  his 
 uprightness. 
 
 3  t  But  draw  near  hither,  ^  ye  sons  of  the  sor- 
 ceress, the  seed  of  the  adulterer  and  the  whore. 
 
 4  Against  whom  do  ye  sport  yourselves  ? 
 against  whom  make  ye  a  wide  mouth,  and 
 draw  out  the  tongue?  are  ye  not  children  of 
 trans:gression,  a  seed  of  falsehood, 
 
 5  Enflaming  yourselves  ||  wit!i  idols  *  under 
 every  green  tree,  ^  slaying  tiie  children  in  the 
 valleys  under  the  clifts  of  the  rocks? 
 
 6  Among  the  smooth  stones  of  the  stream  is 
 tliy  portion  ;  they,  they  are  thy  lot  :  even  to 
 them  hast  thou  poured  a  drink  offering,  thou 
 hast  offered  a  meat  offering.  Should  I  receive 
 comfort  in  these  ? 
 
 7  ^  Upon  a  lofty  and  high  mountain  hast 
 thou  set  ^  thy  bed  :  even  thither  wentest  thou 
 up  to  offer  sacrifice. 
 
 8  Behind  the  doors  also  and  the  posts  hast 
 thou  set  up  thy  remembrance  :  for  thou  Iiast 
 discovered  ihi/self  to  another  than  me,  and 
 art  gone  up  ;  tliou  hast  enlarged  thy  bed,  and 
 II  made  thee  a  covenant  with  them  ;  '  thou 
 Jovedst  their  bed  ||  where  thou  sawest  it. 
 
 9  And  II  *' thou  wentest  to  the  king  with 
 ointment,  and  didst  increase  thy  perfumes, 
 and  didst  send  thy  messengers  far  off,  and 
 didst  debase  thysetf  even  unto  hell. 
 
 10  Thou  art  wearied  in  the  greatness  of  thy 
 way  ;  '  yet  saidst  thou  not,  There  is  no  hope  : 
 thou  hast  found  the  ||  life  of  thine  hand  ;  there- 
 fore thou  wast  nut  grieved. 
 
 1 1  And  "'  of  whom  hast  thou  been  afraid  or 
 feared,  that  thou  hast  lied,  and  hast  not  re- 
 
 ft 1  IvilUS 
 See  8  Ki  -ja 
 SO.  VVisd.4. 
 2.),  Jtc. 
 
 II  Or,/r  m 
 titnt  uhich  it 
 eid. 
 
 II  Or,  go  in 
 
 fflrP. 
 
 I.uke  9  29 
 c  2  Chr.  1 6. 
 
 \*. 
 II  Or,  bi-fore 
 
 d  Mat.  16.  4. 
 
 ■lO'tg 
 
 II  Or,  0 
 thr  ooh: 
 ch.  I.  ::9. 
 '2  Kin.  16 
 4.  fc  17    10. 
 Jer.  «    -Jl) 
 /'Lev.  \S.-Z\ 
 8c  ■_().  -Z. 
 2  Kin.  le..-!. 
 &  i3,  ill. 
 Jer.  7.  31. 
 Eze.  IG.  20. 
 &  20.  -.'fi. 
 
 ^  Rzek.  16. 
 
 IG,  'ib. 
 h  Kic.  23.41 
 
 Uf.,T  thg.^t. 
 liirger  tluiit 
 
 Or,  Ih-u 
 
 &  ■:.•!.  IG 
 
 Hos    7.  M. 
 &  12.  I. 
 
 I  Jer.  2,  2^. 
 
 II  Ovyliving. 
 m  ch.  bl.  IS, 
 
 13. 
 
 It    C 
 cir.  6!*8. 
 
 iPs.  50,  21. 
 
 p  .Inh  6.  10 
 
 Liikp  I,  -19. 
 1  I's.  ey   4. 
 Zech.  'i.  13. 
 ■  Vs.  34    Irt 
 A  .^1.   17.  & 
 l.«,  6.  ch. 
 nii   2. 
 I's    117    3. 
 .h    Gl.  1. 
 IN.  85    b. 
 .\  lii:t.  9 
 y'u-    7    IS, 
 
 .f.b.St.  14. 
 
 H(.-li,  l2.  9. 
 
 J or   6    13 
 
 V  ch    8.  17. 
 
 Bl   Ih.  ib 
 :  ch.  '1.  13, 
 t  Hib.  I'lfu- 
 
 Jer.  3.  ^2. 
 
 6  ch.  Gl    2, 
 
 Heb  13.  15. 
 
 :  Aclfi2.  39. 
 Ki.h.  2.  17. 
 
 •  J..bl5  20, 
 he.  Pro.  I,  I 
 llj. 
 
 membered  me,  nor  laid  it  to  thy  heart  ?  "  have 
 not  I  held  my  peace  even  of  old,  and  thou 
 fearest  me  not? 
 
 12  I  will  declare  thy  righteousness,  and  thy 
 works  ;  for  they  shall  nut  profit  thee. 
 
 13  \  When  thou  criest,  let  thy  companies 
 deliver  thee;  but  the  wind  shall  carry  tliem 
 all  away  ;  vanity  shall  take  thvm  :  hut  he  that 
 putteth  his  trust  in  me  shall  possess  the  land, 
 and  shall  inherit  my  holy  mountain  ; 
 
 14  And  shall  say,  **  Cast  ye  up,  cast  ye  np, 
 prepare  the  way,  take  up  the  stumblingblock 
 out  of  the  way  of  my  people. 
 
 lo  For  tluissaith  the  high  and  lofty  One  that 
 inhabiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy  ;  ''  I 
 dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place,''  \\\i\\  him 
 also  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  '  to 
 revive  the  spirit  of  the  humble,  and  to  revive 
 the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones. 
 
 IG  *  For  I  will  not  contend  for  ever,  neither 
 will  I  be  always  wroth  :  for  the  spirit  should 
 fail  before  me,  and  the  souls  "  which  I  have 
 made. 
 
 17  For  the  iniijuity  of  ^  his  covetousncss  was 
 I  wroth,  and  smote  him  :  ^  1  hid  me,  and  was 
 wroth,  ^  and  he  went  on  f  frowardly  in  the  way 
 of  his  heart. 
 
 18  I  have  seen  his  ways,  and  "  will  heal  him  : 
 I  will  lead  him  also,  and  restore  comforts  unto 
 him  and  to  ^  his  mourners. 
 
 19  1  create  "^  the  fruit  of  the  lips  ;  Peace, 
 peace  "^  to  him  that  is  far  off,  and  to  him  that 
 is  near,  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  I  will  heal  him. 
 
 20  ®  But  the  wicked  are  like  the  troubled 
 sea,  when  it  cannot  rest,  whose  waters  cast  up 
 mire  and  dirt. 
 
 121''  There  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the 
 I  wicked. 
 
 r.nt  laid  to  heart  by  the  wicked  Jewish  people  nceris  no  proof.— A. Cltirke. 
 The  death  of  good  Hezrkiah  is  probably  rleooted,— ire^/s;  or  it  may 
 signify  Josiah.— Fit*.  Louth.  Ju'^t  and  holy  men,  who  are  the  pil- 
 lars of  the  place  and  state  in  which  they  live.— Poole.  Perhheth,  ^l^t, 
 signifies  '  the  straying  of  cattle,'  their  passing  away  from  one  pastuie 
 to  another.  In  his  death,  the  righteous  man  may  be  said  to  have 
 passed  UirougU  life,  and  to  have  passed  by  men  into  the  eternal  world. 
 —A.  Clarke.  2.  Enter  into  peace,  or  '  go  to  his  fathers,'  as  is  fully 
 expressed  Gen.  xv.  15  —Poo'e.  These  words  appear  to  be  an  allusion 
 to  the  future  state.— 5.  Clnrke.  Beds,  may  mean  graves,  from  afigure 
 '.f  speech  allowable  in  all  languages.— //m-.  As  death  is  comp:ired  to 
 sleep,  so  the  grave  to  lying  down  in  a  bed.  'see  chap.  xiv.  18  )~Preb. 
 I.nuth.  3,  Sons  ff  the  sorceress,  persons  given  up  to  sorcery. — 
 Boothr.  Sons  of  the  aposta'^e  church  of  Rome  are  intt'nded,  the  spi- 
 ritual Babylnn.— GiV/.  Seed  of  the  adulterer,  not  to  be  understood  pro- 
 perly,  but  figuratively.— /'ot./?.  It  means  the  oflfspring  of  Ihc  adulterous 
 church.  —  Scott.  Commentators  misunderstand  various  passages, 
 when,  in  a  sweeping  way,  they  explain  whoredoms  to  signify  idolatry  ; 
 this  is  implied,  but  ofTcnsive  practices  are  included.— Ko6.  5.  En. 
 flnming.  expressive  of  burning  ze&.\.~Gill ,-  and  a  comparison  between 
 idolatry  and  the  rage  of  lust,  (see  Ezek.  xvi.  23.)  Those  shady  grove-;, 
 dedicated  to  idol  worship,  also  afl'orded  a  covert  and  pretext  for  all 
 manner  of  impurities,  (see  Hos.  iv.  13,  l-i.)~Preh.  Louth.  Gratif>ing 
 every  evil  desire  in  the  impure  worship  of  Baal  and  Molech,  (comp. 
 2  Kings,  xvi.,  and  xvii.  15,  8iC.)—Bootfir.  Sloping  the  children,  ofTer- 
 ing  them  in  sacrifice  to  Moleeh  ;  prohibited  Lev.  xx.  2;  practised 
 aChron.  xxvi-i.  3;  2  Kings  xxiii.  10;  Ezek.  xvi.  20.—Preb.  Lowth. 
 6.  Smooth  sfo-ie!',  ^c. — of  the  worship  of  rude  stones  consecrated, 
 [called  fSniTvKot  and  /BaiTvXia,'}  there  are  many  tcsiimonies  of  the  an- 
 cients. Thenphraslus  says  of  the  superstitious  man.  'Passing  by  the 
 anointed  stones  in  the  streets,  he  takes  out  his  vial  of  oil  and  pours  it 
 on  them  ;  and  having  fallen  on  his  knees  and  made  his  adoration,  he 
 ''eparts.'— io(t7A.  Here  seems  to  be  an  allusion  to  ihe  customs  the 
 Jews  had  of  building  their  oratories,  proseuehe^^.  or  places  of  public 
 prayer,  near  rivers,  or  by  the  sea  side,  for  the  sake  of  puiification,  a 
 custom  also  commrn  among  the  heathen. — See  Prid.  The  consecrated 
 stones,  /larvhot,  are  probably  not  intended.  The  Salam  stone,  in  its 
 rough  sta'e,  is  worshipped  by  the  Hindoos,  and  it  is  worn  as  a  charm  j 
 Its  general  size  is  that  of  a  nutmeg,  jt  is  literally,  the  slone  of  the 
 brook  or  the  iivcr,  and  is  identified  with  the  same  gross  system  of 
 ido  atry  which  prevailed  in  ancient  Assyria,  to  whose  kings,  or  those 
 of  Egypt,  (Hos.  xii.  I,)  the  Jews  had  sent  messengers  to  f.-rm  an  un- 
 holy alliance.— So  Roh.  ;.  Thi/  bed,  such  a  bed  as  was  used  at  feasts, 
 (comp.  l.zik.  xxni.  41;  Amos,  ii.  8.)  prepared  for  the  entertainment 
 which  was  given  with  pait  of  the  oblation.— Prei.  Lowth.  In  tuch 
 situations  they  used  to  pass  the  night,  for  the  purpose  of  necromancy 
 and  divination.- See  Grotin^.  There  is,  at  the  '^ame  time,  a  continued 
 a.lusion  to  the  practice  of  an  adulteiess.— J/.mA.    The  idolatry  of  the 
 
 church  of  Rome  is  here  all  along  expressed,  in  language  agreeable  to 
 tlie  hcalhen  id-latry.  antt  in  allusion  to  it. — Gill.  8.  Behinit  thedoors, 
 ^c,  alludes  to  the  lares,  or  household  tutelary  gods,  put  in  those  places 
 where  Ihe  precepts  of  Moses  ought  to  have  been,  (comp.  Ueut.  vi.  g  -, 
 xi.  ^0.) — So  St.  Jernme.  This  was  done  in  defiance  of  a  particular 
 curse,  denounced  Dent,  xxvii.  15.  —  Louth.  Discovered  tht/sv'f.'cx- 
 pohed  thy  person,'  prostituted  thjself ;  figures  taken  from  harlots. — 
 Heiv.  They  had  committed  spiritual  adultery.- P/-ei.  Lutvth.  9.  To 
 the  king,  may  possibly  correctly  read,  '  .Moloch,'  continuing  the  dis- 
 course on  their  idolatries. — L.  iloldrn.  With  ointment,  as  a  present. 
 Hosca  reproaches  the  Israelites  for  the  same  prai^tice,  (chap.  xii.  1.) — 
 Lowth.  AH  great  men  expect  a  present,  as  a  tribute  due  to  their 
 character  and  authority. — Lowth.  to.  Thou  nrt  wtaried,  fyc,  i.e., 
 
 thou  hast  tried  all  ways  to  save  thyself,  by  the  friendship  of  princes 
 and  their  gods  ;  thou  hast  been  disaiipointed,  yet  still  conceivest  hopes. 
 Thou  hast  found  the  life,  f,c.,  '  thou  hast  made  a  shift  by  these  methods 
 to  support  thyself  for  the  present.'— Preft.  Lowth.  11.  Lied,  '  dealt 
 
 falsely.'     .ind  hast  not  remembered  me,  ^c. — 
 
 *  And  ihou  hast  not  remembered  me,  nor  laid  it  to  heart. 
 Is  it  not  because  I  have  been  long  silent, 
 
 That  me  thou  hast  not  feared  ?' — Boothr. 
 
 V2.  I  u'ill  declare  thy  righteousness.  §r  .  ironically,  thy  hypocrisy,  thy 
 wickedness,  by  publicly  delivering  thee  into  the  hands  of  thine  enemies. 
 — Swi.  He  would  shew  openly  the  nature  tf  their  righteousness  and 
 works,  and  prove  them  to  be  worthless  and  unprofitable. — Scott.  Per- 
 haps the  word  might  be  rendered  'expose,'  'develop,'  or  'lay  open' 
 thy  riglitcousncss,  and  shew  its  hypocrisy. — So  Gataker. 
 
 *  But  I  will  declare  my  righteousness,*  &c. 
 
 Lowth,  Boothr.,  as  the  Spr.,  and  .Irnh. 
 
 13.  Shall  possess  the  land,  fulfilled  literally  to  the  restored  Jews,  hut  the 
 spiritual  sense  is  the  fiee  grace  of  God,  offeiirg  pardon  and  salvation 
 to  all  thrit  repent  and  believe  in  Christ.—  Wngun.  14.  And  shall  sni/, 
 ^■c,  TDNTi  'then  will  I  say,  "cast  up,"  &:c.^— Boothr.,  Lowth.  They 
 are  the  words  of  God,  as  is  plain  from  the  conclusiin  r>f  the  verse,  '  my 
 l)io\i\e,'  •'■QV-— Lowth.  16.  Should  fail,  'would  be  overwhelmed.*— 
 Louth,  so  Boothr.  17.  For  the  iniquity  of  his  covetousness,  fyc. — 
 
 this  was  a  prevailing  sin  in  Israel,  therefore  thty  were  afflicted,  but 
 grew  worse  rather  than  better  hy  ihe  correction.  Vet  God  would  have 
 compassion  upon  them,  out  of  regard  to  the  few  gnod  men  that  were 
 among  them. — Boothr.  '  Because  of  his  iniquity,  for  a  short  time  1 
 was  wroth.'  19.  /  create  thefrnit  of  the  lips — the  sacrifice  of  praise, 
 saith  St.  Paul,  [Heb.  xiii.  15.)  'is  the  fruit  of  the  lips.'  God  creates 
 this  fruit,  by  givins;  new  subject  and  cause  of  thanksgiving. — Lowth. 
 21 .  There  is  no  peace,  ^c— the  46th  chapter  ends  with  the  same  words, 
 to  express  the  exclusion  of  unbelievers  and  impenitent  from  the  benefit 
 (•f  the  foregoing  promises. — Clarke. 
 
The  prophet  reproneth  hypocrisy. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LVIII. 
 
 The  reward  of  godliness. 
 
 CHAP.  LVIII. 
 
 1  The  prop/iei,  hciiv/  sent  to  reprove  /n/pncrisi/,  3  ex~ 
 prc-isef/t  a  counterfeit  fast  ami  a  true.  8  He  de- 
 elai-eth  what  promises  are  due  unto  (/odlineis,  13  and 
 to  the  keepinf/  of  the  sabbath. 
 
 ORY  t  aloud,  spare  not,  lift  up  thy  voice 
 ^~^  like  a  trumpet,  and  shew  my  people  their 
 transgres-sion,  and  the  house  of  Jacob  their 
 sins. 
 
 2  Yet  they  seek  me  daily,  and  delight  to 
 know  my  ways,  as  a  nation  that  did  righteous- 
 ness, and  forsook  not  the  ordinance  of  their 
 God:  they  ask  of  me  the  ordinances  of  justice  ; 
 they  take  delight  in  approaching  to  God. 
 
 3  II  "  Whercl'ore  have  we  fasted,  say  they, 
 and  tliou  seest  not?-it.'/jerc_/o;-c  have  we  ''af- 
 flicted our  soul,  and  thou  takest  no  know- 
 ledge? Behold,  in  the  day  of  your  fast  ye 
 find  pleasure,  and  exact  all  your  ||t  labours. 
 
 4  ''  Beliold,  ye  fast  for  strife  and  debate,  and 
 to  smite  with  the  fist  of  wickedness  :  ||  ye  shall 
 not  fast  as  ye  lio  this  day,  to  make  your  voice 
 to  be  heard  on  high. 
 
 5  Is  it  ■'  such  a  fast  that  I  have  cliosen  ?  °  ||  a 
 day  for  a  man  to  afflict  his  soul  ?  is  it  to  bow 
 down  his  head  as  a  bulrush,  and  '  to  spread 
 sackcloth  and  ashes  under  him  ?  wilt  thou 
 call  tliis  a  fast,  and  an  acceptable  day  to  the 
 Lord  ? 
 
 G  />•  not  this  the  fast  that  I  have  chosen  ?  to 
 loose  the  bands  of  wickedness,  ^  to  undo  t  "'? 
 heavy  burdens,  and  ''  to  let  the  f  oppressed  go 
 free,  and  that  ye  break  every  yoke  ? 
 
 7  Is  it  not  '  to  deal  thy  bread  to  the  hungry, 
 and  that  tliou  bring  the  poor  that  are  ||  cast 
 out  to  tliy  house  ?  ^  when  thou  seest  the  naked, 
 tliat  tliou  cover  him  ;  and  that  thou  hide  not 
 thyself  from  '  thine  own  flesh  ? 
 
 8  II "'  Then  shall  thy  light  break  forth  as  the 
 
 B.  C.  B.  C 
 
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 b  Lev.  IC  SP, 
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 olh'^rs. 
 t  Heli.i^r.V/,. 
 r  I  Kin.  SI. 
 
 9,  \2,  13. 
 '  II  Of,  j,»/...( 
 
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 d:,,. 
 il  Zech   7.  5. 
 r  I.t'V    16  29. 
 llOr,  l„  o#R( 
 
 hu  soul  for 
 
 n  tint/. 
 /  Esth.  *,  3. 
 
 Job  2.  8 
 
 Dan,  9.  3. 
 
 Jnnah  3.  ti. 
 S  Nph.  5   10, 
 
 11.  IS. 
 t  Helj.  dm 
 
 f^MdUs  ../ 
 
 Mp  ynke. 
 h  lev.  34.  9. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 briikt^t. 
 iEztfk.  IS.  7. 
 
 16.  Mat.  25. 
 
 35. 
 II  Or, 
 
 tiJHictfd. 
 It  .hih  31.   19. 
 /  Geti.  S9.M. 
 
 Neh.  5.  fi. 
 m  Job  11.  17. 
 
 J  Heb 
 
 dT;U!/l,lt 
 
 t  Heb  (iV.or 
 p  ch.  Gl.  4. 
 
 7  cb.  56.  2. 
 
 M  Deu.  32.1.S. 
 &  33.  29. 
 
 (ch.  1.20. 
 8c  40.  5. 
 Mic.  4.  4. 
 
 morning,  and  thine  health  shall  spring  forth 
 speedily  :  and  thy  righteousness  shall  go  be- 
 fore thee  ;  "  the  glory  of  the  Loud  f  shall  be 
 tliy  rereward. 
 
 9  Tlien  shalt  thou  call,  and  the  Lord  .shall 
 answer  ;  thou  shalt  cry,  and  he  sliall  say.  Here 
 I  am.  If  thou  take  away  from  the  midst  of 
 tliee  the  yoke,  tlie  putting  forth  of  the  finger, 
 and  °  speaking  vanity  ; 
 
 10  And  if  thou  draw  out  thy  soul  to  the 
 hungry,  and  satisfy  the  afflicted  soul  ;  then 
 shall  thy  light  rise  in  obscurity,  and  thy  dark- 
 ness he  as  the  noon  day  : 
 
 1 1  And  the  Lokd  shall  guide  thee  continually, 
 and  satisfy  thy  soul  in  f  drouglit,  and  make  fat 
 thy  bones  :  and  thou  shalt  be  like  a  watered 
 garden,  and  like  a  spring  of  water,  whose  wa- 
 ters t  fail  not. 
 
 12  And  they  that  shall  be  of  thee  ^  shall 
 build  the  old  waste  places:  thou  shalt  raise  up 
 the  foundations  of  many  generations  ;  and  thou 
 shalt  be  called.  The  repairer  of  tlie  breach, 
 The  restorer  of  paths  to  dwell  in. 
 
 1.3  t  If  ''  thou  turn  away  thy  foot  from  the 
 sabbath, />o)«  doing  thy  pleasure  on  my  holy 
 day  ;  and  call  the  sabbath  a  delight,  the  holy 
 of  the  Lord,  honourable;  and  shalt  honour 
 him,  not  doing  thine  own  way.s,  nor  finding 
 thine  own  pleasure,  nor  speaking  thine  own 
 words  : 
 
 14  'Then  shalt  thou  delight  thyself  in  the 
 Lord  ;  and  I  will  cause  thee  to  'ride  upon  the 
 high  places  of  the  earth,  and  feed  thee  with  the 
 heritage  of  Jacob  thy  father :  '  for  the  mouth 
 of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it. 
 
 CHAP.  LIX. 
 
 I  The  damn  uhle  nature  of  sin.  3  The  sins  of  t/ie  Jiws. 
 9  Cuhimiiij  is  for  sin.  16  Salvation  is  only  of  God. 
 20  The  covenant  of  the  Redeemer. 
 
 CriAP.  LVIII.  —  1.  Cry  aloud,  spare  not,  fyc. — from  thetenour  of  this 
 chapter,  it  is  obvious  it  is  designed  to  expose  and  condemn  hypocrisy. 
 — Ed.  2.  Seek  mp  dnily,  constant  in  devotums.  Delight  ti>  know  my 
 ways,  as  Herod,  who  heard  John  gladly,  and  the  stcny  ground  hearers, 
 who  received  the  seed  o(  the  word  with  joy  :  the  word  is  to  them  as  a 
 lovely  song,  (Ezck.  xxxiii.  32.)  Delight  in  appronrhing  tn  God,  not 
 for  his  sake  to  whom  they  approach,  but  for  the  sake  of  some  pleasing 
 circumstance,  the  company,  or  the  festival. — Hen.  They  «.sA  of  vie  the 
 ordinances  of  justice,  to  rcgvilate  their  faith  and  practice. — Maccvl, 
 3.  Afflicted,  a  phrase  used  particularly  of  the  great  day  of  expiation, 
 (Lev.  xvi.  29;  xxiii.  27.) — Preb.  Lowth.  YefindpleiiHure,  pursue  and 
 satisfy  your  own  lusts  :  though  you  abstain  from  budily  fond,  yon  do 
 not  mortirv  your  own  evil  concupiscence  ;  and  when  restrained  from 
 outward  acts,  even  then  your  thoughts  and  afTections  are  set  on  grati- 
 fying your  own  evil  inclinations  and  worldly  interests. — Poole.      E.r- 
 
 nrt  all  your  Inbovra,  yo\^T  money  gotten  by  your  labours. — Jnckson. 
 4.  For  strife  and  debate,  emulating  each  othur  in  plausible  appearances; 
 judging,  censuring,  and  reflecting  on  each  other. — Hen.  Covering 
 their  oppressions  with  a  show  of  piety. — Jackson.  A/td  to  smite,  ^c. — 
 the  cruel  task-masters  beat  their  servants,  and  the  crediturs  their  in- 
 solvent debtors,  whom  they  delivered  to  their  task-masters. — Hen. 
 7.  Own  flesh,  kindred  and  countrymen. — Preh.  Lowth.  8.  Health — 
 calamities  are  expressed  by  wounds  or  sickness,  (see  chap.  i.  6;  Jer. 
 XV.  18.)  and  the  restoring  of  a  person  or  nation  to  former  prosperity  by 
 he.ilth  or  by  healing  them,  (comp.  chap.  xix.  22 ;  Ivii.  19 ;  Jer.  lii.  22.) 
 —Preb.    Lowth,   liosenm.  9.  Putting  forth  of  the  Jinger,  alludes 
 
 to  the  habit  of  treating  others  with  insuhnce  and  scorn;  or  it  may 
 mean,  '  If  thou  cease  to  be  the  object  of  scorn  and  contempt.' — Hew. 
 13.  If  thou  turn  away  thy  foot,  fyc,  '  If  thou  cease  from  labouring  on 
 the  sabbath.'— CoH^/ir.   "(Comp.  Deut.  xi.  10,  and  note,  and  xxii.  20.) 
 
 Rr.FLFCTiONS  ON  CiiAP.  LVII. — I.  Theloss  of  the  righteous 
 should  be  the  cause  of  f/reat  grief  to  the  church  and  to  the  world. 
 They  are  the  salt  of  the  earth  ;  and  their  influence,  their  ex- 
 ample, and  their  prayers,  are  of  vast  importance. 
 
 II.  The  departure  of  tlie  righteous  is  their  own  great  gain.  They 
 must  be  olten  grieved  at  the  corruption  that  will  struggle  and 
 break  out  in  their  own  hearts,  and  at  the  sins  they  witness  in 
 others.  They  liave  foes  within  and  foes  without.  They  have 
 to  '  agonize,"  that  they  may  '  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate,'  to 
 *  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  that  they  may  lay  hold  on  eternal 
 life.'  Sweet,  then,  is  the  hour  that  finishes  their  toil,  that 
 sheathes  their  sword,  and  brings  them  to  rest  on  the  bosom  of 
 their  Saviour  and  their  God. 
 
 III.  IHifn  God  takes  away  the  righteous,  punishment  fdls  on 
 the  nngodlg.  '  The  righteous  are  taken  away  from  the  evil  to 
 come.'  They  were  as  floodgates  against  the  raging  waters  of 
 Divine  wrath,  but  tliese  being  removed,  the  overwhelming 
 inundation  follows.  Happily  for  mankind,  judgment  is  God's 
 strange  work ;  in  the  midst  of  deserved  wrath  he  '  remembers 
 mercy ;'  out  of  stones  he  *  can  raise  up  children  to  Abraham  ;' 
 and  when  he  '  is  known  by  tlie  judgments  which  he  executeth, 
 and  his  hand  is  recognised  in  all.'  he  will  yet  regard  the 
 humble  and  contrite,  and  pass  by  all  the  grandeur  of  heaven 
 and  earth  to  listen  to  the  sigh,  behold  the  tear,  and  hear  ll)e 
 
 773 
 
 supplication  of  the  penitent.  '  He  retaineth  not  his  anger  for 
 ever,  because  he  delighteth  in  mprcy.' 
 
 Ri.Fi.ECTinNS  ON  Chap.  LVIII.  —  Remark  two  notorious 
 sins  reproved  in  this  chapter — I.  Hypocrisy.  How  nearly  may 
 the  formalist  and  hypocrite  resemble  the  sincere  Ibllower  of 
 God  !  seeking  God  daily — apparently  delighting  in  his  ways- 
 persevering  in  the  ordinances,  and  exercising  self-denial  in 
 fasting,  llut  piety  is  a  consistent  thing  ;  it  mingles  itself  with 
 the  common  business  of  life — it  does  not  comport  with  worldly- 
 mindedness,  oppression,  and  covotousness  :  it  makes  the  heart 
 tender,  both  towards  God  ;ind  man. 
 
 II.  Sabbath-brcahing.  This  sin  is  particularly  marked.  It 
 seems  to  have  been  very  prevalent  with  the  Jews  ;  and,  alas, 
 it  is  too  common  among  Christians  !  Few  nominal  Christians 
 strictly  regard  the  Lords-day;  they  make  it  a  day  of  visiting 
 and  pleasure,  and  often  a  day  of  business,  either  notoriously 
 practised  against  law  and  decency,  or  carried  on  in  the  office 
 or  counting-house.  And  how  many,  of  whom  we  hope  better 
 things,  manifest  a  forgetfulness,  by  their  words  and  actions, 
 that  the  sabbath  is  '  the  holy  of  the  Lord,  and  honourable.' 
 '  Remember  the  sabbath-day  to  keep  it  holy,'  is  as  perpetual 
 a  command  as,  'Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  belore  me.' 
 '  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us,  and  incline  our  hearts  to  keep  this 
 law  !' 
 
The  sins  of  the  Jews. 
 
 B 
 
 ISAIAH,  LIX.,  LX. 
 
 The  covenant  of  the  Redeemer. 
 
 EH  OLD,  the  Lord's  hand  is  not 'shortened, 
 that  it  cannot  save  ;  neither  liis  ear  heavy, 
 that  it  cannot  hear  : 
 
 2  But  your  iniquities  have  separated  between 
 you  and  your  God,  and  your  sins  ||  have  hid 
 his  face  from  you,  that  he  will  not  hear. 
 
 3  For  ''your  hands  are  dffiled  with  blood, 
 and  your  fingers  witli  iniquity  ;  your  lips  have 
 spoken  lies,  your  tongue  hath  'muttered  per- 
 verseness. 
 
 4  None  calleth  for  justice,  nor  any  pleadeth 
 for  truth  -.  tliey  trust  in  vanity,  and  speak  lies  ; 
 "■  they  conceive  mischief,  and  bring  forth  ini- 
 quity. 
 
 5  They  hatch  ||  cockatrice'  eggs,  and  weave 
 the  spider's  web  :  he  that  eatetli  of  their  eggs 
 dieth,  and  ||  that  which  is  crushed  breaketh  out 
 into  a  viper. 
 
 6  ^  Their  webs  shall  not  become  garments, 
 neither  shall  they  cover  themselves  with  their 
 works  :  their  works  ure  works  of  iniquity,  and 
 the  act  of  violence  i.9  in  their  hands. 
 
 7  °  Their  feet  run  to  evil,  and  they  make  haste 
 to  shed  innocent  blood  :  their  thoughts  are 
 thoughts  of  iniquity  ;  wasting  and  f  destruction 
 are  in  their  paths. 
 
 8  The  way  of  peace  they  know  not  ;  and 
 there  is  no  ||  judgmejit  in  their  goings  :  '  they 
 have  made  them  crooked  paths  :  whosoever 
 goeth  therein  shall  not  know  peace. 
 
 9  t  Therefore  is  judgment  far  from  us,  neither 
 doth  justice  overtake  us  :  ^  we  wait  for  light, 
 but  behold  obscurity  ;  for  brightness,  but  we 
 walk  in  darkness. 
 
 10  "  We  grope  for  the  wall  like  the  blind,  and 
 we  grope  as  if  uc  had  no  eyes  :  we  stumble  at 
 noon  day  as  in  the  night  ;  ive  are  in  desolate 
 places  as  dead  nun. 
 
 1 1  We  roar  all  like  bears,  and  '  mourn  sore 
 like  doves  :  we  look  for  judgment,  but  there  is 
 none  ;  for  salvation,  Init  it  is  far  off  from  us. 
 
 12  For  our  transgressions  are  multiplied  be- 
 fore thee,  and  our  sins  testify  against  iis  :  fur 
 our  transgressions  are  with  us  ;  and  as  for  our 
 iniquities,  we  know  them  ; 
 
 13  In  transgressing  and  lying  against  the 
 Lord,   and   departing   away   from   our    God, 
 
 I  Nu.  II.  23. 
 cli.  50.  If. 
 
 [I  Or,  Aoc* 
 made  him 
 hidt. 
 
 brfnli  a<it  a 
 d  Job  8.  14, 
 
 ■  Pro.  1.  16. 
 Rom   S    \5. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 breukillg. 
 
 11  Or,  right. 
 J  P».  li'.  5. 
 ~  o   2.  15. 
 
 h  Deu  28.M 
 Job  5.  <<1. 
 Aiiioa  S.  g. 
 
 h  Mat. 51.  ^1 
 
 /  kie.  22  311 
 m  Alark  6.6 
 
 >  Wisd.  5. 19, 
 19.  [vpb   6. 
 
 ji  fh.  e,*!  6 
 t  H»b  r.- 
 
 9  Ps  ns.  3. 
 
 Mil.  I.  II. 
 
 I  Or,  put  hi' 
 lojtishl. 
 
 t  Hcb.  9    10. 
 &  10.  16. 
 
 a  T.fh.  5.  U. 
 II  Or,  h,  m. 
 
 lii/hrrnrd  ; 
 r.f   Ih'l  l.yh! 
 t.tnrth. 
 
 b  M.il.  4.  2. 
 
 speaking  oppression  and  revolt,  conceiving  and 
 uttering  '  from  the  heart  words  of  falsehood. 
 
 14  And  judgment  is  turned  away  backward, 
 and  justice  standeth  afar  off:  for  truth  is  fallen 
 in  the  street,  and  equity  cannot  enter. 
 
 15  Yea,  truth  faileth  ;  and  he  that  departeth 
 from  evil  ||  maketh  himself  a  prey  :  and  the 
 Lord  saw  it,  and  fit  displeased  him  that  there 
 was  no  judgment. 
 
 16  t  '  And  he  saw  that  there  was  no  man, 
 and  "'  wondered  that  there  was  no  intercessor : 
 "  therefore  his  arm  brought  salvation  unto  him  ; 
 and  his  righteousness,  it  sustained  liim. 
 
 17  °  For  he  put  on  righteousness  as  a  breast- 
 plate, and  an  helmet  of  salvation  upon  bis 
 head  ;  and  he  put  on  the  garments  of  ven- 
 geance yur  clothing,  and  4vas  clad  with  zeal  as 
 a  cloke. 
 
 18  ''According  to  their  f deed,s,  accordingly 
 be  will  repay,  fury  to  his  adversaries,  recoin- 
 pence  to  his  enemies  ;  to  the  islands  he  will 
 repay  recompence. 
 
 19  ''So  shall  they  fear  the  name  of  the  Loho 
 from  the  west,  and  his  glory  from  the  rising  of 
 the  sun.  When  the  enemy  shall  come  in  '  like 
 a  flood,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  shall  ||  lift  up  a 
 standard  against  him. 
 
 20  t  And  '  the  Redeemer  shall  come  to  Zion, 
 and  unto  them  that  turn  from  transgression  in 
 Jacob,  saitli  the  Lonn. 
 
 21  '  As  for  me,  tliis  is  my  covenant  with 
 them,  saith  the  Lord  ;  My  spirit  that  is  upon 
 thee,  and  my  words  which  I  have  put  in  thy 
 mouth,  shall  not  depart  out  of  thy  month,  nor 
 out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed,  nor  out  of  the 
 mouth  of  thy  seed's  seed,  saith  the  Lord,  from 
 henceforth  and  for  ever. 
 
 CHAP.  LX. 
 
 I   The  ylory  of  the  c/iurch  in  the  abundant  access  of  the 
 Gentiles,   15  and  the  great  blessings  after  a  short 
 
 affliction . 
 
 A  RISE,  "  II  sliiiie  ;  fur  thy  light  is  come,  and 
 -^*-  ^  the  glory  of  the  Loud  is  risen  upon 
 thee. 
 
 2  For,  behold,  the  darkness  shall  cover  the 
 earth,  and  gross  darkness  the  people  :  bnt  the 
 
 Chap.  LTX.  —  l .  Behold  the  Lord's  hand,  ffc. — the  Jews  seem  to  call 
 God's  power  in  question,  because  he  did  not  deliver  them  from  their 
 enemies  as  he  formerly  had  done.  2.  Itnt  your  iniquities,  ^c— in 
 
 answer  to  their  cavils,  the  pmphet  directs  them  to  their  sins  as  the 
 causeof  their  sufferings.— So  PrcA.  Lowth.  3.  Defiled  with  blood— 
 this  may  determine  the  time  of  this  prophecy.  In  the  early  part  of 
 Mana'isch's  reign,  when  infants  were  sacrificed  to  Moloch,  and  when 
 much  innocent  blood  was  shed  in  Jerusalem  by  a  factious  administra- 
 tion of  justice;  Isaiah  was  then  murdered.— So  Sut.  5.  Hatch  cock- 
 atrice' ef^^s— their  viUanous  contrivances  are  here  compared  to  a  cock- 
 atrice's eggs,  which  are  rank  poison  in  themselves,  and.  when  they  are 
 hatched,  produce  a  venemous  serpent.  Weave  the  spider's  web.  which 
 is  artificially  fine,  hut  a  net  to  entrap  others.— PrcA.  Lnwth.  6.  Shnll 
 not  become  garments— t\\e\T  practices  were  vain  and  unprofitable,  and 
 should  nnt  be  sufficient  to  cnver  the  deformiy  of  their  authors. 
 7-  They  make  haste,  were  bent  on  the  commission  of  the  most  enor- 
 mous crimes.  g.  Judgment,  may  here  signify  deliverance  from  af- 
 fliction and  the  punishment  of  sin,  efTected  by  Providence  according 
 to  the  rules  of  equity  and  righteousness.— il/^/rcM/.  10.  Grope— ^^  a 
 blind  man  feels  for  the  wall,  so  they  expect  salvation  as  it  were  blind- 
 fold, not  taking  direction  from  the  prophets.  In  desolate  places,  fyc, 
 they  cannot  get  out  of  their  captivity,  any  more  than  dead  men  out  of 
 
 their  graves. — Poole.  17.  Garments  of  x^engeance,  may  allude  to  a 
 custom  found  in  Persia,  the  monarch  dressing  in  a  red  robe  when  re- 
 solved to  condemn  any  grandee  to  death. — Pict.  Bib.  19.  Lift  up  a 
 standard,  that  is,  oppose  him  hy  Almighty  power — Wil.  20.  The 
 Redeemer,  §-c.,  applied  to  our  redemption  hy  Christ,  [Rom.  xi.  '26.) — 
 Sut.  21.  Nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  setrf— the  same  doctrines  which 
 Jesus  preached,  all  his  ministers  preach;  and  liis  seed,  genuine  Chris- 
 tians who  are  born  of  God,  believe,  &c. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  LX.  —  1. /jn's*-,  from  the  ground  or  du:?t.  where  laid  low  by 
 affliction.  Thy  light,  the  usual  emblem  of  happiness.  'The  time  of 
 thy  redemption  is  come,'  Targ.  T^n  t*3  '3.  '  for  thy  light  cometh.' 
 The  Messiah  is  at  the  door,  *  a  light  'to  lighten  the  Gentiles,  and  the 
 glory,'  9iC. — A.  Cl'irke.  The  glory  of  the  Lord — God,  the  true  Sun  of 
 righteousness,  had  risen  with  lustre  npnn  the  nation. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 it  lot  kcd  forward  to  Christ,  the  light  of  the  world,  and  the  light  of  the 
 Gospel. — Gi/l.  '  Awake  from  the  indulgence  of  sin  and  sloth,  to  behold 
 the  works  and  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer.  The  day-spring  from  on 
 high  hath  visited  tlice,  the  Sun  of  righteou'^ne^s  is  arisen  with  healing 
 under  his  wings  ;  tlte  Messiah,  the  true  light.  Come,  then,  into  the 
 light  uf  knowledge  and  holiness,  of  comfort  and  }>>y.  The  glory  of  the 
 Lord  is  risen  upon  thee,  the  Son  of  God,  the  brightness  of  the  Father's 
 glory.' — Mnccul.        2.  Darkness  shall  cover,  ^-c,  describes  the  state  of 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.   LIX We  notice  here,   L  The 
 
 sinner  reproved.  It  is  here  obvious  that  God  marks,  dislin- 
 CUishes,  and  bates  sin. 
 
 11.  The  sinner  npenting.  We  may  hope  and  believe  that 
 the  language  of  repentance  here  introduced  was  not  merely 
 tliat  of  the  unflinching  behever  for  the  rest  of  the  nation,  but 
 also  of  the  penitent  backshder  and  notorious  offender,  brought, 
 like  JManasseh,  by  his  afflictions,  to  see  tlio  evil  of  sin  and  sue 
 for  mercy.  Affliction  produces  its  iiifend^^.l  effect  when  it 
 brings  us,  hke  the  prodigal  son,  to  sue  humbly  for  forgiveness 
 774 
 
 at  the  feet  of  Him  against  whom  we  have  so  heinously  offended. 
 III.  The  sinner  savtd.  How  is  the  penitent  heart  cheered 
 wiih  the  Divine  promise  of  a  great  Deliverer  coming  out  of 
 '/Aon  !  God's  almighty  arm  rescued  the  captives,  but  did  not 
 the  eye  of  the  Old-Testament  saint  rejoice,  like  Abraham,  to 
 see  the  day  of  Jesus  \  After  this  prophecy,  was  uttered  the 
 song  of  praise— *  Lord,  thou  hast  been  favourable  to  fhy  land, 
 thou  hast  brought  back  the  captivity  of  Jacob,  thou  hast  for- 
 given the  iniquity  of  thy  people,  thou  hast  covered  all  their 
 sins.* 
 
The  abundant  access  of  the  Gentiles. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LX. 
 
 Great  blessing  after  short  affliction. 
 
 Lord  shall  arise  upon  thee,  and  his  jilory  shall 
 be  seen  upon  thee. 
 
 3  And  the  "^  Gentiles  shall  come  to  thy  light, 
 and  kings  to  the  brightness  of  thy  rising. 
 
 4  ^  Lift  up  thine  eyes  round  about,  and  see  : 
 all  they  gather  themselves  together,  ^  they 
 come  to  thee:  thy  sons  shall  come  from  far, 
 and  thy  daughters  shall  be  nursed  at  thy  side. 
 
 5  Then  thou  shalt  see,  and  flow  together,  and 
 thine  heart  shall  fear,  and  be  enlarged  ;  be- 
 cause ^  the  II  abuniiance  of  the  sea  shall  be 
 converted  unto  thee,  the  ||  forces  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles shall  come  unto  thee. 
 
 6  The  multitude  of  camels  shall  cover  thee, 
 the  dromedaries  of  Midian  and  ^  Ephah  ;  all 
 they  from  "^  Sheba  shall  come  :  they  shall  bring 
 'gold  and  incense;  and  they  shall  shew  forth 
 the  praises  of  the  Lord. 
 
 7  All  the  flocks  of  ^  Kedar  shall  be  gathered 
 together  unto  thee,  the  rams  of  Nebaioth  shall 
 minister  unto  thee  :  they  shall  come  up  with 
 acceptance  on  mine  altar,  and  '  I  will  glorify 
 the  house  of  my  glory. 
 
 8  Who  are  these  that  fly  as  a  cloud,  and  as 
 the  doves  to  their  windows? 
 
 9  ■"  Surely  the  isles  shall  wait  for  me,  and  the 
 ships  of  Tarshish  first,  "  to  bring  thy  sons  from 
 far,  °  their  silver  and  their  gold  with  them, 
 ''unto  the  name  (jf  the  Loud  thy  God,  and  to 
 the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  "^  because  he  hath  glo- 
 rified thee. 
 
 10  And  "■  the  sons  of  strangers  shall  build  up 
 thy  walls,  ^and  their  kings  shall  minister  unto 
 thee  :  for  '  in  my  wrath  I  smote  thee,  "  but  in 
 my  favour  have  1  had  mercy  on  thee. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  thy  gates  ^  shall  be  open  con- 
 tinually;  they  shall  not  he  shut  day  nor  night ; 
 
 ■  ch.  49.  20, 
 21,  22,  fcCti 
 
 /■Rom. n. 25. 
 
 II  Or,  «(..«  "/ 
 the  teathall 
 lie  turned  to- 
 ward Ih^. 
 
 II  Or,  uenllh. 
 ver,  II. 
 ch.  fil.  6. 
 
 jy  Gen.  25.  1. 
 
 A  ¥a.  72.  10. 
 
 i  ch.  61.  6. 
 Mat.  2.  n. 
 
 /  Hag.  2  7,9 
 
 m  Ps.  72.  III. 
 
 cb.  42.4,  & 
 
 51    5. 
 „  Gal    4.  26. 
 
 '•  I's-  ey  30 
 
 Zech.  11.14. 
 P  Jet   3.  17 
 q  cb.  bb.  5. 
 
 r  Zech.  6.  15. 
 
 J  cb.  49.  23. 
 Rev.  21.24. 
 (  ch  57.  17. 
 uch.5-1.7,  8. 
 
 xRev.21.2S. 
 
 lih. 
 
 II  Or,  w 
 
 ver.  6. 
 oZech.  14. 
 
 17,  19, 
 
 Mat.  21.-I-: 
 
 t  cli.  So.  2. 
 &41.  19. 
 
 1  See  IChr, 
 28.  2.  Pa. 
 132.  7. 
 
 b  ch.  49-  2.3. 
 hev.  3,  9. 
 
 ./  ch.  49,  2.1 
 .Sc  61.  6  & 
 615.  II,  12. 
 
 f  cb,  43  8. 
 
 that  men  may  bring  unto  thee  the  ||  forces  of  the 
 Gentiles,  and  that  their  kings  maybe  brought, 
 
 12  *'  For  the  nation  and  kingdom  that  will  not 
 serve  thee  shall  perish  ;  yea,  those  nations  shall 
 be  utterly  wasted. 
 
 13  "  The  glory  of  Lebanon  shall  come  unto 
 thee,  the  fir  tree,  the  pine  tree,  and  the  box 
 together,  to  beautify  the  place  of  my  sanctuary  ; 
 and  I  will  make"  tiie  place  of  my  feet  glorious. 
 
 14  The  sons  also  of  them  that  aflSicted  thee 
 shall  come  bending  unto  thee  ;  and  all  they 
 that  despised  thee  shall  ''  bow  themselves 
 down  at  the  soles  of  thy  feet ;  and  they  shall 
 call  thee,  The  city  of  the  Lord,  "  the  Zion  of 
 the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 
 
 Ij  Whereas  thou  hast  been  forsaken  and 
 hated,  so  that  no  man  went  through  thee,  I 
 will  make  thee  an  eternal  excellency,  a  joy  of 
 many  generations. 
 
 16  Thou  shalt  also  suck  the  milk  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles, "^  and  shalt  suck  the  breast  of  kings  :  and 
 thou  shalt  know  that  ^  I  the  Lord  am  tliy  Sa- 
 viour and  thy  Redeemer,  the  mighty  One  of 
 Jacob. 
 
 17  For  brass  I  will  bring  gold,  and  for  iron  I 
 will  bring  silver,  and  fur  wood  brass,  and  for 
 stones  iron  :  I  will  also  make  thy  oflicers  peace, 
 and  thine  exactors  righteousness. 
 
 18  Violence  shall  no  more  be  heard  in 
 thy  land,  wasting  nor  destruction  within  thy 
 borders  ;  but  thou  shalt  call  *"  thy  walls  Salva- 
 tion, and  thy  gates  Praise. 
 
 19  The  ^  sun  shall  be  no  more  thy  light  by 
 day  ;  neither  for  brightness  shall  the  moon 
 give  light  unto  thee  :  but  the  Lord  shall  be 
 unto  thee  an  everlasting  light,  and  ^  thy  God 
 thy  glory. 
 
 the  Gentile  people. — Clarke.  4.  Nursed  at  thy  side — some  believe 
 
 this  to  be  the  common  cus^tomof  parents  carrying- their  children  astride 
 on  the  hip;  [so  Bp.  Lowth  ;  and  Il'ufrfsays,  in  explaining  this  passage, 
 children  are,  in  the  east,  carried  astride  on  the  hips,  as  in  Europe  tlicy 
 are  nursed  in  the  arms.  The  allusion  is  adopted  by  A.  Clurkf^  but 
 how  can  this  be  considered  a  privilege,  as  is  the  evident  meaning  in  the 
 text  ?  The  Tamul  translation  in  this  place  is,  '  near  to  thee.'  Tlie  me- 
 taphor appears  tn  he  taken  from  parents  who  have  marriageable 
 daughters,  who  hfive  been  secluded  from  society,  and  had  a  virtuous 
 training,  so  that  their  fame  has  reached  distant  countries,  and  inducid 
 the  young  men  ot  those  regions  to  come  and  solicit  their  hnnd  in  mar- 
 riage. So  in  the  church's  spiritual  prosperity  her  sons  shall  come  from 
 far,  and  desire  an  intimate  union  with  her. — Rob.  The  expression  is 
 most  likely  proverbial,  and  means  that  their  daughters  should  be  edu- 
 cated with  the  greatest  tendt-rncss  and  care,  and  be  continually  under 
 their  inspection  and  guidance. — Rusenm.  They  *  shall  have  their  edu- 
 cation uifh  thee,  from  their  infancy ;  there,  where  the  sincere  milk  of 
 the  word  is  to  be  had.' — Joseph  Benson.  5.  Then  shalt  thou  see,  and 
 fiow  together^  ^c,  *  then  shalt  thou  fear,  and  overfluw  with  joy.'  For 
 ■•Nin,  'thou  shalt  see,'  40  MSS.,  10  ancient,  have  'i^TP,  ''thou  shalt 
 fear.' — Lowth,  so  Aben  Ezra.  *  Thy  joy  shall  break  out  upon  thee,  like 
 an  overflowing  river.' — Preb.  Lowth.  The  abundance  of  the  sea,  the 
 numberless  inhabitants  of  islands  and  other  countries  beyond  the 
 Mediterranean.  —  Hew.  6.  The  multitude  of  camels,  §c.,  that  is, 
 people  riding  upon  these,  should  '  cover'  or  fill  Jerusalem.  7.  Flocks 
 of  Kedar,  ^c. — Kedar  and  Nebaioth  were  the  sons  of  Ishmael,  (Gen. 
 XXV.  13.)— GUI.  By  a  poetical  turn,  the  flucks  are  said  to  oflTer  them- 
 selves voluntarily.— TiYr.  The  victim's  being  brought  to  the  altar 
 without  reluctance  was  a  good  omen,  and  the  contrary,  a  bad  one. — 
 Lowth.  Sacrifices  would  not  he  used  at  the  time  here  predicted;  it 
 means,  they  should  bring  the  best  and  chief  of  their  substance  to  serve 
 the  interest  of  Christ.— GUI.  The  passage,  without  doul.t,  refers  to 
 the  people  of  those  countries  who  are  spoken  of  in  the  passage  under 
 the  names  uf  ihe  animals  fnr  which  their  localities  were  most  famous. 
 This  mode  of  speech  is  perfectly  Oriental. — Bob.  8.  As  a  cloud,  a 
 
 flock  of  birds  resembles  a  dark  cloud.— Prefi.  Lowth.  And  us  doves  to 
 their  unndous — the  Jews  had  two  sorts  uf  windows,  expressed  by  two 
 words,  the  one  small,  to  peep  through,  the  other  large  and  airy.  The 
 former  seems  to  he  designated  by  the  same  term  that  was  used  for  the 
 cavities  of  rocks,  through  which  pigeons  passed  to  their  nesis. — Har. 
 Huubignnt  transposes  a  tetter  in  the  originB,  and  reads, '  as  doves  upon 
 their  wings.'  The  change  is  not  necessary,  for,  from  the  construction 
 of  houses  in  the  east,  and  the  form  of  the  windows,  doves  were  very 
 likely  to  build  and  roost  in  them.— Hfu-.  This  refers  to  tlie  vast  num- 
 ber of  converts  covering  Judca,  as  the  clouds  do  the  heavens. — Gill. 
 9.  The  isles,  the  Gentile  nations,  particularly  those  who  inhabit 
 countries  encompassed  by  the  sea.  The  ships  nf  Tarshish — Tarshi^h 
 was  the  name  of  one  of  the  sons  ui  Javan,  the  son  of  Japticih,  the  son 
 773 
 
 of  Noah.  By  him  and  his  brethren  were  the  isles  of  the  Gentiles 
 divided,  (Gen.  x.  l,  t.)—Maccul.  10.  The  sons  of  strangers  shall 
 
 build,  ^c,  in  some  measure  lulfilled  by  the  aid  which  Cyrus  and  his 
 successiTs  gave  in  the  restoring  of  the  city  and  temple  of  Jerusalem. — 
 Preb.  Louth.  See  Ezra,  i.  4.  In  the  antitype  this  was  clearly  fulfilled 
 when  God  raised  up.  even  amongst  the  Gentiles,  learned  men  that,  by 
 their  preaching  and  writing,  and  princes  tliat,  by  thcjr  bounty  and 
 favour,  should  much  promote  the  edification  of  the  church,  and  advance 
 her  sticngth  and  glory. — Jackson,  so  Poole  and  Gill.  This  must  relate 
 to  the  latter  days,  when  the  church  shall  beconie  a  great  mountain, 
 and  break  in  pieces  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  accoiuiiig  to  Daniel's 
 prophecy,  (Dan.  ii.  35—44.) — Lowth,  so    Scott.  11.  Gates — open— 
 
 desicriptive  of  a  state  of  peace,  and  the  vast  concourse  flocking  into  the 
 church.— G(7/.  12.  For  the  nutiim,  ^c— hisii-ry  testifies  that  there  ia 
 not  a  nation  or  empire  on  earth,  which  hath  virulently  opposed  the 
 prosperity  oi  the  church,  that  hath  escaped  the  judgments  of  God.— 
 Muccul.  All  people  that  will  njt  submit  to  the  Gospel  and  sceptre  of 
 Christ   erected   in  thee,  shall  perish. — Jackson.  13.   The  glory  of 
 
 Lebanon,  ^c,  beautiful  for  its  tall  cedars,  (see  chap.  x.\xvii.  24.)  The 
 expression  denotes,  that  the  cedars,  and  wliatever  other  trees  grow  in 
 Lebanon,  shall  contribute  to  the  rectifying  and  beautifjing  God's 
 temple. — Preb-  Lowth.  These  trees,  remarliable  for  excellence,  utility, 
 and  ornament,  are  here  intioduced  to  represent  persons  of  great  abi- 
 lities, of  splendid  accompU'-bments,  of  immense  virtues,  and  extensive 
 usefulness,  that  God  shall  raist  up  to  defend,  to  adorn,  and  console  his 
 church. — Maccul.  Make  Ihe  place  of  tny  feet  glorious,  '  the  place 
 wheri'on  1  rest  my  feet.'  The  temple  was  called  the  place  of  God's  rest 
 or  residence.  TheShekinah  was  in  the  most  holy  place,  above  the  aik  ; 
 and  as  a  footstool  is  a  necessary  appendage  to  a  throne,  the  ark  is  con- 
 sidered as  the  footstool  of  God,  and  so  calkd,  Ps.  xcrx.  5  ;  1  Chron. 
 xxviii.  2. — Lowth.  14,  The  sona  also  of  them,  ^c,  proselytes  of  va 
 nous  nations  shall  come  and  pay  their  profound  homage  to  the  churct 
 of  God. —  Lowth,  Vitringa.  13.  Whereas  thou  hast  been,  §-c.,  'in- 
 stead of  being.' — hoothr.  Xo  7nan  went  through  thee,  very  few  entered 
 into  the  church. — Maccul.  l6.  ^utk  the  milk,  derive  support  from 
 them. — Ed.  17.  For  brass,  §-c. — instead  oi  inferior  persons  and  things, 
 before  common  in  the  church,  shall  be  the  most  estimable. — Maccul. 
 These  predictions  seem  to  he  yet  unfulfilled,  and  must  be  applied  to 
 that  period  when  the  Jews,  together  with  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles, 
 shall  be  brought  in,  and  when  God  shall  eminently  reign  upon  the  earth 
 by  the  power  of  his  truth  and  Spirit.  Some  ot  the  expressions  are  ap 
 plied  to  the  heavenly  state,  (Rev.xxi.  23  ;  .vxii.  5.)—Boothr.  Ptace,  pnl 
 for  •  men  of  peace,'  as  the  word  is  used,  Ps.  cxx.  7.  Righteousness,  i- 1 
 'righteous  men,' as  our  translators  render  the  word,  chap.  xli.  2. — 
 Preb.  Loivth.  19.  The  s-un  nhall  be  Jio  more,  ^c— the  Lord  himself 
 shall  shine  upon  the  church  with  so  glorious  and  enduring  a  light,  as 
 shall  eclipse  all  which  has  heretofore  been  enjoyed  by  her,  from  the 
 V\  ord  and  Spirit  of  God.    Nothing  can  answer  to  this  description  but 
 
Tke  office  of  Christ. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LXl. 
 
 Tfie.  hlessinys  of  tfie  faithfuL 
 
 20  -  Thy  sun  shall  no  more  go  down  ;  neither 
 shall  thy  moon  withdraw  itself:  for  the  Lord 
 shall  be  thine  everlasting  light,  and  the  days 
 of  thy  mourning  shall  be  ended. 
 
 21  ''  Thy  people  also  shaU  be  all  righteous  : 
 •  they  shall  inherit  the  land  for  ever,  ""  the 
 branch  of  my  planting,  "  the  work  of  my  hands, 
 that  I  may  be  glorified. 
 
 22  °  A  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand, 
 and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation  :  1  the  Lord 
 will  hasten  it  in  his  time. 
 
 CHAP.  LXL 
 
 1     The  office  of  ChrU.     4    The  forwardnesSf  7  and 
 blessinas  of  the  faithful, 
 
 nPHE  °  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me  ; 
 ^  because  the  Lord  ^hath  anointed  me  to 
 preach  good  tidings  unto  the  meek  ;  he  hath 
 sent  me  *^  to  bind  up  the  brokenhearted,  to 
 proclaim  'Miberty  to  the  captives,  and  tlie 
 opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  arc  bound  ; 
 
 2  "  To  proclaim  the  acceptable  year  of  the 
 Lord,  and  *^the  day  of  vengeance  of  our  God  ; 
 ^  to  comfort  all  that  mourn  ; 
 
 3  To  appoint  unto  them  that  mourn  in  Zion, 
 ''to  give  unto  tliem  beauty  for  ashes,  the  oil 
 of  joy  for  mourning,  the  garment  of  praise  for 
 the  spirit  of  heaviness  ;  that  they  might  be 
 called  trees  of  righteousness,  '  tlie  planting  of 
 the  Lord,  ''that  he  might  bo  glorified. 
 
 4  f  And  they  shall    '  build   tlie   old   wastes. 
 
 A  ch.  52.  1. 
 
 Hev.  21   'il 
 I  Ps.  rtr.  n, 
 
 22.  Mai   5. 
 
 5. 
 m  clt.CI    3 
 
 Pfal,  15.  i:(. 
 
 Joint  \5.  2 
 n  cli.  VS.  23. 
 
 tc  45.  II. 
 
 Eph.  2    ID. 
 o  Mat.  13.31, 
 
 38 
 
 a  cli.  U.  2. 
 
 LukP  4.  IS. 
 
 John  I.  A2. 
 
 &  S  »1. 
 b  P9.  lb    7. 
 c  Ps.  117.  S. 
 
 ch.  57.  15. 
 ./  eh.  42  7 
 
 See  Jer.  34. 
 
 8. 
 
 ■25.  9 
 
 fch.  31.  6. 
 &  OX  -l.  St 
 66.14.  Mai. 
 4.  I .  S. 
 STlu-s,  1,7, 
 
 9.  y 
 
 -jrli    .'-7.   18 
 
 Alal.  5.  1 
 /,  Pb    .Hli    1 1 
 I  ch.  Gil    21. 
 A  Juhii  15.  S 
 I  ch    ■!<»   8. 
 
 &  hH.  12. 
 
 y.j.:  HG.  33 
 
 — ,S'J. 
 
 mEph.S.I2 
 
 'I  Es.  19-  6. 
 
 ch   611.  17. 
 
 St  r.6.  21 
 
 1  Pet.  2.&.y, 
 
 Uev.  I.  G  S 
 
 5  II). 
 o  cli.  fiO.  3, 
 
 11,  Iti. 
 pch.  4i\  2. 
 
 Zed  I.  9.  12. 
 
 tTs.  II.  7. 
 r  ch.  1.11,13. 
 
 "  Hub.  3.  18. 
 J-  l'«.  132.  9, 
 
 V  ch    19.  IS. 
 
 Uev.  -I.  2. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 drrk-th  at  a 
 
 they  siiall  raise  up  the  former  desolations,  and 
 they  shall  repair  the  waste  cities,  the  desola- 
 tions of  many  generations. 
 o  And  '"strangers  shall  stand  and  feed  your 
 flocks,  and  the  sons  of  the  alien  shall  be  your 
 plowmen  and  your  vinedressers. 
 
 6  "  But  ye  shall  be  named  the  Priests  of  the 
 Lord  :  vten  shall  call  you  the  Ministers  of  our 
 God  :  "  ye  shall  eat  the  riches  of  tlie  Gentiles, 
 and  in  their  glory  shall  ye  boast  yourselves. 
 
 7  t^'For  your  sliame  ije  shall  have  double  ; 
 and  for  confusion  they  shall  rejoice  in  their 
 portion  :  therefore  in  their  land  they  shall 
 possess  the  double  :  everlasting  joy  shall  be 
 unto  them. 
 
 8  For  "^  I  tlie  Lord  love  judgment,  *"  I  hate 
 robbery  for  burnt  offering  ;  ;nid  1  will  direct 
 their  work  in  truth,  *and  I  will  make  an  ever- 
 lasting covenant  with  them. 
 
 9  And  tiieir  seed  shall  be  known  among  the 
 Gentiles,  and  their  offspring  among  the  people  : 
 all  that  see  them  shall  acknowledge  tlieni, 
 ^  that  they  arc  the  seed  trhich  the  Lord  hatii 
 blessed. 
 
 10  "I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  my 
 soul  shall  he  joyful  in  my  God;  for  'he  hath 
 clothed  me  with  the  garments  of  salvation,  he 
 hath  covered  me  with  the  robe  of  righteous- 
 ness, '^  as  a  bridegroom  f  decketh  himself  witii 
 ornaments,  and  as  a  hride  adorneth  herself 
 with  her  jewels. 
 
 some  future  glorious  state  of  the  church  on  earth,  or  the  state  of  the 
 church  triumphant  in  heaven  ;  but  several  expressions  hmit  our  inter- 
 pretation to  the  state  of  the  church  here  heluw,  though  many  sublime 
 images  remind  us  how  much  that  state  will  resemble  hea.\ en.— Scott. 
 22.  Will  hasten  it — when  the  time  comes,  the  whole  will  be  performed 
 in  a  short  space.— C/wrAc. 
 
 Chap.  LXI. — 1.  The  Spirit,  Sfc. — though  the  prophet  may  speak  this 
 of  himself  in  person,  yet  that  it  is  prinri]i.illy  understood  of  Christ  is 
 evident,  because  he  applieth  thi^  tc.vt  to  himself,  (Luke,  iv,  18.) — Poole. 
 There  is  no  doubt  but  the  Messiah  himself  is  the  person  speaking. — 
 Gill.  These  words  could  not  be  spoken  of  Isaiah.  He  had  a  portion, 
 without  doubt,  but  a  portion  only,  of  the  Divine  Spirit.  But  he  restored 
 not,  that  we  know,  any  blind,  delivered  no  captive,  &c.  ;  but  in  every 
 sense,  literal  and  figurative,  the  terms  apply  tn  Christ.  Jx  upon  me,  or 
 •over  me.*  The  expression  implies  a  superiority  and  control  of  tlic 
 Divine  Spirit.  Anointed  me,  by  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  at  bap- 
 tism.— Horsier/.  Good  tidinf^s,  the  Gospel,  (Luke,  iv.  18.)  Mee/i, 
 'poor.' — Ittid.  Urttixoi-:,  so  Sept.  Poor  in  spirit,  abased  in  their  own 
 eyes. — Maccul.  Poor  in  circum?-tances,  whom  Jewish  doctors  would 
 not  teach,  not  being  able  to  give  them  a  large  reward. — Tillotsnn. 
 Liherty  to  the  captives,  an  allusion  to  the  year  of  jubilee,  (Lev.  xxv.g.) 
 and  plainly  declaring  the  typical  design  of  that  iustitulion. — Lowth. 
 All  these  expressions  have  a  my>'tJcal  meaning,  and  denote  moral  dis- 
 orders and  deficiencies,  under  tlie  imago  of  national  calamities  and  im- 
 perfec'ioDs. — Horsley.  2.  Day  of  veri^tunce,  on  Babylon  and  the 
 enemies  of  the  church,  in  order  to  deliver  his  people. — Poole.  3.  Bemity 
 for  ashes,  whilst  mourners,  they  put  ashes  on  their  heads,  hut  now 
 they  should  wear  a  diadem.  The  word  rendered  '  beauty'  so  signifies, 
 (Ezek.  xxiv.  17,)— PreA.  Lowth.  Well  explained  by  reference  to  Judith, 
 {chap.  X.  3.)  The  oil  o/jutf,  ^c. — oil  used  to  be  poured  on  the  head  at 
 feasts,  and  so  here  is  opposed  to  the  state  of  mourning. — Gill.  The 
 priests  that  ministered  before  the  Lord  under  the  former  dispensation, 
 on  solemn  festive  occasions,  were  anointed  with  oil,  which  being  of  a 
 healing,  beautifying,  and  exhilarating  nature,  was  »  mblematical  of  the 
 diversified  operations  and  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit — Maccul.  The 
 garment  of  praise,  alluding  to  persons  putting  on  suitable  raiment  at 
 seasons  of  rejoicing,  (Eccles.  ix.  7.  8;  Matt,  xxii  II,  !2.) — Gill.  Pro- 
 bably an  allusion  to  the  magnificent  ornaments  of  the  sacerdotal  vest- 
 ments wherewith  the  high  priest  of  old  was  decorated,  and  which  he 
 
 pot  on  for  glory  and  beauty.— 3/acc(//.  4.  Build  the  old  irasfes,  Wter- 
 ally  accomplished  when  the  Jews  returned  from  Babylon  and  budt  tlfflr 
 nnncd  houses  and  cities.— Gi//.  Applied  to  guspel  times,  it  may  mean 
 that  the  cities  and  provinces  of  the  Gentiles,  waste  and  void  of  religion, 
 should  be  edified  in  the  true  worship  of  God.— /'""'e.  5.  And  sfrnn^ers, 
 ^c— the  obvious  literal  meaning  is,  that  on  the  repara'ion  of  waste 
 places,  their  inhabitants  shall  contribute  their  assistance  to  ih'-  people 
 of  God  in  wt^rks  of  husbandry  and  agricultural  imi)ri  vunent.  but 
 more  is  intended;  Christian  societies,  called  flocks,  should,  by  converts 
 to  the  Christian  faith,  be  nourished  and  comforted  with  sound  know- 
 ledge and  understanding. — Maccul.  Gentiles  should  first  preach  the 
 Gospel  to  the  Jewish  congregations. — Clarke.  6.  Na/ned  Ihe  pittsfs 
 
 of  the  Lord,  ^-c,  the  servants  of  God  should  be  treated  with  the  highest 
 respect.— il/ac(ru/.  It  might  meiin,  that  the  Jews  shuuld  be  restored 
 to  the  honourable  title  of  'a  kingdc  m  of  priests,'  (see  Exod.  xix.  6.) 
 The  privilege  also  belongs  to  all  Christians,  (1  Pct.ii.  5.)—Prelj.  Lowth. 
 
 7.  Donhle,  fyc. — see  chap.  xl.  2,  note,  '  Instead  of  your  shame,  >e  shall 
 receive  a  double  inheritance.'— Lou-iA.     '  Double  honour.' 
 
 •And  of  confusion,  ye  shall  rejoice  in  your  portion  : 
 For  iu  ynur  land  ye  shall  possess  double  felicity  ; 
 Everlasting  joy  shall  be  upon  you.'— Boo/Ar.,  as  Syr. 
 
 8.  J  hate  robbery,  §r. — 
 
 '  Who  hate  robbery  and  iniquity  : 
 And  I  will  give  them  in  faithfulness  their  reward,'  &c. 
 
 Boolhr.,  same  purport,  Lowth. 
 
 9.  Shall  be  known,  fyc,  acknowledged  as  God's  ancient  people,  unto 
 whom  the  premises  were  made  and  belong,  (see  Acts,  iii.  25  :  xiii.  i6 ;) 
 esteemed  as  the  firstborn  or  elder  brethren  of  the  church.  10.  I  will 
 greatly  rejoice,  ^c. — the  Jewish  church  is  here  introduced  as  speaking. 
 — Preh.  Lowth.  Clothed  me  with  the  garinents  of  salvation,  may  pos- 
 sibly allude  to  the  ancient  and  instructive  custom  of  covering  accused 
 or  obnoxious  persons  with  the  mantle  of  the  emperor ;  so  Julian  covered 
 a  certiiin  prefect  with  the  imperial  mantle,  to  protect  him. — Orient.  Lit., 
 946.  Decketh  himself— as  the  dress  of  the  Jewish  priests  was  white 
 and  splendid,  there  is  in  the  Heb.'riD'  an  evideut  reference  toil,  (comp. 
 Exod.  y:x\in.  40.)— Booth:  With  ornaments,  '  with  a  prirstly  crown.' 
 An  allusion  tothemagnificentdressof  the  high  priest,  when  performing: 
 
 R^FLF.CTIONS  ON  CiiAP.  LX. — I.  Christ  is  the  li./ht  and 
 glory  of  his  church.  \Vhat  the  worhl  would  be  without  a  sun, 
 so  would  tlie  church  be  without  Christ.  There  would  be  no 
 fruitfulness — no  cheerfulness — no  happiness  ;  all  would  be  in 
 the  cold  slumber  of  death.  There  would  be  no  life,  '  no  im- 
 mortality brought  to  light.'  May  we  enjoy  more  of  bis  pre- 
 sence, and  see  more  of  bis  glory! 
 
 JI.  When  Christ  shall  nign  in  the  (ffidpence  of  his  glory  over 
 his  church,  all  the  earth  shall  he  attracted  by  his  aplmduur.  He 
 shall  not  be  noticed  then  as  now,  by  a  few  eyes  only;  bis  glo- 
 ries and  excellences  shall  attract  men  of  all  ranks  and  the 
 people  of  all  nations.  He  will  be  esteemed  tbe  only  sun  of 
 the  world,  tbe  only  source  of  true  satisfaction  and  joy. 
 776 
 
 III.  Ad  that  is  here  said  of  the  glory  of  Christ  shall  he  full y^ 
 realized  in  heaven.  The  sublime  metaphors  of  revelation  itself 
 must  fad  to  describe  the  surpassing  glories  of  Uiat  slate,  in 
 prospect  of  which  the  church  has  ever  been  consoled,  in  tbe 
 midst  of  horrible  tempests  and  threatening  darkness.  Wbat- 
 evt^r  lustre  the  predictions  of  inspired  men  may  throiiv  upon 
 the  future  condition  of  Ifce  church  on  earth,  those  predictions 
 naturally  lead  our  minds  to  something  beyond  ;  and  in  heaven 
 we  shall  realize,  in  its  utmost  extent,  all  that  is  included  in 
 that  elevated  description  of  (he  New  Jerusalem:  'And  tlie 
 city  had  no  need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon  to  shine  in  ii  ; 
 for  the  glory  of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light 
 thereof.' 
 
The  piuphet  coiiifurtelli  the  church. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LXII. 
 
 The  Ojffire  of  miiiislcrs. 
 
 1 1  For  as  tlie  earth  briiij^etli  forth  her  bud, 
 and  as  the  garden  causelh  the  tlihigs  that  are 
 sown  ill  it  to  spring  forth  ;  so  tlie  Lord  God 
 will  cause  '  righteousness  and  "  praise  to  spring 
 forth  before  all  the  nations. 
 
 CHAP.  LXII. 
 
 1  Till',  ftroeiit  dt.^iie  of  tlie  prophet  to  coitjiriii  tlie  church 
 ill  God's  pruinises.  5  2'lie  office  of  the  ministers 
 (  unto  which  thi'i/  are  incited)  in  prcachiny  the  C/Ospel, 
 10  and  preparini/  the  piopte  thereto. 
 
 "POR  Zioii's  sake  will  I  not  hold  iny  peace, 
 -*-  and  for  Jerusalem's  sake  I  will  not  rest, 
 until  the  rigliteousiiess  tlicreof  go  forth  as 
 brightness,  and  the  salvation  thereof  as  a  lamp 
 that  bnrneth. 
 
 2  "  And  the  Gentiles  shall  see  thy  righteous- 
 ness, and  all  kings  thy  glory  :  ""and  thou  shall 
 be  called  by  a  new  name,  which  the  mouth  ol 
 the  LoKD  shall  name. 
 
 S  Thou  slialt  also  be  *■  a  crown  of  glory  in 
 the  liand  of  the  Loud,  and  a  royal  diadem  in 
 the  hand  of  thy  God. 
 
 4  ''  Thou  shalt  no  more  be  termed  '  Forsaken  ; 
 neither  sliall  thy  land  any  more  be  termed 
 •■Desolate  :  but  thou  shalt  be  called  ||  Hephzi- 
 hah,  and  thy  land  ||  Bculali  :  fur  the  Lord  de- 
 lighteth  in  thee,  and  thy  land  shall  be  married 
 
 5  t  For  as  a  young  man  marrieth  a  virgin, 
 so  shall  thy  sons  marry  thee  :  and  f  "S  the 
 bridegroom  rejoiceth  over  the  bride,  so  ^  shall 
 thy  God  rejoice  over  thee. 
 
 6  ''  I  have  set  watchmen  upon  thy  walls,  0 
 Jerusalem,  which  shall  never  hold  tlieir  peace 
 
 fi  See  ver.  A 
 i2.  cli.  U5. 
 
 ./  Il.m.  1.  10. 
 
 I  rel.  '2.  10 
 r  cli,  49.  14. 
 
 St  :>l.  6,  7. 
 /  .-h    54.   I. 
 
 I)  Tlua  is. 
 
 Ml/  ilrliyl.l 
 
 is    i,.   1,-T. 
 
 II  Tliat  is, 
 Mai' ml 
 
 I  1Kb  "-./A 
 thi-  i>,i,  i.rtlir 
 b,  d~K,a.m. 
 
 H  ch.  65.  19. 
 
 I  Or,  ye  iluit 
 
 llTf    till 
 
 LOItD'i 
 
 „l.„cr. 
 
 i ch.  ei.  II. 
 
 Ze[)h.  3  ?0. 
 t  Heb.  //  / 
 
 4  l)eu.23  3l, 
 &c.  Jer.  5. 
 17. 
 
 Src  Deut. 
 1-.'.  I>.  &I4 
 ■2.1,  ?«.  &  15. 
 II,  14. 
 
 'I  Zech    9.  9 
 
 Mat.  21.  5. 
 
 Johu  12. 15 
 p  ch.  40.  1(1. 
 
 Rev.  22.  12. 
 II  Or,  rec.m- 
 
 Jieiice. 
 
 day  nor  night  :  ||  ye  that  make  mention  of  the 
 Lord,  keep  not  .silence, 
 
 7  And  give  him  no  f  rest,  till  he  establish, 
 and  till  he  make  Jerusalem  '  a  praise  in  the 
 earth. 
 
 8  The  Lord  hatli  sworn  by  his  riglit  hand, 
 and  by  the  arm  of  his  strength,  f  Surely  I  will 
 no  more  '  give  thy  corn  to  be  meat  for  thine 
 enemies ;  and  the  sons  of  the  stranger  shall 
 not  drink  thy  wine,  for  the  whicli  thou  hast 
 laboured  : 
 
 9  But  they  that  have  gathered  it  shall  cat  it, 
 and  praise  the  Lord  ;  and  they  that  have 
 brought  it  together  shall  drink  it  '  in  the 
 courts  of  my  holiness. 
 
 10  H  Go  through,  go  through  the  gates  ; 
 ""prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  people;  cast  up, 
 cast  up  the  highway;  gather  out  the  stones  ; 
 "  lift  up  a  standard  for  the  people. 
 
 1 1  Behold,  the  Lord  bath  proclaimed  unto 
 the  end  of  the  world,  °  Say  ye  to  the  daughter 
 of  Zion,  Behold,  thy  salvation  cometh  ;  be- 
 hold, his  ''  reward  is  with  him,  and  his  ||  work 
 before  him. 
 
 12  And  they  shall  call  them,  The  holy  people. 
 The  redeemed  of  the  Lord  :  and  thou  shalt 
 be  called.  Sought  out,  A  city  "^  not  forsaken. 
 
 CHAP.  LXIII. 
 
 1  Christ  sheweth  who  he  is,  2  what  his  victory  ovct  his 
 ei.einies,  7  and  u'hnt  his  7iicrci/  toicnrd  his  church. 
 10  /«  his  just  urath  he  renietnfurith  his  free  mercy. 
 15  The  church  in  their  prayer,  17  and  coynplaivf , 
 j>n)/'cys  their  faith. 
 
 ing  his  functions,  and  particul.irly  to  the  mitre  and  crown,  or  p'ate  of 
 gold  un  the  front  of  it,  (Exod.  xxix.  6  ;  see  also  xxviii.  10.)  It  is  tliffi- 
 cult  tn  ijive  the  metaphor  full  force  in  other  lanf^nage. —  Luwlh.  11.  So 
 the  Lord  (j'od  u-itt  cause  righteousness,  %c.,  so  thall  the  church  recover 
 from  her  wilderness  state,  &c. — Sut. 
 
 Chap.  LXII.  —  1.  Will  I  nut,  fyc. — the.-e  seem  to  be  the  words  of 
 the  propliet.  resolved  to  solicit  God  fur  the  church's  happiues^s.— Poo/tf. 
 The  words  of  Israel  in  captivity. — A/jen  Ezra.  The  word!-  <>f  God,  re- 
 Kolved  nt.it  to  be  silent,  nor  let  the  nations  be  at  rest  till  the  deliverer 
 of  his  people  should  come,  1'arg.;  Kimchi.  The  Redeemer  speaks  by 
 his  prophet. — Sut.  As  a  lump  that  burneth,  '  like  a  blazing  torch.' — 
 Lowth.  To  give  light  to  them  tliat  sit  in  darkness,  in  every  age, 
 country  and  condition. — Mnecul.  2.  A  new  ntnne.  Christian. — A.  C. 
 Implies  a  new  condition,  a  change  for  the  better. —  Vitr.,  so  Scott,  A 
 new  name  of  liunnurable  distinction. — L.  Jlulden.  '  By  the  name  of 
 the  Lord,  thy  Maker  and  thy  husband.'  Agrippa's  wife  assumed  the 
 name  of  Agrippina  ;  and  Caius' wife  is  called  Caia. — Sut.  In  the  4ih 
 verse,  this  name  is  given,  '  Hephzibah,  my  delight  is  in  her.'  This  is 
 opposed  to  ihc  name  which  she  had  long  burne,  '  Forsaken.'  Now  God 
 would  eminently  appear  to  be  tlie  husband  ul  liis  church,  and.enriclied 
 with  the  graces  of  his  spirit,  she  should  be  as  a  glorious  crown  in  his 
 hand. — Buot/ir.  4.  HephzHmh,  was  queen  to  Hezekiah  ;  a  favourite 
 name  in  Israel,  (2  Kings,  xxi.  1.) — Sut.  Tlu/  land  shall  tte  married— an 
 eastern  sovereign  is  said  to  be  married  to  his  dominions,  and  whm  he 
 takes  possessions  from  anuther,  he  is  said  to  be  manied  to  them. — 
 Rob.  5.  Mnrrieth  a  virgin— \X  is  the  custom  in  the  cast  for  youths 
 that  were  never  married  always  to  marry  virgins  ;  and  widowers,  how- 
 ever young,  to  marry  widows.— 5iV  J".  Chardin.  Thy  suns,  'thy  Re- 
 storer,' which  harmonizes  with  tlie  next  sentence. — Luicth.  Lou-th's 
 reading  wants  authority. — Buofhr.  It  is  pt-rliaps  not  necessary.  Tlie 
 church  is  sometimes  spnken  of  as  a  matron,  or  as  a  widow,  oi  a  di- 
 Vi  rctd  woman,  and  then,  again,  as  a  virgin  ;  so  that  ihe  members  of 
 
 the  church  may  be  considered  her  dutiful  sons,  or  as  .■■tanding  in  the 
 relation  of  a  husband  to  her. — Scott.  Figures  are  much  involved  in 
 the  Oriental  style,  and  especially  in  that  of  the  prophets. — Ed.  Marry 
 thee,  obtain  possession  of  thy  lands,  as  a  husband  claims  possession  of 
 a  Vrife. —  M'iY.  6.  Set  wnichvien,  ^c,  the  faithful ;  the  image  is  from 
 the  Constant  watch  in  the  tmiple  service  by  the  Levitcs,  especially  the 
 singers,  (see  1  Chron.ix.  33.)  The  form  made  use  of  was  a  short  pious 
 sentence,  (comp.  Ps.  cxxxiv. ;  Mai.  ii.  12.) — Boothr.  Eastern  watch- 
 men frequently  cry  alimd  to  mark  the  time  and  provr  their  vigilance. 
 — So  Bp.  Lowlh.  9.  Eat  it,  and  praise,  alluding  to  the  people  spend- 
 ing their  first  fruits,  and  other  liaUowed  things,  at  the  tcmiile,  in  gratp. 
 ful  acknowledgment  to  God  for  his  blessings. — Preb.  Loicfh.  10  Go 
 through  the  gates,  ^c,  of  the  several  cities  where  the  Jews  were  in  cap- 
 tivity, and  get  away  to  their  own  cotm'ry,  (see  chnp.  xlviii.  2(1 ;  Iii. 
 1 1 .) — Jackson.  Prepare  ye,  §r. — causeys  or  Irghways,  in  the  east,  are 
 paved  and  prepared  at  immense  expense,  being  wide  and  passing  ttver 
 botigy  grounds,  &c. — Herbert.  Maybe  addressed  to  the  iiih:ibitantR  of 
 Jerusakm,  to  prepare  the  roads  for  the  peojite  to  biing  their  first  fruits. 
 -^Boothr.  To  remove  every  obstacle  that  miglit  im]jede  the  Gentiles 
 from  resorting  into  the  comniiinion  of  the  church.— iV'/rr?//.  'Open 
 the  gates,  and  keep  them  open  ;'  it  menus  the  church  in  the  latter  day, 
 to  admit  converts.  Lift  up  a  standard,  an  allusion  to  soldiers,  that 
 usually  set  up  their  standaid.  that  the  army  may  know  whither  to  re- 
 paii  tofrcm  all  quarters. — Poole.  By  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  — 
 Gill.  11.  Sulnation,  'Saviour,'  .4ncient    Versions.  \2.  And  they 
 
 shall  call  them,  SfC,  '  With  admiring  eyes  shall  the  neighbouring  nations 
 proclaim.  These  are  undoubtedly  a  select  people.  Providence  interposes 
 in  their  behalf ;  and  hereafter  you  shall  be  denominated.  "  the  inquired 
 for,"  as  of  high  repute  ;  not  "  forsaken"  and  abandoned,  as  of  no  man- 
 ner of  importance.' — L.  Ilnlden.  '  Men  shall  own  them  to  be  the  pco 
 pie  of  God;  and  thou  shalt  be  called,  O  Zion,  a  city  not  forsaken  of 
 God,  and  de-'Olale,  as  formerly,  of  people.'— J^r/rson. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  LXI. —  I.  Let  us  hhss  God  for  the 
 gospel  of  Jesits  Christ.  Dark  and  hopeless,  indeed,  was  tbe 
 stale  of  the  Gentile  world  till  he  came,  and  the  Jewish  church 
 was  but  surrounded  with  shadows.  We  now  enjoy  the  sub- 
 stance, and  tiiat  light  which  clearly  leads  to  immortalily. 
 Everywhere  the  Saviour's  commis.sioned  ministers,  in  imita- 
 tion oi' their  divine  JMaster,  proclaim  liberty  to  llie  slaves  of 
 sin  and  hell,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  those  that  are  poor  in 
 circumstances  and  poor  in  spirit. 
 
 II.  Let  us  rejoice  in  the  prospect  ofViat  day  when  there  shall  be 
 churches  of  coui-ir/ed  Jiws  as  well  as  of  converted  Gentiles ;  — 
 when  there  shall  be  'one  fold,  under  one  Shepherd  ;' — when  the 
 churcli  shall  wear  her  most  beautiful  garments;  and  amidst 
 the  once  arid  desert  shall  spring  up  the  trees  of  righteousness 
 and  the  we  11- watered  garden. 
 
 Rbflectiuns  on  Cuap.  LXII.  —  I.  God  has  promised  (hat 
 the  church  s'-a/l  prosper.      Every  page  of  revelation  throws  n 
 
 lustre  upon  lier  future  condition.  There  was  an  intermixture 
 of  clouds,  which  should  end  in  a  destructive  storm,  witis  the 
 light  which  slione  upon  Zion,  in  the  prophecies.  The  temple 
 and  city  of  Jerusalem  were  restored,  but  they  were  at  length 
 to  be  destroyed.  But  the  church  of  God  now  loolis  ibrth  as  the 
 morniiirj,  '  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  sun,  and  terrible  as  an 
 army  with  banners.'  She  must  enjoy  a  splendid  day,  the  hiir- 
 binger  of  that  state  where  bhe  shall  shine  without  a  cloud,  and 
 never  set. 
 
 II.  Jf^e  are  to  connect  our  prayers  with  God's  promises  for  the 
 prosperity  of  the  chvrch.  We  should  affectionately  bear  Zion 
 on  our  hearts,  in  our  closets,  in  our  families,  in  our  social  and 
 public  devotions,  and  on  all  extraordinary  occasions  of  assem- 
 bling together;  and  especially  should  those  who  are  set  as 
 watchmen  on  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  give  God  no  rest,  day  nor 
 night,  *  till  he  make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the  earth.* 
 
C/iiist's  mercy  to  the  church. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LXIII. 
 
 The  church's  faith. 
 
 YYT^HO  is  tliis  that  cometli  from  Edoni,  witli 
 ''  dyed  garments  from  Bozrah?  thi^  that  is 
 f  glorious  ill  his  apparel,  travelling  in  the  great- 
 ness of  his  strength  ?  I  that  speali  in  righteous- 
 ness, mighty  to  save. 
 
 2  Wherefore  "  art  thou  red  in  thine  apparel, 
 and  thy  garments  like  him  that  treadeth  in  the 
 winefat  ? 
 
 3  I  have  ''  trodden  the  winepress  alone  ;  and 
 of  the  people  there  teas  none  witli  me  :  for  1 
 will  tread  them  in  mine  anger,  and  trample 
 tliem  in  my  fury  ;  and  tlieir  blood  sliall  be 
 sprinkled  upon  my  garments,  and  I  will  stain 
 all  my  raiment. 
 
 4  For  the  "^day  of  vengeance  is  in  mine  heart, 
 and  the  year  of  my  redeemed  is  come. 
 
 o  ''  And  I  looked,  and  "  there  was  none  to 
 help ;  and  I  wondered  that  there  ivas  none  to 
 uphold  :  therefore  mine  own  'arm  brought  sal- 
 vation unto  me  ;  and  my  fury,  it  upheld  me. 
 
 6  And  1  will  tread  down  tlie  people  in  mine 
 anger,  and  "^niake  them  drunk  in  my  fury,  and 
 I  will  bring  down  tlieir  strength  to  tlie  earth. 
 
 7  U  1  will  mention  the  lovingkindnesses  of 
 the  Lord,  and  the  praises  of  tlie  Lord,  accord- 
 ing to  all  that  the  Lobd  hath  bestowed  on  us, 
 and  the  great  goodness  toward  the  house  of 
 Israel,  which  he  bath  bestowed  on  them  ac 
 cording  to  his  mercies,  and  according  to  the 
 multitude  of  his  lovingkindnesses. 
 
 8  For  he  said,  .Surely  they  are  my  people, 
 children  that  will  not  lie  :  so  he  was  their 
 Saviour. 
 
 9  ''  In  all  tlieir  affliction  he  was  afflicted,  'and 
 the  angel  of  his  presence  saved  them:  ''in  his 
 love  and  in  his  pity  he  redeemed  them  ;  and 
 '  he    bare    them,   and    carried    tliem    all    the 
 
 i(  f 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 '■"  '''^ 
 
 Cir.  6fiP. 
 
 ».  Ex.  16.3V- 
 
 f  V\ch 
 
 Nu.  14.  11. 
 
 di-^/U.i. 
 
 Ps.  78.  66. 
 
 &  95.  9. 
 
 «  Ps.  78.  40. 
 
 Acts  7.51. 
 
 a  licv.  19.13. 
 
 Eph.  4  30. 
 
 o  Ex.  23.  21. 
 
 p  Es.  U.  SO 
 
 &32    II,1L'. 
 
 Nu    I'l.   13, 
 
 b  \.;vn.  1.15 
 
 14,  &c. 
 
 Bi-v  n  ly. 
 
 Jer.  2.  6. 
 
 20.  «(  ly  15 
 
 Ij  Or,  thep- 
 
 her-U,  iiB 
 
 P.^.  77.  20. 
 
 •i  Num.   II. 
 
 17,  J^.  Neh. 
 
 9,  2i>   Dan. 
 
 4   8.  Hag. 
 
 2    5. 
 
 r  Ex    15,  6. 
 
 r  ch    3).  9. 
 
 «  Ex.  14.21. 
 
 Sc  61.2. 
 
 Josh.  3.   16. 
 
 t  Ps.  lOtf.  9. 
 
 rfch. -11.29. 
 
 8c  .=>3    If. 
 
 f  JuliulCSi 
 
 /■Ps.</S    1 
 
 .<  2  Sam.  7, 
 
 ch.  r.y  16. 
 
 23. 
 
 j-Dcu.26.1!>. 
 
 Pfi.  80.  U- 
 
 (T  [Ic-v.  10.  6. 
 
 i,  Pa.  33.  M. 
 
 II  Or,  th>- 
 
 muU-tudf. 
 
 z  .ler.  31   20. 
 
 IIos.  11.8. 
 
 ..  lieu.  32.  6 
 
 1  Chi- 29.10 
 
 ch.64    S. 
 
 b  Job  li    21. 
 
 Eccles.<).5 
 
 h  Or,  our  Tf- 
 
 Heemer  from 
 
 "Vf  rim  ting 
 
 /iJu.lK    10. 
 
 is  thy  f.n>-ir. 
 
 IG.  Zecl..?. 
 
 r  Pg.llH.  10. 
 
 ^,  .\rts9i. 
 
 d  See  ch.  6. 
 
 i  V.x    li.  tg. 
 
 10.  with 
 
 JitL'S  Sf).«l. 
 
 Jotm  12.40. 
 
 Ik  tin.    14. 
 
 Horn. 9    IS 
 
 Mai    3.  I. 
 
 f  Nu.  10   36 
 
 Acts  12.  11. 
 
 Pb    9U    13. 
 
 ft  Dcu.  7.7,8. 
 
 f  Deu.  7.  6. 
 
 /  Kx.  iy-4. 
 
 ■  &  26.  19 
 
 Hi-.i.  I.  SI. 
 
 rh.  r.2.  12. 
 
 &  ^■>.  Ii.l2 
 
 D.-in.  B.  24. 
 
 ch.  46,  S,  1. 
 
 g  PR.  71.  7. 
 
 days  of  old. 
 
 lU  H  But  they  "'rebelled,  nnd  "vexed  Iiis 
 lioly  Spirit :  "  therefore  he  was  turned  to  bp 
 their  enemy,  and  he  fought  against  them. 
 
 11  Then  he  remembered  the  days  of  old, 
 Moses,  and  his  people,  sayinr/,  Wliere  is  he 
 that  ''brought  them  up  out  of  the  .sea  with  the 
 II  shepherd  of  his  flock 'f  ''where  \s  he  that  put 
 iiis  holy  Spirit  within  him? 
 
 12  That  led  than  by  the  right  hand  of  Moses 
 Svith  his  glorious  arm,  ^dividing  the  water 
 before  them,  to  make  himself  an  everlasting 
 name '? 
 
 13  'That  led  them  through  the  deep,  as  an 
 horse  in  the  wilderness,  tkat  they  should  not 
 stumble? 
 
 14  As  a  beast  goeth  down  into  the  valley, 
 the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  caused  liiin  to  rest:  so 
 didst  thou  lead  thy  people,  "to  make  thyself 
 a  glorious  name. 
 
 15  t  '^  Look  down  from  heaven,  and  behold 
 ^  from  the  habitation  of  thy  holiness  and  of 
 thy  glory:  where  is  thy  zoal  and  thy  strength, 
 II  the  sounding  '  of  thy  bowels  and  of  thy 
 mercies  toward  me?  are  they  restrained? 
 
 16  "  Doubtless  thou  art  our  father,  though 
 Abraham  ^'  be  ignorant  of  us,  and  Israel  ac- 
 knowledge us  not;  tliou,  O  Loud,  art  our 
 father,  ||  our  redeemer ;  thy  name  is  from 
 everlasting. 
 
 17  t  O  Loud,  why  hast  Ihou  *^niade  us  to  err 
 from  thy  ways,  and  ''hardened  our  heart  from 
 thy  fear?  *^  Return  for  thy  servant's  sake,  the 
 tribes  of  thine  inheritance. 
 
 18  ^  The  people  of  thy  holiness  have  pos- 
 sessed it  but  a  little  while  :  ^our  adversaries 
 have  trodden  down  thy  sanctuary. 
 
 Chap.  LXIII.  —  1.  Who  is  this? — the  questirn  may  be  asked  either 
 by  the  propliet  in  a  vision,  or  by  the  church. — Poolt.  That  cometh 
 from  Edoin,  §•/?. — it  is,  by  many  learned  interpreters,  supposed  that 
 Judas  Maccabeus  and  his  victories  make  tlie  subject  of  this  chapter, 
 because  he  slaughtered  20,000  of  the  Edomites  in  one  battle.  But  could 
 Judas  call  himself  the  Announcer  of  riKhteousncss,  mighty  to  save  ? 
 Could  he  talk  of  the  day  of  vengeance  being  in  his  heart,  and  the  year 
 of  his  redeemed  bcin^  come?  or  that  his  (iwn  arm  wmnght  salvation 
 for  him  ?  This  prophecy  can  apply  to  no  event  in  history  answerable 
 to  its  importance  but  to  the  desnuction  of  Jerusalem  and  the  Jewish 
 polity,  which,  in  the  Gospel,  is  called  the  coming  of  Christ,  and  the 
 days  of  vengeance,  fMait.  xvi.  28;  Luke,  xxi.  220  There  are,  how. 
 ever,  great  slaughters  of  the  enemies  of  God  which  remain  to  be  ful- 
 filled, (see  Ezek.  xxxviii. ;  Rev.  XX.)  This  prophecy  may,  therefore, 
 possibly  RRFER  TO  what  are  there  called  Goc  and  M.-vonc. — Louth. 
 This  prophecy  refers  to  Christ's  spiritual  coming,  which  is  yet  future, 
 to  take  vengeance  on  Antichrist  and  all  the  anti-christian  powers.  It 
 is  usnal  in  Scripture  for  the  enemies  of  the  church  and  people  of  God  in 
 gospel  times  to  be  expressed  by  such  who  were  the  known  and  impla- 
 cable enemies  of  the  people  of  Israel. — Gill.  This  is  spoken  of  God, 
 coming  like  some  victorious  prince  from  the  destruction  of  the  Baby- 
 Innians,  and  other  his  people's  enemies,  having  his  garments  be- 
 sprinkled with  their  blood;  yet,  under  these  victories  of  God  over  the 
 Babylonians  and  other  enemies  of  his  people,  Christ's  victories  over  his 
 spiritual  enemies  are  also  typified. — Jackson.  It  is  Christ  that  is  thus 
 magnificently  described  returning  to  his  capital,  from  the  land  of  the 
 enemy,  after  his  passion. — Bp.  Home.  Ihe  great  personage  here  in- 
 troduced is  described,  not  as  a  suflfcicr,  but  as  an  agent ;  sprinkled,  not 
 with  his  own  blood,  but  with  that  of  his  enemies  ;  and  in  the  act.  not 
 of  appeasing  the  wrath  of  God  for  the  sins  of  his  elect,  but  of  executing 
 it  in  the  punishment  of  his  enemies. —  Vitr.  Nothing  can  be  more  evi- 
 dent  than  that  Christ  is  here  represented  by  the  prophet  as  covered 
 with  the  blond  of  his  enemies,  and  as  a  mighty  conqueror  and  avenger, 
 and  not  as  a  lamb  slain  for  a  sacrifice. — Scott.  1  that  speak  in  righte- 
 ousness, ^c. — Messiah  answers. — Lnwth,  Boothr.  3.  Trodden  the 
 winepress  alone — grapes  are  wont  to  be  trodden  with  the  feet  when 
 they  want  to  make  wine.  Dr.  Chandler  saw  it  practised  near  Smyrna, 
 — Har.  Several  persons  used  to  tread  the  winepress  together,  hence 
 the  contrast — 'alone.' — Pict.  Bih.  These  words  are  net  applicable  to 
 conquerors  at  the  heads  of  armies;  but  in  the  garden  of  Gethseniane 
 tlie  Saviour  interceded  alune,  the  disciples  being  henvy  with  sletp. — 
 Sut.  The  Messiah  here  answers,  that  by  his  own  jj-'wcr,  withr  ut  any 
 human  help,  he  had  crushed  his  obstinate  opposers,  and  that  he  vv  -uU' 
 thus  trample  on  them  all  in  his  fury  and  indignation  ;  and  wouM  ac- 
 count their  blood  staining  his  garments  as  honourable  to  his  ju  tice, 
 truth,  and  power;  fur  the  day  of  vengeance  was  in  bis  heart,  he— 
 Scott.  4.  The  pear  of  my  redeemed,  ^c,  as  a  year  was  fixed  for  the 
 deliverance  of  the  Israelites  from  bondage  in  Egypt,  and  a  time  speci- 
 fied wherein  the  Jews  were  freed  from  captivity  m  Babylon,  so  a  year 
 Is  appointed  for  the  deliverance  of  the  church,  under  the  New  Testn 
 
 ment,  from  oppression  and  i>ersccutiun. — Maccul.  5.  I  looked — I 
 
 wondered — this  is  spoken  after  the  manner  of  men,  to  make  the  salva- 
 tion appear  the  greater,  and  Christ's  own  work  ;  for  expectation  and 
 disappointment,  consternation  and  amazement,  as  the  word  signifies, 
 cannot  be  properly  ascribed  to  this  great  Redeemer. — Gill.  6.  I  will, 
 '  I  have,'  lf\C.,  Sept.,  Vulg.  7-  I  "'HI  mention,  §v. — this  is  a  new  song 
 after  the  victory  obtained  by  Messiah's  arm. — Sitt.  It  contains  a  peni- 
 tential  confession  and  supplication  of  the  Israelites  in  their  present  dis- 
 persed state. — Lowth.  The  prophet  comes  forward  in  the  name  of  the 
 posterity  of  Abraham,  happily  brought  to  repentance  and  faith  in  the 
 Messiah,  presenting  before  God  penitent  acknowledgments  and  fervent 
 supplications  suited  to  their  circumstances. — M'icrul.  B.  For  he  said, 
 — he  said  within  himself  of  old,  when  he  made  a  covenant  with  our 
 fathers,  and  bmnght  them  out  of  Egypt.  Mr/  people,  in  covenant, 
 though  unworthy  of  me.  That  will  not  lie,  will  not  deal  falsely  with 
 me,  lliey  are  under  such  obligation. — Poole.  Speaking  here  after  the 
 manner  of  men. — Gill.  g.  Afflictions,  'distresses,'  from  their  ene- 
 mies.— Gataker,  Tioothr.,  Wil.  Angel  of  his  presence,  means  an  angel 
 of  superior  order,  as  Gabriel,  (see  Luke,  i.  19.) — Lowth.  The  angel 
 who  conducted  the  Israelites  by  the  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire  ;  the  Logos, 
 or  second  person  of  the  blessed  Trinity,  called  an  Angel,  Exod.  xiv. 
 19. — Prelt.  Lowth.  Concerning  the  person  here  called  Angel  of  God's 
 presence,  see  E.xod.  iii.  2,  6;  xiii.  21  ;  xiv.  IQ;  xxiii.  20,  21  j  Jndg. 
 xiii.  18,  compared  with  Isa.  ix.  6;  Zeeh.  xii.  8  ;  and  Mai.  iii.  I.  No 
 other  than  Christ. — Huntingford.  Other  angels  are  in  God's  presence, 
 but  they  were  not  alwavs  so,  therefore  Christ  is  so  called  by  way  of 
 cniincncy. — Poole.  Called  the  Angel  of  God's  presence  or  face,  VJD» 
 because  his  face  was  seen  in  him,  (John,  xiv.  9  ;  Col.  i.  t5;  Heb.  i.  3;) 
 he  lay  in  the  bosom  of  his  Father,  introduces  his  people  into  the  pre. 
 sence  of  God,  and  always  appears  for  them  as  their  advocate  and  inter- 
 cessor.— Gill.  1 1 .  He  rt'inembered — the  prophet  speaks  in  the  name 
 of  the  penitent  Jew. — Muccvl.  13.  In  the  uilderness,  12103.  or  ra- 
 ther *  in  a  plain,'  as  the  word  sometimes  signifies. — Vali\,  Gataker, 
 Vitr.  A  desert  plain;  the  passage  may  allude  to  the  speed  f>f  the 
 Arabian  horse,  on  whicli  the  Arab  cscapfs  his  enemies,  who,  jtursuing, 
 perish. — So  Picf.  Bih.  Should  not  stumhle,  that  is,  without  obstacle. — 
 Loivlh.  14.  As  n  heast  gneth  down,  Sfc,  gently,  and  softly,  when  it 
 is  led  down  a  steep  hill, — .Jucksnti;  and  especially  when  laden. — Gil/. 
 As  fin  animal,  pursued  by  rapacious  creatures,  seeks  for  safety  and  rest 
 in  some  tow  valley  or  ground,  where  he  may  be  free  from  his  pursuers, 
 8iC.—Mncrnl.  The  allusinn  is  to  cattle's  going  to  the  valley  for  grass. 
 — Pitole,  Vitr.  'As  the  herd  desrcndcth  into  the  valley.'— /,oi(7/(. 
 IG;  Doubtless  thou  art  ourfither,  '  though  unworthy  to  be  owned  by 
 our  father  Abi-aham,  yet  do  not  thci  cast  us  off.' — So  Bp.  Hall.  Our 
 redeemer;  thy  name,  ^c,  "lOlJ-"'  cVirO  "^^^ti^, '  our  Redeemer  from  ever- 
 lasting is  thy  name,'  Vnlg! ;  Vitr,  17.  Made  us  to  err,  '  su fleered  us 
 to  err.' — Lowth,  Preb.  Lowlh,  Waterland,  Boothr.  And  hardened,  '  to 
 harden,'  Scc.—Li-ir/h,  Buothr.  [Hi/i/iil,  in  which  Ihe  word  is,  often 
 denotes  only  pernuat^ion. — Preb   Loivth.] 
 
The  church's  confession. 
 
 ISAIAH.  LXIV  ,  LXV. 
 
 The  rejection  of  the  Jews. 
 
 19  We  are  thine:  thou  never  barest  rule 
 over  them  ;  ||they  were  not  called  by  thy  name 
 
 CHAP.   LXIV. 
 
 1  The  church  vrai/tth  for  the  illustration  nf  God s 
 power.  5  Cehbratiiut  Gods  nurcij,  it  rmtk^th  con- 
 fession of  their  natural  corruptions.  9  It  complaineth 
 if  their  affiictittn. 
 
 /■"\H  that  thou  wouldest  "rend  the  lieavens. 
 ^-^  that  thou  wouldest  come  down,  that  '' tlie 
 mountains  miglit  flaw  down  at  tliy  presence, 
 
 2  As  ivhen  f  the  melting  fire  burneth,  the  fire 
 causeth  the  waters  to  boil,  to  make  thy  name 
 known  to  thine  adversaries,  that  the  nations 
 may  tremble  at  thy  presence  ! 
 
 3  When  '  thou  didst  terrible  things  which  we 
 looked  not  for,  thou  earnest  down,  the  moun- 
 tains flowed  down  at  tliy  presence. 
 
 4  For  since  the  begimiing  of  the  world  ''men 
 have  not  heard,  nor  perceived  by  the  ear,  neither 
 hatli  the  eye  ||  seen,  O  God,  beside  thee,  what 
 lie  hath  prepared  tor  liim  that  waiteth  for  him. 
 
 5  Thou  nieetest  him  tliat  rejoiceth  '  and 
 worketh  rigliteousness,  '  (/ioi'fi  that  remember 
 thee  in  thy  ways:  behold,  thou  art  wroth  ;  for 
 we  have  .sinned:  *in  those  is  continuance,  and 
 we  sliall  be  saved. 
 
 6  But  we  are  all  as  an  unclean  thing,  and  all 
 I*  our  righteousnesses  are  as  filthy  rags;  and 
 we  all  do  'fade  as  a  leaf;  and  our  iniquities, 
 like  the  wind,  have  taken  us  away. 
 
 7  And  '  there  is  none  tliat  calleth  upon  thy 
 name,  that  stirreth  up  himself  to  take  hold  of 
 thee :  for  thou  hast  hid  thy  face  from  us,  and 
 hast  f  consumed  us,  fbecause  of  our  iniquities. 
 
 8  '  But  now,  O  Lord,  thou  art  our  father; 
 we  are  the  clay,  '"  and  thou  our  potter  ;  and 
 we  all  are  "  the  work  of  tliy  liand. 
 
 9  1  Be  not  "wroth  very  sore,  O  Lord,  neither 
 
 cir.  698. 
 
 II  Or,  rtj 
 iitmt  wni 
 
 •ijion  them 
 cti.  tS    I. 
 
 t  nebJhrpi 
 of  melii'ffi 
 
 c  Ex.  34.  10. 
 Judg  5  *,5 
 Ps.  68.  a, 
 Hab.  3.  3.0 
 
 [|  Or,  tten  a 
 G,d  betide 
 Ihfe,  which 
 dotith  so  for 
 him,  *c. 
 
 e  Acts  IU.35 
 /ch.  26.  8 
 
 g  Mai.  3,  6 
 
 A  Phil.  3. 
 
 .  Ps.  90. ! 
 
 A  Hos    7- 
 t  Heb. 
 
 iTflled. 
 t  Heb   bu 
 
 hand:    as 
 
 Job  8.  '1. 
 /  ch    63.  16- 
 j«ch.  2H.  16 
 
 &  45.  9. 
 
 Jer.  IS  6. 
 
 Rom.  9,  '20, 
 
 the 
 
 21. 
 
 1  Rph  2.  10 
 >  Ps,74.  I,V. 
 
 &  79    8 
 
 cir.  tOS 
 p  Ps   79    13 
 
 q  Ps   79    I. 
 
 r  2  Kin-  25. 
 
 9    Ps    74.7. 
 
 ^Chi-3t>.l9 
 *  Ezek.  24. 
 
 2l,L'.V 
 /  ch.  T2.  14 
 
 a  Rom  n.  21, 
 •db.  26,  SU  (i. 
 10.  2U  Kph 
 2.  12,  13. 
 
 bell 
 
 63.  19 
 n.10.21. 
 
 I  Heb.  v},<m 
 bri.kt. 
 
 /l>eu.  18.11. 
 
 g  ch.  66.  17 
 See  Lev.l  I. 
 7. 
 
 II  Or,  piecei 
 
 h  See?  Mat  9. 
 II.  Luke  .'). 
 30.  &  IB.  11. 
 Ju.ic  19- 
 
 Or, 
 
 JMi-ei 
 
 i"  Deu.  3;.34. 
 
 Mai  3.  (i 
 A  Ps  M.  3. 
 I  Ps.  79    12. 
 
 Jer    16,   18. 
 
 Eze.  II    21 
 
 remember  iniquity  for  ever :  behold,  see,  we 
 beseech  thee,  ''  we  are  all  thy  people. 
 
 10  Thy  holy  cities  are  a  wilderness,  Zion  is  a 
 wilderness,  ''  Jerusalem  a  desolation. 
 
 1 1  ""  Our  lioly  and  our  beautiful  house,  where 
 our  fathers  praised  thee,  is  burned  up  with  fire  : 
 and  all  ''our  pleasant  things  are  laid  waste. 
 
 12  '  Wilt  thou  refrain  thyself  for  these  (kings, 
 
 0  Loud?  "wilt  thou  hold  thy  peace,  and 
 afflict  us  very  sore  ? 
 
 CHAP.  LXV. 
 
 1  The  calling  of  the  Gvut'ils.  2  The  Ji us,  for  their 
 incndulity,  idolatn/,  and  hi/jiovrisy,  are  n.jtcttd.  8 
 A  remnant  shall  hv  saved.  II  Jnd;.ments  on  the 
 wicked,  and  bhssiyit/s  on  tJie  gotllif.  17  The  hhssid 
 slate  of  the  new  Jtrusahrn. 
 
 T  ^  AM  sought  of  them  that  asked  not  for 
 -*-  me;  I  am  found  of  them  that  sought  me 
 not :  I  said,  Behold  me,  behold  me,  unto  a 
 nation  that  ^  was  not  called  by  my  name. 
 
 2  '^  I  have  spread  out  my  hands  all  the  day 
 unto  a  rebellious  people,  which  walketh  in  a 
 way  that  was  not  good,  after  their  own 
 thougiits  ; 
 
 3  A  people  '^  that  provoketh  me  to  anger 
 continually  to  my  face;  '^  that  sacrificeth  in 
 gardens,  and  burneth  incense  f  upon  altars  of 
 brick  ; 
 
 4  ^  Which  remain  among  the  graves,  and 
 lodge  in  the  monuments,  ^  which  eat  swine's 
 flesh,  and  ||  broth  of  abominable  things  is  in 
 their  vessels ; 
 
 3  ^  Which  say,  Stand  by  thyself,  come  not 
 near  to  me;  for  I  am  holier  than  thou.  These 
 are  a  smoke  in  my  ||  nose,  a  fire  that  burneth 
 all  the  day. 
 
 6  Behold,  '  it  is  written  before  me  :  "^  I  will 
 not  keep  silence,  '  but  will  recompense,  even 
 recompense  into  their  bosom, 
 
 Chap.  LXIV.  —  1.  That  the  mountains,  Sfc,  a  pnetieal  descripJion  of 
 the  grand  scene  at  Siuai. — Pi-eb.  Lmvth.  2.  A^  when  the  melting  Jire, 
 §"C..  C'DCrr  ITM,  'the  fire  of  melting.'— C*;/'-  ,  Viif.,  Cucc.  Sucli  as  is 
 used  in  furnaces  tor  mcltiug  metals. — Gill.  That  is,  melting  the  moan- 
 tains  before  thee  hke  the  impression  of  fire  ou  smelters*  piles,  or  on 
 boiling  water. — Stock.  '  As  the  fire  kindleth  the  dry  fuel.' — Lowth,  so 
 Bouthr,  4.  Neither  hath  the  eye  seen,  SfC. — 
 '  Nov  hath  eye  seen  a  God,  lieside  ther, 
 Who  doeih  such  things  fur  those  that  trust  in  him.'— LowM. 
 
 5.  Thou  meelest  hirn,  l^c— the  Hindoo  goes  forth  to  meet  the  guest  for 
 whom  lie  has  a  great  regard. — Rob. 
 
 'Thou  meetest,  with  joy,  those  who  work  righteousness  ; 
 Who,  in  thy  ways,  remember  thee.' 
 Behold,  ^c,  for  loe  have  sinned,  Nt:n;%  or  '  because  we  have  sinned.* 
 —  (•'«(.,  Grotius,  Gafnker.     [1  is  often  causal. — Gill.J 
 *Lo !  thou  art  angry  j  for  we  have  sinned  : 
 BL'cause  flour  deeds i  f^r  we  have  been  rebellious.' — Lowth. 
 'Because  of  our  deeds;  and  can  we  be  saved?' — Boothr. 
 
 6.  As  fill hr/  rags,   '  as  a  rejected  garment.' — Lowth,  so  Boothr.      [1,133 
 D'13?,  '  ut  vestimentum  nienstruatura.' — Dries.,  ^c.'\  10.  Thrj  holy 
 
 cities,  may  mean  Zion,  which  was  properly  called  'the  city  of  David,' 
 (<ee  2  Sam.  v.  9,;  and  Jerusalem,  as  they  are  sometimes  divided  into 
 the  upper  and  lower  cities.  11.  Burned  up  with  fire,  relates  to  the 
 
 burning  of  the  temple  by  the  Ramans.  Our  pleasttnt  thinf(s,  Judea,  '  a 
 pleasant  land,'  (Dan.viii.  9,)  and  'the  glory  of  all  lands,' (Ezek.  xx.  6  ;) 
 and  the  temple,  on  whose  beauty  and  glory  the  Jews  greatly  valued 
 themselves,    (see  Ezek.  xxiv.   21,  25.)~Preb.  Loirth.  \2.  Refrain 
 
 tht/selffor,  'contain  thyself  at.'— Lou'^A,  so  Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  LXV.  — I.  I  nm  sought.  §-c.— God  is  introduced  declaring  that 
 he  had  called  the  Gentiles,  though  they  had  not  sought  him  ;  and  had 
 rejected  his  own  peoi'le,  for  rclusing  to  attend  to  his  repeated  calls.— 
 Lowth.  3.  In  gardens— see  chap.  i.  29,  note.  Altars  of  brick— God 
 commanded  altars  to  be  of  earth  or  rough  stone,  (Exod.  xx.  24,  25.) 
 4.  Among  the  graves,  %-c.,  for  the  purpose  of  necromancy.  Stvine's 
 flesh,  forbidden  by  the  law,  (Lev.  xi.  7,)  but  among  the  heathen  was 
 in  principal  request  in  their  sacrifices  and  festivals.— Loit'M.  Brolh, 
 ^c,  may  allude  to  the  superstitious  practice  of  seething  a  kid  in  its 
 mother's  milk,  (Exod.  xxxiv.  26.)— Prei.  Lowth.  Parts  or  pieces  of 
 such  flesh  as  was  unclean  by  law,  (Lev.  xi.) — Poole.  6.  Stand  hy 
 thyself,  ^c— this  exactly  suits  the  spirit  of  the  Pharisees,  and  what 
 follows  may  refer  to  the  punishment  inflicted  by  the  Romans.— B'io/Ar. 
 6.  Into  their  bosom,  punish  them  abundantly  ;  the  expression  is  taken 
 
 Reflvctions  on  Ciup.  LXIII. — Christ  is  here  introduced 
 to  our  notice — L  Asa  miyhty  Conqueror.  Every  enemy  shall 
 fall  before  him,  and  Anlichrist  at  length  be  swept  from  off  the 
 face  of  the  earth.  Where  is  the  power,  how  great  soever  it 
 may  be.  tliat  can  successfully  oppose  him  whose  is  '  all  power' 
 •  in  heaven  and  in  earili'?  In  the  chariot  of  his  gospel  he  will 
 ride  forth,  'conquering  and  to  conquer;'  and  the  rejoicing 
 church  shall  see  the  inscription  writtL^n  on  his  vesture  and  on 
 his  thigh,  '  King  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords.'  He  here  ap- 
 pears— 
 
 IL  As  a  gracious  Leader ;  leading  *  Joseph  like  a  flock,'  care- 
 fully tending  his  sheep  to  pasture,  and  guiding  tbera  to  rest. 
 Let  us  comfort  our  minds  n-hi^n  we  reflect  that  what  he  was 
 he  still  is,  and  '  give  thanks  to  Him  who  led  his  people  through 
 the  wilderness,  for  his  mercy  enJureth  for  ever.'  He  is  also 
 exhibited — . 
 
 TIL  As  an  everlastifi;/  Redeemer.  He  who  was  born  iu  Beth- 
 lehem had  his  '  goings  forth  from  oM,  even  from  everlasting.' 
 Being/ram  everlastine;,  he  isto  everlasting.  Hence  his  ability 
 77f> 
 
 to  accomplish  all  the  great  work  of  redemption.  Every  part 
 connected  with  it  shall  therefore  assuredly  be  complete. 
 '  Wherefore  he  is  able  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that 
 come  unto  God  hy  him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  inter- 
 cession for  them.' 
 
 Reflictions  on  Chap.  LXIV-  —  After  rending  this  chap- 
 ter- 1.  What  high  thoughts  should  we  have  of  God/— of  bis 
 grandeur,  power,  mercy,  goodness,  and  condescension  ! 
 
 IL  if'hat  low  thoughts  shoidd  we  have  of  omsclves  f  Are  our 
 righteousnesses  any  better  than  those  of  the  Jews'!  Surely 
 not.  Gataker  remarks,  that  the  Hebrew,  using  the  plural  by 
 way  of  emphasis,  'righteousnesses,'  and  especially  'a//  our 
 righteousnesses,'  includes  that  of  the  best  and  sincerest  be- 
 lievers, which,  compared  with  the  purity  of  the  divine  law, 
 (which  is  a  counterpart  of  the  divine  purity,)  and  as  it  re- 
 spects the  cause  of  our  salvation,  is  not  only  useless  as  a 
 w^.rn-OQt  garment,  but  obnoxious  as  a  polluted  one,  to  which 
 a  wise  and  good  man  will  say  with  abhorrence, '  Get  thee 
 hence.' 
 
Judgments  on  the  ivickea. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LXV. 
 
 The  b/cssini/s  of  the  godly. 
 
 7  Your  iniquities,  and  °'  the  iniquities  of 
 your  fathers  together,  saith  the  Lord,  "  which 
 liave  burned  incense  upon  the  mountains,  "and 
 blasphemed  me  upon  the  liills  :  therefore  will 
 I  measure  their  former  work  into  their  bosom. 
 
 8  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  As  the  new  wine  is 
 found  in  the  cluster,  and  one  saitli.  Destroy  it 
 not ;  for  ^a  blessing  is  in  it :  so  will  I  do  for 
 my  servants'  sakes,  that  I  may  not  destroy 
 them  all. 
 
 9  And  I  will  bring  forth  a  seed  out  of  Jacob, 
 and  outofJudah  an  inheritor  of  my  mountains: 
 and  mine  ''elect  shall  inherit  it,  and  my  servants 
 shall  dwell  there. 
 
 10  And  ""Sharon  shall  be  a  fold  of  flocks, 
 and  '^  the  valley  of  Achor  a  place  for  the  herds 
 to  lie  down  in,  for  my  people  that  have  sought 
 me. 
 
 11  ^  But  ye  are  tliey  that  forsake  the  Lord, 
 ;liat  forget  Mny  holy  mountain,  that  prepare 
 "  a  table  for  that  ||  troop,  and  that  furnish  the 
 drink  offering  unto  that  ||  number. 
 
 \'l  Therefore  will  I  number  you  to  the  sword, 
 and  ye  shall  all  how  down  to  the  slaughter: 
 "because  when  I  called,  ye  did  not  answer; 
 when  I  spake,  ye  did  not  hear ;  but  did  evil 
 before  mine  eyes,  and  did  choose  that  wherein 
 I  delighted  not. 
 
 13  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Be- 
 hold, my  servants  shall  eat,  but  ye  shall  be 
 hungry  :  behold,  my  servants  shall  drink,  but 
 ye  shall  be  thirsty  :  behold,  my  servants  shall 
 rejoice,  but  ye  shall  be  ashamed  : 
 
 14  Behold,  my  servants  shall  sing  for  joy  of 
 heart,  but  ye  shall  cry  for  sorrow  of  heart,  and 
 ^  shall  howl  fort  vexation  of  spirit. 
 
 15  And  ye  shall  leave  your  name  ^foracurse 
 unto  "my   cliosen  :   for  the   Lord   God  shall 
 
 m  V.x.  20,  5. 
 >i  K/e  IS.  C- 
 i>  Eiek.  SO. 
 
 q  ver-  15.  22. 
 ^fat  2t.  82 
 Rom. 11.5,7 
 
 r  rh .  SS.  9. 
 
 &  :)5.  -'. 
 (  Josh    7.  -24, 
 
 ^6.  Ht>s.  2. 
 
 15. 
 
 vcr.  S5, 
 u  Kite- S3  11. 
 
 1  Cor  1U.8I. 
 II  Or,  G,..l. 
 II  Oc,  Mmi. 
 
 x2Cl.r.36. 
 16,  16. 
 Pro.  I.  24. 
 &C.  cli.  66. 
 1..  Jer.7.13. 
 •/ech.  7.  7. 
 Mat.  21.  St 
 
 — ts. 
 
 y  Mat  9,  12- 
 l.uke  i:i.2S. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 s  SeeJer,2!). 
 
 22.  Zecli.  B. 
 
 13. 
 a  ver.  9.  22. 
 
 rf  Deu.  6- 13 
 Ps   fiS-  II. 
 Cli.  19.  18. 
 &  ta.  S3. 
 ZepU.  I.  5. 
 
 f  ch.  h\.  16. 
 
 J*c  Gli.  JK, 
 
 ■jr.;t,  3.  13. 
 
 Kev.  21.  1. 
 t  Heb.  come 
 
 upon  /ftfl 
 
 /v:0.  i>2.  b 
 
 }  cli.  -.KTu  10. 
 9i  fil.  11. 
 Kev  -.  17. 
 St  St.  \. 
 
 12. 
 
 :SecLev.26 
 IG.  Dcu.Sa 
 80.  ch.  Q-i.% 
 Amos  9.  M. 
 
 /  ver.  0.  15 
 t  Keb.  than 
 r  I  take  tlifm 
 
 hi'ig.  or, 
 thiill  iccar 
 
 ml)eu.2R.4l. 
 
 llos.  9.  12. 
 McIJ.  fil.  9. 
 o  Ps.  32.  5. 
 
 Dan.  9.  21. 
 
 slay  thee,  and  *"  call  his  servants  by  another 
 name  : 
 
 16  '^  That  he  who  blesseth  liimself  in  the 
 earth  shall  bless  himself  in  the  God  of  truth; 
 and  ^he  that  sweareth  in  the  earth  shall  swear 
 by  the  God  of  truth ; .  because  the  former 
 troubles  are  forgotten,  and  because  they  are 
 hid  from  mine  eyes. 
 
 17  H  For,  behold,  I  create  °  new  heavens  and 
 a  new  earth  :  and  the  former  shall  not  be  re- 
 membered, nor  t  come  into  mind, 
 
 18  But  be  ye  glad  and  rejoice  for  e\Qvin  that 
 which  I  create  ;  for,  beliold,  I  create  Jerusa- 
 lem a  rejoicing,  and  her  people  a  joy. 
 
 19  And  ^  I  will  rejoice  in  Jerusalem,  and  joy 
 in  my  people :  and  the  ^  voice  of  weeping 
 shall  be  no  more  heard  in  her,  nor  the  voice 
 of  crying. 
 
 20  Tiicre  shall  be  no  more  thence  an  infant 
 of  days,  nor  an  old  man  that  hath  not  tilled  his 
 days:  for  the  child  shall  die  an  hundred  years 
 old  ;  ''hut  the  sinner  being  an  lunidred  years 
 old  shall  be  accursed. 
 
 21  And  '  they  shall  build  houses,  and  inhabit 
 them  ;  and  they  shall  plant  vineyards,  and  eat 
 the  fruit  of  theui. 
 
 22  They  shall  not  build,  and  another  inhabit; 
 they  shall  not  plant,  and  another  eat :  for  ''  as 
 the  days  of  a  tree  are  the  days  of  my  people, 
 and  ^mine  elect  f  tihall  long  enjoy  the  work  of 
 their  hands. 
 
 2;i  They  shall  not  labour  in  vain,  ""  nor  bring 
 forth  for  trouble  ;  for  "  tiiey  are  the  seed  of 
 the  blessed  of  the  Lord,  and  their  offspring 
 with  them. 
 
 24  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  tliat  °  before 
 they  call,  I  will  answer  ;  and  wliile  they  are 
 yet  speaking,  I  will  hear. 
 
 fnim  those  that,  when  they  would  %\vc  of  anytliing  i»lcntifully  to 
 others,  are  wont  to  pour  it  into  their  laps,  not  standing  to  count  or 
 measure  what  they  z^\'e.— Jackson.  The  robe  of  the  Arab  being:  made 
 tlie  lap,  as  the  apron  with  us,  the  upper  part  near  the  bosom  would 
 receive  the  contents  of  anything  ponred  into  it,— Ed.  B.  As  the  new 
 wine,  §-c  , '  as  a  few  good  grapes  are  found  among  a  cluster  of  bad  ones, 
 and  one  speaks  to  another  that  would  pluck  it  from  tlie  tree  to  spare 
 it,  because  some  may  become  good,  so  1  will  not  destroy  all  the  nation, 
 for  the  sake  of  the  good.' — PreO.  Lowth.  10.  Sharon — Achor,  being 
 fertile  spots  in  tlie  east  and  west,  intimate  that  the  whole  land  slinll 
 then  be  inhabited.  Tlie  passage  remains  to  be  fulfilled  by  tlie  return  of 
 the  Jews  to  their  own  land. — Boot/tr.  11.  Trotip,  'Gad.'  Numher, 
 •Mcni.*  The  former  may  mean  'good  fortune,'  the  name  of  the  star 
 Jupiter,  in  Arabic, '  a  lucky  star.' — Loivth,  Rabbi  Moses.  The  latter  'the 
 moon.' — Loivth.  Her  worship  was  popular  among  the  Hebrews.  Meni 
 was  probably  Astarte  and  Venus  Celestis,  honoured  among  the  Phoeni- 
 cians and  Carthaginians, —  Cicl.  By  Meni  we  may  understand  Jupiter 
 Meiizan,  i.  e  ,  Jupiter  ^oo.  His  name  in  the  Greek  was  Miii-,  'Men.' — 
 See  Rob.  This  was  certainly  a  name  nr  attribute  under  which  tlic 
 idolatrous  Jews  worshipped  the  material  heavens,  acknowledging  tlicm 
 to  be  the  dispensers  of  food,  t^c.—Pitr.  The  idulators  of  the  east  have 
 s'ill  a  deity  called  Meni. — Rob.  It  is  an  ancient  custom  of  idolatry  in 
 all  cities,  and  C'^pecially  in  Egypt  and  Alexandria,  on  the  last  day  nf  the 
 year,  to  spread  a  table  covered  with  various  kinds  of  viands,  and  a 
 goblet  mixed  with  new  wine,  referring  to  the  fertility  either  of  the  past 
 or  coming  year.  This  the  Israelites  also  did,  worshipping  all  kinds  of 
 images,  and  pouring  out  libations  on  such  tables. —  St.  Jerome. 
 }'2.  Number,  BiH  allusion  to  the  word  Meni,  which  signifies  'to  number.' 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  13.  M}/  servants   ahall   eat,  §r.,   my  faithful  ad- 
 
 herents, who  have  not  eaten  bread  at  idol  fea-^ts,  shall  have  enough, 
 &c.,  but  you  that  have  forsaken  mc  shall  fall  into  extreme  misery. 
 The  threat  seems  to  be  limited  to  the  Babylonian  captivity,  but  some 
 e.xtend  it  to  later  times. — Poole,  Jackson.  When  the  Romans  invaded 
 Jerusalem,  the  Jews  were  perishing  with  hunger  and  thirst,  while  the 
 Christians,  having  left  the  devoted  city  and  land,  were  well  provided 
 for  in  all  respects,  and  rendered  abundantly  joyful  in  the  Lord, — Scott. 
 15.  For  a  curse  unto  my  chosen,  so  that  when  men  shall  curse  any 
 body,  they  shall  instance  you  the  wicked  Jews,  canied  away  into 
 Babylon.  See  such  a  curse,  Jer.  xxix.  22. — Jnckson.  The  name  shall 
 be  execrable,  as  that  of  a  Jew  to  this  day. — Gill.  By  another  name, 
 not  'Jews,'  but  'Christians,'  (Acts,  xi.  26.)— Poole,  Henri/,  Gill,  Preb. 
 Lowth.  17.  /  create  neiv  heavens,  ^c— this  describes  the  happy 
 change  of  human  affairs— longevity,  (ver.  20,)  security  from  rapine, 
 ';2J,)  no  loss  of  children  or  property,  ('-3,)  no  unsuccessful  efforts  or 
 fruitless  prayers.  (21. 1  wild  beasts  growing  tame,  Sic.—Rosenm.  It 
 mu'-t  imply  a  i'tate  of  permanent  purity  and  perpetual  happiness.— U7/. 
 7S0 
 
 The  conversion  of  the  Jews  will  happen  in  the  last  times  of  this  world, 
 and  then  will  follow  '  the  new  heavens  and  earth,'  which  are  to  com- 
 mence alter  the  present  are  dissolved ;  which,  St.  Peter  tells  us,  will  be 
 '  according  to  God's  promise.' — Preb.  Lnwth.  God  would  create  a  new 
 state  of  things,  and  make  Jerusalem  a  jny  to  all  around. — Scott.  God 
 would  give  a  new  dispensation. — Hurd.  That  there  is  not  a  reference 
 to  a  future  world  is  plain,  from  ver.  21  and  2-l.~Roh.  This  prophecy 
 began  to  have  its  accomplishment  in  the  first  times  of  the  Gospel,  when, 
 by  its  preaching,  a  new  face  of  things  appeared  in  Judea  and  the  Gen- 
 tile world;  it  will  have  a  further  accomplisliment  in  the  conversinn  of 
 the  Jews,  and  a  complete  one  in  the  New  Jerusalem  state,  when  Christ 
 will  appear  and  make  all  things  new,  literally  and  spiritually,  and  all 
 aiiti-christian  trouble-i  shall  for  ever  cease. — Gill.  Whether  this  new 
 heavens  and  new  earth  signify  such  a  state  wherein  Christ  shall  per- 
 sonally reign  upon  the  earth  for  a  thousand  years,  the  wicked  being 
 destroyed,  as  some  have  thought,  is  much  to  be  doubted,  and  is  by  no 
 means  plain  from  this  or  parallel  texts. — So  Poole.  18.  Rejoice  for 
 
 ever  in  that  which  I  create,  *  rejoice  in  the  age  to  come  which  I  create.* 
 —  Chandler,  so  Lowth.  20.  No  more  thetice  an  in/ant  of  days,  that 
 
 is,  'of  few  daj-s.' — Heiv.  No  untimely  deaths.  The  child  shall  die,  ^x'., 
 he  that  dies  a  hundred  years  old  shall  die  a  child. — Preb.  Lmcth.  Not 
 so,  but  he  that  is  now  born  shall  live  to  the  age  nf  a  hundred  years. — 
 Gill.  But  the  sinner,  fyc,  he  that  is  cut  off  at  a  hundred  years  of  age 
 shall  be  considered  as  punished. — To  thi'^  effctt,  TTV//$,  Hew.  Good 
 and  bad  men  shall  have  their  lives  extended  t»>  a  hundred  years,  but 
 the  end  of  each  shall  he  different,  and  their  final  happine*.b  must  not 
 be  estimated  by  their  longevity. — So  Gill,  Here  is  evidently  implied  a 
 prolongation  of  human  life.  It  is  certain  that  through  crime  and  folly 
 a  great  part  of  mankind  do  '  not  live  out  half  their  days,'  and,  conse- 
 quently, the  sui)pression  of  vice  and  of  war,  together  with  the  improve- 
 ments in  medical  science,  must  have  a  powerful  tendency  both  to  pro- 
 long man's  life,  and  increase  his  happiness,  (comp.  Rev.  xxi.) — Wit. 
 '  An  infant  of  days'  is  certainly  not  to  be  understood  literally.  It  seems 
 to  mean,  '  so  copious  shall  be  the  means  of  instruction,  if  improved, 
 that  there  shall  not  be  a  little  child  in  understanding.'  A'or  an  old  man 
 that  hulk  nut  filled  his  dat/s,  to  good  purpose.  The  child  shall  die,  Sfc, 
 very  young  persons  shall  have  prudence,  Christian  experience,  &ic., 
 equfj  to  those  of  mature  age.  But  the  sijiner,  SfC,  the  impenitent 
 transgressor,  though  he  reach  mature  years,  shall  be  secluded  trom  the 
 privileges  of  the  church,  and  die  accnr->ed. — Naccul.  22.  As  the  daps 
 of  It  tree — it  is  commonly  supposed  that  the  oak,  one  of  the  most  long- 
 lived  of  the  trees,  lasts  about  a  thousand  years,  which  seems  to  be  a 
 probable  computation.  The  prophet's  idea  seems  to  be,  that  they  shall 
 live  to  the  age  of  the  antediluvians,  which  seems  to  be  very  justly  ex- 
 pressed by  tlie  days  of  a  tree. — Loulh.  Probably  the  cedars  of  Leba- 
 non lasted  much  longer  than  the  oak.— //?»'.      The  perpetuity  of  the 
 
S'.ncerity  required  in  serving  Gud. 
 
 ISAIAH,  LXVI. 
 
 The  gracious  lienijits  of  the  church. 
 
 Ho  The  ■■  wolt  and  the  lamb  shall  feed  to- 
 getlier,  and  the  lion  shall  eat  straw  like  the 
 bnllock :  ''and  dnst  ,s/;«//  /le  the  serpent's 
 meat.  They  shall  not  liurt  nor  destroy  in  all 
 my  lioly  momitain,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.   LXVI. 
 
 1    The  f/Iorious  God  will  h-  served  hi  humble  sinceriti/. 
 
 5  lie  comfortfth  the  humble  with  the  mtiroellous  gene- 
 ration, 10  and  with  the  gracious  henejite  of  the  church. 
 15  God*s  seven-  jnd<)mcnts  against  the  wicked.  19 
 The  Gentiis  shaU  have  an  hohj  church,  24  and  see 
 the  damnation  of  the  wicked. 
 
 ''pHUS  saith  the  Lord,  *  The  heaven  is  my 
 
 -*-  throne,  and  the  earth  is  my  footstool : 
 where  is  tlie  house  that  ye  build  unto  me? 
 and  where  is  the  place  of  my  rest? 
 
 '2  For  all  those  things  hath  mine  hand  made, 
 and  all  those  things  have  been,  saitli  the  Lord  : 
 ^liut  to  tliis  ynan  will  I  looli,  "even  to  him 
 that  is  poor  and  of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  'Urem- 
 bleth  at  my  word. 
 
 8  ""  He  tiiat  killeth  an  ox  is  as  if  he  slew  a 
 man  ;  he  that  sacrificeth  a  ||  lamb,  as  if  he 
 'cut  off  a  dog's  neck  ;  he  that  offereth  an  ob- 
 lation, as  if  he  offered  swine's  blood  ;  he  that 
 fburneth  incense,  as  if  he  blessed  an  idol. 
 Yea,  they  liave  chosen  their  own  ways,  and 
 their  soul  delighteth  in  their  abominations. 
 
 4  I  also  will  choose  their  ||  delusions,  and 
 will  bring  their  ears  upon  them  ;  ^  because 
 when  I  called,  none  did  answ^er ;  when  I 
 spake,  they  did  not  hear :  but  they  did  evil 
 before  mine  eyes,  and  cliose  that  in  which  1 
 deliglited  not. 
 
 b  %  Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  ^  ye  that 
 tremble  at  his  word  ;  Your  brethren  that  hated 
 yoii,  tliat  cast  you  out  for  my  name's  sake, 
 said,  'Let  the  Lord  be  glorified:  but  ''he 
 shall  appear  to  your  joy,  and  they  shall  be 
 ashamed. 
 
 6  A  voice  of  noise  from  the  city,  a  voice  from 
 the  temple,  a  voice  of  the  Lord  tliat  rendereth 
 
 a  I  Kiii.S./T. 
 •JChr.G  IS. 
 Mat.  ."i  :t]. 
 35,  Afts  7. 
 4S,  4U.  }<( 
 17.  ^1. 
 
 I,  cli.  57    15. 
 
 Sc  fit.   I. 
 c  Vs.  3+.  18. 
 
 it  ."ii.  17. 
 ■i  Kzia  9.  '1 
 
 ik  10.  3. 
 
 Pro.  28.  li. 
 
 ver.  5. 
 --  ch    1.1!. 
 II  Or,  ki.t, 
 /  Ueu.  W.18. 
 
 t  Heh. 
 inah-th  a 
 
 Lev.  a.  2. 
 
 II  Or,  d'vicci. 
 
 i;  rr.>    I 
 ch.  Ci. 
 
 I  ch    5.  19. 
 *  2  Thea.  I. 
 
 10.  Til.  a. 
 
 13. 
 
 11  Or,  bfun 
 
 .li   4a    19. 
 
 i  ch.  -ly.  2:; 
 
 Si  01).  l. 
 
 II  Or,  one  af- 
 ter anaUirr. 
 
 recompence  to  his  enemies. 
 
 7  Before  she  travailed,  she  brought  forth ; 
 before  her  pain  came,  she  was  deUvered  of  a 
 man  child. 
 
 8  Who  hath  heard  such  a  thing?  who  hath 
 seen  such  things?  Shall  the  earth  be  made 
 to  bring  forth  in  one  day?  or  shall  a  nation  be 
 boru  at  once?  for  as  soon  as  Ziou  travailed, 
 she  brought  forth  her  children. 
 
 9 'Shall  I  bring  to  tlie  birth,  and  not  ||  cause 
 to  bring  forth?  saith  the  Lord  :  shall  1  cause 
 to  bring  forth,  and  shut  the  icomb?  saith  thy 
 God. 
 
 10  Rejoice  ye  with  Jerusalem,  and  be  glad 
 with  her,  all  ye  that  love  her :  rejoice  for  joy 
 with  her,  all  ye  that  mourn  for  her: 
 
 1 1  That  ye  may  suck,  and  be  satisfied  with 
 the  breasts  of  her  consolations  ;  that  ye  may 
 milk  out,  and  be  delighted  with  the  |{  abun- 
 dance of  her  glory. 
 
 12  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  '  I  will 
 extend  peace  to  her  like  a  river,  and  the  glory 
 of  the  Gentiles  like  a  flowing  stream  :  then 
 shall  ye  ""suck,  ye  shall  be  "borne  upon  her 
 sides,  and  be  dandled  upon  her  knees. 
 
 13  As  one  whom  his  mother  comforteth,  so 
 will  I  comfort  you;  and  ye  shall  be  comforted 
 in  Jerusalem. 
 
 14  And  when  ye  see  this^  your  heart  shall 
 rejoice,  and  °  your  bones  shall  flourish  like  an 
 herb :  and  the  hand  of  tlie  Loru  shall  be 
 known  toward  his  servants,  and  his  indignation 
 toward  his  enemies. 
 
 15  ''For,  behold,  the  Lord  will  come  vvitli 
 Are,  and  with  his  chariots  like  a  whirlwind,  to 
 render  his  anger  witli  fury,  and  his  rebuke  with 
 flames  of  fire. 
 
 16  For  by  fire  and  by  '*his  svv'ord  will  the 
 Lord  plead  with  all  flesh  :  and  the  slain  of 
 the  Lord  shall  be  many. 
 
 17  ■"  They  tljat  sanctify  themselves,  and  purify 
 themselves  in  the  gardens  ||  beliind  one  tree  in 
 the  midst,  eating  swine's  flesh,  and  the  abomi- 
 
 promised  blessings  is  here  intimated.  During^  their  long  residence  on 
 earth  they  shall  be  vigorous,  fl>mrishing,  and  fruitful  in  every  goi>d 
 work. — Muccul.  25.  The  wulf  tind  the  lamb — see  chap.  xi.  6,  note. 
 Dust  shnll  he  the.  serpcnt^s  meat,  men  '  lying  in  wait  to  deceive,'  shall 
 feed  upon  tliose  tilings  which  are  incapable  of  )ielding  substantial  sup- 
 poit  and  real  satisfaction,  as  the  dust  of  the  eartli.  The  old  seri'cnt, 
 the  devil,  shall  not  be  able  to  bite  the  saints,  being  bruised  under  their 
 feet ;  he  shall  only  liave  power  over  carnal,  earthly-minded  men. — Gill. 
 They  shall  not  hurt,  fyc. — the  kingdom  of  God  shall  be  free  from  every 
 pernicious  destructive  annoyance. — Muccul. 
 
 CuAP.  LXVl.^1.  The  heaven  is  mij  throne — here  the  difficulty  is 
 solved  which  might  occur  to  sume  on  the  abulition  of  the  Jewish  eco- 
 nomy. God  intimates  that  he  has  a  far  more  glorious  habitation  than 
 a  temple  made  with  hands. — Muccul.  The  Jews  valued  themselves  on 
 their  temple  and  its  services,  which  they  thuught  of  perpetual  duration. 
 — Lowth.  Where  is  the  house,  ^c. — what  a  foolish  tiling  to  think  that 
 a  house  could  be  built  to  contain  Him,  and  therefore  the  mere  pomp 
 of  outwaril  ceremonies  could  never  be  the  things  that  were  pleasing  in 
 his  sight.  2.  For  all  those  things  hath  mine  hand  made,  ijfc,  hence 
 he  needed  no  house  to  dwell  in  here,  no  more  than  he  did  from  eter- 
 nity. 3,  Ati  if  he  slew  a  num.  lye,  that  is,  that  while  they  were  so 
 wicked,  their  sacrifices  of  animals  were  as  abhorrent  to  him  as  if  they 
 murdered  a  man.  Some  think  that  it  means  that  when  the  end  came 
 of  legal  worship,  God  would  so  abhor  sacrifices. — Jackson. 
 
 *  He  that  slaycth  an  ox,  killeth  a  man  ; 
 That  sacriftceth  a  lamb,  beheadeth  a  dog; 
 
 That  maketh  an  oblation,  [ofiFereth]  swine's  blood; 
 That  burneth  incense,  blesseth  an  idol.' 
 
 It  will  be  observed,  that  the  italics  in  our  translation  are  here  left  out 
 by  lip.  Lowth.  The  import  of  Bp.  Lowth^s  ver-iioa  is,  that  tiie  people 
 served  Baal  as  well  as  Jehovah  j  and  while  on  the  sabbath  they  served 
 the  God  of  Israel,  on  other  days  they  offered  sacrifices,  and  even  human 
 sacrifices,  t-i  their  idols,  (comp.  Ezek.  xxiii.  30.) — Wil.  4.  1  also  uill 
 chooi^e  their  delusio?is,  'they  have  chosen  to  mock  and  delude  me;  I  will 
 clioose  to  suffer  them  to  mock  and  delude  themselves.'— Pco/tf.  5.  Let 
 the  Lord  he  glorified— they,  in  derision,  called  upon  God  to  do  some 
 cxtraordinaiy  tiling  in  your  behalf, — Preb.  Lowth,  so  Jackson  ;  or  they 
 thought  they  did  God  good  service,  (John,  xvi.  2.) — Poole.  7.  Before 
 she  travailed— the  increase  of  the  Cliristian  church  would  be  so  sudden, 
 as  to  be  compared  to  a  vt'oman's  bringing  forth  before  her  pains  came 
 on  her.— l^r<?^/s.  12.  Peace  to  her  like  n  riutr— comp.  chap,  xlviii.  18. 
 U.  Your  bones  shall  flourish,  Sfc.,  in  allusion  to  plants  cherished  by 
 the  genial  warmth  of  the  season  ;  it  denotes  Uie  invigorating  of  all  the 
 spiritual  powers. — Muccul.  God's  people  were  in  Baijyiou  like  a  com- 
 pany of  dead  and  dry  bones.  (Ezek.  \.\xvii.  11,)  but  these  dry  bones 
 should  become  moist  and  vigorous  again. — Jackson.  There  seems  here 
 to  be  an  alUisiun  to  a  resunecti(m  of  the  dead.— .S.  Clarke.  15.  Fire, 
 terrible  judgments.  Nothing  is  more  teriible  and  wasting  than  fire. — 
 Poole.  M'ifh  his  chariots,  as  the  march  of  a  dreadful  army. — Jackson. 
 A  whirlwind,  sudden  sweeping  judgment. — Poole.  1/.  In  the  gardens 
 behind,  ^c. — 
 
 '  In  the  gardens,  after  the  rites  of  Achad.' — Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch  \p.  LXV.  —  I.  God  will  punish  the 
 wicked.  Wbetlier  fuuiul  in  his  church  or  out  of  it,  God  ab- 
 imrs  wickuduess.  Wickedness  underthe  cloke  of  religion  is  not 
 less  so  to  him  than  wickedness  without  such  pretence  ;  yea, 
 it  is  more  abominable  in  liis  sight. 
 
 IL  '  God  uu'll  nut  punish  the  rightists  with  the  wicked/  No, 
 *  that  be  far  from  bim.'  lie  did  not  when  he  destroyed  the 
 old  world,  and  when  he  consumed  Sodom  and  Gomorrah. 
 Xor  in  the  burstings  forth  of  his  wrath  against  the  idolatrous 
 Jewish  nation  did  his  eye  pass  over  tiiose  who  sighed  and 
 7SI 
 
 wept  for  the  abominations  of  the  land.  He  preserved  the 
 precious  cluster  where  he  found  it,  and  the  whole  nation  was 
 not  destroyed,  because  there  was  a  blessing  in  it. 
 
 111.  God  will  at  last  give  the  righteous  rest  from  the  wicked. 
 Ilail,  approaching  day,  when  this  world,  renewed  by  that 
 Almighty  power  which  at  first  created  it,  shall  again  become 
 as  the  paradise  of  God,  and  instead  of  the  thorns  and  briars 
 thickly  spread  over  its  surface,  sliall  appear  '  trees  of  righte- 
 ousness of  the  Lord's  own  right-hand  planting,  that  he  may  be 
 glorified  '' 
 
The  promise  of  a  ho/j/  church 
 
 ISAIAH,  LXVI. 
 
 to  the  Gentiles, 
 
 /lation,  and  the  muuse,  shall  be  consumed  to- 
 gether, saith  the  Lord. 
 
 18  For  I  know  their  works  and  their  thouglits  : 
 it  shall  come,  that  I  will  gather  all  nations  and 
 tongues ;  and  they  shall  come,  and  see  my 
 glory. 
 
 19  "  And  I  will  set  a  sign  among  them,  and  I 
 will  send  those  tiiat  escape  of  them  unto  the 
 nations,  to  Tarshish,  Pul,  and  Lnd,  that  draw 
 the  bow,  to  Tubal,  and  Javan,  to  the  isles  afar 
 off,  that  have  not  heard  my  fame,  neither  have 
 seen  my  glory;  *  and  they  shall  declare  my 
 glory  among  tlie  Gentiles. 
 
 '20  And  they  shall  bring  all  your  brethren 
 ^'for  an  offering  unto  the  Lord  out  of  all  na- 
 tions upon  horses,  and  in  chariots,  and  in  ||  lit- 
 ters, and  upon  mules,  and  upon  swift  beasts,  to 
 my  holy  mountain  Jerusalem,  saith  the  Lord, 
 
 I  Itom    15. 
 I  Or.coic'm 
 
 X  Ex.  10.6. 
 ch.  61    6. 
 1  Pet,  2.  9. 
 
 .-Zech.H.I 
 t  Heb  /r. 
 
 c  ^tark  9. 
 
 as  tlie  childrf  n  of  Israel  bring  an  offering  in  a 
 clean  vessel  into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 21  And  I  will  also  take  of  them  for  'priests 
 and  for  Levites,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 22  For  as  ''the  new  heavens  and  the  new 
 earth,  which  I  will  make,  shall  remain  before 
 me,  saith  the  Loud,  so  shall  your  seed  and 
 your  name  remain. 
 
 23  And  ^  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  f  from 
 one  new  moon  to  another,  and  from  one  sab- 
 bath to  another,  "shall  all  flesli  come  to  wor- 
 ship before  me,  saitli  the  Lord, 
 
 24  And  they  shall  go  forth,  and  look  upon 
 ^  the  carcases  of  the  men  that  have  trans- 
 gressed against  me  :  for  their  "  worm  shall  not 
 die,  neither  shall  their  fire  be  quenched  ;  and 
 they  shall  be  an  abhorring  unto  all  flesh. 
 
 -  behind  the  tcmi-le  of  Achad,  i.e.,  the  sun.' — Lnmy. 
 
 *  In  the  midst  uf  those  who  cat  swine's  flesh,'  &c. 
 
 The  Syrians,  and  the  people  of  the  cast  in  fi:eneral,  wo^^hipped  a  g:od 
 crtllcd  Ariad.  They  hild  lum  to  he  the  highest  and  ereatest  of  the  gods, 
 arnl  to  be  the  sani>.  with  Jupiter  and  the  sun  ;  and  the  name  Adad,  says 
 M'lciohius,  signifies  'one  ;*  as  likewi-^e  d'lesthc  word 'Achad,'  in  Isaiah. 
 Many  learned  men  have  therefore  supposed,  and  with  some  probability, 
 tliat  the  prophet  means  the  same  pretended  deity. — Lowth,  Stuki-ley, 
 as  Euseh.  'Behind  one  in  the  midst;'  Kimchi  understands  it  of  a 
 large  fi>ih  pond  placed  in  the  middle  of  their  gardens.  This  criticism  is 
 most  excellent.  The  objects  for  which  the  groves  were  used  rendered 
 it  necessary  to  have  some  place  where  the  votaries  could  puriiFv 
 th-^msclves;  thus,  in  the  midst  of  the  groves  there  is  a  well  or  tank, 
 where  the  individuals  perform  their  ablations. — Rnb.  The  mouse,  the 
 field  mouse.— Bor/i.     See  Lev.  xi.  29,  note.  IS.  And  see  my  glory, 
 
 the  display  of  God's  grace  in  his  gospel.  IQ.  A  si^n,  *a  miraek-,'  a 
 *  wonder,'  and  includes  all  the  miracles  which  were  wrought  by  our 
 Lord  and  his  apostles,  rcomp.  Acts,  ii.  19,  22,  43  ;  iv.  30;  xiv.  3;  Rom. 
 XV.  19  ;  2  Cor.  xii.  12-  Heb.  ii.  4.)~Bn()tfti-.,  so  Macctil.  Tnrshish,  a 
 eity  in  Cilicia,  where  Paul  was  born;  or  Carthage,  anciently  a  power- 
 ful city  on  the  coa^^t  of  Barbary  ;  or  a  flimrishing  city  in  Spain,  formerly 
 called  by  that  name.  Pul,  probably  the  same  with  Philas,  an  i-^land 
 formed  by  the  Nile,  on  the  frontiers  of  Ethiopia.  Lvd,  mav  doimte  the 
 kin-^dom  of  Lyrita,  the  chief  cities  of  which  were  Sarriis,  Philadelphia, 
 Tbyjitira,  &re.,  into  which  the  Gospel  was  early  introduced.  That  draw 
 the  iow— the  inhal>itants  of  these  countries  were,  it  seems,  famous 
 archers,  and  wull  skilled  in  tlie  use  of  bows  and  armws. — Maccul.  It  is 
 much  to  be  su'^pccted  that  the  words,  nt?p  'DIED.  '  who  draw  the  bow,' 
 are  a  corruption  of  the  word  "jiDtD.  '  Moscbi,'  the  name  of  a  nation  situ- 
 ated between  the  Euxine  aod  Caspian  seas. — See  Buck.  Moo-ox.  [a 
 proper  name,]  Sept,  Tw/m/,  the  fifth  son  of  .laplieth  ;  probably  his 
 posterity  had  the  land  on  the  cast  of  the  Black  Sea.  Jnvan,  the  fourth 
 son  of  Japheth.  The  Greeks,  considered  as  his  dcsceiulants,  inhabited 
 Achaia,  Macedonia,  Corinth,  Lacedemon,  &c.     The  isles  afar  off,  may 
 
 include  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  isles  more  distant  from  Judca. — 
 MncruL  What  places  nnd  countries  are  exactly  and  i)reciscly  meant 
 cannot  be  determined,  only,  in  general,  that  into  various  parts  of  the 
 world,— east,  west,  north,  and  south,—  even  the  most  distant,  the  gospel 
 and  gospel  ministers  shall  be  sent. — Gill.  20.  In  litters,  *  in  counes,' 
 a  pair  of  hampers  or  cradles  thrown  across  a  camel's  back,  one  on  each 
 side,  in  eacli  of  which  a  person  is  carried. — Louth.  This  verse  si;:nifies 
 the  abundance  of  instruments  and  means  afforded  fur  the  conversion  of 
 sinners,  and  the  admission  of  converts  into  the  church. — Smtt.  That 
 many  cnnverts should  he  persons  of  opulence  and  respectability;  that 
 the  transition  from  pagan  to  Christian  worship  should  be  remarkable, 
 quick,  and  gradual,  ^c.  As  the  r/ii/drcn  of  Israel  bring  an  offering  in 
 n  clean  t'^s.'.r/— the  offerings  brought  to  the  honse  of  the  Lord  in  clean 
 vessels  by  the  Israelites  were  designed  to  prefigure  these  offerings  of 
 the  Gentile*,  who  were  to  be  prcsentt^d  to  God  after  being  sanctified  by 
 the  Holy  Ghost. — Mucrul.  21.  Take  of  them  for  priests,   Sj-r.,  not 
 
 take  them  for  prics's ;  bcnrc  it  docs  not  relate  to  the  priesthood  com- 
 mon to  all  the  saints,  bnt  n  selection  of  pastors,  teachers,  ministers  of 
 tlie  gospel,  and  subordinate  teachers. — Muccnl.,  so  Jackson.  From  one 
 new  moon,  ^c.,  i.  e. ,  it  shall  he  their  constant  custom,  in  the  returning: 
 seasons. — L.  lloldm.  AH  fiesh,  the  nations  of  them  that  are  saved.— 
 M'tccul.  Look  upon  the  eiuriises — here  may  be  understood  the  carcases 
 of  the  slain  by  tlie  Clialdeans,  when  they  surprised  Jerusalem,  and 
 plundered  and  burnt  both  tlieir  eity  and  temple  ;  or  the  carcases  of  the 
 Babylonians  slain  by  the  Persians  ;  or  a-;  a  figurative  description  of  the 
 judgments  of  God  on  wicktd  men.—  Jnrkson.  Thrir  worm,  §-c.,  an  al- 
 lusion to  Gehenna,  or  the  valley  of  [linnom,  near  Jerusalem,  where 
 sacrifices  were  offered  to  Moluch,  in  abhorrenee  of  which  Josiah  or- 
 dered all  the  ordure  of  the  city  to  he  thrown  there,  with  the  carcases  of 
 dead  dogs,  and  dead  men's  hones.  Dead  bodies  were  from  time  to  time 
 thrown  here.  These  putrif\  ing,  produced  worms  and  other  vermin  ;  to 
 prevent  any  fatal  consequences  from  which,  fire  was  kept  continually 
 burning,  (sec  2  Kings,  xxiii.  10  ;  Jer.  vii.  31,  32;  xix.  13;  Mark,  ix.44.) 
 ~Wil.,  L.  Holden. 
 
 REFf.FrTioNS  ON  Chap.  LXVI We  are  here  led  to  think 
 
 on — I.  GoiVs  temple.  This  is  in  every  lowly  heart.  Let  us 
 beware  of  limiting  it  to  walls  erected  for  his  worship.  He 
 dwells  by  liis  Spirit  in  all  believers.  If  such  are  our  cliarac- 
 fers,  llien  are  our  bodies  '  tiie  tpmples  of  the  Holy  Gliost.' 
 Rlay  we  keep  them  sacred  for  the  service  of  our  God  ! 
 
 II.  God's  worshippers.  These  sball  be  not  a  few.  The  wholo 
 earth  shall  contribute  to  augment  their  number.  Their  ene- 
 mies, wherever  they  may  be.  or  whoever  they  may  be,  sliidl 
 be  swept  awny  in  the  fury  of  Divine  wrath,  and  He  that  sits 
 eternally  upon  the  thnitie  shall  speak,  in  a  voice  wliich  (lie 
 whole  universe  sliall  hoar — *  Beliold,  I  create  uU  tliinj^s  ncwJ' 
 
 THE     BOOK 
 
 THE    PROPHET    JEREMIAH 
 
 [Jeremiah  was  a  priest,  descended  from  Aaron,  and  a  native  of  Analliotli,  a  city  of  priests,  four  miles  from  Jeni'ialem.  See 
 Josh.  xxi.  18.  He  entered  upon  tlie  prophetic  office  at  a  very  early  age — some  even  say  fourteen — and  ahout  seventy 
 years  after  the  death  of  Isaiah.  His  prophecies  commenced  ahout  the  thirteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Josiah,  and  conti- 
 nued through  the  wicked  and  turhulent  reigns  of  Jchoahaz,  Jehoiakim,  Jcconiah,  and  Zedekiah.  During  a  period  of 
 forty-two  years  he  boldly  denounced  the  judgments  of  God  against  his  idolatrous  countrymen,  while  he  often  poured  out 
 those  pathetic  strains  that  manifested  the  feelings  of  a  truly  patriotic  heart.  His  predictions  related  both  to  his  own 
 country  and  foreign  nations,  and  were  astonishingly  marked  and  defined,  and  most  of  them  received  their  accomplisjiment 
 in  his  life  time  ;  a  few,  however,  yet  remain  to  he  fulfilled.  When  Jerusalem  was  destroyed,  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
 people  were  carried  as  captives  to  B.-ibylon,  Jeremiah  remained  with  Gedaliah  at  Mizpah  ;  but  Gedaliah  being  slain,  he 
 was  carried  down  to  Egypt,  where  be  prophesied,  and  the  Jews  say  be  was  stoned  to  death  for  his  faithfulness,  at  Tah- 
 perhcs,  in  that  country.  The  former  and  latter  parts  of  this  book  are  poetical,  and  the  middle  chiefly  historical.  New- 
 Testament  references  to  Jeremiah  will  lie  found   in   Matt.  ii.  17,  18;  xi.  29;  xxi.  13,  3.');   Mark,  xii.  1  ;  Luke,  xx.  9; 
 
 John,  iv.  14;   Acts,  vii.  52 
 782 
 
 Rom.  ix.  20;  1  Cor.  i.  29,  30,  31  ;   1  Ti 
 
 2;   Heb.  viii.  8—10  :  x.  IG,  17.] 
 
The  calliiiij  uf  Jircmidh. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  1.,  II. 
 
 Ilis  message  against  Jitdah. 
 
 CHAP.   I. 
 
 1  The  timet  3  and  the  calling  of  Jtrrmiak.  1 1  His 
 I'Vapltetical  visions  of  an  almond  7od  and  a  settlilnt; 
 pot.  1,5  His  lieavt/ ni*-ssa(/f  atjainstjuda/i.  17  Gurl 
 rncouraqi'.th  him  with  his  promise  of  assistance. 
 
 '1"'HE  wolds  of  Jereiiiiali  the  son  of  Hilkiali, 
 ■*-  of  the  priests  that  ivere  "  in  Aiiatlioth  in 
 the  land  of  Benjamin  : 
 
 2  To  whom  the  word  of  the  Loud  came  in 
 tlie  days  of  Josiah  the  son  of  Anion  Uing  of 
 Jniiah,  ''in  tlie  thirteentli  year  of  liis  reign. 
 
 3  It  came  also  in  the  days  of  Jehoiakim  the 
 son  of  Josiali  king  of  Jndah,  '  nnto  the  end  of 
 the  eleventh  year  of  Zedekiali  tlie  son  of  Jo- 
 siah king  of  Jndah, ''  unto  the  carrying  away  of 
 Jernsaleni  captive  °  in  the  filth  month. 
 
 ■i  Then  the  word  of  the  Lokd  caine  unto  me, 
 saying, 
 
 5  Before  I  Tormed  thee  in  the  belly  ^  I 
 knew  thee  ;  and  before  thou  earnest  forth  out 
 of  the  woml)  I  •'sanctified  thee,  and  I  f  or- 
 dained thee  a  prophet  unto  the  nations. 
 
 ()  Then  said  1,  '  Ah,  Lord  God  !  behold,  I 
 cannot  speak  :  for  I  am  a  child. 
 
 7  If  But  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  Say  not,  1 
 am  a  cliild  :  for  thou  shalt  go  to  all  that  I 
 shall  send  thee,  and  '  whatsoever  I  command 
 thee  thou  shalt  speak. 
 
 8  '  Be  not  afraid  of  their  faces  :  for  ""  I  am 
 with  thee  to  deliver  thee,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 9  Then  the  Loud  put  forth  his  hand,  and 
 "  touched  my  mouth.  And  the  Loud  said 
 unto  me,  Behold,  I  have  °  put  my  words  in  thy 
 mouth. 
 
 10  ""See,  I  have  this  day  set  thee  over  the 
 nations  and  over  the  kingdoms,  to  ■■  root  out 
 and  to  pull  down,  and  to  destroy,  and  to  throw 
 down,  to  build,  and  to  plant. 
 
 1 1  H  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  me,  saying,  Jeremiah,  what  seest  thou  ? 
 And  1  said,  I  see  a  rod  of  an  almond  tree. 
 
 12  Then  said  the  Lord  unto  me,  Tliou  hast 
 well  seen  :  for  I  will  hasten  my  word  to  per- 
 form it. 
 
 13  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me 
 the  second   time,  saying.    What  seest  thou  ? 
 
 B.     V: 
 
 B,  C 
 
 c'u.  lijfl. 
 
 cir,   1329. 
 
 r  E/e     1 1    S, 
 
 7    Sc  14^.  :i 
 
 t  l!eh  /...m 
 
 Ih^Jocr  ..f 
 
 theuurth. 
 
 t  Ch.  -t   6.  & 
 
 6.  I. 
 
 \  Hell.  lUn 
 
 «  JnKli.*>l.lft. 
 
 h.   ..prnr-.l. 
 
 1  Clif    (;.6(t 
 
 1  ch.  r.    li,«C 
 
 cU.:i-^.1.\'J 
 
 fi.    ■J-.i.    ^i    III 
 
 civ  ojy. 
 
 2.'.  «t  -'5    9. 
 
 •!  cli   JW.  3, 
 
 t^  4:1.  IIJ. 
 
 b  ch.  95.  3. 
 
 .;  ch.  39.  2. 
 
 .t  Deii  28.20. 
 
 ch    17.  la 
 
 d  ch.  52.  12. 
 
 15. 
 
 e2Kiu.25.8. 
 
 V  1  Kin    11^ 
 
 16    2  Km  4 
 
 29   &  9    1 . 
 
 fU   10    l..^. 
 
 Jol.  .-1-1   3 
 LiiliL-  1"'  So 
 
 Eeclufi.  49. 
 
 7. 
 H  Rx.  33.  12. 
 
 17. 
 h  r,»ke  1   LS, 
 
 ■11.  Gal.  1. 
 
 irct  r'ls. 
 
 .-  Kx.  3    12. 
 
 vcr   8. 
 
 Ezek   9.  fi. 
 I!   Or,  hre^.k 
 
 15.  16. 
 
 to  picvfi. 
 ,•  l8    50    7. 
 
 t  HL'b.  gnve 
 
 I  Ex.  4.  m. 
 
 &  6,  12.30. 
 
 ch.  f..  27.  & 
 15.  20. 
 
 Is.  6.  5. 
 
 k  Num.  22 
 
 20,  38. 
 
 Mat.  28.  20. 
 
 b  ver.  8, 
 
 /  Eie.  -i   6.& 
 
 •S.  9   vcr.l7 
 
 m   Ex    3.  12. 
 
 no4i  HI  6,8, 
 
 ■iitsii.  I  r>. 
 
 ch.  15    20. 
 
 Acta  20.17. 
 
 Hcb.  13.  6. 
 
 .,  Is.  G    7 
 
 0  Is.  51     10. 
 
 ch   fi.  14. 
 
 p  1  Kill.  19. 
 
 17, 
 
 q  ch    Ifl    7, 
 
 2  Cor    10. 
 
 -1,  5. 
 
 l|ni-,/*r  (/,,/ 
 
 S'l/ir. 
 
 '1  F./p.  Ifi.  P, 
 
 2i,  fit).  Bt  S3 
 
 S,  fi,  19. 
 
 H.is.  2.  15 
 
 h  Pen    2   7. 
 
 c  Ex.  19  r>,6 
 
 <l  .Turn,  I.  IH 
 
 Kcv.  H.  -1. 
 
 p  ch     12.  M. 
 
 See  ch.  50. 
 
 7. 
 
 And  1  said,  I  see  '  a  seething  pot ;  and  the  face 
 tliereof  ^5  f  toward  the  north. 
 
 14  Tiieii  the  Loud  .said  unto  me.  Out  of  the 
 'north  an  evil  fsliall  break  forth  upon  all  the 
 inhabitants  of  tlie  land. 
 
 13  For,  lo,  I  will  ^  call  all  the  families  of  tlie 
 kingdoms  of  the  north,  saith  the  Lord;  and 
 they  shall  come,  and  they  shall  "set  every  one 
 his  throne  at  the  entering  of  the  gates  of  Jeru- 
 salem, and  against  al!  the  walls  thereof  round 
 ahout,  and  against  all  tlie  cities  of  Judah. 
 
 16  And  I  will  utter  my  judgments  against 
 them  touching  all  their  wickedness,  *^  who  have 
 forsaken  me,  and  have  burned  incense  unto 
 other  god."^,  and  worshipped  the  works  of  their 
 own  hands. 
 
 17  t  Thou  therefore  ^  gird  up  thy  loin^,  and 
 arise,  and  speak  unto  them  all  that  I  command 
 thee  :  ^  be  )iot  dismayed  at  their  faces,  lest  I 
 II  confound  thee  before  them. 
 
 18  For,  behold,  1  have  made  thee  this  day  "a 
 defenced  city,  and  an  iron  pillar,  and  brasen 
 walls  against  the  whole  laud,  against  the  kings 
 of  Judah,  against  the  princes  thereof,  against 
 the  priests  tliereof,  and  against  the  people  of 
 the  land. 
 
 19  And  they  shall  fight  against  thee  ;  but 
 they  shall  not  prevail  against  thee  ;  ^for  I  atn 
 with  thee,  saith  the  Lord,  to  deliver  thee. 
 
 CHAP.  IL 
 
 exfostvr- 
 9  hn/ond 
 their  own 
 Her  cofi' 
 
 I    Gody  having   shewed  his  former  kindness, 
 lattth   ivith  the  Ji:ivs  their  causeless  revolt, 
 071//  example.      14  TAcy  nre  the  cajiscs  of 
 calamities.     20    The  sins  of  Judah.      31 
 fidence  is  rejected. 
 
 1%/T  OREO  VER  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 
 ■^'-■-   to  me,  saying, 
 
 2  Go  and  cry  in  th<'  ears  of  Jerusalem,  say- 
 ing. Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  I  remember  ||  thee, 
 the  kindness  of  thy  "  youth,  the  love  of  thine 
 espousals, '' when  thou  weutest  after  me  in  the 
 wilderness,  in  a  land  that  ivas  not  sown. 
 
 3  '^  Lsrael  icas  holiness  unto  the  Lord,  and 
 '*  the  first  fruits  of  his  increase  :  '*  all  that  devour 
 him  shall  offend  ;  evil  shall  come  u])on  them, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I. —  1.  The  unrds  of  J^-remi/th,  ffc. — these  pro- 
 phecies being  written  on  separate  parchments,  have  not  been  placcfl 
 exactly  as  they  were  delivereri  ;  they  are  arranged  in  chronol'gical 
 order  thus,  after  chap.  xx. : — Chap,  xxii.,  xxtii.,  xxv.,  xxvi.;  xxxv., 
 xxxvi.,  xlv.,  xxiv.,  Xxix.,  xxx.,  xxxi.,  xxvii,,  xxviii.,  xxi  ,  xxxiv., 
 xxxvii.,  xxxii.,  xxxiii.,  xxxriii.,  xxxix.  15 — 19,  xx.\:x.  1  —  14,  xi,,  xli., 
 xlii.,  xliil  ,  xliv.,  xlvi.,  &c. — So  Vr.  Bl'iyney.  .After  chnp.  xx.  :— xxii. 
 1 — 24,  xxvi.,  xlvi.,  1 — 13,  XXXV.,  xxv.,  xxxvi.  l — 9.  xlv.,  xxxvi.  9  to  end, 
 xxii.  24  tn  end,  lii.  1—4,  xxiv.,  xxix.  l — 15,  xxix.  i6 — 21,  xxix.  I5,  xxix. 
 21  to  end,  XXX.,  xxxi.,  xxvii.,  xxviii.,  xlviii.,  xlix.  I,  li..  xxxix.  l, 
 xxxvii.  1—5,  x.xxiv.  1— It,  xxxii.,  xxxiii.,  xxxvii.  5,  xlvii  ,  xxxvii. 
 6—11,  xxxiv.  11  to  end,  xxxvii.  11  to  end,  xxi.,  xxxviii.,  xxxix.  l.'i  to 
 end,  lii.  5,  6,  xxxix.  3,  lii.  7— 12,  xxxix.  11—15,  tii.  24— 28,  lii.  12— 15, 
 lii.  1-7 — 24,  lii.  15,  I6,  xxxix.  10,  lii.  4,  xxxix.  2  and  4 — lo. — Toivnsfnd. 
 Oth(  r  arrnngements,  slightly  varying,  are  mnde  by  Lightfnot,  Tin/lnr, 
 and  Professor  Dahlnr.  Anat/iot/i—see  Intmdvctiim.  4.  The  word  nf 
 the  Lord,  (Jod's  commission,  or  railier  the  materials  n(  which  the  pro- 
 phecy wa*.  to  consist. — Puole.  Visible  appearance  of  the  Divine  Ma- 
 jesty, made  by  the  Son  of  God,  (see  Isa.  vi.  1  ;  Gen.  iii.  8;  xviii.  2; 
 Josh.  V.  13;  Ezek.  i.  26;  Dan.  viii.  15,  18;  X.  6,  10.)— Preb.  Lowth,  so 
 Scott,  and  Sut.  The  inspiring  influence  of  the  Divine  Spirit. — A.Clar/te. 
 5.  7  kfiew  thee,  may  signify  '  I  had  thee  in  view,  or  approved  thee  as  a 
 fit  and  prr.pcr  object.* — Blat/ney.  6.  A  child,  fo  S'lomon  said  at 
 twenty  years  old,  (1  Kings,  Hi.  I — /.)  The  Roinan'^  ixtended  their 
 word  for  youth  to  30  or  40  years  of  age. — Preh.  Louth.  The  same 
 word  is  tianslated  'a  young  man,'  in  2  Sam.  xviii.  5,— Mont,  10.  To 
 root  out— the  prophets  are  said  to  do  things  when  they  declare  God's 
 
 piirjiose  of  doing  them,  (see  Isa.  vi.  10;  Ezek.  xliii.  3.) — Pre6.  Lowth. 
 11.  The  rod  of  un  itiotnnd  tree — in  warm  southern  climates,  tliis  tree 
 blossoms  in  January,  and  by  March  brings  its  fruit  to  matuiity. — So 
 PliriT/,  ^c.  This  was  evidently  intended  to  signify  the  speedy  accom- 
 plishment of  the  predicted  judgment.  13.  A  seething  pot.  or  boiling 
 pot,  intimating  their  severity.  The  north,  intimating  the  quarter 
 whence  the  judgments  were  to  come. —  Wil.  Pointing  out  the  empire 
 of  the  Babylnnians  and  Chaldeans,  lying  to  the  north  of  Judea,  and 
 pouring  forth  its  multitudes  like  a  thick  vapour,  to  overspread  the  land. 
 — Bin.  15.  Fitmilies,  equivalent  here  to  *  people.'  Set  every  one  his 
 //i*-(y;ie.  the  tributary  princes  of  Babylon  should  take  entire  possession 
 of  the  city.— /Vei.  Lowth.  17-  Gird,  ^e.— sec  un  Job,  xxxviii.  3, 
 notes. 
 
 Chap.  II.  — l.  Came  to  me,  ^c— this  prophecy  continues  to  the  5th 
 verse  of  the  next  chapter. — Bla.  It  was  in  tlie  thirteenth  year  of  Jo- 
 siah.—B/«.,  Tiiy.,  Towns.  In  the  twenty-ninth  year.  — Light/oot. 
 2.  I  remember,  Sfc,  "  I  remember  my  firht  kindness  lo  thee,'  6i.c.~Preb. 
 Lowth. 
 
 ' I  remember  in  thy  behalf. 
 
 My  kindness  in  thy  youth,  my  love  in  thine  espousals.'— Boo/Ar. 
 The  covenant  on  Sinai  is  commonly  represented  as  a  marriage  con- 
 tract. — Preft.  Lowth.  3.  Holiness,  a  people  dedicated  to  God. — Poole. 
 First  fruits,  the  first  nation  that  God  separated  for  himself. —  Gill. 
 All  that  devour  him,  fyc.—l  then  severely  punished  the  Egyptians,  &c., 
 wht)  attempted  to  injure  tliem.— J.  Brown.  None  but  priests  could  eat 
 the  first  fruits,  and  none  could  devour  Israel  without  incurring  guilt. 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  I. — I.  God  can  qualify  the  weakest    be  bis  witnesses 
 
 rnstrujnrtds  for  the  most  difficult  and  important  ofliccs.  AVIien, 
 therefore,  duty  calls  us  to  stand  fortli  in  his  iiamf,  under  any 
 circumstances,  or  in  any  situation  oi  life,  we  ought  not  to 
 shrink  from  the  task.  Jle  can  give  us  a  mouth  and  wisdom  to 
 7^3 
 
 II.  JVhen  God' s  witJicssiS  warn  the  wicked,  they  outjht  to  hear 
 and  treml'le.  Without  repentance,  terrible  will  be  their  end, 
 and  his  juvlgments  will  waste  them,  as  fiesh  in  the  seething 
 pot. 
 
Of  the  Jews'  causeless  revolt 
 
 JEREMIAH,  II. 
 
 Sin  the  cause  of  their  calamities. 
 
 4  Hear  ye  the  word  of  the  Lord,  O  house  of 
 Ja«ob,  and  all  the  families  of  the  house  of 
 Israel  : 
 
 3  If  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  ''What  iniquity 
 have  your  fathers  found  in  me,  that  they  are 
 gone  far  from  me,  ^  and  have  walked  after 
 vanity,  and  are  become  vain  ? 
 
 G  Neither  said  tliey.  Where  /i  the  Lobd  that 
 •■  brouglit  us  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  that 
 led  us  througli  '  tlie  wilderness,  tlirough  a  land 
 of  deserts  and  of  pits,  through  a  land  of 
 drought,  and  of  the  shadow  of  death,  through 
 a  land  that  no  man  passed  through,  and  where 
 no  man  dwelt? 
 
 7  And  I  brought  yon  into  ||  ''  a  plentiful 
 country,  to  eat  the  fruit  thereof  and  the  good- 
 ness thereof:  hutwhen  ye  entered,  ye  '  defiled 
 my  land,  and  made  mine  heritage  an  abomina- 
 tion. 
 
 8  The  priests  said  not.  Where  is  the  Loud? 
 and  they  that  handle  the  "'  law  knew  me  not  r 
 the  pastors  also  transgressed  against  me,  "  and 
 the  prophets  prophesied  by  Baal,  and  walked 
 after  thiiirjs  that  "  do  not  profit. 
 
 9  H  Wherefore  ''I  will  yet  plead  with  you, 
 saith  the  Lord,  and  ''  with  your  children's 
 children  will  I  plead. 
 
 10  For  pass  ||  over  the  isles  of  Chittim,  and 
 see;  and  send  unto  Kedar,  and  consider  dili- 
 gently, and  see  if  there  i>e  such  a  thing. 
 
 11  '  Hath  a  nation  changed  MciVgods,  which 
 are  'yet  no  gods?  'but  my  people  have 
 changed  their  glory  for  "  that  which  dotli  not 
 profit, 
 
 12  '  Be  astonished,  O  ye  heavens,  at  this,  and 
 be  horribly  afraid,  be  ye  very  desolate,  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 13  For  my  people  have  committed  two  evils  ; 
 they  have  forsaken  me  the  ''fountain  of  living 
 waters,  and  hewed  them  out  cisterns,  broken 
 cisterns,  that  can  hold  no  water, 
 
 14  t  /s  Israel  '  a  servant?  is  he  a  homeborn 
 slave  f  why  is  he  t  spoiled  ? 
 
 1.5  "The  young  lions  roared  upon  \nm,  and 
 t  yelled,  and  they  made  his  land  waste  :  bis 
 cities  are  burned  without  inhabitant. 
 
 10  Also  the  children  of  Noph  and  "  Taha- 
 panes  ||  have  broken  the  crown  of  thy  bead. 
 
 17  '  Hast  thou  not  prnoureil  this  unto  thy.self, 
 in  that  thou  hast  forsaken  the  Loud  thy  God. 
 when  ''  he  led  thee  by  the  way  ? 
 
 5  2  Kill    17. 
 15   .lonali 
 
 l>  U.  fi.S.  fl. 
 II,  l:i,  Hn: 
 l:1  'l. 
 
 ,,f  Cirmrl 
 4  "Num.  I.S 
 ■J7.  »t  M.  7. 
 8.  Iliii.  8. 
 
 /I'.Jv.lS.  25, 
 
 &  111    IS. 
 m  Mal,-iG.7 
 
 K»m.  2.  Su 
 ..  di.JS,  13, 
 o  vcr.  n. 
 
 Hab.  ■>.  13. 
 p  Eiek.  '2a 
 
 3%,  .'to. 
 
 Mic.  c.  ?. 
 q  V.X.  "Jll  5, 
 
 r  Mic-  *  5. 
 
 .  Ts.  115.  \. 
 Is.  37,  19, 
 ch,  tl>    SO, 
 
 /  1'b.  106,  20. 
 Kom.  1,  23 
 
 ■.  v,r.  8. 
 
 X  Is    1.  8, 
 
 V  Pa.  3r.  9. 
 cli,  17,  IS, 
 9t  IS,  11. 
 Jollll  i.  li 
 
 r  Sec  Kx, 4 
 
 t  llcl). 
 become  1 
 
 4  .  h    (3.  7, 
 
 S,  9, 
 II  Ov,/fM  on 
 
 ihi/  crowfi. 
 
 D'cu.  3.3,20, 
 
 Is   8  S. 
 ecu.  X   m, 
 '/  l>cu,  32. 
 
 .  F\  11  S. 
 .Itish.  21,18 
 Jti.l^,  10  III 
 1  Sa   12.  10 
 
 11  Of,  itTve. 
 
 i  Deu.  12.  2. 
 Is.  57,  5,  7. 
 .'Ii   3   6, 
 
 k  Ks,  .3-1.  15, 
 10. 
 
 (  l.:ie.  IS.  17. 
 I's.  44.  2.  n 
 So.  6,  Is.  R 
 I.  Ac.  11*  00 
 21.  .M.il  21. 
 .3.-1.  M.nik 
 12.  I.  I.uke 
 20.  9. 
 
 ni  Deil.  32 
 32.  la.  1.21. 
 KS.  4. 
 
 n  .lob  !).  80. 
 
 a  Peu.  32.31. 
 Job  14.  17. 
 Hoa.  13.  12 
 
 p  I'm.  .-10.12. 
 
 I  ch.  7   31. 
 
 II  Or,  Otvjifl 
 d'ont^ditrjf 
 
 r  Job  ."19.  .*., 
 «rc.  ch.14.ti. 
 
 11  Or.  V  villi 
 .«,  He. 
 
 f  llcb. 
 
 t  Heb  ihf 
 itftire  of  Iter 
 
 lirorl. 
 
 II  Or,  revfrif 
 
 it 
 t  ch.  19.  12. 
 II  Or,  /,  tha 
 
 Cfite  detpe- 
 
 rnttf 
 I  Deu.  32.10. 
 
 ch.  3.  13. 
 
 11  Or,  benot- 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 hinitft  pnrt 
 o/tl.r„eck. 
 
 n  JmlK  to. 
 
 10.  Pa.  7rt. 
 
 34-  Is.26,16. 
 X  Deu  32  37, 
 
 JuO^  10.14. 
 1/  Is.  15  iO, 
 t  Heb  erit. 
 t  ch,  11,  13, 
 
 18  And  now  what  hast  thou  to  do  °  in  the 
 
 uay  of  Egypt,  to  drink  the  waters  of 'Sihor? 
 or  what  liast  thou  to  do  in  the  way  of  Assyria, 
 to  drink  the  waters  of  the  river? 
 
 19  Thine  own  "  wickedness  shall  correct  thee, 
 and  thy  backslidings  shall  reprove  thee:  know 
 therefore  ami  see  that  it  is  ;in  evil  thimj  and 
 hitter,  that  thou  hast  forsaken  tlie  Lord  thy 
 God,  and  that  my  fear  is  not  in  thee,  saith  the 
 Lord  God  of  hosts. 
 
 20  1  For  of  old  time  I  have  broken  thy  yoke, 
 and  burst  thy  bands  ;  and  ''  thou  saidst,  1  will 
 not  II  transgress  ;  when  '  upon  every  high  hill 
 and  under  every  green  tree  thou  wanderest, 
 '  playing  tlie  harlot. 
 
 21  Yet  I  liad  'planted  thee  a  noble  vine, 
 wholly  a  right  .seed  :  how  then  art  thou  turned 
 into  "'  the  degenerate  plant  of  a  strange  vine 
 unto  me? 
 
 22  For  though  thou  °  wash  thee  with  nitre, 
 and  take  thee  much  sope,  yet  °  thine  iniquity 
 is  marked  before  me,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 23  ''  How  canst  thou  say,  I  am  not  polluted, 
 
 I  have  not  gone  after  liaalim?  see  thy  way 
 ''  in  the  valley,  know  wliat   thou  hast   done  : 
 
 II  thou  art  a  swift  dromedary  traversing  her 
 ways  ; 
 
 24  '  II  A  wild  ass  f  i'^c<5  to  t'l^  wilderness. 
 that  snuffeth  up  the  wind  at  f  her  pleasure  ;  in 
 lier  occasion  who  can  ||  turn  her  away  ?  all 
 they  that  seek  her  will  not  weary  themselves  ; 
 in  her  month  they  shall  find  her. 
 
 2.>  Withhold  thy  foot  from  being  rinshod, 
 and  thy  throat  from  thirst;  but  "  thou  saidst, 
 II  There  is  no  hope  :  no  ;  for  I  have  loved 
 '  strangers,  .and  after  them  will  I  go. 
 
 2(>  As  the  ibief  is  ashamed  when  he  is  found, 
 so  is  the  house  of  Israel  ashamed  ;  they,  tlieir 
 kings,  their  princes,  and  their  priests,  and  their 
 prophets, 
 
 27  Saying  to  a  stock.  Thou  art  my  father ; 
 and  to  a  stone.  Thou  hast  ||  brought  me  forth  : 
 for  they  have  turned  f  tlieir  hack  unto  ine,  and 
 not  their  face  ;  but  in  the  time  of  their "  trouble 
 they  will  say.  Arise,  and  save  us. 
 
 28  But  "  where  are  tliy  gods  that  thou  hast 
 made  thee?  let  them  arise,  if  they  ''can  save 
 thee  in  the  time  of  thy  f  trouble  :  for  ^  accord- 
 ing to  the  number  of  tliy  cities  are  thy  gods, 
 O'judah. 
 
 29  "Wherefore  will  ye  plead  with  me?  ye 
 
 Satth  lite  r.ind,  •  sat!  Jehovah.'— B/m/Zd-.  5.  Viinily,  '  idolatry,'  (see 
 chap.  X.  15;  .\iv.  14  Hiiil  22i  xvi.  19;  I  Cor.  via.  4.)— />;■<■*.  Lowlh. 
 o.  Of  pits,  it  is  a  wild  contusion  of  hanging  precipices,  disjointed  rocks, 
 and  hideous  caverns.— /ruin's  Trait,  shudow  of  deitth,  an  image  bor- 
 rowed fiom  tlie  shadow  cast  by  the  rocks,  in  which  were  the  burying 
 places  (il  tlie  Jews.— BZn.  8.  Prmts  mid  itat,  ^c- tliey  th  it  should 
 have  taught  others,  knew  as  little  as  they,  or  regardcil  as  little  to  know, 
 (Hos.  iv.  ().)— Poo/e.  9.  Plntd,  bv  my  prophets  and  my  jiltlgnicnts. 
 —Biititlir.  10.  Chiltim,  mtd  see~Ked,ir,  as  the  isles  of  Chittim.  Italy, 
 and  the  adjacent  provinces  of  Europe  were  west  of  Judea,  and  Kedar, 
 in  Arabia,  c;ist.  the  passage  signilies,  ■  look  about  you  to  the  west  and 
 to  the  easl.* — Bla.  ll.  My  people  Iture  chtutged,  they  did  not,  even  in 
 the  worst  of  times,  wholly  renounce  the  true  God;  but  worshipping 
 false  gods  with  him,  God  would  not  divide  the  honour,  and  rcpiesents 
 this  as  no  better  than  apostasy.— JTortin.  12.  Be  itnlimishrd,  !sc.— 
 see  on  Isa.  i.  2,  note.  13.  Fountain  ttfliriug  witlers—m  eastern  lan- 
 guage, this  always  means  springing  water,  that  wliicli  bubbles  up.— 
 Hod.  God  is  the  inexhaustible  spring  or  fountain  of  all  blessings,  tern, 
 poral  and  spiritual.— So  Pred.  Loiilli.  H.  Is  hracl  a  seri-iat .?— God 
 redeemed  him  and  made  him  a  son,  (Exod.  iv.  22,)  so  that  his  present 
 enslaved  condition  must  be  owing  to  his  sins,  (comp.  Isa.  1.  1  ;  lii.  3.)— 
 Preli.  Lowlli.  15,  Yunng  lions,  the  kings  of  Assyria  and  Babylon, 
 compared  to  lions  for  tin  ir  strength  and  cruelty,— GiH.  Also  of  Egypt, 
 ,«  TO  ";  -I  ,""'"'«<'— 'one  past  is  cilten  put  for  future  hv  the  prophets, 
 10.  ine  c/iilUren  of  Noph  and  Tultapanes,  two  principal  cities  of  Egvpt, 
 otherwise  called  Memphis  and  Daplina;  PelusiaCiB.  Haee  broken  lite 
 cromn,  ^c,  alki.les  to  the  severe  ulow  when  gooil  king  Josiah  was 
 defeated  by  the  Egyptians,  and  slain  in  batUe  ;  or  u  lien,  on  the  dcposi- 
 784 
 
 tion  of  Jehoahaz,  the  monarchy  became  tributary,  (2  Kings,  xxiii.  :t3, 
 34.)— Bla.  The  jirophct  pursues  the  metaphor  of  the  lions,  mentioned 
 ver.  15.  whose  custom  it  was  to  tear  the  arm  with  the  crown  ol  the 
 head,  (Dent,  xxxiii.  ■m.)—Freh.Lntftlt.  19.  To  drinlt  lite  ifiilrrs  of 
 Sihor,  ^-c.  Sihor  is  a  name  given  to  the  Nile,  (Isa.  xxiii.  3  and  the 
 Euphrates  is  called  *  the  river,'  by  way  of  eminence.  To  drink  then- 
 waters  alludes,  in  contrast,  to  forsaking  the  living  fonntaii-,  and  is 
 expressive  ol  having  recourse  for  help  to  tlieir  gnds, — So  Bla.  It  was 
 an  expression  signifying  residence,  and  implied  subjecli-  -n  and  depend, 
 ence, — So  Virgil,  Heiv.  It  signifies  to  seek  aid  from,  and  f'lni  a  liauces 
 wilh.  Egypt  and  Assyria. — Bootlir.  20.  Thi)  il'>l<e,  ol  Egyptian  hon- 
 dage.— IF'ii.  -22.  Sitre,  natron  [soda]  is  here  meant,  wlie'lier  natural 
 or  purified.  It  dissolves  in  a  small  quantity  of  water,  and  tlie  solution 
 is  used  for  wasliing  in  many  patts  of  Asia.  When  mixed  with  oil,  it  is 
 used  for  soap,— So  iVi-.  Natron  is  foiinil  in  abundance  in  Egypt  and 
 various  parts  of  Asia,  where  it  is  calleil  soap  earth,- B/ri,  See  Prov. 
 xxv,  20,  note,  23,  See  ttty  tvay  in  lite  imlley,  of  lliunom,  how  thou 
 jirostitutcst  thyself  in  gross  idolatry,  (see  chap.  vii.  31  ;  1-a.  Ivii.  5,  6.) 
 —So  Bla.  Tliott  art  a  stfift  drinneilnrti,  §-c.,  as  difficult  to  restrain  Iri  mi 
 the  impurities  of  idolatry,  as  that  aniinal  from  the  calls  of  nature.— so 
 Bla.  24.  .4  iD(W  H,s-s-,  ^c,  the  onager;  a  like  simile.— ErZ.  -1%.  From 
 being  tntshod,  perhaps  it  may  allude  to  the  common  practice  of  npproaeii. 
 ing  idols,  as  well  as  the  symbolic  presence  of  Jehovah,  barefoot,  to 
 shew  reverence — or  be  a  caution  to  avoid  those  wicked  ways  which  I.  d 
 to  the  wretched  condition  of  going  into  captivity  unshod. — So  Heiv., 
 Bla.  Tliroat  from  I'lirst,  may  refer  to  drinking  the  pulalions  of  iflola- 
 try,  which  were,  perhaps,  of  mixed  and  strong  liquors.— VFi/.  29.  Are 
 thy  gnds,   in  imitation  of  the  heathens,  who  had  not  only  in  every 
 
Judah's  confidence  rejected. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  III. 
 
 God's  great  merry  to  Jiidah. 
 
 all  have  transgressed  against  me,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 30  In  vam  have  I  ^  smitten  your  children ; 
 they  received  no  correction  :  your  own  sword 
 hatli  '  devoured  your  prophets,  like  a  destroy- 
 ing lion. 
 
 31  H  O  generation,  see  ye  the  word  of  the 
 LoBD.  ''  Have  I  been  a  wilderness  unto 
 Israel?  a  laud  of  darkness  ?  wherefore  say  my 
 people,  t '  ^^  SI'S  lords  ;  '  we  will  come  no 
 more  unto  thee  ? 
 
 32  Can  a  maid  forget  her  ornaments,  or  a 
 bride  her  attire?  yet  my  people  *■' have  forgot- 
 ten me  days  without  numljer. 
 
 33  Why  trimmest  tliou  thy  way  to  seek  love  ? 
 therefore  hast  thou  also  taught  the  wicked  ones 
 thy  ways. 
 
 34  Also  in  thy  skirts  is  found  ''  the  blood  of 
 the  souls  of  the  poor  innocents  :  I  have  not 
 found  it  by  f  secret  search,  but  upon  all  these. 
 
 3j  '  Yet  thou  sayest.  Because  I  am  innocent, 
 surely  his  auger  shall  turn  from  me.  Behold, 
 '  I  will  plead  with  thee,  '  because  thou  sayest, 
 I  have  not  sinned. 
 
 36  "■  Why  gaddest  thou  about  so  much  to 
 change  thy  way?  "  thou  alsoshalt  be  ashamed 
 of  Egypt,  °as  thou  wast  ashamed  of  Assyria. 
 
 37  Yea,  thou  slialt  go  forth  from  him,  and 
 ''  thine  hands  upon  thine  head  :  for  the  Lord 
 hath  rejected  thy  confidences,  and  thou  shalt 
 not  prosper  in  them. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  GotVs  great  mercy  in  Judah's  vile  tohoredom.  6 
 Judali  is  worse  than  Israel.  12  The  promises  of  the 
 ijos/K'l  to  the  penitent.  'JO  Israel  reproved,  and  called 
 hy  Gud^  jnaketh  a  soUtnii  confession  of  their  sins. 
 
 T^HEY  fsay,  If  a  man  put  away  his  wife, 
 -■-  and  slie  go  from  him,  and  become  another 
 man's,  ^  shall  he  return  unto  her  again  ?  shall 
 not  that  ^  land  be  greatly  polluted?  but  thou 
 hast    ^  played    tlie    harlot  with  many   lovers  ; 
 
 £lH.  1.5.&9. 
 13.  c'j.  5.  S. 
 
 c  9  Chr.  36. 
 
 16.  Neh.  0. 
 
 26.  Mat.  23. 
 
 y?).  A;c. 
 
 A.  IB  7    52. 
 
 1  The-.2.15. 
 •i  \eF.  b. 
 
 e  Ps.  la.  4 
 f  Deu.  S«  1.1, 
 y  Ps.  106.21. 
 fh.    13.  2b 
 Hos.  8.  H. 
 
 /i  Ps.  1116.38. 
 cli.   19.  4. 
 
 t  Hob. 
 
 I  ver.  23,  29. 
 
 n  ver.  18. 
 cU.  31.  22. 
 Hob.  5.  13. 
 
 Sc  1 
 
 1. 
 
 Is.  30.  3. 
 
 c!i.  37.7. 
 0  a  CUr.  28. 
 
 Hi,  2i>,  21. 
 f>  V  Sam.  19. 
 
 19. 
 
 f  Hcb.  S-y- 
 
 a  Peu  24  4 
 
 b  ch.  2,  7. 
 c  oh.  2,  ai) 
 Eze.  IC.  26, 
 
 2?,  29. 
 
 B.  C.  629. 
 
 f/  ell  .4.  I . 
 
 Zecli,  I.  3. 
 cSeeDeu  1^ 
 
 2.  ch.  2-  i;o. 
 /*Geii.3fl,  14, 
 
 Pio.23.  '2H 
 
 Eae.  16.  24, 
 
 25. 
 S  ell.  -2.  7. 
 
 ver,  9. 
 h  I.ev.2rt  l!>. 
 
 Pen.  2R.  ■,':!. 
 
 24  oil.  9. 1 J 
 
 6  14.  4. 
 
 1  ch  fi.  3.  ft 
 ti.  15.  Ik  a 
 12    Kzfk    3 
 
 7  Zepli  3 
 5. 
 
 k  Pro  2  17. 
 /  ch.  2    2. 
 
 Hos.  2.  15 
 m  Ps.  77.  7, 
 
 Ac.  &  103 
 
 9.  Is.  57.  16. 
 
 ver.  12. 
 cir.  612. 
 
 1  ver    II,  14. 
 cb.  7.  24. 
 .  ch.  2.  liO. 
 
 a  Eze.  16.-16. 
 
 &  23.  2,  4. 
 T  Eze.  23   9. 
 
 »2  Kio.  17. 
 6,  IS. 
 /  Eze.  23.  M, 
 
 II  Ovifame. 
 u  ch.  2.  7. 
 
 U. 
 +  Hcb.  in 
 
 fnUehntid . 
 z  Eze.  10.51. 
 
 &  2:i.  II. 
 
 ''  yet  return  again  to  me,  saith  tlie  Lord. 
 
 2  Lift  up  tliine  eyes  unto  ^  the  high  places 
 and  see  where  thou  hast  not  been  lien  with. 
 ^  In  the  ways  hast  thou  sat  for  them,  as  the 
 Arabian  in  the  wilderness;  ^  and  thou  hast 
 polluted  the  land  with  thy  whoredoms  and 
 with  thy  wickedness. 
 
 3  Therefore  tlie  '^  showers  have  been  with- 
 holden,and  there  hath  been  no  latter  rain  ;  and 
 thou  hadst  a  '  whore's  forehead,  thou  refusedst 
 to  be  ashamed. 
 
 4  Wilt  thou  not  from  this  time  cry  unto  me. 
 My  father,  thou  art  ^  the  guide  of  '  my  youth  ? 
 
 5  ■"  Will  he  reserve  his  anger  for  ever  ?  will 
 he  keep  it  to  the  end?  Behold,  thou  hast 
 spoken  and  done  evil  things  as  thou  couldest. 
 
 6  If  The  Lord  said  also  unto  me  in  the  days 
 of  Josiah  the  king,  Hast  thou  seen  that  which 
 "backsliding  Israel  hath  done?  she  is  °  gone 
 up  upon  every  high  mountain  and  under  every 
 green  tree,  and  there  hath  played  the  harlot. 
 
 7  ^  And  I  said  after  she  had  done  all  these 
 /Am^s,  Turn  thou  unto  me.  But  she  returned 
 not.     And  her  treacherous  "^  sister  Judah  saw  it. 
 
 8  And  I  saw,  when  "^for  all  the  causes  where- 
 by backsliding  Israel  committed  adultery  I  had 
 ^  put  her  away,  and  given  her  a  bill  of  divorce  ; 
 *  yet  her  treacherous  sister  Judaii  feared  not, 
 but  went  and  played  the  harlot  also. 
 
 9  And  it  came  to  pass  through  the  ||lightness 
 of  her  whoredom,  that  she  "defiled  the  land, 
 and  committed  adultery  with  ^stones  and  with 
 stocks. 
 
 10  And  yet  for  all  this  her  treacherous  sister 
 Jiidah  hath  not  turned  unto  me  ^with  her 
 whole  heart,  but  ffeignedly,  saitli  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  '^  The  back- 
 sliding Israel  hath  justified  herself  more  than 
 treacherous  Judah. 
 
 12  t  Go  and  proclaim  these  words  toward 
 '^  the  north,  and  say,  Return,  thou  backsliding 
 Israel,  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  I  will  not  cause 
 
 country,  but  in  every  city  and  t'lwn,  a  different  god,  the  patron  and 
 tutelar  deity  of  the  place,  (see  2  Kings,  xvii.  29,  ao,  31.)  31.  We  are 
 
 lords,  and  can  reign  without  thee. — Gill.  32.  A  bride  her  uttire — it 
 wouhl  be  considered  unfortunate  in  the  extreme  for  a  bride  to  bt*  mar- 
 ried witliout  having  on  nutncroiis  jewels  ;  hence  the  poorest  females 
 may  be  seen,  on  such  occasion-^,  literally  covered  with  borrowed  jewels. 
 — Hob.  33.  Whif  trimmfst,  Sfc. — the  prophet  alludes  to  the  practices 
 
 of  a  common  harlot,  who  uses  every  inveigling  art  to  recommend  her- 
 self to  her  gallants  ;  so  the  Jews  tried  all  roethi  uls  to  gain  the  friendship 
 of  foreign  idolators.  Tnvght  the  wicked,  confirmed  them  in  their  prac 
 tices,  and  taught  them  new  idolatries. — Preh.  Lnwth. 
 
 *  Truly  thou  hast  taught  thy  neighbours  thy  ways.* — Boothr. 
 •Therefore  have  I  taught  calamity  thy  ways.' — Blayney. 
 
 34.  Poor  innocents,  children  offered  to  Mohich,  (sec  ver.  23  ;  chap.  xix. 
 4  ;  Ps.  cvi.  38.)— PreA.  Lou-th.     I  have  not  found,  fyc. — 
 
 '  I  have  not  found  it  in  a  digged  hole. 
 But  exposed  upon  every  oak.' 
 The  allusion  is  to  the  command  given  Lev.  xvii.  13,  and  thus  all  the 
 Ancient  Versions,  as  well  as  the  Bishops'  Bible,  render.  Every  place 
 was  polluted  with  human  blood  coffered  to  idols. — Boothr.  37.  Upon 
 thine  head— to  cover  the  head  was  a  mark  of  great  affliction,  (see  chap. 
 xiv.  3  ;  2  Sam.  xiii.  19  ;  xv.  30.) — Bin.  When  the  Hindoos  are  in  great 
 distress,  they  put  their  hands  on  their  head,  the  fingers  being  clasped 
 on  the  top  of  the  crown.  Should  a  man  who  is  plunged  into  wretched- 
 ne.ss  meet  a  friend,  he  makes  it  known  by  putting  his  hands  on  his 
 head.  When  a  person  hears  of  the  death  of  a  friend,  he  does  the  like, 
 and  so  docs  a  boy  when  punished  at  school. —  Rob. 
 
 Chap.  III. — 1.  Be  greatly  polluted — see  Dent.  xxiv.  4,  note.     2.  Unto 
 
 the  high  places,  there  they  might  see  generEd  traces  of  their  idolatries. 
 As  the  Arabian,  as  the  prostitute  sits  by  the  way  to  srduce  ihe  passenger ; 
 or  as  the  Arabian  robber  waits  in  the  desert  for  the  traveller. — Scutt. 
 The  Arabs  wait  for  caravans  with  the  most  violent  avidity,  rising  on 
 their  horses,  and  running  various  wa>s  to  look  for  duat,  smoke,  or 
 tracks  on  the  ground. — Sir  J.  Chardin.  3.  Sowers  have  been  with- 
 holdeti,  ffc. — God  threatens,  as  a  punishment  for  sin,  to  make  the  hea- 
 vens iron,  (Deut.  xxxviii.  23  )  Ju'ica  wanted  rain  at  two  seasons; 
 the  former  rain  after  seed  time,  (Isa.  xxx.  23,)  the  latter  rain  ju^t  be- 
 fore harvest,  (Joel,  ii.  23  ;  Amos,  iv.  7)— So  Preb.  Loivth.  God  had 
 begun,  in  some  degree,  to  ehastive,  but  to  no  eflTect.  6.  The  Lord 
 said  also,  ^c,  a  distinct  prophecy,  to  the  end  of  chap.  v'l.—Bla.  Back- 
 sliding— the  word  seems  to  betaken  from  oxen,  when  they  turned  back 
 Instead  of  drawing  forward  in  the  yoke,  and  is  used  for  an  individual 
 or  a  people  renouncing  the  worship  and  service  of  God. — Srott. 
 7.  And  I  said,  by  the  prophets  Elijah,  Elisha,  Hosca,  Amos,  &c. — A.  C. 
 Trtitcherous,  the  wi>rd  denotes  an  unfaithful  wife. —  Preb.  Lowth. 
 9.  Lightness,  SfC., '  frequency.'— G'rof.  'Facility.'— il/on^  'The  gross- 
 ness  of  her  idolatry.' — A.  Clarke.  Worshipping,  even  indiscriminately, 
 images  of  wood  and  stone.— -U/':.  10.  Feignedly,  she  took  no  warn- 
 ing by  the  fall  of  Samaria,  and  even  at  Josiah's  great  passover  the 
 princes  concealed  their  idols,  (chap,  xxxiv.  18— 20.)— Sw^.  U.  Hath 
 justified,  ^r.,  appeared  righteous  in  comparison  to  Judah,  (so  Luke, 
 xviii.  U.)—Bln.  Judah  sinned  against  greater  convictions,  not  taking 
 warning  from  what  Israel  suffered  for  idolatry,  (comp.  Ezek.  xvi.  51.) 
 12.  Toward  the  north,  Assyria  and  Medea,  whither  the  ten  tribes  wtre 
 carried,  lay  north  of  Judea.— Pj-(6.  Lou-th,  so  Scott  and  Clarke.  Or  it 
 might  refer  to  that  principal  part  of  the  Holy  Laud  where  some  of  the 
 tribes  still  continued.— S«^  I  will  not  cause,  ^c,  literally,  *  I  will  not 
 let  my  countenance  fall  upon  you,'  i.  e.,  *  I  will  not  look  down  upon 
 
 Rffi.fctions  on  Chap.  II.  —  This  chapter  exhibits  a 
 striking  picture  of — I.  Backsliding  and  apostasy.  Forsaking 
 God,  the  source  of  happiness  and  joy,  and  embracing  other 
 objects  in  preference  to  Inra  ;  abandonint;  the  heart  to  wicked- 
 ness, and  forming  alli:iiices  with  those  who  are  the  enemies  of 
 God      It  also  discovers — 
 
 II.  The  exceediny  wickedness  of  backsliding  and  apostasy. 
 Forsaking  the  Creator  for  the  creature  j  returning  the  basest 
 7bJ 
 
 ingratitude  for  the  warmest  proofs  of  love  ;  madly  seeking 
 occasions  to  sin  against  God;  yea,  even  becoming  the  ling- 
 leaders  of  the  wicked,  seducing  the  evil  to  do  more  evil,  and 
 liardening  the  soul  against  every  stroke  of  God's  providence 
 to  humble  it,  and  bring  it  back  to  himself.  To  what  awful 
 lengths  will  men  go,  when  they  set  the  first  step  in  the  path  of 
 iniquity  ! 
 
 3  H 
 
The  gospel  promised  to  the  penitent. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  IV. 
 
 JntUih  exhorted  to  irpcntance. 
 
 mine  anger  to  fall  upon  you  :  for  I  am  ■■  mer- 
 ciful, saith  the  Loud,  and  I  will  not  keep 
 anger  for  ever. 
 
 13  '  Only  acknowledge  thine  iniquity,  that 
 thou  hast  transgressed  against  the  Lord  thy 
 God,  and  hast  ''  scattered  thy  ways  to  the 
 'strangers  'under  every  green  tree,  and  ye 
 have  not  obeyed  my  voice,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 14  Turn,  O  backsliding  children,  saith  the 
 Lord  ;  ^for  I  am  married  unto  you  :  and  I 
 will  take  you  ''  one  of  a  city,  and  two  of  a  fa- 
 mily, and  I  will  bring  you  to  Zion  : 
 
 15  And  I  will  give  you  '  pastors  according  to 
 mine  heart,  which  shall  '•  feed  you  with  know- 
 ledge and  understanding. 
 
 16  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  ye  be 
 multiplied  and  increased  in  the  land,  in  those 
 days,  saith  the  Lord,  they  shall  say  no  more. 
 The  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  :  '  neither 
 shall  it  t  come  to  mind  :  neither  shall  they  re- 
 member it  ;  neither  shall  they  visit  it ;  neither 
 shall  II  that  be  done  any  more. 
 
 17  At  that  time  they  shall  call  Jerusalem  the 
 throne  of  the  Lord  ;  and  all  the  nations  shall 
 be  gathered  unto  it,  ""  to  the  name  of  the 
 Lord,  to  Jerusalem  :  neither  shall  they  "  walk 
 any  more  after  the  ||  imagination  of  their  evil 
 heart. 
 
 18  In  those  days  "  the  house  of  Judah  shall 
 walk  II  with  the  house  of  Israel,  and  they  shall 
 come  together  out  of  the  land  of  ■■  the  north  to 
 ^  the  land  that  I  have  ||  given  for  an  inheritance 
 unto  your  fathers. 
 
 19  But  I  said.  How  shall  I  put  thee  among 
 the  children,  and  give  thee  'a  f  pleasant  land, 
 t  a  goodly  heritage  of  the  hosts  of  nations  ?  and 
 I  said.  Thou  shalt  call  me,  '  My  father  ;  and 
 shalt  not  turn  away  f  from  me. 
 
 20  t  Surely  as  a  wife  treacherously  departeth 
 from  her  t  husband,  so  '  have  ye  dealt  treacher- 
 ously with  me,  O  house  of  Israel,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 21  A  voice  was  heard  upon  "  the  high  places, 
 weeping  and  .supplications  of  the  children  of 
 Israel :  for  they  have  perverted  their  way,  and 
 they  have  forgotten  the  Lord  their  God. 
 
 22  '  Return,  ye  backsliding  children,  and  ''  I 
 will  heal  your  backslidings.  Behold,  we  come 
 unto  thee  ;  for  thou  art  the  Lord  our  God. 
 
 23  '  Truly  in  vain  is  salvation  hoped  for  from 
 
 Cir.  612. 
 
 6  Ps.  S6.  15. 
 
 &  IU3.  &,  0. 
 
 ver.  5. 
 t  Lev.  26.40, 
 
 &c.  Deu.SO. 
 
 I,  S,  Sec. 
 
 Pro.  2fl.  13. 
 d  ver.  2. 
 
 Ezek  16.16, 
 
 94,  25. 
 e  ch.  2.  25. 
 /Deu.  12.2. 
 
 i7  ch   31.  .12. 
 
 Hos.  2,  19, 
 
 2(1. 
 h  Koin.  11.5. 
 
 i  cli.  23.  4. 
 Eze   31.  23 
 Eph.  4.  II. 
 
 A  AclB  21I.S3- 
 
 I  Is.  es.  17. 
 
 t  Hcb.  eomt 
 iifivii  the 
 henrt. 
 
 1  Or,  it  b^ 
 mig'tijifd. 
 
 •n  l3.  00.  9. 
 nch.  11.9. 
 
 .  See  Is.  11 
 
 13.  K/ck. 
 
 37.  16—22. 
 
 Hos.  1.  11. 
 II  Or,  la. 
 vcr.  12. 
 
 Jh.  31.8. 
 ij  Amos  9.15. 
 II  Or,  cumerf 
 
 I'l  poueit. 
 r  Ph.  106.24. 
 
 Kick.  20  6. 
 
 Dan.  9.  9.«( 
 
 tl    16,41,55 
 t  Hcb.  land 
 
 of  dnire. 
 i  Heb.  an 
 
 heritage  trf 
 
 t;iary,  or, 
 
 he'tnttj. 
 I  U.  63.  16. 
 t  Heb  /roiTi 
 
 afl„  me. 
 tHeb./riCMrf. 
 I  Is.  46.  a. 
 
 ch.  6.  11. 
 u  U.  15.  S. 
 
 J-  ver.  14. 
 
 Hos.  H.  1. 
 V  Hns.  6.  1, 
 
 &  14.4. 
 
 a  Ps.  121  1,2. 
 
 h  ch.  II.  t 
 Hos.  9.  11 
 
 I  cli.3.  1,22. 
 Joel  2.  12. 
 
 4  Deu.  lO.SO. 
 
 Is.  45.  23. 
 
 &  65.  16. 
 
 Seech. 5  2. 
 
 Zech  8.  8. 
 c  Ts.  49.  1. 
 rf  Gen.  22. 18. 
 
 Ps.  72.  17. 
 
 Gal.  3.  8. 
 e  Is.  45.  25. 
 
 1  Cor.  1.  31. 
 /Hos.  10.12. 
 g  Mat.  13. 
 
 7,22. 
 A  Deu.  10.16. 
 
 &  30.  6. 
 
 ch.  9.  26. 
 
 C«l.  2.  II. 
 
 Rom.  2.  28, 
 
 29. 
 
 itTmf.th"! 
 
 *ch.  1.13.14, 
 
 15.  fc6.  1, 
 
 t~iloh. 
 
 btfikiag. 
 I  2  Kill.  24. 
 
 I.  ch.  5.  6. 
 
 Dan.  7.  4. 
 mch.2S.  9. 
 Ills.  1.7. 
 
 ch.  2.   15. 
 
 o  Is.  22.  12. 
 ch.  6.  26. 
 
 the  hills,  and  frotn  the  multitude  of  mountains  : 
 °  truly  in  the  Lord  our  God  is  the  salvation  of 
 Israel. 
 
 24  ^  For  shame  hath  devoured  the  labour  of 
 our  fathers  from  our  youth  ;  their  flocks  and 
 their  herds,  their  sons  and  their  daughters. 
 
 25  We  lie  down  in  our  shame,  and  our  con- 
 fusion covereth  us  : '  for  we  have  sinned  against 
 the  Lord  our  God,  we  and  our  fathers,  from 
 our  youth  even  unto  this  day,  and  ''have  not 
 obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Lord  our  God. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  God  calhth  Israel  hy  his  promise.  3  He  exhorttth 
 Judah  to  repaitance  bt/  fearful  jitdgments.  19  A 
 grievous  lamentation  fur  the  miseries  ofjudah. 
 
 TF  thou  wilt  return,  O  Israel,  saith  the  Lord, 
 ■*-  °  return  unto  me  :  and  if  thou  wilt  put  away 
 thine  abominations  out  of  my  sight,  then  shalt 
 thou  not  remove. 
 
 2  ^  And  thou  shalt  swear,  The  Lord  liveth, 
 ^  in  truth,  in  judgment,  and  in  righteousness; 
 •^and  the  nations  shall  bless  themselves  in  him, 
 and  in  him  shall  they  *"'  glory. 
 
 3  H  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  to  the  men  of 
 Judah  and  Jerusalem,  ^  Break  up  your  fallow 
 ground,  and  ^  sow  not  among  thorns. 
 
 4  "  Circumcise  yourselves  to  the  Lord,  and 
 take  away  the  foreskins  of  your  heart,  ye  men 
 of  Judah  and  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  :  lest  my 
 fury  come  forth  like  fire,  and  burn  that  none 
 can  quench  it,  because  of  the  evil  of  your 
 doings. 
 
 5  Declare  ye  in  Judah,  and  publish  in  Jeru- 
 salem ;  and  say,  Blow  ye  the  trumpet  in  the 
 land  :  cry,  gather  together,  and  say, '  Assemble 
 yourselves,  and  let  us  go  into  the  defenced 
 cities. 
 
 6  Set  up  the  standard  toward  Zion  :  |[  retire, 
 stay  not:  for  I  will  bring  evil  from  the  ''north, 
 and  a  great  f  destruction. 
 
 7  '  The  lion  is  come  up  from  his  thicket,  and 
 ^  the  destroyer  of  the  Gentiles  is  on  his  way  ; 
 he  is  gone  forth  from  his  place  "  to  make  thy 
 land  desolate  ;  and  thy  cities  shall  be  laid 
 waste,  without  an  inhabitant. 
 
 8  For  this  °  gird  you  with  sackcloth,  lament 
 and  howl :  for  the  fierce  anger  of  the  Lord  is 
 not  turned  back  from  us. 
 
 ,    9  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  at  that  day,  saith 
 
 you  with  a  lowering  brow.*  14.  Bring  ymt  to  Zion,  relates  here  to 
 their  call  into  the  Christian  church.  l6.  Sai;  no  more,  the  ark,  fyc. — 
 their  greater  privileges  would  supersede  all  boast  on  account  of  those 
 which  had  at  any  time  belongred  to  the  Jewish  church.  Neither  shall 
 that  be  done—the  ark,  once  lust,  was  never  to  be  made  again.  17  Je- 
 rusalem, that  is,  the  Christian  church,  (see  Gal.iv.  26;  Rev.  xxi.  2,  3.) 
 — Bla.  !8.  Shall  come  together,  ^f.— this  shews  that  some  o(  the  ten 
 tribes  did  return  from  captivity.  The  history  in  Ezra  and  Nehemiah 
 relates  to  the  Judahites;  but  Micknelis  conjectures  that  Galilee,  and 
 other  parts  of  the  land,  were  re-peopled  by  some  of  the  ten  tribes.  If 
 we  apply  what  is  here  said  to  the  future  restoration  of  Israel,  it  may  yet 
 receive  a  literal  accomplishment,  |Rom.  xi.  2^.)—Boothr.  There  can- 
 not be  a  doubt  of  its  being  literally  accomplished. — Bin.  19.  How 
 shall  J  put  thee — the  riches  of  divine  grace  are  so  great  as  to  occasion, 
 humanly  speaking,  some  difficulty  with  tlie  divine  justice.  Thou  shalt 
 eallmp,  Mjj  father,  §■/?. — it  must  be  done,  first,  by  regeneration,  and, 
 secondly,  by  confirmaHon. — Sut.  20.  As  a  ivife  trencherousti/  de- 
 parteth, 'as  a  wicked  woman  breaketh  her  faith.' — Bla.  21.  Upon 
 the  high  places — the  prophet  foresees  their  repentance  on  the  scenes  of 
 their  former  idolatries,  (comp.  chap.  xxxi.  9;  Zech.  xii.  10.)     23.  From 
 
 the  hills,  ^c,  i.  e.,  '  from  the  idols  they  worshipped  there.'  24.  Shame, 
 all  the  miseries  of  captivity,  (comp.  Ezek.  xvi.  6i,  63.)  The  idol  Baal 
 was.  by  way  of  reproach,  called  'lioslicth,'  that  is,  'shame,'  (see  chap, 
 xi.  13 ;  Hos.  ix.  10  ) — Preb.  Lowth.  The  altars  and  worship  of  Baal, 
 and  all  the  gods  of  Syria,  are  called  *  a  shameful  thing,'  (chap.  xi.  13.) 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  2.  Thou  shalt  sivear,  ^c,  to  '  swear  to'  or  by  *  the  Lord 
 of  hosts,'  is  used  as  synonymous  with  the  profession  of  his  true  reli- 
 gion, Isa.  xix.  le. — Bill.  4.  Circumcise,  ^c. — circumcision  denoted 
 morally  the  putting  away  all  sinful  lusts  of  the  flesh. — Bla.  6.  Blow 
 ye  the  trumpet,  ffc,  gather  the  men  of  arms,  and  retire  to  the  strong- 
 holds for  defence  from  an  invading  army. — Preh.  Lowth.  6.  From  the 
 norM— this  predicts  the  invasion  of  the  land  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  which 
 took  place  thirty  years  after. — Scott.  In  speaking  of  the  kings  of  Ba- 
 bylonia and  Chaldea  as  coming  from  the  north,  geographical  situatii.n 
 is  not  so  much  regarded  as  the  usual  route  on  expeditions,  the  deserts 
 of  Arabia  not  being  practicable  for  a  large  army.  1  hey  commonly 
 crossed  the  Euphrates  at  Tuphsah,  and  approached  Judea  on  the  north, 
 by  way  of  Damascus  and  Syria. — Cat.  7.  The  lion,  ^c,  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar, whose  monarchy  is  represented  by  a  lion,  Dan.  vii.  4. — Preb. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IIL  —  Observe  here,  I.  Judah's 
 areat  viletiess.  She  had  done  most  wickedly,  and  had  pursued 
 ner  wickedness,  notwithstanding  God  had  given  her  the  most 
 solemn  warnings  in  the  punishment  of  Israel.  God's  punish- 
 ment of  those  around  us  is  intended  also  for  our  admonition, 
 and  we  ought  to  hear  the  voice  of  God  speaking  in  those  pro- 
 vidences. 
 
 786 
 
 IL  God's  i/r tat  jncrcy.  Can  any  representation  be  stronger 
 of  his  readiness  to  pardon  'iniquity,  transgression,  and  sin,' 
 than  that  he  would  even  receive  back  bis  adulterous  people 
 into  his  bosom  ?  O  does  he  not  bate  putting  away  ?  Let  us 
 flee,  then,  weeping  and  rejoicing,  to  the  arms  of  his  love,  and 
 say.  according  to  his  own  exceeding  great  and  precious  pro- 
 mise, '  Receive  us  graciously,  and  love  us  freely.' 
 
A  lamentation  for 
 
 JEREMIAH,  V. 
 
 the  miseries  ofJudah. 
 
 the  Lord,  that  the  heart  of  the  king  shall  pe- 
 rish, and  the  heart  of  the  princes  ;  and  the 
 priests  shall  be  astonished,  and  the  prophets 
 shall  wonder. 
 
 10  Then  said  I,  Ah,  Lord  God!  i"  surely  thou 
 hast  greatly  deceived  this  people  and  Jerusa- 
 lem, ■•  saying.  Ye  shall  have  peace  ;  whereas 
 the  sword  reacheth  unto  the  soul. 
 
 11  At  that  time  shall  it  he  said  to  this  people 
 and  to  Jerusalem,  '  A  dry  wind  of  the  high 
 places  in  the  wilderness  toward  the  daughter 
 of  my  people,  not  to  fan,  nor  to  cleanse, 
 
 12  Even  \\  a  full  wind  from  ihose  places  shall 
 come  unto  me  :  now  also  'will  I  fgi*''^  sen- 
 tence against  them. 
 
 13  Behold,  he  shall  come  up  as  clouds,  and 
 '  his  chariots  shall  be  as  a  whirlwind  :  "  his 
 horses  are  swifter  than  eagles.  Woe  unto  us! 
 for  we  are  spoiled. 
 
 14  O  Jerusalem,  "  wash  thine  heart  from 
 wickedness,  that  thou  mayest  be  saved.  How 
 long  shall  thy  vain  thoughts  lodge  within  thee  ? 
 
 15  For  a  voice  declareth 'from  Dan,  and  pub- 
 lisheth  affliction  from  mount  Ephraim. 
 
 IG  Make  ye  mention  to  the  nations  ;  behold, 
 publish  against  Jerusalem,  that  watchers  come 
 '  from  a  far  country,  and  give  out  their  voice 
 against  the  cities  of  Judah. 
 
 17  "As  keepers  of  a  field,  are  they  against 
 her  round  about ;  because  she  hath  been  re- 
 belhous  against  me,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 18  "  Thy  way  and  thy  doings  have  procured 
 these  things  unto  thee  ;  tliis  is  tliy  wickedness, 
 because  it  is  bitter,  because  it  reacheth  unto 
 thine  heart. 
 
 19  1  My  ''bowels,  my  bowels!  I  am  pained 
 at  f  my  very  heart  ;  my  heart  maketh  a  noise 
 in  me  ;  I  cannot  hold  my  peace,  because  thou 
 hast  heard,  O  my  soul,  the  sound  of  the  trumpet, 
 the  alarm  of  war. 
 
 20  ''  Destruction  upon  destruction  is  cried  ; 
 for  the  whole  land  is  spoiled :  suddenly  are 
 '  my  tents  spoiled,  and  my  curtains  in  a  mo- 
 ment. 
 
 21  How  long  shall  I  see  the  standard,  and 
 hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet  ? 
 
 22  For  my  people  is  foolish,  they  have  not 
 
 •  cli.  51    1. 
 K;e,  17.  111 
 U.>s   13.  15. 
 
 |l  Or,  n  ^ultCT 
 tpiitil  than 
 thiie 
 
 t  cli.  I.  16. 
 
 t  Heb.  Htter 
 jiidgrne'ili 
 
 I  Ib.  h.  2S. 
 
 .<  Dea.'JS.49 
 Lam.  -v.  19 
 Hos.  H.  I. 
 HHb    1.  8. 
 
 J  Is.  1.  16. 
 
 6  Pi.  107. 17. 
 Is.  bO.  I. 
 ch.  8. 17,19. 
 
 c  Is.  15.  5.  & 
 
 16.  1I.&21. 
 
 3   fc  22.  4. 
 
 rh.  9.  1.  10. 
 
 See  !iuke 
 
 19.  12. 
 f  Eleb.  Iht 
 
 mil.  o/m, 
 
 l„urt. 
 
 /Ho, 
 
 if  Is.  24.  19. 
 /I  Gen.  1.  2. 
 
 Is.  5.  25. 
 Kze.  38.  Sy. 
 
 ..  Hos-  4.  3 
 1  Is  5.  30. 
 &  50.  3. 
 
 40 
 
 t  Heb.  fy'i 
 q  ch.  2-2.  20, 
 
 22.  Lam.  1. 
 
 S,  19. 
 
 known  me  ;  they  are  sottish  children,  and  they 
 have  none  understanding :  '  they  are  wise  to 
 do  evil,  but  to  do  good  they  have  no  know- 
 ledge. 
 
 23  ^  I  beheld  the  earth,  and,lo,  it  was  ''  with- 
 out form  and  void  ;  and  the  heavens,  and  they 
 had  no  light. 
 
 24  '  I  beheld  the  mountains,  and,  lo,  they 
 trembled,  and  all  the  hills  moved  lightly. 
 
 25  I  beheld,  and,  lo,  there  was  no  man,  and 
 *  all  the  birds  of  the  heavens  were  fled. 
 
 2G  I  beheld,  and,  lo,  the  fruitful  place  was  a 
 wilderness,  and  all  the  cities  thereof  were  bro- 
 ken down  at  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  by 
 his  fierce  anger. 
 
 27  For  thus  hath  the  Lord  said.  The  whole 
 land  shall  be  desolate ;  '  yet  will  1  not  make  a 
 full  end. 
 
 28  For  this  "'  shall  the  earth  mourn,  and  °  the 
 heavens  above  be  black  :  because  I  have  spo- 
 ken it,  I  have  purposed  it,  and  "  will  not  repent, 
 neither  will  I  turn  back  from  it. 
 
 29  The  whole  city  shall  flee  for  the  noise  of 
 the  horsemen  and  bowmen  ;  they  shall  go  into 
 thickets,  and  climb  up  upon  the  rocks  :  every 
 city  shall  be  forsaken,  and  not  a  man  dwell 
 therein. 
 
 30  And  when  thou  art  spoiled,  what  wilt  thou 
 do  ?  Though  thou  clothest  thyself  with  crim- 
 son, though  thou  deckest  thee  with  ornaments 
 of  gold,  ''though  thou  rentest  thy  f  face  with 
 painting,  in  vain  shalt  thou  make  thyself  fair  ; 
 ■*  thy  lovers  will  despise  thee,  they  will  seek  thy 
 life. 
 
 31  For  I  have  heard  a  voice  as  of  a  woman 
 in  travail,  and  the  anguish  as  of  her  that  bring- 
 eth  forth  her  first  child,  the  voice  of  the  daughter 
 of  Zion,  that  bewaileth  herself,  that '  spreadeth 
 her  hands,  saying,  Woe  is  me  now!  for  my 
 soul  is  wearied  because  of  murderers. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1    Tht  judf/mtjits  of  God  upon  the  Jeics,  for  their  per- 
 
 vtrsctiess,  1  for  their  adultery,  10  for  their  impicti/, 
 
 \9for  their  contempt  of  God,  25  and  for  their  great 
 
 corruption  in  the  civil  state,  30  and  ecclesiastical. 
 
 "DUN  ye  to  and  fro  through  the  streets  of 
 
 •'-^  Jerusalem,  and  see  now,  and  know,  and 
 
 Lowth.  The  destroyer  of  the  Gentiles,  who  haH  destroyed  and  con- 
 quered other  nations  not  a  few. — Gilt.  10.  Thou  ha-it  greatly  de. 
 rtired,  §•/■.,  suffered  them  to  be  greatly  deceived  by  thtir  false  prophets. 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  'Then  said  I,  Ah,  Lord  God,  surely  this  people  and 
 Jerusalem  will  be  ready  to  cast  upon  thee  the  imputation  of  deceiving 
 them,  in  that  those  who  pretended  to  prophesy  unto  them  have  said, 
 ye  shall  have  peace,  wliereas  there  is  nothing  but  slaughter  and  devas- 
 tation.'— Bp.  Hull.  What  the  false  prophets  did,  that  God  is  said  to 
 ito,  because  he  suffered  them  to  deceive  the  people,  (see  I  Kings,  xxii. 
 20  — 23.)  — G^7^  11.  A  dry  tvind—Bp.  Heber  calls  it  the  hot  wind  ;    if 
 
 it  blow  long,  it  destroy^!,  all  the  vegetation  for  that  season  .^i>u(.  *  A 
 scorching  wind,'  — Boo^/ir. ;  that  is,  the  samiel,  or  h(»t  wind  of  the  de- 
 sert.— Ed.  The  Chaldean  armies  are  described  by  this  metaphor. 
 12.  Shcdl  come  unto  vie,  at  my  commandment,  (see  Job,  xxxviii.35; 
 Ps.  cxlviii.  S.)~'Pi-eb.  Lowth.  13.  He  shall  come,  namely,  the  king 
 of  Babylon. — Bin.  u.  Vain  thoughts,  hopes  or  expectation  from  any 
 helps. — Poole,  TUlotson.  15.  A   voice,  a  messenger,    bringing  the 
 
 afflicting  tidings  which  follow. — Boothr.  From  Dan,  on  the  border  of 
 the  land  of  Israel,  to  the  north,  on  which  side  Babylon  lay.  Mount 
 Ephraim,  nearer  to  Jerusalem. — Gdl.  Babylon  was,  indeed,  rather 
 tiiwards  the  east  than  directly  north  from  Judah  ;  but  the  destruction 
 entered  the  land  at  the  northern  extremity  of  it. — Scott.  iG.  Among 
 the  nations,  publisli  it  far  and  near. — Preb.  Lowth.  It  seems  to  be  a 
 summons  to  llie  nations  to  gather  together  and  join  the  king  of  Babylon 
 
 against  Jerusalem. — Gill.  Against  J  erui,alem,  'concerning  Jerusalem  * 
 — Boothr.       Watchers,    'besiegers.'  —  So  Bla.,  Clarke,  &c.  17.^4* 
 
 keepers  in  afield,  guards  are  planted  round  the  unenclosed  grounds  in 
 Arabia,  to  protect  the  crops  when  they  are  getting  ripe. — Sir  J.  Chardin. 
 18.  This  is  thy  wickedness,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Such  is  thy  calamity  ;  for  it  is  bitterness  ; 
 Yea,  it  is  a  plague  even  unto  thy  heart.* — Boothr, 
 
 20.  My  tents,  i.  e.,  the  cities  and  houses ;  in  allusion  to  the  ancient  way 
 of  dwelling  in  tents,  (comp.  chap.  x.  20 ;  Isa.  xxxiii.  20  ;  liv.  2.)— Preb. 
 Lowth.  23.  /   beheld   the  earth,    §■<?, — an    interesting   picture  of  a 
 
 ruined  country.  The  earth  is  brought  back,  as  it  were,  to  its  primitive 
 state  of  chaos  and  confusion. — Boothr.  27.  Not  make  a  full  end, 
 still   reserve   a  remnant.  30.  Though    thou   clothest   thyself  with 
 
 crimson,  ^-c. — this  is  a  minute  description  of  an  eastern  courtesan.  In 
 these  allusions  we  see  the  loathsome  and  hateful  state  of  Jerusalem. 
 — Rob.  Though  thou  rentest,  ^c.,  'though  thou  distend  thine  eyes 
 with  paint.'— Boo/Aj*.  Stibium,  a  sort  of  black  paint,  being  laid  upon 
 the  eyelids  with  a  pencil,  tended  to  contract  the  eyelids  and  enlarge 
 the  white  part  of  the  eyes.  The  word  '  lo  rend'  is  used,  and  may  denote 
 the  use  oi  this  process  to  excess,  so  as  it  were  to  tear  open  the  eyes  by 
 way  of  en  larging  them. — So  Blu.  None  of  these  things  would  now  doj 
 even  tliu  n  aiions  which  had  seduced  her  to  idolatry  would  despise  her, 
 —Scott. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.   IV.  —  This  chapter  consists  of,  neither   to    ha   allured  nor  terrified  from  their  wickedness. 
 
 ].  Invitations  to  repent  and  turn  to  God,  so  that  iniquity  might  Alas  !  how  many  are  there,  like  them,  alike  hardened  against 
 
 not  end  in  ruin.  the  churmmp;  invitations  of  the  gospel  and  the  threatenings  of 
 
 JI.    Warninf/s  of  the  awful  destruction  which  would  follow  the  law  ,  till,  as  they  are  at  length  set  up  as  beacons  to  others, 
 
 a  course  of  impenitence.  we  are  left  to  lament  over  that  depravity  which  has  been  their 
 
 HI.    Lamentations   over   the    infatuated    sinners    who    were  destruction! 
 787 
 
The  judgments  of  God 
 
 JEREMIAH,  V. 
 
 upon  the  Jews. 
 
 cir.  612. 
 
 «  Eie.22.3i) 
 b  Ge<i.  18.23, 
 &c.  Ps.12- 1. 
 cGen.  18.26 
 d  Tit.  I.  16 
 e  cb.  4.  2. 
 /ch.  7.  9. 
 5  2Chr.l6  9 
 
 It  l9-  1 .  5.  & 
 9.  13.  ch.  2. 
 30. 
 
 i  cli.  7.  29. 
 Zepli.  3.  2. 
 
 seek  in  the  broad  places  thereof,  "  if  ye  can 
 find  a  man,  ''  if  there  be  ani/  that  executeth 
 judgment,  that  seelieth  the  truth  ;  '  and  I  will 
 pardon  it. 
 ■2  And  •'  though  they  say,  'The  Lokd  liveth  ; 
 surely  they  '  swear  falsely. 
 
 3  O  Lord,  are  not  ^  thine  eyes  upon  the 
 truth?  thou  hast  "stricken  them,  but  they 
 have  not  grieved  ;  thou  hast  consumed  them, 
 but  '  they  have  refused  to  receive  correction  : 
 they  have  made  their  faces  harder  than  a  rock  ; 
 they  have  refused  to  return. 
 
 4  Therefore  I  said.  Surely  these  are  poor  ; 
 they  are  foolish  :  for  '  tliey  know  not  the  way 
 of  the  Lord,  nor  tlie  judgment  of  their  God. 
 
 5  I  niU  get  me  unto  the  great  men,  and  will 
 speak  unto  them  ;  for  '  they  have  known  the 
 way  of  the  Lord,  and  tlie  judgment  of  their 
 God  :  but  tliese  have  altogether  "  broken  the 
 yoke,  and  burst  the  bonds. 
 
 6  Wherefore  "  a  lion  out  of  the  forest  shall 
 slay  them,  "  and  a  wolf  of  the  ||  evenings  shall 
 spoil  them,  'a  leopard  shall  watch  over  their 
 cities  :  every  one  that  gueth  out  thence  shall  be 
 torn  in  pieces  :  because  their  transgressions  are 
 many,  and  their  backslidings  f  are  increased. 
 
 7  t  How  shall  I  pardon  tliee  for  this?  thy 
 children  have  forsaken  me,  and  ''  sworn  by 
 them  'that  are  no  gods:  "when  I  had  fed 
 them  to  the  full,  they  then  committed  adultery, 
 and  assembled  themselves  by  troops  in  the 
 liarlots'  houses. 
 
 8  '  They  were  as  fed  horses  in  the  morning: 
 every  one  "  neighed  after  his  ni'ighbo\n-'s  wife. 
 
 9  "  Shall  I  not  visit  for  these  things  ?  saith 
 the  Lord  :  "  and  shall  not  my  soul  be  avenged 
 on  such  a  nation  as  this  ? 
 
 10  H  '  Go  ye  up  upon  her  walls,  and  destroy  ; 
 '  but  make  not  a  full  end  :  take  away  her  bat- 
 tlements ;  for  they  are  not  the  Lord's. 
 
 1 1  For  "  the  house  of  Israel  and  the  house  of 
 Judah  have  dealt  very  treacherously  against 
 me,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 12  '  They  have  belied  the  Lord,  and  said 
 ^  It  is  not  he;  neither  shall  evil  come   upon  dfs.js.'is. 
 us  ;  °  neitlier  shall  we  see  sword  nor  famine  :     ">■■  '♦■  ''■ 
 
 13  And  the  propliets  shall  become  wind,  and 
 the  word  is  not  in  them  :  thus  shall  it  be  done 
 unto  them. 
 
 14  Wherefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of 
 hosts.  Because  ye  speak  this  word,  '  behold,  I 
 will  make  my  words  in  thy  mouth  fire,  and  this 
 
 1  ch.  4  7. 
 
 0  i's-  int.  20. 
 
 Hab.  1    8. 
 
 Zfpb.  3.  .H. 
 I  Or,  d  ifTtf. 
 f  Hos.  13.  7. 
 
 t  Heb   nn 
 
 7  Josh.  23  7. 
 Zepb.  1.  5. 
 Deu.  32.21. 
 Gal.  4.  9. 
 Deu.  32.15. 
 
 /  Eic.  22.  11. 
 ..  cb.  13,  27, 
 
 jch.  41.  22. 
 
 /ch.  1. 
 
 r  Doa,  :s,4y. 
 
 Is   S,  26. 
 
 ch,  1.  la.  & 
 
 6,  22. 
 h  I»,  39   3. 
 
 cb,  4.  16. 
 
 Lev,  26.16. 
 Deu.2S  31, 
 
 (  Deu.  29,2.1, 
 
 0  Is.  6,  9, 
 FieV.  12  2 
 Mftt.  13  14 
 John  12.40 
 Acts  2!*  26, 
 Botn.  11.8. 
 
 t  Heb.Awr/, 
 Hos.  7.  M. 
 
 |.  Kev,  15.4. 
 
 9  Job  26-  10. 
 &:j8.  10,  11, 
 P«.  104.  9. 
 Pro,  9.  29, 
 
 ■  Pa.  147.  8. 
 
 ch.  14.  22. 
 
 MKt.  5   45 
 
 Acts  14,  17. 
 I  neu.ll.  14. 
 
 Joel  2.  S3. 
 
 I  Gen,  8,  22. 
 
 ch.  S.  3. 
 
 II  Of,  tA'v 
 fry  at  /uirt- 
 
 ttl  lit  in 
 
 wait. 
 xPro.  1.  11, 
 
 17,  19, 
 
 Hab.  1  15, 
 II  Or,  fpop. 
 J  Dcu.a2.15, 
 
 people  wood,  and  it  shall  devour  them. 
 
 15  Lo,  I  wiU  bring  a  ^  nation  upon  you  "  from 
 far,  O  house  of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  :  it  is  a 
 mighty  nation,  it  is  an  ancient  nation,  a  nation 
 whose  language  thou  knowest  not,  neither  un- 
 derstandest  what  they  say. 
 
 16  Their  quiver  is  as  an  open  sepulchre,  they 
 are  all  mighty  men. 
 
 17  And  they  shall  eat  up  thine  '  harvest,  and 
 thy  bread,  which  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters 
 sliould  eat :  they  shall  eat  up  thy  flocks  and 
 tliine  herds  :  they  shall  eat  up  thy  vines  and 
 thy  fig  trees  :  they  shall  impoverish  thy  fenced 
 cities,  wherein  thou  trustedst,  with  the  sword. 
 
 18  Nevertheless  in  those  days,  saith  the 
 Lord,  I  '  will  not  make  a  full  end  with  you. 
 
 19  K  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  ye  shall 
 say,  '  Wherefore  doeth  the  Lord  our  God  all 
 these  things  unto  us?  then  shall  thou  answer 
 them.  Like  as  ye  have  "'  forsaken  me,  and 
 served  strange  gods  in  your  land,  so  "  shall  ye 
 serve  strangers  in  a  land  that  is  not  your's. 
 
 20  Declare  this  in  the  house  of  Jacob,  and 
 publish  it  in  Judah,  saying, 
 
 21  Hear  now  this,  O  °  foolish  people,  and  with- 
 out t  understanding  ;  which  have  eyes,  and  see 
 not ;  which  have  ears,  and  hear  not : 
 
 22  ■'  Fear  ye  not  me  ?  saith  the  Lord  :  will  ye 
 not  tremble  at  my  presence,  which  have  placed 
 the  sand  for  the  ^  bound  of  the  sea  by  a  per- 
 petual decree,  that  it  cannot  pass  it :  and 
 though  the  waves  thereof  toss  themselves,  yet 
 can  they  not  prevail ;  though  they  roar,  yet  can 
 they  not  pass  over  it  ? 
 
 23  But  this  people  hath  a  revolting  and  a  re- 
 bellious heart ;  they  are  revolted  and  gone. 
 
 24  Neither  say  they  in  their  heart.  Let  us 
 now  fear  the  Lord  our  God,  '  that  givetli  rain, 
 both  the  '  former  and  the  latter,  in  his  season  : 
 '  he  reserveth  unto  us  the  appointed  weeks  of 
 the  harvest. 
 
 2a  f  "  Your  iniquities  have  turned  away  these 
 things,  and  your  sins  have  withholden  good 
 things  from  you. 
 
 26  For  among  my  people  are  found  wicked 
 7nen :  ||  they  "  lay  wait,  as  he  that  setteth 
 snares  ;  they  set  a  trap,  they  catch  men. 
 
 27  As  a  Ij  cage  is  full  of  birds,  so  arc  their 
 houses  full  of  deceit :  therefore  they  are  be- 
 come great,  and  waxen  rich. 
 
 28  They  are  waxen  '  fat,  they  shine  :  yea, 
 they  overpass  the  deeds  of  the  wicked  :  they 
 
 Chap.  V.—  1 .  Broad  places,  market  places,  and  other  spacious  areas, 
 where  the  citizens  met  for  business.— B^a.  A  man,  i.  e.,  but  one 
 righteous  man. — Puule. 
 
 '  If  ye  can  find  a  man  !  if  one  that  doeth  justice.'— Bt^oMr. 
 2.  Though  they  sot/,  ^c,  the  common  form  of  tlieir  oath,  but  it  was 
 used  only  to  defraud. — Wv^aji.  These  words  in  every  one's  mouth 
 were  but  words,  not  sentiments.- Sr/(.  Swearing  is  here  put  for  a  part 
 of  God's  worship,  and  may  signify  his  entire  service. — Poole.  3.  .-ire 
 not  thine  ei/es ?  ^r.,  i.e..  God  both  scelh  and  discerneth  the  truth. — 
 Bla.  4.' Poor,  of  the  meanest  rank  among  the  vulgar,  who  under, 
 stand  but  little.— Poo(e.  Only  among  the  ignorant  vulgar  could  such 
 unconcernedness  appear. — Prefi.  Lowth.  The  prophet  had  hoped,  that 
 profaneness  and  wickedness  existed  among  many  for  want  of  being 
 better  instructed.— Scoi/.  5.  These  have  altogether  broken  the  yoke, 
 4-c.,  bid  open  defiance  lo  God,  like  headstrong  o.xen  they  refuse  to  be 
 brought  under  the  yoke,  and  burst  e%'ery  bond  of  restraint. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  6.  A  lifin—uolf— leopard— IhQ  king  of  Babylon  and  his  army 
 spoken  of  as  wild  beasts. — llltt.  7.  How  shall  I  pardon?  '  not  for 
 
 this  will  I  pardon.' — R.  Menachem  in  Jurchi.  In  the  harlots'  houses, 
 in  places  consecrated  to  idolatry. — .1.  Clarke.  It  should  here  be  under- 
 stood literally. —  Wil.  8.  Fed  horses, '  pampered  stallions.'  e»j^i'Ma'«'f> 
 Sept.  9.  Mr/  soul  be  avengrd,  meaning  the  execution  of  his  justice, 
 the  efiFects  of  which  are  as  terrible  against  obstinate  sinners  as  if  they 
 proceeded  from  the  highest  resentment.— Prei.  Lowth.  10.  ««  ,ve 
 up,  S-c. — 
 
 788 
 
 '  Go  ye  up  against  her  wild  vine  and  destroy, 
 But  make  ye  not  a  full  end  ; 
 Remove  her  branches,  because  Ihey  belong  not  to  Jehovah.* 
 
 niil?"tD3,  properly  rendered  'branches,'  (Isa.  7i\m.)  — Boothr.  The 
 metaphor  is  probably  from  a  tree.  '  Destroy  the  branches,  cut  down 
 the  stem,  but  do  not  damage  the  root.'— vl.  Clarke.  By  her  branches 
 may  be  undfrstond  the  lesser  cities  of  Judah. — Bla.  Not  the  Lord'.-i, 
 he  will  not  guard  nor  protect  them.— (>iV;.  12.  It  is  not  fie,  i.  e.,  these 
 words  of  the  prophet  arc  not  God's  words.— Poo^e.  13.  The  prophets 
 shall  become  wind,  i.e.,  theur  prophecies  shall  vanish  into  air. — Gill. 
 Done  unto  them,  their  prophecies  sh^ll  return  upon  their  own  heads. ^ 
 Preb.  L'jivth.  15.  I  ivill  bring  a  nution,  as  threatened,  in  case  of  dis- 
 obedience, by  Moses,  COent.  x-xviii.  49. ; — Bla.  Fro77i /«»•— Babylon  is 
 called  a  far  country,  I^a.  xx.\ix.  3;  to  in  comparison  with  bordering 
 nations.— Prefi.  Lowth.  House  of  Israel,  the  ten  tribes  were  now  in 
 captivity,  but  Judah  is  so  called,  having  sprung  from  Jacob,  and  being 
 chief  of  the  stock.  An  ancient  n«/(on— Babylon  was  luunded  by  Nim- 
 rod,  about  l/O  years  after  the  flood,  and  hence  called  'the  land  of 
 Nimrod,'  (Mic.  v.  6.)~Poole.  Whose  language  thou  kitowest  not — ste 
 2  Kings,  xviii.  26;  Isa.  xxxvi.  11.  l6.  Their  quiver,  Sfc,  scatters 
 
 carnage  all  around,  insatiable  as  the  grave.— Cu/.  18.  Not  make  a 
 
 full  end,  he  had  other  evils  in  reserve,  and  particularly  a  long  capti- 
 vity.—Gi//.  27.  As  a  cage  is  full  of  birds,  ^c— here  is  a  reference  to 
 a  decoy  or  trap  cage,  in  which  fowlers  place  several  tame  birds,  to  de- 
 criv  the  others  into  the  snare  prepared  for  them. — Bla. 
 
Enemies  sent  against  Judah  for  her  sins.  JEREMIAH,  VI. 
 
 The  prophet's  lament  for  Judah. 
 
 judge  not  ^  the  cause,  the  cause  of  the  father- 
 less, '  yet  they  prosper,  and  the  right  of  the 
 needy  do  they  not  judge. 
 
 29  ''Shall  I  not  visit  for  these  </jin9s  ?  saith 
 the  Lord  :  shall  not  my  soul  be  avenged  on 
 such  a  nation  as  this? 
 
 30  H  II  A  wonderful  and  '  horrible  thing  is 
 committed  in  the  land  ; 
 
 31  The  prophets  prophesy  "^  falsely,  and  the 
 priests  ||  bear  rule  by  their  means ;  and  my 
 people  '  love  to  have  it  so  :  and  what  will  ye 
 do  in  the  end  thereof? 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  The  enemies  sent  against  Judah  4  encourage  them- 
 selves. 6  God  setteth  them  on  xoork  because  o/"  their 
 sins.  9  The  prophet  lamenteth  thejudijments  of  God 
 because  of  their  sins.  18  He  proclaimeth  God's 
 wrath.  26  He  calleth  the  people  to  mourn  for  the 
 judgment  on  their  si7is. 
 
 f~\  YE  children  of  Benjamin,  gather  your- 
 ^-^  selves  to  flee  out  of  the  midst  of  Jeru- 
 salem, and  blow  the  trumpet  in  Tekoa,  andset 
 up  a  sign  of  fire  in  ^  Beth-haccerem  :  ^'for  evil 
 appeareth  out  of  the  north,  and  great  destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 2  I  have  likened  the  daughter  of  Zion  to  a 
 ]|  comely  and  delicate  woman. 
 
 S  The  shepherds  with  their  flocks  shall  come 
 unto  her  ;  '^  they  shall  pitch  (heir  tents  against 
 lier  round  about;  they  shall  feed  every  one  in 
 bis  place. 
 
 4  "^  Prepare  ye  war  against  her  ;  arise,  and 
 let  us  go  up  ^  at  noon.  Woe  unto  us  !  for  the 
 day  goeth  away,  for  the  shadows  of  the  evening 
 are  stretched  out. 
 
 5  Arise,  and  let  us  go  by  night,  and  let  us 
 destroy  her  palaces. 
 
 6  H  For  thus  hath  the  Lord  of  hosts  said, 
 Hew  ye  down  trees, and  ||  cast  amount  against 
 Jerusalem  :  tliis  is  the  city  to  be  visited  ;  she 
 is  wholly  oppression  in  the  midst  of  her. 
 
 7  ^  As  a  fountain  casteth  out  her  waters,  so 
 she  casteth  out  her  wickedness  :  ^violence  and 
 spoil  is  heard  in  her  ;  before  me  continually  is 
 grief  and  wounds. 
 
 8  Be  thou  instructed,  O  Jernsalem,  lest  ^  my 
 soul  t  depart  from  thee  ;  lest  I  make  thee  de- 
 
 :  la.  I, 
 
 Zecli 
 a  Job  12.  6. 
 
 Ps,  73.  15. 
 
 ch,   12.  I. 
 6  ver.  9. 
 
 Mai.  3.  5. 
 
 n  Or,  .itto- 
 
 niMhment 
 
 andjillhi- 
 
 neu. 
 c  ch,  23.  U. 
 
 Ho9.  6.  10. 
 d  ch. M-  ]4 
 
 &  -iS  2.5,  26. 
 
 Eiek.  13.  6. 
 H  Or,  Ink? 
 
 iiilo  (heir 
 
 handt. 
 e  Mic.  2.  n. 
 
 I  Neb.  3.  1-] 
 icb  I.  14. 
 &  +.  6. 
 
 II  Or,  riiBfll. 
 jiiff  at  home. 
 
 d  ch,  51.  27. 
 
 Jnel  3.  9. 
 ech.  15.  S. 
 
 Or.  pnuT 
 out  the  eii- 
 Siueofshol. 
 
 /I8    67.20. 
 jPs-55.fM0, 
 
 II.  ch.2(l.8. 
 
 Ezek.7.   II, 
 
 2.i. 
 h  Eie.  2.1.19. 
 
 Hoa.  9.  12. 
 t  Heb.  be 
 
 looted,  or, 
 
 diijointed. 
 
 i  ch.  7.  26. 
 Acts  7.  61. 
 See  Ex.  6. 
 
 •  Is.  56.  II. 
 
 ch.  S.  10.  & 
 
 H.  18.  &  2.S. 
 
 II.  Mic.  3. 
 
 5.  II. 
 ^.  ch.  8.  II. 
 
 Eze.  13.  to. 
 +  Heh.bruUe, 
 
 or,  brftich. 
 
 q  ch.4.  10 
 Sc   14.  13.  & 
 23.  17. 
 
 rch.  3.  3.  & 
 8.  12. 
 
 Is.  8.  SO. 
 ch.  18.  15. 
 Mai.  ♦.  4. 
 Luke  ld.29, 
 (Mat.  11.29. 
 
 >  Is  21.  II. 
 &  59.  1.  ch. 
 
 Ezek.3,  17. 
 Hab.  2.  1. 
 
 ■  Is.  1.2. 
 Pro.  1.31. 
 
 solate,  a  land  not  inhabited. 
 
 9  1|  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  Tliey  shall 
 throughly  glean  the  remnant  of  Israel  as  a 
 vine  :  turn  back  thine  hand  as  a  grapegatherer 
 into  the  baskets. 
 
 10  To  whom  shall  I  speak,  and  give  warning, 
 that  they  may  hear?  behold,  their  *  ear  is  un- 
 circumcised,  and  they  cannot  hearken  :  be- 
 hold, ^  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  unto  them  a  re- 
 proach ;  they  have  no  delight  in  it. 
 
 U  Tlierefore  I  am  full  of  the  fury  of  the 
 Lord  ;  '  I  am  weary  with  holding  in  :  I  will 
 pour  it  out  "'upon  the  children  abroad,  and 
 upon  theassembly  of  young  men  together:  for 
 even  the  husband  with  the  wife  shall  be  taken, 
 the  aged  with  ftim  that  is  full  of  days. 
 
 12  And  "their  houses  shall  be  turned  unto 
 others,  tcith  their  fields  and  wives  together  : 
 for  I  will  stretch  out  my  hand  upon  the  inha- 
 bitants of  the  land,  saith  the  Lord, 
 
 13  For  from  the  least  of  them  even  unto  the 
 greatest  of  them  every  one  is  given  to  °  covet- 
 ousness  ;  and  from  the  prophet  even  unto  the 
 priest  everyone  dealeth  falsely. 
 
 14  They  have  ''healed  also  the  f  hurt  of  the 
 daughter  of  my  people  slightly,  '^  saying. 
 Peace,  peace  ;  when  there  is  no  peace. 
 
 15  Were  they  ""  ashamed  when  they  had  conv 
 mitted  abomination?  nay,  they  were  not  at  all 
 ashamed,  neitlier  could  they  blush:  therefore 
 they  shall  fall  among  them  that  fall :  at  the  time 
 that  I  visit  them  they  shall  be  cast  down, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 16  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Stand  ye  in  the 
 ways,  and  see,  and  ask  for  the  *  old  paths, 
 where  is  the  good  way,  and  walk  therein,  and 
 ye  shall  find  'rest  for  your  souls.  But  they 
 said.  We  will  not  walk  therein. 
 
 17  Also  I  set  "watchmen  over  you,  saying. 
 Hearken  to  the  sound  of  the  trumpet.  But 
 they  said,  We  will  not  hearken. 
 
 18  If  Therefore  hear,  ye  nations,  and  know,  O 
 congregation,  what  is  among  them. 
 
 19  ^  Hear,  O  earth  :  behold,  I  will  bring  evil 
 upon  tins  people,  even  ^  tlie  fruit  of  their 
 thoughts,  because  they  have  not  hearkened 
 unto  my  words,  nor  to  my  law,  but  reiected 
 it. 
 
 31.  The  prophets,  the  pretended  prophets. — Wells. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  1.  Children  of  Benjamin — Jerusalem  was  in  the  lot  of 
 Benjamin,  ^Josh.  xviii.  28.)  Tekon,  a  little  town  about  12  miles  from 
 Jerusalem. — Bla.  A  sign  of  fire,  kindle  a  fire  to  give  nntice  of  the  ap- 
 proaching enemy,  the  next  named  village  beint:  on  an  eminence. — 
 Clarke.  Beth-haccerem,  another  little  town,  nearer,  mentioned  Neh. 
 iii.  \b.~Blu.,  Preb.  Lowth.  2.  /  hare  likened  the  daughter,  i^-c,  *  the 
 habitation,  even  the  delightful  one,  ha.ve  I  doomed  to  destruction,  the 
 daughter  of  Zion.'— 5/a.  '  I  have  likened  the  daughter  of  Zion  to  a 
 pEisture.' — Waterlnnd. 
 
 '  The  resting  place,  even  the  delightful  one, 
 The  daughter  of  Zion,  do  I  purpose  to  destroy.' — Boothr. 
 '  The  fair  and  delicate  one  will  I  destroy,  (even)  the  daughter  of  Zion.' 
 — Gut.,  Wil.  3.  Shepherds,  ^c,  the  Chaldean  generals  and  their 
 armies,  (see  chap.  xxv.  34.) — Preh.  Lowth,  Gill,  Boothr.,  §-e.  4.  Pre- 
 pare, ^c,  this  is  their  commission.  Arise,  this  expresses  their  readi- 
 ness.— Boothr.  At  nooH— in  hot  climates,  this  is  a  time  of  military 
 repose. — Sut.  Though  late  in  the  day  before  receiving  their  orders, 
 they  were  too  impatient  to  wait  for  morning. — Hew.  6.  Hew  ye 
 
 down  trees,  to  form  machines.  And  cast  a  mount,  on  which  to  place 
 the  engines,  and  overlook  the  city. — A.  Clarke.  The  original  word  sig- 
 nifies a  warlike  engine  used  in  sieges  for  casting  stones  and  missiles. 
 
 and  which  was  placed  upon  a  mount  or  eminence. — Sut.    She  is  wholly 
 
 oppression,  not  otily  oppressing,  but  oppression  ;  she  was  thoroughly 
 grown  and  perfect  in  that  sin  ;  and  not  only  oppression,  but  wholly 
 oppression.  All  were  for  violence,  none  for  justice. — Greeuhill.  8.  De- 
 part, '  be  alienated.* — Bla.  g.  Turn  back  thine  hand  as  a  grape- 
 gatherer  into  the  baskets,  'as  a  grape- gatherer  to  the  branches.'— 
 Boothr.,  as  Syr.  God  addresses  the  Chaldeans,  to  return  after  the  first 
 time  and  pick  up  the  remaining  inhabitants,  like  the  grape-gleanings, 
 and  carry  them  into  captivity.  They  did  so,  (see  chap.  Iii.  28—30.)— 
 Bla.  10.  They  cannot  hearken— vrh'ile  men  continue  in  their  condi- 
 tion, they  cannot  give  due  attention  to  what  God  speaks  to  them.^ 
 Preb.  Lowth.  13.  Covetousness,  in  which,  ptjssibly,  all  their  wicked- 
 nesses, as  cruelty,  oppressi'in,  injustice,  ^c.,  may  be  comprised,  it 
 being  the  root  of  all  evil,  ;i  Tim.  vi.  10.)  and  shews  the  justice  "t  God 
 in  wresting  from  them  what  they  had  wrested  from  others,  (Mic  ii.  2.) 
 —Poole.  14.  Healed,  ^c— instead  of  sharp  reproofs,  Ihey  have 
 salved  up  the  spiritual  sores.— £/>.  Hall.  l6.  Stand  ye  in  the  ways, 
 a  metaphor  taken  from  travellers,  that,  being  in  doubt  of  their  way, 
 stand  still,  pause,  and  consider  whether  the  direction  they  have  re- 
 ceived from  some  false  guide  be  right  or  not. — Poole.  Old  paths,  '  an- 
 cient paths.' — Boothr.  Such  as  their  godly  forefathers  of  old  were  wont 
 to  walk  in. — Poole.  I/.  I  hare  set  watchmen,  a  successi"n  of  prophets 
 who  have  sounded  the  alarm  against  the  reigning  vices  of  their  age, 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.    V.  —  This   chapter  shews   us 
 
 I.  The  sins  of  Judah.  What  an  awful  catalogue!  'Injustice 
 and  falsehood,  hypocrisy  and  perjury,  incorrigibleness,  igno- 
 rance, and  profligacy,  treacherous  apostasy,'  bold  infidelity, 
 'violence  and  oppression.'**  How  awfully  hardened  is  the 
 heart  of  man,  that  amidst  abounding  privileges  there  are  to  be 
 789 
 
 found  abounding  sins. 
 
 II.  The  judgments  of  Judah.  Desolation  to  the  country- 
 ruin  to  the  cities — death  and  captivity  to  the  people.  Such 
 are  the  consequences  of  disobedience  to,  and  rebellion  against, 
 God.     '  Who  would  not  fear  thee,  O  thou  king  of  nations?' 
 
The  people  called  upon  to  mourn,  JEREMIAH,  VII 
 
 Their  vain  Confidence  njtcted. 
 
 20  'To  what  purpose  cometh  there  to  ine 
 incense  ^  from  Sheba,  and  tlie  sweet  cane  from 
 a  far  country?  ''your  burnt  oflferings  «re  not 
 acceptable,  nor  your  sacrifices  sweet  unto  me. 
 
 21  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  I 
 will  lay  stamblingbloclis  before  this  people,  and 
 the  fathers  and  the  sons  together  shall  fall 
 upon  them  ;  the  neighbour  and  his  friend  shall 
 perish. 
 
 •2-2  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  a  people 
 cometh  from  the  *^  north  country,  and  a  great 
 nation  shall  be  raised  from  the  sides  of  the 
 earth. 
 
 '23  They  shall  lay  hold  on  bow  and  spear ; 
 they  a/'e  cruel,  and  have  no  mercy  ;  their  voice 
 ''  roareth  like  the  sea  ;  and  they  ride  upou 
 liorse.s,  set  in  array  as  men  for  war  against 
 thee,  O  daughter  of  Zion. 
 
 24  We  have  heard  the  fame  thereof:  our 
 hands  wax  feeble  :  ''anguish  hath  taken  hold 
 of  us,  and  pain,  as  of  a  woman  in  travail. 
 
 25  Go  not  forth  into  the  field,  nor  walk  by 
 the  way  ;  for  the  sword  of  the  enemy  and  fear 
 is  on  every  side. 
 
 26  If  O  daughter  of  my  people,  ^gird  thee 
 with  sackcloth,  ^  and  wallow  thyself  in  ashes: 
 *"  make  thee  mourning,  as  for  an  only  son, 
 most  bitter  lamentation  :  for  the  spoiler  shall 
 suddenly  come  upon  us. 
 
 27  I  have  set  thee /"or  a  iow ex  and  ^  a  fortress 
 among  my  people,  tliat  thou  mayest  know  and 
 try  their  way. 
 
 28  ^  They  flre  all  grievous  revolters,  ^  walking 
 with  slanders  :  they  are  '"  brass  and  iron  ;  they 
 arc  all  corrupters. 
 
 29  The  bellows  are  !)urned,  the  lead  is  con- 
 sumed of  tlie  fire  ;  the  founder  melteth  in  vain  : 
 for  the  wicked  are  not  plucked  away. 
 
 30  "  II  Reprobate  silver  shall  men  call  them, 
 because  the  Loud  hath  rejected  them. 
 
 CHAP.   VII. 
 1  Jeremiah  is  sent  to  call  for  true  repentance^  to  prevent 
 
 I  I'a   40.  li. 
 &  'M.  7,  B,  9. 
 l9     1.   \\    ft 
 G6   :i  .4mo3 
 
 5.  21-  Mic. 
 
 6.  6,  fee. 
 
 a  Is.  60.  0. 
 b  cli.  7-  SI. 
 
 cch.  I.  15. 
 ,«li  5.  I.'t  fli 
 10.2-i  &5l), 
 ■1 1 ,  42,  43, 
 
 icli   4.  SI. 
 &  IS.  21.  8t 
 49.  24-  fc  50, 
 
 fc\\    4.  8. 
 g  cl).  2a.  S4. 
 
 Kite.  I.  la 
 
 /(  Zech.  \-i 
 
 lU. 
 
 \  eh.  1.  18. 
 
 *  ch.  5.  23. 
 /  ih.  9.  4, 
 
 n  Is.  1.  22. 
 il  Or,  Rffute 
 
 ttlvCT. 
 
 b  cii.  IB.  n. 
 
 fc  2*i.  IS. 
 
 r  Deu   G.  M, 
 15.  H  B    10. 
 fc  II.  28. 
 Cli,   13.  10. 
 /l)eu.4.  \0 
 
 h  ver,  4. 
 •  c-li.a.SI. 
 
 fc  14.  LS,  11. 
 k  I  Kill.  IH. 
 
 21.  Hofl.  4. 
 
 I,  2.  Zeph. 
 
 1.5. 
 I  Kx.  ?0.  3. 
 
 vcr.  6. 
 
 Ml  Kiek.  2S. 
 
 »  ver    11,  II, 
 
 30.  ch.  S2. 
 
 »4.  &S4    15. 
 o  Is.  56.  7. 
 fjMat  !>I.I3. 
 
 Mark  11.17. 
 
 Luke  HM6 
 q  Jofill.  Ifl    I. 
 
 Judg  IS  31. 
 r  Deu.  l:i.ll. 
 
 tfie  Jews'  captivity.  8  Ht  rrjecteth  their  vain  confi- 
 dence-, 12  hy  the  exnwnle  of  Sliilnh.  17  He  threaten- 
 eth  them  for  their  idolatry.  21  He  rejecteth  the  sacri- 
 fices of  the  disobedient.  29  He  exhorteth  to  mourn 
 for  their  ahoininations  in  Tophet,  32  and  the  judg- 
 ments for  the  same. 
 
 T^HE  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  the 
 -*-    Lord,  saying, 
 
 2  "  Stand  in  the  gate  of  the  Lobd's  house, 
 and  proclaim  there  this  word,  and  say.  Hear 
 the  word  of  the  Lord,  all  i/e  of  Judah,  that 
 enter  in  at  these  gates  to  worship  the  Lord. 
 
 3  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel,  ''  Amend  your  ways  and  your  doings, 
 and  I  will  cause  you  to  dwell  in  this  place. 
 
 4  ^  Trust  ye  not  in  lying  words,  saying.  The 
 temple  of  the  Lord,  The  temple  of  the  Lord, 
 The  temple  of  the  Lord,  are  these. 
 
 3  For  if  ye  throughly  amend  your  ways  and 
 your  doings ;  if  ye  throughly  **  execute  judg- 
 ment between  a  man  and  his  neiglibour ; 
 
 6  If  ye  oppress  not  the  stranger,  the  father- 
 less, and  the  widow,  and  shed  not  innocent 
 blood  in  this  place,  *  neither  walk  after  other 
 gods  to  your  hurt : 
 
 7  ^  Then  will  I  cause  you  to  dwell  in  this 
 place,  in  ^the  land  that  I  gave  to  your  fathers, 
 for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 8  t  Behold,  ^  ye  trust  in  'lying  words,  that 
 cannot  profit. 
 
 9  ^  Will  ye  steal,  murder,  and  commit  adul- 
 tery, and  swear  falsely,  and  burn  incense  unto 
 Baal,  and  '  walk  after  other  gods  whom  ye 
 know  not ; 
 
 10  ""  And  come  and  stand  before  me  in  this 
 house,  t  °  which  is  called  by  my  name,  and 
 say.  We  are  delivered  to  do  all  these  abomi- 
 nations ? 
 
 11  Is  °  this  hous.e,  which  is  called  by  my 
 name,  become  a  ''den  of  robbers  in  your  eyes? 
 Behold,  even  I  have  seen  it,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 12  But  go  ye  now  unto  ''my  place  which 
 was  in  Shiloh,  ^  where  I  set  my  name  at  the 
 
 (Ezck.  iii.  ]7.)—Sut.  20.  Incense  from  Sheba— Shchs.  formed  part 
 
 of  Arabia  Felix,  and  was  celebrated  for  its  incense  and  perfumes. — Stit. 
 Sweet  cane,  the  calamus  aroinaticus,  a  fragrant  reed  ;  when  powdered, 
 it  was  the  richest  perfume.— S;«.  2I.  Stumhlin^  blocks—God  gives 
 this  name  to  all  the  occasions  of  ruin  wliich  are  afterwards  mentioned. 
 — Poole.  27.  /  have  set  thee  for  a  tower—iiere  God  encourages  the 
 prophet. —Poole,  as  Bp.  Hall.  '  I  have  appointed  thee  to  make  an  assay 
 among  my  people.'  The  words  refer  to  the  office  of  an  assayer  of  silver 
 and  gold. — So  Bla.  28.  Brass  and  inm,  the  baser  metals  used  to 
 adulterate  the  pure  silver.— H/h.  Their  imjmdenre  resembles  brass, 
 and  their  obstinacy,  iron.— Grotius.  29.  The  bellows  are  darned,  fyc. 
 — the  nozzle  of  the  bellows  is  even  melted  with  the  intensity  of  the  fire 
 used  to  cfFect  a  refinement. — A.  Clarke.  All  the  means  that  can  be 
 used  to  purge  this  people  of  their  dross,  prove  ineffectual.— /*/■(■/•.  Lowth. 
 The  lead  is  consumed,  '  the  lead  is  entirely  spent.' — Bla.  Tlie  lead  couM 
 not  be  said  to  be  consumed,  it  subsides  by  its  superior  gravity ;  but  if 
 lead  was  used,  the  resources  might  be  exhausted,  as  all  arguments  had 
 fuiled  in  reforming  Jerusalem. — Sut.  Before  the  use  of  quicksilver  was 
 known,  lead  was  used  to  refine  metals.— Pre*.  Lowth,  Bla.,  as  Plint/. 
 As  the  Hebrews  had  no  word  for  (iiiicksilver,  but  use  mcy,  *  ijierefh,* 
 both  for  lead  and  quicksilver,  wluch  their  merchants  brought  from 
 Spain,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  12,)  there  can  he  no  doubt  that  quicksilver  is  un- 
 
 derstood ;  and  as  quicksilver  readily  combines  with  silver,  and  is  eva- 
 porated in  the  fire,  it  is  correct  to  say  that  the  lead,  that  is.  the  quick- 
 silver, is  consumed  in  the  fire. — Sut.  For  the  u-icked,  fyc,  '  for  the 
 base  alloys  are  not  separated.' — Booihr.  30.  Reprobate  silver,  Sfc,  us 
 base  money  is  rejected  by  men,  so  shall  these  be  by  God. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 Chap-  VII.  ~  1.  The  word  that  caf/ie- this  is  a  new  prophecy,  conti- 
 nued  to  the  end  of  chap.  \.~Bla,  4.  Trust  ye  not  in  lying  wards, 
 
 'trust  notin  yourselves  in  lying  words,'  (see  Luke,  xviii.  9.)  The  temple 
 of  the  Lord,  are  these,  i.  e.,  the  people  that  hypocritically  worshipped 
 there,  as  the  false  prophets  told  them.— Gill.  We  cannot  but  do  well, 
 for  we  have  the  temple  of  the  Lord  among  us. — Henri/,  The  threefold 
 repetition  seems  only  to  mark  the  rash  and  presumptuous  confidence 
 of  those  who  used  the  v^ords.— Scott.  10.  And  say.  We  are  delivered, 
 i^c.,  will  ye  interpret  past  deliverances  as  licences  to  commit  new  abo- 
 minations  ? — Preb.  Lowth ;  or,  after  having  appeared  before  God,  would 
 they  conclude  that  they  were  privileged  to  return  to  all  their  wicked- 
 nesses again  i  11.  Become  a  den  of  robbers,  SfC. — do  you  look  upon 
 it  as  a  sanctuary  and  refuge  for  robbers  and  murderers? — a  metaphor 
 taken  from  mischievous  persons  hiding  in  caves. — Poole.  Josephua 
 mentions  a  numerous  gang  of  banditti  in  Herod's  time,  who  took  re- 
 fuge in  almost  iuaccessiblc  caves. — Antig.,  lib-  xiv.,  cap.  15  ;  and  Bell. 
 Jud.,  lib.  j.,  cap.  16.         12.  Which  ivas  in  Shiluh,  §-c.— here  the  aik  was 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  Behold  here,  1.  Adaionition. 
 *Be  thou  instructed,  O  Jerusalem.'  'Stand  ye  in  the  ways 
 and  see.'  •  Hearken  to  the  sound  of  the  trumpet. '  God  sus- 
 pends his  blow  ;  will  no  providence  teach  sinners  an  instruc- 
 tive lesson!  Let  back.shders  slop,  pause,  inquire — Are 
 theirs  '  the  ways  the  holy  prophets  went  V  the  patlis  of  peace  ? 
 Let  them  hearken  while  the  trumpet  sounds  ;  take  the  alarm 
 of  the  Gospel,  and  '  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.'  Behold 
 here — 
 
 n.  Hardness  of  heart.  'Their  ear  is  uncircumcised,  that 
 they  cannot  hearken  ;*  they  love  sin  in  preference  to  holiness. 
 '  The  Word  of  the  Lord  is  to  (hem  a  repionrh,  the  suhject  of 
 their  scorn  and  derision.'  Lven  tlie  prophets  lull  the  heart 
 in  its  stupidity.  •  erying.  Peace,  peace,  where  there  is  no 
 peace.'  Sin  is  sweet  to  sinners.  'I'ho  Gospel  of  God's  mercy 
 700 
 
 is  slighted  and  despised  by  them.  The  minister  that  soothes 
 their  consciences  while  living  '  without  God  in  the  world,' 
 and  '  without  Christ,'  is  the  prophet  whom  they  w  ill  choose. 
 They  like  to  be  deceived.  Of  the  good  old  ways  oi  holiness 
 they  say,  *  we  will  not  walk  therein  ;'  and  of  the  trumpet  that 
 blows  not  an  uncertain  sound,  '  we  will  not  hearken,'  What 
 then  follows  *     Behold  here — 
 
 IIL  Ruin.  They  that  destroy  themselves  are  destroyed  ; 
 they  are  given  up  to  the  enemy.  They  perish  in  the  midst  of 
 that  world  which  they  have  loved,  and  are  dragged  to  destruc- 
 tion by  those  whose  ways  they  have  cliosen.  The  reprobate 
 metal  is  at  length  cast  away.  Let  us  pray,  '  from  all  hardness 
 of  heart,  and  contempt  of  thy  word  and  commandment,  Good 
 Lord,  deliver  us.' 
 
The  sncrijices  of  the  disobedient  rejected.         JEREMIAH,  VII. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  iuonrnfor  si:i. 
 
 first,  and  see  'what  I  did  to  it  for  the  wicked- 
 ness of  my  people  Israel. 
 
 13  And  now,  because  ye  have  done  all  these 
 works,  saitli  the  Loud,  and  I  spake  unto  you, 
 'rising  up  early  and  speaking,  but  ye  heard 
 not ;  and  I  "  called  you,  but  ye  answered  not ; 
 
 14  Therefore  will  I  do  unto  this  house,  which 
 is  called  by  my  name,  wherein  ye  trust,  and 
 unto  the  place  which  I  gave  to  you  and  to 
 your  fathers,  as  I  have  done  to  '^  Shiloh. 
 
 15  And  I  will  cast  you  out  of  my  sight,  ^as  I 
 have  cast  out  all  your  brethren,  ^  even  the 
 whole  seed  of  Ephraim. 
 
 16  Therefore  ^pray  not  thou  for  this  people, 
 neither  lift  up  cry  nor  prayer  for  them,  neither 
 make  intercession  to  me  :  ^for  1  will  not  hear 
 thee. 
 
 17  II  Seest  thou  not  what  they  do  in  the  cities 
 of  Judah  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem? 
 
 18  ''Thechildrengatherwood,  and  the  fathers 
 kindle  the  fire,  and  the  women  knead  their 
 dough,  to  make  cakes  to  the  |(  queen  of  heaven, 
 and  to  '^  pour  out  drink  offerings  unto  other 
 gods,  that  they  may  provoke  me  to  anger. 
 
 19  *  Do  they  provoke  me  to  anger?  saith  the 
 Lord  :  do  they  wot  provoke  themselves  to  the 
 confusion  of  their  own  faces  ? 
 
 20  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 hold, mine  anger  and  my  fury  shall  be  poured 
 out  upon  this  place,  upon  man,  and  upon  beast, 
 and  upon  the  trees  of  the  field,  and  upon  the 
 fruit  of  the  ground  ;  and  it  shall  burn,  and  shall 
 not  be  quenched. 
 
 2!  If  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
 of  Israel ;  *"  Put  your  burnt  offerings  unto  your 
 sacrifices,  and  eat  flesh. 
 
 22  ^  For  I  spake  not  unto  your  fathers,  nor 
 commanded  them  in  the  day  tliat  I  brought 
 them  out  of  the  laud  of  Egypt,  f  concerning 
 burnt  offerings  or  sacrifices  : 
 
 2.3  But  this  thing  commanded  I  them,  saying, 
 •"Obey  my  voice,  and  '  I  will  be  your  God,  and 
 ye  shall  be  my  people  :  and  walk  ye  in  all  the 
 ways  that  I  have  commanded  you,  that  it  may 
 be  well  unto  you. 
 
 24  ''  But  they  hearkened  not,    nor  inclined 
 
 «  I  S.-iin.-l. 
 ill,  II.  pB. 
 
 79.  tiO,  ch. 
 U'li.  fi. 
 /  3Clir.  m 
 15    ver    2b. 
 ch,  U-  7. 
 
 X  I  Sam.  4. 
 
 10,  n.  Ps, 
 
 78   60.  cli. 
 26.  G. 
 I)  'i  Kin    17- 
 
 :  Ps.  78.  67, 
 
 li?. 
 .«  Ex.  32.  lit 
 
 Or,  frantc^ 
 or.  wurk- 
 
 d  ch,  19.  13. 
 Deu.32.lC, 
 
 /la    T.  n. 
 ch.  6.  -iv. 
 .J.mosS.  21 
 See  Hos.  8. 
 
 13. 
 S  1  Sam.  15 
 
 21    Ps    51, 
 
 Ifi,  17. 
 
 Hos.  6.  6. 
 II  Heti.  ctifi- 
 
 cFT'ti'i^  the 
 
 '"-"-'  '/ 
 U  Ex.  \'i.  L'6. 
 
 D.?.i.  C    3. 
 
 ch     II.  I,? 
 i  Ex    19.  5. 
 
 Lev.  26.  1 2 
 
 APs.  81.  n. 
 
 Ai.  11.3. 
 
 I  neu.  29.  ly. 
 Ps    SI.  12. 
 
 II  Or,  ttub- 
 
 q  Neh   9,  17 
 29.  ch.  19. 
 
 /ch.  5.  .t.  & 
 3:'.  33. 
 Or, 
 '  slruclion. 
 
 I  ch, 
 r  Joh  I  20. 
 I8,  Ibi.  ch. 
 16.  6.  &  48. 
 37    Mic.  I. 
 
 «  2  Kill.  21. 
 
 4,  7.  a  Chr. 
 
 .S3.  1.  5.  7. 
 
 ch.  23.  II.& 
 
 32.  »1. 
 
 Ezek.7.20. 
 
 »(8.  5,6,&C. 
 
 Dan.  9.  27- 
 ;  2  Kin.  23. 
 
 10.  ch.  19.5, 
 S*  32.  35. 
 
 1  Ps,  106.  3S, 
 0  See  Deut. 
 
 17.  3. 
 t  Heb.  camp 
 
 it  upon  mt/ 
 
 henrt. 
 c  ch.  19.  6. 
 
 d  2  Kin.  S3. 
 
 10  ch. 19.11. 
 
 Kzek.  6.  5. 
 *Deu.2ft.  26. 
 
 Ps.79  2.  ch. 
 
 l>.9ll(lt>.4. 
 
 8c  34.  20. 
 
 /■Is.  2i.  7,8. 
 ch.  16.  9  «£ 
 25.  10.  &33, 
 
 11.  Eze.  26. 
 13,  Hos.  2. 
 II.  Rev.  18, 
 •2H, 
 
 -/Lev. 26. 33, 
 Is,  1.7.  8t 
 3.  26. 
 
 their  ear,  but   'walked  in  the  counsels  and  m 
 
 the  II  imagination  of  their  evil  lieart,  and 
 t"*went  backward,  and  not  forward. 
 
 25  Since  the  day  that  your  fathers  came 
 forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  unto  this  day  I 
 have  even  "sent  unto  you  all  my  servants  the 
 prophets,  °  daily  rising  up  early  and  sending 
 thern  : 
 
 26  P  Yet  they  hearkened  not  unto  me,  nor 
 inclined  their  ear,  but  "^  hardened  their  neck ; 
 'they  did  worse  than  their  fathers. 
 
 27  Therefore  ^  thou  shalt  speak  all  these 
 words  unto  them  ;  but  they  will  not  hearken 
 to  thee  :  thou  shalt  also  call  unto  them  ;  but 
 they  will  not  answer  thee. 
 
 28  But  thou  shalt  say  unto  them.  This  is  a 
 nation  that  obeyeth  not  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
 their  God,  *nor  receiveth  ||  correction  :  "  truth 
 is  perished,  and  is  cut  off  from  their  mouth. 
 
 29  t  "  Cut  off  thine  hair,  O  Jerusalem^  and 
 cast  it  away,  and  take  up  a  lamentation  on 
 high  places  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  rejected  and 
 forsaken  the  generation  of  his  wrath. 
 
 30  For  the  children  of  Judah  have  done  evil 
 in  my  sight,  saith  the  Lord:  ^they  have  set 
 their  abominations  in  the  house  which  is  called 
 by  my  name,  to  pollute  it. 
 
 31  And  they  have  built  the  ^  high  places  of 
 Tophet,  which  is  in  the  valley  of  the  son  of 
 Hinnom,  to  ^  burn  their  sons  and  their  daugh- 
 ters in  the  fire;  ''which  I  commanded  them 
 not,  neither  fcame  it  into  my  heart. 
 
 32  1[  Therefore,  behold,  *^the  days  come,  saith 
 the  Lord,  that  it  shall  no  more  be  called  To- 
 phet, nor  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom,  but 
 the  valley  of  slaughter  :  "^for  they  shall  bury  in 
 Tophet,  till  there  be  no  place. 
 
 33  And  the  "^  carcases  of  this  people  shall  be 
 meat  for  the  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  for  the 
 beasts  of  the  earth  ;  and  none  shall  fray  them 
 away. 
 
 34  Then  will  I  cause  to  ""cease  from  the  cities 
 of  Judah,  and  from  the  streets  of  Jerusalem, 
 the  voice  of  mirth,  and  the  voice  of  gladness, 
 the  voice  of  the  bridegroom,  and  the  voice  of 
 the  bride  :  for  ^  the  land  shall  be  desolate. 
 
 placed,  from  its  entrance  into  Canaan  iill  the  riays  of  Simuel ;  it  was 
 then  taken  by  the  Philistines,  as  related  in  1  Sam.  iv.  lo,  11  ;  see  al-so 
 Ps.  Ixxviii.  Go — 64  ;  to  this  the  allusion  is  thought  to  be  made. — Bin. 
 13.  Risirtg  vp  early,  a  metaphor  taken  from  persons  diligent  in  business. 
 — Poole.  15.  Seed  of  Ephraim,  ten  tribes,  that  being  the  priucipal 
 tribe.  16.  I  will  not  hear,  the  divine  decree  being,  without  repent- 
 ance, irrevocable,  he  forbids  Jeremiah  to  interpose  by  his  prayers  for 
 the  reversing-  of  it,  (see  chap.  iv._  2S  ;  xiv.  11,  12.)— Prefi.  Lowth. 
 18.  The  queen  of  heaven,  D^TDlUn  nD'?^'?,  *  to  the  works  of  heaven.'— 
 Pise,  Gat.,  Core.  *  Hosts,'  Sept.  Means'  the  moon.* — Grotius.  Doubt- 
 less the  same  deity  which  the  Carthaginians  worshipped  under  the  name 
 of  CcElestis.  c:illed,  likewise, '  Urania,'  or  *  the  nidon,'  who  was  invoked, 
 in  ercat  calamities,  and  particularly  in  droughts,  in  order  to  obtain 
 rain.  This  goddess  was  held  in  great  reverence  by  the  Jewish  women. 
 — Rollin.  ig.  Do  thry  not  provoke  themseli'ea  ? — will  not  their  sins 
 turn  at  last  to  their  own  utter  confusion  }  20.  Not  be  quenched,  make 
 a  total  destruction.  21.  Put  7/our  burnt  offerings  unto  your  sncrifices, 
 and  eitf  Jiesh—\he  burnt  offerings  were  wholly  consunied,  (Lev.  i.  g,) 
 but  in  the  peace  tfterings  only  the  fat ;  the  rest  belonged  to  the  priest, 
 and  was  spent  in  a  religious  entertainment,  {see  Lev.  vii.  29—34; 
 Deut.  xii.  11,  12.)    They  might  eat  of  both  their  offerings,  for  God  would 
 
 accept  of  neither, — Pteb.  Lowth.  22.  Concerning,  '  for  the  sake  nf ;' 
 so  "jy  may  be  rendered.— See  Notdius,  and  Taylor's  Concord.  Burnt 
 offerings  and  sncriftres,  and  sacrifices  OG\y .—Bonthr.  Moral  goodness 
 dnd  religious  obedience  were  the  scope  God  principally  aimed  at. — 
 Bin.  Sacrifices  were  no  part  of  the  decalogue,  they  were  an  appendage 
 to  it,  and  were  not  appointed  for  the  sake  of  themselves,  but  as  types 
 of  Christ. — GUI.  24.  Went  backward,  and  not  forward — the  expres- 
 sion is  taken  from  headstrong  oxen,  that  draw  back,  and  refuse  to  put 
 their  necks  under  the  yoke,  (see  ver.  26  j  Neh.  ix.  29;  Hos.  iv.  l6.) — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  25.  Up  early — see  ver.  13,  note.  29.  Cut  off  thine 
 
 hair,  a  common  practice  in  great  mourning,  (chap,  xlvii.  5;  xlviii.37, 
 Isa.  XV.  2.)— Preb.  Lowth.  Generation  of  his  wrath,  a  race  obnoxious 
 to  G'id's  wrath;  so  Ephes.  ii.  3.  'Children  of  wrath.'  3i.  High 
 places — these  were  probably  artificial  mounts,  or  tumuli,  thrown  up  for 
 performing  the  rites  and  giving  tlie  spectators  a  full  view. — Bla.  To- 
 phet— see  2  Kings,  Kxiii.  10,  note.  Commanded  thevi  not,  means  '  ex- 
 pressly forbade  it,'  (see  Isa.  Ixv.  12 ;  Jer.  ii.  8  ;  Prov.  xviii.  5  ;  xxviii. 
 21  ;  Rom.  i.  28.)— Pi-cA.  Lowth.  32.  The  valley  of  slaughter,  because 
 of  the  multitude  that  should  be  killed  or  buried  there. —Gi7/.  34.  Catise 
 to  cease,  ^c,  there  -^hall  be  no  further  cause  of  joy,  no  wedding  festi- 
 vities, for  the  land  shall  be  emptied  of  inhabitants. — So  Clarke. 
 
 REFLEmoNS    ON    Chap.   VII We  here   learn,  T.    T'te 
 
 folly  of  mere  formal  rdigion.  The  Jews  rested  on  their  heing 
 Jews,  and  having  the  temple.  The  foundation  of  one  man's 
 faith  is,  *  I  am  a  catholic;'  and  of  another's,  'I  am  a  pro- 
 testant;'of  this,  *  I  belong  to  such  a  denomination  ;' and  of 
 that,  '  I  belong  to  another.'  But  one  single  trait  must  decide 
 whether  we  belong  to  God.  Do  we  obey  bis  voice  1  His 
 command  now  is,  that  '  we  beheve  on  his  Son  Jesus  Christ ;' 
 and  if  we  really  do  so,  faith  in  ('hrist,  and  obedience  to  all  his 
 other  commands,  are  inseparably  connected  together.  Having 
 791 
 
 this  decided  trait  in  our  characters,  then,  the  privilege  which 
 secures  all  other  privileges  follows,  '  I  will  be  your  God,  and 
 ye  shall  be  my  people.' 
 
 II.  It  is  an  auful  thing  when  a  people  are  past  the  benefit  of 
 intercession.  Biit  this  cannot  be  till  they  shut  themselves  nnt 
 of  the  way  of  mercy  and  hope.  There  is  always  room  in  the 
 heart  of  Divine  mercy  for  the  truly  penitent  ;  but,  if  the  for- 
 malist will  continue  formal,  and  the  profane  still  pursue  his 
 abandoned  ways,  they  must  reap  the  fruit  of  their  doings. 
 
J  he  shameless  impenitence  of  the  Jcus. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  VIII. 
 
 Their  desperate  estate  bewailed. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  The  calamity  of  the  JtiwSt  both  dead  and  alive.  4 
 He  upbraideth  their  foolish  and  siiamt-less  impeni- 
 tency.  13  He  sheu-eth  thvir  (jrievous  judgmcntf  18 
 and  bewaileth  their  desperate  estate. 
 
 \  T  that  time,  saith  the  Lord,  they  shall 
 -^*-  bring  out  the  bones  of  the  kings  of  Judah, 
 and  the  bones  of  his  princes,  and  the  bones  of 
 the  priests,  and  the  bones  of  the  prophets,  and 
 the  bones  of  tlie  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  out 
 of  their  graves : 
 
 2  And  tliey  shall  spread  them  before  the  sun, 
 and  the  moon,  and  all  the  host  of  heaven, 
 whom  they  have  loved,  and  whom  they  have 
 served,  and  after  whom  they  have  walked,  and 
 whom  they  have  sought,  and  "whom  they  have 
 worshipped  :  they  shall  not  be  gathered,  ^  nor 
 be  buried  ;  they  shall  be  for  "^  dung  upon  the 
 face  of  the  earth. 
 
 3  And  ''  death  shall  be  chosen  rather  than 
 life  by  al!  the  residue  of  them  that  remain  of 
 this  evil  family,  which  remain  in  all  the  places 
 whither  I  have  driven  them,  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts. 
 
 4  If  Moreover  thou  shall  say  unto  them.  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord;  Shall  they  fall,  and  not  arise? 
 shall  he  turn  away,  and  not  return? 
 
 5  Why  then  is  this  people  of  Jerusalem 
 "  slidden  back  by  a  perpetual  backsliding? 
 'they  hold  fast  deceit,  ^  they  refuse  to  return. 
 
 6  ''  I  hearkened  and  heard,  but  they  spake 
 not  ariglit :  no  man  repented  him  of  his  wick- 
 edness, saying.  What  have  I  done  ?  every  one 
 turned  to  his  course,  as  the  horse  rusheth  into 
 the  battle. 
 
 7  Yea,  '  the  stork  in  the  heaven  knoweth  her 
 appointed  times ;  and  '  the  turtle  and  the  crane 
 and  tlie  swallow  observe  the  time  of  their  com- 
 ing ;  but  'my  people  know  not  the  judgment 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 8  How  do  ye  say.  We  are  wise,  ""and  the 
 law  of  the  Lord  is  with  us?  Lo,  certainly 
 {{  in  vain  made  he  if ;  the  pen  of  the  scribes  is 
 in  vain. 
 
 9  "  II  The  wise  7ncn  are  ashamed,  they  are 
 dismayed  and  taken :  lo,  they  have  rejected 
 the  word  of  the  Lord  ;  and  t  what  wisdom  is 
 in  them? 
 
 10  Therefore  "will  I  give  their  wives  unto 
 others,  and  their  fields  to  them  that  shall  in- 
 
 16.  4. 
 d  Jub  3.  21, 
 25.  k  7.  15, 
 lll.Rev.9.6. 
 
 /"ch  9.  6. 
 jj  ch.  S  3. 
 h  2  Pet.  3.0. 
 
 >  Is.  I.  3. 
 *Canl  2. 
 
 /cb.5.  4,  5. 
 
 m  Rom.2.17. 
 
 i:  Or,  (ft* 
 J'lUe  pen  »f 
 ihp  scribe* 
 vorketh/;r 
 fnl.ehood. 
 Is.  10.  I. 
 
 n  ch.  6.  15. 
 
 y  Or,  Have 
 Ihfif  bten 
 ailiatnrd.^'f, 
 
 t  Heb.  f/..- 
 wiidnm  I'J" 
 what  Ifling. 
 
 D  Deu.  2S  .Sy 
 fh.  6.  12. 
 Amos 5.  I). 
 Zeph.  1.  1.3. 
 
 7  ch.  C.  I'l. 
 r  Eie.  IS.  lo- 
 
 ll nr,  In 
 
 i  al/tfriuff  J 
 
 wilt  ton- 
 
 turn*. 
 t  Is.  5.  l,&o. 
 
 Joi'l  1.  7. 
 r-  ^rat.  21.19 
 
 l.uke  13.  6, 
 
 8<c. 
 X  ch.  4.  S. 
 
 H  ch.  9.  15. 
 &  23.  15. 
 .1  Or,  poitnii. 
 
 ftjudg  5  22 
 ch.  47.  3. 
 
 t  Heb    Ihf 
 /nl»at  Ihert- 
 
 t  Heb.  be- 
 caitMe  oj  Ihe 
 C'lunlTij  of 
 them  that 
 are  fi,  off. 
 d  Is  39.  3 
 ^  Pen.  32.21 
 
 S  Jnel  2   6 
 
 Nnh    2. 10 
 A  Geti.  37.25. 
 
 Sc  43.  11. 
 
 ch.  46.  II. 
 
 &  51.  8. 
 I  Heb.  gone 
 
 herit  them :  for  every  one  from  the  least  even 
 unto  the  greatest  is  given  to  ''covetousness, 
 from  the  prophet  even  unto  the  priest  every 
 one  dealeth  falsely. 
 
 1 1  For  they  have  ''  healed  the  hurt  of  the 
 daughter  of  my  people  slightly,  saying, '  Peace, 
 peace  ;  when  there  is  no  peace. 
 
 12  Were  they  'ashamed  when  they  had  com- 
 mitted abomination?  nay,  they  were  not  at  all 
 ashamed,  neither  could  they  blush  :  therefore 
 shall  they  fall  among  them  that  fall :  in  the 
 time  of  their  visitation  they  shall  be  cast  down, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 13  t  II  I  will  surely  consume  them,  saith  the 
 Lord  :  there  shall  he  no  grapes  '  on  the  vine, 
 nor  figs  on  the  "  fig  tree,  and  the  leaf  shall 
 fade  ;  and  the  thinrjs  that  I  have  given  them 
 shall  p.iss  away  from  them. 
 
 14  Why  do  we  sit  still?  'assemble  your- 
 selves, and  let  us  enter  into  the  defenced 
 cities,  and  let  us  be  silent  there  :  for  the  Lord 
 our  God  hath  put  us  to  silence,  and  given  us 
 'water  of  ||  gall  to  drink,  because  we  have 
 sinned  against  the  Lord. 
 
 13  We  '  looked  for  peace,  but  no  good  came ; 
 and  for  a  time  of  health,  and  behold  trouble ! 
 
 16  The  snorling  of  his  horses  was  heard  from 
 °  Dan  :  the  whole  land  trembled  at  the  sound 
 of  the  neighing  of  his  ''  strong  ones  ;  for  they 
 are  come,  and  have  devoured  the  land,  and 
 fall  that  is  in  it;  the  city,  and  those  that 
 dwell  therein. 
 
 17  For,  behold.  Twill  send  serpents,  cocka- 
 trices, among  you,  which  ivill not,  be  "charmed, 
 and  they  shall  bite  you,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 18  1  When  I  would  comfort  myself  against 
 sorrow,  my  heart  is  faint  f  iu  me. 
 
 19  Behold  the  voice  of  the  cry.  of  the  daugh- 
 ter of  my  people  f  because  of  them  that  dwell 
 in  ''a  far  country  :  Is  not  the  Lord  in  Zion? 
 is  not  her  king  in  her?  Why  have  they  'pro- 
 voked me  to  anger  with  their  graven  images, 
 and  with  strange  vanities? 
 
 20  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is  ended, 
 and  we  are  not  saved. 
 
 21  '  For  the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  my 
 people  am  I  hurt;  I  am  ^ black;  astonishment 
 hath  taken  hold  on  me. 
 
 22  Is  there  no  ''  balm  in  Gilead  ;  is  there  no 
 physician  there?  why  then  is  not  the  health 
 of  the  daughter  of  my  people  f  recovered  ? 
 
 Cbap.  VIII.  —  1.  Of  the  kings — the  motive  of  this  oiifra^e  is  sup- 
 posed to  have  been  the  hope  of  plunder,  since  it  was  customary  to  bury 
 great  treasure  in  the  tombs  of  royalty. —  Wit.  Of  the  priests  —  pro. 
 p/iets — inhabitants,  fyc. — this  was  a  sore  reproach  and  affliction,  (Neb. 
 li.  3.}~Sut.  7,  The  sfork,  ^c— birds  of  passage,  by  instinct,  return 
 
 annually  to  the  oiuiitiy  tliey  had  left ;  but  obdurate  man  returns  not 
 to  God. — Bp.  Hume.  JuJgment,  law,  or  system  of  laws,  as  a  rule 
 ofmofat  conduct.— B/rt.  8.  Tlie  pen  of  the  scribes,  ^c. — in  vain  were 
 they  employed  in  writing  copies  of  the  law,  when  it  was  not  heard,  or 
 read,  or  practised  ;  or  they  might  be  employed  in  writing  false  glosses 
 of  it. — Gitt.  10.  Shall  inherit,  rather, '  shall  enter  into  possession.'— 
 Bla.  13.  No  grapes,  the  nation  should  be  deprived  of  all  its  advan- 
 
 tages.— Preh.  Lou'th,  Bla.,  Scott.  It  rather  intends  the  sterility  of  the 
 land,  and,  in  general,  the  famine  that  should  attend  the  siege  of  Jeru- 
 salem. Grapes  and  figs  only  are  mentioned,  being  the  chief  fruits,  and 
 so  put  for  the  whole. — Kimchi,  Gill.  14.  Be  silent,  promising  them- 
 selves security,  or  quietly  submitting  to  their  afflictions.— Gi//.  Water 
 of  gall,  or  poison  ;  probably  the  name  of  some  poisonous  herb,  with 
 the  juice  or  infusion  whereof  they  were  wont  to  kill  persons,  (see  Hos. 
 
 X.  4.)  It  notes  God's  bitter  destructive  judgments. — Poole.  16.  From 
 Van — Nebuchsdnezzar,  having  subdued  Phcenicia,  passed  through  the 
 tribe  of  Dan  in  his  way  to  Jerusalem. — Bla.  Strong  ones,  his  horses 
 strong  and  mighty  ;  see  Judg.  v.  22,  where  we  read  of  the  prancings  of 
 the  mighty  ones. — Gill,  See  also  chap,  xlvii.  3,  and  Sept. ;  so  Preh. 
 Lowth.  i7.  Cockatrices,   now   called    'basilisks.'  —  Sat.      Not   be 
 
 charmed — see  Ps.  Iviii.  4,  5,  notes.  20.  The  harvest  is  past,  S(c. — har- 
 vest and  summer  being  over,  there  were  no  hopes  of  the  Egyptians 
 coming  to  their  relief  from  the  siege  of  the  Chaldeans,  seeing  winter 
 was  approaching  j  it  was  in  the  month  of  Ab,  which  answers  to  part  of 
 July  and  August,  that  the  city  and  temple  were  burnt. — Gill.  21.  2 
 am  black,  1  look  ghastly,  as  those  who  are  dying,  (conip.  chap.  xiv.  -2  ; 
 Joel,  ii.  16;    Nah.  ii.  10.) — Preb.  Lou-th.  22.  No  balm   in   Gilead, 
 
 which  was  famous  for  it,  (see  Gen.  xxxvii.  25.)  or  rather  turpentine 
 and  resin,  a  gum  which  drops  from  pine  trees  and  the  like,  since  balm, 
 or  bal.;am,  grew  on  this  side  Jordan,  near  Jericho  and  Engedi,  and  not 
 in  Gilead  ;  and  resin  is  good  for  healing. — Gill.  The  resin  in  the  tere- 
 binth or  turpentine  tree. — Boch.  This  was  metaphorically  to  ask  if 
 there  were  no  salutary  means  within  reach  to  save  the  country. — Bltt. 
 
 Reflections    on  Ch*p.   VIII I.   The  moral  disease  of 
 
 Judah  was  sin.  On  this  the  people  were  obstinately  bent. 
 The  birds  obey  the  calls  of  instinct,  but  man  stupidly  departs 
 further  from  his  God. 
 
 II.  The  remedy  for  this  disease.  Has  not  God  provided  a 
 remedy  against  sin  1  '  Ii  there  no  balm  in  Gilead,  is  there  no 
 792 
 
 Physioian  there?'  Blessed  be  God,  we  are  not  left  to  ask  the 
 question  in  despair  !  There  is  balm  and  a  Physician.  There 
 is  efficacy  enough  in  the  blood  of  Christ  to  cleanse  '  from  all 
 sin  ;'  there  is  a  Saviour  who  is  '  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost 
 all  that  come  unto  God  by  him.' 
 
Jeremiah's  lament  for  the  sins  of  the  Jews.       JEREMIAH,  IX.        Disobedience  the  cause  of  their  calamity 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  Jeremiah  hnnenteth  the  Jeivs  for  their  manifold  sins, 
 9  and  for  tlieir  jmljnent.  12  Disoheditnce  is  the 
 cai/sf  of  titcir  hittir  calamity.  17  lie  e.xhortith  to 
 vwvrn  for  tlieir  destruction,  23  and  to  trust  not  in 
 themstlves,  hut  in  God.  25  He  threateneth  both 
 J>^ws  and  Gentiks. 
 
 {^H  t°  t''*'  ™y  head  were  waters,  and  mine 
 ^-^  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  tliat  I  misjlit  weep 
 day  and  night  for  the  slain  of  the  daugliter  of 
 my  people ! 
 
 '2  Oh  that  I  had  in  the  wilderness  a  lodging 
 place  of  wayfaring  men  ;  that  I  might  leave 
 my  people,  and  go  from  them!  for  ''tiiey  be  all 
 adulterers,  an  assembly  of  treacherous  men. 
 
 ti  And  "  they  bend  their  tongues  lihe  their 
 how  for  lies:  but  they  are  not  valiant  for  the 
 truth  upon  the  earth  ;  for  they  proceed  from 
 evil  to  evil,  and  they  ''know  not  me,  saith  the 
 LosD. 
 
 4  "  Take  ye  heed  every  one  of  his  ||  neigh- 
 bour, and  trust  yc  not  in  any  brother :  for 
 every  brother  will  utterly  supplant,  and  every 
 neigiibour  will  '  walk  with  slanders. 
 
 3  And  they  will  ||  deceive  every  one  his 
 neighbour,  and  will  not  speak  the  truth  :  they 
 have  tauglit  their  tongue  to  speak  lies,  and 
 weary  themselves  to  commit  iniquity. 
 
 6  Thine  habitation  is  in  tlie  midst  of  deceit  ; 
 through  deceit  they  refuse  to  know  me,  saith 
 the  LoHD. 
 
 7  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 Behold,  ^  I  will  melt  them,  and  try  them  ;  "for 
 how  shall  I  do  for  tlie  daughter  of  my  people? 
 
 8  Their  tongue  is  as  an  arrow  shot  out;  it 
 speaketh  'deceit:  one  speaketh  'peaceably  to 
 his  neighbour  with  his  mouth,  but  fiji  heart  he 
 layeth  ||  his  wait. 
 
 9  t '  Shall  I  not  visit  them  for  these  things  ? 
 saith  the  Lord  :  shall  not  my  soul  be  avenged 
 on  sucli  a  nation  as  this? 
 
 10  For  the  mountains  will  I  take  up  a  weep- 
 ing and  wailing,  and  "'for  the  ||  habitations  of 
 the  wilderness  a  lamentation,  because  they  are 
 li  burned  up,  so  that  none  can  pass  through 
 them  ;  neither  can  7ncn  bear  the  voice  of  the 
 cattle  ;  t"  both  the  fowl  of  the  heavens  and  the 
 beast  are  fled  ;  they  are  gone. 
 
 1 1  And  I  will  make  Jerusalem  °  heaps,  and 
 'a  den  of  dragons  ;  and  I  will  make  the  cities 
 of  Jud3h  t  desolate,  without  an  inhabitant. 
 
 12  IT''  Who  is  the  wise  man,  that  may  under- 
 stand this?  and  trlio  is  be  to  whom  the  mouth 
 of  the  Lord  hath  spoken,  that  he  may  declare 
 it,  for  what  the  land  perisheth  and  is  burned 
 up  like  a  wilderness,  that  none  passeth  through? 
 
 t  Heb.  rriio 
 
 Ml  gi.'e  „.f 
 head,  ^'c 
 I  Ts,  2i.    1. 
 rh.  t.  19,  h 
 l.f    17  «'M- 
 
 II.  8i  a.  IS 
 .  Ch.  5.  7,  8 
 
 c  Ps  6-1.  3. 
 Is  50.  4, 
 13,  15. 
 
 d  t  Snni  2 
 t:*.  Ilya.l.l. 
 
 cell.  I?.  6. 
 Mic.  7.  S,  6 
 Oc,/>iptiJ. 
 
 f  ch.  6.  28. 
 [|  Or,  mocfi. 
 
 ?  Is.  1.:.^. 
 M.il.  :*.  3. 
 
 '.  H.1S.  II.  8 
 
 .■  Ps.  12.  2.  & 
 I20.3.ver  S. 
 
 k  Ps.  28  3. 
 &  fi.3.  21. 
 
 t  Heb.  )>i  l/<e 
 mulitofhiiii. 
 
 II  Or,  wait 
 
 fur  him. 
 
 I  cli .  5.  9,  29. 
 
 m  ch.  12,  4. 
 &  23.  10 
 Hos.  1   3. 
 
 II   Or,  pas- 
 lures. 
 ;|  Or,  dfso- 
 
 t  Heb./r..ni 
 
 the/owl  fffmi 
 
 I".  -S-c 
 -.  ch   -1.  25, 
 o  Is.  25.  9. 
 pis.  13.22. 
 
 &  3(    13. 
 
 cli.  10.  22- 
 +  tlcb,  deio- 
 
 latiirn. 
 7  Ps.  107.43 
 
 H..S.  M.  9. 
 
 Oh.  31.  7 
 &  ".  2*. 
 II  Or.  itub 
 
 t  Ps.  SO-  5. 
 uch    S.  IJ 
 
 vLcv.26  33 
 ch.  li  27. 
 Kio.  5.2,19 
 
 ;  2Chr,  35. 
 25.  Job  3  8. 
 Kccles.  12. 
 b.  Amos  5. 
 Mat.  P. 
 
 •>3. 
 
 d  rh,  9.  9.  I 
 16.  4. 
 
 /I  Cor.  I  31 
 
 2  Cor.  10, 17. 
 
 i(  Mic   fi   S. 
 
 «t  7.  19 
 h  Rom.  2  8, 
 
 9. 
 t  H.b.  visit 
 
 <'}'•'"■ 
 i  .ludiih  It, 
 
 111. 
 t  Ileb.cMfcj? 
 
 iiitu  cornert, 
 
 Of,  having 
 
 the  corners 
 
 of  their 
 
 hair  j"j/ltd. 
 k  ch.  2.1   '^3 
 
 &  49.  32. 
 t  Let".  26.  J I 
 
 K7ck.  4-1.7 
 
 Rnm.  2,  28, 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  saith,  Because  they  liave 
 forsaken  niy  law  which  I  set  before  tlieni,  and 
 have  not  obeyed  my  \oice,  neither  walked 
 therein  ; 
 
 1-4  But  have  ■' walked  after  the  ||  imagination 
 of  their  own  heart,  and  after  Baalim,  ^  which 
 their  fathers  tau^^ht  them  : 
 
 15  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 the  God  of  Israel  ;  Behold,  I  will  ^  feed  them, 
 even  this  people,  "  with  wormwood,  and  give 
 them  water  of  gall  to  drink. 
 
 1(5  I  will  ''scatter  them  also  among  the 
 heathen,  whom  neither  they  nor  their  fathers 
 have  known:  ''and  I  will  send  a  sword  after 
 them,  till  I  have  consumed  them. 
 
 17  It  Thus  saith  the  Loud  of  hosts,  Consider 
 ye,  and  call  for  '  the  mourning  women,  that 
 they  may  come  ;  and  send  for  cunning  ivomen^ 
 that  they  may  come ; 
 
 18  And  let  them  make  haste,  and  take  up  a 
 wailing  for  us,  that  *our  eyes  may  run  down  with 
 tears,  and  our  eyelids  gush  out  with  waters. 
 
 19  For  a  voice  of  wailing  is  heard  out  of 
 Zion,  How  are  we  spoiled  !  we  are  greatly 
 confounded,    because    we   have   forsaken    the 
 
 and,  because  ^'  our  dwellings  have  cast  us  out. 
 
 •20  Yet  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  O  ye  wo- 
 men, and  let  your  ear  receive  the  word  of  his 
 mouth,  and  teach  your  daughters  wailing,  and 
 every  one  her  neighbour  lamentation. 
 
 21  For  death  is  come  up  into  our  windows, 
 and  is  entered  into  our  palaces,  to  cut  oflf  ""the 
 children  from  without,  and  the  young  men 
 from  the  streets. 
 
 2*2  Speak,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Even  the 
 carcases  of  men  shall  fall  ^  as  dung  upon  the 
 open  field,  and  as  the  handful  after  the  harvest- 
 man,  and  none  shall  gather  tliem. 
 
 23  t  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  "  Let  not  the  wise 
 man  glory  in  his  wisdom,  neither  let  the 
 mighty  man  glory  in  his  might,  let  not  the  rich 
 man  glory  in  his  riches  : 
 
 24  But  ^let  him  that  glorieth  glory  in  this, 
 that  he  understandeth  and  knoweth  me,  that  I 
 am  the  Lord  which  exercise  lovingkindness, 
 judgment,  and  righteousness,  in  the  earth  : 
 ^for  in  these  things  I  delight,  saith  the  Lobd. 
 
 25  H  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
 that  '' I  will  t  punish  all  tJu m  which  are  cir- 
 cumcised with  the  uncircumcised  ; 
 
 26  Egypt,  and  Judah,  and  Edoni,  '  and  the 
 children  of  Ammou,  and  Moab,  and  all  that 
 are  fin  the  "^  utmost  corners,  that  dwell  in  the 
 wilderness  :  for  all  these  nations  arc  uncircum- 
 cised, and  all  the  house  of  Lsrael  are  '  uncir- 
 cumcised in  the  heart. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  — 1.  OA  ?/m^  m^ /iefld,  ^UjfrJITn'' *q.  'who  will  give  to  my 
 head'  waters,  my  mourninj?  for  my  people  has  exhausted  my  tears. — 
 A.  Clarke,  2.  In  tlf  ivi/dfr7te.'is  n  ladfring  place  of  wnyfarmg  men — 
 in  passing  thrnuph  a  desert,  the  eastern  traveller  is  happy  if  he  can 
 light  upon  a  hut  or  cave  which  some  one  before  may  have  erected  for 
 a  temporary  shelter.— iJ/«.  The  native  sovereigns,  or  opulent  men, 
 erect  what  are  called  rest  houses,  or  choultries,  where  travellers  or  pil- 
 grims reside  for  the  night.— -Itnb.  A  solitary  situation,  but  preferable 
 to  the  chagrin  of  living  continually  in  the  society  of  men  of  profligate 
 manners,— if/a.  7.  Melt  them,  in  the  furnace  of  affliction. — A.  Clarke. 
 10.  For  the  mountains,  ^-c,  having  no  pastures  on  them,  nor  flocks 
 feeding. — Gill.  The  hahitntions  of  the  wilderness,  rather  *  the  pastures 
 ol  the  wilderness,*  the  champaign  country,  opposed  to  the  mountains, 
 (see  Isa.  Ixiii.  13;  Lam.  iv.  19;  Joel,  i.  IQ.l— Prei.  Louth,  so  Boothr. 
 Both  the  foul,  Sfc,  a  figurative  expression,  denoting  universal  desola- 
 tion.—Poo/e.  11.  Drngons,  □'';n,  supposed  here  tn  mean  jackals,  a 
 beast  frequent  in  the  oast,  and  attendant  on  the  lion,  the  refuse  of 
 whose  prey  he  devours.—./,  Clarke.  The  expression  here  means  a 
 place  of  horror  and  desolatinn,— B/?.  Hall.  12.  Who  is  the  wise,  ^-c, 
 — the  proplict  here  declares  himself  to  be  the  divinely  inspired  person. 
 — Bin.  15.  Feed  them — with  wormwnnd,  deepest  snrrows,  poison  in- 
 stead of  meat  and  drink.— .^.  C/arfre.  Water  of  c^iilf,  12JH"1,  nr  *hem- 
 79^ 
 
 lock,'  (see  Hus.x.  4  ;)  with  this  and  wormwood  a  stupifying  potion  was 
 made  before  crucifixion. — Sut.  16.  Scatter  them  also  nmnrie  the  hen- 
 then, \t  chiefly  regards  such  of  them  as  were  scattered  among  the  Moab- 
 itcs  and  Ammonites,  and  especially  that  went  into  Egypt,  (see  chap, 
 xliv.  27,  28.) — Gill.  17.  Mourning   women,   hired   at   the   Hebrew 
 
 funerals  to  cry,  sing  doleful  songs,  and  make  frantic  actions  to  excite 
 grief  in  others.— i>/«.  The  Jewish  doctors  say,  that  even  the  poorest  man, 
 wiien  his  wifu  died,  never  had  less  than  two  pipes  and  one  mourning 
 woman. — Pict.  Bit).  Cinining,  so  called, becau-^e  the  art  required  some 
 skill.  This  custom  is  alluded  to,  2  Chron.  xxw.  2.1;  Eccles.  xii.  5  : 
 Amos,  V.  16;  Matt.  ix.  23;  Mark,  v.  38.  19.  Our  dwellings  have  cast 
 us  out,  '  because  they  have  thrown  down  our  habitations  ;'  equivalent 
 to  'our  habitations  are  thrown  down.* — Bla.  22.  As  the  handful nfter 
 the  harvestman,  who  cuts  it  and  lets  it  fall, ^passing  on.;  usually  fol- 
 lowed by  ani'iher,  who  gathers  what  is  cut,  and  binds  it  into  sheaves, 
 lint  here  there  would  be  none  to  gather,  and  it  would  rot.  A  striking 
 simile. — Bla.  2fi.  Egypt,  and  Judah.   and   Edom,   %c. — see   these 
 
 judgments  denounced  more  at  large,  chap.  xxv.  18.  Judah  is  here 
 placed  among  the  heathen,  being  spiritually  uncircumcised.  All  that 
 are  in  the  utmost  corners — marginal  reading,  '  they  that  have  the  ciir- 
 ncrs  of  their  hair  polled,*  denoting  those  Arabians  who  cut  their  hair 
 upon  the  fore  part  of  the  head  round,  and  let  that  behind  grow  long, 
 5  I 
 
The  unequal  comparUon 
 
 JEREMIAH,  X. 
 
 of  God  and  idols. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  The  nneqtud  comparison  of  God  and  idols.  I  7  T/ie 
 prophet  exhoileth  to  fife  from  the  calaniily  to  come. 
 19  He  lam^'nteth  the  spoil  of  the  tabernacle  by  foolish 
 pastors.     23  He  maketh  an  httmhle  supplication. 
 
 TJEAR  ye  the  word  which  the  Lord  speak- 
 -''-*■  eth  unto  you,  O  house  of  Israel  -. 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  °  Learn  not  the  nay 
 of  the  heathen,  and  be  not  dismayed  at  tlie 
 siE;ns  of  heaven;  for  the  heathen  are  dismayed 
 at  tliem. 
 
 3  For  the  f  customs  of  the  people  are  vain  : 
 for  ''  one  cutteth  a  tree  out  of  the  forest,  the 
 work  of  the  hands  of  the  workman,  with  the 
 ax. 
 
 4  They  deck  it  with  silver  and  with  gold  ; 
 they  °  fasten  it  with  nails  and  with  hammers, 
 that  it  move  not. 
 
 5  They  are  upright  as  the  palm  tree,  ''  but 
 speak  not  -.  they  must  needs  be  '  borne,  be- 
 cause they  cannot  go.  Be  not  afraid  of  them  ; 
 for  '  they  cannot  do  evil,  neither  also  is  it  in 
 them  to  do  good. 
 
 6  Forasmuch  as  there  is  none  ^  like  unto 
 thee,  O  Lord  ;  thou  art  great,  and  thy  name 
 is  great  in  might. 
 
 7  ''  Who  would  not  fear  thee,  O  King  of  na- 
 tions? for  II  to  tliee  doth  it  appertain:  foras- 
 much as  '  among  all  the  wise  tnen  of  the  na- 
 tions, and  in  all  their  kingdoms,  there  is  none 
 like  unto  thee. 
 
 8  But  tliey  are  f  altogether  '  brutish  and 
 foolish  :  the  stock  is  a  doctrine  of  vanities. 
 
 9  Silver  spread  into  plates  is  brought  from 
 Tarshish,  and  '  gold  from  Uphaz,  the  work  of 
 the  workman,  and  of  the  hands  of  the  founder: 
 
 B.  C 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir,  liOil. 
 
 cir.  600. 
 
 m  Bar.  6.  12, 
 
 72. 
 
 n  Ps.  115.  t. 
 
 t  Hcb.  God 
 
 of  truth. 
 
 V%.  SI.  5. 
 
 0  I  Tiin.C.17. 
 
 t  Heb.  king 
 
 ufelernilif. 
 
 p  Ps,  10.  10. 
 
 t  In  the 
 
 Chaldean 
 
 T  Lev    IS,  S. 
 
 &  20.  aa. 
 
 language. 
 
 a  Sec  Pa.  ye 
 
 5. 
 
 r  ver.   15. 
 
 Is.  8.  18. 
 
 Zech. 13.  9, 
 
 f  Gen,  1    1,6, 
 
 t  n.-b  j/o- 
 
 9.  Ps.  I3e. 
 
 tutrs,  or,  or- 
 
 5.  6.  ch.  51. 
 
 (tinan'-ti  ari; 
 
 15,  &c. 
 
 •  i,)iilt/. 
 
 (  Pa.  9.^.  1. 
 
 .  Is   40    19, 
 
 «  Job  9.  8. 
 
 U'l.  &  -U.  9, 
 
 Pa.  101.  g. 
 
 lU.  Ac.  8t 
 
 I3.  40.  22 
 
 45.  20. 
 
 X  Job  S3  S-l. 
 
 e  Is.  41.  7. 
 
 11  Or,  7.".!^. 
 
 &  46.  7. 
 
 j(  Ps.  135.  7. 
 
 \\Ov,/oTTaui. 
 
 d  Pb.  115.  5. 
 
 .  ch.  51.  17. 
 
 &  133.  lli. 
 
 18 
 
 H:\b.  2.  19, 
 
 1,  Or,  i'^  m^Tf 
 
 I  Cor.  V>.  2 
 
 OruliJi  than 
 
 t  Vb.  \\b.  7. 
 
 to  kHUta. 
 
 Is.  46,  1,  7. 
 
 a  Pro.  30.  2. 
 
 fU.  41.  2J. 
 
 b  Is.  4*.  17- 
 
 U  4i-   11.  8c 
 
 ■15.  16. 
 
 ff  Ex-  15.  11 
 
 r  Hab.  2.  18 
 
 I's.dfi  B,10. 
 
 d  ver,    II. 
 
 t  1<9    16    5 
 
 Si  7.S    S6.  & 
 
 119.  57    ch 
 
 ft  Rev.  15.  4 
 
 51.19.  Lam- 
 
 3.2*. 
 
 II  Or,  ittiheth 
 
 /  Deu.  3>.  9. 
 
 th<fi: 
 
 Pb.  74.  2. 
 
 i  Va.  39.  6. 
 
 a  Is.  47.  4  S£ 
 
 51.1.'j.&51. 
 
 5.  ch.31.35. 
 
 &82.  18.  & 
 
 HIeb.  mon^ 
 
 50  31. 
 
 or,  aC  o'lCf, 
 
 h  Seech.ii.l 
 
 k  Vt.  115    8. 
 
 Eiek.  1-,;   3, 
 
 U.   11.  29. 
 
 SiC. 
 
 Hab    ?.  18. 
 
 t  Heb.  iiiha- 
 
 Zcch.  10.  S. 
 
 bilreu. 
 
 Kom.  1.  21, 
 
 i  1  Sam,  25. 
 
 2-2. 
 
 29.ch  16.13. 
 
 i  Dun.  10.  5. 
 
 UEzek.6.  10. 
 
 '"blue  and  piirple  is  their  clothing:  they  are 
 all  "the  work  of  cnnning  men. 
 
 10  But  tiie  Lord  is  the  f  true  God,  lie  is 
 "the  living  God,  and  an  f  ^  everlasting  king: 
 at  hi.s  wrath  tiie  earth  shall  tremble,  and  the 
 nations  shall  not  be  able  to  abide  his  indigna- 
 tion, 
 
 1 1  t  Thus  shall  ye  say  unto  them,  '^  The  gods 
 that  have  not  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
 even  ^  they  shall  perish  from  the  earth,  and 
 from  under  these  heavens. 
 
 12  He  Miatli  made  the  earth  by  his  power, 
 he  hath  *  established  the  world  by  his  wisdom, 
 and  "  hath  stretched  out  tlie  heavens  by  his 
 discretion. 
 
 13  "  When  he  uttereth  his  voice,  there  is  a 
 II  multitude  of  waters  in  the  heavens,  and  ^he 
 causeth  the  vapours  to  ascend  from  the  ends 
 of  the  earth  ;  he  maketh  lightnings  ||vvith  rain, 
 and  bringeth  forth  the  wind  out  of  bis  treasures. 
 
 14  '  Every  man  ||is  "brulish  in  /n>  knowledge; 
 ^  every  founder  is  confounded  by  the  graven 
 image:  ^  for  his  molten  image  is  falsehood, 
 and  (here  is  no  breath  in  tliem. 
 
 15  They  are  vanity,  and  the  work  of  errors  : 
 in  the  time  of  their  visitation  ''  they  shall 
 perish. 
 
 16  ^  The  portion  of  Jacob  is  not  like  them  : 
 for  he  is  the  former  of  all  thintjs  ;  and  *"  Israel 
 is  the  rod  of  his  inheritance  :  ^  The  Lord  of 
 hosts  is  his  name. 
 
 17  H  *' Gather  up  thy  wares  out  of  the  land, 
 O  t  inhabitant  of  the  fortress. 
 
 18  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  Behold,  I  will 
 '  sling  out  the  inhabitants  of  the  laud  at  this 
 once,  and  will  distress  them,  ''  that  they  may 
 find  it  so. 
 
 in  imitation  of  Bacchus.  To  this  idolatrous  custom,  probably,  Lev. 
 xix.  2/  refers. — PreO.  Lowlh.  This  reading  is  prcferrrtl  hy  Drs.  Durelt, 
 Boothr.,  and  A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  X. — 1.  Hear  ye  the  word,  ^r.— perhaps  delivered  in  the  fourth 
 year  of  the  reign  of  Jchoiakim. — Dniiler.  2.  Learn  not  the  nay  of 
 
 the  heathen,  SfC. — this  was,  no  doubt,  designed  by  way  of  precaution 
 to  the  Jews,  against  the  time  of  their  removal  out  of  their  own  land, 
 to  dwell  amongst  idolators.  Signs  of  heaven — the  Chaldeans,  among 
 whom  the  Jews  were  destined  to  live  in  captivity,  were  achUctcd  to 
 astrology,  and  attributed  to  the  lieavenly  bodies  a  considerable  influ- 
 ence over  human  affairs.  Tliis  begot  a  religious  dread  of  those  objects. 
 — Bin.  The  reference  is  probably  to  eclipses,  which  were  much  dreaded 
 as  harbingers  of  public  calamities.— Pic^  Bib.,  so  Jar.  5.  Thfy  are 
 upright  as  the  pnlm  tree,  an  accurate  description  of  the  stiff  statues  of 
 the  Egyptians  and  Orientals,  before  the  Greeks  carried  sculpture  to 
 perfection. —  Cat.  "J.  For  to  thee  duth  it  appertaiyi,  i.  e.,  fear  belongs 
 to  him,  it  is  his  due. — Gill.  8.  Brutish— %<i'C  Ps.  cxv.  8.  Thestncli  is 
 a  doctrine  of  vanities, '  the  very  wood  itself  heingarcbuker  of  vanities.' 
 — Bla.,  adipted  by  Boothr.  'Vanities'  here  mean  'idols.' —  Wil. 
 y.  Silver  spread  into  plates,  beaten  into  plates,  with  which  they  cnvered 
 and  decked  their  idols. — Gill.  Tarshish,  a  sea  town  in  Cilicia,  (Ezek. 
 xxvii.  12,  25 ;  Jonah,  i.  3,)  being  a  noted  port,  from  whence  they  had 
 passage  to  Africa.  India,  and  other  remote  countries. — Poole.  Uphaz, 
 probably  the  same  with  Ophir. — Borh.  See  I  Kings,  ix.  28,  note.  This 
 conjecture  is  very  uncertain. — Scott.  Blue  arid  purple  is  their  clothing, 
 the  clothing  of  their  idoU,  blue  being  the  colour  of  the  heavens,  and 
 purple  what  is  worn  by  kings,  to  denote  their  deity  and  dominion,  and 
 
 to  dazzle  the  populace.— (JiV/.  The  idol  statues  were  cl  ithed  with 
 dresses  of  rich  stuffs,  a  practice  still  in  Pagan  Asia.— Ptc^  Bib,  The 
 work  of  cunning  men,  *  of  the  craftsman,'  [Hos.  xiii.  2.)  Upon  what 
 ground,  then,  could  the  thing  formed  pretend  to  a  nature  more  excel- 
 lent than  its  former?— iJ/«.  1 1 .  Thus  shall  ye  say,  §f.— this  verse  is 
 written  in  Chaldee,  as  if  the  prophet  would  fiirnish  an  exact  reply  for 
 tlie  Jews  to  give  the  heatlien  who  should  tempt  them  to  idolatry.  They 
 shall  perish,  so  liave  many,  a  pledge  of  the  final  period  of  idolatry,  (see 
 ver.  !5;  Isa.  ii.  18;  xlv.  ifi ;  Zech.  xiii.  2.) — Preb.  Lowth.  Professor 
 Dahler,  of  SIrasburg,  omits  this  in  his  translation,  as  it  differs  in  lan- 
 guage, and  interrupts  tlie  natural  course  of  ideas;  it  is,  however,  re- 
 tained in  all  the  .'Inci>»?  l'ersio7is.~Cl(irke.  1.1.  VVhm  he  uttereth, 
 fyc,  an  allusion  to  a  thunder  storm,  and  the  abundance  of  rain  in  con- 
 sequence.—Gi-een/".  14.  Every  manis  brutish,  fyc,  men  are  bewitched 
 and  besotted  by  these  things,  so  as  to  see  no  more  than  if  they  were 
 brutes. — Poole.  l6.  The  portion  of  Jacob,  ^c. — the  heathen  had  their 
 tutelary  gods,  peculiar  to  each  -,  God's  care  of  Israel,  therefore,  being 
 peculiar  to  them,  he  might  be  called  their  i)ortion. — Bla.  The  rod  of 
 his  inheritance,  in  allusion  to  the  portions  and  inheritances  of  Israel 
 being  measured  by  a  hne,  reed,  or  ro<\.— Poole.  17.  Gather  up  Ihy 
 wares,  merchandize,  all  valuable  effects;  these  would  he  collected  and 
 carried  to  Jerusalem  for  safety. — Gill.  The  prophet,  by  this,  returns 
 to  his  warnings  for  removal  into  captivity. — Preb.  Lowth.  18.  Sling 
 out,  it  notes  with  hnw  much  violence,  speed,  and  ease  the  Chaldeans 
 should  hurry  away  the  people  into  Babylon,  as  the  stone  doth  swittly 
 and  violently  pass,  thrown  from  a  sling. — Poole.  At  this  once,  *  at  this 
 time.' — Bla.     That  they  may  find  it  so,  *  and  they  shall  experience  it.* 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX.  —  We  may  learn  from  this 
 chapter — I.  For  what  we  should  grieve :  For  sin  and  for  its  con- 
 sequences. Because  wickedness  is  common,  we  becomo  too 
 familiarized  with  its  appearance.  Were  we  more  duly  im- 
 pressed with  its  awful  consequences,  every  unconverted  sin- 
 ner would  draw  a  tear  from  our  eyes.  Ahis  !  sin  has  made  the 
 work!  an  Aceldama— a  field  of  blood.  Look  at  the  tombs  of 
 princes,  and  the  graves  of  peasants  ;  pass  through  the  church- 
 yards and  burial-grounds,  and  survey  the  monumental  inscrip- 
 tions over  infants  and  young  men ;  and  think  on  the  cause  of 
 this  universal  destruction  among  the  human  race  :  these  are 
 the  trophies  of  sin.  Did  God  require  us  to  love  it,  this  would 
 surely  be  as  unnatural  as  it  would  be  contrary  to  his  own  holy 
 nature  ;  it  would  be  to  tell  us  to  cherish  a  viper  in  our  bosoms, 
 and  to  press  the  murderer  to  our  hearts  that  has  just  bathed 
 his  hands  in  our  blood.  But  he  requires  us  to  hate  it ;  and  yet 
 794 
 
 men  remain  so  infatuated,  that,  in  spite  of  the  most  pathetic 
 exhortations,  nothing  is  more  abhorrent  to  corrupt  nature  than 
 the  circumcision  of  the  heart. 
 
 n.  In  what  we  should  glory:  Not  in  those  things  in  which 
 the  world  are  accustomed  to  glory.  There  are  wise  fools,  that 
 know  everything  but  God.  There  are  mighty  babes,  who  can 
 subdue  nations,  but  have  no  control  over  one  base  passion. 
 There  are  poor  rich  men,  who  are  smothf-red  in  their  gold,  but 
 they  have  no  treasure  laid  up  for  the  ages  to  come.  Where 
 does  all  their  knowledge— all  their  prowess— all  their  wealth, 
 end?  But  this  is  life  eternal,  to  know  the  only  true  God,  and 
 Jesus  Christ  whom  he  hath  sent.  Be  it  outs  experimentally 
 to  understand  the  language  of  an  apostle—'  Yea,  doubtless, 
 and  T  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  know- 
 ledge of  Christ  Josus  my  Lord.' 
 
Gods  covenant  proclaimed. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XI. 
 
 The  disobedience  of  the  Jews. 
 
 19  K  '  Woe  is  me  for  my  hurt !  my  wouiul  is 
 grievous :  but  I  said,  '"  Truly  this  is  a  grief, 
 and  "  I  must  bear  it. 
 
 '20  "  My  tabcruacle  is  spoiled,  and  all  my 
 cords  are  broken  :  my  children  are  gone  forth 
 of  me,  and  tliey  arc  not :  tliere  is  none  to 
 stretcli  forth  my  tent  any  more,  and  to  set  up 
 my  curtains. 
 
 21  For  the  pastors  are  become  brutish,  and 
 have  not  sought  the  Lokd  :  therefore  they 
 shall  not  prosper,  and  all  their  flocks  shall  be 
 scattered. 
 
 22  Beliold,  the  noise  of  the  bruit  is  come, 
 and  a  great  commotion  out  of  the  ''  north  coun- 
 try, to  make  the  cities  of  Judah  desolate,  and 
 a  'don  of  dragons. 
 
 23  1i  O  Loud,  I  know  that  the  'way  of  man 
 is  not  in  Ijimself :  it  is  not  in  man  that  walk- 
 eth  to  direct  his  steps. 
 
 24  O  Lord,  'correct  me,  bnt  with  judgment ; 
 not  in  thine  anger,  lest  thou  f  bring  me  to 
 uotliing. 
 
 25  '  Pour  out  thy  fury  upon  the  heathen  "that 
 know  thee  not,  and  upon  the  families  tliat  call 
 not  on  thy  name  :  for  they  have  eaten  up  Ja- 
 cob, and  '^  devoured  him,  and  consumed  him, 
 and  have  made  his  habitation  desolate. 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 1  Jeremiah  proclaimcth  God^s  covenant,  8  rehuhth  the 
 Jews'  disobeying  tliereof,  1 1  proptiesiet/i  evils  to  come 
 upon  them,  18  and  upon  the  men  of  Anathoth,  for 
 covspiring  to  lull  Jeremiah. 
 
 'T'HE  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  the 
 -"-    Lord,  saying, 
 
 2  Hear  ye  the  words  of  this  covenant,  and 
 speak  unto  the  men  of  Judab,  and  to  the  inha- 
 bitants of  Jerusalem  ; 
 
 3  And  say  thou  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel ;  °  Cursed  be  the  man  that 
 obeyetb  not  the  words  of  this  covenant, 
 
 4  VVliich  I  commanded  your  fathers  in  the 
 day  that  I  brought  them  forth  out  of  the  land 
 of  Egypt,  ""from  the  iron  furnace,  saying,  'Obey 
 my  voice,  and  do  them,  according  to  all  which 
 I  command  you  :  so  shall  ye  be  my  people, 
 and  I  will  be  your  God  : 
 
 o  That  I  may  perform  the  ^  oath  which  I 
 have  sworn  unto  your  fathers,  to  give  them  a 
 land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  as  it  is  this 
 day.  Then  answered  I,  and  said,  f  So  be  it, 
 O  Lord. 
 
 6  Then  the  Lord  said  unto  me.  Proclaim  all 
 these  words  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the 
 streets  of  Jerusalem,  saying.  Hear  ye  the  words 
 of  this  covenant,  'and  do  them. 
 
 7  For  I  earnestly  protested  unto  your  fathers 
 
 I  Deu.  27.26 
 Gal.  3.  10. 
 
 b  neii.  4.  20. 
 1  Kin  8  51 
 
 d  neu.  7.  12, 
 13.  Pg.  105. 
 a,  lu. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ■Deu.  27.  15 
 —26. 
 
 !  Rom.  2.  IS 
 Jam.  I.S2. 
 
 B,  C. 
 
 K    C 
 
 cir.  6H<). 
 
 Cli-.   608. 
 
 /cl).4-.  19.  ■ 
 
 /Cb.7.  13,-:?.", 
 
 fi  21.  &9  1 
 
 &;(a    15. 
 
 >,  Mic.7.  9- 
 
 H  cli.  7-  26. 
 
 <>  ch.  1.  20. 
 
 hc]\.  3.  17. 
 
 &  7. 24.  &  9 
 
 11. 
 
 II  Or,  !lub- 
 
 boiiuiets. 
 
 i  F7e   22.  23 
 
 Hos.  6.  9. 
 
 A  Ezo,  SO.lfi 
 
 /'  ch.  1.  15. 
 
 &  4.  fi.  fe  5- 
 
 15.  &  li  aa 
 
 qch.  9.  II. 
 
 r  Pro.  16.  1. 
 
 &  -'U.  -J-i. 
 
 *  Ps   G.  I.  & 
 
 38.  l.cli.30 
 
 11. 
 
 t  Heb,  /'.  t/» 
 
 I  Heb.  dimi- 
 
 /•'r>l.'>f. 
 
 hUI,  mf. 
 
 (  Ps.  18    41, 
 
 I  Ps    79   6. 
 
 Pl<i.    1.  2H 
 
 .-  Tob  le.  21. 
 
 1  Tlies.  t.S. 
 
 Lh.    \k    \i. 
 
 •iTl.L'9. 1.8 
 
 E/ek.  8.  IB 
 
 Mic    3   4. 
 
 xcli.S,  IC. 
 
 Zech    7- \i 
 
 m  l>eii,  32. 
 
 37,  SS. 
 
 t  Heb.  evil. 
 
 )  Hob.  evil. 
 
 p  Ps.  50.  16. 
 
 Is,  I.  ll.&i-. 
 t  Heb.  ff-'/.i/ 
 
 is  10  mt/  ie- 
 
 lot'Cii  in  mi/ 
 
 Imie  t 
 
 I  Ezok,  16. 
 L*5,  ^c. 
 
 r  Uw^.  2.    12, 
 
 Tit.  1.  15. 
 
 II  Or,  «■/,«, 
 H:it  eiiil  is 
 
 .  Pro  2.  U. 
 (  Ps.  52.  B. 
 
 Rom.  11,17. 
 u  Is.  5.  2. 
 
 cli.2.  21. 
 
 ill  the  day  t/iat  I  brought  them  up  out  of  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  even  unto  this  day,  ''rising  early 
 and  protesting,  saying.  Obey  my  voice. 
 
 8  '■'Yet  they  obeyed  not,  nor  inclined  their 
 ear,  but  ''  walked  every  one  in  the  ||  imagina- 
 tion of  their  evil  heart :  therefore  I  will  bring 
 upon  them  all  the  words  of  this  covenant,  which 
 I  commanded  them  to  do  ;  but  they  did  them 
 not. 
 
 9  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  'A  conspiracy 
 is  found  among  the  men  of  Judah,  and  among 
 the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 10  They  are  turned  back  to  ''the  iniquities  of 
 their  forefathers,  which  refused  to  hear  my 
 words  ;  and  they  went  after  other  gods  to  serve 
 them  :  the  bouse  of  Israel  and  the  house  of 
 Judah  have  broken  my  covenant  wliich  I  made 
 with  their  fathers. 
 
 1 1  H  Therefore  thus  .saith  the  Lord,  Behold, 
 
 I  will  bring  evil  upon  them,  which  tbey  shall 
 not  be  able  f  to  escape  ;  and  '  thougli  they 
 shall  cry  unto  me,  I  will  not  hearken  unto 
 them. 
 
 12  Then  shall  the  cities  of  Judah  and  inha- 
 bitants of  Jerusalem  go,  and  "'cry  unto  the 
 gods  unto  whom  they  offer  incense  :  but  they 
 shall  not  save  them  at  all  in  the  time  of  their 
 f  trouble. 
 
 13  For  accordint)  to  the  number  of  thy 
 "  cities  were  thy  gods,  O  Judah  ;  and  according 
 to  the  number  of  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  have 
 ye  set  up  altars  to  that  f  shameful  thing,  even 
 altars  to  burn  incense  unto  Baal. 
 
 14  Therefore  "pray  not  thou  for  this  people, 
 neither  lift  up  a  cry  or  prayer  for  them  :  for  I 
 will  not  hear  them  in  the  time  that  .they  cry 
 unto  me  for  their  f  trouble. 
 
 15  ■'fWhat  hath  my  beloved  to  do  in  mine 
 house,  seeing  she  hath  ''wrought  lewdness  with 
 many,  and  'the  holy  flesh  is  passed  from  thee? 
 
 II  when  thou  doest  evil,  then  thou  "rejoicest. 
 
 16  The  Lord  called  thy  name,  'A  green 
 olive  tree,  fair,  and  of  goodly  fruit :  with  the 
 noise  of  a  great  tumult  he  hath  kindled  fire 
 upon  it,  and  the  branches  of  it  are  broken. 
 
 17  For  the  Lord  of  hosts,  "that  planted  thee, 
 hath  pronounced  evil  against  thee,  for  the  evil 
 of  the  house  of  Israel  and  of  the  house  of 
 Judah,  which  they  have  done  against  them- 
 selves to  provoke  me  to  anger  in  off'ering  in- 
 cense unto  Baal. 
 
 18  f  And  the  Lord  hath  given  me  knowledge 
 of  it,  and  I  know  it:  then  thou  shewedst  me 
 their  doings. 
 
 19  But  I  was  like  a  lamb  or  an  ox  that  is 
 brought  to  the  slaughter  ;  and  I  knew  not  that 
 
 —Boothr.  19.  Wee  is  me,  ffc. — language  put  by  the  prophet  into  the 
 moiilh  of  his  country.— B/«.  20.  Ny  tabernacle,  ^c,  •  my  cities  and 
 houses  are  rifled  and  destroyed  as  if  they  were  so  many  shepherds' 
 tents.' — Pre!).  Loteth.  Mt/  cords  are  broken,  all  the  supports  of  the 
 city  and  country  were  gone.—Poole.  22.  Beliold,  the  noise  of  the 
 bruit  is  come,  '  Hark,  a  noise  !  behold,  it  advanceth,'— B;«,,  adopted  by 
 Boothr.  '  The  voice  of  the  report !  behold,  it  is  come  !  yea,  great  com, 
 motion,'  fiC.—  Clarke.  23.  The  way  of  man  is  not  in  himself,  success 
 does  not  depend  upon  human  endeavours. — Preb.  Loteth.  24.  Cor. 
 rect  me,  but  with  judgment,  'seeing  thou  wilt  bring  the  Chaldeans 
 upon  us,  to  punish  us  for  our  sins,  let  it  be  a  correction  only,  and  not 
 a  destruction  and  utter  ruin.' — Poole.  25.  Pour  otit  thy  fury,  §-e.. 
 '  make  known  thy  justice  by  an  exemplary  punishment  on  the  Chal- 
 deans.'— Preh.  Loteth.     Knoie  thee  not,  'own  thee  not.' — Boothr. 
 
 CiiAp.  XI. —  1.  The  word  that  came,  ^c,  may  not  improperly  be  as- 
 signed to  the  latter  end  of  the  reign  of  Josiah,  when  the  people  relapsed. 
 
 — Bla.  4.  Iron  furnace — this  being  to  melt  and  purify  metals,  is  aa 
 apt  representation  of  any  sure  affliction,  5.  So  be  it — the  prophet 
 confirms  the  curse  according  to  the  form,  Deut.  xxvii.  2(),  approving 
 the  justice  of  it. — Preh.  Loteth.  13.  According  to  the  ttumber  of  thy 
 cities,  §v. — the  Israelites  had  contracted  the  fashionable  habits  of 
 Egypt ;  every  city  of  that  empire  had  its  own  tutelary  god,  besides  those 
 worshipped  in  common. — Warburtoti.  15,  What  hath  my  beloved, 
 ^c,  the  Jews,  once  my  beloved  people.  To  do  in  mine  house,  saith 
 God,  seeing  they  have  committed  spiritual  fornication  with  many  idols. 
 — Bp.  Hall.  T/ie  fioly  flesh  is  possecl,  ffc.,  '  the  flesh  of  thy  sacrifices 
 doth  not  profit  thee.' — Preb.  Lowth.  '  Shall  vows  and  holy  flesh  be 
 allowed  to  come  from  thee?' — Bla.,  as  Sept.  l6.  A  green  olive  tree, 
 — alluded  to  in  Rom.  xi.  17.  The  Jewish  nation  in  its  flourishing  state. 
 — Preb.  Loteth,  A  preat  tumult,  the  confused  murmur  of  the  Chaldean 
 array  coming  tumultuously  to  desolate  Jerusalem  with  fire  and  sword. 
 Bla.      18.  Knoteledge  of  it — this  relates  to  the  evil  designs  of  the  men 
 
 Reflections  ON   Chap.  X I.  Associating  with  sinners  is 
 
 dangerous.  Their  ways  are  often  fascinating  to  corrupt  nature, 
 but  they  lead  to  destruction.  The  objects  of  their  idolatrv  are 
 all  vanity. 
 
 795 
 
 II,  We  must  hear  witness  for  God,  even  when  suffering  for  our 
 sins.  By  this  we  shall  best  prove  that  our  afflictions  are  not 
 in  vain,  and  we  shall  vindicate  his  honour  in  all  his  dealings 
 witli  his  sinful  creatures. 
 
Ihe  ultimate  ruin  of  the  tviched. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XII. 
 
 A  conspiracy  against  Jeremiah. 
 
 *  tbey  had  devised  devices  against  me,  saying,^ 
 Let  us  destroy  t  the  tree  with  the  fruit  thereof, 
 ^and  let  us  cut  him  off  from  '  the  land  of  the 
 livhig,  that  his  name  may  be  no  more  remem- 
 bered. 
 
 20  But,  O  Lord  of  hosts,  thatjudgest  righte- 
 ously, that  "triest  tlie  reins  and  the  heart,  let 
 me  see  thy  vengeance  on  tiiem:  for  unto  thee 
 have  I  revealed  my  cause. 
 
 21  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Loud  of  the  men 
 of  Anathoth,  ^  that  seek  tliy  life,  saying,  "^  Pro- 
 phesy not  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  that  thou 
 die  not  by  our  hand  : 
 
 22  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 Behold,  I  will  t  punish  them  :  the  young  men 
 shall  die  by  the  sword  ;  their  sons  and  their 
 daughters  shall  die  by  famine  : 
 
 23  And  there  shall  be  no  renuiant  of  them  : 
 for  I  will  bring  evil  upon  tlie  men  of  Anathoth, 
 even  ''  the  year  of  their  visitation. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 ]   Jeremiah,  cotnplaijting  of  the  wicked's  prosperitif,  ht/ 
 
 faith  sreth  their  ruin.  5  Gnd  admomsheth  him  of 
 his  hrethrens  treachcrij  against  him,  7  and.  htmnUith 
 his  heritage.  14  //e  promi^eth  to  the  penitent  rtturn 
 from  captivity. 
 
 "piGHTEOUS  "art  thou,  O  Lord,  when  I 
 •'-*'  plead  with  thee  :  yet  ||  let  me  talk  with 
 thee  of  Mt/ judgments  :  ''Wherefore  doth  the 
 way  of  the  wicked  prosper?  nherefore  are  all 
 they  happy  that  deal  very  treacherously? 
 
 2  Thou  hast  planted  them,  yea,  they  Iiave 
 taken  root :  f  they  grow,  yea,  they  bring  forth 
 fruit:  '^  thou  art  near  in  their  mouth,  and  far 
 from  their  reins. 
 
 3  But  thou,  O  Lord,  "^  knowest  me:  thoU 
 hast  seen  me,  and  "^  tried  mine  heart  t  toward 
 thee :  pull  them  out  like  sheep  for  the  slaughter, 
 and  prepare  them  for  *"  the  day  of  slaughter. 
 
 4  How  long  shall  ^  the  land  mourn,  and  the 
 herbs  of  every  field  witlier,  ''for  tiie  wickedness 
 of  them  that  dwell  therein?  'the  beasts  are 
 consumed,  and  the  birds  ;  because  they  said, 
 He  shall  not  see  our  last  end. 
 
 5  If  If  thou  hast  run  with  the  footmen,  and 
 they  have  wearied  thee,  then  how  canst  thou 
 contend  witli  horses?  and  if\n  the  land  of 
 peace,  wherein  thou  trnstedst,  thei/  wearied 
 thee,  then  how  wilt  thou  do  in  ^  the  swelling 
 
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 of  Jordan  ? 
 
 6  For  even  '  thy  brethren,  and  the  house  of 
 thy  father,  even  they  have  dealt  treaclieron.sly 
 with  thee  ;  yea,  ||  they  have  called  a  multitude 
 after  thee:  ""believe  them  not,  though  they 
 speak  t  fair  vi'ords  unto  thee. 
 
 7  If  I  have  forsaken  mine  liouse,  I  have  left 
 mine  heritage  ;  I  have  given  f  the  dearly  be- 
 loved of  my  soul  into  the  hand  of  her  enemies, 
 
 8  Mine  heritage  is  unto  me  as  a  lion  in  the 
 forest;  it  ||  fcrieth  out  against  me  :  therefore 
 have  I  hated  it. 
 
 9  Mine  heritage  is  unto  me  as  a  |]speckled 
 bird,  the  birds  round  about  are  against  her  j 
 come  ye,  assemble  all  the  beasts  of  the  field, 
 11  "come  to  devour, 
 
 10  Many  "pastors  have  destroyed  ""my  vine- 
 yard, they  have  ''  trodden  my  portion  vnider 
 foot,  they  have  made  my  f  pleasant  portion  a 
 desolate  wilderness. 
 
 1 1  They  have  made  it  desolate,  and  beiny 
 desolate  '  it  mourneth  unto  me ;  the  whole 
 land  is  made  desolate,  because  'no  man  layeth 
 it  to  heart. 
 
 12  The  spoilers  are  come  upon  all  high  places 
 through  the  wilderness  :  for  the  sword  of  the 
 Lord  shall  devour  from  the  one  end  of  the  land 
 even  to  the  other  end  of  the  land  :  no  flesh 
 shall  have  peace. 
 
 VA  '  They  have  sown  wheat,  but  shall  reap 
 thorns  :  they  have  put  themselves  to  pain,  but 
 shall  not  profit :  and  ||  they  shall  be  ashamed 
 of  your  revenues  because  of  the  fierce  anger  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 14  1[  Thus  saith  the  Lord  against  all  mine 
 evil  neighbours,  that  "  touch  the  inheritance 
 which  1  have  caused  my  people  Israel  to  in- 
 herit ;  Behold,  LwiU  '  pluck  them  out  of  their 
 land,  and  pluck  out  the  house  of  Judah  from 
 among  them, 
 
 15  'And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  after  that  I 
 have  plucked  them  out  I  will  return,  and  have 
 compassion  on  them,  ^  and  will  bring  them 
 again,  every  man  to  his  heritage,  and  every 
 man  to  his  land, 
 
 16  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  they  will  di- 
 ligently learn  the  ways  of  my  people, ''to  swear 
 by  my  name.  The  Lord  liveth  ;  as  they  taught 
 my  people  to  swear  by  Baal  ;  then  shall  they 
 be  ''  built  in  the  midst  of  my  people. 
 
 of  Aoathoth,  against  the  prophet,  which  he  said  God  had  revealed  to 
 him. — Preb.  Lowth.  19,  Let  us  destroy  t/ie  tree  with  tke  fntit,  '  let 
 us  not  only  put  an  end  to  his  prophcsyinj?,  but  to  his  being  also,' — Poole. 
 20.  Let  me  see  tfij/  i.er:^e(ince,  Sfc,  HNIK,  rather,  '  I  shall  see  thy  pu- 
 nishment inflicted  on  them.' — .4,  Ctiirke.  23,  The  year  of  their  visi- 
 tiftioti,  often  signifies  a  set  or  determined  time  to  punish  sin,  (see  Isa, 
 1x1,  i.)—Preh.  Lou-th. 
 
 Chap.  XII. —  ].  Wherefore  dnth  the  tvay  of  the  wicked  prosper? 
 §'C,,  a  dispcn?atinn  which,  in  all  ages,  hatii  been  made  an  objection 
 against  providence,  and  en  that  account  been  a  stumbling  block  even 
 to  good  men,  (sec  Job,  xit.  6  ;  .\xi.  7,  &c. ;  Ps.  xxxvii.  and  Ixxiii.) 
 2,  Reins,  i.e.,  '  tlinushts,'  'inward  riispositinns,' — Preb.  Lowth.  See 
 Ps.  vii,  9,  note,  4,  lie  shiilt  not  see  our  lust  end,  i.  e.,  he  will  not  con- 
 cern himself  about  rewarding  or  punishing  us  hereafter, — Bin.  5.  If 
 thou  hast  n/n  with  ihe  footmen,  fyc. — proverbial.  Footmen  may  be 
 taken  from  the  Philistines,  Edomites,  &c,,  fighting  on  foot.  Horses, 
 the  Chaldeans,  who  used  much  cavalry,  —  So  Clarke.  Swelling  of 
 Jordan — this  refers  to  tlie  periodical  overflow  of  its  banks,  chiefly  caused 
 by  the  melting  of  the  snows  on  the  eastern  range  of  Lebanon.— S?(^ 
 The  ravages  of  hostile  invasion  are  oflen  represented,  ir  Scripture, 
 under  the  image  of  a  river  rising  rapidly  above  its  banks,  and  carrying 
 
 all  before  it, — Bla,  The  sense  of  the  proverb  seems  to  be,  if  thou  be 
 nfit  able  to  encounter  less  dangers,  how  wilt  thou  be  able  to  overcome 
 greater?  G,  Thy  brethren, the  men  of  Anathoth,  thine  own  town  and 
 country. — Poole.  g.  Mine  lieritage  is  unto  me  as  a  speektrd  bird,  a 
 
 species  of  eagle  or  falcon. — Bla.  Or  '  a  taloncd  bird,'  only  fit  for  prey 
 and  for  deeds  of  violence. — Preb,  Lowth,  '  The  hyena  hath  tiigged  up 
 my  heritage  for  mc' — Uoothr.  The  Sept.  understand  it  of  the  hyena  ; 
 so  also  does  Bochnrt.  10,  Pastors,  governors  and  princes,  who  by 
 
 oppression  laid  waste  the  vineyaid, — Boothr.  The  generals  of  the 
 Chaldean  army. — S  >  the  Chaldee  Paraphrase.  Sec  chap,  vi,  3,  note, 
 13.  Of  your  revenues,  '  ofyour  crops.' — Boothr.  14.  Mine  evil  neigh- 
 bours— this  prophecy  threatens,  chiefly,  Idumeans,  Moabites,  Ammon- 
 ites, and  Pliilistines,  against  whom  Jeremiah  prophesies,  (chap,  xlvii,, 
 xlviii.,  xlix.,  and  Ezck.  xxv.)  15.  And  wilt  bring  them  again — the 
 
 threatened  captivity  seems  to  have  been  confined  to  seventy  years,  (see 
 chap,  xxv,  11  ;  xxvii.  7;  Isa,  xxiii.  15,^ — Preb.  Lowth,  There  seems 
 to  be  an  allusion,  in  this  part  of  the  prophecy,  to  the  calling  of  the 
 Gentiles, — Poole,  16,  Then  shall  they  be  built,  ?)-c. — this  is  supposed 
 to  be  a  promise  of  the  conversion  of  the  Gentiles,  and  incorporation  of 
 Jews  and  Gentiles  in  the  Christian  church. — Clarke,  Scott, 
 
 U^Fi.ECTioNs  ON  Chap.  XI I.    The prophrt  here  denounces  gospeP' 
 
 Israel  for  their  disobcdUnre.     Profession  and  privileges  are  no-  II,  Israel  conspire  aqaittst  (lie  prophet  for  his  fdi  lit// ;  and  at 
 
 tiling,  if  we  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  God's  '  commands."     God  still  tlie  head  of  this  conspiracy  is  Anathotii',  acily  of  priests.   How 
 
 says,  in  his  word,  '  Obey  my  voice.'     Ho  gives  us  precepts  awful  is  the  slate  of  a  nation,  when  a  blind  people  are  led  by 
 
 as  well  as  promises  ;  and  enjoying  as  we  do  the  clearest  mani.  a  set  of  blind  pastors!  '  for  if  ihe  blind  lead  the  blind,  they 
 
 testations  of  God's  will,  enforced  by  tbe  powerful  motive  of  must  both  fall  into  the  ditch,  and  so  pensh  together.' 
 God's  love,  '  what  shall  the  end  of  those  be  that  obcv  not  the 
 796 
 
The  people's  destruction  prefigured. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XIII. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  repentance. 
 
 17  But  if  they  will  not  "obey,  I  will  utterly 
 pluck  up  and  destroy  that  nation,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  In  the  iypi:  of  a  linen  girdle,  hidden  at  Euphrates, 
 God  prejiytireth  the  destnietion  of  his  people.  12 
 Under  the  parable  of  the  bottles  Jilled  with  rvine  he 
 foretelleth  their  drunkenness  in  misery.  15  He  ex~ 
 Itorteth  to  prevent  their  ftdure  judi/meitts.  22  He 
 shetvet.h  their  abominations  arc  the  eause  thereof. 
 
 T^HUS  saith  the  Lord  unto  me,  Go  and  get 
 -*•  thee  a  linen  girdle,  and  put  it  upon  thy 
 loins,  and  put  it  not  in  water. 
 
 2  So  I  got  a  girdle  according  to  the  word  of 
 the  Lord,  and  put  it  on  my  loins. 
 
 3  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me 
 the  second  time,  saying, 
 
 4  Take  the  girdle  that  thou  hast  got,  which 
 is  upon  thy  loins,  and  arise,  go  to  Euphrates, 
 and  hide  it  there  in  a  hole  of  the  rock. 
 
 5  So  I  went,  and  hid  it  by  Euphrates,  as  the 
 Lord  commanded  me. 
 
 t)  And  it  came  to  pass  after  many  days,  that 
 the  Lord  said  unto  me,  Arise,  go  to  Euphrates, 
 and  take  the  girdle  from  thence,  which  I  com- 
 manded thee  to  hide  there. 
 
 7  Then  I  went  to  Euphrates,  and  digged,  and 
 took  the  girdle  from  the  place  where  I  had  hid 
 it :  and,  behold,  the  girdle  was  marred,  it  was 
 profitable  for  nothing. 
 
 8  Then  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me, 
 saying, 
 
 9  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  After  this  manner 
 °  will  I  mar  the  pride  of  Judah,  and  the  great 
 pride  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 10  This  evil  people,  which  refuse  to  hear  my 
 words,  which  ^  walk  in  the  ||  imagination  of 
 their  heart,  and  walk  after  other  gods,  to  serve 
 them,  and  to  worship  them,  shall  even  be  as 
 this  girdle,  which  is  good  for  nothing. 
 
 1 1  For  as  the  girdle  cleaveth  to  the  loins  of 
 a  man,  so  have  I  caused  to  cleave  unto  me  the 
 whole  house  of  Israel  and  the  whole  house  of 
 Judah,  saith  the  Lord  ;  that  "  they  might  be 
 unto  me  for  a  people,  and  ''for  a  name,  and  for 
 a  praise,  and  for  a  glory  :  but  they  would  not 
 hear. 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  602. 
 
 (  la.  51.  17, 
 81.  &63.1J. 
 ch.  25.  27,8. 
 51.  7. 
 
 ;"P8.  2.  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  A  man 
 
 bruthfr. 
 t  Heb./roHj 
 
 h  Is.  5.  30. 
 &  8   22. 
 Anins  8.  9 
 
 I  cli.  0.  1. 
 itt  14.  17. 
 Lam.  1.  2, 
 
 Ifi    &2.  18, 
 
 b  ch.  9.  14. 
 S:  II.  8.  & 
 
 c  Ex.  19.  5. 
 d  ch.  33.  9. 
 
 ..  I'h.  6  y4. 
 /.  i-h.  .1.  19. 
 
 &  16-  10. 
 »  I«.  3.  17. 
 
 &  47.  ?,  3. 
 
 ver   26. 
 
 ICie    IG   S7 
 
 38.  39 
 
 N.ih  3.  5 
 II  Oi',  3>'fillbe 
 
 „i,,Ui,ll!i 
 
 liiheii  amni/ 
 
 12  H  Therefore  thou  shalt  speak  unto  them 
 this  word  ;  Thus  saith  tlie  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
 Every  bottle  shall  be  filled  with  wine  :  and  they 
 shall  say  unto  thee.  Do  we  not  certainly  know 
 that  every  bottle  shall  be  filled  with  wine? 
 
 13  Then  shalt  thou  say  unto  them,  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord,  Behold,  I  will  fill  all  the  inhabitants 
 of  this  land,  even  the  kings  that  sit  upon  Da- 
 vid's throne,  and  the  priests,  and  the  prophets, 
 and  all  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  °  with 
 drunkenness. 
 
 14  And  ■■  I  will  dash  them  f  one  against  an- 
 other, even  the  fathers  and  the  sons  together, 
 saith  the  Lord  :  I  will  not  pity,  nor  spare,  nor 
 have  mercy,  f  but  destroy  them. 
 
 15  T  Hear  ye,  and  give  ear;  be  not  proud  : 
 for  the  Lord  hath  spoken. 
 
 16  ^  Give  glory  to  the  Lord  your  God,  be- 
 fore he  cause  ''  darkness,  and  before  your  feet 
 stumble  upon  the  dark  mountains,  and,  while 
 ye  '  look  for  light,  he  turn  it  into  '  the  shadow 
 of  death,  and  make  it  gross  darkness. 
 
 17  But  if  ye  will  not  hear  it,  my  soul  shall 
 weep  in  secret  places  for  your  pride  ;  and 
 '  mine  eye  shall  weep  sore,  and  run  down  with 
 tears,  because  the  Lord's  flock  is  carried  away 
 captive. 
 
 18  Say  unto  '"the  king  and  to  the  queen, 
 Humble  yourselves,  sit  down  :  for  your  ||  prin- 
 cipalities shall  come  down,  even  the  crown  of 
 your  glory. 
 
 19  The  cities  of  the  south  shall  be  shut  up, 
 and  none  shall  open  them :  Judah  shall  be 
 carried  away  captive  all  of  it,  it  shall  be  wholly 
 carried  away  captive. 
 
 20  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  behold  them  "  that 
 come  from  the  north  :  where  is  the  flock  t/irit 
 was  given  thee,  thy  beautiful  flock  ? 
 
 21  What  wilt  thou  say  when  he  shall  f  punish 
 thee  ?  for  thou  hast  taught  them  to  be  captains, 
 and  as  chief  over  thee  :  shall  not  °  sorrows  take 
 thee,  as  a  woman  in  travail  ? 
 
 22  II  And  if  thou  say  in  thine  heart,  ^  Where- 
 fore come  these  things  upon  me?  For  the 
 greatness  of  thine  iniquity  are  ''  thy  skirts  dis- 
 covered, and  thy  heels  ||  made  bare. 
 
 23  Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his  skin,  or  the 
 
 Chap.XIH.—  I.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  ^-c— this  is  a  distinct  pro- 
 pliecy,  under  two  symbols,  of  the  utter  ruin  which  was  to  fall  upon  the 
 whole  Jewish  nation. — Itlj.  A  linen  girdle — the  prophet  probably  wore 
 one  of  leather,  hence  the  direction  here  given.  Eastern  girdles  are 
 usually  of  linen,  cotton,  or  silk,  wound  in  numerous  folds  around  the 
 waist. — Piet.  Bill.  Put  it  nut  in  water,  do  not  wash  it,  but  leave  it  in 
 the  lilthiness  contracted  in  wearing. — Bla.  Thus  representing  the 
 wickerlness  and  corruption  of  the  Jews. — Hew.  4.  Gu  to  Euphrates, 
 fye. — this  action  signified  being  carried  captives,  and  their  state  of  ob- 
 scurity.— Gitt.  5.  So  I  we?tt — most  think  this  was  done  in  a  vision, 
 (so  Bla,  and  Boothr.,)  the  journey  to  the  Euphrates  being  very  great. 
 .—Sul.  150  leagues. — Cat.  He  made  the  two  journeys.  Several  things 
 are  related  in  Scripture  as  actually  done,  which  yet  were  only  trans- 
 acted in  a  vision. — Preb.  Lowt/t.  Ephrata,  near  Bethlehem,  is  per- 
 haps intended.— BocA.  12.  Every  bottle,  §■(?.— this  seems  to  have 
 been  a  proverbial  expression,  and  applied  in  different  ways.  The  pro- 
 phet explains  the  meaning,  that,  as  the  bottle  was  fitted  to  hold  the 
 wine,  so  their  sins  had  made  them  vessels  of  wrath  fitted  for  the  judg- 
 ments of  God. — Scott.  13.  /  will  Jilt,  fifC. — God's  judgments  arc  often 
 represented  under  the  figure  of  a  cup  of  into.vicating  liquor,  (see  chap. 
 XXV.  15,  &C.1— PreA.  Lowth.  14.  /  will  dash,  §■('.— they  shall  be  like 
 earthen  bottles  dashing  one  against  the  other  with  their  intestine  com- 
 motions, and  so,  easily  broken  in  pieces. — Poole.  16.  Give  glory,  §-c., 
 confess  your  faults  and  humble  yourselves,  (see  Josh.  vii.  19.) — Preb. 
 Lowth.     Stumble  on  the  dark  mountains^  fleeing  in  vain  from  the 
 
 Chaldeans.— Stt^  Before  you  meet  with  insurmountable  objects. ~ 
 Clarke.  Before  a  time  of  perplexing  affliction.-Poo/c.  18.  Sit  down, 
 a  posture  of  humiliation  in  affliction,  (Judg.  xx.  26 ;  Job,  ii.  8  ;  Isa.  iii. 
 26.)— Bla.  For  your  prineipalities,  ^e.,  'head  tires;'  addressed,  per- 
 haps, to  Jehoiakim  and  his  queen. — Bia. 
 
 '  For  he  will  cause  to  fall  from  your  heads 
 The  diadem  of  your  glory.'— Boo/Ar. 
 
 19.  Of  the  south,  'Judea,'  so  called  in  opposition  to  Chaldea,  called 
 'the  north.'  Shut  up,  "n^D,  the  word  often  signifies  'giving  up  into 
 the  power  of  another.'  UapaMi^ypi.  Sept.,  (see  Deut.  x.xiii.  ^i  xxii. 
 30;  1  Sara,  xxiii.  12;  Job,  xvi.  11  ;  Ps.  Ixxviii.  48.)  20.  Where  is  the 
 flock,  Sfc. — the  state  is  asked,  in  a  sarcastical  manner,  to  what  state  is 
 the  Lord's  flock  (ver.  17)  reduced,  which  was  formerly  so  flourishing? 
 — Preb.  Lowth,  so  Bin.  21.  Thou  hast  taught  them  to  be-captains, 
 §■(?. — when  Ahaz  called  in  the  assistance  of  Tiglath.Pilcser,  and  made 
 himself  tributary  to  the  king  of  Assyria,  he  taught  the  Assyrians  how 
 they  might  become  masters  and  conquerors  over  his  own  country  when- 
 ever they  pleased,  (see  2  Kings,  xvi.  7;  2  Chron.  xwiii.  'iQ.)—Preb. 
 Lowth.  The  wicked  manners  of  the  people  are  chiefly  designed,  which 
 put  them  out  of  the  protection  of  Almighty  God.— B/m.  22.  Skirts 
 discovered,  §-c.  —  alluding  to  the  cruelty  of  carrying  away  captives 
 naked,  as  practised  at  that  time,  (see  Isa.  iii.  17  ;  xx.  4  ;  xlvii.  3;  Lam. 
 i.  8  ;  iv.  21  ;  Nah.  iii.  5.) — Preb,  Lowth.  23.  Can  the  Ethiopian,  ^n., 
 '  the  Cusbite.' — Bla.     A  proverbial  expression,  adduced  to  aggravate 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XII. — I.  Good  men  arc  often  per- 
 plexed at  the  prosperity  of  the  unfjodly.  So  were  David  ( Ps. 
 xxxviii. ).  anil  Asaph  (Ps.  Ixxiii.),  and  Jeremiah.  And  the 
 subject  was  the  more  perplexing  under  a  dispen.sation  which 
 largely  promised  present  blessings  to  the  obedient,  jilut  in 
 dispensations  whicii  our  finite  minds  cannot  comprehend,  one 
 truth  should  silence  every  murmur— God  is  kighteous. 
 797 
 
 II.  The  present  prosperitij  of  the  mitjndlt/  is  no  secttriiy  against 
 future  punishment.  The  more  bountiful  God  is  to  them,  the 
 'more  does  their  base  ingratitude  appear  ;  and  the  accumulat- 
 ing favours  of  Providence,  awfully  abused,  will  at  last  turn  to 
 a  fatal  account,  for  the  recipients  of  them  will  thus  only  heap 
 up  '  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath.' 
 
A  grievous  famine. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XIV. 
 
 Jertm  iah  V  intercession. 
 
 leoparil  his  spots  ?  then  may  ye  also  do  good, 
 that  are  f  accustomed  to  do  evil. 
 
 24  Therefore  will  I  scatter  them  'as  the 
 stubble  that  passeth  away  by  the  wind  of  the 
 wiiderness. 
 
 25  "  This  is  thy  lot,  the  portion  of  thy  mea- 
 sures from  me,  saitli  the  Lord  ;  because  thou 
 hast  forgotten  ine,  and  trusted  in  'falsehood. 
 
 2(5  Therefore  "will  I  discover  thy  skirts  upon 
 thy  face,  that  thy  shame  may  appear. 
 
 27  I  have  seen  thine  adulteries,  and  thy 
 "  neighings,  the  lewdness  of  thy  whoredom, 
 and  thine  abominations  ^  on  tlie  hills  in  the 
 fields.  Woe  unto  thee,  O  Jerusalem !  wilt 
 thou  not  be  made  clean '?  f  when  shall  it  once 
 be? 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  The  qrievovs  famine^  7  rauseth  Jirertiiah  to  pray. 
 10  The  Lord  ivill  7iot  be  entreated  f'uj-  the  people.  13 
 Lyin(f  proplieis  are  7to  e.Tcusc  for  them.  17  jiremiafi 
 is  moved  to  eomphiiii  fur  ttiem. 
 
 T^IIE  word  of  the  Lonu  that  came  to  Jere- 
 •*■    miali  concerning  f  tlie  dearth. 
 
 2  Judah  mournetli,  and  °  the  gates  thereof 
 languish;  they  are  i"  black  unto  the  ground; 
 and  '  the  cry  of  Jerusalem  is  gone  up. 
 
 3  And  their  nobles  have  sent  their  little  ones 
 to  the  waters :  they  came  to  the  pits,  wie/ 
 found  no  water ;  tliey  returned  with  their 
 vessels  empty  ;  they  were  ''  ashamed  and  con- 
 founded, "  and  covered  their  heads. 
 
 4  Because  tlie  ground  is  cliajit,  for  there  was 
 no  rain  in  the  earth,  the  plowmen  were  ashamed, 
 they  covered  their  lieads. 
 
 5  Yea,  the  hind  also  calved  in  the  field,  and 
 forsook  it,  because  there  was  no  grass. 
 
 G  And  ''the  wild  asses  did  stand  in  the  high 
 places,  they  snuffed  up  the  wind  like  dragons  ; 
 their  eyes  did  fail,  because  there  was  no  grass. 
 
 7  f  O  Lord,  though  our  iniquities  testify 
 against  us,  do  thou  it  ^  for  thy  niame's  .sake  : 
 for  our  backslidings  are  many  ;  we  have  sinned 
 against  tliee. 
 
 8  ''  O  the  hope  of  Israel,  the  saviour  thereof 
 in  time  of  trouble,  why  shouldest  thou  be  as  a 
 stranger  in  the  land,  and  as  a  wayfaring  man 
 that  turneth  aside  to  tarry  for  a  night  ? 
 
 d  Ps    .11).    H. 
 fi  Sam.  15. 
 
 n.  c. 
 
 0.  C. 
 
 cir.  fiOi. 
 
 Cir.  {JOI. 
 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 .  Is.  .-iO.  1. 
 
 tnoohf. 
 
 k  ¥.\.  *>9.  1^, 
 
 r   Vs.  1.   4, 
 
 4'i.  I,ev,  26. 
 
 Ho8.  13.  3. 
 
 II,  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  % 
 
 unmeitcaU' 
 
 f  Job  20.  29. 
 
 tti  upon  ui. 
 
 Pa.  11.  6. 
 
 Vnn.  9.  13, 
 
 I'l. 
 
 I  S.-e  ch   'J- 
 
 (  ch.  10.  H. 
 
 ■ii,  '21,  25 
 
 ..1  Hos.  S.  13 
 
 M  ver.  22. 
 L,ii]n.  1.  8. 
 Kze.  16.  37. 
 
 Hos.  2.  10. 
 
 &  9.  9. 
 r,  Ex    3l'.  lu 
 ch   7    16.  f^: 
 11.  U. 
 
 J-  ch.  5.  8. 
 
 o  Pio.    1  .  CS 
 
 Is.  1.  15.  ^ 
 
 7  Is,  65.  7. 
 
 53.  3 
 
 ch.  2   SO.  & 
 
 ch.  11.  11. 
 
 :i  2,  6. 
 
 Kxck.  8.  18, 
 
 K/ek.  G.  13. 
 
 Mic   3.  l. 
 
 t  Heb.  nf(^ 
 
 Zech.  7    |:i 
 
 Kke',  yel  f 
 
 p  cli    0.  20 
 
 &  7.  -Jl,  '.'S. 
 
 9  ch.  8.  16. 
 
 r  ch.  4.  10. 
 
 t  Heh.  pcave 
 
 Ofl'Uth. 
 
 *  ch.  27.  10. 
 
 cir.  601. 
 
 /ch,  23.  21. 
 
 t  Hcb.  tU» 
 ,c.,dffthe 
 
 H  27.  15.  & 
 29.  8,  S. 
 
 ileurihi,  or, 
 
 T'llrn  iiilt. 
 
 a  U    3.  S6. 
 
 b  ch.  8.31. 
 
 •:  See  1  Sam. 
 
 w(;h,9,  1.  & 
 13.17.  Lam. 
 1.   10.  8t  2. 
 
 ..  KipV.7,15 
 [|  Or,  mnka 
 nirrcfiOnditi 
 at/niiiil  a 
 U„d,  ai.d 
 
 knottMg*  ii 
 
 ml. 
 
 Ch.  5.  13. 
 
 9  Why  shouldest  thou  be  as  a  luau  astonied, 
 as  a  migiity  man  '  that  cannot  save  ?  yet  thou, 
 
 0  Lord,  ''  art  in  the  midst  of  us,  and  |  we  are 
 called  by  thy  name  ;  leavens  not. 
 
 10  t  Thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  this  people, 
 '  Thus  have  they  loved  to  wander,  tlioy  have 
 not  refrained  their  feet,  therefore  the  Lord  doth 
 not  accept  them  ;  '"  lie  will  now  remember  their 
 iniquity,  and  vi.sit  their  sins. 
 
 1 1  Then  said  the  Lord  unto  me,  "  Pray  not 
 for  this  people  for  thtir  good. 
 
 12  **  When  they  fast,  1  will  not  hear  their  cry  ; 
 and  ""wlien  tliey  offer  burnt  offering  and  an  ob- 
 lation, I  will  not  accept  them  :  but''  I  will  con- 
 sume them  by  tlie  sword,  and  by  the  famine, 
 and  by  tlie  pestilence. 
 
 LS  1['"Then  said  1,  Ah,  Lord  God!  behold, 
 the  prophets  say  unto  them,  Ye  shall  not  see 
 the  sword,  neither  shall  ye  have  famine  ;  but  I 
 will  give  you  f  assured  peace  in  this  place. 
 
 14  Then  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  "The  pro- 
 phets prophesy  lies  in  my  name  :  '  I  sent  them 
 not,  neither  have  I  commanded  them,  neither 
 spake  unto  them  :  they  prophesy  unto  you  a 
 "alse  vision  and  divination,  and  a  thing  of 
 iKHight,  and  the  deceit  of  their  heart. 
 
 15  Therefore  thus  saitli  the  Lord  concerning 
 the  prophets  that  prophesy  in  my  name,  and  I 
 sent  them  not,  "  yet  they  say,  Sword  and  fa- 
 mine shall  not  be  in  this  land  ;  By  sword  and 
 famine  shall  those  prophets  be  consumed. 
 
 16  And  the  people  to  whom  they  prophesy 
 sliall  be  cast  out  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem 
 because  of  the  famine  and  the  sword  ;  "  and 
 they  shall  have  none  to  bury  them,  them,  their 
 wives,  nor  tiieir  sons,  nor  their  daughters  :  for 
 
 1  will  pour  tlieir  wickedness  upon  them. 
 
 17  H  Tlierefore  thou  shalt  say  tliis  word  unto 
 them  ;  -''  Let  mine  eyes  run  down  with  tears 
 night  and  day,  and  let  them  not  cease  ;  '  for 
 the  virgin  daughter  of  my  people  is  broken 
 witli  a  great  breach,  with  a  very  grievous  blow. 
 
 18  If  I  go  forth  into  ''the  field,  then  behold 
 the  slain  with  the  sword  !  and  if  I  enter  into 
 the  city,  then  behold  them  that  are  sick  with 
 famine!  yea,  both  the  prophet  and   the  priest 
 
 ;o  about  into  a  land  that  they  know  not. 
 
 the  incorrig:ible  obstinacy  of  the  Jews. — Scotf.  26.   Discot'er  thri 
 
 skirts,  ^n. — the  allusion  is  to  the  treatment  which  captive,  and  also 
 adulterous,  women  sometimes  met  with. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. —  1.  The  tvord,  fyc,  delivered,  probably,  in  the  begin- 
 ning of  Jchoiakim's  reign.  2.  Coricemijjg  theden.th,  or  'restraints,' 
 i.  e,,  '  drought.'  Some  think  this  was  in  the  reign  of  Jehniakim,  since 
 we  read  of  a  fast  in  his  time,  (chap,  xxxvi.  g,)  which  might  be  on  tliis 
 occasion  ;  and  it  appears  that  ihere  was  one  at  tliis  time  not  accept- 
 able, (vcr.  12.)  — Gj7/.  2.  The  gates — these  were  places  of  public  re- 
 sort ;  it  means,  '  the  persons  there  are  dejected,*  as  we  say  '  the  com  t 
 is  in  mourning.'  They  put  on  mourning  for  natiunal  distress. — Bin. 
 3.  Their  litth-  ones,  tlieir  own  children,  having  put  away  their  servants; 
 or  itniJiy  mean  'tlieir  menials.'— GiV/.  'Their  children.' — Bin.,  Cltirke. 
 Better  translated,  'servants.' — Poole.  Pits,  cisterns  from  the  upper 
 and  lower  pool,  which  supplied  Jerusalem,  (see  Isa.  vii.  3j  xxii.  9.) — 
 Preh.  Lotvth.  Covered  their  hfttds — see  chap.  ii.  37.  note.  4.  Chajit — 
 see  Ps.  cxliii.  6,  note.  The  plowmen  were  ashamed — the  husbandni;)n 
 cannot  plough  the  ground  when,  from  drought,  it  is  full  of  large  lis. 
 sures,  and  he  waits,  and  looks  out  for  rain. — Rob.        5.  The  hind  also 
 
 calved  in  the  field,  instead  of  the  usual  places,  mountains  and  wilder- 
 nesscs,  having  tried  the  lower  grounds  for  grass,  but  here  it  failed; 
 and  this  nit  st  loving  creature  to  her  j  oung  even  forsook  them  to  seek 
 grass  elsewhere,  not  having  any  moisture  to  give  suck.  G.  The  wild 
 asses,  ^-c  — wanting  water,  they  got  on  the  high  places,  where  was  the 
 coolest  air,  and  socked  in  the  wind. — Poole.  Like  drngons — ^linn 
 describes  great  serpents  as  standing  erect  for  hours  daily,  and  their 
 mouths  wide  open  to  draw  in  the  air. — Bin.  7.  Do  thou  it  for  (hy 
 nnine*s  suke,  '  do  ihou  act  for  thy  namesake.' — Boothr.  9.  As  a  vtmi 
 astonied,  Drn3,  'astounded,'  paralyzed  with  fear. — Std.  'As  one 
 asleep,'  Sept.  As  it  mighty  man  that,  ^-c,  '  as  a  man  that  hath  no 
 power  to  ^ave.' — Bmithr.  10.  Doth  nut  accept  theiu,  'takes  no  plea- 
 sure in  them,'  so  the  word  is. — Hen.  18.  Yea,  both  the  prophet, 
 
 '  Yet,  both  the  prophet  and  also  the  priest 
 Go  trafficking  about  the  land,  and  care  not.' — Boothr. 
 
 They  went  trafficking  about  with  their  false  doctrines  and  lyings  pre- 
 dictions, as  pedlers  with  their  wares,  seeking  their  own  gains.— Ji/u. 
 
 Rv.F  LECTIONS  ON  Chap.  XIIL  —  1.  The  sinRular  mode  ofin- 
 struction  God  here  employed  by  bis  prophet  teaches  us  that 
 every  means  should  he  Jtsrd  to  awaktti  men  to  a  sense  of  tin  ir 
 danger  by  sin.  As  we  are  not  endowed  with  the  .spirit  of  pro- 
 phecy, it  would  be  ridiculous  to  exhibit  a  rotten  girdle  as  iIil' 
 emblem  of  tlie  ultimate  ruin  of  the  proud  and  darine;  sinner. 
 I3ut  when  one  means  fails  of  impressing,  let  oaother  be  tried  ; 
 and  let  private  Christians,  as  well  as  ministers,  learn  to  be 
 ingenious  in  giving  warnings,  and  exhortations,  and  invita- 
 tions to  Christ,  if  so  be  they  cau  by  any  means  rescue  souls 
 from  destruction. 
 
 IL  The  striking  proverb  of  the  unchangeable  qualities  of 
 the  Ethiopian's  skin,  and  the  leopard's  spots,  may  shew  us  the 
 798 
 
 danger  of  cnntraelinij  evil  habits.  Sin  may  be  yielded  to  till  it 
 becomes  habitual.  Parents  and  guardians  of  youth  should 
 particularly  watch  their  habits. 
 
 '  II!  habits  gather  by  unseen  degrees, 
 As  brooks  run  rivers,  rivers  run  to  seas.' 
 
 When  we  think  on  the  powerful  force  of  habit,  and  the  pro- 
 pensity of  our  depraved  natures  to  that  whicli  is  evil,  we 
 wonder  thut  any  of  our  spots  have  ever  been  eradicated.  But 
 that  Spirit  that  at  first  broodt^d  over  chaos  is  still  Almighty, 
 and  that  agency  wjiich  made  the  world  can  now  make  us  '  new 
 creatures  in  Christ  Jesus.' 
 
The  utter  rejection  and 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XV. 
 
 manifold  jiuJgments  of  the  Jews 
 
 19  **  Hast  thou  utterly  rejected  Judah?  hath 
 thy  soul  lothed  Zion  ?  why  hast  thou  smitten 
 us,  and  "^  there  is  no  heaUng  for  us?  '' we 
 looked  for  peace,  and  there  is  no  good  ;  and 
 for  the  time  of  healing,  and  behold  trouble! 
 
 20  We  acknowledge,  O  Lord,  otu"  wicked- 
 ness, and  the  iniquity  of  our  fatlicrs  :  for  *^  we 
 have  sinned  against  thee. 
 
 21  Do  not  abhor  ^^s%  for  thy  naine's  sake,  do 
 not  disgrace  the  tlu'one  of  thy  glory  :  ''  remem- 
 ber, break  not  thy  covenant  with  us. 
 
 22  ^  Are  there  any  among  "  tlie  vanities  of 
 the  Gentiles  tluU  can  cause  rain  ?  or  can  tlie 
 Iieavens  give  showers?  '  art  not  tliou  he,  O 
 Lord  our  God  ?  therefore  we  will  wait  upon 
 thee  :  for  thou  hast  made  all  tliese  things. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  The  utter  rejection  and  manifold  jiuhiments  of  the 
 Jvws.  JO  Jeri'iniah,  complaining  of  their  spite,  re- 
 ceiveth  a  promise  for  himfit'lf,  Viand  a  threatening  for 
 them.  15  He  pragcth,  19  and  recciveth  a  gracious 
 promise. 
 
 THEN  said  the  Lord  unto  me,  °  Tliough 
 ^  Moses  and  '^  Samuel  stood  before  me,  i/et 
 my  mind  fo»/^  not /^t^  toward  this  people  :  cast 
 them  out  of  my  sight,  and  let  tliem  go  forth. 
 
 2  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  tliey  say  unto 
 thee,  Whitlier  shall  we  go  forth  ?  then  thou 
 shalt  tell  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  ^'  Such 
 as  are  for  death,  to  death  ;  and  such  as  are  for 
 the  sword,  to  tlie  sword  ;  and  such  as  are  for 
 the  famine,  to  tlie  famine;  and  snch  as  are  for 
 the  captivity,  to  the  captivity. 
 
 3  And  I  will  "  appoint  over  them  four  f  kinds, 
 saith  the  Loud  :  the  sword  to  slay,  and  the  dogs 
 to  tear,  and  ^  the  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  the 
 beasts  of  the  eartli,  to  devour  and  destroy. 
 
 4  And  t  I  will  cause  them  to  be  ^  removed 
 into   all   kingdoms    of  the  earth,   because   of 
 
 ft  I. am.  5.22. 
 cch.  15.  18. 
 
 d  i.'h.  8.  IS. 
 
 ■7  ZclIi,  10. 
 
 I.  2. 
 hVeu  3?  21. 
 
 i  I'M.  la^.-.Sc 
 
 I  17    S.  Is. 
 MO.SS,  ell   r>. 
 SI.&  lU   V6. 
 
 cir.COI. 
 a  Rmk    n. 
 
 I'l,  &c. 
 A  K\.  33.  n, 
 
 12.  Ps.  99. r, 
 c  I  Sam.  7  9. 
 
 d  ch.  43.  11. 
 E7.ek    5.  2, 
 12    Zecli. 
 11.9. 
 
 fl  Lev.  26.16. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 f..mi!ir.. 
 /ch.  7.  33- 
 Ttea.  2'^.  26. 
 t  Heb.  I  w,n 
 give  lliem/iiT 
 a  ren.Qviug. 
 ,j  Deu2S.2J. 
 ch.  21.  n. 
 Eze,  23.  46 
 
 A  2  Kin    21. 
 
 II,  «£C     & 
 
 23  2l>.  8c  21 
 
 3,   1. 
 .■  Is,  51.  9. 
 t  Heb.  to  osk 
 
 •'j' lliif  /'fare. 
 k  ch    2    13. 
 
 ;  i.'\\.  7. 21. 
 
 11  Or,  whtilsa- 
 u  Is.  9.  13. 
 
 jl  Or,  ngninit 
 
 mallier  and 
 ike  ijouug 
 
 o  I  S.im.  2.5 
 p  Amos  8,  9 
 
 q  Job  3.  1, 
 Ac-  ch-  20. 
 
 I  rem  the 
 
 r<ny  for 
 
 h-  39    11, 
 
 '..  8t  40.  4, 
 
 ich.  IG,  13. 
 &  17.4. 
 
 "  Manasseh  the  son  of  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah, 
 for  that  which  he  did  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 5  For  '  who  shall  have  pity  upon  thee,  O  Je- 
 rusalem ?  or  who  shall  bemoan  thee?  or  who 
 shall  go  aside  fto  ask  how  thou  doest? 
 
 6  ^  Thou  hast  forsaken  me,  saith  the  Lord, 
 thou  art  '  gone  backward  :  therefore  will  I 
 stretch  out  my  hand  against  thee,  and  destroy 
 thee  ;  "'  1  am  weary  with  repenting. 
 
 7  And  I  will  fan  them  with  a  fan  in  the  gates 
 of  the  land  ;  I  will  bereave  them  of  ||  children, 
 
 I  will  destroy  my  people,  since  "  they  return 
 not  from  their  ways. 
 
 8  Their  widows  are  increased  to  me  above 
 the  sand  of  the  seas  :  1  have  brought  upon  them 
 
 II  against  the  mother  of  the  young  men  a 
 spoiler  at  noonday  :  1  have  caused  him  to  fall 
 upon  it  suddenly,  and  terrors  upon  the  city. 
 
 9  "  She  that  hath  borne  seven  languisheth  :  she 
 hath  given  up  the  ghost;  ^her  sun  is  gone 
 down  while  it  ivas  yet  day  :  she  hath  been 
 ashamed  and  confounded  :  and  the  residue  of 
 them  will  I  deliver  to  the  sword  before  their 
 enemies,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 10  If"^  Woe  is  me,  my  mother,  that  thou  hast 
 borne  me  a  man  of  strife  and  a  man  of  conten- 
 tion to  the  whule  earth  !  I  have  neither  lent 
 on  usury,  nor  men  iiave  lent  to  me  on  usury  ; 
 yet  every  one  of  them  doth  curse  me. 
 
 1 1  The  Lord  said,  Verily  it  shall  be  well  with 
 thy  remnant ;  verily  ||  I  will  cause  *"  the  enemy 
 to  entreat  thee  loell  in  tlie  time  of  evil  and  in 
 the  time  of  affliction, 
 
 12  Shall  iron  break  the  northern  iron  and  tlie 
 steel? 
 
 13  Thy  substance  and  thy  treasures  will  I 
 give  to  the  'spoil  witliout  price,  and  that  for 
 all  thy  sins,  even  in  all  thy  borders. 
 
 1-i  And  I  will  make  thee  to  pass  with  thine 
 enemies  '  into  a  land  which  thou  knowestnot: 
 
 The  meaning;  seems  to  be — 'even  the  prophets  and  the  priests  are 
 obliged  to  leave  the  cities,  and  wander  about  in  unfrequented  and  un- 
 known places,  seeking  for  the  necessaries  of  life.'— C/'/*A:e.  21 .  The 
 throne  of  thy  glorp,  may  mean  Jerusalem,  but  chiefly  the  temple, 
 which  infidels  would  profane.  22.  Thou  he — MIH  is  often  equivalent 
 to  '  the  true  and  eternal  God,'  (see  Deut.  xxxii.  39 ;  Isa.  xliii.  10,  13 ; 
 xlviii.  12  ;  and  especially  Ps.  cii.27.) — Peeb.  Loivth. 
 
 Chap.  XV,  —  1.  Moses,  his  interces.sion  prevailed,  (Exod.  xxxii.  34, 
 and  Num.  xiv.  20  ;)  so  did  Samuel's,  (1  Sam.  vii.  g.)  They  are  men- 
 tioned  for  tlicir  successful  intercessions,  (Ps.  xcix.  6,  8.) — Preh.  Lowth. 
 2.  Death,  must  here  mean  pestdence,  (see  chap.  xiv.  \2.)—Bla.  4.  Into 
 alt  kingdoms — this  seems  to  have  respect  to  tlie  succeeding  state  of  the 
 Jews  in  their  different  generations.  Never  was  a  prophecy  more  lite- 
 rally fulfilled;  it  is  still  a  standing  monument  of  Divine  trutli. — 
 A.  Clarke.  There  is  not  a  country  on  the  face  of  the  earth  where  the 
 Jews  are  unknown.  They  arc  found  alike  in  Europe,  Asia,  America, 
 and  Africa ;  they  are  citizens  of  the  world  without  a  country.  Neither 
 mountains,  nor  rivers,  nor  deserts,  nor  oceans — which  are  the  boun- 
 daries of  other  nations— have  terminated  their  wanderings.  They 
 abound  in  Pulaiid,  in  H'lland,  in  Ru'^sia,  and  in  Turkey.  In  Germany, 
 Spain,  Italy,  France,  and  Britain,  they  are  more  thinly  scattered.  They 
 are  found  in  Persia,  China,  and  India,  on  the  east  and  on  the  west  of 
 the  Ganges,  and  even  in  the  very  interior  of  Afiica,  south  of  Timbuctoo. 
 — Keith.  Because  of  Manasseh,  his  abominations  exceeded  all  otliers, 
 {2  Kings,  xxi.  7.  9,  11;)  he  suppressed  Divine  worship,  introduced 
 idolatry  into  the  very  temple,  &c. ;  so  his  sins  filled  up  the  measure  of 
 the  Jews'  iniquities,  (see  2  Kings,  xxiii.  26;  xxiv.  3,  4.)— Prefi.  Lowth. 
 7.  Fan  them,  alluding  to  the  custom  of  winnowing  corn  in  open  places  ; 
 and  by  tanning  is  meant  the  dispersion  of  the  Je-ws.—GHl.      It  is  as 
 
 much  as  to  say,  there  is  no  pure  grain,  all  are  chaflT. — Clarke.  8.  The 
 tnother,  Jerusalem,  (comp.  cliap.  vi.  4;  see  Isa.  1.  l  ;  Hcs.  ii.  2.) — 
 Preh.  Lowth,  Clarke,  §-c.  Young  men,  11113,  'tlie  younp:  mnn.'  The 
 Lord  was  about  to  bring  upon  Jerusalem,  the  moiber  city,  a  young 
 man,  a  spoiler  at  nnon  day,  who  would  plunder  openly  hy  force.  Ne« 
 buchadnezzar  is  intended. — Scott,  as  Bin.,  so  Boothr. 
 
 •  I  have  brought  against  their  mother-city 
 A  choi^en  one  that  spoileth  at  noon-day.' — Boothr. 
 
 *  Against  the  mother  of  the  chnsen.* — Pag.  '  Against  the  mother  of  ihe 
 chnsen  people.''— Poo^e.  I  have  caused,  !^-c  ,  '  1  have  caused  to  fall  npcn 
 her  suddenly  an  enemy  and  terrors.'  *  A  terrible  enemy,'  This  was  the 
 expedition  undertaken  in  the  third  year  of  Jehoiakim,  king  of  Judah, 
 (see  chap.  xlvi.  2  ;  Dan.  i,  1-3;  2  Kings,  xxiv,   1.)  9.  S/te,  Jeru- 
 
 salem. Sercji,  put  fur  many. — Bla.  10.  The  ivhule  earth,  *land.' — 
 Henri/.  Yet  erery  one,  8fc. — the  usurer  was  cursed  by  every  one  as  an 
 oppressor  of  the  poor;  thus  the  prophet  says  everybody  was  his  enemy 
 for  faithfully  delivering  his  messages. — Bla.  u.  Thy  remnant,  not 
 of  the  people,  but  of  Jeremiah's  days,  who  should  be  favourably  treated 
 by  the  enemy;  see  fulfilment,  chap,  xxxix.  11,  and  si.  3,  4.) — Poole. 
 The  sense  is,  that  the  prophet  himself,  his  family,  and  relations,  should 
 escape  the  evils  coming  upon  Ihi;  Jewitih  nation.  —  Preb.  Lowth. 
 12.  Shall  iron  break,  fyr  ,  the  hard-hearted  and  self-conceited  Jews 
 shall  never  be  able  tn  grapple  wiili  the  Chaldean  forces.— J.  Brown. 
 In  the  primary  si  nse,  this  alluilcs  to  the  hardened  iron  or  steel,  called 
 in  Greek  %a\v^,  from  the  Chalybes,  a  people  near  the  Euxinc,  conse- 
 quently north  of  Jiulca,  hy  wlu>m  the  art  of  tempering  steel  is  said  to 
 have  been  discovered. — Pict.  Bib. ;  see  Strabn,  1.  xii.  13.  Without 
 
 price,  making  thee  n  >  compensation,  but  inflicting  these  losses  as  a 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    XIV Remark   here,   I.    The 
 
 dearth.  '  Let  our  reading  of  this  calamity  make  us  thankful 
 for  the  mercy  of  water,  lliat  we  may  not,  by  the  feeling  of  tlie 
 calamity ,  be  taught  to  value  it.  What  is  most  needful  is  most 
 plentiful.' 
 
 II.  The  intercession  for  the  removal  of  the  dearth.  Here  '  sin 
 is  humbly  confessed.*  If  we  quarrel  with  God,  as  dealing 
 unjustly  or  unkindly  with  us  in  afflicting  us,  our  iniquities 
 testify  against  us  tluit  we  do  him  wrong.'  Here  '  mercy  is 
 earnestly  begged.  Our  best  pleas  in  prayer  are  those  which 
 are  fetched  from  the  glory  of  God's  own  name.  Lord,  do  it, 
 799 
 
 that  thy  mercy  may  he  magnified,  thy  promise  fulfilled,  and 
 thine  interest  in  tlie  world  kept  up  ;  we  have  nothing  to  plead 
 in  ourselves,  but  everything  in  thee.' 
 
 III.  God's  rejection  of  the  intercession.  *  Though  their  prayers 
 be  oflered  up  in  those  vehicles  that  used  to  be  acceptable,'  by 
 fasting,  burnt-offering,  and  obhition,  '  yet  because  they  do  not 
 proceed  from  humble,  penitent,  and  renewed  hearts,  but  still 
 they  love  to  wander;  therefore,  says  God,  "I  will  not  hear 
 tlieir  cry"  be  it  never  so  loud  ;  nor  will  I  accept  them,  neither 
 their  persons  nor  their  performances.'*' 
 
Jeremiah's  prayer. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XVI. 
 
 Tlie  ruin  of  tlic  Jews  foreshewn. 
 
 for  a  "fire  is  kindled  in  mine  anger,  which  shall 
 burn  upon  yon. 
 
 15  t  O  Lord,  'thou  knowest:  remember  me, 
 and  visit  me,  and  ""  revenge  me  of  my  perse- 
 cutors ;  take  me  not  away  in  thy  longsuffer- 
 ing  :  know  that  ^  for  thy  sake  I  have  suffered 
 rebuke. 
 
 16  Thy  words  were  found,  and  1  did  "  eat 
 them  ;  and  '  thy  word  was  unto  me  the  joy 
 and  rejoicing  of  mine  heart  :  for  f  1  am  called 
 by  thy  name,  O  Lord  God  of  hosts. 
 
 17  '^  I  sat  not  in  the  assembly  of  the  mockers, 
 nor  rejoiced  ;  I  sat  alone  because  of  thy  hand  : 
 for  thou  hast  filled  me  with  indignation. 
 
 18  Why  is  my  ''pain  perpetual,  and  my 
 wound  incin-able,  ic/jjc/i  refuseth  to  be  healed? 
 wilt  thou  be  altogether  unto  me  "as  a  liar,  nnrf 
 *■  as  waters  that  \  fail  ? 
 
 19  T  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord,  ^  If  thou 
 return,  then  will  I  bring  thee  agahi,  ami  thou 
 shalt  "  stand  before  me  :  and  if  thou  '  take  forth 
 the  precious  from  the  vile,  thou  shalt  be  as  my 
 mouth  :  let  them  return  unto  thee  ;  but  return 
 not  thou  unto  lliem. 
 
 20  And  I  will  make  thee  unto  this  people 
 a  fenced  brasen  '■Wall:  and  they  shall  fight 
 against  thee,  but  '  they  shall  not  prevail 
 against  thee  :  for  1  am  with  thee  to  save  thee 
 and  to  deliver  thee,  saith  tlie  Lord. 
 
 21  And  I  will  deliver  thee  out  of  the  hand  of 
 the  wicked,  and  I  will  redeem  thee  out  of  the 
 hand  of  the  terrible. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  The  proplivtt  uiifhr  the  tyjns  of  ahstaming  front  mar- 
 riage, from  houses  of  mourning  and  feasting,  fore- 
 shewetn  the  fitter  ruin  of  the  Jews,  10  because  they 
 were  ivorse  than  their  fathers.  14  Their  return  from 
 captivity  shall  be  stranger  than  their  deliverance  out 
 of  Egypt.  16  God  will  doubly  recompense  their 
 idolatry. 
 
 T^HE  word  of  the  Lord  came  also  unto  me, 
 
 ■■■    saying, 
 
 *2  Thou  shalt  not  take  thee  a  wife,  neither 
 shalt  thou  liave  sons  or  daughters  in  this  place. 
 
 3  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  concerning  the 
 sons  and  concernino:  the  dauo;hters   that  are 
 
 X  ch.  12.3. 
 
 ;,  ch.  II.  20. 
 
 i  Job  2:1.  12. 
 Ps.  119.  72, 
 111. 
 
 t  Heb.  II.U 
 name  i>  hill- 
 ed uji'tii  in' 
 
 C  Ps.  1  I.  ft 
 26.  4,  5. 
 
 «  See  ch.  1. 
 
 IS.  19 
 /Job  C.  15, 
 
 fee. 
 t  Heb  be  not 
 
 *ur-  f 
 g  Zech.  3.  7. 
 h  ver.  I. 
 t  Eze,  22.  26. 
 
 &  44.  23. 
 
 Acli.  I.  18. 
 &  6.  ^7, 
 
 /.Th.*2u.  11, 
 12. 
 
 a  cli.  \b.  2. 
 
 b  ch.  23.  18, 
 
 19.  &  25.  33. 
 c  Ps.  83.  10. 
 
 ch.  8.  2.  & 
 
 9.  2-2. 
 •i  Ps.  79,  2. 
 
 ch.  7.  S3.  Si 
 
 Si,  20. 
 
 f  Ezek.  24. 
 
 17,  22,  23. 
 il   Or.  mnurn 
 
 i'.S/r.iU, 
 
 /'ch.  22.  lf». 
 
 S  Lev.  19  28. 
 
 Deu.  14    1. 
 
 ch.  4:.  5.  (i 
 
 47.  5. 
 A  Is.  22,  12. 
 
 ch.  7.  29- 
 1]  Or,  br'ok 
 
 br^adf'.T 
 
 Ihrm,  ns 
 
 Eie.  21   17 
 
 Hos.  9.  4. 
 
 SeeDeu.26, 
 
 14.  Job  43. 
 
 II. 
 .  Pro.  SI.  6, 
 
 7. 
 
 A  IB.  24,  7.  S 
 ch.  7.  S4.  & 
 26.  10. 
 Eze.  26.  I-?. 
 
 Hoi 
 
 .  11 
 
 Rev.  18.  23 
 
 (  D(>u,?9M 
 
 n  Dpu  29  25. 
 ch.  22.  9. 
 
 born  in  this  place,  aud  concerning  tlieir  mothers 
 that  bare  them,  and  concerning  their  fathers 
 that  begat  them  in  this  land  ; 
 
 4  They  shall  die  of  "*  grievous  deaths ;  they 
 shall  not  be  ^lamented  ;  neither  shall  they  be 
 buried;  but  they  shall  be ''as  dung  upon  the 
 face  of  tiie  earth  :  and  they  shall  be  consumed 
 by  the  sword,  and  by  famine  ;  and  their  ^car- 
 cases shall  be  meat  for  the  fowls  of  heaven,  and 
 for  the  beasts  of  the  earth. 
 
 5  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  "  Enter  not  into 
 the  house  of  ||  mourning,  neither  go  to  lament 
 nor  bemoan  them  :  for  I  have  taken  away  my 
 peace  from  tliis  people,  saith  the  Lord,  even 
 lovingkindness  and  mercies. 
 
 6  Both  the  great  and  the  small  shall  die  in 
 this  land  :  they  sliali  not  be  buried,  *"  neither 
 shall  men  lament  for  them,  nor  ^  cut  them- 
 selves, nor  ^  make  themselves  bald  for  them  : 
 
 7  Neither  shall  men  ||  tear  themselves  for 
 them  in  mourning,  to  comfort  them  for  the 
 dead  ;  neither  shall  men  give  them  the  cup  of 
 consolation  to  '  drink  for  their  father  or  for 
 their  mother. 
 
 8  Tliou  shalt  not  also  go  into  the  house  of 
 feasting,  to  sit  with  them  to  eat  and  to  drink. 
 
 9  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
 of  Israel  ;  Behold,  ^  I  will  cause  to  cease  out 
 of  this  place  in  your  eyes,  and  in  your  days, 
 the  voice  of  mirth,  and  the  voice  of  gladness, 
 the  voice  of  the  bridegroom,  and  the  voice  of 
 the  bride. 
 
 10  H  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  thou 
 shalt  shew  this  people  all  these  words,  and 
 they  shall  say  unto  thee,  '  Wherefore  hath  the 
 Lord  pronounced  all  this  great  evil  against 
 us?  or  what  is  our  iniquity?  or  what  is  our 
 sin  that  we  have  committed  against  the  Lord 
 our  God  ? 
 
 1 1  Then  siialt  thou  say  unto  them,  *"  Because 
 your  fathers  have  forsaken  me,  saith  the  Lord, 
 and  have  walked  after  other  gods,  and  have 
 served  them,  and  have  worshipped  them,  and 
 have  forsaken  me,  and  have  not  kept  my  law  ; 
 
 12  And  ye  have  done  "  worse  than  your 
 fathers  ;  for,  behold,  "  ye  walk  every  one  after 
 
 l.unishment  fur  sin.— C/a.  15.  Takp  me  not  awny,  SfC,  '  by  the  con- 
 tinuance of  tliine  anger,  take  me  not  off.' — Bnothr.  iG.  /  did  eat 
 them,  '\  embracert  them,'  Syr.;  adopted  by  Bouthr.'  Called  by  thy 
 «ame,  thy  prophet  or  messenger. — Preb.  Lowth.  1".  The  mockers. 
 ^c,  properly,  '  ihem  that  make  merry,'  (chap.xxx.  19  ;  xxxi.  4.)  *Not 
 gone  to  their  feasts.'— B/a.,  Siit.  Renouncing  all  cheerful  society,  he 
 indulged  a  solitary  melancholy,  thinking  on  God's  judgments. — Bla. 
 With  indignation,  may  be  interpreted,  '  indignation  of  the  offended 
 people,  against  the  sinful  people,  or  denunciations  of  wrath,'  as  Targ., 
 so  Gill.  !8.  As  a  liar,  '  wilt  thou  deceive  me?*— S»(.  '  Wilt  thou  be 
 altogether  unto  me  as  a  disappointment,  and  as  waters  that  fail?*— 
 Waterlund. 
 
 '  Wilt  thou  be  to  mc  as  a  failing  spring  ? 
 As  waters  which  are  never  sure  ?' — Bvothr, 
 
 *  As  the  lying  waters  that  are  not  sure?'- S/a. 
 
 See  Job,  vi.  I5,  note.  The  disappointment  of  the  Hindoo  farmer  is  ex- 
 treme, if  the  latter  rains  fail  or  fall  short,  for  whole  fields  of  young  rice 
 wither,  and  perish  on  the  ground. —  Ward.  19.  //  thou  return,  ^c, 
 '  if  thou  repent  of  this  sinful  distrust,  and  discharge  thine  office,  I  will 
 continue  thee  in  it:  and  if  thou  faithfully  endeavour  to  convince  and 
 reclaim  wicked  hypocntes,  and  to  comfort  upright  saints,  thou  shalt 
 
 be  honoured  as  a  true  prophet.  But  faithfully  reprove  and  reduce  them 
 to  obedience,  and  never  comply  with,  or  flatter  them  in,  their  sinful 
 courses.' — .7.  Brown,  see  also  Bp.  Hall,  Poole,  Gill,  and  Prei>.  Lowlh. 
 CuAP.  XVI.  —  1.  The  tcord,  fyc,  probably  delivered  towards  the  be- 
 ginning of  Jehoiakim's  reign. — Bill.  5.  /  have  taken,  §77. — they  are 
 to  be  esteemed  as  so  many  malefactors,  at  whose  funerals  men  do  not 
 use  to  pay  the  common  respects  which  are  due  to  the  deceased. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  6  A'or  cut  themselves— the  Hindoos,  on  the  death  of  a  rela- 
 tion, frequently  bruise  themselves  with  whatever  they  can  lay  hold  of. 
 — Ward.  See  Lev.  xix.  28,  note.  Baldsee  Lev.  xxi.  5,  note.  Men 
 shall  die  so  fast,  and  in  such  multitudes,  there  shall  be  no  time  for 
 the^se  forbidden  heathen  practices.  7.  Neither  shall  inen  tear  them- 
 selves, IDID*.  '  neither  shall  men  deal  out  bread  for  them  in  mournintj 
 to  comfort  them  for  the  dead,'  isce  1-a.  Iviii.  7;  Lev,  xi.  4,5  ;  Deut.xiv. 
 7.} — Poole.  Similar  renderings  by  Jim.,  Trem.,  Pise.,  Schmidt,  Jarchi, 
 Kimehi,  Abarb.  They  used  to  carry  or  send  food  to  surviving  relations, 
 and  went  to  comfort  them  on  the  loss  ol  tht-ir  frii.nds. — Gill.  The  cup 
 of  consolation,  friends  sent  wine  and  other  cheering  liquors  to  drink, 
 that  they  might  forget  their  sorrows. — Ponle.  8.  Not  also  go  info  the 
 house  0/ feaating,  intimating  that  all  joy  was  to  cease  fri^m  the  city  and 
 land. — Boothr.  The  reference  i?^  to  the  funeral  feast  given,  probably, 
 after  the  three  first  days,  called  '  the  days  of  w^eeping.'  when  the  friends, 
 acquaintance,  and  sympathizing  neighbours,  were  invited  to  the  house 
 
 Rf.flections  on  Chap.  XV. —  Observe,  I.  The  honour 
 which  God  here  puts  upon  his  praying  servants.  '  With  what  re- 
 spect and  affection  he  speaks  of  Moses  and  Samuel,  who  had 
 been  dead  many  centuries.  If  anything  could  have  reconciled 
 him  to  Israel,  it  would  have  been  their  intercession.  "This 
 shews  the  power  of  prayer,  and  what  pleasure  God  takes  in 
 iiis  worshipping  servants,"  says  the  judicious  Orton.  It  also 
 shews  what  a  blessing  those  are  who  offer  up  earnest  pravers 
 for  their  country,  and  how  desirable  and  necessarv  it  is  that 
 800 
 
 we  should  abound  in  supplication  on  this  account.'  ^° 
 
 II.  The  complaint  of  the  prophet  on  account  of  the  strifes  to 
 ivhieh  he  was  subject.  The  people  '  quarrelled  with  him  for  his 
 faithfulness  to  God  and  their  souls.  Those  who  serve  God 
 faithfully  are  often  made  men  of  strife.  This  is  uncomfortable 
 to  those  disposed  lo  peace  ;  yet  if  we  cannot  live  so  peaceably 
 as  we  desire  with  those  around  us,  we  must  not  suffer  the 
 repose  of  our  own  minds  to  be  disturbed. '^^  Let  us  act  up- 
 rightly, and  then  leave  all  our  cares  in  the  hands  of  God. 
 
Their  idolatry  douhlij  recompensed. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XVII. 
 
 Jitdah's  captivity  for  sin. 
 
 the  II  iniaginatior:  of  his  evil  heart,  that  they 
 may  not  hearken  unto  me  : 
 
 1:3  •*  Therefore  will  I  cast  you  out  of  this 
 land  ''  into  a  land  that  ye  know  not,  neither  ye 
 nor  your  fathers ;  and  there  shall  ye  serve 
 other  gods  day  and  night  ;  where  I  will  not 
 shew  yuu  favour. 
 
 14  H  Therefore,  behold,  the  ""days come,  saith 
 the  Lord,  that  it  shall  no  more  be  said.  The 
 Lord  livetli,  that  brought  up  the  children  of 
 Israel  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt ; 
 
 15  But,  The  Lord  liveth,  that  brought  up  the 
 children  of  Israel  from  tlie  land  of  the  north, 
 and  from  all  the  lands  whither  he  had  driven 
 them  :  and  ^  I  will  bring  them  again  into  their 
 land  that  I  gave  unto  their  fathers. 
 
 16  IT  Behold,  I  will  send  for  many  *  fishers, 
 saith  tlie  Lord,  and  they  shall  fish  them  ;  and 
 after  will  I  send  for  many  hunters,  and  they 
 shall  hunt  them  from  every  mountain,  and 
 from  every  liill,  and  out  of  the  holes  of  the 
 rocks. 
 
 17  For  mine  "  eyes  are  upon  all  their  ways  : 
 they  are  not  hid  from  my  face,  neither  is  their 
 iniquity  hid  from  mine  eyes. 
 
 18  And  first  I  will  recompense  their  iniquity 
 and  their  sin  ^  double ;  because  ^  they  have  de- 
 filed my  land,  they  have  filled  mine  inheritance 
 with  the  carcases  of  their  detestable  and  abo- 
 minable things. 
 
 19  O  Lord, '' my  strength,  and  my  fortress, 
 ^nd  ^  my  refuge  in  the  day  of  affliction,  the 
 Gentiles  shall  come  unto  tiiee  from  the  ends 
 of  the  earth,  and  shall  say,  Surely  our  fathers 
 have  inherited  lies,  vanity,  and  things  ^wherein 
 there  is  no  profit. 
 
 20  Shall  a  man  make  gods  unto  himself,  and 
 ^  they  are  no  gods  ? 
 
 21  Therefore,  behold,  I  will  this  once  cause 
 them  to  know,  I  will  cause  them  to  know  mine 
 hand  and  my  might ;  and  they  shall  know  that 
 ^  my  name  is  \\  The  Lord. 
 
 II  Or,  it>ib- 
 
 p  Deii  4.  26, 
 ■J7,  --8.  &  28. 
 
 q  ch.  15.  U 
 
 r  l9.  43,  18. 
 ch.  23.  7,  8. 
 
 .  ch.  at.  6. 
 &  -30.  3.  & 
 
 ( .fob  31.  21 
 Pi-o.  5.  21. 
 St  15.  3. 
 cb   3.'.  19. 
 
 X  Is,  4(1.  ?. 
 rh,  17.  IB. 
 V  Ezek.  43. 
 
 :  Ps.  19,  2. 
 a  cb.  17.   17. 
 
 *  Is.  +1.  10. 
 Ch.  ^.  II.  & 
 10.  5. 
 
 c  Is.  37.  19. 
 
 ch.  2.  II. 
 
 Gal.  4   n. 
 d  Ex.  la.  S. 
 
 ch.  S3.  2. 
 
 Amos  .5  8. 
 Or.  J£- 
 
 HOP-AH. 
 
 Ps.  83, 18 
 
 a  Job  19  -2 1. 
 
 t  Heb.  fail. 
 
 b  Pro   3.  3. 
 2  Cor.  3.  3. 
 
 c  Judg.  3.  7. 
 2Chr.2*.IH. 
 &  3H.  S,  19 
 Is.  1-  29.  & 
 17.  8.ch.  y. 
 20. 
 
 d  ch.  15.  13. 
 
 t  Ileb    h, 
 Ihyielf. 
 
 ech.  16    13. 
 /ch.  15.  11. 
 
 g  Is.  30.  1,2. 
 
 US\.  t. 
 A  See  Is.  31. 
 
 i  ch.  48.  e. 
 k  Job  20.  17. 
 
 (Dcu.l 
 
 .23. 
 
 -.1  Ps.  ?.  1-2. 
 
 &  3'!   8.  & 
 
 Vib.  I.  & 
 
 H6.  5, 
 
 Pro.   jti.  20. 
 
 Is   30.  IR. 
 1  Job  8-  16. 
 
 Ps.  I.  3. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIL 
 
 1  The  captivify  of  Judali  for  her  sin.  5  Tnist  in  man 
 is  cursed,  7  ?«  Gud  is  bltssed.  9  T/<e  deceit/id  luart 
 cannot  dtccivc  God.  ]*2  The  scdvadon  of  God.  15 
 The  propliet  complaineth  of  the  mockers  of  his  pro- 
 phecy. 19  He  is  sent  to  renew  the  covenant  in  lial- 
 lowinfj  the  sabbath. 
 
 T^HE  sin  of  Judah  is  written  with  °  a  pen  of 
 -■-  iron,  a)id  with  the  f  point  of  a  diamond  : 
 it  is  ^  graven  upon  the  table  of  their  heart,  and 
 upon  the  horns  of  your  altars; 
 
 2  Whilst  their  children  remember  their  altars 
 and  their  '^  groves  by  the  green  trees  upoivthe 
 high  hills. 
 
 3  O  my  mountain  in  the  field,  "^  I  will  give 
 thy  substance  and  all  thy  treasures  to  the  spoil, 
 and  thy  high  places  for  sin,  throughout  all  tliy 
 borders, 
 
 4  And  thou,  even  f  thyself,  shalt  discontinue 
 from  thine  heritage  that  I  gave  thee;  and  I 
 will  cause  thee  to  serve  thine  enemies  in  ^  the 
 land  which  thou  knowest  not:  for  ^ye  have 
 kindled  a  fire  in  mine  anger,  which  shall  burn 
 for  ever. 
 
 5  t  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  ^Cursed  be  the  man 
 that  trusteth  in  man,  and  maketh  •'flesh  bis  arm, 
 and  whose  heart  departeth  from  the  Lord. 
 
 6  For  he  shall  be  '  like  the  heath  in  the 
 desert,  and  ^  shall  not  see  when  good  cometh  ; 
 but  shall  inhabit  the  parched  places  in  the 
 wilderness,  ^  in  a  salt  land  and  not  inhabited. 
 
 7  "'  Blessed  is  tlie  man  that  trusteth  in  the 
 Lord,  and  whose  hope  the  Lord  is. 
 
 8  For  he  shall  be  "  as  a  tree  planted  by  the 
 waters,  and  that  sprcadeth  out  !ier  roots  by  the 
 river,  and  shall  not  see  when  beat  cometh,  but 
 her  leaf  shall  be  green  ;  and  shall  not  be  careful 
 in  the  year  of  ||  drought,  neither  shall  cease 
 from  yielding  fruit. 
 
 9  H  The  heait  is  deceitful  above  all  things, 
 and  desperately  wicked  :  who  can  know  it? 
 
 of  the  chief  mourner.  —  See  Lighlf.  Exercit.  upon  John,  xi.  19- 
 \2.  Serve  other  gods,  the  opportunities  of  worshipping-  the  true  God 
 shall  be  taken  from  you,  and  you  shall  be  exposed  to  idolatry,  (comp. 
 Deut.  iv.  28;  xxviii.  36:  1  Sam.  xxvi.  V}  )—Preb.  Lowtfi.  14.  There- 
 fore,  'nolwithstamling.' — Poole.  'Nevertheless.' — Preb.  Louth.  No 
 more — E^ypt — God  sweetens  his  threatenings  with  the  promi^e  of  de- 
 liverance from  the  Babylonish  captivity,  which  should  be  so  great,  that 
 the  memory  of  that  of  Egypt  sliould  be  nearly  obliterated  by  it. — So 
 Poole.  16.  Fishers — hunters — enemies  and  oppressors  are  so  called, 
 
 (see  Gen.  x.  9  ;  Amos,  iv.  2 ;  Hab.  i.  14,  LS  :)  because  they  use  all  the 
 methods  of  open  force  and  secret  wiles,  frequently  compared  to  nets, 
 in  orfier  to  make  men  their  prey,  (see  Ezek.  xii.  13  ;  Ho^.  v.  1.) — Preh. 
 Lowth.  IS.  Double,    means,  punish   them   plentifully,  not  double 
 
 what  their  sins  deserve. — Poole.  Double  what  they  used  tn  have. — 
 Gill.  I9.  The  Gentiles  shall  come,  the  time  would  come  when  even 
 the  Gentiles  would  be  ashamed  of  the  idolatry  of  the  Jews. — Preb. 
 Lowth. 
 
 Chap.XVII.~1.  H''i7A  a /?en  o/iVon,  indelibly,  as  when  things  are 
 engraven  on  stone. — Preb.  Loivth.  Iron  pens  are  used  much  in  India, 
 and  make  a  very  durable  impression  on  the  palm  leaf;  Ihey  are  broad 
 at  the  top,  and  sharp  at  one  side,  to  prepare  the  leaves. —  Wnrd.  See 
 Job,  XIX.  24.  note.  Diumond,  TOIU.  some  kind  of  hard  stone. — Par. 
 J^omc  sort  of  a  tool  for  engraving  things  on  hard  substances. — Poole. 
 Writing  with  a  point  of  a  diamond  mu--t  refer  to  glass,  or  some  vitri- 
 fied substance,  as  it  is  distinguished  here  from  engraving  with  a  steel 
 burine  or  graver. — A.  Clarke.  Upon  the  tnftle  of  their  heart,  'fixed 
 upon  their  affections.*  And  vpon  the  horns,  Sfc.,  so  as  to  be  ever  pre- 
 sent beft  re  their  eyes,  (comp.  Deut.  xi.  18—20;  Prov.  iii.  3;  vii.  3.j  — 
 Bla.  The  blood  of  the  sacrifices  offered  to  idols  was  sprinkled  upon 
 the  hons  of  their  altar,  and  they  might  have  some  inscription  there  to 
 their  favourite  idol. — So  Poole.  2.  Whilst  their  cAi/rfren,  tbey  trained 
 these  up  to  their  idolatrous  practices. — So  Gilt.  Some  read.  '  as  they 
 remember  their  children ,  so  they  remember  their  altars,'  and  they  loved 
 
 their  idols  as  their  children. — So  FCimchi.  3.  Monnffiin—?.ce  Isa.  ii. 
 2  ;  it  is  put  for  all  Jerusalem.— P/-e4.  Loivth.  In  thr  field,  §r.,  '  O  my 
 mountain,  thy  substance  in  the  field,  and  all  thy  stores,  1  will  give  up 
 to  pillage.'  High  places  for  sin,  'on  account  of  sin.' — Bin.  'Which 
 were  used  for  sin.' — Gill.  The  fortifications  should  be  given  up  to  the 
 enemy  for  the  sin  of  Judah. — Durell.  5.  Mikefh  flesh  his  arm,  re- 
 
 fers to  the  military  power  of  Egypt  — Stit.  (J.  The  henth,  probably  a 
 species  of  tamarisk,  which,  from  its  spare  form  peering  above  the  sands 
 of  the  desert,  might  welt  be  taken  as  an  emblem  of  deseriion  and  soli- 
 tude.— Pict.  Bib.  It  means  a  barren  shrub  planted  in  a  barren  soil, 
 and  no  better  for  moisture  or  rain. — So  Poule. 
 
 '  For  he  shall  be  as  the  blasted  tree  upon  the  waste. 
 Which  doth  not  perceive  "hen  good  cotneth; 
 But  endures  the  scorching  heat  of  the  deseit, 
 Of  a  barren  land,  that  cannot  be  inhabited.* — Boothr. 
 
 A  salt  land — in  Hebrew,  expresses  barren  ground,  (i-ee  Deut.  xxix.  23 
 Ps.  cvii.  34  ;  Zeph.  ii.  9.) — Preb.  Lowth.  The  borders  of  the  Dead  Sea, 
 and  of  the  Red  Sen,  and  part  of  Arabia  Petrea,  were  barren,  owing  to 
 the  salts  which  they  contained. — Cnl.  Where  salt  i^  found,  it  is  barren, 
 producing  nothing. — Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.,  1.  13,  c.  21,  &c.  8.  As  a  tree 
 pl'tnted  by  the  waters,  §-c. — see  Ps.  i,  3,  note.  g.  The  heart,  that  is, 
 
 the  dispositions  and  desires  of  the  rational  soul.— iVo/^.  Desperately 
 wicked,  'affected  with  an  incumblc  evil.'— Gk5.  '  Incurably  sick.' — 
 Coco.  '  Grievously  infirm.'  The  deplorable  fact  of  its  '  wickedness'  is 
 one  to  which  the  mo'^t  common  (observers  have  set  iheir  seal ;  but  the 
 version  here  does  not  appear  critically  faithful,  (^ee  Par.  and  Simon, 
 on  the  wurd  irsN. — Sheppard,  so  Clarke,  t;:^.  '  to  he  very  or  mortally 
 sick.' — Par.  SntcVffe  has  made  a  curious  mistake  on  this  text.  He 
 reprobates  the  idea  of  the  above  criticism,  attributed  to  Purkhnrst,  and 
 quotes  a  number  of  passages,  shewing  the  force  of  anoiher  word, 
 something  like  it  in  sound,  t,';y,  when  tlie  fact  is,  that  the  criginal  just 
 destroys  all  his  criticism,  for  it  is  quite  different,  il>:i>!.    He  has  probably 
 
 Rf.flections  on  Chap.  XVI.  —  Here  is,  I.  Punishment 
 predicted.  Tliey  that  will  walk  in  the  sinful  courses  of  their 
 fathers  };row  worse  and  worse,  i'or  the  way  of  sin,  as  fans  bepii 
 well  remarked,  is  always  down  hill ;  and  if  children  will  walk 
 in  the  wtiys  of  their  sinful  fathers,  they  must  expect  to  sufl'er 
 with  their  sinful  fathers.  God's  law,  and  God's  holiness  and 
 ;astice,  remain  always  the  same.  Here  is  — 
 801 
 
 II.  Mercy  predicted.  O  surely  it  was  with  much  reluctance 
 God  uttered  his  thivatenings  hy  his  prophet,  for  see  how  ea;.;er 
 he  is  to  anticipate  the  day  of  delivevance  !  and  even  wiiilo  the 
 predictions  of  punishment  are  uttering,  God  interrupts  them 
 hy  the  news  of  mercy,  and  throws  in  a  ray  of  light  to  dispel 
 the  awful  darkness  occasioned  by  the  sins  of  bis  people. 
 
The  salvation  of  God. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XVII. 
 
 The  sabbath  to  be  hallowed. 
 
 10  I  the  LoKD  °  search  the  heart,  /  try  the 
 reins,  ''even  to  give  every  man  according  to 
 his  ways,  and  according  to  the  fruit  of  his 
 doings. 
 
 1 1  As  the  partridge  ||  sitteth  on  eggs,  and 
 hatcheth  them  not ;  so  he  that  getteth  riches, 
 and  not  by  right,  "*  shall  leave  them  in  the 
 midst  of  his  days,  and  at  his  end  shall  be  '  a 
 fool. 
 
 12  H  A  glorious  high  throne  from  the  begin- 
 ning is  the  place  of  our  sanctuary. 
 
 13  O  Lord,  '  the  hope  of  Israel,  '  all  that  for- 
 sake thee  shall  be  ashamed,  and  they  that  de- 
 part from  me  shall  be  "  written  in  the  earth, 
 because  they  have  forsaken  the  Lord,  the 
 '  fountain  of  living  waters. 
 
 14  Heal  me,  O  Lokd,  and  I  shall  be  healed  ; 
 save  me,  and  I  shall  be  saved  :  for  '  thou  art 
 my  praise. 
 
 15  f  Behold,  they  say  unto  me,  "  Where  is 
 the  word  of  the  Lord?  let  it  come  now. 
 
 16  As  for  me,  °  I  have  not  hastened  from 
 beijig  a  pastor  f  to  follow  thee  :  neither  have  I 
 desired  the  woeful  day  ;  thou  knowest :  that 
 which  came  out  of  my  lips  was  right  before 
 thee. 
 
 17  Be  not  a  terror  unto  me  :  ''  thou  art  my 
 hope  in  the  day  of  evil. 
 
 18  '  Let  them  be  confounded  that  persecute 
 me,  but  ''  let  not  me  be  confounded  :  let  them 
 be  dismayed,  but  let  not  me  be  dismayed  : 
 bring  upon  them  the  day  of  evil,  and  t°  destroy 
 them  with  double  destruction. 
 
 19  H  Thus  said  the  Lord  unto  me  ;  Go  and 
 stand  in  the  gate  of  the  children  of  the  people, 
 whereby  the  kings  of  Judah  come  in,  and  by 
 the  which  they  go  out,  and  in  all  the  gates  of 
 Jerusalem  ; 
 
 20  And  say  unto  them,  '  Hear  ye  the  word 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  601. 
 
 cir.  601. 
 
 0  I  Sam  I6.T. 
 
 IChr.ea.S 
 
 Pa    7.  9.  ^ 
 
 139,  23,  21. 
 
 g  Num.  15. 
 
 Pro.  17.  3. 
 
 32,  &c. 
 
 c!i-  11.  20- 
 
 Nell.  13.  19. 
 
 &,  20.  12. 
 
 Rom.  8.27 
 
 Rev.  2.  23. 
 
 ;.  Pe.  62.  12. 
 
 ch.  32.  19. 
 
 Rom.  2.  6. 
 
 1  Or,  gatfitr- 
 
 eth  younff 
 
 h  Ex.  20.  8. 
 
 Kh.ch  slie 
 
 It  23.  12.  & 
 
 hath  not 
 
 31.  13. 
 
 brought 
 
 Eie.  20.  12. 
 
 forth. 
 
 .  ch.  7-  IM, 
 
 0  P9.  55.  23. 
 
 26.  &  11.10. 
 
 r  Luke  12.2U. 
 
 t  ch.  14.  8. 
 
 (  Ps.  73.  27- 
 
 Is.  I.  28. 
 
 li  See  Luke 
 
 10.  80. 
 
 J  ch.  2.  IS. 
 
 jDea.  10,21. 
 
 P9.  109    I. 
 
 Ik  148.  14. 
 
 k  ch.  22,  '1. 
 
 .-  Is.  5.  19. 
 
 Eze.  1-2  22. 
 
 Amos  5.  18 
 
 2  Pet.  8.4. 
 
 n  rh.  1.4,(t(C. 
 
 t  Heb.  aflfr 
 
 thee. 
 
 I  ch.  32    11. 
 
 fc  S3.  13. 
 
 b  Ch.  16.  19. 
 
 -.1  Zech.  7.  7. 
 
 n  Zech.  7.  7 
 
 c  Pa.  S5  4 
 
 &  40-  H.  fit 
 
 d  Pb.  Sb.  ■.'. 
 
 0  Pb.  107.22. 
 
 &  116.  17. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 break  Ihfin 
 
 uith  a  dnu- 
 
 bUbrrach. 
 
 ech,  11.  20, 
 
 p  ch.  21.  14. 
 
 fc  -l^.  £7. 
 
 Lain.  4.  11. 
 
 AmoH  1.4.7 
 
 10,  12.  &2. 
 
 2,6. 
 
 /Ch.  19.  3. 
 
 q  2  Kin.  25. 
 
 fa  n.  2. 
 
 9,  ch.  52.13 
 
 ot  the  Lord,  ye  kings  of  Judah,  and  all  Judah, 
 and  all  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  that  enter 
 in  by  these  gates: 
 
 21  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  ^  Take  heed  to 
 yourselves,  and  bear  no  burden  on  the  sabbath 
 day,  nor  bring  it  in  by  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  ; 
 
 22  Neither  carry  forth  a  burden  out  of  your 
 houses  on  the  sabbath  day,  neither  do  ye  any 
 work,  but  hallow  ye  the  sabbath  day,  as  I 
 I"  commanded  your  fathers. 
 
 23  '  But  they  obeyed  not,  neither  inclined 
 their  ear,  but  made  their  neck  stiff,  that  they 
 might  not  bear,  nor  receive  instruction. 
 
 24  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  ye  diligently 
 hearken  unto  me,  saith  the  Lord,  to  bring  in 
 no  burden  through  the  gates  of  this  city  on 
 the  sabbath  day,  but  hallow  the  sabbath  day, 
 to  do  no  work  therein  ; 
 
 23  '  Then  shall  there  enter  into  the  gates  of 
 this  city  kings  and  princes  sitting  upon  the 
 throne  of  David,  riding  in  chariots  and  on 
 horses,  they,  and  their  princes,  the  men  of 
 Judah,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  :  and 
 this  city  shall  remain  for  ever. 
 
 2G  And  they  shall  come  from  the  cities  of 
 Judah,  and  from  '  the  places  about  Jerusalem, 
 and  from  the  land  of  Benjamin,  and  from  ""the 
 plain,  and  from  the  mountains,  and  from  "  the 
 south,  bringing  burnt  offerings,  and  sacrifices, 
 and  meat  ofterings,  and  incense,  and  bringing 
 °  sacrifices  of  praise,  unto  the  house  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 27  But  if  ye  will  not  hearken  unto  me  to 
 hallow  the  sabbath  day,  and  not  to  bear  a  bur- 
 den, even  entering  in  at  the  gates  of  Jerusalem 
 on  the  sabbath  day  ;  then  ''  will  I  kinille  a 
 fire  in  the  gates  thereof,  ''  and  it  shall  devour 
 the  palaces  of  Jerusalem,  and  it  shall  not  be 
 1  quenched. 
 
 fallen  into  the  error  by  taking  Adam  darkens  Bible  as  liis  authority, 
 and  without  turning  to  the  original ;  for  while  Clarke  maintains  Park. 
 ^MrsCs  view,  he,  singularly  enough,  writes  the  wrong  word  twice  over. 
 Whether  he  wrote  from  memory  at  the  moment,  or  whether  he  had  an  y 
 copy  before  him  in  which  the  text  might  be  so  written,  it  is  impossible 
 to  say,  and  the  error  is  unaccountable  in  f  ach  a  scholar  ;  but  it  might 
 possibly  be  typographical,  though  it  occurs  twice.  It  is  obvious,  how- 
 ever, that  u?;.*<  is  in  the  generality  of  copies,  and  common  sense  must 
 convince  us  that  it  is  the  proper  word,  as  the  other  signifies  'to mulct, 
 fine,  punish  by  fine  or  forfeiture  ;'  and  as  a  noun,'  a  mulct,'  or  'a  fine,' 
 or '  punishment.'  The  writer  has  Vnnderhoof^ht  and  Opitius  before  him, 
 in  which  it  is  printed  as  above. — Ed.  Who  can  know  it?  it  even  hides 
 itself  from  itself,  so  that  its  owner  does  not  know  it. — A.Clarke. 
 11.  Paririd^e,  '  woodcock,' or  '  snipe.' — Boch.  'Cuckoo.' — Jarchi.  It 
 is  plain,  from  1  Sara.  xxvi.  20,  that  this  bird,  i^ip.  frequents  the  moun- 
 tains, and  is  of  little  value,  so  that  the  partridge  cannot  be  meant;  ncr 
 is  it  known  that  the  partridge  does  sit  on  the  eggs  of  other  birds. — 
 Boothr,  The  snipe  or  woodcock  kind  cannot  be  meant,  for  that  bird 
 haunts  the  marshes,  not  the  mountains. — T.  M.  Harris.  It  is  not  the 
 cuckoo,  for  that  does  not  take  away  another's  eggs  and  sit  on  them, 
 but  lays  its  own  eggs  in  another's  nest,  and  leaves  them  to  be  hatched 
 by  it. — Gill.  Bi'ffon  makes  the  bartavellu,  or  Greek  partridge,  a  sepa- 
 rate species,  and  that  seems  to  be  here  intended.  Betlon  informs  us, 
 that  'the  bartavella  keeps  ordinarily  among  rocks,  but  descends  into 
 the  plain  to  make  its  aest,  and,  like  the  common  hen,  it  will  sit  upon 
 
 the  eggs  of  strangers  for  want  of  its  own.'  Now,  if  in  the  absence  of 
 the  proper  owner  the  bartavella  partridge  sits  on  (he  eggs  of  a  stranger; 
 when  that  stranger  returns,  and  drives  away  the  intruder,  the  partridge 
 so  expelled  resembles  a  man  in  low  circumstances,  who  had  possessed 
 himself,  for  a  time,  of  the  property  of  another,  but  is  forced  to  relin- 
 quish his  acquisition  before  he  can  render  it  profitable  ;  which  is  the 
 simile  of  tlie  prophet. — Dr.  Shaw.  Tlie  meaning  is,  '  he  that  broods 
 over  his  ill-gotten  gains  will  often  find  them  unproductive  ;  or,  if  he 
 leave  them,  as  a  bird  occasionally  driven  from  her  nest,  may  be  de. 
 spoiled  of  their  possession. — T.  M.  Harris.  Mlp,  '  partridge,'  is  here 
 left  untranslated  by  Blnyney ;  and  rendered  by  the  general  term  '  bird,' 
 by  Dahler  and  Boothr.  It  is  considered  as  a  different  bird  from  the 
 partridge,  by  Clarke  ;  and  as  the  partridge,  by  Cal.  and  Par.  1*2.  A 
 gtor-ioas  hif^li  throne,  fyc. — the  jirophet  contrasts  the  security  of  those 
 who  made  Jehovah  their  trust  with  such  as  trusted  in  their  ill-gotten 
 wealth.  13.  And  they  that  depart  from  me,  ^-t'.,  '  and  shall  be  re- 
 corded in  the  earth  for  revolters.' — Btti.,  so  Boothr.  14.  My  praise, 
 '  the  object  of  my  praise.' — Boothr.  15.  Where  is  the  word?  fyc. — a 
 
 common  objection  with  infidels,  when  God  does  not  speedily  fulfil  his 
 word,  (see  Isa.  v.  19  ;  Amos,  v.  18  ;  2  Pet.  m.4.)—Pret'.  Lnwth.  16.  I 
 hare  not  hastened,  ^c,  literally,  '  I  have  not  hasted  from  feeding  after 
 thee.'  '  1  have  not  been  in  haste  to  outrun  thy  guidance.'  The  meta- 
 phor is  taken  from  sheep  feeding  where  their  shepherd  leads  them. 
 He  had  not  officiously  put  himself  forward,  like  a  sheep  getting  before 
 the  shepherd. — Bla. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVII.  —  I.  Trust  not  in  man.  This 
 is  one  lesson  here  taught.  Who  that  has  lived  long  in  the 
 world  and  in  the  church  does  not  see  its  importance  ?  But 
 we  are  commanded  lo  trust  in  Christ  ;  to  believe  in  him.  He 
 is  not  man  ;  he  is  '  God  manifest  in  the  flesh.'  Our  souls 
 would  rest  upon  a  most  uncertain  foundation  were  we  to  trust 
 them  to  a  creature ;  but  here  is  one  whose  love  is  unchange- 
 able— 
 
 Whose  very  arm  of  grace  is  strong 
 
 As  that  which  built  the  skies.'  w 
 II.  '  TTie  heart  is  deceitful.'  This  is  another  lesson  we  hero 
 read.  The  heart  of  man  is  filll  of  wiles.  Towards  his  fellow- 
 man  it  IS  constantly  acting  the  supplanter.  We  hear  conti- 
 nually of  court  intrigues  among  the  higher  orders ;  of  overreach- 
 nig  and  extortion  among  the  middle  ranks;  and  it  were  to  be 
 wished  sucli  practices  were  confined  to  the  world  only,  and  did 
 not  extend  to  professors  of  religion,  and  even  sometimes  to  those 
 802 
 
 connected  by  the  nearest  ties  ;  and,  descending  to  the  lower 
 orders,  what  deceptions  are  played  off  to  impose  even  upon 
 charity,  and  obtain,  by  indolent  fraud,  what  others  have  gained 
 by  industry.  The  heart,  too,  is  deceitful  in  its  dealings  be- 
 tween itself  and  its  God  ;  and  the  most  unsound  adopts  the 
 language  of  the  Pharisee,  '  God,  I  thank  thee  that  I  am  not 
 as  other  men.'  Let  us  here  add  the  other  clause  of  the  text — 
 '  it  is  grievously  infirm.'  And  let  us  thus  be  taught  to  look  to 
 the  strong  for  strength  to  enable  us  to  perform  our  duties,  and 
 to  resist  the  influence  of  evil  principles  and  practices  around 
 us.  '  We  are  not  sufficient  of  ourselves  to  think  anything  as 
 of  ourselves,  but  all  our  sufficiency  is  of  God.' 
 
 III.  Gel  not  richts  ifrimgfuth/.  There  are  other  ways  of 
 getting  riches  wrongfully  besides  violence  and  stealing  ;  be- 
 sides giving  light  weight  and  selling  short  measure.  Let  us 
 see  that  in  all  our  dealings  we  act  as  in  the  sight  of  God,  Ihe 
 searcher  of  hearts  ;  that  we  do  not  'take  people  in,' according 
 
God's  power  over  nations. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XVIII. 
 
 Jeremiah's  prayer. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 I  Under  the  type  of  a  potter  is  i:/iewed  God's  ahsolute 
 power  in  dispusint/  of  nations.  1 1  Judgments  threat- 
 ened to  Jiulah  for  hit  strange  revolt*  18  Jeremiah 
 prayeth  against  his  cojtspirators. 
 
 T^HE  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  the 
 -■-    Lord,  saying, 
 
 2  Arise,  and  go  down  to  the  potter's  house, 
 and  there  I  will  cause  thee  to  hear  my  words. 
 
 3  Then  I  went  down  to  the  potter's  liouse, 
 and,    hehold,   he    wrought    a    work    on    the 
 
 II  wheels. 
 
 4  And  the  vessel  ||  that  he  made  of  clay  was 
 marred  in  the  hand  of  the  potter:  so  he  f  made 
 it  again  another  vessel,  as  seemed  good  to  the 
 potter  to  make  it* 
 
 5  Then  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  me, 
 saying, 
 
 6  O  house  of  Israel,  ^  cannot  I  do  with  you 
 as  this  potter?  saith  the  Lord.  Behold,  ''as 
 the  clay  is  in  the  potter's  hand,  so  are  ye  in 
 mine  hand,  O  house  of  Israel. 
 
 7  At  what  instant  I  shall  speak  concerning  a 
 nation,  and  concerning  a  kingdom,  to  '■"  pluck 
 up,  and  to  pull  down,  and  to  destroy  it ; 
 
 S  ^  If  that  nation,  against  whom  I  have  pro- 
 nounced, turn  from  their  evil,  ""  I  will  repent  of 
 the  evil  that  I  thought  to  do  unto  them. 
 
 9  And  at  what  instant  I  shall  speak  concern- 
 ing a  nation,  and  concerning  a  kingdom,  to 
 build  and  to  plant  it ; 
 
 10  If  it  do  evil  in  my  sight,  that  it  obey  not 
 my  voice,  then  I  will  repent  of  the  good, 
 wherewith  I  said  I  would  benefit  them. 
 
 1 1  If  Now  therefore  go  to,  speak  to  the  men 
 of  Judah,  and  to  the  iniiabitants  of  Jerusalem, 
 saying.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  I  frame 
 evil  against  you,  and  devise  a  device  against 
 you  :  '  return  ye  now  every  one  from  his  evil 
 way,  and  make  your  ways  and  your  doings 
 good. 
 
 12  And  they  said,  ^There  is  no  hope:  but 
 we  will  walk  after  our  own  devices,  and  we 
 will  every  one  do  the  imagination  of  his  evil 
 heart. 
 
 13  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord;  ^  Ask  ye 
 
 |[  Or,  that  he 
 ma  tin  wat 
 ni'itr^d.  nt 
 clay  in  the 
 haiid  "/the 
 
 t  Heb.'re- 
 turued  and 
 
 made. 
 
 a  Is.  45.  9. 
 
 WUd.  15  7. 
 
 Rom.  9.  2l>, 
 
 21. 
 b  l9.  64.  8. 
 
 <;Eze.  ]6.SI. 
 
 k  33.  I). 
 e  ch.  26  3 
 
 JoaabS  10. 
 
 /2  Kin.  17 
 13.  cli.  7  3 
 &  25,  5.  & 
 26.  13.  8c  35. 
 15. 
 ?  ch.  2.  25, 
 
 h  ch.  2.  10. 
 I  Cor.  5.  I. 
 
 cii,  603. 
 cii.  5.  3l). 
 
 II  Or.  piv 
 Jidd4/^r  n 
 rocfr.  <H-  fur 
 t/if  t'lOW  of 
 
 Lebanon  f 
 
 shall  Ihf  Til „■ 
 
 tii'iff  u-iilers 
 
 tie  Jot tn  ken 
 
 f»T  the 
 
 ttrangr  cold 
 
 waters  ? 
 h  cU.  2.  13, 
 
 32   &  3   21. 
 
 Kc  13.  25.  & 
 
 17.  13. 
 /ch.  10.  15. 
 
 8t  16,  19. 
 '1.  ch.  6.  16. 
 '.  ch.  19.  8. 
 
 Ht  49.  13.  b 
 
 50.  13 
 '-  I  Kin.  9   8 
 
 Lam   2.  IS. 
 
 Mic.  6.16. 
 p  ch.  13.  24. 
 7  Pb.  48.  7. 
 T  See  ch.  2. 
 
 f"ch.  1!.  19. 
 /  Lev.  10  II. 
 
 Hal.  2.  7. 
 
 John  7-  48, 
 
 49. 
 
 '  Ihe 
 
 X  Ps.  35.  7. 
 &  57.  6. 
 ver.  22. 
 
 y  Ps.  109.  9, 
 
 t  Heb.  pour 
 Ihftn  out. 
 
 t  Heb.  for 
 
 death. ' 
 a  I'fi.  33.  4. 
 
 &  1(19.  14. 
 
 ch.  II.  20. 
 
 &  15.  15. 
 
 now  among  the  heathen,  who  hath  heard  such 
 things  :  the  virgin  of  Israel  hath  done  '  a  very 
 horrihle  thing. 
 
 14  Will  a  man  leave  ||  the  snow  of  Lebanon 
 which  Cometh  from  the  rock  of  the  field?  07- 
 shall  the  cold  flowing  waters  that  come  from 
 another  place  be  forsaken  ? 
 
 15  Because  my  people  hath  forgotten  ''me. 
 they  have  burned  incense  to  '  vanity,  and  they 
 have  caused  them  to  stumble  in  their  ways 
 fro/n  the  ""ancient  paths,  to  walk  in  paths,  in 
 a  way  not  cast  up  ; 
 
 16  To  make  their  land  "desolate,  and  a  per- 
 petual °  hissing  ;  every  one  that  passeth  there- 
 by shall  be  astonished,  and  wag  his  head. 
 
 17^1  will  scatter  them  ''as  with  an  east  wind 
 before  the  enemy  ;  ^  I  will  shew  them  the  back, 
 and  not  the  face,  in  the  day  of  their  calamity. 
 
 18  t  Then  said  they,  ^  Come,  and  let  us  de- 
 vise devices  against  Jeremiah  ;  *  for  the  law 
 shall  not  perish  from  the  priest,  nor  counsel 
 from  the  wise,  nor  the  word  from  the  prophet. 
 Come,  and  let  us  smite  him  ||  with  the  tongue, 
 and  let  us  not  give  heed  to  any  of  his  words. 
 
 19  Give  heed  to  me,  O  Lord,  and  hearken  to 
 the  voice  of  them  that  contend  with  me. 
 
 20  "  Shall  evil  be  recompensed  for  good  ?  for 
 ''  they  have  digged  a  pit  for  my  soul.  Remem- 
 ber that  I  stood  before  thee  to  speak  good  for 
 them,  and  to  turn  away  thy  wrath  from  them. 
 
 21  Therefore  *' deliver  up  their  children  to 
 the  famine,  and  fpour  out  their  blood  by  the 
 force  of  the  sword  ;  and  let  their  wives  be  be- 
 reaved of  their  children,  and  be  widows  ;  and 
 let  their  men  be  put  to  death  ;  let  their  young 
 men  be  slain  by  the  sword  in  battle. 
 
 22  Let  a  cry  be  heard  from  their  houses, 
 when  thou  shalt  bring  a  troop  suddenly  upon 
 them  :  for  ^  they  have  digged  a  pit  to  take  me, 
 and  hid  snares  for  my  feet. 
 
 23  Yet,  Lord,  thou  knowest  all  their  counsel 
 against  me  f  to  slay  me :  '^  forgive  not  their 
 iniquity,  neither  blot  out  their  sin  from  thy 
 sight,  but  let  them  be  overthrown  before  thee; 
 deal  thus  with  them  in  the  time  of  thine  anger. 
 
 CnAP.  XVIII.  —  1.  Theword — these  prophecies,  continued  in  the  two 
 ftillowing  chapters,  must  be  referred  to  some  part  of  the  three  first  years 
 of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim. — Bla.  3,  On  the  wheels,  D*32Nn  b?.  '  upon 
 the  stones,'  the  potter's  wheel  being  usually  made  of  such. — ..4.  Clarke. 
 One  stone  beneath  fixed,  and  one  above  turned  round,  as  modern  con- 
 trivances for  the  same  purpose. — Scott.  6.  Cannot  I  do,  tfc. — this 
 does  not  intimate  that  God  had  created  men  to  destroy  them,  but  to 
 teach  the  Jews  that  they  were  in  the  hands  of  God,  and  that  he  was 
 able  to  punish  and  afterwards  to  restore  them. — Mant.,  from  Ostervald. 
 *  If  the  potter's  vessel  be  marred  for  one  use,  it  shall  serve  for  another  : 
 those  that%rUl  not  be  monuments  of  mercy,  shall  be  monuments  of  jus- 
 tice.'— Hen.  8.  Repent — see  on  Gen.  vi.  6.  14.  Will  a  man,  fjc. — 
 'Will  one  leave  the  snow  of  Lebanon  for  the  rock  of  the  field? 
 Villi  men  desert  cool  streams  for  strange  waters  ?' — Boothr. 
 Or  it  may  be  translated,  '  shall  one  leave  the  moisture  of  the  field  [for] 
 the  snow-water  of  Lebanon,  or  shall  the  rxuining  waters  be  forsaken 
 for  the  muddy  waters?'  The  text,  as  rendered,  sifjnifics,  'it  is  as 
 strange  and  incredible  for  men  to  forsake  the  true  God  for  idols,  as  it 
 would  be  for  a  thirsty  traveller  to  forego  the  cold  refreshing  streams 
 that  come  in  his  way.' — Preb.  Lowth.     15.  And  they  have  caused  them, 
 
 *  They  stumbled  in  their  ways  from  the  old  paths, 
 Whilst  walking  in  paths  of  a  road  not  cast  up.* — Boothr. 
 
 1/.  As  with  an  east  wind,  which  is  dry  and  blasting,  (see  Isa.  xxvii.  8 ; 
 Ezek.  xvii.  10;  xix.  12;  Hos.  xiii.  15.) — Preb.  Lowth.  Shew  them  the 
 back,  will  not  look  upon  them  favourably,  or  with  any  pity  and  com- 
 passion.— Gill.  This  was  a  mark  of  rejection  and  contempt ;  a  stronger 
 cannot  be  given  in  the  east,  especially  tea  visitor. — Pict.  Bib.  IS.  The 
 law  shall  not  perish  from  the  priest,  fyc, '  we  have  other  priests  besides 
 Jeremiah  ;  we  have  wise  rulers  and  judges  ;  we  have  prophets  that  pro- 
 phesy as  well  as  he.* — Gill.  Smite  him  with  the  tongue,  'saying  all  the 
 evil  we  can  of  him.' — Gill.  '  Let  us  bear  false  witness  against  him,' 
 Chatd.  'In  the  tongue,'  rrdll.—Mont.,  Castalio.  'Cut  it  out.'  — 
 Abiirb.  '  For  the  tongue.* — Jiin.,  Trem.  '  Because  of  his  prophecies.' 
 '  On  the  tongue.'  '  On  the  offending  part.'  '  Let  us  punish  him  so  as 
 effectually  to  silence  him.' — Boothr.  20.  Digged  a  pit — see  Ps.  vii. 
 15,  note.  21.  Therefore  deliver  up,  ^c,  *  as  they  are  so  incorrigible,  I 
 intercede  no  further,  and  leave  them  to  thy  hands.' — So  Preb.  Lowth. 
 The  prophet  here  repeats  his  predictions.— So  Sut.  Perhaps  there 
 might  be  human  infirmity  mLxed  here  on  this  trying  occasion,  especi- 
 ally as  we  must  allow  this  to  have  been  the  case  in  other  instances, 
 (comp.  chap.  xv.  15—18;  xx.  10— 18.)— Sco«. 
 
 to  the  usual  expression  ;  and  congratulate  ourselves  on  that 
 cunning  which  will  not  bear  the  scrutiny  of  serious  raoroents 
 and  of  a  dying  hour.  Money  ill  gained  will  never  wear  well  ; 
 and  not  unfrequently  do  we  see  it  rapidly  pass  from  the  hand 
 that  gained  it,  leaving  the  disappointed  man  like  the  bird 
 driven  from  her  nest. 
 
 IV.  '  Hallow  the  sabbath-day.*     God  often  repeats  this  com- 
 mand, and  it  becomes  us  to  repeat  it.     This  unchangeable  law 
 is  not  sufficiently  regarded.      Labour,  travelling,  pleasure,  ni"! 
 803 
 
 visiting,  are  DOt  consistent  with  the  keeping  of  this  command. 
 The  mind  is  not  fitted  by  such  occupations  for  that  silent  in- 
 tercourse with  God  which  ought  to  occupy  tbe  intervals  of 
 public  worship.  It  is  to  be  feared  tbat  too  many  Christians 
 blend  this  eternal  moral  command  of  God's  law  with  those 
 ceremonial  institutions  which  are  no  longer  binding.  Either 
 reject  tbe  sabbatb,  or  observe  it  as  God  commands  it  to  be 
 ke.t. 
 
The  desolation  of  the  Jews 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XIX.,  XX. 
 
 for  their  sins. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 Under  the  type  of  breaking  a  potter's  vessel^  is  fore- 
 s/iewcd  the  desolation  of  the  Jews  for  their  sins. 
 
 'T'HUS  saitli  the  Lord,  Go  and  get  a  potter's 
 -*-  earthen  bottle,  and  take  of  the  ancients  of 
 the  people,  and  of  the  ancients  of  the  priests  ; 
 
 2  And  go  forth  unto  °  the  valley  of  the  son 
 of  Hinnom,  wliich  (s  by  the  entry  of  f  the  east 
 gate,  and  proclaim  there  the  words  that  I  shall 
 tell  thee. 
 
 3  *■  And  say.  Hear  ye  the  word  of  the  Lokd, 
 O  kings  of  Jiidah,  and  inhabitants  of  Jerusa- 
 lem ;  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
 of  Israel ;  Behold,  I  will  bring  evil  upon  this 
 place,  the  which  whosoever  heareth,  his  ears 
 shall  '  tingle. 
 
 4  Because  they  ''  have  forsaken  me,  and  have 
 estranged  this  place,  and  have  burned  incense 
 in  it  unto  other  gods,  whom  neither  they  nor 
 their  fathers  have  known,  nor  the  kings  of 
 Jndah,  and  have  filled  this  place  with  °  the 
 blood  of  innocents ; 
 
 3  'They  have  built  also  the  high  places  of 
 Baal,  to  burn  their  sons  with  fire  for  burnt 
 offerings  unto  I'aal,  ^  which  I  commanded  not, 
 nor  spake  it,  neither  came  it  into  my  mind  : 
 
 6  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the 
 LoKD,  that  this  place  shall  no  more  be  called 
 Tophet,  nor  •■  The  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom, 
 but  The  valley  of  slaughter. 
 
 7  And  I  will  make  void  the  counsel  of  Judah 
 and  Jerusalem  in  this  place  ;  '  and  I  will  cause 
 them  to  fall  by  the  sword  before  their  enemies, 
 and  by  the  hands  of  them  that  seek  their  lives  : 
 and  their  '  carcases  will  I  give  to  be  meat  for 
 the  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  for  the  beasts  of 
 the  earth. 
 
 8  And  I  will  make  this  city '  desolate,  and  an 
 hissing ;  every  one  that  passeth  thereby  shall 
 be  astonished  and  hiss  because  of  all  the 
 plagues  thereof. 
 
 a  Jofib.  \S.S. 
 
 2  Kin.  23. 
 
 10.  cli.7.31. 
 f  Heb.  Ilia 
 
 tun  gate. 
 
 C  I  Sam.  S. 
 
 n.SKin. 
 
 SI.  IS. 
 d  Dcu.  2S  20. 
 
 Is,  6!J.  n. 
 
 ch  2.  13, 17, 
 
 19.  &  15.  6. 
 
 &  17.  13. 
 
 eS  Kin.  21. 
 16.  ch.  2.34. 
 
 ft  Josh.  IS.  8. 
 
 APs.79.  2. 
 oh.  7.  S3.  & 
 16.  1.  &  St. 
 
 Ich.  19.  16. 
 fb  49.  13.  & 
 00.  13 
 
 n  Lev.S6.S9. 
 Deu  28-  53. 
 Is.  9.  20. 
 
 «  So  ch.  51. 
 63,61 
 
 o  P>.  B.  9. 
 
 la.  30.  1*. 
 
 I.am.  4.  2. 
 t  Heb.  be 
 
 lien  ted. 
 f  cli.  7.  »2. 
 
 g  2  Kin.  23. 
 
 10. 
 r  2  Kin.  23. 
 
 12.  ell    32. 
 
 29.  Zcph. 
 
 1.  5. 
 .  ch.  7.  18. 
 
 u  ch.  7.  SO. 
 
 &  17.  23. 
 
 9  And  I  will  cause  them  to  eat  the  "  fJesh  of 
 their  sons  and  the  f!esh  of  their  daughters,  and 
 they  shall  eat  every  one  the  flesh  of  his  friend 
 in  the  siege  and  slraitness,  wherewith  their 
 enemies,  and  they  that  seek  their  lives,  shall 
 straiten  them. 
 
 10  "Then  shalt  thou  break  the  bottle  in  the 
 sight  of  the  men  that  go  with  thee, 
 
 11  And  shalt  say  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts  ;  °  Even  so  will  I  break  this 
 people  and  this  city,  as  ojebreaketh  a  potter's 
 vessel,  that  cannot  f  be  made  whole  again  : 
 and  they  shall  ''bury  them  in  Tophet,  till  there 
 be  no  place  to  bury. 
 
 12  Thus  will  I  do  unto  this  place,  saith  the 
 Lord,  and  to  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  even 
 make  this  city  as  Tophet: 
 
 13  And  the  houses  of  Jerusalem,  and  the 
 houses  of  the  kings  of  Judah,  shall  be  defiled 
 ''  as  the  place  of  Tophet,  because  of  all  the 
 houses  upon  whose  '  roofs  they  have  burned 
 incense  unto  all  the  host  of  heaven,  and  'have 
 poured  out  drink  offerings  unto  other  gods. 
 
 14  Then  came  Jeremiah  from  Tophet,  whither 
 the  Lord  had  sent  him  to  prophesy  ;  and  he 
 stood  in  '  the  court  of  the  Lord's  house  ;  and 
 said  to  all  the  people, 
 
 15  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel  ;  Behold,  I  will  bring  upon  this  city  and 
 upon  all  her  towns  all  the  evil  that  I  have  pro- 
 nounced against  i(,  because  "  they  have  har- 
 dened their  necks,  that  they  might  not  hear 
 my  words. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  PasJiur,  smiting  Jere^niafi,  receiveth  a  iieiv  name,  and 
 a  fearful  doom.  7  Jeremiah  complaineth  of  contttnpt, 
 10  of  treachery ,  14  and  of  his  birth. 
 
 '[VOW  Pashur  the  son  of"  Iinmer  the  priest, 
 -*-*    who  teas  also  chief  governor  in  the  house 
 of  the  Lord,  heard  that  Jeremiah  prophesied 
 I  these  things. 
 
 Cbap.  XIX.  —  I.  A  patterns  earthen  bottle,  an  earthen  pitcber  with  a 
 narrow  neck,  made  to  drink  out  of. — Pret).  Lowth.  The  word  is  trans- 
 lated 'cruise,'  l  Kings,  xiv.  3. — Scott.  Ancient.':,  those  who  were  the 
 greatest  and  principal  men  of  the  city,  of  which  the  Jewish  sanhedrim 
 consisted. — Gill.  Comp.  chap.  xxvi.  17;  Ezek.  viii.  11  ;  see  also  priests, 
 1  Chron.  x.\iv,  4.  2.  Valley  of^Hinnom,  south  of  Jerusalem.      See 
 
 Josh.  XV.  8  ;  also,  Snndi/s'  Truv.  East  gate— it  should  seem  rather  to 
 be  the  south  gate,  a  proper  situation  for  potters  to  dry  their  pots. — Gill. 
 Heb.  '  sun  gate,'  i.  c.,  the  gate  toward  the  rising  of  the  sun.  The  val- 
 ley of  Hinnom  turns  also  to  the  south,  (Josh.  xv.  8.) — Wil.  It  is  ren- 
 dered, as  a  proper  name,  'the  gate  Harsith,'  by  il/tcA., /f/a.,  and 
 Boothr. ;  so  the  Sept.,  Syr.,  and  Arab.  The  Targum  calls  it  '  the  dung 
 gate,'  through  which  tlie  filth  of  the  city  was  carried  out,  and  where 
 lay  the  potter's  sherds. — Gill.  See  Neh.  ii.  13.  3.  Ears  shall  tingle, 
 denotes  uncommon  astonishment,  (see  l  Sam  iii.  11  ;  2  Kings,  xxi.  12.) 
 — Cat.  4.  Kings  of  Judah,  i.  e.,  none  of  their  pious  kings,  as  David, 
 Asa,  Jehoshaphat.  Hezekiah,  and  Josiah. — Gill.  5.  To  burn  their 
 soils — see  Lev.  xviii.  21  ;  and  2  Kings,  xxiii.  10.  8.  An  hissing,  i.  e., 
 
 a  scorn  and  reproach.— i*oo/e.      It  expresses  not  so  much  contempt  as 
 
 astonishment  mixed  with  horror,  (see  chap,  xviii.  l6.)— B?ff.  g.  To 
 eat  the  fipsh  of  their  sons,  fyc.— Jerome  observes,  that  though  this  was 
 fulfilled  at  the  Babyh'nish  captivity,  yet  more  fully  when  Jerusalem 
 was  besieged  by  Vespasian  and  Titus,  and  in  the  times  of  Hadrian. 
 Josephus  gives  us  a  most  shocking  relation  of  a  woman  eating  her  own 
 son.— De  Bello  Jtid.,  I.  6,  c.  3,  §  4.  10.  Shalt  break  the  buttle,  ^c— 
 
 the  breaking  of  an  earthen  vessel  is  a  proper  emblem  of  utter  ruiu,  for 
 when  broken  it  can  never  again  be  put  to  any  proper  use. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 \2.  As  Tuphet,  a.  place  of  slaughter,  and  unclean.— Seo/^.  See  chap, 
 vii.  32.  13.  Upon  whose  roofs,  ^c— the  Jewish  roofs  were  flat,  and 
 sometimes  used  for  prayer  to  God  (Acts,  x.  9) ;  idolaters  used  them  to 
 burn  incense  to  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  to  which  they  were  nearer,  and 
 so  chose  the  roofs.— So  Gilt.  14.  Court  of  the  Lord's  house,  the  court 
 of  the  temple,  called  '  the  outer  court,'  or  '  court  of  the  Israelites,* 
 where  all  the  people  met.— Gill.  13.  Hardened  their  necks, ?i  metaphor 
 from  oxen  unruly  under  the  yoke. — Greenf. 
 
 Chap.  XX. —  1.  /*asA(/r  Me  son  o/ /mHicr-the  course  of  Immer  was 
 the  l6th  course  of  the  priests,  {i  Chron.  xxiv.  14  "i  Pashur  was  bis  son, 
 that  is,  descended  from  him  through  many  generations. — Poole.  Chief 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIII.  —  I.  God  has  a  right  to 
 punish  siniiers.  Is  he  not  Sovereign  of  the  world,  and  '  who 
 dare  say  unto  him,  What  doest  thou?'  He  is  good,  and  if 
 we  are  disobedient  to  those  laws  which  require  of  us  only  that 
 which  is  good,  if  he  punish  us,  he  is  but  just. 
 
 TI.  If  men  will  go  on  in  their  sins,  they  must  take  the  conse- 
 quences. The  Jews  were  faithfully  admonished  ;  and  in  this 
 land  of  scripture  light,  men  who  live  without  God  must  wil- 
 fully shut  their  eyes  if  they  do  not  see  whither  their  follies 
 and  their  sins  will  lead  them. 
 
 HI.  Men  mat/  hate  the  messenrfers  of  truth,  hut  that  will  not 
 prevent  its  fulfilment.  They  do  but  add  sin  to  sin,  and  *  fear- 
 fully shall  God  resent  the  injuries  done  to  tbem,  as  done  to 
 himself.  He  that  despiseth  tbem  must  be  held  as  an  hater 
 and  despiser  of  him  that  sent  them.'i> 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIX.  —  I.  How  forcible  are  God's 
 warnings  to  sinnirs  I  The  leading  men  of  Israel  are  here  taken 
 804 
 
 to  the  place  of  their  idolatries,  where  the  very  souls  of  the 
 murdered  infants  seem  to  cry  against  tbem  for  tbeir  barbarous 
 idolatry.  And  often  does  God  carry  the  sinner  to  the  very 
 mouth  of  the  bottomless  Tophet.  by  suffering  the  eflects  of 
 his  sins  to  fall  upon  his  mind  and  body  ;  and  yet  he  spares  him, 
 and  perhaps  still  renews  his  warnings.  He  *  is  not  willing 
 that  any  should  perish.* 
 
 II.  How  abandoned  are  sinners,  that  they  attend  not  to  God's 
 warnings  !  They  harden  their  necks,  that  they  may  not  hear 
 his  word.  *  The  obstinacy  of  sinners  in  their  sinful  ways  is 
 altogether  of  themselves;  if  their  necks  are  hardened,  it  is 
 their  own  act  and  deed,  they  have  hardened  them;  if  they  are 
 deaf  to  the  word  of  God,  it  is  because  they  have  stopped  their 
 own  ear.  We  have  need,  therefore,  to  pray  that  God.  by  his 
 grace,  would  deliver  us  from  hardness  of  heart  and  contempt 
 of  his  word  and  commandments.' '' 
 
Pushur's  fearful  doom. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXI. 
 
 Jeremiah's  complaints. 
 
 2  Then  Pashur  smote  Jeremiah  the  prophet, 
 and  put  him  in  the  stoclis  that  were  in  the  high 
 gate  of  Benjamin,  whicli  was  by  the  house  of 
 the  LoKD. 
 
 3  And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  morrow,  that 
 Pashnr  brouglit  forth  Jeremiah  out  of  the 
 stocks.  Then  said  Jeremiali  unto  him.  The 
 LoiiD  hath  not  called  thy  name  Pashur,  but 
 II  Magor-missabib. 
 
 4  For  tlius  saitli  the  Lord,  Behold,  I  will 
 make  thee  a  terror  to  thyself,  and  to  all  thy 
 friends  :  and  they  shall  fall  by  the  sword  of 
 their  enemies,  and  thine  eyes  shall  behold  it  : 
 and  I  will  give  all  Judah  into  tlie  hand  of  the 
 king  of  Babylon,  and  he  sliall  carry  them  cap- 
 tive into  Babylon,  and  shall  slay  them  with  the 
 sword. 
 
 5  Moreover  I  '■  will  deliver  all  the  strength  of 
 this  city,  and  all  the  labours  thereof,  and  all 
 tlie  precious  tilings  thereof,  and  all  the  trea- 
 sures of  the  kings  of  Judah  will  I  give  into  the 
 hand  of  their  enemies,  which  shall  spoil  them, 
 and  take  them,  and  carry  them  to  Babylon. 
 
 6  And  thou,  Pashur,  and  all  that  dwell  in 
 thine  house  shall  go  into  captivity  :  and  thou 
 shalt  come  to  Baljylon,  and  there  thou  shall 
 die,  and  shalt  be  buried  there,  thou,  and  all 
 thy  friends,  to  whom  thou  hast  '  prophesied 
 lies. 
 
 7  1  O  Lord,  thou  hast  deceived  me,  and  I 
 was  II  deceived  :  ''  thou  art  stronger  than  I, 
 and  hast  prevailed  :  °  I  am  in  derision  daily, 
 every  one  mocketh  me. 
 
 8  For  since  I  spake,  I  cried  out,  '  I  cried 
 violence  and  spoil  ;  because  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  was  made  a  reproach  unto  me,  and  a  de- 
 rision, daily. 
 
 9  Then  I  said,  I  will  not  make  mention  of 
 him,  nor  speak  anymore  in  his  name.  But  his 
 word  was  in  mine  heart  as  a  ^  burning  fire  shut 
 up  in  my  bones,  and  I  was  weary  with  forbear- 
 ing, and  ^  I  could  not  stay. 
 
 lot'  For  I  heard  the  defaming  of  many,  fear 
 on  every  side.  Report,  sai/  they,  and  we  will 
 report  it.     fAll  my  familiars  watched  for  my 
 
 II  Thiit  Is 
 fi^nr  riiwiii 
 abuiil,  Ps. 
 SI.  13.  ver. 
 lu,  cb.fi.  25. 
 &  46.  a.  fe 
 4!».  29. 
 
 I>  5  Kin.  SO. 
 17.  &  24.  12 
 —16  &  25. 
 1^,  &c.  cli. 
 
 3.  2.1. 
 
 :cli.  It.  13, 
 14  &2S.  15. 
 &  29.  21. 
 
 11  Or,  futiced. 
 <1  ch.  I.  6,7 
 c  Lam. 3.  14 
 
 S  Job  32.  IS, 
 
 19  Ps.  39.3. 
 A  Job  .32.  18. 
 
 Acts  18.  5. 
 >  Ps,  31.  13. 
 t  Heb.  Everf, 
 
 mon./mj, 
 
 pence 
 k  Job  19    19. 
 
 Pa.  41.  9.  & 
 
 55.  13,  14. 
 
 I.iihe  11. 
 
 53,  54. 
 
 '<  cli.  23.  40. 
 
 !>  Pfi.  54    7. 
 ai  £9    10. 
 
 I  Gen.  19.25. 
 (  ch.  18.  22, 
 
 X  Job  3.  20. 
 y  I.aiu,  3.  1, 
 
 lialtiiig,  saijincj,  Peradventure  he  will  be  en- 
 ticed, and  we  shall  prevail  against  him,  and  we 
 sliall  take  our  revenge  on  liiin. 
 
 1 1  But  '  the  Lord  is  with  me  as  a  mighty 
 terrible  one  :  therefore  my  persecutors  shall 
 stumble,  and  they  shall  not  "'  prevail ;  they 
 shall  be  greatly  ashamed  ;  for  they  shall  not 
 prosper  :  their  "  everlasting  confusion  shall 
 never  be  forgotten. 
 
 12  But,  O  Lord  of  hosts,  that  °  triest  the 
 righteous,  and  seest  the  reins  and  the  heart, 
 ''  let  me  see  thy  vengeance  on  them :  for  unto 
 thee  have  1  opened  my  cause. 
 
 13  Sing  unto  the  Loud,  praise  ye  the  Lord: 
 for  ^  he  hath  delivered  the  soul  of  the  poor 
 from  the  hand  of  evildoers. 
 
 14  1 '  Cursed  be  the  day  wherein  I  was  born  : 
 let  not  the  day  wherein  my  mother  bare  me 
 be  blessed. 
 
 15  Cursed  be  the  man  who  brought  tidings 
 to  my  father,  saying,  A  man  child  is  born  unto 
 tliee  ;  making  him  very  glad. 
 
 16  And  let  that  man  be  as  the  cities  which 
 the  Lord  'overthrew,  and  repented  not-  and 
 let  him  'hear  the  cry  in  the  morning,  and  the 
 sliouting  at  noontide  ; 
 
 17  "  Because  he  slew  me  not  from  the  womb  ; 
 or  that  my  mother  might  have  been  my  grave, 
 and  her  womb  to  be  always  great  with  me. 
 
 18  ^  Wherefore  came  I  forth  out  of  the  womb 
 to  'see  labour  and  sorrow,  that  ray  days  should 
 be  consumed  with  shame? 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 I  Zedt'kiah  sendeth  to  Jeremiah  to  enquire  the  event  of 
 Nebuchadrezzar" s  war.  ^  J eremiah  foretdleth  a  hard 
 siege  and  miserable  captivity.  8  He  connscUeih  the 
 people  to  fall  to  the  Chaldeansy  II  and  upbraideth  the 
 kitty's  house* 
 
 T^HE  word  which  came  unto  Jeremiah  from 
 -*-    the  Lord,  when  king  Zedekiah  sent  unto 
 
 him  °  Pashur  the  son  of  Melchiah,  and  ^  Ze- 
 
 phaniah  the  son  of  Maaseiah  the  priest,  saying, 
 2  "  Enquire,  I  pray  thee,  of  the  Lord  for  us  ; 
 
 for  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon  maketh 
 
 governor,  not  the  high  pritst,  but  perhaps  he  was  the  head  of  the  course 
 to  which  he  belonged. — Gill.  Probably  one  of  the  same  order  styled  in 
 the  New  Testament  'chief  priests.' — Boothr.  2.  The  stocks,  'the 
 
 house  of  correction.'  The  word  occurs  in  chap,  xxi.x.  l'6,  and  2Chron. 
 xvi.  10;  in  both  which  places  it  is  rendered  'a  prison.'— So //oi^6. 
 Gate  of  Benjamin,  either  a  gate  of  Jerusalem  looking  towards  that 
 tribe,  or  of  the  temple,  which  stood  on  the  side  next  Benjamin. — GUI. 
 3.  Mttgor-missabib—*  the  name  which  I  give  thee  signifies  fear  or  terror 
 round  about,  and  thou  thyself  shalt  be  a  fearful  example  of  the  ap- 
 proaching calamities.'— FreA.  Lowth.  5.  Strength,  may  mean  '  men 
 of  war.' — Bla.  No  doubt  this  is  the  meaning. — Buothr.  It  means 
 '  wealth  ;'  the  word  is  rendered  '  treasure,'  Prov.  xv.  6 ;  Ezek.  xxii.  25. 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  7.  Thou  hast  deceived  me,  'over  persuaded  me.* — 
 Dr.  Waterlnnd.  'Thou  didst  persuade  me,  and  I  was  persuaded.' — 
 Gat.  In  this  sense  tlie  word  is  understood  by  Ains.,  Buxtorf,  Gesen., 
 Pur.,  and  Schindler.  'Didst  allure  me.'— S/u.,  so  Boothr.  The  pas- 
 sage alludes  to  the  encouragement  God  gave  the  prophet  on  takmg 
 his  office,  (chap.  i.  7,  8,  17 — ly.)  or  afterwards,  when  he  began  to  com- 
 plain of  hardships,  {chap.  xv.  19— 21.)— B/a.  8.  /  cried  out,  I  cried, 
 Sfc,  '  I  cried  out  violence,  and  complained  aloud  of  spoil.'  *  Since  I 
 have  prophesied,  I  have  suffered  great  hardships,'  or  '  I  have  freely  ex- 
 postulated on  the  violence  and  oppression  of  my  countrj'men.' — Preb. 
 Lowth. 
 
 'For  whensoever  I  speak, 
 If  I  cry  out  violence,  or  proclaim  devastation. 
 The  word  of  Jehovah  is  turned  against  me, 
 Into  reproach  and  disgrace  continually.' — Boothr. 
 
 9.  As  a  burning  f  re— his  conscience  v/ould  not  let  him  suppress  what 
 he  ought  to  declare;   so  St.  Paul,  (1  Cor.  ix.  16,  17.)— B/d.  10.  Re- 
 
 port,  sat/  they,  ^c,  raise  you  a  false  report,  and  we  will  help  to  spread 
 it. — So  Poole.  14.  Cursed  be  the  day,  Sfc,  a  lamentation  in  a  poetical 
 strain,  as  Job,  chap,  iii.,  and  such  !(s  the  mourning  women  used  to 
 sing.—Preb.  Lowth.  Boothroyd  supplies,  between  verses  13  and  14, 
 '  who  despairing  said,'— 
 
 '  Because  he  hath  delivered,  from  the  liand  of  evil  doers. 
 The  soul  of  the  poor  one,  who  despairing  said, 
 Accursed  be,'  &c. 
 
 15.  The  man  who  brought  tidings— m  Persia,  the  birth  of  a  male  is  an- 
 nounced to  the  father  wirh  great  ceremony. — Sir  J.  Chardin.  So  in 
 Hindostan  ;  the  father  waits  in  an  adjoining  room  or  garden,  and  the 
 midwife  ruslies  forth  as  soon  as  a  son  is  born,  and,  beating  the  thatch 
 of  the  roof  three  times,  exclaims  aloud,  'A  male  child,*  thrice  :  not  a 
 word  is  said  if  it  be  a  female. — Rob.  The  words  amount  to  this, — that 
 the  man  who  brought  his  father  tidings  of  his  birth  had  been,  in  reality, 
 the  messenger  of  ill  news  instead  of  good. — Bla. 
 
 Chap.  XXI. —  1.  The  word,  §c.  — this  chapter  should  immediately 
 fuUow  the  23th.  The  message  in  this  chapter  has  been  confounded 
 with  that  in  chap,  xxxvii,,  but  they  appear  to  be  clearly  distinct  from 
 each  other.  In  the  latter,  the  Chaldeans  had  been  besieging  Jerusalem 
 for  some  time,  and  had  raised  the  siege;  in  this,  the  king  of  Babylon 
 had  but  just  commenced  hostilities. — Bla.  2.  Nebuchadrezzar,  so 
 spelt  in  twenty-seven  places  of  this  book,  and  in  ten  places  spelt '  Nebu- 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  XX.  —  I.  In  the  doom  of  Pashur,  do  not  despair.     Jeremiah  did  not  desist  from  his  work  ;  ho 
 
 the  persecutor,  we  see  '  that  God  can  tnake  the  most  daring  siu-  felt  assured  of  God's  presence  with  him.     He  could  appeal  to 
 
 ner  a  terror  to  himsclf.'^^     '  The  wicked  fleeth  when  no  man  God  as  his  righteous  Judge,  and  could  rejoice  in  God  as  the 
 
 pursueth,'  and  '  is  in  great  fear  where  no  fear  is.'  ground  of  his  contidence.    '  Sing  unto  the  Lord  :  praise  ye  the 
 
 IX.  In  the  lamentation  of  the  prophet,  we  see  that  though  Lord.' 
 good  men  may  sometimes  yield  to  severe  grief  undir  affliction,  they 
 805 
 
A  siege  and  captivity  foretold. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXII. 
 
 All  exhortation  to  repentance. 
 
 war  against  us  ;  if  so  be  that  the  Lord  will  deal 
 with  us  according  to  all  his  wondrous  works, 
 that  he  may  go  up  from  us. 
 
 3  HThen  said  Jeremiah  unto  them.  Thus  shall 
 ye  say  to  Zedekiah  : 
 
 4  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  ;  Be- 
 hold, I  will  turn  back  the  weapons  of  war  that 
 are  in  your  hands,  wherewith  ye  fight  against 
 the  king  of  Babylon,  and  against  the  Chal 
 (leans,  which  besiege  you  without  the  walls 
 and  "^  I  will  assemble  them  into  the  midst  of 
 this  city. 
 
 a  And  I  myself  will  fight  against  you  with 
 an  "  outstretched  hand  and  with  a  strong  arm, 
 even  in  anger,  and  in  fury,  and  in  great  wrath. 
 
 (i  And  I  will  smite  the  inhabitants  of  this 
 city,  both  man  and  beast :  they  shall  die  of  a 
 great  pestilence. 
 
 7  And  afterward,  saith  the  Lord,  '  I  will  de- 
 liver Zedekiah  king  of  Judah,  and  his  servants, 
 and  the  people,  and  such  as  are  left  in  this 
 city  from  the  pestilence,  from  the  sword,  and 
 from  the  famine,  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchad- 
 rezzar king  of  Babylon,  and  into  the  hand  of 
 their  enemies,  and  into  the  hand  of  those  that 
 seek  their  life  :  and  he  shall  smite  them  with 
 the  edge  of  the  sword  ;  ^  he  shall  not  spare 
 them,  neither  have  pity,  nor  have  mercy. 
 
 8  H  And  unto  this  people  thou  shalt  say. 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  "■  I  .set  before 
 you  the  way  of  life,  and  the  way  of  death. 
 
 9  He  that  '  abideth  in  this  city  shall  die  by 
 the  sword,  and  by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pes- 
 tilence :  but  he  that  goeth  out,  and  falleth  to 
 the  Chaldeans  that  besiege  you,  he  shall  live, 
 and  '  his  life  shall  be  unto  him  for  a  prey. 
 
 10  For  I  have  '  set  my  face  against  this  city 
 for  evil,  and  not  for  good,  saith  the  Lord  :  "  it 
 shall  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of 
 Babylon,  and  he  shall  "burn  it  with  fire. 
 
 I  1  H  And  touching  the  house  of  the  king  of 
 Judah,  say.  Hear  ye  the  word  of  the  Loud  ; 
 
 1-2  O  house  of  David,  thus  saith  the  Lord  ; 
 °t  Execute  judgment  ■■  in  the  morning,  and 
 deliver  him  that  is  spoiled  out  of  the  hand  of 
 the  oppressor,  lest  my  fury  go  out  like  fire, 
 and  burn  that  none  can  quench  it,  because  of 
 the  evil  of  your  doings. 
 
 13  Behold,  ''  I  am  against  thee,  O  f  inhabit- 
 ant of  the  valley,  and  roclf  of  the  plain,  saith 
 the  Lord  ;  which  say,'  Who  shall  come  down 
 against  us?  or  who  shall  enter  into  our  habita- 
 tions t" 
 
 /cli.  37.  17, 
 
 fk  39.  5.  K 
 
 A  Deu.  ao.13. 
 
 i  ch.  39.  S, 
 
 17,  18. 
 
 k  cli.  39.  la. 
 
 &  45.  5. 
 I  Lev.  17.111. 
 
 ch. U.  II. 
 
 Ain<>9  9.  .1. 
 nicli.  38.  3. 
 
 ..  ch.  31  8. 
 2-J.  itj  37  10, 
 &  39.  IS,  23. 
 &  6-i.  13. 
 
 cir.  609. 
 
 c.  ch.  22.  3. 
 
 Zcch.  7.  9. 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 Judge, 
 p  Pe.  101.  8. 
 
 ./  Eick.  13.9. 
 t  Heh. 
 iiihubilrau. 
 r  ch.  t9.  1. 
 
 t  Heb.  viiit 
 
 t.p'm. 
 fPro.  1.31, 
 
 Is.  3.  10,  U, 
 (2Chr,  30, 
 
 19.  ch.  52. 
 
 13. 
 
 4  Hcb   ftr 
 Dnpidiipnn 
 htM  thriine. 
 
 fU.  .37.  2t. 
 jch.  21.  U. 
 
 h  Deu.  29. 
 24.  23. 
 1  Kiti.g.S,9. 
 
 i  2  Kin.  S2. 
 17.  2Cbr. 
 U.  25. 
 
 1  Sec  I  Chi 
 3.  15.  Witt 
 
 2  Kin.  23. 
 
 14  But  I  will  f  punish  you  according  to  the 
 'fruit  of  your  doings,  saith  the  Lord:  and  I 
 will  kindle  a  fire  in  tlie  forest  thereof,  and 
 '  it  shall  devour  all  things  round  about  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  He  exhorteth  to  repentance,  with  promises  and  threats. 
 10  The  judgment  of  ShuUum,  13  of  Jehoiukim,  20 
 and  of  Cuniah. 
 
 'T'HUS  saith  the  Lord  ;  Go  down  to  the 
 •*■  house  of  the  king  of  Judah,  and  speak 
 there  this  word, 
 
 2  And  say,  °  Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  O 
 king  of  Judah,  that  sittest  upon  the  throne  of 
 David,  thou,  and  thy  servants,  and  thy  people 
 that  enter  in  by  these  gates  : 
 
 3  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  '•  Execute  ye  judg- 
 ment and  righteousness,  and  deliver  the  spoiled 
 out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor  :  and  "  do  no 
 wrong,  do  no  violence  to  the  stranger,  the 
 fatherless,  nor  the  widow,  neither  shed  inno- 
 cent blood  in  tliis  place. 
 
 4  For  if  ye  do  this  thing  indeed,  ''  then  shall 
 there  enter  in  by  the  gates  of  this  house  kings 
 sitting  t  upon  the  throne  of  David,  riding  in 
 chariots  and  on  horses,  he,  and  his  servants, 
 and  his  people. 
 
 3  But  if  ye  will  not  hear  these  words,  "  I 
 swear  by  myself,  saith  the  Lord,  that  this 
 house  shall  become  a  desolation. 
 
 6  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  the  king's 
 house  of  Judah  ;  Thou  art  Gilead  unto  me, 
 and  the  head  of  Lebanon  :  yet  surely  I  will 
 make  thee  a  wilderness,  and  cities  which  are 
 not  inhabited. 
 
 7  And  I  will  prepare  destroyers  against  thee, 
 every  one  with  his  weapons  :  and  they  shall 
 cut  down  '  thy  choice  cedars,  ^  and  cast  them 
 into  the  fire. 
 
 8  And  many  nations  .shall  pass  by  this  city, 
 and  they  shall  say  every  man  to  his  neighbour, 
 i"  Wherefore  hath  the  Lord  done  tluis  unto 
 this  great  city  ? 
 
 9  Then  they  shall  answer,  '  Because  they 
 have  forsaken  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  their 
 God,  and  worshipped  other  gods,  and  served 
 them. 
 
 10  II  Weep  ye  not  for  '  the  dead,  neither  be- 
 moan him :  but  weep  sore  for  him  '  that  goeth 
 away  :  for  he  shall  return  no  more,  nor  see  his 
 native  country. 
 
 11  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  touching  "' Shal- 
 lum  the  son  of  Josiah  king  of  Judah,  which 
 
 chadnezzar  ;'  the  MSS.  vary.— Ken.  7.  I  will  deliver  Zedekiah,  frc— 
 lie  was  carried  to  Babylon,  where  he  died,  (cliap.  xxxix.  5.)  He  shall 
 smite  them — his  son.'i  and  great  men  were  slain,  f2  Kings,  xxv.  7,  8.) — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  9.  For  a  prey,  'as  a  spoil ;'  proverbial,  and  used  chap, 
 xxxviii,  2;  xxxLx.  IS;  xlv.  5;  siiifialarly  preserved. — So  Bin.  12.  Exe- 
 cute judgment,  the  king  was  supreme  judge,  (2  Sara.  viii.  l.",.)  The 
 courts  sat  in  the  morning,  (Ps.  ci.  8  )  13.  Inhabitant  of  the  valley, 
 
 describes  the  lower  part  of  Jerusalem,  surrounded  with  hills.  And 
 rock,  §-c..  Mount  Zion,  [comp.  chap.  xvii.  3.) — Preb.  Lowth.  14.  Forest 
 thereof,  a  metaijhorical  term  for  a  city,  with  its  numerous  inhabitants 
 and  stately  buildings,  chiefly  of  the  cedar  of  Lebannn,  (see  chap.  xxii. 
 7;  Isa.  x.xxvii,  24  ;  Ezek.  xx.  46;   Zech.  xi.  I.)— See  Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Chap.  XXII.  —  1.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  ^c.  —  the  prophecy  which 
 follows,  to  chap,  xxiii.  9,  was  evidently  delivered  in  the  reign  of  Jehoi- 
 alcim  ;  for  it  speaks  of  his  immediate  predecessor  as  already  gone  into 
 captivity,  and  foretels  the  death  of  Jchoiakim  himself.— Bia.     4.  Gates 
 
 of  this  house — see  chap.  xvii.  25,  where  it  is  '  of  this  city.* — Preb. 
 Lowth.  6.  Gilead,  the  most  fertile  part  of  the  country.  And  the  head 
 of  Lebanon,  the  liighcst  mountain  in  Israel,  an  apt  emblem  of  the 
 reigning  family,  advanced  to  the  highest  rank  and  dignity  in  the  state. 
 — Bta.  7.  Choice  cedars,   houses  and  inhabitants. — Prefj.  Lowth. 
 
 See  chap.  xxi.  14,  note.  10.  Weep  i/e  not  for  the  dead,  .ye. — not  for 
 Josiali,  your  dead  prince,  for  whom  there  was  a  great  roourniog, 
 i2Chron.  XX-XV.  25,  mentioned  Zech.  xii.  11,)  Josiah  is  happy.  But 
 weep  for  Jehoahaz,  who  is  to  go.  or  is  gone,  into  captivity.  Jelioahaz 
 was  set  up,  upon  his  father's  death,  by  the  people,  {'2  Kings,  xxiii.  30 ; 
 2  Chron.  xx.xvi.  1,)  but  put  down  in  three  months  and  carried  into 
 Egypt,  where  he  died,  (2  Kings,  xxiii.  34.) — Poole.  11.  Touching 
 Shallum—he  who  immediately  succeeded  his  father  on  the  throne  was 
 Jehoahaz,  whom  Pharaoh-necho  deposed  after  a  reign  of  three  months, 
 (2  Kings,  xxiii.  30 — 34.)  It  is  therefore  probable,  that  before  be 
 ascended  the  throne  his  name  was  Shallum.  whieli  he  changed  fir 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.   XXI.  — I.   Theboldest  transgressors  II.   God's  mercij  is  great,  even  at  the  last  moment.     The  lives 
 
 will  seek  consolation  from  the  servants  of  God  in  t/ieir  last  aire-  of  these  offenders  had  been  spared  had  they  followed  the  ad- 
 
 miti/.    When  the  last  enemy  approaches,  those  men  whom  they  vice  of  the  prophet.     God  '  vvilleth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner, 
 
 before  scorned  are  now  sought.    Thus  men  go  on  presuming —  but  would  rather  that  he  should  turn  from  his  wickedness 
 
 '  And  to  the  mercy  of  a  moment  leave  ^^^  live.* 
 The  vast  concerns  of  an  eternal  scene.*  v 
 806 
 
God's  Judgments  against  Shalhim, 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXIII. 
 
 Jehuiakim,  and  Coniah, 
 
 reigned  instead  of  Josiah  his  fatlier,  "  wliicli 
 went  forth  out  of  this  place  ;  He  shall  not 
 return  thither  any  more  : 
 
 12  But  lie  shall  die  in  the  place  whither  they 
 have  led  him  captive,  and  shall  see  this  land 
 no  more. 
 
 13  II  °  Woe  unto  him  that  buildeth  his  house 
 by  unrigliteousness,  and  his  chambers  by 
 wrong;  "that  useth  his  neighbour's  service 
 witliout  wages,  and  giveth  him  not  for  his 
 work  ; 
 
 14  That  saith,  I  will  build  me  a  wide  house 
 and  t  large  chambers,  and  cutteth  him  out 
 II  windows ;  and  it  is  cieled  with  cedar,  and 
 painted  with  vermilion. 
 
 1.5  Slialt  thou  reign,  because  thou  closest 
 tlniselj"\n  cedar?  ■>  did  not  thy  father  eat  and 
 drink,  and  do  judgment  and  justice,  and  then 
 '  it  was  well  with  him  ? 
 
 16  He  judged  the  cause  of  the  poor  and 
 needy  ;  then  it  was  well  with  him  :  was  not 
 this  to  know  me  ?  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 17  'But  thine  eyes  and  thine  heart  are  not 
 but  for  tliy  covetousne.ss,  and  for  to  shed  inno- 
 cent blood,  and  for  oppression,  and  for  ||  vio^ 
 lence,  to  do  it. 
 
 18  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  concerning 
 Jeboiakim  the  sou  of  Josiah  king  of  Judah ; 
 '  They  shall  not  lament  for  him,  saying,  "  Ah 
 my  brother  !  or.  Ah  .sister  !  tliey  shall  not  la- 
 ment for  him,  saying.  Ah  lord !  or.  All  his 
 glory  ! 
 
 !9  "  He  shall  be  buried  with  the  burial  of  an 
 as.s,  drawn  and  cast  forth  beyond  the  gates  of 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 20  H  Go  up  to  Lebanon,  and  cry  ;  and  lift  up 
 thy  voice  in  Bashan,and  cry  from  the  passages  : 
 for  all  thy  lovers  are  destroyed. 
 
 21  I  spake  unto  thee  in  thy  f  prosperity  ; 
 but  thou  .saidst,  I  will  not  hear.  '  This  hath 
 been  thy  manner  from  thy  youth,  that  thou 
 obeyedst  not  my  voice. 
 
 cir-  (ioa. 
 «  2  Kin.  23. 
 
 J  5  Kill.  23 
 35.  vor.  18 
 
 pLev.  Ift  13 
 Deu   24   14, 
 
 10.  H;ili.  2. 
 9.  J^iu.  6.4. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ihrough- 
 
 aired. 
 II  Or,  mt/ 
 
 mindmnt. 
 
 q  2  Kin.  23 
 23. 
 
 r  Ps.  129.  2. 
 U.  .1.  lU. 
 
 ch.  16  4,6. 
 (  See  1  Kin 
 ):i.  MK 
 Fullin»-d 
 
 5yi> 
 
 X  2  Chr.  36. 
 6.  ch.36  30. 
 
 f  Heb.  />ro5- 
 
 peritifi 
 tf  ch.  3.  25 
 
 &7.  23,  &c 
 
 t  Heb.  ill*.. 
 /,  itren. 
 
 r  See  2  Kin. 
 
 2t  6,  8. 
 
 I  Chr.  3.  16. 
 
 eb.  37.  I. 
 d  Cant.  8.  6. 
 
 Hag.  2.  23. 
 
 *  ch.  M.  20. 
 
 f2  Kin   2«. 
 
 15.  2  Chr. 
 36.  10. 
 
 !  Pa.  31.  12. 
 ch.  48.  38. 
 Hos.  8.  8. 
 
 ft  Deu.  32.  1 . 
 Is  I.  2.  & 
 Si.  I.  Blic 
 1.2. 
 
 ■■  Sec  1  Chr. 
 3.  16,  17 
 Mai    I.  12 
 
 A  ch.  36.  30. 
 
 599 
 1  ch.  10.  21. 
 &  22.  22. 
 Kzek.3+.  2 
 
 22  The  wind  shall  eat  up  all  ^  thy  pastors, 
 and  '  tliy  lovers  shall  go  into  captivity  :  surely 
 then  shalt  thou  be  ashamed  and  confounded 
 for  all  thy  wickedness. 
 
 2.3  O  fiiilialiitant  of  Lebanon,  that  makest 
 tliy  nest  in  the  cedars,  how  gracious  shalt 
 thou  be  wlien  pangs  come  upon  thee,  *■  the 
 pain  as  of  a  woman  in  travail ! 
 
 24  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord,  '  though  Co- 
 niah the  son  of  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah ''  were 
 the  signet  upon  my  right  hand,  yet  would  I 
 pluck  tliee  tlience  ; 
 
 25  "  And  I  will  give  thee  into  the  hand  of 
 them  tliat  seek  thy  life,  and  into  the  hand  of 
 them,  whose  face  thou  fearest,  even  into  the 
 hand  of  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon,  and 
 into  the  hand  of  the  Clialdeans. 
 
 26  '  And  I  will  cast  thee  out,  and  thy  luother 
 that  bare  thee,  into  another  country,  where  ye 
 were  not  born  ;  and  there  shall  ye  die. 
 
 27  But  to  the  land  vvhereunto  they  f  desire 
 to  return,  thither  shall  they  not  return. 
 
 28  Is  this  man  Coniah  a  despised  broken 
 idol?  is  he  ^a  vessel  wherein  is  no  pleasure? 
 wherefore  are  they  cast  out,  he  and  his  seed, 
 and  are  cast  into  a  land  which  they  know 
 not  ? 
 
 29  ■'  O  earth,  earth,  earth,  hear  the  word  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 30  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Write  ye  this  man 
 '  childless,  a  man  that  shall  not  pro.sper  in  his 
 days:  for  no  man  of  his  seed  shall  prosper, 
 ''  sitting  upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  ruling 
 any  more  in  Judah. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIH, 
 
 1  Heprophesieth  a  restoration  of  the  scattered  fiock. 
 5  (fhrist  shall  ride  and  save  the.m.  9  Against  false 
 prophets,  33  and  mockers  of  the  true  prophets. 
 
 WOE  "be  unto  the  pastors  that  destroy  and 
 scatter  the  sheep  of  my  pasture !  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 Jehoahaz. — Bin.  A  change  of  name  was  common  ou  a  change  of  cir- 
 cumstances.— Sut.  He  seems  to  have  had  several  names,  as  Johanan, 
 1  Chron.  iii.  l.'j  ;   and  Shallum  here.  13.  IVoe  unto  him,   Sfc,   this 
 
 respects  Jehoiakim,  the  then  reigninj?  king. — Oil/.  14.  Large  chmn- 
 bers,  valuable  for  admitting  air  in  eastern  houses. — Hur.  Cieted  with 
 cedar,  elegant  wainscot  ceilings,  gilded  and  painted,  are  used  in  Bar- 
 bary. — Shaw.  18.  Shalt  not  lament  for  him,  there  shall  be  no  funeral 
 dirge,  or  public  mourners,  as  for  his  predecessors,  especially  his  father, 
 fsee  2  Chron.  x.\.^v.  2.5.)— Pre*.  Lowth.  ig.  Burial  of  an  ass,  i.  e., 
 not  be  buried  at  all,  or  indecently  or  contemptibly.— Poo/e.  Jnsephjis 
 says,  that  when  Nebuchadnezzar  entered  Jerusalem,  Jehoiakim  was 
 slain,  and  ordered  to  be  cast  without  the  walls  unburied.  Kimclti  says, 
 he  died  without  Jerusalem  as  they  were  carrying  him  into  captivity. 
 Jerome,  that  he  was  killed  by  the  Chaldee  robbers.  Some  think  he  was 
 carried  to  Babylon,  where  tie  died,  and  was  used  in  this  manner;  the 
 wf.rds  may  read,  'cast  forth  far  beyond  the  gates  of  Jerusalem.'— G(7/. 
 20.  Go  up  to  Lehiiiion,  Sfc. — Jerusalem  ironically  urged  to  go  to  the  tops 
 of  the  highest  mountains  and  cry  aloud  for  help. — Bta.  Lebanon  and 
 Bashan,  were  hills  or  places  that  looked  towards  Assyria,  whence  the 
 Jews  looked  for  help,  and  sometimes  had  it,  as  2  Kings,  xvi.  y.— Poole. 
 Passages,  'borders'  or  'rivers;'  the  boundaries  of  the  country.'^ 
 Preb.  Lowth.  '  Cry  to  the  passengers.' — Houb.  Thy  lovers,  friends 
 and  allies  witli  whom  they  had  committed  spiritual  fornication.— Gi/^ 
 
 21.  In  thy  prosperilw,  Tni')©!.  'In  thy  tranquillities.'— fa*.,  Cocc, 
 Schmidt.  •  Securities,'-Lj/on(.  From  thy  youth,  from  the  time  they 
 came  out  of  Egypt.— Gill.  22.  Wind,  God's  judgments,  as  a  blasting 
 wind,  (see  chap.  iv.  12;  Isa.  xli.  16;  Ivii.  13.)  I'aslnrs,  heads  and 
 governors.- B;((.  23.  /n/ia4i7un(o/le4anon— see  chap.  x.\i.  14,  note. 
 How  gracious  shalt  thou  be,  'what  favour  wilt  thou  find  when  my 
 judgments  shall  come  upon  thee  r— Poole.  'Thou  wilt  then  be  ready 
 to  follow  good  advice.'— J?te.  This  is  spoken  ironically,  to  humble  his 
 pride.— Sm<.  24.  Coniah,  i.  c.,  Jehoiakim,  (2  Kings,  xxiv.  8,)  whose 
 name  was  Jechoniah,  (1  Chron.  iii.  l6,)  here  so  named  by  way  of  con- 
 tempt.—Poo/e,  Preb.  Lowth,  Gill.  Probably  first  called  Coniah,  anil 
 then  Jechoniah,  on  ascending  the  throne.— .4.  Clarke.  Were  the  signet, 
 even  so  dear  to  him.— Poote,  Gill.  Things  which  are  dear  are  still 
 spoken  of  in  the  east  as  that  ornament.— Bo4.  Would  I  pluck,  ^c.,  his 
 wickedness  would  forfeit  all  his  favour,  (2  Kings,  xxiv.  g.}—Preb. 
 Lowth.  26.  Cast  thee  out,  and  thy  mother,  Nehushtan  ;  see  fulfil- 
 ment, 2  Kings,  xxiv.  15.  28.  Broken  idol— a  vessel,  ^c.,  'a  broken 
 image  of  royalty.'— Prci.  Lowth.  '  A  cracked  vessel.'— P'jo/e.  And 
 his  seed,  probably  born  in  captivity,  (2  Kings,  xxv.  27.)— Preb.  Lowth. 
 29.  O  earth,  ffc.,  '  O  land !  unhappy  land  V—A.  Clarke.  30.  Childless, 
 not  absolutely  so,  for  he  had  seven  sons,  (1  Chron.  iii.  17,  18  ;  Matt.  i. 
 12.)  but  no  successor. — Sut. 
 Chap.  XXIII.  — 1.  Woe,  ^c,  •  ho  to  the  shepherds,'  tiC.—Boothr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIL  — We  may  observe  from 
 this  chapter — I.  God  hates  oppression.  '  Do  no  wrong,'  is  as 
 much  a  command  to  the  Christian  as  to  the  Jew.  Let  those 
 consider  this  who  have  power  over  the  poor,  the  wiilnw,  and 
 the  fatherless  ;  nor  should  parents  be  tyrants  over  their  chil- 
 dren, nor  kings  over  the  consciences  of  their  subjects.  Let 
 those  in  authority  exercise  authority,  for  God  hath  given  it  to 
 them  ;  but  let  them  not  e.xercise  tyranny,  for  God  has  never 
 authorized  tliat.  Infidels  may  call  the  God  of  the  Bible  a 
 tyrant,  but  they  who  know  the  Scriptures  will  learn  the  con- 
 trary. All  his  dealings  with  men  are  dealings  of  mercy,  and 
 lie  threatens  the  rulers  if  they  are  unmerciful. 
 
 JI.  Let  ns  comfort  oursches  respecting  the  pious  dead.  For 
 807 
 
 them  we  need  not  weep.  The  New  Testament  is  clearer  on 
 this  subject,  and  beams  brightly  like  a  glowing  sun  on  the 
 valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  '  I  would  not  have  you  to  be 
 ignorant,  brethren,  concerning  them  which  are  asleep,  that  ye 
 sorrow  not  even  as  others  which  have  no  hope.  For  if  we 
 believe  that  Jesus  died,  and  rose  again,  even  so  them  also 
 which  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him.' 
 
 in.  How  dreadful  is  it  to  be  wicked  sons  of  pious  parents ! 
 Their  relationship  shall  be  no  protection  against  God's  wrath, 
 while  the  illustrious  examples  they  have  disdained  to  follow 
 must  add  to  the  bitterness  of  sin  and  punishment  and  leave 
 them  wholly  without  excuse. 
 
The  restoration  of  God's  people 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXIII. 
 
 Against  false  piophets,  ^c. 
 
 2  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Is- 
 rael against  the  pastors  that  feed  my  people  ; 
 Ye  have  scattered  my  flock,  and  driven  them 
 away,  and  have  not  visited  them  :  ''  behold, 
 I  will  visit  npon  you  the  evil  of  your  doings, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 3  And  '^  1  will  gather  the  remnant  of  my 
 flock  out  of  all  countries  whither  I  have  driven 
 them,  and  will  bring  them  again  to  their  folds; 
 and  they  shall  be  fruitful  and  increase. 
 
 4  And  I  will  set  up  ''  sliepherds  over  them 
 which  shall  feed  them  :  and  they  shall  fear  no 
 more,  nor  be  dismayed,  neither  shall  they  be 
 lacking,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 5  t  Behold,  "the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
 that  I  will  raise  unto  David  a  righteous  Branch, 
 and  a  King  shall  reign  and  prosper,  ''and  shall 
 execute  judgment  and  justice  in  the  earth. 
 
 6  ^  In  his  days  Judah  shall  be  saved,  and 
 Israel  '"  shall  dwell  safely  :  and  '  this  is  his 
 name  whereby  he  shall  he  called,  f  THE 
 LORD  OUR  RIGHTEOUSNESS. 
 
 7  Therefore,  behold,  '  the  days  come,  saith 
 the  Lord,  that  they  shall  no  more  say.  The 
 Lord  liveth,  wliich  brought  up  the  children  of 
 Isiael  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt ; 
 
 8  But,  the  Lord  liveth.  which  brought  up 
 and  which  led  the  seed  of  the  house  of  Israel 
 out  of  the  north  country,  '  and  from  all  coun- 
 tries whither  I  had  driven  them ;  and  they 
 shall  dwell  in  their  own  land. 
 
 n  f  Mine  heart  within  me  is  broken  because 
 of  the  prophets  ;  "'all  my  bones  shake  ;  I  am 
 like  a  drunken  man,  and  like  a  man  whom 
 wine  hath  overcome,  because  of  the  Lord,  and 
 because  of  the  words  of  his  holiness. 
 
 10  For  "the  land  is  full  of  adulterers;  for 
 "because  of  ||  swearing  the  land  mourneth  ; 
 ''  the  pleasant  places  of  the  wilderness  are 
 dried  up,  and  their  ||  course  is  evil,  and  their 
 force  is  not  right. 
 
 1 1  For  ''  both  prophet  and  priest  are  profane  ; 
 yea,  'in  my  house  have  I  found  their  wicked- 
 ness, saith  the  Lord. 
 
 12  '  Wherefore  their  way  shall  be  unto  them 
 as  slippery  leays  in  the  darkness  :  they  shall 
 be  driven  on,  and  fall  therein :  for  I  '  will 
 bring  evil  npon  them,  even  the  year  of  their 
 visitation,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 13  And  I  have  seen  ||  f  folly  in  the  prophets 
 of  Samaria  ;  "  they  prophesied  in  Baal,  and 
 'caused  my  people  Israel  to  err. 
 
 14  I  have  seen  also  in  the  prophets  ot  Jeru- 
 salem II  an  horrible  thing  :  ''they  commit  adul- 
 
 d  ch.  A.  15. 
 Eza.  SI.  '23. 
 
 t  Is.  4   2.  & 
 
 U.  1.  ^  lu. 
 
 10.   II.  ch 
 
 «i.  II.IS.IB. 
 
 Dan   9  •J\ 
 
 Zcch.  X  8. 
 
 &  6-  12. 
 
 John  I.  45. 
 /■ps.  72.  2 
 
 Is,  .12.  I.  18 
 
 X(  9,  7. 
 g  Den.  33.29, 
 
 Zech.M.ll. 
 »  ch.  .12.  37. 
 i  ch.  33.  16. 
 
 1  Cor.  1  30. 
 t  Hcb. 
 
 /  Tfi.  43.  5,  C. 
 VC1-.  3. 
 
 I  See  Hab. 
 3-  16. 
 
 rt  ch.  5.  7,  8. 
 
 &  9  2 
 n  Hos,  *.  2,3 
 II  Or,  c"«".jl. 
 /»  ch-  9.  lu. 
 
 &  12. -1. 
 II  Oc, 
 
 Diulenct. 
 7  ch.  6.  13. 
 
 ?i  8    10. 
 
 Zcph-  3.  4. 
 
 Pro,  4.  19. 
 ch.  13.  16. 
 (ch.  II.  23. 
 
 II  Or,  on  nb- 
 t'uH  thi'ig. 
 t  Hcb.  K.1- 
 
 y  ch,  S9.  23. 
 
 ch.  6.  14. 
 &  8    II. 
 Eje.  13.  10, 
 Zcch    1(1.  2 
 
 Or.  »/..6. 
 
 cli.  13.  10. 
 /  .Mic.  3.  II. 
 if  Job  15   8. 
 
 ICor  2.  16 
 II  Or,  trcTtl. 
 
 h  ch.  25.  32- 
 &  SO.  S3. 
 
 Or, 
 
 litiitiicr'ui/. 
 
 I  ch,  14.  14. 
 &  27.  15.  St 
 29.9. 
 
 p  1  Kin.  8. 
 27. 
 Ps   139.7. 
 
 7  Judg.  3.  7 
 &B.  S3,:^l 
 
 tery,  and  '  walk  in  lies  :  they  "strengthen  also 
 the  hands  of  evil  doers,  that  none  doth  return 
 from  his  wickedness  :  they  are  all  of  them  nnto 
 me  as  i"  Sodom,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  as 
 Gomorrah. 
 
 15  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts 
 concerning  the  prophets  ;  Behold,  I  will  feed 
 them  with  '  wormwood,  and  make  tliem  drink 
 tlie  water  of  gall  :  for  from  the  propliets  of 
 Jerusalem  is  ||  profaneness  gone  forth  into  all 
 the  land. 
 
 16  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Hearken 
 not  unto  the  words  of  the  prophets  that  pro- 
 phesy unto  you  :  they  make  you  vain  :  ''  they 
 speak  a  vision  of  their  own  heart,  and  not  out 
 of  the  mouth  of  the  Lord. 
 
 17  They  say  still  unto  them  that  despise  me. 
 The  Lord  hath  said,  "  Ye  shall  have  peace  ; 
 and  they  say  unto  every  one  that  walketh  after 
 the  II  imagination  of  his  own  heart,  '  No  evil 
 shall  come  upon  you. 
 
 18  For  ^  who  hatli  stood  in  tlie  ||  counsel  of 
 the  Lord,  and  hath  perceived  and  heard  his 
 word  ?  who  hath  marked  his  word,  and  heard  it  ? 
 
 19  Behold,  a  ''whirlwind  of  the  Lord  is  gone 
 forth  in  fury,  even  a  grievous  whirlwind  :  it 
 shall  fall  grievously  upon  the  head  of  the 
 wicked. 
 
 20  The  '  anger  of  the  Lord  .shall  not  return, 
 until  he  have  executed,  and  till  he  have  per- 
 formed the  thoughts  of  his  heart:  4n  the  latter 
 days  ye  shall  consider  it  perfectly. 
 
 21  '  I  have  not  sent  these  prophets,  yet  they 
 ran  :  I  have  not  spoken  to  them,  yet  they  pro- 
 phesied. 
 
 22  But  if  they  had  "stood  in  my  counsel,  and 
 had  caused  my  people  to  hear  my  words,  then 
 they  should  have  "turned  tlicm  from  their  evil 
 way,  and  from  the  evil  of  their  doings. 
 
 23  Am  I  a  God  at  hand,  saith  the  Lord,  and 
 not  a  God  afar  off? 
 
 24  Can  any  °  hide  himself  in  secret  places 
 that  I  .shall  not  see  him?  saith  the  Lord.  ''Do 
 not  I  fill  heaven  and  earth  ?  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 23  I  have  heard  what  the  prophets  said,  that 
 prophesy  lies  in  my  name,  saying,  I  have 
 dreamed,  I  have  dreamed. 
 
 26  How  long  shall  this  be  in  the  heart  of  the 
 prophets  that  prophesy  lies?  yea,  theii  are 
 prophets  of  the  deceit  of  their  own  heart ; 
 
 27  Which  think  to  cause  my  people  to  forget 
 my  name  by  their  dreams  which  they  tell  every 
 man  to  his  neighbour,  ''  as  their  fathers  have 
 forgotten  my  name  for  Baal. 
 
 Paatfirs,  signify  here  rulers  and  magistrates,  I<ings  and  princes.  Ecclc- 
 siastieal  rulers,  priests,  and  prophets,  are  mentioned  disliiictly  in  ver. 
 9,  fiC. — Gill.  Princes  are  often  called  pastors,  (-^ee  Isa.  .\liv.  23.) — Sut. 
 2.  Visited — f'isi7 — the  Hebrew  word  ipD.  signifies,  with  a  visitation  of 
 care  and  love,  and  also  of  justice  and  severity.— Poo/e.  3.  IwiUga- 
 tfter^  fyc. — this  is  a  promise  of  restoration  of  the  Jews  to  their  owa 
 land,  and  their  prosperity  under  Zerubbabel,  Joshua,  Ezra,  and  Nehe- 
 miah  ;   but   the   full  accomplishment  refers   to   gospel   times. — Scott. 
 
 4.  Slippherds,  pions  and  good  governors,  fulfilled  in  Nehemiah  and 
 Zerubbabel ;  so  some  ; — Christian  princes  and  governors  :  so  others. 
 Neither  shfitt  they  t)e  lacking,  *  and  none  of  them  shall  perish.' — Punte. 
 
 5.  A  righteous  hrancb,  some  apply  this  to  Zerubbaliel,  but  though  of  the 
 royal  house,  he  never  possessed  the  title  or  power  of  king. — Boothr. 
 It  signifies  the  Messiah,  Targ.  ;  Kimchi,  Ben  Melech.  See  Isa.  iv.  2; 
 xi.  1  ;  lib.  2 ;  Zech.  iii.  8.  Christ  was  a  rod  out  '  f  the  stem  of  Jesse, 
 and  a  branch  out  of  his  root.—Paole.  Therefore  called  branch,  to  de- 
 note his  descent  from  David.  SItalt  execute  judgments  and  justice  in 
 the  e«j*f/i— this  character  is  elsewhere  given  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ, 
 (see  Ps.  Ixxii.  2;  Isa.  xi.  5i  xxxii.  1.)  6.  The  Lord,  '  Jbhov.\h,'  or 
 the  true  God.  Our  righteousness— comp.  Isa.  xlv.  24,  25  ;  1  Cor.  i.  30. 
 Messiah's  obedience  unto  death  is  our  justifying  righteousness,  and  our 
 sanctifying  righteousness  is  derived  from  union  with  him.  —  Scritt. 
 nianney  reads  as  the  Sept.,  •  and  thii  is  the  name  which  Jehovah  shall 
 
 808 
 
 call  him,  our  Righteousness.'  A.  Clarke  adopts  Blai/nei/'s  view  of  this 
 passage;  Sutctiffe  censures  it  in  no  measured  terms.  The  best  Jewish 
 expositors  consider  Jehovah  to  be  in  connexion  with  righteousness. — 
 Boothr. 
 
 'And  this  is  the  name  which  they  shall  call  him, 
 Jehovah  our  Righteousness.' — Pye  Smith. 
 
 9.  Because  of  the  prophets — this  part  treats  of  the  wickedness  of  the 
 priests  ;  a  distinct  subject. — Bin.  My  bones  shake,  ^c. — the  prophets 
 had  oflen  a  dreadful  apprehension  of  what  they  denounced  upon  others, 
 (see  chap.  XV.  18  ;    Isa.  xv.  5  ;    Hab.  iii.  16.)  }0.  Swearing,  chiefly 
 
 liere  means  perjury,  (Hos.  iv.  2.)  13.  Folly  in  the  prophets  of  Sa- 
 
 mnria^iiC  compares  the  sins  of  these  with  those  of  Jerusalem,  and  pro- 
 nounces the  latter  the  more  enormous.— PreA.  Lon-th.  15.  Water  nf 
 gal/,  'watir  of  hemlock-' — Boothr.  18.  Who  hath  stood?  ^c,  'who 
 among  these  false  prophets  can  pretenri  to  have  the  secret  counsels  of 
 the  Almighty  communicated  to  him?'  19.  .-I  whirlwind,  §-e. — see 
 
 chap.  iv.  11,  12.  20.  Shalt  not  return,  an  expression  taken  from  a 
 messenger,  who  comes  back  without  executing  his  commission.  In 
 the  latter  days  ye  shall  consider,  or  understand,  when  this  judgment 
 hath  overtalien  you.  22.  Stood  in  my  counsel — see  ver.  18. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  23.  At  hand,  l~ipo.  'near.'  that  is,  only  in  heaven,  to  see 
 and  hear  things  there. — Jan.,  Trem.,  Pise,  Schmidt,  Gill.  Afar  oj^,  even 
 
God's  judgments  affainst  false  prophets.         JEREMIAH,  XXIV.  Ilestoration  from  captivity  foreshewn. 
 
 ;?8  The  prophet  f  ttiat  hath  a  dream,  let  him 
 tell  a  dream  ;  and  he  that  hath  my  word,  let 
 him  speak  my  word  faithfully.  What  is  the 
 chaff  to  the  wheat?  saitli  tlie  Lord, 
 
 '29  Is  not  my  word  like  as  a  fire?  saith  the 
 Lord  ;  and  like  a  hammer  that  breaketh  the 
 rock  in  pieces  ? 
 
 30  Therefore,  behold,  "■  I  am  against  the  pro- 
 phets, saith  the  Lord,  that  steal  my  words 
 every  one  from  his  neighbour. 
 
 31  Behold,  I  am  against  tlie  prophets,  saith 
 the  Lord,  ||  that  use  their  tongues,  and  say. 
 He  saith. 
 
 32  Behold,  I  am  against  them  that  prophesy 
 false  dreams,  saith  the  Lord,  and  do  tell  them, 
 and  cause  my  people  to  err  by  their  lies,  and 
 by  '  their  lightness  :  yet  I  sent  them  not,  nor 
 commanded  tliem  :  therefore  they  shall  not 
 profit  this  people  at  all,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 33  H  And  when  this  people,  or  the  prophet, 
 or  a  priest,  shall  ask  thee,  saying.  What  is  '  tlie 
 burden  of  the  Lord?  thou  shall  then  say  unto 
 them.  What  burden  ?  "  I  will  even  forsake  you, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 34  And  as  for  the  prophet,  and  the  priest, 
 and  the  people,  that  sliall  say.  The  burden  of 
 the  Lord,  I  will  even  f  punish  that  man  and 
 Ids  house. 
 
 3j  Thus  shall  ye  say  every  one  to  his  neigh- 
 bour, and  every  one  to  his  brother,  What  hath 
 the  Lord  answered  ?  and.  What  hath  the 
 Lord  spoken  ? 
 
 30  And  the  burden  of  the  Lord  shall  ye 
 mention  no  more  :  for  every  man's  word  shall 
 be  his  burden  ;  for  ye  have  perverted  the 
 words  of  the  living  God,  of  the  Lord  of  hosts 
 our  God. 
 
 37  Thus  shall  thou  say  to  the  prophet.  What 
 hath  the  Lord  answered  thee?  and,  What 
 hath  the  Lord  spoken  ? 
 
 38  But  since  ye  say,  The  burden  of  the 
 Lord  ;  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Be- 
 cause ye  say  this  word.  The  burden  of  the 
 Lord,  and  I  have  sent  unto  you,  saying.  Ye 
 shall  not  say,  The  burden  of  Hie  Lord  ; 
 
 39  Therefore,  behold,  I,  even  \,  *  will  utterly 
 forget  you,  and  ''  I  will  forsake  you,  and  the 
 city  that  I  gave  you  and  your  fathers,  and  cast 
 you  out  of  my  presence  : 
 
 40  And  I  will  bring  ^  an  everlasting  reproach 
 upon  you,  and  a  perpetual  shame,  which  shall 
 not  be  forgotten. 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cii-.  599. 
 
 Den   18. 
 BO,  ch.  It. 
 14,  15. 
 
 Zepb.  3.  4. 
 
 t  Mai.  1.  1. 
 u  ver,  39. 
 
 t  Heb.BiJil 
 
 r  IIoB.  4.  C 
 '  ver.  33. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  598. 
 
 b  2  Kin.  24. 
 
 SChr.36.10 
 c  See  ch.  22. 
 24,  ike.  it 
 29.2. 
 
 t  Heb.  for 
 baditeit. 
 
 i  Heb.  Vte 
 
 deb.  12,  15. 
 &  29    10, 
 
 /  Den-  30.  6. 
 
 cb.32.  39 
 
 Eze.  11    19. 
 
 &  3C.  2tl.-?7 
 g  ch.  .30.  22. 
 
 &  31.  3.1.  & 
 
 S2.  .31. 
 A  ch,  29.  13. 
 
 i  ch.  29.  17. 
 
 k  See  ch  13, 
 &44. 
 
 t  Heb./cr  re- 
 
 ti^xation. 
 I  Deu  2S.2:>. 
 
 37.  I  Kin.  9. 
 
 7.  2Chr.  7. 
 
 20  ch.  15.4. 
 
 &  29.  18.  & 
 
 34.  17. 
 m  Ps.  «.  13, 
 
 14. 
 ..  ch.  29.  IS, 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Under  tlie  type  of  good  and  badjit/s,  4  tie  foresheweth 
 i/ie  restoration  of  t/tem  tlnit  were  in  captivity,  8  and 
 tlie  denotation  of  Zedeldah  and  tite  rest, 
 
 THE  °  Lord  shewed  me,  and,  behold,  two 
 baskets  of  figs  tvere  set  before  the  temple 
 of  the  Lord,  after  that  Nebuchadrezzar  ''king 
 of  Babylon  had  carried  away  captive  '  Je- 
 coniah  the  son  of  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah, 
 and  the  princes  of  Judah,  with  the  carpenters 
 and  smiths,  from  Jerusalem,  and  had  brought 
 them  to  Babylon. 
 
 2  One  basket  had  very  good  figs,  even  like 
 the  figs  that  are  first  ripe  :  and  the  other  bas- 
 ket had  very  naughty  figs,  which  could  not  be 
 eaten,  f  they  were  so  bad. 
 
 3  Then  said  the  Lord  unto  me.  What  seesl 
 thou,  Jeremiah  ?  And  I  said.  Figs  ;  the  good 
 figs,  very  good  ;  and  the  evil,  very  evil,  that 
 cannot  be  eaten,  they  are  so  evil. 
 
 4  IT  Again  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 5  Thus  .saith  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel ; 
 Like  these  good  figs,  so  will  I  acknowledge 
 t  them  tliat  are  carried  away  captive  of  Judah, 
 whom  I  have  sent  out  of  this  place  into  the 
 land  of  the  Chaldeans  for  their  good. 
 
 6  For  I  will  set  mine  eyes  upon  them  for 
 good,  and  ^  I  will  bring  them  again  to  this 
 land :  and  °  I  will  build  them,  and  not  pull 
 thetn  down  ;  and  I  will  plant  them,  and  not 
 pluck  them  up. 
 
 7  And  I  will  give  them  'an  heart  to  know 
 me,  that  I  am  the  Lord  :  and  they  shall  be 
 *  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God  :  for  they 
 shall  return  unto  me  '■with  their  whole  heart. 
 
 8  f  And  as  the  evil  '  figs,  which  cannot  be 
 eaten,  they  are  so  evil ;  surely  thus  saith  the 
 Lord,  So  will  I  give  Zedekiah  the  king  of  Ju- 
 dah, and  his  princes,  and  the  residue  of  Jeru- 
 salem, that  remain  in  this  land,  and  '  them 
 that  dwell  in  the  land  of  Egypt : 
 
 9  And  I  will  deliver  them  t  to  'be  removed 
 into  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  for  their 
 hurt,  "  to  l/c  a  reproach  and  a  proverb,  a  taunt 
 "  and  a  curse,  in  all  places  whither  I  shall 
 drive  them. 
 
 10  And  I  will  send  the  sword,  the  famine, 
 and  the  pestilence,  among  them,  till  they  be 
 consumed  from  off  the  land  that  I  gave  unto 
 them  and  to  their  fathers. 
 
 on  earlh,  to  take  notice  of  persons  and  things  at  a  distance.— GiV/. 
 2B.  Let  him  tett  a  dream,  'confess  it  is  but  a  dream.*  Wluit  is  the  ctiaff, 
 of  idle  dreams.  Tn  the  u-lteat,  to  the  pure  grain  of  my  visions  and 
 revelati'ins,  to  be  announced  for  them.— So  Bp.  Hall.  2g.  Word  like 
 as  afire,  quick  and  powerful,  making  way  through  all  opposition  ;  the 
 threatciiings  it  denounces  will  as  a.ssnrcdly  take  bold  of  the  ungodly, 
 as  fire  does  of  stubble  or  dry  wood,  (corap.  chap.  v.  n.)~Preh.  Loiet'h. 
 30,  Steal  mij  words,  from  the  true  prophets,  mingling  their  words  with 
 the  false  prophecies,  and  pronouncing  '  thus  saith  the  Lord,'  or  stealing 
 them  from  the  people,  making  them  forget  them.  32.  Lightness, 
 false  doctrines  and  loose  lives.— G(7/.  Shallowness  of  judgment.- 
 Kimchi.  Temerity  or  rashness,  Turg. ;  SehttUen.i.  33.  The  burden, 
 calling  it  so  by  -way  of  reproach,  meaning  that  it  always  portended 
 evil,  and  never  good ;  a  burden  signifying  a  calamitous  prophecy. — 
 Bin.  36.  Eferif  man's  word  shall  be  his  harden,  his  irreverent  speeches 
 shall  bring  down  Dicine  vengeance. — Ponle. 
 Chap.  XXIV.  —  I.  Ttie  Lord  shewed  me,  ^c. — a  prophecy  delivered 
 
 in  the  former  or  peaceable  part  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah. — Bin.  Two 
 baskets  of  figs,  such  as  used  to  be  offered  up  for  first  fruits  at  the 
 temple,  (see  Deut.  xxvi.  2.) — Preh.  Lowth.  The  earpenters  and  smiths, 
 or 'armourers.'  The  former  word  means  handicraftsmen  in  general. 
 The  object  of  this  transpnitation  seems  to  have  been  to  prevent  the 
 making  of  arms  for  revolt.— So  Bta.  5  So  will  1  acknowledi^e  them 
 tltat  are  carried  away  captire— many  pious  Jews  were  carried  captive 
 with  Jeconiah,  or  before  him,  among  whom  were  Daniel  and  his  com- 
 panions, and  Ezckiel.  (see  Ezra,  i.  1—3  ;  Dan.  i.  1—7.)  The  afflictions 
 of  the  captives  were  adapted  to  lead  them  to  repentance,  white  those 
 who  remained  behind  became  more  hardened. — Scott.  ".  Will  ^iee 
 them  a  heart,  %e.,  acconi|ilished  in  the  times  after  the  captivity,  when 
 the  .lews  adhered  constintly  to  their  religion,  and  were  very  careful 
 not  to  fall  into  idolatry.  But  the  eminent  completion  of  this  prophecv 
 will  be  at  the  time  of  the  general  restoration  of  the  Jews. — Preb. 
 Lowth. 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.  XXIII I.  Clirist   is  'the  Lord  Israel  be  justi6ed,  and  shall  glory.' 
 
 our  Righteousness.*     We  have  no  rigliteousness  in  the  sight  of       II.   Ttiose  who  have  not  this  righteoitsnessmvst  he  ruined  for  ever 
 
 God,  but  as  we  are  justified  on  account  of  his  merits  ;  and  our  by  tlieir  sins.     Here  we  see  a  people  given  up  to  iniquity,  and 
 
 personal  hoHness  can  only  be  by  vital  union  produced  by  faith  being  given  up  to  iniquity  they  were  a  perpetual  shame.     So 
 
 in  him.     And  he  is  Jehovah.     No  mere  creature  can  commu-  shall  all  who  have  no  influential  faith  in  the  glorious  Messiah ; 
 
 nicate  saving  righteousness  to  others.     He  ran  liave  at  most  '  and  nil  that  are  incensed  against  him  shall  be  ashamed." 
 only  enough  for  himself.     '  In  the  Lord  stiall  all  the  seed  of 
 
 809  5  J. 
 
The  captivity  of  the  Jews,  and 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXV. 
 
 destruction  of  Babylon,  foretuhl. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1  Jeremiah  rcprovivg  the  Jews'  disobedience  to  the  pro- 
 phets, 8  forttellct/i  the  seventy  years'  eaptivity,  12 
 and  after  that,  the  destruction  of  Babylon.  15  Under 
 the  type  of  a  cnp  of  wine  he  foreshewcth  the  destruc- 
 tion of  all  nations .    Z\  The  howling  of  the  shepherds. 
 
 'T'HE  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  conceni- 
 -*-  iiig  all  the  people  of  Judah  °  in  the  fourth 
 year  of  Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah  king  of 
 Judah,  that  was  the  first  year  of  Nebuchad- 
 rezzar king  of  Babylon  ; 
 
 2  The  which  Jeremiali  the  prophet  spake 
 unto  all  the  people  of  Judah,  and  to  all  the 
 inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  saying, 
 
 3  ^  From  the  thirteenth  year  of  Josiah  the 
 son  of  Amon  king  of  Judah,  even  unto  this 
 day,  that  i.^  the  three  and  twentieth  year,  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  hath  come  unto  me,  and  I 
 have  spoken  unto  you,  rising  early  and  speak- 
 ing ;  "^  but  ye  have  not  hearkened. 
 
 4  And  the  Lord  hath  sent  unto  you  all  his 
 servants  the  prophets,  '^  rising  early  and  send- 
 ing them  :  but  ye  have  not  hearkened,  nor  in- 
 clined your  ear  to  hear. 
 
 5  They  said,  "  Turn  ye  again  now  every  one 
 from  his  evil  way,  and  from  the  evil  of  your 
 doings,  and  dwell  in  the  land  that  the  Lord 
 hath  given  unto  you  and  to  your  fathers  for 
 ever  and  ever : 
 
 6  And  go  not  after  other  gods  to  serve  them, 
 and  to  worship  them,  and  provoke  me  not  to 
 anger  with  the  works  of  your  hands  ;  and  I 
 will  do  you  no  hurt. 
 
 7  Yet  ye  have  not  hearkened  unlo  me,  saith 
 the  Lord  ;  that  ye  might  '  provoke  me  to 
 anger  with  the  works  of  your  hands  to  your 
 own  hurt. 
 
 8  IT  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ; 
 Because  ye  have  not  heard  my  words, 
 
 9  Behold,  I  will  send  and  take  ^  all  the  fami- 
 lies of  the  north,  saith  the  Lord,  and  Nebu- 
 chadrezzar the  king  of  Babylon,  ''  my  servant, 
 and  will  bring  them  against  tliis  land,  and 
 against  the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  against  all 
 these  nations  round  about,  and  will  utterly  de- 
 
 607. 
 Ending. 
 
 6116 
 Beginning. 
 I  cb.  36.  1. 
 
 c  ch.  7.  IS. 
 &  1 1.  ",  8, 
 10.  &  13.  Kt, 
 II  8(16.  13 
 &  17.  23.  Sc 
 IH.  li,  *  19 
 l.s.  &22.21. 
 
 d  ch.  7.  IS, 
 ■-'5.  &  26.  5. 
 &  29.  19, 
 
 e2  Kin.   17. 
 13.  ch.  18 
 ll.«(3.^.  15. 
 J^>nali  3.  8. 
 
 /Ppu.  .32.21- 
 rli.  7  19.  & 
 S.'.  SO. 
 
 pch.  1.  la. 
 
 «  oh    27   6. 
 A  13   10. 
 Sbb  I..  44. 
 28,  «(  45.  I. 
 ch.  40.  8. 
 
 i  ch    IS.  16, 
 t  Heh,  /  wi, 
 
 prriJi  fium 
 
 k  Is   24,  7. 
 
 ch,  7.  31,  & 
 
 16,  9. 
 
 Eie.  26.  13. 
 
 Hos,  2.  II. 
 
 Kev,  IS,  23, 
 /  Ecclea,  12, 
 
 4, 
 
 m  2  Chr,  36. 
 21,  22, 
 Ezra  1.  1. 
 ch.  29.  10. 
 Dan.  9.  2. 
 
 •  Beeini.ing 
 Cir.  6tt6. 
 
 2  Kin,  24    1, 
 
 Ending 
 
 cir,  536, 
 
 EzrnI,  I. 
 
 \  Heb.  vitil 
 
 n  l9   13.  19. 
 &  14,23.  & 
 21    I,  fcc. 
 8.47.  I, 
 ch    ,',0   3, 
 13,  23,  3M, 
 40,  15.  &  6 1 , 
 2b,  26 
 
 o  ch  .W.  9, 
 
 ft5i,27,  es, 
 
 p  ch,  50,  11, 
 8c  61.  27, 
 
 a  ch,  27.  7. 
 
 r  ch,  50  29, 
 &  51,  6,  24. 
 
 *  Job  21.  20, 
 Fs,  75   8. 
 IR.  51.  17. 
 Rev.  14.  10. 
 
 t  ch.  51.  7. 
 E*e.  23.  34. 
 Nah.  3.  II. 
 
 u  ver.  9,  11. 
 I  ch.  24.  9. 
 
 V  ch.  46.  2, 
 25. 
 
 .  Job  I.  1. 
 icli.  47.  I, 
 5,7. 
 
 stroy  them,  and  '  make  them  an  astonishment, 
 and  an  hissing,  and  perpetual  desolations. 
 
 10  Moreover  -f  I  will  take  from  tliem  the 
 '  voice  of  mirth,  and  the  voice  of  gladnes.s, 
 the  voice  of  the  bridegroom,  and  the  voice  of 
 the  bride,  '  the  sound  of  the  milstones,  and  the 
 light  of  the  candle. 
 
 1 1  And  this  whole  land  shall  be  a  desolation, 
 and  an  astonishment ;  and  these  nations  shall 
 serve  the  king  of  Babylon  seventy  years. 
 
 12  1[  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  "'when 
 ♦seventy  years  are  accomplished,  that  I  will 
 t  punish  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  that  nation, 
 saith  the  Lord,  for  their  iniquity,  and  the  land 
 of  the  Chaldeans,  "and  will  make  it  perpetual 
 desolations. 
 
 13  And  I  will  bring  upon  that  land  all  my 
 words  which  I  have  pronounced  against  it, 
 evc7t  all  that  is  written  in  tliis  book,  which  Je- 
 remiah hath  prophesied  against  all  the  nations. 
 
 14  "For  many  nations  ''and  great  kings 
 shall  '.serve  themselves  of  them  also  :  'and  I 
 will  recompense  them  according  to  their  deeds, 
 and  according  to  the  works  of  their  own  hands. 
 
 15  H  For  thus  saith  tlie  Lord  God  of  Israel 
 unto  me  ;  Take  the  '  wine  cup  of  this  fury  at 
 my  hand,  and  cause  all  the  nations,  to  whom  I 
 send  thee,  to  drink  it. 
 
 IG  And  '  they  shall  drink,  and  be  moved,  and 
 be  mad,  because  of  the  swurd  that  I  will  send 
 among  them. 
 
 17  Then  took  I  the  cup  at  the  Lord's  hand, 
 and  made  all  the  nations  to  drink,  unto  whom 
 the  Lord  had  sent  me  : 
 
 18  To  wit,  Jerusalem,  and  the  cities  of  Ju- 
 dah, and  the  kings  thereof,  and  the  princes 
 thereof,  to  make  them  "  a  desolation,  an  as- 
 tonishment, an  hissing,  and  "  a  curse  ;  as  it  is 
 this  day ; 
 
 19  ''  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt,  and  his  servants, 
 and  his  princes,  and  all  his  people  ; 
 
 20  And  all  '  the  mingled  people,  and  all  the 
 kings  of  "the  land  of  Uz,  ''and  all  the  kings  of 
 the  land  of  the  Philistines,  and  Ashkelon,  and 
 Azzah,  and  Ekron,  and  "  the  remnant  of  Ash- 
 dod. 
 
 Crap.  XXV. —  1.  The  word  that  came,  ^-c— this  prediction  should 
 probably  come  next  in  succession  to  those  in  chap,  xxii.,  xxiii. — Dla. 
 The  first  year  f'f  Nebuchadrezzar— in  Dan.  i.  I,  it  is  called  the  third 
 year.  He,  writing  in  Chahiee,  computed  it  as  the  Chaldeans,  from  the 
 time  he  was  associated  with  his  father  in  the  empire;  but  here  it  is 
 reckoned  as  with  the  Babylonians,  when  he  ascended  the  throne  two 
 years  afterwards,  on  his  father's  death. —  Poole,  Preh.  Lnwth,  Bin. 
 4.  All  his  servants,  as  Micah,  Nahum.  Zephaniah,  and  others.— G///. 
 Several  were  contemporary  vrith  Jeremiah  ;  Zephaniah,  and  Urijah  the 
 son  of  Shcmaiah,  are  mentioned  in  Scripture  ;  the  latter  in  chap.  xxvi. 
 20. — Preb.  Lowth.  Rising  early — see  chap.  vii.  13,  note.  Q.  My  ser- 
 vant — king:s  and  princes  are  the  great  instruments  of  Providence  with 
 respect  to  human  affairs.  Nebuchadrezzar  was  raised  up  to  be  the  exe- 
 cutioner of  God's  judgments  upon  a  sinful  people. — Sut,  Perpetual, 
 D^IJ?,  does  not  always  signify  eternity  or  perpetuity  in  a  strict  sense. 
 In  Exod.  xxi.  6,  it  marks  the  time  of  servitude  till  the  next  jubilee  ;  and 
 here  is  restrained  to  the  period  of  seventy  years. — Sut.,  Preb.  Lowth. 
 10.  Sound  of  the  ?nilstones-~t\\e  people  in  the  east  grind  their  corn  at 
 break  of  day,  and  on  going  out  in  the  morning  one  hears  everywhere 
 the  noise  of  the  mill  and  the  singing  of  the  grinders.  The  light  of  the 
 candle — in  Egypt  the  houses  are  never  without  lights.  Maillet  assures 
 us,  that  even  the  poor  burn  lamps,  not  only  all  the  night  long,  but  in 
 all  inhabited  apartments. — Har.,  chap,  iii.,  obs.  29.  The  custom  in 
 the  east  of  burning  a  lamp  in  the  room  all  night  is  one  of  the  greatest 
 comforts.  Among  other  benefits,  the  light  keeps  off  the  serpents  and 
 other  poisonous  reptiles. — Rob.     The  language  is  descriptive  of  great 
 
 desolation,  because  these  things  are  heard  and  seen  in  every  inhabited 
 country.  1 1 .  These  nations,  both  the  Jews  and  other  nations  of  Egypt, 
 fee— A.  Clarke,  Oill.  Serve  the  king—'  king'  is  often  used  for  a  suc- 
 cession of  kings  of  the  same  family  or  kingdom.— Frf6.  Lowth.  Seventy 
 years,  reckoning  from  the  date  of  this  prophecy,  the  fourth  year  of  Je- 
 hoiakim's  reign,  when  Daniel  and  others  were  carried  captive,  (Dan.  i. 
 1—6.)  to  the  first  year  of  Cyrus.— G(7/.  J'i.  /  will  punish  the  king  of 
 Babylon— Go^\  often  punishes  his  instruments,  because,  though  he  used 
 them  for  his  purposes,  their  intent  was  to  glut  their  own  ambition  and 
 cruelty.— So PreA.  Loivth.  That  nation,  ii}7Tn  '1371,  '  his  nation.'— B/rt. 
 13.  Written  in  this  book,  ^c— see  chapters  xlvi.  to  li.  H.  Many 
 
 nations,  the  Medes  and  Persians,  and  their  allies.  Great  kings,  Cyrus, 
 Darius,  and  their  confederates.— Gi7/.  Serve  themselves,  ffc,  share 
 their  dominions  among  them. — Bp.  Hall.  l6.  Be  moved,  and  be  mad — 
 the  effects  of  God's  judgments  are  elsewhere  compared  to  drunkenness, 
 (see  chap.  li.  57  ;  Isa.  xix.  14  ;  Lam.  iv.  21 ;  Nah.  iii.  II ;  Hab.  ii.  l6.) 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  ij.  I  took  the  cup,  ^c,  declared  publicly  God's 
 
 intended  judgments.  19.   Pharaoh,  this  was  Pharaoh-necho.  —  So 
 
 Clarke.  2(».  Mingled  people,  probably  mixed  nations  on  the  borders 
 of  the  Mediterranean  and  Red  Sea.— Pre*.  Lowth.  Foreigners  in 
 Egypt,  (see  Exod.  xii.  38.)— B/a.,  Gill.  Abyssenes  and  others,  who  had 
 settled  in  Egypt. ~^.  Clarke.  Kings,  these  were  petty  princes.  In 
 the  Hebrew,  the  word  '  king'  signifies  any  person  in  authority.- PreA. 
 Loivth.  Of  the  land  of  Uz,  Job's  country.  A  part  of  Arabia,  near 
 Idumea,  (see  Job,  i.  1.)— .4.  Clarke.  Reimiant  o/^sAdod,  which  had 
 been  so  weakened  by  Psaramaticus,  king  of  Egypt,  in  a  blockade  of 
 
 Reflections  on  Chaf.  XXIV.  —I.  God  affiicts  his  people 
 to  humble  tliun  and  bring  them  to  repentance.  And  blessed  are 
 those  afflictions  which  bring  back  the  wandering  heart  to  God  ; 
 and  blessed  are  they  who  are  made  the  subjects  of  such  sanc- 
 tified afflictions. 
 
 II.  The  afflictions  ofot/icrs  produce  no  beneficial  impression  on 
 810 
 
 the  hardened  sinner.  He  still  hardens  his  heart  in  his  iniquity  ; 
 congratulates  himself  that  he  has  escaped  ;  puts  far  otf  the  evil 
 day,  and  blesses  himself 'in  his  heart,  saying,  I  shall  have 
 peace,  though  I  walk  in  the  imagination  of  mine  heart,  to  add 
 drunkenness  to  thirst.' 
 
The  destruction  of  all  nations  foreshewn.      JEREMIAH,  XXVI. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  repentance. 
 
 21  ''Edom,  and  "  Moab,  and  the  children  of 
 '  Ainmon, 
 
 22  And  all  the  kings  of  ^  Tyrus,  and  all  the 
 kings  of  Zidon,  and  the  kings  of  the  {|  isles 
 which  are  beyond  the  "sea, 
 
 23  '  Dedan,  and  Tema,  and  Buz,  and  all 
 t  that  are  in  the  utmost  corjiers, 
 
 24  And  ''  all  the  kings  of  Arabia,  and  all  the 
 kings  of  the  '  mingled  people  that  dwell  in  the 
 desert, 
 
 25  And  all  the  kings  of  Zimri,  and  all  the 
 kings  of  ■"  Elani,  and  all  tlie  kings  of  the 
 Medes, 
 
 26  "  And  all  the  kings  of  the  north,  far  and 
 near,  one  with  another,  and  all  the  kingdoms 
 of  the  world,  which  are  upon  the  face  of  the 
 earth  :  °  and  the  king  of  Sheshach  shall  drink 
 after  them. 
 
 27  Therefore  thou  shall  say  unto  them.  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel ; 
 >■  Driiik  ye,  and  '"  be  drunken,  and  spue,  and 
 fall,  and  rise  no  more,  because  of  the  sword 
 which  I  will  send  among  you. 
 
 28  And  it  shall  be,  if  they  refuse  to  take  the 
 cup  at  thine  hand  to  drink,  then  shalt  thou  say 
 unto  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  Ye 
 shall  certainly  drink. 
 
 29  For,  lo,  '  I  begin  to  bring  evil  on  the  city 
 t  '^  which  is  called  by  my  name,  and  should  ye 
 be  utterly  unpunished  ?  Ye  shall  not  be  un- 
 inniished  :  for  '  I  will  call  for  a  sword  upon  all 
 tlie  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts. 
 
 30  Therefore  prophesy  thou  against  them  all 
 these  words,  and  say  unto  them.  The  Lord 
 shall  "  roar  from  on  high,  and  utter  his  voice 
 from  '  his  holy  habitation  ;  he  sliall  mightily 
 roar  upon  'his  habitation;  he  shall  give  "a 
 shout,  as  they  that  tread  the  grapes,  against 
 all  tlie  inhabitants  of  tlie  earth. 
 
 31  A  noise  shall  come  even  to  the  ends  of 
 the  earth  ;  for  the  Loud  hath  "  a  controversy 
 with  the  nations,  "he  will 
 he  will   give    them   that 
 sword,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 32  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  Behold, 
 evil  shall  go  forth  from  nation  to  nation,  and 
 "'a  great  whirlwind  shall  be  raised  up  from  the 
 coasts  of  the  earth. 
 
 33  ''  And  the  slain  of  the  Lord  shall  be  at 
 
 B.  c 
 
 cir.  606. 
 
 d  ch.  49  7, 
 
 8.C. 
 flch.  4S.  1. 
 /ch.  M.  I. 
 }  ch.  17   *. 
 
 Or,  reffioit 
 
 ^(/  the  tea 
 
 tide- 
 It  ch.  49.  23. 
 (Ch.  49   8. 
 t  Hah.  cut 
 
 ojf'  inlQ  Cfir- 
 
 havinn  the 
 orueri  of 
 the  hair 
 
 ch.  9.  26.  & 
 
 49.  32. 
 k  2Chr.9.U 
 /See  ver  20. 
 
 ch.  .19.  31. 
 
 &  50.  37. 
 
 Ezek.  30.  6- 
 »i  ch.  49.  34, 
 n  ch.  50.  9. 
 o  ch.  51.41. 
 
 plead  with  all  flesh  ; 
 are   wicked   to   the 
 
 ;.  Hab.  2.  16 
 q  Is  bl.  21. 
 &  63.  6. 
 
 r  Pro.  11.31. 
 
 ch.  49.  12. 
 
 Ezek.  9   6. 
 
 Chad.  16. 
 
 Luke  23.31. 
 
 1  Pet.  4   17. 
 t  lleh    upon 
 
 mhii  h  mtj 
 
 ivttne  it 
 
 called. 
 t  Dan.  9.  18, 
 
 19 
 /  Eze.  38.  21. 
 "  Is.  42   13. 
 
 Joel  3    16. 
 
 Amos  I.  2. 
 J-  Pa-  II.  4. 
 
 ch.  17.  12. 
 y  1  Kin.  9.  3. 
 
 Ps.  132.  14. 
 X  Is.  16.  9. 
 
 ch.  48.  S3. 
 
 a  Hos.  4.  1. 
 
 Mic.  6.  2 
 h  Is.  66.  16. 
 
 Joel  3.  2. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  Omi. 
 
 e  ch.  16.  4,  6. 
 /Ps.  79   3. 
 
 ch.  8,  2. 
 
 Rev.  11.9 
 A'  ch   4.  8.  & 
 
 6.26. 
 
 t  Heb.  ynttT 
 d;y,fer 
 itatighler. 
 
 t  Heb.  a  i-et- 
 ifl  o/detire. 
 t  Heh.  flight 
 ihtU  jiertih 
 from  the 
 ihepherdl, 
 a  ltd  etcofiing 
 front,  ((c. 
 Amos  2.  14 
 
 Begimiiiig 
 a  ch.  19.  14 
 
 6  Ezek. P.  10 
 Mat.  ifl.  20. 
 c  Acts  20.27, 
 
 /Lev.  26.14, 
 &c.  Dent. 
 29.  15. 
 
 g  ch.  7  13, 
 25.  &  II.  7. 
 &  2.',.  3,  4. 
 
 A  I  Sam.  4. 
 10,11.  Ps, 
 -'     ,0.  ch.7. 
 
 12,  14. 
 
 that  day  from  one  end  of  the  earth  even  unto 
 the  other  end  of  the  earth  :  they  shall  not  be 
 'lamented,  'neither  gathered,  nor  buried  ;  they 
 shall  be  dung  upon  the  ground. 
 
 34  1  ^  Howl,  ye  shepherds,  and  cry  ;  and 
 wallow  yourselves  in  the  ashes,  ye  principal  of 
 the  flock  :  for  f  the  days  of  your  slaughter  and 
 of  your  dispersions  are  accomplished  ;  and  ye 
 shall  fall  like  f  a  pleasant  vessel. 
 
 35  And  tthe  shepherds  shall  have  no  way  to 
 flee,  nor  the  principal  of  the  flock  to  escape. 
 
 30  A  voice  of  the  cry  of  the  shepherds,  and 
 an  howling  of  the  principal  of  the  flock,  shall 
 be  heard:  for  the  Lord  hath  spoiled  their 
 pasture. 
 
 37  And  the  peaceable  habitations  are  cut 
 down  because  of  the  fierce  anger  of  the  Lord. 
 
 38  He  hath  forsaken  '■  his  covert,  as  the  lion  : 
 for  their  land  is  f  desolate  because  of  the 
 fierceness  of  the  oppressor,  and  because  of  his 
 fierce  anger. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 1  Jeremiah  hy  promises  aiid  threatening s  exhorteth  to 
 repentance.  8  He  is  therefore  apprehended^  10  and 
 arraigned.      11    His   apology.      16    He    is  quit    in 
 
 judgmentt  hy  the  example  of  Micahj  20  and  of  Uri- 
 
 jah,  24  and  hy  the  care  of  AUiham. 
 
 TN  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim 
 -^  the  son  of  Josiah  king  of  Judah  came  this 
 word  from  the  Lord,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Stand  in  ^  the  court 
 of  the  Lord's  house,  and  speak  unto  all  the 
 cities  of  Judah,  which  come  to  worship  in  the 
 Lord's  house,  ^  all  the  words  that  I  command 
 thee  to  speak  unto  them  ;  ^  diminish  not  a 
 word : 
 
 3  "^  If  so  he  they  will  hearken,  and  turn  every 
 man  from  his  evil  way,  that  I  may  '^repent  me 
 of  the  evil,  which  I  purpose  to  do  unto  them 
 because  of  the  evil  of  their  doings. 
 
 4  And  thou  shalt  say  unto  them,  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord;  *"  If  ye  will  not  hearken  to  me,  to 
 walk  in  my  law,  which  I  have  set  before  you, 
 
 5  To  hearken  to  the  words  of  my  servants 
 the  prophets,  ^whom  I  sent  unto  you,  both 
 rising  up  early,  and  sending  ^Ac/w,  but  ye  have 
 not  hearkened  ; 
 
 6  Then  will  I  make  this  house  like  *>  Shiloh, 
 and  will  make  this  city  'a  curse  to  all  the 
 nations  of  the  earth. 
 
 twenty-nine  years,  before  he  took  it,  that  he  found  it  a  mere  carcass. 
 22.  Kings  of  the  isles,  ^c.,  may  be  rendered,  '  kings  of  the  country  by 
 tiie  sea  side,*  and  may  design  those  that  dwell  upon  the  coast  of  the 
 Mediterranean. —  Gill.  '  Island,'  in  Hebrew,  may  signify  any  region 
 or  country.— iVei.  Lowth.  23.  Dedan,  fyc,  places  in  Idamea.— Gi7/. 
 The  original  builders  are  named,  Gen.  xxii.  21  j  x.xv.  3,  15.  Utmost 
 corners,  probably  the  inhabitants  of  the  peninsula  of  Arabia. — Bla.  See 
 chap.  ix.  26,  note.  24.  Mingled,  having  no  fi.^ed  abode,  or  rather  being 
 of  different  descents.  Desert,  between  Mesopotamia  and  Palestine. — 
 Bla.  25.  Zimri,  a  peoiile  of  Arabia,  descended  from  Zimran,  (see 
 Gen.  XXV.  2,)— Prefi.  Lowth.  E/am,  called  Elymais  by  the  Greeks,  on 
 the  sriuth  frontier  of  Media. — A.  Clarke.  26,  Kings^nr,  may  mean 
 of  Syria,  (see  chap.  xlix.  23.)  Far  off,  may  mean  Hyrcanians  and  Bac- 
 trians,  whom  Babylon  oppressed;  these  and  others,  their  neighbours, 
 lay  north  of  Jvidea,  and  at  a  great  distance.— U/(i.  Of  the  world,  the 
 whole  Babylonian  monarchy,  called  the  whole  world,  as  the  Roman 
 empire  afterwards  was,  (Luke,  ii.  \.)—Gill.  This  must  be  v.nderstood 
 with  a  limitation  to  that  part  of  the  continent  with  whicli  the  Jews  had 
 any  acquaintance. — Bla,      Sheshach,  means  Babylon,  so  named  here, 
 
 from  an  ancient  king,  deified  after  his  death.— ,4.  Clarke,  See  chap.  li. 
 23.  Refuse  the  cup,  ^c,  do  not  believe  the  threatenings.  Certainly 
 drink,  God's  decree  is  irreversible. — Preb.  Lowth.  29.  Should  ye  tie 
 utterly  unpunished  ?  who  have  drawn  my  people  into  foul  idolatry. — So 
 Gill.  30.  .S7i«;/  roar,  like  a  fierce  lion.— Bp.  Hull.  As  they  that  tread 
 the  grapes — the  allusion,  perhaps,  is  to  the  shouting  when  the  vintage 
 was  over,  as  reapers,  &c.,  at  harvest  home. — Hew.  34.  Shepherds, 
 princes,  generals. — Preb.  Lowth.  Like  a  pleasant  vessel,  *  ye,  so  much 
 esteemed,  like  a  precious  vessel  of  crystal,  or  a  gem,  shall  be  shattered 
 to  pieces.' — Bla.  33.  As  a  lion,  leaving  the  overflowed  banks  of  Jor- 
 dan, and  coming  with  ravening  fierceness  to  the  chaunpaign  country. — 
 A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXVI.  — 2.  The  court,  the  great  court  where  the  people  wor- 
 shipped when  they  brought  no  sacrifice,  for  then  they  went  into  the 
 inner  court. — Lightf.  Which  come  to  worship,  which  they  did  at  the 
 three  great  feasts.  Archbishop  Usher  thinks  this  was  the  feast  of  taber- 
 nacles, when  all  the  males  were  obliged  to  appear  before  the  Lord.— 
 See  Gill.  6.  Like  Shilofi—see  chap.  vii.  12,  note.  This  city  a  curse, 
 men  shall  say,  as  a  form  of  execration,  '  God  make  thee  like  Jerusa- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXV.  — I.  Ambitious  tnmiarchs 
 are  but  God's  servants.  We  often  express  surprise  that  they 
 are  permitted  to  pursue  their  cruel  designs  ;  tbey  have  no 
 ri^ht  to  spread  desolation  among  their  fellow-creatures  ;  but 
 if  we  look  above,  we  shall  see  God  overruling  their  ambition 
 to  purify  his  church  and  humble  the  proud  nations  of  the  eurth. 
 
 II.  Monarchs  and  empires  that  are  scourges  to  oth^r"  shall  in 
 811 
 
 the  end,  feel  the  scourge  themselves.  God  marks  their  arbitrary 
 proceedings.  Though  he  is  just  in  inflicting  the  scourge,  they 
 are  unjust.  The  throne  of  every  tyrant  totters,  and  the  mighty 
 oppressors  of  v/eaker  nations  shall,  at  one  touch  of  his  finger, 
 see  their  vast  empires  crumble  into  dust.  Amidst  these 
 changes  his  kingdom  shall  stand  and  spread,  and  '  he  shall 
 reign  for  ever  and  ever.' 
 
Jeremiah's  arraignment,  §-c. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXVII. 
 
 Ilis  acquittal. 
 
 7  So  the  priests  and  the  prophets  and  all  the 
 people  heard  Jeremiah  speaking  these  words 
 in  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 8  t  Now  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jeremiah  had 
 made  an  end  of  speaking  all  that  the  Lord 
 had  commanded  him  to  speak  unto  all  the 
 people,  that  the  priests  and  the  prophets  and  all 
 the  people  took  him,  saying.  Thou  shalt  surely 
 die. 
 
 9  Wliy  hast  thou  prophesied  in  the  name  of 
 the  Lord,  saying,  This  house  shall  be  like 
 Shiloh,  and  this  city  shall  be  desolate  without 
 an  inhabitant?  And  all  the  people  were  ga- 
 thered against  Jeremiah  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 10  f  When  the  princes  of  Judah  heard  these 
 things,  then  they  came  up  from  the  king's 
 house  unto  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  sat 
 down  II  in  the  entry  of  the  new  gate  of  the 
 Lord's  house. 
 
 J I  Then  spake  the  priests  and  the  prophets 
 unto  the  princes  and  to  all  the  people,  saying, 
 t  This  man  is  worthy  to  die ;  ^  for  he  hath  pro- 
 phesied against  this  city,  as  ye  have  heard 
 with  your  ears. 
 
 12  if  Then  spake  Jeremiah  unto  all  the 
 princes  and  to  all  the  people,  saying.  The 
 Lord  sent  me  to  prophesy  against  this  house 
 and  against  this  city  all  the  words  that  ye 
 have  heard. 
 
 13  Therefore  now  '  amenri  your  ways  and 
 your  doings,  and  obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
 your  God;  and  the  Lord  will  '"repent  hira  of 
 the  evil  that  he  hath  pronounced  against  you. 
 
 1 4  As  for  me,  behold,  "  I  am  in  your  hand  : 
 do  with  me  fas  seemetli  good  and  meet  unto 
 you. 
 
 15  But  know  ye  for  certain,  that  if  ye  put  me 
 to  death,  ye  shall  surely  bring  innocent  blood 
 upon  yourselves,  and  upon  this  city,  and  upon 
 the  inhabitants  thereof:  for  of  a  truth  the 
 Lord  hath  sent  me  unto  you  to  speak  all 
 these  words  in  your  ears. 
 
 10  t  Then  said  the  princes  and  all  the  people 
 unto  the  priests  and  to  the  prophets ;  This 
 man  is  not  worthy  to  die  :  for  he  bath  spoken 
 to  us  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  our  God. 
 
 17  °  Then  rose  up  certain  of  the  elders  of  the 
 land,  and  spake  to  all  the  assembly  of  the 
 people,  saying, 
 
 18  '' Micah  the  Morastliite  prophesied  in  the  vmt 
 days  of  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah,  and  spake  to;  "' 
 all  the  people  of  Judah,  saying.  Thus  saith  the 
 
 t  Heb,  Tht 
 
 judlmnt  nf 
 dtath  isJoT 
 
 t  Hcb.  a.  11 ;, 
 good  and 
 right  iiti/out 
 
 .  I    1. 
 710. 
 
 -;  Mic 
 
 t  Heb.  Hit 
 
 Ja,:e,,fa,e 
 
 LORD. 
 1  Ei   S-2.  11. 
 
 :^  Sam.  ?4. 
 
 16- 
 /  Acta  5.  30. 
 
 t  Heb.  m;,. 
 o/thepeufile 
 
 I  2  Kin.  82. 
 ch.  S9.  H. 
 
 cir.  598. 
 
 a  See  ver.  3. 
 1?,  Ifl,  HO. 
 ch.  28.  1. 
 Or,  hath  the 
 LORDt 
 
 ch. : 
 
 .  10, 
 
 I'i.  Srt  Kie. 
 ■1-  1.&  IS.3 
 &  24.  a,  &c. 
 
 II  Or,  conreni- 
 If  their 
 
 Lord  of  hosts  ;  ■"  Zion  shall  be  plowed  lihe  a 
 field,  and  Jerusalem  shall  become  heaps,  and 
 the  mountain  of  the  house  as  the  high  places 
 of  a  forest. 
 
 19  Did  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah  and  all  Judah 
 put  hitn  at  all  to  death  ?  '  did  he  not  fear  the 
 Lord,  and  besought  f  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord 
 •  repented  him  of  the  evil  ivhich  he  had  pro- 
 nounced  against  them  ?  '  Thus  might  we  pro- 
 cure great  evil  against  our  souls. 
 
 20  And  there  was  also  a  man  that  prophesied 
 in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  Urijah  the  son  of 
 Shemaiah  of  Kirjath-jearim,  who  proi]hesied 
 against  this  city  and  against  this  land  accord- 
 ing to  all  the  words  of  Jeremiah  : 
 
 21  And  when  Jehoiakiin  the  king,  with  all 
 his  mighty  men,  and  all  the  princes,  heard  his 
 words,  the  king  songlit  to  put  him  to  death  ; 
 but  when  Urijah  heard  it,  he  was  afraid,  and 
 fled,  and  went  into  Egypt ; 
 
 22  And  Jehoiakim  the  king  sent  men  into 
 Egypt,  namely,  Elnathan  the  son  of  Achbor, 
 and  certain  men  with  him  into  Egypt. 
 
 23  And  they  fetched  forth  Urijah  out  of 
 Egypt,  and  brought  him  unto  Jehoiakim  the 
 king ;  who  slew  him  with  the  sword,  and  cast 
 his  dead  body  into  the  graves  of  the  f  common 
 people. 
 
 24  Nevertheless  "the  hand  of  Ahikam  the 
 son  of  Shaphan  was  with  Jeremiah,  that  the'F 
 should  not  give  him  into  the  hand  of  the 
 people  to  put  him  to  death. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIL 
 
 1  Under  the  type  of  bonds  and  yokes  he  prophesieth  the 
 stihduing  tiftlte  neigjibottr  Itiitgs  unto  Ni'huc/tadnezzar, 
 8  He  exttorteth  them  to  yiitd,  and  not  to  bttieve  the 
 false  prophets.  12  The'li/te  he  doclh  to  Zedehiah. 
 19  He  forctelleth,  tlie  rcnmant  of  tlie  vessels  shall  t>e 
 carried  to  Babylon,  and  there  continue  until  the  day 
 of  visitation. 
 
 of  Jehoiakim 
 g  ot  Judah  came  this 
 word  unto  Jeremiah  from  the  Lord,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  II  saith  the  Lord  to  me  ;  Make  thee 
 bonds  and  yokes,  "'  and  put  them  upon  thy 
 neck, 
 
 3  And  send  them  to  the  king  of  Edom,  and 
 to  the  king  of  Moab,  and  to  the  king  of  the 
 Ammonites,  and  to  the  king  of  Tyrus,  and  to 
 the  king  of  Zidon,  by  the  hand  of  the  messen- 
 gers which  come  to  Jerusalem  unto  Zedekiah 
 king  of  Judah  ; 
 
 4  And  command   them  ||  to  say  unto  their 
 
 TN  the  beginning  of  the  reign 
 ■*•  the  son  of  Josiah  "  king  of  Jud 
 
 Icm,'  (comp.  chap.  xxiv.  g.)  7.  Ttie  proptiets—ihe  Sept.  rightly  un- 
 
 derstand 'false  prophets,'  (Hos.  \\.)—Preb.  Louth.  In  the  /muse  of 
 the  Loril.  in  the  temple,  the  court  of  Israel.— Gi«.  10.  Princes  of 
 
 Judith,  tlie  king's  counsellors,  or  chief  officers  of  state,  who  were  like- 
 wise members  of  the  great  sanhedrim.— PreS.  Louth.  The  new  gate, 
 thought  to  be  the  higher  gate,  which  Jothara  built,  (2  Kings,  xv.  35.) 
 11.  Priests — prophets — princes^people-~t\K  priests  and  prophets  were 
 accusers,  the  princes  formed  the  court,  and  the  people  were  hearers. — 
 GUI.  14.  I  am  in  your  hitntl,  ^c— it  was  the  business  of  the  Sanhe- 
 drim to  pass  sentence  upon  false  prophets,  ami  to  put  them  to  death, 
 as  the  law  provided,  (Deut.  .xviii.  20.)— Pre*.  Lowlh.  18.  Zion  shalt 
 lie  plowed,  4c.— see  Mic.  iii.  12,  note.  20.  There  was  also  a  man, 
 
 ^c,  a  plea  against  the  reasoning  respecting  Hezekiah  and  Micah,  by  a 
 contrary  precedent,  spoken  by  the  opposite  party ;  so  some.  More 
 probably,  a  statement  to  shew  the  danger  of  Jeremiah,  if  great  inlluence 
 had  not  protected  him.  — So  Bht.  24.  Ahikam— it   appears,  from 
 
 2  Kings,  xxii.  12,  he  was  one  of  Josiah 's  counsellors,  and  the  father  of 
 Gedaliah,  (cliap.xxxix.  14,)  who,  upon  the  taking  of  the  city,  was  made 
 governor,  (chap.  xl.  5.)— Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XXVII.  —  1.  Jehoiakim — this  chapter  plainly  relates  to  the 
 times  of  Zedekiah,  (see  vcr.  3  and  12.)  Very  probably  Jehoiakim  crept 
 into  the  text  instead  of  Zedekiah,  by  the  negligence  of  the  scribes. — 
 Preb.  Lowth,  It  is  Zedekiah  in  the  ^t/r.,  Aiub.,  niMi  several  MSS.,  and 
 also  in  the  opinion  of  Houb.,  Bla.,  Duhler,  Scott,  Boothr.,  Clarke,  Bp. 
 Hall,  Poole ;  and  some  others  think  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to 
 Jehoiakim,  to  be  afterwards  executed  in  the  reign  of  Zedekiah.  The 
 best  critics  discard  this  opinion,  as  above. — Ed.  2.  Yokes,  wooden 
 forks  or  collars,  such  as  criminals  and  slaves  often  wore,  fastened  to  the 
 neck,  and  the  arms  bound  to  them.  Jeremiah,  laden  with  this  yoke, 
 shewed  the  servitude  of  the  nations  under  Nebuchadnezzar. — Cal. 
 3.  Send  them  to  tlie  king  of  Edom — Jeremiah  probably  wore  several 
 yokes,  and  then  delivering  his  prophecy,  in  that  manner  sent  his  yokes, 
 for  we  cannot  suppose  the  ambassadors  would  carry  such  things. — 
 Waterland.  Messengers,  ambassadors  to  congratulate  Zedekiah  on 
 ascending  the  throne,  or  engage  him  in  a  confederacy  against  the  king 
 of  Babylon. — Preb.  Loiclh.  Unto  Zedekiah — this  proves  that  Jehoia- 
 kim, in  ver.  1,  is  an  error;  for  Jehoiakim  had  been  slain,  and  his  son 
 Jehoiachin  advanced  to  the  throne,  and  carried  away  captive  to  Ba- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVI.  —  I.  Here  we  see  Jere- 
 miah a  faithfid  witness  for  God.  Fidelity  in  delivering  Grd's 
 messages  is  becoming  God's  ministers. 
 
 II.  Here  we  see  God  a  faithful  defender  of  Jeremiah.  Urijah 
 812 
 
 fled,  like  a  coward,  and  lost  his  life;  .Teremiah  stood  firm,  like 
 a  man  of  God,  and  God  stood  by  bini.  We  gain  nothing  by 
 timid  compliance  with  tbe  spirit  of  tlie  world.  'The  righteous 
 is  bold  as  a  lion.* 
 
fcremiah  exjiorteth  the  people  to  yield.         JEREMIAH,  XXVIII. 
 
 IlananiaVs  false  prophecy. 
 
 cPs.  115.15. 
 
 &  M6.  0. 
 
 Is. -15.  12. 
 d  Pfi.  115.16. 
 
 Dan    1.  17, 
 
 25,  32. 
 
 /ch.  25.  9. 
 &  -13.  10. 
 Eze.  29.  13, 
 
 ich.  25,  12. 
 
 &  50.  27. 
 
 Dan.  5.  36. 
 ft  cli.  25.  11. 
 
 t  Heb, 
 dreamt. 
 
 masters,  Thus  saith  tlie  Lord  of  hosts,  the 
 God  of  Israel ;  Thus  shall  ye  say  unto  your 
 masters  ; 
 
 5  "  I  have  made  the  earth,  the  man  and  the 
 beast  that  are  upon  the  ground,  by  my  great 
 power  and  by  my  outstretched  arm,  and  •"  have 
 given  it  unto  whom  it  seemed  meet  unto  me. 
 
 6  °  And  now  have  I  given  all  these  lands  into 
 the  hand  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king  of  Ba- 
 bylon, ''ray  servant;  and  "the  beasts  of  the 
 field  have  I  given  him  also  to  serve  him. 
 
 7  '■  And  all  nations  shall  serve  him,  and  his 
 son,  and  his  son's  son,  'until  the  very  time  of  Jt'c^flS. 
 his  land  come :  '  and  then  many  nations  and 
 great  kings  shall  serve  themselves  of  him. 
 
 8  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  the  nation 
 and  kingdom  which  will  not  serve  the  same 
 Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  that 
 will  not  put  their  neck  under  the  yoke  of  the 
 king  of  Babylon,  that  nation  will  I  punish, 
 saith  the  Lord,  with  the  sword,  and  with  the 
 famine,  and  with  the  pestilence,  until  I  have 
 consumed  them  by  his  hand. 
 
 9  Therefore  hearken  not  ye  to  your  prophets, 
 nor  to  your  diviners,  nor  to  your  f  dreamers, 
 nor  to  your  enchanters,  nor  to  your  sorcerers, 
 which  speak  unto  you,  saying,  Ye  shall  not 
 serv.e  the  king  of  Babylon  : 
 
 10  '  For  they  prophesy  a  lie  unto  you,  to  re- 
 move you  far  from  your  land ;  and  that  I 
 should  drive  you  out,  and  ye  should  perish. 
 
 11  But  the  nations  that  bring  their  neck 
 under  the  yoke  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and 
 sen^e  him,  those  will  I  let  remain  still  in  their 
 own  land,  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  they  shall  till 
 it,  and  dwell  therein. 
 
 12  f  I  spake  also  to  "  Zedekiah  king  of  Ju- 
 dah  according  to  all  these  words,  saying.  Bring 
 your  necks  under  tlie  yoke  of  the  king  of 
 Babylon,  and  serve  him  and  his  people,  and 
 live. 
 
 13  "  Why  will  ye  die,  thou  and  thy  people, 
 by  the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pesti- 
 lence, as  the  Lord  hath  spoken  against  the 
 nation  that  will  not  serve  the  king  of  Baby- 
 lon ? 
 
 14  Therefore  hearken  not  unto  the  words  of 
 the  prophets  that  speak  unto  you,  saying.  Ye 
 shall  not  .serve  the  lung  of  Babylon  :  for  they 
 prophesy  °a  lie  unto  you. 
 
 13  For  I  have  not  sent  them,  saith  the  Lord, 
 yet  they  prophesy  f  a  lie  in  my  name  ;  that  I 
 might  drive  you  out,  and  that  ye  might  perish, 
 ye,  and  the  prophets  that  prophesy  unto  you. 
 
 16  Also  I  spake  to  the  priests  and  to  all  this 
 people,  saying.  Thus  saith  the  Lord;  Hearken 
 not  to  the  words  of  your  prophets  that  pro- 
 phesy unto  you,  saying.  Behold,  ■"  the  vessels 
 
 n  ch,  29.  I 
 &  38.  17. 
 
 t  Heb.  i» 
 a  tir.  or, 
 
 p  2  Chr.  36. 
 
 7,  10.  ch.-28. 
 3    Dan.  1.2. 
 
 r  2  Kin.  24. 
 14,  15. 
 ch.  24.  1. 
 
 (2  Kin.  25. 
 13.  2  Chr. 
 36.  18. 
 2  Chr.  36. 
 21.  ch.  29. 
 10  &  32.  5 
 1  Ezra  1.  7. 
 Si  7.  19. 
 
 r  ch.  27.  16. 
 t  Heb.  /uTg 
 
 S'""  "/ 
 
 dat/t. 
 
 t  Heb 
 captiviiy. 
 
 of  the  Lord's  house  shall  now  shortly  be 
 brought  again  from  Babylon  :  for  they  pro- 
 phesy a  lie  unto  you. 
 
 17  Hearken  not  unto  them;  serve  the  king 
 of  Babylon,  and  live  :  wherefore  should  this 
 city  be  laid  waste  ? 
 
 18  But  if  they  he  prophets,  and  if  the  word 
 of  the  Lord  be  with  them,  let  them  now  make 
 intercession  to  the  Lord  of  hosts,  that  the 
 vessels  which  are  left  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  and  in  the  house  of  the  king  of  Judah, 
 and  at  Jerusalem,  go  not  to  Babylon. 
 
 19  t  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ''con- 
 cerning the  pillars,  and  concerning  the  sea,  and 
 concerning  the  bases,  and  concerning  the  resi- 
 due of  the  vessels  that  remain  in  this  city, 
 
 20  Which  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon 
 took  not,  when  he  carried  away  '  captive  Jeco- 
 niah  the  son  of  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah  from 
 Jerusalem  to  Babylon,  and  all  the  nobles  of 
 Judah  and  Jerusalem  ; 
 
 21  Yea,  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the 
 God  of  Israel,  concerning  the  vessels  that  re- 
 main in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the 
 house  of  the  king  of  Judah  and  of  Jerusalem  ; 
 
 22  They  shall  be  '  carried  to  Babylon,  and 
 there  shall  they  be  until  the  day  that  I  '  visit 
 them,  saith  the  Lord  ;  then  "will  I  bring  them 
 up,  and  restore  them  to  this  place. 
 
 CHAP,  xxvin. 
 
 I  Uananiah  prophcsieth  falsely  the  return  of  the  vessels, 
 and  of  Jceoniah,  5  Jeremiah,  wishing  it  to  he  true, 
 sheweth  titat  the  event  will  declare  who  are  true  pro* 
 phets.  10  Hananiah  hreaketh  Jerenualis  yoke,  12 
 Jeremiah  telleth  of  an  iron  yoke,  15  and  foretelleth 
 Hananiah' s  death. 
 
 \  ND  °  it  came  to  pass  the  same  year,  in 
 -c*-  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah 
 king  of  Judah,  in  the  fourth  year,  and  in  the 
 fifth  month,  that  Hananiah  the  son  of  Azur 
 the  prophet,  which  was  of  Gibeon,  spake  unto 
 me  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  in  the  presence 
 of  the  priests  and  of  all  the  people,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  speaketh  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
 of  Israel,  saying,  I  have  broken  ''  the  yoke  of 
 the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 3  *^  Within  f  two  full  years  will  I  bring  again 
 into  this  place  all  the  vessels  of  the  Lord's 
 house,  that  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon 
 took  away  from  this  place,  and  carried  them  to 
 Babylon : 
 
 4  And  I  will  bring  again  to  this  place  Jeco- 
 niah  the  son  of  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah,  with 
 all  the  t  captives  of  Judah,  that  went  into  Ba- 
 bylon, saith  the  Lord  :  for  I  will  break  the 
 yoke  of  the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 5  T  Then  the  prophet  Jeremiah  said  unto  the 
 
 bylon  before  Zedekiah,  who  only  was  thus  called  when  he  began  to  several  of  these  were  carried  away  by  the  Chaldeans  in  the  reigns  of 
 
 reign.— Boo/Ar.        7.  Him,  and  tiis  son,  mid  his  son's  5H?i— Belshazzar,  Jehoiakim  and  Jeconiah,  (see  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  7— 10  ;  Dan.  i.  2.)—Preh. 
 
 the  last  king  of  Babylon,  [Dan.  v.  30,  31.)  was  grandchild  to  Nebuchad-  Lowth.        19.  Pittars—^ee  I  Kings,  vii.  15,  21.    Sea— see  I  Kings,  vii. 
 
 aezia.r.—Prei.  Lowlli.     Tlie  very  time  0/ Ids  land  cotne,  '  the  time  of  23,25.     Bfises— see  1  Kings,  vii.  27— 37.       22.  Fisi^  Wiem,  i.e.,  punish 
 
 the  destruction  of  his  land,' Tar^.        16.  Vessels  0/ the  Lord's  house —  them. — Hew, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVII.  —  We  here  recognise, 
 I.  God's  supreme  dominion  over  the  world.  The  potsherds  of 
 the  earth  dash  against  each  other  ;  empires  rise  and  fall ;  the 
 church  of  God  is  often  like  a  ship  tossed  on  the  bosom  of  the 
 stormy  deep,  and  in  the  midst  of  rocks  and  quicksands  she 
 seems  ready  to  perish  ;  but  the  mighty  One  sits  at  the  helm  ; 
 she  shall  outride  every  storm,  and  art  last  see  all  her  enemies 
 perish.     We  here  see — 
 
 II.  Our  wisdom  to  snbmit  to  the  supreme  dominion  of  God. 
 813 
 
 We  cannot  fight  wiih  success  against  Providence.  When  bis 
 judgments  are  abroad  in  the  earth  it  is  that  the  people  may 
 '  learn  righteousness.'  Then,  instead  of  murmuring,  our  duty 
 is  to  '  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord,'  who 
 '  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own  will ;'  whose 
 purpose  ■  shall  stand,  and  he  will  do  all  his  pleasure.'  It  is 
 thus  with  affairs  in  general :  we  may  apply  the  same  remarks 
 to  our  individual  circumstances. 
 
Hananiah's  death  foretold. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXIX. 
 
 Jeremiah's  letter  to  the  captives. 
 
 prophet  Hananiah  in  the  presence  of  the  priests, 
 and  in  the  presence  of  all  the  people  that  stood 
 in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 
 6  Even  the  prophet  Jeremiah  said,  ^  Amen  : 
 the  Lord  do  so  :  the  Lord  perform  thy  words 
 which  thou  hast  prophesied,  to  bring  again  the 
 vessels  of  the  Lord's  house,  and  all  that  is 
 carried  away  captive,  from  Babylon  into  this 
 place. 
 
 7  Nevertheless  hear  thou  now  this  word  that 
 I  speak  in  thine  ears,  and  in  the  ears  of  all  the 
 people  ; 
 
 8  The  prophets  that  have  been  before  me 
 and  before  thee  of  old  prophesied  both  against 
 many  countries,  and  against  great  kingdoms, 
 of  war,  and  of  evil,  and  of  pestilence. 
 
 9  "  The  prophet  which  prophesieth  of  peace, 
 when  the  word  of  the  prophet  shall  come  to 
 pass,  then  shall  the  prophet  be  known,  that 
 the  Lord  hath  truly  sent  him. 
 
 10  t  Then  Hananiah  the  prophet  took  the 
 'yoke  from  oft'  the  prophet  Jeremiah's  neck, 
 and  brake  it. 
 
 11  And  Hananiah  spake  in  the  presence  of 
 all  the  people,  saying.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ; 
 Even  so  will  I  break  the  yoke  of  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar king  of  Babylon  ^  from  the  neck  of  all 
 nations  within  the  .space  of  two  full  years. 
 And  the  prophet  Jeremiah  went  his  way. 
 
 12  H  Then  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 Jeremiah  the  prophet,  after  that  Hananiah  the 
 prophet  had  broken  the  yoke  from  off  the  neck 
 of  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  saying, 
 
 13  Go  and  tell  Hananiah,  saying.  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord  ;  Thou  hast  broken  the  yokes  of 
 wood  ;  but  thou  shalt  make  for  them  yokes  of 
 iron. 
 
 14  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
 of  Israel  ;  "I  have  put  a  yoke  of  iron  upon  the 
 neck  of  all  these  nations,  that  they  may  serve 
 Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon  ;  and  they 
 shall  serve  him :  and  '  I  have  given  him  the 
 beasts  of  the  field  also. 
 
 1.5   IT  Then  said  the  prophet  Jeremiah  unto 
 Hananiah  the  prophet.  Hear  now,  Hananiah 
 The    Lord   hath    not  sent    thee ;   but   ''  thou 
 niakest  this  people  to  trust  in  a  lie. 
 
 16  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold, 
 I  will  cast  thee  from  oft'  the  face  of  the  earth  : 
 this  year  thou  shall  die,  because  thou  hast 
 taught  'f  rebellion  against  the  Lord. 
 
 17  So  Hananiah  the  prophet  died  the  same 
 year  in  the  seventh  month. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIX. 
 
 ]  Jiremiah  scndeth  a  hUvr  to  the  captives  in  Babi/Ion, 
 to  be  quiet  there,  8  and  not  to  believe  the  dreains  of 
 their  prophets,    10  and  that  they  shall  return   with 
 
 fch. 
 
 s  ch.  27. 
 
 h  Deu.  33. 
 48.  cli.  -27. 
 A,  7. 
 
 h  ch.  29   31 
 Kiek.  IS. 
 
 t  Deu.  IS.  5. 
 ch.  29.  32. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 cir.  595. 
 
 I  2  Kin.  24. 
 12,  ^.•. 
 
 ni..  t>.  se, 
 
 «<  2>*   4. 
 I  Or,  cliam- 
 
 c  Ezra  6  10 
 IMactLMl 
 I  Tiui.  2.  -2 
 
 rf  i-h.  n.  U 
 &  23  SI.  & 
 27  U,  15. 
 Eph  5.  6. 
 .  31. 
 
 t  Heb.  I 
 
 ,r.  6UG. 
 
 /•2Chr.  36. 
 21,  22. 
 K*ra  I.  I. 
 ch.25    12. 
 &  27-  22. 
 Dan.  y.  2. 
 
 t  Heb.  end 
 anii  expecla- 
 lion. 
 
 g  Dfui.  9.  S, 
 
 I,  Lev.2G.39, 
 
 ■in,  &C. 
 
 Deu.  30.  I, 
 
 he. 
 
 i  ch.  24   7. 
 A  Deu.  1.  7. 
 
 Pa.  S>.  6.  & 
 
 46.  I.Is.o5. 
 
 grace  after  seventy  years,  15  He  foretelleth  the  de- 
 struction of  the  rest  for  their  disobedience.  20  i/e 
 slieiveth  the  fearful  end  of  A  hah  and  Zedekiah,  two 
 lying  prophets.  24  Shemaiah  writeth  a  letter  against 
 Jeremiah.     30  Jeremiah  readeth  his  doom. 
 
 NOW  these  are  the  words  of  the  letter  that 
 Jeremiah  the  prophet  sent  from  Jerusalem 
 unto  the  residue  of  the  elders  which  were  car- 
 ried away  captives,  and  to  the  priests,  and  to 
 the  prophets,  and  to  all  the  people  whom  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar had  carried  away  captive  from 
 Jerusalem  to  Babylon  ; 
 
 2  (After  that  "Jeconiah  the  king,  and  the 
 queen,  and  the  ||  eunuchs,  the  princes  of  Judah 
 and  Jerusalem,  and  the  carpenters,  and  the 
 smiths,  were  departed  from  Jerusalem  ;) 
 
 3  By  the  hand  of  Elasah  the  son  of  Shaphan, 
 and  Gemariah  the  sun  of  Hilkiah,  (whom  Ze- 
 dekiah  king  of  Judah  sent  unto  Babylon  to 
 Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon)  saying, 
 
 4  Tims  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel,  unto  all  that  are  carried  away  captives, 
 whom  I  have  caused  to  be  carried  away  from 
 Jerusalem  unto  Babylon  ; 
 
 5  ^  Build  ye  houses,  and  dwell  in  them ;  and 
 plant  gardens,  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them  ; 
 
 C  Take  ye  wives,  and  beget  sons  and  daugh- 
 ters ;  and  take  wives  for  your  sons,  and  give 
 your  daughters  to  husbands,  that  they  may 
 bear  sons  and  daughters  ;  that  ye  may  be  in- 
 creased there,  and  not  diminished. 
 
 7  And  seek  the  peace  of  the  city  whither  I 
 have  caused  you  to  be  carried  away  captives, 
 *^and  pray  unto  the  Lord  for  it:  for  in  the 
 peace  thereof  sliall  ye  have  peace. 
 
 8  If  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the 
 God  of  Israel ;  Let  not  your  prophets  and 
 your  diviners,  that  be  in  the  midst  of  you, 
 *'  deceive  you,  neither  hearken  to  your  dreams 
 which  ye  cause  to  be  dreamed. 
 
 9  ''For  they  prophesy  f  falsely  unto  you  in 
 my  name :  I  have  not  sent  them,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 10  H  For  tluis  saith  the  Lord,  That  after 
 f  seventy  years  be  accomplished  at  Babylon  I 
 will  visit  you,  and  perform  my  good  word  to- 
 ward you,  in  causing  you  to  return  to  this 
 place. 
 
 1 1  For  I  know  the  tlioughts  that  I  think  to- 
 ward you,  saitli  the  Lord,  thoughts  of  peace, 
 and  not  of  evil,  to  give  you  an  f  expected  end. 
 
 12  Then  shall  ye  ^  call  upon  me,  and  ye  shall 
 go  and  pray  unto  me,  and  I  will  hearken  unto 
 you. 
 
 13  And  *'ye  shall  seek  me,  and  find  wie,  when 
 ye  shall  search  for  me  '  with  all  your  heart. 
 
 14  And  ''I   will  be  found   of  you,  saith   the 
 
 Chat.  XXVIII.  —  6.  Amen — as  an  Israelite,  Jeremiah  wie^hed  it  might 
 be  as  Hananiah  predicted  ;  as  a  pro|)het,  he  knew  it  could  not  be  so. — 
 Gill.  Prophets — befure  me,  namely,  Joel,  Amos,  Hosea,  Micah,  Ze- 
 phaniah,  Nahum,  Habakkuk. — A.  Clarke.  10.  Went  his  way,  shew- 
 ing his  dissent,  and  returning  no  answer  till  he  had  received  one  from 
 the  Lord  himself.— Gi7/.  i:i.  Vukes  of  iron,  au  emblem  of  national 
 slavery,  {Deut.  x.wiii.  4S.)~Cal.  l6.  Rebellion,  to  disbelieve  God's 
 word.— Pee*.  Louth. 
 
 Chap.  XXIX.—  1.  Now,  §(■.— this  chapter  appears  to  follow  the  Slth, 
 being  the  second  of  those  delivered  in  the  early  part  of  Zedekiah's  reign. 
 Transpose  ver.  15,  and  place  it  before  21,  as  in  Sept.—Bla.  To  the 
 jirophets,  false  prophets,  as  the  Stjr. ;  for  we  read  only  of  one  true  pro- 
 phet that  was  carried  away  captive,  and  that  was  Ezekiel.  —  Gilt. 
 There  was  also  Daniel,  who  was  newly  entered  on  the  prophetical  office. 
 — Scott.  7.  Seek  the  peace  of  the  city,  and  use  no  premature  methods 
 to  emancipate  yourselves  before  God's  time. — Ed. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVIII.— L  False prophtts flatter. 
 Hananiah  was  so  set  upon  popular  favour  that  he  even  ven- 
 tured to  hazard  a  prediction  which  could  not  have  been  very 
 agreeable  to  Zedekiah — the  restoration   of  his   predecessor. 
 
 be  heard  with  indignation. 
 
 11.  True  prophets  use  plain  dealing.  When  souls  are  at  stake, 
 it  is  cruel  to  treat  them  as  in  sport,  and  to  cry  *  Peace,  peace, 
 where  there  is  no  peace.*     Christ's  gospel  must  be  delivered 
 
 To  prophesy  smooth  things  is  the  sure  way  to  gain  the  favour    in  his  own  words—'  he  that  believeth  shall  be  saved,  and  he 
 of  the  multitude  in  general.     A  smooth-tongued   Hananiah    that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned.' 
 would  be  heard  by  thousands,  where  a  faithful  Jeremiah  would 
 814 
 
Of  Ahab  and  Zedrhiah. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXX.  Jeremiah  shcum  the  return  oj  the  Jcii-s. 
 
 Lord  :  and  1  will  turn  away  your  captivity, 
 and  '  I  will  gather  you  from  all  the  nations, 
 and  from  all  tlie  places  whither  I  have  driven 
 you,  saith  the  Lord  ;  and  I  will  bring  you 
 again  into  the  place  %vhence  I  caused  you  to 
 be  carried  away  captive. 
 
 15  t  Because  ye  have  said.  The  Lord  hath 
 raised  us  up  prophets  in  Babylon  ; 
 
 16  Know  tliat  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  the 
 king  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne  of  David, 
 and  of  all  the  people  that  dwelleth  in  this  city, 
 and  of  your  brethren  that  are  not  gone  forth 
 with  you  into  captivity  ; 
 
 17  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  Behold,  I 
 will  send  upon  them  the  "sword,  the  famine, 
 and  the  pestilence,  and  will  make  them  like 
 "vile  figs,  that  cannot  be  eaten,  they  are  so 
 evil. 
 
 18  And  I  will  persecute  them  with  the  sword, 
 with  the  famine,  and  with  the  pestilence,  and 
 °  will  deliver  them  to  be  removed  to  all  the 
 kingdoms  of  the  earth,  fto  be  ""a  curse,  and  an 
 astonishment,  and  an  hissing,  and  a  reproach, 
 among  all  the  nations  whither  I  have  driven 
 them  : 
 
 19  Because  they  have  not  hearkened  to  my 
 words,  saith  the  Lord,  which  ''  I  sent  unto 
 tliem  by  my  servants  the  prophets,  rising  up 
 early  and  sending  them ;  but  ye  would  not 
 hear,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 20  II  Hear  ye  therefore  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
 all  ye  of  the  captivity,  whom  I  have  sent  from 
 Jerusalem  to  Babylon : 
 
 21  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel,  of  Ahab  the  sou  of  Kolaiah,  and  of  Ze- 
 dekiah  the  son  of  Maaseiah,  which  prophesy  a 
 lie  unto  you  in  my  name  ;  Behold,  I  will  de- 
 liver thern  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadrezzar 
 king  of  Babylon  ;  and  he  shall  slay  them  be- 
 fore your  eyes  ; 
 
 22  '  And  of  them  shall  be  taken  up  a  curse 
 by  all  the  captivity  of  Judah  which  are  in  Ba- 
 bylon, saying.  The  Lord  make  thee  like  Zede- 
 kiah  and  like  Ahab,  '  whom  the  king  of  Baby- 
 lon roasted  in  the  fire  ; 
 
 23  Because  '  they  have  committed  villany  in 
 Israel,  and  have  committed  adultery  with  their 
 neighbours' wives,  and  have  spoken  lying  words 
 in  my  name,  which  I  have  not  commanded 
 them  ;  even  I  know,  and  am  a  witness,  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 24  H  Thus  shalt  thou  also  speak  to  Shemaiah 
 the  II  Nehelamite,  saying, 
 
 25  Thus  speaketh  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the 
 God  of  Israel,  saying.  Because  thou  hast  sent 
 letters  in  thy  name  unto  all  the  people  that 
 are  at  Jerusalem,  "  and  to  Zephaniah  the  son 
 of  Maaseiah  the  priest,  and  to  all  the  priests, 
 saying, 
 
 .■h.  :i3.  3,8. 
 &  30.  3.  Ot 
 3.'.  37. 
 
 ^Deu  g8.?5 
 ■>Chr  2!'.  8 
 rh  15.  4.  & 
 21.  9.  &34 
 
 t  Heb  f;r  a 
 
 p  ch.  2^  6. 
 ch.  4:;.  18. 
 
 ,;  ch.  ■:'..  4. 
 &  S^  33. 
 
 ■  See  Gen. 
 
 1^.  211.  Is. 
 u5.  15. 
 
 (  Dan.  3.  6 
 (ch  23,  II. 
 
 I  Or, 
 dreamfr. 
 
 u  2  Kin.  25. 
 18.  cb.  21. 
 
 11.  Acta  26. 
 2-1. 
 2  cb    20.  2. 
 
 c  ch.  28.  le. 
 I  Heb. 
 
 1  ver.  19. 
 ch.  32.  41. 
 Eie.  39.  sr,. 
 Amo9  9.  14, 
 
 11  Or,  there 
 ia/eur,  o„d 
 lint  pence. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 a  male. 
 
 ccb.l.  SI. 
 &  6.  24. 
 
 <i  Joel2.  11. 
 
 31 
 
 Amos  5. 
 
 IH 
 
 Zeph,  1. 
 
 14 
 
 &c. 
 
 e  Dan.  12,  1, 
 
 26  The  Lord  hath  made  thee  priest  in  the 
 stead  of  Jehoiada  the  priest,  that  ye  should  be 
 '  officers  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  for  every 
 man  that  is  ''mad,  and  maketh  himself  a  pro- 
 phet, tliat  thou  shouldest  "put  him  in  prison, 
 and  in  tlie  stocks. 
 
 27  Now  therefore  why  hast  thou  not  reproved 
 Jeremiah  of  Aiiathoth,  which  maketh  himself  a 
 prophet  to  you? 
 
 28  For  therefore  he  sent  unto  us  in  Babylon, 
 saying.  This  captivity  is  long  r  '  build  ye 
 houses, and  dwell  in  them;  and  plant  gardens, 
 and  cat  the  fruit  of  them. 
 
 29  And  Zephaniah  tlie  priest  read  this  letter 
 in  the  ears  of  Jeremiah  the  prophet. 
 
 30  U  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Loed  untc 
 Jeremiah,  saying, 
 
 31  Send  to  all  them  of  the  captivity,  saying. 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord  concerning  Shemaiah  the 
 Nehelamite  ;  Because  that  Shemaiah  hath  pro- 
 phesied unto  you,  ''and  1  sent  him  not,  and  he 
 caused  you  to  trust  in  a  lie  : 
 
 3-2  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold, 
 1  will  punish  Shemaiah  the  Nehelamite,  and 
 his  seed  :  he  shall  not  have  a  man  to  dwell 
 among  this  people  ;  neither  shall  he  behold  the 
 good  that  I  will  do  for  my  people,  saith  the 
 Lord  ;  "  because  he  hath  taught  f  rebellion 
 against  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 I  God  shcweilt  Jereiniali  the  return  of  the  Jlws.  iAfttr 
 t.itir  trouhh  they  shall  have  deliverance.  10  J-Ic 
 comftirteth  J.ieoh.  17  Their  return  shall  be  graeiovs. 
 20    Wrath  shall  fall  on  the  wicked. 
 
 T^HE  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  the 
 -*-    Lord,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  speaketh  the  Lord  God  of  Israel, 
 saying,  Write  thee  all  the  words  that  I  have 
 spoken  unto  thee  in  a  book. 
 
 3  For,  lo,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
 that  "  I  will  bring  again  the  captivity  of  my 
 people  Israel  and  Judah, saith  the  Lord  :  ''and 
 I  will  cause  them  to  return  to  the  land  that  I 
 gave  to  their  fathers,  and  they  shall  possess  it. 
 
 4  If  And  these  are  the  words  that  the  Lord 
 spake  concerning  Israel  and  concerning  Judah. 
 
 5  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  We  have  heard 
 a  voice  of  trembling,  ||  of  fear,  and  not  of  peace. 
 
 6  Ask  ye  now,  and  see  whether  f  a  man  doth 
 travail  with  child  f  wherefore  do  I  see  every 
 man  with  his  hands  on  his  loins,  "  as  a  woman 
 in  travail,  and  all  faces  are  turned  into  pale- 
 ness? 
 
 7  ■'  Alas !  for  that  day  is  great,  *■  so  that  none 
 is  like  it  :  it  is  even  the  time  of  Jacob's  trou- 
 ble ;  but  he  shall  be  saved  out  of  it. 
 
 8  For  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  saith 
 the  Lord  of  hosts,  that  1  will  break  his  yoke 
 
 22.  Roasted,  ^c,  either  as  a  capital  punishment,  or  in  sacrifice  to  idols 
 — See  Pict.  Bib.  26.  Ttte  Lord  hath  made  thee  priest — Seraiah  is  said 
 to  have  been  the  chief  priest,  and  Zephaniah  the  second  priest,  when 
 Jerusalem  was  taken,  (chap.  lii.  24.)  The  second  priest  officiated  as 
 the  substitute  of  the  high  priest  in  case  of  absence  or  indisposition. 
 Jehoida  had,  perhaps,  been  remiss  in  duty. — Bla.  32.  Kot  have  a 
 man  to  dwelt,  no  posterity  to  succeed  him, — .4.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXX.  —  i.TAe  word,  ^c. — there  is  no  date  to  this  prophecy, 
 but  it  seems  immediately  to  have  followed  that  which  precedes  it,  and 
 loolcs  to  the  gospel  times. — Bla.    It  was  probably  penned  about  a  year 
 
 after  the  taking  of  Jerusalem. — Dahler,  so  Clarke.  2.  A  book,  1DD, 
 *  a  treatise'  or  '  discourse ;'  and  probably  signifies  this  and  the  next 
 chapter.  3.  The  days  cwrHe— first,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  seventy 
 years  ;  secondly,  under  the  Messiali.  Israel,  the  ten  tribes,  led  captive 
 by  the  king  of  Assyria,  and  dispersed  among  the  nations.  And  Judah, 
 the  people  carried  into  Babylon  at  two  different  times ;  first,  under  Je- 
 couiah  ;  and  secondly,  under  Zedekiah,  by  Nebuchadnezzar. — Clarke. 
 6.  See  whether  a  man  doth  travail,  '  the  voice  1  hear  more  resembles 
 that  of  a  woman  in  extreme  pains  than  of  a  stout-hearted  man.'  7.  /* 
 great,  for  sorrow  and  distress. — Gilt,  Bla,    Jacob's  trouble,  the  poste- 
 
 Ueflections  on  Chap.  XXIX.  —  I.  Letter  writing  may  be  employing  our  pens,  where  we  either  have  not  the  courage  or 
 
 employed  for  the  most  useful  purposes  :  To  strengthen  the  faith,  the  opportunity  of  employing  our  tongues, 
 
 excite  the  hope,  and  encourage  the  patience  of  afflicted  be-  II.  Letter  writino  may  be  employed  for  tlie  most  evil  purposes  : 
 
 lievers,  as  well  as  to  warn  sinners  against  the  wrath  to  come.  But  wo  to  them  wto  use  this  art  to  corrupt  the  minds  of  their 
 
 It  is  to  be  feared  we  too  often  lose  this  opportunity  of  usefully  fellow-creatures,  and  thus  to  lead  them  to  destruction. 
 815 
 
God's  promises  to  Jacob, 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXI. 
 
 Wrath  shall  fall  on  the  wicked. 
 
 from  off  thy  neck,  and  will  burst  thy  bonds, 
 and  strangers  shall  no  more  serve  themselves 
 of  him  ; 
 
 9  But  they  shall  serve  the  Lord  their  God, 
 and  '  David  their  king,  whom  I  will  ^  raise  up 
 unto  them. 
 
 10  IT  Therefore  "^fear  thou  not,  O  my  servant 
 Jacob,  saith   the  Lord  ;  neither  be  dismayed, 
 
 0  Israel :  for,  lo,  I  will  save  thee  from  afar,  and 
 thy  seed  '  from  the  land  of  their  captivity  ;  and 
 Jacob  shall  return,  and  shall  be  in  rest,  and  be 
 quiet,  and  none  shall  make  him  afraid. 
 
 11  For  I  am  with  thee,  saith  the  Lord,  to 
 save  thee:  ^  though  I  make  a  full  end  of  all 
 nations  whither  1  have  scattered  thee,  'yet 
 will  I  not  make  a  full  end  of  thee  :  but  I  will 
 correct  thee  "'in  measure,  and  will  not  leave 
 thee  altogether  unpunished. 
 
 12  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  "  Thy  bruise  is 
 incurable,  ajid  thy  wound  is  grievous. 
 
 13  There  is  none  to  plead  thy  cause,  f  that 
 thou  mayest  be  bound  up  :  **  thou  hast  no  heal- 
 ing medicines, 
 
 14  **  All  thy  lovers  have  forgotten  thee  ;  they 
 seek  thee  not  ;  for  I  have  wounded  thee  with 
 the  wound  "^  of  an  enemy,  with  the  chastise- 
 ment '  of  a  cruel  one,  for  the  multitude  of  thine 
 iniquity;   ^  bccnnsp.  thy  sins  were  increased. 
 
 15  Why  *  criest  tliou  for  tiiine  affliction  ?  thy 
 sorrow  is  incurable  for  the  multitude  of  thine 
 iniquity  :  because  thy  sins  were  increased,  I 
 have  done  these  things  unto  thee. 
 
 16  Therefore  all  tliey  that  devour  thee  "shall 
 be  devoured  ;  and  all  thine  adversaries,  every 
 one  of  them,  shall  go  into  captivity  ;  and  they 
 that  spoil  thee  shall  be  a  spoil,  and  all  that 
 prey  upon  thee  will  I  give  for  a  prey. 
 
 17  ^  For  I  will  restore  health  unto  thee,  and 
 
 1  will  heal  thee  of  thy  wounds,  saith  the  Lord  ; 
 because  they  called  thee  an  Outcast,  saying^ 
 This  is  Zion,  whom  no  man  seeketh  after. 
 
 18  1  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  M  will 
 bring  again  the  captivity  of  Jacob's  tents,  and| 
 
 /Is.  55.  3,4. 
 
 Eze.  31.  -23. 
 
 &  37.  S4.. 
 
 Ho3.  H  5. 
 J  Luke  1   69. 
 
 Ads  2.  30. 
 
 &  13.  23 
 h  Ig.  41.  13. 
 
 &  'kl.  £    & 
 
 44- S.  ch.46. 
 
 37,  28. 
 i  Ch.  3.  19. 
 
 k  Amos  9.  8. 
 I  ch.  4.  27. 
 
 m  Pb.  6.  I. 
 
 Is.  27.  8. 
 
 ch.  10.  21. 
 
 «(46.  29. 
 n  g  Clir.  36. 
 
 16.  cb.  15. 
 
 t  Heb.  for 
 
 or,  J'retiing 
 o  Ch.  8.  S:^. 
 
 p  LatD.  1.  2. 
 
 q  J.ib  13.  24. 
 
 ft  10.  9.  U 
 
 19.  II. 
 f- Job  30  21. 
 (  ch.  5.  6. 
 t  Ch.  15.  19. 
 
 »-  Er.  23.  ea 
 
 Is.  33    1.  & 
 41.  II. 
 ch.  10.  25. 
 
 cir.  6u6. 
 
 z  Ps.  \02.Vi. 
 11  Or.  littU 
 
 hill. 
 a  Is   35.  10. 
 
 &  51.  11. 
 
 ch.Sl.4,  12, 
 
 13.  &  33.  10, 
 
 n. 
 
 ft  Zech.  lO.fl. 
 
 rf  Gen.  49. 10. 
 cNuin.  16.  5. 
 
 fch.  24  7. 
 
 &3I.  1.3;i. 
 
 &  32.  28. 
 
 Eze.  n.  20. 
 
 &  SO.  Sfl.  St 
 
 37.  :;7. 
 i?ch.  23.  19, 
 
 20.  9t  25. 32. 
 
 I  Heb.  cut- 
 
 I  Or.  remain. 
 
 1  ch.  SO.  24, 
 *  cb.  30.  22. 
 
 c  N«.  10.  ?a, 
 Den  1.33. 
 Ps.  05.  1 1 . 
 Is.  63.  I'l. 
 
 *  have  mercy  on  his  dwelling-places  ;  and  the 
 city  shall  be  builded  upon  her  own  ||heap,  and 
 the  palace  sliall  remain  afterthe  manner  thereof. 
 
 19  And  "out  of  them  shall  proceed  thanks- 
 giving and  the  voice  of  them  that  make  merry  : 
 "and  I  will  multiply  them,  and  they  shall  not 
 be  few  ;  I  will  also  glorify  them,  and  they  shall 
 not  he  small. 
 
 20  Their  children  also  shall  be  *"  as  aforetime, 
 and  their  congregation  shall  be  established 
 before  me,  and  I  will  punish  all  that  oppress 
 them. 
 
 21  And  their  nobles  shall  be  of  themselves, 
 ^  and  their  governor  shall  proceed  from  the 
 midst  of  them  ;  and  I  will  ^  cause  him  to  draw 
 near,  and  he  shall  approach  unto  me  :  for  who 
 is  this  that  engaged  bis  heart  to  approach  unto 
 me  ?  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 22  And  ye  shall  be  ""my  people,  and  I  will 
 be  your  God. 
 
 2S  Behold,  the  ^whirlwind  of  the  LoRDgoeth 
 forth  with  fury,  a  f  continuing  whirlwind  :  it 
 shall  II  fall  with  pain  upon  the  head  of  the 
 wicked. 
 
 24  The  fierce  anger  of  the  Lord  shall  not  re- 
 turn, until  he  have  done  it,  and  until  he  have 
 performed  the  intents  of  his  heart:  "^in  the 
 latter  days  ye  shall  consider  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 1  The  restoration  of  Israel.  '[O  The  publication  thereof 
 15  Bahtl  inournijig  is  comforted.  18  Ephraim  re- 
 penting is  hrouyht  home  again.  22  Christ  is  pro- 
 mised. 27  His  care,  over  the  church.  31  His  new  co- 
 venant. 35  The  stability,  38  and  aynpUtude  of  the 
 church. 
 
 A  T  '''the  same  time,  saith  tlie  Lord,  ^'  will  I 
 -^*-  be  the  God  of  all  the  families  of  Israel, 
 and  they  shall  be  my  people. 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  The  people  xckicfi 
 were  left  of  the  sword  found  grace  in  the  wil- 
 derness ;  even  Israel,  when  ^  I  went  to  cause 
 him  to  rest. 
 
 rity  of  Jacob.— So  Foole.  8.  Off  thy  neck,  rather  'his  neck,*  for 
 Jacob  is  still  spoken  oi.—Bla.  Serve  themselves  of  him,  rather  '  exact 
 service  of  him.'— Hew.  Q.  David  their  king,  i.e.,  the  Messiah,  often 
 so  called,  as  the  person  in  whom  all  the  promises  to  David  were  to  be 
 fulfilled,  (see  Isa.  Iv.  3,  4  ;  Ezek.  xxxiv.  23  ;  xxxvii.  24  ;  Hos.  iii.  5.) — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  This  prophecy  remains  to  be  fulfilled  in  the  latter  clays, 
 under  the  reign  of  the  Messiah,  emphatically  distinguished  by  the  name 
 of  David.  When  the  Jews  returned  from  Babylon,  they  had  indeed  a 
 leader,  Zerubbabcl,  one  of  their  own  nation,  and  of  the  family  of  David, 
 but  both  in  a  state  of  vassalage  to  the  Persian  monarchy.  And  when 
 the  Greek  monarchy  succeeded,  they  were  in  the  like  condition.  At 
 last,  ihcy  felt  under  the  Roman  yoke  ;  since  whicli  time  their  situation 
 aftords  not  the  least  ground  to  pretend  that  the  promised  restoration 
 has  yet  taken  place.— B/a.  ll.  Though  I  make  a  full  end,  ^c— the 
 
 empires  of  Assyria,  Persia,  Greece,  and  Rome,  arc  all  vanished,  whilst 
 this  little  despised  people,  oppressed,  persecuted,  harassed  always  by 
 edicts  and  executioners,  by  murders  and  massacres,  hath  outlived  the 
 very  ruins  of  them  all. — Bp.  Hor^ie.  And  will  not  leave  thee  altogether 
 unpunished,  'in  destroying,  I  will  not  destroy  thee,'  i.e.,  not  utterly 
 destroy  thee,  so  Targ.  12.  Thy  hruise  is  iju-urable,  ^c,  in  all  human 
 appearance  J  a  metaphor  taken  from  a  body  wounded  and  bruised  in 
 such  a  manner  as  to  be  past  the  skill  of  the  most  able  surgeon  to  cure 
 it.— GiV^  inSN  rather  signifies  '  desperate,'  not  incurable,  fnr  the  cure 
 is  promised,  (ver.  \7.)~Clarke.  'Though  thou  shalt  be  restored,  yet 
 not  so  as  to  have  a  king  of  David's  line;  thy  hope  is  in  Christ  alone.' 
 -—Sut.  14.  Thy  loi'ers,  probably  meaning  the  Egyptians  and  Assy- 
 rians, whose  aid  Israel  oftqn  obtained.— Poo/e.  The  wound  of  an 
 enemy,  severely.— Sd.        15.  CHest  thou,  '  complaioest  thou.'— Poo^e. 
 
 i6.  There/ore, '  yet  R\irc\y.^— Preb.  Lnwth.  *  Afterwards.*— B/a.  'Yet.' 
 —Boothr.  They  that  devour  thee,  the  Chaldeans.  Sftall  be  devoured, 
 by  the  Medcs  and  Persians.  All  that  pre;/  upon  thee  will  I  give  for  a 
 prey,  the  Assyrians  to  the  Babylonians ;  the  Babylonians  to  the 
 Medes  and  Persians;  the  Egyptians  and  Persians  to  the  Greeks, 
 under  Alexander. — Clarke.  18.  City,  Jeru'-alem,  generally  under- 
 stood, hut  it  may  mean  all  the  cities;  singular  is  often  put  for  plural. 
 21.  Of  themselves,  *his  prince  shall  be  of  his  own  race,'  no  foreigners 
 shall  govern  them.  —  So  Blayney.  ITIN.  *his  Nnble  One.'  —  Mont. 
 •Jacob's  Noble  One,'  the  Messiah,  —  fii7/ ;  or  'Mighty  One.*  To 
 draw  near,  he  shall  be  a  priest  as  well  as  a  king.  —  Preb.  Lowth. 
 For  ivho  is  this  that  engaged  his  heart?  ^c,  'who  is  he  that  durst 
 venture  to  approach  me  V — Mirh.  'Who  is  he  that,  of  his  own  accord, 
 is  wont  to  approach  me?' — Dathe.  The  sense  i^,  '  who  is  he  that  hath 
 engaged  wirh  his  heart,  without  Divine  influence,  thus  to  obey  and 
 serve  God  ?' — Boothr.  '  Who  is  here  but  the  Messiah  that  is  so  entirely 
 devoted  to  my  service?'  (see  Ps.  xl.  8  ;  John,  iv.  34;  xiv.  31.) — Preb. 
 Lowth.  23.  Whirlwind  of  the  Lord,  his  wrath,  sudden  and  strong. 
 24.  Dane  it,  his  whole  will  and  pleasure;  brought  Babylon  to  ruin, 
 and  destroyed  all  the  anti-christian  powers.- G(7^  Latter  days,  gene- 
 rally  signifies  the  times  under  the  Gospel. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Cii.\p.  XXXI.  —  1.  ^^  that  /i»ie— the  predictions  here  certainly  relate 
 to  the  future  restoration  of  Israel  to  their  own  land  ;  for  many  circum- 
 stances are  pointed  out  which  certainly  were  not  fulfilled  at  the  return 
 of  the  Jews  from  the  Babylonish  captivity,  nor  have  they  hitherto  had 
 their  completion.— i)/«.  All  the  families,  the  ten  tribes  shallhe  brouglit 
 back  as  wed  as  their  brethren  the  Jews.— C/ar^i?.  2.  Found  grace  in 
 the  wilderness — the  Israelites,  as  a  body,  were  saved  from  that  terrible 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXX. —  I.  What  a  standing  miracle 
 is  the  Jewish  nation  !  Like  the  bush  of  Moses,  it  bas  been 
 burned,  but  not  consumed.  What  a  proof  of  tbe  truth  of  pro- 
 phecy !  What  need  is  there  for  tbe  infidel's  required  signs 
 written  on  the  face  of  the  heavens?  If  be  cannot  read  tbe 
 truth  of  revelation  in  tbe  face  of  a  Jew,  neither  will  be  be  per- 
 suaded '  though  one  rose  from  tbe  dead.' 
 
 11.  What  a  stntiding  warnittg  against  sin  is  the  Jewish  nation  ! 
 When  we  see  a  iey^,  can  we  forget  the  sufferings  of  bis  fathers 
 816 
 
 in  ages  past,  because  they  departed  from  tbeir  God  ?  and  can 
 we  behold  their  scattered  and  forlorn  condition  now  without 
 remembering  that  they  have  rejeeled  the  Messiah,  and  mani- 
 fested disobedience  towards  God,  and  disloyalty  towards 
 David,  their  king  ?  But  tliey  shall  yet  serve  the  Lord  and 
 David  their  king.  O  may  the  glory  of  •  tbe  latter  days' 
 speedi-ly  burst  upon  them,  and  ievf  and  Gentile  become  '  on© 
 fold  under  one  Shepherd  !' 
 
The  restoration 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXI. 
 
 of  Israel  forcsttewn. 
 
 3  The  Lord  liath  appeared  f  of  old  unlo  me. 
 sayinrfj  Yea,  •'!  have  loved  thee  with  *^an  ever- 
 lasting; love:  therefore  |{  with  loviiigkindiicss 
 have  I  '"drawn  thee. 
 
 4  Again  ^I  will  build  tliee,  and  thou  shalt  be 
 Ijiiilt,  O  virgin  of  Israel  :  thou  shalt  again  be 
 adorned  with  thy  ''  ||tabrots,  and  shalt  go  forth 
 in  the  dances  of  them  that  make  merry. 
 
 5  '  Tiiou  shalt  yet  plant  vines  u))on  the 
 mountains  of  Samaria  :  tlie  planters  shall  plant, 
 and  slinll  f  cat  them  as  common  things. 
 
 6  Tor  there  shall  he  a  (hiy,  that  the  watch- 
 men upon  the  mount  Ephraini  shall  cry,  '^  Arise 
 ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  Zion  unto  the  Loun 
 our  God. 
 
 7  For  thus  saitli  the  Lord;  '  Sing  witli  glad- 
 ness for  Jacob,  and  shout  among  the  chief  oi 
 the  nations  :  publish  ye,  praise  ye,  and  say,  O 
 Lord,  save  thy  people,  the  renniant  of  Israel. 
 
 8  Beliold,  I  will  bring  them  "^  from  the  north 
 country,  and  "gather  them  from  the  coasts  of 
 the  earth,  and  with  them  the  bUnd  and  the 
 lame,  the  woman  with  child  and  licr  that  tra- 
 vaileth  with  child  together  :  a  great  company 
 shall  return  thither. 
 
 0  "  Tliey  sljall  come  with  weeping,  and  with 
 11  supplications  will  1  lead  them  :  I  will  cause 
 them  to  walk  ''by  the  rivers  of  waters  in  a 
 straight  w"ay,  wherein  they  shall  not  stumble  : 
 for  1  am  a  father  to  Israel,  and  Ephraim  is  my 
 "^  firstborn. 
 
 10  t  Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  O  ye  na- 
 tions, and  declare  it  in  the  isles  afar  off,  and 
 say,  He  that  scattered  Israel  '' will  gather  him, 
 and  keep  him,  as  a  shepherd  doth  his  flock. 
 
 1  I  I'^or  ^  tlie  LoRohatli  redeemed  Jacob,  and 
 ransomed  him  *  from  the  hand  of  him  that  was 
 stronger  tlian  he. 
 
 12  Therefore  they  shall  come  and  sing  in 
 "  the  height  of  Zion,  and  shall  flow  together  to 
 ''  the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  for  wheat,  and  for 
 wine,  and  for  oil,  and  for  the  young  of  the 
 
 Lt.  C. 
 rir.  1)06. 
 
 t  iliib.  from 
 afHT. 
 d  Mai.  1.  S. 
 e  Rom.  n. 
 
 29,  29. 
 II  Of,  have  I 
 
 fxifiiiled 
 
 l'.vit,gki>id- 
 
 neit  uiiiti 
 
 thee. 
 /Hos.   11.4 
 jch.3;!.  7. 
 li  V.-i.   15.  20. 
 
 \H  Mil  a 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 Ihohreh- 
 t   Is.  Wb.  t>], 
 
 Amos  9.  r.|. 
 t  »cb.  pra. 
 
 fniic  lliem. 
 
 IH-u.  20.  C. 
 
 &  as.  ao. 
 
 h  h:  2.  3. 
 
 Mic.  ■!,  2. 
 t  Is.  12.6,0. 
 
 n  Vs.  120.  5, 
 6.  cli.  50.1. 
 il  Or, 
 
 Zfcli   12  10 
 p  Is.  S5   8. 
 B{  \X  ID.  ^i 
 -19.  10,  II. 
 7  Es.  4.  22. 
 
 s  la.  11.  2;l. 
 &  48,  20, 
 /  In.  49.  24, 
 
 u  Ezek.  17. 
 2.4.  &  20  10. 
 .r  Hos.  S.  5 
 
 y  la.  5H    II. 
 :  Is.  -So.  10. 
 
 *e  05.  I 'J. 
 
 ll«^'.  21.  1. 
 
 n  M,it  '3.   17, 
 
 IS. 
 l>  J.isli     18 
 
 g  Pcu.  32.30 
 lE  C3.  15. 
 Hos.  11.8. 
 (  Heb.Kiwnri, 
 A  Is.  57.  IS. 
 Hos.  1 1.  4. 
 
 .  cli.  50.  h. 
 
 and   their  soul  shall 
 '^  and  they  shall  not 
 
 flock  and  of  the  herd  : 
 be  as  a  ^  watered  garden 
 sorrow  any  more  at  all. 
 
 13  Then  shall  the  virgin  rejoice  in  the  dance, 
 both  young  men  and  old  together  :  for  I  will 
 turn  tiieir  mourning  into  joy,  and  will  comfort 
 them,  and  make  them  rejoice  from  iheir  sorrow. 
 
 14  And  I  will  satiate  the  soul  of  the  priests 
 with  fatness,  and  my  people  shall  be  satisfied 
 with  my  goodness,  saith  the  Luud. 
 
 15  t  Thus  saith  the  Loud;  ""A  voice  was 
 heard  in  ^  Ramah,  lamentation,  and  bitter 
 weeping ;  Rahel  weeping  for  her  children  re- 
 fused to  be  comforted  for  her  children,  because 
 ''  they  tccrc  not. 
 
 16  Thus  .saith  the  Lord  ;  Refrain  thy  voice 
 from  weeping,  and  thine  eyes  from  tears  :  for 
 thy  work  shall  be  rewarded,  saith  the  Lord  ; 
 and  ''  they  shall  come  again  from  the  land  of 
 the  enemy. 
 
 17  And  there  is  hope  in  thine  end,  saith  the 
 Lord,  that  thy  children  shall  come  again  to 
 their  own  border. 
 
 18  1 1  have  surely  heard  Ephraim  bemoaning 
 himself ///».s  ;  Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and  l 
 w\as  chastised,  as  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to 
 the  yoke  :  "  turn  thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned  ; 
 for  thou  art  the  Lord  my  God. 
 
 19  Surely  *"  after  that  I  was  turned,  1  repented  ; 
 and  after  that  I  was  instructed,  1  smote  upon 
 my  thigh  ;  I  was  ashamed,  yea,  even  con- 
 founded, because  I  did  bear  the  reproach  of 
 my  youth. 
 
 20  Is  Ephraim  my  dear  son?  is  he  a  pleasant 
 child  ?  for  since  I  spake  against  him,  1  do  ear- 
 nestly remember  him  still:  ^  therefore  my 
 bowels  fare  troubled  for  him  ;  ^  I  will  surely 
 have  mercy  upon  him,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 21  Set  thee  up  way  marks,  make  thee  high 
 heaps:  ^set  thine  heart  toward  the  highway, 
 even  the  way  icJiich  thou  wentest :  turn  again, 
 O  virgin  of  Israel,  turn  again  to  these  thy  cities. 
 
 (Icstructinn  designed  against  them  by  thcii"  persccntnrs,  Pharanh.  the 
 Ainalekitcs,  ami  Amorites, — Pivb.  Lowth.  Tliough  sonic,  for  their 
 J^ins,  were  cut  off,  (Exod.  xvii.  8.) — Poole.  Israrl,whe?l  1  went  to  cause 
 him  to  rest,  *  Israel  marched  on  towards  his  rest.* — lioothr.  3.  Unto 
 7IU',  Spoken  in  the  person  of  tlic  Jcwi.sh  nation.  With  fin  everlasting 
 tin;;  the  nicrcics  I  prnmiscd  you  when  I  made  the  covenant  with  juur 
 f;dhers  shall  never  fail. — Preh.  Loivfh.  4.  Virgin — the  people  of  the 
 ra  t  metaphnrically  ascribe  the  character  of  females  to  cities. — Jithn. 
 Of  Israel — Israel,  so  called  in  relation  to  the  words  which  follow,  vir- 
 gins being  accnstomed  to  dance  in  the  time  of  mirth  and  jollity,  (I  Sam. 
 xviii.  6;  Exod.  XV.  20  ;  Judg.  x,'\.  M.)— Poole.  The  nation  was  con- 
 sidered as  a  betrothed  virgin,  and  instead  of  mourning  as  she  had  done, 
 (chap,  vii,  .31  ;  xxv.  10,)  like  one  deserted  and  desolate,  she  should  be 
 adorned  with  festive  garments,  and  express  her  gladness  by  the  tokens 
 usual  on  such  occasions. — Scott.  The  Israelites  in  gi.  neral  are  meant ; 
 now  called  *  virgin'  because  restored  to  their  ancient  purity.  5.  Plant 
 vines  upon  the  mountains  —  the  mountains  of  Samaria  pioduced  good 
 vines,  (Judg.  ix.  27;)  hence  the  men  of  Ephraim  were  too  much  ad- 
 dicted to  wine,  fisa.  xxviii,  I;  Hos.  x.  I.) — Cal.  Of  Smnaria,  the 
 regal  city  of  the  Israelite;,  as  Jerusalem  of  the  Jews, — A.  Clarke.  As 
 cnmmon  t/tinff.i,  alludes  to  the  law  that  forbade  the  fruit  of  any  young 
 trees  to  be  eaten  till  the  flftli  year  of  bearing,  when  the  fruit  was  iawful 
 or  '  common*  for  every  one  to  cat,  (sec  Dent.  xx.  6  ;  xxviii.  30,  joflr/r) 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  6.  Watchmen,  'prophets.'  Let  us  f^o,  Israelites 
 and  Jews  join  together. — A.  Clarke.  7.  Chief  of  the  7iations,  'Jacob 
 or  Israel,'  so  calkd  from  their  pre-eminence  as  God's  peculiar  people. 
 — Itlu.  8.  North  country,  'Babylon.'  Coasts  of  the  earth,  parts  far 
 distant  from  Palestine.  The  ten  tribes  were  carrieil  away,  partly  into 
 Assyria,  by  Tlglath-Pileser,  and  partly  into  Mesopotamia  and  Media, 
 by  Shalmancscr,  (2  Kings,  xv.  2f) ;  xvii.  6.)— A.  Clarke.  Blind  and 
 /time,  the  most  feeble  ar)d  indigent.  p.  Weeping,  tears  of  repentance. 
 —Preb.  Lowth.  Ihj  the  riocrs  of  waters,  they  shall  find  streams  in 
 their  journey  through  the  arid  deserts. — Clarice.  Shall  nut  stumhlc, 
 have  no  rough  w.iya.—  Poole.  Ep/u-aim,  being  the  most  considerable, 
 this  tribe  is  often  put  for  the  whole  ten. — So  Clarke.  Firstborn,  so 
 <!od  anciently  called  the  Jews,  being  the  first  of  all  nations  whom  God 
 owned  and  took  into  covenant,  (Exod.  iv.  22.)~Poole.  11.  Frojn  the 
 ii  md,  $fc.,  typical  of  Christ's  redemption,  (see  Matt.  xii.  29  ;  Luke,  xi. 
 21,  21.)— Preb.  Lowth.  12.  Shalt  Jluw  together,  may  refer  to  their 
 assembling  at  the  three  great  national  feasts— the  pnssovor,  pentecust, 
 and  tabernaolc=. — A.  Clarke.  Tu  the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  for  wheat, 
 817 
 
 fyc,  should  they  come  to  beg  of  God  good  things  on  account  of  his 
 goodness,  such  as  corn,  fkc.—Poole.  Spiritual  blessings  are  described 
 nnilcr  the  emblems  of  frmtfuUiess  and  pletdy.— i'rci.  Lowth.  Soul— 
 hcif  not  to  be  taken  for  the  spiritual  part,  but  the  whole  man.  As  a 
 wafereil  garden,  a  beautifid,  flourishing,  growing  people.— P(/o/(?.  I'hey 
 sliall  be  full  of  the  Ught,  life,  and  power  of  God.— .4.  Clarke.  15.  Jtn- 
 njrt/j—wc  learn,  cliap.  xl.  l.tbat  Nebnzar-adan  hail  tiie  captives  col- 
 lected at  Rani:ih,  in  chains,  before  he  marched  them  off  for  Babylon.— 
 Picl.  Bib.  'I  liere  were  several  towns  called  Kamah ;  the  town  here  in 
 tended  was  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  about  six  or  seveu  miles  from 
 Jerusalem:  near  this  Raclicl  was  buried.  By  a  heavitiful  figure  of 
 poetry,  she  is  represented  as  come  oi't  of  her  grave,  and  lamenting 
 bitterly  the  loss  other  slain  and  eaptivi-  cliildren.  The  Evangelist  ap- 
 plies these  words  to  Herod's  massacre  at  Bethlehem,  (Matt.  ii.  17,  !«■) 
 —Bin.  This  figurative  representation  was,  in  a  great  measure,  liter- 
 ally true,  when  Herod  slew  the  children.  Many  other  instances  occur 
 where  the  mystical  sense  of  the  prophecies,  or  that  which  relates  to  the 
 times  of  the  Gospel,  is  the  interpretation  that  most  exactly  answers 
 the  iiaturtil  and  general  import  of  the  word.— Prt'fi.  Lowth.  The  words 
 are  suitable  to  the  occasion,  and  therefore  St.  Matthew  so  applict  tht-m, 
 but  tiicy  are  not  a  prediction  of  that  event.— .4.  Clarke.  I6.  Thi/  work 
 shall  be  rewariled—Uer  sorrow  and  labour  in  bearing  and  bringing 
 up  her  cliildren  should  not  be  lost,  as  the  scattered  would  come  again 
 to  their  own  land.— Scott.  17.  In  thine  end,  "Tn'"int*7,  'for  thy  pos- 
 
 terity.'—G.(^,  Schm.,  Preb.  Lowth.  Shall  come' again— this  was  par- 
 ticularly fulfilled  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  when  they  returned  under 
 C}T\is.— Preh.  Lowth.  Their  niass.icred  children  should  arise  and  enjoy 
 a  glorious  immortality  ;  or  stand  on  that  very  spot  where  their  hloori 
 was  spilt,  and  enjoy  tlic  New  Jerusalem  state.— So  Gill.  I8.  Eph- 
 raim, the  ten  tribes,  or  rather  those  of  tlie  twelve  tiibes  that  feared  the 
 l.oTd.— Poole.  As  a  bullock,  *  I  was  as  a  wild  young  bullock  unaccus- 
 tomed to  the  yoke  ;  but  now  tliou  hast  caused  me  to  stoop  unto  it.'— 
 Bp.  IJall.  19.  Smote  upon  nvi  thigh,  the  people  of  the  east,  when  in 
 sorrow,  still  smite  upon  their  th'igli.— iioi.  The  reproach  of  my  ijoutti, 
 the  burden  of  my  former  sins  lay  heavy  upon  my  mind.  20.  Is  Eph- 
 raim my  dear  sun?  the  sense  is,  '  Is  not  Ephraim  my  dear  son?*  Is  he 
 nut  a  pleasant  child?  one  on  whom  I  have  set  my  affections,  like  a 
 tender  parent.  For  since  I  spake,  ^c,  '  ever  since  I  have  so  severely 
 re,iroved  and  chasti.sed  him,  I  have  still  retained  for  him  a  fatheily 
 kindness.*— Pi'ffi.  Luwth.  21.  Way  marks— high  heapr.,  stone  pillars 
 and  tall  poles  setup  in  the  road'^.at  certain  distances,  for  the  traveller's 
 
Christ  is  promiscrf. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXT. 
 
 His  neiv  covenant. 
 
 2'2  H  How  lont;  wilt  tlion  ''go  about,  O  thou 
 '  back-sliLling  daughter?  for  the  Lord  hatli 
 created  a  new  thing  hi  the  earth,  A  woman  shall 
 compass  a  man. 
 
 23  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel  ;  As  yet  they  shall  use  this  speech  in 
 the  land  of  Jndali  and  in  the  cities  thereof, 
 when  I  shall  hx\u<^  atrain  their  captivity  ;  "'  the 
 Lord  bless  thee,  O  habitation  of  justice,  and 
 "  mountain  of  holiness. 
 
 24  And  there  shall  dwell  in  Judah  itself,  and 
 °in  all  the  cities  thereof  together,  husband- 
 men, and  they  that  go  forth  witli  flocks. 
 
 25  For   I  have  satiated   the  weary  soul,  and 
 
 I  liave  replenished  every  sorrowful  soul. 
 
 26  Upon  this  I  awaked,  and  beheld  ;  and  my 
 sleep  was  sweet  unto  me. 
 
 27  IT  Beiiold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
 that  ^  I  will  sow  the  house  of  Israel  and  the 
 house  of  Judah  with  the  seed  of  man,  and  with 
 the  seed  of  beast. 
 
 28  And  it  shall  come  to  pas«:,  that  like  as  I 
 have '^  watched  over  them,  '"to  pluck  up,  and 
 to  break  down,  and  to  throw  down,  and  to  de- 
 stroy, and  to  afflict;  so  will  I  watch  over  them, 
 '  to  build,  and  to  plant,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 29  *  In  those  days  they  shall  say  no  more, 
 Tiie  fathers  have  eaten  a  sour  grape,  and  the 
 children's  teeth  are  set  on  edge. 
 
 30  "  But  every  one  shall  die  for  his  own  ini- 
 quity :  every  man  that  eateth  the  sour  grape, 
 his  teeth  shall  be  set  on  edge. 
 
 31  IT  Behold,  the  ^  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
 that  1  will  make  a  new  covenant  with  the  house 
 of  Israel,  and  with  the  house  of  Judah  : 
 
 32  Not  according  to  the  covenant  that  I 
 made  with  their  fathers  in  the  d^y  that  ^  I  took 
 them  by  the  liand  to  bring  tliem  out  of  the 
 land  of  Egypt  ;  which  my  covenant  they  brake, 
 
 II  although  I  was  an  husband  unto  them,  saith 
 tlie  Lord  : 
 
 2S,  36. 
 I  ch.  3.  G,  S. 
 
 II  Ps.  122.  5, 
 6,  7,  8.  Is. 
 I.  26. 
 
 p  Exck.  36. 
 0,  lu,  II. 
 Hos.  a.  23. 
 Zcch.  II).  9. 
 
 7  Ph.  4-1  27 
 r  oh.  1.  10. 
 &  18.  7. 
 
 r  EzeK.  19. 
 2,3. 
 
 X  ch.  32.  40. 
 (t  33.  14. 
 Kip.  37-  2tV 
 Hob.  B.  9— 
 12.  Sc  10.16, 
 17. 
 
 1/  Dcu.  I.  31. 
 
 I  Or,  ihofild 
 I  A.iPfl  cow 
 tUued  an 
 hinbanduntc 
 them  9 
 
 X  ch.  32.  40. 
 
 1  Pa.  4.'i.  S. 
 Eie.  II.  19, 
 211  fi  36  26, 
 27-  2  Coi-.3. 
 
 a. 
 
 b  ch.  24.  7. 
 &  30,  22.  & 
 32.  38. 
 
 c  Is.  5*.  13. 
 
 John  G.  45. 
 
 1  Cor.  2.  10. 
 
 IJohn2.2u 
 i  ch.  j.^,  S, 
 
 St  5(1.  20. 
 
 aiic.  7.  IS 
 
 Acts  10.  J3. 
 
 fc  13    30. 
 
 Rom,  11.27 
 «  Ge».  I.  1(> 
 
 1*8.72.  5.17. 
 
 &  89   2.  Sli, 
 
 37,  &  119. 
 
 SO, 
 /Is.  51.  15 
 ^  ch,  10.  16. 
 
 h  Pa.  1 18,  6. 
 
 Is.  5.).  n.  lu. 
 
 ch   .I;),  so. 
 
 k  Neh.  3    1. 
 Zech.ll,  10. 
 
 \  EipU   40.  9. 
 Zech.  2.  I. 
 
 .1  SClir.  S3. 
 13.  Neh.  3. 
 
 33  ''  But  this  shall  he  tlie  covenant  tliat  I  will 
 make  with  the  house  of  Israel  ;  After  those 
 days,  saith  the  Lord,  "  I  will  put  my  law  in 
 their  inward  parts,  and  write  it  in  their  hearts  ; 
 •^and  will  be  ttieir  God,  and  they  shall  be  my 
 people. 
 
 34  And  they  shall  teach  no  more  every  man 
 his  neighbour,  and  every  man  his  brother,  say- 
 ing. Know  the  Lord  :  for  ^  they  shall  all  know 
 me,  from  the  least  of  them  unto  tlie  greatest 
 of  them,  saith  the  Lord  :  for  "^  I  will  forgive 
 their  iniquity,  and  I  will  remember  their  sin  no 
 more. 
 
 3o  IT  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  °  which  giveth  tlie 
 sun  for  a  liglit  by  day,  and  the  ordinances  of 
 the  moon  and  of  the  stars  for  a  light  by  night, 
 which  divideth  ^  the  sea  when  the  waves 
 thereof  roar,  ^  The  Lord  of  hosts  is  his 
 name  : 
 
 36  ^  If  those  ordinances  depart  from  before 
 me,  saith  the  Lord,  then  the  seed  of  Israel 
 also  shall  cease  from  being  a  nation  before  me 
 for  ever. 
 
 37  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  *  If  heaven  above 
 can  be  measured,  and  the  foLindations  of  the 
 earth  searched  out  beneath,  I  will  also  cast 
 off  all  the  seed  of  Israel  for  all  that  they  have 
 done,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 38  t  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
 that  the  city  shall  be  built  to  the  Lord  ''  from 
 the  tower  of  Hananeel  unto  the  gate  of  the 
 corner. 
 
 39  And  '  the  measuring  line  shall  yet  go  forth 
 over  against  it  upon  the  hill  Gareb,  and  sliall 
 compass  about  to  Goath. 
 
 40  And  the  whole  valley  of  the  dead  bodies, 
 and  of  the  ashes,  and  all  the  fields  unto  the 
 brook  of  Kidron,""  unto  the  corner  of  the  horse 
 gate  toward  the  east,  "^  shall  he  holy  unto  the 
 Lord  ;  it  shall  not  be  plucked  up,  nor  thrown 
 down  any  more  for  ever. 
 
 (lirectioD,  and  extremely  necessary  for  those  who  have  to  pass  wild 
 an'l  spacious  deserts. — Bla.  22.  Go  about,  '  hesitate  ;'  turn  this  way 
 and  that  in  thy  mind,  respecting-  the  difficulties  of  so  long  a  journey. 
 A  new  thuip,  which  is,  that  the  weaker  should  prevail  overthe  stronger. 
 A  u-omnn  shidl  compass  a  mnn,  'shall  put  to  fliglit  tlie  mighty  man.' — 
 7ioothr.,v^%  Bin.  '  A  woman  shall  embrace  her  husband;'  Israel,  as 
 the  spouse  of  Jehovah,  shall  return  to  him. — Mich.  Many  interpreters 
 suppose  it  alludes  to  the  conception  of  Christ. — So  Poole.  The  words 
 import  a  miraculous  conceptinn. — Pearson.  Tliis  seems  to  he  the  true 
 and  g-ennine  sen>c  of  the  words,  and  other  senses  weak  and  impertinent. 
 — Gill.  I  am  sure  no  such  meaning  is  in  the  words,  nor  can  fairly  be 
 brought  out  of  them.  The  sense  seems  to  be,  tliat  the  Jews  in  their 
 defenceless  state  resemble  a  weak  defenceless  female,  (n3p5.)  and  the 
 Chaldeans  a  fierce  strong  man  (123) ;  but  notwitlistanding  the  dispa- 
 rity, God  would  cause  the  woman  to  compass,  to  overcome,  the  strong 
 man,  the  powerful  Babylonians.  It  is  most  likely  a  proverbial  expres- 
 sion.— A.  Clarke.  As  to  the  sense  given  to  this  passage  by  some  ex- 
 positors, as  referring  to  the  miraculous  conception,  there  appears  no 
 ground  for  it.  Tlie  word  'encompass'  is  never  used  for  pregnancy; 
 and  if  it  were,  there  is  nothing  wonderful  in  the  circumstance  of  bear- 
 ing a  male  child  ;  while  there  is  no  allusion  here  to  a  virgin. — So  Wil. ; 
 supported  by  the  opinion  of  Gataker.  This  view  is  indignantly  rejected, 
 and  tliat  of  the  conception  of  Christ  is  approved,  by  Sut,  23.  As  yet, 
 •again.* — Boothr.  26.  /  awaked,  fyc. — the  prophet  was  refreshed 
 with  this  vision,  like  a  man  with  sweet  sleep. — Preb.  Lowth.  This  re- 
 velation might  have  been  given  in  a  dream.  —  Poole,  Clarke,  Wil. 
 ■27.  Iivill  sow,  ^c,  the  land  shall  be  inhabited  and  replenished.— Pre*. 
 Lowth.         29.  The  fathers  have  eaten,   §-c.— God  had  threatened  he 
 
 would  visit  the  sins  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  ;  this  gave  occasion 
 to  the  proverb  in  this  verse,  to  the  purport,  that  '  the  children  suffer  for 
 the  offences  of  their  parents  ;'  and,  in  captivity,  it  w-is  applied  to  the  case 
 of  the  captives,  as  ifthe  miseries  they  endured  were  chiefly  owing  to  their 
 fathers'  sins,  [see  Lam.  v.  7;  Ez:k.  xviii.  2.)  But  when  this  judgment 
 sliould  be  removed,  this  proverb  should  cease  ;  every  one  should  then  die 
 for  his  own  iniquity. — Preb.  Lowth,  Clarke.  31.  A  7iew  covenant,  the 
 Christian  dispensation. — A.  Clarke.  New  in  unexampled  love  ;  in  gifts 
 and  graces;  and  confirmed  by  the  blood  of  Christ. —Sw^.  32.  Nut  accord- 
 ing to  the  covenant,  (^c.,  that  covenant  wns  made  at  Sinai  with  the 
 Jews,  and  was  faulty,  through  their  weakness  :  that  was  made  with 
 Jews  only,  this  with  Jews  and  Gentiles,  /  was  an  husband,  i^c,  nou- 
 rishing and  cherishing  them  to  whom  lie  wa.s  betrothed. — Gill.  33.  / 
 will  pat  mi/  law  in  their  inward  parts,  ^c.—thc  moral  law  was  written 
 on  tables  of  stone,  but  God  now  engages  to  write  his  law  on  his  peo- 
 ple's hearts.  They  see  its  spirituality,  repent  of  breaking  it,  de- 
 light  in  it,  &c. — Scott.  34.  Tench  no  more  every  man,  ^c,  expres. 
 
 sive  of  the  greater  degree  of  light  which  the  Gospel  would  bring. — 
 Woga7i.  Know  me,  from  the  least,  ^c. — the  Gospel  was  to  begin  with 
 the  poor  of  Galilee  and  the  poor  saints  of  Judea. — Sut.  3S.  Tower  of 
 Hananeel— see  Neh.  iii.  I,  and  xii.  39;  Zech.  xiv.  10.  The  passage 
 means,  the  city  should  be  built  round,  as  large  as  ever. — Poole.  The 
 mystical  sense  relates  to  a  more  perfect  state  of  the  church,  elsewhere 
 called  '  the  city  of  Gud,'  and  '  the  new  Jerusalem,*  and  whose  dimen- 
 sions are  figuratively  described,  Ezek.  xlviii.  30,  Src. ;  Rev.  xxi.  10,  &c. 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  39.  Gure6—GoH/A— mere  coojeclures  have  made  these 
 Calvary  and  Golgotha.-^ See  Gill  and  Bla. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXI. — L  God*s  promi-cs  are, 
 l/he  himself,  e/reat  and  glorious.  He  ;;ives  largely.  *  No  good 
 thing  will  he  withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly.'  Medi- 
 tation may  dwell  eternally  on  the  blessings  included  in  those 
 words—'  I  will  be  the  God  of  all  the  families  of  Israel,  and 
 they  shall  be  my  people.* 
 
 II.  Now  tender)//  God  regards  tlie  penitent!  '  Bad  as  be  is 
 in  his  own  sight,  and  in  the  sight  of  justice,'  to  him  he  is  pre- 
 cious. Loathsome  as  he  may  be  by  sin,  to  him  he  is  now  a 
 pleasant  child.  Though  he  sternly  threatened  him,  now  he 
 kindly  remembers  him  ;  his  bowels  yearn  over  him, — he  feels 
 818 
 
 nothing  but  pity  and  love.  '  I  will  surely  have  mercy  upon 
 him,'  or,  '  I  will  be  ail'ectionately  merciful  to  bim  with  tender 
 mercy,  saith  the  Lord.' 
 
 III.  How  happy  is  our  lot,  who  are  under  the  cove^iant  of  grace  ! 
 This  is  a  covenant  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure.  Heaven 
 and  earth  may  pass  away,  but  this  shall  stand  for  ever.  God, 
 *will  write  his  laws  in  our  hearts,  will  enable  us  to  understand 
 them,  and  dispose  us  to  conform  to  ihem  as  a  copy  to  the  ori- 
 ginal.' Let  us,  then,  heartily  comply  with  the  terras  on  which 
 these  blessings  are  promised,  and  earnestly  pray  that  God 
 would  pardon,  teach,  sanctify,  and  save  us.''> 
 
Jeremialis  imprisonment. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXII. 
 
 His  prayer  to  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXII. 
 
 1  Ji-riviiah ,  being  imprisoned  hy  ZecUkiah  for  his  pro- 
 pltecy,  6  huycth  lianametl's  Jield.  13  Bartich  must 
 presiTve  the  cvitlcnceSt  as  tokens  of  the  people's  rtturn. 
 Hi  Jeremiah  in  his  prayer  eomplaineth  to  God.  26 
 God  conjirmeth  the  captivity  for  tluir  sins,  3tj  and 
 promiseth  a  yracious  return. 
 
 'T'HE  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  the 
 ^  Lord  "  in  the  tenth  year  of  Zedekiah  king 
 of  Judah,  wliich  was  the  eighteenth  year  of 
 Nebuchadrezzar. 
 
 2  For  then  the  king  of  Babylon's  army  be- 
 sieged Jerusalem  :  and  Jeremiah  the  prophet 
 was  sliut  up  '■  in  tlie  court  of  tlie  prison,  which 
 uas  in  the  king  of  Judali's  house. 
 
 3  For  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  liad  shut  him 
 up,  saying,  Wlierefure  dost  tliou  prophesy,  and 
 say,  Tlius  saith  the  Lord,"  Beliold,  I  will  give 
 this  city  into  tlie  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon, 
 and  he  shall  take  it  ; 
 
 4  And  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  •'  shall  not  es- 
 cape out  of  the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  but 
 shall  surely  be  delivered  into  the  hand  of  the 
 king  of  Babylon,  and  shall  speak  witli  him 
 mouth  to  mouth,  and  his  eyes  shall  behold  his 
 eyes; 
 
 5  And  he  shall  lead  Zedekiah  to  Babylon, 
 and  there  shall  he  be  "  until  I  visit  him,  saith 
 the  Lord  :  '  though  ye  fight  with  the  Chal- 
 deans, ye  shall  not  prosper. 
 
 C  H  And  Jeremiah  said.  The  word  of  the  Lord 
 came  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 7  Behold,  Hanameel  the  sou  of  Shallum 
 thine  uncle  shall  come  unto  thee,  saying.  Buy 
 thee  my  field  that  is  in  Anathoth  :  for  the 
 °  right  of  redemption  is  thine  to  buy  it. 
 
 8  So  Hanameel  mine  uncle's  son  came  to 
 me  in  the  court  of  the  prison  according  to  the 
 word  of  the  Lord,  and  said  unto  me,  Buy  my 
 field,  I  pray  thee,  that  is  in  Anathoth,  which 
 is  in  the  country  of  Benjamin  :  for  the  right  of 
 inheritance  is  thine,  and  the  redemption  is 
 thine  ;  buy  it  for  thyself.  Then  I  knew  that 
 this  ivas  the  word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 9  And  I  bought  the  field  of  Hanameel  my 
 luicle's  sou,  that  teas  in  Anathoth,  and  ''weigh 
 ed  liini  the  money,  even  |{  seventeen  shekels  of 
 silver. 
 
 10  And  1  t  subscribed  the  evidence,  and 
 sealed  it,  and  took  witnesses,  and  weighed  him 
 the  money  in  the  balances. 
 
 11  .So  I  took  the  evidence  of  the  purchase, 
 Iwth  that_  which  was  sealed  according  to  the 
 law  and  custom,  and  that  which  was  open 
 
 1'2  And  I  gave  the  evidence  of  the  purchase 
 inito  '  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah,  the  son  of 
 Maaseiah,  in  the  sight  of  Hanameel  mine 
 uncle's  son,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  '  wit- 
 nesses that  subscribed  the  book  of  the  pur- 
 
 6  Noh.  -S.  ?5. 
 cli.  3:1.  I.  & 
 37  '2\.  &  8. 
 6.  Si  39.  14, 
 
 rcli.S^.S. !. 
 3g,  18, -iS.  !t 
 S9.  5,  &  52 
 
 .^  ■3.t. 
 
 g  l.ev,  25.21, 
 2.',,  32. 
 Huth  '1,  4 
 
 /,  «ei..e3.ir>, 
 Zecli.  n,12 
 
 II  Or.  ,cvm 
 thrkrltaxd 
 I'll  pieces 
 I'/tHver. 
 
 1  Hel>.  ibtdIh 
 ill  the  tiui'k. 
 
 tGen    1814 
 
 ver.  27. 
 
 Luke  1 .  37. 
 I  Or,  hi't 
 
 fritn  f/ifc. 
 .  Ex   20, C.& 
 
 :ll,  7.  Dcu, 
 
 5,  9,  10. 
 
 r  Is,  28,  so. 
 t  Heb.  ctmm 
 t  .l.ili  34.  2l. 
 Ps  3:1.  13. 
 
 .  21. 
 
 17. 
 (  ch.  17.  lu. 
 
 (  F.x.  9.  ir>. 
 lCiir.17.21 
 Is.  63    12. 
 
 I  Chr. 17.21 
 Fa.  136.  II 
 12. 
 
 II  Or,  '■iisiiiei 
 
 iifihut. 
 
 ch   .33.  4. 
 «  vec.  25.  30 
 
 II  Or, /.',"..;,;■. 
 
 chase,  before  all  the  Jews  that  sat  in  the  court 
 of  the  prison. 
 
 13  t  And  I  charged  Baruch  before  them, 
 saying, 
 
 14  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Lsiael ;  Take  these  evidences,  tliis  evidence 
 of  the  purchase,  both  which  is  sealed,  and  this 
 evidence  which  is  open  ;  and  put  them  in  an 
 earthen  vessel,  that  they  may  continue  many 
 days. 
 
 15  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
 of  Israel  ;  Houses  and  fields  and  vineyards 
 '  shall  be  posse.ssed  again  in  tliis  land. 
 
 10  1  Now  when  I  had  delivered  the  evidence 
 of  the  purchase  unto  Baruch  tlie  son  of  Neriah, 
 
 I  prayed  unto  the  Lord,  saying, 
 
 17  Ah  Lord  God  !  behold  "'  thou  hast  made 
 the  heaven  and  the  earth  by  thy  great  power 
 and  stretched  out  arm,  and  "  there  is  nothing 
 
 II  too  hard  for  thee  : 
 
 18  Tliou  shewest  "lovingkindness  unto  (liou- 
 sands,  and  reconipensest  the  iniquity  of  the 
 fathers  into  tlie  bosom  of  their  children  after 
 them:  the  Great,  ••  the  Mighty  God, ''the  Loro 
 of  hosts,  is  his  name, 
 
 19  '  Great  in  council,  and  mighty  in  f  work  : 
 for  thine  '  eyes  are  open  upon  all  the  ways  of 
 the  sons  of  men  :  '  to  give  every  one  according 
 to  his  ways,  and  according  to  tlie  fruit  of  his 
 doings  : 
 
 20  Which  hast  set  signs  and  wonders  in  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  even  unto  this  day,  and  in  Israel, 
 and  among  other  men;  and  hast  made  thee  "  a 
 name,  as  at  this  day  ; 
 
 21  And  "  hast  brought  forth  thy  people  Israel 
 out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  witli  signs,  and  with 
 wonders,  and  with  a  strong  hand,  and  with  a 
 stretched  out  arm,  and  with  great  terror  ; 
 
 22  And  hast  given  them  this  land,  which 
 thou  didst  swear  to  their  fathers  to  give  them, 
 ''  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey ; 
 
 23  And  they  came  in,  and  possessed  it  ;  but 
 '  they  obeyed  not  thy  voice,  neither  walked  in 
 Ihy  law ;  they  have  done  nothing  of  all  that 
 thou  commandedst  them  to  do :  therefore 
 thou  hast  caused  all  this  evil  to  come  upon 
 tliein : 
 
 24  Behold  the  ||  mounts,  they  are  come  unto 
 the  city  to  take  it ;  and  the  city  "  is  given  into 
 the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  that  figlit  against 
 it,  because  of  ''the  sword,  and  of  the  famine, 
 and  of  the  pestilence :  and  what  thou  hast 
 spoken  is  come  to  pass  ;  and,  behold,  thou 
 seest  it. 
 
 2.5  And  thou  hast  said  unto  me,  O  Lord  God, 
 Buy  thee  the  field  for  money,  and  take  wit- 
 nesses ;  II  for '  the  city  is  given  into  the  hand 
 of  the  Chaldeans. 
 
 20  1  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto 
 1  Jeremiah,  saying. 
 
 Chap.    XXXII.  —  3.  Wherefore  dost  thou  prophesy,    ^c,  refers  to 
 ,\sxiv.  2.  5.  Visit   him.    in   liis   posterity,    by   restoration. — Preh. 
 
 Loielh.  By  death.— B;j.  Hall,  Hen.,  Gill,  Scott.  7.  The  right  of  re- 
 demption—the  law  cstablisheil  that  the  estates  of  a  family  shoultl  never 
 be  alienated.  If  therefore  a  man,  through  poverty,  was  obliged  to  sell 
 his  patrimony,  the  nearest  relative  had  a  rif:ht  to  purchase  it  before 
 all  others,  and  even  to  redeem  it  if  it  had  been  sold  to  another.  This 
 is  called  the  right  of  kinsman,  (Lev.  xxv.  25,)  and,  in  the  year  of 
 jubilee,  the  whole  returned  to  its  ancient  master,  (Lev.  .\xv.  13.) — 
 .i.  Ctnrke.  Jeremiah  well  knew  that  the  land  was  of  no  value  now, 
 hut  his  cousin  being  distressed  he  paid  him  the  money  with  pleasure. — 
 Sut.  9.  Seventeen  shekels  of  silver,  about  forty  shillings  of  our  money, 
 a  small  price  for  a  field  ;  but  the  quantity  of  laud  is  uncertain,  and  ex. 
 isting  circumstances  must  have  le-.sened  the  value,  being  in  the  hands 
 of  an  enemy,  and  the  purchaser  knew  he  was  to  hold  it  seventy  years. 
 — Bla.  The  Chaldaic  reads,  '  seven  minas  and  ten  pieces  of  silver,' 
 819 
 
 which  is  6s/. — Frid.  Weighed — it  does  not  appear  that  there  was  any 
 coined  or  stamped  money  among  the  Jews  before  tlic  captivity  ;  mont-y 
 was  therefore  not  counted,  but  weighed. — Ctnrke.  10.  .4Hrf  I  suh. 
 
 scribed  tlie  evidence,  Sfc,  '  and  I  had  a  deed  drawn  up  and  sealed,  and  I 
 caused  witnesses  to  witness.' — Jita.  11.  That  uhieh  uas  open,  pro- 
 
 bably a  copy  of  the  sealed  deod.  or  a  ccitifieate  of  the  witnesses. — 
 J'reh.  Lowth.  After  an  eastern  contract  is  mnde,  the  deed  is  kept  by 
 the  party  himself,  not  by  the  notary ;  and  a  copy  of  it  is  made,  signed 
 by  tlie  notary  alone,  which  is  shewn  upon  proper  occasions,  whereas 
 the  other  is  never  exhibited. — Sir  J.  Churdin.  12.  Bnruch,  a  scribe 
 
 by  profession,  whose  presence  might  be  necessary,  and  to  whom,  as  a 
 public  officer,  the  custody  of  the  title  deeds  was  intrusted. — B/c. 
 14.  In  an  earthen  vissel,  doubtless  to  be  put  under  ground.  Had  they 
 been  hid  many  days  in  the  earth  they  would  have  been  rctten  ;  and  had 
 they  been  above  ground,  in  a  bo.v  or  chest,  they  might  have  been  lost 
 or  burnt. — Gill,  Poole.         ;i4.  Mounts,  ramparts  raised  as  high  as  the 
 
The  promised  return 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXIII. 
 
 fif  the  Jews  from  r.uptivtli/. 
 
 27  Behold,  I  am  tlie  Lokd,  tlie  ■'  God  of  all 
 flesh  :  "  is  there  anythiiifj  too  hard  for  me  ? 
 
 28  Therefore  tlius  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold, 
 •■  I  will  give  this  city  into  the  hand  of  the 
 Chaldeans,  and  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadrez- 
 zar king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  take  it : 
 
 •2d  And  the  Chaldeans,  that  fight  against  this 
 city,  shall  come  and  •■■  set  fire  on  this  city,  and 
 burn  it  with  the  houses,  ''upon  whose  roofs 
 they  have  ofTered  incense  unto  Baal,  and 
 poured  out  drink  offerings  unto  other  gods,  to 
 jirovoke  me  to  anger. 
 
 .30  For  the  children  of  Israel  and  the  children 
 of  Jndah  '  have  only  done  evil  before  mc  from 
 their  youth  :  for  the  children  of  Israel  have 
 only  provoked  me  to  anger  with  the  work  of 
 their  hands,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 31  For  this  city  hath  been  to  me  as  fa  pro- 
 vocation of  mine  anger  and  of  my  fnry  from  the 
 day  that  they  built  it  even  unto  tliis  day  ;  '  that 
 1  shoidd  remove  it  from  before  my  face, 
 
 32  Because  of  all  tlic  evil  of  the  children  of 
 Israel  and  of  the  children  of  .Tudah,  which  they 
 have  done  to  provoke  me  to  anger,  '  they,  their 
 kings,  their  princes,  their  priests,  and  their  pro- 
 l)liets,  and  the  men  of  Judah,  and  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  Jerusalem. 
 
 33  And  they  have  turned  unto  me  the 
 t  ■"  back,  and  not  the  face  :  though  I  taught 
 iheni,  "  rising  up  early  and  teaching  them,  yet 
 they  have  not  hearkened  to  receive  instruc- 
 tion 
 
 34  But  they  "set  their  aliominations  in   the 
 ,  house,  which  is  called  by  my  name,  to  defile  it. 
 
 .3j  And  they  built  the  high  places  of  Baal, 
 which  are  in  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Ilinnom, 
 lo  ''cause  their  sons  and  tlieir  daughters  to 
 pass  through  the  fire  unto  '' Molech  ;  'which 
 I  commanded  them  not,  neither  came  it  into 
 my  mind,  that  they  should  do  this  abomination, 
 to  cause  Judah  to  sin. 
 
 86  If  And  now  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord, 
 the  God  of  Israel,  concerning  this  city,  whereof 
 ye  .say,  '  It  shall  be  delivered  into  the  hand  ofi 
 the  king  of  Babylon  by  the  sword,  and  hy  the 
 famine,  and  by  the  pestilence  ; 
 
 37  Behold,  'l  will  '  gather  them  out  of  all 
 countries,  whither  I  have  driven  them  in  mine 
 anger,  and  in  my  fury,  and  in  great  wrath  ;  and 
 I  will  bring  them  again  unto  this  place,  and  I 
 will  cause  them  "  to  dwell  safely  : 
 
 35  And  they  shall  be  "  my  people,  and  I  will 
 he  their  God  : 
 
 39  And  I  will  ''give  them  one  heart,  and  one 
 way,  that  they  may  fear  me  t  for  ever,  for 
 the  good  of  them,  and  of  their  children  after 
 them  : 
 
 F  ver.  17. 
 /  ver.  3. 
 
 S  cli,  21  10. 
 *  .17.  8,  10 
 &  5-i    IS. 
 
 !•  cL.  19.  13. 
 
 .  cli   «.  7   & 
 3.  25-  &  7. 
 22—28  «;22. 
 21.  Kick. 
 SO.  sa. 
 
 t  Hell,  /or 
 
 t  Hi-h.  %fr.h 
 in  ch  2.  27. 
 *^  7    21, 
 
 >  cli.  7.  30, 
 :!1.5t2».  11 
 Eic   8.  5,  G 
 
 f>ch.  7.  31 
 
 &  19,  5. 
 ;  l.cv.  1.S2I. 
 
 1  Kin  11,.-!.') 
 rcli.  7.  .SI. 
 
 t  Deo  30.  S, 
 fli.  23.  3.  ft 
 29.  11  8c  3(. 
 111.  1-Jc.  37. 
 21. 
 
 u  oil.  23.  C. 
 S33.  10. 
 
 -  cl. 
 
 21,  7. 
 
 &  30  22,  Ik 
 
 31.  .33. 
 veil.  24,  7, 
 
 Bse.  11.  19, 
 
 20. 
 t  Hob.  (xll 
 
 d-S' 
 
 II    C 
 
 cir.  690. 
 
 z  l8.  55  3. 
 
 cli,  31,  31. 
 t  Heb./rom 
 
 after  tliem. 
 a  cli.  31.  33. 
 
 b  Pcu,  30,  9. 
 
 Zeph.  3,  17, 
 c  ch   21  C. 
 
 ft  31    2S, 
 
 t    Ilcb."  ill 
 
 truth,  or, 
 iliiliililU 
 J  Cli    31.  2S, 
 
 /rli    Si.  10. 
 
 1  di.  M  7, 
 
 11,  2(;. 
 
 II  Or.  JR- 
 }lt)l'AH. 
 cEx    15.  3. 
 
 40  And  '  1  will  make  an  everlasting  covenant 
 with  them,  that  I  will  not  turn  away  ffrom 
 them,  to  do  them  good;  but  "I  will  put  my 
 fear  in  their  hearts,  that  they  shall  not  depart 
 from  me. 
 
 41  Yea,  ''  I  will  rejoice  over  them  to  do  them 
 good,  and  '  I  will  plant  them  in  this  land  t  as- 
 suredly with  my  whole  heart  and  with  my 
 «hole  soul. 
 
 ■i'l  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  ''  Like  as  I  have 
 brought  all  tliis  great  evil  upon  this  people,  so 
 will  1  bring  upon  them  all  the  good  that  I  have 
 promised  them. 
 
 43  And  "fields  shall  be  bought  in  this  land, 
 '' whereof  ye  say.  It  is  desolate  witluiiit  man  or 
 beast ;  it  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the  Chal- 
 deans. 
 
 44  Men  shall  buy  fields  for  money,  and  sii!.- 
 scribe  evidences,  and  seal  them,  and  take  wit- 
 nesses in  ^  the  land  of  Benjamin,  and  in  the 
 places  about  Jerusalem,  and  in  the  cities  of 
 Judah,  and  in  the  cities  of  the  monntains,  and 
 in  the  cities  of  the  valley,  and  in  tlie  cities  of 
 the  south  :  for  ''I  will  cause  their  captivity  to 
 return,  saith  the  Loed. 
 
 CHAP,  xxxin. 
 
 1  God  proniisctk  to  tin:  rrtplh-ity  a  r/racious  return,  !)  ii 
 joyfvt  stair,  12  a  scttlal  finmrntniut,  lb  Cltr'ist  Hit: 
 Brnncli  nf  ritilttf.ouaticss,  1 7  ft  ctnititimijtrc  ofhittyduui 
 atiit  priist'uiixl,  '20  (('"/  "  sitdnlity  of  a  iti^Sftl  sertl. 
 
 Ty/rOREOVER  the  word  of  the  Loud  came 
 ■^  -^  unto  Jeremiah  the  second  time,  while  he 
 was  yet "  shut  up  in  the  court  of  the  prison, 
 saying, 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  the  ^'  maker  thereof, 
 the  Loud  that  formed  it,  to  establish  it;  \\'  the 
 Lord  is  bis  name  ; 
 
 3  ''  Call  unto  me,  and  I  will  answer  Ihee,  and 
 shew  thee  great  and  ||  mighty  things,  which 
 thou  knowest  not. 
 
 4  For  thus  saith  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel, 
 concerning  the  houses  of  this  city,  and  con- 
 cerning the  houses  of  the  kings  of  Judah, 
 wliicli  are  thrown  down  by  "  the  mounts,  and 
 by  the  sword  ; 
 
 5  '  They  come  to  fight  with  the  Chaldeans, 
 but  it  is  to  fill  them  with  the  dead  bodies  of 
 men,  whom  I  have  slain  in  mine  anger  and  in 
 my  fnry,  and  for  all  whose  wickedness  I  have 
 bid  iny  face  from  this  city. 
 
 6  Behold,  ^  I  will  bring  it  health  and  cure,  and 
 1  will  cure  them,  and  will  reveal  unto  them  the 
 abundance  of  peace  and  truth. 
 
 7  And  "I  will  cause  the  captivity  of  Judah 
 and  the  captivity  of  Israel  to  return,  and  will 
 build  them,  '  as  at  the  first. 
 
 walls  foi  sicRe,  lliat  the  besiegers  might  tlirow  darts,  stones,  &c.  into 
 the  aty.—l'reti.  Loii'th;  sec  Potter,  Clarke.  35.  Unto  Molech— SQQ 
 
 Sitings,  xxiii.  10,  note.  Probahly,  tender. hearted  parents  might  only 
 hiild  the  children  over  the  fire,  by  way  of  lustration  or  dedication, 
 whilst  others  burnt  them.— Prfi.  Loifth,  Bla.  36.  Antl  now  ttiere. 
 fore,  3fc.,  '  but  now,  notwithstanding  all  this.'— P;-ti.  Lowtfi,  •  After 
 this,'  Ikc.—Ilooirir.  37.  To  rfjte//  siifel!/,  §-<.•. .  this  they  did  not,  for 
 any  continuance,  after  their  return  from  Babylon,  being,  as  Jerome 
 observes,  often  mnlcstcd  'ly  the  Persians,  Macedonians,  and  Egyptians, 
 and  at  last  destroyed  by  the  Romans,  so  that  this  refers  either  to  be- 
 
 lieving .Tews  in  the  first  times  of  the  Gospel,  or  to  the  times  yet  to 
 come. — Gill.  10,  EeerhtstiJif;^  covenant,  this,  apjilied  to  the  old  cove. 
 nant,  meant  to  Uiu  age  of  the  Messiah  ;  but  now,  it  means  one  never 
 to  he  abolished,  or  tu  give  way  to  any  other  dispensation,  (see  chap.  1. 
 3;  Isa.  Iv.  3;  eornp.  with  Ps.  Ixxxix.  34,  35.)— i'l-tfA.  Lowtft. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIII.  —  1.  W/tite  lie  wtis  t/et  t//iui  up,  that  is,  in  the  eleventh 
 yeal-  of  Zedekiah. — Clarke.  2.  T/ie  milker  i/iereo/- PnUl"*,  '  the  doer 
 
 of  it.* — Bla.  That  is,  he  who  is  to  perform  that  which  he  is  now  about 
 to  promise. — Clarke.  3.  Knowest  not,  probably  means  '  didst  and 
 coutdst  not  know'  but  by  revelation. — Bla.         4.  By  tlie  mounts,  nnd 
 
 Reflectiuns  on  Ciup.  XXXII. —  From  what  is  recorded 
 in  this  chapter,  we  may  learn— I.  That  •  n-hen  we  Imve  GotVs 
 orders,  u'e  liavc  tiol/iiny  to  da  but  oleij,  and  trust  him  icitli  tlie 
 issue ;  and  it  we  are  in  the  dark  concerning  his  dispensations, 
 we  may  humbly  beg  his  instructions."  >> 
 
 II.  Tliat  '  the  Lord  sends 
 
 820 
 
 !  specdi/  answer  to  the  jirnytrs  of  his 
 
 afflicted  saints.  He  repeats  to  the  praying  prophet  the  reasons 
 for  his  visitation  on  Israel,  and  he  repeats  the  promises  of 
 their  return.  Thus  the  faithful  have  hope  in  the  promisee, 
 while  every  aspect  of  Providence  inspires  the  wicked  witli 
 despair.'^" 
 
Tiic  promise  of  Christ. 
 
 8  And  I  will  '■cleanse  tlioin  fioin  all  tlieir 
 iniquity,  whereby  they  have  sinned  ai^ainst 
 me  ;  and  I  will  '  pardon  all  their  iniquities, 
 whereliy  they  have  sinned,  and  whereby  they 
 have  transgressed  against  me. 
 
 9  1"'  And  it  shall  be  to  me  a  name  of  joy,  a 
 praise  and  an  honour  before  all  the  nations  of 
 the  earth,  which  shall  hear  all  the  good  that 
 I  do  unto  them  :  and  they  shall  "  fear  and 
 tremble  for  all  the  goodness  and  for  all  the 
 pros|)prity  that  I  procure  unto  it. 
 
 10  Thus  saitli  the  Lord  ;  Again  there  shall 
 be  heard  in  tins  place,  "  which  ye  say  sliriU  he 
 desolate  withmit  man  and  without  boast,  even 
 in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the  streets  of  Je- 
 rusalem, that  are  desolate,  without  man,  and 
 without  inhabitant,  and  without  beast, 
 
 1 1  The  ''  voice  of  joy,  and  the  voice  of  glad- 
 ness, the  voice  of  the  bridegroom,  and  the 
 voice  of  the  bride,  the  voice  of  them  that  shall 
 say,  ''  Praise  the  Lokd  of  hosts  :  for  the  Loud 
 is  good  ;  for  his  mercy  ctidureih  for  ever  :  and 
 of  them  that  shall  bring  '  the  sacrifice  of  praise 
 into  tlie  house  of  the  Lord.  For  "  I  will  cause 
 to  jeturn  the  captivity  of  the  land,  as  at  the 
 first,  saith  the  Lokd. 
 
 12  Thus  .saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  '  Again  in 
 this  place,  which  is  desolate  witliout  man  and 
 without  beast,  and  in  all  the  cities  thereof, 
 shall  be  an  habitation  of  shepherds  causing 
 their  flocks  to  lie  down. 
 
 13  "  In  the  cities  of  the  mountains,  in  the 
 cities  of  the  vale,  and  in  the  cities  of  the  south, 
 and  in  the  land  of  Benjamin,  and  in  the  places 
 about  Jerusalem,  and  in  the  cities  of  Judah, 
 shall  the  flocks  "  pass  again  under  the  hands  of 
 him  that  telleth  them,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 14  ^Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
 that  '  I  will  perform  that  good  thing  which  I 
 have  promised  unto  the  house  of  Israel  and  to 
 the  house  of  Judah. 
 
 15  t  In  tho.se  days,  and  at  tliat  time,  will  I 
 cause  the  "  Branch  of  righteousness  to  grow 
 up  unto  David  ;  and  he  shall  execute  judg- 
 nient  and  righteousness  in  the  land. 
 
 16  ''In  those  days  shall  Judah  be  saved,  and 
 Jerusalem  shall  dwell  safely  :    and  this  is  the 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXIIL 
 
 The  continuance  of  his  kingdom. 
 
 A  Eiek    M 
 as.'Zeiih.lS. 
 I.  Hub.  9. 
 13,  U. 
 
 /.ii.ai,  at. 
 
 njic   7    IH. 
 
 fc  16.  y.  & 
 
 ^5.  10. 
 llev.  18.23 
 
 r  iriir.  16.  8, 
 
 ;U  SChr.  6. 
 
 Vi,  &7.  3. 
 
 K/i;i3.  II. 
 
 I'a,  136.  1. 
 
 Ik.  12.  -v. 
 I.cv.  7.  12. 
 
 I's.  107,22. 
 
 Kc  116.  17. 
 
 vcr.  7. 
 /  Is.  65.  10. 
 3I.V1.,  & 
 
 ell.  2n.  5.  & 
 n    27. -II. 
 ill.  L^.  10. 
 
 t  Hel,  Thctr 
 tlmll  ,wl  be 
 c„l„ffmm 
 ItaviJ. 
 
 c  2  Sam.  7. 
 16.  I  Kill.  2. 
 ■t   P8.t.y2".", 
 a6.   Lull©  1. 
 S-',  3U. 
 
 d  Horn.  13.1, 
 Sl  16.  16. 
 
 1   1*61.2.'.,!' 
 
 fj  Geii   l.-l.ir 
 &  Ih  5.  ft 
 22.  17 
 i-li.  ;n   37. 
 
 21,22 
 
 /*  Ps.  71.  16, 
 17.  Mot.IlP. 
 til .31.  35,36 
 
 /  cli.  31.  37. 
 
 name  wherewith  she  shall  be  called,  f  The  Loiio 
 our  righteousness. 
 
 1 7  t  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  f  David  shall 
 never '  want  a  man  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of 
 the  house  uf  Israel  ; 
 
 18  Neither  shall  the  priests  the  Levites  want 
 a  man  before  me  to  ''  offer  burnt  offerings,  and 
 to  kindle  meat  offerings,  and  to  do  sacrifice 
 continually. 
 
 19  1i  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 Jeremiah,  saying, 
 
 •20  Thus  .saith  the  Lord  ;  '  If  ye  can  break 
 my  covenant  of  the  day,  and  my  covenant  of 
 the  night,  and  that  there  should  not  be  day  and 
 night  in  their  season  ; 
 
 21  Then  may  also  "^my  covenant  be  broken 
 with  David  my  servant,  that  he  should  not  have 
 a  son  to  reign  upon  his  throne  ;  and  with  the 
 Levites  the  priests,  my  ministers. 
 
 22  As  ^  the  host  of  heaven  cannot  be  num- 
 bered, neither  the  sand  of  the  sea  measured  : 
 so  will  I  multiply  the  seed  of  David  ray  ser- 
 vant, and  the  Levites  that  minister  unto  me. 
 
 23  Moreover  the  word  of  tlie  Lord  came  to 
 Jeremiah,  saying, 
 
 24  Considerest  thou  not  what  this  people 
 have  spoken,  saying,  '■  The  two  families  which 
 the  Lord  hath  chosen,  he  hath  even  cast  them 
 off?  thus  they  have  despised  my  people,  that 
 they  should  be  no  more  a  nation  before  them. 
 
 25  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  If  '  my  covenantee 
 not  with  day  and  night,  and  if  I  have  not 
 '■  appointed  the  ordinances  of  heaven  and 
 earth  ; 
 
 26  '  Then  will  I  cast  away  the  seed  of  Jacob, 
 and  David  my  servant,  so  that  I  will  not  take 
 ani/  of  his  seed  to  be  rulers  over  the  seed  of 
 Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob :  for  '"  I  will  cause 
 their  captivity  to  return,  and  have  mercy  on 
 them. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 I  Jeremiah  prophesicth  the  captivity  of  Zedehiuh  and 
 the  city.  8  The  princes  and  the  people  haviny  dis- 
 missed their  bondservaittSy  contran/  to  the  covrnant  of 
 Gfid,  rcassiime  tlion.  12  Jeremiah ,  for  thtir  disohe- 
 dienccy  yiveth  them  and  Zedekiah  into  the  hands  of 
 their  enemies. 
 
 by  the  sword,  by  the  bntterinc:  engines  placed  upon  the  inuunt,  (see 
 chap,  xxxii.  '24,)  and  by  the  violence  of  war.  8.  Cleanse  them  from 
 
 all  their  ini'juity,  it  implies  that  pcneral  promise  of  pardon  spoken  of 
 as  the  peculiar  blessing-  of  the  Giwpel,  {comp.  chap.  xx-\i.  34;  Ezek. 
 xxxvi.an.)  Q.  A  7ia7ne  of  Joy — God's  especial  providence  over  the 
 
 Jews  in  their  restoration  shall  be  noticed  by  the  heathen  world,  and 
 make  them  give  glory  to  that  God  whom  they  worship,  (see  Ezra,  i.  2  ; 
 vi.  12.)  1 1 .  I'/iat  shall  say.  Praise,  Sfc,  this  very  hymn  used  by  the 
 
 returned  captives,  Ezra,  iii.  11.  Sacrifice  of  praise,  such  as  was 
 offered  on  auy  great  deliverance,  (see  Lev.  vii.  12  ;  Ps.  cvii.  22  ;  cxvi. 
 17.)—Preb.  Lowth.  13.  Telleth  them— sec  Lev.  xxvii.  32.  14.  That 
 good  thing,  '  the  coming  of  the  Messiah.*  '  The  promise  made  unto  the 
 lathers,'  (Acts,  xiii.  32.) — iiec,  as  Tarf^.  The  good  thing  promised  is 
 what  follows  :  '  making  to  grow  up  to  David  the  branch  of  righteous- 
 ness,' &c. — Boothr.  The  end  of  the  captivity,  (Mic.  vii.  9,  K-c. ;  Zcph. 
 iii.  10.  R:c.  ;  Jer.  xvi.  15  ;  xxiii.  3,&c.)— ^.  Clarke.  16.  Branch,  §-c., 
 — sec  chap,  xxiii.  6,  note.  15.  And  this  is  the  name  wheretvith  she, 
 fiC  '  he  that  shall  call  her  is  the  Lord  our  righteousness.' — Pearson. 
 This  is  he  whom  Jehovah  shall  call  our  righteousness  or  justification. 
 — Bl'i.  17.  David  shall  never  luant  a  man,  '  there  shall  not  fait  to  be 
 one  of  the  line  of  David.'  This  denotes  that  the  kingdom  of  David  and 
 priesthood  should  be  continued.  After  the  captivity,  Zerubbabel  was 
 of  the  line  of  David ;  and  most  probably,  on  the  female  side,  most  of 
 
 the  high  priests,  who,  until  Herod  the  Great,  had  the  chief  direction  of 
 Jewish  affairs.  In  this  way  both  the  kingdom  and  the  priesthood  were 
 continued  until  our  l.^rd  came,  in  whom  they  have  been,  nnrt  will  be, 
 perpetuated. — Boothr.  The  i)romise  of  perpetuity  made  to  David's 
 kingdom  shall  be  fulfilled  in  Christ,  whose  kingdom  shall  have  no  end. 
 — I'reh.  Lowth.  18.  To  offer  burnt  offerings— as,  the  law  is  abrogated, 
 those  sacrifices  figuratively  denote  the  offices  nf  a  more  spiritual  wor- 
 ship substituted  in  their  stead, — Bla.  There  shall  never  want  a  set  of 
 men,  set  apart  to  God's  service,  to  perform  the  pul)Uc  offices  of  religion. 
 — Preb.  Loivth.  As  Gospel  ministers  arc  never  called  piiests  and  Le- 
 vites in  the  New  Tistamcnt,  this  may  be  applied  to  all  believers,  who 
 are  priests  uutoGod,  and  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices  acceptable  to  Goil 
 through  Christ;  but  the  meaning  more  probably  is,  that  the  Levitical 
 priesthood  was  typical  of  Christ's  priesthood,  wlio  is  'a  priest  for  ever 
 after  the  order  of  Mclchizcdek  ;'  Christ's  office,  therefore,  succeeds; 
 and  having  offered  up  himself  a  sacrifice,  he  now  pleads  the  efficacy 
 and  virtue  of  it,  and  has  superseded  them,  being  much  better  than  they. 
 — Gill.  22.  Seed  of  David,  must  be  imderstood,  '  Christ  and  his  spi- 
 ritual  seed.' — Clarke.  24.  This  people,  the  enemies  of  the  Jews,  or 
 wicked  Jews  themselves.  The  two  families,  the  kingdoms  of  Israel 
 and  Judah,  or,  more  probably,  the  families  of  David  and  Aaron. — 
 Pootc. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXIII.  —  I.  *  No  confinement  caii 
 deprive  God's  people  of  his  presence ;  no  locks  or  bars  can  shut 
 out  Iiis  gracious  visits.  Nay,  oftentimes,  as  tbeir  "  afflictions 
 abound,  his  consolations  much  more  abound  ;"  and  they  have 
 tlie  most  reviving  communications  of  his  favour  when  tlie 
 world  frowns  upon  them.  Paul's  sweetest  epistles  were  those 
 that  bare  date  out  of  a  prison.' 
 
 II.  '  Nothiny  is  more  the  praise  and  honour  of  a  people  than  to 
 821 
 
 have  God  praised  amonfl  them.  This  sball  complete  the  mercy 
 of  their  return  and  restoration,  that  with  it  they  shall  have 
 hearts  to  be  thankful  for  it,  and  give  God  the  glory  of  it." 
 
 III.  '  See  hoto  firm  the  covenant  stands  ! — as  firm  as  that  with 
 day  and  night.  Sooner  will  God  sufl'er  day  and  night  to  cease, 
 than  he  will  cast  away  the  seed  of  Jacob.  Cliristianity  sliall 
 continue  in  Uio  dominion  of  Christ,  and  thii  subjection  of 
 Christians  (o  him,  till  day  and  night  come  to  an  cud.'  >■ 
 
Jeremiah  prophesieth 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXIV. 
 
 ZedeliialCs  captivity,  ^c. 
 
 'T'HE  word  which  came  unto  Jevemiah  from 
 -*-  the  LoKD,  °  when  Nebucliadiiezzar  king  of 
 Babylon,  and  all  liis  army,  and  ""all  the  king- 
 doms of  the  earth  fof  his  dominion,  and  all  the 
 people,  fought  against  Jerusalem,  and  against 
 all  the  cities  thereof,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel; 
 Go  and  speak  to  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah,  and 
 tell  him,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  °  I 
 will  give  this  city  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of 
 Babylon,  and  ''  he  shall  burn  it  with  fire : 
 
 3  And  "  thou  shalt  not  escape  out  of  his  hand, 
 but  shalt  surely  be  taken,  and  delivered  into 
 liis  hand  ;  and  thine  eyes  shall  behold  the  eyes 
 of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  t'le  shall  speak 
 with  thee  mouth  to  mouth,  and  thou  shalt  go 
 to  Babylon. 
 
 4  Yet  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  O  Zede- 
 kiah king  of  Judah  ;  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of 
 thee.  Thou  shalt  not  die  by  tlie  sword  : 
 
 5  But  thou  shalt  die  in  peace  :  and  with  ''the 
 burnings  of  thy  fathers,  the  former  kings  which 
 were  before  tliee,  ^  so  shall  they  burn  o(/o!()'s 
 for  thee  :  and  ''  they  will  lament  thee,  saying. 
 Ah  lord !  for  I  have  pronounced  the  word, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 C  Then  Jeremiah  the  prophet  spake  all  these 
 words  unto  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  in  Jerusa- 
 lem ; 
 
 7  When  the  king  of  Babylon's  army  fought 
 against  Jerusalem,  and  against  all  the  cities  of 
 Judah  that  were  left,  against  Lachish,  and 
 against  Azekah  :  for  '  these  defenced  cities  re- 
 mained of  the  cities  of  Judah. 
 
 8  t  This  is  the  word  that  came  unto  Jere- 
 miah from  the  Lord,  after  that  the  king  Zede- 
 kiah had  made  a  covenant  with  all  the  people 
 which  icere  at  Jerusalem,  to  proclaim  ■*  liberty 
 imto  them; 
 
 9  '  That  every  man  should  let  his  manservant, 
 and  every  man  his  maidservant,  beinrj  an  He- 
 brew or  an  Hebrevvess,  go  free;  "'that  none 
 .should  serve  himself  of  them,  to  wit,  of  a  Jew 
 his  brother. 
 
 10  Now  when  all  the  princes,  and  all  the 
 people,  which  had  entered  into  the  covenant, 
 heard  that  every  one  should  let  his  manservant, 
 and  every  one  his  maidservant,  go  free,  that 
 none  should  serve  themselves  of  them  any 
 more,  tlien  they  obeyed,  and  let  them  go. 
 
 1 1  But  "  afterward  they  turned,  and  caused 
 the  servants  and  the  handmaids,  whom  they 
 had  let  go  free,  to  return,  and  brought  them 
 into  subjection  for  servants  and  for  handmaids. 
 
 1'2  t  Therefore  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to 
 Jeremiah  from  the  Lord,  saying, 
 13  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel ; 
 
 B  c. 
 
 cir.  691. 
 
 a  2  Kin.  irft. 
 
 I,&c  cl>.»9. 
 
 1.  &  52. . I. 
 b  ch.  I.  15. 
 t  Heb.  rte 
 
 dominion  of 
 
 hit  kaiid. 
 
 c  cb.  21,  10. 
 &  32.  3, 29. 
 
 d  ch.  32.  29. 
 
 ver.  £2. 
 c  ch.  32.  1. 
 
 t  Heb.  Am 
 tuou/l,  lUatl 
 t,"-ilk  t;  tf,t, 
 
 I  A  See  ch.  22 
 
 I  '8- 
 
 is  Kill.  18. 
 13.  Sc  19.  3 
 2Clir.  II. 
 6.  9. 
 cir.  591. 
 
 *  Ex.  51 
 Lev.  25. 
 
 m  Lev.  !5. 
 39—10. 
 
 rir.  590, 
 .  See  vpf.2i 
 cli.  S7.  5. 
 
 o  Ei.  21.  S. 
 b  :f3.  19. 
 Deu.15.  12. 
 
 II  Or,  t,"!/, 
 iM  himirlf. 
 
 t  Heb.torfaj/. 
 
 p  So  2  Kin. 
 
 23.  3   Nelj. 
 
 10,  29. 
 J  ch   7.  10. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 it  calt'J. 
 T  E«.  20.  7, 
 Lev.  19.  1.". 
 
 »  Mat,  7.  2. 
 
 Gal,  C.  7. 
 
 .lam.  2,  13 
 I  eh,  32.  2,», 
 
 .■i6 
 t  Heb,  At  a 
 
 removing. 
 '<  Deu.  28  25, 
 
 6.1.  cb.  29, 
 
 IS. 
 
 If  ell.  7.  S3. 
 fi  IG,  4.  & 
 19.  7. 
 
 ,.  ch.  37.  8, 
 10. 
 
 b  eh.  38.  3, 
 H.39,  1,2,8. 
 «c  62,  7,  13. 
 
 cch.  9.  11. 
 &  41.  2,  6. 
 
 I  made  a  covenant  with  your  fathers  in  the 
 day  that  I  brought  them  forth  out  of  the  land 
 of  Egypt,  out  of  the  liouse  of  bondmen,  saying, 
 
 14  At  the  end  of  "seven  years  let  ye  go 
 every  man  his  brother  an  Hebrew,  which 
 ||hath  been  sold  unto  thee;  and  when  lie  hath 
 served  thee  six  years,  thou  shalt  let  him  go 
 free  from  thee  ;  but  your  fathers  hearkened 
 not  unto  me,  neither  inclined  their  ear. 
 
 15  And  ye  were  fnovv  turned,  and  had  done 
 right  in  my  sight,  in  proclaiming  liberty  every 
 man  to  his  neighbour;  and  ye  had  ''made  a 
 covenant  before  me  ''  in  the  house  f  which  is 
 called  by  my  name  : 
 
 16  But  ye  turned  and  'polluted  my  name, 
 and  caused  every  man  his  servant,  and  every 
 man  his  handmaid,  whom  he  had  set  at  liberty 
 at  their  pleasure,  to  return,  and  brought  them 
 uito  subjection,  to  be  unto  you  for  servants 
 and  for  handmaids. 
 
 17  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord;  Ye  have 
 not  hearkened  unto  me,  in  proclaiming  liberty, 
 every  one  to  his  brotlier,  and  every  man  to  his 
 neighbour:  ''behold.  I  proclaim  a  liberty  for 
 you,  saith  the  Lord,  'to  the  sword,  to  the  pes- 
 tilence, and  to  the  famine  ;  and  I  will  make 
 you  t  to  be  "removed  into  all  the  kingdoms  of 
 the  earth. 
 
 18  And  I  will  give  tlie  men  that  have  trans- 
 gressed my  covenant,  which  have  not  performed 
 the  words  of  the  covenant  which  they  had  made 
 before  me,  when  "they  cut  the  calf  in  twain, 
 and  passed  between  the  parts  thereof, 
 
 19  The  princes  of  Judah,  and  the  princes  of 
 Jerusalem,  the  eunuchs,  and  the  priests,  and 
 all  the  people  of  the  land,  which  passed  be- 
 tween the  parts  of  the  calf; 
 
 20  I  will  even  give  them  into  the  hand  of  their 
 enemies,  and  into  tlie  hand  of  them  that  seek 
 their  life  :  and  their  '  dead  bodies  shall  be  for 
 meat  unto  tlie  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  to  the 
 beasts  of  the  earth. 
 
 21  And  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  and  his 
 princes  will  I  give  into  the  hand  of  their  ene- 
 mies, and  into  the  hand  of  thein  that  seek  their 
 life,  and  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon's 
 army,  ^  which  are  gone  up  from  you. 
 
 22  *  Behold,  I  will  command,  saith  the  Lord, 
 and  cause  them  to  return  to  this  city  ;  and 
 they  .shall  fight  against  it,  ''and  take  it,  and 
 burn  it  with  fire  :  and  '  I  will  make  the  cities 
 of  Judah  a  desolation  without  an  inhabitant. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXV. 
 
 1  By  the  obedience  of  the  Eechahitts,  12  Jeremiah  con- 
 damuth  the  disobtdivTicf.  of  the  Jav.  18  God  bless- 
 eth  the  Jiechabitts  fur  their  obedience. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIV.  — 2.  S/m// iu>-m7— see  fuifiimeut,  2Chron.  xxvi.  19. 
 3.  Be  taken — see  2  Kings,  xxv.  4—6.  5.  Burn  odours/or  thee,  after 
 the  manner  of  the  burial  <{  kings,  (2  Chron.  xvi.  14.)  It  cannot  be 
 proved  from  history  that  this  was  fulfilled ;  but  we  may  readily  sup- 
 pose it,  from  the  influence  and  authority  which  Daniel,  Shadrach,  Me- 
 shech.  and  Abcdnego,  (to  say  nothing  of  other  Jews,)  had  with  the 
 Court  of  Babylon. — Bp.  Watson.  Scented  wood  &c.  are  placed  on  the 
 luncrai  piles  of  tlie  rich  Hindoos,  and  burnt  with  the  body. —  Ward. 
 8.  This  is  the  irord— here  begins  a  new  prophecy ;  the  time  of  it  is  not 
 iccorded. — Poole.  It  was  delivered  when  the  Chaldeans  had  broken 
 up  the  siege,  and  were  marched  off  to  meet  the  Egyptian  army,  which 
 
 made  a  show  uf  coming  to  the  relief  of  Jerusalem.— S/o.  To  proclaim 
 /i6er/v— God's  law  was.  that  Hebrew  servants  should  serve  six  years, 
 and  go  out  free  the  seventh,  {Exod.  xxi.  2  ;  l)eut.  xv.  l2.)~Poole.  This 
 was  a  sabbatical  year  for  the  manumission  of  the  servants. — Sut.  This 
 law  had  fallen  into  disuse,  (vcr.  14.)  and,  from  religious  or  political 
 motives,  Zedekiah  enj^aged  the  people  to  fulfil  it;  but  when  free  from 
 the  Chaldeans,  the  yoke  was  again  imposed  on  these  persons.— £/«. 
 17.  /  proclaima  liberti/  for  jjov,  he  di^misscd  them  from  his  service, 
 care,  and  protection.— Gi7/.  18.  Cut  the  calf  in  tu-ain—see  Gen.  xv. 
 
 10,  note.  The  animal  was  divided  longitudinally,  down  the  spinal 
 marrow,  and  from  the  nose  to  the  rump. —  CVurA-e. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXIV I.  Mani/,  intheface  of  to  their  former  transgressions.     '  Tliey  repent  of  tbeir  ^repent- 
 
 danyer  and  death,  often  become  very  nliqious.    They  tben  express  ance,  and  become  as  bad,  yea,  worse,   llian  before.     Jjut  "  be 
 
 deep  contrition  for  ibeir  offences,  and  mourn  over  neglected  not  deceived,   (iod  is  not  mocked  ;"  dissembled   repentance 
 
 duties  and  disregard  to  God's  word.  and  pariial  reformation  are   highly  provoking  to  him,  and  is 
 
 II.  Many,  when  freed  from  immediate  danger  and  death,  retnrn  therefore  only  adding  deceit  and  treachery  10  other  sins.'  b 
 
The  Jews  condemned  by  the 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXV.,  XXXVI. 
 
 example  of  the  Rechabites. 
 
 'T'HE  word  which  came  unto  Jeremiah  from 
 ■*-  the  Lord  in  the  days  of  Jehoiakim  the  son 
 of  Josiali  king  of  Judah,  sayiii;;, 
 
 2  Go  nnto  the  house  of  the  "  Rechabites,  and 
 speak  unto  them,  and  bring  them  into  the 
 house  of  tlie  Lord,  into  one  of  ''  the  chambers, 
 and  give  them  wine  to  drink. 
 
 3  Then  I  took  Jiiazaniali  tlie  son  of  Jeremiali, 
 the  son  of  Habaziniah,  and  his  bretliren,  and 
 all  his  sons,  and  the  whole  house  of  the  Re- 
 chabites ; 
 
 4  And  I  brought  them  into  tlie  house  of  the 
 Lord,  into  tlie  chamber  of  the  sons  of  Ha- 
 nan,  the  son  of  Igdaliali,  a  man  of  God,  which 
 was  by  the  chamber  of  the  princes,  which  was 
 above  the  chamber  of  Maaseiah  the  son  of 
 Sliallum,  "  tlie  keeper  of  the  f  door  : 
 
 5  And  I  set  before  the  sons  of  the  house  of 
 the  Rechabites  pots  full  of  wine,  and  cups,  and 
 I  said  unto  them.  Drink  ye  wine. 
 
 6  But  tliey  said.  We  will  drink  no  wine  :  for 
 ■i  Jonadab  the  son  of  Rechab  our  father  com- 
 manded us,  saying,  Ye  shall  drink  no  wine, 
 neither  ye,  nor  your  sons  for  ever  : 
 
 7  Neitlier  shall  ye  build  house,  nor  sow  seed, 
 nor  plant  vineyard,  nor  have  ayiy .-  but  all  your 
 days  ye  shall  dwell  in  tents  ;  '  that  ye  may 
 live  many  days  in  the  land  where  ye  be 
 strangers. 
 
 8  Thus  liave  we  obeyed  the  voice  of  Jonadab 
 the  son  of  Rechab  ourfatlier  in  all  that  he  hath 
 charged  us,  to  drink  no  wine  all  our  days,  we, 
 our  wives,  our  sons,  nor  our  daughters  ; 
 
 9  Nor  to  build  houses  for  us  to  dwell  in 
 neither  have  we  vineyard,  nor  field,  nor  seed  : 
 
 10  But  we  have  dwelt  in  tents,  and  have 
 obeyed,  and  done  according  to  all  that  Jona 
 dab  our  father  commanded  us. 
 
 1 1  But  it  came  to  pass,  when  Nebuchadrez- 
 zar king  of  Babylon  came  up  into  the  land, 
 that  we  said.  Come,  and  let  us  go  to  Jerusalem 
 for  fear  of  the  army  of  the  Chaldeans,  and  for 
 fear  of  the  army  of  the  Syrians :  so  we  dwell 
 at  Jerusalem. 
 
 1'2  f  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto 
 Jeremiah,  saying, 
 
 1.3  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel  ;  Go  and  tell  the  men  of  Judah  and  the 
 iniiabitants  of  Jerusalem,  Will  j^e  not  '  receive 
 instruction  to  hearken  to  my  words  ?  saith  tlie 
 Lord. 
 
 14  The  words  of  Jonadab  the  son  of  Rechab, 
 that  he  commanded  his  sons  not  to  drink  wine, 
 
 c  2  Kill.  1-2. 
 9.  J.  Ci.  19. 
 1  Clir.  9.18, 
 
 !  Ex.  Sit-  It; 
 
 Eiih.  6. :;, ; 
 
 B.C. 
 
 Cir.  G07 
 
 /cli.aj.  33. 
 
 Ach.  IS    II 
 &  '-'6.  i,  fi. 
 
 IPi-o.  1.21. 
 Is.  05.  12. 
 &  Go.  i. 
 ch.  7.  13. 
 
 i  Heb,  rft"e 
 iltnIL  nut  a 
 m.,„  be  - «( 
 .J/n.„ 
 
 Jouadnb  the 
 
 .«,../«'• 
 
 incli.  15   19 
 
 n  Is.  8.  1. 
 Eiek.  2    9 
 Zech.  5.  1. 
 
 b  cli.  30  2. 
 
 cell.  25.  15, 
 
 are  performed  ;  for  unto  this  day  they  drink 
 none,  but  obey  their  father's  commandment : 
 ^  notwithstanding  I  have  spoken  unto  you, 
 ■>  rising  early  and  speaking  ;  but  ye  hearkened 
 not  unto  me. 
 
 15  '  1  have  sent  also  unto  you  all  my  servants 
 the  prophets,  rising  up  early  and  sending  rtem, 
 saying, '  Return  ye  now  every  man  from  his  evil 
 way,  and  amend  your  doings,  and  go  not  after 
 other  gods  to  serve  them,  and  ye  shall  dwell 
 in  the  land  which  I  have  given  to  you  and  to 
 your  fathers  :  but  ye  have  not  inclined  your 
 ear,  nor  hearkened  unto  me. 
 
 16  Because  the  sons  of  Jonadab  the  son  of 
 Rechab  have  performed  the  commandment  of 
 their  father,  which  he  commanded  them  ;  but 
 this  people  liath  not  hearkened  unto  me  : 
 
 17  Tlierefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of 
 liosts,  the  God  of  Israel  ;  Behold,  I  will  bring 
 upon  Judah  and  upon  all  tlie  inhabitants  of  Je- 
 rusalem all  the  evil  that  I  have  pronounced 
 against  them  :  '  because  I  have  spoken  unto 
 them,  but  they  have  not  heard  ;  and  I  have 
 called  nnto  them,  but  they  have  not  answered. 
 
 18  1  And  Jeremiah  said  nnto  the  house  of 
 the  Rechabites,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 the  God  of  Israel ;  Because  ye  have  obeyed 
 the  commandment  of  Jonadab  your  father,  and 
 kept  all  his  precepts,  and  done  according  unto 
 all  that  he  hath  commanded  you  : 
 
 19  Therefore  thus  saitli  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 the  God  of  Israel;  f  Jonadab  the  son  of  Re- 
 chab shall  not  want  a  man  to  ""  stand  before 
 me  for  ever. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVL 
 
 I  Jeremiah  causeth  Baruch  to  write  his  prophecy,  5  aiul 
 publicli/  to  rend  it.  1 1  The  princr-f,  havini/  intelli- 
 gence thtreof  Inj  Miclmiah,  send  Jehvdi  to  jHeh  the 
 roU,  and  read  it.  19  Tltey  will  Barue/t  to  hide  him- 
 self  and  Jeremiah.  20  The  king  Jelioiakim,  beinif 
 certijied  thereof,  hcarcth  part  of  it,  and  hurneth  the 
 roll.  27  Jeremiah  dcnouHcetk  his  judgment.  ii2  Ba- 
 ruch  writeth  a  new  copy. 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  fourth  year  of 
 -^^  Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah  king  of  Judah, 
 that  this  word  came  unto  Jeremiah  from  the 
 Lord,  saying, 
 
 2  Take  thee  a  °  roll  of  a  book,  and  ^  write 
 therein  all  the  words  that  I  have  spoken  unto 
 thee  against  Israel,  and  against  Judah,  and 
 against  'all  the  nations,  from  the  day  I  spake 
 unto  thee,  from  the  days  of ''Josiah,  even  unto 
 this  day. 
 
 Chap.  XXXV.  —  1.  Tlie  word,  Sfc. — all  the  intermediate  prophecies 
 from  chap.  xxvi.  belong:  clearly  to  the  reigrn  of  Zedekiah,  and,  conse- 
 quently, are  posterior  to  this  chapter  and  the  next,  which  bear  the  date 
 ot  Jehoiakini's  reign,  together  with  chap.  ,\1'.'.  2.  Unto  tlte  /lOuse, 
 r'2  ba,  'to  the  family.* — Jun.,  Trem.,  Pise.  Rechabites,  these  were 
 descended  from  the  Kenites,  (1  Chron.  ii.  65  0  they  were  never  incor- 
 porated with  the  Jews,  (ver.  7,)  but  yet  were  looked  on  as  friends  and 
 alUes,  d  Sam.  sv.  6.)  They  were  worshippers  of  the  true  God,  though 
 they  v.cre  not  circumcised.— Pep//.  Lowth.  They  lived  without  fixed 
 habitations  or  possessions,  and  in  tlie  open  country,  as  many  of  the 
 Sccnite  Arabs,  their  countrymen,  do  this  day,  feeding  their  flocks,  and 
 subsisting  by  them. — So  Bla.  4.  Chnml/er,  several  chambers  were 
 
 adjoining  the  temple  for  the  use  of  the  priests  during  the  time  of  mi- 
 nistration, (comp.  xxxvi.  10  J  1  Kings, -vi.  5  ;  1  Chron.  ix.  27 — 30.) — 
 Preb.  Lowth.    Jtfffn  o/ Gorf,  always  denotes  a  prophet. — Bla.  It  some- 
 
 times denotes  a  prophet,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  it  does  here. — Poole. 
 Chamber  of  the  princes,  these  were  not  the  princes  of  the  blood,  their 
 chambers  were  in  the  palace,  but  the  princes  or  rulers  of  the  people, 
 as  they  are  called.  Acts,  iv.  8.  The  sanhedrim,  whose  this  chamber 
 w-ris,  as  observed  by  Lightfoot,  Gill.  16.  Have  performed  the  command 
 of  their  ftilher—th\s  affair  was  to  convince  the  Jews  of  their  disobe- 
 dience t<i  God's  commands,  though  more  obligatory  than  those  of  Jona- 
 dab.—Poo/e.  19.  Ttis(aHdie/orc  me,  denotes  attendance  on  the  person 
 and  service  of  a  prince,  (l  Kings,  x.  8.)— BooMr.  Hence  it  implies  the 
 right  of  worshipiiing  in  the  temple. — Bla.  For  ever,  it  is  certain  that 
 some  of  this  family  returned  from  the  captivity,  (1  Chron.  ii.  55.) — Gilt. 
 Cn.\p.  XXXVI.  —  2.  A  roll,  sheets  of  parchment,  glued  tog-ether  and 
 then  rolled  up,  formed  the  books  of  those  times. — Gill.  Comp.  Isa. 
 viii.  1 .  Again.-it  Israel  and  against  Judah,  Jeremiah  projihcsicd  against 
 both;  for  though  Israel  had  been  destroyed  by  Shalmaneser  before  his 
 
 Reflections  on   Chav.  XXXV I.  The  Rvchabites  were 
 
 a  pattern  to  the  Jews.  Their  obedience  to  tlieir  natural  fatiier 
 in  their  moderation  in  using  the  things  of  this  world  vias  a 
 striking  reproach  to  the  Jews  for  not  obeying  Ibe  commands 
 of  their  heavenly  Fatlier. 
 
 II.  The  Rechahites  wrc  a  pattern  to  Christians.  They  teach 
 us  the  same  lesson  of  obedience.  We  should  obey  oar  parents 
 8-23 
 
 in  the  Lfrrd,  and  we  should  at  all  times  '  obey  God  rather  than 
 men.'  Self-denial  in  things  lawful  is  absolutely  necessary  for 
 the  Christian,  and  will  preserve  him  from  many  snares  and 
 dangers,  in  the  use  of  the  good  things  of  life  ;  if  we  do  not  ab- 
 stain wholly,  as  did  the  Rechabites,  from  the  use  of  wine,  we 
 should  let  our  '  moderation  be  kuown  unto  all  men.' 
 
Jeremiah's  prophecy  publicly  read. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXVI. 
 
 Jchoiakim  bunicUi  the  rull. 
 
 3  "It  may  be  that  tlie  bouse  of  Judah  will 
 hear  all  tlie  evil  vvhicb  I  purpose  to  do  unto 
 them  ;  that  they  may  ^  return  every  man  from 
 his  evil  way  ;  that  I  may  forgive  their  iniquity 
 and  their  sin. 
 
 4  Then  Jeremiah  *  called  Barnch  the  son  of 
 Neriah :  and  '' BarUch  wrote  from  the  mouth 
 of  Jeremiah  all  the  words  of  the  Lord,  which 
 he  had  spoken  luito  him,  upon  a  roll  of  a  book. 
 
 5  And  Jeremiah  commanded  Baruch,  saying, 
 I  am  shut  up  ;  I  cannot  go  into  the  house  of 
 the  Lord  : 
 
 (>  Therefore  go  thon,  and  read  in  the  roll, 
 which  thon  bast  written  from  my  mouth,  the 
 words  of  the  Lord  in  the  ears  of  the  people  in 
 the  Lord's  bouse  upon  '  the  fasting  day  :  and 
 also  thou  shall  read  them  in  the  ears  of  all 
 Judali  that  come  out  of  their  cities. 
 
 7  '  It  may  be  fthcy  will  present  their  suppli- 
 cation before  the  Lord,  and  will  return  every 
 one  from  bis  evil  way  :  for  great  is  the  auger 
 and  the  fury  that  the  Lord  hath  pronounced 
 against  this  people. 
 
 8  And  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah  did  accord- 
 ing to  all  that  Jeremiah  the  prophet  commanded 
 him,  reading  in  the  book  the  words  of  the  Lord 
 in  the  Lord's  house. 
 
 9  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  fifth  year  of  Je- 
 hoiakim  tlie  son  of  Josiah  king  of  Judah,  in  the 
 ninth  month,  that  they  proclaimed  a  fast  before 
 the  Loud  to  all  the  people  in  Jerusalem,  and 
 to  all  the  people  that  came  from  the  cities  of 
 JuiUih  unto  Jerusalem. 
 
 II)  Then  read  Barnch  in  the  book  the  words 
 of  Jeremiah  in  the  bouse  of  the  Lord,  in  the 
 chamber  of  Gemariah  the  son  of  Shaphan  the 
 scribe,  in  the  higher  court,  at  the  |{  '  entry  of 
 the  new  gate  of  the  Lord's  house,  in  the  cars 
 of  all  the  people. 
 
 1 1  H  When  Michaiah  the  son  of  Gemariah 
 the  son  of  Shaphan,  had  heard  out  of  the  book 
 all  the  words  of  tlie  Lord, 
 
 12  Then  he  went  down  into  the  king's  house, 
 into  the  scribe's  chamber :  and,  lo,  all  the 
 princes  sat  there,  even  Elisbama  the  scribe, 
 and  Delaiab  the  son  of  Sbemaiab,  and  Elna- 
 than  the  son  of  Aclibor,  and  Gemariah  the  son 
 of  Shaphan,  and  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Ilananiab, 
 .ind  all  the  princes. 
 
 13  Then  Michaiah  declared  unto  them  all 
 the  words  that  he  bad  beard,  when  Baruch 
 read  the  book  in  the  ears  of  the  people. 
 
 14  Therefore  all  the  princes  sent  Jehudi  the 
 son  of  Netbaniali,  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  the 
 sou  of  Cushi,  unto  Baruch,  saying.  Take  in 
 thine  band  the  roll  wbereiji  thou  hast  read  in 
 the  ears  of  the  people,  and  come.  So  Baruch 
 the  son  of  Neriah  took  the  roll  in  his  hand,  and 
 came  unto  them. 
 
 2fi.  3. 
 /c!i.  IS  8. 
 Jonah  3  H. 
 
 &  ■>S.  27- 
 38.  Acta 
 
 4  vcr.  S. 
 t  Hcb   tuir 
 
 S  Kin.  59. 
 II    U   91". 
 
 II  Or,  .,/ll,c 
 k  i'lj/ 
 
 15  And  they  said  unto  him.  Sit  down  now, 
 and  read  it  in  our  ears.  So  Baruch  read  it  in 
 their  cars. 
 
 IG  Now  it  came  to  pass,  when  they  bad  heard 
 all  the  words,  they  were  afraid  both  one  and 
 other,  and  said  unto  Baruch,  VVe  will  surely 
 tell  the  king  of  all  these  words. 
 
 17  And  tliey  asked  Baruch,  saying,  Tell  us 
 now,  How  didst  thou  write  all  these  words  at 
 his  mouth? 
 
 18  Then  Barnch  answered  them,  He  pro- 
 nounced all  these  words  unto  nic  with  bis 
 mouth,  and  1  wrote  thon  with  ink  in  the  book. 
 
 19  Then  said  the  princes  unto  Baruch,  Go, 
 bide  thee,  thou  and  Jeremiah  ;  and  let  no  man 
 know  where  ye  be. 
 
 •20  H  And  they  went  in  to  the  king  into  the 
 court,  but  they  laid  np  the  roll  in  the  chamber 
 of  Elisbama  the  scribe,  and  told  all  the  words 
 ill  the  ears  of  the  king. 
 
 21  So  the  king  sent  Jehudi  to  fetch  the  roll : 
 and  be  took  it  out  of  Elisbama  the  scribe's 
 chamber.  And  Jehudi  read  it  in  the  cars  of 
 the  king,  and  in  the  cars  of  all  the  princes 
 which  stood  beside  the  king. 
 
 22  Now  the  king  sat  in  "'  the  wiuterbouse  in 
 the  ninth  month:  and  there  was  ajirc  on  the 
 hearth  burning  before  him. 
 
 23  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Jehudi 
 had  read  three  or  four  leaves,  he  cut  it  with 
 the  penknife,  and  cast  it  into  the  fire  that  ims 
 on  the  hearth,  until  all  the  roll  was  consumed 
 in  the  (ire  that  tens  on  the  hearth. 
 
 24  Yet  they  were  not  afraid,  nor  "  rent  their 
 garments,  neither  (be  king,  nor  any  of  bis  ser- 
 vants that  heard  all  these  words. 
 
 25  Nevertheless  Ebiathan  and  Delaiab  and 
 Gemariah  bad  made  intercession  to  the  king 
 that  he  would  not  burn  the  roll :  but  he  would 
 not  hear  them, 
 
 2G  lint  the  king  commanded  Jerabmeel  the 
 son  II  of  Ilamniclech,  and  Seraiah  the  son  of 
 Azricl,  and  Shelemiah  the  son  of  Abdeel,  to 
 take  Baruch  the  scribe  and  Jeremiah  the  pro- 
 phet: but  the  Lord  hid  them. 
 
 27  t  Then  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to 
 Jeremiah,  after  that  the  king  bad  burned  the 
 roll,  and  the  words  which  Baruch  wrote  at  the 
 mouth  of  Jeremiah,  saying, 
 
 28  Take  (bee  again  another  roll,  and  write  in 
 it  all  the  former  words  that  were  in  (be  first 
 roll,  which  Jehoiakim  the  king  of  Judab  hath 
 burned. 
 
 29  And  thou  shalt  say  to  Jeboiakim  king  of 
 .ludab,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Thou  bast  binn- 
 ed this  roll,  saying.  Why  hast  thou  written 
 therein,  saying,  The  king  of  Babylon  shall  cer- 
 tainly come  and  destroy  this  land,  and  shall 
 cause  to  cease  from  thence  man  and  beast? 
 
 time,  yet  ho  was  ordered  to  reprove  their  sins,  (see  chap.  ii.  4  ;  iji.  12, 
 M,  &c.  ;  i.x.  26;   x.Kiii.  13  ;  .vxxii.  30,  32.)  3.  It  may  ItPt  ^1?.— God 
 
 fnrckncw  tliey  would  not,  but  he  here  speaks  after  the  manner  of  men  ; 
 tile  prophet  gave  warnintr,  and  the  offenders  acted  of  tlicmselves,  and 
 were  wilh.Mil  excuse.— £rf.,  so  I'rch.  Lowl/i,  and  GUI.  5.  /  am  shut 
 up — some  think  that  Jeremiah  wa^  a  prisoner,  or  under  some  restraint, 
 — so  Lowt/i ;  hut  we  do  not  read  of  it  in  the  fourth  year  of  Jehoiachim. 
 Poole.  He  was  eitlicr  confined  by  sickness,  or  prevented  from  going 
 t<J  the  temple  by  some  ctrcmonial  uncleanness.  as  death  in  his  family, 
 fidc. —  n  it.  lie  was  in  some  obscure  place,  to  which  he  was  obliged  to 
 retire  to  avoid  Jehoiachim.— ffeic.  Some  think  this  might  be  the 
 great  day  of  expiation  ;  and  others,  a  fast.— Scull.  6.  In  the  ems  nf 
 thr  pe„iile,  tlie  prophets  usually  published  their  sermons  in  tlie  audience 
 of  the  people,  (see  chap.  vii.  2 ;  xi.  6  ;  xvii.  20,)  which  were  afterwards 
 delivered  in  writing  for  common  mc.—Prfh.  Lmvtk.  Uprin  l/wfnstmt; 
 it'll/,  'upon  a  fast  day.'— i!;<j.  lo.  In  the  chnmber,  most  piob.ihly 
 824 
 
 from  the  window  or  balcony  that  looked  into  the  higher  court,  where 
 the  people  were  gathered  together  in  crowds  hch  'W.—niuipii'ii.  1  s.  i 
 wrote  them  wil/i  ink  in  tfie  book,  *  I  wrote  them  in  a  hottk  after  him.'— 
 Bootlic,  as  Bta.  ^c.  19.  Go^  hide  thee,  tliiiu  and  Jerentiit/i,  he-nee  it 
 may  be  safely  inferred  Jeremiah  was  not  in  close  confinement,  or  under 
 any  interdiction  from  the  king.—Ed.  22.  Winterliouse.  a  winler 
 parlour,  as  distinguished  from  a  summer  parlour,  (Judg.  iii. 20.)  Kings 
 had  their  summer  and  winter  houses,  (see  Amos,  iii.  15.)— Gi7/.  A 
 warm  apartment,  suited  to  Hie  season.  In  Palestine  there  is  often 
 snow  up'in  the  ground  in  Decenibcr,  though  it  d'tes  not  last  long.  On 
 llie  /learlli,  a  fire  on  the  licartti ;  a  pan  or  lirazier  of  burning  coals. 
 This  is  the  case  at  tlic  present  day.— ^.  Clarke.  '  There  was  set  before 
 him  a  hearth  with  burning  coals.'— Bto.  23.  Leaoi-s,  must  rather 
 mean  'columns' or  '  partitions.'- i*re6.  Aow^A.  *  Secti<ms.'— i?;uj/«rif. 
 IcXiiat.  'columns,'  Sept.  He  cut  it,  Jehudi  didso  at  the  king's  enm- 
 mand.— f?i//.        20.   Ilidlliem,  did  nut  permit  them  to  be  found  where 
 
Baruch  wriltlli  a  new  copy. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXVII. 
 
 Jeremiahs  imprisonment. 
 
 30  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lohd  of  Jehoia- 
 kim  king  of  Judah  ;  °  He  sluiU  have  none  to 
 sit  upon  the  throne  of  David  :  and  his  dead 
 body  shall  be  ''cast  out  in  the  day  to  the  heat, 
 and  in  the  nis;ht  to  the  frost. 
 
 31  And  I  will  f  punish  him  and  his  seed  and 
 his  servants  for  their  iniquity  ;  and  I  will  bring 
 upon  them,  and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 
 salem, and  upon  the  men  of  Juiiah,  all  the  evil 
 that  I  have  pronounced  against  them  ;  but 
 they  hearkened  nut. 
 
 Si  K  Then  took  Jeremiah  another  roll,  and 
 gave  it  to  Baruch  the  scribe,  the  son  of  Neriah ; 
 who  wrote  therein  from  the  mouth  of  Jere- 
 miah all  the  words  of  the  book  which  Jehoia- 
 kim  king  of  Judah  had  burned  in  the  fire:  and 
 there  were  added  besides  unto  them  many 
 flike  words. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVII. 
 
 ]  The  Efiyptmns  havinf)  raised  the  siege  of  the  Chal- 
 deans, king  Zedekiah  sendeth  to  Jeremiah  to  pray  for 
 the  people.  6  Jeremiah  prophesieth  the  Chaldeans* 
 certain  return  and  viUory.  II  He  is  taken  for  a 
 fugitive,  beaten,  and  put  in  prisoji,  16  -He  assureth 
 Zedekiah  of  the  captivity.  18  Intreating  for  his 
 liberty,  he  ohtaincth  some  favour. 
 
 \  ND  king  "  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Josiah 
 -^^  reigned  instead  of  Coniah  the  son  of  Je- 
 hoiakim,  whom  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Baby- 
 lon made  king  in  the  land  of  Judah. 
 
 2  ''  But  neither  he,  nor  his  servants,  nor  the 
 people  of  the  land,  did  hearken  unto  the  words 
 of  the  Lord,  which  he  spake  fby  the  prophet 
 Jeremiah. 
 
 3  And  Zedekiah  the  king  sent  Jehucal  the 
 son  of  Shelemiah  and  '"  Zephaniah  the  son  of 
 Maaseiah  the  priest  to  the  prophet  Jeremiah, 
 saying,  Pray  now  unto  the  Lord  our  God  for 
 us. 
 
 4  Now  Jeremiah  came  in  and  went  out 
 among  the  people  :  fur  they  had  not  put  him 
 into  prison. 
 
 5  Then  ''  Pharaoh's  army  was  come  forth  out 
 of  Egypt :  "  and  when  the  Chaldeans  that  be- 
 sieged Jerusalem  heard  tidings  of  them,  they 
 departed  from  Jerusalem. 
 
 6  f  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto 
 the  prophet  Jeremiah,  saying, 
 
 7  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel ; 
 Thus  shall  ye  say  to  the  king  of  Judah,  'that 
 sent  you  unto  me  to  enquire  of  me  ;  Behold, 
 Pharaoh's  army,  which  is  come  forth  to  help 
 you,  shall  return  to  Egypt  into  their  own  land. 
 
 8  ^  And  the  Chaldeans  shall  come  again,  and 
 
 0  ch.  22.  30. 
 p  ch.  22.  19. 
 
 t  Heb.  ( 
 
 Cir    599. 
 a  2  Kin.  24. 
 17.  -2  Chr. 
 36.  11). 
 ch.  23.  S4. 
 
 b  2  Chr.  36. 
 12,  14. 
 
 +  Hah.  bt  the 
 
 c  ch.  21.1,2. 
 &  29.  25.  8( 
 52.  24. 
 590. 
 
 dSee2Klu. 
 
 24.  7.  Eze. 
 
 17.  15. 
 e  ver.  II. 
 
 ch.  34.  21. 
 
 /oh.  21.  2. 
 
 tf  ch.  34.  22. 
 
 cir    I-'JO. 
 t  Hob.  iml, 
 
 II  Or,  l»  il!p 
 
 muUt  aj  llie 
 
 )  Heb. 
 /nlieliond, 
 
 \  Heb-  Ifl  my 
 fM. 
 
 n  ih   32.  2 
 &38.  13,23. 
 
 fight  against  this  city,  and  take  it,  and  bum 
 it  with  fire. 
 
 9  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Deceive  not  f  your- 
 selves, saying,  The  Chaldeans  shall  surely  de- 
 part from  us  :  for  they  shall  not  depart. 
 
 10  ■■  For  though  ye  had  smitten  the  whole 
 army  of  the  Chaldeans  that  fight  against  you, 
 and  there  remained  but  f  wounded  men  among 
 them,  7^f<  should  they  rise  up  every  man  in  his 
 tent,  and  burn  this  city  with  fire. 
 
 ill'  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  the 
 army  of  the  Chaldeans  was  f  broken  up  from 
 Jerusalem  for  fear  of  Pharaoh's  army, 
 
 Vl  Then  Jeremiah  went  forth  out  of  Jerusa- 
 lem to  go  into  the  land  of  Benjamin,  ||to  sepa- 
 rate himself  thence  in  the  midst  of  the  people. 
 
 13  And  when  he  was  in  the  gate  of  Benja- 
 min, a  captain  of  the  ward  was  there,  wliose 
 name  was  Irijah,  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  the  son 
 of  Hananiah  ;  and  he  took  Jeremiah  the  pro- 
 phet, saying,  Thou  fallest  away  to  the  Chal- 
 deans. 
 
 14  Then  said  Jeremiah,  It  is  f  false;  I  fall 
 not  away  to  the  Chaldeans.  But  he  hearkened 
 not  to  him  :  so  Irijah  took  Jeremiah,  and 
 brought  him  to  the  princes. 
 
 15  Wherefore  the  princes  were  wroth  with 
 Jeremiah,  and  smote  him,  'and  put  him  in  pri- 
 son in  the  house  of  Jonathan  the  scribe  :  for 
 they  had  made  that  the  prison. 
 
 16  t  When  Jeremiah  was  entered  into  '  the 
 dungeon,  and  into  the  ||  cabins,  and  Jeremiah 
 had  remained  there  many  days  ; 
 
 17  Then  Zedekiah  the  king  sent,  and  took 
 him  out :  and  the  king  asked  him  secretly  in 
 his  house,  and  said,  Is  there  any  word  from  the 
 Lord  ?  And  Jeremiah  said.  There  is :  for, 
 said  he,  thou  shall  be  delivered  into  the  hand 
 of  the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 18  Moreover  Jeremiah  said  unto  king  Zede- 
 kiah, What  have  I  offended  against  thee,  or 
 against  thy  servants,  or  against  this  people, 
 that  ye  have  put  me  in  prison? 
 
 19  Where  are  now  your  prophets  which  pro- 
 phesied unto  you,  saying.  The  king  of  Baby- 
 lon shall  not  come  against  you,  nor  against 
 this  land  ? 
 
 20  Therefore  hear  now,  I  pray  thee,  O  my 
 lord  the  king:  flet  my  supplication,  I  pray 
 thee,  be  accepted  before  thee;  that  thou  cause 
 me  not  to  return  to  the  house  of  Jonathan  the 
 scribe,  le.^t  I  die  there. 
 
 21  Then  Zedekiah  the  king  commanded  that 
 they  should  commit  Jeremiah  "into  the  court 
 
 they  had  hid  themselves. — Clarke.  30.  Cast  out,  hare  the  burial  of 
 an  ass.— G(7;.  So  it  took  place,  (chap.  xxii.  19.)  Heat— frost— in 
 Syria,  and  other  parts  of  the  east,  the  days  are  sultry  and  the  nights 
 frosty. — Har.     See  Gen.  xxxi.  40,  note. 
 
 Chap.  XXXVIl.—  1.  Made  king,  tributary,  (see  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  13  ; 
 Ezek.  xvii.  13.)— F;e4.  Lotelh.  15.  .Vnde  that  the  prison— eastern 
 prisons  are  not  public  buildings,  but  a  part  of  the  house  in  which  their 
 criminal  Judges  dwell.  It  would  now  mark  a  man's  office  of  import- 
 ance to  imprison  a  person  in  his  house.    It  is  probable  it  was  so 
 
 anciently,  and  that  Jonathan's  house  became  a  prison  when  he  wa.=. 
 made  the  royal  scribe. — Har.,  on  the  authority  of  Sir  J.  Chardin. 
 l6.  Dungeon,  probably  a  deep  pit,  open  at  top,  with  niches  at  the  sides. 
 — Bla.  20.  Lest  I  die  //(cje- an  eastern  jailor  is  master,  to  do  as 
 he  pleases ;  to  treat  the  prisoner  well  or  ill ;  to  put  him  in  irons  or  not ; 
 to  shut  him  up  close,  or  hold  him  in  easier  restraint;  to  admit  people 
 to  him,  or  suffer  nobody  to  see  him  ;  all  depends  on  the  presents  he  re- 
 ceives.— So  Sir  J.  Chardin.  21.  Court  o/ (Ae  prfw/i,  which  was  in  the 
 king's  house,  mentioned  in  chap,  xxxii.  2.— Bla.     The  bakers*  street — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVI.  — I.  Men  hate  God's  word, 
 because  it  reveals  God's  hatred  to  sin.  This  is  the  secret  of  all 
 the  opposition  made  against  it  by  infidels. 
 
 II.  Every  effort  has  been  in  vain  to  destroy  the  word  of  God. 
 Popery,  which  Las  used  religion  as  a  cloak  for  its  iniquities, 
 and  infidelity,  which  discards  all  semblance  of  religion,  have 
 alike  aimed  at  its  destruction.  Violence  and  sophistry  have 
 combined,  and  the  two  extremes  of  superstition  and  incredu- 
 lity have  here  met  together,  and,  like  Herod  and  Pontius 
 Filiate,  become  friends  in  one  common  persecuting  object. 
 The  book  of"  God  has  been  suppressed  by  edicts  ot  men  ;  but 
 823 
 
 the  edict  of  the  Most  Hiiib  has  proved  that  it  is  he  alone  that 
 can  do  whatsoever  he  hatli  pleased.  It  has  been  cried  down, 
 but,  like  the  Israelites  of  old,  the  more  it  has  been  oppressed, 
 the  more  it  has  increased  ;  and  the  enemies  of  the  sacred 
 records  may  now  in  vain  hope  for  their  extirpation,  circulated 
 as  they  are  in  every  language  and  in  every  tongue  throughout 
 the  face  of  the  earth.  While  there  are  some  who  would  yet 
 destroy  the  Bible,  let  us  bind  it  to  our  hearts,  as  '  the  word  of 
 God  which  efl'ectually  worketh  in  them  that  believe,'  and 
 which,  as  the  deposit  of  sacred  truth,  '  abideth  for  ever.' 
 
 5   N 
 
Jeremiah  put  into  a  dungeon. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXVIII. 
 
 He  comiselleth  Zedekiah. 
 
 of  the  prison,  and  that  they  should  give  him 
 daily  a  piece  of  bread  out  of  the  bakers' street, 
 °  until  all  the  bread  in  the  city  were  spent. 
 Thus  Jeremiah  remained  in  the  court  of  the 
 prison. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVIII. 
 
 I  Jeremiah,  by  a  false  siic}(]estionjis  put  into  the  dun- 
 geon of  Mirlchiah.  7  Ebcd-mdtch,hy  suit,  getteth 
 him  some  enlart/ement,  14  Upon  secret  conference  he 
 counselleth  the  king  by  yielding  to  save  his  life.  24 
 By  the  king's  instructions  he  concealcth  the  conference 
 from  the  princes. 
 
 'T'HEN  Shepliatiah  tlie  son  of  Mattan,  and 
 ■*•  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Pashur,  and'Jucal  the 
 son  of  Shelemiah,  and  ''  Pashur  the  son  of 
 Malchiah,  "  heard  tlie  words  that  Jeremiah  had 
 spoken  unto  all  the  people,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  ''  He  that  remaineth 
 in  this  city  shall  die  by  the  sword,  by  the  fa- 
 mine, and  by  the  pestilence:  but  he  thatgoeth 
 forth  to  the  Chaldeans  shall  live ;  for  he  shall 
 have  his  life  for  a  prey,  and  shall  live. 
 
 3  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  '  This  city  shall  surely 
 be  given  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon's 
 army,  which  shall  take  it. 
 
 4  Therefore  the  princes  said  unto  the  king, 
 We  beseech  thee,  'let  this  man  be  put  to 
 death  :  for  thus  he  weakeneth  the  hands  of  the 
 men  of  war  that  remain  in  this  city,  and  the 
 hands  of  all  the  people,  in  speaking  such  words 
 unto  them  :  for  this  man  seeketh  not  the  fwel- 
 fare  of  this  people,  but  the  hurt. 
 
 5  Then  Zedekiah  the  king  said,  Behold,  he  is 
 in  your  hand  :  for  the  king  is  not  he  that  can 
 do  awj  thing  against  you. 
 
 6  *  Then  took  they  Jeremiah,  and  cast  him 
 into  the  dungeon  of  Malchiah  the  son  ||  of 
 Hammelech,  that  loas  in  the  court  of  the  pri- 
 son :  and  they  let  down  Jeremiah  with  cords 
 And  in  the  dungeon  there  tvas  no  water,  but 
 mire :  so  Jeremiah  sunk  in  the  mire. 
 
 7  H  "^  Now  when  Ebed-melech  the  Ethiopian, 
 one  of  the  eunuchs  which  was  in  the  king's 
 house,  heard  that  they  had  put  Jeremiah  in 
 the  dungeon  ;  the  king  then  sitting  in  the  gate 
 of  Benjamin  ; 
 
 8  Ebed-melech  went  forth  out  of  the  king's 
 house,  and  spake  to  the  king,  saying, 
 
 9  My  lord  the  king,  these  men  have  done 
 evil  in  all  that  they  have  done  to  Jeremiah  the 
 prophet,  whom  they  have  cast  into  the  dun- 
 geon ;  and  f  he  is  like  to  die  for  hunger  in  the 
 place  where  he  is :  for  there  is  no  more  bread 
 in  the  city. 
 
 10  Then  the  king  commanded  Ebed-melech 
 the  Ethiopian,  saying.  Take  from  hence  thirty 
 men  f  with  thee,  and  take  up  Jeremiah  the 
 prophet  out  of  the  dungeon,  before  he  die. 
 
 n  cb.  38.  9. 
 &52.  6. 
 
 a  ch.  37.  3. 
 6  ch.  21.  1- 
 c  ch.  81.  9. 
 
 (Ch.  21.  10. 
 &33.  3. 
 
 t  llcb.  pMce 
 
 jch.  .17  21. 
 II  Or,  o/rte 
 
 dit. 
 
 I  Or,  ptn 
 
 n  2  Kin.  24 
 12. 
 cli.  39.  3. 
 
 f  Heb.  .V»'. 
 
 q  ch.  S9.  6. 
 &  11.  10. 
 r  vec.  18. 
 
 11  So  Ebed-melech  took  the  men  with  him, 
 and  went  into  the  house  of  the  king  under  the 
 treasury,  and  took  thence  old  cast  clouts  and 
 old  rotten  rags,  and  let  them  down  by  cords 
 into  the  dungeon  to  Jeremiah. 
 
 12  And  Ebed-melech  the  Ethiopian  said  unto 
 Jeremiah,  Put  now  these  old  cast  clouts  and 
 rotten  rags  under  thine  armholes  under  the 
 cords.     And  Jeremiah  did  so. 
 
 13  '  So  they  drew  up  Jeremiah  with  cords, 
 and  took  hiin  up  out  of  the  dungeon  :  and  Je- 
 remiah remained  '  in  the  court  of  the  prison. 
 
 14  t  Then  Zedekiah  the  king  sent,  and  took 
 Jeremiah  the  prophet  unto  him  into  the  ||  third 
 entry  that  is  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  :  and 
 the  king  said  unto  Jeremiah,  I  will  ask  thee  a 
 thing  ;  hide  nothing  from  me. 
 
 15  Then  Jeremiah  said  unto  Zedekiah,  If  I 
 declare  it  unto  thee,  wilt  thou  not  surely  put 
 me  to  death?  and  if  I  give  thee  counsel,  wilt 
 thou  not  hearken  unto  me? 
 
 16  So  Zedekiah  the  king  sware  secretly  unto 
 Jeremiah,  saying.  As  the  Lord  livetli,  '  that 
 made  us  this  soul,  I  will  not  put  thee  to  death, 
 neither  will  I  give  thee  into  the  hand  of  these 
 men  that  seek  thy  life. 
 
 17  Then  said  Jeremiah  unto  Zedekiah,  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord,  the  God  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel ;  If  thou  wilt  assuredly  '"go  forth  "  unto 
 the  king  of  Babylon's  princes,  then  thy  soul 
 shall  live,  and  this  city  shall  not  be  burned 
 with  fire  ;  and  thou  shalt  live,  and  thine  house: 
 
 18  But  if  thou  wilt  not  go  forth  to  the  king 
 of  Babylon's  princes,  then  shall  this  city  be 
 given  into  the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  and  they 
 shall  burn  it  with  fire,  and  °  thou  shalt  not  es- 
 cape out  of  their  hand. 
 
 19  And  Zedekiah  the  king  said  unto  Jere- 
 miah, I  am  afraid  of  the  Jews  that  are  fallen  to 
 the  Chaldeans,  lest  they  deliver  me  into  their 
 hand,  and  they  ''  mock  me. 
 
 •20  But  Jeremiah  said.  They  shall  not  deliver 
 thee.  Obey,  I  beseech  thee,  the  voice  of  the 
 Lord,  which  I  speak  unto  thee  :  so  it  shall  be 
 well  unto  (hee,  and  thy  soul  shall  live. 
 
 21  But  if  thou  refuse  to  go  forth,  this  is  the 
 word  that  the  Lord  hath  shewed  me  : 
 
 22  And,  behold,  all  the  women  that  are  left 
 in  the  king  of  Judah's  house  shall  be  brought 
 forth  to  the  king  of  Babylon's  princes,  and 
 those  wotnen  shall  say,  f  Thy  friends  have  set 
 thee  on,  and  have  prevailed  against  thee  :  thy 
 feet  are  sunk  in  the  mire,  and  they  are  turned 
 away  back. 
 
 23  So  they  shall  bring  out  all  thy  wives  and 
 ■^  thy  children  to  the  Chaldeans  :  and  '  thou 
 shalt  not  escape  out  of  their  hand,  but  shalt  be 
 taken  by  the  band  of  the  king  of  Babylon  :  and 
 
 in  ancient  times,  as  now,  there  were  public  bakehouses;  and  there 
 might  be  a  temporary  regulation  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  soldiers,  as- 
 sembled from  other  places  to  defend  Jerusalem,  who  might  receive, 
 daily,  a  proper  quantity  of  bread  from  the  royal  bakehouses,  as  prac- 
 tised at  Algiers,  according  to  Dr.  S/taw ;  and  if  so,  nothing  could  be 
 more  natural  than  the  king's  order  for  a  daily  piece  of  bread. — So  Hnr. 
 Chap.  XX.Wlll.  — 5.  That  can  do  nni/  thing,  i.e.,  his  prerogative 
 could  avail  him  little  against  their  importunities. — Bla.  7.  Ebed. 
 metech  the  Ethiopian,  a  Cushite  ;  a  stranger ;  perhaps  a  negro,  whose 
 name  seems  to  imply  that  he  had  been  the  king's  slave. — Scott.  Sitting 
 
 in  the  gate,  to  try  causes,  and  receive  appeals  and  petitions  ;  or,  per- 
 haps, holding  a  council  of  war. — Henry.  10.  Take  thirty  m^n— the 
 king  seemed  determined  to  rescue  the  prophet  by  force,  if  the  princes 
 opposed.  1 1.  Took  thence  old  cast  clouts  and  old  rotten  rags,  most 
 hkcly  garments  unfitted  for  further  use  by  insects,  &c. —  Clarke. 
 14.  Third  entry,  or  'entrance.'  probably  the  part  called  '  the  covert  for 
 the  Sabbath,'  being  a  most  retired  place. — Bla.  22.  And  behold,  fyc., 
 •even  behold.' — Boothr.  These  very  women  shall  then  reproach  thee. 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  That  are  left,  intimates  a  defection  among  the 
 women,  and  that  some  had  privately  gone  over  to  the  Chaldeans. — 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.    XXXVII I.    Many  desire  the  him  and  for  him  ?' 
 
 prayers  of  God's  ministers  when  they  are  yet  indisposed  to  follow  II.  '  Those  that  will  not  hearken  to  God's  admonitions  when  they 
 
 their  exhortations.    '  Herein  they  put  a  cheat  upon  themselves,  are  in  prosperity,  would  be  glad  of  his  consolations  when  they  are 
 
 for  how  can  we  expect  that  God  should  hear  others  speaking  in  adversity ,-  but  how  can  they  then  expect  the   words  of 
 
 to  him  for  us,  if  we  will  not  hear  them  speaking  to  us  from  peace  V  '' 
 826 
 
Jerusalem  taken,  and 
 
 tthou  shall  cause  this  city  to  be  burned  with 
 fire. 
 
 24  1  Then  said  Zedekiah  unto  Jeremiah,  Let 
 no  man  know  of  these  words,  and  thou  shall 
 not  die. 
 
 •2,5  But  if  the  princes  hear  that  I  have  talked 
 with  thee,  and  they  come  unto  thee,  and  say 
 unto  thee.  Declare  unto  us  now  what  thou 
 hast  said  unto  the  king,  hide  it  not  from  us, 
 and  we  will  not  put  thee  to  death  ;  also  what 
 the  king  said  unto  thee  : 
 
 •20  Then  thou  shall  say  unto  them,  "I  pre- 
 s.ented  my  supplication  before  the  king,  that 
 he  would  not  cause  me  to  return  '  to  Jonathan'.s 
 house,  to  die  there. 
 
 '27  Then  came  all  the  princes  unto  Jeremiah 
 and  asked  him  :  and  he  told  them  according  to 
 all  these  words  that  the  king  had  commanded. 
 So  t  they  left  off  speaking  with  him ;  for  the 
 matter  was  not  perceived. 
 
 28  So  "Jeremiah  abode  in  the  court  of  the 
 prison  until  the  day  that  Jerusalem  was  taken  : 
 and  he  was  there  when  Jerusalem  was  taken. 
 CHAP.  XXXIX. 
 
 I  Jirusalem  is  fallen.  4  Zidekiali  is  made  blind,  and 
 sent  tn  Babijlon.  8  The  city  ruinated,  9  ilie  pcopL 
 captivated,  1 1  Nehuchadrezzar^s  ctiartfe  for  tlie 
 good  usatfC  of  Jeremiali.  15  God's  promise  to  Ebed- 
 melech. 
 
 IN  the  °  ninth  year  of  Zedekiah  king  of  Ju- 
 dah,  in  the  tenth  month,  came  Nebuchad- 
 rezzar king  of  Babylon  and  all  his  army  against 
 Jerusalem,  and  they  besieged  it. 
 
 2  And  in  the  eleventh  year  of  Zedekiah,  in 
 the  fourth  month,  the  ninth  day  of  the  month, 
 the  city  was  broken  up. 
 
 ,'5  ''  And  all  the  princes  of  tlie  king  of  Baby- 
 lon came  in,  and  sat  in  the  middle  gate,  even 
 Nergal-sharezer,  Samgar-nebo,  Sarsechim,  Rab- 
 saris,  Nergal-sharezer,  Rab-mag,  with  all  the 
 residue  of  the  princes  of  the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 4  1''  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Zede- 
 kiah the  king  of  Judah  saw  them,  and  all  the 
 men  of  war,  then  they  fled,  and  went  forth  out 
 of  the  city  by  night,  by  the  way  of  the  king's 
 garden,  by  the  gate  betwixt  the  two  walls : 
 and  he  went  out  the  way  of  the  plain. 
 
 3  But  the  Chaldeans'  army  pursued  after 
 them,  and  ''overtook  Zedekiah  in  the  plains  of 
 Jericho:  and  when  they  had  taken  him,  they 
 brought  him  up  to   Nebuchadnezzar  king  of 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XXXIX. 
 
 the  people  carried  aivuy  captive. 
 
 t  Hcb    //.'»'4 
 thntl  bum, 
 
 t  Meb.  //i".v 
 
 fZVl.im. 
 r<  rh.  37.21 
 &  iO.  14. 
 
 ed 
 
 i»  S  Kin.  2;l. 
 33. 
 
 t  Heb.  tpt'ki 
 ailh  him 
 iuilgnif'tts. 
 cli    1.  12. 
 
 /Eze.  1 
 compar 
 with  cli. 
 32.  4. 
 
 t  Heb.  with 
 Oco  tTme'i 
 chan,>,  or, 
 
 a  2  Kin.  25. 
 
 y,  cli.  r^8  18. 
 
 &  52.  13. 
 h  2  Kin.  25. 
 
 11, &c. 
 
 ch   52,  15, 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 chirf 
 
 t  Hfb    chi^f 
 iiftlicexeLU- 
 
 U.&c.    ^ee 
 Gen  37,  2ti. 
 t  Heb.  in 
 that  day. 
 
 ■2  Kin.  25. 
 
 1,8.0. 
 
 cb  527,&c 
 
 d  cli.  32,  4. 
 &  3S.  IS,  23. 
 
 t  Heb.  ,1 
 thill f  ft;' 
 
 k  cb.  40. 
 /  cb,  20. 
 
 «cb,  21. 
 (k  45  5. 
 p  1  Cbr.5 
 
 Babylon  to  "  Riblah  in  the  land  of  Hamath, 
 where  he  tgave  judgment  upon  him. 
 
 6  Tlien  the  king  of  Babylon  slew  the  sons  of 
 Zedekiah  in  Riblah  before  his  eyes :  also  the 
 king  of  Babylon  slew  all  the  nobles  of  Judah. 
 
 7  Moreover  '  he  put  out  Zedekiah's  eyes,  and 
 bound  him  t  with  chains,  to  carry  him  to 
 Babylon. 
 
 8  H  ^  And  the  Chaldeans  burned  the  king's 
 house,  and  the  bouses  of  the  people,  with  fire, 
 and  brake  down  the  walls  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 9  ''  Then  Nebuzar-adan  the  ||  f  captain  of  the 
 guard  carried  away  captive  into  Babylon  the 
 remnant  of  the  people  tlial  remained  in  the 
 city,  and  those  that  fell  away,  (hat  fell  to  him, 
 with  the  rest  of  the  people  that  remained. 
 
 10  But  Nebuzar-adan  the  captain  of  the 
 guard  left  of  the  poor  of  the  people,  which  had 
 nothing,  in  the  land  of  Judah,  and  gave  them 
 vineyards  and  fields  fat  the  same  time. 
 
 1 1  t  Now  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon 
 gave  charge  concerning  Jeremiah  fto  Nebuzar- 
 adan  the  captain  of  the  guard,  saying, 
 
 12  Take  him,  and  tloo's  well  to  liim,  and  do 
 him  no  harm  ;  but  do  unto  him  even  as  he  shall 
 say  unto  tliee. 
 
 13  So  Nebuzar-adan  the  captain  of  the  guard 
 sent,  and  Nebushasban,  Rab-saris,  and  Nergal- 
 sharezer,  Rab-mag,  and  all  the  kiugof  Babylon's 
 princes ; 
 
 14  Even  they  sent, '  and  took  Jeremiah  out  of 
 the  court  of  the  prison,  and  committed  him 
 '  unto  Gedaliah  th^  son  of  '  Aiiikam  the  son  of 
 Shaphan,  that  be  should  cany  him  home  :  so 
 he  dwelt  among  the  people. 
 
 15  1  Now  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 Jeremiah,  while  he  was  shut  up  in  the  court  of 
 the  prison,  saying, 
 
 16  Go  and  speak  to  '"  Ebed-melech  the  Ethio- 
 pian, saying.  Thus  sailh  the  Lord  of  liosts,  the 
 God  of  Israel  ;  Behold,"  I  will  bring  my  words 
 upon  this  city  for  evil,  and  not  for  good  ;  and 
 they  .shall  be  accoiiiplii-hcd  in  that  day  before 
 thee. 
 
 17  But  I  will  deliver  thee  in  tlial  day,  sailh 
 the  Lord  :  and  thou  sliall  not  be  given  into 
 the  hand  of  the  men  of  whom  thou  art  afraid. 
 
 18  For  I  will  surely  deliver  thee,  and  thou 
 shall  not  fall  by  the  sword,  but  °  tliy  life  shall 
 be  for  a  prey  unto  thee :  ''because  tliou  hast  put 
 thy  trust  in  me,  sailh  the  Lord. 
 
 Cliirhe.  24.  Let  no  man  know,  ^c.,  this  shews  that  the  king  really 
 feared  the  princes,  and  was  apprehensive  of  some  attempts  upon  tiie 
 prophet's  life. 
 
 CnAP.  XXXIX. —  2,  Broken  «p— the  way  of  taking  fortified  places 
 then  was  by  beating  down  the  walls  of  the  besieged  with  iron  rams 
 and  engines, — Poole.  The  breach  of  the  northern  wall  was  now  stormed, 
 after  a  siege  of  six  months. — Sut.  3.  Middle  gate,  '  gate  of  the  centre,' 
 Nergal-sharezer,  some  of  these  names  are  titles  of  office,  in  the  opinion  of 
 Blayneij.  Nergal  and  Nebo  were  idols  of  the  Cushitcs  and  Babylonians, 
 (2  kings,  xvii,  30 ;  Isa.  xlvi,  1,)  which  it  was  usual  to  prefix  to  the 
 names  of  their  great  men,  (Dan.  iv.  8.)  It  is  suspected  that  all  the 
 names  in  these  verses  relate  only  to  three  persons — See  Bin.,  and  Wit, 
 6.  RiUah,  thought  to  be  the  future  Antioch,— Cc^,  Wells,  Preb.  Lowtk. 
 Gave  jttdgment,  Zedekiah  had  sworn  allegiance  to  the  king  of  Babylon, 
 
 and  was  therefore  liable  to  be  tried  and  condemned  as  a  rebel  and 
 traitor,  (see  2  Chron,  xxxvi,  13;  Ezek.  xvii,  16,  \S.)—Bla.  6,  Stem 
 all  tlie  nobles— W\ey  had  sworn  falsely  to  the  Lord  and  to  the  king  of 
 Babylcm.and  now  the  Lord  exacted  their  oath,  (chap,  xxxiv.  IS.)— -S«^ 
 7.  Put  out  Zedekiah's  ei/es—see  2  Kings,  xxv.  7,  note.  S.  Tne  rem- 
 nant, that  had  not  deserted  during  the  siege,— /i/u.  That  fell  awny, 
 i.e.,  deserters,— jBooWii-.  Comp,  2  Kings,  xxv.  11.  11.  Charge  cnn- 
 cerninsr  Jeremiah— the  fulfilment  of  Jeremiah's  prophecies,  as  wcU  as 
 his  advice  to  Zedekiah,  had  probably  been  communicated  to  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar by  some  of  the  deserters  or  subsequent  captives,— i,'rf.,  so  Gill, 
 and  Clarke-  12,  Look  welt  to  him,  the  sense  is,  '  treat  him  kindly,' 
 —Boolhr.  13,  Rab.saris,  a  name  01'  office,  equivalent  tc  the  first 
 eunuch  or  chamberlain  of  the  court. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVIII.  —  1,  In  Zedekiah's  case 
 tee  see  a  common  inatanee  of  irresolution  in  obeying  the  icord  of 
 God.  There  is  a  sort  ot  tampering  with  the  messai;es  of  Hea- 
 ven :  men  waver  between  what  God  says  and  what  their  fellow- 
 men  say  ;  they  listen  for  awhile  to  heavenly  truth,  and  are,  at 
 the  moment,  inclined  to  obey  it — they  listen  again  to  the  voice 
 of  the  world,  and  suffer  that  to  prevail ! 
 
 11.  In  Zeilekiah's  case  we  see  the  last  warning  to  the  undecided. 
 The  last  warnint;  must  come  !  Let  the  sinner  continue  to 
 halt  much  longer  between  two  opinions,  and  lie  will  bo  un- 
 done for  ever  !  Should  he  hearken  to  God  1  or  should  he 
 827 
 
 hearken  to  men  1 
 
 Refuctions    on  Chap.    XXXl.X,  —  I.   Those  wm  wdl  not 
 
 rcqard  the  warnings  of  God's  vords  must  take  the  conseqvences- 
 •  ile  that,  being  "often  reproved,  hardeneth  his  neck,  shall 
 suddenly  be  destroyed,  and  that  without  remedy.' 
 
 II.  Those  who  serve  and  f Mr  God  will  find  friends  to  he'.p  them 
 in  the  greatest  extremities.  At  the  worst  the"y  are  prepared  for 
 every  event ;  but  God  often  interposes  for  them  in  a  wonder- 
 ful manner.  '  When  a  man's  ways  please  the  Lord  he  maketh 
 even  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  him.' 
 
Jeremiah  yoeth  to  Gedaliah. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XL.,  XLI.  The  dispersed  Jews  repair  unlo  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XL. 
 
 1  Jeremiah,  being  set  free  hi/  Ncbuzar-adan,  goeth  to 
 Gedaliah.     7  The  dispersed  Jews  repair  unto  him. 
 13  Johanun  revealing  IshmaeVs  conspiracy  is  not  be- 
 lieved. 
 'T'HE  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  the 
 -'•   Lord,  °  after  that  Nebuzar-adaii  the  captahi 
 of  the  guard  had  let  him  go  from  Ramah,  when 
 he  had   taken   him  being  bound  in    ||  chains 
 among  all  that  were  carried  away  captive  of 
 Jerusalem  and  Judah,  which  were  carried  away 
 captive  unto  Babylon. 
 
 2  And  the  captain  of  the  guard  took  Jeremiah, 
 and  ''  said  unto  him.  The  Loud  thy  God  hath 
 pronounced  this  evil  upon  this  place. 
 
 3  Now  the  Lord  hath  brought  it,  and  done 
 according  as  he  hath  said  :  "  because  ye  have 
 shmed  against  the  Lord,  and  have  not  obeyed 
 his  voice,  therefore  this  thing  is  come  upon  you. 
 
 4  And  now,  behold,  I  loose  thee  this  day  from 
 the  chains  which  ||  were  upon  thine  hand.  ''  If 
 it  seem  good  unto  thee  to  come  with  me  into 
 Babylon,  come ;  and  f  I  will  look  well  unto 
 thee  ;  but  if  it  seem  ill  unto  thee  to  come  with 
 me  into  Babylon,  forbear:  behold,  "all  the 
 land  is  before  thee  :  whither  it  seemeth  good 
 and  convenient  for  thee  to  go,  thither  go. 
 
 3  Now  while  he  was  not  yet  gone  back,  he 
 said.  Go  back  also  to  Gedaliah  the  son  of 
 Ahikam  the  son  of  Shaphan,  "■  whom  the  king  of 
 Babylon  bath  made  governor  over  the  cities 
 of  Judah,  and  dwell  with  him  among  the  people : 
 or  go  wheresoever  it  seemeth  convenient  unto 
 thee  to  go.  So  the  captain  of  the  guard  gave 
 him  victuals  and  a  reward,  and  let  him  go. 
 
 6  ^  Then  went  Jeremiah  unto  Gedaliah  the 
 son  of  Ahikam  to  ''  Mizpah  ;  and  dwelt  with 
 him  among  the  people  that  were  left  in  the  land. 
 
 7  1 '  Now  when  all  the  captains  of  the  forces 
 which  were  in  the  fields,  cveyi  they  and  their 
 men,  heard  tliat  the  king  of  Babylon  had  made 
 Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  governor  in  the 
 land,  and  had  committed  unto  him  men,  and 
 women,  and  children,  and  of  '  the  poor  of  the 
 land,  of  them  that  were  not  carried  away  cap- 
 tive to  Babylon  ; 
 
 8  Then  they  came  to  Gedaliah  to  Mizpah, 
 '  even  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  and  Jo- 
 hanan  and  Jonathan  the  sons  of  Kareah,  and 
 Seraiah  the  son  of  Tanhumeth,  and  the  sons  of 
 Ephai  the  Netophathite,  and  Jezaniah  the  son 
 of  a  Maachathite,  they  and  their  men. 
 
 r  Deut.  39. 
 24,  g5, 
 Dan.  9.  n. 
 
 11  Or,  an. 
 up,j„  ,l„„c 
 
 <ich.  39-  12 
 t  Heb.  /  <t,H 
 
 upitii  IhPe. 
 t  Gen.  20.15. 
 
 /a  Kin.  »5. 
 22,  &c. 
 
 g  Ob.  39.  14. 
 '•  Jud^.20.1. 
 
 t  Heb.  10 
 tinud  btfare. 
 And  so  vor. 
 10.  Deut    1. 
 38. 
 
 ,  2  Kin.  25. 
 25.  cb.  40. 
 
 9  And  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  the  son 
 of  Sliaphan  sware  unto  them  and  to  their  men, 
 saying.  Fear  not  f  to  serve  the  Chaldeans  : 
 dwell  in  the  land,  and  serve  the  king  of  Baby- 
 lon, and  it  shall  be  well  with  you. 
 
 10  As  for  me,  behold,  I  will  dwell  at  Mizpah, 
 to  serve  the  Chaldeans,  which  will  come  unto 
 us  :  but  ye,  gather  ye  wine,  and  summer  fruits, 
 and  oil,  and  put  them  in  your  vessels,  and 
 dwell  in  your  cities  that  ye  have  taken. 
 
 1 1  Likewise  when  all  the  Jews  that  were  in 
 Moab,  and  among  the  Ammonites,  and  in 
 Edom,and  thatwejcin  all  the  countries,  heard 
 that  the  king  of  Babylon  had  left  a  remnant  of 
 Judah,  and  that  he  liad  set  over  them  Geda- 
 liah the  sou  of  Ahikam  the  son  of  Shaphan  ; 
 
 12  Even  all  the  Jews  returned  out  of  all 
 places  whither  they  were  driven,  and  came  to 
 the  land  of  Judah,  to  Gedaliah,  unto  Mizpah, 
 and  gathered  wine  and  summer  fruits  very 
 much. 
 
 13  1[  Moreover  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah, 
 and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces  that  were  in 
 the  fields,  came  to  Gedaliah  to  Mizpah, 
 
 14  And  said  unto  him.  Dost  thuu  certainly 
 know  that  "'  Baalis  the  king  of  the  Ammonites 
 hath  sent  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  f  to 
 slay  thee?  But  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam 
 believed  them  not. 
 
 15  Then  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah  spake  to 
 Gedaliah  in  Mizpah  secretly,  saying,  Let  me 
 go,  I  pray  thee,  and  I  will  slay  Ishmael  the  son 
 of  Nethaniah,  and  no  man  shall  know  it :  where- 
 fore should  lie  slay  thee,  that  all  the  Jews 
 which  are  gathered  unto  thee  should  be  scat- 
 tered, and  the  remnant  in  Judah  perish  ? 
 
 16  I3nt  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  said  unto 
 Johanan  the  son  of  Kareali,  Thou  shall  not  do 
 this  thing ;  for  thou  speakest  falsely  of  Ishmael. 
 
 CHAP.  XLL 
 
 I  Ishmael,  treachernnsh/  killing  Gedaliah  and  others, 
 pnrpuseth  with  the  residue  tofiee  unto  the  Ammonites. 
 I  I  Johanan  recueereth  the  captives,  and  mindeth  to 
 jiee  into  Egypt. 
 
 "lyrOW  it  came  to  pass  in  the  seventh  month, 
 -'-~  "that  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  the 
 son  of  Elishama,  of  the  seed  royal,  and  the 
 princes  of  the  king,  even  ten  men  with  him, 
 came  unto  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  to 
 Mizpah  ;  and  there  they  did  eat  bread  together 
 in  Mizpah. 
 
 Chap.  XL.  —  1.  The  word,  ^c. — Uie  five  following  chapters  record 
 events  in  Judea  after  Jerusalem  was  taken,  till  the  residue  of  the  Jews 
 fled  into  Egypt. — Scott.  This  relates  to  the  prophecy,  chap.  xlii.  7. 
 Let  him  gij  from  Itaninfi,  where  it  appears  he  was  taken,  on  the  way 
 to  Babylon,  to  be  transported  thence. — Gill.  In  chains,  'haDdcuffs.' 
 — So  Kimchi,  Abarh.,  Ben  l^Ielech.  2.  Took  Jeremiah,  when  he  mus- 
 tered his  prisoners,  and  finding  him  there,  set  him  free.  T/ie  Lord  thy 
 God  hath  pronounced,  ffc.,  this  he  learnt  from  the  Jewish  captives. 
 3.  Ye  have  sinned,  meaning,  not  Jeremiah,  but  his  countrymen. — GUI. 
 i.  Look  welt — see  chap,  xx.xi.x.  12.  note.  6.  Mizpali,  a  town  in  the 
 confines  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  (Judg.  XX.  1  ;  1  Sam.  vii.  5,  6,)  re- 
 built, I  Kings,  XV.  22.  7.  Captains — in  tite  fields — the  Jewish  army 
 fled,  (chap,  xxxi.x.  4,)  and  dispersed  themselves,  but  now  repaired  to 
 Gedaliah. — Preb.  Lotvth.     Had  made  Gedaliah,  ^-c,  he  had,  perhaps, 
 
 previously  surrendered,  or  bore  a  high  character  for  integrity,  and  the 
 king  did  not  wish  wholly  to  desolate  the  land. — Scott.  R.  Netop/ia- 
 
 thite,  of  Netopbah,  a  town,  (see  Ezra,  ii.22.)  Maacfiathite,  probably  de- 
 scended from  Maachah,  Caleb's  concubine,  (1  Chron.  ii.  48.)  10.  Chat, 
 deans,  which  wilt  come,  king's  messengers,  with  orders.  —  So  Preb. 
 Lowth.  !1.  In  Moab,  .^-c.,  who  had  fled  thither  on  the  invasion. 
 
 12.  Fruits  very  much,  they  found  plenty  of  support,  the  Chaldeans 
 not  having  ravaged  these  parts,  and  the  people  being  carried  away. — 
 So  Gill.  14.  Hath  sent  Ishmael — to  slay  thee,  designing  to  make  the 
 remaining  Jews  vassals,  (see  chap.  xli.  \i).)—Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Ch.\p.  xli.  —  1.  Came  unto  Gedaliah,  Ishmael  and  ten  of  Zedekiah's 
 courtiers,  who  had  escaped  the  calamities  of  their  country,  came  to  do 
 further  mischief,  and,  under  the  semblance  of  paying  respects  to  the 
 new  governor,  while  he  was  hospitably  treating  them,  slew  him  and 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XL. —  I.  Those  wbo  are  in  bumble 
 lite  may  learn  from  tbe  incidents  in  this  chapter  to  be  more 
 contented  with  their  lot.  But  a  little  while  before,  doubtless, 
 tbose  who  were  in  elevated  stations  were  looked  upon  with 
 envy  by  tbose  beneath  tbem  ;  but  behold  them  become  ob- 
 jects ot  the  most  extreme  pity.  Tliey  were  carried  away  from 
 their  possessions,  and  marched  in  chains  into  exile  ;  and  the 
 more  exalted  tlieir  rank,  the  greater  was  their  fall ;  while  the 
 poor  of  the  land  were  suftered  to  remain  in  quietness,  and  en- 
 joy Its  (ruits.  '  A  poor  man's  condition  is  more  safe  than  a 
 828 
 
 rich  man's  in  times  of  national  confusion.' 
 
 II.  Tiiose  who  are  in  the  higher  ranks  may  here  see  the  in- 
 stability of  all  earthly  dignities  and  enjoT/ments.  The  changes 
 here  producefl  were  not  peculiar  to  Judea.  Tbe  history  of 
 every  age  relates  destructive  revolutions  and  fatal  wars!  Our 
 own  days  have  been  prolific  in  national  troubles  all  around  us, 
 and  the  ruin  and  exile  of  multitudes  of  men  of  rank.  Let  us, 
 then,  not  envy  the  great,  and  especially  the  ungodly  great,  of 
 whom  it  may  indeed  be  said,  '.Surely  tboa  bast  set  them  in 
 slippery  places  j  thou  castedst  them  down  to  destruction !' 
 
Ishmael  hilletk  Oedaliah. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLII. 
 
 Johanan  rccovereth  the  captives. 
 
 2  Then  arose  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah, 
 and  the  ten  men  that  were  with  liim,  and 
 '■  smote  Gedahah  the  son  of  Aliikam  the  son 
 of  Shaphan  with  the  sword,  and  slew  him, 
 whom  the  king  of  Babylon  had  made  governor 
 over  the  land. 
 
 3  Ishmael  also  slew  all  the  Jews  that  were 
 with  him,  even  with  Gedaliah,  at  Mizpah,  and 
 tlie  Chaldeans  tliat  were  found  there,  and  the 
 men  of  war. 
 
 4  And  it  came  to  pass  the  second  day  after 
 he  had  slain  Gedaliah,  and  no  man  knew  it, 
 
 5  That  there  came  certain  from  Shechem, 
 from  Sliiloh,  and  from  Samaria,  even  fourscore 
 men,  '  having  their  beards  shaven,  and  their 
 clothes  rent,  and  having  cut  themselves,  with 
 offerings  and  incense  in  their  hand,  to  bring 
 t/iem  to  -'  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 C  And  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  went 
 forth  from  Mizpah  to  meet  them,  f  weeping  all 
 along  as  he  went :  and  it  came  to  pass,  as  he 
 met  them,  he  said  unto  them.  Come  to  Geda- 
 liah the  son  of  Ahikam. 
 
 7  And  it  was  so,  when  they  came  into  the 
 midst  of  the  city,  that  Ishmael  the  son  of  Ne- 
 thaniah slew  them,  and  °  cast  them  into  the 
 midst  of  the  pit,  he,  and  the  men  that  were 
 with  him. 
 
 8  But  ten  men  were  found  among  them  that 
 said  unto  Ishmael,  Slay  us  not:  for  we  have 
 treasures  in  the  field,  of  wheat,  and  of  barley, 
 and  of  oil,  and  of  honey.  So  he  forbare,  and 
 slew  them  not  among  their  bretliren. 
 
 9  Now  the  pit  wherein  Ishmael  had  cast  all 
 the  dead  bodies  of  the  men,  whom  he  had 
 slain  lit  because  of  Gedaliah,  was  it  ''which 
 Asa  the  king  had  made  for  fear  of  Baasha  king 
 of  Israel  :  and  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah 
 filled  it  with  them  that  were  slain. 
 
 10  Then  Ishmael  carried  away  captive  all  the 
 residue  of  tlie  people  that  were  in  Mizpah, 
 ^  even  the  king's  daughters,  and  all  the  people 
 that  remained  in  Mizpah,  "  whom  Nebuzar- 
 adan  the  captain  of  the  guard  had  committed 
 to  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  :  and  Ishmael 
 the  son  of  Nethaniah  carried  them  away  cap- 
 tive, and  departed  to  go  over  to  '  the  Am- 
 monites. 
 
 B.C.  589. 
 
 6  2  Kin.  25. 
 
 25. 
 
 c  Lev  11127, 
 28.  Deu.  U. 
 1-  Is.  15.  2. 
 
 d  See  2  Kin. 
 
 \  Heb.  in 
 
 II  Or,  ,.r„r 
 Gftnttah. 
 
 \   Heb-  ht,  t/f 
 hand,  or,  h^ 
 Ihe  niilr  "f 
 G^tlalinh. 
 
 /'I  Km.  15. 
 22.  1  Chr. 
 16  e. 
 
 g  ch.  43.  C. 
 
 h  ch     III    7. 
 
 k  ch.  40.  7, 
 S,  13. 
 
 (  2  6am.  2. 
 13. 
 
 ■it->  Sam.  19. 
 
 37, ;«. 
 
 I  Or,  Let  im 
 
 fall  before 
 tliee. 
 
 11  1i  But  when  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah, 
 and  all  ^  the  captains  of  the  forces  that  ivere 
 with  him,  heard  of  all  the  evil  that  Ishmael  the 
 son  of  Nethaniah  had  done, 
 
 12  Then  they  took  all  the  men,  and  went 
 to  fight  with  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah, 
 and  found  him  by  '  the  great  waters  that  are  in 
 Gibeon. 
 
 13  Now  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  all  the 
 people  which  ivere  with  Ishmael  saw  Johanan 
 the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the  captains  of  the 
 forces  that  ivere  with  him,  then  they  were  glad. 
 
 14  So  all  the  people  that  Ishmael  had  carried 
 away  captive  from  Mizpah  cast  about  and  re- 
 turned, and  went  unto  Johanan  the  son  of  Ka- 
 reah. 
 
 15  But  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  escaped 
 from  Johanan  with  eight  men,  and  went  to  the 
 Ammonites. 
 
 16  Then  took  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah, 
 and  all  t!ie  captains  of  the  forces  that  were 
 with  him,  all  the  remnant  of  the  people  whom 
 he  had  recovered  from  Ishmael  the  son  of  Ne- 
 thaniah, from  Mizpah,  after  that  he  had  slain 
 Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  e??ert  mighty  men 
 of  war,  and  the  women,  and  the  children,  and 
 the  eunuchs,  whom  he  had  brought  again  from 
 Gibeon  : 
 
 17  And  they  departed,  and  dwelt  in  the  ha- 
 bitation of  "'  Chiniham,  which  is  by  Beth- 
 lehem, to  go  to  enter  into  Egypt, 
 
 18  Because  of  the  Chaldeans:  for  they  were 
 afraid  of  them,  because  Ishmael  the  son  of 
 Nethaniah  had  slain  Gedaliah  the  son  of 
 Ahikam,  "  whom  the  king  of  Babylon  made 
 governor  in  the  land. 
 
 CHAP.  XLII. 
 
 I  Johanan  desircth  Jeremiah  to  inquire  of  Gody  pro- 
 mising  obedience  to  his  will.  7  Jeremiah  assurcth 
 him  of  safety  in  Juderty  \^  and  destruction  in  Efjypt. 
 19  He  reproveth  their  hypocrisy ,  in  requiring  of  the 
 Lord  that  ivhich  they  meant  not. 
 
 npHEN  all  the  captains  of  the  forces,  **  and 
 -■-    Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  Jezaniah 
 the  son  of  Hoshaiah,  and  all  the  people  from 
 the  least  even  unto  the  greatest,  came  near, 
 2  And  said  unto  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  ||  Let, 
 
 his  court. — Sut.  2.  Smote  Gedaliah,  because  he  thought  that,  being 
 (if  the  seed  royal,  he  had  a  better  claim  to  the  governmcjit.— fi«oi/jr. 
 5.  Shechem— Samaria — Samaria,  a  province  and  city  ;  Shechem,  a  city 
 within  that  province,  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  (Josh.  xx.  7.)  These 
 places  were  now  inhabited  by  a  mi.xed  people,  partly  Jews,  and  partly 
 such  as  the  king  of  Assyria  had,  upon  his  conquest  of  the  ten  tribes, 
 brought  to  inhabit  there. — Poole.  Having  their  beards  shaven,  and 
 their  clothes  rent,  as  mourners  for  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  and  the 
 captivity  of  the  people ;  such  mourninp  was  agreeable  to  the  law.  And 
 having  cut  thetnselves — to  cut  their  flesh  was  forbidden,  (Lev.  xix.  2s  ; 
 Deut.  xiv.  1 ;)  so  that  these  people  seem  to  have  retained  some  hea- 
 thenish customs.— Gi7/,  Poole.  To  the  house  of  the  Lord— the  spot 
 where  it  stood  was  evidently  used  for  sacred  purposes  before  the  temple 
 was  rtbuilt,  (see  Ezra,  iii.  2,  3,  8iC.)—Dla.  6.  Weeping,  counterfeit- 
 ing a  mutual  sorrow.— S/j.  Hall.  7.  He  and  the  men,  all  were  con- 
 cerned in  this  butchery, — So  Gill.  8.  For  ine  have  treasures,  inti- 
 mating that  Uiey  would  make  him  master  of  what  they  possessed,  if  he 
 would  spare  their  lives.— P/efi.  Lowth.  In  the  field— m  Barbary,  when 
 the  grain  is  winnowed,  it  is  loclgea  in  suKcrraneous  repositories,  two 
 or  three  hundred  of  which  are  sometimes  together,  the  smallest  holding 
 400  bushels. — Shaw.  They  are  in  great  numbers  near  Aleppo. — Russet. 
 There  are  deep  pits  at  Rama,  in  the  Holy  Land,  designed  for  corn.— Le 
 
 Bruyn.  Three  htrge  vaults  at  Joppa  were  used  for  the  laying  up  of 
 grain. — Ranwotff.  Doubtless  the  treasures  here  mentioned  were  laid 
 up  in  the  same  kind  of  repositories. — Har.  And  of  oil—the  modern 
 Greeks  do  not  keep  their  oil  in  cellars,  but  in  large  earthen  jars  sunk 
 in  the  ground. — Chandler.  The  custom  might  obtain  among  the  Jews. 
 It  is  certain  they  sometimes  buried  their  oil  in  the  earth,  to  secret  it  in 
 times  of  danger,  on  which  occasion  they  must  be  supposed  to  choose 
 the  most  unlikely  places,  such  as  their  fields. — Har.  During  the  time 
 of  the  Kandian  war,  many  prisoners  received  lenient  treatment  because 
 of  the  assurance  that  they  had  treasures  hid  in  the  field,  which  should 
 be   the   property   of  their  keepers. — Rob.  g.  Pit — Asa  had  made, 
 
 rather  a  bason,  cistern,  or  reservoir  for  rain  water,  which  Asa  had 
 made  in  Mizpeh,  to  supply  it  during  the  siege  by  Baasha,  (see  1  Kings, 
 XV.  2'2.}—Bta.  10.  The  king's  daughters,  probably  by  his  concu- 
 
 bines,  and  so,  not  being  royal,  but  little  regarded  by  the  king  of  Baby. 
 Ion.  II.  ./»^//'(»(/;/— see  chap.  xl.  8,  13,  16  ;  the  same  that  had  warned 
 Gedaliah.— Gi7^  12.  Great  waters,  called  '  the  pool,*  or  lake,  (2  Sam. 
 ii.  i:i.)—Bla.  17,  Habitation  of  Chimham,  a  parcel  of  ground  which 
 David  had  settled  upon  Chimham,  the  son  of  Barzillai,  (2  Sam.  xix. 
 33,  40.)  18.  Afraid,  lest  this  insurrection  against  the  governor  ap- 
 pointed  by  the  king  should  be  imputed  to  the  whole  body  of  the  Jews. 
 ■ — Preb.  Lou'th. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLI.  —I.  Hotu  depraved  is  man.' 
 Ishmael  was  not  the  only  brute  in  human  form,  who  treacher- 
 ously imbued  his  hands  in  human  blood  ;  every  page  of  his- 
 tory exhibits  crimes  equally  enormous  !  The  heart  is '  deceit- 
 ful above  all  things;'  and  it  is  no  less  true  that  it  is  not  only 
 morally  weak  and  diseased,  but  '  desperately  wicked.' 
 
 II.  I foio  odious  is  hypocrisy/  Here  was  a  man  with  congra- 
 tulations on  his  lips,  and  murder  in  his  Iteart— who  could  teikn 
 S'29 
 
 tears  of  sympathy,  while  he  was  planning  deeds  of  cruelty  ! 
 We  read  of  such  a  brute  with  honest  iudignition.  But  if 
 hypocrisy  be  so  odious  in  the  sight  of  men,  what  must  it  be 
 in  the  sight  of  God?  And  if  hypocrisy  be  vile  in  common 
 matters,  how  much  is  the  crime  enhanced  in  matters  of  reli- 
 gion !  May  we  have  grace  to  serve  God  acceptably  'in  sin- 
 cerity and  in  truth.' 
 
Johanan's  false  promise  of  obedience. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLIII. 
 
 The  prophet  reproveth  hypocrisi/. 
 
 we  beseech  thee,  our  supplication  be  accepted 
 before  thee,  and  ''  pray  for  us  unto  the  Lord 
 thy  God,  even  for  all  this  remnant  ;  (for  we  are 
 left  but  "  a  few  of  many,  as  thine  eyes  do  be- 
 hold us  :) 
 
 3  That  the  Lord  thy  God  may  shew  us  "^  the 
 way  wherein  we  may  walk,  and  the  thing  that 
 we  may  do. 
 
 4  Then  Jeremiah  the  prophet  said  unto  them, 
 I  have  heard  yoxi ;  behold,  I  will  pray  unto  the 
 Lord  your  God  according  to  your  words;  and 
 it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  °  whatsoever  thing 
 the  Lord  shall  answer  you,  I  will  declare  it 
 unto  you  ;  I  will  'lieep  nothing  back  from  you. 
 
 5  Then  they  said  to  Jeremiah,  ^  The  Lord 
 be  a  true  and  faithful  witness  between  us,  if  we 
 do  not  even  according  to  all  things  for  the 
 which  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  send  thee 
 to  us. 
 
 6  Whether  it  be  good,  or  whether  it  he  evil, 
 we  will  obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord  our  God, 
 to  whom  we  send  thee  ;  ^  that  it  may  be  well 
 with  us,  when  we  obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
 our  God. 
 
 7  H  And  it  came  to  pass  after  ten  days,  that 
 the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  Jeremiah. 
 
 8  Then  called  he  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah, 
 and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces  whicli  were 
 with  him,  and  all  the  people  from  the  least 
 even  to  the  greatest, 
 
 9  And  said  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord, 
 the  God  of  Israel,  unto  whom  ye  sent  me  to 
 present  your  supplication  before  him  ; 
 
 10  If  ye  will  still  abide  in  this  land,  then 
 '  will  I  build  you,  and  not  pull  you  down,  and 
 1  will  plant  you,  and  not  pluck  you  up  :  for  I 
 '  repent  me  of  the  evil  that  I  have  done  unto 
 you. 
 
 1 1  Be  not  afraid  of  the  king  of  Biibylon,  of 
 whom  ye  are  afraid  ;  be  not  afraid  of  him,  saith 
 the  Lord  :  '  for  I  am  with  you  to  save  you, 
 and  to  deliver  you  from  his  hand. 
 
 12  And  "  I  will  shew  mercies  unto  you,  that 
 he  may  have  mercy  upon  you,  and  cause  you 
 to  return  to  your  own  land. 
 
 13  T  But  if  "ye  say,  We  will  not  dwell  in 
 this  land,  neither  obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord 
 your  God, 
 
 14  Saying,  No  ;  but  we  will  go  into  the  land 
 of  Egypt,  where  we  shall  see  no  war,  nor  hear 
 tlie  sound  of  the  trumpet,  nor  have  hunger  of 
 bread  ;  and  there  will  we  dwell  : 
 
 1j  And  now  therefore  hear  the  word  of  the 
 Lord,  ye  remnant  of  Judah  ;  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel  ;  If  ye  "wholly 
 set  ''your  faces  to  enter  into  Egypt,  and  go  to 
 sojourn  there  ; 
 
 U)  Then  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  the  sword, 
 '■which  ye  feared,  shall  overtake  you  there  in 
 the  land  of  Egypt,  and  the  famine,  whereof  ye 
 were  afraid,  fshall  follow  close  after  you  there 
 
 B.   C.  583 
 
 6  I  Sam.  7  8. 
 
 8t  l*i.  19. 
 
 la.  37.  4. 
 
 Jam.  5.  16. 
 c  Lev.  26. 22 
 
 A  Peu.  6.  S. 
 ch.  7.  23. 
 
 .  ,Ii  24  6, 
 ^  .HI .  28.  * 
 3.-J   7. 
 
 0  Drat.  IJ. 
 
 ifi.  rli.  1.1. 
 
 12.  13,  11. 
 f  Luke  9.  51 
 
 t  Heb  thnll 
 cU,,„  njte, 
 yau. 
 
 ch.  -24.  HI. 
 ver.  ?-2. 
 See  ch.  44. 
 14,28. 
 
 »  oh.  IS.  16. 
 ftt  2».  9.  fa 
 
 ■20.  6.  &  29 
 18,2?.  ft  44. 
 12.  Zcch. 
 8.  18. 
 
 t  Heb.  trili- 
 Ji*ft  agaiiitl 
 
 1  Or,  I.,  f  0 
 tn  t-'joum. 
 
 in  Egypt  ;  and  there  ye  shall  die. 
 
 17  fSo  shall  it  be  with  all  the  men  that  set 
 their  faces  to  go  into  Egypt  to  sojourn  there  ; 
 they  shall  die '  by  the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and 
 by  the  pestilence:  and  "none  of  them  shall 
 remain  or  escape  from  the  evil  that  I  will  bring 
 upon  them. 
 
 18  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
 of  Israel  ;  As  mine  anger  and  my  fury  hath 
 been  '  poured  forth  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Je- 
 rusalem ;  so  shall  my  fury  be  poured  forth 
 upon  you,  when  ye  shall  enter  into  Egypt;  and 
 "ye  shall  be  an  execration,  and  an  astonish- 
 ment, and  a  curse,  and  a  reproach  ;  and  ye 
 shall  see  this  place  no  more. 
 
 1 9  f  The  Lord  hath  said  concerning  you,  O 
 ye  remnant  of  Judah  ;  '  Go  ye  not  into  Egypt : 
 know  certainly  that  I  have  f  admonished  you 
 this  day. 
 
 20  For  II  ye  dissembled  in  your  hearts,  when 
 ye  sent  me  unto  the  Loud  your  God,  saying, 
 '  Pray  for  us  unto  the  Lord  our  God  ;  and  ac- 
 cording unto  all  that  the  Lord  our  God  shall 
 say,  so  declare  unto  us,  and  we  will  do  (7. 
 
 21  And  noic  I  have  tliis  day  declared  it  to 
 you  ;  but  ye  have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  the 
 Lord  your  God,  nor  any  thiny  for  the  which 
 he  bath  sent  me  unto  you. 
 
 22  Now  therefore  know  certainly  that  '  ye 
 shall  die  by  the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and  by 
 the  pestilence,  in  the  place  whither  ye  desire 
 II  to  go  and  to  sojourn. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIII. 
 
 I  Johanan  discrediting  Jeremiah's  jn-ophecy,  cnrrielh 
 Jeremiah  and  others  into  Egypt.  8  Jeremiah  prop/ie- 
 sieth  by  a  type  the  conquest  of  Egypt  by  the  Baby- 
 lonians, 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Jeremiah 
 -^^had  made  an  end  of  speaking  unto  all  the 
 people  all  the  words  of  the  Lord  their  God,  for 
 which  the  Lord  their  God  had  sent  hiin  to 
 them,  even  all  tliese  words, 
 
 2  °  Then  spake  Azariah  the  son  of  Hoshaiah, 
 and  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the 
 proud  men,  saying  unto  Jeremiah,  Thou  sjieak- 
 est  falsely:  the  Lord  our  God  hath  not  sent 
 thee  to  say.  Go  not  into  Egypt  to  sojourn 
 there: 
 
 3  But  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah  setteth  thee 
 on  against  us,  for  to  deliver  us  into  the  hand  of 
 the  Chaldeans,  that  they  miglit  put  ns  to  death, 
 and  carry  us  away  captives  into  Babylon. 
 
 4  So  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the 
 captains  of  the  forces,  and  all  the  peojile,  obey- 
 ed not  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  to  dwell  in  the 
 land  of  Judah. 
 
 5  But  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the 
 captains  of  the  forces,  took  ''all  tlie  remnant  of 
 Jiidab,  that  were  returned  from  all  nations, 
 whither  they  had  been  driven,  to  dwell  in  the 
 land  of  Judah  ; 
 
 Chap.  XLII.— 10.  Repent  me,  not  that  he  had  been  unjust  or  changed  dissemljled,  they  had  previously  resolved  on  going  into  Egypt,  (chap, 
 
 his  mind,  but  had  compassion  on  them,  and  would  change  his  way  and  xli.  17.) — ^Vil- 
 
 course  of  providence. — GiU.         19.  Go  ye  nut  into  Egvpt—^ce  Deut.         CuAp.  XLIII.  —  2.  Azariah,  called  .Tczaniah,  chap.  xlii.   I,  many 
 
 xvii.  16 ;  there  was  danger  from  Egyptian  idolatry,  and  this  was  now  having  two  names. — So  Preb.  Lawth.      It  is  not  certain  that  it  is  the 
 
 the  rival  kingdom  for  power  with  Babylon.— Prcfi.  Lowth.        20.  Ye  same  person. — Poote.    It  might  have  been  a  brother.— £d.     . 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.*p.  XLII.  —  I.  Men  of  ten  ask  counsel  of  and  bis  grace  ! 
 
 God,  and  yet  are  resolved  to  follow  their  own  way.     This  is  in-  II.   Those  tcho  take  their  own  course,  in  opposition  to  that  7narked 
 
 suiting  God,  and  we  cannot  do  better  than  passively  to  submit  out  in  God's  word,  rnnst  eventually  bring  upon  themselves  the  great- 
 
 to  the  dictates  of  his  providence.     Many,  too,  are  desirous  of  est  evils,  if  not  irretrievable  ruin.      Repenlanco  may  come  to  a 
 
 hearing  about  tlie  way  of  salvation,  but  they  are  disinclined  to  few  ere  it  be  too  late,  but  the  most  become  hardened  and  iii- 
 
 be  saved  exactly  in  God's  way  ;  they  must  follow  tbeir  own  fatuated  ;  and  '  if  we  make  ourselves  vile  by  our  sins,  he  will 
 
 inclinations,  and  so  pour  contempt  upon  liis  word,  bis  wisdom,  make  us  viler  by  liis  judgmeuls.' '' 
 830 
 
The  conquest  of  Eriypt  prophesied. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLIV. 
 
 TIte  deso/atiun  of  Judah  for  idolatry. 
 
 6  Even  men,  and  women,  and  children,  ■■'  and 
 the  king's  daughters,  ''  and  every  person  that 
 Nebuzar-adan  the  captain  of  the  guard  liad  left 
 with  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikani  the  son  of 
 Shaphan,  and  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  and  Ba- 
 ruch  the  son  of  Neriah. 
 
 7  So  they  came  into  the  land  of  Egypt :  for 
 they  obeyed  not  the  voice  of  the  Lord  :  thus 
 came  tliey  even  to  °  Tahpanhes. 
 
 8  t  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto 
 Jeremiah  in  Tahpanhes,  saying, 
 
 9  Take  great  stones  in  thine  hand,  and  hide 
 them  in  the  clay  in  the  brickkiln,  wliich  is  at 
 the  entry  of  Pharaoh's  house  in  Tahpanhes,  in 
 the  sight  of  the  men  of  Judah  ; 
 
 10  And  say  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel;  Behold,  I  will  send 
 and  take  Nebuchadrezzar  the  king  of  Babylon, 
 "■my  servant,  and  will  set  his  throne  upon 
 these  stones  that  I  have  hid  ;  and  he  shall 
 spread  his  royal  pavilion  over  them. 
 
 1 1  ^  And  when  he  cometh,  he  shall  smite  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  and  deliver  ^  such  as  are  for 
 death  to  death  ;  and  such  as  are  for  captivity 
 to  captivity  ;  and  such  as  are  for  the  sword  to 
 the  sword. 
 
 12  And  I  will  kindle  a  fire  in  the  houses  of 
 '  the  gods  of  Egypt ;  and  he  shall  burn  them, 
 and  carry  them  away  captives:  and  he  .shall 
 array  himself  with  the  land  of  Egypt,  as  a  shep- 
 herd putteth  on  his  garment  ;  and  he  shall  go 
 forth  from  thence  in  peace. 
 
 13  He  shall  break  also  the  f  images  of  ||  Beth- 
 shemesh,  that  is  in  the  land  of  Egypt ;  and  the 
 houses  of  the  gods  of  the  Egyptians  shall  he 
 burn  with  fire. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIV. 
 
 1  Jtremiah  expresseth  the  desolation  of  Judah  for  their 
 idolatry.  1 1  He  prophesieth  their  destruction^  who 
 commit  idohitry  in  Erjifpt.  15  The  obstinacy  of  the 
 Jews.  20  Jeremiah  threateneth  them  for  the  satne,  29 
 and  for  a  sign  prophesieth  the  destruction  of  Egypt. 
 
 T^HE  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  concern 
 ■^  ing  all  the  Jews  which  dwell  in  the  land  of 
 Etiypt,  which  dwell  at  °  Migdol,  and  at  ^  Tah 
 panhes,  and  at  ^  Noph,  and  in  the  country  of 
 Pathros,  saying, 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel ;  Ye  have  seen  all  the  evil  that  I  have 
 brought  upon  Jerusalem,  and  upon  all  the 
 cities  of  Judah  ;  and,  behold,  this  day  they  are 
 ^  a  desolation,  and  no  man  dwelleth  therein, 
 
 t  oh.  2.  lli.  & 
 44   I.  railed 
 
 Is    811    '1. 
 
 5H3. 
 
 enjiiig. 
 
 /ch.  25.  9. 
 &  27.  6. 
 See  Kzek. 
 29.  18,  20. 
 
 g  ch.  4-t.  13. 
 &  46.  IS. 
 ch.  15.  2. 
 Zech.  n.9. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 iliit'iei,  or, 
 .tending 
 
 \e  of  the 
 
 a  Ex.  14  ?. 
 ch  46.  14. 
 b  rh.  AS.  7. 
 c  Is.  19    IS. 
 
 rfch.  9.  11. 
 &  S+.  22. 
 
 ch    I'J,  4. 
 /■n,-n.  13.  C. 
 ■  i<  a^.  17. 
 
 iChr.  36. 
 .'>.  ch  7,23. 
 
 li.  ri.  &  29. 
 
 t  Heh.  out  of 
 the  miitil  of 
 Judah. 
 
 ich.25.  6,7. 
 
 I  ch.  42.  18, 
 vcr.  12. 
 
 \  Heh.  leick- 
 fdaestfs,  or, 
 punifhmeiiti, 
 
 t  Heb    con- 
 trite. 
 Ps   51.  17 
 
 m  Pro.  26.14. 
 
 J  Lev.  17.10. 
 &  yo.  5,  0. 
 ch.  21.  10. 
 
 p  ch   42.  IB. 
 f  ch.  43.  n. 
 
 3  Because  of  their  wickedness  which  they 
 have  committed  to  provoke  me  to  anger,  in 
 that  they  went  "  to  burn  incense,  and  to  '  serve 
 other  gods,  whom  they  knew  not,neither  they, 
 ye,  nor  your  fathers. 
 
 4  Howbeit  ^  I  sent  unto  you  all  my  servants 
 the  prophets,  rising  early  and  sending  t/ie7ti, 
 saying.  Oh,  do  not  this  abominable  thing  that 
 I  hate. 
 
 5  But  they  hearkened  not,  nor  inclined  their 
 ear  to  turn  from  their  wickedness,  to  burn  no 
 incense  unto  other  gods. 
 
 6  Wherefore  ''  my  fury  and  mine  anger  was 
 poured  forth,  and  was  kindled  in  the  cities  of 
 Judah  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  ;  and 
 they  are  wasted  and  desolate,  as  at  this  day. 
 
 7  Therefore  now  tlius  saith  the  Lord,  the  God 
 of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel ;  Wherefore  commit 
 ye  t/iis  great  evil  '  against  your  souls,  to  cut  off 
 from  you  man  and  woman,  child  and  suckling, 
 f  out  of  Judah,  to  leave  you  none  to  remain  ; 
 
 8  In  that  ye  ''  provoke  me  unto  wrath  with 
 the  works  of  your  hands,  burning  incense  unto 
 other  gods  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  whither  ye  be 
 gone  to  dwell,  that  ye  might  cut  yourselves  off, 
 and  that  ye  might  be  '  a  curse  and  a  reproach 
 among  all  the  nations  of  the  earth? 
 
 9  Have  ye  forgotten  the  f  wickedness  of  your 
 fathers,  and  the  wickedness  of  the  kings  of  Ju- 
 dah, and  the  wickedness  of  their  wives,  and 
 your  own  wickedness,  and  the  wickedness  of 
 your  wives,  which  they  have  committed  in  the 
 land  of  Judah,  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem  ? 
 
 10  They  are  not  f  humbled  eveii  unto  this 
 day,  neither  have  they  ""feared,  nor  walked  in 
 my  law,  nor  in  my  statutes,  that  I  set  before 
 you  and  before  your  fathers. 
 
 11  t  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 the  God  of  Israel ;  Behold,  "  I  will  set  my  face 
 against  you  for  evil,  and  to  cut  off  all  Judah. 
 
 12  And  I  will  take  the  remnant  of  Judah, 
 that  have  set  their  faces  to  go  into  the  land  of 
 Egypt  to  sojourn  there,  and  °  they  shall  all  be 
 consumed,  and  fall  in  the  land  of  Egypt ;  they 
 shall  even  be  consumed  by  the  sword  and  by 
 the  famine :  they  shall  die,  from  the  least  even 
 unto  the  greatest,  by  the  sword  and  by  the 
 famine :  and  ""they  shall  be  an  execration,  0711/ 
 an  astonishment,  and  a  curse,  and  a  reproach. 
 
 13  '  For  I  will  punish  them  that  dwell  in  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  as  I  have  punished  Jerusalem, 
 by  the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pesti- 
 lence : 
 
 7.  Tahpanhes.  one  of  the  principal  cities  of  Egj'pt,  and  a  place  of  residence 
 for  tlitir  I<ings. — Preb.  Lowth.  9.  Brickkiln,  not  for  burning  briclts,  but 
 drying  tlieni  in  tlie  snn. — Har.  12.  Array  himse/f,  talte  all  the  wealth 
 and  grandeur  of  Egypt.  As  a  shepherd  putteth  tin  his  gttrrnent,  with 
 as  much  case  and  as  little  opposition.  In  peace,  suffering  no  iiiterrup- 
 tinn,  nor  enduring  any  disaster. — A.  Clarke.  13.  Beth-shemesh,  in 
 
 Greek,  '  Heliopolis,'  '  the  house  or  city  of  the  sun.' — Hales.    Called,  by 
 
 the  Greeks,  Daphne,  near  Heliopolis. — A.  Clarke, 
 
 Chap.  XLIV.  —  1.  Migtlol — the  word  signifies  'a  tower,'  and  was  a 
 name  probably  given  to  difTerent  cities  in  Egypt.  One  is  mentioned 
 near  the  Red  Sea,  (Exod.  xiv.  2.)  Magdoius  was  at  the  entrance  of 
 Egypt  from  Palestine,  and  was,  perhaps,  the  place  here  mentioned. — 
 Bla.        2.  A'o  vian  dtvelleth,  no  inhabitants  left,  or  very  few. — Gill. 
 
 Refi.kctions  on   Chap.  XLIII In  tliis  chapter  we  see, 
 
 I.  InfirltUty  displat/eil.  Infidelity  bas  been  tbe  same  in  all 
 ages.  Proud  men  prefer  tbeir  own  wisdom  to  tbe  word  of 
 God; '  tbey  resent  warning,  counsel,  and  reproof;  tbey  set  up 
 tbeir  own  will  in  opposition  to  Divine  authority,  and  justify 
 themselves  in  tbe  most  flagrant  enormities.'  AVlien  men  of 
 this  character  Iiave  resolved  not  to  be  ruled  by  the  Scriptures, 
 they  deny  the  Divine  original  of  them,  notwithstanding  tbe 
 manifold  demonstrations  with  which  tbey  are  authenticated, 
 and  impute  the  basest  conduct  to  the  most  blameless  and  e.\- 
 cellent  characters,  and  the  most  unexceptionable  actions  to  the 
 worst  motives.  But  they  express  most  enmity  against  faithful 
 ministers,  whom  tbey  treat  as  deceivers,  and  employ  all  tbeir 
 ability,  influence,  or  authority,  in  carrying  others  along  with 
 831 
 
 them  in  their  rebellious  courses.'' 
 
 11.  We  also  here  see — Ambition  overrulvtl.  The  king  of  Ba- 
 bylon thought  only  of  aggrandizing  his  own  power,  but  God 
 made  him  to  do  his  pleasure  ,  he  was  the  instrument  of  chas- 
 tizing and  punishing  rebellious  .Tudah,  and  of  smiting  proud, 
 idolatrous  Egypt.  So  '  Rabshakeb  scarcely  deigned  to  mention 
 the  conquest  of  nations,  being  so  much  taken  up  with  the  con- 
 quest of  tbe  gods  of  Hamath,  Arphad,  and  Damascus.  Bel- 
 sbazzar  also  boasted,  with  equal  pride,  of  tbe  gods  bis  grand- 
 father bad  subdued,  (Isa.  xxxvi.  ;  Dan.  v.)  Xerxes,  with 
 equal  pride,  burnt  tbe  temples  of  Greece  and  Asia,  in  his  ca- 
 reer of  devastation.'  s"»  Thus,  while  ambitious  men  are  doing 
 their  own  pleasure,  God  is  doing  his,  and  be  makes  even  the 
 wrath  of  man  to  praise  him  ! 
 
Obstinate  idolators  threatened. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLV. 
 
 The  desirnction  of  Egypt  foreshrnm. 
 
 14  So  that  none  of  the  remnant  of  Judah, 
 which  are  gone  into  the  land  of  Egypt  to  so- 
 journ there,  shall  escape  or  remain,  that  they 
 should  return  into  tlie  land  of  Judah,  to  the 
 which  tliey  f  have  a  desire  to  return  to  dwell 
 there  :  for  '  none  shall  return  but  such  as  shall 
 escape. 
 
 15  f  Then  all  the  men  which  knew  that  their 
 wii'es  had  burned  incense  unto  other  gods,  and 
 all  the  women  that  stood  by,  a  great  multitude, 
 even  all  the  people  that  dwelt  in  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  in  Pathros,  answered  Jeremiah,  saying, 
 
 16  As  for  the  word  that  thou  hast  spoken 
 unto  us  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  '  we  will  not 
 hearken  unto  thee. 
 
 1 7  But  we  will  certainly  do  '  whatsoever 
 thing  goeth  forth  out  of  our  own  mouth,  to 
 burn  incense  unto  the  ||  "  queen  of  heaven, 
 and  to  pour  out  drink  offerings  unto  her,  as  we 
 have  done,  we,  and  our  fathers,  our  kings,  and 
 our  princes,  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the 
 streets  of  Jerusalem :  for  then  had  we  plenty 
 of  t  victuals,  and  were  well,  and  saw  no  evil. 
 
 18  But  since  we  left  off  to  burn  incense  to 
 the  queen  of  heaven,  and  to  pour  out  drink 
 offerings  unto  her,  we  have  wanted  all  tilings, 
 and  have  been  consumed  by  the  sword  and  by 
 the  famine. 
 
 1 9  "  And  when  we  burned  incense  to  the 
 queen  of  heaven,  and  poured  out  drink  offer- 
 ings unto  her,  did  we  make  her  cakes  to  wor- 
 sliip  her,  and  pour  out  drink  offerings  unto  her, 
 without  our  ||  men? 
 
 20  H  Then  Jeremiah  said  unto  all  the  people, 
 to  the  men,  and  to  the  women,  and  to  all  the 
 people  which  had  given  him  that  answer,  say- 
 ing, 
 
 21  The  incense  that  ye  burned  in  the  cities 
 of  Judali,  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  ye, 
 and  your  fathers,  your  kings,  and  your  princes, 
 and  tlie  people  of  the  land,  did  not  the  Lord 
 remember  them,  and  came  it  not  into  his  mind  ? 
 
 22  So  that  the  Lord  could  no  longer  bear, 
 because  of  the  evil  of  your  doings,  and  because 
 of  the  abominations  which  ye  have  committed  ; 
 therefore  is  your  land  ''  a  desolation,  and  an 
 astonishment,  and  a  curse,  without  an  inhabit- 
 ant, ''  as  at  this  day. 
 
 23  Because  ye  have  burned  incense,  and  be- 
 cause ye  have  sinned  against  the  Lord,  and 
 have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  nor 
 walked  in  his  law,  nor  in  his  statutes,  nor  in 
 his  testimonies ;  °  therefore  this  evil  is  hap- 
 
 t  Heb  /i//iip 
 r  vef.  S8. 
 
 /  Nu.  30,  12 
 Pen.  23  23 
 
 .hi.)::  11  :'.6 
 
 vch.  25.  II, 
 18,39. 
 
 e  Kzek.  20. 
 39. 
 
 /oh  1.  10 
 8f  31.  2S. 
 Ezek   7.  6. 
 
 b  ch.  43.  7. 
 ver.  \b. 
 
 ver.  17,  26, 
 
 /  ch.  46.  25, 
 26.  Ezek. 
 29  .1,  (tc.  & 
 30.  21,  fitc. 
 
 m  rh.  39.  5 
 
 cir.  607. 
 ■  cb.  36.  I, 
 4,  32. 
 
 pened  unto  you,  as  at  this  day. 
 
 24  Moreover  Jeremiah  said  unto  all  the 
 people,  and  to  all  the  women.  Hear  the  word 
 of  the  Lord,  all  Judah  >>  that  arc  in  the  land 
 of  Egypt : 
 
 23  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
 Israel,  saying  ;  '  Ye  and  your  wives  have  both 
 spoken  with  your  mouths,  and  fulfilled  with 
 your  hand,  saying.  We  wdl  surely  perform  our 
 vows  that  we  have  vowed,  to  burn  incense  to 
 the  queen  of  heaven,  and  to  pour  out  drink 
 offerings  unto  her  :  ye  will  surely  accomplish 
 your  vows,  and  surely  perform  your  vows. 
 
 20  Therefore  hear  ye  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
 all  Judah  that  dwell  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  Be- 
 hold, ■'  I  have  sworn  by  my  great  name,  saith 
 the  Lord,  that  ''my  name  sliall  no  more  be 
 named  in  the  mouth  of  any  man  of  Judah  in 
 all  the  land  of  Egypt,  saying,  The  Lord  God 
 liveth. 
 
 27  '  Behold,  1  will  watch  over  them  for  evil, 
 and  not  for  good  :  and  all  the  men  of  Judah 
 that  are  in  the  land  of  Egy])t  ^  shall  be  con- 
 sumed by  the  sword  and  by  the  famine,  until 
 there  be  an  end  of  them. 
 
 28  Yet  ''a  small  number  that  escape  the 
 sword  shall  return  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt 
 into  the  land  of  Judah,  and  all  the  remnant  of 
 Judah,  that  are  gone  into  the  land  of  Egypt  to 
 sojourn  there,  shall  know  whose  '  words  shall 
 stand,  t  mine,  or  theirs. 
 
 29  f  And  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  you,  saith 
 the  Lord,  that  I  will  punish  you  in  this  place, 
 that  ye  may  know  that  my  words  shall  'surely 
 stand  against  you  for  evil : 
 
 30  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  '  I  will 
 give  Pharaoh-hophra  king  of  Egypt  into  the 
 hand  of  his  enemies,  and  into  the  hand  of  them 
 that  seek  his  life  ;  as  I  gave  '"  Zedekiah  king 
 of  Judah  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadrezzar 
 king  of  Babylon,  his  enemy,  and  that  sought 
 his  life. 
 
 CHAP.  XLV. 
 
 1  Baruch  being  dismayed,  4  Jtreminh  irtsfructeth  and 
 comforteth  Itiin. 
 
 'T^HE'word  that  Jeremiah  the  prophet  spake 
 ■*-  unto  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah,  when  he 
 had  written  these  words  in  a  book  at  the 
 mouth  of  Jeremiah,  in  the  fourth  year  of  Jehoi- 
 akim  the  son  of  Josiah  king  of  Judah,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel, 
 unto  thee,  O  Banich  ; 
 
 n.  Far  none  shall  return,  fyc.,  '  for  only  a  few  that  escape  shall  return  ;' 
 nieaoin^,  probably,  such  as  were  fnrced  into  Egrypt  against  their  wills, 
 and  (lid  not  fall  into  idolatry. — Poole,  17.  To  pour  out  drink  offer- 
 ings— in  Georgia,  and  other  parts  in  the  cast,  before  feasting,  it  is  cus- 
 tomary to  go  out  and  raise  the  eyes  to  the  naked  heaven,  and  pour  out 
 a  cup  of  wine  on  the  ground. — Sir  J.  Chardin.  The  Hindoos  pour  out 
 drink  oflferiugs  to  the  moon. — Ward.  For  then  had  we  plenty,  as  if 
 their  idolatry  had  been  the  cause  of  it. — Poole.  18.  Left  off.  being 
 
 restrained  either  by  the  prophet's  sermons  or  the  public  authorities. 
 We  have  wanted  all  thijtgs,  thus  they  irajiuted  these  evils  to  their  ces- 
 sation from  idolatry,  whicli  was  the  very  thing  that  brought  it  on  them. 
 — Gill.  19.  Without  our  men,  by  the  laws  of  Moses,  women  could 
 not  vow  a  binding  vow  without  the  knowledge  and  consent  of  their 
 husbands,  (see  Num.  xxx.  1— 16,)  but  the  female  part  of  the  assembly 
 
 here  declare  that  they  had  their  husbands'  consent  in  their  idolatries, 
 and  that  none  besides  hart  a  risht  to  control  Uiem. — Bla.  2t>,  Jly 
 name  shall  no  more  l>e  named,  he  woulrt  suffer  no  more  niixtiu-e  of  his 
 name  with  the  worship  of  idols,  as  the  Samaritans  did.  (2  Kings,  xvii. 
 33,)  but  would  consume  them  by  a  sudden  and  general  destruction. — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  30.  Pharaoh-hophra,  fyr.,  successor  to  Pharaoh- nechoh. 
 named  2  Kings,  xxiii.  29.  This  king  is  called  Apries,  by  Herodotus, 
 who  says,  that  he  proudly  and  wickedly  boasted  of  'having  established 
 liis  kingdom  so  surely  that  it  was  not  in  the  power  of  any  god  to  dis- 
 possess him  of  it.' — Bp.  Newton.  Apries  was  conquered  and  taken 
 prisoner,  and  after  being  sometime  confined,  they  strangled,  and  after- 
 wards buried  him  in  the  tomb  of  his  ancestors,  in  the  temple  of  Mi- 
 nerva, at  Sais. — Herod.  Euterpe,  clxix. 
 Chap.  XLV. —  1.  The  word,  S,-c.,  an  appendage  belonging  to   chap. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLIV I.  '  See  what  a  fulse  judg- 
 ment men  often  make  of  their  prosperity.*  Because  these  were  at 
 ease  in  idolatry,  they  argued  that  it  was  the  cause  of  their 
 prosperity.  'Thus  sinners  argue,  that  because  they  enjoy 
 prosperity,  ease,  and  plenty,  God  is  not  displeased  with  their 
 
 sins.     This  shews  great  ignorance  of  God, of  his  word,  and 
 
 of  a  future  state  ;  and  is  a  great  abuse  of  Ins  goodness,  which 
 was  designed  to  lead  them  to  repentance.' 
 832 
 
 II.  'See  the  sad  progress  and  dreadful  eonsequences  of  disohe- 
 dience.*  These  impudent  sinners  paid  some  respect  to  the 
 prophet  wliile  in  Judea,  but  now  they  flatly  tell  him  that  '  they 
 would  not  hear.'  God  might  say  what  he  would,  and  tlioy 
 would  do  what  they  would.  This  is  the  language  of  all  wilful 
 sinners.  They  say  they  shall  have  peace,  but  God  says  they 
 shall  not ;  and  a  little  time  shall  shew  whose  word  shall  stand, 
 God's  or  theirs.'  •<  ^  •> 
 
The.  overthrow  of  Pharaoh's  army. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLVI. 
 
 and  conquest  of  Egypt,  foretold. 
 
 3  Tliou  didst  say,  Woe  is  me  now !  for  the 
 Lord  liatli  added  grief  to  my  sorrow  ;  I  fainted 
 in  my  sighing,  and  I  find  no  rest. 
 
 4  K  Thns  shalt  thou  say  unto  him,  The  Lord 
 saith  thus;  Behold,  "^  Ma<  which  I  have  built 
 will  I  break  down,  and  that  which  I  have 
 ]danted  I  will  pluck  up,  even  tliis  wliole  land. 
 
 J  And  seekest  thou  great  things  for  thyself? 
 seek  them  not :  for,  behold,  '  I  will  bring  evil 
 upon  all  flesh,  saith  the  Lord:  but  thy  life  will 
 1  give  unto  thee  ''  for  a  prey  in  all  places 
 whitlier  thou  goest. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVL 
 
 1  Jeremiah  prophcsicth  the  overthrow  of  Pharaoh's  army 
 at  Euphrates,  13  and  the  conquest  of  Ei/i/pt  hy  Ne- 
 buchadrezzar, 27  He  comforteth  Jacob  hi  their 
 chastisement, 
 
 '^PHE  word  of  the  Lord  whicli  came  to  Jere- 
 -"■    miah  the  prophet  against  "  the  Gentiles  ; 
 
 2  Against  Egypt,  ''  against  the  army  of  Pha- 
 raoh-necho  king  of  Egypt,  which  was  by  the 
 river  Euphrates  in  Carchemish,  which  Nebu- 
 cliadrezzar  king  of  Babylon  smote  in  the  fourth 
 year  of  Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah  king  of 
 Judah. 
 
 3  '  Order  ye  the  buckler  and  shield,  and  draw 
 near  to  battle. 
 
 4  Harness  the  horses  ;  and  get  up,  ye  horse- 
 men, and  stand  forth  with  your  helmets  ;  fur- 
 bish the  spears,  and  put  on  the  brigandines. 
 
 5  Wherefore  have  I  seen  them  dismayed  ant/ 
 turned  away  back  ?  and  their  mighty  ones  are 
 f  beaten  down,  and  are  f  fled  apace,  and  look 
 not  back  :  for  •'  fear  was  round  about,  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 0  Let  not  tlie  swift  flee  away,  nor  the  mighty 
 man  escape  ;  they  .shall  '^  stumble,  and  fall  to- 
 ward the  north  by  the  river  Euphrates. 
 
 7  Who  is  tliis  that  comelh  up  'as  a  flood, 
 whose  waters  are  moved  as  the  rivers? 
 
 8  Egypt  riseth  up  like  a  flood,  and  his  waters 
 are  moved  like  the  rivers ;  and  he  saith,  I  will 
 go  up,  and  will  cover  the  earth ;  I  will  destroy 
 tlie  city  and  the  inhabitants  thereof. 
 
 9  Come  up,  ye  horses  ;  and  rage,  ye  chariots  ; 
 and   let  the   mighty  men   come  forth ;   f  the 
 
 dch.  SI.  0. 
 39.  18. 
 
 1  cli.  25.  15, 
 
 ft  2  Kin.  S3. 
 29.  2  Clir. 
 3.^).  -39. 
 Fiilfinecl 
 picaoiitly. 
 
 t  Kpb.yf.vfn 
 
 .flisla. 
 d  cli.  6.  25. 
 
 fc  'lo,  29.  » 
 e  Dan.  11.19, 
 
 /  See  IB.  8.7, 
 8.  ch.  -17.  2. 
 Dau.  11.22. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  GiJ7. 
 
 t  Ili-b.  P>:t. 
 g  !s.  Co.  19 
 
 ft  Is.  13   ti 
 el  1.  15. 
 2.  I. 
 
 h  Is.  31   li. 
 
 Zeph.  I    7. 
 
 See  E/ek. 
 
 39.  I". 
 Uli.  8.  23.  S 
 
 .■i] .  8. 
 
 m  Is.  47.  1. 
 t  Heb.  no 
 
 cure  shall 
 
 be  )>nio  thpf 
 Kzek.  3u. 
 
 o  Is.  19.  1. 
 ch.«. 10,11. 
 Ezek.  29,  & 
 311.  &  32. 
 Fulfilled 
 cir.  571. 
 
 /I  Ter.  3,  i. 
 
 q  ver.  10. 
 
 (  Heb.  mM- 
 tii'fied  the 
 /„ll„. 
 
 rLev.2G  37. 
 
 .  Is.  47 
 &  48.  2 
 ch.49. 
 
 4. 
 15. 
 
 ISi 
 
 e  eh 
 
 48 
 
 19. 
 f  Heb.  jniAf 
 
 t/tep  inst7ii 
 
 nv'ils  of 
 
 cnpliu  ilj/. 
 «  Is.  2ii.  4. 
 X  So  Ho8. 
 
 10    11. 
 V  ch.  1.  14. 
 
 &  -17.  2. 
 
 ver.  Ij.  10. 
 
 Ethiopians  and  f  the  Libyans,  that  handle  tiie 
 shield ;  and  the  Lydians,  ^  that  handle  and 
 bend  the  bow. 
 
 10  For  this  is  "  the  day  of  the  Lord  God  of 
 hosts,  a  day  of  vengeance,  that  he  may  avenge 
 him  of  his  adversaries  :  and  '  the  sword  shall 
 devour,  and  it  sliall  be  satiate  and  made  drunk 
 with  their  blood  :  for  the  Lord  God  of  hosts 
 '  hath  a  sacrifice  in  the  north  country  by  the 
 river  Euphrates. 
 
 1 1  '  Go  up  into  Gilead,  and  take  balin,  '"  O 
 virgin,  tlie  daughter  of  Egypt  :  in  vain  shalt 
 thou  use  many  medicines  ;  for  f  "  thou  shalt 
 not  he  cured. 
 
 12  Tlie  nations  have  heard  of  thy  shame,  and 
 thy  cry  hath  filled  the  land  :  fur  the  mighty 
 man  hath  stumbled  against  the  mighty,  and 
 they  are  fallen  botli  together. 
 
 13  T  The  word  that  the  Lord  spake  to  Je- 
 remiah the  prophet,  how  Nebuchadrezzar  king 
 of  Babylon  should  come  anrf  "smite  the  land 
 of  Egypt. 
 
 14  Declare  ye  in  Egypt,  and  publish  in  Mig- 
 dol,  and  publish  in  Noph  and  in  Tahpanhes  : 
 say  ye,  ''  Stand  fast,  and  prepare  thee  ;  for 
 ■■  the  sword  sliall  devour  round  about  thee. 
 
 13  Why  are  thy  valiant  men  swept  away? 
 they  stood  not,  because  the  Lord  did  drive 
 them. 
 
 10  He  t  made  many  to  fall,  yea,  'one  fell 
 upon  another:  and  they  said.  Arise,  and  let  us 
 go  again  to  our  own  people,  and  to  the  land  of 
 our  nativity,  from  the  oppressing  sword. 
 
 17  They  did  cry  there,  Pharaoh  king  of 
 Egypt  is  but  a  noise  ;  he  hath  passed  the  time 
 appointed. 
 
 18  As  I  live,  saith  the  king,  'whose  name  is 
 the  Lord  of  hosts.  Surely  as  Tabor  is  among 
 the  mountains,  and  as  Carmel  by  the  sea,  so 
 shall  he  come. 
 
 19  O  '  thou  daughter  dwelling  in  Egypt, 
 f  furnish  thyself  "to  go  into  captivity:  for 
 Noph  shall  be  waste  and  desolate  without  an 
 inhabitant. 
 
 20  Egypt  is  like  a  very  fair  '  heifer,  hut  de- 
 struction Cometh  ;  it  cometh  '  out  of  the  north. 
 
 21  Also  her  hired  men  are  in  the  midst  of 
 
 xxxvi.  Barucli,  alarmed  at  Jeremiah's  prophecies,  j'^  liere  assured  of 
 his  own  safety. — Blu.  3.  ,'idded  grief  to  niij  sorrow,  sorrow  for  his 
 country,  and  grief  from  the  king's  command  respecting  himself,  (chap. 
 x.\xvi.  26.) — Pre!}.  Lawth. 
 
 Chap.  XLVI.  — 1.  The  ward  of  the  Lord,  SfC,  a  eeneral  title  to  the 
 five  following  chajiters.  but  the  prophecies  were  delivered  at  various 
 times.  Tlie  Gentiles,  the  nations. — Bla.  2.  Against  Egypt,  here  are 
 two  distinct  prophecies.  The  first  was  delivered  before  an  engagement 
 between  the  king  of  Egypt  and  Nebuchadnezzar,  near  Carchemish,  in 
 ■which  the  Egyptians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter.  The  seconti 
 prophecy  begins  at  ver.  13  ;  and  the  desolation  predicted  took  place  in 
 the  27th  year  of  Jehoiakim's  captivity,  and  the  iSth  after  the  destruc- 
 tion of  Jerusalem,  as  may  be  collected  from  Ezek.  xxix.  17,  where  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar's  army  is  spoken  of  as  having,  at  that  time,  suffered  a 
 great  deal  in  the  siege  of  Tyre,  on  which  account  the  spoils  of  Egypt 
 are  promised  for  wages,  which  promise  was  fulfilled  the  same  year,  as 
 related  by  .losephus,  Antiq.,  lib.  x.,  chap.  \yL.—Bla.,  Wit.  The  fulfil, 
 ment  of  this  prophecy  took  place  a.m.  3397;  before  Ctirist,  G07.  See 
 further  particulars  in  Itollln\i  Ancient  Hist.,  vol.  i.  book  i.,  and  Cut. 
 Pharaoh-necho,  this  prince  distinguished  himself  in  history  by  attempt- 
 ing  to  join  the  Nile  to  the  Red  Sea.— See  RoUin.  i.  Brigimdines, 
 'coats  of  mail.'— /)r.  Johnson.        5.  Fear,  i.e.,  *  danger.' — Blaynev. 
 
 9.  Ethiopians — Ltltt/fins~Lf/dians,  the  original  words  are  Cush,  Phut, 
 and  Lud,  three  nations,  allies  of  Egypt,  (Ezek.  xxx.  5.)  The  first, 
 Arabians,  near  the  Red  Sea,  east  of  Egypt,  (see  Isa.  x.\.  3 — 5.)  The 
 second,  Lybiaos,  west  of  Egypt. — Bla.  'The  third,  Ethiopians,  famous 
 for  the  how.— Boch.  10.  Day  of  the  Lord,  often  means  of  his  ven- 
 geance, (see  Isa.  xiii.  6;  Joel,  i.  15,  &c.) — Preb.  Louith.  A  sacrifice, 
 to  Divine  justice,  to  which  multitudes  of  the  sinners  of  Egypt  shall  fall 
 as  victims. —Hewrj/.  11.  Go  tip  into  Gilead,  an  irony  or  sarcasm  con- 
 tinned.  Virgin,  not  having  been  conquered.  In  vain  shatt  thou  use 
 many  medicines,  Egypt  should  never  fully  recover. — Gill.  Numerous 
 medicines  are  administered  in  the  east  to  a  patient.  The  people  prefer 
 it,  and  will  take  even  ten  sorts,  or  perhaps  mure,  in  a  day. — See  Roh. 
 It.  Migdol — see  chap.  xliv.  1,  note.        15.  Thy  valiant — 
 
 '  Wherefore  is  thy  mighty  one  overthrown  ? 
 He  stood  not,  because  Jehovah  pushed  him  down.' 
 
 This  may  allude  to  a  favourite  idol,  or  the  Egyptian  king. — Blayney. 
 I().  They  said,  .irise — the  words  of  the  allies,  {see  ver.  9  and  21.) — Preb. 
 Lowfh.  From  the  oppressing  steord,  '  from  the  sword  of  the  culver  or 
 dove,'  the  ensign  of  the  Chaldeaus. — Gil/.  18.  He,  Nebuchadnezzar. 
 19.  Daughter,  countries  and  cities  are  compared  to  women. — Preb, 
 Lowth.    20.  Like  a  very  fair  lieifer,  that  has  never  been  under  the  yoke ; 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.   XLV 1.  Baruch   is  distressed,     livered  the  message  of  the  prophet.     And,  which  situation 
 
 Roldness  in  the  service  of  God  has  exposed  many  an  one  to    had  been  preferable,  that  of  perishing  or  suffering  cruel  cap- 
 
 suffering  ;  and  there  are  many  situations  now  in  which  '  they 
 that  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer  persecution.' 
 
 II.  God  sends  Buruch  consolation.  It  would  seem  he  had  the 
 prospect  of  great  things,  and  hoped  for  promotion  ;  but  now 
 hs  had  the  frowns  of  the  court,  because  he  had  faithfully  de- 
 
 tivity  with  the  court,  or  that  of  an  exile  at  liberty,  shielded 
 by  the  Divine  favour  !  The  good  man  has  cause  to  glory,  even 
 in  tribulation ;  for  he  is  under  the  shadow  of  the  Divine 
 wings,  and  his  'life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God.' 
 
 5  o 
 
Jacob  is  comforted. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLVII.,  XLVIII.        The  dcstntc/iw.  <,/ ih,  P/ti/isfines- 
 
 her  like  f  fatted  bullocks  ;  for  they  also  are 
 turned  back,  and  are  fled  away  together  :  they 
 did  not  stand,  because  '  the  day  of  their  cala- 
 mity was  come  upon  them,  and  the  time  of 
 their  visitation. 
 
 2-2  "  The  voice  thereof  shall  go  like  a  ser- 
 pent ;  for  they  shall  march  with  an  army,  and 
 come  against  lier  witli  axes,  as  liewers  of  wood. 
 
 23  They  shall  ^cut  down  her  forest,  saith  the 
 Lord,  though  it  cannot  be  searched  ;  because 
 they  are  more  than  '  the  grasshoppers,  and  are 
 innumerable. 
 
 24  The  daughter  of  Egypt  shall  be  confound- 
 ed ;  she  shall  be  delivered  into  the  hand  of 
 ''  the  people  of  the  north. 
 
 25  The  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel, 
 saith  ;  Behold,  I  will  punish  the  ||  f  multitude 
 of  '  No,  and  Pharaoh,  and  Egypt,  '  with  their 
 gods,  and  their  kings  ;  even  Pharaoli,  and  a// 
 them  that  trust  in  him  : 
 
 26  ^  And  I  will  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of 
 tho.se  that  seek  their  lives,  and  into  the  hand 
 of  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon,  and  into 
 the  hand  of  his  servants:  and  "afterward  it 
 shall  be  inhabited,  as  in  the  days  of  old,  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 27  t '  But  fear  not  thou,  O  my  servant  Ja- 
 cob, and  be  not  dismayed,  O  Israel  :  for,  be- 
 hold, I  will  save  thee  from  afar  off,  and  thy 
 seed  from  the  land  of  their  captivity  ;  and  Ja- 
 cob shall  return,  and  be  in  rest  and  at  ease,  and 
 none  shall  make  him  afraid. 
 
 28  Fear  thou  not,  O  Jacob  my  servant,  saith 
 the  Lord  :  for  1  am  with  thee  ;  for  I  w\\\  make 
 a  full  end  of  all  the  nations  whither  I  have 
 driven  thee  :  but  1  will  not  make  'a  full  end 
 of  thee,  but  correct  thee  in  measure  ;  yet  will 
 I  II  not  leave  tliee  wholly  unpunished. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVII. 
 
 The  destruction  of  the  P/iilistines. 
 'pHE  word  of  the  Lord  that  came  to  Jere- 
 -*■  miah  the  prophet  "  against  the  Philistines, 
 ■■  before  that  Pharaoh  smote  f  Gaza. 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  '^  waters 
 rise  up  ■■  out  of  the  north,  and  shall  be  an  over- 
 flowing flood,  and  shall  overflow  the  land,  and 
 t  all  that  is  therein  ;  the  city,  and  them  that 
 dwell  therein  :  then  the  men  shall  cry,  and  all 
 
 B   0 
 
 B    C. 
 
 cir.  607. 
 
 cir.  eui). 
 
 t  H«b.  b.,l- 
 
 e  cll,  ft.  lli. 
 
 l-cks  of  lt,t 
 
 Nail    3    2. 
 
 ll„l/. 
 
 :  Ps.  37    13. 
 
 cii.  5u.  s;. 
 
 a  See  i8.  ay. 
 
 1. 
 
 /,:li    25.  S-2. 
 
 b  Is    10   3+. 
 
 ff  Kzel.  2b. 
 
 16    Ainosl. 
 
 c  Juiig    6.  5 
 
 8    &9.  7 
 
 f  Ht<b.  fl>e 
 
 itU. 
 
 h  Gen.  10  14. 
 
 i  Amos  1   7 
 
 Mir    1     16. 
 
 Zoph.S-1,7. 
 
 d  cli    1     15. 
 
 Zecb.  9   5, 
 
 k  cb.  25.  20. 
 
 /  ch.  16    C. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 &  41.  0    & 
 
 iMuritUer. 
 
 48.  37 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 7>j  Dent    3J. 
 
 J,no». 
 
 41.  Ezek. 
 
 »  E»ek   30. 
 
 21.3,4.  6 
 
 U,  16,  16. 
 
 t  Heb   gilhrr 
 
 Nah    3  8 
 
 Ihy  ,lf 
 
 /clt   -13.  12, 
 
 \  H«b.  W..tr 
 
 13    Eiek. 
 
 i:auU  ll.uu  f 
 
 3U    13. 
 
 ;   Kie.  14.17. 
 
 y  ch.  M    3(t 
 
 0  Mic.  6.  9 
 
 Fie  3ri    II 
 
 A  Kz..-k,  21 
 
 II,  13,  H. 
 
 i  In    41,  13. 
 
 It    (k  43.  y 
 
 &  41.  i. 
 
 cir.  6110. 
 
 c\\    3V    10, 
 
 ..  IB   15.8c  Ifi 
 
 1  1. 
 
 cU.  £5.  21. 
 
 Ik  -27  3 
 
 E»ek.  S.I.O. 
 
 Aino«  2   1, 
 
 •i. 
 
 b  Nu.  32.S8. 
 
 *  33.  47. 
 
 U.  15.  2. 
 
 c  Nu.  32.  37 
 
 II  Or,  The 
 
 h/ffh  plac: 
 
 d  U.  10.  M. 
 
 k  oil,  10  21. 
 
 tU   Vj    11. 
 
 8^  30.  11. 
 
 II  Or,  f>f 
 
 II  Or,  not 
 
 hruugliS  (i> 
 
 u'lerlv  cut 
 
 nuL 
 
 thee  oj: 
 
 U    15    1 
 
 i   Hell,  g: 
 
 nfifr  ihte. 
 
 cir.  6t« 
 
 /  vi-r.  6. 
 
 n  cll.  S5,  S?0. 
 
 E/e    Kr..  15, 
 
 g  1b    15.  r> 
 
 lii   Z,-pl,.  1. 
 
 t  Heb.  irtrn- 
 
 h  rli   ! 
 
 |[(lr,< 
 Irtr. 
 
 the  inhabitants  of  the  land  .shall  howl. 
 
 3  At  the  '  noise  of  the  stamping  of  the  hoofs 
 of  his  strong  horses,  at  the  rushing  of  bis  cha- 
 riots, find  at  the  rumbling  of  his  wheels,  the 
 fathers  shall  not  look  back  to  thiir  children  for 
 feebleness  of  hands  ; 
 
 4  Because  of  the  day  that  cometh  to  spoil 
 all  the  Philistines,  a7id  to  cut  oft' from  '  Tyrus 
 and  Zidon  every  helper  that  remaineth  :'  for 
 the  Lord  will  spoil  the  Philistines,  '^  the  rem- 
 nant of  t  the  country  of  "  Caphtor. 
 
 5  '  Baldness  is  come  upon  Gaza  ;  ^  Ashkclon 
 is  cut  off  liuth  the  remnant  of  their  valley  : 
 how  long  wilt  thou  '  cut  thyself? 
 
 G  O  thou  "  sword  of  the  Lord,  how  long  will 
 it  be  ere  thou  be  quiet?  fput  up  thy.self  into 
 thy  scabbard,  rest,  and  be  still. 
 
 7  t  How  can  it  be  quiet,  seeing  the  Lord 
 hath  "  given  it  a  charge  against  Ashkelon,  and 
 against  the  sea  shore?  there  hath  he  "ap- 
 pointed it. 
 
 CHAP.   XLVIII. 
 
 I  T'le  judgment  of  Moab,  1  for  t/teir  pride,  II  for  their 
 security,  ii  for  their  carnal  confidmcet  26  and  for 
 their  contempt  of  God  and  his  people.  47  Ttie  re- 
 storation of  Moab. 
 
 A  GAINST  "Moab  thus  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts,   the   God    of  Israel  ;     Woe   unto 
 ^  Nebo!  for  it  is  spoiled  :  '  Kiriathaim  is  con- 
 founded artd  taken  :   ||  Misgab  is  confounded 
 and  dismayed. 
 
 2  ''  There  shall  he  no  more  praise  of  Moab  : 
 in  "  Hcshbon  they  have  devised  evil  against  it ; 
 come,  and  let  us  cut  it  off  from  beiny  a  nation. 
 Also  thou  sh.ilt  II  be  cut  down,  O  Madmen  ; 
 the  sword  shall  f  [lursue  thee. 
 
 3  '  A  voice  of  crying  s/ia//ie  from  Iloronaim, 
 spoiling  and  great  destruction. 
 
 4  Moab  is  destroyed  ;  her  little  ones  hare 
 caused  a  cry  to  be  heard. 
 
 3  ^  For  in  the  going  up  of  Luhith  f  contimi.nl 
 weeping  shall  go  up  ;  for  in  the  going  dowji  of 
 Horonaim  the  enemies  have  heard  a  cry  of  de- 
 struction. 
 
 (i  "  Flee,  save  your  lives,  and  be  like  ||  the 
 '  heath  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 7  H  For  because  thou  hast  trusted  in  thy 
 works  and  in  thy  treasures,  thou  shalt  also  be 
 
 beautiful,  fat,  and  well  fed.— GiH.  There  may  be  an  allusion  to  their 
 god  Apis,  a  bull,  remarkable  for  his  beauty.— Prefi.  Lowlh.  21.  Like 
 fatted  bullocks,  prepared  for  glaughter.— Gi//.  22.  Like  a  serpent, 
 •  like  that  of  an  enchanter,'  i,  c.,  low  and  inarticulate,  through  fear.— 
 Bla.,  so  Durell.  Thetj,  the  Ch.iideans.  2't.  Her  forest,  may  signify 
 people  or  cities.— i3ta.  The  Egyptians  had  10-20  cities.  —  Gro/ms. 
 Thoufjh  it  eannitt  be  searched,  thnugli  the  cities  were  never  so  numerous 
 and  large.  More  than  the  grasshoppers,  armies  are  compared  to  such 
 insects  for  their  multitudes  and  consumption,  (see  Judg.  vi.  5  ;  vii.  12  ; 
 Joel,  ii.  4,  5.)  2.'i.  The  multitude  of  No,  w:d  710K.  '  Amon  of  No.' 
 Thebes  intended,  where  Jupiter  Hammon  had  a  temple. — Preb.  Lowlh, 
 Memphis,  the  ancient  Noph,  is  meant.- Su/.  26.  Afterward,  after 
 forty  years,  (Ezek.  xxix.  \\.)—Bla. 
 
 Chap.  XLVII.  —  1.  Beffire  that  Pharaoh  smote  Goi.i— when  Philistia 
 was  in  seeming  security.  Gaza  was  probably  destroyed,  after  Pliaraoh's 
 victories  at  Megiddoand  Carchemish,  when  Judea  became  tributary  to 
 him.— Pre*.  Lowlh.  The  Jews  say,  this  was  in  the  eighth  year  of  Zc- 
 deliiah,  but,  more  probably,  it  was  after  Pliaraoh  necho  had  slain  Jo- 
 siah.— GiH.  2.  K'afers, 'armies.'  lVor//i,  the  country  of  Chaldea.— 
 Various  Commentators.  3.  The  fathers,  ^c,  expressive  of  strong 
 
 dismay  and  fear. — Preb.  Lowtb.  4.  Every  helper,  the  destruction  of 
 the  Philislirres  would  weaken  their  confederates.  Tyre  and  Zidon,  leav- 
 ing them  without  resource.— Scof^  Caphtor,  thcCaphtorim  descended 
 from  Mizraim,  the  father  of  the  Egyptians,  (see  Gen.  x.  1 1,1  they  ex- 
 pelled the  Arim  from  that  part  of  Pliihstia  contiguous  to  Gaza,  and 
 dwell  there,  (Dent.  ii.  23.) — Bla.  5.  Baldness,  alluding  to  shaving  the 
 head  in  calamity,  (see  chap,  xli  5  ;  xlviii,  37.) — Preb,  Lowlh,  Their 
 valley — Gaza  and  Ashkelon  are  twelve  miles  distant,  near  the  sea,  iu 
 a  beautiful  valley. — Bla, 
 
 Chap.  XLVIII.  —  \,  Against  Moab,  supposed  to  have  been  fulfilled 
 about  the  same  time  as  the  prophecy  ag.iinst  the  Philistines. — Blai/ney. 
 Nebo— Kiriathaim,  two  cities  of  Moab,  (see  Isa.  xv.  2  ;  Num.  xx.xii.  37  ; 
 xxxiii.  47.) — Preb,  Lowth,  Misgab — see  marg.  Some  fortress. — Sla, 
 2.  Heshbon.  formerly  Sihon,  (Num.  xxi.  26.)  Madmen,  another  city  of 
 Moab,  thought  to  be  Ptolemy's  Madiama.  3.  Horonaim,  another 
 city,  (see  Isa.  xv.  5.)  5,  Luhith,  a  city  on  a  hill,  (see  Isa.  xv.  5.) 
 Some  think  the  Moabites  fled  hither  for  refuge. — Poole,  The  enemies, 
 the  Moabites  were  so  to  God  and  his  people. — Scott.  6.  Flee — unit 
 be  like  the  heath,  '  leave  all,  though  bare  as  a  naked  tree,'— Poole, 
 
 Reflections  os  Chap.  XLVI.  —I.  How  easili/  can  Gad 
 overthrow  preat  nations !  Then  let  us  more  fear  the  conse- 
 quences of  our  piide  and  luxury,  than  glory  in  our  prowess 
 and  strength. 
 
 II-    Though  all  nations  he  destroyed,  God's  Israd  shall  remain. 
 
 '  Ihe  Jewish  nation  itself  has  come  to  an  end  as  a  nation  ;  but 
 
 the  gospel  church,  God's  spiritual  Israel,  still  continues,  and 
 
 Bill  to  the  end  of  time ;  in  that  this  promise  is  to  have  its  full 
 
 834 
 
 accomplishment,  that,  though  God  correct  it,  he  will  never 
 make  a  full  end  of  it.'  ^ 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XJ^VII.  —  I.  '  U'hen  God  intends 
 to  destroy  the  ivichtd,  he  will  cut  off  every  helper ;  and  where  he 
 inflicts  vengeance,  he  will  remove  all  consolation. 
 
 II.  '  The  miseries  occasioned  by  war  should  be  deeply  lamented  by 
 i/s  ;  and  we  should  earnestly  desire  to  pray  that  this  sword  of 
 the  Lord  may  return  into  the  scabbard  and  be  still.'' 
 
The  judgment  of  Moab, 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLVIII. 
 
 for  their  pride,  §"c. 
 
 taken :  and  '  Chemosh  shall  go  forth  into  cap- 
 tivity with  his  '  priests  and  his  princes  together. 
 
 8  And  "'the  spoiler  shall  come  upon  every 
 city,  and  no  city  shall  escape  :  the  valley  also 
 shall  perish,  and  the  plain  shall  be  destroyed, 
 as  the  Lord  hath  spoken. 
 
 9  "  Give  wings  unto  Moab,  that  it  may  flee 
 and  get  away  :  for  tlie  cities  thereof  shall  be 
 desolate,  without  any  to  dwell  therein. 
 
 10  "  Cursed  be  he  that  doeth  the  work  of 
 the  Lord  ||  deceitfully,  and  cursed  be  he  that 
 keepeth  hack  his  sword  from  blood. 
 
 1 1  t  Moab  hath  been  at  ease  from  his  youth, 
 and  he  ""hath  settled  on  his  lees,  and  hath  not 
 been  emptied  from  vessel  to  vessel,  neither 
 hath  he  gone  into  captivity  :  therefore  his  taste 
 t  remained  in  him,  and  his  scent  is  not  changed. 
 
 12  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith 
 the  Lord,  that  I  will  send  unto  him  wanderers, 
 that  shall  cause  him  to  wander,  and  shall  empty 
 his  vessels,  and  break  their  bottles. 
 
 13  And  Moab  shall  be  ashamed  of ''Chemosh, 
 as  the  house  of  Israel  'was  ashamed  of  Beth- 
 el their  contidence. 
 
 '4  1  How  say  ye, '  We  are  mighty  and  strong 
 men  for  the  war? 
 
 15  "  Moab  is  spoiled,  and  gone  up  out  of\\ex 
 cities,  and  fhis  chosen  yoinig  men  are  "gone 
 down  to  tlie  slaughter,  saith  >'  the  king,  whose 
 name  is  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 16  The  calamity  of  Moab  is  near  to  come, 
 and  his  aSliction  hasteth  fast. 
 
 17  All  ye  that  are  about  him,  bemoan  him  ; 
 and  all  ye  that  know  his  name,  say,  '  How  is 
 the  strong  staff  broken,  and  the  beautiful  rod  ! 
 
 IS  "  Thou  daughter  that  dost  inhabit  ''  Dibon, 
 come  down  from  thy  glory,  and  sit  in  thirst ; 
 for  ^  the  spoiler  of  Moab  shall  come  upon  thee, 
 and  he  shall  destroy  thy  strong  holds. 
 
 19  O  t  inhabitant  of '' Aroer,  "  stand  by  the 
 way,  and  espy  ;  ask  him  that  fleeth,  and  her 
 that  escapeth,  and  say.  What  is  done? 
 
 ■20  Moab  is  confounded  ;  for  it  is  broken 
 down  :  '  howl  and  cry  ;  tell  ye  it  in  "^Arnon,  that 
 Moab  is  spoiled, 
 
 21  And  judgment  is  come  upon  ''the  plain 
 country  ;  upon  Holon,  and  upon  Jahazah,  and 
 upon  Mephaath, 
 
 •22  And  upon  Dibon,  and  upon  Nebo,  and 
 upon  Beth-diblathaiui, 
 
 23  And  upon  Kiriathaim,  and  upon  Beth- 
 gamul,  and  upon  Beth-meon, 
 
 24  And  upon  '  Kerioth,  and  upon  Bozrah, 
 and  upon  all  the  cities  of  the  land  of  Moab, 
 far  or  near. 
 
 u  c 
 
 cir.  60U. 
 
 k  Nu.  SI.  29. 
 Ju Je  M  ;.(. 
 Sei-is.  46.1, 
 g.  ch.'lS.  12. 
 t  ch.  '19.  3, 
 m  ch.  6.  26. 
 ■er.  18. 
 Ps.  55,  6. 
 ■er.  28. 
 
 See  Jodg 
 5.^3,1  Sam. 
 15.  3,  9. 
 1  Ki.  20,4-2 
 |l  (II,  iieglt- 
 
 ft  Z..i.h  1.12, 
 
 q  Ju.ig.  11. 
 
 24.  1  Kill 
 
 II,  7. 
 r  ilos.  10    6 
 ,  I  Kill.  12, 
 
 29. 
 
 (  Is.  16.  6. 
 i<  ver.  B,9.  IS 
 t  Heb.  C.e 
 
 X  Ch.  5U,  27 
 
 V  ch  46    19. 
 &  51,  57. 
 
 b  Nu    21.  3U. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 d  n..ii 
 
 cir.  OW. 
 "  Ch.  25.  15, 
 27. 
 
 «  Zeph.  2,  S 
 
 See  ch.  2. 
 !6. 
 II  Or,  m,.i'cd3l 
 tbijitlf. 
 
 ]>  Ps,  5.').  6,7 
 
 vcr   y. 
 9 Caut  2.  It 
 
 ,  Is.  IC.  6. 
 
 ch  5U.  3e. 
 II  Or,  l/iine 
 
 on  lohinn  he 
 
 ilat/flh 
 
 (Heb.  hit 
 
 ban)  do  not 
 
 right 
 t  Is.  15,  5.  & 
 
 16,  7,  11. 
 "  Is,  16.8,9. 
 
 X  Is.  16.  10. 
 Joel  1.  12. 
 
 V  Is.  15.  4, 
 .^i,  6. 
 
 ;  Is    15,  5,6. 
 ver.  5. 
 
 t  Heb,  dun 
 
 ttltil/IU. 
 
 c  Is.  15.  7. 
 d  Is.  15.2,3 
 
 cli,  47.  5- 
 t  Heb,  dinii. 
 
 nuhed. 
 e  Gen.  37  34, 
 
 1  Heb.  pjecA. 
 
 25  ''  The  horn  of  Moab  is  cut  off,  and  his 
 arm  is  broken,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 26  H  "'  Make  ye  him  drunken  :  for  he  magni- 
 fied himself  against  the  Lord  :  Moab  also 
 .shall  wallow  in  his  vomit,  and  lie  also  shall  be 
 in  derision. 
 
 27  For"  was  not  Israel  a  derision  unto  thee  ? 
 °  was  he  found  among  thieves  V  for  since  thou 
 spakest  of  him,  thou  ||  skippedst  for  joy. 
 
 28  O  ye  that  dwell  in  Moab,  leave  the  cities, 
 and  ''  dwell  in  the  rock,  and  be  like  ''  the  dove 
 that  niaketh  her  nest  in  the  sides  of  the  hole's 
 mouth. 
 
 29  We  have  heard  the  '  pride  of  Moab,  (he  is 
 exceeding  proud)  his  loftiness,  and  his  arro- 
 gancy,  and  his  pride,  and  the  haughtiness  of 
 his  heart. 
 
 30  I  know  his  wrath,  saith  the  Lord  ;  but  it 
 shall  not  be  so  ;  °  ||  his  lies  shall  not  so  effect 
 it. 
 
 31  Therefore  '  will  I  howl  for  Moab,  and  I 
 will  cry  out  for  all  Moab  ;  mine  heart  shall 
 mourn  for  the  men  of  Kir-heres. 
 
 32  "  O  vine  of  Sibmah,  I  will  weep  for  thee 
 with  the  weeping  of  Jazer  :  thy  plants  are  gone 
 over  the  sea,  they  reach  even  to  the  sea  of  Ja- 
 zer  :  the  spoiler  is  fiiUen  upon  thy  summer 
 fruits  and  upon  thy  vintage. 
 
 33  And  *joy  and  gladness  is  taken  from  the 
 plentiful  field,  and  from  the  land  of  Moab  ;  and 
 I  have  caused  wine  to  fail  from  the  wine- 
 presses :  none  shall  tread  with  shouting ;  their 
 shouting  shall  be  no  shouting. 
 
 34  ''  From  the  cry  of  Heshbon  even  unto 
 Elealeh,  anrf  eD£»  unto  Jahaz,  have  they  utter- 
 ed their  voice,  '  from  Zoar  even  unto  Horo- 
 naim,  as  an  heifer  of  three  years  old  :  for  the 
 waters  also  of  Nimrim  shall  be  f  desolate. 
 
 35  Moreover  I  will  cause  to  cease  in  Moab, 
 saith  the  Lord,  °  him  that  oflFereth  in  the  high 
 places,  and  him  that  burneth  incense  to  his 
 gods. 
 
 36  Therefore  ''mine  heart  shall  sound  for 
 Moab  like  pipes,  and  mine  heart  shall  sound 
 like  pipes  for  the  men  of  Kir-heres  :  because 
 '  the  riches  that  he  hath  gotten  are  perished. 
 
 37  For  ''  every  head  shall  be  bald,  and  every 
 beard  f  clipped  :  upon  all  the  hands  shall  be 
 cuttings,  and  "  upon  the  loins  sackcloth. 
 
 38  There  shall  be  lamentation  generally  upon 
 all  the  housetops  of  Moab,  and  in  the  streets 
 thereof:  for  I  have  broken  Moab  like  "^a  vessel 
 wherein  is  no  pleasure,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 39  They  shall  howl,  sayinfj.  How  is  it  broken 
 down  !  how  hath  Moab  turned  the  f  back  with 
 
 7.  chemosh,  their  idol,  (Num.  xxi.  29  ) — Preb.  Lowth.  10.  Deceit- 
 ftilti/,  *  negligenUy,'  marg.  The  Chaldeans  were  commissioned  to  exe- 
 rute  vengeance  on  Moab  ;  and  they  would  expose  themselves  to  ven- 
 geance if  they  did  it  partially,  and  only  by  halves.  H.  Mftab  huth 
 been  at  ease,  though  small,  this  nation  was  ancient,  independent,  and 
 prosperous.  Settled  on  his  lees,  like  wine  left  long  to  refine  and  feed  on 
 the  lees,  which  becomes  much  stronger. — Scolt.  12.  That  1  will 
 send  unto  him  xvttnderers,  D'?!?,  '  tilters.  that  shall  tilt  him  down,' 
 alluding  to  tilting  vessels  to  draw  off  their  liquors. — Bla.,  so  Clarke, 
 and  Wil. 
 
 •That  I  will  send  to  him  those  who  shall  draw  him  off. 
 And  shall  empty  his  vessels  and  break  his  bc^ttles.* — Boothr. 
 
 13.  Ashamed  of  Chemosh,  disappointed  of  succours  from  their  idol,  (see 
 Judg.  xi.  24  ;  I  Kings,  xi.  7.)  17.  The  strong  stnff,  the  kingdom  or 
 government,  this  being  an  emblem  of  authority.  —  Preb.  Lowth. 
 IR.  Dibon — see  Num.  xxi.  30.  Previously  a  city  of  the  Reuhenites,  near 
 the  river  Arnon. — Dahler.  Sit  in  thirst,  an  expression  of  extreme 
 misery. — Hew.  IQ.  Aroer,  a  town  in  the  borders  of  Moab,  (Dcut. 
 ii.  36.)  20.  Arnon,  a  country  so  called  from  the  river  Arnon,  (Num. 
 
 xxi.  28.) — Preh.  Lowth.        21.  The  plain  countrti,  all  Moab,  which  had 
 great  plains,  (Num.  xxxi.  12  ;  xxxiii.  48.)    The"  names  to  ver.  24  are 
 those  of  cities,  some  unknown  elsewhere. — Poole.     25.  Horn,  '  power.' 
 835 
 
 — Ed.  26.  Make  ye  him  drunken,  fill  him  with  the  intoxicating  cup 
 
 of  God's  vengeance. —  Poole.  27.  A  derision — thieves,  Moab  derided 
 the  captive  Israelites,  as  if  they  were  robbers,  when  they  had,  done  no 
 injury  to  Moab. — So  Gill.  23.  That  maketh  her  nest,  ^c. — doves 
 
 build  their  ne-sts  in  the  clefts  of  rocks,  (see  Cant.  ii.  14.) — Bla.  It 
 means,  get  to  the  most  inaccessible  places,  and  secret  caves  in  the 
 mountains,  &c. — A.  Clarke.  30.  But  it  shall  not  be  so,  ^c. — literally, 
 •  not  so  his  sufficiency,  not  so  his  doing.'  '  But  he  is  not  able  to  do 
 what  he  intends.' — Boothr.  31.  Kir-heres,  or  Kir-hareseth,  (Isa.  xvi. 
 7.)  appears  to  have  been  once  the  capital,  or,  at  least,  the  strongest  ot 
 the  cities  of  Moab,  (2  Kings,  iii.  25.) — Bla.  32.  Vine  of  Sibmah—s^e 
 Isa.  xvi.  8,  9.  It  was,  doubtless,  famous  for  vineyards. — Poole.  With 
 the  weeping  of  Juzer,  another  city  previously  destroyed  and  wept  over. 
 — Gill.  33.  Their  shouting  shall  be  no  shouting,  there  should  be  no 
 such  shouting  as  there  used  to  be  in  the  time  of  hiarvest  and  of  vintage, 
 — Poole ;  but  the  dreadful  i-hnutingof  military  spoilers. — Par.  34.  From 
 the  cry  of  Heshbon,  ^(,'.,  this  and  the  other  places  named  were  all  in 
 Moab,  and  the  sense  is,  the  whole  country  shall  be  destroyed. — Poole, 
 tittered  their  voice — as  an  heifer,  ffc,  the  lowing  of  a  young  cow,  that 
 runs  from  place  to  place  in  search  of  her  lost  calf. — Bla.  36.  Mine 
 
 heart,  the  prophet  speaks  in  the  person  of  the  people. — Kimehi.  Like 
 pipes,  used  at  funerals.— Poo/e,  Gill.  37.  Bald — see  chap.  xli.  6. 
 
 Cuttings  —  see  chap.  xvi.  6.  38.  Housetops  —  comp.  Isa.  xv.  3. 
 
The  reslvration  of  Moiib. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLIX. 
 
 The  judgment  of  the  Ammonites. 
 
 shame !  so  shall  Moab  be  a  derision  and  a  dis- 
 maying to  all  them  about  him. 
 
 40  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  ^  he 
 shall  fly  as  an  eagle,  and  shall  "spread  his 
 wings  over  Moab. 
 
 41  'IIKerioth  is  taken,  and  the  strongholds 
 are  surprised,  and  '  the  mighty  men's  hearts  in 
 Moab  at  that  day  shall  be  as  the  heart  of  a 
 woman  in  her  pangs. 
 
 42  And  Moab  shall  be  destroyed  '  from  being 
 a  people,  because  he  hath  magnified  himself 
 against  the  Lord. 
 
 43  °'  Fear,  and  the  pit,  and  the  snare,  shall  be 
 upon  thee,  O  inhabitant  of  Moab,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 44  He  that  fleeth  from  the  fear  shall  fall  into 
 the  pit ;  and  he  that  gettetli  up  out  of  the  pit 
 shall  be  taken  in  the  snare  :  for  °  I  will  bring 
 upon  it,  even  upon  IMoab,  the  year  of  their 
 visitation,  saith  tlie  Lord. 
 
 45  They  that  fled  stood  under  the  shadow  of 
 Heshbon  because  of  the  force  :  but  °  a  fire 
 shall  come  forth  out  of  Heshbon,  and  a  flame 
 from  the  midst  of  Sihon, and  ''shall  devour  the 
 corner  of  Moab,  and  the  crown  of  the  head  of 
 the  t  tumultuous  ones. 
 
 46  ''  Woe  be  unto  thee,  O  Moab !  the  people 
 of  Chemosh  perisheth  :  for  thy  sons  are  taken 
 t  captives,  and  thy  daughters  captives. 
 
 47  H  Yet  will  I  bring  again  the  captivity  of 
 Moab  'in  the  latter  days,  saith  the  Lord. 
 Thus  far  is  the  judgment  of  Moab. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIX. 
 
 1  The  judgment  of  the  Ammonites.  6  Their  restora- 
 tion. 7  The  judo mcnt  of  Edom,  '23  of  DarnascuSf 
 28  of  Kt;dar,  30  of  Razor,  34  and  of  Elam.  39  The 
 restoration  of  Khim. 
 
 CONCERNING  ||  Mhe  Ammonites,  thus 
 saith  the  Lord;  Hath  Israel  no  sons? 
 hath  he  no  heir?  why  then  doth  ||  their  king 
 inherit  ^  Gad,  and  his  people  dwell  in  his 
 cities? 
 2  Therefore,  behold,  the  day.^  come,  saith  the 
 Lord,  that  I  will  cause  an  alarm  of  war  to  be 
 heard  in  "^  Rabbah  of  the  Ammonites;  and  it 
 
 g  Deu.  28.49. 
 
 ch.  49.  2S. 
 
 Dan.  7.  4. 
 
 Hos.  8.   I. 
 
 Hab.  I.  S. 
 h  Is.  8.  8. 
 
 ver.  24. 
 II  Or,  The 
 
 ciliet. 
 k  Is.  13.  8.  & 
 
 21.3.  cb. 30. 
 
 6.  &  49   'J->, 
 
 24.  &  50.  43. 
 
 &  £1.  St). 
 
 Mic.  4.  9. 
 I  V%.  83.  4, 
 
 Is.  7.  8. 
 m  Is.  ^\.  17, 
 
 />  Nu  24.  n. 
 
 \  Heb.  cAi(- 
 drtn  of 
 
 ./  Nu.'si.SQ 
 
 t  Keb   m 
 capiivily. 
 
 r  cli    40.  6, 
 
 3y, 
 
 civ.  coo. 
 II  Or,  agaiii*!. 
 a  Ezetc.  21. 
 
 29.  &  ijy  2. 
 
 AmoB  I.  IS. 
 
 Zeph  2.  8/'. 
 IjOr,  nfflcom. 
 b  Atno9l.l3. 
 
 aU.  82.  II. 
 ch.  4.  8.  & 
 6.  S6. 
 
 \]  Or,  Meteoin. 
 
 I  Kiu.  11.5, 
 
 33. 
 «  cli.  48.  7- 
 
 Amos  1.  15 
 
 il  Or,  %«■«/■ 
 lei/jlois'th 
 
 ^ch.  21.  13. 
 
 h  So  vei-.  30, 
 it  cli.4U.<l7. 
 
 t  EZ0.S.M2. 
 
 Amos  I.  11. 
 k  Obad.  8. 
 ;  See  Is.  19. 
 
 U. 
 
 m  ver.  30. 
 II  Or,  they 
 
 are  lurneit 
 
 bach. 
 
 I  Ch.  25.  23. 
 
 I  Hcb.  Iheir 
 iitfficioici/. 
 
 I>  Mftl.  1.  3. 
 
 q  Is.  17.  U. 
 
 shall  be  a  desolate  heap,  and  her  daughters 
 shall  be  burned  with  fire  :  then  shall  Israel  be 
 heir  unto  them  that  were  his  heirs,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 3  Howl,  O  Heshbon,  for  Ai  is  spoiled  :  cry, 
 ye  daughters  of  Rabbah,  '^  gird  you  with  sack- 
 cloth; lament,  and  run  to  and  fro  by  the 
 hedges  ;  for  ||  their  king  shall  go  into  capti- 
 vity, and  his  ^  priests  and  his  princes  to- 
 gether. 
 
 4  Wherefore  gloriest  thou  in  the  valleys, 
 II  thy  flowing  valley,  O  ^  backsliding  daughter? 
 that  trusted  in  her  treasures,  ^  sayimj^  Who 
 shall  come  unto  me? 
 
 5  Behold,  I  will  bring  a  fear  upon  thee,  saith 
 the  Lord  God  of  hosts,  from  all  those  that  be 
 about  thee  ;  and  ye  shall  be  driven  out  every 
 man  right  forth  ;  and  none  shall  gather  up  him 
 that  waudereth. 
 
 6  And  ''afterward  I  will  bring  again  the  cap- 
 tivity of  the  children  of  Animon,  saith  the 
 Loud. 
 
 7  t'  Concerning  Edom,  thus  saith  the  Lord 
 of  hosts  ;  ^  Is  wisdom  no  more  in  Teman?  Ms 
 counsel  perished  from  the  prudent?  is  their 
 wisdom  vanished  ? 
 
 8  "'Flee  ye,  ||turu  back,  dwell  deep,  O  inha- 
 bitants of  "  Dedan  ;  for  I  will  bring  the  cala- 
 mity of  Esau  upon  him,  the  time  that  I  will 
 visit  him. 
 
 9  If  °  grapegatherers  come  to  thee,  would 
 they  not  leave  some  gleaning  grapes?  if  thieves 
 by  night,  they  will  destroy  f  till  they  have 
 enough. 
 
 10  ^  But  I  have  made  Esau  bare,  I  have  un- 
 covered his  secret  places,  and  he  shall  not  he 
 able  to  hide  himself:  his  seed  is  spoiled,  and 
 his  brethren,  and  his  neighbours,  and  **  he  is 
 not. 
 
 1 1  Leave  thy  fatherless  children,  I  will  pre- 
 serve them  alive  ;  and  let  thy  widows  trust  in 
 me. 
 
 12  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  '  they 
 whose  judgment  was  not  to  drink  of  the  cup 
 have  assuredly  drunken  ;  and  art  thou  he  that 
 shall   altogether  go  unpunished?    thou  shalt 
 
 40.//e,  theBabyl mi-^h  conqueror. — Bin.  43. Fear,  Sfc. — scelsa.  xxiv.  1~, 
 note.  45.  Under  the  shadow  of  Heshbon,  beiDg  a  strong:  city,  thither 
 the  Mi»abites  Ueil.  But  afire,  ^c— the  meaning  is,  that  the  Chaldeans 
 should  cnnquer  Heshbon,  and  thence,  like  a  llame  of  tire,  spread  and 
 destroy  aU  Moab.  Sihon  was  the  same  as  Heshbm,  the  name  being 
 derived  from  one  of  its  kings.  47.  Bring  again  the  captimty,  it  had 
 
 a  liteial  accfiniplishment,  as  is  thought,  under  Cjrus. — Gill.  They, 
 hke  the  Jews,  were  never  restored  to  their  national  consequence. 
 Their  conversion  to  the  Chri^tian  faith  must  be  the  main  end  of  this 
 prophecy. — Clarke  Jercini.nh  ha^  borrowed  many  expressions  in  this 
 chapter  from  Isaiah.— S«/. 
 
 Chap.  XLIX.  — 1.  Their  king,  DDSo.  more  properly  'Mclcom,'  the 
 chief  deity  of  the  Ammonites,  (see  1  Kings,  xi.  5.)  Inherit  Gad,  pro- 
 bably when  the  king  of  Assyria  carried  away  the  Gadites,  (2  Kings,  xv. 
 29;  I  Chron.  V.  26,)  the  Ammonites  took  possession  of  their  vacant 
 country. — Bla.  1.  Ruhbnh,  the  principal  city,  (see  Amos,  i.  14; 
 Ezek.  XXV.  5.)  Daughters,  smaller  cities,  (comp.  chap,  xlviii.  18  ;  Ps. 
 xcvii.  8.)  3.  Howl,  O  Heshbon,  for  Ai,  '  when  Ai  (not  that  mentioned 
 Josh,  viii.,  but  a  city  of  the  Ammonites,)  is  destroyed,  then  it  is  time 
 for  Heshbon,  the  ch  ef  city  of  Moab,  to  lament  her  danger.*  By  the 
 hedges,  try  to  hide  yourselves  in  the  thickets. — Preb.  Lowth.  '  Within 
 the  fences,'  the  enclosures  of  small  towns,  like  garden  walls,  to  protect 
 against  robbers.— £/«.  Their  king,  or  rather  Melconi.— Pr^-A.  Lowth. 
 See  ver.  i.,  note.  4.  Backsliding,  the  whole  people  of  Ammon,  who, 
 descending  from  righteous  Lot,   may  be  called  backsHders.  —  GiV/. 
 
 niilirrt  nan,  'O  pei-verse  daughter!'— Sc/tmiV//.  '  Rash.'—Grotius. 
 '  Kebcllious.'- Pag-.,  Calv.  '  Refractory.*— Mo7it.  5.  That  be  about 
 thee,  the  Chaldeans,  or  surrounding  nations,  or  borders  of  Ammon. — 
 (rill.  7,  7s  wisdom  no  more  in  Teman  ?  the  eastern  part  of  the  world, 
 by  which  is  chiefly  meant  .Arabia  and  adjacent  countries,  was  famous 
 f'T  the  study  of  wisdom,  or  philosophy,  as  called  in  later  times,  (see 
 1  Kings,  iv.  30.)— PrrA.  Loiclh.  8.  Dwell  deep,  get  into  caves  and 
 holes  of  the  earth, — Poole.  Plunge  far  into  the  deserts. — Hnr.  Kiebuhr 
 and  Savary  speak  of  the  Arabs  retiring  to  the  bottom  of  the  desert  and 
 plunging  into  the  burning  sands,  where  nme  can  pursue  them,  when 
 they  offend  the  neighbouring  powers,— Par.  Dedan,  the  Dedanites 
 were  Arabians  of  the  posterity  of  Dedan,  the  grandson  oi  Abraham, 
 /Gen,  XXV.  3.) — Preb.  Louth.  For  I  will  bring  the  calamity  of  Esau, 
 the  city  of  Dedan  joined  Idumea.  (Isa,  x.xi.  13;)  hence  they  were  called 
 to  flee  when  God  vi^ited  the  Edoniitcs  with  his  judgments.— Poo/c. 
 9.  If  grapegatherers,  ffc,  even  harvesters  and  thieves  leave  something 
 behind  them,  but  this  shall  be  an  entire  de-olation.— Pre*.  Xou'/A. 
 11,  Leave  thy  fatherless,  ^c,  'shall  I  preserve  tlie  life  of  thy  fatherless 
 children?'  or  *  shall  thy  widows  trust  in  me  ?'— B/a.  Edom  is  here 
 addressed  as  a  descendant  of  Abraham,  and  invited  to  commit  his  or- 
 phans  and  widows  to  the  care  and  mercy  of  Jehovah  ;  for  their  fathers 
 and  husbands  sbouhl  perish.— Boo?/(r.  12.  Thei/  whose  judgment  was 
 not,  ^-c.,  neighbouring  nations,  who  had  not  so  ill  used  the  Jews,  or 
 the  Jews  themselves.— Gi7/.  The  Jews,  who,  in  all  human  appearance, 
 might  have  expected  mercy.     Drink  of  the  cup—see  chap.  xxv.  15. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLVIII.  —  I.  Prosperity  is  danger-  nations!     Nor  can  any  sinner,  bow  high  soever  in  spirit  or 
 
 oris.     Nations  and  people  are  in  danger  when  they  settle  on  rank,  stand   against  the   stroke    of  the  Almighty.     '  Be  not 
 
 their  lees.     Self-confidence  of  any  kind  is  an  evil.     *  Let  him  high-minded,  but  fear.'     *Flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.'    The 
 
 that  tbinketh  he  standelb  take  heed  lest  he  fall.'  strongest  holds  afforded  no  refage  to  Moab,  but  Jesus  is  able 
 
 11.  How  auf id  is  it  to  he  visited  with  the  rvrnth  nf  God  f     How  to  save  *  to  the   very  uttermost  all   that  come  unto   God   oy 
 
 soon  it  swept  away  the  most  ancient,  powerful,  and  prosperous  him." 
 836 
 
The  judgment  of  Damascus, 
 
 JEREMIAH,  XLIX. 
 
 of  Kedar,  and  of  Hazor. 
 
 not  go  unpunished,  but  thou  shall  surely  drink 
 of  it. 
 
 13  For  'I  have  sworn  by  myself,  saith  the 
 LoBD,  that  '  Bozrah  shall  become  a  desolation, 
 a  reproach,  a  waste,  and  a  curse  ;  and  all  the 
 cities  thereof  shall  be  perpetual  wastes. 
 
 14  I  have  beard  a  "rumour  from  the  Lord, 
 and  an  ambassador  is  sent  unto  the  heathen, 
 sai/ing.  Gather  ye  together,  and  come  against 
 her,  and  rise  up  to  the  battle. 
 
 13  For,  lo,  I  will  make  thee  small  among  the 
 heathen,  and  despised  among  men. 
 
 16  Thy  terribleness  hath  deceived  thee,  and 
 the  pride  of  thine  heart,  O  thou  that  dwellest 
 in  the  clefts  of  the  rock,  that  boldest  the  height 
 of  the  hill :  *  though  thou  sliouldest  make  thy 
 ^  nest  as  high  as  the  eagle,  '  I  will  bring  thee 
 down  from  thence,  saith  the  Loud. 
 
 17  Also  Edom  shall  be  a  desolation  :  "every 
 one  that  goetb  by  it  shall  be  astonished,  and 
 shall  hiss  at  all  the  plagues  thereof. 
 
 18  ''  As  in  the  overthrow  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
 morrah and  the  neighbour  cities  thereof,  saith 
 the  Lord,  no  man  shall  abide  tliere,  neither 
 shall  a  son  of  man  dwell  in  it. 
 
 19  '  Behold,  he  shall  come  up  like  a  lion 
 from  '■  the  swelling  of  Jordan  against  the  habi- 
 tation of  the  strong  :  but  I  will  suddenly  make 
 him  run  away  from  her :  and  who  is  a  chosen 
 man,  that  I  may  appoint  over  her?  for  °  who 
 is  like  me?  and  who  will  ||  appoint  me  the 
 time?  and  'who  is  that  shepherd  that  will 
 stand  before  me? 
 
 20  "  Therefore  hear  the  counsel  of  the  Lord, 
 that  he  hath  taken  against  Edom  ;  and  his 
 purposes,  that  he  hath  purposed  against  the 
 inhabitants  of  Teman  :  Surely  the  least  of  the 
 flock  shall  draw  them  out  •  surely  he  shall 
 make  their  habitations  desolate  with  them. 
 
 21  ^  The  earth  is  moved  at  the  noise  of  their 
 fall,  at  the  cry  the  noise  thereof  was  heard  in 
 the  t  Red  sea. 
 
 22  Behold,  '  he  shall  come  up  and  fly  as  the 
 eagle,  and  spread  his  wings  over  Bozrah  :  and 
 at  that  day  shall  the  heart  of  the  mighty  men  of 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cic.  coo. 
 
 .  Gen  22.10. 
 
 I».  IS.  23. 
 
 Amos  6.  8. 
 /  Is.  3-1.  0. 
 
 OSS.  1. 
 
 u  Obad.  I,  2, 
 3. 
 
 J,  Job  39.  27. 
 =  .\mos  9.  2. 
 
 I  ah.  IS.  10. 
 &  50.  13. 
 
 6  Gen  19.25. 
 Deu.  29.  23 
 ch .  50.  40. 
 Auios  4.  n . 
 
 e  eh.  50.  «, 
 d  ch.  12.  5. 
 
 II  Or,  conveul 
 mr  mjtid}- 
 
 /Job  41.  10. 
 S  ch.  50.  45. 
 
 tHeb. 
 
 ueedv  sea. 
 t  ch   4.  13. 
 
 &  48.  40,41 . 
 
 n  Is.  13.  8. 
 ch.  4.  SI.  & 
 6.  24.  &  30, 
 6.  &  48.  41. 
 ver.  22. 
 
 .  ch.  33.  9. 
 &51.4I. 
 
 >  cb.  50.  SO. 
 &5I.4. 
 
 p  Amos  I.  4. 
 
 cir.  600- 
 q  Is.  21.  13. 
 
 '  Jadg.  0.  3. 
 Job  I.  8. 
 r  Ps.  120.  5. 
 
 H  ver,  8. 
 greatlt/. 
 
 X  Eze,  38  1 1 . 
 !|  Or,  that  is 
 at  ease 
 
 y  Nil.  2.3,  9, 
 Deu.  33.23 
 Mic.  7.   14. 
 
 r  Ezek.  5.10. 
 ver.  36. 
 
 a  cb.  9.  26. 
 8.  25.  2:S, 
 
 t  Heb.  cut 
 00  ittta  ciir- 
 iieri,  or,  Ifial 
 have  the  cur- 
 ncrjof  tbeil 
 hair  polled. 
 
 6ch.  9.  II. 
 &  10.  22. 
 Mai.  1.  3. 
 
 e  ver.  13. 
 
 Edom  be  as  the  heart  of  a  woman  in  her  pangs. 
 
 23  U  •■  Concerning  Damascus.  Hamath  is 
 confounded,  and  Arpad  :  for  they  have  heard 
 evil  tidings :  they  are  ffaiiithearted  ;  '  there  is 
 sorrow  |{  on  the  sea ;  it  cannot  be  quiet. 
 
 24  Damascus  is  waxed  feeble,  and  turneth 
 herself  to  flee,  and  fear  hath  seized  on  her  : 
 "anguish  and  sorrows  have  taken  her,  as  a 
 woman  in  travail. 
 
 25  How  is  "  the  city  of  praise  not  left,  the 
 city  of  my  joy  ! 
 
 26  °  Therefore  her  young  men  shall  fall  in 
 her  streets,  and  all  the  men  of  war  shall  be  cut 
 off  in  that  day,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 27  And  I  will  kindle  a  ''  fire  in  the  wall  of 
 Damascus,  and  it  shall  consume  the  palaces  of 
 Ben-hadad. 
 
 28  H ""  Concerning  Kedar,  and  concerning  the 
 kingdoms  of  Hazor,  which  Nebuchadrezzar 
 king  of  Babylon  shall  smite,  thus  saith  the 
 Lord  ;  Arise  ye,  go  up  to  Kedar,  and  spoil 
 '  the  men  of  the  east. 
 
 29  Their  '  tents  and  their  flocks  shall  they 
 take  away  :  they  shall  take  to  themselves  their 
 curtains,  and  all  their  vessels,  and  their  camels  ; 
 and  they  shall  cry  unto  them,  '  Fear  is  on 
 every  side. 
 
 30  f "  Flee,  t  get  you  far  off,  dwell  deep,  O 
 ye  inhabitants  of  Hazor,  saith  the  Lord  ;  for 
 Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon  hath  taken 
 counsel  against  you,  and  hath  conceived  a 
 purpose  against  you. 
 
 31  Arise,  get  you  up  unto  "the  ||wealthy 
 nation,  that  dwelleth  without  care,  saith  the 
 Lord,  which  have  neither  gates  nor  bars, 
 which  ''dwell  alone. 
 
 32  And  their  camels  shall  be  a  booty,  and 
 the  multitude  of  their  cattle  a  spoil  :  and  I 
 will  ^scatter  into  all  winds  ''  them  that  are  f  in 
 the  utmost  corners  ;  and  I  will  bring  their  ca- 
 lamity from  all  sides  thereof,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 33  And  Hazor  ''shall  be  a  dwelling  for  dra- 
 gons, and  a  desolation  for  ever  :  '  there  shall 
 no  man  abide  there,  nor  a7ir/  son  of  man  dwell 
 in  it. 
 
 13.  Bozrah,  one  of  the  chief  cities  of  Idumea,  (see  Isa.  xxxiv.  6;  Ixiii.) 
 — Preb.  Lowth.      Cities  thereof,  daughter  cities. — Bp.  Hall.  I6.  In 
 
 the  ctefH,  Idumea  was  a  rocky  mountainous  country. — .S7.  Jerome. 
 Astonishment,  for  which  language  can  scarcely  find  utterance,  is  the 
 sentiment  expressed  by  every  traveller  who  has  been  able  to  explore 
 the  magnificent  ruins  of  the  once  proud  metropolis  of  Idumea  or  Edom. 
 A  narrow  and  circuitous  defile,  surrounded  on  each  side  by  lofty  and 
 precipitous,  or  perpendicular,  rocks,  forms  the  approach  to  the  desolate, 
 yet  magnificent  scene.  The  ruins  of  the  city  then  burst  upon  the 
 view  in  their  full  grandeur.  Shut  in  on  the  opposite  side  by  barren 
 craggy  precipices,  from  which  numerous  ravines  and  valleys  branch 
 out  in  all  directions,  the  sides  of  the  mountains,  covered  with  an  end- 
 less variety  of  excavated  tombs  and  private  dwellings,  present  alto- 
 gether the  most  singular  scene  that  can  well  be  conceived.  The  name 
 of  the  capital,  in  various  languages,  implies  '  a  rock.'— Finrfcn'.s'  Lund- 
 scape  lllus.  Almost  incredible  and  inconceivable  labour  must  have 
 been  expended,  from  age  to  age,  prior  to  the  days  of  Moses,  and  later 
 than  the  Christian  era,  by  which  so  great  a  multiplicity  of  dwellings, 
 tombs,  and  temples  were  excavated  from  the  rock.  17.  Shall  be  a 
 desohitiiin,  where  very  recently  it  was  difliciilt,  if  not  impossible,  to 
 ascertain  a  single  fact,  and  where  only  indirect  evidence  could  be  ob- 
 tained, men  may  now,  as  it  were,  look  upon  Idumea,  and  see  how  the 
 lines  of  confusion  and  the  stones  of  emptiness  have  been  stretched  over 
 it.  And  we  may  now,  in  like  manner,  look  upon  the  ruins  of  the  chief 
 city  (,f  Edom,  of  which  the  very  existence  was,  till  lately,  entirely  ua- 
 known.— if f?t7/i.  Hiss—^ee  chap.  xix.  8.  18.  Overthrow,  the  Edom- 
 ites  were  lost  among  the  Nabathean  Arabs  and  the  Jews,  and  even  their 
 name  abolished  and  disused,  soon  after  Christ.— £;;.  Newton.  19.  He, 
 Nebuchadnezzar.— Gi'«.  From  the  swelling  of  Jorrtim,  on  the  inunda- 
 tions taking  place,  wild  beasts  desert  its  banks  and  bushes,  and  infest 
 the  neighbouring  plains. ~So  Maun.  But  I  will  suddenli/  make  him  run 
 away  from  her,  'yet  swiftly  shall  he  return  from  it  with  spoil.'  A  cho. 
 sen  man,  Nebuchadnezzar,  whom  God  had  chosen  to  execute  his  wrath 
 ui>on  Edom. — Boothr.  •  1  will  single  out  a  man  of  prowess,  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar, and  place  him  at  the  head  of  the  army.'  Who  fc  that  shepherd  F 
 ic,  •  what  leader  or  general  can  enter  the  lists  with  me  V—Preb.  Lowth. 
 837 
 
 20.  The  least  of  the  flock,  '  they  shall  be  dragged  away  from  the  little 
 ones  of  the  flock.' — Bla.  In  pursuance  of  the  metaphor,  it  signifies  the 
 weakest  and  meanest  common  soldier.  Draw  them  out,  alluding  to 
 the  custom  of  dogs,  who  draw  about  a  carcass  before  they  devour  it. — 
 So  Bp.  Hall,  and  Preb.  Lowth.  21,  The  earth  is  moved  at  its  noise, 
 
 the  surrounding  countries  are  astonished  at  its  fall,  like  that  of  a  great 
 building,   (see  Ezek.  .\xvi.  15  ;    xxxi.   1G.)—Preb.   Lowth.  23.  Da- 
 
 mascus, the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of  Syria.  Isaiah's  prediction  (chap, 
 xvii.)  had  been  fulfilled  by  Tiglath-pileser,  (see  2  Kings,  xvi.  9,)  but 
 when  the  Assyrian  empire  fell,  it  recovered,  and  is  now  doomed  to 
 suffer  again  from  Nebuchadnezzar. — Bio.  Hamath — Arpad,  not  far 
 from  Damascus. — .4.  Clarke.  See  Isa.  x.  9,  note.  Arpad  is,  with  good 
 reason,  held  to  be  the  island  of  Aradus,  in  the  Mediterranean. — Boothr, 
 Fainthearted ;  there  is  sorrute  on  the  sea, '  as  on  tlie  sea,*  when  the  ship 
 is  sinking,  and  the  sailors  have  nothing  but  death  before  their  eyes. — 
 Scott.  It  may  denote  the  Syrians  that  dwelt  in  the  isles  of  the  sea, 
 particularly  the  Antaradians. — Gitl. 
 
 '  They  are  dissolved  with  fear,  as  the  sea, 
 Which  can  never  be  at  rest.' — Boothr. 
 
 25.  at'/  of  praise,  Damascus,  famous  for  its  antiquity,  wealth,  riches, 
 strength,  and  power.  How  was  it  this  city  was  not  spared  by  the 
 enemV  ^—Gill,  so  Bp.  Hull.  27.  Ben  hadad,  probably  a  common 
 name  for  the  kings  of  Syria,  as  Pharaoh  for  those  of  Egypt. — Bla. 
 28.  AVrf«r— Kedar  was  a  son  of  Ishmael,  who  settled  in  Arabia  Petraea, 
 (Gen.  XXV.  13;)  he  gave  name  to  a  powerful  tribe.  —  Clarke,  Gilt. 
 Hazor,  there  was  a  Hazor  in  Canaan,  (Josh.  xi.  10 ;  Judg.  iv.  2,)  but 
 this  was  Petra,  the  capital  of  Arabia  Petrsea. — Gill.  The  country  was 
 under  petty  princes,  and  hence  called  '  kingdoms.' — Preb.  Lowth.  Men 
 of  the  east,  i.  e.,  ATa.hiSias,  so  called  in  Scripture.  29.  Curtains,  that 
 is.  tent  curtains.  They  were  wandering  Arabs. —  Wit.,  Preb.  Lowth. 
 SO.  Dwell  deep — see  ver.  8,  note.  31.  Unto  the  uiealthij  nation,  ^» 
 
 I'blT  'IJ,  '  to  the  peaceable  or  quiet  nation.' — Schmidt,  Jun.,  Trem.,  &c. 
 Neither  gates,  ffc,  being  in  no  fear. — Gilt.  33.  Hazor  shall  be  a 
 
 dwelling  for  dragons,  ^-c. — the  people  of  Hazar  were,  perhaps,  originally 
 Canaanites,  of  the  kingdom  of  Hazar,  in  the  north  of  Canaan,  which 
 
The  judgment  of  Babylon, 
 
 JEREMIAH,  L. 
 
 and  redemption  of  Israel. 
 
 34  f  The  word  of  the  Lord  that  caine  to  Je- 
 remiah the  prophet  against  "^  Elaiii  in  the  he- 
 ginning  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah, 
 saying, 
 
 35  Thns  saith  the  Lord  of  liosts  ;  Behold,  1 
 will  break  "  tlie  bow  of  Elani,  tlie  chief  of  their 
 might. 
 
 30  And  upon  Elani  will  I  bring  the  four 
 winds  from  tlie  four  ([uarters  of  heaven,  and 
 '  \\\\\  scatter  them  toward  all  those  winds; 
 and  there  shall  be  no  nation  whither  the  out- 
 casts of  Elam  shall  not  come. 
 
 ."i?  For  1  will  cause  Elani  to  be  dismayed  be- 
 fore their  enemies,  and  before  tliem  that  seek 
 their  life  ;  and  I  will  bring  evil  upon  them, 
 win  my  fierce  anger,  saith  the  Lord  ;  ^and  1 
 will  send  the  sword  after  them,  till  I  have  con- 
 sumed them: 
 
 3^  And  1  will  ''set  my  throne  in  Elam,  and 
 will  destroy  from  thence  the  king  and  the 
 ])rinces,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 39  H  But  it  shall  come  to  pass  '  in  the  latter 
 days,  thai  I  will  bring  again  the  captivity  of 
 Elam,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  L. 
 
 1,  9,  21,  35    Thejudymmt  of  Babylon.     4,  17,  33  Tin 
 redemption  of  Israel. 
 
 ^PHE  word  that  the  Lord  spake  "against 
 -*■  Babylon  and  against  tlie  land  of  the  Chal- 
 deans t  by  Jercmiali  the  prophet. 
 
 'i  Declare  ye  among  the  nations,  and  publish, 
 and  t  set  up  a  standard  ;  publish,  and  conceal 
 not :  say,  Babylon  is  taken,  '•  Bel  is  confounded, 
 Merodacli  is  broken  in  pieces  ;  '  her  idols  are 
 confounded,  her  images  are  broken  in  pieces. 
 
 3  •'  For  out  of  the  north  there  comcth  up  "a 
 nation  against  her,  which  shall  make  her  land 
 desolate,  and  none  .shall  dwell  therein  :  they 
 shall  remove,  they  shall  depart,  both  man  and 
 beast. 
 
 4  t  In  those  days,  and  in  that  time,  saith  the 
 Lord,  the  children  of  Israel  shall  come,  '  they 
 and  the  children  of  Judah  together,  "going  and 
 weeping:  they  shall  go,  ""and  seek  the  Lord 
 their  God. 
 
 5  They  shall  ask  the  way  to  Zion  with  their 
 faces  thitherward,  say  in;/.  Come,  and  let  us 
 join  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in  '  a  perpetual 
 covenant  that  shall  not  be  forgotten. 
 
 VtT    fi. 
 
 595. 
 '<  U.  13.  I    A 
 
 SI.  I.  i  47, 
 
 I. 
 t  Hvb.  ftv  /'"• 
 
 ;,.,.</  './Vc. 
 
 SI.  U 
 e  ch.  «. 
 
 12, 
 
 d  ch.  h\.  48. 
 -•  Is.  13.  17, 
 
 18,  L'O. 
 
 vtr.  39,  411 
 
 /  Hos.  I.  n 
 
 J?  Kira  3.  \'l. 
 IS  Ps.  126, 
 5.  fi  ch.  31 
 9  Zecb.  12 
 10 
 
 /.  Hos.  3.  5, 
 
 m  1*8    79.  7. 
 .1  Ch  40    2,  3 
 
 '/.cell.  1 1.  5. 
 .-  See  ch.2  S. 
 
 1)311.  9.  lb. 
 ;.  rs.  90.  1 
 
 It  91,  I. 
 q  Va.  82.  4. 
 r  iK,  48.  20. 
 
 ch.51.6.45 
 
 Zcch.2.  &,; 
 
 Kcv.  IS.  4. 
 .  ch.  li    14. 
 
 &  51.  27. 
 
 ver.  3,  41. 
 
 f  vcr.  14   29 
 
 II  Or, 
 ileilTuyer. 
 u2Saiu.l.22 
 
 MlC'b  iij.or, 
 
 :  Hos.  10.11. 
 II  Or,  «.j/i 
 at  tleedi. 
 
 ch.  25.  12. 
 cb.  49.  17. 
 
 ch.  £1.  2. 
 d  ch.  19   35 
 
 ^  1  Chr.  29. 
 
 24.  2  Chr 
 
 30    8.  Lam 
 
 5.  a.  Eiek. 
 
 17.  18. 
 /  ch.  51.  58. 
 jch  51.6,1 1 
 '.  Ps.  137.  8. 
 
 ver.  29 
 
 Kev.  IS.  6. 
 II  Or,  itulhe 
 1  U    13.  14. 
 
 ch.  51.9. 
 
 a  My  people  hath  been  '  lost  sheep  :  their 
 shepherds  have  cau.sed  them  to  go  astray,  they 
 have  turned  them  away  on  '  the  mountains : 
 they  have  gone  from  mountain  to  hill,  they 
 have  forgotten  their  f  restingplace. 
 
 7  All  tiiat  found  them  have  "'devoured  them  : 
 and  "  their  adversaries  said,  °  We  offend  not, 
 because  they  have  sinned  against  the  Lord, 
 ''  the  habitation  of  justice,  even  the  Loud,  ''the 
 hope  of  their  fathers. 
 
 «  '  Remove  out  of  the  midst  of  Babylon,  and 
 go  forth  out  of  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans,  and 
 be  as  the  he  goats  before  the  flocks. 
 
 9  f  '  For,  lo,  I  will  raise  and  cause  to  come 
 up  against  Babylon  an  assembly  of  great  na- 
 tions from  the  north  country  :  and  they  shall 
 '  set  themselves  in  array  against  her ;  from 
 thence  she  shall  be  taken  :  their  arrows  shall 
 he  as  of  a  mighty  ||  expert  man  ;  "  none  shall 
 return  in  vain. 
 
 10  And  (Jhaldea  shall  be  a  spoil :  ^all  that 
 spoil  her  shall  be  satisfied,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  '  Because  ye  were  glad,  because  ye  re- 
 joiced, O  ye  destroyers  of  mine  heritage,  be- 
 cause ye  are  grown  ffat  'as  the  heifer  at  grass, 
 and  II  bellow  as  bulls  ; 
 
 12  Your  mother  shall  be  sore  confounded  ; 
 she  that  bare  you  shall  be  asliamed  ;  behold, 
 the  liinderinost  of  the  nations  sliall  be  a  wilder- 
 ness, a  dry  land,  and  a  desert. 
 
 13  Because  of  the  wrath  of  the  Loud  it  shall 
 not  be  inhabited,  "hut  it  shall  be  wholly  deso- 
 late :  ^  every  one  that  goeth  by  Babylon  shall 
 be  astonished,  and  hiss  at  all  her  plagues. 
 
 14  "^  Put  yourselves  in  array  against  Babylon 
 round  about :  all  ye  ■*  that  bend  the  bow,  shoot 
 at  her,  spare  no  arrows  :  for  she  hath  sinned 
 against  the  Lord. 
 
 13  Shout  against  her  round  about :  she  hath 
 "  given  her  hand  ;  her  foundations  are  fallen, 
 'her  walls  are  thitjwn  down:  for  *it  is  the 
 vengeance  of  the  Lord  :  take  vengeance  upon 
 her  ;  '■  as  she  hath  done,  do  unto  her. 
 
 16  Cut  off  the  sower  from  Babylon,  and  him 
 that  handleth  the  ||  sickle  in  the  time  of  har- 
 vest :  for  fear  of  the  oppressing  sword  '  they 
 shall  turn  every  one  to  his  people,  and  they 
 shall  flee  every  one  to  his  own  land. 
 
 1 7  H  Israel  is  ^  a  scattered  sheep  ;  '  the  lions 
 have  driven  him  away  :  first  ""the  king  of  As- 
 
 Imd  Jabin  for  its  king;  liut,  being  driven  tliencc,  setiled  in  Arabia,  and 
 associated  themselves  with  the  Kcdarcnes.— 7/f;ir;/.  34.  iV./m.  au 
 independent  and  powerful  kingdom  in  the  dayi,  of  Abrara.  (Hen.  xiv.  1.) 
 Klendcil  with  Persia,  under  Cyrus.  35.  Bow  of  Elmn—see  Isa.  x.\ii.  6. 
 i'liy  and  other  heathen  writers  speak  of  the  Elymean  bowmen.— JSta. 
 36.  Four  winds,  wars  and  commotions,  so  called,  (see  ctiap.  iv.  11,  12  ; 
 li.  1  ;  Dan.  vii.  2;}  that  is,  enemies  shall  come  from  every  quarter. — 
 Preb.  Lowlh.  3S.  Tlirune,  •  power.'  39.  Bring  again,  ^c— on  the 
 filial  subversion  of  the  Babylonian  monarchy,  Elam  was  restored  lo  its 
 former  possessions,  who  had  fought  for  the  Medcs  and  Persians,  (see 
 Isa.  xxi.  2.)— B/a. 
 
 CuAP.  L.  — 2.  Set  up  a  stnndurd,  to  call  people  to  hear  the  tidings. 
 Brl— some  think  this  was  the  idol  Baal ;  others,  with  more  probability, 
 the  image  of  one  of  their  kings,  named  Belus.  Merodacli,  this  was 
 s  me  of  tlieir  kings'  names,  (Isa  xxxix.  1;  chap.  lii.  31.1— Pmi(c.  The 
 latter  king  might  afterwards  have  been    deilied.  3.  A'r,r«i  —  the 
 
 Medcs  lay  iioith  of  Babylon.— i'ceS.  Lowth.  4.  In  those  days.  l,c.. 
 iluring  the  time  of  Babylon's  desolation,  and  will  include  the  general 
 restoration.  5.  Perpetual  covenant,  in  Nehemiah's  time,  the  Jews 
 
 entered  into  covenant  to  obey  God's  law,  (Neb.  ix.  38;  x.  I.&c.;)  'per- 
 petual mav.  however,  mean  the  Gospel.  6.  Their  shepherds,  ^c., 
 pastors  and  governors  have  led  them  to  commit  idolatry  on  the  moun- 
 tains, (see  chap.  ii.  20;  iU.  6,  23,  &<:.)— Jlla.         7.  The  habitation  of 
 
 justice,  a  refuge  for  the  just. — Preh,  Lowth,  so  Gill.  Whether  the 
 Chaldeans  would  so  call  him  is  a  Question. — Piiole.  'Tlie  lawful  fold 
 and  hope  of  their  fathers.' — Boothr.  8.  liemoee — this  might  be  a 
 warning  to  the  captive  Jews  to  shun  the  siege  by  Cyrus. — Sut.  As  the 
 he  goals,  ^c.,  that  is,  lead  the  flock. —  H'il.  9.  An  assembly  of  great 
 nations — Cyrus's  army  consisted  of  Medes,  Persians,  Armenians,  Cadu. 
 eians,  &c.,  and  all  were  arranged  under  the  Medes  from  the  north  of 
 liabyion.  II .  As  the  heifer,  l^e.,  *  ye  were  wanton  in  the  desolations 
 ye  brought  upon  Judea.' — Clarke.  12.  Your  mother,  the  city  of  Baby- 
 hn, — Bp.  Halt ;  or  '  your  country.' — Poole.  Behold,  the  hindermost, 
 t^-c,  'she  shall  be  the  last  among  the  nations,'  Vutg. ;  perhaps  alludes 
 to  drinking  last  of  the  cup  of  vengeance.  —  Scott,  so  Gussetius. 
 13.  Wlwlti/  desolate—tUe  abundance  of  the  country  has  vanished  as 
 clean  away  as  if  the  '  besom  of  desolation  had  swept  it  from  north  to 
 south  ;  the  whole  land,  from  the  outskirts  of  Babylon  to  the  farthest 
 stretch  of  sight,  lying  a  melancholy  wa^te.  Not  a  habitable  spot  ap- 
 pears for  countless  miles.* — .Sir  R.  K.  Porter's  Travels.  15.  She  hath 
 giren  her  hand,  'she  hath  surrendered.* — Boothr.  See  1  Cbron.  xxiv. 
 24  ;  Lain.  v.  6.  Fuundatiaus,  '  battlements.' — Bta.,  Boothr.  IG.  The 
 sower — the  walls  of  Babylon  were  sixty  miles  in  circumference,  and 
 much  ground  was  used  for  corn  to  support  the  city  in  a  long  siege. 
 They  shall  turn,  the  allies  of  Babylon,  (comp.  chap.  xlvi.  15  ;  Isa.  siii. 
 14.)— Pre*.  Lowth. 
 
 KEFLrrrioNS  on  Chap.  XLIX.—  I.  •  God  obserms  and  re- 
 sents the  injustice  of  men  to  one  unolh.r  .-  As  in  the  case  of  the 
 Ammonites  who  seized  the  land  of  the  Jews,  and  for  that  rea- 
 son were  dispossessed  of  it  again."  h 
 
 II.  The  nations  denounced  by  Jeremiah  were  enemies  of  the 
 H38 
 
 people  of  God,  and  hence  they  were  punished.  Nine  of  those  na- 
 tions had  leagued  against  Israel.  From  this  fact  we  have  a 
 pledge  that  all  the  enemies  of  the  church  shall  waste  away, 
 and  the  righteous  alone  be  exulted  in  the  d;iy  of  the  Lord.'  ""^ 
 
The  judgment  of  BnhjjUm, 
 
 .lEKEMlAH,  I.. 
 
 and  redemption  of  Israel. 
 
 Syria  liath  devouretl  liiiii  ;  and  la'^t  tliis  "  Ne- 
 bucliailrczzar  king  of  Babylon  lialli  broken  bis 
 bones. 
 
 18  Therefore  thus  saitb  Ibe  Lord  of  bosts, 
 the  God  of  Israel  ;  Bebuld,  1  will  piniish  the 
 king  of  Babylon  and  bis  land,  as  1  have  punish- 
 ed the  king  of  Assyria. 
 
 19  "  And  1  will  bring  Israel  again  to  his  habi- 
 tation, and  be  sliall  feed  on  Carinel  and  Ba- 
 slian,  and  bis  soul  shall  be  satisfied  upon  mount 
 ICphraim  and  Gilead. 
 
 '20  In  those  days,  and  in  tliat  time,  saith  the 
 Lord,  ''the  iniquity  of  Israel  shall  be  sought 
 for,  and  there  shall  be  none  ;  and  tlie  sins  of 
 Judah,  and  they  shall  not  be  found  :  for  I  will 
 pardon  them  ''  whom  I  reserve. 
 
 21  H  Go  up  against  the  land  ||  of  Merathaim, 
 even  against  it,  and  against  the  inhabitants  of 
 '  II  Pekod  :  waste  and  utterly  destroy  after 
 them,  saith  the  Lord,  and  do  'according  to  all 
 that  I  have  commanded  thee. 
 
 •2-1  '  A  sound  of  battle  is  in  the  land,  and  of 
 great  destruction. 
 
 •23  How  is  "  the  hammer  of  the  whole  earth 
 cut  asunder  and  broken !  bow  is  Babylon  be- 
 come a  desolation  among  the  nations ! 
 
 24  I  have  laid  a  snare  for  thee,  and  thou  art 
 also  taken,  O  Babylon,  ^  and  thou  wast  not 
 aware  :  thou  art  found,  and  also  caught,  be- 
 cause thon  bast  striven  against  the  Lord. 
 
 25  The  Lord  liatb  opened  his  armoury,  and 
 hath  brought  forth  '  the  weapons  of  bis  indig- 
 nation :  for  this  is  the  work  of  the  Lord  God 
 of  bosts  in  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans. 
 
 26  Come  against  her  ffrom  the  utmost  border, 
 open  her  storehouses  :  ||cast  her  up  as  heaps, 
 and  destroy  her  utterly  :  let  nothing  of  ber  be 
 left. 
 
 27  Slay  all  her  ^  bullocks  ;  let  them  go  down 
 to  the  slaughter:  woe  unto  them!  for  their 
 day  is  come,  tlie  tiine  of  tlieir  visitation. 
 
 28  The  voice  of  them  that  flee  and  escape 
 out  of  the  land  of  Babylon,  ""to  declare  in  Zion 
 the  vengeance  of  the  Lord  our  God,  the  ven- 
 geance of  his  temple. 
 
 2!)  Call  together  the  archers  against  Baby- 
 lon :  "^  all  ye  that  bend  the  bow,  camp  against 
 it  round  about ;  let  none  thereof  escape  :  ''  re- 
 compense her  according  to  her  work  ;  accord- 
 ing to  all  that  she  hath  done,  do  unto  her  : 
 °  for  she  hath  been  proud  against  the  Lord, 
 against  the  Holy  One  of  Israel. 
 
 30  '  Therefore  shall  her  young  men  fall  in 
 the  streets,  and  all  ber  men  of  war  shall  be  cut 
 off  in  that  day,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 »  Ik.  r..i.  In. 
 c''.  a:*.  12- 
 Y.zt;.  tH.  13, 
 
 Or,  i>ftha 
 2:1 
 
 Or. 
 
 See  :.'  Sam 
 III.  11. 
 2  Kin.  IS 
 ■2-:  2  Clir. 
 m  3:i. 
 Is,  in.  6.  fc 
 41   2S.  »;  IS 
 II,  ch,  34. 
 
 r  cli.  SI,  51 
 '.  Is    II    6. 
 
 Ch  bi-20. 
 t  cli,5  ,  S, 
 
 31,  Sli.  57, 
 
 Daii    5.  30, 
 
 3;, 
 
 t  lleb  fiom 
 ti.e  e„d- 
 I!  Or,  tread 
 
 :  Ps.  82    12. 
 le  ai  7- 
 ch,  40   21, 
 
 ri  rec.  1,5. 
 ch   51    56, 
 Rev.  18,  6, 
 
 /"ch   «  26, 
 &  bi.t. 
 
 t  IIcb,;.r„l 
 3  ver.  27, 
 
 t  Heb.  jtriili: 
 h  ch.  gl,  11, 
 
 Rev,  IS   6 
 Is  -il   4 
 
 .,  I«  44  >5 
 ch   18.  3il, 
 
 11  (It,  c».>/ 
 ./..J,.. 
 
 t  Heb,  6  iM. 
 
 1  ch,  25.  20, 
 24.  Eiek, 
 3u   5 
 
 I  ch.  51    30, 
 .Nail  3,  13 
 
 .;  Is  41,  27- 
 ci.  51  i2,;Hi 
 Kcv    111,  12, 
 
 ch,  51'  41, 
 
 17.  52, 
 ,  Is    I;!   21, 
 
 22    &  31,11 
 
 ch    01,  3;. 
 
 Rev,  IS,  2 
 /  Ib,  13   2U, 
 
 ch,  2.5,  12. 
 
 31  Behold,  1  am  against  lliee,  O  tliou  f  niost 
 proud,  saith  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  :  for  '^  thy 
 day  is  come,  the  time  thai  1  will  visit  thee. 
 
 3-2  And  f  the  most  proud  shall  stumble  and 
 fall,  and  none  shall  raise  him  up  :  and  ''  I  will 
 kindle  a  fire  in  his  cities,  and  it  shall  devour 
 all  round  about  him. 
 
 33  11  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  bosts ;  The 
 children  of  Israel  and  the  children  of  Judah 
 toere  oppressed  together:  and  all  that  took 
 them  captives  held  them  fast ;  they  refused  to 
 let  them  go. 
 
 34  '  Their  Redeemer  is  strong ;  '  the  Lord 
 of  hosts  is  his  name  :  he  shall  throughly  plead 
 their  cause,  that  he  may  give  rest  to  the  land, 
 and  disquiet  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon. 
 
 35  t  A  sword  is  upon  the  Chaldeans,  saith 
 the  Lord,  and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Baby- 
 lon, and  '  upon  her  princes,  and  upon  "  her 
 wise  men. 
 
 36  A  sword  is  "  upon  the  ||  f  liars  ;  and  they 
 shall  dote  :  a  sword  is  upon  her  mighty  men  ; 
 and  they  shall  be  dismayed. 
 
 37  A  sword  is  upon  their  horses,  and  upon 
 their  chariots,  and  upon  all  °  the  mingled 
 people  that  are  in  the  midst  of  her;  and  ''they 
 shall  become  as  women  :  a  sviord  is  upon  her 
 treasures  ;  and  they  shall  be  robbed. 
 
 38  *■  A  drought  is  upon  ber  waters;  and  they 
 shall  be  dried  up:  for  it  is  the  land  of '  graven 
 images,  and  they  are  mad  upon  their  idols. 
 
 39  'Therefore  the  wild  beasts  of  the  desert 
 with  the  wild  beasts  of  the  i-slands  shall  dwell 
 there,  and  the  owls  shall  dwell  therein  :  '  and 
 it  shall  be  no  more  inhabited  for  ever  ;  neither 
 shall  it  be  dwelt  in  from  generation  to  genera- 
 tion. 
 
 40  "  As  God  overthrew  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
 and  the  neighbour  cities  thereof,  saith  the 
 Lord  ;  so  shall  no  man  abide  there,  neither 
 shall  any  son  of  man  dwell  therein. 
 
 41  "Behold,  a  people  shall  come  from  tlie 
 north,  and  a  great  nation,  and  many  kings  shall 
 be  raised  up  from  the  coasts  of  the  earth. 
 
 42  '  They  shall  hold  the  bow  and  the  lance  : 
 '  they  are  cruel,  and  will  not  shew  mercy  : 
 "  their  voice  shall  roar  like  the  sea,  and  they 
 shall  ride  upon  horses,  evei'i/  one  put  in  array, 
 like  a  man  to  the  battle,  against  thee,  O  daugh- 
 ter of  Babylon. 
 
 43  The  king  of  Babylon  hath  heard  the  report 
 of  them,  and  his  hands  waxed  feeble  :  ''  anguish 
 took  hold  of  hiiu,  and  pangs  as  of  a  woman  in 
 travail. 
 
 44  '  Behold,  he  shall  come  up  like  a  lion  from 
 
 17.  And  last  this,  S,-c.— 
 
 •And  this  latter  hath  picked  him  tn  the  bnne, 
 Nebucliadnczzar,  the  king  of  Babylon.' — Boot/ir.,  as  Bla. 
 
 18.  Punished  the  king  of.4ssi/ria,  not  Salmanescr,  that  carried  the  tribes 
 captive,  but  a  si]cce&,stir  of  his,  Chynilidanus,  the  list  king  of  Assyria, 
 who  was  killed  when  Nineveh,  its  mctrnpnlis,  whs  taken,  prior  to  this 
 prophecy. — Gill  The  seat  and  title  of  the  empire  then  removed  to 
 Babylon,  which  was  no  lung  r  called  the  Assyrian,  but  the  Babylonian, 
 monarchy. — Preb.  Lowth.  20.  In  those  ditr/s,  fyc,  seems  to  respect 
 the  gospel  times,  and  'the  remnant'  that  shall  be  saved  'according  to 
 the  election  of  grace,'  (comp.  chap.  x,\,\i.  31;  xx.xiii.  8;  Isa.  U.\.  20; 
 Rom.  xi.  5,  2(j,  2;.)— Bin.  21.  Merathaim,  thought  to  he  the  country 
 of  Mardi,  which  lay  part  in  Assyria,  and  part  in  Armenia. — Gilt.  It  is 
 very  d'lubtful  whether  the  text  means  any  place, — Bla.,  Clarkf.  '  Bit- 
 terntsses,'  or  '  rebellions,' — Boothr.  '  Domination,'  Chald.  Prkijd.  was 
 the  name  of  a  place  in  Assyria,  (Ezek,  xxiii.  23.) — Gill.  As  this  is 
 spoken  of  as  the  name  of  a  country  or  city,  probably  Merathaim  was 
 the  same. — Scott. 
 
 '  Against  the  land  of  bitternesses  go  up ; 
 Upon  it  and  its  inhabitants,  visit,  O  sword.' — Bta. 
 '  March  against  the  country  doubly  rebellious. 
 And  against  its  inhabitania,  worthy  of  punibhmcnt.' — DnhUr. 
 23,  The  hammer  of  the  whole  ear/A,  Bab)  Ion,  which  destroved  all  other 
 839 
 
 rations. —  Wi/.  26.  The  utmost  border,  the  most  distatit  countries. — 
 6'iV;.  27.  Her  buUnrks,  *  her  mighty  oues,'  her  princes  and  preat 
 men,  fsee  Ps.  xxii.  12,  13.)  see  Tnrg.,  Vulg.;  Jarchi,  Kimchi,  &c. ;  so 
 interpreters  in  generiil.  28.  The  vuice,  ^C- — the  returned  captives 
 joyfully  declare  God's  revenge  on  Babylon. — Poole.  3J.  Afire  in  his 
 cities — Cyrus  ravaged  the  Babylonian  territories  during  twenty  years 
 before  Babylon  was  taken.  35.  Upon  her  princes,  who  were  sbiin, 
 
 together  with  their  king,  Belshazz;ir,  at  a  feast,  (see  chap.  li.  39;  Dan. 
 V.  -2—30.)  36.  Liiirs,  false  pretenders  to  the  knowledge  of  future 
 events,  (comp   xlviii.  30;  Isa.  xliv,  25.)  3".  Minsled people,  auxili- 
 
 aries, (see  Ezek.  x.\x.  5.) — Preh.  Lowth.  33.  A  drought— see  chap, 
 
 li,  36.  Mitd  upon  their  idols— iuWy  to  understand  this  pa.'-siit;e,  a  per- 
 son mu'^t  see  the  phrensy  of  the  heathen  when  they  get  a  sight  of  their 
 idols,  taken  out  in  procession.  Their  gestures  are  all  distorted. — Rob. 
 3i).  Wild  Ae/is^s— there  are  many  deus  o(  wild  beasts  in  various  parts.-  - 
 BucK-inghiim's  Trav.  Several  majestic  lions  madethtii  appearance,  and 
 the  broad  prints  of  their  feet  were  left  plain  on  tlie  clayey  soil  as  we 
 approached.— S(r  R.  K.  Porter.  It  is  also  the  unmolested  retreat  of 
 jackals,  hyenas,  and  other  noxious  animals. — Kinnier.  Owls  shall 
 dwell  therein — in  most  i-i  the  cavities  of  the  dens  are  bats  and  owls. — 
 Buckingham.  42.  Are  cruel,  and  will  not  shew  mercy,  on  the  second 
 capture  of  Babylon,  Daiiu^^  ordered  3000  principal  men  to  be  crucified. 
 — Bp.  Newton.  43.  His  hands  u-ajced  feeble — see  Dan.  v.  6.  4i.  Be- 
 h'lld,  SfC. — see  chap.  xlix.  ly— 21,  notes. 
 
Tkejudrjmciit  of  God  JEREMIAH,  LI. 
 
 the  swelling  of  Jordan  unto  the  habitation  of 
 the  strong  :  but  I  will  make  them  suddenly 
 run  away  from  her :  and  who  is  a  chosen  man, 
 that  I  may  appoint  over  her?  for  who  is  like 
 meV  and  who  will  |[  appoint  me  the  timey  and 
 ■I  who  is  that  shepherd  that  will  stand  before 
 me? 
 
 45  Therefore  hear  ye  '  the  counsel  of  the 
 Lord,  that  he  hath  taken  against  Babylon  ; 
 and  his  purposes,  tliathehath  purposed  against 
 tlie  land  of  the  Chaldeans  :  Surely  the  least  of 
 the  flock  shall  draw  them  out:  surely  he  shall 
 make  their  habitation  desolate  with  them. 
 
 46  '  At  the  noise  of  the  taking  of  Babylon 
 the  earth  is  moved,  and  the  cry  is  heard  among 
 the  nations. 
 
 CHAP.  LI. 
 
 I     The  severe  judgment  of  God  aciainst  Babiilon  in  re 
 venge  of  Israel.      59  Jeremiah  delicereth  tlie  booh  of 
 this  prophecy  to  Seraiah,  to  be  cast  into  Euplirates, 
 in  token  of  the  perpetual  sinhinr/  of  Babylon. 
 
 THUS  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold,  I  will  raise 
 up  against  Babylon,  and  against  them  that 
 dwell  in  the  t  midst  of  them  that  rise  up  against 
 me,  "  a  destroying  wind  ; 
 •2  And  will  send  nnto  Babylon  ^  fanners,  that 
 shall  fan  her,  and  shall  empty  her  land  :  °  for 
 in  the  day  of  trouble  they  shall  be  against  her 
 round  about. 
 
 3  Against  him  that  bcndeth  'let  the  archer 
 bend  his  bow,  and  against /ii/n  </ia<lifteth  him' 
 self  up  in  his  brigandine  :  and  spare  ye  not  her 
 young  men  ;  "  destroy  ye  utterly  all  her  host, 
 
 4  Thus  the  slain  shall  fall  in  the  land  of  the 
 Chaldeans,  '  and  they  that  are  thrust  through 
 in  her  streets. 
 
 .5  For  Israel  hath  not  been  forsaken,  nor  Ju- 
 dah  of  his  God,  of  the  Lord  of  hosts;  though 
 their  land  was  filled  with  sin  against  the  Holy 
 One  of  Israel. 
 
 6  ^  Flee  out  of  the  midst  of  Babylon,  and  de- 
 liver every  man  his  soul  :  be  not  cut  off  in  her 
 iniquity  ;  for  •■  this  is  the  time  of  the  Lord's 
 vengeance  ;  '  he  will  render  unto  her  a  recom 
 pence. 
 
 7  '  Babylon  hnth  been  a  golden  cup  in  the 
 Lord's  hand,  that  made  all  the  earth  drunken 
 '  the  nations  have  drunken  of  her  wine  ;  there 
 fore  the  nations  ""  are  mad. 
 
 8  Babylon  is  suddenly  "  fallen  and  destroyed 
 °  howl  for  her  ;  '  take  balm  for  her  pain,  if  so  be 
 she  may  be  healed. 
 
 9  We  would  have  healed  Babylon,  but  she 
 is  not  healed  :  forsake  her,  and  '  let  us  go 
 every  one  into  his  own  country  ;  '  for  her  judg- 
 ment reacheth  unto  heaven,  and  is  lifted  up 
 even  to  the  skies. 
 
 10  The  Lord  hath  '  brought  forth  our  righte- 
 
 against  Babylon, 
 
 I  Rp 
 
 V    14    P. 
 
 m  Cll 
 
 25    16 
 
 ..  U 
 
 ai,  9. 
 
 Kp* 
 
 .  1*   S. 
 
 f*  I 
 
 -i.B 
 
 0  c-li 
 
 49.  20 
 
 Rov.  18    0. 
 
 11. 
 
 in. 
 
 p  ch 
 
 46    11. 
 
 7l9. 
 
 13.  4. 
 
 .h. 
 
 '>0.  16. 
 
 r  Ke 
 
 V.  18.  5 
 
 -  Ps, 
 
 37.  fi. 
 
 D.  C    595 
 
 B.  C    595. 
 
 t  ch,  50    23. 
 
 u  ch    4'5.  4. 
 
 t  Heh    puTf. 
 
 X  Is.  t.-f.  17. 
 
 II  Or,  c-'itf'ti 
 
 ver  I'M 
 y  ch    50.  45. 
 
 rf  Job*l.   10 
 
 cb.  49    19. 
 
 X  ch.  50.  28. 
 
 ?  Is.  14.  24, 
 
 &c,  ch.  51. 
 
 11. 
 
 n  Nah.  ;?.  1. 
 
 h  3.  14. 
 
 t  Heh.  lUr, 
 in  xeail. 
 
 /  Rev.  IS  9 
 
 b  Rev.  17.  1. 
 
 15. 
 
 c  rh    49,  13. 
 
 .AmoB  0  8. 
 
 I  Heh.  by 
 
 his, out 
 
 .1  Nah.  3.  15. 
 
 t  Hcb  utter. 
 
 e  ch.  50.  15. 
 
 flifn.  \    1,6 
 
 -h.  10.  \2, 
 
 KiC. 
 
 ■J  Job  9  8. 
 
 I's.  101.  2. 
 
 t   Hob    hr,„l. 
 
 !b.  10.22. 
 
 «  2  Kill    l'». 
 
 h  eh.  10.  13. 
 
 7.  ch   4  It 
 b  cll.  15.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  naiu. 
 .  I's.  135.7. 
 
 c  ch,  5<l.  U 
 
 d  ch.  iO    H, 
 
 k  cb.  10.  U. 
 
 bnitiih  than 
 
 i..  A»»u>. 
 
 /  ch.  60.  2. 
 
 e  ch.  oO.  £1. 
 
 ni  ch.  10.  15 
 
 /  ch.  1!)  20, 
 
 hL  W.  30, 37. 
 
 .ich,  10,  IG 
 
 g  ch.  50.  B 
 Rev.  18.  4 
 
 o  Is    10  5,15 
 
 ch.  50.  :;3. 
 
 II  Or,  in  thff. 
 or,  by  ihK. 
 
 h  ch.  50.  15. 
 28. 
 i  ch.  25    14, 
 
 ousness  :  come,  and  let  us  '  declare  in  Zion  the 
 work  of  the  Lord  our  God. 
 
 1 1  "  Make  f  bright  the  arrows  ;  gather  the 
 shields :  *  the  Lord  hath  raised  up  the  spirit 
 of  the  kings  of  the  Medes  :  'for  his  device  is 
 against  Babylon,  to  destroy  it ;  because  it  is 
 '  the  vengeance  of  the  Lord,  the  vengeance  of 
 his  temple. 
 
 12  "Set  up  the  standard  upon  the  walls  of 
 Babylon,  make  the  watch  strong,  set  up  the 
 watchmen,  prepare  the  f  ambushes  :  for  the 
 Lord  hath  both  devised  and  done  that  which 
 he  spake  against  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon. 
 
 1.3  ''  O  thou  that  dwellestupon  many  waters, 
 abundant  in  treasures,  thine  end  is  come,  and 
 the  measure  of  thy  covetousness. 
 
 14  '  The  Lord  of  hosts  hath  sworn  f  by  him- 
 self, saying.  Surely  I  will  fill  thee  with  men, 
 ''  as  with  caterpillers  ;  and  they  shall  flift  °  up 
 a  shout  against  thee. 
 
 15  '  He  hath  made  the  earth  by  his  power, 
 he  hath  established  the  world  by  his  wisdom, 
 and  ^  hath  stretched  out  the  heaven  by  his  un- 
 derstanding. 
 
 16  ''  When  he  uttereth  his  voice,  there  is  a 
 II multitude  of  waters  in  the  heavens  ;  and  '  he 
 causeth  the  vapours  to  ascend  from  the  ends  of 
 the  earth  :  he  maketh  lightnings  with  rain,  and 
 bringeth  forth  the  wind  out  of  his  treasures. 
 
 1 7  '  Every  man  ||  is  brutish  by  his  knowledge  ; 
 every  founder  is  confounded  by  the  graven 
 image  :  '  for  his  molten  image  is  falsehood, 
 and  there  is  no  breath  in  them. 
 
 IS  '"  They  are  vanity,  the  work  of  errors  :  in 
 the  time  of  their  visitation  they  shall  perish. 
 
 19  "The  portion  of  Jacob  is  not  like  them; 
 for  he  is  the  former  of  all  things  :  and  Israel 
 is  the  rod  of  his  inheritance:  the  Lord  of  hosts 
 is  his  name. 
 
 20  °  Thou  art  my  battle  ax  and  weapons  of 
 war  :  for  ||  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces  the 
 nations,  and  with  thee  will  I  destroy  kingdoms  ; 
 
 21  And  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces  the 
 horse  and  his  rider ;  and  with  thee  will  I  break 
 in  pieces  the  chariot  and  his  rider ; 
 
 22  With  thee  also  will  I  break  in  pieces  man 
 and  woman  ;  and  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces 
 'old  and  young;  and  with  thee  will  I  break  in 
 pieces  the  young  man  and  the  maid  ; 
 
 2.3  I  will  also  break  in  pieces  with  thee  the 
 shepherd  and  his  flock  ;  and  with  thee  will  I 
 break  in  pieces  the  husbandman  and  his  yoke 
 of  oxen  ;  and  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces 
 captains  and  rulers. 
 
 24  ''  And  I  will  render  unto  Babylon  and  to 
 all  the  inhabitants  of  Chaldeaall  their  evil  that 
 they  have  done  in  Zion  in  your  sight,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 Chap.  LI.  —  1 .  yi  deslrngini:  winil,  such  as  the  pestilential  winds  in 
 the  east,  and  here  the  eml^lem  of  a  destroying  army.  — .4.  Clnrke. 
 2  Kings,  xi.x.  33.  1.  Fanners,' vi'mnov/ers.'  Empty  her  land,  '  •ma- 
 now  it  from  the  chaff.'— CTnrAe,  Wil.  3.  Brigandine,  '  armour,'  coat 
 of  mail.— rri7.  7.  A  golden  cuii—see  chap.  xxr.  15.  A  splendid  in- 
 strument of  God's  vengeance. — Bla.  9.  We  would  have  tiealedBa- 
 t/'/lon—GoA's  prophets  testified  against  her  errors,  but  she  was  irre- 
 claimable,— Preb.  Lowth ;  or  her  auxiliaries  in  vain  attempted  to  defend 
 
 her. — Gill.  iO.  Broug/it  forth  our  righteousness,   'vindicated  our 
 
 cause,'  that  is,  the  Jews.— Clarke.  u.  Kings  of  the  Medes,  Cynis 
 and  Darius,  SiC— Poole.  i'2.  Set  up,  ironical  advice  to  Babylon.— 
 Pret).  Lowth,  Gilt.  13.  Mani/  waters,  Euphrates,  which  encompassed 
 Babylon,  and  ran  through  it.     See  Ps.  cxx.wii.  1.  14.  Caterpillers, 
 
 or  locusts ;  devouring  armies,  so  called,  [see  Nah.  iii.  15,  16  ;  Joel,  ii. 
 2,  3,  tic.)—Preti.  Lowth.  15.  He  hatli  made,  ^c.,  quoted  from  chap. 
 
 X.  12 — 16,  which  sec,  and  notes.        20.  Hit/  battle  ax,  God  addresses 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  L This  chapter  gives  us  a  de- 
 scription of —  I.  Penitent  Israel,  mourning  for  sin — seeking 
 God  with  full  purpose  of  heart— inquiring  the  way  from  Ba- 
 bylon to  Zion — never  wearied  or  turning  back  their  faces — and 
 resolved  to  give  themselves  up  to  the  Lord  in  a  sacred  and 
 perpetual  covenant,  to  take  him  only  for  their  God,  and  to  rank 
 only  among  his  people.  Thus  may  we  forsake  eternally  all 
 the  vain  idols  of  the  world  and  ask  our  way  to  heaven  with 
 840 
 
 our  faces  thitiierward. 
 
 II.  Ruined  Babiilon.  A  type  of  all  the  proud  foes  of  the 
 church  of  God,  'especially  of  that  mother  of  harlots,  drunk 
 with  the  blood  of  the  saints.  The  souls  of  martyred  saints 
 still  cry  against  her  from  under  the  altar  of  heaven  ;  but  the 
 voice  of  prophecy  anticipates  the  moment  of  her  dreadful 
 downfall—'  Rejoice  over  her,  thou  heaven,  and  ye  holy  apos- 
 tles and  prophets,  for  God  hath  avenged  you  on  her.' 
 
GocCs  judgment  against  Babylon 
 
 JEREMIAH,  LI. 
 
 in  revenge  of  Israel. 
 
 25  Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  '  O  destroying 
 mountain,  saith  the  Lord,  which  destroyest  all 
 the  earth  :  and  I  will  stretch  out  mine  hand 
 upon  thee,  and  roll  thee  down  from  the  rocks, 
 *and  will  make  thee  a  burnt  mountain. 
 
 20  And  they  shall  not  take  of  thee  a  stone 
 for  a  corner,  nor  a  stone  for  foundations  ;  '  but 
 thou  shalt  be  f  desolate  for  ever,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 27  "  Set  ye  up  a  standard  in  the  land,  blow 
 the  trumpet  among  the  nations,  "  prepare  the 
 nations  against  her,  call  together  against  her 
 ''the  kingdoms  of  Ararat,  lMinni,andAshchenaz  ; 
 appoint  a  captain  against  her  ;  cause  the  horses 
 to  come  up  as  the  rough  caterpillers. 
 
 28  Prepare  against  her  the  nations  with  '  the 
 kings  of  the  Medes,  the  captains  thereof,  and 
 all  the  rulers  thereof,  and  all  the  land  of  his 
 dominion. 
 
 29  And  the  land  shall  tremble  and  sorrow  : 
 for  every  purpose  of  tlie  Lord  shall  be  per- 
 formed against  Babylon,  "  to  make  the  land  of 
 Babylon  a  desolation  without  an  iuliabitant. 
 
 30  The  mighty  men  of  Babylon  have  forborn 
 to  fight,  they  have  remained  in  their  holds  : 
 their  might  hath  failed  ;  ^  they  became  as  wo- 
 men :  they  have  burned  her  dwelling-places  ; 
 ■^  her  bars  are  broken. 
 
 31  "  One  post  shall  run  to  meet  another,  and 
 one  messenger  to  meet  another,  to  shew  the 
 king  of  Babylon  that  his  city  is  taken  at  one 
 end, 
 
 .'32  And  that  °  the  passages  are  stopped,  and 
 the  reeds  they  have  burned  with  tire,  and  the 
 men  of  war  are  affrighted. 
 
 .33  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
 of  Israel ;  The  daughter  of  Babylon  is  ''like  a 
 threshingHoor,  "  ||  it  is  time  to  thresh  her:  yet 
 a  little  while,  "  and  the  time  of  her  harvest  shall 
 come. 
 
 34  Nebuchadrezzar  the  king  of  Babylon  hath 
 '  devoured  me,  he  hath  crushed  me,  he  hath 
 made  me  an  empty  vessel,  he  hath  swallowed 
 me  up  like  a  dragon,  be  hath  filled  his  belly 
 with  my  delicates,  he  hath  cast  me  out. 
 
 35  t  The  violence  done  to  me  and  to  my 
 yflesh  he  upon  Babylon,  shall  the  f  inhabitant 
 of  Zion  say  ;  and  my  blood  upon  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  Chaldea,  shall  Jerusalem  say. 
 
 3(>  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold, 
 '  I  will  plead  thy  cause,  and  take  vengeance 
 for  thee  ;  '  and  I  will  dry  up  her  sea,  and  make 
 her  springs  dry. 
 
 37  '"And  Babylon  shall  become  heaps,  a 
 dwellingplace  for  dragons,  "an  astonishment, 
 and  an  hissing,  witliout  an  inhabitant. 
 
 38  They  shall  roar  together  like  lions  :  they 
 
 t  lleb. 
 
 dtlolal.,,,,,. 
 n  Is.  13.  2. 
 ;r  ch.  2",.  1 1. 
 y  ch. ay  41. 
 
 a  I'll.  50    \:*, 
 3y,  40.  ver. 
 
 :  ift.  19.  16. 
 
 .h.  VS.  41.& 
 .'lO.  37. 
 
 Njili.  3.  13. 
 I  ch.  50.  24. 
 
 /r.i.  21.  in. 
 
 Mic.  4.  l:i. 
 
 Amos  1.  .S. 
 ff  U   41.  15. 
 
 Halj.  3.  12. 
 ||ur,  ,n!fe 
 
 limr  Hint  br 
 
 Ihrpthelh 
 
 l,rr. 
 
 /,  Is.  17.  5, 
 Sir.  Hos.  ( 
 II-  .I..C13. 
 13  Itcv.  1^ 
 15,  IS. 
 
 <  ch.  ~0.  17 
 
 t  Heb,  Mtt 
 viihuce. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 t«rf«-. 
 
 }  Hcb. 
 
 k  ch.  50.  34. 
 (  cli.  50.  3S. 
 
 n  Tb.  13.  2'i 
 ch.  50.  an. 
 KC1-.  13.  2. 
 
 Or,  ifiihp 
 llivmefli'f^. 
 ver.  57. 
 
 ;,  Ch.  25.  20. 
 
 Is.  13  19. 
 ch.  49.  25, 
 Oaii.  4-  30. 
 
 ■  See  Is.  8. 
 7,8. 
 
 ch.  50   39, 
 40.  ver.  2'J. 
 
 /  Is.  4R.  I. 
 ■li.  50.  2. 
 
 J  ver.  G. 
 ch.  50.  a. 
 Rev.  18   4. 
 
 Or,  tft  'ml 
 .V^Kin  19.7. 
 
 Is   41.  23. 
 fc  49.  13. 
 Rev,  IS.  20. 
 /,  ch.  50.  3, 
 41. 
 
 II  Or,  noth 
 Itahijim  ia 
 /',  0.lt   0  ye 
 ifait,  <,(  h- 
 rxfl,  find 
 with  llnbu- 
 
 l„i,  Src. 
 
 d  Pa  44.  15, 
 III.  &  79   1 
 
 /ch.  49,  16 
 .Amos  9  2 
 Oba.l.  4. 
 
 shall  II  yell  as  lions"  wlielps. 
 
 39  In  their  heat  I  will  make  their  feasts,  and 
 °  I  will  make  them  drunken,  that  they  may  re- 
 joice, and  sleep  a  perpetual  sleep,  and  no  t 
 wake,  saith  tlie  Lord. 
 
 40  I  will  bring  them  dow  n  like  lambs  to  the 
 slaughter,  like  rams  with  he  goats. 
 
 41  How  is  •■  Sheshach  taken !  and  how  is 
 '  the  praise  of  the  whole  earth  surprised'  how 
 is  Babylon  become  an  astonishment  among 
 the  nations! 
 
 42  '  The  sea  is  come  up  upon  Babylon :  she 
 is  covered  with  the  multitude  of  the  waves 
 thereof. 
 
 43  "  Her  cities  are  a  desolation,  a  dry  land, 
 and  a  wilderness,  a  land  wherein  no  man 
 dwelleth,  neither  doth  any  son  of  man  pass 
 thereby. 
 
 44  '  And  I  will  punish  Bel  in  Babylon,  and  I 
 will  bring  forth  out  of  his  mouth  that  which  ho 
 hath  swallowed  up  :  and  the  nations  shall  not 
 flow  together  any  more  unto  him  :  yea,  "  the 
 wall  of  Babylon  .shall  fall. 
 
 45  "  My  people,  go  ye  out  of  the  midst  of  her, 
 and  deliver  ye  every  man  his  soul  from  the 
 fierce  anger  of  the  Lord. 
 
 46  And  II  lest  your  heart  faint,  and  ye  fear 
 '  for  the  rumour  that  sliall  be  heard  in  the 
 land ;  a  rumour  shall  both  come  one  year,  and 
 after  that  in  another  yes.-!  shall  come  a  rumour, 
 and  violence  in  the  land,  ruler  against  ruler. 
 
 47  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  that  '  I 
 will  f  do  judgment  upon  the  graven  images  of 
 Babylon  :  and  her  whole  land  shall  be  con- 
 founded, and  all  her  slain  shall  full  in  the  midst 
 of  her. 
 
 48  Then  "the  heaven  and  tlie  earth,  and  all 
 that  is  therein,  .shall  sing  for  Babylon  :  '^'  for  the 
 spoilers  shall  come  unto  her  from  the  north, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 49  II  As  Babylon  hath  caused  the  slain  of 
 Israel  to  fall,  so  at  Babylon  shall  fall  the  slain 
 of  all  II  the  earth. 
 
 50  "  Ye  that  have  escaped  the  sword,  go 
 away,  stand  not  still :  remember  the  Lord 
 afar  off,  and  let  Jerusalem  come  into  your 
 mind. 
 
 51  °  We  are  confounded,  because  we  have 
 heard  reproach  :  shame  hath  covered  our  faces  : 
 for  strangers  are  come  into  the  sanctuaries  of 
 the  Lord's  house. 
 
 52  Wlierefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith 
 the  Lord,  ''  that  I  will  do  judgment  upon  her 
 graven  images  :  and  through  all  her  land  the 
 wounded  shall  groan. 
 
 53  '  Though  Babylon  should  mount  up  to 
 heaven,   and    though    she   should  fortify    the 
 
 Cyrus. — Prrh.  Lowth.  See  Isa.  xlv.  1.  Or  the  army  of  the  Modes  and 
 Persians,— fi/a. ;  or  rather  Babylon  and  its  king,  (chap.  1.  23.)  25.  De- 
 stroying'»jnMn(o(7i,  Kabylon,  though  seated  in  a  plain,  because  of  its 
 high  walls,  lofty  towers,  &c.,  looliing  at  a  distance  like  a  high  moun- 
 tain, or  because  it  was  a  strongly  fortified  city, —  Gill.  A  burnt  moitn- 
 tain,  or  a  burning  mountain,  which,  vomiting  forth  its  burning  lava, 
 destroys  everything  in  its  vicinity. — Clurke.  27.  Arurat — Minni,  the 
 greater  and  less  Armenia.  Aslichennz,  Phrygia,  near  the  Hellespont. — 
 Boch.  Rmighruteypillers,  'locusts.' — Mont.,  Schmidt.  '  Chafers.' — Par. 
 30.  Httt'e  foreborne  tofiglit — on -Cyrus's  first  coming,  tlie  Babylonians 
 gave  him  battle,  hut  being  overthrown,  they  retired  to  the  city,  and 
 durst  never  fight  mnrc. — X^noph..  I.  5,  c.  19  ;  Herod.,  1. 1  ;  or  Clio,  c,  190. 
 They  have  burned,  that  is,  the  enemy  have.  Her  bm-s,  other  gates  and 
 palaces. — Gill.  31.  }lis  cilt/  is  tabeu  at  one  end — its  vast  size  has  been 
 mentioned,  chap.  1.  16.  This  is  not  deemed  credible  by  Gill,  but  is  cer- 
 tainly credible  from  the  accounts  of  Herod,  and  Aristotle.  32.  Passages 
 are  stopped,  entrances  into  the  city  '  surprised.' — Bla.  Reeds  they  have 
 ktirned — Herodotus  mentions  a  marsh  set  fire  to  by  the  soldiers,  who  had 
 plenty  of  torches,  to  make  way  for  th'ir  entrance.  This  pr.^ved  that  the 
 river  was  dried  up. — So  Gill,  Poole,  t'al.  This  burning  must  have  been 
 841 
 
 outside  the  city,  since  they  entered  it  with  secrecy  and  took  it  by  surprise. 
 —So  Gill,  and  Clarke.  33.  Time  to  thrcs/i  her,  nDmrt,  '  to  tread  her,' 
 — Fug.,  Cnlv.,  Mont.,  Pise;  as  corn  was  trodden  out  by  the  oxen. — 
 Gill.  34.  Hath  devouredvie,  Sfc,  descriptive  of  the  Jews'  calamities. 
 35.  Flesh,  *  chihlren,'  nearest  relations,  (see  Jm\g.  ix.  5;  2  Sam.  v.  i  ; 
 Nch.  V.  5.)—Prrl:  Louth.  3fi.  Dri/  up,  ^c— sec  Isa.  xiv.  -23,  notes. 
 Her  sea,  the  Euphrates.— P(W.  Bil*.  3".  Heaps— see  Isa.  xih.  19,  ^0, 
 notes.  38.  Roar,  descriptive  of   tticir  rioting  and  reveling:  when 
 
 taken. — Gilf,  so  Prelt.  Louth.  39.  /n  their  heat,  'when  they  grow 
 hot  with  wine,  I  will  make  them  a  feast  of  another  nature.*— Poo/c. 
 .See  Dan.  V.  1.  -10,  Lihe  7-ams  tvith,  'together  with.' — Boothrnpd. 
 ■II.  Sheshach — see  Jer.  -\xv.  26.  42.  The  sea,  the  Euphrates. — Picf. 
 
 Bib.  A  multitude  of  enemies. — Pnole.  44.  Briuff  forth,  ^c.,  literally 
 fulfilled  when  tlic  vessels  of  the  temple,  after  being-  placed  in  the  temple 
 of  Bel,  (see  Dan.  i.  2.)  were  restored  by  Cyrus,  (Ezra,  i.  7.) — Bp. 
 Xewio7i.  4fi.  One  year,  and  after  that  in  another  year,  (he  destrnc- 
 tion  should  be  gradual.  The  first  year  came  the  tidings  ;  the  next,  the 
 siege;  the  third,  the  city  was  taken.— See  Scott,  and  Preb.  Lout'i. 
 Bnler  against  rnler,  Cyrus  against  the  kins;  of  Balivli^n.— rre/i.  L^nvth, 
 Gill.  48.  Spoilers,  Median  soldiers, — Pvole.  51.  We  are  confounded, 
 5  P 
 
God's  judgment  against  Babylon. 
 
 height  of  her  strength,  ^f7  from  me  shall  spoil- 
 ers come  unto  her,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 54  *  A  sound  of  a  cry  cometh  from  Babylon, 
 and  great  destruction  from  the  land  of  the 
 Chaldeans : 
 
 53  Because  the  Lord  hath  spoiled  Babylon, 
 and  destroyed  out  of  her  the  great  voice  ; 
 when  her  waves  do  roar  like  great  waters,  a 
 noise  of  their  voice  is  uttered  : 
 
 56  Because  the  spoiler  is  come  upon  her, 
 even  upon  Babylon,  and  her  mighty  men  are 
 taken,  every  one  of  their  bows  is  broken  :  "  for 
 the  Lord  God  of  recompences  shall  surely 
 requite. 
 
 57  '  And  I  will  make  drunk  her  princes,  and 
 her  wise  men,  her  captains,  and  her  rulers,  and 
 her  mighty  men  :  and  they  shall  sleep  a  per- 
 petual sleep,  and  not  wake,  saith  '  the  king, 
 whose  name  is  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 58  Thus  saith  tlie  Lord  of  hosts  ;  ||  '  The 
 broad  walls  of  Babylon  sliall  be  utterly 
 II  broken,  and  her  high  gates  shall  be  burned 
 with  fire ;  and  "'  the  people  shall  labour  in 
 vain,  and  the  folk  in  the  fire,  and  they  shall  be 
 weary. 
 
 59  ir  The  word  which  Jeremiah  the  prophet 
 commanded  Seraiah  the  son  of  Neriali,  the  son 
 of  Maaseiah,  when  he  went  ||  with  Zedekiah 
 the  king  of  Judah  into  Babylon  in  the  fourth 
 year  of  his  reign.  And  this  Seraiah  teas  a 
 II  quiet  prince. 
 
 60  So  Jeremiah  wrote  in  a  book  all  the  evil 
 that  should  come  upon  Babylon,  even  all  these 
 words  that  are  written  against  Babylon. 
 
 61  And  Jeremiah  said  to  Seraiali,  When  thou 
 comest  to  Babylon,  and  shalt  see,  and  shall 
 read  all  these  words  ; 
 
 62  Then  slialt  thou  say,  O  Lord,  thou  hast 
 spoken  against  this  place,  to  cut  it  oft',  that 
 "  none  shall  remain  in  it,  neither  man  nor  beast, 
 but  that  it  shall  be  f  desolate  for  ever. 
 
 6.3  And  it  shall  be,  when  thou  hast  made  an 
 end  of  reading  this  book,"  that  thou  shalt  bind 
 a  stone  to  it,  and  cast  it  into  the  midst  of 
 Euphrates  : 
 
 64  And  thou  shalt  say.  Thus  shall  Babylon 
 sink,  and  shall  not  rise  from  the  evil  that  I  will 
 bring  upon  her:  ''anil  they  shall  be  weary. 
 Thus  far  arc  tlie  words  of  Jeremiah. 
 
 CHAP.  LU. 
 
 1  Zedekiah  rebetleth.     i  Jirusakm  is  besieged  and  taheii. 
 8  Zedekiah's  sons  killed,  and  liis  own  ei/es  put  out. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  LIL 
 
 Zedekiah's  rebellion. 
 
 h  Ps  81  I. 
 cli  50.  29. 
 ver.  2». 
 
 *  ch,  46    IS. 
 &  49.  15. 
 
 II  Or.  The 
 mm  of 
 broad  Bibi/- 
 
 I  ver.  44- 
 
 II  Or,  made 
 
 >nlUb.2  IS. 
 
 II  Or.  ....  II,. 
 ieH:l/«J. 
 
 II  Or,  prinff 
 .,f,M^„urha, 
 •ir,  rl,i,r 
 
 M  rh.  511.  .S. 
 
 .S9   ver.  29. 
 t  lli^b.  drjo- 
 
 lai:o'a. 
 
 .s.'eRev  IS, 
 
 \  Hcb. 
 reit/'ted. 
 
 ch   3!l.  I. 
 Zecli  8.  19, 
 
 .1  Kie.  IS.l.i, 
 
 t  llrb. 
 
 blinded. 
 II  Or, /.Iter, 
 t  llfb,  h.„„. 
 
 ii/ittewirdi. 
 e  '/.cch.7,  5 
 
 fc  ft.  IP. 
 ^Sco  vfr.29 
 ff  ch   ;i9  9. 
 il  Or,  c/i-r/ 
 
 rUk'.'Vhief 
 a/  Ih^ejre, 
 Honert,  or, 
 tta^ifjhlrr- 
 ii.c.t.Aad  so 
 ver.   14.  & 
 
 12  Nebuzur-adan  burnetii  and  spoileth  the  citij.  24 
 He  earritth  awmj  the  captivis.  32  Evil-meiodach 
 advanceth  Jehoiachin. 
 
 ZEDEKIAH  icns"  one  and  twenty  years  old 
 when  he  f  began  to  reign,  and  he  reigned 
 eleven  years  in  Jerusalem.  And  his  motlicr's 
 name  was  Hamutal  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
 of  Libnah. 
 ■2  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil  in  the  eyes 
 of  the  Lord,  according  to  all  that  Jehoiakim 
 bad  done. 
 
 3  For  through  the  auger  of  the  Lord  it  came 
 to  pass  in  Jerusalem  and  Judah,  till  he  had  cast 
 them  out  from  his  presence,  that  Zedekiah  re- 
 belled against  the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 4  H  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  ''  ninth  year 
 of  his  reign,  in  the  tenth  month,  in  the  tenth 
 dai/  of  the  month,  that  Nebuchadrezzar  king 
 of  Babylon  came,  he  and  all  his  army,  against 
 Jerusalem,  and  pitched  against  it,  and  bnilt  forts 
 against  it  round  about. 
 
 5  So  the  city  was  besieged  unto  the  eleventh 
 year  of  king  Zedekiah. 
 
 6  And  in  the  fourth  month,  in  the  ninth  <l(i;/ 
 of  the  month,  the  famine  was  sore  in  the  city, 
 so  that  there  was  no  bread  for  the  people  of 
 the  land. 
 
 7  Tlien  the  city  was  broken  up,  and  all  the 
 men  of  war  fled,  and  went  forth  ont  of  the  city 
 by  night  by  the  way  of  the  gate  between  the 
 two  walls,  which  was  by  the  king's  garden  ; 
 (now  the  Chaldeans  were  by  the  city  round 
 abont  ;)  and  they  went  by  the  way  of  the 
 plain. 
 
 8  1  But  the  army  of  the  Chaldeans  pursued 
 after  the  king,  and  overtook  Zedekiah  in  the 
 plains  of  Jericho  ;  and  all  his  army  was  scat- 
 tered from  him. 
 
 9  '  Then  they  took  the  ting,  and  carried  him 
 up  unto  the  king  of  Babylon  to  Riblah  in  the 
 land  of  Hamath  ;  where  he  gave  jndgment 
 upon  him. 
 
 10  ''  And  the  king  of  Babylon  slew  the  sons 
 of  Zedekiah  before  his  eyes  :  he  slew  also  all 
 the  princes  of  Judah  in  Riblah. 
 
 1 1  Then  he  f  put  out  the  eyes  of  Zedekiah  ; 
 and  the  king  of  Babylon  bound  him  in  ||  chains, 
 and  carried  him  to  Babylon,  and  put  him  in 
 f  prison  till  the  d.ay  of  his  death. 
 
 I-2  t '■  Now  in  the  fifth  montli,  in  the  tenth 
 day  of  the  month,  '  which  was  the  nineteenth 
 year  of  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon, 
 "  came  Nebuzar-adan,  ||  f  captain  of  the  guard, 
 
 —the  words  of  the  pious  exiles.— B(.i.  55.  The  great  voice,  the  noise 
 of  the  people,  which  is  great  in  populous  cities.  Iter  waves,  her  ene. 
 mies.  Noise  of  their  voice,  their  loud  shouting.— (?i7/.  57.  /  wilt 
 malte  drunk;  9-c.— there  seems  to  he  an  allusion  to  the  posture  of  the 
 king  of  Babvlon  and  his  thousand  lords,  (Dan.  v.  I.)— Poole.  God 
 would  give  them  up  to  the  full  e.ttent  of  their  wickedness,  and  would 
 also  make  them  to  drink  the  into.xicating  cup  of  his  wrath.— Sr(. 
 58.  Broad  ivalls—see  Isa.  .\iii.  19,  note.  59.  Ttie  word,  the  above 
 prophecy,  concerning  the  destruction  of  Babylon. — Gill.  When  he 
 went  with  Zedeltiah,  ffC,  or  'from'  or  '  on  the  behalf  of  Zedekiah.'— 
 
 Preb.  Lowth.  And  tltis  Seraiah  was  a  quiet  prince,  '  was  lord  cham. 
 berlain.' — Par.  '  For  Seraiah  carried  a  present.'  He  was  employed 
 tn  carry  the  customary  tribute  which  Zedekiah  was  obliged  to  pay  to 
 the  king  of  Babylon,  in  acknowledgment  of  his  subjection. — Boothr. 
 63.  Cast  it  into  the  Euphrates,  a  significative  emblem  of  Babylon's 
 sinking  irrecoverably.— PrM.  Lowth.  64.  Thus  far,  ^c. — this  was 
 probably  subjoined  by  the  writer  of  the  following  chapter;  thought,  by 
 some,  to  be  Ezra. — Boothr.,  Preb.  Lowth,  Gill. 
 
 Chap.  LII.  —  1 .  Zedeltiah,  4-c. — see  nearly  the  same  words,  2  Kings, 
 xxiv.  \%,  Sec. ;  and  xxv.        12.  Ten;/*,  in  2  Kings,  xxv.  8,  '  the  seventh.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  LL  —  From  reading  this  chap- 
 ter— I.  We  may  conteraplate  thf  ruin  of 'mystical  Babylon — ■ 
 tlie  church  of  Home,  which  is  described  as  the  seat  of  idolatry 
 and  persecution.  Many  passages  ia  the  Revelations  are  taken 
 from  this  chapter,  particularly  the  angel  taking  a  millstone 
 and  casting  it  into  the  sea,  is  an  allusion  to  the  propliet's  cast- 
 ing the  book  into  Euphrates  ;  and  we  may  rest  assured  that  it 
 will  be  fulfilled  in  its  season.'  *• 
 
 n.  We  may  also  contemplate  the  ruin  of  the  world.     We  look 
 
 with  pity  on  the  ruins  of  noble  cities,  and  a  melancholy  steals 
 
 over  the  mind  in  reflecting  on  their  mangled  works  of  art, 
 
 their  dilapidated  edifices,  and  deserted  streets.     But  we  for- 
 
 842 
 
 get  that  they  have  been  the  theatres  of  vice,  and  God  has  con- 
 verted tliem  into  scatt'olds  for  executing  his  justice.  And 
 thus  in  the  end  shall  it  be  with  this  world  and  all  its  splendid 
 and  magnificent  decorations  of  art,  which  have  threatened  to 
 defy  all  time.  What  has  before  taken  place  on  a  small  scale 
 shall  then  take  place  on  a  scale  of  awful  magnitude.  The  earth 
 itself,  with  all  the  works  that  are  therein — how  magnificent 
 soever  or  how  fair — shall  be  burnt  up,  as  the  grand  theatre  on 
 which  so  many  awful  scenes  of  siu  have  been  displayed. 
 Amidst  that  tremendous  dissolution,  the  believer  in  Christ 
 alone  may  remain  tranquil,  and  say,  'I  have  an  inheritance 
 incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away.' 
 
v*v 
 
•_«j^__  /r  . 
 
The  destruction  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  LI  I. 
 
 T/ie  people  carried  away  captive. 
 
 tvhich  t  served  the  king  of  Babylon,  into  Jeru- 
 salem, 
 
 13  And  burned  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and 
 the  king's  house  ;  and  all  the  houses  of  Jeru- 
 salem, and  all  the  houses  of  the  great  men, 
 burned  he  with  fire  : 
 
 14  And  all  the  army  of  the  Chaldeans,  that 
 loere  with  the  captain  of  the  guard,  brake  down 
 all  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  round  about. 
 
 13  ''Then  Nebuzar-adan  the  captain  of  the 
 guard  carried  away  captive  certain  of  the  poor 
 of  the  people,  and  the  residue  of  the  people 
 that  remained  in  the  city,  and  those  that  fell 
 away,  that  fell  to  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  the 
 rest  of  the  multitude. 
 
 IG  But  Nebuzar-adan  the  captain  of  the 
 guard  left  certain  of  the  poor  of  the  land  for 
 vinedressers  and  for  husbandmen. 
 
 17  'Also  the  ''pillars  of  brass  that  were  in 
 the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  the  bases,  and  the 
 brasen  sea  that  ivas  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
 the  Chaldeans  brake,  and  carried  all  the  brass 
 of  them  to  Babylon. 
 
 18  '  The  caldrons  also,  and  tlie  ||  .shovels,  and 
 the  snuffers,  and  the  ||  bowls,  and  the  spoons, 
 and  all  the  vessels  of  brass  wherewith  they 
 ministered,  took  they  away. 
 
 19  And  the  basons,  and  the  ||  firepans,  and 
 the  bowls,  and  the  caldrons,  and  the  candle- 
 sticks, and  the  spoons,  and  the  cups ;  that 
 wliich  was  of  gold  in  gold,  and  that  which  u'as 
 of  silver  in  silver,  took  the  captain  of  the  guard 
 away. 
 
 20  The  two  pillars,  one  sea,  and  twelve 
 brasen  bulls  that  were  under  the  bases,  which 
 king  Solomon  had  made  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lobd  :  '"t  the  brass  of  all  these  vessels  was 
 without  weight. 
 
 21  And  concerning  the  "  pillars,  the  height  of 
 one  pillar  uias  eighteen  cubits  ;  and  a  f  fillet  of 
 twelve  cubits  did  compass  it  ;  and  the  thick- 
 iie.ss  thereof  was  four  fingers:  it  was  hollow. 
 
 22  And  a  chapiter  of  brass  rvas  upon  it ;  and 
 the  height  of  one  chapiter  was  five  cubits,  with 
 network  and  pomegranates  upon  the  chapiters 
 round  about,  all  of  brass.  The  second  pillar 
 also  and  the  pomegranates  xcere  like  unto 
 these. 
 
 23  And  there  were  ninety  and  s\\  pomegra- 
 nates on  a  side  ;  and  "  all  the  pomegranates 
 
 I  Hcb.  livid 
 bi'J'itri. 
 
 el. .27  19. 
 !  ^ee  I  Kin. 
 7.  |3,  23,27, 
 
 ;Ks.27.  8. 
 
 ■i  Kin.  25. 
 
 14,  15,  16. 
 II  Or,  iititrii- 
 
 tnenli  to  re- 
 
 II  Or,  hasniii. 
 II  Or,  cm«r,. 
 
 m  1  Kin.  7. 
 
 47, 
 f  Heb.  their 
 
 Srn.l. 
 n  1  Kin  7.15 
 
 2Kin.25.l7 
 
 2Chr.  3.  15 
 t  Heb. 
 
 7.  20. 
 
 /'  2  Kin.  25. 
 
 the  („•  r  „f 
 It,'-  ft,;;/. 
 I   Or.  *(.r,5ff 
 '(/  till-  COft- 
 
 lai'i  I'f  tilt; 
 
 r  2  Kin.24.2. 
 
 OiKJ 
 a  Sec  2  Kin. 
 21    12. 
 (  See  2  Kin. 
 24.  14. 
 590. 
 u  See  ver.l2. 
 cli.  39.  9, 
 t  Heb.  uuU. 
 585. 
 
 502. 
 jr  2  Kin.  25. 
 27,  28,  29, 
 
 f  Heb,  grnii 
 tliini/t  unlit 
 
 I  Heb.  lit 
 mtttttttifllie 
 tl»>/  in  h 
 (ill  V . 
 
 upon  the  network  were  an  hundred  round 
 about. 
 
 24  t  And  ■■  the  captain  of  the  guard  took  Se- 
 raiah  the  chief  priest,  ''  and  Zephaniah  the  se- 
 cond priest,  and  the  three  keepers  of  the 
 f  door  : 
 
 •25  He  took  also  out  of  the  city  an  eunuch, 
 which  had  the  charge  of  the  men  of  war  ;  and 
 seven  men  of  them  that  f  were  near  the  king's 
 person,  which  were  found  in  the  city  ;  and  the 
 II  principal  scribe  of  tlie  host,  who  mustered 
 the  people  of  the  land  ;  and  threescore  men  of 
 the  people  of  the  land,  that  were  found  in  the 
 midst  of  the  city. 
 
 26  So  Nebuzar-adan  the  captain  of  the  guard 
 took  them,  and  brought  them  to  the  king  of 
 Babylon  to  Riblah. 
 
 27  And  the  king  of  Babylon  smote  them,  and 
 put  them  to  death  in  Riblah  in  the  land  of 
 Hamath.  Thus  Judah  was  carried  away  cap- 
 tive out  of  his  own  land. 
 
 28  '  This7s  the  people  whom  Nebuchadrezzar 
 carried  away  captive:  in  the  "seventh  year 
 '  three  thousand  Jews  and  three  and  twenty  : 
 
 29  "  In  the  eighteenth  year  of  Nebuchadrez- 
 zar he  carried  away  captive  from  Jerusalem 
 eight  hundred  thirty  and  two  f  persons: 
 
 30  In  the  three  and  twentieth  year  of  Nebu- 
 chadrezzar Nebuzar-adan  the  captain  of  the 
 guard  carried  away  captive  of  the  Jews  seven 
 hundred  forty  and  five  persons  :  all  the  persons 
 were  four  thousand  and  six  hundred. 
 
 31  K  "  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  seven  and 
 thirtieth  year  of  the  captivity  of  Jehoiachin 
 king  of  Judah,  in  the  twelfth  month,  in  the  five 
 and  twentieth  dai/  of  the  month,  that  Evil-me- 
 rodach  king  of  Babylon  in  Ihejirst  year  of  his 
 reign  'lifted  up  the  head  of  Jehoiacliin  king  of 
 Judah,  and  brought  him  forth  out  of  prison. 
 
 32  And  spake  f  kindly  unto  him,  and  set  his 
 throne  above  the  throne  of  the  kings  that  were 
 with  him  in  Babylon, 
 
 33  And  changed  his  prison  garments:  'and 
 he  did  continually  eat  bread  before  him  all  the 
 days  of  his  life. 
 
 34  And /or  his  diet,  there  was  a  continual 
 diet  given  him  of  tlie  king  of  Babylon,  f  every 
 day  a  portion  until  the  day  of  his  death,  all  the 
 days  of  his  life. 
 
 It  is  probable  that  Nebuzar-adan  came  on  the  seventh,  but  burnt  the 
 plaue  on  the  tenth.  19.  And  that  w/iich  was  of  gntd,  ^c,  '  and  what- 
 soever was  of  gold,  the  gold,'  &c. — Boothr.  20.  Twelve  brasen  bulls, 
 — 1  Kings,  vii.  25.  24.  Took  Serititth — this  was  a  priest,  and  not  the 
 person  to  whom  Jeremiah  wrote,  (chap.  li.  59.) — Sut.  He  was  taken 
 out  of  the  temple  where  he  was  ministering,  or  had  fled  for  safety. — ■ 
 GUI.  25.  The  principal  scribe  of  the  host,  the  muster-master,  or 
 intendant-generai  of  the  army  ;  the  secretary  at  war. — Bla.  Three- 
 score 7nen,  eminent  men. — Preb.  Lowth.  27.  Thus  Judah  was  carried 
 ttway,  S(c. — history  records  many  other  like  captivities.  A  similar 
 desolation  has  more  recently  taken  place  In  the  Polish  nation  ;  whether 
 
 that  oppressed  people  will  ever  be  restored  remains  among  the  secrets 
 of  Providence. — Ed.  28.  Vi'hom  Nebuchadrezzar  carried  away,  ^-c., 
 — it  appears,  from  the  sacred  records,  that  there  were  three  great  depor- 
 tations,— in  the  first,  eighth,  and  nineteenth  years  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
 — and  three  minor  ones, — in  the  seventh,  eighteenth,  and  twenty-third 
 years. — Ahp.  Usher.  32.  Set  his  throne  above,  ^c. — the  petty  kings 
 
 who  were  captives  had  thrones  of  state,  partly  in  consideration  of  their 
 former  dignity,  and  partly  for  the  glory  of  the  Babylonish  monarch  ; 
 but  Jehoiachin's  throne  was  higher  than  the  rest,  as  a  mark  of  respect. 
 —Gill. 
 
 RErLECTioNS  ON  Chap.  LIT.  —  I.  '  Here  is  the  tragic  end  of  thi-  itntion.     Seraiab,  the  priest,  died  for  his  sin  ;  but  Ezra,  his 
 
 a  sinful  nation ,'  and  in  it  we  see  '  the  fate  of  men  and  nations  infant  son,  found  a  better  school  in  Babylon  than  he  could  have 
 
 who  stifle  conscience,   who  harden   themselves   against   the  found  in  Judea.     Adversity  proved  a  better  tutor  than  luxury 
 
 ministry,  and  despise  the  eJitication  of  milder  visitations.'  and  pride.     Thus  all  the  chastisements  of  Providence  are  pro- 
 
 11.  '  Thourih  Goil  cut  down  tite  Jeivish  nation,  and  gave  the  portioned  by  weight  and  measure,  and  they  have,  in  the  issue, 
 
 cmmy  wages  for  his  ivorh,  yet  he  left  hopeful  branches  to  restore  mercy  for  their  object."^" 
 
 843 
 
THE 
 
 LAM  E  N  T  A  T I O N  S 
 
 OF   JEREMIAH. 
 
 [This  l)Ook  has  its  name  from  its  subject  matter,  which  is  lamentation.  It  is  obvious  that  it  was  composed  after  the  destruc- 
 tion of  Jerusalem.  Each  chapter  is  a  distinct  elegy,  and  the  four  first  chapters  are  written  in  the  alphabetical  order, 
 sometliing  similar  to  the  119tli  Psalm.  It  is  one  of  the  hooks  of  the  ni'?>:n,  Mcgilotli,  or  roll,  among  the  Jews  ;  .and 
 because  it  relates  to  the  ruin  of  their  affairs,  and  contains  promises  of  restoration,  it  is  peculiarly  prized  and  frequently 
 read.  The  five  Megiloth  are — Ecclesiastes,  Canticles,  Lamentations,  lluth.and  Esther.  Josep/ms,  and  some  others,  have 
 supposed  this  elegy  to  have  been  written  on  .Tosiah's  death  ;  but  the  Vulgate  and  Sepluar/int  state  that  it  was  after  the 
 captivity.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  T/ie  niUeralk  estate  of  Jerusalem  hij  raisoii  of  her 
 sin.  12  SiK  complainet/t  of  her  grief,  18  aittl  cou- 
 fesseth   GoiTs  judgment  to  he  righteous. 
 
 TJOW  doth  the  city  sit  solitary,  Ma<  was  full 
 -*--'-  of  people !  "  how  is  she  become  as  a 
 widow  !  slie  thttt  teas  great  among  the  nations, 
 and  '•princess  among  tlie  provinces,  how  is  .she 
 become  tributary  I 
 
 '2  She  '  vveepeth  sore  in  tlie  •^  night,  and  her 
 tears  are  on  her  cliceks :  "  among  all  her 
 lovers  'she  hatii  none  to  comfort  her :  all  her 
 friends  have  dealt  treacherously  witli  her,  they 
 are  become  her  enemies. 
 
 3  ^Jiidah  is  gone  into  captivity  because  of 
 affliction,  and  f  because  of  great  servitude  : 
 '■  she  dvvelletli  among  the  heathen,  she  findeth 
 no  rest :  all  lier  persecutors  overtook  her  be- 
 tween the  straits. 
 
 i  The  ways  of  Zion  do  mourn,  because  none 
 come  to  the  solemn  feasts  :  all  her  gates  are 
 desolate  :  her  priests  sigli,  her  virgins  are  af- 
 flicted, and  she  jV  in  bitterness. 
 
 5  Her  adversaries  '  are  the  chief,  her  enemies 
 prosper;  for  tlie  Lord  hath  afflicted  her  'for 
 the  multitude  of  her  transgressions  :  her  '  chil- 
 dren are  gone  into  captivity  before  the  enemy. 
 
 G  And  from  the  daughter  of  Zion  all  her 
 beauty  is  departed  :  her  princes  are  become 
 hke  harts  that  find  no  pasture,  and  they  are 
 gone  without  strength  before  the  pursuer. 
 
 7  Jerusalem  remembered  in  the  days  of  her 
 affliction  and  of  her  miseries  all  her  ||  pleasant 
 things  that  she  had  in  the  days  of  old,  when 
 her  people  fell  into  the  hand  of  the  enemy,  and 
 none  did  help  her:  the  adversaries  .saw  her, 
 unti  did  mock  at  her  sabbaths. 
 
 8  '"  Jerusalem  hath  grievously  sinned  ;  there- 
 fore she  fis  removed:  all  that  honoured  her 
 despise  her,  because  "they  have  seen  her  naked- 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 rIs-J7,  7,S 
 
 <■  J,T,  13.  17. 
 d  .1.)b  7.  3. 
 
 I's   G.  0, 
 ?  .Ici .  4.  .SO. 
 
 ^  3U.  U. 
 
 ver.  19, 
 /  ver.  y,  16, 
 
 17,  Jl. 
 
 g  Jer   52.27. 
 
 f  H.-b  fi-rthe 
 
 uri'ilutit. 
 h  Dgu.  SH.64, 
 65.  cb.  2.  P. 
 
 i  Dent.  28. 
 
 M,  11. 
 A  Jer.  SO.  \i. 
 
 15,  Dau,  9. 
 
 7.  10. 
 ;  Jer.  53.  28 
 
 II  Or,  df,t>. 
 abU   ver.  10, 
 
 •n  1  Kin.  8. 
 •10. 
 
 t  Heb.  it  be- 
 come a  re- 
 vioving,  or, 
 •pandering. 
 
 M  Jer.  13.2?, 
 20.  Eze.  16. 
 37.  &  23.  29. 
 Hos.  2.  10. 
 
 7  rer 
 
 7. 
 
 11  ()'■, 
 
 d*UT 
 
 Mf. 
 
 r  Jer 
 
 51.. '.1 
 
 4  Dcii 
 
 2:i  3 
 
 NVl. 
 
 IS.  1. 
 
 fjer 
 
 as.  y. 
 
 Ikbi 
 
 li. 
 
 rli.  y 
 
 .  li.   & 
 
 4.  i. 
 
 |Or,/o».N** 
 
 their 
 
 >,tt» 
 
 comt 
 
 ignxH. 
 
 lOr, 
 
 His 
 
 iialhi 
 
 If- 
 
 \  H.-l, 
 
 Vnti 
 
 tv  "• 
 
 >'•">/■ 
 
 u  Dai 
 
 •J.  \2- 
 
 X  V.ifU.  (2. 
 13.  &  17.2(1. 
 
 g  Deg.  29.18. 
 
 r  Is.  03  3. 
 Kev.  li.  19. 
 20.  &  19.  15 
 I  Or,  /A< 
 winriTeti  nf 
 tite  vW/ji)t. 
 
 a  Jer.  13. 17. 
 
 &  14.  17. 
 
 ch.  2.  18. 
 1)  rer.  2,  9. 
 t  Heb.  bring 
 
 bnek. 
 e  Jer.  •!.  SI. 
 
 ness:  yea,  she  sigheth,  and  turneth  backward. 
 
 9  Her  filthiness  iV  in  her  skirts  ;  she  "remem- 
 bereth  not  her  last  end  ;  therefore  she  came 
 down  wonderfully  :  ■' she  had  no  comforter.  U 
 Lord,  behold  my  affliction  :  for  the  enemy 
 hath  magnified  himself. 
 
 10  The  adversary  hath  spread  out  liis  hand 
 upon  ''  all  her  ||  pleasant  things  :  for  she  hath 
 seen  that  '  the  heathen  entered  into  lier  sanc- 
 tuary, whom  thou  didst  command  thai  '  they 
 should  not  enter  into  thy  congregation. 
 
 1 1  All  her  people  sigh,  '  they  seek  bread  ; 
 they  have  given  their  pleasant  things  for  meat 
 II  to  relieve  the  soul :  see,  O  Lord,  and  con- 
 sider ;  for  I  am  become  vile. 
 
 12  1  II  Is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that  f  pas.s 
 by  ?  behold,  and  see  "  if  there  be  any  .sorrow 
 like  unto  my  sorrow,  which  is  done  unto  me, 
 wherewith  the  Lord  hath  afflicted  me.  in  the 
 day  of  his  fierce  anger. 
 
 13  From  above  hath  he  sent  fire  into  my 
 bones,  and  it  prevaileth  against  them  :  he  hath 
 '  spread  a  net  for  my  feet,  he  hath  turned  me 
 back  :  he  hath  made  me  desolate  and  faint  all 
 the  day. 
 
 14  ''  The  yoke  of  my  transgressions  is  hound 
 by  his  hand  :  they  are  wreathed,  and  come 
 up  upon  my  neck  :  he  hath  made  my  strength 
 to  fall,  the  Lord  hath  delivered  me  into  their 
 hands,y)om  whom  I  am  not  able  to  rise  up. 
 
 15  The  Lord  hath  trodden  under  foot  all  my 
 mighty  men  in  the  midst  of  me  :  he  hath  called 
 an  assembly  against  me  to  crush  my  young 
 men  :  '  the  Lord  hath  trodden  ||tlie  virgin,  the 
 daughter  of  Judah,  as  in  a  winepress. 
 
 IG  For  these  thinr/s  I  weep;  "mine  eye, 
 mine  eye  runneth  down  with  water,  because 
 ''the  comforter  that  should  frelieve  my  soul  is 
 far  from  me  :  my  children  are  desolate,  because 
 the  enemy  prevailed. 
 
 17   "  Zion   spreadeth  forth   her   hands,   and 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  l.  Sit  so/iYary— the  coin  struck  by  Vespasian 
 
 on  tlie  capture  of  Jerusalem,  on  the  obverse  of  whicli  there  is  a  palm 
 
 tree,  the  emblem  of  Jadea,  and  under  it  a  woman,  the  emblem  of  Jem. 
 
 salem,  sitting  leaning,  with  the  head  supported  by  the  hand,  with  the 
 
 legend  Jurfeu  cuplu,  illustrates  this  expression.    This  position  was  a 
 
 sign  of  mourning.— C/iirie.     Becume  as  a  wirlaui,  her  king,  that  was 
 
 ner  head  and  husband,  being  taken  from  her,  and  God,  who  was  the 
 
 nusband  also  of  the  Jewi'ih  people,  having  departed  from  tliem.     She 
 
 inat  uus  gieit,  to  whom  Pliilistia,  Moab,  Syria,  and  Edom  were  tri- 
 
 Dutary  m  the  days  of  David  and  Solomon.  How  is  she  beeome  Iributuru  I 
 
 T^tu    ;°  P""''?oh-necho,  king  of  Egypt ;  Ihen  to  the  king  of  Babylon. 
 
 in  the  times  of  Jehoiakim  ;  and  lastly,  in  the  times  of  Zedekiah.-G,7(. 
 
 i.  Her  lovers    those  that  courted  her  alliance  in  her  prosperity.— ZJ/u. 
 
 i^^.i^'.iT"-'^'^'''""'  '""'''"''.  because  of  the  oppression  amongst  them, 
 
 itS^hi    h'H"°n"""'>°"''""=J"''>'«,  &c.,  (see  Jer.  xxxiv.  17,)  or 
 
 n„!r^L  f/.f  "^  ?"<■"?  among  the  heathen  because  of  her  low  condition, 
 
 transmtrnfi  ,n  r^^y;""''-"''^''  ^'^  in.-Po»fe.    It  may  relate  to  voluntar)? 
 Iran s migration  to  other  nations    '  -  "  - 
 
 844 
 
 hoping  tliere  to  find  rest.— /iy».  Hall. 
 
 ■I.  The  %vays  of  Zion  do  mourn — tlie  de»ertcil  roads  to  the  temple  arc 
 beautifully  lepre.scntod  as  shedding  tears. — Clarke.  5.  The  chirf, 
 
 '€ii~h,    'the  head,'  a3  threatened  Dent,  xxviii.  U.~GUL  8.  Hir 
 
 yidkediiess,  she  is  stripped  of  all  her  ornaments,  and  carried  naked  and 
 bare  into  captivity.  Defiled  with  idolatry,  she  is  exposed  to  shame, 
 like  a  common  harlot,  (see  Jer.  xiii.  22.) — Preb.  Lowth.  Q.  Remem- 
 bereth  not  her  last  end,  although  she  bare  evident  marks  of  her  pollu- 
 tion, and  had  defiled  the  land,  she  thought  nut  of  the  consequences. — 
 BUi.  11.  Given  thfir  pleasant  things,  jeweis,  S^c. — Clarke,  GUI.  To 
 relieve  the  soul,  iTED  l^'iTl'?.  '  to  cause  the  soul  to  return.'— 3/o7j^,/*isc. 
 To  fetch  it  back  when  tainting. — Gill.  They  gave  anything  for  some- 
 thing to  satisfy  theirhunger. — Poole.  I2.  All pe  that  pass  bi/—Sanc- 
 tius  thinks  there  is  an  allusion  to  epitaphs  on  tombs,  calling  on  travel- 
 lers to  stop  and  read,  and  so  what  follows  is  Jerasalem*sepiiaph.—  Gi//. 
 IZ.  Fire,  a  judgment,  consuming  as  fire.  — Poo/f.  14.  Wreathed, 
 13"iniD\  or  'twisted  together.'— Ka(.,  Pag.,  Mont.,  Calv.,  &c.  It  de- 
 notes the  complication  of  judgments  upon  thu  Jewish  nation  for  their 
 sins,  with  which  they  were  holdcu  as  with  cord.^.— GtV/.  15.  As— 
 
Jeremiah  lamnniclh 
 
 LAMENTATIONS,  II. 
 
 the  misery  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 '^  there  is  none  to  comfort  her:  the  Loud  hath 
 commanded  concerning  Jacob,  that  his  adver- 
 saries should  he  round  about  him:  Jerusalem 
 is  as  a  menstruous  woman  among  them. 
 
 18  t  Tlie  Loud  is  'righteous;  for  I  have 
 '  rebelled  against  his  f  commandment :  hear, 
 I  pray  you,  all  people,  and  behold  my  sorrow : 
 my  virgins  and  my  young  men  are  gone  into 
 captivity. 
 
 19  I  called  for  my  lovers,  but  ^  they  deceived 
 me  :  my  priests  and  mine  elders  gave  up  the 
 ghost  in  the  city,  ■■  while  they  sought  their 
 meat  to  relieve  tlieir  souls. 
 
 -20  Behold,  O  Loud  ;  for  I  am  in  distress  : 
 my  '  bowels  are  troubled  ;  mine  heart  is  turned 
 within  me ;  for  I  have  grievously  rebelled  : 
 ^  abroad  the  sword  bereaveth,  at  home  there  is 
 as  death. 
 
 •21  They  have  heard  that  I  sigh:  '  there  is 
 none  to  comfort  me  :  all  mine  enemies  have 
 heard  of  my  trouble;  they  are  glad  that  thou 
 hast  done  it :  thou  wilt  bring  "'  the  day  that 
 thou  hast  II  called,  and  they  shall  be  like  unto 
 me. 
 
 '2'2  "  Let  all  their  wickedness  come  before 
 thee  ;  and  do  unto  them,  as  thou  hast  done 
 unto  me  for  all  my  transgressions :  for  my 
 sighs  are  many,  and  "  my  heart  is  faint. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Jeremtult  lamenteth  the  mistry  of  Jerusalem.     20  He 
 cuinplaineth  thereof  to  God, 
 
 TTOW  hath  the  Lord  covered  the  daughter 
 ■'--'-  of  Zion  with  a  cloud  in  his  anger,  "  and 
 cast  down  from  heaven  unto  the  earth  ''  the 
 beauty  of  Lsrael,  and  remembered  not  "  his 
 footstool  in  the  day  of  his  anger! 
 •2  The  Lord  hath  swallowed  up  all  the  habi- 
 tations of  Jacob,  "'  and  hath  not  pitied  :  he 
 hath  thrown  down  in  his  wrath  the  strong 
 holds  of  the  daughter  of  Jndah  ;  he  hath 
 t  brought  them  down  to  the  ground  :  °  he  hath 
 polluted  the  kingdom  and  the  princes  thereof. 
 
 3  He  hath  cut  off  in  his  fierce  anger  all  the 
 horn  of  Israel :  'he  hath  drawn  back  his  right 
 hand  from  before  the  enemy,  *and  he  burned 
 against  Jacob  like  a  flaming  fire,  ichich  devour- 
 eth  round  about. 
 
 4  "  He  hath  bent  his  bow  like  an  enemy  :  he 
 stood  with  his  right  hand  as  an  adversary,  and 
 slew  t '  all  that  were  pleasant  to  the  eye  in 
 the  tabernacle  of  the  daughter  of  Zion :  he 
 poured  out  his  fury  like  fire. 
 
 5  '  The   Lord   was  as  an   enemy :   he    hath 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 H.  C. 
 
 cir.  &38. 
 
 cir.  5S3. 
 
 d  ver.2.  9. 
 
 (2  Kin.  ■25!'. 
 
 Jtr.  h-i.  l.'l. 
 
 ^Neh.  9.  3.S. 
 
 ...  Ph.  80.  12. 
 
 l>au.y7,U 
 
 &  89.  40, 
 
 f  \  Sam.  12. 
 
 Is.  5.  5. 
 
 1 1,  15. 
 
 II  Or,  hedi,^. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 «  Is.  I.  B, 
 
 mouth. 
 
 o  cb.  1.  4, 
 
 Zi-pli.  3,  1^. 
 
 g  ver.  2. 
 
 Jcr.  3(1.  H- 
 
 /j  ver.  ]I. 
 
 i  ll.jb   shut 
 
 "f- 
 
 ,  Job  30.  27. 
 
 p  Pa.  74.  \. 
 
 Is.  16.  II. 
 
 ler.-l.  lU  & 
 
 •18.  SO.  c\\  2 
 
 11.  Hos    tl. 
 
 S. 
 
 fl2Kin.  21. 
 
 k  Deu.  S?. 
 
 i:^.  la.  34. 
 
 23.  Ezek.  7. 
 
 II. 
 
 I  ver.  2. 
 
 t  Heb  twal- 
 
 loioing  iiji. 
 
 ,„  Is.  13,  &c. 
 
 Jer,  40,  &c. 
 
 11  Or,  pr„- 
 
 cliiimcd. 
 
 r  Jer.  51.80. 
 
 n  P3.  109.15. 
 
 *  Deu.  2S-Vti. 
 
 2Kin.24.  \h 
 
 8c  2&.  7-  cti. 
 
 1  a.  &i2o. 
 
 /2Clir.  15.  y. 
 
 u  Ps.  74.  9. 
 
 a  Cb.  b.  17. 
 
 EiP.  7    20. 
 
 .r  Job  2.   13, 
 
 l8.  S.  26. 
 
 ch.  3  iS, 
 
 yJob2.  12. 
 
 t  Is.  IS.  3, 
 
 Ezek.  7. 18, 
 
 &27.  31. 
 
 a  Mat.  11.23. 
 
 a  Ps,  6.  7. 
 
 6  2  Sam.  1. 
 
 cb  348,«!r. 
 
 i  cb.  1,  -^ly 
 
 19. 
 
 c  .lob  10.  13 
 
 clClir,  2S.2. 
 
 Ps.  22.  14. 
 
 Ps.  99.  5.  & 
 
 132,  7. 
 
 d  ver.  19. 
 
 cli.  4.  4. 
 
 II   Or,/a.;,/. 
 
 d  ver.  17.  91 
 
 cb .  3.  43. 
 
 t  Heb,  made 
 
 la  tulic'i. 
 
 e  Pa.  89.  39. 
 
 f  Cb.  1.  12. 
 
 /Ps.  74.  11, 
 
 Dan.  9.  12. 
 
 ^  Pa.  89.  16. 
 
 /■Jer.  2,  8  fc 
 
 5.  3I.&  11, 
 
 14,  fc23.  Ifi, 
 
 fc  27.  14.  & 
 
 29    8,  9. 
 
 Ii  Is.  63.  10. 
 
 Kzek.  13. 2 
 
 ver,  S. 
 
 ff  Is    59.  1, 
 
 /.  IKin.lt.  H 
 
 deiirabU  of 
 
 JfT.    \<^     \6 
 
 Nail.  3,  19. 
 
 the  er/C- 
 
 Ectlus.  12. 
 
 t  Eze'.  21.25. 
 
 18. 
 
 t  Heb.  btf  the 
 
 k  ver.  4. 
 
 m«V, 
 
 Jer.  30,  U, 
 
 i  Ezek.  25.  6 
 
 swallowed  up  Israel,  'he  hath  swallowed  up 
 all  her  palaces  :  he  hath  destroyed  his  strong 
 holds,  and  hath  increased  in  the  daughter  of 
 Judah  mourning  and  lamentation, 
 
 6  And  he  hath  violently  "'taken  away  his 
 „  tabernacle,  "  as  if  it  were  of  a  garden  :  he 
 iiath  destroyed  his  places  of  tlie  assembly  ; 
 "  the  LoKD  hath  caused  the  solemn  feasts  and 
 sabbaths  to  be  forgotten  in  Zion,  and  hath 
 despised  in  the  indignation  of  his  anger  the 
 king  and  the  priest. 
 
 7  The  Lord  hath  cast  off  his  altar,  he  hath 
 abhorred  his  sanctuary,  he  hath  f  given  up  into 
 the  hand  of  the  enemy  the  walls  of  her  palaces  ; 
 ''  they  have  made  a  noise  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  as  in  the  day  of  a  solemn  feast. 
 
 8  The  Loud  hath  purposed  to  destroy  the 
 wall  of  the  daughter  of  Zion  :  ''  he  hath 
 stretched  out  a  line,  he  hath  not  withdrawn  his 
 hand  from  f  destroying:  therefore  he  made  the 
 rampart  and  the  wall  to  lament;  they  languish- 
 ed together, 
 
 9  Her  gates  are  sunk  into  the  ground  ;  he 
 hath  destroyed  and  '  broken  her  bars  :  "  her 
 king  and  her  princes  are  among  the  Gentiles  : 
 '  the  law  is  no  more  ;  her  "  prophets  also  find 
 no  vision  from  the  Lord. 
 
 10  The  elders  of  the  daughter  of  Zion  ^sit 
 upon  the  ground,  and  keep  silence  :  they  have 
 ''cast  up  dust  upon  their  heads;  they  have 
 '  girded  themselves  with  sackcloth  :  the  vir- 
 gins of  Jerusalem  hang  down  their  heads  to 
 the  ground. 
 
 11  "  Mine  eyes  do  fail  with  tears, ''my  bowels 
 are  troubled,  °  my  hver  is  poured  upon  the 
 earth,  for  the  destruction  of  the  daughter  of  my 
 people  ;  because  ''  the  children  and  the  suck- 
 lings II  swoon  in  the  streets  of  the  city. 
 
 12  They  say  to  their  mothers.  Where  is  corn 
 and  wine  ?  when  they  swooned  as  the  wounded 
 in  the  streets  of  the  city,  when  their  soul  was 
 poured  out  into  their  mothers'  bosom. 
 
 13  What  thing  shall  I  take  to  witness  for 
 thee  ?  °  what  thing  shall  I  liken  to  thee,  O 
 daughter  of  Jerusalem  ?  what  shall  I  equal  to 
 thee,  that  I  may  comfort  thee,  O  virgin  daugh- 
 ter of  Zion  ?  for  thy  breach  is  great  like  the 
 sea  :  who  can  heal  thee  ? 
 
 14  Thy  '  prophets  have  seen  vain  and  foolish 
 things  for  thee  :  and  they  have  not  ^discovered 
 thine  iniquity,  to  turn  away  thy  captivity  ;  but 
 have  seen  for  thee  false  burdens  and  causes  of 
 bani.shment. 
 
 15  '■All  that  pass  fhy  'clap  their  hands  at 
 
 winepress,  so  Go(i*s  vengeance,  described  Isa,  Ixiii.  3  ;  Rev.xiv.  ig,  20  ; 
 xix.  15. — Prelj.  Lutvth,  18.  J/v  virgins  and  riiy  young  men,  descrip. 
 
 tive  of  a  disconsolate  mother,  without  a  child  to  wipe  her  tears, — Sut. 
 11).  Lovers — sec  ver,  2,  note,  21.  The  day,  of  punishing  the  Jews' 
 enemies. — Prefj.  Lowlfi. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  I.  Footstool — see  1  Chron.  xxviii.  2,  note.  2.  Swol- 
 lowed  n/i,  as  with  a  flood. — Sut,  3.  Horn,  'strength,'  *  glory.'  — 
 Preh,  Lowth.  Job,  xvi.  15  ;  Ps.  Ixxv.  5,  &c.  His  right  hand,  either  bis 
 own,  wliich  used  to  protect  Israel,  or  Israel's,  which  had  now  no  power 
 to  resist,— Gi//.  6.  His  tiihernncle,  tts  if,  ^c,  as  if  it  were  no  better 
 than  a  tent  or  cottage,  set  up  in  a  garden  or  vineyard,  (comp.  Isa.  i,  8.) 
 — Preh.  Loiclli.  /.  The//  have  made  a  noise,  ^c,  the  enemy,  with 
 their  shouts  of  triumpli  and  blasphemy,  have  reproached  God. — Poole. 
 
 8.  A  line,  a  figure  from  architecture,  the  builders  stretching  a  line  to 
 measure  the  ground  for  a  new  building,  and  for  the  removal  of  rubbish. — 
 Sut.  A  line  to  shew  how  far  the  destruction  should  go. — dill.  g.  Tfie 
 law  is  no  more,  no  more  read;  its  appointed  sacrifices  and  feasts  no  more 
 observed. — Poole.  10.  Si7 — keep  siletice,  liice  Job's  three  friends,  indi- 
 cating deep  sorrow. — Sut.  U.  Mi/  liver,  §-c.,  '  my  gall.' — Bla.  Ex- 
 pressive of  redundancy  of  bile,  produced  by  grief,  (comp.  Job,  xvi.  13.) 
 —  XVil,  13.  What  thing  ?  ^c,  *  what  proof  can  I  bring  of  any  cala- 
 mity like  thine,  to  comfort  thee?'  Like  the  sea,  overflowing  a  whole 
 country. — Preb.  Lowth.  14.  Prophets,  false  prophets. — Gill.  Have 
 seen  vain  and  foolish  things,  '  told  you  idle  and  vain  stories.' — Poole. 
 Not  discovered,  not  given  a  just  sense.  False  burdens,  '  burden'  gene- 
 rally signifies  a  burdensome  prophecy,  (see  Jer.  xxiii.  33,)  but  also  im- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  1.  True  piety  is  si/mpafhetic. 
 Religion  makes  the  lieart  tender.  We  should  'weep  with 
 them  that  weep,  and  rejoice  with  lliem  tiiat  rejoice.'  '  Bear 
 ye  one  another's  burdens,  and  so  fulfil  tlio  law  of  Christ.' 
 Christ,  like  tlie  prophet,  afterwards  wept  over  Jerusalem. 
 We  are  not  sufficiently  affected  with  the  condition  of  sinners 
 around  us.  Let  our  eyes  more  deeply  afi'ecf  our  hearts,  and 
 our  iiearts  affect  our  eves. 
 81.5 
 
 II.  Worldly  love  is  unstahle.  Like  sleep,  it  refreshes  the 
 soul  that  least  needs  it,  but  deserts  those  that  are  in  trouble. 
 Shall  we  then  place  our  comforts  in  the  bands  of  tickle  loversl 
 No  ;  let  us  trust  ourselves  alone  to  that '  Friend  who  sticiceth 
 closer  tlian  a  brother.' 
 
 III.  Sin  is  t/ic  cause  of  sorrow.  Hence  these  tears.  Jerusalem 
 is  made  to  bear  the  yoke  of  her  transgressions.  She  has  re- 
 belled against  God's  commandments.     'The  Lord  is  rirhtpous.' 
 
The  calamities  of 
 
 LAMENTATIONS,  HI. 
 
 the  faithful  beicailtd. 
 
 thee;  they  hiss  ''and  wag  tlieir  head  at  the 
 daughter  of  Jerusalem,  soy/Hy,  /*■  this  the  city 
 that  men  call  '  The  perfection  of  beauty,  The 
 joy  of  the  whole  earth? 
 
 16  "'  All  thine  enemies  have  opened  their 
 mouth  against  thee  :  they  hiss  and  gnash  the 
 teeth  :  tliey  say,  "  We  have  swallowed  her 
 up  :  certainly  this  w  the  day  that  we  looked 
 for  ;  we  have  found,  °  we  have  seen  it. 
 
 17  Tlie  Lord  hath  done  that  which  he  had 
 'devised  ;  he  hath  fulfilled  his  word  that  he 
 had  commanded  in  tlie  days  of  old  :  ''  he  hath 
 thrown  down,  and  hath  not  pitied  :  and  he 
 hath  caused  thine  enemy  to  'rejoice  over  thee, 
 he  hath  set  up  the  horn  of  thine  adversaries. 
 
 18  Their  heart  cried  unto  the  Lord,  O  'wall 
 of  the  daughter  of  Zion,  '  let  tears  run  down 
 like  a  river  day  and  night:  give  thyself  no  rest; 
 let  not  the  apple  of  thine  eye  cease. 
 
 19  Arise,  "cry  out  in  the  niglit :  in  the  be- 
 ginning of  the  watches  "pour  out  thine  heart 
 like  water  before  the  face  of  the  Lord  :  lift  uj) 
 thy  hands  toward  liim  for  the  life  of  thy  young 
 children,  'that  faint  for  hunger  'in  the  top  of 
 every  street. 
 
 20  t  Behold,  O  Lord,  and  consider  to  whom 
 thou  hast  done  this.  °  Shall  tlie  women  eat 
 their  fruit,  and  children  ||  of  a  span  long? 
 ''shall  the  priest  and  the  jirophet  be  slain  in 
 the  .sanctuary  of  the  Lord  ? 
 
 21  "^  Tlie  young  and  the  old  lie  on  the  ground 
 ill  the  streets :  my  virgins  and  my  young  men 
 are  fallen  by  the  sword  ;  thou  liast  slain  them 
 in  the  day  of  thine  anger;  ""thou  hast  killed, 
 and  not  pitied. 
 
 22  Thou  hast  called  as  in  a  solemn  day  "my 
 terrors  round  about,  so  that  in  the  day  of  the 
 Lord's  anger  none  escaped  nor  remained : 
 '  those  that  I  have  swaddled  and  brought  up 
 hath  mine  enemy  consumed. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  The  faithful  hrirail  their  cuJ'tmitii^s.  22  By  the 
 mercies  of  God  thiy  nourish  their  hope.  37  They 
 acltnowledye  God's  justice.  55  Tliey  pray  for  de- 
 liveraticc,  04  and  venyeance  on  ttteir  eiieinies. 
 
 T  A^l  the  man  that  hath  seen  affliction  by 
 ■*•    the  rod  of  his  wrath. 
 
 2  He  hath  led  inc,  and  brought  me  into  dark- 
 ness, hut  not  into  light. 
 
 3  Surely  against  me  is  he  turned  ;  he  turneth 
 his  hand  against  me  all  the  day. 
 
 4  °  My  flesh  and  my  skin  hath  he  made  old  ; 
 he  hath  ^  broken  my  bones. 
 
 k  2  Kin.  19. 
 
 •21.  Ps.  44. 
 
 c  Ps.  83  5,  G. 
 
 /  1'9.  48.?.  & 
 
 50,  2. 
 •n  Jol,   IB.  0, 
 
 rf  Job  3.  23. 
 &  19.  9. 
 
 IS  cii.3.ie. 
 
 H..S.  «-  6. 
 
 "  Pa.  fii;.  2. 
 
 e  Job  3l>.  20. 
 
 Pa.  2-2.  2. 
 
 .  T.ev.  20.16, 
 8(C,  Dcut. 
 2S.  15,  &c. 
 
 ,  vcr.  2, 
 
 Ps.  .tS.  16. 
 St  80.  t2. 
 
 pB.llf)  147. 
 V%   C2.  S. 
 
 ,  vcr    n. 
 Is  51. 'JO. 
 cli.  4.  I. 
 Natl,  3.  10. 
 
 '■  T,ev.2fi20. 
 
 Di'u.  2S,  ;':i 
 
 Jcr.  IS   9. 
 
 ch.  i.  10. 
 
 K^fk.  5.  10 
 I)  (u.  twfi'l- 
 
 Ihrir  hniidt 
 b  rli.  4.  1.1, 
 
 16 
 r-2  Chr.  3G. 
 
 17. 
 •ich.S.  43. 
 
 Ps.  .11.  I.S 
 Jer.  fi,  S5  it 
 ■IG.  5. 
 
 «  Job  16  8. 
 i  Ps.  5t.  8. 
 
 Is  :w   la. 
 
 Jef.  60.  17. 
 
 /Job  10.  16. 
 Is.  39.  13. 
 Hos.  i>    U. 
 &  13.  7,  8. 
 
 If  Hos.  6.  1. 
 
 i  Job  6.  4. 
 f  Ueb.  tons. 
 
 kJer.20.7. 
 
 I  Job  ?.i)  9 
 Ps.  69.  V2. 
 ver.  03. 
 m  Jer.  9 
 I  Heb.  tiit- 
 
 'I  Pro.  'iO.Vi 
 
 15. 
 
 me  in  Ihe 
 ntfici. 
 
 \  Heb.  ffood. 
 o  Ps.  81.  22. 
 
 II  Or,  Re. 
 p  J«r.  9.  lii. 
 
 t  Hcb.fiowrd. 
 
 t  Hub.  ».nke 
 l.j  return  to 
 mg  Jienrt, 
 
 7  Mai    3.  6. 
 
 r  Ps    16.  5. 
 
 fc  73.  ?6.  & 
 
 1 19.  57. 
 
 J.;i-.  10.  1<-.. 
 I  P».  130.  e. 
 
 U.  HO.  18. 
 
 J-  Ps.  90.  12 
 &  119.  71. 
 
 V  Jer.  19.17. 
 "  ch.  8.  10. 
 
 5  He  liatli  builded  against  me,  and  compassed 
 me  with  gall  and  travel. 
 
 6  '^  He  hath  set  me  in  dark  places,  as  they 
 that  he  dead  of  old. 
 
 7  "^  He  hath  hedged  me  about,  that  I  cannot 
 get  out :  he  batli  made  my  chain  heavy. 
 
 8  Also  *"  wlien  I  cry  and  shout,  he  shutteth 
 out  my  prayer. 
 
 9  He  liath  inclosed  my  ways  with  hewn 
 stone,  he  hath  made  my  paths  crooked. 
 
 10  ^  He  was  unto  me  as  a  bear  lying  iu  wait, 
 and  as  a  lion  in  secret  places. 
 
 1 1  He  hath  turned  aside  my  ways,  and 
 ^pulled  me  in  pieces  :  he  hath  made  me  deso- 
 late. 
 
 12  He  hath  bent  his  buw,  and  ''set  me  as  a 
 mark  for  the  arrow. 
 
 13  He  hath  caused  '  the  farrows  of  bis  qui- 
 ver to  enter  into  my  reins. 
 
 14  I  was  a  '' deri.siun  to  all  my  people;  and 
 '  their  song  all  the  (Uiy. 
 
 13  "'He  batii  lilled  me  with  t  bitterness,  be 
 hath  made  me  drunken  with  wormwood. 
 
 IG  He  hath  also  broken  my  teeth  "wilh 
 gravel  stones,  he  iiath  ||  covered  me  with 
 ashes. 
 
 17  And  thou  hast  ronioved  my  soul  far  oil" 
 from  peace  :   I  forgat  f  prosperity. 
 
 18  "  And  I  said,  My  strength  and  my  liope 
 is  perished  from  the  Lorp  : 
 
 ly  II  Remembering  mine  affliction  and  my 
 misery,  ''the  wormwood  and  the  gall. 
 
 20  My  soul  hath  them  still  iu  remembrance, 
 and  is  thtmibled  in  me. 
 
 21  This  I  f  recall  to  my  mind,  therefore  have 
 I  hope. 
 
 22  11''//  is  of  the  Lord's  mercies  that  we 
 are  not  consumed,  because  bis  compassions 
 fail  not. 
 
 23  The>/  are  new  'every  morning:  great  is 
 thy  faithfulness. 
 
 24  The  Lord  is  my  *  portion,  saith  my  soul  ; 
 therefore  will  I  hope  in  iiiin. 
 
 25  The  Loud  ?V  good  unto  them  that  ^  uait 
 for  him,  to  the  soul  that  seeketh  him. 
 
 26  It  is  good  that  a  man  should  both  hope 
 "and  quietly  wait  for  the  salvation  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 27  ''  It  is  good  for  a  man  that  he  bear  the 
 yoke  in  his  youth. 
 
 28  ^  He  sittetb  alone  and  keepeth  silence, 
 because  he  hath  borne  it  u])on  him. 
 
 29  *  He  putteth  his  mouth  in  the  dust ;  if  so 
 be  there  may  be  hope. 
 
 ports  prophecy  in  general.  18.  Apple,  ^c,  literally  '  the  diuighter  of 
 thine  eye,'  better  understood  as  a  tear. — Pict.  Bib.  20.  Eat  their 
 
 /(■uiV— by  comparing-  this  with  chap.  iv.  10,  Got!  brought  upon  them 
 tliat  jud^^ment  as  denounced,  Lev.  xxvi.  29;  Deut.  xxviii.  53  ;  Jer.  xix. 
 }>. — Prph.  Lou'th.  Children  of  a  span  lung,  *  litUe  ones  dandled  iu  the 
 hands.* — Bin. 
 
 Chap.  Ill, — 2.  Darkness,  an  emblem  of  distress. — Bla.  5.  Builded 
 ttf^ainst  me,  forts  and  Ijutteries  to  beat  riown  my  walls.  With  gall  and 
 travel — 
 
 'He  hath  built  around  and  compassed  me  with  misery  and  travail.* 
 l5.  With  gravel  slones,  '  with  grit.' — Boothr.    With  pritty  bread,  such 
 as  is  made  with  cnw  ground  with  new  milli^toues  ;  signifying  afflictions 
 and  troubles. — Gill.     E.^cpressing  di'^gust  and  pain.     He  hath  eoi'ered 
 tne  unth  ashes,  ncfr*2  *2CCDn,  '  he  hath  plunged  me  into  the  dus.t.' — 
 
 Clarke.         17.  Forgat  prosperity ,  having  been  so  long  a  stranger  to  it. 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  ig.  Wormwond,  ffc. — see  Jer.  ix.  15.  21.  This  1 
 
 recall,  ^c. ;  '22.  It  is  of  the  Lord's  rnercies,  §f. — 
 
 '  This  I  rev'lve  in  my  mind,  therclore  shall  I  have  hope  ; 
 That  the  mercies  of  Jehovah  aie  not  Lxhausted,  that  they  fail  not.' 
 
 Bfiothr. 
 27.  Yoke,  '  commandments,*  Targ.  'Afflictions.*— ^ften  Ezra.  •  He 
 is  gracious  unto  a  man,  when  he  beareth  the  yoke  in  his  youth. '—B/n. 
 Early  good  habits  and  early  discipline  arc  invaluable.— C/flrA-/'.  I*  is 
 good  tij  be  inured  betimes  to  useful  restraints.  2S.  He  sitteth  alone, 
 ^f.— affliction  makes  a  man  serious  and  thoughtful.— /"rei.  Lowth. 
 
 '  Let  liim  alone  and  be  silent,  when  it  is  laid  upon  him.' — Boothr. 
 29.  He  putteth,  Sfc,  'humbles  himself,  if  peradventure  there  may  be 
 
 Reflections  on  Cuav.  11.  —  The  prophet  here  laments, 
 I.  The  desolation  ofJerusahm.  Its  noble  buildings  and  strong- 
 holds laid  in  ruins, — its  power  and  honour  taken  away, — its 
 solemn  feasts  and  sabbaths  passed  over  in  silence,— its  altar 
 and  sanctuary  profaned,— its  elders  clothed  iu  sackcloth, — 
 children  in  vain  imploring  bread  and  wine,  their  common 
 food.— mothers  voraciously  devouring  their  offspring  !  What 
 heights  of  misery  !  what  depths  of  degradation  !  These  are 
 846 
 
 the  works  of  sin.     The  prophet  here  also  laments — 
 
 IL  The  deception  of  the  fahe  prophets.  They  said  '  vain  and 
 foolish  things,  and  they  discovered  not  the  iniquity  of  Jeru- 
 salem. Oh  how  destructive  to  souls  are  those  false  teachers 
 who  dare  not  shew  the  people  their  sins,  and  by  prophesying 
 only  smooth  things,  which  wilt  ^ive  no  offence  and  never  dis- 
 turb their  consciences,  leave  them  to  suffer  the  consequences 
 of  delusion  and  the  wrath  of  the  Almighty. 
 
CotTs  justice  acltnoxvledgetl. 
 
 LAMENTATIONS,  IV. 
 
 Zion's  pitiful  slate  bewnihil. 
 
 30  '  He  giveth  his  cheek  to  him  that  smiteth 
 him  :  he  is  filled  full  with  reproach. 
 
 31  ''  For  the  Lord  will  not  ca.st  off  for  ever  : 
 3-2    But  though  he  cause   grief,  yet  will  he 
 
 liave  compassion  according  to  the  multitude 
 of  his  mercies. 
 
 33  For  '  he  doth  not  aftlict  f  willingly  nor 
 grieve  the  children  of  men. 
 
 34  To  crush  under  his  feet  all  the  prisoners 
 of  tlie  earth, 
 
 35  To  turn  aside  the  right  of  a  man  before 
 the  face  of  ||  the  most  High, 
 
 3G  To  subvert  a  man  in  his  cause,  '•  the  Lord 
 II  approveth  not. 
 
 37  H  Who  is  he  "thai  saith,  and  it  cometh  to 
 pass  when  the  Lord  commandeth  it  not? 
 
 38  Out  of  the  mouth  of  the  most  High  pro- 
 ceedeth  not  '  evil  and  good  ? 
 
 39  ^  Wherefore  doth  a  living  man  ||  complain, 
 ^  a  man  for  the  punishment  of  his  sins? 
 
 40  Let  us  searcli  and  try  our  ways,  and  turn 
 again  to  the  Lonn. 
 
 41  '  Let  us  lift  up  our  heart  with  our  hands 
 unto  God  in  the  heavens. 
 
 42  '  We  have  transgressed  and  have  rebelled  : 
 thou  hast  not  pardoned. 
 
 43  Thou  hast  covered  with  anger,  and  per- 
 secuted us  ;  '  thou  hast  slain,  thou  hast  not 
 pitied. 
 
 44  Thou  hast  covered  thyself  with  a  cloud, 
 "  that  our  prayer  should  not  pass  through. 
 
 45  Thou  hast  made  us  as  the  "  offscouring 
 and  refuse  in  the  midst  of  the  people. 
 
 46  °  All  our  enemies  have  opened  their 
 mouths  against  us. 
 
 47  ■'  Fear  and  a  snare  is  come  upon  us,  ""  de- 
 solation and  destruction. 
 
 48  '  Mine  eye  runneth  down  with  rivers  of 
 water  for  the  destruction  of  the  daughter  of 
 my  people. 
 
 49  ^Mine  eye  trickleth  down,  and  ceaseth 
 not,  without  any  intermission, 
 
 50  Till  the  Lord  '  look  down,  and  behold 
 from  heaven. 
 
 51  Mine  eye  affecteth  f  mine  heart  ||  because 
 of  all  the  daughters  of  my  city. 
 
 52  Mine  enemies  chased  me  sore,  like  a  bird, 
 "  without  cause. 
 
 53  They  have  cut  off  my  life  '  in  the  dun- 
 geon, and  '  cast  a  stone  upon  me. 
 
 54  '  M'aters  flowed  over  mine  head  ;   then 
 
 1)  c. 
 
 r-ir.  Ssg. 
 
 a  I«.  &(1-  6. 
 
 Mat.  S.  39. 
 /.  Pb,  94.  11. 
 
 c  Rze  ^.  II. 
 Heb.  12.111. 
 
 kU  kvurl. 
 
 [I  Or,  a  iiipr- 
 
 dilab.  1.  13 
 II  Or,  teellt 
 
 e  Ps.33.  9. 
 
 /Job  2.  10. 
 
 Is.  45.7. 
 
 Amos  3.  6. 
 S  Pro.  19,  3, 
 II  Or,  m«r- 
 
 h  Mic.  7.  9 
 i  Ps.  80.  i. 
 
 m  ver.  o. 
 .;  1  Cor.  4.13. 
 
 p  Is.  ei    17 
 Jer.  49   43 
 
 7  Is.  51.  19. 
 
 r  Jer.  4.l9.Ji 
 9. 1  &14  17. 
 cb.  2.  II. 
 
 I  Heb.  my 
 
 II  Ori  more 
 than  alt. 
 
 u  Ps    35.  7, 
 19.  &  69.  *- 
 !t(  109.  3.  & 
 119.   101. 
 
 r  Jer.  37.  IB. 
 fc  3^.6.9,10 
 
 t/  Pail.  ti.  17. 
 
 ;  Ps  69.  2.  & 
 \2i.  4,5. 
 
 ■  P*.  31  '.'?. 
 Is  lis  MM  I 
 ver.  13- 
 
 -  Vh  130.  I. 
 Jrtiiah  ■>  -2, 
 c  Ps  3  4.  »c 
 6  S.  I\\s  f, 
 ft  60.  19.  .-. 
 116.  I. 
 /  Jiiin   4  8. 
 
 ■  Ps.  3:..  I. 
 Jer.  51    30, 
 
 /Ps,  71    23, 
 ^  P..  0,  1.  & 
 
 i  Pb,  139  2. 
 h  ver,  14, 
 
 ;  Ps.  2S,  4. 
 See  Jer,  II, 
 2(1,  2  Tim, 
 4,  14 
 
 II  Or,  oitli- 
 
 mT)eu-25.l9. 
 Jer,  10  II- 
 >i  Ps,  8.  3. 
 
 h  Is.  30  11 
 Jer.  19,  I 
 2  C.-r,  4. 
 
 ■  See  ch. 
 II,  12. 
 
 ^Job  at.  8 
 II  Or, 
 miq'tity. 
 
 J  Gen  19  : 
 
 "  I  said,  I  am  cut  off. 
 
 55  f  I"  I  called  upon  thy  name,  O  Lord,  out 
 of  the  low  dungeon. 
 
 56  "  Thou  hast  heard  my  voice  :  hide  not 
 thine  ear  at  my  breathing,  at  my  cry. 
 
 57  Thou  "^  drewest  near  in  the  day  that  I 
 called  upon  tliee :  thou  saidst.  Fear  not. 
 
 58  O  Lord,  thou  hast  "  pleaded  the  causes  of 
 my  soul  ;  ''thou  hast  redeemed  my  life. 
 
 59  O  Lord,  thou  hast  seen  my  wrong  :  ^judge 
 thou  my  cause. 
 
 60  Thou  hast  seen  all  their  vengeance  and 
 all  their  '•imaginations  against  me. 
 
 61  Thou  hast  heard  their  reproach,  O  Lord, 
 and  all  their  imaginations  against  me  ; 
 
 62  The  lips  of  those  that  rose  up  against  me, 
 and  their  device  against  me  all  the  day. 
 
 63  Behold  their  'sitting  down,  and  their 
 rising  up  ;  'I  am  their  musick. 
 
 64  If '  Render  unto  them  a  reconipeuce,  O 
 Lord,  according  to  the  work  of  their  hands. 
 
 65  Give  them  ||  sorrow  of  heart,  thy  curse 
 unto  them. 
 
 66  Persecute  and  destroy  them  in  auger 
 ""from  under  the  "heavens  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.   IV. 
 
 1  Zionhewaihlli  her  pitiful  esUtU'.  13  Site  confesseth 
 tier  sins.  21  Edom  is  threatened,  22  Zion  is  com- 
 forted, 
 
 XTOW  is  the  gold  become  dim!  how  is  the 
 -*--•-  most  fine  gold  clianged  !  the  stones  of  the 
 sanctuary  are  poured  out  'in  the  top  of  every 
 street. 
 
 2  The  precious  sons  of  Zion,  comparable  to 
 fine  gold,  how  are  they  esteemed  ''  as  earthen 
 pitchers,  the  work  of  the  hands  of  the  potter! 
 
 3  Even  the  ||  sea  monsters  draw  out  the 
 breast,  they  give  suck  to  their  young  ones:  the 
 daughter  of  my  people  is  become  cruel,  '  like 
 the  ostriches  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 4  ''  The  tongue  of  the  sucking  child  cleaveth 
 to  the  roof  of  his  mouth  for  thirst:  "^  the  young 
 children  ask  bread,  and  no  man  breaketh  it 
 unto  them. 
 
 5  They  that  did  feed  delicately  are  desolate 
 in  the  streets  :  they  that  were  brouglit  up  in 
 scarlet  ''embrace  dunghills. 
 
 6  For  the  ||punishment  of  the  iuitiuity  of  the 
 daughter  of  my  people  is  greater  than  the  pu- 
 nishment of  the  .sin  of  Sodom,  that  was  ^  over- 
 
 hope' — Poole.  34.  To  rntsh,  as  men  do,  in  tyranny  and  malice. — 
 
 Blayney.  35.  To  turn  aside  the  right  of  a  man  before  the  face  of  the 
 most  High — 
 
 *  To  tarn  aside  the  judgment  of  a  man  in  the  sight  of  a  superior.' 
 
 Boothr.,  as  Bla. 
 
 To  make  a  man  lose  his  rigid  because  one  of  the  higher  orders  opposes 
 him;  and  'before  the  face  of  the  Most  High,'  that  is,  in  a  court  of  jns. 
 tice,  where  God  is  ever  considered  to  he  present. — Clarke.  38.  Efit 
 and  good?  '  do  not  calamities,  as  well  as  prosperity,  come  from  God's 
 will  and  disposal?'  (see  Isa.  xlv.  ~ -.  Amos,  iii.  6.)  —  Preli.  Lowth. 
 39.  A  Iwing  man  complain,  ^c,  for  he  may  still  seek  and  find  mercy. — 
 Clarke.  51.  Affecteth,  or  'preys  upon.' — Preb.  Lnwlh.  52.  Chased 
 me  —  the  prophet  here  begins  to  celebrate  his  own  deliverance. 
 53.  Dungeon—see  Jer.  x.\xviii.  6.        54,  Flawed  over  mine  head,  a  me- 
 
 taphor from  one  nearly  drowned,  denoting  imminent  danger  and  dis- 
 tress, (see  Ps.  Ixrx.  1,  2  ;  cxxiv.  4,  5,1 — Bta.  56.  Breathing,  or  'sigh- 
 ing.'— Preb. Lowth.  6l .  Heard  their  reproach,  '  the  men  that  obstructed 
 my  ministry,  cast  me  into  prison,  and  sought  my  life.' — Sut.  6fi.  Per. 
 secute.  'thou  wilt  pursue  them  with  de.'^truction.'  These  are  all  de. 
 claratory,  not  imprecatory. — Clarke,  so  Bla. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  3.  Sen  vtonsters,  '  wliales.' — Jarrhi,  P'lelt.  Phocae,  or 
 sea  calves,  remarkable  for  tenderly  suckling  their  y<iung. — Scrip.  Itliis. 
 The  word  r^ri  signifies  all  large  and  cruel  creatures,  whether  atjuatic 
 or  terrcstri  al,  and  need  not  here  be  restrained  to  the  former  sort. — 
 A.  Clarke.  Daughter — become  cruel,  unnatural  to  her  offspring,  and 
 even  feeding  upon  them, — So  Prtb.  Lowth.  Like  the  ostriches — see 
 Job,  xxxix.  14,  l6,  notes.  5.  Embrace  dunghills,  lie  on  them,  instead 
 of  theii  scarlet  carpets  and  couches. — Bla.  6.  Is  greater,  by  long 
 siege  and  famine,  while  Sodom  was  at  once  destroyed. — Preb.  Lowth, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  Let  the  afHicted  learn  from 
 this  chapter — I.  That  God  will  chastise  his  people.  Let  tliera, 
 then,  behold  the  rod  in  his  hand,  and  alt  trials  as  under  the 
 control  of  his  infinite  power  and  wisdom. 
 
 IL  That  humiliti/  becomes  us  under  his  chastisemejtts.  How 
 dare  a  sinful  worm  remonstrate  with  God  for  his  dealings  ! 
 What  did  haughty  Pharaoh  gain  when  he  asked,  '  Who  is  the 
 Lord,  that  I  should  obey  him'?' 
 
 III.   Thai  he  mincfles  mercies  with  his  judgments.     Indeed  bis 
 very  judgments  are  mercies,  when  they  bring  our  souls  into  a 
 proper  frame,  and  make  us  lie  low  at  bis  footstool. 
 847 
 
 I\''.  That  when  Gnd  tries  us  we  ouyht  also  to  try  ourselves, — to 
 investigate  the  causes  of  his  dealings  in  the  failures  of  O'jr 
 own  hearts, — '  to  search  and  try  our  ways,  and  turn  again  to 
 the  Lord.' 
 
 \ .  That  past  dellcerances  should  inspire  us  with  ftture  hopes. 
 God's  painful  discipline  will  not  continue  when  it  has  an- 
 swered its  purpose.  '  He  doth  not  afflict  willingly,  nor  grieve 
 the  children  of  men  without  cause.'  Let  us  therefore  con- 
 tinue to  lift  up  our  eyes  to  him.  He  can  raise  us  from  our 
 dungeon,  and  yet  put  a  new  song  of  praise  into  our  mouths. 
 
Zion's  confession  oJ\ 
 
 LAMENTATIONS,  V. 
 
 Her  pitiful  complaint  to  God. 
 
 thrown  as  in  a  moment,  and  no  hands  stayed 
 on  her. 
 
 7  Her  Nazarites  were  purer  than  snow,  they 
 were  wliiter  than  milk,  they  were  more  ruddy 
 in  body  than  rubies,  their  polishing  was  of 
 sapphire  : 
 
 8  Their  visage  is  f ''  blacker  than  a  coal  ;  they 
 are  not  known  in  the  streets  :  '  their  skin  cleav- 
 eth  to  their  bones  ;  it  is  withered,  it  is  become 
 like  a  stick. 
 
 9  They  that  be  slain  with  the  sword  are 
 better  than  they  that  he  slain  with  hunger:  for 
 these  t  pine  away,  stricken  through  for  want 
 o/"the  fruits  of  the  field. 
 
 10  '  The  hands  of  the  '  pitiful  women  have 
 .sodden  tlieir  own  children  :  they  were  their 
 "  meat  in  the  destruction  of  the  daughter  of 
 my  people. 
 
 11  The  Lena  hath  accomplished  his  fury; 
 "  he  hath  poured  out  his  tierce  anger,  and 
 °  hath  kindled  a  fire  in  Zion,  and  it  hath  de- 
 voured the  foundations  thereof. 
 
 I'2  The  kings  of  the  earth,  and  all  the  inha- 
 bitants of  the  world,  would  not  have  believed 
 that  the  adversary  and  the  enemy  should  have 
 entered  into  the  gates  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 13  H  ''  For  the  sins  of  her  prophets,  and  the 
 iniquities  of  her  priests, ''  that  have  shed  the 
 blood  of  the  just  in  the  midst  of  her, 
 
 14  They  have  wandered  as  l)lind  men  in  the 
 streets,  'they  have  polluted  themselves  with 
 blood,  II  'so  that  men  could  not  touch  their 
 garments. 
 
 15  They  cried  unto  them.  Depart  ye  ;  ||  it  is 
 '  unclean  ;  depart,  depart,  touch  not  :  when 
 they  fled  away  and  wandered,  they  said  among 
 the  heathen.  They  shall  no  more  sojourn  there. 
 
 16  The  II  anger  of  the  Lord  hath  divided 
 them  ;  he  will  no  more  regard  them  :  "  they 
 respected  not  the  persons  of  the  priests,  they 
 favoured  not  the  elders. 
 
 17  As  for  us,  "our  eyes  as  yet  failed  for  our 
 
 it'irkfr  than 
 
 A  ch.  5.  lu. 
 Joel  2.  6 
 Niih.  S.  10. 
 
 ■  Ps   lui.  a 
 
 )  Heb./o. 
 
 k  ch.  9.  20. 
 1  Is.  49.  lb 
 
 m  Deu.  28. 
 57.  2  Kin. 6, 
 29. 
 
 .  Deu.  32.22. 
 Jer.  21.  n. 
 
 p.I<T.  .1.  SI. 
 K[  (>.  IS.  ft 
 14.  U.  &23 
 11,21.  F.ic. 
 22.  26,  a<, 
 Zeph.  3.  .]. 
 
 q  Mat.  23.31, 
 37. 
 
 r  Jcr.  2.  »1. 
 
 II  Or,  i*;i  that 
 Urn/  mild 
 not  but 
 
 >  Num.  19. 
 
 1(1. 
 Il  Or,  »r 
 
 l',M»fed. 
 
 I  Lov.  IS. 45. 
 
 II  Or,/icr. 
 «  ch.  S.  12. 
 »2  Kin.  21. 
 
 7-  le  20.  5 
 Xr  .30.  0,  7. 
 .Icr.  37.  7. 
 Ejc.  2<t.lfi 
 
 I  -2  Kin.  S5. 
 
 4,  5. 
 
 V  Ezi>k.7.  % 
 
 :',  <i   Amos 
 
 S    2. 
 
 ;  D.-U.  28.40 
 
 Jei.  I.  I.S. 
 
 b  Jcr.  52.  9 
 Eie.  12-  IS 
 &  19.  i,  8, 
 
 c  Like 
 
 Eocles.11.9- 
 d  Jer.  25.  15, 
 
 16.21. 
 
 Obad.  10. 
 
 In.  40.  2. 
 Or,  TliiHs 
 iniquity. 
 
 f  I'S.  137,  7. 
 
 11  Or,  CTfw 
 thee  raplipi 
 fat  tht/  lint 
 
 Pi.  79.  4 
 
 c  Pb.  79.  1. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 c,,..,thfo, 
 
 dDeu'.M.W, 
 Jer.  2s.  II 
 lHcb.f*/,..,.r 
 
 jttrtfcnled. 
 cGcii.  21.2. 
 
 Jer.  50.  15 
 /■  Ilrts.  12.  1 . 
 5.1cr.  SI.29. 
 
 V.rA.  19-2. 
 k  G(.n. 12.13 
 
 Zc.rh.  1.  3 
 I  Nch.  5,  15 
 
 vain  help  :  in  our  watching  we  have  watched 
 for  a  nation  that  could  not  save  us. 
 
 18  •  They  hunt  our  steps,  that  we  cannot  go 
 in  our  streets  :  our  end  is  near,  our  days  are 
 fulfilled  ;  for  ''  our  end  is  come. 
 
 19  Our  persecutors  are  ''swifter  than  the 
 eagles  of  the  heaven  :  they  pursued  us  upon 
 the  mountains,  they  laid  wait  for  us  in  the 
 wilderness. 
 
 20  The  °  breath  of  our  nostrils,  the  anointed 
 of  the  Lord,  ^  was  taken  in  their  pits,  of  whom 
 we  .said.  Under  his  shadow  we  shall  live  among 
 the  heathen. 
 
 21  1  '^  Rejoice  and  be  glad,  O  daughter  of 
 Edoni,  that  dwellest  in  the  land  of  Uz  ;  ''  the 
 cup  also  shall  pass  through  unto  thee  :  thou 
 shalt  be  drunken,  and  shall  make  thyself  naked. 
 
 22  f  *■  II  The  punishment  of  thine  iniquity  is 
 accomplished,  O  daughter  of  Zion  ;  he  will  no 
 more  carry  thee  away  into  captivity  :  'he  will 
 visit  thine  iniquity,  O  daugliter  of  Edom  ;  lie 
 will  11  discover  thy  sins. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 A  pitiful  comjilaint  of  Zion  in  prayer  unto  God. 
 
 ^  13  EMEMBER,  O  Loud,  what  is  come  upon 
 ■*-^  us  :   consider,  and  behold  ^  our  reproach. 
 
 2  "  Our  inheritance  is  turned  to  strangers,  our 
 houses  to  ahcns. 
 
 3  We  are  orphans  and  fatherless,  our  mothers 
 are  as  widows. 
 
 4  We  have  drunken  our  water  for  money ; 
 our  wood  fis  sold  unto  us. 
 
 5  '^  t  Our  'iccks  are  under  persecution  :  we 
 labour,  and  have  no  rest. 
 
 6  ^  We  have  given  tlie  hand  ^  to  the  Egypt- 
 ians, and  to  tile  Assyrians,  to  be  satisfied  witli 
 bread. 
 
 7  ^  Our  fathers  have  sinned,  and  ^  are  not ; 
 and  we  have  borne  their  iniquities. 
 
 8  '  Servants  have  ruled  over  us  :  there  is  none 
 that  dolh  deliver  us  out  of  their  hand. 
 
 7.  Knznrites,  such  as  separated  themselres,  by  a  reli§rions  vow,  and  by 
 often  washing.  Sec,  were  as  here  stated. — So  Gill.  We  are,  probably, 
 rather  to  undcrstaDd  here  jiersoDs  of  rank  and  tlistincrion  separated 
 from  others  in  dignity.— So  Poole,  Bla.^  Du>-ell.  T13  docs  not  always 
 signify  a  person  separated  under  a  religious  vow,  but  fiunictimes  signi- 
 fies what  is  chief  or  eminent.  It  is  applied  to  Joseph,  Gen.  xUx.  26. 
 Supphire,  descriptive  of  the  veins  in  a  fine  comple.iion. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 8.  Blacker,  §re.,  their  complexion  is  spoilt  by  famine,  ^c,  so  as  to  look 
 dry  and  withered. — Preb.  Lowth.  V*.  Not  have  beHevuI,  fnv  it  was  so 
 well  fortified  by  nature  and  art. — A.  Clarke.  \4.  As  blind  men,  when 
 they  fled  for  their  lives  they  knew  not  which  way  to  go.  Pnt/utrd 
 themselves,  became  stained  with  blood,  and  so  legally  polluted,  from 
 the  many  dead  carcases,  (see  Num.  xi\.  l6  ) — Preb.  Lowth.  They  mis- 
 used and  killed  the  proptiets  of  the  Lord,  (SChron.  xxxvi.  l6,)  and  pol- 
 luted the  sancluary,  which  pollutions  could  only  he  purged  by  the 
 blood  of  the  culprits.— Sh^.  The  sense  is,  that  the  prophets  atid  priests 
 being  spiritually  blind,  wandered  up  and  down  the  streets  like  blind 
 men,  pollutine:  themse!ves  with  blood,  either  the  blond  of  the  children, 
 which  they  slew,  or  the  just  men  mentioned  ver.  13. — Poole.  15.  T/iri/ 
 cried,  ffc. — 
 
 '  Depart,  ye  unclean,  men  cried  to  them  ;  depart,  depart,  touch  not ; 
 When  they  tied  and  wandered,  men  said  among  the  nations,  "They 
 shall  not  sojourn.*' ' 
 
 As  they  had  been  so  guilty  of  shedding  blood,  even  heathens  refused 
 them  an  asylum. — Boothr.  ifi.  They  respected  not,  ^c,  either  alludes 
 tn  the  sin  tif  the  false  prophets  and  priests,  in  despising  the  true  pro- 
 phcts  and  goiily  ciders,  or  to  the  nations  among  whom  they  were  dis- 
 persed, who  would  pay  no  respect  to  their  sacred  characters  or  age. — 
 O'W.  17.  Efjes— failed,  looking  in  vain  from  the  watch  tower  for  aid 
 from  Egypt.— Wj7.  Ip.  Swifter  than  the  engles—com\i.  Deut.  xxviii. 
 
 49,  with  Jer.  iv.  I3;    Hi.  s.—Preb.  Lowth.  20.  The  breath  of  our 
 
 nostrils,  the  anointed,  fyc.,  Zedekiah,  the  last  of  the  kings  of  Judah.  the 
 preserver  of  the  hves  and  liberties  of  the  people,  as  they  hoped,  hut  he 
 
 fell  into  the  snares  of  the  enemy.  Live  among  the  heathen,  at  least, 
 safe  amongst  surrounding  nations,  and  not  liable  to  he  carried  captive. 
 — Gill.  21.  Rejoice,  this  is  ironical,  for  the  Edomites  had,  with  a 
 malicious  joy,  exalted  over  the  ruin  of  their  brethren  the  Jews,  (see 
 Ps.  e.'sxxvii.  7;  Obad.  10— 12.J— floo(/ir. 
 
 Chap.  V. —  4.  Drunken  our  zvnter  for  monei/,  'weboupht  it  of  our 
 foreign  rulers,  although  we  were  the  natural  proprietors  of  the  wells.* 
 — Tatjlor's  Frag,  to  Ciil.  They  who,  in  their  own  land,  had  wells  of 
 water  of  their  own,  were  now  obliged  to  pay  for  it  to  drink, — Oill. 
 From  the  frequent  mention  by  Jeremiah  of  suffering  from  thirst,  a 
 drought  at  this  time  prevailed  ;  the  Chaldeans,  therefore,  probably  sold 
 the  water  to  the  people. — Pict.  Bib.  Our  wood  is  sold  to  us,  the  woods 
 of  Israel  were,  from  ancient  times,  common.  But  it  was  not  so  in  the 
 country  of  their  captivity  ;  or,  if  this  respects  those  who  remained  with 
 Gedaliah,  as  ver.  9  insinuates,  it  signifies  that  their  conquerors  pos- 
 sessed themselves  of  these  woods,  and  would  allow  no  fuel  to  he  cut 
 down  without  leave;  and  that  leave  was  not  to  be  obtained  without 
 money.  It  is  certain  that,  presently  after  the  return  from  captivity, 
 timber  was  not  to  be  obtained  without  leave. — Har.  The  Hindoos  con- 
 sider it  a  great  hardship  if  they  are  at  any  time  obliged  to  buy  wood. — 
 Ward.         5.  Our  necks  are  under  persecution — 
 
 'The  yoke  is  on  our  neck,  ^vc  are  pursued, 
 We  labour  and  have  no  rest.* 
 
 They  were  under  the  yoke  like  a  steer,  ever  followed  by  the  driver, 
 labouring,  and  sufFered  to  have  no  rest. — Boothr.  6.  Given  the  hand, 
 made  themselves  slaves  and  tributaries,  which  was  done  by  giving  the 
 hand,  a  form  used  in  an  oath  or  covenant. — Preh.  Lowth.  Those  who 
 had  escaped  the  general  massacre  were  obliged,  for  support,  to  become 
 servants  or  slaves  to  the  one  or  the  other  of  the  people  mentioned. — 
 Bnntlir.  ".  We  have  borne,  Sfc — the  whole  load  of  national  guilt, 
 which  hatl  been  accumulating  for  ages,  lay  with  incumbent  weight  on 
 that  generation  df  Israel.  8.  Servants,  even  the  servants  of  the 
 
 Chaldeans  domineered  over  the  captive  worshippers  of  God. — Scott. 
 
 Keflfctions    ok    Chap.    IV In    reading   this   cbaptev  God's  people  a7id  his  enemies  f     The  former  were  not  utterly  cut 
 
 let  us  reflect — I.  How  dreadful  is  the  calamittj  of  famine!     How  ofl^  but  for  tbe  latter  there  was  no  restoration.    If  God's  people 
 
 thankful,  then,  should  we  be  for  peace  and  plenty,  and  it  be-  sin,  they  shall  suffer;  but  his  enemies  sball  be  utterly  de- 
 
 hovP3   us  to  make  a  serious  and  grateful  acknowledgment  to  stroyed.     Let  us  desire  to  be  cliastened  of  the  Lord  rather 
 
 God  for  bis  daily  bounties  !  than  to  be  condemned  with  the  world. 
 
 11.  Jlow  trifle  a  difference  is  there  between    the   treatment   of 
 848 
 
Zton's  pitiful  comphiiul 
 
 LAMENTATIONS,  V. 
 
 hy  prayer  lu  Gud, 
 
 9  We  gat  our  bread  with  tlic  peril  of  our 
 lives  because  of  the  sword  of  the  wilderness. 
 
 10  Our  '  skin  was  black  like  an  oven  because 
 of  the  II  terrible  famine. 
 
 1 1  '  They  ravished  the  women  in  Zion,  and 
 the  maids  in  the  cities  of  Judah. 
 
 \-2  Princes   are   hanged  up  by  their   hand: 
 "'  tlie  faces  of  elders  were  not  honoured. 
 
 13  They  took  the  young  men  "to  grind,  and 
 tlie  children  fell  under  tlie  wood. 
 
 14  The  elders  have  ceased  from  the  gate,  the 
 young  men  from  tlieir  musick. 
 
 15  The  joy  of  our  heart  is  ceased  ;  our  dance 
 is  turned  into  mourning. 
 
 16  °  t  The  crown  is  fallen  from  our  head  : 
 
 IJ  c 
 
 11.  C 
 
 cir.  583. 
 
 cir.  5SS. 
 
 P  f h.  1 .  22. 
 
 k  Job  Ril-  SO. 
 
 7  Ps.  6.  7. 
 
 Vs.  119  tW. 
 
 ch   2.  11. 
 
 ch.  4.  8. 
 
 (1  Or,  Icrrnri, 
 
 or,  iliiTjna. 
 
 r  Ps.  &   7  & 
 
 I  Is.  13,  IG. 
 
 10.  IC,  &  L«l. 
 
 Zccli.  14.2. 
 
 III.  ■k  w  •>. 
 
 &    lM->.    1^. 
 
 m  Is.  47.  6. 
 
 11.3.  13. 
 
 '1  JiiJ<?.  15. 
 
 Hiib    \.VZ. 
 .  Ps.  15.  t. 
 
 f  Ps.  13.  1. 
 
 f  Hi-b.  f 
 
 ln,gtl,  ,./ 
 
 dnyt  i 
 
 0  Job  19.  9. 
 
 H  Ps.BU.  3,7, 
 
 rs   S9.  S9. 
 
 19.  Jor.  31. 
 
 t  Hel..  Tl.e 
 
 18. 
 
 troion  iif 
 
 \\Ov.F..Tv:iU 
 
 our  hffid  ii 
 
 th.X,    ••l/PTllf 
 
 falten. 
 
 rrjta  H«  i? 
 
 woe  unto  us,  that  we  liave  sinned  ! 
 
 17  For  this  ''our  lieart  is  faint;  ''for  the.se 
 thini/s  our  eyes  are  dim. 
 
 18  Because  of  the  mountain  of  Zion,  which 
 is  desolate,  the  foxes  walk  upon  it. 
 
 19  Thou,  O  Lord, '  remainest  forever  :  '  thy 
 throne  from  generation  to  generation. 
 
 20  '  Wherefore  dost  thou  forget  us  for  ever, 
 and  forsake  us  f  so  long  time  V 
 
 •21  "  Turn  thou  us  unto  thee,  O  Lord,  and 
 we  shall  be  turned  ;  renew  our  days  as  of 
 old. 
 
 22  II  But  thou  hast  utterly  rejected  us  ;  thou 
 art  very  wroth  against  us. 
 
 g.  Gat  our  Siearf  u'iW  Wie  pwiV,  ^c— on  account  of  their  weak  and  tie-    up  by  Hieir  hands  as  common  slaves. 
 
 -Rn/i. 
 
 13.  To   urimt,    d.. 
 
 fenceless  state,  the  people  were  continually  exposed,  while  following    women's  work,  (see  Exod.  xi.  5,  note.)  and  slaves',  (see  Judg.  xvi.  21 
 
 their  neces.-ary  business,  to  the  incursions  of  Arabian  freebooters,  who 
 
 might  not  improperly  be  styled,  'the  sword  of  the  wilderness.' — Blu. 
 
 12.  Their  hand,  i.e.,  the  enemy's  ham\.—Preb.  Lowth.    'By  their  own 
 
 hand,'  that  is,  tied  by  the  hands  and  hoisted  up.    This  is  a  common 
 
 punishment  in  the  east  for  slaves  and  refractory  children.    It  shews    thou  altujjether  cast  us  ofT 
 
 the  lamentable  condition  of  the  princes  of  Babylon,  who  were  hanged 
 
 noie.)— Ed.     ChildretifeU,  were  made  to  carry  burdens,  under  which 
 they  fainted. — Pyeb.  Lfiivth.  14.  Etderx  hure  caused  from  the  f^nte, 
 
 no  longer  sit  there  to  administer  justice. — Bht.      18.  fo.res— see  judg;. 
 XV.  4  ;  Cant.  ii.  15,  notes.  22.  But  thou  hmt  nttet-lii,  SfC,  '  for  wilt 
 
 Boothr.,  as  Jun.,  and  Trem, 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    V.  —  We    are   here   reminded,  sorrows  at  a  throne  of  grace. 
 
 I.    That  sin  is  the  ciatse  of  suffering.      It  will  always  be  found.  Ml.   That  God's  uncham/eableness  is  a  f/reat  source  nf  comfort, 
 
 on  serious  examination,"  to  'he  so.     Let  us,  tben,  abhor  sin  as  nmidst  all  the  chamicaUe  scenes  to  which  tee  are  liahk.    !•  riends, 
 
 our  bitterest  enemy.  and  fortune,  all  may  change  ;  but  God  cbangrs  not.     And  in 
 
 II.   That  prat/er  is  tlie  best  resource  for  sufferers.     We  may  whatever  slate  we  are,  this  is  a  ground  of  unshaken  comfort- 
 pour  out  all  our  souls  before  God.     We  may  particularize  our  '.lesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  to-ilay,  and  for  ever.' 
 
 THE    BOOK 
 
 THE    PROPHET    EZEKIEL 
 
 [JpaEMiAU  and  Ezcklcl  prophesied  at  the  same  time,  and  of  the  same  events  This  prophet  w.is  c.irried  c.iptive  to  B,nbylon, 
 with  Jeboiakim,  king  of  Jud.ib,  and  was  stationed  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Cliebar,  which  falls  into  the  Euphrates. 
 Ezekiel  w.is  a  priest  as  well  as  Jeremiah,  but  of  a  ditlerent  family — see  cli.ip.  i.  3.  He  began  to  prophesy  in  the  fifth 
 year  of  his  captivity,  and  exercised  the  prophetic  office  about  twenty  years.] 
 
 CHAP.  L 
 
 1  The  time  of  EzekieVs  prophecy  at  Chehar.  4  His 
 vision  of  four  cherulnms,  lo  of  the  four  wheels^  26 
 and  of  the  gUiri/  of  God. 
 
 TVrOW  it  came  to  pass  in  the  thirtieth  year, 
 •*-*  in  the  fourth  month,  in  the  fifth  day  of  the 
 month,  as  I  was  among  the  f  captives  "  by  the 
 river  of  Chebar,rta<  ^  tlie  heavens  were  opened, 
 and  I  saw  '  visions  of  God. 
 
 2  In  the  fifth  day  of  the  month,  which  was 
 the  fifth  year  of''  king  Jehoiachin's  captivity, 
 
 3  The  word  of  the  Lono  came  expressly  unto 
 t  Ezekiel  the  priest,  the  son  of  Buzi,  in  the 
 land  of  the  Chaldeans  by  the  river  Chebar ; 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  595. 
 
 cir.  59 J. 
 
 t  1  Kin    IS 
 
 40.  2  Kin  3. 
 
 13.  cli  3.M, 
 
 22.  &8    1  & 
 
 40    1. 
 
 /Jer   23   K' 
 
 »<  25.  :i2 
 
 ^  Jer.  I.I4.& 
 
 t  Heb   rap- 
 
 4.  C.  «c(i.  1. 
 
 tnnlv- 
 
 t  nvb.colch- 
 
 a  ver.  3. 
 
 u.g  iWlf. 
 
 ch.3.  15,23. 
 
 h  Rev.  '1.  6, 
 
 &  I  ij.  15,21), 
 
 fcc. 
 
 22.  ft  43.  3. 
 
 icli.  10.  8, 
 
 I>  So  Mai.  S, 
 
 &c. 
 
 IC.  Acts  7. 
 
 .'6.  &  10.  11. 
 
 oli.in.11,21. 
 
 Kcv.  la  II. 
 
 c  tb.  8.  3 
 
 d  2  Kin.  24. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ilraifflit  fool. 
 
 Jehe:kel. 
 
 and  ^  tlie   hand   of  tlie   Lord  was  there  upon 
 iiini. 
 
 4  t  And  I  looked,  and,  hehold,  ^a  whirlwind 
 came  ^  out  of  the  nortli,  a  great  cloud,  and  a 
 fire  t  infolding  itself,  and  a  brigiitness  was 
 about  it,  and  out  of  the  midst  thereof  as  the 
 colour  of  amber,  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire. 
 
 5  ^^  Also  out  of  the  midst  thereof  rome  the 
 likeness  of  four  living  creatures.  And  *  this 
 was  their  appearance  ;  they  had  "^  the  likeness 
 of  a  man. 
 
 6  And  every  one  liad  four  faces,  and  every 
 one  had  four  wings. 
 
 7  And  their  feet' H'e?'f?t straight  feet;  and  the 
 sole  of  their  feet  ivas  like  the  sole  of  a  calf's 
 
 Notes  on  Cha?.  I.—  I.  In  the  thirtieth  year— this  is  interpreted 
 various  ways.  The  Jews  were  accustooed  to  reckon  time  from  re- 
 markable events.  Heuce  tlie  conjectures  are,  that  this  date  was — 
 (i.)  From  the  finding  of  thelong-Iostcopy  of  the  law  of  Moses,  (2  Kings, 
 xxii.  8,)  which  tilled  the  land  with  joy,  when  the  passover  was  cele- 
 brated anew,  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  Josiah  ;  see  the  account  of  the 
 covenant,  2  Kings,  x.xiii.  3. — Sut..  as  Cftald.,  Usher,  Prid.,  CaL,  Lowth. 
 (ii.)  From  the  time  of  the  prophet's  birth,  who  was  now  tliirty  years  of 
 age,  and  just  entered  on  his  priestly  office.— Ho«6.  (iii.)  From  the 
 commencement  of  the  reign  of  Nahupolassar,  the  father  of  Nebnchad- 
 nezziir ;  this  was  the  twellth  year  of  tlie  captivity,  reckoning  from  the 
 third  of  Jehoiakim.  which  was  the  first  captivity,  andfrom  whence  the 
 seventy  years  are  to  be  reckoned,  and  ali-i  the  twelfth  nf  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar's reign,  who  reigned  with  him.— I'l/r.,  GUI,  Bnuthr.  Chtbar, 
 now  called  Khabnur.  the  only  stream  of  tiote  that  enters  the  Eu- 
 phrates, which  it  does  from  Mesopotamia. — Pict.  Bih.  Wfrn  opeiu-d, 
 by  faith.  —  St.  Jerome.  2.    Fifth  year   of  Jehoiachin's   captiviti/, 
 
 thirteenth  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  reign,   for  Jehoiachin  was  captured 
 849 
 
 in  the  eighth,  (2  Kings,  xsiv.  \2.)—Preb.  Lowth.  3.  The  hand  of  the 
 Loid.  the  gift  and  word  of  prophecy,  so  expressed.— Gi//.  It  signifies 
 that  Jehovah  endued  hiro  with  such  energy,  that  he  would  do  or  speak 
 whiitever  Jehovah  willed. —Boo//ii'.  Sue  1  Kings,  xviii.  46,  note.  4.. 'I 
 tthiriti-ind,  most  grievous  judgments.— i*oo/e.  Out  of  the  north,  from 
 the  Chaldeans.  — AVifco/Hf.  See  Jer.  i.  13;  iv.  6,  notes.  A  greut 
 cloud,  Nebuchadnezzar's  army.— Su  some.  The  whirlwind,  the  clnud, 
 anil  the  fire,  were  similar  to  the  appt^arances  on  Sinai,  and  intimated 
 that  the  same  God  was  coming  to  inflict  punishment  on  its  trans- 
 gressors.— Scott.  5.  Four  lityini^  creatures,  emblems  of  angels,  em- 
 ployed in  thefourquartersofthe  world.— A■co^^  Nutangcls  are  meant, 
 but  ministers,  (see  Rev.iv.  6,  7,  6,)  see  ver.  22,  where  the  firmament  is 
 over  them,  whcnas,  angels  are  in  the  third  heaven.— Gi//.  nf  n  man. 
 being  intelligent  and  rational.  6.  Four  fiircs,  marking  their  endow- 
 ments. Witigi:,  emblematical  of  celerity  in  obeying  the  Divine  com- 
 manils.— Sfoif.  7-  Straight  feet,  like  a  man's,— i'r(*6.  Lou'th  ;  mark- 
 ing .simplicity  and  uprightness.  Calf's  foot,  a  clean  animal,  emblem 
 (if  piiritv.  Burnished  brass,  denoting  superior  excellency  and  dignity. 
 5   y 
 
EzekieVs  vision  of  four  wheels,  and 
 
 EZEKIEL,  I. 
 
 of  the  glory  of  God. 
 
 foot :  and  they  sparkled  '  like   the  coiour  of 
 burnished  brass. 
 
 8  ""And  they  had  the  hands  of  a  man  under 
 their  wings  on  tlieir  four  sides  ;  and  they  four 
 had  their  faces  and  their  wings. 
 
 9  °  Their  wings  tvere  joined  one  to  another  ; 
 °  they  turned  not  when  they  went ;  they  went 
 every  one  straight  forward. 
 
 10  As  for  ■"  tlie  likeness  of  their  faces,  they 
 four  ■"  had  the  face  of  a  man, '  and  the  face  of  a 
 lion,  on  the  right  side  :  '  and  they  four  had  the 
 face  of  an  ox  on  the  left  side  ;  '  they  four  also 
 had  the  face  of  an  eagle. 
 
 1 1  Thus  were  their  fiices  :  and  their  wings 
 were  ||  stretched  upward  ;  two  wings  of  every 
 one  ivere  joined  one  to  another,  and  "  two  co- 
 vered their  bodies. 
 
 12  And  "they  went  every  one  straight  for- 
 ward :  '  whither  the  spirit  was  to  go,  they 
 went ;  and  ^  they  turned  not  when  they  went. 
 
 13  As  for  the  likeness  of  the  living  creatures, 
 their  appearance  it-as  like  burning  coals  of  fire, 
 °anrf  like  the  appearance  of  lamps:  it  went  np 
 and  down  among  the  living  creatures  ;  and  the 
 fire  was  bright,  and  out  of  the  fire  went  forth 
 lightning. 
 
 14  And  the  living  creatures  *■  ran  and  returned 
 '  as  the  appearance  of  a  flash  of  lightning. 
 
 15  t  Now  as  I  beheld  the  living  creatures, 
 behold  ''  one  wheel  upon  the  earth  by  the  liv- 
 ing creatures,  with  his  four  faces. 
 
 16  "The  appearance  of  the  wheels  and  their 
 work  was  '  lilie  unto  the  colour  of  a  beryl :  and 
 they  four  had  one  likeness  :  and  their  appear- 
 ance and  their  work  ivas  as  it  were  a  wheel  in 
 the  middle  of  a  wheel. 
 
 17  When  they  went,  they  went  upon  their 
 four  sides  :  ^  and  they  turned  not  when  they 
 went. 
 
 18  As  for  their  rings,  they  were  so  high  that 
 they  were  dreadful ;  and  their  ||  rings  iccre 
 ''  full  of  eyes  round  about  them  four. 
 
 19  And  'when  the  living  creatures  went,  the 
 wheels  went  by  them  :  and  when  the  living 
 creatures  were  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  the 
 wheels  were  lifted  up. 
 
 B,  c. 
 
 cir.  595. 
 
 /  Dan.  lu  6. 
 Rev.  1.  15 
 m  cli.  10.  18, 
 
 o  ver.  1?. 
 cb.  lU.  11. 
 
 p  See  Rev. 1, 
 
 7. 
 q  Nurn  2.10. 
 r  Num.  8.  3, 
 *  Nuin.S.ia 
 tSuxa   2.85. 
 
 [)  Or,  divided 
 »  Is.  6   2. 
 
 ver.  20 
 ver.  9.  17. 
 
 b  Zech  4.10, 
 e  Mat.'2V2;. 
 
 ecli.lO.  d,  10. 
 /■Dan.  10.  6, 
 
 II  Or,  Itrahri. 
 
 h  ch.  10.  19. 
 Zeoh.  1.  10, 
 i  ch.  10.  16, 
 
 Or,  ./;./.. 
 
 II  Or,  »/;./.. 
 
 nch.   10.  1. 
 
 o  Ch.  10.  5. 
 
 p  ch,  4X  2. 
 
 Dan.  10.  6. 
 
 Uev.  I.  15. 
 JJ..bS7.4,S. 
 
 Ps.  29.  .1,1. 
 
 Hi  63.  33. 
 
 I  Rev.  4.  3. 
 8i  10.  1. 
 
 20  '  Whithersoever  the  spirit  was  to  go,  tliey 
 went,  thither  was  their  spirit  to  go ;  and  the 
 wheels  were  lifted  up  over  agains  them  :  '  for 
 the  spirit  |{  of  the  living  creature  was  in  the 
 wheels. 
 
 21  ""  When  those  went,  these  went ;  and 
 when  those  stood,  these  stood  ;  and  when  those 
 were  lifted  up  from  the  earth,  the  wheels  were 
 lifted  up  over  against  them  :  for  the  spirit  ||  of 
 the  living  creature  was  in  the  wheels. 
 
 22  "  And  the  likeness  of  tlio  firmament  upon 
 the  heads  of  the  living  creature  was  as  the 
 colour  of  the  terrible  crystal,  stretched  forth 
 over  their  heads  above. 
 
 23  And  under  the  firmament  were  their  wings 
 straight,  the  one  toward  tlie  other :  every  one 
 had  two,  whicli  covered  on  this  side,  and  every 
 one  had  two,  which  covered  on  that  side,  their 
 bodies. 
 
 24  °  And  when  they  went,  I  heard  the  noise 
 of  their  wings,  ""like  the  noise  of  great  waters, 
 as  ''  the  voice  of  the  Almiglity,  the  voice  of 
 speech,  as  the  noise  of  an  host  :  when  they 
 stood,  they  let  down  their  wings. 
 
 25  And  there  was  a  voice  from  the  firmament 
 that  was  over  their  heads,  when  they  stood, 
 and  had  let  down  their  wings. 
 
 26  1  '  And  above  the  firmament  that  teas 
 over  their  heads  was  the  likeness  of  a  throne, 
 'as  the  appearance  of  a  sapphire  stone  :  and 
 upon  the  likeness  of  the  throne  teas  the  like- 
 ness as  the  appearance  of  a  man  above  upon 
 it. 
 
 27  '  And  I  saw  as  the  colour  of  amber,  as  the 
 appearance  of  fire  round  about  within  it,  from 
 the  appearance  of  his  loins  even  upward,  and 
 from  the  appearance  of  his  loins  even  down- 
 ward, I  saw  as  it  were  the  appearance  of  fire, 
 and  it  had  brightness  round  about. 
 
 28  "  As  the  appearance  of  the  bow  that  is  in 
 the  cloud  in  the  day  of  rain,  so  >i:as  the  ap- 
 pearance of  tlie  brightness  round  about.  "  This 
 was  the  appearance  of  the  likeness  of  the 
 glory  of  the  Lorb.  And  when  I  saw  it,  '  I 
 fell  upon  my  face,  and  I  heard  a  voice  of  one 
 that  spake. 
 
 9.  Hands  of  a  mnn,  marking  skilfulness  and  dexterity.  9.  Wings  were 
 joined,  denoting  their  perfect  unanimity. — Scott.  Turned  not,  nothing 
 diverted  them  from  fulfilling  God's  commands.— PreA.  Loit:th,^QNewc. 
 
 10.  A  man — see  ver.  5,  note.  A  lion,  intimating  boldness  and  force. 
 An  ox,  denoting  strength,  unwearied  diligence,  and  perseverance.  An 
 eagle,  denoting  spiritual  sagacity  and  heavenly  affections,  soaring  aloft. 
 
 11.  Stretched  upward,  in  token  of  proniptilude  to  e.xcicjse  their  Maker's 
 orders.  Covered  their  bodies,  denoting  con-^cious  imperfection  and 
 meanness  in  his  glorious  presence.  13.  Like  burning  coats,  ^c,  de- 
 noting ardent  zeal  and  love,  connected  with  knowledge  and  wisdom. 
 Went  up  and  doam,  miaht  intimate,  that  the  Fountain  of  Light  commu- 
 nicated to  them  severally,  as  he  pleased.  LiglUning,  emblem  of  the 
 terrible  effects  of  their  ministry  on  the  objects  of  Divine  vengeance,  or 
 of  their  velocity  in  duty. — Si-ott.  l6.  Wheels,  denoting  the  mysterious 
 dispensations  and  revolutions  of  providence. — Scott,  Newc.  A  wheel  in 
 the  middle,  ^c,  an  emblem  of  the  apparent  intricacy  of  God's  provi- 
 dential movements.  17.  Went  on  their  four  sides,  moved  steadilyin 
 their  proper  places. — Scott.  Turned  not,  never  went  backward,  tosig. 
 nify  that  Providence  does  nothing  in  vain,  but  always  accomplishes  its 
 end. — Prth.  Lowth.  18.  Rings,  ffc  circumference,  emblem  of  the 
 vast  designs  of  Providence. — Scott.  Full  of  ei/es,  appearing  like  nails, 
 keeping  on  the  spokes, — A.  Clarke  i  shewing  that  infinite  knowledge 
 and  wisdom  ordered  every   dispensation.  —  Scott.      20.  Spirit — they 
 
 went—the  Spirit  of  God  led  and  directed  them. — Gill.  Spirit — m  the 
 wheels,  they  were  instinct  with  a  vital  spirit,  alive. — A.  Clarke.  They 
 had  rrnn  rm, 'the  Spirit  of  life.'  Second  causes  ninve  not  of  them- 
 selves :  all  motions,  all  wheels,  are  subject  to  the  Spirit,  and  regulated 
 by  it.  2'2.  Crystal,  or  '  ice,'  rnp. — Greenhill,  so  Boothr.  Clear,  splen- 
 did, and  magnificent. — Scott.  T  errible,  dazzling  the  eyes  with  its  lustre. 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  Its  glory  might  make  it  terrible. — Greenhill.  This  ap- 
 pearance might  denote  that  the  ministry  of  angels  was  entirely  subor- 
 dinate, and  infinitely  inferior,  to  the  majesty  and  power  of  Qo^.— Scott. 
 21.  Noise  of  great  waters,  to  denote  the  terrible  judgments  coming  on 
 Jerusalem,  (comp.  chap,  xliii.  2;  Dan.  x.  6.)  — Preb.  Lowth,  To  give 
 an  idea  of  the  number  and  power  of  ministering  spirits. — Scott.  Applied 
 to  gospel  ministers,  it  shews  that  the  sound  of  the  Gospel  tht^  preach 
 is  heard  far  off,  even  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  (Rom.  x.  18.) — Gift. 
 Let  down  their  wings,  waiting  further  orders.  25.  A  voice,  of  ap- 
 proval, or  fresh  orders.  26.  Throne,  emblem  of  God's  universal  au- 
 thority. Sapphire,  exquisite  in  beauty  and  splendour. — Scott.  .■!/?- 
 pearance  of  a  man,  denoting  the  Eternal  ^on.~Scolt,  as  Bp.  Hall, 
 Newc,  and  Preb.  Lowth,  28.  The  bow,  a  well-known  emblem  of  the 
 covenant  of  grace,  representing  God's  mercy  and  covenanted  love  to 
 his  people,  as  harmonizing  with  his  awful  justice  and  holiness ;  and 
 That  his  kingdom  was  administered  with  reference  to  his  new  covenant. 
 —Scott,  as  Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  ok  Chap.  I.  —  I.  Let  us  admire  the  im- 
 mensitii  and  mac^nifcence  of  God's  providence.  These  wheels 
 reached  from  earth  to  heaven  ;  extending  to  all  the  works  and 
 ways  of  God. 
 
 II.  Here  is  a  display  of  infinite  wisdom  and  intelligence.  The 
 wheels  were  full  of  eyes.  AH  the  plans  of  the  Almighty  are 
 full  of  intelligence,  and  all  his  agents  are  under  Divine  guid- 
 ance. 
 
 III.  We  see  t/ie  absolute  irresistihiUli/  of  God's  providence. 
 
 850  .     J  f 
 
 The  wheels  went  straight  forward,  and  no  impediments  could 
 make  them  change  their  course. 
 
 IV.  We  may  remark  the  unity  and  liarmony  of  Divine  provu 
 deuce.  All  parts  of  this  machine  were  animated  with  the  same 
 spirit. 
 
 V.  The  intricate  complication  of  this  machinery,— as  '  a  wheel 
 within  a  wheel,'  as  Archbishop  Wewcome  and  others  explain 
 it,  consisting  of  rings  crossing  within  each  olher,  as  in  an 
 armillary  sphere,  whereby  they  could  move  with  equal  ease 
 
EzekieV'i  commission. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  II.,  III. 
 
 God  encourageth  him. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  EzehUVs  commission,     6  His  instruction.      9  The 
 roll  of  his  heavy  propheci/. 
 
 \  ND  he  said  unto  me,  Son  of  man, "  stand 
 -^  upon  thy  feet,  and  I  will  speak  unto 
 thee. 
 
 2  And  ''  the  spirit  entered  into  me  when  he 
 spake  unto  me,  and  set  me  upon  my  feet,  that 
 
 I  heard  liim  tliat  spake  unto  nie. 
 
 3  And  he  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  I  send 
 thee  to  the  children  of  Israel,  to  a  rebelhous 
 f  nation  that  hath  rebelled  against  me  :  '  they 
 and  their  fathers  have  transgressed  against  me, 
 even  unto  this  very  day. 
 
 4  ''  For  thei/  aix  f  impudent  children  and 
 stifFhearted.  I  do  send  thee  unto  them ;  and 
 thou  shall  say  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 5  "  And  they,  whether  they  will  hear,  or 
 whether  they  will  forbear,  (for  they  aie  a  re- 
 bellious house,)  yet  'shall  know  that  there 
 hath  been  a  prophet  among  them. 
 
 6  1i  And  thou,  son  of  man,  ^  be  not  afraid  of 
 them,  neither  be  afraid  of  their  words,  though 
 
 II  "  briers  and  thorns  be  with  thee,  and  thou 
 dost  dwell  among  scorpions  :  'be  not  afraid  of 
 their  words,  nor  be  dismayed  at  their  looks. 
 '  though  they  be  a  rebellious  house. 
 
 7  '  And  thou  shalt  speak  my  words  unto 
 them,  "'  whether  they  will  hear,  or  whether 
 they  will  forbear :  for  they  are  f  most  rebel- 
 lious. 
 
 8  But  thou,  son  of  man,  hear  what  I  say  unto 
 thee  ;  Be  not  thou  rebellious  like  that  rebel- 
 lious house :  open  thy  mouth,  and  "  eat  that  I 
 give  thee. 
 
 9  H  And  when  I  looked,  behold,  °  an  hand 
 was  sent  unto  me  ;  and,  lo,  ■"  a  roll  of  a  book 
 was  therein  ; 
 
 10  And  he  spread  it  before  iKe :  and  it  was 
 written  within  and  without  :  and  there  ivas 
 written  therein  lamentations,  and  mourning, 
 and  woe. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  Ezchiel  eateth  the  roll.  4  God  encourageth  him.  1 5  Gofi 
 sheweth  him  the  rule  of  prophecy.  22  God  shutteth 
 and  openeth  the  propheCs  mouth. 
 
 lYTOREOVER  he  said  unto  me,  Son  of  man, 
 •^'-'-  eat  that  thou  findest ;  "eat  this  roll,  and 
 go  speak  unto  the  house  of  Israel. 
 •2  So  I  opened  my  mouth,  and  he  caused  me 
 to  eat  that  roll. 
 
 fHeb. 
 c  Jm.  ! 
 
 t  HL-h, 
 
 !  Cli     3.   1  I, 
 
 26,  27. 
 
 /ch.  33.  S3. 
 
 II  Or,  rebels 
 /.  Is.  9.  IS 
 
 Jer.  6.  2g. 
 
 Mic.  7   4. 
 i  ch.  3  9, 
 
 1  Pet.  3.  14, 
 k  ch.  3.  9,  26, 
 
 27. 
 
 t  Hel), 
 Klxllw 
 
 o  ch,  R. 
 Jer  I. 
 p  Ob.  3. 
 
 1}  Rev.  10.  9. 
 See  Jer.  15. 
 
 t  Heb.  'Urp 
 
 cflip,a,.d 
 
 h,a«,i  ,./ 
 
 ,„„!l,„s 
 
 aQd  so  ver. 
 
 ti 
 t  Heb.  deep 
 
 a/l,p.  .,J 
 
 lii>ii;i"ii'e. 
 11  Oi, //■//. <irf 
 «/./  Ihe..\  c. 
 ioo'itd  llify 
 
 kea  rkeited 
 
 unto  Hiee  ? 
 [2  Mat.  1 1. 21, 
 
 83. 
 ,.John  15-20. 
 /cb.2.  1 
 t  lleb.  .tiff 
 
 iif  /..reheiid. 
 
 „nd  hard  •</ 
 
 l,<;,.t 
 g  I.S   do.  7. 
 
 Jer.  I.  18.& 
 
 \f>   20. 
 
 Mic.  3.  8. 
 A  Jer.  1.  8, 
 
 17.  ch.  2.6. 
 
 :  ver,  14. 
 ch,  8.3.  See 
 
 1  Kin.  1 3. 1 2. 
 
 2  Kin.  2,16 
 Acts  8.  3y 
 
 \  Heb.fciwrrf 
 
 /  vei-  12. 
 ch.  8.  .3, 
 t  Heb.  bitter 
 t  Heb.  /...( 
 
 tl'ig'-r 
 
 m  2  KiiJ    3. 
 1.5   ch.  1.3 
 «.  8.  1.  .<c 
 37.  1- 
 
 H  Job  2.  13. 
 Pb.  137.  1. 
 
 3  And  he  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  cause 
 thy  belly  to  eat,  and  fill  thy  bowels  with  this 
 roll  that  I  give  thee.  Then  did  I  ''  eat  it ;  and 
 it  was  in  my  mouth  '  as  honey  for  sweetness. 
 
 4  H  And  he  said  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  go, 
 get  thee  unto  the  house  of  Israel,  and  speak 
 with  my  words  unto  them. 
 
 5  For  thou  art  not  sent  to  a  people  |  of  a 
 strange  speech  and  of  an  hard  language,  but  to 
 the  house  of  Israel ; 
 
 6  Not  to  many  people  f  of  a  strange  speech 
 and  of  an  hard  language,  whose  words  thou 
 canst  not  understand.  ||  Surely,  "^  had  I  sent 
 thee  to  them,  they  would  have  hearkened  unto 
 thee. 
 
 7  But  the  house  of  Israel  will  not  hearken 
 unto  thee;  "for  they  will  not  hearken  unto 
 me  :  '  for  all  the  house  of  Israel  are  ]  impudent 
 and  hardhearted. 
 
 8  Behold,  I  have  made  thy  face  strong  against 
 their  faces,  and  thy  forehead  strong  against 
 their  foreheads. 
 
 9  ^  As  an  adamant  harder  than  flint  have  I 
 made  thy  forehead  :  ^  fear  them  not,  neither  be 
 dismayed  at  their  looks,  though  they  be  a  re- 
 bellious house. 
 
 10  Moreover  he  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  all 
 my  words  that  I  shall  speak  unto  thee  receive 
 in  thine  heart,  and  hear  with  thine  ears. 
 
 1 1  And  go,  get  thee  to  them  of  the  captivity, 
 unto  the  children  of  thy  people,  and  speak 
 unto  them,  and  tell  them,  '  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  ;  whether  they  will  hear,  or  whether 
 they  will  forbear. 
 
 12  Then  ''  the  spirit  took  me  up,  and  I  heard 
 behind  me  a  voice  of  a  great  rushing,  saying. 
 Blessed  he  the  glory  of  the  Lord  from  his 
 place. 
 
 13  I  heard  also  the  noise  of  the  wings  of  the 
 living  creatures  that  f  touched  one  another, 
 and  the  noise  of  the  wheels  over  against  them, 
 and  a  noise  of  a  great  rushing. 
 
 14  So  '  the  spirit  lifted  me  up,  and  took  me 
 away,  and  I  went  fin  bitterness,  in  the  f  heat 
 of  my  spirit ;  but  "'  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was 
 strong  upon  me. 
 
 13  K  Then  I  came  to  them  of  the  captivity 
 at  Tel-abib,  that  dwelt  by  the  river  of  Chebar, 
 and  "  I  sat  where  they  sat,  and  remained  there 
 astonished  among  them  seven  days. 
 
 16  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  end  of  seven 
 days,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 Cbap.  II. —  I.  Son  of  man — this  phrase  is  peculiar  to  the  prophets 
 Ezekiel  and  Daniel.  According:  to  the  Hebrew  doctors,  it  was  de- 
 signed to  remind  these  prophets  of  their  weakness  and  frailty,  that 
 they  were  but  men,  and  not  angels. — Boothr.  Stand— the  prophet  had 
 fallen  prostrate  in  tlie  eastern  manner,  (chap.  i.  28.) — Newc.  2.  Spirit, 
 of  God. — Poole,  Preb.  Loit'th.  PowerofGod. — Newc,  Bnuthr.  Comp. 
 Luke,  i.  35  ;  1  Kings,  xviii.  12,  and  2  Kiugs,  ii.  16.  6.  Though  briers 
 and  thorns,  though  thou  mayest  be  torn  by  them,  &c. ;  expnsed  to  in- 
 jurious treatment. — Neivc.  See  Judg.  viii.  7,  and  1  Kings,  xii.  11, 
 notes.  Scorpions,  may,  perhaps,  allude  to  the  bite  of  that  venemous 
 reptile. — Ed.  s.  Eat.*  lake  in,' '  retain,  *  digest.' — Seeker.  Com- 
 mit to  memory,  meditate  on,  listen  with  eager  attention. — Ritsentn., 
 Preb.  Lowth.  The  prophet  was  probably  required,  in  the  vision,  to  eat 
 what  was  put  into  his  hand — the  book,  insinuating  his  divine  call  and 
 inspiration,  and  the  bitternessof  the  Jews'  calamity. — Poole.     10.  With- 
 
 in and  without,  the  ancient  books  were  rolled  on  cylinders  of  wood  or 
 ivory ;  and,  usually,  the  writing  was  only  on  the  inside. — Newc.  Wlien 
 the  matter  exceeded  the  quantity  of  skin  calculated  upon,  the  writing 
 was  sometimes  continued  to  the  outer  side.  This  expresses  a  redun- 
 dancy of  lamentation,  &c. — Pict.  Bib. 
 
 Chap.  III.^  1.  Thoujindest,  'which  is  given  to  you.' — Hoitbigant. 
 3.  Eiit — see  note  on  chap.  ii.  8.  As  honey,  so  pleasant  a  result  comes 
 from  obeying  God. — So  Bp.  Hall.  9.  As  an  adamant — the  meaning 
 of  the  word  is  doubtful ;  perhaps  a  hard  stone,  called  smiris,  used  for 
 engraving,  polishing,  and  cutting  other  hai'd  stones. — Scheutz.,  Par. 
 12.  Great  rushing — see  chap.  i.  24.  14.  In  bitterness,  because  of  the 
 calamities  to  be  foretold.  i«  t/te  heat,  indignation  against  his  rebellious 
 countrymen.  Strong,  urging  on  the  delivery  of  his  message. — Newc. 
 15.  Tel-abib,  according  to  Junius,  a  tract  in  Mesopotamia.  Setien  dtiys, 
 the  time  for  mourning,  (Gen.  1.  10;  1  Sam.  xxxi.  13;  Job,  ii.  13.) — 
 
 and  celerity  in  any  direction.'  '  The  motions  of  Divine  pro- 
 vidence in  the  tbings  of  the  world  are  beyond  \he  reach  of  the 
 ablest  understandings.  Providence  walks,  works  so  darkly, 
 deeply,  changeably,  wheels  about  so,  that  mortals  cannot  tell 
 what  conclusions  to  make  'sr 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  I.    The  ministers  of  God  have 
 an  e.valti'd  office ;  bttt  let  them  remrmbcT  that  they  are  but  sons  of 
 ^  '  This  consideration  will   remind   them  that  they  are 
 
 851 
 
 Adfin 
 
 sinful  and  frail  as  others  ;  and  their  people,  too,  should  bear 
 with  their  infirmities,  recollecting  that  they  possess  like  pas- 
 sions with  themselves,  or  they  would  be  ill  able  to  sympathize 
 and  bear  with  them. 
 
 II.  Ministers  of  God  are  to  be  fearless  in  the  execution  of  their 
 work.  False  prophets  may  touch  men's  sins  tenderly;  but  they 
 must  speak  out,  whether  they  will  hear,  or  whether  they  will 
 forbear. 
 
God  slicweth  the  rule  of  prophecy. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  IV. 
 
 The  tijpc  of  a  siege,  §"c. 
 
 17  °  Son  of  man,  I  have  made  thee  ''  a  watcli- 
 man  unto  the  house  of  Israel :  therefore  hear 
 the  word  at  my  mouth,  and  give  them  warning 
 from  me. 
 
 18  When  I  say  unto  the  wicked,  Thou  shalt 
 surely  die  ;  and  thou  givest  him  not  warning, 
 nor  speakest  to  warn  the  wicked  from  his 
 wicked  way,  to  save  his  life  ;  the  same  wicked 
 man  ''  shall  die  in  his  iniquity  ;  but  his  blood 
 will  I  require  at  thine  hand. 
 
 19  Yet  if  thou  warn  the  wicked,  and  he  turn 
 not  from  his  wickedness,  nor  from  his  wicked 
 way,  he  shall  die  in  his  iniquity  ;  '  but  thou 
 hast  delivered  thy  soul. 
 
 •20  Again,  When  a  '  righteous  man  doth  turn 
 from  his  f  righteousnes.s,  and  commit  iniquity, 
 and  I  lay  a  stumbling  block  before  him,  he 
 shall  die  :  because  thou  hast  not  given  him 
 warning,  he  shall  die  in  his  sin,  and  his  righte- 
 ousness which  he  hath  done  shall  not  be  re- 
 membered ;  but  his  blood  will  I  require  at 
 thine  hand. 
 
 '21  Nevertheless  if  thou  warn  the  righteous 
 man,  that  the  righteous  sin  not,  and  he  doth 
 not  sin,  he  shall  surely  live,  because  he  is 
 warned  ;  also  thou  hast  delivered  thy  soul. 
 
 '22  1'  And  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  there 
 upon  me  ;  and  he  said  nuto  me.  Arise,  go  forth 
 "  into  the  plain,  and  I  will  there  talk  with 
 thee. 
 
 '23  Then  I  arose,  and  went  forth  into  the 
 plain:  and,  behold,  "the  glory  of  the  Lord 
 stood  there,  as  the  glory  w  hich  I  '  saw  by  the 
 river  of  Chebar  :  '  and  I  fell  on  my  face. 
 
 24  Then  °  the  spirit  entered  into  me,  and  set 
 me  upon  my  feet,  and  spake  with  me,  and  said 
 unto  me.  Go,  shut  thyself  within  thine  house. 
 
 '25  But  thou,  O  son  of  man,  behold,  "i  they 
 shall  put  bands  upon  thee,  and  shall  bind  thee 
 
 B.   C.  505. 
 
 o  ch.  aa.  7, 
 
 8,9. 
 ;» Is.  52.  8.  fc 
 56.  10.  &62 
 6.  Jer.  6  17. 
 
 r  U.  W.  4,  5. 
 Acl3  -id.  26 
 
 /  ch.  IS.  2*. 
 8c  33.  12,  13. 
 {  Heb.  riyhl- 
 
 j-  cli    i.es. 
 ycU.  1.  1. 
 s  cli.  1.  S8. 
 (1  cti.  2.  2. 
 
 c  ch.  24.  27. 
 
 Luke  1.  20, 
 
 22. 
 t  Heb.  o  nra» 
 
 reprnvmg. 
 dch.  2.  5,6, 
 
 7. 
 ech.  2'1   27. 
 
 St  33.  22. 
 
 /vcr.  n. 
 
 ver.  i),  20. 
 ch.  12.  2,  3. 
 
 I  (ir,  cl,.,f 
 ch.  21.  2-2. 
 
 (Ir,  »>( 
 I'I'ilr,  iir. 
 4l:cr. 
 
 ich.  12  0,11 
 fc  2 1.  21, 27 
 
 cir.  075. 
 IJcuiiming 
 from  I  Kin. 
 12. --'3 
 K..<tu,g 
 cir.  5a5. 
 b  Num.  11. 
 .11. 
 
 with  them,  and  thou  shall  not  go  out  among 
 them  : 
 
 26  And  "^  I  will  make  thy  tongue  cleave  to 
 the  roof  of  thy  mouth,  that  thou  slialt  be 
 dumb,  and  shalt  not  be  to  them  f  a  reprover  . 
 ■*  for  they  are  a  rebellious  house. 
 
 27  '  But  when  I  speak  with  thee,  I  will  open 
 thy  mouth,  and  thou  shalt  say  unto  them, 
 'Thussaith  the  Lord  God;  He  that  heareth, 
 let  him  hear  ;  and  he  that  forbeareth,  let  hiin 
 forbear  :  "^  for  they  arc  a  rebellious  house. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Under  the  type  of  a  sieije  is  shewed  the  time  from  the 
 dtftctitm  o/Jeroboatn  to  the  captivity.  9  By  the  pro- 
 vision of  the  siege,  is  shelved  the  hardness  of  the 
 famine. 
 
 T^HOU  also,  son  of  man,  take  thee  a  tile,  and 
 -*-  lay  it  before  thee,  and  pourtray  npon  it  the 
 city,  even  Jerusalem  ; 
 
 2  And  lay  siege  against  it,  and  bnild  q  fort 
 against  it,  and  cast  a  monnt  against  it ;  set  the 
 camp  also  against  it,  and  set  ||  battcriufj  rams 
 against  it  round  about. 
 
 3  Moreover  take  thou  nnto  thee  ||  an  iron 
 pan,  and  set  it  for  a  wall  of  iron  between  thee 
 and  the  city  :  and  set  thy  face  against  it,  and 
 it  shall  be  besieged,  and  thou  shalt  lay  siege 
 against  it.  "  This  sluiH  he  a  sign  to  the  house 
 of  Israel. 
 
 4  Lie  thou  also  upon  thy  left  side,  and  lay 
 the  iniquity  of  the  house  of  Israel  upon  it: 
 according  to  the  number  of  the  days  that  thou 
 shalt  lie  upon  it  thou  shalt  bear  their  ini- 
 quity. 
 
 5  For  I  have  laid  upon  thee  the  years  of  their 
 iniquity,  according  to  the  number  of  the  days, 
 three  hundred  and  ninety  days  :  ''so  shalt  thou 
 bear  the  iniquity  of  the  house  of  Israel. 
 
 ig.  Delivered  thy  soul,  art  clear  from  the  guilt  of  his  sin,  (comp.  Acts, 
 XX.  26.) — Preb.  Lmvth.  20.  A  riahteous  man,  a  man  who  carries 
 himself  as  righteous,  and  is  inoffeniWe.— B/j.  Halt.  Cammit  ini>jui.'//, 
 live  in  sin.  A  stumbling  block,  leaving  him  to  his  own  lusts,  and  suf- 
 fering  him  to  fall  ttiereby.  2.').  They  shall  put  bands,  either  his  friends, 
 supposing  him  beside  himself ;  or  his  enemies,  enraged  by  his  predic- 
 tions. Some  explain  this  of  the  transactions  in  the  next  chapter,  {ver. 
 1 — 8.)  His  confinement  and  bands  were  emblems  of  the  Jews  when 
 shut  up  in  Jerusalem  by  the  Chaldeans,  and  of  their  bondage  after  the 
 city  was  taken.— Sro/^  26.  Dumb,  not  literally,  but  silence  should 
 be  charged  upon  him  by  the  Lord,  that  he  bhould  be  as  if  his  tongue 
 cleaved  to  the  roof  of  his  mouth. — GiO. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  \.  A  tilf,  the  tiles  or  bricks  used  fnr  building  in  the  east 
 were  exceedingly  large. —  Water/and.  It  was  not  uncommon  to  use 
 these  for  tablets,  as  we  learn  from  Pliny,  who  relates,  that  Epigerics 
 inscribed  a  long  series  of  astronomical  observations  on  brick  tiles. — 
 Nnt.  Hist.,  lib.  viii.  57.  For  'tile'  read  'brick,*  and  for  "pourtray,' 
 '  engrave.*  It  refers  to  the  Chaldean  usage  of  writing  and  portray- 
 ing by  indented  tigurcs  upon  broad  and  thin  bricks.  Great  numbers  of 
 these,  with  figures  on  them,  are  found  in  the  ruins  of  Babylon.— P/r^. 
 liib.  2.  Lay  siege,  make  a  portraiture  of  a  siege. —  Preb.  Lnuth. 
 A  mount— SQc  Jer.  xxxii.  24,  note.  This  was  often  raised  even  higher 
 than  the  besieged  walls,  and  made  of  earth,  timber,  boughs,  stones, 
 9ic.,  and  walled  in  at  the  sides.  Here  they  placed  their  engines  to 
 attack  the  besieged  place.— See  Patterns  Antiq.  Btiffrring  rtuns,  en- 
 gines for  forcing  breaches  in  the  walls. — Cal.  They  had  iron  heads,  and 
 horns  like  a  ram, — Oiil;  and  being  suspended  by  an  iron  chain,  hung 
 on  a  cross  beam,  were  swung  by  the  soldiers  like  the  trunk  of  a  tree, 
 end  ways  against  the  walls.— Krf.  3.  An  iron  pun.  or  '  plateof  iron,' 
 as  marg.  Probably  such  as  cakes  were  baked  on.— Bp.  Hull.  Set  it 
 for  u  trail — it  seems  to  represent  all  such  things  as  are  made  use  of  by 
 the  besiegers  to  screen  them  from  the  besieged  ;  as  trenches,  parapets, 
 bastions,  &c. ;  for  the  prophet,  in  this  type,  is  the  besieger,  represent- 
 
 ing the  Chaldean  army  secureTrom  the  annoyance  of  those  within  the 
 walls  of  the  city. — Gill ;  or  this  was  an  iron  wall  between  the  besieged 
 and  God,  whom  the  pmphet  represented.  4.  Lip  thou,  in  his  own 
 liouse,  (chap.  iii.  24.)  In  this  posture  he  was  to  represent  the  pn'pbe- 
 tical  office.  Without  doubt,  it  was  only  at  such  times  as  he  cmild  be 
 observed. — Newc  Persons  have  really  lain  longer  on  one  side  than 
 the  prophet,  without  a  miracle. —  M'itsins.  W-'iV/h/jhs  supposes  that  the 
 prophet  reclined  only  during  the  day,  and  then  under  some  shade  of  a 
 tree  or  tent,  that  he  might  be  observed.  But  as,  in  chap.  xxiv.  3,  he 
 seems  to  have  been  confined  to  Viis  own  house,  it  is  probable  that  the 
 prophet's  conduct  was  noised  abroad,  and  lie  might  there  have  been 
 seen  by  strangers. — Ed.  Lay  the  iniquity,  declare  that  you  represent 
 the  iniquity. — Newc.  Shew  what  was  the  cause  of  their  captivity. — 
 Gill.  This  was  all  in  vision,  and  not  in  reality. — Kimchi,  Maim.  Tlic 
 prophet  did  really  perform  what  is  here  related,  or  else  it  could  not  have 
 been  a  sign  to  the  house  of  Israel,  (vtr.  3,)  unless  they  themselves  had 
 been  eye  witnesses  of  \X..—  Preb.  Lowth.  According  lo  thcnumber,  ffr., 
 signifying,  that  as  the  prophet  in  the  sign,  so  God  in  very  deed,  had 
 patiently  borne  with  them. — Poole.  5.  Three  h^tndred  and  ninety  days, 
 these  days  denoted  so  many  years.  The  years  may  be  calculated  from 
 the  establisbment  of  idolatry,  by  Jeroboam,  in  the  kingdom  of  Israel, 
 to  the  final  desolations  of  the  wliole  land  by  Nebuzar-adan,  in  the 
 twenty-third  year  of  Nebuchafinczzar,  which  the  best  citronologcrs 
 compute  to  have  been  exactly  3i)0  years.  In  the  siege  of  Jerusalem, 
 and  the  ruin  of  the  nation,  they  bare  tlic  punishment  of  the  iniquity 
 committed  during  tho-e  years  ;  and  EzekicI,  by  hing  so  long  on  his  left 
 side,  as  a  sign  to  them,  typically  bore  it  for  them. — Scott.  The  niun- 
 bcr  of  years  will  take  us  back,  with  snfiicient  exactness,  from  the  year 
 in  which  Jerusalem  was  sacked  by  Ntlnichadnezzar,  to  the  first  year  of 
 Jeroboam's  reign,  when  national  idolatry  began  in  Israel.  The  period 
 of  days  seems  to  predict  the  duration  of  the  siege  by  the  Babylonians. 
 (see  ver.  9,)  deducting  from  the  year,  five  months  and  twenty  nine  days, 
 mentioned  2  Kings,  xxv.  1 — 4,  the  time  during  which  the  Chaldeans 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  Ill 1.  Ministers  are  to  give  warn- 
 ing to  their  hcanrs.  They  are  set  to  watch  their  spiritual 
 career,— to  see  that  they  forget  not  thnir  souls  amidst  the 
 snares  and  temptations  of  the  world,  and  that  they  stand  fast 
 in  the  iaith.  They  are  to  urge  the  wicked  to  forsake  their 
 wicked  ways  and  live  ;  and  lo  caution  all  those  that  profess 
 the  gospel  that  they  do  not  make  shipwreck  of  faith  and  of  a 
 good  conscience.  Oh,  *  what  will  it  profit  a  man  if  he  i^ain 
 the  whole  world,  and  lose  bis  own  soul  '' 
 
 IT.  Hearers  are  to  take  wanting  from  their  vtinisters.  They 
 are  to  remember  that  their  office  is  not  a  mere  matter  of  form  ; 
 that  the  ministers  of  God  are  not  sent  lo  lull  them  into  secu- 
 rity, but  to  give  llie  trumpet  a  certain  sound;  and  wo  he  to 
 them  if  they  preach  not  the  gospel.  It  is  not  their  own  words 
 that  they  should  speak,  but  the  words  of  God  ;  and  if  they 
 fail  to  preach  '  the  word,"  to  'command  and  teach' as  God 
 speaks,  to  'rebuke  and  exhort,'  and  any  perish  through  their 
 ncijlect,  their  blood  will  be  required  at  their  hand. 
 
The  severity  of  t/ie  famine  typified. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  V. 
 
 God's  judi/mcnt  ugainst  Jerusalem. 
 
 6  And  when  thou  hast  accomplished  them, 
 lie  again  on  thy  riyiit  side,  and  thon  shalt  bear 
 tlie  iniquity  of  the  house  of  Judah  forty  days  : 
 1  liave  appointed  thee  feach  day  for  a  year. 
 
 7  Therefore  thou  shalt  set  thy  face  toward 
 the  siege  of  Jerusalem,  and  thine  arm  shall  he 
 inicovered,  and  tliou  shalt  prophesy  against  it. 
 
 8  *■'  And,  behold,  I  will  lay  bands  upon  thee, 
 and  thou  slialt  not  turn  thee  f  from  one  side 
 to  another,  till  thou  hast  ended  the  days  of  thy 
 siege. 
 
 9  If  Take  thou  also  unto  thee  wheat,  and 
 barley,  and  beans,  and  lentiles,  and  millet,  and 
 ||litches,  and  put  them  in  one  vessel,  and  make 
 thee  bread  thereof,  accordiiui  to  the  number 
 of  the  days  that  thou  shalt  lie  upon  thy  side, 
 three  hundred  and  ninety  days  shalt  thou  eat 
 tlioreof. 
 
 10  And  thy  meat  which  thou  shalt  eat  shall 
 he  by  weight,  twenty  shekels  a  day  :  from  time 
 to  time  shalt  thou  eat  it. 
 
 1 1  Thou  slialt  drink  also  water  by  measure, 
 tlie  si.xth  part  of  an  bin  :  from  time  to  time 
 slialt  tliou  drink. 
 
 \i  And  thou  shalt  eat  it  as  barley  cakes,  and 
 thou  shalt  bake  it  with  dung  that  cometh  out 
 of  man,  in  their  sight. 
 
 I;!  And  the  Lonn  said,  Even  thus  ''shall  the 
 children  of  Israel  eat  their  defiled  bread  among 
 the  Gentiles,  whither  I  will  drive  them. 
 
 14  Then  said  I, ''  Ah  Lord  God  !  behold,  my 
 soul  hath  not  been  polluted  :  for  from  my  youth 
 up  even  till  now  have  I  not  eaten  of  '  that 
 which  dieth  of  itself,  or  is  torn  in  pieces ; 
 neither  came  there  ^  abominable  flesh  into  my 
 mouth. 
 
 15  Then  he  said  unto  me,  Lo,  I  have  given 
 thee  cow's  dung  for  man's  dung,  and  thou  shalt 
 prepare  thy  bread  therewith. 
 
 l(i  Moreover  he  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man, 
 behold,  I  will  break  the  ■■  staff  of  bread  in  Je- 
 rusalem :  and  they  shall  '  eat  bread  by  weight, 
 and  with  care  ;  and  they  shall  ''  drink  water  by 
 measure,  and  with  astonishment : 
 
 17  That  they  may  want  bread  and  water,  and 
 be  astonied  one  with  another,  and  '  consume 
 away  for  their  iniciuity. 
 
 t  Hfb.  a  dtttt 
 fiir  a  t/eaTj  a 
 tiay/hra 
 r/ear. 
 
 I  Hcb.  fro 
 Illy  iiile  lo 
 lllff  tiiiu. 
 
 Or,  si'clt. 
 
 fe.i.2-!  .11. 
 
 Lev.  11   iu. 
 
 &  17.  15. 
 ff  Deu.  U.  3 
 
 Is.  6J  4. 
 
 It  Lev.  ?6.9C. 
 Ps.  105.  Iti. 
 I..  3-  1  111. 
 ti.  A  M 
 
 13. 
 
 .  10- 
 
 a  See  Lev. 
 21.5.  Is  7. 
 20.  cb.  H. 
 
 c\\.  A.  1. 
 fb,  -I.  8,  9. 
 
 e  Jer.  40.  6. 
 
 »<  53.  10. 
 t  Ileb.  wint/i. 
 flat.  41.  1, 
 
 'i,  «tc.  &4.I 
 
 H. 
 
 yJei    ?.  10, 
 11.  ch.  16. 
 
 h  Lam.  4.  0, 
 
 DLiti.  9.  12. 
 
 Ainns  3   'i 
 il.ev.  a'l.Oti 
 
 Il.u.  ■-•.>^.  i■■^ 
 
 2  Kill  6  'I'J. 
 
 Jer.  10.  0. 
 
 L;im.  2.  ail 
 
 fc  4.  10. 
 
 Bai  iieh  2.3. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Under  thf  ti/pe  of  hair,  5  Is  shewed  the  judiiment  of 
 Jerusalem  for  their  rebellion,  12  bif  famine,  sword, 
 and  dispersion, 
 
 A  ND  thou,  son  of  man,  take  thee  a  sharp 
 ■'-^  knife,  take  thee  a  barber's  razor,  *and 
 cause  it  to  pass  upon  thine  head  and  upon 
 thy  beard  :  then  take  thee  balances  to  weigh, 
 and  divide  the  liair. 
 
 2  ''Thou  shalt  burn  with  fire  a  third  part  in 
 the  midst  of  '  the  city,  when  ''  the  days  of  tlie 
 siege  are  fulfilled  :  and  thou  shalt  take  a  third 
 part,  and  smite  about  it  with  a  knife:  and  a 
 third  part  thou  shalt  scatter  in  the  wind  ;  and 
 I  will  draw  out  a  sword  after  them. 
 
 3  '  Thon  shalt  also  take  thereof  a  few  in 
 number,  ami  bind  them  in  thy  f  skirts. 
 
 4  Then  take  of  them  again,  and  'cast  them 
 into  the  midst  of  the  fire,  and  burn  them  in  the 
 fire  ;  for  thereof  shall  a  fire  come  forth  into  all 
 the  house  of  Israel. 
 
 5  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  This  is  Jeru- 
 salem :  I  have  set  it  in  the  midst  of  the  nations 
 and  countries  that  are  round  about  her. 
 
 li  And  she  hath  changed  my  judgments  into 
 wickedness  more  than  the  natioiLS,  and  my 
 statutes  more  than  the  countries  that  are 
 round  about  her  :  for  they  have  refused  my 
 judgments  and  my  statutes,  they  have  not 
 walked  in  them. 
 
 7  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 cause ye  multiplied  more  than  the  nations 
 that  are  round  about  you,  and  have  not  walk- 
 ed in  my  statutes,  neither  have  kept  my  judg- 
 ments, ^  neither  have  done  according  to  the 
 judgments  of  the  nations  that  are  round  about 
 you; 
 
 8  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Re- 
 hold,  I,  even  I,  am  against  thee,  and  will  exe- 
 cute judgments  in  the  midst  of  thee  in  the 
 sight  of  the  nations. 
 
 9  ''  And  I  will  do  in  thee  that  which  I  have 
 not  done,  and  wherennto  I  will  not  do  any 
 more  the  like,  because  of  all  thine  abomina- 
 tions. 
 
 10  Therefore  the  fathers  'shall  eat  the  sons 
 in  the  midst  of  thee,  and  the  sons  shall  eat 
 
 were  on  tlieir  cxperiitinr  acrainst  the  Egyptians.  (Jer.  xxxvii.  5.) — See 
 AViir.,  Itosenm.  G.  Fiirtti  daits,  these  reinesentcd  the  furty  years 
 wliich  intervened  between  .losiah'.s  reformation  and  the  same  final  de- 
 solalions  uf  the  land,  and  were  the  more  immediate  canse  of  that  cataa. 
 trophe. — Scntt.  ".  Uiieuvered,   denoting   preparation   for  battle. — 
 
 Preh.  Lfneth.  See  Isa.  lii.  10.  The  design  of  the  phrase  is  to  shew 
 how  ready,  diligent,  -ind  expeditious  the  Chaldeans  would  be  in  carry- 
 ing on  the  siege. — GUI.  8.  Liiti  tiands,  fye.,  seems  to  shew  the  firm- 
 ness of  tlie  Chaldeans  in  carrying  on  the  siege  till  they  took  the  city. — 
 Neiec.  Q.  Wlieat  and  barley,  l^e. — in  times  of  scarcity  they  mixed 
 coarser  grain  with  the  better  sort,  to  make  their  provisions  last  the 
 longer.  Ezekiel  was  commanded  to  do  this,  to  signify  the  scarcity 
 which  the  inhabitants  should  siiflfer  during  the  siege.— PreA.  Lowtk. 
 12.  With  duni;  that  Cometh  out  vf  man — the  dung  of  oxen  and  camels 
 was  frequently  used,  bnt  this  was  terribly  significant  of  extreme  ne- 
 cessity and  scarcity  of  fuel.— So  Hnr.  The  lowest  classes  in  Egypt  are 
 so  miserably  poor,  that  they  use  human  dung  to  bake  with. — Sandys, 
 see  Orient.  Lit.,  1007, 1008.  The  prophet  here  intimates,  that  not  being 
 able  to  leave  the  city  to  collect  the  dried  excrements  of  hca.sts,  the  in- 
 habitants, during  the  siege,  would  be  otdigcd  literally  to  use  human 
 dried  ordure  for  fuel. — A.  Ctarh-e.  l6.  StaJ^  of  bread,  i.  e.,  life's 
 chief  support. — Scott. 
 
 CiiAp.  V,  —  1.  A  s/iarp  tt-nife,  ffc.,  a"in,  '  sword,*  Vulg.  ;  Pag.,  Mont., 
 
 fyc.  ?fc.  The  word  signifies  any  sharp  instrument  by  which  anything 
 is  cut  off.  or  cut  asunder,  and  here  explained,  razor. — Gill.  '  Take 
 thee  a  sharp  knife,  sharper  than  a  barber's  razor,'  Sept.,  Arali. 
 2.  City,  Jerusalem,  as  portrayed  upon  the  tile,  (chap.  iv.  I,}  for  the 
 prophet  was  now  in  Chaldea.  The  burning  might  denote  pestilence 
 and  famine,  (Lam.  v.  10,)  or  the  burning  of  the  city,  (Jer.  hi.  13.) 
 Smite — with  a  knife,  designs  those  cut  off  with  the  sword,  (Jer.lii.  7,  8  ) 
 — Gill.  Scatter,  ^-c,  represents  those  who  fiL-d,  nr  were  carried  captives. 
 — Scott.  3.  A  few — in  thy  .skirts,  denotes  the  remnant  of  the  Jews  left 
 with  Gedaliah. — Preb.  Lowth.  4.  Take  of  litem  niridn,  of  the  small 
 number  preserved.— .Oi7;.  Afire  come  forth,  ^c,  the  conspiracy  of  Ish- 
 mael,  ruinous  to  the  remaining  Jews  in  their  native  country. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  6.  They  have  refused,  the  heathen  had  rejected  God's  laws, 
 and  kept  to  those  of  their  forefathers. — Preb.  Lnwtli.  7.  Multiplied 
 more,  ^c,  they  had  gone  further  from  God's  statutes,  and  more  multi- 
 plied their  aboniiuHtions,  than  the  Gentiles  themselves. — Srott,  'Be- 
 cause you  have  multiplied  "  your  sins"  more  than  the  nalimis,'  Vutff. 
 According  to  tlie  judgments,  ^c,  'you  have  not  been  so  consistent  anil 
 zealous  for  the  true  religion  a.s  they  have  for  a  false  one.'  (comp.  chap, 
 xvi.  47;  Jer.  ii.  10,  11.) — Preb.  Lowth.  9.  The  like,  the  national 
 punishment  of  the  Jews,  comprehending  what  they  sufTered  from  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar, Titus,  and  Adrian,  has  been  remarkably  signal.— iVeiec. 
 10.  Eat  the  sons,  ffc,  threatened  Lev.  xxvi.  29  ;  Dent,  xxviii.  53,  55,  57  , 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV 1.  '  God's  work  requires  work-  all  the  severities  of  diet.' 
 
 men  not  discouratjed  by  difficulties,  nor  fainlini)  u-Jth  hardship  III.  '  Learn  of  Ezekiel  to  ahhor  the  slightest  poilnlion.  _  He 
 
 mid  fatigue.'    'A  niinistry'thus  connected  with' singular  tokens  sufl'ered  not  the  flesh  to  shrink  at  severities,  but  was  afraid  of 
 
 conveyed  a  double  force  to  language. '  becoming   ceremonially   unclean.'      'Happy   is    tlie   delicalo 
 
 II.  '  With  wliat  great  e.rartness  God  u'eiijhs  the  guilt   and  mea-  conscience  which  fears  the  sli,5htest  touch  of  defilement  that 
 
 surcs  the  punishment  of  nations  !'    '  This  'wa5  strikingly  shewn  wotiUl  either  obstruct  its  comraunicatiou  with  Uod,  or  alienate 
 
 by  the  command  to  the  prophet  to  lie  390  days  on  his  side  to  it  from  the  fellowsbip  of  saints.' '" 
 expiate  the  sins  of  Israel,  and  40  for  the  sins  of  Judab,  with 
 8J3 
 
The  judgment  of  Israel  for  idolatry. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  VI. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  the  faithful. 
 
 their  fathers  ;  and  I  will  execute  judgments  in 
 thee,  and  the  whole  remnant  of  thee  will  I 
 '  scatter  into  all  the  winds. 
 
 1 1  Wherefore,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God  ; 
 Surely,  because  thou  hast  '  defiled  my  sanctu- 
 ary with  all  thy  "'  detestable  thhio;s,  and  witli 
 all  thine  abominations,  therefore  will  1  also  di- 
 minish thee;  "neither  shall  mine  eye  spare, 
 neither  will  I  have  any  pity. 
 
 1-2  t  °  A  third  part  of  thee  shall  die  with  the 
 pestilence,  and  with  famine  shall  they  be  con- 
 sumed in  the  midst  of  t'lee  :  and  a  third  part 
 shall  fall  by  the  sword  round  about  thee  ;  and 
 ''  I  will  scatter  a  third  part  into  all  the  winds, 
 and  ''  I  will  draw  out  a  sword  after  them. 
 
 13  Thus  shall  mine  anger  'be  accomplished, 
 and  I  will  'cause  my  fury  to  rest  upon  them, 
 '  and  I  will  be  comforted  :  "  and  they  shall 
 know  that  I  the  Lonn  have  spoken  it  in  my 
 zeal,  when  I  have  accomplished  my  fury  in 
 them. 
 
 14  Moreover  ^  I  will  make  thee  waste,  and  a 
 reproach  among  the  nations  that  are  round 
 about  thee,  in  the  siglit  of  all  that  pass  by. 
 
 15  So  it  sliall  be  a  'reproach  and  a  taunt,  an 
 instruction  and  an  astonishment  unto  the  na- 
 tions that  are  round  about  thee,  when  I  shall 
 execute  judgments  in  thee  in  anger  and  in 
 fury  and  in  '  furious  rebukes.  I  the  Lord 
 have  spoken  it. 
 
 16  When  I  shall  "send  upon  them  the  evil 
 arrows  of  famine,  which  shall  be  for  their  de- 
 struction, and  which  1  will  send  to  destroy 
 you  :  and  1  will  increase  the  famine  upon  you, 
 and  will  break  your  *'  staff  of  bread  : 
 
 17  So  will  I  send  upon  you  famine  and  'evil 
 beasts,  and  they  shall  bereave  thee  ;  and  ■■  pes- 
 tilence and  blood  shall  pass  through  thee  ;  and 
 I  will  bring  the  sword  upon  thee.  I  the  Lord 
 have  spoken  it. 
 
 CHAP.  VL 
 
 1  The  judgment  of  Israel  for  their  idntatrtj.  8  A  rem- 
 nant shall  be  blessed.  1 1  The  faithful  are  exhorted 
 to  lamint  tlieir  calamities. 
 
 A  ND  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me, 
 -^*-   sayino^, 
 
 *2  Sou  of  man,  'set  thy  face  toward  the 
 *■  mountains  of  Israel,  and  prophesy  against 
 them, 
 
 3  And  say.  Ye  mountains  of  Israel,  hear  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  God  ;  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  to  the  mountains,  and  to  the  hills,  to  the 
 rivers,  and  to  the  rallies ;  Behold.  I,  even  I, 
 
 k  vcr.  12. 
 
 Lev.  2li.  33. 
 
 Deu.  -iS.  64. 
 
 ch    12.   II 
 
 Zech.  2.  6. 
 I  3Chr.36 
 
 14.  ch.7  20 
 
 8i  8.  5,  &c. 
 
 &  23.  38. 
 mch-  II.  21. 
 H  ch.  7.  4,  9. 
 
 &  9.  IS.  & 
 
 9.  10. 
 0  See  ver.  2 
 
 Jer.  15. 2.  & 
 
 21    9.  ch.  G 
 
 l-i. 
 
 p,Tcr.  9,  Ifi. 
 
 ver.  •>.   10. 
 
 ch.  6,  S. 
 9  Lev.  26.S3. 
 
 ver.  2.  ch. 
 
 1-^.  II. 
 TLam.  4.  II 
 
 ch.  e.  12.  & 
 
 7.8. 
 *  rh    21-  17. 
 /  Deu.  32.  3G 
 
 Is.  I.  24. 
 u  ch .  36    6. 
 
 f*  38.  19. 
 X  Lev  26  SI, 
 
 3?.  Nell.  2. 
 
 17. 
 
 Jer.  21 
 Lam.  : 
 
 1  ncu.32. 
 23,  24. 
 
 b  Lev.  2C.26. 
 
 ch.  4    [6.  8> 
 
 14.  13. 
 c  Lev,  26.29. 
 
 Deu.  39.  24. 
 
 c  Lev.  2ti,.S0 
 II  Or,  ,un 
 
 d  Lev  26.30 
 t  Heb.  yite. 
 
 •  ver.  13 
 ch  7.  1,9  U 
 ll.li>,  12.  & 
 
 g  Ps.  78    10. 
 
 Is.  7     13.  Ik 
 
 •13,  21.  at.  63 
 
 10. 
 h  Num.  ir. 
 
 sg.ch.liO  7. 
 
 I  Lev.  26.39. 
 Job  12.  6 
 ch.20  43.  & 
 36.  31. 
 
 59.1. 
 
 p  Hos.  I.  13- 
 7  Is.  37.  5 
 
 -1  ch.  20,  46. 
 
 fc  21-  2.  & 
 
 25.  2. 
 6  ch.  36.  I. 
 
 f  Is.  5.  2:.. 
 
 |10r.rf'*o/ofr 
 A<,»,  thr  wil- 
 
 1  Num.  S3. 
 46.  Jer.  18. 
 
 will  bring  a  sword  upon  you,  and  '  I  will  de- 
 stroy your  high  places. 
 
 4  And  your  altars  shall  be  desolate,  and  your 
 II  images  shall  be  broken  :  and  ''  I  will  cast 
 down  your  slain  men  before  your  idol.s. 
 
 o  And  I  will  flay  the  dead  carcases  of  the 
 children  of  Israel  before  their  idols  ;  and  I  will 
 scatter  your  bones  round  about  your  altars. 
 
 6  In  all  your  dwellingplaces  the  cities  shall 
 be  laid  waste,  and  the  high  places  shall  be  de- 
 solate ;  that  your  altars  may  be  laid  waste  and 
 made  desolate,  and  your  idols  may  be  broken 
 and  cease,  and  your  images  may  be  cut  down, 
 and  your  works  may  be  abolished. 
 
 7  .A.nd  the  slain  shall  fall  in  the  midst  of  you, 
 and  °ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 8  II  '  Yet  will  I  leave  a  remnant,  that  ye  may 
 have  some  that  shall  escape  the  sword  among 
 the  nations,  when  ye  shall  be  scattered  through 
 the  countries. 
 
 9  And  they  that  escape  of  you  shall  remem- 
 ber me  among  the  nations  whither  they  shall 
 be  carried  captives,  because  "  I  am  broken 
 with  their  whorish  heart,  which  hath  departed 
 from  me,  and  f\vitli  their  eyes,  which  go  a 
 whoring  after  their  idols :  and  '  they  shall 
 lothe  themselves  for  the  evils  which  they  have 
 committed  in  all  their  abominations. 
 
 10  And  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord, 
 and  that  I  have  not  said  in  vain  that  I  would 
 do  this  evil  unto  them. 
 
 1 1  If  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Smite  ^with 
 thine  hand,  and  stamp  with  thy  foot,  and  say, 
 Alas  for  all  the  evil  abominations  of  the  house 
 of  Israel !  '  for  they  shall  fall  by  the  sword,  by 
 the  famine,  and  by  the  pestilence. 
 
 1-2  He  that  is  far  off  .shall  die  of  the  pesti- 
 lence ;  and  he  that  is  near  shall  fall  by  the 
 sword  ;  and  he  that  remaineth  and  is  besieged 
 shall  die  by  the  famine  :  "'  thus  will  I  accom- 
 plish my  fury  upon  them. 
 
 1.3  Then  "shall  ye  know  that  I  am  the  Lord, 
 when  their  slain  men  shall  be  among  their  idols 
 round  about  their  altars,"  upon  every  high  hill, 
 ''in  all  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  and  ''under 
 every  green  tree,  and  under  every  thick  oak, 
 the  place  where  they  did  offer  sweet  savour  to 
 all  their  idols. 
 
 14  So  will  I  'stretch  out  my  hand  upon 
 them,  and  make  the  land  desolate,  yea,  ||more 
 desolate  than  the  wilderness  toward  '  Diblath, 
 in  all  their  habitations :  and  they  shall  know 
 that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 fulfilled   2  KinE:«,  vi.  2S,  29,  during  Nebnctiadnezzar's   siege.  (Lara. 
 
 iv.  10,)  and  tlia*  of  Titus  Vespasian. Jost^phus^   Wars  of  the  Jews. 
 
 12.  A  third  part,  §r. — see  ver.  2,  and  notes,  and  chap.  vi.  12;  Jer.  xv.  2  ; 
 x.Ki.  9.  Draw  a  sword  after,  denotes  God's  anger  would  still  pursue 
 them.  13.  /  wUt  cause  mi/ft/rt/  to  rest,  ^c,  or  '  1  will  cause  my  fury 
 towards  them  to  rest.*  /  witl  lie  comforted,  expressions  these  borrowed 
 from  men's  passions  having:  vent  in  punishing:  their  enemies. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  15.  So  shall  it  be,  ^c.,  '  and  you  shall  be,'  &c.,  so  the  Ver- 
 sions. 16.  Upon  them,  '  upon  you.'  Their  destrtiction,  '  your  de- 
 struction.' The  evil  arrows  of  famine — famine  might  arise  from  locusts, 
 hail,  showers,  blast,  drought.— Boof^r.  17.  Eril  beasts,  may  mean 
 wild  beasts,  from  the  country  being  abandoned  ;  or  the  Chaldeans,  who 
 committed  like  ravages.— C'i/. 
 Chat.  VI.  —  2.  Jl/y««^/i>is,  these  are  particularly  addressed,  being 
 
 the  places  of  idolatrous  worship. — Rnsenm.  Israel.  Judah  is  so  called, 
 probablyas  possessing  much  of  the  country  of  their  captive  brethren. — 
 Seeker.  3.  Rivers — valleys — these  were  addressed,  for  by  rivers,  and 
 in  valleys,  as  in  Hinnom,  idolatry  was  also  practised.  —  So  Gilt. 
 4.  Images,  *  sun  images,' marg'.  Such  as  were  erected  in  honour  of 
 the  sun.  —  Preb.  Lowth.  Before  your  idols,  where  they  committed 
 idolatry,  there  they  should  be  slain. — Gilt.  Perhaps  they  fled  to  these 
 for  refuge. — Cal.  9.  Shall  remember  me,  their  afflictions  should  be 
 sanctified  to  them. — Gilt.  Because  I  am  broken,  ffc.,  '  when  I  have 
 broken  their  heart,  which,  straying,  departed  from  me.' — Baotltroyd. 
 II.  Smite — stamp — actions  of  indignation,  displeasure,  grief,  and  sor- 
 row.— Poole.  13.  Every  thick  oaksee  Isa.  i.  29,  note.  14.  Dib- 
 lath, part  of  the  desert  in  the  borders  of  Moab,  (s.'e  Num.  xxxiti.  46  ; 
 Jer.  xlviii  22.) — Preb.  Lotvth. 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  V.  —  I.  Israel  enjoyed  peculiar  pri-  them  to  serve  the  Lord  oar  Cod  with  all  our  heart,  and  soul, 
 
 vileyes,  hut  netilected  them.     Let  us  beware  that  tbis  be  not  our  aod  strength, 
 
 case.     God  Las  given  us  light ;  let  us  see  that  we  walk  by  it.  III.   The  punishments  of  unjtrojitnhle  professors  shall  be  signal, 
 
 II.   The  zealous  heathen  may  shame  many  of  tite  professors  of  in  proportion  to  their  priviletjes.     The  scattered  .lews,  still  de- 
 
 the  true  reli(/ion.     They  are  neither  ashamed  of  their  errors  gradecl  and  suflenng,  warn  us  from  the  four  winds  of  heaven, 
 
 nor  willing  to  neglect  or  relinquish  them,  and  are  fervently  — '  He  that  knoweih  his  Lord's  will,  and  doth  it  not,  shall  be 
 
 devoted  to  tliem,  at  much  cost  and  pains.     Let  us  learn  from  beaten  with  many  stripes.' 
 8.j4 
 
The  final  desolation  of  Israel. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  VII. 
 
 The  repentance  of  those  that  escape. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 I  The  final  A-solat'lon  of  hrael.  16  The  mournful  re- 
 pentance of  them  that  escape.  20  The  enemies  dtfiie 
 the  sanctuary  because  of  the  Israelites'  abominations. 
 23  Under  the  type  of  a  chain  is  shewed  their  miser- 
 able captivity. 
 
 "lyrOREOVER  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 -'-'-'•  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 2  Also,  thou  son  of  man,  thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  unto  the  land  of  Israel ;  "An  end,  the 
 end  is  come  upon  the  four  corners  of  the  land. 
 
 .3  Now  is  the  end  come  upon  thee,  and  I  will 
 send  mine  anger  upon  thee,  and  "i  will  judge 
 thee  according  to  thy  ways,  and  will  f  recom- 
 pense upon  thee  all  thine  abominations. 
 
 4  And  "^  mine  eye  shall  not  spare  thee, 
 neither  will  I  have  pity :  hut  I  will  recom- 
 pense thy  ways  upon  thee,  and  thine  abomina- 
 tions shall  be  in  the  midst  of  thee  :  ''  and  ye 
 shall  know  that  I  arn  the  Lord. 
 
 5  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  An  evil, an  only 
 evil,  behold,  is  come. 
 
 6  An  end  is  come,  the  end  is  come :  it 
 t  watcheth  for  tliee  ;  behold,  it  is  come. 
 
 7  "  The  morning  is  come  unto  thee,  O  thou 
 that  dwellest  in  the  land  :  'the  time  is  come, 
 the  day  of  trouble  is  near,  and  not  the  ||sound- 
 ing  again  of  the  mountains. 
 
 8  Now  will  I  shortly  ^  pour  out  my  fury  upon 
 thee,  and  accomplish  mine  anger  upon  thee  : 
 '■  and  I  will  judge  thee  according  to  thy  ways, 
 and  will  recompense  thee  for  all  thine  abomi- 
 nations. 
 
 9  And  '  mine  eye  shall  not  spare,  neither 
 will  I  have  pity  :  I  will  recompense  f  thee  ac- 
 cording to  thy  ways  and  thine  abominations 
 that  are  in  the  midst  of  thee  ;  '  and  ye  shall 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord  that  smiteth. 
 
 10  Behold  the  day,  behold,  it  is  come  :  '  the 
 morning  is  gone  forth ;  the  rod  hath  blossomed, 
 pride  hath  budded. 
 
 1 1  ""  Violence  is  risen  up  into  a  rod  of  wick- 
 edness :  none  of  them  shall  remain,  nor  of 
 their  II  multitude,  nor  of  any  of  ||their's  :  "  nei- 
 ther shall  there  be  wailing  for  them. 
 
 12  °  The  time  is  come,  the  day  draweth  near 
 let  not  the  buyer  rejoice,  nor  the  seller  mourn  : 
 for  wrath  is  upon,  all  ttie  multitude  thereof. 
 
 1."  For  the  seller   .shall   not  return    to  that 
 
 I  vcr.  S,  6. 
 Amos  8.  2. 
 :Mat.  81.  6, 
 13,  U. 
 
 i  ver.  8,  !l. 
 t  Heb.  j.i». 
 
 ,1  vol-.  ?7. 
 ell.  r,.  7.  i 
 12.  2tl. 
 
 t  H«h. 
 
 .iw„hi-tk 
 
 ..gaihtl  thee 
 e  \er.  10. 
 /ver.  12, 
 
 Zepli.  I.  14, 
 
 15 
 jl  Or,  echo, 
 g  ch.  '20.  b, 
 
 f  Heb.  upon 
 thee. 
 
 k  ver.  t. 
 
 i  ver.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  tum«U. 
 11  Or.  Ihrir 
 
 i.I<.r,  1(3.5.6 
 ch. 24. 16,22 
 I  rer.  7. 
 
 H    0    ^91. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 thuiti/h  Ihrir 
 life  were 
 iirl  among 
 the  living. 
 
 II  Or,  loh'-jc 
 lifeiRinhtt 
 iniguitg. 
 
 t  Heb.  hi, 
 inity. 
 
 p  Deii,S2.25. 
 Lam.  1-21). 
 
 f  Is.  13.  7. 
 
 Jer.  6.  21. 
 
 ch.  21.  7. 
 f  Heb.  go 
 
 into  iettt'f, 
 t  Is.  3.  24.  & 
 
 15.  2,  3. 
 
 Jer.  18.  37. 
 
 Amos  8.  10. 
 (  Ps.  iS  5. 
 
 t  Heb. /or  o 
 teparotion, 
 or,  ,,.,cteo,i. 
 
 X  Pro.  II.  4. 
 
 Zeph.  1.  18. 
 
 Kcclns.  .1  8, 
 II  Or,  beeante 
 
 their  ini- 
 
 lailg  II 
 
 their  sinm. 
 
 bliogbhek 
 X  ch.  14  3,4. 
 
 &  44.  12. 
 y  Jer.  7.  30. 
 
 Or,  TTioffc 
 it  onto  thnn 
 nn  unclean 
 
 II  Or. 
 
 hnrglerl. 
 ;  2  Kin.  21. 
 
 16.  ch.  9.9. 
 
 &  II. ti. 
 
 11  Or,  they 
 thult  infieril 
 their  holy 
 placet. 
 
 t  Heb.  Cat- 
 ling off. 
 
 which  is  sold,  f  although  they  were  yet  ahve  : 
 for  the  vision  is  touching  the  whole  multitude 
 thereof,  which  shall  not  return  ;  neither  shall 
 any  strengthen  himself  ||  in  t  the  iniquity  of 
 his  life. 
 
 14  They  have  blown  the  trumpet,  even  to 
 make  all  ready  ;  but  none  goeth  to  the  battle  : 
 for  my  wrath  is  upon  all  the  multitude  thereof. 
 
 15  •■  The  sword  is  without,  and  the  pestilence 
 and  the  famine  within  :  he  that  is  in  the  field 
 shall  die  with  the  sword  ;  and  he  that  is  in 
 the  city,  famine  and  pestilence  shall  devour 
 him. 
 
 16  IT  But  •"  they  that  escape  of  them  shall  es- 
 cape, and  shall  be  on  the  mountains  like  doves 
 of  the  valleys,  all  of  them  mourning,  every  one 
 for  his  iniquity. 
 
 17  All  'hands  shall  be  feeble,  and  all  knees 
 shall  t  be  weak  as  water. 
 
 18  They  shall  also  'gird  themselves  with 
 sackcloth,  and  '  horror  shall  cover  them  ;  and 
 shame  shall  be  upon  all  faces,  and  baldness 
 upon  all  their  heads. 
 
 19  They  shall  cast  their  silver  in  the  streets, 
 and  their  gold  shall  be  t  removed :  their 
 "silver  and  tlieir  gold  shall  not  be  able  to 
 deliver  them  in  the  day  of  the  wrath  of  the 
 Lord  :  they  shall  not  satisfy  their  souls,  nei- 
 ther fill  their  bowels  :  ||  because  it  is  *  the 
 stumblingblock  of  their  iniquity. 
 
 20  t  As  for  the  beauty  of  his  ornament,  he 
 set  it  in  majesty  :  '  but  they  made  the  images 
 of  their  abominations  and  of  their  detestable 
 things  therein  :  therefore  have  I  ||  set  it  far 
 from  them. 
 
 21  And  I  will  give  it  into  the  hands  of  the 
 strangers  for  a  prey,  and  to  the  wicked  of  the 
 earth  for  a  spoil  ;  and  they  shall  pollute  it. 
 
 22  My  face  will  I  turn  also  from  them,  and 
 they  shall  pollute  my  secret  place :  for  the 
 II  robbers  shall  enter  into  it,  and  defile  it. 
 
 23  t  Make  a  chain  :  for  "  the  land  is  full  of 
 bloody  crimes,  and  the  city  is  full  of  violence. 
 
 24  Wherefore  I  will  bring  the  worst  of  the 
 heathen,  and  they  shall  possess  their  houses  : 
 I  will  also  make  the  pomp  of  the  strong  to 
 cease;  and  || their  holy  places  shall  be  defiled. 
 
 25  t  Destruction  cometh  ;  and  they  shall 
 seek  peace,  and  there  shall  be  none. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  2.  Land  of  Israel,  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
 and  those  that  remained  in  the  land.  Four  corners,  or  *  wings,'  as  the 
 Hebrew  ;  that  is,  all  parts.  4.  Shall  be  in  the  midst,  not  taken  away, 
 unatoned  for. — Gill.  '  Their  punishment  shall  be  manifest  amongst 
 you.' — Xewc.  5.  An  evil — the  only  evil,  the  great,  the  sovereign,  the 
 last  exterminating  evil.— W.  Clnrke.  6.  Wntcheth—Goti's.  vengeance 
 seems  to  slumber,  but  is  awake. — Poole,  so  morfr.  "J.  The  morning 
 
 is  come,  fyc.,  alludes  to  the  time  when  the  magistrates  used  to  give  sen- 
 tence.— Prelt.  Lowth.  Not  the  sounding  atr<iin  of  the  mountains,  not 
 an  empty  echo. — Kimchi,  Ben  Melerh,  Bp.  Hull.  Not  like  the  shout- 
 ing of  the  harvestraen,  or  the  treaders  of  the  winepress. — Clarke,  a-s 
 Preh.  Lowth,  and  others.  10.  The  rod  hnth  blossomed,  pride  hath 
 Af/rfrfed— Nebuchadnezzar  was  the  rod  of  God's  anger,  flsa.  x.  5,)  and 
 a  proud  prince  ;  he  was  just  ready  for  use  as  God's  instrument. — Gill. 
 The  rod  of  oppression  and  wickedness  (ver.  II)  prevails  among  the 
 Jews,  and  their  pride  increases. — Neicc.  This,  probably,  signifies  the 
 violence,  oppression,  and  rapine  of  the  Jews,  the  causes  of  their  punish- 
 ment. 12.  Let  not  the  buyer  rejoice,  for  he  cannot  enjoy  his  posses- 
 sions ;  nor  the  sell^-  mourn,  for  he  could  not  have  retained  his  posses- 
 sions. \3.  Shall  not  return,  ^c. — according  to  the  law,  fLev.  xxv. 
 13.)  the  sold  possession  returned  to  the  original  holder  in  the  year  of 
 jubilee  :  but  in  seventy  years'  captivity,  the  jubilee  would  pass  over. — 
 Gill.  Strengthen  himself,  nor  shall  any  man  be  able  to  fortify  himself 
 and  secure  his  estate  against  these  threats,  by  his  obstinacy  and  sin. 
 
 or  by  any  sinful  contrivances.— Pot/?''.  14.  None  goeth  to  the  battle, 
 they  are  under  judicial  cowardice.— A'eiic.  l6.  Doves  of  the  valleys, 
 •mourning  doves.'— /I.  Clarke.  Doves  are  fond  of  the  water  in  the 
 valleys,  though  dwelling  in  the  mountains.— Har.  ig.  They  shall 
 cast  their  silver,  ^c,  being  useless  in  famine,  and  a  hindrance  in  flight. 
 —Gill.  To  appease  the  soldiers.— Sk(.  It  signifies  their  idols  of  gold 
 and  of  silver,  which  they  shall  now  despise.— So  Kimchi.  The  stum- 
 bling block,  §■(?.,  with  their  silver  and  gold  tliey  made  ornaments  for 
 their  idols.  20.  .is  far  the  beauty  of  his  ornament,  ^c— this  may,  pro- 
 bably, be  understood  of  the  glorv  and  magnificence  of  the  temple, 
 called  elsewhere,  '  the  beauty  of  holiness  ;'  this  place  they  had  defiled 
 with  idolatry,  therefore  it  was  given  to  the  Gentiles  to  pollute  it.— 
 Preb.  Lou'th. 
 
 '  For  as  to  their  beautiful  ornaments,  which  were  for  pride. 
 They  turned  them  unto  the  images  of  their  abominations. 
 And  their  detestable  things  they  made  tlurcwith  : 
 Hence  I  will  make  these  to  them  as  an  unclean  thing.' — Boothr. 
 
 22.  My  secret,  'sanctuary.' — Newc.  23.  Moke  a  chain,  to  foreshew 
 the  approaching  captivity,  -when  king  and  people  should  he  carried  in 
 chains  to  Babylon,  (see  2  Kings,  xxv.  7  ;  Jer.  xl.  1.)  24.  The  tvorst 
 rt/?/i(? /)?«Men,  the  Chaldeans  were  then  the  oppressors  and  terror  of 
 the  world,  (see  chap,  xxviii.  ";  xxx.  II.) — Preb.  Lotvth.  The  most 
 cruel  and  idolatrous  of  all  nations.—/!.  Clarke.    Pomp  of  the  strong. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  VI. —  I.  Sfime  sinners  are  punished, 
 to  shew  that  God  is  just.  Let  not  sinners,  then,  presume,  or 
 God  may  cut  them  off  in  their  idolatries  and  iniquitous  prac- 
 tices. 
 
 II.  Some  sinners  are  spared  to  shew  that  God  is  merciful,  and 
 855 
 
 bis  tender  mercies  are  designed  to  brinf;  them  to  repentance. 
 He  willeth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner.  If  men  perish,  it  is  foi 
 their  own  wilful  and  obstinate  crimes ;  if  any  are  spared,  it 
 is  an  act  of  mercy  and  grace  ;  and  grace  reigns  conspicuously 
 in  the  preservation  of  every  saved  sinner. 
 
Ezeliiel's  vision 
 
 EZEKIEL,  VIII. 
 
 It  Jerusalem. 
 
 26  '  Mischief  shall  come  upon  mischief,  and 
 rumour  shall  be  upon  rumour ;  ■■  then  shall 
 they  seek  a  vision  of  the  prophet;  but  the  law 
 shall  perish  from  the  priest,  and  counsel  from 
 the  ancients. 
 
 27  The  king  shall  mourn,  and  the  prince  shall 
 be  clothed  with  desolation,  and  the  hands  of 
 the  people  of  the  laud  shall  be  troubled  :  I 
 will  do  unto  them  after  their  way,  and  faccord- 
 ing  to  tlieir  deserts  will  1  judge  them;  'and 
 they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lokd. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  Ezeliiel,  in  a  visinti  of  God  at  Jcrusnltmi,  5  is  skewed 
 ike  imape  of  ji'alnitsy,  7  tke  ckambers  of  imagery,  13 
 the  mourners  for  Tiimmuz,  1 5  Ike  wor.-.kippers  towards 
 tke  Sim.      18  God's  wrath  for  tkeir  idolatry, 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  sixth  year,  in 
 -^*-  the  sixth  month,  in  tlie  fifth  day  of  the 
 month,  as  1  sat  in  mine  house, and  "the  elders 
 of  Judah  sat  before  me,  that  ''the  hand  of  the 
 Lord  God  fell  there  upon  me. 
 
 2  '  Then  I  belield,  and  lo  a  likeness  as  the 
 appearance  of  fire  :  from  the  appearance  of  his 
 loins  even  downward,  fire  ;  and  from  his  loins 
 even  upward,  as  the  appearance  of  brightness, 
 ''  as  the  colour  of  amber. 
 
 3  And  he  "put  forth  the  form  of  an  hand, 
 and  took  me  by  a  lock  of  mine  head;  and  'the 
 spirit  lifted  me  up  between  the  earth  and  the 
 heaven,  and  ^  bronglit  me  in  the  visions  of  God 
 to  Jerusalem,  to  the  donr  of  the  iimer  gate  that 
 looketh  toward  the  north ;  ''where  was  tlie  seat 
 of  the  image  of  jealousy,  which  '  provoketh  to 
 jealousy. 
 
 %  And,  behold,  the  glory  of  the  God  of  Israel 
 was  there,  according  to  the  vision  that  I  ^  saw 
 in  the  plain. 
 
 5  IT  Then  said  he  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  lift 
 up  thine  eyes  now  the  way  toward  the  north. 
 So  I  lifted  up  mine  eyes  the  way  toward  the 
 north,  and  behold  northward  at  the  gate  of  the 
 altar  this  image  of  jealousy  in  the  entry. 
 
 6  He  said  furthermore  unto  me,  Son  of  man, 
 seest  thou  what  tliey  do?  even  the  great  abo- 
 minations that  the  house  of  Israel  committeth 
 here,  that  I  should  go  far  off  from  my  sanctu- 
 ary? but  turn  thee  yet  again,  oh(/ thou  shah 
 see  greater  abominations. 
 
 a  Deu  i■:.•l^. 
 
 b  Vs.  7-1  9 
 Lam  -i.  9. 
 cli.  ai)    1,3 
 
 n  cli.  II-  I. 
 
 St  -211.  I.  ft 
 
 SS.  .SI 
 b  cli.  l.S.  & 
 
 S  -23. 
 r  cl\.  1.  M, 
 
 87 
 
 J  ch    1    4. 
 
 t  Dan    5  5. 
 /  ch   3.  i  1 
 
 h  Jlt.  7.  30 
 «(  ;l-2   .SI. 
 
 ri  Jopl  8  17 
 cl<.  n.  1. 
 
 j>  Pfii  4  1 
 !■  Kin.  23 
 II.  .l.tb.SI 
 2rt.  3CT.  41 
 
 7  t  And  he  brought  me  to  the  door  of  the 
 court ;  and  when  I  looked,  behold  a  hole  iii 
 the  wall. 
 
 8  Then  said  he  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  dig  now 
 in  the  wall  :  and  when  I  had  digged  in  the 
 wall,  behold  a  door. 
 
 9  And  he  said  unto  ine.  Go  in,  and  behold 
 the  wicked  abominations  that  they  do  here. 
 
 10  So  I  went  in  and  saw;  and  behold  every 
 form  of  creeping  things,  and  abominable  beasts, 
 and  all  the  idols  of  the  house  of  Israel,  pour- 
 trayed  upon  the  wall  round  about. 
 
 I  I  And  there  stood  before  them  seventy  men 
 of  the  ancients  of  the  house  of  Israel,  and  in 
 the  midst  of  them  stood  Jaazaniah  t!ie  son  of 
 Shaphan,  with  every  man  his  censer  in  his 
 hand  ;  and  a  thick  cloud  of  incense  went  up. 
 
 12  Then  said  he  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  liast 
 tlion  seen  what  the  ancients  of  the  house  of 
 Israel  do  in  the  dark,  every  man  in  the  cham- 
 bers of  his  imagery?  for  they  say,  '  The  Lord 
 seeth  us  not ;  tlie  Lord  hath  forsaken  the 
 earth. 
 
 13  t  He  said  also  unto  me,  Turn  thee  yet 
 again,  and  thou  shalt  see  greater  abominations 
 that  they  do. 
 
 14  Then  he  brought  me  to  the  door  of  the 
 gate  of  the  Lord's  house  wliich  teas  toward 
 the  north  ;  and,  behold,  there  sat  women  weep- 
 ing for  Tammuz. 
 
 15  H  Then  said  he  unto  me.  Hast  thou  seen 
 this,  O  son  of  man  ?  turn  thee  yet  again,  and 
 thou  shalt  see  greater  abominations  than 
 these. 
 
 16  And  he  brought  me  into  the  inner  court 
 of  the  Lord's  house,  and,  behold,  at  the  door 
 of  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  '"  between  the 
 porch  and  the  altar,  "  icere  about  five  and 
 twenty  men,  °  with  their  backs  toward  the 
 temple  of  the  Lord,  and  their  faces  toward 
 the  east ;  and  they  worshipped  ''  the  sun  to- 
 ward the  east. 
 
 1 7  IF  Then  he  said  unto  me.  Hast  thou  seen 
 this,  O  son  of  man?  ||  Is  it  a  light  thing  to 
 the  house  of  .Tudah  that  tliey  commit  the  abo- 
 minations which  they  commit  here  ?  for  they 
 have  ''  filled  the  land  with  violence,  and  have 
 returned  to  provoke  me  to  anger :  and,  lo, 
 they  put  the  branch  to  their  nose. 
 
 state  and  mag:nificence  of  the  mighty  men. — Preb,  Lowth,  26.  Seek 
 IT  vision,  seek  to  know  how  long  the  calamities  should  continue. — 
 Boolhr. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.  —  \.  Aotl  it cnmptopiss,  thissect'ioB  of  prophec.v  extends 
 to  chap.  xii. —  Wit.  Si.vlk  year,  of  the  captivity  of  Jehoiacliin. — Gill. 
 S'lt  tiefore  me — this  was  then  tlie  posture  of  those  that  came  to  hear 
 any  prophet  or  teacher,  (comp.  chap.  .\iv.  1  ;  xx.  I  ;  xxxiii.  31  ;  2  Kings, 
 iv.  .18.) — Prett.  Lowth.  -1.  A  likeness,  of  a  man. — Poole,  Gill.  O/ioiwua 
 avipov,  Sept.  Fire,  denoting  God's  wrath  against  Jerusalem.  Bright- 
 ness, signifying  the  majesty  and  glory  of  Christ. — Poole.  3.  Brought 
 me — some  commentators  understand  this  to  be  real,  and  the  removal 
 local,  as  in  the  cases  of  Elijah  and  Philip,  (1  Kings,  xviii.  12  ;  2  Kings, 
 ii.  16,)  but  being  in  his  own  house,  and  before  the  elders,  favours  tlie 
 hypothesis  of  its  being  a  vision  only. —  Wit.  In  the  visions  of  God,  by 
 mental  representation. — Boolhr.,  as  Neu-c.  The  sent  of  the  image  of 
 jealousy,  or  a  niche,  prepared  for  some  base  idol,  perhaps  Baal,  or  Mo- 
 lech,  which  was  called  the  image  of  jealousy,  because  the  worship  of 
 this  idol  provoked  the  Lord  to  jealousy,  even  as  the  open  adultery  of  a 
 woman,  in  the  house  of  her  husband,  would  excite  jealousy. — Scott. 
 This  image  was  probably  idolatry  itself  personified  and  described  as  an 
 idol. —  Wart).  4.  In  the  plain — see  chap.  iii.  22,  23.  5.  Jt  the  gate 
 0/  the  altar,  the  nortliern  gate  of  the  inner  court,  where  was  the  altar 
 of  burnt-. ifTering  brought  Ijy  Abab  ;  to  the  north  of  tlie  altar  he  built  in 
 imitation  of  that  at  Damascus,  (2  Kings,  xvi.  10— n.}~Gill.        6.  Far 
 
 off  from  my  sanctuary,  not  locally,  but  by  rejecting  and  casting  it  off. 
 ^Poote.  7.  The  court,  the  inner  court,  that  of  the  priests  and  Levites. 
 — (lUl.  A  hole,  the  entrance  to  a  secret  place  in  the  temple. —  Warh. 
 liig  now,  the  hole  was  not  large  enough  to  expose  what  was  doing 
 within. — So  Clarke.  8.  A  door,  3,n  opening  by  which  he  could  go  into 
 the  cell  or  chamber,  and  take  a  full  view  of  everything. — Gill.  10.  Creep- 
 ing things,  ff-c,  such  as  the  Egyptians  used  to  worship. — Seott.  The 
 ox,  ape,  crocodile,  ibis,  beetle,  Sic,  these  idols  were  painted  on  the 
 walls  of  the  tombs  of  kings  and  nobles. — See  Betzoni's  Trav.  Pour- 
 trnyett,  pictures  were  as  much  prohibited  by  the  law  as  carved  images, 
 (see    Num.    xxxiii.    52.) — Preb.   Lowth.  H.  Jaazaniah    the  son   of 
 
 .Shaphan,  Shaphan  was  a  scribe,  or,  what  some  call,  comptroller  of  the 
 temple,  in  the  days  of  Josiah ;  and  Jaazaniah,  his  son,  probably  suc- 
 ceeded him  in  this  olBce.  He  was  at  the  head  of  this  baud  of  idolaters. 
 — .i.  Clarke.  13.  That  theydo,  '  which  thesedo.' — Boolhr.  14.  Weep. 
 ing  for  Tammuz,  '  Adonis,'  Vulg.  He  was  beloved  by  Venus,  and, 
 being  killed  by  a  boar,  she  lamented  his  death,  which  was  also  annually 
 done  by  men  and  women. — Gill.  16.  Between  the  porch  and  the 
 
 altar,  the  place  where  the  Jewish  priests  invoked  the  mercy  of  Jehovah 
 for  the  people,  (see  Joel,  ii.  17.) — D'Oyley,  and  Maul-  Their  backs,  ,yc., 
 turned  on  the  Shekinah,  in  the  holy  of  holies. — Sut.  Worshipped  the 
 sun,  this  was  the  Persian  worship  of  the  rising  sun.  17.  Put  the 
 branch  to  their  nose,  this  is  supposed  to  mean  some  branch  or  branches, 
 wliich  they  carried  in  succession  in  honour  of  the  idol,  and  with  which 
 
 Refi.pctioxs  on  Chap.  VII.  — We  are  here  admonished 
 t°— I-  Beware  lest  Hckes  become  a  snare ;  and  this  they  will  be, 
 if  they  foster  pride  and  estrange  the  heart  from  God.  But 
 how  vain  are  money  and  estates,  lor  riches  profit  not  m  the  day 
 of  wrath. 
 
 856 
 
 II.  Beware  of  despising  God^s  ordinances.  The  time  may 
 come  when  they  will  be  wished  for  in  vain.  There  sliall  be  no 
 entering  tiie  sanctuary — no  faithful  preacher  sliali  address  tlie 
 ear— and  judicial  hardness  shall  rest  on  the  heart.  ]\ow,  tiien, 
 may  we  clioose  tliat  good  part  which  can  never  be  taken  away  .' 
 
The  vision  of  preservation,  &;c. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  IX  ,  X. 
 
 The  vision  of  the  coals  ofjire. 
 
 18  '  Therefore  will  I  also  deal  in  fury  :  mine 
 '  eye  sliall  not  spare,  neitlier  will  I  have  pity : 
 and  though  they  '  cry  in  mine  ears  with  a  loud 
 voice,  yet  will  1  not  hear  them. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  A  vision,  wherehy  is  shewed  t/te  preservation  of  same, 
 5  and  tlic  destruction  of  t/ie  rest.  8  God  cannot  he 
 intreatcd  for  them, 
 
 LJ  E  cried  also  in  mine  ears  with  a  loud 
 -'--'-  voice,  saying,  Cause  tliem  that  have 
 charge  over  the  city  to  draw  near,  even  every 
 man  with  his  destroying  weapon  in  liis  hand. 
 
 2  And,  behold,  six  men  came  from  the  way 
 of  the  higher  gate,  f  which  lieth  toward  the 
 north,  and  every  man  f  a  slaughter  weapon  in 
 his  hand  ;  "  and  one  man  among  them  was 
 clothed  with  linen,  with  a  writer's  iukhoni  f  hy 
 his  side  :  and  they  went  in,  and  stood  beside 
 the  brasen  altar. 
 
 3  And  ''  the  glory  of  the  God  of  Israel  was 
 gone  up  from  the  cherub,  whereupon  he  was, 
 to  the  threshold  of  the  house.  And  he  called 
 to  the  man  clothed  vvith  linen,  which  had  tlie 
 writer's  inkhorn  by  his  side  ; 
 
 4  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  Go  through 
 the  midst  of  the  city,  througli  the  midst  of  Je- 
 rusalem, and  fset  "^a  mark  upon  the  foreheads 
 of  the  men  ^  that  sigh  and  that  cry  for  all  the 
 abominations  that  be  done  in  the  midst  thereof. 
 
 5  f  And  to  the  others  he  said  in  fmine  bear- 
 ing. Go  ye  after  him  through  the  city,  and 
 smite  :  ^  let  not  your  eye  spare,  neither  have 
 ye  pity : 
 
 6  '  Slay  f  utterly  old  and  young,  both  maids, 
 aud  little  children,  and  women  :  but  ^  come 
 not  near  any  man  upon  whom  is  the  mark  ; 
 and  ''  begin  at  my  sanctuary.  '  Then  they  be- 
 gan at  the  ancient  men  which  were  before  the 
 house. 
 
 7  Aud  he  said  unto  them.  Defile  the  house, 
 and  fill  the  courts  with  the  .slain  :  go  ye  forth. 
 
 '  ch-  5.  1:1. 
 
 ^  If..  42.  & 
 
 21    13. 
 tch.  b.  II. 
 
 fc  7.  4.  9.  & 
 
 9.  b,  10. 
 (  Pro.  I   28. 
 
 I3.  1.  15. 
 
 Jer    II.  II 
 
 «;  It.  12. 
 
 Mk-.  3  4, 
 
 Zetb.  7.  13, 
 
 tfl.u 
 
 breuktitg  i. 
 
 a  Lev.  16.  4, 
 cli.  IO.-2,6,7 
 Rev,  15.  C 
 
 I  Heb  ujitm 
 hi,  hi>a. 
 
 h  See  ch.  3. 
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 pch.:,.  11. 
 
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 .   II 
 
 (  ch.  1.  22, 
 26. 
 
 ch.  y.  2,  3. 
 
 10,  17.  & 
 
 (  Heb.  the 
 
 L>.«.  4. 
 
 hulUiVi  of 
 
 d  Ps.  I19.DS, 
 
 thine  Ifiiid. 
 
 13G.  Jer.lH. 
 
 cch.  1.  13. 
 
 17.  <!  Cor. 
 
 rfSeeRev.  S 
 
 !■?.  i\. 
 
 5. 
 
 ■>Pet.2.  8. 
 
 t  Heb,  w.i'.f 
 
 c  ver.  10 
 
 ch.  S.  II. 
 
 fiCht.  36. 
 
 17 
 
 e  See  ver. If 
 
 t  Hcb.  to  de- 
 
 ch.  1    2S.  S 
 
 chuction. 
 
 9,3. 
 
 g  Hev.  9    ^. 
 
 t  Heb.  ^cns 
 
 h  J.r  25  2y. 
 
 lifted  up 
 
 1  pL-l.  4.  17. 
 
 f\  Kin    8. 
 
 Anil  they  went  forth,  and  slew  in  the  city. 
 
 8  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  while  they  were 
 slaying  them,  and  I  was  ieft,  that  I  ''fell  upon 
 my  face,  and  cried,  and  said,  '  Ah  Lord  Gonl 
 wilt  thou  destroy  all  the  residue  of  Israel  in 
 thy  pouring  out  of  thy  fury  upon  Jerusalem  ? 
 
 9  Then  said  he  unto  me.  The  iniquity  of  the 
 house  of  Israel  and  Jndah  is  exceeding  great, 
 and  ""the  land  is  f  full  of  blood,  and  the  city 
 full  of  II  perverseness :  for  they  say,  "  The 
 Lord  hath  forsaken  the  earth,  and  "  the  Lord 
 seeth  not. 
 
 10  And  as  for  me  also,  mine  ""eye  shall  not 
 spare,  neither  will  I  have  pity,  hut  ■■  I  \\\\\  re- 
 compense their  way  upon  their  head. 
 
 1 1  And,  behold,  the  man  clothed  with  linen, 
 which  had  the  inkhorn  by  his  side,  f  reported 
 the  matter,  saying,  I  have  done  as  thou  hast 
 commanded  me. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1   The.  vision  of  the  coah  ofjire^  to  be  scattered  over  the 
 city.     8  The  viaion  of  the  cheruhims. 
 
 'pHEN  I  looked,  and,  behold,  in  the  '' firma- 
 -'-  ment  that  was  above  the  head  of  the  che- 
 ruhims there  appeared  over  them  as  it  were  a 
 sapphire  stone,  as  the  appearance  of  the  like- 
 ness of  a  throne. 
 
 2  ^  And  he  spake  unto  the  man  clothed  with 
 linen,  and  said.  Go  in  between  the  wheels, 
 even  under  the  cherub,  and  fill  f  thine  hand 
 with  ^  coals  of  fire  from  between  the  cheru- 
 hims, and  '^scatter  them  over  the  city.  And 
 he  went  in  in  my  sight. 
 
 3  Now  the  cheruhims  stood  on  the  right  side 
 of  the  house,  when  the  man  went  in  ;  and  the 
 cloud  filled  the  inner  court. 
 
 4  ^  Then  the  glory  of  the  Lord  f  went  up 
 from  the  cherub,  and  stood  over  the  threshold 
 of  the  house;  and  ''the  house  was  filled  with 
 the  cloud,  and  the  court  was  full  of  the  bright- 
 ness of  the  Lord's  glory. 
 
 they  covered  their  faces,  or  from  which  they  inhaled  a  pitasant  smell. 
 — A.Clarke.  The  Magian  fire-woishippers,  wheu  piaying  before  the 
 sacred  fire,  hehl  a  little  bunch  of  twigs  in  their  hand.— SimAo.  The 
 heathens,  in  wor.-liipping  their  deities,  held  forth  the  branches  of  those 
 trees  which  were  dedicated  to  them. — Spenser.  The  Persians,  in  their 
 worship,  held  in  their  left  hand  a  bunch  of  tw.ig:s  of  different  trees, 
 called  tlie  barsom. — Rosenm.  '  And,  lo,  they  send  forth  a  scornful  noi.se 
 through  their  nustrils.'—A^eu'C.  Avtoi  it  nvKTrtpiCovTev,  'they  areas 
 those  who  mock.' — Scott. 
 
 Ch.ip.  IX.  —  I.  He,  the  same  person  who  before  appeared  in  vision 
 and  spake  by  the  prophet. — Seott.  See  chap.  viii.  2—4.  Cried,  to  de- 
 note the  terribleness  of  God's  jurignii:nl;s,  (see  chap.  i.  24;  Rev.  xiv. 
 7.  9.  15.) — Preb.  Louth.  Cause  them  that  A^necAurg^e,  eitlier  minister- 
 ing angels, — Gilt,  Preb.  Lowth  ;  or  the  princis  of  the  Chaldean  army, 
 who  had  a  charge  against  the  city  to  destroy  it.— Gi7/,  2.  Sis:  men, 
 
 destroying  a.nse\s. —Bp.  Hnll,  Preb.  Lowth.  These,  doubtless,  repre- 
 sented the  Babylonians. — Uoothr.,  so  Clarke.  One — clothed  with  linen, 
 an  angel,  who  was  to  supply  tlie  place  of  the  sacrificing  prie^t,  (see 
 ver.  4  ;  comp.  chap.  xl.  3  ;  xliii.  6 ;  and  Rev.  xv,  .'5,  6.) — Preb.  Lowth. 
 Jnkharn  by  his  side,  m  modern  times,  among  the  Turks  and  Arabs,  the 
 Hojiahs,  that  is,  the  writers  and  secretaries,  are  distinguished  by  hav- 
 ing  an  '  inkhorn,'  the  badge  of  their  office,  suspended  in  their  girdles. 
 — Dr.  Shaw.  3.  Glori/ — g07te  up — the  glory  departed  from  the  inner 
 sanctuary  to  the  threshold  of  the  temple,  to  shew  that  God  would 
 shortly  forsake  it.  From  the  cherub,  stands  for  '  cherubim,'  a'i  in  chap. 
 X.  2. — Pred.  Lowth.  He  called,  who  sat  on  the  throne,  (chap.  i.  26.) — 
 Newc.  4.  A  mark,  in.  the  Jews  thought  the  mark  was  fl,  the  first 
 
 letter  of  the  word  '  law.'— BooMr.    Early  Cliristian  writers  contended 
 
 this  was  in  the  Samaritan  character,  which  then  prevailed,  and  was  in 
 the  form  of  a  cross.  This  shews  how  early  that  mark  prevailed  in  the 
 Cliristian  church,  making  way  for  the  superstition  and  idolatry  of  the 
 papists. — Scott.  '  Mark  with  the  letter  rii  'Thau,'  their  foreheads,' 
 i'utg.  The  expression  alludes  to  the  custom  of  the  eastern  nations  to 
 mark  their  servants  in  the  forthead,  (comp.  Kev.  vii.  3.) — Prch.  Lowth. 
 The  Brahmins  distinguish  the  worshippers  of  Veeshnu  and  sheva  by 
 marks  of  different  colours  (red  or  yellow)  on  their  foreheads. — Mau- 
 rice's  Ind.  Anti'/.  The  Hindoo  sects  make  their  distinguishing  marks 
 on  their  foreheads  with  powdered  sandal  wood,  or  clay  of  the  Ganges. 
 —  Ward.  6.  Slay,  ^c,  this  denunciation  was  executed  by  the  Chal- 
 deans, (2  Chron.  xxxvi.  17.) — Preb.  Lowth.  At  the  ancient  men,  the 
 seventy,  or  sanhedrim,  (see  chap.  viii.  10,  11.)  Tliese  were  governors 
 in  the  temple  and  house  of  God  by  ofiice,  but  idolaters  in  piaciice  and 
 in  principle.  y.  A?id  stew,  this  slaughter  was  visional  in  the  eye  of 
 the  prnphet.  9.  Full  of  bluod,  much  innocent  blood  is  spilt. — Poole. 
 It  sometimes  means  all  licinous  sins. — Pucocke.  The  earth,  V'■^i^n  Pitit 
 '  the  land  ;'  he  neither  sees  nor  cares  for  Israel,  and  can  be  no  longer  an 
 object  of  worship. — So  Clarke. 
 
 CuAP.  X.  —  I.  In  the  firmament,  GoA  dwells  in  light,  (Ps.  civ.  2  ; 
 1  Tim.  vi.  16,  &c.,)  so  the  throne  ol  God  is  here  described  made  up  of 
 light. — Preb.  Lowth.  2.  Between  the  tvheels — for  these  and  their  po- 
 sition, see  chap.  i.  With  coals,  %c.,  which  ran  up  and  down  among 
 the  living  creatines,  (chap.  i.  l'i.)~Newc.  Scatter  them  over  the  city., 
 to  prevent  its  burning.  'Coals  of  fire'  denote  the  Divine  vengeance, 
 (see  Ps.  cxx.  4  ;   cxl.  10  ;    Rev.  viii.  5.)  3.  The  cloud,  perhaps  the 
 
 Shekinah  removing  towEirds  the  door. — Preb,  Lowth.  4.  Stood  over 
 the  threshold,  expressive  of  the  Divine  departure  and  uuwillmgness  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII. — I.  God  sees  all  the  secret 
 nhominations  of  the  heart.  Every  corner  of  this  chamber  of 
 imagery  is  open  to  his  scrutinizing  eye. 
 
 II.  God  wiU  jju7iish  offenders,  unless  thet/  speedily  repent.  The 
 time  of  the  career  of  sinners  is  short.  Judgment  stands  at  the 
 door.  Let  ibem  flee  to  the  refuge  the  Gospel  provides,  and 
 let  them  beseech  of  God  that  he  would  cleanse  the  thoughts  of 
 their  hearts,  which  are  the  incentives  to  action,  by  the  inspir- 
 ation of  his  Holy  Spirit. 
 857 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX — I.  Whatever  evils  happen  to 
 the  church  or  the  world,  God's  saints  are  secure.  They  are  the 
 apple  of  his  eye  ;  and,  as  he  has  often  literally  preserved  them 
 in  the  most  extraordinary  manner,  so  he  will  assuredly  pre- 
 serve them  to  his  kingdom  and  glory. 
 
 11.  God^s  saiyits  are  those  who  sit/h   and  cry  far  the  abomina- 
 tions of  the  land.     As  sin  is  hateful  to  God,  it  must  be  hateful 
 to  them;  as  it  is  destructive  to  man,  it  must  fill  their  hearts 
 with  pity  tor  those  that  are  perishing  around  them. 
 5  a 
 
The  vUion  of  cheriihi 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XI. 
 
 The  presumption  of  ihe  princes. 
 
 5  And  the  ^  souiid  of  the  cherubims'  wings 
 was  heard  eveyi  to  the  outer  court,  as  "^  the 
 voice  of  the  Ahnighty  God  when  he  speaketh. 
 
 6  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  he  had 
 commanded  the  man  clothed  with  linen,  say- 
 ing. Take  fire  from  between  the  wheels,  from 
 between  the  cherubims  ;  then  he  went  in,  and 
 stood  beside  the  wheels. 
 
 7  And  one  cherub  f  stretched  forth  his  hand 
 from  between  the  cherubims  unto  the  fire  that 
 u'as  between  the  cherubims,  and  took  thereof, 
 and  put  it  into  the  hands  of  him  that  was 
 clothed  with  linen  :  wlio  took  it,  and  went  out. 
 
 8  1[  '  And  tliere  appeared  in  the  cherubims 
 the  form  of  a  man's  hand  under  their  wings. 
 
 9  '  And  when  I  looked,  behold  the  four 
 wheels  by  the  cherubims,  one  wheel  by  one 
 cherub,  and  another  wheel  by  another  cherub  : 
 and  the  appearance  of  the  wheels  was  as  the 
 colour  of  a  '  beryl  stone. 
 
 10  And  as  for  their  appearances,  they  four 
 had  one  likeness,  as  if  a  wheel  had  been  in 
 the  midst  of  a  wheel. 
 
 11  "'  When  they  went,  they  went  upon  their 
 four  sides  ;  they  turned  not  as  they  went,  but 
 to  the  place  whither  the  head  looked  they  fol- 
 lowed it  ;  they  turned  not  as  they  went. 
 
 12  And  their  whole  f  body,  and  their  backs, 
 and  their  hands,  and  their  wings,  and  °  the 
 wheels,  were  full  of  eyes  round  about,  even 
 the  wheels  that  they  four  had. 
 
 13  As  for  the  wheels,  ||  it  was  cried  unto 
 them  in  my  hearing,  O  wheel, 
 
 14  °  And  every  one  had  four  faces  :  the  first 
 face  teas  the  face  of  a  cherub,  and  the  second 
 face  ivas  the  face  of  a  man,  and  the  third  the 
 face  of  a  lion,  and  the  fourth  the  face  of  an 
 eagle. 
 
 13  And  the  cherubims  were  lifted  up.  This 
 is  ■'  the  living  creature  that  I  saw  by  the  river 
 of  Chebar. 
 
 16  ''And  when  the  cherubims  went,  the 
 wheels  went  by  them :  and  when  the  che- 
 rubims lifted  up  their  wings  to  mount  up  from 
 the  earth,  the  same  wheels  also  turned  not 
 from  beside  them. 
 
 17  '  When  they  stood,  these  stood  ;  and  when 
 they  were  lifted  up,  these  lifted  up  themselves 
 also  :  for  the  spirit  ||  of  the  living  creature  was 
 in  them. 
 
 18  Then  '  the  glory  of  the  Lord  'departed 
 from  off  the  threshold  of  the  house,  and  stood 
 over  the  cherubims. 
 
 19  And  "  the  cherubims  lifted  up  their  wings. 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 dr.  b9i. 
 
 cb.  1.2i. 
 h  Pa.  29.  3, 
 
 t  Heii  tetil 
 f.,,11.. 
 
 +  Hcb   flfth. 
 u  cb.  I.  13. 
 
 ^  otUd 
 ■„il  /.™r. 
 
 \'',i",.i. 
 .  I.e.  10. 
 
 ver.  l&. 
 j/  oh.  I.  I. 
 
 ch.  I.  6. 
 ver   14. 
 
 .b.  1.8. 
 
 rch    1.  18, 
 
 20,  Bl. 
 
 11  Or,  «/(./.. 
 
 h'liuei  iitar. 
 dch  18.22, 
 27.  8  Pet,  3. 
 
 e  See  Jef.  1. 
 
 IS.  ch.  2-1. 
 
 S,&c. 
 /cb.  2.2.  & 
 
 3  24. 
 
 e  ch.  7.  83. 
 «i  2  8.  3,  4 
 
 4  ch.  24.  S, 
 I),  10,  n. 
 Mic,  3.  8. 
 
 and  mounted  up  from  the  earth  in  my  sight . 
 when  they  went  out,  the  wheels  also  were  be- 
 side them,  and  evert/  otic  stood  at  the  door  of 
 the  east  gate  of  the  Lord's  house  ;  and  the 
 lory  of  the  God  of  Israel  was  over  tliem 
 above. 
 
 20  "  This  is  the  living  creature  that  I  saw 
 under  the  God  of  Israel  >"  by  the  river  of  Che- 
 bar; and  I  knew  that  they  ivere  the  cherubims. 
 
 21  "  Every  one  had  four  faces  apiece,  and 
 every  one  four  wings  ;  "  and  the  likeness  of  the 
 hands  of  a  man  teas  under  their  wings. 
 
 22  And  ''  the  likeness  of  their  faces  was  the 
 same  faces  which  I  saw  by  the  river  of  Chebar, 
 their  appearances  and  themselves  :  '  they  went 
 every  one  straight  forward. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 I  T/ic  presumption  of  the  princes.  4  Their  sin  and 
 judfjment,  13  Ezetiiil  complaining,  God  siiewetti 
 him  his  purpose  in  saving  a  remnant,  21  and  punistl' 
 itifj  tfte  wicked.  22  Ttie  glortj  of  God  /« aveth  t/te 
 city.     24  Ezekitl  is  retnrned  to  the  captivitij. 
 
 lyrOREOVER  "  the  spirit  lifted  me  up,  and 
 -'--'-  brought  me  unto  •>  the  east  gate  of  the 
 Lord's  house,  which  looketh  eastward:  and 
 behold  '  at  the  door  of  the  gate  five  and  twenty 
 men ;  among  whom  I  saw  Jaazaniah  the  son 
 of  Azur,  and  Pelatiah  the  son  of  Benaiah, 
 princes  of  the  people. 
 
 2  Then  said  he  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  these 
 are  the  men  that  devise  mischief,  and  give 
 wicked  counsel  in  this  city  : 
 
 3  Which  say,  ||  It  is  not  ''  near  ;  let  us  build 
 houses  :  "  this  city  is  the  caldron,  and  we  In: 
 the  flesh. 
 
 4  1  Therefore  prophesy  against  tlicm,  pro- 
 phesy, O  son  of  man. 
 
 3  And  '  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  fell  upon  me, 
 and  said  unto  me.  Speak  ;  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  ;  Thus  have  ye  said,  O  house  of  Israel  : 
 for  I  know  the  things  that  come  into  your 
 mind,  every  one  of  them. 
 
 6  ^  Ye  have  multiplied  your  slain  in  this 
 city,  and  ye  have  filled  the  streets  thereof 
 with  the  .slain. 
 
 7  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  Goo  ;  ^  Your 
 slain  whom  ye  have  laid  in  the  midst  of  it.  they 
 are  the  flesh,  and  this  city  is  the  caldron  : 
 '  but  I  will  bring  you  forth  out  of  the  midst 
 of  it. 
 
 8  Ye  have  feared  the  sword  :  and  I  will  bring 
 a  sword  upon  you,  saith  the  Lord  Gon. 
 
 9  And  I  will  bring  you  out  of  the  midst 
 thereof,  and   deliver   you   into   the   hands  of 
 
 leave. — Poole.  5.  Sound  nf  the  cherubims^  wings,  might  intimate 
 their  triumphant  admiration  of  tlie  justice  and  holiness  of  Gnd  in  these 
 awful  dispensations,  or  the  report  that  would  be  made  of  them  to  dis- 
 tant nations.— Sfoi(.  9,  itc.  .ind  when  I  looked— ^ee  chap.  i.  16— 18. 
 13.  O  wheel,  '?:'33n,  'the  roller.*  or  'a  chariot,'  or  'roll  od,'~.4.  Clarke; 
 or  '  move  round.' — Scott,  see  marg.  The  wheels  were  guided  as  by 
 vocal  direction. — Poole.  14.  Ererr/one  had/our  faces,  not  the  wheels, 
 but  the  living  creatures ;  the  face  of  a  cherub  being:  here  substituted 
 for  that  of  an  ox  in  the  former  vision,  (chap.  i.  10.)  It  is  generally 
 thought  that  the  cherubim  in  the  temple  were  delineated  with  the 
 countenances  of  oxen.  Yet  the  oxen  and  cherubim  are  separately 
 tnentioned  in  one  place,  (1  Kings,  vii.  29.)— Sco«.  Four  faces— see 
 chap.  1.  10,  notes.  18.  Stood  oper  the  cherubim,  not  on  the  mercy- 
 seat,  for  thither  he  returned  not,  but  over  the  cherubim,  or  living  crea- 
 tures, been  in  the  vision,  which  were  under  the  throne  in  the  firma- 
 
 ment of  heaven.— <7i7/.  19.  E''erp  one  stood— X\\e  prophet  saw,  in 
 vision,  the  congregation  gazing  with  astonishment  at  the  glory  now 
 departing.- Wi7.  Over  them  above,  over  the  cherubim  and  the  wheels. 
 — Gill.  These  stood,  respiting,  executing,  and  giving  the  opportunity 
 of  preventing  the  approaching  misery. — Poole. 
 
 CiTAp.  ,\l.—  1.  Princes  of  the  people,  members  of  the  great  sanhe- 
 drim.—PreA.  Lowth.  3.  It  is  not  near,  that  is,  the  destruction  of  the 
 city.  The  caldron,  laughing  at  the  prophet,  who  compared  them  to  a 
 boiling  pot,  (Jer.  i.  13.)— Gill.  Caldrons  were  long  boilers,  used  at  the 
 foot  of  Mount  Olivet,  and  other  places,  to  cook  the  peace  offerings  of 
 the  temple.— S«(.  As  if  they  had  said,  'Jerusalem  is  the  pot,  we  the 
 flesh  to  be  boiled  therein ;  however,  this  will  take  up  some  time.' — 
 Poole.  6.  Your  slain,  '  your  soldiers  ;'  their  military  force. — Ken. 
 Prophets,  and  also  other  innocent  persons,  in  the  times  of  Manasseh, 
 (2  Kings,  xxi.  16.)— GiH.  7.  Bring  you  forth,   for  further  punish- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.    X. —This  chapter  leads  us  to  re-  departed." 
 
 fleet  on—I.  God's  ordinances, -mi  the  awful  consequences  of  II.  God's  providences,  a.nd  his  constant  superintendence  of 
 
 losing  them.    Letus  liighlyvaluethemwhile  we  possessthom,  all  events.     How  ample  soever  may  be  the  motions  nf  the 
 
 lest  the  candlestick  be  taken  out  of  its  place,  and  on  the  doors  wheel,  it  is  his  voice  that  commands  them,  and  says,  '  Wove 
 
 ot  our  forsaken  temples  be  written,  '  Ichabod.'  '  the  clnry  is  on.' 
 858 
 
God's  purpose  in  suviny  a  remti/iul. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XII. 
 
 Tlie  type  of  Ezekiel's  removing. 
 
 strangers,  and  '  will  execute  judgments  among 
 you. 
 
 10  'Ye  shall  fall  by  the  sword  ;  I  will  judge 
 you  in  ""  the  border  of  Israel ;  "  and  ye  shall 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  °  This  city  shall  not  be  your  caldron,  nei- 
 ther shall  ye  be  the  flesh  in  the  midst  thereof; 
 but  I  will  judge  you  in  the  border  of  Israel  : 
 
 VI  And  ■'  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord  : 
 II  for  ye  have  not  walked  in  my  statutes,  nei- 
 ther executed  my  judgments,  but  ''have  done 
 after  the  manners  of  the  heathen  that  are  round 
 about  you. 
 
 )  3  If  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  I  prophesied, 
 that  '  Pelatiah  the  son  of  Benaiah  died.  Then 
 '^  fell  I  down  upon  my  face,  and  cried  with  a 
 loud  voice,  and  said.  Ah  Lord  God!  wilt  thou 
 make  a  full  end  of  the  remnant  of  Israel? 
 
 14  Again  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  .raying, 
 
 15  Sou  of  man,  thy  brethren,  even  thy  bre- 
 thren, the  men  of  thy  kindred,  and  all  the  house 
 of  Israel  wholly,  are  they  unto  whom  the  in- 
 habitants of  .lerusalem  have  said.  Get  you  far 
 from  the  Lord  :  unto  us  is  this  land  given  in 
 possession. 
 
 16  Therefore  say.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ; 
 Although  I  have  cast  them  far  off  among  the 
 heathen,  and  although  I  have  scattered  them 
 among  the  countries,'  yet  will  I  be  to  them  as 
 a  little  sanctuary  in  the  countries  where  they 
 shaO  come. 
 
 17  Therefore  say.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ; 
 "  I  will  even  gather  you  from  the  people,  and 
 assemble  you  out  of  the  countries  where  ye 
 have  been  scattered,  and  I  will  give  you  the 
 land  of  Israel. 
 
 IS  And  they  shall  come  thither,  and  'they 
 shall  take  away  all  the  detestable  things  thereof 
 and  all  the  abominations  thereof  from  thence. 
 
 19  And  '  I  will  give  them  one  heart,  and  I 
 will  put  ^  a  new  spirit  vvitliin  you  ;  and  I  will 
 take  °  the  stony  heart  out  of  their  flesh,  and 
 will  give  them  an  heart  of  flesh  : 
 
 20  ''  That  they  may  walk  in  my  statutes,  and 
 keep  mine  ordinances,  and  do  them  :  "  and 
 they  shall  be  my  people,  and  1  will  be  their 
 God. 
 
 01  But  UK  for  them  whose  heart  walketh  after 
 the  heart  of  their  detestable  things  and  their 
 abominations,  •^  I  will  recompense  their  way 
 upon  their  own  heads,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 •22  IT  Then  did  the  cherubims  "  lift  up  their 
 
 ;  -2  Kin.  25 
 19,20.  gl. 
 Jer.  39.  6. ; 
 
 n  Ps.  9.  Iti. 
 ch,  6  7  & 
 13  y,  U,  31 
 
 II  See  vei-,  3 
 p  ver.  IC, 
 II  Or,  irliiiJi 
 
 havii  mil 
 
 mMeil. 
 7  Lev.  19.  3, 
 
 I>eu.  12.  30, 
 
 .SI.  ch.  8. 
 
 Ill,  14,  10. 
 r  ver    1. 
 
 Acts  5.  5. 
 t  cU.  9.  8. 
 
 1'^.  00.  I. 
 Si  91.9. 
 Is.  8.  II. 
 
 u  Jer.  24  6. 
 ch.2.S  2;>.& 
 31  13.  &36 
 
 V  Jer.  32.  39 
 ■  ch  3ii  2(i,27. 
 
 See  Zeph. 
 
 3,  9. 
 I  Pa.  .51.  10. 
 
 Jer.  31.  33. 
 
 &  32.  39. 
 
 ch.  18.  31. 
 It  Zech.  7.12. 
 b  Ps.  105.  45 
 c  Jer.  24.  7- 
 
 ch.l4.  II  Bt 
 
 88.  28.  & 
 
 37.  27. 
 
 rfch.  9 
 (<22   3 
 
 e  ch    1. 
 iii    10.   1 
 
 /ch  8.  4  & 
 9  3.  &  10. 1, 
 18.  &  43   4. 
 
 S  See  Zech. 
 14.  4. 
 
 h  ch.  43.  2. 
 
 ■  ch.  8.  3. 
 
 i  ch.  2.  S,  6. 
 7,  8.  tk  3.26, 
 
 b  Is.  6.  9.  & 
 
 12.  lio.  Jer. 
 5.  21.  Mat. 
 
 13.  IS,  14. 
 ch.  2  5. 
 Or,  itiHru- 
 
 mni/i. 
 
 t  lleh.  nslft* 
 !l„i,iij~fi.r(li 
 
 I"  uiiptniia 
 
 t  Hel)     Dig 
 
 fiK  lime. 
 
 d  la.  8.  18. 
 ch.  4.  3.  a 
 24.  24. 
 ver,  11. 
 
 I  Heb. 
 Digged  fur 
 
 cli.2   5. 
 
 /ch.  17.  12. 
 
 &  24.  19. 
 
 wings,  and  the  wheels  beside  them  ;  and  the 
 glory  of  the  God  of  Israel  was  over  them 
 above. 
 
 23  And  <■  the  glory  of  the  Lord  went  up  from 
 the  midst  of  the  city,  and  stood  ^  upon  the 
 mountain  •■  which  is  on  the  east  side  of  the 
 city. 
 
 24  If  Afterwards  '  the  spirit  took  me  up, 
 and  brought  me  in  a  vision  by  the  Spirit  of 
 God  into  Chaldea,  to  them  of  the  captivity. 
 So  the  vision  that  I  had  seen  went  up  from  me. 
 
 25  Then  I  spake  unto  them  of  the  captivity 
 all  the  things  that  the  Lord  had  shewed  me. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 I  The  ty^ye  of  Ezekiel's  removim/.  8  It  s/tewed  the 
 captivity  of  Zedehiali.  17  EzekieVs  trembling  sliew- 
 eth  ttie  Jtws' desolation,  21  The  Jews' presumptuous 
 proverb  is  reproved.     26  2V(e  speediness  oftlie  vision. 
 
 T^HE  word  of  the  Lord  also  came  unto  me, 
 -•-    saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  thou  dwellest  in  the  midst  of 
 "  a  rebellious  house,  which  ''  have  eyes  to  see, 
 and  see  not ;  tliey  have  ears  to  hear,  and  hear 
 not :  "  for  they  are  a  rebellious  house. 
 
 3  Therefore,  thou  son  of  man,  prepare  thee 
 
 II  stuff  for  removing,  and  remove  by  day  in 
 their  sight ;  and  thou  shalt  remove  from  thy 
 place  to  another  place  in  their  sight :  it  may 
 be  they  will  consider,  though  they  be  a  rebel- 
 lious house. 
 
 4  Then  shalt  thou  bring  forth  thy  stuff  by 
 day  in  their  sight,  as  stuff  for  removing  :  and 
 thou  shalt  go  forth  at  even  in  their  sight,  f  as 
 they  that  go  forth  into  captivity. 
 
 5  t  Dig  thou  through  the  wall  in  their  sight, 
 and  carry  out  thereby. 
 
 6  In  their  sight  shalt  thou  bear  it  upon  thy 
 shoulders,  am/  carry  it  forth  in  the  twilight  : 
 thou  shalt  cover  thy  face,  that  thou  see  not  the 
 ground  :  ''  for  1  have  set  thee  for  a  sign  unto 
 the  house  of  Israel. 
 
 7  And  I  did  so  as  I  was  commanded  :  I 
 brought  forth  my  stuft'  by  day,  as  stuff  for  cap- 
 tivity, and  in  the  even  I  f  digged  through  the 
 wall  with  mine  hand  ;  I  brought  it  forth  in  the 
 twilight,  and  I  bare  it  upon  my  shoulder  in 
 their  sight. 
 
 8  If  And  in  the  morning  came  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 9  Son  of  man,  hath  not  the  house  of  Israel, 
 "  the  rebellious  house,  said  unto  thee,  '  What 
 doest  thou? 
 
 meni.— Pre/).  Lowth.  10.  Border,  Hamath,  where  the  sons  of  Zede- 
 kiah  and  all  the  princes  were  slain,  (Jer.  lii.  9,  10.)  This  was  ou  the 
 border  of  the  land,  (Num.  X-VXiv.  8,  11.)— GiH.  13.  Pelatiah,  one  of 
 
 tlie  princes  of  the  people  before  mentioned.  The  prophet  saw  this  in 
 vision,  though,  doubtless,  the  occurrence  then  tool<  place.  —  Gill. 
 15.  Till/  brethren,  '  thy  fellow  captives.'— Cfi^  16.  A  tittle  sanctuary, 
 •  a  sanctuar)*  for  a  little  time.'— ATeice.  Though  they  were  at  a  dis. 
 tance  from  the  great  sanctuary,  the  temple,  the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 
 salem boasted  of,  yet  the  Lord  would  make  up  the  want  of  that  to  tliem 
 with  himself.— Oi7;.  17.  Gather  you,  partially  fujfillcil  at  the  return 
 from  captivity,  but  especially  looked  for  at  the  Keneral  restoration. — So 
 Preb.  Lowth.  IS.  Detestable  things,  idols.— Gi((.  23.  Went  up  from 
 the  7ni(ist,  emblematical  that  God  would  desert  Jerusalem.— iVewc. 
 Mountain — c/M-/,  Olivet. — Preb^  Lowth. 
 Chap.  Xli.  —  'i.  A  rebellious  house,   the  captives  in  Babylon,  who 
 
 murmured  at  their  c.mdition,  and  looked  on  Jerusalem  as  happy,  and 
 to  continue  so,  believing  the  false  rather  than  the  true  prophets. — Gill, 
 as  St,  Jerome,  3.  Stu^,  instruments,  furniture,  goods,  whatever  is 
 fitting  for  a  long  journey. — Neu-c,  4.  Shalt  bring  forth  thy  staff  hy 
 day,  this  seems  to  have  been  not  a  mere  vision. — So  Watertand,  Go 
 forth  at  even,  the  baggage  of  caravans  is  carried  out  in  the  day  time, 
 and  loaded  in  the  evening,  for  night  tr  ivelling,  to  avoid  the  heat. — So 
 Sir  J.  Chardin.  5.  The  trail  of  the  house,  where  he  was,  as  an  em- 
 blem of  the  city  of  Jerusalem  closely  besieged,  from  whence  there  was 
 no  escape  but  by  digging  through  tiie  wall. — Gill,  It  must  be  remem- 
 bered, eastern  walls  were  of  mud  or  bricks,  dried  only  in  the  sun,  and 
 therefore  not  difficult  to  dig  through,  like  stone  or  burnt  brick. — Ed, 
 6.  Cover  thy  face,  to  shew  the  great  shame  and  confusion  of  the  fugitive 
 king  of  Judah. — So  Gill.  7-  Watt,  the  allusion  is  to  a.  cob  wall,  from 
 the  earliest  times  common  in  the  east.— Qwar*.  Rev.         g.  What  doest 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI.  —  I.  Infidelity  is  the  same  in  all 
 apes.  Ruin  was  impending  over  .lerusalem,  biit  inKdels  scoft'ed, 
 and  said,  'it  is  not  near.'  And  what  is  now  the  language  of 
 infidels?  'Where  is  the  promise  of  his  coming!  for  since 
 the  lathers  fell  asleep,  all  things  continue  as  they  were  from 
 the  beginning  of  the  creation.'  Thus,  though  they  have  the 
 well-authenticaled  examples  of  the  Hood  and  the  destruction 
 of  .Jerusalem  before  them,  vet  thev  still  mock  God  ami  laim-h 
 8j9 
 
 at  a  fulure  resurrection  and  judgment. 
 
 II.  (ii}d  is  the  sanctuary  of  his  people  in  all  places.  What  be 
 was  to  the  pious  captive  e-xiles  by  the  rivers  of  Babylon,  so 
 is  he  still  to  tliose  who  seek  his  face.  In  the  most  obscure 
 corner  of  the  world,  or  in  the  most  secluded  sick  chamber, 
 his  promise  is  fulfiWed — '  Where  two  or  three  are  gathered  to- 
 gether in  my  name,  there  am  1  in  the  midst  of  them. ' 
 
The  Jews'  desolution  foreshewn. 
 
 EZEK.IEL,  Mil. 
 
 Tlie  repriiof  fj  It/ing  prophets. 
 
 10  Say  thou  iintu  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  ;  This  ^  burden  concerneth  tlie  prince  iu 
 Jerusalem,  and  all  the  house  of  Israel  that  are 
 among  them. 
 
 1 1  Say,  "  I  am  your  sign  :  like  as  I  have 
 done,  so  shall  it  be  done  unto  them  :  f'they 
 shall  remove  and  go  into  captivity. 
 
 12  And  '  the  prince  that  !s  among  them  shall 
 bear  upon  his  .'.houlder  in  the  twilight,  and 
 shall  go  forth  :  they  shall  dig  through  the  wall 
 to  carry  out  thereby  :  he  shall  cover  his  face, 
 that  he  see  not  the  ground  with  his  eyes. 
 
 13  My  '  net  also  will  I  spread  upon  him,  and 
 he  shall  be  taken  in  my  snare :  and  "  I  will 
 bring  hi[n  to  Babylon  to  the  land  of  the  Chal- 
 deans ;  yet  shall  he  not  see  it,  though  he  shall 
 die  there. 
 
 14  And"!  will  scatter  toward  every  wind  all 
 that  are  about  him  to  help  him,  and  all  his 
 bands  ;  and  °  I  will  draw  out  the  sword  after 
 them. 
 
 15  'And  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord, 
 when  I  shall  scatter  them  among  the  nations, 
 and  disperse  them  in  the  countries. 
 
 16  ''  But  I  will  leave  f  a  few  men  of  them 
 from  the  sword,  from  the  famine,  and  from  the 
 pestilence ;  that  they  may  declare  all  their 
 abominations  among  the  heathen  whither  they 
 come  ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
 Loud. 
 
 17  t  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 to  me,  saying, 
 
 18  Son  of  man,  'eat  thy  bread  with  quaking, 
 and  drink  thy  water  with  trembling  and  with 
 carefulness  ; 
 
 IS)  And  say  unto  the  people  of  the  land, 
 Thn.s  saith  the  Lord  God  of  the  inhabitants  of 
 Jerusalem,  and  of  the  land  of  Israel  ;  They 
 shall  eat  their  bread  with  carefulness,  and 
 drink  their  water  with  astonishment,  that  her 
 land  may  '  be  desolate  from  f  all  tliat  is  there- 
 in, '  because  of  the  violence  of  all  them  that 
 dwell  therein. 
 
 20  And  the  cities  that  are  inhabited  shall  be 
 laid  waste,  and  the  land  sliall  be  desolate  ; 
 and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 21  t  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 22  Son  of  man,  what  is  that  proverb  that  ye 
 have  in  the  land  of  Israel,  saying,  "  The  days 
 are  prolonged,  and  every  vision  faileth  ? 
 
 A  ver.  0 
 t  Heb,  by 
 
 inla  cap- 
 
 livitl/. 
 I  2  Kill.  25 
 
 4,  5.  7. 
 k  Jer  39-  4. 
 
 /  Jnb  19   C 
 Lam   1.  13 
 Jer.  62  9 
 cb.  17.  211 
 
 m  2  Kin  2!>- 
 ;.  Jer.  52. 
 11.  ch.  17. 
 16. 
 
 fi  2  Kill.  25 
 4,  5   cb.  5 
 
 1  er    16,  2ii. 
 7  ch.  6.  8,  9, 
 
 t  Heb.  Tuni 
 of  itHmttrr. 
 
 •  Zech.7.U. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 X  Joel  2    I 
 Zepli   I.  It 
 
 If  cb.  13    23 
 s  Lam   2  U. 
 
 a  la   55    II 
 ver  2f1- 
 Dan   9    12 
 Luke21.SS 
 
 b  ver-  22. 
 c  2  Pet.  3.  4 
 
 ^  ver.  17. 
 
 T  Heb   ttifm 
 tbnt  nrt  pio- 
 ,,l.,u„.,.f 
 tittir  o^» 
 hfarli. 
 
 b  Jer-  II    !+. 
 ^•y.l    lfi.26 
 
 t  llcb.  mik 
 
 Ofl^T. 
 
 I,    Or,  'lid 
 
 tCflJ. 
 
 c  Cant-  2-  1 
 d  Ps  H)f.  y 
 .SO.  Cb.  22 
 
 t  Heb 
 b<-dse:!  Ih^ 
 
 23  Tell  them  therefore.  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  ;  1  will  make  this  proverb  to  cease,  and 
 they  shall  no  more  use  it  as  a  proverb  in  Israel ; 
 but  say  unto  them,  "The  days  are  at  hand,  and 
 the  effect  of  every  vision. 
 
 24  For  ^  there  shall  be  no  more  any  ^  vain 
 vision  nor  flattering  divination  within  tlie  house 
 of  Israel. 
 
 2j  For  I  am  the  Lord  :  I  will  speak,  and 
 °  the  word  that  I  shall  speak  shall  come  to 
 pass  ;  it  shall  be  no  more  prolonged  :  for  in 
 your  days,  O  rebellious  house,  will  1  say  the 
 word,  and  will  perform  it,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 26  H  Again  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to 
 me,  saying, 
 
 27  ''  Son  of  man,  behold,  they  of  the  house 
 of  Israel  say.  The  vision  that  he  seeth  is  '  for 
 many  days  to  come,  and  he  prophesieth  of  the 
 times  that  are  far  off. 
 
 28  ''Therefore  say  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  ;  There  shall  none  of  my  words  be 
 prolonged  any  more,  but  the  word  which  I 
 have  spoken  shall  be  done,  saith  the  Lord 
 God 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 I  The  reproof  of  lyinfj  propficts,  10  and  their  untrni- 
 perett  morttr.  1 7  Of  prophettsses  and  their  pil- 
 lows. 
 
 ND  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me, 
 saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  prophesy  against  the  prophets 
 of  Israel  that  prophesy,  and  say  thou  unto 
 "  t  them  that  prophesy  out  of  their  own  ''  hearts. 
 Hear  ye  the  word  of  the  Lord  ; 
 
 3  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Woo  unto  the 
 foolish  prophets,  that  f  follow  their  own  spirit, 
 
 II  and  have  seen  nothing! 
 
 4  O  Israel,  thy  prophets  are  '  like  the  foxes 
 in  the  deserts. 
 
 3  Ye  ''  have  not  gone  up  into  the  ||  gaps, 
 neither  f  made  up  the  hedge  for  the  house  of 
 Israel  to  stand  in  the  battle  in  the  day  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 6  "  They  have  seen  vanity  and  lying  divina- 
 tion, saying.  The  Lord  saith  :  and  the  Lord 
 hath  not  sent  them  :  and  they  have  made 
 others  to  hope  that  they  would  confirm  the 
 word. 
 
 7  Have  ye  not  seen  a  vain  vision,  and  have 
 ye  not  spoken  a  lying  divination,  whereas  ye 
 
 A 
 
 thou? — the  prophet's  actions  attracted  attention ;  and  perhaps  many 
 asked  the  question  in  derision. — Pveb.  Lnwtk.  10.  T/tpprince,  Zede- 
 kiah. — Preb.  Lowth,  &c.  12.  Upon  his  shoulder  in  twilii:ht,  ^c,  the 
 
 king  himself  would  flee  from  the  conquerors  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening', 
 with  a  burden  on  his  shoulder  and  a  covering;  on  his  face,  in  order  to 
 disguise  himself;  whilst  his  attendants  would  breakthrough  the  wall 
 to  forward  his  escape. — Scott.  Div^—iot  the  fact,  see  Jer.  xxxix.  4  ; 
 lii.  7 ',  2  King?-,  x.w.  -i.  They  might  have  fled  through  a  breach  made 
 in  the  wall, — Kewcome;  or  in  a  gate  walled  up  during  the  siege. — 
 Mich.  13.  .fl/y  7iet,  fyc,  I  will  bring  his  enemies  upon  him,  who 
 
 shall  encompass  him  and  stop  his  flight,  as  when  a  wild  beast  is 
 entangleii  in  a  net,  (2  Kings,  xxv.  5—";  comp.  chap.  xvii.  20;  xix. 
 8;  xxxii,  3,  of  this  prophecy.) — Preh.  Louth.  Not  see  it  —  he  saw 
 the  king,  but  not  Babylon,  for  his  eyes  were  put  out.  —  So  Scott. 
 16.  Declare,  ^c.  —  'justify  my  proceedings  against  them.*  —  Preh. 
 Lowth.  18.   With  quaking — by  this  action  the  prophet  is  di- 
 
 rected to  represent  the  terror,  want,  and  misery  of  the  Israelites 
 
 in   the   siege. — Cat.  \g.  Land  of  Israel — see  chap.   vit.   2,   note. 
 
 22.  Every  vision  fiiHeth,  every  propliecy  comes  to  nothing.  —  Wi//. 
 See  chap.  xi.  3,  note.  23.  The  effect,  every  prophecy  shall  be  fulfilled. 
 —Gill.  The  signs  and  prophecies  of  Ezekiel  were  intended  to  destroy 
 the  fond  hopes  of  tlie  captives  that  they  might  soon  again  see  Jeru- 
 salem.— Sut. 
 
 Chap.  XIII. — 2.  Out  of  their  own  hearts,  ■w'W.'hont  being  inspired  or 
 called. — Cal.  3.  Have  seen  nothini!,  only  pretended  to  n.  velations. — 
 Gill.  4.  Like  the  foxes,  hungry  and  ravening,  crafty  and  guileful. — 
 Poole.  b.  Into  the  gaps,  stood  in  the  gap  or  bnach,  as  expressed 
 chap.  xxii.  30;  Ps.  cvi.  23;  wliich  passage  alludes  to.Mo-^cs'  successful 
 inierccssion  for  Israel  when  God  was  about  to  strike  in  the  affair  of  the 
 golden  calf,  (see  Exod.  xxxii.  10,  II.)  The  phrase  is  taken  from  those 
 that  put  a  stop  to  the  enemy  when  he  is  just  entering  in  at  the  breach. 
 Neither  made  up  the  hedge,  or  fortification.  (Ps.  Ixii.  3 ;)  an  expression 
 taken  from  repairing  a  breach  when  made  by  an  enemy.— So  Preb. 
 Loicth,       6.  Would  cojifirm  the  word,  or  '  ihat  the  word  would  be  con- 
 
 Refi.fctions    on   Chap.    XII I.  *  Tt   is  often  a  painful 
 
 trial  to  the  faithful  servants  of  God  that  they  arc  constrained  to 
 dwell  anionp  those  who  are  most  rebellious  against  him.  Men  have 
 eyes,  ears,  and  understandings;  but,  as  fallen  and  apostate 
 creatures,  they  are  utterly  destitute  of  a  disposition  to  make 
 a  proper  use  of  tbem,  or  of  the  advantages  wliich  they  enjoy. 
 This  is  the  essence  of  their  rebellion,  and  cannot  possibly  be 
 allowed  as  an  excuse  for  it  :  U  counteracts  all  the  endeavours 
 o' God's  servants  to  instruct,  convince,  warn,  or  affect  them; 
 and  it  often  discourages  them  from  repeating  the  unsuccessful 
 860 
 
 attempt ;  though  they  should  not  yield  to  despondency,  for 
 none  can  know  but  that  those  may  hereafter  consider  who  have 
 been  hitherto  most  rebellious. 
 
 II.  '  It  is  a  grievous  sign  of  deep  degeneracy  when  profane,  in- 
 fidelf  and  immoral  speeches  become  proverbial ;  but  the  Lord  notices 
 them,  and  will  call  to  accottnt  those  who  use  them;  and  wiU  at 
 length  put  them  to  silence  and  shame.  However  men  may  wil- 
 fully mistake  reprieves  for  pardons,  and  the  Lord's  long-suf- 
 fering for  "  the  failure  of  the  vision,"  the  days  are  at  hand 
 when  tiiey  will  find  every  word  of  God  to  take  effect.' « 
 
The  lying  propheCs  untempered  morter. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XIII. 
 
 Of  false  prophetesses. 
 
 say,    The  Lobd  saitli  it;   albeit   I   have  not 
 spoken  ? 
 
 6  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 cause ye  have  spoken  vanity,  and  seen  lies, 
 therefore,  behold,  I  am  against  you,  saith  the 
 Lord  God. 
 
 9  And  mine  hand  sliall  be  upon  the  prophets 
 that  see  vanity,  and  that  divine  lies  :  they 
 shall  not  be  in  the  ||  assembly  of  my  people, 
 ''neither  shall  they  be  written  in  the  writing  of 
 the  house  of  Israel,  ^  neither  shall  they  enter 
 into  the  land  of  Israel;  "and  ye  shall  know 
 that  I  am  the  Lord  God. 
 
 10  1i  Because,  even  because  they  have  se- 
 duced my  people,  saying,  '  Peace  ;  and  there 
 was  no  peace  ;  and  one  built  up  ||  a  wall,  and, 
 lo,  others  ^  daubed  it  with  untempered  morter: 
 
 1 1  Say  unto  them  whicli  daub  it  with  untem- 
 pered morter,  that  it  shall  fall  :  '  there  shall  be 
 an  overflowing  shower ;  and  ye,  O  great  hail- 
 stones, shall  fall  ;  and  a  stormy  wind  shall 
 rend  it. 
 
 12  Lo,  when  the  wall  is  fallen,  shall  it  not  be 
 said  unto  you,  Where  is  the  daubing  where- 
 with ye  have  daubed  it  f 
 
 13  Tlierefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  I 
 will  even  rend  it  with  a  stormy  wind  in  my 
 fury  ;  and  tliere  shall  be  an  overflowing  shower 
 in  mine  anger,  and  great  hailstones  in  my  fury 
 to  consume  it. 
 
 14  So  will  I  break  down  the  wall  that  ye 
 have  daubed  with  untempered  morter,  and 
 bring  it  down  to  the  ground,  so  that  the  foun- 
 dation thereof  shall  be  discovered,  and  it  shall 
 fall,  and  ye  shall  be  consumed  in  the  midst 
 thereof:  "'and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
 
 LOKD. 
 
 15  Thus  will  I  accomplish  my  wrath  upon 
 the  wall,  and  upon  tliem  that  have  daubed  it 
 with  untempered  morter,   and  will  say  unto 
 
 /  Ezra  2  59. 
 
 62.  Neh.  7. 
 
 5,  Pb.  89. 
 
 29. 
 g  cli.  20.  33. 
 /i  ch.  11.10, 
 
 II  Or,  a  tlishl 
 wall, 
 k  cli.  22. 
 
 (  ch.  39.  22. 
 Ecclus.  49, 
 
 '71  ver.  9.21, 
 23.  ch.  14.8. 
 
 I  Jer.  6.  H. 
 
 &26   9. 
 
 o  ch.  20.  46. 
 
 &  21    2. 
 p  ver,  2. 
 
 II  Or,  <W..a< 
 
 9  2  Pet.  2 
 14. 
 
 r  See  Pro. 
 2S  21. 
 Mic.  3.  6. 
 
 II  Or,  into 
 garilcu- 
 
 I  Jer.  23.  14. 
 il  Or,  th<tt  I 
 
 tlwulii  aave 
 
 hit  lifi. 
 t  Heb.  4» 
 
 y"  ickeniiig 
 
 him. 
 H  ver.  6,  Ac 
 
 ch.  12.  24. 
 
 Mic  S  tj. 
 X  ver.  9. 
 
 ch.  14.  8.  & 
 
 15.7. 
 
 you,  The  wall  is  no  more,  neither  they  that 
 daubed  it ; 
 
 16  To  wit,  the  prophets  of  Israel  which  pro- 
 phesy concerning  Jerusalem,  and  which  °  see 
 visions  of  peace  for  her,  and  there  is  no  peace, 
 saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 17  If  Likewise,  tliou  son  of  man,  °  set  thy  face 
 against  the  daughters  of  thy  people,  ''which 
 prophesy  out  of  their  own  heart ;  and  prophesy 
 thou  against  them, 
 
 18  And  say.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  Woe 
 to  the  women  that  sew  pillows  to  all  ||  arm- 
 holes,  and  make  kerchiefs  upon  the  head  of 
 every  stature  to  hunt  souls  !  Will  ye  '  hunt 
 the  souls  of  my  people,  and  will  ye  save  the 
 souls  alive  that  come  unto  you? 
 
 19  And  will  ye  pollute  me  among  my  people 
 '  for  baudfuls  of  barley  and  for  pieces  of  bread, 
 to  slay  the  souls  that  sliould  not  die,  and  to 
 save  the  souls  alive  that  should  not  live,  by 
 your  lying  to  my  people  that  hear  your  lies  ? 
 
 20  Wherefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  Be- 
 hold, I  ant  against  your  pillows,  wherewith  ye 
 there  hunt  the  souls  ||  to  make  them  fly,  and 
 I  will  tear  them  from  your  arms,  and  will  let 
 the  souls  go,  even  the  souls  that  ye  hunt  to 
 make  them  fly. 
 
 21  Your  kerchiefs  also  will  I  tear,  and  de- 
 liver my  people  out  of  your  hand,  and  they 
 shall  be  no  more  in  your  hand  to  be  hunted ; 
 '  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 22  Because  with  lies  ye  have  made  tlie  heart 
 of  the  righteous  sad,  whom  I  have  not  made 
 sad  ;  and  '  strengthened  the  hands  of  the 
 wicked,  that  he  should  not  return  from  his 
 wicked  way,  ||tby  promising  him  life  : 
 
 23  Therefore  "ye  shall  see  no  more  vanity, 
 nor  divine  divinations  :  for  I  will  deliver  my 
 people  out  of  your  hand  :  ^  and  ye  shall  know 
 that  I  a7n  the  Lord. 
 
 firmed.'— J(m.,  Trent.,  Pise.  Q.  Not  be  in  the  ussembly,  not  members 
 of  Gnd's  church.  In  Vie  wnting,  ^c,  an  allusion  to  the  registers  kept 
 of  the  members  of  any  city  or  corporation,  which  register  is  the  gua- 
 rantee for  their  privileges,  (corap.  Exod.  xxxii.  32;  Ps.  Ixix.  28  ;  Ezra, 
 ii.  62;    Luke,  X.  20;    Pbil.  iv.3;    Heb.  xii.  23.)  \fi.  Built— daubed, 
 
 9fc.,  raised  up  only  seeming  securities,  like  a  wall  without  cement. — So 
 Pi-eb.  Lfiwth.  The  Hebrews  sometimes  plastered  tlieir  walls. — Pict. 
 Bib.  \\.  It  shall  full — a  shower  of  two  hours,  penetrating  the  walls, 
 built  only  with  palm  branches,  mud,  and  tiles  baked  in  the  sun,  caused 
 the  faU  of  several  houses  at  Tozer,  a  place  in  the  east,  in  1727. — Dr. 
 Sliuw.  The  walls  are  plastered  w  ith  mortar,  but  this  dissolving  with 
 wet,  admits  the  rain  ;  the  wind  then  cracks  the  building,  and  some  suc- 
 ceeding shower  dissolves  the  whole. —Sir  J.  Chardin.  13.  Stormy 
 rvind — shower — hailstones,  tliese  metaphors  foretel  the  destruction  of 
 Jerusalem  by  the  Chaldean  army. — Preb.  Lowth,  17.  Daughters, 
 false  prophetesses ;  for  as  there  were  women,  in  some  ages,  who  had 
 the  true  spirit  of  prophecy,  as  Miriam,  Deborah,  and  Huldah,  so  there 
 were  somo  who  pretende.1  to  it  who  had  it  not,  as  Noadiah,  in  the  times 
 of  Nehcmiah,  (Neh.  vi.  14,)  and  such  there  were  in  the  times  of  Ezekiel. 
 — Gill,  as  Cul.  18.  Seu'  pillows  to  all  armholes,  *  fit  cushions  to  all 
 elbows.' — Wnterland.  '  Put  pillows  to  all  elbows.' — Calv.  Under  their 
 hearers*  elbows,  to  lean  easily,  or  rest  securely. — Preb.  Lowth.  Lad?/ 
 M.  W.  Montague  describes  the  eastern  sofa  as  raised  about  two  feet 
 from  the  ground,  having  two  rows  of  cushions,  large  and  small,  next 
 the  walls  ;  and  '  these  seats,*  she  observes,  '  are  so  convenieut  and  easy, 
 that  I  believe  I  shall  never  endure  chairs  again  as  long  as  I  live.' 
 Hence,  without  doubt,  this  figure. — Ed.  The  rich  Hindoos  sit  on  mats, 
 and  have  large  pillows  at  tht;ir  backs  on  which  they  rest  their  arms.— 
 
 Ward.  Make  kerchiefs,  Sfc. — the  kerchiefs  were  probably  of  silk,  very 
 elegant,  and  adapted  to  persons  of  every  stature.  Some  think  that  they 
 were  used  as  amulets  or  charms.  At  least,  they  were  intended  to 
 attract,  and  to  draw  persons  into  idolatry. —  Wit.  Probably  this  alludes 
 to  some  kind  of  amulet  or  charm,  which  they  employed  to  entice  peo- 
 ple into  their  snares.  These  women,  for  lucre,  woidd  tell  every  man 
 liis  fortune,  giving  them  pillows  to  lean  on,  and  kerchiefs  to  cover  their 
 head,  to  the  intent  that  they  might  more  allure  them. — Srott.  The 
 easterns  had,  and  still  have,  frequent  amulets  and  ribands  of  charms, 
 which  they  put  principally  on  their  hands  and  heads.  Such  charms 
 these  female  prophets  fabricated,  and,  as  appears,  attributed  to  them 
 the  power  of  preserving  the  lives  of  those  who  wore  them,  and  of  bring- 
 ing death  on  their  enemies. — Mick.  The  word  rtin^DtD,  translated  here 
 *  kerchiefs,'  signifies  '  hunting  nets,'  and  thus  accords  with  the  expres- 
 sion, 'hunt  souls.* — Cat.  Hunt  souls,  drive  them  into  their  nets  and 
 make  them  their  prey. — Preb.  Lowth.  19.  For  handfuls  of  barley,  a 
 proverbial  expression  for  the  humblest  presents. — Newc.  Pieces  of 
 bread,  the  meanest  reward,  (Prov.  xxvi-.i.  21.) — Preb.  Lowth,  20.  To 
 makethemfly,  'and  ensnare  them.' — Boothr.  rnms*?, '  into  the  flower 
 gardens;'  'hunt  the  souls  into  the  flower  gardens.'  These  seem  to 
 have  been  places  consecrated  to  idolatrous  worship,  (comp.  Isa.  i.  29  ; 
 Ixv.  3  ;  Ixvi.  1/;)  probably  here  the  impure  rites  of  Venus  were  per- 
 formed, and  to  these  the  pretended  prophetesses  decoyed  persons  to 
 their  destruction. — Par.  '  To  make  them  fly,'  i.  e.,  that  they  may  escape, 
 the  Lord  would  take  away  the  cushions  and  other  instruments  of  seduc- 
 tion, that  his  people  might  escape  their  snares. — Newc,  Wil.  '  To 
 make  them  fly,'  that  is,  the  prophetesses  would  make  them  fly  or  run 
 into  those  snares  laid  for  them,  (ver.  18.) — Preb.  Lowth, 
 
 RirLimoNS  ox   Chap.   XIII This  chapter  exhibits  to 
 
 us — 1.  Falsi-  projihels,  '  Cowardly,  unprofitable,  and  deceitful 
 as  foxes.'  Pniyerless— never  venturing  into  the  gap  to  im- 
 plore the  Divine  mercy ;  deceiving  by  their  false  prophecies  ; 
 saying,  'peace,  vihere  there  is  do  peace;'  and  laying  false 
 grounds  of  comfort,  and  alluring  to  ease  and  criminal  plea- 
 sures, that  they  miiy  benefit  by  the  people's  credulity,  and 
 oblain  their  b;indfuls  of  barley  and  pieces  of  bread.  Oh,  the 
 criminality  of  those  who  tiius  prophesy  smooth  things  to  their 
 hearers, — extol  virtue  as  if  it  were  meritorious, — lessen  sin, 
 as  if  it  were  no  infinite  evil,  as  committed  against  an  infinite 
 God,— and  misrepresent  the  Divine  Being,  us  if  he  were  des- 
 8J1 
 
 titute  of  justice,  notwithstanding  his  word  declares  that  he 
 will  punish  the  guilty  ! 
 
 II,  TJte  punisfimetit  of  false  prop/iets.  Gnd  is  against  them, 
 and  they  have  need  to  tremble  at  the  thought  of  having  the 
 Almighty  for  an  enemy.  His  hand  is  upon  them,  not  to  lead 
 them,  but  to  crush  them  ;  they  shall  form  do  part  of  his  church 
 here,  nor  have  their  names  enrolled  in  the  new  Jerusalem 
 above.  Their  false  grounds  of  comfort  siiuU  sink,  and  the 
 hopes  they  have  erected  shall  fall  like  the  wall  of  untem- 
 pered mortar  in  the  beating  stoim,  and  they,  with  those  thej 
 have  deceived,  shall  perish  iu  the  ruins. 
 
Idolaters  exhorted  to  repent. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XIV  ,  XV.  God's  irrevocable  sentence  against  sin. 
 
 CHAP.   XIV. 
 
 1  Goil  answereth  idolaturs  according  to  their  own  heart. 
 6  Thej/  are  crhorted  to  repent,  Jar  fear  of  judgments, 
 by  means  of  seduced  prop'iets.  12  God's  irrevocable 
 sentence  of  famine,  la  of  noisome  Ix^asts,  17  of  the 
 sword,  19  and  of  pestilence.  22  A  rannant  shall  be 
 reserved  for  example  of  others. 
 
 'T'HEN  *  came  certain  of  the  elders  of  Israel 
 -•-    unto  me,  and  sat  before  me. 
 2  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  roe, 
 
 saying, 
 
 ."5  Son  of  man,  these  men  have  set  up  their 
 idols  in  their  heart,  and  put  "^  the  stnnibling- 
 blcick  of  their  iniquity  before  their  face : 
 'should  I  be  enquired  of  at  all  by  them? 
 
 4  Therefore  speali  unto  them,  and  say  unto 
 them,  Tlius  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Every  man 
 of  the  house  of  Israel  that  setteth  up  his  idols 
 iu  his  heart,  and  pntteth  the  stumblinglilock  of 
 his  iniquity  before  liis  face,  and  couietli  to  the 
 prophet  ;  I  the  Lokd  v^ill  answer  him  that 
 Cometh  according  to  the  multitude  of  his 
 idols  ; 
 
 5  That  I  may  take  the  house  of  Israel  in 
 their  own  heart,  because  they  are  all  estranged 
 from  me  througli  tlieir  idols. 
 
 6  If  Therefore  say  unto  the  house  of  Israel, 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Repent,  and  turn 
 Wyourselvcs  from  your  idols  ;  and  turn  away 
 your  faces  from  all  your  abominations. 
 
 7  For  every  one  of  the  house  of  Israel,  or  of 
 the  stranger  tliat  sojournetli  in  Israel,  which 
 separateth  himself  from  me,  and  settetb  up  his 
 idols  in  his  heart,  and  putteth  the  stumbling- 
 block  of  his  iniquity  bel'ore  his  face,  and  conieth 
 to  a  prophet  to  inquire  of  him  concerning  me  ; 
 I  the  LoKD  will  answer  him  by  myself: 
 
 8  And  •"  I  will  set  my  face  against  that  man, 
 and  will  make  him  a  'sign  and  a  proverb,  and 
 I  will  cut  tiim  off  from  the  midst  of  mypeople  ; 
 'and  ye  .shall  know  that  I  «w  the  Lord. 
 
 9  And  if  the  prophet  be  deceived  when  he 
 hath  spoken  a  tiling,  I  the  Lord  ^  have  de- 
 ceived that  prophet,  and  I  will  stretcli  out  my 
 hand  u|ion  him,  and  will  destroy  him  from  the 
 midst  of  my  people  Israel. 
 
 10  And  they  shall  bear  the  punishment  of 
 their  iniquity  :  the  punishment  of  the  prophet 
 .shall  be  even  as  the  punishment  of  him  that 
 seeketh  iinlo  him ; 
 
 1 1  That  the  house  of  Israel  may  ^  go  no 
 more  astray  from  me,  neither  be  polluted  any 
 more  with  all  their  transgressions;  'but  that 
 they  may  be  my  people,  and  1  may  be  their 
 God,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 12  H  The  word  of  tlie  Lord  came  again  to 
 
 «ch.  8.  I.  Sc 
 so.  l.te  33. 
 
 6cli.  7    19. 
 ver.  ♦,  7. 
 
 d  Lev.  17. to. 
 
 &  -Hi.  :\.  ri.6. 
 
 .1.T  4-1.  11. 
 
 ch  \^  7 
 «  Nu.  -in   10 
 
 Deu.-ift.  37 
 
 ch.  5  16. 
 /th.  6.  7. 
 
 k  T,ev.  26.21) 
 Is.  3.  1  ch. 
 4.  IB.  St  5. 
 16. 
 
 /  Jer.  1.1    1 
 ver.    16.  IS, 
 iO.  See  Jer 
 7.  16.  fc  1 1 
 U.  >^H   II. 
 
 mPro.  11.4. 
 
 «  Lev.  26.22. 
 ch   S.  17. 
 II  Or,  berenne. 
 
 t  H.b.  w  rti 
 midxtofa. 
 
 q  ch  25  13 
 Zeph.  1.  3. 
 r  ver.  1* 
 
 me,  saying, 
 
 13  Son  of  man,  when  the  landsinneth  against 
 me  by  trespassing  grievously,  then  will  I  stretch 
 out  mine  hand  upon  it,  and  will  break  the 
 '  staff  of  the  bread  thereof,  and  will  send  fa- 
 mine upon  it,  and  will  cut  off  man  and  beast 
 from  it : 
 
 14  '  Though  these  three  men,  Noali,  Daniel, 
 and  Job,  were  in  it,  they  should  deliver  hut 
 their  own  souls  '"  by  their  righteousness,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 la  II  If  I  cause  "noisome  beasts  to  pass 
 through  the  land,  and  they  ||  spoil  it,  so  that 
 it  be  desolate,  that  no  man  may  pass  through 
 because  of  the  beasts  : 
 
 10  "  Thotiyh  these  three  men  were  ]\n  it,  as 
 I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  they  shall  deliver 
 neither  sons  nor  daughters ;  they  only  shall  be 
 delivered,  but  the  laud  sliall  be  desolate. 
 
 17  f  Or  if 'I  bring  a  sword  upon  that  laud, 
 and  say.  Sword,  go  through  the  land  ;  so  that 
 1  ''  cut  off  man  and  beast  from  it : 
 
 18  '  Though  these  three  men  uere  in  it,  as  I 
 live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  they  shall  deliver 
 neither  sous  nor  daugliters,  but  they  only  shall 
 be  delivered  themselves. 
 
 19  U  Or  z/I  send  'a  pestilence  into  that  land, 
 and  '  pour  out  my  fury  upon  it  in  blood,  to  cut 
 off  from  it  man  and  beast : 
 
 20  "  Though  Noah,  Daniel,  and  Job.  were  iu 
 it,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  they  shall  de- 
 liver neither  son  nor  daughter;  they  sliall  but 
 deliver  their  own  souls  by  their  righteousness. 
 
 21  I-'or  thus  saith  tlie  Lord  God  ;  ||  How 
 much  more  when  "  I  send  my  four  sore  judg- 
 ments upon  Jerusalem,  the  sword,  and  the 
 famine,  and  the  noisome  beast,  and  the  pesti- 
 lence, to  cut  off  from  it  man  and  beast? 
 
 22  t '  Yet,  behold,  therein  shall  be  left  a  rem- 
 nant that  shall  be  brought  h\th,buth  sons  and 
 daughters:  behold,  they  shall  come  forth  unto 
 you,  and  '  ye  shall  see  their  way  and  tlieir 
 doings  :  and  ye  shall  be  comforted  concerning 
 the  evil  that  I  have  brought  upon  Jerusalem, 
 even  concerning  all  that  I  have  brought  upon  it. 
 
 23  And  they  shall  comfort  you,  when  ye  see 
 their  ways  and  their  doings :  and  ye  shall 
 know  that  I  have  not  done  "without  cause  all 
 that  I  have  done  in  it,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP.   XV. 
 
 1    By  the  toijitness  oftlw  vine  hruncli  for  any  work  6  is 
 shelved  the  njiction  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 A  ND  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me, 
 ^^  saying, 
 2  Son  of  man,  What  is  the  vine  tree  more 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  1.  Snt  hefore  me — see  chap,  viii.  1,  note.  3.  Set  up 
 <fifir  idols,  ^c,  their  hearts  are  set  upon  them.  Put  the  stumbling, 
 block— before  their  face,  set  them  up  outwardly,  and  bnwcd  to  thera 
 and  worshipped  them.— Gi7/.  Should  I  he  enquired  of,  hence  it  seems, 
 their  idolatries  consisted  not  in  entirely  deserting,  but  in  polluting  with 
 foreign  worship  the  religion  nf  Moses.— VTrtrA.  4.  According  to  the 
 
 multitude,  ^c.  'they  multiplied  idols,  this  their  sin;  I  will  multiply 
 !j;^jr  sorrows.'— /^uo/e.  vVl^3  1T13  HI.  'with  the  multitude  of  his 
 idnls.' — Pag.,  Mont.  5.  Take — in  their  imm  heart,   'in  their  own 
 
 consciences.'— A'/'ft-r.  7.  Stranger,  proselyte.— GiV/.  8.  A  sign  and 
 n  proverb,  a  fearful  e.xample.— B;).  Hall.  Q.  Deceived,  permitted  liim 
 to  err,  or  justly  left  him  in  his  blindness.— Poo/e.       13.  By  trespassing 
 
 grievovsl^fh&ve  filled  up  the  measure  of  their  iniquities —Pr^A.  Luwth. 
 Staff  of  bread — see  chap.  iv.  16.  14.  Noah,  Daniel,  and  J«6.  all  these 
 
 persons  were  eminent  for  \>\Q\.y.—'Wnrb.  It  means,  the  iutcrcebsion  of 
 the  holiest  meu  should  not  avert  my  judgments. — A.  Clarkf.  19.  In 
 blood,  sometimes  denotes  war,  but  here  death  and  destruction,  though 
 not  by  the  sword. — Poo'e.  22.  See  their  wai/  and  their  doings,  ^c, 
 
 '  when  ye  see  their  spirit  and  conduct,  or  learn  it  by  their  contession  of 
 their  past  idolatries,  ye  shall  be  comforted  with  the  thought  that  1  have 
 spared  any,  for  ye  shall  know  that  1  have  not  thus  dealt  witli  tliem 
 without  cause.' — Bnothr. 
 
 CtiAP.   XV.  —  2.  The  vine  tree — Israel  is  often  compared  to  a  vine. — 
 Poole.     More  than  any  tree,  it  is  valuable,  indeed,  if  fruitful,  but  other- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIV 1.  We  here  see  the  neces-  Israel,  the  pleadings  of  sach  men  as  Noah,  Daniel,  and  Job, 
 
 sity  of  sincerity  and  sinyleness  of  heart  in  worship.     Let  us  fear  might  have  bet-n  efficacious,  for  '  the  eliectual  fervent  prayer 
 
 to  otier  to  God  the  devotion  of  the  lip,  while  the  heart  is  far  of  the  righteous  man  availeth  much.'     How  should  we  value 
 
 *t't    \v""  those  who,  by  their  earnest  pleading  with  God,  stand  in  the 
 
 11.  \Ve  also  see  the  esfimatiim  in  which  God  holds  those  tvho  gap  !     We  know  not.  and  eternity  only  will  shew,  how  much 
 
 are  prdyuig  men.     (.'ould  anything  have  prevailed  with  him  for  we  are  indebted  to  the  prayers  of  the  righteous. 
 
 802 
 
The  tcrelchcd  state  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 EZKKIEL,  XVI. 
 
 God's  great  love  towards  her. 
 
 than    any    tree,  or  than  a   branch   which    is 
 amon<5  the  trees  of  the  forest  r' 
 
 3  Sliall  wood  be  taken  thereof  to  do  any 
 work  ?  or  will  men  take  a  pin  of  it  to  hang  any 
 vessel  thereon '? 
 
 4  Behold,  "  it  is  cast  into  the  fire  for  fuel ; 
 the  fire  devoureth  both  the  ends  of  it,  and  the 
 midst  of  it  is  burned.  \  Is  it  meet  for  any 
 work  ? 
 
 3  rSrhoId,  when  it  was  whole,  it  was  f  meet 
 for  no  work  :  how  much  less  shall  it  be  meet 
 yet  for  any  work,  when  the  fire  hath  devoured 
 it,  and  it  is  burned  ? 
 
 6  f  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  As 
 the  vine  tree  among  the  trees  of  tlie  forest, 
 which  I  have  given  to  the  fire  for  fuel,  so  will 
 I  give  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 7  And  ''  I  will  set  my  face  against  them  ; 
 '  they  shall  go  out  from  one  fire,  and  another 
 fire  shall  devour  them  ;  ■"  and  ye  shall  know- 
 that  I  am  the  Lord,  when  1  set  my  face 
 against  them. 
 
 8  And  I  will  make  the  land  desolate,  because 
 tliey  have  f  committed  a  trespass,  saith  the 
 Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  Under  fitf  similitude  nf  a  u-retched  infant  is  sliewed 
 ttie  natitrid  state  of  J[rtisalem.  6  God's  extraordi- 
 narij  love  towards  her .  1.^  Her  monstrous  whoredom. 
 35  Her  grievous  judtivunt.  44  Her  sin,  imitcJiing 
 her  mother,  and  exceeding  Iter  sisters,  Sodom  and  Sa- 
 marin,  calleth  for  judgments.  fiO  Mercy  is  promised 
 her  in  the  end. 
 
 A  GAIN  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 -'*-  me,  saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  'cause  Jerusalem  to  know  her 
 abominations, 
 
 3  And  say,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  unto 
 Jerusalem  ;  Thy  f  birth  *■  and  thy  nativity  is  of 
 the  land  of  Canaan  ;  '  thy  father  was  an  Amo- 
 rite,  and  thy  mother  an  Hittite. 
 
 4  And  ns  for  tliy  nativity,  ■■  in  the  day  thou 
 wast  born  thy  navel  was  not  cut,  neither  wast 
 thou  washed  in  water  |]  to  supple  thee ;  thou 
 wast  not  salted  at  all,  nor  swaddled  at  all. 
 
 5  None  eye  pitied  thee,  to  do  any  of  these 
 unto  thee,  to  have  compassion  upon  thee;  but 
 
 t  Heb,  H'j// 
 ,1  ir„,pt,  t 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 fit. 
 
 Or,  Iroddei, 
 wid^rj'mt. 
 
 '  K\.  I.  7. 
 
 ARiitli  3,  9. 
 
 b  Lev    17  10. 
 
 ch.  U.  3. 
 
 c  Is,  t\    IH 
 
 rf  cli    (i,  7.  «c 
 
 ff  Vx.  10   5. 
 
 7.  4-  &  n 
 
 Jer   2.  2. 
 
 1  (l.  ik  21).  38, 
 
 A-2,  41. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 bloods. 
 
 t-  Heb.  Ires- 
 
 'ro^sM  a 
 
 trf^p'iss. 
 
 a  ch.  ?.l).  4. 
 
 h  n<-.i  a? 
 
 Sc  2-2.  2.  fa 
 
 tS,  11. 
 
 33.  7,  8,  9 
 
 /  Ps    13.  2. 
 
 t  Heb.  rut- 
 
 li;g  .,ul.  m; 
 
 h..bitnHnn. 
 
 in  Lam.  2. 
 
 Ach.SI    30. 
 
 15. 
 
 II  Sfc  Pent. 
 
 3?    15 
 
 .ler.  7  ■! 
 
 Mic.  3    11. 
 
 II  Or.  ^rhml 
 
 0  Is.  1.  •?!    & 
 
 lonki-d  upon 
 
 57.  R    .IcT.; 
 
 thee. 
 
 20  &  :l  2,fi 
 
 ■-'IP.  ch,  23. :l 
 
 a.  11,  12. 
 
 Ho8.  L  2. 
 
 ihou  wast  cast  out  ni  the  open  field,  to  the 
 lothing  of  thy  person,  in  the  day  that  thou 
 wast  born. 
 
 6  II  And  when  I  passed  by  thee,  and  saw 
 thee  llpoUuted  in  thine  own  blood,  I  said  unto 
 thee  ivhen  thuu  wa.st  in  thy  blood.  Live  ;  yea, 
 I  said  unto  thee  when  thou  wast  in  thy  blood, 
 Live. 
 
 7  °I  Iiave  f  caused  thee  to  multiply  as  the 
 bud  of  the  field,  and  thou  hast  increased  and 
 waxen  great,  and  thou  art  come  to  f  excellent 
 ornaments :  thy  breasts  are  fashioned,  and 
 thine  hair  is  grown,  wliereas  thou  wast  naked 
 and  bare. 
 
 8  Now  when  I  passed  by  thee,  and  looked 
 upon  thee,  behold,  thy  time  was  the  time  of 
 love;  'and  I  spread  my  skirt  over  thee,  and 
 covered  thy  nakedness  :  yea,  I  sware  unto 
 thee,  and  entered  into  a  covenant  with  thee, 
 .saith  the  Lord  Gon,  and  ''thou  becamest  mine. 
 
 9  Then  washed  I  thee  with  water ;  yea,  I 
 throughly  washed  away  thy  f  blood  from  thee, 
 and  I  anointed  thee  with  oil. 
 
 10  I  clothed  tliee  also  with  broidered  work, 
 and  .shod  thee  with  badger.s'  skin,  and  I  girded 
 thee  about  with  fine  linen,  and  I  covered  thee 
 with  silk. 
 
 1 1  I  decked  thee  also  with  ornaments,  and  I 
 i"  put  bracelets  upon  thy  hands,  '  and  a  chain 
 on  thy  neck. 
 
 12  And  I  put  a  jewel  on  thy  f  forehead,  and 
 earrings  in  thine  ears,  and  a  beautiful  crown 
 upon  thine  head. 
 
 13  Thus  wast  thou  decked  with  gold  and 
 silver;  and  thy  raiment  was  offine  linen,  and 
 silk,  and  broidered  work  ;  '  thou  didst  eat  fine 
 flour,  and  honey,  and  oil :  and  thou  wast  ex- 
 ceeding '  beautiful,  and  thou  didst  prosper  into 
 a  kingdom. 
 
 14  And  "thy  renown  went  forth  among  the 
 heathen  for  thy  beauty  t  for  it  ivas  perfect 
 through  my  comeliness,  which  I  had  put  upon 
 thee,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 15  1I"But  thou  didst  trust  in  thine  own 
 beauty,  °  and  playedst  the  harlot  because  of 
 thy  renown,  and  ponredst  out  thy  fornications 
 on  every  one  that  passed  by  ;  his  it  was. 
 
 wise,  un?;iglitly  and  worthless  as  a  br;imblo. — Srott.  *  Wliat  is  vine- 
 wood,  bettor  than  the  wood  of  a  branch  ?' — Bwitlir.  3.  A  pin — to 
 hang  any  vessel — see  Isa.  xxii.  23,  24,  notes.  4.  Cast  into  the  fire, 
 vine  twigs  are  often  used  for  fuel  in  the  east. — So  D'.irrieiix.  7.  .An- 
 other  fire,  soir.e  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  were  destroyed  in  their 
 own  country,  and  others  in  Egypt. — Neti'c.  They  shall  pass  through 
 trial  after  trial. —  Wit. 
 
 Chap.  XVI.  —  2.  Cause  Jertisalem  to  linow,  perhaps  by  way  of  letter, 
 as  Jeremiali  signified  the  will  of  God  to  the  captives  at  Babylon,  (Jer. 
 x.xix.  \.)~Preb.  Lawth.  3.  Thy  birth,  ^-c,  Jerusalem  is  liere  repre- 
 sented under  tiie  image  of  an  exposed  infant,  whom  God  preserved 
 from  destruction. — Newc.  Of  the  fand  of  Canaan,  Abraham  and  Sarah, 
 the  ancestors  of  Israel,  had  oiii^inally  been  idnlators,  as  the  Hittites 
 and  Amorites  were  ;  and  their  posterity,  when  they  had  expelled  those 
 nations,  and  possessed  their  land,  seemed  to  be  their  descendants,  as 
 resembling  them  in  character  and  conduct. — Scott.  4.  In  the  day 
 tlom  wast  fiarn.  fyc. — the  prnpliet  describes  the  forlorn  condition  of  the 
 Israelites  in  Egypt  under  the  similitude  of  a  new-born  infant,  exposed 
 in  its  native  filthiness,  without  any  friend  to  pity  his  condition,  or  take 
 the  least  care  of  it. — Preft.  Lawth.  Not  salted  at  all — Galen  says,  the 
 ancients  washed  their  infants  in  water  and  sprinkled  them  with  sair,  or, 
 perhaps,  sprinkled  salt  into  the  water ;  the  object  of  which  was  to  render 
 their  skin  more  dense  and  solid.  The  same  custom  still  obtains  among 
 the  Crim  Tartars. — Orient.  Lit.,  No.  1016.  It  was  in  extensive  use, 
 and  is  still  preserved,  in  some  parts  of  the  east. — Pict.  Bib.  5.  Cast 
 out  in  the  open  field,  a  common  practice  among  the  ancients,  if  poor, 
 or  the  children  disfigured;  not,  indeed,  a  Hebrew  practice,  but  well 
 
 known.— So  C«/.  6.  In  thij  blond,  not  washed.— Preb.  Lowth.  7.  / 
 Jtai-e  caitsed,  ^c,  '  I  have  caused  thee  to  increase  as  the  growth  of  the 
 field,  and  thou  didst  increase  and  grew  great,  and  thou  becamest  most 
 excellent.*  &c. — Bonthr.  Come  to  excellent  ornaments,  as  jewels  and 
 rich  vestments  set  off  on  a  beautiful  person. — Poole.  8.  Thy  time 
 leas  the  time  of  tone,  '  I  thought  it  nr>w  a  proper  time  to  betroth  thee  to 
 myself.'  The  Jews'  deliverance  out  of  Egypt  is  elsewhere  described  as 
 the  time  of  Gotl's  espousing  them  to  himself,  (see  Jer.  ii.  2,  Sec. ;  Hos. 
 ii.  15,  19.)  /  spread  my  skirt,  *  I  took  thee  under  my  protection,  as  a 
 husband  doth  the  wife.' — Preb.  Lowth.  9.  Washed  I  thee,  §-c.,  it  was 
 a  custom  as  aiipears  from  Ruth,  iii.  3,  Esth,  ii.  12,  to  purify  virgins  who 
 were  to  be  espoused  ere  long. — Poole.  Anointed  thee  with  oil,  arideii 
 everything  tliat  could  contribute  to  thy  beauty  and  ornament.  The 
 anointing  with  oil  was  reckoned  necessary  in  a  festival  dress,  (Ruth.  iii. 
 3  ;  Isa.  Ixi.  3  ;  Matt.  vi.  n.)—Preb.  Lowth.  U).  Slwd  thee  with  bad. 
 f;ers\skin — see  Exod.  xxv.  5,   note.  12.  A  jewel  in  thy  forehead, 
 
 "IDN  73?,  '  in  thy  nostril ;'  the  fasluon  was  to  wear  these  jewels  in  the 
 1  eft  nostril. — See  Newc.  Called  a  nose  jewel,  Isa.  iii.  21,  where  the 
 words  might  be  translated,  '  a  jewel  for  the  face  or  forehead.' — Preb. 
 Lowth.  Comp.  also  Gen.  xxiv.  47,  and  note.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
 common  ornaments  among  eastern  ladies.— C/urA-e.  The  ornaments 
 here  mentioned  are  all  well-known  among  the  Hindoos. —  Ward. 
 Crown,  such  was  commonly  put  upon  the  head  of  the  newly-married 
 person,  (see  Cant.  iii.  II,  and  note.)— /*re/t.  Lowth.  13.  Fine  flour, 
 
 fyc.,  which  did  not  a  little  contribute  to  her  beauty  and  comeliness, 
 (see  Dan.  i.  \5.)—Gill.  15.  Playedst  the  harlot,  committedst  spiritual 
 adultery.— Preft.  Lowth.      His  it  was,  '  which  should  not  have   been 
 
 REFt.FCTiONS  ON  Chap.  XV.  — I.  God  notices  unfruitful- 
 ness  in  his  vineyard.  Every  tree  is  marked  by  his  scrutinizing 
 eye.  Wliy  is  it  selected  and  fenced  in,  but  that  it  should 
 bear  fruit,  and  that  its  fruit  should  remain  1 
 
 II.  God  will  Jinaliy  destroy  the  barren  tree.  *  If  a  man  abide 
 803 
 
 not  in  me,'  says  Christ,  'he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch,  and  is 
 withered,  and  men  gather  them,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire, 
 and  they  are  burned.'  'Those  who  are  not  fruitful  to  the 
 glory  of  God's  grace,  shall  be  fuel  to  the  fire  of  his  wrath.'  i' 
 
The  whoredoms  of  Jerusalem, 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XVI. 
 
 and  her  grievous  judgment. 
 
 16  ''  And  of  thy  garments  thou  didst  take, 
 and  deckedst  thy  hig]i  places  with  divers 
 colours,  and  playedst  tlie  harlot  thereupon  : 
 the  like  things  sliall  not  come,  neither  shall  it 
 be  so. 
 
 17  Tliou  hast  also  taken  thy  fair  jewels  of 
 my  gold  and  of  my  silver,  which  I  had  given 
 thee,  and  madest  to  thyself  images  f  of  men, 
 and  didst  commit  whoredom  witli  tliem, 
 
 18  And  tookest  thy  broidered  garments,  and 
 coveredst  them  :  and  thou  hast  set  mine  oil 
 and  mine  incense  before  them. 
 
 19  ■■  My  meat  also  which  I  gave  thee,  fine 
 flour,  and  oil,  and  honey,  ivherewilh  I  fed 
 thee,  thou  hast  even  set  it  before  tliem  for  f  a 
 sweet  savour  :  and  thus  it  was,  saitli  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 20  ■■  Moreover  thou  hast  taken  thy  sons  and 
 thy  daughters,  whom  thou  hast  borne  unto  me, 
 and  these  hast  thou  sacrificed  unto  tliem  f  to 
 be  devoured.  Is  this  of  thy  whoredoms  a  small 
 matter, 
 
 21  That  thou  hast  slain  my  children,  and  de- 
 livered them  to  cause  tliem  to  pass  through 
 the  fire  for  them  ? 
 
 22  And  in  all  thine  abominations  and  thy 
 whoredoms  thou  hast  not  remembered  the 
 days  of  thy  'youth,  'when  thou  wast  naked 
 and  bare,  and  wast  polluted  in  thy  blood. 
 
 23  And  it  came  to  pass  after  all  thy  wicked- 
 ness, (woe,  woe  unto  thee!  saith  the  Lord 
 God;) 
 
 24  That  "  thou  hast  also  built  unto  thee  an 
 II  eminent  place,  and  "  liast  made  thee  an  high 
 place  in  every  street. 
 
 25  Thou  hast  built  thy  high  place  'at  every 
 head  of  the  way,  and  hast  made  thy  beauty  to 
 be  abhorred,  and  hast  opened  thy  feet  to  every 
 one  that  passed  by,  and  multiplied  thy  whore- 
 doms. 
 
 26  Thou  hast  also  committed  fornication 
 with  ^  the  Egyptians  thy  neighbours,  great  of 
 flesh  ;  and  hast  increased  thy  whoredom.s,  to 
 provoke  me  to  anger. 
 
 27  Behold,  therefore  I  have  stretched  ont  my 
 hand  over  thee,  and  have  diminished  thine  or- 
 dinary food,  and  delivered  thee  unto  the  will 
 of  them  that  hate  thee,  "  the  || daughters  of  the 
 Philistines,  which  are  ashamed  of  thy  lewd 
 way. 
 
 28  i"  Thou  hast  played  the  whore  also  with 
 the  Assyrians,  because  thou  wast  unsatiable  ; 
 
 '2  Kill  -vS 
 7.  oh  7,  -JO, 
 Hob.  2.  8. 
 
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 q  Ho3.  a.  8. 
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 lliinr  iiTttii- 
 
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 17- 
 .1  -lohn  8  5, 
 
 yea,  thou  hast  played  the  harlot  with  them, 
 and  yet  couldest  not  be  satisfied. 
 
 29  Thou  hast  moreover  multiplied  thy  forni- 
 cation in  the  land  of  Canaan  'unto  Chaldea ; 
 and  yet  thou  wast  not  satisfied  herewith. 
 
 .^O  How  weak  is  thine  heart,  saith  the  Lord 
 God,  seeing  thou  doest  all  these  things,  the 
 work  of  an  imperious  whorish  woman  ; 
 
 31  II  In  that  ''thou  buildest  thine  eminent 
 place  in  the  head  of  every  way,  and  makest 
 thine  high  place  in  every  street ;  and  hast  not 
 been  as  an  harlot,  in  that  thou  scornest  hire  ; 
 
 32  But  as  a  wife  that  committeth  adultery, 
 which  taketh  strangers  instead  of  her  hus- 
 band ! 
 
 33  They  give  gifts  to  all  whores:  but  °  thou 
 givest  thy  gifts  to  all  thy  lovers,  and  -j-hirest 
 them,  that  they  may  come  unto  thee  ou  every 
 side  for  thy  whoredom. 
 
 34  And  the  contrary  is  in  thee  from  other 
 women  in  thy  whoredoms,  whereas  none  fol- 
 loweth  thee  to  commit  whoredoms :  and  in 
 that  thou  givest  a  reward,  and  no  reward  is 
 given  unto  thee,  therefore  thou  art  contrary. 
 
 33  II  Wherefore,  O  harlot,  hear  the  word  of 
 the  LoiiD  : 
 
 36  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Goo  ;  Because  thy 
 filthiness  was  poured  out,  and  thy  nakedness 
 discovered  through  thy  whoredoms  with  thy 
 lovers,  and  with  all  the  idols  of  thy  abomina- 
 tions, and  by  '  the  blood  of  thy  children,  which 
 thou  didst  give  unto  them  ; 
 
 37  Behold,  therefore  ^  I  will  gather  all  thy 
 lovers,  with  whom  thou  hast  taken  pleasure, 
 and  all  them  that  thou  hast  loved,  with  all 
 them  that  thou  hast  hated  ;  I  will  even  gather 
 them  round  about  against  thee,  and  will  dis- 
 cover thy  nakedness  unto  them,  that  tliey  may 
 see  all  thy  nakedness. 
 
 38  And  I  will  judge  thee,  f  as  "^  women  that 
 break  wedlock  and  'shed  blood  are  judged; 
 and  I  will  give  thee  blood  in  fury  and  jealousy. 
 
 39  And  I  will  also  give  thee  into  their  hand, 
 and  they  .shall  throw  down  ''  thine  eminent 
 place,  and  shall  break  down  thy  high  places  : 
 '  they  shall  strip  thee  also  of  thy  clothes,  and 
 shall  take  f  thy  fair  jew  els,  and  leave  thee 
 naked  and  bare. 
 
 40  "  They  shall  also  bring  up  a  company 
 against  thee,  "  and  they  shall  stone  thee  with 
 stones,  and  thrust  thee  through  with  their 
 swords. 
 
 done.*  16.  The  like  things  shrill  not,  ^c,  '  whither  thou  shouldst  not 
 have  come,  nor  should  this  have  been  done.' — Boothr.  17.  Men, 
 deified  heroes-— Pre*-  Loulh.  -131  'o'js,  '  male  images.'—^.  Clnrke. 
 Indecent  figures  borne  by  women  in  honour  of  Bacchus.—  Virle  Herod., 
 1.  2.  c.  48,  49.  20.  r%  sons,  4c— see  Dent- xviii- 10,  note-  24.  .In 
 eminent  place,  33,  '  a  stew'  or  '  brothel.'  Houses  of  this  kind  were  of  a 
 very  ancient  date.—.!.  Clarke.  •  A  house  for  prostitulion.'— U'n^fr/onrf, 
 Houb.  '  An  arch'  or  '  arched  vault  ;'  such  being  employed  as  brothels. 
 —Ges.,  so  Newc.  25.  Thy  high  place  at  every  head,  Sfc,  alluding  to 
 the  practices  of  common  harlots,  {see  Prov.' ix.  14,  1-5,  and  note-) 
 Opened  thy  feet,  yteen  ready  to  receive  any  idol,  and  give  in  to  any 
 idolatrous  worship  that  offered  to  them,  and  even  courted  and  solicited 
 'hs  Gentiles  to  join  with  them  in  all  idolatrous  practices.  26.  With 
 the  Egyptians,  who  were  a  people  of  all  others  the  most  superstitious 
 and  given  to  idolatry.- GiH-  while  the  Israelites  sojourned  in  Egypt 
 they  learned  to  practise  their  idolatries,  (see  chap.  XX.  7,  8  ;  Lev.  XX.  3  ; 
 Deut-  XXIX-  16,  17:  Josh.  xxiv.  14-)— Pre*.  Lowth.  Great  0/  flesh, 
 words  descriptive  of  insatiable  lusts.— So  Gill.  TheEgyptians  were  not 
 corpulent,  the  climate  being  unfavourable  to  it ;  it  refers  to  sensuality- 
 So  Pict.  Bif/.  27-  Diminished  thine  ordinary  fond,  'thine  appointed 
 portion,'— Boo(/„., ;  provided  by  the  law  for  'wives.  (Exod.  xxi.  10,) 
 because  of  Israel's  adultery.— So  Cat.  .And  deli«ered  thee,  which  may, 
 perhaps,  refer  to  the  times  of  Ahaz,  when  the  Philistines  invaded  the 
 cities  of  the  low  country,  and  of  the  south  of  Judah,  and  took  many  of 
 Hieir  cities,  and  brought  Judah  low,  (2  Chron.  xxviii.  19.  19-)— GW. 
 The  daughters  of  the  Philislines,  here  put  for  Philistines :  as  the 
 864 
 
 daughters  of  Samaria,  Sodom,  and  the  Syrians,  stand  for  the  people  of 
 those  places,  (ver.  46,  48,  5",)  carrying  on  the  allegory,  all  hfing  de- 
 scribed as  loose  women,  prostituting  themselves  to  idols.  Which  are 
 n shamed  of  tht/  h'wdtvm),  not  having  forsaken  their  religion,  as  you 
 Jews,  nor  attached  themselves  to  foreign  idolatries.  —  iV*'6.  Lowth. 
 3(1.  Imperious,  SfC,  imperious  as  she  is  impudent,  aud  one  that  rules 
 and  trnverns. — Gill.  31.  Eminrnt  place — see  ver.  I6,  24.  33.  They 
 f^'it'e  pi/ts,  Sfc  '  to  all  harlots  men  give  a  reward,'  &c. — Boothr.  Thou 
 pirest,  ffc. — the  Jews  are  often  upbraided  for  courting  the  alliance  of 
 idolators,  (see  Isa.  xxx.  6;    Ivii.  ."j — 9.) — So  Preh.  Lowth.  34.  Notie 
 
 followefh,  no  Gentile  people  took  the  Jewish  rites  into  their  national 
 worship. — Wnrh.  3".  Lowers,  allies.  Discover  thy  nakedness,  carry 
 thee  away  captive,  stripped,  and  bare,  as  barbarous  conquerors  used  to 
 do.— Prf  A.  Lowth.  The  allusion  seems  to  be  to  the  practice  ot  exposing 
 an  adulteress  in  the  presence  of  all  her  relatives. — See  Tacitus,  sec. 
 19,  It).— -Su/.  38.  Break  wedlock,  adultery  apd  idolatry  were  both 
 capital  offences,  (Lev.  xx.  10;  Deut.  xvii.  2,  7.) — Newc.  Shed  blood, 
 by  sacrificing  their  infants.  Give  thee  blond,  ^e— the  allusion  is  to  a 
 jealous  and  abused  husband,  that  avenges  himself  (>f  the  person  that 
 has  injured  him.— GiV.  It  alludes  to  the  waters  of  jealousy  which  the 
 husband  gave  to  the  suspected  wife  ;  but,  instead  of  water,  G-^'d  wouM 
 give  Jerusalem  blood  to  drink  ;  that  is,  would  drench  them  with  blood. 
 —  Boothr.  ag.  Give  thee  into  their  hand,  may  refer  to  a  lot,  common 
 enough,  of  prostitutes  being,  in  the  end,  stripped  of  all  they  had  re- 
 ceived.— A.Clarke.  40.  Stone  thee,  the  expression  alludes  t<i  the 
 punishment  inflicted  upon  ailulteresse^,  which  was  stoning,  (see  John, 
 
Jerusalem  tvorse  than 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XVI. 
 
 Samaria  and  Sodom. 
 
 41  And  they  shall  "burn  thine  houses  with 
 fire,  and  ■■  execute  judgments  upon  thee  in  the 
 sight  of  many  women  :  and  I  will  cause  thee 
 to  ''  cease  from  playing  the  harlot,  and  thou 
 also  shalt  give  no  hire  any  more. 
 
 42  So  '  will  I  make  my  fury  toward  thee  to 
 rest,  and  my  jealousy  sliall  depart  from  thee, 
 and  I  will  be  quiet,  and  will  be  no  more  angry. 
 
 43  Because  "  thou  hast  not  remembered  the 
 days  of  thy  youth,  but  hast  fretted  me  in  all 
 these  things;  behold,  therefore  'I  also  will 
 recompense  thy  way  upon  thine  head,  saith  the 
 Lord  God  :  and  tliou  shalt  not  commit  this 
 lewdness  above  all  tliine  abominations. 
 
 44  1:  Behold,  every  one  that  useth  proverbs 
 shall  use  this  proverb  against  thee,  saying.  As 
 is  the  mother,  so  is  her  daughter. 
 
 45  Thou  art  thy  mother's  daughter,  that 
 lotheth  her  husband  and  her  children ;  and 
 thou  art  the  sister  of  thy  sisters,  which  lothed 
 their  husbands  and  tlieir  cliildren  :  "  your  mo- 
 ther was  an  Hittite,  and  your  father  an  Amo- 
 rite. 
 
 4G  And  thine  elder  sister  is  Samaria,  she  and 
 lier  daughters  that  dwell  at  thy  left  hand :  and 
 '  t  thy  younger  sister,  that  dwelleth  at  thy  right 
 hand,  is  Sodom  and  her  daughters. 
 
 47  Yet  hast  thou  not  walked  after  their  ways, 
 nor  done  after  their  abominations :  but,  ||  as  if 
 that  were  a  very  little  tliinrj,  >'  tliou  wast  cor- 
 rupted more  than  they  in  all  tliy  ways. 
 
 48  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  "  Sodom 
 thy  sister  hath  not  done,  she  nor  her  daughters, 
 as  thou  hast  done,  thou  and  thy  daughters. 
 
 49  Behold,  this  was  the  iniquity  of  thy  sister 
 Sodom,  pride,  "fulness  of  bread,  and  abun- 
 dance of  idleness  was  in  her  and  in  her  daugh- 
 ters, neither  did  she  strengthen  the  hand  of  the 
 poor  and  needy. 
 
 30  And  they  were  haughty,  and  ''  committed 
 abomination  before  me :  therefore  "  I  took 
 them  away  as  I  saw  good. 
 
 31  Neither  hath  Samaria  committed  half  of 
 thy  sins  ;  but  thou  hast  multiplied  thine  abomi- 
 nations more  than  they,  and  ''  hast  justified 
 thy  sisters  in  all  thine  abominations  which  thou 
 hast  done. 
 
 52  Thou  also,  which  hast  judged  thy  sisters. 
 
 B.  C.  59t. 
 
 o  Deu.  13.lfi 
 SKiii  »-9 
 Jlt  m  8.^ 
 b>.  |:t. 
 
 ;,  cli.  5  8.  ft 
 ^i.  III,  in. 
 
 q  ch.  ■^i^.  -rt. 
 
 rch.  5.  13. 
 
 /oil.  9.  10. 
 .^  11.:^!.  & 
 ■a  31. 
 
 ■a:.  Is   I  1(1. 
 t  neb.  tfitrr 
 
 II  Or,  «..< 
 mil.  liitUfd 
 IIS  n  unull 
 
 ij  2  Kill.  ■>!. 
 '  9.  cli,  5.6,7, 
 
 ver  .IS,  SI, 
 ;  Mat,  10.15, 
 
 &  n.  2i. 
 
 b  fipiv  l.'l.ia. 
 &  IS.  W.  & 
 
 sis.  1,9 
 viir.  6U, 
 
 t  Heb,  for  a 
 Ti^itrt,  or, 
 
 I  Heb,  ' 
 I'TiiifM,  or, 
 iixmUpnciei. 
 
 h  iKin  1C,5, 
 •-'Chr,2S,l8, 
 Is  7,  I.  & 
 1*.  28, 
 
 t  Heb, 
 .fr.im, 
 
 i  ver   27. 
 
 II  Or.  .,,  ,7. 
 A  i-li.  2:1.  -ID. 
 
 t  Heb.  tiitriit 
 litem. 
 
 I  cb.  17.  13, 
 
 16 
 wi  Deu.  29. 
 
 12,  U. 
 n  Ps.  106.4:.. 
 .,  Jer.  32.  40. 
 
 &  60.  5. 
 
 f»  cb.  211-  43. 
 
 ti  :i6  31. 
 
 F  Is.  54  1.  & 
 1.0  4  G.il. 
 ■\.  20,  a^c. 
 
 /  ver.  61. 
 iiltom.3.  19 
 
 bear  tliine  own  shame  for  thy  sins  that  thou 
 hast  committed  more  abominable  than  they : 
 they  are  more  righteous  than  thou :  yea,  be 
 thou  confounded  also,  and  bear  thy  shame,  in 
 that  thou  hast  justified  thy  sisters. 
 
 33  '  When  I  shall  bring  again  their  captivity, 
 'the  captivity  of  Sodom  and  her  daughters, 
 and  the  captivity  of  Samaria  and  her  daughters, 
 tlien  will  I  bring  again  the  captivity  of  thy 
 captives  in  the  midst  of  them  : 
 
 34  That  thou  mayest  bear  thine  own  shame, 
 and  mayest  be  confounded  in  all  that  thou 
 hast  done,  in  that  thou  art  ^a  comfort  unto 
 them. 
 
 35  When  thy  sisters,  Sodom  and  her  daugh- 
 ters, shall  return  to  their  former  estate,  and 
 Samaria  and  her  daughters  shall  return  to  their 
 former  estate,  then  thou  and  thy  daughters 
 shall  return  to  your  former  estate. 
 
 36  For  thy  sister  Sodom  was  not  fmentioued 
 by  thy  mouth  in  the  day  of  thy  f  pride, 
 
 37  Before  thy  wickedness  was  discovered,  as 
 at  the  time  of  tlui  ''  reproacli  of  the  daughters 
 of  t  Syria,  and  all  that  are  round  about  her, 
 'the  daughters  of  the  Philistines,  which  ||  de- 
 spise thee  round  about. 
 
 38  ,'■  Thou  hast  ||  borne  thy  lewdness  and 
 thine  abominations,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 39  For  tlius  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  I  will  even 
 deal  with  thee  as  thou  hast  done,  vvhicli  hast 
 '  despised  ""  the  oath  in  breaking  the  covenant. 
 
 60  t  Nevertheless  I  will  °  remember  my  co- 
 venant with  thee  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  and 
 I  will  establish  unto  thee  °  an  everlasting  co- 
 venant. 
 
 61  Then  ''  thou  shalt  remember  thy  ways,  and 
 be  ashamed,  when  thou  shalt  receive  thy  sis- 
 ters, thine  elder  and  thy  younger :  and  I  will 
 give  them  unto  thee  for  ''  daughters,  '  but  not 
 Ijy  thy  covenant. 
 
 6'2  "  And  I  will  establish  my  covenant  with 
 thee  ;  and  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord  : 
 
 63  That  thon  mayest  'remember,  and  be  con- 
 founded, "and  never  open  thy  mouth  any  more 
 because  of  thy  shame,  wlien  I  am  pacified  to- 
 ward thee  for  all  that  thou  hast  done,  saith  the 
 Lord  God. 
 
 viii.  5.) — Preh.  Lnivth.  It  intimates  the  manner  of  battering  the  walls 
 of  Jerusalem,  with  stf.ncs  cast  out  of  their  engines. — Poole.  41 .  Mftny 
 women,  neighbouring  nations,  (see  ver.  2",  note.)  Give  no  hire  nnij 
 more,  being  too  poor,  or  so  changed  and  unwilling.  42.  Mtj  jealousy 
 shitll  depart,  ^i\,  I  will  no  more  be  troubled  at  thy  carriage,  since  thou 
 art  no  more  mine. — So  Poole.  As  a  man  who  has  utterly  rejected  his 
 wife  and  is  divorced. — Gill.  43.  The  rlar/s  of  thy  youth,  the  favours 
 1  conferred  upon  thee,  and  the  covenants  I  then  made  with  thee. — Bp. 
 Hall.  Fretted,  'provoked.' — AVht.  44.  As  is  the  mother,  ffc,  the 
 daughter  follows  the  mother's  steps ;  old  Jerusalem,  the  scat  of  the 
 Jebusites,  or  the  land  of  Canaan. — Preh.  Lowth,  and  Poole.  4'..  Tlty 
 mother's  duugjiter,  exactly  like  her. — Gilt,  Lothed  their  hushands,  Sfc, 
 *  like  them,  thou  hatest  me,  thy  husband,  and  offerest  thy  childrf-n  to 
 idols.'— jVeH.c.  Sister  of  thy  sisters,  the  true  genuiuesister  of  Samaria 
 and  Sodom,  after  mentioned. — Gill.  46.  Elder,  n7T::rT,  *  greater,' 
 Vulg. ;  Pag.,  Jan.,  Trem.,  &c.  More  in  number  and  power,  having  ten 
 tribes. — Gill.  Samaria,  the  metropolis  or  mother  city  of  the  revolted 
 tribes.  Younser,  m;'.2prT,  'lesser,'  consisting  of  fewer  people  and  of 
 less  power. — Poole.  At  thij  right  hand — right  and  left  hand,  with  the 
 Hebrews,  implied  the  direction  of  the  face  towards  the  east. — So  Usher 
 and  Preb.  Loieth.  51.  Justified,  Sjc  ,  made  thy  sister's  wickedness  to 
 seem  small  in  comparison  of  thine. — Preb.  Lowth.  53.  When  1  shall 
 bring  again,  §-c.,  '  if  1  shall  return  the  captivity  of  Sndom  and  Samaria, 
 then  I  will  return  thine,'  &c. ;  but  it  is  not  in  my  thoughts,  counsels, 
 or  purposes. — Pise,  Jan. ;  see  Greenhilt.  It  rather  relates  to  the  con- 
 version of  the  Gentiles,  who  are  frequently  spoken  of  by  the  name  of 
 some  nation  which  was  most  given  up  to  idolatry  and  iniquity.  Then, 
 and  not  before,  should  tlie  captivity  of  Judah  be  fully  restored. — Scott, 
 The  conversion  of  the  G<  utiles  is  expressed  in  Jeremiah,  by  returning 
 the  captivity  of  Moab,  Arc,  (cliap.  xlviii.  4" ;  xlix.  6,  39 ;  and  by  the 
 same  analogy  we  are  here  to  understand  the  returning  of  the  captivity 
 of  Sodom  here,  of  the  Gentiles  coming  into  tlie  church.  54.  Maiiest 
 865 
 
 bear  thine  own  shame,  in  the  meantime,  thou  shalt  hear  the  shame  and 
 punishment  due  to  thy  sins. — Preb.  Lowth.  56  For  thy  sister  Sodom, 
 Sfc  '  thou  never  thoughtest  of  the  judgment  which  i  brought  upon  thy 
 sister  Sodom,  while  thou  wert  transpnrted  with  thy  security  and  pride. ' 
 57.  Before  thii  wickedness,  before  that  God,  by  his  judgments,  brought 
 forth  thy  wickedness  to  the  notice  of  the  vmM.—B/i.  Hall.  At  the 
 time  of  thy  reproach  of  the  danghters,  S/r  ,  '  as  In  the  time  of  thy  re- 
 proach from  the  daughters  of  Syria,  and  from  all  that  were  round 
 ahout  her  j' that  is,  when  defeats  and  distresses  were  brought  on 
 thee  by  theSvrians  and  Philistines.— i5oo(/ir.  59.  The  oath,  to  serve 
 God  only,   (Deut.  xxix.  12— li.}— Preb.  Lowth.  60.  My  corenant— 
 
 having  denounced  perpetual  punishment  iip.m  the  stubborn  Jews,  he 
 would  yet  remember  a  remnant  in  mercy.  —  Poole.  An  everlasting 
 covenant,  the  covenant  of  grace,  made  with  the  Messiah  and  his  spiri- 
 tual seed,  confirmed  of  God  in  Christ,  ordereo  in  all  things  and  sure.— 
 Gitl.  61.  Be  ashamed,  with  deep  shame  remember  and  detest  thy 
 lewdness.— Poo/e.  Receive  thy  sisters,  signifies  the  incorporation  of 
 Jews  and  Gentiles  into  one  body,  which  is  done  by  way  of  gift  and  free 
 grace.  For  daaghters,  thou  shalt,  by  the  preachini;  of  the  G.spel,  beget 
 them  unto  thee.  In  Jerusalem  was  the  first  Christian  church,  which 
 consisted  mostly  of  Jews  ;  and  when  any  were  converted  in  Jerusalem, 
 they  were  added  to  that  church,  (Acts,  ii.  41,  4;.)  Hence,  Jerusalem 
 had  the  honour  to  be  called  the  primitive  church.  Yea,  the  Christian 
 church  is  called  Jerusalem,  and  said  to  be  the  mother  of  us  all,  (Gal. 
 iv.  211  )  Not  by  thy  covenant,  but  by  the  covenant  of  grace.  63.  Never 
 open  thit  month  any  more,  thou  shalt  have  n. thing  justly  to  complain 
 of  me, 'or  excuse  thyself;  thou  shalt  justify  me  in  all  my  proceedings 
 with  thee,  give  me  glory,  and  take  shame  to  thyself.- GreenAiV/.  Pa. 
 ri/ied,  or  '  propitious.'— r;.;/.  Many  of  ihe  figures  in  this  chapter  are 
 niit  adapted  to  European  ideas  of  propriety ;  but  among  the  easterns, 
 where  such  decorum  is  not  observed,  they  would,  in  other  language, 
 have  lost  half  their  power  and  effect.— Cifi»7fe. 
 
The  eagles  and  the  vine. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XVII. 
 
 The  plant  of  the  gospel  promised. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 I  Uiuhr  the  nnrabh  of  two  taffies  and  a  I'lrte,  1 1  is 
 shewed  Gifirs  judament  upon  Jerusalem  for  revolting 
 from  Babylon  to  Eyypt.  22  God  promiseth  to  plant 
 the  cedar  of  the  gospel. 
 
 \  ND  the  word  of  the  Lokd  came  unto  me, 
 -^*-  saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  put  forth  a  riddle,  and  speak  a 
 parable  unto  the  house  of  Israel ; 
 
 3  And  say,  Thus  saith  tlje  Lord  God  ;  *  A 
 great  eagle  with  great  wings,  long-winged,  full 
 of  feathers,  which  had  f  divers  colours,  came 
 unto  Lebanon,  and  ''  took  the  highest  branch 
 of  the  cedar : 
 
 4  He  cropped  off  the  top  of  his  young  twigs, 
 and  carried  it  into  a  land  of  traffick  ;  he  set  it 
 in  a  city  of  merchants. 
 
 5  He  took  also  of  the  seed  of  the  land,  and 
 f  planted  it  in  'a  fruitful  field  ;  he  placed  it  by 
 great  waters,  and  set  it  ■■  as  a  willow  tree. 
 
 6  And  it  grew,  and  became  a  spreading  vine 
 ^  of  low  stature,  whose  branches  turned  toward 
 him,  and  the  roots  thereof  were  under  him  :  so 
 it  became  a  vine,  and  brought  forth  branches, 
 and  shot  forth  sprigs. 
 
 7  There  was  also  another  great  eagle  with 
 great  wings  and  many  feathers :  and,  behold, 
 'this  vine  did  bend  her  roots  toward  him,  and 
 shot  forth  her  branches  toward  him,  that  he 
 might  water  it  by  the  furrows  of  her  plantation. 
 
 8  It  was  planted  in  a  good  fsoil  by  great 
 waters,  that  it  might  bring  forth  branches,  and 
 that  it  might  bear  fruit,  that  it  might  be  a 
 goodly  vine. 
 
 9  Say  thou.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Shall 
 it  prosper  ?  ^  shall  he  not  pull  up  the  roots 
 thereof,  and  cut  off  the  fruit  thereof,  that  it 
 wither?  it  shall  wither  in  all  the  leaves  of  her 
 spring,  even  without  great  power  or  many  peo- 
 ple to  pluck  it  up  by  the  roots  thereof. 
 
 10  Yea,  behold,  being  planted,  shall  it  pros- 
 per ?  •■  shall  it  not  utterly  wither,  when  the  east 
 wind  toucheth  it?  it  shall  wither  in  the  furrows 
 vvhere  it  grew. 
 
 U  f  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  me,  saying, 
 
 12  Say  now  to  '  the  rebellious  house,  Know 
 ye  not  what  these  things  mean  f  tell  them, 
 Behold,  '  the  king  of  Babylon  is  come  to  Je- 
 rusalem, and  hath  taken  the  king  thereof,  and 
 
 t  Heb.  em. 
 broideriiig. 
 6  2  Kin.  24. 
 
 t  Heb  put  il 
 in  aJUld  «/ 
 t^ed. 
 
 c  Deu.  8  7, 
 S.  9. 
 
 d  Is.  a  4. 
 
 e  ver.  14. 
 
 /  Tcr.  15. 
 
 t  Heb.yteU. 
 
 jj  2  Kin.2S.7. 
 
 i  ch.  2.  6.  k 
 12.  9. 
 
 h  ver.  3. 
 S  Kin.  2i. 
 n— 16. 
 
 t  Hch. 
 
 braughlhim 
 
 I',  <ni  tmih. 
 n  ver    6. 
 
 ch.  29,  H. 
 t  Heb.  h 
 
 kfcp  bit 
 
 covenant,  to 
 
 ttand  to  it. 
 o  2  KiD.  24. 
 
 20.  2  Cbr. 
 
 36.  IS. 
 p  Deu. 17  16. 
 
 Is.  31.  1,3. 
 
 &  36   6,  9. 
 q  ver.  9. 
 
 ■  Jer.  32  fi. 
 t<c  S4.  3.  )^ 
 52-  ll.cli. 
 12.  13. 
 
 :  Jer.  52.  4. 
 cli.  ■!,  L' 
 
 3   Ch    12.  13, 
 <«  Si.  3. 
 
 y  ell.  20.  36- 
 
 n  Is.  II.  I. 
 Jer.  2.3.  5, 
 Zecli.  3  9. 
 
 b  Is.  53.  2, 
 
 c  Ps.  2.  6. 
 
 d  Is.  8.'2.  3. 
 
 ch.  20.  40. 
 
 Mic.  4.  1. 
 c  See  ch.  31. 
 
 6.  Dau.  4. 
 
 12. 
 
 the  princes  thereof,  and  led  them  with  him  to 
 Babylon  ; 
 
 1.3  '  And  hath  taken  of  the  king's  seed,  and 
 made  a  covenant  with  him,  "'and  hath  f  taken 
 an  oath  of  him  :  he  hath  also  taken  the  mighty 
 of  the  land  : 
 
 14  That  the  kingdom  might  be  "base,  that  it 
 might  not  lift  itself  up,  ^bnt  that  by  keeping 
 of  his  covenant  it  might  stand. 
 
 15  But  °he  rebelled  against  him  in  sending 
 his  ambassadors  into  Egypt,  '  that  they  might 
 give  him  horses  and  much  people.  ''  Shall  he 
 prosper?  shall  he  escape  that  doeth  such 
 things  f  or  shall  he  break  the  covenant,  and 
 be  delivered  ? 
 
 16  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  surely  'in 
 the  place  ivhere  the  king  dwelleth  that  made 
 him  king,  whose  oath  he  despised,  and  whose 
 covenant  he  brake,  even  with  him  in  the  midst 
 of  Babylon  he  shall  die. 
 
 17  'Neither  shall  Pharaoh  with  his  mighty 
 army  and  great  company  make  for  him  in  the 
 war,'  by  casting  up  mounts,  and  building  forts, 
 to  cut  off  many  persons  : 
 
 18  Seeing  he  despised  the  oath  by  breaking 
 the  covenant,  when,  lo,  he  had  "  given  his  hand, 
 and  hath  done  all  these  things,  he  shall  not 
 escape. 
 
 19  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  As  I 
 live,  surely  mine  oath  that  he  hath  despised, 
 and  my  covenant  that  he  hatli  broken,  even  it 
 will  I  recompense  upon  his  own  head. 
 
 20  And  I  will  '  spread  my  net  upon  him,  and 
 he  shall  be  taken  in  my  snare,  and  I  will  bring 
 him  to  Babylon,  and  'will  plead  with  him  there 
 for  his  trespass  that  he  hath  trespassed  against 
 me. 
 
 21  And  'all  his  fugitives  with  all  his  bands 
 shall  fall  by  the  sword,  and  they  that  remain 
 shall  be  scattered  toward  all  winds  :  and  ye 
 shall  know  that  1  the  Lord  have  spoken  it. 
 
 22  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  I  will  also 
 take  of  the  highest  °  branch  of  the  high  cedar, 
 and  will  set  it ;  I  will  crop  off  from  the  top  of 
 his  young  twigs  ''a  tender  one,  and  will  'plant 
 it  upon  an  high  mountain  and  eminent : 
 
 23  •'  In  the  mountain  of  the  height  of  Israel 
 will  I  plant  it :  and  it  shall  bring  forth  boughs, 
 and  bear  fruit,  and  be  a  goodly  cedar  :  and 
 "under  it  .shall  dwell  all  fowl  of  every  wing; 
 
 Chap.  XVII. — 2.  A  riddle,  meaning  a  cODtinued  allegory  or  figu- 
 rative speech.  3.  A  great  eagle,  Nebuchadnezzar,  Jsee  ver.  12,  &c.  ; 
 see  Jer.  xlviii.  40.)  —  Pret/.  Loieth.  Great  wings,  extensive  empire. 
 Long  tvinged,  rapid  in  llis  conquests.  Full  f*f  feathers,  multitudes  of 
 subjects. — .i.  Clarke.  Divers  colours,  various  nations  which  composed 
 the  Babylonian  empire. — Michaelis.  Unto  Lebanon,  against  Judea. 
 Highest  branch,  king  Jehoiachin  captive.  Cedar,  Jewish  state  and 
 king.  4.  Yovng  twigs,  princes  nf  Judah.  Land  of  traffic,  Chaldea. 
 A  city  of  merchants,  Babylon. — .4.  Clarke.  5.  Seed  of  the  land,  Zede- 
 kiah,  Jeboiachiu's  brother,  explained  ver.  13. — Bp,  Hall,  Preb.  Lowth. 
 A  fruitful  field,  the  laud  of  Judea. — Newc.  By  great  tvaters,  under 
 the  protection  of  Babylon,  situated  on  the  confluence  of  the  Tigris 
 and  Euphrates.    As  a  willow,  dependent  on  humility.  —  A.  Clarke. 
 
 6.  Of  low  s^a^Kre,  alluding  to  the  tributary  state  of  Zedekiah. — Neuc. 
 
 7.  Another  great  eagle,  the  king  of  Egypt,  to  whom  Zedekiah  looked 
 for  assistance.  Hence,  the  vine,  representing  Zedekiah.  bent  towards 
 him  its  roots,  &c. — Boothr.  8.  In  a  good  soil,  Zedekiah  might  have 
 flourished  under  the  king  of  Babylon,  but  he  was  not  content. — So 
 Preb.  Lowth,  and  Oill.        g.  Pull  up  the  roots,  dethrone  him.     T/ie 
 
 fruit,  the  children  of  Zedekiah.  Leaves,  nobles. — A.  Clarke.  Without 
 great  power,  Zedekiah  made  but  slight  resistance.— O//.  10.  Utterly 
 wit/ier,  the  regal  government  shall  no  more  be  restored.— .4.  Clarke. 
 East  wind — the  prophet  compares  the  army  of  Nebuchadnezzar  to  a 
 parching  wind,  that  blasts  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  &c. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 13.  King^s  seed,  one  of  the  royal  family,  Mattaniah,  son  of  king  Josiah, 
 and  called  Zedekiah.  Made  a  covenant,  given  him  the  throne  on  cer- 
 tain conditions,  (see  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  13.) — Gilt.  The  might/t,  ffC,  as 
 hostages,  for  performance  of  the  covenant  between  him  and  Zedekiah. 
 —Preb.  Lowth.  H.  Base,  low  or  humble.— Gill.  15.  Hor.ws.  cavalry. 
 —Preb.  Lowth.  l6.  iVith  him,  Nebuchadnezzar.  He  shall  die,  which 
 took  place,  and  is  recorded,  Jer.  lii.  9,  10,  11.— Gill.  17-  Mounts- 
 see  Jer.  xxxii.  24,  note.  18.  Given  his  hand — see  2  Kings,  x.  15,  note. 
 20.  Net—aee  chap.  xii.  13.  This  may  refer  to  the  Egyptian  methods  of 
 capturing'  either  wild  beasts  or  birds.— Pic^  Bib.  22.  Highest  branch 
 of  the  high  cedar — one  of  the  house  of  David  was  to  spring  from  it, 
 whose  dominion  was  to  be  universal,  and  his  power  irresistible.  The 
 Messiah  is  meant,  for  no  king  with  such  power  arose  after  the  captivity. 
 — So  Boothr,        23.  Mountain,  holy  mountain  often  denotes  the  Chris- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.   XVI This  chapter  gives  us  a 
 
 display  of — I.  God's  grace.  It  was  this  alone  that  moved  his 
 heart  to  notice  us.  If  we  have  any  love  to  him,  it  is  because 
 *  he  first  loved  us.' 
 
 II.  Man's  depravity.     We  were  '  shapen  in  iniquity,'  and 
 
 conceived  in  sin,  and  helpless  and  wretched  as  the  new-born 
 
 outcast  infant.     Such  was  our  original  condition.     And  what 
 
 language  is  sufficiently  strong  to  describe  our  actual  trans- 
 
 866 
 
 gressions  ?  In  reading  this  chapter,  we  see  in  what  depths  of 
 iniquity  man  is  sunk.  The  eloquent  preacher  who  said  man 
 was 'half  beast  and  half  devil,' had  but  to  point  to  this  chap- 
 ter to  justify  his  strong  assertion.  Let  men  he  abandoned  '  to 
 their  hearts'  lusts,'  and  they  will  '  work  all  uncleanness  with 
 greediness.'  Yet  the  renewed  heart  turns  away  with  disgust 
 from  the  scenes  here  depicted,  and  prays,  '  gather  not  my  soul 
 with  sinners,  normy  life  with  bloody  men.' 
 
Every  man  shall  stand  or  fall 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XVIII. 
 
 by  his  own  good  or  bad  actions. 
 
 ill  the  shadow  of  the  branches  thereof  shall 
 they  dwell. 
 24  And  all  the  trees  of  the  field  shall  know 
 that  I  the  Lord  'have  brought  down  the  high 
 tree,  have  exalted  the  low  tree,  have  dried  up 
 the  green  tree,  and  have  made  the  dry  tree  to 
 flourish  :  ^  I  the  Lord  have  spoken  and  have 
 done  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 1  God  reproveth  the  unjitst  parable  of  sour  yrapes.  5 
 He  sheweth  how  he  dealeth  with  u  jitst  fattier  :  10  with 
 a  wicked  son  of  a  just  fattier  :  14  with  a  just  son  of 
 a  wicked  father  :  1 9  with  a  wicked  man  repenting  : 
 24  with  a  just  man  revolting.  25  He  defendeth  his 
 justiccy  '6\  and  exhnrteih  to  repentance. 
 
 'T'HE  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me  again, 
 ■^    saying, 
 
 2  What  mean  ye,  that  ye  use  this  proverb 
 concerning  the  land  of  Israel,  saying.  The  *  fa- 
 thers have  eaten  sour  grapes,  and  the  children's 
 teeth  are  set  on  edge  'f 
 
 3  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  ye  shall  not 
 have  occasion  any  more  to  use  this  proverb  in 
 Israel. 
 
 4  Behold,  all  souls  are  mine  ;  as  the  soul  of 
 the  father,  so  also  the  soul  of  the  son  is  mine : 
 ''  the  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die. 
 
 5  t  But  if  a  man  be  just,  and  do  f  that  which 
 is  lawful  and  right, 
 
 6  "And  hath  not  eaten  upon  the  mountains, 
 neither  hath  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  the  idols  of 
 the  house  of  Israel,  neither  hath  •'  defiled  his 
 neighbour's  wife,  neither  hath  come  near  to  'a 
 metistruous  woman, 
 
 7  And  hath  not  'oppressed  any,  but  hath  re- 
 stored to  the  debtor  his  ^pledge,  hath  spoiled 
 none  by  violence,  hath  *■  given  his  bread  to  the 
 hungry,  and  hath  covered  the  naked  with  a 
 garment ; 
 
 8  He  that  hath  not  given  forth  upon  '  usury, 
 neither  hath  taken  any  increase,  that  hath  with- 
 drawn his  hand  from  iniquity,  '  hath  executed 
 true  judgment  between  man  and  man, 
 
 9  Hath  walked  in  my  statutes,  and  hath  kept 
 my  judgments,  to  deal  truly;  he  ?»■  just,  he 
 shall  surely  '  live,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 10  t  If  he  beget  a  son  that  is  a  ||  robber,  ""  a 
 shedder  of  blood,  and  ||  that  doeth  the  like  to 
 atiy  one  of  these  t/iine/s, 
 
 1 1  And  tliat  doeth  not  any  of  those  duties, 
 but  even  hath  eaten  upon  the  mountains,  and 
 
 /  Luke  1 .52. 
 
 b  ver.  20. 
 
 Rom.  6.23. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 jndg,,.,,,! 
 
 and  juitice. 
 c  L-U-  2-2.  9. 
 
 d  Lev.  18  20. 
 
 k  ifO.  10. 
 c  Lev.  18, 19. 
 
 &  20.  18. 
 /Ex.  22.  21. 
 
 Lev.  19,  IS. 
 
 J<  2J    U. 
 
 Ex 
 
 Dl'U  21.12, 
 13. 
 
 h  Pen.  13.7, 
 y.  Is  58  7 
 Miit.  25.33, 
 3n 
 
 ■  Ex.  22.25. 
 Lev.  25.  36, 
 .-iT.  Deu.  23, 
 19.  Neh.  5, 
 7    Ps.  15.  5 
 
 A  Deu,  I.  16. 
 Zech.  8,  16. 
 
 /  ch,  20.  n. 
 Amos  5   4. 
 
 0  Or,  ftrrnker 
 up  of  an 
 
 m  Gen.  9,6 
 Kx.  21.  12. 
 Nu.  35.  31, 
 
 II  Or,  that 
 dtieth  lo  hi* 
 hrxlluT  be- 
 .,d.i  a.,y  of 
 
 o  Lev.  CO.  9, 
 11,12,18,16, 
 27.cli,  3.18. 
 8t  .S3.  4. 
 Arts  18   6. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 bl^txU. 
 
 t  Ifeb.  half, 
 n"l  pledged 
 tki:  filed ffe. 
 
 q  ch.  5.   18. 
 
 r  Ex.  20.  5. 
 Den.  5.  9. 
 2  Kin   -23. 
 26.  Se  24. 
 3,  4. 
 
 t   V^T.  4. 
 
 r  Deu.  2+  16 
 
 2  Kin.  U.6. 
 
 2Chr.  25.+. 
 
 Jer.  31.  29, 
 
 30. 
 «  Is.  3.  10, 
 
 M. 
 X  Rom.  2.  9. 
 
 y  ver.  27. 
 ch-  33.  12, 
 
 I  ver.  82. 
 ch.  33.  11. 
 
 1  Tim.  2.  4-. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  9. 
 
 defiled  his  neighbour's  wife, 
 
 12  Hath  oppressed  the  poor  and  needy,  hath 
 spoiled  by  violence,  hath  not  restored  the 
 pledge,  and  hath  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  the  idols, 
 hath  "committed  abomination, 
 
 13  Hath  given  forth  upon  usury,  and  hath 
 taken  increase:  shall  he  then  live?  he  shall 
 not  live  :  he  hath  done  all  these  abominations ; 
 he  shall  surely  die  ;  **his  f  blood  shall  be  upon 
 him . 
 
 14  If  Now,  lo,  T/'he  beget  a  son,  that  seeth  all 
 his  father's  sin.s  which  he  hath  done,  and  con- 
 sidereth,  and  doeth  not  such  like, 
 
 15  ^  That  hath  not  eaten  upon  the  moun- 
 tains, neither  hath  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  the 
 idols  of  the  house  of  Israel,  hath  not  defiled 
 his  neighbour's  wife, 
 
 16  Neither  hath  oppressed  any,  fhath  not 
 withholden  the  pledge,  neither  bath  spoiled  by 
 violence,  but  hath  given  his  bread  to  t!ie  hun- 
 gry, and  hath  covered  the  naked  with  a  gar- 
 ment, 
 
 1 7  That  hath  taken  off  his  hand  from  the 
 poor,  that  hath  not  received  usury  nor  increase, 
 hath  executed  my  judgments,  hath  walked  in 
 my  statutes  ;  he  shall  not  die  for  the  iniquity 
 of  his  father,  he  shall  surely  live. 
 
 18  As  for  his  father,  because  he  cruelly  op- 
 pressed, spoiled  his  brother  by  violence,  and 
 did  that  which  is  not  good  among  his  people, 
 lo,  even  "^  he  shall  die  in  his  iniquity. 
 
 19  1[  Yet  say  ye,  WhyV  ""doth  not  the  son 
 bear  the  iniquity  of  the  father  V  When  the  son 
 hath  done  that  which  is  lawful  and  right,  and 
 hath  kept  all  my  statutes,  and  hath  done  them, 
 he  shall  surely  live. 
 
 •20  '  The  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die.  '  The 
 son  shall  not  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  father, 
 neither  shall  the  father  bear  the  iniquity  of  the 
 son  :  "  the  righteousness  of  the  righteous  shall 
 be  upon  him,  "and  the  wickedness  of  the 
 wicked  shall  be  upon  iiim. 
 
 21  But  ^' if  the  wicked  will  turn  from  all  his 
 sins  that  he  hath  committed,  and  keep  all  my 
 statutes,  and  do  that  which  is  lawful  and  right, 
 he  shall  surely  live,  he  shall  not  die. 
 
 22  ^  All  his  transgressions  that  he  hath  com- 
 mitted, they  shall  not  be  mentioned  unto  him  : 
 in  his  righteousness  that  he  hath  done  he  shall 
 live. 
 
 23  ^  Have    I   any   pleasure   at   all   that  the 
 
 liao  church. — Preb.  Lowth.  Bonf^hs.  apostles,  evang:elists,and  minis- 
 ters, i^;-ui7,  multitudes  of  converts.  Fowl  of  every  wing,  all  the  nations. 
 In  the  shadow  —  dwell,  trust  alone  in  Christ  for  salvation. — Clarke. 
 24.  All  the  trees,  all  the  nations  of  the  world,  and  great  and  mighty 
 men  of  the  earth.— GiV;.  The  high  tree,  Jehoiachin.— C/arAe.  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar.—iVewc.  The  low  tree,  Zedekiah.— C/arA-e.  The  Jews.— 
 Newc.  The  green  tree,  Zedekiah,  having  numerous  children.— CV/irA-e. 
 Nebuchadnezzar.— AVfcc.  The  dry  tree,  the  Messiah,  the  '  rod  out  of 
 tiie  stem  of  Jesse.' — Clur/ce.    The  Jews. — Newc. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII.  — 2.  The  fathers  have  eaten,  §■<?.— see  Jer.  x-xxi.  29. 
 This  proverb  threw  the  hlame  on  their  fathers,  on  Adam,  on  the  un- 
 believers in  the  desert,  and  on  Manasseh,  who  went  to  great  excesses. 
 — Sut.  In  the  second  commaDdraeut  it  is  expressly  declared  that  the 
 children  should  be  punished  in  this  life  for  the  idolatry  of  the  fathers. 
 Idolatry  was  high  treason  while  the  Theocracy  subsisted,  and  was  to 
 be  restrained  by  the  severest  sanctions. — Boothr.  God,  however, 
 never  visited  the  sins  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children,  unless  they 
 followed  their  fathers'  practices  and  committed  the  same  sins,  it 
 wor-e.— G(7/.  Sec  ver.  19.  3.  Ye  shall  not  have  occasion,  ^c.,  I  will 
 make  such  a  visible  discrimination  between  those  that  tread  in  the 
 steps  of  their  forefathers,  and  those  who  take  warning  by  their  example, 
 that  you  shall  have  nofarther  occasion  for  this  proverb.  Godexpres>Iy 
 threatens  'to  visit  the  sins  of  tlie  fathers  upon  the  children,'  both  in 
 
 the  Old  and  New  Testament,  (see  Exod.  xx.  5  ;  Matt,  xxiii.  35  ;)  but  this 
 is  to  be  understood  only  with  respect  to  the  temporal  punishments  of 
 this  world,  not  with  respect  to  the  eternal  punishments  of  the  next. — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  The  words  signify,  that  God  would  no  longer  defer  the 
 execution  of  his  judgments,  so  that  tor  the  future  the  proverb  should 
 be  useless. — Gill.  4.  All  souls  are  mine,  ^c,  as  they  are  all  equally 
 my  creatures,  so  my  dealings  with  them  shall  be  without  prejudice  or 
 partiality. — Preb.  Lowth,  The  soul  that  sinneth,  ^c.,  whoso  sinneth 
 shall  suffer  for  his  own  sin. — Poole.  G.  Eaten  on  the  mountains^ 
 feasted  on  the  sacrifices  to  idols,  [chap.  vi.  2,  13.)  Lifted  up  his  eyes, 
 in  prayer  and  adoration. — Xewc.  7.  Restored—pledge,  not  embcz- 
 zUng  it  or  keeping  it  beyond  the  time  fixed  by  the  law  of  Gi'd^  (Ueut- 
 xxiv.  12,  13;  Exod.  xxii.  26.)— Gi7^.  8.  Usury,  lent  on  condition  of 
 receiving  rauchmore. — Poole.  Usury  was  permitted  towards  strangers, 
 (Deut.  xxiii.  19,  2o,)  but  not  among  the  Jews,  to  promote  mutual  kind- 
 ness.— Newc.  9.  Shall  surely  live,  be  delivered  from  famine,  pesti- 
 lence, and  sword,  {see  good  days,  Ps.  xxxiv.  12, 13.) — Poole,  as  Grotius. 
 10.  A  robber,  V>1D,  '  a  breaker  up  or  through.' — Mont.,  Vat.,  Jan.,  fyc. 
 One  that  breaks  through  walls  and  into  houses;  and  breaks  through 
 all  the  laws  of  God  and  man.  13.  Shall  he  then  live?  by  virtue  of  his 
 father's  righteousness?  His  blood,  ^c,  he  shall  be  the  cause  of  his  own 
 ruin. — Gill.  20.  The  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die — see  ver.  4,  note. 
 22.  Not  to  be  mentioned,  ^c,  that  is,  imputed  to,  or  punished  on  him. 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.    XVII.  —  Behold   here,  I.  Israel 
 ruined.     Sin  has  exposed  all  to  ruin. 
 
 II.  Israel  saved,     ('hrist  restores  what  sin  has  ruined.      He 
 867 
 
 is  '  able  lo  save  to  the  very  uttermost.'  '  Let  the  children  of 
 Zion  be  joyful  in  their  King,'  whose  throne  shall  endure  for 
 ever. 
 
Ail  exhortation  to  repentance. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XIX. 
 
 Lamentation  for  the  princes  of  Israel. 
 
 wicked  should  die?  saith  the  Lord  God  :  and 
 not  that  he  should  return  from  his  ways,  and 
 live? 
 
 24  IT  But  ^  when  the  righteous  turneth  away 
 from  his  righteousness,  and  coniniitteth  ini- 
 quity, and  doeth  according  to  all  the  abomina- 
 tions that  the  wicked  man  doeth,  shall  he  live  ? 
 "  All  his  rigliteousness  that  he  hath  done  shall 
 not  be  mentioned  :  in  his  trespass  that  he  hath 
 trespassed,  and  in  his  sin  that  he  hath  sinned, 
 in  them  shall  he  die. 
 
 23  H  Yet  ye  say,  -^  The  way  of  the  Lord  is  not 
 equal.  Hear  now,  O  house  of  Israel ;  Is  not 
 my  way  equal  ?  are  nut  your  ways  unequal  ? 
 
 26  ^  When  a  righteous  man  turneth  away  from 
 his  righteousness,  and  committeth  iniquity, 
 and  dieth  in  them  ;  for  his  iniquity  that  lie 
 hath  done  shall  he  die. 
 
 ^7  Again,  *"  when  the  wicked  man  turneth 
 away  from  his  wickedness  that  he  hath  com- 
 mitted, and  doeth  that  which  is  lawful  and 
 right,  he  shall  save  his  soul  alive. 
 
 28  Because  he  ^  considereth,  and  turneth 
 away  from  all  his  transgressions  that  he  hath 
 committed,  he  shall  surely  live,  he  shall  not 
 die. 
 
 29  **  Yet  saith  the  house  of  Israel,  The  way 
 of  the  Lord  is  not  equal.  O  house  of  Israel, 
 are  not  my  waj's  equal?  are  not  your  ways 
 unequal  ? 
 
 30  '  Therefore  I  will  judge  you,  O  house  of 
 Israel,  every  one  according  to  his  ways,  saith 
 the  Lord  God.  ^  Repent,  and  turn  ||  your- 
 selves from  all  your  transgressions  ;  so  iniquity 
 shall  not  be  your  ruin. 
 
 31  t  '  Cast  away  from  you  all  your  transgres- 
 sions, whereby  ye  have  transgressed ;  and 
 make  you  a  "new  heart  and  a  new  spirit :  for 
 
 6  ch.  3.  90. 
 &  S3.  12,13, 
 IS. 
 
 /  per.  21 
 
 k  Mat.  3.  2. 
 
 Itfv.  S.  5 
 [I  Ur,otbers 
 
 J.  Ji-r,  32.  39. 
 ch.  II.  19, 
 &  36.  :i6. 
 
 ch.  S3,  ir. 
 •I  Pet.  3.  y, 
 I  Oi",  otliera. 
 
 a  ch    L^6.  17. 
 &??.  2. 
 
 h  ver.  6. 
 3  Kin   '23. 
 31,  32. 
 
 c.  2  Kin-  S3. 
 
 33.  2Chr. 
 
 3fi.  4   Jer. 
 
 2*.  II,  Vi. 
 r(2  Kill.  23. 
 
 31. 
 
 Or.  Ihfir 
 uiiloici. 
 
 A  ver.  ♦. 
 
 i2Chr  36.fi. 
 
 Jer.  22.  18. 
 !l  Or.  in 
 
 hooka. 
 
 why  will  ye  die,  O  house  of  Israel  ? 
 32   For  "  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of 
 him  that  dieth,  saith  the  Lord  God:  wherefore 
 turn  l\  yourselves,  and  live  ye. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 1  A  lamentation  for  the  princes  of  Israel,  vnder  the 
 parable  of  lion s^  whelps  taken  in  a  pit,  iO  a7id  for 
 Jerusalem,  wider  the  parable  of  a  icasttd  vine. 
 
 ll/rOREOVER  ^  take  thou  up  a  lamentation 
 -'-'-■-  for  the  princes  of  Israel, 
 
 2  And  say.  What  is  thy  mother?  A  lioness  : 
 she  lay  down  among  lions,  she  nourished  her 
 whelps  among  young  lions. 
 
 3  And  she  brought  up  one  of  her  whelpj? : 
 ''it  became  a  young  lion,  and  it  learned  to 
 catch  the  prey  ;  it  devoured  men. 
 
 4  The  nations  also  lieard  of  iiim  ;  he  was 
 taken  in  their  pit,  and  they  brought  him  with 
 chains  unto  the  land  of  '^  Egypt. 
 
 5  Now  when  she  saw  that  she  had  waited, 
 and  her  hope  was  lost,  then  she  took  ''  another 
 of  her  wlielps,  and  made  liim  a  young  lion. 
 
 6  ^  And  he  went  up  and  down  among  the 
 lions,  *"  he  became  a  young  lion,  and  learned 
 to  catch  the  prey,  and  devoured  men. 
 
 7  And  he  knew  ||  their  desolate  palaces,  and 
 he  laid  waste  their  cities  ;  and  the  land  was 
 desolate,  and  the  fulness  thereof,  by  the  noise 
 of  his  roaring. 
 
 8  ^  Then  the  nations  set  against  him  on  every 
 side  from  the  provinces,  and  spread  their  net 
 over  him  :  *>  he  was  taken  in  their  pit. 
 
 9  '  And  they  put  him  in  ward  ||  in  chains, 
 and  brought  liim  to  the  king  of  Babylon:  tliey 
 brought  him  into  liolds,  that  his  voice  should 
 no  more  be  heard  upon  ^  the  mountains  of 
 Israel. 
 
 tliey  shall  be  as  forgotten.— Poo/<".  24.  Righteous  turneth  awai/,  ^c, 
 however  long  a  man  may  have  oheyerl  tlie  law,  when  he  comes  lo  he  a 
 violator  of  it,  an  itlolator,  arobber,  an  adulterer,  &c.,  his  past  obedience 
 or  righteousness  shall  not  save  him,  but  he  shall  suffer  for  liis  delin- 
 quency.—Boo^/o-.  2/.  That  which  is  linvful  and  right,  T\\>^\'^^  TDDITO, 
 or  'judgmentand righteousness,'  Vulg. ;  Pag.,  Mont.,  ^c.  Thatwhich 
 is  agreeable  to  the  will  of  God,  and  just  and  right  between  man  and 
 man.  He  shall  siwe  his  soul  a/(c<",  from  famine,  pestilence,  the  sword, 
 or  captivity,  he  shall  be  preserved,  and  not  be  involved  in  calamity 
 or  distress.— Gj/;.  He  shall  he  pardoned,  escape  punishment,  it  shall 
 be  well  with  him  ;  and  this  is  the  constant  method  of  God's  proceed- 
 ings with  his  people  ;  he  calls  them  to  himself  by  promises  of  pardon, 
 he  never  frights  them  from  him  by  threatening  to  punish  others' 
 faults  on  their  backs.  Leave  your  own,  and  you  sliall  never  suffer 
 for  others*  sins. — Poole.  30.  Every  one  according  to  his  own  ways, 
 not  the  ways  of  his  father.— GW.  31.  Cast  auay  from  you  all  your 
 transgressions,  not  only  cease  from  sin.  but,  witli  indignation,  throw 
 it  away  as  a  loath^^ome,  pernicious  thing,  or  as  a  burden  that  would 
 sink  yon.— Poole.  Perhaps  it  is  best  to  interpret  this  of  the  casting 
 away  of  their  idols,  by  which  they  tran.^gressed,  (see  chap.  xx.  7,  8.) — 
 Gill.  Make  you  a  new  heart,  it  is  the  property  of  true  repentance  that 
 it  does  frame  the  heart  against  its  own  sins.— Poo/e.  The  Israelites 
 were  commanded  to  do  the<^e  things  in  order  that  they  might  be  con- 
 vinced of  their  own  depravity,  inability,  and  misery  ;  and  that  they 
 mib'bt  learn  to  value  and  plead  the  promises  of  God.  Such  cxhorta- 
 tions  are  similar  to  Christ's  command  to  the  paralytic  to  take  up  his 
 bed  and  walk;  depending  on  his  help  who  gave  the  command,  he 
 attempted  obedience,  and  found  himself  enabled  to  perform  it. — Scott. 
 The  words  imply,  pray  to  God  to  make  you  a  new  heart,  as  David  did, 
 (Ps.  li.  10.)  for  when  God  commands  that  which  is  impossible  for  us  to 
 do,  he  directs  us  to  seek  to  him  to  do  it  for  us  ;  and  hence,  in  other 
 plrtces,  he  promises  to  give  a  new  heart,  &c.  (see  chap.  x.x.Kvi.  26. )~ 
 Boothr.  32.  Turn  yourselves,  mid  li"e  ye — as  the  Jews'  observance  of 
 God's  law  was  the  covenanted  condition  upon  which  they  held  the  land 
 of  Canaan,  and  prospered  therein,  the  rewards  and  punishments  here 
 mentionrd  may  immediately  respect  temporal  safety  and  prosperity, 
 annexed  to  sincere  observance  ;  and  miseries  annexed  to  gross  viola- 
 
 tions of  God's  law.  It  is  certain  the  righteousness  from  which  one  can 
 fully  and  finally  fall  away,  (ver.  24,  26,)  cannot  be  truly  gracious  dispo- 
 sitions of  heart,  or  conduct  in  life,  the  saints  being  infallibly  preserved 
 in  these.  (Job,  xvii.  g ;  Prov.  iv.  18  ;  1  Pet.  i.  5  ;)  and  though  men  may 
 reform  tlicir  external  behaviour,  without  supernatural  influences  from 
 Christ,  yet  it  is  not  supposed  that  they  can  truly  repent  of  their  sin  and 
 renew  their  hearts,  (ver.  23,  30,  31,  32,)  but  that  it  is  their  duty  to  have 
 gracious  and  penitent  hearts,  and  therefore  to  attend  the  ordinances  of 
 the  Gospel,  and  receive  newness  of  heart  and  repentance  as  the  free 
 gifts  of  Jesus  Christ,  offered  therein,  and  implanted  by  his  Holy  Spirit. 
 J.  Brown.  From  this  writer  there  is  much  difference,  especially  on 
 falling  away  from  righteousness,  in  the  criticisms  of  A.  Clarke  and 
 Sutcliffe. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  —  1.  ^4  lamentation,  a  funeral  dirge,  (comp.  chap.  sxvi. 
 17;  xxvii.  2.)  2.  A  lioness,  alluding  to  Gen,  xUx.  g. — Gratius. 
 Judea  was  like  a  lioness  among  the  beasts,  of  the  forest  for  strength 
 and  sovereignty. — Newc,  Boothr.  Not  for  her  strength  and  glory,  but 
 for  her  cruelty  and  rapine ;  for  her  want  of  humanity,  mercy,  and  jus- 
 tice.— Gill.  For  her  ferocious  and  cruel  disposition,  (see  chap.  vii.  23; 
 Jer.  xxii.  l".)— Prei.  Lowth.  3.  And  she  brought  up,  ^-c,  ^ym, 
 *  made  him  to  ascend.' — Pag.,  Mont.  Made  him  to  mount  the  throne. 
 This  was  Jehoahaz,  whom  the  people  of  the  land  anointed  instead  of 
 Josiah,  his  father,  (2  Kings,  sxiii.  30.)— GiV^,  so  Newc.,  and  Pref/. 
 Loivth.  4.  Jn  a  pit,  alluding  tn  the  taking  of  wild  beasts  in  pits  dug 
 on  purpose,  and  covered  with  straw.— (.'///.  The  Arabs  dig  such  pits 
 in  enclosures  for  cattle,  where  lions  enter  and  frequently  catch  them. 
 — Shaiv.  5.  Another,  Jehoiachim.  6.  Among  the  lioyis,  kings  of 
 neighbouring  nations.— Gi7/.  He  ruled  fiercely  and  wickedly  among 
 his  people,  (see  Jer.  xxii.  13 — 17;  xxxvii.  2.) — Bp.  Hull.  Devoured 
 men,  his  neighbours  the  Ammonites  and  Moabitcs,  or  his  own  subjects. 
 — Poole.  7.  And  he  knew  their  desolate  palaces,  he  desolated  the 
 palaces,  cities,  and  country,  by  the  terror  of  his  oppressions. — Scott. 
 ■  And  he  brought  evil  on  their  palaces.'— BoofAr.  '  And  he  knew  his 
 own  widows,'  vm^obt*  ^T^, — Png.,  Mont.,  Cocc. ;  or  'their  widows.' 
 —  Vat.,  Starkius.  '  He  defiled  their  widows.'— Gi7^  8.  Set  against 
 /«'m— see2  Kings,  xxiv.  2.  9.  Be  heard,  ^c,  alludes  to  a  lion's  seek- 
 ing his  prey  upon  the  mountains. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Reflfctions    on   Chap.  XVIII.  — I.  *  Let  us  observe  and  are  done  in  the  body."    And  let  it  be  remembered  that  God 
 
 admire  the  condescension  of  God  in  reasoriint/  the  case  tcith  these  bas  promised  his  grace  to  those  who  seek  for  it.     "  Work  out. 
 
 unreasonable  meji.     Thus  be  proceeds  still,  "that  be  may  be  therefore,  your  own  salvation  with  ft^ar  and  trembling;  for  it 
 
 )ust  when  he  speaketb,  and  righteous  when  be  judgetb  the  is  God  who  worketh  in  you  to  will  and  to  do  of  bis  own  c;ood 
 
 cbiUireri  of  men."  '  pleasure."     Here  both  our  duty  and  strength  to  perform  it  are 
 
 II.  '  Ue  learn  hence  the  rule  of  God's  final  judgment.    "  Every  stated.' '' 
 man  shall  receive  according  to  his  own  works  the  Ibincs  which 
 868 
 
The  story  of  Israel's  rebellions 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XX. 
 
 in  the  wilderness,  §-c. 
 
 10  1  Thy  mother  is  'like  a  vine  ||  in  thy 
 Mood,  planted  by  the  waters  :  she  was  '"fruit- 
 ful and  full  of  branches  by  reason  of  many 
 waters. 
 
 1 1  And  she  had  strong  rods  for  the  sceptres 
 of  them  tliat  bare  rule,  and  her  "  stature  was 
 exalted  among  tlie  thick  branches,  and  she  ap- 
 peared in  her  height  with  the  multitude  of  her 
 branches. 
 
 12  But  she  was  plucked  up  in  fury,  she  was 
 cast  down  to  the  ground,  and  the  "  east  wind 
 dried  up  her  fruit:  her  strong  rods  were 
 broken  and  withered  ;  the  fire  consumed  them. 
 
 13  And  now  she  is  planted  in  the  wilderness, 
 in  a  dry  and  tliirsty  ground. 
 
 14  ''  And  fire  is  gone  out  of  a  rod  of  her 
 branches,  which  hath  devoured  her  fruit,  so 
 that  she  hath  no  strong  rod  to  be  a  sceptre  to 
 rule.  ■*  This  is  a  lamentation,  and  shall  be  for 
 a  lamentation. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 ]  God  refuseth  to  be  consulted  fiy  the  eldrrs  of  Israeli 
 5  He  s/ietceth  the  stori/  of  their  reheUlons  in  Egt/pt, 
 10  in  the  wilderness,  27  and  in  the  land.  33  He 
 promiseth  to  yaihvr  them  by  the  (jospcl.  45  Under 
 the  name  of  a  forest  he  sheiveth  the  destruction  of 
 Jerusfdeni. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  seventh  year, 
 -^^  in  the  tifth  months  the  tenth  day  of  the 
 month,  that  "*  certain  of  the  elders  of  Israel 
 came  to  enquire  of  the  Lord,  and  sat  before 
 me. 
 
 2  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto  me, 
 saying, 
 
 3  Son  of  man,  speak  unto  the  elders  of  Israel, 
 and  say  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ; 
 Are  ye  come  to  enquire  of  me  ?  As  \  live, 
 saith  the  Lord  God,  ^  I  will  not  be  enquired  of 
 by  you. 
 
 4  Wilt  thou  II ''judge  them,  son  of  man,  wilt 
 tliou  judge  M<"//i?  -^  cause  them  to  know  the 
 abominations  of  tlieir  fathers  : 
 
 5  H  And  say  unto  them,  thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  ;  In  the  day  when  ^  I  chose  Israel,  and 
 II  lifted  up  mine  hand  unto  the  seed  of  the 
 hoxise  of  Jacob,  and  made  myself  *'  known  unto 
 them  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  when  I  lifted  up 
 mine  hand  unto  them,  saying,^  I  am  the  Lord 
 your  God  ; 
 
 6  In  the  d3.y  that  I  lifted  up  mine  hand  unto 
 them,  ''  to  bring  them  forth  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt  into  a  land  that  I  had  espied  for  them, 
 
 B.  C.  5M. 
 
 '  ch.  17.  ti, 
 I  Or,  in  Ih;, 
 qu  ietneu, 
 or,  in  till/ 
 liheiiett. 
 >n  Deii.  B.  7, 
 
 a  cli.  17    lU. 
 Hos.  13.  15. 
 
 p  Jiidg.Q.IS, 
 cli.  17.  IS. 
 
 ch.   U.  3. 
 
 II  Or,  plvad 
 for  thtm. 
 
 c  ch.  '2-J.  2. 
 &  23.  3ij. 
 
 d  ch.  16.  3. 
 
 .■  E)t.  6.  7. 
 
 \^e^\.  7.  6. 
 II  Ov,mire: 
 
 iind  so  ver. 
 
 ij,  Ike.   Lx. 
 
 ii    8. 
 /Ei.  .1.  3. 
 
 &  4    31. 
 
 Deii.  4   3+. 
 g  Ex.  20.  2 
 
 h  Ex.  3.8,17. 
 Deii,  8,  7, «, 
 9.  Jer.  a2. 
 
 B.  I' 
 cir.  .'i!M. 
 
 r  Ps.  48    2. 
 
 vei-.   15. 
 
 Den. 8.9  & 
 
 II.  Iti,41. 
 
 Zecli.  7.  M. 
 k  cli.  IS.  Al. 
 
 Clir.  IS  8, 
 17.7. 
 
 ih.  7.  8- 
 ver.  13,-21. 
 
 >  See  Ex.  33. 
 \'i.  Nu.  14. 
 
 13.  &(!. 
 
 Deii.  9.  28. 
 ver.  14.  22. 
 ch.  36.  21, 
 
 p  Ex.  13.  18. 
 
 7  Deu.  4.  8. 
 NeU.  9.  13, 
 N.  Ps.  147. 
 
 19.  20. 
 t  Heb. 
 made  them 
 
 ii>  h;ow. 
 
 T  Lev.   13.5. 
 
 vei.  13.  21. 
 
 Koin.  iO.  5. 
 
 Gal.  3.  12. 
 3  Ex.  21)-  8. 
 
 &  3I.I3,&C. 
 
 &  35.  2. 
 
 Deu.  5.  12. 
 
 Keh  y.  14. 
 (  Nil.  14.  22. 
 
 Ps.  78.40.81 
 
 9J  8,  9,  10. 
 u  ver.  IG,  24. 
 
 Pro.  I.  -25, 
 jr  Ex.  Iti.  27, 
 !/  Num.  It. 
 
 29.  k  26,  65. 
 
 I's.  106.  23, 
 I  ver,  9,  22. 
 
 «  Num.  U. 
 
 28.  Ps.  90 
 11.  &  106. 
 26. 
 
 b  ver.  6. 
 
 dNu.15.  39 
 
 Ps. 
 
 78.  37. 
 
 Air 
 
 OS  5.  -i^ 
 
 •Jli 
 
 Acts  7. 
 
 42, 
 
 4.1. 
 
 ePs 
 
 78.33. 
 
 flowing  witli  milk  and  honej',  '  which  is  the 
 glory  of  all  lands  : 
 
 7  Then  said  I  unto  them,  ''  Cast  ye  away 
 every  man  '  the  ahoniinations  of  his  eyes,  and 
 defile  not  yourselves  with  "'  the  idols  of  Egypt : 
 I  am  the  Lokd  your  God. 
 
 8  But  they  rebelled  against  me,  and  would 
 not  hearken  unto  me  :  they  did  not  every  man 
 cast  away  the  abominations  of  their  eyes,  nei- 
 ther did  they  forsake  the  idols  of  Egypt :  then 
 I  said,  I  will  "pour  out  my  fury  upon  them,  to 
 accomplish  my  anger  against  them  in  the  midst 
 of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 9  "  But  I  wrought  for  my  name's  sake,  that  it 
 should  not  be  polluted  before  the  heathen, 
 among  whom  they  ivere,  in  whose  siglit  I  made 
 myself  known  unto  them,  in  bringing  them 
 forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 10  f  Wherefore  I  ''caused  them  to  go  forth 
 out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  brought  them 
 into  the  wilderness. 
 
 11  ''And  I  gave  them  my  statutes,  and 
 t  shewed  them  my  judgments,  'which  if  a 
 man  do,  he  shall  even  live  in  them. 
 
 12  Moreover  also  I  gave  them  my  'sabbaths, 
 to  be  a  sign  between  me  and  them,  that  they 
 might  know  that  I  am  the  Lokd  that  sanctify 
 them. 
 
 13  But  the  house  of  Israel  '  rebelled  against 
 me  in  the  wilderness :  they  walked  not  in  my 
 statutes,  and  they  "  despised  my  judgments, 
 which  ;/'a  man  do,  he  shall  even  live  in  them  ; 
 and  my  sabbaths  they  greatly  "  polluted  :  then 
 I  said,  I  would  pour  out  my  fury  upon  them 
 in  the  'Wilderness,  to  consume  them. 
 
 14  '  But  I  wrought  for  my  name's  sake,  that 
 it  should  not  he  polluted  before  the  heathen, 
 in  whose  sight  I  brought  them  out. 
 
 15  Yet  also  "  I  lifted  up  my  hand  unto  them 
 in  the  wilderness,  that  I  would  not  bring  them 
 into  the  land  which  I  had  given  them,  flowing 
 with  milk  and  honey,  ''  which  is  the  glory  of 
 all  lauds  ; 
 
 16  '  Because  they  despised  my  judgments, 
 and  walked  not  in  my  statutes,  but  polluted 
 my  sabbaths :  for  ''  their  heart  went  after  their 
 idols. 
 
 17  °  Nevertheless  mine  eye  spared  them  from 
 destroying  them,  neither  did  I  make  an  end  of 
 them  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 18  But  I  said  unto  their  children  in  the  wil- 
 derness. Walk  ye  not  in  the  statutes  of  your 
 
 10.  Tliij  mother,  ffc— 
 
 '  Thy  mother  was  like  a  vine  or  pomegranate.' 
 
 May  not  the  allusion  be  to  manuring  the  vine  with  blood,  which  is 
 sometimes  done  ?  and  Israel  was  planted  in  the  blood  of  the  Canaanites. 
 — Wit.  Under  this  emblem  the  prophet  sets  forth  the  once  flourishing 
 state  of  his  country  ;  fertile,  inhabited,  free;  but  now  the  contrary. — 
 So  Boothr.  Full  of  branchf^.  many  princes. — A.  Clurkf.  11.  Stroni^ 
 rofh,  Zedekiah  and  his  many  sons. — A.  Clarke,  The  allusion  may  be 
 to  the  sceptres  of  the  ancients,  which  were  no  other  than  walking  sticks, 
 cut  off  from  the  stems  or  branches  of  trees,  and  decorated  with  gold, 
 or  studded  with  golden  nails. — Gill.  Them  that  hare  rule,  from  her 
 sprung  powerful  sovereigns. — So  Prcb.  LnwtJi.  Her  stature  was  e\r- 
 aited,  ^c,  this  kingdom  etiualled,  if  not  excelled,  the  greatest  neigh- 
 bour kingdom.— Poo/e.  Zedekiah  grew  proud.— W.  Clarke.  13.  Planted 
 in  a  ii'ilderjjess,  ^c,  carried  captive,  and  in  the  conditinn  of  a  tree  re- 
 moved from  a  rich  to  a  barren  soil.— Pre6.  Lowth.      14.  Fire,  rebellion 
 
 against  the  king  of  Babylon,  by  Zedekiah.  Devoured  her  fruit,  de- 
 stroyed the  pe(»ple. — Gilt.  This  chapter  is  written  in  poetry,  the  eleven 
 preceding  are  prose. —  Wit. 
 
 Chap.  XX.  —  I.  Serenth  7/e(ir, of  Zedekiah's  reign,  and  the  captivity 
 of  Jeconiah,  whence  the  dates  of  Ezekiel's  visions  and  proi)hecies, 
 (chap.  i.  2,  and  viii.  1.) — Gill,  Poole,  4.  Judge  them,  ETCll?nrT.  The 
 word  TQIDIIJ  is  used  very  e-xtensively  for  the  oflice  of  an  advocate,  as 
 well  as  of  a  judge,  and  is  here  diflferently  taken.— tFiV.  5.  Lifted  up 
 my  hand,  sware,  (Gen.  xiv.  22  ;  Exod.  vi.  8;    Dan.  xii.  7.) — Bp.  Hall, 
 
 6.  Milk  and  honey,  fruitful. — Preb.  Lowth.      See  Exod.   iii.  8.   note. 
 
 7.  Abominations,  ^c,,  idols,  (chap,  xviii.  6.) — Neivc.  8.  Neither  did 
 they  forsake  the  idols  of  Egypt — this  circumstance  is  not  mentioned  by 
 Moses — their  idolatry,  after  he  had  sent  Moses  and  Aaron  to  them. 
 p.  But  I  wrought  for  my  name's  sake,  I  did  not  punish  them,  lest  the 
 heathen  should  dispute  my  promise  or  ability  to  save. — Clarke.  1 1 .  Lire 
 in  them,  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  enjoying  all  the  blessings  of  a  long  and 
 happy  life,  (see  Lev.  xviii.  5.)— Gilt.  15.  Lifted,  ^c, — see  ver.  5,  note. 
 IS.  /  said,  ^c— see  Deut.  xxis.,  xxx.,  xxxi.  xxxii. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.  XIX This   chapter  exhibits, 
 
 I.  Israel's  prosperous  state — mighty  and  6ourisLing.  While  her 
 liinijs  ruled  in  righteousness,  she  flourished.  This  furnishes 
 lis  with  a  strong  reason  to  '  pray  for  kings,  and  all  that  are  in 
 authority  over  us.' 
 
 ily  over  us. 
 8Gy 
 
 II.  Israers  ruined  condition.  Like  a  tree  plucked  up,  dried, 
 withered,  its  finest  branches  consumed,  and  its  roots  trans- 
 planted to  a  barren  soil.  Tiiis  may  teach  us  to  value  our  pri- 
 vileges, or  such  may  be  our  condition, — they  may  he  taken 
 from  us,  or  we  may  be  taken  from  them. 
 
The  story  of  Israel's  rebellions. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XX. 
 
 God's  promise  to  gather  Israel. 
 
 fathers,  neither  observe  their  judgments,  nor 
 defile  yourselves  with  their  idols  : 
 
 19  I  ajn  the  Lord  your  God  ;  'walk  in  my 
 statutes,  and  keep  my  judgments,  and  do 
 them  J 
 
 •20  ^  And  hallow  my  sabbaths  ;  and  they  shall 
 be  a  sign  between  me  and  you,  that  ye  may 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 21  Notwithstanding  *■  the  cliildren  rebelled 
 against  me  :  they  walked  not  in  my  statutes, 
 neither  kept  my  judgments  to  do  them, '  which 
 if  a  man  do,  he  shall  even  live  in  them  ;  they 
 polluted  my  sabbaths :  then  I  said,  ^  I  would 
 ])our  out  my  fury  upon  them,  to  accomplish 
 my  anger  against  them  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 22  '  Nevertheless  I  withdrew  mine  hand,  and 
 ■"wrought  for  my  name's  sake,  that  it  should 
 not  be  polluted  in  the  sight  of  the  heathen,  in 
 whose  sight  I  brought  them  forth. 
 
 23  I  lifted  up  mine  hand  unto  them  also  in 
 the  wilderness,  that  "  I  would  scatter  them 
 among  the  heathen,  and  disperse  them  through 
 the  countries  ; 
 
 24  "  Hecause  they  had  not  executed  my 
 judgments,  but  had  despised  my  statutes,  and 
 had  polluted  my  sabbaths,  and  ''  their  eyes 
 were  after  their  fathers'  idols. 
 
 25  Wherefore  ''  I  gave  them  also  statutes 
 that  were  not  good,  and  judgments  whereby 
 they  should  not  live  ; 
 
 26  And  I  polluted  them  in  their  own  gifts,  in 
 that  they  caused  to  pass  '  through  the  fire  all 
 that  openeth  the  womb,  that  1  might  make 
 them  desolate,  to  the  end  that  they  'might 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 27  1  Therefore,  son  of  man,  speak  unto  the 
 house  of  Israel,  and  say  unto  them,  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord  God  ;  Yet  in  this  your  fathers  have 
 '  blasphemed  nie,  in  that  they  have  f  com- 
 mitted a  trespass  against  me. 
 
 28  For  when  I  had  brought  them  into  the 
 land,  for  the  which  I  lifted  up  mine  liand  to 
 give  it  to  them,  then  "  they  saw  every  high 
 hill,  and  all  the  thick  trees,  and  they  offered 
 there  their  sacrifices,  and  there  they  presented 
 the  provocation  of  their  off'ering  :  there  also 
 they  made  their  ^  sweet  savour,  and  poured 
 out  there  their  drink  offerings. 
 
 29  Then  ||  I  said  unto  them,  AVhat  is  the 
 high  place  whereunto  ye  go  ?  And  the  name 
 thereof  is  called  Bamah  unto  this  day. 
 
 30  Wherefore  say  unto  the  house  of  Israel, 
 Thus  .saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Are  ye  polluted 
 after  the  manner  of  your  fathers '?  and  commit 
 ye  whoredom  after  their  abominations  ? 
 
 31  For  when  ye  offer  'your  gifts,  when  ye 
 make  your  sons  to  pass  through  the  fire,  ye 
 pollute  yourselves  with  all  your  idols,  even 
 unto  this  day  :  and  '  shall  I  be  enquired  of  by 
 
 r  Deii.  5.  .^■.\ 
 
 »=  8,  &  lO.fc 
 n,&  13. 
 
 h  Nu.  2.i,l--J. 
 Dl-u.  »  -.'3, 
 •Z\.  &.S1.27. 
 
 /  P..1.  78.  .18. 
 
 ver.  17. 
 m  vei .  9.  1 1 
 
 ,  I..'V.26.M, 
 I>eii   -iS.  t.1. 
 
 1  See  Ps.  SI. 
 18.  ver.  39. 
 K-m  1.  if). 
 2  Tli»)i.  -i. 
 
 11. 
 
 r  S  Kill.  17. 
 
 17.  ut\    a 
 S  Cl.i .  L8.3 
 iv  .-il   6. 
 Jci    na.  :j5- 
 16.  2(1, 
 
 ^1. 
 
 .  R.  7. 
 
 t  lleb 
 
 Is.  &7.  5, 
 Kc.  ch.  6. 
 
 1  Or,  /  (oM 
 Ihem  i^h'it 
 the  high 
 ptiice  was, 
 or,  Bamah. 
 
 y  ver,  2r.. 
 
 ..  ,lcr.  o.  9, 
 3.'i.  oh.  17. 
 •JO, 
 
 t  See  Tv'inn, 
 U.21,22,-S. 
 
 ^S,  to. 
 
 »  Lev.  27  32. 
 .IcT,  .'B  l:l, 
 [|  Or,  n  d,U- 
 
 /"ch,  S-l.  17. 
 20.  .Mat.  2.0. 
 »!,  a,i. 
 
 Judjr.lo.  [  1 
 
 I's    81,  12. 
 .\iiios4.  .1 
 
 *  Is.  1,  i;i, 
 
 li    2:1,  .S8, 
 
 ell    17. ';J 
 Mie,  .1    1. 
 
 w  Is.  Sfi  7  »c 
 tio.  7.  Zreli, 
 8,  20,  Sir. 
 Mai.  3    J. 
 Rom.  12.  1. 
 
 t;  Or,  dm/. 
 
 \  Hob,  4 
 
 .  ver.  W1,  M, 
 eh.  3fi  2.1  fc 
 .18.  23, 
 f  ch  11.  17. 
 &  .11.  1:i.  h 
 Hi  21, 
 
 7  ch.  10.  GI. 
 
 you,  O  house  of  Israel  ?     As  I  live,  saith  the 
 Lord  God,  I  will  not  be  enquired  of  by  you. 
 
 32  And  that  '  which  cometh  into  your  mind 
 shall  not  be  at  all,  that  ye  say.  We  will  be  as 
 the  heathen,  as  the  families  of  the  countries,  to 
 serve  wood  and  stone. 
 
 33  If  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  surely 
 with  a  mighty  hand,  and  ''  with  a  stretched  out 
 arm,  and  with  fury  poured  out,  will  I  rule  over 
 you : 
 
 34  And  I  will  bring  you  out  from  the  people, 
 and  will  gather  you  out  of  the  countries 
 wherein  ye  are  scattered,  with  a  mighty  hand, 
 and  with  a  stretched  out  arm,  and  with  fury 
 poured  out. 
 
 35  And  I  will  bring  you  into  the  wilderness 
 of  the  people,  and  there  "^  will  I  plead  with  you 
 face  to  face. 
 
 36  ''  Like  as  I  pleaded  with  your  fathers  in 
 the  wilderness  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  so  will  I 
 plead  vvitli  you,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 37  And  I  will  cause  you  to  "pass  under  the 
 rod,  and  1  will  bring  you  into  |{  the  bond  of 
 the  covenant : 
 
 .38  And  '  I  will  purge  out  from  among  you 
 the  rebels,  and  them  that  transgress  against 
 me  :  I  will  bring  them  forth  out  of  the  country 
 where  they  sojourn,  and  *  they  shall  not  enter 
 into  the  land  of  Israel :  "  and  ye  shall  know 
 that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 39  As  for  you,  O  house  of  Israel,  thus  saith 
 the  Lord  God  ;  '  Go  ye,  serve  ye  every  one 
 his  idols,  and  hereafter  also,  if  ye  will  not 
 hearken  unto  me  :  ^  but  pollute  ye  my  holy 
 name  no  more  with  your  gifts,  and  with  your 
 idols. 
 
 40  For  '  in  mine  holy  mountain,  in  the  moun- 
 tain of  the  height  of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  God, 
 there  shall  all  the  house  of  Israel,  all  of  them 
 in  the  land,  serve  me  :  there  "'  will  I  accept 
 them,  and  there  will  I  require  your  offerings, 
 and  the  |j  firstfruits  of  your  oblations,  with  all 
 your  holy  things. 
 
 41  I  will  accept  you  with  your  f°  sweet  sa- 
 vour, when  I  bring  you  out  from  the  people, 
 and  gather  you  out  of  the  countries  wherein  ye 
 have  been  scattered  ;  and  I  will  be  sanctified 
 in  you  before  the  heathen. 
 
 ■12  "  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord, 
 ''when  I  shall  bring  you  into  the  land  of  Israel, 
 into  the  country  /b;-  the  which  I  lifted  up  mine 
 hand  to  give  it  to  your  fathers. 
 
 43  And  ''there  shall  ye  remember  your  ways, 
 and  all  your  doings,  wherehi  ye  have  been  de- 
 filed ;  and  'ye  shall  lothe  yourselves  in  your 
 own  sight  for  all  your  evils  that  ye  have  com- 
 mitted. 
 
 44  '  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord, 
 when  I  have  wrought  with  you  '  for  my  name's 
 
 25.  1  ffiive — fitittuU's — vof  ai'od,  '  wherefore  I  pa\e  them  up  also  to  ob- 
 serve statutes  that  weic  not  fcood.'— floo(*r.  He  abancloncd  them,  and 
 they  abaudnned  themselves  to  the  customs  and  ordinances  of  the  hea- 
 then.— A.  Clarke.  Not  goad,  means decidedlv  bad,  [Prov.  xvi.  29  ;  xvii. 
 26  ;_Rom.  i.  28.)— H--i(.  26.  I'^lhited  them,  suffered  them  to  be  polluted. 
 28.  Saw  every  high  hiU,  ^e.,  at  once  fixed  their  eyes  upon 
 
 -Hew 
 
 the  hiRh  lulls  and  groves  as  proper  places  to  set  up  their  idols  on  and 
 perform  idolatrous  worship  in.— Gi«.  29.  Then  I  said,  by  the  pro- 
 phets—CiZ;.  What  is  the  high  place  !  what  mean  you  to  go  to  the  high 
 place,  should  not  you  go  to  the  altar  of  God '  or,  what  God  better  than 
 Abraham's  do  you  e.xpect  there?  Called  Bamah— Va^  words  may  be 
 expounded  of  some  noted  high  ijlace,  where  tlie  Jews  performed  their 
 idolatrous  worship.— PreA.  Loath.  32.  Shall  nut  be  at  all.  they  pur- 
 liosed  to  renounce  the  God  of  their  fathers,  and  to  follow  altogether  the 
 idols  of  the  nations  around  them  ;  hut  he  decl  ires  that  he  would  shew 
 liimself  their  God  hy  ininishing  them,  and  alli  r  their  captivity,  some 
 870  •  ■ 
 
 should  be  brought  to  their  own  land,  yet  the  most  rebellious  should  be 
 destroyed. — Boothr.  33.  With  a  mighty  hand,  ^c,  I  will  give  up  the 
 gentle  methods  of  patience  and  forbearance,  and  govern  you  by  stripes 
 and  corrections.  35.  Into  the  wildernestt,  fyc,  Babylon,  and  the  cap- 
 tivity there  :  or,  it  may  respect  the  present  state  of  the  Jews,  compared 
 to  a  wilderne'^s. — Gilt.  The  allusion  is  to  the  wilderness  passed  in  the 
 way  to  Canaan. — Pi-el/.  Loath.  Plead  with  you,  or  judge  you,  (see 
 ver.  4.)  —  Wil.  37.  Pasn  under  the  rodsec  Lev.  xsvii.  32,  note.  The 
 allusion  may  be  as  above,  to  the  manner  of  shepherds  telhng  their 
 sheep,  or  to  the  authority  of  a  king,  whose  sceptre  protects  some  and 
 dashes  others  in  pieces. — Poole.  Into  the  bond,  discipline ;  assert  my 
 authority  over  yon  by  bringing  you  into  chastisement,  in  order  to  your 
 correction.— iVeA.  Lowth.  You  shall  be  placed  under  the  same  obliga- 
 tions as  before,  and  acknowledge  yourselves  bound ;  ye  shall  feel  your 
 obligation,  and  live  according  to  its  nature. — .i.  Clarke.  38.  Purge 
 out,  Sfe..  separate  the  righteous  from  the  wicked.    This  may  refer  to 
 
E:ekiel  projihesieth  against  Jerusalem. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXI. 
 
 The  shntp  and  bright  sword. 
 
 sake,  not  according  to  your  wicked  ways,  nor 
 according  to  your  corrupt  doings,  O  ye  house 
 of  Israel,  saitli  t!ie  Lord  God. 
 
 45  t  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  me,  saying, 
 
 46  "  Son  of  man,  set  tliy  face  toward  the 
 south,  and  drop  thy  word  toward  the  south, 
 and  prophesy  against  the  forest  of  tlie  south 
 field  ; 
 
 47  And  say  to  the  forest  of  the  south.  Hear 
 the  word  of  the  Lord  ;  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  ;  Behold,  ^  I  will  kindle  a  fire  in  thee, 
 and  it  shall  devour  '  every  green  tree  in  thee, 
 and  every  dry  tree  :  the  fiaming  flame  shall  not 
 be  quenched,  and  all  faces  '  from  the  south  to 
 the  north  shall  be  burned  therein. 
 
 48  And  all  flesh  shall  see  that  I  the  Lord 
 have  kindled  it  :  it  shall  not  be  fiuenehed. 
 
 49  Then  said  I,  Ah  Lord  God  !  they  say  of 
 me,  Doth  he  not  speak  parables  ? 
 
 CHAP.  XXL 
 
 I  Ezekiel  prophesieth  apainst  Jerusalem  with  a  sipn  of 
 sighinq.  8  The  sharp  and  lirirjht  sword,  18  against 
 Jerusalem,  ib  aijainst  the  kini/dom,  23  and  against 
 the  Ammonites, 
 
 AND  tlie  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me 
 -^  saying, 
 
 2  ^  Son  of  man,  set  thy  face  toward  Jerusalem, 
 and  i"  drop  thy  word  toward  the  holy  places, 
 and  prophesy  against  the  land  of  Israel, 
 
 .3  And  say  to  the  land  of  Israel,  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord  ;  Behold,  I  nyn  against  thee,  and  will 
 draw  forth  my  sword  out  of  his  sheath,  and 
 will  cut  off  from  tliee  '  the  righteous  and  the 
 wicked. 
 
 4  Seeing  then  that  I  will  cut  off  from  thee  the 
 righteous  and  the  wicked,  tlierefore  shall  my 
 sword  go  forth  out  of  his  sheath  against  all 
 flesh  ''  from  the  south  to  the  north  : 
 
 5  That  all  flesh  may  know  that  I  the  Lord 
 have  drawn  forth  my  sword  out  of  his  sheath  : 
 it  "  shall  not  return  any  more. 
 
 6  '  Sigh  therefore,  thou  son  of  man,  with  the 
 breaking  of /%  loins;  and  with  bitterness  sigh 
 before  their  eyes. 
 
 7  And  it  shall  be,  when  they  say  unto  thee. 
 Wherefore  sighest  thou?  that  thou  shalt  an- 
 
 ch-  6.  2.  & 
 21.  2. 
 
 r  Jer.  21.1L 
 Lule  23. 
 
 ,1  ch.  20  46. 
 6  Pen   32.  2 
 
 So.  Is.  -13 
 
 ■i3.  &  55,1 
 
 /  la.  22   4. 
 
 B.  C.  59:i. 
 }  ch.  ;.  17. 
 
 t  Heb.  •Iiail 
 water. 
 
 ADeii-32  41 
 er.  15,^8. 
 
 Or,  it  is 
 
 th'Tfidnfm 
 
 II  Or,  thfy 
 are  thrutl 
 down  la  the 
 tward  with 
 mi/  people. 
 k  Jer.  31,  19 
 II  Or,  Ifben 
 tlie  trial 
 liath  been, 
 wl,at  tlie,,  i 
 thall  the,) 
 not  alio  l,e- 
 lo„g  to  tlu^ 
 
 rod? 
 
 I  .lob  9.  23. 
 2  Cor.  S.  2. 
 
 ,n  ver.  27. 
 n  Nu.  24.  10. 
 
 ver.  17. 
 
 ch.  6.  11. 
 t  Heb.  hand 
 
 to  hond. 
 
 0  1  Kin.  20, 
 30.  &  22. 25. 
 
 II  Or,  glitter. 
 iiig,Or,  fear. 
 
 p  ver.  10,  28. 
 II  Or, 
 sharpened. 
 
 1  ch.  14.  17. 
 t  Heb  let 
 
 Ihuiflf,  to/ie 
 the  Uft  hiind. 
 
 r  ver.  14. 
 ch.  22.  13. 
 
 >  cli.5.  13. 
 
 swer.  For  the  tidings;  because  it  cometh:  and 
 every  heart  shall  melt,  and  "^all  hands  shall  be 
 feeble,  and  every  spirit  shall  faint,  and  all 
 knees  f  •'^all  t>e  weak  as  water :  behold,  it 
 cometh,  and  shall  be  brought  to  pass,  saith  the 
 Lord  God. 
 
 8  t  Again  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 9  Son  of  man,  prophesy,  and  say.  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord  ;  Say,  ''A  sword,  asword  is  sharpened, 
 and  also  furbished  : 
 
 10  It  is  sharpened  to  make  a  sore  slaughter  ; 
 it  is  furbished  that  it  may  glitter :  .should  we 
 then  make  mirth?  ||  it  contemneth  the  rod  of 
 my  son,  as  every  tree. 
 
 1 1  And  he  hath  given  it  to  be  furbished,  that 
 it  may  be  handled  :  this  sword  is  sharpened, 
 and  it  is  furbished,  to  give  it  into  the  hand  of 
 '  the  slayer. 
 
 12  Cry  and  howl,  son  of  man  :  for  it  shall  he 
 upon  my  people,  it  shall  he  upon  all  the 
 princes  of  Israel :  |{  terrors  by  reason  of  the 
 sword  shall  be  upon  my  people  :  '  smite  there- 
 fore upon  thy  thigh. 
 
 13  II  Because  it  is  'a  trial,  and  what  if  the 
 sword  contemn  even  the  rod  ?  "  it  shall  be  no 
 more,  .saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 14  Thou  therefore,  son  of  man,  prophesy, 
 and  "smite  thine  f  hands  together,  and  let  the 
 sword  be  doubled  the  third  time,  the  sword  of 
 the  slain  :  it  is  the  sword  of  the  great  men 
 that  are  .slain, which  entereth  into  their  "privy 
 chambers. 
 
 15  I  have  set  the  ||  point  of  the  sword  against 
 all  their  gates,  that  their  heart  may  faint,  and 
 their  ruins  be  multiplied  :  ah !  ''  it  i.i  made 
 bright,  it  is  \\  wrapped  up  for  the  .slaughter. 
 
 16  ''  Go  thee  one  way  or  other,  either  on  the 
 right  hand,  f  or  on  the  left,  whithersoever  thy 
 face  is  set. 
 
 17  I  will  also  'smite  mine  hands  together, 
 and  '  I  will  cause  my  fury  to  rest :  I  the  Lord 
 have  said  it. 
 
 18  1  The  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me 
 again,  saying, 
 
 19  Also,  thou  son  of  man,  appoint  thee  two 
 ways,  that  the  sword  of  the  king  of  Babylon 
 may  come  :  both  twain  shall  come  forth  out  of 
 
 those  in  captivity.  Tlie  former  should  retain,  the  latter  be  dispersed. 
 — So  Cai.  45.  Moreover,  Sfc.  —  here  begins  a  new  prophecy,  and, 
 most  probably,  a  new  chapter. — GUI,  so  Ben  Melech,  Jiin.,  Trem.,  Pise, 
 Citslalio,  Grotiits,  Hottb.,  Boothr.  46.  Forest,  a  city,  from  its  lofty 
 buildings, — .See  Gtassitts  ;  from  its  many  inhabitants. — Seeker.  From 
 the  south — Ezekiel  was  in  the  north  of  Chaldea  ;  Judea,  therefore,  was 
 to  the  south  of  him. — Newc.  47.  Kintile  a  fire,  .=end  great  calamines. 
 Green — rfr//,  all  sorts  of  persons,  good  and  bad. — GtU.  Both  were  alilie 
 led  into  captivity ;  though,  in  other  respects,  a  great  difference  was 
 made  between  them. — Neu^c.  South  to  tlie  north,  from  one  end  of  the 
 land  to  the  other. — Preb.  Louith.  49.  Doth  he  not  spenk  parables? 
 unintelligible  stuff,  not  worth  minding. — Gill.  'They  fortify  themselves 
 in  tlieir  iniquities  by  contemning  thy  servant.' — So  Poole. 
 
 Chap.  X.XI.  —  3.  Say  to  the  land  of  Israel — what  the  prophet  had 
 before  expressed  in  parable  he  now  expresses  literally. — Boothr.  The 
 righteous  and  the  nicked,  the  green  and  dry  tree,  (chap.  xx.  47;)  these, 
 though  tliey  shall  not  perish  everlastingly  together,  yet  may  fall  toge- 
 ther in  temporal  calamities.  5.  Not  return,  that  is,  until  it  has  done 
 all  its  work.  6.  .S'iif/i — tt}ith  the  hreakint;  of  thy  loins,  so  as  to  make 
 
 thee  stoop,  like  one  perfectly  bowed  down  with  grief  at  the  impending 
 judgments.— PrfA.  Lowth.  Heave,  groan,  and  sigh,  till  the  girdle  of 
 the  loins  is  broke  ;  and  by  these  motions  and  gestures  shew  the  miser- 
 able state  of  this  people,  and  how  much  thou  art  affected  with  it. — Gill, 
 so  Bp.  Hall.  10.  It  contemneth  tlie  rod  of  my  son,  ^c.,  it  makes  no 
 
 distinction  between  the  sceptre  and  common  wood,  between  the 
 branches  of  the  royal  family,  descended  from  David,  (called  '  my  sons,' 
 2  Sara.  vii.  14;  Ps.  Ixxxix.  26,)  and  the  meanest  of  the  people. 
 11.  Slayer,  king  of  Babylon.  12.  Smite—t/iigh,  outward  expressions 
 of  grief,  (comp.  ver.  6,  14,  17;  chap.  vi.  11  ;  Jer.  xxxi.  19.)  13.  A 
 
 trial,  a  great  calamity,  (see  Job,  ix.  23  ;  2  Cor.  viii.  1  ;  Heb.  xi.  36.) — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  '  For  it  is  tried  ;  and  what  if  it  despise  the  sceptre  ?  This 
 shall  not  remain,  saith  the  Lord  Jciinvah.'—Botithr.,  as  Newc.  The 
 regal  succession  shall  end  in  Zedekiah.  14.  Smile  thine  hands,  a  sign 
 of  grief,  (chap.  vi.  11,)  of  rage.  (Num.  xxiv.  10,)  of  a^t^ni^hment, 
 (chap.  xxii.  13.)  Many  think  it  is  a  gesture  of  encouragement  to  the 
 Chaldeans.— A'eu>c.  To  smite  the  hands  together,  in  the  east,  amounts 
 to  an  OATH  !  By  this  sign  it  was  shewn  the  word  had  gone  forth,  and 
 would  not  be  recalled. — Rob.  Let  the  sword  be  doubted  the  third  time, 
 ffc,  •  and  bring  the  sword  twice,  yea,  bring  it  thrice,  it  is  the  sword  of 
 the  slain  ;  it  is  the  sword  of  great  slaughter,  which  entereth  into  their 
 chambers.' — Boothr.  Chambers,  whither  they  went  to  hide  themselves, 
 (see  1  Kings,  xxii.  25.) — Preb.  Lowth.  The  stvord  of  the  slain,  ffc.,  '  it 
 is  the  sword  of  the  soldiers,  the  sword  of  the  great  soldier,'  i.  e..  the 
 Babylonian  soldiers  and  Nebuchadnezzar. — Ken.  15.  Wrapped  up. 
 rather  '  it  is  sharpened.' — Preb.  Lowth,  as  Chald.,  so  Houb.  16.  Go 
 thee,  ^c,  addressed  to  the  sword,  to  go  through  the  land. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 19.  .Appoint  thee  two  ways,  describe  or  draw  out  upon  a  table  or  tile,  as 
 in  chap.  iT.  1,  or  on  the  ground,  two  roads,  such  as  are  described  in 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XX.  —  This  chapter  treats,  I.   Of  penitent  at  last. 
 rebellions— repeated  rebellions  against  God.     Do  we  not,  in        111.  Of  mercies— not  only  manifested  in  long  forbearance, 
 
 these,  see  a  picture  of  our  own  hearts,  and  the  cause  of  all  our  but  in  the  restoration  of  those  who  were  truly  penitent.     As 
 
 sufferings  1  in  many  other  instances,  God  is  so  eager  to  shew  mercy, ^that 
 
 II.  Of  judgments — judgments  long  suspended,  for  God  was  he  cannot  allow  his  prophet  merely  to  be  the  messenger  of 
 
 unwilling  to  strike  ;  but  judgments  brought  upon  all  the  im-  judgment. 
 871 
 
Prophecies  against  Tsren  /. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXII. 
 
 A  catalogue  of  Jerusalem  s  sins. 
 
 one  land  :  and  choose  thou  a  place,  choose  it 
 at  the  head  of  the  way  to  the  city. 
 
 20  Appoint  a  way,  tliat  tlie  sword  may  come 
 to  '  Kabhath  of  the  Ammonites,  and  to  Judah 
 in  Jerusalem  the  defenced. 
 
 21  For  the  king  of  Babylon  stood  at  the 
 t  parting  of  the  way,  at  the  head  of  the  two 
 ways,  to  use  divination :  he  made  his  \\  arrows 
 bright,  he  consulted  with  f  images,  lie  looked 
 in  the  liver. 
 
 ■22  At  his  right  hand  was  the  divination  for 
 Jerusalem,  to  appoint  ||  f  captains,  to  open  tlie 
 mouth  in  the  slaughter,  to  "  lift  up  the  voice 
 with  shouting,  '  to  appoint  battering  rams 
 against  the  gates,  to  cast  a  mount,  and  to 
 build  a  fort. 
 
 23  And  it  shall  be  unto  them  as  a  false  divi- 
 nation in  their  sight,  ||  to  them  tliat  '  have 
 sworn  oaths :  but  he  will  call  to  remembrance 
 the  iniquity,  that  they  may  be  taken. 
 
 24  Tlierefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 cause ye  have  made  your  iniquity  to  be  re- 
 membered, in  that  your  transgressions  are  dis- 
 covered, so  that  in  all  your  doings  your  sins  do 
 appear ;  because,  /  sn;j,  tiiat  ye  are  come  to 
 remembrance,  ye  shall  be  taken  w  itli  the  hand. 
 
 25  t  And  thou,  ''  profane  wicked  prince  of 
 Israel,  '  whose  day  is  come,  when  iniquity 
 shall  have  an  end, 
 
 26  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Remove  the 
 diadem,  and  take  off  the  crown  :  tliis  shall 
 not  l>c  the  same  :  ^  e.\alt  him  that  is  low,  and 
 abase  him  that  is  high. 
 
 27  t  I  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn,  it  : 
 "^and  it  shall  be  no  more,  until  he  come  whose 
 right  it  is  ;  and  I  will  give  it  him. 
 
 28  IT  And  thou,  son  of  man,  prophesy  and 
 say,  Tluis  saith  the  Lord  God  ■"  concerning 
 the  Ammonites,  and  concerning  their  re- 
 proach ;  even  .say  thou,  °  The  sword, the  sword 
 is  drawn :  for  the  slaughter  it  is  furbished,  to 
 consume  because  of  the  glittering  : 
 
 29  Whiles  they  ^  see  vanity  unto  thee,  whiles 
 they  divine  a  lie  unto  thee,  to  bring  tliee  upon 
 the  necks  of  them,  that  are  slain,  of  the  wielceil, 
 *  whose  day  is  come,  when  their  iniquity  shall 
 have  an  end. 
 
 I  Jer.  1<1.  S. 
 oil.  25.  5. 
 Amos  1. 14. 
 
 tHeb. 
 
 the  w<itf. 
 n  Or,  A'tiiir*. 
 t  Heb.  tern- 
 
 phim. 
 
 oh    4    '2. 
 
 f    Hob.  T"/T». 
 
 ri  Jer.  r.l.U. 
 X  cli.  4   2. 
 
 lo  them- 
 S  oh.  17    IS 
 
 .■;,  iG,  IS. 
 
 :  -i  Clir  Si 
 13.  Jer  ■'■ 
 ■i-  oh.  17  I 
 
 f  Heb.  Per- 
 oerrorf,  pfr- 
 verlfft.  per- 
 fnvtrd,  will 
 I  nutkf  it. 
 
 c  Geii.  49, 10. 
 ver.  13. 
 I.iiko  1.  32, 
 
 .Inliii  1.10. 
 
 6    Zeph.  2 
 
 8.  9.  10. 
 vor.  9,  10 
 
 •Ifib  Ifl.  --'0 
 Ps.  37.  13 
 
 B.  C.  593 
 
 II  Or,  Cause 
 it  lo  return. 
 
 h  Jer.  47.  6,7. 
 
 i  Gen.  IS  14- 
 cli    16.  38. 
 
 k  Ob.  16  3. 
 
 I  Ob.  7.  8.  & 
 14.  19.  & 
 22.22. 
 
 HI  oh.  22.  20, 
 21. 
 
 II  Or,  ivrn. 
 ing. 
 
 «  ch.  25.  1(1. 
 
 n  ch.  211.  1 
 
 Sc  --'3   36 
 )  Or,  ,J...,d 
 f„r. 
 b  oh   •.>4  6,3. 
 
 Null.  3    I. 
 tHeb.r„,o/ 
 
 mdt. 
 
 lake 
 
 \  ITcb.  pnl- 
 
 l,„rd  „/ 
 
 Mio.3  1,2,3 
 Z..pli  3.  3 
 t  Heb.  nrm 
 /"Don  27.16 
 ■J  Kx.22.  21 
 
 II  Or,  deceit. 
 
 I  ver   26. 
 
 Lev.  19  .30. 
 ch.  23   38. 
 IHeb   men 
 ofttauilevt. 
 
 11. 
 
 30  II  ''  Shall  I  cause  it  to  nHurn  into  his 
 sheath  ?  '  I  will  judge  thee  in  the  place  where 
 thou  wast  created, '  in  the  land  of  tliy  nativity. 
 
 31  And  1  will  '  pour  out  mine  indignation 
 upon  thee,  I  will  "'  blow  against  thee  in  the 
 fire  of  my  wrath,  and  deliver  thee  into  the 
 hand  of  ||  brutisli  men,  and  skilful  to  destroy. 
 
 32  Thou  shalt  be  for  fuel  to  the  fire  ;  thy 
 blood  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  the  land  ;  "  tliou 
 slialt  be  no  more  remembered  :  for  I  the  Lord 
 have  spoken  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  A  catalogue  of  sins  in  Jerusalem.  IQ  God  will  hum 
 them  as  liross  in  liis  furnace.  23  Tlie  tjeneral  eor- 
 i  nptio/i  of  proptutSt  priests,  princes,  and  people, 
 
 lyrOREOVER  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 -^  ■*-  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 2  Now,  thou  son  of  man,  '  wilt  thou  ||judge, 
 wilt  thou  judge  ''  tlie  f  bloody  city  ?  yea,  thou 
 shalt  t  shew  her  all  her  abominations. 
 
 3  Then  say  thou.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Gon  ; 
 The  city  sheddeth  blood  in  the  midst  of  it, 
 that  her  time  may  come,  and  inaketh  idols 
 against  herself  to  defile  iierself. 
 
 4  Thou  art  become  guilty  in  thy  blood  tliat 
 thou  hast  "  shed  ;  and  hast  defiled  thj'self  in 
 thine  idols  which  thou  hast  made  ;  and  thou 
 hast  caused  thy  days  to  draw  near,  and  art 
 come  even  unto  thy  years  :  ''  therefore  have  1 
 made  thee  a  reproach  unto  the  heathen,  and  a 
 mocking  to  all  countries. 
 
 3  Those  that  be  near,  and  those  that  be  far 
 from  thee,  shall  mock  thee,  which  art  ]  infa- 
 mous and  much  vexed. 
 
 6  Behold,  '  the  princes  of  Israel,  every  one 
 were  in  thee  to  their  f  power  to  shed  blood. 
 
 7  In  thee  have  they  'set  light  by  father  and 
 mother:  in  the  midst  of  thee  have  they  *  dealt 
 by  II  oppression  with  the  stranger :  in  thee 
 have  they  vexed  the  fatherless  and  the  widow. 
 
 8  Thou  hast  ^  despised  mine  holy  things,  and 
 hast  '  profaned  my  sabbaths. 
 
 9  In  thee  are  f"  men  that  carry  tales  to  shed 
 blood  :  '  and  in  thee  they  eat  upon  the  moun- 
 tains :  in  the  midst  of  thee  they  commit  lewd- 
 ness. 
 
 maps,  which  it  may  be  supposed  the  king  of  Babylon  would  take. — 
 GUI.  Both  tii'ain,  J^c,  '  from  one  country  both  of  them  shall  come 
 forth,'— BooMr. ;  i.e.,  from  Babylon.— Ci«.  20.  RiMntIt,  or  Rabhah, 
 (chap.  XXV.  5.)  the  chief  city  of  the  Ammonites,  (2  Sam.  xii.  26;  Jer. 
 xlix.  1.)~Preb.  Lowtlt.  21 .  Sfood  at  tlie  pur  ting,  ffc. — the  king  was 
 to  march  on  his  own  land  until  he  came  to  the  desert ;  and  these  two 
 ways  should  claim  his  attention,  one  leading  to  the  capital  of  the  Am- 
 monites, and  the  other  direct  to  Jerusalem.  Here  he  should  divine  liy 
 arrows,  Sec,  to  determine  which  way  he  should  advance;  accnrriinijly, 
 the  decision  was  to  go  direct  to  Jerusalem.  Made  his  arrows  bright, 
 'he  mingled  his  arrows.' — Bnothr.^  as  Porork  and  Hniib.,  so  Prrb. 
 Loivth  and  Newc.  The  names  of  the  cities  intended  to  be  assaulted 
 were  written  on  several  arrows,  wliich  being  put  together  into  a  quiver, 
 the  first  drawn  decided  the  matter.— So  St.  .Jerome.  Consulted  with 
 images,  D'D^n,  '  teraphim,'  in  which  they  saw  things  future  ;  heatlien 
 oracles,  from  whence  responses  were  made ;  these  were  for  private  use. 
 hke  the  Litres  and  Pemites  of  the  Romans.— Gi//.  See  Gen.  xxxi.  19; 
 1  Sara.  XV.  23.  All  sorts  of  idols,  principally  of  human  form,  are  in. 
 tended,  (Hos.  iii.  4.)—Porock.  He  looked  in  the  liver,  of  a  beast  slain  ; 
 a  calf,  kid,  or  lamb.  If  it  was  wanting,  or  any  part  of  it,  or  diseased 
 in  various  ways,  or  wounded  in  the  opening.  Sic,  it  foreboded  misfor- 
 tunes. A  double  liver,  8ic.,  portended  joy  and  happiness.  —  Gill. 
 22.  At  his  right,  ^c, '  towards  his  right  hand  fell  the  divination  against 
 Jerusalem.'— BoD^Ai-.  All  his  divinations  directed  him  to  his  right 
 hand,  the  way  towards  Jerusalem.— (;;/?,  so  Diithius.  To  appoint  citp- 
 tnms,^e.,viho  should  cncouraKC  the  army  to  fall  on  the  enemy.— 
 Preb.  Luwih.  •  To  appoint  liattering-rams  to  open  the  mouth  with 
 clamour,  to  raise  the  voice  witli  shouting,  to  appoint  battering-rams 
 
 against  the  gates.'  Sic.  23.  l/nto  them  its  tt  false  divination — the  Jews 
 will  not  believe  tliat  he  will  advance  and  destroy  their  city. — Boothr., 
 so  Newc.  He  tvilt  call  to  rememlirnnre  the  inii/tiiti/,  Nebuchadnezzar 
 will  think  on  the  great  wickedness  of  their  perjury  and  rebellion. — 
 Poole.  24.  Taken  with  the  hand,  as  easily  as  a  bird  in  the  snare. — 
 Gill.  2.5.  lI'iVA-erf  prince,  Zcdckiah.  who  broke  a  solemn  oath  to  he 
 tributary  to  the  king  of  Babylon,  (chap.  xvii.  1(1.) — Preb.  Ltiwth. 
 21).  Kxalt  him,  fyc,  Jeconiah  was  now  in  captivity,  (see  2  Kings,  xxv. 
 27,  23,  29,  and  Jer.  Iii.  31,)— Poo^c  ;  or  Zerubbabel.  who  was  born  in 
 captivity,  and  became  prince  of  Judah  :  or  ratlier  the  Messiah,  horn  of 
 mean  parents,  fic. — Gill.  Messiah. — Preb.  Lowth,  Boothr.  28.  Their 
 reprnarh,  they  insulted  over  their  brethren  the  Jews,  (see  chap.  xxv. 
 2—6  ;  Zeph.  li.  8— 10.)— Preft.  Loieth.  29.  Whites  the;/  see  viinitif — 
 
 the  Ammonites  were  cautioned  against  their  seers,  false  prophets.  Sic, 
 [see  Jer.  xxvii.  3,  9.)  To  bring  thee  upon  the  necks  of  the  stain,  of  the 
 slain  Jews;  these  diviners  would  bring  the  Ammonites  into  the  same 
 condition. — Gilt.  30.  /  will  judge  thee,  Sfc,  the  Ammonites,  in  their 
 own  land,  where  they  were  destroyed. — See  Gilt,  Poole,  Preb.  Lowth. 
 This  and  the  following  verses  seem  to  refer  to  Nebuchadnezzar  and  the 
 final  lall  of  the  Chaldeans  by  the  Persians,— So  Dr.  Clarke ;  but  be  ap- 
 pears 10  stand  alone,  and  the  context  affords  no  countenance  to  his 
 opinion. — Kd. 
 
 Cn.\e.  XXII.  —  2.  Witt  thou  judge?  'wilt  thon  not  judge?'  &c., 
 (comp.  chap.  xx.  4. )  —  Boothr.  Bloody  city — see  chap,  xxiii.  3",  4.5  ; 
 xxiv.  6,  9;  2  Kings,  xxi.  16.  3.  Hertimemay  come,  to  receive  the  just 
 punishment  of  her  sins. — Gill.Neier.  Seechap.  vii.  7-  6.  Even/ one, 
 ^c,  'every  one,  according  to  his  power,  were  in  thee  shedding  blood.* 
 — Boothr.       9.  Carry  tales,  ^c,  stirrers  up  of  strife. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  I.  Earthly  kingdoms  chanqe 
 and  fall.  Their  infidelity,  vanity,  and  vice,  bring  them  to 
 ruin. 
 
 II.  The  klnr/dnm  of  Messiah  shall  rise  upon  their  ruins.  He, 
 872 
 
 whose  right  it  is,  shall  reign  over  a  spiritual  kingdom,  wliicli 
 shall  consequently  he  subject  to  no  such  changes.  Happy  are 
 tliey  who  enjoy  fiim  for  their  King  ! 
 
,4  catalogue  of'  Israel's  sins. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXUI. 
 
 The  sins  of  her  prophets  and  priests. 
 
 10  In  thee  liave  tliey  "'discovered  their  fathers' 
 nakedness  :  in  thee  have  they  liiunbled  her 
 that  was  "  set  apart  for  pollution. 
 
 I  I  And  II  one  hath  cuniniitted  abomination 
 "with  his  neighbour's  wife;  and  ||  another 
 ''  hath  II  lewdly  defiled  his  daughter  in  law  ;  and 
 another  in  thee  hath  humbled  his  '  sister,  his 
 father's  daughter. 
 
 12  In  thee  '  have  they  taken  gifts  to  shed 
 blood  ;  '^  thou  hast  taken  usury  and  increase, 
 and  thou  hast  greedily  gained  of  tliy  neigh- 
 bours by  extortion,  and  'hast  forgotten  me,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 13  1  Behold,  therefore  I  have  "smitten  mine 
 hand  at  thy  dislionest  gain  which  tliou  hast 
 made,  and  at  thy  blood  which  hath  been  in  the 
 midst  of  thee. 
 
 14  'Can  thine  heart  endure,  or  can  thine 
 hands  be  strong,  in  the  days  that  I  shall  deal 
 with  thee?  '  I  the  Lord  have  spoken  it,  and 
 will  do  it. 
 
 13  And  '  I  will  scatter  tliee  among  the  hea- 
 then, and  disperse  tliee  in  the  countries,  and 
 "  will  consume  thy  (ilthiness  out  of  thee. 
 
 10  And  thou  ||slialt  take  thine  inheritance  in 
 thyself  in  the  sight  of  the  heathen,  and  ■■  thou 
 shalt  know  that  I  am  tlie  Loed. 
 
 17  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me, 
 saying, 
 
 18  Son  of  man,  'the  house  of  Israel  is  to  me 
 become  dross  ;  all  they  are  brass,  and  tin,  and 
 iron,  and  lead,  in  the  midst  of  the  furnace  ; 
 they  are  even  the  f  dross  of  silver. 
 
 19  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 cause ye  are  all  become  dross,  behold,  there- 
 fore I  will  gather  you  into  the  midst  of  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 20  t  As  they  gather  silver,  and  brass,  and 
 iron,  and  lead,  and  tin,  into  tlie  midst  of  the 
 furnace,  to  blow  the  fire  upon  it,  to  melt  it ; 
 so  will  I  gather  i/ou  in  mine  anger  and  in  my 
 fury,  and  I  will  \ea\e  j/ou  there,  and  melt  you. 
 
 21  Yea,  I  will  gather  you,  and  ''blow  upon 
 you  in  the  fire  of  my  wrath,  and  ye  shall  be 
 melted  in  the  midst  thereof. 
 
 22  As  silver  is  melted  in  the  midst  of  the 
 furnace,  so  shall  ye  be  melted  in  the  midst 
 thereof;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  the  Lord 
 have  'poured  out  my  fury  upon  you. 
 
 2.S  IT  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  sayhig, 
 
 24  Son  of  man,  say  unto  her.  Thou  art  the 
 land  that  is  not  cleansed,  nor  rained  upon  in 
 the  day  of  indignation. 
 
 25  '  There  is  a  conspiracy  of  her  prophets  in 
 the  midst  thereof,  like  a  roaring  lion  ravening 
 the  prey  ;  they  ^  have  devoured  souls  ;  i"  they 
 
 B.  C.  60.S. 
 
 m  Lev,  16.7, 
 
 8  »i  -JO.  n. 
 
 1  Coi .  5.   I . 
 „  Lev.  18  in 
 
 &  20.   18. 
 
 eh.  18.  6. 
 II  Or,  rm) 
 
 unf. 
 <-  Lev.  18.20. 
 
 &  yo.  )u. 
 
 Deu.  2i.  22. 
 
 Jer.  h.  ft. 
 
 ch    18    M. 
 
 I  Or,  eurri/ 
 
 ;)  Lev,  18.1.5 
 K:  20.  12. 
 Or,  bti 
 
 Ifiieiirn^xt. 
 
 q  Lev.  18.  9. 
 &  20.  17. 
 Ex,  23.  8. 
 Deo.  16.  19 
 &  27.  25. 
 E«.  22.  95. 
 Lev.  25.30. 
 neu  23.  19. 
 oil.  IS   13. 
 /  De<i.  82   18. 
 Jer.  3  21. 
 ch.  23.  Sr,. 
 eh.  21.  17. 
 X  Seech. 21. 
 
 V  ch. 17.21 
 ;  Deu.  .1,  27, 
 
 8;  28  25.  r.l 
 
 ch. 12. 11. 15. 
 1  ch.  23.  27, 
 
 '18. 
 I)  Or.ihaltbe 
 
 pT',f„„ed. 
 b  Ps  9    113, 
 
 ch.  6.  7. 
 
 c  Is.  1 .  22. 
 
 Jer   6,  28, 
 Ac    See  Ps. 
 119.  119. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ac- 
 cordinji  In 
 the  i/ittheT' 
 
 I  Mai   2   f 
 tlleb..J/" 
 
 I  Lev 
 
 10.  10 
 
 Jer. 
 
 15.  19. 
 
 ch.  W  23. 
 
 m  Is. 
 
 1.  23. 
 
 ch. 
 
 ■>.  tj. 
 
 \Ur 
 
 3  -i.  .1 
 
 ■>,    K 
 
 ,  n. 
 
 ZepI 
 
 .  3.3 
 
 n  ch. 
 
 13    10 
 
 och.  13.  6,7 
 &  21,  29. 
 
 !»  ,Tcr  5.  26, 
 
 27,  28. 
 
 ch    18.  12. 
 
 Or,  f/ce//. 
 
 1  Kx.  22.21, 
 
 h  23.  9. 
 
 Lev, 19  33 
 
 .r  ch.  9.  10. 
 &  ll.21.Si 
 16.  43. 
 
 ch.  20.8,53. 
 ver.  31. 
 
 /Hob,  6.  9. 
 
 5  Mat.  23.14. 
 h  Mic.  3.  11 
 Zeph.  3  3,4. 
 
 «  Jer   3  7.  8, 
 10.  ch.  16. 
 
 ,1  That  is, 
 W.«  (e.i/,  or. 
 
 II  That  is. 
 My  iMrna- 
 
 1  Kin.  8.29. 
 e  2  Kin.  15. 
 
 19.  &  16.  7, 
 
 &  17.3. 
 
 H.ts.  8,  9. 
 t  Heh,  5.-- 
 
 whore'i'.ms 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 choice  „f  thf 
 childvem  ot 
 
 have  taken  the  treasure  and  precious  things  ; 
 they  have  made  her  many  widows  in  the  midst 
 thereof. 
 
 26  '  Her  priests  have  t  violated  my  law,  and 
 have  ''  profaned  mine  holy  things  :  they  have 
 put  no  '  diiference  between  the  holy  and  pro- 
 fane, neither  have  they  shewed  difference  be- 
 tween the  unclean  and  the  clean,  and  have  hid 
 their  eyes  from  my  sabbaths,  and  I  am  profaned 
 among  them. 
 
 27  Her  '"  princes  in  the  midst  thereof  are  like 
 wolves  ravening  the  prey,  to  shed  blood,  and 
 to  destroy  souls,  to  get  dishonest  gain. 
 
 28  And  "  her  prophets  have  daubed  them 
 with  uutempered  myr/er,  "seeing  vanity,  and 
 divining  lies  unto  them,  saying.  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God,  when  the  Lord  hath  not  spoken. 
 
 29  ''  The  people  of  the  land  have  used  ||  op- 
 pression, and  e.xerciscd  robbery,  and  have  vexed 
 the  poor  and  needy  :  yea,  they  have ''  oppressed 
 the  stranger  t  wrongfully. 
 
 30  '  And  I  sought  for  a  man  among  them, 
 that  should  'make  up  the  hedge,  and  'stand 
 in  the  gap  before  me  for  the  land,  that  I  should 
 not  destroy  it :  but  I  found  none. 
 
 31  Therefore  have  I  "  poured  out  mine  indig- 
 nation upon  them  ;  I  have  consumed  them 
 with  the  fire  of  my  wrath  :  "  their  own  way 
 have  I  recompensed  upon  their  heads,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIII. 
 
 1  The  whoredoms  of  Aholali  and  AJwUbah.  22  Aholibah 
 is  to  be  plufjjied  by  her  lovers.  3fi  The  prophet  re- 
 procetli  the  adulteries  of  tliem  both,  46  and  slteweth 
 their  judgments. 
 
 T^HE  word  of  the  Lord  came  again  unto  me, 
 
 -•-    saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  there  were  "  two  women,  the 
 daughters  of  one  mother  : 
 1  3  And  ''  they  committed  whoredoms  in  Egypt : 
 they  committed  whoredoms  in  '  their  youth  : 
 there  were  their  breasts  pressed,  and  there  they 
 bruised  the  teats  of  their  virginity. 
 
 4  And  the  names  of  them  icere  Aholah  the 
 elder,  and  Aholibali  her  sister :  and  ''  they  were 
 mine,  and  they  bare  sons  and  daughters.  Thus 
 were  their  names  ;  Samaria  is  \\  Aholah,  and 
 Jerusalem  ||  Aholibali. 
 
 5  And  Aholah  played  the  harlot  when  she 
 was  mine  ;  and  she  doted  on  her  lovers,  on 
 °  the  Assyrians  her  neighbours. 
 
 6  Which  were  clothed  with  blue,  captains 
 and  rulers,  all  of  tliem  desirable  young  men, 
 horsemen  riding  upon  horses. 
 
 7  Thus  she  f  committed  her  whoredoms  with 
 them,  with   all  them   Ihnt  were  f  the  chosen 
 
 1 2.  Gifts  to  shed  blood,  judges  took  bribes  to  bring  in  the  innocent  guilty. 
 . — Gill,  so  Preli.  Lou-th.  13.  Smitten  mine  hand — see  chap.  xxi.  14  ;  ex- 
 presses astonishment  and  indignation. — Newc.  lO.  And  thou  shalt 
 take,  ^c.,  *  and  thee  I  will  take  for  an  inheritance,'  kc.—Boothr.,  as  the 
 Versions.  24.  That  is  not  cleansed,  '  not  watered  with  showers.' 
 — Baatbr.,  as  Sept.  25.  Her  prophets,  her  false  prophets,  who  pro- 
 bably agreed  to  support  each  other's  prophecies,  (see  chap.  xiii.  II,  12.) 
 —  Cat.  28.  Daubed  them— corny,  chap.  xiii.  10 — 12.  30.  Make  up 
 the  hedge — see  Jer.  v.  1  ;  chap.  xiii.  5. 
 Chap.  XXIIl. — 2.  Daughters  of  one  mother,  Samaria  and  Jerusalem, 
 
 i.  e.,  Israel  and  Judah,  offspring  of  the  same  land,  (cunip.  chap.  xvi. 
 46  ;  Jer.  iii.  7,  8.)  3.  Whoredoms,  idolatry,  (chap.  xx.  7,  8.)  In  their 
 youth,  when  in  Egypt,  when  God  first  owned  them  for  his  people,  (see 
 ver,  18,  19  ;  xvi.  8,  22;  Jer.  ii.  2  ;  Hus.  ii.  15.) — Fret).  Lou'th,  Boothr. 
 i.  Aholah,  nVriN,  '  her  tent'  or  '  tabernacle  ;'  idolatrous  Samaria  pitch . 
 ing  her  own  tabernacle  in  opposition  to  God's  dwelling-place  at  Jeru- 
 salem.— Boofhr.  The  e/(/('r,  n^)13n.  the  ten  tribes,  being  more  in  num- 
 ber and  greater  in  power  and  wealth  than  Judah. — Gill,  as  Ju7i., Trent., 
 &c.  .iliolibfih,  n^'brtN,  '  my  tent  is  in  her,'  because  God  had  made  Je- 
 rusalem the  seat  of  his  own  worship. — Boothr.        5.  Played  the  harlot. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII.  —I.  We  have  here,  I.  A 
 sinful  people.  What  an  awful  catalogue  of  crimes  is  here  exhi- 
 bited, both  in  people  and  priests  !  Let  us  not  forget  that  we 
 are  exposed  to  most  of  the  same  accusations  in  a  very  consi- 
 derable degree.  Uut  while  this  should  deeply  humble  us  in 
 the  sight  of  God,  we  may  be  thankful  that  we  are  not  without 
 873 
 
 many  praying  souls,  who  are  ready  to  stand  in  the  breach, 
 that  God  may  not  deslrby  us. 
 
 II.  A  snfferincf  people— \>\it  into  the  furnace,  and  tried  with 
 the  tire  of  God's  wrath.  We  cannot  too  often  repeat  the  sen- 
 timent, that  sin  and  sutfering  must  go  together. 
 
 5  T 
 
The  ivhorcdons  of 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXIII. 
 
 Aholah  and  Aholibah. 
 
 men  of  Aboyria,  and  with  all  on  whom  she 
 doted  :  witli  all  their  idols  she  defiled  herself. 
 
 8  Neither  left  she  her  whoredoms  brought 
 'from  Egypt  :  for  in  her  youth  they  lay  with  her, 
 and  they  bruised  the  breasts  of  her  virginity, 
 and  poured  their  whoredom  upon  her. 
 
 9  Wherefore  I  have  delivered  her  into  the 
 hand  of  her  lovers,  into  the  hand  of  the  ^  Assy- 
 rians, upon  whom  she  doted. 
 
 10  These  '■discovered  her  nakedness:  they 
 took  her  sons  and  her  daughters,  and  slew  her 
 with  the  sword  :  and  slie  became  f  famous 
 among  women  ;  for  they  had  executed  judg- 
 ment upon  her. 
 
 1 1  And  '  when  her  sister  Aholibah  saw  this, 
 '  t  she  was  more  corrupt  in  her  inordinate  love 
 than  she,  and  in  her  wlioredoms  f  more  than  her 
 sister  in  her  whoredoms. 
 
 12  She  doted  upon  the  'Assyrians  her  neigh- 
 bours, '"  captains  and  rulers  clothed  most  gor- 
 geously, horsemen  riding  upon  horses,  all  of 
 them  desirable  young  men. 
 
 13  Then  I  saw  that  she  was  defiled,  (Aat  they 
 took  both  one  way, 
 
 14  And  tliat  she  increased  her  whoredoms  :  for 
 when  she  saw  men  pourtrayed  upon  the  wall, 
 the  images  of  the  Chaldeans  pourtrayed  with 
 vermilion, 
 
 15  Girded  with  girdles  upon  their  loins,  ex- 
 ceeding in  dyed  attire  upon  tlieir  heads,  all  of 
 them  princes  to  look  to,  after  the  manner  of 
 the  Babylonians  of  Cbaldea,  the  land  of  their 
 nativity  : 
 
 •16  "  And  t  as  soon  as  she  saw  them  with  her 
 eyes,  she  doted  upon  them,  and  sent  messen- 
 gers unto  tliem  into  Chaldea. 
 
 17  And  the  f  Babylonians  came  to  her  into 
 the  bed  of  love,  and  they  defiled  her  with  their 
 whoredom,  and  she  was  polluted  witlr  them, 
 and  °  her  mind  was  f  alienated  from  them. 
 
 18  So  she  discovered  her  whoredoms,  and  dis- 
 covered her  nakedness  :  then  ■'my  mind  was 
 alienated  from  her,  like  as  my  mind  was  alien- 
 ated from  her  sister. 
 
 19  Yet  she  multiplied  her  whoredoms,  in 
 calling  to  remembrance  the  days  of  her  youth, 
 ''  wherein  she  had  played  the  harlot  in  the  land 
 of  Egypt. 
 
 20  For  .she  doted  upon  their  paramours, 
 '  whose  flesh  is  as  the  flesh  of  asses,  and  whose 
 issue  is  like  the  issue  of  horses. 
 
 21  Thus  thou  calledst  to  remembrance  the 
 lewdness  of  thy  youth,  in  bruising  thy  teats  by 
 the  Egyptians  for  the  paps  of  thy  youth. 
 
 22  1[  Therefore,  O  Aholibah,  thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  ;  '  Behold,  I  will  raise  up  thy  lovers 
 against  tliee,  from  whom  thy  mind  is  alienated, 
 and  I  will  bring  them  against  tliee  on  every 
 side  ; 
 
 23  The  Babylonians,  and  all  the  Chaldeans, 
 '  Pekod,  and  Shoa,  and  Koa,  anrf  all  the  Assy- 
 rians with  them  :  "  all  of  them  desirable  young 
 
 /  vet.  3. 
 
 }  t  Kin.  n. 
 
 3.  4,  5,  6, 
 
 23.  &  18.  % 
 
 IK,  11 
 '.  th.  16.  37, 
 
 41. 
 
 t  Hcb.  o 
 
 t  Heb.  tht 
 eOTTuplrd  hfr 
 
 t  Hub.  cure 
 
 (/lU..   tl>^ 
 ir/i'jr.'.t.ni' 
 uf  hfr  ditm 
 
 /i!lvill.  Ifi-T, 
 10.  2Clir. 
 29.  10— -^3. 
 ch.  10.  23. 
 
 m  ver.  G.  23. 
 
 n  9  Kin  2.1  1. 
 
 ch.  Ill   2y 
 t  Heb.  at  Ihi 
 
 „3l„  of  /.e, 
 
 t  Heb.  clul- 
 dr,„  „t 
 
 „  ver.  22.  2s 
 tHeb  tuusrd, 
 
 ed. 
 p  Jer.  6.  8. 
 
 q  ver.  3. 
 
 X  cb.  16.  39. 
 
 t  Heb.  11- 
 tttumenti  of 
 thy  decki'is 
 
 t/  cli.  16.  41 
 &  22.  15 
 
 :  ver.  3,  19 
 
 ch.  16.  37. 
 ver.  17. 
 
 :  eh.  16.  83. 
 ver.  26. 
 
 d  cb.  6.  9. 
 
 «  Jer.  25.  15, 
 be. 
 
 /ch.  22.4,5. 
 
 g  Ps.  75.  8. 
 18.51.  17. 
 
 A  Jer.  2.  32. 
 
 ft  3.  21.  & 
 
 13.  25. 
 
 ch.  22.  19 
 i  I  KiQ  It  9. 
 
 Nch.  9.  26. 
 
 *  ch.  90,  4. 
 
 &  22.  2. 
 [I  Or,  plead 
 
 fir. 
 
 I  Is.  58.  I. 
 
 m  ch.  16.  S3, 
 ver.  45. 
 
 n  ch.  16.  2('. 
 2l,3fi.4.5.  s 
 20.  26,  31. 
 
 '  ch.  22.  8. 
 
 men,  captains  and  rulers,  great  lords  and  re- 
 nowned, all  of  them  riding  upon  horses. 
 
 24  And  they  shall  come  against  thee  with 
 chariots,  wagons,  and  wheels,  and  with  an  as- 
 sembly of  people,  zchich  shall  set  against  thee 
 buckler  and  shield  and  helmet  round  about : 
 and  I  will  set  judgment  before  tliem,  and  they 
 shall  judge  thee  according  to  their  judgments. 
 
 25  And  I  will  set  my  jealousy  against  thee, 
 and  tliey  shall  deal  furiously  with  thee  :  they 
 shall  take  away  thy  nose  and  thine  ears  ;  and 
 thy  remnant  shall  fall  by  the  sword  :  they  shall 
 take  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters ;  and  thy  re- 
 sidue .shall  be  devoured  by  the  fire. 
 
 26  ''  They  shall  also  strip  tliee  out  of  thy 
 clothes,  and  take  away  thy  f  fair  jewels. 
 
 27  Thus  'will  I  make  thy  lewdness  to  cease 
 from  thee,  and  '  thy  whoredom  brought  from 
 the  land  of  Egypt  :  so  that  thou  shall  not  lift 
 up  thine  eyes  unto  them,  nor  remember  Egypt 
 any  more. 
 
 28  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Behold,  I 
 will  deliver  thee  into  the  hand  of  them  °  whom 
 thou  hatest,  into  the  hand  of  them  ''from 
 whom  thy  mind  is  alienated  : 
 
 29  And  they  shall  deal  with  thee  hatefully, 
 and  shall  take  away  all  thy  labour,  and  '  shall 
 leave  thee  naked  and  bare  :  and  the  nakedness 
 of  thy  whoredoms  shall  be  discovered,  both  thy 
 lewdness  and  thy  whoredoms. 
 
 30  I  will  do  these  things  unto  thee,  because 
 thou  hast ''  gone  a  whoring  after  the  heathen, 
 and  because  thou  art  [lolluted  with  their  idols. 
 
 31  Thou  hast  walked  in  the  way  of  thy  sister  ; 
 therefore  will  I  give  her  °  cup  into  thine  hand. 
 
 32  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Gou ;  Thou  shalt 
 drink  of  thy  sister's  cup  deep  and  large  :  '  thou 
 shall  be  laughed  to  scorn  and  had  in  derision; 
 it  containeth  much. 
 
 33  Thou  shall  be  filled  with  drunkenness  and 
 sorrow,  with  the  cup  of  astonishment  and  deso- 
 lation, with  the  cup  of  thy  sister  Samaria. 
 
 34  Thou  shall  *■'  even  drink  it  and  suck  77  out, 
 and  thou  shall  break  the  sherds  thereof,  and 
 pluck  off  thine  own  breasts  :  for  I  have  spoken 
 it,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 35  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 cause thou  ''hast  forgotten  me,  and  '  cast  me 
 behind  thy  back,  therefore  bear  thou  also  thy 
 lewdness  and  thy  whoredoms. 
 
 36  t  The  Lord  said  moreover  unto  me  ;  Son 
 of  man,  wilt  thou  ''  ||  judge  Aholah  and  Aho- 
 libah V  yea, '  declare  unto  them  their  abomina- 
 tions ; 
 
 37  That  they  have  committed  adultery,  and 
 ■"  blood  is  in  their  hands,  and  with  their  idols 
 have  they  committed  adultery,  and  have  also 
 caused  their  sons,  "whom  they  bare  unto  me,  to 
 pass  for  them  through  the  fire,  to  devour  them. 
 
 38  Moreover  this  they  have  done  unto  me  : 
 j  they  have  defiled  my  sanctuary  in  tlie  same 
 I  day,  and  °  have  profaned  my  sabbaths. 
 
 became  idolatrous.  8.  Neither  left  sJie  her  whoredoms,  ^c,  Ezekiel 
 
 was  amoDg  the  Jews  what  Juvenal  was  amon^  the  Romans— a  rough 
 reprover  of  the  most  abominable  vices.  They  both  spake  of  thintfs  as 
 they  found  them  ;  stripped  vice  naked,  and  scourged  it  publicly. — A.C. 
 1 1.  Famous  among  women,  a  noted  example  of  God's  judgments  among 
 the  nations.— Bp.  Hri/;.  \i.  Pourtraged  ~  aee  on  chap.  viii.  10; 
 meaning  deified  men.  18.  Discovered  her  whoredoms,  open  and  no. 
 
 torious  in  them. — Newc.  20.  Paramours,  Dn'lUJ?D.  '  harlots'  or  *  con- 
 cubines,' the  neighbouring  nations  and  allies  of  the  Egyptians,  whose 
 Iriendshipthe  Jews  courted,  and  whose  idols  they 'erved. —Gi/;.  Whose 
 fle-ih,  ^c— sec  chap,  xvi.  26.  22.  Loners— thv  mind  is  alienated, 
 Chaldeans,  from  whom  Ihey  had  revolted.— .Vic/i.  23.  Pekod,  Ifc.— 
 titles  of  honour;  governors,  princes,  dukes.— A7.  Jerome.  Inhabitants 
 of  the  several  provinces  of  the  Babylonish  monarchy.  Pekod  is  raen- 
 874 
 
 tioned  Jer.  1.  21. — Cal.  Assyrians,  now  one  people  with  the  Chaldeans 
 and  Babylonians.— G(7/.  24.  With  r'lnriols,   wagons,  and  wheels, 
 
 *  wiUl  scythed  ears,  chariots,  and  wheel  carriages.' — Neu-c,  Boothr. 
 Set  judgment,  fyr.,  dispose  events  that  they  shall  be  your  judges.— 
 Newc.  25.  T/ii/  nose  and  thine  ears,  punishments  which  have  always 
 been  common  iu  the  east.  —  Pict.  Biff.  Punishments  infiicted  for 
 adultery.— S(.  Jerome,  so  Martial,  and  Virgil.  Dcspnil  thee  of  thy 
 beauty.— Ed.  Deface  all  the  glories  and  ornaments  of  Jerusalem. — 
 Fret}.  Lowth.  31 .  Her  cup,  ^c,  inflict  the  same  punishment  on  thee 
 as  on  her,  (see  Jer.  .\.\v.  15 ;  Hali.  li.  16.)  34.  Break  the  sherds,  it 
 
 may  allude  to  drunkards,  who,  when  completely  into.xicated,  break 
 their  glasses.— Gii;.  Pluck  off  thine  own  breasts,  tear  them  ;  cypres, 
 sive  of  extreme  sorrow.— Ciiirte.  40.  Paintedst  thine  eyes,  this  is 
 exactly  the  way  in  which  a  loose  woman  in  Bengal  adorns  herself  to 
 
The  judgment  uf  Ahohth  and  Aholihah. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXIV.        The  destruction  of  Jerusalem  foreshewn. 
 
 39  For  when  they  had  slain  their  children  to 
 their  idols,  then  tliey  came  tiie  same  day  into 
 i.;y  sanctuary  to  profane  it  ;  and,  lo,  ''  thus 
 have  they  done  in  the  midst  of  mine  house. 
 
 40  And  furtl)erniore,  that  ye  have  sent  for 
 men  f  to  come  from  far,  ■*  unto  whom  a  mes- 
 senger icas  sent ;  and,  lo,  they  came  :  for 
 whom  thou  didst  '  wash  thyself, '  paintedst  thy 
 eyes,  and  deckedst  thyself  with  ornaments, 
 
 41  And  satest  upon  a  f  stately  '  bed,  and  a 
 table  prepared  before  it,  "  whereupon  thou  hast 
 set  mine  incense  and  mine  oil. 
 
 4-2  And  a  voice  of  a  multitude  being  at  ease 
 icas  with  her  :  and  with  the  men  t  of  the  com- 
 mon sort  irerc  brought  ySabeans  from  the  wil- 
 derness, which  put  bracelets  upon  their  hands, 
 and  beantifnl  crowns  upon  their  heads. 
 
 43  Then  said  I  unto  Iter  that  was  old  in  adul- 
 teries. Will  they  now  commit  f  whoredoms 
 with  her,  and  she  with  them  f 
 
 44  Yet  they  went  in  unto  her,  as  they  go  in 
 unto  a  woman  that  playeth  the  Itarlot ;  so 
 went  they  in  unto  Aholali  and  unto  Aholihah, 
 the  lewd  women. 
 
 45  1i  And  the  righteous  men,  they  shall 
 "judge  them  after  the  manner  of  adulteresses, 
 and  after  the  manner  of  women  that  shed 
 blood ;  because  they  are  adulteresses,  and 
 ^  blood  25  in  their  hands. 
 
 41)  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  '  I  will 
 bring  up  a  company  upon  them,  and  will  give 
 them  t  to  be  removed  and  spoiled. 
 
 47  "  And  the  company  shall  stone  them  with 
 stones,  and  j]  dispatch  them  with  their  swords  ; 
 ^  they  shall  slay  their  sons  and  their  daughters, 
 and  burn  up  their  houses  with  fire. 
 
 48  Thus  ^  will  I  cause  lewdness  to  cease  out 
 of  the  land,  ''  that  all  women  may  be  taught 
 not  to  do  after  your  lewdness. 
 
 49  And  they  shall  recompense  your  lewdness 
 upon  you,  and  ye  shall  "  bear  the  sins  of  your 
 idols:  'and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 I    Under  the  parable  of  a  boiling  pot,  6  is  shewed  the  ir- 
 revocable  destruction  qf  Jerusalem.      15  By  the  sign 
 
 pi  K.m.  21 
 
 ./  Is.  57.  <J. 
 
 Ruth  3,  3. 
 2  Kin  9  30. 
 
 jer.  I.  au. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 t  Ksth.  I.  6. 
 
 Is   57.7. 
 
 Amos  3.  S. 
 
 &  ti.  4. 
 u  Pro    7.  17 
 
 rli.l6  19.19. 
 
 H.-s    -2.  8. 
 
 V  vrr,  37- 
 r  rli.  lii.  4it 
 
 tHeb./cr, 
 I  spnil. 
 
 :  See  Jer.   I 
 13   cb.  11,3. 
 
 a  cl..  i6 
 
 41 
 
 1  t).,  ..-- 
 
 9le 
 
 Ih^m  0. 
 
 r 
 
 1.  2Clir 
 
 36 
 
 IT.   19, 
 
 ch.  21 
 
 ■31- 
 
 c  cli.  ■>. 
 
 Kf 
 
 d  Den. 
 
 -i.ll 
 
 2  P«t 
 
 -  "■ 
 
 e  yer.  35, 
 
 /ch.  20 
 
 33. 
 
 42,  .n 
 
 & 
 
 S3.  5. 
 
 d  ch.  22.  3. 
 &  23.  37. 
 ver.  9. 
 
 I-  See  2  Sam. 
 
 8.  2.  Joel  A 
 
 3    Obad.ll. 
 
 Nab.  3  10. 
 /Lev.  17  Vi. 
 
 Deu.  12.  16, 
 
 21, 
 
 g  Mat.  7.  2. 
 
 t  vcr.  C 
 Nab  -A. 
 Hab.  2. 
 
 of  Ezekitl  not  mourning  for  the  dtath  of  his  wife,  19 
 is  shewed  the  calamity  of  the  Jeu-s  to  he  beyond  all 
 sorroiv. 
 
 AGAIN   in   the   ninth   year,  in    the    tenth 
 month,  in  the  tenth  day  of  the  montli,  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  write  thee  the  name  of  the 
 day,eiY'n  of  tliissame  day.  the  king  of  Baby- 
 lon set  himself  against  Jerusalem  "  this  same 
 day. 
 
 3  ''  And  utter  a  parable  unto  the  rebellious 
 bouse,  and  say  unto  them,  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God;  *"  Set  on  a  pot,  set  it  on,  and  also  pour 
 water  into  it  : 
 
 4  Gather  the  pieces  thereof  into  it,  even  every 
 good  piece,  the  thigh,  and  tlie  shoulder  ;  fill  it 
 with  the  choice  bones. 
 
 5  Take  the  choice  of  the  flock,  and  ||  burn 
 also  the  bones  under  it,  and  make  it  boil  well, 
 and  let  them  seethe  the  bones  of  it  therein. 
 
 0  If  Wherefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ; 
 Woe  to  ^  the  bloody  city,  to  the  pot  whose 
 scum  is  therein,  and  whose  scum  is  not  gone 
 out  of  it !  bring  it  out  piece  by  piece  ;  let  no 
 ^lot  fail  upon  it. 
 
 7  For  her  blood  is  in  the  midst  of  her ;  she 
 set  it  upon  the  top  of  a  rock  ;  '"slie  poured  it 
 not  upon  the  ground,  to  cover  it  with  dust; 
 
 8  Tliat  it  might  cause  fury  to  come  up  to 
 take  vengeance  ;  *  I  have  set  her  blood  upon 
 the  top  of  a  rock,  that  it  should  not  be  co- 
 vered, 
 
 9  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  *'  Woe 
 to  the  bloody  city !  I  will  even  make  the  pile 
 for  fire  great. 
 
 10  Heap  on  wood,  kindle  the  fire,  consume 
 the  flesh,  and  spice  it  well,  and  let  the  bones 
 be  burned. 
 
 1 1  Then  set  it  empty  upon  the  coals  thereof, 
 that  the  brass  of  it  may  be  hot,  and  may  burn, 
 and  that  '  the  filthiness  of  it  may  be  molten  in 
 it,  that  the  scum  of  it  may  be  consumed. 
 
 12  She  hath  wearied  herself  with  lies,  and 
 her  great  scum  went  not  forth  out  of  her :  her 
 scum  shall  be  in  the  fire. 
 
 13  In  thy  filthiness  is  lewdness:  because  I 
 
 receive  giiests. — Ward.  See  on  Jer.  iv.  30.  41.  Mine  incense,  fyc. — 
 see  chap.  xvi.  18.  42.  The  voice  of  a  multitude  being  at  ease,  ail  sorts 
 of  joyful  e.^pressinns.  common  at  heathen  festivals,  (see  Exofi.  x-vxii. 
 6,  IS.  19.; — Pre6.  Lowt/t.  And  with  the  men  nf  the  common  sort  were 
 trruught  Saheans,  fellows  of  the  baser  sort,  with  bracelets  and  cliap- 
 lets,  performed  the  religious  r'lXes,.— Clarke.  '  Sabeans,'  as  in  mnrg., 
 may  mean  drunkards,  worshippers  of  the  filthy  Bacchus.  —  Scott. 
 45.  The  righleints  men,  the  Chaldeans,  because  appointed  to  execute 
 God's  judgments. — Clarke.  Rather,  the  prophets,  who  foretold  the 
 judgments,  and  are  therefore  said  to  execute  what  they  foretel;  so 
 Ezekiel  says  that  he  went  to  destroy  the  city.  (chap,  xliii.  .3,)  that  is, 
 proi'hesy   of  its   destruction.  47.  Stone   them— see  John,    viii.    5. 
 
 4S.  Leicdness,  TTOT,  which  Montam/s  t,r:\n->\ntes  by  '  ftrditafem,^  a  word 
 comprehending  every  species  of  crime. — S"t.  49.  Bear  the  sins,  i.  e.. 
 undergo  the  punishment  due  to  sin. — Preh.  Lnivth. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV. —  1.  Ninth  year,  of  Jehoiachln's  captivity  and  of  Zede- 
 kiah's  reig-n.— (?i7/.  Ezekiel  wrote  down  the  date,  that  the  Jews  who 
 were  near  him  might  observe  his  predictions,  which  were  subsequently 
 accomplished. — So  Cal.  2.  Thissame  day,  the  prophet^was  in  Chaldea, 
 many  miles  from  Judea,  and  yet  had  the  account  of  the  siege  of  Jeru- 
 salem by  the  kinjc  of  Babylon,  even  from  the  Lord  himself.  —  Gi/^. 
 3,4.  5.  Set  on  a  pot,  4fC. — the  allusion  is  not  undignified,  for  it  refers  to 
 sacred  rite*;  in  the  temple. — Bp.  Lowth.  Thus  explained — the  pot,  Je- 
 rusalem; flesh  and  pieces,  citizens  ;  fire  and  water,  calamities. — Warh. 
 
 Choice  bones,  or  joints. —Kw^,  Haub.  Great  men. —iVeifc.  The  strongest 
 among  the  people,  the  martial  men,  full  of  marrow.  Choice  0/  the 
 fifick,  king,  princes,  nobles,  magistrates,  priests,  and  rulers.  —  Gill. 
 Burn  also  the  bones,  'or  'put  a  pile  of  bones.' — Jun..Trem.,  Pise, 
 Starck,  The  bones  of  those  who  had  been  unjustly  slain,  (see 
 chap.  xi.  7.) — Preb.  Lowth.  These  were  the  cause  of  their  judgments, 
 and  caused  the  wrath  of  God  to  burn  more  hotly.  Boil  well,  denoting 
 the  severity  of  the  judgments.  Seethe  the  bunes,  that  the  strongest  may 
 be  weakened  and  destroyed.  6.  Bloody  city,  Jerusalem,  on  account 
 of  the  blood  of  slain  prophets,  righteous  persons,  and  innocent  babes. 
 —Gill.  Scum,  filthiness.— B;j.  Hall.  Piece  by  piece,  some  should  be 
 destroyed  at  one  lime,  and  some  another.  No  lot,  to  save  some,  and 
 destroy  others,  as  sometimes  done  in  war;  the  destruction  should  he 
 general,  (see  2  Sam.  viii.  2  ;  Joel,  iii.  2.)  7.  Upon  the  top  of  a  rock, 
 where  it  could  not  soak  in  ;  denoting  openness  and  impudence  in  shed- 
 ding blood.  Poured  it  not,  Sfc,  alluding  to  Lev.  xvii.  13,  a  command 
 to  excite  horror  at  bloodshed.  8.  Set  her  blood,  ^c.,  her  punishment 
 shall  be  notorious  as  her  sin.— Prei.  Louth.  9.  Pile — great,  a  great 
 quantity  of  fuel.— Gi//.  Greatly  aggravate  her  judgment.s. — Bp.  Hall. 
 Bring  a  great  army  to  burn  her  up. — Poole.  10.  Spice  it,  make  it  a 
 savoury  morsel  to  the  enemy. — Gill.  The  bones  be  burnt,  the  fierce 
 fire  should  burn  the  very  bones  in  the  caldron,  denoting  utter  destruc- 
 tion.— Preb.  Lowth.  11.  Brass,  §c.,  denotes  the  burning  of  the  city 
 as  well  as  the  inhabitants. — Newc.         13.  Letcdness — see  chap,  xxiii. 
 
 Rfflections  on   Chap.  XXIII Tbis  chapter  exhibits, 
 
 L  Siutiers  persevering  in  sin:  Multiplying  transgressions,  and 
 proceeding,  by  an  awful  and  rapid  gradation,  from  bad  to 
 worse.  The  picture  is  too  bad  to  contemplate  ;  what,  tbcD, 
 must  have  been  the  reality  ? 
 
 II.  Sinners  punished  for  sin.     If  men  will  strengthen  their    their  most  tremendous  plagues.^' 
 corruptions,  and  bid  defiance  to  repentance,  by  long-continued 
 875 
 
 customs  of  sinning,  or  by  reflecting  on  their  former  wickedness 
 with  pleasure  and  pride,  and  will  alienate  their  aftections  from 
 God,  let  them  not  wonder  if  he  mark  his  detestation  of  them 
 in  the  most  fearful  calamities.  If  we  follow  the  pattern  of  the 
 most  fearful  transpressors,  let  us  expect  to  share  with  them  iu 
 
The  great  calamity  of  the  Jews. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXV. 
 
 God's  vengeance  vpon  the  Ammonites. 
 
 have  purged  thee,  and  tlioii  wast  not  purged, 
 thou  shalt  not  be  purged  from  thy  filthiuess 
 any  more,  '  till  I  have  caused  my  fury  to  rest 
 upon  thee. 
 
 14  'I  the  Lord  have  spoken  it :  it  shall  come 
 to  pass,  and  I  will  do  it ;  I  will  not  go  back, 
 "■  neither  will  I  spare,  neither  will  I  repent  ;  ac- 
 cording to  thy  ways,  and  according  to  thy 
 doings,  shall  they  judge  thee,  saith  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 13  t  Also  the  word  of  the  Lokd  came  unto 
 me,  .saying, 
 
 16  Son  of  man,  behold,  I  takeaway  from  thee 
 the  desire  of  thine  eyes  with  a  stroke:  yet 
 neither  shalt  thou  mourn  nor  weep,  neither 
 shall  thy  tears  f  run  down. 
 
 1 7  t  Forbear  to  cry,  "  make  no  mourning  for 
 the  dead,  °  bind  the  tire  of  thine  head  upon 
 thee,  and  ""put  on  thy  shoes  upon  thy  feet,  and 
 '  cover  not  thy  flips,  and  eat  not  tlie  bread  of 
 men. 
 
 18  So  I  spake  unto  the  people  in  the  morn- 
 •ag :  and  at  even  my  wife  died  ;  and  I  did  in 
 tne  morning  as  I  was  commanded. 
 
 19  1  And  the  people  said  unto  me,  '  Wilt 
 thou  not  tell  us  what  these  things  are  to  us, 
 that  tiiou  doest  so  f 
 
 20  Then  I  answered  them,  Tlie  word  of  the 
 LoKD  came  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 21  Speak  unto  the  house  of  Israel,  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord  God  ;  Behold,  '  I  will  profane  my 
 sanctuary,  the  excellency  of  your  strength, 
 '  the  de.^ire  of  your  eyes,  and  f  that  which  your 
 soul  pitieth  ;  "  and  your  sons  and  your  daugh- 
 ters whom  ye  have  left  sliall  fall  by  the  sword. 
 
 22  And  ye  shall  do  a%  I  have  done  :  "ye  shall 
 not  cover  your  lips,  nor  eat  tlie  bread  of  men. 
 
 23  And  your  tires  shall  be  upon  your  heads, 
 and  your  shoes  upon  your  feet :  ''ye  shall  not 
 mourn  nor  weep  ;  but  '  ye  shall  pine  away  for 
 your  iniquities,  and  mourn  one  toward  another. 
 
 24  Thus  "Ezekiel  is  unto  you  a  sign  :  ac- 
 cording to  all  that  he  hath  done  shall  ye  do  : 
 'and  when  this  cometh,  'ye  shall  know  that  I 
 am  the  Lord  God. 
 
 25  Also,  thou  son  of  man,  shall  it  not  be  in 
 the  day  wlien  I  take  from  them  '^  their  strength, 
 the  joy  of  their  glory,  the  desire  of  their  eyes, 
 
 t  Heb  ffo. 
 t  Hob.  Be 
 
 Jcr.  l(i.  5, 
 
 6,  7. 
 
 SeeLer.lO. 
 
 0  K*--'l.  Ul 
 p  '2  Sam.  15. 
 
 SO. 
 7  Mic.  3.  7. 
 t  Heb.  «;ip" 
 
 Up  :  Aiiil  BO 
 
 -  ch.  19    9. 
 !.37.  18. 
 
 ch.  7.2y,2l, 
 
 t  Ps.  27.  i. 
 t  Heb.  t}^ 
 
 p,ly  f,f  yaU7 
 
 a  cli.  SS.  47. 
 xj«r.  16  b, 
 7.  ver.  17. 
 
 y  Job  87.  15. 
 
 P>.  7S.  6t 
 ;  Lev.  26.39 
 
 ch.  33.  10. 
 
 n  In.  20.  3. 
 
 cb.  4.  3.  i 
 
 li.  6,  11. 
 A  Jer.  17.  15. 
 
 John  13.19. 
 
 &  14.  SO. 
 c  ch.  fi.  7.  & 
 
 2S.  S. 
 
 d  ver.  21. 
 
 t  Heb.  f/i- 
 t'/iinj  >tp  of 
 
 /■i-h  3.  26, 
 
 ■  2-  »<  ■:!!  21 
 &  33.  '.'2 
 
 0  eh.  6.  S.  & 
 .1.5.  S. 
 
 A  Jer.  49    I, 
 ftc-ch.  21. 
 :;w.  Ain.'sl. 
 1.1.  Zeph. 
 2   9. 
 
 1  Pio.  17.  5. 
 ch    56.  2. 
 
 d  ch.  21.  20. 
 1».  17.  2.  J. 
 
 ;f2.14.  Zeph. 
 
 2.  14.  I.', 
 /ch   24.21. 
 
 &  26   6.  & 
 
 35.  9. 
 
 jjjob  27.  S3. 
 
 Lam.  2.  I.S 
 
 Zeph. 2. \^. 
 I,  Heb.  hnnd. 
 t  Heb.  ^-.r, 
 
 .  ch.  36.  5. 
 
 Zeph. 2.  8, 
 
 10. 
 t  Heb.  101.1. 
 I  ch.  36.  3. 
 [|  Or,  r,.e«r. 
 
 ilh.  I5.81I6. 
 Jcr.  49.  1, 
 
 and  t  'hat  whereupon  they  set  their  minds, 
 their  sons  and  their  daughters, 
 
 26  That  °he  that  oscapeth  in  that  day  shall 
 come  unto  thee,  to  cause  thee  to  hear  it  with 
 thine  ears? 
 
 27  '  In  that  day  sliall  thy  mouth  be  opened 
 to  liim  whicli  is  escaped,  and  thou  shalt  speak, 
 and  be  no  more  dumb  :  and  '■'  thou  shalt  be  a 
 sign  unto  them  ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I 
 am  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 1  God's  vengeance^  for  their  insolmcy  at;ahist  the  JewSf 
 upon  the  Ammonites  ;  8  upon  Moab  and  Seir ;  12 
 upon  Edom,  15  and  upon  the  Philistines. 
 
 'T'HE  word  of  the  Lokd  came  again  unto  me, 
 ■*-    saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  "set  thy  face  ''against  the 
 Ammonites,  and  prophesy  against  them  ; 
 
 3  And  say  unto  the  Ammonites,  Hear  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  God  ;  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  ;  '  Because  thou  saidst.  Aha,  against  my 
 sanctuary,  when  it  was  profaned  ;  and  against 
 the  land  of  Israel,  when  it  was  desolate  ;  and 
 against  the  house  of  Judah,  when  they  went 
 into  captivity  ; 
 
 4  Behold,  therefore  I  will  deliver  thee  to  the 
 f  men  of  the  east  for  a  possession,  and  tliey 
 shall  set  their  palaces  in  thee,  and  make  their 
 dwellings  in  thee  :  they  shall  eat  thy  fruit,  and 
 they  shall  drink  thy  milk. 
 
 5  And  I  will  make  ''  Rabbah  °  a  stable  for  ca- 
 mels, and  the  Ammonites  a  couchingplace  for 
 flocks :  '  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  atn  the 
 Lord. 
 
 6  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Because 
 thou  ^  hast  clapped  thine  f  hands,  and  stamped 
 with  the  t  feet,  and  "rejoiced  in  f  heart  with 
 all  thy  despite  against  the  land  of  Israel ; 
 
 7  Behold,  therefore  I  will  '  stretch  out  mine 
 hand  upon  thee,  and  will  deliver  thee  for  ||  a 
 spoil  to  the  heathen  ;  and  I  will  cut  thee  off 
 from  the  people,  and  I  will  cause  thee  to  perish 
 out  of  the  countries:  I  will  destroy  thee  ;  and 
 thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 8  H  Thus  saith  tlie  Lord  God  ;  Because  that 
 ''  Moab  and  '  Seir  do  say.  Behold,  the  house  of 
 Judah  is  like  unto  all  the  heathen  ; 
 
 49,  note.  Purged  thee,  made  use  of  means,  by  tlie  propliets  and  chas. 
 tisement,  ^c.,  but  all  in  vani.  16.  Dettire  0/ t/iine er/es.thG  prophet's 
 wife,  who  was,  perhaps,  beautiful  and  amiable.  Stroke,  apnple.\y  or 
 palsy. — Gill.  17.  Make  no  tnourriing,  sometimes  tlie  head  was  shaved, 
 (Lev.  xiii.  45  ;  Jer.  vii.  29  ;  xvi.  6.)— Prf*.  Louth.  The  lire,  §c.,  cap 
 or  turban,  both  a  covering  and  an  ornament.— G'tV/.  Put  on  tfiiJ  shoes, 
 going  barefoot  expressed  sorrow,  (2  Sam.  xv.  30  )  Cover  not  thy  lips, 
 another  token  of  mourning,  (Lev.  xiii.  45  ;  Mic.  iii.  7 .)—Preb.  towth. 
 Bread  of  men,  •  of  mourners,'  Targ.  Such  as  used  to  be  sent  bv  friends 
 to  mourners,  to  refresh  their  spirits.— GiH.  The  prophet  was  taught, 
 and  wa-s  to  intimate  that  private  mourning  would  be  absorbed  in  public 
 calamities.— Ifi7.  ;  and  that  the  stroke  was  to  be  above  all  grief.— 
 Clarke.  21.  Profane  my  .•iancluari/,  deliver  my  tem;le  into  the  hands 
 of  the  heathen.  Left,  behind,  when  carried  captive.— Prefi.  Lowlh. 
 21.  A  sisri,  to  the  Jews,  of  what  should  befal  them.— G^H.  27.  No 
 more  dumh,  from  this  time  to  the  taking  of  Jerusalem,  about  eighteen 
 niinlhs,  the  prophet  was  Mlent. —CiH. 
 
 Chap.  XXV.— I.  Theward  of  the  Lord,  ^c— the  orderof  this  chapter 
 should  be  alter  x.\xiii.  21.— iV«cc.  3.  Saii  unto  the  Ammonites,  ^c— 
 the  events  of  this  chapter  were  live  years  after  Ihe  destruction  of  Jcru- 
 Srilcm. — Jos.,  Usher.  Saidst,  Aha — an  exclamation  of  insult  and  con- 
 tempt.—//fu..      4.  .i/i.„  of  the  east,  probably  the  Chaldeans,  (see  chap. 
 
 xxi.  19,  '20,  and  Jer.  xxv.  21.)— Prei.  Lou-th.  It  may  mean  the  Ara- 
 bians, for  when  tlie  inhabitants  were  carried  captive  beyond  the  Eu- 
 phrates, the  .Arabs  rushed  into  the  country  to  occupy  it. — Cat.  The 
 Arabians  were  a  part  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  army,  whom  he  might  re- 
 ward with  this  country.  Set  their  palaces,  make  their  *  dwellings'  in 
 thee,  or  their 'camps,' or  their 'tents,'— G'//;  or  their  'pens'  or  'en- 
 closures' for  cattle,  as  the  word  means. — Har.  5.  Itabbah—^ee  chap, 
 xxi.  20.  .4  stable  for  camels,  creatures  much  used  by  the  Arabians, 
 who,  pitching  their  tents  in  the  royal  eiUes,  would  convert  the  houses 
 and  palaces  into  stables. — C?7/.  The  ruins  are  rather  intended,  for 
 camels  are  seldom  kept  in  stables,  but  often  browze  upon  the  weeds 
 that  grow  among  ruins. — Har.  A  coucliingplace  for  flocks,  which  the 
 Arabians  should  bring  to  feed  there.— Gt7/.  ^Buckingham,  the  traveller, 
 rested  among  the  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats  close  besiile  the  ruins  of 
 Animow  .—Travels  among  the  .Arabian  Tribes.  6.  Clapped— stamped, 
 gestures  of  joy,  (Job,  xxvii.  23  ;  Lam.ii.  15;  Jer.  xlviii.  27.) — Preb. 
 Lowlh.  7.  7  will  destroy  f/iee— all  this  country,  formerly  so  populous 
 and  flourishiug,  is  now  changed  into  avast  desert. — Seetzm^sTrav., 
 p.  34.  In  the  vicinity  of  AmmoD  there  is  a  fertile  plain,  interspersed 
 with  low  hills,  which,  for  the  greater  part,  are  covered  with  ruins. — 
 llurcktiardt\sSi/ria,  8.  Moab  and  Seir,  these  lived  near  to  ea>-h  other, 
 the  latter  meariing  the  Edoraites.— Gi//.      Esau  and  his  jjosterity  pos- 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.    .\.\IV.  —  I.  How  dreadful  is  tlie  II.  irow  dear  socrcr  persons  may  lie  to  us,  let  us  consider  that 
 
 case  oftliose  on  w/iom  ordinances  and  providences  hare  no  i/ood  si/cl  are  mortal,    and  mil  1/ soon  be   rimovcd.      Those   wlio   have 
 
 efftct!    Those  to  wlioiu  messengers,  predictions,  instructions,  wives  or  other  beloved  friends  should  be  as  chough  they  had 
 
 tfareatenings,  and  lesser  judgments;  have  been  sent,  bnt  all  in  none  ;  should  not  depend  too  much  upon  them  for  happiness 
 
 vain.     God  would  have  cleansed  the  .reivs.  but  ihey  would  liere,  but,  by  mutual  piely  and  kindness,  lay  a  foundation  for 
 
 iiot  be  cleansed.  ..leri.al  friendship,  b 
 876 
 
God's  vengeance  upon  Moab,  §-c. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXVI. 
 
 Tyrus  ts  th)  eateiied,  Ifc. 
 
 9  Therefore,  behold,  I  will  open  the  f  siile  ol 
 Moab  from  tlie  cities, from  his  cities  ivhich  are 
 on  his  frontiers,  the  glory  of  the  conntry,  Beth- 
 jeshinioth,  Baal-meon,  and  Kirialhaiin, 
 
 10  "'  Unto  the  inen  of  the  east  {|  with  the 
 Ammonites,  and  will  give  them  in  possession, 
 that  the  Ammonites  "  may  not  be  remembered 
 among  the  nations. 
 
 11  .\nd  I  will  execute  jndgments  upon  Moab; 
 and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 12  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  "Because 
 that  Edom  hath  dealt  against  the  house  of  Ju- 
 Jah  t  by  taking  vengeance,  and  hath  greatly 
 oftended,  and  revenged  himself  upon  them  ; 
 
 13  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  I  will 
 also  stretch  out  mine  hand  upon  Edom,  and 
 will  cut  off  man  and  beast  from  it ;  and  I  will 
 make  it  desolate  from  Teman  ;  and  ||  they  of 
 Dedan  shall  fall  by  the  sword. 
 
 l-t  .\nd  ''  I  will  lay  my  vengeance  upon  Edom 
 by  the  hand  of  my  people  Israel  :  and  they 
 shall  do  in  Edom  according  to  mine  anger  and 
 according  to  my  fury  ;  and  they  shall  know  my 
 vengeance,  .=ailh  the  Lord  God. 
 
 1.3  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  'Because 
 '  tlie  Philistines  have  dealt  by  revenge,  and 
 have  taken  vengeance  with  a  despiteful  heart, 
 to  destroy  it  ||  for  the  old  hatred ; 
 
 16  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 hold, ''  I  will  stretch  out  mine  hand  upon  the 
 Phi'li^tines,  and  I  will  cut  off  the  '  Cherethims, 
 "  and  destroy  the  remnant  of  the  ||  sea  coast. 
 
 17  And  1  will  'execute  great  ■!■  vengeance 
 upon  them  with  furious  rebukes  ;  'and  they 
 shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord,  when  I  shall 
 lay  my  vengeance  upon  them. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 I    Tyrus,  fn-  insfilfiii'/  against  Jirusal em,  isihreatened. 
 
 7    The  power  of  i^ebuc'  aUrezzar  a'.ainst  her.      15 
 
 TiiB  monriiiny  and  asti>niy.hment  uf  tht  sea  at  her  fall. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  eleventh  year, 
 
 "^^  ill  tlie  first  cldf/  of  the  month,  t/iat  the 
 
 word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 *2  Son  of  man,  ^  hecause  tliat  Tyrus  hath  said 
 asainst  Jerusalem,  ^  Aha,  she  is  broken  that  was 
 
 t  Heb.  f/.oi 
 
 ver.  4. 
 
 Or,  ng'ihitt 
 hechddrm 
 
 cli.  21.  32. 
 
 o  2  Chr   ?3. 
 
 17    Ps.  l:<7 
 
 7.  Jcr  49.  7. 
 
 S,  fcc. 
 
 cli.35  2,&c. 
 
 Amos  l.ll. 
 
 Obad.  10, 
 
 «cc.  I  Esd. 
 
 1    Xh 
 
 590. 
 f  Heb.  by  te- 
 
 '"•y"!/  •'- 
 
 '-'•  tf  ""•■"'■ 
 II  Or.  (A.,./ 
 
 .t.-.llfill  by 
 
 ii'tlc  Ocdan. 
 P  See  la.  1 1, 
 II.  Jer.  19. 
 2.  I  Mtc,  5, 
 ^.  2  Mac  II). 
 16,  17. 
 590. 
 
 q  Jer.  25. '211. 
 Si  47  \,<kc 
 Joel  3.4, .-^c. 
 Amos  I.  ly. 
 
 r  •>.  Clir.  L'S, 
 
 ;|  Or,  wi'/A 
 
 M  Z<-ph.  2.  A, 
 
 (  t  Sam.  SO. 
 
 It 
 ■.  .ler.  47.  4. 
 i   Or.  ha- rn 
 
 a  f  til"  fn . 
 X  ..h.  5.  15. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 r  trigrnncpii, 
 V  Ps.  9.  16. 
 
 5^9. 
 
 i  Is. -33.  Jcr 
 
 25.  -2i  ft  47. 
 
 i.Amna  I  9. 
 
 Zfch.  9.  2. 
 !i  cli.  23.  3. 
 
 at  :i6.  2. 
 
 /Kira7.  12 
 Dan.  2.  37. 
 
 J?  ch.  21.22. 
 
 II  Or,  p.„r 
 out  the  en- 
 gine nfiht/l. 
 
 t  Heb.  OI-- 
 cnrdiiig  lo 
 ilie  enlrring 
 o/a  cii>, 
 bt okrn  lip. 
 
 t  Heb  lio'uet 
 of  thy  d^ 
 
 the  gates  of  the  people  :  she  is  turned  unto  me  : 
 I  shall  be  replenished,  now  she  is  laid  waste  : 
 
 3  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 hold, I  ayii  against  thee,  O  Tyrus,  and  wiJ 
 cause  many  nations  to  come  up  against  thee, 
 as  the  sea  causeth  his  waves  to  come  up. 
 
 4  And  they  shall  destroy  the  walls  of  Tyrus, 
 and  break  down  her  towers:  I  will  also  scrape 
 her  dust  from  her,  and  ^  make  her  like  the  top 
 of  a  rock. 
 
 5  It  shall  be  a  place  for  the  spreading  of  nets 
 ''in  the  midst  of  the  sea  :  for  I  have  spoken  it, 
 saith  the  Lord  God  :  and  it  shall  become  a 
 spoil  to  the  nations. 
 
 0  And  her  daughters  which  are  in  the  field 
 shall  be  slain  by  tlie  sword;  ^  and  they  shall 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 7  H  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Behold,  I 
 will  bring  upon  Tyrus  Nebncliadrezzar  king  of 
 Babylon,  *"a  king  of  kings,  from  the  north,  with 
 horses,  and  witii  chariot.*,  and  with  hor&emen, 
 and  companies,  and  much  people. 
 
 8  He  shall  slay  witii  the  sword  thy  daughters 
 in  the  field  :  and  he  shall  ^inake  a  fort  against 
 thee,  and  |j  cast  a  mount  against  thee,  and  lift 
 up  the  buckler  against  thee. 
 
 9  And  he  shall  set  engines  of  war  against  thy 
 walls,  and  with  his  axes  he  shall  break  down 
 tliy  towers. 
 
 10  By  reason  of  the  abundance  of  his  horses 
 their  dust  shall  cover  thee:  thy  walls  shall 
 shake  at  the  noise  of  the  horsemen,  and  of  the 
 wlieels,  and  of  the  chariots,  when  he  shall  enter 
 into  thy  gates,  fas  men  enter  into  a  city 
 wherein  is  made  a  breach. 
 
 1 1  With  the  hoofs  uf  his  horses  shall  he  tread 
 down  all  t)iy  streets:  he  shall  slay  thy  people 
 by  the  sword,  and  thy  strong  garrisons  shall  go 
 down  to  the  ground. 
 
 12  And  they  shall  make  a  spoil  of  thy  riches, 
 and  make  a  prey  of  thy  merchandise:  and  they 
 shall  break  down  thy  walls,  and  destroy  f  thy 
 pleasant  houses  :  and  they  shall  lay  thy  stones 
 and  thy  timber  and  thy  dust  in  the  midtt  of  the 
 water. 
 
 sesstd  the  mountains  of  Seir. — Cal.  Like  unto  all  the  henthen,  it  fares 
 no  better  with  tliem  than  with  other  nations. — Gill.  9.  Open  the  side, 
 nnD,  '  ihe  fchouMer,'  the  strong'est  frontirr  place. — A.  Clarke.  Make  a 
 pa^sage  fur  invasion.— Pz-efi.  Lowth.  Beth  jeshimoth,  ^c,  chief  Iron- 
 ticr  towns,  — C'«/.  10.  Unto  the  men  of  the  east  with  the  Ammonites, 
 
 Animooites  and  Mrabites  shall  both  be  K'^en  up,  (see  ver.  4  ;  Ztph.  ii. 
 S,  9}     Nebuchadnezz:>r  subdued  hdih. — Newc.  12.  Dealt  against — 
 
 see  2  Chron.  xwiii.  1/;  Ps.  cxx.wii.  7;  Ezek.  xxxv.  2.  Ednm  was  in 
 the  habit  of  taking  advantatrc  of  Israel  io  distress,  and,  it  is  believed, 
 hail  cut  off  many  of  the  fugitives  that  had  escaped  the  sword  of  the 
 Babylonians.— TJ'fY.  13.  Teman,  a  very  principal  city  south  of  Edom, 
 so  called  from  Teman,  a  near  descendant  of  Esau.  (Gen.  xxxvi.  lo.) 
 Dediin,  another  city,  nnrth  uf  Edom.  14.  By  the  hand  of  my  people, 
 
 fulfilled  when  Judas  Maccabeeus  overthrew  and  conquered  them,  (1  Mac. 
 V.  3.) — Gill.  16.  Stretch  out  my  hand  upon  the  Philistines,  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar punished  them  bfcause  they  had  assisted  the  Tynans  during  tlie 
 time  he  was  besieging  their  city.  Cherethims— see  2  Sara,  viii,  19,  note. 
 Remnnnt  of  the  sea  coasts,  the  different  seigniories  of  the  Philistines 
 inhabited  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean,  from  Judea  to  Egypt. — A.  C. 
 Chap.  XXV'I.  —  t.  Elerenth  year,  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiaii,  the  year 
 nf  the  taking  if  Jerusalem.— i*reA.  Lflw^A.  '1.  Aha,  she  is  broken — 
 Tyre  reicarded  Jerusalem  as  her  rival  in  trade,  and  hence  her  joy  at  tier 
 ruin. — Boiithr.  That  was  the  gates  of  the  people,  where  was  the  con- 
 fluence of  people  at  the  solemn  feasts. — Preh.  Louth.  Near  to  the  gates 
 of  Jerusalem  were  usually  the  great  merchants. — Poole.  She  is  turned 
 unto  7ne,  her  traffic  and  wealth  are  come  into  my  stores,  (comp.  Isa. 
 
 Ix.  5.)—Bp.  Hdll.  I  shall  be  replenished,  the  merchandize  that  went 
 to  Jeru^altrm  will  come  to  me,  (to  Tyre.)— J.  Clarke.  V\  hen  Jerusalem 
 was  sacked,  the  spoil  of  the  city,  and  probably  some  of  ihe  captives, 
 were  carried  thither  for  ^ ale,  (see  chap,  xxvii.  13;  comp.  Joel,  iii. 
 4,  5,  6.) — Preb.  Lowth.  'Aha,  she  is  broken  ;  the  merchandize  of  the 
 people  is  turned  unto  me;  she  that  was  full  is  become  destilate.'— 
 Boothr.,  so  Houb.  4.  Scrape  her  dust,  Kave  nothing. — Poole.  De. 
 noting  utter  desiruction. — Gill.  It  means  lathcr  her  earth.  This  being- 
 a  rocky  spot,  the  soil  was  made  by  carryiiiic  miuld  thither. — Newc, 
 Hew.,  Sec.  5.  For  the  spreading  of  nets — 'he  present  inhabitants  are 
 only  a  few  wretches  subsi-ting  chiefly  by  fishing. — Maundrvll's  Trai; 
 Tyre,  is  a  rock,  whereon  fishers  dry  their  nets.  Tw^o  wreiclied  fisher- 
 men, with  miseiable  nets,  had  just  given  over  their  <  ccupation. — 
 Bruce^s  Trap.  The  fishermen  dry  their  nets  upon  its  rocks  and  ruins. 
 — Shawns  Trav.  The  whole  village  of  Tyre  con'^ists  of  fifty  or  sixty  poor 
 familiis,  who  live  on  the  produce  of  their  little  ground  and  a  trifling 
 fishery. —  Volney''s  Trnv.  In  the  midst  of  the  sea,  probably  old  Tyre 
 stood  in  the  sea  on  a  peninsula,  (see  ver.  l",  andchap,  xxvii.  A.)— Hew. 
 6  Daughters,  \esscT  X.o'A' us. — Preb.  Lowth.  ~.  With  horses  and  with 
 chariots,  this  evidently  refers  to  old  Tyre  upon  ihe  continent,  but  see 
 ver.  12,  and  chap,  xxvii,  4,  xsviii.  8,  which  appear  to  refer  to  the  insular 
 situation  of  Tyre.— IT'iV.  8.  Buckler,  this  sort  of  shield  was  lifted 
 
 above  the  head,  and  the  bucklers  being  fitted  together  farmed  a  roof 
 against  the  darts  of  the  besitged. —  Cul.,  Ed.  g.  Ases,  'battering- 
 rams.' — Hew.  Any  instrument  used  in  demoU--hing  buildings,  (see 
 Jer.  xxxiii.4.)— F/fi.  Lowth, Gill.         12.  In  the  midst  of  the  w.iter,  ihe 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXV.  —  I.  JFhin  God  infictsjwfq- 
 me^its,  thvy  are  terrible.  For  it  should  be  remembered,  that  he 
 never  does  so  till  men  have  completely  filled  up  the  measure 
 of  their  iniquity  ;  ;inJ  then  they  find  it  is,  indeed,  '  a  fearful 
 tiing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God.' 
 
 II,  fTAen  God  inflicts  judgments,  ice  should  stand  in  aue.  It 
 877 
 
 does  not  become  us  to  rejoice  in  the  ruin  of  our  fellow-crea- 
 tures, or  in  the  wanton  successes  of  wicked  men.  The  punish- 
 ment of  nations  or  individuals  should  be  lo  us  a  solemn  warn- 
 ing against  the  practice  of  &in— the  universal  cause  of  that 
 punishment. 
 
The  mourning  fot  the  fall  of  Tyrus. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXVII. 
 
 Her  great  riches. 
 
 13  *>  And  I  will  cause  the  noise  of  '  thy  songs 
 to  cease  ;  and  the  sound  of  thy  harps  shall  be 
 no  more  heard. 
 
 14  And  '  I  will  make  thee  like  the  top  of  a 
 rock  :  thou  shalt  be  n  place  to  spread  nets 
 upon  ;  thou  shalt  be  built  no  more  :  for  I  the 
 Lord  hath  spoken  it,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 15  ^  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  to  Tyrus; 
 Sliall  not  the  isles  '  shake  at  the  sound  of  thy 
 fall,  when  the  wounded  cry,  when  the  slaughter 
 is  made  in  the  midst  of  thee  ? 
 
 16  Then  all  the  "princes  of  the  .sea  shall 
 "  come  down  from  tlieir  thrones,  and  lay  away 
 their  robes,  and  put  ott'  their  broidered  gar- 
 ments :  they  shall  clothe  themselves  with 
 f  trembling  ;  °  they  shall  sit  upon  the  ground, 
 and  ^' shall  tremble  at  every  moment,  and  ''be 
 astonished  at  thee. 
 
 17  And  they  shall  take  up  a  '  lamentation  for 
 thee,  and  say  to  thee.  How  art  thou  destroyed, 
 that  least  inhabited  f  of  seafaring  men,  the  re- 
 nowned city,  which  wast  '  strong  in  the  sea, 
 she  and  her  inhabitants,  which  cause  their  ter- 
 ror to  be  on  all  that  liaunt  it! 
 
 18  Now  shall  '  tlie  isles  tremble  in  the  day  of 
 thy  fall  ;  yea,  the  isles  that  are  in  the  sea  shall 
 be  troubled  at  thy  departure. 
 
 19  For  tlius  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  When  I  shall 
 make  tliee  a  desolate  city,  like  the  cities  that  are 
 not  inhabited  ;  when  I  shall  bring  up  tlie  deep 
 upon  thee,  and  great  waters  shall  cover  thee  ; 
 
 •.20  When  I  shall  bring  thee  down  "with  then) 
 that  descend  into  the  pit,  witli  the  people  of 
 old  time,  and  shall  set  thee  in  the  low  parts  of 
 the  earth,  in  places  desolate  of  old,  with  them 
 that  go  down  to  the  pit,  that  thou  be  not  in- 
 habited ;  and  I  shall  set  glory  '  in  the  land  of 
 the  living ; 
 
 21  ^  I  will  make  thee  fa  terror,  and  thou 
 shalt  be  no  more :  '  thougli  thou  be  sought  for, 
 yet  shalt  tliou  never  be  found  again,  saith  the 
 Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 1     Ti'ie  rich  supply  of  Tyrus.     26  The  t/reat  mid  uvre- 
 covcrable  fall  t/tcrenf. 
 
 B    C.  588. 
 
 /,  Is.  n.  M. 
 
 Jer.  7.  .14. 
 k  16.  9.  & 
 S5.  10. 
 Is.  28.  16. 
 ch.  •>».  13. 
 Rev.  18.  22. 
 t  ver.  4,  &. 
 
 m  Is.  23.  9. 
 n  Jonah  S  6 
 
 I  Heb. 
 
 trembtintji. 
 0  J<ib  2.  13. 
 p  ch.  :(2.  10, 
 '/  ch  27.  .•« 
 r  ch.  27   :12. 
 
 Itev.  18   !'. 
 
 tHeb   o/tfi< 
 I  In.  23.  4. 
 
 X  ch.  32.  23, 
 26,  27,  32 
 
 j(  ch.  27.  36. 
 fc  28.  19. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 /Pa.  S7.  36. 
 
 I  ch.  19.  I.  ec 
 
 26.  i;.«t28. 
 12.  fc.12.  2. 
 6  ch.  28.  2. 
 
 Is   S3.  3. 
 
 d  ch.  26.  12. 
 tH.-b,f."frc/ 
 
 t  Heb.  h^art. 
 
 t  Heb   liiM. 
 e  Deu.  3.  9 
 
 II  Or,  //.*(/ 
 I^otie  matU- 
 Ihi,  hntihr. 
 
 t  Heb.  thr 
 
 dmii/lili'r. 
 
 /Jcc.  2.  10. 
 
 II  Or,  p«,filr 
 niid  icarUl. 
 
 g  I  Kin  .1.18. 
 
 Rs    8.3.  7. 
 ||(>r,  iliiiijieii 
 
 nfch'nkl. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ilrfnglUen- 
 
 trt. 
 h  Jer.  46.  9 
 
 ch.  30.  5.  & 
 
 38.  h. 
 
 t  Gen.  10  2. 
 n,  Rev.  18  13. 
 II  Or,  ni'T. 
 
 '■pHE  word  of  the  Lord  came  again  unto  me, 
 -*-    saying, 
 
 2  Now,  thou  son  of  man,"  take  up  a  lamenta- 
 tion for  Tyrus ; 
 
 3  And  say  unto  Tyrus,  i"  O  thou  that  art 
 situate  at  the  entry  of  the  sea,  which  art  '  a 
 merchant  of  the  people  for  many  isles.  Thus 
 saitli  the  Lord  God  ;  O  Tyrus,  thou  hast  said, 
 ''  I  am  t  of  perfect  beauty. 
 
 4  Thy  borders  are  in  the  f  midst  of  the  seas, 
 thy  builders  have  perfected  thy  beauty. 
 
 3  They  have  fmade  all  thy  ship  boards  of  fir 
 trees  of  °  Senir :  they  have  taken  cedars  from 
 Lebanon  to  make  masts  for  thee. 
 
 6  Of  the  oaks  of  Bashan  have  they  made 
 thine  oars  ;  ||  f  the  company  of  the  Ashurites 
 have  made  thy  benches  of  ivory,  brought  out 
 of  '  the  isles  of  Chittim. 
 
 7  Fine  linen  with  broidered  work  from  Egypt 
 was  that  which  thou  spreadest  forth  to  be  thy 
 sail  ;  II  blue  and  purple  from  the  isles  of  Eli- 
 shah  was  that  which  covered  thee. 
 
 8  The  inhabitants  of  Zidon  and  Arvad  were 
 thy  mariners  :  thy  wise  men,  O  Tyrus,  that 
 were  in  thee,  were  thy  pilots. 
 
 9  The  ancients  of  ^  Gebal  and  the  wise  men 
 thereof  were  in  thee  thy  ||tcalkers:  all  the 
 ships  of  the  sea  with  their  mariners  were  in 
 thee  to  occupy  thy  merchandise. 
 
 10  They  of  Persia  and  ot  Lud  and  of  ''  Phut 
 were  in  thine  army,  thy  men  of  war :  they 
 hanged  the  shield  and  helmet  in  tliee  ;  they 
 set  forth  thy  comeliness. 
 
 1  I  The  men  of  Arvad  with  thine  army  were 
 upon  thy  walls  round  about,  and  the  Gamma- 
 dims  were  in  thy  towers :  they  hanged  their 
 shields  upon  thy  walls  round  about ;  they  have 
 made  '  thy  beauty  perfect. 
 
 12  '  Tarshish  was  thy  merchant  by  reason  of 
 the  multitude  of  all  Ainrf  q/"  riches  ;  with  sil- 
 ver, iron,  tin,  and  lead,  they  traded  in  thy 
 fairs. 
 
 13  '  Javan,  Tubal,  and  Meshech,  they  were 
 thy  merchants :  they  traded  "■  the  persons  of 
 men  and  vessels  of  brass  in  thy  ||  market. 
 
 sea  shall  overflow  thy  ruins. — Preh.  Lowth.  14.  A'o  more,  under- 
 stand it  with  restriction  ;  on  the  same  spot,  or  in  su  st^itely  a  manner, 
 or  after  its  last  destruction.— fr'i//.  Commentators  weaken  the  force  of 
 prophecy  by  these  shiltings,  for  the  fact  is,  that  Nebuchadnezzar  quite 
 destroyed  old  Tyre,  and  the  ruins  were  made  use  of  by  Alexander  to 
 effect  the  destruction  of  new  Tyre.— i?rf.,  see  D'Oi/lPi/,  and  Mnttt. 
 When  Nebuchadnezzar  made  himself  master  of  Tyre,  from  thencefor- 
 ward it  became  a  mere  village,  retaining  the  name  of  ancient  Tyre. — 
 IliiHin.  15.  i,v/e.5  shnbe,  sea  coasts  round  about. — Bp.  Hull.  See  Isa. 
 xi.  11,  note.  \Q.  Prinms  of  the  sen,  kings  of  the  islands.— Gi//. 
 18.  Isles,  'ships,'  Vidg.;  Daihe.  Depurtnfe,  forsaking  the  city  and 
 living  in  ships.— Houi.  They  fled  to  their  colonies  at  Tarshish  and  on 
 the  coast  of  Chittim.— .S/.  Jemme.  19.  Grettt  waters,  literally,  '  the 
 
 sea,'  the  walls  being  broken  down  ;  or  metaphorically,  the  Babylonians, 
 (see  Jer.  xlvi.  7.)— So  Gill.  '20.  >fet  glory  in  tlie  land  of  tlie  limnn, 
 give  glory  to  thy  conqueror,  Nebuchadnezzar,  amon^  the  eastern  na- 
 tions.—Boo^/ir.' Other  conquered  cities  restored. — Preli.  Lowth.  Israel, 
 Titrg.     God's   church.— tf(7^  21.. 4    terror,  a  terrible  example. — 
 
 Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Chap.  XXVII.  —  2.  .4  lamentation,  alluding  to  the  mournful  ditties 
 used  at  funerals.- ri-pi.  Lnwih.  3.  ..JfWifenfr;/,  of  the  Mediterranean, 
 near  the  continent,  and  fit  for  a  sea-port.  A  merchant,  8,-c.,  the  inha- 
 bitants of  nianv  isles  brought  their  produce  to  Tyre  for  sale.— GiV/. 
 Of  per/eel  beauty,  they  thought  their  city  a  perfect  model,  and  superior 
 to  all  others. — Scott.  4.  Thy  borders  are  in  the  mid.^t  of  the  sea,  sur- 
 rounding and  securing  thee.— Poole.  Thy  builders,  Sfc,  architects, — 
 Scott ;  or  ship  builders,  who  brought  that  art  among  them  to  great 
 
 perfection. — Cill.  See  ver.  5.  5.  Shipboards,  decks.  Senir,  Mount 
 Hermon,  anciently  so  called,  (sec  Deut.  iii.  9.) — Preb.  Lowth,  so 
 Ncwc.  t).  Benches,  seats  for  the  rowers.- Gi//.  0/  imiry,  of  box 
 trees,  inlaid  with  ivory,  {see  Isa.  xli.  19.)— J«rc/.i.  CIlTNTll  pro 
 □'"ll^DriD. —  Itobertson.  We  shall  nt  t  find  any  company  of  Ashurites  if 
 we  inquire  for  them,  but  here  are  two  words  read  divided,  and,  by 
 mistake,  translated  as  divided  words,  which  ought  to  have  been  read 
 in  one  word,  and  so  translated,  as  in  Isa.  xli.  19.  where  we  read  '  box ;' 
 then  all  is  plain,  and  the  sense  is,  that  from  the  isles,  Corsica.  &c  , 
 where  bux  flourishes,  the  box  boards  were  conveyed  to  Tyrus,  for 
 benches,  where  the  artists  inlaid  them  with  ivory  for  the  ships. — Poole. 
 'Thy  benches  they  have  made  of  ivory,  with  seats  brought  out,'  &c. — 
 Bnch.  Isles  of  t-liittiyn,  the  countries  lying  on  the  coast  of  the  Medi- 
 terranean, (see  Jer.  ii.  10.)  7.  F(«e /»nc«,M?ir, 'cotton  cloth.'  Sail, 
 probably  flag. — A.  Clarke.  Elishah,  denotes  the  countries  upon  the 
 coast  of  Greece.  Among  the  Greek  writers,  a  part  of  the  Peloponnesus 
 retains  the  name  of  Klis. — Preb.  Lowth.  Covered  thee,  formed  the 
 canopies  on  decks  to  shelter  from  the  sun,  rain  and  wind. — Gill.  It 
 might  have  been  the  dress  of  the  pilots  and  rowers.  —  St.  Jerome. 
 s.  Ziiion—see  Isa.  xxiii.  2,  note.  Arvad,  an  island  in  Phcenicia,  near 
 Zidon.- G(7/.  The  opulence  of  theTyrians  enabled  them  to  employ  men 
 of  other  parts  for  servde  offices. — So  Cat.  g.  Gebal,  a  promontory  ol 
 the  PlKPnicians.— Gj7/.  10.  Lud,  probably  an  Egyptian  colony.— AVmc. 
 Phut,  the  l.ybians,  a  people  in  Africa,  skilful  in  drawing  the  bow,  (Isa. 
 Ixvi.  19.) — Gill.  11.  .irimd — see  ver.  8.  12.  Tarshish — see  1  Kings,  x. 
 22,  note.  13.  Javan,  Greece,  especially  that  part  called  Ionia,  from 
 Javan,  the  son  of  Japhet,  (Gen.  x.  2.) — Gill,  so  Vulg.,  Sept.;  Mich., 
 
 Reflkctions  on  Chat.  X.WI.  —  I.  See  here  the  vanity  of  perish  !     Let  tlie  rich  learn  to  trust,  not  in  uncertain  riches, 
 
 wealth.     Thoush  we,  like  Tyre,  are  surrounded  by  the  sea,  are  but  in  the  livinf^  God. 
 
 strong  in  ships,  colonies,  and  commerce,  and  abound  in  riches,  II.  See  Iiere  the  truth  of  God's  word.     The  predictions  con- 
 the  lesson   taught  us  in  the  case  of  Tyre  is,  'Be  not  high-  cerning  Tyre  are  verified  to  the  tittle;  and  so  in  all  his  pro- 
 minded,  but  fear.'     How  soon  could  losses  and  ruin  overtake  mises  and  threatenings  shall  God's  word  be  fultilled,  for  '  the 
 the  most  wealthy  of  our  merchants,  and  all  our  enterprises  Scriptures  cannot  be  broken.' 
 878 
 
The  great  and  unrecoverable 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXVII. 
 
 fall  of  Tyrus, 
 
 14  They  of  the  house  of  "  Togarmah  traded 
 in  thy  fairs  with  horses  and  horsemen  and 
 mules. 
 
 15  The  men  of  °  Dedan  tvere  thy  merchants; 
 many  isles  ivere  the  merciiandise  of  thine 
 hand  :  they  brought  "thee/b/-  a  present  horns 
 of  ivory  and  ebony. 
 
 16  Syria  was  thy  merchant  by  reason  of  the 
 multitude  off  the  wares  of  thy  making:  they 
 occupied  in  thy  fairs  with  emeralds,  purple, 
 and  broidered  work,  and  fine  linen,  and  coral, 
 and  t  agate. 
 
 17  Judah,  and  the  land  of  Israel,  they  were 
 thy  merchants :  they  traded  in  thy  market 
 ''  wheat  of  ''  Minnith,  and  Pannag,  and  honey, 
 and  oil,  and  "'  ||  balm. 
 
 18  Damascus  was  thy  merchant  in  the  mul- 
 titude of  the  wares  of  thy  making,  for  the  mul- 
 titude of  all  riches  ;  in  the  wine  of  Helbon, 
 and  white  wool. 
 
 19  Dan  also  and  Javan  ||  going  to  and  fro 
 occupied  in  thy  fairs :  bright  iron,  cassia,  and 
 calamus,  were  in  thy  market. 
 
 20  ^  Dedan  ivas  thy  merchant  in  f  precious 
 clothes  for  chariots. 
 
 21  Arabia,  and  all  the  princes  of  *  Kedar, 
 t  they  occupied  with  thee  in  lambs,  and  rams, 
 and  goats :  in  these  ivere  they  thy  merchants. 
 
 22  The  merchants  of  "  Sheba  and  Raamah, 
 they  were  thy  merchants  :  they  occupied  in 
 thy  fairs  with  chief  of  all  spices,  and  with  all 
 precious  stones,  and  gold. 
 
 23  *  Haran,  and  Canneh,  and  Eden,  the  mer- 
 chants of  ^  Sheba,  Asshur,  and  Chilmad,  icere 
 thy  merchants. 
 
 24  These  ivere  thy  merchants  in  ||  all  sorts 
 of  thinrfs,  in  blue  f  clothes,  and  broidered 
 work,  and  in  chests  of  rich  apparel,  bound  with 
 cords,  and  made  of  cedar,  among  thy  mer- 
 chandise. 
 
 25  ^  The  ships  of  Tarshish  did  sing  of  thee  in 
 thy  market :  and  thou  wast  replenished,  and 
 made  very  glorious  "  in  the  midst  of  the  seas. 
 
 I  Gen.  10.  3, 
 ch.  36.6. 
 
 t  Heb.  thy 
 wot  hi. 
 
 tHeb, 
 chrytoprate. 
 
 Acts  \-i.-iO. 
 
 \[0r,  Jlfeuz<il. 
 
 s  G-n.  25,  3. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 clul/ies  of 
 
 freed  ojn. 
 I  Gen  25.13. 
 
 Is,  00.  7. 
 i  Heb.  Ihft/ 
 
 were  Ifie 
 
 merchants  of 
 
 thy  hnnd. 
 M  Gen.  10, 
 
 1  Kin.  10.1, 
 
 2  P3.72  in, 
 
 15.  Is.  60.6. 
 
 z  Gen. n, 31. 
 •2Km. 19.12, 
 y  Gen.  25.  3. 
 
 li  Or,  excel- 
 lent tkingi 
 
 t  Heh./old- 
 vgs. 
 
 :  Pa.  48. 
 Is  2  16. 
 2A,  H. 
 
 b  PB.  4a   7. 
 t  Heb.  h-'art 
 
 w,lh  all 
 t  Heb,  benrt. 
 
 II  Or,  ^av». 
 d  ch.  26.  15, 
 
 ■Rev.  18.17 
 
 /Jobs    12. 
 
 Hev.  19.  19. 
 y  Esth.4,  1, 
 
 ■i.Jev  6.26. 
 /.  Jer.   16.  6. 
 
 &  *7.  5. 
 
 Mic.  I.  16. 
 
 ;  ch.  26.  17. 
 ver,  2. 
 
 IRev.  18.19. 
 
 »»  ch.  26.  19, 
 n  ver.  27. 
 
 pjei-.  11.  [f> 
 
 t  Heb'  te'r- 
 
 +  Heb.  sli.ill 
 not  be  for 
 
 26  H  Thy  rowers  have  brought  thee  into  great 
 waters  :  ^  tlie  east  wind  hath  broken  thee  in 
 the  t  midst  of  the  seas. 
 
 27  Thy  "riches,  and  thy  fairs,  thy  merchan- 
 dise, thy  mariners,  and  thy  pilots,  thy  calkers, 
 and  the  occupiers  of  thy  merchandise,  and  all 
 thy  men  of  war,  that  are  in  thee,  ||  and  in  all 
 thy  company  which  is  in  the  midst  of  thee, 
 shall  fall  into  the  fmidst  of  the  seas  in  the  day 
 of  thy  ruin. 
 
 28  The  II  suburbs  ^  shall  shake  at  the  sound 
 of  the  cry  of  thy  pilots. 
 
 29  And  ''all  that  handle  the  oar,  the  mariners, 
 and  all  the  pilots  of  the  sea,  shall  como  down 
 from  their  ships,  they  shall  stand  upon  the 
 land  ; 
 
 30  And  shall  cause  their  voice  to  be  heard 
 against  thee,  and  shall  cry  bitterly,  and  shall 
 •"cast  up  dust  upon  their  heads,  they  ^  shall 
 wallow  themselves  in  the  ashes: 
 
 31  And  they  shall  ^  make  themselves  utterly 
 bald  for  thee,  and  gird  them  with  sackcloth, 
 and  they  shall  weep  for  thee  with  bitterness  of 
 heart  and  bitter  wailing. 
 
 32  And  in  their  wailing  they  shall  '  take  up  a 
 lamentation  for  thee,  and  lament  over  thee, 
 saying,  ''  What  city  is  like  Tyrns,  like  the  de- 
 stroyed in  the  midst  of  the  sea? 
 
 33  ^  When  thy  wares  went  forth  out  of  the 
 seas,  thou  filiedst  many  people  ;  thou  didst 
 enrich  the  kings  of  the  earth  witii  the  multi- 
 tude of  thy  riches  and  of  thy  merchandise. 
 
 34  In  the  time  when  ""thou  shalt  be  broken 
 by  the  seas  in  the  depths  of  the  waters  "  thy 
 merchandise  and  all  thy  company  in  the  midst 
 of  thee  shall  fall. 
 
 35  °  All  the  inhabitants  of  the  isles  shall  be 
 astonished  at  thee,  and  their  kings  shall  be 
 sore  afraid,  they  shall  be  troubled  in  their 
 countenance. 
 
 I  36  The  merchants  among  the  people  ^  shall 
 hiss  at  thee  ;  ''  thou  shalt  be  f  a  terror,  and 
 [f  never  shalt  be  any  more. 
 
 Pi-eb.  Lowth.  Tubal  and  Meshech,  sons  of  Japhet,  (Gen.  x.  2.)  The 
 former,  the  Iberi  and  Albanians;  the  latter,  the  Cappadncians. — Gill. 
 Tesseis  o/Aruss,  the  domestic  utensils  of  the  Orienials  are  nearly  al- 
 ways brass. — Rub.  14.  Tugnrmnh,  Phryg^ia. — Jerutne.  15.  Dednn, 
 a  city  in  the  Persian  Gulf,  now  called  Dadan. — Boch.,  Hitch.  The  place 
 here  named  was  called  Dedan,  from  the  son  of  Raamah,  (Gen.  x.  7.)  — 
 Gi/(.  Many  isles,  ^c,  '  Many  isles  were  the  marts  for  thy  manufac- 
 tures :  they  returned  thee  for  thy  price,  horns,  ivory,  and  ebony  ;'  pro 
 bahly  from  the  East  Indies. — Boothr.  16.  Syrin,  '  Edom,'  Sept., 
 Syr.,  .Artib,  The  Syrian  trade  being  mentioned  after  by  the  name  nf 
 Damascus,  most  likely  Edom  is  here  correct. — Boothr.  17.  Miiinith, 
 3fc.,  belonging  to  the  Ammonites,  {Judg*.  xi.  33.) — Prebpndtiri/  Luirlh, 
 '  Myrrh,  and  panic,  and  honey,  and  oil,  and  balm.'  From  the  super- 
 abundance of  Juriah  they  supplied  Tyre.—Boothr.  Pannag,  '  panic,' 
 is  thought,  by  some,  to  mean  a  rich  ointment  nr  e:um. — Preh.  Lowth. 
 18.  In  the  rnuinttide,  §r,,  '  through  the  multitude  of  thy  works  and  the 
 abundance  of  all  thy  substance.' — Boothr.  He/ban,  thought  to  be  the 
 same  with  Aleppo,  the  grapes  of  which  make  strong  wine. — Gil/.  White 
 «">f»/.  this  was  dyed  purple  aX  Tyre. —Preh.  Lntvth.  U».  Dw/i,  after- 
 wards called  Cesarea-Philippi,  which  was  in  the  tribe  of  Dan. — St.  Je- 
 mine.  Taprobane,  or  the  isle  of  Zcilan,  where  was  a  city  called  Dana 
 or  Dagfana. — Grotius.  Javnn,  not  Greece,  but  the  people  of  a  country 
 in  the  southern  part  nf  Arabia. — Boch.  Both  these  places  were  pro- 
 bably in  Arabia  Felix  ;  Greece  certainly  did  not  furnish  aromatic  gums. 
 — Mich.,  Preb.  Lowth.  Javan  may  be  pronouuced  Yeman. — Boothr. 
 Bright  iron,  strcl  or  wroueht  iron.  —Newc.  20.    Dedan,  different 
 
 from  that  in  ver.  1.5,  and  is  either  Dedan  in  Edom  or  Idumea,  (Jer. 
 xlix.  8.)  or  in  Arabia,  the  inhabitants  of  which  descend  from  Dedan, 
 a  grandson  of  Abraham,  (Gen.  xxv.  3  0  the  latter  is  most  probable. 
 
 In  precious  clothes,  SfC,  ^L>cn  ■'i;33,  or  '  clothes  of  freedom.*—  Vat., 
 Pise.  Such  as  freemen,  and  even  nobles,  wore,  these  the  extravagant 
 Tyrians  bought  to  line  or  cover  their  chariots  with.— Gi//.  '  In  gor- 
 geous apparel  for  horsemen.' — Boothr.  Literally, '  clothes  of  stripping- 
 off  for  riding,'  a  kind  of  horsecloth  or  housings,  on  which  the  ancients 
 used  to  ride.— Par.  21.  Kedar,  in  Arabia  Petrsea,  dcf-cendcd  from 
 Kedar,  a  son  of  IshmacI,  (Gen.  xxv.  \3.)~Gilt.  22.  Shef>a  and 
 Raamah,  a  people  of  Arabia  Felix,  dwelling  near  the  Persian  Gulf.— 
 Preb.  Lowth.  23.  Haran,  ^c— see  Gen.  xi.  31.  The  three  places 
 here  named  seem  to  be  in  Mesopotamia.  Shebu,  nut  the  Sheba  men- 
 tioned in  the  preceding  verse;  this  was  named  from  the  son  of  Jok- 
 sban,  (Gen.  xxv.  3.)  known  by  the  name  of  Sabeans,  near  the  Persian 
 Sea.  Asshur,  the  Assyrians,  named  from  Asshur.  the  builder  of  Nine- 
 veh, {Gen.  X.  II.)— Gil/.  Chilmnd,  Media,  Tnrg.  24.  Bound  with 
 cords,  and  made  of  cedar,  carefully  packed  up  in  chests  of  cedar,  to  eive 
 these  clothes  a  fine  scent,  and  to  preserve  them  from  decay.— PceA. 
 Loivth.  25.  The  ships  of  Tarshish  did  sing,  the  ships  of  the  sea  in 
 general,  i.  e.,  trading  ships,  (Isa.  ii.  16,)  spoke  greatly  in  her  praise.— 
 Preh.  Lowth,  Gill.  26.  Bo»'i?r.?,  statesmen  or  political  pilots  are  here 
 fisruiatively  mentioned.- So  Newc.  Into  great  ivaters,  the  prophet 
 compaies  the  condition  of  Tyre  besieged  to  a  ship  overset  and  just 
 ready  to  sink.— PrcA.  Lowth.  2g.  The  land,  the  shore  of  the  adjoin- 
 ing island,  whence  they  should  see  the  conflagration  of  the  city. — 
 Neirc.  30.  Cast  up  dust,  ^c„  a  custom  used  in  the  eastern  countries 
 in  times  of  mourning  and  sorrow.  31.  Bald,  shaving  their  heads  or 
 tearing  off  their  hair,  as  mourners  in  distress.- fViV/.  See  Jer.  xlvii.  5  ; 
 Mich.  i.  iG.  36.  Hiss,  in  insult  and  derision.- Preft.  Lnwlh.  IpnUJ, 
 •shall  shriek  for  thee.'  expressive  of  the  powerful  sensation  of  the  spec- 
 tators of  her  ruin.    So  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  ox  Chap.  XXVIT. — I.  JfOiat  little  depend- 
 ence is  to  be  placed  upon  the  wealth  and  elegances  of  life.  VVeaUby 
 merchants,  and  wealthy  cities,  run  to  ruin,  and  multitudes 
 are  involved  in  the  fall  ;  and  such  calamities  will  be  doubly 
 bitter  to  those  who  have  hved  in  luxury  and  splendor.  When 
 we  read  this  inventory  of  Tyre's  wealth,  it  should  malje  ns 
 thankful  that  we  ciin  do  without  most  of  it;  and  we  should 
 879 
 
 not  be  hish-minded  though  we  have  ever  so  much  of  it,  for  it 
 is  all  fading  ! 
 
 II.  How  sad  is  it  with  a  nation  when  its  governors  ruin  it.  W  o 
 have  need,  therefore,  to  pray  that  God  would  give  our  com- 
 manders suitable  qualifications,  and  be  the  defence  of  our 
 land  ;  and  in  order  to  this  that  we  may  remember  him  tliat 
 made  us,  and  not  lightly  esteem  the  rock  of  our  salvation.  ^ 
 
Judgment  upon  the  prince  of  Ti/nis. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXVIII. 
 
 Judyment  of  Zidun 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 ]  God's  judgment  upon  tfte  prince  of  Tyrus  for  liis  sa- 
 crilegious prrdf.  1  I  -^  Itmmtation  nf  liis  great 
 ghrt/  corrupted  by  sin.  20  T/ic  judgment  of  Zidun. 
 24    T/ie  restoration  of  Israel. 
 
 'T'HE  word  of  the  Lord  came  again  unto  nne, 
 -'■    saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  say  unto  the  prince  of  Tyrus, 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Because  thine 
 heart  is  lifted  up,  and  '  thou  hast  said,  I  am  a 
 god,  I  sit  in  the  seat  of  God,  ''in  the  f  midst 
 of  tlie  seas  ;  '^  yet  thou  art  a  man,  and  not 
 God,  though  thou  set  tliine  heart  as  the  heart 
 of  God  : 
 
 3  Behold,  ■'thou  o)<  wiser  than  Daniel  ;  there 
 is  no  secret  that  they  can  hide  from  thee: 
 
 4  With  thy  wisdom  and  with  tliine  under- 
 standing thou  hast  gotten  thee  riches,  and  hast 
 gotten  gold  and  silver  into  thy  treasures : 
 
 5  t'By  tliy  great  wisdom  and  by  thy  traf- 
 fick  hast  thou  increased  thy  riches,  and  ttiine 
 heart  is  lifted  up  because  of  thy  riches  : 
 
 6  Therefore  tiius  saith  the  Lord  God;  Be- 
 cause thou  hast  set  thine  heart  as  the  heart  of 
 God  ; 
 
 7  Behold,  therefore  I  will  bring  strangers 
 upon  thee,  '  the  terrible  of  the  nations  :  and 
 they  shall  draw  their  swords  against  the  beauty 
 of  thy  wisdom,  and  they  shall  defile  thy  bright- 
 ness. 
 
 8  They  shall  bring  thee  down  to  the  pit,  and 
 thou  shalt  die  the  deaths  of  them  that  are 
 slain  in  the  midst  of  the  seas. 
 
 9  Wilt  thou  yet  ^say  before  him  that  slayeth 
 thee,  I  am  God  ?  but  thou  shall  be  a  man, 
 and  no  God,  in  the  hand  of  him  that  ||  slayeth 
 thee. 
 
 10  Thou  shalt  die  the  deaths  of ''the  uncir- 
 cumcised  by  the  hand  of  strangers  -.  for  I  have 
 spoken  it,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 1 1  1  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  me,  saying, 
 
 12  Son  of  man,  '  take  up  a  lamentation  upon 
 the  king  of  Tyrus,  and  say  unto  him.  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord  God  ;  *  Thou  sealest  up  the 
 sum,  full  of  wisdom,  and  perfect  in  beauty. 
 
 1."?  Thou  hast  been  in  '  Eden  the  garden  of 
 God  ;  every  precious  stone  «y;s  thy  covering, 
 the  II  sardius,  topaz,  and  the  diamond,  the 
 II  beryl,  the  onyx,  and  the  jasper,  the  sapphire, 
 the  ||emeral(l,  and  the  carbuncle,  and  gold  :  the 
 workmausliip  of  "thy  tabrets  and  of  thy  pipes 
 was  prepared  in  thee  in  the  day  that  thou  wast 
 created. 
 
 14   Thou   art    the    anointed    "cherub   that 
 
 b  fh-  27  3,4 
 i  Heb.  liKirt. 
 e  iB.  31.  3. 
 
 t  Heb    Br/  M^ 
 ffTtiit'.rtl  •>/ 
 
 /cli.  3rt.  II 
 &31.  IS.  K 
 32.  la. 
 
 ft  eh    -7,  3, 
 ver   .H. 
 
 11  Or, 
 JOr, 
 
 I  Cpe  Kx.O 
 yo,  viT.  U 
 
 B.  C.  5^9 
 o  ch.  20,  '10 
 
 p  ver    14. 
 I]  Ter.  2,  5. 
 
 r  eh.  211.  21. 
 I  Heb. 
 
 f  Is   23  4.1? 
 
 .Ter.  25.  22. 
 
 .%  27.  3. 
 
 ch.  ,32.30. 
 '.  Ex.  14.  4. 
 
 17.  ch.  SD. 
 
 1.1. 
 r  Ps.  0. 
 
 u.  33,  hh 
 .sh.  23,13. 
 
 «  I<    11.  I! 
 ch    II,  17  & 
 20.41.  &  3) 
 l.-l.  (137.21. 
 
 rf  .ler.  2.3.  6. 
 
 ch.  36.  28, 
 [1  Or,  w.M 
 
 eoli/idi'iiu.'. 
 €  Is.  65.  21. 
 
 AinoB  9.  14. 
 /Jer.  31.  5. 
 
 covereth  ;  and  I  have  set  thee  ,<o  ;  thou  wast 
 upon  °  the  holy  mountain  of  God  ;  thou  hast 
 walked  up  and  down  in  the  midst  of  the  stones 
 of  fire. 
 
 15  Thou  wast  perfect  in  thy  ways  from  the 
 day  that  thou  wast  created,  till  iniquity  was 
 found  in  thee. 
 
 IG  By  the  multitude  of  thy  merchandise  they 
 have  tilled  the  midst  of  thee  with  violence,  and 
 thou  hast  sinned  :  therefore  I  will  cast  thee  as 
 profane  out  of  the  mountain  of  God  :  and  I 
 will  destroy  thee,  ■■  O  covering  cherub,  from 
 the  midst  of  the  stones  of  fire. 
 
 17  ''  Thine  heart  was  lifted  up  because  of  thy 
 beauty,  thou  hast  corrupted  thy  wisdom  by 
 reason  of  thy  brightness  :  I  will  cast  thee  to 
 the  ground,  I  will  lay  thee  before  kings,  that 
 they  may  behold  thee. 
 
 18  Thou  hast  defiled  thy  sanctuaries  by  the 
 multitude  of  thine  iniquities,  by  the  iniquity 
 of  thy  traffick  ;  therefore  will  I  bring  forth  a 
 fire  from  the  midst  of  thee,  it  shall  devour 
 thee,  and  I  will  bring  thee  to  ashes  upon  the 
 earth  in  the  sight  of  all  them  that  behold  thee. 
 
 19  All  they  that  know  thee  among  the  people 
 shall  be  astonished  at  thee  :  'thou  shalt  be  fa 
 terror,  and  never  shalt  thou  lie  any  more. 
 
 20  11  Again  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 21  Son  of  man,  'set  thy  face  '  against  Zidon, 
 and  prophesy  against  it, 
 
 22  And  .say,  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  "Be- 
 hold, I  am  against  thee,  O  Zidon  ;  and  I  will 
 be  glorified  in  the  midst  of  thee  :  and  *  they 
 shall  know  that  I  am.  the  Lord,  when  I  .shall 
 have  executed  judgments  in  her,  and  shall  be 
 ''sanctified  in  her. 
 
 23  ^  For  I  will  send  into  her  pestilence,  and 
 blood  into  her  streets  ;  and  the  wounded  shall 
 be  judged  in  the  midst  of  her  by  the  sword 
 upon  her  on  every  side  ;  and  they  shall  know 
 that  I  «m  the  Lord. 
 
 24  H  And  there  shall  be  no  more  "  a  pricking 
 brier  unto  the  house  of  Israel,  nor  any  griev- 
 ing thorn  of  all  that  are  round  about  them, 
 that  despised  them  ;  and  they  shall  know  that 
 I  am  the  Lord  God. 
 
 23  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  When  I  shall 
 have  ''  gathered  the  house  of  Israel  from  the 
 people  among  whom  they  are  scattered,  and 
 shall  be  'sanctified  in  them  in  the  sight  of  the 
 heathen,  then  shall  they  dwell  in  their  land 
 that  I  have  given  to  my  servant  Jacob. 
 
 26  And  they  shall  ■'  dwell  ||  safely  therein, 
 and  shall  "^  build  houses,  and  "■  plant  vineyards  ; 
 
 Chap.  XXVIII. —2.  Prinof  of  Tyrus,  called  \\.hohe\.  —  PtKenicitm 
 Annals  in  Jos.  I  nm  a  god,  ^ii,  '  the  strong  and  mi.^hty  one.'  It  is 
 plain  from  the  names  of  the  princes  thnt  they  bore  titles  of  deity. 
 — .Snf.  .is  tfie  Iieitrt  of  God,  thinkest  thyself  a  sovereign  ns  lie. 
 3.  Titan  Dnniel,  now  fsmeri  all  around  for  liis  wisdom  anrl  political 
 skill. — So  Gill.  8.  Sl'iin  in  the  midst  of  the  sens,  die  in  a  sea  fifjlit, 
 and  are  devoured  by  fishes. — Gilt.  The  death  of  thine  ordinary  va-sals. 
 — Bp.  Hall.  Peihaps  fignrativcly  it  means,  amidst  raultilufles  of  deep 
 distresses.  —  Poole.  10.    Uncircumcised,  i.  e.,   wicked  or   profane. 
 
 Sealest  up,  ^-c.,  in  thine  own  opinion  thou  art  the  perfect  pattern  of 
 wisdom  and  all  other  excellences. — Preb.  Lontfi.  'Thou  (art  like)  a 
 signet  of  curiniis  engraving.' — Netec.  13.  Been  in  Eden,  as  safe  and 
 pleasantly  situated.— f?i7/.  A  strong  irony. — A.  Clarke,  Thy  coi^eriog, 
 canopy  of  thy  throne.  Ttte  workmanship,  fjC.,  'and  of  gold  was  the 
 workmanship  nf  thy  tabrets.  and  thy  pipes,  because  of  thee,  in  the  day 
 when  thou  wast  burn,  they  were  prepared  ;*  i.  e.,  to  celebrate  the  joyful 
 event  of  thy  birlh.—jVt^u'c.  14.  Tlie  anointed  cAeruA,  that  guarded 
 the  gate  of  Paradise,  and  kept  the  tree  of  life.  A  continued  irony. 
 Upon  the  holy  mountain,  as  Moses.  Thou  hast  walked,  ^c.,  like  one 
 of  the  chief  angels.  Still  irony.— C/rti-A-c.  'Thou  hast  thine  abode 
 among  glittering  stars,'  as  the  angels  are  sometimes  called,  (see  Job, 
 xxxviii.  I;  Isa.  xiv.  13.)— So  the  Paraplirase  of  Terlullian.  'Thou 
 880 
 
 thinkest  thyself  more  than  mortal.'— .Spc/rei-.  15.  Perfect— yh^  irony 
 continued. — Clarke.  16.  With  violence — this  seems  to  intimate  that 
 unjust  measures  were  resorted  to,  to  obtain  the  merchandize  of  some  of 
 the  traders,  and  that  the  prince  gave  unfair  judgment  in  favour  of  his 
 jieople. — Ed.,  see  Poole.  Destroy  thee^from  the  midst  of  the  stones  of 
 fire,  alluding  to  the  sapptiiie  pavement,  (E.xori.  xxiv.  10.) — Wit.  Cast 
 thee  d  wn  from  thy  proud  eminence,  and  lay  low  thy  vain  imagina- 
 tions.—  Ed.  17.  Corrupted  thy  wisdom  by  reason  of  thy  heif^htness, 
 bis  eyes  were  dazzled  by  his  outward  lustre,  so  that  he  could  not  see 
 things  in  their  true  light. — Gill.  18.  Sanctuaries,  may  mean  palaces, 
 stately  buildings. — Preh.  Lowth.  21.  Zidon,  one  of  the  most  ancient 
 cities  of  the  universe,  and  most  northern  of  the  tribe  of  Asher  ;  thonght 
 to  be  called  after  Sidon,  one  of  the  sons  of  Canaan,  (Gen.  x.  15.)  It  long 
 excelled  Tyre,  as  a  great  maritime  city.  The  city  was  bnilt  on  an  in- 
 accessible rock,  strong  by  art  and  nature,  and  environed  by  the  sea. — 
 Wells.  Ziilnn  was  the  mother  city  of  Tyre,  and  long  possessed  the 
 empire  of  Phcenieia  and  of  the  sea.  Afterwards  Tyre  became  more 
 powerful,  and  obtained  the  sovereignty.  Zidon  revolted  to  Shalnia- 
 neser.  Zidon  was  finally  utterly  destroyed  by  Ochus,  king  of  Persia. — 
 Cat.,    Preb.   Lowth.  24.   .A  pricking  brier — see  Num.  xxxiii.  55. 
 
 These  cities,  peopled  in  a  great  measure  by  the  ancient  inhabitants  of 
 Canaan,  had  much  annoyed  Israel. — Scott. 
 
The  judgment  of  Pharaoh. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXIX. 
 
 Er/ypt's  resloralion  after  forty  years. 
 
 yea,  they  shall  dwell  with  confidence,  when  1 
 have  executed  jiidgments  upon  all  those  that 
 II  despise  them  round  about  them  ;  and  they 
 shall  know  that  I  am  the  Loud  their  God. 
 
 CHAP,  XXIX. 
 
 It.  0.  h^. 
 Or,  tptjit. 
 
 ]  The  jttd(imp.nt  of  Pharaoh  for  Ills  trcnctiery  to  hrael. 
 8  The  desolation  of  Etjj/pt.  13  The  restoration 
 thereof  after  forty  years.  17  f^fiypt  the  reward  of 
 Nttmehadrezzfir.     2\    hrael  shfdl  be  restored. 
 
 TN  the  tenth  year,  in  tlie  tenth  month,  in  the 
 •*-  twelfth  day  of  the  month,  the  word  of  the 
 Lord  came  unto  me,  saying, 
 '2  Son  of  man,  "  set  thy  face  against  Pliaraoh 
 king  of  Egypt,  and  prophecy  against  him,  and 
 ''  against  all  Egypt: 
 
 3  Speak,  and  say.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ; 
 '  Behold.  I  am  against  thee,  Pharaoh  king  of 
 Egypt,  the  great  •'  dragon  that  lieth  in  the 
 midst  of  his  rivers,  ''whicli  hath  said.  My  river 
 is  mine  own,  and  I  have  made  it  for  myself. 
 
 4  But  ''  I  will  put  hooks  in  lliy  jaws,  and  I 
 will  cause  the  fish  of  thy  rivers  to  stick  mito 
 tliy  scales,  and  I  will  bring  (hee  np  out  of  the 
 midst  of  thy  rivers,  and  all  the  fish  of  thy  rivers 
 shall  stick  unto  thy  scales. 
 
 5  And  I  will  leave  thee  throirn  into  the  wil- 
 derness, thee  and  all  the  fish  of  thy  rivers : 
 thou  shalt  fall  upon  the  f  open  fields  ;  ^  thon 
 shalt  not  be  brought  together,  nor  gathered  : 
 '■  I  have  given  tliee  for  meat  to  the  beasts  of 
 the  field  and  to  the  fowls  of  the  heaven. 
 
 6  And  all  the  inliabitants  of  Egypt  shall 
 know  that  I  am  tlie  Lord,  because  tliey  have 
 been  a  'staff  of  reed  to  tlie  house  of  Israel. 
 
 7  '  When  they  took  hold  of  thee  by  thy 
 hand,  thou  didst  break,  and  rend  all  their 
 shoulder :  and  when  they  leaned  upon  thee, 
 thou  brakest,  and  madest  all  their  loins  to  be 
 at  a  stand. 
 
 s  If  Tlierefore  thus  saitli  tlie  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 hold, I  will  bring  '  a  sword  upon  thee,  and  cut 
 off  man  and  beast  out  of  thee. 
 
 9  And  the  land  of  Egypt  shall  be  desolate 
 and  waste  ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord  :  because  he  hath  said,  Tlie  river  is 
 mine,  and  I  have  made  it. 
 
 JO  Behold,  therefore  I  am  against  thee,  and 
 against  thy  river.s,  '"and  I  will  make  the  land 
 of  Egypt  t  utterly  waste  and  desolate,  ||  "from 
 
 I  Is.  19.  I 
 .ler.  25. 
 &  16.  2, ! 
 
 c  JfT  44.  30, 
 
 oil.  28. 22. 
 
 ver.  11). 
 d  Ps.  74.  13, 
 
 11   Is.  27.  I. 
 
 fc  bi.  !). 
 
 ch.  32   2. 
 
 t  Heb.  f'Cf 
 
 Sjer  9.  2.& 
 10.  4.  ^  25. 
 33 
 
 It  Jer.  7.  S3. 
 8t  34.  20. 
 
 n.  19. 
 i  30  6. 
 
 ?)i  rit.  3il.  12 
 
 t  Hob. '(■a'./t 
 of„..M. 
 
 II  nr..fr.». 
 .V'ffdol  lo 
 
 Kx.  U  2. 
 Jer.  4+.  I. 
 n  ch.  30-  6. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 o  ch.  32.  I 
 
 p  ch.  50.  7, 
 
 t  livh   l.'w. 
 >  ch.  17.  G, 
 
 9  Is-  ,S0.  2,  5 
 &  Sii.  -1,  b. 
 
 t  3cT.  27   G. 
 ch.  -ifi  7,9 
 
 t  Heb   ipoii 
 her  spoil, 
 and  ])T<\y  hf.T 
 prr,,. 
 
 li  nr.  f,.r  his 
 
 hire 
 
 u  Jlt.  23.  9- 
 
 tlie  tower  of  f  Syene  even  unto  the  border  of 
 Ethiopia, 
 
 1 1  °  No  foot  of  man  shall  pass  through  it,  nor 
 foot  of  beast  shall  pass  through  it,  neither  shail 
 it  be  inhabited  forty  year.^. 
 
 1-2  ■'  And  I  will  make  the  land  of  Egypt  deso- 
 late in  the  midst  of  the  countries  ihat  are  de- 
 solate, and  her  cities  among  the  cities  that  are. 
 laid  waste  shall  be  desolate  forty  years :  and  I 
 will  scatter  the  Egyptians  among  tiie  nations, 
 and  will  disperse  them  tlu'ough  the  countries. 
 
 13  If  Yet  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  At  the 
 ■^  end  of  forty  years  will  I  gather  tlie  Egyptians 
 from  the  people  whither  tiiey  were  scattered: 
 
 14  And  I  will  bring  again  the  captivity  of 
 Egypt,  and  will  cause  them  to  return  into  the 
 land  of  Patiirus,  into  tiie  land  of  their  ||  habi- 
 tation ;  and  they  shall  be  there  a  f  base  Iving- 
 dom. 
 
 15  It  shall  be  the  basest  of  the  kingdoms; 
 neither  shall  it  exalt  itself  any  more  above  the 
 nations  :  for  I  will  diminish  them,  that  they 
 shall  no  more  rule  over  the  nations. 
 
 16  And  it  shall  be  no  more  ^the  confidence 
 of  the  house  of  Israel,  which  bringetb  their 
 iniquity  to  remembrance,  wlien  tliey  shall  look 
 after  tiiem  :  but  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord  God. 
 
 17  t  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  seven  and 
 twentieth  year,  in  the  first  7nontk,  in  the  iirst 
 cfnj/  of  the  month,  the  word  of  tlie  Lord  came 
 unto  me,  saying, 
 
 18  Son  of  man,  '  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of 
 Babylon  caused  his  army  to  serve  a  great  ser- 
 vice against  Tyrus  :  every  head  was  made  bald, 
 and  every  shoulder  jcas  peeled  :  yet  had  he 
 no  wages,  nor  liis  army,  for  Tyrus,  for  the  ser- 
 vice tliat  he  had  served  against  it  : 
 
 19  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  Vio- 
 hold,  1  will  give  the  land  of  Egypt  unto  Ne- 
 buchadrezzar king  of  Babylon  ;  and  he  shall 
 take  her  multitude,  and  f  take  her  spoil,  and 
 take  her  prey  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  wages  for  his 
 army. 
 
 20  I  have  given  him  the  land  of  Egypt  \\for 
 lis   labour  wherewith   he   "served   against  it, 
 
 because  they  wrought  for  me,  saith  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 21  %  In  that  day  ^  will  I  cause  the  horn  of 
 
 Cfiap.  XXIX. —  1.  Tenth  year,  of  Zedckiah*s  captivity  and  Jcco- 
 niah's  reign.— G///.  2.  Pharaoh,  called  Pharaoh  hophra  by  Jere- 
 miah, (Jer.  xliv.  30.)  and  Apries  by  Herodotus.  3.  Great  drai^nn, 
 D'snn,  or  'crocodile,'  any  large  animal. — Clurlce.  The  crocodile  was 
 among  the  ancient  symbols  of  Epypt,  and  appears  so  among-  the  Roman 
 coins. — Bonthr.  His  rivers,  the  several  branches  of  the  Nile. — Clnrke. 
 Memphis,  the  ancient  capital  of  Egypt,  lay  between  large  lalves,  here 
 intended. — tinr.  The  expression  is  figurative,  and  deno'es  power, 
 riclies,  and  forces. — PouIp.  4.  Hooks  in  thy  jnws — see  2  Kings,  xi\. 
 28,  and  Joh,  xH.  1,  notes.  Fish,  his  people,  who  should  cleave  to  him. 
 — Gill.  6.  A  staff  of  reed,  alluding  to  the  reeds  on  the  banks  of  the 
 Nile,  (<n  which  if  a  man  leaned  they  brake. — Prcb.  Lnwth.  ?.  Brt-nk 
 and  rend,  the  splinters  ran  into  the  flesh  up  to  the  very  shonlder.— 6'i7/. 
 Mndt'si  nil  their  loins,  or  'didst  strain  all  their  loins.' — Nl-wc.  8.  A 
 sword,  alludes  to  Nebuchadnezzar's  conquest.  10.  From  the  tower  of 
 Siipnc,  T\y)ri  ?13r30. 'from  Migdol  to  Sycne.*  Mi<,'di)l  was  at  the  en- 
 trance of  Egypt  from  Palestine,  near  the  Red  Sea,  mentioned  Exnd. 
 xiv.  2;  Jer.  xliv.  1 ;  xlvi.  14.  Syene  was  at  the  other  end,  on  the 
 borders  of  Ethiopia. — Preb.  Lowth.  It  is  now  called  Essuan. — A. Clarke. 
 1 1 .  For^y  yi"«rs,  the  forty  y(  ars  of  desnlation  mtist  have  ended  in  the 
 time  of  Cyrus,  who  probably  permitted  the  Egyptian  captives  to  return. 
 — Cat.  12.  Scatter,  some  were  carried  tn  linhylTin,  i>tliers  to  Pontus. — 
 Bp.  Newton.     Some  fled  into  Arabia,  Eihiopia,  and  other  places. — Gill. 
 
 14.  Pathros,  the   jjart   called   Thebais.  — BocA«r^  15.  The  basest, 
 
 travellers  so  describe  it,  in  moral  \ices;  in  outward  appearance,  mud- 
 wall  cottages  occupying  the  ruins  of  temples  and  palaces,-  and  in  poli- 
 tical subjection.  At  the  pre-^ent  moment  it  shews  'a  little  strength,' 
 but  this  prophecy  has  had  a  fulfilment  during  2400  years. — See  Keith. 
 It  has  successively  been  under  the  d^miininn  -f  the  Babylonians,  Per- 
 sians, Macedonians,  Romans,  Sararen-^,  Rlamaliikes,  and  Turks. — Bp. 
 Newton.  l6.    hiiqui/y  to  reinpnthmncc,  the  leagues  of  Israel  with 
 
 Egypt  provoked  Hod  to  call  to  mind  their  other  iniquities. — So  Poole. 
 1/.  The  seven  and  twentieth  year,  of  the  captivity  of  Jeconiah,  fifteen 
 years  after  the  taking  of  Jerusalem.— -4.  Clurke.  19.  Every  head  was 
 made  bald,  ^c— during  a  thirteen  years'  siege  the  continual  wearing  of 
 helmets  made  the  soldiers'  head.s  bald,  and  the  carrying  loads  for  the 
 mounts,  &c.,  wore  the  skin  off  their  sh'-uhlers. — Prfh  Lowth.  Those 
 who  are  unaccu-.tomed  to  carry  the  palankeen  literally  peel  the  skin  off 
 the  shoulder  during  the  first  day  ;  tluis  the  hurden-hcarers  at  the  siege 
 of  Tyre  had  their  shoiildeis  peeled  by  hard  labour. — So  Ruh.  No  wapfs, 
 f  >r  the  Tyrians  moved  ofTall  their  wealth  to  other  islands,  or  to  new 
 Tyre.— So  St.  Jerome,  Sfc,  20,  Wrought  for  me,  executed  G"ri's 
 judgments.- Pcc/y,  LoHiA.  21.  Horn— to  bud,  may  refer  to  the  en- 
 largement of  Jehoiakim,  (see  2  Kings,  xxv.  27,)  or  Zeruhbabcl,  or 
 llaniel's  advancement,  (Dan.  ji.  48,  40.)or  the  spiritual  exaltation  of 
 Israel  under  Mess-iah,  (see  Ps.  cxxxii.  17;  Jer.  xxUi.  5  ;  Luke,  i.  6y,  69.) 
 
 Ukflfctiovs    on    Chap.   XXVIII I.  Let  m  abhor  pride. 
 
 By  tbis  sin  tbe  angels  fell  ;  so  did  Tyre,  and  many  other  power- 
 ful ..overeignties.      God  abhors  it,  and   it   ill   becomes  any  of 
 his  feeble  creatures  to  display  it  towards  eacli  othur,  and  still 
 more  towards  the  groat  and  holy  God. 
 fSl 
 
 IL  Let  us  maintain  the  strictest  iniccirity  in  aU  our  dealiniis. 
 Fraud,  rapine,  and  extortion  God  hates,  'rhougb  honesty  iind 
 intet^rity  are  but  minor  parts  of  relifrion,  there  CTvn  be  no  true 
 religion  without  them  ;  and  God  views  thai  character  with 
 abhorrence  where  th-^y  are  wanting. 
 
The  desolation  of  Eyijpt 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXX. 
 
 and  her  helpers. 
 
 the  house  of  Israel  to  bud  forth,  and  I  will 
 pive  tliee  '  the  openhig  of  tlie  mouth  in  the 
 inid5;t  of  them  ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am 
 the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXX. 
 
 1  The  dfsolafinn  of  Euypt  and  hf^r  helpers,  20  2V/e 
 ann  of  Babylon  shall  be  strengthened  to  break  the  arm 
 of  Eyypt. 
 
 n^HE  word  of  the  Lord  came  again  unto  me, 
 -*■    saving, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  prophesy  and  say.  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord  God  ;  "  Howl  ye.  Woe  worth  the 
 day ! 
 
 3  For  '■  the  day  is  near,  even  the  day  of  the 
 Lord  is  near,  a  cloudy  day  ;  it  shall  be  the 
 time  of  the  heathen. 
 
 4  And  the  sword  shall  come  upon  Egypt,  and 
 great  ||  pain  shall  be  in  Ethiopia,  when  the 
 slain  shall  fall  in  Egypt,  and  they  "shall  take 
 away  her  multitude,  and  '^  her  foundations 
 shall  be  broken  down. 
 
 5  Ethiopia,  and  f  Libya,  and  Lydia,  and  'all 
 the  mingled  people,  and  Chub,  and  the  f  men 
 of  the  land  tliat  is  in  league,  shall  fall  with 
 them  by  the  sword. 
 
 6  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  Ttiey  also  that  up- 
 hold Egypt  .shall  fall  ;  and  the  pride  of  her 
 power  shall  come  down  :  ||  '  from  the  tower  of 
 Syene  shall  they  fall  in  it  by  the  sword,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 7  ^  And  they  shall  he  desolate  in  the  midst 
 of  the  countries  that  are  desolate,  and  her 
 cities  shall  he  in  the  niid.st  of  the  cities  that 
 are  wasted. 
 
 8  And  they  shall  know  tliat  I  am  the  Lord, 
 when  I  have  set  a  firo  in  Egypt,  and  when  all 
 her  helpers  shall  be  f  destroyed. 
 
 9  In  that  day  "  shall  messengers  go  forth 
 from  me  in  ships  to  make  the  careless  Ethio- 
 pians afraid,  and  great  ]Kun  shall  come  upon 
 them,  as  in  the  day  of  Egypt :  for,  lo,  it 
 Cometh. 
 
 10  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Gon  ;  '  I  will  also 
 make  the  multitude  of  Egypt  to  cease  by  the 
 hand  of  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  liabylon. 
 
 1 1  He  and  his  people  with  him,  '  the  terrible 
 of  the  nations,  shall  be  brought  to  destroy  the 
 land  :  and  they  .shall  draw  their  swords  against 
 Egypt,  and  fill  the  land  with  the  slain. 
 
 1'2  And  '  I  will  make  the  rivers  fdry,  and 
 ^.sell  the  land  into  the  hand  of  the  wicked  : 
 and  I  will  make  the  land  waste,  and  fall  that 
 is  therein,  by  the  hand  of  strangers :  I  the 
 Lord  have  spoken  it. 
 
 6ch.7.  7, 12. 
 Joel  2    I. 
 Zeph.  I.  7. 
 
 J  Or,/™r. 
 c  ch    X9    19. 
 d  Jer.  5U.  la. 
 
 t  Heb.  Pl,ut. 
 ch.  ?7   III. 
 *  Jer.  25.  SO, 
 
 I  Or,  rr-m 
 
 /cli.  29.  10. 
 ^  ch.  29.  12. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 (ir.Av/.. 
 h  Is.  19.    \,i 
 
 I  iB    15  5,6. 
 t  H,-l,. 
 
 m  IH.  19  4 
 t  Hell.  Ihf 
 
 .  I».   19.  1 
 
 Jer.  -a    12. 
 
 I.  «.  25. 
 
 Zerh.  1.1.2 
 »Zecli.lO.II 
 f  1.  9   16 
 
 ,  cli.  29.  it. 
 
 r  Pb.  78.  12, 
 
 4.1. 
 
 1  Or,  Ttuit 
 J  Nah    3.  h. 
 
 II   Or, 
 Pubaitwn 
 
 V  Jer.  49.  25. 
 I  Jer.  40.  11. 
 
 b  ver.  26. 
 ch   29.  12. 
 
 13  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  I  will  also 
 "  destroy  the  idols,  and  I  will  cause  their 
 images  to  cease  out  of  Noph  ;  °  and  there 
 shall  be  no  more  a  prince  of  the  land  of  Egypt : 
 'and  I  will  put  a  fear  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 14  And  I  will  make  "^  Pathros  desolate,  and 
 will  set  fire  in  '||Zoan,  'and  will  execute  judg- 
 ments in  No. 
 
 1.5  And  I  will  pour  my  fury  upon  ||  Sin,  the 
 strength  of  Egypt ;  and  '  I  will  cut  oif  the 
 multitude  of  No. 
 
 16  And  I  will  "set  fire  in  Egypt:  Sin  .shall 
 have  great  pain,  and  No  shall  be  rent  asunder, 
 and  Noph  shall  have  distresses  daily. 
 
 17  The  young  men  of  ||  Aven  and  of  ||  Pi- 
 beseth  .shall  fall  by  the  sword  :  and  these  cities 
 shall  go  into  captivity. 
 
 18  *  At  Teliaphnehes  also  the  day  shall   he 
 darkened,  when  I  shall  break  there  the  yokes 
 
 of  Egypt :  and  the  pomp  of  her  strength  shall 
 cease  in  her :  as  for  her,  a  cloud  shall  cover 
 her,  and  her  daughters  shall  go  into  captivity. 
 
 19  Thus  will  I  execute  judgments  in  Egypt: 
 and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 20  t  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  eleventh 
 year,  in  the  first  month,  in  the  seventh  day  of 
 the  month,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  me,  saying, 
 
 21  Son  of  man,  I  have  'broken  the  arm  of 
 Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt ;  and,  lo,  '  it  shall  not 
 be  bound  up  to  be  healed,  to  put  a  roller  to 
 bind  it,  to  make  it  strong  to  hohl  the  sword. 
 
 22  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 hold, I  am  against  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt,  and 
 will  °  break  his  arms,  the  strong,  and  that 
 which  was  broken  ;  and  I  will  cause  the  sword 
 to  fall  out  of  his  hand. 
 
 23  i"  And  I  will  scatter  the  Egyptians  among 
 the  nations,  and  will  disperse  them  through 
 the  countries. 
 
 24  And  I  will  strengthen  the  arms  of  the 
 king  of  Babylon,  and  put  my  sword  in  his 
 hand  :  but  I  will  break  Pharaoh's  arms,  and  he 
 shall  groan  before  him  with  the  groanings  of  a 
 deadly  wounded  man. 
 
 2o  But  I  will  strengthen  the  arms  of  the  king 
 of  Babylon,  and  the  arms  of  Pharaoh  shall  fall 
 down  ;  and  "  tliey  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord,  when  I  shall  put  my  sword  into  the 
 hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall 
 stretch  it  out  upon  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 26  ■'  And  I  will  scatter  the  Egyptians  among 
 the  nations,  and  disperse  them  among  the 
 countries  ;  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord. 
 
 — Neure..  GUI,  fyc.  This  seems  to  he  one  of  those  abrupt  glimpses  nf 
 the  Messiah  oftun  cheerinp:!y  intrniliiced  into  the  midst  of  prophecies 
 OT^  other  subjects. — Kd.  0/iejiivff  n/ the  vtmit/t,  bo\ilncss  and  courage 
 of  speech  when  he  should  see  his  prophecies  fulfilled.— Gi//. 
 
 Cbai'.  X,XX.  —  2.  Woe  worth,  •  wo  be  to  '•—Tiirwhilt.  5.  Klliiopin, 
 ifC.,  Egyptian  allies,  (^ee  Jer.  xlvi.  9.)  Mingled  people—see  Jer.  xxv. 
 20,  note.  CAmA,  may  be  the  Cubici,  apeople  of  Mareotis,  an  Egyptian 
 province,— Pre*.  Lotvlh  i  or,  perhaps,  the  Nubians.— GiH.  8.  A  Jlre, 
 judgments.— Pr^-A.  Lo(c/A.  9.  Messengers,  that  had  escaped  the 
 sword,  should  tell  the  dismal  news.  In  ships,  from  the  Nile,  across 
 the  Mediterranean,  or  on  the  Red  Sea.  Dai/  itf  Egypt,  when  the  Chal- 
 deans made  such  awful  havoc— So  Poole.  12.  Rieers  dry,  understood 
 literally,  tlie  Nile  and  its  waters  producing  the  fertility  of  Egypt,  its 
 prospects  should  be  destroyed,  and  the  access  of  the  enemy  should  be 
 
 facilitated.— So  Gill.  13.  Koph,  Menipliis,  now  Grand  Cairo;  it  is 
 still  called  Menoph. — Heiv.  See  isa.  xix.  13,  note.  ^  pWwce,  a  natural 
 prince.  Foreigners  shall  rule. —  Seeker.  See  chap.  xxix.  15,  note. 
 14.  Pntlirns — see  chap.  xxix.  14,  note.  Zonn,  orTanis.one  of  the  an- 
 cient cities  of  Egypt,  and  its  metrnpnlis  in  Moses'  time,  {see  Num.  xiii. 
 22  ;  Fs.  Ixxviii.  12,  43.) — Prrtt.  Lowtli.  No,  a  great  and  populous  city 
 on  the  mouths  of  the  Nile,  (Nah.  iii.  8,)  where  Alexandria  now  stands  ; 
 or  llamon  No,  called  Diospolis,  the  city  of  Jupiter. — Poole.  Diospolis, 
 or  Thebes. — Boch.  No,  or  No-Ammon.  that  is,  'the  peculiar'  city  of 
 Ammon.  is  identified  with  Thebes,  which  was  sacred  to  the  god  Ammon. 
 Its  ancient  magnificence  is  attested  by  its  miglity  ruins,  and  its  vast 
 population  by  Homer,  Iliad,  ix. — W.  C.  Taylor.  18.  Teliaphnehes — 
 see  Isa.  XXX.  4  ;  and  Jer.  ii.  16.  notes.  Yokes,  they  put  upon  the  necks 
 of  others, — Gill,  so  Preh.  Lowth  ;  or  sceptres,  Vulg. 
 
 T  ^^''-f'^TioNS  ON  Chap.  XXIX. —  We  may  here  reflect, 
 1.  On  the  dtsohtions  of  the  world  under  the  dominion  of  sin.  The 
 governors  of  the  world  are  oppressors,  and  in  turns  are  op- 
 pressed. A  superintending  Providence  leaves  the  proud, 
 ambitious,  and  vicious,  to  become  Ihe  Bcour?es  of  each  other. 
 il.  On  the  renovation  of  the  icorlj  under  the  dominion  of  the 
 882 
 
 Messiah,     One  glimpse  at  his  coming  day  makes  the  darkest 
 scenes  appear  bright. 
 
 Keflections  on  Chap.  XXX. — Behold  here,  I.  God't 
 power  in  punishing  the  ungodly.  Who  has  an  arm  like  him  T 
 '  Forasmuch  as  thou  art  great,  and  thy  name  is  great  in  might, 
 wlio  would  not  tear  thee,  O  King  of  nations  V 
 
The  Assi/riniis  ijreatncss  and  fall. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXI.,  XXXI!. 
 
 The  like  destruclion  of  Eijyj)!. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXI. 
 
 I  A  retadon  unto  Pharan/i,  'S  of  the  ylory  of  Assifvia^ 
 lU  and  the  full  l/iermf  for  prtde.  "l8  The  like  de- 
 slruftion  of  Egypt. 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  pleveiitli  year, 
 ■^-^  in  the  tliiril  month,  in  tlie  first  day  of  tlie 
 niontli,  that  the  word  of  the  Loud  caine  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  speak  unto  Pharaoh  king  of 
 Egypt, and  to  liis  multitude  ;  "Whom  art  thou 
 like  in  tliy  greatness? 
 
 3  1''  Behold,  the  Assyrian  was  a  cedar  in  Le- 
 banon f  with  fair  branches,  and  with  a  shadow- 
 ing slnoud,  and  of  an  higli  stature  ;  and  his  top 
 was  among  tlie  thick  boughs. 
 
 4  ^  The  waters  ||  made  him  great,  the  deep 
 
 II  set  him  uj)  on  liigh  with  her  rivers  running 
 round  about  liis  plants,  and  sent  outlier  ||  little 
 rivers  unto  all  tlie  trees  of  the  field. 
 
 5  Therefore  ''  bis  height  was  exalted  above 
 all  the  trees  of  the  field,  and  his  boughs  were 
 multiplied,  and  his  branches  became  long  be- 
 cause of  tlie  multitude  of  waters,  ||  when  he 
 shot  forth. 
 
 6  All  the  "■  fowls  of  heaven  made  their  nests 
 in  his  boughs,  and  under  his  branches  did  all 
 the  beasts  of  the  field  bring  forth  their  young, 
 and  under  his  shadow  dwelt  all  great  nations. 
 
 7  Thus  was  he  fair  in  his  greatness,  in  the 
 length  of  his  branches  :  for  his  root  was  by 
 great  waters. 
 
 8  Tlie  cedars  in  the  ''garden  of  God  could 
 not  bide  him  :  the  fir  trees  were  not  like  his 
 boughs,  and  the  chesnnt  trees  were  not  like 
 bis  branches  ;  nor  any  tree  in  the  garden  of 
 God  was  like  unto  him  in  his  beauty. 
 
 i)  I  have  made  him  fair  by  the  multitude  of 
 his  branches  :  so  that  all  the  trees  of  Eden, 
 that  were  in  the  garden  of  God,  envied  him. 
 
 10  t  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God; 
 Because  thou  hast  lifted  up  thyself  in  height, 
 and  he  hath  shot  up  his  top  among  the  thick 
 boughs,  and  ^his  heart  is  lifted  up  in  his  height ; 
 
 1 1  I  have  therefore  delivered  him  into  the 
 hand  of  the  mighty  one  of  the  heathen  ;  fhe 
 shall  surely  deal  with  him  :  I  have  driven  him 
 out  for  his  wickedness. 
 
 12  And  strangers,  "the  terrible  of  the  na- 
 tions, have  cut  him  off,  and  have  left  him  : 
 '  upon  the  mountains  and  in  all  the  valleys  his 
 branches  are  fallen,  and  bis  boughs  are  broken 
 
 oj  Lranchet. 
 
 Jei,  fil,  3r.. 
 Or. 
 
 II  Or,  br.m'ghl 
 
 him  .-;., 
 II  Or.  .-««- 
 
 r/.<.7». 
 
 I  Or,  when  i 
 Hilt  til  I!  in 
 
 r  cti.  17.  23. 
 DiU.   1.  12 
 
 /  tleii.  ?  8. 
 fc  13.  10. 
 cli.  as.  13. 
 
 t  Heb    i'l 
 thatt  (1.1  UHl' 
 
 cl>    3-2,  5 
 &  35.  8. 
 
 I  Clr,  ,l,„„l 
 
 W/'O/I    Ifl'tll- 
 
 tki'ei.  fax 
 thfit  hifiiiht- 
 i  Ph    Hi    7. 
 1  cli.3i.  18. 
 
 cli.  26-  IS. 
 1b.  11    13. 
 
 pis.  11..  8. 
 7  cli.  32.  31. 
 
 ill  2fi  I". 
 V  3S  19,21, 
 24.  Kic. 
 
 by  all  the  rivers  of  the  land  ;  and  all  the 
 people  of  the  earth  are  gone  down  from  his 
 shadow,  and  have  left  hiin. 
 
 13  ''Upon  bis  ruin  shall  all  the  fowls  of  the 
 heaven  remain,  and  all  the  beasts  of  the  field 
 shall  be  upon  his  branches  : 
 
 14  To  the  end  that  none  of  all  the  trees  by 
 the  waters  exalt  themselves  for  their  heiglit. 
 neither  shoot  up  tlieir  top  among  the  thick 
 boughs,  neither  their  trees  ||  stand  up  in  their 
 height,  all  that  drink  water :  for  '  they  are  all 
 delivered  unto  dcatli,  "'  to  the  nether  parts  of 
 tlie  earth,  in  the  midst  of  the  children  of  men, 
 with  them  that  go  down  to  the  pit. 
 
 15  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  In  the  day 
 when  he  went  down  to  the  grave  I  caused  a 
 mourning  :  I  covered  tlie  deep  for  him,  and  I 
 restrained  the  floods  thereof,  and  the  great 
 waters  were  stayed  :  and  I  caused  Lebanon 
 t  to  mourn  for  him,  and  all  the  trees  of  the 
 field  fainted  for  him. 
 
 IG  I  made  the  nations  to  "shake  at  the 
 sound  of  his  fall,  when  I  "  cast  him  down  to 
 hell  with  them  that  descend  into  the  pit :  and 
 ■■all  the  trees  of  Eden,  the  choice  and  best  of 
 Lebanon,  all  that  drink  water,  ''  shall  be  com- 
 forted in  the  nether  parts  of  the  earth. 
 
 17  They  also  went  down  into  hell  with  him 
 unto  them  that  be  slain  with  the  sword  ;  and 
 thei/  that  were  his  arm,  that  'dwelt  under  his 
 shadow  in  the  midst  of  the  heathen. 
 
 18  H  '  To  whom  art  thou  thus  like  in  glory 
 and  in  greatness  among  the  trees  of  Eden  ? 
 yet  .shalt  thou  be  brought  down  with  the  trees 
 of  Eden  unto  the  nether  parts  of  the  earth  : 
 '  thou  shalt  lie  in  the  midst  of  the  uncircum- 
 cised  with  them  that  be  slain  by  the  sword. 
 This  is  Pharaoh  and  all  his  multitude,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXII. 
 
 1  A  lamentation  for  the  fearful  fall  of  Egypt.  1 1  The 
 sword  if  Babylon  shall  dtstroi/  it.  J  7  It  shall  be 
 brought  down  to  hell,  amovg  all  the  uii circumcised 
 nations. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  twelfth  year,  in 
 -^^  the  twelfth  month,  in  the  first  day  of  the 
 month,  tftat  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  nnto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  ^  take  up  a  lamentation  for 
 Pharaoh    king   of   Egypt,  and    say  unto  him, 
 
 Chap.  XXXI.  —  I.  Eleventh  year,  of  Zedekiah's  reifrn  and  Jecuniah's 
 captivity.  1.  Whom  art  thou  like?  fancy  thyself  to  be  iMjual  to  the 
 greatest  pott'titate,  this  will  not  secure  thee  from  lyi'tD.—Oill.  3.  The 
 A.'i.fi/rian,  the  Assyrian  empire,  destroyed  by  Nabopolassar,  king  of 
 Babylon. — See  Prid.,  Preh.  Lowth.  A  cediir,  descriptive  of  something 
 prouil,  of  hii^h  stature  and  magnificence.  -i.  Waters  made  him  f^real 
 — as  the  eastf  ru  tree  flourishes  by  tlie  water,  sn  the  traffic  of  the  Tigris, 
 on  wliich  Nineveh  was  sitiiMted,  made  it  rich  and  populous.— P*-eA. 
 Lij'vth.  Ilfr  rii^ers,  sif^nifying  tributary  kings.— ^(.  Jerome.  Little 
 rivers,  smal!  artificial  channels,  through  which  waters  were  distributed 
 in  eastern  gardens.— C«/. ;  see  note  on  Ps.  i.  3.  These  signify,  princes 
 and  governors.— AY.  Jerome.  6.  Fowls,  ^c,  the  nations  seeking  aid 
 from  Assyria,  (chap.  xvii.  23;   Dan.  iv.  \2.)~Prf'b.  Lowth.  8.  The 
 
 cedars  in  ftie  garden  of  God,  fyc. — the  greatest  potentates  in  the  world 
 were  not  equal  to  the  king  of  Assyria.  The  chesnut  trees,  §-c.,the  lesser 
 
 states  did  not  equal  his  provinces.— G(7/.  9.  Trees  of  Eden,  kings  o( 
 the  east,  Chald.  10.  Because  t/ivu  hast  lifted,  SfC,  *  because  he  was 
 
 high  in  stature,*  Scc.—Boothr.  11.  The  mighty  one,  fyc..  Cyrus,  say 
 
 some.— Poo/e.  Nabopolassar,  king  of  Babylon.— Prei.  Lowth.  Ne- 
 buchadrezzar, who,  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign,  rendered  himself 
 roaster  of  Nineveh.— .4.  Clarke.  Of  the  heathen,  of  the  nntiofi^.—Preb, 
 Lowth.  15.  A  mourv'nig.  among  his  allies,  called  'the  trees  of  the 
 field.'— PrM.  Lowth,  GUI.  The  deep,  may  mean  the  tradingpart  of  the 
 \vov\A.— Poole.  1(5.  Comforted  in  the  «e//ier/*fir/s,  ^■.\— the  deceased 
 
 princes  shall  feel  some  alleviationuf  their  calamities  when  they  see  this 
 power  brought  so  low. — Preb.  Lowth,  so  Gill.  17.  Into  hell,  'into 
 Hades,'  '  into  remediless  destruction.* — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XXXII.—  1.  Twelfth  year,  of  Jeconiah*s  captivity,  about  a 
 year  and  a  half  after  the  taking  of  Jerusalem.  2.  A  lumejitaiion,  a 
 funeral  dirge.— Cri^^.    A  whale  or  crocodile,  (see  chap,  xxbi.  3,  note.) 
 
 II.  Goits  design  in  jnmishing  the  ungodly.  In  so  doing  he 
 promotes  his  own  glory  as  the  righteous  Governor  of  the 
 world.  '  The  Lord  is  known  by  the  judgments  which  be  exe- 
 cutetb.*  *  Thus,'  saith  he  by  his  prophet,  'will  I  execute 
 judgments  in  Egypt,  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord.* 
 
 Keflections  on  Chap.  XXXI.  — I.  It  is  highlit  criminal 
 tit  abuse  power  and  wealth.  Sooner  or  later  God  will  call  the 
 offenders  to  an  account.  So  be  has  dealt  with  lofty  nations, 
 and  so  will  he  deal  with  lofly   individuals.     *  Prido  l'OhiIi  he- 
 
 fore  destruction,  and  a  haughty  spirit  before  a  fall.' 
 
 II.  Hoio  empty  and  vain  are  worldly  yrcattiess  and  wealth  !  The 
 lofty  tree  may  soon  be  rooted  up,  and  the  flourishing  branches 
 be  riven  from  their  parent  stock.  May  it  be  our  lot  to  be  ho- 
 noured with  the  title  of  '  children  of  God,  by  faith  in  Christ 
 Jesus  ;'  and  may  God  give  us  grace  not  to  *  trust  in  uncertain 
 riches,  but  in  the  living  God,  who  giveth  us  richly  all  things 
 to  enjoy  !' 
 
A  lamentation  for 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXII. 
 
 the  fall  of  Egypt. 
 
 ^  Thou  art  like  a  young  lion  of  the  nations, 
 '  and  thou  art  as  a  ||  whale  in  the  seas :  and 
 thou  earnest  forth  with  thy  rivers.and  troubledst 
 the  waters  with  thy  feet,  and  "^  fouledst  their 
 rivers. 
 
 3  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  I  will  therefore 
 ■^  spread  out  my  net  over  tliee  with  a  conipany 
 of  many  people  ;  and  tliey  sliall  bring  thee  up 
 in  my  net. 
 
 4  Then  '  will  I  leave  thee  upon  the  land,  I 
 will  cast  thee  forth  upon  the  open  field,  and 
 '^  will  cause  all  the  fowls  of  the  heaven  to  re- 
 main upon  thee,  and  I  will  fill  the  beasts  of 
 tlie  whole  earth  with  tlioe. 
 
 5  And  I  will  lay  thy  flesh  ''  upon  the  moun- 
 tains, and  fill  the  valleys  with  thy  heiglit. 
 
 G  I  will  also  water  with  thy  blood  ||  the  land 
 wherein  thou  swimmest,  even  to  the  moun- 
 tains ;  and  the  rivers  shall  be  full  of  thee. 
 
 7  And  when  I  shall  ||  put  thee  out,  '  I  will 
 cover  the  heaven,  and  make  the  stars  thereof 
 dark  ;  I  will  cover  the  sun  with  a  cloud,  and 
 tlie  moon  shall  not  give  her  light. 
 
 8  All  the  t  briglit  lights  of  heaven  will  I  make 
 t  dark  over  tliee,  and  set  darkness  upon  thy 
 land,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 9  I  will  also  t  vex  the  hearts  of  many  people, 
 when  I  sliall  bring  tliy  destruction  among  the 
 nations,  into  the  countries  which  thou  hast  not 
 known. 
 
 10  Yea,  I  will  make  many  people  'amazed 
 at  thee,  and  their  kings  shall  be  horribly  afraid 
 for  thee,  when  I  shall  brandish  my  sword  be- 
 fore them  ;  and  '  they  shall  tremble  at  everi/ 
 moment,  every  man  for  his  own  life,  in  the  day 
 of  thy  fall. 
 
 U  If  "'For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  The 
 sword  of  the  king  of  Babylon  shall  come  upon 
 thee. 
 
 12  By  the  swords  of  the  mighty  will  I  cause 
 thy  multitude  to  fall,  "  the  terrible  of  the 
 nations,  all  of  them  :  and  "they  shall  spoil  the 
 pomp  of  Egypt,  and  all  the  multitude  thereof 
 shall  be  destroyed. 
 
 13  I  will  destroy  also  all  the  beasts  thereof 
 from  beside  the  great  waters  ;  ''  neither  shall 
 the  foot  of  man  trouble  them  any  more,  nor 
 tlie  hoofs  of  beasts  trouble  them. 
 
 14  Then  will  I  make  their  waters  deep,  and 
 cause  their  rivers  to  run  like,  oil,  saith  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 15  When  I  shall  make  the  land  of  Egypt  de- 
 solate, and  the  country  shall  be  f  destitute  of 
 that  whereof  it  was  full,  when  I  shall  smite  all 
 them  tliat  dwell  therein,  ''  then  shall  they 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 16  This  ?■«  the 'lamentation  wherewith  they 
 shall  lament  her :  the  daughters  of  the  nations 
 shall  lament  her :  they  shall  lament  for  her, 
 even  for  Egypt,  and  for  all  lier  multitude,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 B    C-  5-^7. 
 
 b  ch-  ly  3,  e 
 
 &  3S    H 
 c  ch.  20.  3. 
 II  Or,  drttgm 
 d  Ch    3t.  18 
 
 ■ch    1»-  13. 
 8t  17.  20 
 Hoa.  7.  1^ 
 
 /ch.  S9.  6. 
 f  ch   31.  13. 
 
 ftch.  31.  12 
 
 \\  Or, thslnnd 
 vftht/  taim- 
 ming. 
 
 II  Or,  f^. 
 
 i  l5.  13,  10 
 J.iel  :f.  31. 
 &  3  1  j 
 Amos  ?  9. 
 Rev,  6.  \2, 
 1.3,  Mat  Zi 
 
 t  Hob  tighl, 
 0/  Ihe  h^Ul 
 
 t  Heb  pro- 
 or,  ifrif/. 
 
 n  ch.  SS.  7. 
 0  ch.  Ca.  19. 
 
 ;'ch.  *>.  II. 
 
 1  Hcb.  dfto- 
 ,/„/„/„,., 
 
 ch.  6.  7. 
 r  ver.  2. 
 2  Sam  I  17 
 2  Chr.  35. 
 Si.  ch.  26. 
 17. 
 
 1,1' d. 
 
 r  U    I    31 
 &   It.  !',   \0. 
 
 b  ch.  26  17. 
 20  ver.  24, 
 2'. 20.27,32. 
 
 II  t)c,  ,1,-.- 
 maytng. 
 
 c  Jcr.  49.  34, 
 
 iiC. 
 
 d  \fr.  31. 
 t  vcc.  23. 
 
 /nci   10.  2. 
 
 ch.  27    lAM 
 33   2 
 
 j7  icr    19,  20, 
 
 h  »ec.  21. 
 li.  11.13,19. 
 
 (  Heb.  taith 
 
 Heb.  giveti, 
 or,  put. 
 
 17  II  It  came  to  pass  also  in  the  twelfth  year, 
 ill  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  month,  thai  the 
 word  of  the  Lokd  came  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 18  Son  of  man,  wail  for  the  multitude  of 
 Egypt,  and  'cast  them  down,  fren  her,  and  the 
 daughters  of  tlie  famous  nations,  unto  the 
 nether  parts  of  the  earth,  with  them  that  go 
 down  into  the  pit. 
 
 19  'Whom  dost  thou  pass  in  beauty?  "go 
 down,  and  be  thou  laid  with  the  uncircum- 
 cised. 
 
 20  They  shall  fall  in  the  midst  of  them  that 
 are  slain  by  the  sword :  ||  she  is  delivered  to 
 the  sword  :  draw  her  and  all  her  multitudes. 
 
 21  '  The  strong  among  the  mighty  shall 
 speak  to  him  out  of  the  midst  of  hell  with 
 them  that  help  him  :  they  are  ^gone  down, 
 they  lie  uncircumcised,  slain  by  the  sword. 
 
 22  ^  Asshur  is  there  and  all  her  company  : 
 his  graves  are  about  him  :  all  of  them  slain, 
 fallen  by  the  sword  : 
 
 2:3  °  Whose  graves  are  set  in  the  sides  of  the 
 pit,  and  her  company  is  round  about  her  grave  : 
 all  of  them  slain,  fallen  by  the  sword,  which 
 '•caused  ||  terror  in  the  land  of  the  living. 
 
 24  There  is  "  Elam  and  all  her  multitude 
 round  about  her  grave,  all  of  them  slain,  fallen 
 by  the  sword,  which  are ''gone  down  uncircum- 
 cised into  the  nether  parts  of  the  earth,  "which 
 caused  their  terror  in  the  land  of  tlie  living ; 
 yet  have  they  borne  their  shame  with  them 
 that  go  down  to  the  pit. 
 
 2.5  They  have  set  her  a  bed  in  the  midst  of 
 the  slain  with  all  her  multitude  :  her  graves 
 are  round  about  him  :  all  of  them  uncircum- 
 cised, slain  by  the  sword:  though  their  terror 
 was  caused  in  the  land  of  the  living,  yet  have 
 tl'.cy  borne  their  shame  with  thein  that  go 
 down  to  the  pit :  he  is  put  in  the  midst  of 
 them  that  be  slain. 
 
 2G  There  is  •■  Meshech,  Tubal,  and  all  her 
 multitude:  her  graves  are  round  about  him: 
 all  of  them  ^  uncircumcised,  slain  by  the  sword, 
 though  they  caused  their  terror  in  the  land  of 
 the  living. 
 
 27  ''  And  they  shall  not  lie  with  the  mighty 
 that  are  fallen  of  the  uncircumcised,  which  are 
 gone  down  to  hell  fwith  their  weapons  of  war: 
 and  they  have  laid  their  swords  under  their 
 heads,  but  their  iniquities  shall  be  upon  their 
 bones,  though  they  ivere  the  terror  of  the 
 mighty  in  the  land  of  the  living. 
 
 28  Yea,  thou  shalt  be  broken  in  the  midst  of 
 the  uncircumcised,  and  shalt  lie  with  them  that 
 are  slain  with  the  sword. 
 
 29  There  is  '  Edom,  her  kings,  and  all  her 
 princes,  which  with  their  might  are  f  laid  by 
 them  that  were  slain  by  the  sword  :  they  shall 
 lie  with  the  uncircumcised,  and  with  them 
 that  go  down  to  the  pit. 
 
 30  '  There  be  the  princes  of  the  north,  all  of 
 
 Rivers,  mighty  armies,  fsce  chnp.  xxix.  3,  nntc  from  Pnole.)  Wiilcrs, 
 ncig:hbourin[?  people,  kings,  and  kingdoms.— Poo/*?.  3.  Spread  nut  m>/ 
 n^t — the  Chaldean  army  should  surround  him  and  hispcople,  as  fishes 
 in  a  ni.*.— Gill.  5.  Thi/  ficsh  u/mn,  ^c,  mountains  auB  valleys  should 
 he  covered  with  slain.— /'jt6.  Lowtli.  With  Ihy  height,  '  with  the  ear- 
 cases  of  ihinc  army,"  Targ.  :  so  Oill.  •  Of  thy  princes,'  Chrild. :  so 
 Pfirtle.  '  With  thy  wnrras,*  bred  in  the  carcases  of  the  slain,  Sr/r. 
 '  With  corrupt  matter,'  I'ulg.  7.  Heaven,  kingdom.  Stnrs,  nobles, 
 and  other  eminent  persons.  Sun,  sovereign.  Moon,  queen,  or  priest- 
 's^ f"'  ^'^''^'^'  horses,  a  famous  booty  for  the  Chaldeans,  and  with 
 ^\^^^"  Egypt  abounded;  oxen  and  sheep,  which  used  to  graze  by  the 
 side  of  the  Nile.— Gi».  14.  Their  waters  deep,  literally,  no  canals 
 
 being  cut  from  the  Nile;  or,  tigurativelv,  other  nations  would  bent 
 ea^e,  like  waters  deep  and  clear.- r;.7/.    Their  neighbours  would  enjoy 
 084 
 
 the  quietness  of  a  smoothly  gliding  river. — Preb.  Ltiwth.  And  cause 
 their  rirers  to  run  lilte  nil,  cauve  the  people  to  rest,  Targ.  16.  Vaugh. 
 ters  t<f  the  nations,  peopleof  the  neighbouring  countries. —F>-ei.  Lou-th. 
 21.  Hell,  "^IHHJ,  "the  catacombs,'  '  the  place  of  burial.'  — j4.  Clarke. 
 Utiles.— Bootftr.  24.  Elnni,  conquered  Nebuchadnezzar,  {Jcr.  xlix. 
 3l.)~Prett.  Lowth.  25.  A  Aerf— the  shell  which  receives  the  sarco- 
 phagus is  so  called.— i>iT6.  Louth.  26.  Meshech— sec  chap,  xxvii.  13, 
 note.  27.  With  the  mighti/,  with  nnconquered  heroes,  buried  with 
 
 funeral  honours  ;  to  this  purport,  Gill,  hriwth,  *c.  Their  swords  under 
 t/ieir  heads~ii\  Mingrelia.  which  Baehurt  considers  the  country  of  Me- 
 shech and  Tubal,  Sir  J.  Churdin  says,  '  Ihcy  all  sleep  with  their  sword* 
 under  their  heads  ;  and  they  bury  them  in  the  same  manner.'— OricMf. 
 Cusf.  29.  Edam  —  see   her   des'i  ucti.in    foretold,    chap.   xxv.    12. 
 
 30.  Princes  of  tlie  north,  the  kings  of  liabylon  north  of  Judea.— A'lm. 
 
Ezehiel  admonished  of  his  duty. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXm. 
 
 God's  justice  towards  the  penitent. 
 
 them,  and  all  the  '  Zkloiiians,  which  arc  gone 
 down  with  the  slain  ;  witli  their  terror  they 
 are  ashamed  of  their  might ;  and  they  lie  un- 
 circumcised  with  thcin  that  be  slain  by  the 
 sword,  and  hear  their  shame  with  them  that  go 
 down  to  the  pit. 
 
 31  Pharaoli  shall  see  them,  and  shall  be 
 "'comfoited  orcr  all  his  multitnde,  even  Pha- 
 raoh and  all  his  army  slain  by  the  sword,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 32  For  I  have  caused  my  terror  in  the  land 
 of  the  living :  and  he  shall  be  laid  in  the  midst 
 of  the  uncircnnicised  with  them  that  are  slain 
 with  the  sword,  even  Pharaoh  and  all  his  mul- 
 titude, saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP,  xxxin. 
 
 1  Accurdiiu;  to  the.  duty  of  a  watchman^  in  ivarning  t/h 
 pc'oph',  7  Ezekiel  is  admonished  of /lis  dui^.  10  God 
 sheweth  the  justice  of  his  iv^u/s  towards  the  penitent, 
 and  towards  revolters.  17  lie  maintaineth  hisjustice. 
 21  Upon  the  7iews  of  the  taking  if  Sirusaieui  he  pro- 
 phesieth  the  desolation  of  the  land,  30  God's  judg- 
 ment upon  the  mockers  of  the  prophets. 
 
 A  GAIN  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 ■'-^  me,  saying, 
 
 •2  Son  of  man,  speak  to  °  the  children  of  thy 
 people,  and  say  unto  them,  ^  j  When  I  bring 
 the  sword  upon  a  laud,  if  the  people  of  the 
 land  take  a  man  of  tlieir  coasts,  and  set  him 
 for  their  ""  watchman  ; 
 
 3  If  when  be  seeth  the  sword  come  upon 
 the  land,  he  blow  the  trumpet,  and  warn  the 
 people  ; 
 
 4  Theuf  whosoever  heareth  the  sound  of  the 
 trumpet,  and  taketh  not  warning  ;  if  the  sword 
 come,  and  take  him  away,  ''  his  blood  shall  be 
 upon  his  own  head. 
 
 3  He  heard  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  and 
 took  not  warning ;  his  blood  shall  be  upon 
 him.  But  he  that  taketh  warnhig  shall  deliver 
 his  soul. 
 
 6  But  if  the  watchman  see  the  sword  come, 
 and  blow  not  tlie  trumpet,  and  the  people  be 
 not  warned  ;  if  the  sword  come,  and  take  any 
 person  from  among  them,'^  he  is  taken  away  in 
 his  iniquity  ;  but  his  blood  will  I  require  at  the 
 watchman's  hand. 
 
 7  If  '  So  thou,  O  son  of  man,  I  have  set  thee 
 a  watchman  unto  the  house  of  Israel ;  there- 
 fore thou  shalt  hear  the  word  at  my  mouth, 
 and  warn  them  from  me. 
 
 8  When  I  say  unto  the  wicked,  O  wicked 
 7nan,  tlion  shalt  surely  die  ;  if  thou  dost  not 
 speak  to  warn  the  wicked  from  his  way,  that 
 wicked  man  shall  die  in  his  iniquity  ;  but  his 
 blood  will  I  require  at  thine  hand. 
 
 9  Nevertheless,  if  thou  warn  the  wicked  of 
 his  way  to  turn  from  it ;  if  he  do  not  turn  from 
 his  way,  he  shall  die  in  his  iniquity  ;  but  thou 
 liast  delivered  thy  soul. 
 
 10  Therefore,  O  thou  son  of  man,  speak  unto 
 
 B.  C.  h^7. 
 
 /.  ch.  U.  17. 
 t  null..! 
 
 1  l,ri„i;  a 
 
 c  2  S;im.  IS. 
 21,  -iS. 
 
 2  Km   9.17. 
 vpr,  7. 
 ilos.  0.  8. 
 
 g  ch.  n.  23. 
 
 h  S..  Is    11'. 
 
 14.  ch    37. 
 
 n. 
 
 i  2  Sam.  14. 
 M.  ch. 13. 
 
 n  eh.  3.  30. 
 &  ;8,  21. 
 
 ch    S.  IS, 
 I'J.S  13.27. 
 
 t  Heb.j"rf^- 
 jni'itlnud 
 
 J"*''CC. 
 
 }>  ch,  18  7. 
 q  Ex  i'2.  I, 
 
 4.  Lev.  6  2, 
 
 4,  r,, 
 
 Nil   .■).  C.  7 
 
 Luke  1!>.  8 
 r  Lev.  18.  5. 
 
 ch.  2I>.  II, 
 
 l.S,  21. 
 ich.  18.  22. 
 
 «  ch    IS  20, 
 
 ■t  vcr.  17. 
 ch.  lb.  25, 
 
 jch.  I.  2. 
 I  ch,  24.  2G. 
 
 a  2  Kin.  25. 
 4 
 6  ch.  I.  3 
 
 dch-  34,  2. 
 e  vcr,  27. 
 
 ch  36,  4. 
 /  la.  51.  2. 
 
 Acts  7.  5. 
 
 the  house  of  Israel  ;  Thus  ye  speak,  .saying.  If 
 our  transgressions  and  our  sins  ie  upon  us,  and 
 we  ^  pine  away  in  them,  ''  how  should  we  then 
 live  ? 
 
 1 1  Say  unto  them.  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord 
 God,  '  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the 
 wicked  ;  but  that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way 
 and  live  :  turn  ye,  turn  ye  from  your  evil  ways  ; 
 for  '  why  will  ye  die,  O  house  of  Israel  ? 
 
 12  Therefore,  thou  son  of  man,  say  unto  the 
 children  of  thy  people.  The  '  righteousness  of 
 the  righteous  shall  not  deliver  him  in  the  day 
 of  his  transgression  :  as  for  the  wickedness  of 
 the  wicked,  '"  he  shall  not  fall  thereby  in  the 
 day  that  he  turnetli  from  his  wickedne.ss  ;  nei- 
 ther shall  the  righteous  be  able  to  live  for  his 
 righteousness  in  the  day  that  he  sinneth. 
 
 13  When  I  shall  say  to  the  righteous,  that 
 he  shall  surely  live ;  "  if  he  trust  to  his  own 
 righteousness,  and  commit  iniquity,  all  his 
 righteousness  shall  not  be  remembered  ;  but 
 for  his  iniquity  that  he  hath  committed,  he 
 shall  die  for  it. 
 
 14  Again,  "when  I  say  unto  the  wicked. 
 Thou  shalt  surely  die  ;  if  he  turn  from  his  sin, 
 and  do  f  that  which  is  lawful  and  right  ; 
 
 15  If  the  wicked  ''  restore  tlie  pledge,  ''  give 
 again  that  he  had  robbed,  walk  in  'the  statutes 
 of  life,  without  committing  iniquity  ;  he  shall 
 surely  live,  ho  shall  not  die. 
 
 16  '^  None  of  his  sins  that  he  hath  committed 
 shall  be  mentioned  unto  him  :  he  hath  done 
 that  which  is  lawful  and  right ;  he  shall  surely 
 live. 
 
 17  II'  Yet  the  children  of  thy  people  say. 
 The  way  of  the  Lord  is  not  equal  :  but  as  for 
 them,  their  way  is  not  equal. 
 
 18  "  When  the  righteous  turneth  from  his 
 righteousness,  and  committeth  iniquity,  he 
 shall  even  die  thereby. 
 
 19  But  if  the  wicked  turn  from  his  wicked- 
 ness, and  do  that  which  is  lawful  and  right,  he 
 shall  live  thereby. 
 
 20  H  Yet  ye  say, "  The  way  of  the  Lord  is  not 
 equal.  O  ye  house  of  Israel,  I  will  judge  you 
 every  one  after  his  ways. 
 
 21  H  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  twelfth  year 
 '  of  our  captivity,  in  the  tenth  month,  in  the 
 fifth  day  of  the  month,  ''  that  one  that  had  es- 
 caped out  of  Jerusalem  came  unto  me,  saying, 
 °  The  city  is  smitten. 
 
 22  Now  ''  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon 
 me  ill  the  evening,  afore  he  that  was  escapeil 
 came  ;  and  had  opened  my  mouth,  until  lie 
 came  to  me  in  the  morning  ;  '  and  iny  mouth 
 was  opened,  and  I  was  no  more  dumb. 
 
 23  Then  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 24  Son  of  man,  ^  they  that  inhabit  those 
 "  wastes  of  the  laud  of  Israel  speak,  saying, 
 '  Abraham  was  one,  and  he  inherited  the  land  : 
 
 Or  princes  of  Syria,  Damascus,  and  Tyre,  especially  the  latter. — GUI. 
 32.  And  all  his  muttitude — Egypt  had  1100  cities,  and  20,0U0  villages, 
 densely  populated. — Herod.  For  similar  phraseology  to  that  in  this 
 chapter,  see  Isa.  xiv.,  notes. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIII.  —  1.  Ttie  word  of  the  Lord  came — from  ver.  20,  it  may 
 be  inferred,  that  this  was' before  Jeiusalemwas  taken  by  the  liaby- 
 louians. — Newc.        2.  Bring  the  sward,  a  foreign  enemy.    A  man  of 
 
 their  coasts,  one  of  their  own  people,  or  who  lives  upon  and  best  knows 
 their  borders. — Gilt.  3.  Seeth  the  sword,  spicth  the  enemy. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  13.  Rigtdeousness  of  the  righteous — see  chap,  xviii.  26,  27, 
 
 note.  15.  Give  af^uin  tliut  Ite  liad  robbed — seeLev.  vi.  5.  22.  Hand, 
 fyc. — sec  chap.  i.  3,  note.  24.  That  inhabit  those  icastes,  fyc.,  that  are 
 left  behind  in  the  lan<l  now  wasted  with  fire  and  sword,  (ver.  27,  and 
 chap,  xxxvi.  4.) — Preb.  Lowth.    Abraham  was  one,  ^c,  our  father  had 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap,   XXXII.  —  I.  Ambitious  princes  thousands  in  one  common  ruin.   Then  God  reckons  with  them  ; 
 
 disquiet  the  world.     Tliey  are  like  the  troubled  sea,  never  at  and  great  as  well  as  small  must  stand  before  Lim  in  judgment, 
 
 rest.  Htive  we  any  reason  to  envy  them  their  career,  when  we  look 
 
 11.  Death  puts  an   end  to  the  most  ambitious.     They  often  at  their  end?     O,  be  this  our  ambition  and  portion,  to  ba 
 
 liurry  ibemselvis  into  the  grave,  while  they  involve  tens  of  '  heirs  of  God,  and  joiut  heirs  with  Christ !' 
 88j 
 
The  desolation  of  the  land. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXIV. 
 
 The  shepherds  reprnni^ 
 
 *  but  we  are  many  ;  the   land  is  given  us  for 
 inheritance. 
 
 25  Wherefore  say  unto  them,  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  ;  ''  Ye  eat  with  the  blood,  and  '  lift 
 up  your  eyes  toward  your  idols,  and  '  shed 
 blood  :  and  shall  ye  possess  the  land  ? 
 
 26  '  Ye  stand  upon  your  sword,  ye  work  abo- 
 mination, and  ye  "*  defile  every  one  his  neigh- 
 bour's wife  :  and  shall  ye  possess  the  land  ? 
 
 27  Say  thou  thus  unto  them.  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  ;  As  I  live,  surely  "  they  that  are 
 in  the  wastes  shall  fall  by  the  sword,  and  him 
 that  is  in  the  open  field  "  will  I  give  to  the 
 beasts  f  to  be  devoured,  and  they  that  be  in 
 the  forts  and  ''in  the  caves  sliall  die  of  the  pes- 
 tilence. 
 
 28  ''  For  1  will  lay  the  land  f  most  desolate, 
 and  the '  pomp  of  her  strength  shall  cease  ;  and 
 'the  mountains  of  Israel  shall  be  desolate,  that 
 none  shall  pass  through. 
 
 29  Then  shall  they  know  that  I  am  the  Lord, 
 when  I  have  laid  the  land  most  desolate  be- 
 cause of  all  their  abominations  which  they  have 
 committed. 
 
 30  t  Also,  thou  son  of  man,  the  children  of 
 thy  people  still  are  talking  ||  against  thee  by 
 the  walls  and  in  the  doors  of  tlie  houses,  and 
 '  speak  one  to  another,  every  one  to  his  bro- 
 ther, saying.  Come,  1  pray  you,  and  hear  what 
 is  the  word  that  cometh  forth  from  the  Lord. 
 
 31  And  "  they  come  unto  thee  f  as  the  peo- 
 ple Cometh,  and  ||  they  *  sit  before  thee  as  my 
 people,  and  they  hear  thy  words,  but  they  will 
 not  do  them  :  '  for  with  their  month  f  they 
 .shew  much  love,  but  *  their  heart  goeth  after 
 tneir  covetousness. 
 
 32  And,  lo,  thou  art  inito  them  as  f  a  very 
 lovely  song  of  one  that  hath  a  pleasant  voice, 
 and  can  play  well  on  an  instrument  :  for  they 
 hear  thy  words,  but  they  do  them  not. 
 
 33  "  And  when  this  Cometh  to  pass,  (lo,  it 
 will  come,)  then  '•shall  they  know  that  a  pro- 
 phet hath  been  among  them. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIV. 
 
 I  J  reproof  of  the  skepfitrds.  7  Goitsjudjnitnt  Ofjainsf 
 tJiem.  1 1  His  providtnce  for  his  jiock.  20  The 
 kingdom  of  Christ. 
 
 A  ND  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto  me, 
 -^^  saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  prophesy  against  the  *  shep- 
 lierds  of  Israel,  prophesy,  and  say  unto  them. 
 Thus  saith  tlie  Lord  Gou  unto  tlie  shepherds  ; 
 
 B.  C.  JS7. 
 
 g  Set-  M  ic  :i 
 II.  Mat.3.U 
 John  8.  3y 
 
 K  Gi-n.  9.  J. 
 Lev.  3.I7.H 
 7.J6.  8t  17. 
 10.  &  l»  26. 
 Deu.  12    IG. 
 
 t  ch.  18.  6. 
 
 *ch  22.6,9. 
 
 /  Wiad  2. II . 
 
 m  ch.  18.  6. 
 Be  22.   II. 
 
 o  ch.  39.  4. 
 t  Heb.  to  rfr- 
 
 ;,  Ju.lt,'  6  -1. 
 I  Saiu  I3.((. 
 
 y  Jer.  4J.2, 
 e.^2.  cU.  36. 
 34,  35 
 
 t  Keb.  dtMo- 
 I'llion  and 
 
 r  ^h.  7.  2i. 
 
 A  .;4  21.  & 
 
 30.  6,  7. 
 »  ch.  6,  3,  3, 
 
 li  Or,  ,>/ll,e, 
 
 uch.  U.  1. 
 8c  :!0.  I,8ic. 
 
 t  Heb.  «c- 
 CUT  duty  111 
 theevmmtf»/ 
 the  piufiU. 
 
 \i  Or,  »(v 
 petifjU  til 
 befurx  thee. 
 
 jrch.  8.  I. 
 
 y  Pa    78,  311, 
 37    Is  i;9  t3. 
 
 t   Heb    thr^ 
 nwKf  luvtit, 
 
 OT,JftU 
 
 I  Mat    13.22. 
 t  Heb.  (1  tana 
 
 a  I  Sam.  3. 
 Ml), 
 
 c  l9   56    n. 
 d  tl,    ;«.  ■Z!>, 
 
 /  Lake  1.^.  4. 
 i?  I  Pet.  5.  a. 
 
 il  Or,  u)ithoi 
 Aiiil  su  vei 
 
 1  cti.  3.  IS 
 Iteb.  13.  I 
 
 t  Heb.  ^c- 
 crdi'iu  It/ 
 
 ij  Is.  6.'^  9,111. 
 Jer.  S3.  3. 
 ch.  28  25. 
 
 37.  21, 
 
 ''  Woe  be  to  the  shepherds  of  Israel  that  do 
 feed  themselves  I  should  not  the  shephero.i 
 feed  the  flocks? 
 
 3  '  Ye  eat  the  fat,  and  ye  clothe  you  with  the 
 wool,  ''  ye  kill  them  that  are  fed  :  but  ye  feed 
 not  the  flock. 
 
 4  °  The  diseased  have  ye  not  strengthened, 
 neither  have  ye  healed  that  which  was  sick, 
 neither  have  ye  bound  up  that  which  iias 
 broken,  neither  have  ye  brought  again  that 
 which  was  driven  away,  neither  have  ye  'sought 
 that  which  was  lost ;  but  with  ^  force  and  vvitli 
 cruelty  have  ye  ruled  them. 
 
 j  ''And  they  were  '  scattered,  ||  because  there 
 is  no  shepherd  :  ''  and  they  became  meat  to  all 
 the  beasts  of  the  field,  when  they  were  scat- 
 tered. 
 
 1}  My  sheep  wandered  through  all  the  moun- 
 tains, and  upon  every  high  hill  :  yea,  my  flock 
 was  scattered  upon  all  the  face  of  the  earth, 
 and  none  did  search  or  seek  after  ihern. 
 
 7  H  Therefore,  ye  shepherds,  hear  the  word 
 of  the  Lord  ; 
 
 8  .4s  1  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  surely  be- 
 cause my  flock  became  a  proy,  and  my  flock 
 '  became  meat  to  every  beast  of  the  field,  be- 
 cause there  was  no  shepherd,  neither  did  my 
 shepherds  search  for  my  flock,  '"  but  the  shep- 
 herds fed  themselves,  and  fed  not  my  flock ; 
 
 y  Therefore,  O  ye  shepherds,  hear  the  word 
 of  the  Lord  ; 
 
 10  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Behold,  I  am 
 against  the  shepherds  ;  and  "  I  will  require  my 
 flock  at  their  hand,  and  cause  them  to  cease 
 from  feeding  the  flock  ;  neither  shall  the  shep- 
 herds "  feed  themselves  any  more  ;  for  I  will 
 deliver  my  flock  from  their  mouth,  that  they 
 may  not  be  meat  for  them. 
 
 1 1  H  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Behold, 
 I,  even  I,  will  both  search  my  sheep,  and  seek 
 them  out. 
 
 12  t  As  a  shepherd  seeketh  out  his  flock  in 
 the  day  that  he  is  among  his  sheep  that  are 
 .scattered  ;  so  will  1  seek  out  my  sheep,  and 
 will  deliver  thein  out  of  all  places  where  they 
 have  been  scattered  in  '  the  cloudy  and  dark 
 day. 
 
 13  And  '  I  will  bring  them  out  from  the  peo- 
 [ile,  and  gather  them  from  the  countries,  and 
 will  bring  them  to  tlieir  own  land,  and  feed 
 thein  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel  by  the 
 rivers,  and  in  all  the  inhabited  places  of  the 
 country. 
 
 an  hereditary  right  to  all  this  land  when  but  one,  and  we  children  of 
 Abraham,  though  diminished,  are  many,  and  we  shall  jet  fill  the  land 
 and  recover  our  former  state  and  privilege. — Poole.  25.  ¥e  eat  ifil/i 
 
 the  titood,  contrary  to  the  Mosaic  and  also  the  patriarchal  law,  (Gen. 
 ix.  4.)  which  sliews  their  utter  neglect  of  the  Divine  coinjnauds. —  \i'il. 
 2fj.  Stand  upon  iiaitr  sword,  trust  in  it. — G'tt.  '  With  your  sworil.' — 
 Newe.  It  may  allude  to  a  heathen  custom  of  putting  tiie  blood  of  sa- 
 crifices into  a  vessel  to  consult  evil  spirits,  and  standing  with  a  drawn 
 sword  to  defend  themselves  from  the  demons. — Spencer.  27.  Cave.s, 
 immense  strongholds  formed  by  nature  in  the  rocks,  or  cut  out  under 
 mountains.  Here  men,  families,  and  goods  were  secured,  (see  1  Sam. 
 xxii.  1  ;  2  Sam.  xxiii.  14.)  30.  By  the  noils  and  in  the  doors,  signify 
 public  places  and  private  meetings.  31.. 4s  the  people  cometh,  as 
 disciples  flock  to  their  teacher.  —  Preb.  Lowth.  Their  covetousness, 
 their  secular  affairs.  32.  Thou  art  unto  them,  Sfc.  they  admired  the 
 prophet's  eloquence,  hut  not  his  doctrines, —Gi^/;  and  disregarded  his 
 deunnciaUoas  and  precepts. — Hew.    A  pleasant  voice,  and  can  play 
 
 well — Hebrew  singers  accompany  themselves  upon  the  harp,  as  the 
 Greeks  did  upon  the  lyre. —  WU. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIV.  —  1.  The  word  of  the  Lord  cnme—sts  tliis  prophecy 
 speaks  of  the  crimes  of  the  governors,  it  w-is  delivered  at  or  before  the 
 news  that  Jerusalem  was  conquered. — Mich.  It  seems  to  have  been 
 delivered  after  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  the  causes  of  which  are 
 menliuneil. —  Gi/i.  2.  Shepherds,  governuis,  civil  and  ecclesiastical, 
 (comp.  Isa.  Ivi.  11  ;  Jer.  ii.  8;  xxiii.  I.)  feed  themselres,  regard  their 
 own  advantage,  and  not  the  people.  3.  Fnt,  or  '  milk,'  the  Hebrew 
 
 words  being  the  same.  Kill  them  that  are  fed,  the  wealthy  and  sub- 
 stantial, to  enrich  tliemselves. —  Prt-A.  Lou-'th.  They  brought  accusa- 
 tions against  the  rich,  and  put  thtm  to  death  under  the  colour  of  jlis- 
 tice,  to  obtain  their  property.  5.  jVo  shepherd,  no  good  one. — Gilt. 
 None  in  efTect.— A'e«c.  Beasts  of  the  field,  fell  a  prey  to  their  enemies. 
 —  Kd.,  so  Gill,  and  Preb.  Lowth.  12.  Cloudu  and  dark  day,  a  time  of 
 darkness  and  affliction.— Gi/f.  13.  Brina  them  out  from  the  people, 
 
 fetch  Uxem  from  those  several  lands  whcreimo  they  were  driven  by 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXIII We  may  observe  in       II.  The  crime  here  recorded  of  the  hearers.    They  beard  the 
 
 this  cbapler—I.  77ie  duty  here  enfurcedon  the  minister.     Faith-  prophet's  words,  but  tbey  would  not  do  them.    Thus,  v\  hilo 
 
 fully  to  warn  his  hearers  of  their  evil  ways.     To  urge  them  to  ministers  faithfully  exhort  their  hearers,   they   often   praise 
 
 '  flee   from   the   wrath   to   come;'   'warning  every  man,  and  their  sermons,  but  still  return  lo  the  world  and  pursue  their 
 
 teacning  every  man  in  all  wisdom,  Ihat  he  may  present  every  own  ways,  till  the  awful  moment  comes  when  the  wicked  dies 
 
 man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus.'  in  his  iniquity,  and  his  blood  is  upon  his  own  head. 
 88(3 
 
Tim  kingdom  of  Chrixt. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXV. 
 
 The  judymeiU  of  Mount  Seir. 
 
 14  '  1  will  feed  thcin  in  a  good  pasture,  and 
 vipon  the  high  mountains  of  Israel  shall  their 
 told  he  :  '  there  shall  they  lie  in  a  good  fold, 
 and  (ft  a  fat  pasture  shall  they  feed  upon  the 
 mountains  of  Israel. 
 
 15  I  will  feed  my  flock,  and  I  will  cause  them 
 to  lie  down,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 IG  '  I  will  seek  that  which  was  lost,  and  bring 
 again  that  which  was  driven  away,  and  will 
 hind  up  that  which  ivas  broken,  and  will 
 strengthen  that  which  was  sick  :  but  I  will  de- 
 stroy "  the  fat  and  the  strong  ;  I  will  feed  them 
 '  with  judgment. 
 
 17  And  ns  for  yon,  O  my  flock,  thus  saith 
 the  Lord  God  ;  '  Behold,  I  judge  between 
 t  cattle  and  cattle,  between  the  rams  and  the 
 f  he  goats. 
 
 18  Saemith  (7  a  small  thing  unto  you  to  have 
 eaten  up  tiie  good  pasture,  but  ye  must  tread 
 down  with  your  feet  the  residue  of  your  pas- 
 tures? and  to  have  drunk  of  the  deep  waters, 
 but  ye  must  foul  the  residue  with  your  feet? 
 
 19  And  as  for  my  flock,  they  eat  that  which 
 ye  have  trodden  with  your  feet  ;  and  they 
 drink  that  wliich  ye  have  fouled  with  your  feet. 
 
 '20  II  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  unto 
 them  ;  '  Behold,  I,  eve7i  I,  will  judge  between 
 the  fat  cattle  and  between  the  lean  cattle. 
 
 21  Because  ye  have  thrust  with  side  and 
 with  shoulder,  and  pushed  all  the  diseased 
 with  your  horns,  till  ye  have  scattered  them 
 abroad  ; 
 
 ■il-2  Therefore  will  I  save  my  flock,  and  they 
 shall  no  more  be  a  prey  ;  and  °  I  will  judge 
 between  cattle  and  cattle. 
 
 •23  And  I  will  set  up  one  ''shepherd  over 
 them,  and  he  shall  feed  them,  '  even  my  ser- 
 vant David  ;  he  shall  feed  them,  and  he  shall 
 be  their  shepherd. 
 
 24  And  ''  I  the  Lokd  will  be  their  God,  and 
 my  servant  David  °  a  prince  among  them  ;  I 
 the  Lord  have  spoken  it. 
 
 2.j  And  '  I  will  make  with  them  a  covenant 
 of  peace,  and  ^  will  cause  the  evil  beasts  to 
 cease  out  of  the  land  :  and  they  "  sliall  dwell 
 safely  in  the  wilderness,  and  sleep  in  the 
 woods. 
 
 ■26  And  I  will  make  them  and  the  places 
 round  about  'my  hill  'a  blessing  ;  and  I  will 
 '  cause  the  shower  to  come  down  in  his  season  ; 
 there  sliall  be  "'sliowers  of  blessing. 
 
 27  And  "  the  tree  of  tlie  field  shall  yield  her 
 fruit,  and  the  earth  shall  yield  her  increase,  and 
 
 I  Is.  10.  16. 
 
 AU108  ■1,1. 
 
 rjer,  lU  24. 
 
 2-2.  Zech.lU. 
 3.  Mat.  25 
 
 t   Hcb.  tmnU 
 
 h,dl. 
 \  Htb  grmt 
 
 \  vcr.  17. 
 >  Is.  -10.  II. 
 Jer.  23  1,5. 
 John  lU.  I). 
 Hell  13.  CO. 
 I  IVt  2.  25. 
 Xi  5.  ■!. 
 
 c  Jt'J 
 
 30.  9 
 
 ch.37.?4.25. 
 
 Hos.  3.  5. 
 A  ver,  3U. 
 
 Ex.  29-  W. 
 
 ch.  37.  27. 
 
 ch    37.  22. 
 
 Luke  1 .  32, 
 
 33 
 /cli.  37.  26 
 g  Lev.  2(i    6 
 
 I.^    II    6—9 
 
 .%  35.  9. 
 
 Ho> 
 
 18. 
 
 r.  28. 
 .  23  6. 
 
 2H  -10. 
 /.  Gen.  12.2 
 Is.  19.  24. 
 Zecli  8.  13 
 t  Lev.  26.  4. 
 ri  Ps.  OS.  9. 
 Mai.  3,  10. 
 Lfjv.  26.  4. 
 Pb.  S5.  12. 
 
 B.  C.  597. 
 I  Lev.  26  13. 
 
 f  See  ver.  fl 
 ch.  36.  4. 
 
 r  ver.  25. 
 
 Jer.  ;10.  10. 
 
 at  4t>.  27. 
 >  Is    11.  I. 
 
 Jer.  23  5. 
 II  Or,/.r 
 
 t  Heb.  tohm 
 
 auty 
 t  cli.  36  3, 
 
 6,  15. 
 '(  ver  21. 
 
 cU.  37.  27 
 
 a  ch.  6.  '2. 
 b  Deu.  2   5. 
 cJer  49.7,fl. 
 
 ch.  25    12. 
 
 Amos  I.  11. 
 
 Obad.  10, 
 
 ike. 
 d  ch.  6.  U. 
 
 /ch  25.  12. 
 Oltad.  10. 
 II   Ol,  hatred 
 
 ./-./,/,  ch. 
 
 25.  15. 
 
 r  Heb.  /.«ur- 
 ed  „i,t  tia 
 children, 
 
 t  Heb.  Iiandt. 
 S  Pa.  137.7. 
 ch  21.25,29, 
 Dan.  9.  24. 
 Obad    1 1 . 
 
 h  Ps.  109.  17 
 
 t  Heb.  des'^ 
 
 I  Jer.  49.  17, 
 
 18.  ver.  4. 
 
 ch.  25.  13. 
 
 Mai.  1.3,4. 
 rHCh,  0.  7.  & 
 
 7.  4,  9.  & 
 
 36.  11. 
 
 they  sliall  be  safe  in  their  land,  and  shall  know 
 ihat  I  urn  the  Lord,  when  I  have  "  broken  the 
 bands  of  their  yoke,  and  delivered  them  out  of 
 the  hand  of  those  that  ^  served  themselves  of 
 them. 
 
 28  And  they  shall  no  more  ''  be  a  prey  to  the 
 heathen,  neither  shall  the  beast  of  the  land 
 devour  tliem  ;  but  'they shall  dwell  safely, and 
 none  shall  make  them  afraid. 
 
 29  And  I  will  raise  up  for  them  a  '  plant  ||  of 
 renown,  and  they  shall  be  no  more  f  consumed 
 with  hunger  in  the  land,  'neither  bear  the 
 shame  of  the  heathen  any  more. 
 
 30  Thus  shall  they  know  that  "  I  the  Lord 
 llieir  God  am  with  them,  and  tliat  they,  even 
 the  hou.se  of  Israel,  are  my  people,  saith  the 
 Lord  God. 
 
 31  And  ye  my  "flock,  the  flock  of  my  pas- 
 ture, are  men,  and  I  am  your  God,  saith  the 
 Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXV. 
 
 The  judyment  of  mount  Stir  for  t/ieir  liatred  of  Israel. 
 
 TV/T  OREO  VER  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 ■'■-'•  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 2  Son  of  man,  "set  thy  face  against  ^  mount 
 Seir,  and  '^  prophesy  against  it, 
 
 3  And  say  unto  it.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ; 
 Behold,  O  mount  Seir,  1  am  against  thee,  and 
 "■  I  will  stretch  out  mine  hand  against  thee, 
 and  I  will  make  thee  f  most  desolate. 
 
 4^1  will  lay  thy  cities  waste,  and  thou  shall 
 be  desolate,  and  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord. 
 
 5  '  Because  thou  hast  had  a  f  perpetual  hatred, 
 and  hast  fs^bed  the  hlood  of  the  children  of 
 Israel  by  the  \  force  of  the  sword  in  tlie  time 
 of  their  calamity,  ^in  the  time  that  their  ini- 
 quity had  an  end  : 
 
 6  Therefore,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God, 
 I  will  prepare  tliee  unto  blood,  and  blood  shall 
 pursue  thee :  ''  sith  thou  hast  not  hated  blood, 
 even  blood  shall  pursue  thee. 
 
 7  Thus  will  I  make  mount  Seir  f  most  deso- 
 late, and  cut  off  from  it  '  him  that  passeth  out 
 and  him  that  returneth. 
 
 8  '  And  I  will  till  his  mountains  with  his 
 slain  men :  in  thy  hills,  and  in  thy  valleys,  and 
 in  all  thy  rivers,  shall  they  fall  that  are  slain 
 with  the  sword. 
 
 9  '  I  will  make  thee  perpetual  desolations, 
 and  thy  cities  shall  not  return  :  '"  and  ye  .shall 
 know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 their  miserahlc  captivity.— Bp.  Uall.  16.  The  fat  mid  tlie  strmig,  the 
 powerful  and  rich  oppressors  and  rulers.  l".  I  judge  betteeennUtle 
 
 and  riillle,  SfC,  between  men  and  men,  between  smaller  and  weaker, 
 and  Krcatcr  and  stronger.— Poole.  18.  Eiilen  up  the  good  pastures, 
 
 ^r.,  enjoyed  their  own  wealth  and  riches.  Tread  down— the  residue, 
 oppress  the  pnor  by  taking  from  them  that  little  they  have.  The  allu- 
 siim  is  to  beasts  in  pasture  which  tread  down  and  defile  what  thcv  do 
 not  cat,  leaving  it  unfit  for  others  ;  and  to  cattle  at  ponds,  which,  hav- 
 ing drunk,  fniil  the  rest  with  their  feet,— a  practice  said  to  be  common 
 with  camels.— G;«.  21.  Thrust  with  side  and  with  shoulder,  as  the 
 stronger  cattle  do  the  weaker.  And  pushed,  ^e.,  as  horned  cattle  do 
 those  they  dislike.— G/H.  23.  One  shepherd— David ;  David  had  been 
 dead  400  years ;  no  king  of  his  name  ever  arose  since.  This  was  some 
 typical  person,  and  that  was  Christ.— tVrirfre.  The  Messiah  was  called 
 by  his  name,  (see  Jer.  x.\.x.  9  ;  chap,  xxxvii.  24  ;  and  Isa.  xxxvii.  35  ; 
 Hos.  ill.  5.)  24.  .ind  nty  servant  Dftrid  a  prinee,  the  Messiah  is  called 
 David,  as  being  the  person  in  whom  all  the  promises  made  to  David 
 
 were  fulfilled,  (Isa.  Iv.  3;  Jer.  xxx.9;  Hos.  iii.  ,5.)  And  the  idea  of  the 
 shepherd  and  the  dock  may  allude  to  David's  first  employment.— i'/ci. 
 Lowth.  25.  Cause  the  ei'il  bemts  to  cease,  literally  fulfilled  on  the 
 return  from  Bab>Ion.  During  the  captivity,  the  uninhabited  land  had 
 been  overrun  with  beasts  of  prey,  but  on  their  return  these  ceased,  or 
 were  driven  away  ;  figuratively,  these  design  wicked  men.  26.  Them, 
 —  round  alitiut  nti/  hill,  those  who  come  to  Mount  Zion.  the  church  of 
 Cnd.— 6"i//.  29.  A  plant  of  renown,  niu?  TTDn,  'a  plantation  to  the 
 name  ;'  to  the  name  of  Christ.  A  Christian  church.— /I.  Clarke.  A  re- 
 nowned plantation. — lioothr.  '  1  will  make  them  a  glorious  plant. '^ 
 Bp.  Hall.  Christ  is  intended,  the  *  tender  plant'  and  '  tree  of  life* 
 which  became  greatly  renowned  by  the  spread  of  the  Gospel. — Scott. 
 The  Messiah  is  intended,  a  renowned  person,  one  of  name. — Gilt. 
 
 Chap.  XXX'V.  —  2.  Mount  Seir,  Iduraea,  (see  Gen.  xxxvi.  9;  Deut, 
 ii.  5.) — Newc.        5.  .4  perpetual  hatred — see  chap.  xxv.  12.  y.  Ptfr- 
 
 petual  desolations— iit:e  cii^p.  XXV.  13;  Jer.  xlix.  17,  18. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XX.XIV.  —  Our  attention  is  here 
 directed  to — I.  Barl  shepherds.  How  characteristic  of  those 
 who  seek  their  own  things,— who  fleece  their  flocks,  and  re- 
 gard their  own  temporal  interests,  to  the  neglect  of  the  souls 
 of  their  people  !  With  such  God  will  surely  reckon,  and  the 
 olood  of  souls  will  belaid  to  their  account. 
 
 11.  The  good  Shejilieril.  He,  indeed,  'shall  feed  bis  flock 
 887 
 
 like  a  shepherd  ;'  under  his  vigilant  and  tender  care  they  shall 
 flourish.  They  shall  dwell  serenely  by  the  still  waters,  and 
 feed  abundantly  on  the  green  pastures.  To  his  care  let  us 
 commit  the  keeping  of  our  souls,  who  has  even  Maid  down 
 his  life  for  bis  sheep,'  and  he  '  shall  feed  us  and  lead  us  to 
 fountains  of  living  waters.' 
 
Israel  comforted. 
 
 10  Because  thou  hast  said,  These  two  nations 
 and  these  two  countries  shall  be  mine,  and  we 
 will  "  possess  it ;  ||  whereas  °  the  Lord  was 
 there  : 
 
 11  Therefore,  as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God, 
 I  will  even  do  '' according  to  thine  anger,  and 
 according  to  thine  envy  which  tliou  hast  used 
 out  of  thy  hatred  against  them  ;  and  I  will 
 make  myself  known  among  them,  when  I  have 
 judged  thee. 
 
 12  ''And  thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord,  and  that  I  have  heard  all  thy  blasphe- 
 mies which  thou  hast  spoken  against  the  moun- 
 tains of  Israel,  saying,  They  are  laid  desolate, 
 they  are  given  us  f  to  consume. 
 
 13  Thus  'with  your  mouth  ye  have  f  boasted 
 against  me,  and  have  multiplied  your  words 
 against  me  :  I  have  heard  them. 
 
 14  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  'When  the 
 whole  earth  rejoiceth.lwill  make  thee  desolate. 
 
 15  '  As  thou  didst  rejoice  at  the  inheritance 
 of  the  house  of  Israel,  because  it  was  desolate, 
 so  will  I  do  unto  thee  :  "  thou  shalt  be  deso- 
 late, O  mount  Seir,  and  all  Idumea,  eyew  all  of 
 it :  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVl. 
 
 I  Tlie  land  of  Israd  is  comforted,  both  by  destruction 
 of  the  heathen,  who  spitefidti/  used  it,  8  and  hy  the 
 blessings  of  God  promised  unto  it,  16  Israel  was 
 rejected  for  their  sin,  21  and  shall  he  restored  without 
 their  (ksert.     25    The  blessings  of  Christ's  kingdom. 
 
 A  LSO,  thou  son  of  man,  prophesy  unto  the 
 -^*-  '  mountains  of  Israel,  and  say,  Ye  moun- 
 tains of  Israel,  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord  : 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Because  ''  the 
 enemy  hath  said  against  you.  Aha,  °  even  the 
 ancient  high  places  ''  are  our's  in  possession  : 
 
 3  Therefore  prophesy  and  say.  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  ;  f  Because  they  have  made  i/ou  de- 
 solate, and  swallowed  you  up  on  every  side, 
 that  ye  might  be  a  possession  unto  the  residue 
 of  the  heathen, "  and  ||  ye  are  taken  up  in  the 
 lips  of  talkers,  and  arc  an  infamy  of  the  people  : 
 
 4  Therefore,  ye  mountains  of  Israel,  hear  the 
 word  of  the  Lord  God  ;  Thus  saith  the  Lord 
 God  to  the  mountains,  and  to  the  hills,  to  the 
 
 II  rivers,  and  to  tlie  valleys,  to  the  desolate 
 wastes,  and  to  the  cities  that  are  forsaken, 
 which  '  became  a  prey  and  ^  derision  to  the  re- 
 sidue of  the  heathen  that  are  round  about ; 
 
 5  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  "  Surely 
 in  the  fire  of  my  jealousy  have  I  spoken  against 
 the  residue  of  the  heathen,  and  against  all  Idu- 
 mea, '  which  have  appointed  my  land  into  their 
 possession  with  the  joy  of  all  their  heart,  with 
 despiteful  minds,  to  cast  it  out  for  a  prey. 
 
 6  Prophesy  therefore  concerning  the  land  of 
 Israel,  and  say  unto  the  mountains,  and  to  the 
 hills,  to  the  rivers,  and  to  the  valleys.  Thus 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXVL 
 
 Sin  the  cause  of  their  rejection. 
 
 <  Ps   83.  4, 
 I'J.ch  Sfi  5. 
 Obad     13. 
 Or,  /A-.'.j^/i 
 tU  LORD 
 
 .  I'a.  48.  1. 3 
 
 R..- 
 
 13.  ti. 
 
 t  Heb.  <:m 
 •ojied. 
 
 <  !s,  O.i.  13. 
 U. 
 
 /  Obad    Vi. 
 IJ. 
 
 1  vet.  .1,  4. 
 
 I>  ch.  ■>.-»   3 
 f  lJ.ii.3,M3. 
 
 t  H.'b. 
 
 Lain.  -1.  15 
 Dun  9  It; 
 I  Ol .  yr  rtr« 
 
 vp.>ii  ihe  tip 
 
 Or,  '■'■Ititiiti, 
 Uf,  d'llei. 
 
 fch.  31.  se. 
 if  Ps  7y.  i. 
 
 k  Den.  4.'i4. 
 
 i-li.  s8.  in. 
 
 A  Ps  153.  3, 
 4.  ch.31.L'9, 
 ver.  15. 
 
 ■n  ver    33. 
 
 U  .'•9-  U'  & 
 
 til.  4 
 
 Atitoe  p.  11 
 .  .let   31.37. 
 
 *i  33.  Vi. 
 
 .  .  b    .3.^    fl. 
 h  37.  0,  13 
 
 -;  Sue  Jer. 
 I.'>.  7. 
 
 rch.  34.  29 
 
 S7.  i«. 
 Jer.  2.7. 
 
 J-  ch.  IG.  36, 
 :18,  &88.3J. 
 
 ,1)  cli.  22.  15. 
 
 :  ch.7.  3.  8. 
 IH.3(J.  S<.39. 
 
 saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Behold,  I  have  spoken  in 
 my  jealousy  and  in  my  fury,  because  ye  have 
 '  borne  the  shame  of  the  heathen  : 
 
 7  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  I  have 
 '  lifted  up  mine  hand.  Surely  the  heathen  that 
 are  aliout  you,  they  shall  bear  their  shame. 
 
 8  t  But  ye,  O  mountains  of  Israel,  ye  shall 
 shoot  forth  your  liranches,  and  yield  your  fniit 
 to  my  people  of  Israel ;  for  they  are  at  hand  to 
 come. 
 
 9  For,  behold,  1  am  for  you,  and  I  will  turn 
 unto  you,  and  ye  shall  be  tilled  and  sown  : 
 
 10  .\nd  I  will  multiply  men  upon  you, all  the 
 house  of  Israel,  ercn  all  of  it  :  and  the  cities 
 shall  be  inhabited,  and  '"  the  wastes  shall  be 
 builded  ; 
 
 1 1  And  "  I  will  multiply  upon  you  man  and 
 beast;  and  they  shall  increase  and  bring  fruit: 
 and  I  will  settle  yon  after  your  old  estates,  and 
 will  do  better  iintoi/ou  than  at  your  beginnings  : 
 "and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 12  Yea,  I  will  cause  men  to  walk  upon  yon, 
 even  my  people  Israel  ;  ''  and  they  shall  pos- 
 sess thee,  and  thou  shalt  be  their  inheritance, 
 and  thou  shalt  no  more  henceforth  ''  bereave 
 them  if  men, 
 
 13  Tlius  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Becau.se  they 
 say  unto  you,  '  Thou  land  devourest  up  men, 
 and  hast  bereaved  thy  nations  ;  ' 
 
 14  Therefore  thou  shall  devour  men  no  more, 
 neither  jj  bereave  thy  nations  any  more,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 15  '  Neither  will  I  cause  men  to  hear  in  thee 
 the  shame  of  the  heathen  any  more,  neither 
 shalt  thou  bear  the  reproach  of  the  people  any 
 more,  neither  shalt  thou  cause  thy  nations  to 
 fall  any  more,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 16  K  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  me,  saying, 
 
 17  Son  of  man,  when  the  hou.se  of  Israel 
 dwelt  in  their  own  land,  •  they  defiled  it  by 
 their  own  way  and  by  their  doings  :  their  way 
 was  before  me  as  "  the  uncleanness  of  a  re- 
 moved woman. 
 
 18  Wherefore  1  poured  my  fury  U]ii)n  them 
 ^  for  the  blood  that  they  had  shed  upon  the 
 land,  and  for  their  idols  wherewith  tiiey  had 
 polluted  it  : 
 
 19  And  I  ^scattered  them  among  the  hea- 
 then, and  they  were  dispersed  through  the 
 countries  :  '  according  to  their  way  and  accord- 
 ing to  their  doings  1  judged  them. 
 
 20  And  when  they  entered  unto  the  heathen, 
 whitlier  they  went,  they  "profaned  my  holy 
 name,  when  tliey  said  to  them,  These  are  the 
 people  of  the  Lord,  and  are  gone  forth  out  of 
 his  land. 
 
 21  K  But  I  had  pity  ^  for  mine  holy  name, 
 which  the  house  of  Israel  had  profaned  among 
 the  heathen,  whither  they  went. 
 
 0.  These  tten  nations,  Israel  and   Jnt[a\l.—Gilt.  U.  Make  mijself    tr(?sses  on  the  hills,  or  Jerusalem  itself,  built  on  a  mountain.— //?(«• 
 
 known  nmon^  them,  I  will  make  my  people  see  that  I  have  not  quite 
 cast  them  off,  by  my  avenging  their  qiiatrel  upon  tliee. — Feeb.  Lnteth. 
 14.  When  the  tehole  earth  rejoiceth,  ffc.,  C\rus  restored  many  nations 
 besides  the  Jews,  but  Edora  temaiiicd  desolate,  or  was  inhabited  by 
 strangers.— Sit^. 
 Chap.  XX.VVI.  —  2.  Ancient  hi^h  places,  referring  either  to  the  for- 
 
 3.  Residue  of  the  heathen,  the  nations  yet  unconquered  by  the  Babylo- 
 nians. ^.  At  hand  to  come,  Israel  are  near  the  time  ol  quitting  Baby- 
 lon. 13.  Deronrest  up,  they  aceused  the  laud  of  exterminating  its 
 inhabitants  by  their  heavy  sufferings. — Newc.  Comp.  Num.  xiii.  32. 
 21.  Hud  pity  for  mine  holt/  name,  wrought  for  my  name's  sake. — Prett. 
 Lou'th.     Profaned  animig  the  heathen,  whither  they  went,  by  reason  of 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXV.  —  I.  God  remembers  per-  know  him  when  it  is  too  late  ;  but  to  the  former  the  lesson  is 
 
 seculars,  and  will  punish  them,     '  The  wrath  of  God  is  loudly  most  beneficial.      While  they   are  taught  to  know  that  (jod 
 
 proclaimed  against  those  who  have  perpetual  hatred  to  his  hates  sin,  they  also  learn  that  he  is  not  willing  that  any  should 
 
 people,  and  who  take  advantage  of  their  calamities  to  insult  perish,  and  is  abundantly  merciful.     '  When  we  are  judged, 
 
 over  them  and  oppress  them.'  we  are  chastened  of  the  Lord,  that  we  should  not  be  con- 
 
 11.  God's  eltustiscincnt  of  his  people,  and  punishment  of  the  demned  with  the  world.' 
 uiehej,  are  designed  to  make  men  know  him.     The  latter  tlieii 
 888 
 
The  promise  of  Israel's  restoration. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXVII. 
 
 The  restirr  cation  of  dry  bones. 
 
 22  Tlicrofore  say  unto  the  house  of  Israel, 
 Thus  saitli  the  Lord  God  ;  I  do  not  this  for 
 your  sakes,  0  house  of  Israel,  "  hut  for  mine 
 holy  name's  sake,  which  ye  have  profaned 
 among  the  heathen,  whither  ye  went. 
 
 '23  And  I  will  sanctify  my  great  name,  which 
 was  profaned  among  the  heathen,  which  ye 
 have  profaned  in  the  midst  of  them  ;  and  the 
 lieatlieu  shall  k[iow  that  I  um  the  Lord,  saith 
 tlie  Lord  Gon,  when  I  shall  be  "^  sanctified  in 
 you  hefore  ||  their  eyes. 
 
 •24  For "  I  will  take  you  from  among  the  hea- 
 then, and  gather  yon  out  of  all  countries,  and 
 will  hringyou  into  your  own  land. 
 
 25  H '  Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon 
 you,  and  ye  shall  he  clean  :  ^  from  all  your 
 filthiness,  and  from  all  your  idols,  will  I  cleanse 
 you. 
 
 26  A  ''  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a 
 new  spirit  v\'ill  I  put  within  you  :  and  I  will 
 take  away  the  stony  heart  out  of  your  flesh, 
 and  I  will  give  you  an  lieart  of  flesh. 
 
 27  And  1  will  put  my  '  spirit  within  you,  and 
 cause  you  to  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  ye  shall 
 keep  my  judgments,  and  do  them. 
 
 28  "  And  ye  shall  dwell  in  the  land  that  I 
 gave  to  your  fathers ;  '  and  ye  shall  be  my 
 people,  and  I  will  be  your  God. 
 
 29  1  will  also  "'  save  you  from  all  your  un- 
 cleannesses:  and  "  I  will  call  for  the  corn,  and 
 will  increase  it,  and  "  lay  no  famine  upon  you. 
 
 .30  ''  And  I  will  multiply  the  fruit  of  the  tree, 
 and  the  increase  of  the  field,  that  ye  shall  re- 
 ceive no  more  reproach  of  famine  among  the 
 heathen. 
 
 31  Then '■shall  ye  remember  your  own  evil 
 ways,  and  your  doings  that  were  not  good,  and 
 'shall  lotbe  yourselves  in  your  own  sight  for 
 your  iniijuities  and  for  your  abominations. 
 
 .32  '  Not  for  your  sakes  do  I  this,  saith  the 
 Lord  God,  be  it  known  unto  you  :  be  ashamed 
 and  confounded  for  your  own  ways,  O  house 
 of  Israel. 
 
 33  Tlius  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  In  the  day 
 that  I  shall  have  cleansed  yon  from  all  your 
 iniquities  I  will  also  cause  you  to  dwell  in  the 
 cities,  '  and  the  wastes  shall  be  buildcd. 
 
 34  And  the  desolate  land  shall  be  tilled, 
 whereas  it  lay  desolate  in  the  sight  of  all  that 
 passed  by. 
 
 35  And  they  shall  say,  This  land  that  was 
 desolate  is  become  like  the  garden  of  "  Eden  ; 
 and  tlie  waste  and  desolate  and  ruined  cities 
 are  heroine  fenced,  and  are  inhabited. 
 
 36  Then  the  heathen  that  are  left  round 
 about  you  shall  know  that  I  the  Lord  build 
 
 B.C. 
 rir.  I>m7. 
 
 c  Pb.  106.  8. 
 
 11.  C. 
 cir.  .WT. 
 
 X  ch.  17.  21. 
 &  Ti.  14.  ^ 
 
 y  See  cli.  11. 
 
 ■oil.  3-1.  Vi. 
 
 H  -ii.  21. 
 
 /■Is.  52.  15. 
 
 Heb    10.22. 
 i*  Jt-r.  33.8. 
 
 AJer.  32.39. 
 ch.  II.  19 
 
 ich.  II    ly. 
 &  37.  11. 
 
 k  ch.  S9.  25. 
 
 &  37.  25, 
 I  .ler.  ao   22 
 
 ch,  II.  20, 
 
 &  37.  27. 
 m  M:xt.  1.21, 
 
 Kom.ll  2ii, 
 nScePi;.ll'5 
 
 10. 
 ..  ch    S4    2n. 
 ,.  Ch.  SI    27 
 
 •  Lev  -2f.  S'.i 
 ch.  Ii.  9.  (<( 
 2(1.  'Y.\. 
 
 .  Dcu.  9.  5 
 
 vcr.  2'2. 
 
 ■i  Is.  51 .  3. 
 rh.  28. 13. 
 Jo.l  2.  3. 
 
 t  Heh  yr.,c(t 
 
 cir.  5S7 
 a  ch  1.3. 
 b  ch.  3.  11. 
 
 &  S  3.  &  1! 
 
 21.  Liikc  4 
 
 I. 
 
 II  Ov,chiim- 
 
 p.- 
 
 i3 
 
 •^9 
 
 1  -s 
 
 iin. 
 
 '.  a 
 
 .h.1 
 
 II  5. 
 
 ■.'1, 
 
 U..I 
 
 1  -1 
 
 17, 
 
 2i; 
 
 -v. 
 
 .  y. 
 
 II  Oi,  liriinth. 
 /Pa.  101.30. 
 
 the  ruined  places,  and  plant  tliat  that  was 
 desolate  :  *  1  the  Lord  have  spoken  it,  and  I 
 will  do  it. 
 
 37  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  ^  I  will  yd  for 
 this  be  enquired  of  by  the  house  of  Israel,  to 
 do  it  for  them  ;  I  will  ^  increase  them  with 
 men  like  a  flock. 
 
 38  As  the  f  holy  flock,  as  the  flock  of  Jeru- 
 salem in  her  solenm  feasts  ;  .so  shall  the  waste 
 cities  be  filled  with  flocks  of  men  :  and  they 
 shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVII. 
 
 1  By  the  resurrection  of  dry  bones,  1 1  the  dead  hope  of 
 fsraet  is  revived.  15  By  the  unitiny  of  two  sticks, 
 18  is  shewed  the  incorporation  of  Israel  into  Judith. 
 20  Thepromises  of  Christ's  kinydoui. 
 
 'T'HE  °  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon  me,  and 
 ■'-  carried  me  out  ''in  the  spirit  of  the  Lord, 
 and  .set  me  down  in  the  midst  of  tlie  valley 
 which  was  full  of  bones, 
 
 2  And  caused  me  to  pass  by  them  round 
 about  :  and,  behold,  there  were  very  many  in 
 the  open  ||  valley  ;  and,  \o,they  toere  very  dry. 
 
 3  And  he  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  can 
 these  bones  live  ?  And  I  answered,  O  Lord 
 God,  °  thou  knowest. 
 
 4  Again  he  said  unto  me.  Prophesy  upon 
 these  bones,  and  say  unto  them,  O  ye  dry 
 bones,  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 5  Thus  saitli  tlie  Lord  God  unto  these  bones  ; 
 Behold,  I  will  ■^  cause  breath  to  enter  into  you, 
 and  ye  shall  live  : 
 
 6  And  I  will  lay  sinews  upon  yon,  and  will 
 bring  up  flesh  upon  you,  and  cover  yon  with 
 skin,  and  put  breath  in  you,  and  ye  shall  live  ; 
 "  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 
 
 7  So  I  prophesied  as  I  was  commanded  :  and 
 as  I  prophesied,  there  was  a  noise,  and  behold 
 a  shaking,  and  the  bones  came  together,  bone 
 to  his  bone. 
 
 8  And  when  I  beheld,  lo,  the  sinews  and  the 
 flesh  came  up  upon  tliem,  and  the  skin   co- 
 
 ered  them  above  :  but  there  was  no  brcatli  in 
 them. 
 
 9  Then  said  he  unto  me.  Prophesy  unto  the 
 wind,  iirophe.sy,  son  of  man,  and  say  to  the 
 
 wind,  Thus  .saith  the  Lord  Gou  ;  '  Come  from 
 the  four  winds,  O  breath,  and  breathe  upon 
 these  slain,  that  they  may  live. 
 
 10  So  I  prophesied  as  he  commanded  me, 
 ^  and  the  breath  came  into  them,  and  they 
 lived,  and  stood  up  upon  their  feet,  an  exceed- 
 ing great  army. 
 
 1 1  1  Then  lie  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  these 
 bones  are  the  whole  house  of  Israel  :  behold, 
 
 the  ungodly  behaviour  of  the  Jews.— GiV/.  25.  Then  wilt  I  sprhtkle. 
 Sfc,  the  expression  alludes  to  those  legral  purifications  which  were  made 
 by  sprinltling  water  upon  the  unclean  person,  (see  Num.  viii.  7;  xix. 
 13.)  St.  Paul  may  probably  allude  to  this  text  in  Hcb.  x.  22. — Preh. 
 Lowth.  From  what  fnllows,  moral  purity  is  here  intended,  (comp. 
 cha[).  xi.  U»,  20,  and  Jer.  xxxi.  33.) — Boothr.  Tlie  truly  cleansin? 
 water — the  intluences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  typified  by  water,  whose  pro- 
 perty is  the  hL'art. — So  Clarke.  26.  A  new  heiirt,  ?fn. — cnmp.  Ezclt. 
 xi.  ly  ;  a  renewed  frame  and  soul ;  a  disposition  of  mind  changed  from 
 sinful  to  holy.  Stony  heart,  stubborn,  seuscle>s.  intractable  heart. — 
 i'oole.     Give  yfm  an  heart  of  flesh,  make  your  hearts  tender  and  soft. — 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.\p.  XXXVI.  —  I.  *  How  much  to  be 
 hunented  is  it  when  God's  professiny  people  occasion,  tiis  name  to 
 be  blasphemed .'  TliG  Israelites  profaned  bis  name  among  the 
 heathen,  to  wlmm  tboy  should  have  been  teachers  of  religion 
 and  patterns  of  good  works.  Let  us,  therefore,  be  tender  of 
 tile  honour  of  God  and  religion,  and  behave  so  that  we  may 
 "  adorn  llio  doctrine  of  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ." 
 
 II.  '  God's  reasons  for  vurcy  are  drawn  from  himself.  *'  1  bad 
 889 
 
 Grefnhiil.  Give  you  hearts  that  can  feel  and  enjoy  ;  feel  love  to  God 
 and  all  men,  be  a  proper  habitation  for  the  living  God.  36.  Then  tlie 
 heathen  sliall  hniiw,  ^f.— the  whole  of  this  prophecy  falls  in  better  with 
 gospel  than  Jewish  times.— CTfir/tc  37-  Inr/uireil  of,  besought  and 
 prayed  unto  for  the  accomphshnient  of  these  promises.— Gi/;. 
 
 Chap.  XXXVll.—  1.  Carried  me  out,  in  vision.— 6i(i,  Clarke.  Full 
 of  tiunrs,  hieroglyphics  of  Israel's  present  condition.— i'uoic.  Q.  Come 
 from  the  four  winits,  O  tireath,  figuratively  representing  the  restoration 
 of  the  Jewish  naUon  from  the  scvcr.il  countries  whither  they  were  dis- 
 persed, (sec  chap.  v.  10;  xii.  \i.)—I'reh.  L'octh.  Also  their  recovery 
 from  their  present  dispersion,  and  pointedly  alluding  to  the  resurrection . 
 
 His  mercy  is  free,  and  tbe  deepest 
 
 pity  for  my  holy  name, 
 liumility  becomes  us. 
 
 III.  '  We  see  the  nature  of  repentance.  It  arises  from  a  re- 
 membrance of  sin,  and  consists  in  loathing  ourselves,  and  in 
 being  grieved  and  displeased  at  our  sinful  conduct.  Tbe  more 
 we  see  of  God's  purity,  and  tbe  more  we  experience  of  his 
 mercy,  tbe  more  reason  we  have  to  be  bumbled  before  liiiu.'"' 
 
 5  X 
 
The  incorporation  of  Israel  and  Jtidah.      EZEKIEL,  XXXVIII. 
 
 they  say,  ''Our  bones  are  dried, and  our  hope  is 
 lost :  we  are  cut  off  for  our  parts. 
 
 12  Therefore  prophesy  and  say  unto  them. 
 Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  Behold,  'O  my 
 people,  I  will  open  your  graves,  and  cause 
 you  to  come  up  out  of  your  graves,  and  ^  bring 
 you  into  tlie  land  of  Israel. 
 
 13  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord, 
 when  I  have  opened  your  graves,  O  my  peo- 
 ple, and  brought  you  up  out  of  your  graves, 
 
 14  And  '  shall  put  my  spirit  in  you,  and  ye 
 shall  live,  and  I  shall  place  you  in  your  own 
 land  :  then  shall  ye  know  that  I  the  Lord 
 have  spoken  it,  and  performed  it,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 15  IT  The  word  of  the  Lord  came  again  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 16  Moreover,  thou  son  of  man,  ""  take  thee 
 one  stick,  and  write  upon  it,  For  Judah,  and 
 for  "  tlie  children  of  Israel  his  companions  : 
 then  take  another  stick,  and  write  upon  it,  For 
 Joseph,  tlie  stick  of  Ephraim,  and  for  all  the 
 house  of  Israel  his  companions  : 
 
 17  And  "join  them  one  to  another  into  one 
 stick;  and  they  shall  become  one  in  thine 
 hand. 
 
 18  t  And  when  the  children  of  tliy  people 
 shall  speak  unto  thee,  saying,  '  Wilt  thou  not 
 shew  us  what  thou  meanest  by  these  ? 
 
 19  ''Say  unto  them.  Thus  saitli  the  Lord 
 fioD  ;  Behold,  I  will  take '  the  stick  of  Joseph, 
 which  is  in  the  hand  of  Ephraim,  and  the  tribes 
 ol  Israel  his  fellows,  and  will  put  them  with 
 Wm,  even  with  the  stick  of  Judah,  and  make 
 them  one  stick,  and  they  shall  be  one  in  mine 
 hand. 
 
 20  IT  And  the  sticks  whereon  thou  writest 
 shall  be  in  thine  hand  'before  their  eyes. 
 
 21  And  say  unto  them.  Thus  saitli  the  Lord 
 God  ;  Behold,  '  I  will  take  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael from  among  the  heathen,  whither  they  be 
 gone,  and  will  gather  them  on  every  side,  and 
 
 h  ch.  35.  S4. 
 ver,  25. 
 
 m  See  Num. 
 17.  S. 
 
 ■■SChr.  11. 
 \!.  13.  16. 
 Kc  1!>  9.  Sc 
 SJ.  11,  13. 
 
 p  ch.  IS.  9. 
 &  Si.  19. 
 
 q  Zcch.  10.6. 
 r  vcr.  16, 17. 
 
 I  lb.  12.3. 
 I  ch.  36.  24. 
 
 cir. 
 
 n  Is.  II.  13. 
 
 Jer.  3.  18. 
 
 ft  50.  4. 
 
 Hoa-  1.  II. 
 X  ch.  3.1  23, 
 
 21.  John  10. 
 
 16. 
 
 J  ch.  36.  25, 
 
 '1  Is.  40.  II. 
 
 .ler.  23.  5& 
 
 30.9.  cb. 31. 
 
 2;l.  21. 
 
 Hoa.  3  5. 
 
 Luke  1 .  32. 
 b  ver.  2'2. 
 
 John  10. 16. 
 r  ch.  .36.  27. 
 d  ch.  36.  23. 
 
 e  Is.  60  21. 
 
 Joel  3.  20. 
 
 Amo3  9.  IS. 
 /■  ver.  24. 
 ■  John  12.34. 
 S  P«.  89.  3. 
 
 Is.  55.  3. 
 
 Jer.  .32.  40. 
 
 ch.  31.  25. 
 A  ch.  36.  10, 
 
 1.16. 
 
 37. 
 
 42  Col 
 k  Lev.  2G  1 1 
 
 12.  ch  43.7. 
 
 John  I.  14 
 /ch.  II.  20, 
 
 fc  14.  II.  .Sc 
 
 36.  29- 
 m  ch.  36.  23. 
 n  ch.  20.  12. 
 
 a  ch.  39.  I 
 ich.  35.  2,3. 
 c  Rev.  20,  8, 
 
 The  promises  of  Christ's  kingdom. 
 
 bring  them  into  their  own  land  : 
 
 22  And  "  I  will  make  them  one  nation  in 
 the  land  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel ;  and 
 '■  one  king  shall  be  king  to  them  all :  and  they 
 shall  be  no  more  two  nation.s,  neither  shall 
 they  be  divided  into  two  kingdoms  any  more 
 at  all  : 
 
 23  ^  Neither  shall  they  defile  themselves  any 
 more  with  their  idols,  nor  with  their  detestable 
 things,  nor  witli  any  of  their  transgressions  : 
 but '  I  will  save  tliem  out  of  all  their  dweUing- 
 places,  wherein  they  have  sinned,  and  will 
 cleanse  them  :  so  .shall  thej'  be  my  people,  and 
 I  will  be  their  God. 
 
 24  And  "  David  my  servant  shall  be  king 
 over  them ;  and  ''they  all  shall  have  one  shep- 
 herd :  '  they  shall  also  walk  in  my  judgments, 
 and  observe  my  statutes,  and  do  them. 
 
 25  ''  And  they  shall  dwell  in  the  land  that  I 
 have  given  unto  Jacob  my  servant,  wherein 
 your  fathers  have  dwelt  ;  and  they  shall  dwell 
 therein,  ecen  they,  and  tlieir  children,  and  their 
 children's  children  "for  ever;  and  '  my  servant 
 David  shall  be  their  prince  for  ever. 
 
 2G  Moreover  I  will  make  a  *  covenant  of 
 peace  with  them  ;  it  shall  be  an  everlasting 
 covenant  with  them  :  and  I  will  place  them, 
 and  ''multiply  them,  and  will  set  my  'sanc- 
 tuary in  the  midst  of  them  for  evermore. 
 
 27  ''  My  tabernacle  also  shall  be  with  them  : 
 yea,  I  will  be  '  their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my 
 people. 
 
 28  "'And  the  heathen  shall  know  that  I  the 
 Lord  do  "sanctify  Israel,  when  my  sanctuary 
 shall  be  in  the  midst  of  them  for  evermore. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXVIII. 
 
 1  The  army,  8  and  malice  of  Gog.     14  GoiTs  judgment 
 against  hinu 
 
 A  ND  the  word  of  the  Loud  came  unto  me, 
 ■^^   saying, 
 2  "  Son  of  man,  ''  set  thy  face  against "  Gog, 
 
 — Greenf.  12,  /  will  open  pour  graven,  tliough  your  captivity  be  as 
 death. — Pnolp.  i6.  Take  thee  one  stick,  'one  rod;*  the  expression 
 alludes  to  Num.  xvii.  2.  Moses  is  commanded  to  take  twelve  rods, 
 one  for  each  tribe,  and  to  write  the  name  of  the  tribe  upon  the  rod. — 
 Preb.  Loivth.  Write  upon  it — the  custom  of  writing  upon  wood  was 
 practised  among  other  nations.  The  early  Greeks  preserved  the  laws 
 of  Solon  at  Athens,  on  billets  of  wood  called  aj^onss.  The  "Uitom  has 
 also  existed  in  our  own  and  other  northern  countries.— Pic(.  B-h. 
 19-  The  stick  of  Joseph,  that  is,  the  kingdom  of  Israel,  consisting  of  the 
 ten  tribes,  of  which  Ephraim  was  the  chief.  Stick  of  Judah,  kingdom 
 of  Judah.  Shall  be  one,  partly  fulfilled  in  the  return  from  Babylon, 
 when  many  of  the  ten  tribes  united  with  those  of  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
 and  became  one  nation  under  one  prince  till  the  coming  of  Christ ;  but 
 chiefly  designed  as  an  emblem  of  the  union  of  the  Jews,  when  they 
 shall  be  converted  in  the  latter  day,  (see  Isa.  xi.  13 ;  Jer.  1.  4 ;  Hos.  i. 
 U,  and  iii.  5  ;  Zeph.  iii.  9.)—Gill.  The  remainder  of  the  ten  tribes  be- 
 came one  with  Judah,  when  the  more  pure  returned  under  Zerubbabel. 
 The  rest  intermarried  with  the  heathen,  and  were  again  planted  in 
 Samaria.  But  the  whole  amount  was  few,  for  only  7000  infantry  and 
 230  cavalry  could  be  mustered  against  the  Syrians.  No  such  tribes  are, 
 therefore,  now  in  existence.— So  Sut.       23.  Out  of  all  their  dwelling. 
 
 places,  SfC,  *  from  all  their  backslidings  wherein  they  had  sinned.* 
 24.  And  David  my  servant,  ^c. — a  future  king  was  predicted  under  this 
 name,  (Isa.  Iv.  3,  4  ;  Jer.  xxx.  9  ;  Hos.  iii.  5  ;  Ezek.  xxxiv.  23,  24  ;  and 
 here.)  This  king  was  to  come  sifter  the  captivity,  and  his  reign  is  to 
 endure  for  ever  and  ever.  These  things  cannot  be  fulfilled  in  any  of 
 the  race  of  David,  unless  Messiah,  to  whom  the  Jews  themselves 
 apply  these  prophecies. — Boolhr.  25.  Given  u/ito  Jacob,  Jacob  here 
 means  the  twelve  tribes,  and  the  land  given  to  them  was  the  whole 
 land  of  Palestine;  consequently,  the  promise  states,  that  when  they 
 return  they  are  to  possess  the  whole  of  the  promised  land. — A.  Clarke. 
 CuAP.  XXXVIII.  —  1.  The  ivord  of  the  Lord  came—tY.e  prophecy  in 
 this  and  the  following  chapter,  without  question,  relates  to  the  latter 
 ages,  when  Israel  shall  return  into  their  own  land,  (chap.  xxxLx.25,2G.) 
 2.  Gog,  the  land  of  Magog,  or  '  of  the  land  of  Magog.*  Magog  was  the 
 son  of  Japheth,  (Gen.  x.  2,)  from  whence  the  Scythians  are  generally 
 supposed  to  be  derived.  The  Mogul  Tartars,  a  people  of  the  Scythian 
 race,  are  still  called  so  by  the  Arabian  writers.  By  '  Gog  and  Magog' 
 may  be  meant  the  Turks,  originally  natives  of  Tartary.  [Gog  was  the 
 common  name  of  the  Scythian  kings. — Boothr.']  The  people  here  called 
 Gog  and  their  allies  will  attempt  to  conquer  the  Jews  in  their  recovered 
 land.    This  may  probably  occasion  tlie  war  and  victory  here  predicted. 
 
 Reflections   on    Chap.    XXXVII We  may  consider 
 
 the  vision  in  this  chapter  as  illustrative  of— I.  The  recovery  of 
 the  Jews  from  captivity,  and  their  final  restoration.  The  one  in- 
 stance was  a  pledge  of  what  God  can  accomplish  in  the  other. 
 Still  preserved  a  distinct  people  among  all  nations— a  wealthy 
 and  in  many  instances,  on  that  account,  an  influential,  people 
 — we  may  look  upon  it  as  more  than  a  mere  dream,  that  this 
 people  may  return  to  their  own  land.  The  condition  of  that 
 country  is  at  this  time  peculiarly  interesting,  and  the  way  may 
 be  gradually  opening  for  the  final  accomplishment  of  this  pro- 
 phecy.   We  may  apply  this  to— 
 
 II.  The  conversion  of  sinners.  Though  the  tasTc  of  ministers 
 in  preaching  to  them  may  be  as  hopeless  as  that  of  prophesy- 
 ing to  the  dry  bones,  yet  God,  by  his  Spirit,  can  awaken  the 
 dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  and  from  such  raise  up  for  bis 
 glory  an  exceeding  great  army.  We  may  apply  this  to- 
 890 
 
 III.  The  revival  of  decayed  rch'yion.  '  Where  there  seems  to 
 he  nothing  hut  spiritual  death  upon  his  churches,  God  can 
 revive  them.'  *  The  consideration  of  this  should  support  our 
 faith  and  hope,  and  animate  our  prayers,  that  ho  would  "  re- 
 vive his  work  in  the  midst  of  the  years.'"  ^  We  may  apply 
 this  to — 
 
 IV.  The  resurrection  of  the  dead,  of  which  it  is  a  lively  em- 
 blem, 'They  that  are  in  their  graves  shall  come  forth.' 
 '  This  corruptible'  shall  then  *  put  on  incorruption,  and  this 
 mortal  shall  put  on  immortality.  Then  shall  be  brought  to 
 pass  the  saying  that  is  written,  Death  is  swallowed  up  in  vic- 
 tory. O  death,  where  is  thy  sting'?  0  grave,  where  is  thy 
 victory  '!  The  sting  of  death  is  sin.  and  the  strength  of  sin  is 
 the  law;  but  thanks  be  to  God  who  giveth  us  the  victory 
 through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 
 
The  (iniii)  iif  Gdij. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXVIII. 
 
 God's  judgment  ayaiiist  him. 
 
 the  land  of  Magog,  ||  the  chief  prince  of  ■'  Me- 
 shech  and  Tubal,  and  prophesy  against  him, 
 
 3  And  say.  Thus  saith  tlie  Lord  God  ;  Be- 
 hold, I  am  against  thee,  O  Gog,  the  chief 
 prince  of  Meshech  and  Tubal ; 
 
 4  And  "  I  will  turn  thee  back,  and  put  hooks 
 into  thy  jaws,  and  I  will  bring  thee  forth,  and 
 all  thine  army,  horses  and  horsemen,  '  all  of 
 them  clothed  with  all  sorts  of  armoiir,  even  a 
 great  company  tcith  bucklers  and  shields,  all 
 of  thein  handling  swords  : 
 
 5  Persia,  Ethiopia,  and  ||  Libya  with  them; 
 all  of  them  with  shield  and  helmet: 
 
 G  *■'  Gonier,  and  all  his  bands ;  the  house  of 
 ^  Togarmah  of  the  north  quarters,  and  all  his 
 bands  :  and  many  people  with  thee. 
 
 7  '  Be  thou  prepared,  and  prepare  for  thyself, 
 thou,  and  all  thy  company  that  are  assembled 
 unto  thee,  and  be  thou  a  guard  unto  them. 
 
 8  H  'After  many  days  '  thou  shalt  be  visited  : 
 in  the  latter  years  thou  shalt  come  into  the 
 land  that  is  brought  back  from  tlie  sword, 
 "'  and  is  gathered  out  of  many  people,  against 
 "  the  mountains  of  Israel,  which  have  been 
 always  waste :  but  it  is  brought  forth  out  of 
 the  nations,  and  they  shall  °  dwell  safely  all  of 
 them. 
 
 S)  Thou  shalt  ascend  and  come  ■'  like  a  storm, 
 thou  shalt  be  ''like  a  cloud  to  cover  the  land, 
 tliou,  and  all  thy  bands,  and  many  people  with 
 thee. 
 
 10  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Goo;  It  shall  also 
 come  to  pass,  that  at  the  same  time  shall 
 things  come  into  thy  mind,  and  thou  shalt 
 II  think  an  evil  thought: 
 
 I  I  And  thou  .shalt  say,  I  will  go  up  to  the 
 land  of  unvvalled  villages;  1  will  'go  to  them 
 tli.it  are  at  rest,  "  that  dwell  ||safely,  all  of  them 
 dwelling  vi'ithout  walls,  and  having  neither  bars 
 nor  gates, 
 
 I  -i  t  To  take  a  spoil,  and  to  take  a  prey ;  to 
 turn  thine  hand  upon  '  the  desolate  places 
 that  are  now  inhabited,  "  and  upon  the  people 
 that  are  gathered  out  of  the  nations,  which 
 have  gotten  cattle  and  goods,  that  dwell  in  the 
 
 II   Or,  prince 
 d  Oh.  as.  9lj. 
 
 eZ  Kin.  19. 
 28.  ch.  2y.4. 
 
 /cU.23.  12. 
 
 I  Or,  Ph>,l. 
 cli.  ST.  10. 
 
 &  .sa  &. 
 
 3  Gen.  10.  2. 
 h  cli.  27.  U. 
 
 '  Like  Is.  S. 
 {),  10.  .ler. 
 40  3,  4,  l+. 
 BiSl.  12. 
 
 kGfrn.  Vi.  I. 
 
 Dcu.  t.30. 
 
 ver.  16. 
 (  1«.  29.  6. 
 
 m  vcr.  12. 
 
 ch.  M.  13. 
 /I  ch.  30.  1, 
 
 4,8. 
 
 o  Jcr.  23.  6. 
 
 ch.  28.  26. & 
 
 S4.  25,  28. 
 
 ver.  1 1. 
 p  la.  28    2. 
 yjer,  J    13. 
 
 vei-.  10. 
 
 II  Ov,  cjiifi- 
 deutly. 
 
 \  Heb.   To 
 
 Fpiiil  the 
 
 sp<iil,  und  to 
 
 prei,  tha 
 
 prey. 
 
 ch.  29.  19. 
 (  ch.  36.  34, 
 
 3o. 
 
 t  H.b.  nanl. 
 JinlB.  9.  37. 
 X  ch.  27.  22, 
 
 b  la.  4.  1. 
 c  ver   8 
 
 d  ch.  39.  2. 
 e  ver.  fi. 
 
 /"ver. 
 
 h  Ex.  14.  4. 
 ch.  30,  23. 
 &  39.  21. 
 
 i  ch.  SO.  5,  C- 
 &  39.  26. 
 
 k  Pa.  89.  46. 
 
 /  Hap.  2.  6,7. 
 Bev.  16.  18. 
 
 t  Jcr.  i.  24. 
 Nah.  1.5,6 
 
 o  Ps.  105.  16 
 p  ch.  IJ.  17. 
 
 t  midst  of  the  land. 
 
 1.3  '  Sheba,  and  >'  Dedan,  and  the  merchants 
 '  of  Tarshish,  with  all  "  the  young  lions  thereof, 
 shall  say  unto  thee,  Art  thou  come  to  take  a 
 spoil  ?  hast  thou  gathered  thy  company  to 
 take  a  prey?  to  carry  away  silver  and  gold,  to 
 take  away  cattle  and  goods,  to  take  a  great 
 spoil  y 
 
 14  t  Therefore,  son  of  man,  prophesy  and  say 
 unto  Gog,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Gou  ;  "  In 
 that  day  when  my  people  of  Israel  '  dwelleth 
 safely,  shalt  thou  not  know  it  f 
 
 15  '^  And  thou  shalt  come  from  thy  place  out 
 of  the  north  parts,  thou,  °  and  many  people 
 with  thee,  all  of  them  riding  upon  horses,  a 
 great  company,  and  a  mighty  army: 
 
 16  'And  thou  shalt  come  up  against  my 
 people  of  Israel,  as  a  cloud  to  cover  the  land; 
 ^  it  shall  be  in  the  latter  day.s,  and  I  will  bring 
 thee  against  my  land,  ''  that  the  heathen  may 
 know  me,  when  I  shall  be  sanctified  in  thee,  O 
 Gog,  before  their  eyes. 
 
 17  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  Art  thou  he 
 of  whom  I  have  spoken  in  old  time  ]  by  my 
 servants  the  prophets  of  Israel,  which  prophe- 
 sied in  those  days  many  years  that  1  would 
 bring  thee  against  them  'i 
 
 18  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  at  the  same 
 time  when  Gog  shall  come  against  the  land  of 
 Israel,  saith  the  Lord  God,  that  my  fury  shall 
 come  up  in  my  face. 
 
 19  For  '  in  my  jealousy  ^  and  in  the  fire  of 
 my  wrath  have  I  spoken,  '  Surely  in  that  day 
 there  shall  be  a  great  shaking  in  the  land  of 
 Israel  ; 
 
 20  So  that  "  the  fishes  of  the  sea,  and  the 
 fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  the  beasts  of  the  field, 
 and  all  creeping  things  that  creep  upon  the 
 earth,  and  all  the  men  that  are  upon  the  face 
 of  the  earth,  shall  shake  at  my  presence,  "  and 
 the  mountains  shall  be  thrown  down,  and  the 
 II  steep  places  shall  fall,  and  every  wall  shall 
 fall  to  the  ground. 
 
 21  And  I  will  "call  for  ''a  sword  against 
 him  throughout  all  my  mountains,  saith  the 
 
 T/ie  chief  prince  of  Meshech — the  Sept,  take  the  word  12JN"1.  commonly 
 translatetl  '  chief,'  for  a  proper  name,  and  read,  '  the  prince  of  Rosh, 
 Meshech,  and  Tubal.'  Rosh,  taken  as  a  proper  name,  signifies  those 
 iidiabilants  of  Scythia  whence  the  Russians  derive  their  name  and  ori- 
 ginal.— Preh.  Lowth.  The  rendering  of  the  Sepl.  is  followed  by  Newc. 
 The  opinions  respecting  Gog  are  many,  and  are  as  follow: — Carabyses, 
 king  of  Persia. — Cttt.  Tlie  Americans,  originally  colonies  of  the  Scy- 
 thians, descendants  of  Magog,  son  of  Japheth. — Mede.  Scythians,  in- 
 cluding the  Russians  and  their  neighbours. — Hoitb.,  and  Preh.  Lowth 
 as  above.  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  the  great  enemy  of  Israel ;  Gog  sig- 
 nifies *  covered,*  an  allusion  to  his  wily  character.  Magog  means 
 Syria.— I>ai"irf  Martin,  adopted  by  Clarbe.  Nothing  occurred  in  the 
 wars  waged  by  llie  Syro-Grecian  kings  against  the  Jews  after  their 
 captivity,  or  in  their  contlicts  with  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  that  answers 
 to  it ;  and  it  is  foretold  that  these  events  would  be  fulfilled  '  in  the 
 latter  days.' — Scott.  The  Roman  Antichrist  is  meant. — Cocc.  The 
 enemies  of  Messiah  and  his  church  may  prob.'\hly  be  here  meant. — 
 Boothr.  To  the  preceding  may  be  added  the  opinions  of  other  writers 
 in  support  of  that  here  first  given.  The  Turk  is  here  probably  meant, 
 the  eastern  Antichrist,  who  will  endeavour,  in  vain,  to  regain  their 
 land  from  the  Jews. — (jitl.  According  to  its  first  and  proper  sense,  the 
 prophecy  intends  the  kings  of  Syria,  but  mystically  theTurlts.  the  Scy- 
 thian nation,  and  northern  people,  who,  by  a  like  attempt,  will  infest 
 the  church  of  the  people  of  God  and  invade  their  country. —  Vitr.  No 
 doubt,  Constantinople  is  the  capital  of  Gog. — Starkius.  It  would  seem, 
 that  when  the  Jews  shall  be  re-established  in  their  own  land,  theTurks 
 here  alluded  to,  or  the  Turks  and  Tartars,  will  unite  their  forces  to 
 afflict  the  Jews,  who  are  sup])osed  to  be  but  partially  converted  to 
 Christianity  when  this  shall  happen ;  and  that  the  Messiah  will,  by 
 some  transient  and  visible  appearance,  destroy  the  unhallowed  host, 
 as  he  once  destrojed  the  blaspheming  Assyrians. — Sut.  Meshech  und 
 'Fuii'tl — see  chap.  x.\\ii.  13.  Northern  nations  on  the  Euxine  Sea,  and 
 bordering  upon  Mount  Caucasus. — Preb.  Lowth.  Meshech,  very  pro- 
 bably the  same  with  the  Greek  M6a\oi,  'Moschi.'  Tubal  is,  by  Jos., 
 expressly  affirmed  to  be  the  father  of  the  Asiatic  Iberians. —  Welts. 
 4.  Put  hooks,  fyc. — see  2  Kings,  xk\k.  28,  note  ;  Isa.  xxxvii.  29 ;  Ezek. 
 xxix.  4.  It  alludes  to  the  manner  of  taking  the  crocodile.  5.  Persia, 
 ^c,  their  allies,  Ethiopia  and  l.ybia,  are  called  Cush  and  Fhut  in  the 
 891 
 
 Hebrew,  and  are  joined  together  as  allies,  (chap.  xxx.  5.)  Persians 
 are  joined,  in  like  manner,  with  Africans,  (chap,  xxvii.  10.)— PreA. 
 Lowth.  With  shield,  the  Lybians,  or  people  of  Phut,  were  remarkable 
 for  their  large  shields. — So  Xeiiophon.  6.  Corner,  the  eldest  son  of 
 Japheth,  (Gen.  x.  2,)  peopled  a  considerable  part  of  Asia-Minor,  whence 
 his  descendants  emigrated,  till  Germany,  France,  and  Britain  were 
 peopled  with  them.  They  were  called  Celts,  &c.—Cal.  Togarmah, 
 tfc,  the  name  of  the  third  and  last  son  of  Gomer ;  his  family  was  seated 
 in  the  most  easterly  part  of  the  nation  of  Gomer,  and  true  north  of 
 Judea  ;  in  process  of  time  the  Greeks  called  the  country  Cappadocia. — 
 Wells.  In  Scripture  language,  the  quarters  of  the  north  mean  the  pro- 
 vinces of  Mesopotamia,  and  even  Chaldea,  Mesopotamia,  Syria,  and 
 Babylon.— Co/.  7-  Be  tfiou  a  fjuard,  let  them  rely  on  Ihy  prowess 
 and  conduct  as  a  leader. — Preb.  Lowth.  Ironical. — Scott.  8.  After 
 miivi/  days,  after  tlie  Ottoman  empire  has  stood  a  long  time  ;  when  the 
 many  days  shall  be  ended  that  Israel  shall  be  without  a  king  and  a 
 prince,  &c.,  (Hos.  iii.  4.) — Gill.  In  the  latter  years,  or  days,  as  it  fol- 
 lows here  and  ver.  l6j  i.e.,  towards  the  end  of  the  world,  (comp.  Dan. 
 viii.  26.)  Latter  days  is  particularly  used  to  denote  the  times  of  the 
 restoration  of  the  Jews,  (see  Deut.  iv.  30;  Jer.  xxx.  24  ;  Hos.  iii.  5.)— 
 Preb.  Lowth.  Tlie  land  that  is  brought  hack,  ffC,  i.  e.,  Judea,  the  right 
 owners  of  which  shall  now  be  returned  unto  it;  who  have  been  for 
 many  years  driven  and  kept  out  of  it  by  the  sword  of  their  enemies, 
 (see  Jer.  xxxi.  2.)— Gil!.  13.  Sheba  and  Deilan,  (fc,  these  were  great 
 traders,  (see  chap,  xxvii.  15,20.)  17>«ng' /io7W,  perhaps  chief  merchants, 
 described  as  so  many  princes,  Isa.  xxiii.  8 ;  called  lions,  because  nf 
 their  injustice  and  oppression  in  commercial  dealings. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 Voung  men,  thirsty  of  blood,  but  more  of  spoil,  dock  to  Gog  to  share 
 in  the  spoil. — Poole.  17.  Art  thou  he,  that  is,  '  art  thou  not  he  ?'  so 
 
 the  particle  of  interrogation  often  imports.  18.  tit/fur),  ^c,  an  ex- 
 pression taken  from  human  passions,  which  cause  the  blood  to  fly  up 
 into  the  face.— /'ic*.  Lowth.  Itl.  A  great  shaking,  ^c,  the  idea  is 
 from  an  earthquake.— 7iuu6.  By  God's  judgments  on  the  invaders,  all 
 nature  will  be,  as  it  were,  thrown  into  convulsions  at  bis  presence. — 
 Scott.  20.  Steep  places,  terraces  surrounded  by  a  wall  to  i>reserve 
 the  soil  of  the  vineyards  from  being  washed  away  on  the  mountains  of 
 Palestine.— Jl/»7(«''/ts.  21.  /  ivill  criU  for  a  sword,  Sfc,  call  for  the 
 Christian  kings  to  assist  the  Jews  agaiusl  the  Turks.- Oi«.  The  people 
 
God's  judgment  vpon  Goff. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XXXIX. 
 
 Gog's  burial  in  Hamon-gog. 
 
 Lord  God  :  ''  every  man  s  sword  shall  be 
 against  his  brother. 
 
 ■22  And  I  will  ''plead  against  him  with  'pes- 
 tilence and  with  blood  ;  and  '  I  will  rain  upon 
 him,  and  upon  liis  bands,  and  upon  the  many 
 people  that  are  with  him,  an  overflowing  rain, 
 and  "  great  hailstones,  fire,  and  brimstone. 
 
 ■23  Thus  will  I  magnify  myself,  and  "^  sanctify 
 myself;  ''and  I  will  be  known  in  the  eyes  of 
 many  nations,  and  they  shall  know  that  I  am 
 the  Loud. 
 
 CHAP.  XXXIX. 
 
 I  GoiVx  jitflf/mcnt  npon  Gog.  8  Isrnrf's  lucfori/.  II 
 Goal's  hvrial  hi  IfiDrum-por/.  17  77/e  fensf  of  the 
 fowls.  23  Israel,  having  been  phigvnl  for  thuir  sins, 
 shall  hr  ijntheTcd  again  with  ttiTmil  favour, 
 
 'pHEREFORE,  "  thou  son  of  man,  prophesy 
 
 -"-  against  Oog,  and  say,  Tims  saith  the  Lord 
 God  ;  Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  O  Gog,  the 
 ehief  prince  of  Meshech  and  Tubal: 
 
 *2  And  I  will  turn  thee  hark,  and  ||  leave  but 
 the  sixth  part,  of  thee,  ''and  will  cause  thee  to 
 ronie  up  from  f  the  north  parts,  and  will  brhig 
 ilipc  upon  the  mountains  of  Israel : 
 
 -'i  And  1  will  smite  thy  bow  out  of  thy  left 
 hand,  and  will  cause  tliine  arrows  to  fall  out  of 
 tiiy  right  hand. 
 
 4  *"'  Thou  slialt  fall  npon  the  mountains  of 
 Israel,  thou,  and  all  thy  bands,  and  the  people 
 tliat  is  with  thre  :  ''  1  will  give  thee  unto  the 
 ravenous  birds  of  every  f  sort,  and  to  the  beasts 
 of  tlie  field  f  to  be  devoured. 
 
 3  Thou  shalt  full  upon  ]  the  open  field  :  for 
 I  have  spoken  //,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 G  "■'  And  I  will  send  a  fire  on  Magog,  and 
 among  them  that  dwell  ||  carelessly  in  ''the 
 isles :  and  they  shall  know  that  1  am  the 
 Lord. 
 
 7  ^  So  will  I  make  my  holy  name  known  in 
 the  midst  of  my  people  Israel;  and  I  will  not 
 frt  /A^m ''pollute  my  holy  name  any  more: 
 '  and  the  heatlicn  shall  know  that  I  am  the 
 Loud,  the  Holy  One  in  Israel. 
 
 8  U  ^  Behold,  it  is  come,  and  it  is  done,  saith 
 
 B   C. 
 cjr.  bSl. 
 
 7  3nAg.  7.22. 
 
 1  Sa    1 1-  211, 
 
 2  Clir.  I'O. 
 ■23. 
 
 r  Is.  66.  16. 
 
 Jer.  Sii   31. 
 s  v.h.  5.  17. 
 t  Va.  M.  C. 
 
 Is.  S9.  ti.  A 
 
 3ii.  30. 
 u  ch,  13.  11. 
 
 Hev.  Iti.  21. 
 xcli.:ffi.  23. 
 V  I's.  9.  16. 
 ■  HI.S7.  2S.S( 
 
 39.  7 
 
 VLT.    I'i 
 
 cli. 
 
 II  Or,  tlrikc 
 t/tir  icit/i  tix 
 ;.%.„.,  .-or, 
 draie  thee 
 back  with  ait 
 hook  of  tix 
 terth,  ' 
 3S.  I. 
 
 (•  ch    SS    15. 
 
 \  llcb.  /'"• 
 tidr$  of  the 
 n"flh.' 
 
 coll,  :W.  21- 
 vt-r   17. 
 
 d  cli.  S3.  27. 
 t  Heb.  wing. 
 
 \  Hob   to 
 
 ilmour . 
 f  Hib.  the 
 
 face  o/thr 
 
 'field. 
 
 r  oh.  38.  ?2. 
 
 Amos  I.  4, 
 II  Or,  ro,./i- 
 
 /  Ps,  72.  10. 
 y  vor   22. 
 
 A  Lev.  18.  SI. 
 ch.  2".  39. 
 
 ."  ch, :«.  10, 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  as;. 
 
 \\OT,javeliiit. 
 \\Or,  make  a 
 
 II  That  is, 
 T/.C  wKlii- 
 tx.lr  o/(;..g 
 
 (■  Heb.  men 
 
 "/  cottlinu- 
 
 q  VC.    l-i. 
 
 rHov.  19.17. 
 t  Heb.  to  the 
 
 *  Is"''l's.  6.  & 
 31,  G.  Jer. 
 \-l.  9.  Zeph. 
 I.  7. 
 
 the   Lord  God  ;  this  is  the  day  ^  whereof   I 
 have  spoken. 
 
 9  And  they  that  dwell  in  the  cities  of  Israel 
 shall  go  forth,  and  shall  set  on  fire  and  burn 
 the  weapons,  both  the  shields  and  the  buck- 
 lers, the  bows  and  the  arrows,  and  the  ||  hand- 
 staves,  and  the  spears,  and  they  shall  |j  burn 
 them  with  fire  seven  years  : 
 
 10  So  that  they  shall  take  no  wood  out  of 
 the  field,  neither  out  down  any  out  of  the 
 forests  ;  for  they  shall  burn  the  weapons  with 
 fire  :  ""  and  they  shall  spoil  those  that  spoiled 
 them,  and  rob  those  that  robbed  them,  saith 
 the  Lord  God. 
 
 1 1  t  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  I  will  give  unto  Gog  a  place  there  of 
 graves  in  Israel,  the  valley  of  tlie  passengers 
 on  the  east  of  the  sea  :  and  it  sliail  stop  the 
 II  no.ses  oi  the  passengers:  and  tliere shall  they 
 bury  Gog  and  all  his  multitude:  and  they  shall 
 call  it  The  valley  of  ||  Hamon-gog. 
 
 I'i  And  seven  months  shall  the  house  of 
 Israel  be  burying  of  them,  "  that  they  may 
 cleanse  the  land. 
 
 I'J  Yea,  all  the  people  of  the  land  shall  bury 
 them  ;  and  it  shall  be  to  them  a  renown  the 
 day  that  "I  shall  be  glorified,  saith  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 14  And  they  .<ihall  sever  out  f  men  of  con- 
 tinual employment,  passing  througli  the  land  to 
 bury  with  the  passengers  those  that  remain 
 upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  ''  to  cleanse  it : 
 after  the  end  of  seven  months  shall  they 
 search. 
 
 \5  And  the  passengers //m/  pass  through  the 
 land,  when  ani/  seeth  a  man's  hone,  then  shall 
 he  t  set  up  a  sign  by  it,  till  the  biniers  have 
 buried  it  in  the  valley  of  Hamon-gog. 
 
 Hi  And  also  the  name  of  the  city  shall  be 
 II  Hamonaii.  Thus  shall  they  '^  cleanse  the 
 laud. 
 
 !7  1[  And,  thou  son  of  man,  thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  ;  '  Speak  t  unto  every  feathered 
 fowl,  and  to  every  beast  of  the  field, '  Assemble 
 
 of  Israel,  God*s  firmy. — Pnnle.  God  will  give  his  people  courage  to 
 attack  the  invaders. — Boothr.  I  will  appoint  a  sword  to  destroy  him, 
 (comp.  chap.  xiv.  17.) — rreb.  Lowth.  Perhaps  it  may  sig-nify  some  ex- 
 traordinary stroke  of  God's  own  hand,  as  in  the  destruclion  of  Senna- 
 cherib's army.  Evcrif  man^s  sword,  ^n.,  or,  here  it  would  seem  ex. 
 plained  as  if,  by  some  terrible  intervention  of  God,  the  enemy  should  bo 
 thrown  intn  consternation,  and  in  their  mistake  and  alarm  destroy  each 
 other,  so  that  the  weapon  of  destruction  shoulil  lie  their  own  sword, 
 (see  Judgr.  vii.  22 ;  2  Chron.  xx.  23,  2.^.)  22.  Wilh  pestiienctu  this  is 
 
 joined  with  blood,  and  as  it  would  be  some  sudden  blast,  accompanied 
 with  a  fearful  storm,  the  idea  first  suk^trcstcd  is  the  more  probable. — Ed. 
 The  armies  nf  the  Canaanites  and  Philistines  were  discomfited  by  tem- 
 pests of  thunder  and  hail,  (see  Josh.  x.  10  ;  1  Sam.  vii.  10  ;  comp.  Ps. 
 xi.  6  ;  Isa.  xxix.  fi;  XXX.  30  ;  and  see  chap.  xiii.  !!,  of  this  prophecy.) 
 — Prrb,  Lowth. 
 
 Chap.  XXXIX.  —2.  Tura  thee  back,  ^c,  "T>m2©1.  '  and  I  will  turn 
 thee  and  lead  thee  about.'— BooMr.,  as  Se'pt.,  Chald.,   Vulg.,  Pise, 
 
 Grot.     y^>ii•CyD^.     And  leave  but  the  .^ivth  part  of  thve.  not  that  a  sixth 
 nni  y  should  escape  vengeance,  for  it  seems  as  if  the  whole  army 
 
 pait  I 
 
 should  be  destroyed  ;  but  on  this  expedition,  a  sixth  part  only  of  his 
 subjects  should  be  left  behind  :  five  out  of  six  should  accompany  him, 
 so  numerous  'should  his  army  be,  and  so  drained  his  country  by  this 
 enterprise.— ffi//,  so  Poole.  - 1  will  draw  thee  out  with  a  hook  of  six 
 teeth,' i.e.,  out  of  his  own  land;  see  the  figure  in  chap,  xxxviii.  4. 
 Hooks  of  three  prongs  were  commoidy  used,  but  here  one  of  six  is 
 mentioned,  expressive  of  greater  certainty  of  taking'  and  more  firmly 
 securing  the  enemy.  Sec  the  word  riTC  in  Buxtorf.  *  I  will  judge 
 thee  with  six  judgments.'— /iTmicAf,  and  others.  And  will  cause  thee, 
 *  after  I  have  caused  thee,'  &e.— Pr<A.  Lnn-th.  '  When  I  cause  thee.' 
 —Buuthr.  3.  Smite  thy  bow,  ^c.,  bows  and  arrows  arc  here  pat  for 
 
 all  kinds  of  warlike  instruments,  they  being  then  most  in  use.— Gilt. 
 
 6.  Fire,  fierce  judgments,  (sec  chap.  xxx.  S.)  /s/m,  maritime  regions 
 bordering  on  the  Mediterranean,  (see  chap,  xxxviii,  13.) — Newcome. 
 9.  Sbalt  go  fvrth,  i.e.,  the  inhabitants  shall  go  forth  to  the  field  of 
 ticath,  and  collect  tlie  armour  for  fuel. — So  Gill.  Seven  years,  i.  e., 
 many  years. — Grot.  Perhaps  a  long  while,  but  this  intimates  thai  the 
 slaughter  would  be  immense. — Boothr.  It  may  be  literally  taken, 
 cunsideriug  the  number  of  the  foes  and  the  HtUe  use  of  fire  in  tliose 
 hot  countries. — Gill,  as  Cut.  Seven  is  a  certain  for  an  indeterminate 
 number;  however,  some  of  tlic  weapons  might  have  been  found  at 
 different  intervals,  and  burnt  during  the  seven  years. — So  Clarke,  who 
 applies  this  to  Antiochus,  but  certainly  ntit  on  strong  evidence.— i-^rf. 
 11.  0/ the  sea,  Genesareth,  so  the  Chnldrc  Paraphrast.  In  the  Hebrew, 
 lakes  arc  called  seas.  The  valley  near  this  lake  is  called  the  valley  of 
 the  passengers,  because  it  was  a  great  road  by  which  the  merchants  and 
 traders  from  Syria  and  other  eastern  countries  went  into  Egypt.— Pre6. 
 Lowth.  And  it  shall  stop  the  nusea,  or  mouths,  ^c.,  the  noisome  stench 
 of  the  carcases.—/?;;.  Hall,  &c.  The  easterns  press  their  nostrils  toge- 
 ther with  their  fingers  when  they  smell  anything  offensive,  and  say, 
 the  had  smell  has  stopjied  their  nose.— So  Hob.  Or  the  mouths  of 
 blasphemers,  when  they  observe  this  monument  of(;ud*s  power.— tfiW. 
 Dnorn  BH  ^*'n  nt)Dm,  '  and  it  shall  stop  the  passengers,'  from  passing 
 that  way. — Starktus,  Voce.  12.  Sei'ejt  months,  i^r.,  owing  to  their 
 
 numbers,  and  their  bones  being  widely  scattered.  Burying  of  them, 
 parUy  out  of  humanity,  partly  from  the  disagreeable  sight,  and  partly 
 to  prevent  the  air  being  infected. — Gill.  14.  Ciuitinuat  employment, 
 to  be  daily  employed.  16.  Name  of  the  city,  nearest  to  this  place,  or 
 it  may  be,  a  new  city  may  be  built  to  perpetuate  its  memory, — Gill. 
 17.  Gather  yuurselres — to  my  sacrifice,  an  animated  address  to  the 
 birds  of  prey.  This  bold  imagery  is  founded  upon  the  custom  of  invita- 
 tions to  feasts  after  sacrifices,  (see  Gen.  xxxi.  54  ;  1  Sam.  xvi.  3  ■,  Zcph. 
 i.  7;  comp.  Isa.  xxxiv.O.)— iVeuJC.    The  punishment  here  inflicted  God 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXXVIIL  — To  whatever  event 
 this  prophecy  may  refer— L  We  see  the  fearful  fate  nf  the  ene- 
 mies of  God's  people.  His  judgments  shall  overtake'them  and 
 cut  them  off  as  the  devouring  sword.  O  let  us  dread  his 
 anger,  and  'flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  •' 
 892 
 
 II.  Jfe  see  that^  in  all  the  movements  of  tlie  world,  God  will  ad- 
 vance his  own  fjlonj.  This  should  still  our  fears,  quicken  our 
 holy  exertions,  and  encourage  us  to  renew  the  petition—'  Thy 
 kingdom  come' — '  that  thy  name  may  he  known  upon  carih, 
 tiiy  saving  health  among  all  nations.' 
 
The  feast  of  the  fowls 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XL. 
 
 The  lime  of  the  vision. 
 
 yourselves,  and  come ;  gather  yourselves  on 
 every  side  to  my  ||  sacrifice  that  I  do  sacrifice 
 for  you,  even  a  great  sacrifice  '  upon  the  moun- 
 tains of  Israel,  that  ye  may  eat  flesh,  and  drink 
 blood. 
 
 18  "  Ye  shall  eat  the  flesh  of  the  mighty,  and 
 drink  the  blood  of  the  princes  of  the  earth,  of 
 rams,  of  lambs,  and  of  f  goats,  of  bullocks,  all 
 of  them  "^  fallings  of  Bashan. 
 
 19  And  ye  shall  eat  fat  till  ye  be  full,  and 
 drink  blood  till  ye  be  drunken,  of  my  sacrifice 
 which  I  have  sacrificed  for  you. 
 
 20  '  Thus  ye  shall  be  filled  at  my  table  with 
 horses  and  chariots,  '  with  mighty  men,  and 
 with  all  men  of  war,  sailh  the  Lord  God. 
 
 •21  °  And  I  will  set  my  glory  among  the 
 heathen,  and  all  the  heathen  shall  see  my 
 judgment  that  I  have  executed,  and  '' my  hand 
 that  I  have  laid  upon  them. 
 
 tI2  '^^  So  the  house  of  Israel  shall  know  that  I 
 (im  the  Lord  their  God  from  that  day  and  for- 
 ward. 
 
 '23  t*"  And  the  heathen  shall  know  that  the 
 house  of  Israel  went  into  captivity  for  their 
 iniquity:  because  they  trespassed  against  me, 
 therefore  "  hid  I  my  face  from  them,  and  '  gave 
 them  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies :  so  fell 
 they  all  by  the  sword. 
 
 '24  '^  According  to  their  uncleanness  and  ac- 
 cording to  their  transgressions  have  I  done 
 unto  them,  and  hid  my  face  from  them. 
 
 25  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ; 
 i"  Now  will  I  bring  again  the  captivity  of  .lacob, 
 and  have  mercy  upon  the  'whole  house  of 
 Israel,  and  will  be  jealous  for  my  holy  name ; 
 
 '2G  "■  After  that  they  have  borne  their  shame, 
 and  all  their  trespasses  whereby  they  have 
 trespassed  against  me,  when  they  '  dwelt  safely 
 in  their  land,  and  none  made  them  afraid. 
 
 27  "'  When  I  have  brought  them  again  from 
 the  people,  and  gathered  them  out  of  their 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 I   VIT.      I. 
 
 f  Heb.  ^rett 
 
 X  Deu-32.11. 
 I's.  22.  12. 
 
 V  P9. 7G.  0. 
 ch.  38.  4. 
 I  Rev.  19.18. 
 
 a  ch.  38.  Ifi. 
 2;t. 
 
 h  Ex.  7.4. 
 c  vcr.  7,  28. 
 
 d  ch.  Sr,.  18, 
 19,  20,  23. 
 
 ePeo.31.  17. 
 
 la.  59.  2. 
 /  Lev.  26.25. 
 
 g  ch.  86.  19. 
 
 /I  Jer .  SO.  3, 
 IS.  ch.  M. 
 13.  &.S6.2I. 
 
 1  ch.  211.  M. 
 Hos.  I.  M. 
 
 /(  Dan.  9.  16. 
 
 i  ch.  88.  26, 
 ■26. 
 
 U.  C 
 cir.  567. 
 
 n  ch.  36.  23, 
 21.  Sc33   16. 
 
 «  ch.  S4.  30. 
 vcr.  22. 
 
 f  Hell,  b^  "iti 
 cKtinff  of 
 
 p  U.  5t.  8. 
 
 7  Joel  2.  2S 
 Zech. 12.10. 
 Acts  2.  17. 
 
 n  ch.  33.  21. 
 f>  ch.  I.  3. 
 
 :  ch.  3.  3 
 ■I  Rev.  21.10. 
 
 ch.  1.7. 
 
 Dan.  10.  6. 
 /cli.  47.  3. 
 J  Rev.  II.  1. 
 
 b  21.  15. 
 
 i  ch.  43.  !0. 
 It  ch.  42.  20. 
 
 enemies'  lands,  and  "  am  sanctified  in  them  in 
 the  sight  of  many  nations  ; 
 
 28  °  Then  shall  they  know  that  I  am  the 
 Lord  their  God,  f  wliich  caii-sed  them  to  be 
 led  into  captivity  among  the  heathen  :  but  1 
 have  gathered  them  unto  their  own  land,  and 
 have  left  none  of  them  any  more  there. 
 
 29  ■' Neither  will  I  hide  my  face  any  more 
 from  them  :  for  I  have  ''  poured  out  my  spirit 
 upon  the  house  of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XL. 
 
 I  T/ie  timr,  mnnm-r,  and  end  of  Iftc  vision.  6  Tiie 
 description  of  the  east  gate,  20  of  the  north  ffnte,  24 
 of  the  south  i/tite,  32  of  the  east  gate,  35  and  of  the 
 north  f/ute.  89  Eight  tables.  44  The  ehambers. 
 48  The  jinrrh  of  the  house. 
 
 TN  the  five  and  twentieth  year  of  our  capti- 
 -*-  vity,  in  the  lioginning  of  the  year,  in  the 
 tenth  </o_yof  the  niontli,  in  the  fourteenth  year 
 after  that  "the  city  was  smilten,  in  the  self- 
 same day  ''  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon 
 me,  and  brought  me  thither. 
 
 2  "^  In  the  visions  nf  God  brought  he  me  into 
 the  land  of  Israel,  ''  and  set  me  upon  a  very 
 high  mountain,  ||by  which  icas  as  the  frame  of 
 a  city  on  the  south. 
 
 3  And  he  brought  me  thither,  and,  behold, 
 (here  ivas  a  man,  whose  appearance  was  "  like 
 the  appearance  of  brass,  '  with  a  line  of  flax  in 
 his  hand,  ^  and  a  measuring  reed  ;  and  he 
 stood  in  the  gate. 
 
 4  And  the  man  said  unto  me,  ''  Son  of  man, 
 behold  with  thine  eyes,  and  hear  with  tliine 
 ears,  and  set  thine  heart  upon  all  that  I  shall 
 shew  thee  ;  for  to  the  intent  that  I  might 
 shew  them  unto  thee  art  thou  brought  hither: 
 '  declare  all  that  thou  seest  to  the  house  of 
 Israel. 
 
 5  And  behold  '■  a  wall  on  the  outside  of  the 
 house  round  about,  and  in  the  man's  hand  a 
 
 calls  a  sacrifice,  which  he  offers  to  his  own  justice  to  satisfy  that. — Poole. 
 See  Rev.  .\ix.  1",  18.  is.  of  rains,  ^c.,  kings,  princes,  dukes,  rulers, 
 and  governors,  compared  to  the  well-fed  cattle  of  Bashan,  for  their 
 hulk,  strength,  and  wealth,  Targ. :  Jarrhi,  Kimr/ii,  Gill,  so  ^ewc.  See 
 Deut.  xx.Ttii.  14.  20.  Horses  and  ehariots, '  horses  and  their  riders.' — 
 Newc,  as  Sept.,  Si/r.,  Vnlg.  ;  so  Boothr.  23.  Cttptivity  for  tlieir  ini- 
 'initij.  not  because  I  wanted  power  to  rescue  them,  or  will  to  do  them 
 kindness. — Cal.  25.  Brin^  attain  tite  captivity — see  chap,  xxxiv.  13  ; 
 xxxvi.24;  xxxvii.  21.  '^i;i.  Poured  out  in;i  .v"'*''.  which  is  a  spirit 
 of  sanctification.to  make  them  holy,  and  a  spirit  of  strength  to  confirm 
 them  in  holiness,  and  of  adoption,  to  sweeten  obedience  to  them  ;  they 
 shall  not,  they  will  not,  depart  from  me,  according  to  the  promises, 
 (chap.  xi.  19,  20;  x.x-\vi.  25— 27  ;  xxxvii.  23— 28j  Jer.  xxxi.  31,  &c., 
 and  xxxii.  37 — \Q.)— Poole. 
 
 Chap.  XL. —  1.  Five  and  twentieth  year,  fyc,  the  twenty-fifth  year 
 of  Jehoiachim's  captivity  was  the  fourteenth  year  after  the  taking  of 
 •Jerusalem. — Newc.  2.  Hii^h  mountain,  points  out  Moriah. — Poole, 
 Lowth,  Cal.  The  exaltaUou  if  tlie  true  worship. — Mich.  The  Chris- 
 tian church,  (see  Isa.  ii.  2.)~Preb.  Lowth.  It  is  needless  to  inquire 
 wliat  Uiis  mountain  was,  since  no  material  temple  is  exhibited  to  be 
 built  upon  it;  nor  would  such  a  mountain,  especially  Zion  or  Moriah, 
 have  been  a  proper  place,  if  a  material  temple  at  Jerusalem  was  here 
 designed,  which  must  have  stood  upon  it. — Gill.  3.  A  man,  not  a 
 created  angel,  but  the  Messiah,  the  builder  and  owner  of  the  city  and 
 temple. — Gill.  The  same,  no  doubt,  that  appeared  to  the  prophet, 
 (chap.  i.  26.) — Poole.  This  angel  is  far  inferior  to  the  Logos  or  Mes- 
 siah, who  commissioned  bim,  as  in  the  first  chapters. — Sut.  It  may  be 
 questioned  whether  this  was  not  a  created  angel. — Scott.  Appearance 
 of  brass,  bright  and  sparkling. — Nexee.  Line  of  flar,  a  plumb  line,  a 
 mason's  line,  to  discover  the  rectitude  of  the  building,  or  its  defects. — 
 Poole.  To  measure  tbe  outward  and  more  spacious  courts.  A  mea- 
 suring reed,  to  take  the  dimensions  of  the  walls  and  buildings.  Bp. 
 Hall.  4.  The  man.  CNTT,  a  different  word  from  that  applied  to  the 
 prophet,  Dlci  p,  *snn  of  Adam,'  having  earth  for  bis  oriirin. — Sut. 
 Declare  alt  tha  t  thou  seest,  this  temple  was  designed  to  assure  the 
 
 people  that  their  temple  should  be  restored,  and  to  serve  as  a  model  for 
 rebuilding  it.  The  Jewish  writers  assert  that  its  description  was  so 
 \iseii.—Lif;htfoot.  The  prophets  remindeil  the  people  of  the  loss  which 
 they  had  suffered  from  their  unrighteousness,  and  furnished  them  with 
 a  model  upon  whicll  the  temple  might  again  rise  from  its  ruins.- ffm//. 
 The  temple  here  described  must  mean  that  which  was  built  on  the 
 return  of  the  Jews  from  Habvlon.- So  Alti.r  nnd  Seeker.  The  temple 
 here  spoken  of  is  certainly  not  the  templeof  Zerubbabel,  nor  the  temple 
 which  Herod  the  Great  began  to  build. —JI/"7ia<?(is.  The  chapter 
 neither  contains  a  prophecy  nor  predicts  any  future  event,  but  only 
 describes  what  might  have  been  done,  had  all  the  tribes  availed  them- 
 selves  of  their  opportunities  to  return.— ilaMe;  to  the  same  purport, 
 Grotius  and  Eiehhorn.  The  Spirit  of  God,  as  in  other  prophecies,  here 
 looked  to  a  period  beyond  the  restoration  of  the  temple.  Such  an  in- 
 terpretation is  agreeable  to  the  usage  of  the  prophets,  who  speak  of  the 
 future  dispensation  under  tbe  image  of  a  temple  or  city,  (see  Isa.  ii.  2, 
 and  Zech.  vi.  12,  13.)  Tbe  whole  vision  must  be  considered  as  a  mys- 
 tical representation  of  the  Messiah's  government- — Bp.  Bagot.  This 
 must  be  understood  mystically  and  figuratively  of  the  gospel  church, 
 which  is  often  spoken  of  as  a  city  and  temple,  (Heb.  xii-32;  Rev.  iii.  12.) 
 —Gill.  The  general  scope  of  Ezekiel's  temple  is,  by  giving  a  promise 
 of  restoring  Solomon's,  to  preserve  the  Jews  from  defiling  themselves 
 with  idolatry  during  their  captivity ;  and  when  the  time  of  that  should 
 be  expired,  to  encourage  tbem  to  go  home  and  rebuild  tbeir  temple,  and 
 observe  tbe  laws  and  ordinances  prescribed  by  Moses  for  performing 
 God's  worship  there;  which  yet  was  never  to  be  equal  to  Solomon's, 
 in  every  respect,  before  the  Messias  should  come,  whose  church  should 
 resemble  Solomon's  temple,  in  symmetry  and  beauty,  in  firmness  and 
 duration,  in  a  regular,  orderly,  and  decent  worship  of  the  true  God  j 
 and  in  tbe  manifcstatinn  of  the  Divine  Presence,  at  first  by  the  mira. 
 culous  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  ever  since  by  the  inward  assistances, 
 comforts,  and  protections,  of  the  same  Spirit.  Nothing  is  more  usual 
 than  for  the  prophets  to  describe  tbe  state  of  tbe  Christian  church  by 
 representations  taken  from  the  Jewish  temple  and  service.  —  Preh. 
 Lowth.        5.  .i  wall  on  the  outside,  to  separate  the  holy  ground  from 
 
 Reflections  on  Chat.   .XXXIX.  —  I.  How  terrible  is  the    that  liis  Holy  Spirit's  influence  may  be  poured  out  upon  our 
 vi-nqeance  of  God !    When  tbe  great  day  of  his  wrath  is  coine,    souls,  as  the  best  evidence  of  his  favour  aoJ  therefore  the 
 ,„  „.__.i  1.  heil  blessing  be  can  bestow  \ipon  us. 
 
 '  wLo  sbali  be  able  to  stand  '. 
 
 11.  HtAv  precious  is  the  gift  of  God^s  Spirit ! 
 893 
 
 Let  us  pray 
 
Ezehiel's  description 
 
 EZEKIEI,,  XL. 
 
 of  the  temple. 
 
 measuring  reed  of  six  cubits  loiif/  by  the  cubit 
 and  an  hand  breadtli :  so  he  measured  the 
 breadth  of  the  building,  one  reed ;  and  the 
 height,  one  reed. 
 
 6  f  Tlien  came  he  unto  the  gate  f  which 
 h)oketh  toward  the  east,  and  went  up  the 
 stairs  thereof,  and  measured  the  thresliold  of 
 the  gate,  which  uns  one  reed  broad  ;  and  the 
 otlier  threshold  of  the  r/ate,  which  ivas  one 
 reed  broad. 
 
 7  And  ever;/  little  chamber  was  one  reed 
 long,  and  one  reed  broad  ;  and  between  the 
 little  chaiubers  ivere  five  cubits  ;  and  the 
 threshold  of  the  gate  by  the  porch  of  tlie  gate 
 within  teas  one  reed. 
 
 8  He  measured  also  the  porch  of  the  gate 
 within,  one  reed. 
 
 9  Then  measured  he  the  porch  of  the  gate, 
 ciglit  cubits ;  and  tlie  posts  tliereof,  two  cu- 
 bits; and  the  porch  of  the  gate  a-«s  inward. 
 
 10  And  the  little  chambers  of  the  gate  east- 
 ward were  three  on  this  side,  and  three  on  that 
 side  ;  tliey  tliree  were  of  one  measure :  and 
 the  posts  had  one  measure  on  this  side  and  on 
 that  side. 
 
 1 1  And  he  measured  the  breadth  of  the  entry 
 of  the  gate,  ten  cubits;  and  the  length  of  the 
 gate,  tliirteen  cubits. 
 
 12  The  t  space  also  before  the  little  cham- 
 bers was  one  cubit  u)t  this  side,  and  the  space 
 leas  one  cubit  ou  that  side  :  and  the  little 
 chambers  were  six  cubits  on  this  side,  and  six 
 cubits  on  that  side. 
 
 13  He  measured  then  the  gate  from  the  roof 
 of  one  little  chamber  to  the  roof  of  anotlier  : 
 the  breadth  was  five  and  twenty  cubits,  door 
 against  door. 
 
 14  He  made  also  posts  of  threescore  cubits, 
 even  unto  tlie  post  of  the  court  round  about 
 the  gate. 
 
 15  And  from  the  face  of  the  gate  of  the  en- 
 trance unto  the  face  of  the  porch  of  the  inner 
 gate  were  fifty  cubits. 
 
 16  And  there  irere  '  f  narrow  windows  to  the 
 little  chambers,  and  to  their  posts  within  the 
 gate  round  about,  and  lilicwise  to  the  ||  arches: 
 and  windows  were  round  about  ||  inward  :  and 
 tipon  each  post  were  palm  trees. 
 
 17  Then  brouglit  he  me  into  ""the  outward 
 court,  and,  lo,  tliere  were  °  chambers,  and  a 
 pavement  made  for  the  court  round  about : 
 "thirty  chambers  ivere  upon  the  pavement. 
 
 18  And  the  pavement  by  the  side  of  the  gates 
 over  against  the  length  of  the  gates  was  the 
 lower  pavement. 
 
 19  Tlien  he  measured  the  breadth  from  the 
 forefront  of  the  lower  gate  unto  the  forefront 
 of  the  inner  court  ||  without,  an  hundred  cubits 
 eastward  and  northward. 
 
 20  t  And  the  gate  of  the  outward  court  f  that 
 looked  toward  the  north,  he  measured  the 
 length  thereof,  and  the  breadth  thereof. 
 
 21  And  the  little  chambers  thereof  were 
 three  on  this  side  and  tliree  ou  that  side  ;  and 
 the  posts  thereof  and  the  ||arclies  thereof  were 
 after  the  measure  of  the  first  gate  :  the  length 
 
 t  Heb.  irfco,, 
 face  was  /'.i 
 
 /  1  Kin.  r.    I 
 tHi:b.r(.,tJ 
 
 II  Or,  jnl- 
 hrut,  or 
 pcrc/.M. 
 
 11  Or,  ...1). 
 
 . 
 
 mBcv.U. 
 
 2 
 
 11  Kin.  C 
 
 6 
 
 t  Heb.  W.0) 
 /alt  was. 
 
 I  Or,  gat' 
 IrriVr,  or. 
 
 f>  See  ver. 
 Vt  Sti. 
 
 t    Ifrl,. 
 
 breadlli. 
 
 thereof  was  fifty  cubits,  and  the  breadth  five 
 and  twenty  cubits. 
 
 22  And  their  windows,  and  their  arches,  and 
 their  palm  trees,  were  after  the  measure  of  the 
 gate  that  looketh  toward  the  east ;  and  they 
 went  up  unto  it  by  seven  steps  ;  and  the  arches 
 thereof  icere  before  them. 
 
 23  And  the  gate  of  the  inner  court  was  over 
 against  the  gate  toward  the  north,  and  toward 
 the  cast  ;  and  he  measured  from  gate  to  gate 
 an  hundred  cubits. 
 
 24  t  After  that  he  brought  me  toward  the 
 south,  and  behold  a  gate  toward  the  south : 
 and  he  measured  the  posts  thereof  and  the 
 arches  thereof  according  to  these  measures. 
 
 25  And  there  were  windows  in  it  and  in  the 
 arches  thereof  round  about,  like  those  win- 
 dows :  the  length  was  fifty  cubits,  and  the 
 breadth  five  and  twenty  cubits. 
 
 26  And  there  were  seven  steps  to  go  up  to 
 it,  and  tlie  arches  thereof  were  before  them  : 
 and  it  had  palm  trees,  one  on  this  side,  and 
 another  on  that  side,  upon  the  posts  thereof. 
 
 27  And  there  leas  a  gate  in  tlie  inner  court 
 toward  the  soutli  :  and  he  measured  from  gate 
 to  gate  toward  the  south  an  hundred  cubits. 
 
 28  And  he  brought  me  to  the  inner  court  by 
 the  south  gate  :  and  he  measured  the  south 
 gate  according  to  these  measures  ; 
 
 29  And  tlie  little  chambers  thereof,  and  the 
 posts  thereof,  and  the  arches  thereof,  according 
 to  these  measures  :  and  there  were  windows 
 in  it  and  in  tlie  arches  thereof  round  about :  it 
 was  fifty  cubits  long,  and  five  and  twenty  cu- 
 bits broad. 
 
 30  And  the  arches  round  about  were  ''five 
 and  twenty  cubits  long,  and  five  cubits  f  broad. 
 
 31  And  the  arches  thereof  were  toward  the 
 utter  court ;  and  palm  trees  were  upon  the  posts 
 thereof:  and  the  going  up  to  it  /<«</ eight  steps. 
 
 32  1  And  he  brought  me  into  the  inner  court 
 toward  tlie  east :  and  he  measured  the  gate 
 according  to  these  measures. 
 
 33  And  the  little  chambers  thereof,  and  the 
 posts  thereof,  and  the  arches  thereof,  were  ac- 
 cording to  tliese  measures :  and  there  were 
 windows  therein  and  in  the  arclies  thereof 
 round  about:  it  was  fifty  cubits  long,  and  five 
 and  twenty  cubits  broad. 
 
 34  And  the  arches  thereof  zeere  toward  the 
 outward  court ;  and  palm  trees  were  upon  the 
 posts  thereof,  on  this  side,  and  on  that  side : 
 and  the  going  up  to  it  had  eight  steps. 
 
 35  f  And  he  brought  me  to  the  north  gate, 
 and  measured  it  according  to  these  measures  ; 
 
 36  The  little  chambers  thereof,  the  posts 
 thereof,  and  tlie  arches  thereof,  and  the  win- 
 dows to  it  round  about :  the  length  was  fifty 
 cubits,  and  the  breadth  five  and  twenty  cubits. 
 
 37  And  the  posts  thereof  were  toward  the 
 utter  court ;  and  palm  trees  were  upon  the 
 posts  thereof,  on  this  side,  and  on  tliat  side : 
 and  the  going  up  to  it  had  eight  steps. 
 
 38  And  the  chambers  and  the  entries  thereof 
 were  by  the  posts  of  the  gates,  wliere  they 
 washed  the  burnt  offering. 
 
 nrrfv  H ^"lir^.T.       "            .necrfo/si>™W«s, according  to  the  tables  l".  Outward  court,  there  were  two  courts  belonging  to  Solomon's 
 
 prenxen  to  the  Old  Testament  by  our  translators,  this  reed  would  mea-  temple,  the  outward  for  the  pcoiile,  the  inward  for  the  priests,  (men- 
 
 nnriw                ?  eleveo  feet,  but  oclv  nine  according  to  Poo/f,  3/ ic/i. ,  Honed  2  Kings,  xxi.  5.)    Herod  added  a  third,  the  court  of  the  Gentiles, 
 
 am  jMfwc.       lb.  p„lm  trees,  a  palm  tree  was  carved  on  the  chapiter  of  when  he  rebuilt  the  temple.        30.  Ctit,its  long,  length  here,  as  in  Ter. 
 
 i„i;>    . "''°.  "  """^-—Preb.  Lou'tli.    The  favourite  capital  in  eastern  11,  seems  to  he  put  for  lieight,— Puoie,  Prcb.  Louitli i  but  query  )—fFi7. 
 Hrcbitecturc  IS  a  representation  of  the  fruit  of  the  plantain  t!ec.-flo4. 
 894 
 
The  chambers  atid  ornaments 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLI. 
 
 of  the  teni]>!r 
 
 39  1  And  in  the  porch  of  the  gate  were  two 
 tables  on  this  side,  and  two  tallies  on  that  side, 
 to  slay  thereon  the  burnt  offering  and  ''  the  sin 
 offering  and  '  the  trespass  offering. 
 
 40  And  at  the  side  without,  ||as  one  goeth 
 up  to  the  entry  of  the  north  gate,  were  two 
 tables ;  and  on  the  other  side,  which  was  at  the 
 porch  of  the  gate,  w^cre  two  tables. 
 
 41  Four  tables  were  on  this  side,  and  four 
 tables  on  that  side,  by  the  side  of  the  gate ; 
 eight  tables,  whereupon  they  slew  their  sacri- 
 fices. 
 
 42  And  the  four  tables  ivcre  of  hewn  stone 
 for  the  burnt  offering,  of  a  cubit  and  an  half 
 long,  and  a  cubit  and  an  half  broad,  and  one 
 cubit  high  :  whereupon  also  they  laid  the  in- 
 struments wherewith  they  slew  the  burnt  offer- 
 ing and  the  sacrifice. 
 
 43  And  within  were  \\  hooks,  an  hand  broad, 
 fastened  round  about:  and  upon  the  tables 
 was  the  flesh  of  the  offering. 
 
 44  t  And  without  the  inner  gate  were  the 
 chambers  of  '  the  singers  in  the  inner  court, 
 which  was  at  the  side  of  the  north  gate  ;  and 
 their  prospect  was  toward  the  south  :  one  at 
 the  side  of  the  east  gate  having  the  prospect 
 toward  the  north. 
 
 45  And  he  said  unto  me.  This  chamber, 
 whose  prospect  is  toward  the  south,  is  for  the 
 priests,  '  the  keepers  of  the  ||  charge  of  the 
 house. 
 
 46  And  the  chamber  whose  prospect  is  to- 
 ward the  north  is  for  the  priests,  "  the  keepers 
 of  the  charge  of  tlie  altar  :  these  are  the  sons 
 of  '  Zadok  among  the  sons  of  Levi,  which 
 come  near  to  the  Lord  to  minister  unto  him. 
 
 47  So  he  measured  the  court,  an  hundred 
 cubits  long,  and  an  hundred  cubits  broad,  four- 
 square ;  and  the  altar  that  was  before  the 
 house. 
 
 48  If  And  he  brought  me  to  the  porch  of  the 
 house,  and  measured  each  post  of  the  porch, 
 five  cubits  on  this  side,  and  five  cubits  on  that 
 side  :  and  the  breadth  of  the  gate  was  three 
 cubits  on  this  side,  and  three  cubits  on  that 
 side. 
 
 49  ^  The  length  of  the  porch  was  twenty 
 cubits,  and  the  breadth  eleven  cubits;  and  he 
 brought  me  by  the  steps  whereby  they  went 
 up  to  it :  and  there  were  ''  pillars  by  the  posts, 
 one  on  this  side,  and  another  on  that  side. 
 
 CHAP.  XLL 
 
 The  measures,  parts,  chambers,  and  ornaments  of  thi 
 
 temple, 
 A  FTERWARD  he  brought  me  to  the  tern 
 -'■*•  pie,  and  measured  the  posts,  six  cubits 
 broad  on  the  one  side,  and  six  cubits  broad  on 
 the  other  side,  which  was  the  breadth  of  the 
 tabernacle. 
 
 fl  l.ev.  ♦.  9,3. 
 
 r  Lep.  5.  6.& 
 6.  e.  &  7.  1 
 
 II  Or,  ut  the 
 ,1,,,. 
 
 I  Or,  nid- 
 Imi  kt'irth- 
 
 I  l.ev.  S,  35. 
 Nmn  S.C?. 
 •28,  32,  3S.& 
 
 n .  Ps.  134. 
 
 I. 
 
 11  Or,  mrd, 
 
 ur,  iirtti. 
 
 nanre; 
 
 .^iid  so  ver 
 
 in. 
 «  Nutn  19  5. 
 
 14    15. 
 s  1  Kin.  2 
 
 35.  ch.  13 
 
 IP.  &  44. 
 
 15,  16. 
 
 I  1  Kin.  11 
 20.  2Cl.r 
 3.8. 
 
 6  1  Kin,  0. 
 t  ile'b.  *..;« 
 
 cA-im6-r 
 i....r  «i.fc 
 chamber. 
 
 II  Or,  Ihrte 
 and  thirty 
 timri,  or, 
 /„„/. 
 
 (  tU-b.  be- 
 l,<.tdm. 
 
 t  Hub    it 
 ivas  made 
 hr.«>dfT,  a.u 
 
 2  And  the  breadth  of  the  ||  door  was  ten  cu- 
 bits ;  and  the  sides  of  the  door  were  five  cubits 
 on  the  one  side,  and  five  cubits  on  the  other 
 side  ;  and  he  measured  the  length  thereof,  forty 
 cubits:  and  the  breadth,  twenty  cubits. 
 
 3  Then  went  he  inward,  and  measured  the 
 post  of  the  door,  two  cubits  ;  and  the  door,  six 
 cubits ;  and  the  breadth  of  the  door,  seven 
 cubits. 
 
 4  So  "he  measured  the  length  thereof,  twenty 
 cubits ;  and  tlie  breadth,  twenty  cubits  before 
 the  temple  :  and  he  said  unto  me.  This  is  the 
 most  \\o\y  place. 
 
 5  After  he  measured  the  wall  of  the  house, 
 six  cubits ;  and  the  breadth  of  evert/  side 
 chamber,  four  cubits,  round  about  the  house 
 on  every  side. 
 
 6  ''  And  the  side  chambers  were  three,  f  one 
 over  another,  and  ||  thirty  in  order ;  and  they 
 entered  into  the  wall  which  was  of  the  hou.se 
 for  the  side  chambers  round  about,  that  they 
 might  t  have  hold,  but  they  had  not  hold  in 
 the  wall  of  the  house. 
 
 7  And  t°  there  teas  an  enlarging,  and  a  wind- 
 ing about  still  upward  to  the  side  chambers  : 
 for  the  winding  about  of  the  house  went  still 
 upward  round  about  the  house  :  therefore  the 
 breadth  of  the  house  loas  still  upward,  and  so 
 increased  from  the  lowest  chamber  to  the 
 highest  by  the  midst. 
 
 8  I  saw  also  the  height  of  the  house  round 
 about :  the  foundations  of  the  side  chambers 
 icere  •'a  full  reed  of  six  great  cubits. 
 
 9  The  thickness  of  the  wall,  which  was  for 
 the  side  chamber  without,  icas  five  cubits  : 
 and  that  which  uas  left  iras  the  place  of  the 
 side  chambers  that  icere  within. 
 
 10  And  between  the  chambers  was  the  wide- 
 ness  of  twenty  cubits  round  about  the  house 
 on  every  side. 
 
 1 1  And  the  doors  of  the  side  chambers  jvcre 
 toward  the  place  that  was  left,  one  door  to- 
 ward the  north,  and  another  door  toward  the 
 south  :  and  the  breadth  of  the  place  that  was 
 left  was  five  cubits  round  about. 
 
 12  Now  the  building  that  teas  before  the 
 separate  place  at  the  end  toward  the  west  u'oa- 
 seventy  cubits  broad  ;  and  the  wall  of  the 
 building  icas  five  cubits  thick  round  about, 
 and  the  length  thereof  ninety  cubits. 
 
 13  So  he  measured  the  house,  an  hundred 
 cubits  long ;  and  the  separate  place,  and  the 
 building,  with  the  walls  thereof,  an  hundred 
 cubits  long  ; 
 
 14  Also  tlie  breadth  of  the  face  of  the  house, 
 and  of  the  separate  place  toward  the  east,  an 
 hundred  cubits. 
 
 1  j  And  he  measured  the  length  of  the  build- 
 ing over  against  the  separate  place  which  was 
 
 43.  Hooks,  iron  hooks  for  the  hanging  up  the  beasts  that  were  to  be 
 sacrificed,  in  order  to  the  flaying  cflf  their  sViins.— See  Light fimt.  Fit 
 •  hooks,'  translate  the  word  cn^lT.  '  ed^es,'  i.  e.,  edges  lor  Uie  tables, 
 to  prevent  the  instruments  of  .«acriticc  from  slipping  off. — Neu-c,  Cat. 
 45.  Chamljer,  may  here  stand  for  chambers,  in  the  plural.  Keepers  «/ 
 the  charge  iif  tlte  house,  they  took  care  of  the  holy  vessels,  and  kept 
 constant  watch  ajid  ward,  (see  1  Chron.  ix.  23;   Ps.  cx.x.\iv.   !.) — 
 
 Vreb.  Loictli. 
 
 Chap.  XLI.  — 1).  They  hitd  not  holt!  in  the  null,  that  is,  the  timbers 
 nrsuppoiters  of  these  chambers  were  not  let  into  the  main  wall  of 
 the  temple,  but  rested  on  the  projections  of  the  outer  wall,  which  was 
 gathered  in  or  became  narrower  at  every  story.— Wea-.  15.  Aittl  lie 
 meusttreit,  ffC,  '  and  he  measured  the  length  of  the  building  which  w.is 
 before  the  separate  place,  and  that  which  was  behind  it.'— iVeuf. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XL.  —  I.  '  7n  the  depth  nftribiita-  our  works  with  the  standard  of  liis  word. 
 
 tions  of  the  clivrch  and  btlitvers,  God  gires  distant  t/iimjises  iif  111.  '  The  citurcli  of  Go  J  and  all  Christians  are  separated  from 
 
 approaching   ditiverance    and    comfort.      These    gbnipses    are  the  n-orltl  andproticttd  by  God.    They  are  builton  an  immovable 
 
 adapted  to  support  our  faith  and  patient  e.xpeclation.  foundation,  and  e.talted  in  excellency  and  privilege  above  the 
 
 II.  '  The  fireat  IliiiUer  of  his  spirilitid  temple,  whose  power  and  nations  of  the  earth,  and  are  continually  and  gradually  ascend- 
 
 Slory  are  infinite  and  etermil,  alieai/s  icorhs  bij  nle.     While  he  ing  towards  the  sanctuary  above.' » 
 performs  bis  secret  counsels,  he  requires  us  lo  compare  all 
 895 
 
The  ornaments  for  the  tcmjile. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLII. 
 
 The  etiambers  for  the  priests 
 
 behind  it,  and  the  ||  galleries  thereof  on  the 
 one  side  and  on  the  other  side,  an  hundred 
 cubits,  witli  the  inner  temple,  and  the  porches 
 of  the  court ; 
 
 16  The  door  posts,  and  "the  narrow  windows, 
 and  the  galleries  round  about  on  their  three 
 stories,  over  against  the  door,  fcieled  with 
 wood  round  about,  ||  and  from  the  ground  up 
 to  the  windows,  and  tlie  windows  zverc  covered ; 
 
 17  To  that  above  tlie  door,  even  unto  the 
 inner  house,  and  witliout,  and  by  all  tlie  wall 
 round  about  within  and  without,  by  f  measure. 
 
 18  And  it  tens  made  ''with  cherubims  and 
 palm  trees,  so  that  a  palm  tree  tvas  between  a 
 cherub  and  a  cherub  ;  and  evert/  cherub  had 
 two  faces ; 
 
 19  ^So  that  the  face  of  a  man  v>as  toward 
 the  palm  tree  on  the  one  side,  and  the  face  of 
 a  young  lion  toward  the  palm  tree  on  the  other 
 side  :  it  was  made  through  all  the  house  round 
 about. 
 
 20  From  the  ground  unto  above  the  door 
 were  cherubims  and  palm  trees  made,  and  on 
 the  wall  of  the  temple. 
 
 21  The  t  posts  of  the  temple  were  squared, 
 (mil  tlie  face  of  the  sanctuary  ;  the  apjiearance 
 of  the  one  as  the  appearance  of  the  other. 
 
 2-J  "  The  altar  of  wood  was  three  cubits  high, 
 and  the  length  thereof  two  cubits;  and  tlie 
 corners  thereof,  and  tlie  length  thereof,  and  the 
 walls  thereof,  ivere  of  wood  :  and  he  said  unto 
 me.    This  is  '  the  table   that   is   ^  before   the 
 
 LoRD. 
 
 23  '  And  the  temple  and  the  sanctuary  had 
 two  doors. 
 
 24  And  the  doors  had  two  leaves  o/«>ce,  two 
 turning  leaves  ;  two  leat'es  for  the  one  door, 
 and  two  leaves  for  the  otlier  door. 
 
 25  And  there  were  made  on  them,  on  the 
 doors  of  the  temple,  cheruliinis  and  ]ialin  trees, 
 like  as  were  made  upon  the  walls;  and  there 
 were  thick  planks  upon  the  face  of  the  porch 
 without. 
 
 2G  And  there  were  ""  narrow  windows  and 
 palm  trees  on  the  one  side  and  on  the  other 
 side,  on  the  sides  of  tlic  porch,  and  npon  the 
 side  chambers  of  the  house,  and  thick  planks. 
 
 CHAP.  XLII. 
 
 1    Tlic  ihnmhers  fnr  the  prifsls.     1 .3   T/ie  use  thereof. 
 19    The  measures  of  the  outward  court. 
 
 'T'HEN  he  brought  me  forth  into  the  utter 
 -*•  court,  the  way  toward  the  ninth  :  and  lie 
 brought  ine  into  "  the  chamber  that  was  over 
 against  tlie  separate  place,  and  which  was 
 before  the  buihling  toward  tlie  north. 
 
 2  Before  the  length  of  an  lumdied  cubits 
 was  the  north  door,  and  the  breadth  iras  fifty 
 
 f  Heb.  f.V/- 
 
 iuir  "f  """■'' 
 
 11  Or,  unit  IL 
 
 / 1  Kiii.6,211 
 
 t  Hcb.  ]>vtl. 
 
 i  ch   M.  Ifi. 
 Milt    1.7, IS 
 *  K.X.  :«l.  S. 
 /  I  Kill.  (1. 
 
 Or.  liid  eat 
 I  H,  11,1,1  t'le 
 
 II  nr./^.m 
 l',<>  i,l,cr. 
 II  l.>r.  A.-  //.«/ 
 
 ■-■r. 
 
 »( :;  1. !). 
 
 .-  I. 
 
 ■v.  2.  3, 
 
 Ill 
 
 ft  li,  l-l, 
 
 17 
 
 y5.  :>9. 
 
 K 
 
 7.t   ».  10 
 
 i;i 
 
 14. 
 
 N 
 
 III.  IS.O 
 
 /,l 
 
 tl    19. 
 
 cubits. 
 
 3  Over  against  the  twenty  ctthits  wnieh  jvcre 
 for  the  inner  court,  and  over  against  the  pave- 
 ment which  was  for  the  utter  court,  was  "gal- 
 lery against  gallery  in  three  stories. 
 
 4  And  before  the  chambers  was  a  walk  of 
 ten  cubits  breadth  inward,  a  way  of  one  cubit; 
 and  their  doors  toward  the  north. 
 
 3  Now  the  upper  chambers  iverc  shorter : 
 for  the  galleries  ||  were  higher  than  these, 
 II  than  the  lower,  and  than  the  middlemost  of 
 the  linilding. 
 
 (i  For  they  ivere  in  three  stories,  but  had  not 
 pillars  as  the  pillars  of  the  courts  :  therefore 
 the  liiii/ilinff  was  straitened  more  than  the 
 lowest  and  the  middlemost  from  the  ground. 
 
 7  And  the  wall  that  was  without  over  against 
 the  chambers,  toward  the  utter  court  on  the 
 forepart  of  the  chambers,  the  length  thereof 
 teas  fifty  cubits. 
 
 8  For  the  length  of  the  chambers  that  were 
 in  the  utter  court  was  fifty  cubits  :  and,  lo, 
 before  the  temple  were  an  hundred  cubits. 
 
 9  And  II  from  under  these  chambers  tuns 
 II  the  entry  on  tlie  east  side,  ||  as  one  goeth 
 into  them  from  the  utter  court. 
 
 10  The  chambers  ircre  in  the  thickness  of 
 the  wall  of  the  court  toward  the  east,  over 
 against  the  separate  place,  and  over  against 
 the  building. 
 
 I  I  And  '  the  way  before  them  teas  like  the 
 appearance  of  the  chambers  which  uere  toward 
 the  north,  as  long  as  they,  and  as  broad  as 
 they  :  and  all  their  goings  out  were  both  ac- 
 cording to  their  fashions,  and  according  to 
 their  doors. 
 
 12  And  according  to  the  doors  of  the  cham- 
 bers tliat  were  toward  the  south  ivas  a  door 
 in  the  he.id  of  the  way,  even  the  way  directly 
 before  the  wall  toward  the  east,  as  one  cnter- 
 eth  into  them. 
 
 13  H  Then  said  he  unto  me.  The  north  cham- 
 bers ami  the  south  chambers,  which  arc  be- 
 fore the  separate  place,  they  be  holy  chambers, 
 where  the  priests  that  approach  unto  the  Lobd 
 ''shall  eat  the  most  holy  things:  tliere  shall 
 they  lay  the  most  holy  things,  and  "  the  meat 
 ofl'ering,  and  the  sin  offering,  and  the  trespass 
 offering  ;  for  the  place  is  holy. 
 
 14  '  When  the  priests  enter  therein,  then 
 shall  they  not  go  out  of  the  holy  place  into 
 the  utter  court,  but  there  they  sliall  lay  their 
 garments  wherein  they  minister;  for  they  arc 
 holy  ;  and  shall  put  on  other  garments,  and 
 shall  approach  to  those  thiiir/s  which  are  for 
 the  people. 
 
 13  Now  when  he  had  made  an  end  of  mea- 
 suring the  inner  house,  he  brought  me  forth 
 
 Chap.  XLII.  —  1.  Utter  court,  i.  c,  outer  court,  for  the  people. —  hith/  thiiifrs,  the  shew  bread,  the  remainder  of  the  meat-offerinp,  sin- 
 
 Wit.    The  court  of  the  priests ;  this,  in  reference  to  tlie  temple,  was  offering,  and  trespaas-olTcring:,  are  expressly  so  called,  {Lev.  vi.  M,  17 ; 
 
 called  the  outer  court,  but  the  court  of  the  peuple  was  beyond  this. —  xxiv.  y  ;  Num.  xviii.  9 ;)  and  are  distinguished  from  the  holy  things. 
 
 A.  Clnrke,  so  Hotib.,  Newc,  CitL,  Drujthr.  5.  The  trpper  chnmbem  such  as  are  the  pcaee-ofTerings,  first  fruits,  and  tithes,  (Lev.  xxi.  22.) 
 
 were  shorter,  i.  e.,  tlie  building  narrowed  as  it  rose. — Wii.        13.  Most  These  were  to  be  eaten  witiiout  the  precincts  of  Uie  temple  by  the 
 
 Hefi.ecttons  on  Chap.  XLI.  — Our  minds  may  here  be 
 profitably  directed  to— I.  The  taniile.  Not  one  stone  of  that 
 ancient  glory  of  .lerusalem  and  of  the  world  now  remains.  It 
 IS  vanished  among  the  shadows  of  good  things  to  come.  I'.ut 
 •the  spiritual  building  wliicb  the  l.ord  is  erecting  will  prove 
 both  eminent  and  durable.  The  cause  of  God  gains  ground 
 gradually,  amidst  all  revolutions,  under  every  ilispensa'.ion. 
 llle  boundaries  of  the  church  were  vastly  extended  by  the 
 hrst  preaching  of  the  Gospel  to  the  Genliles  ;  but  Ibey  will  be 
 much  more  enlarged  when  the  Jews  shall  be  converted,  and  all 
 896 
 
 nations  shall  do  service  to  the  great  Kedeemer.' 
 
 II.  The  ordiuances.  '  These  have  been  rendered  more  sim- 
 ple and  spiritual  ;  the  table  of  the  Lord  has  succeeded  to 
 altars  and  sacrifices  ;  and  the  worship  of  God  "  in  spirit  and 
 ill  truth,"  and  the  beauty  of  holiness,  to  the  burdensome  rites 
 and  costly  ornaments  of  the  old  dispensation  ;  we  should 
 therefore  endeavour  to  become  more  spiritual  in  our  aflec- 
 tions  and  worship,  for  these  things  evidently  mark  the  pro- 
 gress of  the  church  and  of  every  believer  towards  the  perfec- 
 tion of  the  heavenly  world.'  ** 
 
God's  glory  cometli  into  the  temple. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLIII. 
 
 Israel  exhortcrl  to  repentance. 
 
 toward  the  gate  whose  prospect  is  toward  the 
 east,  and  measured  it  round  about. 
 
 IG  He  measured  the  east  fside  with  the 
 measuring  reed,  five  hundred  reeds,  with  the 
 measuring  reed  round  about. 
 
 17  He  measured  the  north  side,  five  hundred 
 reeds,  with  the  measuring  reed  round  about. 
 
 18  He  measured  the  south  side,  five  hundred 
 reeds,  with  the  measuring  reed. 
 
 19  If  He  turned  about  to  the  west  side,  and 
 measured  five  hundred  reeds  with  the  mea 
 suring  reed. 
 
 20  He  measured  it  by  the  four  sides :  ^  it 
 had  a  wall  round  about,  "  five  hundred  reeds 
 long,  and  five  hundred  broad,  to  make  a  sepa- 
 ration between  the  sanctuary  and  the  profane 
 place. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIII. 
 
 1  The  returning  of  the  glory  of  God  into  the  temple, 
 7  Ttie  sin  of  Israel  hindi-red  God's  presence.  10 
 T/te  prophet  exitorteth  the?n  to  repentiince,  and  obser- 
 vniion  oftlte  law  of  the  house.  13  The  measures,  18 
 and  the  ordinances  of  the  altar, 
 
 A  FTERWARD  he  brought  me  to  the  gate, 
 ■'-^  even  the  gate  "  that  looketh  toward  the 
 east : 
 
 2  ■■  And,  behold,  the  glory  of  the  God  of 
 Israel  came  from  the  way  of  the  east :  and 
 ■^his  voice  was  like  a  noise  of  many  waters: 
 •■and  the  earth  sinned  with  his  glory. 
 
 3  And  it  was  'according  to  the  appearance 
 of  the  vision  which  I  saw,  even  according  to 
 the  vision  that  I  saw  ||  when  I  came  '  to  de- 
 stroy the  city  :  and  the  visions  were  like  the 
 vision  that  I  saw  ^by  the  river  Chebar ;  and  I 
 fell  upon  my  face. 
 
 i  '■  And  the  glory  of  the  Lord  came  into  the 
 house  by  the  way  of  the  gate  whose  prospect 
 is  toward  the  east. 
 
 3  '  So  the  spirit  took  me  up,  and  brought  me 
 into  the  inner  court ;  and,  behold,  '  the  glory 
 of  the  Lord  filled  the  house. 
 
 6  And  I  heard  him  speaking  unto  me  out  of 
 the  house  ;  and  '  the  man  stood  by  me. 
 
 7  t  And  he  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  "  the 
 place  of  my  throne,  and  "the  place  of  the  soles 
 of  my  feet,  "where  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of 
 the  children  of  Israel  for  ever,  and  my  holy 
 name,  shall  the  house  of  Israel  ''  no  more  de- 
 file, neither  they,  nor  their  kings,  by  their 
 whoredom,  nor  by  ''  the  carcases  of  their  kings 
 in  their  high  places. 
 
 B.  C.  57*. 
 t  Heb.  aiitd. 
 
 g  ch.  40.  b. 
 A  cb.  45.  2. 
 
 ID.  N.  &  L'l 
 '1, 5,7  cl'   8 
 S.  8c  XI.  39 
 &  It.  7. 
 !  Or,/.r 
 
 but  ( 
 
 and  ll^nt 
 p  ver.  7. 
 
 mil 
 
 a  ch.  1(1.  19, 
 &  U.  1.  b 
 46.  1. 
 
 beh.  11.  23 
 
 r  ch.  ].  21. 
 Rev.  1.  15. 
 It  II.  2  & 
 19.  I,  6. 
 d  ch.  lU.  4. 
 Rev.  19.  1 
 e  rh.  I.  4,28 
 &  B.  4. 
 11  Or,  irftf'i  I 
 cam,  l«  pro- 
 pbcsy  Ifiai 
 III'  till/ 
 ilw'<U  b' 
 dmlii'ti'd ; 
 See  ch.  9. 
 l.i. 
 /So  Jer.  I 
 
 III. 
 g  ch    1.  S.  & 
 
 3.  23. 
 A  See  ch.  10. 
 19.  &  44.  2. 
 r  ch   3    12, 
 14.  %  8  3. 
 k  1  Kin.  8. 
 10,  II.  ch. 
 4-1  4. 
 Ich.  40   3. 
 m  1*8.  99.  I. 
 n  I  Chr  28.2. 
 
 Pi  99.  6. 
 o  Ex    29.  45. 
 Pa.  68. 16  & 
 132    14. 
 Joel  3.  17. 
 John  I.  14. 
 2Cor.6.I6. 
 p  ch.  39   7. 
 9  Lev.  26.30. 
 Jer.  16.  18. 
 
 jch.  10.  5.  fe 
 41.  8. 
 I  Heb.AfMoni. 
 
 tHeb  Hiirel. 
 that  is,  the 
 mnunlaii,  n 
 G.'d. 
 
 t  Hch..4rir 
 that  is,  lb, 
 H^no/Gijd 
 Is.  29.  I. 
 
 8  '  In  their  setting  of  their  threshold  by  my 
 thresholds,  and  their  post  by  my  posts,  ||  and 
 the  wall  between  me  and  them,  they  have  even 
 defiled  my  holy  name  by  their  abominations 
 that  they  have  committed  :  wherefore  I  have 
 consumed  them  in  mine  anger. 
 
 9  Now  let  them  put  away  their  whoredom, 
 and  '  the  carcases  of  their  kings,  far  from  me, 
 '  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  them  for 
 over. 
 
 10  K  Thou  son  of  man,  "shew  the  house  to 
 the  house  of  Israel,  that  they  may  be  ashamed 
 of  their  iniquities :  and  let  them  measure  the 
 II  pattern. 
 
 1 1  And  if  they  be  ashamed  of  all  that  they 
 have  done,  shew  them  the  form  of  the  house, 
 and  the  fashion  thereof,  and  the  goings  out 
 thereof,  and  the  comings  in  thereof,  and  all  the 
 forms  thereof,  and  all  the  ordinances  thereof, 
 and  all  the  forms  thereof,  and  all  the  laws 
 thereof:  and  write  it  in  their  sight,  that  they 
 may  keep  the  whole  form  thereof,  and  all  the 
 ordinances  thereof,  and  do  them. 
 
 12  This  is  the  law  of  the  house  ;  Upon  ^  the 
 top  of  the  mountain  the  whole  limit  thereof 
 round  about  shall  be  most  holy.  Behold,  this 
 is  the  law  of  the  house. 
 
 13  K  And  these  are  the  measures  of  the  altar 
 after  the  cubits  :  ''The  cubit  is  a  cubit  and  an 
 hand  breadth;  even  the  f bottom  shall  be  a 
 cubit,  and  the  breadth  a  cubit,  and  the  border 
 thereof  by  the  fedge  thereof  round  about  shall 
 be  a  span  :  and  this  shall  be  the  higher  place 
 of  the  altar. 
 
 14  And  from  the  bottom  upon  the  ground 
 even  to  the  lower  settle  shall  he  two  cubits, 
 and  the  breadth  one  cubit ;  and  from  the  lesser 
 settle  even  to  the  greater  settle  shall  be  four 
 cubits,  and  the  breadth  one  cubit. 
 
 13  So  fthe  altar  sliatl  be  four  cubits;  and 
 from  t  'be  altar  and  upward  shall  be  four 
 horns. 
 
 16  And  the  altar  shall  be  twelve  cubits\ox\^, 
 twelve  broad,  square  in  the  four  squares  there- 
 of. 
 
 17  And  the  settle  shall  be  fourteen  cubits 
 long  and  fourteen  broad  in  the  four  squares 
 thereof;  and  the  border  about  it  shall  be  half 
 a  cubit  ;  and  the  bottom  thereof  shall  be  a 
 cubit  about ;  and  '  his  stairs  shall  look  toward 
 the  east. 
 
 18  H  And  he  said  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  Thus 
 
 direction  of  the  same  laws.— Prf6.  Lowth.  l6.  Five  hunilred  reeds, 
 'cubits.'  —  So  Neu-come,  s,nd  Boothr.  The  mountain,  according  to 
 Josephus,  was  not  large  enough  to  admit  of  reeds.  It  must  be  recol- 
 lected, however,  that  this  temple  was  only  seen  in  vision. —  WWiams. 
 20.  The  sanctuary  and  the  profane  place,  by  'sanctuary'  understand  the 
 whole  compass  of  ground  which  formed  the  precincts  nf  the  temple, 
 called  the  holy  mountain,  (see  chap,  xliii.  12,)  in  comparison  of  which, 
 Jerusalem  itself,  though  styled  'the  holy  city,'  was  esteemed  but  un- 
 consecrated  ground,  (chap,  xlviii.  i5.)—Prptj.  Lowth.  The  holy  place 
 was  that  which  was  consecrated  to  the  Lord,  into  which  no  heathen, 
 nor  stranger,  nor  any  in  a  state  of  impurity,  might  enter.  The  profane 
 place  was  that  in  which  men,  women.  Gentiles,  pure  or  impure,  niiglit 
 be  admitted. — Clarke.  The  temple,  in  the  time  of  Josephus,  had  a  wall 
 before  the  entrance,  three  cubits  high  :  and  warnings  against  passing  it, 
 as  a  stranger  or  unclean,  on  pain  of  death,  were  written  on  posts 
 placed  at  prniier  distances. — So  Cat. 
 
 Chap.  XLlll.  — 2.  Came  from  the  u-ai/  of  the  east — when  the  glory 
 departed,  it  went  eastward  ;  and  now  that  it  returns,  it  comes  from  the 
 
 cast.— Poofe.  7.  The  place  of  my  throne,  the  chernhims  were  God's 
 throne,  (see  Ps.  xcix.  1,  5.)  Carcases,  idols,  so  called,  being  loath- 
 some to  God,  (see  Lev.  xxvi.  30;  Jer.  xvi.  18.)  Of  tlieir  kings,  be- 
 cause they  were  set  up,  and  the  worship  of  them  encouraged,  by  the 
 kings  of  Jtidah,  who  erected  their  hi/;/!  places  for  that  purpose  near 
 Jerusalem,  in  the  very  sight  and  view  of  tlie  temple,  (see  2  Kings, 
 xxiii.  13.)— Prefi.  Lowth.  Some  monuments  of  the  deceased  kings 
 might  have  been  erected  near  the  wall  which  surrounded  the  temple 
 and  the  courts,  and  this  was  accounted  a  profanation,  (see  2  Kings, 
 xxi.  18—26  )—Mich.  8.  Setting  of  their  threshold,  tlie  temples  and 
 altars  built  for  their  idols  are  ciUed  thresholds.  These  were  erected  in 
 or  near  the  courts  of  the  temple,  and  so  they  and  their  posts  were  near 
 God's  thresholds  and  a  nuisance  to  \nm.—Poote.  10.  The  pattern, 
 i.  e.,  of  the  house.— Cii;.  'Model.'— Gfsenii/s.  12.  Mountain,  Mo. 
 riah,  upon  which  the  temple  stood— Pre*.  Lowth.  14.  Lower  settle, 
 or  •  ledge,'  on  which  the  priests  walked  round  the  altar.— JVeurome. 
 15.  Four  horns,  one  at  each  corner,  (sec  Exod.  xxvii.  2.)— Pi-^6  Lowth. 
 17.  His  stairs,  '  its  ascent.'— BooMr.    It  was  an  inclined  plane  ;  God 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLII. — I.  The  ministers  of  God 
 are  holy  men.  Tlie  priests  were  not  to  go  out  of  the  holy  place. 
 Those  who  bear  the  name  of  ministers  should  at  all  times  re- 
 member their  high  and  holy  calling. 
 
 II.  The  people  of  God  are  an  tio/g  people.  None  are  really 
 members  of  the  church  of  Christ  on  earth  but  those  that  are 
 897 
 
 truly  regenerated  and  sanctified  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  None 
 shall  be  numbered  with  the  glorified  church,  but  those  that 
 have 'washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood 
 of  the  Lamb.  Therefore  are  they  before  the  throne  of  God, 
 and  serve  him  day  and  night  in  his  temple.' 
 
 5  Y 
 
The  ordinances  of  the  allnr. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLIV. 
 
 The  priests  reproved. 
 
 saith  the  Lord  God;  These  are  the  ordinances 
 of  the  altar  in  the  day  when  they  shall  make 
 it,  to  otter  burnt  offerings  thereon,  and  to 
 *  sprinkle  blood  thereon. 
 
 19  And  thou  shall  give  to  '' the  priests  the 
 Levites  that  be  of  the  seed  of  Zadok,  which 
 approach  nnto  nie,  to  minister  unto  me,  saith 
 the  Lord  God,  "  a  young  bullock  for  a  sin 
 offering. 
 
 *J0  And  thou  shalt  take  of  the  blood  thereof, 
 and  put  it  on  the  four  horns  of  it,  and  on  the 
 four  corners  of  the  settle,  and  upon  the  border 
 round  about :  thus  shalt  thou  cleanse  and 
 purge  it. 
 
 21  Thou  shalt  take  the  bullock  also  of  the 
 sin  offering,  and  he  ''  shall  burn  it  in  the  ap- 
 pointed place  of  the  house,  "  without  the  sanc- 
 tuary. 
 
 •22  And  on  the  second  day  thou  shalt  offer  a 
 kid  of  the  goats  without  blemish  for  a  sin  offer- 
 ing ;  and  they  shall  cleanse  the  altar,  as  they 
 did  cleanse  it  with  the  bullock. 
 
 23  When  tliou  hast  made  an  end  of  cleansing 
 it,  thou  shalt  offer  a  young  bullock  without 
 blemish,  and  a  ram  out  of  the  flock  without 
 blemish.  ^ 
 
 24  And  thou  shalt  offer  them  before  the 
 Lord,  'and  the  priests  shall  cast  salt  upon 
 them,  and  they  shall  offer  them  up/or  a  burnt 
 offering  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 25  *  Seven  days  shalt  thou  prepare  every  day 
 a  goat  for  a  sin  offering  :  they  shall  also  pre- 
 pare a  young  bullock,  and  a  ram  out  of  the 
 flock,  without  blemish. 
 
 26  Seven  days  shall  they  purge  the  altar  and 
 purify  it ;  and  they  shall  f  consecrate  them- 
 selves. 
 
 27  "  And  when  these  days  are  ex-pired,  it 
 shall  be,  that  upon  the  eighth  day,  and  so  for- 
 ward, the  priests  shall  make  your  burnt  offer- 
 ings upon  the  altar,  and  your  ||  peace  offer- 
 ings;  and  I  will  'accept  you,  saith  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 CHAP.  XLIV. 
 
 1  The  east  gate  assignfd  oitly  to  the  prince.  4  The 
 priests  reproved  for  polluting  of  the  sanctuart/.  9 
 Idlators  UTicapable  of  ilic  priest's  office.  15  T/ie 
 sons  of  Zado/i  are  accepted  tlicreto.  1 7  Ordinances 
 fur  the  priests. 
 
 'PHEN  he  brought  me  back  the  way  of  the 
 ■*-    gate    of  tlie    outward    sanctuary   °  which 
 
 looketh  toward  the  east ;  and  it  was  shut. 
 2  Then  said  tlie  Lord  unto  me  ;   This  gate 
 
 shall  be  shut,  it  shall  not  be  opened,  and  no 
 
 3  Ley.  1. 
 b  ch.  W. 
 
 T  Ex.  39.  10. 
 12.  Lev   a 
 \i,  15-  ch. 
 '15.  IS,  19. 
 
 d  Ei.  29.  14 
 «  Heb.  13.M. 
 
 /  Lev.  2.  13 
 
 J  Ex.  29.  S5, 
 31)  Lev  tl. 
 33. 
 
 t  Heb.yHI 
 
 II  Or,  IhiuA 
 ;  Job  42.  8, 
 
 cii.yo  w.-ii. 
 
 Rom    12.  I. 
 1  Pet.  2.  6. 
 
 c  Gen.  31  54 
 1  Co,  10  18 
 d  ch.  46  2, 8. 
 
 ech.S.23. 
 &43  ^ 
 fc'a    1   83. 
 
 .'  ch   45   9. 
 1  Pet   4.  3. 
 
 k  ch.  43.  9. 
 
 ver.  9. 
 
 .Acts  21.23. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 children  of 
 
 i  Lev.  22. 25. 
 m  Lev.  S6, 
 
 41.  ncu  10. 
 
 16.  Acta  7. 
 
 51. 
 ri  Lev.  21.0, 
 
 fi,  17,  21. 
 o  Lev.  3.  IC. 
 
 b  17.  11. 
 r  Lev.  2-2.  2, 
 
 kc. 
 
 And  so  ver. 
 U,  Xf  16.  Si 
 ch  .10.  45. 
 f  ver.  7. 
 ■  See  2  Kin. 
 23.  ti,  fee. 
 2  Chr  29. 4, 
 5.  ch.  43.11. 
 
 .  I  Chr.  28,1. 
 (2  Chr.  29. 
 
 "  Nu 
 9. 
 
 M.tl  2.  8. 
 t  Hob,  ^rere 
 /br  „  ttum- 
 'hl,„gbl~ck 
 
 U'llO,  ^c. 
 
 ch.  14  3,  4, 
 X  Pa.  1 06  26. 
 If  2  Kin.  33. 
 
 f.  Num.  18. 
 
 man  shall  enter  in  by  it ;  '■because  the  Lord, 
 the  God  of  Israel,  hath  entered  in  by  it,  there- 
 fore it  shall  be  shut. 
 
 3  It  is  for  the  prince ;  the  prince,  he  shall  sit 
 in  it  to  'eat  bread  before  the  Lord  ;  ''  he  shall 
 enter  by  the  way  of  tlie  porch  of  that  gate,  and 
 shall  go  out  by  the  way  of  the  same. 
 
 4  U  Then  brought  he  me  the  way  of  the  north 
 gate  before  the  house :  and  I  looked,  and, 
 "  behold,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the  house 
 of  the  Lord  ;  'and  I  fell  upon  my  face. 
 
 5  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  ^  Son  of  man, 
 t  mark  well,  and  behold  with  tliine  eyes,  and 
 hear  with  thine  ears  all  that  I  say  unto  thee 
 concerning  all  the  ordinances  of  the  house  of 
 the  Lord,  and  all  the  laws  thereof;  and  mark 
 well  the  entering  in  of  the  house,  with  every 
 going  forth  of  the  sanctuary. 
 
 6  And  thou  shalt  say  to  the  "  rebellious, 
 even  to  the  house  of  Israel,  Thus  saith  the 
 Lord  God  ;  O  ye  house  of  Israel,  'let  it  suffice 
 you  of  all  your  abominations, 
 
 7  ''  In  that  ye  have  brought  into  my  sanc- 
 tuary f  '  strangers,  '"  uncircumcised  in  heart, 
 and  uncircumcised  in  flesh,  to  be  in  my  sanc- 
 tuary, to  pollute  it,  even  my  house,  when  ye 
 offer  "  my  bread,  °  the  fat  and  the  blood,  and 
 they  have  broken  my  covenant  because  of  all 
 your  abominations. 
 
 8  And  ye  have  not  ''kept  the  charge  of  mine 
 holy  things:  but  ye  have  set  keepers  of  my 
 II  charge  in  my  sanctuary  for  yourselves. 
 
 9  t  Thus  saith  the  Lord  Gon;  '  No  stranger, 
 uncircumcised  in  heart,  nor  uncircumcised  in 
 flesh,  shall  enter  into  my  sanctuary,  of  any 
 stranger  that  is  among  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 10  '  And  the  Levites  that  are  gone  away  far 
 from  me,  when  Israel  went  astray,  which  went 
 astray  away  from  me  after  their  idols ;  they 
 shall  even  bear  their  iniquity. 
 
 11  Yet  they  shall  be  ministers  in  my  sanc- 
 tuary, 'having  charge  at  the  gates  of  the 
 house,  and  ministering  to  the  house  :  '  they 
 shall  slay  the  burnt  offering  and  the  sacrifice 
 for  the  people,  and  "  they  shall  stand  before 
 them  to  minister  unto  them. 
 
 12  Because  they  ministered  unto  them  be- 
 fore their  idols,  and  "f  caused  the  house  of  Is- 
 rael to  fall  into  iniquity ;  therefore  have  I 
 "  lifted  up  mine  hand  against  them,  saith  the 
 Lord  Gon,  and  they  shall  bear  their  iniquity. 
 
 13  '  And  they  .shall  not  come  near  unto  me, 
 to  do  the  office  of  a  priest  unto  me,  nor  to  come 
 near  to  any  of  my  holy  things,  in  the  most 
 
 forbade  his  priests  to  go  up  by  steps  to  his  altar.— PnW.  22.  .4  kid, 
 this  is  over  and  above  the  sacrifices  of  consecration  proscribed,  (E.xod 
 xxi.'j.  1.)  23.  Ram,  called  'the  ram  of  consecration,'  (E.vod.  xxix. 
 yi ;  Lev.  viii.  22.)  24.  Cast  salt,  upon  the  victims,  according  to  the 
 law  in  Lev.  ii.  i3.—Preb.  Lowlh.  26.  Seven  rfajs— see  Exod.  .\xix. 
 35  ;  Lev.  viii.  33. 
 
 Chap.  XLIV.— 2.  The  Lord—hnth  entered,  i.e.,  the  glory  of  the 
 Lord,  as  expressed  chap,  xliii.  2,  4;  see  also  Exod.  xxiv.  10;  Isa.  vi. 
 *,  S. — Pre/j.  Lowtb.  3.  For  the  prince,  the  governor,  or  king,  or 
 any  ma;?istrate,  may  be  meant.  The  kings  had  a  place  answering  to 
 this,  (see  2  Chron.  vi.  13;  xxiii.  15;  xx.xiv.  3\.)—Boulhr,  To  eat 
 oread,  i.  e.,  part  of  the  peace-offerings,  (chap.  xlvi.  2.)    Bread  stands 
 
 for  all  sorts  of  entertainment,  fGen.  xliii.  3l.)~Preb.  Lowth.  5.  The 
 entering  in,  i.  e.,  the  persons  who  may,  and  who  may  not,  enter.— 
 Poole.  7.  Brought  into  nir/  sanctuanj  strangers,  appointed  strangers 
 in  blood  and  religion  to  be  priests  and  to  pollute  it. — Bp.  Halt.  In  the 
 times  prior  to  the  captivity,  the  priests  allowed  strangers  to  come,  that 
 they  might  partake  of  their  offerings. — Boothr.  8.  Set  keepers  for 
 T/ourselves,  substitutes,  who  have  let  in  the  profane  and  unclean. — • 
 Poole.  10.  The  Levites  that  are  gone  nwae/,  8fc.,  those  who  had  prac- 
 tised idolatry  should  not  be  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  their  pious 
 fathers.  They  should  bear  the  punishment  of  their  iniquity  so  far  as 
 to  be  deprived  of  the  honour  of  administering  at  the  altar,  and  should 
 only  be  door-keepers  and  servants  to  others. — Boothr.    The  Levites 
 
 Reflections  on  Cbai>.  XLIII We  may  learn  from  this 
 
 chapter — I.  *  That  ail  external  institutions  derive  their  excellency 
 and  efficacy  from  the  presence  and  manifested  glory  of  God  in 
 them:  and,  as  this  glory  is  displayed  in  Christ  our'"  Sun  of 
 Righteousness,"  we  sinners  may  behold  it  with  comfort.' 
 
 II. '  27ie  sprinklino  of  blood  is  still  incessantly  requisite  in  all 
 
 our  approaches  to  God.     We  are,  indeed,  not  required  to  offer 
 
 any  atoning  sacrifices;  for,  "by  one  oft'ering  he  hath  perfected 
 
 for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified :"  but  even  the  royal  and 
 
 898 
 
 chosen  priesthood  who  minister  to  God  could  not  be  per- 
 mitted to  present  their  "  spiritual  sacrifices,"  were  they  not 
 cleansed  from  guilt  tlirough  his  precious  blood;  and  all  their 
 powers,  and  faculties,  and  senses,  need  the  same  cleansing  be- 
 fore they  "  can  serve  God  acceptably"  in  body  and  soul ;  their 
 best  services  contract  so  much  pollution  from  remaining  sin- 
 fulness, that  they  can  be  accepted  only  as  sprinkled  with  that 
 "  blood  which  cleauseth  from  all  sin."  ' " 
 
Ordinances  for  the  priests. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLV. 
 
 The  portion  of  land  for  the  sanctuari/. 
 
 holy />/nce  :  but  they  shall  '  bear  their  shame, 
 and  their  abominations  which  they  have  com- 
 mitted. 
 
 14  But  I  will  make  them  °  keepers  of  the 
 eharjje  of  the  house,  for  all  the  service  thereof, 
 and  for  all  that  shall  be  done  therein. 
 
 15  H  ''  But  the  priests  the  Levites,  '  the  sons 
 of  Zadok,  that  kept  the  charge  of  my  sanctu- 
 ary ''  when  the  children  of  Israel  went  astray 
 from  me,  they  shall  come  near  to  me  to  mi- 
 nister unto  me,  and  they  '  shall  stand  before 
 me  to  offer  unto  nie  '  the  fat  and  the  blood, 
 saith  the  Lord  God  : 
 
 IG  They  shall  enter  into  my  sanctuary,  and 
 they  shall  come  near  to  *my  table,  to  minister 
 unto  me,  and  they  shall  keep  my  charge. 
 
 17  t  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  when 
 they  enter  in  at  the  gates  of  the  inner  court, 
 ''  they  shall  be  clothed  with  linen  garments  ; 
 and  no  wool  shall  come  upon  them,  whiles 
 they  minister  in  the  gates  of  the  iuner  court, 
 and  within. 
 
 18  'Tliey  shall  have  linen  bonnets  upon  their 
 heads,  and  shall  have  linen  breeches  upon  their 
 loins  ;  they  shall  not  gird  themselves  \\  f  with 
 any  thing  that  caiiseth  sweat. 
 
 19  And  when  they  go  forth  into  the  utter 
 court,  even  into  the  utter  court  to  the  people, 
 ''they  shall  put  off  their  garments  wherein 
 they  ministered,  and  lay  tliem  in  the  holy 
 chambers,  and  they  shall  put  on  other  gar- 
 ments ;  and  they  shall  '  not  sanctify  the  peo- 
 ple with  their  garments. 
 
 20  ""Neither  shall  they  shave  their  heads, 
 nor  suffer  their  locks  to  grow  long  ;  they  shall 
 only  poll  their  heads. 
 
 21  "  Neither  shall  any  priest  drink  wine,  when 
 they  enter  into  the  inner  court. 
 
 22  Neither  shall  they  take  for  their  wires  a 
 °  widow,  nor  her  that  is  f  put  away  :  but  they 
 shall  take  maidens  of  the  seed  of  the  liouse  of 
 Israel,  or  a  widow  f  that  had  a  priest  before. 
 
 23  And  ""they  shall  teach  my  people  the  dif- 
 ference  betv.-een  the   holy  and   profane,  and 
 
 cause  them  to  discern  between  the  unclean 
 and  the  clean. 
 
 24  And  'in  controversy  they  shall  stand  in 
 judgment ;  and  they  shall  judge  it  according 
 to  my  judgments :  and  they  shall  keep  my 
 laws  and  my  statutes  in  all  mine  assemblies ; 
 'and  they  shall  hallow  my  sabbaths. 
 
 25  And  they  shall  come  at  no  "dead  person 
 
 B.  C.  57«. 
 
 ;  ch.  3:i.  30. 
 &  3lj.  7. 
 
 a  Nu.  IS.  t. 
 I  Chr.  23. 
 
 28,  32. 
 
 6  eh.  40.  46. 
 &  4,3.  19. 
 (■  1  Sam.  2. 
 
 Deu.  10,  8. 
 /  v«r.  7. 
 
 I  cli.  41.22. 
 
 1  Ex.  28  S9, 
 
 4(t.  4.S.  &  39. 
 
 i  Ex.  28.  40, 
 42.  &  39.  28. 
 
 II  Or,  ,■„ 
 
 places. 
 fHeb  in,  or, 
 with  iweal. 
 
 I  ph.  46   20. 
 
 See  Ex  29 
 
 37  Ht  30. 29. 
 
 Lev.  6   27. 
 
 Mat.  23.  17, 
 
 19 
 "1  Lev.  21.5. 
 
 o  Lev.  21.  7, 
 
 13,  14. 
 t  Hel).  thruil 
 J„ll.. 
 t  Hel.. /.TO. 
 
 n  pnptl. 
 
 ;.  Lev.  10.10, 
 11.  cli  22. 
 2ii.  Mai. 2  7. 
 
 (  Deu    17.  8, 
 Ke.  2  Chr 
 
 19  8,  10 
 
 r  See  ch .  2'i. 
 
 &c. 
 
 /Nuin   6.10. 
 &  19,  II, 
 
 w  ver.  17. 
 X  Lev.  4. 
 
 y  Nu    18  20. 
 
 Deu.  10.  9. 
 
 &  18.  1,2. 
 
 Josh    13.14, 
 
 33. 
 2  Lev.  6.  18, 
 
 29.  &'.  0. 
 
 a  Lev.  27.21, 
 28.  com- 
 pared n-ith 
 Nu    18   14. 
 
 II  Or,  det-Klrd. 
 
 II  Or,  c;.i>/. 
 
 6  Ex.  13.  2. 
 b  22.  29,  30. 
 &  23.  19. 
 Kum  3.  13. 
 &  18.  12,  13. 
 
 c  Nil  15.  20 
 Neh  10.  37. 
 
 d  Pr.i.  3.  9, 
 10.  Mai.  3. 
 10. 
 
 e  Ex.22.  31. 
 Lev.  82,  8. 
 
 t  Heb,  iihtn 
 iff  ciKiae  thu 
 't„i,d  tc  fall 
 
 n  ch.  47.  22. 
 
 6  ch.  48.  8. 
 
 t  Hell,  ludi- 
 
 1  Or,  foid 
 
 •  ver,  I.  ch, 
 48,  10,  &c. 
 
 to  defile  themselves  :  but  for  father,  or  for  mo- 
 ther, or  for  son,  or  for  daughter,  for  brother,  or 
 for  sister  that  hath  had  no  husband,  they  may 
 defile  themselves. 
 
 26  And  '  after  he  is  cleansed,  they  shall 
 reckon  unto  him  seven  days. 
 
 27  And  in  the  day  that  he  goeth  into  the 
 sanctuary,  "  unto  the  inner  court,  to  minister 
 in  the  sanctuary,  "^  he  shall  offer  his  sin  offer- 
 ing, saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 28  And  it  shall  be  unto  them  for  an  inheril- 
 ance  :  I  'am  their  inheritance:  and  ye  shall 
 give  them  no  possession  in  Israel  :  I  am  their 
 possession. 
 
 29  ''  They  shall  eat  the  meat  offering,  and  the 
 sin  offering,  and  the  trespass  offering ;  and 
 "  every  ||  dedicated  thing  in  Israel  shall  be 
 their's. 
 
 30  And  the  ||  ^  first  of  all  the  firstfruits  of  all 
 things,  and  every  oblation  of  all,  of  every  sort 
 of  your  oblations,  shall  be  the  priest's;  ye 
 "■  shall  also  give  unto  the  priest  the  first  of  your 
 dough,  ''that  he  may  cause  the  blessing  to  rest 
 in  thine  bouse. 
 
 31  The  priests  shall  not  eat  of  any  thing  that 
 is  '  dead  of  itself,  or  torn,  whether  it  be  fowl  or 
 beast. 
 
 CHAP.  XLV. 
 
 I    The  portion  of  land  for  the  sanclunnj,  G  for  the  citt/, 
 
 7  and  for  the  prince.  9  Ordinances  for  the  priyicc. 
 ly/rOREOVER,  fwhen  ye  shall  "divide  by 
 ■'■■'-  lot  the  land  for  inheritance,  ye  shall 
 ■"offer  an  oblation  unto  the  Lord,  fan  holy 
 portion  of  the  land  :  the  length  sha/l  be  the 
 length  of  five  and  twenty  tliou.sand  reeds,  and 
 the  breadth  shall  he  ten  thousand.  This  shall 
 be  holy  in  all  the  borders  thereof  round  about. 
 
 2  Of  this  there  shall  be  for  the  sanctuary 
 '  five  hundred  in  lenr/th,  with  five  hundred  in 
 breadth,  square  round  about ;  and  fifty  cubits 
 round  about  for  the  ||  suburbs  thereof. 
 
 3  And  of  this  measure  shalt  thou  measure 
 the  length  of  five  and  twenty  thousand,  and 
 the  breadth  often  thousand:  ''and  in  it  shall 
 be  the  sanctuary  and  the  most  holy  place. 
 
 4  "  The  holy  portion  of  the  land  shall  be  for 
 the  priests  the  ministers  of  the  sanctuary,  which 
 shall  come  near  to  minister  unto  the  Lokd  : 
 and  it  shall  be  a  place  for  their  houses,  and  an 
 holy  place  for  the  sanctuary. 
 
 5  '  And  the  five  and  twenty  thousand  of 
 length,  and  the  ten  thousand  of  breadth,  shall 
 
 who  were  priests  are  here  understoood. —Ca/,  l.'),  Ttie  sons  of  Zado/c 
 —from  ver,  10  to  16  naturally  reft-rs  to  the  period  when  the  temple  was 
 rebuilt,— A'tfU'c,  17,  With  /inra— see  E.\od,  xxviii,  40,  18,  Bon- 
 ntfls,  '  tuThans.'—Bofithr.  Not  gird  themselves  with  any  thing  that 
 causeth  sweat,  lest  the  holy  vestments  should  be  soiled,  or  oufward 
 uncleanness  contracted. — Bp.  Hull.  ig.  Thei/  sttall  not  S'tnrtify  the 
 people  with  their  garments  —  the  garments  of  the  prie^^thood  being 
 reckoned  holy,  they  should  encourage  no  superstition  about  touching 
 their  garments,  nor  should  the  priests  reckon  themselves  possessed  of 
 any  real  sanctity  in  the  garments,  20,  Neither— s/inve  their  heads, 
 ^e,  —  see  Lev,  x,  9;  xxi.  5,  14;  Dent,  xvii,  10,  ll  ;  xxxiii,  10,  These 
 precepts  had  been  long  neglected, — Btmtlir.  Only  poll  titeir  fiends, 
 that  is,  only  cut  their  hair  ;  neither  shave  their  heads,  nor  allow  their 
 hair  to  grow  too  long,— i*if(,  Bih.  22,  A  widow,  ^c— see  Lev. 
 xxi.  14.  23,  Difference  between  ttie  holy  and  profane — legally,  cere- 
 monially, and  morally,  to  keep  the  people  from  pollution, — Poole. 
 24,  Stand  in  judgiuenf—^ee  Deut,  xvii,  8,  9,  26,   Seven  days — see 
 
 Num,  xix,  11,  28,  No  possession,  as  the  rest  of  the  tribes,  /  am 
 their  possession,  the  peculiar  blessing  of  God  on  them,  and  their  share 
 
 in  his  offcriugs,  was  a  very  rich  possession, — Poole.  29.  Dedicated, 
 devoted,  as  a  field  or  a  beast,  (Lev.  xxvii.  28 ;  Num.  xviii,  14,) — Newc. 
 30.  FoMcrfoi/^A— see  Num.  XV.  20.  It  is  conceived  this  was  of  every 
 mass  of  dough,  which  every  year  they  first  made  of  the  new  corn. 
 May  cause  the  blessing,  may  bless  and  pray  for  thee, — Poole.  31 ,  Dead 
 of  itselfsee  Exod,  xxii,  31  ;  Lev,  xxii,  8, 
 
 Chap,  XLV,  —  \.  Divide  by  lot  the  land,  this  diiTcrs  from  the  divi- 
 sion made  by  Joshua,  nor  was  such  a  division  made  when  the  Jews 
 returned  from  Babylon  ;  it  must  be  meant  spiritually  and  mystically 
 of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  the  oblation,  persons  separated  from  the 
 world  and  sanctified,  Sic. — Gill.  The  visions  here  refer  chiefly  to 
 happier  times  than  Israel  ever  yet  saw,— S«/,  The  land  was  not  afresh 
 divided  by  lot  after  the  Babylonish  captivity,  but  it  means,  when  every 
 family  settles  according  to  the  allotment  they  formerly  had.  —  So 
 Clar/te.  An  oblation,  this  was  a  sort  of  first  fruits  of  the  "land  or  soil 
 itself. — Preb.  Lowth.  Reeds — this  word  is  not  in  the  original.  Reeds 
 would  make  42  miles  in  length  and  16  in  breadth,  at  the  lowest  calcu- 
 lation ;  much  too  large  for  the  hills  about  Jerusalem.  '  Cubits*  shotdd 
 have  been  the  word  supphed.  —  Cul.,  Lowth,  Mich  ,  Newc,  Boot/tr, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLIV.  —  I.  The unf/odli/ are  not  to 
 partake  of  the  seals  of  God's  covenant.  Let  such  beware,  lest 
 they  '  eat  and  drink  damnation  to  themselves.' 
 
 II.  Ministers  are  to  be  holy  men.     Tbey  are  not  to  pollute 
 themselves,  nor  suffer,  if  possible,  those  under  their  care  to 
 contract '  the  pollutions  that  are  in  the  world  through  lust,' 
 899 
 
 III.  A  comfortable  maintenance  is  to  be  provided  for  those  who 
 minister  in  holy  thint/s.  This  is  God's  command,  and  those  who 
 faithfully  devote  themselves  to  his  work  may  expect  to  receive 
 their  reward.  Not  only  will  God  provide  for  their  bodies 
 and  families,  but  they  may  rest  assured  he  will  be  the  portion 
 of  their  souls. 
 
Ordinances  fur  the  prime. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLVI. 
 
 Ordinances  in  his  wurshiji. 
 
 also  the  Levites,  the  ministers  of  the  house, 
 have  for  themselves,  for  a  possession  for 
 ^  twenty  chambers. 
 
 6  H  "  And  ye  shall  appoint  the  possession  of 
 the  city  five  thousand  broad,  and  five  and 
 twenty  thousand  long,  over  against  the  obla- 
 tion of  the  holy  portion :  it  shall  be  for  the 
 whole  house  of  Israel. 
 
 7  1 '  And  a  portion  shall  be  for  the  prince  on 
 the  one  side  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  ob- 
 lation of  the  holy  portion,  and  of  the  posses- 
 sion of  the  city,  before  the  oblation  of  the 
 holy  portion,  and  before  the  possession  of  the 
 city,  from  the  west  side  westward,  and  from 
 the  east  side  eastward  :  and  the  length  shall  be 
 over  against  one  of  the  portions,  from  the  west 
 border  unto  the  east  border. 
 
 8  In  the  land  shall  be  his  possession  in 
 Israel :  and  '  my  princes  shall  no  more  oppress 
 my  people  ;  and  the  rest  of  the  land  shall  they 
 give  to  the  house  of  Israel  according  to  their 
 tribes. 
 
 9  t  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  j  '  Let  it  suffice 
 you,  O  princes  of  Israel:  "remove  violence 
 and  spoil,  and  execute  judgment  and  justice, 
 take  away  your  t  exactions  from  my  people, 
 saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 10  Ye  shall  have  just  "balances,  and  a  just 
 ephah,  and  a  just  bath. 
 
 11  The  epliah  and  the  bath  shall  be  of  one 
 measure,  that  the  batli  may  contain  the  tenth 
 part  of  an  homer,  and  the  ephah  the  tenth  part 
 of  an  homer:  the  measure  thereof  shall  be  after 
 the  homer. 
 
 12  And  the  "  shekel  shall  be  twenty  gerahs 
 twenty  shekels,  five  and  twenty  shekels,  fifteen 
 shekels,  shall  be  your  maneh. 
 
 13  This  is  tlie  oblation  that  ye  shall  offer 
 the  sixth  part  of  an   ephah  of  an  homer  of 
 wheat,  and  ye  shall  give  the  sixth  part  of  an 
 ephali  of  an  homer  of  barley  : 
 
 14  Concerning  the  ordinance  of  oil,  the  bath 
 of  oil,  ye  shall  offer  the  tenth  part  of  a  bath 
 out  of  the  cor,  whir/i  is  an  homer  of  ten  baths ; 
 fur  ten  baths  are  an  homer : 
 
 13  And  one  ||  lamb  out  of  the  flock,  out  of 
 two  hundred,  out  of  the  fat  pastures  of  Israel ; 
 for  a  meat  offering,  and  for  a  burnt  offering, 
 and  for  ||  peace  offerings,  ''  to  make  reconcilia- 
 tion for  tbem,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 1(J  All  the  people  of  the  land  fshall  give  this 
 oblation  ||  for  the  prince  in  Israel. 
 
 17  And  it  shall  be  the  prince's  part  to  give 
 burnt  offerings,  and  meat  offerings,  and  drink 
 offerings,  in  the  feasts,  and  in  the  new  moons. 
 
 g  Seech. 40. 
 
 17. 
 h  cb.  48.  15. 
 
 h  ch.  46.  IB. 
 See  Jcr  22 
 17.  ch.  22. 
 
 1  ch.  M.  C. 
 ,.i  Jer.  22.  3. 
 
 t  Heb.  fx- 
 
 36.  I"r 
 I. 
 
 >  E«.  311.  13 
 I.cv.  27.  a 
 T^uui.  y.  47. 
 
 II  Or,  Oinnh 
 ujtmngt. 
 
 p  Lev    I    1 
 
 t  Heb.  lAiW/ 
 1.,/., 
 
 II  Or,  ,r,//,. 
 
 Or,  thank 
 offering*. 
 
 1  Lev,  16.16. 
 cb.  43.  20. 
 
 1  F,«.  12.  la 
 Lev.  23.5.(1. 
 Nu  9.  2,  3. 
 &  -JH.  16.17. 
 l»eii.  16.  1, 
 
 .1  Lev.  4. 14 
 
 X  Lev.  23.  8. 
 
 16.  I'.l.  &c. 
 ;  cb.  46. 6, : 
 
 1  I.cv  -23  33 
 Nu  2!».  12 
 Deu    16  13 
 
 and  in  the  sabbaths,  in  all  solemnities  of  the 
 house  of  Israel :  he  shall  prepare  the  sin  offer- 
 ing, and  the  meat  offering,  and  the  burnt  offer- 
 ing, and  the  ||  peace  offerings,  to  make  recon- 
 ciliation for  the  house  of  Israel. 
 
 18  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  In  the  first 
 month,  in  the  first  day  of  the  month,  thou  shalt 
 take  a  young  bullock  without  blemish,  and 
 ''  cleanse  the  sanctuary  : 
 
 19  '  And  the  priest  shall  take  of  the  blood  of 
 the  sin  offering,  and  put  it  upon  the  posts  of 
 the  house,  and  upon  the  four  corners  of  the 
 settle  of  the  altar,  and  upon  the  posts  of  the 
 gate  of  the  inner  court. 
 
 ■20  And  so  thou  shalt  do  the  seventh  day  of 
 the  month  'for  every  one  that  erreth,  and  for 
 him  that  is  simple  :  so  shall  ye  reconcile  the 
 house. 
 
 21  'In  the  first  month,  iu  the  fourteenth  day 
 of  the  month,  ye  shall  have  the  passover,  a 
 feast  of  seven  days  ;  unleavened  bread  shall 
 be  eaten. 
 
 22  And  upon  that  day  shall  the  prince  pre- 
 pare for  himself  and  for  all  the  people  of  the 
 land  "a  bullock Jor  a  sin  offering. 
 
 .3  And  '  seven  days  of  the  feast  he  shall  pre- 
 pare a  burnt  offering  to  the  Lono,  seven  bul- 
 locks and  seven  rams  without  blemish  daily 
 the  seven  days  ;  ^  and  a  kid  of  the  goats  daily 
 for  a  sin  offering. 
 
 24  ''  And  he  .shall  prepare  a  meat  offering  of 
 an  ephah  for  a  bullock,  and  an  ephah  for  a  ram, 
 and  an  bin  of  oil  for  an  ephah. 
 
 25  In  the  seventh  month,\n  the  fifteenth  day 
 of  the  montli,  shall  he  do  the  like  in  the  "feast 
 of  the  seven  days,  according  to  the  sin  offer- 
 ing, according  to  the  burnt  offering,  and  ac- 
 cording to  the  meat  offering,  and  according  to 
 the  oil. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVI. 
 
 I  Ordinances  for  the  prince  in  his  worship,  9  and  for 
 the  people.  16  An  order  for  the  prince's  inheritance. 
 19    The  courts  for  boiling  and  baking. 
 
 'P HUS  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  The  gate  of  the 
 ■■-  inner  court  that  looketh  toward  the  east 
 shall  be  shut  the  six  working  days;  but  on  the 
 sabbath  it  shall  be  opened,  and  in  the  day  of 
 the  new  moon  it  shall  be  opened. 
 2  °  And  the  prince  shall  enter  by  the  way  of 
 the  porch  of  that  gate  without,  and  shall  stand 
 by  the  post  of  the  ^ate,  and  the  priests  shall 
 prepare  his  burnt  offering  and  his  peace  offer- 
 ings, and  he  shall  worship  at  the  threshold  of 
 the  gate  :  then  he  shall  go  forth  ;  hut  the  gate 
 shall  not  be  shut  until  the  evening. 
 
 10.  Just  halfinres—Lev.  xix.  36  ;  Deut.  xxv.  13.  They  must  not  intro- 
 duce those  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  in  the  captivity-— W.  ('. 
 
 11.  Homer,  distinguish  this  from  'omer,'  (Exod.  xvi.36,}  which  is  but 
 the  tenth  part  of  an  ephah,  12.  Shekel— see  Exod.  S-\x.  13.  13.  The 
 obltttion,  ^c,  the  portion  belonging:  to  the  Le\'ites  out  of  the  fruits  of 
 the  earth  when  they  were  gathered  in,  (see  chap.  xliv.  30.) — Preh. 
 Lnwth.  15.  One  lamb,  ffc,  the  proportion  is  here  ftxed  in  bringing  the 
 lambs  for  daily  sacrifice.  16.  For  the  prince,  or  'with  the  prince  ;' prince 
 and  people  sharing. — Poole.  iVV^H, '  to  the  prince,'  in  Israel ;  the  prioce 
 Messiah,  as  to  the  Lord,  freely  and  cordiadly,  and  for  his  honour  and 
 
 glory.— Gi7/,  as  Castalin,  Cocc.,  Stark.  18.  Andcleanse  the  sanctuaryt 
 from  defilements,  previous  to  the  passover,  which  took  place  a  few  days 
 after,  (see  Lev.  xvi.  \^.)—Preb.  Lowth.  20.  Simple,  errs  from  igno- 
 rance, in  contradistiiicti'm  to  a  wilful  transgressor. — Hew.  25.  Feast 
 of  the  seven  days,  or  tabernacles. 
 
 Chap.  XLVL  —  2.  irors/iip,  i^e.,  by  bowng  his  head,  and  bowing 
 down  his  face  to  the  earth,  or  falliug  upon  the  ground,  as  the  posture 
 is  elsewhere  described,  (see  Gen.  xxiv.  26,  52  ;  Exod.  xii.  2?  ;  1  Chron. 
 xxix.  20  :  2  Chron.  xxix.  29  ;  Job,  i.  2ii.)—Preb.  Lowth.  This  seems  to 
 denote  the  constant,  reverential,  and  exemplary  attendance  of  kings  on 
 
 UEFLECTinNs  ON  CiiAP.    XLV.  —  We  may  learn  from  this 
 chapter— I.  Our  dutu  to  God.     To  '  honour  the  Lord  with  our 
 substance,'  to  regard  his  ordinances,  maintain  the  interests  of 
 reheion  in  the  world,  by  supporting  his  ministers,  and  observ- 
 ing bis  sabbaths,  and  never  to  forget  the  great  atoning  Sacri- 
 Ijce,  the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  through  whose  blood  we  obtain 
 IT  *^S»veness  of  sins  according  to  the  riches  of  bis  grace.' 
 XJ.  Our  dntg  to  man.     Man  is  not  to  oppress  man.  in  what 
 900 
 
 situation  soever  he  may  be  placed  ;  he  is  to  do  judgment  and 
 justice,  and  every  transaction  is  to  be  fair  and  honest.  A  re- 
 gard to  these  duties  will  produce  harmony  among  mankind, 
 and  prevent  the  effects  which  arise  from  violence,  fraud,  and 
 extortion  ;  hut  let  us  always  remember  that  with  the  per- 
 formance of  these,  we  need  the  blood  of  sprinkling,  without 
 which  the  heart  can  never  be  purified  from  sin,  nor  the  sinner 
 reconciled  to  God. 
 
Ordinances  fur  the  people. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLVII. 
 
 The  courts  for  boilimj  and  baking. 
 
 3  Likewise  the  people  of  the  land  shall  wor- 
 ship at  the  door  of  this  gate  before  the  Lord 
 in  the  sabbaths  and  in  the  new  moons. 
 
 4  And  the  burnt  offering  that  '■  the  prince 
 shall  offer  unto  the  Lord  in  the  sabbath  day 
 shall  be  six  Iambs  without  blemish,  and  a  ram 
 without  blemish. 
 
 3  °  And  the  meat  offering  shall  be  an  ephah 
 for  a  ram,  and  the  meat  offering  for  the  lambs 
 t  as  he  shall  be  able  to  give,  and  an  hin  of  oil 
 to  an  ephah. 
 
 6  And  in  the  day  of  the  new  moon  it  shall 
 be  a  young  bullock  without  blemish,  and  six 
 lambs,  and  a  ram  :  they  shall  be  without  ble- 
 mish. 
 
 7  And  he  shall  prepare  a  meat  offering,  an 
 ephah  for  a  bullock,  and  an  ephah  for  a  ram, 
 and  for  the  lambs  according  as  his  hand  shall 
 attain  unto,  and  an  hin  of  oil  to  an  ephah. 
 
 8  ''  And  when  the  prince  shall  enter,  he  shall 
 go  in  by  the  way  of  the  porch  of  that  gate,  and 
 he  shall  go  forth  by  the  way  thereof. 
 
 9  H  But  when  the  people  of  the  land  "  shall 
 come  before  the  Lord  in  the  solemn  feasts,  he 
 that  entereth  in  by  the  way  of  the  north  gate 
 to  worship  shall  go  out  by  the  way  of  the  south 
 gate  ;  and  he  that  entereth  by  the  way  of  the 
 south  gate  shall  go  forth  by  the  way  of  the 
 north  gate :  he  shall  not  return  by  the  way  of 
 the  gate  whereby  he  came  in,  but  shall  go 
 forth  over  against  it. 
 
 10  And  the  prince  in  the  midst  of  them 
 when  they  go  in,  shall  go  in;  and  when  they 
 go  forth,  shall  go  forth. 
 
 1 1  And  in  the  feasts  and  in  the  solemnities 
 'the  meat  offering  shall  be  an  ephah  to  a  bul- 
 lock, and  an  ephah  to  a  ram,  and  to  the  Iambs 
 as  he  is  able  to  give,  and  an  hin  of  oil  to  an 
 ephah . 
 
 12  Now  when  the  prince  shall  prepare  a  vo- 
 luntary burnt  offering  or  peace  offerings  volun- 
 tarily unto  the  Lord,  ^one  shall  then  open 
 him  the  gate  that  looketh  toward  the  east,  and 
 he  shall  prepare  his  burnt  offering  and  his 
 peace  offerings,  as  he  did  on  the  sabbath  day  : 
 then  he  shall  go  forth  ;  and  after  his  going 
 forth  fine  shall  shut  the  gate. 
 
 13  '■Thou  shalt  daily  prepare  a  burnt  offer- 
 ing unto  the  Lord  of  a.  Iamb  fof  the  first  year 
 without  blemish  :  thou  shalt  prepare  it  f  every 
 morning. 
 
 14  And  thou  shalt  prepare  a  meat  offering 
 for  it  every  morning,  the  sixth  part  of  an  ephah, 
 and  the  third  part  of  an  hin  of  oil,  to  temper 
 with  the  fine  flour  ;  a  meat  offering  continually 
 by  a  perpetual  ordinance  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 c  eh.  45.  i' 
 vgr.  7,  n. 
 
 t  Hcb.  (/..• 
 
 ^ch.  11.3. 
 
 /.  Kx.  29.  W. 
 
 Num.  S^  3. 
 t  Heh.  n  »,'. 
 
 of  liu  «,;:,. 
 t  Heb.  "iorn. 
 
 <"9  f'y  """"- 
 
 ti  Lev.  2.  4, 
 
 cb. '.H.ig. 
 
 t  Heb.n  eotirl 
 
 ./■ «  marl, 
 aitd  a  cmrt 
 
 .,/ac 
 
 t  rteb. 
 Ciirnered. 
 
 J  Jnel  3.  IS. 
 Zech.  13.1. 
 &  14.  8. 
 Rev.  82.  1. 
 
 15  Thus  shall  they  prepare  the  lamb,  and  the 
 meat  offering,  and  the  oil,  every  morning_/or  a 
 continual  burnt  offering. 
 
 16  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  If  the  prince 
 give  a  gift  unto  any  of  his  sons,  the  inheritance 
 thereof  shall  be  his  sons' ;  it  shall  be  their  pos- 
 session by  inheritance. 
 
 17  But  if  he  give  a  gift  of  his  inheritance  to 
 one  of  his  seri'ants,  then  it  shall  be  his  to  '  the 
 year  of  liberty  ;  after  it  -shall  return  to  the 
 prince  :  but  his  inheritance  shall  be  his  sons' 
 for  them. 
 
 18  Moreover  'the  prince  shall  not  take  of 
 the  people's  inheritance  by  oppression,  to 
 thrust  them  out  of  their  possession  ;  but  he 
 shall  give  his  sons  inheritance  out  of  his  own 
 possession ;  that  my  people  be  not  scattered 
 every  man  from  his  possession. 
 
 19  If  After  he  brought  me  tlirough  the  entry, 
 which  was  at  the  side  of  the  gate,  into  the 
 holy  chambers  of  the  priests,  which  looked  to- 
 ward the  north  :  and,  behold,  there  was  a 
 place  on  the  two  sides  westward. 
 
 20  Then  said  he  unto  me.  This  is  the  place 
 where  the  priests  shall  '  boil  the  trespass 
 oft'ering  and  the  sin  offering,  where  they  shall 
 "'  bake  the  meat  offering  ;  that  they  bear  them 
 not  out  into  the  utter  court,  "  to  sanctify  the 
 people. 
 
 21  Then  he  brought  me  forth  into  the  utter 
 court,  and  caused  nie  to  pass  by  the  four  cor- 
 ners of  the  court ;  and,  behold,  fin  every  cor- 
 ner of  the  court  there  was  a  court. 
 
 22  Li  tlie  four  comers  of  the  court  there 
 were  courts  {{  joined  of  forty  cubits  long  and 
 thirty  broad  :  these  four  f  corners  were  of  one 
 measure. 
 
 23  And  there  was  a  row  of  bnilding  round 
 about  in  them,  round  about  them  four,  and  it 
 was  made  with  boiling  places  under  the  rows 
 round  about. 
 
 24  Then  said  he  unto  me.  These  are  the 
 places  of  them  that  boil,  where  the  ministers 
 of  the  house  shall  °  boil  the  sacrifice  of  the 
 people. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVIL 
 I    Tke  vision  of  the  holy  waters.     Q   T/ie  virtue  of 
 them.     13    The  borders  of  the  land.     22    The  divi- 
 sion of  it  hy  lot. 
 
 \  FTERWARD  he  brought  me  again  unto 
 ■'-^  the  door  of  the  house;  and,  behold,  °  wa- 
 ters issued  out  from  under  the  threshold  of  the 
 house  eastward  :  for  the  forefront  of  the  house 
 stood  toward  the  east,  and  the  waters  came 
 down  from  under  from  the  right  side  of  the 
 house,  at  the  south  side  of  the  altar. 
 
 the  pare  evangelical  ordinances  of  religion  in  the  approaching  flourish, 
 ing  days  of  the  church.— Sfo«.  3.  They  shatl  worship,  bring,  stand, 
 worship  at  the  threshold  of  the  gate,  and  depart  when  the  sacrifice  was 
 finished. — Poole.  4.  That  the  pyiitee  shatl  offer,  ?jc. — it  was  the 
 prince's  part  to  provide  sacrifices  for  the  sabbatlis  and  other  festivals, 
 (see  chap.  xlv.  17.)  This  was  a  new  ordinance,  and  the  number  of  the 
 beasts  and  proportion  of  ofTerings  different  from  those  formerly  pre- 
 scribed, (comp.  ver.  4,  6,  7,  14.  and  Num.  xxviii.  9,  11,  12,  15.) — Preli. 
 Lowth.  5.  As  he  shall  he  ahle,  rather,  '  as  he  shall  see  good.' — Poole. 
 The  oflering  was  fixed  and  stinted  under  the  law,  [Num.  xxviii,  9,)  but 
 now  it  should  be  free  and  voluntary,  and  according  to  the  ability  of  the 
 giver. — Gill.  14.  The  si^lh,  .'re. — in  Num.  xxviii.  5,  the  proportion 
 required  is  the  tenth  part  of  an  ephah  of  flour,  and  the  fourth  part  of 
 
 an  hin  of  oil. — Preh.  Lowth.  Kimchi  observes,  that  this  is  a  new  thing 
 in  time  to  come ;  the  reason  of  it  is,  to  shew  us  that  as  the  blessing  of 
 grace  abound  under  the  gospel  dispensation,  we  should  abound  in  our 
 thanksgiving  to  God. — Gill.  16.  It  shall  he  their  possession,  this 
 power  of  alienating  to  his  sons  is  entirely  new. — Cal.  23.  With  boiliiig 
 places,  uncovered  apartmcuts.  where  were  kept  tires  for  dressing  those 
 parts  of  the  peace-offerings  which  were  made  in  the  temple  by  indivi- 
 duals, throufjh  a  principle  of  devotion.  On  these  their  families  and 
 their  friends  feasted,  and  portions  were  sent  to  the  poor,  the  widows, 
 and  the  orphans. — .-I.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XLVII. —  1.  ifousp,  i.e.,  the  temple. — Preh.  Lowth.  Waters 
 issued  out — Solomon's  temple  and  the  second  temple  were  well  sup- 
 plied with  water,  conveyed  thither  in  order  to  wash  the  sacrifices,  and 
 
 Rkfi.ections  on  Chap.  XLVL — This  chapter  reminds 
 us — I.  That  we  should  attend  to  the  weekly  ami  daili/  worship  of 
 God,  and  that  in  both  we  must  not  '  neglect  to  apply  the  sa- 
 crifice of  the  Lamb  of  God  to  our  souls  for  pardon,  peace,  and 
 salvation.' ' 
 
 901 
 
 II.  How  superior  will  he  the  worship  of  heaven  to  that  of  earth  f 
 There  will  be  no  moro  going  in  and  coming  out,  *  but  they 
 shall  serve  him  day  and  night  in  his  temple.*  And  there  will 
 be  no  more  concern  to  provide  for  the  body,  but  the  soul  shall 
 feast  on  immortal  fruits  in  the  paradise  of  (jod. 
 
The  vision  of  the  holy  waters. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLVII. 
 
 The  division  of  the  land  by  lot. 
 
 2  Then  brought  he  me  out  of  the  way  of  the 
 gate  northwaid,  and  led  me  about  the  way 
 without  unto  the  utter  gate  by  the  way  that 
 looketh  eastward  ;  and,  behold,  there  ran  out 
 waters  on  the  right  side. 
 
 3  And  when  ^  the  man  that  had  the  line  in 
 his  hand  went  forth  eastward,  he  measured  a 
 thousand  cubits,  and  he  brought  me  through 
 the  waters ;  the  f  waters  icere  to  the  ancles. 
 
 4  Again  he  measured  a  thousand,  and  brought 
 me  through  the  waters ;  the  waters  were  to 
 the  knees.  Again  he  measured  a  thousand, 
 and  brought  me  through  ;  the  waters  were  to 
 the  loins. 
 
 3  Afterward  he  measured  a  thousand  ;  and 
 it  was  a  river  that  I  could  not  pass  over :  for 
 the  waters  were  risen,  f  waters  to  swim  in,  a 
 river  that  could  not  be  passed  over. 
 
 6  1[  And  lie  said  unto  me.  Son  of  man,  hast 
 thou  seen  this  f  Then  he  brought  me,  and 
 caused  me  to  return  to  the  brink  of  the  river. 
 
 7  Now  wlieu  I  had  returned,  behold,  at  the 
 t  bank  of  the  river  xcerc  very  many  "  trees  on 
 the  one  side  and  on  the  other. 
 
 8  Then  said  he  unto  me.  These  waters  issue 
 out  toward  the  east  country,  and  go  down 
 into  the  ||  desert,  and  go  into  the  sea:  tchich 
 being  brought  forth  into  the  sea,  the  waters 
 shall  be  healed. 
 
 9  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  every  thing 
 that  liveth,  which  moveth,  whithersoever  the 
 t  rivers  shall  come,  shall  live ;  and  there  shall 
 be  a  very  great  multitude  of  fish,  because  these 
 waters  shall  come  thither  :  for  they  shall  be 
 healed  ;  and  every  thing  shall  live  whither  the 
 river  cometh. 
 
 10  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  the  fishers 
 shall  stand  upon  it  from  En-gedi  even  unto 
 En-eglaim  ;  they  shall  be  a  place  to  spread 
 forth  nets  ;  their  fish  shall  be  according  to 
 their  kinds,  as  the  fish  "^  of  the  great  sea,  ex- 
 ceeding many. 
 
 1 1  But  the  miry  places  thereof  and  the  ma- 
 rishes  thereof  ||  shall  not  be  healed ;  they 
 shall  be  given  to  salt. 
 
 12  And  "  by  t!ie  river  upon  the  bank  thereof, 
 on  this  side  and  on  that  side,  f  shall  grow  all 
 trees  for  meat,  'whose  leaf  shall  not  fade,  nei- 
 ther shall  the  fruit  thereof  be  consumed  :  it 
 shall  bring  forth  ||  new  fruit  according  to  his 
 months,  because  their  waters  they  issued  out 
 
 t  Heb.  /<p. 
 c  ver  12. 
 Hev.  22-  2, 
 
 il  Or,  f/.i™  .■ 
 SeeDeu  3. 
 17.  ?c  .1.  -19. 
 JdsIi.  3.  IC. 
 
 d  Nu  .14. 
 Ji>Bli  il. 
 ch   48.  28 
 
 )i,aNdt1iat 
 I'll  be  h^A- 
 
 f  Heb.  thall 
 cm-  u;. 
 
 /Job  8,   16. 
 Ps.  I.  3. 
 Jer.  17.  8. 
 
 II  Or.  ,.ri„- 
 
 II  Or, /or 
 bruuet  und 
 
 ff  Rev.  22.  8. 
 
 ;.  Gpn.  48  B. 
 I  Chr.  5.  I. 
 lb.  4S.  4,5. 
 
 8    «(  26.  S.tk 
 28.  13   ch 
 211.  5,  6,  28, 
 42. 
 
 *  cb.  48.  S9. 
 
 /  cb,  48.  I. 
 
 m  Nu.  M.  8. 
 
 '.  >u   34.  8, 
 
 »  2  S.-U11. 8.8, 
 
 f  Hob.  from 
 belueeit. 
 
 neu.32.  51. 
 
 P..  81.  7. 
 
 cb,  IS.  29. 
 II  Or, 
 
 Meribnii. 
 II  Or,  vnllrt. 
 II  Or,  lomatd 
 
 TrmoH. 
 
 Bee  Epb.3, 
 
 Uul 
 Cul,  ; 
 
 of  the  sanctuary  :  and  the  fruit  tliereof  shall 
 be  for  meat,  and  the  leaf  thereof  ||  for  "  medi- 
 cine. 
 
 13  IThus  saith  the  Lord  God;  T\\h  shall 
 be  the  border,  whereby  ye  shall  inherit  the 
 land  according  to  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel : 
 '■  Joseph  shall  have  two  portions. 
 
 14  And  ye  shall  inherit  it,  one  as  well  as  an- 
 other :  concerning  the  which  I  ||  '  lifted  up 
 mine  hand  to  give  it  unto  your  fathers :  and 
 this  land  shall  ■■  fall  unto  you  for  inheritance. 
 
 15  And  this  shall  be  the  border  of  the  laud 
 toward  the  north  side,  from  the  great  sea,  '  the 
 way  of  Hethlon,  as  men  go  to  "'  Zedad  ; 
 
 10  "  Hainath,  "  Berothah,  Sibraim,  which  is 
 between  the  border  of  Damascus  and  the  bor- 
 der of  Hamath  ;  ||  Hazar-hatticon,  which  is  by 
 the  coast  of  Hauran. 
 
 17  And  the  border  from  the  sea  shall  be 
 ^  Hazar-enan,  the  border  of  Damascus,  and  the 
 north  northward,  and  the  border  of  Hamath. 
 And  this  is  the  north  side. 
 
 18  And  the  east  side  ye  shall  measure  ffrom 
 Hauran,  and  from  Damascus,  and  from  Gilead, 
 and  from  the  land  of  Israel  by  Jordan,  from  the 
 border  unto  the  east  sea.  And  this  is  the  cast 
 side. 
 
 19  And  the  south  side  southward,  from  Ta- 
 mar  even  to  '  the  waters  of  ||  strife  in  Kadesh, 
 the  II  river  to  the  great  sea.  And  this  is  the 
 soutli  side  II  southward. 
 
 20  The  west  side  also  shall  be  the  great  sea 
 from  the  border,  till  a  man  come  over  against 
 Hamath.     This  is  the  west  side. 
 
 21  So  shall  ye  divide  this  land  unto  you  ac- 
 cording to  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 22  K  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  ye  shall 
 divide  it  by  lot  for  an  inheritance  unto  you, 
 'and  to  the  strangers  that  sojourn  among  you, 
 which  shall  beget  children  among  you  :  'and 
 they  shall  be  unto  you  as  born  in  the  country 
 among  the  children  of  Israel  ;  they  shall  have 
 inheritance  with  you  among  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 23  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  in  what 
 tribe  the  stranger  sojourneth,  there  shall  ye 
 give  him  his  inheritance,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XLVllI. 
 
 1,2.3  The  portions  of  the  twelve  tribes,  ^  of  the  sanc- 
 tuori/,  15  of  the  city  and  suburbs^  21  and  of  the 
 prince.     30  The  dimensions  and  f/ales  of  the  city. 
 
 for  similar  purposes,  but  the  waters  here  mentioned  flowed  originally  1 1 .  The  miry  places,  %c.,  Uiere  would  still  remain  some  marshes,  creeks, 
 
 from  the  temple,  as  a  delightful  fertilizing  river.  This  part  of  the  vision  or  swamps,  into  which  their  healuig  waters  could  not  find  an  entrance, 
 
 must  be  understood  figuratively,  which  is  important  in  forming  a  de-  and  these  would  be  left  incurably  sterile  and  worUlless.— Sco«.    Given 
 
 termination  concerning  the  import  of  the  whole  vision.   These  waters,  to  sail,  barren,  (Ps.  cvii,  34  ;   Deut.  \xix.  23 ;  Judg.  ix.  45.)— Pre*, 
 
 no  doubt,  were  an  emblem  of  the  'gospel  preached  with  the  Holy  Lontli.     These  miry  places  represent  those  unsound  rotten  parts  that 
 
 Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven,'  to  render  it  effectual,  and  conveying  are  neither  sea  nor  solid  ground,  a  proper  emblem  of  hypocrites.— 
 
 with  it  all  spiritual  blessings  to  the  souls  of  believers  and  to  the  na-  Poole.    The  allegorical  sense  is,  that  some  should  reject  the^Gospcl 
 
 tions  of  the'earth. —.Sco«.  ITie  gradual  rise  denotes  the  gradual  pro- 
 gress of  the  gospel.— iVeicc.  The  metaphor  is  probably  taken  from  the 
 river  that  watered  Paradise. — Preh.  Lowtft.  Taken  probably  from  the 
 waters  of  the  fount  Ethan,  which  were  conveyed  into  the  court  of  the 
 priests  by  pipes,  and  there  received  into  reservoirs. — Dr.  Lightfoot. 
 8.  Into  the  desert,  and  iro  into  t/ie  sea,  supposed  to  mean  the  Dead  Sea, 
 or  Lake  of  Sodom,  east  of  Jerusalem.  In  this  sea.  it  is  said,  no  living 
 creature  is  found  ;  at  least,  it  is  evident  that  it  does  not  abound  with 
 fish,  as  other  seas  do.— Scott.  The  waters  shall  be  healed,  mystically 
 denoting  the  healing  virtue  of  God's  grace,  or  the  Gospel,  to  cure  the 
 vices  and  corruptions  of  human  nature.  —  Preh.  Loicth,  Newcome. 
 10.  Fishers,  of  men,  (see  Matt.  iv.  19.)  En-gedi~see  1  Sam.  xxiii.  29, 
 note.  En-eglaim,  a  city,  north-east  of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  said  to  be 
 a  boundary  town  of  Moab. — Poole.     Great  sea,  Mediterranean.- Gi/^ 
 
 Newc.  12.  Shall  grou}  all  trees,  ^c,  emblematical  of  the  flourishing 
 state  of  the  righteous,  (Ps.  i.  3  ;  Jer.  xvii.  8.) — Preh.  Lowth.  13.  This 
 shall  he  the  border,  the  prophet  returns  to  the  division  of  the  land,  the 
 account  of  which  had  been  interrupted  by  iutervening  discoveries.  As 
 no  such  division  of  Canaan  took  place  after  the  captivity,  this  must  be 
 understood  of  future  events. — Scott.  15.  Hethlon,  in  the  tribe  Asher, 
 near  Mount  Hermon. —Poo/c.  16.  Hamath— see  Isa.  x.  9,  notes. 
 
 Berothah,  Sibraim,  towns  between  Hamath  and  Damascus.  —  Preb. 
 Lau'th.  Hazar-hnltican,  ('  et  les  bourgs  d'entre-deux,  French  Trans. ;) 
 '  the  villages  between  those  two,*  that  is,  between  Hamath  and  Hauran. 
 Hauran,  some  miles  beyond  Jordan,  which  gave  name  to  the  country 
 c.illcd  Auranitis.  1".  Hazar-enan,  the  village  Enan. — Poole.     Sec 
 
 Num.  xxxiv.  9.  18.  ii"iis(  sea.  Dead  Sea.— ,4.  CtarAe.  l^.Tamar, 
 near  Engcdi. — Poole. 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.    XLVII. —  I.  Let  as  praise  God  disorders,  and  makes  them  wise,  holy,  and  happy;  but  men 
 for  ijospel  blessings.     These  healing  waters,  which  flowed  from  that  are  sensual,  and  devoted  to  their  lusts,  are  like  marshes 
 Jerusalem,  have  made  a  surprising  cliange  in  thousands.  by  tiie  side  of  a  fine  river,  still  unprofitable  and  noxious  ;  lu- 
 ll.   We  may  observe  the  different  effects  which  the  gospel  has  on  stead  of  deriving  good  from  it,  they  becoine  worse  :  to  Ihoui 
 diffirent  persons.    '  In  some  it  heafs  the  most  inveterate  mental  the  gospel  is  a  savour  of  death  unto  death.'  i" 
 902 
 
The  portions  of  the  twelve  tribes. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLVIII. 
 
 The  portion  of  the  prince. 
 
 NOW  these  are  the  names  of  the  tribes. 
 "  From  the  north  end  to  the  coast  of  the 
 way  of  Hethlon,  as  one  goeth  to  Hamath, 
 Hazar-enan,  the  border  of  Damascus  north- 
 ward, to  the  coast  of  Hamath  ;  for  these  are 
 his  sides  east  and  west ;  ]  a.  portion  for  Dan. 
 
 2  And  by  the  border  of  Dan,  from  the  east 
 side  unto  the  west  side,  aportiotifor  Asher. 
 
 3  And  by  the  border  of  Asher,  from  the  east 
 side  even  unto  the  west  side,  a  portion  for 
 Naphtali. 
 
 4  And  by  the  border  of  Naphtali,  from  the 
 east  side  unto  the  west  side,  a  portion  for 
 RIanasseh. 
 
 3  And  by  the  border  of  Manasseh,  from  the 
 east  side  unto  the  west  side,  a  portion  for 
 Ephraim. 
 
 6  And  by  the  border  of  Ephraim,  from  the 
 east  side  even  unto  the  west  side,  a  portion 
 
 for  Reuben. 
 
 7  And  by  the  border  of  Reuben,  from  the 
 east  side  unto  the  west  side,  a  portion  for 
 Judah. 
 
 8  f  And  by  the  border  of  Judah,  from  the 
 east  side  unto  the  west  side,  shall  be  ''  tlie 
 ottering  which  ye  shall  offer  of  five  and  twenty 
 thousand  reeds  in  breadth,  and  in  lengtli  as 
 one  of  the  other  parts,  from  the  east  side  unto 
 the  west  side  :  and  the  sanctuary  shall  be  in 
 the  midst  of  it. 
 
 9  The  oblation  that  ye  shall  offer  unto  the 
 Lord  shall  be  of  five  and  twenty  thousand  in 
 length,  and  of  ten  thousand  in  breadth. 
 
 10.  And  fur  them,  even  for  the  priests,  shall 
 be  this  holy  oblation  ;  toward  the  north  five 
 and  twenty  thousand  in  length,  and  toward 
 the  west  ten  thousand  in  breadth,  and  toward 
 the  east  ten  thousand  in  breadth,  and  toward 
 tlie  south  five  and  twenty  thousand  in  length 
 and  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord  shall  be  in 
 the  midst  thereof. 
 
 11  °  II  /<  shall  be  for  the  priests  that  are  sanc- 
 tified of  the  sons  of  Zadok  ;  which  have  kept 
 my  II  charge,  which  went  not  astray  when  the 
 cliildren  of  Israel  went  astray,  ^  as  the  Levites 
 went  astray. 
 
 12  And  this  oblation  of  the  land  tliat  is  offer- 
 ed shall  be  unto  them  a  thing  most  holy  by 
 the  border  of  the  Levites. 
 
 13  And  over  against  the  border  of  the  priests 
 the  Levites  shall  have  five  and  twenty  thou- 
 sand in  length,  and  ten  thousand  in  breadth 
 all  the  length  shall  be  five  and  twenty  thou- 
 sand, and  the  breadth  ten  thousand. 
 
 14  "  And  they  shall  not  sell  of  it,  neither  ex- 
 change, nor  alienate  the  firstfruits  of  the  land  : 
 for  it  is  holy  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 13  U  '  And  the  five  thousand,  that  are  left  in 
 the  breadth  over  against  the  five  and  twenty 
 thousand,  shall  be  *  a  profane  place  for  the 
 city,  for  dwelling,  and  for  suburbs  :  and  the 
 city  shall  be  in  the  midst  thereof- 
 
 10  And  these  shall  be  the  measures  thereof; 
 the  north  side  four  thousand  and  five  hundred, 
 and  the  south  side  four  thousand  and  fivehun- 
 
 B.  C.  571. 
 I  ch.  47.  15, 
 
 t  Heb.  one 
 portiou. 
 
 c  cli.  4V.  15. 
 II  Or,  r/.e 
 
 t'lnelified 
 
 portion 
 
 sliall  be /..I 
 
 ll,r  priirtts. 
 II  Or.  urarrf, 
 
 or,  "rdt- 
 
 Lev   27.  10, 
 2S,  33. 
 
 3  cli.  42.  20. 
 
 t  Heb.  me 
 porlioo. 
 
 /  oh   47.  19. 
 t  Heb.  J/er,. 
 
 I  Rev.  21.12, 
 
 dred,  and  on  the  east  side  four  thousand  and 
 five  hundred,  and  the  west  side  four  thousand 
 and  five  hundred. 
 
 17  And  tlie  suburbs  of  the  city  shall  be  to- 
 ward the  north  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  to- 
 ward the  south  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  to- 
 ward the  east  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  to- 
 ward the  west  two  hundred  and  fifty. 
 
 18  And  the  residue  in  length  over  against  the 
 oblation  of  the  holy  portion  shall  be  ten  thou- 
 sand eastward,  and  ten  thousand  westward  ; 
 and  it  shall  be  over  against  the  oblation  of  the 
 holy  portion  ;  and  the  increase  thereof  shall  be 
 for  food  unto  them  that  serve  the  city. 
 
 19  ''  And  they  that  serve  the  city  shall  serve 
 it  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 20  All  the  oblation  shall  be  five  and  twenty 
 thousand  by  five  and  twenty  thousand  :  ye 
 shall  offer  the  holy  oblation  foursquare,  with 
 the  possession  of  the  city. 
 
 21  H  '  And  the  residue  shall  be  for  the  prince, 
 on  the  one  .side  and  on  the  other  of  the  holy 
 oblation,  and  of  the  possession  of  the  city,  over 
 against  the  five  and  twenty  thousand  of  the 
 oblation  toward  the  east  border,  and  westward 
 over  against  the  five  and  twenty  thousand  to- 
 ward the  west  border,  over  against  the  por- 
 tions for  the  prince  :  and  it  shall  be  the  holy 
 oblation ;   ^  and    the  sanctuary  of  the  house 
 
 hall  be  in  the  midst  thereof. 
 
 22  Moreover  from  the  possession  of  the  Le- 
 vites, and  from  the  possession  of  the  e\ty,  being 
 in  the  midst  of  that  which  is  the  prince's,  be- 
 tween the  border  of  Judah  and  the  border  of 
 Benjamin,  shall  be  for  the  prince. 
 
 23  As  for  the  rest  of  the  tribes,  from  the  east 
 side  unto  the  west  side  Benjamin  shall  have 
 t  a  portion. 
 
 24  And  by  the  border  of  Benjamin,  from  the 
 east  side  unto  the  west  side,  Simeon  shall 
 have  a  portion. 
 
 23  And  by  the  border  of  Simeon,  from  the 
 east  side  unto  the  west  side,  Issachar  a  jwr- 
 tion. 
 
 26  And  by  the  border  of  Issachar,  from  the 
 east  side  unto  the  west  side,  Zebulnn  ^portion. 
 
 27  And  by  the  border  of  Zebulun,  from  the 
 east  side  unto  the  west  side.  Gad  a.  portion. 
 
 28  And  by  the  border  of  Gad,  at  the  south 
 side  southward,  the  border  shall  be  even  from 
 Tamar  unto  '  the  waters  of  f  strife  in  Kadesh, 
 and  to  the  river  toward  the  great  sea. 
 
 29  ■"  This  is  the  land  which  ye  shall  divide 
 by  lot  unto  the  tribes  of  Israel  for  inheritance, 
 and  these  are  their  portions,  saith  the  Lord 
 God. 
 
 30  t  And  tliese  are  the  goings  out  of  the 
 city  on  the  north  side,  four  thousand  and  five 
 hundred  measures. 
 
 31  °  And  the  gates  of  the  city  shall  be  after 
 the  names  of  the  tribes  of  Israel :  three  gates 
 northward  ;  one  gate  of  Reuben,  one  gate  of 
 Judah,  one  gate  of  Levi. 
 
 32  And  at  the  east  side  four  thousand  and 
 five  hundred  :  and  three  gates  ;  and  one  gate 
 
 Cbap.  XLVril.  —  I.  Sides,  'limits.'  8.  Keeds— many  prefer  sup. 
 
 plying 'cubits.'— PreS.  Lowth.  g.  The  oblation,  a  portion  of  land, 
 -25,000  cubits  in  length  by  10.000  broad,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  the 
 temple,  which  must  be  destined  for  the  use  of  the  priests,  the  Levites, 
 and  the  prince.—.'!.  Clarke.  11.  Went  astray,   defiled  themselves 
 
 with  idolatr>',   fur  which  tlicy  were  degraded,   (chap.  xliv.  10,  11.) 
 18.  Oner  agaijtst,  'beside,'  or  'parallel  to.' — Pre6.  Lowth.         ig.  Serve 
 (he  citff—otit  of  all,  whether  profitable  or  laborious  service,  it  shall  be 
 9(>3 
 
 equally  divided. — So  Poole.  20.  Bt/  five  and  twenty  thousand,  this 
 square  is  composed  of  five  rectangles,  each  side  of  which  ■would  mea- 
 sure about  four  miles  and  one  quarter,  substituting:  cubits  for  reeds. — 
 Netvo.  2g.  For  mheritnnce,  some  think  this  division  will  yet  literally 
 take  place  after  the  Jews'  return  to  their  own  country.  The  mystical 
 sense  seems  to  be,  that  the  Christian  church  is  denoted  by  the  twelve 
 tribes,  (see  Luke,  xxii.  30,)  and  the  division  of  the  land  may  imply,  that 
 all  true  Christians  shall  be  equally  sharers  in  gospel  privileges.— i'rfft. 
 
The  dimensions  and 
 
 EZEKIEL,  XLVin. 
 
 gates  of  the  city. 
 
 of  Joseph,  one  gate  of  Benjamin,  one  gate  of 
 Dan. 
 
 33  And  at  the  south  side  four  thousand  and 
 five  hundred  measures  :  and  three  gates  ;  one 
 gate  of  Simeon,  one  gate  of  Issachar,  one  gate 
 of  Zebulun. 
 
 34  At  the  west  side  four  thousand  and  five 
 
 o  Jer.  33. 16. 
 t  Heb. 
 Jehovah- 
 
 hundred,  with  their  three  gates  ;  one  gate  of 
 Gad,  one  gate  of  Asher,  one  gate  of  Naph- 
 tali. 
 
 35  It  was  round  about  eighteen  tliousand 
 measures :  °  and  the  name  of  the  city  from 
 that  day  shall  be^  f^  The  Lord  is  there. 
 
 Ja(lg.6.2J, 
 p  Jer.  3.  17. 
 Joel  3.  21.  Zech.  2.  10.  Rev.  81.  3  &  22.  3. 
 
 Lowth.     35.  The  Lord  is  there,  an  allusion  to  the  Shekinah,  or  symbol  sage  has,  doubHes<:,a  further  .spiritual  meaning:.— Erf.     It  signifies  that 
 
 of  the  Divine  Presence,  which  was  in  the  first,  but  mo§t  certainly  was  Jehovah's  powerful  and  grracinus  presence  with  his  church  is  the  source 
 
 not  in  the  second  temple.— H.  CMrA^ff.     The  real  bodily  presence  of  the  of  all  her  peace,  security,  felicity,  and  holiness,  and  that  at  length 
 
 Messiah  was,  however,  in  the  second  temple,  and  in  this  its  glory  these  blessings  will  be  abundantly  communicated,  and  his  presence 
 
 greatly  excelled  the  first,  having  more  than  the  symbol ;  but  the  pas-  and  glory  signally  displayed  among  his  people.— Sco//. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XLVIII.  —  How  interesting  is 
 the  word  of  prophecy  ;  let  us  study  it  in  faith,  humility,  and 
 prayer;  not  indulging  in  wild  speculations,  but  watebing  and 
 waiting  for  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Much  has 
 been  fnlfilled,  and  this  may  tend  to  confirm  our  hopes  in  what 
 remains  to  be  fulfilled.  We  lire  in  eventful  limes,  and  may 
 expect  that  soon  many  of  these  secret  pages  will  be  unfolded : 
 
 the  reverential  perusal  of  them  wUl  quicken  our  exertions  in 
 the  cause  of  God,  and  cheer  our  hearts  in  the  prospect  of  that 
 approaching  clay  when  Jew  and  Gentile  shall  adore  one  Sa- 
 viour ;  and  the  church,  shining  forth  in  all  her  splendor,  shall 
 enjoy  purity,  peace,  rest,  and  prosperity, — respecting  whose 
 glorious  destiny  it  is  written, '  And  the  name  of  the  city  from 
 that  day  shall  be— The  Lord  is  there  !' 
 
 THE    BOOK 
 
 DANIEL. 
 
 [Daniel  was  descended  from  the  royal  line  of  Judah.  Josephus  states  that  he  was  of  tlic  family  of  Zedckiah.  He  was 
 carried  into  captivity  when  a  youth,  and  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of  Jchoiakim,  king  of  Judah.  He  was  distin- 
 guished both  for  wisdom  and  piety.  The  Chaldeans  were  at  that  time  superior  in  learning  to  the  ancient  Egyptians, 
 and  Daniel  stood  pre-eminent  among  them.  His  distinguished  talents  raised  him  to  notice  ;  and  the  providence  of  God 
 appearing  conspicuously  for  him,  made  way  for  his  very  high  advancement.  *  He  was  admitted  to  the  special  favour  of 
 several  powerful  raonarchs — of  Nebuchadnezzar,  lielshazzar,  Darius,  and  Cyrus  ;  and  hence  he  is  supposed  to  have 
 resided  not  only  in  the  court  of  Babylon,  but  occasionally  also  in  those  of  Media  and  Persia.'  As  a  prophet,  he  was 
 contemporary  with  Ezekiel.  The  book  of  Daniel  consists  of  history  and  prophecy,  each  occupying  six  chapters.  Much 
 of  it  is  written  in  the  Chaldee.  His  prophecies  of  the  fllcssiah  are  most  remarkable  proofs  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  for 
 the  Saviour  came  just  at  the  time  he  predicted.  For  New-Testament  references  to  Daniel,  see  Matt.  xxiv.  2,  15,  30  ; 
 XXV.  46  ;  xxvi.  28  ;  Mark,  xiii.  14  ;  Luke,  x.  20  ;  John,  v.  28,  29  ;  xvi.  24 ;  1  Cor.  xv.  24,  41,  42  ;  2  Cor.  v.  21  ;  Heb. 
 ix.  12;   xi.  33;  1  Pet.  i.  7;  ii.  21;  Rev.  v.  11;  xv.  3  ;  xx.  12.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  Jc/ioiakim's  captivity*  3  Ashpenaz  taketh  Daniel, 
 Hannniah,  MifihaeU  and  Azariah,  8  They  refusing 
 the  king's  pnrtitm  do  jn-osper  unth  pulse  and  water. 
 1 7  Their  excellency  in  icisdom. 
 
 TN  the  third  year  of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim 
 -'■  king  of  Judah  "  came  Nebuchadnezzar  king 
 of  Babylon  unto  Jerusalem,  and  besieged  it. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  gave  Jehoiakim  king  of  Ju- 
 dah into  his  hand,  with  "^  part  of  the  vessels  of 
 the  house  of  God  :  which  he  carried  "^  into  the 
 land  of  Shinar  to  the  house  of  his  god  ;  ''  and 
 he  brought  the  vessels  into  the  treasure  house 
 of  his  God. 
 
 3  t  And  the  king  spake  unto  Ashpenaz  the 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  6U7. 
 
 cir.  606. 
 
 •  Foretold 
 
 2  Kin,  «1. 
 
 17,  IB.  le. 
 
 39.7. 
 
 t  S("el.ev.24. 
 
 19,  20. 
 
 a2Kin?4.1 
 
 /  Acts  7.  22. 
 
 cir.  606. 
 
 b  Jer.  27.19, 
 
 SO. 
 
 c  Gen   in.lO. 
 
 «c  II    2. 
 
 Is,   11     II 
 
 1  Heb.  tht 
 
 Zi-di.5.  II 
 
 W.H^oflut 
 
 <i  '£  Chr  at.  7 
 
 t.  vfr    19 
 
 0.11   41    46. 
 
 1  Km.  10  H. 
 
 master  of  his  eunuchs,  that  he  should  bring 
 *  certain  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  of  the 
 king's  seed,  and  of  the  princes  ; 
 
 4  Children  *"  in  whom  was  no  blemish,  but 
 well  favoured,  and  skilful  in  all  wisdom,  and 
 cunning  in  knowledge,  and  understandiMg 
 science,  and  such  as  had  ability  in  them  to 
 stand  in  the  king's  palace,  and  '  whom  they 
 might  teach  the  learning  and  the  tongue  of  the 
 Chaldeans. 
 
 5  And  the  king  appointed  them  a  daily  pro- 
 vision of  the  king's  meat,  and  of  f  the  wine 
 which  he  drank  :  so  nourishing  them  three 
 years,  that  at  the  end  thereof  they  might 
 '''stand  before  the  king. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.— l.  Jn  the  third  year  of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim, 
 this  king  was  raised  to  the  throne  by  the  king  of  Egypt,  and  became 
 tributary  to  him  during  three  years;  but  in  the  fourth,  which  was  the 
 first  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  latter  completely  defeated  the  Egyptians, 
 and  Jchoiakim  then  became  tributary  to  Babylon.  At  the  end  nf  three 
 years,  he  rebelled  ;  but  Nebuchadnezzar  having  other  wars,  did  not 
 overthrow  him  till  three  years  after  that,  which  was  the  eleventh  and 
 last  of  Jehoiakim,  (see  2  Kings,  xxiii.  34—36;  xxiv.  i  ;  Jer.  xxv.  i ; 
 xlvl.  2.)— Clarke.  There  are  here  some  chronological  difficulties,  but 
 parts  of  years  are  often  taken  for  the  whole  in  the  summing  up  of 
 Jewish  history. — Ed.  2.  Vessels— which  he  carried,  that  is,  the  ves- 
 sels, not  Jehoiakim.  for,  according  to  Jer.  xxii.  12.  lie  wa3  slain  near 
 Jerusalem,  bat  not  till  after  the  siege,  in  the  eleventh  year  of  his  reign, 
 (see  2  Kings,  xxiv.  i .  2.)—Boothr.  Nebuchadnezzar  took  the  richest 
 and  the  finest  of  the  vessels  for  the  service  of  his  god.  Shinar,  the  an- 
 cient name  of  Babylon,  (see  Gen.  xi.  2.)~A.  Clarke.  The  treasure 
 house  of  his  god,  Bel.  or  Jupiter  Belus.  (Jer.  I.  2.)  the  tutelar  god  of  the 
 city  and  empire.— Gi//,  Clarke.  The  treasury  in  ancient  temples  was 
 904 
 
 appropriated  to  the  reception  of  spoils  and  trophies  consecrated  to  the 
 deity  of  the  temple. — Wintle.  In  all  heathen  temples  there  is  a  place 
 for  the  sacred  jewels  and  other  treasures.— KoAer/s.  3.  Master  of 
 the  eunuchs,  I'-ciC  31,  '  prince  or  chief  of  his  chamberlains.' — Winlfe. 
 '  Of  his  officers,'  the  word  does  not  always  denote  eunuchs,  (Gen. 
 xvxix.  1.)  And  of  the  king^s  seed,  §■<?.,  '  both  of  the  seed  royal  and  of 
 the  nnbles-*- BooMr.  4.  Children,  not  mere  children,  but  young 
 
 men  of  fifteen  or  twenty  years  of  age.— Gi//.  Daniel  is  generally 
 thought  to  have  been,  at  this  time,  of  the  latter  age.— Scott.  The  same 
 word  is  used  1  Kings,  xii.  8.  No  Iflemisb,  accomplished  in  body  and 
 mind,  and  fit  for  the  court.— Pre6.  Lowth.  The  youths  that  are  de- 
 signed for  the  ereat  offices  of  the  Turkish  empire  must  be  of  admirable 
 features  and  pleasing  looks  well  shaped  in  their  bodies,  and  without 
 any  defects  of  nature ;  for  it  is  conceived  that  a  corrupt  and  sordid 
 soul  can  scarce  inhabit  in  a  serene  and  ingenuous  aspect.  —  Paul 
 Bicaut.  The  learning  and  the  tongue,  §c.,  the  Chaldeans  excelled  in 
 various  sciences,  particularly  astronomy.  As  Moses  learned  the  wis- 
 dom of  Egypt,  so  did  Daniel  that  of  Babylon,  that  he  might  be  useful 
 
Daniel  §"C.  refuse  tlie  Jtinri's  meat. 
 
 DANIEL,  II. 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar forinlU'lh  his  dream. 
 
 6  Now  among  these  were  of  the  children  of 
 Judah,  Daniel,  Hananiah,  Mishael,  and  Aza- 
 riah  : 
 
 7  '■  Unto  whom  the  prince  of  the  eunuchs 
 gave  names :  '  for  he  gave  unto  Daniel  the 
 name  of  Belteshazzar ;  and  to  Hananiah,  of 
 Shadrach  ;  and  to  Mishael,  of  Meshach  ;  and 
 to  Azariah,  of  Abed-nego. 
 
 8  If  But  Daniel  purposed  in  his  heart  *Iiat  he 
 would  not  defile  liiuiself  '  with  the  portion  of 
 the  king's  meat,  nor  with  the  wine  which  he 
 drank  :  therefore  he  requested  of  the  prince  of 
 the  eunuchs  that  he  might  not  defile  himself 
 
 9  Now  '  God  had  brought  Daniel  into  favour 
 and  tender  love  with  the  prince  of  the  eunuchs. 
 
 10  And  the  prince  of  the  eunuclis  said  unto 
 Daniel,  I  fear  my  lord  the  king,  who  bath  ap- 
 pointed your  meat  and  your  drink  :  for  why 
 should  he  see  your  faces  t  worse  liking  than 
 the  children  which  are  of  your  |{  sort?  then 
 shall  ye  make  me  endanger  my  head  to  the 
 king. 
 
 1 1  Then  said  Daniel  to  ||  Melzar,  whom  the 
 prince  of  the  eunuchs  bad  set  over  Daniel, 
 Hananiah,  Mishael,  and  Azariah, 
 
 12  Prove  thy  servants,  I  beseech  thee,  ten 
 days;  and  let  them  give  us  fpulse  f  to  eat, 
 and  water  to  drink. 
 
 13  Then  let  our  countenances  be  looked 
 upon  before  thee,  and  the  countenance  of  the 
 children  that  eat  of  the  portion  of  the  king's 
 meat :  and  as  thou  seest,  deal  with  thy  ser- 
 vants. 
 
 14  So  he  consented  to  them  in  this  matter, 
 and  proved  them  ten  days. 
 
 15  And  at  the  end  of  ten  days  their  counte- 
 nances appeared  fairer  and  fatter  in  flesh  than 
 all  the  children  which  did  eat  the  portion  of 
 the  king's  meat. 
 
 10  Thus  Melzar  took  away  the  portion  of 
 their  meat,  and  the  wine  that  they  should 
 drink  ;  and  gave  them  pulse. 
 
 17  t  As  for  these  four  children,  "*  God  gave 
 them  "  knowledge  and  skill  in  all  learning  and 
 
 li  Rc.i."lI.4S. 
 
 2Kin,2*.17. 
 i  ch.  4.  8.  & 
 
 5.  i2. 
 
 k  Den.  32.X8. 
 Ilos.  9  3, 
 
 /  See  Gen. 
 S9.  21 
 
 Ps.  lOG,  In. 
 Piu.  16.  -. 
 
 t  Hob. 
 
 fi'tiUr. 
 II  Or.  Urnt.ar, 
 
 co'iliniia'idi 
 
 t  Heb.  of 
 
 \  Heb.  thnl 
 lot  m(n^  eat 
 
 m  lKin.3  19. 
 Jiim.  I  -%17 
 n  Acts  7.  22 
 
 ;Oi-./,c 
 
 adft 
 
 D.t„iH 
 de  It  tail  J, 
 I)  Num.  12  C. 
 2Chc.  2G,5. 
 cli.  h.  \\,\i, 
 II.  &  10.  I. 
 
 7  I  Kill  10,1. 
 
 ,l,.,u, ./,.„. 
 
 lUrslaudxiig 
 
 bOS. 
 
 r  ch.  6.  28. 
 
 &  in.  J. 
 
 He  lived  to 
 see  tliat 
 glorious 
 time  of  the 
 return  of 
 his  people 
 from  the 
 B«hv  Ionian 
 Cfijitivity, 
 though  he 
 did  not  die 
 then.      So 
 t  II  I3  used, 
 I's    110.  I. 
 
 h  112.  8. 
 
 d\  Kin  l.ni. 
 ch.3  9.&5. 
 10.  &  6.  6, 
 
 wisdom:  and  ||  Daniel  had  °  understanding  in 
 all  visions  and  dreams. 
 
 18  Now  at  the  end  of  the  days  that  the  king 
 had  said  he  should  bring  them  in,  then  the 
 prince  of  the  eunuchs  brought  them  in  before 
 Nebuchadnezzar, 
 
 19  And  the  king  communed  with  them  ;  and 
 among  them  all  was  found  none  like  Daniel, 
 Hananiah,  Mishael,  and  Azariah  :  therefore 
 ''stood  they  before  the  king. 
 
 20  **  And  in  all  matters  of  f  wisdom  mid 
 understanding,  that  the  king  enquired  of  them, 
 he  found  them  ten  times  better  than  all  the 
 magicians  and  astrologers  that  were  in  all  his 
 realm. 
 
 21  ^  And  Daniel  continued  even  unto  the  first 
 year  of  king  Cyrus. 
 
 CHAP.  II, 
 
 1  NehuchadnezzaTy  forgettiiir!  his  dream,  requireth  it 
 of  the  Chaldeans,  by  jirumises  and  tJireahnimis.  10 
 They  (ichnowlcdginy  th- ir  inability  are  jndycdto  die. 
 14  Daniel  obtairiiny  some  respite  Jindith  tltc  dream. 
 19  He  blesseih  God.  24  He  stayiny  the  decree  is 
 brought  to  the  king .  31  The  dream.  36  The  inter- 
 pretatiim.     46  DuJiieVs  advancement. 
 
 A  ND  in  the  second  year  of  the  reign  of  Ne- 
 -^-^  buchadnezzar  Nebuchadnezzar  dreamed 
 dreams,  "wherewith  his  spirit  was  troubled, 
 and  ^  his  sleep  brake  from  him. 
 
 2  "  Then  the  king  commanded  to  call  the 
 magicians,  and  the  astrologers,  and  the  sorcer- 
 ers, and  the  Chaldeans,  for  to  shew  the  king 
 his  dreams.  So  they  came  and  stood  before 
 the  king. 
 
 3  And  the  king  said  unto  them,  I  have 
 dreamed  a  dream,  and  my  spirit  was  troubled 
 to  know  the  dreanr. 
 
 4  Then  spake  the  Chaldeans  to  the  king  in 
 Syriack,  ^  O  king,  live  for  ever :  tell  thy  ser- 
 vants the  dream,  and  we  will  shew  the  inter- 
 pretation. 
 
 5  The  king  answered  and  said  to  the  Clial- 
 deans.  The  thing  is  gone  from  me  :  if  ye  will 
 not  make  known  unto  me  the  dream,  with  the 
 
 to  his  people. — Boothr.  6.  Daniel,  signifying  '  God  my  judge.'  Ha- 
 naniah, *  the  grace  of  the  Lord.' — Scott.  Mishael,  probably  *  asked  of 
 God.* — Gill.  Azariah,  *  the  Lord  is  a  help.' — Scott.  7.  Gave  names, 
 the  eastern  kings  thus  distinguished  their  favourites.— Grny.  Besides, 
 the  Hebrew  names  were  difficult  for  the  Chaldeans  to  pronounce. — Sut. 
 Belteshazzar,  'Bel's  treasurer.'  Shadrach,  thought  to  mean  '  tlie 
 king's  messenger,'  or  'messenger  of  the  sun.' — Gill.  Meshuch,  '  he 
 who  belongs  to  the  goddess  Sheshach,'  a  celebrated  deity  of  the  Baby- 
 lonians. Ahed-nego,  'the  servant  of  Nego,'  one  of  their  divinities — 
 Jupiter  or  Venus. — A.  Clarke.  8.  Not  defile  himself  with  the  portion, 
 partly  because  it  might  consist  of  the  flesh  of  unclean  creatures,  for- 
 bidden by  the  law,  and  partly  because,  though  lawful  food  in  itself,  it 
 might,  according  to  their  custom,  have  been  first  offered  to  Bel.  Nor 
 with  the  wine,  being  a  liliation  to  the  gods,— (J///.  10.  I  fear  my  lord, 
 ffc. — the  prince  was  disposed  to  gratify  Daniel,  but  he  feared  that  if 
 the  king  discovered  his  orders  had  been  disobeyed  as  to  food,  he  should 
 lose  his  head,  and  he  suspected  that  the  effect  of  weaker  food  would  tell 
 the  fact  by  his  looks. — Sn  Srott.  Your  sort,  'your  age'  or  'your 
 equals.' — Wintle.  II,  Melzar,  an  officer  under  Ashpenaz,  to  attend 
 
 to  the  food,  clothing,  R:c.,  of  the  royal  captives.— .-1.  Clarke.  12.  Pulse, 
 D'yiin,  the  word  means  anything  sown,  all  kinds  of  roots,  herbs,  and 
 fruits. — Oill.  15.  Appeared  fairer  and  fatter,  abstaining  from  wine 
 
 and  from  rich  food  is  no  injury  to  the  complexion  or  health  of  people  in 
 those  cnimtries,  and  Daniel  knew  the  salutary  eflects  of  great  temper- 
 ance. What  is  said  here  might,  therefore,  not  be  out  of  the  ordinary 
 course  of  things. — Har.  We  are  to  understand  that  there  was  an  cs- 
 pccia!  blessing  of  God  on  this,  because  this  spare  diet  was  taken  on  a 
 religious  account. — A.  Clarke,         17.  Visions— dreams,  not  casual,  but 
 
 specially  sent  from  heaven. — So  Wintle.  18.  End  of  the  days,  i.  e., 
 
 three  years,  (ver.  5.)  19.  Among  them  alt,  the  young  noble  captives. 
 20.  Magicians  and  astrologers,  i.  e.,  pmbably  philosophers  and  astro- 
 nomers.—r/«>-A-c,  so  Houb.  21.  Unto  the  first  year  of  king  Cyrus, 
 thus  he  lived  to  witness  the  conclusion  of  the  seventy  years  whicli  Jere- 
 miah had  predicted  as  the  term  cf  captivity,  Cyrus'  decree  was  most 
 probably  obtained  thrnugii  him.  He  survived  that  event  at  least  two 
 or  three  years. — Scott. 
 
 Chap.  H.  —  I.  Second  year,  of  his  reigning  alone,  as  the  Baby- 
 lonians reckoned,  or  the  fourth  of  his  reign  jointly  with  his  father,  as 
 the  Jews  reckoned. — Bp.  Newton.  In  the  second  year  of  Daniel's 
 ministry  in  or  under  the  reign  of  Nebuchadnezzar. — Noldius,  Gill. 
 Dreamed  dreams,  it  was  but  one  dream,  though  it  contained  in  it  vari- 
 ous things. — Gill,  2.  Sorcerers,  a  sort  of  necromancers,  who  pre- 
 tended acquaintance  with  departed  spirits. — Wintle.  Chaldeans — these 
 people  were  so  accustomed  to  prognosticate  from  the  study  of  the  hea- 
 venly motions,  that  the  word  Chaldean  is  used  by  the  Greeks  and 
 Latins  as  synonymous  with  astrcloger.  —  So  Preb.  Lowlh.  4.  S^f- 
 riack,  or  Babylonish,  the  same  with  the  Chatdee,  being  their  mother 
 tongue. — Gill.  This  language,  corrupted  with  Hebrew,  is  what  is 
 called  the  Hebrew  tongue  in  the  New  Testament.  Pure  Chaldee  is  to 
 be  found  in  Daniel  and  Ezra. — So  Preh.  Lowth.  0  king,  live  for  ever,  or 
 '  Long  live  the  king  !* — Wintle.  Tliis  salutation  is  usual  even  in  com- 
 mon life  in  Hindostan. — Rob.  5.  The  thing  is  gime  frovi  me,  mean- 
 ing, *  I  do  not  recollect  it.' — Wintle.  '  This  is  what  1  have  decreed.* 
 There  is  no  proof  that  the  king  had  forgot  his  dream,  but  he  sought  to 
 try  them  first  by  their  communicating  the  dream  and  the  interpreta- 
 tion.— Boothr.    '  The  decree  is  gone  forth  from  me,*  and  shall  not  be 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  Obserye  here,  I.  Daniel's  II.  DanieVs  elevation  and  approved  character.  'Them  tliat 
 early  piety  and  decision  of  character.  We  cannot  too  early  de-  honour  me,'  says  God,  *  I  will  honour.'  There  is  that  in  con- 
 vote  ourselves  to  God,  and  become  decided  in  his  cause.  'Be  sistent  piety  which  sheds  a  loveliness  over  the  character, 
 not  conformed  to  this  world,'  is  a  caution  which,  if  early  re-  which  all  must  admire.  With  this  we  sli;ill  '  find  favour  and 
 garded,  will  beget  in  us  cautious  habits,  and  'save  us  from  a  good  understanding  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man.' 
 thousand  snares.* 
 
 905                                                    .  5  z 
 
Daniel findeth  the  dream. 
 
 DANIEL,  II. 
 
 He  hlesseth  God. 
 
 interpretation   thereof,  ye  shall   he  "fcut 
 pieces,  and  your  houses  shall  be  made  a  dunj;- 
 hill. 
 
 6  '  But  if  ye  shew  the  dream,  and  the  inter- 
 pretation thereof,  ye  shall  receive  of  me  ^ifts 
 and  II  rewards  and  great  honour :  therefore 
 shew  me  the  dream,  and  the  interpretation 
 thereof. 
 
 7  They  answered  again  and  said.  Let  the 
 king  tell  his  servants  the  dream,  and  we  will 
 shew  the  interpretation  of  it. 
 
 8  The  king  answered  and  said,  I  know  of 
 certainty  that  ye  would  f  gain  the  time,  be- 
 cause ye  see  the  thing  is  gone  from  me. 
 
 9  But  if  ye  will  not  make  known  unto  me 
 the  dream,  ^  there  is  but  one  decree  for  you  : 
 for  ye  have  prepared  lying  and  corrupt  words 
 to  speak  before  me,  till  the  time  be  changed  ; 
 therefore  tell  me  the  dream,  and  I  shall  know 
 that  ye  can  shew  me  the  interpretation  thereof. 
 
 10  f  The  Chaldeans  answered  before  the 
 king,  and  said.  There  is  not  a  man  upon  the 
 earth  that  can  shew  the  king's  matter :  there- 
 fore there  is  no  king,  lord,  nor  ruler,  that 
 asked  such  things  at  any  magician,  or  astrolo- 
 ger, or  Chaldean. 
 
 1 1  And  it  is  a  rare  thing  that  the  king  re- 
 quireth,  and  there  is  none  other  that  can  shew 
 it  before  the  king,  '■  except  the  gods,  whose 
 dwelling  is  not  with  flesh. 
 
 12  For  this  cause  the  king  was  angry  and 
 very  furious,  and  connnanded  to  destroy  all 
 the  wise  7nen  of  Babylon. 
 
 l.^  And  tlie  decree  went  forth  that  the  wise 
 men  should  be  slain  ;  and  they  sought  Daniel 
 and  his  fellows  to  be  slain. 
 
 14  t  Then  Daniel  f  answered  with  counsel 
 and  wisdom  to  Arioch  the  ||  t  captain  of  the 
 king's  guard,  which  was  gone  forth  to  slay  the 
 wise  men  of  Babylon  : 
 
 15  He  answered  and  said  to  Arioch  the 
 king's  captain,  Why  is  the  decree  so  hasty 
 from  the  king?  Tlien  Arioch  made  the  thing 
 known  to  Daniel. 
 
 16  Then  Daniel  went  in,  and  desired  of  the 
 king  that  he  would  give  him  time,  and  that  he 
 would  shew  the  king  the  interpretation. 
 
 17  Then  Daniel  went  to  his  house,  and  made 
 the  tiling  known  to  Hananiah,  Mishael,  and 
 Azariah,  his  companions  : 
 
 18  '  That  they  would  desire  mercies  fof  the 
 God  of  heaven  concerning  this  secret ;  ||  that 
 Daniel  and  his  fellows  should  not  perish  with 
 the  rest  of  the  wise  men  of  Babylon. 
 
 19  H  Then  was  the  secret  revealed  unto 
 Daniel  ^  in  a  night  vision.  Then  Daniel  blessed 
 the  God  of  heaven. 
 
 ■20  Daniel  answered   and  said,   '  Blessed  be 
 
 <■  Kzra  6.  II. 
 
 2  Kin.  10. 
 
 S7.  ch.  3. 
 
 29. 
 t  Chald. 
 
 mnde  piece). 
 /cli.  5.  16. 
 II  Or, /<..-, 
 
 cli.  5.  17. 
 
 ver.  4S. 
 
 I  Chal.l. 
 /'"V.  Kpti. 
 
 h  vcr.  S8. 
 ch.  5.  II. 
 
 f  ClnJil.  re- 
 II   Or,  Lhief 
 
 tChald.^A.V 
 o/llieex' 
 
 ttt'ifflitfr- 
 Oen.  37.  SO. 
 
 »■  Mat.  19.15. 
 
 t  Chald  frm>, 
 before  God. 
 
 II  Or,  thai 
 thet/  Mh'iuld 
 nut  deilrol/ 
 Daniel,  ^c. 
 
 4  Nu. 
 
 .Tob ; 
 
 1  19.6 
 S.  15, 
 
 tPs.  113.  2. 
 &  113.  18. 
 
 B.  C.  60S. 
 
 "  Jer,  Si.lO. 
 1  Eslh.  I.  IS, 
 
 1  Chi-.2a.30. 
 
 ch.  7. 25.  & 
 
 11.  G. 
 
 >  .loh  12  18. 
 
 Ps.  75.  0,  7. 
 
 Jer.  27.  5. 
 
 cli.  4.  17. 
 p  .I.am.  I.  5. 
 y  Job  12.  22. 
 
 fs.  25    14. 
 
 vcr.  28,  29 
 r  1'9.  139.11, 
 
 12.  Heb.  4. 
 13. 
 
 I  liwe 
 
 t  Chald .cJ.7- 
 den,  of  itie 
 coytiviljief 
 Jiidah. 
 
 u  Gen.  40  8. 
 &  41.  10. 
 vcr.  18,  -11 
 Aiii.,q.l.  13. 
 
 1  Chald,  ;./,r/i 
 
 odeltm 
 
 .19.  I. 
 
 I  Chald. 
 came  up. 
 
 ,/  vcr.  22,  & 
 
 :  SoGcn.-Il. 
 16.  Acts  3. 
 12. 
 
 I  Or.  All/  for 
 Hie  iiiieiii 
 that  the  i.i- 
 terpretalion 
 ,„„y  be  node 
 h„ou>n  to  the 
 ki„f 
 
 t  vcr.  47. 
 
 the  name  of  God  for  ever  and  ever:  ""  for  wis- 
 dom and  might  are  his  : 
 
 21  And  he  changeth  "  the  times  and  the  sea- 
 sons :  "  he  removeth  kings,  and  setteth  up 
 kings:  ''he  giveth  wisdom  unto  tlie  wise,  anil 
 knowledge  to  them  that  know  understanding  : 
 
 22  ''  He  revealeth  the  deep  and  secret  things  : 
 'he  knoweth  what  is  in  the  darkness,  and  '  the 
 light  dwelleth  with  him. 
 
 23  I  thank  thee,  and  praise  thee,  O  thou  God 
 of  my  father.s,  who  hast  given  me  wisdom  and 
 might,  and  hast  made  known  unto  me  now 
 what  we  '  desired  of  thee  :  for  thou  hast  iiuiv 
 made  known  unto  us  the  king's  matter. 
 
 24  f  Therefore  Daniel  went  in  unto  Arioch, 
 whom  the  king  had  ordained  to  destroy  the  wise 
 vicn  of  Babylon  :  he  went  and  said  thus  unto 
 him  ;  Destroy  not  the  wise  men  of  Babylon  : 
 bring  me  in  before  the  king,  and  I  will  sliew 
 unto  the  king  the  interpretation. 
 
 25  Then  Arioch  brought  in  Daniel  before  the 
 king  in  haste,  and  said  thus  unto  him,  f  I  have 
 found  a  man  of  the  f  captives  of  Judah,  that 
 will  make  known  unto  the  king  the  interpreta- 
 tion. 
 
 26  The  king  answered  and  said  to  Daniel, 
 whose  name  was  Belteshazzar,  Art  thou  able 
 to  make  known  unto  me  the  dream  which  I 
 have  seen,  and  the  interpretation  thereof? 
 
 27  Daniel  answered  in  the  presence  of  the 
 king,  and  said.  The  secret  which  tlie  king  Imth 
 demanded  cannot  the  wise  men,  the  astrolo- 
 gers, the  magicians,  the  soothsayers,  shew  unto 
 the  king ; 
 
 28  "  But  there  is  a  God  in  heaven  that  re- 
 vealeth secrets,  and  f  maketh  known  to  the 
 king  Nebuchadnezzar  "■  what  .shall  be  in  the 
 latter  days.  Thy  dream,  and  the  visions  of 
 thy  head  upon  thy  bed,  are  these  ; 
 
 2r)  As  for  thee,  ()  king,  tliy  thoughts  f  came 
 itito  thy  mind  upon  thy  bed,  what  should  come 
 to  pass  hereafter:  'and  he  that  revealeth  se- 
 crets maketh  known  to  thee  what  shall  come 
 to  pass. 
 
 30  '  But  as  for  me,  this  secret  is  not  revealed 
 to  me  for  any  wisdom  that  I  have  more  than 
 any  living,  ||  but  for  their  sakes  that  shall  make 
 known  the  interpretation  to  the  king,  "and  that 
 thou  mightest  know  the  thoughts  of  thy  heart. 
 
 31  11  Thou,  O  king,  t  savvest,  and  behold  a 
 great  image.  This  great  image,  whose  bright- 
 ness teas  excellent,  stood  before  thee  ;  and 
 the  form  thereof  was  terrible. 
 
 32  ^  This  image's  head  ivas  of  fine  gold,  his 
 breast  and  his  arms  of  silver,  his  belly  and  his 
 II  thighs  of  brass, 
 
 33  His  legs  of  iron,  his  feet  part  of  iron  and 
 part  of  clay. 
 
 reversed,  so  Sept.,  Arab.,  Syr.  Cut  in  pieces,  this  punishment  is  now 
 inflicted  in  Abysiiinia.— So  Brune.  Matte  a  ttunghill,  be  confiscated,  or 
 publicly  sold.— Ht"<4.,  agreeably  to  Sept.  After  Hannibal  liad  tied  to 
 Autiochus.  the  Carthaginians,  in  the  true  Oriental  -style,  confiscated 
 his  goods,  and  demolished  his  house  from  the  foundation.— CorueHu.! 
 Nepos.  8.  Becnuse  ye  see  the  thing  is  gone  from  me,  '  because  ye 
 perceive  what  I  have  decreed.'— Booi*i-.,  so  Pict.  Bib.  g.  Till  the 
 time  be  changed,  till  some  other  occasion  might  divert  liim  from  this 
 earnest  inquiry.  — Bp.Hnil.  li.  Answered,    '  inquired.'  — i3oo(Ar. 
 
 Capton,  §-c.— see  mtirg.,  and  Gen.  xxxvii.  36,  note.  15.  He  ansivered 
 and  said,  '  and  spoke  and  said.'  20.  Aniwered  and  said,  •  spoke  and 
 ^*'.,;  —Boiithr.  22.  The  light,  all  perfection  of  knowledge  and  power 
 of  illummation.— J3;).  Hall.  23.  Latter  days,  the  latter  days  of  his 
 monarchy,  which  should  be  subverted,  and  in  the  days  of  the  Messiah. 
 •  L  V  ,°  "^^  "•  ^-  ^"^  ^"'  /■"■  '*<■"■  ™*™.  that  more  favour 
 might  be  shewn  to  his  people.— S<-oi(.  3 1 .  .-I  greal  image,  this  image, 
 Lomposcrt  of  four  metals,  represents  a  body  of  four  great  nations  which 
 906 
 
 should  reign  over  the  earth  successively— the  Babylonians,  Persians, 
 Grecians,  Romans.— Bp.  Newton.  32.  Head,  Babylon,  (vcr.  38.)  the 
 first  and  most  glorious  of  the  monarchies;  hence  said  to  be  of  gold. — 
 Gill.  The  Babylonian,  including  the  Assyrian  empire,  was  exceed, 
 ingly  rich,  and  for  this  reason  might  be  represented  as  a  head  of  gold. 
 —Boolhr.  Babylon  was  filled  with  plundered  wealth  and  the  riches  of 
 commerce-  This  empire  extended  into  Europe  and  Africa,  even  to  the 
 Straits  of  Gibraltar.— Su(.  This  monarchy,  begun  by  Nimrod,  a.m.  1 7"1 , 
 and  ended  a.m.  3466,  b.c.  638,  having  lasted  nearly  1700  years.— 
 A.  Clarke.  Breast— arms,  the  Mcdes  and  Persians,  like  two  arms  cen- 
 tred in  Cyrus  as  the  breast.  Silrer,  of  less  value  than  gold.  Belly, 
 the  Macedonian  or  Grecian  monarchy,  famed  for  intemperance  and 
 luxury  ;  of  which  the  two  thighs  denote  Alexander's  successors,  the 
 Seleucida;  and  Lagidae,  the  Syrian  and  Egyptian  kings,  and  these 
 of  brass  because  of  their  sounding  fame.— GiVi.  They  alone,  of  all 
 Alexander's  successors,  had  much  connexion  with  the  Jewish  church 
 and  nation.         33.  Legs  of  iron,  indicating  terribleness  and  exceeding 
 
The  interpretation  of  the  dr, 
 
 DANIEL,  II. 
 
 Daniel's  advancement- 
 
 34  Thou  sawcst  till  that  a  stone  was  cut  out 
 II' without  hands,  wliicli  smote  tlie  iuia<!;e  upon 
 ills  feet  thai  were  of  iron  and  clay,  and  brake 
 them  to  jiieces. 
 
 33  Then  was  the  iron,  tlie  clay,  the  brass,  the 
 silver,  and  the  gold,  broken  to  pieces  together, 
 and  became  ''like  the  cliaff  of  the  summer 
 threshingfioors ;  and  the  wind  carried  them 
 away,  that  "  no  place  was  found  for  them  :  and 
 the  stone  that  smote  the  image  'became  a 
 great  mountain,  ^and  filled  the  whole  earth. 
 
 30  H  Tliis  is  the  dream  ;  and  we  will  tell  the 
 interpretation  tliereof  before  the  king. 
 
 37  ''  Thou,  O  king,  art  a  king  of  kings  :  '  for 
 the  God  of  heaven  hath  given  thee  a  kingdom, 
 power,  and  strength,  and  glory. 
 
 38  ••  And  wheresoever  the  children  of  men 
 dwell,  the  beasts  of  the  field  and  the  fowls  of 
 the  heaven  hath  he  given  into  thine  hand,  and 
 hath  made  thee  ruler  over  them  all.  '  Thou 
 art  this  head  of  gold. 
 
 39  And  after  thee  shall  arise  '"another  king- 
 dom "  inferior  to  thee,  and  another  third  king- 
 dom of  brass,  °  which  shall  bear  rule  over  all 
 the  earth. 
 
 40  And  ''  the  fourth  kingdom  shall  be  strong 
 as  iron  :  forasmuch  as  iron  breaketh  in  pieces 
 and  subdueth  all  things  ;  and  as  iron  that 
 breaketli  all  these,  shall  it  break  in  pieces  and 
 bruise. 
 
 41  And  whereas  thou  sawest  '' the  feet  and 
 toes,  part  of  potters'  clay,  and  part  of  iron,  the 
 kingdom  shall  be  divided  ;  but  there  shall  be 
 in  it  of  the  strength  of  the  iron,  forasmuch  as 
 lliou  sawest  the  iron  mixed  with  miry  clay. 
 
 4'i  And  as  the  toes  of  the  feet  were  part  of 
 iron,  and  part  of  clay,  so  the  kingdom  shall  be 
 
 il  Or,  inkicli 
 
 was  iml  in 
 
 hd'iflt :  as 
 
 ver.  (.S. 
 c  cli.  8.  25. 
 
 Zecli.  i.  6. 
 
 ;?Ci>i-  5.  1. 
 
 HeU.  9.  21. 
 d  I's.  1.  •!. 
 
 Hos.  13.  3. 
 
 /■Is   S   2,3. 
 <f  Vs.  8U.  9. 
 
 /,  Ezra  7.  12. 
 Is.  47.  5. 
 Jer.27.  6,7. 
 F,-zek.  20. 7. 
 Hna.  6.  II). 
 Ezra  1.  2. 
 
 /(  ch.  4. 
 
 .  .ler.  27 
 
 m  ch.  5.  28, 
 31. 
 ■I  vcr.  32. 
 
 o  1  Mac.  1.3. 
 Jich.  7.  7,23. 
 
 D.  C.  603. 
 I  Or,  britlln. 
 
 tCtiald.rteii 
 
 r  vec'  23. 
 JCh.4,3,  31. 
 &  6. 26  8j  7. 
 
 14,; 
 
 .  Mi. 
 
 4.  7.  I.iike 
 
 I .  .32,  33. 
 i  Chahi- 
 
 /liiiffili'tn 
 
 ll,nr„f 
 t  Ps,  ■>   5 
 
 Is    60.  12 
 
 lCor.l.',.2l 
 u  ver.  35 
 
 Is.  28.  16. 
 II  Or,  n-hicli 
 
 hand 
 t  CliaM. 
 aflrr  tl>U. 
 
 X  See  Acts 
 to.  25.  A  14. 
 13.  &  28.  6. 
 
 partly  strong,  and  partly  ||  broken. 
 
 43  And  whereas  thou  sawest  iron  mixed  with 
 miry  clay,  they  shall  mingle  themselves  witli 
 the  seed  of  men  :  but  they  shall  not  cleave 
 f  one  to  another,  even  as  iron  is  not  mixed 
 with  clay. 
 
 44  And  in  f  the  days  of  these  kings  'shall  the 
 God  of  heaven  set  up  a  kingdom,  '  which  sliall 
 never  be  destroyed:  and  the  f  kingdom  shall 
 not  be  left  to  other  people,  ♦  hut  it  shall  break 
 in  pieces  ami  consume  all  these  kingdoms,  and 
 it  shall  stand  for  ever. 
 
 43  "  Forasmuch  as  thou  sawest  that  the  stone 
 was  cut  out  of  the  mountain  ||  without  hands, 
 and  that  it  brake  in  pieces  the  iron,  the  brass, 
 the  clay,  the  silver,  and  the  gold  ;  the  great 
 God  hath  made  known  to  the  king  what  .shall 
 come  to  pass  f  hereafter :  and  the  dream  is 
 certain,  and  the  interpretation  thereof  sure. 
 
 46  ^HThen  the  king  Nebuchadnezzar  fell 
 upon  his  face,  and  worshipped  Daniel,  and 
 commanded  that  they  should  offer  an  oblation 
 'and  sweet  odours  unto  him. 
 
 47  The  king  answered  unto  Daniel,  and  said, 
 Of  a  truth  it  is,  that  your  God  is  a  God  of 
 gods,  and  a  Lo.d  of  kings,  '  and  a  revealer  of 
 secrets,  seeing  thou  couUlest  reveal  this  secret. 
 
 48  Then  the  king  made  Daniel  a  great  man, 
 "and  gave  him  many  great  gifts,  and  made  him 
 ruler  over  the  whole  province  of  Babylon,  and 
 ■i  chief  of  the  governors  over  all  the  wise  men 
 of  Babylon. 
 
 49  Then  Daniel  requested  of  the  king,  '  and 
 he  set  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Ahed-nego 
 over  the  affairs  of  the  province  of  Babylon  ; 
 but  Daniel  "^  sat  in  the  gate  of  the  king. 
 
 strength. — Keith.  The  Roman  empire  was  stronger  and  larger  than 
 any  nf  the  preceding. — Bp. Newton,  Feet,  the  ten  toes  ut  tlie  feet,  which 
 represent  the  ten  kingdoms  into  which  the  western  empire  was  divided. 
 Iron  and  cltit],  that  is,  some  potent,  others  weak,  tlie  toes  lieing  some  of 
 one,  and  otliers  of  the  otlier,  for  iron  and  clay  will  not  mix  together. — 
 Gitl,  34.  A  stone  was  cutout  without  hands,  explained  by  Daniel  in 
 ver.  44,  45.  The  Messiah, — Jewish  Writers;  or  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 
 — Bp,  Newton,  Cut  out  without  hands,  supernatiirally  formed.  — 
 J,  Brown,  Without  human  aid,  (see  Col.  ii.  II.) — TT'i/.  This  might 
 allude  to  the  miraculous  birth  of  our  Lord,  or  to  his  spiritual  kingdom. 
 — Clarke.  Smote  the  image  upon  his  feet — this  respects  what  is  yet  to 
 be  done  when  Christ  will  subdue  and  destroy  the  ten  kingdoms  given 
 to  Antichrist,  and  him  himself.  35.  Beeame  a  great  mountain — 
 Christ's  kingdom,  from  small  beginnings,  has  increased,  and  will  more 
 and  more  until  the  whole  earth  is  subject  unto  it.  37.  A  king  of 
 kings,  having  many  kings  subject  and  tributary  to  him. — Gitl.  The 
 kings  of  Abyssinia  still  bear  this  title.— Bj'«ce.  39.  Another  kingdom 
 inferior,  the  silver  kingdom,  Medes  and  Persians,  (see  ver.  32.)  The 
 arms  and  shields  of  the  Persians  were  frequently  ornamented  or  cased 
 with  silver. — Hales.  This  empire  began  under  Darius,  the  Mede,  allow- 
 ing him  to  be  the  same  with  Cyaxeres,  son  of  Astyages,  and  uncle  to 
 Cyrus  ;  and  by  the  capture  of  Babylon,  before  Christ  538,  Cyrus  termi- 
 nated the  Chaldean  empire,  becoming,  by  the  death  of  his  father  Cam- 
 byses,  and  his  uncle  Cyaxeres,  b.c.  536,  sole  governor  of  the  Medes  and 
 Persians,  thus  establishing  a  potent  empire  on  the  ruins  of  that  of  the 
 Chaldeans. —C^MrA-e.  see  Cut.  Third  kingdom  ofhrnss,  Greece,  (ver. 32.) 
 The  Greeks  were  called  '  brazen  coated,'  from  wearing  brazen  armour. 
 — Wil,  Rule  over  alt  the  earth,  MesauAer  engaged  no  enemy  which 
 he  did  not  conquer. —  Wintle.  He  subdued  Greece,  marched  into  Asia, 
 took  Tyre,  reduced  Egypt,  and  penetrated  India  as  far  as  the  Ganges. 
 By  the  overthrow  of  Darius  Codomanus,  A.  M.3673,  B.  c.  331,  he  termi- 
 nated the  Persian  monarchy.— C/«rA-(.'.  The  Grecian  or  Macedonian 
 empire  subsisted  mbre  than  300  years. — Bootltr,  40.  Fourth  king- 
 dom, Roman,  (see  ver.  33.)  There  have  been  other  empires  as  great  or 
 greater  than  these,  such  as  the  Tartars,  Saracens.  Turks.  &c.,  but  these 
 had  a  particular  relation  to  the  church  and  people  of  God,  who  were 
 subject  to  them  in  their  turns.  They  were,  therefore,  particularly  pre- 
 dicted.— Bp,  Newton,      41.  The  kingdom  shall  be  divided,  some  under- 
 
 stand this  of  its  division  into  the  eastern  and  westcni  empires;  but 
 rather,  it  means  the  division  of  the  latter  into  ten  kingdoms. 
 43.  Mingle,  mix  with  people  of  other  nations,  come  in  among  them, 
 intermairy,  &c.  44.  These  kings,  i.  e.,  these  ten  kings.— 0'/«.  In 
 the  time  of  the  fourth  empire.  Set  up  a  kingdom,  no  kingdom  began 
 in  the  time  of  the  Romans,  or  rose  to  empire,  but  that  of  Christ.— SwY. 
 Not  lie  left  to  other  people,  as  the  Babylonian  monarchy  to  the  Medes 
 and  Persians,  and  these  to  the  Greeks,  ttc—Gill,  It  shall  break,  tfc, 
 the  preaching  and  influence  of  Christianity  shall  destroy  idolatry  uni- 
 versally.-yl.CdiWte.  .S/'inrf/or«r)-,  throughout  time  in  this  world,  and 
 through  all  eternity  in  another.— t;i7/.  45.  The  dream  is  certain,  an 
 oracle  of  God  sent  from  he3.\-en,  —  Toole,  Interpretation— sure— 
 Daniel's  exact  narration  of  the  dream  could  but  confirm  the  mind  of  the 
 king  on  this  point.— So  Bp.  Newton.  46.  Worshipped,  did  reverence 
 after  the  Oriental  manner.— tr''i>i«e.  An  oblation  and  sweet  odours,  to 
 make  a  present  of  perfumes  was  deemed  a  mark  of  reverence  and 
 honour  in  the  remotest  times  among  the  Orientals.  Such  an  cfTering 
 was  made  to  Daniel  with  a  view  to  do  him  great  honour.  And  to 
 sprinkle  the  apartments  and  persons  of  the  guests  with  rose-water  and 
 other  aromatics  still  continues  in  the  east  to  be  a  mark  of  respectful  at- 
 tention, (see  Matt.  xxvi.  /  ;  Mark,  xiv.  3.)—Burder's  Onent,Cust.  Poole, 
 SeotI,  and  Sulcliffe  understand  this  to  mean  real  adoration  and  sacri- 
 fice, which,  they  suppose,  Daniel  rejected  with  abhorrence  ;  but  though 
 Nebuchadnezzar  was  a  gross  idolator,  who  might  be  ready  enough  to 
 deify  Daniel,  as  the  Lycaonians  wanted  to  offer  sacrifices  to  Paul  and 
 Barnabas,  (Acts,  xiv.  10—13,)  was  it  not  rather  a  part  of  '  the  great 
 honour'  which  the  king  promised?  (ver.  6.)  This  conjecture  is  likely, 
 from  our  recent  better  understandingof  eastern  customs ;  and  from  the 
 next  verse  he  seems  to  have  shewn  some  reverential  regard  for  Daniel's 
 God.  distinguishing  clearlv  between  him  and  his  servant.— iVi^or. 
 48.  The  tehole  province  of  Balnjlon,  the  whole  monarchy  was  divided 
 into  several  provinces,  having  deputy  governors ;  Babylon  was  the 
 chief,  containing  the  metropolis.— GiH.  Chief  of  the  governors,  presi- 
 dent of  the  college  of  the  m3gi,—IIorsle!l.  49.  Set  Shadrach,  ^c,  as 
 deputies  under  Daniel.— 6i«.  Sat  in  the  gate—see  Gen.  xxui.  10,  to 
 be  near  and  ready  for  the  king's  chiefest  business.— Poo(e.  He  was 
 the  king's  greatest  confidant  and  counsellor. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.  II This  cbapter  reminds   us, 
 
 I.  Of  the  decay  and  ruin  of  all  earthly  empires.  The  most 
 powerful  thrones  have  mouldered  and  shall  moulder  into  dust. 
 The  monuments  of  their  founders  and  conquerors  shall  perish, 
 and  their  memorials  and  names  be  unknown.  Who,  then, 
 ought  to  envy  human  greatness  and  glory  ?  Who,  that  is  truly 
 wise,  would  grasp  after  a  shadow,  aud  lose  the  substance  ! 
 
 IT.  Of  the  rise,  e.vtension,  and  perpetuity  nf  Messiah^skinridom. 
 Without  human  policy  or  power,  it  has  already  taken  a  mighty 
 907 
 
 stride,  and  our  gracious  Sovereign  shall  go  forth,  '  conquering 
 and  to  conquer."  No  arms  are  necessary  in  his  cause  but  the 
 sword  of  the  Spirit;  no  forces  but  preachers  of  his  gospel, 
 furnished  with  his  inspired  words. 
 
 '  Nations,  the  learned  and  the  rude. 
 Are  bv  these  heavenly  arms  subdued  ; 
 While  Satan  rages  at  his  loss. 
 And  hates  the  doctrmcs  of  the  cross.' "- 
 
Nebuchadnezzar's  golden  image. 
 
 DANIEL,  III. 
 
 Shadrach  §-c.  accused. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  Nehucliadnczzar  dtdicateth  a  golden  imape  in  Dura 
 8  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Ahcd-7ieyo  are  accused 
 for  not  worshippinff  the  image.  V-i  They,  being 
 threatened,  make  a  t/ood  confession.  19  God  delicer- 
 eth  them  out  of  the  furnace.  26  Nebuchadnezzar 
 seeing  the  miracle  hhsseth  God, 
 
 lYEBUCHADNEZZAR  the  king  made  an 
 -'-'  image  of  gold,  wliose  lieight  icas  three- 
 score cubits,  and  tlie  breadth  thereof  six  cu- 
 bits :  he  set  it  up  in  the  plain  of  Dura,  in  the 
 province  of  Babylon. 
 
 2  Then  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  sent  to 
 gather  together  the  princes,  the  governors,  and 
 the  captains,  the  judges,  the  treasurers,  tlie 
 counsellors,  the  sheriff's,  and  all  the  rulers  of 
 the  provinces,  to  come  to  the  dedication  of  the 
 image  which  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  had  set 
 up. 
 
 3  Then  the  princes,  the  governors,  and  cap- 
 tains, the  judges,  the  treasurers,  the  counsel- 
 lors, the  sheriff's,  and  all  the  rulers  of  the  pro- 
 vinces, were  gathered  together  unto  the  dedi- 
 cation of  the  image  that  Nebuchadnezzar  the 
 king  had  set  up  ;  and  they  stood  before  the 
 image  that  Nebuchadnezzar  had  set  up. 
 
 4  Then  an  herald  cried  f  aloud.  To  you  fit 
 is  commanded,  "  O  people,  nations,  and  lan- 
 guages, 
 
 5  That  at  what  time  ye  hear  the  sound  of 
 the    cornet,    flute,    harp,   sackbut,    psaltery, 
 
 II  t  dulcimer,  and  all  kinds  of  musick,  ye  fall 
 down  and  worship  the  golden  image  that  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar the  king  hath  set  up  : 
 
 6  And  whoso  falleth  not  down  and  worship- 
 peth  shall  the  same  hour  ''  be  cast  into  tlie 
 midst  of  a  burning  fiery  furnace. 
 
 7  Therefore  at  that  time,  when  all  the  people 
 heard  the  sound  of  tlie  cornet,  flute,  harp, 
 sackbut,  psaltery,  and  all  kinds  of  musick,  all 
 the  people,  the  nations,  and  the  languages, 
 fell  down  and  worshipped  the  golden  image 
 that  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  had  set  up. 
 
 8  If  Wherefore  at  that  time  certain  Chaldeans 
 "^  came  near,  and  accused  the  Jews. 
 
 9  They  spake  and  said  to  the  king  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar, "  O  king,  live  for  ever. 
 
 10  Thou,  O  king,  hast  made  a  decree,  that 
 every  man  that  shall  hear  the  sound  of  the 
 cornet,  flute,  harp,  sackbut,  psaltery,  and  dul- 
 cimer, and  all  kinds  of  musick,  shall  fall  down 
 and  worship  the  golden  image  : 
 
 U  And  whoso  falleth  not  down  and  wor- 
 shippeth,  that  he  should  be  cast  into  the 
 midst  of  a  burning  fiery  furnace. 
 
 12  '  There  are  certain  Jews  whom  thou  hast 
 set  over  the  affairs  of  the  province  of  Babylon, 
 Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego ;  these 
 men,  O  king,  f  have  not  regarded  thee  :    they 
 
 t  Chal.l  Kith 
 m„jl,,. 
 t  ChaM.r/iry 
 
 II  Or,  ti>,g>ns 
 t  Chiitd. 
 lynij'httny. 
 
 b  Jer,  !<l  22 
 Kev.  13. 15 
 
 i  ch.  2.  -1.  fc 
 5.  10.  g(  6. 
 6.21. 
 
 tChald.'mt'.- 
 iipoti  thee. 
 
 /:W  Kx.  .12. 
 .■)■-'.  Luke 
 
 '•  T'lM.  10  10 
 
 t  Clialcl. 
 
 t  Chald. 
 mighlti  of 
 tlrength. 
 
 \manOei. 
 i|Or,lur6(in>. 
 
 t  Chiild. 
 uord. 
 
 \\  Or,  tpark. 
 
 serve   not   thy  gods,   nor  worship   the  golden 
 image  which  thou  hast  set  up. 
 
 13  1  Then  Nebuchadnezzar  m  his  rage  and 
 fury  commanded  to  bring  Shadrach,  Meshach, 
 and  Abed-nego.  Then  they  brought  these 
 meu  before  the  king. 
 
 14  Nebuchadnezzar  spake  and  said  unto 
 them.  Is  it  II  true,  O  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and 
 Abed-nego,  do  not  ye  serve  my  gods,  nor 
 worship  the  golden  image  which  I  have  set 
 up? 
 
 15  Now  if  ye  be  ready  that  at  what  time  ye 
 hear  the  sound  of  the  cornet,  flute,  harp,  sack- 
 but,  psaltery,  and  dulcimer,  and  all  kinds  of 
 musick,  ye  fall  down  and  worship  the  image 
 which  I  have  made;  '  ivell :  but  if  ye  worship 
 not,  ye  shall  be  cast  the  same  hour  into  the 
 midst  of  a  burning  fiery  furnace  ;  '■'and  who  is 
 that  God  that  shall  deliver  you  out  of  my 
 hands '? 
 
 16  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  an- 
 swered and  said  to  the  king,  O  Nebuchadnez- 
 zar, I*  we  are  not  careful  to  answer  thee  in  this 
 matter. 
 
 17  If  it  be  so,  our  God  whom  we  serve  is 
 able  to  deliver  us  from  the  burning  fiery  fur- 
 nace, and  he  will  deliver  us  out  of  thine  hand, 
 O  king. 
 
 18  '  But  if  not,  be  it  known  unto  thee,  O  king, 
 that  we  will  not  serve  thy  gods,  nor  worship 
 the  golden  image  which  thou  hast  set  up. 
 
 19  f  Then  was  Nebuchadnezzar  ffull  of  fury, 
 and  the  form  of  his  visage  was  clianged  against 
 Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed-nego  :  thcrffore 
 he  spake,  and  commanded  that  they  should 
 heat  the  furnace  one  seven  times  more  than  it 
 was  wont  to  be  heated. 
 
 •20  And  he  commanded  the  fmost  mighty 
 men  that  tcere  in  his  army  to  bind  Shadrach, 
 Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  and  to  cast  them 
 into  the  burning  fiery  furnace. 
 
 21  Then  these  men  were  bound  in  their 
 II  coats,  their  hosen,  and  their  ||  hats,  and  their 
 other  garments,  and  were  cast  into  the  midst 
 of  the  burning  fiery  furnace. 
 
 22  Therefore  because  the  king's  f  command- 
 ment was  urgent,  and  the  furnace  exceeding 
 hot,  the  II  flame  of  the  fire  slew  those  men 
 that  took  up  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed- 
 nego. 
 
 23  And  these  three  men,  Shadrach,  Meshach, 
 and  Abed-nego,  fell  down  bound  into  the 
 midst  of  the  burning  fiery  furnace. 
 
 24  Then  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  was 
 astonied,  and  rose  up  in  haste,  and  spake,  and 
 said  unto  his  ||  counsellors,  Did  not  we  cast 
 three  men  bound  into  the  midst  of  the  fire? 
 Tliey  answered  and  said  unto  the  king.  True, 
 O  king. 
 
 Chap.  III.  —1.  An  ima^e,  of  his  father  Nabopolassar,  of  himself,  or 
 of  his  chief  god,  Bel.  0/  gold,  probably  a  hollow  wood  image  cased 
 withhold.— G(7L  This  image  might  not  have  been  in  the  human  form, 
 nor  of  solid  gold,  but  a  pillar,  with  an  image  of  Bel  on  the  top.— 
 «rirA:e.  Dwdorus  states,  that  Xcr.\cs  took  a  statue  of  gold  forty  feet 
 high  out  of  the  temple  of  Belus  in  Babylon,  when  he  demolished  it. 
 This  might,  probably,  have  been  the  statue  here  mentioned,— Prirf. 
 This  image  was  evidently  placed  upon  a  column,  the  height  of  which  is 
 eonfonndcd  with  that  of  the  figure- See  Cal.  Plain  of  Dura,  perhaps 
 near  the  Tigris,  in  Mesopotamia,  where  was  a  town  called  Dura  or 
 Doura.— C/arA-e.  4.  O  people,  nations,  and  languages,  a  form  of 
 speech  to  set  forth  the  largeness  and  extent  of  the  Babylonish  empire, 
 which  had  subjects  of  so  many  different  languages.— />re4.  Luulh. 
 6.  Lornet,  flute,  ic,  the  distinct  character  of  these  instruments  is  not 
 precisely  known,  but  it  is  evident  they  embraced  the  three  classes  of 
 wind  stringed,  and  pulsative.— TJ-i!.  6.  Tlie  same  hour,  this  is  the 
 hrst  time  that  mention  is  made  of  hours  in  the  sacred  Scriptures ;  it 
 was  very  probably  the  invention  of  the  Chaldeans  or  Babylonians  ■  for 
 908 
 
 Herodotus  says,  the  Greeks  received  the  twelve  parts  of  the  day  from 
 the  Babylonians. — Gill.  Fierjj  furnace,  burning  offenders  alive  was  a 
 punishment  used  among  the  Babylonians,  (sec  Jer.  xxix.  22.)  \b.Whtt 
 is  that  God  ?  fyc.,  thus  Nebuchadnezzar  exalted  himself  above  God  Al- 
 mighty, as  Sennacherib  had  done  before  him,  (2  Kings,  xviii.  35 ;)  not- 
 withstanding he  had  before  made  an  ample  confession  of  the  true  God, 
 (chap.  ii.  4;.) — Preft.  Loath.  16.  We  are  not  careful.  '  not  solicitous.' 
 — Boothr.  VVc  have  made  up  our  minds  on  this  subject.  19.  Seven 
 timrs  more,  as  hot  as  it  could  be  made  ;  *  seven*  expresses  the  great  in- 
 tensity of  the  heat.  20.  The  most  mightii,  his  chief  officers ;  not  strong 
 men,  there  was  no  need  of  such. — A.  Clarke.  21.  In  their  coats,  their 
 hosen,  and  their  hats,  and  tfieir  other  garments,  '  in  their  cloaks,  their 
 turbans,  and  their  upper  tunics,  and  their  under  tunics.* — Par.  '  In 
 their  mantles,  their  turbans,  their  cloaks,  and  their  other  garments.' — 
 Boothr.  The  words  translated  '  coats,  hosen,  and  hats,'  were  perhaps 
 certain  badges  of  honour,  and  not  any  part  of  their  common  dress. — 
 Har.  22.  The  flame — slew  those  men— the  tiama  and  smoke  caught 
 their  breath,  and  sufFocatert  them  j  they  might  have  advised  the  king  to 
 
God  delivercth  tliem. 
 
 DANIEL,  IV. 
 
 Nebuc/iailnezzar's  confessiov . 
 
 25  He  answered  and  said,  Lo,  I  see  four 
 men  loose,  '  walking;  in  tlie  midst  of  the  fire, 
 and  t  tliey  have  no  hurt ;  and  the  form  of  the 
 fourth  is  like  '  the  Son  of  God. 
 
 •20  t  Then  Nebuchadnezzar  came  near  to  the 
 t  mouth  of  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  and 
 spake,  and  said,  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abed- 
 nego,  ye  servants  of  the  most  high  God,  come 
 forth,  and  come  hither.  Then  Shadrach,  Me- 
 shach, and  Abed-nego,  came  forth  of  the  midst 
 of  the  fire. 
 
 27  And  the  princes,  governors,  and  captains, 
 and  the  king's  counsellors,  being  gathered  to- 
 gether, saw  these  men,  ™  upon  whose  bodies 
 the  fire  had  no  power,  nor  was  an  hair  of  their 
 head  singed,  neither  were  their  coats  changed, 
 nor  the  smell  of  fire  had  passed  on  them. 
 
 28  Then  Nebuchadnezzar  spake,  and  said. 
 Blessed  he  the  God  of  Shadrach,  Meshach, 
 and  Abed-nego,  who  hath  sent  his  angel,  and 
 delivered  his  servants  that  "trusted  in  him, 
 and  have  changed  the  king's  word,  and  yielded 
 their  bodies,  that  they  might  not  serve  nor 
 worship  any  god,  except  their  own  God. 
 
 29  °  Therefore  f  I  make  a  decree.  That  every 
 people,  nation,  and  language,  which  speak 
 t  any  thing  amiss  against  the  God  of  Shadrach, 
 Meshach,  and  Abed-nego,  shall  be  ''fcut  in 
 pieces,  and  their  houses  shall  be  made  a  dung- 
 hill :  ''  because  there  is  no  other  God  that  can 
 deliver  after  this  sort. 
 
 30  Tlien  the  king  f  promoted  Shadrach,  Me- 
 shach, and  Abed-nego,  in  the  province  of 
 Babylon. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Nebuchadnezzar  con fesseth  God's  kliujdom,  4  mnJteth 
 relation  of  his  dreajusy  which  the  magicians  could  not 
 interpret.  8  Daniel  heareth  the  dream.  19  He  in- 
 terpreteth  it.     28  The  story  of  the  event. 
 
 "lUEBUCHADNEZZAR  the  king,  "  unto  all 
 -*-*    people,  nations,  and  languages,  that  dwell 
 in  all  the  earth  ;    Peace  be   multiplied   unto 
 you. 
 2  t  I  thought  it  good  to  shew  the  signs  and 
 
 A  Is,  43.  2. 
 
 t  Chald. 
 there  it  no 
 hurlinth'-m 
 
 I  Job  I   0.  fc 
 as.-.  I'M  M. 
 
 7.  ver.  •-'8. 
 t  Cbald, 
 door. 
 
 n  Pg.  3*,7,S. 
 Jer.  17.  7. 
 
 "  cli.  6.  SG. 
 t  fhald. 
 
 fChaltl*. 
 
 p  ch.  2  5. 
 t  Chaia. 
 umdc  ,„..« 
 q  Cb.  B,  27. 
 
 t  Chal.l. 
 tnade  tii 
 
 cir.  5"0. 
 a  cb.  3.  4.  & 
 0.  25. 
 
 I  Chald.  /( 
 wtis  iffinltf 
 be/ure  me. 
 
 g  ch.  2   2. 
 
 h  ch.  I.  7- 
 
 iIh.  63.  II. 
 vor.  18. 
 ch.  2.  II.  il 
 5,  11,  M. 
 
 k  ih.  2.  18. 
 &  0.  tl. 
 
 t  E7ek.:!l,.S, 
 
 r»  Ejck.  17. 
 2.S.  *i  SI.  0- 
 
 .  Ps.  10**.  2il 
 
 v€c.  17,  -ja. 
 
 «  Deu.  33.  2. 
 ch.  8.   1.1. 
 Zcc\\,  14.5. 
 Jude  14. 
 
 wonders  ''  that  the  high  God  liath  wrought  to- 
 ward me. 
 
 3  *"  How  great  are  his  signs!  and  how  mighty 
 are  his  wonders  !  his  kingdom  is  '^  an  everlast- 
 ing kingdom,  and  his  dominion  is  from  genera- 
 tion to  generation. 
 
 4  H  I  Nebuchadnezzar  was  at  rest  in  mine 
 house,  and  flourishing  in  my  palace  : 
 
 5  I  saw  a  dream  which  made  me  afraid,  *^  and 
 the  thoughts  upon  my  bed  and  the  visions  oi 
 my  head  *"  troubled  me. 
 
 G  Therefore  made  I  a  decree  to  bring  in  all 
 the  wise  men  of  Babylon  before  me,  that  they 
 might  make  known  unto  me  the  interpretation 
 of  the  dream. 
 
 7  ^  Then  came  in  the  magicians,  the  astrolo- 
 gers, the  Chaldeans,  and  the  soothsayers ;  and 
 I  told  the  dream  before  them  ;  but  they  did 
 not  make  known  unto  me  the  interpretation 
 thereof. 
 
 8  IT  But  at  the  last  Daniel  came  in  before  me, 
 ''whose  name  was  Belteshazzar,  according  to 
 the  name  of  my  god,  '  and  in  wiiom  is  the 
 spirit  of  the  holy  gods  :  and  before  him  I  told 
 the  dream,  saying^ 
 
 9  O  Belteshazzar,  ^  master  of  the  magicians, 
 because  I  know  that  the  spirit  of  the  holy  gods 
 is  in  tliee,  and  no  secret  trunbleth  thee,  tell 
 me  the  visions  of  my  dream  that  1  have  seen, 
 and  the  interpretation  thereof. 
 
 10  Thus  were  the  visions  of  mine  head  in  my 
 bed  ;  f  I  saw,  and  behold  '  a  tree  in  the  midst 
 of  the  earth,  and  the  height  thereof  7dY/i-  great. 
 
 1 1  The  tree  grew,  and  was  strong,  and  the 
 height  thereof  reached  unto  heaven,  and  the 
 sight  thereof  to  tlie  end  of  all  the  earth  : 
 
 12  The  leaves  thereof  were  fair,  and  the  fruit 
 thereof  much,  and  in  it  was  meat  for  all :  "^  the 
 beasts  of  the  field  had  shadow  under  it,  and  the 
 fowls  of  the  heaven  dwelt  in  the  boughs  there- 
 of, and  all  flesii  was  fed  of  it. 
 
 13  I  saw  in  the  visions  of  my  head  upon  my 
 bed,  and,  behold,  "  a  watcher  and  "  an  holy  one 
 came  down  from  heaven  ; 
 
 such  cruel  measures;  at  least,  they  were  ready  to  execute  his  unjust 
 commands,  and  so  righteously  perished  in  their  sins. — GUI.  25.  /  see 
 four  jnen,  fyc,  the  furnace  was  probably  an  enclosure  of  fire,  or  an 
 area  surrounded  by  a  wall,  and  hence  they  could  easily  be  seen. — So 
 Cdl.  Like  the  so?i  of  God— a.  most  improper  translation.  What  notion 
 could  tliis  idolatrous  king  have  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ?  V'PhH  "13» 
 the  original,  sii^'nifies,  'a  son  of  the  gods  ;'  that  is,  a  divine  person  or 
 anf;el.  and  so  the  king  calls  him  in  ver.  28. — A.  Clarke.  '  Like  a  son  of 
 God  '—Bouthr.  Like  one  of  the  angels,  who  are  called  sons  of  God. — 
 Jarchi,  i^c.  It  is  highly  probable  this  was  the  Sun  of  God  himself, 
 since  it  was  not  unusual  for  him  to  appear  in  human  form. — Gill.  It  is 
 probable  that  it  was  indeed  the  eternal  and  co-equal  Son  of  the  Father, 
 and  not  a  created  angel. — Scott.  See  Isa.  xliii.2  ;  xlviii.io,  &c.  Asingle 
 augel  from  heaven  was  quite  sufficient  to  answer  this  purpose,  as  that 
 which  stnpped  the  lions'  mouths,  (chap.  vi.  2-2. }— A.  Clarke.  28.  And 
 havechauged,  ^-c, '  who  have  reversed  the  king's  word,  aiKl  yielded  up 
 their  bodies,'  ikc.—Boothr.  30.  Then  the  kint:  promoted,  §c.— the 
 events  here  recorded,  though  closely  fi>llowing  Daniel's  interpretation 
 of  the  dream,  are  placed  at  the  distance  of  twenty  years  from  that  event, 
 
 when,  it  is  supposed,  Nebuchadnezzar  might  have  forgotten  his  vows 
 to  the  God  of  Israel. — See  Usher. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  4.  At  rest,  after  having  subdued  Syria,  Phosnicia,  Judea, 
 Egypt,  and  Arabia. — A.  Clarke.  S.  Belteshazzarsce  chap.  i.  7, 
 
 note.  The  holy  gods,  riunp  Vrdu,  or  'of  the  holy  God.'  It  may  sig- 
 nify a  singular,  and  the  king  had  now  the  true  God  in  mind. —  Wintle. 
 Q.  Tell  me  the  visions,  the  meaning  must  be,  •  Tell  me  the  dream,'  that 
 is,  'the  interpretation  thereot.'—Prrb.  Lowth.  10.  A  tree,  an  em- 
 blem of  a  powerful  prince,  wtll  heitled  and  strongly  supported  in  his 
 power  and  government;  so  the  Assyrian  monarch,  (Ezek.  xxxi.  3—9.) 
 — Gill.  Midst  of  the  earth,  probubly  means  a  centre,  from  which  the 
 extensive  circuit  of  his  empire  was   described.  \2.  Beasts  —  had 
 
 shadow,  denoting  the  protection  which  men  may  receive  under  govern- 
 ment.—IFmi/e.  13.  A  watcher,  ^c,  an  angel,  never  sleeping,  and 
 always  attentive  to  God's  commands. — So  A/>en  Ezra,  Jarchi,  Ben 
 Melech,  fyc.  Probably  one  of  an  order  of  blessed  spirits,  supposed,  by 
 the  Chaldeans,  to  take  cognizance  of,  and  decide  the  (ateof  men.— Cui., 
 Staekhovse.  Guardian  angels.—  WU.  The  persons  in  the  Godhead  are 
 intended  ;  '  watcher'  denoting  the  vigilance  of  their  universal  provi- 
 
 Reflcctions  on  Chap.  Ill In  this  chapter  is  a  remark- 
 able display — I.  Ofdariny  impiety.  The  tyrant  king  commnnds 
 the  consciences  of  his  subjects,  and  compels  them,  on  pain  of 
 the  most  horrible  death,  to  worship  u  lump  of  lifeless  matter, 
 and  defies  even  Him  whom  he  had  acknowledged  as  '  God  of 
 gods,'  and  '  Lord  of  kings,'  to  deliver  any  that  should  disobey 
 him.  Here  '  the  wrath  of  :i  king  was  as  a  roaring  lion.'  But 
 we  behold  in  the  three  children  a  remarkable  display — 
 
 II.  Of  sacnd  couraye.  Neither  the  rage  of  the  king,  the 
 loss  of  their  dignities,  nor  the  fury  of  the  furnace  threatening 
 (heir  lives,  moved  them  for  one  moment.  They  stood  un- 
 daunted, and  inflexibly  resolved  to  'obey  God  rather  than 
 men.'  '  Be  it  known  unto  thee,  C)  king,  that  we  will  not 
 serve  thy  gods,  nor  worship  the  golden  image  which  thou  ha^t 
 909 
 
 set  up.'  Here  was  self-denial,  and  an  avowal  of  love  to  God, 
 which  should  humble  and  confound  those  who,  professing  the 
 name  of  Christ,  are  often  ashamed,  with  no  danger  before 
 them,  to  confess  liim  before  men,  and  to  make  the  most  trivial 
 sacrifices  for  his  honour.  Here  is  also  a  remarkable  display — 
 III.  Of  Almighty  interposition.  God  does  not  now  see  fit  to 
 work  in  a  miraculous  manner,  but  bis  martyrs  have  triumphed 
 in  the  midst  of  the  flames,  and  his  promise  has  remained  un- 
 changeable in  the  deepest  furnace  of  affliction — MVhen  thou 
 passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee  ;  and  through 
 the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee.  When  thou  walkest 
 through  the  lire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burned,  neither  shall  the 
 flame  kindle  upon  thee.' 
 
Nebuchadnezzar's  dream. 
 
 DANIEL,  IV. 
 
 The  interpretation  thereof. 
 
 14  He  cried  f  aloud,  and  said  thus,  ■■  Hew 
 down  the  tree,  and  cut  off  his  branches,  shake 
 off  his  leaves,  and  scatter  his  fruit  :  "^  let  the 
 beasts  get  away  from  under  it,  and  the  fowls 
 from  his  branches  ; 
 
 1 5  Nevertheless  leave  the  stump  of  his  roots 
 in  the  earth,  even  with  a  band  of  iron  and 
 brass,  in  the  tender  grass  of  the  field  ;  and  let 
 it  be  wet  with  the  dew  of  heaven,  and  let  his 
 portion  be  with  the  beasts  in  the  grass  of  the 
 earth  : 
 
 16  Let  his  heart  be  changed  from  man's,  and 
 let  a  beast's  heart  be  given  unto  him  ;  and  let 
 seven  '  times  pass  over  him. 
 
 17  This  matter  ix  by  the  decree  of  the  watch- 
 ers, and  the  demand  by  the  word  of  the  holy 
 ones  :  to  the  intent  'that  the  living  may  know 
 '  that  the  most  High  ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of 
 men,  and  giveth  it  to  whomsoever  he  will,  and 
 sptteth  up  over  it  the  basest  of  men. 
 
 18  This  dream  I  king  Nebuchadnezzar  have 
 seen.  Now  thou,  O  Belteshazzar,  declare  the 
 interpretation  thereof,  "  forasmuch  as  all  the 
 wise  men  of  my  kingdom  are  not  able  to  make 
 known  unto  me  tile  interpretation  :  but  thou 
 art  able  ;  "  for  the  spirit  of  the  holy  gods  is  in 
 thee. 
 
 If)  IT  Then  Daniel,  ''whose  name  was  Belte- 
 shazzar, was  astonied  for  one  hour,  and  his 
 thoughts  troubled  him.  The  king  spake,  and 
 .said,  Beltesliazzar,  let  not  the  dream,  or  the 
 interpretation  thereof,  trouble  thee.  Belte- 
 shazzar answered  and  said.  My  lord,  '  t!ie 
 dream  be  to  them  that  hate  thee,  and  the  inter- 
 pretation thereof  to  thine  enemies. 
 
 20  °  The  tree  that  thou  sawest,  which  grew, 
 and  was  strong,  whose  height  reached  unto 
 the  heaven,  and  the  sight  tliereof  to  all  the 
 earth  ; 
 
 21  Whose  leaves  ivere  fair,  and  the  fruit 
 thereof  mucli,  and  in  it  was  meat  for  all ; 
 under  which  the  beasts  of  the  held  dwelt,  and 
 upon  whose  branches  the  fowls  of  the  heaven 
 had  their  habitation  : 
 
 22  ■'  It  is  thou,  O  king,  that  art  grown  and 
 become  strong :  for  thy  greatness  is  grown, 
 and  reacheth  unto  heaven,  '  and  thy  dominion 
 to  the  end  of  the  earth. 
 
 23  ''  And  whereas  the  king  saw  a  watcher 
 and  an  holy  one  coming  down  from  heaven, 
 and  saying.  Hew  the  tree  down,  and  destroy 
 it;  yet  leave  the  stump  of  the  roots  thereof  in 
 the  earth,  even  with  a  band  of  iron  and  brass, 
 in  the  tender  grass  of  the  field  ;  and  let  it  be 
 wet  with  the  dew  of  heaven,  ''  and  let  his  por- 
 tion be  with  the  beasts  of  the  field,  till  seven 
 times  pass  over  him  ; 
 
 24  This  is  the  interpretation,  O   king,  and 
 
 i;o. 
 
 t  Chnld    With 
 
 }'  Mat   3   10. 
 7  Kze.  31.  1*J, 
 
 di    2-L'l. 
 4  fi.il. 
 v.. .  ■a,  31. 
 
 g  Ps.  106. 20. 
 
 '.  ver.  17.  as. 
 1'^.  W.  IM. 
 
 /.  M.it.  21. 
 L'.^  I.ukf 
 lo    Is,  21, 
 
 II  Or,  a..  I.ml. 
 inij  tif  thine 
 
 Or,  tip'ni, 
 o  I'm.  16.13. 
 ch.  5.  ao. 
 
 ;i  ch.  5,  5, 
 
 l.iike  12.20. 
 ;  VL-r.  24. 
 
 .  Ps.  111.  Hi 
 
 ell.  2.  -11.  & 
 7.  M  Mic. 
 i.  7     I.tike 
 
 1 .  -.a. 
 
 Is.  10.  15, 
 
 y  Ps.  115. 
 
 &  l:l5.  fi. 
 J  .Inb  .«.  2 
 ci  .I.il.  9.  12 
 
 Is.  -15.  9. 
 
 this  is  the  decree  of  the  most  High,  which  is 
 come  upon  my  lord  the  king ; 
 2.5  That  they  shall  '  drive  thee  from  men, 
 and  thy  dwelling  shall  be  with  the  beasts  of 
 the  field,  and  they  shall  make  thee  *  to  eat 
 grass  as  oxen,  and  they  shall  wet  thee  with 
 the  dew  of  heaven,  and  seven  times  shall  pass 
 over  thee,  ^  till  thou  know  that  the  most  High 
 ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of  men,  and  '  giveth  it 
 to  whomsoever  be  will. 
 
 26  And  whereas  they  commanded  to  leave 
 the  stump  of  the  tree  roots  ;  thy  kingdom  shall 
 be  sure  unto  thee,  after  that  thou  slialt  have 
 known  that  the  '  heavens  do  rule. 
 
 27  Wherefore,  O  king,  let  iny  counsel  be  ac- 
 ceptable unto  tliee,  and  '  break  off  thy  sins  by 
 righteousness,  and  thine  iniquities  by  shewing 
 mercy  to  the  poor;  '"if  it  may  be  ||"  a  length- 
 ening of  thy  tranquillity. 
 
 28  t  All  this  came  upon  the  king  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar. 
 
 29  At  tlie   end  of  twelve  months  he  walked 
 in  the  palace  of  the  kingdom  of  Babylon. 
 
 30  The  king  "  spake,  and  said.  Is  not  this 
 jreat  Babylon,  that  I  have  built  for  the  house 
 of  the  kingdom  by  the  might  of  my  power,  and 
 for  the  honour  of  my  majesty  ? 
 
 31  >■  While  the  word  Haiin the  king's  mouth, 
 there  fell  ''  a  voice  from  heaven,  sayiny,  O 
 king  Nebuchadnezzar,  to  thee  it  is  spoken  ; 
 The  kingdom  is  departed  from  thee. 
 
 32  And  '  they  shall  drive  thee  from  men.  and 
 thy  dwelling  shall  be  with  the  beasts  of  the 
 field  :  they  shall  make  thee  to  eat  grass  as 
 oxen,  and  seven  times  shall  pass  over  thee, 
 until  thou  know  that  the  most  High  ruleth  in 
 the  kingdom  of  men,  and  giveth  it  to  whomso- 
 ever he  will. 
 
 33  The  same  hour  was  the  thing  fulfilled 
 upon  Nebuchadnezzar :  and  he  was  driven 
 from  men,  and  did  eat  grass  as  oxen,  and  his 
 body  was  wet  with  the  dew  of  heaven,  till  his 
 hairs  were  grown  like  eag\es,'  feathers,  and  his 
 nails  like  birds'  claws. 
 
 34  And  '  at  the  end  of  the  days  I  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar lifted  up  mine  eyes  unto  heaven,  and 
 mine  understanding  returned  unto  me,  and  I 
 blessed  the  most  High,  and  I  praised  and 
 honoured  him  '  that  liveth  for  ever,  whose  do- 
 minion is  "  an  everlasting  dominion,  and  his 
 kingdom  is  from  generation  to  generation  : 
 
 35  And  *  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  are 
 reputed  as  nothing  :  and  '  he  doeth  according 
 to  his  will  in  the  army  of  heaven,  and  among 
 the  inhaliilants  of  the  earth:  and  'none  can 
 stay  his  hand,  or  say  unto  him,  °  What  doest 
 thou  'i 
 
 36  At   the   same   time   my  reason  returned 
 
 deuce,  and  '  holy  ones,'  the  transcendent  sanctity  of  their  nature.  The 
 whole  matter  originated  in  their  decree,  (ver.  1 ".)  and  at  their  command 
 it  was  e.\ecnted. — Horslq/,  so  Par.  These  angels  came  only  to  execute 
 the  decree  the  Most  Hicn  had  made.— Iri^  15.  Lffive  the  stump, 
 let  him  not  be  utterly  destroyed.  A  trea  may  be  cut  down  and  yet 
 recover  again,  (Job,  xiv.  7,  3,  g.)  l6.  A  Se«s<'.s  liecirt,  be  deprived  of 
 the  use  of  reason  ;  governed  by  animal  senses ;  .senseless,  stupid,  and 
 savage — Oill.  .Seneii  times,  seven  years,  as  the  phrase  is  used  in 
 chap.  vii.  25,  and  xii.  y.—.lm-nhl,  ^c.GUI,  so  Preli.  Lnivth  and  Clarke. 
 \7.  Decree  of  the  jftttcher.i—fiee  on  ver.  13.  S(«fsY~(i.)  Of  mean  con- 
 ilition.  (ii.)  Of  vile  character.  (iii.)  It  refers  to  Nebuchadnezzar's 
 degraded  state.— See  Poole,   Gill,   Scott.  25.  Grass,  the  original 
 
 includes  as  well  herbs  for  man  as  grass  for  cattle,  (see  Gen.  ii.  5 ;  Exod. 
 X.  12,  15,  &c.)— iri;.  2!l.  In  the  palace,  '  upon  it,'  as  marg.  On  the 
 flat  roof  used  for  walks  of  pleasure.  30.  /  hare  built,  enlarged,  re- 
 paired, or  fortified,  (see  2  Chron.  xi.  6  ;  2  Kings,  xiv.  22.)— iri»i«/e. 
 33.  The  thing  fulfilled  upon  T^eljuchatlne*z^tr.  this  was  evidently  hypo- 
 chondriasis. Under  its  influence  he  ran  wild  into  the  fields,  and,  fancv- 
 910 
 
 ing  himself  an  ox,  fed  on  grass.  Things  executed  by  God  in  clemency, 
 a-'i  in  the  case  of  Hezekiah,  or  in  vcngreance.  as  here,  are  fi  equeutly  per- 
 formed by  the  intermediate  operation  of  natural  causes. — Dr.  Mfad, 
 Mfd.  Sac.  I  knew  a  man  thus  changed  in  his  heart,  in  his  imagina- 
 ti'n  ;  he  believed  himself  to  be  a  bear,  and  would  imitate  the  ursal 
 growl..Vc.,butthe  case  did  not  appear  to  be  hypnchoudriacal. — A. Clarke. 
 And  did  eat  grass  as  oj:en,  ^c. — I  suppose  that  he  went  among  the 
 cattle,  and  lived  on  vegetables  :  but  this  is  probably  all  ttiat  is  meant, 
 lu  this  mad  and  savage  state  his  hair  grew  much,  and  his  nails,  like 
 birds'  claws,  turned  inwards. — Bouthr.  Wet  with  the  detv,  this  was 
 one  of  the  king's  miseries,  and  a  great  one.  After  the  pores  bad  been 
 all  exposed  for  twelve  hours  to  a  burning  sun,  then  the  cold  dews 
 saturated  his  body.  What  an  cfTect  must  this  produce  on  the  human 
 frame  ! — So  Rub.  34.  At  the  eitd  of  the  days  }  Nehnchadnezznr  lifted 
 up  mine  eyes — it  is  computed  that  Nebuchadnezzar  did  nntUve  above  a 
 year  after  this  restoration. — Scalt.  His  death  happened  about  the 
 thirty-seventh  year  of  Jehoiachin's  captivity,  after  reigning  forty-three 
 years.— Wintle  see  also  Scutt ;  to  the  same  purport,  the  calculations 
 
ISe.hhazzar's  feast 
 
 DANIEL,  V. 
 
 The  handwriting  on  the  wall. 
 
 unto  me  ;  ''  and  for  the  glory  of  my  kingdom, 
 mine  honour  and  brightness  returned  unto  me  ; 
 and  my  counsellors  and  my  lords  sought  unto 
 me  ;  and  I  was  established  in  my  kingdom, 
 and  excellent  majesty  was  "  added  unto  me. 
 
 37  Now  I  Nebuchadnezzar  praise  and  extol 
 and  honour  the  King  of  heaven,  '^  all  whose 
 works  are  truth,  and  his  ways  judgment: 
 "  and  those  that  walk  in  pride  he  is  able  to 
 abase. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Bchhazzar's  impious  ftast.  6  A  iiaiifln'ritiiu/,  7tn- 
 hiown  to  tlie  viagicians,  trouhleth  the  liinij.  10  At 
 t/ic  commendation  of  tlie.  queen  Daniel  is  hrouqitt, 
 17  He,  reprovinf/  the  king  of  pride  ami  idolatry,  25 
 readeth  and  i/iterpretetli  tlie  writinij.  yo  The  mo- 
 narcfiij  in  translated  to  the  Medes. 
 
 "DELSHAZZAR  the  king  "made  a  great 
 -*^  feast  to  a  thousand  of  his  lords,  and  drank 
 wine  before  the  thousand. 
 
 2  Belshazzar,  whiles  he  tasted  the  wine,  com- 
 manded to  bring  the  golden  and  silver  vessels 
 ''  whicli  his  II  father  Nebuchadnezzar  had 
 t  taken  out  of  the  temple  which  u^as  m  Jeru- 
 salem ;  that  the  king,  and  his  princes,  his 
 wives,  and  his  concubines,  might  drink  therein. 
 
 3  Tlien  they  brought  the  golden  vessels  that 
 were  taken  out  of  the  temple  of  the  house  of 
 God  which  was  at  Jerusalem  ;  and  the  king, 
 and  his  princes,  his  wives,  and  his  concubines, 
 drank  in  them. 
 
 4  They  drank  wine,  'and  praised  the  gods  of 
 gold,  and  of  silver,  of  brass,  of  iron,  of  wood, 
 and  of  stone. 
 
 5  IF  ''  In  the  same  hour  came  forth  fingers  of 
 a  man's  hand,  and  wrote  over  against  the  can- 
 dlestick upon  the  plaister  of  the  wall  of  the 
 king's  palace  :  and  tlie  king  saw  the  part  of  the 
 hand  that  wrote. 
 
 Milt.  6.  ;i3. 
 ./  Ps.  3X  t. 
 
 e  Ex.  18.  11 
 ch.  5.  20. 
 
 b  cli,  I   2. 
 
 Jcr.  52  19. 
 I|  Or,  urniid- 
 
 falUer :  As 
 
 Jer,  27.  7. 
 
 2  Sum.  9.  7. 
 
 2Clir.l5.16 
 
 Ter.  11,  13. 
 t  Cll.^M. 
 
 broui>l,t 
 
 forll,. 
 
 I  CImld. 
 t,ri«l,i„rm,. 
 ver.  9. 
 
 t  Chftld. 
 
 cliont(fd  il, 
 l|Or,  uirdUt. 
 
 Is.  5.  27. 
 t  CImld. 
 
 bindiiifft, 
 
 or.  kfiutx. 
 rN.ih.S.   10. 
 /oil.  2.3.  14 
 
 4..  0. 
 f  ChaM.  uitk 
 
 g  Is.  47.  la, 
 
 II  Or,  purjile. 
 /i  ch.  6.  2. 
 
 i  ch.  2.  27. 
 &4.  7. 
 
 I  Ch.itd. 
 briglitnettei. 
 
 m  ch.  2.  IS. 
 &  1.  8,  9, 
 IS. 
 
 I  Or,  graiid- 
 /alh,r. 
 ver.  2. 
 
 I  Or, 
 
 il  Or. «/..,, 
 :ut,'rprekT, 
 ic. 
 
 II  Or,  ofn 
 diii'dr^r. 
 t  Chald. 
 
 p  ch.  I.  7. 
 
 6  Tlien  the  king's  f  countenance  "fwas  chang- 
 ed, and  his  thoughts  troubled  him,  so  that  the 
 II  f  joints  of  his  loins  were  loosed,  and  his 
 "knees  smote  one  against  another. 
 
 7  ''  The  king  cried  f  aloud  to  bring  in  ^  the 
 astrologers,  the  Chaldeans,  and  the  soothsayers. 
 And  tlie  king  spake,  and  said  to  the  wise  men 
 of  Babylon,  'VVliosoever  sliall  read  this  writing, 
 and  shew  me  tlie  interpretation  thereof,  shall 
 be  clothed  with  ||  scarlet,  and  have  a  chain  of 
 gold  about  his  neck, ''and  .shall  be  the  third 
 ruler  in  the  kingdom. 
 
 8  Then  came  in  all  the  king's  wise  ynen:  '  but 
 they  could  not  read  the  writing,  nor  make 
 known  to  the  king  the  interpretation  thereof. 
 
 9  Then  was  king  Belshazzar  greatly  '  trou- 
 bled, and  his  f  countenance  was  changed  in 
 him,  and  his  lords  were  astonied. 
 
 10  T  Nuw  the  queen  by  reason  of  the  words 
 of  the  king  and  his  lords  came  into  the  ban- 
 quet house  ;  and  the  queen  spake  and  said, 
 '  O  king,  live  for  ever  :  let  not  thy  thoughts 
 trouble  thee,  nor  let  thy  countenance  be 
 changed  : 
 
 11  "'  There  is  a  man  in  thy  kingdom,  in 
 whom  is  the  spirit  of  the  holy  gods  ;  and  in 
 the  days  of  thy  ||  father  light  and  understand- 
 ing and  wisdom,  like  the  wisdom  of  the  gods, 
 was  found  in  him  ;  wliom  the  king  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar thy  II  fatlier,  the  king,  Isai/,  thy  father, 
 made  "master  of  the  magicians,  astrologers, 
 Chaldeans,  and  soothsayers ; 
 
 12  °  Forasmuch  as  an  excellent  spirit,  and 
 knowledge,  and  understanding,  ||  interpreting 
 of  dreams,  and  shewing  of  liard  sentences,  and 
 II  dissolving  of  f  doubts,  were  found  in  the  same 
 Daniel,  ''whom  the  king  named  Belteshazzar  : 
 now  let  Daniel  be  called,  and  he  will  sliew  the 
 interpretation. 
 
 of  Us/ier,  Prid.,  and  Wliiston.  It  is  supposed  Uiat  he  lived  seventeen 
 years  after. — Cttirke.  37.  Now  1  Nebuchadnezzar,  fyc,  the  king  on 
 liis  recovery  published  a  proclamation,  giving  an  account  of  this  event 
 to  every  part  of  his  empire. — Horsley. 
 
 Chap.  V. —  !.  Belshazzar,  as  this  was  the  last  king  of  the  Baby- 
 lonish race,  he  must  have  been  the  same  that  is  called  Nabonnedus  by 
 Bernsun,  and  Naboandelus  by  Josephus,  Antiij.,  1.  x.,  c.  II. —  See 
 Prid.  This  king  was  called  Labynetus  of  Herodotus. — So  Jos.  This 
 king  was  not  the  immediate  successor  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  but  Evil. 
 Merodach  was. — Gill.  The  order  seems  to  have  been  —  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar; Evil-Merodach,  his  son,  who  reigned  two  years;  Neriglissar, 
 who  slew  his  predecessor  and  brother-in-law,  and  reigned  four  years  ; 
 Laborosoarchod,  son  of  the  latter,  reigned  nine  months ;  Belshazzar, 
 son  of  Evil-Merodach,  who  reigned  seventeen  years,  and  was  slain  by 
 Cyrus. — So  Usher,  8fc.  The  order  of  Scripture  is,  Nebuchadnezzar, 
 Evil-Merodach,  Belshazzar,  (see  Jer.  xxvii.  7.)  But  Neriglissar  and 
 his  son,  being  usurpers,  are  not  reckoned. —  So  Chirlce.  A  great 
 feast,  probably  an  anniversary  feast,  since,  according  to  Xenophon  and 
 Herodotus,  Cyrus  knew  of  it  beforehand.  It  was.  perhaps,  in  honour 
 of  liis  l»irth-day,  or  of  his  gods,  which  seems  most  likely,  since  these 
 were  praised  at  this  time,  and  the  vessels  of  the  temple  of  God  at 
 Jerusalem  profaned,  (ver.  2,  3.  4.)  Isaiah  prophesied  of  it,  (chap,  xxi.5.) 
 — GUI.  To  a  thousand — wlien  we  consider  the  manners  of  the  east,  this 
 number  is  not  more  than  might  be  well  accommodated,  especially  in 
 the  court  of  the  palace,  (see  Esth.  i.  3,  &c.) — Banthr.  2.  Tasted  the 
 n-lne — the  expression  seems  to  allude  to  that  part  of  the  libation  in 
 
 which  the  wine  was  tasted  at  the  time  of  a  sacrifice,  or  a  festal 
 solemnity. — Wintte.  His  father  Nebuchadnezzar,  in  Scripture,  the 
 name  of  son  is  indiflFerently  given  to  sons  and  grandsons,  and  even  to 
 great  grandsons.  Nebuchadnezzar  was  certainly  the  grandfather  of 
 Belshazzar. — Greenf.  5.  Fingers,  these  were  coliected  about  tlie  stile, 
 or  pen,  as  in  the  act  of  writing. — A.  Clarke.  7.  Shall  he  clothed  nith 
 scarlet,  and  hare  a  chain,  ^c,  gold  chains  are,  in  Abyssinia,  a  mark  of 
 dignity,  bestowed  by  the  sovereign  on  the  most  meritorious  persons  in 
 the  army.  It  is  usual  to  accompany  this  gift  with  a  splendid  suit  of 
 clothes  ;  an  Egyptian  and  Persian  custom, (see  Gen.  xli.42  ;  Esth.viii.15.) 
 — Bruce.  Third  ruler,  next  to  the  king  and  the  queen  mother,  or  the 
 heir  apparent. — Gill.  8.  Could  not  read  the  writing — it  was  probably 
 written  in  the  Samaritan  character,  which  was  the  true  Hebrew ;  the 
 present  Hebrew  was  the  Chaldee.  Not  being  in  Chaldee,  they  could  not 
 read  it. — So  Clarke,  Preh.Lowth,  Boothroyd.  10.  The  ipteen,  generally 
 allowed  to  have  been  the  widow  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  for  Belshazzar's 
 wives  and  concubines  were  present  at  the  feast.— C«i.,  Scott.  1 1 .  ,4 
 man  in  thy  kingdom,  not  in  the  court ;  perhaps  in  one  of  the  former 
 reigns  he  liad  been  removed  from  his  offices. — Gill.  He  was  probably 
 displaced  at  the  death  of  a  prior  king  ;  since,  in  the  east,  when  a  king 
 dies,  the  physicians  and  astrologers  are  removed ;  the  one  for  not  having 
 driven  away  death,  the  other  for  not  having  predicted  it. — Har.  Thy 
 father — see  ver.  2,  note.  12.  An  excellent  spirit,  she  meant  a  supe- 
 rior spirit  to  all  the  wise  men  for  natural  knowledge  and  poUtical 
 wisdom. — Gill.  Doubts,  'knots,'  marg.  This  expression  is  used  in 
 the  east  to  signify  a  judge  of  eminent  wisdom  and  skill, — -t.  Clarke;  or 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV Behold  liere,  I.  The 'seve- 
 rity' of  God.  How  the  haughty  sinner  w!is  punished  !  The 
 greatest  of  calamities  befel  him.  He  was  reduced  to  the  most 
 degraded  situation.  Not  a  subject,  how  mean  soever  he  might 
 Lave  been,  would  have  changed  his  condition  with  this  '  king 
 of  kings.' (chap.  ii.  37.)  The  proudest  man  may  soon  be 
 brought  low  by  the  hand  of  God  ;  and  if,  after  serious  warn- 
 ings, he  continue  the  same,  he  has  just  reason  to  dread  the 
 consequences,  for  '  God  resisteth  the  proud,  but  giveth  grace 
 to  the  humble.' 
 
 II.  The  ' goodness'  of  God.  Even  with  the  haughty  tyrant, 
 God  forbore  to  strike  the  last  ruinous  blow.  He  restored  him 
 to  his  senses,  and  then,  in  every  respect,  he  was  restored  to 
 his  right  mind.  '  We  dare  not  deny  the  mercy  of  God  to  the 
 most  presumptuous  offenders,'  says  Robinson,  of  Leicester, 
 911 
 
 '  and,  in  the  present  instance,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  there 
 were  many  very  favourable  appearances,  and  such  efl'ects  as 
 are  usually  thought  the  genuine  fruits  of  repentance.  On  this 
 charitable  supposition  we  are  constrained  to  cry  out,  "  Is  not 
 this  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  lire?"  We  admire  and  praise 
 the  riches  of  that  grace  which  can  subdue  and  pardon  so  ob- 
 stinate a  sinner.'  'Whether  he  continued  in  the  same  good 
 mind  that  here  be  seems  to  have  been  in,'  observes  Henry, 
 •we  are  not  told,  nor  doth  anything  appear  to  the  contrary, 
 but  that  lie  did  ;  and  if  so  great  a  persecutor  and  blasphemer 
 did  find  mercy,  he  was  not  the  last ;  and  if  our  charity  may 
 reach  so  far  as  to  hope  he  did,  we  must  admire  free  grace,  bv 
 which  he  lost  his  wits  for  a  while,  that  he  might  save  his  sou! 
 for  ever.' 
 
Daniel  reprovelh  ihe  king. 
 
 DANIEL,  VI. 
 
 The  interpretation  of  the  handwriting. 
 
 13  Then  was  Daniel  brought  in  before  the 
 king.  And  the  king  spake  and  said  unto  Da- 
 niel, Art  thou  that  Daniel,  which  art  of  the 
 children  of  the  captivity  of  Judah,  whom  the 
 king  my  ||  father  brought  out  of  Jewry  ? 
 
 14  I  have  even  heard  of  thee,  that  "^  the  spirit 
 of  the  gods  is  in  thee,  and  that  light  and  un- 
 derstanding and  excellent  wisdom  is  found  in 
 thee. 
 
 15  And  now 'the  wise  men,  the  astrologers, 
 have  been  brought  in  before  me,  that  they 
 should  read  this  writing,  and  make  known  unto 
 me  the  interpretation  thereof:  but  they  could 
 not  shew  the  interpretation  of  the  thing  : 
 
 16  And  I  liave  heard  of  thee,  that  thou  canst 
 fmake  interpretations,  and  dissolve  doubts: 
 '  now  if  thou  canst  read  the  writing,  and  make 
 known  to  me  the  interpretation  tliereof,  thou 
 slialt  be  clotlied  with  scarlet,  and  liave  a  chain 
 of  gold  about  tliy  neck,  and  slialt  be  the  third 
 ruler  in  the  kingdom. 
 
 17  H  Then  Daniel  answered  and  said  before 
 the  king,  Let  tliy  gifts  be  to  tliyself,  and  give 
 thy  II  rewards  to  anotlier ;  yet  I  will  read  the 
 writing  unto  the  king,  and  make  known  to  him 
 the  interpretation. 
 
 18  O  thou  king,  'the  most  high  God  gave 
 Nebuchadnezzar  tliy  father  a  kingdom,  and 
 majesty,  and  glory,  and  honour : 
 
 1!)  And  for  tlie  majesty  that  he  gave  him, 
 "  all  people,  nations,  and  languages,  trembled 
 and  feared  before  him  :  whom  he  would  he 
 slew  ;  and  whom  lie  would  he  kept  alive  ;  and 
 whom  he  would  lie  set  up  ;  and  whom  he 
 would  he  put  down. 
 
 20  '  But  when  his  heart  was  lifted  up,  and 
 his  mind  hardened  ||in  pride,  he  was  f  deposed 
 from  his  kingly  throne,  and  they  took  his  glory 
 from  him  : 
 
 21  And  he  was '  driven  from  the  sons  of  men  ; 
 and  II  his  heart  was  made  like  the  beasts,  and 
 his  dwelling  ivas  with  the  wild  asses  :  they  fed 
 him  with  grass  like  oxen,  and  his  body  was 
 wet  with  the  dew  of  heaven  ;  '  till  he  knew 
 that  the  most  high  God  ruled  in  the  kingdom 
 of  men,  and  that  he  appointeth  over  it  whom- 
 soever he  will. 
 
 22  And  thou  his  son,  O  Belshazzar,  "hast 
 not  humbled  thine  heart,  though  thou  knewest 
 
 I!  OT.s-mi- 
 7  vcr,  II,  \'l 
 
 I  Chald, 
 
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 priMtftllf. 
 
 Kx.  IS.  II. 
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 II  Or.heyuadt 
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 >  2  Chr.  X< 
 S3.  &  S6.  12. 
 
 /  Forrtold, 
 l«.  21.  2. 
 vor.  31. 
 ch.  9.  I. 
 
 a  ch.  11.  23. 
 
 rjcr.  5i.Sl, 
 39,  57. 
 
 A  ch.  9.  1. 
 t  Chiild. 
 
 ....  ./.  lie. 
 Or,  iinw. 
 
 rir.  .^3^. 
 K^th.  I.  I 
 
 all  this  ; 
 
 23  ''  But  hast  lifted  up  thyself  against  the 
 Lord  of  heaven  ;  and  they  have  brought  the 
 vessels  of  his  house  before  thee,  and  thou,  and 
 thy  lords,  thy  wives,  and  thy  concubines,  have 
 drunk  wine  in  them  ;  and  thou  hast  praised 
 the  gods  of  silver,  and  gold,  of  brass,  iron, 
 wood,  and  stone,  '  which  see  not,  nor  hear, 
 nor  know :  and  the  God  in  wliose  hand  thy 
 breath  is,  ^  and  whose  are  all  thy  ways,  hast 
 thou  not  glorified  : 
 
 24  Then  was  the  part  of  the  hand  sent  from 
 him  ;  and  this  writing  was  written. 
 
 25  H  And  this  is  the  writing  that  was  written, 
 MENE,  MENE,  TEKEL,  UrHARSlN. 
 
 2G  This  is  the  interpretation  of  the  thing  : 
 MENE  ;  God  hath  numbered  thy  kingdom, 
 and  finished  it. 
 
 27  TEKEL;  ^Tliou  art  weighed  in  the  ba- 
 lances, and  art  found  wanting. 
 
 28  PERES  ;  Thy  kingdom  is  divided,  and 
 given  to  the  'Medes  and  ^  Persians. 
 
 29  Then  commanded  Belshazzar,  and  they 
 clothed  Daniel  with  scarlet,  and/"/<  a  cliain  of 
 gold  about  liis  neck,  and  made  a  proclamation 
 concerning  him,  "^  that  he  should  be  the  third 
 ruler  in  the  kingdom. 
 
 30  H  '  In  that  night  was  Belshazzar  the  king 
 of  the  Chaldeans  slain. 
 
 31  '  And  Darius  the  Median  took  tlie  king- 
 dom, t  l)eing  ||  about  threescore  and  two  years 
 old. 
 
 CHAP.  VL 
 
 1  Daniel  is  made  chief  of  thepresidents.  4  Tltcy  coft- 
 spirimi  against  him  obtain  an  idolatrous  decire.  10 
 Daniel,  accused  of  the  hreacii  thereof,  is  cast  into  the 
 lions' den.  18  Daniel  is  saved.  2i  His  adversaries 
 devoured,  25  and  God  mar/nijied  by  a  decree. 
 
 TT  pleased  Darius  to  set  "over  the  kingdom 
 -*-  an  hundred  and  twenty  princes,  which 
 should  be  over  the  whole  kingdom  ; 
 
 2  And  over  these  three  presidents  ;  of  whom 
 Daniel  ivas  first  :  that  the  princes  might  give 
 accounts  unto  them,  and  the  king  should  have 
 no  damage. 
 
 3  Then  this  Daniel  was  preferred  above  the 
 presidents  and  princes,  ''because  an  excellent 
 spirit  was  in  him  ;  and  the  king  thought  to  set 
 him  over  the  whole  realm. 
 
 a  man  of  talent,  or  one  who  can  solve  riddles,  mysteries,  &c. — Raherts. 
 17.  Gifts  be  to  thyself,  Daniel  would  not  receive  a  reward  for  so  sad  a 
 message, — Poole :  nor  could  the  gifts  be  of  any  use,  as,  in  a  few  hours, 
 the  city  was  to  be  taken  and  pillaged. — Clnrke.  24.  Then  was  the 
 part,  8fe.,  'therefore  from  liim  was  the  part  of  the  hand  sent.' — Bnnthr. 
 
 25.  Men'e,  menb,  &c.,  the  literal  meaning  seems  to  be, '  He  hath  num- 
 bered, He  hath  numbered  ;  he  hath  weighed,  and  they  divide.' — Seott. 
 
 26.  Mene,  'numeration.' — .1.  Clarke.  'To  number,*  that  is,  to  fix 
 bounds  to  a  thing,  or  the  period  of  its  continuance. —  Wintle.  The  word 
 is  doubled  to  shew  the  certainty  of  the  thing. — Preh.  Loteth.  '  God 
 hath  certainly,  perfectly,  and  exactly  numbered.' — Gill.  SeeJob,  xiv.  5. 
 
 27.  Tekel,  'weighing.'— .4.  Clarke.  'To  weigh.' — Wintle.  Wicked 
 men  are  often  compared  to  silver  adulterated  and  alloyed  with  baser 
 metals,  which  makes  it  too  light  when  weighed  in  the  balances,  (see 
 Jcr.  vi.  30:  Ezekiel,  xxii.  18.) — Preb.Lou-th.  Found  wanting,  this 
 striking  form  of  speech  is  much  used  in  the  east  at  this  day. — Rob.  It 
 was  a  custom  with  the  Mogul  to  be  weighed  every  year,  in  the  pre- 
 
 sence of  his  grandees,  and  by  his  weight  the  physicians  determined  the 
 state  of  his  health.— See  .Sir  T/ios.  Roe's  Voyage  to  India.  28.  PEaKs, 
 'division.' — .i.  Clarke.  'To  divide.'  or  'break;  the  same  word  as 
 UpHAitsiN,  in  another  form  ;  '  upharsin' signifying,  '  and  they  divide.' 
 Preh.  Liiwtli.  •  Peres'  was  also  the  proper  name  of  Persia,  which 
 made  the  words  equivocal. — Ohandler.  29.  With  firnrlet,  fye. — sec 
 ver.  7,  note.  31.  Darius  the  Median,  supposed  to  be  the  same  as 
 Cyaxeres,  son  of  Astyages,  and  maternal  uutle  of  C.vriis,  to  whom  he 
 gave  the  throne  of  Babylon,  after  himself  had  had  the  honour  of  taking 
 the  city. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  VI.— 1.  .4h  hundred  and  twentii  princes,  viceroys,  lieutenants, 
 or  chief  governors. — Par.  As  soon  as  Darius  had  taken  the  kingdom 
 of  Babylon,  he  divided  it  into  120  provinces,  and  to  these  seven  more 
 were  afterwards  added  through  the  victories  of  Cyrus  and  Cainhyses, 
 and  Darius  Hystaspes,  (Esth.  i.  \.)—Gill.  2.  The  kin/.'  should  have 
 no  dnmai^'e,  or  '  the  king  should  not  be  troubled.' — Scott,  3.  An 
 exeellent  spirit,  'a  superior  mind.' — Boothr.    See  chap.  v.  12,  note. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  In  Bplshazzar  we  see  a  pic- 
 ture of  the  men  of  tlie  world — I.  In  their  lives.  Devoted  to 
 folly  and  pleasure  ;  livinf?  without  God  in  the  world,  and  sit- 
 ting in  the  seat  of  scoffers ;  blaspheming  his  sacred  name ; 
 jovial  and  merry  over  the  intoxicating  cup,  thinking  not  of 
 their  latter  end,  and  unprepared  for  the  awful  summons  of 
 death. 
 
 II.  In  their  end.  Taken  by  surprise  by  the  last  enemy ; 
 filled  with  shame,  confusion,  consternation,  and  terror ;  de- 
 sirous, when  the  last  moment  is  come,  of  receiving  the  in- 
 struction of  holy  men  of  God  ;  but  numbered  in  their  days— 
 912 
 
 found  wanting  in  the  balances  of  God's  justice,  and  hurried- 
 with  all  tlieir  sins,  into  eternity.  Such  is  the  end  of  their 
 '  excess  of  riot,"  in  which  they  '  think  it  strange  that  we  run 
 not  with  them,  speaking  evil  of  us.'  Let  us  bless  God  for 
 that  '  more  excellent  way'  which,  by  the  light  of  heaven,  we 
 have  discovered.  '  But  ye,  brethren,  are  not  in  darkness,  that 
 that  day  should  overtake  you  as  a  thief.  Ye  are  all  the  chil- 
 dren of  the  light  and  the  children  of  the  day  :  we  are  not  of 
 the  night  nor  of  darkness.  Therefore  let  us  not  sleep  as  do 
 others ;  but  let  us  watch  and  be  sober.  * 
 
A  coii.i/ihticy  against  Daniel. 
 
 DANIEI.,  Vr. 
 
 He  is  cast  iiitu  the  lions'  den. 
 
 4  H  '  Then  tlie  presidents  and  princes  sought 
 to  find  occasion  against  Daniel  concerning  the 
 liingdoin  ;  but  they  could  find  none  occasion 
 nor  fault ;  forasmuch  as  he  was  faithful,  nei- 
 ther was  there  any  error  or  fault  found  in  him. 
 
 5  Then  said  these  men.  We  shall  not  find 
 any  occasion  against  this  Daniel,  except  we 
 find  it  against  liini  concerning  tlie  law  of  his 
 God. 
 
 G  Then  these  presidents  and  princes  ||  as- 
 sembled together  to  the  king,  and  said  thus 
 unto  him,  ■'  King  Darius,  live  for  ever. 
 
 7  All  the  presidents  of  the  liingdom,  the  go- 
 vernors, and  the  princes,  tlie  counsellors,  and 
 the  captains,  have  consulted  together  to  esta- 
 blish a  royal  statute,  and  to  make  a  firm  || de- 
 cree, that  whosoever  shall  ask  a  petition  of  any 
 God  or  man  for  thirty  days,  save  of  thee,  O 
 king,  he  shall  be  cast  into  the  den  of  lions. 
 
 8  Now,  O  king,  establish  the  decree,  and 
 sign  the  writing,  that  it  be  not  changed,  accord- 
 ing to  the  "law  of  the  Medes  and  Persians, 
 which  t  altereth  not. 
 
 9  Wherefore  king  Darius  signed  the  writing 
 and  the  decree. 
 
 10  U  Now  when  Daniel  knew  that  the  writ- 
 ing was  signed,  he  went  into  his  liouse  ;  and 
 his  windows  being  open  in  his  chamber  '  to- 
 ward Jerusalem,  he  kneeled  upon  his  knees 
 ^  three  times  a  day,  and  prayed,  and  gave 
 thanks  before  his  God,  as  he  did  aforetime. 
 
 11  Then  these  men  assembled,  and  found 
 Daniel  praying  and  making  supplication  before 
 his  God. 
 
 12  ''  Then  they  came  near,  and  spake  before 
 the  king  concerning  the  king's  decree  ;  Hast 
 thou  not  signed  a  decree,  that  every  man  that 
 shall  ask  a  petition  of  any  God  or  man  within 
 thirty  days,  save  of  thee,  O  king,  shall  be  cast 
 into  the  den  of  lions?  The  king  answered  and 
 said.  The  thing  is  true,  '  according  to  the  law 
 of  the  Medes  and  Persians,  which  alteretli  not. 
 
 13  Then  answered  they  and  said  before  the 
 king.  That  Daniel,  '  which  is  of  the  children  of 
 the  captivity  of  Judah,  '  regardeth  not  thee,  O 
 king,  nor  the  decree  that  thou  hast  signed,  but 
 maketh  his  petition  three  times  a  day. 
 
 14  Then  the  king,  when  he  heard  these 
 words,  "  was  sore  displeased  with  himself,  and 
 set  his  heart  on  Daniel  to  deliver  him  :  and  he 
 laboured  till  the  going  down  of  the  sun  to  de- 
 liver him. 
 
 1.5  Then  these  men  assembled  unto  the  king, 
 and  said  unto  the  king.  Know,  O  king,  that 
 "  the  law  of  the  Medes  and  Persians  is.  That 
 no  decree  nor  statute  which  the  kingestablish- 
 eth  may  be  changed. 
 
 c  Eccl«8.4.'l. 
 
 II  Or,  c'imi- 
 
 Is 
 d  Nell.  £.  3. 
 ver  21. 
 cli.  2.  I. 
 
 B  Estb.  I.  :'j 
 
 V.-1-.  1*?,  l.i. 
 t  CliBld, 
 \iaiteth  not 
 
 /I  Kin  S.41. 
 
 4S.  Ps,  5.  7. 
 
 J^nah  --  1. 
 3  Pb   5j    17- 
 
 ActsS   !,■->, 
 
 ir,.  Ri  .1.  I. 
 
 &  10.  9. 
 
 k  cli.  1.  6.  1 
 5.  13. 
 I  ch.  8.  12. 
 
 m  So  Mark 
 
 6.  26. 
 
 ..  Lain.  ;1.  5.-J. 
 ;.  S.I  .Mat.-.'7. 
 
 (  cli.  .1.  2fl. 
 ■iHeli.  11.33. 
 
 xHeb.  11.33. 
 
 ;  Estli.9  10 
 See  Deul. 
 2+   lli. 
 2  Kin.  14.6. 
 
 b  ch.  3  £9. 
 c  Ps.  m.  I. 
 dell.  4.31. 
 
 eh.  2.  44  & 
 4   3,  .34  *k 
 7.  14.  27. 
 Luke  t.  33. 
 /ch.  1.  3. 
 
 Vrl,      L   21 
 
 /.  Bzial.  1,2. 
 
 lU  Then  ttie  king  commanded,  and  they 
 brought  Daniel,  and  cast  him  into  the  den  of 
 lions.  Now  the  king  spake  and  said  unto 
 Daniel,  Thy  God  wliom  thou  servest  continu- 
 ally, he  will  deliver  thee. 
 
 17  "  And  a  stone  was  brought,  and  laid  upon 
 the  month  of  tlie  den  ;  ''and  the  king  sealed 
 it  with  his  own  signet,  and  with  the  signet  of 
 his  lords  ;  that  tlie  purpose  might  not  be 
 changed  concerning  Daniel. 
 
 18  H  Then  the  king  went  to  his  palace,  and 
 passed  the  night  fasting  :  neither  were  1|  in- 
 struments of  niusick  brought  before  liim  :  ''  and 
 his  sleep  went  from  him. 
 
 19  Then  the  king  arose  very  early  in  the 
 morning,and  went  in  haste  unto  the  den  of  lions. 
 
 •20  And  when  lie  came  to  the  den,  he  cried 
 with  a  lamentable  voice  unto  Daniel  :  and  the 
 king  spake  and  said  to  Daniel,  O  Daniel,  ser- 
 vant of  the  living  God,  '  is  thy  God,  whom  thou 
 servest  continually,  able  to  deliver  thee  from 
 the  lions  r" 
 
 ■1\  Then  said  Daniel  unto  the  king,  'O  king, 
 live  for  ever. 
 
 22  '  My  God  hath  sent  his  angel,  and  hath 
 "shut  the  lions'  mouths,  that  they  have  not 
 hurt  me  :  forasmuch  as  before  him  innocency 
 was  found  in  me  ;  and  also  before  thee,  O 
 king,  have  I  done  no  hurt. 
 
 23  Then  was  the  king  exceeding  glad  for 
 him,  and  commanded  that  they  should  take 
 Daniel  up  out  of  the  den.  So  Daniel  was 
 taken  up  out  of  the  den,  and  no  manner  of 
 hurt  was  found  upon  him,  '  because  he  be- 
 lieved in  his  God. 
 
 24  IF  And  the  king  commanded,  ^and  they 
 brought  those  men  which  had  accused  Daniel, 
 and  they  cast  tliem  into  the  den  of  lions,  them, 
 '  their  children,  and  their  wives  ;  and  the  lions 
 had  the  mastery  of  them,  and  brake  all  their 
 bones  in  pieces  or  ever  they  came  at  the  bot- 
 tom of  the  den. 
 
 25  H"  Then  king  Darius  wrote  unto  all  peo- 
 ple, natioii.s,  and  languages,  that  dwell  in  all 
 the  earth  ;  Peace  be  multiplied  unto  you. 
 
 2G  ''  I  make  a  decree.  That  in  every  domi- 
 nion of  my  kingdom  men  '  tremble  and  fear 
 before  the  God  of  Daniel :  ■•  for  he  is  the  living 
 God,  and  steadfast  for  ever,  and  his  kingdom 
 that  which  shall  not  be  °  destroyed,  and  his 
 dominion  shall  be  even  unto  the  end. 
 
 27  He  delivereth  and  rescueth,  '  and  he 
 worketh  signs  and  wonders  in  heaven  and  in 
 earth,  who  hath  delivered  Daniel  from  the 
 f  power  of  the  lions. 
 
 28  So  this  Daniel  prospered  in  the  reign  of 
 Darius,^  and  in  the  reign  of"  Cyrus  the  Persian. 
 
 4.  Cnncernivg  the  kingdum,  the  manaKeinent  of  the  affairs.  —  Gill. 
 Occasion  nor  fault,  or  'corruption,'  rrnTTU?.  —  Pa^.,  Mont.,  Cocc, 
 Sfc.  10.  H'iftdows  being  open,  he  would  not  shut  them  to  conceal 
 himself.— .•!.  Clarke.  In  his  chamber, '  in  his  upperchamber,'  Sept.  It 
 seems  to  have  been  customary  among  the  devout  persons  of  the  Jewish 
 nation  to  set  apart  some  upper  room  for  their  oratories,  as  places  that 
 were  most  free  from  noise  and  disturbance.— See  Pearson.  Toivord 
 Jerus'ilem,  when  the  Jews  were  in  distant  countries,  in  prayer,  they 
 turned  their  faces  towards  Jerusalem :  and  when  in  Jerusalem,  towards 
 the  temple.— .4.  Clarke.  Compare  Solomon's  prayer,  (1  Kings,  viii.  48, 
 Ps.  V.  7.)  and  Jonah,  ii.  4.  12.  A  decree,  'an  obligation.'— irijiHe. 
 •  A  prohibition.' — Ges.  The  den  of  lions,  in  ancient  monarchies,  lions 
 were  kept  for  the  diversion  of  the  people ;  and  criminals  were  given  them 
 for  fights  and  for  food. —Sm^.  17.  .4  i^wne  it-as  Aroi/i;'/*/,  hence  it  appears, 
 that  this  den  was  a  natural  cavern,  the  descent  to  which  was  such  as  to 
 prevent  the  lions  from  escaping ;  on  this  entrance,  by  tlie  officiousness 
 of  the  lords,  a  stone  was  placed  and  sealed,  in  like  manner,  and  to  as 
 little  use,  as  that  jilaced  on  the  mouth  of  our  Lord's  sepulclire,  (see 
 Matt,  xxvii.  66.)- K'i/.  it  might  possibly  have  been  placed  thereby  the 
 king's  wishes,  asGi/;  also  suggests,  to  preserve  Daniel  from  the  ven. 
 913 
 
 geance  of  his  enemies,  if  he  remained  uninjured  by  the  lions. — Editor. 
 22.  Done  no  hurt, '  though  1  disobeyed  the  decree,  it  was  not  out  of  con- 
 tumacy or  stubbornness,  but  to  preserve  a  good  conscience.' — Preh. 
 Lotvth.  24.  Them,  their  children,  and  their  wives,  according  to  the 
 cruel  laws  in  some  countries  of  involving  whole  families  in  the  punish- 
 ment of  particular  persons,  in  opposition  to  which,  Moses  ordamed 
 that  fathers  should  not  be  pot  to  death  for  their  children. — Hew.  See 
 Dent.  .xxiv.  16,  &c.  The  wives  and  children  of  these  men  might  have 
 advised  them  in  this  afTair,  and  thus  God's  justice  overtook  them. — 
 So  Gill,  Ed.  Or  ever  they  came  at  the  bottom,  the  lions  were,  doubt- 
 less, kept  without  food,  to  accomplish  their  purpose;  and  their  long 
 fasting,  when  God  opened  their  mouths,  made  them  the  more  eager 
 for  their  prey. — Ed.  This  was  a  plain  proof  that  their  not  devouring 
 Daniel  was  not  through  fulness  or  want  of  appetite,  which,  according 
 to  Josephus,  his  enemies  suggested. — Gill,  Jos.  Antiq.,  1.  10,  c.  11,  5  6. 
 26.  Tremble  and  fear,  ^c,  that  is,  reverence  and  adore  the  God  that 
 Daniel  served  and  worshipped. — Gill.  2S.  In  the  reign  of  Cyrus,  who, 
 upon  Darius'  death,  toolt  possession  01  the  whole  monarchy  of  the 
 Medes  and  Persians,  called,  from  him,  the  Persian  monarchy,  (see 
 Ezra,  i.  2.}—Pre!i.  Luwth. 
 
 (i     A 
 
Danid's  vision 
 
 DANIEL,  VII. 
 
 of  the  four  beasts. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  DanieTs  vision  of  four  beasts.     9   Of  God's  hint/- 
 dom.      15  The  interpretation  ttiereof. 
 
 N  the  first  year  of  Belshazzar  king  of  Baby- 
 
 I 
 
 loii  "  Daniel  f  had  a  dream  and  ''visions  of 
 his  head  upon  lits  bed  :  then  he  wrote  the 
 dream,  and  told  the  sum  of  tlie  |j  matters. 
 
 2  Daniel  spake  and  said,  I  saw  in  my  vision 
 hy  night,  and,  behold,  the  fonr  winds  of  the 
 heaven  strove  upon  tlie  great  sea. 
 
 3  And  four  great  beasts  *"  came  up  from  the 
 sea,  diverse  one  from  another. 
 
 4  The  first  icns  ''  like  a  lion,  and  had  eagle's 
 wings  :  I  beheld  till  the  wings  thereof  were 
 plucked,  II  and  it  was  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
 and  made  stand  upon  the  feet  as  a  man,  and  a 
 man's  heart  was  given  to  it. 
 
 5  ^  And  behold  another  beast,  a  second,  like 
 to  a  bear,  and  ||  it  raised  up  itself  on  one  side, 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  55b. 
 
 a  Nu.  19.  6. 
 Amos  3.  7. 
 T  Cliald.  Kiw. 
 b  ch.  2,  28 
 II  Or,  w/rdt. 
 
 d  Deu.28  19 
 2  Sam.  I  ■2H. 
 Jer.  4.7, 13 
 &  48.  40. 
 Eiek.  IT  S 
 Hab.  1.8, 
 
 [I  Or,  wherr- 
 toith. 
 
 «  ch.  2.  39 
 
 11  Or.  .(  r,.,*. 
 rd  M/i  line 
 dommtun. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  555. 
 
 /  ch,  9.  8, ; 
 
 g  eh.  9.  10. 
 r.  Ill,  a-S. 
 
 A  ph.  9.  41. 
 
 Kev.  13.  1. 
 i  ver.  20,  21, 
 21.  ch.  8.  9. 
 
 k  Iter.  9   7. 
 /  Ps,  12.  3. 
 
 rer.  25. 
 
 Kev.  13.  5. 
 
 and  it  had  throe  ribs  in  the  mouth  of  it  be- 
 tween the  teeth  of  it :  and  they  said  thus  unto 
 it,  Arise,  devour  much  flesh. 
 
 6  After  this  I  beheld,  and  lo  another,  like  a 
 leopard,  which  had  upon  the  back  of  it  four 
 wings  of  a  fowl ;  the  beast  had  also  '  four 
 lieads  ;  and  dominion  was  given  to  it. 
 
 7  After  this  I  saw  in  the  niglit  visions,  and 
 behold  ^  a  fourth  beast,  dreadful  and  terrible, 
 and  strong  exceedingly  ;  and  it  had  great  iron 
 teeth  :  it  devoured  and  brake  in  pieces,  and 
 stamped  the  residue  with  the  feet  of  it :  and  it 
 loas  diverse  from  all  the  beasts  that  were  be- 
 fore it ;  *^and  it  had  ten  horns. 
 
 8  I  considered  the  horns,  and,  behold, '  there 
 came  up  among  them  another  little  horn,  be- 
 fore whom  there  were  three  of  the  first  liorns 
 plucked  up  by  the  roots  :  and,  behold,  in  this 
 liorn  ivere  eyes  like  the  eyes  ^  of  man,  '  and  a 
 mouth  speaking  great  things. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  1.  /n  the  first  year  of  Belshazzu7'~thQ  remaining  part 
 of  this  book  consists  of  Daniel's  visions  during  an  interval  of  time,  ot  21 
 or  22  years,  from  the  first  of  Relshazzar  to  the  third  of  Cyrus,  (chap,  x.) 
 — Wintle.  The  date  here  given  was  about  seventeen  years  before  the 
 histoi-y  in  the  last  chapter. — I'l-eO.  Louth.  3.  Four ^reat beasts,  this 
 vision  is  the  prophecy  of  the  four  empires  repeated,  with  several  new 
 additions.— Bp.  Netvtan.  From  the  sea,  the  great  sea,  on  which  the 
 four  winds  strove,— from  the  midst  of  political  commotions  and  con- 
 vulsions.—ftTcr/A.  -1.  The  first  WHS  like  a  lion,  so  Babylon  is  called, 
 [Jer.  iv.  7.)  Engle*s  wings,  so  Babylon,  (Jer.  xlviii.  -10  ;  and  Ezek. 
 xvii.  3,  12.)  The  lion  is  king:  of  beasts,  the  eag:le  of  birds.  Hence, 
 power  and  swiftness  are  signified.— Bp,  Newton,  Ed.  Plucked,  its  tri- 
 butary nations  were  to  be  cut  ofTfrom  its  hoAy.— Keith.  It  was  stripped 
 of  some  of  its  plumes  by  the  Medes  and  Persians  fallinfjoffand  making 
 war  with  it ;  whole  provinces  revolting:,  as  in  the  times  of  Evi!-Mcro- 
 liach,  Neriglis.sar,  and  ISelshazzar.  And  it  was  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
 N?1i<  lO  n';"^n.  or  '  with  which  it  was  lifted,'  &iC.—Jtin.,  Trem.,  Pise. 
 Stand— as  a  man,  it  did  not  overrun  countries,  flying  like  an  eagle. 
 A  inan*s  heart,  weak  and  fearful,  instead  of  a  lion-like  heast.—Gill. 
 C.  Tiiylnr  interprets  the  prophecy  thus  :— 
 
 EMBLEMATICAL  REI'RBSENTATION. 
 
 1.  I  saw  a  lion, 
 
 2.  Having  eagle's  wings  ; 
 
 3.  The  wings  were  plucked  ; 
 
 4.  It  was  raised  from  the  ground, 
 
 .1.  Marie  to  stand  on  its  feet  as  a 
 
 man, 
 6.  A  man's  heart  [intellect']  was 
 
 given  to  it. 
 
 HISTORICAL   NARRATION. 
 
 1.  The  Babylonian  empire. 
 
 2,  Nineveh  added  to  it — but, 
 .1.  Nineveh  almost   destroyed   at 
 
 the  fall  of  Sardanapalus : 
 4.  Again  raised,  but  by  artificial 
 
 means, 
 £.  To  stand  in  an  unnatural  pos- 
 ture, 
 6,  Through  the  policy  and  good 
 management  of  its  king  ;  per- 
 haps Nebuchadnezzar. 
 
 5.  Another  beast,  the  kingdom  of  the  Medes  and  Persians.—TJ/j.iVfWnn. 
 The  succession  of  kingdoms,  according  to  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream  in 
 chap,  ii.,  is  an  obvious  guide  to  the  interpreting  of  this  vision. — Ed. 
 A  second,  like  ton  bear,  ferocious,  ravaging  the  countries  they  subdued. 
 — Keith.  The  Medn- Persians  were  great  mbbers  and  spoilers,  fJer.  li. 
 48,  56  ;)  in  this  they  resembled  the  voracious  and  cruel  bear.— Grotius, 
 Bp.  Nctvton.  liaised  up  itself  rm  one  side,  the  margin  reads,  *  and  it 
 raised  up  one  dominion,'  i.e.,  it  made  up  one  empire  out  of  the  joint 
 powers  of  Medea  and  Persia. —  PreA.  Lowth.  Three  ribs,  Babylon, 
 Lydia,  and  Egy[)t.— Sir  I.  Newton,  Bp.  Chandler.  They  might  be  called 
 '  ribs,'  as  the  conquest  of  them  much  strengthened  the  Persian  empire. 
 Between  the  teeth  of  it,  they  were  much  harassed  and  oppressed  by  the 
 Persians— B/7.  Newton.  They  were  despoiled,  as  if  ground  beneath  its 
 teeth.— A'eiVA.  6.  Another,  like  a  leopard,  the  kingdom  of  the  Mace- 
 donians or  Grecians,  who,  under  the  command  of  Alexander  the  Great, 
 overcame  the  Persians,  and  reigned  next  after  them.  The  leopard  is 
 remarkable  for  swiftness,  (see  Hab.  i.  3.)  for  the  impetuosity  with  which 
 it  springs  upon  its  prey  ;  and  Alexander  and  the  Macedonians  were 
 
 amazingly  swift  and  rapid  in  their  conquests.  Upon  the  back  of  it  four 
 H'm^5,aIso  intimates  tliis,  whercEis  the  Babylnniau  empire  had  but  two. 
 Four  heads,  denote  the  four  kingdoms  into  which  the  empire  was 
 divided,  by  four  of  Alexander's  captains,  at  his  death, — Macedun  and 
 Greece,  Thrace  and  Bythinia,  Egypt,  Syria. — Bishop  Newton.  7-  -■* 
 fourth  beast,  the  Roman  empire. — Bp.Newtun,  Gill,  Keith.  '  Iron,' as 
 in  the  former  vision,  is  still  its  emblem.— Keith.  Dreadful,  ^c,  its 
 arms  struck  terror  among  the  nations,  and  both  Rome  pagan  and  papal 
 have  been  'terrible'  to  Christians  by  persecutions.— Gi//.  Devoured 
 —brake,  ffc,  Maccdon,  Pergamus,  Syria,  Egypt,  and  many  king- 
 doms and  provinces  in  addition,  were  subdued  by  it.—Bp.  Newton. 
 Stamped,  alluding  to  the  fury  of  wild  beasts,  which  stamp  on  the  prey 
 they  cannot  devour. — Preb.  Lowth.  Diverse,  ^c,  in  its  original,  lan- 
 guage, laws,  customs,  and  forms  of  government, — Gill.  Ten  horns. 
 that  is,  ten  kings  or  kingdoms,  as  explained  ver.  24  ;  see  also  ver.  17» 
 where  kings  mean  kingdoms. — Bp.  Newton.  The  same  with  the  ten 
 tues  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream,  and  with  the  ten  kings,  Rev.  xvii. 12. 
 — Gill.  See  ver.  24.  'Ten,'  in  Scripture,  means  an  uncertain  multi- 
 tude, and  it  is  here  to  be  taken  for  an  uncertam  multitude  of  kingdoms 
 that  were  to  be  set  up  with  the  beast  in  the  bounds  of  the  Roman 
 empire.— Cressenei-  on  Apocalypse.  Many  lists  of  the  kingdoms  have 
 been  given;  the  foUnwing  are  selected  :—(i.)  Britons,  (ii.)  Saxons, 
 (iii.)  Franks,  (iv.)  Burgundians,  (v.)  Wisigoths,  (vi.)  Suevians  and 
 Alanes,  (vii.)  Vandals,  (vjii.)  Almanes,  (ix.)  Ostrogoths,  (x.)  Greeks.— 
 Mede.  (i.)  The  Vandals  and  Alans  in  Spain  and  Africa,  (ii.)  the  Sue- 
 vians in  Spain,  (iii.)  the  Wi&igoths,  (iv.)  the  Allans  in  Gallia,  (v.)  the 
 Burgundians,  (vi.)  the  Franks,  (vii.)  the  Britons,  (viii.)  the  Hunns, 
 (ix.)  the  Lombards,  (x.)  Ravenna.— .Str.  /.  Newton.  They  have  not  al- 
 ways been  in  the  same  form  and  order,  yet  they  have  been  generally 
 about,  if  not  exactly,  the  same  number,  and  may  be  reckoned  as  the 
 k«igdoms  of  France,  Spain,  Portugal,  Germany,  Great  Britam,  Sar- 
 dinia, Denmark,  the  two  Sicilies,  Swedeland,  Prussia,  and  Poland. — 
 Gill.  The  following  are  considered,  by  some,  as  the  ten  kingdoms,  as 
 they  now  subsist: — Ravenna,  Lombardy,  Rome,  Naples,  Sardinia, 
 France,  Austria,  Spain,  Portugal,  Britain.— Bic/.prs/f/A,  The  four 
 beasts  are  still  alive,  tliough  the  dominion  of  the  three  fir.st  be  taken 
 away.  The  nations  of  Chaldea  and  Assyria  are  still  the  first  beast; 
 those  of  India  and  Persia  the  second;  those  of  Maccdon,  Greece,  and 
 Thrace,  Asia  Minor,  Syria,  and  Egypt,  the  third ;  and  those  of  Europe, 
 on  this  side  Greece,  the  fourth ;  we  must,  therefore,  look  for  all  the 
 eleven  horns  of  the  fourth  beast  among  the  nations  on  this  side  Greece. 
 — .Si>  /.  Newton.  8.  Another  little  horn,  not  any  single  person  or 
 king,  but  a  kingdom  or  state,  as  the  horns  signify  kingdoms ;  no  other 
 slate  has  sprung  up  out  of  the  Roman  empire  with  which  this  horn 
 agrees,  except  ttie  poptdom.— GiV/.  Threeof  the  first  lutrns  plucked  up, 
 the  Heruli,  Ostrogoths,  and  Lombards,  were  successively  eradicated 
 and  annexed  lo  the  papacy,  and  thus  the  pope  became  a  temporal 
 power. — Hates.  Eyes,  iyc,  denoting  great  cunning  and  foresight. — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  Speaking  great  things,  the  style  of 'his holiness,' 'our 
 Lord  God  the  pope,  another  God  on  earth,'  and  the  claim  of  infallibility, 
 of  a  power  to  dispense  with  God's  lavps,  to  forgive  sins,  and  to  sell 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    VI We  see   here,   I.Daniel 
 
 in  office.  The  prime  minister  of  an  eastern  tyrant,  he  con- 
 ducted himself  in  such  a  manner,  that  even  his  worst  enernies 
 could  not  brinR  against  him  the  shadow  of  an  accusation. 
 *  This  is  recorded  for  an  example  to  all  that  are  in  places  of 
 public  trust,  to  approve  themselves  both  careful  and  con- 
 scientious, that  they  may  be  free,  not  only  from  fault,  but 
 error;  not  only  from  crime,  but  from  mistake.'^ 
 
 II.  Daniel  in  the  closet.  Here  he  prayed  as  a  sinful  suppli- 
 cant, and  here  he  praised  as  the  recipient  of  God's  mercy  and 
 grace  ;  and,  while  he  poured  out  his  heart  to  God,  he  remem- 
 bered Zion,  and  bore  its  interests  affectionately  on  the  wings 
 of  prayer,  as  his  aspirations  ascended  to  Heaven.  Amidst  all 
 the  important  engagements  of  a  prime  minister  of  his  king, 
 he  found  opportunity,  thrice  a-day,  to  liold  intercourse  with 
 his  Uod  ;  this  was  his  usual  custom,  and  hence,  in  the  time  of 
 DM 
 
 trouble,  when  he  approached  the  throne  of  grace,  be  sought 
 not  relief  from  a  stranger,  hut  a  Friend. 
 
 III.  Daniel  in  the  den.  Here,  in  the  hours  when  the  wild 
 beasts  delight  to  seize  their  prey,  the  prophet  was  closely  shut 
 up  amongst  raging  lions.  But,  though  shut  out  from  men,  he 
 could  not  be  shut  out  from  bis  God,  and  *  the  angel's  presence 
 made  even  the  lions'  den  his  stronghold,  his  palace,  his  para- 
 dise.' '  See  the  care  God  takes  of  his  faithful  worshippers, 
 especially  when  he  calls  them  out  to  suffer  for  him.  If  he 
 keeps  ilieir  souls  from  sin,  comforting  their  souls  with  his 
 peace,  and  receives  their  souls  to  himself,  he  doth  in  effect 
 stop  the  lions*  mouths,  that  they  cannot  hurt  them.'  *  Those 
 who  boldly  and  clieerfully  trust  in  God  to  protect  them  in  the 
 way  of  iheir  duty,  shall  never  be  ashamed  of  their  confidence 
 in  him,  but  shiill  always  find  him  a  present  help.'  h 
 
Of  Go'i'ti  kinijdom. 
 
 DANIEL,  VII. 
 
 I'he  interpretation  thereof. 
 
 9  K  "■  I  beheld  till  the  thrones  were  cast 
 down.and  "the  Ancient  of  days  did  sit,°vvlu)se 
 garment  was  white  as  snow,  and  the  hair  of 
 his  head  like  the  pure  wool :  his  throne  was 
 like  the  fiery  flame,  ''and  his  wheels  as  burn- 
 ing fire. 
 
 10  *•  A  fiery  stream  issued  and  came  forth 
 from  before  him  :  '  thousand  thousands  minis- 
 tered unto  him,  and  ten  thousand  times  ten 
 thousand  stood  before  him:  'the  judgment 
 was  set,  and  the  books  were  opened. 
 
 1  1  1  beheld  then  because  of  the  voice  of  the 
 great  words  which  the  horn  spake  :  '  I  beheld 
 even  till  the  beast  was  slain,  and  his  body  de- 
 stroyed, and  given  to  tlie  burning  tiame. 
 
 1-2  As  concerning  the  rest  of  the  beasts,  they 
 had  their  dominion  taken  away  :  yet  f  their 
 lives  were  prolonged  for  a  season  and  time. 
 
 13  I  saw  in   the  night  visions,  and,   behold. 
 
 cir.  039. 
 
 1  Kev.  id. 4 
 I's-  90.  ± 
 vcr.  13,  22. 
 Ps.  lot.  '2. 
 Her.  1.  14. 
 t>  Kzek.  1.15, 
 
 J  Ps.  5il.  3.  & 
 
 !»;.  S.  Is.  30. 
 
 :13.&t,i;.  15. 
 r  1  Kill.  ti. 
 
 ly.  Ps.  OS. 
 
 17.  Hell.  12. 
 
 22.  ftev.  a. 
 
 II. 
 I  Kev.  20.  4, 
 
 12. 
 f  Kev.  ly.  20. 
 
 t  CliaM. 
 
 one  like  the  Son  of  man  came  with  the  clouds  ",^jf.;,'|5' 
 
 &26'.C4. 
 Rev.  1.7,13. 
 &  14.  11. 
 
 of  heaven,  and  came  to  ^  the  Ancient  of  days, 
 and  they  brought  him  near  before  hiin. 
 
 14  '  And  there  was  given  him  dominion,  and 
 glory,  and  a  kingdom,  that  all  '  people,  nations, 
 and  languages,  should  serve  him  :  his  domi- 
 nion is  '  an  everlasting  dominion,  which  shall 
 not  pass  away,  and  his  kingdom  that  wliich 
 shall  not  be  destroyed. 
 
 1 5  H  I  Daniel  '  was  grieved  in  my  spirit  in 
 tlie  midst  of  niy  f  body,  and  the  visions  of  my 
 head  troubled  me. 
 
 lU  I  came  near  unto  one  of  them  that  stood 
 by,  and  asked  him  the  truth  of  all  this.  So 
 he  told  me,  and  made  nie  know  the  interpreta- 
 tion of  the  things. 
 
 1 7  "  These  great  beasts,  which  are  four,  are 
 fou!  kings,  which  shall  arise  out  of  the  earth. 
 
 18  But  ''  the  saints  of  the  f  most  High  shall 
 take  the  kingdom,  and  possess  the  kingdom 
 for  ever,  even  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 19  Then   I   would  know  the   truth  of  'the 
 fourth  beast,  which  was  diverse  f  from  all  th 
 others,  exceeding  dreadful,  whose  teeth  were 
 
 y  Ps.  2  r>,7,9. 
 
 &P.6.&  llu. 
 
 1,2.  Mat. 11. 
 
 27.  &2?I.  IS. 
 
 Jolin  3-  .■15. 
 
 1  Cur.15.27. 
 
 Eph.  1.  22. 
 r  cli.  3.  1. 
 
 13. 
 
 cli.  2 
 
 13.7    &  17 
 II  &  I".  1( 
 
 lev.  1.6.8c 
 .  10,  &  20. 
 
 I.uke  I.  33. 
 .John  12  31. 
 Heb.  12.  23. 
 
 i:  ver.  3. 
 d  Is.  6C.  12. 
 
 l:i,  U 
 
 ver.  22,  27. 
 
 2Tim.2.1!, 
 
 12.  Kev.  2. 
 
 2i;,  27.  &  .3. 
 
 21.  lit  20.  4. 
 t  Cliald./i.y. 
 
 onfi,  that  is, 
 
 tkiniji,  ur. 
 
 I  7.8.20. 
 ,-.  17.  12. 
 
 !  Is.  37.  23 
 
 L-h.  8.21,25. 
 
 «c  11.2y,30. 
 
 31,  36. 
 
 1  Mac.  I.4C. 
 
 Rev.  13.5,6. 
 ".  Kev.  17.  6. 
 
 &  IS.  21. 
 ,■  ill.  2.21. 
 <i  Kev.  13   7 
 /,  ch.  12.  7. 
 
 Kev.  12.  U 
 
 »  ch.  2.  4-1. 
 
 Luke  1.  33. 
 
 John  12. M. 
 
 Rev.  11.15. 
 (  Is.  60.  12. 
 II  Or,  Tiikrt, 
 u  ver.  15. 
 
 ch.  S.  27.  & 
 
 10.  S,  16. 
 rLul,e2.  19, 
 
 51. 
 
 q/iron,  and  his  nails  <;/"  brass  ;  which  devoured, 
 brake  in  pieces,  and  stamped  the  residue  with 
 bis  feet ; 
 
 •20  And  of  the  ten  horns  that  were  in  his 
 head,  and  o/the  other  which  came  up,  and  be- 
 fore whom  three  fell  ;  even  of  that  liorn  that 
 had  eyes,  and  a  mouth  that  spake  very  great 
 things,  whose  look  loas  more  stout  than  his 
 fellows. 
 
 21  I  beheld,  'and  the  same  horn  made  war 
 with  the  saints,  and  prevailed  against  them ; 
 
 22  ^  Until  the  Ancient  of  days  came,  ''and 
 judgment  was  given  to  the  saints  of  the  most 
 High  ;  and  the  time  came  that  the  saints  pos- 
 sessed the  kingdom. 
 
 23  Thus  he  said,  The  fourth  beast  shall  be 
 the  fourth  kingdom  upon  earth,  which  shall 
 
 be  diverse  from  all  kingdoms,  and  shall  devour 
 the  whole  earth,  and  shall  tread  it  down,  and 
 break  it  in  pieces. 
 
 24  '  And  the  ten  horns  out  of  this  kingdom 
 are  ten  kings  thai  shall  arise  :  and  another 
 shall  rise  after  them  ;  and  he  shall  be  diverse 
 from  the  first,  and  he  shall  subdue  three  kings. 
 
 25  '  And  he  shall  speak  cjreut  words  against 
 the  most  High,  and  shall  "'wear  out  the  saints 
 of  the  most  High,  and  "  think  to  change  times 
 and  laws  :  and  "  they  shall  be  given  into  bis 
 hand  ■'until  a  time  and  times  and  the  dividing 
 of  time. 
 
 20  ''  But  the  judgment  shall  sit,  and  they 
 shall  take  away  his  dominion,  to  consume  and 
 to  destroy  it  unto  the  end. 
 
 27  And  the  '  kingdom  and  dominion,  and  the 
 greatness  of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole 
 heaven,  shall  be  given  to  the  people  of  the 
 saints  of  the  most  High, '  whose  kingdom  is  an 
 everlasting  kingdom,  '  and  all  || dominions  shall 
 serve  and  obey  him. 
 
 28  Hitherto  is  tlie  end  of  the  matter.  As 
 for  me  Daniel,  "  my  cogitations  much  troubled 
 me,  and  my  countenance  changed  in  me  :  but 
 I  ^  kept  the  matter  in  my  heart. 
 
 admission  into  heaven,  may  serve  for  a  specimen  of  the  great  things  final  judgment  will  succeed  to  the  consummation  of  all  things  on  earth, 
 which  tliis  mouth  hath  spoken. — Scott.  9.  The  thronps,  on  which  — Scott.  Came  to  tlie  Ancient  of  dni/s,  his  Divine  Father,  from  whom, 
 the  governors  of  the  monarchies  sat.  —  Gill.  The  kingdoms  of  this  as  man  and  Mediator,  he  receives  his  mediatorial  kingdom,  is  invested 
 world.— Poo/e.  Were  cast  down,  the  Asiatics  have  neither  chairs  nor  with  it,  and  instated  into  n.—Gilt.  This  relates  to  Christ's  a!!<;ension. 
 stools,  hut,  to  receive  persons  of  rank,  '  cast  down,'  or  place,  cushions  at  which  time,  though  King  before,  he  received  his  royal  investiture  for 
 round  the  room,  for  seats,  which  seem  to  be  here  alluded  to,  ;sec  Matt,  the  protection  of  his  church,  and  curbing  of  his  enemies,  'chap.  ii.  44  ; 
 xix.  28  ;  Rev.  .\.x.  i.}—Wil.  The  word  may  be  rendered,  •  were  pitched'  Acts.  i.  9— 1 1  ;  Matt.  ii.  2  ;  .txviii.  18  i  1  Cor.  xv.  iS.)—Pootc,  so  Wil. 
 or  set  down  for  the  reception  of  Deity  and  the  saints  who  sat  by  him,  Tliis  seems  rather  to  respect  what  shall  be  on  the  destruction  of  the 
 {see  Matt.  six.  28,  and  Rev.  iv.  i.)—Wintle.  '  Were  placed.'— Bou^/ir.  fourth  beast,  when  Christ  shall  receive  and  take  to  himself  his  great 
 '  Set  up,'  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Siir.,  Arab.  Jarctii  paraplirases  the  words,  '  the  power,  and  reign,  and  more  visibly  appear,  by  his  Father's  designation 
 thrones  were  pitched  and  prepared  to  sit  upon  in  judgment.'  In  this  and  appointment,  and  his  open  glory,  to  be  king  and  Lord  over  all. — 
 sense  the  word  is  used.  Ezra  vii.  24,  and  in  the  Targum  on  2  Kings,  Gill.  IS.  One  of  them,  of  the  angels,  the  attendants  on  the  throne.— 
 xviii.  14  :  Jer.  i.  15 ;  and  with  this  the  following  clause  best  agrees.—  Preh.  Lowth.  18.  Tlie  saints  of  the  most  High,  J'jr'jr'  'tt'";:,  '  'he 
 GUI.  TAe.-lncier,<  o/tfays,  Christ,  the  King  andJudge  of  all, called  the  saints  of  high'  places  or  things.— Pi.vc.  '  Of  the  Most  High  Ones,' 
 Ancient  of  days,  because  of  his  eternal  Deity,  '  without  beginning  and  Father,  Son.  and  Spirit.— Si//.  '  But  the  supreme  holy  ones  shall  re- 
 end  of  day>.'— Poole.  This  is  to  be  understood  of  God  the  Father,  as  ceive  the  kingdom,'  genuine  Christians  heing  more  distinguished  ^ints 
 di.linct  from  the  Messiah  the  sen  of  God,  said  to  be  like  the  Son  of  than  either  patriarchs  or  Jews  in  their  best  times.— C/urA-?.  24.  Three 
 Man.  brought  unto  him.  (ver.  13.)  — Gill.  The  Deity,  the  Supreme  Wn;^s— see  ver.  8,  note.  25.  irrar  oiif,  by  raising  wars  and  persecu. 
 Ktcriia!  SiiUit.—Wintle.    The  Eternal  God,  who  existed  from  everlast-  tions.— Fr«6.  Lowth.    The  saints,  the  Walilenses  and  Albigcnses  are 
 
 iiig. — Scott.  God  .-Vimighty,  the  Father. — A.  Clarke.  10.  A  ftery  stream, 
 ^■<:. — eomp.  Fs.  1.  3  ;  xcvii.  3.  Thousand  thousands,  \\\^  retinue  was  an 
 innumerable  company  of  angels,  isee  Deut.  xxxiii.  2  ;  Ps.  Ixviii.  17; 
 Heh.  xii.  22  :  Kev.  v.  11.)  The  judgment  was  set,  that  is,  the  court  was 
 set,  the  judge  was  upon  the  bench,  and  all  his  assessors  and  apparitors 
 iibout  hiin. — Gill.  The  allusion  is  to  the  Jewish  courts  of  justice.— 
 Preh.  Lowth,  Wintle,  II.  The  beast  uas  slain, the  Roman  monarchy, 
 which  shall  be  utterly  abolished  in  every  form  and  shape,  and  with  it 
 the  little  horn  of  papacy. — Gilt.         12.  Had  their  dominion  takrnawa;/, 
 
 particularly  alluded  to.— Gill.  And  think  to  change  times  and  laws, 
 appointing  fasts  and  feasts,  canonizing  saints,  granting  pardons  and 
 indulgences  for  sins,  instituting  new  modes  of  wtirship,  imposing  new 
 articles  of  faith,  enjoining  new  rules  of  practice,  and  reversing  at  plea- 
 sure the  laws  both  of  Gnd  and  men.— B71.  Newton.  25.  .4  time,  by 
 universal  consent  signifies  a  year  :  times,  two  years  ;  dividing  of  time, 
 half-a-year ;  in  all,  three  years  and  a- half,  the  same  with  I260  days,  or 
 42  months  ;  the  ancient  months  of  the  Jews  consisting  of  tliirtv  days 
 each.    A  day,  in  the  style  of  the  prophet^,  is  a  year,  (Ezek.  iv.  6,)  and 
 
 Ihev  were  gradually  destroyed  ;  thev  still  had  a  being,  though  they  it  is  confessed  that  the  seventy  weeks  in  the  9th  of  Daniel  are  weeks  of 
 
 changed  masters.- ."rci.  Lowth.     The  pachalic  of  Bagdad  still  exist>,  years  ;  consequently  1260  days  are  1260  years.     So  long  the  little  hom 
 
 but  the  lion,  barely  retaining  a  protracted  existence,  is  no  longer  king  or  papal  power  will  continue,  but  the  exact  time  of  the  origin  of  the 
 
 of  the  beasts.    The  Persian  monarchy  retains  its  name,  but  lias  lost  its  days  is  the  most  difficult  to  ascertain.— G!//,A't'i7A,  Bp.  Newton.    The 
 
 IHiwer.    The  Grecian  States  have  recently  risen,  as  it  were,  into  lil'e  commencement  of  the  12(30  years  has  been  generally  lixed  in  533,  when 
 
 again,  but  Greece  has  scarcely  power  to  %ti\nii.— Keith.     For  a  season  Justinian's  supposed  edict  in  favour  of  the  pope  was  dated.— So  Cun- 
 
 uiid  time,  '  for  an  appointed  time.*— Boothr.         13.  One  like  the  Son  of  ninghame,  Frere,  to  which  inclines  Bickersteth.     Gfti.^Faber.     72".^ 
 
 ni'tn,  one  in  human  form,  though  riding  on  the   clouds    of  heaven,  Newton.     751). — Lowmnn.        26.  The  judgment  shall  sit,  ^c,  the  last 
 
 (comp.  Matt.  x.\iv.  30.)— IFiV.    The  language  is  especially  appIicaWe  to  monarchy  being  destroyed,  the  present  state  of  things  will  end;  aL 
 
 the  general  judgment,  hut  that  cannot  be  the  prophetical  meaning,  for  human  'rule,  authority,  and  power'  shall  cease,  (1  Cor.  sv.  24,)  and 
 
 God  the  r.ithcr  is  here  spoken  of  as  the  judge,  whereas,  the  Son  will  the  kingdoms  of  the  woi  Id  become  tbe  kingdom  of  Christ,  (Rev.xi.  15.) 
 
 appear  as  the  sole  judge  in  the  day  of  final  rctribiiti'.u.    The  fulfilment  — Prel/.  Lowth. 
 of  this  prophecy  will  precede  the  introduction  ol  the  millennium  ;  the 
 
Daniel's  vision 
 
 DANIEL,  VIII. 
 
 of  the  ram  and  he  gout. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  DaiihTs  vi-init  I)'' the  ram  and  lie  (joiit,  13  T'le  two 
 tlimtsand  three  hundred  daifs  of  sacrifice.  15  Gabriel 
 cnmforteth  Dani.l,  and  interpreteth  the  vision. 
 
 1  N  tlie  tliird  year  of  the  reigii  of  king  Bel- 
 ^  shazzar  a  vision  appeared  unto  me,  even 
 unto  me  Daniel,  after  tliat  wliicli  appeared 
 luito  me  '  at  tlie  first. 
 
 '2  And  I  saw  in  a  vision  ;  and  it  came  to  pass, 
 when  I  saw,  that  I  was  at  ''Sliushan  in  the  pa- 
 hce,  whioli  is  in  the  province  of  Elam  ;  and  I 
 saw  in  a  vision,  and  I  was  by  the  river  of  Ulai. 
 
 ■3  Then  I  lifted  up  mine  eyes,  and  saw,  and, 
 heliolfl,  tliere  .stood  before  the  river  a  ram 
 whicli  had  tno  horns  :  and  the  two  horns 2ce;e 
 liigh  ;  hilt  one  was  higher  than  f  the  other, 
 and  the  liigher  came  np  last. 
 
 4  I  saw  the  ram  pushing  westward,  and 
 northward,  and  sontluvard  ;  so  that  no  beasts 
 might  stand  before  him,  neither  iras  there  ant/ 
 that  couhl  deliver  out  of  his  hand  ;  ''but  he 
 did  according  to  his  will,  and  became  great. 
 
 5  And  as  I  was  considering,  behold,  an  he 
 goat  came  from  tile  west  on  the  face  of  the 
 whole  earth,  and  ||  touched  not  the  ground  : 
 and  the  goat  had  t''a  notable  horn  between 
 his  eyes. 
 
 G  \nA  he  came  to  the  ram  that  had  two 
 horns,  wliich  I  had  seen  standing  before  the 
 river,  and  ran  unto  him  in  the  fury  of  his  power. 
 
 7  .\nd  I  saw  him  come  close  unto  the  ram, 
 and  he  was  moved  with  choler  against  him. 
 
 ( rii'b,  o  '1,1 
 .,f,;su 
 
 d  viT ,81. 
 
 It.  i\. 
 li  ,-h,  W.iti. 
 
 I   Mac.  ). 
 
 16— IS. 
 '.  Ps.  4S.  1. 
 
 Kiek.  20.  6, 
 
 15.  r1i.  n. 
 
 16.  H,  15. 
 
 I  ch.  11.  28. 
 
 II  Or,  n^ai.111 
 thi.l.'.n. 
 
 h  Snl.s.  14.13. 
 
 I  Rev.  12.  4. 
 
 ".  .Ici .  IS.  ?G, 
 42  cli.  11 
 :lti    ver  25, 
 
 ||(lr,«s»„.,/. 
 ■     li  5   14. 
 
 ..|< 
 
 II. 
 
 1  M;i 
 
 — 6t. 
 Ov.ft',m 
 
 him. 
 ;.  f.x.  29.  S8. 
 
 .Viim  2fl  3. 
 
 Fute  4C  13. 
 fli-h.  II.  31. 
 P  Or,  (/,..  /.-.,/ 
 
 'i-H'f.'i" 
 
 ilnilji  Bacci- 
 
 fice. 
 
 1  Mn 
 
 43, 
 
 I  11 
 
 He    2  Mac. 
 
 1.  13- 
 .  P<.  r.9 
 
 142    Is 
 
 14. 
 (  ver   4.  rl; 
 
 1 1    2S.  -M,. 
 1.  i-h   4-  13. 
 
 &  12   6. 
 
 1  IVl.  I.  1 
 11  Or,  «„ 
 
 ircrfli,  or,  Iht'  mondfrful 
 &  12.    II.  1  Mac.  1.  &i. 
 
 and  smote  the  rain,  and  brake  iiis  two  horns  : 
 and  there  was  no  power  in  the  ram  to  stand 
 before  him,  but  lie  cast  him  down  to  the 
 ground,  and  stamped  upon  him :  and  there 
 was  none  that  could  deliver  the  ram  out  of 
 his  hand. 
 
 8  Therefore  the  he  goat  waxed  very  great : 
 and  when  lie  was  strong,  the  great  horn  was 
 broken  ;  and  for  it  came  np  *four  notable  ones 
 toward  the  four  winds  of  heaven. 
 
 9  ^Aiid  out  of  one  of  them  came  forth  a 
 little  born,  which  waxed  exceeding  great,  ^  to- 
 ward the  south,  and  toward  the  east,  and  to- 
 ward the  "^  pleasant  land. 
 
 10  '  And  it  waxed  great,  even  ||  to  ^  the  host 
 of  heaven  ;  and  ■  it  cast  down  some  of  the  host 
 and  of  the  stars  to  the  giound,  and  stamped 
 upon  them. 
 
 11  Yea,  '"he  magnified  hiwself  even  |!  to 
 "  the  prince  of  the  host,  °and  ||  by  him  ''the 
 daily  sacrifice  was  taken  away,  and  the  place 
 of  his  sanctuary  was  cast  down. 
 
 1-2  And  ''  II  an  host  was  given  him  against 
 the  daily  sacrijice  'by  reason  of  transgression, 
 and  it  ca.st  down  *  the  truth  to  the  ground  ; 
 and  it  *  practiced,  and  prospered. 
 
 13  1i  Then  I  heard  ^one  saint  speaking,  an(J 
 another  saint  said  unto  |jt  that  certain  sair/t 
 which  spake.  How  long  shall  be  the  vision 
 concerning  the  daily  sacrijiccy  and  the  trans- 
 gression   II  of  desolation,   to    give    both   the 
 
 bejer.     t  Heb. /""(mofii.    ||Or,mnAi"'ii;dc*i/;»fc,  ch.  11.  31. 
 
 Chap.  Vllt.  — 2.  Shusli'm,  serms  to  have  been  the  capitfil  of  Elam, 
 —Wmtlp;  which  was  the  name  of  the  ccnintry  originally  pos-'scssed  hy 
 the  Persians,  (Grn.  xiv.  I  .)—Cnl.  Ulai,  the  same  called  by  the  Greeks, 
 Enlens.  It  is  ?aid  to  be  Uie  greatest  river  of  the  province  of  Susiana, 
 situated  nn  one  side  of  it,  as  Elam  or  Elymais  was  on  the  other.  The 
 Persian  kine:s  would  drink  of  no  other  -vratcr. —  U'intle,  Welh.  3.  A 
 r«»H— the  empire  compared  to  a  bear  in  the  former  vision  is  here  called 
 a  ram.  Two  horns,  c-Kplaincd  ver,  CO.  Mcdes  and  Persians.  The  em- 
 blem is  exact,  for  it  was  usual  for  the  Persian  king  to  wear,  instead  of 
 a  diadem,  a  ram's  head  marie  of  gold,  8cc.—Bp.  ^"en•ton.  The  one  wus 
 highTy  ^c.  Media  was  at  first  the  greater,  and  was  the  more  ancieut 
 kingdom  ;  but,  under  Cyrus,  Persia  assumed  the  sovereigtitv,  and  the 
 name  of  Media  became  merged  in  that  of  the  Persian  empire.— A'ei'/A, 
 as  Bp.  Newton.  4.  Pnshmg  westward,  ^c,  or,  subduing  Lydia,  Ba- 
 bylonia, and  Egypt,  represented  in  the  former  vision  by  three  ribs  in 
 the  bear's  mouth.— //w/es.  To  his  will,  none  cnuld  withstand  his  power. 
 Became  g-reuf— see  Esth.  i.  I.  5.  He  goat,  king  of  Greece,  verse  21. 
 The  arms  or  ensigns  of  Macednn  were  a  gnat,  from  Caranus  having,  by 
 following  a  fliick  of  gnats,  been  guided  to  Edessa,  a  city  of  Macedon, 
 which  he  took.— See  Justin  ex  Trni^o,  1.  II,  cap.  2,  fiC.  West,  Grecia 
 lay  to  the  west  of  Persia.  Touched  not  the  ground,  he  rather  new  than 
 walked,  fxprc^^ivc  of  swiftness.  —  Gf//,  Ed.  A  notable  horn,  inter 
 pretcd  of  the  first  King  of  Greece,  Alexander  the  Great,  (see  ver.  21.) 
 o.  He  ctime,  Alexander  entered  the  kingdom  of  the  Medes  and  Persians. 
 —Gilt-  Standing  before  the  rn-rr— the  first  and  principal  engagement 
 in  which  Alexander  overthrew  the  Persians  was  at  the  river  Granicus, 
 in  Phrygia.  8.  .And  when  he  was  strong,  the  great  horn  ivas  broken, 
 
 the  empire  was  in  its  full  strength  when  Alexander  died  of  a  fever  at 
 Babylon.  Fottr  notable  otjps— the  royal  family  being  thus  extinct,  the 
 governors  of  pruvinre'^,  who  bad  usurped  the  power,  assumed  the  title 
 of  kings,  and  by  the  defeat  and  death  of  Antigonus.  in  the  battle  of 
 ll)sus,  they  were  reduced  to  four,  Cassander,  Lysimachus,  Ftolemy, 
 and  Seleucus,  who  parted  Alexander's  dominions  among  them,  and 
 divided  and  settled  ihem  into  four  kingdoms.— B/;.  Newton.  g.  A 
 little  horn-— on  this  there  are  several  opinions,  which  are  here  num- 
 bered i.,  ii..  Hi.  (i.)  Antiochus  Epiphaves,  who  sprung  from  Seleu- 
 cus, king  of  Syria.  He,  as  a  horn,  had  some  p')wer,  but  was  little, 
 compared  with  the  great  horn,  Alexai  der.  Wojcd  exceeding  great 
 toward  the  south,  Egypt,  south  of  Syria,  into  which  Auticchus  entered, 
 
 and  took  many  cities.  Toward  the  east,  Armenia,  Persia,  &c.,  and  the 
 countries  beyond  the  Euphrates,  whom  he  made  tributary.  The  plea- 
 sant land,  Judta,  into  which  he  led  his  army. — Gilt.  Antiochus  is  not 
 here  intendtd,  but  it  agrees  better  with,  (ii.)  The  Rom.\n  tempokal 
 POWER.  Horn  signifies  not  a  person,  hut  a  kingdom  ;  not  an  old  kin^'- 
 dom,  hut  a  new  one.  Antiochus  reigned  over  one  of  the  four  horns, 
 and  the  little  horn  was  a  fifth,  under  its  proper  kings.  This  horn  wits 
 at  first  a  little  one,  and  waxed  exceeding  great ;  but  so  did  not  Antio- 
 chus. The  horn  cast  down  the  sanctuary;  Antiochus  left  it  standing, 
 &LC. — Sir  I.  Newton.  The  description  throughout  is  exactly  applicable, 
 in  all  its  parts,  to  the  Roman  temporal  power. — Hales.  When  the  Ro- 
 mans first  gut  footing  in  Greece,  they  became  a  horn  of  the  goat.  Out 
 of  this  horn  they  came,  and  at  first  were  '  a  little  horn,'  but  in  process 
 of  time  overtopped  the  other  horns.  Toward  the  south,  the  Romans 
 made  Egypt  a  province.  East,  Syria.  The  pleasant  land,  they  con- 
 quered the  Jews. — Bp.  Newton,  {in.)  A  power  was  to  arise  in  the  east, 
 himilar,  in  some  respects,  to  the  papal  in  the  west,  and  designated  in 
 like  manner  by  a  little  horn,  which  was  to  become  exceeding  great, 
 8;c.  And  it  was  in  the  latter  time  of  their  kingdom  that  Mahomkta>;- 
 isM  arose  in  the  east,  marked  with  every  feature  of  the  prophetic  little 
 horn.  Without  a  question,  Mahometantism  has  been  the  exceeding 
 great  and  prospering  and  pievailing  power  over  the  countries  that 
 formed  the  various  kingdoms  which  sncieedcd  to  the  Grecian  empire. 
 Possessed  at  first  uf  little  temporal  power,  like  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  yet, 
 from  the  same  cause,  or  the  assumption  of  spiritual  authority,  it  soon 
 became  exceeding  great.  Originating  and  rapidly  extending  in  Arabia, 
 on  the  south,  it  soon  spread  over  Arabia  on  tlie  east,  and  Palestine,  or 
 the  pleasant  land. — Keith.  10.  Host  of  heaven,  the  people  and  great 
 men  of  the  Jews.  The  Jewish  state  in  general.— i"i>  /.  Newton,  Gill, 
 Bp.  Newton,  The  highest  stations  in  church  and  state  fell  to  the 
 ground  before  Mahomet.— /ft'i'/ A.  1 1 .  The  prince,  the  God  of  Israel. 
 —  Gill.  The  Messiah,  the  Prince  of  the  Jews.— .SiV  /.  Neivton.  Antio- 
 chus so  persecuted  the  people  of  God,  that  he  forced  them  to  omit  the 
 worship  of  God. — Poole.  The  daily  sttcrijice  was  taken  away — the  Ro- 
 mans did  so,  anrt  utterly  destroyed  the  temple.— B/j.  Newton.  12.  An 
 host  was  i^'irijn  him,  ffr. — the  Romans  entirely  took  away  the  place  and 
 nation  of  the  Jews.— B;?.  iV^«7on.  'Aud  the  host,  together  with  the 
 daily  sacrifice,  were  given  up  by  reason  of  transgression,  and  he  cast 
 down,'  &.c.—Boothr. 
 
 RtFLrcTtONS  ON  CiiAP.  VIT.  —  I,  rrop/iecij  lias  been  re- 
 nmrkahly  falJiUecl  For  reasons  obviously  wise,  much  of  it  is 
 wrapped  up  in  enigma  and  mystery  ;  but  when  fulfilled,  its 
 langtiase  is  clear  as  the  noon-day  sun.  Our  study  of  fulKlIed 
 prophecy  may  therefore  greatly  confirm  our  faith  in  tlio  word 
 ot  Ood  ;  while,  in  rending  the  history  of  past  a;^es.  it  must 
 give  an  interest  to  the  pages  of  the  historian,  which  is  wliolly 
 unenjoyed  by  those  who  are  unaccustomed  to  mark  the  move- 
 ™®"^s  of  Providence  in  relation  to  the  church. 
 
 11.  Prophecy  h  remarhabhf  fulfiUim,.  TJiere  is  a  shaking 
 3mong  the  nationR.  of  the  most  extraordinary  kind.  Writers 
 on  prophr'cy  m;iy  have  erred  in  anticipating  desir;ihlc  events 
 
 before  the  time,  but  still  there  is  a  singular  accordance  among 
 them  in  their  genend  views  of  this  p;irtoflioly  writ,  which 
 arises  not  altogether  from  copying  each  other,  but  from  a 
 careful  study  of  the  language  and  fulfilment  of  prophecies. 
 There  is  a  general  expectation  that  we  are  on  the  eve  of  ;i 
 great  and  glorious  day,  whicli,  however,  may  possibly  be  for 
 awhile  darkened  by  a  dense  cloud.  The  crescent  is  waning; 
 the  man  of  sin  is  declining;  the  desire  of  all  nations  is  com- 
 ing ;  and  tiie  Son  of  Man  will,  ere  long,  appear  in  the  clouds 
 of  lieaven,  with  power  and  great  glory.  JMay  we  have  our 
 loins  girt  about,  and  our  lamps  binning,  and  be  as  servants 
 v\:iiting  for  their  Lord  at  his  coming 
 
Gabriel  comfortctk  Daniel^ 
 
 DANIEL,  VIII. 
 
 and  interpreteth  the  vision. 
 
 sanctuary  and  the  host  to  be  trodden  under 
 
 foot  y 
 
 14  And  he  said  unto  me.  Unto  two  thousand 
 and  three  liundred  f  days  ;  ^  then  shall  the 
 sanctuary  be  f  cleansed. 
 
 15  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  I,  even  I 
 Daniel,  had  seen  tlie  vision,  and  ^sought  for 
 the  meaning,  then,  behold,  there  stood  before 
 me  '  as  the  appearance  of  a  man. 
 
 16  And  I  lieard  a  man's  voice  ^  between  the 
 banks  of  Ulai,  which  called,  and  said,  ^  Gabriel, 
 make  tliis  >nan  to  understand  the  vision. 
 
 !7  So  he  came  near  wliere  I  stood:  and 
 when  he  came,  I  was  afraid,  and  "^^  fell  upon 
 my  face :  but  he  said  unto  me,  Understand,  O 
 son  of  man  :  for  at  the  time  of  the  end  shall  be 
 the  vision. 
 
 18  ^  Now  as  he  was  speaking  with  me,  I 
 was  in  a  deep  sleep  on  my  face  toward  the 
 ground:  '^  but  he  touclied  me,  and  f  set  me  up- 
 right. 
 
 19  And  he  said.  Behold,  I  will  make  thee 
 know  what  shall  be  in  the  last  end  of  the  in- 
 dignation :  ^  for  at  the  tune  appointed  the  end 
 shall  be. 
 
 •JO  ^  The  ram  which  thou  sawest  having  two 
 horns  are  the  kings  of  Media  and  Persia. 
 21  '' And  the  rough  goat  25  the  king  ofGrecia: 
 
 t  Heb.  even- 
 
 ung. 
 
 X  I  Alac.  A. 
 
 36,  He. 
 t  Heb.  j'uid'- 
 
 fied. 
 y  See  ch.  12. 
 
 8.  I  Pet.  I. 
 
 II),  \\. 
 X  Eze.  I.  26. 
 a  cli.  12.  6,7. 
 
 d  c1i.lll.9.lf> 
 Luke  9.  32. 
 
 ".  EzL'k.  &.  2 
 t  Heb.  -nrndi- 
 
 me  iland 
 
 up;n  n.if 
 
 tta'idiiig. 
 
 fc\\.  9.  27. 
 ■  &  11,27,35, 
 
 36.  &  12.  7. 
 
 Hab.  2.  3. 
 g  ver.  3. 
 
 .rh.  Il.;i. 
 
 k  vor.  y. 
 ch.  Ill, 
 
 /  1  Mad  n, 
 fcc.  &  2.  Ifi. 
 
 \  Heb.  are 
 nccompl  lilt- 
 ed. 
 
 m  Deu  28.50, 
 
 n  ver.  6. 
 
 xlU'v.  17.13, 
 
 ch.  7-  25. 
 t  Heb  peojiL- 
 «/  Die  huly 
 
 23,  24. 
 i  ver.  n. 
 
 cb.  11.36. 
 
 2  -Mac.  9.  4, 
 
 7,  y,  11. 
 /  1  Mac.  I. 
 
 30.  &c. 
 II  Oi',  prot- 
 
 prritj/. 
 u  ver.  II. 
 
 ch.  II.  36. 
 X  Job  3^.  20, 
 
 Lam.  4.  6. 
 
 th  2.3V15. 
 
 1  J7ac.(i.8— 
 
 13.  2  Mac. 
 
 9.  9,  &c. 
 V  ch.  lU.  I. 
 i  Eze.  12.27. 
 
 ch.  10,  14, 
 
 &  12.  4,  9. 
 
 Rev.  22.  10. 
 a  ch.  7.  28. 
 
 S(  10.  8,  16. 
 b  ch.  C.  2,  3 
 c  See  ver. 16. 
 
 and  the  great  horn  that  is  between  his  eyes 
 '  is  tlie  first  king. 
 
 22  ■*  Now  that  being  broken,  whereas  four 
 stood  up  for  it,  four  kingdoms  shall  stand  up 
 out  of  tlte  nation,  but  not  in  his  power. 
 
 23  And  in  the  latter  time  of  tlieir  kingdom, 
 '  when  the  transgressors  fare  come  to  the  full, 
 a  king  "'of  fierce  countenance,  and  under- 
 standing dark  sentences,  "  shall  stand  up. 
 
 24  And  his  power  shall  be  mighty,  °but  not 
 by  his  own  power:  and  he  shall  destroy  won- 
 derfully,''and  shall  prosper,and  practise,  ^and 
 shall  destroy  the  mighty  and  the  fholy  people. 
 
 25  And  'through  his  policy  also  he  shall 
 cause  craft  to  prosper  in  his  hand  ;  ^  and  he 
 shall  magnify  himself  in  his  heart,  *■  and  by 
 II  peace  shall  destroy  many  :  "  he  shall  also 
 stand  up  against  the  Prince  of  princes  ;  but  he 
 shall  be  ^  broken  witiiout  hand. 
 
 26  ^  And  the  vision  of  the  evening  and  the 
 morning  which  was  told  is  true  :  '  wherefore 
 shut  thou  up  the  vision  ;  for  it  shall  be  for 
 many  days. 
 
 27  '^  And  I  Daniel  fainted,  and  was  sick  cer- 
 tain days;  afterward  I  rose  up,  ''and  did  the 
 king's  business ;  and  I  was  astonished  at  the 
 vision,  ^  but  none  understood  it. 
 
 M.  Tivo  thousand  three  hundred  days,  i.e.,  years.  —  Gill,  Bishop 
 New/on.  18.  Deep    sleep,    'deep    swoon.* —  Wintle.    Boothroyd. 
 
 22.  But  not  in  his  power,  not  in  the  power,  &c.,  of  Alexander. — 
 Gill.  23.  And    in    the    latter    time   of  their   kingdom,    ^-c,  that 
 
 is,  of  Alexander's  successors. — Hates.  The  Romans  saw  the  end  of 
 the  other  kingdoms.  When  the  transgressors  are  come  to  the  full, 
 ■when  the  Jews  had  apostatized  and  turned  heathens.— GiVi?.  When, 
 among  other  profanations  under  the  Roman  consul,  the  temple  itself 
 was  consecrated  to  Jupiter  Olympius,  and  his  image  was  erected  upon 
 the  very  altar,  then  was  this  prediction  accomplished. — Bp.  Newton. 
 When  nominal  professors  of  the  Christian  faith  abounded,  then  an  Im- 
 postor triumphed. —  Keith.  A  king  of  fierce  covntennnce,  and  under- 
 st'liiding  dork  sentences — Antiochus,  sagacious  and  cunning.  —  Gill. 
 The  peculiar  characteristic  of  the  Romans,  'the  fierce  countenance,* 
 first  noticed  hy  Moses,  (Deut.  xxviii.  50,)  is  here  repeated,  so  as  to  leave 
 no  doubt  of  its  application.— H«/c4\  The  Sz/riac  reads  the  sentence, 
 understanding,  ^-c,  skilful  in  ruling ;  it  means  a  nation  politic  as  power- 
 ful.— Bp.  Newton.  With  the  pretext  of  national  injuries  to  avenge, 
 Mahomet  came  avowedly  as  the  Heaven-appointed  avenger  of  trans- 
 gression, and  propagated  his  religion  by  the  sword,  and  he  sought  to 
 overawe  the  minds  of  men  by  dark  sentences  and  pretended  revelations. 
 — Keith.  24.  Might!/,  /jut  7Uit  hy  his  own  power — Antiochus  became 
 
 great  by  craft  and  deceit. — Gill.  Roman  greatness  was  to  he  attributed 
 not  so  much  to  their  own  strength  as  to  the  assistance  of  their  allies. — 
 Hales.  Mahomet  possessed  not  any  hereditary  dominion,  or  authority, 
 or  wealth. — Keith.  Destroy  wonderfully,  so  Antiochus  de<;troyed 
 countries,  cities,  towns,  and  people,  beyond  all  credit.— G(7/.  The  Ro- 
 mans destroyed  wonderfully,  both  in  their  fi^reign  wars  and  civil  cora- 
 motioDS.— ZoHcA.  The  progress  of  the  Mahometan  faith  was  traced  by 
 the  blood  of  its  enemies. — Keith.  Prosper  and  practise,  meaning  An- 
 tiochus shouU,  for  a  wliile,  do  what  he  pleased.— G^7/.  What  nation 
 was  ever  so  successful  as  tlie  Romans,  or  performed  such  great  actions  ? 
 — '/.ouch.  It  was  so  with  Malinmet;  witness  the  millions  of  African 
 and  Asiatic  converts  who  swelled  the  native  land  of  the  faithful  Arabs. 
 — Keith.  The  mighty  and  the  holy — the  mighty  may  mean  the  Egypt- 
 ians, Parthians,  and  other  nations  with  whom  Antiochus  warred  ;  and 
 the  holy,  the  Jews.— Gi7/.  Antiochus,  in  his  first  invasion  of  Judea, 
 slew  and  led  captive  80,000  Jews,  (2  Mac.  v.  U,)  that  people  who  were 
 set  apart  for  God's  service .~Pre6.  Lowth.  The  Romans  fully  accom- 
 plished the  direful  imprecation  of  the  Jews,  '  his  blood  be  on  us.* — 
 Zouch.  Mahomet  extended  his  destruction  throughout  Christendom. 
 — Keith.  25.  His  policy — the  schemes  of  Antiochus  were  laid  in  such 
 deep  policy,  that  he  commonly  succeeded. — Gill.  This  peculiarly  be- 
 longs to  the  government  of  the  Romans. —ZohcA.  Mahomet's  artifice 
 effected  what  the  sword  alone  could  not  accomplish.— /Cci7/i.  Magnify 
 /«m.Vf//— according  to  those  who  make  this  to  be  Antiocluis,  he  not 
 only  magnified  himself  against  the  Jewish  rulers  and  high  priest,  ap- 
 pointing  a  heathen  in  his  stead,  but  against  God  himself.— See  Scott, 
 Preb.  Lowth.  This  expression  is  .strictly  applicable  to  the  insolent  con- 
 duct of  Rome,  after  a  successful  and  destructive  war.  Proud  and  arro- 
 gant titles  were  assumed  by  the  emperors.  The  citizens  held  them- 
 selves equal  to  kings  and  princes ;  and  the  writers  panegyrized  Rome 
 as  the  city  destined  for  the  habitation  of  men  and  gods. — Zouch.  Ma- 
 homet magnified  himself  in  his  heart  above  all  tlie  sons  of  men,  and 
 above  all  the  prophets  of  God.  He  acknowledged  the  mission  of  Christ 
 as  a  prophet,  but  announced  himself  as  a  greater.  The  summary  of  his 
 creed  was,  '  There  is  no  God  but  one,  and  Mahomet  is  his  prophet. '- 
 Keith.  And  hy  pravc  shall  destroy  many,  or  rather,  '  in  peace  shall  de- 
 stroy many.*  Even  in  times  of  peace,  the  Romans  delighted  in  cruelty 
 and  slaughter;  witness  their  gladiatora.— ZokcA.  The  peace  which 
 017 
 
 Mahomet  promised  to  the  vantiuished  Christians  was  one  of  the  arts 
 of  proselytizing  which  he  so  insidiously  and  successfully  practised, 
 whereby  many  were  destroyed  by  abjuring  the  truth  and  giving  heed 
 to  delusiou  ;  and  the  peaceful  reign  of  a  Turkish  prince  is  unmitigated 
 despotism,  and  gradual  but  sure  desolation.— A>j7/j.  Against  the  Prince 
 of  princes— m  did  Antiochus  when  he  profaned  God's  temple.— Gi7/. 
 It  seems  to  pointto  the  judicial  proceedings  of  the  Romanjudge  agamst 
 Jesus  Christ.- ZoucA.  Mahomet  set  himself  to  subvert  the  Christian 
 religion,  by  the  substitution  of  his  own,  as  if  the  cause  of  Jesus  was  to 
 perish  with  its  corruptions,  or  as  if  the  kingdom  of  God  was  to  be  sub- 
 verted by  a  mortal. — Keith.  Be  broken  without  hand,  so  Antiochus 
 died  mucli  like  Herod,  (see  1  Mace.  vi.  8 ;  2  Mace,  ix  5,  9-)— Gill-  The 
 dominion  of  the  Romans  shall  be  finally  destroyed  with  some  extraor- 
 dinary manifestation  of  the  Divine  power,  (see  chap,  ii.34  ;  viJ.  1I,2S.) 
 —Bp.  Newton.  There  are  signs  in  the  heaven  and  the  earth,  from  the 
 word  of  God  as  well  as  in  the  history  of  man,  that  Mahometanism  is 
 drawing  to  a  close.  The  press  has  been  introduced  into  the  Sultan's 
 dominions,  and  who.  knowing  its  power  and  the  progress  which  trutii 
 has  made  by  its  agency,  can  fail  to  anticipate  the  result? — Keith,  Ed. 
 On  a  careful  examination  of  this  questiim,  the  arguments  appear  to 
 predominate  in  favour  of  the  third  interpretation.  Antiochus  could 
 hardly  be  said  to  wax  '  exceeding  great,'  when  he  was  tributary  to  the 
 Romans,  and  did  not  enlarge  his  kingdom.  The  Romans  could  not  be 
 said  to  be  broken  without  liand,  but  their  empire  has  long  been  de- 
 stroyed ;  and  there  seems  a  natural  analogy  between  the  figures  repre- 
 senting the  Western  and  Eastern  Antichrist  — both  litUe  horns,  and 
 descriptive  of  two  similar  powers.  The  one  has  been  described  (see 
 chap.  vii.  6,  notes) ;  the  other  is  obviously  intended  here. — Ed.  '  It 
 seems  unnatural,'  says  Scott,  '  to  make  "  the  little  horn  of  the 
 he-goat,"  or  the  third  beast,  that  is,  of  the  Macedonian  empire,  exactly 
 the  same  as  the  fourth  beast,  or  the  Roman  empire ;  especially  in  a 
 prophecy  in  which  the  fourth  beast  is  not  once  mentioned.  It  appears 
 to  me  unaccountable,  on  mature  reflection,  that  there  should  be  in 
 these  concise,  yet  most  comprehensive,  prophecies  of  Daniel,  so  many 
 repeated  and  particular  predictions  of  the  papal  delusions  in  the  west, 
 and  not  a  hint  of  the  Mahommedan  delusion  in  the  east,  the  progress 
 and  effects  of  which  have  been  most  extensively  mischievous,  and  are 
 specially  and  separately  noted  as  such  by  St.  John,  Rev.  ix.* — Comm. 
 in  he.  The  Holy  Spirit,  now  purposing  to  describe  the  exploits  of  an- 
 other great  enemy  to  Christianity,  recals,  in  the  vision  of  the  ram  and 
 he  goat,  the  attention  of  Daniel  to  the  second  and  third  cmpires,whose 
 prophetic  history  had  been  already  detailed,  for  the  purpose  of  intro- 
 ducing another  '  little  horn,'  which  was  to  come  up  out  of  one  of  the 
 principal  horns  of  the  Macedonian  beast,  as  the  former  little  horn  sprang 
 up  among  the  ten  horns  of  the  Roman  bea^t.— Fufier.  Scott  views 
 the  religii.ns  delusion  <.f  both  the  Antichrists  as  springing  up  together  ; 
 for,  the  same  year  that  the  edict  of  Phocas  instituted  the  Bishop  of 
 Rome  universal  bishop,  a.d.  fiofi,  the  first  dawn  of  Mahommed's  reli- 
 gious imposture  occurred,  and  iu  neither  case  is  the  temporal  dominion 
 exclusively  or  even  primarily  foretold  ;  but  the  religious  delusion,  and, 
 in  ail  probability,  the  two  delusions,  will  terminate  at  the  same  time.— 
 Comm.  in  loc.  Among  the  writers  in  favour  of  the  first  opinion,  that 
 Antiochus  is  here  meimt.  are,  Cappellu.t.  Poole,  Henry,  Preb.  Louth, 
 Bp.  Warfuirton,  Gill,  J.  Brown,  anfi  Hewlett.  Of  the  second,  that  the 
 RoM.AN  E.MPiRK  was  meant,  are.  Sir  I.  Newton,  Bp.  Newton,  Hates, 
 Zouch,  Clarke,  SutcUffe.  T.  H.  Home.  Of  the  third,  that  the  Mahom- 
 MKOAN  power  is  meant,  are,  Faiier,  Scott,  Keith.  26.  The  visiim 
 of  the  evening  and  the  morning,  that  is,  of  the  2,300  evenings  and 
 mornings,  or  natural  days. — GUI.    .^ 
 
Daniel's  confession  of  sins. 
 
 DANIEL,  IX. 
 
 and  prayer  for  Jerusalem's  restoration. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  Daniel,  considering  the  time  of  the  captivity,  3 
 maketh  confession  of  sins,  16  and  prayeth  for  the  re- 
 storation of  Jerusalem.  20  Gabriel  infurmeth  him 
 of  the  seventy  weeks. 
 
 T  N  tlie  first  year  °  of  Dariu.s  the  son  of  Aha- 
 -•-  suerus,  of  the  seed  of  the  Medes,  ||  which 
 was  made  king  over  the  reahn  of  the  Chal- 
 deans; 
 
 •2  In  the  first  year  of  his  reign  I  Daniel  ini- 
 derstood  by  books  the  number  of  tlie  years, 
 whereof  the  word  of  the  Lokd  came  to  ''  Jere- 
 miah the  propliet,  that  he  would  accomplish 
 seventy  years  in  the  desolations  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 3  f  And  I  set  my  face  unto  the  Lord  God, 
 to  seek  by  prayer  and  supplications,  with  fast- 
 ing, and  sackcloth,  and  ashes  : 
 
 4  And  I  prayed  unto  the  Lord  my  God,  and 
 made  my  confession,  and  said,  O  ''  Lord,  tlie 
 great  and  dreadful  God,  keeping  tlie  covenant 
 and  mercy  to  them  tliat  love  him,  and  to  them 
 that  keep  his  commandments  ; 
 
 3  "  We  have  sinned,  and  have  committed  ini- 
 quity, and  have  done  wickedly,  and  have  re- 
 belled, even  by  departing  from  thy  precepts 
 and  from  thy  judgments  : 
 
 6  '  Neither  have  we  hearkened  unto  thy  ser- 
 vants the  projiliets,  which  spake  in  thy  name 
 to  our  kings,  our  princes,  and  our  fathers,  and 
 to  all  the  people  of  the  land. 
 
 7  O  Lord,  '•'righteousness  \\  he.lonfjelh  unto 
 thee,  but  unto  us  confusion  effaces,  as  at  this 
 day  ;  to  tlie  men  of  Judah,  and  to  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  Jernsaleni,  and  unto  all  Israel,  that  are 
 near,  and  that  arc  far  oft',  through  all  the  coun- 
 tries whither  thou  hast  driven  them,  because  of 
 their  trespass  tliat  they  have  trespassed  against 
 thee. 
 
 8  O  Lord,  to  us  belongcth  ''confusion  of  face, 
 to  our  kings,  to  our  princes,  and  to  our  fathers, 
 because  we  have  sinned  against  tliee. 
 
 !)  '  To  the  Lord  our  God  beloiii)  mercies  and 
 forgivenesses,  though  we  have  rebelled  against 
 him  ; 
 
 10  '  Neither  have  we  obeyed  the  voice  of  the 
 Lord  our  God,  to  walk  in  his  laws,  which  he 
 set  before  us  by  his  servants  the  prophets. 
 
 11  Yea,  'all  Israel  have  transgressed  thy 
 law,  even  by  departing,  that  they  might  not 
 obey  thy  voice  ;  therefore  the  curse  is  poured 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  b^^8. 
 
 cir.  5S8. 
 
 m  Lev  26  14, 
 
 &C.Deu.?7. 
 
 I5,8[C.  k-iS. 
 
 15.&C.&29. 
 
 20.?.c.fca0. 
 17.  tS.  fe.^1. 
 
 ach.  I.21.& 
 
 17,&c,  8*32. 
 
 5.  31.&6. 
 
 10,  &c. 
 
 M. 
 
 Lam.  2.  17, 
 
 lOTyinahich 
 
 n  Zech.  I.  6. 
 
 he,  ^. 
 
 0  Lam.  1.  12 
 
 &  2.  13. 
 
 Ecek.  5.  9. 
 
 Amos  :i.  2. 
 
 P  Lev.Jti.t-l, 
 
 &C.  Deut. 
 
 29  15.  Lam. 
 
 A  2  Chr.  38. 
 
 2.  17. 
 
 21.  .ler  25. 
 
 7  Is.  9.  13. 
 
 11,  l-i.&29. 
 
 Jer .2.  30.  & 
 
 111. 
 
 5.  S.  Hob.  7. 
 
 7,  10. 
 
 cNeh.  I.t. 
 
 t  Heb.  in- 
 
 ch.  6.  iO. 
 
 trnilfd  toe 
 
 .lor.  2D.  12, 
 
 not  the  fact 
 
 IS.  J«ia.  4. 
 
 of  the.  ^C. 
 
 8,  y,  10. 
 
 rj<>r.  31.28. 
 
 fc  -H.  27. 
 
 »  Neh.  9.  33. 
 
 d  Ex.  90.  6. 
 
 ver.  7, 
 
 Deut.  7.  9. 
 
 (  ver.  10. 
 
 Nell.  \.tt.8i 
 
 u  Ex.  6.  1,6. 
 
 9.  Si. 
 
 fk  Si.  11. 
 
 1  Km.8.51. 
 
 Neh.  I.  10, 
 
 Jer.  32.21. 
 
 e  1  Kin  8.47, 
 
 t  Heb.  madf 
 
 4S.  Neh.1.6. 
 
 IhMa  nume. 
 
 7.  ft  9.;i3,S.l. 
 
 X  V.X.  14.  18. 
 
 I's.  lOfi,  e. 
 
 Neh.  9.  10. 
 
 Is.  &1.  5,  6, 
 
 Jer.  3-2,  2it. 
 
 7.  Jer.   11. 
 
 u  ver.  6. 
 
 7.  ver.  \h. 
 
 :  1  Sam    12. 
 
 liar.  I.  J7, 
 
 7.  Ps.  31.1. 
 
 IS 
 
 fc  71.  2. 
 
 /  2  Chr.  36. 
 
 Mic.6.  i,5 
 
 15,  16. 
 
 n  ver.  2il. 
 
 vcr.  la 
 
 Z.-ch.  8.  ,S. 
 
 f,  V.X.  90.  6. 
 
 o  Neh.  9.  S.1 
 Bar.  1.  IS. 
 
 W  Or,  th„H 
 huat,  «tc. 
 
 r  Liiiii  2.  IB, 
 
 Id. 
 d  l'«.  \A    n. 
 
 11.  ^  7y.  1. 
 
 .•  Num.  ti  2.'i 
 
 Ps   67.  1 .  It 
 
 SO.  3,  7,  I'J 
 
 /Lnm.  5  18, 
 
 y  ver.  19. 
 
 John  16.24. 
 
 '.  Is.  37.  17. 
 
 .  Kx  3.  7. 
 
 Ps.  80.  14, 
 
 &c. 
 
 h  ver,  7. 
 Bar.  1.  15. 
 
 *J.?r.  25.  29. 
 t  Heb.  where- 
 
 upa„  /Ay 
 
 Oil  ted. 
 
 t  Heb.  ctiHtf 
 
 .■  Neh.  9.  17. 
 
 lofaU. 
 Jer.  86.  7. 
 
 Ps.  13U.  4,7. 
 
 /Ps.  79.  9,10. 
 
 M02.l.'!,16. 
 
 -..  Ps    32    5. 
 
 h  ver.  0. 
 
 U.  66.  24. 
 
 /Is.  1.4.5,6. 
 
 Jer.  8. 5, 10. 
 
 «  ch.  8.  16. 
 
 upon  u,s,  and  the  oath  that  is  written  in  the 
 law  of  Moses  the  servant  of  God,  because 
 we  have  sinned  against  him. 
 
 12  And  he  hath  "confirmed  his  words, which 
 he  spake  against  us,  and  against  our  judges 
 that  judged  us,  by  bringing  upon  us  a  great 
 
 vil :  °  for  under  the  whole  heaven  hath  not 
 been  done  as  hath  been  done  upon  Jerusalem. 
 
 13  ''As  it  is  written  in  the  law  of  ISIoses,  all 
 this  evil  is  come  upon  us  :  ''  yet  fmade  we  not 
 our  prayer  before  the  Lord  our  God,  tliat  we 
 might  turn  from  our  iniquities,  and  understand 
 thy  truth. 
 
 14  Therefore  hath  the  Lord  'watched  upon 
 the  evil,  and  brought  it  upon  us  :  for  '  the 
 Lord  our  God  is  righteous  in  all  his  works 
 which  he  doetli :  'for  we  obeyed  not  his  voice. 
 
 15  And  now,  O  Lord  our  God,  "that  hast 
 brought  thy  people  forth  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt  with  a  mighty  hand,  and  hast  f  gotten 
 thee  '  renown,  as  at  this  day  ;  '  we  have 
 sinned,  we  have  done  wickedly. 
 
 16  t  O  Lord, 'according  to  all  thy  righteous- 
 ness, I  beseech  thee,  let  thine  anger  and  thy 
 fury  be  turned  away  from  thy  city  Jerusa- 
 lem, °thy  holy  mountain:  because  for  our  sins, 
 ''and  for  the  iniquities  of  our  fathers,  'Jerusa- 
 lem and  thy  people  ^  are  become  a  reproach  to 
 all  that  arc  about  us. 
 
 17  Now  therefore,  O  our  God,  hear  the 
 prayer  of  thy  serv,ant,  and  his  supplications. 
 '  and  cause  thy  face  to  shine  upon  tliy  s.iiic- 
 tuary  '  that  is  desolate,  *for  the  Lord's  sake. 
 
 18  *■  O  my  God,  incline  thine  ear,  and  hear  ; 
 open  thine  eyes,  '  and  behold  our  desolations, 
 and  the  city  ''f  which  is  called  by  thy  name  : 
 for  we  do  not  fpresent  our  supplications  before 
 thee  for  our  righteousnesses,  but  for  thy  great 
 mercies. 
 
 19  O  Lord,  hear ;  O  Lord,  forgive  ;  O  Lord, 
 hearken  and  do;  defer  not,  'for  thine  own 
 sake,  O  my  God  :  for  thy  city  and  thy  people 
 are  called  by  thy  name. 
 
 20  K  "  Ami  whiles  I  was  speaking,  and  pray- 
 ing, and  confessing  my  sin  and  the  sin  of  my 
 people  Israel,  and  presenting  my  supplication 
 before  the  Lord  my  God  for  the  holy  moun- 
 tain of  my  God  ; 
 
 21  'V'ea,  whiles  I  was  speaking  in  prayer, 
 even  the  man  "  Gabriel,  whom   I  had  seen  in 
 
 Chap,  IX, —  1,  Darius  tlte  snn  of  .ittasuerus,  this  is  Darius  the  Me- 
 dian, who  took  the  liin(;clom  after  the  death  of  Belshazzar,  so  called  to 
 distinguish  him  from  Darius  the  Persian, — Gilt.  He  was  son  of  Asty, 
 aees,  king  of  the  Medes,  and  brother  of  IVIandane,  mother  nf  Cyrus, 
 The  Heljrews  generally  call  him  Dariavesch  or  Darius  ;  the  Sept.,  Ar- 
 ta.\erxes;  and  Xenophon,  Cyaxares, — Cat.  2.  By  bonks,  the  sever;il 
 
 prophecies  of  .leremiah  are  so  called,  (see  Jer.  x,\v.  13;  xxi.x,  1.1 — 
 Pveb.  Lnwtfi.  Seveiiti/  years,  this  first  year  of  Darius  was  the  fisth  of 
 the  captivity, —  Wintle.  3,  My  face  unto  the  Lord  God.  towards  the 
 place  wiiere  the  temple  stood,  (see  chap,  vi,  10,)  To  seek  by  prayer, 
 this  was  the  condition  of  restoration,  (Jer,  xxix,  12,)  12,  Judges, 
 princes  or  rulers,  (comp.  Job,  xii.  17;    Ps.  ii.  10;   cxlviii.  II;   Prov. 
 
 viii.  16.)  I."!.  Brought,  3rc.,  a  common  form  of  recountin?  former 
 mercies  when  praying,  fsee  E.xod,  xxxii.  11. 13;  Neh.ix,  10;  Jer,xxxii, 
 ■20.) — Preb.  Lowlh.  Ifi.  Aecordut(;  to  atl  thy  righteousness,  as  God 
 liad  promised  to  deliver  and  restore  his  people,  it  was  become,  in  some 
 sense,  an  act  of  righteousness  to  do  \t.— Scott.  17,  For  the  Lord's 
 sake,  the  Messiah,  known  by  the  tiUe  of  Lord  among  the  Jews,  (see 
 Ps.  ex.  1.)  All  God's  promises  are  fulfilled  in  and  for  the  sake  of 
 Christ,  (2  Cor,  i,  20,)  19,  For  thine  own  sake,  so  remarkable  a  turn 
 nf  providence  will  greatly  redound  to  the  honour  of  thy  name,  (see  Ps, 
 Ixxix,  9,  10;  cii,  15,  l(i,) — Preb-  Lowth.  20,  The  hoty  mountain,  the 
 temple  on  the  rocky  mountain  Zion,  (see  ver,  16.)— R'iM(/e,  21 ,  The 
 nutn  Gabriel,  Gabriel  in  a  human  form, — Gill.    Evening  oblation,  (here 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII From  what  we  have  read 
 
 in  this  chapter,  we  may  remark,  iu  the  words  of  Bickersteth  — 
 I ,  '  Tfiat  the  riijltt  understanding  of  the  prophecies  is  a  valuable 
 ijift  to  the  Christiatu  To  understand  not  only  the  past,  but 
 tue  present,  and  t\ie  general  character  of  the  future,  ac^-ordin;,' 
 to  the  Divine  mintl,  r.iises  us  above  the  petty  scenes  of  this 
 transient  world,  and  its  little  conflicts,  into  communion  with 
 the  Divine  Being;  and  our  minds  open  to  those  larger  views 
 by  which  God  would  lead  his  people  to  the  discovery  of  his 
 wisdom,  power,  and  love,  and,  wliile  on  earth,  to  have  their 
 conversation  in  heaven. 
 
 II.  '  It  is  most  desiralile  tmt  only  that  ministers,  but  Christians 
 in  general  should  give  serious  attention  to  this  subject.  "  I  would 
 918 
 
 not  have  you  to  be  ignorant  concerning"  a  most  important 
 future  prophecy  relating  to  the  second  advent  of  Christ,  is  the 
 apostle's  statement  to  the 'I'hessalonian  Christians.  ()  how 
 infinitely  more  worthy  is  this  of  our  attention  than  most  ot 
 those  works  often  of  polluting  fancy,  or  mere  controversy,  in 
 which  so  much  of  modern  literature  consists  ;  where  the  prin- 
 ciples of  the  world,  and  the  littleness  of  man's  doinns  and 
 glory,  till  the  page,  and  spread  adebasing  and  enrlbly  influence 
 over  our  understanding  and  ourafi'ections  ;'  or  the  imagination 
 and  the  feelmgs  are  excited  without  being  brought  out  into 
 really  good  action.  '  There  is  a  wilting  ignorance  (2  Pet,  iii.  5) 
 respecting  the  day  of  Christ,  which 'is  much  condemned  by 
 the  Spirit  of  God.' 
 
Gabriel  informeih  him 
 
 DANIEL,  IX. 
 
 of  the  seventy  toeeks. 
 
 B  c 
 
 cir.  538. 
 
 the  vision  at  llie  beginning,  being  caused  to 
 fly  -f  swiftly,  "  touctied  me  ''about  the  time  of 
 the  evening  oblation. 
 
 22  And  he  informed  me,  and  talked  with  me, 
 and  said,  O  Daniel,  1  am  now  come  forth  f  to 
 give  thee  skill  and  understanding. 
 
 23  At  the  beginning  of  thy  supplications  the 
 t  commandment  came  forth,  and  ''  I  am  come 
 to  shew  thcc ;  'for  thou  art  fgreatly  beloved: 
 therefore  '  understand  the  matter,  and  consider 
 the  vision. 
 
 24  *  Seventy  weeks  are  determined  upon  thy 
 people  and  upon  thy  holy  city,  ||  to  finish  the 
 transgression,  and  ||to  make  an  end  of  sins, 
 '  and  to  make  reconciliation  for  iniquity,  "  and 
 to  bring  in  everlasting  righteousness,  and  to 
 seal  up  the  vision  and  f  prophecy,  *  and  to 
 anoint  the  most  Holy. 
 
 25  ''  Know  therefore  and  understand,  that 
 '  from  the  going  forth  of  the  commandment 
 II  to  restore  and  to  build  Jerusalem  unto  °  the 
 
 "  u  Is.  5S.  II. 
 
 Jer.23.  5,  6.  Hpb.9.  12.  Rev.  11.  6.  t  Heb .  prop/.i-/.  x  Pa.  45.  7.  Luke  1.  35. 
 John  I.  41.  Heb.  9.  11.  y  ver.  23.  Mnt.S-l.  15.  i  Ezra -1.  24.  &  6.  1,  lo-  ?*  7.  1. 
 Keh  2.  1,  3,  5,  6,  8.  H  Or,  lu  build  oyiiii  Jertitalem:  as  2  Sam.  15.  25.  Pa.  71.  20. 
 uJobu  1.41.  &  4.  25. 
 
 t  Heb,  vith 
 
 ;  eh.  8.  IS.  ft 
 111.  10.  16. 
 
 p  1  Kill.  18. 
 30. 
 
 t  Heb.  to 
 maht  Ihof 
 ikiUutitf 
 fiuiXerttitni- 
 
 i'.i: 
 
 t  Heb.  wird. 
 a  ch.  10  12 
 r  ch,   10.  11, 
 
 19. 
 t  Heb.  a 
 
 man  o/de- 
 
 .  .Mat!2t.  15. 
 
 •  They  be- 
 gin from 
 the  21'th  of 
 Artaserxes 
 See  Nu.  14. 
 34.  Eiek. 
 4.  6. 
 
 II  Or,  to  re- 
 
 I]  Or,  to  Meat 
 
 "P- 
 
 Lam.  4.  92. 
 /  la.  53    10. 
 
 B.C. 
 cir.  538. 
 
 Messiah  ''  the  Prince  shall  be  seven  weeks,  and 
 threescore  and  two  weeks:  the  street  f  shall 
 be  built  again,  and  the  ||  wall,  '  even  f  i" 
 troublous  times. 
 
 26  And  after  threescore  and  two  vpeeks 
 ■"  shall  Messiah  be  cut  otf,  "  ||  but  not  for  him- 
 self: II  and  •■  the  people  of  the  prince  that  shall 
 come  « shall  destroy  the  city  ''anil  the  sanc- 
 tuary ;  'and  the  end  thereof  shall  be  ''with  a 
 flood,  and  unto  the  end  of  the  war  ||  desola- 
 tions are  determined. 
 
 27  And  he  shall  confirm  ||  '  the  covenant 
 with  ■"  many  for  one  week  :  and  in  the  midst 
 of  the  week  he  shall  cause  the  sacrifice  and 
 the  oblation  to  cease,  ||  and  for  the  over- 
 spreading of  "  abominations  he  .shall  make  it 
 desolate,  "even  until  the  consummation,  and 
 that  determined  shall  be  poured  ||  upon  the 
 desolate. 
 
 S5.  4. 
 t  Hob.  ■/."« 
 jeturn  and 
 be  bu<lded. 
 
 Or,  brenttif 
 or,  ditch. 
 
 Neb.  4.  8, 
 
 16.  17,  18. 
 t  Heb    in 
 itrait  of 
 
 timet, 
 
 Nob    6.  15. 
 d  Is.  53.  8. 
 
 Mark  9.  12, 
 
 Luke  24. 
 
 26.  4b. 
 e  1  Pet.  2.21. 
 
 &  3.  13. 
 II  Or,  and 
 
 ilutU  hot-e 
 
 ,„.tl,i„s, 
 
 John  11  30. 
 II  Or,  o,,d 
 
 \tl>e  Je\ei\ 
 
 ttiey  tlioli  bf 
 
 HO  more  hit 
 
 pei'pie.  ch. 
 
 11     17.  or, 
 
 nnd  the 
 
 priocr'i 
 
 iM,„ioh't, 
 
 ver.  25  ]^u(Href^"p/e.  /Mat.  22.  7.  ff  Luke  19.  44.  A  Mat.  24.9.  iMat.  24.6,  U. 
 k  Is.  8  7,8.  ch  11.  10,  22.  Nah.  1.8.  1|  Or,  t'r  thall  be  cwtoffby  deioUtiont.  ||  Or,  n. 
 Ma.  42.  6.  &55.  3.  Jer.  31.31.  Ezek.  16.  60,  61,  62.  m  Ib.  53.  11.  Mat.  26.  28.  Rom. 
 5.  15,  19.  Heb  9.  98.  1|  Or,  and  upon  lite  battlementi  thoU  be  tbe  idols  of  the  desolalor. 
 n  Mat.  24.  15.  Mark  13.  14.  Luke  21.  20.  "  See  Is.  10.  22,  23.  &  28.  22.  ch.  11.  36. 
 Luke  21.24.  Rom.  11.  26.      ||  Or,  upon  the  detolator. 
 
 were  three 
 were  '  the 
 
 hours  of  prayer,  {see  chap.  vi.  10,)  but  the  most  solemn    years  (the  space  between  that  year  and  the  beginning  of  a.d.,)  from 
 time  of  the  morning  and  evening  oblation,'  which  was    490,  and  there  remains  33.  the  year  of  our  Lord's  death.— CAond/cr. 
 
 v.see  I  Kings,  sviii.  36.)  23.  T/ie  commandment,  'God's  command-    sion  and  the  completion  of  Nehemiah's  work,  or  perhaps  some  time 
 
 ment  to  me  to  instruct  thee.  A  remarliable  fuiahnent  of  the  promise  in  longer.— Sco«.  The  work  lasted  49  years  after  the  comraissiun  was 
 Isa.  Ixv.  24.  24.  Setienlj/  weeks,  weeks  of  years,  as  the  sabbatic  years,  given  by  Arta.\er.\es.— vl.  Clarke.  In  tnmUiiM  timc.^,  the  Jews  were 
 (Lev.  XXV.  8 ;)  70  times  7,  490,  each  day  being  accounted  for  a  vear,  ac-  sorely  assaulted  in  rebuilding  the  city  and  wall,  (see  Neh.  iv.  7,  &c. ; 
 cording  to  the  prophetical  reckoning,  (see  Num.xiv.34;  Ezeit.iv.e.)  vi.  IS.)— Preb.  Loti-th.  This  verse  maybe  thus  rendered, —  •  Know. 
 Jerusalem,  on  being  restored,  should  expire  at  the  time  here  predicted,  therefnre,  and  understand,— from  the  edict  which  shall  be  issued  from 
 I'rei.  Ltjtvlli,  Clarke.  Are  driermineil,  ^c.,  Gabriel  here  shews  the  the  return  and  for  the  rebuilding  of  Jerusalem,  shall  be  seven  weeks ; 
 prophet  the  time  of  redemption  from  another  captivity,  commencing  when  the  city  shall  be  built  again  in  troublous  times  then,  to  Messiah 
 with  the  going  forth  of  the  edict  to  restore  and  rebuild  Jerusalem,  and    the  Prince,  shall  be  threescore  and  two  weeks.'- //ou6.  20.  Be  rut 
 
 terminating  with  the  death  of  Messiah  the  Prince,  and  the  total  aboli-  off,  my,  the  word  is  used  for  cutting  off  by  capital  punishment,  (Exod- 
 tion  of  the  Jewish  bacriSces.— (.'/(iiAe.  To  finish  the  traxigression,  t,c.,  xii.  l.i,  and  xxx.  33,  38.)  whether  by  the  signal  hand  of  God  or  by  the 
 «»^,  '  to  restrain  the  transgression.'— S(o««i-rf.  ■  That  sin  may  be  magistrate,  (Lev.  xviii.  2g  ;  xx.  17;  Ps.  x.\xvii.  34.)— Poo/f.  K  at  for 
 rcstrsiined,  and  transgressions  have  an  end.'— Ho!/6.  Sin  was  restrained  himself— \  Pet.  iii.  18.  l';  I'Nl,  literally,  '  and  nothing  (or  none)  to  him." 
 by  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  pouring  out  of  the  Holy  Ghost.—  —Wil.  •  Though  he  have  no  {lanit.,'—Biiothr.  '  And  they  (the  Jews) 
 See  Prid.,  and  Clarke.  Perhaps,  'to  finish  transgression'  means,  the  shall  be  no  more  his  people.'— Bdi.,  Faber.  •  None  shall  be  for  him.'— 
 commisiiion  of  the  great  crime  of  slaying  Christ.- So  Soott.  To  satisfy  Wintle.  '  Are  for  him.'—  Vtit.  •  No  one  will  be  on  his  side.'— S/onarrf. 
 forthe  transgressions  of  his  people.— GiV/.  '  To  expiate.'— Poolf.  To  And  Ihe  people  of  the  prince,  the  Romans,  under  the  conduct  of  Ves- 
 fulfil  all  righteousness,  and  make  full  atonement  for  tbe  sins  of  his  pasian  and  his  son  Titus.— Pre*.  Lowth.  27.  For  one  week,  here  it 
 people.— J.  Brotvn.  And  to  make  an  end  of  sins,  mai-g.,  'to  seal  up,'  may  be  necessary  to  observe  the  agreement  of  the  minute  divisions  of 
 which  is  literal,  and  refers  to  sealing  up  anything  in  a  bag.— Wi7.  It  time  made  by  the  prophet  in  this  and  the  preceding  verse,  with  the 
 is  the  same  word  so  rendered  at  the  end  of  the  verse.— Ed.  cnnil  seventy  weeks  in  ver.  24.  We  have  here  seven  weeks,  49  years,  to 
 nl«',:n.  "to  make  an  end  of  sin  offerings,'  which  Christ  did  when  he  rebuild  the  temple,  &c. ;  we  have  62  weeks,  or  434  years,  from  the  re- 
 offered  himself  once  for  all.  To  make  reconciliation,  Ityrt,  '  to  make  building  of  the  temple  to  the  time  of  Messiah,  or  the  beginning  of  the 
 atonement'  or  'expiation.'— C/urte,  Prid.,  Blayney,  Wintle.  To  bring  Gospel  by  the  ministry  of  John  the  Baptist,  according  to  some ;  and 
 in  everlasting  righteousness,  COW  pIS,  '  the  righteousness  of  ages'  to  then  we  have  one  week,  or  seven  years,  during  which  the  gospel  dis- 
 come.— Wintle,  Faber,  Stonard.  '  Of  ancient  times.'— S/'i.  The  pensation  would  be  introduced,  the  covenant  of  grace  conflrmed,  and 
 righteousness  by  which  the  saints  of  all  ages  have  been  justified,  and  multitudes  called  to  partake  of  its  blessings, 
 which  shall  endure  through  all  ages. — Gill.     '  The  righteousness  or  „  weeks  49  years 
 
 Righteous  One  of  ages,' who  had  been  trusted  in,  and  prophesied  of,  g^     ,j3^    
 
 forages. — Clarke.     ,4nrf  fo  sea/ w/j,  Cin'j'l,  '  and  to  finish  or  complete.*  T     -    
 
 The  vision  and  prophecy,  i^'221.  '  and  prophet ;'  the  prophets  were  until  
 
 John,  and  then  ceased,  since  the  time  of  Jesus. — Gilt.     To  put  an  end.  4q0  prophetic  years, 
 
 to  the  necessity  of  further  revelations,  by  fulfilling  the  prophecies  re- 
 specting his  person,  sacriBce,  and  glory.  To  anoint,  nvW, '  conse-  Most  interpreters  suppose  the  70  weeks  to  be  completed  at  the  death  of 
 crate'  or  ■  appoint.'  The  most  Holy,  C'lrnp  oip,  '  the  Holy  of  holies  ;'  Christ ;  they  accordingly  suppose  John  the  Baptist's  preaching  to  have 
 here  it  means  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  to  be  prophet,  priest,  and  king.—  occupied  three  years  and  a  half  before  Christ  entered  on  hisprnplietical 
 So  Prid.,  and  Clarke.  Though  the  expression  usually  applies  to  the  office,  and  translate  the  following  words,  in  the  mtdst,  '  in  the  half  of 
 inner  sanctuaiV.  it  properly  belongs  to  the  Messias,  greater  than  the  the  week,'  understanding  it  of  the  latter  half.  As  it  is  said  that  in  the 
 temple,  (Matt.  xii.  6,)  for  'in  him  dwelt  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead,'  midst  t>f  thenerk  he  shall  cmtsr  the  sacrifice  and  otilation  to  cease,  some 
 (see  Col.  ii.  9,  and  John,  ii.  21.]— Preb.  Louth.  '  Holy  of  holies,'— See  conclude  that  the  last  week  extended  beyond  his  crucifixion,  to  the  time 
 Dathe,  kc.  ;  and  they  apply  it  to  the  dedication  of  the  second  temple  ;  when  the  Gospel  began  to  be  preached  to  the  GeuUlesalso.  Whether, 
 but  it  certainly  refers  to  our  Lord's  inauguration  as  King,  who,  having  however,  just  before  or  just  after  the  death  of  Christ,  everything  was 
 finished  his  work,  ascended  to  sit  down  on  his  thione.—Boothroyd.  done  within  these  seven  years.— Erf.,  Preb.  Lowth,  Scott.  Ciittse  the 
 25.  Commandment  to  restore  and  to  build,  this  was  not  that  of  Cyrus,  sacrifice  and  the  oblation  to  cease,  by  his  one  oblation  of  himself,  put  an 
 which  only  related  to  the  temple,  (Ezra.  i.  1,  2, 3  ;)  norof  Darius  Hystas.  end  to  all  the  sacrifices  and  oblations  made  in  the  Jewish  temple,  (comp. 
 pes,  which  only  confirmed  the  former.  (Ezra,  vi.  ;)  nor,  for  the  same  rea-  Heb.  x.  5,  6,  &c.)— Pre*.  Loirth.  And  for  the  ocersprettdiiig  of  abomi- 
 son.that  in  the  seventh  year  of  Artaxerxes,  which,  in  like  manner,  con.  nations  he  shall  make  it  desolate,  DDtTD  D'lTipiD  i^j!)  TS'y,  'literally. 'and 
 firmed  the  decrees  of  his  predecessors,  (Ezra,  vii. 7,  13,  31 ;)  but  means  upon  the  wing  of  abominations,  causing  amazement.'— .4.  CfurArc. 
 the  decree  made  in  the  twentieth  year  of  his  reign,  (see  Neh.  ii.  1,  6,  'And  in  the  temple  shall  be  the  abomination  of  desolation.'— SooMr.,  as 
 7,  8,)  and  from  this  the  seventy  weeks  commence.— GiV/.  Scott  prefers  Wintle.  This  is  paraphrastical.— Erf.  '  Upon  the  border  of  abomina- 
 the  calculation  by  solar,  rather  than  by  lunar,  years,  and  fixes  the  time  tions  shall  be  the  iewlMoi .•— Stonard .  '  Upon  the  wing  (the  battle- 
 in  the  seventh  year  of  Artaxerxes,  understanding  the  expressions  used  ments  of  the  temple)  shall  be  the  abominations,'  or  idols  of  the  deso- 
 in  a  figurative  sense,  of  resettling  the  whole  Jewish  constitution,  in  laior,  or  '  of  him  that  makes  desolate.'— B/j.  Lloyd.  The  Roman  people 
 church  and  state,  which  Ezra  began,  and  Nehemiah  carried  on  and  shall  make  the  land  of  Judea  desolate,  for  the  ovcrspreadmg  of  Uieir 
 finished.— Comm.  in  ioc.  Let  the  twentieth  of  Artaxerxes  be  the  date  idolatries  in  it.  Even  until  the  consummation,  and  that  determined 
 of  the  seventy  weeks,  which  is  tbe  445th  year  before  Christ,  and  reckon  shall  be  poured  upon  tbe  desolate,  meaning,  these  abominations  shall 
 69  weeks  of  Chaldean  years,  70  Chaldee  years  being  equal  to  69  Ju-  continue  in  the  place  where  they  are  set,  until  the  utter  destruction  of 
 lian ;  and  so,  478  Julian  years  making  4S3  Chaldee  years,  and  they  end  the  city  and  temple,  or  the  desolation  made  there,  til  the  consumma- 
 in  the  33rd  year  after  Christ,  or  the  passover  following.  If  the  time  is  tion  of  God's  wrath  and  vengeance  upon  them.— Ui/(.  '  Poured  uiion 
 reckoned  from  the  seventh  of  Artaxerxes,  it  amounts  to  the  same;  the  rfeso'nfor,' the  Romans.  Continue  upon  the  Jews,  till  it  is  turned 
 compute  from  that  year  490,  the  whole  70  weeks,  by  subtracting  457  upon  the  heads  of  those  they  have  made  desolate.- B/>.  Lloyd. 
 'J19 
 
Daniel  seeth  a  vision. 
 
 DANIEL,  X. 
 
 Hi:  is  comforted  by  the  angel. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1    Daniel  having  humbled  liimself  seeth  a  vision.      10 
 Beiyiq  tronbhd  with  fear  he  is  comforted  bij  the  angel. 
 
 IN  the  third  year  of  Cyrus  king  of  Persia  a 
 thing  was  revealed  unto  Daniel,  "  whose 
 name  was  called  Belteshazzar;  ''and  the  thing 
 was  true,  "^but  the  time  appointed  >cas  flong  : 
 and  ''  lie  understood  the  thing,  and  had  under- 
 standing of  the  vision. 
 
 2  In  tliose  days  I  Daniel  was  mourning  three 
 f  full  weeks. 
 
 3  I  ate  no  f  pleasant  bread,  neither  came 
 fiesh  nor  wine  in  my  mouth,  "neither  did  I 
 anoint  myself  at  all,  till  three  whole  weeks 
 were  fulfilled. 
 
 4  And  in  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the 
 first  month,  as  I  was  hy  the  side  of  the  great 
 river,  which  is  '  Hiddekel  ; 
 
 5  Then  ^  I  lifted  up  mine  eyes,  and  looked, 
 and  •■  behold  ta  certain  man  clothed  iii  linen, 
 whose  loins  were  'girded  witli  'fine  gold  of 
 Uphaz  : 
 
 G  His  body  also  u-as  '  like  the  beryl,  and  his 
 face  "'as  the  appearance  of  lightning,  "and  his 
 eyes  as  lamps  of  fire,  .ind  his  arms  "and  his 
 feet  like  in  colour  to  polished  brass,  ■'and  the 
 voice  of  his  words  like  the  voice  of  a  multi- 
 tude. 
 
 7  And  I  Daniel  ''  alone  saw  the  vision  :  for 
 the  men  that  were  with  me  saw  not  the  vision  ; 
 but  a  great  quaking  fell  upon  them,  so  that 
 they  fled  to  hide  themselves. 
 
 8  Therefore  I  was  left  alone,  and  saw  this 
 great  vision,  '  and  there  remained  no  strength 
 in  me:  for  my  H'eomeliness  was  turned  in  me 
 into  corruption,  and  I  retained  no  strength. 
 
 9  Yet  heard  I  the  voice  of  his  words :  '  and 
 when  I  heard  the  voice  of  his  words,  then  was 
 I  in  a  deep  sleep  on  my  face,  and  my  face  to- 
 
 t  Heb.  veekt 
 «f  days. 
 t  Heb    brfod 
 
 e  Mat.  6    17- 
 
 /Gnn.  2. 11. 
 yjosh-.l.  1:1. 
 
 i  Rev.  I.  13, 
 
 II,  Ij.  &  15. 
 
 G. 
 
 k  Jer.  10.  0. 
 /  Krck.  1.  IIJ 
 m  Kip.  1.11. 
 r.  Hev  1.  N. 
 
 8c  19.  1'2 
 o  Kiev.  I.  7. 
 
 Bov.  1.  15. 
 p  Eze.  I.  H. 
 
 Kev.  1.  15. 
 
 cir,  S.M. 
 
 1  Jer.  1.  9. 
 ch.  9   CI. 
 Bev.  1.  17. 
 tlieb.m"terf. 
 
 J-  eh.  9.  23. 
 t  Heb.  n  ma/1 
 
 t  Heb    ititud 
 ufon  III,, 
 
 J,  Rev.  1.17. 
 
 :  ch,  9,  3,  4, 
 
 A.-ts  10.  1. 
 
 i  vcr.  81. 
 
 ch.  \S.  I, 
 
 ,Tndi>  9. 
 
 Kev.  1?.  7. 
 II  Or,  Ihif 
 
 Jirit. 
 
 C  fiCU.'lO,    I. 
 
 h.  t    29 
 rf  ch,  fi.  26. 
 VIT.   I. 
 Hub.  -2.  9. 
 ver.  9. 
 Ch.  8,  18. 
 
 ch.  e.  15. 
 
 Or.  the 
 
 i    VIT      II. 
 
 AJu.Ik.C.23. 
 
 ward  the  ground. 
 
 10  t "  And,  behold,  an  hand  touched  me, 
 which  I  set  nie  upon  my  knees  and  upon  the 
 pahns  of  my  hands. 
 
 11  And  he  said  unto  me,  O  Daniel,  "fa 
 man  greatly  beloved,  understand  the  words 
 that  I  speak  unto  thee,  and  f  stand  upright : 
 for  unto  thee  am  I  now  sent.  And  wlien  he 
 had  spoken  this  word  unto  me,  I  stood  trem- 
 bling. 
 
 \'2  Then  said  he  unto  me,  Tear  not,  Daniel : 
 for  from  the  first  day  that  thou  didst  set  thine 
 heart   to   understand,   and  to  chasten    tliyself 
 before  thy  God,  ''^  thy  words  were  heard,  and  1  • 
 am  come  for  thy  words. 
 
 13  "But  the  prince  of  the  kingdom  of  Persia 
 withstood  me  one  and  twenty  days  :  but,  lo, 
 ^  Michael,  ||  one  of  the  chief  princes,  came  to 
 help  me;  and  \  remained  there  witli  the  kings 
 of  Persia. 
 
 14  Now  I  am  come  to  make  thee  understand 
 what  shall  befall  thy  people  'in  the  latter 
 days  :  *•  for  yet  the  vision  is  for  nuttiJ/  days. 
 
 15  And  when  he  had  spoken  such  words  unto 
 me,  '^  I  set  my  face  toward  the  ground,  and  1 
 became  dumb. 
 
 16  And,  behold,  ^  one  like  the  similitude  of 
 the  sons  of  m.en  ^touched  my  lips:  then  I 
 opened  my  month,  and  spake,  and  said  unto 
 him  tliat  stood  before  me,  O  my  lord,  by  the 
 vision  'Muy  sorrows  are  turned  upon  me,  and  \ 
 have  retained  no  strength. 
 
 17  For  how  can  |1  the  servant  of  this  my  lord 
 talk  with  tiiis  my  lord?  for  as  for  me,  strnight- 
 way  there  remained  no  strength  iu  mo,  neither 
 is  there  breath  left  in  me. 
 
 18  Then  there  came  again  aiid  touclied  me 
 one  like  the  appearance  of  a  man,  and  he 
 strengthened  me, 
 
 19  '  And  said,  O  man  greatly  beloved,  ^  fear 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  1.  The  thing  was  true,  Ti'Oii,  'truth,'  and  not  a  bare 
 conjecture. — Poole.  It  was  certain. — Preb.  Lowth.  But  the  time  ap- 
 pointed was  long,  ^^-}^  N3y\  'but  the  warfare  Ion?:;'  there  will  be 
 many  contentions  and  wars  before  these  thines  can  be  accomplished. — 
 A.  Clarke.  The  time  was  long  etc  its  fulfilment. — So  Poole  and  Gill. 
 He  understood  the  thing,  bad  a  clear  view  of  the  succession  of  Persinn 
 and  Grecian  monarchies,  and  of  the  series  of  the  kinps  of  Syria  and 
 Egypt  under  the  latter  uf  them.— Pj-cA.  Lowth.  2.  Mourning,  pro- 
 bably because  of  interruptions  in  rebuilding  the  temple,  according  to 
 the  decree  of  Cyrus,  two  years  before, — Usher :  and  also  the  reluctance 
 of  many  Jews  to  return  to  Jerusalem. —  Wintle.  On  account  of  the 
 obscurity  of  his  vts^ions.— C«/.  Three  full  weeks,  U^iy  D''l''lir,  '  weeks 
 of  days.'  nuirg.  Probably  to  distinguish  them  from  the  weeks  nf  years 
 in  the  last  chapter. — Preh.  Lowth.  3.  /  ate  no  pleasant  bread,  ^c. — 
 this  fast  was  rather  a  general  abstinence,  living  on  coarse  food  anil 
 water,  enjoying  no  ablution,  and  perhaps  wearing  haircloth  next  the 
 skin. — Clarke.  4.  Hiddekel,  the  Tigris,  a  great  branch  of  the  Eu- 
 phrates.— Poole,  and  others.  fl.  A  certain  man — John's  description 
 of  Christ  corresponds  with  this,  (see  Rev.  i.  13,)  proving  this  was  the 
 Son  of  God.  Clothed  in  linen,  ?ic.,  the  habit  of  an  high  priest,  (see  Exod. 
 xxviii  4,39;  xxix.  5.)— PjvA,  Lo«'/A.  f/pAur— see  Jer.  x.  {(.  "ofe- and 
 1  Kings,  is.  28.  6.  Like  the  benji,  this  is  azure,  and  like  the  heavens. 
 — Poole.  A  pellucid  gem  of  a  bluish  green.  — Lonrf.  Ency.  12.  I  am 
 come  for  thp  words,  on  account  of  his  prayers,  to  bring  an  answer  to 
 them. — Gill.  13.  The  prince  of  the  kingdom  of  Persia,  ^c,  seems  to 
 mean  an  evil  angel,  who  tried  to  influence  the  Persian  court  against 
 
 the  people  of  God,  (sec  Zech.  iii.  1—3;  Judc,  g.)~Boofhr.,  so  Gill. 
 A  being  of  celestial  rank,  but  of  malignant  intentions. — Grot.,  Newc.^ 
 Lowth,  Wintle,  Dr.  Watts,  WH,  It  was  the  prince  of  this  world,  so 
 called,  John,  xii.  31 ;  xiv.  3n.~Sut.  Cyrus  alone  was  the  prince  of 
 Persia,  and  for  awhile  resisted  the  secret  inspirations  which  he  had 
 received  from  Gnt\.— Clarke.  This  cannot  mean  Cyrus,  who  was  very 
 friendly  to  the  Jews ;  hut  his  son  Cambyses,  who  managed  affairs  in 
 his  father's  absence  upon  some  expedition,  and  who  was  set  against  the 
 Jews  by  their  enemies,  might  be  intended;  and  the  angel  had  been  so 
 long  watching  over  bis  designs  in  order  to  defeat  them. — Scott,  as  Hen. 
 It  cannot  mean  either  Cyrns  or  Cambyses,  who  had  so  freely  given 
 leave  to  erect  the  temple  ;  nor  are  there  facts  to  support  such  an  idea. 
 — Wintle,  Wil.  The  Persians,  on  the  solicitation  of  the  enemiis  of  the 
 Jews,  had  put  a  stop  to  the  building.— Prei.  "Lowth.  One  and  twenty 
 daiis,  that  is,  all  the  time  which  Daniel  bad  fasted,  (see  ver.  2,  3.)— 
 Bonthr.  Michael,  sometimes  appears  to  signify  the  Messiah,  and  some- 
 times the  chief  archangel,  (see  Jude,  9  ;  Rev.  xii.  7.)— Clarke.  Michael 
 appears  to  be  a  name  of  our  L(jrd  himself,  in  his  particular  character  of 
 the  champion  of  his  faithful  people.- Horv/e^.  This  is  Christ,  the  Son 
 of  God.  the  first  of  the  chief  princes.  With  the  kings  of  Persia,  with 
 the  king  of  Persia  and  his  nobles. — GUI.  '  King,'  in  Hebrew,  is  equi- 
 valent to  'prince'  or  '  governor,'  (see  chap.  vii.  1 7 ;  Jer.  xxv.  20,  he.  j 
 1  Kings,  xxii.  4".) — Preb.  Lowth.  14.  In  the  latter  days,  in  remote 
 future  ages.— ScoVf.  l6.  One  like,  ^c,  Jesus  Christ.— Poo/*".  The 
 angel  Gabriel. — Gill.  1".  Neither  is  there  breath,  he  was  almost 
 suffocated  with  sorrow. — Clnrke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.\p.  IX.—  I.  DaniU  studied  t/ie  pro- 
 phecies. They  are  dpscriptive  of  God's  mind  and  will,  and  we 
 ougbt  also  humbly  to  stvidy  them,  though,  like  many  olhpr 
 parts  of  his  word,  they  may  for  a  time  be  wrapped  up  in  ob- 
 scurity. They  have  been  and  are  fulfilling,  and  it  is  an  inle- 
 restinir  study  to  watch  the  signs  of  the  times  ;  taking  care  that 
 we  are  not  misled  by  human  systems  and  opinions,  nor  de- 
 luded by  fancy;  and  imploring  light  Divine  to  see  things 
 Divine. 
 
 II.  Dajiiel  prayed  on  the  ground  of  the  prophecies.  Here  is  a 
 model  for  our  prayers  on  the  same  ground,  while  we  look 
 for  the  accomplishment  of  all  that  relates  to  the  Messiah's 
 kingdom. 
 
 920 
 
 HI.  Daniel  received  the  prcafest  cncmtragement  from  his  praper. 
 While  he  was  speaking,  praying,  confessing,  and  supplicating, 
 God  heard  him,  and  sent  bis  ange!  to  enligliten  liis  mind  and 
 strengthen  bis  heart,  and  shew  bim  things  to  come.  And  in- 
 valuable is  that  prophecy  whioli  he  has  left  as  a  legacy  to 
 confirm  the  faith  of  the  church  in  the  glorious  JMessiah.  The 
 Jews,  confounded,  will  allow  Daniel  no  place  among  the  pro- 
 piiets — another  among  the  many  proofs  tlitit  blindness  has 
 happened  to  Israel.  Let  our  hearts  thankfully  rejoice  in  that 
 Saviour  who  has  finished  transgression,  made  an  end  of  sin- 
 offering,  and  brought  in  everlasting  righteousness,  which  is 
 to  all.  and  upon  all,  tiiem  that  believe. 
 
The  overthrow  of  Pers 
 
 DANIEL,  XI. 
 
 /'//  t/ic  lihig  of  Grecta. 
 
 not :  peace  be  unto  thee,  be  strong,  yea,  be 
 strong.  And  when  he  had  spoken  unto  me,  1 
 was  strengthened,  and  said.  Let  my  lord  speak  ; 
 for  thou  hast  strengthened  me. 
 
 20  Then  said  he,  Knowest  thou  wherefore  I 
 come  unto  thee  ?  and  now  will  I  return  to 
 fight  '  with  the  prince  of  Persia  :  and  when  1 
 am  gone  forth,  lo,  the  prince  of  Grecia  shall 
 come. 
 
 21  But  I  will  shew  thee  that  which  is  noted 
 in  the  scripture  of  truth  :  and  there  is  none 
 that  fholdeth  with  me  in  these  things,  "' but 
 Michael  your  prince. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Tlie  overthrow  of  Pt-rsin  hy  the  king  of  Grecia.  5 
 Leagues  and  conflicts  heticeen  the  kings  of  the  south 
 and  of  the  north.  30  The  invasion  and  tyranny  of 
 the  Romans,  • 
 
 A  LSO  I  "in  the  first  year  of  "Darius  the 
 -^^  Mede,  even  I,  stood  to  confirm  and  to 
 strengthen  him. 
 
 2  And  now  will  I  shew  thee  the  truth.  Ue- 
 hold,  there  shall  stand  up  yet  three  kings  in 
 Persia ;  and  the  fourth  shall  be  far  richer  than 
 fhe^  all :  and  by  his  strength  through  his  riches 
 he  shall  stir  up  all  against  the  realm  of  Grecia. 
 
 3  And  '^a  mighty  king  shall  stand  up,  that 
 shall  rule  with  great  donnnion,  and  '^do  accord- 
 ing to  his  will. 
 
 4  And  when  he  shall  stand  up/ his  kingdom 
 shall  be  broken,  and  shall  be  divided  toward 
 the  four  winds  of  heaven  ;  and  not  to  his  pos- 
 terity, ""nor  according  to  his  dominion  which 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 stTF.iiglhen- 
 
 fih  htiniflf. 
 m  ver.  13. 
 
 Jude  9. 
 
 Rev.  12.  7. 
 
 d  ch.  8.  4. 
 ver.  IG,  .-ie. 
 
 /ch.  a.  22. 
 
 t  Heh.  shall 
 thevudvct. 
 
 II  Or,  ip/t..in 
 f:rOi. 
 
 II  Or.  .„  hii 
 ,.l..,-r,  ,.r, 
 
 vfi-.  '2it. 
 
 of  Ihcir  ((fi- 
 
 ll Or,  sluill 
 
 wnr. 
 g  Is.  8.  fl. 
 
 ch.  9  'i^i. 
 \\  Or,  thfn 
 
 skill  hebe 
 
 ,lirr.<t  u,. 
 
 he  ruled  :  for  his  kingdom  shall  be  plucked 
 up,  even  for  others  beside  those. 
 
 5  II  And  the  king  of  the  south  shall  be. 
 strong,  and  one  of  his  princes;  and  he  shall  be 
 strong  above  him,  and  have  dominion  ;  his  do- 
 minion shall  be  a  great  dominion. 
 
 6  And  in  the  end  of  years  they  f  shall  join 
 themselves  together;  for  tlie  king's  daughter 
 of  the  south  shall  come  to  the  king  of  the 
 north  to  make  fan  agreement:  but  she  shall 
 not  retain  the  power  of  the  arm  ;  neither  shall 
 he  stand,  nor  his  arm  :  but  she  shall  be  given 
 up,  and  they  that  brought  her,  and  ||  he  that 
 begat  her,  and  he  that  strengthened  her  in 
 these  times. 
 
 7  But  out  of  a  branch  of  her  roots  shall  one 
 stand  up  ||  in  his  estate,  which  shall  come  with 
 an  army,  and  shall  enter  into  the  fortress  of 
 tlie  king  of  the  north,  and  shall  deal  against 
 them,  and  shall  prevail  : 
 
 8  And  shall  also  carry  captives  into  Egypt 
 tlieir  gods,  with  their  princes,  and  with  f  their 
 precious  vessels  of  silver  and  of  gold;  and  he 
 shall  continue  7nore  years  than  the  king  of  the 
 north. 
 
 9  So  the  king  of  the  south  shall  come  into 
 his  kingdom,  and  shall  return  into  his  own 
 land. 
 
 10  But  his  sons  ||  shall  be  stirred  up,  and 
 shall  assemble  a  multitude  of  great  forces: 
 and  one  shall  certainly  come,  ^  and  overflow, 
 and  pass  through  :  ||  then  shall  he  return,  and 
 be  stirred  up,  ^eve7i  to  his  fortress. 
 
 20.  The  prince  of  Persia,  a.  i>arty  in  the  Persian  state. — Homley.  The 
 evil  spirit  in  the  court  of  Persia.  Lo,  the  jtrince  of  Grena  shall  come, 
 the  Persian  monarcliy  should  be  translated  to  the  Grecians. — So  GUI. 
 By  '  the  prince  of  CJrecia'  is  to  be  understood,  a  party  in  the  Greek 
 empire  which  persecuted  the  Jewish  religion  after  the  death  of  Alex- 
 andcr  the  Great,  particularly  in  the  Greek  king-dom  o^  Syria. — Horsier/. 
 I  believe  this  refers  to  Ale.'tander  the  Great,  who  was  to  destroy  tlic 
 Persian  empire, — Clarke.  The  dominion  should  be  turned  from  Persia 
 to  Greece,  which  would  be  more  favourable  to  the  Jews  than  Persia 
 in  after  time  was. — Scott.  21.  Noted,  fyc,  perhaps  referring  to  what 
 he  had  already  written  down. — Clarke.  None  that  holdath,  fyc.,  that 
 join  with  me  in  defending  the  cause  of  the  Jews,  hut  Michael. — Hew. 
 Michael,  who  always  has  been  supposed  the  guardian  of  the  Jewish 
 nation. — Clarke.  Michael  must  here  sif^nify  some  angel.— ZJooMj*. 
 Jesus  Christ  alone  is  the  champion  and  protector  of  his  church. — Poole. 
 Christ,  the  Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth,  was  the  prince,  protector, 
 and  guardian  of  the  people  of  the  Jews,  he  was  the  Angel  that  went 
 before  them  in  the  wilderness,  &tc. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XI.  —  1.  Also  J,  iyc. — this  verse  should  be  joined  with  the  last 
 of  the  preceding  chapter,  'there  is  no  one  that  sud  orteth  me  in  these 
 things  but  Michael  your  prince,  whom  I,  in  the  firsVyear  of  Darius  the 
 Mede,  stood  to  confirm  and  to  strengthen.' — Boothr.  Tlie  angel  adds, 
 that  at  the  time  of  the  overthrow  of  the  Babylonish  monarchy,  he 
 assisted  in  advancing  Darius  to  the  succession,  which  was  the  occasion 
 of  restoring  the  Jewish  captivity.— Pre6.  Lotvth.  The  contests  and 
 aids  of  these  spiritual  beings  must  have  been  intellectual,  influencing 
 the  minds  and  counsels  of  rulers  and  generals. —  Wil.,  Ed.  2.  Stand 
 up  yet  three  kings  in  Persia — Cyrus,  the  founder  of  the  empire,  now 
 reigned,  and  was  succeeded  by Cambyscs,  the  Ahasuerus of  Scripture; 
 Smerrtis,  the  Magian  ;  and  Darius,  the  son  of  Hystaspes. — Bp.  Newton, 
 Boofhr.,  Wintle,  8fC.  Then  came  a /oi^r^A,  Xerxes.  Far  richer,  he 
 had  all  the  wealth  of  his  predecessors,  to  which  he  greatly  added. 
 Throuffh  his  riches,  which  are  the  sinews  of  war. — Gill.  Stir  up  all — 
 Herodotus  names  the  princes  of  his  forces  of  more  than  forty  nations, 
 throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the  Persian  dominions.— A'eiVft.  His 
 army  and  navy,  according  to  the  calculations  of  Groliiis  from  Hero- 
 dotus, consisted  of  5,2«3,-220,  when  he  marched  into  Greece.— Gi7/. 
 His  fleet  from  Asia  consisted  of  1200  ships  ;  he  bribed  the  Carthaginians 
 to  join  him,  and  had  vessels  and  troops  even  from  Spain,  Gaul,  and 
 Italy,  for  his  gold  and  silver.— ATetVA.  The  words,  TV  mD'?0  DH  b^7^  T3?\ 
 may  be  rendered,  'he  shall  stir  up  nil,  even  the  kingdom  of  Grecia.' 
 — Mich.  By  this  pre]iarati<m,  he  raised  all  the  states  of  Greece  against 
 him,  and  put  the  Grecians  upon  after  attempts  to  avenge  themselves, 
 till  they  had  ruined  the  Persian  empire. — Gill.     Xerxes  was  the  prin- 
 
 cipal  author  of  the  long  wars  and  hatred  between  the  Grecians  and 
 Persians;  and  as  he  was  the  last  king  of  Persia  who  invaded  Greece, 
 he  is  the  last  mentioned.  :i.  .4  mig/ity  king,  Alexander. — Bp.  Newton. 
 4.  Stand  tip,  be  in  the  height  of  his  prosperity. — Preb.Lowth.  5.  Ki7ig 
 of  the  south,  of  Egypt,  which  lay  south  of  Judea.— Pi-ei.  Lowth,  Wil. 
 Shall  be  strong — Ptolemy  Lagus,  one  of  Alexander's  generals,  who 
 had  Egypt  for  his  share,  reigned  over  Egypt,  Lybia,  Cyrene,  Ethiopia, 
 Arabia,  Phcenicia,  Coele-Syria,  Cyprus,  and  several  isles  in  the  ^gean 
 Se^,  and  many  cities  in  Greece.  Arid  one  of  liis  princes,  one  of  Alex- 
 ander's princes,  Seleucus  Nicator,  afterwards  called  king  of  the  north, 
 having  Syria  for  his  part,  which  was  north  of  Egypt,— (jiV/,-  and  north 
 of  Judca. —  Wil.  He  shall  be  strong  above  htm — Seleucus,  having  an- 
 nexed the  kingdoms  of  Macedon  and  Thrace  to  the  crown  of  Syria, 
 became  master  of  three  parts  out  of  four  of  Alexander's  dominions. — 
 Bp.  Newton.  6.  .Joi7i — by  a  matrimonial  alliance,  Antiochus  Theus, 
 the  third  king  of  Syria,  agreed  to  make  peace  with  Ptolemy  Phila- 
 delphus,  the  second  king  of  Egypt,  on  condition  of  putting  away  his 
 former  wife,  Laodice,  and  her  two  sons,  and  marrying  Berenice,  the 
 daugliter  of  Ptolemy,  She  shall  not  retain  the  power  of  the  ami,  her 
 interest  and  power  with  Antiochus. — Bp.  Newton.  Policy  gave  way 
 to  revived  aflection,  and  Antiochus  recalled  Laodice,  and  abandoned 
 Berenice. — Keith.  Neither  sliall  tie  stand — Laodice,  fearing  tliat  Bere- 
 nice might  be  recalled,  caused  Antiochus  to  be  poi'^oned. — Bp.  Newton, 
 Keith.  Nor  his  arm,  nor  his  seed.  His  seed,  by  Berenice,  did  not 
 succeed  him,  but  Laodice  secured  the  throne  for  her  eldest  son,  Seleu- 
 cus Callinicus.  She  shall  be  giren  up,  Berenice,  whom  Laodice  also 
 caused  to  be  murdered.  Tttey  that  brought  her,  her  Egyptian  women 
 were  slain  in  defending  her.  He  Hint  begat  her,  'he  whom  she  had 
 brought  forth ;'  the  son  of  Berenice  was  also  murdered  by  means  of 
 Laodice.  He  that  strengthened  her,  understand  here,  her  father, 
 Ptolemy,  who  was  very  fond  of  her.  7.  Out  of  a  branch  of  fwr  roots, 
 SfC,  Ptdlemy  Euergetes,  brother  of  Berenice,  hastened  with  all  his  forces 
 to  relieve  his  sister.  Hearing  of  her  murder,  lie  resolved  to  revenge 
 her  death.  And  shall  enter,  ^-t-.- many  cities  revolted  against  the 
 cruel  (pieen,  and  joined  Ptolemy.  And  shall  prevail,  betook  Syria, 
 and  Ciiicia,  and  the  upper  parts  beyond  Euphrates,  and  almost  all  Asia. 
 Their  gods— he  took  away  2500  images  of  these.  Precious  nesseL-i,  fyc. — 
 he  took  40,000  talents  of  silver  and  precious  vessels. — Bp.  Newton,  and 
 Keith.  10.  His  S071S  shall  be  stirred  up,  obviously  the  sons  of  the 
 king  of  the  north,  (see  ver.  11.) — Ed.  The  sons  of  Callinicus  were 
 Seleucus  and  Antiochus.  The  former  succeeded  his  father  in  the  rem- 
 nant of  the  kingdom,  but  lived  not  to  recover  any  part  of  his  lost  do- 
 minions. One  shall  certainly  come — Antiochus  came  with  a  great  array, 
 retook  Seleucia,  and  recovered  Syria. — Bp.  Newton,  Kei  th     Even  tv 
 
 Rf.flf-Ctioxs  on  Chap.  X. —  I.  DanicVs  grief  for  the  cause 
 of  God  should  shame  us  that  we  are  not  mare  anxiously  con- 
 cerned for  its  welfare,  and  more  deeply  afi'^ted  by  the  impe- 
 diments wliich  stand  in  the  way  to  its  progress. 
 
 II.  DanieVs  encouragements  under  his  depression  should 
 strengthen  those  that  are  pained  for  the  state  of  religion  in 
 921 
 
 the  churcli  and  the  world.  Let  it  be  remembered,  that '  more 
 are  they  that  are  with  us  than  they  that  are  against  us,'  and 
 that  '  through  God  we  shall  do  valiantly.'  Cheering  are  the 
 prospects  of  the  latter  days,  and  those  brighter  scenes  shoa.d 
 strengthen  and  animate  our  hearts. 
 
 6   B 
 
Conflicts  between  the  Uinrja  of 
 
 DANIEL,  XI. 
 
 the 
 
 Hill  and  uf  the  north. 
 
 1 1  And  the  king  of  the  south  shall  be  moved 
 with  choler,  and  shall  come  forth  and  fight 
 with  him,  even  with  the  king  of  the  north  : 
 and  he  shall  set  forth  a  great  multitude  ;  but 
 the  multitude  shall  he  given  into  his  hand. 
 
 ii  ^H(/ wlien  he  hath  taken  away  the  multi- 
 tude, his  heart  shall  be  lifted  up  ;  and  he  shall 
 cast  down  many  ten  thousands  ;  but  lie  shall 
 not  be  strengthened  by  it. 
 
 13  For  the  king  of  the  north  shall  return, 
 and  siiall  set  forth  a  multitude  greater  than 
 the  former,  and  shall  certainly  come  f  after 
 certain  years  with  a  great  army  and  with  much 
 riches. 
 
 14  And  in  those  times  there  shall  many 
 stand  up  against  the  king  of  the  south  :  also 
 f  the  robbers  of  thy  people  shall  exalt  them- 
 selves to  establisl)  tlie  vision  ;  but  they  shall 
 fall. 
 
 15  So  the  king  of  tlie  north  shall  come,  and 
 cast  up  a  mount,  and  take  f  the  most  fenced 
 cities :  and  the  arms  of  the  south  shall  not 
 withstand,  neither  f  his  chosen  people,  neitlier 
 shall  there  be  any  strength  to  withstand. 
 
 16  But  he  tliat  cometh  against  him  'shall  do 
 according  to  his  own  will,  and  ''  none  shall 
 stand  before  him  :  and  he  shall  stand  in  the 
 lit  glorious  land,  which  by  his  hand  shall  be 
 consumed. 
 
 17  He  shall  also  'set  his  face  to  enter  with 
 the  strength  of  his  whole  kingdom,  and  ||  up- 
 right ones  with  him  ;  thus  shall  he  do  :  and 
 he  shall  give  him  the  daughter  of  women, 
 t corrupting  her:  but  she  shall  not  stand  on 
 his  side,  "'neither  be  for  him. 
 
 18  After  this  shall  he  turn  his  face  unto  the 
 isles,  and  shall  take  many:  but  a  prince  ffor 
 his  own  behalf  shall  cause  f  the  reproach  of- 
 fered by  him  to  cease  ;  without  his  own  re- 
 proach he  shall  cause  it  to  turn  upon  him. 
 
 19  Then  he  shall  turn  his  face  toward  tlie 
 
 )  Hob.  nt  Iht 
 end  iif  limei, 
 
 f  Heb.  f/.f 
 ribberi. 
 
 \  Heb.  the 
 
 tlim*. 
 t  Heb.  He 
 
 1  ch.  8.  4,  7. 
 ver.  3,  se. 
 tJo.L.  1.5. 
 
 11  Or,  gondlt/ 
 
 Unrt,  eh.  S. 
 
 9.ver..ll,15 
 t  Heb    Ihr 
 
 land  o/-,.r,.u- 
 
 iitt'il. 
 t  ?  Chr.Si'.:* 
 II  Or,  mud, 
 
 upTightHfU  : 
 
 t  Heb.  ta 
 
 corrupt, 
 m  ell.  y.  26. 
 
 t  Helv  M 
 
 him. 
 t  H^h.  hit 
 
 repruach. 
 
 /.  Ji.b  ^1).  B. 
 
 Pa.  37-  S6 
 
 F.ie.  26.21. 
 II  (Ir,  ...  hit 
 
 pI<i.-F.  ver,7. 
 t  Heb.  uw 
 
 Ih'il  caiiicth 
 
 )\\<^h-a„gnt. 
 II   Or,  ..,/,.* 
 
 q  cli.  8.  10, 
 11,25. 
 Kulfilled 
 
 1)  Or,  ifito  Oil 
 aiidfi:,  4-c. 
 
 t  Heb    think 
 hit  thuughU. 
 
 Fulfilled 
 ctr.  170. 
 
 /  rer.  10,22. 
 \  \Wh.  their 
 hrartt. 
 
 <i  ver.  ?9,  35, 
 40.  cli.a  19. 
 
 X  I  MaC'  1. 
 
 1<). 
 y  ver.  2-3. 
 
 I  M»c.i.-:;o, 
 
 8cc.  2  Mac. 
 5.11, 14,  &c. 
 
 fort  of  his  own  land:  but  he  shall  stumble  and 
 fall,  "  and  not  be  found. 
 -20  Then  shall  stand  up  ||  in  his  estate  f  a 
 raiser  of  taxes  in  the  glory  of  tlie  kingdom  : 
 but  within  few  days  he  shall  be  destroy eti, nei- 
 ther in  t  anger,  nor  in  battle. 
 
 21  And  II  in  his  estate  "shall  stand  up  a  vile 
 person,  to  whom  they  shall  not  give  the 
 honour  of  the  kingdom  :  but  he  shall  come  in 
 peaceably,  and  obtain  the  kingdom  by  flat- 
 teries. 
 
 22  ^  And  with  the  arms  of  a  flood  shall  they 
 be  overflown  from  before  him,  and  shall  be 
 broken;  ''  yea, also  the  prince  of  the  covenant. 
 
 23  And  after  the  league  made  with  him  Mie 
 shall  work  deceitfully  ;  for  he  shall  come  up, 
 and  shall  become  strong  with  a  small  people. 
 
 24  He  shall  enter  ||  peaceably  even  upon  the 
 fattest  places  of  the  province  ;  and  he  shall  do 
 that  which  his  fathers  iiave  not  done,  nor  his 
 fathers'  fathers  ;  ^  he  shall  scatter  among  them 
 the  prey,  and  spoil,  and  riches  :  yea^  and  he 
 siiall  f  forecast  his  devices  against  the  strong 
 holds,  even  for  a  time. 
 
 25  And  he  shall  stir  up  his  power  and  his 
 courage  against  the  king  of  the  south  with  a 
 great  army  ;  and  the  king  of  the  south  shall  be 
 stirred  up  to  battle  with  a  very  great  and 
 miiihty  army ;  but  he  shall  not  stand  :  for  they 
 shall  forecast  devices  against  him. 
 
 2(i  Yea,  they  that  feed  of  the  portion  of  his 
 meat  shall  destroy  him,  and  his  army  shall 
 *  overflow  :  and  many  shall  fall  down  slain. 
 
 27  And  both  these  kings'  fhearts  shall  be  to 
 do  mischief,  and  they  shall  speak  lies  at  one 
 table  ;  but  it  shall  not  prosper:  for  "yet  the 
 end  shall  be  at  the  time  appointed. 
 
 28  Then  shall  be  return  into  his  land  ^with 
 great  riches  ;  and  ''  his  heart  shall  be  against 
 the  holy  covenant ;  and  he  shall  do  exploits, 
 and  return  to  his  own  land. 
 
 /its /orircM,  with  a  numerous  army  he  threatened  Raphia,  a  fortified 
 city  in  Egypt.— GiV/.  n.The  king  of  the  south  shall  be  moved,  Pto- 
 lemy Philopater,  a  luxurious  prince,  wa-s  mused  by  a  sense  of  danger. 
 Shall  come  forth,  he  marched,  and  encamped  near  Raphia.  Arid  he 
 shall  set  forth  a  great  multitude,  Antiochus  had  an  army  of  62,000  foot, 
 6000  horse,  and  102  elephants.  But  the  multitude  shuU  be  given  into 
 his  htmd,  Ptolemy  obtained  a  complete  victnry,  and  obliged  his  oppo- 
 nent to  sue  for  peace.  12.  His  heart  shnll  he  lifted  up ;  and  he  shall 
 cast  down  many  ten  thousands—Ptolemy  was  elated  by  success  ;  he  now 
 visited  the  cities  of  Coele  Syria  and  Palestine,  which  had  submitted  to 
 him  ;  and  entering  Jerusalem,  was  desirous  of  even  penetrating  into 
 the  holy  of  holies.  This  the  Jews  succeeded  in  preventing.  But  he 
 returned  displeased,  and  about  tliis  time  slew  between  40  and  6o  thou- 
 sand Jews  in  Egypt.  He  shall  not  be  strengthened,  the  loss  of  these, 
 and  the  revolt  uf  other  subjects,  greatly  weakened  his  dominions. 
 13.  The  king  nf  the  north  shall  returji,  after  fourteen  years,  Antiochus, 
 having  become  rich,  renewed  his  attack  on  Egypt,  whose  king  was 
 Ptolemy  Epiphanes,  son  of  Ptolemy  Philopater,  a  child  of  four  nr  five 
 years  old,  expecting  easy  victory  over  an  infant  sovereign.  14.  ^hall 
 many  stand  tip,  the  provinces  before  subject  to  Egypt  rebelled,  and 
 Egypt  itself  was  disturbed  by  seditions  ;  Philip,  king  of  Macedon,  also 
 joined  Antiochus.— B/j.  Newton,  Keith.  Also  the  robbers  of  thy  people, 
 this  is  directed  to  Daniel,  and  respects  the  Jews,  his  countrymen. — 
 Gill.  Literally, '  the  sons  of  the  breakers,'  i.  e.,  the  refractory  ones  '  of 
 thy  peojilc,'  the  Jews.  To  establish  the  vision,  contribute  to  its  fulfil- 
 ment. They  shall  fall,  Scopas,  with  a  powerful  army  from  Ptolemy, 
 soon  reduced  Palestine  to  former  obedience.  1.5.  And  cast  up  a  mount, 
 iffC.—arms,  '  armies.*— Ges.  See  note  by  Keith,  ver.  31.  Antiochus 
 came  again,  and  shut  up  Scopas  in  Sidon,  which  he  besieged,  and  com- 
 pelled him  to  surrender.  His  chosen  people,  his  choicest  troops.  The 
 glorious  land,  the  Jews  submitted  to  him.  Consumed,  the  country  be- 
 came  much  wasted.  17.  To  e?iter,  into  Egypt  itself .  With  the  strength, 
 ^c,  with  all  his  forces.  And  upright  ones,  the  Jewish,  sn  distinguished 
 from  idolatrous,  soldiers.  He  shall  give  him  the  daughter  of  u- amen— 
 Antiochus,  however,  judged  it  better  to  proceed  bv  stratagem,  for  he 
 meditated  war  with  the  Romans.  He  therefore  gave  his  most  hpau- 
 tiful  daughter  Cleopatra  to  Ptolemy,  with  large  dowry-  of  stales.  Cor. 
 ruptmg  her,  to  betray  her  husband's  interests.  Neither  be  for  him, 
 Cleopatra  affected  the  cause  of  her  husband  more  than  of  her  father. 
 18.  Unto  the  tslts,  ^c.,  of  the  Mediterranean,  manv  of  which  Antiochus 
 subdued.     A  prince,  a  Roman  general,  Ac,  repelled  the  injury,  and 
 
 caused  the  r-^nroach to  cttise.  if).  The  fort   of  his  own  laud 
 
 922 
 
 Antioch,  whither  Antiochus  fled  after  his  defeat.  Stumble  and  fall, 
 he  went  to  collect  his  arrears  of  tribute  in  the  eastern  provinces,  but 
 attempting  to  plunder  the  rich  temple  of  Jupiter  Belus,  in  Elymais,  the 
 people  slew  hira.  20.  Stand  up  in  his  estate,  in  the  room  of  Antiochus. 
 A  raiser  of  taxes,  Seleucus  Philopater,  who  succeeded  the  former,  his 
 father,  and  being  subject  to  pay  a  thousand  talents  annually  to  the 
 Romans,  he  was  little  more  than  a  raiser  of  taxes  all  his  days.  The 
 margin  reads,  '  one  that  causeth  an  exactor  to  pass  over.*  The  glory 
 of  the  kingdom,  he  sent  his  treasurer  to  plunder  the  temple  of  Jeru- 
 salem, the  glory  of  the  kingdom. — J3p.  Newton.  Days,  i.e.,  years;  he 
 reigned  twelve  years.  Be  destroyed,  he  was  poisoned  by  his  treasurer, 
 Heliodorus,  as  supposed.— G(7/.  21.  A  vile  person,  Autiochii&  Epi- 
 
 phanes ;  he  was  brother  to  Seleucus,  and  was  then  at  Athens.  Helio- 
 dorus  tried  to  seize  the  kingdom,  and  some  partizans  of  Cleopatra  tried 
 to  secure  it  for  her  son  Ptolemy  Philometer,  King  of  Egypt ;  the  right 
 heir  was  Demetrius,  son  of  Seleucus,  but  lie  was  a  hostage  at  Rome. 
 Obtain  the  kingdom  by  Jlattertes,  the  usurper  flattered  the  Syrians  and 
 the  Romans,  to  whom  he  sent  ambassadors,  and  entirely  succeeded. — 
 Bp.  Newton.  22.  Arms,  'armies.' — Ges.  Shnll  they  be  overjiown, 
 the  partizans  of  Heliodnrus  and  Cleopatra;  and  the  prince  of  the  cove- 
 nant,  the  high  priest  of  the  Jews,  all  were  overcome  by  him.— J5p. 
 Newton.  2:1.  He  shall  come  up,  from  Rome,  where  he  had  been  a 
 hostage  for  the  payment  of  a  tax. — A.Clarke.  With  a  s?nall  people, 
 he  had  only,  at  first,  a  few  attendants.  24.  Do  that  wfiich  his  fathers 
 h'ld  not  done,  in  the  liberal  giving  of  gifts,  'he  abounded  above  the 
 kings  that  were  before  him,'  (1  Mac.  iii.  30.)  Forecast  his  devices, 
 against  the  strongholds  of  his  enemies  the  Egyptians.  25.  He  shall 
 
 stir  up  his  power,  ^c— see  1  Mac.  i.  16— 19.  '  He  entered  into  Egypt 
 with  a  great  multitude.'  The  kinq  of  the  south — not  stand,  '  Ptolemy 
 was  afraid,  and  fled.* — Bp.  Netcton.  They  shall  forecast  devices,  pro- 
 bably  his  ministers  and  captains  were  corrupted,  26.  They  that  feed, 
 ?fc.,  they  that  were  in  his  confidence  and  pay  betrayed  hira,  so  that  he 
 and  his  army  were  defeated.  27.  Speak  lies  at  one  table,  Ptolemy 
 Philometer  was  nephew  of  Antiochus,  and  the  latter  now  pretended  to 
 favour  his  interest.  When  Antiochus  came  to  Memphis,  he  and  Philo- 
 meter had  frequent  conferences  at  the  same  table,  mutually  flattering 
 and  deceiving  each  other;  the  uncle  professing  friendship,  and  the 
 nephew  pratilude.  Not  prosper,  neither  succeed.  28.  Rttnrii—with 
 great  riches,  from  the  spoils  he  took  in  Egypt,  (see  1  Mac.  i.  19,  20.) — 
 Clarke.  Against  the  holy  covenant,  between  God  and  the  Jews.— GtV/. 
 He  shall  do  exploits— the  citizens  of  Jerusalem  ha^  ing  made  rejoicings 
 on  a  rejiort  of  his  death,  he  avenged  hiuihclf,  besi'gcd  the  city,  slew 
 
L'onjiicts  between  the  kiiiijs  of 
 
 DANIEL,  XI. 
 
 the  north  and  of  the  south. 
 
 ■29  At  the  time  appointed  he  shall  return,  and 
 come  toward  the  scutli  ;  '  hut  it  shall  not  he 
 as  the  former,  "  or  as  the  latter. 
 
 30  t  "*  For  the  ships  of  Chittim  shall  come 
 ajjainst  him  :  therefore  he  shall  he  grieved,  and 
 return,  and  have  indignation  '  against  the  holy 
 covenant:  so  shall  he  do;  he  shall  even  return, 
 ■■and  have  intelligence  with  them  that  forsake 
 the  holy  covenant. 
 
 .">  I  And  arms  shall  stand  on  his  part,  "  and 
 they  shall  pollute  the  sanctuary  of  strength, 
 and  shall  take  away  the  daily  sacrifice,  '  and 
 they  shall  place  the  ahomination  that  ||  maketh 
 desolate. 
 
 32  '"'  And  such  as  do  wickedly  agaijist  the 
 covenant  shall  be  ||  corrupt  hy  flatteries  ;  ''hut 
 the  people  that  do  know  their  God  shall  be 
 strong,  and  do  eipluits. 
 
 33  '  And  they  that  understand  among  the 
 people  shall  instruct  many  :  '  yet  they  shall 
 fall  by  the  sword,  and  by  flame,  by  captivity, 
 and  by  spoil,  many  days. 
 
 34  Now  when  they  shall  fall,  '  they  shall  be 
 liolpen  with  a  little  help:  "'but  many  shall 
 cleave  to  them  with  flatteries. 
 
 35  And  some  of  them  of  understanding  shall 
 
 n  c. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  531. 
 
 cir-  SM. 
 
 i  Ycr.  2.S. 
 
 ■I  ch.  12.    10 
 
 a  VLT    yf. 
 
 1  Ptt.  1.  7 
 
 6Nu.  ■:\   2-1. 
 
 II  t)r,/^v  "*>•'» 
 
 Jer.  L'    H». 
 
 :  eh.  S.  17, 
 
 c  ver.  28. 
 
 19.  ver.  W 
 
 I  Mac.  1.30, 
 
 P  ver.  29, 
 
 4-1,  Kc. 
 
 q  ver.  16. 
 
 2  Mac.5.24, 
 
 Tch.  7.  8,  25 
 
 &c 
 
 &  3.  25. 
 
 Kul&lled 
 
 2  Thes.  2,4 
 
 cir.  If.9. 
 
 Kev.  I3.j,6 
 
 d  1  Mr.p.  1, 
 
 i  ch.  fi.  11, 
 
 4.S,52.2Mac. 
 
 L^4.25. 
 
 5.    15,  23. 
 
 /  ch    9.  27, 
 
 Fumiled 
 
 -  1  Tim,4  3. 
 
 cir.  168. 
 
 J   Is    14,   13. 
 
 .=  ch.  8.  11. 
 
 2Tlies,2.4. 
 
 &  12.   II. 
 
 li  Or,  Bui  ... 
 
 1  Mac.  I.S7, 
 
 hit  tlcait 
 
 39,4-l,45,4li. 
 
 i  Heb    „.  for 
 
 f\  Mac.  1.54, 
 
 (lie  uhuii/hfi/ 
 
 5!).  &  4   38. 
 
 God,  mhii 
 
 1  Or,  a*to- 
 
 ,fat  he  il>all 
 
 nufieltt. 
 
 honour,  t/m. 
 
 a  1  Mac.  1 . 
 
 he  ihatl  ho- 
 
 4a,  52. 
 
 „ouT  a  sod. 
 
 ^Mac.t,].-!, 
 
 irhvm.  4c. 
 
 14.  &  b.  15. 
 
 II   Or.m.u- 
 
 \\Q)T,cnnie  tn 
 
 dissemble. 
 
 t  Heb.jl/«Ni- 
 
 /.I  Mac.  1.62. 
 
 lira.or, 
 
 &2.  41,42, 
 
 O-jd'i  i>TO- 
 
 43.  2  Mac.5. 
 
 tec  Ion. 
 
 27.  &  6.  ly. 
 
 t  Heb    (/<i..i/J( 
 
 20.&7.t,8:c. 
 
 drsired. 
 
 i  Mai    2   7. 
 
 Is.   44.  0. 
 
 A  Heb.ll.33, 
 
 t  Heb  /or. 
 
 &c. 
 
 Irestm  af 
 
 /  1  Mac.3.  2. 
 
 miinilioiit. 
 
 2  Mac.  8.  1. 
 
 t  Heb.  a 
 
 >..  S  Mac.  12. 
 
 price. 
 
 40.  &  13.21. 
 
 J,  ver.  35. 
 
 fall,  "  to  try  ||  tiieni,  and  to  purge,  and  tc 
 make  thern  white,  '^  even  to  tiie  time  of 
 the  end:  ''because  it  in  yet  for  a  time  ap- 
 pointed. 
 
 36  And  the  kinj; '' shall  do  according  to  his 
 will ;  and  he  shall  'exalt  himself,  and  magnify 
 himself  above  every  gud,  and  shall  speak  mar- 
 vellous things  '^  against  the  God  of  gods,  and 
 shall  prosper  *  till  the  indignation  be  accom- 
 plished ;  for  that  that  is  determined  shall  be 
 done, 
 
 37  Neither  shall  he  regard  the  God  of  his 
 fathers,  "  nor  the  desire  of  women,  "  nor  regard 
 any  god  :  for  he  shall  magnify  himself  above 
 all. 
 
 38  II  But  fin  his  estate  shall  he  honour  the 
 God  of  il  t  forces:  and  a  god  whom  his  fathers 
 knew  not  shall  he  honour  with  gold,  and  silver, 
 and  with  precious  stones,  and  fpleasant  things. 
 
 39  Thus  shall  he  do  in  the  f  "»t>st  strong 
 holds  with  a  strange  god,  whom  he  shall  ac- 
 knowledge a7id  increase  with  glory  •  and  he 
 shall  cause  them  to  rule  over  many,  and  shall 
 divide  the  land  for  tg^'"- 
 
 40  ^  And  at  the  time  of  the  end  shall  the 
 king  of  the  south  push  at  him  :  and  the  king 
 
 40,000  inhabit3Jits,  and  sold  as  many  more  for  slaves ;  polluted  the 
 temple  and  altar  with  swine's  flesh,  profaned  the  holy  of  liuUes  by 
 breaking  into  it,  took  away  the  golden  vessels  and  other  saored  trea- 
 sures, to  the  value  of  ISOO  talents,  and  then  returned. — Clarke,  Bp. 
 Ntivtoji.  29-  At  the  time  appointed — ver.  28,  Ptolemy  and  his  brother 
 had  now  discovered  his  treachery,  and  united.  And  he  shall  return, 
 hut  did  not  succeed  ;  as  the  former,  as  when  be  overtlirew  the  Egyptian 
 army  at  Pelusium  ;  ur  as  the  latter,  when  he  took  Memphis,  and  sub 
 dued  all  Egypt,  except  Alexandria. — So  Clarke.  30.  The  ships  of  Chit- 
 tim, Grecian  ships,  now  belonging  to  Rome.— Gi7/,  Boothr. ;  which 
 brought  Roman  legates  from  the  senate.— CV«r/,«.  These  legates  re- 
 quired peace  to  be  made,  and  Antiochus  was  ttrrifie(t,  and  withdrew 
 his  array.  And  tutve  indignation  against  the  holtf  covenant,  he  vented 
 all  his  anger  upon  the  jews,  whom  his  general  Apoilonius,  with  an 
 army  of  26,«00  men,  slew,  plundered,  &c. — Bp.  Neu-fon,  Clarke.  And 
 have  intelligence,  ?,c.,  with  wicked  Menclaus,  tlie  high  priest,  and  the 
 aii"state  Jews  united  with  him,  who  furnished  Antiochus  with  all  the 
 irritating  information. — So  C/arke.  See  1  Mac.  i.  42,  62;  2  Mac.  vi. 
 1—9;  confirmed  by  Josephus,    War,  b.  i.,  c.  1,  sec.  I.  31.  Arms, 
 
 '  armies.' — Ges.  '  Arm*'  are  everywhere  in  this  prophecy  put  for  the 
 military  power  of  a  kingdom.— Bp.  Newton.  The  term  translated 
 •  arms,'  denotes  the  arms  of  the  human  body,  and  is  derived  from  a 
 word  which  signifies  '  to  spread  abroad.'  Shall  stand  on  his  part, 
 '  shiU  stand  up  after  him.' — Keith.  This  still  belongs  to  Antiochus, 
 whose  commanders  and  soldiers  defiled  God's  holy  place. —  Gill,  so 
 Poule.  See  1  Mac.  i.  54,  59  ;  2  Mac.  vi.  2.  Antiochus  set  up  the  abo- 
 mination of  desolation  nyrw  the  altar,  even  an  idol  altar,  and  called  the 
 temple,  the  temple  of  Jupiter  Olympius. — Hen.  Another  power  wasin- 
 tn<duced  at  the  30th  verse,  and  to  this  the  narrative  now  turns.  The 
 Romans  had  subdued  Macedonia,  the  fundamental  kingdom  of  the 
 Grecian  empire  ;  their  arms  proceeded  and  stood  up  over  the  Greeks ; 
 and  after  95  years  more,  by  making  war  upon  the  Jews,  they  polluted 
 the  sanctuary,  took  away  the  daily  sacrifice,  the  abomination  of  deso- 
 lation,  spoken  of  by  Daniel  the  prophet,  was  set  up,  and  became  a  sig- 
 nal fur  tlie  Christians  to  flee,  and  thenceforward  the  land  remained  de- 
 solate of  its  old  inhabitants. — Bp.  Newton,  Keith,  as  Sir  I.  Newto?i. 
 32.  Shall  be  corrupted  t)y  flatteries— Ai\\\ochMS  corrupted  many  of  the 
 Jews,  by  gifts  and  presents,  &c.,  to  do  his  pleasure  and  seduce  the 
 people  to  renounce  their  religion  and  give  in  to  his  idolatry,  (see  I  Mac. 
 i.  l6;  2  Mac.  iv.  13,  and  v.  15,  and  vi.  21.)— G//^.  The  Roman  officers 
 and  magistrates  made  use  of  the  most  alluring  promises,  and  terrible 
 thrcatenings,  to  prevail  upon  the  primitive  Christians  to  renounce  their 
 religion  and  ofl^er  incense  to  the  ^^tatnes  of  the  cmiierors  and  images  of 
 the  gods.— B;^.  Newton.  33.  Thei/  that  vnderstatid,  ^-c.,  applicable 
 to  Mattathias,  the  priest  of  Modin,  and  Eleazar,  one  of  the  cliief  scribes, 
 (1  Mac.  ii.  1 ;  2  Mac.  vi.  \G.)—Gill.  The  dispersed  Christians  prose- 
 lyted many  to  their  religion.— B/j.  Neuton.  They  shall  fall  hy  the 
 sword,  the  sword  of  Antiochus,  as  multitudes  of  Jews  did;  and  by 
 fiame,  some  were  burnt  alive  in  caves,  whither  they  had  fled  ;  others, 
 as  the  mother  and  her  seven  sons,  were  cast  into  heated  caldrons  of 
 brass,  (2  Mac.  vi.  11  ;  vii.  3,  5.)  By  captivity — Antiochus  carried  cap- 
 tive women  and  children,  (see  1  Mac.  i.  32 ;  2  Mac.  v.  24.)  By  spoil, 
 the  Jews  were  plundered.  Many  days,  the  time  was  three  years  and  a 
 lialf. — Gill.  All  this  applies  to  the  ten  general  peraecutitms  of  the 
 Christians. — Bp.  Newton,   as  Sir  I.Newton,  ^nd  Cocn.  34.  With   a 
 
 little  help,  Judas  Maccabseus  and  his  brethren,  who  made  heiid  against 
 Antiochus,  pulled  down  the  idolatrous  altars,  $tc.,  (1  Mac.ii.  Ab.)—Hen. 
 Constantius,  Chlorus  and  Constantine  the  Great,  are  alluded  to,  who 
 helped  the  Christians.— Core,  Sir  I.  Newton.  This  is  called  a  little 
 lielp,  because,  though  it  added  much  to  the  temporal,  it  added  little  to 
 the  spiritual,  prosperity  of  Christians.  —  Bp.  Neirton.  Perhaps  this 
 refers  only  to  the  short  intervals  of  rest  bttwecn  the  persevnrinns. — 
 yVit.      Many  shall  cleave  to  them    with  flatteries,   many  craftily  crept 
 
 into  the  church  and  falsely  assumed  the  name  of  Christians.— ATeiVA. 
 35.  To  try  thevi,  Sfc,  persecutions  and  afflictions  were  to  produce  puri- 
 fication.— Erf.  36.  And  the  king  shall  do,  i^c.,— some  think  here  be- 
 gins a  prophecy  of  the  Antichrist,  the  papal  kingdom  ;  but  this  being  a 
 continued  discourse,  still  means  Antiochus,  who,  however,  was  a  type 
 and  figure  of  the  man  of  sin,  (2  Thes.  ii.  4.)  as  was  also  Babylon.- So 
 Henry.  Not  Antiochus,  for  he  could  not  do  as  he  would,  being  curbed 
 hy  the  Romans,  but  rather  the  Roman  people  is  here  inteiided,  under 
 the  name  of  a  king  or  kingdom,  rising  up  to  universal  monarchy  upon 
 the  decline  of  the  Grecian  empire.— Gi/^  The  Roman  government, 
 whether  of  senators,  emperors,  or  bishop.— Pow/e.  Tlie  Roman  state, 
 under  what  kind  of  government  soever.  —  Mede.  An  antichristian 
 power  that  should  spring  up  in  the  church,  after  Rome  was  become 
 Chrislian  ;  it  began  in  the  Roman  emperors,  who  summoned  councils, 
 Sic.~Bp.  Newton.  Magnify  Ai/juvV/— Antiochus  wrote  to  his  own 
 kingdom  that  every  one  should  leave  his  gods  and  worship  such  as  he 
 ordered,  (l  Mac.  i.  41,  i2.)— Henry.  The  transition  is  easy  from  the 
 type  to  the  antitype,  the  pope  of  Rome  claiming  infallibility.  &.c.—Gitt. 
 See  the  prophecies,  2  Thes.  ii.  4;  Rev.  xiii.  11,  12.:  xviii.3,  !5,  18.— 
 Keith.  Speak  marvellous  things,  so  did  Antiochus,  forbidding  sacri- 
 fices, commanding  the  sabbaths  to  be  profaned,  the  sanctuary  to  be 
 polluted,  SiC,  '  to  the  end  that  they  might  forget  the  law.  and  change 
 all  the  ordinances,'  and  this  upon  pain  of  death,  (1  Mac.  i.  45.)— //f«. 
 The  mere  repetition  of  the  pope's  blasphemies  would  savour  of  impiety, 
 were  they  not  purposely  adduced  to  substantiate  the  prophecy  ;  styled, 
 '  our  Lord  God  the  Pope,'  '  another  God  upon  earth,'  &c. ;  see  quota- 
 tions in  Keith,  Signs  of  the  Times,  vol.  i.,  p.  I06,  &c.,  4th  edit.  Till 
 the  indignation  l»e  accomplished,  till  he,  Antiochus,  had  run  his  length 
 and  filled  up  the  measure  of  his  iniquity. — Henry.  Until  the  I260days 
 or  years  are  ended,  the  date  of  Antichrist's  reign,  {Rev.  xi.  2,  3,  and 
 xiii.  5.)—GiJl.  37.  Neither  shall  he  regard  the  God  of  his  fathers,  ^c. ; 
 ^S.  He  shall  honour  the  Godof  forces,  ^c,  this  seems  to  be  Jupiter 
 Olympus,  never  introduced  among  the  Syrians  before  Antiochus.— 
 Henry.  The  words  may  mean,  'protectors,'  'guardians,'  descriptive 
 of  the  worship  of  saints  and  angels.— B/».  Newton.  The  true  fathers 
 of  the  Christian  church,  and  their  God,  the  popish  church  has  not  re- 
 garded, but  put  councils,  and  traditions,  and  apocryphal  writings,  in 
 their  place.— J.  Clarke.  37.  Nor  shall  he  regard  the  desire  of  women, 
 forbidding  marriage,  and  magnifying  the  single;  so  does  the  pope.— 
 See  Mede.  The  desire  of  women  has  been  supposed  to  be  the  desire  of 
 all  nations;  this  is  the  fancy  of  Faber.  Children  are  the  desire  of 
 women  ;  at  least,  this  was  the  case  among  the  ancients,  (Gen.  xxx.  1.) 
 This  monster  had  no  regard  to  the  desire  of  women.— Wi7.  Honour 
 with  gold,  ^c,  alludes  to  the  costly  shrines  and  images,  &.c.—Bp.  New- 
 ton. 39.  Thus  shall  he  do  in  the  most  strong  holds,  fyc,  in  the  temple 
 of  Jerusalem,  which  is  chilled  the  sanctuary  of  strength,  ver.  31,  and 
 here,  the  fortresses  of  munitions,  he  shall  set  up  the  image  of  his  strong 
 god.— Hf7ir^.  By  'forces,'  C'lyD,  * 7t.ahuzzim,'  (ver.  38,)  we  under- 
 stand '  protectors,  defenders,  guardians,'  (see  on  ver.  37  0  and  the  better 
 to  understand  this  verse,  render  it  thus:— 'Thus  shall  he  do  to  the  de- 
 fenders of  Mahuzzim,  together  with  the  strange  god  whom  he  shall 
 acknowledge;  he  shall  niuUiply  honour,  and  he  .shall  cause  them  to 
 rule  over  many,  and  the  earth  he  shall  divide  for  a  reward.*  The  de- 
 fenders of  Mahuzzim  were  the  popish  ecclesiastics  and  religious  orders, 
 and  they  have  been  honoured,  reverenced,  and  almost  adored  in  former 
 ages. — Bp.  Newton.  A  strtinge  g^orf,  when  the  host  is  elevated,  or  pre- 
 sented to  view,  or  carried  by,  papists  bow  down  as  devoutly  as  ever 
 pagans  knelt  to  the  image  of  Jupiter.  To  rule  over  many — under 
 popery,  trust  was  universally  reposed  in  many  gods  protectors;  every 
 country  had  its  patron  saint;  St.  George  for  England,  St.  Andrew  for 
 Scotland,  &c.  Divide  the  land,  the  mo&t  pleasant  lands  were  divided 
 anion-  the  priories,  monasteries,  &c.— A'«7/(.  40.  At  the  time  vf  the 
 e7id,  that  is,  the  laitcr  days  of  the  Roman  empire.— J/tfrfe.      Shalt  the 
 
The  deliverance  of  Isrni:J. 
 
 DANIEL,  XII. 
 
 The  times  thereof. 
 
 of  the  north  shall  come  ngainst  him  ^  like  a 
 whirlwind,  with  chariots,  "  and  witli  horsemen, 
 and  with  many  ships  ;  and  he  shall  enter  into 
 the  countries,  ^  and  shall  overflow  and  pass 
 over. 
 
 41  He  shall  enter  also  into  the  ||  f  glorious 
 land,  and  many  countries  shall  he  overthrown  : 
 but  these  shall  escape  out  of  his  hand,  '  even 
 Edom.aud  Moab,  and  the  chief  of  the  children 
 of  Animon. 
 
 42  He  shall  f  stretch  forth  his  hand  also 
 upon  the  countries  :  and  the  land  of  Egypt 
 shall  not  escape. 
 
 43  But  he  shall  have  power  over  the  trea- 
 sures of  gold  and  of  silver,  and  over  all  the 
 precious  things  of  Egypt :  and  the  Libyans 
 and  the  Ethiopians  shall  be  ""at  his  steps. 
 
 44  But  tidings  out  of  the  east  and  out  of  the 
 north  shall  trouble  him :  therefore  he  shall  go 
 forth  with  great  fury  to  destroy,  and  utterly  to 
 make  away  many. 
 
 45  And  he  shall  plant  the  tabernacles  of  his 
 palace  between  the  seas  in  "  the  ||  f  glorious 
 holy  mountain  ;  'yet  he  shall  come  to  his  end, 
 and  none  shall  help  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  Michael  shall  deliver  Israel  from  their  troubles.     5 
 Daniel  is  informed  of  the  times. 
 
 A  ND  at  that  time  shall  °  Michael  stand  up, 
 -^^  the  great  prince  wliich  standeth  for  the 
 children  of  thy  people  ;  ''and  there  shall  he  a 
 time  of  trouhle,  such  as  never  was  since  there 
 was  a  nation  even  to  that  same  time :  and  at 
 that  time  thy  people  ^  shall  he  delivered,  every 
 one  that  shall  be  found  '^  written  in  tlie  book. 
 
 •2  And  many  of  them  that  sleep  iu  the  dust 
 of  the  earth  shall  awake,  *  some  to  everlasting 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 cir.  534. 
 
 ;  Is-  -il .    1 
 
 Zech.9.  U. 
 .<  Kzek.3S4, 
 
 h  ver.  10,22 
 II  Or,  fi'iodti/ 
 
 /'.'id.ver  It'. 
 t  Heb.  land 
 
 ')f  deliffhl, 
 
 d  F«.  U.S. 
 
 Judg.  t.  10. 
 e  Ps.  49.  S. 
 
 v»T.  la. 41. 
 
 2  The-1.  2.*. 
 Il  Or,  fffindlj/. 
 t  Hrl>,  nioiiii- 
 
 lain  of  de- 
 
 tight  of  hoti- 
 
 nrtt. 
 f  I  Mac.  6. 
 
 8—16. 
 
 ^Thes.2.8. 
 
 Kev,  iy.2l>. 
 
 a  ch.  10.  13, 
 
 21. 
 b  U.  SG.  90. 
 
 21.  Jer..S0.7. 
 
 Mat.  24,  21. 
 
 THev.  IC.  IS. 
 cKom.ll.gO. 
 A  Ki.  3i.  32. 
 
 1>8,  56.  8,  & 
 
 6y.'28.  Kif. 
 
 1,3.  y.  Luke 
 
 10.  20.  Phil, 
 
 4.  3.  Itov.S. 
 
 5,  &  IH  8. 
 eMAl.25.4fi, 
 
 John  5.  28, 
 29.  Acta  S-l. 
 15. 
 
 /  Is.  60.  24. 
 
 RoQi.  9-  21. 
 K  Cli.  11.83, 
 
 ItOf.iciic/ifrs. 
 /-  Pro    4.   IH. 
 
 Wiad.  3.  7. 
 
 Mat.  13.  -13. 
 t  Jam.  5  -0. 
 *  1  Cor.   If). 
 
 41,  4i. 
 (  ch.  S  26. 
 
 vei".  9. 
 m  Rev.  10.4. 
 
 &  22.  10 
 n  ch.  10.  I. 
 
 ver.  9. 
 
 t  Heb.  l<v- 
 
 0  ch.  10.  1. 
 
 u  ch.  10.  5 
 II  Or, /rom 
 nbovt. 
 
 q  Cb.  8.  13. 
 
 r  r)eu.Si,'10 
 
 Hcv.  10.5,0, 
 ich.4.34. 
 /ch.7.  25. 
 
 Kc  11.  Vi. 
 
 Rev.  12.  11. 
 il  Or,  v„rt. 
 u  Lu.  21,21 
 
 Rev.  10  7. 
 X  ch.  8.  24. 
 
 y  rer   4. 
 
 I  ch    1 1   Sh 
 
 Zech. 13.  Q 
 a  lloA.  14.  9. 
 
 Kl'V.  9    20. 
 
 b  22.  II. 
 b  ch.  11.33. 
 
 36.  John  ; 
 
 17.  &  S.  47. 
 
 &  18.  37, 
 c  ch   8,  II. 
 
 &  II.  31. 
 f  Heb,  to  Kl 
 
 up  lh«  nil/- 
 
 mim  ton, 
 
 life,  and  some  to  shame  ^  and  everlasting  con- 
 tempt. 
 
 3  And  ^they  that  be  ||vvise  shall  ''shine  as 
 the  brightness  of  the  firmament;  *  and  they 
 that  turn  many  to  righteousness  "^  as  the  stars 
 for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 4  '  But  thou,  O  Daniel,  "*  shut  up  the  words, 
 and  seal  the  book,  even  to  "the  time  of  the 
 end:  many  shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  know- 
 ledge shall  be  increased. 
 
 5  t  Then  1  Daniel  looked,  and,  behold,  there 
 stood  other  two,  the  one  on  this  side  of  the 
 f  bank  of  the  river,  and  the  other  on  that  side 
 of  the  bank  °  of  the  river. 
 
 6  And  one  said  to  ^  the  man  clothed  in  linen, 
 which  was  ||  upon  the  waters  of  the  river, 
 ■'  How  long  shall  it  be  to  the  end  of  these 
 wonders? 
 
 7  And  I  heard  the  man  clothed  in  linen, 
 which  ivus  upon  the  waters  of  the  river,  when 
 he  'held  up  his  right  hand  and  his  left  hand 
 unto  heaven,  and  sware  by  him  ^  that  liveth  for 
 ever  *  that  it  shall  be  for  a  time,  times,  and 
 ||an  half;  "and  when  he  shall  have  accom- 
 plished to  scatter  the  power  of  ^  the  holy  peo- 
 ple, all  these  thiinjs  shall  be  tini.shed. 
 
 8  And  I  heard,  but  1  understood  not :  then 
 said  I,  O  my  Lord,  what  shall  be  the  end  of 
 these  things  ? 
 
 9  And  he  said.  Go  thy  way,  Daniel  :  for  the 
 words  are  closed  up  and  sealed  ^  till  the  time 
 of  the  end. 
 
 10  ^  Many  shall  be  purified,  and  made  white, 
 and  tried  ;  °  but  the  wicked  shall  do  wickedly  : 
 and  none  of  the  wicked  shall  understand  ;  but 
 ^  the  wise  shall  understand. 
 
 1 1  And  from  the  time  "  that  the  daily  sacri- 
 fice shall  be  taken  away,  and  \  the  abomina- 
 
 king  of  the  south  push  ut  /n'm— while  the  kingdoms  of  Egypt  and  Syria 
 were  suhsisting,  the  king  of  the  scuth  and  of  the  north  appUed  to  them 
 exclusively;  but  they  did  not  exist  at  the  time  of  which  the  prophet 
 speaks  ;  therefore,  other  southern  and  northern  powers  must  be  sought. 
 These  we  find  in  the  Saracen^;,  who  were  of  the  Arabians,  who  came 
 from  the  south,  headed  by  Mahomet,  who  pushed  ut  him,  made  suc- 
 cessful war  rapidly  on  the  Greek  emperor  Heraclius.  The  king  of  the 
 north,  ^c,  Turks,  originally  Scytliians,  who  seized  the  remains  of  the 
 Greek  empire,  and,  in  time,  mastered  the  whole  with  their  armies, 
 mostly  of  cavalry.  And  with  many  ships,  with  these  they  conquered 
 islands,  and,  at  length,  obtained  Constantinople  in  1453,  which  they 
 still  retain.  Thus  they  mastered  all  Asia  Minor  and  Greece.  4 1 .  En- 
 ter— glorious  land,  subdue  Judea.  Mamj  countries  shall  be  overthrown, 
 as  were  Aleppo.  Damascus,  Gaza,  &c.,  which  they  still  retain.  These 
 shall  escape — Edam,  fyc,  these  and  other  Arabians  have  never  been 
 subdued.  42.  Egi/pt,  Selim  conquered  Egypt,  \h\y,  and  took  all  its 
 spoils,  &c.  43.  Lihyans  and  thf  Ethiopians,  unconquered  Arabs,  who 
 sought  his  friendship.  44.  Out  of  the  east,  fyc,  not  yet  fulfilled.  If 
 understood  of  Antiuchus,  it  might  refer  to  the  news  he  received,  that 
 the  eastern  provinces,  and  the  king  of  Armenia  on  the  north,  were 
 making  preparations  against  him. — See  Prid.,  and  Clarke.  But  if  the 
 Turkish  power,  it  may  mean  the  Per.-^ians  on  the  east,  and  the  Russians 
 on  the  north. — Clarke.  45.   Between   the  seas  in  the  glorious  holi/ 
 
 mountain,  if  we  apply  this  to  Antiochfts,  the  sense  will  be,  that  he  shaU 
 place  the  ensigns  of  his  sovereignty  in  Jerusalem. — See  Grotius.  He 
 shall  make  a  last  stand  in  Judea,  and  be  overthrown.  All  before  ver. 
 30  is  so  correct  an  account,  that  it  is  more  like  a  history  than  a  pro- 
 phecy.—See  Made,  Bp.  Newton,  Clarke.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the 
 application  of  the  latter  jjart  of  thii^  chapter  to  the  Romans,  if  nut  e.\- 
 clusively,  yet  principally,  pointing  out  Korae  pagan.  Christian,  and 
 papal. — Seott.  Various  points  here,  which  agree  with  the  Romans, 
 cannot  well  be  applied  toAntinchus;  as,  regarding  not  the  desire  of 
 women,  &c. — Sec  Mede.     The  last  verses  have  been  considered  as 
 
 pointing  to  Napoleon,  whose  god  was  Mars,  who  turned  his  arms 
 against  the  Holy  Land,  &c.— So  Ret*.  E.  Cooper. 
 
 Chap.  XII.  —  \.At  that  time,  thought  to  be  the  period  when  the 
 church's  last  enemy  will  be  destroyed,  tsee  Ezck.  xxxviii.  20.) — Buotkr. 
 Shall  Michael,  Chrht.— Light..  Gill,  Mors.,  Wit.,  Scott,  Fab.,  &c.  A 
 created  angel. — Mede,  Warb.,  &c.  See  chap.  x.  13.  Staiid  up,  to  de- 
 fend the  cause  of  religion,  and  destroy  its  fues. —  Wintle.  A  time  of 
 trouble,  the  last  struggle  of  Antichrist,  short  and  sharp,  and  the  last 
 persecution  of  the  saints,  and  the  pouring  out  of  God's  wrath  npcm  all 
 the  antichristian  states.— Gi7/.  Supposed  to  follow  the  pouring  out  of 
 the  seventh  vial,  (Rev.  xvi.  18.)  The  book,  oi  God's  remembrance,  (see 
 Mai.  iii.  iS ;  Luke,  x.  20,  &c. ;  Rev.  xx.  12.)  ~  Williams.  2.  That 
 sleep — shall  awake — the  prophecy,  brought  down  to  the  restoration  of 
 the  Jews,  predicts  the  general  restoration  or  resurrection,  &c.  The 
 Jews  believed  this  doctrine,  and  had  hopes  founded  on  the  promises 
 of  God  to  their  fathers,  (Acts,  xxvi.  ().)~Wintle.  4.  Shut  up,  fyc., 
 conceal  the  sense  from  common  understandings,  (chap.  viii.  26.)  — 
 Pre/i.  Lowth.  Keep  it  from  the  common  and  profane,  who  would  only 
 burlesque  it. — Gill.  The  sense  seems  to  be,  that  this  part  respected 
 distant  periods,  which  time  alone  would  discover.  Many  shall  run — 
 men  should  search  into  these  predictions,  some  of  which  would  soon 
 be  fulfilled,  aud  thus  would  divine  knowledge  be  increased  among 
 mcii.—Boothr. ;  to  the  same  purport.  Preh.  Lowth.  7.  A  time,  times, 
 and  an  half — New. Testament  and  classic  writers  use  times  for  years, 
 as  we  often  say  so  many  summers  or  winters. —  Wintle,  Wit.  A  time, 
 a  year;  times,  two  years;  an  half,  six  months.  Reckoning  36o  days 
 for  a  year,  in  prophetic  style,  and  three  days  for  prophetic  years,  we 
 have  1260  years,  [see  chap.  vii.  25.) — Ed.  And  when  he  shall  have  ac- 
 complished, fyc, '  and  when  the  dispersion  of  the  holy  people  is  finished, 
 all  these  things  shall  be  accomplished.*— /Joof/ir.  When  God  shall  have 
 finished  scattering  the  power  of  the  holy  people,  the  Jews ;  when  they 
 shall  be  gathered  out  of  all  nations.^G?'//,  8.  What  shall  be  the  end? 
 '  what  are  these  latter  times  thou  speakest  of  ?'— il/a/f.        11.  Abomi- 
 
 Reflections  UN  Chap.  XI.  —  la  reading  these  prophe- 
 cies, our  minds  must  he  deeply  impressed  with  tlie  considera- 
 tion of— I.  God's  foreknowlcdije.  Jlis  mind  penetrates  through 
 the  obscurity  of  iuture  ages.  He  knows  the  end  from  the  be- 
 ginning, and  all  the  connecting  links  of  this  world's  move- 
 ments ;  and  historians  do  but  detail  what  he  clearly  foresaw. 
 And  thus  the  path  of  revelation,  like  that  of  the  just,  *  shineth 
 more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.'  and  its  future  develop- 
 ments shall  strike  such  conviction  into  the  mind,  that  a  blaze 
 ol  light  shall  ovei-spreud  the  world,  and  cause  myriads  to  come 
 9-24 
 
 to  the  brightness  of  its  rising.     We  moreover  see  in  the  pro- 
 phetic liistory  recorded  in  this  chapter — 
 
 II.  God's  sovercigntij.  One  prince  may  aim  to  compass  his 
 ends  by  policy,  and  another  by  power  ;  but  everything  trans- 
 acted in  the  cabinet  and  the  field  is  in  God's  appointed  time, 
 and  for  God's  appointed  ends  ;  and  the  instrument  that  does 
 his  work,  in  bis  own  way  and  for  his  own  sinister  motives, 
 when  it  is  accomplished,  must  come  to  his  end,  perish  with- 
 out help,  and  give  up  his  account  to  '  the  King  of  Kings  and 
 Lonn  or  Lords.* 
 
TL-  iunt  i'J 
 
 DANIEL,  XII. 
 
 laraeTs  deliverance. 
 
 tion  that  ||  inaketh  desolate  set-  up,  there 
 shall  be  a  thousand  two  hundred  and  ninety 
 days. 
 
 1*J  Blessed  is  he  that  waiteth,  and  coineth 
 to  the  thousand  three   hundred   and  five  and 
 
 thirty  days, 
 
 13  But  "^  go  thou  thy  way  till  the  end  be: 
 11"  for  thou  shalt  rest,  *^and  stand  in  thy  lot  at 
 the  end  of  the  days. 
 
 vntiim  of  desolition.  seems  to  apply  to  various  events;  a«,  for  ex- 
 ample—the profanation  of  the  temple  by  Anliochus,  (Mac.  i.  54;)  the 
 destruction  of  the  city  and  temple  by  the  Romans,  (Mat.  xxiv.  15  ;)  and 
 IC  may  be  applied  to  the  Mahommedans  invading  and  desolatiiigChris- 
 tendom,  and  convertine:  the  churches  into  mosques. — Bp.  Newton.  A 
 tiimsand  two  hundred  and  ?utiet!/  days,  these  reach  to  thirty  years  be- 
 yond the  1260.  The  snhver^i.in  nf  the  kingdom  of  the  papal  Antichrist, 
 and  the  destruction  ot  the  scat  of  the  bea^t,  and  nf  the  Mahnnimedan 
 4lelusion,  (Rev.  xviii.  xix.,)  will  probably  be  at  the  end  of  the  I260  years. 
 Thirty  years  more  may  be  takea  up  in  wholly  extirpating  every  auti- 
 
 chrisiian  power;  and  the  last  number  (ver.  12)  of  a  thousand  three 
 hundred  and  Jive  and  thirty  dai/s,  or  thirteen  htmilrcd  and  thirty-five 
 years,  which  reaches  forty-five  years  beyond  that  time,  may  predict 
 the  complete  introduction  of  the  millennium.  13.  Gu  thy  tvay,  SfC. — ■ 
 Daniel,  having  received  this  infurraation,  was  directed  to  prepare  fur 
 deatli  and  rest  in  heaven,  for  he  would  stanil  in  his  lot,  as  a  glorified 
 saint,  to  witness  the  accomplishment  of  the->e  predictions. — Scott.  It 
 sigiiilies  that  Daniel  should  rise  again  from  the  dead,  have  his  part  in 
 the  first  resurrection,  his  sliare  in  the  glory  of  the  millennium  state, 
 and  his  portion  in  the  heavenly  inheritance  of  the  saints. — Gill. 
 
 REFLECTIONS  ON  Chap.  XII.  —  I.  77ie  trouhles  of  the  world 
 tlo  but  hrimi  on  the  prosperitt/  nf  the  church.  Thus  '  all  things 
 shall  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God.' 
 
 ]I.  Whither  death  come  to  vs  sooner  or  later,  in  a  quiet  or 
 alormii  time,  we  are  assured,  as  bolitvers,  of  a  glorious  resurrection. 
 *  Good  men  shall  arise  to  everlasling  life,  and  they  shall  have 
 peculiar  honour  who  have  turned  many  to  righteousness.' 
 
 111.  IaI  us  watch  the  intimations  of  that  tjlorious  day  which 
 shall  vsher  i7i  the  consummation  of  all  things  and  the  final  tri- 
 
 umphs and  everlasting  glorii^s  of  the  church.  I\Iany  now  '  run 
 to  and  fro  ;'  knowledge  is  increased,  and  it  is  fast  increiising. 
 The  unprpcedented  progress  of  science  shall  contribute  to  its 
 rapid  and  universal  spread,  and  facilitate  the  communication 
 ofDivine  knowdedge, — and  all  is  working  after  the  counsels  ot" 
 God's  own  will.  May  we  help  to  hasten  on  the  glorious  pre- 
 dicted season,  and  so  may  we  stand  in  our  lot  and  rank  with 
 tho  blessed  'at  the  end  of  the  days.' 
 
 H    O    S    E    A. 
 
 [This  is  the  first  in  order  of  the  twelve  minor  prophets,  so  called,  not  on  account  of  any  inferiority  in  their  writings,  but  in 
 reference  to  their  brevity.  Hosca  was  contemporary  with  Joel,  Amos,  Isaiah,  and  .lonah,  and  prophesied  above  sixty 
 years,  dnring  the  successive  reigns  of  Uzziah,  Jotliam,  Ahaz,  and  Hezekiah,  kings  of  Jndah.  His  prophecies  are  chiefly 
 directed  to  the  ten  tribes,  before  their  captivity.  His  style  is  abru])t,  sententious,  and  concise,  and  hence  it  often  borders 
 on  obscurity.  The  New- Testament  references  to  Hosea  are.  Matt.  ii.  15;  ix.  13;  xii.  7  ;  Luke,  xv.  18;  xxiii.  30  ; 
 John,  vii.  34  ;    Rom.  ix.  25,  26;    1  Cor.  xv.  54—56  ;  Gal.  vi.  7,  8  ;  Heb.  iv.  12  ;   1  Pet.  ii.  9.  10  ;    Rev.  vi.  16.] 
 
 CHAP.   I. 
 
 1   Hosea,  to  shew  God^s  judgment  for  spiritttal  whore- 
 dom, taketk  Gomcr,  4  and  hath  by  her  Jezreel,  6  Xo' 
 ruhamak,  8  and  Lo-ammi.     10    The  restoration  of 
 Judah  and  Israel. 
 
 'T^HE  word  of  the  Lord  that  came  unto  Ho- 
 -*-  sea,  the  son  of  Beeri,  in  the  days  of  Uz- 
 ziah, Jotham,  Ahaz,  and  Hezekiah,  kings  of 
 Jndah,  and  in  the  days  of  Jeroboam  the  son  of 
 
 Joash,  king  of  Israel. 
 
 2  The  beginning  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  by 
 Hosea.  And  the  Lord  said  to  Hosea,  ^  Go, 
 take  unto  thee  a  wife  of  whoredoms  and  chil- 
 dren of  whoredoms  :  for  ^  the  land  hath  commit- 
 ted great  whoredom,  departintj  from  the  Lord. 
 
 3  So  he  went  and  took  Gumer  the  daugh- 
 ter of  Diblaim ;  which  conceived,  and  bare 
 him  a  sou. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I. —  l.  Come  itntn  Hosea,  to  him  the  discourse 
 was  immediately  addressed.— //o»-s.  .Ivd  in  the  days  of  Jeroboam,  the 
 son  of  Joash,  the  second  kingof  Israel  of  that  name,  and  contemporary 
 with  Uzziah  ;  he  is  here  mentioned  because  the  prophecy  nearly  con- 
 cerns the  kingdom  of  Urael.—Preb.  Lowth.  2.  The  word  of  the  Lord 
 ft//  Hosea,  that  is,  addressed  to  others  by  the  prophet,  as  GoA's  organ 
 of  speech.— Hors.  Or,  in  Hosea,  3?iUirT2,  tv  i^crne,  Sept.,  Vvlg. ;  Pag., 
 Mont.,  Sic.  This  expression  notes  the  inward  and  intimate  converse 
 which  the  Lord  had  with  the  spirit  of  Hosea  in  the  work  of  his  ministry. 
 —  Burroughs.  Take  thee  a  tvife  of  tvhoredoms  and  children  ofiehore- 
 doms,  marry  a  wife  innocent  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  but  who  will 
 prove  unfaithful  and  bear  spurious  children,  as  a  fit  representation  of 
 the  spiritual  conduct  of  Israel.— So  Diodati,  Wells,  Preb.  Lowth.  The 
 prophet  is  not  ordered  to  commit  either  adultery  or  fornication,  but 
 to  marry.  It  appears  to  us  that  the  woman  had  been  previously  mar- 
 ried, diirinK  which  connexion  she  had  been  criminal  with  another  man, 
 and  actually  had  at  this  time  children  living  with  her  who  had  been 
 born  in  adultery.  This  woman,  who  had  been  an  adulteress,  and  these 
 children  of  adultery,  he  is  commanded  to  receive  into  his  family  ;  but 
 there  is  no  intimation  of  her  being  false  to  hitn  ;  and  a  change  of  cha- 
 racter  may,  we  think,  fairly  be  presumed.  The  Divine  command  jus. 
 tifies  the  act,  and  the  reason  for  it  was  known. —  Wil.  He  married  a 
 woman  of  ill  fame,  not  one  th^t  had  been  married  and  committed 
 adultery,  for  then  she  must  have  been  put  to  death.- //en.  To  make 
 the  parallel  exact  between  God  and  Israel,  the  woman  should  have 
 been  a  harlot  before  marriage,  yet  the  prophet  should,  knowing  this, 
 marry  her,  upon  condition  of  her  renouncing  her  follies  ;  she  should  make 
 the  fairest  promises  of  fidelity,  the  prophet  bhould  complete  the  mar- 
 riage contract,  and  take  the  reformed  harlot,  with  a  numerous  bastard 
 offspring,  to  his  own  house.  There  she  f^hould  bear  him  children,  (as 
 tlie  ancient  Jewish  church,  amidst  all  her  corruptions,  bore  many  true 
 9-25 
 
 sous  to  God,)  but  in  a  little  she  should  relapse  to  her  former  courses, 
 and  incur  her  husband's  displeasure,  who  yet  should  neither  put  her  to 
 death,  according  to  the  rigour  of  the  law,  nor  finally  and  totally  divorce 
 her. — Hors.  The  prophet  was  to  marry  a  woman  who,  before  her  mar- 
 riage, had  lived  a  debauched  life,  but  who,  after  her  marriage,  should 
 retire  from  all  bad  conversation,  and  whose  children  should  be  legiti- 
 mate, notwithstanding  that,  by  reason  of  the  blemish  which  their  mo- 
 ther had  contracted  by  her  fanner  life,  they  were  called  *  the  children 
 of  whoredoms.'  This  prostitute  woman  and  children  were  a  figure  and 
 kind  of  real  prophecy,  which  described  the  idolatry  and  infidelity  of  Sa- 
 maria and  the  ten  tribes,  formerly  the  Lord's  spouse,  but  who  after- 
 wards became  idolatrous  and  cornipt.— Clarke.  Had  ihe  prophet  mar- 
 ried a  vile  woman,  it  would  have  looked  like  countenancing  her  crime, 
 been  dishonourable  to  the  prophet  himself,  rendered  him  contemptible 
 to  the  people,  and,  instead  of  reproving  spiritual  adultery  and  idolatry, 
 would  rather  have  confirmed  it.  Nor  is  it  likely  that  such  an  impure 
 scene  was  communicated  by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  in  vision.— Gi7/. 
 Take  a  wife  from  among  the  Israelites,  who  are  remarkable  for  spiritual 
 fornication  or  idolatry.  Join  thyself  to  one  of  those  who  have  com- 
 mitted spiritual  fornication  against  me,  and  raise  up  children,  who,  by 
 the  power  of  example,  will  themselves  swerve  to  idolatry.  —  JVeu-c. 
 Some  commentators  have  thought  this  was  not  a  real  marriage,  but  an 
 allegory  or  symbol,  among  whom  are  St.  Jerome,  and  the  Chaldee 
 Paraphrnst.  I  think  the  whole  a  mere  parable.— BooMr.,  so  Witsius. 
 It  seems  best  to  understand  the  whole  in  parable;  the  prophet,  in  a 
 parabolic  way,  is  bid  to  represent  the  spiritual  adultery  of  Israel  under 
 the  feigned  name  of  an  unchaste  woman,  and  of  children  begotten  in 
 fornication,  shewing  that  they  were  as  vile  as  the  example  quoted.— 
 Gill.  I  rather  understand  it  typically,  that  the  prophet  is  commanded 
 under  this  type  to  point  out  the  great  idolatry  of  the  land,  and  theii 
 defection  thereby  from  Godi  and  to  declare  that  the  nation  was  such 
 
The  restoration  of  Judah  and  Israel. 
 
 HOSEA,  II. 
 
 God's  judgments  against  idolatry. 
 
 4  And  the  Lord  said  unto  liiiii,  Call  his  name 
 Jezreel  ;  for  yet  a  little  while,  "^  and  I  will 
 ■(■avenge  the  blood  of  Jezreel  upon  the  house 
 of  Jehu,  ■'  and  will  cause  to  cease  the  kingdom 
 of  the  house  of  Israel. 
 
 3  "  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  at  that  day, 
 that  I  will  break  the  bow  of  Israel  in  the 
 valley  of  Jezreel. 
 
 6  1  And  she  conceived  again,  and  bare  a 
 daughter.  And  God  said  unto  liim,  Call  her 
 name  ||  Lo-ruhamah  :  'for  f  I  will  no  more 
 have  mercy  upon  the  house  of  Israel ;  ||  but  I 
 will  utterly  take  them  away. 
 
 7  *  But  I  will  have  mercy  upon  the  house  of 
 Judah,  and  will  save  them  by  the  Lord  tlieir 
 God,  and  ''  will  no'  save  them  by  bow,  nor  by 
 sword,  nor  by  battle,  by  horses,  nor  by  horse- 
 men. 
 
 8  t  Now  when  she  had  weaned  Lo-ruhamah. 
 she  conceived,  and  bare  a  son. 
 
 9  Then  said  God,  Call  his  name  ||Lo-ammi : 
 for  ye  are  not  my  people,  and  I  will  not  be 
 your  God. 
 
 10  t  Yet  '  the  number  of  the  children  of  Is- 
 rael shall  be  as  the  sand  of  the  sea,  which  can- 
 not be  measured  nor  numbered  ;  '  and  it  shall 
 come  to  pass,  that  \\  in  the  place  wlicre  it  was 
 said  unto  them,  '  Ye  arc  not  my  people,  there 
 it  shall  be  said  unto  them,  Ye  are  "'  the  sons 
 of  the  living  God. 
 
 1 1  "  Then  .shall  the  children  of  Judah  and  the 
 children  of  Israel  be  gathered  together,  and 
 appoint  themselves  one  head,  and  they  shall 
 come  up  out  of  the  land  :  for  great  shall  lie 
 the  day  of  Jezreel. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  The  idolatry  of  the  peojile.     6  God's  judgments  against 
 tliem.     14  His  promises  of  reconciliation  with  them. 
 
 OAY  ye  unto  your  brethren,  ||  Ammi ;  and 
 ^  to  your  sisters,  II  Ruhamah. 
 2  Plead   with  your  mother,  plead:  for  ^she 
 is  not  my  wife,  neither  ayn  I  her  husband  :  let 
 
 f  Heb. 
 d  2  Kin 
 ly,  12. 
 
 /L'Km.  17. 
 
 fi.  23. 
 illeb.  Twill 
 
 unt  t,lda„!, 
 
 '(  Or,  ih',1  I 
 tl.oul.i  nllo- 
 Hrl/vT  pur- 
 rlon  t'trm. 
 
 y  3  Kin.  19. 
 
 I,  Z.'ch.  I.  6. 
 N  9.   10. 
 II  That  U, 
 
 yenple. 
 
 iGen  Sg,  I?. 
 Knin.  y  27, 
 
 A  Unm.P,25. 
 U'fi    1  Pet.  2. 
 
 iO. 
 11  Or,  if,a(cad 
 
 -f  IhU. 
 I  fh   2,  23. 
 m  John  1.12 
 
 1  Julm3.  I. 
 
 /.IK,  II.  lo, 
 IS.J.rS.lS. 
 Kx.-.  :il,  £i. 
 &  :(7    Iti— 
 
 I  That  U, 
 I  That  19, 
 
 25. 
 
 r  .Ter,  IS  22, 
 2(1.  Ffle,  16, 
 37,  30. 
 
 <I  Etc  16.  -X. 
 
 e  Eie.  Ift,  la. 
 
 /Amos 8  II. 
 
 A  Is.  I,  21. 
 
 .Ter.  3.1.6.8. 
 
 •J.  F.iek.ie. 
 
 15,  Hi.  Ike. 
 i  ver.  H,  12. 
 
 Jer.  41.  17. 
 til(3b.dri„lu 
 k  Job  3.  £3. 
 
 (it  19,  S. 
 :Lam.3.7,9. 
 t  Hell,  uatl 
 
 a  uiill. 
 
 I  ch  fi. 1^ 
 
 I.uke  lb. IS. 
 'xKzc.  Iti  S. 
 
 t  Heb.  utie 
 
 II  Or,  where- 
 with thru 
 inndir  Haul, 
 ch.  8.  -». 
 
 p  ver.  3. 
 
 II  Or,  tihe 
 
 7  V.tfV    16. 
 
 37   h  JS  29. 
 f  llfh.  Mly, 
 
 or,  vilhni/. 
 
 r.-\mo9  8  III. 
 
 I  Kin.  12. 
 
 12. 
 
 ,-\mo8  8.  5. 
 
 32. 
 
 t  Heb.  make 
 I  vvr.  5. 
 
 her  therefore  put  away  her  ''whoredoms  out  of 
 her  sight,  and  her  adulteries  from  between  her 
 breasts  ; 
 
 3  Lest  ^  I  strip  her  naked,  and  set  her  as  in 
 the  day  that  she  was  ''  born,  and  make  her  '^as 
 a  wilderness,  and  set  her  like  a  dry  land,  and 
 slay  her  with  ^  thirst. 
 
 4  And  I  will  not  have  mercy  upon  her  chil- 
 dren ;  for  they  be  the  *'*  children  of  whoredoms. 
 
 5  ^  For  their  mother  hath  played  the  harlot : 
 she  that  conceived  them  hath  done  shamefully: 
 for  she  said,  I  will  go  after  my  lovers,  *  that 
 give  7ne  my  bread  and  my  water,  my  wool  and 
 my  flax,  mine  oil  and  my  f  drink. 
 
 6  ^  Therefore,  behold,  ''  I  will  hedge  up  thy 
 way  with  thorns,  and  f  make  a  wall,  that  she 
 shall  not  find  her  paths. 
 
 7  And  she  shall  follow  after  her  lovers,  but 
 she  shall  not  overtake  them  ;  and  she  shall 
 seek  them,  but  shall  not  find  tfunn:  then  shall 
 she  say,  '  I  will  go  and  return  to  my  "^  tirst 
 husband  ;  for  then  was  it  better  with  me  than 
 now. 
 
 8  For  she  did  not  "know  that  °I  gave  her 
 corn,  and  f  wine,  and  oil,  and  multiplied  her 
 silver  and  gold,  ||  which  they  prepared  for 
 Baal. 
 
 9  Therefore  will  I  return,  and  ''take  away  my 
 corn  in  tlie  time  thereof,  and  my  wine  in  t!ie 
 season  thereof,  and  will  jj  recover  my  wool  and 
 my  fiax  f;iven  to  cover  her  nakedness. 
 
 10  And  now  "'will  I  discover  her  f lewdness 
 in  the  sight  of  her  lovers,  and  none  shall  de- 
 liver her  out  of  mine  hand. 
 
 11  "^  I  will  also  cause  all  her  mirth  to  cease, 
 her  "  feast  days,  her  new  moons,  and  her  sab- 
 baths, and  all  her  solemn  feasts. 
 
 12  And  I  will  f  destroy  her  vines  and  her 
 fig  trees,  *  whereof  she  hath  said.  These  are  my 
 rewards  that  my  lovers  have  given  me  :  and 
 "  I  will  make  them  a  forest,  and  the  beasts  of 
 the  field  shall  eat  them. 
 
 13  And  I   will   visit  upon  her  the   days  of 
 
 to  God,  as  if,  after  he  had  taken  a  wife,  she  had  played  the  harlot,  fee. 
 —Hutcheson.  4.  Call  his  name  Jezreel,  bsyir,  i.  e.,  '  God  will  dis- 
 perse,* as  seed  is  when  sown,  probably  intimating  also  the  speedy  dis- 
 persion of  Israel  by  Shalmaneser. — Green/.  Avenge  the  blood  of  Jez- 
 reel, Wir.  the  blood  of  the  holy  seed,  the  faithful  servants  of  God. 
 shed  by  the  idolatrous  princes  of  Jehu's  family  in  persecution.— Hors. 
 Not  Jehu's  vengeance  on  Ahab's  family,  for  this  he  was  commanded  to 
 execute,  (2  Kings,  ix.  " — 10,^  but  his  acts  of  cruelty  while  he  resided  at 
 Jezreel,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Issachar,  (Josh.  xix.  18.)— ir*/.,  Clarke, 
 Newc.  5.  Break  the  bow,  ^c,  supposed  to  relate  to  some  signal  de- 
 
 feat by  the  Assyrians  in  the  valley  of  Jezreel ;  or  to  the  death  of  Zecha- 
 riah,  the  fourth  lineal  descendant  of  Jehu,  which  may  have  happened 
 here,  (see  2  Kings,  xv.  nK]—Newc.  6.  Lo-ruhnmah,  rrom  N%  *  not 
 having  obtained  mercy.'  A  prophetic  or  typical  name,  witness  the 
 next  words.  This  refers  to  the  total  destruction  of  that  kingdom. 
 7.  And  will  save  them,  remarkably  fulfilled.  2  Kings,  xix.  35. — Clarke. 
 10.  Yet  the  number,  Sfc,  this  must  allude  to  the  spiritual  Israel,  whe- 
 ther Jew  or  GeutWc— Clarke,  Pocock,  11.  One  head,  may  refer  to 
 Zenibbabel  after  the  return  from  Babylon,  or  Christ. — Clarke.  Jews 
 and  Gentiles  are  made  one  in  Christ,  as  one  body  under  one  head,  (Eph. 
 ii.  15,  i6.) — Pocock.  Come  up  out  of  the  land,  of  their  dispersion  in 
 general.- C'/rtrA-e.  By  'coming  up'  there  is  allusion  to  going  up  to  Je- 
 rusalem.— Hors.  This  mountaiu  was  a  type  of  the  church.— /'oroc/r. 
 Great  shall  be  the  day  of  Jezreel — he  alludes  to  the  meaning  of  the 
 word  bt^yir,  'the  seed  of  God.'— Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  i.  Sap — Arnmi — Ruhamah,  *  say  ye  unto  your  brethren, 
 MY  PEOPLE;  and  unto  your  sisters,  having  obtainkd  MKRcr.'  — 
 I\!ewc.  'Speak  to  your  brethren,  O  Ammi,  (O  ray  people,)  and  to  your 
 sisters,  O  Ruhamah,  (O  darling  daughter.)*— Hors.  I  prefer  interpret- 
 ing these  as  proper  names. ~.<1.  Clarke.  God  here  calls  the  true 
 believers  by  names  of  opposite  signification  to  those  given  to  the 
 ungodly,  (chap.  i.  6—9-)~Boothr.  Although  the  Israchtcs,  in  the  days 
 of  Hosea,  were  corrupt,  there  were  some  that  had  not  bowed  the  knee 
 
 to  Baal.  These  were  always  Ammi  and  Ruhamah  ;  God's  Own  People, 
 and  a  darling  Daughter.  God  commissions  these  faithful  tew  to  warn 
 the  Jewish  Church  and  Nation. — IJors.  2.  Plead  with  your  mother, 
 accuse  your  mother  Jerusalem. — A.Clarke.  Samaria.— U'lV.  Enter, 
 as  it  were,  into  a  forensic  contest  witli  your  mother,  the  house  of  Israel, 
 disavow  her  proceedings,  and  pmlest  against  them. — Newc.  iihe  is 
 not  my  wife,  thaX  is,  '  Israel  has  forteited  all  claims  to  ray  protection. — 
 IVil.  3.  Strip  her— see  Isa.  iii.  17  ;  Jer.  xiii.  26,  notes.  Nudity  was 
 the  ancient  punishment  of  an  adulteress,  (Ezek.  xvi.  37.)— Sntclije. 
 5.  Lovers,  idols  and  idolatrous  nations,  whose  alliance  they  courted. 
 That  give  me  my  bread,  fyc,  they  ascribed  the  plenty  they  enjoyed  to 
 their  idols.— Preb.  Lawth.  See  Jer.  xhv.  17,  18,  note.  6.  /  will  hedge 
 up  her  way  with  thorns,  as  closes  and  fields  are  fenced  to  keep  cattle 
 in. — Gill.  Thorn  fences  are  common  in  the  east. — See  Har.  Make  a 
 wall,  'close  up  her  way  with  enclosure.'  She  shall  not  find  her  paths, 
 the  word  here  signifies,  gaps  in  a  bramble  hedge  or  stone  fence,  made 
 by  clambering  over  repeatedly  in  the  same  place.  Tlic  text  alludes  to 
 a  double  enclosure,  first  of  loose  stones,  and  secondly,  an  outside 
 bramble  hedge.— Hors.  Surrounded  by  the  enemy,  she  should  be  so 
 enclosed  with  difficulties  as  not  to  be  able  to  escape. — Boothr.  7-  •'>Ac 
 shall  follow,  §-c.,  she  shall  long  be  addicted  to  her  former  idols,  but  in 
 vain,  for  she  shall  not  be  able  to  practise  her  idolatries. — Newc.  First 
 husband,  God,  who  in  loving-kindness  had  espoused  her  to  himseil, 
 and  entered  into  covenant  with  her.  8.  JJid  not  know,  not  gratefully 
 ackiHiwledge  or  profess. — Pocock.  9.  And  take  away  my  rorn,  by 
 
 unfruitful  seasons,  vermin,  dearth,  &c..  with  such  judgments  God  begini 
 to  punish  them.— Hors.  II.  Her  feast  days,  ^c,  the  observation  of 
 
 several  of  these  festivals  was  retained  in  the  worship  of  the  gohlcTi 
 calves,  (see  1  Kings,  xii.  32 ;  Amos,  viii.  5.)  God  here  threatens  them 
 they  sliuuld  cease  in  captivity,  since  they  had  so  much  abused  them, 
 (see  chap.  ix.  4,  5;  Amos,  viii.  \(i.)—Preb.  Lowth.  12.  Destroy  her 
 
 vines  and  her  Jig  trees,  that  is,  all  her  outward  prosperity. — Burroughs. 
 13. 1  will  visit  upo7i  her  the  days,  punish  her  for  her  idolatries  from  Uic 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I See  here,  I.   The  consequences 
 
 of  habitual  and  unrepented  sin,  '  No  mercy,'  saith  Goo,  and 
 *  not  my  people.*  Let  these  expressive  words  sink  deep  into 
 our  heiirts. 
 
 926 
 
 II.  The  gracious  purposes  of  God  towards  mankind.  If  Ijis 
 offers  of  love  and  mercy  are  sJif^liled  and  repelled  by  some,  he 
 will  yet  elorify  himself  in  others.     '  A  seed  shall  serve  bim.' 
 
GocVs  promises 
 
 HOSEA,  III. 
 
 of  reconciliation. 
 
 Baalim,  wherein  she  burnetl  incense  to  them, 
 and  she  ^  decked  herself  with  her  earrings  and 
 her  jewels,  and  she  went  after  her  lovers,  and 
 forgat  me,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 14  H  Therefore,  behold,  I  will  allure  her,  and 
 ''  brin*:^  her  into  the  wilderness,  and  speak 
 II  t  comfortably  unto  her. 
 
 13  And  I  will  give  her  her  vineyards  from 
 thence,  and  ^  the  valley  of  Aclior  for  a  door  of 
 hope  :  and  she  shall  sing  there,  as  in  "*  the  days 
 of  her  youth,  and  ''as  in  the  day  when  she 
 came  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 
 
 IG  And  it  shall  be  at  that  day,  saith  the 
 Loud,  that  thou  shalt  call  nie  ||  Ishi  ;  and 
 shalt  call  me  no  more  ||  Haali. 
 
 1 7  For  '^  I  will  take  away  the  names  of  Baalim 
 out  of  her  mouth,  and  they  shall  no  more  be 
 remembered  by  their  name. 
 
 18  And  in  that  day  will  I  make  a  ^  covenant 
 for  them  with  the  beasts  of  the  field,  and  with 
 the  fowls  of  heaven,  and  with  the  creeping 
 things  of  the  ground  :  and  "^  I  will  break  the 
 bow  and  the  sword  and  the  battle  out  of  the 
 earth,  and  will  make  them  to  *"lie  down  safely. 
 
 ly  And  I  will  betroth  thee  unto  me  for  ever  ; 
 
 B   C. 
 
 cir.  785. 
 
 X  Ezek.  ^3 
 10,  42. 
 
 V  Ezek.  'id. 
 "35. 
 
 WOrJrioidly. 
 t  Heb.  to  her 
 
 ijnsli.  7.  26 
 Is.  65.  10. 
 
 a  Jer.  2.  2 
 i:/ek.  16.8, 
 -22,  li». 
 
 b  Ex.  15.  1. 
 
 lIThaliB,.Wy 
 
 hushind- 
 II  TUat  ia, 
 
 My  lord. 
 c  Ex.23.  I.S. 
 
 Josh.  23.  7. 
 
 Ps.  16    .1. 
 
 Zech.  13  2. 
 
 d  Job  5  23. 
 Is  1 1 ,  6— !». 
 Kie.  at.  -Zb. 
 
 e  P9.  4li.  9. 
 
 Is.  2.  ■!. 
 
 Eie.  .-jg,  9, 
 
 I(J.  Zecli. 
 
 9.  ID. 
 /  Lev.  86.  5. 
 
 Jer.  23.  6. 
 
 B.  C, 
 
 Mr.  TS.--.. 
 
 g  Jer,  31.  33, 
 M.  John 
 17.  :i. 
 
 h  Zcch.S-l; 
 
 .■<-h.  1.  4. 
 t  Jer.  3t.  ?7. 
 Zech.  10.  9. 
 Ich.  I.  6. 
 
 •I,  ill.  I.  in. 
 Zl-cIi.  in  W, 
 R.irn.  9  2r>. 
 1  X'et.  3.10. 
 
 ch-  1-  2. 
 b  Jtr.  3.  20. 
 
 I  Heb.  0/ 
 
 yea,  I  will  betroth  thee  unto  me  in  righteous- 
 ness, and  in  judgment,  and  in  lovingkindness, 
 and  in  mercies. 
 
 20  I  will  even  betroth  thee  unto  me  in  faith- 
 fulness :  and  ^  thou  shalt  know  the  Lord. 
 
 •2\  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  ^  I 
 will  hear,  saith  the  Lord,  1  will  hear  the  hea- 
 vens, and  they  shall  hear  the  earth  ; 
 
 22  And  the  earth  shall  hear  the  corn,  and  the 
 wine,  and  the  oil  ;  '  and  they  shall  hear  Jezreel. 
 
 23  And  "^  I  will  sow  her  unto  me  in  the  earth  ; 
 '  and  1  will  have  mercy  upon  her  that  had  not 
 obtained  mercy;  and  I  "'will  say  to  them 
 ivhich  tvere  not  my  people,  Thou  art  my  peo- 
 ple ;  and  they  shall  say,  Thou  art  my  God. 
 
 CHAP.  in. 
 
 I  Bi/  the  expiation  of  an  adulteress,  4  is  shewed  the  de- 
 solation of  IsTatl  before  their  restoration. 
 
 T^HEN  said  the  Lord  unto  me,  °  Go  yet, 
 •*-  love  a  woman  beloved  of  /ler  ''friend,  yet 
 an  adulteress,  according  to  the  love  of  the 
 Loud  toward  the  cliildren  of  Israel,  who  look 
 to  other  gods,  and  love  flagons  f  of  wine. 
 
 time  of  Jeroboam,  who  first  set  up  false  gods.— Prefi.  Lowth.  Of 
 Bnnlim,  Baal  was  the  f^rcat  idol  nf  the  ten  tribes;  here  the  word  is 
 plural,  denoting  the  multitude  of  their  idols  and  altars.— P'<o/f.  They 
 had  different  idols  under  the  name  of  Baal,  as  Baal-bcrith,  Baal-zebuh, 
 Baal-peor. — AVicc.  With  her  earrings,  noi].  signifies  rather  '  a  nose 
 jewel.'  And  her  jewels,  rTiT'bm,  '  rings,  arms,  bracelets,  ankle-rings, 
 and  ornaments  of  this  kind.'— .^.  Clarke.  With  her  best  and  richest 
 attire. — Gill.  Perhaps  there  is  an  allusion  to  the  idolatrous  use  made 
 of  earrings,  supposed  to  have  had  some  talismanic  power. — Ed.,  see 
 Hnr.  14.  There/ore,  '  neverthei<?ss.' — Gill.  Allure,  the  form  of  speech 
 alludes,  in  part,  to  what  their  idols  did  of  old  ;  they  did  allure  them 
 away  from  God  ;  now  the  Lord  shall  outbid  all  their  lovers,  and  gain 
 their  heart  from  them. — Hutcheaon.  It  should  here  rather  be  taken  for 
 'persuade.' — Newc,  so  Cnti',,  Schmidt.  Persuade  by  powerful  and 
 efficacious  grace. — Gill.  *  I  wilt  sooth  her.* — Rosemn.  And  firiJig  her 
 into  the  wilderness,  'from  the  distant  cnuntries  into  which  she  was  led 
 captive,  I  will  safely  conduct  her  home  through  the  desert.' — Newc. 
 Rather,  'after  I  have  brought  her  into  the  wilderness.'  The  state  of 
 the  Jews'  captivity  is  elsewhere  expressed  by  a  wilderness  state  ;  it 
 probably  here  means  the  dispersion  of  the  ten  tribes,  ever  since  their 
 first  captivity  by  Shalmaneser,  (2  Kings,  xvii.  6.) — Preb.  Lnwth.  They 
 would  see  themselves  as  in  a  barren  wilderness,  like  their  forefathers, 
 and  when  reduced  to  despair,  he  would  comfort  them,  and  encourage 
 them  to  trubt  in  his  mercy,  grace,  and  providence. — Scott.  And  speak 
 comfortabli/  unto  her,  it  all  means,  deal  with  her  as  a  very  affectionate 
 husband  would  do  to  an  unfaithful  v:'ife.— Clarke.  1.").  Git-e  her  her 
 
 vineyards  from  thence,  that  is,  from  the  wilderness,  out  of  which  they 
 entered  into  the  possession  of  tliese. —  Hutc.  And  the  valley  of  Achor, 
 that  is,  'of  tribulation  or  consternation,' alluding  to  the  vale  near  Jeri- 
 clKi,  where  the  first  Israelites  first  set  loot  in  the  Holy  Land,  but  after- 
 wards met  with  great  encouragement  and  success,  so  that  it  was  a  door 
 of  hope,  (see  Josh.  viii.  1.) — Hors.  She  shall  sinff  there,  a  continued 
 allusion  to  tlie  history  of  the  Israelites  and  to  the  great  deliverance 
 wrought  for  them  in  the  time  of  Moscs.—Pocock.  l6.  Ishi,   'my 
 
 husband,' an  appellation  of  love.  Bnali,  'my  lord,'  an  appellation  of 
 fear. — Hors.  Baali  often  signifies  a  husband,  and  so  spoken  of  Gnd  in 
 covenant,  (see  Isa.  hv.  5;  Jer.  iii.  14.)  Because  the  word  Baal  had 
 oeen  so  profanely  applied  to  idols,  he  forbade  it  to  be  applied  any  more 
 to  himself.— PreA.  Lowth.  18.  Make  a  conenant—unth  the  beasts,  ^-c, 
 mav  be  understood  literally,  (comp.  Job,  v.  23  ;  Ezek.  xxxiv.  25.} — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  Expressive  of  peace,  safety,  and  love. — Poole.  These 
 expressions  are  figurative,  and  allude  to  gospel  times,  (comp.  Matt. 
 xvi.  17.  18;  Luke,  x.  ig. )—Pococfr.  Understand  this  figuratively  of 
 the  final  cnnversion  of  the  vicious  heathen,  and  their  peace  with  the 
 re-estahlishcd  Jews.— Kora.  ig.  Betroth,  enter  into  a  new  covenant 
 with  my  church  of  Jews  and  Gentiles.— Prei.  Lowth.  The  phrase  de- 
 nores.  that  God  would  receive  her  with  that  love  as  if  she  had  been  a 
 pure  virgin,  and  never  upbraid  her  witli  her  former  unfaithfulness. — 
 Burroughs.  Inji/dgment,  with  mature  advice. — Poole.  In  a  judicious 
 way,  or  rather  absttlving  from  the  sentence  of  condemnation. — Gill. 
 By  moderating  his  dispensations,  (see  Ps.  xcix.  4,)  and  punishing  their 
 enemies. — Hutc.  20.  Know  the  Lord,  that  is,  by  thy  experience  of 
 his  goodness  and  loving-kindness. — Pocock,  so  Newc.  21.  /  will 
 '*enr  the  heavens,  fyc.  when  they  ask,  as  it  were,  to  send  the  rain  upon 
 .'ie  earth.  Hear  the  earth,  when  it  supplicates,  as  it  were,  for  rain, 
 Wc. — Newc.    All  creatures  shall  answer  the  desires  and  wants  of  my 
 
 people.^PreA.  Lowth.  22.  And  they  shall  hear  Jezreel,  '  and  they 
 shall  perform  their  part  for  the  Jezrakl,  [the  seed  of  God.]*  23.  Sow 
 her,  alluding  to  the  preceding  term,  and  expressive  of  a  prodigious 
 influx  of  new  converts  from  the  Gentiles  in  the  latter  ages,  (Horn.  xi. 
 12,  ]5.)—Hors.     And  1  will  have  mercy,  ^c. — 
 
 '  And  I  will  have  mercy  on  Loruhamah  ; 
 
 And  I  will  say  to  Lo-ammi,  [see  chap.  i.  9,]  Thou  art  my  people  ; 
 And  they  shall  say,  Thou  art  our  God.* — Boothr. 
 
 'And  with  tenderness  I  will  cherish  her  that  had  been  Lo-Ruhamah, 
 [the  not. beloved  ;]  and  I  will  say  to  Lo-Ammi,  [to  the  no-people-of- 
 mine,]  .-Vm.mi,  [iny  own  people,']  art  thou;  and  he  shall  say,  Mr  God  !' 
 — Horsley. 
 
 Chap.  III. — 1.  Go  yet,  'go  again' — Poole,  Newc.  Love  a  womayi, 
 '  a  wife.' — Dr.  Wheeler.  Probably  the  same  mentioned  chap.  i.  3,  who, 
 upon  her  infidelity,  was  parted  from  her  husband. — Preb.  Lowth.  It 
 could  not  mean  the  one  mentioned  chap.  i.  3,  for  surely  she  could  have 
 no  claim  to  a  dowry.  We  consider  the  fact  to  be,  that  the  prophet 
 purchased  this  woman,  being  a  female  slave,  as  a  concubine,  or  se- 
 condary wife ;  and  it  is  very  remarkable,  that  he  paid  the  legal  price 
 of  a  female  slave,  half  in  money  and  half  in  grain  ;  but  this  is  never 
 mentioned  as  the  price  of  a  harlot. —  WH.,  see  Mich.  Slavery  has  been 
 common  in  the  east  from  the  most  remote  antiquity;  hut  masters  and 
 slaves  are  more  like  compani'ins  than  those  betwixt  whom  such  a 
 relationship  exists.  If  the  latter  can  tell  a  good  story  and  flatter  their 
 lords,  they  may  almost  do  as  they  please. — Rob.  It  may  be  supposed 
 this  injunction  was  given  after  the  death  of  the  former  wife. — Newc. 
 Beloved  of  her  fnend~the  Hebrew  word  yi,  here  translated  *  friend,' 
 is  used  for  a  husband,  Jer.  iii.  20  ;  Cant.  v.  iQ.^Preb.  Lowth.  The 
 clause  l''!  n^nN  may  be  best  rendered,  *a  lover  of  evil.'  —  Clarke. 
 '  That  loveth  evil,'  Sept.,  Syr.,  Arab. ;  Boothr.  *  Beloved  by  another.' 
 — Newc.  This  could  not  be  any  real  transaction,  as  such  conduct  in  a 
 prophet  would  have  been  the  disgrace  of  his  office. — Boothr.  The 
 action  is  forbidden  by  the  law  of  Moses,  and  also  by  our  Saviour. 
 What,  then,  would  become  of  the  prophet's  moral  character?  These 
 were  visions  only,  by  which  he  endeavoured  to  persuade  his  country 
 from  idolatr)'.— Sw/.  Merely  parables. — So  Poole,  Gill,  Preh.  Lnwth, 
 Wil.  An  adulteress — the  woman  mentioned  here  represents  one  who 
 was  a  lawful  wife,  joining  herself  to  a  paramour,  then  divorced  by  her 
 husband,  afterwards  repenting  and  desirous  to  be  joined  to  her  spouse  ; 
 ceasing  from  her  adulterous  commerce,  but  not  yet  reconciled  to  him. 
 This  was  the  state  and  disposition  of  the  Jews  under  the  Babylonish 
 captivity. — A.  Clarke.  Some  think  this  chapter  refers  to  Jodah,  the 
 two  tribes  ;  as  the  adulteress  the  prophet  married  (chap.  i.  3)  represented 
 the  ten  tribes ;  for  this  was  not  to  be  divorced,  as  the  ten  tribes  were, 
 but  to  be  left  desolate  for  a  long  time,  and  then  to  return  as  the  two 
 tribes  did  ;  but  these  are  called  the  children  of  Israel,  which  was  the  ten 
 tribes,  and  therefore  it  is  more  pmbable  that  of  them  this  parable,  as 
 well  as  that  before,  is  to  be  understood.  Go,  and  repeat  it,  saith  God 
 to  the  prophet,  go  yet  again. — M.  Henry.  According  to  the  love  of  the 
 Lord,  as  the  Israelites  were  beloved  by  the  Lord,  while  they  were  look- 
 ing ajfter  other  gods. — A.  Clarke.  Toward  the  children  of  Israel,  'chil- 
 dren of  Israel*  and  *  house  of  Israel'  are  two  distinct  expressions  to  he 
 differently  understood.  'The  house  of  Israel,'  and  sometimes  '  Israel* 
 by  itself,  is  a  particular  appellation  of  the  ten  tribes,  as  a  distinct  king- 
 dom from  Judah.    But  '  the  children  of  Israel'  is  a  general  appellation 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  We  have  here,  I.  The 
 'hurch's  sin  and  punishment.  Her  sin  was  departure  from  God, 
 aggravated  by  ascribing  all  her  comforts  to  false  idols,  as  the 
 world  do  to  luck  and  chance.  Her  punishment  was  having 
 her  way  hedged  up  with  thorns,  tliose  sharp  calamities  of 
 famine,  .sickness,  and  war.  If  we  sin,  we  must  inevituhly 
 927 
 
 expect  punishment ;  and  if  we  persevere  in  sin,  we  must  look 
 for  ruin. 
 
 II.  The  church's  repentance  and  consotation.  God  is  merciful, 
 but  there  is  no  mercy  without  unfeigned  repentance.  Let 
 backsliding  sinners  return  to  God,  and  be  will  return  unto 
 them. 
 
The  desolation  of  Israel  prefr/ured. 
 
 HOSE  A,  IV. 
 
 God's  judgments  against  the  people. 
 
 2  So  I  boLif^ht  her  to  me  for  fiheen  pieces  of 
 silver,  and  for  an  homer  of  barley,  and  an 
 f  half  homer  of  barley  : 
 
 3  And  I  said  unto  her.  Thou  shalt  "  abide  for 
 me  many  days  ;  thou  shalt  not  play  the  harlot, 
 and  thou  shalt  not  be  for  another  man  :  so  will 
 I  also  be  for  thee. 
 
 4  For  the  children  of  Israel  shall  abide  many 
 days ''without  a  king,  and  without  a  prince, 
 and  without  a  sacritice,  and  without  f  an  image, 
 and  without  an  ®  ephod,  and  ivithout  Mera- 
 phim  : 
 
 5  Afterward  shall  the  children  of  Israel  re- 
 turn, and  ^seek  the  Lord  their  God,  and 
 •■  David  their  king  ;  and  sliall  fear  the  Lord 
 and  his  goodness  in  the  '  latter  days. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  (joiVs  judgments  n<ininst  the  si/ts  of  the  people,  6  and 
 of  the  pritsts,  12  and  against  their  idolatry.  15  ./«- 
 dah  is  exhortrd  to  take  warning  by  hratVs  calamity. 
 
 HEAR  the  word  of  the  Lord,  ye  ciiildren 
 of  Israel  :  fur  the  Lord  hath  a  "  contro- 
 versy with  the  inhabitants  of  the  land,  because 
 there  is  no  trutli,  nor  mercy,  nor  **  knowledge 
 of  God  in  tlie  land. 
 
 2  By  swearing,  and  lying,  and  killing,  and 
 stealing,  and  committing  adultery,  they  break 
 out,  and  f  blood  toncheth  blood. 
 
 3  Therefore  ^ shall  the  land  mourn, and  ^  every 
 
 t  Ueb. 
 
 Uthrch . 
 
 cDeu.  21.13 
 
 d  ch.  10  3. 
 Song  of  the 
 three  cliil- 
 dien,  VLT. 
 
 t  Heb    n 
 pillTr,  *""' 
 
 Is.  \y.  19. 
 
 «>  Ex.  23.  6, 
 
 /Judg   17.5 
 
 if  Jer.  50.  I, 
 
 5.  ch.  a.  fi. 
 
 'i  Jer.  :wi   9. 
 
 Eie,  31.  ^S, 
 
 24.  &Z7.-2->. 
 
 24.. 
 
 I  I^.  3   2. 
 Jer.  HO.  21, 
 Kie.  S8.  8, 
 16.  Pan.  2. 
 2a.  Mic.4.l. 
 
 cir.  780. 
 
 a  Is.  1.  IS. 
 
 IK  3.   l^,    11. 
 
 Jer    ii.  .S. 
 
 ch.  13.  2- 
 
 Mic.  6.  2. 
 b  Jer,  t.  2-J. 
 
 ac  5.  4. 
 1Heb.6/"orfi 
 c  Jit.  4.  2!*, 
 
 !t  3,  8. 
 dZcpb.  I.S 
 
 f  Sep  Jer.  ( 
 i.  \'  15,  E 
 
 ■J  Is.  5.  13. 
 tHtb.c./"/. 
 
 h  ch.  13.  6. 
 
 i  I  Sam.  2, 
 ffO.  Mai.  2. 
 9.  I'hil,  3. 
 19. 
 
 t  Heb.  lift 
 t(;t  ihrir  tviA 
 to   thrir  ini- 
 
 k  Is.  -24.  2. 
 
 Jer.  h   SI, 
 t  Heb.  vit.t 
 
 upon 
 f   Heb.  enutt 
 
 to  Tflurn. 
 t  Lev.  26.20 
 
 n  Is.  28.  7. 
 See  Ecck'S. 
 
 7.7. 
 
 one  that  dwelleth  therein  shall  languish,  with 
 the  beasts  of  the  field,  and  with  the  fowls  of 
 heaven  ;  yea,  the  fishes  of  the  sea  also  shall 
 be  taken  away. 
 
 4  Yet  let  no  man  strive,  nor  reprove  another: 
 for  thy  people  are  as  they  ^  that  strive  witii 
 the  priest, 
 
 5  Therefore  shalt  thou  fall  *^  in  the  day,  and 
 the  prophet  also  shall  fall  with  tliee  in  the 
 night,  and  I  will  f  destroy  thy  mother. 
 
 G  1i  *^  i\Iy  people  are  f  destroyed  for  lack  of 
 knowledge  :  because  (hou  hast  rejected  know- 
 ledge, I  will  also  reject  thee,  that  thou  shalt 
 be  no  priest  to  me  :  seeing  tliou  hast  forgot- 
 ten the  law  of  thy  God,  I  will  also  forget  thy 
 children. 
 
 7  ^  As  they  were  increased,  so  they  sinned 
 against  me  :  '  therefore  will  I  change  their 
 glory  into  shame. 
 
 8  They  eat  up  the  sin  of  my  people,  and  they 
 f  set  tlieir  heart  on  their  iniquity. 
 
 9  And  there  shall  be,  ''like  people,  like 
 priest:  and  I  will  f  punish  them  for  their  ways, 
 and  t  reward  them  their  doings. 
 
 10  For  '  they  shall  eat,  and  not  have  enough  : 
 they  shall  commit  whoredom,  and  shall  not 
 increase :  because  they  have  left  off  to  take 
 heed  to  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  Whoredom  and  wine  and  new  wine  ""  take 
 away  the  heart. 
 
 for  tlie  whole  race  of  the  Israelites,  comprehending:  both  kingdoms. 
 Indeed,  it  was  the  only  general  api>ellatinn  before  the  captivity  of  the 
 ten  tribes:  afterwards,  the  kinp:dum  of  Judah  only  remaining,  'Jews' 
 came  into  common  use  as  the  name  of  the  whole  race,  which  bctcre 
 had  been  the  appropriate  name  of  the  kingdom  of  Judah.  Who  lank, 
 ^c,  '  although  they  look  to  other  gods,  and  are  addicted  to  goblets  ot 
 wine.' — Hors.  signifying  dnuikenness  and  the  like,  which  the  service 
 of  heathen  idols  sanctioned,  or  perhaps  by  paitaking  of  the  wine  which 
 was  drunk  at  the  heathen  sacrifices. — Pocnck.  2.  So  I  bought  hfr, 
 as  a  concubine,  (see  Deut.  .\.\i.  11  — 14.)— U'i7.  This  was  not  a  jjay- 
 ment  in  (he  shape  of  a  dowry,  for  the  woman  was  his  property,  and  he 
 Ihouglit  fit  to  claim  her,  but  a  present  supply  of  her  nece.ssary  wants, 
 by  which  he  acknowledged  her  as  his  wife.  The  parsimonious  gift, 
 half  the  price  of  a  female  slave,  and  black  barley  bread,  typified  the 
 hard  fare  which  the  Israelites  were  to  e.vpcct  at  the  hand  of  God  in  tlieir 
 state  of  exile.— /fo?-.?.,  ('tili\  3.  Ahidf,  stay  sequestered,  as  in  a  state 
 of  widowhood,  till  I  see  lit  to  receive  thee. — So  I'ococke.  Thou  shalt 
 not,  4-r.— we  may  omit  the  italics,  and  the  meaning:  then  is  '  thou  shalt 
 not  have  an  husband,  neither  \vill  I  have  thee  ito  my  wife.)' — Preft. 
 Louth.  This  represents  the  present  state  of  the  Jews,  withheld  from 
 idolatry. — So  Hots.  4.  Mnni/  dnijs,  '  years.*— i)r.  Wheeler.  Without 
 a  king.  6c-,  the  Jews  remained  in  this  state  for  several  years  during 
 the  Babylonish  captivity  ;  yet  their  civil  and  religious  constitution  w.is 
 again  restored  ;  but  since  the  rejection  of  that  nation  at  the  introduc- 
 tion of  Christianity,  and  the  destruction  of  their  city  and  temple  by  the 
 Romans,  they  have  continued  to  this  time  in  the  state  here  described. 
 — Scott.  Without  a  prince,  without  any  government  of  their  own. 
 Without  a  sacnftce.  no  typical  sacrifice,  no  share  in  the  true  sacrifice. 
 —Hors.  Without  an  imn^e,  ^c,  yet  not  tempted  to  idolatrous  prac 
 tices,  the  epidemical  sin  of  their  forefathers,  but  restrained  from  them. 
 —Preb.  Lowth.  Luther,  Calv.,  Vnt.,  Houb.,  Newc,  Hors.  Ephnd~^ce 
 Exod.  XXV.  7,  note.  The  ephod  is  often  taken  for  theUrim  andThum- 
 mim.  When  God  was  consulted,  the  pric--t  put  on  the  epliod.  which 
 contained  the  hrcast-plate  or  pectoral.— C't/.,  Sut.  Teruphim,  '  Urim,' 
 Sept.  See  Judg.  xvii.  5,  note.  These  were  images  used  in  domestic 
 worship,  or  as  instruments  for  divination. — Com.  from  Henry  and  ^cott. 
 They  should  be  left  without  means  of  inquiring  the  will  of  God. —Wit. 
 5.  And  Diti^id  their  kin^,  an  illustrious  king  of  this  name  and  stock 
 shall  yet  reign  over  Israel,  and  transmit  the  kingd<'m  to  bis  descendants 
 for  ever,  (comp.  Jer.  xxx.  9;  Ezek.  sxxiv.  23,  24;  xxxvii.  24,  25.)— 
 
 Newc.  This  even  their  own  writers  explain  of  the  promised  Messiah, 
 and  doubtless  it  foretold  their  future  conversion  to  Clirist.  —  Scott. 
 Messiah  is  meant,  elsewhere  called  David,  (Ps.  cxxxii,  10;  Jer.  xxx.  9; 
 Ezek.  xxxiv.24,  and  xxxvii.  24,  25,  with  Amos,  ix.  11.)— Poole,  so  Poc., 
 Clirke,  Gill,  Wil.,  Sut. 
 
 Chap.  IV. —  I.  Hath  a  controversy,  the  expression  istaken  from  the 
 actions  or  pleas  which  one  roan  hath  against  another,  for  injuries  or 
 damages  received. — PreO.  Lowth.  2.  Break  out,  beyond  all  bounds, 
 like  swelling  waters  out  of  their  banks,  and  overflowing  the  land. — 
 Poc.  Applied  to  the  bursting  of  waters,  (2  Sam.  v.  '20)—Newr.  lifnod 
 toucheth  blood,  it  alludes  to  the  frequency  of  murders.- Gi7/,  so  l\'ewc. 
 The  blood  of  the  sacrifices  was  mingled  with  the  blood  of  the  sacrifircr. 
 — Liqhtf.  3.  Beasts— fowls,  these  shall  be  affected  with  the  scarcity. 
 — Newc.  Fishes,  their  waters  should  be  dried  up  or  corrupted.  4.  Let 
 no  man  strive,  let  none  open  their  mouths  to  reason  or  debate  with  this 
 people. — Poole.  As  they  that  strive  with  the  priest— this  was  a  capital 
 offence,  (Deut.  xvii.  12.)— Hors.  5.  Shalt  thou,  O  Israel,  addressing 
 the  people. — Poole.  The  last  sentence  was  addressed  to  the  prophet, 
 this  to  the  people. — Hors.  In  the  day,  or  'in  this  day,'  or  'to  day,* 
 DVn.  '  very  suddenly.' — Poole,  Gill,  and  many  Latin  writers.  In  the 
 most  open  and  public  manner. — A.  Clarke.  In  the  night,  of  adversity, 
 or,  as  night  succeeds  day,  one  should  fall  as  certainly  as  the  other. — 
 Gill.  Thi/  mother,  Jerusalem,  the  metropolis  of  the  whole  nation. — 
 Hors.  ti.  Luck  of  knowledge,  of  God's  law,  8;c.  Thou  hast  rejected 
 knowledge— U\c  prophet  now  addresses  the  priests  ;  the  people's  igno- 
 rance was  much  owing  to  theirs.  Thnu  shalt  be  no  priest,  I  will  de- 
 stroy your  church,  constitution,  and  priesthood.  Thy  children,  the 
 people  of  Israel. — Poole.  7-  As  they  ivere  increased,  SfC. — in  propor- 
 tion as  the  priesthood  were  raised  in  dignity  and  power  above  the  rest 
 of  the  people,  they  surjiasscd  the  rest  in  impiety.— //f»rs.  Change  their 
 glory,  ^c,  take  away  their  priesthood  from  them. — Gill.  8.  Eat  up 
 the  sin,  TMi'^LTf,  '  the  sin-offering.' — A.  Clarke.  Feed  on  the  sin-offer- 
 ings. Set  their  heart,  l^c,  are  desirous  the  people  should  sin,  that  the 
 offerings  may  come  in. — Poc.  9-  Like  people,  like  priest,  alitie  in  sin, 
 and  alike  in  punishment.  10,  Not  have  enough,  not  be  satisfied,  (see 
 the  word  in  Lev.  xxvi.  26;  Mic.  vi.  H.)—Preb.  Lowth,  so  Hors.  Not 
 increase,  the  women  shall  be  barren,  or  the  children  die.  —  Pnole. 
 1 1.  Take  away  the  heart,  make  men  brutish  in  their  understanding. — 
 Poc.  12.  Stocks,  wooden  statues  or  idols. —  Poole,  so  Poc,  GUI, 
 Clarke.     Their  staff,  they  use  divination  by  rods,  (see  Ezek.  xxi.21.)— 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  We  may  observe  here, 
 I.  •  God^s  goodness  and  Israel's  badness.  In  God's  good  will  to- 
 wards sinners,  his  thoughts  and  ways  are  iofinitely  above  ours, 
 and  his  love  is  more  condescending  and  compassionate  than 
 ours  is,  or  can  be  :  in  this  as  much  as  in  anything,  he  is  God, 
 and  not  man,  ( Hos.  xi.  9. ) 
 
 II.  '2'/ie  method  Jmmd  for  the  hrinr/ing  of  a  God  so  very  good 
 and  the  people  so  vry  had  together  again,  l-'overty  and  disgrace 
 sometimes  prove  a  happy  means  of  making  great  sinners  true 
 penitents  ;  and  those  tor  whom  God  designs  mercy,  he  will 
 bring  to  abase  themselves,  and  to  put  a  high  value  upon  his 
 favours.  But  it  is  not  enough  to  take  shame  to  ourselves  for 
 923 
 
 the  sins  we  have  committed,  and  to  justify  God  in  correcting 
 us  for  them;  we  must  also  resolve,  in  the  strength  of  God's 
 grace,  that  we  will  not  offend  nny  more.  Two  things  are 
 here  promised  as  instances  of  their  return,— first,  llie  in- 
 quiries they  shall  make  after  God  ;  and  those  that  seek  the 
 Lord  so  as  to  find  him,  must  apply  themselves  to  Jesus  Christ, 
 and  must  seek  to  bim  as  their  King,  and  become  his  willing 
 people,  and  take  an  oath  of  fealty  and  allegiance  to  him.  Se- 
 cond, the  reverence  they  shall  have  of  God.  We  must  re- 
 joice with  trembling  in  the  goodness  of  God  ;  must  not  be 
 high-minded,  but  fear.'  ^ 
 
Judgments  denounced 
 
 HOSEA,  V. 
 
 for  manifold  sins. 
 
 12  t  My  people  ask  counsel  at  their  "  stocks, 
 and  their  staff  declareth  unto  them  :  for  "  the 
 spirit  of  whoredoms  hath  caused  them  to  err, 
 and  they  have  gone  a  whoring  from  under  their 
 God. 
 
 13  ""They  sacrifice  upon  the  tops  of  the 
 mountains,  and  burn  incense  upon  the  hills, 
 under  oaks  and  poplars  and  elms,  because  the 
 shadow  thereof  is  good  :  ''  tlierefore  your 
 daughters  shall  commit  whoredom,  and  your 
 spouses  shall  commit  adultery. 
 
 i4  II  I  will  not  punish  your  daughters  when 
 they  commit  whoredom,  nor  your  spouses 
 when  they  commit  adultery  :  for  themselves 
 are  separated  with  whores,  and  they  sacrifice 
 with  harlots  :  therefore  the  people  that  '  doth 
 not  understand  shall  ||fall. 
 
 15  f  Though  thou,  Israel,  play  the  harlot,  ?/e< 
 let  not  Judah  offend  ;  '  and  come  not  ye  unto 
 Gilgal,  neitlier  go  ye  up  to  '  Beth-aven,  "  nor 
 swear,  The  Lord  liveth. 
 
 16  For  Israel  '  slideth  back  as  a  backsliding 
 heifer  :  now  the  Loan  will  feed  tliem  as  a  lamb 
 in  a  large  place. 
 
 17  Ephraim  is  joined  to  idols:  'let  him 
 alone. 
 
 18  Their  drink  f's  sour:  they  have  com- 
 mitted whoredom  continually:  'her  f  rulers 
 u-ith  shame  do  love.  Give  ye. 
 
 19  "The  wind  hath  bound  her  up  in  her 
 wings,  and  ''  they  shall  be  ashamed  because  of 
 their  sacrifices. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  God's  jufh/meiits  against  the  priests,  the  people,  and 
 the  princes  of  Israel,  for  their  manifold  sins,  1 5  until 
 they  repent 
 
 TEAR  ye  this,  O  priests  ;  and  hearken,  ye 
 ^   house  of  Israel ;  and  give  ye  ear,  O  house 
 of  the  king;  for  judgment  is  toward  you,  be- 
 
 H' 
 
 cir 
 
 jBO. 
 
 .  JiT.  2    27. 
 
 H;ib.  2.  19. 
 .  Is.  A\.  20. 
 
 Ch.  5.  4. 
 
 p  l9    I.  89. 
 &  57.  6.  7. 
 Ezek   6    13. 
 &  SO.  28. 
 
 7  AmOB?  17. 
 
 .cl.  9.  ]r..& 
 
 12.]  I.Amos 
 4.  4.  &5.  5. 
 t  I  Kin.  12. 
 
 2g  cii.  iii.fj 
 
 M  AmosSlI 
 Z.ph    1 . 5 
 
 J- .let.  3  ij.  Xi 
 7.  L'l  fcs.  5 
 Zecl>.7.  11. 
 
 if  Mat.  15.1!. 
 
 t  Heb- 
 z  Wic.  : 
 
 13  &  51.  1 
 
 6  Is,  I.  ay. 
 
 Jer.  2.  2li. 
 
 cir.  ;ho- 
 
 o  ch.  6.  9. 
 b  Is.  29.  15. 
 
 |IOr.  r,„J,A-'.' 
 t  Hfb   acuT- 
 
 C  Amos  3.  2. 
 d  Eie.  21.  5, 
 &c  ch.4  17. 
 
 t  Heb.    Thetf 
 
 ?  Pro    1.  2«. 
 Is    1.  iri. 
 .Itr.    II     II. 
 K/..*k.8    18 
 Mic.  S    4. 
 
 Julia  ;  31. 
 
 h  Is.  1-9.  8. 
 Jei-.1.  20. & 
 -'i.  II    ch    fi. 
 7.   Mal.211, 
 
 .  Zech.  n,8. 
 
 /(  ch.  S.  I. 
 
 JodL^  I. 
 /  Is.  10.  30. 
 in  Jnsli.  7.  2 
 
 ch,  4,  15. 
 ri  Juds.  5.14 
 
 .  neut.  19- 
 11.  &,2;.  17. 
 
 f)Deu  2S.3; 
 
 q  I  Kin    12. 
 'iH.  Mic.  6. 
 
 ■  Pro.  12    4. 
 Or,  n  worm. 
 
 cause  "  ye  have  been  a  snare  on  Mizpah,  and  a 
 net  spread  upon  Tabor. 
 
 2  And  the  revolters  are  ''profound  to  make 
 slaughter,  ||  though  1  have  been  f  a  rebuker  of 
 them  all. 
 
 3  ''  I  know  Ephraim,  and  Israel  is  not  hid 
 from  me  :  for  now,  O  Ephraim,  ''  thou  com- 
 mittest  whoredom,  and  Israel  is  defiled. 
 
 4  t  II  They  will  not  frame  their  doings  to 
 turn  unto  their  God  :  for  *"  the  spirit  of  whore- 
 doms is  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  they  have 
 not  known  the  Lord. 
 
 o  And  *"  the  pride  of  Israel  doth  testify  to  hi^ 
 face  :  therefore  shall  Israel  and  Ephraim  fall 
 in  their  iniquity  ;  Judah  also  shall  fall  with 
 them. 
 
 6  ^  They  shall  go  with  their  flocks  and  with 
 their  herds  to  seek  the  Lord  ;  but  they  shall 
 not  find  him  ;  he  hath  withdrawn  himself  from 
 them. 
 
 7  They  have  ^  deal  t  treacherously  against  the 
 Lord  :  for  they  have  begotten  strange  chil- 
 dren :  now  shall  'a  month  devour  them  with 
 their  portions. 
 
 8  ^  Blow  ye  the  cornet  in  Gibeah,  and  the 
 trumpet  in  Ramah  :  '  cry  aloud  at  "'  Beth-aven, 
 "after  thee,  O  Benjamin. 
 
 9  Ephraim  shall  be  desolate  in  the  day  of  re- 
 buke :  among  the  tribes  of  Israel  have  I  made 
 known  tliat  which  shall  surely  he. 
 
 10  The  princes  of  Judah  were  like  them  that 
 "remove  the  bound  :  therefore  I  will  pour  out 
 my  wrath  upon  them  like  water. 
 
 1 1  Ephraim  is  ^  oppressed  and  broken  in 
 judgment,  because  he  willingly  walked  after 
 '*  the  commandment. 
 
 ]'2  Tlierefore  u-ill  I  he  unto  Ephraim  as  a 
 motli,  and  to  the  house  of  Judah  ""as  ||  rotten- 
 ness. 
 
 A.  Clarke.  And  they  have  gone,  §-f .,  *  and  they  have  gone  astray  from 
 their  God.' — Doothr.  1.3,   Is  guod,  for  shelter. — Newc.     The  thick 
 
 wodds  were  favourable  to  their  corrupt  practices. — So  Clarke.  Ynur 
 daughters  shull  commit,  fyc,  this  may  mean  '  spiritually  and  literally.' 
 ^Gill.  God  delivers  men  up  to  vWe  affections,  as  a  punishment  for 
 their  idolatry,  (see  Rom.  i.  26.)— Pre6.  Lowth.  'Since  thus  it  is,  let 
 your  daughters  play  the  wanton,  and  your  daughters-in-law  commit 
 adultery,' — Hurs.  14.  /  iviU  jwtpunish,  Sjc,  'Shall  not  I  visit  your 
 daughters  because  they  commit  fornication?  and  your  wives,  because 
 they  commit  adultery  ?' — Xewc. ;  to  the  same  purport,  Booihr.  With 
 harlots,  such  as  prostituted  themselves  in  an  idol  temple  in  honour  of 
 the  idol;  so  the   word  sitrnifies. — Preb.  Louth.  15.    Though   thou, 
 
 Israel,  '  whatever  the  obstinacy  of  the  house  of  Israel  may  be  in  her  cor- 
 ruptions, at  least  let  Judah  keep  herself  pure.* — Hors.  Judah  is  here 
 e.\hnrted  to  maintain  her  integrity. — A.  Clarke.  The  speech  seems  to 
 be  delivered  to  Israel,  not  to  draw  Judah  into  her  sins. — Gill.  Gilgal— 
 this  was  the  place  where  the  covenant  of  circumcision  was  renewed, 
 when  the  people  passed  over  Jordan,  but  was  rendered  infamous  by  the 
 worship  of  idols,  after  Jeroboam  had  set  up  his  idolatry. — A.  Clarke. 
 Bf/A-af'en.  the  same  as  Bethel,  but  so  called  from  the  idolatry  prac- 
 tised there.  It  means,  '  house  of  iniquity,'  and  not  '  house  of  God,'  as 
 it  had  been  called.— BooMr.  Aor  swear,  the  Lord  liveth,  'swear  not 
 the  solemn  oath  of  the  living  God  in  an  idolatrous  temple.' — Hors. 
 l6.  As  a  backsliding  heifer — see  Jcr.  vii.  24,  note.  In  a  large  place, 
 uninclosed,  common,  waste.  Exiles,  free  from  restraint.  Deridiug^ 
 language,  common  with  the  prophets,  especially  Hosea.  —  So  Hors. 
 1".  Let  him  aliine,  give  him  up  as  incorrigible. — Boothr.  IS.  Their 
 
 drink  is  sour,  '  he  is  gone  after  their  wine.'  The  wine  or  banquets  of 
 idols. — Neu'C.,so  Boothr.  They  have  committed,  Sfc.,' her  rulers  have 
 committed  fornication  continually  ;  they  have  loved  shame.'  The  wind 
 hath  bound  her  up  in  her  wj/ig-s,' a  wind  shall  distress  her  in  her  borders.' 
 — AVitT.  An  admirable  image  of  a  people  torn  by  a  conqueror  from  their 
 native  land,  scattered  in  exile  to  the  four  quarters  of  the  world. — Hors. 
 
 Chap.  V.  — I.^  snare  on  Mizpah,  and  a  net  spread  vpon  Tabor— 
 the  former,  both  a  mountain  and  city,  situated  beyond  Jordan,  in  the 
 mountains  of  Gilead,  (Judg.  xi.  29.)— .-i.  Clarke,  Newc.  Tabnr,  a 
 beautiful  and  fruitful  mountain  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulun.  Hunters  and 
 fowlers  frequented  such  places  with  their  nets  and  snares, — Newc.  So 
 they  had  ensnared  many  souls  in  idolatry. — Poole.  2.  Revolters, 
 '  hunters.*  — Grot.,  so  Dathe.  Prnfaund  to  make  slanghter — this  may 
 allude  to  the  making  of  deep  pits  covered  over  for  the  beasts  to  fall  in. 
 — Clarke.  'The  prickers  have  made  a  deep  slaughter  ;  therefore  will  i 
 bring  chastisement  upon  them  all.'  The  prickers  were  scouts  that  wait 
 on  horseback,  attend;ints  on  the  chase,  whose  business  it  was  to  scour 
 the  country  all  round,  and  drive-  the  wild  beasts  into  the  toils. — Hors. 
 It  means,  the  ringleaders  in  idolatry  lay  deep  designs  to  ensnare  men's 
 lives. — Preb.  Lowth.  3.  Ephraim — Israel,  an  elegant  repetition  of 
 the  same  thing  in  different  words.—  Poole.  5.  The  pride  of  Israel — 
 tlieir  proud  carriage  against  God  witnesseth  against  them. — Puc.  The 
 pride  of  Israel  is  God  himself,  elsewhere  called  '  the  excellency  of  Ja- 
 cob.'— Hors.  Judah  also  shall  fall,  being  partakers  in  their  idolatry. — 
 Poc.  6.  Go,  SfC,  to  seek  the  Lord,  offer  their  sacrifices  to  him  in  vain. 
 — Newc.  7.  Dealt  treacherousli/,  ^c,  as  a  woman  with  her  husband 
 when  unfaithful  to  him.—GiV/.  Strange  children,  aliens  from  God, 
 bmught  up  in  idolatry.  A  month,  a  very  short  time.  Their  port  ions » 
 allotments  of  the  several  tribes.— So  Hors.  8.  Giheah—Ram'jh,  cities  of 
 Judah  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  After  thee,  f,n.,  an  abrupt  call  of  warn- 
 ing. 'Benjamin"  flee  lor  thy  life  !  the  enemy  is  just  hchivd.'—Cl'irke, 
 so  Poc.  A  prediction  of  the  invasion  of  the  Assyrians,  and  the  capti- 
 vity of  the  ttn  tribes. — Clarke.  10.  Like  them  that  remove  the  bound, 
 '  the  landmark,'  (see  Deut.  xix.  14  ;  xxvii.  17  ;)  they  had  passed  overall 
 bounds  prescribed  by  God  and  man. — Poc.  II.  Oppressed,  with  a  heavy 
 weight  of  calamity.  Broken  in  Judgment,  '  crushed  in  his  judicial  con- 
 test with  me.'— JVe«'c.  The  commandment,  Jeroboam's  command  to 
 forsake  the  worship  of  the  true  God.  Such  were  the  statutes  of  Omri, 
 (Mic.  vi.  16.)— Preft.  Lowth.     12.  A  mo^/i,  that  cats  clothes.  Rottenness, 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  IV.  —  I.  *  We  learn  here  the  dreadful 
 consequences  of  sin.  God  has  a  controversy  with  or  action 
 against  sinners,  and  it  is  easy  to  see  how  it  will  end  :  God 
 will  be  justified,  and  the  sinner  confounded. 
 
 II.  *  How  dreadful  a  thing  is  it  for  7nen  to  he  let  alone  in  their 
 sins!  "Ephraim  is  joined  to  idols  ;  let  him  alone."  So  now, 
 providences,  ordinances,  and  the  Spirit,  are,  as  it  were,  or- 
 dered to  let  many  alone;  they  will  bear  no  reproof,  regard  no 
 checks  of  conscience,  and  endeavour  to  stifle  all  r^'morso  ;  nnd 
 0-20 
 
 therefore  "are  given  up  to  their  own  heart's  lusts." 
 
 III.  '  Since  there  is  so  mvch  sin  in  the  world,  and  these  are  its 
 terrible  effects,  ht  God's  people  be  very  cautions  that  they  7iever  of- 
 fend. }]et  them  guard  against  the  infection  of  evil  principles, 
 "customs,  and  example.  Let  tbera  be  watcliful.  shun  the  occa- 
 sion, to  sin,  resist  temptations  to  it,  and  daily  implore  the 
 Divine  blessing  and  assistance,  tliat  they  may  "  hold  faith  and 
 a  good  conscience,  and  persevere  to  llie  end."**' 
 
 G   c 
 
An  cxhurlatioii  to  rcpciUance. 
 
 HOSEA,  VI.,  VII. 
 
 A  complaint  of  their  iintoivardimss. 
 
 13  When  Epliraim  saw  liis  sickness  and  Ju- 
 dah  saw  liis  'wound,  then  went  Ephraim  '  to 
 the  Assyrian,  "  and  sent  ||  to  king  Jaieb  :  yet 
 could  he  not  heal  yon,  nor  cure  you  of  your 
 wound. 
 
 14  For  '  I  will  lie  nnto  Ephraiin  as  a  lion, 
 and  as  a  young  lion  to  the  house  of  Judah  : 
 '  I,  even  I,  will  tear  and  go  away  ;  I  will  take 
 away,  and  none  shall  rescue  hitn. 
 
 15  t  I  will  ^o  and  return  to  my  place,  f  till 
 '  they  acknowledge  their  oflenee,  and  seek  my 
 face  :  "  in  their  affliction  they  will  seek  me 
 early. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  An   cxhitrtntion   to    rrpentalice.        4  A    complaint    of 
 
 their  untnwardness  and  iniquity. 
 
 COME,  and  let  us  return  unto  the  Lord  : 
 for  °  he  hath  torn,  and  ''  he  will  heal  us  ; 
 he  hath  smitten,  and  he  will  hind  us  up. 
 
 2  "  After  two  days  will  he  revive  us  :  in  the 
 third  day  he  will  raise  us  up,  and  we  shall  live 
 in  his  sight. 
 
 3  ''  Then  shall  we  know,  if  we  follow  on  to 
 know  the  Lord  :  his  going  forth  is  prepared 
 '  as  the  morning  ;  and  '  he  shall  come  unto  us 
 *  as  the  rain,  as  the  latter  and  former  rain  unto 
 the  earth. 
 
 4  1 ''  O  Ephraim,  what  shall  I  do  nnto  thee? 
 O  Judah,  what  shall  I  do  unto  thee  y  for  your 
 
 II  goodness  is  '  as  a  morning  cloud,  and  as  the 
 early  dew  it  goeth  away. 
 
 B.  C 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  IHO. 
 
 cir.  730. 
 
 i  Jer.  30.  12. 
 
 k  Jer.  1.  10. 
 
 t  •>  Kin.  IS. 
 
 &5.  14. 
 
 19.  ch.  7.11. 
 
 /  J«T.  2S   29. 
 
 &  \-2.  \. 
 
 Heb.  1.  12. 
 
 u  ch    10.  6. 
 
 11  Or,  that  Ihi/ 
 
 1  Or,  I'i  t>f 
 
 judgmtnU  ' 
 
 ku,sofJa- 
 
 nos''lbe,^. 
 
 Tfb:  ..r,  to 
 
 m  1  Sam.lS. 
 
 tilt  king 
 
 ■^.  Eccles 
 
 that  thould 
 
 5.  1.  Mic  6. 
 
 plertd. 
 
 S  Mat.9.13. 
 
 xLam  3.10. 
 
 St  12   7 
 
 ch.  13,  7,  S. 
 
 «  Pa.  30  9,9. 
 
 V  Pa.  50.  22 
 
 P.O.  31.  3. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 Is.  1.  U. 
 
 till  they  be 
 
 ..  Jer. 22-  16. 
 
 ^villy. 
 
 John   17.  S. 
 
 I  Lev.  ye  40, 
 
 II  Or,  lilU! 
 
 ■11.  Jer.!i9, 
 
 Adam. 
 
 12,  13.  Eic. 
 
 Job  31,  33. 
 
 6,  9.  &  SO. 
 
 }i  I'll.  H     1. 
 
 «.  &.16..HI. 
 
 f,  .1..  5.  7. 
 
 a  Ps.  T8.  at. 
 
 T  ,h    12    11. 
 
 \\Or,ctfi',mg 
 
 for  blot.d. 
 
 oir.  7S0. 
 
 /Jer.  11.  9. 
 
 Kze.  82.  25. 
 
 a  Deu.  32.39. 
 
 ch.  5.  1,  2. 
 
 1  Snm.  Sfi. 
 
 t  Heb.  uith 
 
 Job  5.  IS. 
 
 one  ,fi«u/. 
 
 oh.  5.  14. 
 
 de-r,  or,  to 
 
 6  Jer.  31)    17. 
 
 Shfchnn. 
 
 r  I  C..r.  154. 
 
 \\l\t,fH<>fu,ty. 
 
 (  J.T.  6.  30. 
 
 u  ch.  4.  12, 
 
 d  Is.  51.  13. 
 
 IS,  17. 
 xJer.  61.33 
 
 Joel  3.  IS 
 
 Hev.  M.  15. 
 
 f  2  Sa-  23  1 
 
 y  Pa.  120    1. 
 
 /  Pa   72.  6 
 
 g  Job  S9.  23 
 
 f  Hcb.fP.Vj 
 
 a  cli.  5.  1.  K 
 
 6.  10. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 fcch.  II.  fl. 
 
 ttrippfth. 
 
 t  Heb.  lay 
 
 HOl  to. 
 
 1)  Or,  mitrrv, 
 
 6  Jer.  17.  1. 
 
 nr,htuil'if$i. 
 
 c  Pa.  9.  16. 
 
 i  ch.  IS.  a. 
 
 Pro.  6.  22. 
 
 b  Therefore  have  I  hewed  them  ^  by  the  pro- 
 phets ;  I  have  slam  them  by  '  the  words  of  my 
 mouth  :  II  and  thy  judgments  are  as  the  light 
 that  goeth  forth. 
 
 6  For  I  desired  ""  mercy,  and  "  not  sacrifice  ; 
 and  the  "knowledge  of  God  more  than  burnt 
 offerings. 
 
 7  But  they  ||  like  men  ^  have  transgressed 
 the  covenant :  there  '^  have  they  dealt  treacher- 
 ously against  me. 
 
 8  ^  Gilead  is  a  city  of  them  that  work  iniquity, 
 and  is  ||pol!uted  witii  blood. 
 
 9  And  as  troops  of  robbers  wait  for  a  man,  so 
 ''the  company  of  priests  murder  in  the  way 
 fby  consent :  for  they  commit  jj  lewdness. 
 
 10  I  have  seen  ^  an  horrible  thing  in  the 
 house  of  Israel :  there  is  "  the  whoredom  of 
 Ephraim,  Israel  is  defiled. 
 
 11  Also,  O  Judah,  ^  he  hath  set  an  harvest 
 for  thee,  *  when  I  returned  the  captivity  of  my 
 people. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  A  reproof  of  manifold  sins.      U  God's  wrath  aaainst 
 
 them  for  their  hi/pocrisi/. 
 
 WHEN  I  would  have  healed  Israel,  then 
 the  iniquity  of  Ephraim  was  discovered, 
 and  the  f  wickedness  of  Samaria  :  for  "  they 
 commit  falsehood  ;  and  the  thief  cometh  in, 
 and  the  troop  of  robbers  fspoileth  without. 
 2  And  they  f  consider  not  in  their  hearts  that 
 1 ''  remember  all  their  wickedness  :  now  ^  their 
 
 or  'a  worm'  bred  in  old  wood. — Uoch.  13.  Sickness — wound,  mean 
 the  diseases  of  the  body  politic,  (Is.  i.  6.)  King  Jareb,  tbe  Assyrian 
 king,  or  the  king  of  Jareb,  a  place,  for  this  does  not  appear  to  be  the 
 name  of  the  king  of  Assyria  himself,  though  Pul,  Tiglath-Pilcser,  and 
 Salmaneser,  might  have  more  names  than  one. — Gill.  Jareb  might 
 be  a  viceroy  of  the  Assyrians. — Sut.  The  friendship  of  the  Assyrian 
 monarch,  to  which  this  prophecy  relates,  was  purchased  by  Menahem, 
 king  of  Israel,  (2  Kings,  xv.  19,  20  ;)  and  in  a  later  period  solicited  by 
 Ahaz,  (chap.  xvi.  .5— g.)  15.  Return   to  my  place,  withdraw  the 
 
 tokens  of  his  presence  from  the  Jewish  temple. — Hors.  Abandon  the 
 people  till  they  should  acknowledge  their  offences. — Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  1.  Come,  ?fc. — this,  to  ver.  3,  inclusive,  should  be  joined 
 to  the  preceding  chapter  ;  the  prophet  persuades  in  his  own  person. — 
 So  Hnrs.  2.  After  two  flaps,  seems  to  be  a  proverbial  way  of  de- 
 scribing an  event  that  would  soon  happen.  'Two'  is  pot  for  a  few, 
 (I  Kings,  xvii.  \2.)—Iioothr.,  see  Nofdius.  Two  days  for  a  short  time. 
 — Poole.  This  I  take  to  be  the  sense,  that  after  the  second  millennium, 
 or  the  Lord's  two  days,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  third,  will  be  the 
 time  of  the  Jews'  conversion  and  restoration,  reckoning  from  the  last 
 destruction  of  them  by  the  Romans. — Gill.  Three  distinct  periods  of 
 the  Jewish  people  are  here  denoted.  The  first  day,  the  captivity  of  the 
 ten  tribes  by  the  Assyrians,  and  of  the  two  under  the  Babylonians,  con- 
 sidered as  one  judgment  upon  the  nation,  beginning  with  the  captivity 
 of  the  ten,  and  completed  in  that  of  the  two.  The  second  is,  the  whole 
 period  of  the  present  condition  of  the  Jews,  beginning  with  the  disper- 
 sion of  the  nation  by  tbe  Romans.  The  third  is  the  period  yet  to  come, 
 beginning  with  their  restoration  at  the  second  advent.  There  is  also 
 an  oblique  allusion  to  our  Lord's  resurrection  on  the  third  day. — Hors., 
 see  also  Poc,  and  Clarke.  3.  Tfien  shall  we  know,  have  the  fullest 
 evidence  that  wc  have  not  believed  in  vain. — A.  Clarke.  As  the  morn- 
 ing, as  sure  as  returning  morning  chasing  away  darkness. — Newmme. 
 As  the  rain — the  periodical  rains  were  great  blessings,  and  to  these, 
 blessings  in  other  kinds  are  compared,  (see  Dcut.  xxxii.  2 ;  Ps.  Ixxii. 
 6;  Prov.  xvi.  !5;  Isa.  Iv.  lO,  &c.)  —  Poc.  As  the  latter  and  former 
 rain — our  translation  does  not  convey  the  idea.  What  it  calls  the  latter 
 rain,  fell  in  the  spring,  which  we  consider  as  the  former  part  of  the  year  ; 
 and  what  it  calls  t\\Q  former  rain,  fell  towards  the  end  of  cur  year.  .-Is 
 the  latter,  UJIpb'^^,  literally,  '  the  crop  rain,*  which  fell  just  before  har- 
 vest, to  plump  the  grain,  the  harvest  in  Judea  being  the  middle  of 
 March,  old  style.  Former  rain,  mv,  '  springing  rain,'  '  the  rain  which 
 makes  to  spring,'  wliich  fell  on  the  newly  sown  seed,  about  the  middle 
 of  October.— //ors.      See  Dcut.  xi.   14,  note.  5.  Hewed  them,  cut 
 
 them  down  like  trees  in  the  forest,  (see  Isa.  x.  15.)— FTiV.  Thy  judg- 
 ments, '  ray  judgments,'  Targ.    It  shoald  then  be,  *  my  judgment  shall 
 
 go  forth  as  the  light.'— ATeH.  Are  as  the  light,  their  justice  is  as 
 clear  as  the  snn.—Poc.  6.  Mercy,  and  not  sacrijice,  'rather  than 
 sacrifice;'  the  Jews  express  comparisons  by  negatives,  rejecting  the 
 things  less  worthy,  (comp.  Joel,  ii.  13,  and  John,  vi.  27-)— i'reA.  Lnwlh. 
 See  also  Matt.  ix.  13.  7-  Likemen,  DISD. '  like  Adam.'— /'(//f.,  i»/rtn/.. 
 Cast..  Grot.,  Cncc,  fyc,  so  Burroughs  and  Hors.  Just  as  Adam  did 
 in  jiaradise. — Preb.  Lowth.  They  have  broken  my  covenant  as  a  man, 
 they  thought  that  I  had  been  as  their  fellow  creature  ;  as  they  made  it 
 their  practice  to  break  covenants  with  men,  so  they  thought  to  do  with 
 GoA,~Vnt.,  Trem.,  ^c.  There,  in  tbe  covenant.— i*or.  8.  GHeoii, 
 or  Ramoth-gilead,  a  city  of  refuge,  (Deut.  iv.  43,)  therefore  inhabited 
 by  priests  and  Levites.  The  prophet  means  to  represent  the  priests  as 
 seducers  of  the  people  to  that  idolatry  which  proved  the  ruin  of  the 
 nation.  9.  The  company,  fyc.  'a  company  of  priests  upon  the  high- 
 way  murder  unto  Sichcm/  another  city  of  refuge,  (Josh.  xx.  7)  Tlie 
 people,  under  the  influence  of  such  guides,  met  their  destruction  in  the 
 quarter  where,  by  God's  appointment,  they  were  to  seek  their  safety. 
 — Hors. ;  same  rendering,  Neu-c,  and  others.  Murder— by  consent, 
 that  is,  they  associate  themselves  for  murdering  such  as  fall  in  their 
 way.— /'»c.  W.He  hath  set  an  harrest  for  thee,  '  moreover. O  Judah, 
 harvest  work  is  appointed  for  thee,  when  I  bring  back  the  eajitivity  of 
 my  people.'  The  harvest  here  represents  tbe  in-gathering  of  the  ob- 
 jects of  God's  final  mercy,  and  the  tribe  of  Jndah  is,  in  some  extraor- 
 dinary wav.  to  be  an  instrument  of  the  general  restoration  of  tbe  Jewish 
 peo\)\c.~Hors.  I  understand  *  harvest'  here  to  denote  the  time  of 
 punishment,  and  their  ripeness  for  it.  (comp.  Jer.  li.  33;  Joel,  iii.  13  ; 
 Rev.  xiv.  l^—\g.]—noothr.  The  nation  was  become  ripe  for  Divine 
 judgments,  which  would  be  inflicted  by  the  Assyrians  and  Chaldeans, 
 till  God  would  turn  away  the  captivity  of  his  people,  (see  Ps.  xiv.  7  ; 
 liii.  6;  cxxvi.  \.)—Scotf.  'Thou  shalt  be  reaped  down  and  sent  into 
 captivity.'— C/nrA-e.  When  1  returned,  ^c,  'among  those  who  lead 
 away  the  captivity  of  my  people.'— A'eirc.  '  They  who  have  led  Israel 
 into  captivity  shall  lead  thee  also  into  tbe  same.'  The  Assyrians  and 
 Babylonians  were  the  same  kind  of  people,  equally  idolatrous,  Stc.~ 
 Clarke.  The  latter  clause  will  be  plainer  rendered,  '  when  I  would 
 have  turned  away  the  captivity  of  my  people;'  when  I  would,  upon 
 their  repentance,  have  averted  their  judgments,  which  will  end  in  their 
 captivity.— /Vf6.  Lowth.  It  is  preferable  to  take  '  harvest'  here  in  two 
 senses,  signifying  a  people's  ripening  for  jiidgrncnts,  as  Rev.  xiv.  15 ; 
 or  for  deliverance,  (Ps.  cxxvi.  6,  6;)  and  hence  it  is  a  promise  of  re- 
 storing their  captivity  in  due  time,  which  yet  imports  a  sentence  of 
 banishment  for  sin  to  be  inflicted  heforc—  Hntcheson. 
 
 Chap.  VII.— I.  When  I  would  hare  healed,   ^c,  when  God   nsed 
 means  of  bringing  Israel  to  repentance,  their  wickedness  only  further 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  I.  God  ivill  not  dwdl  where 
 sin  is;  and  should  not  tlie  followers  of  God  be  like  himl 
 
 II.  ff  we  have  caused  God  to  dtpart  from  us  on  account  of  sin^ 
 let  us  httmble  our  snvh,  and  si nccrdy' return  to  him.  He  still 
 waits  to  be  gracious.  We,  it  is,  that  first  forsake  him  ere  lie 
 forsakes  us. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  I,  Let  us  take  encourage- 
 ment from  God's  mercjj.  If  be  wounds,  it  is  but  to  probe  our 
 930 
 
 corruptions  ;  he  delights  rather  to  heal. 
 
 II.  Let  us  beware  of  transiait  repentance.  Israel  repented 
 and  sinned — sinned  and  repented.  Thus  do  many,  but  God  is 
 not  to  be  mocked. 
 
 III.  Sin,  often  repeated,  must  lead  to  ruin.  It  begets  tbe 
 habit.  Men  become  hardened  in  sin.  God's  reproofs  are  no 
 longer  regarded — be  givestbem warning  no  longer.  Thestrnke 
 is  substituted  for  tbe  word, — the  ripened  sinner  is  cut  down. 
 
Jleproof  uf  manifuld  sins 
 
 HOSEA,  VIII. 
 
 Israel  threatened  for  impiety. 
 
 own  doings  have  beset  them  about;  they  are 
 ''  before  my  face. 
 
 3  They  make  the  king  glad  with  tlieir  wick- 
 edne.ss,  and  the  princes  °  with  their  lies. 
 
 4  '  They  are  all  adulterers,  as  an  oven  heated 
 by  the  baker,  ||  who  ceasetli  ||  from  raising 
 after  he  hath  kneaded  tlie  dougli,  until  it  be 
 leavened. 
 
 5  In  the  day  of  our  king  tlie  jirinces  have 
 made  him  sick  ||  with  bottles  of  wine  ;  he 
 stretched  out  his  hand  with  scorners. 
 
 6  For  they  have  ||  made  ready  their  heart 
 like  an  oven,  whiles  they  lie  in  wait :  their 
 baker  sleepetli  all  the  night  ;  in  the  morning 
 it  burnetii  as  a  flaming  fire. 
 
 7  They  are  all  hot  as  an  oven,  and  have  de- 
 voured their  judges;  ^all  their  kings  ''are 
 fallen  :  '  there  is  none  among  them  that  calleth 
 unto  me. 
 
 8  Ephraini,  he  '  hath  mixed  himself  among 
 the  people  ;  Ephraini  is  a  cake  not  turned. 
 
 9  '  Strangers  have  devoured  his  strengtli,  and 
 he  knoweth  it  not :  yea,  gray  hairs  are  f  here 
 and  tliere  upon  him,  yet  he  knoweth  not. 
 
 10  And  tlie  "'pride  of  Israel  testifieth  to  his 
 face:  and  "  tliey  do  not  return  to  the  Lord 
 tlieir  God,  nor  seek  him  for  all  this. 
 
 1 1  H  °  Ephraini  also  is  like  a  silly  dove  with- 
 out heart:  ''they  call  to  Egypt,  they  go  to 
 Assyria. 
 
 1'2  When  tliey  shall  go,  ''I  will  spread  my 
 net  upon  them  ;  I  will  bring  them  down  as 
 the  fowls  of  the  heaven  ;  I  will  chastise  them, 
 'as  their  congregation  hath  heard. 
 
 13  Woe  unto  them!  for  they  have  fled  from 
 nie  :  t  destruction  nnto  them!  because  they 
 have  transgressed  against  me;  though  'I  have 
 redeemed  them,  yet  they  have  spoken  lies 
 against  me. 
 
 u.  c. 
 
 a.  C. 
 
 cir.  7*). 
 
 cir.  700 
 
 d  Ps.  yo.  9. 
 
 /  Jnh  35   9, 
 
 HI.  Ps.  7fl. 
 
 3li    Jer.  H. 
 
 --  Koin.l.W. 
 
 lU.  Zi'ch. 
 
 f.\cT   9  2. 
 
 7.5. 
 II  Or, 
 
 chiisr,-iifd. 
 
 II  Op,  the 
 
 rii  <trr  wilt 
 
 II  Or,/rom 
 
 an  king. 
 
 KCll      11      7. 
 
 X  Ps.  7fl.  r)7 
 
 f  Or,  <tith 
 
 1,  Ps,  7-t  9. 
 
 k,-ul  Ihxmgh 
 
 aiue 
 
 .-  oil  a  s,  6. 
 
 11  Or.  .,,. 
 
 I'ltrU. 
 
 Vum\t-d 
 
 cir.  7r:t, 
 
 i^  rU    s.  4. 
 
 rir.  7r.O. 
 
 '-  2  Kin.  15 
 
 't  ch    5.  fl 
 
 I'Ml.-?5,3lt 
 
 t  Hel>.  (/.<• 
 
 1  Is.  01    7. 
 
 ron/"  o/  Ihi/ 
 
 ni'iulU. 
 
 b  ncu.2S49. 
 
 ftps    lOfi.  35. 
 
 .T(*r    4.  i:^ 
 
 Hill)      1       ri 
 
 .■  rh,  6    ; 
 
 Ich.  6.  7- 
 
 d  Ps    -H    31 
 
 L-(l,    .1,     IS. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 '■  Tit    1.  16, 
 
 ^prinkhd. 
 
 m  eh.  5.5. 
 
 /■2Kin.  15. 
 
 13.  17.  25, 
 
 .  i8.  9  rs. 
 
 f^lialliitn. 
 
 MeiiHliHrn, 
 
 IVkiilii.ih. 
 
 ^-  .li .  II.   II. 
 
 i,'cli.  9.  H.  ,'!( 
 
 /'  S.-e  2  Kill, 
 
 I.'f    ^ 
 
 li.  19,  S.  17. 
 
 i.  i-ii.  5  1  a 
 
 »i9.  3,  &I'2 
 
 h  Jer.  13.  27. 
 
 ?  Eie,  12.13. 
 
 r  r.^v,  26.11. 
 
 &i;.Den.28 
 
 I'.,  S.C 
 
 .  Pm.  21.  8. 
 
 2  Kin.  17. 
 
 rh  10  12,13. 
 
 13,  18 
 
 II  Or,  iUiud- 
 
 i  Heb.  tpofl. 
 
 i'lff  coui. 
 
 Rlic,  6.  4. 
 
 fcch.  7.  9 
 
 /  9  Kin- 17.  G. 
 
 14  '  And  they  have  not  cried  unto  me  with 
 their  heart,  when  they  howled  upon  their  beds  : 
 they  assemble  themselves  for  corn  and  wine, 
 atid  they  rebel  against  me. 
 
 13  Though  I  II  have  bound  and  strengthen- 
 ed their  arms,  yet  do  they  imagine  mischief 
 against  me. 
 
 10  "  They  return,  but  not  to  the  most  High : 
 "tliey  are  like  a  deceitful  bow:  their  princes 
 shall  fall  by  the  sword  for  the  '  rage  of  their 
 tongue  :  this  shall  be  tlieir  derision  '  in  the 
 land  of  Egypt. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1,12   Destruction  fs  threatened  fur  thrir  imiiteti/,  5  and 
 iflolatry. 
 
 C'^T'Uhe  trumpet  tofthy  mouth.  He  shall 
 ^  come  ''as  an  eagle  against  the  hou.se  of  the 
 Lord,  because  ^  they  have  transgressed  my 
 covenant,  and  trespassed  against  my  law, 
 
 2  ""  Israel  shall  cry  unto  me,  My  God,  '^  we 
 know  thee. 
 
 3  Israel  hath  cast  off  the  thi)ig  that  is  good  : 
 the  enemy  shall  pursue  him. 
 
 4  ^They  have  set  up  kings,  but  not  by  me  : 
 tliey  have  made  princes,  and  I  knew  it  not : 
 ^of  their  silver  and  their  gold  have  they  made 
 them  idols,  that  they  may  be  cut  off. 
 
 5  1i  Thy  calf,  O  Samaria,  hath  cast  thee  off; 
 mine  anger  is  kindled  against  them  :  ''  how 
 long  will  it  be  ere  they  attain  to  innocency  V 
 
 G  For  from  Israel  ivas  it  also:  the  workman 
 made  it ;  therefore  it  is  not  God :  but  the  calf 
 of  Samaria  shall  be  broken  in  pieces. 
 
 7  For  *  they  have  sown  the  wind,  and  they 
 shall  reap  the  whirlwind  :  it  bath  no  ||  stalk  : 
 the  bud  shall  yield  no  meal  :  if  so  be  it  yield, 
 ''  the  strangers  .shall  swallow  it  up. 
 
 8  '  Israel  is  swallowed  up  :  now  shall  they 
 
 appeared.  Israel — Epfifuim—Siimnria,  design  altogether  tlie  whole 
 body,  consisting  of  both  prince  and  people. — Pnc.  3.  Their  lies, 
 
 'idols,' or  false  and  seductive  rites  of  idolatrous  worship. — Hewlett. 
 4.  Adulterers,  inflamed  with  lust,  like  an  over-bcated  oven. —  Wells.  It 
 may  also  mean  spiritual  adultery,  and  denote  their  eagerness  after  it. — 
 Gill.  Who  censetli  frinn  raising,  fyc.,  'which  he  ceaseth  from  watch- 
 ing when  he  hath  kneaded  the  dough,  until  it  be  completely  leavened.' 
 'n»e  baker,  having  heated  the  oven,  permits  the  fire  to  continue  until 
 the  dough  be  ready  ;  so  they  continue  to  be  h<it  as  tlie  oven,  after  their 
 idols  and  adulteries.— Bo'^//iJ-.  5.  The  dap,  the  birth,  or  other  festival 
 day,  made  him  sii^k,  enticed  him  to  beconic  intoxicated. — Pocock. 
 6,  7.  Ouen— see  vcr.  4,  note.  ~.  All  their  kings  are  fallen — this  looks 
 forward  to  the  fall  of  the  six  last  kings  in  uninterrupted  succession, — 
 Zachariah.  Shallum,  Scc  —  Hors.  8,  Mired  himself  among  the  people, 
 worshippiim'  idols,  as  the  nations  about  them  did,  directly  contrary  to 
 the  express  law  of  God,  (Deut.  vii.  2,  3,  4,  and  xii.  2,  3.)  —  Poole.  A 
 rakr  nut  turned—in  Mesopotamia,  &c.,  their  cakes  arc  laid  on  the 
 liearth.  covered  with  hot  embers,  and  turned  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour. — 
 Pac.  The  cake,  burnt  at  bottom  and  raw  at  top,  is  an  apt  emblem  ol 
 a  character  uf  inconsistencies. — Hnrs.  Of  a  people  who  served  God  by 
 halves. — Por.  Of  one  no  one  watches  nr  cares  for,  and  is  therefore 
 to  be  burnt  or  cast  away. — Bunthr.  9.  Stratigers,  the  Syrians  and 
 Assyrians.  Hfmnired  his  strength,  his  wealth,  riches,  fortresses,  and 
 strongholds,  (see  2  Kings,  xiii.  7 ;  xv.  19,  20.  29.)  He  knoweth  it  not, 
 is  not  sensible  how  he  is  weakened,  and  takes  no  notice  of  the  hand  of 
 God  in  all  this.  — ff///,  soPrcb.  Lowth.  Gmp  hairs,  the  tokens  of  decay 
 of  natural  strength,  and  of  tendency  to  dissolution. — Poc.  The  people 
 have  grown  old  in  iniquity,  yet  apprehend  no  danger. — Clarke.  10.  And 
 the  pride  0/  Israel  testifieth,  ?fc.,  '  shall  be  humbled  to  his  face.' — Wat., 
 Neivc.  1 1 .  Like  a  sillif  dvee  without  heart,  weak  and  fearful.— Pf/o/ie. 
 '  Without  understanding,'  (see  Jer.  v.  21.) — Poc.  Ther/  call  to  Egypt, 
 they  go  to  Assyria,  like  an  nnwEiry  dove,  which  falls  into  the  snare  that 
 is  laid  for  it ;  so  the  Israelites  betake  themselves  for  refuge  to  their 
 enemies— now  to  Egypt,  then  to  Assyria,  (see  2  Kings,  xv.  19;  xvii.  4.) 
 — Preh.  Lowth.  12.  When  ttiep  shall  go,  that  is,  to  Egvpt  or  Assyria, 
 
 I  will  sj>read,  ^-c,  bring  them  into  great  stiaits  and  ditfirulties.  Down 
 as  the  fowls,  are  by  the  arrow  or  decoy.  *I  will  humble  them  from 
 their  fancied  exaltation.' — QUI.  Bath  heard,  from  their  prophetic  bonks 
 of  Moses,  read  every  sabbath. — Hors.  13.  Redeemed  them,  out  of 
 
 Egypt  formerly,  and  from  other  more  recent  enemies. — Gill.      Spoken 
 
 lies,  '  represented  me  as  rigorous  and  cruel,  and  my  service  as  unpro- 
 fitable.'—./I.  Clarke.  14.  Nut  cried— howlfd — though  they  howled  in 
 their  trouble,  yet  they  prayed  not  on  their  couches  or  in  their  chambers. 
 — Pfiale.  Assemble  themselven  fur  corn  and  wine,  at  their  idol  temples 
 to  deprecate  a  famine,  but  cast  off  all  allegiance  to  God.  —  Gill. 
 15.  Bound  and  strengthened  their  arms,  as  a  surgeon  sets  a  broken 
 arm,  and  restores  it  to  its  former  strength,  so  ihe  Lord  dealt  with  Israel. 
 Imagine  jnischief,  sought  by  all  means  to  dishonour  the  name  of  the 
 l.oTd.—Gill.  16.  Return,  but  not  to  the  most  High,  only  by  outward 
 conversion,  not  inward  and  sincere.  Likea  dereifful bow,  ill-contrived, 
 which  never  directs  the  arrow  to  the  mark.— i'rt'6.  Lowth.  Eastern 
 bows  stand  in  their  quiescent  state  in  a  curve,  (so  o)  and  to  be  strung-, 
 mus-t  be  bent  hack  in  the  opposite  direction  ;  but  if  not  properly  done, 
 it  will  fly  back  again  to  its  former  position,  and  injure  the  archer :  this 
 is  the  allusion  here. — Clarke.  Rage  of  their  tongue,  blaspheming 
 against  God.  Tltis  shall  be  their  derision,  their  idols  shall  be  so. — Gill. 
 Their  blasphemies  and  other  enormities.— i'rcft.  Lowth.  May  it  not 
 signify  that  the  fall  of  their  rulers  should  be  their  derision  ? — Ed.  '  This 
 shall  bring  derision  upon  them.* — Ho7-s.  When  the  people,  whose 
 princes  fall  by  violence,  take  refuge  from  the  Assyrians  in  Egypt. — 
 Newc.  The  people's  fall  is  the  subject  of  derision.- C/arA-e.  Egypt, 
 whither  many  fled,  (see  chap,  ix.3,  6;  comp.  viii.  13;  see  Ezek.  xxxvi. 
 20.)— Preh.  Louth. 
 
 Cii.\p.  VIII.  ~  I.  Set  the  trumpet,  call  with  earnestness  and  vehe- 
 mence ;  in  allusion  to  the  custom  of  calling  the  people  together  with 
 sound  of  trumpet,  (comp.  Isa.  Iviii.  \.)—Poc.  '  Sound  another  alarm.' 
 — A.  Clarke.  He,  the  king  of  Assyria,  Shalmanescr,  who  carried  Israel 
 captive. — Poole.  2.  Israel  shall  cry,  S(c.,  own  God  in  distress,  and 
 claim  an  interest  in  him. —  Gill.  4.  Knew  it  7wt,  did  not  own  or  ap- 
 prove of  it.  5.  Hath  cast  thee  off,  is  of  no  avail. — Poc.  *  Remove 
 far  from  thee  thy  calf,  O  Samaria!' — Newc.  How  long  will  it  be  ere 
 they  attain  to  innocency  ?  '  how  long  will  ye  continue  your  guilty  prac- 
 tices ?'—^.  Clarke.  6.  From  Israel  was  it,  framed  by  them  after  their 
 own  device. — Poc.  7.  Hare  sowed  the  wind,  ^c,  a  proverbial  ex- 
 jiression,  to  signify  that  as  men's  works  are,  so  must  their  reward  be, 
 (Prov.  xxii.  8.)— iVrfi.  Lowth.  They  shall  reap  the  bitter  fruits  of  their 
 idolntrv. — Newc.  Hath  nn  stalk,  what  they  sowed  did  not  rise  above 
 ground.  Sec.  The  meaning  is,  if  they  did  prosper,  the  enemy  should 
 pillage  them  of  all  they  got.  8.  Swallowed  up,  as  one  devoured  by  a 
 beast  of  prey.— GiV/.     As  a  vessel,  fyc,  worthless  and  useless,  cast  out 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  This  chapter  exhibits, 
 I.  The  hurnintj  rage  of  sin.  It  inflames  all  the  powers  of  the 
 soul,  '  Let  not  sin  rnipn  in  your  mortal  bodies,  that  ye  should 
 obey  it  in  the  lusts  tberfof.' 
 
 9n\ 
 
 11.  The  hateful  nature  of  insincere  repentance.  When  God 
 punishes  for  sin,  the  sinner  will  howl  under  the  stroke  ;  but 
 how  often  do<^s  he  return  ai^ain  to  his  former  iniquities  !  and 
 bis  '  end  is  destruttiou.' 
 
The  distress  and  captivity  of  Israel 
 
 ROSEA,  IX. 
 
 for  their  sins  and  idolatry. 
 
 be  among  the  Gentiles  ""as  a  vessel  wherein  is 
 no  pleasure. 
 
 9  For  "  they  are  gone  up  to  Assyria,  °  a  wild 
 ass  alone  by  himself:  Ephraim  ''hath  hired 
 ■f  lovers. 
 
 10  Yea,  though  they  have  hired  among  the 
 nations,  now  ''  will  I  gather  them,  and  they 
 shall  II  sorrow  ||  a  little  for  the  burden  of 'the 
 king  of  princes. 
 
 1 1  Because  Ephraim  hath  made  'many  altars 
 to  sin,  altars  shall  be  unto  him  to  sin. 
 
 12  I  have  written  to  him  '  the  great  things  of 
 my  law,  hut  they  were  counted  as  a  strange 
 thing. 
 
 13  "  II  They  sacrifice  flesh  for  the  sacrifices 
 of  mine  offerings,  and  eat  it;  ''but  the  Lord 
 accepteth  them  not ;  ''now  will  he  remember 
 their  iniquity,  and  visit  their  sins:  '  they  shall 
 return  to  Egypt. 
 
 14  'For  Israel  hath  forgotten  ""his  Maker, 
 and  '^buikleth  temples;  and  Judah  hath  mul- 
 tiplied fenced  cities  :  but  ''  I  will  send  a  fire 
 npon  his  cities,  and  it  shall  devour  the  palaces 
 thereof. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 The  distress  and  captivifi/  of  Israel  for  their  sins  and 
 idolatry. 
 
 "jDEJOICE  not,  O  Israel,  for  joy,  as  other 
 ■*-*'  people  :  for  thou  °  hast  gone  a  whoring 
 from  thy  God,  thou  hast  loved  a  ''  reward 
 II  upon  every  cornfloor. 
 
 '2  '  The  floor  and  the  ||  winepress  shall  not 
 feed  them,  and  the  new  wine  shall  fail  in 
 her. 
 
 3  They  shall  not  dwell  in  ''  the  Lokd's  land  ; 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  7liO. 
 
 m  Jer.  23.28. 
 
 &  4S.  88. 
 H  2Ki.  15.19. 
 o  Jer.  2   2*. 
 
 cir.  7(1. 
 p  Is.  30.  6. 
 
 Eze.  16.  S3, 
 
 34. 
 
 t  Heb.  lovei. 
 q  Eze.  16  37. 
 
 ch.  10.  10. 
 II  Or,  imin. 
 ||Or,i,.oi,l- 
 
 lUuhiU,  as 
 
 Hag.  2  6. 
 r  Is    in.  a. 
 
 Eze.  2G,  7. 
 
 Dan.  2  37. 
 »ch.l2.  II. 
 /  Deu  4  0, 8. 
 
 Ps  IlB.IS.Sc 
 
 147.  19,  liU. 
 -.  Jer.  7.  21. 
 
 Zech.  7  6. 
 li  Or,  T't  the 
 
 tacrificfi  •>/ 
 
 mi,K  -fftr- 
 
 inut  they, 
 
 X  Jer.  11.  10, 
 
 12.  ch.  5.  6, 
 
 &  9.  4: 
 
 Ainos  5.  29. 
 y  ch .  9.  9. 
 
 Ainos  8.7. 
 J  Dcu  28.68. 
 
 ch.  9.  3,  6. 
 
 &  11.  5. 
 fl  Deu.  3-3. 18. 
 b  Is.  29.  23. 
 
 Eph.  2.  10. 
 c  lKi.li.3l. 
 dJer.  17.g7. 
 
 Amos  2.  it. 
 
 bJer.  4K  17. 
 .h.  2.  12. 
 
 II  Or,  .--..  .S-r. 
 cch.  2.9,1.'. 
 ||Or,w-V/u/. 
 
 d  r,ev.25.  23. 
 Jer.  2,  7.  «i 
 16.  ItJ. 
 
 cir.  760. 
 
 e  ch.  8.  13. & 
 11.  b.  Not 
 into  Egypt 
 itseU,  but 
 into  an- 
 other bon- 
 d^e  as  bad 
 as  that. 
 
 /  Eie.  4.  13. 
 Dan.  1.  S. 
 
 «-2Km  17. 
 6.ch-  11.11. 
 
 A  ch.  3.  *. 
 
 t  Jer.  6.  20, 
 ch.  8.  !.■*. 
 
 (  Deu  20.11. 
 
 I  Lev.  17  II. 
 w  ch.  2.  11. 
 t  Heb.  flio.7 
 I.  ch.  7.  16. 
 
 ver    X 
 
 II  Ot,  their 
 tiUPT  shall 
 bede*iTe4, 
 tlte  nettle, 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 n  Is.   b.  6.  & 
 
 32,  IS   &3k 
 
 13  ch.  IU.9. 
 p  Eie.  13.  3. 
 
 «cc.  Mic.  2. 
 
 U.  Zeph. 
 
 3.4. 
 t  Web.winvf 
 
 the  spirit. 
 9  Jer.  6.  17  K 
 
 31.6,  Eiek. 
 
 3,17. &  3:1.7. 
 [I  Or,ay<i./.j/. 
 r  Is.  .-^I.  fl. 
 
 ch.  10.  9. 
 <Jtii]g.l9  22 
 t  ch.  8.  13. 
 u  l3.  28.  +. 
 
 Mic.  7.  I. 
 X  See  ch.  2. 
 
 16. 
 y  Num. 25.3 
 
 Ps.  106.  28. 
 ;  ch.  4.   li. 
 
 b  Pa.  81.  12 
 Kie.  20.  fi. 
 Amos  4.  5, 
 
 ^but  Ephraim  shall  return  to  Egypt,  and  Hhey 
 shall  eat  unclean  things  ^in  Assyria. 
 
 4  ^  They  shall  not  offer  wine  offerings  to  the 
 Lord,  *  neither  shall  they  be  pleasing  unto 
 him  :  ''  their  sacritices  shall  be  unto  them  as 
 the  bread  of  mourners  ;  all  that  eat  thereof 
 shall  be  polluted  :  lor  their  bread  '  for  their 
 soul  shall  not  come  into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
 
 5  Wiiat  will  ye  do  in  "'the  solemn  day,  and 
 in  the  day  of  the  feast  of  the  Lord  ? 
 
 6  For,  lo,  they  are  gone  because  of  f  destruc- 
 tion :  "  Egypt  shall  gather  them  up,  Memphis 
 shall  bury  them:  |j  f  the  pleasant  places  for 
 their  silver,  "nettles  shall  possess  them  :  thorns 
 shall  be  in  their  tabernacles. 
 
 7  The  days  of  visitation  are  come,  the  days 
 of  recompence  are  come  ;  Israel  shall  know 
 it:  the  prophet  is  a  fool,  'the  f  spiritual  man 
 is  mad,  ibr  the  multitude  of  thine  iniquity,  and 
 the  great  hatred. 
 
 8  The  **  watchman  of  Epiiraim  was  with  my 
 God  :  but  the  prophet  is  a  snare  of  a  fowler  in 
 all  his  ways,  and  hatred  ||  in  the  house  of  his 
 God. 
 
 9  "^They  have  deeply  corrupted  themselveSj 
 as- in  the  days  of  '^  Gibeah  :  '  therefore  he  will 
 remember  their  iniquity,  he  will  visit  their  sins, 
 
 10  I  found  Israel  like  grapes  in  the  wilder- 
 ness ;  I  saw  your  fathers  as  "  the  tirstripe  in 
 the  fig  tree  ^  at  her  first  time  :  biU  they  went 
 to  ^  Baal-peor,  and  *  separated  themselves 
 "  unto  that  shame  ;  ^  and  their  abominations 
 were  according  as  they  loved. 
 
 11  As  for  Ephraim,  their  glory  shall  flyaway 
 like  a  bird,  from  the  birth,  and  from  the  womb, 
 
 t  and  from  the  conception. 
 
 of  door.— Poo/e.  Wherein  is  no  plensure,  the  allusion  is  to  skin  botUes, 
 often  handsomely  ornamented  with  fringes,  tassels,  &c.,  now  old, 
 musty,  and  putrid.— C/arA-c.  Probably  to  earthenware  vessels,  the 
 most  common,  cheap,  and  least  valuable  in  the  east,  and  very  slightly 
 made.— Pic/.  Bib.  y.  Gone  up  to  Asxj/ria,  tn  the  king  of  Assyria,  to 
 gain  his  friendship  and  enter  into  alliance  with  him,  (see  2  Kings,  xv. 
 ^9.)—GilL  A  wild  ass  «/onf,  though  wild  asses  are  found  in  herds, 
 they  will  often  run  alone.— Poc.  Some  refer  this  to  Assyria,  fierce, 
 swift,  and  haughty;  others  to  Israel,  wild  and  untamed.  —  Poo/e. 
 Hired  lovers,  their  allies  and  every  forbidden  alliance  was  a  part  of  the 
 incontinence  of  the  nation.— ^ors.  10.  Now  will  I  gather  thnn,  GotX 
 would  carry  them  captive  into  Assyria.— B^uMr.  And  they  shall  sor- 
 roii'.^c.,  they  shall  feel  the  burden  laid  upon  them  by  the  king  of  Assy- 
 ria,  who  styles  himself  king  of  kings,  having  tributary  princes,  (see 
 Isa.  X.  8,)—Preb.  Lowth.  And  the  burden  of  the  princes  set  over  his 
 several  provinces. —iVcicr.  U.  Altars  shttll  be  unto  him.  as  he  had 
 
 erected  many  altars  for  idols,  so  he  should  go  where  he  would  find  such 
 altars  only.— Boothr.  12.  .-Is  a  strange  thins,  slighted  it  as  a  thing 
 that  concerned  them  not.— 73/j.  Hall.  13.  They  sacrifice  flesh,  \c., 
 
 or  'as  to  the  sacrifices  of  mine  offerings  or  gifts,  they  sacrifice  flesli  and 
 eat  it.'— Pi.-jc,  De  Dieu.  Sacrifices  which,  according  to  law,  should  be 
 given  to  God  when  offered,  they  ate.— Gi7/.  They  offered  many  sacri- 
 fices with  evil  intentions,  to  glut  and  feast  themselves.— Poc.  Return 
 to  Egypt,  be  reduced  tn  an  abject  condition,  like  the  Egyptian  servi- 
 tude.—ffor.?.  Many  literally  returned  thither  after  the  conquest  of 
 Palestine  by  Shalmaneser,  and  after  the  ruin  of  Jerusalem  by  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar.  — fVnrA-,".  U.  Buildeth  tejnples,  to  idols,  Targ.  Multi- 
 plied fenced  cities,  which  was  not  unlawful,  but  they  trusted  in  these 
 instead  of  GoA.— Gill. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  i.  Rejoice  not,  fyc. — the  prophet  begins  with  reproving 
 them  for  their  sacrifices  and  rejoicings  on  their  cornfloors,  by  which 
 they  ascribed  to  idols,  as  the  heathen  did,  the  praise  of  all  theirplenty. 
 —Williams.  2.  Shall  not  feed  them,  their  crops  were  ahundant,  but 
 yet  they  should  not  be  better  for   their  plenty.— Hors/ey.  3.  The 
 
 Lord's  land,  which  he  sware  to  give  their  fathers,  (Deut.  xxx.  20;  see 
 also  Lev.  xxv.  23.)— Po^.  To  Egypt— see  chap.  viii.  13,  note.  Eat 
 unclean  things,  they  will  be  forced  to  eat  of  such  meat  as  has  been 
 oflfered  to  idols,  (comp.  Dan.  i.  8;  Ezek.  iv.  \3.)— Prebendary  Lowth. 
 4.  Shall  not  offer  wine  offerings,  a  threatening  of  the  cessation  of  sacri- 
 fices.—Gi//,     See  chap.  iii.  4.     As  the  bread  of  mourners,  it  was  cus- 
 
 tomary for  neighbours  to  carry  food  into  the  houses  of  those  who 
 mourned  for  the  dead;  but  such  food  contracted  pollution  by  being  in 
 the  same  place  with  a  dead  body.^See  Spencer.  See  Jer.  xvi.  7,  note. 
 Bread  fur  their  soul,  that  is,  the  offerings  accompanied  with  the 
 Minchah,  or  bread-offering,  for  the  expiation  of  the  sins  of  their  souls. 
 Shall  not  come  into  the  house  of  the  Lord,  in  their  captivity  there  was 
 no  house  of  the  Lord  for  them  to  bring  it  into  ;  or  else,  their  sacrifices 
 were  reckoned  by  the  Lord  as  no  other  than  common  bread. — Gill. 
 5.  What  will  ye  do  in  the  solemn  day  ?  fyc,  ye  .shall  have  no  opportunity 
 of  observing  your  solemn  feasts  in  your  captivity,  (see  chap.  ii.  11.) — 
 Preb.  Lnwth.  6.  Fur,  lo,  ^c,  'lor,  lo.  they  go  away  frtim  the  de- 
 stroyer.' Memphis,  a  chief  city  or  metropolis  of  Egypt,  called  Noph, 
 Isa.  xix.  13  ;  Jer.  ii.  iG  ;  Ezek.  xxx.  13,  &c. ;  thought  to  be  the  modern 
 Cairo. — Poc.  The  pleasant  planes,  Iffc,  'their  pleasant  houses  bouglit 
 with  their  silver,  nettles  shall  posse'-s  them.' — Buothr.  7.  Ik  a  fitnl, 
 ^•c,  *  was  foolish,  the  man  of  the  spirit  was  mad.'— jVeuc.  min  iD'M. 
 '  the  man  of  the  ^pi^it,*  who  was  ever  pretending  to  he  under  a  divine 
 afHatus.  He  is  'mad,'  enraged  to  see  everything  falling  out  contrary 
 to  his  prediction. — A.  Clarke.  '  Ve  who  mocked  the  prophets  of  God 
 as  mad  fools,  shall  find  that  your  false  prophets  were  such.'— J.  Brown. 
 For  the  multitude  of  thine  inii/uity,  ^c,  'in  proportion  to  the  great- 
 ness of  thine  iniquity,  great  also  is  the  vengeance.'  8.  The  watch- 
 man,  i<fc.,  '  the  watclmian  of  Ephraim  is  with  his  God ;  the  snare  of  the 
 fowler  is  over  all  his  ways.  Vengeance  against  the  lionschold  of  my 
 God  !'  The  '  watchman'  means  some  faithful  prophet ;  per.haps  Elijah, 
 tliat  resolute  opposer  of  idolatry,  in  the  reign  of  Ahab  and  Jezebel,  is 
 now  with  his  God,  receiving  the  reward  of  his  fidelity  in  the  enjoy- 
 ment of  the  beatific  virion .  But  the  prevaricating  prophets  which  now 
 are,  are  the  victims  of  judicial  delusion. — Hors.  The  '  watchman*  means 
 the  true  prophet,  always  on  God's  side;  the  'prophet,*  the  hypocrite 
 and  worldling  in  the  preceding  verse. — Rosenm.  The  true  prophet  is 
 like  a  watchman  giving  warning,  but  the  words  of  a  false  prophet  are 
 like  a  snare.— Pi-eA.  Lowth.  9.  Days  of  Gibeah— com\i.  Judg.  xix.  22, 
 with  Gen.  xix.  4;  see  also  Judg.  xix.  25. — Preb.  Lowth.  10.  Like 
 
 grapes  in  the  wilderuess,  that  i,^,  their  obedience  was  as  grateful  as 
 early  grapes,  or  ripe  figs,  to  a  thirsty  traveller  in  the  wilderness.— Hew., 
 as  Bp.  Hall.  The  image  expresses  the  weak  state  ol  the  Israelites 
 when  they  lived  intermi>ed  with  idolators.  as  strangers  in  Canaan,  and 
 afterwards  as  slaves  in  Egj'pt.  —  Htirs.  That  shame — Jer.  iii.  24,  note. 
 Baal-peor  was  the  same  as  the  Koman  Priapus,  and  worshipped  with 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.    VIII.  —  Israel  here  reminds  us,  II.  Of  the  fatal  consequences  of  idolatry.    It  ends  in  throwing 
 
 1.  Of  the  proneness  of  the  heart  to  idolatry.    We  may  not  make  off  the  restraints  of  God's  law,  and  relinquishing  all  trust  in 
 
 to  ourselves  gods  of  silver  and  gold  to  fall  dovrn  before  them  bim;  and   thus  it  leads  to  apostasy,  shame,   and  ruin.    We 
 
 and  worship  ;  but  if  we  have  suffered  anything  to  gain  the  are  alluding  to  the  idolatry  of  the  heart — the  idolatry  of  which 
 
 ascendancy  over  our  hearts,  so  as  to  wean  them  from  God's  fastens  upon  the  world.     'Little  children,  keep  yourselves 
 
 service,  we  are  as  criminal  as  these  idolaters.      '  If  any  nuui  from  idols.     Amen." 
 love  the  world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him  ' 
 932 
 
Israel  reproved  and  threatened 
 
 HOSEA,  X. 
 
 fur  impiety  and  idolatry. 
 
 12  "Though  thej'  bring  up  their  children,  yet 
 "■  will  1  bereave  them,  that  there  shall  not  be  a 
 man  left :  yea, "  woe  also  to  them  when  I  'de- 
 part from  them ! 
 
 13  Ephraim,  ^as  I  saw  Tyrus,  is  planted  in  a 
 ])leasant  place  :  '•  but  Ephraim  shall  bring 
 forth  his  children  to  the  murderer. 
 
 14  Give  them,  O  Lord  :  what  wilt  thou  give  ? 
 give  them  '  a  f  miscarrying  womb  and  dry 
 breasts. 
 
 13  All  their  wickedness  ''is  in  Gil  gal :  for 
 there  I  hated  them  :  '  for  the  wickedness  of 
 their  doings  I  will  drive  them  out  of  mine 
 house,  I  will  love  them  no  more  :  '"  all  their 
 princes  are  revolters. 
 
 16  Ephraim  is  smitten,  their  root  is  dried  up, 
 they  shall  bear  no  fruit :  yea,  "  though  they 
 bring  forth,  yet  will  I  slay  even  ^  the  beloved 
 fruit  of  their  womb. 
 
 17  My  God  will  cast  them  away,  because 
 they  did  not  hearken  unto  him  :  and  they  shall 
 be  "  wanderers  among  the  nations. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 Isratl  is  reproved  and  threatened  for  their  impitty  and 
 idolatrif. 
 
 TSRAEL  is  "  ||  an  empty  vine,  he  bringetli 
 •*■  forth  fruit  unto  himself:  according  to  the 
 multitude  of  his  fruit  ^he  hath  increased  the 
 altars  ;  according  to  the  goodness  of  his  land 
 *^  they  have  made  goodly  f  images. 
 
 2  II  Tlieir  heart  is  ^  divided  ;  now  shall  they 
 he  found  faulty:  he  shall  f  hreak  down  their 
 altars,  he  shall  spoil  their  images. 
 
 3  ^  For  now  they  shall  say,  We  have  no  king, 
 because  we  feared  not  the  Lord  ;  what  then 
 should  a  king  do  to  us  ? 
 
 760. 
 
 c  Job  -27    14. 
 d  Ilea   23. 
 
 ■tl.Gi. 
 e  Ueu.  ftl.17 
 
 2Km  I7,lft. 
 
 ell.  5.  6. 
 /See  1  Sara. 
 
 28.  15,  Hi. 
 g  See  Ezek. 
 
 20,  &  27,  & 
 
 28. 
 h  ver.  16. 
 
 c\\.  13.  16. 
 iLuke5S.'.i9. 
 t  Heb,   that 
 
 caslfth  Ihe 
 
 fr.„t. 
 
 k  th.  4.  1^ 
 
 N  1:^.  11. 
 I  cb  I.  fi. 
 m  Is.  t.  ^. 
 
 n  ver.  13. 
 t  Heb.  //irt 
 Eie.  24.21 
 
 o  Detit.  28. 
 
 6t,  ba. 
 
 /"See  Deut. 
 
 2».l>t.Aiii<iB 
 
 5.7  «t6.  12, 
 
 Acts  8,  23. 
 
 Heb.  la,  15, 
 i?  1  Kill.  12. 
 
 28,  29. 
 
 i-b.  8  5,  6. 
 h  eh.  t.  15 
 11  Or,  Clifma- 
 
 run,  J   Kin. 
 
 23.  f».  Zepli. 
 
 1    4. 
 I  ISam  '1.'21, 
 
 ■2s;.  cb.  y.ll. 
 h  vh.  5.   13. 
 I  cb.  II.  f!. 
 m  ver.  3,  15. 
 t  Heb.  M»f 
 
 fncfoftl,! 
 
 water, 
 n  Ch.  4.   15. 
 
 I,uke23  30. 
 Rov.  I).  Itt. 
 U  9.  e. 
 
 II  Or,  a  vine 
 riupli/ing  the 
 fruit  mhich 
 it  ijiveth. 
 
 h  cb.  8.  n. 
 &  12.  II. 
 
 f  cli   8.  \. 
 
 tHeb,)7nf'(p», 
 
 itrmg'i. 
 \\  Or,  He  hnth 
 
 divided 
 
 thfir  heart. 
 d  1  Ki.l82I. 
 
 Milt.  0.  24. 
 t  Heb.  6e- 
 
 he«d. 
 e  cli.  3.  4.  & 
 
 11.5.   Mic. 
 I    4   y.  ver.  7. 
 
 Sec-  J.Klg. 
 
 t  Dcu.  '28.03. 
 
 .Jer.  in.  16. 
 Kze-  '.'.■*.  4ii, 
 47.  ch.y  10. 
 \Oi,wr.f„  I 
 
 th„u  bi„d 
 
 Ihnn  /" 
 
 !/..■, 
 
 trimsi/Te 
 Ih^ir'lir, 
 
 bllutiVH. 
 
 t  Hel>.  the 
 bmulyufh^r 
 
 uPro.  18.21. 
 .-  Jim-    4    .'t 
 <i  .lob  4,  8 
 Pro.  2-!.  8. 
 
 oh.  a.  7. 
 Gal.  6.  7,  S. 
 
 4  They  have  spoken  words,  swearing  falsely 
 in  making  a  covenant :  thus  judgment  spring- 
 eth  up  ''as  hemlock  in  the  furrows  of  the  field. 
 The  inhabitants  of  Samaria  shall  fear  be- 
 cause of  ^the  calves  of  ''  Beth-aven  :  for  the 
 people  thereof  shall  mourn  over  it,  and  ||  the 
 priests  thereof  that  rejoiced  on  it,  *  for  the 
 glory  thereof,  because  it  is  departed  from  it. 
 
 6  It  shall  be  also  carried  unto  Assyria/tt/-  a 
 present  to  ''  king  Jareb  :  Ephraim  shall  receive 
 shame,  and  Israel  shall  be  ashamed  'of  his  own 
 counsel. 
 
 7  ^  As  for  Samaria,  her  king  is  cut  off  as  the 
 foam  upon  f  the  water. 
 
 8  "  The  iiigh  places  also  of  Aven,  "  the  sin  of 
 Israel,  shall  be  destroyed  :  ^  the  thorn  and  the 
 thistle  shall  come  up  on  their  altars  ;  ''  and 
 they  shall  say  to  tlie  mountains,  Cover  us ; 
 and  to  the  hills,  Fall  on  ns. 
 
 9  '  O  Israel,  thou  ha.st  sinned  from  the  days 
 of  Gibeah  :  there  they  stood  :  '  the  battle  in 
 Gibeah  against  the  children  of  iniquity  did  not 
 overtake  them. 
 
 10  *  It  is  in  my  desire  that  I  should  chastise 
 them  ;  and  ""  the  people  shall  be  gathered 
 against  them,  ||  when  they  shall  bind  them- 
 selves in  their  two  furrows. 
 
 11  And  Ephraim  25  as  "an  heifer  that  is 
 taught,  and  loveth  to  tread  out  the  corn  ;  but 
 I  passed  over  upon  fher  fair  neck:  I  will 
 make  Ephraim  to  ride  ;  Judah  shall  plow,  and 
 Jacob  shall  break  his  clods. 
 
 12  ^' Sow  to  yourselves  in  righteousness,  reap 
 in  mercy  ;  ^  break  up  your  fallow  ground  :  for 
 it  is  time  to  seek  the  Lokd,  till  he  come  and 
 rain  righteousness  upon  you. 
 
 13  ^  Ye  have   plowed   wickedness,  ye  have 
 
 the  same  impure  rites. — A.  Clurke.  And  their  abominations  were  «c- 
 cording  as  theif  loved,  or  '  they  became  as  abominable  as  the  object  of 
 their  love.' — Neu-c.  13.  Ephraim,  as  I  saw  Tt/rus,  i^r.,  Ephraim  or 
 Samaria,  the  royal  city,  i^  pleasant  as  Tyre,  (see  Ezek.  xxvii.  3.) — Preb. 
 Lowth.  Tyre  was  strongly  situated  on  a  rock  in  the  sea;  Samaria  was 
 on  a  mountain,  bfith  slnma;  and  pleasant. — A.  Clarke.  14.  Give  them, 
 ^c,  a  cnmpassionate  prayer  of  tbe  prophet,  that  the  children  may  never 
 be  bom  or  brought  up  for  the  murderer.— So  GUI,  Bp.  HntL  15.  In 
 Gilgal,  here  all  manner  of  iniquity  was  committed,  especiaJly  idolatry, 
 for  which  it  was  chosen  by  idolators,  because  it  had  formerly  been 
 famous  for  religious  worship.— GiV/.  These  words  seem  a  reply  from 
 God  to  the  prophet's  petition.  For  there  I  hatfd  them,  he  hated  them 
 there  because  they  sinned  there.  l6.  Their  root    is  dried  vp,  they 
 
 shall  never  more  be  a  kingdom.  And  they  never  had  any  pi'litical 
 form,  from  their  captivity  by  the  Assyrians  to  the  present  day. — A. 
 Clarke.  Slay  even  the  helnred  fruit,  ^c,  make  them  few  in  number, 
 as  prophesied.  Lev.  x.wi.  22;  Deut.  iv.  27  j  .\xvni.  62.  17.  Wan- 
 
 derers— see  Deut.  xxviii,  64,  65,  67.— Poc. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  1 .  Fruit,  here  means  national  prosperity,  in  population, 
 crops,  flocks,  Sec. — Ilors.  Jlis  fruit,  as  tlie  people  increased  in  wealth, 
 they  multiplied  the  altars  to  their  idols. — Gilt,  so  Horstey.  2.  Divided, 
 between  God  and  their  idols,  (1  Kins';,  xviii.  21.) — Pocock.  3.  No 
 king,  refers  to  the  time  of  anarchy  or  interregnum  of  eight  or  nine 
 years,  between  Pekah  and  Iloshea. — Preb.  Lowth.  See '2  Kings,  xv. 
 30;  xvii.  1.  To  «.¥,  'for  us.' — SerUer,  Hnrs.  As  they  looked  to  their 
 king,  whose  authority  they  followed  in  their  defection,  and  to  whose 
 power  to  defend  them  they  leaned;  yet  their  king  should  not  help 
 them. — Hate.  4.  Spoken  words,  'empty  words.' — Newco}ne.  '  Evil 
 words.' — Pocock.  'Negotiate — swear  false  oaths — ratify  a  treaty— 
 nevertheless,  judgment  shall  sprout  up,  like  hemlock  over  the  ridges  of 
 the  field,'— /fors.  ;  that  is,  God's  punishments  of  their  iniquities  spring 
 up  rapidly  on  every  side. —  M'il.  'We  have  no  administration  of  justice  ; 
 what  is  done  this  way  is  a  perversion  uf  law,  and  is  as  hurtful  to  society 
 as  hemlock  would  be  to  animal  life.' — A.  Clarke.  5.  Samaria,  tho 
 capital,  is  here  put  for  Israel.  Shalt  fear,  shall  worship  the  calves  of 
 Bethaven  set  up  by  Jcmboam,  'fear'  being  here  put  for  worship. — So 
 Cnl.  Be  alarmetl  lest  their  calf-gods  should  not  have  power  to  defend 
 themselves. — Poole,  Preb.  Lowth.  Calves,  'calf,'  Ancient  Versioits. 
 Possibly  the  form  was  duplex. —  Wil.  The  plural  number  is  used  be- 
 cause of  its  size  ;  it  may  therefore  be  rendered,  '  the  great  calf.' — Hors. 
 
 The  calf  of  Bethel  (see  Jer.  iv.  1.5.)  shall  be  carried  away  as  a  present 
 to  Shalmaneser,  (ver.  6;)  when  he  made  the  king  and  kingdom  tribu- 
 tary,  (■»  Kings,  xvii.  3.)— Preb.  Loath.  Betharen,  the  principal  seat 
 of  the  calf-god,  (see  chap.  iv.  \b.)— Poole.  G.  Be  carried,  i^-c- the 
 easterns  carried  away  the  gods  of  conquti ed  countries.— A'f'H't-.  Jareb, 
 —see  on  chap.  v.  13.  7-  King  is  cut  off,  Hoshea,  the  lust  king,  who 
 was  cut  off  by  the  king  of  Assyria.— Gi//,  Poc,  Newc,  Buulhr.,  &c. 
 .U  the  foam,  as  lightly  as  the  puff  oi  wind  blows  away  ioB.m.— Clarke. 
 
 8.  Aven,  that  is,  Beth  aven,  (ver.  5,  chap.  iv.  15,)  or  Bethel;  lirstcalled 
 the  house  of  iniquity,  nuw  'iniquity'  in  the  ab-tract.— Put-.,  so  QUI. 
 
 9.  Days  of  Gibeah— see  chap.  ix.  9.     'I'here  they  stood— 
 
 '  Israel  stood  in  array  there  : 
 Did  not  the  war  overtake  them  in  Gibeah  V—Boothr. 
 
 There,  upon  that  occasion  ;  namely,  the  quarrel  with  the  tribe  of  Ben- 
 jamin, on  account  of  the  outrage  ot  the  men  of  (iibeah.  They  stood, 
 the  Israelites  set  themselves  in  array  for  the  attack,— Ho/s.  The  battle 
 in  Gibeah— did  not  overtake  them,  God  gave  Uie  Israelites  success  in 
 that  righteous  war.— Hors.  There  th(.ir  i.iiliLr.>,  stood  or  fought  against 
 wickedness,  and  were  preserved.  Anil  Ihe  battle  ofGiOeah  against  the 
 children  of  i7iir/uili/,  ihe  Benjamites  did  nr.t  overtake  them;  that  is, 
 they  escaped  the  danger  and  were  victorious,  though  many  of  them 
 fell ;  and  yet  they  sinned  then,  wherein  their  posterity  did  imitate  them. 
 God  may  make  men  scourges  of  sin  in  otliers,  who  yei  are  but  vile 
 themselves.  — //«?r.  H).  Iji  my  desire  that  J  should   chastise  them, 
 
 though  God  had  hitherto  spared,  he  now  resolved  to  punish.— PococA'. 
 When  the'i  shall  bind  themselves  in  their  two  furroivs,  ■  when  they  are 
 chastised  for  their  two  iniquities,'  Sept.,  Vulg.,  Syr.,  Arab.  The  two 
 iniquities  may  mean  the  worshipping  the  two  calves  ol  Dan  and  Bethel. 
 —So  various  Commentalors.  11.  And  Ephraim  is,  ^c— 
 '  And  Ephraim  i^hall  be  as  a  trained  heifer. 
 
 That  loveth  to  iread  out  the  curn  ; 
 
 For  I  will  pass  the  yoke  on  her  fair  neck  : 
 
 I  will  make  Ephraim  tread  out  the  grain ; 
 
 Judah  shall  plough,  Jacob  shall  brtak  his  clods.* 
 
 Signifying,  he  should  be  subjected  to  servitude,  and  wholly  employed 
 in  servile  w(trks.  Judah  should  have  some  pre-eminence.  12.  Reap 
 in  mercij,  '  reap  the  fruit  of  loving  kindness.'— Buo^/*r.  Break  up  your 
 fallow  ground,  by  repentance.— .B/>.  Hall,  Boothr.  13.  The  fruit  of 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.    IX.  —  I.    If  we  idolize,  or  bestow         II.  If  sin  ntrs  icill  imitate  tlieir  fathers  in  wickedness,  the^  inay 
 
 on  the  service  of  the  devil,  our  created  enjoyments,  it  is  just  in  God  exject  to  draw  on  thcmselues  the  must  fearful  destruction*     It  they 
 
 to  deprive  us  uf  them.     It  is  just  apostates  from  God's  service  separate  themselves  to  wickedness,  God  will  separate  them 
 
 siiould  be  expelled  from  his  land, — that  they  who  despise  his  to  punishment.'" 
 ordinances  should  be  deprived  of  tbem. 
 933 
 
lirucTs  imjratdude. 
 
 HOSEA,  XI. 
 
 God's  mercy  toivards  them . 
 
 reaped  iniquity;  ye  have  eaten  the  fruit  of 
 lies:  because  thou  didst  trust  in  thy  way,  in 
 the  muhitude  of  thy  mighty  men. 
 
 14  ^  Therefore  sliall  a  tumult  arise  among 
 thy  people,  and  all  thy  fortresses  shall  be 
 spoiled,  as  Shalman  spoiled  '^  Beth-arbel  in  the 
 day  of  battle  :  •*  the  mother  was  dashed  in 
 pieces  upon  her  children. 
 
 !;■>  So  shall  Beth-el  do  unto  you  because  of 
 fyour  great  wickedness:  in  a  morning  "^  shall 
 tlie  king  of  Israel  utterly  be  cut  off. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1    The  ingratihtde  of  Israel  unto  God  for  his  benejits. 
 5  His  judgment.     8  God^s  nia-cy  toward  them. 
 
 "Vy  HEN  *''  Israel  ivas  a  child,  then  I  loved 
 
 '  '     him,  and  ^  called  my  '^  son  out  of  Egypt. 
 
 2  As  they  called  them,  so  they  went  from 
 them :  ^  they  sacrificed  unto  Baalim,  and 
 burned  incense  to  graven  images. 
 
 3*1  taught  Ephraim  also  to  go,  taking  them 
 by  their  arms;  but  they  knew  not  that  "^  I 
 healed  them. 
 
 4  I  drew  them  with  cords  of  a  man,  with 
 bands  of  love  :  and  ^  I  was  to  them  as  they 
 tliat  t  take  off  the  yoke  on  their  jaws,  and  ''  I 
 laid  meat  unto  tliem. 
 
 o  1[ '  He   shall   not  return  into  the  land  of 
 
 c  a  Kin.  la. 
 31,  &  19,  n, 
 d  ch.  13.  It;. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ae 
 
 cir.  740. 
 ach.  2.  15. 
 6  Mai.  8.  i.5. 
 cEx.<i.i2,2S. 
 
 d  2  Kin-  17. 
 
 16,  rh.a.ia. 
 
 &  13.  2. 
 
 e  Den,   I.  31. 
 &3->.  10.11, 
 
 II.  Is. 'It),  a 
 
 /Ex.  15.  26, 
 
 e  Lev.afi  13, 
 tHeb./i/(  <jp. 
 h  Ps.  7it.  •*:>. 
 
 cir.  7W. 
 
 *2Kin.  17. 
 13,  11 
 cir.  728. 
 They  h»- 
 cametiihu- 
 
 /  ch.  in.  6. 
 m  Jci.  3    6, 
 
 &c.  Ik  H.  5. 
 
 ch.  1  16. 
 '<  ch.  7.  I'l. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 logriher  thpy 
 
 exalud  no  I. 
 ••  Jer    B.  7. 
 
 ch    6.  4. 
 <P  Gen.  M.  8. 
 
 St  19.24,S5. 
 
 neu,  W.  23 
 
 AnioB  1.  11 
 7  Dcii  S2  36, 
 
 la   m    15. 
 
 Jer.  SI.  20. 
 T  Nu.  23.  19. 
 
 Is   65.  8,  9. 
 
 Mai.  3.  6. 
 
 il»  31.4. 
 Jnol  3.  10. 
 AnkOB  I.  2. 
 
 (  Zech.  8.  7. 
 
 u  Ifl.  (JO.  8. 
 
 ch.7.  n. 
 X  Kai-k.  28. 
 
 1\K>.  &37. 
 
 SI.  25. 
 xf  cli.  12.  \. 
 
 \  Or,wifA  ihe 
 mojf  hall]. 
 
 Egypt,  but    the    Assyrian    shall    be  his  king, 
 ^  because  they  refused  to  return, 
 
 6  And  the  sword  shall  abide  on  his  cities, 
 and  shall  consume  his  branches,  and  devour 
 them^  '  because  of  their  own  counsels. 
 
 7  And  my  people  are  bent  to '"  backsliding 
 from  me  :  "  though  they  called  them  to  the 
 most  High,  |  none  at  all  would  exalt  him. 
 
 8  "  How  shall  I  give  thee  up,  Ephraim?  hoxo 
 shall  I  deliver  thee,  Israel?  how  shall  I  make 
 thee  as  ■'  Admah?  how  shall  I  set  thee  as  Ze- 
 boim?  **  mine  heart  is  turned  within  me,  my 
 repeiitings  are  kindled  together. 
 
 9  I  will  not  execute  the  fierceness  of  mine 
 anger,  I  will  not  return  to  destroy  E]iln-aini  : 
 ■^for  I  am  God,  and  not  man;  the  Holy  One 
 in  the  midst  of  thee  :  and  I  will  not  enter  into 
 the  city. 
 
 10  They  shall  walk  after  the  Loud:  "he 
 shall  roar  like  a  lion:  when  he  shall  roar,  then 
 the  children  shall  tremble  ^  from  the  west. 
 
 1 1  They  shall  tremble  as  a  bird  out  of  Egypt, 
 "and  as  a  dove  out  of  the  land  of  Assyria: 
 ^  and  I  will  place  them  in  their  houses,  saitli 
 the  Lord. 
 
 1*2  ^Ephraim  compasseth  me  about  with  lies, 
 and  the  house  of  Israel  with  deceit :  but  Judah 
 yet  ruleth  with  God,  and  is  faithful  ||  with  the 
 saints. 
 
 lies,  the  j"i?^t  reward  of  yoar  idolatries.— Prefi.  Lowth.  u.  As  Shal- 
 man spoiled  lipth.arhvl,  the  allusion  is  to  a  fact  not  elsewhere  recorded. 
 —Tionthr.,  so  Poc,  Mors.  Shalman  signifies  '  Shalmancscr  king  of  As- 
 syria.' his  name  being  abbreviated.  Many  places  were  called  '  v\rbcl.' 
 and  there  was  a  city  df  that  name  beyond  Jordan,  (iMac.  ix.  2.)— GUI. 
 1.5.  ^o  shall  Jieth-el  rfo— Bethel  is  said  to  do  to  the  people  what  they 
 suffered,  because  their  idolatry  and  great  wickedness  there  moved  God 
 to  bring  the  destroyer  agrainst  them.— i'oc.  Or  the  words  cyj  mrr  HDD 
 ■JWrrn,  may  be  rendered,  *  so  will  he  do  unto  you,  O  Hethel.'— See 
 JJrusins,  Schmidt,  (i>ll.  In  a  morning,  suddenly  and  quickly,  as  the 
 morning  light  breaks  U>vX\\.~GiU,  Clarkp.  Or  in  the  morning  of  pros- 
 perity, when  they  weru  expecting  better  days,  from  their  alliance  with 
 Egypt  against  Assyria.— (7i7/. 
 
 Chap.  XL  — i.  A  child,  in  the  infancy  of  his  civil  and  church  state 
 in  Egypt  and  in  the  wilderness.— R.7/,  p„otp,  Lowth.  Clarke.  Loved 
 him,  shewed  him  paternal  aflection.  -Poo/e.  Called  my  son  out, 
 brought  them  safely  out. —Clarke.  Although  Israel  be  here  primarily 
 meant,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  an  allusion  was  intended  by  the 
 Holy  Spirit  to  the  call  of  the  infant  Christ  nut  of  the  same  country, 
 (comp.  Matt.  ii.  1.^.)— So  Jerome,  Hors.  2.  As  they  called  Ihem.  so, 
 
 ^c— the  more  earnestly  the  prophets  called  on  them  to  cleave  stead- 
 fastly to  God.  the  more  they  were  bent  in  departing  from  him  to  idols. 
 —  Preb.  Loivth.  '  When  I  called,  then  they  departed  from  me,'  Sept. ; 
 adopted  by  Houh.,  Ncivc,  Buothr.  The  common  text  is  incoherent, 
 and  admitted  to  be  wrong.  The  reference  is  to  the  idolatry  of  Israel 
 in  the  desert.  3.  /  taught  Ephraim  also  to  go,  he  was  a  nnrse  to 
 them  in  the  desert.— /^ooC/ir.  -i.  /  drew  them,  §-c.— this  has  reference 
 to  leadinj^-strinprs.- /I.  Clarke.  'As  beloved  children  ore  drawn,  I 
 drew  them  by  the  strength  of  love,'  Chald.  Puraphr.  That  take  off 
 the  yoke,  i^c,  '  that  raised  the  yoke  on  their  check  ;'  this  was  done  to 
 ease  the  neck  of  the  labouring  bea^^t.  and  denotes  that  Goil  had  given 
 them  rest  and  ease.— /Jon//ir..  so  Hors.  And  I  laid  meat  'into  them, 
 gave  them  at  the  same  time  a  hit  of  grass  or  hay,  to  encourage  them  to 
 go  on  afresh.  TIic  metaphor  is  strong  and  expressive  ;  and  he  who 
 ever  had  or  saw  the  managemrnt  of  cattle  in  the  plough  or  cart  must 
 admire  it. — A.  Clarke.  'I  inclined  unto  them,  I  conducted  them.' — 
 Boothr.,  as  various  MSS.  5.  He  shall  not  return  into—Egypt— 
 
 some  families  might  so  escape,  (chap.  ix.  6,1  but  the  nation  as  a  body 
 should  not.— Hors.  God  had  brought  them  thence,  and  tliey  should  not 
 return  tliither;  but  having  forfeited  his  protection,  they  should  go  to 
 Assyria —C/arA-e.  Refused  to  return,  to  God.— Hor.-!.  *  Shall  he  not 
 return  /'  In  other  parts  of  this  book,  returning  to  Egypt  is  threatened 
 as  a  punishment,  (see  chap.  vii.  l6;  viii.  13;  ix.3,  6,  &c.)— F<*r.s«yWA, 
 Wil.  6.  The  sword  shall  abide,  expressive  of  continual  troubles  an<I 
 intestine  wars.— Ca/.  His  branches,  his  people— We//5.  7.  Though 
 they  called,  ^c— though  they  li.  e.,  Israel)  were  called  to  return  to  the 
 most  High,  none  of  them  would  unite  to  exalt  thim.) — Wil.  fl.  Ad- 
 mah— '/.eboim,  two  cities,  destroyed  with  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  (Deut. 
 xxix.  2i.)—GiU.  9-  /  u'iU  not  execute,  ^^c.- God  here  compares  him- 
 self to  a  commander  entering  a  conquered  town. — Burroughs.  He  will 
 deal  like  a  merciful  conqueror,  who,  having  subdued  his  rebellious 
 subjects,  does  not  utterly  cut  them  off. — Hutc.  I  will  not  return,  as 
 fierce  conquerors  often  do,  to  destroy  after  subduing.— Po^i/f.  And  1 
 wilt  not  enter  into  the  city,  '  and  I  will  not  come  in  fury  against  thee.' 
 —Bnothr.      See  Schrncder.  Dnthe,  Mich.  10.  They  shall  walk,  SfC, 
 
 '  they  shall  walk  after  Jehovah  when  he  shall  roar  as  a  lion.'  They 
 shall  refrain  from  idolatry  when  Jehovnh  shall  display  his  power  in  de- 
 livering them.  Tremble,  '  hasten.'— iVrHv.,  Boothr.  'Hurry,'  the 
 original  '  mri'l,'  expresses  the  rapid  motion  nf  birds  in  Ihe  air  upon 
 fluttering  pinions.~//oj-fi.  See  the  word  in  Par.  From  the  tcest,  his 
 children  shall  come  in  haste  from  the  sevoral  places  of  theirdispersion, 
 and  particularly  from  the  western  parts  of  the  world,  {see  Zech.  vJii. 
 /,)  called  'the  sea'  in  the  original,  and  expressed  in  Isaiah  by  'the 
 islands  of  the  sea.*  (see  Isa.  xi.  ii  ;  xxiv.  [A.)—Preh.  Lowth.  It  may 
 signify  the  western  or  European  part  of  the  world,  where  Ihc  .lews 
 for  the  most  i)art  are,  and  whence  they  will  be  gathered.  —  Gilt. 
 II.  Tremble,  ' hasten.'— iJoo/Ar.  '  Hurry  likethe sparrow  from  Eiiypt.' 
 SiC.—Hors.  12.  Ruleth  uHh  God,  alludes  to  Jacob,  (Gen.  xxxii.  24.) 
 where,  having  wrestled  with  the  angel,  his  name  was  changed  to  Israel, 
 'one  that  rules  with  GoA.*— Clarke.  And  is  faithful,  ^c,  'and  the 
 people  of  the  most  High  One  are  faithful.'— Boo^Ar.  This  prophecy 
 was  parUy  fulfilled  in  consequence  of  Cyras'  decree,  but,  in  its  fullest 
 extent,  remains  to  be  accoinplished,  in  the  future  restoration  of  the 
 Jews  to  their  own  land. — Dr.  J.  Smith. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.ap.  X.  —  This  chapter  reminds  us 
 that — I.  ^fan  sins.  In  the  midst  of  all  the  bounties  of  Vrovi- 
 derice,  he  sins.  He  brings  forth  bis  fruits  to  himself.  He 
 lavishes  the  blessint^s  God  hestows  upon  him  on  his  idols. 
 God  is  not  in  all  liis  thoughts  ;  God's  glory  is  not  his  aim. 
 This  is  theawi'ul  state  of  the  world  in  general. 
 
 II.  God  punishes.  He  warns — he  tlireatens — he  calls  in 
 vain  to  repentance  ;  hardened  sinners  are  deaf  to  every  re- 
 monstrance ;  the  blow  is  struck,  and  *  sudden  destruction 
 Cometh  upon  them.' 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  XI.  _  Observe  here,  I.  Israel's 
 ohlifjations.  What  love  had  God  shewn  to  his  people,  and  how 
 much  had  he  done  for  them  1  He  had  home  with  ihem  as  pa- 
 rents with  children,  and  treated  them  with  the  utmost  care 
 and  tendt^ness.  Has  he  drawn  us  with  the  cords  of  love,  and 
 delivered  ua  from  the  thraldom  of  sin?  then  how  mucli  do  we 
 owe  our  God  ! 
 
 934 
 
 IT.  IsracVs  inr/ratitude.  They  were  'bent  to  backsliding.' 
 and  when  called  to  return  to  God,  they  refused.  \\  hat  can 
 be  pleaded  in  behalf  of  children  that  obstinately  rebel  against 
 so  good  a  Father? 
 
 II T.  Israel's  punishmcJit.  '  They  continued  their  rebellions 
 against  God,  and  therefore  God  continued  his  judgments  on 
 them.' 
 
 IV.  Isracrs  restoration.  How  reluctant- is  God  to  punish  ! 
 How  pathetically  does  ha  describe  the  feelings  of  his  bo.som 
 while  constrained  by  his  own  holiness  and  justice  to  display 
 his  wrath  towards  the  guilty  !  '  How  shall  I  give  thee  up  '' 
 'No,  1  will  not;  thou  shalt  yet  he  restored.'  Here  is  tin* 
 parent's  heart  manifested  towards  the  rebellious  children. 
 '  Who  is  a  God  like  unto  thee,  that  pardoneth  iniquity,  and 
 passnth  by  the  transgression  of  the  remnant  of  his  hfritago  f 
 He  retaineth  not  his  anger  for  ever,  because  he  delighteth  in 
 mercy.' 
 
An  exhortation  to  repentance. 
 
 HOSEA,  XII.,  XIII. 
 
 Ephraim's  ylory  vanisheth. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  A  reproof  of  Kph-aiin,  Jiida/t,  and  Jamh.  .T  liij 
 fitniwr  favours  he  exhorteth  to  repctttanc€.  7  Epli- 
 rnbiCt:  sifts  provoke  (lod. 
 
 XJ  PHRAIM  "feecleth  on  wind,  and  fullowetli 
 ^  after  the  east  wind  :  he  daily  iiicreasctli 
 hes  and  desolation ;  ""and  they  do  make  a 
 covenant  with  the  Assyrians,  and  'oil  is  carried 
 into  Egypt. 
 
 •2  ''  The  Loan  hath  also  a  controversy  with 
 .1ndah,  and  will  f  pnnish  Jacob  according  to  liis 
 way.s  ;  according  to  his  doings  will  he  recom- 
 pense him. 
 
 3  t  He  took  his  brother  ''  by  the  heel  in  the 
 womb,  and  by  his  strength  he  \  '  had  power 
 with  God : 
 
 4  Yea,  he  had  power  over  the  angel,  and  pre- 
 vailed :  he  wept,  and  made  snpplication  unto 
 him  :  he  found  him  in  •■'  15eth-el,  and  there  he 
 spake  with  us  ; 
 
 5  Even  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  ;  the  Lord  is 
 his  ''  memorial. 
 
 C  '  Therefore  turn  thou  to  thy  God  :  keep 
 mercy  and  judgment,  and  'wait  on  thy  God 
 continually. 
 
 7  H  He  is  II  a  merchant,  '  the  balances  of  de- 
 ceit are  in  his  hand  :  he  loveth  to  ||  oppress. 
 
 8  And  Ephraim  said,  "'Yet  I  am  become 
 rich,  I  have  found  me  out  substance  :  ||  in  all 
 my  labours  they  shall  find  none  iniquity  in  me 
 t  that  were  sin. 
 
 9  And  "  I  t/iat  am  the  Loud  thy  God  from 
 the  land  of  Egypt  "will  yet  make  thee  to 
 dwell  in  tabernacles,  as  in  the  days  of  the 
 solemn  feast. 
 
 10  "'  I  have  also  spoken  by  the  prophets,  and 
 I  liave  multiplied  visions,  and  used  similitudes. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
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 rir,  725 
 
 cir.  725. 
 
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 57.  y. 
 
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 51.  St  13.3, 
 
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 t  by  the  ministry  of  the  prophets. 
 
 11  ''Is  there  iniquity  in  Gilead?  surely  they 
 are  vanity  :  they  sacrifice  bullocks  in  '  Gilgal  ; 
 yea,  "  their  altars  are  as  heaps  in  the  furrows 
 of  the  fields. 
 
 12  And  Jacob  'fled  into  the  country  of  Syria, 
 and  Israel  "  served  for  a  wife,  and  for  a  wife  he 
 kept  sheep. 
 
 13  'And  by  a  prophet  the  Lord  brought 
 Israel  out  of  Egypt,  and  by  a  prophet  was  he 
 preserved. 
 
 14  '  Ephraim  provoked  him  to  anger  f  most 
 bitterly:  therefore  shall  lie  leave  his  f blood 
 upon  him,  '  and  his  "  reproach  shall  his  Lord 
 return  unto  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 I    Ephraiin's  glory,  b//  red^on  of  idnlatry,  vanisheth. 
 5  God's  anger  for  their  nnkindncss.     9  A  promise  of 
 God's  merry.      13   A  jndyinent  for  rebelUvii. 
 
 WHEN   Ephraim  spake  trembling,  be  ex- 
 alted bimself  in  Israel;  but  '^  when  he 
 offended  in  Baal,  he  died. 
 
 2  And  now  ft'hey  sin  more  and  more,  and 
 ^bave  made  them  molten  images  of  their  silver, 
 (ijid  idols  according  to  tlieir  own  understand- 
 ing, all  of  it  the  work  of  the  craftsmen  :  they 
 say  of  them,  Let  ||tlie  men  that  sacrifice  *■'  kiss 
 the  calves. 
 
 3  Therefore  they  shall  be ''as  the  morning  cloud, 
 and  as  the  early  dew  that  passetb  away/'  as  tlie 
 chaff  that  is  driven  witli  the  whirlwind  out  uf 
 thefloor,  and  as  the  smoke  out  of  the  chinmey. 
 
 4  Yet  '^  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God  from  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  and  thou  shalt  know  no  god  but 
 me  :  for  ^  there  is  no  saviour  beside  me. 
 
 5  t ''  I  did  know  thee  in  the  wilderness,  '  in 
 the  land  of  f  great  drought. 
 
 Chap.  XM. —  I.  F^edrth  onthc  ivind,  a  proverb  for  labour  in  vain. 
 — Pi-f/j.  Lnwt/i.  He  dudy  increnseth  lies  ami  desolation,  by  increasing 
 his  idolatrous  crimes  he  increases  his  punishments.— AJrf.  Oil  is  car- 
 ried into  Egypt,  these  were  rich  and  precious  oils,  as  presents  to  pro- 
 cure friendship,  thou{;:h  forbidden.  Isa.  x.xx.  2,  6  ;  x.^xi.  I.— Poo/e.  To 
 assist  in  the  idolatrous  illuminations  of  the  Nile. — Har.  Oil  is  now 
 presented  in  the  cast  to  be  burnt  in  honour  of  the  dead,  to  which  prac- 
 tice the  prophet  may  here  refer. — Ileiv.  Gold  and  silver,  not  oils,  were 
 sent  to  procure  friendship  ;  it  is  most  natural  to  suppose  this  oil  was  for 
 idolatrous  purposes. — Har.  3.  Ill/  the  heel,  denotes  that  he  obtained 
 the  right  of  the  firstborn,  and  deprived  his  brother  of  \t.—Preb.  Lotcih. 
 God's  favour  for  Jacob  displayed  itself  when  he  was  less  than  an  infant, 
 for,  before  he  was  born  he  took  his  brother  by  the  heel ;  and.  in  his  adult 
 vigour,  he  was  endued  with  such  strength  as  to  prevail  against  an 
 angel. — Hors.  4.  Found  hbn  in  liet/i-el — this  is  a  tacit  reflection  on 
 the  Israelites,  who  had  iwUuted  that  place  by  the  worship  of  idnis,  (Gen. 
 xxviii.  14,  &c.} — Bont/tr.  These  facts  are  mentioned  that  he  might  in- 
 vite Jacob's  posterity  to  imitate  him  in  hope  of  like  favours,  and  that 
 it  might  be  seen  how  justly  he  did  accuse  and  sentence  them  for  being 
 no  way  like  to  him.— Htitc.  Spake  with  us,  '  spake  to  him,'  Versions; 
 Boot/ir.  With  ns,  because  what  was  spoken  concerned  them.  The 
 promises  made  to  the  church  of  old  belong  to  the  present  church. — 
 
 Hiitc.  6.    Eren  the  Lord,  lye.— 
 
 '  Even  Jehovah,  the  God  of  hosts  ; 
 Jfhovah  is  his  appointed  memorial.' 
 
 The  name  by  which  he  is  remembered  and  distinguished,  (Exod.  iii. 
 15.) — Boothr.,  as  Hors.  y.  A  merchant — the  word  is  ambiguous,  and 
 may  be  rendered  '  a  Canaanite.' — Bcotltr.  He  is  a  mere  heathen  huck- 
 ster, Canaan  the  cheat,  the  son  of  the  curse  ;  not  Jacob,  the  godly,  the 
 heir  of  promise.     He  is  miscalled.— So  Hors.         8.  /»  all  my  labours, 
 
 SfC.~ 
 
 '  All  his  labours  shall  not  be  sufficient  for  him, 
 For  the  iniquity  wherewith  he  hath  sinned.' 
 
 And.  Versions,  Boothr. 
 The  sense  seems  to  be,  that  though  Ephraim  had  grown  rich,  yet  he 
 should  not  enjoy  his  riches,  in  consequence  of  his  sin. — Boothr.     *  In 
 all  my  labours  they  shall  find  no  iniquity  or  smJ'—NoldiiLS.      Neither 
 
 great  iniquity  nor  light  sin. — Poc.  g.  Make  thee  to  dtiell  in  tents, 
 '  I  will  give  you  quiet  possession  of  your  own  land  again,  where  you 
 shall  thankfully  acknowledge  your  deliverance  out  of  Egy[)t,  and  yonr 
 settlement,  which  was  the  intent  of  keeping  the  feast  of  tabernacles,' 
 (sec  Lev.  xxiii.  42,  43.) — Preb,  Lowth.  '  I  will  bring  thee  into  such  a 
 condition  as  Israel  was  in  when  they  dwelt  in  tents  and  wandered  forty 
 years.' — Hen.  The  Lord  would  drive  them  from  their  stately  houses, 
 to  dwell  in  mean  and  moveable  tents,  as  *  wanderers  among  the  na- 
 tions,' even  such  tents  as  were  used  at  the  feast  of  tabernaclfs. — Scott. 
 I  mink  this  is  a  threatening,  not  a  promise. — Boothr.  10.  Similitudes^ 
 parables,  examples,  actions.— /'yo/'t^.  \\.  Is  there  iniquity,  ys^y  CW 
 
 pi-j,  (an  non  in  Galaad  iniquitas?)  *  is  there  not  iniquity  ?' — Vnt.  '  Is 
 there  not  iclnlatry  in  that  city  of  priests?'  Gilgal,  on  this  side  Jordan, 
 was  also  polluted  with  sacrifices  to  idols. — Gill.  As  heaps,  numerous 
 as  heaps  of  stones  gathered  out  of  the  plowed  land  and  laid  in  fur- 
 rows.— Poole.  This  may  express  the  number  of  idolatrous  altars  dis- 
 persed over  the  country,  or  rather  the  ruined  condition  to  which  they 
 should  be  reduced.— Pic^  Bib.  I2.  Jacob  fled  into  Syria,  to  avoid 
 
 an  alliance  with  any  of  the  families  of  Canaan. — Hors.  The  words 
 will  not  bear  such  a  construction  as  that  of  his  fleeing  from  idolatry, 
 from  what  follows.  The  circumstance  is  mentioned  to  shew  that  their 
 ancestor  was  a  fugitive,  a  Syrian,  ready  to  perish;  and  is  observed 
 here  to  bringdown  the  pride  of  Israel,  who  boasted  of  their  descent, 
 and  to  shew  the  goodness  of  God  in  raising  them  to  such  greatness. 
 1.1.  A  prophet,  'Moses.* — Gilt.  14.  Mont  bitterly,  D'lTlOD,  'with 
 
 bitternesses.' — Pag.,  Pise.,  Schmidt,  Vnt.     With  their  sins. — Gil/. 
 
 Chap.  XIII. —  1.  Spake,  trembling,  behaved  himself  humbly  towards 
 God.  He  exalted  himself,  he  was  in  great  power,  authority,  and  dig- 
 nity. He  became  great  in  God's  sight ;  he  rose  in  the  Divine  esteem 
 in  proportion  as  he  sunk  in  his  own. — A.  Clarke.  But  when  he  proudly 
 forsook  God,  and  worshipped  Baal,  he  gave  manifest  symptoms  of 
 ruin. — Poc.  2.  Kiss  the  calves,  to  kiss  an  idol  was  an  act  of  the  most 
 solemn  adoration. — Hors.  I  Kings,  xix.  18;  Job,  xxxi.  2/.  3.  As 
 the  chaff—see  Ruth,  iii.  2 ;  Ps.  i.  4,  notes.  Chimney,  rmw,  means  any 
 kind  of  hole  or  opening,  and  particularly  a  window  ;  here  it  means  the 
 hole  through  which  the  smoke  escaped.  The  only  thing  in  the  east  to 
 let  out  the  smoke  is  a  funnel  near  the  fire-place. — So  Pict.  Bib. 
 5.  Know  thee,  owned  them,  shewed  them  fatherly  affection,  and  care 
 
 Reflkctions  on  Chap.  XII We  may  remark  here  on, 
 
 I.  IsrneVs  sins — fraud,  injustice,  idolatry.  Men  who  practise 
 iniquity  of  any  kind  give  proof  that  they  are  not  sincere  wor- 
 shippers of  God. 
 
 II.    The  atigravations  of  Israel's  sins,     God  had  distinguished 
 
 their   forefathers  by  peculiar  favours,— be  bad   raised   tbem 
 
 from  a  small  people  to  be  a  e:reat  ration, — and  he  had  sent 
 
 bis  prophets  to  be  tbeir  instructors.     Hence  their  sinning 
 
 935 
 
 against  bim  was  tbe  basest  ingratitude. 
 
 III.  Tlte  punishment  of  Israel's  sins.  '  Ephraim  provoked 
 bira  to  anger  most  bitterly  ;  therefore  shall  be  leave  bis  blood 
 upon  him.*  '  God  needs  no  more  for  taking  course  with  men,* 
 says  Hutcbeson,  *  but  to  leave  tbem  to  their  own  guilt,  to  reap 
 as  it  deserveth;  and  it  is  a  sad  judgment  wben  our  guilt,  and 
 not  God's  mercy,  gets  tiie  measuring  out  of  strokes.* 
 
A  promise  of  God's  mercy. 
 
 HOSEA,  XIV. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  repentance. 
 
 6  '  According  to  their  pasture,  so  were  they 
 filled  ;  thej'  were  filled,  and  their  heart  was 
 exalted  ;  therefore  '  have  they  forgotten  nie. 
 
 7  Therefore  ""  I  will  be  unto  them  as  a  lion  : 
 as  °a  leopard  by  the  way  will  I  observe  them : 
 
 8  I  will  meet  them  "  as  a  bear  that  is  be- 
 reaved of  her  ivhelps,  and  will  rend  the  caul  of 
 their  heart,  and  there  will  I  devour  them  like 
 a  lion  :  f  the  wild  beast  shall  tear  them. 
 
 9  1i  O  Israel,  ■'thou  hast  destroyed  thy.self; 
 '  but  in  me  f  is  thine  help. 
 
 10  II  I  will  be  thy  king:  'where  is  antj  other 
 that  may  save  thee  in  all  thy  cities  'i  and  thy 
 judges  of  whom  'thou  saidst,  Give  me  a  king 
 and  princes  ? 
 
 11  '  I  gave  thee  a  king  in  mine  anger,  and 
 took  him  away  in  my  wrath. 
 
 12  "  The  iniquity  of  Epbraim  is  bound  up  ; 
 his  sin  is  hid. 
 
 13  *  The  sorrows  of  a  travailing  woman  shall 
 come  upon  him  :  he  is  'an  unwise  son;  for  he 
 should  not  '  stay  f  long  in  the  place  of  the 
 breaking  forth  of  children. 
 
 14  °  I  will  ransom  them  from  fthe  power  of 
 the  grave;  I  will  redeem  them  from  death: 
 ^O  death,  I  will  be  thy  plagues;  O  grave,  1 
 will  be  thy  destruction  :  '  repentance  shall  be 
 bid  from  mine  eyes. 
 
 15  1,  Though  ''he  be  fruitful  among  his  bre- 
 thren, "an  east  wind  shall  come,  the  wind  of 
 the  Lord  shall  come  up  from  the  wilderness, 
 and  bis  spring  shall  become  dry,  and  his  foun- 
 tain shall  be  dried  up  :  be  shall  spoil  the  trea- 
 sure of  all  t  pleasant  vessels. 
 
 16  II  Samaria  shall  become  desolate;  'for 
 slie  hath  rebelled  against  her  God :  ''  they  shall 
 fall  by  tlie  sword  :  their  infants  shall  be  dashed 
 
 ^  2Kin.  8.  12.  &  15.  Ifl.    la.  13.  16.     ch.  11).  14,  15.   Amos  I.  3, 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir   725. 
 
 cir.  725. 
 
 M  Deti.  %.V2. 
 
 U.&3^3.  15. 
 
 /  ch.  8-  14, 
 
 m  Lam. 3.10. 
 
 cli.  5.  14. 
 
 r.  Jer.  5.  C. 
 
 0  a  Sa,  17- B, 
 
 Pr...  17.  12, 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 cir.  785. 
 
 bffi  ff  Ihe 
 
 a  ch     12    6. 
 
 tif'A. 
 
 Joel  2.  13. 
 
 p  Piu.  6.  33. 
 
 i.  ch.  13.  i>. 
 
 ch.  M    1. 
 
 Mai.  I.  9. 
 
 7  ver.  4. 
 
 t  Heb,  in  Ihy 
 
 ;i  Or,  ^ive 
 
 h^lfi. 
 
 i\  ILiiher, 
 
 c  Heb.  13.15 
 
 iri--Te.i  th,, 
 
 d  Jer.  81.  la 
 
 k:iii/  f  Killff 
 
 Sec.  ch.  fi. 
 
 HushPa  be 
 
 IS.  &  12.  1. 
 
 i..^'  theu  in 
 pii-on. 
 
 fDcu.  17  16 
 
 Pb    33.  17. 
 
 ■-'  Kin.  I7..1. 
 
 Is  30.  2.16 
 
 r  IV,i.a2  38, 
 
 &  31.  1. 
 
 cli    ia3. 
 
 /ch-  2.  17. 
 
 vpr  4. 
 
 ver.  3- 
 
 ff  Pa.  10.  H. 
 
 19^ 
 
 Ik  6S.  5. 
 
 /  1  Sam.  8.7 
 
 h  Jer.  5.  6. 
 
 (tui.ia.&iy 
 
 fc  14.7. 
 
 •22,  >S  fc  16, 
 
 ch.  11.7. 
 
 I    ch.  10.  3. 
 
 .  Eph.  1.  6. 
 
 i/I>eu.32»l. 
 
 fr  JobS9.  19. 
 
 Jub  U    17. 
 
 Pro.  ly.  12. 
 
 X  Is.  IS.  3. 
 
 \\nr,bl'.'f>m. 
 
 Jcr,30.  6 
 
 \  Heb.  Urikf. 
 
 y  Pro.  22.  3, 
 
 t  Heb.thalt 
 
 ;  2  Kin. 19, 3. 
 
 go. 
 
 iUfh.at<n,t. 
 
 I  Pa.  52.  8. 
 
 a  Is.  23.  8. 
 
 &  I2S.  3. 
 
 Eze.  37.  12. 
 
 Ecclus.  60. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 10. 
 
 hniiii. 
 
 m  Gen.27,S7. 
 
 b  1  C.r.  16. 
 
 fftnt  4. II. 
 
 5-1.  55. 
 
 nPs.  SI.  1. 
 
 c  Jer.  15-  6. 
 
 \\Oi,bt.,tiom. 
 
 Horn.  11. 29 
 
 a  Or,  niemu- 
 
 dA<-i'Gen.41. 
 
 ».uL 
 
 52.&i8.  19 
 
 a  ver.  S, 
 
 «  Jer.  4.  M. 
 
 p  Jer.  31.  18. 
 
 Ezo    17.  10. 
 
 q  Jam.  1,  17. 
 
 U  19.  12. 
 
 1-  Ps.  107.43. 
 
 ch    4.  19. 
 
 Jer-  9.  12. 
 
 t  Heb.  vtttfU 
 
 Dao.  13,  10 
 
 of  d  ft  ire. 
 
 Ecclus.  39. 
 
 Nah.  2    9. 
 
 24,27. 
 
 11  Fulfilled, 
 
 John  d    17 
 
 tfir.  721. 
 
 fi.   18.   37. 
 
 SKiii.  17.6. 
 
 t  Pro.  10. 29 
 
 /  2  Kill  18. 
 
 Luke  2.  3-1 
 
 12. 
 
 2  Cor.  2    16 
 
 3.  Nah  3.  10. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.7,8. 
 
 in  pieces,  and  their  women  with  child  shall  be 
 ripped  up. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 I  An  exhortation  to  repentance.     4  A  promise  of  God's 
 
 hlessiiiff, 
 
 r\  ISRAEL,  "return  unto  the  Lord  tliy  Gud  ; 
 ^-^   *•  for  thon  hast  fallen  by  thine  inifjuity. 
 
 2  Take  with  you  words,  and  turn  to  the 
 Lord  :  say  unto  him.  Take  away  all  iniquity, 
 and  II  receive  us  graciously  :  so  will  we  render 
 the  '^  calves  of  our  lips. 
 
 3  "^  Asshur  shall  not  save  ns ;  **  we  will  not 
 ride  upon  horses:  'neither  will  we  say  any 
 more  to  the  work  of  our  hands,  Yc  are  our 
 gods :  ^  for  in  thee  tlie  fatherless  findeth  mercy. 
 
 4  ![  I  will  heal  ^  their  backsliding,  I  will  love 
 tliem  'freely:  for  mine  anger  is  turned  away 
 from  him. 
 
 5  I  will  be  as  "^  the  dew  unto  Israel  :  he  sliall 
 jl  grow  as  the  lily,  and  f  cast  forth  his  roots  as 
 Lebanon. 
 
 C  His  branches  fshall  spread,  and  '  his  beauty 
 shall  be  as  the  olive  tree,  and  "'his  smell  as 
 Lebanon. 
 
 7  °  They  that  dwell  under  his  shad(nv  sliall 
 return  ;    they    shall   revive  as    the   corn,  and 
 
 II  grow  as  the  vine  :   the  ||  scent  thereof  shafl 
 be  as  the  wine  of  Lebanon. 
 
 8  Epbraim  sha/l  sa?/,  "  What  have  I  to  do 
 any  more  with  idols?  ''  I  have  heard  hitn,  and 
 observed  him  :  I  am  like  a  green  fir  tree. 
 ''  From  me  is  thy  fruit  found. 
 
 D  '  Who  is  wise,  and  he  ^hall  understand  these 
 things?  prudent,  and  he  shall  know  them?  for 
 '  the  ways  of  the  Lord  are  right,  and  the  just 
 shall  walk  in  them  :  but  the  transgressors  shall 
 fall  therein. 
 
 of  them.  6.  According  to  their  pasture,  ^c,  they  were  elated  with 
 their  plenty,  and  grew  proud  and  haughty. — Gill.  8.  As  a  bear,  Hfc, 
 see  on  2  Sam.  xvii.  8.  11.  Gnve  thee  a  king,  §c. — see  1  Sam.  viii.  7; 
 X.  19.  This  may  aUso  allude  to  Hu?hea_— S«f.  12.  Boundiip,  as  in- 
 dictments drawn  up  and  tied  together  agrainstthe  day  of  trial ;  or  as 
 bills  and  bonds  tied  up  that  they  may  be  ready  against  the  day  of  ac- 
 count, when  all  must  be  pai'\d. —Puule.  See  Job,  xiv.  17,  note.  His 
 gin  is  hid,  not  from  God,  but  laid  up  against  the  day  of  rccompence. — 
 Poole.  13.  For  he  should  not  .•tlai/  (uu^,  ff-r-.,  a  proverbial  expression 
 for  a  crisis  of  extreme  danger,  and  doubtful  catastrophe,  (see  Isa. 
 xxxvii.  3.) — HorsUij.  14.  From  the  power  of  the  grive,  '  hell,'  for 
 the  Hebrew  word  for  the  'grave*  is  different.  By  *hell,*  understand 
 not  the  place  of  the  damned,  but  the  invisible  place,  where  the  departed 
 souls  of  the  dece.ised  remain  till  the  appointed  time  for  the  reunion  of 
 soul  and  body. — Hors.  Though  in  the  most  hopeless  condition,  God 
 would,  in  due  time,  deliver  them,  (see  Ps.  Ivi.  13  ;  Ixxi.  20 ;  lxxxvi.i3.) 
 But  there  is  a  more  sublime  and  si)irituai  sense  contained  in  the  words, 
 a  transition  common  to  the  propliels— the  final  deliverance  of  the  faith- 
 ful from  the  power  of  sin  and  death  which  shall  be  completed  by 
 Christ,  (1  Cor.  xv.  54.)  —  Pref*.  Lowth.  Repentance  shall  be  hid,  ^c. — 
 God  would  never  repent  of  his  determination  of  ransoming  and  redeem- 
 ing them.  —  Poc.  He  would  not  change  his  purpnse.  —  Clarke. 
 15.  Though  he  be  fruitful,  the  most  numerous  and  potent  of  all  the 
 ten  tribes.  Aji  east  wind  shall  come,  the  king  of  Assyria,  east  of 
 Judea,  shall  come  with  an  army  like  a  parching  east  wind  over  a  plain 
 or  a  wilderness,  and  blast  and  wither  him. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  2.  Words,  they  are  not  required  to  bring  sacrifices 
 and  offerings,  but  penitent  prayers  and  supplications  ;  the  fruit  of  the 
 lips  ;  yet  not  of  the  lips  only,  but  of  the  heart,  else  words  are  but  wind. 
 — Henry.  Calves,  D^lJ.  Our  lips,  instead  of  offering  sacrifices,  render 
 the  confession  of  our  lips. — Poc.  'Fruit,'  of  our  lips,  Sept.,  Arab.; 
 Mede,  Le  Clerc,  Newc,  Boothr.  Lips,  put  for  praises  and  thanksgiv- 
 ings uttered  by  the  lips. —Hors.  ^.  Asshrtr,  *  Ass.yna..^~  Bunt hr. 
 Shall  not  save  us — the  Israelites  had  formerly  made  an  alliance  with 
 the  Assyrians,  (see  chap.  v.  13 ;  viii.  9 ;  xii.  l  ;)  and  they  are  often  up- 
 
 braided  by  the  prophets  for  their  courting  foreign  alliances,  and  par- 
 ticularly strengthening  themselves  with  horses  from  Egypt  or  Assyria, 
 (see  Isa.  xxx.  16;  xxxvi.  8;  2  Chron.  xvi.  7.)— Preb.  Lowth.  In  thee 
 the  fatherless  findeth  mercy,  the  Israelites  in  their  captivity  and  dis- 
 persion might  indeed  be  caJled  a  fatherless  people. — Sut.  b.  As  the 
 detv,  refreshing  as  copious  dews  to  the  fruits  of  the  earth  during  the 
 heats  of  summer. — H'w.  '  Your  infidelity,  self-confidence,  and  impiety, 
 have  almost  proved  your  ruin,  and  reduced  you  to  a  languishing  dying 
 state  ;  but  on  you  shall  the  dews  of  my  salvation  descend  ;  and  so  shall 
 this  withered  plant  recover  its  strength  and  vigour,  and  again  bring 
 forth  fruit  to  my  glory.' — S.  Stetmett.  As  Lebanon,  as  the  forests 
 growing  on  it. — Poc.  As  a  tree  of  Lebanon.— i*re/i.  Lowth.  Shall  be 
 as  firmly  rooted  as  Mount  Lebanon  was  firmly  fixed.— Boy/Ar.  As  the 
 /i/y— after  the  first  rains  in  autumn,  the  fields  about  Aleppo  everywhere 
 throw  out  the  autumnal  lily  daffodil;  and  the  few  plants  which  had 
 stood  for  the  summer,  now  grow  with  fresh  vigour. — liussell.  6.  Smell 
 as  Lef/unon,  the  mountain  is  clotlied  with  fragrant  greens  from  top  to 
 bottom. — Manndrell.  ".  They  that  dwelt,  fyc,  'They  shall  return, 
 and  dwell  under  his  shadow,'  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty,  (Ps.  xci.  l.i 
 — So  most  Commentators;  Preb.  Lowth.  'They  shall  return  and  sit 
 under  their  own  shadow;'  that  is,  the  sharlow  of  his  own  vine,  enjoy 
 rest  and  security. — Boothr.  Revii-e  as  the  corn,  enjoy,  as  it  were,  a 
 second  life  and  great  increase. — Hew.  As  the  wine  of  Lebanon — this 
 wine  is  still  excellent,  nothing  can  he  more  delicious.— So  the  travel- 
 lers, Niebuhr,  Rauwolf,  Le  Bruyn,  La  Roqur.  8.  /  am  like  a  greener 
 tree,  ^-c.,  '  I  shall  be  to  thee  as  a  tall  and  shady  fir  j  and  whatsoever 
 fruit  thou  yieldest  it  shall  be  of  my  giving.' — Bp.  Hall.  Ephraim 
 gratefully  acknowledges  that  he  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  God 
 reminds  him  that  it  is  owing  to  his  blessing. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 '  I  will  make  him  like  a  green  fir  tree  ; 
 From  me  is  thy  fruit  ionnd.'—Bonthr. 
 '  I  have  heard  him  ;  and  I  have  seen  him  as  a  flourishing  fir  tree  ; 
 From  me  is  thy  fruit  found.' — Newc,  preferred  by  Clarke. 
 
 g.  Who  is  wise,  fyc. — this  is  spoken  in  the  prophet's  own  person. — Newc. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIII.  —  1.  If  God  prosper  us, 
 let  us  brwiire  that  our  prosperity  do  not  lift  us  itp,  and  ahenate 
 our  hearts  from  God.  Sooner  or  Iater,"God  will  reckon  with 
 the  proud;  and  a  fearful  reckoning  it  will  be  ;  but  '  blessed 
 are  the  poor  in  spirit,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.' 
 
 II.  TUowjh  the  greatest  of  aU  evils  assail  the  saint,  he  shall  at 
 last  have  a  ghrious  deliverance.  The  grave  itself  shall  not  hold 
 936 
 
 him,  for  though  Death  be  a  formidable  enemy,  yet  'thanks  be 
 to  God  who  giveth  ua  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ.' 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  XIV. — \.  The  sinner  is  caVed  to 
 return  to  God.  All  his  misery  is  owing  to  bis  departini;  from 
 him.  Let  him  come  with  words  of  repentance — words,  how 
 simple  soever  they  may  be, — words  it  may  be,  and  not  sen- 
 
JOEL. 
 
 [It  i?  uncertain  whether  Joel  prophesied  before  or  after  the  desolations  of  Israel.  Drusius  and  Newcnme  think  that  he  lived 
 during  the  long  reign  of  Manasseh.  Or.  Gray  says,  '  there  is  little  douht  that  Joel  lived  in  the  reign  of  Uziiah,  king  of 
 Judah,  and  of  Jeroboam  the  Second,  King  of  Israel ;'  hence  he  fixes  the  date  of  his  prophecies  60  or  70  years  earlier  than 
 the  preceding,  and  makes  him  contemporary  with  Isaiah  and  Hosea.  Some  place  liim  in  the  next  reign  after  Uzziah, 
 that  of  Jotham ;  and  others,  again,  advance  beyond  Manasseh  to  the  reign  of  Josiah,  making  him  contemporary  with 
 Jeremiah.  This  was  the  opinion  of  Calmet.  The  New-Testament  references  to  Joel  are,  Matt.  xxiv.  29  ;  Acts,  ii.  16 — 
 21;   Rom.  x.  13—16;   Rev.  xxi.  27  ;  xxii.  1.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 I  Joel,  declaring  sundry  judgments  nf  God,  exhorteth  to 
 observe  them,  &  and  to  mourn,  14  He  prescribcth  a 
 fast  for  complaint. 
 
 npHE  word  of  the  Lord  that  came  to  Joel  the 
 -*-    son  of  Pethuel. 
 
 2  Hear  this,  ye  old  men,  and  give  ear,  all  ye 
 inhabitants  of  the  land.  "  Hath  this  been  in 
 your  days,  or  even  in  the  days  of  your  fathers? 
 
 3  ■■  Tell  ye  your  children  of  it,  and  lei  your 
 children  tell  their  children,  and  their  children 
 another  generation. 
 
 4  "^  t  That  which  the  palmerworm  hath  left 
 hath  the  locust  eaten  ;  and  that  which  the  lo- 
 cust hath  left  hath  the  cankerworm  eaten  ;  and 
 that  which  the  cankerworm  hath  left  hath  the 
 caterpiller  eaten. 
 
 5  Awake,  ye  drunkards,  and  weep ;  and  howl, 
 all  ye  drinkers  of  wine,  because  of  the  new 
 wine  ;  ^  for  it  is  cut  off  from  your  mouth. 
 
 6  For  "  a  nation  is  come  up  upon  my  land, 
 strong,  and  without  number,  'whose  teeth  are 
 the  teeth  of  a  lion,  and  he  hath  the  cheek  teeth 
 of  a  great  lion. 
 
 7  He  hath  ^laid  my  vine  waste,  and  f  barked 
 my  fig  tree  :  he  hath  made  it  clean  bare,  and 
 cast  it  away ;  the  branches  thereof  are  made 
 white. 
 
 8  K  ''  Lament  like  a  virgin  girded  with  sack- 
 cloth for  '  the  husband  of  her  youth. 
 
 9  '■  The  meat  offering  and  the  drink  offering 
 is  cut  off  from  the  house  of  the  Lord  ;  the 
 priests,  the  Lord's  ministers,  mourn. 
 
 10  The  field  is  wasted,  '  the  land  mourneth  ; 
 for  the   corn  is  wasted  :   ""  the   new   wine   is 
 
 II  dried  up,  the  oil  languisheth. 
 
 11  "Be   ye   ashamed,    O   ye   husbandmen ; 
 
 c  Deu.  2B,38. 
 cli.  2.  25. 
 
 t  Hob.  Tl,e 
 ,„id.,i  „f 
 Hie  paltHtr- 
 
 d  Is.  32.  10. 
 f  So  Pro.  20. 
 
 ^5.  26,  S7. 
 cli.  2.  2,  II, 
 
 /~Rev.  9.  8. 
 
 ff  Is.  5.  6. 
 t  Heb.  laid 
 ""/fS  tree 
 Jot  a  b<irn- 
 iiig. 
 
 h  Is.  S?.  12. 
 I  Pro.  2.  17. 
 
 Jer,  3.  4.  ' 
 k  ver.  KS, 
 
 ch.  2.  14. 
 
 iJet.  13.11. 
 
 &  14.  2. 
 m  l8.  S4.  7. 
 
 ver.  12. 
 II  Or, 
 
 aihanied. 
 n.Ier.  11,3,4. 
 
 ;»  Is.  34.  II. 
 
 .ler.  48.  33. 
 
 SeePs.  4.7- 
 
 la.  9.  3. 
 t  ver.  8. 
 
 Jer.  4.  8. 
 
 2  Chr.  20. 
 3,  4.  ch.  2. 
 15.  16. 
 /  Lev.  ?.^,36. 
 Or,  day  of 
 
 TfilTlitut. 
 
 2  Cbr.  20. 
 13. 
 X  Jer.  30.  7. 
 y  Is.  13.6,9, 
 
 Ch. 
 
 ,  1. 
 
 E  See  Deut. 
 12.  6,7  & 
 16.11,14,15. 
 
 fHeb.yrain*. 
 
 b  Ps.  fiO.  15. 
 c  Jer.  9.  10. 
 ch,  2.  3. 
 
 11  Or,  habi- 
 tations. 
 
 d  .Tob  38.41 
 Ps.  104.  21 
 &  145.  15. 
 
 e  1  Kin.  17. 
 7.  U  18.  5. 
 
 howl,  O  ye  vinedressers,  for  the  wheat  and  for 
 the  harley  ;  because  the  harvest  of  the  field  is 
 perislied. 
 
 12  "The  vine  is  dried  up,  and  the  fig  tree 
 languisheth  ;  the  pomegranate  tree,  the  palm 
 tree  also,  and  tlie  apple  tree,  even  all  the  trees 
 of  the  field,  are  withered:  because  ''joy  is 
 withered  away  from  the  sons  of  men. 
 
 13  "'Gird  yourselves,  and  lament,  ye  priests  : 
 how],  ye  ministers  of  the  altar  :  come,  lie  all 
 night  in  sackcloth,  ye  ministers  of  my  God  : 
 for  ""the  meat  offering  and  the  drink  oft'ering  is 
 withholden  from  the  house  of  your  God. 
 
 14  H^  Sanctify  ye  a  fast,  call  *  a  ||  solemn  as- 
 sembly, gather  the  elders  a}Ld  "  all  the  inha- 
 bitants of  the  land  into  the  house  of  the  Lord 
 your  God,  and  cry  unto  the  Lord, 
 
 15  ^  Alas  for  the  day!  for  ^  the  day  of  tlie 
 Lord  is  at  hand,  and  as  a  destruction  from  the 
 Almiglity  shall  it  come. 
 
 16  Is  not  the  meat  cut  off  before  our  eyes, 
 7/ca,  ""joy  and  gladness  from  the  liouse  of  our 
 God? 
 
 17  The  fseed  is  rotten  under  their  clods,  the 
 garners  are  laid  desolate,  the  barns  are  broken 
 down  ;  for  the  corn  is  withered. 
 
 18  How  do  ^  the  beasts  groan!  the  herds  of 
 cattle  are  perplexed,  because  they  have  no  pas- 
 ture ;  yea,  the  flocks  of  sheep  are  made  deso- 
 late. 
 
 19  O  Lord,  ''to  thee  will  I  cry:  for  ""the  fire 
 hath  devoured  the  ||  pastures  of  the  wilderness, 
 and  the  flame  hath  burned  all  the  trees  of  the 
 field.      - 
 
 20  The  beasts  of  the  field  ^  cry  also  unto 
 thee  :  for  '^  the  rivers  of  waters  are  dried  up, 
 and  the  fire  hath  devoured  the  pastures  of  the 
 wilderness. 
 
 NoTBS  ON  Chap.  I.  —  4.  Palmerworm,  mj,  the  word  is  from  a  root 
 which  signifies  '  to  cut,  to  shear  or  mince  ;'  hence  Bochurt  concludes  it 
 is  a  kind  of  locust  with  sharp  teeth,  gnawing  grass,  corn,  leaves,  bark, 
 &c.  The  Jews  considered  it  as  a  locust,  yet  the  i-^ept.  read  Kafnrn, 
 *  caterpiller,'  and  with  this  agrees  the  Vulgnte,  an  opinion  adopted  by 
 Mirhadis  and  Fuller,  Miscel.  Sac,  and  A.  Clarke.  Cankerworm — the 
 Hebrew,  p"?',  is  from  a  root  pb,  which  signifies  *  to  lick  or  lap  with  the 
 tongue.'  In  Jer.  li.  27,  the  word  is  rendered  '  the  rough  caterpiller  ;' 
 it  is  a  rough  kind  of  locust,  in  the  opinion  of  Scheuchzer.  5.  Awake, 
 ye  rfrf/n/rorrf-'j— perhaps  drunkenness  was  then  a  common  sin. — Poc. 
 Because  of  the  new  wine — locusts  injured  the  vines,  and  the  quality  of 
 the  wine,  for  some  years. — Hnr.  6.  A  nation — locusts,  poetically  so 
 called,  is  come  up  :  a  future  event,  which  repentance  mitrht  avert,  (chap, 
 ii.  12,)  but  spoken  of  as  already  occurring. — Newc.  Teeth  of  a  lion,  it 
 denotes  the  great  power  of  doing  mischief  possessed  by  these  little  in- 
 sects.— Poc.  8.  Like  a  virijin,  i^c,  as  a  young  virgin,  that  was  be- 
 trothed to  her  husband,  would  lament  his  untimely  loss.         Q.  The 
 
 meat  offering,  ^c. — the  dearth  had  destroyed  both  the  corn  and  the 
 wine,  (ver.  10—12,)  and  thereby  disabled  the  performing  the  necessary 
 parts  of  God's  daily  worship  in  the  temple.— Prfi.  Lowth.  12.  The 
 vine,  ^c. — when  the  locusts  are  hatched  in  Barbary  in  June,  they  form 
 themselves  into  compact  bodies,  each  at  least  a  furlong  square,  and, 
 marching  towards  the  sea,  they  eat  up  both  vegetables  and  trees— the 
 vine,  the  fig,  ihe  pomegranate,  the  palm,  the  apple — even  alt  the  trees 
 of  the  field. — So  Dr.  Shaw,  Becmise  joy,  fyc, '  surely  joy,'  ^c. — Ncwc. 
 Bonffir.  17.  The  burjis,  ^-r. — '  they  are  not  repaired,  for  there  is  no 
 store.*- iVeit'C.  19-   The  fire,   the  scorching  drought. —  Bp.   Hnll, 
 
 Scott,  Hew.  The  Assyrians  might  have  burnt  them  ;  or  a  dry  burn- 
 ing wind  or  lightning,  (P,s.  Ixxxiii.  14.) — Gill.  Fires  were  often  made 
 to  stop  the  ravages  of  these  insects,  (ver.  6,)  and  these  fires  also  did 
 much  mischief. —  Wil.  Pastures  of  the  wilderness,  spots  in  the  desert 
 where  flocks  and  herds  might  feed,  (Ps.  I,\v.  12.) — Newr.  20.  The 
 rii^ers — are  dried — there  was,  no  doubt,  a  drought,  as  well  as  the  in- 
 sects.— Clarke. 
 
 tences,  if  expressive  of  *  the  broken  and  contrite  heart,'  and 
 God  will  not  despise  him.  *  Lord,  save,  or  I  perish' — '  God, 
 be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner' — are  most  powerful  prayers  ;  but 
 let  him  always  connect  the  removal  of  guilt  with  the  removal 
 of  pollution, — the  bestowment  of  mercy  with  the  sincere  gra- 
 titude of  an  obedient  heart. 
 
 IL  God  will  then  return  to  the  sinner.  The  wounds  which 
 backsliding  has  made  shall  be  healed;  God  will  delight  in 
 doing  him  good  ;  he  shall  enjoy  peace  with  God  through  Jesus 
 Christ ;  God  will  be  his  everlasting  friend. 
 
 Reflections  on  Joel.  Chap.  L  —  Observe,  I.  How  easily 
 God  can  punish  the  guilty.  The  same  Almighty  power  that  could 
 annihilate  a  world,  can  call  the  lions  from  the  forests,  or  col- 
 937 
 
 lect  the  hosts  of  insignificant  insects  as  armies  to  do  his  work 
 of  justice  among  guilty  men.  Let  us  then  ifmemher,  that  if 
 these  scourges  visit  us  they  are  by  his  permission  ;  and  if 
 they  do  not,  it  is  of  his  great  mercy.  We  do  not  sufficiently 
 acknowledge  the  bounty  and  goodness  by  which  our  barns  and 
 our  storehouses  are  filled  with  plenty.     Observe 
 
 IL  How  we  may  anrt  these  judgments.  By  deep  and  un- 
 feigned repentance  for  our  sins.  Rioting  and  intemperance 
 are,  alas  !  not  uncommon  amongst  us.  On  account  of  this  waste 
 and  abuse  of  God's  bounties,  we  might  well  look  for  his  chas- 
 tening stroke.  liut  there  are  many  that  sigh  and  cry  for  the 
 abominations  of  the  land.  Let  us  continue  to  pray,  and  God 
 will  give  us  occasion  to  praise. 
 
 6    D 
 
The  terribleness  of  God's  judgment. 
 
 JOEL.  II. 
 
 A  fast  prescj'tbed. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  He  sheweth  unto  Zion  the  terribleness  of  God's  judg- 
 ment. 12  He  exhorteth  to  repentance,  15  prescribeth 
 a  fast,  18  promiseth  a  blessing  thereon.  21  He  com- 
 forteth  Zion  with  present,  23  and  future  blessings. 
 
 ""DLOW  ye  the  ||  trumpet  in  Zion,  and 
 -L^  ''sound  an  alarm  in  my  holy  mountain  : 
 let  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  tremble:  for 
 "  the  day  of  the  Lord  cometh,  for  it  is  nigh  at 
 hand  ; 
 
 '2  "^  A  day  of  darkness  and  of  gloominess,  a 
 day  of  clouds  and  of  thick  darkness,  as  the 
 morning  spread  upon  the  mountains  :  ^a  great 
 people  and  a  strong;  'there  hath  not  been 
 ever  the  like,  neither  shall  be  any  more  after 
 it,  even  to  the  years  f  of  many  generations. 
 
 3  ^  A  fire  devoureth  before  them  ;  and  be- 
 hind them  a  flame  burneth  :  the  land  is  as  ''the 
 garden  of  Eden  before  them, '  and  behind  them 
 a  desolate  wilderness  ;  yea,  and  nothing  shall 
 escape  them. 
 
 4  ^  The  appearance  of  them  is  as  the  appear- 
 ance of  horses  ;  and  as  horsemen,  so  shall  they 
 run. 
 
 5  '  Like  the  noise  of  chariots  on  the  tops  of 
 mountains  shall  they  leap,  like  the  noise  of  a 
 flame  of  fire  that  devoureth  the  stubble,  '"as  a 
 strong  people  set  in  battle  array. 
 
 t>  Before  their  face  the  people  shall  be  much 
 pnineJ  :  "  all  faces  shall  gather  f  blackness. 
 
 7  They  shall  run  like  mighty  men;  they  shall 
 climb  the  wall  like  men  of  war;  and  they 
 shall  march  every  one  on  his  ways,  and  they 
 sliall  not  break  their  ranks  : 
 
 8  Neither  shall  one  thrust  another;  they  shall 
 walk  every  one  in  his  path  :  and  ivhen  they 
 fall  upon  the  ||  sword,  they  shall  not  be 
 wounded. 
 
 9  They  shall  run  to  and  fro  in  the  city  ;  they 
 shall  run  upon  the  wall,  they  shall  climb  up 
 upon  the  houses ;  they  shall  "  enter  in  at  the 
 windows  ^  like  a  thief. 
 
 10  ^  The  earth  shall  quake  before  them;  the 
 heavens  shall  tremble :  '  the  sun  and  fhe  moon 
 shall  be  dark,  and  the  stars  shall  withdraw 
 their  shining : 
 
 a  Jer.  4.  5. 
 
 ver.  15. 
 Ij  Or,  rornet. 
 b  Num.  10. 
 
 5,9. 
 c  ch.  1.  15. 
 
 Obad.  16. 
 
 15. 
 d  Amoa  5. 
 
 IS,  20. 
 f  ver.  5,  II, 
 
 2'..  ch.  lb. 
 /Ki.  HI.  U 
 
 ^eneralion. 
 g  ch.  1.  19, 
 
 20. 
 h  Gen.  2.  9. 
 
 fc  13.  10. 
 
 Is,  51.  3, 
 i  Zech.  7. 1-1. 
 
 k  Rev.  9.  7. 
 
 «  Jpr,  B.  21. 
 
 Lnm.  4.  H. 
 
 N»h.  2.  10, 
 t  Heb.  pat. 
 
 0  Jer.  9.  21 
 
 ;j  John  10. 1. 
 
 q  Ps.  IB.  7. 
 
 f  Is.  13   10. 
 Eiek.  9ii.  7. 
 ver.  31. 
 ch-  3    1.^. 
 Mat.  24.  29. 
 
 Jer.  2.=).  30. 
 
 ch.  3.  16, 
 
 .\TO09  12. 
 
 '  ver.  25. 
 H  Jer.  5D.  3-1. 
 
 Her.  18.  a, 
 
 r  Jer.  30.  7- 
 
 Amo9  5.  18, 
 
 Zeph.  I.  IS. 
 
 .  Nn.  24,  23. 
 
 lilal.  3.  2. 
 Jer.  4.  1. 
 
 Hos,  12.  S. 
 
 f<  14.  \. 
 
 ip3.  34    19. 
 
 ft  51.  17. 
 b  Gen,  .i7.31.. 
 
 2  Sam  1.11. 
 
 Job  1.  20. 
 o  Ex.  34.  6. 
 
 Ps.  96.  5,15. 
 
 Jonah  4.  2. 
 dJoshM.12. 
 
 2Sa.  12.22. 
 
 2KJn.  Ii>,  ♦. 
 
 Amos  5.  15. 
 
 Jonah  3.  9. 
 
 Zeph.  2.  3. 
 e  Is.  65.  8, 
 
 Hag.  2.  19. 
 /ch.  1.9,13, 
 if  Num.  10-3. 
 
 Fer.  I. 
 
 Ach.  1.  14. 
 /2Chr.20.13- 
 1  Cor.  7. 6, 
 
 n  Eie.  8,  16. 
 Mat.  23.  a.-), 
 
 I  E.X.  32.  11. 
 12.  Deu.  9, 
 26—29, 
 
 II  Or,  mf:  a 
 hi/aurd 
 again*! 
 llimt. 
 
 p  Pa.  42.  10, 
 
 &79.  10.  & 
 
 115.  2.  Mic, 
 
 7.  10. 
 7  Zech.  1.14. 
 
 ft  8.  2. 
 ■  Den.  32.36. 
 
 Is.  60,  10. 
 t  fiee  ch.  I. 
 
 10.  Mnl.  3. 
 
 10,  11,13. 
 
 (  ReeEi.  10. 
 
 19. 
 .<  Jer-  1.  14. 
 
 T  Eze.  47.18. 
 
 Zech    \l.  8. 
 
 i/Deu.  11.24. 
 
 \  Heb.  hf 
 hath  maffni- 
 fifd  to  do. 
 
 11  "And  the  Lord  shall  utter  his  voice  be- 
 fore *  his  army:  for  liis  camp  is  very  great: 
 "for  he  is  strong  that  executeth  his  word  :  for 
 the  *  day  of  the  Lord  is  great  and  very  ter- 
 rible ;  and  ^  who  can  abide  it  ? 
 
 1*2  H  Therefore  also  now,  saith  the  Lord, 
 '  turn  ye  even  to  me  with  all  your  heart,  and 
 with  fasting,  and  with  weeping,  and  with  mourn- 
 ing : 
 
 13  And  ^rend  your  heart,  and  not  ''your gar- 
 ments, and  turn  unto  the  Lord  your  God  :  for 
 he  is  "^  gracious  and  merciful,  slow  to  anger, 
 and  of  great  kindness,  and  repenteth  him  of 
 the  evil. 
 
 14  "^  Who  knoweth  {/  he  will  return  and 
 repent,  and  leave  ^a  blessing  behind  him  ; 
 even  ''a  meat  off'ering  and  a  drink  off'ering 
 unto  the  Lord  your  God  ? 
 
 15  H^  Blow  the  trumpet  in  Zion,  ''sanctify  a 
 fast,  call  a  solemn  assembly  : 
 
 IG  Gather  the  people,  '  sanctify  the  congre- 
 gation, ''  assemble  the  elders,  '  gather  the  chil- 
 dren, and  those  that  suck  the  breasts:  "Met  the 
 bridegroom  go  forth  of  his  chamber,  and  the 
 bride  out  of  her  closet. 
 
 17  Let  the  priests,  the  ministers  of  the  Lord, 
 weep  "between  tiie  porch  and  the  altar,  and 
 let  them  say,  "^  Spare  thy  people,  O  Lord,  and 
 give  not  thine  heritage  to  reproach,  that  the 
 heathen  should  ||  rule  over  them  :  ■'wherefore 
 should  they  say  among  the  people.  Where  is 
 their  God  ? 
 
 18  t  Then  will  the  Lord  "^  be  jealous  for  his 
 land,  'and  pity  his  people. 
 
 19  Yea,  the  Lord  will  answer  and  say  unto 
 his  people,  Beliold,  I  will  send  you  'corn,  and 
 wine,  and  oil,  and  ye  shall  be  satisfied  there- 
 with :  and  I  will  no  more  make  you  a  reproach 
 among  the  heatiien  : 
 
 20  But  *  I  will  remove  far  off  from  you  "  the 
 northern  army,  and  will  drive  him  into  a  land 
 barren  and  desolate,  with  his  face  *  toward  the 
 east  sea,  and  his  hinder  part  ^'toward  the  ut- 
 most sea,  and  his  stink  shall  come  up,  and  his 
 ill  savour  shall  come  up,  because  fhe  hath 
 done  great  things. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  l .  Blow  ye,  the  priests.— GiVf.  The  trumpet,  to  call  the 
 people  to  fast,  weep,  and  pray. — Ponle.  The  same  alarm  is  Riven  as 
 if  they  had  been  invaded  by  the  most  powerful  enemies. — Wil.  The 
 day  of  the  Lord  generally  means  *  a  day  of  judgment  and  punishment.' 
 2.  A  day  of  darkness— locn&ts  sometimes  obscure  the  sun. — A.  Clarke. 
 Wlien  the  clouds  of  locusts  take  their  flight,  the  heavens  may  literally 
 be  said  to  be  obscured  by  them. —  Vnlney.  In  the  metaphorical  style, 
 this  may  signify  '  exceeding  great  trout>le,'  and  remotely  allude  to  the 
 day  of  judgment. — Poofe.    As  the  morning — 
 
 '  As  the  dusk  spread  upon  the  mountains. 
 Cometh  a  numerous  people  and  a  strong.'— Boo^/ir. 
 A  great  people  and  a  strung — locusts  are  here  represented  as  a  formid- 
 able army. — Heading.  Ever  the  like,  expressive  of  the  extraordinary 
 greatness  of  the  judgroeot,  (comp.  2  Kings,  xviii.  5;  xxiii.  25.) — Preb. 
 Lowth.  3.  Afre  devoureth  before  tht-m,  they  consume  like  a  general 
 conflagratioo. — Pliny.  Wheresoever  they  feed,  their  lea\iogs  seem  as 
 it  were  parched  with  fire. — Ludolphus^Hint.  of  Ethiopia.  As  the  garden 
 o/ -Eden,  a  proverbial  expression  forfraitfulncss,  {seeGen.xiii.  10  ;  Isa. 
 li.  3.) — Preb.  Lowth.  Nothing  shall  escape  them— no  herb,  plant,  or 
 tree,  could  escape  the  locusts  ;  nor  could  any  city,  town,  or  village  es- 
 cape  the  Chahuan  army,  of  which  they  were  the  emblem. — Gill. 
 4.  The  appearance  of  horses,  which  locusts  resemble,  both  in  swiftness 
 and  in  the  shape  of  their  heads. — Bach.,  Ray.  5.  Like  the  noise  of 
 rharints,  gfc.—z.  swarm  of  locusts  make  so  loud  a  noise  when  they 
 move,  that  they  may  be  heard  six  miles  off. — Bock.  Noise  of  a  flame, 
 the  former  noise  probably  from  their  motion,  this  from  their  eating. — 
 Poc.  V\'hile  they  are  breaking  their  food  with  their  teeth,  the  noise  is 
 that  of  flame  driven  about  by  the  wind. — Cyril,  quoted  by  Bochart. 
 
 6.  Gather  blackness,  universal  mourning  shall  take  place. — .4.  Clarke. 
 
 7.  Run  tike  mighty  men,  no  force  shall  he  able  to  withstand  them. — 
 Preb  Luwth.  They  shall  not  break  their  ranks,  SfC,  Ihcy  kept  their 
 ranks  like  men  of  war;  climbing  over,  as  they  advanced,  every  tree 
 or  wall  that  was  in  their  way  ;  nay,  they  entered  into  our  very  houses 
 and  bedchambers,  like  so  many  thieves. —Shaw's  Tmuels.  8.  T/iey 
 shall  not  be  wounded — this  refers  to  the  scales  with  which  locusts  are 
 covered  as  a  coat  of  mAiL—Newc.    The  expression  implies  the  utter 
 
 933 
 
 uselcssness  of  all  means  to  prevent  their  depredations.— ^3.  Clarke. 
 10.  Quake  before  them,  expressive  of  great  consternation  and  calamity. 
 J^ewc.  The  sun  and  the  moon  shall  be  dark— the  multitude  of  the 
 locusts  is  sometimes  so  immense  as  to  obscure  the  hesivens  for  twelve 
 miles.—Boch.  11.  The  Lord  shall  utter  his  voice,  like  a  leader  or 
 general,  he  can  command  this  his  army,  and  make  the  meanest  parts 
 of  creation  the  instruments  of  his  vengeance.— PreA.  Lowth.  12.  Wilfi 
 all  your  heart,  let  it  not  be  divided  between  God  and  idols. — Poc. 
 13.  Rend  your  heart,  and  not  your  garments,  as  was  customary  in  great 
 sorrow,  (Gen.  sxxvii.  29,  34  j  Job,  i.  20  ;  2  Sam.  i.  II.)— PreA.  Lowth. 
 '  Not  merely  your  gaTinents.^-D'Oyley  and  MaJit.  Repenteth  him— 
 see  Gen.  vi.  6,  note.  u.  Who  knoweth,  ^c,  that  our  sincere  repent- 
 ance may  engage  him  to  restore  his  blessings,at  least,  sufficient  provi- 
 sion to  supply  the  necessary  parts  of  God's  public  worship,  necessarily 
 omitted  since  the  dearth,  [see  chap.i.  9,  i3.}— Preb.  Lowth.  17.  Be- 
 tween the  porch  and  the  att'ir— the  porch  was  the  ordinary  place  where 
 the  people  prayed  when  incense  was  oflered,  (Luke,  i.  10,)  and  the 
 priests,  having  offered,  came  toward  the  porch  from  the  altar,  and  there 
 prayed  for  and  with  the  people,  and  blessed  them;  for  which  end,  it 
 seems,  the  people  waited  for  Zacharias,  (Luke,  i.  21,  22.)— Hutc.  The 
 altar  of  burnt  offerings  stood  before  the  porch  of  the  temple,  (2  Chron. 
 viii.  12,)  and  between  them  there  was  an  open  space  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
 cubits.  It  was  there  that  the  priests  prostrated  themselves  on  such 
 occasions  ;  it  was  into  this  place  that  the  priests  brought  the  sacrifice 
 or  victim  of  atonement;  and  where  the  high  priest  laid  his  hands  on 
 the  head  of  the  victim,  confessing  his  sins.  20.  Northern  army,  §rc., 
 Syria,  northward  of  Judea,  was  infested  with  locusts ;  and  it  must  have 
 been  a  northern  wind  that  brought  them  into  Judea,  as  God  promises 
 to  change  the  wind,  and  drive  them  into  a  land  barren  and  desolate, 
 Arabia  Deserta.  East  sen, '  Dead  Sea,'  eastward  of  Jerusalem.  Utmost 
 sea,  'the  western  sea,'  that  is,  the  Mediterranean.  His  stink  shall 
 come  up— St.  Jerome  says,  that  in  his  time  those  troops  of  locusts  which 
 covered  Judea  were  ca^t  by  the  wind  into  the  sea  ;  and  that,  when  the 
 waters  threw  them  up,  their  smell  caused  a  pestilence.— iV^-u-c.  When 
 dead,  the  stL-uch  of  them  so  infects  the  air,  that  it  often  occasions  dread- 
 ful pestilences.— T/iet'6no(.     In  Ethiopia,  when  they  dictheyrot;  they 
 
Zion  comforted  with  presents. 
 
 JOEL,  III. 
 
 andjktture  blessings 
 
 21  t  Fear  not,  O  land  ;  be  glad  and  rejoice  : 
 for  the  Lord  will  do  great  things. 
 
 22  Be  not  afraid,  ^  ye  beasts  of  the  field  :  for 
 ''the  pastures  of  the  wilderness  do  spring,  for 
 the  tree  beareth  her  fruit,  the  fig  tree  and  the 
 vine  do  yield  their  strength. 
 
 23  Be  glad  then,  ye  children  of  Zion,  and 
 ^  rejoice  in  the  Lord  your  God  :  for  he  hath 
 given  you  ||  the  former  rain  ]  moderately,  and 
 he  "^  will  cause  to  come  down  for  you  ^  the 
 rain,  the  former  rain,  and  the  latter  rain  in  the 
 first  month. 
 
 24  And  the  floors  shall  be  full  of  wheat,  and 
 the  fats  shall  overflow  with  wine  and  oil. 
 
 23  And  I  will  restore  to  you  the  years  *  that 
 the  locust  hath  eaten,  the  cankerworm,  and 
 the  caterpiller,  and  the  palmerworm,  ''my  great 
 army  which  I  sent  among  you. 
 
 26  And  ye  shall  ^  eat  in  plenty,  and  be  satis- 
 fied, and  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  your 
 God,  that  hath  dealt  wondrously  with  you  : 
 and  my  people  shall  never  be  ashamed. 
 
 "27  ^  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  *  in  the 
 midst  of  Israel,  and  that  ^  I  am  the  Lord  your 
 God,  and  none  else :  and  my  people  shall  never 
 be  ashamed. 
 
 28  t  '  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  afterward, 
 that  I  °'will  pour  out  my  spirit  upon  all  flesh; 
 "  and  your  sons  and  "  your  daughters  shall  pro- 
 phesy, your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams,  your 
 young  men  shall  see  visions  : 
 
 1  Zertb.8.12. 
 Reecb.  I. 
 
 b  Is.  41.  16. 
 
 i<.  61.  10. 
 
 Hab.  S.  18. 
 
 Zech.  10.7 
 li  Or.  a. 
 
 UachfT  of 
 
 rifflikoat- 
 
 neit. 
 t  Heb   ac- 
 
 riffhleuut- 
 
 c  Lev.  26.  4. 
 
 Deii.  tl.  N. 
 
 ft  iH.  12. 
 d  Jam.  5.  7- 
 H  cli     1.4 
 
 ■/  Lev.  26.  5. 
 I's.  2i.  26. 
 See  Lev.26. 
 26.  Mic.  6. 
 14. 
 
 A  ch.  3.  17. 
 i  Lev.  26.11, 
 
 12.  Eze.  37. 
 
 L>6.  27.  28. 
 k  Is.  45.  5, 
 
 21,22    Eie 
 
 39.  22,  28. 
 /  Is.  44   «. 
 
 Eie.  39.  29. 
 
 Acta  -i.  17. 
 n.  Zee.  12.10. 
 
 John  7.  S9. 
 a  Is.  bi.  13. 
 0  Acts  21.  9, 
 
 plCor.l'-'.13. 
 
 Gal.  .1.  28. 
 
 Col.  3.  II. 
 J  Mat.  24.29. 
 
 Mark  13.24. 
 
 Luke21.11, 
 
 25. 
 
 ver.  10. 
 
 U.  13.  9, 10. 
 
 ch,  3.  1,15. 
 
 Mat,  24.  29. 
 
 Mark  13.24, 
 
 Luke21.25. 
 
 Rev.  6.  12. 
 
 Mai.  4,  5. 
 
 (  Horn. 10.13. 
 
 I  Is.  4G.  IS, 
 
 fc  59,  20, 
 
 Oba.  17. 
 
 Rom,  11.26, 
 X  Is.  II.  11, 
 
 16.  Jer.  31 
 
 7.  Mic. 4.  7 
 
 US    3,7,8. 
 
 Rom.  9.27. 
 
 &  11.  5,  7. 
 
 a  Jer.  30.  3. 
 Eze,  5S.  14 
 
 6  Zech.  14.2, 
 
 3,4. 
 c  2  Chr.  20. 
 
 26.  ver.  12. 
 d  l3.  66.  16. 
 
 Eie.  38,  22 
 
 eObad.  11. 
 Nah.  3.  10 
 
 •29  And  also  upon  ^  the  servants  and  upon  the 
 handmaids  in  those  days  will  I  pour  out  my 
 spirit. 
 
 30  And  ''  I  will  shew  wonders  in  the  heavens 
 and  in  the  earth,  blood,  and  fire,  and  pillars  of 
 smoke. 
 
 31  'The  sun  shall  be  turned  into  darkness, 
 and  the  moon  into  blood,  'before  the  great  and 
 the  terrible  day  of  the  Lord  come. 
 
 32  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  '  whoso- 
 ever shall  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall 
 be  delivered  :  for  "in  mount  Zion  and  in  Jeru- 
 salem shall  be  deliverance,  as  the  Lord  hath 
 said,  and  in  "^  the  remnant  whom  the  Lord  shall 
 call. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  God's  judgments  against  the  enemies  of  his  people. 
 9  God  ivillbe  known  in  his  judgment.     18  His  bless- 
 ing upon  the  church. 
 "POR,  behold,  ^  in  those  days,  and  in  that 
 -*-     time,  when  I  shall  bring  again  the  capti- 
 vity of  Judah  and  Jerusalem, 
 2^1  will  also   gather  all  nations,  and  will 
 bring  them  down  into  *"  the  valley  of  Jehosha- 
 phat,  and  ^  will  plead  with  them  there  for  my 
 people  and /or  my  heritage  Israel,  whom  they 
 have  scattered  among  the  nations,  and  parted 
 my  land. 
 3  And  they  have  ^  cast  lots  for  my  people  ; 
 and  have  given  a  boy  for  an  harlot,  and  sold  a 
 girl  for  wine,  that  they  might  drink. 
 
 raise  a  pestilence. — Mede.  Done  great  things,  committed  great  devas- 
 tation. 21.  Will  do  great  things,  '  hath  done  great  things  in  remov- 
 ing such  an  army  of  locusts.'— AVwr.  23.  Former  rain—latter  rain, 
 — see  Deut.  xi.  14,  note.  25.  Restore  to  you  the  years,  Sfc,  repair  the 
 damage  which  the  land  has  for  several  years  received  from  the  ravages 
 of  those  devouring  creatures. — Poc.  28.  Pour  out  my  spirit — partly 
 the  spiritual  common  gifts  conferred  upon  men  for  the  edification  of 
 the  church,  and  partly  the  saving  graces  of  the  Spirit. — Hutc.  Pour- 
 ing out  denotes  the  abundance  of  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  both  estraor- 
 fUnary  and  ordinary ;  and  of  his  grace,  and  the  blessings  of  it  bestowed 
 on  them. — Gill.  Applied  by  St.  Peter  to  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
 upon  the  first  believers,  (Acts,  ii.  17.)  Upo7i  all  flesh,  Gentiles  as  well 
 as  Jews,  (see  the  fulfilment,  Acts,  \.  44  ;  xi.  17.) — Freb.  Lowth.  And 
 your  sons  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy — this  promise  is  rather  of 
 a  comparative  meaning  ;  i.  e.,  they  shall  have  as  clear  and  full  know- 
 ledge  of  the  deep  mysteries  of  God's  law  as  prophets  beforetime  had. 
 The  law  and  prophets  were  till  John,  and,  during  this  time,  the  gifts  of 
 the  Spirit  were  given  in  lesser  measures,  and  of  all  men  the  prophets 
 had  greater  measures  of  the  Spirit ;  but,  in  these  days,  the  least  in  the 
 kingdom  of  God  is  greater  than  John.  Old  and  young  shall  know  Di- 
 vine things  as  clearly  as  if  God  had  extraordinarily  revealed  himself  to 
 them  by  dreams,  &c. — Poole.  30.  Shew  ivonders,  §c.  —  generally 
 supposed  to  refer  to  the  prodigies  mentioned  by  our  Lord,  fMatt.  xxiv. 
 29.) — Wil.  They  may  be  understood  of  the  '  fearful  sights  and  great 
 signs  from  heaven,'  (Luke,  xxi.  11,)  which  alarmed  the  minds  of  the 
 Jews  before  the  taking  of  Jerusalem  by  Titus. — Newc.  The  words  may 
 be  understood  literally,  or  figuratively,  Uiat  there  shall  be  such  com- 
 motions, and  such  signs  of  Gnd's  anger  for  sin,  such  judgments,  cala- 
 mities, &c.,  as  if  the  course  of  nature  were  overturned.— /Th^c.  These 
 wonderful  things  shall  be  perfecUy  completed  towards  the  end  of  the 
 world,  before  the  last  judgment. — Poc.  32.  Whosoever  shall  call, 
 ^c,  TViTf  Dira  H^"  "Wa  bD, '  ah  who  shall  invoke  in  the  name  of  Jeho- 
 vah.'  That  Christ  is  the  Jehovah  here  mentioned,  appears  plain  from 
 Rom.  X.  i3.— A.Clarke.  This  refers  to  the  safety  of  the  Christians 
 daring  the  Jewish  and  the  Roman  war. — Newc.  It  certainly  has  an 
 extensive  meaning,  that  every  one  who  invokes  Jehovah  for  mercy 
 and  salvation,  by  or  in  the  name  Jesus,  shall  be  saved. — A.Clarke. 
 In  mount  Zion  nnd  in  Jerusalem— unAerstand  these  words  figuratively 
 of  the  church  of  God;  which,  having  been  first  seated  in  mount  Zion 
 and  Jerusalem,  and  thence  extended  all  the  world  over,  (Luke,  xsiv. 
 47.)  carried  the  name  thereof  along  with  it.— Pocock.  And  in  the  rem- 
 t  
 
 nant—ttiz  sense  of  this  does  not  seem  clear,  as  explained  by  commen- 
 tators in  general,  which  is,  that  there  should  be  deliverance  for  such  as 
 should  embrace  the  Gospel.  This  may  suit  the  preceding  words,  but 
 not  the  last  sentence  :  DnmCST,  *and  among  the  remnant  whom  the 
 Lord  shall  call.'  Does  not  this  mean,  that  the  deliverer  who  shall 
 come  out  of  Zion,  the  glorious  Saviour,  shall  spring  out  of,  or  from 
 among,  the  pious  remnant  of  his  ancient  people,  of  which  number  was 
 Mary,  and  so  also  was  his  reputed  father,  Joseph,  *  a  just  man'  1*  The 
 purport  of  the  verse  will  then  be,  '  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  who- 
 soever shall  invoke  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  saved  ;  for 
 in  the  church  shall  spring  or  have  sprung  up  deliverance,  or  this  De- 
 liverer as  the  Lord  hath  said,  even  from  among  the  little  remnant 
 which  shall  remain  of  his  faithful  people  called  by  his  grace.'— ,ffd. 
 
 Chap.  HI.  —  I.  In  those  days,  ^c,  the  time  called  'the  last  days,' 
 (chap.  ii.  28,  comp.  Acts,  ii.  17,)  comprehending  all  the  time  between 
 the  first  and  second  appearance  of  the  Messiah,  {Isa.  ii.  2.)  Bring 
 again  the  captivity,  in  the  latter  times  of  the  world. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 Nothing  of  what  is  after  foretold  followed  upon  their  return  from  their 
 ancient  captivities ;  but  this  designs  the  present  captivity  of  the  Jews, 
 and  the  restoration  of  them  to  their  own  land.— Gi7/.  The  words  may 
 be  interpreted,  not  literally  of  bringing  back  the  Jews  to  their  ancient 
 seat,  but  of  freeing  them  from  the  captivity  of  sin,  and  the  yoke  of  the 
 Mosaical  law.— Poc.  2.  Gather  all  nations,  either  the  Turks,  pro- 
 phesied of  under  the  name  of  Gog  and  Magog,  in  Ezek.  xxxviii.,  xxxix. ; 
 and  a  multitude  of  other  nations  with  them,  who  shall  be  gathered 
 together  against  the  Jews  to  regain  the  land  of  Jutlea  from  them, 
 which  they  will,  upon  their  conversion,  inhabit ;  or  else,  all  the  anti- 
 christian  kings  and  nations  which  shall  be  gathered  tnthe  battle  of  the 
 great  day  of  God  Almighty,  (Rev.  xvi.  li.)~Gill.  The  valley  of  Jeho - 
 shaphat— there  is  a  valley  so  called  which  runs  from  north  to  south, 
 between  the  Mounts  OUves  and  Moriah ;  but  Jehoshaphat  in  Hebrew 
 signifies,  *  the  judgment  of  God,'  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
 valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  that  is,  of  God's  judgments,  is  symbolical,  as 
 well  as  the  valley  of  slaughter,  (Jer.  vii.  32  ;  x\x.6.)—Cal.  No  proper 
 name  of  a  place  is  here  meant,  as  going  by  it  in  common,  but  it  is  so 
 called  from  the  judgment  of  God  here  executed  upon  his  and  his  peo- 
 ple's enemies.— Gi7^  Plead  with  //ifm,  by  his  judgments,  (comp.  Ezek. 
 xvii.  20  ;  XX.  35  :  xxx-viii.  22.)— Preb.  Lowth.  3.  Cast  lots  for  my 
 people,  tills  seems  to  have  been  a  common  method  of  dividing  captives 
 among  the  ancient  nations,  (comp.  Nah.  iii.  10  ;  Obad.  \l.)— Pocock. 
 Not  only  have  they  parted  the  land,  but  cast  lots  for  persons  :  97,000 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II We  have  here,  I.  A  threatened 
 
 punishment.  And  should  not  this  terrify  the  ungodly?  The 
 meanest  insects  may  be  God's  executioners.  A  guilty  nation 
 may  tremble  before  his  locusts — an  impious  king  was  eaten 
 up  of  worms.  The  sinner,  flourishing  in  all  his  pride  and 
 glory,  may,  in  the  judgment  of  God,  be  cut  off  by  the  most 
 simple  means,  and  called  to  judgment. 
 
 II.  A  call  to  humiliation.  Nothing  will  prevent  the  sinner 
 from  suffering  God's  judgments  but  humbly  throwing  himself 
 upon  God's  mercy,  and  that  mercy  as  manifested  in  the  gospel 
 through  Christ.  But  the  mere  shew  of  humility  is  whul  God 
 abhors.  Rend  your  hearts,  and  not  your  garaients  ;  and  turn 
 939 
 
 unto  the  Lord  your  God. 
 
 III.  A  promise  of  the  Spirit.  This  promise  was  primarily 
 fulfilled  on  the  day  of  Pentecost ;  but  his  gracious  influences 
 still  continue  in  the  church,  and  without  these  there  can  be 
 no  spiritual  life  and  vigour.  '  For  if  ye  live  after  the  flesh, 
 ye  shall  die  ;  but  if  ye,  through  the  spirit,  do  mortify  the 
 deeds  of  the  body,  ye  shall  live.'  And  we  are  warranted  to 
 believe  that  the  influences  of  this  Divine  Spirit  shall  yet  be 
 poured  out  from  on  high  in  richer  abundance.  The  wilderness 
 world  shall  th^n  become  as  a  well-watered  garden,  and  Para- 
 dise revisit  the  earth. 
 
GofTs  judymeuti^. 
 
 JOEL.  III. 
 
 His  blessings  upon  the  church. 
 
 4  Yea,  autl  what  have  ye  to  fio  with  me,  ^O 
 Tyre,  and  Zidon,  and  all  tlie  coasts  of  Pales- 
 tine? ^  will  ye  render  me  a  recompence?  and 
 if  ye  recompense  me,  swiftly  and  speedily  will 
 1  return  your  recompence  upon  your  own 
 head  ; 
 
 5  Because  ye  have  taken  my  silver  and  my 
 gold,  and  have  carried  into  your  temples  my 
 goodly  f  pleasant  things: 
 
 6  The  children  also  of  Judah  and  the  chil- 
 dren of  Jerusalem  have  ye  sold  unto  f  the 
 Grecians,  that  ye  might  remove  them  far  from 
 their  border. 
 
 7  Behold,  ^  I  will  raise  them  out  of  the  place 
 whither  ye  have  sold  them,  and  will  return 
 your  recompence  upon  your  own  head  : 
 
 S  And  1  will  sell  your  sons  and  your  daugh- 
 ters into  the  hand  of  the  children  oi  Judah,  and 
 they  shall  sell  them  to  the  '  Sabeans,  to  a 
 people  ''  far  oft":  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it, 
 
 9  If '  Proclaim  ye  this  among  the  Gentiles  ; 
 t  Prepare  war,  wake  up  the  mighty  men,  let  all 
 the  men  of  war  draw  near  ;  let  them  come  up  : 
 
 10  "'  Beat  your  plowshares  into  swords,  and 
 your  II  pruninghooks  into  spears:  "let  the 
 weak  say,  1  am  strong. 
 
 11  °  Assemble  yourselves,  and  come,  all  ye 
 heathen,  and  gather  yourselves  together  round 
 about:  thither  ||  cause  ^  thy  mighty  ones  to 
 come  down,  O  Loud. 
 
 12  Let  the  heathen  be  wakened, '' and  come 
 up  to  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat ;  for  there 
 will  I  sit  to  'judge  all  the  heathen  round 
 about. 
 
 cir.  600. 
 /  Ainos  1.  6, 
 
 g  Eie.25.  I; 
 ,17. 
 
 t  Heb.  dtAit 
 able:  Uaii 
 M.  3S. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 Grtcmui. 
 
 h  la,  -13.5,  I 
 fc;  49.  '-i. 
 Jer.  I'J    » 
 
 /  Sec  Is.  8.9, 
 lU.  Jlt.  46. 
 
 3,  4.  Kzt. 
 3S.  7. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 Sanctify. 
 01  See  Is.  2. 
 
 4.  Mic.  4  3. 
 (1  Or,  tcti!hf,. 
 -t  Zecb.K'.S. 
 0  ver.  £. 
 
 Or.  tht 
 
 LORDihnU 
 
 bf\ng  doieu. 
 p  Ps.   lll.H-J(J, 
 
 Is     13.  3. 
 a  ver   ^. 
 ]'B.0li.l3.& 
 
 98   9.fc  IIU. 
 
 6.  Is.  2.  4 
 
 &  3.  13. 
 
 Mic.4.  3. 
 
 Hev.  14   15, 
 
 18. 
 (  Jer.  51   33. 
 
 H»8.  6.  II. 
 ..  Is-  03.  3. 
 
 Lam.  1.  15. 
 
 Hev.  11.  19, 
 
 -1  ver.  2. 
 
 II  Or,  eoiici- 
 ii'"t,  or, 
 tlirrtlififf. 
 
 y  ch.  2.  I 
 
 I  cli  8.111,31. 
 
 a  .ler.  gj   30. 
 uli.  g,  11 
 Amos  1.  g. 
 
 l>  Hug   S-  6. 
 
 els.  ai.  5,  6 
 
 [  Heh.  place 
 of  rfiiitir,ot, 
 harbour. 
 
 li  cl».  i.  -'7. 
 
 c  iiAii  11  ^b. 
 
 Obud    to. 
 Zech    8.  3. 
 t  Heb    h»U- 
 iirtt. 
 /Is.  35    8. 
 &  52.  1. 
 Nah.  I.  IS 
 Z^ch,  Mil. 
 
 ■21.  ' 
 
 j7.Viii..s'J-l3, 
 >i  Is   .Sj.  Si. 
 t  Heb   go. 
 I  Vs.  4l>-  4 
 
 Eiek.47.  1. 
 
 Zech.  14.8, 
 
 Rev.  2J.  I 
 k  Num.  25.1. 
 /IB.  19.  I,hc 
 
 .  Jer.  40. 17. 
 
 Em.  2S.  12, 
 
 13.  Amos  I. 
 
 ll.Obad.lO. 
 Or,  abiite. 
 
 Aiiios  i>.\b. 
 o  l8.  4.  4. 
 />^^e,48.S5. 
 
 ver.  17. 
 
 Kev.  2\.  3. 
 l,    Or,  fvrn  I 
 
 iht  LORD 
 
 that  dwellflH  in  Hon. 
 
 13  *  Put  ye  in  the  sickle,  for  *  the  harvest  is 
 ripe:  come,  get  you  down;  for  the  "press  is 
 full,  the  fats  overtiow  ;  for  their  wickedness  is 
 great. 
 
 14  Multitudes,  multitudes  in  ^  the  valley  of 
 II  decision  :  for  ^the  day  of  the  Lord  is  near 
 in  the  valley  of  decision. 
 
 1  j  The  '  sun  and  the  moon  shall  be  darkened, 
 and  the  stars  shall  withdraw  their  shining. 
 
 16  The  Lord  also  shall  "roar  out  of  Zion, 
 and  utter  his  voice  from  Jerusalem  ;  and  *"  the 
 heavens  and  the  earth  shall  shake :  *^  but  the 
 Lord  ivill  be  the  f  hope  of  his  people,  and  the 
 strength  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 17  So  ^  shall  ye  know  that  1  am  the  Lord 
 your  God  dwelling  in  Zion,  ^niy  holy  mountain : 
 then  shall  Jerusalem  be  f  holy,  and  there  shall 
 no  *"  strangers  pass  through  her  any  more. 
 
 18  t  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  the  mountains  shall  ^drop  down  new  wine, 
 and  tlie  hills  shall  flow  with  milk,  ''  and  all  the 
 rivers  of  Judah  shall  fflow  with  waters,  and 
 '  a  fountain  shall  come  forth  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord,  and  shall  water  ''  the  valley  of  Shittim. 
 
 19  '  Egypt  shall  be  a  desolation,  and  "'  Edom 
 shall  be  a  desolate  wilderness,  for  the  violence 
 against  the  children  of  Judah,  because  they 
 have  shed  innocent  blood  in  their  land. 
 
 20  But  Judah  shall  ||  dwell  "for  ever,  and 
 Jerusalem  from  generation  to  generation. 
 
 21  For  1  will  ^  cleanse  their  blood  that  I  have 
 not  cleansed:  ^  ||  for  the  Lord  dwellcth  in 
 Zion. 
 
 Jews  were  canicU  capUve  by  the  Romans,  who  vci-y  probably  cast  lots 
 for  them.  And  have  gifen  a  boy,  §■£,•.,  these  phrases  express  their  un- 
 cleanness  and  intemperance,  and  also  the  low  price  and  value  they  set 
 upon  their  captives.— G-7/.  4.  What  have  ye  tu  doivith  me,  0  Tyre, 
 
 and  Zidon  ?  ^c,  evil  neighbours  of  the  Jews,  who  took  all  occasions  to 
 distress  them,  (sec  Anius,  i.  6,  Q;  2  Chron.  xxi.  l6  ;  xxviii.  18.)  Will 
 ye  render  me  a  recompence  7  '  do  ye  think  to  vent  your  spite  against  me, 
 by  way  of  retaliation,  lur  the  evils  ye  hiive  suffered  from  my  people  ?' — 
 iVeft.  Lowth,  so  Newc,  Gilt.  5,  Taken  my  silver,  SfC,  the  temple 
 was  de.spoiled  of  its  ornaments  at  different  times,  (see  2  Kings,  xii.  lU  j 
 AViii.  IG;  achrou.  xxviii.  24  ;  xxxvi.  7 ;  2  Kings,  xxiv.  13;  xxv.  17,  19.) 
 Some  part  of  the  furniture  might  perliaps  be  sold  to  the  merchants  of 
 Tyre  and  Sidon. — I'reb.  Lowth.  6.  Grecians,  these  were  the  des- 
 cendants of  Javan,  (Gen.  X.  2—5,)  and  with  them  the  Tynans  trafficked, 
 (.Ezek.  xxvii.  19.)—^.  Clarke.  ~.  1  wilt  raise  them,  ^c— this  promise 
 was  made  good  under  Alexander  and  his  successors,  who  restored  to 
 liberty  many  Jews,  who  were  captives  or  in  servitude  in  Greece. — 
 Grotius,  Poole.  The  Maccabees  effected  this  in  part,  and  Alexander  in 
 a  more  complete  manner. — iSoothr.  8.  I  witl  sell  your  sons,  ^c, 
 when  Alexander  took  T>Te,  he  reduced  into  slavery  all  the  lower  peo- 
 pie  and  the  women.  Arrian,  lib.  ii.,  says,  that  30,000  of  them  were 
 sold.  Artaxcrxcs  Ochus  destroyed  Sidon,  and  subdued  the  other  cities 
 of  Phoenicia.  In  all  these  wars,  says  Calmet,  the  Jews,  who  obeyed 
 the  Persians,  did  not  neglect  to  purchase  Phcenician  slaves,  whom  tiiey 
 sold  again  to  the  Sabeans  or  Arabs. — A.  Clarke.  9.  Prepare  war, 
 ironical,  signifying  that  no  efforts  could  oppose  the  designs  of  Provi- 
 dence  ;  (see  the  like  expressions,  Isa.  viii.  9, 10  j  Jer.  xlvi.  3,  4  ;  Ezek. 
 xxxviii.  7.]—Preb.  Lowth.  11.  Thither  cause  thy  mighty  ones,  fyc, 
 
 the  angels  that  excel  in  strength,  to  destroy  this  great  army,  as  that  of 
 Sennacherib.— (j'i//.  '  Yet  there  Jehovah  bringeth  down  thy  mighty 
 ones.^—Boothr. ;  much  the  same,  Netvc.  Literally,  'hath  Jehovah 
 brought  low  ;'  what  he  will  do,  is  spoken  of  as  done.— Newc.  12.  And 
 come  up  to  the  valley,  fyc,  let  them  invade  the  Holy  Land.  For  there 
 tvill  I  sit,  the  allusion  is  to  a  judge  upon  the  bench,  sitting  to  hear  and 
 try  causes,  and  pass  a  definitive  sentence  ;  and  here  it  signifies  the  exe- 
 cution of  the  sentence.  13.  Put  ye  in  the  titckte,  ^c,  said  to  the 
 angels,  God's  executioners  ;  or  may  signify  the  Christian  princes,  the 
 executioners  of  God's  vengeance  on  Antichrist.— Gi//.  The  destruction 
 of  God's  enemies  is  here  represented  as  reaping  down  the  harvest,  and 
 gathering  the  grapes  and  treading  them  in  the  winepresses.— i4.  Clarke. 
 14.  In  the  valley  of  decision^  ^c,  the  same  with  the  valley  of  Jehosha- 
 
 lihat,  before  mentioned  ;  which  shews  that  not  any  valley  of  that  name 
 is  intended,  but  a  certain  place  so  called  from  the  judgments  of  God  in 
 it,  and  lieie  named  the  valley  of  decision,  because  here  their  judgment 
 will  be  determined. — Gill.  15.  The  sun  and  moon,  ^c,  high  powers 
 fchall  be  cchpsed. — A.  Clarke,  The  politic  and  ecclesiastic  state  of  An- 
 tichrist shall  be  ruii.ed  and  destroyed.  And  the  stars,  Sfc,  petty 
 governors  shall  withhold  their  tribute,  and  set  up  as  independent  go- 
 vernors.—i4.  Clarke.  Antichristian  princes,  nobles,  clergy,  &c.,  shall 
 lose  their  g\ory.— Gilt.  Dreadful  prodigies  shall  precede  the  last  day  ; 
 there  shall  be  a  real  alteration  in  the  shinmg  of  the  sun,  moon,  and 
 stars,  not  used  here,  as  they  are  elsewhere,  for  comparative  expres- 
 sions, but  to  signify  what  shall  then  really  and  actually  be.— Poc. 
 lb.  The  heavens  and  the  earth  shall  shake,  expressive  of  great  commo- 
 tions and  convulsions  of  statesand  governments,  (comp.  Ezek.  xxxviii. 
 19;   Hag.  ii.  6,  22.) — Pref*.  Lowth.  1".  Jerusalem  fie  holy,  ^c,  this 
 
 character  belongs  to  the  New  Jerusalem,  (comp.  Isa.  xxxv.  8;  Ui.  l ; 
 Is.  21 ;  Rev.  xxi.  27  ;)or  it  may  be  understood  of  the  earthly  Jerusalem, 
 as  the  metropohs  of  the  converted  world,  (comp.  Nah.  i.  15.)— Preb. 
 Lowth.  18.  Drop  7iew  wine,  a  poetic  expression  for  great  fertility. 
 Happy  times,  peace,  and  plenty.  Water  the  valley  of  Shittim,  this 
 was  in  the  plains  of  Moab,  beyond  Jordan,  (Num.  xxxiii.  49  ;  Josh.  iii. 
 1 ;)  hut  as  no  stream  of  water  could  reach  this  plain  from  the  temple, 
 the  language  must  be  symbolical,  as  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat.  Shit- 
 tim may  signify  'thorns,'  and  may  figuratively  represent  the  most  un- 
 cultivated and  ferocious  inhabitants  of  the  earth  receiving  the  Gospel 
 of  Christ,  and  being  civilized  and  saved  by  it,— A.  Clarke;  or  the  dis- 
 tance of  this  place  from  Jerusalem  may  denote  the  large  extent  of 
 God's  blessing.— i*of.  IQ.  Egypt— Edom,  both  remarkable  for  en- 
 mity to  the  Jews,  and  emblems  ot  the  enemies  of  God's  people.— i*re4. 
 Lowth.  20.  Judah  shall  dwell  for  ever,  the  true  church  of  Christ  shall 
 be  supported,  while  all  false  and  persecuting  churches  shall  be  annihi- 
 lated. 21 .  Cleanse  their  blood,  avenge  the  slaughter  and  martyrdom 
 of  my  people. — A.  Clarke,  so  Boothr.  Thoroughly  cleanse  them  from 
 their  sins  and  pollutions,  which  shall  not  rise  up  any  more  in  judg- 
 ment against  them.— Preft.  Lowth,  Particularly  God  will  forgive,  and 
 declare  to  be  forgiven,  their  sin  of  crucifying  Christ,  whose  blood  they 
 had  imprecated  upon  themselves  and  their  children,  and  which  has  re- 
 mained on  them,  but  now  will  be  removed,  vsith  all  the  sad  effects  of 
 it.— 6'i7/.  Gud  will  cleanse  the  world  from  blood-guiltiness,  by  aveng- 
 ing his  people  of  their  enemies,  (see  Piov.  xviii.  20;  xis.  •i.)—WU. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  Ill,  —  I.  *  How  dreadful  their 
 danger  who  injure  the  people  of  God.  Without  fail,  and  in  great 
 lury,  especially  at  tJie  last  day.  God  will  reckon  with  them. 
 
 II.  '  Wicn  wicked  men  are  cast  down^  God's  people  shall  be  lifted 
 up.     Tbey  shall  enjoy  comfort,  holiness,  and  safety.     O  how 
 
 dehghtful  then  shall  this  world  be,  when  all  the  parts  of  it 
 shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge,  glory,  and  grace  of  the 
 Lord  !  And  still  more  happy  the  eternal  state,  in  which  God 
 and  the  Lamb  shall  be  All  and  in  all  !'  br 
 
 940 
 
AMOS. 
 
 [This  prophet  was  a  shepherd  and  herdsman  ;  but  rural  employments  at  that  time  were  general  and  honourable  among  his 
 countrymen. — Newc.  He  lived  in  the  time  of  Uzziah,  and  was  contemporary  with  Isaiah,  Hosea,  and  Joel.  Though  he 
 was  of  Tekoa,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,yet  he  dwelt  in  Israel,  and  prophesied  chiefly  against  that  kingdom.  Archbishop 
 Newcome  remarks,  '  by  the  expressions,  (chap.  vii.  14,)  "  I  was  no  prophet,  neither  was  I  a  prophet's  son,"  he  seems  to 
 distinguish  himself  from  those  who  had  been  educated  in  the  schools  founded  by  Samuel.  He  borrows  many  images 
 from  the  scenes  in  which  he  had  been  engaged  ;  but  he  introduces  them  with  skill,  and  gives  them  force  and  dignity  by 
 the  eloquence  and  grandeur  of  his  manner.  We  find  in  Amos  many  affecting  and  pathetic,  many  elegant  and  sublime, 
 passages.*  *  The  same  celestial  Spirit,  indeed,'  says  Bishop  Loivthy  'actuated  Isaiah  and  Daniel  in  the  court,  and  Amos 
 in  the  sheep-fold;  constantly  selecting  such  interpreters  of  the  Divine  will  as  were  best  adapted  to  the  occasion,  and 
 sometimes  **  from  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings  perfecting  praise  ;''  occasionally  employing  the  natural  eloquence  of 
 a  few,  and  occasionally  making  others  eloquent.'  The  New- Testament  references  to  Amos  are,  Acts,  vii.  A%  43  ;  xv, 
 15—17  ;   1  Cor.  viii.  10  ;  John,  xv.  15.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 I  Amos  sheweth  God^s  judgment  upon  Syria,  6  upon 
 the  Philistines,  9  upon  Tt/ruSt  11  upon  £!dom,  13 
 upon  Ainmon, 
 
 npHE  words  of  Amos,  "  who  was  among  the 
 •*-  herdmeii  of  ''  Tekoa,  which  he  saw  con- 
 cerning Israel  °  in  the  days  of  Uzziah  king  of 
 Judah,  and  in  the  days  of  ■'  Jeroboam  the  son 
 of  Joash  king  of  Israel,  two  years  before  the 
 °  earthquake. 
 
 2  And  he  said,  The  Lord  will  '  roar  from 
 Zion,  and  utter  his  voice  from  Jerusalem  ;  and 
 the  habitations  of  the  shepherds  shall  mourn, 
 and  the  top  of*  Carmel  shall  wither. 
 
 3  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  For  tliree  transgres- 
 sions of  ^  Damascus,  ||  and  for  four,  I  will  not 
 
 II  turn  away  the  punishmenl  thereof;  '  because 
 they  have  threshed  Gilead  with  threshing  in- 
 struments of  iron  : 
 
 4  '  But  I  will  send  a  fire  into  the  house  of 
 Hazael,  which  shall  devour  the  palaces  of  Ben- 
 hadad. 
 
 5  I  will  break  also  the  '  bar  of  Damascus,  and 
 cut  off  the  inhabitant  from  ||  the  plain  of  Aven, 
 and  him  that  holdeth  the  sceptre  from  ||  the 
 house  of  Eden  :  and  "'  the  people  of  Syria  sliall 
 go  into  captivity  "  unto  Kir,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 6  U  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  For  three  trans- 
 gressions of  °  Gaza,  and  for  four,  I  will  not  turn 
 away  the  punishment  thereof;  because  they 
 II  carried  away  captive  the  whole  captivity,  •■  to 
 deliver  them  up  to  Edom  : 
 
 7  "*  But  I  will  send  a  fire  on  the  wall  of  Gaza, 
 
 B.  C.  787. 
 
 B.  C.  797. 
 
 r  Zepli.  2.  4. 
 
 Zech.  9  5.6. 
 
 4  Ps.  SI.  14. 
 
 f  Jer.  47.  4. 
 
 ach.  7.  U. 
 
 Eze.  26. 16. 
 
 6  2Sa.  I+.  i. 
 
 2Chr.20.20. 
 
 c  Hob.  1.  1. 
 
 d  ch.  7.  10. 
 
 H  I«.  2.1.  1. 
 
 f  Zech.  M  5. 
 
 Jer.  47.  4. 
 
 /Jer   25.80. 
 
 Kzek.'ie,  i 
 
 Joel  3.   16. 
 
 27,  &  29. 
 
 g  1  Sam.  -5. 
 
 Joel  3.  4,  5. 
 
 2.  Is.  33.  9. 
 
 X  ver.  6. 
 
 A  Is.  8  4.  & 
 
 t  Heb.  the  CO- 
 
 17.  I.  .ler. 
 
 v^naul  of 
 
 49.23.  Zech. 
 
 brethren, 
 
 9.  1. 
 
 2Sam.5  II. 
 
 II  Ot, yea,  fur 
 
 1  Km.  5.  1. 
 
 fnor. 
 
 8:  9.  11—14. 
 
 II  Or,  convert 
 
 V  ver  4,7,&c. 
 
 il,  or,  lei  it 
 
 t  Is  21.  11. & 
 
 Of  quiet: 
 
 34.  5   Jer. 
 
 and  BO  ver. 
 
 49.  8,  &c. 
 
 6.  &«. 
 
 Eze   25.  12, 
 
 .  2  Kin.  10. 
 
 13,  14.  8:35. 
 
 S3.  &  i:(.7. 
 
 a,  &c.  Joel 
 
 k  Jer.  17.  27. 
 
 3.19.  Obad 
 
 &  49.  27. 
 
 1,  8tc.  Mai. 
 
 ver.7, 10,12. 
 
 1.  4. 
 
 ch.  2   2,  b 
 
 fl  Gen.  27.41. 
 
 I  Jer   51    30. 
 
 Deu.  23.  7. 
 
 Lam.  2.  9. 
 
 Mai.  1.2. 
 
 II  Or,  Biftalh. 
 
 f>  2  Chr.  28. 
 
 1]  Or ,  Beth- 
 
 t  Heb.  cor- 
 
 edrr^. 
 
 rupted  /lit 
 
 m  Fa'-fillcd, 
 
 comjiiissiont. 
 
 2  Kin.  16.9. 
 
 c  Eie   35.  5. 
 
 /J  ch.  9.  7. 
 
 dOhad  9.10. 
 
 o  2  Clir.  2fl. 
 
 e  Jer.  49.  1,2. 
 
 18.  I8,14.J9. 
 
 Ezek.25.  2. 
 
 Jer.  47.  4.  5. 
 
 Zeph.  2.  9. 
 
 Eie.  25.  15. 
 
 ll  Oi\dwided 
 
 Zeph.  S.  4. 
 
 the  moun- 
 
 II  Or,  curn>d 
 
 taiuM. 
 
 thftn  aiB'it/ 
 
 /Ho3.  13,  16. 
 
 with  on  mi- 
 
 tf  Jer.49.  I. 
 
 lire  capti- 
 
 ll Deu.  3.  II. 
 
 vity. 
 
 2  Sa-  12.  26. 
 
 2Cl.r21  If., 
 
 Jer-  49.  2. 
 
 17.  Joel  3,6. 
 
 Ezek.25.5. 
 
 ;>  ver.  9 
 
 ich.  2.  2. 
 
 y  Jer.  47.  I.  | 
 
 A  Jer.  Vi.  3. 
 
 which  shall  devour  the  palaces  thereof: 
 
 8  And  I  will  cut  off  the  inhabitant  'from 
 Ashdod,  and  him  that  holdeth  the  sceptre  from 
 Ashkelon,  and  I  will  "turn  mine  hand  against 
 Ekron  :  and  '  the  remnant  of  the  Philistines 
 shall  perish,  saiih  the  Lord  Gud. 
 
 9  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  For  three  traus- 
 gressions  of  "  Tyrus,  and  for  four,  I  will  not 
 turn  away  the  jyunishment  thereof;  ^  because 
 they  delivered  up  the  whole  captivity  to  Edom, 
 and  remembered  not  f  the  brotherly  covenant : 
 
 10  ^  But  I  will  send  a  fire  on  the  wall  of  Ty- 
 rus, which  shall  devour  the  palaces  thereof. 
 
 1 1  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  For  three  trans- 
 gressions of  ^  Edom,  and  for  four,  I  will  not 
 turn  away  the  punis/imcnt  thereof ;  because  he 
 did  pursue  ^  his  brother  ^with  the  sword,  and 
 t  did  cast  off  all  pity,  *^  and  his  anger  did  tear 
 perpetually,  and  he  kept  his  wrath  for  ever: 
 
 12  But  "^  I  will  send  a  fire  upon  Teman,  which 
 shall  devour  the  palaces  of  Bozrah. 
 
 13  t  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  For  three  trans- 
 gressions of  ^  the  children  of  Ammon,  and  for 
 four,  I  will  not  turn  away  the  punishment 
 thereof;  because  they  have  ||  ^ripped  up  the 
 women  with  child  of  Gilead,  ^  that  they  might 
 enlarge  their  border  : 
 
 14  But  1  will  kindle  a  fire  in  the  wall  of 
 ^  Rabbah,  and  it  shall  devour  the  palaces 
 thereof,  •  with  shouting  in  the  day  of  battle, 
 with  a  tempest  in  the  day  of  the  whirlwind  : 
 
 15  And  "^  their  king  shall  go  into  captivity, 
 he  and  his  princes  together,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 Notes  onChap.  I.  —  1.  Amos — this  person  and  the  father  of  Isaiah, 
 though  alike  in  our  translation,  were  as  different  in  their  names  as  in 
 their  persons.  Isaiah's  father,  yioN,  '  Amuts ;'  this  prophet,  D10>*. — 
 Clarke.  Herdmeii — see  introdu  cliou.  He  seems  to  have  been  among 
 the  very  lowest  orders  of  hfe;  one  who  tended  the  flocks  of  others  in 
 the  fields,  and  a  gatherer  of  sycamore  fruit.— ,-1.  Clarke.  Tekoa — see 
 a  Chron.  xx.  20.  Earthquake,  referred  to,  Zech.  xiv.  5,  and  probably 
 Isa.  V.  25.  Josephtis  describes  some  of  its  effects,  and  attributes  it  to 
 Uzziah's  invasion  of  the  priest's  office,  recorded  2  Chron.  xxvi.  IG. 
 Such  also  is  the  opinion  of  St.  Jerome,  Jarchi,  Aben  Ezra,  and  Kimchi. 
 — Newc,  see  Rosenm.  2.  Roar — this  phrase  occurs  Joel,  iii.  l6  ;  see 
 also  Jer.  xxv.  30.  The  meaning-  is,  that  God  will  soon  spread  terror, 
 like  beasts  of  prey  when  they  roar,  (chap.  iii.  8.) — Newc.  HnbitatioTis 
 of  the  shepherds,  D'yin  PMi^,  '  pastures  of  the  shepherds,* — Vat.,  Pise, 
 Grot.:  being  destroyed  by  the  drought.  —  Gilt.  Carmel,  a  fruitful 
 mountain  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  {Jusb.  xv.  55 ;  Isa.  x.xxv.  2.)— Clarke. 
 3.  For  three  trnnsgi'essioiix,  ^c,  for  the  several  transgressions,  so  ex- 
 pressed, see  Job,  V.  I(). — Preb.  Lowth.  'For  the  many  transgressions 
 oi  Edom.*— Bnofhr.  Threshed  Gilead.  that  is,  tlie  inhabitants  of  it. 
 This  country  lay  beyond  Jordan,  and  was  inhabited  by  the  Reubenites 
 and  Gadites,  and  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  who  were  used  in  a  very 
 cruel  manner  by  Hazael,  king  of  Syria,  as  was  foretold  by  Elisha, 
 (2  Kings,  viii.  12  0  not  litcr;Uly,  as  in  2  Sam.  xii.  31,  but  by  him  they 
 were  beset,  oppressed,  and  crushed,  as  the  com  of  the  threshing-floor. 
 — Gilt.  With  threshing  instruments  of  iron — this  alludes  to  the  thresh- 
 ing wain,  described  Isa.  xli.  15.  It  moved  on  wheels  which  had  teeth, 
 and  at  once  forced  out  the  grain  and  cut  the  straw.  —  Newc.  4.  A 
 /ire,  God's  judgments. — Preb.  Lowth,  Harmer  mentions  the  great 
 damage  done  by  fire  in  the  eastern  com  and  pastures,  and  that  the 
 setting  of  grass  and  undergrowth  on  fire  has  been  a  practice  in  the 
 east  to  annoy  an  enemy.  To  this  there  appears  very  likely  to  be  an 
 allusion,  especially  from  the  usual  employments  of  the  prophet. — Ed. 
 6.  The  bar,  or  bars,  singular  being  put  for  plural ;  alluding  to  the  gates 
 941 
 
 by  which  the  city  was  barred.  —  Gi7/.  Plain  of  Aven,  or  'vanity,' 
 whence  the  conjecture  that  this  was  a  place  in  Syria,  remarkable  tor 
 idolatry;  so  Betliel,  called  Beth-aven  for  this  reason,  (Hos.  v.  8.) 
 House  of  Eden,  or  '  pleasure,' may  denote  a  pleasant  palace  of  the  king 
 of  Syria.  But  Eden  was  likewise  a  country  bordering  upon  Syria, 
 mentioned  2  Kings,  xix.  12;  Ezek.  xxvii.  23.  Kir,  a  city  in  Media, 
 mentioned  Isa.  xxii.  6;  fulfilled  2  Kings,  xvi.  9.  6.  Gaza,  on  the 
 
 coast  of  Palestine,  threatened  by  Joel,  chap.  iii.  t.—Preh.  Lowth.  To 
 deliver  them  up  to  Edom,  the  Philistines  sold  them,  without  any  hope 
 of  future  deliverance,  to  the  Edomites,  the  most  deadly  enemies  of  the 
 people  of  God.—DaniFus.  See  2  Chron.  x.xi.  16.  7-  A  fire  on  the 
 wall,  an  enemy  that  shall  pull  down  and  destroy  it.  Fultiiled  2  Chron. 
 xxvi.  6,  or  2  Kings,  xviii.  8,  or  in  the  times  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  ac- 
 cording to  Jer.  xxv.  20  ;  also  in  the  times  of  Alexander  the  Great,  who 
 besieged,  took  it,  and  threw  down  the  wall;  Jonathan  also  burnt  the 
 suburbs,  (I  Mac.  xi.  61,  62.)  8.  ^sAdorf,  another  principal  city  of  the 
 Piiilistines.  Perhaps  fulfilled  Isa.  xx.  \.~Gill.  y.  Tyrus,  probably 
 to  be  understood  of  its  destruction  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  predicted  Isa. 
 .xxiii. ;  Jer.  xlvii.  4,  and  Ezek.  xxvi.,  xxvii.  Brotherli/  covenant, 
 begun  between  Bavid  and  Hiram,  (2  Sam.  v.  11,)  and  continued  by 
 Solomon,  {1  Kings,  v.  1;  ix.  I].}— Preb.  Lowth.  12.  Send  afire, 
 
 Nebuchadnezzar  subdued  the  Edomites,  (Jer.  xxv.  9,  21  j  xxvii.  3,  6 ;) 
 Judas  Maccabeus  obtained  a  great  victory  over  them,  (1  Mac.  v.  3.) — 
 Newc.  13.  Ripped  up,  this  Hazael,  king  of  Syria,  did.  according  to 
 Elisha's  prophecy  ;  and  very  likely  the  children  of  Ammon  might  join 
 with  him,  inasmuch  as  tlicy  bordered  on  the  countries  which  he  smote, 
 (2  Kings,  viii.  12,  and  x.  32,  33.)  The  reason  for  this  act  was,  that  they 
 might  possess  the  land,  and  keep  it  when  they  had  got  it,  there  being 
 no  heir  to  claim  it,  (Jer.  xlix.  \.)—Gill.  14.  Rabbah,  the  chief  city 
 of  the  Ammonites,  (see  2  Sam.  xii.  26.)  Tempest,  '  war,'  so  described, 
 see  Isa.  v.  26;  Jer.  xxv.  32;  Dan.  xi.  40;  Zech.  ix.  \4.—Preb.  Lowth. 
 15.  Their  king,  this  was  Baalis,  their  last  king,  who  was  accessory  to 
 the  murder  of  Geda'iah,  (Jer.  xl.  14,}  which  act  might  provoke  the 
 
God's  wrath  against  Moab,  §-c. 
 
 AMOS,  II,  III. 
 
 A  complaint  of  their  unthankfulness. 
 
 CHAP.   II. 
 
 1  God^s  wrath  against  Moab,  4  vpon  Judah,  6  and 
 upon  Israel.  9  God  complaineth  of  their  unthank- 
 fulness. 
 
 'T'HUS  saith  the  Lord  ;  For  three  transgres- 
 
 -*-  sions  of  °  Moab,  and  for  four,  I  will  not 
 turn  away  the  punishment  thereof;  because 
 he  ••  burned  the  bones  of  the  king  of  Edom  into 
 lime  : 
 
 2  But  I  will  send  a  fire  upon  Moab,  and  it 
 shall  devour  the  palaces  of  "  Kirioth  :  and 
 Moab  shall  die  with  tumult,  "'  with  shouting, 
 and  with  the  sound  of  the  trumpet: 
 
 ;3  And  I  will  cut  off  °  the  judge  from  the 
 midst  thereof,  and  will  slay  all  the  princes 
 thereof  with  him,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 4  IT  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  For  three  trans- 
 gressions of  Judali.and  for  four,  I  will  not  turn 
 away  the  punishment  thereof;  'because  they 
 have  despised  the  law  of  the  Lord,  and  have 
 not  kept  his  commandments,  and  ^  their  lies 
 caused  them  to  err,  ''after  the  wliich  their  fa- 
 thers have  walked  : 
 
 ,")  '  But  I  will  send  a  fire  upon  Judah,  and  it 
 shall  devour  the  palaces  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 6  H  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  For  three  trans- 
 gressions of  Israel,  and  for  four,  I  will  not  turn 
 away  the  punishment  thereof;  because  ''they 
 sold  the  righteous  for  silver,  and  the  poor  for  a 
 pair  of  shoes  ; 
 
 7  That  pant  after  the  dust  of  the  earth  on  the 
 head  of  the  poor,  and  '  turn  aside  the  way  of 
 the  meek  :  ""  and  a  man  and  his  father  will  go 
 in  unto  the  same  \\  maid,  °  to  profane  my  holy 
 name  : 
 
 8  And  they  lay  themselces  down  upon  clothes 
 °  laid  to  pledge  '  by  every  altar,  and  they  drink 
 the  wine  of  ||  the  condemned  in  the  house  of 
 their  god. 
 
 9  1  Yet  destroyed  I  the  ''  Amorite  before 
 them, 'whose  height  ivas  like  the  height  of 
 the  cedars,  and  he  was  strong  as  the  oaks ; 
 yet  I  'destroyed  his  fruit  from  above,  and  his 
 roots  from  beneath. 
 
 a  Is.  I5,&  16. 
 
 Jer.  48. 
 
 Eiek.25.  8. 
 
 Zeph.  2.  8. 
 1/  2  Km.3.ir7. 
 
 f  Jer.  IS.  41, 
 ./ch.  I.  li. 
 
 sNu.2*.  17. 
 Jer.  W.  7. 
 
 /Lev.  26.  H, 
 IS  Nell. 1.7. 
 Daii.  9,  U. 
 
 ff  Is.  23.  15. 
 Jer.  16.  19, 
 20.  Rom.  1. 
 
 h  Ezek.  20, 
 13,  16,  18, 
 2*.  Si), 
 
 iJer.  17.  27, 
 Hos.  8.  U. 
 
 I  Is.  10.  2. 
 ch.  .1.  12. 
 
 ".  E/e,  22.11. 
 
 II  Or,  young 
 
 N  Lev.  SO.  3, 
 Eze,  36.  20, 
 Rom.  2.  21. 
 
 0  Ex.22.  26. 
 p  Eiek. 23. 
 
 41.  1  Cor  8 
 10  &  10.21. 
 II  Or,  .««.  o. 
 
 or,  m-icfc'd, 
 
 1  Nu,2l,2*. 
 Deii-  2.31. 
 Josh.  24,  8, 
 
 rNum,  13, 
 2S,  *:,  33. 
 
 i  Is  S.  24. 
 Mai.  4.  1. 
 
 B.  C.  787. 
 
 t  Ex.  12.  51, 
 Mic.  6.  4. 
 
 u  Deu.  2.  7. 
 &3.  2, 
 
 z  Num.  0  2, 
 Judg.  13.5. 
 
 y  Is.  30.  10, 
 Jer.  II.  21. 
 oh.  7.  12,13. 
 Mic. 
 
 :  Is. 
 
 .  14. 
 
 Or,/  Witt 
 preu  your 
 ]/laci.  ai  a 
 carl JM  o/ 
 
 f)Ttueth. 
 ich.  9.1,8ic. 
 Jer.  9.  2,3. 
 i  I's.  33.  16. 
 t  Hob.  Au 
 
 SOutf  OT,tiJt. 
 
 t  Heb.  ilrong 
 o/hit  heart. 
 
 I  Dcu.  7.  6. 
 
 &  10.15.  Pa. 
 
 147,  19.  20. 
 &  See  Dan  9. 
 
 12.  Mat  U- 
 
 22. Luke  12. 
 
 47.  Rom.  2. 
 
 9.  I  Pet.  4. 
 
 17. 
 t  Heb.  vitit 
 
 upon. 
 t  Heb.  yivt 
 
 forth  hii 
 
 10  Also  'I  brought  you  up  from  the  land  of 
 Egypt,  and  "  led  you  forty  years  through  the 
 wilderness,  to  possess  the  land  of  the  Amorite. 
 
 1 1  And  I  raised  up  of  your  sons  for  prophets, 
 and  of  your  young  men  for  '  Nazarites.  Is  it 
 not  even  thus,  O  ye  children  of  Israel  ?  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 12  But  ye  gave  the  Nazarites  wine  to  drink  ; 
 and  commanded  the  prophets,  ''saying,  Pro- 
 phesy not. 
 
 13  '  Behold,  ||  I  am  pressed  under  you,  as  a 
 cart  is  pressed  that  is  full  of  sheaves. 
 
 14  °  Tlierefore  the  flight  shall  perish  from  the 
 swift,  and  the  strong  shall  not  strengthen  his 
 force,  i*  neither  shall  the  mighty  deliver  f  him- 
 self: 
 
 15  Neither  shall  he  stand  that  handleth  the 
 bow  ;  and  he  that  is  swift  of  foot  shall  not  de- 
 liver himself:  '  neither  shall  he  that  rideth  the 
 horse  deliver  himself. 
 
 16  And  he  that  is  t  courageous  among  the 
 mighty  shall  flee  away  naked  in  that  day,  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1   The  necessity  of  God's  jttdgment  against  Israel.     9 
 The  publication  of  itj  iviih  the  causes  thereof. 
 
 TLJEAR  this  word  that  the  Lord  hath  spoken 
 -"--^  against  yon,  O  children  of  Israel,  against 
 the  whole  family  which  I  brought  np  from  the 
 "and  of  Egypt,  saying, 
 
 2  "  You  only  have  I  known  of  all  the  families 
 of  the  earth  :  ^  therefore  I  will  f  punish  you 
 for  all  your  iniquities. 
 
 3  Can  two  walk  together,  except  they  be 
 agreed  ? 
 
 4  Will  a  lion  roar  in  the  forest,  when  he  hath 
 no  prey?  will  a  young  lion  f  cry  out  of  his  den, 
 if  he  have  taken  nothing  ? 
 
 5  Can  a  bird  fall  in  a  snare  upon  the  earth, 
 where  no  gin  is  for  him?  shall  one  take  up  a 
 snare  from  the  earth,  and  have  taken  nothing 
 at  all  ? 
 
 6  Shall  a  trumpet  be  blown  in  the  city,  and 
 
 king  of  Babylon  to  send  his  general  against  him,  who  put  his  country 
 to  fire  and  sword,  destroyed  his  chief  city,  Rabhah,  and  carried  him 
 and  his  nobles  into  captivity. — Gill.  By  their  kini;  may  probably  be 
 meant  D^'t'S,  a  chief  god  of  the  Ammonites ;  and  the  following  words, 
 •  he  and  his  princes,'  may  refer  to  the  body  of  the  priesthood,  (see 
 1  Kings,  xi.  ZZ.)—A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  i.  Burnt  the  bones,  ^c,  some  commentators  think  it  is 
 an  act  of  cruelty  which  is  here  revenged,  and  others  an  insult  to  the 
 remains  f>f  a  dead  king  ■  might  it  not  rather  have  been  some  idolatrous 
 act,  an  hrrrible  sacrifice  to  the  gods?— £"rf.  2.  Kirioth,  a  principal 
 ciiy,  and  thought  to  have  been  the  royal  city  of  Moab,  (Jer.  xlviii. 
 ii—4l.)—Gill,Kimchi.  Shalt  die  u-ith  /u;ijk/(— all  these  expressions 
 seem  to  refer  to  the  city's  being  stormed.— C/urfre.  3.  The  judge, 
 
 "CDTC,  that  i^,  the  supreme  magistrate,  (see  Deut.  xvii.  9.)  and  is  here 
 equivalent  to  the  king.  (comp.  Mic.  v.  i.)  —  Preb.  Lowth,  so  Neuc. 
 Moab  was  conquered  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  (Jer.  xxvii.  3.  G.)  4.  Their 
 lies,  their  false  gods.  5.  AJire,  refers  to  the  burning  of  Jerusalem  by 
 Nebuzar-adnn,  (2  Kings,  xxv.  g.) — Newc.  6.  Sold  the  righteous, 
 perverted  their  cause,  and  gave  an  unjust  sentence  for  a  small  bribe, 
 (comp.  chap.  v.  n,  12;  viii.  6. 'j—Preb.  Lowth.  A  pair  of  shoes,  SAn- 
 dais,  even  f<^r  so  inconsiderable  a  price. — Newc.  A  proverbial  expres- 
 sion  for  a  thing  of  trifling  value.  —  Hew.  7.  That  pant,  ^c.,  •  they 
 bruise  the  head  of  the  poor  in  the  dust  of  the  earth.* — Newc.  S.  Laid 
 to  pledge,  here  the  garments  were  pledged  for  wine  at  the  idol  feast. — 
 Silt.  '  Taken  to  pledge.'  retained  contrary  to  the  law,  (Exod.  xxii.  26, 
 ^7-)— Newc.    And  they  drink,  ^c— 
 
 •And  the  wine  procured  by  unjust  fines 
 They  drink  in  the  house  of  their  gods.'— Boo/Ar. 
 
 12.  Gave  the  Nazarites  wine,  §■/?.,  enticed  them  to  break  their  vow  of 
 abstinence,  (Num.  vi.  2,  &c.,)and  forbade  the  admonitions  of  the  pro- 
 phets, (ver.  \2.)—Vanceus.  1.3.  /  am  pressed  under  you,  9fC.,  '  I  am 
 ■weary  with  bearing  your  sins;'  (comp.  Isa.  xliii.  24;  Mai.  ii.  17,) — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  '  I  am  ever  overlaid  with  your  wickedness.'— £^.  Halt. 
 '  There/ore  behold,  I  will  press  your  place. 
 As  a  loaded  corn-wain  presseth  its  sheaves.* — Newc,  .so  Boothr. 
 14.  There/ore  the/iight.^c., 'andQight  sh&W  perish,' &c. — Newc.  God 
 shall  render  ineffectual  all  their  resources  and  methods  of  escape. — 
 Dantptts. 
 
 Crap.  III.  —  2.  Knowti,  acknowledged,  by  revealing  myself  to  you, 
 and  protecting  you. — Newc.  There/ore  I  will  punish  you,  *  your 
 punishment  shall  be  exemplary,  because  you  have  sinned  against  a 
 clearer  light  and  higher  obligations.' — Preb.  Lowth.  4.  Hoar — when 
 he  hath  no  prf//— naturalists  assert,  that  when  a  lion  sees  his  prey,  he 
 roars  before  he  rushes  on  itj  he  likewise  roars  over  his  prey.  The 
 sense  seems  to  be,  '  as  a  lion  roareth  on  account  of  his  prey,  so  by  my 
 prophets  I  cry  aloud  against  yuu,  because  ye  are  the  objects  of  my 
 vengeance.' — Newc.  5.  Can  a  bird,  ^c. — as  birds  are  not  caught 
 without  the  net  of  the  fowler,  and  he  does  not  take  it  up  till  he  has 
 secured  his  prey,  so  neither  doth  God  threaten  these  things  without 
 being  prepared  to  execute  them, — Dantrus.  6.  Shalt  a  trumpet — as 
 *  the  people  run  together  through  fear,  when  tlie  signal  of  an  approach- 
 
 Reflectiovs  ox  Chap.  I.  —  I.  *  "Soperson  need  he  ashamed 
 of  a  mean,  if  honest,  orifjinal.  God  can  qualify  the  meanest 
 for  the  most  honourable  work. 
 
 II.  '  Hmv  dreadful  is  the  case  of  the  mightiest  nations,  when  the 
 measure  of  their  iniquities  is  filled  up,  and  the  hour  of  God's  judt/- 
 nient  is  come  !  and  nothing  more  hastens  their  destruction  than 
 their  oppression  or  murder  of  the  saints.'  ^' 
 
 Rffi.fctions  ON  Chai".  II.  —  This  chapter  exhibits  a  view 
 of— T.  The  depravifi/  of  man.  Cruel  and  ferocious,— disobe- 
 942 
 
 dient  to  the  true  God,  and  prone  to  idolatry, — oppressive  and 
 licentious.  Such  are  the  heathen  world  at  this  time,  and 
 such,  in  spirit,  are  many  that  bear  the  Christian  name. 
 
 II.  The  judgment  of  God.  With  what  patience  he  bears 
 with  man's  enormities  !  Three  transgressions  are  followed 
 by  a  fourth,  before  he  inflicts  punishment;  but  impenitent 
 sinners  may  be  sure  that,  if  Divine  patience  lingers,  unwilling 
 that  the  sinner  should  perish,  yet  their  judgment  Mingereth 
 not,  and  their  damnation  slumbereth  not.' 
 
The  publication  of  God's  judgment. 
 
 AMOS,  IV. 
 
 Israel  reproved  for  idolatry 
 
 the  people  ||  not  be  afraid  ?  '  shall  there  be 
 evil  in  a  city,  ||and  the  Lord  hath  not  done  it  ? 
 
 7  Surely  the  Lord  God  will  do  nothing,  but 
 ■■  he  revealeth  his  secret  unto  his  servants  the 
 prophets. 
 
 8  "  The  lion  hath  roared,  who  will  not  fear  ?  the 
 Lord  God  hath  spoken,  'who  can  but  prophesy? 
 
 9  H  Publish  in  the  palaces  at  Ashdod,  and 
 in  the  palaces  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  say, 
 Assemble  yourselves  upon  the  mountains  of 
 Samaria,  and  behold  the  great  tumults  in  the 
 midst  thereof,  and  the  ||  oppressed  in  the 
 midst  thereof. 
 
 10  For  they  ^  know  not  to  do  right,  saith  the 
 Lord,  who  store  up  violence  and  ||  robbery  in 
 their  palaces. 
 
 11  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  ■'An 
 adversary  there  shall  he  even  round  about  tlie 
 land  ;  and  he  shall  bring  down  thy  strengtl) 
 from  thee,  and  thy  palaces  shall  be  spoiled. 
 
 1'2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  As  the  shepherd 
 t  taketh  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  lion  two  legs, 
 or  a  piece  of  an  ear  ;  so  shall  the  children  of 
 Israel  be  taken  out  that  dwell  in  Samaria  in  the 
 corner  of  a  bed,  and  ||in  Damascus  in  a  couch. 
 
 13  Hear  ye,  and  testify  in  the  house  of  Jacob, 
 saith  the  Lord  God,  the  God  of  hosts, 
 
 14  That  in  the  day  that  I  shall  ||  visit  the 
 transgressions  of  Israel  upon  him  I  will  also 
 visit  the  altars  of  Beth-el :  and  the  horns  of  the 
 altar  shall  be  cut  off,  and  fall  to  tlie  ground. 
 
 15  And  I  will  smite  '  the  winter  house  with 
 '  the  summer  house  ;  and  '  the  liouses  of  ivory 
 shall  perish,  and  the  great  houses  shall  have 
 an  end,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.   IV. 
 
 I  He  reproveih  Isriielfor  opprtssion,  ifor  idolatry,  6 
 
 and  for  thtir  incorrit/iOleness. 
 
 B.  C.  787. 
 
 II  Or,  ntil  run 
 
 c  la.  45.  7. 
 II  Or,  md 
 
 shall  not  the 
 
 LOHQ  di) 
 
 soiiiewhat 
 d  Geii.  6.  13. 
 
 &  IH.  17. 
 
 Ps.  2.5   ]*. 
 
 Jol.n  15. 15. 
 e  ch.  I.  2. 
 /"Acts  4.  20. 
 
 &  5.  '20,  29. 
 
 I  Cor.  9.  16. 
 
 I  Or,  tippret- 
 tinnt. 
 
 g  Jer.  1.  ?2. 
 II  Or,  *p5i7. 
 
 h  2  Kin.  17. 
 li  ft  18. 
 Kl,  II. 
 
 II  Or,  o'l  the 
 bed' I  Jeet. 
 
 I  Or,  r'"tish 
 Iirael/i,T. 
 
 Jer.  .1G.  n 
 k  Judg.  :l  -Hi 
 I  1  K.u.  22. 
 
 c  Jer.  lf>,  Ifi. 
 Hab.  1.  15. 
 
 II  Or.se.hnll 
 emtuwaythf 
 thingt  nf  the 
 palace. 
 
 e  Eze.  20.  89. 
 
 /Ho9.  4.  IS. 
 ft  12.  11. 
 Ch.  5.  5. 
 
 ff  Nu.  2S  :i,4.. 
 
 hDeu.\A.2ti- 
 
 t  Heb.  ihrtf 
 years  of 
 
 i  Lev.  7.  13. 
 
 &  23.  1 7. 
 t  Heb.  ..Ji-r 
 
 hy  burning. 
 A  Lev.  22. 
 
 19,  21. 
 
 T>eu-  12.  6. 
 ;  Ps.  81.  \>. 
 f  Heb.  *o  ye 
 
 mis*.  26.11. 
 JiT.  .^.  3, 
 Hag.  2.  17. 
 ver.  H.  9. 
 
 ri  ver.  C,  10, 
 II. 
 
 D  Deii.  2S.22. 
 Hag.  2.  17. 
 
 I  Or,  the  n.ut- 
 liltide  of 
 yw  gar- 
 dfns,^c.  did 
 the  palmtr- 
 
 TJEAR  this  word,  ye  ^  kine  of  Bashan,  that 
 ■^^  are  in  the  mountain  of  Samaria,  which 
 
 oppress  the  poor,  which  crush  tlie  needy, 
 which  say  to  their  masters,  Bring,  and  let  us 
 drink. 
 
 2  ^  The  Lord  God  hath  sworn  by  his  holiness, 
 that,  lo,  the  days  shall  coine  upon  you,  that  he 
 will  take  you  away  ^  with  hooks,  and  your  pos- 
 terity witii  fishhooks. 
 
 .3  And  '^  ye  shall  go  out  at  the  breaches, 
 every  cow  at  that  which  is  before  her ;  and 
 II  ye  shall  cast  them  into  the  palace,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 4  1*  Come  to  Beth-e),  and  transgress  ;  at 
 '"Gilgal  multiply  transgression;  and  ^  bring 
 your  sacrifices  every  moriiing,  ''  and  your  tithes 
 after  f  three  years  : 
 
 5  '  And  t  offer  a  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving 
 with  leaven,  and  proclaim  and  publish  ''  the 
 free  offerings  :  '  for  f  this  liketh  you,  O  ye 
 children  of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 6  H  And  I  also  have  given  you  cleanness  of 
 teeth  in  all  your  cities,  and  want  of  bread  in 
 all  your  places :  "'  yet  have  ye  not  returned 
 unto  me,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 7  And  also  I  have  withholden  the  rain  from 
 you,  when  there  were  yet  three  months  to  the 
 harvest :  and  I  caused  it  to  rain  upon  one  city, 
 and  caused  it  not  to  rain  upon  another  city  : 
 one  piece  was  rained  upon,  and  the  piece 
 whereupon  it  rained  not  withered, 
 
 8  So  two  or  three  cities  wandered  unto  one 
 city,  to  drink  water;  but  they  were  not  satis- 
 fied :  "  yet  have  ye  not  returned  unto  me,  saith 
 the  Lord. 
 
 9  °  I  have  smitten  you  with  blasting  and  mil- 
 dew :  II  when  your  gardens  and  your  vineyards 
 and  your  fig  trees  and  your  olive  trees  in- 
 
 ing  enemy  is  made,  so  let  my  warninfr  strike  the  Israelites  with  terror.' 
 Shail  there  be  ei'H,  ^c,  'shall  the  evil  of  earthquakes,  of  untruitfal 
 seasons,  of  hostile  incursions,  befal  my  people  without  my  special  ap- 
 pointment ?'— A^ewv.  7.  Surelt/,  the  Lord  Gntl  will  do  nothing,  t^r.— 
 there  was  a  succession  of  prophets  among  the  Jews  from  Samuel's  time 
 till  the  captivity  :  the  people  commonly  cnn.snlted  them  upon  extraor- 
 dinary occasions,  and  they  gave  them  counsel  and  direction  what  was 
 proper  to  be  done,  (see  chap.  ii.  ii  ;  1  Kiners,  xxii.  13  ;  2  King-s.  iii.  1 1  ; 
 xxii.  i.^ ;  Jer.  xxi.  2  ;  Ezek.  xx.  1.  Sic.)—Preb.  Lowth.  8.  Who  will 
 not  fear — Amos  said  this  from  his  own  experience,  who,  having;  been 
 a  herdsman  in  the  wilderness  of  Tekoa,  had  often  heard  a  lion  roar. — 
 Gill.  Who  citn  but  prophesy  ? — there  was  a  strong:  impulse  upon  the 
 prophet's  heart,  and  his  calling  laid  a  necessity  on  him,  were  he  never 
 so  unwilling:.— Hw/'?.  j^i;,  prophvsij,  may  here  be  taken  in  its  natural 
 signification.  *  who  can  help  srtppUcnting  his  mercy  ?' — Clarke,  9.  Pub- 
 lish, ^c. — God  calls  upon  the  heathen  to  be  witnesses  of  his  judgments 
 upon  his  people,  that  they  may  take  warning  thereby. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 12.  As  a  shepherd  taketh,  %-c. — the  shepherd  did  this  as  a  proof  that  the 
 sheep  had  been  devoured. — Boothr.  The  intention  of  the  prophet  is  to 
 express  the  smallness  of  that  part  of  Israel  that  escaped  from  destruc- 
 tion. In  the  corner  of  a  bed — those  living  in  their  luxury,  loungingin 
 the  most  honourable  places,  for  such  the  easterns  consider  the  corner 
 of  their  divans  or  sofas,  which  are  here  meant. — See  Har.,  Hanway, 
 Maundrell,  Pocock.  Dr.  (7/ar/ce  thinks  this  passage  is  very  obscure; 
 but  it  obviously  means,  that  as  only  mere  fragments  of  the  devoured 
 animals  are  rescued  from  the  lion,  so  few  shall  be  those  that  escape  of 
 Israel,  though  the  people  may  roll  in  their  luxury,  and  rest  confident 
 in  their  ease.~£d,  14.  Viftit  the  altars  of  Beth-el,  reckon  with  Israel 
 for  bis  idolatries  in  Dan  and  Beth-el.— B/j.  Hall.  15.  Winter  house- 
 see  Jer.  xxxvt.  22,  note.  Houses  of  ivory — ivory  is  employed  at  Aleppo 
 in  the  decoration  of  the  most  expensive  apartments. — Russell.  See 
 Ps.  xlv.  8,  note. 
 
 Chap.  IV.— 1.  Kine,  'cows.'— Pa?.,  Mont.,  Jun.,  Trem.,Pisc.,  Vaf., 
 SfC,    O/Bos/jan— Ba5han  was  famous  for  its  flocks  and  herds,  (Deut. 
 
 xxxii.  14;  Ezek.xxxix.  18.) — Newc.  The  principal  men  among  the  Jews 
 in  the  time  of  Christ  are  called  '  bulls  of  Bashan,'  (Ps.  xxii.  1 2.)  —  Gill, 
 This  is  descriptive  of  the  luxury  and  insolence  of  oppressors. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  Which  say  to  their  masters,  fyc. — there  are  two  senses  in  which 
 this  is  understood — (i.)  Wives  are  here  intended,  and  are  compared 
 to  these  kine,  from  their  being  well  fed  and  living  in  luxury,  who  thus 
 address  their  husbands,  called  '  masters' or  'lords,' Gen.  xviii.  12  ;  or 
 (ii.)  Princely  oppressors  of  their  bretiiren,  who,  taking  advantage  of 
 their  poverty,  sold  them  for  slaves,  saying  to  the  masters  who  bought 
 them.  Seal  the  bargain  with  wine.  Many  favour  the  former  opinion. 
 — Ed.  2.  With  hooks,  or  '  fishing  instruments.*— A^citr.  Invaders  and 
 spoilers  are  ehewhere  compared  to  fishers,  (see  Jer.  x\i.  16;  Hab,  i.  15.) 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  Fishhooks,  '  nets  of  fishes.'  3.  Al  the  bicuches,  *  the 
 openings,'  the  apertures  of  the  fishing  instruments. — Neivr.  Escape 
 speedily  from  Samaria  by  the  breaches,  (comp.  2  Kings,  xxv.  4;  Ezek. 
 xii.  12.)  Every  cow,  ^c,  'everyone  at  that  which  is  before  it.' — Newn. 
 •Every  fish  at  that,'  ^c. — Boothr.,  Preb.  Lowth.  And  ye  shall  cast, 
 Sfc,  *  and  I  will  cast  it  forth  and  utterly  destroy  it,  saith  Jehovah.'— 
 Neitc.  'And  ye  shall  be  cast  into  Armenia,  saith  Jehovah.'  Sent 
 there  captives,  (2  Kings,  xvii.  2.3.)  —  Boothroyd,  as  Syr.,  aad  Chald. 
 4.  Gilffalfthc  scene  of  idolatry,  (seeHos.  iv.  15  ;  ix.  15  ;  xii.  ll.) — Newc. 
 Multiply  transgression,  i.e.,  acts  of  idolatry. — Gill.  Tithes  after  three 
 years,  in  imitation  of  the  law,  (Deut.  xiv.  22 — 29.) — Hutc.  This  is 
 irony.  Since  you  will  not  be  warned,  go  on,  try  whether  God  likes 
 your  sacrifices  there  so  well  as  you  like  them,  &c.  5.  With  /eanen, 
 proceed  in  the  rest  of  your  will- worship,  and  this  also  against  the  law, 
 (Lev.  ii.  1 1 .) — Poole.  This  is  an  error  of  some  commentators,  because, 
 though  prohibited  in  the  meat-oflfering,  leaven  was  allowed  and  or- 
 dered with  that  of  thanksgiving,  (Lev.  vii.  1.1.)  So  Abarbinel  under- 
 stands it  here  as  what  was  according  to  law,  but  ironically  commanded 
 to  be  offered  to  idols. — Gill.  Free  offerings,  or  free-will  offerings,  (Lev. 
 xxii.  18,  21  ;  Deut.  xii.  6.) — Preb.  Lowth.  This  liketh  you,  'ye  love 
 to  offer  such  sacrifices  to  your  idols  rather  than  to  the  Lord  God.* 
 6.  Cleanness  of  teeth,  meaning  a  famine,  having  no  food  to  foul  them. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  Ill Notice  here,  I.  Great pri- 
 
 vileges  abused.  Israel  had  enjoyed  the  greatest  favoursfund 
 the  light  and  knowledge  of  revelation  had  beamed  upon  her, 
 while  all  tlie  nations  around  were  left  only  to  the  liRht  of  na- 
 ture.    The  abuse  of  such  privileges  enhanced  her  guilt. 
 
 II.  Great  punishments  threatened.  Let  us  take  warning  by 
 the  example.  '  He  who  knows  his  Lord's  will,  and  doth  it 
 not,  shall  be  beaten  with  many  stripes.*  Such  was  the  crime, 
 !>43 
 
 and  such  the  punishment,  of  Capernaum,  threatened  by  Him 
 who  is  the  Saviour  of  men,  and  who  shall  be  their  Judge. 
 '  And  thou,  Capernaum,  which  art  exalted  unto  heaven,  shalt 
 be  brought  down  to  hell  ;  for  if  the  mighty  works  which  have 
 been  done  in  thee  had  been  done  in  Sodom,  it  would  have  re- 
 mained until  this  day.  But  I  say  unto  you,  that  it  shall  be 
 more  tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom  in  the  day  of  judgment 
 than  for  thee.' 
 
A  lamenlution  for  Israel 
 
 AMOS,  V. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  repentance. 
 
 creased,  ''  the  palmerworm  devoured  them  :  yet 
 have  ye  not  returned  unto  me,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 10  I  have  sent  among  you  tlie  pestilence 
 II  ^  after  the  manner  of  Kgypt :  your  young 
 men  have  I  slain  with  the  sword,  ^ani  have 
 taken  away  your  horses  ;  and  I  have  made  the 
 stink  of  your  camps  to  come  up  unto  your 
 nostrils:  'yet  have  ye  not  returned  unto  me, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 1 1  I  have  overthrown  some  of  you,  as  God 
 overthrew  '  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  '  and  ye 
 were  as  a  firebrand  plucked  out  of  the  burning  : 
 "  yet  have  ye  not  returned  unto  me,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 12  Therefore  thus  will  I  do  unto  thee,  O 
 Israel :  and  because  I  will  do  this  unto  thee, 
 "  prepare  to  meet  thy  God,  O  Israel. 
 
 i.'3  For,  lo,  he  tliat  formeth  the  mountains, 
 and  createth  the  ||  wind,  ^  and  declareth  unto 
 man  what  is  his  thought,  ^  that  maketh  the 
 morning  darkness,  °  and  treadeth  upon  the 
 high  places  of  the  earth,  ■>  The  Lord,  The  God 
 of  hosts,  is  his  name. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  A  lamentntion  for  Israel.    4  An  exhortation  to  repent- 
 ance,    21  God  rejectcth  their  hypocritical  service. 
 
 TJEARye  this  word  which  I  "  take  up  against 
 ■*--*-  you,€i'€«a  lamentation,  O  house  of  Israel. 
 
 2  The  virgin  of  Israel  is  fallen  ;  she  shall  no 
 more  rise  ;  she  is  forsaken  upon  her  land  ; 
 there  is  none  to  raise  her  up. 
 
 3  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God  ;  The  city 
 that  went  out  hy  a  thousand  shall  leave  an 
 hundred,  and  that  which  went  forth  by  an  hun- 
 dred shall  leave  ten,  to  the  house  of  Israel. 
 
 4  1|  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  the  house 
 of  Israel,  ^  Seek  ye  me,  ^  and  ye  shall  live  : 
 
 5  But  seek  not  ^  Beth-el,  nor  enter  into  Gil- 
 gal,  and  pass  not  to  ^  Beer-sheba  :  for  Gilgal 
 shall  surely  go  into  captivity,  and  ^  Beth-el 
 shall  come  to  nought. 
 
 6  ^  Seek  the  Lord,  and  ye  shall  live  ;  lest  he 
 break  out  like  fiie  in  the  house  of  Joseph,  and 
 devour  it,  and  there  be  none  to  quench  it  in 
 Beth-el. 
 
 7  Ye  who  ^  turn  judgment  to  wormwood, 
 and  leave  off  righteousness  in  the  earth, 
 
 8  Seek  him  that  maketh  the  'seven  stars 
 and  Orion,  and  turneth   the  shadow  of  death 
 
 II  Or,  in  thr 
 
 wai/. 
 q  Ex.  9-  .1.  6. 
 
 50. 
 t  Ileb.  ^eilh 
 
 Ike  capt,v,ly 
 o/your 
 
 2KiQ    13.7. 
 r  ver,  6. 
 s  Geo.  19  21. 
 
 25.13.  13.19. 
 
 Jer.  49.  1>». 
 /  Zech.  3.  2. 
 
 Jude  23. 
 11  ver.  6. 
 
 X  See  Eieh 
 
 13.  5.  &  Si. 
 
 HO-  Luke 
 
 II   31,  32. 
 II  Or,  ipir.t. 
 y  P3.  139   2. 
 ■  Dan.  2.  2rt 
 t  ch.  5,  3.  Si 
 
 8.  9. 
 a  Dcti  32  IS. 
 
 &  33.  i9. 
 
 .■Mic.  I.  3. 
 A  Is.  47.  4 
 
 Jtr.  10    16. 
 
 cli    3.  8.  & 
 
 9.6. 
 
 a  Jer.  7.  ?9 
 Ezck.  19.  1. 
 &  -il.  2. 
 
 b  ■>  Chr.  (5. 
 2.  Jer.  29. 
 
 i"  .Tnb  9.  9.  gt 
 33.31. 
 
 B.  C.  78/. 
 
 k  Vs.  1(1+  20. 
 /  Job  ?8    34. 
 ch.  9    6 
 r»  ch.  4.  13. 
 
 f  Heb.  tyoU. 
 
 ;  Is.  29.21. 
 1  Kin,  22.8. 
 
 P  Dei-t.  29. 
 
 30,  3«,  39. 
 
 Mic.  ti.  15. 
 
 Zcph.  I.  13 
 
 Hag.  I.  6. 
 \  Heb.  piiie- 
 
 yardi  of  de- 
 
 I  ch.  2.  26. 
 
 II  Or.  a  ran- 
 
 I  I\tic.  3.  II. 
 u  Ps.  sy  14. 
 
 «£  97,  10. 
 
 Horn.   12.9. 
 
 .r  Ex.32.  SO 
 2  Kin.  19.4. 
 Joel  2.  14. 
 
 zKx.  12.  12, 
 Nah    I.  12. 
 
 1  la.  5.  19. 
 Jer.  17.  IS, 
 Eze.  12.22, 
 27.  2  Pet.  3. 
 4. 
 
 6  Jer.  30.  7. 
 Joel  2.  2. 
 Zepb.  1.15. 
 
 c  Jer.  48.  44. 
 
 d  Pro.  21.27. 
 U.  I.   II  — 
 
 16.  Jer.  6. 
 
 20.  Hos.  9. 
 
 13. 
 f  Lev.Ce.Sl. 
 ,1  Or,  tJneli 
 
 y.ur  hviy 
 
 /Ifl.  66.3. 
 Mic.  6. 6, 7. 
 
 into  the  morning,  ^  and  maketh  the  day  dark 
 with  night  :  that  '  calleth  for  the  waters  of  the 
 sea,  and  ponreth  them  out  upon  the  face  of 
 the  earth  :  "'  The  Lord  is  his  name  ; 
 
 9  That  strengtheneth  the  f  spoiled  against 
 the  strong,  so  that  the  spoiled  shall  come 
 against  the  fortress. 
 
 10  "They  hate  him  that  rebukcth  in  the  gate, 
 and  they  "abhor  him  thatspeaketh  uprightly. 
 
 1 1  Forasmuch  therefore  as  your  treading  is 
 upon  the  poor,  and  ye  take  from  him  burdens 
 of  wheat:  ''ye  have  built  houses  of  hewn 
 stone,  but  ye  shall  not  dwell  in  them  ;  ye  have 
 planted  f  pleasant  vineyards,  but  ye  shall  not 
 drink  wine  of  them. 
 
 12  For  1  know  your  manifold  transgressions 
 and  your  mighty  sins  :  '*  they  afflict  the  just, 
 they  take  1]  a  bribe,  and  they  '  turn  aside  the 
 poor  in  the  gate/;-om  their  right. 
 
 13  Therefore  "  the  prudent  shall  keep  silence 
 in  that  time  ;  for  it  (5  an  evil  time, 
 
 14  Seek  good,  and  not  evil,  that  ye  may 
 live:  and  so  the  Loud,  the  God  of  hosts,  shall 
 be  with  you,  *  as  ye  have  spoken. 
 
 15  "  Hate  the  evil,  and  love  the  good,  and 
 establish  judgment  in  the  gate:  ^it  maybe 
 that  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  will  be  gracious 
 unto  the  remnant  of  Joseph. 
 
 16  Therefore  the  Lord,  the  God  of  hosts, 
 the  Lord,  saith  thus  ;  Wailing  shall  be  in  all 
 streets  ;  and  they  shall  say  in  all  the  highways, 
 Alas!  alas!  and  they  shall  call  the  husband- 
 man to  mourning,  and  ^such  as  are  skilful  of 
 lamentation  to  wailing. 
 
 17  And  in  all  vineyards  shall  be  wailing  :  for 
 ^  I  will  pass  through  thee,  saith  the  Lord, 
 
 18  °  WoG  unto  you  that  desire  the  day  of  t!ie 
 Loud  !  to  wliat  end  is  it  for  you '?  ^  the  day  of 
 the  Lord  is  darkness,  and  not  light. 
 
 19  *"  As  if  a  man  did  flee  from  a  lion,  and  a 
 bear  met  him  ;  or  went  into  the  house,  and 
 leaned  his  hand  on  the  wall,  and  a  serpent  bit 
 him. 
 
 20  Shall  not  the  day  of  the  Lord  be  dark- 
 ness, and  not  light?  even  very  dark,  and  no 
 brightness  in  it? 
 
 21  1[  "^  I  hate,  I  despise  your  feast  days,  and 
 ®I  will  not  !|smell  in  your  solemn  assemblies. 
 
 22  ^  Though  ye  offer  me  burnt  offerings  and 
 
 It  probably  designs  the  famine  predicted  by  Elisha,  (2  Kings,  viii.  ].)  — 
 Gill.  10.  After  the  munrier  of  Egijpt.  the  unwholesome  effluvia  on 
 the  subsiiling  of  the  Nile  often  occasions  pestilence,  (see  Deut.  vii.  15.) 
 — Wil.  W,  As  a  firebrand,  ^c,  a  proverbial  expression,  denoting  a  nar- 
 row escape  from  imminent  danger. — Pict.  Bib.  13.  That  mnketh  the 
 morning  darkness,  there  may  be  an  allusion  to  the  black  clouds  and 
 smoke  attending  earthquakes  which  happen  during  the  day.  —  Newc. 
 •  That  maketh  the  morning  and  the  darkness.'— Boo(A>-.,  as  the  Sept., 
 and  .irnb. 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  1.  Against  ynu,  'over  yon.'  The  allusion  is  to  lamenta- 
 tions made  at  funerals,  (see  ver.  16;  Jer.  ix.  IT;  Ezek.  xix.  1  ;  xxvii. 
 2  ;)  so  the  prophet  bemoans  the  state  of  the  kingdom  of  Israel  as  dead 
 and  irrecoverably  lost.— PrfA.  Lowth.  2.  Virgins— se^  Isa.  xlvii.  i, 
 note.  3.  By  a  thousand,  to  go  to  war,  shall  only  have  an  hundred 
 left.  5.  Beer-sheba,  a  place  in  the  further  part  of  the  land  of  Israel, 
 which  formerly  belonged  to  Judah,  and  where  idolatrous  worship  was 
 DOW  practised,  (see  chap.  viii.  14;)  here  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob 
 had  dwelt. — Gill.  Idolatry  was  crafty  in  establishing  its  haunts  and 
 altars  in  the  three  places  here  mentioned,  and  once  so  highly  favoured 
 with  the  Divine  Presence. — Sut.  6.  House  of  Joseph,  the  ten  tribes, 
 who  frequently  go  by  the  name  of  Ephraim,  the  son  of  Joseph,  that 
 being  the  principal  tribe.— Gi7/.        7.  Turn  Judgment  to  wormwood,  or 
 
 'hemlock.'  —  Preb.  Lowth.  Corrupt  it,  and  make  it  hateful  to  the 
 people. — Bp.  Hall.  *  Ye  that  turn  judgment  into  wormwood,  and 
 righteousness  into  hemlock.' — Newc.  8.  The  seven  stars  and  Oiion — 
 see  Job,  ix.  9;  xxxviii.  31,  32,  notes.  That  turneth  the  shadow,  &c., 
 that  is,  proiluceth  the  alternate  succession  of  day  and  night. —  Wil. 
 10.  That  rebuketh  in  the  gate,  judgeth  uprighUy  and  rebukes  the 
 wicked  man  on  the  bench  of  justice. — Bp.  Hall.  See  on  Gen.  xxiii. 
 10,  and  Job,  v.  4.  notes.  13.  Keep  silence,  a  chosen  silence  towards 
 vile  corrupters  of  taw  and  justice,  who  will  nothing  mend,  though  re- 
 proved;  or  a  silence  before  God,  owning  his  justice  in  punishing  such 
 sinners. — Poole.  A  wise  man  will  consider  that  it  is  useless  to  com- 
 plain; he  can  have  no  justice  without  bribes,  and  he  has  no  money  to 
 give. — A.  Cliirke.  14.  As  ye  have  spoken,  'you  have  boasted  of  his 
 being  with  you;  you  think  he  is  bound  to  be  with  you.' — Poole. 
 16.  Call  the  husbandman  to  mourning,  because  of  the  loss  of  the  fruits 
 of  the  e&Tth.—Gill.  18.  Desire,  fyc..  deriding  the  prophetical  predic- 
 tions. (Jer.  xvii.  15;  Ezek.  xii.  22.)  —  Neircome,  so  Preb.  Lowth,  ^n. 
 19.  As  if  a  man,  ^c,  it  shall  be  with  you  as  with  a  man  who,  shunning 
 one  danger,  falls  into  another.- B/j.  Hall.  Snakes  are  frequently  found 
 in  old  walls  of  brick  and  clay,  as  well  as  of  mud,  and  accidents  fre- 
 quently  happen  from  them  in  India. —  Ward.  20.  Darkness,  i.e., 
 calamity. — Newc.        21—23.  I  hate,  I  despise  t/our  feast  days,  ^c— see 
 
 Rffi.ections  on  Chap.  IV I.  God  often  warns  before  he 
 
 punishes.  And  has  he  smitten  the  sinner  with  one  stroke  after 
 anothpr,  and  yet  he  remains  hardened  f  Awful  is  his  state 
 against  whom  it  is  written  in  his  book,  '  yet  ye  have  not  re- 
 turned unto  me,  saith  the  Lord.' 
 
 II.  God  will   certainly  punish,  after  he  has  warned  in  vain. 
 
 Then  let    the  sinner  either  bow  at  his  footstool,  imploring 
 
 944  '        P         b 
 
 mercy  through  Christ,  or  let  him  boldly  prepare  as  an  enemy 
 to  meet  his  God,  and  see  if  he  bas  an  arm  to  contend  with 
 him  who  forms  the  mountains,  creates  the  storm,  penetrates 
 into  the  heart  of  man,  turns  at  his  pleasure  day  into  darkness, 
 and  against  whom  the  strongest  and  highest  fortresses  shall 
 be  of  no  avail,  though  their  '  walls  reach  up  to  heaven.' 
 
The  wnnlonness  of  Israel, 
 
 AMOS,  VL 
 
 a^id  their  incorrigibleness* 
 
 your  meat  otterings,  I  will  not  accept  them  : 
 neither  will  I  regard  the  |{  peace  offerings  of 
 your  fat  beasts. 
 
 •J3  Take  thou  away  from  me  the  noise  of  thy 
 songs  ;  for  I  will  not  hear  the  melody  of  thy 
 viols. 
 
 24  ^  But  let  judgment  f  run  down  as  waters, 
 and  righteousness  as  a  mighty  stream. 
 
 25  ^  Have  ye  offered  unto  me  sacrifices  and 
 offerings  in  the  wilderness  forty  years,  O  house 
 of  Israel  ? 
 
 i26  But  ye  have  borne  ||  the  tabernacle  '  of 
 your  Moloch  and  Chiun  your  images,  the  star 
 of  your  god,  wliich  ye  made  to  yourselves, 
 
 "27  Tiierefore  will  I  cause  you  to  go  into  cap- 
 tivity  "^  beyond  Damascus,  saith  the  Lokd, 
 '  whose  name  is  The  God  of  hosts. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 1   The  wantonness  of  Israel,  7  shall  be  plar/ued  with  de- 
 solation,  12  and  their  incorrigibltmt's. 
 TX/'OE  *"  to  them  that  \\  are  at  ease  in  Zion, 
 
 '  '  and  trust  in  the  mountain  of  Samaria, 
 irhich  are  named  ^  ||  chief  of  the  nations,  to 
 whom  the  house  of  Israel  came  I 
 
 2  *"  Pass  ye  unto  ■'  Calneh,an(j,see  ;  and  from 
 thence  go  ye  to  '^  Hamath  the  great :  then  go 
 down  to  ^  Gath  of  the  Philistines  ;  ^  be  they 
 better  than  these  kingdoms?  or  their  border 
 greater  than  your  border? 
 
 3  Ye  that  ^^  put  far  away  the  '  evil  day,  ''and 
 cause  '  the  ||  seat  of  violence  to  come  near  ; 
 
 4  That  lie  upon  beds  of  ivory,  and  ||  stretch 
 themselves  upon  their  couches,  and  eat  the 
 lambs  out  of  the  flock,  and  the  calves  out  of 
 
 g  Hos.  6.  6. 
 Mic  0.  8. 
 t  Heb.  roll. 
 
 I,  r)cn.:ii.\7 
 
 Jt.^h  •,»!.  U 
 K/.'k.  -'II.  •• 
 10,  -^1.  Aol.s 
 7    H',  ■!:!. 
 S^e  Is,  43 
 28. 
 II  OT,S!cc'ith 
 
 I  I  Kill.  II 
 
 A  2  Kin.  17 
 fi. 
 /  ch.  1.  13. 
 
 I,  Or,  are 
 
 h  F.x    19.  5. 
 II  Or.7ir« 
 fruil.. 
 r  Jer.  2.  10. 
 d  Is.  III.  9. 
 Taken 
 cir.  79i. 
 e  2  Kin,   18. 
 
 34. 
 /2Chr,  2C.6 
 Nah.  3.  8. 
 A  Ezek.  l!>. 
 27. 
 
 ch.  5.  18. 
 fc  9.  10. 
 k  ch.  5.  12. 
 
 er.  12. 
 /  Ps.  9-1.  90. 
 II  Or,  h'ibi- 
 
 Or,  ahouid 
 
 ftuities. 
 
 B.  C.  7S7. 
 m  Is.  5.  12. 
 
 n  1  CIir.23.5. 
 
 11  Or,  in  boiah 
 
 of  wine. 
 a  Geu.37.-25. 
 t  Heb, 
 
 q  Ps,  47,  4. 
 Ez«,  24..  21 
 ch.  8.7. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 f'llnruih^e- 
 '"/■ 
 
 ch  8  .S, 
 Or,  thett 
 n-iU  no/,  or, 
 
 H  Or,  drop- 
 
 the  midst  of  the  stall  ; 
 
 3  "'  That  II  chant  to  the  sound  of  the  viol, 
 a?id  invent  to  themselves  instruments  of  mu- 
 sick,  "  like  David  ; 
 
 G  That  drink  ||  wine  in  bowls,  and  anoint 
 them.selves  with  the  chief  ointments  :  °  but 
 they  are  not  grieved  for  the  f  affliction  of 
 Joseph. 
 
 7  If  Therefore  now  shall  they  go  captive  with 
 the  first  that  go  captive,  and  the  banquet  of 
 them  that  stretched  themselves  shall  be  re- 
 moved. 
 
 8  ''  The  Lord  God  hath  sworn  by  himself, 
 saith  the  Lord  the  God  of  hosts,  I  abhor  **  the 
 excellency  of  Jacob,  and  hate  his  palaces  : 
 therefore  will  I  deliver  up  the  city  with  all 
 t  that  is  therein. 
 
 9  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  there  remain 
 ten  men  in  one  house,  that  they  shall  die. 
 
 10  And  a  man's  uncle  shall  take  him  up,  and 
 he  that  burneth  him,  to  bring  out  the  bones  out 
 of  the  house,  and  shall  say  unto  him  that  is  by 
 the  sides  of  the  house,  Is  there  yet  ani/  with 
 thee  ?  and  he  shall  say,  No.  Then  shall  he 
 say,  ^  Hold  thy  tongue:  ^for  ||  we  may  not 
 make  mention  of  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 !  1  For,  behold,  *  the  Lord  commandeih. 
 "  and  he  will  smite  the  great  house  with 
 II  breaches,  and  the  little  house  with  clefts. 
 
 1*2  H  Shall  horses  run  upon  the  rock?  will 
 ojie  plow  there  with  oxen  ?  for  ^  ye  have  turned 
 judgment  into  gall,  and  the  fruit  of  righteous- 
 ness into  hemlock  : 
 
 13  Ye   which  rejoice  in  a  thing  of  nought, 
 
 I-sa.  i.  11—14  ;  Jer.  vii.  21,  23 ;  Hos.  vi.  fi;  viii.  13,  and  notes.  23.  The 
 noise  of  thy  songs,  SfC,  the  ten  tribes  very  probably  imitated  the  temple 
 music  at  Jerusalem.  24.  Like  a  mighty  stream,  bearing  away  all  the 
 transgressors  before  it. — Gill.  25.  Hiwe  ije  nffered?  '  did  ye  offer  ?'^ 
 Newc.  This  is  not  to  be  understood  as  a  t?.ital  omission  of  sacrifices, 
 but  that  thougrh  they  did  sacrifice  and  intend  to  offer  to  God,  yet  since 
 they  joined  gross  idolatry,  therefore  the  Lord  expounds  their  sacrifices 
 as  not  oftcred  unto  him,  but  to  their  idols,  whom  they  respected  so 
 much,  (see  Isa.  xliil.  22,  23  ;  Deut.  xxxii.  l6,  \'J.)—Hutc.  -,  to  the  same 
 purport,  Bp.  Hall.  26.  The  star  of  your  g-orf— the  heathens  had 
 
 images  that  represented  the  lieavenly  bodies,  (see  2  Kings,  xxiii.  11  ; 
 2  Chron.  xxxiv.  4  ;)  so  the  image  of  Chiun  represented  the  star  gf  Saturn, 
 as  that  of  Moloch  did  the  sun. — Preh.  Lowth.  There  was  probably  the 
 figure  of  a  star  in  the  forehead  of  the  idol,  to  shew  that  it  was  to  repre- 
 sent some  one  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  a.s  may  be  seen  in  many  ancient 
 coins,  (see  Acts,  vii.  43.)  27.  Beyimd  Damasens,  that  is,  into  Assyria 
 and  Media,  (see  2  Kings,  xv.  29;  xvii.  G.)—WiL 
 
 Chap.  VI. —  I.  That  are  nt  eitse  in  Zio;f, '  that  proudly  despise  Zion,* 
 so  Sept.,  Syr.,  Arah.  'Wo  to  the  rich  in  Zion,'  Vulg.  Chief  of  the 
 nations,  *  which  are  named  chief  of  the  nations  ;'  it  means  Sion  or  Je- 
 rusalem and  Samaria,  the  chief  seats  of  the  two  kingdoms  of  Judah 
 and  Israel. — Pn-h.  Lowth.  It  points  at  their  grandees.  —  Hutc. 
 'Named  (aften  the  chief  of  the  nations,'  (see  Isa.  xliv.  .1.)  Probably 
 they  assumed  the  names  of  popular  gods  or  distinguished  heroes. — 
 Wit.  The  Hebrew  word  *3p3  is  an  allusion  to  marking  a  name  or  cha- 
 racter by  punctures,  (see  Isa.  xliv.  .5,  notes.)  They  call  themselves, 
 not  after  religious  ancestors,  but  after  the  chief  of  the  idolatrous 
 nations,  with  whom  they  intermarry,  contrary  to  their  law. — Newc 
 2.  Calneh,  an  ancient  city  and  kingdom  beside  Babylon,  (Gen.  x.  10.) 
 — Hutc.  Finally  ruined,  it  is  probable,  in  the  civil  wars  which  ended 
 in  the  utter  ruin  of  Sardanapalus.— Poo/e.  Hamath.  head  of  the  Sy- 
 rian kingdom. — Poole.  The  great,  so  called  to  distinguish  it  from  a 
 city  of  that  name  in  Israel,  (Josh.  xix.  32,  35.) — Hutc.  It  was  recently 
 overthrown  by  Tiglath-pileser.  Gath.  the  chief  city  of  the  Philistines, 
 a  few  years  before  wasted  by  the  arms  of  Hazael,  (2  Kings,  xii.  17.) 
 By  these  examples  learn  to  amend  your  ways,  or  expect  to  perish  in 
 them.  — P(»f»/e.  Be  they  better  than  these  kingdoms? — no,  they  were 
 not;  and  therefore  the  more  ungrateful  of  Israel  and  Judah  to  sin 
 against  the  Lord. — Gill.  'Why,  then,  do  ye  worship  their  gods?* — 
 Newc.  Preferable  to  read  the  passage,  '  yet,  they  were  '>etter,'  not- 
 withstanding God  destroyed  them.— So  Poole.  3.  Far  nuay  the  evil 
 day,  that  is,  did  not  believe  or  fear  it  at  all. — Hutc.  And  cause  the 
 seat  tif  violence,  Sfc,  '  and  long  for  the  court  day  to  do  violence  ;*  such 
 is  the  senso. — Boothr.       4.  Beds  of  ivory,  sofas  adorned  or  inlaid  with 
 
 ivory. — Par.  Eat  the  lambs — these  animals  are  extremely  delicious 
 in  the  east. — Sir  J.  Chm-din.  5.  Like  David — David  made  songs,  and 
 invented  new  instruments  to  praise  God,  but  these  men  to  enjoy  carnal 
 mirth   and  jollity.  —  Gill.  6.  Drink    wine    in    bowls,    may  either 
 
 allude  to  the  quantity  or  the  magnificence  of  the  vessels. — Har.  Chief 
 ointments,  rather  *  choicest  perfumes.' — A-  Clarke.  From  the  descrip- 
 tion here  given  of  the  feasts  of  the  Hebrews,  they  had  arrived  at  a  state 
 of  luxury  in  the  time  of  Amos. — Pict.  Bib.  Affiiction,  '  destruction.* — 
 Newc,  so  Boothr.  It  is  thought  that  here  is  some  allusion  to  the  con- 
 duct of  Joseph's  brethren,  or  to  that  of  the  chief  butler.— Gt//.  The 
 meaning  is,  they  did  not  humble  themselves  for  the  judgments  brought 
 upon  Israel,  called  Joseph,  (see  chap.  v.  6,  \b.)~Preh.  Lowth.  8.  By 
 himself,  IfflDSl,  '  by  his  soul,*  '  his  being,  existence.' — A.  Clarke.  The 
 e.rcellency,  11N3  TMi,  '  the  pride,'  Vulg.,  Pag.,  Mont.,  &c.  'The  power 
 to  which  I  have  raised  Jacob  in  bis  descendants,'  (see  chap.  viii.  7.) — 
 Newc.  Whatever  Israel  and  Judah  value  themselves  for. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 9.  Die,  by  famine  or  pestilence  during  the  siege. — Newc.  10.  A 
 
 vmn^s  uncle,  his  nearest  kinsman  must  be  forced  to  perform  the  last 
 sad  office. — Preb.  Lowth.  A  man  shall  not  have  a  brother  or  a  son  left 
 to  do  him  the  last  sad  offices  of  burial. — Bp.Hall.  He  that  burneth, 
 the  effects  of  famine  and  pestilence  are  here  described.  The  carcass 
 siiall  be  burnt,  and  the  bones  shall  be  removed  with  no  ceremony  of 
 funeral  rites,  and  not  without  the  assistance  of  the  nearest  kinsman. — 
 Newc.  The  Jews  did  n<it  ordinardy  burn  the  dead ;  but  yet  it  seems 
 they  should  not,  in  this  time  of  judgment,  be  able  to  follow  their  usual 
 custom. — Boothr.  By  the  sides,  'in  the  innermost  part.' — Newc.  '  In 
 a  side  room.' — Boothr.  Is  there  yet  any  with  //iff.?  any  dead  corpse 
 to  be  brought  out  and  buried.— Gi7/.  Hold  thy  tongue,  silence  best 
 becomes  such  astonishing  calamities.  For  we  may  not  make  mention, 
 that  is,  worship. — Spencer.  '  It  is  to  no  purpose  to  call  upon  God  ;'an 
 exprest>iou  betokening  despair  joined  with  impenitency  ;  see  Joram's 
 language,  2  Kings,  vi.  33.— PrM.  Lowth.  '  It  is  too  late  to  seek  God, 
 who  is  executing  his  immutable  decree  and  sentence,  which  we  were 
 advised  to  prevent,  but  did  not  in  season.' — Poole.  'Rest  thou  humbly 
 and  silently  in  the  just  pleasure  of  the  Almighty;  this  is  his  work.' — 
 Bp.  Hall.  *  Because  they  would  not  remember  the  name  of  Jehovah.' 
 These  calamities  will  come,  because  of  their  apostasy  from  Jehovah. — 
 Boothr.  11.  Smite— grent—little— either  alluding  to  earthquake,  or 
 their  being  left  deserted.— 6'i7/.  Universal  ruin  shall  spread  through  the 
 city  by  the  enemy,  or  the  earthquake  may  be  alluded  lo.— Newc.  The 
 houses  of  the  indigent  natives  of  India  often  have  clefts  in  their  mud 
 walls.  Hence  the  allusion. — So  Ward.  12.  Shall  horses  run,  Sfc,  the 
 meaning  is,  all  is  lost  labour  on  these  hardened  sinners. — Poole. 
 13.  A  thing  of  nought,  your  own  strength. — Preb.  Lowth.     Your  idols. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  'We  here  see,  I.  The  im- 
 portance of  Si'tkimi  God,  cspeciaUy  in  times  ofdantjer.  It  is  often 
 urged  upon  Israel  to  inquire  into  his  will  and  to  pray  to  him  ; 
 and  it  is  certainly  the  only  way  to  live,  to  be  sewre  and 
 happy. 
 
 II.  '  The  folly  of  external  services  without  reformaiitni.  Thpy 
 94.5 
 
 are  all  abominable,  both  to  God  and  man.     If  a  man  'regards 
 iniquity  in  bis  heart,  the  Lord  will  not  hear  him.' 
 
 III.  '  Wesee  the  folly  and  sin  of  mockers.  Their  bands  will  be 
 made  strong.  All  this  shews  the  wisdom  and  necessity  of 
 truly  serving  God."  ^ 
 
 6  E 
 
The  judgment  of  the  grasshoppers. 
 
 AMOS,  VII. 
 
 Amaziah  cotnplaineth  of  Amos 
 
 which  say.  Have  we  not  taken  to  us  horns  by 
 our  own  strength  ? 
 
 14  But,  behold,  '  I  will  raise  up  against  you 
 a  nation,  O  house  of  Israel,  saith  the  Lord  the 
 God  of  hosts  ;  and  they  shall  afflict  you  from 
 the  ^  entering  in  of  Hemath  unto  the  ||  river  of 
 the  wilderness. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  The  judgments  of  the  fjrasshojipers,  4  a7id  of  the  jiTc, 
 are  diverted  by  the  prat/cr  of  Amos.  7  By  the  wall 
 of  a  plwnhVme  is  siffitijied  the  rejection  of  Israel,  10 
 Amaziah  cnmplaineth  of  Amos.  14  Amos  sheweth 
 his  callifltl,  1()  and  Amnziali^s  judfjment. 
 
 'T'HUS  hath  the  Lord  God  shewed  unto  me  ; 
 
 *-  and,  behold,  he  formed  ||  grasshoppers  in 
 the  beginninf5  of  the  shooting  up  of  the  latter 
 growth  ;  and,  lo,  it  ivas  the  latter  growth  after 
 the  king's  mowings. 
 
 ■2  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  they  had 
 made  an  end  of  eating  the  grass  of  the  land, 
 then  I  said,  O  Lord  God,  forgive,  I  beseech 
 thee  :  ■  II  by  whom  shall  Jacob  arise  ?  for  he  is 
 small. 
 
 .3  I"  The  Lord  repented  for  this  :  It  shall  not 
 be,  saith  the  Louu. 
 
 4  1  Thus  hath  the  Lord  God  shewed  unto 
 me:  and,  behold,  the  Lord  God  called  to  con- 
 tend by  fire,  and  it  devoured  the  great  deep, 
 and  did  eat  up  a  part. 
 
 5  Then  said  I,  O  Lord  God,  cease,  I  beseech 
 thee :  '  by  whom  shall  Jacob  arise  ?  for  he  is 
 small. 
 
 6  The  Lord  repented  for  this  :  This  also 
 shall  not  be,  saith  the  Lord  God. 
 
 7  1  Thus  he  shewed  me  :  and,  behold,  the 
 Lord  stood  upon  a  wall  made  by  a  plumbline, 
 with  a  plumbline  in  his  hand. 
 
 8  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  Amos,  what 
 
 ;  Num.  SJ  8. 
 I  Kill.  8  65. 
 Or,  vulUy. 
 
 a  Is,  M.  10. 
 
 ver.  ■'». 
 !l  Or,  who  of 
 
 (..r>.r.Vu- 
 
 c-'b  ih'-U 
 
 >tn;d  f 
 b  Deut.  3*. 
 
 3fi.  ver.  fi. 
 
 Jonah  3. 10. 
 
 Ja.in.  5.  IG. 
 
 oh   8.  2 
 M>«.  7-  13. 
 f  neer- 
 
 :?6.  23.  &  4^. 
 
 I.  ch.  5.  5. 
 
 &  8.  W. 
 a  Fiillilled, 
 
 L'Kiiili  ID, 
 fi  I  Km.  i:;. 
 
 i  -2  Kin     14 
 
 k  cli 
 
 .  12, 
 
 /  t  Kin.  12. 
 32.  Jit  13.  1. 
 II  Or.  .«nc- 
 
 f  Hfb.  hiute 
 of  Ihehing- 
 
 Ml  I  Kin.  en. 
 35.  3  Kin.2. 
 tt.  &  4.  3B. 
 &G.  1 
 
 irh. 
 
 1. 
 
 Zccli.  13  5 
 i;  Oi-,  Wild 
 
 n  F.J!fk  21.2. 
 Mic.  2.  fi. 
 
 12.  ft  SO.  SI, 
 25.31.32. 
 q  Ih.  13,  16. 
 I,am.  b.  M. 
 Hob.  4.  13. 
 Zeeh.  U.S. 
 
 seest  lliou  ?  And  I  said,  A  plumbline.  Then 
 said  the  Lord,  Behold,  ■*  I  will  set  a  plumbline 
 iu  the  midst  of  my  people  Israel  :  "I  will  not 
 again  pass  by  them  any  more  : 
 
 9  *"  And  the  high  places  of  Isaac  shall  be  de- 
 solate, and  the  sanctuaries  of  Israel  shall  be 
 laid  waste  ;  and  ^  I  will  rise  against  the  house 
 of  Jeroboam  with  the  sword. 
 
 10  %  Then  Amaziah  *•  the  priest  of  Beth-el 
 sent  to  '  Jeroboam  king  of  Israel,  saying,  Amos 
 hath  conspired  against  thee  iu  the  midst  of  the 
 house  of  Israel  :  the  land  is  not  able  to  bear 
 all  his  words. 
 
 11  For  thus  Amos  saith,  Jeroboam  shall  die 
 by  the  sword,  and  Israel  shall  surely  be  led 
 away  captive  out  of  their  own  land. 
 
 1*2  Also  Amaziah  said  unto  Amos,  O  thou 
 seer,  go,  flee  thee  away  into  the  laud  of  Judah, 
 and  there  eat  bread,  and  prophesy  there  : 
 
 13  But  ''prophesy  not  again  any  more  at 
 Beth-el :  '  for  it  is  the  king's  ||  chapel,  and  it 
 is  the  t  king's  court. 
 
 14  H  Then  answered  Amos,  and  said  to  Ama- 
 ziah, I  teas  no  prophet,  neither  was  I  "' a  pro- 
 phet's son  ;  "  but  I  ivas  an  herdman,  and  a  ga- 
 therer of  II  sycomore  fruit  : 
 
 15  And  the  Lord  took  me  f  as  I  followed 
 the  flock,  and  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  Go, 
 prophesy  unto  my  people  Israel. 
 
 I(i  H  Now  therefore  hear  thou  the  word  of 
 the  Lord  :  Thou  sayest,  Prophesy  not  against 
 Israel,  and  "  drop  not  thi/  word  against  the 
 house  of  Isaac. 
 
 17  P  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord;  ^  Thy 
 wife  shall  be  an  harlot  in  the  city,  and  thy 
 sous  and  thy  daughters  shall  fall  by  the  sword, 
 and  thy  land  shall  be  divided  by  line  ;  and 
 thou  shalt  die  iu  a  polluted  laud  :  and  Israel 
 shall  surely  go  into  captivity  forth  of  his  laud. 
 
 —1  Cor.  viii.  4.— AV«r.  Taken  to  vs  hovTis,  arrived  at  power  and  dig- 
 nity by  our  own  strength. — A.  Clarke.  14.  A  nation,  the  Assyrians 
 under  Shalmaneser,  (see  2  Kings,  xvii.  5,  G.)—Gill. 
 
 Chap.  Vl\.— I.  Grtisshnppers,  ^13,  Mocusts.' — Bnch.,  Pag.,  Mont., 
 Vat.,  Cocc.  The  word  is  rendered  Mocusts,*  Isa.  xxxiii.  4. — Neivc, 
 &c.  Locusts,  in  tlieir  caterjiiller  state,  when  tiiey  do  the  most  mis- 
 chief.— Par.  This  is  supposed  to  have  been  an  emblem  of  the  first 
 invasion  of  the  Assyrians. — Green/.  Shooting  up  of  the  latter  gvotcth, 
 when  the  first  grass  was  mowed  down,  and  the  first  crop  gathered  in 
 for  the  use  of  the  king's  cattle,  as  the  after-grass  was  just  springing 
 up,  and  promised  a  second  crop,  these  grasshoppers  or  locusts  were 
 forming,  which  tlireatened  the  destruction  of  it.  This  must  be  towards 
 the  close  of  summer,  and  when  autumn  was  coming  on,  at  which  time 
 naturalists  tell  us  that  locusts  breed.— GiV/.  Mowings,  hay  is  seldom. 
 if  ever,  made  in  those  countries,  and  it  may  be  presumed  the  word  ""U. 
 translated  'mowings,'  may  signify 'feeding  down,*  according  to  the 
 custom  among  the  Arabs,  as  well  as  cutting  down  with  a  scythe ;  it 
 should  then  be  rendered  the  'king's  feedings.' — Harmer.  2.  He  is 
 smal/,  weak  in  strength,  few  in  number,  not  able  to  resist  his  enemies. 
 — Poole.  After  the  death  of  Jeroboam  the  Second,  the  kingdom  was 
 so  reduced,  that  it  depended  on  strangers  for  support. — Cat.  3.  The 
 Lord  repented—Gen.  vi.  6.  note.  4.  B//  Jire,  Sfc. — this  signifies  ex- 
 cessive drought.— I-'>/i//oo(.  It  represents  a  sorer  judgment  than  the 
 former,  and  is  generally  thought  to  denote  the  invasion  of  Tiglath- 
 pileser,  who  carried  away  a  great  part  of  Israel  captives.  8.  /  wilt 
 set  a  plnmliline,  God's  judgments  are  sometimes  represented  by  a  line 
 and  a  plummet,  to  denote  that  they  are  measured  out  by  the  most 
 
 exact  rules  of  justice,  (see  2  Kings,  xxi.  I3;  Isa.  xxviii.  l".)  The  in- 
 struments which  are  designed  for  building  are  sometimes  used  to  mark 
 out  those  places  which  are  to  be  pulled  down  or  destroyed,  (see  2  Sam. 
 viii. '2  ;  Isa.  xxxiv.  11  ;  Lam.  ii.  8.)  Q.  And  the  high  places  of  Isaac, 
 those  were  the  altar  and  grove  at  Beer  sheba,  where  Isaac  dwelt  and 
 built  an  altar.  (Gen.  xxvi.  25  ;  xlvi.  1  ;)  this  place  was  afterwards 
 abused  to  idolatry,  (chap.  v.  5.1— Pre6.  Louth.  The  father  is  here 
 named,  hut  the  children  are  intended;  all  the  seed  of  Isaac. — Poole. 
 The  sanctuaries  o/  Israel,  were  the  places  set  apart  for  idolatrous 
 worship,  such  as  Bethel,  Gilgal,  and  Beer  sheba,  (chap.  iii.  14  ;  v.  5.) 
 The  woid  'sanctuary'  is  used  for  an  idolatrous  temple,  Isa.  xvi.  12. 
 Against — Jeroboam — fulfilled  2  Kings,  xv,  10.  10.  Amaziah  the  priest, 
 not  of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  but  one  of  those  appointed  by  Jeroboam  to 
 perform  the  iilolatrous  service  at  Bethel,  (see  1  Kings,  xii.  31.)  11.  Je 
 robonm  shall  die— si  perversion  of  the  prophet's  words,  which  related 
 to  his  posterity. — Preb.  Lowth.  14.  /  was  no  prophet,  not  designated 
 from  his  birth,  like  Samuel.  Neither  was  I  a  prophet^s  son,  educated 
 in  their  schools. — Snt.  The  pupils  of  the  prophets  called  them  by  the 
 name  of  Father. — Ed.  A  gatherer,  *  a  dresser.'— //'n-.  The  fruit  here 
 mentioned  grows  from  the  tree  without  leaves,  and  requires  skill  in 
 dressing  it  to  make  it  good. —  Orient.  Cust.  Sycamore  fruit,  a  sort 
 ofwild  fig.  called  by  some  the  Egyptian  fig.  17.  Thy  wife,  §-c., 
 '  when  Bethel  shall  be  taken  by  the  Assyrians,  (see  Hos.  x.  5,  6,}  the 
 soldiers  shall  abuse  thy  wife,  and  treat  her  as  a  common  harlot,  (comp. 
 Isa.  xiii.  16  ;  Lam.  v.  11  ;  Zech.  xiv.  2 ;)  and  this  shall  befal  her  as  a 
 punishment  for  her  idolatry,  which  is  spiritual  whoredom,'  (see  Hos. 
 iv.  13.)— Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  We  may  here  observe, 
 I.  The  stupifi/infj  influence  of  luxuri/,  God's  creatures  are  to 
 be  received  with  thankfulness;  but,  alas  !  they  are  often 
 abused,  and  to  *use  the  things  of  the  world  so  as  not  to  abuse 
 them'  is,  indeed,  a  happy  art.  Bishop  Sanderson  has  judi- 
 ciously remarked,  '  in  many  things  of  this  sort  we  may  easily 
 err,  in  point  either  of  judgment  or  of  practice,  or  of  both,  if 
 we  do  not  wisely  distinguish  the  use  from  the  abuse.  Often, 
 because  the  abuses  are  common  and  great,  we  peevishly  con- 
 demn in  others  the  very  use  of  some  lawful  things.  Often, 
 again,  because  there  is  evidently  a  lawful  use  of  the  things, 
 we  impudently  justify  ourselves  in  the  very  abuse  of  thera. 
 In  the  former  case,  we  infringe  our  brethren's  liberty;  in  the 
 946 
 
 latter  we  pollute  our  own.'  The  Christian  should  ever  keep 
 this  motto  before  his  eye  in  partaking  of  the  lawful  enjoy- 
 ments of  this  world,  '  Let  your  moderation  be  known  unto  all 
 men.* 
 
 II.  The  punishment  which  follows  insensibiliti/  in  sin.  Men  are 
 given  up  to  their  heart's  lusts  ;  diseases  ensue,  frequently  the 
 deplorable  effects  of  intemperance;  calamities  of  the  most  ap- 
 palling nature  often  follow  on  tbeir  fortunes  and  families — in 
 their  last  extremity,  as  God  was  not  in  all  their  thoughts, 
 God  is  far  from  them,  for  they  dare  not  draw  nigh  to  God, 
 Let  these  reflections  be  seriously  meditated  upon  ere  it  be 
 too  late. 
 
Oppression  is  reproved. 
 
 AMOS,  VIII.,  IX. 
 
 A  famine  of  the  word  threatened. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  By  a  hasht't  of  summer  fruit  is  shelved  tlte  propin- 
 fjuiti/ nf  Israel's  f-nd.  4  Oppression  is  reproved.  11 
 A  famine  of  tlte  word  tltreafeuvd. 
 
 'T'HUS  hath  the  Lord  God  shewed  unto  me  : 
 -*•    and  behold  a  basket  of  summer  fruit. 
 
 2  And  he  said,  Amos,  what  seest  thou  ?  And 
 I  said,  A  basket  of  summer  fruit.  Then  said 
 the  LoiiD  unto  me,  "  The  end  is  come  upon 
 my  people  of  Israel  ;  ''  I  will  not  again  pass 
 by  them  any  more. 
 
 3  And  '  the  sonjrs  of  the  temple  f  shall  be 
 bowlings  iu  that  day,  saith  tlie  Lord  God  : 
 there  shall  he  many  dead  bodies  iu  every 
 place  ;  ''  they  .shall  cast  them  forth  f  with 
 .silence. 
 
 4  H  Hear  this,  O  ye  that  "  swallow  up  the 
 needy,  even  to  make  the  poor  of  the  land  to  fail, 
 
 5  Saying,  When  will  the  ||  new  moon  be 
 gone,  that  we  may  sell  corn?  and  "^the  sab- 
 bath, that  we  may  f  set  forth  wheat,  *  making 
 the  ephali  small,  and  the  shekel  great,  and 
 t  falsifying  the  balances  by  deceit  ? 
 
 6  That  we  may  buy  the  poor  for  ''  silver,  and 
 the  needy  for  a  pair  of  shoes ;  yea,  and  sell 
 tlie  refuse  of  the  wheat? 
 
 7  The  Lord  hath  sworn  by  '  the  excellency 
 of  ,lacob,  Surely  '^  I  will  never  forget  any  of 
 their  works. 
 
 8  '  Shall  not  the  land  tremble  for  this,  and 
 every  one  mourn  that  dwelleth  therein  ?  and  it 
 shall  rise  up  wholly  as  a  flood  ;  and  it  shall  be 
 cast  out  and  drowned,  "'  as  bi/  the  flood  of 
 Egypt. 
 
 9  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  saith 
 the  Lord  God,  "  tliat  I  will  cause  tlie  sun  to 
 go  down  at  noon,  and  I  will  darken  the  earth 
 
 fi  Tobit  M.  6. 
 
 r  Is,  l."!.  2.3. 
 Jer.  W,  37, 
 Kzek, 7. 18, 
 &  -J?.  31. 
 
 1  Jcr  6  2G. 
 Zecb.  IS.IU. 
 
 Kick,  7. 
 4  cli,  7.  8. 
 
 c  ell.  5.  S3. 
 t  Heb.  tUall 
 l,<,wt. 
 
 <icli  0.0,  H; 
 t  Hi-b    hg 
 
 Or,  month. 
 
 /Neb.  13.15, 
 
 16. 
 )  Heb.  op.,1, 
 ^  Mic.  G.  10, 
 
 11. 
 
 t  Heb.  pw- 
 vrrtiiii)  Ifi' 
 biiLincei  i>/ 
 
 Hos.  12  7. 
 A  cb.  2.  6. 
 
 cb,  6. 
 
 J.>b 
 
 91. 
 
 \i. 
 
 3-  11),  & 
 59.  9,  10. 
 Jer.  \h.  9. 
 Mic.  3.  6. 
 
 i  Ho3.  -1  l.-i 
 t  Deu,  9  31, 
 t  Heb,  'c«r/,. 
 See  Arts  9, 
 •2.  &  IS.  25 
 &  19.9,  23. 
 &  24.  U 
 u  eb.  5.  5. 
 
 Or,  vliiipi- 
 ter,  or./i'iop. 
 
 II  Or,  icmind 
 
 I's.  08,  21. 
 Hab,  3,  13. 
 6  cb.  2.  14. 
 
 d  ,lub  29,  6. 
 Jer.  51.  53, 
 Obad.  4, 
 
 ill  the  clear  day  : 
 
 10  "And  I  will  turn  your  feasts  into  mourn- 
 ing, and  all  your  songs  into  lamentation  ;  ''and 
 
 1  will  bring  up  sackcloth  upon  all  loins,  and 
 baldness  upon  every  head ;  ''  and  I  will  make 
 it  as  the  mourning  of  an  only  son,  and  the  end 
 thereof  as  a  bitter  day. 
 
 1 1  H  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord 
 God,  that  I  will  send  a  famine  in  the  land,  not 
 a  famine  of  bread,  nor  a  thirst  for  water,  but 
 'of  hearing  the  words  of  the  Lord  : 
 
 12  And  they  shall  wander  from  sea  to  sea, 
 and  from  the  north  even  to  the  east,  they  shall 
 run  to  and  fro  to  seek  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
 and  shall  not  find  it. 
 
 13  In  that  day  shall  the  fair  virgins  and  young 
 men  faint  for  thirst. 
 
 14  They  that  'swear  by  '  the  sin  of  Samaria, 
 and  say.  Thy  god,  O  Dan,  liveth  ;  and.  The 
 t manner  "of  Beer-sheba  liveth;  even  they 
 shall  fall,  and  never  rise  up  again. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  Tlte  certainty  of  the  desolation.     11  The  restoring  oj 
 tlie  tabernacle  of  David, 
 
 T  SAW  the  Lord  standing  upon  tlie  altar  : 
 -^  and  he  said,  Smite  the  ||  lintel  of  the  door, 
 that  the  posts  may  shake  :  and  ||  "cut  them  in 
 the  head,  all  of  them  ;  and  I  will  slay  the  last 
 of  them  with  the  sword:  ''he  that  fleeth  of 
 them  shall  not  Hee  away,  and  he  that  escapeth 
 of  them  shall  not  be  delivered. 
 
 2  ^  Though  they  dig  into  hell,  thence  shall 
 mine  hand  take  them  ;  ^  tliough  they  climb  up 
 to  heaven,  thence  will  I  bring  them  down  : 
 
 3  And  thuugh  they  hide  themselves  in  the 
 top  of  Carmel,  I  will  search  and  take  them  out 
 
 Chap.  VII  I.  —  I.  A  hnsket  of  summer  fruit,  *  of  late  summer  fruits.' 
 — Neu'c.  Such  as  had  remained  till  nearly  the  end  of  the  season,  and 
 were  full  ripe  and  fast  approaching  to  decay. —  Wil.  This  fourth  vision 
 denoted  that  Israel's  sins  were  now  ripe  for  judgment ;  as  the  time  of 
 judgment  is  elsewhere  expressed  by  an  harvest  or  a  vintage,  (^ee  Joel, 
 ill.  13.) — Preb.  Lowt/i.  3,  Songs  of  the  teinplf,  not  at  Jerusalt-ni,  for 
 this  respects  the  ten  tribes,  but  those  songs  sung  in  the  temple  of 
 Bethel  and  other  idol  temples. — Gill.  5.  When  will  the  new  moon  be 
 gone,  ?}-c.,  such  was  the  worldly-miudedoess  of  this  people,  that  they 
 thought  the  festivals  of  religious  worship,  and  even  the  Sabbatli  days, 
 long  and  tedious,  because  they  interrupted  their  traffic. — Hew.  Ephah, 
 a  dry  measure,  about  a  bushel  of  ours.  Shekel,  that  is,  the  weight  or 
 shekel  stone  with  which  Ihey  weighed  the  money  the  poor  gave  for 
 their  corn  and  wheat;  this  was  made  heavier  than  it  should  !)e. 
 G.  That  ye  may  buy  the  poor,  Sfc,  exhaust  their  resources  by  their 
 frauds,  and  so  oblige  them  to  sell  themselves  for  slaves. — Gill.  Pair  of 
 shoes — see  chap,  ii,  fi.  "■  The  excellenni  of  Jacob,  by  the  state  of  ex- 
 altation to  which  he  raised  Jacob  and  his  posterity,  or  by  Jacob's 
 most  eminent  and  incommunicable  One.  —  Mede.  13y  Himself.^ 
 Kimchi,  Aben  Ezra.  Preb.  Lowth.     See  Ps.  Ixviii.  34.  8.  The  land 
 
 tremble~th.\?,  verse  is  thought  by  some  to  be  a  figurative  description 
 of  an  earthquake. — Greenf.  Rl.\'e  up  ivholly  os  a  fiood,  this  deluge  of 
 sin  in  the  natinn  shall  make  her  punishment  overflow. — Dr.  Stokes. 
 As  by  the  flood  of  Egypt,  the  river  of  Egypt,  when  the  Nile  overflows 
 the  land  j  so  shall  the  Assyrians  overflow  it.        9-  Cause  the  sun,  Sfc, 
 
 calamitous  times  are  expressed  by  the  failing  of  the  light  of  the  sun, 
 and  the  days  being  overspread  with  darkness,  (see  Isa.  xiii.  10  ;  lix.  9, 
 10  ;  Jer.  XV.  9  ;  Job,  v.  14  ;  xxii.  U.)  11.  /  will  send  a  fnmitie,  ffc, 
 — the  Jews  resorted  to  the  prophets  for  counsel  in  difficulties,  but  now 
 they  should  have  none,  (see  chap.  ii.  11 ;  Ezek.  xiv.  7  ;  xx.  }.)—Preb. 
 Lowth.  12.  Wander  from  sea  to  sea,  search  all  places  for  a  prophet, 
 from  the  Sea  of  Tiberias  or  Galilee,  or  from  the  Dead  Sea,  or  the  Red 
 Sea,  south,  to  the  Great  Sea,  west,  the  Mediterranean.  And  from  tlte 
 north,  Sfc,  describing  the  borders  of  Canaan,  (Num.  xxxiv.  3 — 12.) — 
 Gill.  Houbigant  proposes  to  read,  'from  the  western  sea  to  south,  and 
 from  north  to  east.'  14.  The  sin  of  Samaria,  that  is,  the  calf  that 
 was  erected  at  Bethel. — Hew. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  — 1.  Upon  the  altar,  doubtless  that  erected  at  Bethel. — 
 Boothr.,  soGill,  Preb.  Lowth.  As  this  is  a  conliouation  of  the  pre- 
 ceding prophecy,  the  altar  here  may  he  one  of  those  either  of  Uan  or 
 Beer-sheba. — Clarke.  The  altar  of  burnt- offering  before  the  temple 
 at  Jerusalem. — Poole,  Wil.  At  Jerusalem,  as  in  Isa.  vi.  I,  and  Ezek. 
 ix.  3. — Sut.  Smite  the  tintel,  §c.,  those  most  able  to  support  the  tem- 
 ple and  nation. — Stokes.  In  tlte  head,  i.  e.,  the  king,  princes,  nobles, 
 and  priests.— Gi7/.  All  of  them,  i.e., '  I  will  destroy  all  the  chief  of  the 
 kingdom  of  Israel.' — Wells.  The  lust  of  them,  the  common  peeple, — 
 Gill ;  or  those  that  were  left  of  them. — Aben  Ezra,  Kimchi.  2.  Hell, 
 'hades.'  —  Boothr.  'The  grave.'  —  Newc.  The  deepest  holes  and 
 caverns  of  the  earth.— Prefi.  Lowth.  Places  of  the  greatest  secrecy 
 and  privacy.        3.  hi  the  top  of  Carmel,  ^c,  one  of  the  highest  moun- 
 
 Heflections  on  Chap.  A'^IL  —  We  may  here  notice,  I. 
 Amos'  bold  prophecies.  In  these  we  see  that  God  will  judge 
 the  ungodly,  whatever  in;iy  be  their  rank  or  station;  and  tiial 
 in  his  ju(it;ments  he  will  be  guided  by  the  strictest  rules  of 
 equity.  '  He  will  render  to  every  man  according  to  his 
 works.* 
 
 II.  Amos*  priestly  accuser.  lie  charped  the  prophet  with 
 being  a  conspirator,  and  propliesying  lor  a  morsel  of  bread. 
 It  is  no  new  thing  for  the  faithful  servants  of  God  to  be 
 abused  and  their  motives  misrepresented,  by  those  wlio 
 themselves  are  influenced  by  the  most  sinister  motives,  like 
 Amaziah  the  priest  of  Bethel. 
 
 III.  Amos'  defence.  It  would  be  well  if  all  who  bear  a 
 sacred  office  could  make  a  similar  reply,  which  intimates  that 
 be  had  a  satisfactory  assurance  that  he  liad  not  thrust  himself 
 into  the  employ  ;  but  that  God  had  called  hiin  liy  bis  grace 
 and  spirit  to  undertake  his  work. 
 
 IvFU-i-rTroNs    ON    Chap.  VIII — Two  subjects   here   at- 
 947 
 
 tract  our  notice — I.  God's  ordinances  slighted.  Let  those  who 
 turn  the  sabbath  into  a  day  of  trade,  and  rob  their  fellow  men 
 of  their  comforts,  by  their  extortions,  as  tbey  rob  God  of  his 
 lionour  by  their  heartless  worship,  see  their  own  portraits  in 
 the  address  of  the  prophet  ;  blush  for  shame,  and  tremble  at 
 the  destiny  of  those  who  continue  in  such  a  state.  We  see  it 
 here  in — 
 
 II.  Relif/ioiis  {nstructio7i  withdrawn.  It  may  not  be  now 
 exactly  with  them  as  with  Israel;  tbey  may  not  be  wholly 
 excluded  from  the  warning  voice  of  the  prophets  of  God;  but 
 the  time  approaches  when  repentance  will  no  more  be  preached 
 lo,  or  be  available  for  them.  When  no  deliverer  will  be  ex- 
 hibited to  their  view  as  'exalted  to  be  a  prince  and  a  Saviour, 
 to  give  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  ;'  their  souls  will  die 
 of  an  eternal  famine.  No  '  bread  of  life'  shall  be  presented 
 to  them  for  food  !  No  water  of  life  shall  quench  the  flame 
 which  guilt  shall  cukiiidle  in  their  consciences. 
 
The  certainty  of  the  desolation. 
 
 AMOS.  IX. 
 
 TliR  restoring  of  the  tabernacle  of  David, 
 
 thence  ;  and  though  they  he  hid  from  my  sight 
 in  tiie  bottom  of  the  sea,  thence  will  I  com- 
 mand the  serpent,  and  he  shall  bite  them  : 
 
 4  And  though  they  go  into  captivity  before 
 their  enemies,  ^  thence  will  1  command  the 
 sword,  and  it  shall  slay  them  :  and  '"  I  will  set 
 mine  eyes  upon  them  for  evil,  and  not  for 
 good. 
 
 5  And  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  is  he  that 
 toucheth  the  land,  and  it  shall  ^  melt,  ""and  all 
 that  dwell  therein  shall  mouni :  and  it  shall 
 rise  up  wholly  like  a  flood  ;  and  shall  be 
 drowned,  as  hi/  the  flood  of  Egypt. 
 
 6  It  is  he  that  buildeth  his  j|  f  '  stories  in  the 
 heaven,  and  hath  founded  his  ||  troop  in  the 
 earth;  he  that  ''calleth  for  the  waters  of  the 
 sea,  and  poureth  them  out  upon  the  face  of 
 the  earth  :  ^  The  Lord  is  his  name. 
 
 7  Are  ye  not  as  cliildren  of  the  Ethiopians 
 unto  me,  O  children  of  Israel?  saith  the  Lord. 
 Have  not  I  brought  up  Israel  out  of  the  land 
 of  Egypt?  and  the  "'Philistines  from  "  Caph- 
 tor,  and  the  Syrians  from  ""  Kir? 
 
 8  Behold, ''tlie  eyes  of  the  Lord  God  are 
 upon  the  sinful  kingdom,  and  I  ''  will  destroy 
 it  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  saving  that  I 
 will  not  utterly  destroy  the  house  of  Jacob, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 9  For,  lo,  I  will  command,  and  I  will  f  sift 
 
 c  Lev.  •>G.3.'i. 
 Dcti.29  65 
 Ezek. 5   13. 
 
 /•Lev.  17.10. 
 Jer.  U.  11. 
 
 e  Mic.  I,  4 
 
 'i  cb.  S.  S. 
 
 II  Or,  tpheres. 
 *  Heh. 
 
 nivcniinnt . 
 i  Pfi.  IM.  3, 
 
 13. 
 II  Or,  l.undle. 
 k  cli.  5.  S. 
 /til,  1,  13. 
 
 n  Jcr.  i7.  4. 
 Dcu.  2.23. 
 
 y  Jer.ai.  n. 
 &:tl.  3^.315. 
 ObaJ.lfl.lT. 
 
 B.  C,  767. 
 
 t  Heb,  slone. 
 
 r  ch    C,  3- 
 
 <  Acta  15.  IG, 
 17. 
 t  Heb.  hfd^f. 
 
 «Nu.  £1.  IS. 
 t  Heb.  upon 
 
 f  Heb.  ilrav- 
 ttl,  forth, 
 r  .loel  3.  IS. 
 (I  Or,  new 
 
 t/  Jer.  Sn,  3. 
 •  U.  fil.  4.  & 
 
 fi5   21.  E/e. 
 
 3ti.  33—30. 
 
 X  la.  60.  21. 
 Jcr.  S>,  fli. 
 K-jc.  M.  :^S. 
 Joel  S.  20. 
 
 the  hou.se  of  Israel  among  all  nations,  like  as 
 corn  is  sifted  in  a  sieve,  yet  shall  not  the  least 
 f  grain  fall  upon  the  earth. 
 
 10  All  the  sinners  of  my  people  shall  die  by 
 the  sword,  ""  which  say.  The  evil  shall  not  over- 
 take nor  prevent  us. 
 
 11  1i  'In  that  day  will  I  raise  up  tlie  taber- 
 nacle of  David  that  is  fallen,  and  -f  close  up 
 the  breaches  thereof;  and  I  will  raise  up  his 
 ruins,  and  I  will  build  it  as  in  the  days  of  old  : 
 
 12  *  That  they  may  possess  the  remnant  of 
 *"  Edom,  and  of  all  the  heathen,  f  which  are 
 called  by  my  name,  saith  the  Loud  that  doeth 
 this. 
 
 13  Behold,  '*'  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord, 
 that  the  plowman  shall  overtake  the  reaper, 
 and  the  treader  of  grapes  him  thatfsowetli 
 seed;  '^and  the  mountains  shall  drop  ||  sweet 
 wine,  and  all  the  hills  shall  melt. 
 
 14  ^  And  I  will  bring  again  the  captivity  of 
 my  people  of  Israel,  and  '  they  shall  build  the 
 waste  cities,  and  inhabit  them  ;  and  they  shall 
 plant  vineyard.s,  and  drink  the  wine  thereof; 
 they  shall  also  make  gardens,  and  eat  the  fruit 
 of  them. 
 
 15  And  I  will  plant  them  upon  their  land, 
 and"  they  shall  no  more  be  pulled  up  out  of 
 their  land  which  1  have  given  them,  saith  the 
 Lord  thy  God. 
 
 tains  in  the  land  of  Israel,  in  the  woods  on  it,  and  caves  in  it.—Gilt. 
 The  roountaius  in  Judca  were  remarkable  for  inaccessible  rocks  and 
 deep  caverns. — Hew.  Serpent,  a  water  animal.  (Isa.  xxvii.  1,)  used 
 here  for  some  carnivorous  fish. — Preh.  Lnwtfi.  The  meaning  is,  that 
 the  hand  of  God  would  find  them  in  any  or  every  liiding-place. — So 
 Daiictus.  The  flood,  Sfc,  alludes  to  the  annual  overflowing  of  the  Nile. 
 — Pict.  Bib.  6.  It  is  he  that  buHdfth  his  stones,  Sfc. — 
 '  He  buildeth  his  upper  chambers  in  the  heavens  ; 
 And  his  storehouse  he  foundeth  it  on  the  earth.' — Newc. 
 Adopted  by  Booth)-.;  see  also  Cappellus  and  Houb.  There  may  be  an 
 allusion  to  repositories  in  the  lower  parts  of  houses,  or  to  such  as  were 
 sometimes  dug  in  the  fields,  (Jer.  xli.  8.) — Newc.  And  hath  founded 
 his  troop,  im^X,  'gathered  together,'  possibly  meaning  the  teas  and 
 other  collections  of  waters,  which  he  has  gathered  together  and  bound 
 by  his  perpetual  decrees. — A.  Clarke.  The  word  '  troop'  signifies  the 
 collection  of  elements  and  other  creatures  which  furnish  the  earth,  e.\'- 
 pressed  by  a  word  which  we  render  *  the  host,'  (Gen.  ii.  I.) — Preh. 
 Lowth.  7.  Are  ye  not  ii.s  chihlren  of  the  Ethiopimis  ?  they  were  no  more 
 to  God  than  these,  having  behaved  like  them. — Gilt.  Caphtor^  Cappa- 
 docia. — Bach.  Crete. — Cat.  The  word  sometimes  signifies  the  sea  coast 
 of  a  remote  continent,  and  these  people  are  called  Cherethim,  ( i  Sam  .xxx. 
 14  ;  Ezek.  XXV.  16  ;  Zeph.  ii.5.) — Neivc.  The  words  of  this  verse  mean, 
 that  God  had  raised  up  and  transplanted  other  nations  as  well  as  the 
 
 Israelites,  and  hence  they  could  not  confide  that  he  would  favour  them 
 because  of  what  he  had  iloue  for  their  fathers. — Bonthr.  y.  The  least 
 frritinfatl,  none  of  the  good  grain  shall  be  lost,  {Matt.  iii.  \2.)—Preh. 
 Lotuth.  The  metaphor  in  this  verse  denotes  that  God  would  separate 
 the  chaff  from  the  wheat. — Boothr.  11.  Raise  up  the  tubernarle  of 
 
 David,  Sfc,  restore  the  kingdom  to  the  house  and  family  of  David,  in 
 the  person  of  the  Messiah. — Preb.  Lowth.  12.  That  they,  my  apos- 
 tles and  servants,  ftc. — Stokes.  May  po.^sess  the  remnant  of  Edom, 
 even  of  the  greatest  enemies  of  the  church,  as  the  Edomitcs  were  of 
 the  Jews.  The  words  are,  however,  capable  of  another  translation, 
 '  the  remnant  of  Kdom,  and  of  all  the  heathen  that  are  (or  shall  be) 
 called  by  my  name,  may  possess  me,  the  Lord.'— Prc6.  LoitYA.  On 
 the  future  grand  restoration  of  the  Jews,  the  borders  of  the  Chris- 
 tian church  will  he  enlarged  among  the  Gentiles,  (Rom.  xi.  12,  13.) 
 13 .  The  plowman  shall  oi^ertake  the  reaper,  a  lively  way  of  expressing 
 that  the  harvest  and  vintage  should  be  co|)ious  and  long  in  gathering. 
 — Newc.  As  soon  as  the  harvest  is  got  in,  it  will  be  time  to  plough 
 for  the  next  year. —Prfi.  Lowth.  The  hills  shall  me/(,flow,as  it  were, 
 with  the  abundance  of  wine  produced  on  them,  Uoel,  iii.  is.)  Moun- 
 tains and  hills  are  the  proper  places  for  vineyards.— AVa-f.  Plant  them, 
 ^(.'.— as  the  Jews,  after  their  return  from  Babylon,  were  driven  from 
 their  land  by  the  Romans,  this  can  only  refer  to  their  future  conversion 
 and  restoration,  and  to  the  security  and  peace  of  the  church. — Greenf. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX.  — I.    We  here  see  '  hoic  impos-  IT.  We  arc  also  taught  God^s  esteem  for  his pcnpfe.     Tliough 
 
 sible  it  is  for  simters   to  escape  the  judgments  of  God.'      Tbere  is  he  may  bring  distressing  judgments  upon  them,  not  one  of  his 
 
 no  place  whither  they  can  flee  from  his  notice,  or  shun  his  faithful  servants  shall  be  lost.' 
 avenging  hand. 
 
 O  B  A  I)  I  A  H. 
 
 [The  time  when  this  propiiecy  was  ilcliveied  is  quite  conjectural  ;  f/s/ier  thinks  582  years  before  Christ ;  and  Townsciid,  740. 
 The  general  opinion  seems  to  be  tliat  Obadiah  was  contemporary  with  Jeremiah  and  Ezekicl.  He  foretels  the  suiyuga- 
 tion  and  ruin  of  the  Idumeans.      Obadiah  is  referred  to  in  Uev.  xi.  15,  and  xviii.  17.] 
 
 1  T/iE  destruction  of  Edom^  3Jitr  thai-  jn-ide,  10  ami 
 for  their  wrong  unto  Jacob.  17  T/ie  salvation  and 
 victory  of  Jacob. 
 
 'pHE   vision   of   Obadiah.     Tlius   .saith   the 
 Lord  God  "concerning  Edom ;  ■'  We  have 
 
 nil.  °i.n.& 
 
 34.5.  Ezek. 
 25.  I2,13,U, 
 Joel  3.  19. 
 Mai.  1.  3. 
 b  Jer. 49.  M, 
 &c. 
 
 heard  a  rumour  from  the  Lord,  and  an  ambas- 
 sador is  sent  among  the  heathen,  Arise  yo, 
 and  let  us  rise  up  against  her  in  battle. 
 
 2  Behold,  I  have  made   thee  small  among 
 the  heathen  :  thou  art  greatly  despised. 
 
 3  1  The  pride  of  thine  heart  hath  deceived 
 
 t>OTEs.—\.  An  ami/assadiir  is  sfn(  —  according  to   the  custom  of  pared  with  other  flourishing  states,  Iduraca  was  very  moderate  in  ox. 
 calthly  princes.  Almighty  God   is   here   represented  as  summoning  tent.— A'euic.     Small  compared  with  the  Assyrians,  Chaldeans,  Egypt- 
 armies,  and  setting  them  in  array  of  battle  against  the  people  he  dc-  ians,  Syrians,  Arabs,  kc— Clarke.      It  should  rather  be,  '  I  will  make 
 signs  to  destroy.— Prc4.  Lout/i.         2.  1  hiwe  muile  thee  small,  com-  thcc  small,'  n  duce  their  numbers  ;  the  past  for  the  future,  after  the 
 948 
 
The  destruction  oj  Edom/or  their  pride. 
 
 OBADIAH. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B.  U. 
 
 cir.  587. 
 
 cir.  587. 
 
 c2Km.l'1.7. 
 
 >l  Is.  14.  13, 
 
 U.  15. 
 Ri-v.  IS.  7. 
 
 ||Or,>rc«. 
 
 ,.  Job  20.  6. 
 
 Jer.  49.  16. 
 
 «c  51.  53. 
 
 AiDos  y.  2. 
 
 f  Hab.  2.  9. 
 
 II  Or,  shit 
 
 C  Jor.  'I'J    9. 
 
 Ps!  31.  8. 
 
 ..  f>e.  30.  3. 
 
 J..el.  3.  IV 
 
 /i  Deu  24'JI. 
 
 .1  V.t'i.  35  15. 
 
 Is.  17.  0   ik 
 
 Hab.  2.  8. 
 
 21-  13. 
 
 11  Or.  !iU.m- 
 
 cir.  585. 
 
 '"li"- 
 
 V  Jer-  25.  23. 
 
 29.  &49.  12. 
 
 Joel  3.  17. 
 
 f  Heb.  //.«• 
 
 1  Pet.*.  17. 
 
 r«c„  -,/  Ihs, 
 
 ]irace. 
 
 il  Or,  siij>  lip. 
 
 ,  Jer.  38.  33 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 men  of  It.;, 
 
 r  Joel  2  .32. 
 
 brfad. 
 
 'I  Amos  9.  8 
 
 k  Is    19.  II, 
 
 II  Or,  Ihry 
 
 II  Or,  ofit. 
 
 th.,1  eicap'^. 
 
 \\  Or,  i(  ihall 
 
 I  Job  5.  l-_», 
 l:>  Is.39.II. 
 
 be  holy. 
 
 Joel  3.  17. 
 
 J.T.  'I'.t.    7. 
 
 6  Is.  to.  17. 
 
 m  Ps.  7(1.  5 
 
 Zech.  12.0- 
 
 Amos  3.16. 
 
 'J  JiiV.  ly.  7. 
 
 u  Gen.  27.11. 
 
 Ps.  1.17.  7. 
 
 Eze.  25.  18. 
 
 ac35.  5. 
 
 Amos  1 .  II . 
 
 n  Eze.  35.  9. 
 
 Mai.  1.  -1. 
 
 c  Aid  OS  9. 12. 
 
 |;0r,  cirri'ed 
 
 nipny  hit 
 
 •i  Zeph.  2.". 
 
 anbttattee. 
 
 q  Joel  3.  3. 
 
 Nab.  .■!.  10. 
 
 11  Or,  do  not 
 
 e  I  Kin,  17. 
 
 brhuld,  4-C. 
 
 9.  10. 
 
 r  Ps.  22.  17. 
 
 II  Or,  shall 
 
 &  54.  7.  8c 
 
 possess  thut 
 
 fi9.  10.  Mic. 
 
 which  is  in 
 
 4.  II.  &  7. 
 
 Se/iharait. 
 
 10. 
 
 /Jer.  32.  41, 
 
 i  P«.  37.  13. 
 
 g  \T\m.\.\f,. 
 
 M.:    137.7. 
 
 Jam.  5,  20 
 
 (Job  .31.  29. 
 
 A  Ps,  23.  28- 
 
 Mic.  7,  S- 
 
 Ii;m,  3,  ^4. 
 
 Pro.  17.  5. 
 
 it  7,  M,27 
 
 KLH.  17,  IS. 
 
 Zech,  M.  9- 
 
 \    Heb.  mag- 
 
 Luke I.  33- 
 
 nified  thy 
 
 Rev.  11.15, 
 
 mmth. 
 
 &  19.  6. 
 
 The  saluanon  and  victory  of  Jacob. 
 
 tliee,  tliou  that  dwellest  in  the  clefts  '  of  the 
 rock,  whose  liabitation  is  high  ;  ''  that  saith  in 
 his  heart.  Who  shall  bring  me  down  to  the 
 ground  ? 
 
 4  °  Though  thou  exalt  thyself  as  the  eagle, 
 and  though  tliou  ''set  thy  nest  among  the 
 stars,  thence  will  I  bring  thee  down,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 5  If  ^  thieves  came  to  thee,  if  robbers  by 
 -night,  (how  art  thou  cut  off!)  would  they  not 
 
 have  stolen  till  they  had  enough?  if  the  grape- 
 gatherers  came  to  thee, ''would  they  not  leave 
 II  some  grapes  ? 
 
 6  How  are  tlie  things  of  Esau  searched  out! 
 how  are  his  hidden  things  sought  up  ! 
 
 7  All  the  men  of  thy  confederacy  hiive 
 brought  thee  even  to  the  border :  f  the  men 
 that  were  at  peace  with  thee  have  deceived 
 thee,  and  prevailed  against  thee  ;  ]  they  that 
 eat  thy  bread  have  laid  a  wound  under  thee: 
 ''  there  is  none  understanding  ||  in  him. 
 
 8  '  Shall  I  not  in  that  day,  saith  the  Loud, 
 even  destroy  the  wise  ?«eii  out  of  Edom,  and 
 understanding  out  of  tlie  mount  of  Esau  ? 
 
 9  And  thy  "'  miglity  men.  O  "  Teman,  shall 
 be  dismayed,  to  the  end  tliat  every  one  of  the 
 mount  of  Esau  may  be  cut  off  by  slaughter, 
 
 10  If  For  thy  "violence  against  thy  brother 
 Jacob  shame  shall  cover  thee,  and  ''  thou  shalt 
 be  cut  off  for  ever. 
 
 1 1  In  the  day  that  thou  stoodest  on  the  other 
 side,  in  the  day  tliat  the  strangers  ||  carried 
 away  captive  his  forces,  and  foreigners  entered 
 into  his  gates,  and  ''  cast  lots  upon  Jerusalem, 
 even  thou  ivasl  as  one  of  them. 
 
 \-l  But  II  thou  shouldest  not  have ''looked  on 
 '  the  day  of  tliy  brother  in  the  day  that  he  be- 
 came a  stranger  ;  neither  shouldest  thou  have 
 '  rejoiced  over  the  children  of  Judah  in  the 
 day  of  their  destruction;  neither  .shouldest  thou 
 have  t  spoken  proudly  in  the  day  of  distress, 
 
 13  Thou  shouldest  not  have  entered  into  the 
 
 gate  of  my  people  in  the  day  of  their  calamity ; 
 yea,  thou  sliouldest  not  have  looked  on  their 
 affliction  in  the  day  of  their  calamity,  nor  have 
 laid  hands  on  their  ||  substance  in  the  day  of 
 their  calamity ; 
 
 14  Neither  shouldest  thou  have  stood  in  the 
 crossway,  to  cut  off  those  of  his  that  did  es- 
 cape ;  neither  shouldest  thou  have  ||  delivered 
 up  those  of  his  that  did  remain  in  the  day  of 
 distress. 
 
 15  "  For  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  near  upon 
 all  the  heathen  :  "  as  thou  hast  done,  it  sliall 
 be  done  unto  thee  :  thy  reward  shall  return 
 upon  thine  own  head. 
 
 IG  'For  as  ye  have  drunk  upon  my  holy 
 mountain,  so  shall  all  the  heathen  drink  conti- 
 nually, yea,  they  shall  drink,  and  they  shall 
 II  swallow  down,  and  they  shall  be  as  though 
 they  had  not  been. 
 
 17  H  '  But  upon  mount  Zion  "  shall  be  ||  de- 
 liverance, and  II  there  shall  be  holiness ;  and 
 the  house  of  Jacob  shall  possess  their  posses- 
 sions. 
 
 IS  And  the  house  of  Jacob  ''shall  be  a  fire, 
 and  the  house  of  Joseph  a  flame,  and  the  house 
 of  Esau  for  stubble,  and  they  shall  kindle  in 
 them,  and  devour  them  ;  and  there  shall  not 
 be  any  remaining  of  the  house  of  Esau  ;  for 
 the  Lord  hath  spoken  it. 
 
 19  And  they  of  the  south  'shall  possess  ihe 
 mount  of  Esau  ;  ''  and  they  o/the  plain  the  Phi- 
 listines :  and  they  shall  possess  the  fields  of 
 Ephraim,  and  the  fields  of  Samaria  :  and  Ben- 
 jamin sliall  possess  Gilead. 
 
 20  And  the  captivity  of  this  host  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  shall  possess  that  of  the  Ca- 
 naanites,  even  °  unto  Zarephath  ;  and  the  cap- 
 tivity of  Jerusalem,  ||  which  is  in  Sepharad, 
 '  shall  possess  the  cities  of  the  south, 
 
 •21  And  ^saviours  shall  come  up  on  mount 
 Zion  to  judge  the  mount  of  Esau  ;  and  the 
 "  kingdom  shall  be  the  Lord's. 
 
 proplietic  manner ;  af^  Khiw/ti,  Gill.  3.  Thou  that  dwellest  in  the 
 clefts — see  Jer.  xli.K.  l6,  notes.  5,  If  thieves,  fyc,  even  in  this  case 
 thy  coDdiliou  would  nut  be  worse  nor  so  bad  as  it  now  is, — Gill,  How 
 art  thiiu  cut  off! — this  parenthesis  is  transferred  to  the  beginning  of 
 ver.  6,  by  Newc.  so  also  Buiithr.  6.  Searched  out,  the  Chaldees 
 shall  ransaclt  and  rifle  all  the  things  of  Edom. — lip.  Hall.  7-  Of  th?/ 
 confederacy,  ^c,  thine  allies  prove  treacherous  to  thee. — Gill.  The 
 Chaldeans  are  here  intended,  to  whom  the  Idumeans  were  attached, 
 and  whose  agents  they  became  in  exercising  cruelties  upon  the  Jews. 
 — -'I.  Clarke.  Enen  to  the  harder,  'thy  own  border,  where  they  have 
 delivered  thee  into  the  hand  of  the  enemy,'  Have  laid  a  wound, 
 •I'nnn  Tno  TD^1U\  '  have  spread  a  snare.' — Newc.  '  have  laid  a  gin  or 
 trap  under  thee.' — Par.  on  11,  8.  Slouut  of  Esau,  Mount  Seir, 
 
 9,  Teman — see  Jer,  ,\Iix,  7,  note.  By  slaughter,  this  is  rendered  *  for 
 slaughter,'  and  begins  the  next  verse,  according  to  Newc;  so  Boothr., 
 as  also  the  Ancient  Versions.  10,  Violence  uf^ainst  thy  brother  Ja. 
 
 cob — this  was  their  crying  sin  ;  they  did  mercilessly  spoil  and  basely 
 betray  the  Jews, — Poole.  Here  is  an  allusion  to  Esau's  animosity 
 against  his  brother,  {Gen,  xxvii,  41,)  The  same  reason  is  given,  Amos, 
 i,  1 1 .  II.  Carried  away  captive  his  forces,  *  when  Jerusalem  was  taken 
 by  Nebuchadnezzar,  thou  didst  join  with  the  enemy,' (see  Ps,  cxx-xvii.) 
 12,  Looked  on  the  day,  signifies  the  beholding  his  fall  with  satisfaction, 
 (Ps,  liv.  7;  lix.  10;  xcii,  11  :  cxii,  8;  comp.  Mic.  iv,  ll  ;  vii,  10.)  — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  14,  To  cut  off,  ^c. — it  is  probable  that  on  the  destruc- 
 tion of  Jerusalem  the  Edomites  availed  themselves  of  their  interme- 
 diate position  to  cut  off  the  Jews  that  were  fleeing  to  Egypt. —  So  Pict. 
 Bib.         16.  As  ye  have  drunk — the  prophet  addresses  his  own  people, 
 
 to  whom  he  uttered  this  prophecy, — Newc,  so  Preb.  Lowth.  1 7.  Upon 
 mount  Zion,  ^c,  remarkably  verified  at  the  first  preaching  of  the  Gos- 
 pel, when  God's  law  came  forth  from  Zion,  (Isa,  ii,  3;  Joel,  ii,  32;  Ps, 
 ex,  2.) — Prel}.  Lowth.  18.  Be  afire,  literally  accomplished,  1  Mac. 
 
 V.  3 ;  spiritually,  in  the  first  times  of  the  apostles,  or  shall  be  in  the 
 final  destruction  of  Antichrist,  denoted  by  Esau  and  Edom,  (see  Isa. 
 iv.  4  ;  Jer.  xxiii,  29  ;  Rev,  xi,  5  ;  see  also  Rev,  xvii,  Iti,  and  xviii.  8, 
 and  xix.  20  ;  Mai,  iv,  1  ;  comp,  with  this,  Zech.  xii,  6, — Gill.  ly.  Anil 
 they  of  the  south,  ^c. — the  words  import  the  conquest  of  the  Jews  over 
 their  idolatrous  neighbours. — Preb.  Lowth.  Edom  lay  to  the  south, 
 the  Philistines  to  the  west,  Ephraim  to  the  north,  and  Gilead  to  the 
 cast.  Those  who  returned  from  Babylon  were  to  extend  themselves 
 every  way, — Newc.  Since  the  land  of  Judea,  and  the  countries  adja- 
 cent to  it,  were  never  as  yet  inhabited  by  the  Jews  in  the  form  and 
 manner  here  mentioned,  it  rather  respects  their  settlement  in  their  own 
 land  in  the  latter  day, — Gill;  or  the  enlargement  of  the  church  of 
 Christ  in  the  times  of  the  gospel, — Poole.  20,  Zarephath,  Sarcpta,  a 
 city  of  the  Zidonians,  (1  Kings,  xvit.  9,)  i.  c.,  they  should  possess  the 
 wiiole  city  of  Phoenicia,  called  here  that  of  the  Canaanltes.— .^.  Clarke. 
 Sepharad — Li^^htfooPs  conjecture  that  this  was  part  of  Edom  is  the 
 most  probable  of  any.  Those  who  were  captives  among  the  Cauaanites 
 should  possess  the  country  of  the  Canaanites;  and  those  whom  the 
 Edomites  had  enslaved  should  possess  the  cities  of  their  masters, — See 
 Lowth.  21,  Saviours,  '  deliverers,' — Newc.  See  1  Mac.  v.  3 — 5,  65, 
 &c.  These  may  mean  Jewish  leaders  and  conquerors,  as  Judg.  iii.  9; 
 Isa.  xix.  20  ;  or  spiritually,  preachers  of  salvation,  (comp.  ver.  17,  and 
 Amos,  ix,  12,) — Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Reflections, — This  prophecy  exhibits,  I.  Tlie  righteous 
 retribution  of  God  on  the  enemies  of  his  chvrch.  All  that  Edom 
 did  in  acts  of  cruelty  to  Israel  was,  according  to  Josephus, 
 witiiin  the  space  of  four  years,  requited  upon  her,  *  Verily 
 there  is  a  God  that  judgetb  in  the  earth.' 
 
 II.  The  final  triumph  of  the  Church  of  God,  in  spite  of  all  her 
 enemies.  While  her  enemies  lick  the  dust,  she  shall  lift  up 
 her  head  with  joy  ;  when  their  empires  shall  he  written  in  the 
 earth,  her  empire  shall  extend  to  its  remotest  boundaries, — 
 '  the  kingdom  shall  be  the  Lord's.' 
 
 949 
 
JONAH. 
 
 [This  propliet  was  of  the  tribe  of  Zalniliui,  and  born  at  Gath-licplier,  in  that  tribe.  See  2  Kings,  xiv.  25;  Josh.  xix.  13. 
 Ha  is  supposed  to  have  flourished  in  the  reigns  of  Jelioasli  and  Jerol)Oani  II., and  lie  predicted  the  success  of  tiie  latter  in 
 restoring  'the  coast  of  Israel.'  Bishop  Lloyd  thinks  it  very  likely  that  he  might  have  begun  to  prophesy  towards  tlie 
 latter  end  of  Jehu's  reign.  It  is  thought  by  some  that  he  had  but  little  success  in  Israel,  and  was  in  consequence  sent 
 to  pro|)hesy  in  Nineveh,  the  capital  of  the  Assyrian  empire.  Most  of  this  book  is  a  narrative.  It  is  quoted  or  alluded 
 to  in  Matt.  xii.  ,"39 — 41 ;  Luke,  xi.  30 — 32;  and  Heb.  xiii.  15.  Jonah  is  the  fifth  of  the  small  prophets,  but  supposed 
 to  have  been  the  most  ancient  of  the  whole  whose  writings  we  possess.] 
 
 CHAP.  1. 
 
 1  Jiimh,  icnlto  NiveveIi,flcethto  Tarshish.  4  He  is 
 hcwrai/ed  by  a  U-nipest,  1 1  thrown  into  the  sea,  \1  and 
 swallowed  by  a^fish. 
 
 NOW   the  word  of  the    Lord    catne   unto 
 "  II  Jonah  the  son  of  Amittai,  saying, 
 
 2  Arise,  go  to  Nineveh,  that  ''great  city,  and 
 cry  again.st  it ;  fur  '  their  wickedness  is  come 
 up  before  me. 
 
 3  But  Jonah  •"  rose  up  to  flee  unto  Tarshish 
 from  the  presence  of  tlie  Lord,  and  went  down 
 to  °  Joppa  ;  and  he  found  a  ship  going  to  Tar- 
 shish :  so  he  paid  the  fare  thereof,  and  went 
 down  into  it,  to  go  with  them  unto  Tarshish 
 'from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 
 
 4  flint  '■'the  Loud  fsent  out  a  great  wind 
 into  the  .sea,  and  there  was  a  mighty  tempest 
 in  the  sea,  so  that  the  ship  f  was  like  to  be 
 broken. 
 
 5  Then  the  mariners  were  afraid,  and  cried 
 every  man  unto  his  god,  and  ''  cast  forth  the 
 w^ares  that  tverc  in  the  ship  into  the  sea,  to 
 Hghten  it  of  theiu.  But  Jonah  was  gone  down 
 '  into  the  sides  of  the  ship  ;  and  he  lay,  and 
 was  fast  asleep. 
 
 6  So  the  shipmaster  came  to  liiin,  and  said 
 unto  him.  What  meanest  thou,  O  sleeper? 
 arise,  '■  call  upon  thy  God,  '  if  so  be  that  God 
 will  think  upon  us.  that  we  perisli  not. 
 
 7  And  they  said  every  one  to  his  fello.v, 
 Come,  and  let  us  '"  cast  lots,  that  we  may 
 know  for  whose  cause  tliis  evil  is  upon  us. 
 So  they  cast  lots,  and  the  lot  fell  upon  Jonah. 
 
 8  Then  said  they  unto  him,  "  Tell  us,  we 
 pray  thee,  for  whose  cause  this  evil  is  upon 
 US;  What  is  thine  occupation?  and   whence 
 
 u.  c. 
 
 cir.  8tJ2. 
 
 II  Ci,M..,l, 
 Mai.  12. 
 
 6«e.i    lll.n, 
 
 1-2.  ch.a.  i, 
 
 3.  Xc  1.  II. 
 cGoii.  18.20, 
 
 SI.  EzTH  9. 
 
 ti.  Jaiii.  5.i. 
 
 Rev. 18.  5. 
 d  ch.  .1    2. 
 eJ.«h.l9.-Vr>, 
 
 2  Clir.2  16. 
 
 Ai:ls  9.  S6. 
 /Gen    4.  Hi 
 
 J<ili  1.  12.  & 
 
 2    7. 
 S  Pi.  107  25. 
 I  Hi-li.  cait 
 
 /.„«. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 ihmigtil  In  iie 
 
 AS.1  ArU27 
 
 19, 19,  sa. 
 
 4  Ph.  I(17.3s. 
 I  Jool  2.  11. 
 
 n,  .l™h  7.lt, 
 I'i  I  s.iin. 
 Iil.2>',  Jl.  tk 
 U.  11,42. 
 I'm.  16  as. 
 A<-l«  I.  26. 
 
 >sl, 
 
 1  Sam.  11. 
 
 II  Or.  .lE- 
 Hor.lH. 
 
 ;  I's.  M6   6. 
 ActR  17.21 
 
 t  H,-b.  Kill, 
 firclfa,. 
 
 \  II  cb.  ninu 
 
 h*  nle„t 
 
 f*om  ..«. 
 II  Or,  grea 
 
 mora  and 
 
 ntore  tempM- 
 
 tW'Ut. 
 
 \  Heb.  Ksiil. 
 jfjobu  II.SO. 
 
 t  Hfh. 
 
 7  I'ru,  ai.3" 
 
 r  Dou.  il.  8. 
 I  Ps.  115.  3. 
 
 t  Pa,  80.  9. 
 I. like  S.  2A. 
 \  Heb.*f«"rf. 
 
 u  Mark  4-11. 
 Arts  5.11. 
 t  Hob.  *'icM- 
 
 fic'  it"tu  the 
 LORD,  ami 
 
 X  Mnt.  la. 
 141.  &  Ifl.  (. 
 Luk."  II  3LP 
 
 comest  thou?  what  is  thy  country?  and  of 
 
 what  people  art  thou? 
 0   And  he  said  unLo  them,  I  ayn  an  Hebrew  ; 
 and  I  fear    ||  the  Lord,   tlie  God    of  heaven, 
 °  whicli  hath  made  the  sea  and  the  dry  land. 
 
 10  Then  were  the  men  f  exceedingly  afraid, 
 and  said  unto  him,  Why  hast  thou  done  this? 
 For  tiie  men  knew  that  he  fled  from  the  pre- 
 sence of  the  Lord,  hecause  he  had  told  them. 
 
 1 1  t  Then  said  they  unto  him.  What  sliall 
 we  do  unto  thee,  tliat  the  sea  f  may  be  calm 
 unto  us?  for  the  sea  ||  f  wrought,  and  was 
 tempestuous. 
 
 VI  And  be  said  unto  them,  ''Take  me  up, 
 and  cast  me  fortli  into  the  sea  ;  so  shall  the 
 sea  be  calm  unto  you  :  for  I  know  that  fur  my 
 sake  this  great  tempest  is  upon  yon. 
 
 13  Nevertheless  the  men  f  rowed  hard  to 
 bring  it  to  the  land  ;  ''  but  they  could  not : 
 for  the  sea  wrought,  and  was  tempestuous 
 against  them. 
 
 14  Wherefore  they  cried  unto  the  Lord, 
 and  said.  We  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  we  be- 
 seech thee,  let  us  not  perish  for  this  man's 
 life,  and  ^  lay  not  upon  us  innocent  blood  :  for 
 thou,  ()  Lord,  ''hast  done  as  it  pleased  thee. 
 
 15  So  they  took  up  Jonah,  and  cast  him  forth 
 into  the  sea  :  *  and   the  sea  f  ceased  from  her 
 
 iging. 
 
 16  Then  the  men  "  feared  the  Lord  exceed- 
 ingly, and  t  offered  a  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord, 
 and  made  vows. 
 
 17  H  Now  the  Lord  had  prepared  a  great 
 fish  to  swallow  up  Jonah.  And  *  Jonah  was 
 in  the  f  belly  of  tlie  fish  three  days  and  three 
 nights. 
 
 Notes  on  Ch.vp.  I.  —  2.  Great  city,  larger  than  Babylon,  sixty  mik'S 
 in  circumference,  encompassed  with  walls  on  which  three  cliariots 
 might  drive  abreast. — So  Strabo,  3.  Tarshish,  Carthage,  a  miglity 
 city  in  Africa. — But.,  as  Sept.  There  were  more  places  tlian  one  so 
 named.  Most  learned  men  think  this  was  Tartessus,  upon  the  river 
 Boetis,  in  Spain  ;  a  very  remote  part  in  the  then  known  world. — Bry- 
 ant.  It  wa*i  Tarsus  in  Cilicia.— C/(irAe.  One  or  other  of  these,  and  not 
 the  Indian  Tarshish,  to  which  tliey  sailed  from  Ezi<in-Geber  on  the  Red 
 Sen.—Boiit/ir.  From  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  the  place  where  he 
 usually  revealed  his  will  to  the  prophets.— Poo/e.  Joppa,  a  seaport 
 town  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  upon  the  Mediterrauerin  Sea,  where  was  a 
 haven  of  ships,  formerly  called  Japho,  (Josh.  xi.x.  46,)  at  tliis  time 
 Joppa,  as  it  was  in  tlie  times  of  the  apostles,  (mentioned  Acts,  ix.  36, 
 and  X.  b.)~Gill.  He  found  a  s/«;j— the  Phoenicians  carried  on  a  consi- 
 derable trade  with  Tartessus,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  12,)  and  it  was  probably 
 in  one  of  their  ships  that  Jonah  embarked.  4.  Broken,  i.e..  wrecked, 
 — Clarke.  5.  Into  the  sides,  into  one  of  the  sidts,  into  a  c.ibin  there. 
 —Gill.  Or  one  of  the  cabins. — Glassius.  It  means  the  sleeping  berths. 
 —Pict.  Bih.  ".  Cast  lofs~i\\Q  lot  was  often  used  as  a  kintl  of  ordeal, 
 both  by  the  heathens  and  the  Jews. — Booth  r.  12.  Cast  me  forth — 
 
 he  was  sensible  that  he  deserved  to  die  such  a  deatli.  and  wished  to 
 preserve  the  lives  of  the  innocent  men.— Gi/^.  l6.  Feared  Hie  Lord— 
 they  were  convinced  of  the  power  and  greatness  of  that  God  whom 
 Jonah  worshipped,  which  apiieared  both  in  raising  the  sturra  and  so 
 -suddenly  laying  it. — Preli.  Linvth.  And  offered  a  sacrifice,  a  spiritual 
 sacrifice,  the  sacrifice  of  praise  and  thanksgiving.— Gi//.  Really  offered 
 a  sacrifice ;  so  understood  by  Clarke.  And  made  vows,  that  is,  '  made 
 vows  to  sacrifice  as  soon  as  they  should  have  opportunity.'  The  copu- 
 lative particle  in  the  Hebrew  is  sometimes  used  by  way  of  explication. 
 —Prefi.  Loivth,  as  also  Drusius.  17.  A  ^reat  fish,  a  great  31,  '  pre- 
 server,' to  enclose  and  envelop  him,  ^S^\  and  Jonah  was  in  the  inner 
 part  of  the  preserver  three  days  and  nights.  This  preserver,  generally 
 believed  to  be  a  fi^h,  was  a  ship,  or  some  dcscrijition  of  tloating-  vessel, 
 950 
 
 which  the  root  31  signifies,  and  which  was  providentially  provided  for 
 the  purpose. — So  C.  Taylor,  so  also  Less,  and  other  German  critics. 
 This  criticism  does  indeed  disturb  our  preconceived  views  and  long- 
 established  prejudices,  but  is  innocent  enough;  it  does  not  seem  ne- 
 ce-isary  that  we  should  here  understand  there  was  any  miracle  wrought, 
 but  only  a  display  of  extraordinary  providence;  and  this  might  be  a 
 type  as  well  as  a  miracle.  It  is,  however,  obvious  that  tlie  Sept.  un- 
 derstood this  of  a  fish. — Kd.  The  kind  ol  fish  is  not  here  specified,  but 
 the  Greek  translators  take  the  liberty  to  give  us  the  word  Kmo^,tvhalc; 
 and  though  St.  Matthew  (xii.  40.)  makes  use  o(  the  same  word,  we  may 
 probably  conclude  that  he  did  so  in  a  general  sense,  and  that  we  are 
 not  to  understand  it  as  an  appropriated  term,  to  point  out  the  parti- 
 cular species  of  fish.  It  is  notorious  that  sharks  are  common  in  the 
 Mediterranean.— il.  Watson.  Such  a  large-devouring  creature  is  the 
 shark,  that  in  it  sometimes  has  been  found  tlie  body  of  a  man,  and 
 even  of  a  man  in  armour,  as  many  writers  have  observed. — Gill,  see 
 Bach.  The  text  does  not  oblige  us  to  affirm  that  the  fish  actually 
 swallowed  Jonah,  but  only  detained  him  in  his  mouth,  which  is  as  large 
 as  a  good  sized  room  ;  Iuiwcvlt,  this  was  a  miracle,  and  God  could  as 
 well  preserve  Jonah  in  the  belly  of  the  fish,  as  the  Hebrew  youths  in 
 the  fiery  furnace. — Pict.  Bib.  The  fame  of  Jonah's  deliverance  appears 
 to  have  spread  among  the  heathen  nations  ;  and  the  Greeks,  who  were 
 accustomed  to  adorn  the  memory  of  their  heroes  by  every  remarkable 
 event  and  embellishment  which  they  could  appropriate,  added  to  the 
 fictitious  adventures  of  Hercules  that  of  having  continued  three  days, 
 without  injury,  in  the  belly  of  a  dog,  or  sea-monstt-r,  sent  against  bnn 
 by  Neptune. — Hew.  Three  days  and  three  nights— the  precise  time  was 
 thus  determined,  to  prefigure  the  period  of  our  Lord's  continuance  in 
 the  grave,  (Matt.  xii.  40.)  The  miracle  of  preserving  Jonah  serveil  to 
 spread  the  knowledge  of  Jehovah;  and  it  also  taught  Jonah,  and  in 
 him  the  whole  prophetical  order,  GjU's  power  and  determination  to 
 enforce  his  commands. — Netvc. 
 
The  proi/iw  rif  Jonah. 
 
 JONAH,  II.,  III.,  IV. 
 
 2'hc  Nincvites'  repentance. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I    T/ic  prayer  of  Jonah.     10  He  is  ddiccrcd  from  Ikt 
 
 fish. 
 'T'HEN    Jonah   prayed    unto    the   Lokd  Ws 
 •*-    God  out  of  the  fish's  belly, 
 
 2  And  said,  I  "cried  ||  hy  reason  of  mine  af- 
 fliction unto  the  Loru,  ''and  he  heard  rae  ; 
 out  of  tlic  belly  of  ||  hell  cried  I,  (iiul  thou 
 heardest  my  voice. 
 
 3  '  For  thou  hadst  cast  me  into  the  deep,  in 
 the  t  midst  of  the  seas  ;  and  the  floods  com- 
 passed me  about :  ''  all  thy  billows  and  thy 
 waves  passed  over  me. 
 
 4  "^  Then  I  said,  I  am  cast  out  of  thy  sight ; 
 yet  I  will  look  again  'toward  thy  holy  temple. 
 
 3  The  ^waters  compassed  me  ahoni, even  to 
 the  soul  :  the  depth  closed  me  round  about, 
 the  weeds  were  wrapped  aliout  my  head. 
 
 6  I  went  down  to  the  f  bottoms  of  tlie  moun- 
 tains ;  the  earth  with  her  bars  iras  about  me 
 for  ever :  yet  hast  thou  brought  up  my  life 
 •■from  II  corruption,  O  Lord  my  God. 
 
 7  When  my  soul  fainted  within  me  I  remem- 
 bered the  Lord:  'and  my  prayer  came  in 
 unto  thee,  into  thine  holy  temple. 
 
 8  They  that  observe  '  lying  vanities  forsake 
 their  own  mercy. 
 
 9  But  I  will  '  sacrifice  unto  thee  with  the 
 voice  of  thanksgiving ;  I  will  pay  that  that  I 
 have  vowed.     "'  Salvation  /s  of  the  Lord. 
 
 10  If  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  the  fish,  and 
 it  vomited  out  Jonah  upon  the  dry  laml. 
 
 CHAP.  in. 
 
 1  Jo7in/>,  setit  again,  prfachrtfi  to  the   NineiuUs.      5 
 Upon  tht^ir  repentance,  10  God  rcpentcth. 
 
 \  ND  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 -^*-  Jonah  the  second  time,  saying, 
 
 2  Arise,  go  unto  Nineveh,  that  great  city, 
 and  preach  unto  it  the  preaching  that  I  bid 
 thee. 
 
 n  Vs.  120.  I. 
 It  1*1.  1.  & 
 Mi  1.  Lam. 
 ■i.  fiS,  5G. 
 
 II   Of,  ./!</  t)f 
 
 ti"n. 
 b  Rs.  C,^.  2. 
 II  Or,  ll,a 
 
 \  Heb.  tiNirt. 
 d  Ps.  42.  7. 
 ^  Fb.  SI.  23. 
 
 /I  Kill.  S  38. 
 
 jPs 
 
 h  Pa.  lli.  10. 
 II  Or,  «.«  pit. 
 
 k  2  Kin.  17. 
 
 15.  r.s.  ;ll.ti. 
 
 .Tei.  tu.  8.  Si 
 
 IIJ,  m. 
 /  Ps   0\\   M, 
 
 2:1   tt  110. 
 
 17.  IH 
 
 I   ll..b.  r./- 
 tfo,'..    So 
 Gen.  ail.  8 
 I'B.  .'IG.  6.  ist 
 SO.  10. 
 
 a  Sfe  Oeut. 
 I>i.  22. 
 
 AM.it  12.  11. 
 Luke  11.32. 
 
 c  Ji>h  2.  9. 
 d  -i  niir.  20. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 e  la  S8  0. 
 /Is.  69.6. 
 
 g  2  Sam.  12. 
 22.  Juel  2. 
 
 /.  Jor    18- S. 
 AmoLi  7.^,0, 
 
 6  K.^   .11..  6. 
 Ps.  96  5. 
 Joel  2-  l;l. 
 
 3  So  Jonah  arose,  and  went  unto  Nineveh, 
 according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord.  Now 
 Nineveh  was  an  ^exceeding  great  city  of  three 
 days'  journey. 
 
 4  And  Jonah  began  to  enter  into  the  city  a 
 day's  journey,  and  °  he  cried,  and  said,  Yet 
 forty  days,  and  Nineveh  shall  be  overthrown. 
 
 5  liSo  the  people  of  Nineveh  ^believed  God, 
 and  proclaimed  a  fast,  and  put  on  sackcloth, 
 from  the  greatest  of  them  even  to  the  least  of 
 them. 
 
 0  For  word  came  unto  the  king  of  Nineveh, 
 and  he  arose  from  his  throne,  and  he  laid  his 
 robe  from  him,  and  covered  him  with  sack- 
 clotli,  "^  and  sat  in  ashes. 
 
 7  '  And  he  caused  it  to  be  proclaimed  and 
 t  published  through  Nineveh  by  the  decree  of 
 the  king  and  his  f  nobles,  saying.  Let  neither 
 man  nor  beast,  herd  nor  flock,  taste  any  thing: 
 let  them  not  feed,  nor  drink  water: 
 
 8  But  let  man  and  beast  be  covered  with 
 sackcloth,  and  cry  mightily  unto  God  :  yea, 
 "  let  them  turn  every  one  from  his  evil  way, 
 and  from  '  the  violence  that  is  in  their  hands. 
 
 9  ^  Who  can  tell  ly  God  will  turn  and  repent, 
 and  turn  away  from  his  fierce  anger,  that  we 
 perisli  not? 
 
 10  II ''  And  God  saw  their  works,  that  they 
 turned  from  tlieir  evil  way  ;  and  God  repented 
 of  the  evil,  that  he  had  said  that  he  would  do 
 unto  them  ;  and  he  did  it  not. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Jonah,  repmiitij  at  God's  mvrcy,  4  is  reprnved  hy  the 
 
 type  of  a  ijourd. 
 T>  UT  it  displeased  Jonah  exceedingly,  and 
 -'-'  he  was  very  angry. 
 
 t2  And  he  prayed  unto  the  Loud,  and  said,  I 
 pray  thee,  ()  Lord,  was  not  this  my  saying, 
 when  I  was  yet  in  my  conntry  ?  Therefore  1 
 ''fled  hefore  unto  Tarshish  :  for  I  knew  that 
 thou  art  a  ^gracious  God,  and  merciful,  slow 
 
 Chat.  II.— J.  Jonah  prayed — this  appears  to  have  been  ronceivcd  in 
 the  fish's  belly,  but  written  after  Jonah  came  out  of  it. — So  DnncEus. 
 2.  The  belli/  of  hell,  tlie  fish's  belly,  which  was  as  the  grave  to  Jonah. 
 — J«r.,    GUI,  so  Preb.    Lowth,    Netvr.  5.  Weeds — the   sea,    where 
 
 fathomable,  is  generally  covered  with  vegetation,  springing  up  amidst 
 the  fragments  of  rocks  which  form  the  bottom. —  Wit.  He  was  wrapj)ert 
 in  the  weeds  the  fish  had  taken  for  his  aliment.— C/M?/:e.  6.  Was 
 about  vie,  'would  have  been    about  me.' — Waterhind.  8.  Lijifii^ 
 
 vanities,  '  fal'ic  vanities,'  •  idnls.'  See  Deut.  xxxii.  21  ;  Ps.  xxxi.  6. 
 Some  of  the  German  critics  consider  this  as  a  prophetic  dream,  or  pa- 
 rabolic representation. — So  Herjna?i  Van  der  fjnrdt,  and  H.A.  Grimm. 
 
 Cii\p.  111.  ~  2.  And  preach,  §-c.,  n>*'">pi^ '"''^  l^T*'' '  ^""^ '^""^  *''^  ^'"V 
 that  1  bid  thee.'  *Be  my  herald,  and  faithfully  deliver  my  message.* — 
 A.  Clarke.  3.  Of  three  days'  journey — twenty  miles  was  then  the 
 day's  journey  of  a  foot  traveller.— Pre6.  Lowth,  The  circuit  nf  the  city 
 seems  to  be  here  meant  j  and  in  the  next  verse  the  day's  journey  the 
 length  of  Nineveh. — Pict.Bib.  4.  Yet  forty  days— the  Sept.  read, 
 
 •three  days,'  but  this  is  thought  to  be  an  error  of  the  scribe. — 5;*/. 
 Nineveh  shall  be  ovcrthrotvn,  understand  it  with  this  reservation  — 
 unless  they  repent. — Sanderson.  5.  Believed  Gud— the  people  might 
 have  heard  of  the  prophets  of  Israel  and  their  God,  and  from  the  man- 
 ner in  which  Jonah  delivered  the  message,  and  the  distance  which  he 
 came  to  do  it,  they  might  he  induced  to  give  it  the  more  credit. — 
 Boothr.  6.  The  king,  probably  Pul,  the  king  of  Assyria.— fsAer. 
 
 About  thirteen  years  after  the  death  of  Jeroboam  II.,  it  was  this  king 
 who  invaded  Israel :  but  his  predecessor  might  possibly  be  the  one 
 here  alluded  to.  Ashes— s^q  this  eastern  custom,  Esth.  iv.  3  ;  Job,  ii. 
 8;  Isa.  Iviii.  5  ;  Jer.  vi.  26;  Matt.  xi.  21.  7.  Nur  6e«si— though  the 
 Jews  did  not  make  beasts  fast,  some  other  nations  did ;  it  was  usual 
 among  the  Greeks  on  the  death  of  a  hero  to  make  the  horses  fast  for 
 some  time,  and  cut  off  part  of  their  hair. — Pict.  Bib.  Taste  any  thing, 
 — the  eastern  mode  of  fasting  was  abstinence  from  food  till  the  even- 
 ing, {2Sam.  i,  12  )—Newc.  10.  God  repented—God  is  said  to  repent 
 when  there  is  a  cliange  in  his  providence  towards  a  people. — Buothr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap,  I, —  We  may  profitably  notice 
 two  things  in  this  chapter — I.  The  canlcss  conduct  of  the  pro- 
 phet. He  was  asleep  in  the  storm,  and  insensible  of  bis  dan- 
 ger. This  is  '  but  too  faithful  a  picture  of  that  carnal  ease 
 and  security  in  which  unregenerate  men  in  general  are  found, 
 who,  in  spite  of  all  the  dangers  which  surround  them,  and  all 
 the  threatenings  of  the  divine  law,  still  continue  in  impeni- 
 tence and  unbelief,  braving  the  terrors  of  an  eternal  world,  or 
 leaving  the  issue  with  fatal  indiflerence  till  ingulfed  in  end- 
 less misery  and  despair. 
 
 II.  The  admonition  of  the  mariner.  *  Rise,  call  upon  thy 
 God.'  This  not  only  indicates  that  even  the  heathpn  tiiem- 
 selves  in  times  of  great  extremity  invoked  their  imaginary 
 deities,  bat,  as  contrasted  'with  the  conduct  of  the  Hebrew 
 stranger,  the  name  of  whose  God  was  known  in  all  the  rartli, 
 it  administered  the  severest  reproof.'  Let,  then,  the  sinner 
 arise,  and  call  upon  his  God.  He  is  still  seated  on  a  throne 
 of  grace,  ready  to  hear  and  able  to  save.  ^^ 
 
 Rfflections   on   Chap.  II 1.  Godis  the  last  refuge  of  the 
 
 distressed.  From  '  the  belly  of  hell'  Jonah  cried  to  God. 
 There  is  no  distress  so  deep  from  which  we  may  not  raise  our 
 931 
 
 prayer  to  God's  throne.  If  we  have  forgotten  God  before,  it 
 is  happy  for  us  if  we  then  are  taught  to  remember  him,  and 
 to  seek  that  mercy  and  forgiveness  whicli  he  is  ever  ready  to 
 bestow  upon  the  broken  and  contrite  heart. 
 
 II.  In  all  oitr  dcHva'ances  from  distress,  God's  hand  is  to  he. 
 acknowltilycd.  Thus  we  shew  that  our  hearts  are  in  a  right 
 frame,  we  set  up  a  memorial  for  our  own  future  encourage- 
 ment, and  we  afford  encouragement  to  others.  Let  us,  then, 
 sacrifice  to  God  with  the  voice  of  thanksgiving,  and  acknow- 
 ledge with  gratitude  that  'salvation  is  of  the  Lord.' 
 
 Rlflfctions  on  Chap.  III.  — •  Notice  here,  I.  7'ne  messttge 
 delivered  to  the  people.  ]  t  was  a  warning  voice  of  approaching 
 danger.  That  voice  yet  speaks  from  the  lips  of  the  heralds 
 of  mercy,  and  says  to  all  that  go  on  in  their  sins,  *  Except 
 ye  repent,  ye  sliaU  all  likewise  perish.' 
 
 II.  The  people's  riyard  to  the  message.  They  believed — they 
 humbled  themselves,  and  repented.  The  Jews  disregarded 
 their  prophet,  but  the  Ninevites  received  him  as  the  messen- 
 ger of  God.  How  often  do  the  most  abandoned  receive  the 
 word  in  sincerity  and  repent,  while  those  who  have  long 
 heard  it  receive  '  the  grace  of  God  in  vain.* 
 
Jonah  is  reproved  by 
 
 JONAH,  IV. 
 
 the  type  of  a  gourd. 
 
 to  anger,  and  of  great  kindness,  and  repentest 
 thee  of  tlie  evil. 
 
 3  '  Therefore  now,  O  Lord,  take,  I  beseech 
 thee,  my  life  from  me ;  for  ■^  it  is  better  for  me 
 to  die  than  to  live. 
 
 4  IT  Then  said  the  Lord,  ||  Doest  thou  well 
 to  be  angry  ? 
 
 5  So  Jonah  went  out  of  the  city,  and  sat  on 
 the  east  side  of  the  city,  and  there  made  liim 
 a  booth,  and  sat  under  it  in  the  shadow,  till  lie 
 might  see  what  would  become  of  the  city. 
 
 6  And  tlie  Lord  God  prepared  a  ||  t  gourd, 
 and  made  it  to  come  up  over  Jonah,  that  it 
 might  be  a  shadow  over  liis  head,  to  deliver 
 hini  from  his  grief.  So  Jonah  f  was  exceeding 
 glad  of  the  gourd. 
 
 7  But  God  prepared  a  worm  when  the  morn- 
 ing rose  the  next  day,  and  it  smote  the  gourd 
 that  it  withered. 
 
 K.  (;. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 ctr.  802. 
 
 Civ.  8C2. 
 
 II  Or,  tileiit. 
 
 c  1  Kin.  19. 
 
 ♦. 
 
 d  vcr.  8. 
 
 f  ver.  S. 
 
 11  Or.  .Ir/ 
 
 M"t(  greallij 
 
 11  Or,  Jtrt 
 
 llm  grtatl) 
 
 It  Or,  /nm 
 
 grcalls 
 
 „ue,yt 
 
 II  Or,  tpared. 
 
 II  Or,  r-'n.- 
 
 cral. 
 1  Hch. 
 Ilih/ijnri. 
 
 t  Hcb.  irai 
 
 «.c  m  «/ 
 
 fch.  1.2.  8c 
 
 3,  ^.  3. 
 
 t  Hcb    re- 
 
 j'nceii  iP'"i 
 
 S  Dcu.  1.  39. 
 
 i)rci/j"y. 
 
 4  P«.  36,  6. 
 
 &  1.15.  9. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  sun  did 
 arise,  that  God  prepared  a  ||  vehement  east 
 wind  ;  and  the  sun  heat  upon  the  head  of 
 Jonah,  that  he  fainted,  and  wished  in  himself 
 to  die,  and  said,  ^  It  is  hetter  for  me  to  die 
 than  to  Hve. 
 
 9  And  God  said  to  Jonah,  ||  Doest  thou  well 
 to  be  angry  for  the  gourd?  And  he  said,  ||  I 
 do  well  to  be  angry,  even  unto  death. 
 
 10  Then  said  the  Lord,  Tliou  hast  ||  had 
 pity  on  the  gourd,  for  the  wliich  thou  hast  not 
 laboured,  neither  madest  it  grow  ;  which  fcame 
 up  in  a  night,  and  perished  in  a  night : 
 
 11  And  should  not  I  spare  Nineveh,  ^that 
 great  city,  wherein  are  more  than  sixscore 
 thousand  persons  ^  that  cannot  discern  be- 
 tween their  right  hand  and  tlieir  left  hand  ; 
 and  aho  much  ''cattle? 
 
 Chap.  IV.  — 3.  Than  to  lire,  under  the  imputation  of  being:  a  false 
 prophet. — Preb.  Lowth.  4.  Doest  thou  ivell  to  be  nngnj  ?  mn  3-*nn 
 "tV,   Ms  anpcr  good  for  thee?* — A.  Clarke.         5.  So  Jonah  went  out, 
 
 'and  .lonah  had  gone  out.'  — PiWj.  Lowth,  so  AVwr.,  Jiaothr.,  Cliirke. 
 A  hooih,  'a  shL'ltcr.*  The  word  signifies,  an  artificial  covert,  as  a  tent 
 or  booth, — Newc. ;  and  sometimes  a  shelter,  in  the  preparing  of  which 
 no  art  is  nsed,  (Jer.  xxv.  38  ;  and  Job,  xxxviii.  40.)  fi.  Prepared  a 
 gourd,  'had  prepared,'  which  may  lead  us  to  think  that  this  gourd, 
 which  Jonah  happened  to  find  in  this  desert  place,  was  the  booth  under 
 which  he  sheltered.— H'zr.  By  the  *  gourd,'  miderstand  the  '  ricinus,' 
 or  '  patma  chiisti.' — Jioch.,  HUler,  Celcius.  The  palnia  chri^ti  grows 
 in  the  east  to  heights  of  fourteen  feet,  is  most  abundant,  and  tlie  growth 
 very  rapid.^fioi.  This  tree  is  high  as  the  olive,  the  leaves  of  it  large 
 as  those  of  the  vine,  and  is  quick  in  its  growth.  We  may,  however, 
 justly  attribute  a  miraculous  growth  to  that  which  shaded  Jonah. — 
 Xeu'c.  To  dttii'i'i-  him  from  his  ^rief.  from  the  burning  heat  of  the 
 SUM,  which  addcil  to  his  grief  and  vexation. —  Preh.  Lowth.  7-  Pre- 
 pftred  fl  worm — the  palma  christi,  in  the  coursp  of  a  very  short  period, 
 produces  the  *  rough  caterpiller  ;'  and  in  one  night,  where  the  cater- 
 pillers  are  abundant,  will  they  strip  the  tree  of  its  leaves,  and  thus 
 
 take  away  the  sliade.  The  blind  worm  of  the  east,  said  to  be  produced 
 by  the  dew,  also  begins  its  devastations  at  what  is  called  the  cabbage 
 part  of  the  palm,  and  soon  destroys  the  tree.  8.  A  vehement  east 
 
 wind — the  margin  lias  it  'silent.'  which  probalily  means  '  calm.'  Thus, 
 when  there  is  a  lull  of  an  easterly  wind,  and  tlie  sun  pours  his  fierce 
 rays  on  the  traveller's  head,  it  seems  as  if  life  must  depart :  birds  and 
 beasts  pant ;  there  is  the  silence  of  death,  and  nature  seems  ready  to 
 expire. — Rolj.  10.  Hnd  pity  on  the  gourd — Jonali  seems  to  have  been 
 grieved  that  so  extraordinary  and  beautiful  a  plant  perished,  as  well  as 
 for  the  loss  of  its  shelter. — Newc.  1 1 .  That  citnnot  discern,  ^-c,  i.  e., 
 infants,  who  know  neither  good  nor  evil,  as  it  is  expressed,  Deut.  i. 
 3p  ;  Isa.  vii.  15, 16. — Pre/).  Lowth.  Si.rscore  Ihoiisnnd — reckoning  those 
 of  a  tender  age  at  a  fifth  part,  the  city  containeil  600,000  inhabitants. — 
 See  Boch.  Geog.  This  population  is  much  less  than  London  or  Paris, 
 though  they  occupy  not  one  quarter  of  the  ground.  But  in  eastern 
 cities  there  are  large  vacant  spaces  for  gardens  and  pasturages,  so  that 
 there  might  be  '  very  much  cattle.' — Gree/if.  Much  cattle—in  the  large 
 circuit  of  Nineveh,  as  in  that  of  Babylon,  space  was  probably  left  for 
 cattle  to  feed. — Newc. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  — This  chapter  affords  a  fine 
 di.tplay  of  the  merciful  and  compassionate  character  of  God — ■ 
 l.T'iu'drds  iiuii?.  It  was  more  marvellous  that  lie  spared  the 
 murraurins  prophet  than  that  he  raised  up  the  pourd.  It  was 
 a  beautiful  illustration  of  liis  mercy,  that  immediately  on  their 
 repentance,  he  withdrew  his  band  ami  forbore  to  strike  the 
 guilty  Ninevites.   *  He  is  not  willing  that  any  should  perish.' 
 
 II.  Towards  infants.  God  here  exhibited  the  most  lovely 
 tenderness.    Let  infidels  read  this   chapter,  and  ever  after 
 
 blush  at  their  daring  impiety  in  calling  God  a  tyrant.  That 
 they  are  spared  in  their  impiety  is  because  he  is  the  very  re- 
 verse, and  often  his  tender  mercy  softens  the  heart  and  leads 
 the  most  obdurate  spirits  to  repentance. 
 
 III.  Towards  the  hrute  creation  God  even  extends  his  re- 
 gards. '  His  tender  mercies  are  over  all  his  works.'  Let  us 
 iearn  to  be  kind  to  these  interesting  products  of  his  mighty 
 power,  and  remember  that  God  in  his  bounty  and  care  does 
 not  overlook  them. 
 
 MICA  H. 
 
 [MicAH  was  a  prophet  orjudah,  but  liis  propliecics  relate  to  both  Jud.ih  and  Israel.  He  prophcsierl  '  in  the  clays  ot  Jothani, 
 Ahaz,  and  Hezekiah,  kings  of  Jiidah,'  whose  contemporaries  in  Israel  were  the  two  last  kings,  I'ekah  and  Hoshea.  His 
 immediate  ijredecessors  or  contemporaries  were  Isaiah,  Hosea,  Joel,  and  Amos.  He  has  some  expressions  in  common 
 with  Isaiah  ;  compare  Isa.  ii.  2,  witli  Mic.  iv.  1  ;  and  Isa.  xli.  13,  wich  Wie.  iv.  1.3.  The  New  Testament  has  references 
 to  Micah  in  Matt.  ii.  6;  vii.  l."");  Luke,  i.  3.3,  72,  73  ;  John,  i.  1  ;  vii.  42;  x.  21,  35, 36;  Eplies.  v.  16;  Ileb.  xiii.  13,14  ; 
 Rev.  xi.  1.5.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1    Micah  shfit'cth  the  wrath  of  God  against  Jacoh  Jar 
 iiiohiiry.     10   He  exhorteth  to  mourning. 
 
 'T'HE  word  of  the  Lord  that  came  to  °  Mi- 
 ■'-  cah  the  Morasthite  in  the  days  of  Jothani, 
 Ahaz,  oHrf  Hezekiah,  kings  of  Judah,  ■•  which 
 he  saw  concerning  Samaria  and  Jerusalem. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 i-ir.  750. 
 
 o  Jor.  2G.  IS 
 b  Amos  1.  I 
 
 cir.  759. 
 
 t  Hcb  //i-ir, 
 
 ifi'  pritple, 
 
 aU  «f  them, 
 r  neu-  S-^.  I 
 
 Is    1.2. 
 f  Heb.  ihr 
 
 th^ff. 
 d  Ps.  f.n  7. 
 
 Mai.  3  5. 
 ^  P3  11.4. 
 *33.  29.    Amos  4.  IS. 
 
 2  t  Hear,  all  ye  people;  "heavken,  O  earth, 
 and  fall  'hat  therein  is:  and  let  the  Lord  God 
 ''be  witness  against  you,  the  Lord  from  "his 
 holy  temple. 
 
 3  For,  behold,  '  the  Lord  cometh  forth  out 
 of  his  "  place,  and  will  come  down,  and  tread 
 upon  the  ''high  places  of  the  earth. 
 
 Jonah  2.  7.  Hab.  2.  20.     /  Is.  26,  21 .       <j  Ps.  1 15.  3.       ft  Deu.  32.  13. 
 
 NoTzs  ON  Chap.  I.  —  \.The  Morasthite,  supposed  to  have  been  a 
 native  of  Mnrasthi,  a  vmage  near  the  city  of  Eleutheropolis,  in  the 
 southern  part  of  Jndah.— Gra;/.  2.  Ml  ye  people,  tlba  □'□!?.  or  'the 
 people  all  of  them.'— Pag.,  Mont.,  Vat.,'Corc.,  fic.  The  nations  of 
 Israel,  so  called  from  their  various  tribes.— Gi7/.  O  earth,  yiN,  'land,' 
 the  country  Of  tlie  Hebrews.— .4.  Clarke.  Be  witness  agaitM  !/iik.D33, 
 or  '  in  you.'— j1/on«.,  Jan.,  Trent.,  Coi:c.  By  his  word— (aw— proiihcts 
 —judgments:  so  by  his  omniscience  and  truth. —Poo/c.  From  /li.i  Itolu 
 952 
 
 temple,  generally  understood,  'from  heaven;'  so  called,  Ps.  xi.  4.— 
 Poc,  Preb.  Lowth,  so  Gitl.  In  one  solemn  court  the  Lord  would 
 judjie  and  witness  against  his  people,  and  by  his  judgments  should 
 vindicate  the  sentence  of  his  ser\-ants  against  sin. — Hutc.  3.  Cometh 
 forth,  ^-c- Gnd  is  said  to  come  forth  from  heaven,  when  he  causes  hia 
 mercies  or  bis  judgments  to  be  seen  on  earth.— Gro^  And  treail  upon 
 the  high  places,  syibilae  places  of  the  greatest  streiigtb,  and  bring  down 
 men  of  the  highest  rank,  (see  Amos,  iv.  13.)— Preh.  Lowth.     There 
 
Micah  shewi'th  GoiCs  wrnth  ai/niiist  Jacob. 
 
 MICAII,  ir. 
 
 He  exhorteth  lo  mouniinr/. 
 
 4  And  '  the  mountains  shall  he  molten  under 
 him,  and  the  valleys  shall  be  cleft,  as  wax  be- 
 fore the  fire,  and  as  the  waters  that  are  poured 
 down  f  a  steep  place. 
 
 5  For  the  transgression  of  Jacob  is  all  this, 
 and  for  the  sins  of  the  house  of  Israel.  What 
 is  the  transgression  of  Jacob?  is  it  not  Sama- 
 ria? anil  what  ace  the  high  places  of  Judah  ? 
 are  they  not  Jerusalem  ? 
 
 6  Therefore  1  will  make  Samaria  '■as  an  heap 
 of  the  field,  and  as  plantings  of  a  vineyard  : 
 and  I  will  pour  down  the  stones  thereof  into 
 the  valley,  and  I  will  '  discover  the  foundations 
 thereof. 
 
 7  And  all  the  graven  images  thereof  shall  be 
 beaten  to  pieces,  and  all  the  '"  hires  thereof 
 shall  be  burned  with  the  fire,  and  all  the  idols 
 thereof  will  I  lay  desolate:  for  she  gathered  it 
 of  the  hire  of  an  harlot,  and  they  shall  return 
 to  the  hire  of  an  harlot. 
 
 8  Therefore  "  I  will  wail  and  howl,  °  I  will  go 
 stripped  and  naked  :  ''  I  will  make  a  wailing 
 like  the  dragons,  and  mourning  as  tlie  fowls. 
 
 9  For  II  her  %vound  is  incurable;  for  'Mt  is 
 come  unto  Judah ;  he  is  come  unto  the  gate  of 
 my  people,  even  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 10  %  '  Declare  ye  it  not  at  Gath,  weep  ye  not 
 at  all :  in  the  house  of  ||  Aphrah  'roll  thyself 
 iii  the  dust. 
 
 11  Pass  ye  away,  ||  thou  f  inhabitant  of  Sa- 
 phir,  having  thy 'shame  naked:  the  inhabitant 
 of  II  Zaanan  came  not  forth  in  the  mourning  of 
 
 Cir.  750. 
 
 i  Ju-J?.  5.  5. 
 
 Ps.  W.  s. 
 
 la.GI.  l,?.3. 
 
 AmoH  9   5. 
 
 Hab.  3.6,10. 
 ♦  Heb.  .1 
 
 *  9  Kin    19. 
 Co.ch.  3.I-: 
 
 lis.  21.3.  & 
 
 sr  4.  Jer. 
 
 I   19. 
 
 '  Is.  20.  2, 3, 
 
 4. 
 /(  Job  30.  29. 
 
 Ps.  tl)2.  fi. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 dauffltlfrs  tif 
 
 Ihe  oi»(. 
 II  Or,  she  is 
 
 lick  of  tier 
 
 rSSam.l.Go. 
 II  Thai  is, 
 
 du-^t. 
 s  Jer.  6.  26. 
 II  Or,  Iho-i 
 
 thai  dutiUtt 
 
 fa.H,. 
 t  Heb.  m- 
 
 hnbttreji. 
 
 I  la.  20.  4.  & 
 47.  2,  3. 
 Jer.  13   29. 
 >'ali.  3.  b. 
 
 II  Or,  (/.« 
 comlry  ./ 
 
 B.  l:. 
 cjr.  750. 
 
 II  Or,  n  ,,/a„ 
 
 II  Or,'  .TO. 
 e,i,„d. 
 II  Amos  3.  6. 
 
 y  a  Sam.  8.2. 
 2  Kin.  18. 
 11,  15,  Iti. 
 
 II  Or,/»r. 
 
 II  That  is, 
 <i  111-. 
 
 :  Josh  15.44. 
 
 II  Josh  15.44. 
 
 II  Or,  lAif 
 Hlors  ofh- 
 rml  ihalt 
 c»™e,  *c. 
 
 62Cbr.ll.7, 
 
 c  Job  1.  20. 
 Is.  15.2.8c 
 22.  12.  Jer, 
 7.29.  &  10. 
 0.  «£  47.  5. 
 &  18.  37. 
 
 d  Lam.  4.  5. 
 
 cir.  730. 
 
 Hos.  7.  6. 
 
 6  P».  36.  4. 
 
 e  Gea.  31.29. 
 
 d  Is.  5.  3. 
 Or,de/raud. 
 
 ||15eth-ezel;  he  shall  receive  of  you  his  stand- 
 ing. 
 
 l-i  For  the  inhabitant  of  Maroth  ||  waited 
 carefully  for  good  :  but  "  evil  came  down  from 
 the  LoiiD  unto  the  gate  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 13  O  thou  inhabitant  of  "  Lachish,  bind  the 
 chariot  to  the  swift  beast:  she  is  the  beginning 
 of  the  sin  to  the  daughter  of  Ziou  :  for  the 
 transgressions  of  Israel  were  found  in  thee. 
 
 l-i  Therefore  shall  thou  'give  presents  ||  to 
 Moresheth-gath  :  the  houses  of  ||  '■  Achzib 
 sha/l  he  a  lie  to  the  kings  of  Israel. 
 
 |j  Yet  will  I  bring  an  heir  unto  thee,  O  in- 
 habitant of  ■■•  Wareshah  :  ||he  shall  come  unto 
 ■^  Adullam  the  glory  of  Israel. 
 
 IG  Make  thee  'bald,  and  poll  thee  for  thy 
 •'delicate  children  ;  enlarge  thy  baldness  as  the 
 eagle  ;  for  they  are  gone  into  captivity  from 
 thee. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Against  oppression.  4  A  lamentation .  7  A  reproof 
 of  injustice  and  idolatry,  12  A  promise  of  restoring 
 Jacob. 
 
 WOE  to  them  ^that  devise  iniquity,  and 
 **  work  evil  upon  their  beds!  when  the 
 morning  is  light,  tliey  practise  it,  because*"  it 
 is  in  the  power  of  their  hand. 
 2  And  they  covet  "^  fields,  and  take  i/iem  by 
 violence;  and  houses, and  take //ie?/i  away  :  so 
 they  II  oppress  a  man  and  his  house,  even  a  man 
 and  his  heritase 
 
 may  be  an  allusion  to  the  places  where  idols  were  worshipped. — Gilt. 
 4.  The  mount ains  shall  be  molten,  §-c.,  all  nature  shall  coniess  his  pre- 
 sence.— Newc.  An  aliusion  to  God's  comine' upon  Sinai. — Preb.  Louth. 
 Rather  understand  it  figuratively  oi  the  kin^sof  Israel  andJudah,  and 
 their  ^reat  men.  Vallct/s,  may  design  the  hnver  part  of  the  people  and 
 inhabitants  of  the  villages.  Down  a  steep  place,  with  swiftness,  force, 
 and  rapidity.  5.  W/tnt  is  the  transgression,  ^c.  ?  *  What  notorious 
 crime  lias  he  committed?'  The  answer  is,  Is  it  not  Sumuria?  The 
 wickedness  of  Samaria,  the  calf  of  Samaria,  as  in  Hos.  vii.  1 ,  and  viii.  6. 
 Wtint  are  the  high  places  of  Judah? — who  have  set  them  up  and  en- 
 couraged idolatrous  worship?  Are  they  not  Jerusalem? — the  king, 
 princes,  and  priests  that  dwell  at  Jerusalem.— Gi//.  6.  As  an  heap, 
 
 turn  it  into  a  heap  of  ruins,  (comp.  chap.  iii.  12  ;  2  Kings,  xix.  25  ;  Neb. 
 iv.  2 ;)  like  the  heaps  of  stones  laid  together  iu  a  field  lately  ploughed, 
 or  in  a  vineyard  newly  planted,  (cnmp.  Hos.  xii.  11  ;  Isa.  v.  2.) — Preb. 
 Lowth.  7-  Hires,  idols,  Targ.  Beautiful  garments  which  adorned 
 the  idols.— A'tmcA).  All  their  wealth  and  good  things,  which  they 
 looked  on  as  the  gifts  of  their  idols,  and  ihe  rewards  of  their  idolatrous 
 service.— Pof.  Most  hkcly,  as  A.  Clarke  thinks,  the  money  gained  by 
 prostitution  in  the  temples  for  the  support  of  the  priesthood.— Cow ?n. 
 in  loc.     For  she  gathered  it,  ?fc. — 
 
 '  For  from  the  hire  of  an  hailot  hath  she  gathered  her  treasures; 
 And  to  the  hire  of  an  harlot  shall  they  return.' — Newc. 
 8.  Therefore  I  will  wail,  ^c,  *  I  will  sympathize  with  the  calamities  of 
 my  countrymen,'  (comp.  Isa.  xxii.  4  ;  Jer.  iv.  19-} — Preb.  Lowth,  Go 
 stripped  and  naked,  that  is,  to  his  shirt,  putting  off  bis  upper  garment, 
 the  rough  one  worn  by  the  prophets. — Gill.  Wearing  the  dress  of 
 mourners,  whose  custom  it  was  to  go  without  their  upper  garments  ; 
 nr  with  those  they  wore  rent  and  torn.  This  would  fitly  denote  the 
 wretched  condition  to  which  the  ten  tribes  would  be  reduced. — So 
 Preb.  Loirth.     Drag07is~see  Jub,  xxx.  29,  note. 
 
 '  I  will  make  a  wailing  like  the  foxes  [jackals] ; 
 And  mourning,  like  the  daughters  of  the  ostrich.* — Newc. 
 The  bowlings  of  the  jackal  at  night  are  said  to  be  most  lamentable, 
 and  the  ostrich  is  remarkable  for  fearful  shrieking  and  agonizing 
 groanings  after  night. — See  Shaw,  A.  Clarke.  9-  Her  wound  is  in- 
 rnrable,  '  grievous,*  or  'her  stroke  his  desperate,*  Vulg.  'Nothing 
 shall  prevent  her  utterruin.* — A.  Clarke.  Heis came,  '  it  hath  reached.' 
 If).  Not  at  all,  'not  with  loud  weeping.*  —  Newc.  The  people  are 
 counselled  not  to  make  known  their  calamity  by  any  public  expression 
 of  sorrow,  lest  their  enemies  should  rejoice. — Poc.  In  the  house  of 
 Aphrah  roll,  §■(.■,,  in  Beth-ophrah,:  see  Josh,  xviii.  23.) — Newc.  Or  it  may 
 be  rendered,  'in  the  house  of  dust  roll  thyself  in  the  dust,*  having 
 respect  to  the  condition  houses  would  be  in  at  this  time,  mere  heaps  of 
 dust  and  rubbish,  so  that  they  would  find  enough  easily  to  roll  them- 
 selves in. — Gill.  'Ophrah,  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  is  further  off  from 
 the  Phihstines,  and,  that  they  may  not  take  notice  of  it,  silently  mourn. 
 
 or  roll  thyself  in  the  dust.'— Poc,  see  Preb.  Lowth,  and  Gill.  11.  Sa- 
 phir,  ox  'the  fair  city,'  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  between  Eleutheropolis 
 andAscalon. — Eusebins.  Some  think  Samaria  is  intended;  others  Je- 
 rusalem.— Poc.  Having  thj/  shame  naked,  '  naked  and  in  confusion.' 
 Zuunan,  in  the  trilie  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  .I?.)  Beth-ezel,  near  Jeru- 
 salem, (Zech.  xiv.  .').) — Newc.  This  verse  seems  to  mean,  that  when 
 Bethtzcl  was  taken,  the  inhabitants  of  Zaanan  came  not  fortli  to  he- 
 wail  with  or  comfoit  them,— standing  on  theirown  guard,  or  awaiting 
 their  own  like  destiny.  He  shall  receive  of  you  his  sttniding,  'the 
 enemy  shall  in  your  spoil  receive  the  reward  of  his  time  and  labour  in 
 besieging  you.* — So  Poc.  12.  For  the  inhabitant  of  Maruth,  a  city 
 in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  59.) 
 
 '  Surely  the  inhabitress  of  Maroth  is  sick  unto  death. 
 Surely  evil  hath  come  down  from  Jehovah  unto  the  gate  of  Jerusalem.* 
 Newc,  see  Boothroi/d^s  rea.d'wg,  note  on  ver.  l6, 
 
 13.  Bind  the  cttariot,  tlee  as  fast  as  possible  from  the  advancing  enemy. 
 Lachish,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah. — So  Gill.  She  is  the  beginning  of 
 the  siJi,  ^c,  '  she  was  the  beginning  of  sin.' — Newc.  Lyiug  upon  the 
 borders  of  the  ten  tribes,  this  was  the  first  of  the  cities  of  Judah  that 
 gave  in  to  the  idolatry  of  Jeroboam.  14.  Presents  to  Moresheth-gnth 
 — Lachish  should  be  reduced  to  such  distress  as  to  send  messengers 
 with  presents  to  the  Philistines  at  this  place,  near  Gath.— G(7/.  The 
 houses  of  Achzib,  §-c.,  '  the  inhabitants  of  Achzib  shall  deceive  the  kings 
 of  Israel,*  (see  in  Josh.  xv.  a,)  a  town  so  called.  This  place  would  an- 
 swer to  its  name,  and  disappoint  the  kings  of  Israel  that  depended 
 upon  its  strength  and  assistance. — Preb.  Lowth.  is.  .in  heir  unto 
 thee,  O  inhabilajit  of  Mares  hah,  an  enemy  that  take  the  people  as  an 
 inheritance. — Poc.  Mareshah,  another  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
 mentioned  Josh.  xv.  At.— Gill.  Adullam,  a  royal  city,  (Josh.  xii.  15  ; 
 XV.  35;  2Chron.  xi.  ";  Nell.  xi.  30.)  The  glorij  of  Israel,  perhaps  on 
 account  of  its  situation,  strength,  or  beauty. — Puc.  iG.  Make  thee 
 hald,  fyc,  on  accouutofthe.se  wasting  judgments,  and  conformably  to 
 the  custom  of  bitter  mourning,  ,Job,  i.  20  ;  Isa.  iii.  24,  and  xv.  2  ;  Jer. 
 vii.  29.) — Poole.  As  the  eagle,  when  it  moults  and  casts  off  all  its  fea- 
 thers, as  it  does  in  old  age,  (see  the  allusions  in  Ps.  ciii.  5  ;  Isa.  xl.3I .) 
 — Gill.  They  are  gone  ijtlo  captivity,  a  prediction  of  the  captivity  by 
 Shalmaneser. — A.  Clarke.  There  is  a  paranomasia  or  play  upon  words 
 throughout  this  chapter  in  several  of  the  names  of  places  ;  for  rPE- . 
 •Aphrah,*  (ver.  10,)  means  'dust;'  pt<2,  'Zaanan,'  (ver.  11,)  corres- 
 ponds withtlie  word  rrj^i",  '  to  go  out,'  rendered,  'came  forth.*  Ver. 
 13.  miO*  'Maroth,'  signifies  'bitter,'  and,  therefore,  in  accordance 
 with  the  rest  of  the  chapter.  Boothruyd  reads,  '  for  the  inhabitress  of 
 Maroth  is  sick  to  bitterness.*  [He  substitutes  no"?,  for  yv^Lb,  as  pro- 
 bably the  genuine  reading,  according  to  the  suggestion  of  Newc.} 
 TlliU,  'Achzib,'  (ver.  14,)  signifies  'a  lie;*  and  mriO,  '  Mareshah,' 
 (ver.  15,)  alludes  to  the  word  'heir,*  iDTn,  the  former  signifying  *  in- 
 heritance.'— Clarke,  Gill. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I. — God^s  word  demands  atten- 
 tion. When  be  speaks,  we  ought  to  lend  an  attentive  ear. 
 What  he  ihrealens  to  execute  against  sin  and  impenitent  sin- 
 ners will  assuredly  come  to  pass. 
 
 II.  God*s  providences  illttstrate  his   word.        Nations  are  pU' 
 
 nished,  and  it  is  for  their  sins.  History  is  a  practical  comment 
 upon  revelation,  and  revelation  is  a  sure  key  to  many  parts 
 of  history.  '  Is  there  evil  in  the,  city  and  the  Lord  hath  not 
 done  it  T 
 
A  lamentation 
 
 MICAH,  in. 
 
 The  cruelty  of  the  princes. 
 
 3  Therefore  tluis  saith  the  Lord  ;  Behold, 
 agauist  "■'  this  family  do  I  devise  an  evil,  from 
 which  ye  shall  not  remove  your  necks ;  neither 
 shall  ye  go  haughtily  :  '"for  this  time  is  evil. 
 
 4  t  In  that  day  shall  one  ^  take  up  a  parahle 
 against  you,  and  ^  lament  f  with  a  doleful  la- 
 mentation, and  say,  We  be  utterly  spoiled  : 
 'he  hath  changed  the  portion  of  my  people: 
 how  hath  he  removed  it  from  me !  ||  turning 
 away  he  hath  divided  our  fields. 
 
 o  Therefore  thou  shalt  have  none  that  shall 
 ^  cast  a  cord  by  lot  in  the  congregation  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 6  II  f  *  Prophesy  ye  not,  say  they  to  them 
 that  prophesy :  they  shall  not  prophesy  to 
 them,  that  they  shall  not  take  shame. 
 
 7  IT  O  thou  that  art  named  the  house  of 
 Jacob,  is  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  ||  straitened? 
 are  these  his  doings?  do  not  my  words  do 
 good  to  him  that  walketh  f  uprightly? 
 
 8  Even  f  of  late  my  people  is  risen  up  as  an 
 enemy :  ye  pull  off  the  robe  f  with  the  garment 
 from  them  that  pass  by  securely  as  men  averse 
 from  war. 
 
 9  The  II  women  of  my  people  have  ye  cast 
 out  from  their  pleasant  houses ;  from  their 
 children  have  ye  taken  away  my  glory  for  ever. 
 
 10  Arise  ye,  and  depart ;  for  this  is  not  your 
 ""rest:  because  it  is  "polluted, it  shall  destroy 
 yoti,  even  with  a  sore  destruction. 
 
 11  If  a  man  ||^  walking  in  the  spirit  and  false- 
 hood  do  lie,  saying,  I  will  prophesy  unto  thee 
 of  wine  and  of  strong  drink  ;  he  shall  even  be 
 ihe  prophet  of  this  people. 
 
 12  tPl  will  surely  assemble,  O  Jacob,  all  of 
 thee ;  I  will  surely  gather  the  remnant  of  Israel ; 
 I  will  put  them  together  ''  as  the  sheep  of  Boz- 
 
 /■AmosS.  13. 
 
 Rph.  5.  16. 
 K'  Hiib.  2.  6. 
 ft  2  Sam.  1. 
 
 17 
 t  Heb.  uti//.  a 
 
 nf  tumtnta- 
 
 Hint. 
 
 i  ch.  I.  15. 
 II  Or.  Mi/^'irf 
 
 II  Or,  Pt'.- 
 yhfty  n-l  as 
 Ihet/  pr»- 
 phety. 
 
 t  Heb.  Drfp, 
 
 Eiek.  91.2. 
 Us.  30-  10. 
 Amos  2.  12, 
 &  7.  l*i. 
 
 ■df 
 
 ,1  Or, 
 
 tt..,rtfl 
 t  Heb 
 
 right  i 
 t  Heb.  V"- 
 
 tfrdtff. 
 t  Heli.  ovtr 
 
 II  Or,  teitiet. 
 
 Sa.Jer.H.-' 
 n  Or,  u,>.lh 
 
 teind,  and 
 liff„l*th. 
 o  Ezek.  13.3. 
 
 7  Jer.  31.  10. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  "SO. 
 
 ■  Eiek.  36. 
 37. 
 
 *  Hos.  3.  5. 
 I  Is.  52.  12. 
 
 c  Kzek.  11. 
 
 S,  7. 
 dPd.  19.41. 
 
 Pro    I.2S. 
 
 Ts     r.   15. 
 
 ]'.7fk     H    Ifl 
 
 Zc-ch.7.  13. 
 
 e  Is  66  111, 
 II  Kzo.  13 
 U).  &  22  25. 
 
 Afli.  2.  U. 
 Mat.  7    15. 
 
 g  Eick.  13. 
 ie,  19. 
 
 h  Is.  9.  20, 
 
 22.  F.ie.  13. 
 
 23,  '21. 
 Z.!ch    13   4. 
 
 t  H.;b./rum 
 
 t  Heb, /rom 
 
 rah,  as  the  flock  in  the  midst  of  their  fold  : 
 '  they  shall  make  great  noise  by  reason  of  ihe 
 multitude  of  men. 
 
 13  The  breaker  is  come  up  before  them:  they 
 have  broken  up,  and  have  passed  through  the 
 gate,  and  are  gone  out  by  it :  and  '  their  king 
 shall  pass  before  them,  'and  the  Lord  on  the 
 head  of  them. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I    The  a  mUy  of  the  princes.     5    The  fahchood  of  the 
 prophets.     8   The  securitij  of  them  both. 
 
 A  ND  I  said,  Hear,  I  pray  you,  O  heads  of 
 -^*-  Jacob,  and  ye  princes  of  the  house  of 
 Israel ;  ^  Is  it  not  for  you  to  know  judgment  ? 
 
 2  Who  hate  the  good,  and  love  ihe  evil  ;  who 
 pluck  off  their  skin  from  off  them,  and  their 
 flesh  from  off  their  bones  ; 
 
 ;}  Who  also  ''  eat  the  flesh  of  my  people,  and 
 flay  their  skin  from  off  them  ;  and  they  break 
 their  bones,  and  chop  them  in  pieces,  as  for 
 the  pot,  and  "^as  flesh  within  the  caldron. 
 
 4  Then  "^  shall  they  cry  unto  the  Lord,  but 
 he  will  not  hear  them  :  he  will  even  hide  his 
 face  from  them  at  that  time,  as  they  have  be- 
 haved themselves  ill  in  their  doings. 
 
 5  t  Thus  saith  the  Lord  '^concerning  the 
 prophets  that  make  my  people  err,  that  ^  bite 
 with  their  teeth,  and  cry,  Peace  ;  and  ^nethat 
 putteth  not  into  their  mouths,  they  even  pre- 
 pare war  against  him : 
 
 6  ''  Therefore  night  shall  be  unto  you,  f  that 
 ye  shall  not  have  a  vision  ;  and  it  shall  be  dark 
 unto  you,  f  that  ye  shall  not  divine  ;  'and  the 
 sun  shall  go  down  over  the  prophets,  and  the 
 day  shall  be  dark  over  them. 
 
 7  Then  shall  the  seers  be  ashamed,  and  the 
 
 Chap.  II. — 3.  FamfVy,  the  word  is  equivalent  to  'people,*  (see  Jer. 
 i.  15.) — PreO.  Lowth.  Remove  your  necks,  a  forcible  and  expressive 
 metaphor,  derived  from  oxen  yoked  together  when  drawing  the  plough. 
 — Hetv.  4.  Take  up  a  parable,  ^c. — your  wickedness  and  your  pu- 
 nishment shall  be  subjects  of  common  conversation;  and  a  funeral 
 dirge  shall  be  composed  and  sung  for  you  as  for  the  dead.  The  dirge 
 begins,  '  We  be  utterly,'  and  ends  with  'doings,*  (ver.  7.)  5.  Casta 
 cord,  ffc. — there  should  be  no  possessions  left  for  the  usual  mode  or 
 division.— So  Clarke.  See  J-tsh.  xviii.  10.  The  reference  is  to  the 
 Hebrew  law.  When  a  father  died,  having  four  sons,  they  divided  his 
 land  into  five  lots ;  two.  or  a  double  portion,  belonged  to  the  eldest 
 son,  and  the  other  three  to  the  rest.— So  Sut.  6.  Prophesy  ye 
 not,  ^c. — 
 
 '  Prophesy  not,  say  they,  O  ye  that  prophesy. 
 
 Should  they  not  prophesy  to  such  as  these, 
 
 Yet  will  their  disgrace  not  be  removed.* 
 
 7.  O  thou,  ^c— 
 
 '  Doth  the  house  of  Jacob  indeed  say, 
 Is  the  Spirit  of  Jehovah  straitened  ?  are  these  his  doings  ? 
 Do  not  my  words  impart  1,-oud 
 To  him  who  walketh  uprightly  ?' 
 
 8.  Ye  pull  nj' the  robe,  ^^.,  they  shewed  their  enmity  to  God  by  acts  of 
 cruelty  and  robbery.— Bow (/ir.  To  strip  a  traveller  of  his  clothes  is  a 
 common  form  of  robbery  in  the  east.— Ptci.  Bib.  g.  The  women  of 
 my  people  hare  ye  cast  out,  ffc, '  by  your  sins  ye  cause  them  to  go  into 
 captivity.' — Newc.  Widows  are  here  meant,  whom  they  oppressed, 
 and  whose  property  they  seized. — Boothr.  From  their  children,  ^c, 
 '  from  their  children  ye  take  away  glory  for  ever.* — Boothr.,  as  Syr. 
 Ye  have  taken  their  children  with  a  design  to  sell  them  to  the  heathen, 
 (see  Joel,  iii.  6,)  that  they  may  be  bred  up  in  idolatry,  and  forfeit  ali 
 their  right  to  the  privileges  of  my  temple  and  worship.— Preft.  Lowth. 
 10.  Arvie  ye,  and  depart,  fyc. — the  warning  is  to  good  men  not  to  think 
 of  family  establishments,  but  of  emigrating  to  places  of  safety. — Sut. 
 W.  In  the  spirit  and  falsehood,  or  '  in  the  spirit  of  falsehood.' — Preb. 
 Lowth.  Saying,  I  will  prophesy  unto  thee  of  wine,  ^c,  '  prophesy  unto 
 thee  for  wine,'  Scc—Newc,  adopted  by  Boothr.  '  Soothe  you  in  glut- 
 tony and  drunkenness,  and  tell  you  of  that  free  scope  you  shall  have 
 
 to  wioe  and  strong  drink.' — Dp.  Hall.  12.  /  will  .surely  assemble, 
 Sfc. — this  is  a  promise  to  the  remnant  of  the  Jewish  nation,  such  as  is 
 often  subjoined  to  the  threatenings  of  impending  judgments. — Preb. 
 Lowth,  so  Hutc,  and  Clarke.  I  tvill  put  them  together  as  the  sheep  of 
 Bozrah,  a  place  famous  for  flocks  and  pastures,  signifying  that  they 
 should  be  takeu  care  of  by  the  great  and  good  Shepherd. — Gill.  These 
 words  ought  to  be  regarded  not  as  a  promise,  but  as  a  denunciation  of 
 punishment :  '  they  shall  be  pent  up  in  their  cities  by  their  enemies  as 
 sheep  in  a  fold,  &c.,  and  through  fear,  notwithstanding  their  numbers, 
 they  shall  be  in  a  tumult  and  make  a  noise.'— Boo/Ar.  13.  The 
 breaker,  ^-c,  'the  increaser,'  (Isa.  ix.  T;  si.  1 ;  comp.  chap.  iv.  10.) — 
 Seek.  May  mean  'John  the  Baptist.'— Poc.  Rather  '  Christ.*- Gi//. 
 He  who  is  to  give  them  deliverance,  and  lead  them  out  on  the  way  of 
 their  return.  And  Jehovah  being  at  their  head,  may  refer  to  their  final 
 restoration,  when  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  become  their  leader. — Clarke. 
 The  term  t»n3,  is  scarcely  ever  taken  in  a  good  sense,  (s^e  Exod.  xix. 
 22—24;  J  iidg.  xxi.  15;  Ps.  xvii.  4 ;  Jer.  vii.  11.)  It  denotes  the 
 enemy,  the  troops;  and  Dn^3D7f  '  before  them,'  refers  to  the  Israehtes. 
 Their  king,  Shalmaneser.  The  cities  being  taken,  the  king  leadeth  his 
 own  troops  and  the  captive  Israelites  under  the  direction  of  Jehovah, 
 whose  instrument  he  is. — Buolhr.  'The  breaker'  signifies  '  the  king 
 of  Assyria.'  The  Lord  on  the  head,  ^c,  for  the  Lord  sent  the  Assy- 
 rians against  the  hypocritical  nation,  (Isa.  x.  5,  6.) — Sut.  2  Kings, 
 XXV.  4,  mentions  that  '  the  city  was  broken  up,*  i.  e.,  the  enemy  made 
 a  breach ;  and,  while  they  were  entering  the  city  at  one  end,  Zedekiah 
 and  his  men  broke  a  way  out  between  the  walls  of  the  king's  garden, 
 and  attempted  their  escape:  they  broke  out,  and  passed  the  gate, 
 (ver.  5,)  but  the  king  was  taken  and  carried  to  Babylon,  as  had  been 
 predicted. — Wil.  The  king  Messiah  is  meant,  who  is  king  of  Zion, 
 that  goes  before  bis  people  as  a  shepherd  before  his  flock. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  HI.  —  I.  0  heads — the  sanhedrim,  judges,  rulers,  and  nobles, 
 are  here  addressed. — Gill.  2.  Who  pluck,  §-c.— proverbial,  charging 
 with  the  highest  injustice  and  inhumanity,  (see  Ezek.  xxii.  27 ;  Zeph. 
 iii.  3.) — Poole.  Acting  like  wild  beasts  rather  than  faithful  shepherds. 
 —Ed.  3.  Al.-io  eat  the  flesh— and  flay ,  like  cannibals,  which  still  more 
 sets  forth  their  savageness,  inhumanity,  barbarity,  and  cruelty.  Chop 
 them,  ^c,  as  cooks  break  the  bones  to  get  at  the  marrow,  &c. — Gill. 
 6.  Therefore  night,  ^c,  their  calamities  should  come  upon  them  as  a 
 
 REri.FCTioNS  ON  CiiAP.  II. — Two  remarlcs  may  here  be 
 usefully  made— I.  God  observes  our  inmost  thoughts.  Those 
 who  'devise  mischief  on  their  beds' are  seen  by  no  mortal 
 eyes  ;  but  God  sees  them.  The  midnight  hour  is  the  samp  to 
 him  as  the  noon  day ;  the  most  secret  recess  as  the  public 
 resort  of  the  city  ;  and  the  heart  is  as  open  as  the  countenance 
 —the  thought  as  manifest  as  the  action.  Happy  the  mind  that 
 learns  to  meditate  upon  God  in  tlie  night  watches,  and  the 
 954 
 
 man  who  can  say,  '  when  I  awake,  I  am  still  with  thee.' 
 
 II.  This  is  not  our  rest.  What  the  land  of  Israel  was  when 
 ripe  for  judgment,  so  is  this  world — polluted  and  destined  to 
 be  destroyed,  and  w-e  are  destined  to  be  removed  from  it. 
 Let  us  learn  to  remember,  that  '  here  we  have  no  continuing 
 city,'  and  thus  may  we  be  found  '  seeking  one  to  come,'  for 
 '  there  remaineth,  therefore,  a  rest  for  the  people  of  God.* 
 
The  glory,  peace,  hinf/dom. 
 
 MICAH,  IV. 
 
 ami  victory  of  the  church. 
 
 T 
 
 diviners  confounded  :  yea,  they  shall  all  cover 
 their  t  lips  ;  '  for  there  is  no  answer  of  God. 
 
 8  t  But  truly  I  am  full  of  power  by  the  spirit 
 of  the  Lord,  and  of  judgment,  and  of  might, 
 '  to  declare  unto  Jacob  his  transgression,  and 
 to  Israel  his  sin. 
 
 9  Hear  this,  I  pray  you,  ye  heads  of  the 
 house  of  Jacob,  and  princes  of  the  house  of 
 Israel,  that  abhor  judgment,  and  pervert  all 
 equity. 
 
 10  "They  build  up  Zion  with  "fWood,  and 
 Jerusalem  with  iniquity. 
 
 1 1  "  The  heads  thereof  judge  for  reward,  and 
 ■^  the  priests  thereof  teach  for  hire,  and  the  pro- 
 phets thereof  divine  for  money :  ''  yet  will  they 
 lean  upon  the  Lord,  fand  say.  Is  not  the 
 Lord  among  us?  none  evil  can  come  upon  us. 
 
 12  Therefore  shall  Zion  for  yonr  sake  be 
 'plowed  as  a  field,  'and  Jerusalem  shall  be- 
 come heaps,  and  'the  mountain  of  the  house 
 as  the  high  places  of  the  forest. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1    The  glory,  3  peace,  9  kingdom,   1 1  cmd  victor}/  of  the 
 church. 
 
 1Z>UT  '^  in  the  last  days  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
 ■^  t/iat  the  mountain  of  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the 
 mountains,  and  it  shall  be  exalted  above  the 
 liills  ;  and  people  sliall  flow  unto  it. 
 
 2  And  many  nations  shall  come,  and  say, 
 Come,  and  let  us  fro  up  to  the  mountain  of  the 
 Lord,  and  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob  ; 
 and  lie  will  teach  usof  his  ways, and  we  will  walk 
 in  his  paths:  for  the  law  shall  go  forth  of  Zion, 
 and  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem. 
 
 3  If  And  he  shall  judge  among  many  people, 
 and  rebuke  strong  nations  afar  off;  and  they 
 shall  beat  their  swords  into  ''plowshares,  and 
 their  spears  into  ||  pruniiighooks  :  nation  shall 
 
 +  Heb.  uppet 
 
 /<  I's,  74   9. 
 Amos  8.11. 
 
 n,  Jer. 22.13. 
 '.  Kie.  2S.27. 
 
 Hab.  a.  12. 
 
 Zeph.  3  3. 
 tHob.A/wjrfj. 
 o  Is,   I.  S3, 
 
 I-:«e.  22.  13. 
 
 H..S.  i.  18. 
 
 cl.    7.  3. 
 pJev.  6.  13. 
 7  Is.  4H,  8 
 
 .ler.  7.  4 
 
 K..m  2.  17. 
 f  lleh-  tai,- 
 
 r  Jer.  2G.  18. 
 fh.  I.  6. 
 s  Pe.  79.  I. 
 t  ch.  i.  2 
 
 a  U.  2.  2 
 E/e,  17 
 
 k  Is.  2.  1. 
 Joel  3.  (0. 
 ,  Or,  iri^the; 
 
 B.  C.  710. 
 c  I'S.  -i2.  7. 
 
 d  I  Kin.  4. 
 •25.  Zech.3 
 10. 
 
 *•  Jer.  2.  n. 
 /Zech,  10.12. 
 
 ff  Eze.  34  16. 
 Zeph  3.  19. 
 
 h  Pa  147.2. 
 Eze.  »1.  13, 
 &;!7.  21. 
 
 .'  eh.  2.  IS. 
 
 8t  5.  a,  7,  8, 
 
 &  7-  18. 
 A  Is.  9.  fi.& 
 
 24. 23.  Dan. 
 
 7.  1 4,  27, 
 
 Luke  I.  33 
 
 Rev.  11.  15 
 !l   Or.  E'lar  : 
 
 Gen.  Sj.  21. 
 
 tn  Is.  IS  8. 
 K  SI.3.  Jer 
 30.  6.  &  50. 
 
 o  Obad.  1-2. 
 
 cb,  7- 10- 
 }i  Is.  b5.  8. 
 
 Rum.  11.33. 
 
 </  Is.  51.10. 
 
 not  lift  Up  a  swurd   against   nation,  *■'  neither 
 shall  they  learn  war  any  more. 
 
 4  "^  But  they  sliall  sit  every  man  under  his 
 vine  and  under  liis  tig  tree  ;  and  none  shall 
 make  t/iem  afraid  :  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord 
 of  hosts  hath  spoken  it. 
 
 5  For  •"  all  people  will  walk  every  one  in  the 
 name  of  his  god,  and  ''  we  will  walk  in  the 
 name  of  the  Lord  our  God  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 G  In  that  day,  saith  the  Lord,  ^  will  I  as- 
 semble her  tliat  balteth,  ^and  I  will  gather  licr 
 that  is  driven  out,  and  her  that  I  liave  af- 
 flicted ; 
 
 7  And  I  will  make  her  that  halted  '  a  rem- 
 nant, and  her  that  was  cast  far  off  a  strong 
 nation  ;  and  the  Lord  •'  sliall  reign  over  them 
 in  mount  Zion  from  hencefurth,  even  for  ever. 
 
 8  1[  And  tliou,  O  tower  of  ||  the  flock,  the 
 strong  hold  of  the  daughter  of  Zion,  unto  thee 
 shall  it  come,  even  the  first  dominion  ;  the 
 kingdom  shall  come  to  the  daughter  of  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 9  Now  why  dost  tliou  cry  out  aloud?  ' /.v 
 there  no  king  in  thee?  is  thy  counsellor 
 perished  ?  for  ""  pangs  have  taken  thee  as  a 
 woman  in  travail. 
 
 10  Be  in  pain,  and  labour  to  bring  forth,  O 
 daughter  of  Zion,  like  a  woman  in  travail  :  for 
 now  slialt  thou  go  forth  out  of  the  city,  and 
 thou  shalt  dwell  in  the  field,  and  thou  shalt  go 
 even  to  Babylon  ;  there  shalt  thou  be  deli- 
 vered ;  there  the  Lord  shall  redeem  thee 
 from  the  hand  of  thine  enemies. 
 
 11  IF "  Now  also  many  nations  are  gathered 
 against  thee,  that  say,  Let  her  be  defiled,  and 
 let  our  eye  "look  upon  Zion. 
 
 l-J  But  they  know  not  ^the  thoughts  of  the 
 Lord,  neither  understand  they  his  counsel  :  for 
 he  shall  gather  them  '^  as  the  sheaves  into  the 
 floor. 
 
 dark  night,  when  they  be  in  confusion  like  men  in  utter  diirkne-.s.— 
 Par.  8.  Power  by  the  xpirit,  '  power,  even  the  spirit,*  by  way  of  ap- 
 position.—^tf.«s.  10.  Bt/i!d  up  Zion  with  blood— they  ornamented 
 the  temple,  or  built  splendid  houses,  by  money  taken  as  bribes  from 
 murderers,  nr  got  by  rapine  and  oppression.— A'lmtA?,  GUI.  1 1 .  The 
 prophets,  i.e.,  the  false  prophets,  (see  Zeph.  iii.  4;  Zech.  .\iii.  2.1— 
 Preb.  Lowth.  12.  Be  plowed,  S;c.,  fulfilled  in  part  at  the  destruction 
 of  Jerusalem  by  the  Chaldeans,  when  the  city  was  reduced  to  a  heap 
 of  rubbish  ;  and  more  fully  when  destroyed  by  the  Romans,  and 
 plowed  up  by  Terentius,  or  Turnus  Rufus.  As  the  high  places  of  the 
 foreat,  be  covered  with  grass  and  trees,  briers,  and  thorus.—  Gill. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  In  the  lust  dat/a,  §t.— see  Isa.  ii.  2.  notes.  If,  as 
 lip.  Louth  thinks,  Isaiah  was  first  written,  Uiis  may  fairly  be  consi- 
 dered as  a  quotai  ion,  the  sacred  writers  not  always  aiming  at  verbal 
 exactness.— So  Wil.  Isaiah  and  Micah  were  contemporary  ;  the  repe- 
 tition  of  the  same  words  is  not  surprising,  without  supposing  they 
 might  converse  together,  or  that  Micah  had  become  acquainted  with 
 Isaiah's  prophecy  ;  being  instructed  by  the  same  spirit,  this  close  simi- 
 htudc  in  words  might  be  designed  to  corroborate  the  testimony  of  each. 
 — Ed.  3.  He  shall  judi^e,  •^r. — see  Isa.  ii.  4,  note.  4.  Sit  every 
 man  under  his  vine,  SfC,  a  proverbial  phrase,  expressive  of  the  greatest 
 tranquillity,  security,  and  enjoyment  of  property.— Gf7/.  See  1  Kings, 
 iv,  25,  note.  5.  For,  Sfc,  in  Che  name  of  the  Lord,  i.  e.,  in  the  pro- 
 fession of  Jehovah. 
 
 '  Although  ail  the  people  walk 
 Every  one  in  the  name  of  his  God  : 
 Vet  let  us  walk  in  the  name  of  Jehovah 
 Our  God,  for  ever  and  ever.' — Newc. 
 
 '  Though  all  other  people  will  walk 
 Every  one  in  the  name  of  his  own  God,'  ^c.—Bnotfir. 
 
 6.  Her  thnt  haltcth,  ^n. — the  word  signifies  *  such  as  go  side-way,  and 
 not  uprightly;'  and  fitly  describes  such  who  aeviate  from  the  ways  of 
 
 (Jod,  and  walk  not  according  to  the  Divine  word;  *  now  in  the  last 
 days  of  the  gospel  dispensation  the  Lord  will  convert  the  Jews,  or  heal 
 these  lame  and  mainiL-d  ones.' — Gill.  J.  A  remnant,  fyc,  '  a  part  of 
 them  shall  be  preserved,  in  whom  the  future  designs  of  my  providence 
 shall  be  accomplished.' — Newc.  In  mount  Zion — Zion  is  to  be  taken 
 spiritually  lor  the  church,  over  which  Christ  reigneth,  and  shall  reign 
 forever. — Poc.  S.  Tower  of  the  flock,  meaning,  probably,  Mount 
 Zion.  It  was  customary,  in  extensive  pastures,  to  have  a  frame  erected, 
 of  considerable  height,  to  watch  the  flock.  Zion  is  here  considered  as 
 the  watch-tower  of  the  kingdom. — Wil.  The  first,  'the  former.' — 
 Newc,  so  Boofhr.  This  kingdom  would  be  like  the  first  dominion  of 
 Israel  in  the  days  of  David  and  Solomon  ;  and  would  surpass  and  super- 
 sede all  other  monarchies.  The  Son  of  David  would  come  to  Jerusalem 
 and  establish  his  kingdom,  and  thence  its  influence  would  extend  to 
 other  nations;  and  though  that  city  would  soon  after  be  destroyed, 
 yet  the  evangelical  chiych,  the  spiritual  Zion,  would  succeed  to  itj  in 
 which  Christ  reigns  for  the  benefit  of  his  people,  and  his  cause  must 
 prevail  even  to  the  end  of  the  world. — Scott.  Tlie  divine  theocracy 
 under  Jesus  Christ,  thin  former,  this  first  dominion,  was  to  be  restored. 
 Hence  the  angel  called  him  '  Immanuel,'  Gi)d  with  us,  ruling  among 
 us. — A.  Clarke.  10.  Be  in  pain,  ^c,  bear  thy  troubles  patiently,  like 
 a  travailing  woman,  and  expect  deliverance  from  them. — Gill.  Dwell 
 in  the  field,  live  in  an  obscure  state,  without  any  visible  form  of  go- 
 vernment or  worship. — Preb.  Lowth.  Literally  be  turned  out  of  their 
 houses,  and  collected  in  the  fields  to  march  as  captives  to  Bahylon, 
 Be  delivered,  after  seventy  years'  captivity. — Gill.  1 1.  Maiiy  nations, 
 SfC,  the  Iduraeans,  Ammonites,  Moabitcs.  Philistines,  Babylonians. — 
 Newc.  Let  our  eye  look,  Sfc. — comp.  chap.  vii.  10;  see  Obad.  12. — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  12.  He  shall  gather  them  its  the  .<!heaves,  §■(.•.,  '  for  he 
 
 hath  assembled  them  in  a  sheave  on  the  floor  j'  when  they  have  an- 
 swered his  purpose,  they  shall  be  in  their  turn  punished. — Buothroyd. 
 When  the  nations  are  fully  ripe  for  ruin,  God  will  order  that  the  sickle 
 shall  cut  them  down  and  bind  them  in  bundles,  and  lay  them  on  the 
 threshingfloor  of  wrath  and  vengeance,  and  utterly  destroy  them.— 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  III. —  I.  '  We  see   how  holdhj  r/ood    wichcd  men  trusting  to  their  external  privileges  !     Those  famous 
 
 men  will  speak  and  act  when  undir  the  inftuenrc  of  the  Spirit 
 of  God.  "  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord"  gave  tlie  propliet  finnn*>ss. 
 It  is  very  needful  for  ministers,  especially  in  a  corrupt  age, 
 when  the  leading  raen  of  a  people  set  them  bad  examples,  to 
 maintain  tliis  spirit. 
 
 II.  '  How  common   and  tjii  huw  shockinq,  is   it  to  see  the  most 
 955 
 
 men  cried,  *'  Is  not  Jehovah  among  us  !"  So  it  is  now — some 
 of  the  vilest  persons  boast  of  tbeir  Christian  name,  tbeir  reti- 
 lion  to  the  church,  and  their  zeal  for  it ;  and  trust  in  those 
 privileges  for  salvation  which  will  only  aggravate  their 
 ruin.'  i" 
 
The  birth  of  Christ. 
 
 MICAH,  V. 
 
 His  conquest. 
 
 13  'Arise  and  tliresli,  O  daughter  of  Zion: 
 for  I  will  make  thine  horn  iron,  and  I  will 
 make  thy  hoofs  brass:  and  thou  shalt  'beat 
 in  pieces  many  people ;  'and  1  will  consecrate 
 their  f;ain  unto  the  Lord,  and  their  substance 
 unto  "  the  Lord  of  the  whole  eartli. 
 
 CliAP.  V. 
 
 1  T/tt  birth  of  Christ.  A  Hiskiufjdom.  Q  His  conquest. 
 "IVTOW  gather  thyself  in  troops,  O  daughter 
 -'-^  of  troops  :  he  hath  laid  siege  against  us  : 
 they  shall  "smite  the  judge  of  Israel  with  a 
 rod  upon  the  cheek, 
 
 2  But  thou,  ''  Ik'th-lehem  Ephratah,  thourih 
 thou  be  little  "^  among  the  ''  thousands  of  Ju- 
 dah,  yet  out  of  thee  shall  he  come  forth  unto 
 me  that  is  to  he  "ruler  in  Israel  ;  'whose  go- 
 ings forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  f  ever- 
 lasting. 
 
 3  Therefore  will  he  give  them  up,  until  the 
 time  that  '■'she  which  travaileth  hath  brought 
 forth  :  then  "  the  remnant  of  his  brethren  shall 
 return  unto  tlie  children  of  Israel. 
 
 i  t  And  he  shall  stand  and  ||  '  feed  in  the 
 strength  of  the  Loun,  in  the  majesty  of  the 
 name  of  tlie  Loud  his  God  ;  and  they  shall 
 abide :  for  now  "^  shall  he  be  great  unto  the 
 ends  of  the  earth. 
 
 3  And  this  man  '  shall  be  the  peace,  when 
 the   Assvrian  shall  come  into  our  land  :  and 
 
 B.  C.  710 
 
 R.  C.  710 
 
 Is.  41.  1=.. 
 
 16.  Je(.  51. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 Is    |fl.  7   8* 
 
 t  Hcb.  eat 
 
 23   18.  &  611. 
 
 C.  9. 
 
 <Zecli.t.  14. 
 
 lU,  11. 
 
 fc  1).  &. 
 
 11  Or.  iBilhher 
 
 il-ani.3.30 
 Mat.  b.  39. 
 &  27.  30. 
 
 b  Mat  2,  e. 
 .Tolm  7.  *a. 
 
 :  I  Sau).  £S. 
 
 d  Kx.  19.25. 
 cGen.  49. 10. 
 
 Is.  9,  0. 
 /  Ps.  90.  2. 
 
 Pro,  S  22. 
 
 :>3  Julm  i. 
 
 I. 
 t  Hub.  //"■ 
 
 d,v,sf,/fter. 
 
 g  c\\.  ■\.  10. 
 /.  cli.  4.  7. 
 
 I     Of,    M./-. 
 
 I  Is  41).  11. 
 &  -19.  10 
 Kie.  St.  23 
 
 ch. 
 
 .  II. 
 
 *  Ps -. 
 
 Is.  52.  13. 
 
 Zuch.  9   10 
 
 I.uke  I.  32 
 /  Ps.  72.  7. 
 
 Is.  9.  6. 
 
 Zech.  9.  10. 
 
 Luke  2.  U 
 
 Eph   2.  U. 
 
 ;•  Pi'u  32.  2. 
 ■•s.  72,  6.  »: 
 
 10,  a. 
 
 Or,  goati. 
 
 when  he  shall  tread  in  our  palaces,  then  shall 
 we  raise  against  him  seven  sheplterds,  and 
 eight  f  principal  men. 
 
 6  And  tiiey  sliall  \  waste  the  land  of  Assyria 
 with  the  sword,  and  the  land  of"'  Nimrod  ||  in 
 the  entrances  thereof:  thus  shall  he  "  deliver 
 MS  from  the  Assyrian,  when  he  conieth  into 
 our  land,  and  when  he  treadetli  within  our 
 borders. 
 
 7  And  °  the  remnant  of  Jacob  shall  be  in  the 
 midst  of  many  people  ^as  a  dew  from  the 
 Loun,  as  the  showers  upon  the  <i;rass,  tliat  tar- 
 rieth  not  for  man,  nor  waitelh  for  the  sons  of 
 men, 
 
 8  IT  And  the  remnant  of  Jacob  shall  be  among 
 the  Gentiles  in  the  midst  of  many  people  as  a 
 lion  among  the  boasts  of  the  forest,  as  a  young 
 lion  among  the  flocks  of  ||sheep  :  who,  if  he 
 go  tlirough,  both  treadeth  down,  and  teareth 
 in  pieces,  and  none  can  deliver. 
 
 {>  Thine  hand  shall  be  lifted  up  upon  thine 
 adversaries,  and  all  thine  enemies  shall  be  cut 
 off. 
 
 10  ■'  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 saith  the  Lord,  that  I  will  cut  off  thy  horses 
 out  of  the  midst  of  thee,  and  I  will  destroy 
 thy  chariots  : 
 
 1 1  And  I  will  cut  off  the  cities  of  thy  land, 
 and  tlirow  down  all  thy  strong  holds  : 
 
 1*2   And  I  will  cut  off  witchcrafts  out  of  thine 
 
 Gill.  13.  Ar'xst  and  thresh,  ^c,  alludiog  to  the  manner  of  treading 
 out  com  in  the  cast  by  o.\cn,  (sec  Deut.  xxv.  4.)  •  Horn,'  means  the 
 horney  substance  on  tlie  feet  uf  the  cattle,  and  is  equivalent  to  the 
 *  hoofs'  which  follow. — PrtO.  Laivth.  Horn,  with  which  thou  shalt 
 push  thineenemies.— A''ejtc.  'Tliou  shalt  have  power,  authority,  and 
 unconquerable  strength  ;  fur  thy  enemies  shall  be  no  more  against  thee 
 than  the  corn  against  oxen  shod  with  brass,  or  a  puny  animal  against 
 the  horn  of  a  derce  bull  tipped  with  iron. — A.  Clarkr.  On  the  return 
 from  Babylon,  the  Jews  subdued  some  of  these  nations,  (1  Mace.  v. 
 3~().)—Bnof/ir. 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  1 .  Now  gather,  fyc. — this  relates  to  some  invasion  of  Ju- 
 dah  by  a  nation  with  numerous  troops  ;  peiiiaps  the  Babylonians. — So 
 Preb.  Lnit'th  ;  so  Gill,  who  adds,  'the  Romans  may  possibly  be  in- 
 tended.' *  But  now  assemble  thyself,  O  dau^rhter,  in  troops.' — Newc. 
 Smite— upon  the  cheek,  treat  in  a  rlcspitciul  manner,  fLam.  iii.  .SO; 
 Matt.  V.  39.)  Judge  0/  Israel,  equivalent  tt>  king,  (see  Amos,  ii.  3.) — 
 Preb.  Lou'th.  2.  Bid  thou,  Bcth-lehcm  Ephratah,  called  Ephratah. 
 <jen.  XXXV.  ig,  and  xlviii.  7,  to  distinguish  it  Iiom  another  Beth-iehem 
 in  the  tribe  of  Zebuluu,  (Josh.  xix.  10,  15.)  Little  among  the  thou- 
 suMrfA— this  refers  to  the  division  of  the  people  by  thousands,  under  the 
 government  of  their  several  rulers,  (1  Chron.  xii.  20.)— /f»/c.  Every 
 tribe  was  of  old  divided  into  so  many  thousands,  as  shires  of  England 
 are  into  hundreds,  over  which  jiresided  a  leader  to  command  them  in 
 battle.  Beth-Iehem  was  too  small  in  people  to  be  reckoned  as  one  of 
 these  thousands.— Pj-t'i.  Lowth.    Buuthruyd  reads  as  Neweome — 
 
 *  And  art  thou,  Bethlehcm-Ephratah, 
 Ton  little  to  be  among  the  leading  cities  of  Judah  ? 
 For  out  of  thee  shall  come  forth,'  K:c. — Cormn   in  loc. 
 
 That  is  til  be  ruler,  a  promise  of  Christ  to  be  ruler  in  Israel.  Whose 
 guings  forth  have  been  from  0/0/rf— herein  botli^is  eterual  generation 
 and  his  eternal  designation  to  the  office  of  Mediator  may  be  imported. 
 — Hutc.  This  is  a  signal  description  of  the  Divine  generation  before  ail 
 time,  or  of  that  going  forth  from  everlasting  of  Christ,  the  eternal  Son 
 of  God,  of  the  substance  of  the  Father,  beKutten  before  the  worlds. — 
 Poc.  The  plural  number  may  denote  the  eminence  of  Christ's  eternal 
 generation. — Seek.,  so  Hutc.,  and  Chandler.  This  passage  asserts  the 
 divinity  of  Christ's  divine  nature. — Poole.  The  phrases  are  expressive 
 of  the  eternity  of  Christ's  divine  nature  and  person. — Gill.  This  lan- 
 guage implies  the  pre-existcnce  of  this  person,  and  the  displays  of  his 
 power  of  old  from  everlasting,  whicli  may  be  referred  to  his  covennnt 
 engagements,  and  to  the  work  of  creation. — Boothr.  The  words  im- 
 port, *  notwithstanding  the  Chaldeans,  or  others,  who  assemble  them- 
 selves  to  dcstrov  the  cities  and  maltreat  the  rulers  of  Judah,  the  Mes- 
 siah, who  was  from  eternity  begotten  by  the  Father,  and  constituted 
 the  covenant- head  of  an  elect  world,  shall,  in  due  time,  be  born  in  the 
 small  city  of  Beth. le-hem  Judah,  to  be  the  great  ruler  and  governor  of 
 the  church.' — J.  Brown.  The  words  do  materially  import  an  original, 
 distinct  from  the  birth  of  Christ  mentioned  in  tlie  foregoing  sentence, 
 which  is  here  declared  to  have  been  from  eternity.— PreA.  Lowth.  The 
 words  mean,  that  in  every  age,  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  there 
 has  been  some  manifestation  of  the  Messiah.      He  was  the  hope,  as 
 
 he  was  the  salvation,  of  the  world,  from  the  promise  to  Adam  in  Para- 
 dise, to  his  manifestation  in  the  flesh  four  thousand  years  after.- 
 Clarke.  Without  disputing  the  doctrine  of  eternal  generation,  whicli 
 many  derive  from  this  text,  we  much  doubt  its  being  here  referred  toj 
 we  should  rather  consider  the  term,  which  is  of  very  general  import, 
 as  referring  to  the  divine  appearances  of  the  Messiah  under  the  Old 
 Testament,  and  the  many  deliverances  wrought  by  him  for  Jiis  people 
 Israel  in  almost  every  age. — Wil.  3.  Therefore,  or  'notwithstand- 
 ing.'— Poc,  so  llos.  ii.  14.  Yet,  previous  to  the  birth  of  this  person, 
 the  Lord  would  give  up  the  Jews  to  trouble  and  distress,— GiY/;  similar 
 interpretations  by  Nfwe.  and  Hulea.  4,  And  he  shall  stand  and  feed, 
 or  '  rule.'  Chiist  shall  diligently  perform  the  office  of  a  shepherd  or 
 governor  over  his  church,  fcomp.  chap.  vii.  14.)— PreJ.  Lowth.  They 
 shall  abide,  i.e.,  his  people,  his  flock. — Gill.  'Shall  be  converted. 
 I^TCI,  for  laiDn-— A'eit'f.,  so  Sijr.,  Chald.,  Vulg.,  and  several  MSS. 
 Now  shall  he  he  great,  i.  c,  the  Messiah. — A.  Clarke.  5.  And  thi.% 
 
 nimi  ahull  be  the  peace,  §c. — this  peace  respects  the  Messiah,  for  he 
 shall  be  the  cause  or  author  of  peace ;  as  it  is  said,  '  he  shall  speak 
 peace  unto  the  heathen,*  (Zech.  ix.  10.) — Kiin.  When  the  Assyrian, 
 ffc. — this  passage  relates  to  the  destruction  of  some  remarkable  enemy 
 or  enemies  to  God  and  his  truth,  which  shall  come  to  pass  before  the 
 consummation  of  all  things.  Since  the  invasion  of  Sennacherib,  the 
 very  name  of  Assyrian  carried  terror  along  with  it,  being  esteemed  by 
 the  Jews  as  their  most  formidable  enemy.  Concerning  some  grand 
 enemy  predicted,  (see  Ps.  ex.  5,  6}  Is.  xxvi.  20,  21 ;  xxxiv.  1,  and  Ixvi. 
 16;  Jer.  XXX.  7,  10;  Ezek.  xxxviii.,  xxxix. ;  Joel,  iii.  9,  14;  Chad.  ver. 
 15,  &c. ;  Zeph.iii.  8;  Hag.  ii.  22;  Zech.  xii.  l ;  xiii.  8;  Rev.  xix.  19; 
 XX.  9.)— See  Mede,  Preb.  Lowth.  Seven— eight,  signify  an  indefinite 
 number,  (see  Eecles.  xi.  2.)  Shepherds,  or  'rulers,'  equivalent  to 
 *  princes,*  or  '  generals,'  {see  Jer.  vi.  3  ;  xxv.  34  ;  Nah.  iii.  IH.)—Preb. 
 Lowth.  The  chiefs  of  the  Medes  and  Babylonians  are  intended,  who 
 attacked  and  took  Nineveh,  and  laid  the  land  waste,  and  occasioned 
 deliverance  to  the  Israelites  from  their  oppressions. — Boothr.  After 
 Cyrus,  seven  Persian  shepherds  shall  rise  as  kings  of  Syria,  who  shall 
 solicit  the  aid  and  good-will  of  my  people. — Sut.  Under  his  conduct 
 we  shall  be  furnished  with  commanders  sufficient  to  oppose  the  enter- 
 prises of  the  enemy.  6.  The  land  of  Nimrod,  Assyria,  so  called,  be- 
 cause he  was  the  first  king  of  the  country,  (see  Gen.  x.  1 1.)  Entrances, 
 its  borders,  where  its  garrisons  are  and  its  chief  strength  lies.  7.  Atid 
 the  remnant  of  Jacob,  ^c,  the  dispersed  Jews  on  their  conversion  t>hall 
 be  the  means  of  converting  the  Gentiles,  and  making  the  eai  th  morally 
 fruitful.  That  tarrieth  not  fur  nuui,  like  eastern  fountains  and  canals, 
 conveyed  into  the  fields  and  gardens  by  human  industry,  {comp.  Deut. 
 xi.  !0.  11.) — Preb.  Lowth.  8.  The  remnant — us  a  linn,  this  jiredicts 
 
 the  victory  of  the  Jews  under  the  Maccabees,  and  those  which  shall 
 hereafter  be  reaped  by  them. — Newc.  The  church  shall  be  above  all 
 her  enemies,  who  shall  be  so  far  crushed  that  they  shall  not  dare  to 
 profess  their  enmity. — Htitc.  10.  Cut  off  thy  horses,  .^c,  a  promise 
 of  peace  and  security,  and  an  encouragement  to  rely  on  God  alone. — 
 Poc.  He  should  take  away  all  human  confidences. — Hutc.  II.  Cut 
 off  the  cities,  their  salvaticn  shall  be  so  perfect  and  complete  that  they 
 shall  want  neither  forces  nor  strongholds. — Sherlock,  Bosenm.     12.  Cut 
 
 Rkflections  on  CuAP.IV.  —  We  have  here,  I.  Troubles 
 predicted.  The  sins  of  the  church  have  often  brought  her  into 
 sorrow,  and  thus  she  has  fallen  into  Ihe  hands  of  her  enemies. 
 
 Jl-  DJivrrana  predated.  Not  one  pang  could  the  enemy 
 O06 
 
 inflict  if  God  did  not  permit  it;  and  not  one  more  shall  be  in- 
 flicted than  he  sees  tit ;  then  the  rod  that  scourged  shall  be 
 destroyed— the  child  ilial  was  scouif;ed  shall  be  redeemed 
 from  all  iniquity  and  sutionng. 
 
God's  controversy  fur  unkindncss, 
 
 MICAII,  VI. 
 
 aitf/  for  injustice. 
 
 band  ;  and  thou  shall  have  no  more  '  sooth- 
 sayers : 
 
 13  'Thy  graven  images  also  will  I  cut  off, 
 and  thy  ||  standing  images  out  of  the  midst  of 
 thee  ;  and  thou  shalt  '  no  more  worship  the 
 worli  of  tliine  liands. 
 
 14  And  I  will  ]ihick  up  thy  groves  out  of  the 
 midst  of  thee  :  so  will  1  destroy  thy  ||  cities. 
 
 15  And  I  will  'execute  vengeance  in  anger 
 and  fnry  upon  tlie  lieathen,  such  as  they  have 
 not  lieard. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I   God's  controvcrsij  for  uuhinrlness,  6  for  igitoraiicc , 
 \0  fur  injustice,  16  and  for  idolatry. 
 
 "LJEAR  ye  now  what  the  Lord  saith  ;  Arise, 
 -*■-'-  contend  thou  ||before  the  mountains,  and 
 let  the  hills  hear  thy  voice. 
 *2  "  Hear  ye,  O  mountains,  ^  the  Lord*s  con- 
 troversy, and  ye  strong  foundations  of  the 
 eartli  :  for  '^  tlie  Loiiu  hath  a  controversy  with 
 his  people,  and  he  will  plead  with  Israel. 
 
 3  O  my  people,  ''  what  have  I  done  unto 
 tliee  ?  and  wherein  have  I  wearied  thee?  tes- 
 tify against  me. 
 
 4  '^  For  I  brought  thee  up  out  of  the  laud  of 
 Egypt,  and  redeemed  thee  out  of  the  house  of 
 servants  ;  and  I  sent  before  thee  Moses,  Aaron, 
 and  JNIiriam. 
 
 5  O  my  people,  remember  now  what  ^  Balak 
 
 D.  C.  710. 
 r  Is.  i.  6. 
 «ZccIi.l3.2. 
 (I  Or,  itnturt. 
 I  Is.  2.  8. 
 
 B.  C.  710. 
 
 ff  Num.  55.1. 
 
 &  34.    19. 
 
 J.'sli.  v.  19. 
 
 &  5.  10. 
 liJndg.aM. 
 t  Heb.  M'.ta 
 
 Ps.  '50,  9. 
 Si5l.  IG. 
 
 }\.  SO,   l,-l 
 
 Is,   1.  2. 
 h  Hos.  \-2.  •>. 
 c  Is.   I.  IS. 
 
 &  5.  ;i,  1. 
 
 &  iS.  SG. 
 
 l!«s.  1,   I. 
 rf  Jer.S-.'i.ai. 
 f  Ex.  1-!  51. 
 
 &  1  i.  SO.  Sc 
 
 20.  2. 
 
 Dou    4.  2il. 
 
 Aiiios2,  10. 
 /^  Num.  22.5, 
 
 Si  2;t   7.  & 
 
 '-•I.   10.  II. 
 
 Deii  23  1.5. 
 
 .l.ish.Si.  9, 
 
 ill.  Kev.  2. 
 
 14. 
 
 I-i.  1 
 
 II. 
 
 k-  Jiib  29,  6, 
 
 /  J  Kin. 16  3 
 &  21.  0.  & 
 23.  10,  Jer. 
 7S1.&  19  5, 
 Krt;k.23;i7, 
 
 t  Heb.  MIy. 
 
 ».  D.u  mij 
 
 Hoi 
 
 (i.  C.  Sc 
 1    is. 19. 
 
 ^..Ik. 
 
 ||0r,//i_v  inline 
 xhiiU  !"•••.  that 
 whirli  it. 
 
 ||Or,  Is  there 
 
 t  Heb.  mea- 
 iureo/Unn- 
 iifBi,  Anios 
 
 .,  Deu.  gri.l3 
 
 — l(i.  Pn). 
 
 11.  1.  &  20 
 
 10.  2.1. 
 II  Or,  Sliall  I 
 
 bepureuilli, 
 
 ;»  Hos.  12.  7 
 
 a  Jcr.  9.  3,5, 
 
 13,3. 
 
 king  of  Moab.  consulted,  and  what  Balaam  the 
 son  of  Beor  answered  him  from  ^  Shittim  unto 
 (iilgal  ;  that  ye  may  know  ''  the  righteousness 
 of  the  LoKD. 
 
 G  If  Wherewith  shall  I  come  before  the  Lord, 
 and  bow  myself  before  the  high  God?  shall  1 
 come  before  him  with  burnt  offerings,  with 
 calves  f  of  a  year  old  ? 
 
 7  '  Will  the  Loud  be  pleased  with  thousands 
 of  rams,  or  with  ten  thousands  of  ''  rivers  of 
 oil  ?  '  shall  I  give  my  firstborn  ft)/-  my  trans- 
 gression, the  fruit  of  my  t  body  for  the  sin  of 
 my  soul'? 
 
 8  He  hath  "'shewed  thee,  O  man,  what  is 
 good ;  and  what  duth  the  Lord  require  of 
 thee,  but  "to  do  justly,  and  to  love  mercy,  and 
 to  f  walk  humbly  witli  thy  God? 
 
 9  The  Lord's  voice  crietii  unto  the  city,  and 
 II  the  man  o/ wisdom  shall  see  thy  name  :  hear 
 ye  the  rod,  and  who  hath  appointed  it. 
 
 10  t  II  Are  there  yet  the  treasures  of  wicked- 
 ness in  the  house  of  the  wicked,  and  the 
 f  scant  measure  °that.  is  abominable? 
 
 1 1  II  Shall  I  count  them  pure  with  ''the  wicked 
 balances,  and  with  the  bag  of  deceitful 
 weights? 
 
 1*2  For  the  rich  men  thereof  are  full  of  vio- 
 lence, and  the  inhabitants  thereof  have  spoken 
 lies,  and  **  their  tongue  is  deceitful  in  their 
 mouth. 
 
 o^"i('i7r/i«vi//s,  §-f.,  such  offences  should  no  more  be  found  amongst 
 Ihem,  (conip.  Isa.  ii.  6 — 8.) — Freb.  Lowth.  13.  Thy  graven  images, 
 ^c,  '  thou  shalt  no  more  be  an  idolatrous  people.  —  A.  Clarke. 
 14.  Cities,  '  enemies,'  as  marg.,  Hutc,  Newc. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  I-  Cuntfnd  thou  before  the  monntnina,  §■(?. — God  often 
 appeals  to  inanimate  creatures  for  the  justice  of  his  proceedings,  thereby 
 to  upbraid  the  stupidity  of  men,  (see  chap.  i.  2 ;  Deut.  iv.  26  ;  xxxii.  1 ; 
 Ps.  i.  4;  Isa.  i.  •2.)—Preb.  Lowth.  The  mountains  and  hills  are  ap- 
 pealed to,  on  which  they  had  notoriously  sinned  against  God. — So 
 Poole,  4.  Moses,  Aaron,  and  Miriam,  a  lawgiver,  priest,  and  pro- 
 phetess.—Gi//.  5.  Remember,  Sfc,  they  ought  not  to  forget  the  con- 
 sultations of  Balak  and  Balaam,  about  cursing  and  prevailing  against 
 them  ;  and  how  the  Lord  constrained  Balaam  to  blc^^s  them  altogether, 
 and  had  prevented  the  fatal  effects  of  his  last  diabolical  decree  against 
 them,  and  turned  it  asninst  Balaam,  Balak,  and  the  Moabitcs.— Sco^^ 
 From  IShittim  unto  Gilgal,  from  the  encampment  at  Shittim,  (Num. 
 XXV.  1,)  on  the  way  to  that  at  Gilgal,  (Josh.  iv.  19.)  Balaam  gave  dif- 
 ferent answers  in  the  interval  between  these  places  in  the  journey 
 which  be  undertook  in  conjunction  with  Balak. — Xetvc,  Balaam,  p.  1(J0. 
 We  may  suppose  that  the  encampments  of  Israel  advanced  slowly  to 
 that  part  of  Jordan  which  was  oppnsite  Gilgal.  According  to  the 
 Chaldee,  there  seems  an  omission  in  the  text — 
 
 'Were  not  great  things  done  for  you 
 From  Shittim  even  unto  Gilgal  ?' 
 
 See  Josh.  iii.  I ;  iv.20.  Thus  there  will  be  a  reference  to  the  miraculous 
 passage  over  Jordan.  Righteousness — the  original  word  includes  the 
 notion  of  mercy.— iVcK'c.  6.    Wherewith  shall  I  cotuf  ?   ^c,  DlpN 
 
 r  Dip.  '  to  go  before,*  '  anticipate.'  *  prevent.' — Par.  See  Job,  xli.  11 ; 
 Ps.  xxi.  3 ;  cxix.  147.  Doubtless  the  idea  of  something  done  or  given 
 in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  a  right  or  title  to  the  benetit  previous  to 
 God's  conferring  it,  was  intended.  —  Scott.  Ver.  6  and  7  are  in  a 
 dramatic  form  ;  God's  mercies  having  been  set  before  the  people,  the 
 question  is  asked,  what  is  roan's  duty  towards  so  gracious  a  God,  (ver. 
 6,  7.)  The  answer  follows  in  the  words  of  the  prophet  Micah,  (ver.  8.) 
 — Newc.  These  words  are  spoken  by  the  jiropliet  as  in  the  person  of 
 the  people,  replying  to  the  appeal  of  God,  either  to  acknowledge  guilt 
 or  to  justify  themselves  on  accoimt  of  their  ignorance.- /*rtC.  The 
 jirophct  here  introduces  one  of  the  people  in  the  name  of  the  rest,  as 
 making  inquiry  in  what  way  the  auger  of  Jehovah  might  be  ajipeascd, 
 and  his  favour  conciliated.  He  proposes  only  sacrifices  and  ofterings, 
 but  says  nothing  of  repentance  or  reformation. — Boothr.  The  words 
 are  a  private  conference  between  Balaam  and  Balak,  which  Moses  has 
 omitted  as  foreign  to  the  subject  of  his  historj',  but  which  the  Israelites 
 ought  to  have  holden  in  remembrance. — Hors.  We  have  here  the  de- 
 mand of  Balak  antl  the  answer  of  Balaam.  Balak  speaks,  ver.  6,  Ba- 
 laam replies  by  another  question,  (ver.  70    The  king  of  Moab  rejoins. 
 
 'Shall  I  give,'  K;c. ;  Balaam  replies,  (ver.  8.)  —  B»//f'r;  adopted  by 
 Bp.  Lowth  :  so  also  Peters,  Horsleif,  as  above,  and  the  Author  of 
 Balaam.  This  interpretation  is  rejected  by  Dr.  Clarke  and  by  Scott. 
 The  latter  says,  that  tbi-.  interpretation  does  not  at  all  agree  witti  the 
 history  of  those  transactions;  for  Balaam  seems,  from  first  to  last,  to 
 have  recnmmended  to  Balak  nothing  but  costly  and  numerous  sacri- 
 fices ;  and  when  these  failed,  he  counselled  him  to  draw  the  Israelites 
 into  fornication  and  idolatry,  (see  Num.  xxii.  1,2,4 — 6j  xxv.  1 — 3; 
 xxxi.  8.  14—18;  Rev.  ii. 14—16.)  To  suppose,  therefore,  that  on  some 
 other  occasion,  not  mentioned  in  the  history,  he  gave  Balak  counsel, 
 not  only  dissimilar  to  this,  but  directly  contrary  to  the  character  and 
 plan  of  all  the  parties  concerned,  is  surely  most  unnatural  and  unrea- 
 sonable. The  words  rather  contain  the  supposed  inquiries  of  the 
 alarmed,  but  ignorant,  Jews  or  Israelites,  who  heard  of 'the  Lord's 
 controversy'  with  them. — Com.  in  luc.  Calces  0/  a  year  old,  which 
 was  the  sin-offering  that  the  priest  offered  for  himself. — TUtotsmi. 
 7.  My  firstborn,  the  dearest  of  my  offspring. — Boothr.  Human  sacri- 
 fices'\vere  offered  by  the  heathens  to  their  gods,  and  probably  the  dearest 
 objects  were  sometimes  offered  as  the  most  acceptable  and  prevailiBg 
 atonement.— So  Pict.  Bib.  8.  He  hath  shewed  thee,  ^c— the  prophet 
 answers  the  people  by  reminding  them  what  God  had  already  taught 
 in  his  law.— Boo//**-.  What  doth  the  Lord  require?  ^c. — that  this  is  a 
 quotation  from  some  very  ancient  'form  of  sound  words'  appears  ex- 
 tremely probaMe,  from  its  perfect  coincidence,  in  thought  and  expres- 
 sion, with  the  language  of  Moses  to  the  children  of  Israel,  (Deut.  x. 
 12;)  and  if  this  circumstance  be  admitted  in  evidence  of  the  original 
 identity  of  Balaam's  professed  creed  with  that  which,  in  an  unmuti- 
 lated  form,  descended  to  Moses,  by  a  direct  line  to  Abraham,  we  can 
 be  at  no  loss  to  recognise  the  pure  source  from  which  thesi.*  words  ema- 
 nated.— Balaam,  p.  174.  To  do  justly  and  to  love  merry— these  exhor- 
 tations have  undoubtedly  a  reference  to  the  conduct  of  human  beings 
 towards  each  other,  but  it  must  be  remembered,  that  we  are  required 
 to  proceed  upon  right  principles  to  the  performance  of  right  actions; 
 and  no  service  can  be  acceptable  to  God  which  has  not  a  primary  re- 
 ference to  his  glory. — Balaam,  p.  178.  9.  Voice,  by  his  prophet. 
 City,  Jerusalem.— 5/?.  Hull.  Theman  of  wiadoin,  fyc,  the  wisest  will 
 hear. — Puole.  He  that  is  truly  wise  will  easily  discover  God's  autho- 
 rity in  such  a  message. — Preb.  Lowth.  'The  man  of  common  sense, 
 who  has  any  knowledge  of  God  or  his  own  soul.'— .4.  Clarke.  Shall 
 see  thy  name,  instead  of  riNT,  '  will  see,^  read  ■'MT,  '  tht'y  that  fear,^  so 
 the  Sept.,  Syr.,  Vulg.,  Arab.,  and  many  MSS.  'And  Uiou  wilt  be.--al- 
 vation  to  them  that  fear  thy  name,*  Vulg.  Kai  auiaci  ^o/ioi'jutfufc  to 
 ovona  avrov,  '  and  he  shall  save  those  who  tear  his  name,'  Se/it.  '  And 
 there  is  sound  wisdom  with  them  that  fear  his  name.' — Newc.  Hear 
 ye  the  rod,  '  hear,  O  ye  tribes,  him  that  testifieth  !'  Vulg-,  Sept.,  Syr. ; 
 same  purport,  Chald.  The  words  are  those  of  the  man  of  wisdom. — 
 Gill.          10.  Treasures  of  wickedness,  acquired  by  wickedness,  fraud. 
 
 IlErLECTiONS  ON  Chap.  V.  —  L  What  blt'ssings  are  in  re- 
 seruefor  the  church  of  God  f  What  times  of  pnace  and  happi- 
 ness, and  '  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  !'  And 
 how  much  has  the  conversion  of  the  Jews  to  do  wiih  the 
 bringing  in  of  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles  !  Ought  not  Chris- 
 tians to  be  more  concerned  about  this  event?  and  are  we  suffi- 
 ciently active  in  seeking  to  bring  about  its  accompHsliment  ? 
 Should  we  leave  all  to  be  performed  by  an  extraordinary  nnd 
 miraculous  operation,  any  more  than  the  converHion  of  ihe 
 heathen,  whose  salviilioQ  we  so  laudably  and  earnustly  seek  ? 
 967 
 
 II.  What  terrors  arc  in  reserve  for  the  enemies  of  the  church  of 
 God.'*  'Vengeance,  such  as  they  have  not  heard.*  Who 
 would  not  TLinic  on  the  Lord's  side  '.  What  an  awful  time  will 
 precede  the  period  of  the  millennial  peace,  ;md  its  approach 
 may  be  very  much  nearer  tlian  the  closest  observer  of  pro- 
 phecy may  contemplate.  Prophecy  reveals  fucts,  hut  con- 
 ceals tjie  exact  times  and  seasons,  thut  all  may  ho  on  the 
 watch.  O  let  us  strive  more  earnestly  to  save  all  connected 
 with  us  from  the  Lhreatcned,  and  uUmiutely  tlie  everlasting, 
 Uf'sM-uctiou  ! 
 
The  churchcomplaiiis  of  her  small  number.  MICAH.  VII. 
 
 God  comforteth  her  by  ]>ruinises. 
 
 13  Therefore  also  will  I  '  make  thee  sick  in 
 smiting  thee,  in  making  thee  desolate  because 
 of  thy  sins. 
 
 14  *  Thou  shalt  eat,  but  not  be  satisfied  ;  and 
 thy  casting  down  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  thee ; 
 and  thou  shalt  take  hold,  but  shalt  not  deliver; 
 and  that  whicli  thou  deliverest  will  I  give  up 
 to  the  sword. 
 
 15  Thou  shalt  '  sow,  but  thou  shalt  not  reap  ; 
 thou  shalt  tread  the  olives,  but  thou  slialt  not 
 anoint  thee  with  oil  ;  and  sweet  vviue,  but  slialt 
 not  drink  wine. 
 
 1(3  IF  For  II  the  statutes  of  "Omri  are  "kept, 
 and  all  tlie  works  of  the  house  of ''Aliab,  and 
 ye  walk  in  tlieir  counsels;  that  1  sliould  make 
 thee  ^a  || desolation,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof 
 an  hissing :  therefore  ye  shall  bear  the  "  re- 
 proach of  my  people. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  The  church,  compla'niing  of  her  snuill  number,  ;J  and 
 the  general  corruption,  h  putteth  her  confidence  not  in 
 man,  but  in  God.  8  S/ie  triumpheth  over  her  ene- 
 mies. 14  God  comfortith  her  by  promises.  Hi  bi/  con- 
 fusion of  the  enijnies,  18  atid  by  his  mtrcits. 
 
 "IITOE  is  nie  !  for  I  am  as  f  when  they  have 
 '  '      gathered  the  summer  fruits,  as  "tlie  grape- 
 gleanings  of  the  vintage  :  there  is  nochister  to 
 eat:  ''niy  soul  desired  the  lirstripe  fruit. 
 
 2  The  ''  II  good  man  is  perished  out  of  the 
 earth  :  and  tliere  is  none  upright  among  men  : 
 they  all  lie  in  wait  for  hlood  ;  "^  they  hunt 
 every  man  his  brother  with  a  net. 
 
 3  H  That  they  may  do  evil  with  both  hands 
 earnestly,  "^  the  prince  asketli,  •"  and  the  judge 
 asketh  for  a  reward  ;  and  the  great  man,  he 
 uttereth  f  his  mischievous  desire :  so  they 
 wrap  it  up. 
 
 4  The  best  of  them  ^  is  as  a  brier :  the  most 
 upright   is  sharper   than  a  thorn  hedge  :  the 
 
 '  l.vv   26.lfl 
 Pa.  107.  17, 
 
 (  neut.  33. 
 
 ay,  aa,  w. 
 
 AmosS.  II 
 Zeph.  I.  Cj, 
 Hag    1.  6. 
 
 II  Or,  he  dvth 
 
 much  h«fp 
 
 the.  ^r. 
 u  I  Kill.  16, 
 
 es,  26. 
 X  tins.  b.  II 
 V  1  luu.  16. 
 "  30,  &c.  fit 
 
 21    S5,  26. 
 
 ?Kin.2l  3. 
 X  I  Kin.  9  8 
 
 Jer.  19.  S. 
 |1  Or,  nsto- 
 
 a'u.'iS.S. 
 Jer.  51.51. 
 Lam.  5.  1. 
 
 t  Hpb.  Ih. 
 
 gntheringto/ 
 
 turnm^r. 
 i  Is.  17.  G.  St 
 
 2i.  IS. 
 b  la.  28.  4. 
 
 11  ns.  9.  10. 
 r  I'a    12.  1. 
 
 S(  II.  1,3. 
 
 n.  57. 1. 
 
 II  Or,ff..dt,/, 
 or.  ,N«Tt./.-/ 
 d  H:lI).  1.  lb. 
 
 H<i9.  4.  18. 
 /N.  1.2:1. 
 
 H  2  Sam.  ffiJ, 
 6,  7.  Kzek. 
 y.  6.  See  l8 
 b^.  13. 
 
 I  Ezck.  22.  7. 
 Mat.  10.21, 
 3&,;tO.  l.uke 
 r-.'.  M.&21. 
 Ifi  2  Tim. 
 '■i.  2,  3. 
 
 *  Is.  8.  17. 
 
 .  24.1 
 
 Lam.  +.  2(. 
 ut  Pb,  .'i7.2*. 
 
 Pro.  24.  10. 
 ..  Ps.  27.  l. 
 o  Lam.  3.3a, 
 
 p  Pa.  37  0. 
 
 II  Or,  Ai.-i 
 thtm  will  »pc 
 Am-  thnt  it 
 
 U'lh  shao.i'. 
 <l  Pa.  35.  2t». 
 r  Ps.  42.  S, 
 
 lO.  &7y.  10, 
 
 be  115   2. 
 
 Joel  2.  17. 
 *  ch.  4.  11. 
 t  Hob.  *f^ 
 
 tlwU  be  for 
 
 a  trendui-f 
 
 down. 
 t  2  Sam.  22. 
 
 43.  Zecb. 
 
 10.  5. 
 
 M  Amos  9. 
 
 11,  Kc. 
 
 .r  Is    11.  16. 
 
 &  27.  l;*, 
 Hns.  II.  M. 
 I  Ot,evti,  !•>. 
 I  Or,  Afltr 
 (hit  il'halh 
 
 day  of  thy  watchmen  and  thy  visitation  Com- 
 eth; now  shall  be  their  perplexity. 
 
 5  t ''  Trust  ye  not  in  a  friend,  put  ye  not  con- 
 fidence in  a  guide :  keep  the  doors  of  thy 
 mouth  from  her  that  lieth  in  thy  bosom. 
 
 0  For  '  the  son  di.shonoureth  the  father,  the 
 daughter  riseth  up  against  her  mother,  the 
 daughter  in  law  against  her  mother  in  law  ;  a 
 man's  enemies  are  the  men  of  his  own  house. 
 
 7  Therefore  *"  I  will  look  unto  the  Lord  ;  1 
 will  wait  for  the  God  of  my  salvation  :  my 
 God  will  hear  me. 
 
 8  It  '  Rejoice  not  against  me,  O  mine  enemy  : 
 "'  when  I  fall,  I  shall  arise  ;  when  I  sit  in  dark- 
 ness, "  the  Lord  shall  be  a  light  unto  me. 
 
 9  "^  I  will  bear  the  indignation  of  the  Lord, 
 because  I  have  sinned  against  him,  until  he 
 plead  my  cause,  and  execute  judgment  for 
 me  :  *'he  will  bring  me  forth  to  the  light,  and 
 1  shall  behold  his  righteousness. 
 
 iO  II  Then  she  that  is  mine  enemy  shall  see 
 /7, and  ''shame  shall  cover  her  which  said  unto 
 me,  '  Where  is  the  Lord  thy  God?  Miiine  eyes 
 siiall  behold  her:  now  f shall  she  be  trodden 
 down  ^  as  the  mire  of  the  streets. 
 
 1 1  In  the  day  that  thy  "  walls  are  to  be  built, 
 in  that  day  shall  the  decree  be  far  removed. 
 
 Iii  In  that  day  a/so  ^  he  shall  come  even  to 
 tiiee  from  A.ssyria,  ||  and  frojn  the  fortified 
 cities,  and  from  the  fortress  even  to  the  river, 
 and  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  mountain  to 
 mountain. 
 
 13  II  Notwithstanding  tiie  land  shall  be  deso- 
 late tiecause  of  them  that  dwell  therein,  ^  for 
 the  fruit  of  tlieir  doings. 
 
 14  111  Feed  tliy  people  with  thy  rod,  the 
 fiock  of  thine  heritage,  which  dwell  solitarily 
 in  '  tiie  wood,  in  the  midst  of  Carmel :  let 
 them  feed  in  liashan  and  Gilead,  as  in  the 
 days  of  old. 
 
 and  oppression. — Hew.  14.  Nvt  be  suHsfied,  ^(^.,  thy  food  shall  not 
 nourish,  or  there  shall  not  be  enough. — Preb.  Lowl/i.  All  thy  posses- 
 sions are  cursed  because  of  thy  sins.— ^.  Clarke.  Thy  casfiuf^  down, 
 ^•c,  'thou  shalt  fall  even  within  thine  own  walls.' — Bp.  Hull.  *  It 
 shall  be  dark  in  the  midst  "f  thee,'  Sept.,  Arab.  :  Houbigmrt.  'There 
 shall  be  calamity  in  the  midst  of  thee.' — A.  Clarke.  16.  Statutes  of 
 Omri,  he  •  did  worse  than  all  that  were  before  Idm,'  and  issued  the 
 statute  to  restore  the  worship  of  the  golden  calves.— /'i-e/i.  Luwth,  Sut. 
 1  Kings,  xvi.  2.5.  Works  of  the  h(iu.se  of  Ahnb,  this  sun  of  Omri  added 
 the  worship  of  Baal  to  tlie  idolatry  of  the  golden  calves,  (1  Kings, 
 xvi.  31.) — Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  l.  /  o>n  as  irhen  they  hnvc  gathered  the  aummer  fruitft, 
 ^c. — as  the  early  lia:  of  excellent  flavour  cannot  be  found  in  the  ad- 
 vanced season  of  summer,  nor  the  choice  cluster  of  grapes  after  vintage, 
 so  neither  can  the  good  man  be  discovtrred  by  diligent  searching  in 
 Israel. — Netvc,  Rosenm.  Fii-.stripe fruit — the  Turks  and  Persians  eat 
 a  great  tpiantity  of  fruit  before  it  is  ripe;  of  this  they  are  fond,  and  il 
 rarely  injures  them.— So  Char.  Wilh  a  net,  '  for  his  destruction.'- 
 Netvc.  Dr.  Clarke  thinks  the  allusion  is  to  the  ancient  mode  of  duel- 
 ling between  the  retiarius,  of  net  man,  and  the  secutor,  or  pursuer. 
 The  former  endeavoured  to  throw  a  net  over  his  antagonist,  that  he 
 might  slay  him  in  his  toils;  tlie  other  parried  the  cast,  and  when  the 
 retiarius  missed,  pursued  him  with  his  sword,  to  slay  him  if  possible 
 before  he  could  renew  his  attack. — So  Clnrke.  4.  Thorn  hedge — 
 
 about  Tripoli  the  hedges  chiefly  consist  of  thorny  plants.~ii«wH'o//. 
 There  are  thorn  bushes  in  the  Holy  Land,  some  of  whose  prickles  are 
 very  long,  stroni;,  and  sharp.- H«j-.,  see  Donbdtni's  Voyage.  7-  There- 
 fore wilt  1  look  unto  the  Lord— the  prophet  speaks  in  the  name  of  tlie 
 church,  resolved  to  exercise  confidence  in  God  alone,  in  prayer  and 
 
 faith.— fft7/.  8.  Rejoice  not  against  me,  §■/?.— the  prophet  here  as- 
 sumes the  character  of  the  Hebrew  people.— /Jcm'.  He  addresses  Assy- 
 ria and  Babylon.- ./Vejcc.  10.  Shall  behold  her,  §c.,  as  the  heathen 
 htlield  the  desolation  of  God's  church  and  people  with  delight,  (chap. 
 iv.:~Prcb.  Lowth.  This  prophecy  was  fulfilled  when  Babylon  was 
 taken,  and  the  empire  destroyed  hj  the  Medes  and  Persians,  (Dan.  v. 
 30,  31.)— /'Of.  11.  T/ie  rffcrfc,  of  God  for  her  captiviiy.-A'efrcome. 
 
 VI.  He  shall  enme~Uy  the  single  person  lie  is  meant  '  the  people,'  or 
 'the  dispersion  of  Israel,' — Preb.  Lowth,  as  Chatd.  Paraphr.  *  They 
 shall  come.*  '  Thy  restored  inhahirants.'—JVen'c..  9,eeKennicott,  n.300. 
 From  theforlrKss,  i^c., '  from  Egy\>i.'—Newe.  The  river,  i.e.,  Euphrates. 
 —Gill.  13.  Notwithstanding  the  land.  /Jf.— this  sliould  be  translated 
 in  the  preter  tense,  *  though  the  land  ii.\i>  been  desolate,*  that  is,  'the 
 land  of  Israel  had  been  desolate  during  the  caiitivity,  which  captivity 
 was  the  fruit  of  the  evil  doings  nf  them  that  had  dwelt  therein.— .^. 
 Clarke.  1  4.  Rod.  sometimes  used  for  a  sceptre,  and  sumetimcs  for  a 
 shepherd's  staff.— Poc.  "ipniUl,  'with  thy  crook.*  The  shepherd's 
 crook  is  most  certainly  des  igned,  as  the  word  '  tlock'  immediately  fol- 
 lowing shews.— -4.  Clarke.  Dr.  Wheeler  gives  the  following  admired 
 turn  to  this  passage: — 
 
 Church—'  Feed  thy  people  with  thy  sceptre  ; 
 
 The  sheep  of  thine  inheritance,  dwelling  in  the  soUtary  grove. 
 
 Jehovah— hct^  them  feed  in  the  midst  of  Carmel, 
 
 In  Bashan  and  Gilead,  as  in  the  days  of  old.' 
 
 This  is  the  prayer  of  the  prophet,  referring  to  the  people  as  in  captivity, 
 dwelling  solitarily  ;  then  as  restored,  occupying  Gilcail,  &c.  The  next 
 two  verses  are  God's  answer. — Bout/ir. 
 
 Ueflfxtions  on  Chap.  VL  —  L  ^God  here  enters  an  action 
 against  Israel  for  their  base  ingratitude,  and  the  ill  returns  they 
 had  made  for  his  favours.  Sin  betjets  a  controvefsy  between 
 God  and  man,  and  God  reasons  with  us  to  tench  us  to  reason 
 with  ourselves.  See  the  equity  of  God's  cause  ;  it  will  bear 
 to  be  pleaded  ;  and  sinners  themselves  will  be  forced  to  con- 
 fess judi;ment,  and  to  own  that  God's  ways  are  equal,  but 
 their  ways  are  unequal,  (Ezek.  xviii.  !25. )' 
 
 IL  'God  sht'ws  tlie  wrong  course  which  Israel  took  when   they 
 
 Wire  -under  convictions,  and  the  frivolous  proposal  theg  made  in 
 
 ansicer  to   his   ckarycj  arid  what   cmirse  they  shoidd  have  taken. 
 
 Deep  convictions  of  guill  and  wrath  will  put  men  upon  careful 
 
 95S 
 
 inquiries  after  peace  and  pardon.'  h  '  Sinners,  under  anguish 
 and  terror  of  conscience,  abound  with  vows  and  resolutions  ; 
 but  vows  in  anguish,  and  habits  of  holiness,  are  different  ob- 
 jects in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord.  A  contrite  heart,  tixeiJ  in  its 
 abhorrence  of  sin  and  love  of  holiness,  is  more  with  God  llian 
 tiiousands  of  exterior  services.' «" 
 
 in.  'God  calls  upon  Israel  to  hear  the  voice  of  his  judgment, 
 and  sets  their  sins  in  order  before  them,  for  which  he  shall  pro- 
 ceed in  hiseontrorerst/  with  them.  If  professors  of  relit^ion  ruin 
 themselves,  their  ruin  will  be  tbe  most  reproachful  ot  any 
 other,  and  they,  in  an  especial  manner,  will  rise  at  tbe  last 
 (biv  to  everlasting  shame  and  contempt."'' 
 
The  church  comforted 
 
 MICAH,  VII. 
 
 by  promises  of  mercy. 
 
 15  "  According  to  the  days  of  thy  coming  out 
 of  the  land  of  Egypt  will  I  shew  unto  him 
 marvellous  thinris. 
 
 IG  H  The  nations  **  shall  see  and  be  confound- 
 ed at  all  their  might :  ^  they  shall  lay  their 
 hand  upon  their  mouth,  their  ears  shall  be 
 deaf. 
 
 17  Thpy  shall  lick  the  ''dust  like  a  serpent, 
 *■  they  sliall  move  out  of  their  holes  like 
 II  worms  of  the  earth  :  *"  they  shall  be  afraid  of 
 the  Lord  our  God,  and  shall  fear  because  of 
 thee. 
 
 ■t  Pa.  08.  22. 
 8t  78.  IS. 
 
 c  Joli  21.  5. 
 &  29.  9. 
 
 ./  Pa  73.  9. 
 Is.  4!).  23. 
 .•  Pa.  IS,  15, 
 
 It  Or,  crppp- 
 
 iiiij  things. 
 
 fJer.  SS.  9. 
 
 B.  C    710. 
 
 ?Kx.  15.  II. 
 f,  Ex.  Si.6.7. 
 
 Jer.  50.  20. 
 I  ch.  -l.  7.  8c 
 
 5.  3,  7,  8. 
 k  Ps,  IO!i.  9. 
 
 .  .1, 
 
 ,  10. 
 
 M.iiko  1.72, 
 m  Ps.  105.  9, 
 
 18  ^  Who  is  a  God  like  unto  thee,  that  ^'par- 
 
 doneth  iniquity,  and  passcth  by  the  transgres- 
 sion of  '  the  remnant  of  his  heritage  r*  ''he  re- 
 taineth  not  his  anger  for  ever,  because  he  de- 
 lighteth  in  mercy. 
 
 19  He  will  turn  again,  he  will  have  compas- 
 sion upon  us  ;  he  will  subdue  our  iniquities  ; 
 and  thou  wilt  cast  all  their  sins  into  the  depths 
 of  the  sea. 
 
 '20  '  Thou  wilt  perform  the  truth  to  Jacob, 
 and  the  mercy  to  Abraham,  '"which  thou  hast 
 sworn  unto  our  fathers  from  the  days  of  old. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.  VIT.  —  Here  is   a  view,  I.    Of 
 
 nhoundinff  hiiquiti/.  Truly  there  is  reason  to  lament  when  the 
 good  man  is  perished  out  of  the  enrth.  There  is  then  some- 
 thin;^  awfully  ominous  in  the  slate  of  a  land,  for  good  men  are 
 the  salt  which  preserves  it  from  corruption.  Here  is  a  view — 
 II.  Of  nhouy)dim}  viprcy.  Those  who  mourn  over  tlie  sins 
 around  them,  and  bumble  themselves  under  the  hand  of  God, 
 will  yet  find  him  a  God  of  mercy  and  grace.     He  forgives  sins 
 
 — he  forgives  like  himself.  Man  cannot,  would  not,  so  for- 
 give a  provoking  transgressor  against  him.  He  delighteth  in 
 mercy.  Ob,  how  this  makes  the  very  heart  of  the  humble 
 penitent  and  supplicant  to  smile  amidst  his  tears  !  One  ray 
 from  the  countenance  of  this  merciful  God  beaming  on  the 
 soul,  through  Christ,  brings  heaven  down  to  earth — '  God  be 
 merciful  unto  us,  and  bless  us,  and  cause  his  face  to  shine 
 upon  us  !'     Amen. 
 
 N  A  H  U  M. 
 
 [This  illustrious  prophecy,  foretelling  tlic  future  downfall  of  the  Assyrian  empire,  was  remarkably  accomplished  in  about  a 
 century  after  it  was  delivered,  and  thirty  years  before  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  From  cliap.  ii.  2,  it  is  concluded  that 
 Nahum  prophesied  after  the  captivity  of  the  ten  tribes.  Joseplius  places  him  in  the  reign  of  Jotham  ;  but  some  think  the 
 projibecy  was  uttered  in  the  reign  of  Hezekiab,  and  not  long  after  the  subversion  of  Israel  by  Shalmaneser.  Nahum  is 
 considered  as  superior  to  the  other  minor  jjropbets  in  sublimity,  pathos,  and  fire.  In  Rom.  x.  15,  we  have  a  reference 
 to  chap.  i.  15;  and  in  Rev.  xviii.  2,  3,  to  chap.  iii.  4.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 T'lc  mnjt'strf  of  God  in  (joodiie^s  to  his  people,  and  se- 
 verity apainst  his  enemies. 
 
 T'HE  burden  "of  Nineveh.     The  book  of  the 
 -*-    vision  of  Nahum  the  Elkoshite. 
 
 2  II  God  is  '■jealous,  and  '  tlie  Lord  re- 
 vengeth  ;  the  Lord  revengetb,  and  jis  furious; 
 the  Lord  will  take  vengeance  on  liis  adver- 
 saries, and  he  reserveth  wroth  for  his  enemies. 
 
 3  The  Lord  is  ''slow  to  anger,  and  'great  in 
 power,  and  will  not  at  all  acquit  the.  wicked: 
 '  the  Lord  hnth  his  way  in  the  whirlwind  and 
 in  the  storm,  and  the  clouds  ai-e  the  dust  of  his 
 feet. 
 
 4  ^  He  rebuketh  the  sea,  and  maketh  it  dry, 
 and  drieth  up  all  the  rivers:  ''Bashan  languish- 
 eth,  and  Carmel,  and  the  flower  of  Lebanon 
 languisheth. 
 
 5  '  The  mountains  quake  at  him,  and  ''  the 
 hills  melt,  and  '  the  earth  is  burned  at  his  pre- 
 sence, yea,  the  world,  and  all  that  dwell  there- 
 in. 
 
 G  Who  can  stand  before  his  indignation  ? 
 and  "who  can  f  abide  in  the  fierceness  of  his 
 anger?  "his  fury  is  poured  out  like  fire,  and 
 tlie  rocks  are  thrown  down  by  him. 
 
 7  °  The  Lord  is  good,  a  ||  strong  hold  in  the 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 B,  C. 
 
 cir.  713. 
 
 cir.  713. 
 
 ;.  Ps.  1.6. 
 
 2Tim  2.lfl. 
 
 n  Zeph.  2.13. 
 
 II  Dan    9,  26. 
 
 LOUD  is  a 
 
 mid  o  TP- 
 
 •■  Pa   2.  1. 
 
 b  Ex  'in.  5. 
 
 s\  Sain.3.12. 
 
 &  34.  14. 
 
 Deii.  4.  21 
 
 Josh.  21.19. 
 
 t  2  Sam.  S3. 
 
 c  Iteut.  32. 
 
 6.  7. 
 
 35.  Ps.  fl-l.L 
 
 .<cb.  3.  11. 
 
 Is.  '.9.  18. 
 
 X  Mai.  4.  1. 
 
 hnlhfnry 
 
 dV.^.M.6.7. 
 
 Nell    9.  17. 
 
 '/  2  Kin.  19. 
 
 Pr.  103,  8. 
 
 ■>■>.  23. 
 
 J..nah  t.  2. 
 
 \  Ileb.  a 
 
 It  .r„h  9.  4. 
 
 cnuHtPUor  of 
 
 /Ps.  18.  7, 
 
 Brt,nl. 
 
 «;c    *(  97.  2. 
 
 11  Or,  //-they 
 
 H;ili.  3.5, 
 
 w  nil  III  have 
 
 II,  12. 
 
 been  nt 
 
 fi-  I's.  106.9. 
 
 J'ffiCf,  sn 
 
 Is    m.  3. 
 
 sliiiiilii  they 
 
 Mat  fi.  26. 
 
 have  been 
 
 /.  Is.  33.  9. 
 
 niiiiiy,  iind 
 
 .■  Ps  m.  8. 
 
 SI.  should 
 
 k^v^A%.5.5. 
 
 i'li-y  have 
 
 Ps    Ml.  5. 
 
 bri-Hihorn, 
 
 Mic.  1 .  4-. 
 
 nnd  he 
 
 /-.i  Pet.  3. 10 
 
 shuuld  have 
 
 m  Mai.  3  2. 
 
 pansfdiiwn/. 
 
 t  Hel>.  itand 
 
 ;  2  Kin.  19. 
 
 I'll. 
 
 85,  .37. 
 
 •1  Rev.  16.  1. 
 
 t  Heb.  shir,,. 
 
 0  1  Clir,  16. 
 
 a  Is.  8.  8. 
 
 31.  Ps.  loo. 
 
 Dan.  11.10 
 
 5.  .ler.  33. 
 
 6  Jer.  9,  SO. 
 
 1 1 .  Lam.  3. 
 
 &  30.  8. 
 
 c2Kiu.  19. 
 
 ,\Ot,itrenslh. 
 
 37. 
 
 day  of  trouble  ;  and  ''  he  knoweth  them  that 
 trust  in  him. 
 
 8  ''  But  with  an  overrunning  flood  he  will 
 make  an  utter  end  of  the  place  thereof,  and 
 darkness  shall  pursue  his  enemies. 
 
 9  '^  What  do  ye  imagine  against  the  Lord? 
 "  he  will  make  an  utter  end  :  affliction  shall 
 not  rise  up  the  second  time. 
 
 10  For  while  thei/  be  folden  together  ^  as 
 thorns,  "and  while  they  are  drunken  o«  drunk- 
 ards, "  they  shall  be  devoured  as  stubble  fully 
 dry. 
 
 1 1  There  is  one  come  out  of  thee,  ''  that  ima- 
 gineth  evil  against  tlie  Loud,  f  a  wicked  coun- 
 sellor. 
 
 12  Thus  saith  the  Lord  ;  ||  Though  they  he 
 quiet,  and  likewise  many,  yet  thus  'shall  they 
 be  f  cut  down,  when  he  shall  "  pass  through. 
 Though  I  have  afilicted  thee,  I  will  afflict  thee 
 no  more. 
 
 13  For  now  will  I  ''break  his  yoke  from  off 
 thee,  and  will  burst  thy  bonds  in  sunder. 
 
 14  And  the  Lord  hath  given  a  command- 
 ment concerning  thee,  that  no  more  of  thy 
 name  be  sown  :  out  of  the  house  of  thy  gods 
 will  I  cut  off  the  graven  image  and  the  molten 
 image  :  '  I  will  make  thy  grave ;  for  thou  art 
 vile. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.— 1.  BarifCTi,  nbJO,  {sec  Isa.xiii.  I,  note.)  The 
 word  is  used  by  the  prophets  to  signify  the  revelation  which  they  have 
 received  from  God  to  deliver  to  any  particular  people. — -J.  Cliirke.  It 
 siKnifies  'a  message.'— Poc.  It  is  plainly  ambignnus.  and  sometimes 
 signifies  'a  heavy  judgment.'— rffv/or'.-)  Corirord.  on  N©3.  E/kastiite, 
 he  was  born  at  Elkosh.  or  Elkosha,  a  small  village  in  Galilee.— Grn?/. 
 8.  An  ot'erntnninff  Jlond,  so  God  would  ruin  Nineveh  by  a  great  army, 
 so  compared,  (see  Isa.  viii.  r,  8  ;  Dan.  ix.  26  ;  xi.  in,  22,  40.)—Prel>. 
 Lnwth.  Here  may  be  an  allusion  to  the  manner  in  which  Nineveh 
 was  taken.  '  The  Euphrates  overflowed  its  banks,  deluged  a  part  of  the 
 city,  and  overturned  twenty  stadia  of  the  wall ;  in  consequenfce  of 
 which  (he  desponding  king  burnt  himself,  his  palace,  and  treasures.'— 
 959 
 
 Diodorus  Siculu.s,  Newc.  10.  An  fJiorns,  i.  c,  as  a  thorn  hedfje. — 
 Grsen.  11.  There  is  on/", meaning  'Sennacherib/  nr  'Rabshakeh.' — 
 Gilf,  Wil.  Such  were  Pul,  (2  Kinps,  xv.  ip,)  Tiglath-pileser,  (xv.2g,) 
 Shalmaneser.  {xvii.  6,)  and  Sennacherib,  (xviii.  17;  xix.  23.) — Newc. 
 12.  Quiet,  •  secure.*— 7?/j.  Hirlt.  •  At  peace.' — Wheeler.  '  Prosperous.* 
 — Titinthr.  13,  Break  his  yoke — the  Jews  paid  tribute  to  the  Assy- 
 rians, (2  Kings,  xviii.  \i.)~Newc.  14.  No  more  of  thy  name  be  sown, 
 '  no  more  of  you  shall  be  carried  into  captivity.' — A.  Clarke.  *  Senna- 
 cherib's family  sbnulil  not  long-  preserve  the  royal  state  and  dignity.* — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  *  Thou  shalt  do  no  more  remarkable  actions,  whereby 
 thy  name  shall  be  remembered,'  Chald.  'Thy  fame  and  glory  shall  no 
 more  till  the  earth.'    The  king  of  Assyria  is  addressed, — Boothr. 
 
The  fearful  and  victorious  armies 
 
 NAHUM,  II.,  III. 
 
 of  God  against  Nineveh. 
 
 15  Behold  ''upon  the  mountains  the  feet  of 
 him  that  bringieth  good  tidings,  that  pnblisheth 
 peace!  O  Jndah,  f  keep  thy  solemn  feasts, 
 perform  thy  vows:  for  f*  the  wicked  shall  no 
 more  pass  through  thee  ;  '  he  is  utterly  cut  off. 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 Tiie  fearful  and   victorwits  armies   of  God  against 
 
 Ntnevi'ti. 
 TTE  11°  that  dasheth  in  pieces  is  come  np  be- 
 -*"^  fore  thy  face  :  ''  keep  the  munition,  watch 
 the  way,  make  thy   loins  strong,  fortify  thy 
 power  mightily. 
 
 2  °  For  the  Lord  hath  turned  away  ||  the  ex- 
 cellency of  Jacob,  as  the  excellency  of  Israel  : 
 for  ••  the  emptiers  have  emptied  them  out,  and 
 marred  their  vine  branches. 
 
 3  The  shield  of  liis  mighty  men  is  made  'red, 
 the  valiant  men  are  \\  in  scarlet :  the  chariots 
 shall  be  with  ||  flaming  torches  in  the  day  of 
 his  preparation,  and  the  fir  trees  shall  be  ter- 
 ribly shaken. 
 
 4  The  chariots  shall  rage  in  the  streets,  tliey 
 shall  justle  one  against  another  in  the  broad 
 ways :  t  'hey  shall  seem  like  torches,  tliey 
 shall  run  like  the  lightnings. 
 
 5  He  shall  recount  his  ||  worthies  :  they  shall 
 stumble  in  their  walk ;  they  shall  make  haste 
 to  the  wall  thereof,  and  the  f  defence  shall  be 
 prepared. 
 
 6  The  gates  of  the  rivers  .shall  be  opened, 
 and  the  palace  shall  be  ||  dissolved. 
 
 7  And  II  Huzzab  shall  be  ||  led  away  captive, 
 she  shall  be  brought  up,  and  her  maids  shall 
 lead  her  as  with  the  voice  of 'doves,  tabering 
 upon  their  breasts. 
 
 8  But   Nineveh  is    \\  of  old   like  a  pool  of 
 
 11.  c. 
 
 cir.  713. 
 
 d  Is,  52.  7. 
 
 Biiin.  10.15. 
 t  Heb.  fetut. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 Btlial. 
 «  ver.  n,  12. 
 free.  14. 
 
 I  Or.  T4« 
 
 iiitpfrttT,OT, 
 
 a  Jcr.  50.  2.S. 
 
 ft  .ler.  51.  II, 
 
 li.ch.  3.1-1 
 
 c  Is.  10.  12. 
 
 Jcr.  25,  ■.'!) 
 ;i  Or,  tfif 
 
 pride  «/  Ja- 
 
 euh  as  llu 
 
 prid,  of 
 
 Itrael, 
 d  I'fi.  SO.  12, 
 
 Hos.  10.  I, 
 f  Is.  G3.-;,3. 
 li  Or,  di/ed 
 
 icarUt. 
 'I  Or,  fiery 
 
 t-}Tchit. 
 
 WOv^gallanli. 
 t  Heb.  cuver- 
 inif,  or,  <:»- 
 
 II  Or,  tnnlten, 
 IJ  Or,  that 
 lehieh  teat 
 eitabtiihed, 
 or,  thert  wa« 
 a  stand 
 
 II  Or,  discf.- 
 
 f]9,aS.  14. 
 
 '  &59.  11. 
 
 11  Or./rom 
 the  dai/i 
 that  iiie 
 hath  beeo. 
 
 cir.  713. 
 
 ]1  Or,  eauu 
 thetn  In 
 
 II  Or^md 
 their  injinilf 
 
 t  Heb.  veiuU 
 of  deiire. 
 g  Is.  13.  7,S 
 ft  Dan.  5.  6, 
 t  Jcr.  30.  9. 
 k  Joel  2.  C. 
 /  Job  4.  10, 
 11.  K:e.  19, 
 
 m  Eic.  29.3 
 &  3a.  3.  * 
 39.  I.  ch.  3 
 
 I  2  Kin,  IS. 
 17,  t'J,  &  19 
 9,23. 
 
 t  Heb.  ci'/y 
 •f  bloads, 
 
 a  E*e.  28.  2, 
 3.  &  24.  0, 
 9.  Hab.  2. 
 12. 
 
 b  Jer.  47.  3. 
 
 t  Heb.  Ihe 
 H„m,  of  the 
 
 the  l<ghtui»^ 
 of  the  tptar. 
 
 water  :  yet  they  shall  flee  away.    Stand,  stand, 
 shall  they  cry  ;  but  none  shall  ||  look  back. 
 
 !)  Take  ye  the  spoil  of  silver,  take  the  spoil 
 of  gold  :  I!  for  there  is  none  end  of  the  store 
 and  glory  out  of  all  the  f  pleasant  furniture. 
 
 10  She  is  empty,  and  void,  and  waste:  and 
 the  ^ heart  melteth,  and  "the  knees  smite  to- 
 gether, '  and  much  pain  is  in  all  loins,  and  ^  tlie 
 faces  of  them  all  gather  blackness. 
 
 1 1  Where  is  the  dwelling  of  '  the  lions,  and 
 the  feedingplace  of  the  young  lions,  where  the 
 lion,  even  the  old  lion,  walked,  and  the  lion's 
 whelp,  and  none  made  tlicm  afraid? 
 
 12  The  lion  did  tear  in  pieces  enough  for  his 
 whelps,  and  strangled  for  his  lionesses,  and 
 filled  his  holes  with  prey,  and  his  dens  with 
 ravin. 
 
 13  "■  Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  saith  the 
 LoBD  of  hosts,  and  I  will  burn  her  chariots 
 in  the  smoke,  and  tlie  sword  sliall  devour  thy 
 young  lions  :  and  1  will  cut  oft'  tliy  prey  from 
 the  earth,  and  the  voice  of  "  tliy  messengers 
 shall  no  more  be  heard. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 The  miserable  ruin  of  Ninevelu 
 VyOE  to  the  t^  bloody  city!  it  is  all  full  of 
 
 *'    lies  a/ir/ robbery  ;  the  prey  departetli  not ; 
 
 -2  The  noise  of  a  whip,  and  ''  the  noise  of  the 
 rattling  of  the  wheels,  and  of  the  pransiug 
 horses,  and  of  the  jumping  chariots. 
 
 3  The  horseman  lifteth  up  both  f  the  bright 
 sword  and  the  glittering  spear  :  and  there  is 
 a  multitude  of  slain,  and  a  great  number  of 
 carcases ;  and  there  is  none  end  of  their 
 corpses;  they  stumble  upon  their  corpses: 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  1.  He  that  dasheth,  ffc,  the  array  of  the  Babylonians 
 and  Medes.^A'cw'p.  Keep  the  munition^  '  strengthen  thy  garrisons, 
 guard  thy  passes,  stir  up  all  thy  strength  and  courage.'— Fre 6.  Louth, 
 so  Wnrb.  2.  For  the  Lard  hath  turned,  SfO.—for  the  emptiers,  ^c, 
 
 •though  the  ravagers  have  wasted  them,'  (that  is,  both  Jacob  and  Is- 
 rael,) '  and  destroyed  their  branches.'— /Ten-.  The  Assyrian  conquerors 
 have  plundered  them  of  all  their  wealth,  and  bereaved  them  of  all  their 
 children.— /*re6.  Lnwth.  Brought  them  from  their  own  laud  into  cap- 
 tivity.    This  was  the  emptying.— .4.  Clarke. 
 
 '  For  Jehovah  will  restore  the  excellency  of  Jacob, 
 In  a  manner  becoming  the  excellency  of  Israel : 
 Though  the  waters  have  wasted  them, 
 And  have  destroyed  their  vine  branches.* 
 
 Jioothr.,  similar  to  Newc. 
 
 Weit'comc'.s  alteration  is  of  no  importance.  The  passage  means,  *  the 
 Lord  has  been  opposed  to  Jacob,  and  the  enemy  has  prevaileil  against 
 him.' — So  Clarke.  3.  Shield — red — scar!et — as  the  preparation  fur 
 
 battle  is  described,  we  may  suppose  it  customary,  among  those  who 
 fought  against  Nineveh,  to  carry  red  shields,  and  to  wear  scarlet.  And 
 the  chariots,  §c. — 
 
 'The  chariots  are  as  the  fire  of  lamps  in  the  day  when  he  prcpareth 
 
 them ; 
 And  the  horsemen  spread  fear.' — yewc. 
 
 •  And  the  axle-trees  of  fir  are  in  dreadful  commotion.' — ^'heeler. 
 
 By  fir  trees  are  meant,  *  the  spears  and  lances  made  of  fir.' — Prel/. 
 Lowth.  Terribh/  */iflA:t-n,  may  mean,  '  flung  with  destructive  power.' — 
 Clarke.  5.  He  shall  recount  his  worthies,  ^r.,  '  the  king  of  Nineveh 
 shall  muster  his  choicest  troops,  but  they  shall  be  disordered  and  dis- 
 
 comfited.'—P»/i.  Loivfh.  6.  The  gates  of  the  rivers,  ^c. — in  the  third 
 year  of  the  siege,  the  river,  being  swollen  with  continual  rains,  over- 
 flowed part  of  the  city,  and  broke  down  the  wall  for  twenty  furlougs. — 
 Itiud.  Hie.  7.  Hiizzuh,  probably  means  Nineveh.  Doves,  birds  re- 
 markable for  their  melanclioly  note,  (comp.  Isa.  xxxviii.  Mj  lix.  ll.) — 
 Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 '  And  her  handmaids  are  carried  away  as  with  the  voice  of  doves. 
 Smiting  upon  their  breasts.' — Neuc. 
 
 8.  But  Nineveh  is  of  old  like  a  pool,  ^c. — 
 
 •And  the  waters  of  Nineveh  are  as  a  pool  of  water: 
 And  they  flee,  and  men  cry.  Stand,  stand ;  but  none  looketh  back.' 
 The  inundation  of  the  river,  assisted  by  the  channel  ami  reccptaclts 
 for  water  which  the  Niuevites  formed  to  make  their  city  inaccessible  to 
 the  enemy,  produced  this  eftect  for  some  time. — Newc.,  see  Bach., 
 Geogr.  9.  The  spoil,  ^c.- Arbaces  carried  away  many  talents  of 
 gold  and  silver  to  Ecbatana,  the  royal  city  of  the  Medes.— So  Diod.  Sic. 
 10.  She  is  empty,  android,  and  waste,  'Nineveh  is  left  without  one 
 monument  of  royalty,  without  any  token  whatever  of  its  splendour  or 
 wealth  :  the  place  is  not  known  where  they  were;  it  is,  indeed,  a  de- 
 solation ;  its  very  ruins  are  perished,  and  it  is  less  than  the  wreck  of 
 what  it  was.' — Keith.  Gathi-r  blnrkness~the  Hindoo  face  will  change 
 from  f<ur  nearly  to  bUck  in  sickness. —  Ward.  11.  0/ the  lions,  'the 
 lion-like  Assyrians.' — Bp.  HnU. 
 
 Chap.  \\\.  —  \.  Bloody  city,  '  city  (^f  bloods,'  '  violence  and  murder.* 
 — Wit.  2.  The  noise  of  a  whip,  when  the  war-cars  charged,  it  was 
 the  custom  of  the  charioteers  to  crack  their  whips,  in  ordei  to  increase 
 the  terror  of  the  enemy. —  W.  C.  Taylor.  The  jumping  chariots,  'the 
 bounding  chariots.'  This  verse  contains  an  animated  description  of 
 troops  advancing  rapidly  to  battle.— i/ciu.         3.  The  horseman,  better 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I,  —  I.  The  fjower  of  God  to  destroy 
 his  enemies  is  here  described.  He  can  govern  tho  whirlwind  and 
 the  storm;  the  sea  is  obedient  to  his  nod,  and  at  his  blast 
 all  nature  withers.  Mountains  shake — hills  are  dissolved — 
 the  earth  is  consumed  !  Who,  then,  '  can  stand  when  he  ap- 
 peareth  V 
 
 II.  The  exercise  of  God's  power  in  the  destruction  of  his  C7iein{es 
 predicted.  *  Our  God  is  a  consuming  fire'  to  the  wicked,  who 
 perish  before  bis  indignation  like  the  worthless  thorns  and 
 the  empty  stubble.  How  awful  is  the  state  of  that  sinner  who 
 dares  defy  this  Omnipotent  Being  !  How  secure  amidst  every 
 change  and  desolation  are  they  that  put  their  trust  in  Him. 
 *  for  the  Lord  is  good,  a  stronghold  in  the  day  of  trouble  ;  and 
 be  knoweth  them  that  trust  in  him  '' 
 9G0 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  I.  We  here  see  the  hand  of 
 God  in  destructive  warfare.  It  was  the  wealth,  and  envied 
 greatness,  and  overbearing  dominion  of  As.syria  that  drew 
 forth  the  hosts  of  the  conquering  enemy.  ]\Ien's  passions 
 were  all  at  work  in  the  affair,  but  they  were  only  lett  to  do 
 the  pleasure  of  the  Most  High.  It  is  the  Lord  that  turns  and 
 overturns. 
 
 II.  We  here  see  the  vaniti/  of  human  (/reatncss.  What  does 
 he  possess  who  only  amasses  heaps  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
 dwells  even  in  a  royal  palace,  and  sits  on  an  imperial  tlirone'? 
 The  time  hastens  with  winged  speed  when,  as  to  him,  it  must 
 be  written  on  all  these  things,  "  empty,  and  void,  and  waste.' 
 O  for  morp  enduring  substance,  and  honour  which  can  never 
 fade  away  ! 
 
7'he  miserable  ruin 
 
 NAHUM,  in. 
 
 of  Nineveh. 
 
 4  Because  of  the  multitude  of  the  whore- 
 doms of  the  wellfavoured  harlot,  *"  tlie  mistress 
 of  witchcrafts,  tliat  selleth  nations  tlirough  lier 
 whoredoms,  and  families  through  her  witch- 
 crafts. 
 
 5  "^  Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts  ;  and  '^  1  will  discover  thy  skirts 
 upon  thy  face,  '"and  I  will  shew  the  nations  thy 
 nakedness,  and  the  kingdoms  thy  shame. 
 
 G  And  i  will  cast  abominable  filth  upon  thee, 
 and  ^make  thee  vile,  and  will  set  thee  as  ''a 
 gazingstock. 
 
 7  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  i/tat  all  they 
 that  look  upon  thee  '  shall  Hee  from  thee,  and 
 say,  Nineveh  is  laid  waste  :  ^  who  will  bemoan 
 her?  whence  shall  I  seek  comforters  for 
 thee? 
 
 K  'Art  thou  better  than  ||t  populous  ""No, 
 tliat  was  situate  among  the  rivers,  (hat  had  the 
 waters  round  about  it,  whose  rampart  ivas  the 
 sea,  and  her  wall  ivas  from  the  sea? 
 
 9  Ethiopia  and  Egypt  tverc  her  strength,  and 
 it  was  infinite ;  Put  and  Lubim  were  f  thy 
 helpers. 
 
 10  Yet  ivas  she  carried  away,  she  went  into 
 captivity :  "  her  yonng  children  also  were 
 dashed  in  pieces  °  at  the  top  of  all  the  streets  : 
 and  they  ''cast  lots  for  her  honourable  men, 
 and  all  her  great  men  were  bound  in  chains. 
 
 1 1  Thou  also  shalt  be  "^  drunken  :  thou  shalt 
 be  hid,  thou  also  shalt  seek  strength  because 
 of  the  enemy,  I 
 
 B.  c. 
 
 Cir.  713. 
 
 c  la.  17 .9,1?. 
 
 Kc-v.ie.a,3. 
 
 d  ch.  2.  13. 
 
 eU.  47.  ?,  S, 
 Jtr.  rS.  22, 
 SI),  lite.  10. 
 37.  Mic.  I. 
 M. 
 
 /Hab.  2.  IG. 
 
 ff  Mill .  2   9 
 h  Hwb.lU.Sa. 
 
 '  Rev.  18.10. 
 A  Jer.  16.  5. 
 
 /  Ainoi 
 1 1  <>i-. 
 
 f  Hob.  in  thy 
 help. 
 
 n  Ps.  137.  9. 
 
 Is.  is.  16. 
 
 Hos.  13.  IC. 
 '>  L.-im  2.t9. 
 ;.  Jn^l  3.  .S. 
 
 OUd.  U. 
 
 7  Jer.  25.  17, 
 ~  ch.  1. 10. 
 
 B.  C. 
 cir.  71.1. 
 
 Rev.  6.  13. 
 
 t  Ps.  tl7.  J3. 
 
 Jer.  61.  ;)0. 
 
 Or.  tprrnd. 
 Hii  himtelf. 
 
 y  Rev.  y.  7. 
 
 Ex.  15.  It), 
 Ps,  7ti.  6. 
 a  Jer,  50.1S. 
 Ezek.  31.  a, 
 
 II  Or,  valiant 
 
 b  I  Kin.  22. 
 
 17. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 c  fllir.  1.9. 
 
 Zepli,  2.  15. 
 See  is.  ]<1 
 8,  &c. 
 
 12  All  thy  strong  holds  shall  Oe  like  *"  fig  trees 
 with  the  firstripe  figs  :  if  tliey  be  shaken,  they 
 shall  even  fall  into  the  mouth  of  the  eater. 
 
 13  Behold,  Mhy  people  in  the  midst  of  thee 
 are  women  :  the  gates  of  tiiy  land  shall  be  set 
 wide  open  unto  thine  enemies :  the  tire  shall 
 devour  thy  '  bars. 
 
 14  Draw  thee  waters  for  the  siege,  "fortify 
 thy  strong  holds  :  go  into  clay,  and  tread  the 
 morter,  make  strong  the  brickkiln. 
 
 15  There  shall  the  fire  devour  thee;  the 
 sword  shall  cut  thee  off,  it  shall  eat  thee 
 up  like  ^  the  cankerworm  :  make  thyself  many 
 as  the  cankerworm,  make  thyself  many  as  the 
 locusts. 
 
 16  Thou  hast  multiplied  thy  merchants  above 
 the  stars  of  heaven :  the  cankerworm  ||spoileth, 
 and  tieeth  away. 
 
 17  *'  Thy  crowned  arc  as  the  locusts,  and  thy 
 captains  as  the  great  grasshoppers,  which  camp 
 in  the  hedges  in  the  cold  day,  but  when  the  sun 
 ariseth  they  flee  away,  and  their  place  is  not 
 known  where  they  are. 
 
 18  '■  Thy  shepherds  slumber,  O  "*  king  of  As- 
 syria :  thy  II  nobles  shall  dwell  in  the  dust: 
 thy  people  is  ^scattered  upon  the  mountains, 
 and  no  man  gathereth  them, 
 
 1 9  There  is  no  f  healing  of  thy  bruise  ;  "^  thy 
 wound  is  grievous;  *"  all  that  hear  the  bruit  of 
 thee  shall  clap  the  hands  over  thee  :  for  upon 
 
 hom  hath  not  thy  wickedness  passed  con- 
 tinually? 
 
 rendered  '  charioteer,*  for  the  use  of  war-cars  is  more  ancieut  than  that 
 of  cavalry,  aod  they  were' long:  deemed  the  more  formidable  force. 
 TJiey  stumhle,  ?fc.,  the  steeds  stumbling  over  the  corpses,  is  represented 
 in  almost  every  battle-piece  delineated  on  the  Egyptian  monuments. — 
 W.  C.  Tat/lor.  4.  The  ttiistresso/  witchcrafts— tXiG  allusion  seems  to 
 be  to  philtres  and  other  tricks  used  by  harlots  to  besot  young  men,  and 
 bewitch  and  captivate  them— Gi7/.  That  selleth  nntiuns  tfirou^h  her 
 whoredoms.  '  that  makes  whole  nations  a  prey  to  their  enemies,  by 
 teaching  them  the  arts  of  softness  and  effeminacy,  and  so  rendering 
 them  weak  and  defenceless.' — P)-eb.  Lowth.  5.  Discover  thy  skirts, 
 alluding  to  the  barbarous  custom  of  ancient  nations  to  strip  and  march 
 all  their  captives,  male  and  female,  in  a  state  of  nudity. — Wil.  See 
 Jer.  xiii.  22,  note.  It  means,  'I  will  expose  thj-  shame  to  the  world,* 
 a  punishment  often  inflicted  upon  harlots. — Freb.  Lowth.  See  Ezek. 
 xvi.  37,  note.  S.  No,  a  city  of  Egypt,  fsee  Ezek.  xxx.  U,  15  ;  Jer. 
 
 xlvi.  25.)  g.  Put — tlie  African  Nomades  are  here  meant. — Newc. 
 1 1  ■  Thou  also  shall  be  drunken,  be  forced  to  drink  of  the  cup  of  Divine 
 wrath  even  to  drunkenness. — Rosenm.      *  Thou  also  shalt  become   an 
 
 hireling,*  be  reduced  to  a  state  of  slavery. — Newc.  12.  Fall  info  the 
 mouth,  su  should  the  strongholds  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  13.  Are  icomen,  effeminate  and  timid. — Hew.  U.  Draw 
 thee  waters,  fyc,  that  thore  may  be  a  sufficiency  to  hold  out  in  a  long 
 siege.  15.  Like  the  cnnkfncorm,  as  that  is  destroyed  by  rain  or  fire, 
 or  rather  as  that  destroys  all  herbs,  plants,  and  trees  it  falls  upon. — 
 Gill.  16.  Multiplied  thy  merchants,  'thou  art  no  better  for  these, 
 who,  when  they  have  spoiled  thee,  flee  away  and  leave  thee  destitute.* 
 —Bp.  Hull. 
 
 '  Multiply  thy  merchants  more  than  the  stars  of  heaven  ; 
 Yet  the  locust  hath  spoiled  and  hath  flown  away,' 
 
 i.  e.,  yet  thou  shalt  fall  a  prey  to  an  enemy  as  devouring  as  the  locust. 
 — Newc.  1/.  Crowned  heads,  'rulers.' — Bp.  Hull.         IS.  T/ty  shep- 
 
 herds  slumber,  rulers  and  tributary  princes. — A.  Clarke.  The  king's 
 ministers,  counsellors,  and  officers,  gave  themselves  up  to  sloth  and 
 ease. — Gill. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  I.  We  may  here  observe — 
 The  notice  which  God  takes  of  nations.  Indeed,  it  is  natural  to 
 suppose  that  if  he  eyes  every  individual,  noticini;  all  bis  motives 
 and  thoughts,  as  well  as  Iiis  words  and  works,  he  also  notices  all 
 inihviduals  as  collected  bodies.  He  views  their  influence 
 upon  each  other,  and  their  abominable  leagues  and  practices. 
 
 *  Wo  to  the  bloody  city  !'  Here  was  the  predominant  sin  of 
 Nineveh.  Its  treasures  were  acquired  by  blood.  It  was  the 
 habitation  of  cruelty.     Nineveh's  king  was  immersed  in  blood. 
 
 *  It  was  in  his  heart  to  destroy  and  cut  oft"  nations  not  a  few,' 
 Here  idolatry  prevailed  in  its  worst  forms,  and  man  became  a 
 beast.  Here,  then,  should  he  be  degraded  to  the  lowest  de- 
 gree, and  drink  of  the  cup  of  God's  wrath  to  the  very  dregs. 
 Let  these  historical  proofs  of  God's  anger  against  nations  lead 
 us  earnestly  to  deprecate  our  national  sins.     Observe — 
 
 II.  The  astnnishinfi  fuljil  ment  of  the  Divine  threatenings  against 
 sinful  nations.  Look  at  Egypt,  Tyre,  and  Babylon  !  Behold 
 here,  also,  the  remarkable  fate  of  Assyria.  *  What  probability 
 was  (here  '  says  Bishop  Newton,  '  that  the  capital  city  of  a 
 
 great  kingdom;  a  city  which  was  sixty  miles  in  compass;  a  city 
 which  contained  so  many  thousand  inhabitants  ;  a  city  which 
 had  walls  a  hundred  feet  high,  and  so  thick  tliat  three  chariots 
 could  go  abreast  upon  tbem,  and  which  had  one  thousand  five 
 hundred  towers  of  two  hundred  feet  in  beii;ht ; — what  proba- 
 bility was  there  that  such  a  city  should  over  be  totally  de- 
 stroyed ?  And  yet  so  totally  was  it  destroyed,  that  the  place 
 is  hardly  known  where  it  was  situated  !  W  hat  we  may  sup- 
 pose helped  to  complete  its  ruin  and  devastation  was  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar's enlarging  and  beautifying  Babylon  soon  after 
 Nineveh  was  taken.  From  that  time,  no  mention  is  made  of 
 Nineveh  by  any  of  the  sacred  writers  ;  and  the  most  ancient 
 of  the  heathen  authors,  who  have  occasion  to  say  anything 
 about  it,  speak  of  it  as  a  city  that  was  once  great  and  Hourisb- 
 ing,  but  now  destroyed  and  desolate.'  Thus  shall  every  word 
 of  God  be  fulfilled.  Thus  shall  the  papal  Babylon  fall  ;  and 
 thus,  at  length,  shall  this  globe — the  grand  theatre  of  crimes, 
 on  which  the  Son  of  God  himself  suffered  ignominy  and  death 
 — perish  in  one  universal  flame  ! 
 
 m\ 
 
 6  o 
 
H  A  B  A  K  K  U  K. 
 
 [This  prophet  issupposed,  bv  some,  to  have  been  contemporary  with  Jeremiah,  and  to  have  prophesied  In  the  reign  of  Jehoi- 
 achim.  The  prevailing  opinion  is,  that  he  did  not  deliver  his  prophecy  till  after  the  taking  of  Nineveh,  as  It  spenks  of  the 
 Chaldeans,  and  is  silent  on  the  subject  of  the  Assyrian*;.  He  appears  also  to  have  prophesied  before  the  Jewish  captivity, 
 (see  chap.  i.  5;  ii.  I;  iii.  '2,  16 — 19.)  The  Jews  think  It  was  in  the  time  of  Manasseh,  of  the  wickedness  of  whose  reign 
 he  is  ihouglit  to  speak,  cliap.  i-  3.  4.  He  foretold  the  destruction  of  the  Chaldeans,  as  Nahum  did  that  of  the  Assyrians. 
 Habakkiik  is  referred  to  in  Acts,  ii.  4  ;  xili.  41  ;   Rom.  i.  17  ;  Heb-  x.  .37,  38-] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 1  Unto  Hahuhkuh^  complaining  of  the  iniqiiitij  of  the 
 iund,  5  is  shncid  the  ftarful  vengeance  by  the  Chal- 
 deans. 12  Hi:  complaintth  that  vengeance  should  bt- 
 executed  Inj  them  who  are  far  worse. 
 
 T^HE  burden  wliich   Habakkuk  the  prophet 
 ■*-    did  see. 
 
 2  O  Luun,  how  long  shall  I  cry,  **  and  thou 
 wilt  not  hear!  tven  cry  out  unto  thee  q/" vio- 
 lence, and  thuu  wilt  not  save! 
 
 3  Why  dost  thou  t^hew  me  iniquity,  and  cause 
 me  to  behold  grievance?  for  spoiling  and  vio- 
 lence are  before  me  :  and  there  are  thai  raise 
 up  strife  and  contention. 
 
 4  Therefore  the  law  is  slacked,  and  judgment 
 doth  never  go  forth:  for  the  ^wicked  doth 
 compass  about  the  righteous;  therefore  |1  wrong 
 judgment  proceedeth. 
 
 5  V  Behold  ye  among  the  heathen,  and  re- 
 gard, and  wonder  marvellously  :  for  /will  work 
 a  work  in  your  days,  u;//ic/i  ye  will  not  believe, 
 though  it  be  told  f/on. 
 
 6  For,  lo,  ''  II  1  raise  up  the  Chaldeans,  that 
 bitter  and  hasty  nation,  which  shall  march 
 through  the  f  breadth  of  the  land,  to  possess 
 the  dwellingplacL'S  that  are  not  their's. 
 
 7  They  are  terrible  and  dreadful:  ||  their 
 judgment  and  their  dignity  shall  proceed  of 
 themselves. 
 
 8  Their  horses  also  are  swifter  than  the 
 leopards,  and  are  more  f  fierce  than  the  ^  even- 
 ing wolves:  and  their  horsemen  shall  spread 
 themselves,  and  their  horsemen  shall  come 
 from  far;  ^  they  shall  fly  as  the  eagle  that 
 hasteth  to  eat. 
 
 B.  C 
 cir.  6:6. 
 
 b  Job  ?1.T. 
 Ps94n.&c, 
 Jpr.  12.  I. 
 
 .1  Or, 
 
 c  Is  29."  14. 
 Acts  13,41, 
 
 d  Tien.  28. 
 
 49,  51 1. 
 
 Jer.  5    15 
 II  Fulfilled. 
 
 2  Clir.  aii  S. 
 t  Hl-I.. 
 
 brtudtht. 
 Il  Or,/r,'m 
 
 th.m  th.<a 
 
 proceed  thf 
 
 iiidgmfHl  of 
 ,  V.«c,  and 
 
 llifrnptivilt/ 
 
 oflh'f. 
 t  Heb.  ihnrp. 
 f  Jer   t,.  6. 
 
 Zcpli.  3.  3. 
 
 /Jer.  4.  13. 
 
 |]  Or,  thf  tup- 
 }""iC  "P  "/ 
 
 Ac.  or,  their 
 faci  shtitl 
 l..ok  l^u^a-d 
 tht  f.itt. 
 
 t   Hob    thf. 
 opposition  of 
 lh»'ir  fifft 
 toutitrd  tht 
 east. 
 
 g  Dan.  5.  ♦. 
 
 h  Ps.  ail.  2. 
 
 &  y:i,  2. 
 
 T.ain    b.  19 
 .  2  Kin.  19. 
 
 25   Tb.  t;. 
 
 13.  Is.  I')  5, 
 
 6,  7.  Eitek. 
 
 31),  25. 
 t  Heb.  fock. 
 
 Dtu.  Si.  4. 
 t  H<-b. 
 
 fiitiiidfd. 
 4  Fe.  5.  5. 
 II  Or. 
 
 /Jer.  12.  1. 
 
 I  Or,  ttioiu*i)_y. 
 
 n.Ter,  16.16 
 Amos  4.  2. 
 
 II  Or,  Jlut  net. 
 
 n  Den.  8,  !7. 
 I9.  10  iS.Si 
 37.  24, as. 
 
 II  Or,  daintif 
 t  H«b./<J*. 
 
 9  They  shall  come  all  for  violence  :  ||  f  their 
 faces  shall  sup  up  as  the  east  wind,  and  they 
 shall  gather  the  captivity  as  the  sand. 
 
 10  And  they  shall  scoff  at  the  king.s,  and  the 
 princes  shall  be  a  scorn  unto  them :  they  shall 
 deride  every  strong  hold  ;  for  they  shall  heap 
 dust,  and  take  it. 
 
 11  Then  shall  his  mind  change,  and  he  shall 
 pass  over,  and  offend,  ^imputing  this  his  power 
 unto  his  god. 
 
 12  ^^Art  thou  not  from  everlasting,  O  Lord 
 my  God,  mine  Holy  One?  we  shall  not  die. 
 O  Lord,  'thou  hast  ordained  them  for  judg- 
 ment; and,  O  t  mighty  God,  thuu  hast  f  esta- 
 blished them  for  correction. 
 
 13  ^Thou  art  of  purer  eyes  than  to  behold 
 evil,  and  canst  not  look  on  ||  iniquity  :  'where- 
 fore lookest  thou  upon  them  that  deal  treacher- 
 ously, and  boldest  thy  tongue  when  the  wicked 
 devoureth  the  man  that  is  more  righteous  than 
 he? 
 
 14  And  makest  men  as  the  fishes  of  the  sea, 
 as  the  II  creeping  things,  that  have  no  ruler 
 over  them  ? 
 
 15  They  '"  take  up  all  of  them  with  the  angle, 
 they  catch  them  in  their  net,  and  gather  them 
 in  their  ||  drag  :  therefore  they  rejoice  and  are 
 glad. 
 
 16  Therefore '^  they  sacrifice  unto  their  net, 
 and  burn  incense  unto  their  drag  ;  because  by 
 them  their  portion  is  fat,  and  their  meat 
 lit  plenteous. 
 
 17  Shall  they  therefore  empty  their  net,  and 
 not  spare  continually  to  slay  the  nations? 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  5.  BeJiold  ye  among  the  heathen,  fye. — this  is 
 the  Lord's  answer  tu  tlie  prophet's  complaint,  or  what  he  riirects  hira 
 to  say  to  the  Jews,  gnilty  of  the  crimes  cumplained  of,  which  should 
 not  go  long  unpunished. — GUI.  Newcome  translates,  '  See,  ye  trans- 
 gressors, [' despisers.' — Doothr.']  and  behold  a  wonder,  and  perish,' 
 reading,  DM^S,  among  the  '  transgressors,'  fir  C*l-3,  among  the  '  na- 
 tioos,'  or  'heatljen.'  See  the  quotation  of  St.  Paul,  Acts,  xiii.  41. — 
 So  the  Septunffint,  Syriac,  and  Arnh.  6.  /  raise  tip  the  C/taldeatis^ 
 SfC,  who  shall  make  several  incursions  into  Judea,  and  at  last  utterly 
 conquer  it,  (see  2  Kings,  xxiv.,  xxv.)— P/eA.  Louth.  7.  T/ieir  judg- 
 ment and  their  digniti/  shall  pruceed  of  themselves— they  will  not  be 
 directed  and  governefl  by  any  laws  of  God  and  man,  but  by  their  own, 
 and  they  will  do  according  to  their  will  and  pleasure  ;  their  decrees 
 and  determinations  they  make  of  themselves  shall  be  put  into  execu. 
 tion.— Gi7/.  8.  Swifter  than  the  letipfirds—the  hunting  leopard  will 
 leap  seventeen  or  eighteen  feet  at  a  time.  Their  horsemen  shall  spread 
 themselves— Baron  de  Toft  speaks  of  an  army  of  modern  Tartars  '  di- 
 viding into  several  columns,  subdividing  successfully,  and  thus  over- 
 spreading New  Servia,  burning  the  villages,  corn,  and  fodder,  and  car- 
 rying off  the  inhabitants  and  cattle.'  This  illustrates  the  passage. — 
 See  Har.  g.  Their  faces,  that  is,  according  to  the  Hebrew  idiom, 
 'their  presence.* — Wil.  Shall  atip  up  as  the  east  u-i7td — Jackson,  in 
 his  overland  journey  from  India,  mentions  his  having  bathed  in  the 
 Tigris.  On  his  coming  out  of  the  river,  one  of  those  winds  passed 
 over  him,  and  in  a  moment  carried  off  ever>'  particle  of  water  that  was 
 on  his  body  and  in  hib  bathing  dress.— ^1.  Clarke.    Their  enemies  shall 
 
 be  absorbed  or  rapidly  destroyed  by  them,  as  the  blasting  pestilential 
 east  wind  spreads  dcstructinn.— A'fU'c.  And  tticy  shall  gather,  ^c, 
 '  and  they  shall  gather  captives  on  the  sand.'  Heap  dust,  '  earth,'  that 
 is,  mounds,  according  to  the  usual  way  of  taking  fortresses.  II.  Ttien 
 shall  his  mind  change,  ^r,.  '  then  shall  their  spirit  be  changed,  and  they 
 shall  pass  away  and  be  treated  as  guilty.  This  is  their  strength  with 
 their  god.'  This  may  be  spoken  of  the  Chaldee  nation  at  large,  whose 
 disposition  should  degenerate,  and  who  were  to  he  punished  by  Cyrus, 
 — Newc, 
 
 *  Then  will  their  minds  he  changed  ; 
 And  they  will  transgress  and  be  treated  as  guilty. 
 For  imputing  their  power  to  their  gods.* 
 
 12.  We  shall  not  die,  'not  utterly  perish  by  their  hand.'  They  are  thy 
 instruments  for  judgment  on  the  guilty,  and  fnr  correction  to  those 
 whom  thou  wilt  spare.— BooMr.  13.  Thou  art  of  purer  eyes  than  to 
 behold  evil,  ^c,  he  beholds  all  things,  but  looks  not «  n  sin  with  plea- 
 sure and  approbation.— Gi//.  U,  15.  Men  as  the  fishes— they  catch 
 MeTTi— having  compared  the  Israelites  to  fishes,  the  pmphet  considers 
 the  Chaldeans  as  fishers,  taking  them  by  their  hook,  or  inclosing  them 
 in  their  net  and  drag,  and  exulting  in  their  success.  l6.  Net— drag, 
 ^c— Uiese  evidently  mean,  'their  valour  and  power,  by  which  they 
 conquered  the  nations.'  To  these  they  sacrificed  or  ascribed  all  their 
 success.— Boo/Ar.  Did  the  Jewish  idolaters,  like  the  Hindoos,  annually 
 worship  the  implements  of  their  trades?  — IT'ard.  I?.  Empty  their 
 
 net,  for  a  new  draught.— Bp.  Hall. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  God's  church  and  people  in 
 distress  and  persecution  have  these  strong  grounds  of  conso- 
 lation— I.  That  God  is  eternal.  Whatever  may  change,  He 
 never  changes.  Hence  he  continues  '  the  guardian  of  his 
 church  and  interests,  which  shall  not,  therefore,  die  and  be 
 lost  He  may  ordain  enemieb  to  correct  his  pecJple,  but  they 
 962 
 
 shall  not  be  destroyed.* 
 
 II.  That  God  is  the  Holy  One.  He  abhors  iniquity;  he 
 turns  away  his  eyes  from  it  with  disgust.  Hence,  '  though  he 
 may  use  the  worst  of  men  to  correct  his  people,  yet  he  abhors 
 them.  Though  he  may  bear  long  with  sinners,  yet  he  will 
 certaiidy  punish  them'b 
 
Tliv  jadijmenl  vpun  the  Chal^iiiif: 
 
 HABAKKUK,  II. 
 
 fur  cruelty,  drunkenness,  and  idolat 
 
 ''!'■ 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  Unto  Huhakkuk,  waiting  for  an  answer,  is  shewed 
 tfiat  tie  must  wait  by  faith.  5  TIte  jmhjmznt  upon 
 t/te  Chaldean  for  unsatiableness,  9  for  covetousness , 
 \2  for  cruelly ,  15  for  drunkenness,  18  and  for  idol- 
 atry. 
 
 T  WILL  "stand  upon  my  natch,  and  set  me 
 -*-   upon  the  f  tower,  ''  and  will  watch  to  see 
 
 what  he  will  say  ||  unto  me,  and  what  I  shall 
 
 answer  Hfwhen  I  am  reproved. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  answered  me,  and  said, 
 '  Write  the  vision,  and  make  it  plain  upon 
 tallies,  that  he  may  run  that  readeth  it. 
 
 3  For  ''  the  vision  (a'  yet  for  an  appointed 
 time,  but  at  the  end  it  shall  speak,  and  not  lie  : 
 though  it  tarry,  wait  for  it;  because  it  will 
 'surely  come,  it  will  not  tarry. 
 
 4  Behold,  his  soul  which  is  lifted  up  is  not 
 upright  in  him  :  but  the  "^just  shall  live  by  his 
 faith. 
 
 .•")  K  II  Yea  also,  because  he  transgresseth  by 
 wijie,  he  is  a  proud  man,  neither  keepeth  at 
 home,  who  enlargeth  his  desire  ^  as  hell,  and /s 
 as  death,  and  cannot  be  satisfied,  but  gathereth 
 unto  him  all  nations,  and  heapeth  unto  him  all 
 people  : 
 
 6  Shall  not  all  these  ''  take  up  a  parable 
 against  him,  and  a  taunting  proverb  against 
 him,  and  say,  ||  Woe  to  him  that  increaseth 
 that  ivhirh  is  not  his!  how  long?  and  to  him 
 that  ladeth  himself  with  thick  clay! 
 
 7  Sliall  tliey  not  rise  np  suddenly  that  shall 
 iiite  thee,  and  awake  that  shall  vex  thee,  and 
 thou  shalt  be  for  booties  unto  them? 
 
 8  '  Because  thou  hast  spoiled  many  nations, 
 all  the  remnant  of  the  people  shall  spoil  thee  ; 
 '  because  of  men's  fblood,  and  /b;'  the  violence 
 of  the  land,  of  the  city,  and  of  all  that  dwell 
 therein. 
 
 9  H  Woe  to  him  that  '  ||  coveteth  an  evil 
 covetousness  to  his  house,  that  he  may  "'  set 
 his  nest  on  high,  that  he  may    be   delivered 
 
 B.C. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  626, 
 
 cir.  G:6 
 
 t  Heb.  palm 
 
 uf  tlie  hand. 
 
 II  Or,  piccF, 
 
 n  rs.2l.8,ll. 
 
 or,  fiuleu- 
 
 i'iir- 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 II  Or,  w./NrM 
 
 J '-need  jilice. 
 
 against  il. 
 
 h  Ps.  83.  8. 
 
 n.ter.22    13. 
 
 ll  Or,  in  me. 
 
 E«U    24.9. 
 
 li  Or,  whb\  I 
 
 Mic.  3.  10, 
 
 am  argue  I 
 
 Nab.  3.  1. 
 
 v.tl.. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 (  Heb.  «;wn 
 
 bhods. 
 
 >"S  r^roof. 
 
 -.Jer.  51,  58. 
 
 ni-,  argtti'ig 
 
 ll  Or,  in  v.ii,, 
 
 cls.a.  1.  & 
 
 30    8. 
 
 11  Or,  by 
 
 rfDao.  10  U. 
 
 iiuoieing  the 
 
 &  11.27,35. 
 
 gloT„o/lhe 
 
 LORD. 
 
 !'  Pb.  11.9. 
 
 r  Heb.  lu.57 
 
 q  Ho9.  7-  5. 
 
 /John  .1.86. 
 
 Horn.  1.  17. 
 
 G,il    3.  11. 
 
 I-  Gen.  9.  £J. 
 
 Heb.  10  38 
 
 il  Or,  //»u! 
 
 li  Or,  miire 
 
 viiich  more. 
 
 villi  i/miite 
 
 than  Willi 
 
 ffPro  27.20. 
 
 gli-rg. 
 
 &  30.  16. 
 
 <.Ier,  25   2fl, 
 
 27.&51.&7. 
 
 /.  Mic.  2.  '1. 
 
 /  ver.  8. 
 
 II  Or,  tfu,  he. 
 
 w  Is.  41   9, 
 
 10.  &  46.  2. 
 
 J-  Jer.  10   S, 
 
 It   Zech. 
 
 (0.  2. 
 
 Ms.  33,  1, 
 
 t  Heb.  lite 
 /nJuoner  of 
 
 hiMfathiou. 
 
 1,  Ps    115   5. 
 
 t  ver.  17. 
 
 I  Cor.l2.  2. 
 
 f  Ht-b. 
 
 bi,.,j,i3. 
 
 .-  Ps    1;15.  17 
 
 .  Ps.  11.  4 
 
 t  Heb.  be 
 
 I  Jer.  22.  13. 
 
 nilnt  (ill  Oie 
 
 II  Or.gah,fth 
 
 earth  be/ore 
 ;.  Zepb.  I    7 
 
 an  tv.lgn.H. 
 mJer  \'y  IC. 
 
 Ob^d.  1. 
 
 Zech. 2   13. 
 
 from  the  f  power  of  evil ! 
 
 10  Thou  hast  consulted  shame  to  thy  Iiouse 
 by  cutting  off  many  people,  and  hast  sinned 
 against  thy  soul. 
 
 1 1  For  the  stone  shall  cry  out  of  the  wall, 
 and  the  ||  beam  out  of  the  timber  shall  |{  an- 
 swer it. 
 
 I "2  t  Woe  to  him  that  buildeth  a  town  with 
 "fblood,  and  stablislieth  a  city  by  iniquity! 
 
 13  Behold,  (I5  ?7  not  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  "that 
 the  people  shall  labour  in  the  very  fire,  and 
 the  people  shall  weary  themselves  ||  for  very 
 vanity  ? 
 
 14  For  the  earth  shall  be  filled  ||  with  the 
 ''  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  as  the 
 waters  cover  the  sea. 
 
 lo  H  Woe  unto  him  that  giveth  his  neigh- 
 bour drink,  that  puttest  thy  ''bottle  to  hiniy 
 and  makest  him  drunken  also,  that  thou  mayest 
 'look  on  their  nakedness! 
 
 16  Thou  art  filled  ||  with  shame  for  glory; 
 "drink  thou  also,  and  let  thy  foreskin  be  un- 
 covered: the  cup  of  the  Lord's  right  hand 
 shall  be  turned  unto  thee,  and  shameful  spew- 
 ing shall  be  on  thy  glory. 
 
 17  For  the  violence  of  Lebanon  shall  cover 
 thee,  and  the  spoil  of  beasts,  u-hich  made  them 
 afraid,  *  because  of  men's  blood,  and  for  the 
 violence  of  the  land,  of  the  city,  and  of  all  that 
 dwell  therein. 
 
 18  t"  What  profiteth  the  graven  image  that 
 the  maker  thereof  hath  graven  it;  the  molten 
 image,  and  a  ^  teacher  of  lies,  that  f  the  maker 
 of  his  work  trusteth  therein,  to  make  ^'  dumb 
 idols  ? 
 
 19  Woe  unto  him  that  saith  to  the  wood, 
 Awake  ;  to  the  dumb  stone.  Arise,  \l  shall 
 teach!  Behold,  it  is  laid  over  with  gold  and 
 silver,  ^  and  there  is  no  breath  at  all  in  the 
 midst  of  it. 
 
 20  But  ^  the  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple  : 
 f  '■  let  all  the  earth  keep  silence  before  him. 
 
 Chaf.  II. —  1.  /  will  stand,  'I  stood.'  —  Iloub.,  Newc.  And  uill 
 watvh,  'anil  I  looked.' — Newc.  What  he  ivuuld  sup  unto  me,  ''1,  *  in 
 me.' — A.  C/firke.  'What  he  would  speak  by  me.' — Ntftcc.  And  what 
 I  shnll  answrr^  *  and  what  he  would  reply.'  —  Houh.  'And  what  I 
 should  reply.'— A''(?M'<'.  'What  I  should  be  answered,'  Chald.  This 
 alludes  to  the  business  of  watchmen  in  time  of  war,  (see  2  Kings,  ix.  1 7.) 
 —So  Prefi.  Lowth.  2.  Tables,  '  tablets.'— .Vewr.  That  he  may  run, 
 %c. — the  tablets  were  usually  of  box -tree,  consisting-  of  several  leaves 
 covered  with  wax,  on  which  impressions  were  easily  made  and  long 
 C'^ntinned.  and  were  very  legible.  Cicero  relates  that  it  was  a  custom 
 among  the  Romans  to  publish  the  public  affairs  of  every  year  by  means 
 of  a  tahlo ;  and  it  was  also  usual  to  hang  up  laws  approved  and  re- 
 Cftrded  in  tables  of  brass,  in  their  market-places  and  in  their  temples, 
 that  they  might  be  seen  and  read  j  the  same  we  call  annals.  It  was  in 
 this  manner  the  Jewi-h  prophets  used  to  write  and  expose  their  pro- 
 phecies publicly  on  tables,  either  in  their  own  houses  or  in  the  temple, 
 that  every  one  that  passed  by  might  read  them. — Gill.  '  That  he  may 
 run,'  &c.,  may  have  been  a  proverbial  expre-'Sion. — A'ewc.  3.  Fur 
 nn  appointed  time — God  has  determined  a  set  time  when  it  shall  be 
 fulrilled,  (comp.  Dan.  viii.  19;  xi.  '27,  a.'j,  35.)  It  shall  speak,  and  not 
 lie,  '  it  shall  break  forth,'  (so  the  Hebrew  word  is  used.  Cant.  ii.  17  ; 
 iv,  6,1  '  and  not  deceive.*  It  will  not  tany— the  Hebrew  words  here 
 rendered  *  tarry,'  are  two  different  words  ;  the  latter  may  be  rendered, 
 *  he  will  not  go  beyond.'  i,  e.,  '  beyond  the  appointed  lime.' — So  Chnnd, 
 4.  His  soul  which  is  lifted  np — understand  the  Chaldeans  to  be  here  in- 
 tended, (-^ee  i.  7,  12,  15—17.)  addressed  in  the  singular  number,  or  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar and  Belshazzar  may  be  alluded  to. — Newn.  This,  as  a 
 general  proposition,  is  incontrovertible,  {see  Prov.  xvi.  5.)—  Wil.  The 
 ancient  versions  have 'cast  down.*  But  the  just,  fifC. — the  good  or 
 righteous  man,  who  believes  in  my  prophets,  and  obeys  their  direc- 
 tions, shall  live  at  the  time  of  the  Babylonish  inva<iion  ;  (see  Jer.  xxi. 
 9;  xxxviii.  2,  17,  IH  ;  xlii.  7.  '^c.)  In  the  New  Te-tament  the  words 
 are  accommodated,  [see  marg.  ref.) — Newc.  The  proud,  hypocritical 
 Jews  scoffed  at  these  predictions;  but  not  so  the  righteous,  who  lived 
 
 by  faith  in  God's  mercy,  grace,  promise,  and  providence,  and  in  the 
 redemption  of  the  predicted  Saviour. — So  Scott.  5.  Yea,  also,  §-e., 
 '  moreover,  as  a  mighty  man  transgresseth  through  wine,'  &c.  As 
 hell,  '  as  tlie  grave.' — Newc.  6.  And  to  him,  S(c. — thick clav.  mean- 
 ing his  gold  and  silver.— Prefi.  Lowth,  'How  long  will  he  lade  him- 
 self with  many  pledges?'  8.  Men's  blood,  'shed  by  thee.'  And  for 
 the  violence,  ^c. — 
 
 ' and  violence  done  to  the  land. 
 
 To  the  city,  and  to  all  the  inhabitants  thereof.' 
 The  land,  Judea;  the  city,  Jerusalem.— A>ur.  9.  Ifo^  to  him,  §■(■.— 
 '  Woe  unto  him  that  procureth  wicked  gain  for  his  family.' — Wheeler. 
 Nebuchadnezzar  strove  to  aggrandize  his  house,  which  C>rus  cut  off, 
 (see  Dan.  v.  2,  30.)  11.  The  stone  shaft  cry  out,  ^c,  his  great  build- 
 ings in  Babylon,  &c.  The  beam,  answereth  it,  saying,  'woe,'  &c. — 
 Newc.  The  ancients  used  to  lay  beams  of  timber  in  their  stune  walls 
 to  bind  them. —  Wil.  12.  Buildeth — with  blood — the  cosUy  buildings 
 of  Babylon  had  been  erected  by  the  spoils  of  conquered  nations  and  by 
 the  blood  of  multitudes. —  Grcenf.  13.  Labour  in  the  very  fire,  all  the 
 pains  which  the  Chaldeans  t<>ok  in  enlarging  and  beautifying  Babylon 
 should  be  soon  lost  in  the  flames. — Reading.  14.  For  the  earth  shalt 
 be  filled,  §-c. — God  intendt-d  to  destroy  Babylon,  in  order  to  shew  his 
 glory  to  the  whole  earth,  by  redeeming  Israel  and  replenishing  Jeru 
 salem  ;  that  there  the  Redeemer  might  appear,  and  that  his  gospel 
 might  spread  from  thence. — Scott.  This  may  refer  primarily  lo  the 
 spread  of  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God  upon  Nebuchadnezzar's  con- 
 version, (Dan.  iv.  31 — 3";  comp.  Isa.  xi.  9.)  —  Wil.  15.  Lookontheir 
 nakedness — the  too  fretiucut  effects  of  drunkenness  is  to  engage  others 
 to  commit  lewdness,  and  thereby  expose  them  to  shame. — Preb.  Lowth. 
 Thi<!  and  the  next  verse  contain  an  allegory  ;  the  Chahieans  gave  to  the 
 neighbouring  nations  the  cup  of  idolatry  and  of  deceitful  alliance ;  and 
 in  return  they  received  from  Jehovah  tlie  cup  of  his  fury. — So  Grotiux, 
 ^nANeirc.  17.  For  the  violence,  Sfc,  'the  violence  done  to  Leba- 
 
 non.'    Violence  of  the  land,  *  violence  done  to  the  land.' — Newc. 
 
 KEFiFrtioNs  ON-  CiiAP.   IL  —  Wc  mav  select  three  per-    wait  his  time.     And  it  is  a  great  encouragement  to  wait  with 
 tions  of  tiiis  chapter  for  brief  notice — I.  *  The  vision  is  fur  an     patience,  that  though  the  promised  favour  be  deferred  long,  it 
 ?.'     '  God  has  an  appointed  time  for  bis  appointed    will  come  at  last,  and  be  an  abundant  recompence  to  us  for 
 
 appointed  tiitie.'     '  Uod  has  an  appoinlea  time  lor  his  appoin 
 work,  and  will  be  sure  to  do  the  work  when  the  time  comes  :    waiting.' 
 and   it  is  not  for  us  to  anticipate  his  appointments,  but  to        II.  '  T/ie  jusf  will  lire  bi/  his  faith.* 
 963 
 
 •  Those  that  are  truly 
 
Habahkuk  in  fiis  prayer 
 
 HABAKKUK,  III. 
 
 trembleth  at  Gocfs  majesty. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  Habahkuk  in  his  prai/er  tremhktk  at  God's  viajcst>/. 
 
 17    The  conjidencc  of  his  faith. 
 
 A  PRAYER    of    Habakkiik    the    prophet 
 *  II  upon  Shigionoth. 
 
 2  O  Lord,  I  have  heard  ]  \\\y  speech,  an*^ 
 was  afraid  :  O  Lord,  ||^  revive  thy  work  in  the 
 midst  of  the  years,  in  the  midst  of  the  years 
 make  known  ;  in  wrath  remember  mercy. 
 
 3  God  came  from  |I  Teman,  'and  the  Holy 
 One  from  mount  Paran.  Selah.  His  glory 
 covered  the  heavens,  and  the  earth  was  full 
 of  his  praise. 
 
 4  And  his  brightness  was  as  the  light ;  he 
 had  II  horns  cominr/  out  of  his  hand:  and  there 
 was  the  hiding  of  his  power. 
 
 5  ""  Before   him    went   the    pestilence,   and 
 
 II  *"  burning  coals  went  forth  at  his  feet. 
 
 6  He  stood,  and  measured  the  earth :  he  be- 
 held, and  drove  asunder  the  nations  ;  *^and  the 
 ^  everlasting  mountains  were  scattered,  the 
 perpetual  hills  did  bow;  his  ways  are  ever- 
 lasting. 
 
 7  I  saw  the  tents  of  ||  Cushan  ||  in  affliction : 
 and  the  curtains  of  tlie  land  of  Midian  did 
 tremble. 
 
 8  Was  the  Lord  displeased  against  the 
 rivers?  was  thine  anger  against  the  rivers? 
 was    thy    wrath    against  the  sea,   ^  that   thou 
 
 a  Ps.7,title, 
 \\  Or,  aecord- 
 
 bk  iongt,  or, 
 ti<nu,  called 
 I'l  Hebrew, 
 Shigiounll,. 
 t  Heb.  t'l^ 
 report,  or, 
 
 II  l)r.;,rf>m.^ 
 
 alive. 
 f,Ps    85.  6. 
 II  Or,  the 
 
 l..r,(A. 
 c  Den.  M.  2. 
 
 .Tudg.  5.  -». 
 
 V^.  OS.  7. 
 II  (Ir,  bright 
 
 t,e»mtouti>/ 
 
 hi$  light. 
 d  Nail.  1.3. 
 
 Or,  f-«r»- 
 
 inyd.,e<i^rt, 
 
 DL>ti..'f2.  S+. 
 ,   Ps    18.  8. 
 /  NaU.  1 .  5. 
 
 J/  Gon,  19  20, 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 Rlhiopin. 
 II  Or,  undrr 
 
 a^tCtin;, 
 
 nr,  vanity, 
 h  Dcu. 33.26, 
 
 •27.  Ps.  68.4. 
 
 &  t04.  3. 
 
 ver.  15. 
 
 II  Or,  /fcy 
 thnrtiits 
 were  talva- 
 
 the  earth. 
 i  Ps.78.  15, 
 
 16.  &  105. 
 
 41. 
 h  Ex.  19    16. 
 
 18  Judg.  '. 
 
 \,  5   Va   tiS. 
 
 8.  8c  77    16- 
 
 St  114.  4. 
 /  Kx.  14.  22 
 
 Josh.  3.  10. 
 "I  .lOElh.  1(1. 
 
 ,  IS. 
 
 (I  Or,  thine 
 lirroat  tcalk- 
 ed  in  the 
 tight,  ».c. 
 
 't  Jnsb.lil  II 
 Pa.  IS  14. tv 
 77.  17,  18. 
 
 o  Jer..'>I.S:i. 
 AnioB  I.  3. 
 Mio.  *.  13. 
 
 p  Josh.1t>.'-'4.. 
 &  11.8,  y> 
 Pfl    68.  21. 
 
 t  Hcb  wj"*- 
 ing  naAed. 
 
 t  Hcb.  were 
 tempeUuout. 
 
 'I  Tcr.  8. 
 Ps.  77.  19. 
 I;  Or,  mud. 
 
 rP«.I19  ISO 
 
 didst  ride  upon  thine  horses  and  \\  thy  chariots 
 of  salvation  ? 
 
 9  Thy  bow  was  made  quite  naked,  according 
 to  the  oaths  of  the  tribes,  even  thy  word.  Se- 
 lah. II  '  Thou  didst  cleave  the  earth  with 
 rivers. 
 
 10  ''The  mountains  saw  thee,  and  tliey 
 trembled  :  the  overflowing  of  the  water  passed 
 by  :  tlie  deep  uttered  his  voice,  and  '  lifted  up 
 his  hands  on  high. 
 
 11  "'The  sun  flnc?  moon  stood  still  in  their 
 habitation  :  I|at  the  light  of  thine  "  arrows  they 
 went,  and  at  the  shining  of  thy  glittering  spear. 
 
 I '2  Thou  didst  march  throngh  the  land  in  in- 
 dignation, "  thou  didst  thresh  the  heathen  in 
 anger. 
 
 13  Thou  vientest  forth  for  the  salvation  of  thy 
 people,  ex^eii  for  salvation  with  thine  anointed; 
 ''thou  woundedst  the  head  out  of  the  house 
 of  tlie  wicked,  f  by  discovering  the  founda- 
 tion inito  the  neck.     Selah. 
 
 14  Thou  didst  strike  through  with  his  staves 
 the  head  of  his  villages  :  they  f  came  out  as  a 
 whirlwind  to  scatter  me :  their  rejoicing  was 
 as  to  devour  tlie  poor  secretly. 
 
 \b  ''Thou  didst  walk  through  the  sea  with 
 thine  horses,  through  the  ||  heap  of  great 
 waters. 
 
 16  When  I  heard,  ""my  belly  trembled;  my 
 
 Chap.  III.  —  1 .  SAtj?iono?/i— see  Ps,  vii,,  tiUe,  note.  This  title  seems 
 to  be  of  a  posterior  date  to  the  prophecy,  as  it  interrupts  the  connexion 
 between  this  and  the  terminati'm  of  the  precciUng  verse.  —  Cliirke. 
 2.  T%  speech,  coDCerning  the  future  captivity  of  thy  people. ~B p. H<itl. 
 In  the  midst  of  the  years,  □>3'CJ  np2.  '  as  the  years  approach.*  3.  Te- 
 man, a  city,  tiie  capital  of  a  province  of  Idumea.  to  the  south  of  Ca- 
 naan, (Nura.  ,\x.  21 ;  Jcr.  xlix.  7.)  Paran,  a  city  which  gave  its  name 
 to  a  province  in  Arabia  Pctrea,  (Gen.  xxi.  21 ;  Deat.  xxxiii.  2.) — Clarke, 
 Teman  was  five  miles  from  Petra,  where  was  Mount  Scir,  whence  the 
 Lord  arose  and  shone  forth  from  Mount  Paran  at  the  giving  of  the  law, 
 (Deut.  xxxiii.  2,)  to  which  the  alhision  is  here. — Gill.  Covered  tfie 
 heavens,  that  part  of  the  visihle  heavens  under  which  Israel  then  en- 
 camped. And  the  earth  was  full  of  //is  praise,  that  part  of  the  earth 
 where  this  was  done.— Poole.  4.  Horns,  D']*lp^the  Hebrew  signifies 
 both  'horns  and  rays  of  light,'  fsfc  Exud.  xxxiv.  2g,  3o.)  The  mar- 
 ginal  reading  is  to  be  preferred.— /'r/'A.  Lowth.  There  was  the  hiding 
 of  his  power,  that  is.  the  infinity  of  his  power  is  concealed  from  us  by 
 the  immensity  of  his  glory. — Wil.  Comp.  Ps,  civ.  2.  •  From  his  right 
 hand  issued  streams  of  light.* — Durelt.  '  His  brightness  was  as  the 
 sun,  the  splendour  issuing  from  his  hand,  for  there  was  the  manifesta- 
 tion of  his  power.* — Ken.  5.  lie/ore  him  went  the  pestilence — wh<n 
 God  was  leading  the  Israelites  out  of  Egypt  into  Canaan,  he  made  the 
 pestilence  to  go  before  him,  so  preparing  room  for  his  people. — Poole. 
 Executing  vengeance  on  his  enemies,  such  as  Pharaoh,  &c.  —  Preb. 
 Lowth.  See  Num.  xi.  33;  xiv.  37;  xvi.  46,  It  was  occasionally  in. 
 tlicted  on  the  Israelites  for  their  guilt.  And  burning  coals,  ^c,  'and 
 flashes  of  fire  went  after  him,'  (see  Lev.  x.  2  ;  Num.  xi.  i ;  xvi.  35  ; 
 Lev.  ix.  24.)— iVeH'f.  6.  Measured  the  earth,  ;'^^4,  'the  land  ;  he  rii 
 vided  the  promised  land  among  the  twelve  tribes.  Drove  astinder  the 
 nations,  of  Canaan,  the  Ilittites,  Hivites,  Jebnsites,  &c..  and  all  who 
 opposed  his  people. — Clarke,  Neivc.  Scattered,  or  broken  asunder. 
 Tliis  may  refer  to  the  convulsions  on  Mount  Sinai,  and  to  the  earth- 
 quake which  announced  the  descent  of  the  Most  High,  (see  Exod.  xix, 
 l6.)~Clarke.  The  perpetual  hills  did  bow—the  mountains  and  hills 
 that  were  from  the  beginning  of  the  creation,  that  were  settled  upon 
 their  bEises  and  never  moved,  now  trembled,  shook,  and  bowed,  as 
 Sinai  and  others,  (see  Judg.  v,  5 ;  Ps.  Ixviii.  8,  l6 ;)  or,  figuratively,  it 
 may  design  kingdoms,  states,  &c.  His  ways  are  everlasting,  and  what 
 he  has  done  in  ages  past  he  can  do  again. — Gill.  *  The  eternal  paths 
 were  trodden  by  liim.' — Newr.  J.  The  tents  of  Cushan,  fyc,  the 
 neighbouring  nations  of  the  Arabians,  and  Ethiopians,  and  the  Mi- 
 dianites,  trembling  uniler  the  expectation  of  his  judgments. — Bp.  Hull. 
 Curtains  of  the  Ifuid  of  Midian,  coverings  of  their  tents,  made  of  skins. 
 — Newc.        8.  Was  the  Lord  displeased  against  the  rivers  ?  £(c. — Exod. 
 
 xiv.  22;  Josh.  iii.  l6,  17;  comp.  Isa.  xix.  I ;  Ps.  Ixviii.  4  ;  civ.  3  :  Deut. 
 xxxiii.  26. — Preh.  Lowth.  i>.  Thy  bow  was  made  quite  naked,  Sfc, 
 '  made  bare.* — Newc.  The  Lord  was  revealed  in  his  power,  fighting 
 the  battles  of  his  people,  as  in  the  times  of  Joshua. — Gill.  The  oriental 
 bow  was  usually  carried  in  a  case  hung  to  the  girdle ;  when  used,  it 
 wa.s  exposed ;  hence  this  phrase. — So  Chardin.  According  to  the  oaths 
 of  the  tribes,  fyr.,  '  according  to  the  oath  unto  the  tribes,  eve?i  the  pro- 
 mise.' — Newc.  Thou  didst  cleave  the  earth  with  rivers,  'thou  didst 
 cleave  the  streams  of  the  land,*  when  Jordan  was  divided,— JVewc. ;  or 
 'thou  cleaverist  the  dry  land  into  rivers.* — A.  Clarke.  'Thou  did-st 
 cleave  the  hard  rocks  and  the  earth  about  them,  and  make  the  waters 
 to  run  down  in  a  great  stream  or  channel,  like  a  river,  which  folhnved 
 them  a  great  part  of  their  journey,'  (see  Ps.  Ixxviii.  1.5,  l6;  cv.  41  ; 
 1  Cor.  X.  4.)  10,  The  mountains,  ^c,  Sinai,  and  the  hills  adjoining, 
 (c.imp.  Exod.  xix.  l6,  18;  Juilg.  v.  4;  Ps. Ixviii.  S;  Ixxvii.  l6;  cxiv.4.) 
 —  Preb.  Lowth.  The  overftowing  of  the  water  passed  by — the  water 
 came  out  of  the  rock  in  such  tiuantity  that  it  ran  along  like  an  over, 
 flowing  river, —  Wells  i  or  'the  overflowing  streams  of  the  Red  Sea  ami 
 the  Jordan  passed  backward  in  their  channels.— ii/>.  Hall.  i\.  At 
 the  light  of  thine  arrows,  ^c. — 
 
 '  By  their  light  thine  arrows  went  abroad  ; 
 By  their  brightness,  the  lightning  of  thy  spear.'— JVettic. 
 
 13.  Even  for  salnation  with  thine  anointed,  *  even  for  the  deliverance 
 of  thine  anointed  ones.*  Thou  woundedst  the  head,  ^c. — the  prophet 
 returns  to  what  passed  in  Egypt,  and  refers  to  the  destruction  of  the 
 firstborn. — Newc.  By  discoloring  the  foundation  vnto  the  neck,  '  thou 
 didst  lay  bare  the  foundation  to  the  rock.' — Newc,  so  also  Cappellus, 
 Huuh.,  and  Green.  The  reading  of  Newcome  requires  the  dropping  of 
 a  letter  in  the  original,  and  is  unnecessary:  the  passage  is  plain — 
 *  thou  hast  wounded  the  head  even  unto  the  neck,  in  the  house  of  the 
 wicked,  by  laying  bare  the  foundation.'  The  whole  head,  neck  and  all, 
 are  cut  off.  There  was  no  hope  left  to  the  Egyptians,  because  the  first- 
 born of  every  family  was  cut  off;  so  that  the  very  foundation  was  laid 
 bare,  no  firstborn  being  left  to  continue  the  heirship  to  families. — Clarke. 
 Sefah—sce  Ps.  iii.  2,  note.  -14.  With  his  staves,  VEQ3.  read  ~|TQTD3, 
 '  with  ihy  rod.' — Houb.,  Green,  so  Newc.  '  Staves'  may  mean  the  wea- 
 pons of  Joshua  and  Israel.  The.  head  of  his  villages,  *  the  cities  and  un- 
 walled  towns.' — Poole,  Of  his  warriors,  mighty  men,  princes,  Vulg., 
 Sept.,  Syr.,  Arab.  Or  of  his  armies, — Jar.,  Kim.  '  Thou  hast  pierced 
 amidst  their  tribes,  the  bead  of  their  troops,'  referring  to  Pharaoh  and 
 his  generals,  who  came  '  as  a  whirlwind'  to  fall  upon  the  Israelites.— 
 Clarke,  16.  When  I  heard,  the  judgment  decreed  against  thine  own 
 people,  —  Preb,  Lowth.      Rottenness,   some  copies  read  'tremour.' — 
 
 good,  and  whose  hearts  are  upright  with  God,  will  value  the 
 promise,  and  venture  their  all  upon  it  ;  and,  in  contidence  of 
 the  truth  of  it,  will  keep  close  to  God  and  duty  in  the  most 
 difficult  and  tryini;  timps.  and  will  tlien  live  comfortably  in 
 communion  vvitli  God,  dependence  on  him,  and  expectation 
 of  him.  Those  that  are  made  just  hy  faith  shall  //re— shall  be 
 happy  here  and  for  ever;  and  while  they  are  here,  thev  live 
 by  it ;  when  they  come  to  heaven,  faith  shall  be  swallowed  up 
 in  vision.'b 
 
 III.  '  The  earth  shall  be  JiUed  with  the  knowledge  of  the  ghr}/ of 
 
 the  Lord.'  *  All  the  glorious  manifestations  of  God  against  his 
 enemies,  and  for  his  people  of  old,  were  but  shadows  of  what 
 he  manifested,  and  doth  manifest,  in  and  by  Christ  in  the 
 latter  days;  and  any  effects  of  these  his  works  which  appeared 
 among  his  people,  or  the  Gentiles,  were  but  a  taste  of  what 
 the  glory  of  God,  shining  in  Christ,  and  made  known  to  the 
 world  by  the  (Jospel,  should  produce  among  Jews  and  Gen- 
 tiles ;  therefore  this  prophecy  is  applied  to  the  days  of  the 
 Gospel,  (Isa.  xi.  9,)  as  getting  then  full  accomplisbment.'''" 
 
The  conJidencG 
 
 HABAKKUK,  HI. 
 
 vj  llalfukuulia J'ailh, 
 
 lips  quivered  at  the  voice  :  rottenness  entered 
 into  my  bones,  and  I  trembled  in  myself,  that 
 I  might  rest  in  the  day  of  trouble :  when  he 
 Cometh  up  unto  the  people,  he  will  ||  invade 
 tliem  with  liis  troops. 
 
 17  t  Although  the  fig  tree  shall  not  blossom, 
 neither  shall  fruit  he  in  the  vines  ;  the  labour 
 of  the  olive  .shall  ffail,  and  the  fields  shall 
 yield  no  meat ;  the  flock  shall  be  cut  off  from 
 
 B,  C.  62t), 
 
 *  Job  13. 15. 
 t  Is-  -11.  16. 
 
 &  61.  IJ. 
 «  Ps.  27.  I. 
 X  2  Sain.  S2. 
 
 3*  Ps  18.S3, 
 y  UL-U..-12.I3. 
 
 &  33,  29. 
 t  Htfb. 
 
 "fginoth. 
 
 Vs.  -t,  title. 
 
 the  fold,  and   there   shall  be  no  herd  in  the 
 
 stalls : 
 
 18  ^Yet  I  will  *  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  I  will 
 joy  in  the  God  of  my  salvation. 
 
 19  The  Lord  God  is  "my  strength,  and  he 
 will  make  my  feet  like  Miinds' ^i^x^/,  and  he 
 will  make  me  to  *'  walk  upon  mine  high  places. 
 To  the  chief  singer  on  my  +  stringed  instru- 
 ments. 
 
 Newc.  There  was  a  general  consumption  and  decay  of  strenf^th. — 
 Pi)o!e.  That  I  might  rest  in  the  day  of  troublCt  *  because  I  shall  be 
 brought  to  the  day  of  trouble,'— iVeifC. 
 
 *  O  that  I  mi^ht  be  at  rest  before  the  day  of  distress. 
 When  the  invader  shall  come  up  against  the  people  with  his  tronp^.' 
 
 Green. 
 
 17.  The  I'tlnivr,  tyc,  'the  fruit.*— AVicc.  'The  produce  of  the  olive,' 
 that  is,  the  result  of  labour  bestowed  on  it.— Hew.  19.  Like  hinds* 
 feet,  swift  as  they. —Gill.  To  escape  to  God  my  refuge,  that  I  may  at 
 last  fly  from  Baliylon  to  Jerusalem.— Po'»/c.  ///>A  places,  chief  places 
 of  strength,  (see  Deut.  x.xxii.  13;  xxxiii.  29;  Ps.  xviii.  33.)  Tu  the 
 chief  singer— fhe  hymn  was  designed  for  the  temple  service,  and  so 
 was  delivered  to  the  chief  musician  to  be  set  to  notes.— PjtA.  Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  Two  leading  features  in 
 this  prayer  are  adapted  to  afford  comfort  in  every  Lour  of 
 trouble — I.  What  God  has  done  for  his  people.  How  great  is 
 bis  power,  and  how  signally  has  be  exercised  it  in  their  be- 
 half. AH  nature  is  at  his  coatrol.  When  he  will  work, 
 none  can  let  it. 
 
 IL  irhat  God  is  stili  ahk  to  do  for  his  f)eople.  He  may  not 
 choose  now  to  work  miracles,  but  still  bis  power  is  infinite, 
 
 and  he  '  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  we 
 ask  or  think.'  Let.  then,  every  stream  of  comfort  be  dried 
 up,  we  will  still  repair  to  the  fountain,  and  go  to  God,  even 
 our  God,  '  with  exceeding  joy.'  He  can  renew  our  strength 
 when  fainting,  raise  us  when  falling,  set  our  feet  on  a  rock, 
 and  establish  our  goings.  Let  us,  tlien,  turn  our  eyes  to  the 
 God  that  '  came  from  Teman.  and  the  Holy  One  that  came 
 from  mount  Paran.'    The  Lord  God  is  our  strength. 
 
 ZEPHANIAH. 
 
 [This  prophet  was  contemporary  with  Jeremiah,  and,  like  him,  predicted  the  utter  desolation  of  Jerusalem  and  Judea  by  the 
 Chaldeans.  New- Testament  references  to  this  prophecy— John,  iv.  21  ;  Hob.  xii.  12:  James,  ii.  5 ;  v.  1  ;  Rev.  xix. 
 17—19.] 
 
 CHAP.  L 
 GoiVs  severe  judf/ment  against  Jiidali  fur  divers  sins. 
 
 'T'HE  word  of  the  Lord  which  came  unto 
 *-  Zephaniah  the  son  of  Ciishi,  the  son  of 
 Gedaliah,  the  son  of  Amariah,  the  son  of  Hiz- 
 kiah,  in  the  days  of  Josiah  the  son  of  Amon, 
 king  of  Judah. 
 
 2  1 1  vvill  utterly  consume  all  thintfs  from  off 
 t  the  land,  saitli  the  Lord. 
 
 3  °  I  will  consume  man  and  beast ;  I  will 
 consume  the  fowls  of  the  heaven,  and  the 
 fishes  of  the  sea,  and  *•  the  ||  stuniblingblocks 
 with  the  wicked  ;  and  I  will  cut  ofT  man  from 
 off  the  land,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 4  1  will  also  stretch  out  mine  hand  upon 
 Judah,  and  upon  all  the  inliabitants  of  Jeru- 
 salem ;  and  '  I  will  cut  off  the  remnant  of 
 Baal  from  tliis  place,  and  the  name  of  ''  the 
 Chemarims  witli  the  priests  ; 
 
 .5  And  them  'that  worship  the  host  of  heaven 
 upon  the  housetops;  ''and  them  tliat  worship 
 and  ^  that  swear  ||by  the  Lord,  and  that  swear 
 •■  by  Malcliam  ; 
 
 6  And  '  them  that  are  turned  back  from  the 
 Lord  ;  and  those  that  '  have  not  sought  the 
 
 B,  C. 
 
 B.C. 
 
 cir.  630. 
 
 cir.  630. 
 
 I  Hab.  2.  20. 
 
 Zeoli.'2.  13. 
 
 m  Is    13.  C 
 
 H  Is.  34.  6. 
 
 Jer.  -10.  10. 
 
 Kze.  39.  17. 
 
 Rl-v.  I'J.  17. 
 
 t  H«'b.  sane- 
 
 tifrd,  or. 
 
 t  Heb.  flv 
 
 jiTvpared. 
 
 taking  away 
 
 i  Heb.  vim 
 
 I  will  make 
 
 0  Jer.  30,  6, 
 
 an  >-nd. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 
 face  '>/  thf 
 
 land. 
 
 n  HrtS.  4     S. 
 
 b  Eze.  7.  10 
 
 Sl  11.  3,  ■1,7. 
 
 Mat.  VA.n. 
 
 il  Oi-,  idols. 
 
 c  Fumile.1, 
 
 cir.  62i. 
 
 p2Cbr.  33. 
 
 SKin.  23.1., 
 
 14. 
 
 5. 
 
 d  Hos.  10.  5. 
 
 <  2  Kin.  23. 
 
 12.  Jer.  ly. 
 
 q  Jam.  5.  1. 
 
 t3. 
 
 /I  Kin.   18. 
 
 21.  2  KiD. 
 
 17.  33,  41. 
 
 g  Is.  18.  1. 
 
 H.is-  i.  15. 
 
 11  Or.  to  the 
 
 LftRD. 
 
 A  Jnsli.23.  7. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 IKin  11.33. 
 
 Jer.  2.  13, 
 
 rJer.  ^8.  11. 
 
 17,  &  15.6. 
 
 Ain.ts  6.  1 . 
 
 k  Hos.  7.  7. 
 
 Lord,  nor  enquired  for  him. 
 
 7  '  Hold  thy  peace  at  the  presence  of  the 
 Lord  God:  "'for  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  at 
 hand  :  for  "  the  Lord  hath  prepared  a  sacrifice, 
 he  hath  fbid  his  guests. 
 
 8  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  day  of  the 
 Lord's  sacrifice,  that  I  will  f  punish  °  the 
 princes,  and  the  king's  children,  and  all  such 
 as  are  clothed  with  strange  apparel. 
 
 9  In  the  same  day  also  vvill  I  punish  all  those 
 that  leap  on  the  threshold,  which  fill  their 
 masters'  houses  with  violence  and  deceit. 
 
 10  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 saith  the  Lord,  that  there  shall  be  the  noise 
 of  a  cry  from  ^  the  fish  gate,  and  an  howling 
 from  the  second,  and  a  great  crashing  from  the 
 hills. 
 
 1 1  "*  Howl,  ye  inhabitants  of  Maktesh,  for  all 
 the  merchant  people  are  cut  down ;  all  they 
 that  bear  silver  are  cut  otl'. 
 
 12  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  at  that  time, 
 (hat  I  will  search  Jerusalem  with  candles,  and 
 punish  the  men  that  are  f  settled  on  their 
 lees  :  '  that  say  in  their  heart.  The  Lord  will 
 not  do  good,  neither  will  he  do  evil. 
 
 13  Therefore    their   goods   shall   become   a 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  3.  Consume  man  and  henst,  hy  war  and  by 
 pestilence. — A.Clarke.  Stumhlingblocks,  •idols,*  (see  Ezek.  vii.  19; 
 xiv.  3,  4.)  With  the  wicked,  '  of  the  wicked.' — Preb.  Loivth,  see  Nol- 
 dins,  p.  122.  4.  Chemnrims,  translated  'idolatrous  priests,'  (2  Kings, 
 xxiii.  5,)  called  Chemarim,  because  clothed  in  black  garments. — Kim. 
 Black  was  the  customary  dress  of  idolatrous  priests  in  many  nations. — 
 Vide  Horace,  lib.  i.,  sat.  8,  23,  24  ;  Plutarch  de  Isid  Apuleius,  lib.  x., 
 &c.  5.  On  the  housetops — see  Jer.  xix.  13,  note.     That  swear  by 
 
 Malchnm,  that  join  the  worship  of  idols  to  that  of  the  true  God.  Mat- 
 chani,  the  same  with  Molech  or  Moloch,  the  god  of  the  Ammonites. — 
 Gill.  ".  The  Lord  hath  prepared  a  sacrifice — see  Isa.  xxxiv.  6  ;  Jer. 
 xlvi.  10  ;  Ezek.  xxxix.  1",  notes.  Guests,  Chaldeans,  invited  to  share 
 in  the  slau§:htcr. — Preh.  Lowth.  There  is  an  allusion  here  to  the  cus- 
 tom of  inviting  guests  to  a  festival  sacrifice. — Greenf.  S.  strange 
 apparel,  peculiar  vestments  belonging  to  the  worship  of  each  idol,  (see 
 2  Kings,  X.  22  ;)  the  text  may  also  allude  to  men  wearing  women's 
 apparel,  and  vice  versa,  contrary  to  the  law,  CDeut.  xxii.  5,)  and  prac- 
 tised in  the  worshii)  of  some  idols.  Q.  Leap  on  the  threshold,  '  leap 
 over  the  threshold.'  It  denotes  some  idolatrous  rite,  like  that  which 
 966 
 
 was  practised  iu  the  temple  of  Dagon,  (see  1  Sam.  v.  5.) — Preh.  Lowth. 
 It  may  possibly  refer  to  the  practice  of  menservants  riding  into  houses 
 and  extorting  money,  still  prevalent  among  the.'Vrabs  and  Persians. — 
 See  Har.  10.  The  fish  gale,  which  stood  near  the  fish  market,  (see 
 
 2  Chron.  xx.viii.  14  ;  Neh.  iii.  3.)  The  second, '  the  second  city,'  a  part 
 of  Jerusalem,  mentioned  2  Kings,  xxii.  14  ;  2  Chron.  xxxiv.  •22.— Newc. 
 The  hills,  of  Zion  and  Moriah,  on  which  the  temple  and  king's  jialace 
 were  huilt,  (see  2  Chron.  iii.  1.) — Preb.  Lowth.  11.  Of  Mnktesh,  '  of 
 the  lower  city.' — Newc.  A  valley  in  Jerusalem,  which  divided  the 
 upper  from  the  lower  city. — Cast.  LeJt.  The  word  signities  *  a  mortar,* 
 or  '  rock  in  the  form  of  a  mortar  ;*  it  was  the  name  of  a  quarter  of  Je- 
 rusalem, where  they  hulled  rice,  corn,  Ac,  according  to  St.  Jerome^ 
 Cat.  A  part  or  street  of  Jerusalem.  The  Chaldee  interprets  it,  *  of 
 the  inhabitants  near  the  brook  Cedron.'— PrcA.  Lowth.  Hear  silver^ 
 rich  merchants  or  money-changers.  12.  With  candles,  thoroughly 
 
 and  diligently,  (see  Luke,  xv.  8.) — Newc.  The  Chaldeans  shall  let  no 
 corner  escape  them. — Preb.  Lowth.  Settled  on  their  lees,  like  wiue  on 
 tlie  lees,  quiet  and  undisturbed. — Gill.  See  Jer.  xlviii.  1 1,  and  Amos, 
 vi.  1.  The  words  may  be  rendered,  'surrounded  with  their  storehouses 
 
Aa  exhortation  to  repentance. 
 
 ZEPHANIAH,  II. 
 
 The  judgment  of  Moali  ami  Amnion. 
 
 booty,  and  tlieiv  houses  a  desolation  :  they 
 shall  also  Ijnild  houses,  but  'not  inhabit  them  ; 
 and  they  shall  plant  vineyards,  but  "  not  drink 
 the  wine  thereof. 
 
 14  '  The  great  day  of  the  Lord  is  near,  it  is 
 near,  and  hasteth  greatly,  even  the  voice  of  the 
 day  of  the  Lord  :  the  mighty  man  shall  cry 
 there  bitterly. 
 
 15  'That  day  is  a  day  of  wrath,  a  day  of 
 trouble  and  distress,  a  day  of  vvasteness  and 
 desolation,  a  day  of  darkness  and  gloominess, 
 a  day  of  clouds  and  tliick  darkness, 
 
 16  A  day  of  '  the  trumpet  and  alarm  against 
 the  fenced  cities,  and  against  the  high  towers. 
 
 17  And  I  will  bring  distress  upon  men,  that 
 they  shall  °  walk  like  blind  men,  because  they 
 have  sinned  against  the  Lord  :  and  ''  their 
 blood  shall  be  poured  out  as  dust,  and  their 
 flesh  '  as  the  dung. 
 
 18  ''  Neither  their  silver  nor  their  gold  shall 
 be  able  to  deliver  them  in  the  day  of  the 
 Lord's  wrath  ;  but  the  whole  land  shall  be 
 "  devoured  by  the  fire  of  his  jealousy  :  for  '  he 
 shall  make  even  a  speedy  riddance  of  all  them 
 that  dwell  in  the  land. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  An  exhortation  to  rcprntance,  4  The  jiifh/ment  of 
 the  ]*/ii/i.<itijies,  8  of  Moab  und  Amnion,  12  of  Ethi- 
 opia nud  Assyria. 
 
 f^  ATHER*  yourselves  together,  yea,  gather 
 ^^  together,  *0  nation  ||  not  desired  ; 
 "2  Before  the  decree  bring  forth,  htfore  the 
 day  pass  ''as  the  chaff,  before  ""tiie  fierce  anger 
 of  the  LoitD  come  npon  you,  before  the  day  of 
 the  Loan's  auger  come  upon  you. 
 
 3  ^  Seek  ye  the  Lord,  '^  all  ye  meek  of  the 
 earth,  wiiich  have  wrought  his  judgment ;  seek 
 righteousness,  seek  meekness  :  '^it  may  be  ye 
 shall  be  hid  in  the  day  of  the  Lord's  anger. 
 
 4  H  For  ^  Gaza  shall  be  forsaken,  and  Ash- 
 kelon  a  desolation  :  they  shall  drive  out 
 Ashdod  ^  at  the  noon  day,  and  Ekron  shall 
 be  rooted  up. 
 
 5  Woe  unto  the  inhabitants  of  *  the  sea  coast. 
 
 cir.  KIO. 
 
 f  Deu.2S.30, 
 
 39. 
 
 AmoBS.  II. 
 u  Mic.  0,  15. 
 X  Joel  a.  1, 
 
 y  Is  ^2.  5. 
 .ler  30  7. 
 Joel -2- 2,  II 
 AmoH  5   IS- 
 
 .•  J«r.  4.  19. 
 
 .1  Deii  29  2*1. 
 
 Is  59,  10. 
 /-  I's.  ;!t.  3. 
 
 c  Hs.  8S.  10. 
 
 Jer.  9,  23. 
 
 ft   10    4 
 d  Pro.  II.  4 
 
 EioU.  7.  1». 
 
 f  ch.  .1.  8. 
 /  ver.  a.  3. 
 
 I  Joel  S.  16. 
 I  Or.  mt  de- 
 
 A  Job  SI.  16. 
 I's.  1.  4. 
 Ts.  17.  IS 
 lloR.  IS.  3. 
 
 t  2  Kill.  23. 
 
 (''ps.  105.  K. 
 
 Amos  5.  6. 
 t  PB.  76.  9. 
 /.loci  2.  H. 
 
 Amos  5. 15. 
 
 Jonah  3.  9 
 g  .Jer.-17.4,6. 
 
 Eze.25.  15. 
 
 Amns  1.6,7, 
 
 8    Zech.  9. 
 
 5.  6. 
 h  Jcr.  6.  4. 
 
 K  15.  8. 
 I  Keg.  25  16. 
 
 k  Joah.  13.3, 
 
 /  See  U.    17. 
 
 2    rei.  14. 
 ri  Is.  II.  U. 
 
 .Mic.  4  7.  S( 
 
 5.  7,S.  Hag 
 I.  12.8(2.2. 
 ver.  9, 
 
 II  Or,  whm, 
 
 I  Ex.4.  31. 
 
 Luke  1.68. 
 
 •  Pa.  126.  1. 
 
 Jer.  29.  14. 
 
 ch,  3,  20 
 P  Jer.  4fl.  27. 
 
 Ezck-S.')  fi 
 7  Ezek.  25 
 
 3.6- 
 Jer.  49.  I. 
 
 Is.  15.  Jer 
 
 ■18.  Eze  25. 
 
 9.  Aino9 
 
 2.  1. 
 /  Amos  1. 13 
 u  Gi'n.  19.2-''. 
 
 Deu.  29  23. 
 
 Is.  13,  19. 
 
 8:  34    IS 
 
 Jer.  49.  18. 
 
 &  50.  -M. 
 
 t  Hob.  malte 
 
 Iwan. 
 :  M;il,  in. 
 
 Jolin  *.  21. 
 a  Ucn.  10.5. 
 A  IR    18.  1. 
 
 fi  20.  4. 
 
 J«r.  4'i.  9. 
 
 Eiek.SO  9. 
 c  Ps.  17.  13. 
 d  Is.  10.  12. 
 
 Ezck.  31.3 
 
 Nail.  I    I   & 
 
 2.  Ill   &  3. 
 
 15.  16. 
 <■  ver  6. 
 /Is.  13.  21, 
 
 II  Or,  pelican. 
 H  Is.  3^1.  II, 
 H. 
 
 or,  chajii- 
 
 ll  Or,  whfn 
 hf  hath  tin- 
 C.i'frrd. 
 
 ft  Jer.  2-2.  14. 
 
 Ms.  47.8 
 
 k  Rev.  18. 
 
 the  nation  of  the  Cheretiiites!  the  word  of  tlie 
 Lord  is  against  you;  O  ''  Canaan,  the  laud  of 
 tlie  Philistines,  I  will  even  destroy  thee,  that 
 there  sliall  be  no  inhabitant. 
 
 6  And  the  sea  coast  shall  be  dwellings  and 
 cottages  for  shepherds,  >  and  folds  for  flocks. 
 
 7  And  the  coast  shall  be  for  "'the  remnant  of 
 the  house  of  Judah  ;  they  shall  feed  tiierc- 
 npou  :  in  the  houses  of  Ashkelon  shall  they 
 lie  down  in  the  evening:  ||  for  the  Lokd  their 
 God  shall  "visit  them,  and  "turn  away  their 
 captivity. 
 
 8  1i  "^  1  have  heard  the  reproach  of  Moab,  and 
 *■  the  revilings  of  the  children  of  Ammon, 
 whereby  they  have  reproached  my  peopk',  and 
 ''  magnified  themselves  against  their  border. 
 
 9  Therefore  as  1  live,  saith  tlie  Lord  of  iiosts, 
 the  God  of  Lsrael,  Surely  'Moab  shall  be  «is 
 Sodom,  and  '  the  children  of  Ammon  as  Go- 
 morrali,  "  even  tlie  breeding  of  nettles,  and  salt- 
 pits,  and  a  perpetual  desolation:  ^the  residue 
 of  my  peojde  shall  spoil  them,  and  tiie  remnant 
 of  my  people  shall  possess  them. 
 
 10  This  shall  they  have  '^for  their  pnde,  be- 
 cause they  have  reproached  and  magnified 
 themselves  against  the  people  of  the  Lord  of 
 hosts. 
 
 11  The  Loud  will  be  terrible  unto  them:  for 
 he  will  ffamish  all  the  gods  of  the  earth;  'and 
 men  shall  wtusliip  him,  every  one  from  his 
 place,  even  all  "  the  isles  of  the  heathen. 
 
 lli  t  ^  Ye  Ethiopians  also,  ye  shall  ie  slain 
 by  *^  my  sword. 
 
 13  And  he  will  stretch  out  his  hand  against 
 the  north,  and  ""destroy  Assyria,  and  will  make 
 Nineveh  a  desolation,  and  dry  like  a  wilder- 
 ness. 
 
 14  And  ""  flocks  shall  lie  down  in  the  midst  of 
 her,  all  'the  beasts  of  the  nations:  both  the 
 11^  cormorant  and  the  bittern  shall  lodge  in  the 
 11  upper  lintels  of  it;  their  \o\cg  shall  sing  in 
 the  windows;  desolation  shall  be  in  the  thres- 
 holds :   II  for  he  shall  uncover  the''  cedar  work. 
 
 15  This  is  the  rejoicing  city  'that  dwelt  care- 
 lessly, ''  that  said  in  her  heart,  1  am,  and  there 
 is   none    beside    me :  how  is  she    become  a 
 
 and  treasures.' — Houb.        17.  Like  blind  men,  not  knowing- whither  to 
 go  for  safety,  (comp.  Dent,  xxviii.  29  ;  Isa.  \\x.  \Q.)—Preh.  Loivth. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  I.  Gather  yourselves,  Sfc,  liClDlpnn,  '  gather  the  straw 
 from  yourselves,'  i.  e.,  sift  yourselves. — Giis.,  so  Drusius,  Pise,  SfC. 
 To  make  public  huttiiliation,  (see  Joel,  ii.  l6.) — Preb.  Lnwth.  '  Search 
 ynurseU'es.*— Pag-.,  Vnt.,  Cocc,  &c.  Not  desired,  chafed.— iYewrom*". 
 Not  desirable  to  God  or  good  men. — Gill.  Void  of  desire,  nC33  nb, 
 '  void  of  desire.' — Jun.,  Trem.,  Pine.  2.  Before  the  decree,  ^C,  '  be- 
 fore the  decree  be  executed,  that  your  day  pass  away  as  cliaft".' — 
 Newc.  3.  Ye  meek  of  the  earth,  yi^n  ^IDJ,  *  ye  oppressed  and  hum- 
 bled of  the  land,' — A.  Clarke.  4.  Gazn,  fyc. — the  prophet  digresses 
 to  foretel  the  fate  of  some  nations  bordering;  on  Judea. — Newc.  This 
 prophesy  is  against  the  Philistines. — A.  Clarke.  At  tlie  noon  day, 
 without  nightly  stratagems. — Preb.  Lowth.  5.  Cherethites,  these 
 were  colonies  of  Crete.— Sui.  See  l  Sam.  xxx.  14,  note.  O  Canaan, 
 tfc,  that  part  which  the  Philistines,  by  force,  kept  from  the  Jews.— 
 Poole.  See  Josh.  xiii.  3.  6.  Dwellings  and  cottages  for  s/tepherds, 
 ^c  ,  a  proverbial  description  of  an  utter  desolation,  (comp.  ver.  14, 15.) 
 —Preb.  Lowth.  See  Isa.  xiii.  20,  note.  7.  They  shall  feed  theretipojt, 
 ^c,  here  the  Jews  sliould  have  their  settled  habitations,  (comp.  Isa. 
 Ixv.  \o.)—Preb.  Lowth.  In  the  evening,  after  their  captivity  is  past, 
 as  it  were  in  the  latter  end  of  the  day. — Bp.  Hall.  Gaza  was  ruiued 
 by  the  army  of  Alexander  the  Great,  and  the  Maccabees  finally  accom- 
 plished all  that  was  predicted  by  the  prophets  against  this  invariably 
 
 wicked  people.  They  lost  their  polity,  and  were,  at  last,  obliged  to  re- 
 ceive circumcision. — A.  Clarke.  9.  Surely  Moab  shall  be  as  Sodo7n, 
 ^c,  proverbial  expressions  of  utter  desolation,  (t>ee  Deut.  xxix.  23  j 
 Isa.  xiii.  19;  xxxiv.  13;  Jer.  xlix.  18;  1.  40.)  These  cmintnes  were 
 destroyed  by  Nebuchadnezzar  about  five  years  after  the  destruction  of 
 Jerusalem. — Preb.  Lowth.  Eve7i  the  breeding  of  nettles,  and  snltpits, 
 'a  deserted  place  for  the  thorn,  and  a  place  of  digging  for  salt.*— 
 Newc,  11.  Famish  all  the  gods,  deprive  them  of  their  worship  and 
 s.icrifices,  which  the  Gentiles  considered  as  the  food  of  their  gnds,  (see 
 Deut.  xxxii.  38.) — Spencer.  From  his  place,  or  'in  his  phice,'  i.e., 
 everywhere,  (comp.  Mai.  i.  11  ;  John, iv. 21.)  12.  Ethiopians,  seem 
 
 tn  comprehend  the  Egyptians,  whose  confederates  they  were,  and  with 
 whom  they  underwent  tlie  same  fate,  when  Nebuchadntzzar  con- 
 quered Egypt,  (see  Jer.  xlvi.  g-,  Ezek.  xxx.  5,  9.)  By  rny  sword,  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar, God's  instrument,  (see  Ps  xvii.  l3.)~Preb.  Lowth. 
 1.1.  The  north,  the  Assyrians,  so  called  because  they  used  to  invade 
 Palestine  through  Syria  from  the  nfirth.— A'cwc.  14.  All  the  beasts 
 of  the  nations,  that  is,  aJl  sorts  of  beasts,  especially  wild  beasts  ficm 
 the  several  parts  of  the  world. — Gill.  In  the  upper  lintels,  of  the  doors 
 tif  the  houses  of  Nineveh,  or  mnD33i  'on  its  pomegranates,*  the 
 figures  of  these  being  often  put  on  cliapiters,  turrets,  ike— Gill.  Sir 
 J.  Chardin  states,  that  the  storks  made  their  nests  on  the  tops  of  the 
 maeniticcnt  columns  which  he  found  at  Pcrsepolis. —  //«r.,  vol.  iv. 
 p.  376,  5th  edit. 
 
 KEri.EniONs  on  Chap.  L— I.  *  We  learn  how  danperous  it  is 
 to  forsake  God  and  his  ways,  and  especJalli/  to  imbibe  principles  of 
 infddity.  These  men  said  "  in  their  hearts,  Jehovah  doeth  no 
 pood,  neither  doeth  he  evil."  ^'hey  denied  the  providence 
 and  moral  government  of  God,  and  presumed,  that  however 
 they  might  sin,  God  would  not  interfere  to  punish  them. 
 There  is  little  hope  of  reformation  in  such  men,  who  will  run 
 into  all  kinds  of  vice,  but  when  the  day  of  scrutiny  comes, 
 9m 
 
 God  will  "  search  them  out  and  punish  them." 
 
 IL  *  We  learn  how  aitful  the  day  of  the  Lord  is,  and  what  a 
 trrrible  thing  it  is  to  have  his  wrath  aijainst  iis.  J^et  11s  think 
 with  ourselves — if  (lod's  vengeance  on  a  wicked  nation  is  so 
 dreadful,  how  terrible  will  be  the  day  of  judgment.  And  see- 
 ins  w'e  look  for  such  a  day,  let  us  seriously  consider  "  what 
 manner  of  persons  we  ought  to  be,  in  all  holy  conversation 
 and  godliness.'* '  ^ 
 
Jerusalem  aharph/  rfproved. 
 
 ZEPHANIAH,  III. 
 
 Salvation  promised  Zion. 
 
 desolation,  a  place  for  beasts  to  lie  down  in  ! 
 every  one  that  passetli  by  her  '  shall  liiss,  and 
 "'wag  his  hand. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  A  sharp  reproof  of  Jerusalem  for  (livers  sins.  8  An 
 e.vltortation  to  ivait  for  the  restoratio/t  of  Isratl,  14 
 and  to  rejoice  for  their  ialvntlon  by  God. 
 
 Tl/'OE  to  lit  her  that  is  filthy  and  polluted, 
 
 ''     to  the  oppressinj^  city! 
 
 2  Slie  ^obeyed  not  tlie  voice;  she  ''received 
 not  II  correction  ;  she  trusted  not  in  the  Lord  ; 
 she  drew  not  near  to  her  God. 
 
 ;i  ^  Her  princes  within  her  are  roaring  lions  ; 
 her  judges  are  ''evening  wolves;  they  gnaw 
 not  the  bones  till  the  morrow. 
 
 4  Her  *"'  propliets  are  light  and  treacherous 
 persons  :  her  priests  have  polluted  the  sanc- 
 tuary, they  have  done  ^violence  to  tlie  law. 
 
 5  ^  The  just  Lord  ^  is  in  the  midst  thereof; 
 be  will  not  do  iniquity:  f  every  morning  dotli 
 he  bring  his  judgment  to  light,  he  failetli  not ; 
 but  '  the  unjust  knoweth  no  shame. 
 
 6  I  have  cut  off  the  nations:  their  ||towers 
 are  desolate  ;  I  made  their  streets  waste,  that 
 none  passeth  by  :  their  cities  are  destroyed,  so 
 that  there  is  no  man,  that  there  is  none  inha- 
 bitant. 
 
 7  ''I  said,  Surely  thou  wilt  fear  me,  thou  wilt 
 receive  instruction  ;  so  their  dwelling  should 
 not  be  cut  off,  howsoever  I  punished  them  : 
 but  they  rose  early,  and  '  corrupted  all  their 
 doings. 
 
 8  IF  Therefore  ""wait  ye  upon  me,  saitli  the 
 Lord,  until  the  day  that  I  rise  up  to  the  prey: 
 for  my  determination  is  to  "gather  the  nations, 
 that  I  may  assemble  the  kingdoms,  to  pour 
 upon  them  mine  indignation,  even  all  my  fierce 
 anger:  for  all  the  earth  "shall  be  devoured 
 with  the  fire  of  my  jealousy. 
 
 9  For  then  will  I  turn  to  the  people  ''a  pure 
 t  language,  that  they  may  all  call  upon  the 
 name  of  the  Lord,  to  serve  him  with  one 
 t  consent, 
 
 u.  c. 
 
 cir.  630. 
 
 /  J(.1j27.  2.S, 
 Lam.  2.  If) 
 Eze.  27,  3i;, 
 
 n.  Nah.3.19. 
 
 [|  Or,  gliit- 
 
 f  Heb.'cf«w. 
 a  Jec.  2-2.21. 
 b  Jer.  5.  3. 
 
 llOr,  t>i»(rwc- 
 
 c  i:zek.  22. 
 
 ■>7.  Mic.  3. 
 
 y.  10,  II. 
 d  Hab.  I.  S. 
 
 eJer.  2.3.  II, 
 82  r-ain  2. 
 II-.  Hoa.  9, 
 7. 
 
 /  Ezek.  22. 
 
 g  Ueu.  32,  1. 
 
 /.  ver.  15,  17. 
 See  Mic.  i. 
 11. 
 
 t  Heb.mon,- 
 iiig  hy  morn- 
 ing. 
 
 i  .)or.  3.3,  & 
 6.  15.  e*  8. 
 
 I.  Pa.  27   U. 
 tk  37   U. 
 Pro.  ■_'«.  22. 
 
 p  Is.  19.  IS. 
 t  Heb.  tip. 
 
 cir.  fi:M. 
 
 q  Pfl.  6H  31 
 Is  IS  1.7. 
 A  fill.  -I,  **c, 
 Mai.  I.  II. 
 Acts  8.  27. 
 
 Mi( 
 
 3.   II. 
 
 Mill.  3.  a. 
 
 my 
 
 t  Heb 
 
 s  la.  M.  32. 
 
 ZecU.ll.lt. 
 
 Mat.  5.  3. 
 
 I  Cor.  I.  27, 
 
 28.  Jam. 
 
 2.  b. 
 I  Mic.  A:  7. 
 
 ch.  2  7. 
 u  Is.  61).  21. 
 .r  Is.  e:t.  8 
 
 Kev.  U.S. 
 y  Kiek.  34. 
 
 28    Mic  \. 
 
 \    &  7.  11. 
 z  Is.  12  (5.  & 
 
 5t.  I.  Zech. 
 ,  2.  lU.Sc  9-9. 
 
 a  John  1. 49 
 
 b  ver.  5,  17. 
 
 Eze.  43.  35. 
 
 Rev.  7.  15. 
 
 &  21.  3,4. 
 c  Is.  35.3,4. 
 
 d  Heb. 12.12. 
 
 II  Or,  faint. 
 
 e  ver.  1 5. 
 /Deu.  311.9. 
 
 Is.  62.  5.  & 
 
 Kr..  I!>. 
 
 Jer.  3?.  41. 
 tll>^ll    he^B^U 
 
 H  Lam.  2.  6. 
 
 t  Heb.  Me 
 
 bitrtlfii  upon 
 
 it  n ait  re- 
 
 pTonch. 
 A  Eze  34.16. 
 
 Mic.i.  6,  7, 
 t  Heb.  /  W.7/ 
 
 Sft  litem /<iT 
 
 IX  prnite. 
 t  Heb.  of 
 
 /heir  Shnme. 
 1  Is.  II.  12.  & 
 
 27.  12.  &  56. 
 
 8.  Ezek.  28. 
 
 25.  &  34.  13. 
 
 &  37.  21. 
 
 Amos  9.  \i, 
 
 10  ''From  beyond  the  rivers  of  Ethiopia  my 
 suppliants,  even  the  daughter  of  my  dispersed, 
 shall  bring  mine  offering. 
 
 n  In  that  day  shalt  thou  not  be  ashamed 
 for  all  thy  doings,  wherein  thou  hast  trans- 
 gressed against  me :  for  then  I  will  take  away 
 out  of  ttie  midst  of  thee  them  that  "^  rejoice  in 
 tliy  pride,  and  thou  shalt  no  more  be  haughty 
 t  because  of  my  holy  mountain. 
 
 12  I  will  also  leave  in  the  midst  of  thee  ^an 
 afllicted  and  poor  people,  and  they  shall  trust 
 ill  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 1^  '  The  remnant  of  Israel  "shall  not  do  ini- 
 quity, ^nor  speak  lies;  neither  shall  a  deceit- 
 ful tongue  be  found  in  their  mouth  :  for  ^  they 
 shall  feed  and  lie  down,  and  none  shall  make 
 t/iem  afraid. 
 
 14  ^  ^  Sing,  O  daughter  of  Zion;  shout,  O 
 Israel ;  be  glad  and  rejoice  with  all  the  heart, 
 O  daughter  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 15  The  Lord  hath  taken  away  thy  judgments, 
 he  hath  cast  out  thine  enemy:  "the  king  of 
 Israel,  even  the  Lord,  ^  is  in  the  midfit  of 
 thee  :   thou  siialt  not  see  evil  any  more. 
 
 16  In  that  day  'it  shall  be  said  to  Jerusalem, 
 Fear  thou  not :  a?id  to  Zion,  ''  Let  not  thine 
 hands  he  ||  slack. 
 
 17  The  Lord  thy  God  "^in  the  midst  of  thee 
 is  mighty  ;  he  will  save,  Mie  will  rejoice  over 
 tliee  with  joy;  fhe  will  rest  in  Ins  love,  he 
 will  joy  over  thee  with  singing. 
 
 18  I  will  gather  them  that  ^are  sorrowful  for 
 the  solemn  assembly,  tcho  are  of  thee,  to 
 whom  f  the  reproach  of  it  was  a  burden. 
 
 19  Beliold,  at  that  time  I  will  undo  all  that 
 afflict  thee  :  and  I  will  save  lier  that  ^halteth. 
 and  gather  her  that  was  driven  out;  and  |  I 
 will  get  them  praise  and  fame  in  every  land 
 f  where  they  have  been  put  to  shame. 
 
 20  At  that  time  ^  will  I  bring  you  again^  even 
 in  the  time  that  I  gather  you  :  for  I  will  make 
 you  a  name  and  a  praise  among  all  people  of 
 the  earth,  when  I  turn  back  your  captivity 
 before  your  eyes,  saith  the  Loud. 
 
 Chat.  III.  —  1.  Woe  to  her,  §•[.•.,  Jerusalem,  lure  addressed  after 
 return  from  captivity.  The  character  of  Jerusalem  and  its  inhabitants 
 is  drawn,  as  it  would  be,  ami  as  it  was,  in  the  times  of  Christ  and  his 
 apostles. — Gill.  Otiier  commentators  do  not  point  out  any  particular 
 time  to  which  the  prophecy  alludes. — Ed.  3.  G?iuiv  7wt  the  bones 
 tut  the  morrow,  \hey  devour  their  prey  at  once. — Bp.  Hull.  4.  Light, 
 •proud.' — Schutlens.  5.  Evert/  morning,  alluding  to  the  custom  of 
 administering:  justice  in  the  morning.— Preb.  Luwth.  See  Ps.  ci.  8, 
 note.  Daily  God  discovers  his  displeasure  against  the  wicked,  and 
 punishes  them. — Poole.  ".  Receive  instruction,  '  lake  notice  of  my 
 
 judgments  on  other  nations.' — Gill. 
 
 '  I  said,  Siirelyshe  will  fear  me  and  receive  instruction  ; 
 So  her  habitation  shall  not  be  cut  off. 
 Yet,  in  whats^never  manner  I  punished  them, 
 The  more  diligently  they  corrupted  ail  their  doings.* — Boothr. 
 
 8.  To  gather  the  nations,  'into  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat,'  (see  Joel, 
 iii.  2,  \-l.) — Preb.  Lowth.  All  the  Chaldeans,  and  those  subject  to 
 them,  to  inflict  punishment  on  the  Jews  first. — So  Poole.  Neither  the 
 Chaldeans,  nor  the  armies  of  Gog  and  Magog,  but  the  Romans,  are 
 meant.— <7/W.  All  the  earth,  the  land  of  JwA^h.— A.Clarke.  9.  Then, 
 *  afterwards.'— AVtfc.  Alludes  to  the  latter  ages,  (see  Zech.  xiv.  g.; — 
 Prel>.  Lowth.  To  the  conversion  of  the  Jews  under  the  gospel. — A.  C. 
 Turn  to,  'pour  out  upon.' — Newc.  7VC\'\1  HDlDt  '  a  pure  lip,'  the  effu- 
 sions of  pure  devotion. — Heiv.  10.  From  beyoiid— Ethiopia,  Sfc. — 
 the  Jews  dispersed  in  the  most  distant  countries  shall  come  into  the 
 
 Christian  church. — Preb.  Lowth.  My  suppliants,  even  the  daughter  of 
 my  dispersed,  '  my  suppliants  among  my  dispersed.'— jVcur.,  Boothr., 
 as  Sept.  II.  Because  of  my  holy  mountain,  the  city  or  temple  of 
 which  they  boasted,  (see  jer.  vii.  4,  with  9  and  10.) — So  Poole.  12.  / 
 will  also  leave,  ^c. — tlie  Chaldeans  would  have  spared  none,  had  not 
 God  reserved  a  remnant. — Boothr.  An  afflicted  and  poor  people,  'a 
 meek  and  poor  people.' — Preb.  Lowth.  *  An  humble  and  lowly  people.' 
 Newc.     *  An  humble  and  poor  people.' — Boothr.  13.  For  l/iey  shall 
 
 feed,  'and  they  shall  feed.'  15.  Any  more,  *  no  longer.' — Newcome. 
 16.  Be  slack,  or  *  weak,'  (see  parallel  text,  so  rendered,  Isa.  xx.w.  3.) 
 Preb.  Lowth.  In  rebuilding  the  city  and  temple  ;  or,  figuratively,  in 
 serving  thy  God.         18.  I  will  gather,  ^c. — 
 
 *I  have  taken  away  the  afflicted  among  thee  from  the  solemn 
 assembly  : 
 They  are  taken   away  from  thee,  even  from  causing  a  reproach 
 against  thee.' — Newc. 
 
 'They  who  took  away  the  appointed  feasts 
 I  have  removed  far  from  thee  ; 
 Woe  to  those  that  brought  on  thee  reproach.' 
 The  design,  according  to  this  version,  is  to  denounce  judgment  on  the 
 Chaldeans,  wtio  had  taken  away  the  solemn  feasts  and  assemblies  of 
 Israel,  and  had  brought  on  God's  people  a  reproach  and  disgrace  among 
 the  nations  ;  but  soon  they  would  be  delivered  and  restored,  as  it  fol- 
 lows in  the  next  verses.— Soo/Ar.,  who  has  adopted  the  Chaldee  with 
 Grotius,  Dathe,  &c.         IQ.  Halteth — see  Mic.  iv.  7. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  I.  YIqtq  we  &qq  God  punishing 
 sin  in  his  people.  Hence  they  are  warned  against  the  miseries 
 previously  threatened  on  account  of  it.  Who  has  not  the  deep- 
 est reason  for  self-humiliation  and  repentance? 
 
 II.  Here  we  see  God  punishing  sin  in  his  enemies.      God  is 
 
 too  pure  to  behold  iniquity.     Sin,  in  his  sight,  wherever  it  is 
 
 found,  is  like  chaff  before  the  whirlwind,  or  stubble  before  the 
 
 flame.    He  will  scatter  and  destroy  the  workers  of  iaiquity* 
 
 967 
 
 These  are  but  descriptions  of  his  temporal  judgments  ;  and  if 
 they  are  so  terrible,  what  must  eternal  judgments  be?  U 
 sinner,  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come ! 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  This  chapter  exhibits— 
 I.  Israel's  sins.  Filthy  and  polluted — *  an  adulterous  genera- 
 tion,' unfaithful  to  God,  and  given  up  to  the  vdest  depravity. 
 Regardless  of  God's  commands,  •  a  disobedient  and  gainsaying 
 people,'  and  unmindful  of  bis  chastisements  and  judgments. 
 
H  A  G  G  A  I. 
 
 [Thk  prophet  Haggai,  and  the  two  whicli  follow,  prophesied  after  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  the  Bahylonisli  captivity.  This 
 prophet  lived  ahout  5'20  years  before  the  Christian  era.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  in  Babylon  during  the  cap- 
 tivity, and  to  have  returned  from  that  phace  with  Zerubbabel.  The  occasion  of  this  prophecy  was  the  obstruction  thrown 
 in  the  way  to  the  building  of  the  temple  after  the  foundation  of  it  had  been  laid.  Tlie  references  to  Haggai  in  the  New 
 Testament  are,  Matt,  xxviii.  20;   Rom.  viii.  31,  and  Heh.  xii.  26.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 ]  HafiifiU  rcpytwcth  the  people  for  He//li  efht'i  Ihe  Jmlhl- 
 iniiitfthe  hniise.  7  He  iin'ilrtli  t/iim  In  the  biultlhl'i. 
 12  f{e  prumiseih  GoiVs  assiatdnee  tu  tltem  lic/m/ for- 
 ward, 
 
 TN  "the  second  year  of  Darius  the  king,  in 
 -*-  the  sixth  month,  in  the  first  day  of  the 
 month,  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  f  by  Hag- 
 gai  the  prophet  unto  ''  Zerubbabel  the  son  of 
 Shealtiel,  ||  governor  of  .Tudab,  and  to  ''  Joshua 
 the  sou  of  •' Josedech,  the  high  priest,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  speaketh  the  Lord  of  hosts,  saying, 
 This  people  say.  The  time  is  not  come,  the 
 time  that  the  Lord's  house  should  be  built. 
 
 .3  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  "  by 
 Haggai  the  prophet,  saying, 
 
 4  'Is  it  time  for  you,  O  ye,  to  dwell  in  your 
 eieled  houses,  and  this  house  lie  waste  ? 
 
 5  Now  therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts  ;  f  ^  Consider  your  ways. 
 
 6  Ye  have  '■  sown  much,  and  bring  in  little  ; 
 ye  eat,  but  ye  have  not  enough ;  ye  drink,  but 
 ye  are  not  filled  with  drink  ;  ye  clothe  you, 
 but  there  is  none  warm  ;  and  'he  that  earneth 
 wages  earneth  wages  to  put  it  into  a  bag  f  with 
 holes. 
 
 7  t  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts ;  Con.5ider 
 your  ways. 
 
 8  Go  up  to  the  mountain,  and  briiig  wood, 
 and  build  the  house  ;  and  I  will  take  pleasure 
 in  it,  and  I  will  be  glorified,  .saith  the  Lord. 
 
 9  ''  Ye  looked  for  much,  and,  lo,  it  came  to 
 
 a  Eira  -l,  SI. 
 
 «iS.  I. 
 
 Zecli.  1.  1. 
 t  H,-b.  Ill,  l/.r 
 
 A'wd  .</ 
 
 b  1  Chi.TJ-. 
 
 19.  Kziay. 
 
 :;.  Mat. 1. 1!?. 
 
 I,iikeS.'27. 
 II  Ot,capta,n. 
 c  K/ra  S.  2. 
 
 &  5,  2. 
 d  1  Clii.6  l:>. 
 
 r  Ezra  5.  1. 
 
 /2  Sam.  7. "J 
 I'a.  132.  3, 
 
 f  Hel>.  Set 
 i/oiir  lieart 
 
 g  Lam.  'i.Ml. 
 
 ver.  7. 
 h  Deu.2S.a8. 
 
 H»B.  '1.  10. 
 
 Mif.  6.  II, 
 
 15.  rli.aie. 
 i  Zech.  9.10. 
 [Uvbpiinrd 
 
 tlirour/h. 
 
 h  cli.  2.  16. 
 
 r.l,.-2.  17. 
 )  Or,  Itt'm  11 
 
 )i  Lev.2fl.l3. 
 l>eu.  28.  23. 
 1  Kin.  9.35. 
 
 o  ch.  2.  17. 
 ;i  Ezra  f,.  2. 
 
 q  Mat.2S20. 
 
 Rom.  9.  31. 
 r  2  Chr.  30. 
 
 22.  Ezra  1,1. 
 <cli.S.  21. 
 
 /Ezrsi.2,8. 
 
 little ;  and  when  ye  brought  it  home,  '  I  did 
 II  blow  upon  it.  Why  :■  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts.  Because  of  mine  house  that  is  waste, 
 and  ye  run  every  man  unto  his  own  house. 
 
 10  Therefore  "'  the  heaven  over  you  is  stayed 
 from  dew,  and  the  earth  is  stayed  from  her 
 fruit. 
 
 11  And  I  "called  for  a  drought  upon  the 
 land,  and  upon  the  mountains,  and  upon  the 
 corn,  and  upon  the  new  wine,  and  upon  the 
 oil,  and  upon  that  which  the  ground  liriugeth 
 forth,  and  upon  men,  and  upon  cattle,  and 
 "  upon  all  the  labour  of  tlie  hands. 
 
 12  If  ''Then  Zerubbabel  the  son  of  Shealtiel, 
 and  Joshua  the  son  of  Josedecli,  the  high  priest, 
 with  all  the  remnant  of  the  people,  obeyed  the 
 voice  of  the  Lord  their  God,  and  the  words  of 
 Haggai  the  prophet,  as  the  Lord  their  God 
 had  sent  him,  and  the  people  did  fear  before 
 the  Lord. 
 
 13  Then  spake  Haggai  the  Lord's  messenger 
 in  the  Lord's  message  unto  the  people,  saying, 
 ''  I  am  with  you,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 14  And  'the  Lord  stirred  up  the  spirit  of 
 Zerubbabel  the  son  of  Shealtiel,  'governor  of 
 Judah.  and  the  spirit  of  Joshua  the  son  of  Jo- 
 sedech, the  high  priest,  and  the  spirit  of  ail  the 
 remnant  of  the  people  ;  '  and  they  came  and 
 did  work  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 their  God, 
 
 15  In  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the  sixth 
 month,  in  the  second  year  of  Darius  the  king. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I. —2.  The  time  is  not  come— they  thousht  the 
 seventy  years  were  not  completert.  4.  Is  it  time  fur  you,  '  then  the 
 time  cannot  be  come  for  you  to  buihi  yourselves  comfortable  houses.' 
 6.  Ye  have  sown  much,  fyc.,  *  God  will  not  bless  you  in  any  labour  of 
 your  hands,  unless  you  rebuild  his  temple  and  restore  his  worship.'— 
 .-I.  Clarke,  s.  Go  up  to  the  mountain — Cyrus  granted  the  Jews  cedars 
 from  Lebanon  for  the  building  of  the  temple,  {see  Ezra,  iii.  7  ;  vi.  3, 4.) 
 — Par.        g.  Ye  looked  for  much,  §c.— they  looked  for  a  large  harvest, 
 
 but  in  the  end,  though  it  promised  much,  it  came  to  little.— GiV/. 
 I  did  blow  upon  it,  or  *  I  had  blown  upon  it,'  blasted  it  in  the  field. — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  Either  blown  it  away,  or  made  it  unfit  for  support. — 
 Jioothr.  The  translation  here  may  be,  '  and  ye  have  brought  on  offer- 
 inij  to  the  house,  and  1  have  snuffed  at  it,'  (see  chap.  ii.  14  ;  Ezra,  iii. 
 3,  8,  10. 11 ;  v.  2.)  It  seems  to  be  a  metaphor  taken  from  the  beasts 
 when  they  refuse  provender. — Newc. 
 
 Princes  and  priests,  who  ought  to  have  been  patterns  of  holi- 
 ness to  the  people,  were  alike  profligate,  and  the  whole  nation 
 was  corrupt. 
 
 II.  Israel's  warnings.  The  sinful  nations  around  were  made 
 to  drink  the  cup  of  (iod's  wrath,  and  they  themselves  were 
 often  employed  as  bis  executioners.  These  were  lessons 
 wliich  ought  deeply  to  have  impressed  their  hearts,  but  they 
 daily  and  eagerly  returned  again  to  folly. 
 
 HI.  Israel's  puiiishmrnts.  Judea  itself  should  be  made  an 
 example  of  God's  hatred  to  sin.  The  Jewish  people  had 
 greater  privileges  than  others, had  sinned  against  clearer  light, 
 and  abused  greater  mercies,  and  God  would  not  spare  them. 
 The  vials  of  his  indignation  would  be  poured  out  on  the  im- 
 penitent—the  fire  of  his  jealousy  would  consume  the  briers 
 and  thorns  that  encumbered  his  own  land. 
 
 IV.  Israel's  remmmt.  In  the  midst  of  the  greatest  profligacv, 
 God  reserved  a  remnant  to  himself.  And  now  this  afflicted 
 and  poor  people  shall  be  the  seed  to  continue  fruit  in  the 
 world  to  his  glory.  The  holy  words  of  devotion  shall  break 
 forth  from  lips  uttering  the  language  not  of  formality,  but  of 
 the  heart ;  the  Lord's  name  shall  be  praised,  and  these  shall 
 '  serve  him  with  one  consent.' 
 
 V.  Israel's  prosperity.  The  sowing  time  in  tears,  is  now 
 changed  into  the  reaping  time  of  joy,  and  '  Israel  shall  be  a 
 
 968 
 
 praise  among  all  people  of  the  earth.'  The  triumphs  of  reli- 
 gion are  progressing, — the  spiritual  Israel  are  rising.  And  how 
 glorious  shall  the  church  appear  before  the  world  when  it 
 shall  put  on  all  its  beautiful  garments,  and  the  restored  chil- 
 dren of  Abraham  shall  vie  with  the  converted  Gentiles  in 
 the  performance  of  every  act  of  holiness  devotedness,  and 
 love. 
 
 Rffi.ections  on  Haggai,  Chap.  I.  —  This  chapter  teaches 
 us — I.  The  criminality  of  delay  and  i ndiffircnec  in  our  exertions  to 
 huild  up  the  temple  of  God.  Shall  worFdlings  exert  themselves 
 in  the  advancement  of  those  objects  which  relate  to  their  own 
 pleasures  and  interests,  and  the  professed  servants  of  God  be 
 backward  in  advancing  schemes  for  the  promotion  of  his 
 glory  and  the  salvation  of  souls  ?  Forbid  it,  reason  ! — forbid 
 it,  gratitude  !  Let  us,  at  least,  spare  something  from  our  com- 
 forts and  our  luxuries,  that  the  Lord's  house  may  be  built. 
 We  should  also  remember — 
 
 II.  God  can  blast  all  our  endeavours  or  leave  them  without  his 
 blessinfff  which  is  the  worst  evil  that  can  hefal  iiSj  if  we  withhohl 
 from  hijn  tho^e  liberal  exertions  for  his  (/lory  lehich  are  umiinn  the 
 best  proofs  of  our  fjratitude  and  love.  He  can  blast  the  crops  of 
 tile  landholder  and  agriculturist — sink  the  merchandize  of  the 
 merchant  and  manufacturer — diminish  the  customers  of  the 
 tradesman — paralyze  the  hand  of  the  mechanic,  and  scatter 
 
Haggai  encourageth  the  people  to  work. 
 
 HAGGAI,  II. 
 
 Their  sins  hindered  the  wor/i. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  He  encnurar/eth  the  people  to  the  work,  hy  promhc.  of 
 prrater  ffhrt/  to  the  second  tempi-  than  loas  in  the  Jirst. 
 10  fn  the  type  of  holy  thhiys  and  unclean  he  sheweth 
 their  sins  hindered  the  work.  20  God's  promise  to 
 Zertibbabd. 
 
 TN  the  seventh  months  in  the  one  and  tvven- 
 -^  tietb  day  of  the  month,  came  the  word  of 
 the  Lord  f  by  the  prophet  Haggai,  saying, 
 
 '2  Speak  now  to  Zerubhabel  tlie  son  of  Sheal- 
 tiel,  governor  of  Judah,  and  to  Joshua  the  son 
 of  Josedech,  the  high  priest,  and  to  the  residue 
 of  the  people,  saying, 
 
 3  ^  Who  is  left  among  you  that  saw  this 
 house  in  her  first  glory?  and  how  do  ye  see  it 
 now  ?  *■  is  it  not  in  your  eyes  in  comparison  of 
 it  as  nothing? 
 
 4  Yet  now  '^  be  strong,  O  Zerubhabel,  saith 
 the  Lord  ;  and  be  strong,  ()  Joshua,  son  of 
 Josedecli,  the  high  priest ;  and  be  strong,  all 
 ye  people  of  the  land,  saith  the  Lord,  and 
 work:  for  I  am  with  you,  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts  : 
 
 .5  '^AcconJinij  to  the  word  that  I  covenanted 
 with  you  when  ye  came  out  of  Egypt,  so  ^  my 
 spirit  remaineth  among  you  :  fear  ye  not. 
 
 0  For  thus  saith  the  Loud  of  hosts;  ^Yet 
 once,  it  is  a  little  wliile,  and  *''  I  will  shake  the 
 Iieaven.s,  and  the  earth,  and  tlie  sea,  and  the 
 dry  land ; 
 
 7  And  I  will  shake  all  nations,  ''and  the  de- 
 sire of  all  nations  shall  come  :  and  I  will  fill 
 
 t  Heb.  hy  Ihv 
 
 huud  u/. 
 
 a  Ezra  3.  12. 
 
 b  Zech.4.10. 
 
 d  Ex.  20.  *5, 
 
 /vcr.  21. 
 
 Hob.  12  215. 
 ^  Joel  3.  10. 
 
 B.C. 
 rir.  iiO. 
 
 k  Ps.S5.iS,y. 
 Lake  -2.  II. 
 
 I  Lev.  Iil.KI, 
 II.  neu.3.t. 
 10.  Mai  2  7 
 
 ;i  ch.  1.  6,  9. 
 Zecli.  8.  lU. 
 
 this  house  with  glory,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 8  Tiie  silver  is  mine,  and  the  gold  2^  mine, 
 saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 9  '  The  glory  of  this  latter  house  shall  be 
 greater  than  of  the  former,  saitli  the  Loud  of 
 hosts:  and  in  this  place  will  I  give  ''peace, 
 saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 10  If  In  the  four  and  twentieth  da^  of  the 
 ninth  months  in  the  second  year  of  Darius, 
 cairie  the  word  of  the  Lord  by  Haggai  the 
 prophet,  saying, 
 
 1 1  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  ho.sts  ;  '  Ask  now 
 the  priests  concerniny  the  law,  saying, 
 
 \'l  If  one  bear  holy  flesh  in  the  skirt  of  his 
 garment,  and  with  his  skirt  do  touch  bread,  or 
 pottage,  or  wine,  or  oil,  or  any  meat,  shall  it  be 
 holy  ?  And  the  priests  answered  and  said. 
 No. 
 
 13  Then  said  Haggai,  Hone  that  is  ™  unclean 
 by  a  dead  body  touch  any  of  these,  shall  it  be 
 unclean?  And  the  priests  answered  and  said. 
 It  shall  be  unclean. 
 
 14  Then  answered  Haggai,  and  said,  "  So  is 
 this  people,  and  so  is  this  nation  before  me, 
 saith  the  Lord  ;  and  so  is  every  work  of  their 
 hands  ;  and  that  which  they  ofier  there  is  un- 
 clean. 
 
 lo  And  now.  I  pray  you,  °  consider  from  this 
 day  and  upward,  from  before  a  stone  was  laid 
 upon  a  stone  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord  : 
 
 16  Since  those  dat/s  were,  ''when  orie  came 
 to  an  heap  of  twenty  measures,  there  were  /mt 
 
 Chap.  IT.  —  3.  Tn  comparison  of  it  na  nothing — see  Ezra,  iiJ.  12. 
 Some  of  the  oldest  men  wlm  returned  mig^lit  remember  the  first  temple. 
 The  foundation  of  the  second  temple  was  laid  in  the  second  year  of 
 Cyrus,  fifty-three  years  after  the  destruction  of  the  first,  and  this  pro- 
 phecy was  uttered  fiffcen  years  after  the  foundations  of  the  second 
 temple  were  laid. — Preh.  Lnwtft.  fi.  I  irifl  shake  the  heavens,  §-c. — the 
 political  or  religious  revolutions  which  were  to  be  eflFected  in  the  world 
 are  here  referred  to,  (corap.  ver.  21.  22:  Matt.  xxiv.  29  ;  Heb.  xii.  2f), 
 2/,  28.1— iVfH't*.  7-  The  desire  of  all  7iations,  *  and  he  shall  come, 
 even  the  desire  of  all  nations.' — Chandler.  'The  expectati<in  of  all 
 nations.' — Preb.  Lowth.  About  Christ's  time,  the  Jews  interprt'ted 
 this  test  of  the  Messiah  ;  and  he  was  then  usually  termed  '  the  hope.' 
 *  the  blessed  hope,*  '  the  hope  of  Israel,'  '  the  hope  nf  the  promise  to  the 
 twelve  tribes,'  *  the  blessing  of  Abraham  to  the  Gentiles,'  (1  Tim.  i.  1  ; 
 Titus,  ii.  13;  Acts,  xxviii.  20;  xxvi.  7,  8;  Gal.  iii.  ^ A.)— Chandler. 
 It  is  difficult  tn  apply  the  original  tn  a  person.  D''i:irr  ^D  mCTT  1^1, 
 and  hnw  can  Christ  properly  be  called  the  desire  of  all  nations?  Tlie 
 whole  seems  to  be  a  metaiihorical  description  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
 and  of  his  filling  it  with  all  the  excellences  of  the  Gentile  world,  when 
 the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles  shall  lie  brought  iw.— Clarke.  The  Messiah 
 is  intended.  The  word  'come'  being  in  the  plural  number,  may  de- 
 note his  first  coming:  personal— spiritual  Ia?t  coming. — Gill.  nTsn. 
 •the  desire.'  may  be  referred  to  a  person,  (see  Dan.  xi.  37  ;)  and  if 
 pointed  as  plural  to  agree  with  the  x'erh,  it  may  signify  '  the  excellence 
 of  the  person  who  t-houhl  comt.^— Boot hr.  Something  similar  to  this 
 mode  of  expression  is  the  custom  of  the  German  language,  in  which 
 the  most  distinguished  persons  are  addressed  in  the  third  person  plural. 
 — Ed,  Some  critics  have  rendered  niTDn,  'desire'  *  precious  things,' 
 signifying  that  nations  should  bring  in  their  precious  things  to  orna- 
 mentthe  temple.— So  Hnuh.,  Mich..  Rosenm.,  Hfherden,  S:c.  However, 
 authorities  are  mn*,t  numerous  and  forcible  f<>r  referring  tlie  words  to 
 Messiah  :  so  the  rabhies.'J-/?((7«  andJarchi.  Dps.  Bull,  Chandler,  a^^ins-t 
 quoted;  Horslei/.  Pearson,  Reynolds,  and  Tnylnr ;  Drs.  Boothroj/d  ami 
 Gill,  as  just  quoted;  Light/vot.  Luwth,  Brown,  Poole,  Scott,  and 
 Sntcliffe ;  and  Pye  Smith  and  Henry,  as  under  : — 
 
 *  And  the  desire  [or  desirable  things]  of  all  the  nations  shall  come.' 
 
 Newc. 
 
 The  Messiah  is  here  described  as  a  deliverer  of  whom  the  world  would 
 stand  in  the  greatest  need,  and  who  should  be  very  extensively  the 
 object  of  actual  desire  and  expectation. — Pye  Smith.  Christ  was  the 
 desire  of  all  nations.  The  concourse  of  devout  men  from  all  parts,  at 
 Jerusalem,  [Acts,  ii.  .5,)  was  an  expectation  of  the  setting  up  of  Mes- 
 siah's kingdom  about  the  time.  This  glorious  title  of  Christ  seems  to 
 refer  to  Jacob's  prophecy.  (Gen.  xlix.  10,)  'that  to  him  shall  the 
 gathering  of  the  people  be.* — Hen.   And  I  will  fill  this  house  with  glory. 
 
 by  the  presence  of  the  Messiah.— jVeifc.  Alluding  to  the  glory  which 
 filled  the  tabernacle  of  Moses  and  the  temple  of  Solomon,  (Exod.  xl. 
 35  ;  1  Kings,  viii.  10,  11  ;)  but  that  was  a  shadowy  glory,  this  a  real 
 one ;  here  Christ  appeared  in  person,  who  is  the  brightness  of  his  Fa- 
 ther's glory.— GiV/.  8.  The  silrer  is  inine,  Sfc,  signifying  God  could 
 easily  command  these,  if  such  beautifying  of  the  temple  could  dclighc 
 him. — Preb.  Lowth,  so  Mich.,  Chandler,  Sec.  We  have  here  a  reference 
 to  the  contributions  towards  the  rebuilding  of  the  temple,  (Ezra,  vi.  8  ; 
 vii.  15—20,)  and  to  the  donations  by  which  it  was  to  be  adorned. 
 (2  Mace.  iii.  2  ;    .Jos.  Ant.,   h.  xii.,  c.  ii.,  p.  4,  8iC.)~Newc.  Q.  The 
 
 glory  of  this  latter  house  shall  be  greater,  Sfc. — in  gold  and  silver,  in 
 magnitude  and  architectural  splendour,  this  certainly  was  710/  the  case  ; 
 and  it  was  totally  void  of  the  cherubim,  the  nrim  and  thummim,  and 
 the  shechinah.  The  only  way,  therefore,  in  which  the  latter  could 
 exceed  the  former  must  be  in  the  presence  of  some  august  personage, 
 and  this  could  be  no  other  than  the  Messiah. —  IVil.  The  spiritual 
 glory  of  the  Messiah's  kingdom  was  to  be  infinitely  superior  to  all 
 earthly  splendour.— P?/e  Smith.  This  verse  should  be  understOfid.  not 
 of  the  glor>-  of  a  former  and  latter  house,  but  a  former  and  latter  glory 
 of  a  house  considered  as  the  same  house. — Seeker.  Some  exceptions 
 have  been  taken  on  this  passage,  owing  to  .Tosephas  stating  that  Hag- 
 gai's  temple  was  pulled  down,  and  the  foundations  of  it  taken  away 
 by  Herod  the  great,  who  built  an  entirely  new  one  in  its  room. — Antir/. 
 lib,  XV..  c.  11,  s.  3.  According  to  tins,  there  would  have  been  a  ihini 
 temple  ;  but  no  nominal  distinction  between  Zerubbaliel's  and  Herod's 
 temple  seems  to  have  been  ever  made  by  the  Jews ;  but,  in  popular 
 language,  these  structures,  though  really  different,  were  spoken  of  as 
 the  same.  On  one  occasion,  Josephus  himself  mentions  only  the  two 
 buildings,  that  of  Solomon,  and  that  built  in  the  time  of  Cyrus,  (B.  J., 
 b.  vi.,  c.  iv.,  s.  8.)— See  Newc.  12.  Holy  Jlpsh,  i)art  of  tlie  sacrifice, 
 
 legally  and  ceremonially  sanctified  or  made  holy  by  the  altar  on  whicli 
 the  whole  was  sanctified. — Poole.  Some  joint  of  a  sin  offering. — Stit. 
 In  the  .'ikirt  of  his  garment,  'in  the  pockets  or  hags  in  the  skirt.'  Do 
 touch  bread,  or  pottage,  Sfc,  which  were  not  separated  for  holy,  but 
 were  only  for  cttmmon  use.  Sliall  it  be  tioly  ?  i.e.,  any  one  of  tlie  com- 
 mon things.  iVo— for  though  the  garment  was  satictifted  thereby,  and 
 might  not  be  employed  in  common  use  till  washed,  (Lev.  vi.  27,)  yet 
 a  garment  so  touched  could  not  convey  holiness.  13.  It  shall 
 be  unclean  —  whatsoever  an  unclean  person  touched  was  unclean. 
 {Num.  xix.  22.)— Gill.  U.  So  is  this  people,  unclean  by  their  habits 
 of  sin  ;  hence  all  their  worship  and  all  their  lives  had  one  character  of 
 impurity,  defiling  all  their  heart  and  all  their  soul.— Sw^.  15.  Up- 
 ward, 'forward,*  so  the  word  is  used,  1  Sam.  xvi.  13,  and  xxx.  25.— 
 Preb.  Lowth.  10.  But  ten,  they  failed  from  the  poverty  of  the  ear. — 
 Netcc.  But  twenti/,  where  fifty  were  reasonably  expected,  for  the 
 bunches  were  so  thin,  or  the  berries  so  bad.— Gi7^     'The  fruits  of  the 
 
 the  proporty  of  the  most  wealthy  and  independent,  or  render  ling  can  never  enjoy;  he  will  *  bless  us  in  basket  and  in  store.* 
 
 theni  incapable  of  enjoying  it.     But  if  we  wilhngly  devote  a  May  we  listen  attentively  to  the  spirit-stirring  exhortations 
 
 portion  of  wliat  we  possess  for  the  promotion  of  his  glory,  of  his  word,  and  be  up  and  doing,  as  the  aroused  Jews,  when 
 
 there  will  be  a  sweetness  in  the  remainder  which  the  world-  the  prophet  called  upon  tliem  to  consider  their  ways. 
 
 969  r,  H 
 
God's  promise 
 
 HAGGAI,  II 
 
 to  Zeruhbabel. 
 
 ten  :  when  one.  came  to  the  pressfat  for  to  draw 
 out  fifty  vessels  out  of  the  press,  there  were 
 hut  twenty. 
 
 17  'I  smote  you  with  blasting  and  witli  mil- 
 dew and  with  hail  Mn  all  the  labours  of  your 
 hands ;  '  yet  ye  turned  not  to  me,  saitli  the 
 Lord. 
 
 18  Consider  now  from  this  day  and  upward, 
 from  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the  ninth 
 month,  even  from  '  the  day  that  the  foundation 
 of  the  Lord's  temple  was  laid,  consider  it. 
 
 19  "  Is  the  seed  yet  in  the  barn':'  yea,  as  yet 
 the  vine,  and  the  fig  tree,  and  the  pomegranate, 
 and  the  olive  tree,  hatli  not  brought  forth  : 
 from  this  day  will  I  bless  you. 
 
 20  T  And  again  the  word  of  the  Lord  came 
 unto  Haggai  in  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of 
 
 B.  C- 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  530. 
 
 cir.  52U. 
 
 J-  ch    1.  U. 
 
 y  ver.  6,  7. 
 
 Heb.  1^.26. 
 
 7Deu.28,22. 
 
 1  Kin,  8.37. 
 
 i  Dan,  2.  44. 
 
 Amos  4.  9. 
 
 Mat.  2i.  7. 
 
 r  ch.  1.  11. 
 
 t  Zecb.  8.  9. 
 
 HZech.S.  12. 
 
 b  Cant.  8,  fi. 
 
 Jer.  22,  2-1. 
 
 Keel  us.  40. 
 
 c  19.42.  I.& 
 
 43.  1(1. 
 
 the  month,  saying, 
 
 21  Speak,  to  Zerubhabel,  "  governor  of  Jiidali, 
 sayiii^%  ^  I  will  shake  the  heavens  and  the 
 earth  ; 
 
 22  And  ^  I  will  overthrow  the  throne  of  king- 
 doms, and  I  will  destroy  the  strength  of  the 
 kingdoms  of  the  heathen  ;  and  "*  I  will  over- 
 throw the  chariots,  and  those  that  ride  in 
 them  ;  and  the  horses  and  their  riders  shall 
 come  down,  every  one  by  the  sword  of  his 
 brother. 
 
 23  In  that  day,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  will 
 I  take  thee,  O  Zeruhbabel,  my  servant,  the  son 
 of  Shealtiel,  saith  the  Lord, ''and  will  make 
 thee  as  a  signet :  for  "^  I  have  chosen  thee,  saith 
 the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 earth  did  not  yield  their  usual  increase,  because  of  the  unkindly  sea- 
 sons wherewith  I  punished  them.'  ig.  From  this  day,  'from  this  time 
 I  promise  you  the  blessing  of  a  fruitful  year,*  as  an  encouragement  to 
 canyon  the  building,  fcomp.  Zcch.  viii.  12.) — Preh.  Lotvth.  21.  Zp- 
 rnbbnfiely  governor  of  Juda/t^somc  think  tliat  by  Zeruhbabel  is  meant 
 his  posterity.  But  the  revolutions  and  coinmotinns  firetold  began  in 
 the  rebellion  of  Babylon,  which  Darius  besieged  and  took.  While  these 
 things  were  occurring  at  Babylon,  Zeruhbabel  and  the  Jews  should  be 
 secure,  and  preserved,  as  a  signet,  with  the  greatest  care. — Neu'c., 
 Boothr.  As  such,  he  was  the  type  as  well  as  the  progenitor  of  Chribt, 
 to  whom,  doubtless,  the  prophecy  was  principally  directed. — Scott.    It 
 
 could  not  be  fuiftlled  in  Zeruhbabel,  who  did  not,  in  all  likelihood,  live 
 many  years  after  the  finishing  of  the  temple,  and  therefore  did  not  see 
 any  of  the  great  changes  liere  foretold ;  therefore  the  Messlas  must  be 
 here  dcsiTibed  under  the  name  of  Zeruhbabel,  as  he  elsewhere  is  under 
 that  of  David.  23.  Take  thee  its  a  sii^net,  *  invest  thee  with  my  power 
 ami  authority,  as  the  head  of  my  church  and  judge  of  the  world.'  So 
 kings  depute  their  viceroys  by  giving  them  their  signet,  (Gen.  xU.4'-»,) 
 which  was  particularly  the  custom  of  the  Persian  monarchs,  (sec  E^th. 
 iii.  ]  0  ;  viii.  2  ;  or  the  expression  may  denote  one  particularly  near  and 
 dear  to  God,  (see  Jer.  xxii.  24  ;  Cant.  viii.  G.)—Pre/f.  Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  We  muy  remark  here  — 
 \.  On  the  hnHdin(j  of  tfie  temple.  If  we  undertake  God's  work, 
 we  may  expect  his  presence  and  aid  ;  and  if  silver  and  gold  bf 
 wanted  for  its  accomplishment,  these  are  the  Lord's.  Amidst 
 the  commotions  of  empires,  he  will  carry  on  bis  gracious  and 
 glorious  designs;  and  though  thrones  and  empires  fall,  Ii is 
 church  shall  not  fail  to  rise. 
 
 IL  On  the  plort/  of  the  temple.  The  temple  has  passed  away, 
 hut  that  which  constitutes  the  true  glory  of  God's  house  yet 
 remains  amoni^st  us.  God's  presence  and  Spirit  are  often 
 manifest,  by  tlioir  effects,  in  his  ordinances,  i'he  glory  of  our 
 worshipping  assemblies  is  contained  in  that  promise  of  the 
 Saviour — '  For  where  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  my 
 name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  tliem. ' 
 
 Z  E  C  H  A  R  I  A  H. 
 
 ^This  prophet  was  of  tlie  number  of  the  captivity  that  returned  from  Babylon  to  Jerusalem  in  conse()uence  of  the  decree  of 
 Cyrus.  His  style  is  so  remarkably  similar  to  that  of  Jeremiah,  that  the  Jews  were  accustomed  to  observe,  that  the  spirit 
 of  Jeremiah  had  passed  upon  him.  The  design  of  his  propliccy,  like  that  of  his  contemporary,  Haggai,  was  to  encourage 
 the  Jews  to  go  on  with  rebuilding  the  temple.  The  references  to  Zechariah  in  the  New  Testament  are  numerous,  and 
 may  be  found  in  Matt.  xvi.  18;  xxi.  4,  5  ;  xxvi.  31  ;  xxvii.  3,  10;  Mark,  xiv.  27;  John,  i.  14,  45;  xii.  14,  13;  xix. 
 34—37  ;   Rom.  viii.  33;  Eph.  ii.  19—2-2  ;  Heb.  iii.  1—3;  xiii.  20  ;    Rev.  i.  7  ;  v.  G  ;  vi.  2—4.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  Zechariah  exhortet/t  to  rcpentar:ce.  7  The  vision  of 
 tlie  tiorscs.  12  At  tlie  praijer  of  tlie  angel  comfortable 
 promises  are  made  to  Jerusalem.  18  Tlie  vision  of 
 the  four  liornSj  and  tlte  four  carpenters. 
 
 TN  the  eighth  month,  '  mi  the  second  year  of 
 ■*-  Darius,  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  ''  unto 
 Zechariah,  the  son  of  Berechiah,  the  sou  of 
 Iddo  the  prophet,  saying, 
 
 2  The  LoKD  hath  been  f  sore  displeased  with 
 your  fathers. 
 
 3  Therefore  say  thou  unto  them.  Thus  saith 
 the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  Turn  '  ye  unto  me,  saith 
 the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  I  will  turn  unto  you, 
 saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 4  Be  ye  not  as  your  fathers,  "■  unto  whom 
 the  former  prophets  have  cried,  saying.  Thus 
 saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  °  Turn  ye  now  from 
 your  evil  ways,  and  froyn  your  evil  doings  : 
 but  they  did  not  hear,  nor  hearken  unto  nie. 
 
 B.  0. 
 cir.  520. 
 
 rt  Eara  -1.  94. 
 
 Hug.  I.  1. 
 /.  Ezra  5.  I. 
 
 Mat.  23. 35. 
 
 t  Hi-1,.  irith 
 
 L  .Tcr.25.fi  & 
 35.  1.5.  Mic. 
 7.  19.  Mai. 
 
 d  •?.  Chr.  36. 
 15,  11). 
 
 p  l9.  31.  e. 
 Jer.  3.  12.  & 
 IS.  II. 
 Eze.  19.  30. 
 Hos.  II.  1. 
 
 II  Or,  mrr- 
 
 tiik*. 
 g  I.EUii    1.18. 
 
 &  2.  17. 
 
 *  Josh.  6. 13. 
 Rev.  6.  4. 
 
 icli.6.  8—;. 
 II  Or,  Uy. 
 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 5  Your  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the  pro- 
 phets, do  they  Uve  for  ever? 
 
 G  But  ''my  words  and  my  statutes,  which  I 
 commanded  my  servants  the  prophets,  did  they 
 not  II  take  hold  of  your  fatliers  ?  and  they  re- 
 turned and  said,  *■'  Like  as  the  Lord  of  hosts 
 thought  to  do  unto  us,  according  to  our  ways, 
 and  according  to  our  doings,  so  hath  he  dealt 
 with  us. 
 
 7  H  Upon  the  four  and  twentieth  day  of  the 
 eleventh  month,  which  is  the  month  Sebat,  in 
 the  second  year  of  Darius,  came  the  word  of 
 the  Lord  unto  Zechariah,  the  son  of  Berechiah, 
 the  son  of  Iddo  the  prophet,  saying, 
 
 8  I  saw  by  night,  and  behold  ''  a  man  riding 
 upon  a  red  horse,  and  lie  stood  among  the 
 myrtle  trees  that  were  in  the  bottom  ;  and  be- 
 hind him  were  there  '  red  horses,  ||  speckled, 
 and  white. 
 
 Notes  o\  Ciiai*.  I.  —  \.  In  the  eighth  month,  in  the  second  year  of 
 Z)afi«.«— Haggai  prophesied  in  the  sixth  and  seventh  month  of  the  same 
 year,  (Hag.  i.  l  ;  ii.  l  ;,—Ed.  5.  Your  fathers,  where  are  the'/  ?  ^e., 
 '  they  are  dead,  and  the  prophets  who  prophesied  with  them,  "but  the 
 testimony  of  facts  to  the  truth  of  my  predictions  remains.' — Newe. 
 ■'be  question  iinphea  tliat  their  fathers  had  been  cut  oii"  by  famine,  by 
 970 
 
 war,  and  pestilence,  and  in  captivity,  as  the  prophets  had  said;  and 
 even  these  prophets  had  died  before  their  predictions  had  been  fulfilled ; 
 but  God's  words  had  received  their  accomplishment.— Boo^Arojfrf. 
 7.  Sebat,  a  Chaldee  or  Syriac  name.  It  corresponds  with  parts  ol 
 January  and  February.— JVeiec,  Bin.  8.  I  sine  by  night,  ,5-c.— from 
 this  to  chap.  v..  15,  we  have  eight  different  visionary  represeutaUous 
 
Comfortable  promises  are  made  to  Zit 
 
 ZECHAHIAH,  11. 
 
 God  sendeth  to  measure  Zioa. 
 
 9  Then  said  I,  O  my  lord,  what  are  these  ? 
 And  the  angel  that  talked  with  me  said  unto 
 me,  1  will  shew  tliee  what  tliese  be. 
 
 10  And  the  man  that  stood  among  the  myrtle 
 trees  answei'ed  and  said,  ^  These  are  they 
 wlium  the  Loku  hatii  sent  to  walk  to  and  iVo 
 through  tlie  eartli. 
 
 1 1  '  And  they  answered  tlie  angel  of  the 
 Lord  that  stood  among  the  myrtle  trees,  and 
 said.  We  have  walked  to  and  fro  through  the 
 eartii,  and,  hehold,  ail  the  earth  sitteth  still, 
 and  is  at  rest. 
 
 12  If  Tlien  the  angel  of  the  Lord  answered 
 and  said,  "' O  Lord  uf  hosts,  how  long  wilt 
 thou  not  have  mercy  on  Jerusalem  and  on  the 
 cities  of  Judah,  against  whicli  thou  hast  had 
 indignation  "  these  threescore  and  ten  years? 
 
 1;3  And  the  Lord  answered  the  angel  that 
 talked  with  me  with  "good  words  r//^c/ com- 
 fortable words. 
 
 14  So  tlie  angel  that  communed  with  me 
 said  unto  me,  Cry  thou,  saying,  Thus  saitli  the 
 Lord  of  hosts;  I  am  ''jealous  for  Jerusalem 
 and  for  Zion  witii  a  great  jealousy. 
 
 15  And  I  am  very  sore  displeased  with  the 
 heathen  that  are  at  ease  :  for  ''  I  was  hut  a 
 little  displeased,  and  they  helped  forward  the 
 affliction. 
 
 16  Therefore  thus  saith  the  Lord  ; '  I  am  re- 
 turned to  Jerusalem  with  mercies:  my  house 
 shall  be  built  in  it,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and 
 "  a  line  shall  be  stretched  forth  upon  Jerusalem. 
 
 17  Cry  yet,  saying,  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of 
 
 k  H>/b.  1   M 
 
 iJcr   2r..  11, 
 'i.  cli.  7.  5. 
 
 l>  J..L'I  2.  US. 
 CU.  8.  S. 
 
 ■  Is.  12.  I.  U 
 5*.  S.  c\\  2 
 lU.  &  B.  S. 
 
 B,  C.  519. 
 
 \  Heh.giiud. 
 
 t  Is.  at.  3. 
 
 u  Is.  11.  1. 
 cli.  2    12.8c 
 
 519. 
 Eio.  40.  3. 
 
 b  Rpv.  II.  1. 
 &ai.l5,  llj. 
 
 hosts  ;  My  cities  through  f  prosperity  shall  yet 
 be  spread  abroad;  *and  the  Lord  shall  yet 
 comfort  Zion,  and  "shall  yet  choose  Jerusalem. 
 
 18  IF  Then  lifted  I  up  mine  eyes,  and  saw, 
 and  behold  four  horns. 
 
 19  And  1  said  unto  tiie  angel  that  talked 
 witli  me.  What  Z/e  these?  And  he  answered 
 me,  ^  These  are  the  horns  which  have  scatter- 
 ed Judah,  Israel,  and  Jerusalem. 
 
 20  And  the  Lord  shewed  me  four  carpenters. 
 
 21  Then  said  I,  What  come  these  to  do? 
 And  he  spake,  saying,  These  are  the  horns 
 which  have  scattered  Judah,  so  tliat  no  man 
 did  lift  up  his  head  :  but  tliese  are  come  to 
 fray  them,  to  cast  out  the  horns  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles, which  ^lifted  up  their  horn  over  the  land 
 of  Judah  to  scatter  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 I  God.  in  the  care  ofjermalejih  sertdet/i  to  measure  it. 
 6  The  redemption  of  Zion.  10  The  proinist:  of  God*s 
 presence. 
 
 T  LIFTED  up  mine  eyes  again,  and  looked, 
 J-  and  behold  ""  a  man  with  a  measuring  line 
 in  his  hand. 
 
 2  Then  said  I,  Wliither  goest  thou  ?  And 
 he  said  unto  me,  ''  To  measure  Jerusalem,  to 
 see  what  is  the  breadth  thereof,  and  what  li- 
 the length  thereof. 
 
 3  And,  behold,  the  angel  that  talked  with 
 me  went  forth,  and  another  angel  went  out  to 
 meet  him, 
 
 4  And  said  unto  him.  Run,   speak   to   this 
 
 (tf  the  state  of  thing:?,  and  of  the  events  which  were  to  occur. — Bnuthr. 
 lifhiild  a  riiffn,  an  ang:el  in  the  shape  of  a  man,  (see  ver.  11.) — Newc. 
 The  angel  Michael. — Jewish  wriieis.  The  Lntjns,  or  Son  of  God,  ap- 
 pearing as  the  '  Captain  of  Gud's  hosts'  or  armies,  (see  Josh.  v.  13,  U.) 
 — Preh.  Luwth,  Riding,  denotes  the  maje^ity  and  glory  of  Christ  as  a 
 king,  or  as  a  general  of  an  army,  in  which  he  rode  prosperously,  (see 
 ps,  xlv.  4  ;  Rev,  vi.  2,  and  xix.  11,  14.)— GiV/.  A  red  horse,  an  emblem 
 of  war  and  bloodshed,  (see  Rev.  vi.  4.)— PreA.  Lo«'//t.  And  he  stuod 
 amimg,  fyc,  'and  he  stood  between  the  myrtlos  which  were  in  the 
 valley  ;'  the  myrtle  is  an  emblem  of  peace.  Hed  horses,  speckled,  and 
 white,  'red,  dun,  and  white  horses.'  The  bay,  chesnut,  and  sorrel, 
 approach  the  red. — Newc.  The  original  for  '  red,'  signifies  '  blood  red,' 
 not  any  kind  of  bright  bay,  or  other  colour  usual  among  horses.  But 
 the  custnm  in  the  east  of  painting  or  dyeing  animals  fur  riding,  whe- 
 ther asses  or  horses,  explains  the  nature  of  this  description. —See 
 Ttii/lm\s  Friti^menfs,  No.  478.  We  need  not,  perhaps,  lonk  for  any 
 solution  on  this  point;  for  though  the  objects  in  visions  are  partly 
 taken  from  nature  and  customs,  others  are  not  so,  and  arc  nnt  to  be 
 explained  by  any  example.  —  Editur.  The  angels  had  horses,  to 
 shew  their  power  and  celerity;  and  horses  of  diflferent  colours,  to 
 intimate  the  diflerence  of  their  ministries. — Newcume,  Bluyneij.  The 
 angel  standing  in  the  myrtle  trees  with  his  companions,  intimated 
 the  refreshing  tliemselves  in  a  shady  valley  after  the  fatigues  of  war. 
 The  vision  denote'^  the  peace  which  ensued  after  Darius  had  executed 
 the  vengeance  of  God  on  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon,  and  made  him- 
 self master  of  their  city.  9.  The  angel  that  talked,  8fc.,  he  was  dis- 
 tinct from  those  rt-presented  in  ver.  8  ;  see  also  ver.  13.—Preh.  Lowth. 
 10.  The  innn  that  stand  amnng  the  myrtle  trees,  the  great  angel  of  the 
 covenant,  Christ  Jesus.— C/i.  Hull.  Whom  the  Lord  hath  sent,  tliey 
 are  the  messengers  or  ministering  spirits  of  Jehovah.  11.  All  the 
 
 earth  sitteth  still — the  Persian  empire,  and  other  nations  connected 
 with  Jndea,  which  enjoyed  peace  at  that  time;  but  the  state  of  the 
 Jews  was  unsettled,  (see  ver.  16,)  which  circumstance  gives  occasion 
 to  the  following  intercession. — Newc.  12.  Anstvered  and  said,  O  Lord 
 of  hosts,  Iffc. — the  angel  (ver.  ti)  supplicates  the  superior  angel,  (ver. 
 8,  10;  comp.  chap.  iii.  1,  2;  xii.  8,  \ii.)~Preb,  Lowth.  These  words 
 shew  the  intercession  of  Christ.— ZJ/?.  Hall,  Gill.  15.  They  het/)ed 
 
 forward  the  njftiction,  they  exceeded  their  commission  as  instruments 
 of  vengeance  against  the  Jews,  and  acted  as  they  were  prompted  by 
 their  ambition  and  cruelty,  (comp.  Isa.  xlvii.  6.)  —  Preh.  Lowth. 
 16.  A  line,  that  is,  the  architect's  measuring  line  for  laying  out  the 
 building,    (see  chap.  ii.  I  ;    Jer.  xxxi.  3g.)~Bla.  18.  Four  horns, 
 
 powerful  and  mighty  kingdoms  or  kings,  Targ.      The  four  great  mo- 
 
 narchies—Uabylunian,  Persian,  Grecian,  and  Rom-dU. —Ki7nchi,  Abarb. 
 The  Assyrians,  Persians,  Chaldeans,  and  Etryptiaus  ;  or  the  four  may 
 refer  to  tlie  cardinal  points  whence  their  enemies  came  :— N.  Assy- 
 rians and  Babylonians.  E.  Moabites  and  Ammonites.  S.  Egyptians. 
 W.  Philistines.— See  Martin.  The  kings  Salmaneser,  Nebuchadnezzar, 
 Xerxes,  and  Artaxerxes.— Coec.  The  Samaritans,  Arabians,  Ammon- 
 ites, and  Philistines,  who  were  the  great  binderers  of  the  Jews 
 rebuilding  the  temple,  (see  Neb.  iv.  7,}  or  their  enemies  in  general,  dis- 
 persed to  the  four  wioUs,  (chap.  ii.  <o.)~Preb,  Lowth.  To  this  inter- 
 pretation it  may  be  objected  that  these  nations  had  never  'scattered 
 Israel  and  Judah.' — Scott.  The  Jewish  state  had  been  broken  by  the 
 Edomites,  the  Philistines,  the  Syrians  in  Damascus,  and  finally  by  the 
 Chaldeans. — Sut.  Horns  are  emblems  of  strength  and  power,  and  de- 
 note conquering  and  oppressive  princes  and  statts,  (see Dan.  vii.,  viii.) 
 — Bin.  Four,  may  denote  many  enemies  from  all  the  coasts  of  heaven. 
 —Newc,  Bp.  Hall.  20.  Carpenters,  '  smiths.'— PreA.  Lowth.  '  Work- 
 men.*— Newc.  The  word  UMn  means  any  artificer  in  metal,  stone,  or 
 wood.— Pict.  Bib.  2\.  To  fray,  or  affright  them.— jV/wc.  These 
 were  to  repair  the  destructions  which  the  horns  had  made. — Preb, 
 Lowth.  Some  read  '  four  plowmen.'  meaning  tlie  four  kings  of  Persia, 
 who  in  succession  repaired  the  breach.  Zerubhabel,  Joshua,  Ezra, 
 and  Nehemiah,  are  named  by  Lightfoot;  but  these  were  under  the 
 Persian  princes.- Sm^  1.  Nabopolassar,  father  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
 who  overturned  the  empire  of  the  Assyrians.  2.  Cyrus,  who  destroyed 
 the  empire  of  the  Chaldeans.  3.  Alexander  the  Great,  who  destroyed 
 the  empire  of  the  Persians.  4.  Ptolemy,  who  rendered  himself  master 
 ol  Egypt.  Some  of  these  had  already  been  cast  down,  the  rest  were  to 
 follow.— Ca/.  The  word  □'inn,  here  translated  'carpenters,'  is  ren- 
 dered  '  watchers,'  or  '  inspectors,'  by  a  Correspondent  in  the  Commen- 
 tary of  Clarke.  The  Divine  wisdom  here  animated  the  Jews  in  the 
 restoration  of  their  affairs,  and  particularly  a  vigorous  prosecution  of 
 the  building  of  the  temple  already  in  hand,  by  holding  forth  to  them  a 
 prospect  of  better  times. — BUu/ney. 
 
 Chap.  II.—  1.  Aitd  looked,  ^c.—this  chapter  contains  the  substance 
 of  a  third  vision. — Bla.  it  is  a  continuation,  or  variation,  of  the  fore- 
 going vision,  relating  to  the  .same  subjects.— Scoif.  A  man,  an  angel, 
 in  human  appearance,  (ver.  3.)  With  a  measuring  line,  fyc,  to  take 
 the  proportions  of  the  city,  in  order  to  the  rebuilding  it,  as  architects 
 used  to  do,  (see  Ezek.  xl.  3.)  3.  And  the  angel,  shnuld  he  '  the  other 
 angel,'  mentioned  in  ver.  1. — Preb.  Lowth.  4.  This  young  man — 
 Zechariah  was,  probably,  at  this  time,  between  twenty  and  thirty  years 
 of  age. — Bla.  Jerusalem  shall  be  inhabited  us  towns  without  tvuUs,  the 
 inhabitants  will  multiply  so  fast  that  the  houses  wilhln  the  walls  will 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I. — The  subjects  in  this  chap- 
 ter are- T.  A  call  to  repctitance.  This  must  be  exercised  beibre 
 God  will  bestow  bis  best  blessings.  Heuce,  John  preached 
 repentance  as  preparatory  to  the  reception  of  the  Messiah. 
 
 II.  ^  dcchratioH  of  the  truth  of  God's  tvord.  Sinners  may  not 
 repent  and  beheve  at  the  preaching  of  bis  Uord.  but  !iis 
 Word  remains  unchangeably  the  Word  of  God,  whidi,  while 
 it  *  eftectuuliy  uorketh  in  ibem  that  believe,' is  to  others  *a 
 savour  of  doatli  unto  death.* 
 971 
 
 III.  The  ministration  of  avffeh  in  the  church  of  God.  These 
 heavenly  watchmen  continually  walk  about  Zion  and  perform 
 their  Lord's  commands  for  the  welfare  of  his  churcii  and 
 people,  while  he  himself  graciously  intercedes  for  them. 
 When  so  many  mighty  agents  are  employed  for  their  protec- 
 tion, and  the  Almighty  ISaviour  throws  over  them  the  broad 
 shield  of  his  love,  no  wonder  that  *  no  weapon  that  is  formed 
 against  them  shall  frosper.' 
 
T!it  redemption  of  Z ion. 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  III.  The  restoration  of  the  church  promised. 
 
 young  man,  saying,  '  Jerusalem  sball  be  inha- 
 bited as  towns  without  walls  for  the  multitude 
 of  men  and  cattle  therein  : 
 
 5  For  I,  saith  the  Lord,  will  be  unto  her  "^a 
 wall  of  fire  round  about,  ^  and  will  be  the  glory 
 in  the  midst  of  her. 
 
 ti  H  Ho,  ho,  come  forth,  and  flee  ^froni  the 
 land  of  the  north,  saith  the  Lord  :  for  I  have 
 '^  spread  you  abroad  as  the  four  winds  of  the 
 heaven,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 7  "  Deliver  thyself.  O  Zion,  that  dwellest 
 icith  the  daughter  of  15abylon. 
 
 8  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  After 
 the  glory  hath  he  sent  me  unto  tlie  nations 
 which  spoiled  you  :  for  he  that  *  toucheth  you 
 touchetli  the  apple  of  his  eye. 
 
 9  For,  behold,  I  will  ''shake  mine  hand  upon 
 them,  and  they  shall  be  a  spoil  to  their  ser- 
 vants :  and  '  ye  shall  know  that  the  Lord  of 
 hosts  hath  sent  me. 
 
 10  1[  ""Sing  and  rejoice,  O  daughter  of  Zion  : 
 ffjr,  lo,  I  come,  and  I  "will  dwell  in  the  midst 
 of  thee,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 H  "  And  many  nations  shall  be  joined  to  the 
 Lord  ''  in  that  day,  and  shall  be  *'  my  people  : 
 and  I  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  thee,  and 
 ""thou  yhalt  know  that  the  Lord  of  hosts  hath 
 sent  me  unto  thee. 
 
 12  And  the  Lord  shall  Mnherit  Judah  his 
 portion  in  tiie  holy  land,  and  *  shall  choose 
 Jerusalem  again. 
 
 13  "  Be  silent,  O  all  flesh,  before  the  Lord  : 
 for  he  is  raised  up  '^  out  of  f  his  holy  habita- 
 tion. 
 
 /Is.  48.20  & 
 52.  11.  Jer. 
 I.  M.  &50. 
 S.  &oL6, 
 
 g  Deu.  2S.6t. 
 
 Eie,  \1.2\. 
 
 U  Rev.  iS.  -1. 
 
 i  Deu.  32  10. 
 
 Ps.  17.  S 
 
 2T11CS  I.G. 
 t  Is.  II.  lo. 
 
 ft  19  !G. 
 /  cli.  +.  9. 
 m  Is.  V2.  0. 
 
 &54    1. 
 
 Zcpli.3.  14. 
 n  Lev.  ^6.12. 
 
 Eze  37.  27. 
 
 ch.  8.  3. 
 
 John  !.  14. 
 
 2  Cor.  6, 16. 
 o  Is.  2.  2,  3. 
 
 &  49.  22.  & 
 
 GO.  3,  &c. 
 
 th.  8. 22.23. 
 P  til.  3.  10. 
 <j  Kx.  12.49. 
 r  E/o.  33.33. 
 
 ver.  9. 
 
 I  neu.  32.  9. 
 
 t  cli.  1.  17. 
 
 H  Hiib.  S.20. 
 Zoph,  1.  ■?. 
 
 X  Ps.  C8.  b. 
 Is.  r>7.  15. 
 
 t  Heb.  the 
 liiibitatinn  of 
 hit  kolines 
 Deu.  2fi.  I 
 Is.  03.   15 
 
 b  Ps.  109.  6. 
 
 Rev.  12.  10. 
 [|  Tbitt  is,  an 
 
 advsTtary. 
 t  Hi-b.  to  be 
 
 hit  adcer- 
 
 tary. 
 C  Jude  9. 
 dch.  1.  17. 
 
 Rom.  8.  33. 
 c  Amos  +11. 
 
 Horn.  II.  5 
 
 Judc  23. 
 /  Is.  61.  0. 
 
 J?  Is.  61.  10. 
 Rev.  19.8. 
 Luke  15.22. 
 29.  6. 
 
 cl..( 
 
 11. 
 
 .  8.  3fl. 
 I  Kin.  2.3. 
 Eie.  44.  16. 
 IJ  Or.  orrft- 
 
 k  Ocu.  17.  9. 
 
 Mill.  2.  7. 
 t  Heb  valki. 
 I  ch.  4.  U'. 
 
 &  6.  5. 
 m  Pa.  71.  7. 
 
 Is.  ii.  18.  St 
 
 20.  3. 
 t  Hcb.  men  of 
 
 teniider,  or, 
 
 •  iffn,  as 
 
 Eie.  12. IL 
 
 &  24.  21. 
 His.  12.  1.  & 
 
 49.  a,  3,  & 
 
 52.  13.  &53. 
 
 II.  Kzc.34. 
 
 23,  24. 
 0  Is.  i.  2.  & 
 
 II.  I.  Jor. 
 
 29.  5.  fc  St. 
 
 15.  cli.  6.12. 
 
 Luko  I.  78. 
 
 CHAP.  lU. 
 
 I  Undir  the  type  ofJosltna,  the  restoration  of  the  churchy 
 
 8  Christ  the  Branch  is  promised. 
 
 A  ND  he  shewed  me  ^  Joshua  tlie  high  priest 
 
 -^^  standing  before  the  angel  of  the  Lord,  and 
 
 ^11  Satan  standing  at  his  right  hand  fto  resist  him. 
 
 2  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan,  "  The 
 Lord  rebuke  thee,  O  Satan  ;  even  the  Lord 
 that  ■'  liath  chosen  Jerusalem  rebuke  thee  :  ""is 
 not  tliis  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire  ? 
 
 3  Now  Joshua  was  clothed  with  *"  filthy  gar- 
 ments, and  stood  before  the  angel. 
 
 4  And  he  answered  and  spake  unto  those 
 that  stood  before  him,  saying,  Take  away  the 
 filthy  garments  from  him.  And  unto  iiim  he 
 said,  Behold,  I  have  caused  thine  iniquity  to 
 pass  from  thee,  ^  and  I  will  clothe  thee  with 
 change  of  raiment. 
 
 5  And  I  said,  Let  them  set  a  fair  "  mitre  upon 
 his  head.  So  they  set  a  fair  mitre  upon  his 
 head,  and  clothed  him  with  garments.  And 
 the  angel  of  the  Lord  stood  by. 
 
 6  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  protested  unto 
 Joshua,  saying, 
 
 7  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  If  thou  wilt 
 walk  in  my  ways,  and  if  thou  wilt* keep  my 
 
 II  charge,  then  thou  shalt  also  "^  judge  my 
 house,  and  shalt  also  keep  my  courts,  and  I 
 will  give  thee  f  places  to  walk  among  these 
 that  '  stand  by. 
 
 8  Hear  now,  O  Joshua  the  high  priest,  thoii, 
 and  thy  fellows  that  sit  before  tliee:  for  they 
 are  '"f  men  wondered  at:  for,  behold,  I  will 
 bring  forth  "my  servant  the  ''BRANCH. 
 
 9  For  behold  the  stone  that  I  have  laid  before 
 
 not  contain  them.— PreJ.  Lowth.  The  city  overflowing  with  multi- 
 tudes crept  beyoml  the  walls;  and  the  fourth  hill,  called  Bezetha,  was 
 surrounded  with  buildinprs.— B/^t.  5.  A  wall  offire—X\\\s  figure  of 
 
 speech  is  evidc-ntly  an  allusion  to  the  custom  of  kindling  fires  around 
 the  nightly  encampment  in  the  east,  in  order  to  keep otf  the  wild  beasts 
 which  would  otherwise  attack  tlic  caravan. — Ed.  This  ima^e  must 
 have  reminded  the  Jews  of  the  pillar  of  rire.  the  defence  of  their  an- 
 cestors. The  i^litry  in  the  7tiidsi,  is  an  allusion  to  the  symbol  of  the 
 divine  presence  in  the  Holy  of  Holies,  (Rom.  ix.  4.)—Netvc.  The  pro- 
 tection and  glory  of  the  future  Je^u^alem  niav  also  be  here  predicted, 
 (Rev.  XX.  9.)~Vitr.  6.  Land  of  the  norM. 'Babylon,  north  of  Jeru- 
 salem; the  words  are  addressed  to  such  Jews  as  still  remained  there. 
 —Bla.  8.  jJ/ter  the  f^lory,  ^c,  '  after  the  obtaining  of  glory  hath  he 
 sent  rae  ;  i.e.,  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  glory  to  his  people  in  re- 
 straining and  humbling  their  enemies.— AVa-r.  The  apple,  ^c,  the 
 most  tender  and  dear  part,  as  it  were,  about  him.— Burrow.  9.  Upon 
 them,  'atthem,'  or'overUiem,'  as  a  mark  of  displeasure.— See  jVo/rf/u* 
 and  Taylor,  on  ?i>.  A  spoil  to  their  senmnts,  so  the  Babylonians  be- 
 came to  the  Medes  and  Persians,  who  were  subdued  by  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar, king  of  Babylon.— A'eicc.  10.  D'tughter  of  /.ion,  '  congre- 
 gation of  Zion,'  Targ.  May  signify  the  Jewish  church,  or  the  whole 
 Christian  church.— GiV/.  ll.  Be  joined  unto  Je/wvah—mainy  were 
 made  proselytes  of  Judaism.  The  Edomites  were  converted  in  the  time 
 of  Hyrcanus. — Newc.  This  signifies  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  among 
 all  nations,  when  many  shall  be  converted.— Gi7/.  The  Lord  of  hosts 
 hnth  sent  me — here  the  Lord,  ^^^7^^',  who  says  (ver.  10)  he  will  dwell 
 with  his  people,  and  repeats  it  in  this  verse,  is  yet  sent  by  the  Lord  of 
 hosts,  niNlS  mn\  Hence  several  critics  notice  an  argument  fnr  the 
 deity  of  Clirist  who  dwelt  among  us,  and  was  sent  by  God  his  Father 
 to  us.  And  yet  there  are  not  two  Ji:hov.\hs,  but  one  Jehovah. — See 
 Barrow,  Dr.  Eoeleigh's  Sermon  at  Oxford,  on  Zech.  ii.  8—11,  London, 
 ^79^.— Scott.  13.  Be  silent,  §-tv,  God's  interposition  in  behalf  of  his 
 people  shall  be  manifest,  strike  their  adversaries  dumb,  and  impress  all 
 with  awe  and  wonder. — Neivc. 
 
 Cic.AP.  111. —  1.  And  he  shewed,  ?fc, — this  is  vision  the  fourth. — Bla. 
 Joshua,  ^c,  may  here  represent  the  whole  Jewish  people.  The  angel 
 ofttie  Lord,  '  the  Messiah.*  Satan,  '  the  grand  accuser.'  The  subject 
 of  dispute  was.  perhaps,  the  body  of  Moses,  (see  Jude,  y.)  Not  the  na- 
 tural body,  b'lt  the  body  of  laws,  broken  by  the  people  at  the  tempter's 
 instigation,  who  now  comes  forward  to  accuse  them.— Clurke.  2.  And 
 the  Lnrd  said,  f,-c..  tlie  Logos,  or  Son  of  God,  said  unto  Satan,  '  The 
 Lord,*  even  God  the  Father,  'rebuke  thee,'  and  not  suffer  thy  mis- 
 chievous imagination  against  Jerusalem  and  the  temple  to  prosper.— 
 PreO.  Lowth.  A  brand,  ^c,  '  half  burnt  with  long  lying  in  the  fire  of 
 affliction.'— Pooie.    Out  of  the  furnace  of  Babylon.— .5;;.  Hall.     The 
 
 Ji'vvs  were  nearly  destroyed  because  of  their  sins. — A.  Clarke.  3.  FilUty 
 (garments,  having  fallen  into  sin,  the  Jews  say,  by  marrying  strange 
 wives,  (Ezra,  x.  IS. J — Gill.  A  mean,  dirty,  and  tattertdgarb  is  meant. 
 — Poole.  Tlic  rags  of  his  captivity. — Bp.  Hull.  The  Jewish  people, 
 whom  he  represented,  were,  to  all  appearance,  in  a  most  forlorn, 
 despicable  condition.  The  priesthtxitl  was  also  defiled  by  idolatry. — 
 Clarke.  The  emblem  was  that  of  a  poororsinful  state,  or  both. — Poole. 
 4.  Take  away  t/te  Jilthy  garments  —  the  priest's  garments  were  not 
 washed,  but  new  ones  were  supplied,  and  the  old  ones  were  used  for 
 wicks. — So  Maimon.,  see  Gill.  The  Jews  wore  sackcloth  in  times  of 
 public  calamity ;  probably  the  filthy  garments  refer  to  this.  '  Let  their 
 clothing  be  changed  ;  I  have  turned  again  their  captivity.'  5.  A  fair 
 mitre,  the  high  priest's  bonnet,  (see  Exod.  xxviii.  4,  &c.)  This  signified 
 the  renewal  of  the  high  priesthood,  which  had  been  defiled  and  profaned 
 before.  7.  Places,  'mansions  in  an  eternal  glory.'— C/urAe.      To 
 
 walk  among  these, '  hereafter  I  will  give  thee  a  place  in  heaven,  among 
 these  angeis,  my  attendants.' — Prel>.  Lowth,  so  Bp.  Hall.  S.  Thy  fel- 
 lows, '  thy  associates  in  the  priestly  office.' — Poole,  Bla.  '  Thy  country- 
 men.* jilen  wondered  at,  returned  from  captivity  in  a  wonderful  man- 
 ner.—C/ni-Are.  They  are  typical  men,  that  foreshew  something  to  come. 
 —  Chandler.  They  are  a  figure  of  the  restoration  of  the  church  under 
 tlie  Messiah. — Preb.  Lowth.  The  Branch,  'Zerubbabel,'  so  called  be- 
 cause he  was  the  grandson  of  Jehoiakim,  or  Jeconiah,  king  of  Jndah, 
 fMatt.  i.  12.)  and  heir  to  the  thrc-ne  of  Judah. — Newc.  The  word  can 
 only  apply  to  Zerubbabel  as  a  type  of  Christ. — Clarke.  Zerubbabel  had 
 already  existed,  and  had  done  so,  both  as  man  and  governor,  for  some 
 years  ;  how  could  he  then  be  the  person  of  whom  God  promises,  '  Be- 
 hold, I  biing  forth,'  Stc.  ?  (see  Jer.  xxiu.  .'i.)  What  is  said  agrees  to  no 
 other  besides  our  Lord,  (see  chap.  vi.  I2.) — Bonthr.  Under  the  figure 
 ot  a  branch  sprouting  from  the  tree,  tlie  Messiah  has  been  repeatedly 
 presented  to  us  ;  probably  to  intimate  his  being  the  promised  descendant 
 of  the  family  of  David,  (see  Isa.  iv.  2  ;  xi.  1 :  Jer.  xxiii.  5  ;  Zeeh.  vi.  12.) 
 Jobhua  and  his  a.ssociates  are  here  encouraged  under  their  difficulties, 
 with  the  assurance  that  this  long-promised  priest  and  ruler  should 
 spring  up  in  the  appointed  time. — So  Pye  S7nith ;  see  Sfonard.  '  1  will 
 bring  forth  my  servant  the  Messiah,'  Chald.  Q.  Behold  the  stone, 
 ^■c,  alluding,  no  doubt,  to  the  foundation-stone  of  the  temple,  but  this 
 represented  Christ  Jesus,  (Isa.  xxviii.  i6;)  on  him  the  whole  church 
 rests. — Clarke.  Upon  one  stone  shall  he  scveJi  eyes,  perhaps  the  head- 
 stone, the  eyes  intending  God's  providence,  under  whose  superin- 
 tendence the  work  would  be  conducted  and  com|deted. — Newc.  'I'lie 
 eye  is  the  emblem  of  providence  ;  the  number  seven  denotes  perfection. 
 — Stokes.  'As  it  is  usual  to  adorn  the  principal  stones  of  a  building 
 with  carvings  and  hieroglyphics,  so  I  will  perform  in  reality  what  artists 
 do  in  imagery.    I  will  appoint  seven  angels  of  the  highest  orders  to 
 
 Reflections  on  Ciup.  II.  _  This  chapter  shews  us, 
 1.  God's  care  of  his  church.  He  encircles  them  as  a  wall  of 
 hre,  so  that  no  devouring  adversaries  can  approach  them. 
 He  accounts  them  precious  as  the  apple  of  his  eye,— the  most 
 sensible  part  of  the  humau  frame.  He  will  shake  his  hand 
 iJ7-2 
 
 at  and  punish  ihetr  enemies. 
 
 II.  Gud's  prrsence  with  his  church.  And  '  if  he  dwells  in  our 
 churches  and  our  houses,  we  have  the  best  security  and  tii« 
 truest  glory;  if  he  dwells  in  our  hearts  by  his  Spirit,  we  have 
 a  solid  foundation  of  joy,  and  ou-^ht  to  abound  in  his  praise. ''' 
 
liy  the  golden  candlestick  is  forcshcrvn 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  IV. 
 
 the  success  of  Zei'ubbabeVs  foundation. 
 
 Josliua ;  ^upon  one  stone  skull  be  "^  seven 
 eyes :  behold,  I  will  engrave  the  graving  there- 
 of, saith  the  Lord  of  host?,  and  M  will  remove 
 tlie  iniqnity  of  that  land  in  one  day. 
 
 10  Mn  that  day,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 shall  ye  call  every  man  his  neighbour  '  under 
 t!ie  vine  and  under  the  fig  tree. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 1  By  the  fjoldcn  candlestick  is  forcshewed  the.  good  suc- 
 
 vrss  of  ZernhbaheVs  foundation.        II  Bt/  the   two 
 
 ulii'c  trees  the  two  anointtd  ones. 
 
 A  ND  ^  the  angel  that  talked  with  me  came 
 ■^^  again,  and  waked  me,  ^  as  a  man  that  is 
 wakened  ont  of  his  sleep, 
 
 •2  And  said  unto  me.  What  seest  thou  ?  And 
 I  said,  I  have  looked,  and  behold  ''a  candle- 
 stick all  o/'gold,  f  with  a  bowl  upon  the  top 
 of  it,  *•  and  his  seven  lamps  thereon,  and  ||seven 
 pipes  to  the  seven  lamps,  which  are  upon  the 
 I'jp  thereof: 
 
 S  *^  And  two  olive  trees  by  it,  one  upon  the 
 n»ht  side  of  tlie  bowl,  and  the  other  upon  the 
 left  side  thereof. 
 
 4  So  I  answered  and  spake  to  the  angel  that 
 talked  with  me,  saving,  What  arc  these,  my 
 l-)rd? 
 
 5  Then  the  angel  that  talked  with  me  an- 
 swered and  said  unto  me,  Knowest  thou  not 
 wliat  these  be?  And  I  said,  No,  my  lord. 
 
 G  Then  he  answered  and  spake  unto  me,  say- 
 ing, This  25  the  word  of  the  Lord  unto  Zerub- 
 
 B.  C.  510. 
 
 p  I's.  IIS  ?■:;. 
 
 l".  2s.   16. 
 7  rli.  4.  III. 
 
 Kev.  5.  6 
 r  Jer   31.  SI. 
 
 &  50.  20. 
 
 niic.  7.  18, 
 
 10.  ch.  13  I. 
 <cli.  2.  U. 
 t  IKin.Vgo. 
 
 !s.  36.  16. 
 
 Mic.  1.  4. 
 
 a  ch.  2.  3. 
 6  Dau.  8.  13 
 
 Kev.  I.  12 
 t  Heb.  in/A 
 
 d  Ex    'ib   37. 
 K.;v.  4.  5. 
 
 II  Or.  sfvfi 
 irrvfral  pipes 
 to  thtUimpi, 
 
 e  vei-.  n,  12, 
 Hot.  II.  4. 
 
 .  C.  5!9 
 
 /Hos.  1.  7. 
 |)Or,flr,„v. 
 g  Jer.  bX.'th. 
 Mat.  21.21. 
 
 h  Ps   119.22, 
 i  Ezras.  11, 
 
 k  Ezra  3.  10. 
 i  Ezra  6.  12. 
 
 m  ch.  2.  P, 
 II.  tb  6.  lo. 
 
 n  Is.  \%.  10. 
 cli.  a.  8. 
 
 o  Hag  '1   3. 
 
 n  Or,  uu<:ethe 
 srven  ryps  of 
 the  LOUD 
 
 t  Heb.  tfxie 
 
 o/li.,. 
 p  L'Clir.  Ifi. 
 
 9    Pr*>    15. 
 
 a  ch,  :i  y 
 
 +  Heb   ba  tUr 
 
 han-l. 
 ll  Or,  empty 
 
 mil  iif  tlu:m- 
 
 tflvet  oil 
 
 into  Hi0 
 
 g-ld. 
 t  H(-b.  the 
 
 C'dd. 
 
 I.uke  I.  19. 
 (  Se«- Jush.3. 
 
 babel,  saying,  ^  Not  by  ||  might,  nor  by  power, 
 but  by  my  spirit,  saitli  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 7  Who  art  thou,  ^O  great  mountain  ?  before 
 Zerubbabel  thou  shalt  become  a  plain  :  and  he 
 shall  bring  forth  ^'the  headstone  thereof  '  with 
 shoutings,  crying^  Grace,  grace  unto  it. 
 
 8  Moreover  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 y  The  bands  of  Zerubbabel  ''have  laid  the 
 foundation  of  this  house;  his  hands  'shall 
 also  finish  it;  and  "'thou  shalt  know  that  the 
 "Lord  of  hosts  hath  sent  me  unto  you. 
 
 10  For  who  hath  despised  the  day  of  "small 
 things?  II  for  they  shall  rejoice,  and  shall  see 
 the  f  plummet  in  the  hand  of  Zerubbabel  with 
 those  seven  ;  ^  they  are  the  eyes  of  tlie  Lord, 
 which  run  to  and  fro  through  the  whole  earth. 
 
 i  I  1i  Then  answered  I,  and  said  unto  him. 
 What  are  these  ''  two  olive  trees  upon  t!ie  right 
 side  of  the  candlestick  and  upon  the  left  side 
 thereof y 
 
 VI  And  I  answered  again,  and  said  unto  him. 
 What  be  these  two  olive  branches  which 
 ■f  through  the  two  golden  pipes  ||  empty  f  the 
 golden  oil  out  of  themselves  "r* 
 
 13  And  he  answered  me  and  said,  Knowest 
 thou  not  what  these  be  f  And  I  said.  No,  my 
 lord. 
 
 14  Then  said  he,  ""These  arc  the  two  f  anoint- 
 ed ones,  "  that  stand  by  '  the  Lord  of  the  whole 
 earth. 
 
 attend  upon  the  Messiah,  represented  by  this  corner  stone,  to  execute 
 his  commands  in  every  part  of  the  earth,  for  the  good  of  his  church.' — 
 — Preb.  Lotrfh.  There  may  be  an  allusion  to  the  seven  counsellors 
 which  stiioil  aKvajs  about  the  persons  of  the  Asiatic  sovereigns;  and 
 the  governors  of  the  jirovinces  were  termed  *  the  eyes  of  the  king;*  (see 
 an  allusion  in  Rev.  i.  4. J  In  Christ  there  is  a  plenitude  of  wisdom  to 
 direct,  power,  goodness,  mercy,  truth,  love,  and  compassion.  /  tviU 
 engytii-e.  §■(?.,  an  allusion  to  engraving  precious  stones,  in  which  the 
 ancients  greatly  excelled. — Clarke,  An  allusinn  might  here  be  made 
 to  some  corner  stone  of  the  temple,  on  which  the  names  of  the  tribes 
 of  Israel  were  perhaps  engraven. — Scott. 
 
 *  From  out  of  one  stone  shall  be  seven  fountains : 
 Behuht,  I  will  open  the  orifice  thereof,'  Sac^Boothr.,  as  Dathe. 
 
 This  intimated  that  all  things  should  succeed,  and  there  should  be 
 great  fertility.— I»'(///p.  It  intimates  that  Jehovah  gave  his  son,  and 
 smote  and  afflicted  him  for  the  offences  of  raen  ;  so  that,  in  this  view, 
 be  removed  the  iniquity  of  that  land  in  one  day. — Boothr.  The  one 
 dap,  may  signify  Uiat  on  which  Christ  died,  to  put  away  sin  by  the 
 sacrifice  of  himself.  10.  Shall  pe  call  evert/  man  Ms  neighbour,  ^c, 
 shewing  the  peace  and  security  of  those  happy  days.— J5/a.  Under  the 
 vine — see  Mic.  iv.  4. 
 
 CH.AP.  IV.—  1.  yVakfd  ni^— the  prophet  seems  to  have  been  plunged 
 in  a  deep  reverie,  musing  on  what  he  had  seen. — Bla,  2.  A  bowl,  to 
 supply  the  lamps. — Xeicc.  3.  Two  olive  trees,  which,  in  a  secret  im- 
 perceptible manner,  conveyed  oil  for  supplying  the  lamps,  (see  ver.  6.) 
 —  Prel/.  Lowfh.  6.  Not  b>j  might,  ^t-.— the  building  of  the  temple, 
 and  more  especially  of  the  Christian  church,  should  not  be  effected  by 
 secular  power,  but  by  Divine  agency.— Il'tV.  The  first  edict  of  Cyrus 
 was  procured  by  the  secret  operation  of  God  on  his  mind  ;  Darius  and 
 
 Artaxerxes  would  be  influenced  in  the  same  manner  to  favour  them  ; 
 but  especially  the  instruments  employed  would  not  be  invested  witti 
 extensive  authority  or  great  power;  bat  with  the  Spirit  of  God,  ren- 
 dt-ring  them  eminent  fur  wiisdom,  holiness,  faith,  and  zeal.  —  Scott. 
 ~ .  O  grent  vuntnfnin,  ^r.,  the  hindrances  which  were  thrown  in  the 
 way;  the  regal  prohibition  to  discontinue  the  building  of  the  temple. 
 — A.  Clarke.  Removing  and  levelling  mountains  are  proverbial  es- 
 pic-ssions  to  denote  the  overcoming  of  the  greatest  difficulties,  (see  Isa. 
 Xl.  4  ;  Matt.  xxi.  21.)— Prei.  Lotcfh.  10.  The  day  of  small  things,  the 
 poverty,  weakness,  and  unbefiicuded  state  of  the  Jews. — A.  Clarke. 
 The  plummet,  which  is  used  to  try,  after  the  stone  is  laid,  whether  it 
 be  in  its  just  position. — Bla.  With  those  seven,  namely,  the  eyes  of  the 
 Lord,  mentioned  chap.  iii.  Q.—  Wil.  The  ^efer^;nce  here  is  either  to 
 God's  especial  providence,  or  to  those  ministering  spirits  he  employed 
 in  behalf  of  the  Jews.— Clarke.  11.  Two  olive  trees,  nieanmg,  pro- 
 bably, the  two  dispensations  of  the  law  and  the  gospel,  under  which 
 were  commnuicated  the  precious  oracles  of  Divine  truth  which  illumi- 
 nate the  soul.— So  Bla.  The  candlestick,  or  lamp-bearer,  somewhat 
 resembhng  that  in  the  tabernacle,  (Exod.  xxv.3i.)— rri7.  The  golden 
 candlestick  was  the  Jewish  state,  both  civil  and  relifrious.- AV'fC.  It 
 represented  the  temple  which  was  then  erecting  ;  and  as  the  chandelier 
 was  supplied  with  oil  without  the  labour  of  men,  so  the  temple  should 
 be  completed  by  Divine  power,  especially  the  spiritual  temple. — Boothr. 
 12.  Pipes,  or  'spouts,' — Bla.  Golden  oil,  represents  tlie  influences  of 
 the  Spirit  of  God,  contradistinguished  from  human  efforts,  and  with 
 which  the  lamps  are  supplied. — So  Neivc.  14.  Tuu  anointed  ones, 
 
 Zerubbabel  and  Joshua,  who  presided  over  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
 affairs  of  the  Jews, — Newc. ;  and  who  were  appointed,  q^ualified,  and 
 enabled  to  execute  their  arduous  task. —  WH.  By  the  Lord,  *  before  the 
 Lord.'— P;-e6.  Lowth. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  I.  It  is  a  lamentable  truth 
 that  even  the  best  of  men  are  polluted,  iiut  while  the  adversary 
 lays  Lis  accusations  against  the  servants  of  God,  they  have  an 
 intercessor  whom  the  Father  heareth  always  ;  and  though 
 their  garments  be  spotted,  he  can  clothe  them  in  fine  linen, 
 clean  and  white,  so  that  they  may  appear  before  God  accepted 
 in  the  garments  of  salvation. 
 
 II.  We  may  rejoice  that  Christ  is  a  foundation  siotie,  on  which 
 the  chi/rch  7nay  rest  in  safety.  Here  let  us  build  our  hopes,  and 
 we  shall  never  be  ashamed  nor  confounded,  world  without 
 end. 
 
 liFriECTtoNS  ON  Chap.  IV.  — Three  passages  in  this 
 chapter  may  be  sufficient  for  our  present  reflections — I.  The 
 first  relates  to  the  Spirit's  influences.  *  Not  by  might,  nor  by 
 power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.'  And  this 
 may  remind  us  of  the  way  in  which  we  may  successfully  favour 
 the  work  of  reliction  in  our  own  souls,  so  that  we  may  become 
 ihe  continual  habitation  of  God^it  is  *  through  the  Spirit. 
 And  if,  too,  we  would  successfully  carry  on  any  work  for  the 
 cnlargins  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  the  world,  we  must  look  to 
 973 
 
 that  same  source  for  help.  He  has  all  hearts  in  his  band,  and 
 all  agencies  under  his  control.  He  can  inflame  the  zeal  of 
 his  people,  and  inspire  those  prayers,  and  bestow  those  quali- 
 fications, which  shall  ensure  the  accomplishment  of  the  most 
 mighty  objects.  To  this  Spirit,  then,  let  us  often  look,  re- 
 membering that  it  is  from  Him  that '  all  good  counsels,  all  holy 
 desires,  and  all  just  works  do  proceed.' 
 
 II.  I'he  second  passage  relates  to  the  ohstructions  to  the  work 
 of  God,  '  \Vho  art  thou,  great  mountain?  Before  Zerub- 
 babel thou  shalt  become  a  plain.'  This  proverbial  expression 
 may  encourage  us  when  we  think  un  the  diflicullies  in  the 
 Christian's  life.  ]5ut  notwithstanding  the  opposition  of  the 
 world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil,  the  living  temple  shall  be 
 erected,  which  shall  be  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  Divine 
 grace  through  all  eternity.  The  edifice  may  be  carried  on  as 
 with  trowel  and  sword,  but — 
 
 *  Tlie  feeblest  saint  shall  win  the  day. 
 Though  death  and  hell  obstruct  the  way.' 
 
 And  III',  to  whom  belongs  all  the  glory  of  our  salvation,  shall 
 
The  curst  of  thieves  and  swearers. 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  V. 
 
 Babylon's  ruin. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  Bij  titeflyincf  roU  is  shewed  the  curse  of  thieves  and 
 swearers.  5  By  a  tviuitan  pressed  in  an  ephahy  the 
 final  damnation  of  Babr/loti. 
 
 THEN  I  turned,  and  lifted  up  mine  eyes, 
 and  looked,  and  behold  a  flying  "  roll. 
 
 ■2  And  he  said  unto  nie,  What  seest  thou  ? 
 And  I  answered,  I  see  a  flying  roll ;  the  length 
 thereof  is  twenty  cubits,  and  the  breadth  there- 
 of ten  cubits. 
 
 ,3  Then  said  he  unto  me.  This  is  the  ''  curse 
 that  goeth  fortli  over  the  face  of  the  whole 
 earth  :  for  ||  every  one  that  stealeth  shall  be 
 cut  off  as  on  this  side  according  to  it  ;  and 
 every  one  that  sweareth  shall  be  cut  off  as  on 
 that  side  according  to  it. 
 
 4  I  will  bring  it  forth,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 and  it  shall  enter  into  tlie  house  of  the  thief, 
 and  into  the  house  of  "  him  that  sweareth  false- 
 ly l)y  my  name  :  and  it  shall  remain  in  the 
 midst  of  his  house,  and  ■'  shall  consume  it  with 
 the  timber  thereof  and  the  stones  thereof. 
 
 I  Or,  every 
 o.^  0/lhU 
 people  Hint 
 sttaUth  hold- 
 fllt  liimself 
 friiillUtt,  at 
 it  doth. 
 
 Lev.  I!).  12 
 ch.  8.  17. 
 Mai.  3.  5. 
 
 e  .Ter,  2fl   5. 
 /Gen.  10.10. 
 
 5  t  Then  the  angel  tliat  talked  with  me  went 
 forth,  and  said  unto  me.  Lift  up  now  thine  eyes, 
 and  see  what  is  thi.s  that  goeth  forth. 
 
 6  And  I  said.  What  is  it?  And  he  said, 
 This  is  an  ephah  that  goeth  forth.  He  said 
 moreover.  This  is  their  resemblance  through 
 all  the  earth. 
 
 7  And,  behold,  there  was  lifted  up  a  |{  talent 
 of  lead  :  and  this  is  a  woman  that  sitteth  in 
 the  midst  of  the  ephah. 
 
 8  And  he  said.  This  is  wickedness.  And  he 
 cast  it  into  tiie  midst  of  the  ephah  :  and  he  cast 
 the  vveijj;ht  of  lead  upon  the  mouth  thereof. 
 
 9  Then  lifted  I  up  mine  eyes,  and  looked, 
 and,  behold,  there  came  out  two  women,  and 
 the  wind  iras  in  their  wings ;  for  they  had 
 wings  like  tlie  wings  of  a  stork  :  and  they  lifted 
 up  the  epliali  between  the  earth  and  the  heaven. 
 
 10  Then  said  I  to  the  angel  that  talked  witli 
 me,  Whither  do  these  bear  tlie  ephah? 
 
 1 1  And  he  said  unto  me,  To  '^  build  it  an 
 house  in  ^  the  laud  of  Shinar :  and   it  shall  he 
 
 i established,  and  set  there  upon  her  own  base. 
 
 Chap.  V. —  \.  And  lnoked,  this  v!R<i  the  sL\th  vision. — Bla.  2.  A 
 fiying  roll— the  ancient  way  of  writing:  was  upon  long:  scrolls  of  parch- 
 ment. These  were  usually  longer  than  they  were  broad;  so  this  is 
 represented  as  ten  yards  in  length  and  five  in  breadth.  3.   Whnle 
 
 rnrth,  '  whole  land' of  Judah.  The  roll  contained  the  corses — judg- 
 ments—denounced against  the  Jews,  who  were  guilty  of  the  sins  here 
 Fpecified. — Preb.  Lowfh.  Steatefh — s^vef^yt•th — these  two  ^ins  much 
 prevailed  among;  the  Jews  at  the  time  Christ  was  upon  the  earth,  (read 
 Matt,  xxiii.  14;  Rom.  ii.  21  ;  Luke,  xi.  52;  John,  x.  8,  10;  Matt.  v. 
 33—36.  and  xxiii.  16—22.1 — GUI.  Anmng  the  Hebrews,  Vheft  included 
 every  kind  of  violence  and  injustice  against  men,  and  false  swearing 
 all  crimes  against  God. — So  Cal.  Thin  side— that  side—the  scmH  was 
 written  on  both  sides,  as  the  roll  mentioned  Ezck.  ii.  10.  t.  Enter 
 
 into  the  fiouse,  take  hold  of  the  man  and  his  family,  and  never  leave 
 them  till  they  are  utterly  consumed.  Be  like  the  leprosy  in  a  hfusc, 
 which  required  its  being  pulled  down,  (see  Lev.  xiv.  45.) — Prvh.  Lowth. 
 This  may  be  considered  as  a  republication  of  the  curses  in  Deut.  xxvii., 
 xxviii. — Newc.  5.   Goeth  forth,  '  is  now  represented  unto  thee.' — 
 
 Bp.  Hall.  6.  An  ephnh,  a  measure  much  in  use  with  the  Jews,  (Exod. 
 xvi.  36  ;  Lev.  xix.  36  ;  Ruth,  ii.  \7.)—GiH.  This  resembled  niir  bushel 
 in  figure,  though  not  in  size. —  Wells.  It  held  about  seven  wine  gal- 
 lons.—  Gill.  Their  resemblance  thmngh  all  the  earth, '  thrnugh  all  the 
 land.'  By  this  yon  may  make  an  estimate  of  their  unjust  dealings  all 
 the  land  over,  fcomp.  chap.  v.  3,  4.1  An  ephah,  being  the  dry  measure 
 among  the  Jews,  denotes  their  unjust  dealings  in  buying  and  selling, 
 (see  Amos,  viii,  5.)— Preb.  Lowth.  7-  A  talent  of  lead,  125  pounds 
 
 weight. — Epip/ianius  de  Mensuris  et  Ponderibns.  And  this  is  a  woman, 
 ^c,  '  and  behold  a  woman  sat,'  &c.,  Sept.,  Vttlg.,  Arab.-,  these  ver- 
 sions are  adopted  by  Newc.  and  Boothr.  8.  This  is  wickedness,  re- 
 presents the  sinful  nation  of  the  Jews. — Ponle.  And  he  cast  it,  '  and 
 he  cast  her  within,'  caused  her  to  contract  herself  within  the  compass 
 of  the  vessel. — Newc.  This  seems  to  denote  some  restraint  on  sinners, 
 that  they  may  not  be  able  to  go  all  the  lengths  they  would.  Cast  the 
 weight  of  lead,  fyc. — This  was  done  to  keep  the  woman  within  the  ephah, 
 and  press  her  down  there,  and  intends  the  judgment  of  God  upon  sin- 
 
 ners, shewing  that  there  is  no  escaping  Divine  vengeance,  and  that  it 
 falls  heavy  where  it  lights. — Gill.  Q.  Came  out,  '  went  forth.* — Newc. 
 Two  women,  fyc,  may  signify  Assyria  and  Babylon.  Empires  and  king- 
 doms are  sometimes  described  as  having  wings,  to  denote  the  swiftness 
 of  their  conquests,  (see  Deut.  xxviii.  49;  Jer.  xlix.  22  ;  Hos.  viii.  1.) — 
 Pr/'b.  Louth.  Wings  like  the  wings  of  a  stork,  large  and  strong,  flying 
 before  the  wind  with  great  swiftness;  so  should  Divine  vengeance 
 swiftly  follow,  and  certainly  overtake  the  Jewish  nation,  when,  after 
 their  return  out  of  captivity,  they  shall  corrupt  themselves  and  fill  up 
 the  measure  of  their  sins.  Lifted  up  the  ephah,  a  secret  intiniation  of 
 a  future  deportation  or  carrying  the  Jews  into  captivity  again  for  sin. 
 —  Poole.  U.  hi  the  land  o/ .S/i(7i«r,  that  is,  in  the  province  of  Ba- 
 
 bylon ;  for  Babel,  or  Babylon,  was  in  the  land  of  Shinar,  (Gen.  x.  10, 
 and  xi.  2,)  whither  the  Jews  were  carried  captive,  (Dan.  i.  2  ;  Isa.  xi. 
 n . )  The  bearing  the  ephah  thither  may  denote  the  cause  of  their  cap- 
 tivity, the  measure  of  sins  filled  up  by  them. — Gill.  The  building  the 
 house  for  the  woman  imprisoned,  may  signify  that  there  should  be  a 
 long  captivity  under  the  Romans,  which  may  be  intended  by  Shinar, 
 as  Rome  is  by  Babylon.  The  house  remains  to  the  present  day  ;  the 
 Jewish  woman  is  still  in  the  ephah  j  it  is  set  on  its  own  base,  continues 
 still  as  a  distinct  nation,  and  the  talent  of  lead,  God's  displeasure,  is 
 still  on  the  top.— n«rA-f;  alike  view  is  taken  hy  Hutc,  ami  others. 
 To  this  interpretation  there  is  an  objection  :  Rome  is  called  Babylon  in 
 the  New  Testament,  but  we  are  not  aware  it  is  so  called  in  the  Old,  or 
 during  the  existence  of  the  ancient  Babylon  ;  nor  can  we  persuade  our- 
 selves that  the  predictions  of  this  chapter  have  any  reference  to  Europe. 
 — Stonard.  The  design  of  the  vision  is  to  instruct  the  Jews,  that  as 
 their  fathers  were  carrietl  into  a  seventy-years' caiitivity  to  Babylon, 
 BO,  if  their  posterity  should  not  take  warning  by  their  punishment,  a 
 worse  captivity  should  befal  them.— -Prei.  Lowth.  The  interpretation 
 of  r«/)W/«s  is  different :  bethinks  it  signifies  that  God  treads  on  the 
 neck  of  wickedness,  and  restrains  it  from  expatiating ;  and  that  ver.  9, 
 10,  and  11,  signify  that  God  was  propitious  to  the  Jews,  and  transfer- 
 red the  punishment  of  iniquity  to  the  Babylonians,  whom  the  weight 
 of  the  Divine  vengeance  should  ever  depress. 
 
 bring  forth  the  head-stone  of  the  building  *  with  shoutings  of 
 Grace,  grace,  unto  it.'  In  like  manner  shall  all  those  obstruc- 
 tions be  overcome  which  relate  to  the  progress  of  an  universal 
 temple  to  the  Lord.  No  corrupted  Christianity — no  pagan 
 idolatry — no  Mahometan  prejudices — no  philosophical  scep- 
 ticism— no  Jewish  unbelief,  shall  impede  the  rising  of  that 
 great  and  glorious  superstrnclure  which  God  is  erecting  in  the 
 world.  It  must  rise,  and  the  whole  earth  shall  be  filled  with 
 his  glory. 
 
 III.  Tiie  third  passage  relates  to  the  success  of  the  most  feeUe 
 instruments  and  the  most  feeble  endeavours.  '  For  who  hath  de- 
 spised the  day  of  small  things  V  God  has  not  despised  them. 
 lie  looks  with  a  gracious  eye  on  the  most  insignihcant  of  the 
 human  race,  who  is  *  of  a  humble  and  contrite  spirit,'  and 
 trembles  at  his  word.  Of  oar  merciful  Saviour  it  is  said — 
 *  The  bruised  reed  he  will  not  break,  the  smoking  flas  be  will 
 not  quench.'  The  spark  of  grace,  floating  upon  the  stormy 
 ocean,  and  threatened  every  moment  with  extinction,  he  is 
 able  to  kindle  into  a  tiame.  Only  let  us  fix  the  eye  of  faith 
 on  Christ,  and,  looking  to  the  influences  of  his  gracious  Spirit, 
 the  small  beginning  sliall  have  a  majestic  end.  *  He  that  hath 
 begun  the  good  work  in  us,  will  perform  it  until  the  day  ot 
 Jesus  Christ.' — Let  the  same  encouraging  portion  stimulate 
 us  in  the  performance  of  every  good  work.  *  The  little  one 
 shall  become  a  thousand,  and  the  small  one  a  strong  nation.' 
 There  was  a  time  when  the  first  Sunday-school  was  instituted  ; 
 now,  Sunday-schools  cover  the  land.  There  was  a  time,  not 
 974 
 
 far  remote  ni  the  history  of  the  world,  when  the  first  Bible  was 
 printed  ;  now,  Bibles,  in  thousands,  are  distributed  among  all 
 nations.  There  was  a  time  when  the  first  mis.^ionary  was  sent 
 forth;  but  now  the  heavenly  messengers  spread  in  large  num- 
 bers over  the  whole  earth  ;  and  thus  the  handful  of  corn  on  the 
 mountain  tops  shall  produce  its  fruits,  which  shall  shake  like 
 Lebanon.  *  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God,  the  God  of  Israel,  who 
 only  doeth  wondrous  things.  And  blessed  he  his  glorious 
 name  for  ever ;  and  let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  his  glory. 
 Amen,  and  amen.* 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  I.  '  M'e  have  reason  to  Inimtit 
 the  prevaltncy  of  stealing  and  swearing^,  the  sins  here  mentioned, 
 among  vs.  There  are  innumerable  methods  of  fraud  and 
 deceit  daily  practised,  wliich  are  hardly  reckoned  criminal, 
 because  they  are  customary  ;  but  we  here  see  in  wliat  ii^ht 
 God  considers  these  vices.'  *  If  we  desire  that  our  hnusi's 
 should  be  established,  let  us  put  away  iniquity  from  them, 
 for  the  curse  of  the  Lord  is  in  the  house  of  the  wicked,  but  he 
 will  establish  the  habitation  of  the  just.' 
 
 II.  'See  how  God  is  cspceial/t/  displeased  with  the  sins  of  a 
 hie/ hi //-favoured  nation.  They  are  filling  up  the  measure  of 
 their  guilt;  and  when  it  is  full,  the  righteousness  of  God,  :i3 
 the  Governor  of  the  world,  requires  that  he  should  punish 
 them.  By  righteousness  alone  is  a  nation  established,  and 
 public  virtue  will  be  the  best  security  of  public  happiness. 
 Alay  we  never  forget  this  truth,  which  God's  prophets  and 
 dispensations  join  to  inculcate,  that  "  righteousness  exaltelh 
 
The  vision  of  the  four  chm-iots. 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  VI.,  VII. 
 
 Christ  the  Branch. 
 
 CHAP.  VI, 
 
 1  The  vision  of  the  four  chaTJots.  9  By  the.  crowns  of 
 Joshua  are  shewed  the  temple  and  kingdom  of  Christ 
 the  Branch. 
 
 A  ND  I  turned,  and  lifted  up  mine  eyes,  and 
 -^^  looked,  and,  behold,  tliere  came  four  cha- 
 riots out  from  between  two  mountains  ;  and 
 the  mountains  tccrc  mountains  of  brass. 
 
 2  In  the  first  chariot  ivere  "red  horses  ;  and 
 in  the  second  chariot  ^  black  horses  ; 
 
 ;3  And  in  the  third  chariot  ^  white  horses ; 
 and  in  the  fourth  chariot  grisled  and  ||  bay 
 horses. 
 
 4  Then  \  answered  ^  and  said  unto  the  angel 
 that  talked  with  me.  What  are  these,  my  lord? 
 
 5  And  tlie  angel  answered  and  said  unto  me, 
 ^  These  are  the  four  ||  spirits  of  the  heavens, 
 which  go  forth  from  ''standing  before  the  Lord 
 of  all  the  earth. 
 
 G  The  black  horses  which  are  therein  go  forth 
 into  ^  the  north  country;  and  the  white  go 
 forth  after  them  ;  and  the  grisled  go  forth  to- 
 ward tlie  south  country. 
 
 7  And  the  bay  went  forth,  and  sought  to  go 
 that  they  might  ^  walk  to  and  fro  through  the 
 eartli :  and  he  said,  Get  you  hence,  walk  to 
 and  fro  tin'ough  the  earth.  So  they  walked  to 
 and  fro  through  the  earth. 
 
 8  Then  cried  he  upon  me,  and  spake  unto 
 me,  saying,  Behold,  these  that  go  toward  the 
 north  country  have  quieted  my  '  spirit  in  the 
 nortli  country. 
 
 9  t  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 me,  saying, 
 
 I    I.S. 
 
 (V.  G.  *. 
 b  Kei-.  G.  6. 
 c  Rev.  6.  2. 
 II  Or,  KfTOHg. 
 
 P9.  Mil.  ^. 
 H.-h.  1.7,11. 
 
 f\  Kill.  22. 
 10.  Dan,  7, 
 III  c-li  1  M 
 I. Ilk.;  1.  19. 
 
 S  Jer.  1.  H. 
 
 /.ncn- 13.17 
 li.  I.  10. 
 
 Ju<U-.  S.  3 
 ELclea.lO.I. 
 
 k  Ex.28.  SG. 
 &  L'9.  6. 
 Lev.  8.  9. 
 Ch.  3.  5. 
 
 /  See  Lukf 
 J.  7S.  Joliii 
 
 II   Or,  brnndi 
 Up  from  tl/i- 
 
 M  ch.  -1   9 
 Mat  16.  IFI. 
 Kph    2.  20, 
 21,  2-i. 
 Heb    3    3. 
 
 '-   Is     'l^^.'iA. 
 
 }•   Ps.  11(1.  ■>. 
 Heb.  3.  1. 
 
 r  Es.  12.  11. 
 Mark  11.  9 
 
 ■Is. 57.  19.  fc 
 m.  lu   Eph 
 ^    l:(.  19. 
 ch.  2.  9.  & 
 
 ♦.  9. 
 
 10  Take  of  tficiii  of  tlie  captivity,  evtn  of 
 Heldai,  of  Tobijah,  and  of  Jedaiah,  which  are 
 come  from  Babylon,  and  come  thou  the  same 
 day,  and  go  into  the  house  of  Josiah  the  son 
 of  Zephaniah  ; 
 
 1 1  Then  take  silver  and  gold,  and  make 
 ■'  crowns,  and  set  them  upon  the  head  of 
 Joshua  the  son  of  Josedech,  tlie  bij^di  priest; 
 
 12  And  speak  unto  him,  saying.  Thus  speak- 
 eth  the  Lord  of-  hosts,  saying.  Behold  'the 
 man  whose  name  is  The  "'BRANCH;  and 
 he  shall  ||  grow  up  out  of  his  place,  "and  he 
 shall  build  the  temple  of  tiie  Lord  : 
 
 13  Even  he  shall  build  tlie  temple  of  the 
 Lord  ;  and  he  °  shall  bear  the  glory,  and  shall 
 sit  and  rule  upon  his  throne;  and  ''lie shall  be 
 a  priest  upon  his  throne  :  and  the  counsel  of 
 peace  shall  be  between  them  both. 
 
 14  And  the  crowns  shall  be  to  Helem,  and 
 to  Tobijah,  and  to  Jedaiah,  and  to  Hen  the 
 son  of  Zephaniah,  '*  for  a  memorial  in  the 
 temple  of  the  Lord. 
 
 15  And  ""  they  that  are  far  off  shall  come  and 
 build  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  and  ^  ye  shall 
 know  that  the  Lord  of  hosts  hath  sent  me  unto 
 you.  And  this  shall  come  to  pass,  if  ye  will 
 diligently  obey  the  voice  of  the  Lord  your 
 God. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 I  The  captives  enquire  of  fas  tint/.  4  Zechariah  re- 
 proveth  their  fasting.  8  Sin  the  cause  of  their  cap- 
 tivity  . 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  the  fourth  year  of 
 '^~*-  king  Darius,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  I.  Four  chariots,  '  the  four  great  mmiarchies.'  —  Bla. 
 Mountnins  of  brusa,  may  denote  God's  firm  and  immutable  decrees,  by 
 which  he  governs  the  earth,  (Ps,  x.-cxvi.  6.) — Newc.  2.  Red  horses, 
 
 supposed  to  represent  the  Assyrian  empire;  but  as  this  was  now  de- 
 stroyed, these  are  named  only  now,  and  retire. —  Wil.  Called  red,  be- 
 cause of  the  red  clothing  of  the  soldiers. — Gilt.  May  signify  tlie  bloody 
 cruelties  of  the  Babylonish  empire,  especially  towards  the  Jews. — 
 Preb.  Lowth.  Black  horses,  seems  to  denote  the  Persian  empire. — 
 Newc.  Their  black  colour  is  expressive  of  the  sorrowful  estate  of  the 
 Jews  under  them. — Gill.  3.   White  horses,  seem  to  be  the  Mace- 
 
 donian empire. —  Wil.  White  horses  were  used  in  triumphs  in  token 
 of  victory.  These  may  point  to  the  conquests  of  Alexander,  and  his 
 mildness  and  gentleness  to  the  Jews. — Gilt.  Grisled  and  bay  horses, 
 or  '  strong  horses,'  Vulg.  These  seem  to  be  the  Roman  empire. — 
 Nfiwc.  This  description  suits  the  Roman  empire,  because  of  tlie  va- 
 riety of  forms  in  its  government. — So  Capellus.  5.  Tlie  four  spirits, 
 or  'four  winds,'  as  marg.,  (comp.  Dan.  vii.  2.)  Like  strong  winds, 
 these  chariots  rushed  violently  on,  and  produced  great  agitations  and 
 commotions  in  the  earth. — Bla.  6.  The  black  horses  fyc.  go  forth 
 
 into  the  north — to  conquer  the  Babylonians ;  often  expressed  Uy  *  the 
 north'  in  the  prophets.  The  white  go  forth  after  them,  Alexander  and 
 his  armies  go  forth  to  conquer  the  Persians.  The  gristed— toward  the 
 south,  may  denote  the  Roman  conquests  in  Egypt,  frequently  in  Scrip- 
 ture called  'the  south  country.*  The  red  horses  are  omitted;  the 
 Babylonian  empire  was  at  an  end.  —  Preb.  Lowth.  7.  The  bui/— 
 
 soififht  to  go,  Sfc,  the  restless  ambition  of  the  Romans  is  here  described. 
 — Bin.  8.  Quieted  my  spirit,  tlie  Persians,  by  conquering  the  Baby- 
 lonians, liave  appeased  my  wrath.  —  Preb.  Lowth.  These  chariots 
 may  mean,  (i.)  the  various  changes  made  by  wars  in  the  nations. 
 (ii.)  The  four  monarchies,  {iii.}  The  four  gospels,  with  the  apostles 
 and  preachers,  (i^-)  Angels,  sometimes  styled  chariots  of  God.  great 
 ministers  and  servants  of  Christ  in  the  church.  All  might  fairly  be  in- 
 terwoven into  one  web,  in  which  angels,  as  employed  in  the  affairs  of 
 church  and  empire,  act  their  part  in  the  revolutions  and  changes  of 
 things. — Poole.  10.  Take  of  them  of  the  captivity,  ^c,  'take  of  those 
 of  the  captivity,  from  the  families  of  Heldai,'  &c.  '  Besides  Heldai, 
 Tobijah  and  Jedaiah,  take  some  of  their  sons,  and  go  to  the  house  of 
 Josiah,'  Ike.  This  man  was  probably  a  worker  in  gold  and  silver. — 
 Boolhr.     '  Take  gold  and  silver  of  those  that  are  come  out  of  Babylon 
 
 lately,  to  make  their  oblations  to  the  Lord  ;'  or,  to  bring  the  oblation  of 
 them  who  were  yet  in  Babylun,  but  remembered  Jerusalem  and  the 
 temple.— Poole.     .See  Ezra,  vii.  l6;   viii.  25,  26.  ll.  Make  crowns, 
 
 and  set  them  upon  the  head  of  Joshua — Joshua,  it  is  well  known,  means, 
 in  Hebrew,  a  Savinur,  as  Jesus  dnes  in  Greek. —  Wil.  A  i)late  or  crown 
 of  gold  was  an  ornament  placed  upon  the  mitre  of  tlie  high  priest,  (sec 
 E.xod.  xxviii.  36  j  xxix.  6:  Lev.  viii.  9.)  Two  such  crowns  are  here 
 ordered  to  be  made,  and  to  be  placed  upon  the  head  of  Joshua,  to  sig- 
 nify that  the  Messiah,  '  the  Branch,'  spoken  of  in  the  next  verse,  of 
 whom  Joshua  was  a  type,  should  be  both  a  king  and  a  priest,  and  have 
 a  right  to  wear  the  crown  of  hoth.—Preb.  Lowth.  12.  The  Branch  ; 
 and  he  shall,  ^c,  'even  he  shall,'  so  the  versions.  By  this  reading, 
 Joshua  is  not  called  the  Branch;  but,  on  putting  the  crown  on  his 
 head,  the  prophet  foretels  the  coming  of  Messiah,  whom  former  pro- 
 phets had  repret.ented  as  a  branch  from  the  root  of  David. — Boothr. 
 He  sfiall  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  the  church  of  Christ  is  expressly 
 called  'the  temple  of  God,'  1  Cor.  iii.  l6;  2Cor.  vi.  16.  'A  spiritual 
 hiiuse,'  1  Pet.  ii.  6,  &c.  13.  Shall  Lear  the  glory,  the  honour  and 
 authority  behuiging  to  a  sovereign  or  chief  ruler. — Bla.  The  glory  of 
 all  his  regal  and  mediatorial  throne.  He  shall  receive  the  glory  and 
 the  worship  of  heaven  and  earth.  He  shall  be  a  jiriest  upon  his  throne, 
 — see  the  luminous  comment  of  St.  Paul,  (Heb.  v.) — Sul.  The  counsel 
 of  peace  shall  be  betwee?i  them  both,  the  kingdom  and  priesthood  being 
 united  in  the  same  person,  there  shall  be  no  clashing  of  jurisdiction  be- 
 tween the  two  offices. — Preb.  Loivth.  The  counsel  of  peace,  the  pur- 
 pose to  establish  peace  between  heaven  and  earth,  must  be  between 
 the  Father  and  the  Son. — .-1.  Clarke,  14.  The  crowns  shall  be  to 
 Helem,  the  same  with  Heldai,  (ver.  10.) — Gill.  Helem  is  plainly  a 
 corrupt  reading. — A'^ewc.  A  variety  of  names  often  belonged  to  the 
 same  person. — Preb.  Lowth.  And  to  Tobijah  and  to  Jedaiah,  these 
 were  laid  up  for  a  memorial  of  the  liberality  and  generosity  of  those 
 men.— GiV/.  15.  They  that  are  far  off,  ^c,  a  plain  prediction  of  the 
 coming  in  of  the  Gentiles,  (Eph.  ii.  13.)  Build — constitute  a  part  of 
 the  Christian  church. — Bla.  And  this  shall  come  topafis  if  yeu'ill  dili. 
 gently,  §c.,  not  that  the  fulfilment  of  the  above  predictions  depended 
 upon  their  obedience,  but  when  they  should  in  the  latter  day  obey  the 
 gospel  of  Christ,  then  this  would  come  to  pass. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.    VH.  —  1.  Jn  the  fourth  year  of  king  Darius,   near  two  years 
 after  the  foundation  of  the  temple  was  laid,  (Hag.  ii.  10,  18,)  and  near 
 
 a  nation,  but  that  sia  is  a  reproach  to,  and  tends  to  the  ruin  of, 
 any  person."  *b 
 
 Rf.flfctions  on  Chap.  VI.  —  I.  God's  cause  shall  be 
 avenged  even  by  his  enemies.  In  his  immutable  decrees,  *  the 
 wrath  of  man  shall  praise  him.'  The  messengers  of  earth  and 
 heaven  shall  alike  fulfil  his  pleasure. 
 
 II.  G'Hi's  cause  shall  be  supported  by  his  friends.     '  The  silver 
 and  gold  are  the  Lord's,'  and  these  they  will  not  fail  to  bestow 
 where  it  is  in  their  power  to  give;  while  God  will  graciously 
 remember  ilseir  works  of  faith  and  their  labours  of  love. 
 975 
 
 III.  God's  cause  shall  be  honoured  by  the  Mtdiator.  All  the 
 purposes  of  eternallove  and  mercy  shall  be  accomplished  in 
 him.  To  him  belong  dominion  and  glory,  and  on  his  head 
 are  many  crowns.  *  He,'  the  Branch  of  the  house  of  David, 
 'shall  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  bear  the 
 glory,  and  shall  sit  and  rule  upon  his  throne.*  And  when  all 
 the  great  events  of  his  mediatorial  kingdom  shall  have  received 
 their  consummation,  then  shall  the  kingdom  be  delivered  up 
 to  God,  even  the  Father,  and  God  '  shall  be  all  in  all.' 
 
Hyporrtsi^  injfists  reproved. 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  VIII. 
 
 Jerusalc)n''s  restoration. 
 
 came  unto  Zechariah  in  the  fourth  day  of  tiie 
 ninth  month,  even  m  Chisleu  ; 
 
 2  When  they  had  sent  unto  the  house  of 
 God  Sherezer  and  Regem-nielech,  and  their 
 men,  f  to  pray  before  the  Lord, 
 
 3  And  to^  speak  unto  the  priests  which  were 
 in  the  house  of  tlie  Lord  of  hosts,  and  to  the 
 prophets,  saying,  Shoxdd  I  weep  in  ^  the  fifth 
 month,  separating  myself,  as  1  have  done  these 
 so  many  years? 
 
 4  ^  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  of 
 hosts  unto  me,  saying, 
 
 5  Speak  unto  all  the  people  of  the  land,  and 
 to  the  priests,  saying,  When  ye  "^  fasted  and 
 mourned  in  the  fifth '^  and  seven  tli?H^n^/i/  even 
 those  seventy  years,  did  ye  at  all  fast  'unto 
 me,  even  to  me  ? 
 
 0  And  when  ye  did  eat,  and  when  ye  did 
 drink,  ||  did  not  ye  eat  for  yourselves,  and 
 drink /b;-  yourselves  f 
 
 7  II  Should  ye  not  hear  the  words  which  the 
 Lord  hath  cried  f  by  the  former  prophets, 
 when  Jerusalem  was  inhabited  and  in  prospe- 
 rity, and  the  cities  tliereof  round  about  her, 
 when  7nen  inhabited  ^  the  south  and  the  plain  ? 
 
 8  IT  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  unto 
 Zechariah,  saying, 
 
 9  Thus  speaketh  the  Lord  of  hosts,  saying, 
 ^^  t  Execute  true  judgment,  and  shew  mercy 
 and  compassions  every  man  to  his  brother  : 
 
 10  And  'oppress  not  the  widow,  nor  the 
 fatherless,  the  stranger,  nor  the  poor;  ''"and 
 let  none  of  you  imagine  evil  against  his  brother 
 in  your  heart. 
 
 1 1  But  they  refused  to  hearken,  and  '  f  pull- 
 ed away  the  shoulder,  and  f'"  stopped  their 
 ears,  that  they  should  not  hear. 
 
 12  Yea,  they  made  their  "hearts  as  an  ada- 
 mant stone,  "lest  they  should  hear  the  law, 
 and  the  words  which  the  Lord  of  hosts  hath 
 sent  in  his  spirit  fby  the  former  prophets: 
 ^therefore  came  a  great  wrath  from  the  Lord 
 of  hosts. 
 
 13  Therefore  it  is  come  to  pass,  /A«^  as  he 
 cried,   and  they  would  not  hear  ;    so  '^  they 
 
 t  Heb.  to  in- 
 
 treat  the  fact 
 
 of  the 
 
 LORD  : 
 
 I  Sa.  U.  12. 
 
 C1..8.  ai. 
 a  Deu.  17,9, 
 
 10,  n    eiH3. 
 
 la.  Mal.2.7. 
 6  Jer.52.  12. 
 
 Ch.3.  19. 
 
 c  Is.  59.  5. 
 
 <i  Jer.  41.  I. 
 
 ch.  8.  10. 
 «  ch. 1,  12. 
 f  See  Horn. 
 
 M.  6. 
 II  Or.  be  nut 
 
 t/e  thfy  t/int, 
 
 *c. 
 II  Or,  Are 
 
 nnt  these  tfie 
 
 KO  rdi 
 
 t  Heb.  by">P 
 
 l,m,{  -f,  -Jc. 
 j7  Jer.  17  20. 
 A  Is.  58.  fi,  7. 
 
 Jlt.  7   SS. 
 
 W\z.  6.  8. 
 
 ch.  8    16. 
 
 Wat.  23.S3. 
 +  Heb.  Jndye 
 
 judsmeiit  of 
 
 truth. 
 1   Ex.22.  21, 
 
 •ii.  Deu.i-1. 
 
 17.  Is.  1.17. 
 
 JiT.  5.  29. 
 k  Ps.  S6.  4. 
 
 Mic. 
 
 cli.: 
 
 17 
 
 /  Nell.  9-  29. 
 
 .Kt.  7.  24. 
 
 n-is.  \.  h}. 
 t  Heb.  thr^ 
 
 gave  a  tinck- 
 
 Mlidm-! 
 
 tlioulder, 
 t  Heb.  made 
 
 >n  Acts  7  5. 
 n  Kie  11,10. 
 ft  S6.  2(5. 
 
 0  Nell.  y.  SO, 
 30. 
 
 1  Heb.  by  the 
 hand  of. 
 
 p  2  Chr.  3G. 
 
 16.  Dan.  9. 
 
 II. 
 a  Pro.  1 . 2-1 
 
 —23.  T9.  1. 
 
 15.  Jcr.  II. 
 
 II. &  14.  12. 
 
 Mic.  3.  i. 
 
 r  Dcu.  4.  2T 
 
 Ik  es.  i». 
 
 Kze.  30  19. 
 
 ch.  2.(1. 
 .  I>eii.2^.n3, 
 /  Uv.  2S.22. 
 It  Dan.  S. !). 
 t  Heb.  M'jrf 
 
 ofdetire. 
 
 I  Null.  1.2. 
 eb.  1.  il. 
 
 d  Is.  1.  21, 
 
 2f>. 
 e  Is.  2.  2,3. 
 /Jer.  31.23 
 ff  See  I  Sam. 
 
 2.  31.  Is. 
 
 tl5.  20,  22. 
 
 I, am.  2.  20, 
 
 &0.&5.  11. 
 
 —14. 
 f  Heb. /or 
 
 mullitudeof 
 
 dnift, 
 li  Or,  hnrd, 
 
 f,r,dijfirull. 
 
 h  Gen.  18.14. 
 
 Tuke  1.  37. 
 
 Ik  18    27. 
 
 Rom.  4.  ■:i. 
 I  Is.  II.  M , 
 
 12.  &  43.  5. 
 
 6.  Eie.  ;tT. 
 
 21.  AmosO. 
 
 14.  15. 
 t  Heb.  t/ie 
 
 Cmi'itry  of 
 
 the  gfiine 
 
 down  of  the 
 
 fill :  See 
 
 i*s.6».  I.  & 
 
 1 13.  3.  Mai. 
 
 1.  II. 
 * Jer.  SO  ?2. 
 
 k  SI.  I,  33. 
 
 ch.  13.  9. 
 /  Jer.  4.  2. 
 m  Kaf^,  2    1. 
 
 rer.  18. 
 
 I  Ezra  5. 1,2. 
 Hag- 2.  18. 
 
 cried,  and  1  would  not  hear,  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts  : 
 
 14  But  '1  scattered  them  with  a  whirlwind 
 among  all  the  nations  *  whom  tliey  knew  not. 
 Thus  ^  the  land  was  desolate  after  them,  that 
 no  man  passed  throngh  nor  returned  :  for  they 
 laid  "  the  f  pleasant  land  desolate. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  The  restoration  of  Jerusalem.  9  Thep  are  enam- 
 raged  to  the  huilding  by  God's  favour  to  them.  ItJ 
 Good  works  are  retjuired  tf  them.  \^Jorj  and  en- 
 largement are  promised. 
 
 A  GAIN  the  word  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  came 
 -^"^  to  me,  saying, 
 
 2  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts;  "*  I  was 
 jealous  for  Zion  with  great  jealousy,  and  I  was 
 jealous  for  her  witli  great  fury. 
 
 3  Thus  saith  the  Loud;  ''I  am  returned 
 unto  Zion,  and  '^  will  dwell  in  the  midst  of  Je- 
 rusalem :  and  Jeru.'^alem  "^  shall  be  called  a 
 city  of  truth ;  and  "  the  mountain  of  the  Lord 
 of  hosts  ^  the  holy  mountain. 
 
 4  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  ^  There 
 shall  yet  old  men  and  old  women  dwell  in  the 
 streets  of  Jerusalem,  and  every  man  with  !iis 
 staff  in  his  hand  ffor  very  age. 
 
 5  And  the  streets  of  the  city  shall  be  full  of 
 boys  and  girls  playing  in  the  streets  thereof. 
 
 6  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts;  If  it  be 
 II marvellous  in  the  eyes  of  the  remnant  of  this 
 people  in  these  days,  "^  should  it  also  be  mar- 
 vellous in  mine  eyes?  saith  the  Loud  of  hosts. 
 
 7  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  Behold,  '  I 
 will  save  my  people  from  the  east  country,  and 
 from  t  the  west  country  ; 
 
 8  And  I  will  bring  them,  and  they  shall 
 dwell  in  the  mid.st  of  Jerusalem  :  ^  and  they 
 shall  be  my  people,  and   I  will  be  their  God, 
 
 in  truth  and  in  righteousness. 
 
 9  ^  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  "'  Let 
 your  hands  be  strong,  ye  that  hear  in  these 
 days  these  words  by  the  month  of  "  the  pro- 
 phets, which  were  in  "the  day  that  tlie  found- 
 
 two  years  before  it  was  finished,  (Ezra,  vi.  15.)  when  the  work  was 
 goiDg  forward,  and  there  was  a  great  deal  of  reason  to  believe  it  would 
 be  completed.— Gi7/.  In  Chisleu,  this  month  corresponded  with  the 
 latter  part  of  November  and  the  beginnings  of  Becembev.—Blai/nei/. 
 2,  Sherezer,  Sfc,  who  these  were  is  not  known  ;"  they  were,  no  doubt, 
 principal  men  of  the  people,  by  whom  thcv  were  sent.  To  pmv,  f,c., 
 that  They  might  be  directed  aright.  3.  To  spenfc  unto  the  priests,  who 
 were  to  be  consulted  in  matters  of  religion,  (Ma!,  ii.  7.)  And  (o  the 
 prophets,  who  were  then  in  being,  as  Haggai.  Zechariah,  and  Malachi. 
 — Gilt.  S/iould  I  weep,  that  is,  fa^t,  of  which  weeping  was  a  part, 
 (1  Sam.  i.  7;  and  Matt.  ix.  lj.;i— i'oo/e.  They  ha.l  hitherto  observed 
 fasts  on  account  nf  their  ruined  temple.— C/nrA-e.  The  persons  are  here 
 supposed  to  ask  the  question  individually  for  themselves.  Their  temple 
 being  now  restored,  the  cause  of  their  annual  fasting  and  grief  may  be 
 said  to  have  ceased.— See  Grotius.  5.  Mourned  in  the  fifth,  month, 
 for  the  temple.  And  serenth,  for  the  murder  of  Gedaliah,  (2  Kings, 
 x.xv,  25.)  Uido  me.  '  out  of  any  charge  of  mine  f  or  out  of  any  true  re- 
 morse for  your  sins  ?  and  not  rather  out  of  a  sense  of  your  own  misery 
 and  sorrow  ?'-  Bp.  Hall.  6.  IVben  tie  did  eat,  §-c.,  *  when  ye  offered 
 sacrifices,  aftei  which  ye  feasted.  &c.,*did  ye  not  in  this  religious  act 
 regard  yourselves  more  than  GoAV—Boothr.  Should pe  not  hear,  the 
 marginal  readi/ig  is  preferred  by  Preb.  Lowth,  Xeivc,  and  Boothr.  He 
 
 puts  them  in  mind  of  the  exhortations  given  to  them  by  the  prophets 
 before  the  captivity. — Preb.  Loivth.  ll.  Pulled  atoay  the  shoulder. 
 withdrew  it,  as  beasts  that  refuse  the  yoke,  (comp.  Neh.  ix.  29  ;  Hos. 
 iv.  I6.) — Boothr.  12.  Adamant,  means  a  hard  stone  used  to  polish 
 gems. — Boch.     TDt?,  most  likely  means  the  granite. — Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  Vlll.  —  3.  .^  citi/  of  truth,  be  again  the  seat  of  truth  and 
 justice.— PreA.  Lowth.  'The  city  of  truth,'  by  way  of  eminence,  where 
 the  true  religion  should  be  professed. — Blu.  Her  citizens  shall  love 
 the  truth  and  speak  it,  shall  worship  in  truth  of  heart,  as  well  as  in  the 
 true  manner  prescribed  to  them,  and  inherit  tlie  truth  of  the  promises. 
 This  passage  is  similar  to  Ezek.  xxxvii.  23,  24. — Poole.  4.  Old  men 
 and  old  women  dwell,  ^-r..  no  sweeping  disea.sc  should  be  among  thtni. 
 .5.  Full  of  bojis  and  gifts,  denoting  a  large  increase  of  inhabitants. — 
 Gill.  6.  If  it  be  marvellous,  SfC.,  should  it  f>e  also  man'tlluus,  §-c., 
 •  it  may  seem  strange  to  the  poor  remnant  of  the  captivity,  but  nothing 
 is  impossible  to  me.' — Stokes.  J.  East — west,  thi-s  cannot  be  under- 
 stood of  bringing  those  Jews  that  remained  in  Babylon  and  other 
 places  to  their  own  land  ;  for  Babylon  lay  north  of  Judea,  tsce  chap, 
 vi.  6.  8,)  and  as  yet  there  were  no  Jews  in  the  western  part  of  the 
 world  ;  but  now  they  are  chiefly  in  the  east  and  west,  from  whence  they 
 will  be  gathered  at  the  time  of  their  general  conversion. — GUI.  This 
 denotes  the  general  restoration  of  the  Jewish  nation  from  tlnir  several 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  We  learn  from  this  chap-*^ 
 ter  l.Tfiat  our  rdigious  services  are  701  acceptable  to  God,  uii' 
 less  we  engage  in  thuu  with  an  rye  to  his  glonj.  The  Jews' 
 jasting  and  huml)ling  of  themselves  was  all  proper;  but  when 
 It  was  a  mere  form,  God  would  not  accept  of  it.  IMeti  may  be 
 deceived  hy  the  outward  semblance,  but  God  searcheth  the 
 heart.  Equally  unacceptable  were  those  sacrifices  which 
 were  more  regarded  because  they  furnished  a  feast  than  be- 
 cause they  were  expressive  of  grateful  hearts,  or  were  viewed 
 in  relation  to  the  great  Sacrifice,  of  which  they  were  all  prp- 
 97G 
 
 figurations.  Hence  we  see  the  importance  of  the  Apostle's 
 exhortation,  '  Whether,  therefore,  ye  eat  or  drink,  or  whatso- 
 ever ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.' 
 
 II.  We  learn  the  effects  of  disohedience  to  God's  sacred  com- 
 mands. '  What  important  ingredients  in  practical  religion 
 are  strict  equity,  tender  compassion,  and  brotherly  kindness  ! 
 and  yet  how  obstinately  many  professors  neglect  tlieni,  and 
 practise  the  opposite  vices!  And  how  fatal,  but  aiiswerablo 
 punishments  they  thereby  incur  !"  ^^ 
 
Ciod  enconrapeih  the  building. 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  IX. 
 
 God  ilefendeth  his  church. 
 
 ation  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  was 
 laid,  that  the  temple  might  be  built. 
 
 10  For  before  these  days  ||  there  wasno''hire 
 for  man,  nor  any  hire  for  beast ;  ''  neither  ivas 
 there  any  peace  to  him  that  went  out  or  came 
 in  because  of  the  affliction  :  for  I  set  all  men 
 every  one  against  his  neighbour. 
 
 1 1  But  now  I  ivill  not  be  unto  the  residue  of 
 this  people  as  in  the  former  days,  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 12  'For  the  seed  shall  be  fprosperous;  the 
 vine  shall  give  her  fruit,  and  '  the  ground  shall 
 give  her  increase,  and  '  the  heavens  shall  give 
 their  dew  ;  and  I  will  cause  the  remnant  of 
 this  people  to  possess  all  these  things. 
 
 13  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  as  ye  were 
 "  a  curse  among  the  heathen,  O  house  of  Ju- 
 dah,  and  house  of  Israel ;  so  will  I  save  you 
 and  "^ye  shall  be  a  blessing  :  fear  not,  but  'let 
 your  hands  be  strong. 
 
 14  For  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  '  As  I 
 thought  to  punish  you,  when  your  fathers  pro- 
 voked me  to  wrath,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 "  and  I  repented  not : 
 
 lo  So  again  have  I  thought  in  these  days  to 
 do  well  unto  Jerusalem  and  to  the  house  of 
 .Tudah  :  fear  ye  not. 
 
 10  1  These  are  the  things  that  ye  shall  do  ; 
 ''  Speak  ye  every  man  the  truth  to  his  neigh- 
 bour;  t  execute  the  judgment  of  truth  and 
 peace  in  your  gates : 
 
 17  'And  let  none  of  you  imagine  evil  in  your 
 hearts  against  his  neighbour ;  and  ''  love  no 
 false  oath  :  for  all  these  are  things  that  I  hate, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 18  H  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  came 
 unto  me,  .saying, 
 
 19  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  °  The  fast 
 of  the  fourth  month,  ' ^n(\  the  fast  of  the  fifth. 
 
 II  Or,  ttrtirr 
 of  mm  bt- 
 camf  nn- 
 «.■,},  *e, 
 
 /»n.^.  1,(5,9 
 10.  fc2.  16. 
 
 q  S  Chr.  15.5, 
 
 Hon.  S.  21, 
 22.  Jnel  2. 
 22.  H»B.  8. 
 
 t  ilrt.  of 
 
 pmce. 
 J  Ps.  07,  0. 
 /SeeHac.  I, 
 
 10. 
 
 u  Jer,  42.  19, 
 
 xGeil   12   2, 
 Rutli.  4.  II, 
 12.  le.  10. 
 21,  25. 
 Zeph.  3  20. 
 Hag.  2.  19. 
 
 y  ver.  9. 
 
 t  Jer.  .SI.  23. 
 
 a  2  Chr.  36. 
 10.  ch.  1.  &. 
 
 b  ch   7,  9. 
 
 ver.  19. 
 
 Kph.  .1.  25. 
 t  Hell,  judge 
 
 truth,  and 
 
 lh<.  Jiidj/'neiil 
 
 i}f  jiencf 
 c  Pro.  3.  29. 
 
 ch.  7.  10. 
 d  ch.  5,  S,  4, 
 
 f  Jer.  52. 6,7. 
 
 /■Jer.  52.  12, 
 
 13.  ch.  7,  3, 
 
 B   C.  SIS. 
 
 1  2  Kin  25. 
 25.  Jer.  11 
 1,2. 
 
 52.  4. 
 K«th  S,  17. 
 
 A  J, 
 
 Is.  a 
 
 10. 
 
 Or,  i'.lcinn, 
 r,  Kl  li'iiet 
 i-er,   16. 
 
 Ii',w,tl;i. 
 )  Heb,  ijitiiiff. 
 t  Heb.  (o 
 
 iiLirrnl  rlif 
 
 /.,..  .J    II.C 
 
 LORD. 
 ch.  7   2. 
 m  Is.  6(1.  3, 
 &c.  &  66,23. 
 
 cir.  587. 
 
 Jer.  23.  33. 
 b  Amos  1. 3. 
 
 2  Chr.  so- 
 la. Ps,  145. 
 
 15. 
 d  Jer.  49. 23. 
 
 I9.  23. 
 
 Ezek.  26,  & 
 
 27,  &  28. 
 
 .Amos  1.  9. 
 /I  Kin. 17.9 
 
 Eze.28   21. 
 
 Obad.  20. 
 g  Kzek.  28. 
 
 3,  8(c. 
 A  Job  27.  16. 
 
 EzL'k.  28. 
 
 4,5. 
 
 i  1«.  23.  I. 
 h  Eze.  26.17. 
 
 ^  and  the  fast  of  the  seventh,  ''  and  the  fast  of 
 the  tenth,  shall  be  to  tiie  house  of  Judah  'joy 
 and  gladness,  and  chearful  ||feasts;  ^therefore 
 love  the  truth  and  peace. 
 
 20  Thus  saith  tiie  Lord  of  hosts  ;  It  shall 
 yet  come  to  pass,  that  there  shall  come  people, 
 and  the  inhabitants  of  many  cities  : 
 
 •21  And  the  inhabitants  of  one  citt/  shall  go 
 to  another,  saying,  '  Let  ns  go  ||f  speedily  f  to 
 pray  before  the  Lord,  and  to  seek  the  Lord  of 
 hosts  :   I  will  go  also. 
 
 22  Yea,  ""many  people  and  strong  nations 
 shall  come  to  seek  the  Lord  of  hosts  in  Jeru- 
 salem, and  to  pray  before  the  Lord. 
 
 23  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ;  In  those 
 days  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  ten  men  shall 
 "take  hold  out  of  all  languages  of  the  nations, 
 even  shall  take  hold  of  the  skirt  of  him  that  is 
 a  Jew,  saying,  We  will  go  with  you  :  for  we 
 have  heard  "that  God  is  with  you. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  God  aefendeth  his  church.  9  Zion  is  exhorted  to 
 rejoice  for  the  coming  of  Christ,  and  his  peaceable 
 kingdom.     12  God's  promises  of  victory  and  defence. 
 
 nPHE  ^burden  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  in 
 ■*-  the  land  of  Hadrach,  and  ''Damascus  shall 
 be  the  rest  thereof:  when  *"  the  eyes  of  man, 
 as  of  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  shall  be  toward 
 the  Lord. 
 
 2  And  '^  Haniath  also  shall  border  thereby; 
 ^  Tyrns,  and  '"Zidon,  though  it  be  very  ^  wise. 
 
 3  And  Tyrns  did  build  herself  a  strong  hold, 
 and  ''heaped  up  silver  as  the  dust,  and  fine 
 gold  as  the  mire  of  the  streets. 
 
 4  Behold,  '  the  Lord  will  cast  her  out,  and  he 
 will  smite  ''her  power  in  the  sea;  and  she  shall 
 be  devoured  with  fire. 
 
 dispersions,  (comp.  verses  i:t.  20,  23,)  ao  event  foretold  by  most  of  the 
 prophets  of  the  Olil  Testament.  lO.  No  hire,  ?fc.,  rather  'no  reward.' 
 The  fruits  of  the  earth  would  not  pay  the  labour  of  those  who  manured 
 it,  (see  Hag.  i.  9—11  ;  ii.  l6,  \~.)—Preh.  Louth,  Neither  tias  there 
 any  peace,  the  adversaries  of  the  Jews  ceased  not  to  molest  them  from 
 without,  (Ezra,  iv.  I,&c.,)  and  civil  dissensions,  it  seems,  prevailed 
 within.— B/«.  19.  The  fust  »>f  the  fourth  mon/A,  the  month  Tammuz, 
 which  answers  to  June  :  this  fast  was  kept  on  the  9th  day  of  the 
 month,  on  account  of  the  city  of  Jerusalem  being  broken  up  on  that 
 day,  as  it  is  said  2  Kings,  xxv.  3,  4  -,  Jer.  xxxix.  2  ;  and  Hi.  6,  7.  And 
 the  fast  of  the  fifth,  the  month  Ab,  which  answers  to  July,  on  the 
 tenth  of  which  the  city  was  burnt,  (Jer.  Hi.  12,  13.)  A7td  the  fast  of 
 the  seventh,  the  month  Tisri,  which  answers  to  September;  on  the 
 third  of  this  month,  a  fast  was  kept  on  account  of  the  m  urder  of  Geda- 
 liah,  (see  chap.  vii.  5.)  Atid  the  feast  of  the  tenth,  the  month  Tebet. 
 which  answers  to  December;  on  the  tenth  day  of  which,  Jerusalem 
 was  besieged  by  Nebuchadnezzar. — Gill.  The  prophet  here  teUs  them, 
 they  may  now  disuse  these  fasts,  and  lay  aside  the  mournful  circum- 
 stances with  which  they  were  solemnized  ;  since  the  judgments  which 
 occasioned  tliem  were  removed. — Preb.  Lowth.  21.  The  inhabitants 
 of  one  city  shall  go,  fyc.,  which  shews  their  concern  for  the  spi- 
 ritual welfare  of  each  other ;  their  zeal  for  the  honour  and  glory  of 
 God  :  and  their  readiness  to  attend  Divine  worship.— Gill.  These  ex- 
 pressions allude  to  the  Jews  goin^  up  in  companies  to  Jerusalem  at 
 their  solemn  feasts,  (comp.  Isa.  ii.  2,  3  ;  Mic.  iv.  1,  2.)  23.  Ten  men, 
 a  cert;iin  number  for  an  uncertain.- Pre/j.  Lowth.  The  converts  from 
 among  the  Gentiles  shall  be  to  tlie  Jews  as  ten  to  one.  But  ten  may 
 here  signify  a  great  number  without  comparison.  And  from  this 
 scripture  it  appears  as  if  the  Jews  converted  to  God  should  be  the  in- 
 struments of  converting  many  Gentiles,  (see  Isa.  iii.  6.)  Take  hold  of 
 the  skirt,  a  gesture  naturaUyused  to  entreat  assistance  and  protection, 
 (see  Isa.  iii.  6;  iv.  l ;  l  Sam.  xv.  32.) — A.  Clarke,  so  Bla.  Reference 
 may  here  be  made  to  the  future  conversions,  of  which  the  restoration 
 of  the  Jews  will  be  an  eminent  cause. — Newc. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  — 1.  The  burden,  ^-c. 
 
 '  The  prophecy  of  the  word  of  Jehovah : 
 On  the  land  of  Hadrach,  and  on  Damascus,  shall  it  rest; 
 For  the  eye  of  Jehovah  is  over  man, 
 And  over  all  the  tribes  of  Israel.' — Newc. 
 
 Hadrach,  the  name  of  a  man  or  king.— .■lAen  Ezra.  One  of  the  names 
 for  the  valley  of  Damascus. — Boch.  The  context  shews  it  to  be  some 
 part  of  Syria.- Prei.  Lowth.  Shnll  be  the  rest  thereof,  '  the  principal 
 part  of  this  calamity  shall  fall  on  Damascus.'  God's  anger  rests  on 
 those  whom  he  punishes,  (Ezek.  v.  13 ;  xvi.  42  ;  xxiv.  13.)— /I.  Clarke. 
 If  Antioch  is  meant,  here  the  Lord  rested  and  the  gospel  was  first 
 preached.— -Gi7/.        2.  And  Hamath,  Sfc. — 
 
 '  And  also  on  Hamath,  which  bordereth  thereby  ; 
 On  Tyre  and  on  Sidon,  though  she  be  very  wise.' 
 
 -Newc. 
 
 The  same  with  Antioch,  formerly  called  Riblath.— Jerome.  The  same 
 that  was  called  by  the  Greeks  Epiphania.  The  kinjidom  of  Hamath 
 extended  from  the  land  of  Canaan,  or  more  particularly  from  the  king- 
 dom of  Rehob  southward,  to  the  city  of  Epiphania  northward;  it 
 reached  from  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea  westward,  to  the 
 kingdom  of  Damascus  or  Syria,  properly  so  called,  eastward,  (so  in- 
 ferred, from  Ezek.  xlvi.  16—20  ;  see  2  Kings,  xxiii.  :\\i.)— Wells.  Also 
 shall  border— H^maih  bordered  on  Syria  on  the  one  liand,  and  Tyre  anfl 
 Sidon  on  the  other  ;  and  they  would  ^hare  her  burden.— Sco/^  Very 
 wise,  remarkable  for  policy  and  craft.— Gro^us.  They  shaU  not  escape, 
 though  they  use  all  human  pow  er  and  wit  for  their  own  safety  and  eva- 
 sion.  Bp.  Hall.     Though  famous  for  wisdom,  it  shall  be  confounded 
 
 by  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.— Gl7^  4.  Ca.st  her  out— after  the  cap- 
 ture of  Tyre,  the  conqueror  ordered  it  to  be  set  on  fire  :  15,000  of  the 
 Tynans  escaped  in  ships,  and,  exclusive  of  multitudes  that  were  cruelly 
 slain,  30,000  were  sold  into  s\^very.— Keith.  •  Cast  her  out,'  or  '  in- 
 herit her'  or  'them,'  as  the  Sept.  render  the  words,  when,  being  con- 
 
 Reflkctions    o\    Chap.    VIII Observe  here,  I.  Jrhat 
 
 God  promises.  To  dwell  with  his  people,  to  increase  their 
 numbers,  to  be  all  that  to  them  which  is  included  in  being 
 *  their  God,*  which  comprehends  every  needful  temporal  and 
 spiritual  blessing. 
 
 II.  What  God  expects.  *  Surely  Christians  should  remem- 
 ber the  exhortation  to  "  put  away  lying  and  to  speak  every 
 man  truth  w^ith  his  neighbour,'  to  execute  the  judgments  of 
 truth  and  peace,  to  abhor  all  malice,  fraud,  and  perjury;  to 
 977 
 
 hate  that  which  the  Lord  bales,  and  to  love  that  in  which  he 
 delights!  When  they  thus  serve  him,  and  he  turns  theik- 
 mourning  for  sin  into  joy  and  gladness;  when  divine  ordi- 
 nances become  their  cheerful  feasts,  and  they  evideiitly  love 
 truth  and  peace,  they  appear  amiable,  excellent,  wise,  and 
 happy  ;  their  light  shines  before  men,  they  adorn  and  recom- 
 mend the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour,  and  convince  all 
 around  them,  that  the  Lord  is  with  ihem  of  a  truth.'  * 
 
 6  I* 
 
Christ^s  coming  foretold 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  X. 
 
 God  is  to  he  souqht  unto. 
 
 5  '  Ashkelon  shall  see  it,  and  fear ;  Gaza 
 also  shall  see  it,  and  be  very  sorrowful,  and 
 Ekron  ;  for  her  expectation  shall  be  ashamed ; 
 and  the  king  shall  perish  from  Gaza,  and  Ash- 
 kelon shall  not  be  inhabited. 
 
 6  And  a  bastard  shall  dwell  '"in  Ashdod.and 
 I  will  cut  off  the  pride  of  tlie  Pliilistines. 
 
 7  And  1  will  take  away  his  fblood  out  of  his 
 mouth,  and  his  abominations  from  between  his 
 teeth  :  but  he  that  remaineth,  even  he,  shall 
 be  for  our  God,  and  he  shall  be  as  a  governor 
 in  Judah,  and  Ekron  as  a  Jebusite. 
 
 8  And  "  I  will  encamp  about  mine  house  be- 
 cause of  the  army,  because  of  him  that  passeth 
 by,  and  because  of  him  that  returneth  :  and 
 "  no  oppressor  shall  pass  through  them  any 
 more  :  for  now  ''  have  I  seen  with  mine  eyes. 
 
 9  t ''  Rejoice  greatly,  O  daughter  of  Zion  ; 
 shout,  O  daughter  of  Jerusalem  :  behold, '  thy 
 King  Cometh  unto  thee  :  he  is  just,  and  |{  hav- 
 ing salvation  ;  lowly,  and  riding  upon  an  ass, 
 and  upon  a  colt  the  foal  of  an  ass. 
 
 10  And  I  '  will  cut  off  the  chariot  from  Epli- 
 raim,  and  the  horse  from  Jerusalem,  and  the 
 battle  bow  shall  be  cut  off:  and  he  shall  speak 
 '  peace  unto  the  heathen  :  and  liis  dominion 
 shall  be  "  from  sea  even  to  sea,  and  from  the 
 river  even  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
 
 1 1  As  for  thee  also,  ||  by  the  blood  of  thy 
 covenant  I  have  sent  forth  thy  '  prisoners  out 
 of  the  pit  wherein  is  no  water. 
 
 I  Jer.  *7-I,5. 
 Zeph.  2.4. 
 
 r»  Amoa  1.8. 
 
 n  Ps.  Jl.  7. 
 ch.  2.  6. 
 
 I  ts   60.  H. 
 Ete.  29.  24. 
 
 p  E«.  3.  7. 
 7  Is.  62.  U. 
 
 cl..  2.  10. 
 
 Mat.  21.  fi. 
 
 John  12.15. 
 r  .liT.  Zi.  5. 
 
 &  30.  9. 
 
 John  I.  49 
 
 Luke  19.38. 
 
 II  Or,  npi/iif 
 ;..m..I/. 
 
 t  Hos.  I.  7. 
 
 &  2.  IS. 
 
 Mic.  5,  10. 
 
 Han   2.  22. 
 t  Eph.  2.  14, 
 
 17. 
 »  Pa.  72.  8. 
 P  Or,  'chitn 
 
 cfivennnl  is 
 
 b<f  blood. 
 
 Ex.  24.  «. 
 
 Heb.  10   ?9. 
 
 8e  13.  CO. 
 X  l9.  12.  7. 
 
 St  £1.  14.  & 
 
 61.  1. 
 
 rt  Pb.  is.  II 
 )t  77.   17. 
 
 Or,  tvbdue 
 the  tlonei  of 
 
 II  Or 
 
 iboU 
 
 litl 
 
 boll,  Ih 
 
 bm 
 
 ':  *c. 
 
 r  1,1. 
 
 V.  4.  IP 
 
 25. 
 
 Deu,  I'. 
 
 27. 
 
 dls 
 
 62.3. 
 
 Mai.  3.  17 
 
 eli 
 
 11.  12 
 
 /Pe.  31    19. 
 
 g  Joel  3.  19. 
 Amos  9.  H. 
 
 a  .Ter,  1 1  2?. 
 ftDeu.  lilt, 
 c  Jf.l'  29.:i3. 
 
 Joel  •>.  iS. 
 II  Or,  Ughl- 
 
 ningt,  Jer. 
 
 10.  13. 
 
 12  II  Turn  you  to  the  strong  hold,  ^ye  prison- 
 ers of  hope  :  even  to  day  do  1  declare  that  ^  1 
 will  render  double  unto  thee  ; 
 
 13  When  1  have  bent  Judali  for  me,  filled 
 the  bow  with  Ephraim,  and  raised  up  tliy  sons, 
 
 0  Zion,  against  thy  sons,  O  Greece,  and"  made 
 tliee  as  the  sword  of  a  mighty  man. 
 
 14  And  tlie  Lord  shall  be  seen  over  them, 
 and  "his  arrow  shall  ^o  fortli  as  the  liglitiiing: 
 and  the  Lord  God  sliall  blow  the  trumpet, 
 and  shall  go  *'with  whirlwinds  of  the  south, 
 
 15  The  Lord  of  liosts  shall  defend  them; 
 and  they  shall  devour,  and  |!  subdue  with  sling 
 stones;  and  they  shall  drink,  «/;r/ make  a  noise 
 as  through  wine  ;  and  they  || shall  be  filled  like 
 bowls,  and  as  '^  the  corners  of  the  altar. 
 
 IG  And  the  Lord  tlieir  God  shall  save  them 
 in  that  day  as  the  fiock  of  his  people :  for 
 ''Mt;y  shall  be  as  the  stones  of  a  crown,  '''lifted 
 up  as  an  ensign  upon  his  land. 
 
 17  For  ''how  great  is  his  goodness,  and  how 
 
 great   is  his    beauty  I    ^  corn   shall   make   tho 
 
 young  men  ||chearful,  and  new  wine  tlie  maid.v. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  God  is  to  be  souqht  unto,  and  not  idols.  S  As  he  vi- 
 sited  his  Jlock  Jot  sin,  so  he  ivill  save  and  restor\' 
 them. 
 
 \  SK  ye  *  of  the  Lord  ^  rain  ""in  the  time  of 
 -^^  the  latter  rain;  so  the  Lord  shall  make 
 II  bright  clouds,  and  give  them  showers  of  raiu. 
 to  every  one  grass  in  the  field. 
 
 verted,  she  would  become  the  Lord's  inheritance  and  possession.— Gi//. 
 5.  Ashkelon — Gnzri—Ekron,  cities  of  the  Philistines,  shouhl  be  tcrrititd 
 at  Tyre's  destruction.— P»M.  Lotvth.  King,  may  mean  'any  chief 
 ruler.' — Bin.  Rather  the  idol  'Marnes,*  which  signifies  'the  Lord  of 
 man,'  and  was  worshipped  in  thi.s  place,  is  here  meant,  which  when  it 
 became  Christian  was  destroyed,  and  a  Christian  church  built  in  the 
 room  of  it,  as  reported  by  Jerome. — Gilt.  6.  A  bastard,  means  here 
 simply  one  of  foreign  extraction.  So  the  city  should  be  peopled  with 
 strangers. — Bla.  7.  Take  away  his  blood  out  0/  his  month,  the  idol- 
 atrous and  abominable  practices  of  the  Philistines  shall  cease.  The 
 metaphor  is  taken  from  beasts  of  prey,  who  gorge  themselves  with 
 blood. — Newc.  The  Philistines  shall  be  disabled  from  murdering  and 
 plundering  the  Jews  ;  nay,  shall  be  subdued  by  the  Maccabees,  and 
 many  of  them  turned  to  the  Lord. — J.  Brown.  Shall  be  for  our  God, 
 many  of  the  Philistines  became  proselytes  to  Judaism. — Jos.  Shall  be 
 as  a  governor  in  Jndnh,  '  shall  be  regarded  and  honoured  as  a  citizen.* 
 — Bla.  Rather  '  as  a  ruler,'  as  one  respected  and  honoured. — Boothr., 
 so  Poole.  '  As  the  princes  of  the  house  of  Judah,*  Targ.  '  As  the  heads 
 of  the  families  of  Judah  ;•  all  true  Christians  are  as  princes,  yea,  as 
 kings  and  priests  unto  God.— GiV/,  A  Jebusite,  an  inhabitant  of  Jeru- 
 salem.— Newc.  8.  Now  have  I  seen,  '  1  have  iooked  on  the  condition 
 of  my  people  with  an  eye  of  pity  and  compassinn.'  —  Preb.  Lowth. 
 9.  Riding  upon  an  iiss,  and  upon  a  cult,  §'C.,  or  '  even  upon  a  colt,'  &c., 
 a  proof  that  he  did  not  affect  the  pomp  of  the  world,  but  came  with  the 
 same  primitive  simplicity  as  the  patriarchs  and  judges  of  old,  'see  Gen. 
 xxii.  3;  Judg.  V.  10;  .\.  4.)— Pred.  Lowth,  Chandler.  This  intimates 
 that  riding  on  horseback  had  now  become  so  familiar  to  the  Jews,  that 
 riding  on  an  ass  was  considered  an  act  of  humility.  The  eastern  ass 
 is  not  despised,  hut  greater  dignity  is  attached  to  the  horse ;  and  he 
 who  can  keep  the  latter,  and  rides  on  the  former,  is  considered  as  ex- 
 ceedingly humble.  Some  Persian  priests  affect  this.  —  So  Pict.  Bib. 
 This  was  in  opposition  to  the  pride  of  the  warlike  kings  of  Israel,  who, 
 by  their  great  strength  in  chariots  and  horses,  had  ruined  themselves 
 and  their  people.— S/ier/oc A- .  God  had  commanded  the  kings  of  Israel 
 not  to  multiply  horses  :  the  kings  who  broke  this  command  were  mi- 
 serable themselves  and  scourgers  to  their  people.  Jesus  came  to  fultil 
 the  law ;  had  he  in  his  title  of  king  roile  upon  a  horse,  it  would  have 
 been  a  breach  of  a  positive  command  of  God,  therefore  he  rode  upon 
 an  ass,  and  thus  fulfilled  the  prophecy  and  kept  the  precept  unbroken. 
 — A.  Clarke.  The  ancient  Jews  explained  this  prophecy  of  the  Mes- 
 siah, and  it  seems  the  Jews,  in  Christ's  time,  understood  it  so,  (see 
 Matt.  xxi.  8,  9;  Luke,  six.  37,  38;  Mark,  xi.  \G,)  —  Chandler,  Preb. 
 Lowth.  10.  i  will  cut  off  the  chariot,  ^c. — all  this  does  not  so  much 
 desij^n  the  outward  peace  that  would  be  in  the  world,  as  the  spiritual 
 peace  of  Christ's  kingdom. — Gill.  No  wars  shall  be  employed  to  spread 
 the  kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  (see  chap.  iv.  6.) — A.  Clarke,  so  also  ATeuc. 
 11.  The  blood  of  thy  covenant,  the  covenant  made  with  Abraham,  &c., 
 ratified  by  the  blood  of  many  victims,  until  the  time  should  come  when 
 the  Messiah  should  shed  his  blood,  which  the  sacrifices  all  typified.— 
 
 Clarke.  The  covenant  made  with  Israel  at  Iloteb  was  ratified  with 
 blood,  and  the  people  were  sprinkled  with  it,  (Exod.  xxiv.  6— b.)  All 
 cuvenants  were  ratified  by  the  blood  of  victims. — Boothr.  1  have  sent 
 forth  thy  prisoners,  a  type  of  thy  future  deliverance  from  all  thy  spi- 
 ritual miseries. — Bp.  Hall.  Out  of  the  pit,  Babylon,  literally  ;  a  state 
 of  sin  and  damnation,  mystically. — Philip  Henry.  Anciently,  in  great 
 houses,  and  particularly  in  the  east,  deep  dry  pits,  called  dungeons, 
 were  appropriated  for  the  confinement  of  prisoners:  into  one  of  these 
 Jeremiah   was  cast,    (Jer.  xxxviii.  6.) — iSla.  12.  Turn  yuu  In  the 
 
 strong  buld,  fyc. — let  not  only  those  who  remain  in  Chaldea  hasten  to 
 Canaan,  in  hopes  of  redoubled  blessings  suflicient  to  balance  their  past 
 miseries,  but  let  tliose  who  are  in  a  state  of  heathenism  and  unrtge- 
 neracy  in  the  faith  of  the  gospel  promises  hasten  tu  Jesus  Christ,  the 
 only  Saviour  and  refuge. — J.  Brown.  Render  double — see  isa.  xl.  2  ; 
 Ixi.  7,  notes.  13.  When  I  have  bent,  ^-c,  '  wheu  I  have  made  Judah 
 my  bow,  and  Ephraim  my  arrow.' — Preb.  Lowth.  And  raised  up  Ihp 
 sons,  Sfc,  'not  only  will  1  enable  the  Jews  to  withstand,  subdue,  and 
 rout  their  Syro-Grecian  and  Turkish  enemies  with  great  slaughter, 
 but,  by  means  of  Jewish  preachers,  will  I  go  forth,  conquering  the  na- 
 tions to  Jesus  Christ.'— J.  Brown.  It  is  possible  that  these  prophecies 
 remain  to  be  fulfillea  against  the  present  possessors  of  Javau,  or  Greece, 
 Macedonia,  and  a  part  of  Asia  Minor.  14.  The  Lord  shall  be  seen 
 
 over  them,  shadowing  and  refreshing  them,  as  the  cloud  did  the  camp 
 in  the  wilderness.  His  arrow  shall,  fyc,  they  shall  be  conquered  in  a 
 way  that  will  shew  that  God  fights  fur  his  followers.  15.  Sling  stones 
 — these  were  ancient  and  powerful  instruments  in  the  hands  uf  the 
 Uehrevrs.— Clarke.  By  the  most  unpromising  and  unlikely  means.— 
 Gill.  They  shall  drink,  '  they  shall  least  and  rejoice  for  their  victories.' 
 —Preb.  Lowth,  so  Clarke.  Filled  like  bowls— it  appears  that  bowls 
 were  anciently  not  only  filled  to  the  brim,  but  were  likewise  crowned 
 with  chaplets.'  This  was,  perhaps,  invariably  the  cn^e  when  they  con- 
 tained either  blood  or  wine  offered  in  sacrifice,  (.see  Virg.  Grorg.  ii. 
 52S,  and  x^n.  lib.  iii.  525.)  And  as  the  corners  of  the  altar,  'as  the 
 horns  of  the  altar.' — Houb.  It  appears,  from  Lev.  iv.  25,  that  these 
 were  the  parts  of  the  altar  on  which  the  blood  offered  in  sacrifice  was 
 poured  out.  They  should  be  filled  with  the  blood  of  their  enemifs,  as 
 the  bowls  and  corners  of  the  altar  are  with  the  blood  of  the  sacrifices. 
 — Preb.  Lowth.  They  shall  plentifully  shed  the  blood  of  their  enemies, 
 and,  as  it  were,  drench  themselves  with  it.  These  metaphors  are  taken 
 from  beasts  of  prey,  (see  Num.  xxiii.  24.)  I6.  As  the  stones  of  a 
 
 crown,  ^c,  'for  crowned  trophies  shall  be  set  up  on  their  land.' — 
 Newc.  Understand  the  allusion  to  a  circular  wall  of  stones,  which 
 the  shepherds  were  accustomed  to  form  for  the  purpose  of  guarding 
 and  ccuifining  their  flocks. — So  Grot.  The  allusion  is  to  stones  bound 
 with  chaplets  or  garlands,  and  erected  as  monuments  of  victory. — So 
 Capelttis,  adopted  by  Houb.  17.  Corn  shall  make,  ^-c— victory  is 
 
 promised  in  the  preceding  verse,  and  fruitful  seasons  in  this.— A^cwr. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  1.  Shall  make  bright  clouds,  or  'lightnings,*  as  in  the 
 margin,  and  in  Job,  xxviii.  26.     Great  rains  usually  accompany  thuu- 
 
 Reflections    on   Chap.   IX.  —  In  tbis  chapter,    Christ  over  the  whole  etirtb  !'     'Thy  kingdom  come!'     Christ  bore 
 
 appears— I.  As  our  King,  triumphing  over  all  his  and  our  ene-  appears — 
 
 mies,  establishing  a  reign  of  peace  and  happiness,  and  extend-  II.  As  our  StronghoUl.     He  was  so  to  the  church  of  old  :  bo 
 
 ing  his  peaceful  and  prosperous  empire  to  the  utmost  boun-  is  so  still.      Prisoners  of  hope,  turn  ye  to  Him  !     Ve  who  li'el 
 
 daries  of  the  earth.     Meek  and  mighty  Saviour,  take  unto  the  thraldom  of  sin,  look  to  him  for  deliverance.     In  Him  you 
 
 thyself  thy  great  power,  and  reign  in  us,  and  around  us,  and  sliall  find  a  sure  refuge  and  a  lasting  defence  ! 
 078 
 
The.  restoration  of  Jitdafi  propft 
 
 •'L 
 
 ZECHARIAH.  XI. 
 
 The  destntction  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  For  the  "^ti^^ls  have  spoken  vanity,  and 
 the  diviners  have  seen  a  lie,  and  have  told 
 false  dreams  ;  they '^comfort  in  vain:  therefore 
 they  went  their  way  as  a  flock,  they  ||  were 
 troubled,  'because  there  was  no  shepherd. 
 
 :t  Mine  ano;er  was  kindled  against  the  shep- 
 herds, *^and  I  t punished  the  goats:  for  the 
 Loud  of  hosts  ^'hath  visited  his  flock  the  house 
 (if  Jndah,  and  'hath  made  them  as  his  goodly 
 liorse  in  the  battle. 
 
 4  Out  of  him  came  forth  ^  the  corner,  out  of 
 him  '  the  nail,  out  of  him  the  battle  bow,  out 
 of  him  every  oppressor  together. 
 
 5  If  And  they  shall  be  as  mighty  men,  which 
 '"  lrea<I  down  their  enemies  in  the  mire  of  the 
 streets  in  the  battle  :  and  they  shall  fight,  be- 
 cause the  Lord  is  with  them,  and  ||  the  riders 
 on  horses  shall  be  confounded. 
 
 (»  And  I  will  strengthen  the  house  of  Judah, 
 and  I  will  save  the  house  of  Joseph,  and  "  I 
 will  bring  them  again  to  place  them  ;  for  I 
 "  have  mercy  upon  them  :  and  they  shall  be  as 
 though  I  had  not  cast  them  off:  for  I  am  the 
 Lord  their  God,  and  ''will  hear  them. 
 
 7  And  thei/  of  Ephraim  shall  be  like  a  mighty 
 7nan,  and  their  ''  lieart  shall  rejoice  as  through 
 wine :  yea,  their  children  shall  see  it,  and  be 
 glad  ;  their  heart  shall  rejoice  in  the  Lord. 
 
 8  I  will  '  hiss  for  them,  and  gather  them  ;  for 
 1  have  redeemed  them:  ^and  they  shall  in- 
 crease as  they  have  increased. 
 
 9  And  *  I  will  sow  them  among  the  people  : 
 and  they  shall  "remember  me  in  far  countries  ; 
 
 d  Jer.  10.  8. 
 
 Hab.  2.  18. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 trraplxiini, 
 
 Ju.lg.  17.  5. 
 e  Jnb  13.  4. 
 llOr.o-.Wi^- 
 
 rd  tlinl,  (tc. 
 /Fuek.ai  5. 
 g  K^ek.ai. 
 
 17. 
 t  Hi^h.vilittd 
 
 h  Luke  1.68. 
 i  Cant  1.9. 
 k  Xu.  St.  17. 
 
 I  Sa.  14.38. 
 
 Is.  19.  13. 
 I  Is.  K.  23. 
 
 II  Or,  they 
 thall  rruihe 
 Ihf.  riders 
 o;  h'>r. 
 
 .'•■I 
 
 ■nfd. 
 S.  IS. 
 ^7.  -J I. 
 
 p  cb.  13.  9 
 
 7  Pb.  IOJ    16. 
 ch.  9.  I J. 
 
 r  Is.  5   20. 
 .  Is.  '19.  10 
 
 /  Hob.  2.  23. 
 Deu.  30  I. 
 
 11. 
 
 y  li.  49.  £U. 
 
 !  Is.  II.  IS, 
 10. 
 
 '1  I».  H,  1^5. 
 6  Fae.  Wl.IH. 
 
 II  Or.  g.^U 
 
 '•  I.S    Hi.  19. 
 ii  Or,  l/,e  ,U- 
 
 tfuCi-d 
 
 forest. 
 
 and  they  shall  live  with  their  children,  and 
 turn  again. 
 
 10  *  I  will  bring  tbein  again  also  out  of  the 
 land  of  Egypt,  and  gather  them  out  of  Assyria  ; 
 and  I  will  bring  them  into  the  land  of  Gilead 
 and  Lebanon  ;  and  ^' place  shall  not  be  found 
 for  them. 
 
 U  ^And  he  shall  pass  through  the  sea  with 
 affliction,  and  shall  smite  the  waves  in  the  sea, 
 and  all  the  deeps  of  the  river  shall  dry  up  :  and 
 "  the  pride  of  Assyria  shall  be  brought  down, 
 and  ''the  sceptre  of  Egypt  shall  dt-part  away. 
 
 12  And  I  will  strengthen  them  in  the  Lord  ; 
 and  "  they  shall  walk  up  and  down  in  liis  name, 
 saith  the  Loud. 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 I  The  ilestrvction  of  Jerusalem.  3  Tha  chct  hemg 
 cared  for,  the  rest  are  rejected.  10  The  staves  of 
 Beauty  aiid  Baiuh  broken  by  the  rejection  of  Christ. 
 15    The  type  and  curse  of  a  foolish  sfiepherd. 
 
 r\PEN  "thy  doors,  O  Lebanon,  that  the  fire 
 ^-^  may  devour  thy  cedars. 
 
 2  Howl,  fir  tree  ;  for  the  cedar  is  fallen  ;  be- 
 cause the  II  mighty  are  spoiled :  howl,  O  ye 
 oaks  of  Bashan  ;  ^  for  ||  the  forest  of  the  vintage 
 is  come  down. 
 
 3  If  There  is  a  voice  of  the  howling  of  the 
 shepherds  ;  for  their  glory  is  spoiled :  a  voice 
 of  the  roaring  of  young  lions  ;  for  the  pride  of 
 Jordan  is  spoiled. 
 
 4  Thus  saith  the  Lord  my  God  ;  "  Feed  the 
 flock,  of  the  slaugrhter  : 
 
 (Icr  and  lightning,  (see  Jer.  x.  13.) — Preb.  LowtJi.  2.  Have  spoken 
 
 vfimty,  they  promise  it,  they  speak  vain  things ;  Gort  only  can  give  it. 
 The  word  for  idols  is  •  teraphim,'  the  same  as  io  Gen.  x.\.\i.  19  ;  Hus. 
 iii.  4.  Jarr/ii  says  the  Teraphim  axeimages  that  speak  hy  snrcerers  or 
 surceries.  —  Gill.  Therefore  they  went  their  way  as  a  fiock,  'were 
 driven  into  captivity  like  scattered  sheep  without  a  shepherd,'  (comp. 
 Jer.  1.  17  ;  Ezek.  xxxiv.  5.)—Bp.  Hall,  Preb.  Lowth.  3.  Shepkerds. 
 wicked  king  and  princes.  (?o/i^s-,  wicked,  common  Jews. —  Wells.  For 
 the  Lord  of  hosts,  ^-c,  '  but  Jehovsh,  God  of  hosts,  will  visit,'  &c. 
 And  hath  made,  '  snd  will  make,'  &c. — Weivc.  As  his  goodly  horse, 
 ^c. — the  chief  use  which  the  Jews  made  of  horses  was  in  war,  (see 
 Prov.  \xi.  31  ;  Isa.  xxxi.  1,  2.)—Pre/K  Lowth.  This  implies  courage 
 and  strength. — See  Bla.  4.  Him,  '  Jndah.'— iVeit-r.  Came  forth,  or 
 '  shall  come  forth.' — Preb.  Lowth.  The  corner,  'the  cornerstone,*  the 
 ftrnamcnt  and  completion  of  the  building.  The  nail,  by  which  the  tents 
 were  fastened,  and  on  which  they  hung  their  clothes,  armour,  &c.  The 
 hattle  how,  '  the  choicest  archers.*  All  strenjcth,  coimsel,  and  excel- 
 lence came  from  that  tribe. — A.  Clarke.  The  King  Messiah  is  here  in- 
 tended, Targ.  ;  Jitrchi,  Kimclti.  See  1  Chron.  v.  '1 ;  Heb.  vii.  14  ;  E|)h. 
 ii.  'li\:  Isa.  xxii.  23;  Rev.  six.  W—M.—Oill.  Every  oppressor,  'every 
 ridiT.*  Tiie  word  iDJIl.  is  used  in  a  good  sense,  Isa.  Ix.  1".  Judah 
 shall  furni>h  both  civil  and  military  governors. — Newc.  These  meta- 
 phorical terms  seem  to  denote  that  whatever  was  necessary  to  restore 
 tiie  political  edifice  should  he  fonnd  among  them. — Boothr.  Under  the 
 Divine  Providence  they  should  be  furnished  with  every  kind  of  ruler, 
 trom  the  corner  stone  and  the  nail,  (the  chief  magistrates,)  on  whom 
 the  weight  of  government  rc^ts,  and  which  terms  are  applied  to  the 
 Messiah  himself,  Ps.  cxviii.  22,  Isa.  xxii.  23,  to  the  military  com- 
 m;inder,  the  battle  bow,  and  even  the  exactor,  or  tax-gatherer,  here 
 ciilled  the  oppressor,  a  word  of  extensive  import,  including  those  whose 
 office  was  least  respected  or  beloved.  See  Isa.  Ix.  17,  where  the  same 
 word  is  rendered  '  exactors.' — Wil.  5.  The  riders  on  horses,  ffc,  the 
 Macedonians,  who  opposed  the  Maccabees,  and  had  much  cavalry  ; 
 whereas  the  Jews  had  none,  and  even  few  weapons  of  war,  yet  tliey 
 overcame  these  horsemen. — A.  Clarke,  as  Newc.  It  is  in  vain  that  the 
 less-enlightened  critics  send  us  here  to  Judas  Maccabeus  and  his  bro- 
 thers; their  victories  were  but  sparks  compared  with  the  grand  and 
 
 final  contest  between  philosophy  and  revelation,  in  the  war  of  the 
 Lamb.— S«i.  Perhaps  the  Turkish  cavalry  is  meant,  who  may  attempt 
 til  hinder  the  settlement  of  the  Jews  in  their  own  land,  the  armies  of 
 the  Turks  consisting  greatly  of  horsemen,  (Kev.ix.  \6.)—Gill.  8.  Hiss, 
 '  (  will  summon  them  from  distant  countries  by  a  certain  signal,  as  a 
 shepherd  calls  his  flock  together  with  a  whistle,'  (comp.  Isa.  v.  26; 
 vii.  \S.)—Preb.  Lowth.  9.  Sow  them,  multiply  thera  among  the  na- 
 tions, (comp.  Hos.  ii.  23.)  10.  Egypt,  §v.— the  prophets  oiten  foretel 
 the  general  restoration  as  a  return  from  Eg\'pt  and  Assyria,  (see  Isa. 
 xi.  15,  16;  XL\.23— 25;  xxvU.  13;  Hos.  xi. 'll .)— iVe6.  Lowth.  And 
 place  shall  not  be  found  for  them,  '  B.T\(\  there  shall  not  be  found  suffi- 
 cient place  for  thera.* — Newc.  11.  Pass  through  the  sea,  ^-c.— the 
 allusion  is  to  the  passages  of  the  Red  Sea  and  Jordati ;  the  meaning, 
 that  no  less  miraculous  power  should  now  interpose  for  them. — So  Bla. 
 Pride  of  Assyria,  fyc.,  meaning  the  subduing  of  the  enemies  of  God  and 
 his  truth  in  general.— FreA.  Lowth.  12.  Shall  walk  up  and  down,  Sfc., 
 'shall  manage  all  their  atfairs,  civil  and  military,  secular  and  ecclesi- 
 astical, by  authority,  power,  and  wisdom  from  above,  to  the  glory  of 
 our  God  and  Redeemer.'— Poo/e.  'Their  lives  and  actions  shall  be 
 under  the  direction  of  God's  laws.' — Preb.  Lowth. 
 
 Chap.  XI.  —  This  chapter  is  minatory,  and  foretels  the  ruin  of  the 
 temple  and  Jerusalem  by  the  Romans,  and  the  captivity  of  the  Jews 
 under  them  for  rejecting  of  Christ.— Poo/e,  so  Bla.  1.  Lebanon,  the 
 temple  ;  stately  buildings  resembled  a  forest,  and  Jerusalem  is  elsewhere 
 so  called,  (comp.  Jer.  xxi.  14  ;  xxii.  7,  23  ;  Ezek.  xx.  46.)— P;e/^.  Lowth. 
 2,  3.  Fir  tree — cedar — oaks — shepherds — lions,  may  denote  their  great 
 men,  valiant  shepherds,  and  cruel  rulers.  The  forest,  may  <lenote  Je- 
 rusalem, or  the  common  people.— J.  Brown.  We  may  read  as  in  the 
 margin,  '  the  defcnced  forest,'  which  gives  a  good  representation  of 
 Jerusalem,  with  its  fortifications. — Preb.  Lowth.  Pride  of  Jordan — 
 Jordan  is  here  put  for  the  whole  land  of  Judea,  now  wasted,  and  so  its 
 pride  and  glory  gone,  as  if  the  waters  of  Jordan  were  tlried  up,  the 
 pride  and  glory  of  that. — Gill.  Understand  here,  Jordan's  woods  and 
 thickets,  which  decorated  its  banks;  but  in  a  secondary  and  meta- 
 phorical sense,  these  are  put  for  the  residences  of  those  princes  and 
 grandees  who  too  often,  like  the  lions  that  dwelt  in  these  thickets,  de- 
 vour and  oppress  the  people.— So  Bla.       4.  The  fiock  of  the  slaughter 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X. —  From  this  chapter  we  may 
 learn  to  look  to  God  for  all  our  blessings— 1.  We  are  indebted 
 to  God  for  natural  bhssinps.  It  is  be  who  sitteth  in  the- 
 heavens  and  rules  tlie  clouds.  It  is  he  who  can  open  or  shut 
 them  at  pleasure.  Let  not.  then,  the  regular  bestowment  of 
 the  bounties  of  nature  in  tbeir  season  induce  us  to  look  merely 
 at  second  causes  ;  let  us  remember  that  it  is  God  who  visitetb 
 the  earth  and  wateretb  it. 
 
 11.  We  are  indebted  to  God  for  political  blessinfjs.      He  is 
 the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  and  bis  goodness  can 
 supply  us  with  legislators  and  magistrates  who  shall  i)e  nnlv 
 *  a  terror  to  fvil-doers,  and  a  praise  to  tbcm  that  do  well.' 
 979 
 
 III.  We  are  indebted  to  God  for  spiritual  ilessinys.  All 
 support  under  affliction — all  deliverances  irom  spiritual  ene- 
 mies— all  comfort  and  strength  of  soul,  and  all  grace  *  to  walk 
 worthy  of  bim  who  bath  called  us  to  bis  kingdom  and  glory,' 
 come  from  Got!.  Let  us.  then,  look  to  bim  who  has  promised 
 these  blessings  lo  all  the  spiritual  seed  of  Abraham.  So  will 
 be  be  our  God,  and  we  shall  be  bis  people,  and  we  shall  be 
 able  to  adopt,  with  grateful  hearts,  the  language  of  the 
 Apostle  lo  the  Kpbesians — '  lilessed  be  the  God  and  Katherof 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  bath  blessed  ua  with  all  spiritual 
 blessings  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ. 
 
ThesUioes  of  Beauty  and  Bands  broken.       ZECHARIAH,  XII. 
 
 Jerusalem  a  cup  of  trembling. 
 
 5  Whose  possessors  slay  tliem,  and  '^  hold 
 themselves  not  guilty  :  and  they  that  sell  them 
 "say,  Blessed  be  the  Lord  ;  for  I  ain  rich  : 
 and  their  own  shepherds  pity  them  not. 
 
 6  For  I  will  no  more  pity  the  inhabitants  of 
 the  land,  saith  the  Lord  :  but,  lo,  I  will  f  de- 
 liver the  men  every  one  into  his  neighbour's 
 hand,  and  into  the  hand  of  his  kinji :  and  they 
 shall  smite  the  land,  and  out  of  their  hand  I 
 will  not  deliver  them. 
 
 7  And  I  will  ffeed  the  flock  of  slaughter, 
 II  even  you,  ^  O  poor  of  the  flock.  And  I  took 
 unto  me  two  staves  ;  the  one  I  called  Beauty, 
 and  the  other  I  called  ||  Bands ;  and  I  fed  the 
 flock. 
 
 8  Three  shepherds  also  I  cut  off  ''in  one 
 month  ;  and  my  soul  f  lothed  tliem,  and  their 
 soul  also  abhorred  me. 
 
 9  Then  said  I,  I  will  not  feed  you :  '  that  that 
 dieth,  let  it  die  ;  and  that  that  is  to  be  cut  off, 
 let  it  be  cut  off;  and  let  the  rest  eat  every  one 
 the  flesh  f  of  another. 
 
 10  U  And  I  took  my  staff,  even  Beauty,  and 
 cut  it  asunder,  that  I  might  break  my  covenant 
 which  I  had  made  with  all  the  peoi}le. 
 
 11  And  it  was  broken  in  that  day  :  and  |l  so 
 '  the  jioor  of  the  flock  that  waited  upon  me 
 knew  that  it  teas  the  word  of  the  Lord. 
 
 12  And  I  said  unto  them,  f  If  ye  think  good, 
 give  me  my  price  ;  and  if  not,  forbear.  So 
 they  'weighed  for  my  price  thirty /)!ec(?.9  of 
 silver. 
 
 d  .ler.  S.  3. 
 
 &  50.  7 
 «  Peu  29.19 
 
 Hos.  l'>.  8- 
 
 tu  iiif  fimnii. 
 
 II  Or,  <«ri7v 
 l}tf  p"or. 
 
 y  Zl.i,Ii.3.I8 
 Mat    11.  3. 
 
 ,t  Or, 
 
 r,  Ho9   5.  7 
 t  Hoh.  wai 
 
 for  l/iim. 
 I  .l.'r.   15.  2. 
 K;   kl     II. 
 
 tHfb..//., 
 yrlloii,  iir, 
 ne(g>ib<ittr. 
 
 II  Or,  //i*  po^ 
 ^r.  ccrlaiiili/ 
 *  Zcpii.3.12. 
 
 rM.-\t.  2(5. 15. 
 S«c  Ex.  SI. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 dr.  587. 
 
 1  Eze.  M.  2, 
 S,  4. 
 
 ,  Jcr.  S3.  1. 
 Ezek.  3*.  '2 
 Jobu  lU.  12 
 13. 
 
 »  Is.  -12.  .5.  «! 
 
 4t.-'l.  &15. 
 
 12,  IS.  &  4S. 
 
 13. 
 6  Nu.  10,22. 
 
 Eccles.I2-7. 
 
 Is.  &7.  IG. 
 
 Heb.  12.  9. 
 c  Is.  51.  17, 
 
 S2,  23. 
 
 13  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me.  Cast  it  unto 
 the  '"  potter  :  a  goodly  jirice  that  I  was  prised 
 at  of  them.  And  I  look  the  thirty  pieces  of 
 silver,  and  cast  them  to  the  potter  in  the  house 
 of  the  Lord. 
 
 14  Then  I  cut  asunder  mine  other  staff,  eufn 
 II  Bands,  that  I  might  break  the  brotherhood 
 between  Judah  and  Israel. 
 
 15  II  And  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  "  Take 
 unto  thee  yet  the  instruments  of  a  foolish 
 shepherd. 
 
 10  For,  lo,  I  will  raise  up  a  shepherd  in  the 
 land,  wliicli  shall  not  visit  those  that  be  ||  cut 
 off,  neither  shall  seek  the  young  one,  nor  heal 
 that  that  is  broken,  nor  ||  feed  that  that  stand- 
 etb  still  :  but  he  shall  eat  the  flesh  of  the  fat, 
 and  tear  their  claws  in  pieces. 
 
 17  °  Woe  to  the  idol  shepherd  that  leaveth 
 the  flock !  the  sword  shall  be  upon  his  arm, 
 and  upon  his  right  eye  :  his  arm  shall  be  cle,in 
 dried  up,  and  his  right  eye  .shall  be  utterly 
 darkened. 
 
 CHAP.  XH. 
 
 I  Jerusalem  a  cup  nf  trcmWJng  to  hcrsdf,  Qandahnr- 
 dtnsome  stone  to  her  ailvtrsaries.  6  The  victorious 
 restorimf  of  Judah.     9   The  repentance  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 THE  burden  of  the  word  of  the  Loud  for  Is- 
 rael, saith  the  Lokd,   "which   stretchetli 
 forth  the  heavens,  and  laycth  the  foundation 
 of  the  earth,  and   ''forinetli  tlie  spirit  of  man 
 within  him. 
 2  Behold,  I  will  make  Jerusalem  ""  a  cup  of 
 
 the  Jewish  cliurch,  now  devoted  to  dcstrnclion  by  the  haiid  of  the  Chal- 
 deans.—  Wil.  That  flock  which  their  shepherds  destroyed  instead  of 
 feeding  them.— Preft.  Lowth.  God  here  addresses  the  prophet  to  act 
 the  part  of  the  good  shepherd. — So  Cfiaitdler.  The  propliet  is  not  to  be 
 understood  as  receiving  the  commission,  bnt  the  Messiah. —Gt/^  5.  Sell 
 them,  deal  with  their  dock  as  so  many  butchers,  and  think  they  have 
 a  right  to  slay  or  sell  them.— Prei.  Lowth.  In  effect,  sell  them  to  their 
 conquerors,  regarding  only  their  own  immediate  advantage. — Neii-c. 
 
 6.  Into  his  neiphhotii's  hand,  and  into  the  hand  of  his  Amff— the  Jews 
 were  partly  destroyed  by  the  cruelty  and  violence  of  their  own  go- 
 vernors, by  their  intestine  divisions,  and  by  the  Roman  emperor,  whom 
 they  had  avowed  their  king  in  opposition  to  Jcsiis  Christ. — J.  Drown. 
 
 7.  Two  staves  —  the  shepherds  had  two  rods  or  staves,  one,  turned 
 round  at  top,  for  counting  the  sheep,  and  separating  the  sound  from 
 the  diseased,  (see  Lev.  xxvii.  32 ;)  the  other  had  an  inni  crook  at  the 
 end  to  pull  in  the  strayed  sheep  :  both  are  mentioned  by  the  Psalmist, 
 Ps.  xxiii.  ■i.  —  Preb.  Lowth.  The  taking  these  staves  denoted  the 
 actual  exercise  of  tlie  shepherd's  office.— Poo/''.  Beaxitu— Bands— x.hc'se 
 two  rods  shew  the  beauty  and  union  of  the  people  while  under  God  as 
 their  shepherd. — .-I.  C/nrke,  s^oNewc.  'Beauty*  was  intended  to  denote 
 the  wisdom,  virtue,  and  talents  required  of  pastors.  *  Bands'  to  shew 
 how  shepherds  should  defend  their  tlock  against  the  wolves.— S«/.  liy 
 the  staff  '  bands,'  we  understand  the  gos|)el  which  was  preached  to  the 
 Jews  before  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  ;.  by  the  other  staff,  '  beauty,' 
 the  ordinances  of  the  gospel  are  designed,  which  are  of  use  to  keep 
 the  saints  together,  and  to  direct  them  to  proper  food.  —  Gilt.  By 
 'beauty,'  iinderstand  the  sweet  and  bcauiiful  order  of  God's  covenant, 
 and  the  doctrine  thereof,  whereby  the  church  is  directed  in  faith,  wor- 
 ship, and  obedience  of  God  ;  by  '  bands,'  that  policy  whereby  they  are 
 kept  one  and  all  without  selnsms  among  themselves. — Hutc.  8.  Three 
 shepherds,  fyc,  the  three  Maccabees,  Judas,  Jonathan,  and  Simnn.— 
 Aharb.  The  tliree  dynasties— the  principality  of  David,  the  monarchy 
 of  the  Hasmoneans,  and  the  kingd(im  of  Herod's  family. — R.  Abraham 
 of  Toledo.  The  three  wicked  high  priests,  Jason,  Alcimus,  and  Mene- 
 laus,  may  lie  meant. — Hew.  Rather  the  three  sects  among  the  Jews— 
 the  Pharisees,  Sadducees,  and  Essenes.— Li>/i(/'.,  Gi/f.  Perhaps  three 
 orders  may  be  intended— [i-)  The  priesthood,  (ii.)  The  dictatorship, 
 including  the  Scribes,  Phaiisees,  i^c.  (iii.)  The  magistracy,  the  great 
 Sauhedrim.  and  the  smaller  councils.— .^I.  Clarke.  The  chief  priests, 
 scribes,  and  elders  of  the  Jews.— Pjt/i./>oh'//<.  Their  kings,  their  priests, 
 and  tlieir  vrophcts.—Stokes,  so  Heniistt-nher^,  and  M'Caid.  Certain 
 false  prophets,  seems  the  preferable  sense- A>«'c.  A  definite  is  here 
 put  for  an  iiulctinite  number. — Poole.  We  know  not  the  precise  mean- 
 ing of  these  words ;  for  when  speaking  of  the  fall  of  princes,  delicacy 
 is  required  ;  we  know,  however,  that  they  were  wicked  shepherds,  as 
 the  three  Heroris,  (see  Matt.  ii.  16.)— Sm/*.  It  is  perhaps  best  to  confess 
 we  do  not  understand  this.— FF(7.  0.  /  will  not  feed  you,  fyc,  some 
 of  you  are  appointed  to  death  by  famine,  others  by  the  sword,  others 
 
 by  mutual  destruction.— So  Clarke,  Preli.  Lowth.  10.  That  I  might 
 break  my  covenant,  which  they  had  broken  on  their  part  already,— 
 A.  Clarke;  and  to  shew  it  was  now  at  an  enil.—Boothr.  12.  My 
 
 price,  §-c.,  *  my  hire,'  and  they  rated  it  contemptuously,  thirty  pieces 
 of  silver  being  the  price  of  a  slave. —  A.  Clarke,  so  Ncwc.,  Bla.,  Lowth. 
 J  3.  Cast  it  unto  the  potter,  as  a  reward  only  suitable  to  his  labour.— 
 PreO.  Lowth.  Potters'  vessels  were  proverbial  things  of  small  price, 
 (see  Lam.  iv.  2.) — Xewc.  To  foreshadow  the  transaction  mentioned 
 Malt,  xxvii.  ".- .4.  Clarke.  A  goodly  price,  ironically  expressed  for  a 
 pitiful  price.— Wells.  That  I  was  /jri^crf— Jehovah  calls  the  price  of 
 his  prophet  his  own  price.  Cast  them  to  the  potter  in  the  house  of  the 
 Lord  —  earthen  vessels  were  useful  in  the  temple  to  receive  the  oil 
 and  wine  brought  there,  (see  Deut.  xii.  17  ;  xviii.  1 ;)  we  may  therefore 
 suppose  that  some  Levites  were  employed  within  the  sacred  precincts 
 to  furnibh  them.  14.  Break  the  brotherhood— \t  would  seem  from 
 
 this  that  the  kingdom  of  Israel  subsisted  when  the  prophet  wrote  it; 
 and  that  cither  the  wars  between  Judah  and  Israel  are  referred  to, 
 (see  2  Kings,  xvi.  5,)  or  the  captivity  of  the  ten  tribes,  when  the  bro- 
 therly connexion  between  these  kingdoms  ceased.— iVeu-c.  As  they 
 refused  to  be  united  under  their  head,  by  this  sign  was  signified  the 
 destruction  of  Jerusalem,  the  bond  and  cement  of  all  their  tribes  ;  alter 
 this,  confusion  ensued,  and  their  families  could  no  longer  be  ilistin- 
 guished  after  the  loss  of  their  genealogies.- Prei.  Lowth.  15.  The 
 instruments  of  a  foolish  shepherd,  such  as  a  bag  without  bread,  a  staff 
 without  a  hook,  Iftc,  things  that  were  needless  or  of  no  use;  to  point 
 out  the  Jewish  pastors,  who  took  no  care  of  the  flock,  but  devoured 
 them,  or  ruled  them  with  force  and  with  cruelty.—.^.  Clarke.  16.  A 
 shepherd,  denotes  here  a  succession  of  such  governors  as  are  described 
 in  the  words  that  follow.— PrM.  Lowth.  A  wicked  king,  as  Hoshea, 
 may  be  here  meant,  (see  2  Kings,  xvii.  1,  2.)—Neivc.  The  Roman 
 jiower,  that  great  iron  empire,  is  here  symbolized,  and  its  character 
 should  be  the  reverse  of  that  of  a  good  shepherd.— Suf.  Tear  their 
 claws — the  shepherd  is  supposed  to  overdrive  his  flock  in  rough  and 
 stony  ground,  so  as  to  break  their  hoofs.— B/«.  17.  Woe  to  the  idol 
 hbepherd,  the  Jewish  state  and  nation,  who  had  left  the  fold  of  God  to 
 follow  after  idols, — Sut.  The  sentence  may  be  rendered,  *  woe  to  the 
 shepherd  of  no  value;'  so  the  word  VVkH  is  translated.  Job,  xiii.  4.— 
 Preb.  Lowth.  Vj^H  ''SJ'l,  '  the  shepherd  of  nothing,'  that  is,  good  for 
 nothing.— J«rt.,  Tn-m.,  Pise.,  Drus.,  GUI,  M'Caul.  'I'his  may  apply 
 equally  to  king  or  jiriest  who  may  be  an  idolator,  (see  Ezek.  xxxiv. 
 2,  A.)— Wil.  .^rm,  the  secular  power.  Right  eye,  the  ecclesiastical 
 state.— .^.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XIL  — 1.  The  burden  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  for  Israel— this 
 chapter  contains  a  prophecy  of  the  defence,  protection,  and  salvation 
 of  the  church  of  God,  and  of  the  effusion  of  the  spirit ;  and  of  the  con- 
 version of  the  Jews  in  the  latter  day. —Gill.  It  probably  alludes  to 
 events  more  largely  described  in  the  38th  and  3gth  chapters  of  Ezekiel. 
 —Preb.  Lowth.        2.  A  cup  of  trembling,  '  a  vessel  full  of  inebriating 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI.  —  Our  thoughts  are  here  led 
 to — I.  77je  crjiel  shepherd.  One  who  has  no  pity  for  the  souls 
 committed  to  his  care  ;  who  starves  the  flock,  and  fleeces  them 
 to  the  greatest  extreme,  giving  them  up  to  niin.  Miserable  is 
 their  condition  who  are  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  such  a  ruler. 
 980 
 
 whether  spiriluul  or  temporal. 
 
 II.  The  gaud  Shepherd.  He  takes  care  of  his  poor  flock,  and 
 never  fails  lo  feed  it.  None  of  his  sheep  shall  be  lost,  '  they 
 shall  never  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.' 
 
Victorious  restoration  of  Judah, 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  XIII. 
 
 Jerusalem's  purgation  frorrh  idolatry. 
 
 II  trembling  unto  all  the  people  round  about, 
 II  when  they  shall  be  in  tlie  siege  both  against 
 Jndah  on<l  against  Jerusalem. 
 
 3  H ''  And  in  that  day  will  I  make  Jerusalem 
 °  a  burdensome  stone  for  all  people  :  all  that 
 burden  tliemselves  with  it  shall  be  cut  in 
 pieces,  though  all  the  people  of  the  earth  be 
 gathered  together  against  it. 
 
 4  In  that  day,  saith  the  Lord,  '  I  will  smite 
 every  horse  with  astonishment,  and  his  rider 
 with  madness :  and  I  will  open  mine  eyes 
 upon  the  house  of  Judab,  and  will  smite  every 
 horse  of  the  people  with  blindness. 
 
 5  And  the  governors  of  Judah  shall  say  in 
 tlieir  heart,  ||  The  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem 
 shall  he  my  strength  in  the  Lord  of  hosts 
 their  God. 
 
 (•>  H  In  that  day  will  I  make  the  governors  of 
 Judali  "like  an  hearth  of  fire  among  tlie  wood, 
 and  like  a  torch  of  fire  in  a  sheaf;  and  they 
 sliall  devour  all  the  people  round  about,  on 
 the  right  hand  and  on  the  left :  and  Jerusalem 
 shall  be  inhabited  again  in  her  own  place,  even 
 in  Jerusalem. 
 
 7  The  Lord  also  shall  save  the  tents  of  Ju- 
 dab first,  that  the  glory  of  the  house  of  David 
 and  the  glory  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem 
 do  not  magnify  themselves  against  Judab. 
 
 8  In  that  day  shall  the  Lord  defend  the 
 inhabitants  of  Jerusalem;  and  ''he  that  is 
 II  t  feeble  among  them  at  tliat  day  shall  be  as 
 David;   and  the  house  of  David  shall  be  as 
 
 II  Or,  Jumber, 
 m,  imim 
 
 II  Or,  and  nhu 
 agn  i'ltl  J'l- 
 liu/jsbalthe 
 
 ilmU  br  i„ 
 tii-ife  agiiinst 
 Jnuialem, 
 d  vpr.  ■!,  G,  S, 
 %  U.  8c  ch. 
 l:i.  1.  &  li. 
 +,  C,  8,  fl, 
 
 r.1, 
 
 p  Mat.  21 .14 
 f  I's.  76.  f. 
 E/ok.  38  4. 
 
 II  Or,  TlHTi 
 iH  tirangth 
 l'imeM\i.\  li 
 Ihtr  inhnOir- 
 ■inU,  f(c. 
 .I.iel  3.  tfl. 
 
 li  Oltad.  IS. 
 
 ||Or.«ift><7(. 
 1  Heb./.;fc... 
 
 i  Hag.  2.  «. 
 
 h  Jer.  31.  {>. 
 
 &  50.  4 . 
 Kze.  3y.  29. 
 
 ;j..lm  Hi, 34, 
 37.  Kev  1.7. 
 
 <.  2  Kill.  23. 
 99.  a  Chr. 
 
 ;)  Mjil.2-1.30. 
 Kev   1.7. 
 
 ,;„,^„„. 
 
 ']  2  Sam   5. 
 
 11  Or,  0/ Si- 
 mrun,  as 
 LXX. 
 
 6  Hpb.  fl.  (4. 
 I  Pet.  1.  19. 
 Kov.   1.  5. 
 Heb.  sepa- 
 
 "■'■;■/"' 
 
 uiiclr'nmi'is. 
 
 God,  as  the  angel  of  the  Lord  before  them. 
 
 9  1  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day, 
 that  I  will  seek  to  '  destroy  all  the  nations 
 that  come  against  Jerusalem. 
 
 10  '  And  I  will  pour  upon  the  house  of  Da- 
 vid, and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the 
 spirit  of  grace  and  of  supplications :  and  they 
 shall  '  look  upon  me  whom  they  have  pierced, 
 and  they  shall  mourn  for  him,  "'as  one  niourn- 
 eth  for  his  only  son,  and  shall  be  in  bitterness 
 for  him,  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness  for  his 
 firstborn. 
 
 11  In  that  day  shall  there  be  a  great  "mourn- 
 ing in  Jerusalem,  "  as  the  mourning  of  Hadad- 
 rimmon  in  the  valley  of  Megiddon. 
 
 1'2  ''And  the  land  shall  mourn,  f  every  family 
 apart ;  the  family  of  the  bouse  of  David  apart, 
 and  their  wives  apart ;  the  family  of  the  house 
 of  ''  Nathan  apart,  and  their  wives  apart ; 
 
 13  The  family  of  the  house  of  Levi  apart, 
 and  their  wives  apart ;  the  family  ||  of  Shimei 
 apart,  and  their  wives  apart ; 
 
 14  All  the  families  that  remain,  every  family 
 apart   and  their  wives  apart. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  T/ie  fountain  of  purgation  for  Jervsnhm,  2  from 
 idolatry,  and  false  prophecy.  7  Tliv  death  of  Christy 
 and  the  trial  of  a  third  part. 
 
 TN  "that  day  tliere  sliall  be  ''a  fountain 
 ■^  opened  to  the  house  of  David  and  to  the 
 inliabitants  of  Jerusalem  for  sin  and  for  fun- 
 cleanness. 
 
 liquor,'  Targ.  The  phrase  denotes  the  punishment  inflicted  by  the 
 \^^xA  upon  the  enemies  of  liis  church  and  people,  (see  Isa.  li.  22,  23.) — 
 did.  They  shall  drink  tlieir  own  bane  whose  swords  are  drunken 
 with  tlie  blood  uf  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem.— Po"/t'.  They  shall  be 
 in  the  same  condition  as  those  that  are  overcome  by  intoxicating: 
 liquors,  and  thereby  bereaved  of  their  strength  and  understanding. — 
 Prcb.  Luwth.  3.  A  burdensome  sione— it  was  a  custom  throuKhnut 
 Pale.stine  for  the  young  men  to  lift  up  stones  of  enormous  weight,  even 
 sometimes  as  high  as  or  over  their  heads,  as  an  exhibition  of  strength. 
 For  tliis  purpose,  huge  round  stones  were  placed  in  the  towns  and  vil- 
 lages. In  such  an  exercise,  where  men  undertook  to  lift  a  stone  too 
 heavy  for  their  strength,  they  were  in  danger  of  its  failing,  and  crush- 
 ing tlicm  to  pieces. — Jerome.  Probably  the  reference  is  to  that  stone 
 which  was  thrown  on  the  brea^^t  of  a  culprit  adjudged  to  death  by  ston- 
 ing.—  Clarke.  4.  Smite  every  horse,  *  send  a  distraction  among  tlie 
 cavalry  uf  the  enemy.' — Preh,  Luivfh.  This  alludes  to  the  time  of  tlie 
 Maccabees.  —  Poole.  Perhaps  to  tlie  Turkish  armies  that  shall  be 
 brought  against  Jerusalem,  to  recover  it  into  their  possession,  which 
 generally  consist  of  a  large  cavalry,  (see  Rev.  ix.  l6,  ]7.)—Gill;  as 
 Luwth.  It  is  most  likely  the  prophecy  is  yet  to  be  accomplished. — A. 
 Clarke.  6.  Like  an  hearth,  ^-c,  the  word  may  be  rendered,  '  a  pot.' 
 — Newc.  The  Arabs  make  a  fire  in  a  great  stone  pitcher,  and,  when  it 
 is  lieated,  spread  paste  upon  it.  which  is  baked  in  an  instant. — Har. 
 *  As  a  garment  nf  fire  among  wof>d,'  Tnrg.  And  like  a  torch  of  fire  in 
 a  sheaf ,  of  wheat,  which  presen'ly  destroys  it,  (Obad.  ver.  IS.) — Gitl. 
 7.  Sh'tll  sure  the  tt'tits  of  .Tudah  first.  '  give  success  to  those  that  en- 
 camp in  the  open  country,  that  those  that  defend  Jerusalem  from  within 
 may  not  be  puffed  up. — So  Prtf>.  Lowth.  'Jehovah  will  also  save  the 
 tents  of  Judah,  as  in  oldtime  '— AVfcc.  8.  The  house  of  Duvid, '  tliose 
 of  the  royal  line.' — Poole.  As  David,  courageous,  valiant,  victorious. 
 As  God,  or  'like  the  angels,'  as  this  word  is  rendered,  (Ps.  viii.  5,)  for 
 knowledge,  purity,  and  readiness  to  do  the  will  of  God.  ,4.s-  ttie  anf^el 
 of  the  Lord,  Christ,  who  is  at  the  head  of  his  people,  and  goes  before 
 them  as  their  leader  and  commander,  and  captain  of  their  salvation. — 
 Gill. 
 
 '  And  the  hou.se  of  David  shall  be  as  angels, 
 Even  as  the  angel  of  Jeh<jvah  before  thera.' 
 
 A  climax  is  here  intended.  Tlie  language  is  strongly  hypeiholical,  and 
 can  only  mean  they  shall  be  valiant  and  successful.  10.  The  spirit  of 
 grace,  ^c,  tultilled  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  (Acts,  ii.  17,  \%.)—Boolhr. 
 Perhaps  partly  fulfilled. — Ed.  They  shall  look  upon  me  whom  they  have 
 pierced — St.  Jt'lm  plainly  quotes  these  words,  (chap.  xix.  37.)  and  ap- 
 plies them  to  our  blessed  Saviour,  of  whom  alone  they  can  be  under- 
 
 stood, for  none  could  speak  them  but  One,  who  was  both  God  and  man. 
 — Beveridge.  The  Messiah  here  spoken  of  appears  to  be  both  God  and 
 man;  a  Divine  person  called  Jehovah,  who  is  all  along  speaking,  for 
 none  else  could  pour  out  the  spirit  of  grace  and  supplication  ;  and  yet 
 he  must  be  man,  to  he  pierced. — Gill.  They  shall  mourn  for  ttim — 
 the  Jews  sinned  in  killing  the  Messiah,  for  which  reason  God  removed 
 tliem  (Hit  uf  their  land.  He  will  not  resettle  them  in  it  till  they  shall 
 have  repented  of  their  sin.  On  a  repentance,  superficial  enougli,  God 
 restored  them  after  the  captivity.  Now  their  sins  have  not  heeu  greater 
 in  their  dispersion  than  before,  and  less  by  the  sin  of  idolatry  ;  yet,  they 
 fast  and  mourn,  and  God  will  not  be  propitiated.  This  clearly  shews 
 some  sin  is  still  unrepented  of.  This  sin  Zechariah  here  states. — 
 Chandler.  Messiah,  the  son  of  David,  is  the  person  pierced,  and  the 
 Israelites  shall  mourn  because  of  the  national  and  personal  guilt  in- 
 curred by  piercing-  and  rejecting  him.  The  Jewish  tradition  refers  this 
 to  the  Messiah,  so  that  it  cannot  be  said  that  the  disciples  of  Jesus  of 
 Nazareth  found  a  passage  that  seemed  to  suit  their  purpose,  and  wresteii 
 it  from  the  received  exposition  of  the  nation.  The  Jews  rejected  and 
 pierced  the  Messiah,  and  therefore,  when  the  spirit  is  poured  out,  they 
 will  repent  and  mourn  in  bitterness  of  soul  over  him  whom  they 
 pierced. —  M'C-iul.  11.  The   mourning  of  Hadadrimrnon,  or  'the 
 
 mourning  for  Josiah,  slain  at  Hadadrimrnon.'  The  greatest  mourning 
 ever  known  amongst  the  Jews,  (see  2  Chron.  xxxv.  24,  ys.)— /^oo/e. 
 12.  Erery  family  apart,  '  every  one  shall  endeavour  to  vent  his  deep 
 sorrow  and  distress  of  soul  in  privitte.^—Clarke.  David,  may  mean 
 the  royal  line.  A^af/i'/?',  that  of  the  prophets.  Z-eyi,  high  priests,  priests, 
 and  other  Levites.  Shimei,  [or  'Simeon.'  Sept.']  the  scribes  and  plia- 
 risees,  and  tlieir  descendants.  Some  suppose  the  family  here  meant 
 was  eminent  in  bringing  up  persons  to  the  knowledge  of  the  taw. — 
 Wells,  Lowth.  If  this  refer  to  a  time  yet  to  come,  hnw  can  ii  be  known 
 to  what  family  the  Jews  belong  i  At  the  time  of  our  Lord,  they  had 
 correct  genealogies,  and  this  might  literally  be  then  fulfillci.— CuoiAr. 
 It  does  not  appear  necessary  to  suppose  the  exact  genealogies  shall  he 
 needed  to  mark  the  families  ;  the  passage  seems  to  unply,  that  ail 
 classes  of  the  Jews  shall  be  engaged  in  this  mourning,  though  their 
 genealogies  should  even  be  blended  together.— RV/.  The  above-named 
 lamiUes  may  be  distinguished  as  progenitors  of  Christ,  and  more  par- 
 ticularly concerned  in  the  guilt  to  be  lamented;  '  For  neither  did  his 
 brethren  believe  in  him,'  (John,  vii.  5.) — Bla. 
 
 CuAP.  Xlll.—  1.  A  fountain,  the  blood  of  Christ,  which  cleanseth, 
 from  all  sin,  (1  John,  i.  7,)  is  nianilestly  here  intended,  the  Jews  being, 
 up(.in  their  repentance  and  conversion,  to  be  admitted  to  all  the  privi- 
 leges of  the  Christian  covenant. — Bla.  For  uncleanness,  an  allusion 
 to  the  water  of  separation,  or  of  purification  fur  sin,  (Num.  xix.  90 — 
 
 llKFLtcTioNS  ON  Chap.  XII. — I,  We  here  learn  that,  a 
 great  change  is  to  take  place  on  the  house  of  David  and  the  inhahit- 
 ants  of  Jerusalem — on  both  princes  and  people.  On  the  first 
 preaching  of  the  Gospel,  many  of  the  people  believed,  but 
 scarcely  any  of  the  rulers  ;  now,  all  descriptions  of  men  are  to 
 bow  to  the  Redeemer's  sceptre. 
 
 II.  '  The  cause  to  which  this  is  ascribed  is  (he  pouring  upon 
 than  a  Sjjirit  of  grace  a>td  of  supplication.  The  spirit  of  true  vo- 
 lition is  an  emanation  of  the  grace  of  God,  which  necessarily 
 leads  to  importunate  prayer.  The  present  stale  of  the  unho- 
 981 
 
 lieving  Jews  would  seem  to  render  their  conversion  hopeless  ; 
 but  when  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  shall  descend  upon 
 them,  the  heart  of  stone  shall  heeome  a  heart  of  flesh.' 
 
 III.  '  The  great  medium  of  effecting  this  will  he  the  remembrance 
 of  Him  whom  their  fathers  crucijied,  and  whom  they  themselves 
 have  pierced  by  persecuting  his  followers,  and  contiuuivq  so  long 
 in  rnynitij  and  unbelief  A  realizing  view  of  Jesus  on  the  cross, 
 as  slain  for  us,  will  dissolve  the  most  obdurate  spirit  into  con- 
 trition and  godly  sorrow."  "^ 
 
The  death  of  Christ. 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  XIV.         The  destroyers  of  Jerusalem  destroyed. 
 
 '2  H  And  it  shall  come  tu  pass  in  tlial  day,  saith 
 the  Lord  of  hosts,  iliat  I  will  "  cut  off  the 
 names  of  the  idols  out  of  the  land,  and  they 
 shall  no  more  he  remembered  :  and  also  I  will 
 cause  ''  the  prophets  and  the  unclean  spirit  to 
 pass  out  of  the  land. 
 
 3  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  when  any 
 shall  yet  prophesy,  then  his  father  and  his 
 mother  that  betrat  him  shall  say  unto  him. 
 Thou  shalt  not  live  ;  for  thou  speakest  lies  in 
 the  name  of  tl>e  Lord  :  and  his  father  and  his 
 mother  that  begat  him  "shall  thrust  him 
 through  when  he  prophesieth. 
 
 4  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  that 
 '  tlie  prophets  shall  be  ashamed  every  one  of 
 his  vision,  when  he  hath  prophesied  ;  neither 
 shall  they  wear  ^f  a  rough  garment  flo  deceive  : 
 
 3  ''  But  he  shall  say,  I  am  no  prophet,  1  am 
 an  husbandman  ;  for  man  taught  me  to  keep 
 cattle  from  my  youth. 
 
 C  And  one  shall  say  unto  him.  What  are 
 these  wounds  in  thine  hands?  Then  he  shall 
 answer.  Those  with  which  I  was  wounded  in 
 the  house  of  my  friends. 
 
 7  1[  Awake,  O  sword,  against  '  my  .shepherd, 
 and  against  the  man  'that  is  my  fellow,  saith 
 the  Lord  of  hosts  :  '  smite  the  shepherd,  and 
 the  sheep  shall  be  scattered  :  and  1  will  turn 
 
 /  ^^c.  3. 0,7. 
 
 5  2  Kin.  1.3. 
 
 1b.  20.  2. 
 
 Mat.  3,  i. 
 t  Heb.  a 
 
 gnriiieiit  <•/ 
 
 hnir. 
 
 t  Heb.  to  /->. 
 A  ..\nios  7.14 
 
 i  I».  w.  II. 
 
 Kie.  &i.  '23. 
 kJohn  10. .W. 
 
 &  14.  )0, 11. 
 
 Pbil.  2.  6. 
 t  fllat, 20.31. 
 
 Mark  14  27, 
 
 I  :Mat.  18. 
 
 10,  14. 
 
 I.uke  12.3.' 
 I  Horn.  11.5. 
 
 -.  l9.  4^1.  10. 
 ;.  1  I'ei.  1.0, 
 
 9  Vs.  bO  IS. 
 U  yi-  t.s. 
 eh.  10  6, 
 i's.  141. 16' 
 Jer.  30.  22. 
 Kn!.  11.20. 
 Hob.  2.  23. 
 ch.  8.  8. 
 
 1  l9  13.  0. 
 Jufl2  31. 
 Acta  2.  20. 
 
 mine  hand  upon  "'  the  little  ones. 
 
 8  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  in  all  the 
 land,  saith  the  Lord,  two  parts  therein  shall  be 
 cut  off  and  die  ;  °  but  the  third  shall  be  left 
 therein. 
 
 9  And  I  will  bring  the  third  part  "  through 
 the  tire,  and  will  ''refine  them  as  silver  is  re- 
 fined, and  will  try  them  as  gold  is  tried : 
 '  they  shall  call  on  my  name,  and  I  will  hear 
 them  :  '  1  will  say.  It  ;,<  my  people  :  and  they 
 shall  say.  The  Lord  is  my  God. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  The  destrot/fTS  nf  Jerusahm  destroyed.  4  The  com- 
 itifi  of  Christ,  and  the  ijracts  of  his  kingdom.  12 
 The  platiuf  of  Jtrusaltins  enemies.  16  Thf  mn- 
 noTit  shall  turn  to  the  Lord,  '20  and  thtir  spoils  shall 
 be  hohj, 
 
 "DEHOLD,  "the  day  of  tlie  Loud  cometli. 
 -'-'  and  thy  spoil  shall  be  divided  in  the  midst 
 of  thee. 
 
 2  For  ^  I  will  gather  all  nations  against  Jeru- 
 salem to  battle  ;  and  the  city  shall  he  taken, 
 and  'the  houses  riHed.aud  the  women  ravish- 
 ed ;  and  half  of  the  city  shall  go  fortli  into 
 captivity,  and  the  residue  of  tiie  people  shall 
 not  be  cut  off  from  the  city. 
 
 3  The!i  shall  the   Lokd  go  forth,  and  fight 
 
 liewc.  This  is  literally  to  be  understood  of  the  Jews  ;  mystically  of 
 all  the  family  of  Christ,  the  son  of  David,  and  of  all  that  belong  to 
 the  heavenly  Jerusalem.— Gi«.  2.  Cut  off  the  names  of  the  idols, 
 meaning  idols  uf  gold,  «£c.,  imajres  of  the  virgin  and  saints  departed, 
 worshipped  by  papists.  (Rev.  ix.  'jn.  21 ;)  for  at  this  time,  in  tlic  latter 
 day,  mystical  Babylon  will  fall.— GW^  It  may  be  understood  as  re- 
 ferring to  the  idolatry  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  churches,  as  well  as  to 
 the  Jews. — Prrh.  Lou'th.  It  is  observable  this  prediction  was  uttered 
 when  idolatry  prevailed  among  the  Jews. —iJ/a.  Out  of  the  land,  ynsn, 
 •  the  earth,*  so  this  sliould  be  rendered,  to  shew  its  application  to  the 
 effects  which  the  gosiicl  produced.— Boo(Ar.  I  wilt  muse  the  prophets, 
 '  the  false  prophets.' — Bmtthr.,  as  the  VersioTVt.  Unclenn,  ur  '  impure.* 
 Spirit,  perhaps  those  who  prophesy  by  means  of  an  impure  spirit,  (see 
 Acts,  xvi.  16  ;  Rev.  xvi.  13.)— AVitr.  3.  \Vhe7i  atty  shall  yet  pro- 
 
 phesy, that  is,  falsely.  A'of  Vwe,  itself,  and  they  whn'practise'it  shall 
 be  everywhere  destroyed.— J.  Clarke,  -i.  Ashamed,  put  to  open  shame 
 and  death. —  »re//s.  Or,  'convinced  of  his  error. '-iJ/*. //«//.  A  rough 
 garment,  such  as  Elijah  wore,  to  deceive  the  people  and  pass  for  true 
 prophets,  as  if  they  were  very  humble  and  self-denying  men.— GiV/^ 
 This  seems  to  have  been  the  practice  of  false  prophets —A'eH't-.  It 
 seems  to  have  respect  to  the  habits  of  the  monks  and  friars.  5.  /  am 
 nn  hushandmnn,  he  shall  put  on  the  habit  of  an  hnvbandman,  and  work 
 for  his  bread. — Gill.  6.  Wounded  in  the  house  nf  my  friends,  the  ac- 
 cused is  represented  a«  justifying  himself,  by  alleging  that  the  marks 
 on  his  hands  are  not  the  character  of  any  idol,  for  such  impressions 
 were  often  made  upon  the  hands  ;  but  only  a  token  of  the  family,  ac- 
 cording to  the  ancient  custom  for  masters  to  set  a  mark  on  their  slaves, 
 (see  Isa.  xliv.  5,  note,)— Pre6.  Louth.  Two  ancient  customs  are  here 
 clearly  alluded  to :  that  of  the  idolatrous  prophets,  who  sought  to  en- 
 gage the  attention  rf  their  god  by  cutting  themselves.  (1  Kings,  xviii. 
 28,)  and  that  of  those  who  cut  themselves  as  a  token  of  their  grief  and 
 mourning  for  their  deceased  relations  and  friends,  (Jer.  xvi.  6.)  These 
 cuttings  were  performed  on  the  hands  in  particular.  Hence  the  man. 
 when  challenged  by  tlie  scars  visible  on  his  hands,  would  deny  them 
 to  have  proceeded  from  an  idolatrous  cause,  and  pretend  they  were 
 the  effects  of  the  wounds  he  had  given  himself  for  the  loss  of  his  friends. 
 — Bla.  Most  commentators  take  this  view,  which  is  but  using  one  de- 
 ception to  save  the  consequences  of  another.  The  view  of  Hutchesnn 
 ought,  therefore,  to  he  preferred  :  '  they  shall  not  only  relinquish  their 
 deceiving,  and  take  them  tn  their  old  employment,  but  when  any  shall 
 inquire  what  the  prints  of  inferior  chastisements  that  had  been  inflicted 
 upon  them  who  escaped  death  mean,  (which,  however  they  might  be 
 hid  on  the  rest  of  the  body,  yet  were  visible  on  their  naked  hands,) 
 they  shall  justify  the  censnre.  and  acknowledge  that  the  inflicters, 
 whether  their  parents  (ver.  3)  or  judges,  were  friends  and  not  enemies.* 
 —Exposition  vf  Twelve  Smnll  Prophets,  in  loc.  ?.  Awake,  O  sword. 
 *  sword'  is  employed  tiguratively  to  express  violent  death  by  the  hands 
 of  others. — M'Caul.  Against  my  shepherd,  under  this  name  the  pro- 
 plietic  style  often  represents  the  rulers  and  teachers  of  the  Jewish  na- 
 tion. The  Messiah  is  in  particular  described  by  this  figure,  Isa.  xl.  n  ; 
 EEek.xxxiv.23.  24.  30,  31  ;  xxxvii.  24— 28.  And  again.'it  the  man  that 
 '*  my  fellow,  'the  man  of  my  resemblance.*— /*;/(•  Smith.  '  Of  mv  fel- 
 lowship.*—Gescn.     *  Who  is  very  near  to  me.'- //o»ft.      '  Who  is  near 
 
 unto  me.* — Newc.  Ti'TD?  123  "'S*.  *  upon  the  strong  man,*  or,  '  the  hero 
 that  is  with  me.'— .4.  Clarke.  The  prophet  again  returns  to  the  person 
 and  sufferings  of  our  Lord.  The  Father  thus  speaks,  calling  for  the 
 sword  of  justice  to  wake  against  the  great  shephcid  of  the  flock,— the 
 shepherd  whom  he  had  chosen,  and  who  was  to  die  for  the  sheep. 
 Man,  our  Lord  became  man,  that  he  miEht  be  the  victim  slain  for  sin. 
 Fellow,  may  mean  '  intimate  friend  and  associate  ;*  one  engaged  in  that 
 work  which  his  wisdom  had  planned  from  eternity  ;  or  it  may  signify 
 the  man,  who  is  at  the  same  time  a  Divine  person,  my  equal,  as  enjoy- 
 ing the  same  nature,  isee  Phil.  ii.  5,  Ac. ;  John,  i.  I,  l^ic.j—ltoothroyd. 
 '  My  shepherd,'  must  designate  some  one  peculiarly  appointed  by  God 
 to  feed  his  flock  ;  and  if  we  search  the  prophets  we  shall  find  that  He 
 who  is  promised  as  the  shepherd  of  Israel  is  the  Messiah.  The  Mes- 
 siah, therefore,  is  the  person  to  be  smitten  before  the  scattering  of  the 
 sheep. — M'Caul.  Stnite  the  shepherd,  fyc.  quoted  by  our  Lord,  (Matt. 
 xxvi.  31,)  in  relation  to  his  disciples,  who  should  be  scattered  on  his 
 crucifixion. — A.  Clarke.  This  is  interpreted  also  of  Christ,  by  Poole, 
 Preft.Lowtk,  Scott,  &c. ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  obvious  application 
 of  the  passage  to  Christ,  not  merely  as  an  accommodation,  but  as  a 
 prophecy,  Ntwcome  says.  '  I  have  no  conception  that  it  has  the  most 
 distant  relation  thereto.  1  conceive  ^TTsy  123  mit;ht  properly  be  ren- 
 dered, "  him  that  is  next  unto  me  in  power  and  authority  ;"  which  ex- 
 actly corresponds  with  "my  shepherd"  in  the  parallel  line;  one  that 
 rules  his  flock  or  peojilc  under  me,  or  by  virtue  of  my  commission.' — 
 Attempt  toward.s  an  Improved  Version  of  Minor  Prophets,  in  loc.  And 
 1  will  turn  mine  hand  upon  the  little  vnes,  take  care  of  the  little  flock, 
 and  preserve  thera  from  Jewish  malice  and  Gentile  persecution. — .i. 
 Clarke.  8.  Tiro  parts— cut  off,  this,  probably,  was  literally  the  case 
 in  the  destructi<in  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Romans. — Wil.  9.  Through 
 the/ire,  i.  e.,  of  aflliction  in  Babylon. — i-*.  Henry. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. —  I.  T/ie  day  of  the  Lord,  which  he  hath  appointed  for 
 punishing  the  sins  of  his  ancient  people,  cometh  on  the  Jews,  who 
 first  despised,  and  then  murdered  the  Messiah.— Poo/e.  2.  All  nations, 
 the  Romans,  being  lords  of  the  known  world,  had  the  strength  of  all 
 nations  united  in  their  forces. — Preb.  Lowth.  Half,  'a  portion,"  (see 
 the  same  Hebrew  word  translated,  Judg.  ix.  43;  Dan.  xi.  4.) — Newc. 
 Some  expositors  suppose  that  the  predictions  in  this  chapter  relate  to 
 events  still  future ;  but  probably  they  begin  with  Jerusalem's  destruc- 
 tion by  the  Romans,  and  gradually  extend  to  those  events  which  shall 
 hereafter  take  place  in  respect  of  the  Jews,  the  church  of  Christ,  and 
 their  enemies. — Scott.  The  residue — shall  not  be  cut  off,  this  cannot 
 refer  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Romans,  for  then  all  the 
 inhabitants  of  the  city  were  cut  off  or  carried  captive. — Gill.  Josephus 
 says,  40,000  were  suffered  to  go  whither  they  would. — Preb.  Lotvth. 
 It  must  be  observed,  those  who  were  set  at  liberty  were  Idumeans.— 
 .I0S.  Pel.  Jud.,  vi.,  viii.  2.  The  Romans  spared  the  young  and  useful 
 part  of  the  Jews  ;  however,  they  were  either  condemned  to  the  mines 
 in  Egypt,  or  exposed  to  the  sword  and  to  wild  beasts  in  provincial 
 theatres,  or  sold  for  slaves. — Newc.  Many  still  abode  in  the  land, 
 especially  the  Christian  Jews,  nor  were  they  cut  off  from  going  to  and 
 visiting  the  city  in  its  desolation. — Boothr.  This  is  applied  to  the 
 taking  of  the  city  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes.  by  Grotius.  3.  Then 
 shall  the  Lord  go  forth,  ajid  fight  against  those  nations,  that  is,  their 
 
 Refl 
 
 FLECTIONS  ON  Chap.  XIII.— I.  Let  US  rejoicc  that  there 
 ui  "/*"'"'"'"  opened  for  sin  and  for  7mcleanness.  That  'the 
 blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin,'  and  that  this 
 tountain  of  t;race  and  niercv  is  ever  full  and  ever  flowine;,  and 
 <'ver  open  and  freo  for  even  the  vilest  of  the  vile.  Hither, 
 then,  let  the  defikd  come^ 
 082 
 
 '  Bathe  here  and  be  clean, 
 Wash  here  and  be  white.' 
 
 II.  There  is  no  better  evidence  of  being  cleansed  in  the  fountain 
 opened  than  practical  holiness.  That  grace  which  pardons  sin  also 
 sanctifies  the  soul.  That  promise  which  says,  '  from  all  your 
 tiUhiness/ says  also,' from  all  your  idols,  will  1  cleanse  you.' 
 
The  coming  of  Christ, 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  XIV. 
 
 and  the  {/races  of  his  kingdom. 
 
 against  those  nations,  as  when  he  fought  in  the 
 day  of  battle. 
 
 4  H  And  his  feet  shall  stand  in  that  day 
 •'  upon  the  monnt  of  Olives,  which  is  before 
 Jerusalem  on  the  east,  and  the  mount  of 
 Olives  shall  cleave  in  the  midst  thereof  toward 
 the  east  and  toward  the  west,  ^and  there  shall 
 he  a  very  great  valley  ;  and  half  of  the  moun- 
 tain shall  remove  toward  the  north,  and  half  of 
 it  toward  the  south. 
 
 5  And  ye  shall  flee  to  the  valley  of  ||  the 
 mountains  ;  ||  for  tlie  valley  of  the  mountains 
 shall  reach  unto  Azal  :  yea,  ye  shall  flee,  like 
 as  ye  fieri  from  i)efore  the  *"  earthquake  in  the 
 days  of  Uzziah  king  of  Judah:  ^and  the  Lord 
 my  God  sliall  come,  and  ^  all  the  saints  with 
 tiiee. 
 
 (j  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  \\that 
 the  light  shall  not  be  f  clear,  nor  f  dark  : 
 
 7  But  II  it  shall  be  '  one  day  ■■"  whicli  shall  be 
 known  to  the  Lokd,  not  day,  nor  night:  but  it 
 shall  come  to  pass,  that  at  '  evening  time  it 
 shall  be  light. 
 
 8  And  it  shall  be  in  that  day,  that  living 
 ""  waters  shall  go  out  from  Jerusalem  ;  half  of 
 them  toward  the  ||  former  sea,  and  half  of  them 
 toward  the  hinder  sea :  in  summer  and  in 
 winter  shall  it  be. 
 
 9  And  the  Lord  shall  be  "king  over  all  the 
 earth:  in  that  day  shall  there  be  °  one  Lord, 
 and  his  name  one. 
 
 10  All  the  land  shall  be  ||  turned  ''as  a  plain 
 from  Geba  to  Rimmon  south  of  Jerusalem  : 
 and  it  shall  be  lifted  up,  and  '^  ||  inhabited  in 
 her  place,  from  Benjamin's  gate  unto  the  place 
 of  the  first  gate,  unto  the  corner  gate,  'and 
 from  the  tower  of  Hananeel  unto  the  king's 
 winepresses. 
 
 1 1  And  men  shall  dwell  in  it,  and  there  shall 
 
 /  See  Biek. 
 
 II  Or,  my 
 mniutta  int. 
 
 II   Or,  ahin 
 ki- tlinll  tuwh 
 Ihf  ratify  of 
 tin-  itmuu- 
 Inini  I"  ihe 
 
 ^' Amos  I.  I. 
 y  Mat    16  27. 
 
 8c  21.  30,  31. 
 
 ft  -25.  31. 
 
 Jii.lo  11. 
 k  Joel  3.  ir. 
 II  t.  e.  il  shall 
 
 not  be  clear 
 
 pl,^('e*,  aiiJ 
 dark  iu 
 other 
 pl.'ices  f>f 
 the  world, 
 t  Hi-h. 
 
 J.f-Ci:<li. 
 
 t   14.1.. 
 
 l]  l\r.ll,r  dn,, 
 tliail  ft-  oor 
 i  Rev,  2^.  h. 
 k  M.At.-Jl.  B 
 /  1^ 
 
 311.  2G. 
 
 St  611.19.  20. 
 
 Rev.  21.:J:i 
 m  Eze.  47.  I. 
 
 Jnel  3.  IS. 
 
 Rev.  2?.  I. 
 II  Or,  easlern. 
 
 Jnel  2.  20, 
 n  nan.  2.  4-1 
 
 Rev.  II  15. 
 ..  Kph.4.5,0. 
 II  Or,  com- 
 
 ptineil. 
 p  Is.  -10.  4, 
 ./  ch.  12.6. 
 II  Or.  thilt 
 
 abide. 
 T  Neh.  3.  I. 
 
 8c  12    H'J- 
 
 Jet.  31.  38 
 
 »  Jff.  31.  10. 
 
 t  Jer.  23    ti, 
 
 II  Or,  ,haH 
 
 J  .r.i.lK.  7.22. 
 
 2Clir.2U,23. 
 
 K/e.  38.21. 
 II  Or,  Mot( 
 
 al»i>,  0  Ju- 
 
 d-i/i.shalt. 
 II  f  •'»  ogiiintl. 
 y  K/ek.  3y. 
 
 U>,  17,  Stc. 
 
 I  ver.  12. 
 
 a  Is.  60  6,7, 
 9.  St  C6.  23. 
 
 b  Lev.  ^M, 
 ■13  Nell.  8. 
 U.  Hos,  12. 
 9.  John  7  2. 
 
 c  Is.  l;0.   12. 
 
 t   Heb.  •qmn 
 irh-un  tlii;re 
 
 be  'no  more  utter  destruction;  'but  Jerusalem 
 
 II  shall  be  safely  inhabited. 
 
 12  %  And  this  shall  be  the  plague  wherewith 
 the  Lord  will  finite  all  the  people  that  have 
 fought  against  Jerusalem  ;  Their  fiesh  shall 
 consume  away  while  they  stand  upon  their 
 feet,  and  their  eyes  shall  consume  away  in 
 their  holes,  and  tlieir  tongue  shall  consume 
 away  in  their  mouth. 
 
 13  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  that 
 "a  great  tumult  from  the  Loud  shall  be  among 
 them  ;  and  they  shall  lay  hold  every  one  on 
 the  hand  of  his  neighbour,  and  "  his  hand  shall 
 rise  up  against  the  hand  of  his  neighbour. 
 
 14  And  II  Judah  also  shall  fight  ||  at  Jerusa- 
 lem ;  ^'and  the  wealth  of  all  the  heathen  round 
 about  shall  be  gathered  together,  gold,  and  sil- 
 ver, and  apparel,  in  great  abundance. 
 
 15  And  ""  so  shall  be  the  plague  of  the  horse, 
 of  the  mule,  of  the  camel,  and  of  the  ass,  and 
 of  all  the  beasts  that  shall  be  in  these  tents,  as 
 this  plague. 
 
 16  If  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  every 
 one  that  is  left  of  all  the  nations  which  came 
 against  Jerusalem  shall  even  *  go  up  from  year 
 to  year  to  worship  the  King,  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 and  to  keep  ''  the  feast  of  tabernacles. 
 
 17  "^  And  it  sliall  be,  that  whoso  will  not 
 come  up  of  a/l  the  families  of  the  earth  unto 
 Jerusalem  to  worship  tlie  King,  the  Lokd  of 
 hosts,  even  upon  tliem  shall  be  no  rain. 
 
 18  And  if  the  family  of  Egypt  go  not  up,  and 
 come  not,  f'^that  hare  no  rai}i ;  there  shall  be 
 the  plague,  wherewltli  the  Lord  will  smite  the 
 heathen  that  come  not  up  to  keep  the  feast  of 
 tabernacles. 
 
 19  This  shall  be  the  ||  punishment  of  Egypt, 
 and  the  punishment  of  all  nations  that  come 
 not  up  to  keep  tlie  feast  of  tabernacles. 
 
 pnstcrity  ;  the  inspired  writers  often  speak  at  the  same  time  of  two 
 distinct  events. — Preb.  Lowth.  As  when  he  fought,  at  the  Red  Sea 
 airainst  the  Canaanites,  SiC—Gill,  as  Preb.  Lowth.  4.  And  his  feet 
 ahull  stand — fipnn  the  vinunt  of  Olives  — the  best  idea  to  be  gathered 
 from  tlie  dubious  opinions  of  commentators  on  this  passage  seems 
 to  be,  that  it  refers  to  an  extraordinary  interposition  of  the  Lord  in  the 
 final  restoration  of  the  Jews,  who  is  said  to  stand  on  Mount  Ohvet, 
 which,  for  its  situation,  height,  and  nearness  to  the  temple,  signifies 
 '  a  convenient  post  for  succours  to  post  themselves  on.'  Au  earthtiuake 
 is  also  metaphorically  or  really  described,  as  produced  by  the  presence 
 of  the  Lord,  as  on  Sinai.— £*i.,  see  Poule,  Clarke.  The  passage  seems 
 to  refer  to  the  resurrection  ;  as  the  Redeemer  will  stand  at  the  latter 
 day  on  the  earth,  and  will  come  down  from  heaven  in  like  manner  as 
 he  went  up,  it  seems  very  probable  that  he  will  descend  upon  that 
 very  spot  of  ground  from  whence  he  ascended,  (Job.  xix.  25,  2fi,  27; 
 Acts,  i.  11,  12.)— Gi7/.  5.  Azal,  probably  a  place  near  Jerusalem. — 
 
 Neu'c.  Saints,  or  '  holy  ones.'  With  thee,  'with  him,*  Chald.,  iSept., 
 &c.  The  words  are  a  description  of  Christ's  coming-  to  judgment, 
 attended  with  all  the  holy  angels,  (Matt.  xvi.  27,  &c.)  6,  7.  The  light 
 shall  not  be  clear  nor  dark,  ^c. — these  two  verses  may  be  expounded 
 with  resppct  to  the  Jews,  that  their  condition  sh:dl  be  for  some  time 
 not  altogether  pro^^perous,  nor  yet  quite  desperate. — Prcti.  Lowth,  so 
 Boothr.  8.  Liring  waters,  ^-c,  '  running?  waters.' — Gilt.  The  con- 
 duits shall  flow  as  in  a  state  of  profound  peace;  this  very  limited 
 meaning  given  by  Grotius.  The  passage  refers  to  the  wide  effusion  of 
 Divine  knowledge  from  Jerusalem,  in  consequence  of  the  promulgation 
 of  the  holy  gospel. — Hew.  'Ihe  gospel,  and  the  doctrines  of  it,  are 
 here  meant.— Gi//.  Understand  here  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  gospel 
 dispensation,  (see  Isa.  xii.  3 ;  xliv.  3  ;  Iv.  1  ;  Jer.  ii.  13  ;  Ezek.  xlvii.  i, 
 &c. ;  Joel,  iii.  lb  ;  John,  iv.  10  ;  vii,  38,  3g.) — Bla.  Tlie  supplies  of 
 grace  are  often  represented  in  Scripture  by  rivers  and  streams  of  water, 
 cleansin:r  and  making  fruitful ;  here  they  are  described  as  coming  out 
 from  Jernsiilem.  In  Ezekiel  and  Joel  they  are  said  to  come  <iut  of  the 
 temple;  both  descriptions  intimating  that  the  church  is  the  spring  from 
 whence  all  the  meaiis  of  grace  are  communicated  to  believers. — Preb. 
 Lowth.  Jerusalem  may  be  understood  here  literally,  'which  will  be 
 rebuilt  at  the  time  of  the  Jews'  conversion;'  or  mystically,  'the 
 chiirch,  the  spiritual  and  heavenly  Jerusalem,'  (see  Heb.  xii.  22  ;  EZ'.k. 
 xlvii.  1  ;  Joel,  iii.  18  ;>  reference  seems  to  be  had  to  the  first  ministra- 
 tion of  the  gospel,  which,  according  to  prophecy,  came  out  of  Jeru- 
 salem, (Isa.  ii.  3.) — dill.  Former  sea,  the  eastern  or  Persian  sea.  The 
 hinder  sea,  or  the  Western  sea,  the  Mediterranean  sea,  I'nrg. ,-  Gill. 
 Tlie  expression  imports  that  the  whole  land  shall  have  a  plentiful  share 
 of  the  promised  blessings. — Preb.  Lowth.     In  summer  and  ni  winter — 
 
 983 
 
 the  phrase  denotes  the  constant  ministry  of  the  word.  Q.  The  Lord 
 
 ^sliall  be  king,  §c.— this  refers  to  the  spiritual  reign  of  Christ  in  the 
 latter  day.— Gi//.  tO.  All  the  land  shall  be  turned  as  a  plain,  may 
 
 ."dignify  that  all  impediments  shall  be  removed  that  oppose  the  advance- 
 ment of  Christ's  kingdom,  (comp.  chap.  iv.  7;  Isa.  xl.  4.)— Prc6. 
 Lowth.  *  He  shall  encompass,  TiC,  the  whole  land  as  a  plain  ;'  John, 
 vah  shall  do  this  for  the  purpose  of  protection,  as  a  plain  is  encom- 
 passed by  mountains. — Newc.  From  Geha,  in  Benjamin,  north  of  Je- 
 rusalem, (Josh.xxi.  17.)  Riinmon,  in  Judah,  to  the  south  of  Jerusalem, 
 (Josh.  XV.  32.)— AVu'c.  The  sense  seems  to  be,  that  all  the  land  of  Is- 
 rael should  become  a  plain,  like  the  valley  between  Geba  and  Rmimon, 
 and  may  mystically  be  understood  of  the  siuritual  reign  of  Christ,  when 
 all  the  world  shall  become  Christian.  It  shall  he  lifted  «/;,  that  is, 
 Jerusalem,  which  shall  appear  very  high.  From  Benjamin's  gate,  one 
 of  its  gates  towards  the  land  nf  Benjamin,  from  whence  it  had  its  name, 
 and  through  which  Jeremiah  attempted  to  go  when  he  was  stopped  by 
 the  captain  of  the  ward,  (Jer.  xxxvii.  13  ;)  this,  according  to  Grotius, 
 was  on  the  north  of  Jerusalem.  Fuller  places  it  more  rightly  on  the 
 north-east.- Gi//.  The  first  gate,  the  same  with  the  old  gate,  in 
 Neh.  iii.  6,  and  xii.  ZQ.—GiU.  Comf^  gate—see  2  Kings,  xiv.  13; 
 2Chron.  xxv.  23;  Jer.  xxxi.  SS.— Newc.  Tower  of  Hananeel,  men- 
 tioned in  Neh.  iii.  1,  and  xii.  39;  Jer.  xxxi.  39  ;  it  was  to  the  south  of 
 Jerusalem.— Gi//.  M'ineprvsses,  near  the  king's  garden,  to  the  south- 
 ward.— Cocc.  12,  &c.  The  plague,  §-r.— '  tliuse  that  die  not  from  the 
 sword  shall  fall  by  famine  or  consumption.'— Pje/<.  Lowth.  They  shall 
 perish  by  pestilence,  by  dissensions,  and  by  the  sword  of  the  Jews.  The 
 history  of  the  Maccabees  is  the  best  comment  on  these  verses. — Boothr. 
 This  respects  one  or  more,  or  all  of  the  seven  plagues,  ^vliich  will  be 
 inflicted  on  the  antichristian  states  mentioned  in  Rev.  xvi.  6.— GiV^. 
 13.  Lav  hold  every  one,  ^c, '  seek  help  from  one  another ;'  but,  instead 
 of  helping,  they  shall  turn  their  arms  against  one  another,  (see  Jnrtg. 
 vii.  22  ;  1  Sam.  xiv.  20  ;  2  Chron.  xx.  23.}— B/a.  15.  And  so  shall  be 
 the  plague  of  the  horse,  ^c,  both  man  and  beast  shall  fall  in  one  com- 
 mon destruction.  i6.  Go  up  from  year  to  year  to  worship— and  to 
 keep  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  that  is,  they  shall  join  in  the  solemn  acta 
 of  Christian  worship.  The  prophets  often  describe  the  state  of  the 
 gospel  by  the  usages  of  their  own  times. — Preb.  Lowth.  The  impossi- 
 bility of  ail  nations  literally  coming  to  Jerusalem  every  year  to  observe 
 a  feast,  is  alone  sufficient  to  prove  that  a  figurative  meaning  must  be 
 sought  for,  but  tlie  event  only  can  fully  ascei  tain  that  meaning.— Sco//. 
 17.  Upon  them  shall  be  no  rain,  thtisc  wh()  do  not  vvnrship  (Jod  shall 
 not  have  his  blessing.  IS.  Jf  the  family  of  Egypt,  l^c,  may  allude 
 to  thoseJewswho.  fl>  ine  from  the- persecution  of  AntiochusEpiphant's, 
 settled  in  Egypt,  and  built  a  temple  at  Heliopolis.— /05.  Antiq.,  I.xiii., 
 
The  spui/s  n/'f./iii  rrmnant 
 
 ZECHARIAH,  XIV. 
 
 shall  be  holy. 
 
 20  If  In  that  day  shall  there  he  upon  the 
 II  bells  of  the  horses,  =  HOLINESS  UNTO 
 THE  LORD  ;  and  the  pots  in  the  Lord's 
 house  shall  be  like  the  bowls  before  the 
 altar. 
 
 21  Yea,  every  pot  in  Jerusalem  and  in  Judah 
 
 /Is.  35  8. 
 
 S  Fph.  2.  19 
 20,  21,  25. 
 
 shall  be  holiness  unto  the  Lord  of  hosts  :  and 
 all  they  that  sacrifice  shall  come  and  take  of 
 them,  and  seethe  therein  :  and  in  that  day 
 there  shall  be  no  more  the  '^  Canaanite  in  ^the 
 house  of  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 c.  6i  and  War.,  1.  vii.,  c.  36.  '  If  these  do  nr>t  rejoin  their  brethren, 
 they  shall  have  no  rain— no  interest  in  the  favour  of  God.'— -4.  Clarke. 
 This  is  understood  of  a  literal  famine,  as  a  punishment,  by  Preb.  Lowtli. 
 end  Har.  20.  Upon  tht  bells,  ^c.  nliSO.  '  trappings,"  Chald.    The 
 
 easterns  sumptuously  array  their  horses.— See  Mtijor  Rooke's  Travels. 
 The  passage  mav  signify  universal  peace,  and  that  the  trappings  of  the 
 cavalry  shall  be  laid  up  in  the  armoury  of  God's  house,  as  a  memorial 
 of  the  good  success  he  had  given  his  people  against  their  enemies,  (see 
 2Chron.  xxiii.  q.)— Pre*.  Lawlh.  War  horses  not  being  wanted,  their 
 ornaments  shall  be  converted  to  sacred  mes.—Vitr.  God's  name  shall 
 he  honoured  m  every  circumstance.— .Ven'C.  They  appear  to  have  had 
 bells  formerly  upon  their  horses,  camels,  Sc.,  as  we  use  them  now,  to 
 amuse  their  animals,  and  encourage  them  in  their  work.  The  passage 
 intimates  that  a  man's  labour  shall  be  begun,  continued,  and  ended  in 
 the  Lord  ;  and  thus  the  very  animals  he  works  with  be  consecrated  to 
 Goi.— Clarke.  The  whole  seems  to  mean,  that  all  the  common  affairs 
 of  life  shall  have  a  mixture  of  genuine  reUgion  in  them.— Erf.  The 
 church,  the  people,  their  cattle,  their  houses,  and  furniture,  shall  all  be 
 hallowed  to  the  Lord,  (Rom.  xii.  1 .)— Su<.  Tie  pnts,  niTDn,  the  word 
 properly  signifies  'helmets.'  so  called  from  their  shape,  being  made 
 like  a  pot.  These  shall  be  like  the  vials  or  bowls  before  the  altar,  no 
 more  to  be  profaned  in  war  or  bloodshed.— Pre*.  Louth.     •  The  pots,' 
 
 the  earthen  or  brazen  pots,  used  in  boiling  the  sacrifices  or  drinking 
 by  the  priests,  will  be  as  holy  as  the  bowls  before  the  altar  had  been ; 
 which  may  signify  that  the  meanest  minister  or  Christian,  who  is  a 
 spiritual  priest,  will  be  equal  to  what  the  most  eminent  of  God's  ser- 
 vants formerly  were. — Scott.  21.  Yea,  every  po(,  everything  shall 
 he  equally  holy,  and  therefore  the  ceremonial  law  abolished. — Seeker. 
 Men  will  conduct  their  ordinary  affairs,  and  their  sacred  services, 
 upon  the  same  holy  principles  of  faith,  fear,  love,  and  obedience. — 
 Scott.  No  more  the  Cannanite,  .lew  and  Greek,  barbarian  and  Scy- 
 thian, shall  be  all  one,  and  shall  all  speak  the  language  of  Canaan. — 
 Snt.  No  more  a  profane  or  impious  person  in  the  society  of  the  faith- 
 ful;  nor  any  more  distinction  lietween  Jew  and  Canaanite. —  Cut. 
 There  shall  be  no  more  profane  persons,  unbelievers,  enemies  to  the 
 true  religion,  to  interrupt  the  worship  of  the  true  God. — Poole,  It  may 
 mean  that  mercenary  ministers  wiU  no  more  be  allowed  to  prostitute 
 the  sacred  function,  nor  ungodly  men  to  abuse  holy  ordinances  to  pro- 
 mote their  worldly  end;  for  the  word  translated  '  Canaanite.*  may  be 
 rendered  ■  a  merchant,'  (so  the  Chald.  and  ful^.,)  and  Christ  will  then 
 drive  all  buyers  and  sellers  out  of  the  temple. — Scott.  The  more  en- 
 lightened divines  and  commentators  understand  these  predictions  of 
 the  triumphs  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  not  confining  them,  as  others, 
 to  the  time  of  the  Romans  and  of  Antiochus  Epiphaoes. — So  Sut, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIV.  —  I.  God's  impenitent  enemies 
 shah  be  destrm/eil.  AVhat  fearful  Ihreatenings  are  pronounced 
 against  them  f  And  when  we  consider  that  their  destruction 
 involves  that  of  the  soul  as  well  as  the  body,  how  horrible 
 must  be  their  end  !  What,  then,  are  the  tremendous  conse- 
 quences included  in  tliat  prediction  1  '  The  Lord  Jesus  shall 
 be  revealed  from  heaven,  with  his  mighty  angels,  in  flaming 
 fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not  God,  and  that 
 obey  not  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  .lesus  Christ.* 
 
 II.  OoiVs  cause  shall  prosper.  His  kingdom  shall  come. 
 '  Times  of  greater  purity  are  at  hand,  and  (lie  Lord  will  come 
 speedily  to  reform  and  enlarge  his  church,  as  he  has  pro- 
 mised.' •*  0  happy  day,  when  holiness  shall  strikingly  dis- 
 tinguish the  whole  church  of  God  ;  when  it  shall  he  mingled 
 with  every  motive  and  manifest  in  every  action;  when  on 
 every  heart  and  every  transaction  shall  be  inscribed,  '  Holi- 
 ness to  tiik  Lord.' 
 
 M  A  L  A  C  11  1. 
 
 [This  prophet  seems  to  h.-ive  been  contcmpor.nry  with  Nchemiah,  or  to  have  written  soon  after  his  government.  His  prophecy 
 supposes  that  tlie  temple  w.is  built,  and  the  worship  of  God  settled  there.  The  design  of  it  was  evidently  to  reprove  the 
 Jews  for  their  ingratitude  to  the  Lord,  their  neglect  and  contempt  of  his  worship,  and  lireach  of  his  laws,  .and  to  rai.se  in 
 the  minds  of  the  godly  an  expectation  of  the  Messiah.  This  prophet  sealed  up  the  volume  of  proiihecy,  being  the  last  who 
 flourished  before  the  gospel  dispensation.  The  references  made  to  Malachi  in  the  New  Tcstamenl  are,  Watt.  xi.  10; 
 xvii.  12;   Mark,  i.  2;  ix.  11,  12;  Luke,  i.  17;  vii.  27  ;    Rom.  ix.  13;  2  Pet.  i.  19.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 1   Malachi  coniplaineth  of  Israel's  unkhulncss.      6  Of 
 their  irreli(/ioiis7iess,  12  and  prufaneness, 
 
 T^HE  burden  of  the  word  of  the  Lord  to  Is- 
 -*-    rael  f  by  Malachi. 
 
 2  "  I  have  loved  yon,  saith  the  Lord.  Yet 
 ye  say.  Wherein  hast  thou  loved  us  ?  Was 
 not  Esau  Jacob's  brother?  saith  the  Lord: 
 yet  ^  I  loved  Jacob, 
 
 3  And  I  hated  Esau,  and  *^  laid  his  mountains 
 and  his  heritage  waste  for  the  dragons  of  the 
 wilderness. 
 
 4  Whereas  Edom  saith.  We  are  impoverished, 
 but   we    will   return  and   build   the    desolate 
 
 t  Hi-b   hi  tltf 
 
 Molt  Chi. 
 a  Deu    7-  8. 
 Kt  10.  \b. 
 
 15.  Obad. 
 U',  &c. 
 
 ri  Ps.  35    37. 
 il  (1r,  «;..,«. 
 t  Heb. yr-m 
 
 .■  Hk    20.  12. 
 /Luke 6.  46. 
 
 11  Or,  Rti„g 
 urit;,  »c. 
 
 It  n^ii.  1.^.21. 
 
 places  ;  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.  They 
 shall  build,  but  I  will  throw  down  ;  and  they 
 shall  call  them,  The  border  of  wickedness,  and, 
 The  people  against  whom  the  Lord  hatfi  in- 
 dignation for  ever. 
 
 5  And  your  eyes  shall  see,  and  ye  shall  say, 
 •^  Ttie  Lord  will  be  magnified  |j  f  from  the 
 border  of  Israel. 
 
 6  t  A  sou  '^bonoureth  his  father,  and  a  ser- 
 vant his  master :  *^if  then  I  be  a  father,  where 
 is  mine  honour?  and  if  I  be  a  master,  where 
 is  my  fear?  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  unto  you, 
 O  priests,  that  despise  my  name.  ^  And  ye 
 say,  Wherein  have  we  despised  thy  name? 
 
 7  II  Ye  offer  ''polluted  bread  upon  mine  altar; 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.— 1.  The  burden,  'the  vision,'  Syr.  'The  re- 
 velatinii,'  Arab.  '  The  prophecy." — Newc.  2.  Yet  I  loved  Jacob — 
 .Jacob's  family  was  distinguished  abt)ve  Esan,  though  both  were  sons 
 of  Israel.—  Preb.Lowlh.  3.  /  hnted  E««7<— liating  is  sometimes  used 
 comparatively,  for  a  less  decree  of  love,  (see  Gen.  xxix.3] ;  Luke,  xiv. 
 26.) — Preh.  Lowth.  This  means,  *  rejected  ;'  it  was  a  negative,  not  po- 
 sitive hatred.— Gi7/.  '  I  loved  nut  Esau,  or  his  posterity,  as  1  loved 
 Jacob  and  liis  posterity  :'  this  not  loving,  comparatively,  is  a  hating ; 
 God  shewed  not  the  same  kindness  to  the  twin  brothers  :  the  one  was 
 more  enriched  with  the  fruits  of  God's  love,  and  had  cause  to  be  thank- 
 984 
 
 ful— the  other  had  no  cause  to  complain,  for  Gnd  did  him  no  wrong. — 
 Poole.  And  laid  his  mountains,  ^c. — tliey  knew  the  history  of  Jacob's 
 posterity,  for  whom  the  Lord  had  always  remarkably  appeared,  while 
 wars  had  rendered  Esau's  inheritance  waste  and  barren,  and  only  fit. 
 to  harbour  the  monstrous  serpents  of  the  sandy  deserts. — Ho  Scott. 
 4.  /tilt  I  will  throw  dvwn,  ^c,  their  endeavours  to  recover  themselves 
 shall  be  all  in  vain. — Puc.  5.  From  thebuvder,  '  beyond  the  border.' 
 God  sheweth  his  great  power  in  other  countries  be^iries  Israel. — Newc. 
 f).  And  i/e  sity,  or  '  yet  ye  say.'— i'cei.  Lowth.  ~.  Polluted  brcnd 
 
 upon  ttiinc  nilar,  may  refer  either  tu  the  meat  offerings  which  were 
 
Malachi  complaineth  of  Israel's  prof ancness.    MALACHI,  If. 
 
 He  rcpruvclh  the  priests 
 
 ami  ye  say,  Wherein  have  we  polhited  thee? 
 Ill  that  ye  say,  '  The  table  of  the  Loud  is  con- 
 temptible. 
 
 8  And  '  if  ye  offer  the  blind  f  for  sacrifice,  is 
 it  not  evil  ?  and  if  ye  offer  the  lame  and  sick, 
 is  it  not  evil?  offer  it  now  unto  thy  governor  ; 
 will  he  be  pleased  with  thee,  or  '  accept  thy 
 person?  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 9  And  now,  I  pray  yon,  beseech  f  God  that 
 he  will  be  gracious  unto  us  :  "'  this  hath  been 
 t  by  your  means  :  will  he  regard  your  persons? 
 saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 10  Who  is  there  even  among  yon  that  would 
 shut  the  doors  for  nonght?  "neither  do  ye 
 kindle  fire  on  mine  altar  for  nought.  I  have 
 no  pleasure  in  you,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 "  neither  will  I  accept  an  offering  at  your 
 hand. 
 
 1 1  For  ''  from  the  rising  of  the  sun  even  unto 
 the  going  down  of  the  same  my  name  sliall  be 
 great  ''  among  the  Gentiles  ;  '  and  in  every 
 place  "incense  ,sA a//  he  offered  unto  my  name, 
 and  a  pure  offering:  'for  my  name  shall  he 
 great  among  the  heathen,  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts. 
 
 12  IT  Rut  ye  have  profaned  it,  in  that  ye  say, 
 "  The  table  of  the  Lord  is  polluted  ;  and  the 
 fruit  thereof,  even  his  meat,  is  contemptible. 
 
 13  Ye  said  also.  Behold,  what  a  weariness  is 
 it !  II  and  ye  have  snuffed  at  it,  saith  the  Lord 
 of  hosts  ;  and  ye  brought  that  which  was  torn, 
 and  the  lame,  and  the  sick  ;  thus  ye  brought 
 an  offering  :  "  should  I  accept  this  of  your 
 hand  ?  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 14  But  cursed  be  'the  deceiver,  ||which  hath 
 in  his  flock  a  male,  and  voweth,  and  sacrificeth 
 unto  the  Lord  a  corrupt  thing :  for  "^  I  am  a 
 great  King,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  and  my 
 name  is  dreadful  among  the  heathen. 
 
 CHAP.  n. 
 
 1  He  sharply  reproveth  the  priests  for  neglecting  their 
 covenant,  11  and  tJie  people  for  idolatry^  \4:for  adul- 
 tery, 17  and  fur  infidelity. 
 
 A  ND  now,  O  ye  priests,  this  commandment 
 -'"*-  is  for  you. 
 
 It.  c. 
 
 B.  V. 
 
 cii.  3*J7. 
 
 cir.  397. 
 
 1  Exc.i\.22. 
 
 «r,ev.-2G.M 
 
 ver.  12. 
 
 &r.Dcu2S 
 
 i:.,  &c. 
 
 A  Lev.  22^2-2. 
 
 Dt'ii.  \b.->i. 
 
 ver.  U. 
 
 t  Hah.  to 
 
 i-icrijice. 
 
 I  Jub  -i-i.  d. 
 
 II  Or,  reprove. 
 
 tHeb. 
 
 t  U..b.  Iht 
 
 il  Or,  itthaU 
 tufte  fi<'\t 
 
 oir.ai  to  it. 
 
 t  Heb,  ffnm 
 
 b  1  Kin.  14. 
 
 yiiiiT  hind. 
 
 lU. 
 
 n  1  Coi,  f).l3. 
 
 ^  Nu.  2.S.  13. 
 
 Eze,  ai.  25. 
 
 &  37.  :>6. 
 
 </  Deu.  33. 
 
 8,9. 
 
 oU.  1.  II. 
 
 Jor.  6    ■J||. 
 
 c  Deu.  ia.\0. 
 
 p  Vs.  113.3. 
 
 Is.  59.  19. 
 
 fjer.  23.  22. 
 
 7  r«  Co.  3, .-), 
 
 Jam.  5.  20. 
 
 rJ.,bui,-.;i, 
 
 2.-!.  I  Tiin. 
 
 5  Ren.  i;.  9, 
 
 •2.  8. 
 
 10.  R:  24..  8. 
 
 i  Kev.  8    .■!. 
 
 l,ev.  10.11. 
 
 /  Is.  GtJ.  I'J, 
 
 Kzia  7.  10. 
 
 20 
 
 Jer.  IS.  18. 
 
 Hag.  2.11, 
 
 h  Gal.  1.  14. 
 
 u  vor,  7. 
 
 .ISam.2.17 
 
 .lei".  IS.  15. 
 
 II  Or,  fain,, 
 
 the  law. 
 
 A  Nell. 13.29. 
 
 1  Or,  tohere- 
 
 nSamSSO. 
 
 01  iff  nuKhl 
 
 have  bhion 
 
 ,t  nmiy. 
 
 xr,ev.i:2,20. 
 
 II  Or,  lifted 
 
 &c. 
 
 ii}i  the  face 
 
 -eii;>t. 
 
 1/  vpr.  8. 
 
 \  Heb.  ac- 
 
 1 Or  in  irlfse 
 
 cepted  t'.ifrs. 
 
 I  I's  47   « 
 
 >n  I  Cm  a.f.. 
 
 Kph    +.  rl. 
 
 1  Timfi.15 
 
 ..  ioh  31.  15. 
 
 II  Or,  ought 
 
 to  love. 
 
 o  Ezra  9.  1. 
 
 &  10.  S. 
 
 Neh.  13.23. 
 
 |(  Or,  him 
 
 that  wahf-lh, 
 
 and  hita  that 
 
 unswereth. 
 
 ]>  Neh.  13. 
 
 *2  "*  If  ye  will  not  hear,  and  if  ye  will  not  lay 
 it  to  heart,  to  give  glory  unto  my  name,  .saith 
 the  Lord  of  hosts,  I  will  even  send  a  curse 
 upon  you,  and  I  will  curse  your  blessings  : 
 yea,  I  have  cursed  them  already,  because  ye 
 do  not  lay  it  to  lieart. 
 
 3  Behold,  I  will  ||  corrupt  your  seed,  and 
 t  spread  dung  upon  your  faces,  even  tlie  dunp; 
 of  your  solemn  feasts  ;  and  ||  one  shall  ^  take 
 you  away  with  it. 
 
 4  And  ye  shall  know  that  I  have  sent  this 
 commandment  unto  you,  that  my  covenant 
 might  be  with  Levi,  saith  the  Louu  of  hosts. 
 
 5  ""  My  covenant  was  witli  him  of  life  and 
 peace  ;  and  I  gave  them  to  him  '^for  the  fear 
 wherewith  he  feared  me,  and  was  afraid  before 
 my  name. 
 
 6  '■'The  law  of  truth  was  iu  his  mouth,  and 
 iniquity  was  not  found  in  his  lips :  he  walked 
 with  me  in  peace  and  equity,  and  did  '"  turn 
 many  away  from  iniquity. 
 
 7  ^  For  the  priest's  lips  should  keep  know- 
 ledge, and  they  should  seek  the  law  at  his 
 mouth  :  ^  for  he  is  tiie  messenger  of  the  Lord 
 of  hosts. 
 
 8  Cut  ye  are  departed  out  of  the  way;  ye 
 '  have  caused  many  to  ||  stumble  at  the  law  ; 
 ^  ye  have  corrupted  the  covenant  of  Levi,  saith 
 the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 9  Therefore  '  have  I  also  made  you  con- 
 temptible and  base  before  all  the  people,  ac- 
 cording as  ye  have  not  kept  my  ways,  but 
 "  t  liave  been  partial  in  the  law. 
 
 10  ■"  Have  we  not  all  one  father?  "  hath  not 
 one  God  created  us  ?  why  do  we  deal  treacher- 
 ously every  man  against  his  brother,  by  pro- 
 faning the  covenant  of  our  fathers? 
 
 11  H  Judah  hath  dealt  treacherously,  and  an 
 abomination  is  committed  in  Israel  and  in  Je- 
 rusalem ;  for  Judah  bath  profaned  the  holiness 
 of  the  Lord  which  he  ||  loved,  "and  hath  mar- 
 ried the  daughter  of  a  strange  god. 
 
 12  The  Lord  will  cut  off  the  man  that  doeth 
 this,  II  the  master  and  the  scholar,  out  of  tlie 
 tabernacles  of  Jacob,  ^and  him  that  offereth 
 an  offering  unto  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 burned  upon  the  altar,  and  which  they  raarie  of  the  refuse  of  Uie  wheat ; 
 or  to  the  sacrifices  which  fed  the  sacred  flame,  and  were  the  bread  or 
 food  of  tlie  altar,  for  which  the  priests,  probably  to  ingratiate  them- 
 selves with  the  people,  took  tlie  refuse  beasts. — Scolf,  Clarke.  The 
 shewbreart  may  be  intended,  of  which  Exod.  x.xv.  30  ;  or  meat  offerings, 
 Exnd.  xxix.  41  ;  Lev.  ii. ;  Num.  xxviii.  5  ;  or,  in  a  larger  sense,  all  that 
 was  to  be  offered  unto  God,  sacrifices  and  oblations.  —  Poole.  The 
 tahlf,  cither  the  shewbread  table  or  the  altar.— GtV;.  8.  Offer  it  now 
 unto  th}/  governor,  Sfc. — it  is  the  custom  of  the  east  for  poor  people  to 
 make  presents  to  their  lords  of  lambs  and  sheep ;  these  often  expiate 
 offences. — Sir  J.  Chardin.  If  a  present  is  not  somewhat  proportionate 
 to  the  quality  of  the  person  applied  to,  the  circumstances  of  him  that 
 offers  it,  and  the  value  of  the  favour  offered,  it  is  rejected.  —  Hitr. 
 9.  BeseerJi,  SfC.—Vnc  priests  had  occasioned  evident  marks  of  God's 
 displeasure,  and  now  ho  exhorts  them  to  pray  that  they  might  be  par- 
 doned.—So  Clm-ke.         10.  Who  is  there,  ^c— 
 
 '  Surely  the  doors  shall  be  closed  against  you  : 
 Neither  shall  ye  kindle  the  fire  of  mine  altar  in  vain.* 
 
 Newc.f  so  Boothr. 
 
 1 1 .  From  the  rising,  ^c,  prophetic  of  the  preaching  and  spread  of  the 
 gospel.  Incense,  pure  offering,  prayers,  {Rev.  v.  8 ;)  holy  praises, 
 thanksgivings,  alms'  deeds,  charity,  (Heb.  xiii.  15,  16;)  their  whole 
 selves,  (Rom.  xii.  l.) — Poc.  13.  Smtffed  at  if,  'ye  say  attendance  at 
 the  altar  is  a  burdensome  task,  and  turn  from  it  with  disgust.'— AVwe. 
 14.  The  deceiver — tlie  former  reproofs  related  to  the  priests,  this  to  the 
 people. — Prc/t.  Lowth.  A  male,  without  spot  or  blemish,  as  the  law 
 requires.— Gi7^    '  Heathens  reverence  this  name,  and  will  do  so  when 
 
 converted,  and  you  Jews  ought  not  to  undervalue  it.* — Poole. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  2.  Curse  your  blessings,  '  bless^ing.'  By  '  blessing'  is 
 meant  the  portion  of  the  priest,  which  a  dearth  would  lessen,  (ste  chap, 
 iii.  10,  11.) — Newc.  '  I  will  turn  your  blessings  into  curses,'  or  remove 
 your  blessings  and  substitute  curses. — Preb.  Lowth.  I  Imve  cursed 
 them  alreAidy,  may  refer  to  unfruitful  seasons,  or  a  dearth  that  hap- 
 pened about  this  time,  (see  Hag.  i.  6 — 11.) — Cinrke.  .3.  Corrupt  your 
 seed,  destroy  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  or  cut  off  your  posterity. — Puc. 
 Spread  dung,  fyc,  an  expression  of  great  contempt ;  a  token  of  scorn. 
 — Poole.  This  may,  probably,  allude  to  the  custom  of  idolators,  of 
 spreading  the  ashes  of  cow  dung  upon  their  faces. — Rob.  If  Roberts'' 
 conjecture  be  correct,  it  may  signify  '  I  will  mark  you  as  filthy  idolators, 
 and  not  own  you  as  my  worshippers.' — Ed.  Even  the  dung  of  your 
 solemn  feasts,  '  your  holiest  sacrifices  shall  be  loathsome  in  my  sight  as 
 dung.' — Poc.  And  one  shall  take  you  away  with  it,  unfit  as  dung  to  be 
 in  the  temple,  as  fit  to  be  cast  to  the  dunghill. — Poole.  4.  That  nv/ 
 covenant  might  be,  ^e.,  'might  remain-,'  that  you  may  reform,  and 
 not  be  cut  off. — Newc.  5.  Mt/  covenant  was  with  him,  S(c. — the 
 words  allude  to  Num.  xxv.  12,  \3.—Preb.  Lowth.  The  whole  tribe  of 
 Levi  and  family  of  Aaron  are  here  spoken  of  as  a  single  person. — Scott. 
 7.  Keep  knowledge,  preserve  it,  store  it  up,  so  as  to  distribute  it.— Newc. 
 9.  Been  partial  in  the  law,  '  accepted  persons  in  the  law,*  so  the  He- 
 brew. '  Wrested  the  sense  of  the  law  in  favour  of  particular  persons,' 
 —Preb.  Lowth.  10,  Have  we  not  all  one  father?  fyc.—from  this  to 
 
 ver.  Id,  the  prophet  censures  intermarrying  with  the  heathen  women. 
 (see  Deut.  vii,  3j)  and  also  divorces,  seemingly  multiphed  to  contract 
 these  marriages.— iVeu'c.  See  Ezra,  ix.  1 ;  Neh.  xiii.  23.  12.  Cut  off- 
 master— scholar,  him  that  persuades  or  follows  in  this  case. — Preb. 
 
 Refi.ections  on  Chap.  I.  — 1.  If  God  distinguishes  vs  ahove 
 others,  it  is  an  act  of  his  grace.  What  have  any  creatures 
 merited  at  his  hands  ? 
 
 II.  If  God  has  distingtdshed  its  ahoiie  others,  we  ought  to  shew 
 our  gratitude  by  our  obedience .  We  say  that  we  are  his  children  ; 
 if  so,  his  grace  put  us  among  the  number  ;  and  if  we  call  God 
 98o 
 
 our  Father,  let  us,  then,  give  him  reverence  and  the  best 
 affections  of  our  hearts.  We  call  him  our  Lord,  then  let  us 
 pay  him  due  homage  and  tribute.  Let  us  not  put  him  otV 
 with  the  refuse  of  our  property,  or  our  time,  but  give  hiin  of 
 the  best,  lest  upon  us  should  fall  the  cuise  of  the  deceiver, 
 
 G  K 
 
Malachi  reprovcth  the  people  for  adultery.        MALACHI,  III. 
 
 On  the  grace  of  Christ. 
 
 13  And  this  have  ye  done  again,  covering 
 the  altar  of  the  Lord  with  tears,  with  weeping, 
 and  with  crying  out,  insomucli  that  he  regard- 
 eth  not  tlie  offering  any  more,  or  receiveth  it 
 with  good  will  at  your  hand. 
 
 14  t  Yet  ye  say,  Wherefore  f  Because  the 
 Lord  hath  been  witness  between  thee  and 
 '  the  wife  of  thy  youth,  against  whom  thou 
 hast  dealt  treacherously  :  '  yet  is  she  thy  com- 
 panion, and  the  wife  of  thy  covenant. 
 
 15  And  '  did  not  he  make  one?  Yet  had  he 
 the  II  residue  of  the  spirit.  And  wherefore 
 one?  That  he  might  seek  fa  godly  seed. 
 Therefore  take  heed  to  your  spirit,  and  let 
 none  deal  ||  treacherously  against  the  wife  of 
 his  youth. 
 
 IG  For  "the  Lonn,  the  God  of  Israel,  saith 
 II  that  he  hatetli  f  putting  away  :  for  one  co- 
 vereth  violence  with  his  garment,  saith  the 
 Loud  of  hosts  :  therefore  take  heed  to  your 
 spirit,  that  ye  deal  not  treacherously. 
 
 17  II  '  Ye  have  wearied  the  Lord  with  your 
 words.  Yet  ye  say.  Wherein  have  we  wearied 
 him  ?  When  ye  say.  Every  one  that  doeth 
 evil  is  good  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  he 
 delighteth  in  them  ;  or,  Where  is  the  God  of 
 judgment? 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 ]  Of  (tie  messenffeTf  majcsti/,  and  grace  of  Christ.  7 
 Of  the  rebellion,  8  sacrilege,  13  and  infidelity  of  the 
 people.  16  The  pramise  of  blessing  to  than  that  fear 
 God, 
 
 TQ  EHOLD,  °  I  will  send  my  messenger,  and 
 -*-^  he  shall  ''  prepare  the  way  before  me  :  and 
 the  Lord,  whom  ye  seek,  shall  suddenly  come 
 to  his  temple,  '  even  the  messenger  of  the 
 covenant,  whom  ye  delight  in  :  behold,  ''  he 
 shall  come,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 2  But  who  may  abide  '  the  day  of  his  com- 
 
 j  Pro.  5.  19 
 Pro. -3.  17 
 
 I  Matt.  19. 
 1.5 
 
 txceitenrtj. 
 t  Heb.  n  ictd 
 of  Goil 
 
 I  Ezra  y  2, 
 
 1  Cor.  7. 11. 
 
 II  Or,  wt- 
 
 Deu 
 
 M.  1 
 
 Mat.  5.  32. 
 8<  19  9. 
 II  Or.  i/he 
 }iate  \iex,i'ut 
 
 t  Heb. /.I;'H( 
 X  l3.  W.  ?4 
 
 a  Mat. II. la. 
 
 Mark  1.  'i. 
 
 Luke  1.76. 
 
 &  7.  27. 
 ft  Is.  1(1.  S. 
 •■  la.  03.  9. 
 
 A  Hag.  2.  7. 
 
 B.  C. 
 
 cir.  397. 
 
 /Rev.  6.  17. 
 g  See  Is.  4. 
 
 4.  Mat.  3. 
 
 10.  II,  12. 
 
 I  Is.  1.  25. 
 
 Zech.13.  9. 
 
 m  N.im-  Il 
 19.  Rum. II 
 29.  Jam.  I. 
 17. 
 
 1  I. am.  3. 22. 
 
 o  Acts  7.  51. 
 
 p  Zocli.  1    3, 
 
 t  Neli.l3  10. 
 
 12. 
 *  I'ro.  3.  0, 
 
 10. 
 <  1  CUr.  86. 
 
 20,  2  Clir. 
 
 31.  ll.Nch. 
 
 t  Heb. 
 
 .niplj  o,./. 
 X2  Chr.  31. 
 
 10. 
 V  Amns.4.g. 
 t  Heb. 
 
 corrujil. 
 
 ing  ?  and  'who  shall  stand  when  he  appeareth  ? 
 for  ^  he  is  like  a  refiner's  fire,  and  like  fullers' 
 sope  : 
 
 3  And  ''  he  shall  sit  as  a  refiner  and  purifier 
 of  silver  :  and  he  sliall  purify  the  sons  of  Levi, 
 and  purge  them  as  gold  and  silver,  that  they 
 may  '  otter  unto  the  Lord  an  offering  in  righte- 
 ousness. 
 
 4  Then  '  shall  the  offering  of  Jiidah  and  .le- 
 rusalem  be  pleasant  unto  the  Loun,  as  in  the 
 days  of  old,  and  as  in  ||  former  years. 
 
 3  And  I  will  come  near  to  you  to  judgment; 
 and  I  vfill  be  a  swift  witness  against  the  sor- 
 cerers, and  against  the  adulterers,  '  and  against 
 false  swearers,  and  against  those  that  ||  oppress 
 the  hireling  in  his  wages,  the  widow,  and  the 
 fatlierless,  and  that  turn  aside  the  stranger 
 from  his  riejht,  and  fear  not  me,  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 G  For  I  awithe  Lord,  "I  change  not;  "there- 
 fore ye  sons  of  Jacob  are  not  consumed. 
 
 7  f  Even  from  tlie  days  of  "your  fathers  ye 
 are  gone  away  from  mine  ordinances,  and  have 
 not  kept  them.  ''  Return  unto  me,  and  I  will 
 return  unto  you,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
 ''  But  ye  .said,  Wherein  shall jve  return? 
 
 8  1  Will  a  man  rob  God  ?  Yet  ye  have 
 robbed  me.  But  ye  say.  Wherein  have  wc 
 robbed  thee?    '  In  tithes  and  offerings. 
 
 9  Ye  are  cursed  with  a  curse  :  for  ye  have 
 robbed  me,  even  this  whole  nation. 
 
 10  'Bring  ye  all  the  tithes  into  ♦  the  store- 
 house, that  there  may  be  meat  in  mine  house, 
 and  prove  me  now  herewith,  saith  the  Lord  of 
 hosts,  if  I  will  not  open  you  the  "  windows  of 
 heaven,  and  f "  pour  you  out  a  blessing,  that 
 there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to  receioe  it. 
 
 \\  And  I  will  rebuke  >' the  devourer  for  your 
 sakes,  and  he  shall  not  f  destroy  the  fruits  of 
 
 Lowth.  13.  This  have  ye  done  attain,  'this  also  ye  rio.* — Neurome. 
 '  This  second  thing  have  yc  done,*  i.e.,  another  crime.— Preb.  Lowth. 
 This  fault  is  further  aggravated  from  a  sinful  effect  following  upon  it, 
 that  is,  afHicting  their  lawful  wives,  by  taking  in  other  wives  in  their 
 time  to  afflict  them,  (Lev.  xviii.  iH.)—Hulc.  Corerins-  the  altar— leith 
 tears— the  passage  refers  to  the  tears  and  groans  of  wives  divorced  by 
 priests,  or  referring  to  them  for  decisions.  15.  And  did  not  he  make 
 onef  i[C. — 
 
 *  And  did  not  he  make  one  flesh  ? 
 
 And  is  there  not  one  spirit  thereto?' — Neivc. 
 '  And  did  not  he  make  one 
 
 Though  he  hail  the  residue  of  the  spirit  >' 
 
 One  man  and  one  woman  ;  '  yet,'  or  '  though  he  had  the  residue  of  the 
 spirit,'  that  is,  all  power  and  wisdom,  and  could  have  made  more  had 
 his  intention  been  that  one  man  should  have  many  wives,  or  one 
 woman  many  husbands.— i?oo/Ar. ;  same  purport,  Clarke.  A  f^odty 
 seed,  as  opposetl  to  a  sensual  one. — Newe.  16.  He  hateth  putting 
 
 away,  abominates  all  such  divorces.— .I.  Clarke.  Coeereth  vialence 
 with  his  carment,  the  meaning  is.  •  his  second  marriage  is  an  act  of 
 violence  to  his  former  wife.' — Boulhr.  17.  With  your  ujorrfs,  *  your 
 impious  (juarrcUings,'  or  '  perverse  reasonings  against  Goi.'— Poole. 
 
 Chap.  111.— 1.  My  messenger,  John  the  Baptist.— Poo/e,  &c.  See 
 Matt.  xi.  10 ;  Mark,  i.  2;  Luke,  vii.  27,  28.  To  silence  the  cavils  of 
 unbelievers,  mentioned  in  the  last  verse  of  the  preceding  chapter,  the 
 prophet  foretels  the  coming  of  Messias,  who  should  set  all  things  right, 
 and  of  his  harbinger,  who  should  prepare  men  for  his  reception. — Pred. 
 Lowth.  Prejiare  the  way,  like  pioneers  on  the  march  of  an  eastern 
 monarch.— ATcioc.  See  Isa.  xl.  3,  note.  The  Lord  shall  come,  the 
 Messiah.— A-tt'isA  writers.  Christ,  whom  God  hath  made  both  Lord 
 and  Christ.— Poc.  Shall  suddenlij  come,  Sfc,  after  the  coming  of  his 
 forerunner.— Poo/c.  To  his  (empVe— agreeably  to  this,  the  temple  was 
 the  theatre  of  our  Lord's  public  instruction  at  Jerusalem ;  there  he 
 daily  taught  the  people,  and  disputed  with  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees. 
 
 See  the  prediction  remarkably  fulfilled,  John,  ii.  13,  16;  vii.  37-40; 
 Matt.  xxi.  1 — 13. — Hors.  The  messenger  of  the  covenant,  or  angel  of 
 God's  everlasting  covenant,  which  he  comes  to  publish  by  his  ministry, 
 and  ratify  by  his  death,  as  had  been  long  before  predicted  by  the  evan- 
 gelical prophet,  (Isaiah,  see  chaps,  xl.,  lii.,  liii.,  &c.) — Wit.  Whom 
 yc  delight  in,  alluding  to  the  general  expectation  of  the  Messiah.— 
 Mant  i  so  Poole,  &c.  2.  He  is  tike  a  rejiner's  fre,  separating  the 
 nobler  metals  from  the  dross,  with  which  they  are  blended  in  the  ore. 
 Fuller's  sope,  which  restores  a  soiled  garment  to  its  original  purity.— 
 Hors.  Signifying,  his  doctrines  shall  tend  to  purify  and  separate  the 
 wicked  from  the  godly.— i?oo;//r.  By  sope, '  kali,'  or  *  fern  ashes,'  may 
 he  intended  ;  the  article  so  called  by  us  did  not,  probably,  then  exist. 
 —  Clarke.  3.  Purify  the  sons  of  Levi,  either  Uie  priests,  literally  un- 
 derstood, for  some  were  converted,  (Acts,  vi.  7 ;)  or  figuratively,  the 
 aposUes  of  Christ  and  ministers  of  the  gospel.— GiV/.  He  would  pre. 
 pare  a  pure  race  of  ministers  and  a  spiritual  priesthood,  instead  of  the 
 corrupted  and  rejected  tribe  of  Levi,  who  might  present  before  him  a 
 holy  worship,  as  pleasant  to  him  as  the  services  and  sacrifices  of  the 
 most  eminent  believers,  in  the  purest  times  of  the  ancient  church. 
 6.  Come  near  to  you  to  judgment,  the  coming  ot  Christ  would  be  fol- 
 lowed by  the  condemnaUon  and  punishment  of  the  Jewisli  nation. — 
 Scott.  6.  /  change  not ;  therefore,  fyc,  *  because  J  am  true  to  my 
 former  promises,  (see  Exod.  vi.  3,  4,  6,)  therefore  you  still  continue  a 
 people.  And  I  will  still  preserve  a  remnant  to  make  good  the  pro- 
 mises,' (see  Rom.  ix.  20.)— Pre/}.  Lowth.  8.  In  tithes  and  offerings, 
 they  had  not  paid  to  God  the  tithes  and  oblations  which  he  claimed 
 from  them,  as  the  portion  allotted  to  his  ministers,  the  priests,  and 
 Levites  ;  but  had  sacrilegiously  appropriated  them  to  their  own  use. 
 Such  was  the  guilt  of  the  whole  nation,  (ver.  9.)  10.  Prove  me  now, 
 let  them  render  God  his  due,  his  rent  for  the  land,  as  it  were,  that  the 
 priests  and  Levites  might  have  no  excuse  for  their  secularity  ;  and  their 
 consequent  prosperity  should  cause  all  nations  to  admire  their  country. 
 -Scott.  \\.  The  devourer, '\oc\iAs,'  '  blighting  winds,' &c.—/'rc4. 
 Lowth.    Comp.  Amos,  iv.  9. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II Behold  here,  I.   The  sacred 
 
 character  of  the  ministry.  '  The  priest's  lips  should  keep 
 knowledge;'  he  should  be  ready  to  answer  every  inquiry  re- 
 specting the  way  of  truth  and  the  Word  of  God  ;  and  thus 
 maintain  the  digniBed  name  he  sustains,  of  '  the  messenger  of 
 the  Lord  of  hosts."  If  those  who  sustain  the  sacred  office, 
 honour  God,  he  will  honour  them  ;  if  the  contrary,  he  will 
 mark  them  with  eternal  disgrace. 
 986 
 
 II.  The  sacred  bond  of  matrimony.  It  is  no  light  sort  ot 
 union.  Believers  are  not  to  be  yoked  with  unbelievers;  and 
 when  so  yoked,  the  union  is  to  be  deemed  too  sacred  to  be 
 trifled  with.  '  ,So  ought  men  to  love  their  wives  as  their  own 
 bodies  ;  he  that  loveth  his  wife,  loveth  himself.  For  no  man 
 ever  yet  hated  his  own  flesh,  but  nourisheth  it  and  cherisheth 
 it,  even  as  tlie  Lord  the  church.' 
 
On  the  wfiddity  of  the  people. 
 
 MALACIII,  IV. 
 
 Goil's  judgment  on  the  wicked. 
 
 your  ground  ;  neither  shall  your  vhie  cast  hev 
 fruit  before  the  time  in  the  field,  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 1-2  And  all  nations  shall  call  you  blessed  : 
 for  ye  shall  be  '  a  delightsome  land,  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 l.T  t^Your  words  have  been  stout  against 
 me,  saith  the  Lord.  Yet  ye  say,  What  have 
 we  spolien  so  much  against  tliee? 
 
 14  ''Ye  have  said.  It  is  vain  to  serve  God: 
 and  what  profit  is  if  that  we  have  kept  f  his 
 ordinance,  and  that  we  have  wall;ed  tmourn- 
 fnlly  before  the  Lord  of  hosts? 
 
 16  And  now  "we  call  the  proud  happy  ;  yea, 
 tliey  that  work  wickedness  fare  set  up  ;  yea, 
 //ii'i/  that  "'  tempt  God  are  even  delivered. 
 
 1()  H  Then  they  "  that  feared  the  Lord  ''spake 
 often  one  to  another :  and  the  Lord  hearken- 
 ed, and  heard  it.  and  ^a  book  of  remembrance 
 was  written  before  him  for  them  that  feared 
 the  Lord,  and  that  thought  upon  his  name. 
 
 17  And  ''  they  shall  be  mine,  saitli  the  Lord 
 of  hosts,  in  that  day  when  I  make  up  my 
 II  'jewels;  and  •*  I  will  spare  them,  as  a  man 
 spareth  his  own  son  that  serveth  him. 
 
 18  '  Then  shall  ye  return,  and  discern  be- 
 tween the  righteous  and  the  wicked,  between 
 liini  that  serveth  God  and  him  that  serveth 
 him  not. 
 
 H.  C. 
 
 C\T.  3',i7. 
 
 ;  Pan.  fi.  •». 
 
 a  ch.  2.  17. 
 
 bJnhlX.  14. 
 
 irj  &'i2,  17. 
 
 I'a,  73.  IS. 
 
 Zcpli.  1.  la. 
 
 t  H.'h.  I.U 
 
 tilitiTvntiou. 
 
 t  H..S.  i„ 
 
 blav-'i. 
 
 c  l*s.  TA    12. 
 
 cli.  2.  17. 
 
 t  Heb.  (irfl 
 
 huilt. 
 
 d  Vs.  flS.  9 
 
 -■  Ps.  r.6.  le. 
 
 <.li.   1   2. 
 
 /  Hcb.  S.  13. 
 
 ir  Ta.  .%.  8. 
 
 Is.  65.  G. 
 
 Hev.  20.  12, 
 
 A  Ex.  19.  5. 
 
 neiit.  7.  G. 
 
 I's.  i:i5.  \. 
 
 Tit.  '_',  14. 
 
 1   I'l-t   3.  1 
 
 |]0,-.  ,,„-,m/ 
 
 i  IM.  GJ  3. 
 
 k  P9.1ii:t  13. 
 
 I  Ps.  09.11. 
 
 a  Jnel2  31. 
 rh.  »  2. 
 2  I'et.  3,  7 
 
 ecll.  .1.   Mi. 
 
 /'T.uUr  l.TH, 
 Kpli.-'i  II. 
 9  Pet  I.  19. 
 Kcv.  2.  'JW 
 
 g  '2  Sam.  23. 
 43.  Mic,  7. 
 ID.  Zecli. 
 \\i.  5. 
 
 h  Kx.  20.  3, 
 
 i  Dcu   4.10, 
 
 /<Ps.  U7.  la. 
 
 I  Mat.  11.11. 
 ik  17.  II. 
 M.irkO    II. 
 Luke  I.  17, 
 .  .I..el2.  .tl 
 
 n   KccIhS.'IS. 
 
 10. 
 
 Zedi.  11. 
 12. 
 ;i  Zcch.  5.. 3. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  Cod's  jjtdgmeiit  on  the  wirhd,  2  and  Iiis  bfrss{?iff  on 
 the  good.  4  He  e.vliortcih  to  the  stndif  of  the  law,  b 
 and  ttUcth  of  Efijoh's  coming  and  office. 
 
 "POR,  behold,  °  the  day  cometh,  that  shall 
 -*-  burn  as  an  oven  ;  and  all  ''  the  proud,  yea, 
 and  all  tiiat  do  wickedly,  shall  be  ''"stubble: 
 and  the  day  that  cometh  shall  burn  them  up, 
 saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  that  it  shall  "*  leave 
 them  neither  root  nor  branch. 
 '2  H  But  unto  you  that  Tear  my  name  shall 
 the  ^  Sun  of  lighteousneps  arise  with  healin^^ 
 in  his  wings  ;  ami  ye  sliall  go  forth,  and  grow 
 up  as  calves  of  the  stall. 
 
 3  ^  And  ye  .shall  tread  down  tlie  wicked  ;  for 
 tliey  shall  be  ashes  under  the  soles  of  your 
 feet  in  the  day  that  I  shall  do  this,  saith  the 
 Lord  of  hosts. 
 
 4  t  Remember  ye  the  •■  law  of  Moses  my  ser- 
 vant, which  I  commanded  unto  him  'in  Horeb 
 for  all  Israel,  jvifh  ^  the  statutes  and  judgments. 
 
 5  1l  Behold,  I  will  send  you  '  Elijah  the  pro- 
 phet "'before  the  coming  of  the  great  and 
 dreadful  day  of  the  Lord  : 
 
 6  And  "he  shall  turn  the  heart  of  the  fathers 
 to  the  children,  and  the  heart  of  the  children 
 to  their  fatliers,  lest  I  come  and  "smite  tlie 
 earth  with  ^a  curse. 
 
 l.T.  And  now  tve  cnll  the  proud  happy,  or  *  therefore  now,*  nn!M,  Vulff., 
 Sic.  Since  Uiere  is  notliing  got  by  serving  God,  they  that  are  proud, 
 that  neither  fear  God  nor  man,  are  the  happy  persons.— t."i//.  The 
 proud  domineer  everywhere,  and  none  dares  to  resist  them.  Thei/ 
 that  tempt  God,  §c.,  tliat  despise  and  insult  his  justice  and  providence, 
 arc  preserved,  wliile  the  righteous  fall  in  danger.— (7/«v/ie,  iS.  S/mkf 
 often,  ffc,  confirmed  each  other  in  godUness  against  such  wicked 
 suggestions.— Prefi.  Lowth.  A  book  of  rernentbrance,  a  beautiful  allu- 
 sion to  the  records  kept  by  kings,  (see  Esth.  vi,  1.) — Newe.  17.  That 
 diui  when  J  make  up  my  jewels — the  sense  is,  that  though  the  precious 
 and  the  vile  may  for  a  while  be  mixed  together,  the  day  of  separation 
 sliali  come.— So  Poc.  IS.  Return  and  discern,  SfC,  'return  to  your 
 reason,  enforced  by  the  convincing  power  of  God's  judgments  to  come 
 to  yourselves.'  or  '  to  change  your  opinion  of  God  and  his  government.' 
 —Paole. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1 .  For,  behold,  the  dtiy  cometh,  fyc,  an  image  or  descrip- 
 tion of  the  final  judgment  on  the  Jews,  in  their  destruction,  and  of  the 
 last  general  judgment  on  all  mankind. — Poc.  Burn  as  an  oven,  search- 
 ing as  thoroughly  as  fire  does  things  that  are  put  into  it.  —  Seeker. 
 Proud — see  chap.  iii.  15,  and  note.  2.  Unto  you  that  fear  my  name, 
 ?fc  ,  strikingly  exemplified  in  the  case  of  Simeon  and  Anna,  of  Zecha- 
 riah  and  Elizabeth,  and  as  many  as  were  waiting  for  the  consolation 
 
 of  Israel.— Su^  The  Sun  ofrighteousnes.'i,  ffC,  Christ,  who  enlightens 
 and  enlivens  every  one,  {John,  i.  4,  !>.)—Punle.  Winf^s,  or  'rays.' — 
 tail,  A.  Clarke.  In  the  Levant,  every  morning  a  fresli  gale  of  wind 
 hlows  from  the  sea  across  the  land,  which,  from  its  utility  in  clearing 
 tlie  infected  air,  is  called  '  the  doctor.'  This  may  possibly  throw  some 
 light  on  the  expression,  healing  in  /lis  wings. — See  Orient.  Cast.,  367. 
 Grow  up,  ^c,  that  is,  thrive  like  stalled  calves. —  Wil.  3.  Tread 
 
 down  tlie  wicked,  seems  to  allude  to  those  who,  after  the  burning  of 
 Jerusalem,  should  view  the  ruins  or  dwell  there,  treading  on  the  ashes 
 of  the  consumed  wicked. — Poole.  This  may  be  the  commission  given 
 to  the  Romans.  4.  Remember  ye  the  lltiv,  fyc.,  where  nil  tliese  things 
 are  predicted. — A.  Clarke.  5.  /  ti'ill  send  you  Elijah,  our  Saviour 
 interpreted  this  to  be  John  the  Baptist,  (Matt.  xi.  14  ;  xvii.  12,  13.) — 
 Preb.   Lowth.  6.    Fathers   to  the    children,   'fathers  {Hv)   with  Uie 
 
 children.' — Boothr.  *  That  he  may  convert  the  heart  of  the  fathers, 
 together  with  the  children.' — Newc.  Many  individuals  were  converted, 
 and  were  remarkably  protected  from  the  threatened  curse. —  Wil/ir.tns. 
 Smite  the  earth,  SfC,  which,  because  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants 
 were  not  converted,  took  place.  'The  earth,'  that  is,  the  land  of 
 Judea,  here  only  intended,  was  so  smitten  and  made  desolate,  a  curse 
 which  remains  to  this  day. — Gill. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IIL — I.  'Lt  us  bless  God  that 
 Christ  is  sent  as  the  Messenger  of  the  covenant,  to  declare  the  will  of 
 God  and  ttnveil  futuritif.  Let  us  cordially  embrace  this  Sa- 
 viour; submit  to  his  method  of  salvation  ;  fear  his  threaten- 
 ings  ;  trust  his  promises  ;  follow  his  example,  and  say,  "  Ho- 
 sanna  to  Ihe  Sou  of  David  !  blessed  be  be  that  cometh  in  the 
 name  of  the  Lord  !'' 
 
 1 1.  'Let  IIS  imitate  the  piety  of  this  little  remnant,  and  encourage 
 ortrsclves  with  their  hope.  They  feared  God;  thought  on  his 
 name,  on  his  majesty,  perfections,  works,  and  promises  ;  and 
 liieir  meditation  was  sweet.  They  spake  often  ono  to  an- 
 other concerning  the  God  they  feared  and  the  name  they 
 thoui^ht  upon  ;  and  God  honoured  them.  And  such  persons 
 are  still  precious  in  his  sight.  Let  us  follow  their  example, 
 and  we  shall  share  in  their  honour  and  happiness.''' 
 
 Reflections  on  Cuap.  IV.  —  I.  Behold  here  the  ruinous  md 
 of  all  impenitent  sinners.  Before  the  fire  of  God's  wrath  they 
 shall  be  as  stubble  to  feed  the  devouring  flame.  Sin  cannot 
 come  in  contact  with  a  holy  God  any  more  than  stubble 
 with  the  fire.  But  '  who  can  dwell  with  everlasting  burnings  ! 
 Let,  then,  the  sinner  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come. 
 
 IL  The  Old  Testament  begins  and-  ends  ivith  revealing  Christ 
 the  Savionr.  He  is  the  Sun  of  the  whole  system  of  revela- 
 tion ;  to  him  all  the  godly  looked  from  tiie  patriarchal  ages  to 
 the  time  of  his  coming,  and  *  to  hira  gave  all  the  prophets 
 witness.  If  we  search  the  Scriptures  without  looking  for 
 Him  who  is  the  substance  of  all  the  shadows— the  Onk  sacri- 
 fice for  all  the  sacrifices,  and  the  great  theme  of  all  the  in- 
 spired prophets — we  are  like  the  blind  travelhng  through  a 
 beautiful  country,  but  all  its  loveliness  is  unseen.  '  Searcli 
 tlie  Scriptures,*  says  Christ,  '  for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have 
 eternal  life,  and  they  are  they  which  testify  of  me. ' 
 
 '  Laden  with  guilt  and  full  of  fears, 
 I  ily  to  thee,  my  Lord ; 
 And  not  a  glimpse  of  hope  appears 
 But  in  thy  written  word. 
 
 '  The  volume  of  my  Father's  grace 
 Does  all  my  grief  assuage  ; 
 Here  I  behold  my  Savioi/k's  fnce 
 Almost  in  every  page  !'  *" 
 
 THE    END    OF    THE    PROrHETS. 
 
 9S7 
 
CHRONOLOGICAL    SKETCH 
 
 CONNEXION  BETWEEN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 TuE  history  of  tlie  Jews,  as  recorded  in  the  Old  Testament,  finishes  with  the  times  of  Nehemiah  and  of  Malachi.  Tlie 
 Persian  empire  succeeded  the  Babylonian,  and  the  country  of  the  Jews  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  conquerors.  On 
 the  death  of  Nehemiah,  the  high  priests  directed  the  aftairs  of  the  Jews.  The  following  is,  then,  the  order  of  the 
 principal  events  : — 
 
 A.M. 
 Calraet. 
 
 35R0 
 
 .3(i-27 
 3659 
 
 A.M. 
 Hales. 
 
 4991 
 
 4998 
 50.38 
 5070 
 
 FROM    THE    DE.4TH    OF    NEHEMIAB    TO   THE    BIRTH    OF    CHRI.ST. 
 
 Eliashib  high  priest 
 
 Joida,  or  Judas,  high  priest 
 
 Jonathan,  or  John,  high  priest 
 
 Jaddua,  or  Jaddus,  high  priest.  During  his  time,  Alexander  the  Great  entered  Asia  with 
 35,000  Greeks ;  besieged  Tyre,  and  having  demanded  of  the  high  priest  the  usual 
 succours  which  had  been  before  sent  to  the  king  of  Persia,  and  being  refused,  he  marched 
 against  Jerusalem,  resolved  to  punish  the  Jews  severely.  Jaddua  urged  the  people  to 
 offer  up  earnest  prayer  and  sacrifices.  God  encouraged  him  in  a  dream  to  go  and  meet 
 Alexander  in  his  priestly  robes,  followed  by  all  the  priests  in  their  proper  dresses,  and 
 attended  by  the  people,  arrayed  in  white.  Alexander  was  struck  with  the  scene,  and 
 hastened  to  salute  the  man  of  God  with  religious  veneration.  Parmenso,  one  of  the 
 king's  favourites,  asked  him  the  reason  of  fiis  homage,  and  Alexander  informed  him  that 
 this  very  person,  .Jaddua,  had  remarkably  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream  when  at  Dro,  in 
 Macedon,  and  had  promised  him  the  empire  of  Persia. 
 
 The  high  priests,  successors  of  Jaddus,  were  Onias  I.,  Simon  the  Just,  Eleazar,  Manasses, 
 Onias  II.,  .Simon  II.,  Onias  III.,  Jesus,  or  Jason,  Onias,  or  Menelaus.  They  con- 
 tiimed  for  a  space  of  249  years.  .Simon  the  Just  completed  the  canon  of  the  Old 
 Testament,  adding  the  books  of  Clironicles,  Ezra,  Nehemiah,  Esther,  and  Walachi. 
 Alexander's  vast  dominions  were  divided  among  four  of  his  generals.  About  218  years 
 before  Christ,  Antiochus,  king  of  Syria,  made  war  with  Ptolemy  Philopater,  king  of 
 Egypt,  and  defeated  the  Egyptian  forces.  Ptolemy  having  regained  the  provinces 
 which  had  been  taken  from  him,  made  a  progress  through  them,  and  coming  to 
 Jerusalem,  offered  a  great-number  of  victims,  and  made  some  valuable  presents  to  the 
 temple.  I3ut,  having  been  prevented  by  Simon  II.,  the  high  priest,  from  entering  the 
 Holy  of  Holies,  he  returned  to  Egypt,  where  there  were  now  vast  numbers  of  Jews,  and 
 condemned  them  to  be  trod  to  death  by  elephants.  Ancient  writings  record  that  the 
 furious  animals  only  turned  upon  their  persecutors,  and  the  Jews  were  delivered.  In 
 the  time  of  Simon  II.,  Antiochus  the  (Jreat,  king  of  Syria,  conquered  Phcenicia  and 
 Judea.  And  in  the  time  of  Onias  III.,  Scopus,  a  general  of  Ptolemy  Epiphanes, 
 retook  Judea  from  Antiochus.  Antiochus  now  married  his  daughter,  Cleopatra,  to 
 Ptolemy  Epiphanes,  king  of  Egypt,  and,  among  other  provinces,  gave  him  Judea  and 
 Samaria  as  a  dowry.  The  cruel  Antiochus  Epiphanes  now  became  sovereign  of  Syria, 
 and  Jesus,  or  Jason,  bought  the  high-priesthood  of  him  ;  but  on  his  visiting  Jerusalem, 
 where  he  was  received  with  great  honours,  Menelaus  offering  three  hundred  talents  of 
 silver  for  the  high-priesthood  more  than  Jason  had  given  for  it,  obtained  a  grant  of  it 
 from  Antiochus.  He,  however,  failed  in  making  good  his  payments,  and  was  deprived 
 of  his  office,  whicli  was  given  for  awhile  to  Zysim.achus,  his  brother.  A  report 
 being  spread  that  Antiochus  Epiphanes  was  dead,  and  the  Jews  having  prematurely 
 rejoiced  at  it,  he  plundered  Jerusalem,  and  slew  and  sold  for  slaves  80,000  men.  Abont 
 this  time  came  a  succession  of  what  are  called  Asvinnaan  Princes,  or  Maccabees. 
 
 AsmouEpans  was  a  name  given  to  the  Maccabees,  descendants  of  Mattathias,  who  was,  ac- 
 cording to  Josephus,  the  great-grandson  of  AsmonaBus.  The  family  of  the  Asmonaeans 
 became  very  illustrious  in  the  latter  times  of  the  Hebrew  commonwealth;  it  was  the 
 support  of  the  religion  and  liberty  of  the  Jews,  and  possessed  the  supreme  authority 
 from  Mattathias  to  Herod  the  Great.  Judas  Maccabajus,  son  of  Mattathias,  succeeded 
 his  father  as  captain  of  the  people  during  the  persecution  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes. 
 (1  Mac.  iii.  1.)  The  name  assumed  by  him  and  his  descendants,  who  successfully  re- 
 sisted this  tyrant,  is  thought  to  have  been  derived  from  the  inscription  on  their  ensigns, 
 or  bucklers — >  3  3  D,  formed  of  letters  which  begin  these  words,  n'n*  D'n'JNa  na^D  "13 
 "  Mi  camoca  Be-elohim  Yehowah  ;"  <  n  3  D,  "  Maccabei," — "  Who  is  like  unto  thee. 
 
 Before 
 Christ. 
 
 420 
 413 
 373 
 341 
 
 (0 
 
 6    K* 
 
CHRONOLOGICAL  SKETCH. 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Caliuet. 
 
 A.M. 
 Hales. 
 
 3837 
 
 3840 
 
 5251 
 
 3847 
 
 5258 
 
 3857 
 
 5268 
 
 3864 
 
 5275 
 
 3894 
 
 5305 
 
 3895 
 
 5306 
 
 3922 
 
 5333 
 
 3931 
 
 5342 
 
 3931 
 
 5342 
 
 5247 
 
 t>248 
 
 FROM  THE  DEATH  OF  NEHESHAH  TO  THE   BIRTH   OF  CHRIST. 
 
 O  Lord,  among  the  gods?"  (Exod.  xv.  11,)  after  the  manner  that  the  Romans  put  on 
 their  ensigns  S-  P.  Q.  R.,  "  Senatus  Popu.usque  RomanusJ^  The  chronology  of  the 
 Asmoncean  Princes,  or  Maccabees,  is  as  follows: — 
 
 Judas  MaccabEEus 
 
 Jachim,  or  Alecinus,  high  priest 
 
 Jonathan. 
 
 He  is  appointed  high  priest 
 
 Simon 
 
 John  Hyrcanus  ...         ...         ...         ...         
 
 Aristobulus  and  Antigonus 
 
 Alexander  Jannfeus 
 
 Queen  Alexandra 
 
 Hyrcanus  II. 
 
 Aristobulus  II.  ... 
 
 B.  C.  164,  Apollonius  was  sent  into  Judea  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  who  demolished  the 
 wails  of  Jerusalem,  and  committed  the  greatest  acts  of  cruelty.  B.C.  163,  Antiochus 
 Epiphanes  published  an  edict  to  constrain  all  the  people  of  his  dominions  to  uniformity 
 with  the  religion  of  the  Grecians,  and  he  sent  one  Athena-us  to  Jerusalem  to  teach  the 
 Jews  their  idolatrous  rites.  He  suppressed  every  Jewish  service  and  rite;  burned 
 every  copy  of  the  law  he  could  find  ;  dedicated  the  temple  to  Jupiter  Olympius,  whose 
 statue  be  set  up  on  the  altar  of  burnt  offerings ;  and  put  to  death  all  who  opposed  the 
 king's  decree.  A  venerable  priest,  Mattatbias,  retired  to  his  native  city,  ModJus,  and 
 made  a  bold  stand  against  the  persecutor.  He  withstood  every  threat,  and  rejected 
 every  bribe,  and  shewed  his  zeal  for  God  by  slaying  the  first  apostate  Jew.  Aided  by 
 his  five  sons,  he  put  the  king's  agent  to  death,  with  all  his  attendants,  demolished  the 
 idols  and  their  altars,  and  withdrew  into  the  mountains. 
 
 After  the  death  of  Mattatbias,  Judas  defeats  Apollonius,  and  afterwards  Seron   ... 
 
 After  some  years'  struggling,  Judas  defeats  the  army  of  Antiochus  at  Jerusalem,  and 
 restores  the  worship  of  God  in  the  temple,  and  institutes  the  feast  of  dedication. 
 
 Antiochus  Epiphanes  died,  about  this  time,  in  Persia.  Judas  warred  against  the  enemies 
 of  his  nation  in  Idumea  and  beyond  Jordan.  During  thirty-six  years,  Judas  and  his 
 brethren,  Jonathan  and  Simon,  protected  their  nation,  governing  their  church  as  high 
 priests,  and  their  state  as  civil  rulers,  dependent  on  the  Syro- Grecians.  After  this, 
 John  Hyrcanus,  the  son  of  Simeon,  and  Alexander  Jannaeus,  his  son,  having  rendered 
 the  Jewish  nation  independent,  reigned  prosperously  for  about  fifty  years,  and  subdued 
 the  Samaritans,  Edomites,  Ammonites,  Moabites,  and  Philistines,  After  a  war  of  six 
 years  with  his  subjects,  Alexander  died,  when  Alexandra,  his  widow,  wisely  governed 
 the  state  nine  years,  Hyrcanus,  her  son,  being  high  priest.  After  five  years'  contention 
 between  Hyrcanus,  her  elder  son,  and  Aristobulus,  the  younger,  they  both  applied  to 
 the  Romans  for  help.  Pompey,  the  Roman  general,  took  part  with  Hyrcanus,  and 
 took  Jerusalem  from  Aristobulus,  whom  be  carried  prisoner  to  Rome,  where  he  was 
 poisoned  about  fourteen  years  after.  Antipater,  who  had  been  a  partisan  with  Hyr- 
 canus, got  his  son,  Phasael,  made  governor  of  Judea,  and  Herod  the  Great,  governor  of 
 Galilee.  Herod  seized  Hyrcanus,  who  attempted  to  take  shelter  with  the  king  of  the 
 Arabians,  and  put  him  to  death.  About  twenty-six  years  before  Christ,  he  went  to 
 Rome  to  pay  bis  court  to  Augustus,  and  obtained  the  confirmation  of  the  kingdom  of 
 Judea.  About  eighteen  years  before  Christ,  Herod,  haying  oflfended  the  Jews  by  some 
 heathenish  structures  in  compliment  to  Augustus,  attempted  to  please  them  by  restoring 
 and  beautifying  their  ruinous  temple. 
 
 Before 
 
 Christ. 
 
 163 
 160 
 
 153 
 
 143 
 
 136 
 
 106 
 
 105 
 
 19, 
 
 69 
 
 69 
 
 163 
 
 (2) 
 
THE 
 
 NEW     TESTAMENT 
 
 LORD  AND  SAVIOUR 
 
 JESUS     CHRIST. 
 
CHRONOLOGICAL   TABLE 
 
 PRINCIPAL  EVENTS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 
 
 The  true  date  of  the  birth  of  Christ  is  four  years  before  the  vulgar  era,  or  a.d.; 
 or,  according  to  Dr.  Hales,  it  is  Jive  years. 
 
 FROM   THE    BIRTH    OF  CHRIST  TO   THE    DESTRUCTION    OF  JERUSALEM. 
 
 AD. 
 
 Hales. 
 
 A.D. 
 
 Caluiet. 
 
 Year  of 
 Cliriet, 
 Calinot. 
 
 4010 
 401*2 
 
 4017 
 
 4031 
 4032 
 4033 
 
 4034 
 
 4033 
 
 4036 
 
 4037 
 
 4040 
 4044 
 
 4054 
 4055 
 4056 
 
 4057 
 
 4060 
 
 4061 
 4062 
 4063 
 
 4064 
 4067 
 
 The  birth  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 Enrohnent  or  taxation  by  Cyrenius  in  Syria.     This  was  his  second  enrolment 
 
 Jesus  Christ,  at  twelve  years  of  age,  visits  the  temple  at  Jerusalem;  continues  there 
 three  days,  unknown  to  his  parents. 
 
 Death  of  the  emperor  Augustus  ;  reigned  fifty-seven  years,  five  months,  and  four 
 days. 
 
 Tiberius  succeeds  him  ;  reigns  twenty-two  years,  six  months,  and  twenty-eight  days. 
 
 Pilate  sent  governor  into  Judea  ... 
 
 John  the  Baptist  begins  to  preach 
 
 Jesus  Christ  baptized  by  John 
 
 The  First  Passover 
 
 The  Second  Passover.      Our  Saviour's  sermon  on  the  mount  ... 
 
 John  the  Baptist,  in  prison,  sends  a  deputation  to  Jesus  to  inquire  if  he  were  the 
 Messiah. 
 
 Mission  of  the  apostles  into  several  parts  of  Judea 
 
 John  the  Baptist  slain  by  order  of  Herod,  at  the  instigation  of  Herodias,  in  the  seven- 
 teenth year  of  Tiberias. 
 
 The  Third  Passover, 
 
 Transfiguration  of  Jesus  Christ  ... 
 
 Mission  of  the  seventy-two  disciples. 
 
 Jesus  goes  to  Jerusalem  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost. 
 
 At  the  beginning  of  the  thirty-sixth  year  of  Jesus  Christ,  Lazarus  falls  sick  and  dies; 
 Jesus  comes  from  beyond  Jordan,  and  restores  him  to  life. 
 
 He  comes  to  Jerusalem  to  be  present  at  his  last  Passover. 
 
 The  crucifixion,  death,  resurrection,  and  ascent  of  Christ. 
 
 The  Feast  of  Pentecost. 
 
 St.  Stephen  martyred         ...         ...         ...         ... 
 
 Saul  persecutes  the  church  ;  bis  conversion 
 
 Tiberius  dies  ;   Caius  Caligula  succeeds  ... 
 
 Herod  Agrippa,  king  of  Judea ...  ...         
 
 Caius  Caligula  dies  ;   Claudius  succeeds  him. 
 
 The  council  of  Jerusalem... 
 
 Paul  comes  to  Athens       
 
 From  Athens  he  goes  to  Corinth 
 
 Felix  sent  governor  into  Judea,  instead  of  Cumanus. 
 
 Paul  leaves  Corinth,  after  a  stay  of  eighteen  months  ;  takes  ship  to  go  to  Jerusalem 
 visits  Ephesus  in  his  way. 
 
 St.  Paul,  having  finished  his  devotions  at  Jerusalem,  goes  to  Antioch. 
 
 Passes  into  Galatia  and  Phrygia,  and  returns  to  Ephesus,  where  he  continues  three 
 years. 
 
 Claudius,  the  emperor,  dies^  being  poisoned  by  Agrippina;  Nero  succeeds  him. 
 
 Paul  forced  to  leave  Ephesus  on  account  of  the  uproar  raised  against  him  by  De- 
 metrius, the  silversmith. 
 
 He  goes  into  Macedonia. 
 
 Paul  goes  into  Judea  to  carry  contributions 
 
 Is  sent  prisoner  to  Ccesarea 
 
 Porcius  Festus  made  governor  of  Judea,  in  the  room  of  Felix 
 
 Paul  appeals  to  the  emperor  ;  he  is  put  on  shipboard,  and  sent  to  Rome. 
 
 Paul  shipwrecked  at  IMalta. 
 
 He  arrives  at  Rome,  and  continues  there  a  prisoner  two  years 
 
 Paul  comes  out  of  Italy  into  Judea;  passes  by  Crete,  Ephesus, and  Macedonia 
 
 Nero  sets  fire  to  the  city  of  Rome;  throws  the  blame  on  the  Christians,  several  of 
 u'liom  are  cruelly  put  to  death. 
 
 (5) 
 
 10 
 
 23 
 26 
 27 
 
 28 
 
 30 
 
 31 
 
 34 
 35 
 
 49 
 
 7 
 9 
 
 14 
 
 28 
 29 
 30 
 
 31 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 37 
 41 
 
 51 
 52 
 53 
 
 54 
 
 57 
 
 10 
 12 
 
 17 
 
 31 
 .32 
 33 
 
 34 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 37 
 
 40 
 44 
 
 54 
 55 
 56 
 
 57 
 
 60 
 
 58 
 
 61 
 
 59 
 
 62 
 
 60 
 
 63 
 
 61 
 
 64 
 
 64 
 
 67 
 
A  CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE. 
 
 FROM   THE   BtBTH   OF  CHRIST   TO  THE  DESTRCCTION   OF  JERnSAiEM. 
 
 A  D. 
 
 Calmet. 
 
 Year  of 
 Christ, 
 Calmet. 
 
 4068 
 4069 
 
 4070 
 
 4071 
 4072 
 
 4073 
 
 4074 
 
 4098 
 4100 
 
 Paul  goes  to  Rome  the  last  time  ;  is  there  put  into  prison ;  also  Peter 
 
 Vespasian  appointed  by  Nero  tor  the  Jewish  war  ...         ...         ...         ..  ...  G5 
 
 Josephus  made  governor  of  Galilee. 
 
 Vespasian  enters  Judea ;  subdues  Galilee 
 
 Josephus  besieged  in  Jotapata. 
 
 Jotapata  taken ;  Josephus  surrenders  to  Vespasian, 
 
 Divisions  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 The  Zealots  seize  the  temple,  and  commit  violence  in  Jerusalem. 
 
 Nero,  the  emperor,  dies ;  he  is  succeeded  by  Galba 
 
 Vespasian  takes  all  the  strong  places  in  Judea,  about  Jerusalem. 
 
 Simon,  son  of  Gioras,  ravages  Judea. 
 
 Gaiba  dies.     Otho  is  declared  emperor  ...         ...         ...         ... 
 
 Otho  dies.      Vitellius  is  proclaimed  emperor. 
 
 Vespasian  is  declared  emperor  by  his  army,  and  acknowledged  all  over  the  East. 
 
 Josephus  is  set  at  liberty. 
 
 John,  of  Gischala,  heads  the  Zealots. 
 
 Elcazar.son  of  Simon,  forms  a  third  party;  makeshimself  master  of  the  inner  temple, 
 
 or  the  court  of  the  priests. 
 Titus  besieges  Jerusalem,  and  comes  down  before  it  some  days  before  the  Passover... 
 The  factions  unite  at  first  against  the  Romans,  but  afterwards  divide  again. 
 The  Romans  take  the  first  enclosure  of  Jerusalem  ;  then  the  second  ;  they  make  a 
 
 wall  all  round  the  city,  which  is  reduced  to  distress  by  famine. 
 The  perpetual  sacrifice  ceases. 
 
 A  Roman  soldier  sets  the  temple  on  fire,  notwithstanding  Titus  commands  the  contrary. 
 The  Romans,  being  now  masters  of  the  city  and  temple,  offer  sacrifices  to  their  gods. 
 The  last  enclosure  of  the  city  taken. 
 
 Titus  rases  the  temple  to  its  foundations  70 
 
 He  also  demolishes  the  city. 
 
 Titus  returns  to  Rome,  to  his  father  Vespasian  ;  they  triumph  over  Judea. 
 
 John  banished  to  Patmos  
 
 Liberated  from  exile.     About  this  time  John  writes  his  Gospel,  and  the  Revelation, 
 
 which  ends  the  books  of  the  New  Testament, 
 
 63 
 06 
 
 67 
 
 G8 
 69 
 
 70 
 
 71 
 
 95 
 97 
 
 68 
 69 
 
 70 
 
 71 
 
 72 
 
 73 
 
 74 
 
 98 
 100 
 
 (P) 
 
HARMONY   OF   THE    EVANGELISTS, 
 
 AS  ARRANGED  BY  DR.  DODDRIDGE. 
 
 SIATTHEW. 
 
 MARK. 
 
 LUKE. 
 
 JOHN. 
 
 MATTHEW. 
 
 MARK. 
 
 LUKE. 
 
 JOHN. 
 
 i.  1— 4. 
 
 i.  1—14. 
 
 XV.  1—9. 
 XV.  10—20. 
 
 vii.  1—13. 
 vii.  14-23. 
 
 i.  5,  ad  fin. 
 
 XV.  21— 29. 
 
 vii.  24,  ad  fin. 
 
 i.  18,  ad  fin. 
 
 XV.  30,  ad  fin. 
 
 vm.  I— 10. 
 
 i.  1—17. 
 
 iii.  23,  ad  fin. 
 
 xvi.  1—12. 
 
 viii.  11—21. 
 
 ii.  1—39. 
 
 xvi.  13—20. 
 
 viii.  22—30. 
 
 ix.  18^-21. 
 
 ii.  1,  ad  fin. 
 
 ii.  40,  ad  fin. 
 
 xvi.  21,  ad  fin. 
 
 f  viii.  31,  ad  fin. 
 ~lix.  1. 
 
 I  ix.  22—27. 
 
 iii.  1—6. 
 
 i.  1— G. 
 
 iii.  1—6. 
 
 xvii.  1—13. 
 
 ix.  2—13. 
 
 ix.  28—36. 
 
 iii.  7—12. 
 
 i.7,  8. 
 
 iii.  7—18. 
 
 xvii.  14 — 21. 
 
 IX.  14-29. 
 
 IX.  37—43. 
 
 i.  15—18. 
 
 xvii.  22,  ad  fin. 
 
 IX.  30—33. 
 
 IX.  4;3— 45. 
 
 iii.  13,  ad  fin. 
 iv.  1—11. 
 
 i.  9— i  i. 
 i.  12,  13. 
 
 iii.  21—23. 
 iv.  1—13. 
 
 Si.  19,  ad  fin. 
 ^ii.  &  iii. 
 
 xviii.  1 — 9 
 xviii.  10,  ad  fin. 
 
 f  ix.  33— ,•37, 
 \      42,  ad  fin. 
 
 i'ix.  46—48. 
 
 ix.  38^1. 
 
 ix.  49,  50. 
 
 
 
 xiv.  3-^. 
 
 vi.  17—20. 
 
 iii.  19,  20. 
 
 iv    1—42. 
 
 X.  1—16. 
 
 \-ii.  &  viii. 
 
 iv.  12. 
 
 i.  14,  15. 
 
 iv.  14—30. 
 
 iv.  43,  ad  fin. 
 
 x.  17,  ad  fin. 
 xi.  1—13. 
 
 
 
 iv.  13—22. 
 
 i.  16—20. 
 
 iv.  31,  .'32. 
 
 fxi.  37  to  ver. 
 \  11  ot'ch.xvii. 
 
 
 
 v.   1—11. 
 
 viii.  14,  15. 
 
 i.  21— 31. 
 
 iv.  30—33. 
 
 fix.  51—56. 
 txvii.  12—19. 
 xvii.  20,  ad  fin. 
 
 iv.  23,  ad  fin. } 
 viii.  16,  17.    i 
 v.  vi.  &  vii. 
 
 i.  32-39. 
 
 iv.  40,  ad  fin. 
 
 xviii.  1 — 14. 
 
 viii.  1 — 4. 
 
 i.  40,  ad  fin. 
 
 v.  12—16. 
 
 ix.  &  X. 
 
 ix.  2—9. 
 
 ii.  1—14. 
 
 V.  17—23. 
 
 xix.  1-12. 
 
 X.  1—12. 
 
 V.  1,  ad  fin. 
 
 xix.  13—15. 
 
 X.  13—16. 
 
 xviii.  15—17. 
 
 xii.  1—8. 
 
 ii.  23.  ad  fin. 
 
 vi.  1—5. 
 
 xix.  16,  ad  fin. 
 
 X.  17— 31. 
 
 xvni.  18—30. 
 
 xii.  9—15. 
 
 iii.  1—7. 
 
 vi.  6— 11. 
 
 XX.  1-16. 
 
 xii.  15-21. 
 
 iii.  7—12. 
 
 xi.  1,  ad  fin. 
 
 iii.  l;3— 19. 
 
 vi.  12—19. 
 
 XX.  17—28. 
 
 X.  32—46. 
 
 xviii.  31—34. 
 
 viii.  5—13. 
 
 iii.  19^21. 
 
 vi.  -JO,  ad  fin. 
 vii.  1  — 10. 
 vii.   11—17. 
 
 XX.  29,  ad  fin. 
 
 X.4C,  ad  fin. 
 
 J  xviii.  35, ad  fin. 
 I  xix.  1-10. 
 xix.  11—28. 
 
 xi.  2—6. 
 
 vii.  18—23. 
 
 xxvi.  6 — 13. 
 
 xiv.  3^9. 
 
 XII.  1  —  11. 
 
 xi.  7—19. 
 
 vii.  24—36. 
 
 xxi.  1—9. 
 
 xi.  1— 10. 
 
 xix.  29—40. 
 
 xii.  12—19. 
 
 xi.  20,  ad  fin. 
 
 xxi.  10—16. 
 
 xi.  11. 
 
 xix.  41,  ad  fin. 
 
 vii.  36,  ad  fin. 
 
 xxi.  17. 
 
 xi.  11. 
 
 xu.  20— .36. 
 
 fviii.  1—3. 
 
 xxi.  18,  19. 
 
 xi.  12-14. 
 
 xii.  37—43. 
 
 xii.  22—32. 
 
 iii.  22—30. 
 
 ■!xi.  14,  15, 
 
 
 
 xi.  15—19. 
 
 xii.  44,  ad  fin. 
 
 xii.  33-37. 
 
 (         17—23. 
 xi.27,28. 
 
 xxi.  20—32. 
 
 S  xi.  20,  ad  fin. 
 ixii.  1. 
 
 I  XX.  1—9. 
 
 xii.  38—45. 
 
 fxi.  16  24, 
 I      26,  29.  32. 
 
 xxi.  33,  ad  fin. 
 xxii.  1—14. 
 
 xii.  1—12. 
 
 XX.  9-19. 
 
 xii.  46,  ad  fin. 
 
 iii.  31,  ad  fin. 
 
 (xi.33— 36. 
 (viii.  19—21. 
 
 xxii.  15—22. 
 
 xii.  13—17. 
 
 XX.  20—26. 
 
 xxii.  23—33. 
 
 xii.  18-27. 
 
 XX.  27—40. 
 
 xii.  1  —  17. 
 
 iv.  1—12. 
 
 viii.  4—10. 
 
 xxii.  34,  ad  fin. 
 
 xii.  28—27. 
 
 XX.  41—44. 
 
 xiii.  18—23. 
 
 iv.  13—25. 
 
 viii.  11—18. 
 
 xxiii.  1—22. 
 
 xii.  38—40. 
 
 XX.  45,  ad  fin. 
 
 ^Hltz%'. 
 
 xxiii.  23,  ad  fin. 
 
 
 
 xii.  41,  ad  fin. 
 
 xxi.  1—4. 
 
 ^'^^U: 
 
 xxiv.  1—14. 
 
 xiii.  1  —  13. 
 
 xxi.  5-19. 
 
 iv.  26—34. 
 
 xxiv.  15—28. 
 
 xiii.  14—23. 
 
 xxi.  20—24. 
 
 iv.  35,  ad  fin. 
 
 5  viii.  22—25. 
 ?ix.  57,  ad  fin. 
 
 xxiv.  29 — 36. 
 
 xiii.  24—32. 
 
 xxi.  25-3,3. 
 
 Viii.  18—27. 
 
 xxiv.  37,  ad  fin. 
 
 xiii.  33,  ad  fin. 
 
 xxi.  34—36. 
 
 viM.28,adfin.' 
 
 ix.  1. 
 
 ix.  10—17. 
 
 V.  1—21. 
 ii.  15—22. 
 
 viii.  26 — 40. 
 V.  29,  ad  fin. 
 
 XXV.  1,  ad  fill. 
 xxvi.  1 — 5,     \ 
 14—16      / 
 
 xiv.  1,2,10, 11. 
 
 Sxxi.37,adfin. 
 ;  xxii.  1—5. 
 
 ix.  18—34. 
 
 V.  22,  ad  fin. 
 
 viii.  41,  ad  fin. 
 
 xxvi.  17—20 
 
 xiv.  12—17. 
 
 xxii.  7—18. 
 
 xiii.  1. 
 
 iiii.54,adfin.-) 
 ix.35,adfin.  J 
 X.  1—15. 
 
 xxii.  24—27. 
 
 xiii.2,  3— 17. 
 
 VI.  1 — 6. 
 vi.  7— 11. 
 
 ix.  1—5. 
 
 xxvi.  21 — 25. 
 
 xiv.  18—21. 
 
 1  xxii.  31— 23, 
 i         28—30. 
 
 Sxiu.  2, 
 
 I         18—30. 
 
 X.  16—28. 
 
 xxn.  31—34. 
 
 xiii.  31,  ad  fin. 
 
 X.  29,  ad  fin.  1 
 xi.  1.               / 
 xiv.1,2,6— 12. 
 
 XXVI.  26—30. 
 
 xiv.  22-26. 
 
 xxii.  19,20. 
 
 xxii.  35—38. 
 
 xiv.  i— 14. 
 
 vi.  14—29. 
 
 ix.  7—9. 
 
 (XIV  15,  ad  fin. 
 )xx.  1— 11. 
 "j  XV.  12, ad  fin. 
 
 XIV.  13—23. 
 
 vi.  30—46. 
 
 ix.  10—17. 
 
 vi.  1—15. 
 
 xiv.  24,  ad  fin.   1  vi.  47,  ad  fin. 
 
 vi.  16,  ad  fin. 
 
 1 
 
 (.xvi.,  xvii. 
 
 (7) 
 
HARMONY  OF  THE  EVANGELISTS. 
 
 MATTHEW. 
 
 xsvi.  31—35. 
 xxvi.  36—46. 
 x-wi.  47 — 56. 
 xxvi.  57,  58,  1 
 69,  ad  fin.  J 
 
 xxvi.  59—68. 
 xxvii.  1 — 2,    \ 
 11—14./ 
 xivii.ia — 18  ^ 
 
 XXV 
 
 15—18,1 
 
 20—23.  f 
 
 ii.  19,      i 
 
 24-31.; 
 
 ■"  } 
 
 } 
 
 •34, 
 
 xxvii.  32 
 
 38. 
 xxvii.35— 37, 
 
 39—44. 
 
 MARK. 
 
 xiv.  27—31. 
 xiv.  32—42. 
 xiv.  43 — 52. 
 xiv.  53,  54, 
 66,  ad  fin. 
 
 xiv.  55 — 65. 
 
 XV.  1—5. 
 
 XV.  6—14. 
 
 XV.  15—20. 
 
 XV.  21— 2;3, 
 
 25,  27,  28. 
 
 XV.  24,  26.     ■ 
 
 29,  32. 
 
 LUKE. 
 
 xxii.  39. 
 xxii.  40 — 46. 
 xxii.  47—53. 
 
 xxii.  54 — 62. 
 
 xxii.  63,  ad  fin. 
 xxiii.  1 — 4. 
 
 xxiii.  5 — 23. 
 
 xxiii.  24—25. 
 
 xxiii.  26—34. 
 
 xxiii.  34 — 43. 
 
 JOHN. 
 
 xviii.  1. 
 
 xviii.  2 — 12. 
 /xviii.  13—18, 
 I  24—27. 
 
 /xviii.  19, 
 I  23,  28. 
 
 xviii.  28 — 38. 
 
 xviii.  39,  ad  fin. 
 
 xix.  1—16. 
 
 xix.  16—18. 
 
 xix.  19—24. 
 
 MATTHEW. 
 
 xxvii.  45 — 54. 
 xxvii.  55 — 61. 
 xxvii.  3 — 10,  1 
 62,  ad  fin.  / 
 xxviii.  1 — 4* 
 xxviii.  5 — 10. 
 xxviii.  11 — 15. 
 
 xxviii.  16, 
 ad  fii 
 
 MARK. 
 
 XV.  33—39- 
 XV.  40,  ad  fin. 
 
 xvi.  1,2,3,4. 
 xvi.  2,  5—11. 
 xvi.  12, 13. 
 
 xvi.  14. 
 
 ^    I    xvi.  15—18. 
 xvi.  19,  ad  fin. 
 
 LUKE. 
 
 xxiii.  44 — 4-'^. 
 xxiii.  49,  ad  fin 
 
 xxiv.  1,  2,  12. 
 XXIV.  3—11. 
 
 XXIV.  13 — 33. 
 xxiv.  33 — 43. 
 
 xxiv.  44 — 19.* 
 xxiv.  50,  dd  fin. 
 
 JOHN. 
 
 xix.  25 — 30. 
 xix.  31,  ad  fin. 
 
 XX.  1—17. 
 XX.  18. 
 
 XX.  19—2.1. 
 XX.  24-29. 
 .vxi.  1—24. 
 
 I  XX.  30,  ad  fin. 
 :xxi.  ult.t 
 
 *  See  also  Acts,  i.  2,  3. 
 
 t  See  also  Acts,  i.  4 — 12. 
 
 N.B.  In  reading  according  to  the  above  arrangement,  the  reader  must  take  each  chapter,  or  portion  of  a  chapter,  in  the 
 regular  order  of  the  horizontal  line;  proceeding  thus;  Luke,  i.  I — 4  ;  John,  i.  I — 14;  Luke,  i.  5,  to  the  end  ;  Matt, 
 i.  18.  to  the  end  ;  Matt.  i.  1  — 17;  Luke,  iii.  23,  to  the  end  ;  Luke,  ii.  1 — 39;  Matt.  ii.  1,  to  the  end ;  Luke,  ii.  40,  to 
 the  end;  Matt.  iii.  1 — 6;  Mark,  i.  1 — 6;  Luke,  iii.  1 — 6;  and  so  on,  proceeding  across  every  line  of  the  four 
 evangelists. 
 
 (S) 
 
ire 
 
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 :an 
 Ive 
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 Del 
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 yet 
 ler 
 by 
 at- 
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 ice 
 he 
 1; 
 ii. 
 
 7; 
 
 lb 
 1  ; 
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 Id 
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y.„■:..^iJ■.■:..V,•a.~a2■C:2".?^tt— oruC-HiT.-. 
 
THE    GOSPEL 
 
 ACCORDING    TO 
 
 S.    MATTHEW. 
 
 [The  writers  of  this  and  llie  following  books  did  not  give  them  their  titles  ;  they  are,  however,  most  appropriate,  and  were 
 given  by  those  who  knew  them  and  were  conversant  with  the  subjects  on  which  tliey  wrote.  *  Gospel'  is  a  word  com- 
 pounded of  the  Saxon,  ffod, '  good,'  and  spdly  *  a  history,'  '  narrative,'  or  '  message. '  Hence  it  is  a  faithful  translation  of 
 the  Greek  Er'ayytXtoy,  from  ev,  *  good,'  and  ayyiXia,  *  a  message  ;'  though  some  who  merely  render  the  Saxon  'God's 
 word,' consider  it  as  not  fully  expressing  the  original.  When  we  recollect  that  the  Gospels  announce  the  coming  of  The 
 Saviour    into   the  world — the  miracles  he  performed  in  the  establishment  of  his  mission — the  truths  he  tauo-ht — his 
 
 vicarious  death  and  sacrifice,  and  his  resurrection  and  ascension,  with  manifest  marks  that  lie  was  *the  Son  of  God' we 
 
 must  feel  the  force  of  this  title,  for  these  'are  good  tidings  of  great  joy  which  shall  be  to  all  people.* 
 
 Matthew  was  a  native  of  Galilee.  He  was  also  called  Levi,  (see  Luke,  v,  27. )  His  occupation  was  that  of  a  publican 
 or  tax-gatherer,  and  he  was  called  from  this  when  Christ  engaged  him  as  one  of  his  witnesses.  He  was  one  of  the  twelve 
 sent  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel,  (Matt.  x.  :3.)  He  saw  Christ  after  his  resurrection,  received  the  Spirit  with  the  rest  of 
 the  apostles  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  and  afterwards  preached  with  much  success,  chiefly  in  Judea.  He  wrote  his  Gospel 
 about  A.D.  41,  eight  or  ten  years  after  the  death  of  Christ.  As  it  was  for  the  use  of  the  Hebrews,  it  is  supposed  by  some 
 that  it  first  appeared  in  that  language,  and  that  it  was  translated  into  Greek  about  a.d.  GO,  while  he  was,  however,  yet 
 living.  It  is  certain  that  there  were  two  manuscripts  of  his  Gospel  in  early  times,  the  one  in  Hebrew  and  the  other 
 in  Greek,  However,  from  the  frequent  interpretation  of  Hebrew  words,  (chap.  i.  23,  &c.,)  it  is  strongly  concluded,  by 
 some,  that  he  wrote  this  Gospel  in  Greek,  and  then  wrote  another  copy  for  the  use  of  the  Jews,  in  Hebrew.  As  Mat- 
 thew wrote  for  tlie  confirmation  of  the  Hebrews,  he  begins  his  Gospel  with  a  Genealogy,  proving  that  Christ  was 
 descended  from  Abraham,  by  David,  and  that  he  was  born  at  Bctlilehem,  as  foretold  by  the  prophet  Micah.  He  also 
 makes  more  frequent  allusion  to  the  prophets  than  the  other  evangelists, — a  mode  of  argument  best  adapted  to  convince 
 the  Jews  that  Christ  was  the  promised  Messiah.  This  evangelist  has  likewise  paid  more  attention  than  the  others  to  the 
 order  of  events.  His  references  to  the  Old  Testament  are — Num.  xxiv.  17  j  xxviii.  9  ;  Deut.  vi.  16 ;  viii.  3  ;  xxiv.  I  ; 
 XXV.  5 ;  Judges,  xiii.  5;  1  Sam.  i.  11  ;  xxi.  6  ;  1  Kings,  x.  1 ;  Ps.  xxii.  18  ;  xli.  9  ;  Ixix.  21  ;  Ixxviii.  2  ;  ex.  1  ;  cxviii. 
 22;Prov.  ix.  2;  Isa.  vi.  9;  vii.  14;  ix.  l,2;xxix.  13;  xxxv.  5,  6;  xt.  3;  liii.  9,  12;lvi.7;  Jer.  xxxi.  15;  Dan.  ix.  27; 
 Hos.  vi.  6;  xi.  1  ;   Mic.  v.  2;  Zcch.  ix.  9  ;  xi.  II,  12;  Mai.  iii.  1.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 1    T/ie  genealogy  of  Christ  front  Abraham    to  Joscjjh 
 IS  Ife  was  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  horn  of 
 the  Virgin  Mary  wheti  she  teas  espoused  to  Joseph. 
 19   The  angel  satisjieth  the  misdeeming  thoughts  of 
 Joseph,  and  interprdcth  the  names  of  Christ. 
 
 npHE  book  of  the"  generation  of  Jesus  Christ, 
 -'-    ^  the  son  of  David,  '^  the  son  of  Abraham. 
 
 2  **  Abraham  begat  Isaac  ;  and  ®  Isaac  begat 
 Jacob  ;  and  ^  Jacob  begat  Judas  and  his 
 brethren  ; 
 
 3  And  ^  Judas  begat  Phares  and  Zara  of 
 Thamar  ;  and  ^  Phares  begat  Esrom  ;  and  Es- 
 roni  begat  Aram  ; 
 
 a  Luke  3.23. 
 b  Ps.  132  II. 
 
 Jer.  23.  5. 
 
 cli 
 
 .  i'2. 
 
 John  7.  .12. 
 
 A  CIS  2.  3y, 
 
 &  13.  S3. 
 
 KoQi.  1.3. 
 cGeu.  12.  3. 
 
 fc  22.  18. 
 
 Gal.  3.  IG, 
 d  Gen.  21. 
 
 2.3. 
 e  Geo.25.26. 
 /Gen.  29.35. 
 ff  Gen.  38.27. 
 
 Hutu  4. 19. 
 
 Sc.  IChr.'J. 
 
 5,  9,  &c. 
 
 4  And  Aram  begat  Aminadab ;  and  Aminadab 
 
 begat  Naasson  ;  and  Naasson  begat  Salmon  ; 
 
 5  And  Salmon  begat  Booz  of  llachab  ;  and 
 Booz  begat  Obed  of  Ruth  ;  and  Obed  begat 
 Jesse  ; 
 
 6  And  '  Jesse  begat  David  the  king  ;  and 
 ''  David  the  king  begat  Solomon  of  her  that 
 had  been  the  wife  of  Urias  ; 
 
 7  And  '  Solomon  begat  Roboam  ;  and  Ko- 
 boam  begat  Abia  ;  and  Abia  begat  Asa  ; 
 
 8  And  Asa  begat  Josaphat ;  and  Josaphat 
 begat  Joram  ;  and  Joram  begat  Ozias  ; 
 
 9  And  Ozias  begat  Joatham  ;  and  Joatham 
 begat  Achaz  ;  and  Achaz  begat  Ezekias  ; 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  1.  The  huok,  /3i/3Aof,  *  a  roll  register,*  'cata- 
 logue,* or  '  calendar.' — Trupp.  '  The  table,'  the  word  so  used,  Mark, 
 X.  4  ;  a  bill  of  divorce  he'mg  so  called  ;  and  (Jer.  xxxi.  12,)  a  deed  of 
 conveyance  is  also  called  *iED,  *abook.'  By  the  word  'book,'  the 
 Greeks  and  Hebrews  understood  any  writing',  short  or  long. — Mack- 
 ■nif>ht.  The  true  force  of  tiic  phrase  seems  to  be,  '  the  roll  or  book  of 
 the  genealogy  of  Jesus  Clirist,'  i.  e.,  a  {jenealugical  table. — Bloomfield. 
 The  term  here  seems  to  mean  the  first  sixteen  verses  of  this  chapter 
 oTi\y.~  Key  worth.  Others  understand  the  whole  hooV..  ^Campbell. 
 Generafiim,  yeveaea?,  ^\')ii^^\,  signifies  '  tlie  origin  of  a  thing.' — Danid 
 sun.  This  book  was  doubtless  taken  from  tlie  genealogical  tables  kept 
 by  the  Jews,  of  the  line  of  David.  From  the  taxation,  mentioned 
 Luke,  ii.,  we  learn  that  they  had  genealogies  of  all  their  families  and 
 tribes. —  WhUhy.  St.  Matthew  took  up  the  genealogies  just  as  he 
 found  them  in  the  public  Jewish  records,  which,  though  they  were  in 
 the  main  correct,  were  yet  deficient  in  many  particulars. — Clarke. 
 Of  Jfsua  Christ,  Jesus  signifies  '  Saviour.'— /tfyw.  Christ,  '  anointed,' 
 the  same  sense  as  Messiah. — Mant.  'Jesus'  shew.s  he  was  God,  '  for 
 besides  me  there  is  no  Saviour,*  (Isa.  xlv.  21 ;)  'Christ,'  that  he  was 
 man,  the  Anointed,  for  in  respect  of  his  manhood,  chiefly,  is  this 
 arxkiiting  with  gifts  and  graces  attributed  to  Clirist. — Trupp.  Anoint- 
 ing with  oil  was  used  at  the  installation  of  prophets,  priests,  and  kings, 
 and  was  considered  an  emblem  of  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Holy  Spi- 
 rit ;  bat  as  no  man  was  ever  dignified  by  the  holding  of  the  three  offices, 
 sc-  no  person  ever  had  the  title, '  Messiah,  the  Anointed  One,'  but  Jesus, 
 the  Christ. — Clarke.  The  son  of  David — this  characteristic  of  the 
 Messiah  was  absolutely  necessary,  (see  John,  vii.  42,  compared  witli 
 2  Sara,  vii,  12;  l  Kings,  ix.  5,}  to  which  allusion  is  made,  Ps.  Ixxxi.v.  4  ; 
 Isa.  xi.  1,  10;  Jer.  xxiii.  5. — Martin.  The  right  rendering  is  'a  de- 
 sccMidant  of  Uavid.' — Camp.  The  son  of  Ahrahajn,  Abraham  was  the 
 first  to  whom  a  particular  promise  was  made  that  the  Messiah  should 
 989 
 
 spring  from,  (Geo.  xxii.  IS.)— Gill.  Christ  being  the  Son  of  David, 
 could  but  be  the  son  of  Abraham  ;  but  the  Evangelist  wished  it  to  be 
 understood  that  he  was  thnt  s<in  of  Abraham  referred  to.  Gen.  xii.  3  ; 
 xviii.  18,  and  xxii.  18  ;  comp.  Gal.  iii.  14  — 3Iar.  2.  Abraham  begat 
 Isaac,  only  the  direct  line  of  Christ's  ancestors  is  here  specified. — 
 Clarke.  Christ's  genealogy  is  brought  down  from  Abraham,  for  the 
 comfort  of  the  Jews,  who  deduced  all  their  genealogies  from  him.  be- 
 cause God  had  taken  him  and  his  seed  into  a  peculiar  covenant.  Judas 
 and  his  brethren — 'brethren'  are  added,  probably  because  they  were 
 patriarchs  and  heads  of  the  people  from  whom  the  Messiah  was  to  jiro- 
 ceed,  and  to  sliew  that  he  was  related  to  all  the  tribes  as  well  as  to  that 
 of  Judah.  3.  Pharez  and  Zara,  these  two  are  mentioned,  not  be- 
 cause they  were  twins,  for  then  Esau  would  have  been  mentioned  as 
 the  brother  of  Jacob,  but  because  there  should  be  no  supposition  that 
 it  might  be  another  Phares,  several  children  among  the  Jews  often 
 bearing  the  same  name ;  for  the  same  reason,  the  name  of  Ttiamar  is 
 added.  For  similar  reasons,  the  other  women  in  this  catalogue  are 
 mentioned. — Benson.  It  ought  not  to  be  overlooked,  that  only  four 
 women  are  mentioned  in  this  genealogy,  and  each  branded  with  a  mark 
 of  infamy;  Thamar,  incest;  Rabab,  fornication;  Ruth,  heathenism; 
 bathsheba,  adultery  ;  perhaps  to  obviate  the  cavils  of  the  Jews  against 
 the  poverty  of  Christ's  mother,  who  might  see  that  their  most  illus- 
 trious ancestors  had  descended  from  women  much  less  respectable. — 
 Davidson.  The  fact  of  thc^e  four  mothers  being  mentioned  only  out 
 of  forty -two,  may  teach  us,  from  their  distinguished  characters,  that 
 Christ  came  to  save  .lew  and  fJentile  ;  those  guilty  of  original,  and 
 even  the  worst  actual  transgressions,  and  cnuld  fitly  take  upon  himself 
 the  weight  of  all  the  sins  of  all  mankind.— Sir  G.  H.  Rose.  8.  Joram 
 begat  Ozias,  or  Uzziah,  (2  Kings,  xv.  32.)  Between  these,  three  kings 
 nre  omitted,  Ahaziah,  Joash,  and  Amaziah.  Probably  on  account  of 
 the  curse  on  Ahab,  (I  Kings,  xxi.  21 ;  2  Kings,  ix.  H.)     The  Jews  fre- 
 
The  conception  and  birth  of  Christ. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  II. 
 
 The  wise  men  directed  by  a  star. 
 
 10  And  "  Ezekias  begat  Mariasses  ;  and  Ma» 
 nasses  begat  Anion  ;  and  Amon  begat  Josias  ; 
 
 1 1  And  II  "  Josias  begat  Jecbonias  and  his 
 brethren,  about  the  time  they  were  "  carried 
 away  to  Babylon  : 
 
 12  And  after  they  were  brouglit  to  Babylon, 
 ''Jecbonias  begat  Salatbiel  ;  and  Salathiel  be- 
 gat ''  Zorobabel  ; 
 
 13  And  Zorobabel  begat  Abiud  ;  and  Abiud 
 begat  Eliakini  ;  and  Eliakim  begat  Azor ; 
 
 14  And  Azor  begat  Sadoc  ;  and  Sadoc  begat 
 Achini  ;  and  Achim  begat  Eliud  ; 
 
 Ij  And  Eliud  begat  Eleazar  ;  and  Eleazar 
 begat  Mattlian  ;  and  Matthan  begat  Jacob  ; 
 
 10  And  Jacob  begat  Joseph  the  husband  of 
 Mary,  of  whom  was  born  Jesus,  who  is  called 
 Christ. 
 
 17  .So  all  the  generations  from  Abraham  to 
 David  are  fourteen  generations ;  and  from 
 David  until  the  carrying  away  iiito  Babylon 
 are  fourteen  generations  ;  and  from  the  carry- 
 ing away  into  Babylon  unto  Christ  are  four- 
 teen generations. 
 
 18  t  Now  the  'birth  of  Jesus  Christ  was  on 
 this  wise  :  When  as  his  mother  Mary  was  es- 
 poused to  Joseph,  before  they  came  together, 
 she  was  found  with  child  '  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 19  Then  Joseph  her  husband,  being  a  just 
 man,  and  not  willing  '  to  make  her  a  publick 
 example,  was  minded  to  put  her  away  privily. 
 
 20  But  while  he  thought  on  these  things,  be- 
 hold, the  angel  of  the  Lord  appeared  unto  him 
 in  a  dream,  saying,  Joseph,  thou  son  of  David, 
 
 21.1  Ctir.a 
 
 13. 
 II  Some  read, 
 
 Jf.iiai   t>rffilt 
 
 Jakun,  aud 
 
 Jakim  be^at 
 
 Jfclmnias. 
 n  See  1  Chr 
 
 3.  15,  16. 
 o2Km.2+.14, 
 
 15,  16. 
 
 «i25.  11. 
 
 2Chr. 36.111, 
 
 20.  Jer.  ?7. 
 
 20.  &  39.  y. 
 
 &S2  11,  15, 
 
 28,  29,  30. 
 
 Dan.  1.  2. 
 p  I  Chr.  3. 
 
 17.  19. 
 7  E/.ra  3.  2. 
 
 &5.  2. 
 
 Nell.  12.  1. 
 
 H.11.  I.J. 
 
 Flitli 
 r  bef'jre 
 
 r  Ltike  1.27. 
 *  Luke  1.3.5. 
 /  Deu.  21.  1. 
 
 e.l   Anny 
 Dumiui 
 
 u  Luke  I  35. 
 t  Gr.  i*^<i(- 
 
 ten. 
 xl.tikel.Sl. 
 II  That  is, 
 
 Snimr, 
 
 Heb. 
 y  .\ctsl.  12. 
 
 &  5   31.  fit 
 
 13  93,  :>:*. 
 
 :  Is.  7.    11. 
 
 It  Or,  /,(, 
 .,-,.,,e  M>mU 
 be  colUii. 
 
 I  Kx.  13.  2. 
 Luke  2.  7, 
 
 rhc  Fourth 
 Year  befoi-o 
 the  Cum- 
 
 Duuiiui. 
 ..  Luke  2.  1, 
 
 0,7. 
 6  Geii.10.30. 
 
 &  25,  C. 
 
 I  Kiu.l.Sl). 
 -■  Luke 2,  II. 
 d  Num.  31. 
 
 17,  Is.  GO.  3. 
 
 fear  not  to  take  unto  thee  Mary  thy  wife  :  "for 
 that  which  is  f  conceived  in  her  is  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost, 
 
 •21  "  And  she  shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and 
 thou  shalt  call  his  name  ||  JESUS  :  for  'he 
 shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins. 
 
 22  Now  all  this  was  done,  tliat  it  miglit  be 
 fulfilled  which  was  spoken  of  the  Lord  by  the 
 prophet,  saying, 
 
 23  '  Behold,  a  virgin  shall  be  with  cliild,  and 
 shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and  ||  they  sliall  call  his 
 name  Emmanuel,  which  being  interpreted  is, 
 God  with  us. 
 
 24  Then  Joseph  being  raised  from  sleep  did 
 as  the  angel  of  the  Lord  had  bidden  him,  and 
 took  unto  him  his  wife : 
 
 2j  And  knew  her  not  till  she  had  brought 
 fortli  °  her  firstborn  son  :  and  he  called  his 
 name  JESUS. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  T/ic  wise  men  out  of  the  east  are  directed  to  Christ  hif 
 a  star.  II  Thei/  worship  him,  and  offer  their  pre- 
 sents. 14  Joseph  Jieeth  into  Egypt,  with  Jesus  and 
 his  ytiothfT.  Hi  Htrod  slayeth  the  children  :  20  him- 
 self dieth.  23  Christ  is  hrouyht  hack  again  vdo 
 Galilee  to  Nazareth. 
 
 TVTOW  when  *  Jesus  was  Dorn  in  Bctlilehem 
 ■'-^  of  JiuItEa  in  the  days  of  Herod  the  king, 
 beiiold,  there  came  wise  men  '^from  tlie  east  to 
 Jerusalem, 
 2  Saying,  *^  Where  is  he  that  is  bom  King  of 
 the  Jews  ?  for  we  have  seen  ^  his  star  in  the 
 east,  and  are  come  to  worship  him. 
 
 quently  omiUeil  those  tliat  were  wicked. —  Wall,  Whitby.  11.  Jeeho- 
 niaa  and  ftis  brethren,  the'^e  were  kin^;  Jelioahaz,  the  young  son; 
 then  Jehoiakim,  here  meant,  (called  also  Eliakim  ;  ami  then  Zedekiah, 
 2  Kings,  xxiii.  31—36;  xxxiv.  15—17,)  12.  Jechonias,  this  was  Je- 
 
 hdiakim,  the  son  of  the  former  Jehoiakim.— WMtt/i/,  Welts.  16.  The 
 husband  of  Mnrij,  the  betrothed  husband,  (see  vcr.  IS.)  The  titles  of 
 'husband'  and  'wife'  are  given  to  betrothed  persons,  fGen.  xxix.  21 ; 
 Deat.  xxii.  1\.)—Benusohre.  Joseph  is  here  called  the  husband  of 
 Mary,  but  not  the  father  of  Se&\x%.— Davidson.  Matthew  traces  the 
 genealogy  through  Joseph,  vie  wrote  for  the  Jews,  and  they  reckoned 
 in  the  male  line.  17-  Fourteen^fourteen— fourteen — to  aid  memory, 
 the  Jews  thus  reduced  numbers  in  their  genealogies  to  small  quanti- 
 ties;  these  divisions  are— (i.)  Under  the  prophets  and  judges  ;  (ii.)  under 
 the  kings;  (iii.)  under  the  Asmoncan  priests,  Maccabees.— Lig-AZ/oc/. 
 The  Jewish  genealogies  arc  now  lost;  how,  then,  could  any  one  ever 
 demonstrate  that  he  was  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  and  family  of  David,  so 
 as  to  claim  the  honours  of  Messiah  ? — Sec  Sir  G.  If.  Rose.  18.  Birth 
 of  Christ — the  date  for  this  was  not  commenced  till  about  A.n.  "30, 
 and  learned  men  think  that  Christ  was  born  in  the  fifth  year  before  that 
 specified.— See  Mnnt.  Christ  was  born,  from  the  time  of  Malachi,  400 
 years;  of  Ezra,  .100;  of  Solomon,  1000;  of  the  Exodus,  1500;  of  the 
 creation,  40no. — Kryw.  Espoused,  a  year  or  six  mouths  usually  inter- 
 vened between  the  espousals  and  the  nuptials,  (Dcut.  xx.  7.)—Beaus. 
 This  custom  exists  among  the  Hindoos.— /!.>//«■.  It  arises  from  soli- 
 citude to  ascertain  the  chastity  of  the  female'. — Dau.  This  custom,  if 
 not  ordained,  was  at  least  approvcil  by  God,  (Deut.  xx.  7.)— Bens.  Of 
 the  Holy  Ghost— the  mystery  of  Christ's  incarnation  is  to  be  adored, 
 not  pried  into.  Man's  formation  is  marvellous,  (Eccles.  xi.  5.)  When 
 David  admires  how  he  himself  was  made  in  secret,  and  curiously 
 wrought,  (Ps.cxxxis.  13—16.)  perhaps  bespeaks  in  the  spirit  of  Christ's 
 incarnation.— Ht'«i7/.  19,  Just,  •  gentle'  and  '  beninn,'  so  the  He- 
 
 brews meant  by  the  word,  (Ps.  c.xlv.  17 ;  Prov.  xii.  10  ;  Zech.  ix.  9.) 
 A  public  example,  for  if  criminal,  as  betrothed,  it  was  death,  (Deut. 
 xxii.  23,  '2i.)—Gui/se.  The  (Jreek  signifies,  •  to  put  a  mark  of  infamy 
 upon  any  one,'  which  the  accusation  wouhl  have  done,  (see  the  law, 
 Deut.  xxii.  20.}— P.  Martin.  Privily,  by  bill  of  divorce,  often  put  into 
 the  woman's  hand  or  bosom,  (see  Deut.  sxiv.  I.)— Gilt.  20.  Thy 
 wifc~thG  Hebrews  called  the  betrothed  of  a  man,  his  wife,  (Deut.  xxii. 
 
 24,)) — Mar.  Conceived,  lewnO^i',  '  formed.*  21.  Jksus,  the  same  as 
 "ITin*,  '  Joshua,'  from  3MEi\  a  root  signifying  '  he  saved,'  '  delivered,* 
 ■  put  in  a  state  of  safety.*— C/arAre.  22.  That  it  might  be.  fulfilled. 
 this  expressed  not  the  design,  as  if  to  bring  the  prophecies  to  pass,  bid. 
 the  event. — Bp.  Mann.  Many  passages  prove  that  ihc  word  Via,  ren- 
 dered '  that,*  expresses  the  consequence  or  the  event  only,  and  is  equi- 
 valent to  '  so  that,*  (see  Matt,  xxxiii.  ?6  ;  Luke,  ix.  45  ;  John,  vi,  3(J : 
 &c, )—/)«?'.  See  Isa,  vii.  10— 16,  This  prophecy  was  complex;  part 
 belonged  to  Christ,  as  relating  to  the  miraculous  conception,  and  part 
 to  Isaiah*s  son,  Shcar-Jashnb. — H.Owen.  23.  God  with  us,  'God 
 manifesting  himself  in  our  flesh,'  '  God  reconciling  man  to  bini'-elf.*— 
 Burkitt. 
 
 CuAP.  II.—  1.  When,  '  Riter.'— Doddridge.  '  Soon  after.'— Gj/y.s«. 
 '  Sometime  after.' — Richard  Baxter,  Boothr.  Bethlehem,  abovit  six 
 miles  from  Jerusalem. —  Kusfb.,  Jerome.  O/Ji/rfeu,  to  distinguish  it 
 from  a  Bethlehem  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulun,  (Josh.  xix.  15.)— i>.  Mar- 
 tin. Herud,  the  Grea.t,  and  the  first  of  that  name,  the  son  of  Antipater, 
 by  extraction  and  birth  an  Idumean,  but  a  Jewish  proselyte.  Thus  the 
 king  of  a  foreign  family  was  established  on  the  throne  by  the  Romans. 
 — Gill,  Mar.  Wise  men,  fiayot,  the  word  signifies  'magicians,'  but  it 
 generally  designated  men  of  wisdom  and  learning. — Whitby.  The  ori- 
 ginal magi  were  the  priests  anrl  philnsojihers  of  Persia  ;  the  name  be- 
 came  applied  to  those  of  other  countries,  and  especially  Arabia,  and 
 was  degraded  to  mean  magicians. —  Wil.  They  were  eminent  for  the 
 knowledge  of  astronomy,  natural  philosophy,  and  theology.  These 
 magians,  probably,  came  from  .Arabia,  a  country  east  of  Judea,  (Judges, 
 vi,  3  ;  Job,  i.  3.)  The  inhabiiauts  were  distinguished  for  wisdom,  espe- 
 cially the  descendants  of  Teman,  (I  Kings,  iv.  30;  Jer.  xlix.  7-)  This 
 country  was  also  famous  for  gold,  frankincense,  and  myrrh.— Drtu. 
 Daniel  was  placed  over  this  class  of  men  in  Babylon,  (Dan.  v.  II.) — 
 Boothr.  These  magi  might  have  been  Jews. — Bp.  Pearce.  Might 
 have  been  originally  Jews,  as  many  were  mixed  with  the  people  of  the 
 east.— C/(irA-e.  Most  probably  they  were  Gentile  philosophers,  who, 
 by  Divine  influence,  had  improved  their  knowledge  of  nature,  and  God 
 might  have  favoured  thera  with  extraordinary  revelations,  as  he  did 
 MelchL^edek,  Abraham,  Job.  and  oihcrs.— Doddridge.  2.  Born  King 
 of  the  Jews — through  the  whole  east,  it  was  expected  that  about  that 
 time  a  king  was  to  arise  out  of  Judea^  who  should  rule  over  all  the 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  I I.  Let  ns  hlcss  God  for  well-au- 
 
 the nticated  proofs  that  Jesus  was  the  Missiuh.  Kvery  kind  of 
 evidence  has  been  given  to  us  that  the  most  sceptical  need 
 desire.  It  wouid  be  sufficient  to  know  that  his  doctrines  were 
 of  tiie  most  pure  and  celestial  character— that  his  hfe  was  one 
 of  surpassing  excellency  and  benevolence— that  his  miracles 
 were  of  the  most  godlike  character,  and  confirmed  by  wit- 
 nesses who  sealed  the  truth  of  what  they  declared  respecting 
 
 these,  arid  his  death  and  resurrection,  with  their  blood but, 
 
 in  addition,  we  have  the  most  minule  records,  kept  by   the 
 Jews  Ihemselvos.  proving  Christ  to  have  been  of  that  exact 
 hne  which  the  prophets  had  predicted— the  seed  of  \braham 
 900 
 
 and  the  Son  ot  God.     Where  is  there  room  for  the  shadow  of 
 a  doubt  ? 
 
 II.  JLct  US  rejoice  i«  the  object  of  the  Mtssialfs  inission.  He 
 came  '  to  save  his  people  from  their  sins  ;'  not,  indeed,  m  their 
 sins,  hat  froju  them  ;  from  their  guilt,  from  their  defilement, 
 from  their  power,  from  their  everlasting  consequences.  And 
 he  is  able  to  save,  and  that  to  the  very  uttermost,  for  ho  is 
 '  Emmanuel,  God  with  us!' 
 
 '  Mighty  Redeemer  !  set  me  free 
 From  my  old  state  of  sin  ; 
 O  make  my  soul  alive  t'>  tt-ee. 
 Create  new  powers  within.* 
 
The  wise  miii  coiniiKj  tu  Christ, 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  II. 
 
 iship  him. 
 
 3  When  Herod  the  king  had  heard  these 
 things,  he  was  troubled,  and  all  Jerusalem 
 with  him. 
 
 4  And  when  he  had  gathered  all  °  the  chief 
 ariests  and  ^  scribes  of  the  people  together,  '■'he 
 demanded  of  them  where  Christ  should  be  born. 
 
 5  And  they  said  unto  him.  In  Bethlehem  of 
 Juda?a :  for  thus  it  is  written  by  the  prophet, 
 
 6  ''And  thou  Bethlehem,  i/i  the  land  of  Juda, 
 art  not  the  least  among  the  princes  of  Juda: 
 Cor  out  of  thee  shall  come  a  Governor,  '  that 
 shall  II  rule  my  people  Israel. 
 
 7  Then  Herod,  when  he  had  privily  called 
 the  wise  men,  enquired  of  them  diligently 
 what  time  the  star  appeared. 
 
 8  And  he  sent  them  to  Bethlehem,  and  said, 
 Go  and  search  diligently  for  the  young  child  ; 
 and  when  ye  have  found  him,  bring  me  word 
 again,  that  I  may  come  and  worship  him  also. 
 
 9  When  tliey  had  heard  the  king,  they  de- 
 parted ;  and,  lo,  the  star,  which  they  saw  in 
 tlie  east,  went  before  them,  till  it  came  and 
 stood  over  where  the  young  child  was. 
 
 10  When  they  saw  the  star,  they  rejoiced 
 with  exceeding  great  joy. 
 
 11  t  And  when  they  were  come  into  the 
 house,  they  saw  the  young  child  with  Mary 
 
 The  K-iinh 
 Year  ln-fure 
 tilt:   Coill- 
 
 coiiiit  call- 
 eit  Atiiiu 
 Domini. 
 
 f  2  Ciir.  ati. 
 
 14. 
 /L'Clir.  3* 
 
 I.S.I  Macs. 
 
 \-i.  k  7.  1-i. 
 it  MaL  2.  7. 
 A  M  ic.  b.  2. 
 
 Juliu  -.  48, 
 
 i  Rev.  2.  Sr. 
 II  Or,/«ci. 
 
 his  mother,  and  fell  down,  and  worshipped 
 him  :  and  when  they  had  opened  their  trea- 
 sures, ■■  they  II  presented  unto  him  gifts  ;  gold, 
 and  frankincense,  and  myrrh. 
 
 12  And  being  warned  of  God  '  in  a  dream 
 that  they  should  not  return  to  Herod,  they 
 departed  into  their  own  country  another  way. 
 
 I. 'J  And  when  they  were  departed,  behold, 
 the  angel  of  the  Lord  appeareth  to  Joseph  in 
 a  dream,  saying.  Arise,  and  take  the  young 
 child  and  his  mother,  and  flee  into  Egypt,  and 
 be  thou  there  until  I  bring  thee  word :  for 
 Herod  will  seek  tlie  young  child  todestroyhim. 
 
 14  Wlien  he  arose,  he  took  the  young  child 
 and  his  mother  by  night,  and  departed  into 
 Egypt  : 
 
 I J  And  was  there  until  the  death  of  Herod  : 
 that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  of 
 the  Lord  by  the  prophet,  saying,  '"  Out  of 
 Egypt  have  I  called  my  son. 
 
 it)  K  Then  Herod,  when  be  saw  that  he  was 
 mocked  of  the  wise  men,  was  exceeding  wroth, 
 and  sent  forth,  and  slew  all  the  children  that 
 were  in  Bethlehem,  and  in  all  the  coasts  there- 
 of, from  two  years  old  and  under,  according  to 
 the  time  which  he  had  diligently  enquired  of 
 the  wise  men. 
 
 world. — Tiicitits,  Suetonius.  Doubtless,  the  general  e.Kpectation  of  a 
 conquering:  king  originated  iu  the  writings  of  the  ancient  prophets, 
 and  from  the  Jews  dispersed  in  all  these  countries. — Scott.  Slur,  a 
 supernatural  inetev>r,  connected  with  some  revelation  of  the  birth  of 
 the  Messiah. — R.  Watson  ;  so  Mar.,  Boothr.,  Clarke.  It  has  been 
 justly  remarked,  that  a  star,  properly  so  called,  could  not,  from  its  im- 
 mense distance,  indicate  any  bouse  or  town. — Hew.  Probably  this 
 star,  or  light,  was  of  the  nature  of  the  Shechinah,  C^ee  Exod.  xiii.  21.) 
 — Bp.  Pearee.  That  the  heathens  thought  the  rise  of  a  new  star,  or  the 
 apijearance  of  a  comet,  portended  the  birth  of  a  great  person,  has  been 
 proved  by  (Jrigen  contra  Ctls.,  lib.  i. ;  see  likewise  Grotius.  The  fathers 
 suppose,  that  the  magi  had  heard  of  the  '  star  out  of  Jacob,*  predicted 
 by  Balaam,  &c.,  (Num,  x.\iv.  17 ;)  and  as  stars  were  in  the  east  hiero- 
 glyphics, or  emblems  of  princes,  it  was  natural  for  them  to  consider 
 the  rising  of  a  new  star  as  foretelling  the  rise  of  a  new  king.  From  the 
 intercourse  of  the  Arabians  with  the  Jews,  the  Old  Testament  was  pro- 
 bably not  unknown  to  them. — liens.  In  lite  east,  the  meaning  here  is, 
 that  when  the  magians  themselves  were  in  the  east,  they  saw  the  star, 
 which  was  in  the  west,  and  guided  them  to  Jenisalem.— C«m/j.  To 
 worsfiip  him,  Tipoanvi'tjaai  avrat,  '  to  prostrate  ourselves  before  him.' — 
 Voddr.  'To  do  him  homage.' — Camp.,  %o  Boothr.  It  is  not  certain, 
 in  the  case  of  the  magi,  whether  they  paid  religious  homage.— iVf/c 
 It  signifies  a  complete  prostration  of  the  body  (especially  the  head)  to 
 the  ground,  a  form  of  reverential  salutation  which  has  ever  prevailed 
 ill  the  east.     S,o  Herod.,  \.  Va.—Bloomf.  3.  Troubled,  'alarmed,' 
 
 t—upuxC'i,  signifies  *  a  great  emotion  of  mind.'  —  Watertand.  Herod 
 was  alarmed  for  the  safety  of  his  throne. —  Wit.  .ind  atljerusalem — the 
 people,  knowing  Herod's  cruelties,  feared  a  renewal  of  bloody  scenes. 
 —  So  Scott.  Meteors  have  always  been  alarming  to  the  vulgar. —  Wil. 
 4.  Chief  priests,  this  includes  those  who  had  passed  that  office,  which 
 was  not  then  for  life,  (vide  Jos.  17.  4,  6.) — Bloom/.  It  includes,  also, 
 all  the  heads  of  the  twenty-fnur  courses,  orfamilies  of  the  priests,  ;men- 
 tioned  I  Chron.  xxiv.  6.1— U/j.  Pearce.  Those  that  were  members  of 
 the  Sanhedrim  are  included,  (Matt.  xxvi.  3;  xxvii.  1  ;  John,  xviii.  3.) 
 Scribes,  a  name  the  Jews  gave  to  their  doctors,  among  whom  were 
 many  counsellors  of  the  Sanhedrim,  or  grand  senate  of  Jerusalem. — 
 Mar.  It  would  seem  from  Ezra,  vii.  U,  12;  !  Chr.  xxiv.  6;  2  Clir. 
 xxxiv.  13,  that  the  scribes  were  of  the  tribe  of  Levi  only,  and  so  were 
 cither  priests  or  Levites. — Bens.  The  scribes  were  employed  to  write 
 out  the  Old-Testament  Scriptures,  and,  being  well  versed  in  them, 
 were  consulted  iu  cases  of  difficulty. — Bp.  Mann.  Where  Christ  [the 
 Messiah]  should  be  born,  this  strongly  shews  the  general  expectation 
 of  the  Messiah. — Doddr.  5.  In  Bethlehem,  Sfc,  referring,  in  confirm- 
 ation, to  a  prophecy,  Mic.  v.  ''.  —  Scott.  6.  And  thou,  ^-c,  'anil 
 thou,  Bethlehem,  the  house  of  Ephratha,  art  one  of  the  least  to  be 
 among  the  thousands  of  J  udah  ;  out  of  thee  shall  one  come  forth  to 
 me,  to  be  for  a  ruler  of  Israel,'  Sept.  '  Though  thou  be  a  small  town, 
 yet  thou  shalt  be  famous  and  noble,  through  the  birth  of  the  Messiah, 
 who  shall  be  born  in  thee.' — Scott.  The  allusion  here  is  to  the  Jewish 
 custom  of  dividing  their  tribes  into  thousands,  over  every  one  of 
 which  was  appointed  a  prince  or  leader. — i>ai\  ~.  KiK/uired  of  them 
 ditigentli/,  nKpi/Stjtre  Trap'  ^xviutv,  '  procured  from  them  exact  informa- 
 tion.'— Cam]>.,  so  Doddr.,  Scott.  a.  That  I  mail  come  and  worship 
 him — Herod's  profession  (if  respect  was  mere  dissimulation ;  he  pur- 
 nosed,  as  afterwards  ajipeared,  to  kill  the  infant. — Macknight.  9.  The 
 stui — this  was  proljabiy  a  luminous  meteor,  of  a  star-like  form,  pre- 
 pared for  the  purpose. — Green/.  }iltich  theij  saw  in  the  east — it  should 
 seem  that  this  star  disappeared  on  their  entrance  into  Judea. — R.  Wat- 
 son, so  Gill.  Why  not  understand  this,  that  the  same  star  guided  them 
 incesi-antly  all  the  way  ?  The  expression,  '  when  they  saw  the  star,* 
 mav  allude  to  its  becoming  fixed  over  thesought-for  spot,  as  mentioned 
 
 yoi 
 
 in  the  words  immediately  preceding.— Brf.  1 1 .  Opened  their  treasures, 
 tl.ijat'poiT, '  caskets,' '  chests,'  or  other  receptacles.— Vide  Schlevs.  Lej. 
 The  things  in  which  they  weic  enclosed  and  carried,  (as  chap.  xii.  35 ; 
 Job,  xxxviii.22  J  Jer.x.  13.)— it/ar.  Presented  unto  him  gi/ts,  no  visits 
 in  the  east  are  made  lo  persons  of  rank  without  a  present.— iriV.  Gold 
 and /ra?ikincense,  a  dry  resinous  substance,  of  a  strong  fragrant  smell, 
 (see  Exod.  xxx.  34.)— it.  Watson.  And  ryti/rrh—sce  Vs.  xlv.  8,  note. 
 These  were  things  they  most  esteemed.  The  gold  was  a  very  provi- 
 dential supply,  as  on  it,  most  likely,  they  subsisted  in  Egypt.— anrAe. 
 12.  Another  wui/,  'a  more  direct  way,'  so  tlie  word  avMa^'iai  inti- 
 mates;  more  literally,  '  they  bent  back  their  course.'  Thus  they  escaped 
 Herod's  rage  in  time.— So  Doddr.  13.  Egiipt,  soutli-west  of  Judea, 
 and  near  it.  A  Roman  province,  where  were  many  Jews,  a  temple,  and 
 synagogues,  and  out  of  Herod's  jurisdiction.-iJ'irnes,  Gitl.  15.  Out 
 0/  Egypt  hare  I  called  my  son,  this  is  no  prophecy,  but  quoted  by  way 
 of  accommodation,  as  affording  a  suitable  illustration  of  the  event.— 
 Hew.  Very  likely  the  expression  had  passed  into  a  proverb  for  any 
 signal  deliverance.— C'/nrA-f,  as  Bp.  Chandler.  These  words  of  Hosea, 
 concerning  the  deliverance  of  the  Israelites,  God's  adopted  son,  was  a 
 tvpe  of  his  bringing  Christ,  his  real  son,  from  Egypt.— i!f«.5.,  Whitby, 
 Guyse,  and  R.  Watson.  Herein  was  fulfilled,  in  a  higher  degree,  that 
 which  was  spoken  bv  Hosca.— fl/i.  Hull.  The  calling  of  Christ  out  of 
 Egypt  was  intended  as  a  completion  of  these  words ;  and  till  he  was 
 called  thence,  they  had  not  their  full  and  ultimate  completion.— 
 Whitby.  Many  prophecies  seem  to  have  bad  a  double  meaning.— 
 Scott.  This  passage  was  literally  fulfilled  in  Christ,  and  not  by  way 
 of  allusion,  or  by  accomuiodalion  of  phrases,  or  as  the  type  is  fulfilled 
 in  the  antitype,  or  as  a  proverbial  expression.  The  prophecy  means, 
 '  I  loved  Israel,  though  rebellious  in  his  infant  state  when  in  Egypt ;' 
 'and  called  my  son,'  not  literally  Israel,  but  his  only  begotten  Son. 
 The  first  and  only  sense  of  these  words  respects  Christ,  called  out  of 
 Egypt  and  brought  into  Judea,  as  a  proof  of  the  love  of  God  tu  Israel. 
 —  Gill.  16.  Mocked,  e«ira.x»>i,  'deluded,'  or  'played  with.*  — 
 Doddr.  'Deceived.'— C<im;).  S(fui,  4-c.— Herod's  character  was  do- 
 torious  for  cruelty.  '  A  man  he  was  of  great  barbarity,  and  a  slave  to 
 his  passions.'— /us.  He  executed  his  wife  Mariamne,  whom  he  pro. 
 fessed  to  idolize,  and  two  sons  whom  she  had  borne  him ;  he  also 
 caused  his  son  Antipater  to  be  slain  in  prison  ;  and  gave  orders,  when 
 dying,  to  shut  up  the  chief  persons  among  the  Jews,  whom  he  com- 
 manded to  he  slain  on  his  death,  that  every  family  of  the  Jews  might 
 be  in  mourning.— it.  Watson,  see  Prid.  Bethlehem  was  a  small  town, 
 scarcely  containing  more  than  fifty  male  infants  under  two  years  of  age, 
 and  Herod  would  tliink  the  murder  of  these  a  trifte.—AVi/ir.  The  evan- 
 gelist adds  '  the  coasts  thereof.'  which  is  understood  as  also  includuig 
 all  the  towns  and  villages  round  lietlilehem.— Gi/(.  This  event  is  passed 
 over  by  Josephus;  but  liethlehem  was  a  small  place,  and  amidst  Herod's 
 other  cruelties  the  affair  of  killing  infants  might  not  have  attracted 
 much  notice.— Dotfir.  In  the  brief  history  of  a  country,  some  par- 
 ticular event  is  often  omitted,  and  Jo.wpAiM  might  think  the  mention  of 
 this  might  give  the  Christian  cause  an  advantage.— tiirinfr.  Josephus 
 ieems  to  have  hinted  at  this  event  when  be  says, '  many  slaughter^  fol- 
 lowed the  prediction  of  a  new  king.'— .ta(.,  1. 1/ ,  c.  3.  All  the  children, 
 7a„,'  Ta,3ni:,  the  male  children.— Di/rfrfr.,  Camp.,  Bnullir.  From  two 
 years  old,  from  those  entering  their  second  year  down  to  the  time,  one 
 lull  year  o\iX.-<:amp.,  as  Doddr.  According  to  the  Jewish  reckoning, 
 a  child  that  hail  entered  its  second  year  would  be  called  two  years  old. 
 —Boothr.  And  in  all  the  coasts  thereo/,  coasts  here  mean  adjacent 
 places,  settlements,  or  hamlets  around  Bethlehem.— /iionc'!.  From  two 
 years  old,  ,|i-c.— Ilerod.  hy  extending  the  massacre  to  cliildren  of  two 
 years  old,  resolved  to  tatc  large  measure  enough  to  aceomplish  bis  de- 
 sign.— Scott,  Hales. 
 
The  death  of  I'crod. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  III.  John  reprehendeth  the  Pharisees. 
 
 17  Then  was  fulfilled  that  which  was  spoken 
 by  "Jeremy  the  prophet,  sayiiiu;, 
 
 18  In  Rama  was  there  a  voice  heard,  lamen- 
 tation, and  weeping,  and  great  mourning,  Ra- 
 chel weeping  for  her  cliildrcn,  and  would  not 
 be  comforted,  because  they  are  not. 
 
 19  K  But  when  Herod  was  dead,  behold,  an 
 angel  of  the  Lord  appeareth  in  a  dream  to 
 Joseph  in  Egypt, 
 
 ■20  Saying,  Arise,  and  take  the  young  child 
 and  his  mother,  and  go  into  the  land  of  Israel  ; 
 for  they  are  dead  which  sought  the  young 
 child's  life. 
 
 21  And  he  arose,  and  took  the  young  cliild 
 and  his  mother,  and  came  into  the  land  of  Israel. 
 
 22  But  when  lie  heard  that  Archelaiis  did 
 reign  in  Juda'a  in  the  room  of  his  father  Herod, 
 he  was  afraid  to  go  thither  :  notwithstanding, 
 being  warned  of  God  in  a  dream,  he  turned 
 aside  "  into  the  parts  of  Galilee  : 
 
 23  And  he  came  and  dwelt  in  a  city  called 
 ''  Nazareth  :  that  it  miglit  be  fulfilled  ''  which 
 was  spoken  by  the  prophets,  He  shall  be  called 
 a  Nazarene. 
 
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 c.^unt  c.iU- 
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 AJosh.l'l  10. 
 
 lu.  7. 
 
 -i  Is.  40   3. 
 
 Mark  1.3. 
 
 I.uke  :1. 4. 
 
 John  I.  £1. 
 <•  l.uke  1.7b. 
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 lThe«.l.lU 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I   John  prcacheth  :   his  office :   life,  and  baptism.      7 
 He   reprehendeth   the    J^harisees,    13  and  haptizcth 
 Christ  in  Jordan* 
 T  N    those   days   came    ^  John    the    Baptist, 
 -^   preaching  "^in  the  wilderness  of  Judxa, 
 
 2  And  saying.  Repent  ye  :  for  "^  the  kingdom 
 of  heaven  is  at  hand. 
 
 3  For  this  is  he  that  was  spoken  of  by  the 
 prophet  Esaias,  saying,  '^  The  voice  of  one  cry- 
 ing in  the  wilderness,  ^  Prepare  ye  the  way  of 
 the  Lord,  make  his  paths  straight. 
 
 4  And  *^  the  same  John  ^  had  his  raiment  of 
 camel's  hair,  and  a  leathern  girdle  about  his 
 loins ;  and  his  meat  was  ^  locusts  and  '  wild 
 honey. 
 
 5  ■'  Then  went  out  to  him  Jerusalem,  and  all 
 Judfca,  and  all  the  region  round  about  Jordan, 
 
 a  '  And  were  baptized  of  him  in  Jordan,  con- 
 fessing their  sins. 
 
 7  If  But  when  he  saw  many  of  the  Pharisees 
 and  Sadducees  come  to  his  baptism  he  said 
 unto  them,  "'  O  generation  of  vipers,  who  hath 
 warned  you  to  flee  from  "  the  wrath  to  come? 
 
 17.  Then  was  fulfilled  that  which  was  spoken  by  Jeremy,  Sfc. — 
 the  orig:inal  design  of  Uils  prdphecy  was  to  describe  the  sorrow- 
 ful departure  of  the  people  into  captivity,  after  the  conquest  of 
 Jerusalem  by  Ncbuzaradan.  The  captives  were  assembled  at  Rama, 
 Jeremiah  himself  bcinj;:  in  chains,   (Jer.  xl.  1.)  18.  Rama,  was  a 
 
 small  town  in  the  tribe  of  Uenjamin,  not  far  from  Bethlehem.  Rnchfl, 
 wasthemoUier  of  Benjamin,  and  was  bmied  near  to  Rama,  (Gen.  xxxv. 
 Ifj—X^.)— Barnes.  Weeping,  the  lamentations  of  a  Hindoo  mother  for 
 her  child,  are  very  loud  and  piercing:. —  Ward.  By  a  beautiful  figure 
 of  speech,  the  prophet  introduces  the  mother  weeping  over  the  tribe, 
 her  children,  aiul  over  the  fallen  destiny  of  Israel. — Barnes.  It  is  pro- 
 bable that  X.\\U  massacre  of  infants  extended  to  the  territories  of  Rama, 
 and  so  cut  off  some  of  Rachel's  posterity.— GH^/se.  This  prophecy  be- 
 Inngs  not  to  the  Babylonish  captivity,  but  refers  to  Christ  only. — Gill. 
 it  was  now  afcain  fultilled. — Hen.  Received  a  more  full  completion. — 
 Whitby,  Dondr.  Was  now  fuUillcd  in  its  originally  designed  ultimate 
 application. — H.  Watson.  The  words  were  elegantly  applied  to  this 
 event,  meaning  that  Bethlehem  at  this  time  resembled  Rama. — Clarke. 
 20.  They  are  dead,  meaning  he,  Herod,  is  dead  ;  a  mode  of  expression 
 not  unusual  in  classical  authors. — Le  Clerc.  It  may  allude  to  Anti- 
 pater,  his  cruel  son,  as  well  as  Herod  himself,  the  former  having  died 
 five  days  before  his  father. — Manne  in  Buddr.  22.  Archelaus   did 
 
 reign — he  was  then  only  called  '  ethnarch,'  or  'governor,'  but  as  his 
 father  had  declared  him  king,  though  it  was  not  confirmed  by  the 
 Roman  emperor,  and  the  populace  and  soldiers  received  him  as  such, 
 he  is  here  so  accounted,  as  by  Josephus  Ant.,  lib.  18. —  Gilt,  Lardner. 
 Galilee,  An  obscure  place  in  the  Holy  Land,  not  within  the  government 
 of  Archelaus,  but  of  his  brother  Herod  Antipas.  —  Gill,  Bp.  Mann. 
 'IS.  Nazareth,  a  small  town  in  Galilee,  west  of  Capernaum,  and  not  far 
 from  Cana. — Barnes.  A  AV/ruirne— from  John,  i.  47,  it  is  manifest  that 
 Nazareth  was  a  despised  place,  and  its  inhabitants  a  despised  people; 
 hence  Jesus  and  his  disciples  were  called  Nazarenes  in  contempt. — 
 Spanheim,  Doddr.,  Boathr.  Most  of  the  prophets  spoke  of  Christ  as  a 
 (lerson  reputed  vile  and  despised,  so  that  the  meaning  is, '  that  it  might 
 be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  in  effect  by  many  of  the  prophets.' — 
 Whitby,  Doddr. 
 
 CnAP.  111.  — I.  7n  those  days,  while  Jesus  was  with  his  parents  at 
 Nazareth.— Gu^se,  Camp.  The  Baptist,  6  liaTmaTt}^,  a  title  from  his 
 office.  Preaching,  Knpvayiov,  proclaiming,  as  a  herald  or  public  crier. 
 In  the  uildern^ss,  mentioned  Judg.  i.  l6,  and  Ps.  l.\iii.,  title  ;  it  lay 
 east  fiom  Jerusalem,  along  the  Jordan  and  the  dead  sea.  Not  a  region 
 uninhabited,  but  woody,  mountainous,  and  thinly  inhabited.  Some- 
 thing synonymous  with  '  highlands.' — Camp. ;  same  purport,  Light/., 
 Guyse,  Boothr.  '2.  Repent  ye,  peravoene,  'reform.' — Camp.  *  Be- 
 think yourselves.'— Hen.  It  means  'a  change  of  mind;'  to  cast  a 
 TL-trospect  on  past  actions,  regret  them,  and  forsake  them. — So  Le  Clerc. 
 
 •  Be  sorry  for  your  sins,  and  amend  your  lives.'  It  probably  signifies. 
 says  Beza,  '  to  be  wise  after  the  action,'  and  so  to  grieve  for  a  fault  as 
 to  amend  it.  It  is  a  different  word  from  that  sometimes  used,  namely, 
 piTapeXopai,  which  simply  signifies  '  to  be  distressed  and  anxious  after 
 a  thing  is  done,'  but  does  not  necessarily  imply  any  change  of  mind  or 
 reformation  of  life,  and  is  applied  to  Judas,  Matt,  xxvii.  3.— Benson. 
 The  kingdom  0/ heaven,  most  frequently  denotes  the  gospel  dispensa- 
 tion, but  often  takes  m  the  kingdom  of  grace  and  of  heaven.— Sec 
 Whitbif.  The  phrase  seems  to  be  borrowed  from  the  prcilicted  king- 
 dom in  the  language  of  Dan.  ii.41;  vii,  13,  14.  The  phrase  signifies 
 'God's  reigning  in  and  over  his  rational  creatures.' — Benson -,  %n.mM 
 purport,  Duddv.  Is  at  hand, '  is  just  now  ready  to  be  revealed.'-— Ra^st'. 
 ;i.  Of  one  crying,  or  '  of  a  crier.'- .^.  Clarke.  The  words  imply  the  open 
 and  public  nature  of  John's  testimony  concerning  Christ.  The  words 
 of  the  pro|>het  primarily  referreil  to  the  return  from  the  Jewish  cup- 
 tivity,  hut  had  respect  to  a  greater  redemption.— /Je7ii'>/i,  Mace.  Rre- 
 pare  ye  the  way,  fyr.—ace  Isa.  xl.  ;i,  note.  4.  Of  rami-rs  hair — not 
 
 the  tine  hair  of"  that  animal,  but  the  long  and  shaggy,  which  is  in  the 
 east  manufactured  into  a  coarse  stuff,  anciently  worn  by  monks  and 
 anchorets.— c;«»i/).  The  prophets  were  clothed  with  it,  (Zech.  xiii.  4  ; 
 2Kings,  i.  8;)  and  as  John  the  Baptist  had  been  so  designated,  {Mai. 
 iv.  5.)  and  was  to  have  the  spirit  of  Elias,  {Luke,  i.  17,)  he  also  took  on 
 his  habit  and  austerity.  A  leathern  fforf/e- this  was  also  in  imitation 
 of  Elias.— ./(/«r.  Locusts,  allowed  by  the  law  to  be  eaten,  {Lev.  xi.  22,} 
 and  eaten  still  by  the  poor  in  Asia.— C(on/>.  Wild  honey,  formed  among 
 the  rocks,  or  in  the  cavities  and  branches  of  trees,  (1  Sam.  xiv.  25,  26.  j 
 —Mar.  5.  All  Judea,  put  for  many.— Gill.  6.  Baptized  of  him  in 
 Jordan— Ihc  question  has  often  been  discussed,  whether  this  baptism 
 was  the  same  as  that  afterwards  instituted  by  Christ.  This  is  denied 
 by  many  writers;  for,  say  they,  John  did  not  baptize  in  the  name  of 
 Christ  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  John's  followers  did  not  profess  faith 
 in  Christ ;  therefore  this  baptism  could  not  initiate  men  into  the  Chris- 
 tian church.  John's  was  the  baptism  of  repentance,  in  order  to  be- 
 coming fit  members  of  Christ's  kingdom ;  it  was  a  symbol  of  purifica- 
 tion among  the  Jews  and  other  ancient  nations.— So  Whithy,  Maekn., 
 Rosenm.,  Beaus.,  Hales,  &c.  On  the  disputed  subject  of  the  mode  and 
 subjects  of  baptism,  the  reader  must  be  left  to  consult  well-known 
 writers. — Ed.  Confessing  their  sins,  in  token  of  true  repentance. — 
 Trapp.  7.  Pharisees,  the  most  numerous,  distinguished,  and  popular 
 Jewish  sect;  so  called  from  a  Hebrew  word,  DID,  signifying,  '  to  set 
 apart,'  because  they  separated  themselves  from  the  rest  of  the  Jews  to 
 superior  strictness  in  religious  observances. — R.  Watson.'  They  were 
 self-righteous  formalists,  very  exact  in  all  rites  and  ceremonies. — 
 Keyw.  Sadditeees— it  is  said  that  these  derived  their  principles  from 
 Aiitigonus  Hochxits,  president  of  the  Sanhedrim,  about  b.  c.  250.  who 
 taught  that  man  ought  to  serve  God  from  pure  love,  and  regardless  of 
 
 RFFLEt'TioNS  ON  CiiAp.  II.  —  We  may  reiuark,  I.  On  the 
 CONDUCT  OF  THE  w  1  s i:  MEN.  Their  anxious  ivqviry  after 
 Christ :  they  were  led  by  tbe  slnr,  and  perhaps  by  a  Divine 
 illuminatioD.  The  light  of  Christ's  Spirit  can  alone  enable  us 
 to  find  Christ.  The  pains  they  took  in  their  inquiry  ;  Christ  is 
 to  bp  found  in  his  Word  and  his  ordinances,  but  we  mustdili- 
 sently  use  the  means  in  order  to  attain  the  end-  The  success 
 which  attended  their  /  ains  :  if  we  seek  Christ  in  his  appointed 
 w-ays  we  shall  be  sure  to  be  repaid  for  our  inquiries ;  the  pro- 
 mise is,  '  Seek,  aud  ye  siiall  find.'  The.  homage  they  paid  to 
 (^hrist :  when  we  get  a  proper  view  of  Christ,  we  shall  give 
 him,  not  only  our  gold,  frankincense,  aud  myrrh,  but  the 
 homage  of  our  hearts,  'our  souls,  our  life,  our  all.'  We  cannot 
 pay  him  too  much  homage  of  whom  it  is  said,  *  let  all  the 
 angels  of  God  worship  Iliui.' 
 
 II.  On  the  conuuux  oe  Herod.  His  alarm:  'He  was 
 992 
 
 troubled.'  He  feared  that  the  birth  of  the  new  King  would 
 clash  with  his  own  interests,  and  that  he  should  lose  his  own 
 pomp  and  splendour.  How  many  are  there  like  him,  whose 
 worldly  interests  clash  with  those  of  Christ.  His  diij'lieity  : 
 he  pretended  he  should  like  to  pay  homage  to  tht-  new  Kmi; 
 if  he  could  find  him.  From  this,  Henry  well  remarks,  '  the 
 greatest  wickedness  often  conceals  itself  under  the  mask  of 
 piety.'  His  raye  at  disappoininunt :  on  which  the  same  writer 
 observes,  that  '  inveterate  corruption  swells  the  higher  for  the 
 obstructions  it  meets  with  in  a  sinful  pursuit.'  J I  is  cruelty  : 
 he  murdered  all  the  infants  of  Betlilehem  Yet.  in  this  event, 
 he  was  made  to  do  homage  to  the  Saviour.  His  wrath  was 
 overruled  by  the  transmission  of  these  infant  martyrs  to  the 
 court  of  heaven,  ibere  to  add  to  the  songs  of  praise  which  tiie 
 angels  sung  in  honour  of  the  infant  Redeemer. 
 
John  baptizelh  Christ  in  Jordan. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  IV. 
 
 Christ  J'astcl/t,  and  is  templed. 
 
 8  Bring  forth  therefore  fruits  |{  meet  for  re- 
 pentance : 
 
 9  And  thhik  not  to  say  within  yourselves, 
 °  We  have  Abraham  to  our  father :  for  I  say 
 unto  you,  that  God  is  able  of  these  stones  to 
 raise  up  children  unto  Abraham. 
 
 10  And  now  also  the  ax  is  laid  unto  the  root 
 of  the  trees :  °  therefore  every  tree  which 
 bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewn  down, 
 ;ind  cast  into  tlie  fire. 
 
 11  ''I  indeed  baptize  you  with  water  unto 
 repentance  :  but  he,  that  cometh  after  me  is 
 mightier  tliau  1,  whose  shoes  1  am  not  worthy 
 to  bear:  'he  shall  baptize  you  with  the  Holy 
 (ihost,  and  icith  fire  : 
 
 1  -2.  '  Whose  fau  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will 
 throughly  purge  his  floor,  and  gather  his  wheat 
 into  the  garner  ;  but  he  will  '  burn  up  the  chaff 
 with  unquenchable  fire. 
 
 13  H  "Then  cometh  Jesus  'from  Galilee  to 
 .lordan  unto  John,  to  be  baptized  of  him. 
 
 14  But  John  forbad  him,  saying,  I  have  need 
 to  be  baptized  of  thee,  and  comcst  thou  to  me? 
 
 A-  D.  2ti. 
 
 A.  D.  27. 
 
 ()0r. 
 
 n,^^er^bU 
 
 to  ainc.'f- 
 
 mmtufti/.. 
 
 J  Mark  LIO. 
 
 0  .luhuS   33, 
 
 39.  Acts  13. 
 
 26.  Rom.  A. 
 
 1,  11,  tu. 
 
 :  Is.  11.2. 
 
 &  Vi.  1. 
 
 p  ch.  7.  19. 
 
 Luke  3.22. 
 
 Ltikel.lT,!!. 
 
 John   I.  3l>, 
 
 Jolm  15.  li. 
 
 3.S, 
 
 aJ..hnl2  2.'3. 
 
 h  Pfi.  2   7. 
 
 7  Mark  1.  8. 
 
 Is.  -1  •    1 
 
 Luke  3.  16 
 
 cli.  12.  IS.*i 
 
 Ji.Ln  1.  15, 
 
 17.  '■> 
 
 •>(},  tt.  Aot,s 
 
 Mrtrk  1.  11. 
 
 1.5.  fc  11. 
 
 Lukeil  3:>. 
 
 16.  &  19.  4. 
 
 tph.  1    .. 
 
 r  Is.  4.  i,  & 
 
 C.'I    1.  13. 
 
 11    3. 
 
 il'dt.  1.  17. 
 
 Mai.  3.  2. 
 
 Act8  2.3,4. 
 
 lCoi-.IS.13. 
 
 a  Mark  LI2, 
 
 1  Mai.  3.  3. 
 
 hcLukel, 
 
 /  Mai.  4.  1. 
 
 L  fee. 
 
 cb.  13.  3U. 
 
 b  S«e  1  Kiu. 
 
 la,  12    K/p. 
 
 A.  n.  Ii7. 
 
 H.  14.&S.3. 
 
 r,  Mark  1.  9 
 
 »t  11.  1,  ■.^4. 
 
 Luke  :i.2L 
 
 «t  4lJ2.S(-H. 
 
 J-  cli.2.  22. 
 
 5     Acts  H. 
 
 39. 
 
 15  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him,  Suffer 
 it  to  be  so  now :  for  thus  it  becometh  us  to 
 fulfil  all  righteousness.     Then  he  suffered  him. 
 
 IG  ^  And  Jesus,  when  lie  was  baptized,  went 
 up  straightway  out  of  tlie  water:  and,  lo,  the 
 lieavens  were  opened  unto  him,  and  he  saw 
 ^  the  Spirit  of  God  descending  like  a  dove,  and 
 lighting  upon  him  : 
 
 17  ""  And  lo  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying, 
 ^  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well 
 pleased. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Christ  fastethy  and  is  ttmptal.  \  1  J^he  ayigels  minis- 
 ter unto  him.  13  HedweUeth  in.  Caperiiauiiti  17  be- 
 pinueth  to  preach,  18  caUeth  2'ttir,  and  Andrnv,  21 
 Janus,  and  John,  23  and  hailtt/i  all  the  disease^. 
 
 T^HEN  was  ""  Jesus  led  up  of  '•  the  spirit  into 
 •*-    the  wilderness  to  be  tempted  of  the  devil. 
 And  when   he   had  fasted   forty  days   and 
 
 forty  nights,  he  was  afterward  an  hungred. 
 S  And  when  the  tempter  came  to   him,  he 
 
 said,  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  command  that 
 
 these  stones  be  made  bread. 
 
 reward  or  punishment ;  and  that  tliey  derived  their  name  from  Sadoc, 
 one  of  his  followers,  who,  mistaking  or  perverting  this  doctrine,  inain- 
 tained  that  there  was  no  future  state  of  rewards  and  punishments. 
 In  the  time  of  Christ  they  denied  the  resurrection,  (Acts,  xxiii,  8.)  and 
 existence  of  angels  and  departed  spirits. — Jennings.  These  men  were 
 infidels,  who  rejected  all  the  Scriptures  save  the  five  books  of  Moses. — 
 Keyw.  ripers,  meaning  here  subtle,  designing  men,  of  poisonous 
 principles  and  practice— .Sf/?/.  M'ntt/i  to  come,  ano  tjjc  tie\Xovat\i 
 op-)»ir.  '  from  the  impending  vengeance.' — Camp.  It  in  general  means, 
 '  future  eternal  wrath,*  (Rom.  ii.  5  ;  v.  g;  1  Thes.  i.  10  ;)  hut  here  more 
 especially  '  God's  judgment  against  Judea.'  (see  ver.  10,  12  ;  comp.  Mai. 
 iv.  1,  5.) — Mar.  The  passage  might  possibly  glance  at  the  destruction 
 of  Jerusalem  ;  but,  doubtless,  John  looked  forward  to  the  final  revela- 
 tion of  the  wrath  of  Jehovah. — De  Courcr/.  It  points  to  approaching 
 temporal  calamity  and  destruction,  for  rejecting  the  Messiah  and  the 
 gospel  dispensation. — Gill.  The  words  appear  to  limit  the  sense  to 
 what  is  strictly  called  'the  future  judgment.' — Camp.  It  means  di- 
 vine and  future  wrath  only. — It.  Watson;  so  understood  by  Be/wo?i. 
 8.  Fruils,  i.  e.,  humility,  meekness,  patience,  faith,  love,  equity,  truth, 
 mercy,  and  every  good  work.  Meet  fur,  afi»c,  'worthy,'  'consistent 
 with,'  *  expressive  of.'— Sco^?.  9-  And  think  not,  ^c,  fin  dofiirt  Xe-fnv, 
 •  presume  not  to  say.' — Bensoji.  Think  not  the  Messiah  will  advance 
 you  for  being  the  carnal  seed  of  Abraham  without  his  faith  and  holi- 
 ness.— R.  Baxter.  Their  relationship  to  Abraham  was  a  constant 
 theme  of  boasting  among  the  Jews.— See  numerous  references  in  Wet- 
 stein.  Theae  stums,  he  probably  pointed  to  those  that  lay  before  him. 
 — Benson.  It  is  a  fine  hyperbole,  under  which  is  represented  the  Gen- 
 tiles.— Mar.  Some  understand  this  as  a  proverbial  exjjression,  indi- 
 cating the  omnipotence  of  God. — Hew.  10.  T/ie  a.r,  §'c. — the  prnphets 
 represented  nations  under  the  image  nf  a  tree  to  he  cut  down,  f  Jer. 
 xlvi.  22.  23;  Ezek.  xxxi.  3,  11,  12.)  John  the  Baptist  has  followed  the 
 same  ideas ;  the  Jewish  nation  was  the  tree,  the  Romans  the  ax. — 
 Mtir.  ]l.  I  indeed  baptize,   ^c,  preparatorily.       Shoes,    'sandals.' 
 
 Nnt  v<orthy  to  A''fir— the  sandals  are  left  at  the  door  in  visits  to  great 
 men,  and  given  to  a  servant  to  bear. — Asint.  Res.,  vol.  i.,  p.  2S9.  This 
 was  reckoned  a  servile  work  among  the  Jews. — Gill.  With  tlie  Hnly 
 Ghoxt,  tlie  pouring  out  of  his  spirit  on  helievers. — R.  Da.rter.  Re- 
 markably fulfilled  at  Pentecost.— ft>o/^  And  with  Jire,  a  fiery  trial, 
 which  separates  the  gold  from  the  dross.— it.  Baxter.  Bnth  expres- 
 sions mean  '  the  gifts  aud  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit,'  which  in  their 
 operations  and  effects  are  like  fire,  enlifchteuing.  quickening,  and  puri- 
 fying men's  souls,  kindling  devout  affecticns,  and  inflaming  the  heart 
 with  love  to  Goi\.— Benson.  These  were  not  two  different  tilings,  any 
 more  than  the  spirit  anrl  the  water,  f  John.  iii.  .5.) — Mar.  12.  Fan, 
 •shovel,*  TO  TTTi'oi',  'winnowing  shovel,*  mentioned  Isa.  xxx.  24. — 
 Camp..  Dar.,  Boothr.  The  common  winnowing  fan  of  the  Hindoos  is 
 square,  made  of  split  bamboos  ;  and  the  corn  is  winnowed  by  waving 
 the  fan  backwards  and  forwards  with  both  hands. —  Ward.  The  Romans 
 were  God's  fan. — Mat.  Hiafioor,  Judea  primarily  intended. — Clarke. 
 '  His  church.'- .1/rtr.,  Doddr.  Equally  applicable  t-i  the  final  condition 
 of  the  righteous  and  wicked. — Scott.  Burn  up  the  chaff,  an  evident 
 allusion  to  the  custom  of  burning  the  chaff  after  winnowing  it,  that  it 
 miglit  not  be  blown  back  again,  and  so  be  mingled  with  the  wheat. — 
 Doddr.  14.  Need  to  be  baptized  of  thee,  '  to  receive  a  large  measure 
 of  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit  from  then. '—Benson.  15.  All 
 righteousness,   -nairtiv  Amaioaviftiv,  that  is,  '  every  righteous  ordinance.' 
 
 —A.  Clarke.  Some  think  here  is  an  allusion  to  the  priests  washing 
 previously  to  inauguration,  (Exod.  xxix.  4.)  To  fulfil  this  law  as  the 
 great  high  priest,  he  must  needs  be  washed. — Uar.  16.  Went   up 
 
 straightway  out,  fycavepn  evOvt, '  was  just  gone  up  out,*  &c. — Bowyer. 
 The  hearens  were  opened,  an  expression  used  by  the  Jews  when  an  ex- 
 traordinary luminous  appearance  took  place  in  the  clouds. — R.  Watson. 
 Like  a  dove,  in  a  corporeal  form,  as  a  glorious  and  splendid  appearance 
 of  fire,  descending,  with  a  hovering  motion,  tike  a  dove,  and  coming 
 upon  /lim,  as  a  visible  token  of  the  secret  operations  of  the  Spirit  upon 
 his  mind. — Doddr.  In  the  shape  of  a  dove,  for  St.  Luke  says,  chap, 
 iii.  22,  auifiaTiKtf)  etdei  waei  Trepiinepav,  '  in  a  bodily  shape  as  a  dove ;' 
 see  also.  John,  1.  32,  expressive  of  his  own  nature,  meek  and  loving — 
 of  his  office,  like  Noah's  dove,  bringing  tidings  of  peace  and  reconcili- 
 ation— of  the  operations  of  his  Spirit,  making  his  people  meek,  lowly, 
 and  harmless.- Be7ison.  It  does  not  necessarily  lollow  that  there  was 
 the  form  of  a  dove  ;  only  that  his  visible  descent  and  lighting  on  Christ 
 was  as  a  dove  descends,  hovers,  and  lights,  expressive  of  the  manner 
 of  its  motion. —Gil I.  It  was  a  bright  flame  in  the  shape  of  a  dove.— 
 Grot.,  Dr.  Owen,  Gnyse.  The  dove-like  shape  need  not  be  supposed, 
 but  a  lambent  flame,  falling  with  a  hovering  dove-like  motion. — Scott. 
 This  was  the  ancient  Shechinah,  or  brightness  of  Divine  glory.— Dav. 
 If  baptism  answers  to  the  ablution  of  the  priests,  the  Spirit  answers  lo 
 their  unction,  (E.tod.  xxx.  30  ;  comp.  Ps.  xlv.  7,  8  ;  Isa.  Ixi.  l.)—Mar. 
 17.  My  beloved  Son,  6  Yior  ^uo  6  u-jaTriiTor,  '  that  son  of  mine,  that  be- 
 loved son.'  In  w/iom  1  am  well  pleased,  tc  ip  €udoKn*ra—thc  tense  called 
 the  *  aorist*  is  here  used,  which  includes  past,  present,  and  future  time; 
 'in  whom  I  am  always  well  pleased.— ii.  Watson.' 
 
 Chap.  IV.— I.  Then,  totc,  'about  that  time.'—Bloomf.  Imme- 
 diately after  his  baptism.— C/'/rA-*-.  Led  up,  fyc,  impelled  by  a  strong 
 influence  of  the  Spu-it.— ii.  Watson.  Wilderne!,s,  most  probably  of 
 Sinai,  where  Moses  and  Elijah  had  fasted  forty  days  and  nights.— Scott, 
 as  Trapp,  Henry,  &c.  Mark  adds,  '  he  was  with  the  wild  beasts ;'  a 
 l)roof  that  this  was  an  uninhabited  desert.- ili«rA-7i.  There  are  caves 
 and  holes  in  the  side  of  the  desert  of  Quarantania  in  which  many  her- 
 mits have  dwelt.  This  desert  is  about  two  miles  and  a  half  from  Jeru- 
 salem,  and  very  probably  this  was  the  desert. —  See  Maundretl,  so 
 Wetstein,  ilosenm.,  Kuinoel.  To  be  tempted,  '  tried.'— BeTis.  The 
 first  act  of  Christ's  ministry  is  a  combat  with  the  devil,  (comp.  Gen. 
 iii.  If),  and  1  John,  iii.  8.J— ilior.  Christ  was  thus  tempted  to  shew  his 
 perfect  holiness,  to  make  him  a  sympathetic  High  Priest,  and  to  give 
 his  people  assurance  of  everlasting  victory  over  the  power  of  Satan. — 
 Bens.  3.  The  tempter,  o  ■neipi^utv,  '  the  trier,'  from  ^cipw,  '  lo  pierce 
 through.*  This  is  very  emphatic,  and  explains  Ephes.  vi.  16.  — See 
 Clarke.  Came  to  him,  in  a  visible  appearance.— iiewry,  Doddr.,  Guyse, 
 R.  Watson.  Bens.  Satan  seems  before  to  have  acted  as  an  invisible 
 tempter,  suggesting  thoughts  to  the  mmd  of  Christ  as  he  does  to  those 
 of  his  people ;  but  now  he  assumed  a  visible  form,  as  an  angel  of  light. 
 —Scott.  Really  commentators  often  follow  each  other  too  slavishly  ; 
 there  is  nothing  in  the  whole  chapter  lo  prove  that  Satan  appeared  in  a 
 visible  form.  Christ  was  tempted  in  all  points,  like  unto  us;  and  we 
 fuel  the  suggestion,  but  do  not  see  the  enemy.— Ed.  Probably  this 
 affair  was  visionary,  like  some  of  the  prophetic  ecstacies  of  Ezekiel  and 
 '/.echa^Ti&h.-Hugh  Farmer.  It  is  not  visionary,  for  then  the  trial  would 
 not  assimilate  the  temptations  of  Jesus  to  those  of  his  people,  and  it 
 would  make  God  the  tempter.— H't"/.  If  Hum  Ae  th>'  Son  0/ Gorf— Sa- 
 tan's designed  object  was  evidently  to  ascertain  whether  Jesus  Christ 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  This  chapter  furnishes  us 
 with  two  topics — I.  '  The  preparntion  of  the  people  for  the  cntcr- 
 tninnient  nf  Christ's  ministry.  This  theme  was  repentance. 
 The  soul  must  be  touched  witli  the  deepest  contrition  for  sin, 
 before  it  can  be  prepared  for  the  reception  of  Christ.  It  is  to 
 sucli  an  one  that  he  is  indeed  '  precious.' 
 
 II.    The  preparation  of  Christ  himself  for  his  pvhlic  ministry. 
 
 Tie  received  the  Holy  Spirit's  influences  in  rich  abundance  ; 
 
 and  without  this  none  are  fit  for  any  sacred  work.     Those  who 
 
 undertake  the  ministerial  office,  profess  to  be  moved  to  it  by 
 
 9P3 
 
 the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  an  awful  responsibihty  rests  upon  them 
 wlio  make  such  a  pretension;  taking  the  name  of  the  sacred 
 S[>irit  on  tlieir  lips,  and  cherishing  sin  in  their  hearts.  But 
 the  humblest  minister  of  .Tesus  may  rely  on  the  Spirit's  aid, 
 both  in  the  hestowment  of  gifts  and  graces,  and  in  the  render- 
 ing effectual  the  word  which  he  has  condescended  to  indite  in 
 the  heart  of  his  servant.  Let  us  pray  for  the  Divine  Spirit's 
 gracious  influences  to  aid  us  in  every  good  word  and  work,  and 
 that  it  may  he  poured  out  in  greater  abundance  upon  all  hU 
 ministers  and  churches. 
 
 G    L 
 
The  nngels  minister  unlo  Christ. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  IV. 
 
 He  hrriiitneth  to  preach. 
 
 4  But  he  answered  and  said.  It  is  written, 
 '  Man  shall  not  live  by  bread  alone,  bnt  by 
 every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth 
 of  God. 
 
 5  Then  the  devil  taketh  him  np  •'  into  the 
 holy  city,  and  setteth  him  on  a  pinnacle  of  the 
 temple, 
 
 6  And  saith  unto  him.  If  thou  be  the  Son  of 
 God,  cast  thyself  down  :  for  it  is  written,  "  He 
 shall  give  his  angels  cliaro;e  concerning  thee  : 
 and  in  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee  up,  lest 
 at  any  time  thou  dash  thy  foot  against  a  stone. 
 
 7  Jesus  said  unto  him.  It  is  written  again, 
 '  Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God. 
 
 8  Again,  the  devil  taketh  him  up  into  an  ex- 
 ceedhig  high  mountain,  and  sheweth  him  all 
 the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  the  glory  of 
 them  ; 
 
 9  And  saith  unto  liim.  All  these  things  will 
 I  give  thee,  if  tluni  wilt  fall  down  and  worship 
 me. 
 
 10  Then  saith  Jesus  unto  him.  Get  thee 
 hence,  Satan  :  for  it  is  written,  ^  Thou  shalt 
 worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  lum  only  shalt 
 thou  serve. 
 
 1 1  Then  the  devil  leaveth  him,  and,  behold, 
 '■angels  came  and  ministered  unto  him. 
 
 12  H  '  Now  when  Jesus  had  heard  that  John 
 was  II  cast  into  prison,  he  departed  into  Gali- 
 lee ; 
 
 13  And  leaving  Nazareth,  he  came  and  dwelt 
 in  Capernaum,  which  is  upon  the  sea  coast,  in 
 the  borders  of  Zabulon  and  Nephthalim  : 
 
 A.  n.  37. 
 
 A.D.3I. 
 
 c  Deut.  8.3. 
 
 k  Isa.  9,  \,2. 
 
 d  Neh.  II.  I, 
 IS.  la.  4S.  a. 
 &52.  I. 
 ch.  27.53. 
 Kev.  11.  S. 
 
 I  Isa.  4?.  7. 
 Luke*?   Si. 
 
 \-2. 
 
 m  Mark  1. 
 
 14.  15. 
 >.  ch.S.  2.  & 
 
 lU.  7. 
 
 /^  Deut.  6  10. 
 
 0  Mark  1.16, 
 
 17.  18. 
 
 Luke  5.  2. 
 p  John  1.42, 
 
 a  Luke  5-10, 
 
 11. 
 i-Markl0.2fl 
 
 Lake  16.2S. 
 
 .Mark  KIP, 
 20.  Luke  5. 
 10. 
 
 3  Dcut  6.1.% 
 &  10.  20. 
 Josh. 2*.  14. 
 I  Sam.  7-  3. 
 
 AHeb.  1.  U. 
 
 A.D..SO. 
 .  Mark  1.11. 
 Liikc:i. -^O 
 fc  1.  14,  ai. 
 John  4.  43. 
 II  Or,  deliver- 
 td  up. 
 A.  D.  SI. 
 
 (  ch.  a. 35. 
 
 Mark  1.21, 
 
 39.  Luke  4. 
 
 15,4*. 
 «  cli.  i*.  14. 
 
 Markl.  U. 
 X  Murk  1.34. 
 
 14  That  it  miglit  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
 by  Esaias  the  jirophet,  saying, 
 
 15  ''The  land  of  Zabulon,  and  the  land  of 
 Nephthalim,  by  tlie  way  of  the  sea,  beyond 
 Jordan,  dJaliiee  of  the  Gentiles  ; 
 
 IG  '  The  people  which  sat  in  darkness  saw 
 great  light;  and  to  them  which  sat  in  the 
 region  and  shadow  of  death  light  is  sprung  up. 
 
 17  ^  "'  From  that  time  Jesus  began  to  preach, 
 and  to  say,  "  Repent :  for  the  kingdom  of 
 heaven  is  at  hand. 
 
 IS  ^  °  And  Jesus,  walking  by  the  sea  of  Gali- 
 lee, saw  two  brethren,  Simon  ''called  Peter, 
 and  Andrew  his  brother,  casting  a  net  into  the 
 sea  :  for  they  were  fishers. 
 
 19  And  lie  saith  unto  them,  Follow  me,  and 
 ''  I  will  make  you  fishers  of  men. 
 
 20  '  And  they  straightway  left  their  nets,  and 
 followed  him. 
 
 21  ^And  going  on  from  thence,  he  saw  other 
 two  brethren,  James  the  son  of  Zebedee,  and 
 John  his  brother,  in  a  ship  with  Zebedee  tlieir 
 father,  mending  their  nets ;  and  he  called 
 them. 
 
 22  And  they  immediately  left  the  ship  and 
 their  father,  and  followed  him. 
 
 23  1[  And  Je.sus  went  about  all  Galilee, 
 *  teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preacliing 
 "  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  ''and  healing  all 
 manner  of  sickness  and  all  manner  of  disease 
 among  tlie  people. 
 
 24  And  his  fame  went  throughout  all  Syria: 
 and  they  brought  unto  him  all  sick  people  that 
 
 was,  or  was  not.  the  Son  of  God.  He  knew  a  mighty  Deliverer  was  to 
 arise,  and  wished  to  identify  his  mighty  enemy  and  future  conqueror. 
 — Sir  G.  H.  Rose.  Satan  knew  well  enough  that  he  was  the  Son  of 
 God,  but  he  tried  to  distress  the.  man  by  producing  the  doubt.  From 
 the  moment  of  his  birth,  Satan  doubtless  knew  who  he  was,  and  insti- 
 gated the  mind  of  Herod  to  '  seek  the  young  child  to  destroy  him.' — 
 Ed.  Command  thtit  these  stones  he  made  bread,  <h)toi,  'loaves.' — 
 Cainp.,  Pearce,  Boothr.  Satan  took  advantage  of  our  Lord's  hunger, 
 to  tempt  him  to  doubt  of  his  being  the  Son  of  God  in  the  sense  in  which 
 he  had  just  been  so  declared.  —Bens.  His  object  was  to  induce  Christ 
 to  obey  his  command,  which  would  have  been  enough.— (?(//.  4.  It 
 is  written — sec  Deut.  viii.  3.  Man  shall  not  liiw  by  bread  alone,  God 
 can  feed  and  sustain  hy  other  means.— IJf> /is.  By  evcri/  tmrd,  pij/ia 
 here  si;j:nifies  '  thing/  by  a  Hebraism.  '  by  everything  which  Gnd  is 
 pleased  to  appoint.  —  Camp.  b.  Taketh  him  up,  carried   his   body 
 
 thniugh  the  air. — U.  Baxter.  There  is  no  occasion  to  suppose  that 
 Christ  so  far  put  himself  into  the  power  of  the  devil  as  to  go  to  any 
 place  without  his  own  consent. — Giiyse.  He  went,  as  the  enemy  sug- 
 gested, knowing  that  he  should  defeat  his  malice,  and  designing  to 
 manifest  his  superior  power. —  Ed.  The  holy  city,  Jerusalem,  (see 
 Luke,  iv.  Q;)  so  called  because  of  the  presence,  service,  and  worship 
 of  God  there.— Gill.  A  pinnncle,  the  battlement  of  one  of  tlie  cloisters. 
 Mackn.  It  is  very  likely  this  is  what  was  called  the  a-roa  >ia<riXiKti,  *  the 
 king's  gallery,'  which,  .Joseph  us  says,  Herod  erected  over  the  stupendous 
 depth  of  the  valley,  scarcely  to  be  fathomed  by  the  eye  of  him  that 
 stood  above. — Ant.,  lib.  xv,,  c.  14  ;  see  Light/.,  Clarke.  It  is  uncertain 
 whether  Satan  carried  Christ  through  the  air  or  not. — Henry.  He 
 went  up  with  him  to  the  roof  of  one  of  the  cloisters,  where  people  were 
 at  liberty  to  walk,  and  assisted  him  in  mounting  the  battlement. — 
 Mackn.  To  what  absurdities  have  some  commentators  been  induced 
 to  run  by  following  a  vulgar  prejudice,  which  probably  originatcrt  in  a 
 monastery  ;  these  fancies  arise  from  the  determination  to  make  Satan 
 appear  in  a  bodily  shape.  Understand  all  this  as  a  mental  temptation, 
 occurring  on  the  spots  specifiefl,  and  the  whole  is  natural  and  e.vpres- 
 sive.— iiJrf.  6.  Cast  thyself  down,  the  former  temptation  was  tn  dis- 
 trust God's  providence,  this  was  to  presume  upon  it. — Mackn.  For  it 
 is  written,  in  the  former  temptation,  the  devil  did  not  quote  scripture ; 
 but  having  been  repelled  in  that  assault  by  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  he 
 here  takes  up  the  same  weapon. — Bens.  Bear  thee  up,  ^c,  an  image 
 taken  from  parents  who,  in  rough  ways,  lift  up  their  children,  lest 
 they  should  trip  and  fall  on  the  stones. — Kuin.  The  passage  cited  is 
 Ps.  xci.  II,  12,  which  intimates  God's  tender  care  of  his  people.  ".  It 
 is  written  again,  Sfr.,  in  Deut.  vi.  l6,  shewing  him  that  he  had  pro- 
 duced scripture  to  a  wrong  purpose,  for  it  could  not  contradict  itself. 
 8.  Taketh  him  up,  Sfc,  carried  him  through  the  B\T.—Gill.  He  rather 
 descended  from  whence  he  was,  and  ascended  the  mountain.  It  is  by 
 no  means  necessary  to  make  this  the  transaction  of  the  same  moment. 
 — Ed.  Sheweth  him  all  the  kingdoms — the  territory  of  Judea  was 
 small.  From  very  elevated  spots  the  distant  plains  and  mountains  of 
 surrounding  kingdoms  were  visible,  and  these  were  presented  to  the 
 eye  of  the  Saviour.— See  Jl/(/cAn.  and  Porteus,  Ed.  Judah  was  now 
 divided  into  several  provincas  and  tetrarchics,  popularly  called  king- 
 doms ;  these  might  be  all  that  were  intended.  To  '  shew,'  however,  did 
 not  absolutely  require  the  vision  of  the  eyes  it  may  signify  '  to  de- 
 994 
 
 scribe,'  though  the  natural  import  of  tlie  word  seems  to  lean  the  other 
 way.— /I.  Watson.  All  these  things  will  I  give  thee,  i^c.— the  tempta- 
 tion, perhaps,  was  this — the  surrounding  kingdoms  of  idolators  shall 
 immediately  submit  to  thine  authority,  if  thou  wilt  become  the  patron 
 of  idolatry.— -i?J.  Fall  rfoH-n,  the  eastern  mode  of  doing  homage.-w- 
 Bloomf.  10.  Get  thee  hence,  ^c. — the  wonl  vTra-ie  plainly  expresses 
 
 Christ's  authority  over  Satan,  as  well  as  his  detestation  of  so  vile  a 
 suggestion.  U.  And  ministered,  AinKuveiv  often  signifies  '  to  wait  at 
 table,'  (see  Matt.  viii.  15  ;  Luke,  xvii.  8 ;  xxii.  27 ;  and  John,  xii.  2.; 
 They  furnished  him  with  proper  supplies  for  his  hunger,  and  congra- 
 tulated him  on  his  victory. — Doddr. :  same  purport,  T.  Taylor  and 
 Markn.  13.  Capernaum,  not  being  noticed  in  the  Old  Testament,  is 
 supposed  to  have  Iieeu  built  by  the  Jews  after  returning  from  Buhy|r)n  ; 
 it  was  on  the  coast  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. —  Wells.  15.   The  land  of 
 
 Zabulon,  ffc. — see  Isa.  ix.  1,  2,  notes.  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles,  '  of  the 
 nations,*  in  Isaiah;  i.e.,  Galilee  in  the  confines  of,  or  encompassed 
 by,  the  heathen  nations. — Bens.  I6.  Sat — 'walked,'  in  Isaiah  ;  both 
 mean  '  to  dwell.' — R.  Watson.  In  darkness,  gross  ignnrance  of  God 
 and  religion,  being  far  from  Jerusalem,  the  place  of  worship,  and  inter- 
 mixed with  Tyrians,  Sidonians,  and  other  wicked  nations. — Benson. 
 Saw  great  light,  Christ  himself,  who  came  a  light  into  the  world. — 
 Gill.  Light  is  sprung  up^-t\\c  heathen  writers  represented  the  arrival 
 of  some  great  public  benefactor  in  a  place  as  a  new  light  sprung  up  in 
 the  midst  of  darkness.— See  Eisner.  Obser.,  vol.  i.  p.  19-  I"-   From 
 
 that  time,  ^c,  bfgan  to  preach,  from  the  time  of  John's  imprisonment, 
 (ver.  23.)— }Mnt6y.  Frum  the  time  that  Satan  left  tempting  him. — 
 Gill.  He  had  preached  before,  (John,  iv.  41,  4.^>,)  but  from  this  time  he 
 began  publicly  and  statedly.— B^hs.  18.  Sea  of  GnWee,  or  Make,' 
 so  called  from  the  province  of  Galilee  >  sometimes  called  '  the  Sea  of 
 Tiberias,'  from  the  town  of  Tiberias,  on  its  western  shore  ;  sometimes 
 'the  lake  of  Gennesareth,'  from  the  tract  so  named  bounding  its 
 western  side;  called  '  the  sea'  of  Chinnereth  or  Cinnereth,  (Num. 
 xxxiv.  U  ;  Josh.  xiii.  17.)  — Wells.  They  ic  ere  fishers— Xhe^Q  were  one 
 of  the  lowest  castes  in  Egypt,  and  this  was  also  the  case  in  Palestine  ; 
 Christ  therefore  announces  to  those  he  chose  from  them  that  hence- 
 forth they  should  follow  a  more  honourable  occupation.— ir.  C.  Taylor. 
 19.  Fishers  of  men,  '  you  shall  gather  men  into  the  gospel  net,  and  gain 
 them  over  to  the  faith.' — Bens.  23.  Synagogues,  these  places  of  wor- 
 ship  were  built  after  the  fashion  of  the'tcmple,  as  they  still  are  in  the 
 east,  with  courts  and  porches. ~7i.  Watson.  Sacrifices  could  only  be 
 at  Jerusalem,  but  nothing  forbad  worshipping  iu  synagogues.  Here, 
 when  the  law  was  read,  tlie  officiating  pcrsnn  rose  ;  and  when  it  was 
 expounded,  he  was  seated,  (chap.  v.  1  ;  xiii.  \.)—Burnes.  It  is  gene- 
 rally agreed  that  synagogues  sprung  up  after  the  Babylonish  captivity. 
 Prid.,  Benusobre.  In  Jerusalem  alone  there  were  not  less  than  4t)0  or 
 480.  There  was  a  ruler  to  the  synagogue,  who  regulated  all  its  con- 
 cerns and  granted  permission  to  preach.  The  last  part  of  the  service 
 was  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  and  preaching  from  them.  This  was 
 done  by  one  of  the  officers  or  some  distinguished  visitor.  Hence  Christ 
 and  his  disciples  more  than  once  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity, 
 (see  chap.  xiii.  5-1  ;  Mark,  vi.  2  ;  Acts,  xiii.  5,  1.5,  44,  &e.)  A  short 
 prayer  concluded  the  service.— Ch/.  24.  All  Syria,  of  which  the 
 country  of  the  Jews  and  Samaritans  was  but  a  small  part.  It  embraced 
 the  provinces  of  Comagene,  Phcenicia,  Coelo-Syria,  Palmyrene,  and 
 
Christ's  se7i)ion  in  the  mount. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  V. 
 
 He  declares  icliu  are  blessed. 
 
 were  taken  with  divers  diseases  and  torments, 
 and  those  which  were  possessed  with  devils, 
 and  those  which  were  liniatick,  and  those  tliat 
 had  tlie  palsy  ;  and  he  healed  them. 
 23  ''And  tliere  followed  him  ^reat  multitudes 
 of  people  from  Galilee,  and  from  Decapolis 
 and_/)(jm  Jerusalem,  awAfrom  Jiidffia,  SiUiifrom 
 beyond  Jordan, 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  C/trist  hcginneth  his  svnnon  in  the  mounts  Srfrchiriiiff 
 who  arc  bhssaf,  1:J  whu  arc  the  salt  nf  the  earth,  14 
 the  lifiht  of  the  icorhl,  the  city  on  an  hill,  15  the  candle 
 n  that  he  came  to  fulfil  the  law.  21  What  it  is  to 
 kid,  27  to  commit  adnltcri/,  33  to  stoear :  38  cxhortcth 
 to  suffer  wro/it/.,  44  to  love  even  our  enemies^  48  and  to 
 labour  after  pvrftctness. 
 
 A  ND  seeing  the  multitudes,  "  he  went  up 
 -^  into  a  mountain  :  and  when  he  was  set, 
 his  disciples  came  unto  liini  : 
 2   And    he    opened   his  mouth,  and   taught 
 them,  saying, 
 
 .'J  ^  Blessed  are  the  poor  in  spirit :  for  their's 
 is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 
 A.  D.  31. 
 
 C  la    61    2,3 
 
 Luke  6  21 
 
 John  16.20, 
 
 Cor.    1.7 
 
 Rf 
 
 21, 
 
 AI,ukc6  20. 
 See  I's.  51. 
 l7.Prov.lt3. 
 19.8: -JS.  23, 
 Is.  57.  15,  & 
 Oli.  2. 
 
 d  I's.  !{7 
 
 e  See  Rom, 4. 
 
 13 
 /Is.  55.  I. 
 
 &  lis.  13. 
 g  Ps.  4 1 .  i . 
 
 ch.  G    II 
 
 M.irkll.25. 
 
 L'Tiiii.llfi 
 
 Heti.  13.  10. 
 
 Jam.  2.  13. 
 h  Ps.  15.  «. 
 
 ft  21.  4-. 
 
 Heb.  12.  14. 
 ilCr.r.13.12. 
 
 lJ()lin3.2,3. 
 Ii2  Cur.4.17. 
 
 *2Tiru.2.12. 
 
 I  Pet.  .r  H. 
 
 /Luke  6.  22 
 
 IPet.'l.M.. 
 
 t  Gr,  ln<,.g. 
 
 I  Luke  6  23. 
 
 Acts.  5.  41. 
 Roi 
 
 .  5.  :i. 
 
 .  I.  2. 
 
 o  Ni'li.9.  2ri. 
 2Clir.S(J,l(i, 
 th.  23.  34, 
 
 4  '^  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn  :   for  they 
 
 shall  be  comforted. 
 
 5  *■  Blessed  are  the  meek  :  for  "  they  sliall 
 inherit  the  eartli. 
 
 0  Blessed  rt/-6^  they  which  do  hungerand  thirst 
 after  rigiiteousness  :  *"  for  they  shall  be  filled. 
 
 7  Blessed  arc  the  merciful:  *''for  they  shall 
 obtain  mercy. 
 
 8  '^Blessed  are  tlie  pure  in  heart  :  for  '  they 
 shall  see  God. 
 
 1)  Blessed  are  the  peacemakers :  fur  they 
 shall  be  called  the  children  of  God. 
 
 10  ''Blessed  are  they  wliich  are  persecuted 
 for  righteousness'  sake:  fur  their's  is  the  king- 
 dom of  heaven. 
 
 1 1  '  Blessed  are  ye,  when  men  shall  revile 
 you,  and  persecute  tjui(,  and  shall  say  all  man- 
 ner of '"evil  against  you  t  falsely,  fur  my  sake. 
 
 1-2  "Rejoice,  and  be  exceeding  glad:  for 
 great  is  your  reward  in  heaven  :  fur  "so  perse- 
 cuted they  the  prophets  which  were  before  you. 
 
 Sfleiicia.  —  So  Pliny,  linis.  Poasrssed  with  devils,  6aifiovt^oiJ.€vov^, 
 '  devils'  is  not  the  strictly  correct  reudcring.  Tlie  word  bia/3o\o^, '  devil,' 
 is  not  found  in  the  pluial  in  any  part  of  the  sacred  writings  ;  evil  spi- 
 rits arc  railed  demons,  of  which  there  are  muMituries,  tMark,  v.  9.)  but 
 liicre  is  but  one  devil,  supreme  or  head  over  the  rest.~Clnr/ie.  Some 
 consider  this  possession  as  a  mode  of  expressiou  adapted  to  tlic  preju. 
 dices  of  tlie  time,  and  say  tliat  certain  diseases,  such  as  nmducss  and 
 epilepsy,  were  usually  ascribed  to  tlic  possession  of  evil  sjiii  its.  '  Me 
 liath  a  devil,  and  is  mad,'  are  equivalent  expressions,  and  the  features 
 of  the  possessed  are  those  of  madness  in  the  present  day. — So  Hugh 
 Fitrmer.  There  is  everywhere  a  plain  distinction  made  between  com- 
 mon diseases  and  demoniacal  possessions,  which  shews  that  they  are 
 totally  different  things,  as  in  this  verse. — Porteus,  so  Guj/se.  Devils 
 were  the  immediate  agents  in  all  these  possessions;  and  to  expel  or 
 rc-train  them,  or  to  cure  the  diseases  they  were  supposed  to  occasiun, 
 wa^  one  of  the  miraculous  gifts  of  the  early  times.— it.  Wntsuti.  This 
 extraordinary  possession  seems  to  have  been  permiited,  because  the 
 people  were  then  advanced  to  the  very  height  of  impiety,  and  because 
 tiiey  were  strongly  addicted  to  magic,  and  so,  as  it  were,  invited  evil 
 (ipirits  to  be  familiar  with  Ihem. — Light/.  These  possessions  were,  in 
 body  and  mind,  permitted  by  God,  that  Christ  might  sliew  his  power 
 over  these  evil  spirits. — Gill,  so  Jortin.  23.  Decapuits,  a  country  in 
 Palestine,  wliicli  contained  ten  principal  cities  on  both  sides  of  Jordan, 
 (Mark,  5.  20;  vii.  Z\.)~Cnl.  It  formerly  belonged  to  the  half-tribe  of 
 Manasseh. — Ihiddr.     Damascus  was  the  capital. — Mar. 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  1.  A  muurttairt,  probably  Tabor. —HfH'.  Set,  the  posture 
 in  which  instruction  was  given,  (see  Matt.  xiii.  2  ;  Luke,  iv.  20;  v.  3  ; 
 .lohn,  viii.  2  )  The  master  sat  in  the  chief  place,  and  the  disciples  be- 
 fore him  in  a  circuit. — Gill,  Muimonides.  2.  Opened  his  mouth — this 
 phrase  is  expressive  of  free  and  full  discourse,  (Eph.  vi.  J9,)  of  some 
 weighty  and  important  matter,  uttered  with  great  alacrity  of  spirit. — 
 Trapp.  3.  Blessed,  iiaKoptoi,  '  hajipy.' — t'a?iip.  Poor  in  nj/irit,  though 
 poor  in  tlie  world,  if  you  have  spirits  suited  to  your  poverty .—Biuler. 
 'J'he  truly  humble,  those  that  are  sensible  of  their  spiritual  poverty. — 
 Bens,  lleggars  in  spirit,  such  as  have  notliing  at  all  of  their  own  to 
 support  them  ;  those  that  Iind  out  the  best  in  God  and  the  worst  in 
 themselves. — Trapp.  The  kingdmn  of  heaven,  the  present  inward  king- 
 dom, '  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,'  as  well  as  the 
 eternal  kingdom. — Bens.  4.  Mourn— aW  kinds  of  mourning  cannot 
 be  intended  ;  '  fur  the  sorrow  of  the  world  worketli  death.'  The  mourn- 
 ing which  springs  from  poverty  of  spirit,  brokenness  of  heart,  and  ten- 
 derness of  conscience,  must  especially  be  meant. — Scott.  '  That  mourn 
 for  sin  with  a  Juneral  sorrow,'  as  the  word  signifies,  (see  Luke,  \'i.  2j.) 
 — Trapp,  Shitll  be  comforted,  with  a  sense  of  pardoning  mercy,  and 
 with  peace,  hope,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  G\\o%t.~Seutt.  'They  lay  up 
 a  store  of  cnmfort  against  the  time  to  come,  Uiat  they  may  lay  hold  on 
 eternal  life.' — Tnipp.  ^.  The  meek,  not  such  as  are  eonstiiutioiially 
 so,  but  made  so  by  grace,  made  so  under  injuries,  &c.,  from  a  principle 
 of  conscience,  faith,  and  prayer. — Scott.  Shall  inherit  the  earth,  ti\v 
 ytiv,  '  the  land.' — Cump.  So  it  may  be  read,  '  the  meek  live  the  mo.st 
 easy  lives  ;  they  shall  inherit  the  laud  of  Canaan,'  a  type  of  heaven. — 
 He7i.  6.  Hunger— thirst,  expressive  metaphors  of  ardent  desire. — 
 Camp.  The  hungry  desire  food,  the  thirsty,  drink  ;  gold  is  despised 
 for  bread.    After  righteousness,  righteousness  in  heait  and  life. — Keyw. 
 
 The  words  are  descriptive  of  a  holy  ardour  of  soul,  in  pursuit  of  the 
 most  eminent  attainments  in  universal  goodness. — Doddr.  They  mean, 
 'the  justifying  righteousness  of  Christ.' — Gill.  The  persons  here  de- 
 signed are  such  as  are  concerned  to  be  rigliteous  before  God,  walking 
 in  his  commandments  blameless;  that  shall  be  saiislicd  with  enjoy- 
 ment here  and  reward  hereafter.  Justifying  righteousness  is  not  here 
 intended,  (i.)  The  word  'righteousness' bears  no  such  sense  in  the 
 gospels,  but  only  i"  the  epistles  of  St.  Paul.  (ii.)  The  Jews,  whom 
 Christ  addressed,  had  no  idea  of  this  '  righteousness'— that  they  should 
 be  justified  by  Chiist's  death. —  Whitlji/.  *  All  the  righteousness  which 
 is  of  God  by  faith.'— -Sh/.  'The  righteousness  of  Christ,  both  imputed 
 and  imparted.'  That  is  in  Christ  for  us,  being  wrouglit  by  his  value 
 and  merit,  and  is  called  *  the  righteousness  of  justification  ;*  this  is  in 
 lis  from  Christ,  being  wrouglit  by  his  virtue  and  spirit,  and  is  called 
 '  the  righteousness  of  sanctification. '-Tra/)/*,  so  Guyse.  '  Hunger'  is 
 the  desire  of  food  to  sustain  ■,  such  is  sauctiJying  i  ighteousness  :  '  thirst' 
 is  the  desire  to  drink  to  refresh  ;  such  is  justifying  righteousness  and 
 the  sense  of  our  pardon. — Hammond.  Filled,  xopTacryijo-oiTui,  '  satis- 
 fied,' so  as  to  desire  nothing  more.  It  is  derived  from  xopToc,  '  grass,' 
 or  '  herbage  ;'  and  is  a  figure  taken  Irora  cattle  in  a  good  pasture,  fed 
 till  they  are  satisfied,  and  graze  no  longer.— i'coi/.  7.  The  merciful, 
 who,  from  an  unfeigned  faith  of  God's  special  mercy  to  themselves, 
 arc  tender-hearted  towards  others.— J.  Brown.  'Ihis  takes  in  compas- 
 sion to  men's  souls  as  well  as  their  bodies.  Shall  obtain  mercy,  mercy 
 with  men  when  they  need  it,  hut  especially  mercy  with  God,  (Ps.  exviii. 
 25  ;)  sparing  mercy,  (Matt.  vi.  14 ;)  supplying  meicy,  (Prov.  xix.  17;) 
 sustaining  mercy,  (Ps.  xl.  I,  2;)  mercy  in  that  day,  (2  Tim.  i.  18.)- 
 Hen.  8.  Pure  in  heart,  in  opposition  to  the  Pharisees,  who  affected 
 outward  purity,  white  their  hearts  were  full  of  corruption  and  defile, 
 ment. — A.  Clarke.  'The  clean  in  heart,'  ol  naOapoi  tj;  Kapon^,  an  allu- 
 sion to  the  ancient  ritual.  The  laws  in  regard  to  the  clcanhncss  of  the 
 body,  and  even  of  the  garments,  if  neglected,  excluded  a  person  from 
 the  temple. — Camp.  Those  in  whose  souls  all  carnal,  sinful,  and  sen- 
 sual  desires  are  mortified;  who  are  inwardly  replenished  with  holy 
 natures  and  affections,  and  influenced  by  the  fear  and  love  of  God  in 
 their  habitual  conduct. — Scott.  Shall  see  God,  here,  in  a  measure,  and 
 as  they  are  able;  hereafter,  in  all  fulness  and  perfection. — Trapp.  God 
 will  not  bless  impure,  unholy  souls  with  the  light  of  his  countenance 
 and  the  comfort  of  his  love ;  but  liearts  purified  by  grace  from  the  filth 
 of  fleshly  lusts  and  love  of  sin  are  fitted  for  begun  communion  here, 
 and  heavenly  glory  hereafter. — Bnat.  The  words  are  a  Hebraism, 
 signifying,  'they  shall  possess  God,'  enjoy  liis  felicity,  as  seeing  a 
 thing  was  used  among  the  Hebrews  for  possessing  it,  {see  Ps.  xvi.  10; 
 John,  iii.  3,  id.)— Clarke.  y.  Peacemakers— the  Jews  expected  a 
 Messiah  who  would  lead  them  forth  to  war,  revenge,  &c. ;  but  our 
 great  Peacemaker  pronounced  the  peacemakers  happy,  such  as  are 
 peaceable  in  their  own  conduct,  and  labour  to  proniutc  peace  in  fami- 
 lies and  communities. — Scott.  10.  Persecuted,  6c<J(W7/iti'oi,  they  who 
 are  hard  pressed  upon,  and  pursued  with  n-peatcd  acis  of  enmity. — 
 Par.  1 1.  And  persecute  yon— the  persecution  in  the  preceding  verse 
 signifies  that  of  the  hand  ;  this  of  the  tongue,  as  calumny,  &c. ;  but  as 
 rtiWRcn',  whiih  we  render  '  to  persecute,'  is  a  forensic  term,  and  signi. 
 fies  '  legal  persecutions  and  public  accusatinns,'  our  Lord  probably  re- 
 fers  to  such  in  relation  to  the  piimilivc  Christians.— C/arAe.      12.  Great 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  We  have  here,  I.  Christ's 
 cmitest  with  the  teyupttr.  An  instance  of  his  suffering  in  our 
 behalf;  for,  to  liis  holy  mind,  such  an  exposure  to  the  adver- 
 sary must  have  been  painful  indeed.  Let  the  recollection  of 
 this  event  comfort  our  hearts  under  temptation,  that  it  was 
 that  he  might  shew  that  'he  is  able  to  succour  them  that  are 
 tempted.'  He  that  foiled  the  adversary  then, can  foil  him  now. 
 He  has  also  taught  us  how  lo  meet  him  in  contlict,  with  '  the 
 sword  of  the  Spirit,  wliich  is  tlie  Word  of  (iod." 
 
 II.  Christ's  cntrunee  on  his  public  ministry.  *Jesus  began  to 
 preach,  and  to  say.  Repent.'  'The  doctrine  of  repenlinu-p." 
 995 
 
 says  Matthew  Henry,  '  is  right  gospel  doctrine.  It  was  not 
 only  the  austere  liaptist  that  was  looked  upon  as  a  melancholy, 
 morose  man,  but  the  sweet  and  gracious  Jesus,  whose  lips 
 dropped  as  a  honeycomb,  that  preached  repentance;  for  it 
 is  an  unspeakable  privilege  that  room  is  left  for  repentance. 
 And  never  was  there  such  an  indefatigable  preaclier  as  Christ 
 was  ;  he  went  a  begging  from  town  to  town  to  beseech  poor 
 sinners  to  be  reconcib-d  to  God.  'Ibis  is  an  example  to 
 ministers  to  lay  out  to  do  good,  and  to  be  instant  and  con- 
 stant, in  season  ami  out  oi  season,  to  preach  the  word.' 
 
The  apostles  a  liijht  to  the  icorhl. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  V. 
 
 The  law  expounded. 
 
 13  1  Ye  are  the  salt  of  tlie  earth  :  '  but  if  the 
 salt  have  lost  his  savour,  wherewith  shall  it  be 
 salted?  it  is  tlieuceforth  good  for  nothing,  but 
 to  be  cast  out,  and  to  be  trodden  under  foot  of 
 men. 
 
 14  ''  Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city 
 that  is  set  on  au  hill  cannot  be  hid. 
 
 15  Neither  do  men  '  light  a  caudle,  and  put 
 it  under  ||  a  bushel,  but  on  a  candlestick  ;  and 
 it  giveth  light  unto  all  that  are  iu  the  house. 
 
 16  Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  '  that 
 they  may  see  your  good  works,  and  '  glorify 
 your  Father  which  is  iu  heaven. 
 
 ITU"  Think  not  that  I  am  come  to  destroy 
 the  law,  or  the  prophets  :  I  am  not  come  to 
 destroy,  but  to  fulfil. 
 
 18  For  verily  I  say  inito  you,  "Till  heaven 
 and  earth  pass,  one  Jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in  no 
 wise  pass  from  the  law,  till  all  be  fulfilled. 
 
 19  *  Whosoever  therefore  shall  break  one  of 
 these  least  commandments,  and  shall  teach 
 men  so,  ho  shall  be  called  the  least  in  the 
 kingdom  of  heaven  :  but  whosoever  shall  do 
 and  teach  Ihim.  the  same  shall  be  called  great 
 in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 
 20  For  I  say  unto  yon,  That  except  your 
 righteousness  shall  exceed  'the  rirjhtrinisness 
 of  the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  ye  shall  in  no  case 
 enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 
 21  T  Ye  have  heard  that  it  was  said  |{  by 
 them  of  old  time,  "  Thou  shalt  not  kill  ;  and 
 
 7  Prov.4.(fi- 
 PhLI.».  15. 
 
 r  Mark  4.21- 
 Luk«  H.  16 
 »i  n.  ftl. 
 
 i|  The  word 
 ill  the  ori- 
 Einal  Bigni- 
 fietli  <•  mea- 
 iurei:oiil<tiii' 
 
 ins    ™fc,.,<  ,. 
 
 pint  lett  than 
 
 a  prch. 
 1  I  Pet.  2. 12 
 /  Jolin  1.^.  H. 
 
 I  Cor  I1.S5. 
 i<  Kom  3,31. 
 
 %  llJ.  4. 
 
 Gal.  3.  24. 
 V  Luli(>  IG. 
 
 17. 
 
 y  Rom. 9.  SI. 
 '  &  10.  3. 
 
 llOr, /(./Ai-m. 
 s  Kx.  IfO.  13. 
 Deu.  5.  17. 
 
 iJ  That  is, 
 2  Sam.  6. 
 b  J.im.  2  SO. 
 
 C   .h.    S.     1.    «i 
 
 i3.  19. 
 
 d  »ee  Jnt> 
 '12.  ■S.  rli.l8. 
 19.  1  Tim. 
 2.  a    I  Pet 
 R.  7 
 
 Pro  25  8 
 I.ukc  12  5S, 
 59. 
 
 ff  Kx.  W.  \^ 
 
 Deu  5.  H. 
 h  .TobSI.  1. 
 
 Fro,  0.  25. 
 
 SpeGeii.34. 
 
 ■?.  2  Satn. 
 
 11,  2. 
 
 i  ch  ifl.  8,  n. 
 
 M&rkO. -IS. 
 —17- 
 \\0r,  do  cam* 
 
 Ififf  to  Mffiid . 
 
 k  Sett  ch.  \9 
 12  Horn,  rt. 
 13. 1  Cor.  9. 
 27.C0I.3.  5. 
 
 whosoever  shall  kill  shall  be  in  danger  of  the 
 judgment : 
 
 2*2  But  I  say  unto  yon,  That  ^whosoever  is 
 angry  witli  his  brother  witliout  a  cause  shall 
 be  in  danger  of  the  judgment  :  and  whosoever 
 shall  say  to  his  brother,  |[  ^  Raca,  shall  be  in 
 danger  of  the  council  :  but  whosoever  shall 
 say.  Thou  fool,  shall  be  in  danger  of  hell  lire. 
 
 •23  Therefore  '^  if  thou  bring  thy  gift  to  the 
 altar,  and  there  rememberest  that  thy  brother 
 hath  ought  against  thee  ; 
 
 '24  *'  Leave  there  thy  gift  before  the  altar,  and 
 go  tiiy  way  ;  first  be  reconciled  to  thy  brother, 
 and  then  come  and  offer  thy  gift. 
 
 "25  ^  Agree  with  thine  adversary  quickly, 
 ^whiles  tliou  art  in  the  way  with  him  ;  lest  at 
 any  time  the  adversary  deliver  thee  to  the 
 judge,  and  the  judge  deliver  thee  to  the  officer, 
 and  thou  be  cast  into  prison. 
 
 2(>  Verily  I  say  unto  thee.  Thou  .shalt  by  no 
 means  come  out  thence,  till  thou  hast  paid  the 
 uttermost  farthing. 
 
 27  If  Ye  have  heard  that  it  was  said  by  them 
 of  old  time,  ^  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery  : 
 
 28  But  I  say  unto  yon.  That  whosoever 
 ''looketh  on  a  woman  to  lust  after  her  hath 
 committed  adultery  with  her  already  in  his 
 heart. 
 
 29  '  And  if  thy  right  eye  ||  offend  thee, 
 ^  pluck  it  out,  and  cast  it  from  thee  :  for  it  is 
 
 I  profitable  for  thee  that  one  of  thy  members 
 
 IS  povr  reward,  a  patient  and  clieerful  suffering  for  Christ  in  this  life, 
 will  certainly  be  rewarded  with  the  blesseduess  of  the  life  to  come, 
 but  not  a  reward  of  debt,  but  of  grace  -,  for  our  light  afflictions  are  not 
 to  be  compared  with  the  e.xccediiii;  weight  of  glory. — Bens.  13.  Salf, 
 this  is  the  grand  preservative  from  corruption  in  the  material  world. 
 The  disciples  and  ministers  of  Christ  are,  by  their  doctrine,  conversa- 
 tion, example,  labours,  and  prayer.s,  to  stop  the  progress  of  sin  and 
 impiety,  ami  season  men's  minds  with  holiness. — Scntt.  Lost  /tis  sn- 
 vour — we  call  salt  insipid,  not  only  when  it  has  entirely  lost  its  saline 
 flavour,  but  when,  in  consequence  of  exposure  to  the  weather,  it 
 has  acquired  a  stale  and  bitter  taste.— Dr.  Tholnck,  As  salt  which 
 has  lost  its  savour  is  useless,  so  Christ's  disciples  will  be  worthless 
 and  contemptible,  even  in  the  most  eminent  stations,  if  by  their  con- 
 duct  they  maintain  not  their  character  for  real  and  vital  religion. — 
 Dtv.  U.  Lii:ht  nf  thv  H-nrW—Christ  is  the  true  light,  but  Chrisiians 
 shine  by  the  light  of  knowledge  and  holiness  derived  from  him. — 
 Scott.  By  their  doctrine  and  by  their  example.— il/ur.  A  city,  ^c. — 
 the  city  Saphet  is  near  the  hill  now  called  the  Mount  of  Beatitudes. 
 U  stands  upon  a  very  conspicuous  mountain,  and  is  seen  far  and  near. 
 Might  nnt  this  be  the  nW^siou'^—Mimndrell.  It  might  mean  Jeru- 
 salem, whether  now  seen  or  not,  as  it  was  visible  at  great  distances 
 when  the   tribes   went   up   to  worship.  1.^.  Light  a  candle,  §v., 
 
 /\i'\voi',  'a  lamp;'  candles  were  not  used  in  Judea  for  lighting  their 
 houses. — Vamp.  Their  houses  were  illuminated  all  night  by  i,A3irs 
 placed  on  a  large  stand,  here  rendered  'candlestick,'  fixed  in  the 
 ground,  from  which  the  smaller  lamps  were  lighted,  used  in  the  apart- 
 ments.— R.  Wiilsfirt.  Under  a  biishel,  iwo  tov  fioiiov,  '  under  a  corn 
 measure;'  a  Imsliel  was  unknown  to  the  Jews. — Camp,  16.  Let 
 
 your  light  su  aZ/jhc.  0i>tu  Aum^otio  to  ^wf,  'thus  let  your  light  shine. 
 —  Clarke.  17.  To  destroy,  KinaXvaai,  applied  to  a  law.  signifies  '  to 
 abrogate,*  *to  annul,'  or  'repeal.'— /f.  Wntsnn,  Bens.  The  Inw,  *  the 
 moral  law,*  which  he  afterwards  vindicates  from  corrupt  glosses  of  the 
 Pharisees;  he  certainly  came  to  abrogate  and  repeal  the  ceremonial 
 law,  though  he  came  also  to  fulfil  it,  (Col.  ii.  14.^  To  fulfil— \\g  illus. 
 trated  and  established  the  mural  law  in  its  highest  meaning,  both  in 
 his  life  and  doctrine. ^/JeH,«. ,-  same  purimit.  Gill,  Da)'.  The  opposition 
 of  this  word,  to  fulfil,  to  the  preceding,  shews  that  it  is  used  here  in  a 
 Hebrew  signification,  meaning  •  to  teach,'  and  to  teach  a  thing  in  all 
 its  extent,  and  without  suppressing  anything,  as  Rom.  xv. ;  Col.  i.  25. 
 True,  Christ  came  to  fulfil  the  taw,  but  this  is  not  the  point  heie  in- 
 tended ;  but  it  means  only  the  full  and  complete  explication  which  he 
 has  given  of  the  law,  and  which  tlie  Scribes  only  half  explained.— iVur. 
 
 18.  Verihi,  always  imports  the  great  importance  and  truth  of  what 
 Christ  was  about  to  speak.— J?*^?;*.  Till  heaven—pass,  that  is,  '  never.* 
 — Keyw.  Denotes  an  impossibility.— f?rof.  Jot,  tui-i^.  answers  to  the 
 Hebrew  letter,  which,  being  the  least  letter  of  the  alphabet,  might  be 
 proverbially  used  on  this  occasion.  Tittle,  Kepmu,  may  signify  '  stroke.* 
 — Doddr.  To  change  a  small  point  of  one  letter  might  vary  the  word 
 and  destroy  the  sense;  hence  the  Jews  were  exceedingly  cautious  in 
 writing  Ihoir  letters,  and  this  proverb  means  that  the  smallest  part  of 
 the  law  shall  not  be  destroyed.— Born^A-.  The  oriEinal  signifies  'the 
 end  of  a  letter,'  to  intimate  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  law  that  is  not 
 important.— U.il/«,-/m.  Till  all  be  fulfilled,  ^wv  av  Trai^xa  7fwiTa<,  'till 
 all  thmgs  which  it  requires  or  foretcls  shall  be  effected.' —  i>«drfr. 
 
 19.  Break,  in  his  practice,  or  pervert  and  weaken  by  his  doctrines.— 
 Bens.  He  shall  he  called  the  least,  '  shall  be  of  no  esteem.'- Comp., 
 Boothr.  This  IS  one  o(  those  modes  of  speaking  which  implies  more  than 
 
 996 
 
 is  expressed  ;  for  Christ  meant  to  say  that  he  would  not  own  for  his 
 disciple  the  man  who  gave  a  relaxed  view  of  the  law,  as  did  the  i^cribes , 
 (ver. 'iO;  see  a  similar  e.\:pression,  2Cor.ix.6.1— il/ar.  20.  Except  your 
 }-ighteoiisitrss,  ^(.'.—personal  and  practical  holiness  is  what  is  here  in- 
 tended.—£rf.  Our  righteousness  must  exceed  that  of  the  Scribes  and 
 Pliarisecs,  by  its  being  inward  as  well  as  outward  ;  by  its  being  of  a  more 
 spiritual  character  than  theirs  ;  and  by  its  proceeding  from  evangelical 
 motives— love  to  Christ.— /Ce^ic  21.  Said  by  them,  'to  them,*  as 
 the  Syritic,  for  the  quotations  are  from  the  Pentateuch.— 2>'/i;.  hn 
 eppeffii  TtKv  apxaioi^,  '  that  it  was  said  to  the  ancients.'  Shall  be  in 
 danger  of ,  tvuxoy  ecrat,  'shall  be  obnoxious  to.* — Camp.,  as  Doddr. 
 The  Judgment— thQ  Jews  had  in  every  city  a  court  of  twenty-three 
 men,  which  had  the  power  of  life  and  death.  This  was  called  the 
 judgment.— JJ^n.s-.  22.  But  1  say,  %c.,  a  rabbinical  way  of  speaking, 
 used  when  a  question  is  determined,  and  a  false  notion  is  refuted. — 
 Gill.  Christ  here  intimates  that  his  own  authority  is  equivalent  to 
 that  which  gave  the  Mosaic  law  ;  consequently,  the  authority  of  Jesus 
 and  thcauthorityof  Jehovah  are  equal— that  is.  the  same.— P^eSmi7/i. 
 Without  a  cnM.s(?— there  is  an  anger  which  is  not  sinful  when  it  arises 
 from  a  true  zeal  for  religion,  and  is  kindled  against  sin  in  ourselves  or 
 others.— Gj7/.  Shall  be  in  danger  of  the  judgment,  *  shall  be  liable  to 
 a  worse  punishment  from  Goti.'— Doddr.  Raca,  'thou  worthless, 
 empty  follow.'— Dorfrfr.  Expressive  of  indignation  and  contempt.— 
 Gilt.  Thou  foot,  /nu.pe,  a  term  of  the  greatest  abhorrence,  'thou  impi- 
 ous  wretch,"  fully  and  impiety  being  equivalent  with  the  Hebrews.— 
 Bloomf.  The  word  here  used  does  not  import  a  weak,  but  a  wicked 
 and  reprobate  man.— ffiV/.  The  design  here  was  to  prohibit  extravae:ant 
 passions,  and  prevent  their  fatal  effects  in  mutual  destruction.— />«(/rfr. 
 HtU  fire,  j,]v  ^cfin-ttv  ra  Tioitos,  '  the  fire  of  Gehenna.'  The  word  ori- 
 ginally signified  '  a  valley  near  Jerusalem,'  where  bloody  sacrifices  and 
 many  children  were  offered  to  idols.  The  filth  of  the  city  was  cast  out 
 here,  and  in  it  a  fire  was  kept  continually  burning;  hence,  it  became 
 a  well-known  figure  of  hcW.— Davison.  23.  Hath  ought  against  thee, 
 for  any  reproachful  or  unkind  word.  2i.  Leare,  fyc,  in  the  hands 
 of  those  nnnistering.— Bi"«s.  Sacrifices  were  not  always  offered  im- 
 mediately, hut  were  sometimes  reserved  to  an  approaching  feast.— 
 Doddr.  'i'liere  were  field-s  or  pasture  grounds  belonging  to  the  temple. 
 ~\Vil.  25.  Adversary,  avri.biKO':,  one  going  to  law  with  another.— 
 Doddr.,  as  Hen.  Whiles  thou  art  in  the  H'Hy— according  to  the  Roman 
 custom,  au  aggrieved  person  could  comiiel  the  party  to  go  with  him 
 before  the  prstor,  unless  he  agreed  by  the  way  to  adjust  the  matter. — 
 Adams'  Roman  Antiq.  God  is  our  adversary  at  law;  we  are  nn  the 
 way  ti>  the  judgment  seat;  we  should  avail  ourselves  of  the  way  of 
 reconciliation.      This  lesson  is  here  implied. — Scott.  28.  Louketh, 
 
 §-c.,  o  ft\eTr U3V -^vvatna,  '  gazeth  on  a  woman.'  See  this  meaning  of 
 the  word.  Matt.  vii.  3  ;  xviii.  10 ;  Luke,  vii.  44,  &c.  Indulges  unchasie 
 imaginations,  desires,  and  intentions.  Hath  committed,  i^c,  been 
 guilty  of  a  violation  of  this  commandment,  which  was  intended  to 
 forbid  the  corrupt  inclinations  of  the  heart,  and  all  irregular  desires,  as 
 well  as  the  pollution  of  the  body.— Bf7i.s.  29.  Thy  right  eye—t\ie 
 Hebrews,  like  others,  were  accustomed  to  represent  the  affections  of 
 the  mind  by  the  members  or  parts  of  the  body,  (Rom.  vi.  13  ;  vii.  23  j) 
 the  bowels  denoted  compassion,  the  heart  affection,  &c.  An  evil  eye 
 sometimes  denotes  envy,  (Matt.  xx.  15  j)  sometimes  an  evil  passion  or 
 sin  in  general,  (Mark,  vii.  21,  32.)  In  this  place,  as  in  2  Pet.  ii.  14,  it 
 is  used  to  denote  unlawful  desire  or  inclination.— BnrnM.  Offend  thee, 
 TKavdaJ^iCei  (76,  '  ensnare  thee.*    The  word  aKav^aXov  literally  denotes 
 
Christ  exhorteth  to  suffer  icruny. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  VI. 
 
 uittl  lo  love  (,( t'H  our  enemies. 
 
 should  perish,  and  not  that  thy  whole  body 
 should  be  cast  into  hell. 
 
 30  And  if  thy  right  hand  offend  tliee,  cut  it 
 off,  and  cast  it  from  thee  :  for  it  is  profitable 
 for  thee  that  one  of  thy  members  should  perish, 
 and  not  that  thy  whole  body  should  be  cast 
 into  hell. 
 
 31  It  hath  been  said,  '  Whosoever  shall  put 
 away  his  wife,  let  him  give  her  a  writing  of 
 divorcement : 
 
 32  But  I  say  unto  you.  That  ""  whosoever 
 shall  put  away  his  wife,  saving  for  the  cause  of 
 fornication,  causetli  her  to  commit  adultery  ; 
 and  whosoever  shall  marry  her  that  is  divorced 
 committeth  adultery. 
 
 33  U  Again, ye  have  heard  that"  it  hath  been 
 said  by  them  of  old  time, "  Thou  shall  not  for- 
 swear thyself,  but  'shalt  perform  unto  the 
 Lord  thine  oaths  : 
 
 34  But  I  say  unto  you,  ''  Swear  not  at  all ; 
 neither  by  heaven  ;  for  it  is  '  God's  throne  : 
 
 35  Nor  by  the  earth  ;  for  it  is  his  footstool  : 
 neither  by  Jerusalem  ;  for  it  is  '  the  city  of  the 
 great  King. 
 
 3()  Neither  shalt  thou  swear  by  thy  head, 
 because  thou  canst  not  make  one  hair  white  or 
 black. 
 
 37  '  But  let  your  communication  be.  Yea. 
 yea  ;  Nay,  nay  :  for  whatsoever  is  more  than 
 these  conieth  of  evil. 
 
 38  H  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said, 
 "  An  eye  for  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth  : 
 
 39  But  I  say  unto  you,  "  That  ye  resist  not 
 evil :  ^  but  whosoever  shall  smite  thee  on  thy 
 right  cheek,  turn  to  him  the  other  also. 
 
 40  And  if  any  man  will  sue  thee  at  the  law, 
 and  take  away  thy  coat,  let  him  have  thr/  cloke 
 also. 
 
 A.  D   SI. 
 
 A.  D-  SI. 
 
 ;  Cli.  27.  3--'. 
 
 ^fal•kl^^.2l. 
 
 (1  lieu    15.  H, 
 
 Ut.  LukeO, 
 
 30,  3:., 
 
 i.Lov.  19  19 
 
 c  Hl-u    23  6 
 
 /Deii.  ?l.  I. 
 
 Ph     11.   10. 
 
 Jer.  a   !. 
 
 </  Luk..r..27, 
 
 Se..>  .:h.  I'-t. 
 
 ;»5.Roiii.l2. 
 
 3,  &c.  IM..r. 
 
 1  1,  211. 
 
 lU.  -J,  he. 
 
 *Luki'*3  3t, 
 
 m  ch.  I'l.  9 
 
 Acta  7.  lio. 
 
 Luke  lets. 
 
 1  Cor    1  ll>. 
 
 Kom.7.  3. 
 
 13.  1  Pet. 2 
 
 1  Cor.  7.  ll>, 
 
 23    ft  S.  9. 
 
 n. 
 
 /Job  25    3 
 
 n  cU.  2-A.  16 
 
 n  Ex.  20.  7 
 
 I,ev.  ly.  la. 
 
 J?  Lukc6..T.' 
 
 NiiiiiSl).-^. 
 
 r>eu,  5.  II. 
 
 y  Deut.  23. 
 
 23. 
 
 q  cli.  23.  IG, 
 18,  2-i. 
 
 h  Gi-n.  17    1. 
 
 Jam.  5.  13, 
 
 Lev.  11.  44, 
 
 r  la.  CU.  1. 
 
 ^  19    2. 
 
 Luke  6.  SG. 
 
 s  Ps.  18.  2. 
 
 Col,  1.  2S. 
 
 &87.  3, 
 
 8tl.  12. 
 
 Jum.   \.  +. 
 
 IPdt.  I.  15. 
 
 16. 
 
 .  Kpb.5.  1. 
 
 /  Ci'l.  1.  6. 
 
 Jam.  a,  12. 
 
 u  Ex.21.  2*. 
 
 II  Oi-,Tiyl,te- 
 
 Lev.  2^1.  20 
 
 liltHlfll. 
 
 Deu    19.21. 
 
 Deu.2LI3. 
 
 J  Pro.2il.  22. 
 
 Ps.  1 12,  9. 
 
 8c  2*.  29. 
 
 Dati.  -1,  27. 
 
 Luke  6. 29. 
 
 2  Cur.  9  9, 
 
 Kom  12.17, 
 
 10. 
 
 19.  1  Cor.  6. 
 
 11  Or,  i"i"'/i. 
 
 7.  1  Thes. 
 
 rt  Horn.  I L'.  8. 
 
 a.  15.  1  Pet. 
 
 II  Or,  c'luie 
 
 3.  9. 
 
 not  It   I'llili- 
 
 w  Is.  50.  6. 
 
 pet   !•'   be 
 
 Lam.  3.  SO. 
 
 founded. 
 
 41  And  whosoever  ^  shall  compel  thee  to  go 
 a  mile,  go  with  him  twain. 
 
 42  Give  to  him  that  asketh  thee,  and  "from 
 him  that  would  borrow  of  thee  turn  not  thou 
 away. 
 
 43  If  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said, 
 ''  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbonr,  "  and  hate 
 thine  enemy. 
 
 44  But  I  say  unto  you,  ''  Love  your  enemies, 
 bless  tliem  that  curse  you,  do  good  to  theni 
 that  hate  you,  and  pray  ''  for  them  which  de- 
 spitefully  use  you,  and  persecute  you  ; 
 
 45  That  ye  may  be  the  children  of  your 
 Father  which  is  in  heaven  :  for  '  he  niaketh  his 
 sun  to  rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good,  and 
 sendeth  rain  on  the  just  and  on  the  unjust. 
 
 4(i  ^  For  if  ye  love  them  which  love  you, 
 what  reward  have  yeV  do  not  even  the  publi- 
 cans the  same? 
 
 47  And  if  ye  salute  your  brethren  only,  what 
 do  ye  more  than  others  f  do  not  even  the 
 publicans  so? 
 
 48  ''  Be  ye  therefore  perfect,  even  '  as  your 
 Father  which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 X  Christ  continueth  his  sermon  in  the  tnount,  speaking 
 of  alms,  5  prayer,  \Aforgivin(i  our  bret/imt,  16  fast- 
 ing, 19  where  our  treasure  is  to  he  laid  7ip,  24  of 
 serving  God,  and  mammon  :  25  exhorteth  not  to  he 
 carefd  for  worldly  things:  33  hut  to  seek  God's 
 kingdom. 
 
 T^AKE  heed  that  ye  do  not  your  ||  ahns  be- 
 -^    fore  men,  to  be  seen  of  them  :  otherwise 
 
 ye  have  no  reward  ||  of  your  Father  which  is 
 
 in  heaven. 
 2  Tlierefore  "  when  thou  doest  t/tiiie  alms, 
 
 II  do  not  sound  a  trumpet  before  thee,  as  the 
 
 aoytliing  which  causes  our  stumbling:  or  falling",  or  is  an  obstacle  intiie 
 way.  It  is  used,  by  metaphor,  forwtiatever  proves  the  occasion  of  the 
 commission  of  &m.—Cit7np.  Pluek  it  out,  the  dearest  objects  that 
 cause  to  sin  must  beabandoned.  One  of  tfiy  members,  §-r.,  better  deny 
 the  gratification  of  an  evil  jiassion  here,  however  much  it  may  cost, 
 than  go  to  hell  for  ever. — Barnes.  34.  Swear  not  itt  all,  in  common 
 discourse,  only  affirm  ur  deny. — Doddr.,  Bens.  37.  Let  your  com- 
 munication, SfC,  cffTu)  oe  6  Xo-^ov  vftwv.  Nat,  vac,  Ov,  oc,  'but  let  your 
 yes  be  yes,  your  no,  no.' — Camp.  Say  simply,  yes  and  no. — John  Jones, 
 Gr.  Lex.  Of  evil,  ex  th  Troiripw,  'of  the  evil  one.' — Doddr.  38.  An 
 etjfifor  an  eye— Exod.  xxi.  24  ;  Deut.  xix.  -21  ;  Lev.  xxiv.  20.  In  these 
 places  a  rule  was  eriven  to  regulate  the  decision  of  judges,  but  the  Jews 
 made  it  a  rule  to  take  private  revenge.— BurKPs.  3t).  Turn  to  him 
 tfifi  other,  proverbial,  indicative  of  great  patience  and  forbearance. — 
 Wit.  See  Isa.  i.  6;  Lam.  iii.  30.  40.  Coat,  x'tcoiu,  the  linen  tunic 
 encircling  the  body.  Clnke,  ifiuTtov,  the  upper  garment  or  mantle. — 
 Barnes,  Camp.  Our  Lord  is  speaking  uf  a  person  suing  another  at 
 law.  The  sense  is,  ratlier  than  return  cvit  for  evil,  when  the  wrong 
 is  purely  personal,  submit  to  one  injury  after  another. — Bens. 
 A\.  Compel  thee  to  go  ft  mile — allusion  is  made  to  an  eastern  custom 
 common  in  Persia,  of  compelling  any  person  or  vehicle  for  the  purpose 
 of  quickly  transmitting  the  royal  commands.  A  mile—Xhe  Roman  mile 
 was  1000  paces. — Barnes.  The  meaning  i?,  rather  than  contend  and 
 quarrel  with  such  a  person,  comply  for  the  sake  of  peace.  —  Gill. 
 42.  Give,  Sfc,  does  not  mean  whether  it  be  needed  or  not. —  Whitbi/. 
 We  must  give  with  discretion,  and  choose  a  fit  object,  but  not  be  weary 
 of  well-doing. — Trapp.  It  becomes  us  to  be  forward  in  acts  of  kind- 
 nessj  for  before  we  call,  God  hears  us. — Hen.        43.  Ye  hane  heard. 
 
 ^c,  God  enjoined  the  former  part  of  this  precept,  (Lev.  xix.  18  ;)  and 
 the  Scribes  added  the  latter.  44.  Love  your  enemies,  to  the  narrow 
 charity  of  the  Jews,  confined  to  their  own  brethren  and  men  of  their 
 own  religion,  Christ  here  opposes  his  admirable  precept.  —  Berts. 
 45.  That  ye  may  be  the  children,  that  is,  shew  yourselves,  hy  a  con- 
 formity of  disposition,  to  be  so.— Camp.  Mnketh,  rather  '  causeth.' — 
 Ew.  46.  Publicans — see  Luke,  iii.  12,  note.  48.  Be  ye  therefore 
 
 perfect,  even  as,  fyc,  faetrOe  ovv  I'/iei?  TtXeioi,  *  ye  shall,  therefore,  be 
 perfect,  as  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect;'  it  expresses  a 
 promise  ratlier  than  a  precept.  But  it  implies  our  imitation  of  the 
 Divine  goodnes=,  as  it  is  promiscuous,  and  extends  to  the  evil  as  well 
 as  the  good. — Benson. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  1.  Do  not  your  alms,  divers  ancient  cojiies  here,  for 
 Ti]\'  tXtniioawnv,  'alms,'  t^aA  Tt\v  hiKMioavvtw,  'righteousness.' — Hen. 
 This  reading  is  to  he  preferred  j  it  prevents  the  appearance  of  tautology, 
 and  makes  this  verse  a  general  and  very  proper  introduction  to  the 
 remaining  part  of  the  section  ;  it  then  means,  '  perlorm  nut  any  reli- 
 gious action  in  an  ostentatious  manner,* — Doddr.,  so  Camp.  To  he 
 seen— the  religion  of  the  Pharisees  was  distinguished  from  that  of 
 Christ  by  its  motives  as  much  as  by  its  rule. — Scotf.  2.  Sound  a 
 trumpet— it  would  appear  that  persons  affecting  great  charity  sounded 
 a  trumpet  to  gather  the  poor  when  they  distributed  their  alms,  while 
 their  intention  was  to  proclaim  their  own  good  works. — Machn.  There 
 is  no  proof  of  a  trumpet  being  blown  ;  the  best  commentators  view  the 
 phi-ase  as  proverbial.— B/^om/.  This  is  a  figurative  way  of  speaking 
 to  express  ostentation.— J5;>.  Pearee,  so  Doddr.,  Whitby.  The  passage 
 means,  they  chose  the  roost  public  places  to  distribute  their  alms. — 
 Gilt.     Hypocrite.^,  uTroKpiTai,  is  well  known  to  i^igiiify  'players,'  dis- 
 
 Rlflfctioxs  on  Chap.  V, — I,  How  different  is  the  Sa- 
 viour's view  of  happiness  from  that  entertained  hy  too  many  of  his 
 professed  followers  !  They  say,  Happy  are  the  proud,  the  gay, 
 the  domineering  ;  but  Christ  says,  Happy  are  the  bumble,  the 
 contrite,  the  meek.  They  hunccer  and  thirst  after  vanity,  but 
 his  followers  after  holiness.  Not  the  lordly  tyrant — the  dis- 
 sipated—the  heroes  of  the  world,  are  those  that  are  blessed 
 in  his  esteem;  but  the  merciful — the  pure  in  heart — the 
 peace-makers.  Yes ;  his  sincere  followers  are  blessed,  though 
 persecuted  for  righteousness*  sake,  and  exposed  to  every 
 calumny,  and  count  it  all  joy  to  be  covered  with  the  invec- 
 tives of  those  who  hate  them  most,  as  they  most  resemble 
 their  Divine  Lord  and  Master.  Their  record  is  on  high,  and 
 their  reward  is  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  The  day  approaches 
 which  shall  never  end,  when  their  gracious  Lord  shall  place 
 the  crown  of  eternal  glory  ou  their  brows,  and  say  '  Come, 
 997 
 
 ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  enter  into  the  kingdom  prepared  for 
 you.' 
 
 IL  How  illustrious  in  the  charaetir  of  a  real  Christian  !  He  is 
 (he  salt  to  preserve  corrupt  society  from  putrefaction- the 
 light,  to  chase  away  the  spiritual  diirkness  and  ignorance  with 
 which  the  god  of  this  world  has  blinded  the  minds  of  them 
 that  believe  not.  lie  shines  in  reflecting  the  lustre  of  the  Sun 
 of  Righteousness.  While  others  are  doing  nothing  for  man- 
 kind, or  only  doing  evil,  he,  like  ins  Divine  Father,  makes 
 his  light  to  shine  on  the  evil  and  the  good,  the  just  and  the 
 unjust.     He  receives  his  light  from  heaven  to  bless  the  earth. 
 
 in.  How  dignified  are  the  precepts  of  God's  righteous  law/ 
 Tht?y  are  full  of  love  to  God  and  love  to  man.  Let  us  aspire 
 after  increasing  conformity  to  them.  '  Be  ye  therefore  per- 
 fect, even  as  your  Father  in  heaveu  is  perfect.' 
 
Of  prayer 
 
 hypocrites  do  in  the  synagogues  and  in  the 
 streets,  that  lliey  may  have  glory  of  men. 
 Verily  I  say  unto  you,  'I'liey  have  their  reward. 
 
 3  But  when  thou  doest  alms,  let  not  tliy  left 
 hand  know  what  thy  right  hand  doeth  : 
 
 4  That  thine  alms  may  be  in  secret :  and  thy 
 Father  which  seeth  iu  seciet  himself  ''  shall  re- 
 ward theo  openly. 
 
 5  t  And  when  thou  prayest,  thou  shalt  not 
 be  as  the  hy])ocrites  ure:  for  they  love  to  pray 
 standing  in  the  synagogues  and  in  the  cor- 
 ners of  the  streets,  that  they  may  be  seen  of 
 men.  Verily  1  say  unto  you.  They  have  their 
 reward. 
 
 6  But  thou,  when  thou  prayest,  "^  enter  into 
 thy  closet,  and  when  thou  hast  shut  thy  door, 
 pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret ;  and  thy 
 Father  which  seeth  in  secret  shall  reward  thee 
 openly. 
 
 7  But  when  ye  pray,  ''  use  not  vain  repeti- 
 tions, as  tlie  heathen  do :  "  for  they  think  that 
 they  shall  be  heard  for  their  much  speaking. 
 
 8  Be  not  ye  therefore  like  unto  them  :  for 
 your  Father  knoweth  what  things  ye  have 
 need  of,  before  ye  ask  him. 
 
 9  After  this  manner  therefore  pray  ye  :  ''  Our 
 Father  which  art  in  heaven,  Hallowed  be  thy 
 name. 
 
 U)  Thy  kingdom  come.  ^  Thy  will  be  done 
 in  eartl),  ''  as  it  is  iu  heaven. 
 
 1 1  Give  us  this  day  our  'daily  bread. 
 
 12  And  ''forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  forgive 
 our  debtors. 
 
 13  '  And  lead   us  not  into   temptation,   but 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  VI. 
 
 and  furtjiveiiess. 
 
 d  KcoIl-s.5.2 
 Ecdus.  7. 
 
 ■  I   Kin.  IS. 
 •itj,  U'J. 
 
 g  cli.  C6.  S9, 
 ■l,',,\cts2l. 
 14. 
 A  1'8. 103.2(1. 
 
 I  Si;p  .loll  -iS. 
 I'J    I'rov. 
 311.  s. 
 
 A  fli.  IS.  21, 
 &c. 
 /  i-li.  2(1    11, 
 l..ike'K1U, 
 111    1  0..r 
 II'IS.U'  r.i 
 ■^.  •',   Iti-v 
 3.  ID. 
 
 A,  D 
 
 31. 
 
 1  .loliu 
 
 17. 
 
 15. 
 
 1  Clir 
 
 29. 
 
 Kcchi 
 
 ?8 
 
 I    &1-. 
 
 .I;n- 
 
 II     ''J, 
 
 2ii. 
 
 Kph.  A 
 
 :i-'. 
 
 Col    a 
 
 IS, 
 
 ch.  18 
 
 Sj. 
 
 ■I  Is.  53.  5. 
 
 Heb,  13    o, 
 .Iniii.  5.  1, 
 
 ■21  LukflJ, 
 HH.  31.  it  IS. 
 2-i.  I  Tim. 
 
 't  I.iik.'  I 
 
 3-1,  ao. 
 
 "'  deliver  us  from  evil :  "  for  thine  is  the  king- 
 dom, and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  for  ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 14  "  For  if  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses, 
 your  heavenly  Father  will  also  forgive  you  : 
 
 15  But ''  if  ye  forgive  not  men  their  tre.spasses, 
 neither  will  your  Father  forgive  your  trespasses. 
 
 Iti  1[  Moreover  ''  when  ye  fast,  be  not,  as  the 
 hypocrites,  of  a  sad  countenance  :  for  they  di.s- 
 figure  tlieir  fjicey,  that  they  may  appear  unto 
 men  to  fast.  Verily  I  say  unto  yon,  They 
 have  their  reward. 
 
 1 7  lint  tlion,  when  thou  fastest,  ■"  anoint  thine 
 head,  and  wash  thy  face  ; 
 
 IS  That  tliou  appear  not  unto  men  to  fast, 
 hut  unto  tiiy  Father  which  is  in  secret  :  and 
 thy  Father,  which  seeth  in  secret,  shall  reward 
 thee  openly. 
 
 10  If  "Lay  not  up  for  yourselves  treasures 
 upon  earth,  where  moth  and  rust  doth  corrupt, 
 and  where  thieves  break  tlirough  and  steal : 
 
 '20  '  But  lay  np  for  yourselves  treasures  in 
 heaven,  where  neither  moth  nor  rust  doth  cor- 
 rupt, and  where  thieves  do  not  break  througli 
 nor  steal  : 
 
 2\  For  wliere  your  treasure  is,  there  will 
 your  heart  be  also. 
 
 2-2  "The  light  of  the  body  is  the  eye  :  if 
 tiierefore  thine  eye  be  single,  thy  whole  body 
 shall  be  full  of  light. 
 
 '23  But  if  thine  eye  be  evil,  thy  whole  body 
 shall  be  full  of  darkness.  If  therefore  the  light 
 that  is  in  thee  be  darkness,  how  great  is  tiiat 
 darkness  ! 
 
 guisert,  as  the  Grecian  actors  used  to  he,  in  masks.  In  the  synngugue!^, 
 f.v  TU(?  IT  HI- a  7(1)7011-.  '  in  tlie  public  assemblies.*  It  is  most  probable  this 
 may  refer  to  religious  assemblies;  yet  we  may  recollect  that  it  is  a 
 known  custuni,  in  the  eastern  nations,  to  distribute  alms  when  they 
 are  going  to  enter  on  |)nblic  coun-^els. — Doddr.  Have  their  reward, 
 airexu<^t  rov  ni<rtiov  ..iI'tmi;  'they  fall  Short  of  their  reward.' — Sir  N. 
 KnatchhulL  The  common  translation  is  justified  by  referring  to  Luke, 
 vi.  24  ;  Philip,  iv.  18  ;  Philem.  ver.  J5  ;  and  it  is  with  peculiar  propriety 
 that  human  applause  is  here  called  tlieir  reward,  as  being  that  which 
 they  seek.  3.  Let  not  thy  left  hand,  SjC.,  plainly  a  proverbial  ex- 
 pression of  strict  care  to  conceal  an  action. — Doddr.  in  some  cases, 
 however,  publicity  is  necessary,  useful,  and  laudable.  —  Porfeus. 
 6.  Standing — this  was  an  usual  attitude  of  prayer,  (Neh.  ix.  5  ;  Mark, 
 xt.  25  ;  Luke,  xviii.  U,  13  jj  but  these  hypocrites  desired  places  to 
 make  themselves  distinguished.  6.  Closet,  Tafneiov — every  Jewish 
 liouse  had  a  place  for  secret  devotion.  Over  the  porch  or  entrance  was 
 a  small  mom  for  the  purpose,  built  above  the  rest. — Barnes.  The  ori- 
 ginal signifies  closet,  chamber,  wardrobe,  warehouse,  or  any  other 
 place;  and  [James']  Blair  piously  conjectures  that  Christ  might 
 use  a  word  of  such  latitude,  that  none  might  omit  secret  prayer  for 
 want  of  so  convenient  an  apartment  as  they  might  wish  to  retire  into. 
 —  Doddr.  7.  yaiti  rrpetitions,  they  heaped  terms  upon  terms  in 
 prayer,  to  cnliect  all  the  titles  of  the  particular  god  whom  they  ad- 
 dressed.— Mar,  Tlicy  stuffed  the  hymns  to  their  gods  with  vain  cjn- 
 thets.— VouH^'.  o«  Idol  Corruptions.  In  one  p'ace  of  the  Greek  poet 
 Escht/lus,  nearly  a  hundred  verses  are  filled  with  a  repetition  of  the 
 same  invocation  to  the  gods. — Ham.  Mn  liuTToXot'ianTe,  use  not  gar- 
 j'ulous,  prolix,  and  therefore  vain,  useless,  and  foolish  speech.  — 
 Blonmf.  Much  speaking— Hoh^mon,  Nehcmiah,  ^c,  prayed  long,  but 
 the  censure  is  against  those  who  expect  on  that  account  to  be  heard. — 
 Elsley.  8.  Your  father  knoweth,  ^c— the  omniscience  of  God  is  a 
 considerable  argument,  and  a  great  encouragement,  to  prayer. — Gill. 
 !).  After  this  manner,  that  is,  with  that  reverence,  humility,  serious, 
 ness,  confideueo  in  God.  zeal  for  his  glory,  love  to  mankind,  submis- 
 ^inn  and  moderatiiin  in  temporal,  and  earnestness  about  spiritual, 
 things  which  it  inculcates  ;  avoiding  vain  repetitions,  and  u^ing  grave 
 and  comprehensive  expressions. — Scott.  Our  Father,  the  plural  form 
 of  this  prayer  intimates  that  it  was  rather  intended  for  social  than  for 
 private  use.— it.  Watson.  Father,  is  a  lit  appellation  to  begin  prayer  ; 
 it  expresses  reverential  loveon  the  part  of  the  petitioner,  and  it  implies 
 confidence  in  the  care  of  God,  just  as  children  have  in  the  care  of  their 
 fathers. — So  .Mar.  Name,  means  God  himself,  his  person  and  attri- 
 butes.— Seeker.  10.  Thy  kingdom  come,  the  kingdom  of  God,  under 
 the  Messiah.— Bens.,  Whitby.  Thy  tvillbe  done,  ^c,  that  all  men  may 
 yield  obedience  to  his  wise,  holy,  and  good  will,  however  made  known 
 to  us. — Ben'i.  11.  Our   daily   bread,    jov    apron  »|juuif  tov   firiovaioi/, 
 
 *  bread  sufficient  for  our  sustenance  or  support.'  —  Theophylact,  so 
 Mede,  Doddr.  ;  see  Par.  12.  Our  debts— the  Jewish  writers  com- 
 
 monly  call  sins  debts.  That  sins  are  meant  here  appears  from  Luke, 
 Xi.  4. — Gill.  13.  Lead  us  not  into  temptation,  fir\  etaei'^fKiiv  »j/iar  ea 
 
 veipaa/Aov,  'abandon  vis  not  to  temptation.'— Comp.     [Ne  nos  patiaris 
 induci.— C//pW«H.]      Deliver  vs  from  emt,  fwa-LU  hfia^  a-Tro  too  ttovdpuv, 
 the  import  is,  from  the  evil  into  which  one  is  already  fallen  j  and,  as 
 998 
 
 tlic  verb  is  frequently  used  by  the  Sept,,  It  also  signifies  'keep  us  from 
 falling  into  evil.' — Camp.  From  evil,  airo  tou  novtipov,  'from  the  evil 
 one.' — Doddr.,  Wolf,  Kuerker,  Bloonif.  Satan  is  denominated  by  the 
 same  word  in  Matt.  xiii.  ly. — Blvomf.,  Eiv.  It  may  also  mean,  *  the 
 evil  thing,'  sin— the  world  and  its  corruption — death's  sting—our  evil 
 hearts — evil  men. — Hen.  The  reason  Campbell  assigns  for  preferring 
 the  common  translation  is,  that  when  a  word  is  in  every  respect  suscep- 
 tible of  two  interpretations,  one  of  which  comprehends  the  other,  the 
 most  extensive  should  be  preferred.  —  Ed.  Amen,  TOJ^,  signifies, 
 in  Hebrew,  'true,'  *  faithful,'  •  certain.*  It  is  used  likew  ise  in  affirma- 
 tion, and  was  often  thus  employed  by  our  Saviour,  'amen,  amen,* 
 rendered   'verily,  verily.' — R.Watson.  H.  Your  heavenly  Father 
 
 uill  also  forgive  you — not  that  the  forgiveness  of  others  is  the  procur- 
 ing cause  of  the  forgiveness  of  God,  which  is  the  blood  of  Christ,  but 
 such  persons  so  assisted  hy  his  grace  may  expect  forgiveness.  15.  If 
 ye  forgive  not  men,  fyc  — when  men  are  not  of  a  forgiving  temper  to 
 their  fellow  men  and  fellow  Christians,  how  can  they  expect  forgive- 
 ness at  the  hand  of  God  ?  l6.  TrAen  ye/'/s^,  refers  rather  to  their 
 private  fasts,  which,  with  the  Jews,  were  very  frequent  and  numerous, 
 (see  Luke,  xviii.  12.)  They  disfigure,  neglected  to  wash  their  faces, 
 and  put  ashes  upon  their  heads. — Gill.  17.  Anoint,  ^c,  this  was 
 usual  among  the  Jews,  not  only  at  feasts  but  at  other  times,  {comp. 
 Ruth,  iii.  3  ;  2  Sam.  xiv.  2,  and  Judith,  xvi.  8.)  The  meaning  is.  'dress 
 just  as  at  other  times.* — Doddr.  19.  Lay  not  up,  fyc,  a  Hebrew 
 mode  of  speaking  absolutely  when  the  sense  is  comparative,  (see  Luke, 
 xii.  4  ;  xiv.  26.)  The  meaning  is,  '  be  not  so  solicitous  for  the  good 
 things  of  this  world  as  for  the  glory  and  happiness  of  the  next.* — 
 Tillotson.  Where  moth  and  rvst  doth  corrupt—gannents  formerly 
 uere  a  considerable  part  of  the  treasures  of  great  men,  as  well  as  gold 
 and  silver,  (see  Job,  xxvii.  16.)  Hence  the  mention  of  the  moth. — See 
 Hammond.  Our  Lord  here  refers  to  clothe^,  grain,  and  gold,  as  the 
 chief  treasures,  respectively  obnoxious  to  moth,  smut,  and  thieves. — 
 J.Blair.  Rust,  fipiuTiv,  'canker;'  it  properly  signifies,  anything  that 
 eats  into  another  stibstauce. — Doddr.  Where  thieves  break  through  — 
 eastern  travellers  inform  us,  that  this  is  the  mode  of  housebreaking  in 
 the  east;  they  do  not  break  into  a  house,  forcing  doors  or  windows, 
 hut  perforate  or  dig  through  the  mud-built  walls.— Krf.  22.  2'he 
 light,  o  Xfxvov,  *  the  lamp.' — Bens.  Thine  eye  be  single,  uttAoi"?,  *sim- 
 ple,'  not  mixed  with  noxious  humours,  but  clear  and  sound.  It  is  op- 
 posed to  an  eye  overgrown  with  film,  which  would  obstruct  the  siglit. — 
 Bens.,  Dnddr.  Here  tlie  word  means  liberal. — Ham.,  Le  Clerc.  Free 
 and  bountiful;  if  the  heart  be  liberally  affected. — Hen,  23.  But  if 
 thine  eye  be  evil,  ^c,  Troi-npor,  *  distempered.'  —  Doddr.,  Camp.  It 
 means,  '  as  the  eye  gives  light  to  the  body  to  lead  it  safely  in  the  way, 
 so  the  eye  or  mind,  free  from  cnvetousness,  will  be  a  light  to  the  Chi  is- 
 tian  to  lead  him  in  the  way  of  life.' — Wfiitby.  '  If  the  mind  be  liberal, 
 generous,  and  bountiful,'  for  Christ  still  treats  on  liberality  as  opposed 
 to  covctousness.  '  A  good  eye,'  as  commentators  say,  means  one  that 
 is  liberal;  and  '  an  evil  eye,'  the  contrary.— Gi//,  so  also  Ham.,  Whitby, 
 L^ Enfant,  Benusobre.  The  meaning  seems  rather  to  be,  'for  as,  if 
 thine  eye  be  distempered,  the  whole  body  will  be  full  of  dark^e^s,  so  it 
 Ls  witli  respect  to  the  practical  judgment  you  form  as  to  the  worth  of 
 earthly  and  heavenly  eujoyments.'— i>orfdi-.,  so  Bp.jVann,  and  John 
 
Against  worldly  care. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  VII. 
 
 Christ  enclclh  his  sermon. 
 
 24  t'No  man  can  serve  two  masters:  lor 
 either  he  will  hate  the  one,  and  love  the  other; 
 or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one,  and  despise  the 
 other.     '  Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon. 
 
 25  Tlierefore  I  say  unto  you,  "  Take  no 
 thought  for  your  lite,  what  ye  shall  eat,  or 
 what  ye  shall  drinic ;  nor  yet  for  your  body, 
 what  ye  shall  put  on.  Is  not  the  life  more 
 than  meat,  and  the  body  than  raiment  ? 
 
 2G  "  Behold  the  fowls  of  the  air  :  for  they  sow 
 not,  neither  do  tliey  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns ; 
 yet  your  lieavenly  Father  feedeth  them.  Are 
 ye  not  mucli  better  than  they? 
 
 •27  Wliich  of  you  by  taking  thought  can  add 
 one  cubit  unto  liis  stature  ? 
 
 28  And  wliy  tal<e  ye  thought  for  raiment? 
 Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  how  they  grow  ; 
 tliey  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin  : 
 
 2!)  And  yet  I  say  unto  you.  That  even  Solo- 
 mon in  all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one 
 of  these. 
 
 30  Wherefore,  if  God  so  clothe  the  grass  of 
 the  field,  which  to  day  is,  and  to  morrow  is 
 cast  into  the  oven,  shall  he  not  much  more 
 clollie  you,  O  ye  of  little  faith  ? 
 
 31  Therefore  take  no  tliought,  saying.  What 
 shall  we  eat?  or.  What  shall  we  drink?  or, 
 Wlierewithal  shall  we  be  clothed  ? 
 
 32  (For  after  all  these  tilings  do  the  Gentiles 
 seek  :)  for  your  heavenly  Father  knoweth  that 
 
 13. 
 
 <f  fi^K  1.  10. 
 
 I  Tiui.li,l7. 
 
 .Um.  4   •!. 
 
 I,li)lui2.l5. 
 :  Pa.  55.  22. 
 
 l.uke  l2.!?->. 
 
 SS.  Pliil.  4. 
 
 6.  I  Pet.5.7. 
 
 i.T(ib.Sft.  41. 
 Ps.  117.  •.!. 
 l.iiko  ii:H, 
 
 b  Sen  I  Kill 
 .1. 13.  Ps  ;17. 
 'Jf)    niaik 
 10.  .'111. 
 Luke  12  31. 
 I  Tim. 1.6 
 
 a  l.uko  6. 37. 
 
 Koiii. ' 
 
 Ik  14 
 
 ICI.  I.t. 
 
 1  Cor.  t,  3, 
 
 .'».  Jam.  4. 
 
 II,  12. 
 iMaik4.21. 
 
 I.tiketi.  38. 
 c  I.ukc6.  41, 
 
 ye  have  need  of  all  these  things. 
 
 33  But ''seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God, 
 and  liis  rigliteousness  ;  and  all  these  things 
 shall  be  added  unto  you. 
 
 34  Take  therefore  no  thought  for  the  mor- 
 row :  for  the  morrow  sliall  take  thought  for 
 the  things  of  itself.  Suflicient  unto  the  day  is 
 tlie  evil  thereof. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  Clirist  ending  his  sermon  in  the  mount,  rfproveth 
 rashjwlgmmt,  6  forbiddelh  to  ctist  holi/  things  to  dogs, 
 7  exhartelh  to  prayer,  13  to  enter  in  iit  the  slrai t gate, 
 15  to  beware  of  false  prophets,  21  not  to  he  hearers, 
 but  doers  of  the  word :  24  lilte  houses  builded  on  a 
 roch,  26  ami  not  on  the  sand. 
 
 JUDGE  °  not,  that  ye  be  not  judged. 
 2  For  witli  what  judgment  ye   judge,  ye 
 shall  he  judged  ;  ''and  with  what  measure  ye 
 mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again. 
 
 3  '  And  why  belioldest  thou  the  mote  that 
 is  in  thy  brother's  eye,  but  considerest  not  the 
 beam  that  is  in  thine  own  eye  ? 
 
 4  Or  how  wilt  thou  say  to  thy  brother.  Let 
 me  pull  out  the  mote  out  of  tliine  eye  ;  and, 
 behold,  a  beam  is  in  thine  own  eye  ? 
 
 5  Thou  hypocrite,  first  cast  out  tlie  beam  out 
 of  thine  own  eye  ;  and  then  shalt  tliou  see 
 clearly  to  cast  out  the  mote  out  of  thy  brother's 
 
 :eye. 
 
 Wesley.  Jf,  therefore,  the  light,  Sfc,  *  if,  therefore,  tlie  nia.\inis  you 
 lay  down  for  yourselves  are  wrong,  how  very  erroneous  must  your 
 conduct  he.'  *24.  Mitmmon,  a  Syriac  word  for  riches. —  lloddriitf^e. 
 ^5.  Tii/ie  nn  lltntii^hf,  Mn  M^'t^'MfaTe,  'be  not  distressed  with  anximis 
 cares ;'  see  the  forcf  of  tlie  same  word,  Luke,  x.  41  ;  xii.  1 1  ;  xxi.  34, 
 and  Phil.  iv.  6.  2(3.  The  fuwts,  ra  Treretva,  '  the  birds  of  the  air,'  now 
 flying  around  you.  Are  not  ye?  ?fc.,  oi>x  v/ifiv  fiaWon  5ia<I>ep€7£  ai'Tdju  ; 
 *arc  you  not  more  valuable  than  they  ?'  or  *  have  you  not  greatly  the 
 advantage  of  tlicm  ?'  bein;;  capable  of  sowing,  reaping,  &c. — Doddr. 
 27.  One  cubit,  eighteen  inches,  it  must,  therefore,  be  a  mctapliorical 
 expression  applied  to  the  length  of  human  life. — Wit.  His  stature, 
 Tm  h^tKiav  avTov,  'to  his  age;'  the  word  so  used,  John,  ix.  23  ;  Heb. 
 xi.  II.  We  spe.ik  of  an  inch  of  time. — Doddr.  Some  refer  the  word  to 
 both  senses, — So  Guyse.  Sentt,  R.  Watson.  '  If  a  man  cannot  add  to 
 his  stature,  much  less  can  he,  by  taking  tliought,  so  control  Providence 
 as  to  command  the  supply  of  his  wants  or  the  gratification  of  his  wishes.' 
 — R.  Watson.  28.  Consider  the  lilies,  ra  Kpivu.  Ray  supposes  these 
 signify  tulips  of  various  colours,  or  a  purple  kind  of  lily. — On  Creation, 
 p.  107.  Doddridge,  Caiinet,  and  Jennings  conjecture  that  the  white 
 lily  is  here  alluded  to,  as  the  eastern  princes  were  often  clothed  in 
 white  robes  ;  and  Josephas  states,  that  Solomon  was  usually  clothed  in 
 white.  We  are,  however,  told,  that  the  white  lily  is  not  known  in 
 Palestine ;  and  the  fields  of  the  Levant  being  overrun  with  a  species  of 
 lily  whose  golden  flowers  in  autumn  afford  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
 and  gorgeous  objects  in  nature.  Sir  J.  E.  Smith  observes,  that  the 
 expression  of  '  Solomon  in  all  his  glory,'  ^c,  is  peculiarly  appropriate. 
 — See  Doddr.  Ej-pos  ,  Cat.,  DaiK.Jen.  Antiq.  30.  So  clothe,  .i^^iei/nrjo-, 
 expresses,  '  the  putting  on  a  complete  dress,'  '  covering  all  sides,'  and 
 is  used  with  peculiar  beauty  for  that  strong  external  membrane  which, 
 like  the  skin  in  the  human  body,  at  onces  adorns  the  tender  structure 
 of  the  vegetable,  and  likewise  guards  it  from  the  injuries  of  the  wea- 
 ther,—/Jorfrfr.  The  ^rnss,  toi.  xopToi-,  '  the  herbage,' — Camp.  Rather, 
 from  the  context,  'the  herbage.' — Ham.  Of  the  field— cast  iuto  the 
 oven,  K\i/3.ivov.  'oven,'  is  rendered  by  Doddridge  'still,*  for  he  could 
 not  imagine  that  grass  or  flowers  could  be  tlirown  in  to  heat  the  oven 
 
 the  day  after  they  were  cut  down  ;  but  Dr.  Russell  queries  whether  the 
 .lews  had  then  any  notion  of  distillalion,  and  states,  that  herbage  in 
 the  east,  when  cut  down,  is  dry  in  twenty-four  hours.  '  Grass,'  in  our 
 sense,  is  not  here  intended  ;  doubtless  withered  herbs  and  flowers  are 
 meant.  Dr.  Sliaw  states,  that  myrtle,  rosemary,  and  other  plants,  are 
 used  in  Barbary  to  heat  their  ovens.  It  is  certain  that  fires  were  kin- 
 dled, and  ovens  heated,  with  dried  vegetables.  Sic,  {comp.  Ezek,  XV,  4  1) 
 and  witliered  herbs  are  still  used  for  these  purposes  in  the  cast.  The 
 terms  '  to. day'  and  to-morrow'  need  not  so  signify  in  the  strict  limita- 
 tion of  the  words,  but  may  express  a  short  time.— See  Duddr.,  and 
 Har.,  Wit.,  Clarke,  Ed.  To  morrow,  an  Hebraism  for  the  future.— 
 Grot.  It  sometimes  signifies  futurity,  (sec  Gen.  xxx,  3.1.)— fl'ii'.  The 
 expression  often  denotes  that  the  transition  is  sudden.— Cnm;/,  Oiien, 
 not  such  as  ours,  but  a  cauldron  or  pot  used  for  baking  bread,— i!/o(im/. 
 31.  Take  no  thought,  fia  nepinvn'r'irf^,  'be  not  in  care.'— //en.  33.  And 
 his  righteousness,  it  seems  most  natural  to  interpret  this  of  that  way  of 
 becoming  righteous  which  the  gospel  proposes,  called  by  St.  Paul  the 
 righteousness  of  God.  (comp.  Rom,  x.  3,  and  Phil,  iii,  g.)~~Doddr. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  1.  Judge  not,  the  word  imports  a  kind  of  curious  in- 
 quiry into  other  men's  faults,  that  we  may  the  more  severely  censure 
 and  subject  them  to  a  sinister  interpretation. —Trrr/i;).  Re  not  judged, 
 yourselves  with  the  like  seventy.— Bens.  3.  The  mote,  to  icap0o9, 
 
 '  a  little  splinter  of  wood,'  or  '  a  small  seed.'  Tliese  words  might  sig. 
 nify  dilTerent  kinds  of  distempers  to  which  the  eye  is  subject ;  the  for- 
 mer of  which  might  be  more  in  comparison  of  the  latter  than  a  grain 
 or  splinter  to  a  heam.—/>orf(/r.  The  beaai,  tjii'  ioKOv,  'the  thorn,'— 
 Camp.  The  expression  is  clearly  hyperbolical. — Bluomf.  Mote  and 
 beam  were,  no  doubt,  proverbial  expressions,  antl  though  a  huge  beam 
 of  wood  cannot  possibly  be  in  a  man's  eye,  yet  the  opposition  between 
 a  mote,  or  very  small  atom,  and  such  a  beam  of  timber,  is  very  striking. 
 The  comparisons  of  common  proverbs  are  often  exaggerations,  (see 
 chap,  xxiii,  ■ii.)—Keyw.  The  mote  is  here  the  emblem  of  little  faults, 
 and  the  beam  of  great  faults,— ilf«r.  The  simile  here  implies,  that  it  is 
 as  absurd  for  a  bad  man  to  set  up  as  a  reprover  of  others,  as  it  would 
 be  lor  one  that  is  almost  blind  himself  to  pretend  to  perform  opera- 
 
 Reflectioms  on  Chap.  VI.  —  We  are  here  tausht  that, 
 I.  We  are  to  avoid  ostentation  in  our  charities  anddecotiojiS.  We 
 ouiiht  not  to  dispute  tlie  motives  of  those  who  liberally  give  to 
 the  poor  and  to  God  ;  but  let  every  man  beware  of  them  in  the 
 sight  of  God,  who  '  seeth  not  as  man  seetii,  for  the  Lord 
 looketii  at  the  lieart.'  Let  us  remember  that  all  our  religious 
 exercises,  Iiow  constant  and  frequent  soever  they  may  be, 
 will  be  vain  before  God,  if  we  worship  him  not  in  spirit  and 
 in  truth. 
 
 l\.  We  are  to  make  prayer  a  daily  habit.  As  the  Lord's 
 prayer  was  evidently  a  social  prayer,  such  our  Lord  supposed, 
 and,  by  his  example  exhorted,  his  disciples  to  practise  daily. 
 If  we  do  not  so  with  our  neighbours,  at  least  let  us  in  our 
 families,  where  we  are  especially  called  to  make  our  daily 
 acknowledgments  for  the  Divine  bounties,  and  to  implore  the 
 continuance  and  renewal  of  them.  '  Give  us  this  day  our 
 daily  bread.'  Here,  too,  we  are  to  implore  forgiveness,  and 
 grace  to  forgive  ;  preservation  and  deliverance  from  sin  and 
 from  the  power  of  the  evil  one  ;  and  to  enlarge  our  hearts  and 
 999 
 
 afl'ections  so  as  to  embrace  the  whole  vrorld  in  asking  for  the 
 extension  of  Christ's  kingdom.  We  have  also  wants  and  de- 
 sires which  we  can  express  to  God,  whicli  we  cannot  always 
 express  before  men,  and  we  are  hkewise  encouraged  to  pour 
 out  our  souls  in  secret  before  him.  Thus  are  we  to  '  pray 
 witiiout  ceasing.' 
 
 III.  irc  are  to  beware  of  cherishing  covetousness,  arid  mistrust- 
 ing God.  This  is  the  way  to  live  truly  happy.  Of  riches, 
 H'eni-y  somewhere  says,  '  the  trouble  of  getting  them,  tlia 
 care  of  keeping  them,  and  the  fear  of  losing  them,  takes  away 
 all  the  pleasure  of  using  them.'  And  anxiety  for  the  future 
 day  must  rob  us  of  the  enjoyment  of  present  blessings.  Let 
 us,  then,  learn  to  trust  a  gracious  Providence  from  every  bird 
 whose  sweet  note  seems  to  praise  its  bountiful  benefactor,  and 
 from  every  flower  tliat  seems  to  send  forth  its  fragrance  as 
 incense  to  the  Father  of  Creation,  who  is  also  '  the  God  and 
 Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'  and  who,  with  him,  will 
 freely  give  us  all  thfngs,  as  we  may  stand  in  need. 
 
/ 
 
 Christ  exhorte.th  to  prai^er, 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  VII.     (md  not  to  be  hearers  but  doers  of  the  uoi  d. 
 
 6  H  '^  Give  not  that  which  is  holy  unto  the 
 dogs,  neither  cast  ye  your  pearls  before  swine, 
 lest  they  trample  them  under  their  feet,  and 
 turn  again  and  rend  you. 
 
 7  H*  Ask.  and  it  shall  be  given  you;  seek, 
 and  ye  shall  find  ;  knock,  and  it  shall  be  open- 
 ed unto  you  : 
 
 8  For  ^  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth  ;  and 
 he  that  seeketh  findeth  ;  and  to  him  that 
 knocketh  it  shall  be  opened. 
 
 9  ^  Or  what  man  is  there  of  you,  whom  if  his 
 son  ask  bread,  will  he  give  him  a  stone? 
 
 10  Or  if  he  ask  a  tish,  will  he  give  him  a  ser- 
 pent? 
 
 11  If  ye  then,  *"  being  evil,  know  how  to  give 
 good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how  much  more 
 shall  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  give  good 
 things  to  them  that  ask  him? 
 
 1*2  Therefore  all  things  '  whatsoever  ye  would 
 that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to 
 them  :  for  ''  this  is  the  law  and  the  prophets. 
 
 13  1'  Enter  ye  in  at  the  strait  gate  :  for  wide 
 is  the  gate,  and  broad  is  the  way,  that  leadeth 
 to  destruction,  and  many  there  be  which  go  in 
 thereat : 
 
 14  II  Because  strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow  ^;) 
 the  way,  wliich  leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there 
 be  that  iind  it. 
 
 16  1|  "'  Beware  of  false  prophets, "  which  come 
 to  you  in  sheep's  clothing,  but  inwardly  they 
 are  "ravening  wolves. 
 
 16  ''Ye  shall  know  tliem  by  their  fruits. 
 ''  Do  men  gather  grapes  of  tliorns,  or  figs  of 
 thistles? 
 
 17  Even  so '' every  good  tree  bringeth  forth 
 good  fruit ;  but  a  corrupt  tree  bringetli  fortli 
 evil  fruit. 
 
 ch. 
 
 Mar  II  21, 
 r.iikell.  % 
 in.  &  la  I. 
 JohD  I4.i:t. 
 &  15.  7.  & 
 IS  2S,  ■i\. 
 Jam  I.  5,  B, 
 IJoliii  3.2i. 
 &  ■).  II,  15. 
 
 fVto  rt.  17, 
 Jer.  29,  1?, 
 IS 
 
 g  Luke  II. 
 II,  13,  \\. 
 
 h  Gen   6. 
 
 St  8.  ai. 
 
 Toh.  ♦.  1.5, 
 Luke  6.  SI 
 it  Lev.  19. IS, 
 ch,  ?3.  ■11). 
 Rom,  i:i.  H, 
 9,  lO.G.il.  5 
 14.  1  Tim. 
 1.  5, 
 I  Luke  13. 
 Si- 
 ll Or,  Ha\B 
 m  ncii.lH.;* 
 
 Jor.  -n.  HI 
 
 SUr.  i:i.:2. 
 
 K«m  Hi. 17. 
 
 m    Eph.  5. 
 
 6.  Col.  2.8. 
 
 2  Pet.  2,  1, 
 
 2,  3-lJohi. 
 
 4.  1. 
 n  Mic-  3,  .1 
 
 2  Tim  S  r> 
 o  Afts  go 
 
 •JO,  30. 
 
 P  V.T  sa. 
 
 rli    \i    •X.\. 
 q  I.ukeil. -l:t, 
 
 \V 
 
 II    19 
 
 cb.  VZ    33. 
 
 rh.S. 
 Loke  ^ 
 .l«hn  I 
 
 IJ  Ltikffi, 
 46.  8c  |:<.25, 
 Acts  19.  1.1. 
 
 Koi 
 
 .  1.1 
 
 Jam.  I.  'i-l. 
 I  Nun>.2t  J. 
 
 j.>hii  II  r.i. 
 
 I  Cor.  13.  2 
 
 8<  ti.  i 
 Luke  1   32, 
 A  Ji.hnT.  46, 
 
 18  A  good  tree  cannot  bring  forth  evil  fruit, 
 neither  crtH  a  corrupt  tree  bring  forth  good  fruit. 
 
 in  ^  Every  tree  that  bringeth  not  forth  good 
 fruit  is  hewn  down,  and  cast  into  the  fire. 
 
 •20  Wherefore  by  their  fruits  ye  shall  know 
 them. 
 
 21  H  Not  every  one  that  saith  unto  me, 
 '  Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
 heaven ;  but  be  that  doeth  the  will  of  my 
 Father  which  is  in  heaven. 
 
 2-2  Many  will  say  to  me  in  that  day.  Lord, 
 Lord,  have  we  "not  prophesied  in  thy  name? 
 and  in  thy  name  have  cast  out  devils?  and  in 
 thy  name  done  many  wonderful  works? 
 
 •J.'3  And  ^  then  will  I  profess  unto  them,  I 
 never  knew  you  :  ^  depart  from  me,  ye  that 
 work  iniquity. 
 
 "24  IT  Therefore  '  whosoever  heareth  these 
 sayings  of  mine,  and  doeth  them,  I  will  liken 
 him  unto  a  wise  man,  which  built  his  bouse 
 upon  a  rock  : 
 
 •2d  And  the  rain  descended,  and  the  floods 
 came,  and  the  winds  blew,  and  beat  upon  that 
 house  ;  and  it  fell  not  :  for  it  was  founded  upon 
 a  rock. 
 
 26  And  every  one  that  heareth  these  sayings 
 of  mine,  and  doeth  them  not,  shall  be  likened 
 unto  a  foolish  man,  which  built  bis  house  upon 
 the  sand  : 
 
 27  And  the  rain  descended,  and  the  floods 
 came,  and  the  winds  blew,  and  beat  upon  that 
 house  ;  and  it  fell :  and  great  was  the  fall  of  it. 
 
 28  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  bad 
 ended  these  sayings,  '^  the  peeple  were  as- 
 tonished at  his  doctrine  : 
 
 29  '■  For  he  taught  them  as  ojie  having  autho- 
 rity, and  not  as  the  scribes. 
 
 tions  on  other  men's  eyes. — Dnv.  G.  Dn^s — it  was  customary  with 
 the  ancient  writers  of  Greece  and  Rome,  and  with  the  eastern  sages,  to 
 denote  certain  classes  of  men  hy  animals  of  similar  dispositions.  By 
 dogs,  our  Saviour  here  meant  men  of  odious  character  and  violent 
 temper ;  and  by  swine,  the  usual  emblem  of  moral  filth,  the  abandoned 
 and  protligate.  As  the  priests  gave  not  any  of  the  sacrifice  to  dogs,  so 
 his  disciples  should  not  throw  away  their  instructions  on  soch. — Juries. 
 The  passage  alludes  tn  those  who  resi^ited  and  blasphemed  the  gnspel ; 
 such  were  the  Jews,  especially  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees. — See  Elslei/. 
 It  means,  expose  not  the  mysteries  of  religion  to  the  scorn  and  malig- 
 nity of  the  profane,  (Acts,  xiii.  ^fi.j— jl/rtrfin.  The  caution  is  not  to 
 encourage  cowardice,  hut  prudence. — T.  M.  Harris.  ".  Ask—seffc^ 
 it7mfAr— implies  faith,  constancy,  importunity.— S.  Clarke.  8.  That 
 asketh,  aright.  Seeketh,  diligently.  Knncketh,  patiently.— Z>orfrfr. 
 9.  What  mnn  is  there  of  _i/iiu.  nv  eoTtv  ef  vfiwv.  This  is  very  eniphatical. 
 Ttc  e|  vfiuiv,  if  the  wickedest  wretches,  the  most  peevish,  weak,  and  ill- 
 natured,  &c. — Mnckn.  10.  (ir  if  he  ask  a  fish,  bread  and  fish  are 
 mentioned,  because  they  were  the  common  food  of  the  ijcople  in  that 
 part  of  Galilee  bordering  on  the  lake. — H.  Watson.  The  fish  may 
 allude  to  the  eel,  which  is  so  much  like  a  serpent. — Rob.  This  is  an 
 Hebrew  adage,  not,  however,  confined  to  the  Jew=:,  but  common  to 
 other  nations.  So  Plavtns  says,  'Altera  mauu  fert  lapidem,  panem 
 ostentat  altera  ;'  '  in  one  hand  he  brings  a  stone,  and  otfers  bread  with 
 the  other.' — Blomnf.  12.  Th ere/or e~th'is  word  does  not  necessarily 
 connect  these  words  with  the  former;  it  is  merely  an  expletive,  and 
 nidrks  the  passing  from  one  subject  to  another.  13.  Enter  ye  in  at 
 the  strait  gate,  a  metaphor  taken  from  the  custom  which  prevailed  at 
 marriage  leasts,  of  having  a  gate  designedly  made  narrow,  through 
 which  those  who  were  bidden  miglit  enter,  but  which  might  exclude 
 those  who  were  not  hidden.— Tf7/(7A//.  A.  Clarke  says,  'the  Saviour 
 seems  to  allude  to  the  distinction  between  the  public  and  private  ways 
 mentioned  by  the  Jewish  lawyers.  The  public  roads  were  allowed  to 
 be  sixteen  cnbits  broad,  the  private  only  four.'  The  former  allusion 
 seems  more  natural. — Kd.  The  strait  gate,  signifies  self-denial  and 
 holiness. — Doddr.  *  The  direct  way  of  implicit  faith  and  obedience.' 
 — Scott.  Christ  himself,  who  elsewhere  calls  himself  the  door,  (John, 
 X.  7 — g.) — Gill.  1.1.  False  prophets,  means  not  only  those  who  fore- 
 told things  to  come,  but  others  who  taught  the  people,  pretending 
 
 authority  from  God,  (Acts,  xiii.  6.)  It  signifies  the  same  as  a  false 
 teacher. — Poole.  In  sheep's  clothing,  *  for  these  loved  to  go  in  long 
 clothing,'  (Mark,  xii.  3«,)  in  a  garment  wliich  reached  to  the  feet,  and 
 was  made  <tf  the  wool  of  sheep.— GiV/.  This  was  done  to  imitate,  at 
 least  in  garb,  the  ancient  prophets,  (I  Kings,  xix.  13;  2  Kings,  ii.  13.) 
 — Bloom/.  It  is  a  very  low  thought  to  suppose  that  our  l.«rd  here 
 refers  to  the  rough  habit  worn  by  some  of  the  prophets,  for  we  are  not 
 certain  of  its  being  common  to  tiiem  all ;  besides,  the  rough  garments 
 might  he  made  of  camel's  or  goat's  hair,  rather  than  wool,  (2  Kings, 
 i.  S  ;  Matt,  iii.  1.)  The  language  is  proverbial  for  a  wicked  man  as- 
 suming hypocritically  an  upright  religious  character.  —  i>orfrfri(/^c. 
 irt.  Their  fruits,  '  doctrines.*  —  Gi7^,  Miir.,  Trapp.  '  Their  acUons,' 
 often  called  iruits.  C'omp.  Matt.  Ui.  8  ;  xxi.  4:i ;  John,  xv.  2,  5  ;  Col. 
 i.  6.  Men  arc  not  always  to  be  discovered  by  their  doctiines. — Duddr., 
 SI)  Clarke.  It  means  both  doctrines  and  practices.  —  R.  Watson. 
 17.  Currupt,  o-uTTfJoi',  '  evil.' — Camp.  21.  Kingdom  0/  heaven,  must, 
 from  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  signify,  'that  of  glory  above.' — 
 Duddr.  22,  In  that  day,  tKCivt/  ii;  ijfiepa,  'on  that  very  day,* — viz., 
 the  day  of  judgment.  23.  W'itl'l  pro/ess,  6fAo\o'ii}au>,  *  I  will  fully 
 
 and  plainly  tell  them.' — .4.  Clarke.  Never  knew  you,  '  never  approved 
 of  your  character  ;'  so  the  word  is  used.  Ps.  i.  6;  Matt.  xxv.  12;  2  Tim. 
 ii.  10;  John.  X.  U;  Rom.  vii.  15;  and,  perhaps,  1  Cor.  viii.  1,  3. — ■ 
 Doddr.  2.').  .ind  the  rain  descended,  fyc,  the  rains,  floods,  and  winds, 
 of  an  eastern  monsoon  strikingly  illustrate  this  passage;  when  people 
 in  those  regions  sj)eak  of  the  strength  of  a  house,  it  is  not  by  saying  it 
 will  last  so  many  years,  but — it  will  outstand  the  rains;  it  will  not  be 
 injured  by  the  floods.  Houses  built  of  the  best  materials,  and  having 
 deep  foundations,  in  a  few  years  often  yield  to  the  rains  of  a  monsoon. 
 The  house  founded  upon  a  rock  can  alone  stand  the  rains  and  floods 
 of  a  wet  monsoon. — Roh.  The  huts  of  the  Bengal  iishernicn,  erected 
 in  dry  weather  on  the  sand  from  which  the  river  has  retired,  and  sud- 
 denly swept  away  in  multitudes  by  the  mountain  torrents  of  one  night, 
 finely  illustrate  this  passage. —  Ward.  29.  As  one  having  authority, 
 with  a  dignity  and  majesty  peculiar  to  himself,  a-^  the  great  Lawgiver, 
 and  with  the  demonstration  and  |K>wer  of  the  Spirit. — Bens.  Not  as 
 the  scribes,  whose  lectures,  for  the  most  part,  were  absolute  trifling, 
 being  drawn  from  tradition,  or  from  the  comments  of  others.— 3/«c/cn. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  In  this  chapter  our  Lord 
 enforces— I.  Charity,  in  opposition  to  rash  judging.  '  It  is 
 God's  prerogative  to  try  hearts,  and  we  must  not  step  into  his 
 throne.'  *> 
 
 II.  PrufleJicc,  '  Give  not  that  which  is  holy  unto  do?s. 
 Those  persons  do  so  who  speak  of  Christian  experience  be- 
 fore tlie  profane,  and  adopt  sacred  term»in  common  conversa- 
 tion, which  only  expose  them  to  ridicule  and  conU*mpt. 
 1000 
 
 Never  let  u.s  he  ashamed  of  our  religion,  nor  to  speak  a  word 
 for  the  honour  of  God  when  occasion  requires  it ;  hut  let  us 
 remember  not  to  cast  our  pearls  before  swine.  A  word  fitly 
 spoken,  how  good  is  it. 
 
 in.  Prnijer.  '  Ask,  as  a  traveller  aslcs  the  way  ;  to  pray  is 
 to  inquire  of  (jod,  (Ezek.  xxxvi.  27.)  Seek,  as  for  a  thing  of 
 value  that  we  have  lost;  or  as  the  merchantman  that  seeks 
 goodly  pearls.     Seek  by  prayer,  (Dan.  ix.  3.)     Knock,  as  he 
 
Christ  cleanseth  the  leper. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  VIII. 
 
 Christ  casteth  out  devils. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 2  Christ  chanstt/i  the  hper,  5  healetk  the  centurion's 
 srrvant,  \i  Pctvr^s  mother  in  law^  l^iaud  nuiny  other 
 tiistastd:  18  shewetk  how  he  is  to  be  folio  iced :  23 
 stiileth  the  tempest  on  the  sen,  28  drivetfi  the  devils 
 out  of  two  men  possessed,  31  and  sujfereth  them  to  go 
 into  the  swine. 
 
 "VS^HEN  he  was  come  down  from  the  mouu- 
 '''     tain,  great  multitudes  followed  him. 
 
 2  "Wild,  hehold,  there  came  a  leper  and  wor- 
 shipped him,  saying.  Lord,  if  thou  wilt,  thou 
 canst  make  me  clean. 
 
 3  And  Jesus  put  forth  his  hand,  and  touched 
 him,  saying,  I  will ;  be  thou  clean.  And  im- 
 mediately his  leprosy  was  cleansed. 
 
 4  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  ''See  thou  tell 
 no  man  ;  but  go  thy  way,  shew  thyself  to  the 
 priest,  and  offer  the  gift  that  ^  Moses  com- 
 manded, fur  a  testimony  unto  them. 
 
 5  H'' And  when  Jesus  was  entered  into  Ca- 
 pernaum, there  came  unto  him  a  centurion, 
 beseeching  him, 
 
 G  And  saying.  Lord,  my  servant  lieth  at  home 
 sick  of  the  palsy,  grievously  tormented. 
 
 7  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  will  come  and 
 heal  him. 
 
 8  The  centurion  answered  and  said.  Lord,  "I 
 am  not  worthy  that  thou  shouldest  come  under 
 my  roof:  but  '"speak  the  word  only,  and  my 
 servant  shall  be  healed. 
 
 9  For  I  am  a  man  under  authority,  having 
 soldiers  under  me  :  and  I  say  to  this  man.,  Go, 
 and  he  goeth;  and  to  another.  Come,  and  he 
 Cometh  ;  and  to  my  servant,  Do  this,  and  he 
 doeth  it. 
 
 10  When  Jesus  heard  it,  he  marvelled,  and 
 said  to  them  that  followed,  Verily  I  say  unto 
 you,  I  have  not  found  so  great  faith,  no,  not. 
 
 1  Mark  1.40, 
 ilcc.I.uke  &. 
 I-*,  &C. 
 
 r.  Lev.  14.  S, 
 4,  lU.  Luke 
 
 d  Luke  7.  1, 
 
 /Ps.  107.  CO. 
 
 A.  D.  3i. 
 
 3  Gen  \'i  ."). 
 !8.->.2.  :l.  T< 
 II.  lU  .MaL 
 I  Jl.  \.w\e 
 IS.i>9.  Acts 
 I0.4&.!«  II. 
 Irt.St  U  27. 
 Kom.  15.9, 
 9tc.  EpU.  3. 
 6. 
 
 A  ch   21.^13. 
 
 ich.  13.  42, 
 5a  «  22.13. 
 ^  24.  61.  ft 
 
 ■::>.  311, 
 
 L.ik«I.V28 
 vPL-t.!>.  17. 
 Jiide  13. 
 A  Mark  I  2% 
 Si',  SI. 
 Luke  4.  SS, 
 
 ;  I  Cor,  0.  5. 
 
 .  I.'!.  53.  4. 
 1  Pet.  2.21. 
 
 o  Luke  9.57, 
 53. 
 
 7  See  I  Kin 
 19.  ■2<i. 
 
 in  Israel. 
 
 11  And  I  say  unto  you.  That  ^  many  shall 
 come  from  the  east  and  west,  and  shall  sit 
 down  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  in 
 the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 
 1-2  But  ■'the  children  of  the  kingdom  *  shall 
 be  cast  out  into  outer  darkness  :  there  shall  be 
 weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth. 
 
 13  And  Jesus  said  unto  the  centurion,  Go 
 thy  way ;  and  as  thou  hast  believed,  so  be  it 
 done  unto  thee.  And  his  servant  was  healed 
 in  the  selfsame  hour. 
 
 14  II^'And  when  Jesus  was  come  into  Peter's 
 house,  he  saw  ^  his  wife's  mother  laid,  and  sick 
 of  a  fever. 
 
 15  And  he  touched  her  hand,  and  the  fever 
 left  her :  and  she  arose,  and  ministered  unto 
 them. 
 
 16  1  °*  When  the  even  was  come,  they 
 brought  unto  him  many  that  were  possessed 
 with  devils  :  and  he  cast  out  the  spirits  with 
 his  word,  and  healed  all  that  were  sick : 
 
 17  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was 
 spoken  by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  "  Him- 
 self took  our  infirmities,  and  bare  our  sick- 
 nesses. 
 
 18  t  Now  when  Jesus  saw  great  multitudes 
 about  him,  he  gave  commandment  to  depart 
 unto  the  other  side. 
 
 19  "And  a  certain  scribe  came,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Master,  I  will  follow  thee  whithersoever 
 thou  goest. 
 
 20  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  The  foxes 
 have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  have  nests  ; 
 but  the  Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  Ms 
 head. 
 
 21  '^  And  another  of  his  disciples  said  unto 
 him,  Lord,  "*  suffer  me  first  to  go  and  bury  my 
 father. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.  —  1,  A  leper — leprosies  iu  those  countries  were  seldom 
 curable  by  natural  means.  2.  Worshipped  him,  kneeled  or  fell  down 
 before  him. —Bens.  Lord,  a  usual  address  of  the  Jews  to  any  person, 
 (John,  x.v.  1 5.) — Grot.  Here,  probably,  a  mark  of  respect  and  honour. 
 — Le  Clerc.  3.  Touched  him,  this  would  have  rendered  another  man 
 ceremonially  unclean :  but  Christ  acted  as  a  priest,  and  more  than  a 
 priest ;  and  whilst  he  cleansed  the  leprosy,  he  could  not  contract  de- 
 filement from  it. — Scott.  4.  See  thou  tell  no  ?/i«n— this  miracle  seems 
 to  have  been  done  by  taking  the  man  aside,  so  that  not  many  were 
 witnesses  of  it,  otherwise  there  could  not  have  been  room  for  this 
 chATge  of  secrecy.— Doddr.,  Bens.  It  was  effected  in  the  sight  of  a 
 great  muHitude.^Ti.  Watson.  Various  commentators  assign  different 
 reasons  for  this  injunction  :  To  avoid  the  malice  of  the  Scribes  and 
 Pharisees,  and  attempts  of  the  people  to  make  him  a  king, —  Whithi/. 
 The  reason  is  obvious,  that  tlie  priest  might  pronounce  him  clean,  ac- 
 cording to  his  office  in  such  cases,  on  an  unbiassed  judgment  of  the 
 fact. — R.  Wafson,  as  Randolph.  This  is  not  the  leper  whose  cure  is 
 ri-corded,  Mark,  i.  40  ;  Luke,  v.  12.  The  cures  are  different ;  that  in  a 
 city,  this  in  the  fields  ;  Jesus  now  entered  into  Capernaum,  and  cured 
 the  centurion's  son  ;  the  other  leper  having  published  the  miracle,  Jesus 
 could  not,  at  that  time,  go  in  the  day  into  the  town,  but  was  obliged 
 to  remain  without,  in  the  desert  places,  to  sliun  the  cTOwd.^  Mackn. 
 5.  Centurion,  fKuTovrapxo^,  a.  Roman  officer,  a  commander  of  an  hun- 
 drerl  men,  as  the  Greek  implies.— Gi7/,  A.  Clarke.  Judea  was  a  Roman 
 province,  and  garrisons  were  kept  there  to  preserve  the  people  in  sub- 
 jection.—  B'lrnes.  6.  Tormented,  /Jatravf^o^evor,  '  afflicted,'  or  *  dis- 
 tressed.' Palsies  are  not  attended  with  torment. — Camp.,  as  Grot,  and 
 H'im.  It  must  be  observed,  there  are  two  sorts  of  palsies,  one  attended 
 with  a  contraction  and  the  other  with  a  remission  of  the  nerves. — 
 Bloom/.  10.  Marvelled,  our  Lord  possessed  a  human  nature  as  well 
 as  a  di\ine,  and  he  is  here  represented  as  influenced  by  admiration, 
 but  it  by  no  means  implies  that  he  was  ignorant  of  the  centurion's 
 faith.— /J'»s-.  II.  From  the  east,  Sfc,  this  phrase  iu  Scripture  de- 
 
 notes the  whole  world,  (Isaiah,  xlv.  6;  lix.  19.; — Barnes.      Sit  down. 
 
 avaK\iOi]<jovTai,  literallv  'recline,'  in  allusion  to  the  recumbent  pos- 
 ture of  guests  at  table  ia  the  east.  In  the  kingdom,  ^c,  the  Scriptures 
 frequently  represeut  future  happiness  under  the  emblem  of  sumptuous 
 entertainments,  (Luke,  xiv.  15;  Rev.  xi.x.  9.)— Due.  12.  Ctnldren 
 
 of  the  kingdom,  the  Jews,  who  boast  much  that  they  arc  the  children 
 of  Abraham,  and  think  themselves  the  only  church  and  the  only  heirs 
 of  glory.  Cast  out  into  outer  darkness,  the  darkness  of  error,  ignorauce, 
 and  superstition,  or  the  darkness  of  heil.— Poole.  Many  commentators 
 have  justly  observed  that  this  is  a  beautiful  allu:-iun  to  the  lustre  of 
 those  illuminated  rooms  in  which  feasts  were  generally  held,  and  is 
 opposed  to  the  darkness  of  those  turned  out  at  niglit ;  or  it  goes,  per- 
 liaps,  yet  further,  when  the  persons  excluded  are  supposed  to  be  throwa 
 into  a  dark  dungeon,  (comp.Matt.  xxii.  I3;  xxv.  30;  and  Jude,  6,  13.) — 
 Duddr.  U,  Peter's  house,  this  was  in  Capernaum,  as  appears  from 
 the  context.— G(7/.  It  seems  that  Peter  and  his  bi  other  Andrew  had  a 
 house  at  Capernaum,  that  Peter's  wife's  mother  was  one  ot  the  family, 
 and  tliat  our  Lord  lodged  there  when  in  that  city. — Sentt.  Probably 
 this  house  was  Peter's  wife's  mother's,  and  only  called  theirs  because 
 they  lodged  there  whilst  in  this  city. — Gilt.  I6.  Possessed  with  devils, 
 — see  Matt.  iv.  24,  note.  I7.  Saying,  Himself  look  our  infirmities 
 
 and  hiire  our  sicknesses,  the  first  expression  signifies,  both  in  Hebrew 
 and  tijeek,  bodily  pains  and  distempers, — the  second,  diseases  and  tor- 
 ments of  the  mind  :  the  former  signifies  Christ's  miraculous  cures ;  the 
 latter,  his  bearing  our  sins  upon  the  cross. — Magee.  10.  To  depart 
 
 unto  the  other  side,  that  is,  of  the  lake  Gennesarcth.— .4.  Clarke. 
 19.  A  certain  scribe,  literally,  eit  7pj^/iaTewc,  '  one  scribe;*  true,  this  is 
 an  Hebraism,  but  it  may  be  designed  to  shew  that  few  of  this  class 
 came  to  Christ  for  instruction  or  .salvation.  Master,  ^liaaKaXt, 
 '  tCAcher.'— Clarke.  20.  The  Son  nf  mnn  hath  not  uht-re,  ^t'.— our 
 Lord,  who  knew  all  hearts,  stems  to  have  given  this  rev)ly  to  strike  at 
 once  at  the  worldly  motives  which  prohably  lurked  in  this  scribe's 
 heart,  in  proposing  to  follow  Christ.  He  would  have  him  understand 
 he  could  gain  nothing  temporal  by  it.~£rf.  21.  To  go  and  l,uri/  my 
 father,  seems  to  mean,  *  to  continue  at  home  with  him,  who  is  far  ad- 
 
 that  desires  to  enter  into  the  house  knocks  at  the  door.  We 
 would  be  admitted  to  converse  with  God,  would  be  taken  into 
 his  love,  and  favour,  and  kingdom — sin  has  shut  and  barred 
 the  door  against  us  ;  by  prayer  we  knock  ;  Lord,  Lord,  open 
 to  us.'  h 
 
 IV.    SlI f' denial.     '  A  Christian  cannot  cboose  and  pick  his 
 path  as  men  do  in  the  broad  road,  bnt  must  go  strai[;ht  for- 
 ward, turning  neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left;  if  lie  do  at 
 all  turn  aside,  he  will  be  scourged  back  again  into  ihe  narrow 
 1001 
 
 path.  When  he  meets  an  enemy,  he  must  face  and  overcomo 
 him;  when  he  comes  to  a  mountainous  difficulty,  he  must 
 climb  over  it ;  if  the  road  be  rough,  lie  must  still  keep  in  it  ; 
 and  no  persecution  or  tribulation  must  divert  hirafromit; 
 therefore,  few  there  be  that  find  this  way  to  life.' 9 
 
 V.  Holiness.  If  we  are  not  trees  ol  ri^^hieousncss,  bringing 
 forth  its  fruits,  we  can  never  expect  to  he  transplanted  to  the 
 paradise  of  Ciod,  but  must  be  hewn  down,  as  worthless  wood, 
 and  cast  into  the  fire. 
 
 6  .M 
 
Christ  stillelh  the  tempest. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  IX. 
 
 He  cureth  the  palsy. 
 
 and 
 
 22  But  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Follow  me 
 let  the  dead  bury  their  dead. 
 
 23  IT  And  when  he  was  entered  into  a  ship, 
 his  disciples  followed  him. 
 
 24  '  And,  behold,  there  arose  a  great  tempest 
 in  the  sea,  insomuch  that  the  ship  was  covered 
 with  the  waves  :  but  he  was  asleep. 
 
 25  And  his  disciples  came  to  him,  and  awoke 
 him,  saying.  Lord,  .save  us  :  we  perish. 
 
 26  And  he  saith  unto  them.  Why  are  ye 
 fearful,  O  ye  of  little  faith  ?  Then  '  he  arose, 
 and  rebuked  the  winds  and  the  sea ;  and  there 
 was  a  great  calm. 
 
 27  But  the  men  marvelled,  saying.  What 
 manner  of  man  is  this,  that  even  the  winds  and 
 the  sea  obey  liim  ! 
 
 28  f '  And  when  he  was  come  to  the  other 
 side  into  the  country  of  the  Gergesenes,  there 
 met  him  two  possessed  with  devils,  coming 
 out  of  the  tombs,  exceeding  fierce,  so  that  no 
 man  might  pass  by  that  way. 
 
 29  And,  behold,  they  cried  out,  saying.  What 
 have  we  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou  Son  of 
 God  ?  art  thou  come  hither  to  torment  us  be- 
 fore the  time? 
 
 30  And  there  was  a  good  way  off  from  them 
 an  herd  of  many  swine  feeding. 
 
 31  So  the  devils  besought  him,  saying.  If 
 thou  cast  us  out,  suffer  us  to  go  away  into  the 
 herd  of  swine. 
 
 32  And  he  said  unto  tliem.  Go.  And  when 
 they  were  come  out,  they  went  into  the  lierd 
 of  swine  :  and,  behold,  tlie  whole  herd  of  swine 
 ran  violently  down  a  steep  place  into  the  sea, 
 and  perished  in  the  waters. 
 
 33  And  they  tliat  kept  them  fled,  and  went 
 their  waj'S  into  the  city,  and  told  every  thing, 
 and  what  was  befallen  to  the  possessed  of  the 
 devils. 
 
 34  And,  behold,  the  whole  city  came  out  to 
 meet  Jesus  :  and  when  they  saw  him,  "  they 
 besought  him  that  he  would  depart  out  of 
 their  coasts. 
 
 I  P«.  65.  7. 
 &  SO.  9.  & 
 luT.  29. 
 
 I  Mark  5.  1, 
 ftc.  Luke  8. 
 26,  &c. 
 
 u  See  Pea.  b. 
 2b.  I  Kin. 
 17,  IS. Luke 
 5.  8.  Acts 
 16.  S9. 
 
 fi  iMaik  2. 3 
 Lukes.  IS. 
 c  cb.  8.  10. 
 
 d  Ps.  130.  2. 
 ch.  13  L'O. 
 Markia.ia, 
 Luke  5-  2i. 
 &  6  8  &  9. 
 47.  &  II   17. 
 
 e  Mark  3.14. 
 Luke5.  S7. 
 
 /BIi\rk2.15, 
 8te.  Luke.*). 
 2«,  Sic 
 
 a  eh.  II.  19. 
 
 Luke  5.  30. 
 
 &  15.  2. 
 h  Gal.  2.  IS. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 2  Christ  curing  one.  sick  of  the  palsy,  9  calleth  Matthew 
 from  the  receipt  of  custom,  10  eateih  with  publicans 
 and  sinners,  14  defendfth  his  disciphsfor  not  fusti/i^, 
 'JO  cirnth  the  hhodij  issue,  2:i  ra i set h  from  death  Jai- 
 rJis*  dituijhtery  27  f/iveth  sight  to  tivo  hlind  men,  32 
 healeth  a  dumb  man  possessed  of  a  devil,  36  arid  hath 
 compassioJi  of  the  rmdtitude. 
 
 \  ND  be  entered  into  a  ship,  and  passed  over, 
 ■^^  "  and  came  into  his  own  city. 
 
 *2  ^  And,  behold,  they  brought  to  him  a  man 
 sick  of  the  palsy,  lying  on  a  bed  :  '^  and  Jesus 
 seeing  their  faith  said  unto  the  sick  of  the 
 palsy  ;  Son,  be  of  good  cheer  ;  thy  sins  be  for- 
 given thee. 
 
 3  And,  behold,  certain  of  the  scribes  said 
 within  themselves,  This  man  blasphemeth. 
 
 4  And  Jesus  ''knowing  their  thoughts  said, 
 Wherefore  think  ye  evil  in  your  hearts? 
 
 5  For  whether  is  easier,  to  say,  Thy  sins  be 
 forgiven  thee  ;  or  to  say.  Arise,  and  walk  ? 
 
 6  But  that  ye  may  know  that  the  Son  of  man 
 hath  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins,  (then  saith 
 he  to  the  sick  of  the  palsy,)  Arise,  take  up  thy 
 bed,  and  go  unto  thine  house. 
 
 7  And  he  arose,  and  departed  to  his  house. 
 
 8  But  when  the  multitudes  saw  it,  they  mar- 
 velled, and  glorified  God,  which  had  given 
 such  powder  unto  men. 
 
 9  1^  And  as  Jesus  passed  forth  from  thence, 
 he  saw  a  man,  named  Matthew,  sitting  at  the 
 receipt  of  custom  :  and  he  saith  unto  him. 
 Follow  me.     And  he  arose,  and  followed  him. 
 
 10  IT  ^  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  Jesus  sat  at 
 meat  in  the  house,  behold,  many  })ublicans 
 and  sinners  came  and  sat  down  with  him  and 
 his  disciples. 
 
 1 1  And  when  the  Pharisees  saw  rV,  they  said 
 unto  his  disciples,  Why  eateth  your  Master 
 with  ^  publicans  and  *"  sinners? 
 
 1*2  But  when  Jesus  heard  that,  he  said  unto 
 them.  They  that  be  whole  need  not  a  phy- 
 sician, but  they  that  are  sick. 
 
 13  But  go  ye  and  learn  what  that  meaneth, 
 
 vauceil  in  ycais,  till  1  have  performed  for  him  the  last  sad  office.'— 
 .Beijs.  22.  Lft  the  dead,  fyc,   probably  proverbial,  'Let  wurldly- 
 
 mindecl  men  mind  worldly  thinps.' — Bp.  Peurce.  Ungodly  men  were 
 called  '  dead'  by  the  Jews  ;  it  means,  *  let  your  ungodly  relatives  bury 
 their  dead  father.' — So  Pict.  Bift.  21.  The  shiji  w<is  coi-ered  with  the 
 u'twes — the  river  Jordan,  running  through  the  midst  of  the  lake  of  Gen- 
 ncsareth,  causes  a  strong  current,  and  when  this  is  opposed  by  contrary 
 winds,  which  blow  here  with  the  force  of  a  hurricane  from  the  south- 
 east,  a  boisterous  sea  is  instantly  raised,  which  small  vessels  cannot 
 well  resist. — E.  D.  Clarke.  27.  What  manner  of  mafi  is  this?  UoTanov 
 edTiv  ovTOf,  '  How  great  is  this  person  !' — A.  Clarke.  28.  Gergesenes. 
 the  same  with  the  Gcrgashitcs,  (Gen.  xv,  21 ;  Deut.  vii.  l ;  Josh.  iii.  10.) 
 Origen  mentions  Gergesa,  whence  were  the  Gergesenes,  as  an  ancient 
 city  about  the  lake  now  called  Tiberias,  having  a  precipice  above  it, 
 adjacent  to  the  lake,  whence  the  swine  were  cast  down. — Gill.  Pos- 
 sessed— see  Matt.  iv.  24,  notes.  Coming  out  of  the  tombs — tombs  were 
 usually,  in  those  days,  in  desert  places,  at  a  distance  from  towns,  and 
 were  often  made  in  the  sides  of  caves,  in  the  rocks  and  mountains. — 
 Guyae.  29.  Wftnt  have  we  to  do  with  thee?  ft  iifnv  kcx  aot,  literally, 
 '  What  is  it  to  us  and  to  thee  f— ,4.  Clarke.  '  What  hast  thou  to  do 
 with  us  ?* — Boothr.  Before  the  time,  a  time,  determined  by  the  Divine 
 Judge,  when  they  should  be  sent  into  greater  torments.  30.  Mufiy 
 swine — these  were,  in  all  probability,  Jewish  property,  kept  and  used 
 in  violation  of  God's  law,  and  therefore  their  destruction  was  no  more 
 than  a  proper  manifestation  of  the  justice  of  God.— Clarke,  as  Spencer 
 and  Guyse.  31.  Into  the — swine^as  the  cure  of  demoniacs  is  subject 
 to  collusion,  God  permitted  thisj  there  could  be  no  confederacy  in 
 fraud  in  these  animals.— Dodrfr.  31.  The  whole  city  came  out,  pro- 
 bably with  the  intention  to  kill  Jesus  for  having  destroyed  their  swine  ; 
 but  having  seen  him,  they  were  awed  by  his  presence,  and  only  be- 
 
 sought him  to  depart  from  their  borders.— CVur/fe. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  I .  His  own  city,  Capernaum  is  so  called,  because  it  was 
 at  this  time  Christ's  usual  place  of  residence,  (chap.  iv.  i'A.)—  Diiv. 
 
 2.  A  hcd,  'a  portable  bed,*  or  'mattress;'  it  might  be  a  blanket. — 
 Barnes.  Son,  a  title  of  condescension  and  tenderness,  by  which  supe- 
 riors addressed  inferiors. — Doddr.  Be  of  good  cheer,  Oapaci  j^kvov^ 
 •  son,  take  courage.* — A.  Clarke.  Thy  si7is  are  forgiven  thee,  aipeutvTat 
 aot  <ii  unupiiai  aov.  The  words  are  an  affirmation,  not  a  prayer  or 
 wish.     As  a  prayer,  the  scribes  would  not  have  objected  to  them. 
 
 3.  Blasphemeth,  attributing  to  himself  a  power,  that  of  forgiving  sins, 
 which  belongs  to  God  only. — Be?is.  4.  Knowing,  (5ii)v,  'seeing.' — 
 A.  Clarke.  Their  thoughts,  a  clear  evidence  of  his  Deity, — Gill.  6.  For 
 rvhether  is  easier,  ^c,  do  not  both  argue  a  Divine  power?*— Bens.  9.  The 
 receipt  of  custom,  *  the  custom  house,'  TtXujvtov,  'the  place  where  the 
 taxes  levied  by  the  Romans  of  the  Jews  were  collected.'— .^4.  Clarke. 
 '  At  the  toll  othce,'  probably  a  temporal  stall,  or  moveable  booth  j  we 
 have  not  any  reason  to  think  it  was  a  house.— Camp.  The  publicans 
 had  houses  or  booths  built  for  them,  at  the  foot  of  bridges,  at  the  mouth 
 of  rivers,  and  by  the  sea-shore,  where  they  took  toll  of  passengers  that 
 went  to  and  fro.  Thus  Matthew  was  sitting  in  a  toll-booth,  near  the 
 sea-shore,  to  receive  the  toll  of  passengers  that  came  or  went  in  ships 
 or  boats.— GiV/.  Sinjiers,  men  of  unlawful  callings  were  considered 
 by  the  Jews  as  profane. — Grot.  Dicers,  usurers,  plunderers,  hog- 
 dealers,  fiC.—Lightf.  10.  In  the  house,  not  the  toll-house  that  he 
 had  quitted,  but  Matthew's  own  house,  where  he  made  a  great  feast 
 for  him,  as  Luke  says,  to  testify  his  sense  of  his  grace,  and  that  other 
 publicans  and  sinners  might  hear  him.— Gi7/.  II.  Publicans  and 
 sinners,  the  Jews  made  no  difference  between  them,  (Luke,  vii.  34; 
 XV.  2.)— Mar.  12.  The  whole,  ^c.,  proverbial ;  the  Pharisees  counted 
 themselves  righteous,  and  despised  others. — Keyw.  13.  What  that 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  I.  We  here  see,  \.  Man's 
 misery.  Sin  has  exposed  his  body  to  pains  and  diseases,  the 
 forerunners  of  deatli  ;  and  devils  themselves  torment  the 
 spirit.  The  elements  combine  also  to  effect  our  destruction, 
 and  all  things  are  in  arms  against  the  transgressors  of  God's  law. 
 
 II.  Man's  Deliverer.  We  here  see  the  leper  cleansed — the 
 paralytic  healed — the  burning  fever  subdued — and  the  devils 
 1002 
 
 cast  out,  at  his  word  ;  nor  winds,  nor  waves,  dared  to  resist 
 his  authority,  for  when  he  who  created  them  '  rebuked  the 
 winds  and  the  sea,  there  was  a  great  calm.'  Strong  Deliverer ! 
 we  come  to  thee  with  our  worst  sicknesses  and  our  vilest 
 disease,  and  look  to  that  precious  virtue  which  flows  Irom  thee 
 as  the  fountain  of  life  and  blessedness,  that  we  may  '  not  perish 
 but  have  everlasting  life.* 
 
Christ  defendeth  his  disciples. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  IX. 
 
 He  giveth  sight  to  two  blind  men. 
 
 '  I  will  have  mercy,  and  not  sacrifice  :  for  I  am 
 not  come  to  call  the  righteous,  ''  but  sinners  to 
 repentance. 
 
 14  1  Then  came  to  him  the  disciples  of  John, 
 saying.  '  Why  do  we  and  the  Pharisees  fast 
 oft,  but  thy  disciples  fast  not? 
 
 15  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Can  "*  the 
 children  of  the  bridechamber  mourn,  as  long 
 as  the  bridegroom  is  with  them?  but  the  days 
 will  come,  when  the  bridegroom  shall  be  taken 
 from  them,  and  "  then  shall  they  fast. 
 
 16  No  man  putteth  a  piece  of  ||  new  clotii 
 unto  an  old  garment,  for  that  which  is  put  in 
 to  fill  it  up  taketh  from  the  garment,  and  tlie 
 rent  is  made  worse, 
 
 17  Neither  do  men  put  new  wine  into  old 
 bottles :  else  the  bottles  break,  and  the  wine 
 runneth  out,  and  the  bottles  perish  :  but  they 
 put  new  wine  into  new  bottles,  and  both  are 
 preserved. 
 
 18  t"  While  he  spake  these  things  unto 
 them,  behold,  there  came  a  certain  ruler,  and 
 worshipped  him,  saying.  My  daughter  is  even 
 now  dead :  but  come  and  lay  thy  hand  upon 
 her,  and  she  shall  live. 
 
 19  And  Jesus  arose,  and  followed  him,  and 
 so  did  his  disciples. 
 
 20  t  ■' And,  behold,  a  woman,  which  was  dis- 
 eased with  an  issue  of  blood  twelve  years, 
 came  behind  /i/w,  and  touched  the  hem  of  his 
 garment: 
 
 21  For  she  said  within  herself.  If  I  may  but 
 touch  his  garment,  I  shall  be  whole. 
 
 22  But  Jesus  turned  him  about,  and  when  he 
 saw  her,  he  said,  Daughter,  be  of  good  com- 
 fort ;  ''  thy  faith  liath  made  thee  whole.  And 
 the  woman  was  made  whole  from  that  hour. 
 
 23  ''  And  when  Jesus  came  into  the  ruler's 
 house,  and  saw  '  the  minstrels  and  the  people 
 making  a  noise, 
 
 24  He  said  unto  them,  '  Give  place  :  for  the 
 maid  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth.     And   they 
 
 A.  D.  31. 
 
 I   Hos,  6.  IJ. 
 
 Mio  6.6,7, 
 
 S  ch.  12.  7, 
 k  I  Kill.  1. 
 
 15. 
 ;  MiirkC  IS, 
 
 &c.  Luke8, 
 
 IB.  12. 
 m  John  S.29. 
 
 n  Acts  13.2, 
 3,  &  14.  SS 
 1  Cor.  7.  5. 
 
 0  Miirk  5  25, 
 SfC.  Luke  8. 
 41,  &c. 
 
 t>  MAik  5.55. 
 l.ukc  S.  W, 
 
 q  Liike7.S0. 
 
 fa  H.  'IS,  & 
 17.  1!'.  St  18. 
 
 T  Mark  5.38. 
 
 Lukefi.  51. 
 a  See  2  Clir. 
 
 35.  25. 
 /Acts  20.10. 
 
 (  ch.  15.  22, 
 &  20.  30,31, 
 Mark  10.47, 
 48  Luke  IB. 
 39,  39. 
 
 irMaik?  36. 
 
 :  See  ell.  12 
 22.  Luke  II. 
 
 cli.  12.  24. 
 
 Maik  .1.  2-2. 
 
 Luke  ll.l.'i. 
 ii  ULirk  6.  0, 
 
 Lukel3.22. 
 c  cli.4.  23. 
 
 I  Or,  xoerx 
 tired  and  lay 
 
 >  Nu.  27.  17. 
 I  Ki,22. 17- 
 Ezek.  34.  5. 
 Zech.  10.  2. 
 /Lake  10.2. 
 Jolin  4.  35. 
 
 laughed  him  to  scorn. 
 
 23  But  when  the  people  were  put  forth,  he 
 went  in,  and  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  the 
 maid  arose. 
 
 26  And  II  the  fame  hereof  went  abroad  into 
 all  that  land. 
 
 27  H  And  when  Jesus  departed  thence,  two 
 blind  men  followed  him,  crying,  and  saying, 
 "  Thoii  son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  us. 
 
 28  And  when  he  was  come  into  the  house, 
 the  blind  men  came  to  him  :  and  Jesus  saith 
 unto  them.  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do 
 this?     Tliey  said  unto  him.  Yea,  Lord. 
 
 29  Then  touched  he  their  eyes,  saying,  Ac- 
 cording to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you. 
 
 30  And  their  eyes  were  opened  ;  and  Jesus 
 straitly  charged  them,  saying,  *  See  that  no 
 man  know  it. 
 
 31  ^  But  they,  when  they  were  departed, 
 spread  abroad  his  fame  in  all  that  country. 
 
 32  IT  ^  As  they  went  out,  behold,  they  brought 
 to  him  a  dumb  man  possessed  with  a  devil. 
 
 33  And  when  the  devil  was  cast  out,  the 
 dumb  spake  :  and  the  multitudes  marvelled, 
 saying.  It  was  never  so  seen  in  Israel. 
 
 34  But  the  Pharisees  said,  "  He  casteth  out 
 devils  through  the  prince  of  the  devils. 
 
 35  ^'  And  Jesus  went  about  all  the  cities  and 
 villages,  "^  teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and 
 preaching  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and 
 healing  every  sickness  and  every  disease 
 among  the  people. 
 
 36  H**  But  when  he  saw  the  multitudes,  he 
 was  moved  with  compassion  on  them,  because 
 they  II  fainted,  and  were  scattered  abroad,  ^  as 
 sheep  having  no  shepherd. 
 
 37  Then  saith  he  unto  his  disciples,  *"  The 
 harvest  truly  is  plenteous,  but  the  labourers 
 are  few  ; 
 
 38  ^  Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  har- 
 vest, that  he  will  send  forth  labourers  into  his 
 harvest. 
 
 meaneth,  Ti  cartv,  'what  that  is;'  a  phrase  used  by  the  Jews  when 
 they  were  about  to  explain  a  text  of  Scripture,  and  draw  an  argument 
 from  it ;  -study  it,  and  get  out  its  sense. —  Watson.  Mercy — iiot  siurijice, 
 i.  e.,  *  rather  tlian  sacrifice.'— fiwmg-.  This  idiom  is  very  common  in 
 the  Scriptures,  (comp.  Hos.  vi.  6;  Jer.  vii.  22.)— Dan.  Quoted  from 
 1  Sam.  XV.  22.  God  prefers  an  act  of  mercy  shewn  to  the  necessitous 
 to  any  act  of  relifjious  worship  to  which  the  person  might  be  called  at 
 that  time. — A.  Clarke.  The  words  mean,  '  I  will  have  mercy  rather 
 than  sacrifice.' — Whitby.  The  righteous,  those  who  were  so  in  their 
 own  opinion. — Gitl.  Here  mean,  not  the  Pharisees,  who  had  great 
 need  of,  and  were  called  to,  repentance,  (Luke,  xvi.  15  j  xviii.  9—12 ; 
 Matt.  iii.  8—10  ;  Rev.  iii.  17  ;)  but  the  sincerely  pious,  as  Job,  Zecba- 
 rias,  and  Elizabeth.— E/i/ciy,  Grot.,  and  Whitby.  14.  Fnst  oft,  we 
 
 and  the  Pharisees  are  stricter  than  thy  disciples. — Ba.r.  The  allusion 
 is  to  private  fasts,  such  as  John's  disciples  had  practised  on  account  of 
 their  master's  captivity,  and  the  Pharisees  were  accustomed  to  do,  in 
 obedience  to  the  commands  of  their  doctors. —G)-o(.,  Rosunm.  15.  Can 
 the  children,  fyc,  it  would  be  unseasonable  for  the  companions  of  a 
 bridegroom  to  fast  during  the  days  allotted  for  the  nuptials,  which  were 
 usually  spent  in  festivity  ;  but  if  any  calamity  tore  him  from  them, 
 their  feasting  would  be  turned  into  fasting.  In  like  manner,  it  would 
 be  improper  for  his  disciples  to  fast,  while  he  was  with  them,— ^fof^ 
 \6.New  cloth,  /lUKour  a-^i'a(pov, '  undressed  cloth.'— C(fm;j.  '  Unfulled  ;' 
 i.  e.,  unfinished  cloth.— IFiV.  17.  Old  bottles,  these  bottles  were  made 
 of  sitins,  and  therefore,  when  old,  could  not  be  easily  e.\tended,  and 
 were  consequently  more  ready  to  burst  by  the  fermentation  of  liquor. 
 — Dav.  18.  A  certain  ruler,  there  were  two  officers  in  the  synagogue, 
 — the  one,  the  bishop  or  overseer,  whose  office  was  to  take  out  the  book 
 of  the  law,  and  the  other,  to  appoint  those  who  should  read  it ;  the 
 latter  office  belonged  to  Jairus.— So  Clarke.  In  every  village  where 
 there  was  a  synagogue,  ten  men  were  constantly  obliged  to  attend 
 public  worship  ;  of  whom,  three  were  called  '  rulers.' — Gilpin.  Some 
 think  that  these  rulers  were  also  magistrates,  and  presided  over  courts 
 of  justice  in  their  several  cities,  which  were  subordinate  to  the  Sanhe- 
 drim,  or  great  council  at  Jerusalem. — T.  Scott.  Is  even  now  dead, 
 apTi  eTtXivrnerev,  *  was  just  now  dying,'  or  'is  by  this  time  dead.' — 
 A.  Clarke.  '  Is  even  now  dying.* — Watson.  It  means,  'she  was  so 
 ill  when  I  left  home,  she  must  be  dead  by  this  time.' — Wakefield. 
 20.  An  issue  of  blood  twelve  years,  a  flu.K  of  blood  of  long  standing  is 
 known  to  be  one  of  the  most  dangerous,  and  least  medicable,  of  all 
 
 disorders.  Touched  the  hem,  an  usual  mark  of  profound  respect  in  the 
 east,  both  then  and  now. — Bloomfield.  The  Turk  would  bring  us  pre- 
 sents when  he  met  us,  kneeling  and  kissing  the  hem  of  our  cloaks. — 
 Kvetyn^s  Memoirs,  vol.  i.  159.  Hem,  'fringe,*  which  the  Jews  were 
 commanded  to  wear  for  distinction,  (see  Num.  xv.  38;  Dent.  xxii.  12.) 
 —Sfunhupe.  Hem,  not '  fringe,'  as  it  would  have  been  had  he  assumed 
 the  dress  either  of  rank  or  sanctity. — Dav.  The  word  does  properly 
 signify  '  fringe,*  and  those  who  wanted  to  be  distinguished  became  so 
 by  wearing  the  fringe  broader  than  others. — Ed.  '  Fringe,'  not  hem. 
 — Doddr,  '  The  tuft  of  his  mantle.'  The  Jewish  mantle,  or  upper  gar- 
 ment, had  four  tufts  or  fringes,  one  at  each  corner,  whereat  was  sus- 
 pended a  tuft  of  threads  or  strings,  (see  Num.  xv.  37;  Deut.  xxii.  12.) 
 —Camp.  22.  Thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole,  as  an  instrumental 
 cause  J  not,  properly  speaking,  a  justifying  faith,  for  we  read  nothing 
 of  the  person's  repentance,  reliance  upon  Christ  for  salvation.  But 
 there  was  a  belief  in  his  Divine  power,  and  this  great  truth  was  what 
 Christ  aimed  at  as  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  preparatory  to  receiving 
 him  as  a  Saviour— a  truth  opposed  by  the  Jews. — Poole.  The  power  of 
 Christ  was  the  efficacious  cause  of  the  woman's  recovery  ;  but  her 
 faith,  by  inducing  her  to  apply  to  him,  secured  to  her  that  benefit  from 
 which  unbelief  excluded  many. — Scott.  23.  The  minstrels,  «rXnTaf, 
 'pipers,'  or  players  on  the  flute. — See  Wetstein.  Vocal  and  instru- 
 mental music  formed  part  of  the  means  of  expressing  sorrow  on  the 
 loss  of  friends.  Loud  and  doleful  sounds  rose  immediately  from  all 
 present  when  a  friend  died,  (Jer.  ix.  17— 22.)— I'wy.  24.  Is  not  dead, 
 but  sleepeth,  '  is  not  so  departed  that  she  shall  not  return.*— Ham. 
 They  laughed  him  to  scorn,  KaT^-jcKtov  avjou,  'they  ridiculed  him,' 
 [Kaja.  'intensive,*  ye\au>,  *!  laugh.']— r^xj'A-e.  27.  Tho7i  son    of 
 
 David,  have  mercy  on  vs,  hence  they  firmly  believed  Christ  was  the 
 Messiah,  for  the  son  of  David  was  a  known  character  of  the  Messiah 
 among  the  Jews. — Gilt.  30.  Straitly  charged  them,  €V£f3pifinaaro, 
 [from  €v  and  jBtufxaotxai,  '  to  roar,*  or  '  storm  with  anger,']  '  he  charged 
 them  on  pain  of  his  displeasure.* — A.  Clarke.  It  signifies  a  rational, 
 not  a  passionate,  earnestness  and  vehemence.— H«m.  No  man  know 
 it — see  chap.  viii.  4,  note.  36.  Fainted,  €K\€\vfj.cvoi,  the  word  de- 
 notes 'faintness,'  or  'weakness,'  caused  by  hunger  or  weariness.- 
 Bens.  Arid  were  scattered  abroad,  means,  '  exposed  to  continual 
 danger.*— .E/sner.  Having  no  shepherd,  *  they  had  no  pastor  after 
 God's  own  heart.' — Bens. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX I.  *  Whatan  Abniyhty  Saviour 
 
 have  we.'     He  knows  the  thoughts  of  men,  forgives  their  sins, 
 1003 
 
 opens  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  and  raisps  the  dead,  with  llio 
 majesty  and  authority  of  God. 
 
Christ  scndeth  out  his  twelve  apostles.  S.  MATTHEW,  X.         He  comforteth  them  against  persecution. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 I  Christ  scnJfth  out  fiis  twelve  apostles,  enabling  them 
 ivith  powur  to  do  mirachs.,  5  i/ivrth  them  their  charge, 
 teiicheth  them,  16  conifortet/i  them  againt^t  persecu- 
 tions :  40  and  promiscth  a  blessing  to  those  that  re- 
 ceive them. 
 
 A  ND  "when  he  had  called  unto  him  his 
 ■^  twelve    disciples,   he   gave    them   power 
 
 II  against  unclean  spirits,  to  cast  them  out, 
 and  to  heal  all  manner  of  sickness  and  all 
 manner  of  disease. 
 
 2  Now  tlie  names  of  the  twelve  apostles  are 
 these  ;  The  first,  Simon,  ''  who  is  called  Peter, 
 and  Andrew  his  brother;  James  the  son  of 
 Zebedee,  and  John  his  brother ; 
 
 3  PhiHp,  and  Bartholomew ;  Thomas,  and 
 Matthew  the  publican  ;  James  the  son  of  AI- 
 pharus,  and  Lebba^us,  wliose  surname  was 
 Thadda^us  ; 
 
 4  ^  Simon  the  Canaanite,  and  Judas  •'Iscariot, 
 who  also  betrayed  him. 
 
 5  Tliese  twelve  Jesus  sent  forth,  and  com- 
 manded them,  saying,  ^  Go  not  into  the  way  of 
 the  Gentiles,  and  into  anj/  city  of  •"  the  Sama- 
 ritans enter  ye  not ; 
 
 0  *^  But  go  rather  to  the ''lost  sheep  of  the 
 house  of  Israel. 
 
 7  *  And  as  ye  go,  preach,  saying, ''  The  king- 
 dom of  heaven  is  at  hand. 
 
 8  Heal  tiie  sick,  cleanse  the  lepers,  raise  the 
 dead,  cast  out  devils  :  'freely  ye  have  received, 
 
 I- 
 
 Q  MarV  3.1.% 
 14,  &  6.  7. 
 Luke  6,  13 
 
 c  I.uketi.lo. 
 Acts  I.  13. 
 
 -•  rh-  4     IS. 
 f  See  2  Kin. 
 
 17    L'4  John 
 
 ■i.  '?,  -Jn 
 i?cli.  13.  LM. 
 
 Aols  13.  -Ifl. 
 A  Is.  5».  6. 
 
 Jer.."0fi,l7. 
 
 Eiel*.  M.  5, 
 
 6,16.  1  Pot. 
 
 2.25. 
 
 i  Luke  9  S. 
 *  ch.  3.  2  «( 
 
 4.  17.  Luke 
 
 in.  9. 
 
 /  Acts  9.  18. 
 
 A.  D,  31. 
 
 mlSain.9.7. 
 Mark  6.  8. 
 Luke  9.3. & 
 ]i»  4.  Sc  W. 
 
 r:>. 
 
 II  Or,  Get. 
 
 II  Si-e  Mark 
 ti.S. 
 
 •)  Luke  10.7. 
 1  Cr.  9.  7, 
 fcc.  I  Tiin- 
 5.  18. 
 
 p  Luke  10.8. 
 
 r  Luke  to.  5. 
 •  Pfl.  35.  13. 
 
 »  MaikG.ll. 
 
 Luke  9.  5. 
 
 fc  to  10,  II. 
 /  Nell,  f>.  1.1. 
 
 Acts  l».£l. 
 
 &  14.  6. 
 
 u  eh.  11.  22, 
 
 24. 
 X  Liikolu.3 
 ^Itom.lO  19- 
 
 Fpli.  5.  15. 
 z  I  Cnr,  U. 
 
 ■20.  I'liil.  2. 
 
 ir.. 
 
 II  Or,  iimple. 
 a  ch.  '21.  9. 
 
 Miirk  1:^.9. 
 
 Luk.'l-2.n. 
 
 8c  al.  12 
 A  Acts  5.  .10. 
 c  Acta  12.  I. 
 
 &  ■2i.  10. 
 
 h  2^.  7,  2S 
 
 2Tim.M6. 
 rf  Mark  l-S. 
 
 II,  12,  13. 
 
 Luke  VJ.  II 
 
 &21.I1,  15. 
 
 freely  give. 
 
 9  ™  II  Provide  neither  gold,  nor  silver,  nor 
 "  brass  in  your  purses, 
 
 10  Nor  scrip  for  i/our  journey,  neither  two 
 coats,  neither  shoes,  nor  yet  f  staves  :  °  for  the 
 workman  is  worthy  of  his  meat. 
 
 11  ''And  into  whatsoever  city  or  town  ye 
 shall  enter,  enquire  who  in  it  is  worthy  ;  and 
 there  abide  till  ye  go  thence. 
 
 12  And  when  ye  come  into  an  house,  salute 
 it. 
 
 13  ^  And  if  the  house  be  worthy,  let  your 
 peace  come  upon  it :  'hut  if  it  be  not  worthy, 
 let  your  peace  return  to  you. 
 
 14  ^  And  whosoever  shall  not  receive  you, 
 nor  hear  your  words,  when  ye  depart  out  of 
 that  house  or  city,  ^  shake  off  the  dust  of  your 
 feet. 
 
 15  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  "  It  shall  be  more 
 tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrha 
 in  tlie  day  of  judgment,  than  for  that  city. 
 
 16  H  "^  Behold,  I  send  you  forth  as  sheep  in 
 the  midst  of  wolves  :  ^  be  ye  therefore  wise  as 
 serpents,  and  '  ||  harmless  as  doves. 
 
 17  But  beware  of  men:  for  "they  will  de- 
 liver you  up  to  the  councils,  and  ^  they  will 
 scourge  you  in  their  synagogues  ; 
 
 18  And  '^ye  shall  be  brought  before  go- 
 vernors  and  kings  for  my  sake,  for  a  testimony 
 against  them  and  the  Gentiles. 
 
 19  •■  But  when  they  deliver  you  up,  take  no 
 
 Chap,  X.  —  1.  He  gave  them  power — tins  could  not  proceed  from  a 
 mere  creature. — Afny.  This  is  tlie  grand  distinction  between  the  mira- 
 culous powers  of  Christ  and  those  of  his  apostles.  The  one  was  inhe- 
 rent in  himself,  the  other  was  expressly  communicated  by  him,  and 
 was  never  employed  but  as  his  power,  not  as  theirs  who  exercised  it. 
 —  Watson.  2.  Apostles,  airoayoXcov,  it  is  rarely  applied  to  any  but 
 those  whom  God,  or  one  representing  his  person,  as  the  chief  magis- 
 trate or  the  high  priest,  sends  on  business  of  importance.— C«wi;>.  It 
 means  *  ambassadors,' '  nuncio?^,'  or  '  envoys.' — Btoomf.  The  first- 
 Simon— Peter,  i.  e.,  first  in  order,  nnt  in  dignity  ;  for  Christ  seems  not 
 to  have  authorized  any  difference. — Rosenm.  This  apostle  is  called 
 Peter  to  distinguish  him  from  Simon  the  Can;mnite,  and  which  signi- 
 fies a  '  stone'  or  *  rock,'  in  allusion  to  the  object  of  his  faith,  and  the 
 steadiness  of  it.  The  name  is,  properly,  Simeon,  (see  Acts,  xv.  14,) 
 but  this  was  a  corruption  in  the  Jerusalem  dialect.— G(7/.  James, 
 'lamujSo^,  'Jacob,*  but  immemorial  custom  has  appro^jriated,  in  our 
 language,  the  name  James  to  the  two  aposUes. — Bens.  3.  James 
 the  son  of  Alphceus,  so  called  to  distinguish  him  from  James  the  son  of 
 Zebedee.  He  was  the  brother  of  our  Lord.  (Gal.  i.  19,)  and  is  called 
 James  the  less,  (Mark,  xv.  -lO.)— GiV/.  Lehbccus,  who  was  also  called 
 Judas,  or  Jude.  the  brother  of  James.— fien*.  4.  Simon  the  Ca- 
 
 naanite, so  called  to  distinguish  him  from  Simon  Peter, — Gill;  and 
 because  he  was  a  native  of  Cana.  Judas  Jscariot,  the  last  name  from 
 the  place  of  his  birth,  Iscarioth,  a  town  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.— Bens. 
 5.  Go  not  into  the  ivaij  of  the  Gentiles,  fyc.~-  this  mission  proceeded 
 from  Christ's  deeply-excited  compassion  for  the  neglected  and  perishing 
 condition  of  llie  Jewish  people;  so  that  tlieir  degradation  and  misery, 
 not  their  fancied  superiority,  were  implied  in  it. — Watson.  See  chap. 
 ix.  36,  &c.  God  would  send  the  gospel  first  to  the  Jews,  to  take  off 
 all  excuse  from  them,  and  that  their  obstinacy  in  rejecting  the  Mes- 
 siah might  manifestly  ai)pear.— G"i7/.  Samarila7is~the  inveterate  en- 
 mity which  the  Jews  bore  to  the  Samaritans  made  the  conversion  of 
 the  latter  improper  at  this  time,  as  it  would  have  laid  a  great  stum- 
 bling-block in  the  way  of  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  as  preachitig 
 now  to  the  Gentiles  would  also  have  done.  7.  Preach,  Kiipvo-ixeTc, 
 
 •proclaim,*  with  ardour  and  zeal,  as  becomes  my  heralds.  —  lint.<i. 
 8.  Hetil,  fyc,  to  confirm  and  recommend  their  doctrine.— Gt7/.  Freeh/ 
 give — this  rule  was  to  prohibit  making  a  gaiu  of  gotiiiaess.—  Watsun. 
 Take  no  reward,  as  did  the  exorcists  among  the  Jews.— See  Jos.  Antiq., 
 lib.  viii.  c.  11.  9-  In  your  purses,  ci?  rac  fwiuc  v^luiv,  'girdles.'  Their 
 purses  were  commonly  in  their  girdles.  10.  Scrip,  a  sort  of  large 
 bag,  in  which  those  who  journeyed  carried  their  provisions. — Mackn. 
 Neither  two  coats,  x(twvuv,  vests,  or  tunics. —  Watson.  Being  too  mag- 
 nificent or  superfluous.— Gi7^  Neither  shoes,  'vno6f)fiara,  may  mean 
 shoes  or  sandals.— See  Jones*  Lcr.  The  shoe  was  a  kind  of  short  boot ; 
 the  sandal  was  a  jiicce  of  strong  leather  or  wood,  fastened  to  the  sole 
 of  the  foot  w^ith  string. — Mackn.  Sandals  were  used  in  summer,  shoes 
 in  winter.— JJ /00m/.  Nor  yet  staves, '  not  more  than  one,  to  walk  with, 
 none  for  defence.'— GiW.  Probably  this  means,  any  one  of  them  that 
 had  a  statT  in  his  hand  might  take  it ;  but  as  for  those  who  were  walk, 
 iug  without  staves,  tliey  were  not  to  provide  them.— Bens.  As  dvo, 
 'two,'  applies  to  each  article,  it  may  be  better  rendered  'no  spare 
 
 coats,  shoes,  or  staves,'  as  it  would  be  absurd  to  represent  it  as  Christ's 
 order,  '  take  not  with  you  two  shoes.^—Muckn.  'Take  nut  another 
 pair  of  shoes  any  stronger  than  ordinary,  but  he  shod  just  as  you  are 
 with  sandals.'— Z)f'(Wr.  In  all  this.  Christ  had  regard  to  the  custom  of 
 the  people  of  the  cast,  who,  by  way  of  precaution,  took  all  these  things 
 among  their  packages  when  they  took  long  journeys.— jV'ir.  Of  his 
 meat,  Tfi?  jpotpt]';,  *  of  his  maintenance;'  it  includes  here  all  mainte- 
 nance, but  not  money. —  Watson.  11.  Is  ivorthij,  will  shew  you  hos- 
 pitality, and  treat  you  kindly.  —  B<imes.  The  same  word  in  the 
 Hebrew  signifies  '  to  be  worthy  and  give  alms,*  because  a  man  given 
 to  alms  was  reckoned  by  the  Jews  a  very  worthy  man.  There 
 abide,  'be  content  with  what  they  give  you,  and  do  not  seek  for 
 other  quarters.  —  G(7/.  Probably  means  liberal  and  bountiful  per- 
 sons, well  known  for  practising  hospitality  to  strangers,  which  was 
 generally  a  good  indication  of  moral  worth. —  Watson.  Anciently 
 they  had  not  house?  uf  entertainment  as  we  have,  but  it  was  com- 
 mon for  persons  of  humane  dispositions,  such  as  our  Lord  here  calls 
 a^toi,  'worthy  persons,'  to  entertain  strangers  according  to  their 
 ability,  (see  Judg.  xix.  \5— 21.)— Mackn.  12.  Saluteit — the  commun 
 Jewish  salutation  was,  *  Peace  be  to  this  house.' — Camp.  See  Luke, 
 X.  5.  13.  If  the  hoitse  be  worthy,  '  if  the  family  be  hospitable.*— GJ//. 
 Let  your  peace  return  to  pou,  a  Hebraism  ;  prayer  not  answered  is  said 
 to  return  'into  the  bosom.'  They  were  to  withdraw  a  benediction, 
 which  could  only  be  pronounced  in  Christ's  name,  and  he  engages  to 
 ratify  their  act. —  Watson.  H.  Receive  you,  signifies  'to  entertain 
 one  hospitably,'  (Hen.  x:.  31  ;  James,  ii.  25,)  '  to  do  him  good  offices,' 
 Sec,  (Luke,  XV.  2.) — Mackn.  Shoke  off  the  dust — the  Jews  would  not 
 suffer  herbs  to  be  brought  out  of  an  heathen  country  into  the  land  of 
 Israel,  lest  dust  should  be  brought  with  them.  By  this  action  they 
 would  signify  that  they  looked  upon  them  as  impure  and  unholy,  as 
 any  lieathen  city  or  country.- Gi//.  15.  Mure  tolerable— Sodmn  and 
 Gomon-ha — '  the  people  of  those  cities  never  sinned  against  socli  extra- 
 ordinary  light,  and  such  singular  favours,  as  they  will  do  who  reject 
 the  gospel  now  to  be  preached  to  them,  with  great  plainness  and  power 
 by  you,  and  attested  by  such  miracles.'  i(i.  Wise  as  serpents,  '  do 
 
 not  irritate  your  opposers.' — Bens.  '  Do  not  fanatically  court  persecu- 
 tion,  but,  by  a  timely  foresight,  prudently  escape,  as  the  serpent  does, 
 from  danger.'— Wn(Aon.  Harmless  as  doves,  '  let  not  your  prudence 
 degenerate  into  craft.'— Bens.  The  expression  was,  probably,  prover- 
 bial.—H'rt^so».  To  be  sharpsighted  as  a  serpent,  was  a  proverb  among 
 the  Greeks  and  Romans.  17.  Beivare  of  men,  the  men  of  the  world. 
 —Doddr.  The  councils,  or  Sanhedrim.— Gi7^  Scourge  you  in  their 
 synagogues— here  the  Jews  held  their  courts  of  judicature,  both  civil 
 and  ecclesiastical.— LtgA//.  Some  part  of  the  synagogue  was  used  for 
 chastising  those  guilty  of  heresy,  (Acts,  xxii.  10-)  According  to  some 
 learned  [nen,  there  was  in  every  synagogue  a  council  of  three  judges, 
 who  had  the  power  of  ordering  the  punishment  of  scourging.— BeH»- 
 sobre.  18.  For  a  testimony  against  t Item,  eir  p.np^vptov  outoic,  'to 
 bear  testimony  to  thera.'— C'/rmp.  'To  render  testinrony  to  the  Jews 
 and  to  the  Gentiles  of  the  truth  of  my  gospel,'  (Luke,  xxi.  13  ;  Acts, 
 i.  8.)— Jl/«r.  19.  Take  no  thought,  fin  fxip(Hvy\anTt,  *  be  notanxious.* 
 — Bp.  Pearce,  so  Junes,  Gr.  Lex. 
 
 II.  '  How  condescending  was  Jesus .'  He  called  Matthew  the  witness  the  miracles  of  our  Lord,  and  yet  consider  him  a  hlas- 
 publican,  and  was  ready  to  receive  sinners,  that  he  might  in-  phemer !  While  to  such  persons  Jesus  proved,  and  ever  will 
 struct  and  save  them.  prove,  a  stumbling-block,  to  the  humble,  obedient  disciple  lio 
 
 III,  '  How  blinded  by  prejudice  must  they  have  been  who  coul^    will  be  the  object  of  admiration,  coniidence,  and  joy.'  ^ 
 
 1004 
 
Christ's  charye  tu  his  apostles. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  X. 
 
 A  blessing  ])romiscd. 
 
 thought  how  or  what  ye  shall  speak  :  for  °  it 
 shall  be  given  you  hi  that  same  hour  what  ye 
 shall  speak. 
 
 ■JO  '  For  it  is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Spirit 
 of  your  Father  which  speaketh  in  you. 
 
 '21  ^  And  tlie  brother  shall  deliver  up  the 
 brother  to  death,  and  the  father  the  child  : 
 and  the  children  shall  rise  up  against  their 
 parents,  and  cause  them  to  be  put  to  death. 
 
 •2-2  And  '■  ye  shall  be  bated  of  all  men  for  my 
 name's  sake:  'but  he  that  endureth  to  the 
 end  shall  be  saved. 
 
 23  But  '^  when  they  persecute  you  in  this 
 city,  flee  ye  into  another  :  for  verily  I  say 
 unto  you.  Ye  shall  not  ||  have  gone  over  the 
 cities  of  Israel,  '  till  the  Son  of  man  be 
 come. 
 
 21  "'  The  disciple  is  not  above  his  master, 
 nor  the  servant  above  his  lord. 
 
 'J.3  It  is  enough  for  the  disciple  that  he  be  as 
 his  master,  and  the  servant  as  his  lord.  If 
 "they  have  called  the  master  of  tlie  house 
 t  Beelzebub,  how  much  more  shall  they  call 
 thein  of  bis  houshold  ? 
 
 2(i  Fear  them  not  therefore  :  °  for  there  is 
 nothing  covered,  that  shall  not  be  revealed  ; 
 and  hid,  that  shall  not  be  known. 
 
 27  What  I  tell  you  in  darkness,  that  speak 
 ye  in  light :  and  what  ye  hear  in  the  ear,  that 
 preach  ye  upon  the  housetops. 
 
 28  ''  And  fear  not  them  which  kill  the  body, 
 but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul :  but  rather 
 fear  him  whicli  is  able  to  destroy  both  soul 
 and  body  in  bell. 
 
 2!)  Are  not  two  sparrows  sold  for  a  ||  farthing  ? 
 and  one  of  them  shall  not  fall  on  the  ground 
 without  your  Father. 
 
 A.  D.  31. 
 
 A.  D.  31. 
 
 0  Kx,  4.  12. 
 
 q  I  S.iiti.  M. 
 
 Jlt.  t.  7. 
 
 ■l-i.  2  H;mi. 
 
 II  ll.I,uko 
 
 /•>.S:im.  2.1. 
 
 21,  IH,  Acts 
 27.  31. 
 
 2. Acts  4.  8. 
 
 f<  Ti    10. 
 
 r  Luke  12,8. 
 
 2Tiin  4.17. 
 
 Ktun.  10.  y, 
 
 g  Mio   7.  6. 
 
 1(1. 
 
 ver.  A5,  36. 
 
 *  Kev.  3.  5. 
 
 Liike-'LIG. 
 
 (niiukS.^S. 
 
 L.iKu  y  2fi. 
 
 2Tim.2  12. 
 
 /.LiikL'?l-17. 
 
 .Dan.  12. 1-;. 
 
 r.  Luke  12.19, 
 
 l.ich.2+,  13. 
 
 51,  52,  B3. 
 
 Mii,ikl3.13. 
 
 h  eh.  2.  13. 
 
 &  i.  12.  & 
 
 \1.  15.  Acta 
 
 SI.  Si  9,  25. 
 
 X  Mic.  7.  6, 
 
 &  U.  G. 
 
 llOr.  e/,</,  or. 
 
 li'ihh. 
 
 I  c\\.  16.  2S. 
 
 j«I.'ike6.40. 
 
 V  Ps    .11    9. 
 
 J..I.I1  13.16. 
 
 S<  .'i.i.  13. 
 
 &  \b.  20. 
 
 Mic.  7.  Ij. 
 
 John  13.  18. 
 
 I  LukeU.26. 
 
 n  eh.  12.  21. 
 
 M.ivk  3.  22 
 
 Liikell.l.V 
 
 JuhnS. -If), 
 
 52. 
 t  Gr.Beehc- 
 
 but. 
 0  Mark  4.22. 
 
 Luko  8.  17. 
 
 &  12.  S,  .S. 
 
 ..  rli.  IR.  2t. 
 
 Mark  3.  34. 
 LiiUe  9.  23. 
 
 &  11-  27. 
 b  ch.  16.  25 
 Liik^  17.33. 
 John  12,25 
 
 c  ch. IS.  5. 
 
 p  Is.8.12,  (3, 
 
 Luke  9   48. 
 
 Luke  12    4 
 
 &  10.  le. 
 
 I   Pi't.;f.  U. 
 
 J..hn  12.44.. 
 
 11  It  u  .-. 
 
 &  13.  20. 
 
 v<ll<l>^  Imlf- 
 
 Gal   4.  14. 
 
 peni'ii  f,ir- 
 
 d  1  Kin,  17. 
 
 thiui)  i„  the 
 
 10.  &  18.  4 
 
 (iri'jiiial,  nt 
 
 2  Kin  4.  8 
 
 bei'ii-  the 
 
 (•••ktfi  Jiarl  of 
 
 the  R.n,an 
 
 f  ch  S.  5,  e 
 
 yiit'iii  :   St?e 
 
 &  25.  4U. 
 
 nu  Ch.    IH. 
 
 Mark  9.  41 
 
 2S. 
 
 Hull.  0.  1(1. 
 
 30  "*  But  the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all 
 numbered. 
 
 31  Fear  ye  not  therefore,  ye  are  of  more 
 value  than  many  sparrows. 
 
 32  '  Whosoever  therefore  shall  confess  me 
 before  men,  Miim  will  I  confess  also  before  my 
 Father  which  is  in  heaven. 
 
 33  ^  But  whosoever  shall  deny  me  before 
 men,  him  will  I  also  deny  before  my  Father 
 which  is  in  heaven. 
 
 34  "  Think  not  that  I  am  come  to  send  peace 
 on  earth  :  I  came  not  to  send  peace,  but  a 
 sword. 
 
 35  For  I  am  come  to  set  a  man  at  variance 
 ^  against  his  father,  and  the  daughter  against 
 her  mother,  and  the  daughter  in  law  against 
 her  motlier  in  law. 
 
 35  And  ''a  man's  foes  shall  be  they  of  his 
 own  houshold. 
 
 37  *  He  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more 
 than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me  :  and  he  that 
 loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than  me  is  not 
 worthy  of  me. 
 
 38  '^  And  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross,  and 
 foUoweth  after  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me. 
 
 39  "  He  that  findeth  his  life  shall  lose  it  : 
 and  lie  that  loseth  his  life  for  my  sake  shall 
 find  it. 
 
 40  1[  *^  He  that  receiveth  you  receiveth  me, 
 and  he  that  receiveth  me  receiveth  him  that 
 sent  me. 
 
 41  ^  He  that  receiveth  a  prophet  in  the  name 
 of  a  prophet  shall  receive  a  prophet's  reward  ; 
 and  he  that  receiveth  a  righteous  man  in  the 
 name  of  a  righteous  man  shall  receive  a  righ- 
 teous man's  reward. 
 
 42  "  And  wliosoever  shall  give  to  drink  unto 
 
 •20.  Speakith  in  ynti,  or  *  by  you.'— (?ro/(Hs.  What  they  should  say 
 was  not  to  be  dictated  by  their  own  spirit  or  natural  understanding:, 
 but   by   the    spirit   of    God.— Gill.  21.    Chi/dreri    shall    rise    vp, 
 
 religious  hatred  should  sever  the  tcnderest  bonds  of  natural  affec- 
 tion. —  Watso7i.  22.  Thiit  cvdiireth,  vTro/ieivM,  the  word  implies 
 not  only  *  suffering-,'  but  *  buing  tried,'  and  •  standing  the  trial 
 as  gold  docs  the  fire.'— W/iit ft i/.  To  the  end,  may  respect  either 
 the  end  and  time  of  life,  or  the  destructiou  of  Jerusalem.— Gf7^  Saved 
 —  he  that  maintains  a  constant,  persevering  adherence  to  Christ, 
 in  spite  of  persecution,  will  ad()pt  the  most  probable  course  to  escape, 
 in  the  event,  not  tmly  eternal  wrath,  but  even  present  destruction  here. 
 — Hum.  23.  Five  ye  into  another,  xwA  so  much  for  their  own  safety, 
 but  fur  the  further  spreading  of  the  gospel.— Gi/^  Ye  shall  jwt  have 
 gone  o»er  the  cities,  ou  fj.tj  xeAco-uTe  Tat  ttoAcip,  *  ye  shall  not  end  or 
 finish  the  cities,'  inarg.  '  Ve  shall  not  have  accomplished  your  mission,' 
 &c. —  Watson.  24.  The  disriple.  ^-c,  a  proverbial  expression  among 
 
 the  Hebrews. — Hnnimond.  '  U  I,  the  roaster,  endure  persecutions,  you, 
 the  servants,  should  not  expect  to  escape  better.'  —  Su/niiel  Clarke. 
 25.  Beetzefitcfi—see  2  Kings,  i.  2,  note.  They  called  Christ,  in  fact,  a 
 devil — a  child  devil,  which  was  not  so  much  a  name  of  jeering  con- 
 tempt as  of  deep  malignant  blasphemy.— ir^^A^on.  26.  Thtre  is  no- 
 thing cohered  that  shall  not  he  revealed,  fear  not  their  calumnies,  for 
 their  wickedness  and  your  innocence  shall  not  always  be  concealed.— 
 Miickn.  A  proverbial  expression.  The  truth  cannot  be  extinguished. 
 — Bloom/.  27.  Darkness,  here  means  *  privacy.' — Watson.  In  the 
 light,  open  and  publicly, — Gill.  Hear  in  the  car,  ^c,  this  allusion  is  to 
 a  practice  in  the  Jewish  synagogues  :  after  the  return  from  tlie  captivity, 
 the  pure  Hebrew  was  no  longer  the  vernacular  tongue  of  the  Jews,  yet 
 the  law  continued  to  be  read  in  that  language  ;  and,  as  the  doctor  resd 
 it  in  a  soft  voice,  the  int<;rprcter  of  the  synagogue,  called  Targumista, 
 pronounced  it  aloud  in  the  common  dialect.  Upon  the  hmisetops,  the 
 Jewish  houses  hud  flat  roofs,  from  which  proclamations  were  made  to 
 the  people.  Our  Lord  intimates,  a  public  official  proclamation  was  to 
 be  made  of  the  gospel- — Wntson.  29.  Tivo  sparroivs,  thought  to 
 allude  to  the  two  birds  used  in  cleansing  the  lepers,  (Lev.  xiv.  4,)  one 
 was  killed,  and  the  other  let  loose,  and  this  was  not  contingent  with 
 God.  —  (till.  A  farthi/ig,  about  three  farthings  of  our  money.  — 
 Schteiisner.  30.  The  vert/  hairs,  ^-c,  a  proverbial  expression,  shew- 
 ing God's  perfect  knowledge  and  care  uf  ail  his  creatures. — Gill. 
 32.  Confess  me,  the  Saviour  means  that  his  disciples,  when  occasi^-n 
 demands,  should  own  their  religion,  and  stand  by  it. — Seeker.  The 
 confession  here  intended  seems  e>pecially  to  relate  to  a  confession  of 
 Christ  by  his  ministers  in  the  public  preaching  of  the  gospel. — Gill. 
 34.  Peace  vn  earth,  tin  Tni-  I'lf,  '  on  this  land.' — Doddr.  The  expecta- 
 tion of  the  Jews  was,  that  when  the  Messiah  should  come,  all  temporal 
 prosperity  should  be  accumulated  on  the  land  of  Judea  ;  but  the  import 
 of  our  Lord's  teaching  here  is,  *  do  not  imagine  that  I  am  come  to  send 
 forth,  {i3jL\\fti,)  by  forcing  out  the  It  iman  power,  that  temporal  pros- 
 100  J 
 
 perity  which  the  Jews  long  for;  I  am  come  to  send  forth  the  Roman 
 sword,  to  cut  off  a  disobedient  and  rebellious  nation.'  From  the  time 
 they  rejected  the  Messiah,  the  Jews  were  a  prey  to  the  most  cruel  and 
 destructive  factions.— C/wrfre.  Those  who  refer  this  to  the  Roman 
 sword,  which,  about  forty  years  after  Christ's  ascension,  desolated 
 Judca,  forcibly  break  oflF  the  w^rds  from  tht-ir  connexion.  From  the 
 persecutions  which  our  Lord  predicted  should  be  excited  against  his 
 religion,  he  proceeds  to  declare  the  dissensions  of  which,  through  the 
 guilty  passions  <if  men,  it  should  be  the  innocent  occasion.— If «/s/>n; 
 so  Seeker,  Portnis,  Keyw.  But  a  sword,  may  be  meant  the  gospel, 
 which  is  the  means  of  divisions,  persecutions,  &c. ;  and  tbrmigh  the 
 malice  and  wickedness  of  men,  the^^e  were  eventually  the  efTect  and 
 consequence  of  Christ's  coming.— GiV/.  35.  /  came  to  set  a  man  at 
 variance,  §-c.,  our  Inrd  expresses  not  the  design  of  his  coming,  but  what 
 would  be  the  event  and  cnnscqucnce  of  it.—Bnothr.  38.  His  cross, 
 
 there  is  an  allusion  here  to  the  custom  of  the  Romans,  who  obliged 
 criminals  to  bear  the  cross,  on  which  they  were  to  suflFcr,  to  the  place 
 of  execution.- il/wcA*n.  The  cross  here  means  all  sorts  of  afflictions. — 
 Gill.  It  stand>  for  death  in  its  most  fr-ghtful  and  ignominir)us  forms, 
 but  includes  all  other  minor  sufferings  to  be  endured  for  the  truth  ;  the 
 words  had,  therefore,  probably,  a  prophetic  reference  to  the  manner  of 
 Christ's  death,  and  implied  that  those  who  would  not  follow  him  to  die 
 for  the  truth,  were  not  worthy  of  him. —  Watson  and  Btooinf.  39.  He 
 that  findeth,  i^c,  an  instnnce,  anmrgst  oth-rs,  nf  that  enigmatical 
 manner  of  speaking  ofrcn  adopted  by  nur  Lord,  especially  when  he 
 uses  strong  antitheses.— TTw^voH.  The  passage  alludes  to  the  Chris- 
 tians saving  tliL-ir  lives  by  leaving  Jerusalem  in  the  last  siege  of  that 
 place  by  the  Romans,  and  the  .Tews  losing  theirs  by  crowding  into  it. 
 —Ham.  The  beauty  and  energy  of  Christ's  discourse  in  a  parallel 
 place  (Matt.  xvi.  24—26,)  would  be  quite  lost  were  we  to  interpret  the 
 passage  of  the  escape  of  Christians  from  Jerusalem  :  and,  indeed,  many 
 Christians  had  actually  lost  their  lives  for  the  gospel  many  years  before 
 that  siege  commenced.— Ocrfrfc.  The  passage  means,  *  he  who,  through 
 the  fear  of  man,  preserves  his  life  and  temporal  advantages  at  the  ex- 
 pense of  his  religion,  conscience,  and  regards  to  me,  shall  lose  the  bles- 
 sing and  true  comfort  thereof,  if  not  the  things  themselves,  and  shall  fall 
 short  of  eternal  happiness.'  Shall  find  it,  find  real  happiness  therein,  and 
 he  graciously  rewarded  with  everlasting  life  in  the  world  to  come.— 
 J.  Brown.  41.  A  prophet  in  the  name  of  a  prophet,  '  a  teacher  of 
 Christianity,  on  account  of  his  cifficc  and  out  of  regard  to  it.'— Bishop 
 Pearce,  Gill.  A  prophet's  retvard,  from  the  prophet  himself  in  inter- 
 preting the  Scriptures  to  him.  he,  and  future  blessedness.- Gi/^  A 
 reward  proportioned  to  the  office  which  is  held  by  him  who  is  received, 
 and  which  he  that  receives,  honours.  The  allusion  may  be  to  the 
 benefits  derived  by  some  from  the  visits  of  Elijah  and  Klisha,  not  to 
 similar  rewards,  but  still  great  ones.  A  righteous  man,  a  private 
 Christian,  who  bears  not  the  office  of  a  minister  of  Ciirist.— W^rtAso?*. 
 42.  Little  ones,  one  of  the  meanest  of  my  disciules.- M-Voi/ty.  Referring 
 
John  sendetk  his  disciples  to  Christ. 
 
 S.MATTHEW,  XI. 
 
 ChrisCs  testimony  concealing  Juhn 
 
 one  of  these  little  ones  a  cup  of  cold  ivater 
 only  in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  verily  I  say 
 unto  you,  he  shall  in  no  wise  lose  his  re- 
 ward. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 2  John  sendeth  his  disciples  to  Christ.  iChrist^s  tesfi- 
 many  co7icerniinj  John.  18  The  opinion  of  the  people, 
 both  concerning  John  mid  Christ.  20  Christ  up- 
 braideth  the  unthcnikfulness  and  unrcpentance  of 
 Chorazin,  Bcthsitida,  and  Capernaum :  25  and 
 praising  his  leather's  wisdom  in  revealing  the  gospel 
 to  the  simple,  28  he  calleth  to  him  all  such  as  fed  the 
 burden  of  their  sins. 
 
 AND  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  had  made 
 an  end  of  commanding  his  twelve  dis- 
 ciples, he  departed  thence  to  teach  and  to 
 preach  in  their  cities. 
 
 2  *  Now  when  John  had  heard  ^  in  the  prison 
 the  works  of  Christ,  he  sent  two  of  his  dis- 
 ciples, 
 
 3  And  said  unto  him,  Art  thou  ^  he  that 
 should  come,  or  do  we  look  for  another? 
 
 4  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Go 
 and  shew  John  again  those  things  which  ye  do 
 hear  and  see  : 
 
 3  '^  The  blind  receive  their  sight,  and  the 
 lame  w'alk,  the  lepers  are  cleansed,  and  the 
 deaf  hear,  the  dead  are  raised  up,  and  *  the 
 poor  have  the  gospel  preached  to  them. 
 
 6  And  blessed  is  he,  wliosoever  shall  not  •"  be 
 offended  in  me. 
 
 7  H  ^  And  as  t!iey  departed,  Jesus  began  to 
 say  unto  the  multitudes  concerning  John, 
 What  went  ye  out  into  the  wilderness  to  see  ? 
 
 a  Luke  7-18, 
 
 19,  fco. 
 b  eh.  It.  3. 
 
 c  Gen.  49.11) 
 
 Nu.  24    17. 
 
 Uan.  9.  2i, 
 
 John  6.  14, 
 d  Is.  29.  Id. 
 
 &  S5.  4,6,  6. 
 
 fc  42.  7. 
 
 John  2,  23. 
 
 «£  3.  2.  fc  6. 
 
 :«,  &  lu.ys, 
 
 38.  &  H.  II. 
 e  Ps.  -22    S6. 
 
 Is,  f>I.  I. 
 
 Lak.-  4-  IS 
 
 Jam.  2.  b. 
 /Is.S.U,  15. 
 
 ch.13.  67.  & 
 
 24    ll'.&26. 
 
 31.  Rom.  9. 
 
 32,33.  I  Cor. 
 
 1.23  &  2.14. 
 
 Ual.  5.  II. 
 I  Pot.  2.  3 
 U  Luke  7.2*. 
 
 A.  D.  31. 
 h  Eph.4.  14 
 
 ch.l4   5 
 
 fc 
 
 ■^\   20. L 
 
 ikf 
 
 1.  76.  &7. 
 
 ?f> 
 
 M.-U.  3 
 
 \. 
 
 M.-iik  1 
 
 «. 
 
 Liikel 
 
 7«. 
 
 &  7.  27. 
 
 I  Ltiko  16.6. 
 
 II  Or,  ..ffo/- 
 tenliy  furcf, 
 and  ilicy  thai 
 thriiil  mm. 
 
 m  MaL  4.  fi. 
 
 n  MaL  4.  5. 
 
 ch.  17-  12. 
 
 Luke  I.  17. 
 i>  ch    13.  9. 
 
 Luke  8,  3. 
 
 Hl-v.2.7,II, 
 
 17. -iO   tl<3. 
 
 6,  13,  22. 
 p  Luke  7.31. 
 
 ^  A  reed  shaken  with  the  wind? 
 
 8  Rut  what  went  ye  out  for  to  see?  A  man 
 clothed  in  soft  raiment?  behold,  they  that  wear 
 soft  clothing  are  in  kings'  houses. 
 
 9  But  what  went  ye  out  for  to  see?  A  pro- 
 phet? yea,  I  say  unto  you,  'and  more  than  a 
 prophet. 
 
 10  For  this  is  he,  of  whom  it  is  written,  ''  Be- 
 hold, I  send  my  messenger  before  thy  face, 
 which  shall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee. 
 
 11  Verily  1  say  unto  you.  Among  them  that 
 are  born  of  women  there  hath  not  risen  a 
 greater  than  John  the  Baptist :  notwithstand- 
 ing he  that  is  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
 is  greater  than  he. 
 
 I  "2  '  And  from  the  days  of  John  the  Baptist 
 until  now  the  kingdom  of  heaven  [[  suffereth 
 violence,  and  the  violent  take  it  by  force. 
 
 13  '"  For  all  the  prophets  and  the  law  pro- 
 phesied until  John. 
 
 1-4  And  if  ye  will  receive  it,  this  is  "  Elias, 
 whicii  was  for  to  come. 
 
 15  °  He  that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him 
 hear. 
 
 10  1[^  But  whereunto  shall  I  liken  this  gene- 
 ration? It  is  like  unto  children  sitting  in  the 
 markets,  and  calling  unto  their  fellows, 
 
 17  And  saying.  We  have  piped  unto  yon, 
 and  ye  have  not  danced ;  we  have  mourned 
 unto  you,  and  ye  have  not  lamented. 
 
 18  For  John  came  neither  eating  nor  drink- 
 ing, and  they  say,  He  hath  a  devil. 
 
 19  The  Son  of  man  came  eating  and  drink- 
 ing, and  they  say,  Behold  a  man  gluttonous, 
 
 to  their  humble  condition. — Beza.  Refers  to  those  young  in  the  know- 
 ledge  of  the  gospel,  called  babes,  I  Cor.  iii.  i ,  Stc.~Bp.  Penrce,  Newc. 
 The  word  signifies,  like  the  Hebrew  rep.  both  a  'little  one,*  and  a 
 '  disciple.' — Kuinnd.  A  cup  of  etild  water,  an  acceptable  gift  to  the 
 thirsty  traveller  in  those  countries,  aud  often  not  easily  to  be  itrocured, 
 but  by  the  benevolence  of  hospitable  persons. —  Watson. 
 
 Chap.  X\.  —  2.John — in  the  prison,  put  there  by  order  of  Herod 
 Antipas,  for  reproving  him  for  taking  Herodias,  liis  brother  Philip's  wife, 
 (see  chap.  xiv.  Z.)—May.,  Gill.  The  juorks,  miracles  Christ  wrought. 
 —Gill.      Of  Christ,  *  the  Christ,'  or,  the  Messiah.— TTwrson.  3.  Art 
 
 thou  he,  3fc.,  Jolin  could  not  be  ignorant  of  this ;  he  had  seen  the  Spirit 
 descending,  ^c. ;  he  designed,  therefore,  that  his  disciples  might  have, 
 from  the  mouth  of  Christ,  a  full  and  satisfactory  answer,  which  should 
 attach  them  to  Christ,  now  he  was  about  to  leave  them. — Gill.  *  He 
 that  should  come'  was  one  title  of  the  Messiah,  (Ps.  cxviii.  26.) — 
 Biiofhr.  The  above  view  of  John's  message  is  also  that  of  Hammond, 
 Whithy,  Doddridge,  9iC. ;  but  others  think  John  had  some  doubts,  as  he 
 was  thrown  mto  jirison  and  not  delivered,  &c. ;  among  these  are 
 Light/.,  LeClerc,  Wetstein.  5.  The  hlind  receive,  ^c.,  as  predicted, 
 
 Isa.  XXXV.  5,  6.  The  poor,  §-e.— see  Isa.  Ixi.  I.  That  the  Jews  ex- 
 pected the  Messiah  to  perform  great  miracles  is  clear  from  Juhn,  vii. 
 31. —  Watson.  6.  Whosoever  shall  nut  he  offended  in  me,  09  hav  fin 
 tTKavSaXivOp  irv  efioi,  '  to  whom  I  shall  ntit  prove  a  stumbling-block.' 
 — Camp.  The  noun,  irKavduXov,  from  wliich  the  word  comes,  signifieR 
 '  a  trap,'  or  '  snare  ;'  '  a  sharp  stake,'  driven  into  the  ground  to  impede 
 the  march  of  an  enemy;  'a  stone,'  or  *  block,*  laid  in  a  path  to  cause 
 a  person  to  stumble  or  fall.  Tlie  metaphor  refers  either  to  that  which 
 gives  occasion  to  sin  and  unbelief,  or  is  made  so  byperversion,  or  that 
 which  acts  as  an  impediment  in  the  Christian  cause,  by  producing  dis- 
 couragement and  impatience.  7.  What  weiit  ye  out  into  the  wilder, 
 ness  to  see  ?  *  what  kind  of  man  did  you  find  in  the  wilderness  of  Jordan 
 when  you  went  out  in  multitudes  to  see  and  to  hear  John  ?'  A  reed, 
 Sfc,  yielding  to  every  gust,  like  the  reeds  on  the  banks  of  the  Jordan 
 where  he  baptized  ?  Tlie  question  implies  a  strong  negative. —  lK«^«o«. 
 •  You  did  not  go  to  see  a  man  wavering  in  his  testimony,  but  firm  and 
 constant.' — Whitby.  8.  A  man  rUithed  in  soft  rairnent  ?  *  some  flat- 
 tering courtier,  to  soothe  you  up  with  fair  speeches  ?' — Guyse.  9-  More 
 than  a  prophet,  for  the  prophets  prophesied  of  Messiah  at  a  distance  ; 
 John  the  Baptist  pointed  liim  out  with  his  finger,  and  declared  that  he 
 
 was  come  ;  he  saw  the  Spirit  descending  on  him,  and  he  liimsclf  bap- 
 tized him. — Gilt.  He  himself  was  the  subject  of  ancient  prophecies, 
 and  had  long  been  expected  by  the  people  of  God,  under  the  notion  of 
 Elias,  (see  Luke,  i.  17.)  His  conception  and  birth  had  been  accom- 
 panied with  miracles.— .fl/ac/fH.  He  excelled  in  everything  peculiar  to 
 a  prophet.  He  had  immediate  communication  with  God,  (John,  i.;i3.) 
 He  foretold  that  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  spoken  of  by  Daniel,  was  *  at 
 hand.'  He  pointed  out  the  Messiah  by  revelation.  He  declared  the 
 approaching  judgments  for  rejecting  him,  (Luke.  iii.  17  ;)  and  lie  was 
 the  Messiah's  harbinger,  sent  to  prepare  the  way  before  him,  (Mai.  iii.  I.) 
 — Bens.  See  ver.  lU.  11.  He  that  isleast — is  greater — the  least  pro- 
 phet or  teacher  of  the  full  and  perfected  dispensation  of  Christ,  is 
 greater  as  it  respects  his  office.— Watson.  It  chiefly  meansin  religious 
 knowledge,  for  Christ's  kingdom  was  not  properly  erected  till  the  Spirit 
 was  given,  who  enlightened  all  believers  more  fully  than  any  that  had 
 lived  before  them  ;  some  say,  '  greater  in  power  to  work  miracles,'  but 
 this  is  not  correct,  for  that  power  seems  to  have  been  conferred  only 
 on  certain  disciples. — Dav,  VI.  Suffereth   violence  —  jiia^i-rai,  the 
 
 allusion  here  is  to  a  siege,  and  the  figure  is  taken  from  the  rush  of  a 
 multitude  to  take  a  city  by  assault.—  iru^so/i.  It  is,  as  it  were,  attacked 
 by  violence,  like  a  besieged  city  ;  men  of  all  sorts  are  pressing  to  get 
 into  it,  andtheviolentseizeit  with  eagerness. —  ZJorfrfc.  13.  Prophesied 
 untiljohn, '  until  John,  the  law,  and  the  prophets,  raiiDiCTEntbe  king- 
 dom of  heaven,  the  spiritual  reign  ot  Messiah;'  but  John  ANNouxcKnit 
 to  be  at  hand.— IFfi/son.  14.  This  is  Elias,  ffc.,  John  is  the  Elias  of 
 
 Malachi,  to  prepare  the  way  of  Christ.  The  beUef  of  this  is  of  great 
 moment  to  your  faith.— iJaj.  15.  He  that  hath  ears,  ^c,  a  proverbial 
 formula,  by  which  attention  was  requested  to  things  of  serious  import. 
 — Bloomf.  17.  Piped,  ^c.  — the  allusion  is  to  little  children,  who 
 imitated  the  joyous  and  funeral  songs  of  their  parents  and  others,  wish- 
 ing their  playmates  to  join  them,  but,  through  peevishness  and  (ickte- 
 ness,  they  would  not  unite  in  cither.— See  Doddr.,  Gill.  The  words 
 mean,  the  body  of  the  Jews  now  living  are  so  senseless,  peevish,  and 
 perverse,  that  they  relish  no  form  of  instruction,  whether  mournful  or 
 cheerful. — J.  Brown.  18.  Neither  eating,  ^c,  signifying  great  ab- 
 stemiousness.— Bloomf.  He  hath  a  devil,  is  melancholy  through  the 
 influence  of  an  evil  spirit.  ig.  Came  eating,  fyc,  did  not  practise 
 the  mortifications  of  John. — Bens.  Went  to  feasts,  weddings,  ^c,  and 
 was  affable,  courteous,  &c.—GiU.     A  man  gluttonous,  ^c,  an  epica- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.  — This  chapter,  I.  (Varns  us  of 
 persecution  for  Christ's  .take.  This  test  the  primitive  Chris- 
 tiana had  to  endure  in  the  most  severe  manner.  Those  who 
 now  suffer  what  is  called  persecution  know  but  the  shadow  of 
 it,  while  they  felt  the  substance.  Let  us  bless  God  that  the 
 lines  are  fallen  to  us  in  such  pleasant  places,  and  let  us  be- 
 ware that  the  ease  with  which  we  practise  our  religion  does 
 not  lead  us  to  indifference  in  it ;  for  this  chapter  also — 
 
 II.  U^arns  us  of  the  coiiSe(/uencp.s  of  denying  Christ.  This  may 
 be  done  with  the  life  as  well  as  with  the  lip.  Those  who  con- 
 1006 
 
 form  to  tho  manners  and  customs  of  the  world,  deny  Christ 
 virtually,  as  much  as  those  who  say,  *  we  will  not  have  this 
 man  to  reign  over  us.'  If  we  will  be  Christ's  disciples,  we 
 must  take  up  our  cross,  and  deny  ourselves  the  pleasures  and 
 follies,  as  well  as  the  grosser  sins,  which  all  mark  us  with  the 
 badge  of  the  world  ;  andif  (Jod  calls  us  to  suffer,  we  must  be, 
 as  it  were,  transfixed  to  our  cross,  and  die  rather  than  deny 
 Christ.  Alas  !  '  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things'?'  There  is 
 an  answer,  '  ftly  grace  is  sufttcieut  for  thee,  for  my  strength 
 is  made  perfect  in  weakness.* 
 
Christ  upbraidelh  Chorazin, 
 
 S.MATTHEW,  XII. 
 
 He  reproveth  the  Pharisees. 
 
 and  a  winebibber,  ''  a  friend  of  publicans  and 
 sinners.  '  But  wisdom  is  justified  of  her  chil- 
 dren. 
 
 20  IT  '  Then  began  he  to  upbraid  the  cities 
 wherein  most  of  his  miglity  works  were  done, 
 because  they  repented  not : 
 
 '21  Woe  unto  thee,  Chorazin!  woe  unto  thee, 
 Bethsaida !  for  if  the  mighty  works,  which  were 
 done  in  you,  had  been  done  in  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
 they  would  have  repented  long  ago  '  in  sack- 
 cloth and  ashes. 
 
 22  But  I  say  unto  you,  "  It  shall  be  more 
 tolerable  for  Tyre  and  Sidon  at  the  day  of 
 judgment,  than  for  you. 
 
 23  And  thou,  Capernaum,  '  which  art  ex- 
 alted unto  heaven,  shalt  be  brought  down  to 
 hell :  for  if  the  mighty  works,  which  have  been 
 done  in  thee,  had  been  done  in  Sodom,  it 
 would  have  remained  until  this  day. 
 
 24  But  I  say  unto  you,  ''  That  it  shall  be 
 more  tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom  in  the 
 day  of  judgment,  than  for  thee. 
 
 25  K  '  At  that  time  Jesus  answered  and  said, 
 1  thank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and 
 earth,  because  '  thou  hast  hid  these  things 
 from  the  wise  and  prudent,  ■■  and  hast  revealed 
 them  unto  babes. 
 
 20  Even  so.  Father :  for  so  it  seemed  good 
 in  thy  sight. 
 
 27  '^  All  things  are  delivered  unto  me  of  my 
 Father:  and  no  man  knovveth  the  Son,  but  the 
 Father ;  ••  neither  knoweth   any  man  the   Fa- 
 
 rjonah  3.7,9. 
 
 u  ch.  10.  15. 
 ver.  24. 
 
 X  .See  Is    li 
 \3.  Lain.  2 
 
 .1  <^1*- 
 
 :  Luke  10. 
 21 
 a  SeePs  9.2. 
 
 1  Cor-  l.lfl, 
 27.  «c  2.  9. 
 
 2  Cor.  3.14. 
 bch.  IG.  17. 
 c  ch.  28.  16. 
 
 Luke  10.22. 
 John  3.  35. 
 &  13.  3.  & 
 17.2.  1  Cor. 
 15  27. 
 djohu  1.18. 
 e.  6.  46.  it 
 10.  15. 
 
 •lohn  13.15. 
 
 Pbil,  2   5. 
 
 1  Pet.  2,21. 
 
 1  .loliD  2.6. 
 /■Zecli.9.  9. 
 
 Phil.  2.7.9. 
 S  Jer.  6.  16. 
 /i  I  John  5.3. 
 
 Peu  23.25. 
 Mark  2.23. 
 Luke  6.  1. 
 
 Ei.l 
 
 SO. 
 
 Lev.  24. 
 d  Ex.  20.  32, 
 3;l.  Lev.  H. 
 31.  St  24.  y. 
 
 ther,  save  the  Son,  and  he  to  whomsoever  the 
 Son  will  reveal  him. 
 
 28  U  Come  unto  me,  all  pe  that  labour  and 
 are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest. 
 
 29  Take  my  yoke  upon  you,  "  and  learn  of 
 me  ;  for  I  am  meek  and  '  lowly  in  heart :  *and 
 ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls. 
 
 30  ''  For  my  yoke  24'  easy,  and  my  burden  is 
 light. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  Christ  reproveth  the  blindness  of  the  Pharisees  con- 
 cerning the  breach  of  the  sabbath,  3  hi/  scriptures,  9 
 bj/  reason,  13  and  by  a  miracle.  22  He  healeth  the 
 man  possessed  that  teas  blind  and  dumb.  31  Blas- 
 phemy aquinst  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  never  be  fori/iven. 
 3ii  Account  shall  be  mada  of  idle  u'ords.  38  He  re- 
 hiikfth  the  unfaithful,  ioho  seek  after  a  sign :  49  a7id 
 shiiveth  who  is  his  brother,  sister,  and  mother. 
 
 A  T  that  time  "  Jesus  went  on  the  sabbath 
 ^~*-  day  through  the  com  ;  and  his  disciples 
 were  an  hungred,  and  began  to  pluck  the  ears 
 of  corn,  and  to  eat. 
 
 2  But  when  the  Pharisees  saw  it,  they  said 
 unto  him.  Behold,  thy  disciples  do  that  which 
 is  not  lawful  to  do  upon  the  sabbath  day. 
 
 3  But  he  said  unto  them,  Have  ye  not  read 
 ''what  David  did,  when  he  was  an  hungred, 
 and  they  that  were  with  him  ; 
 
 4  How  he  entered  into  the  house  of  God, 
 and  did  eat  "  the  shewbread,  which  was  not 
 lawful  for  him  to  eat,  neither  for  them  which 
 were  with  him,  ^but  only  for  the  priests? 
 
 rean  :  one  Uiat  indulges  his  appetite  to  a  very  great  degree,  and  in  a 
 scandalous  manner. — Gill.  Wisdom  is  justijied,  .yc,  *  my  wisdom 
 herein  is  acknowledged  by  all  those  who  are  truly  wise.* — Bens.  The 
 wisdom  of  God  is  justified  by  the  conduct  of  John  and  of  Christ. — 
 Weston.  The  sense  is,  that  the  heavenly  wisdom  or  doctrine  taught 
 by  John  and  Chri-.t,  so  far  from  haviug  been  criminated  by  their  con- 
 duct, had  been  raised  above  all  censure.  'Justified,'  here  means, 
 'acquitted  from  blame.*— »r«/so7i.  20.  To  upbraid,  ovtibiCnv,  'to 
 cover  with  shame.'— J/ar.  21.  Chorazin,  a  town  of  Galilee,  on  the 
 western  shore  of  the  sea  of  Galilee.  Bethsaida,  a  city  on  its  north- 
 eastern  shore.— Cnf.  Mighty  works,  'great  miracles;*  for  near  tliese 
 places,  Jesus  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life.— Bens.  Tyre  and  Sidon 
 — see  Isa.  xxiii.  l,  2,  notes.  These  cities  were  remarkable  for  pride, 
 luxury,  and  contempt  of  religion  ;  but  Chorazin  and  Bethsaida  were 
 worse  than  they.— Chtti;?.,  Gill.  Would  have  rtpented—this  seems  to 
 have  been  spoken  by  Christ  as  a  man,  upon  the  judgment  of  high  pro- 
 bability, according  to  the  appearance  of  things.— Gu^se.  Sackcloth 
 and  ashes,  the  rough  mourning  garb  and  the  head  covered  with  dust, 
 (see  Esth.  iv.  1  ;  Lam.  ii.  lo ;  Jon.  iii.  6.)— So  Mar.  The  words  are 
 expressive  of  sincere  repentance  and  self-abhorrence.  — />«rfdji(/g'e. 
 22.  More  tolerable,  they  will  not  have  such  severe  stings  of  conscience 
 in  another  world.  23.  Capernaum,  which  art  exulted  unto  heaven, 
 where  Christ  for  a  time  fixed  his  abode.— GiV/.  Brought  dnum  to  hell, 
 from  a  flourishing  state,  from  its  maritime  situation,  it  shall  suffer  the 
 heaviest  calamities,  and  heavier  punishments  are  reserved  for  it  in  the 
 final  judgment.— Gro^,  Wets.,  Jlosenm.  25.  Answered,  'took  occa- 
 sion to  sa.y. '—Doddr,  It  is  an  Hebrew  way  of  speaking,  used  when 
 nothing  goes  before  to  which  what  is  said  can  be  an  answer,  (Job, 
 iii.  2.)— G(7/.  'To  answer,'  in  the  gospels,  often  expresses  the  com- 
 mencement of  a  discourse,  or  of  some  new  hranch.— Watson.  Here, 
 'to  answer,*  is  'to  continue  to  speak.'— Trapp.  I  thank  thee,  ?fc.,  '  I 
 fuUyagreewiththee.*- J.C/HJ-A:e.  '  1  adore  thee.'— Cump.  '1  give  thee 
 glory.*  The  original  word  'Efo^oAoYoy/ia.,  is  commonly  used  in  the 
 Sept.  to  signify  to  praise,  to  celebrate,  to  glorify ;  and  is  also  employed 
 in  this  sense  Rom.  xiv.  11;  Heb.  xiii.  15.  It  appears  preferable  to 
 giving  thanks.— il/ur.  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth— by  this,  Christ  ac- 
 knowledges the  absolute  power  of  his  father  to  have  done  otherwise 
 had  it  pleased  him.—Poole.  Thou  hast  hid,  uittKpv^j/a^,  •  having  hidden 
 these  things.' — Camp,  it  implies  barely  '  not  having  revealed,*  (see 
 Mark,  iii.  4.—Dav.,  Poole.     These  things,  the  mysteries  of  the  gospel. 
 
 (as  Matt.  xiii.  11.)— Pof»/e.  Wise  «Jirf7Jl•Krfen^  men  famous  for  learning 
 and  worldly  policy.  To  babes,  vivnon;  persons  whose  faculties  are  not 
 improved  by  learning.— il/nrA;«.  Persons  whose  minds  had  not  been 
 cultivated  in  the  schools  of  the  rabbies. —D«y.  The  lowest,  plainest, 
 and  weakest  men.— J.  Brown.  The  object  of  this  thanksgiving  is  not 
 that  these  things  were  hid  from  any  or  revealed  to  one  description  of 
 mankind,  but  that,  being  hid  from  persons  of  superior  wisdom,  they 
 were  revealed  to  those  of  the  most  inferior  capacity. — Ew.  27.  Alt 
 things  are  delivered,  fyc,  '  my  Father  fully  knows  my  nature,  charac 
 ter,  and  work,  whom  I  fully  know  and  savingly  manifest,  and  he  hath 
 entrusted  to  my  care  and  management  all  persons  and  thmgs  relative 
 to  the  redemption  of  men.'— J.  Brown.  No  man  knoweth  the  Son  Init 
 the  Father,  which  it  would  have  been  absurd  to  say.  had  the  Son  been 
 a  merely  human  being,  and,  therefore,  as  comprehensible  as  any  other 
 human  being.— ll'flfson.  The  word  i-ni'iivi^aKei,  here  used,  signifies 
 such  knowledge  as  is  peculiarly  intimate  and  accurate,  full  and  perfect. 
 And  this  knowledge  of  the  Father,  and  knowledge  of  Christ,  are  ex- 
 pressed in  a  way  of  perfect  reciprocity.- Pv-?  Smith.  28.  Come  unto 
 me— this  has  the  same  import  with  '  believmg  in  him,'  one  being  pro- 
 miscuously put  for  the  other,  (see  John,  vi.  35,  36.  37,  40,  44,  45,  47, 
 64,  65,  and  vii.  37,  3S,  39 ;  also  1  Pet.  ii.  3,  4,  6,  7.)—Guyse.  Labour— 
 heavy  laden,  with  guilt,  corruption,  burdensome  ceremonies,  or  attempts 
 after  legal  righteousness.— J.  Brown.  29.  Take  my  yoke,  an  instru- 
 ment by  which  oxen  are  subjected  to  their  \a.boaT.—Wutson.  The 
 word  ^ly,  'yoke,'  among  the  Jews,  signifies  not  only  neck  harness 
 for  bullocks,  but  any  kind  of  bond  or  obligation  to  do  some  parti- 
 cular thing  or  work. — Clarke.  Learn  of  me,  fxaB^Tt  utt'  e/iow,  'be 
 taught  by  mc.*  Lowly,  Ta^ntivoi,  '  condescending.'— Cn?7i/jM/.  Rest, 
 'that  composure,  tranquillity,  and  satisfaction,  which  nothing  but 
 humility  ana  meekness,  with  an  entire  subjection  to  me,  can  give.' — 
 Bens. 
 
 Chap.  XII. —  1.  Through  the  corn,  6ia  toiv  o-Tropi/itijv,  'through  the 
 corn  fie\(\s.'—Buolhr.  These  often  had  public  paths  along  or  through 
 them.— Watson.  Began  to  pluck,  fyc,  this  the  law  allowed,  (Deut. 
 xxiii.  25.)  2.  Not  lawful— upon  the  sabbath,  the  Pharisees  consider, 
 ing  it  as  a  species  of  reaping,  and,  consequently,  as  servile  work,  and 
 not  to  be  done  ou  the  Sabbath.— Cum;^.  3.  Have  ye  not  read,  ^c, 
 our  Lord  replies,  that  in  cases  of  extreme  necessity  the  severity  of  the 
 Jewish  law  might  be  dispensed  with.— i'or/ews.  Hunger  justified 
 David  and  his  company  for  eating  the  consecrated  bread,  which  else 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI.  —  We  may  here  notice,  I.  The 
 evidences  of  ChrisVs  mission  and  character.  His  miracles  were 
 those  of  mercy,  worthy  of  a  Sayiour — they  were  many,  and 
 performed  at  noon-day,  before  many  eye-witnesses.  He,  in 
 every  respect,  as  the  Messenger  of  mercy,  answered  the  cha- 
 racter given  of  him  by  the  prophets  ;  and  nothing  but  the  do- 
 mineering and  depraved  principle  of  unbelief  could  prevent 
 all  that  saw  him  and  his  works  from  exclaiming,  as  the  centu- 
 rion, '  Truly  this  man  was  the  Son  of  God  !' 
 
 II.  The  obstinacy  of  unbelief  .  Men  resist  the  gospel  mes- 
 sage, whether  in  the  shape  of  lamentation  or  invitation.  They 
 put  the  worst  construction  upon  every  action  of  the  Messen- 
 ger, and  evince  an  indifference  or  hatred  to  the  gospel,  which, 
 1007 
 
 if  they  repent  not, will,  in  the  end,  when  hope  is  for  ever  shut 
 out,  till  them  with  that  conscious  guilt  which  shall  be  as  the 
 gnawing  worm  and  the  burning  flame,  through  the  lasting 
 succession  of  eternal  ages. 
 
 HI.  The  blessedness  of  faith.  The  poor  and  humble  soul, 
 bow  despised  soever  and  overlooked  by  this  world,  yet  taught 
 by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  led  to  see  the  preciousness  of  Christ 
 as  a  Saviour,  eventually  loses  all  its  burdens,  and,  in  meek 
 composure,  casts  them  upon  Christ,  finds  his  service  here  to 
 be  perfect  freedom,  rests  in  the  Saviour's  embrace,  when 
 about  to  quit  the  scene  of  sin  and  sorrow,  and  enters  into  the 
 '  rest'  that  '  remaineth'  for  '  the  people  of  God.' 
 
The  Pharisees  reproved. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XII. 
 
 Of  blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 
 5  Or  have  ye  not  read  in  the  ^law,  how  that 
 on  the  sabbath  days  the  priests  in  the  temple 
 profane  the  sabbath,  and  are  blameless? 
 
 6  But  1  say  unto  you,  That  in  this  place  is 
 ^  one  greater  than  the  temple. 
 
 7  But  if  ye  had  known  what  this  meaneth, 
 *  I  will  have  mercy,  and  not  sacrifice,  ye  would 
 not  have  condemned  the  guiltless. 
 
 8  For  the  Son  of  man  is  Lord  even  of  the 
 sabbath  day. 
 
 9  ^  And  when  he  was  departed  thence,  he 
 went  into  their  synagogue  : 
 
 10  t  And,  behold,  there  was  a  man  which 
 had  his  hand  withered.  And  they  asl^ed  him, 
 saying,  '  Is  it  lawful  to  heal  on  the  sabbath 
 days?  that  they  might  accuse  him. 
 
 1 1  And  he  said  unto  them.  What  man  shall 
 there  he  among  you,  that  shall  have  one  sheep, 
 and  ''if  it  fall  into  a  pit  on  the  sabbath  day, 
 will  he  not  lay  hold  on  it,  and  lift  it  out? 
 
 12  How  mucii  then  is  a  man  better  than  a 
 sheep?  Wherefore  it  is  lawful  to  do  well  on 
 the  sabbath  days. 
 
 13  Then  saith  he  to  the  man,  Stretch  forth 
 tliine  hand.  And  he  stretciied  it  forth  ;  and 
 it  was  restored  wliole,  like  as  the  other. 
 
 14  1[  Then  '  the  Pharisees  went  out,  and 
 II  held  a  council  against  liim,  how  they  might 
 destroy  him. 
 
 15  But  when  Jesus  knew  77,  ""he  withdrew 
 himself  from  thence:  "and  great  multitudes 
 followed  him,  and  lie  healed  them  all  ; 
 
 16  And  ''charged  them  that  they  should  not 
 make  him  known  : 
 
 1 7  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
 by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying, 
 
 18  ^  Behold  my  servant,  whom  I  have  chosen  ; 
 my  beloved, ''in  whom  my  soul  is  well  pleased  : 
 I  will  put  my  spirit  upon  liim,  and  he  shall 
 shew  jufignient  to  the  Gentiles. 
 
 19  He  shall  not  strive,  nor  cry  ;  neither  shall 
 any  man  hear  liis  voice  in  the  streets. 
 
 20  A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and 
 
 /CClir.G  \B. 
 Mai.  3.  ). 
 
 if  Hos.  6  f. 
 Mic.6.  0.7, 
 9,  eh.  y.  13 
 
 /,  %f ark  3    1 . 
 Luke  C.  6, 
 
 I.ukeia.li, 
 &  M  3. 
 John  9. 16. 
 
 k  Seo  Et.23. 
 4,  5.  Deut. 
 
 2a.  4. 
 
 I.iikc6.  II 
 John  5.  19 
 &  10.39.  h 
 II.  5» 
 I  Or,  /nifc 
 cotinMfl. 
 
 n  Sec   Ch  10 
 
 23.  Mark  3 
 
 .  rh.  19.  8. 
 >ch.9.  30. 
 
 ■  See  ch.  &. 
 32.  Mark 
 S,  II.  LuU 
 
 .  .h    9.  M. 
 Mark  3.  22- 
 Liike  11.15 
 
 htil:  iind  en 
 v^r.   27. 
 /  ch.  9.  4. 
 John  2   25. 
 Rev.  2.  23. 
 
 i<D.in   2.14. 
 &7    1  + 
 Liikc  I    33 
 &  II    21)    Ik 
 17.  20,  21. 
 
 X  18.49.  24 
 I.uke  11.21, 
 22,  23, 
 
 u  Urark  3,28- 
 
 l.uke  12  10. 
 
 Heb.6.4..S!C. 
 
 fc  10. 26, 2a. 
 
 IJuhn&.16. 
 I  Acta?.  51. 
 
 a  ch.  11    19. 
 ft  1.1.  55. 
 John  7.  12, 
 
 c  Ch.  7.  17. 
 Lake  6.  43, 
 41. 
 
 smoking  flax  shall  he  not  quench,  till  he  send 
 
 forth  judgment  unto  victory. 
 
 21  And  in  his  name  shall  the  Gentiles  trust. 
 
 22  li  ^  Then  was  brought  nuto  him  one  pos- 
 sessed with  a  devil,  blind,  and  dumb  :  and  he 
 healed  him,  insomuch  that  the  blind  and  dumb 
 both  spake  and  saw. 
 
 23  And  all  the  people  were  amazed,  and 
 said.  Is  not  this  the  son  of  David  ? 
 
 24  "  But  when  the  Pharisees  heard  ?7,  they 
 said,  This  fe/hw  doth  not  cast  out  devils,  but 
 by  t  Beelzebub  the  prince  of  the  devils. 
 
 25  And  Jesus  *knew  their  thoughts,  and  said 
 unto  them.  Every  kingdom  divided  against 
 itself  is  brought  to  desolation  ;  and  every  city 
 or  house  divided  against  itself  shall  not  stand  : 
 
 26  And  if  Satan  cast  out  Satan,  he  is  divided 
 against  himself;  how  shall  then  his  kingdom 
 stand  ? 
 
 27  And  if  I  by  Beelzebub  cast  out  devils,  by 
 whom  do  your  children  cast  them  out?  there- 
 fore they  shall  be  your  judges. 
 
 28  But  if  I  cast  out  devils  by  the  Spirit  of 
 God,  then  "  the  kingdom  of  God  is  come  unto  • 
 you. 
 
 29  ^  Or  else  how  can  one  enter  into  a  strong 
 man's  house,  and  spoil  his  goods,  except  lie 
 first  bind  the  strong  man?  and  then  he  will 
 spoil  his  house. 
 
 ;30  He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me  ; 
 and  he  that  gathereth  not  with  me  scattereth 
 abroad. 
 
 31  H  Wherefore  I  say  unto  you,  ^  All  manner 
 of  sin  and  blasphemy  shall  be  forgiven  unto 
 men  :  '  but  the  blasphemy  against  the  Holy 
 Ghost  shall  not  be  forgiven  unto  men. 
 
 32  And  whosoever  ""  speaketh  a  word  against 
 the  Son  of  man,  ^  it  shall  be  forgiven  him  :  but 
 whosoever  speaketh  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  it 
 shall  not  be  forgiven  him,  neither  in  this  world, 
 neither  in  the  world  to  come. 
 
 33  Either  make  the  tree  good,  and  *"  his  fruit 
 good  ;  or  else  make  the  tree  corrupt,  and  his 
 
 none  but  the  priests  miglit  lawfully  eat.  5 .  The  priests  m  the  temple 
 profane  the  sabbath,  they  labnur  oo  that  day,  and  break  ite  outward 
 rest,  which  would  be  profanation,  did  not  the  temple  service  justify  it. 
 — Bax.  They  kill  the  saorifice.  SiC.—Giil.  6.  Greater  than  the  temple, 
 'even  the  true  temple.* — Srott.  ".  What  this  mraneth,  I  will  have 
 
 inercp — see  Hcs.  vi.  6,  and  note.  8.  Lord  even  of  the  snbbath,  has 
 
 a  rigiit,  as  legislator,  to  dispense  with  what  is  merely  ceremonial  in 
 his  own  \a^^.—Keyw.  This  may,  perhap?,  also  refer  to  that  signal  au- 
 thorit>'  which  Christ,  by  the  mini«itr>'  of  his  apostle,  should  exert  over 
 it,  in  changing-  it  from  the  seventh  to  the  first  day  of  the  week.— Z>«rfrfr. 
 10.  Withered,  probably,  '  paralytic' — Clarke,  Watson.  Accuse  fiim, 
 should  lie  say  it  was  lawful  to  heal  on  the  Sabbath,  they  would  accuse 
 him  of  a  contradiction  of  the  fourth  commandment ;  and,  if  not  lawful, 
 they  would  accuse  him  of  partiality,  having  lately  justified  his  disciples 
 in  phickint;  tlie  vorn.^flm.  14.  Held  a  coiinril,  perhaps  to  found  a 
 charge  of  blasphemy,  from  his  declaring  himself  greater  than  the 
 temple,  and  the  Lord  of  the  Sabbatli ;  or  to  accuse  him  as  a  Sabbath 
 breaker.  15.  He  healed  them  all,  that  is,  all  the  sick  they  brought  to 
 him.  I6.  Not  make  him  knoum,  nut  of  pure  dislike  to  clamorous 
 popularity. —  Watsim.  18.  Servant — ujthold— judgment, ~\^.  Narcru, 
 ^in  the  streets,  —20.  Bruised  reed~nnt  break  —  smoking  Jinx,  ^c. 
 Smoking  flax,  taper.— Cum/J.  Wick,  Bloomf.  See  explanations.  Is.  xhi. 
 1,  &-C.,  notes.  The  Jews  used  to  employ  flax  as  we  do  cotton,  for  lamps. 
 ^Bp.  Pearce.  Judgment  nnto  victorp  —  hy  judgment,  understand 
 'the  gospel,' and  by  victory,  *  its  complete  triumph  over  Jewish  op- 
 position and  Gentile  impiety.'  —  A.  Clarke.  21.  And  in  his  7tame, 
 Sfc,  is  in  Isaiah,  *and  the  isles  shall  wait  for  his  law;'  waiting  and 
 trusting  being  somewhat  synonymous.— So  Watson.  24.  This  fellow, 
 ^c,  ocTot,  '  this  sorry  man  ;'  '  this  vile  fellow  ;*  they  could  not  deny 
 the  miracle,  but  ascribed  it  to  magic  art. — Gill.  Beelzebub — see  chap. 
 X.  25.  25.  Knew  their  thoughts,  a  proof  of  his  omniscience,  and  so  of 
 his  deity,  and  consequently  of  his  Messiahship. — Gilt.  By  thoughts  we 
 must  liere  understand  '  intentions.'  lie  knew  their  purpose  in  devising 
 this  blasphemy  was  to  prevent  the  people  from  forminga  right  judgment 
 on  the  case. — Watson.  25.  Ei'ery  kingdom,  Sfc,  a  proverbial  expres- 
 sion.—C/oom/.  26.  //  S«^i7i  cast  out  Saiiin,  a  good  cause  will  produce 
 a  good  effect,  and  an  evil  cause  an  evil  effect.  *  Were  I  on  Satan's  side, 
 I  would  act  for  his  interest ;  hut  I  oppose  his  maxims  by  my  doctrines, 
 and  his  influence  by  my  power.' — Clarke.  2".  \'nur  children,  '  your 
 disciplefa,'  or  '  countrymen  in  general,'  for  that  many  of  the  Jews  did, 
 1008 
 
 at  this  time,  attempt  to  cast  oat  devils,  is  plain  from  Mark,  ix.  38 ; 
 Luke,  ix.49;  Acts,  xix.  \3.—Josephus  Antiq.,  viii.  2.  28.  Is  corne^ 
 f<pOa<T€v,  'is  come  unawares,'  and  you  ought,  therefore,  with  j  ly  to 
 enter  in. — Bens.  29.  Except  he  first  bind  the  strong  man,  as  if  our 
 Lord  had  'said,  *  If  I  were  not  stronger  than  Satan,  I  could  not  cost  out 
 devils.'— A>//M'.  30.  He  that  is  not  with  me,  proverbial;  'he  who 
 does  not  assist  another  in  a  contest  is  favourable  to  his  enemy;  con- 
 sequently, my  casting  out  devils  shews  that  I  am  Satan's  declared 
 enemy.'— HrtWi.  31.  Btasphemtj,  {3\a(T(pt]^ia,  denotes  injurious  ex- 
 pressions, or  detraction  in  the  largest  acceptation,  whether  against 
 God  or  man. — Camp.  Shall  be  forgiven  unto  men,  u0tftiJ-eT<w  rtnc 
 ui'PpoTToif ,  *  in  men  is  pardonable  ;'  it  means,  not  that  every  such  sin 
 shall  actually  be  pardoned,  hut  that  it  is,  in  the  Divine  economy,  ca- 
 pable of  being  pardoned.— r«m;j.  Against  the  Holy  Ghost,  ascribing 
 Christ's  miracles  to  Satan,  as  the  Pharisees  did.— //'"«.,  Til.,  Seeker, 
 Wets.  A  despiteful  usage  of  the  Spirit  of  grace  ;  an  opposing,  contra- 
 dicting, and  denying  the  operations  wrought,  or  doctrines  revealed, 
 by  him,  against  a  man's  own  light  and  conscience,  oid  of  wilful  and 
 obstinate  malice,  on  purpose  to  lessen  the  glory  of  God  and  gratify  his 
 own  lusts.— G:7/.  The  act  of  blaspheming  the  Holy  Clhost,  and  as- 
 cribing his  gifts  and  dis,pcnsations  to  an  evil  spirit  after  Clirist's  resur- 
 rection.-T^AtVAy,  see  Doddr.  This  cvidenUy  means,  in  the  first  in- 
 stance, ascribing  Christ's  miracles  to  Satanic  agency  ;  but  they  who 
 have  abundant  light,  like  the  Pharisees,  who  saw  our  Lord's  miracles, 
 or  like  many  modern  infidels,  and  who,  like  them,  with  deadly  malice 
 oppose  Christ  and  his  truth,  do  also  commit  this  unpardonable  sin, 
 (1  John,  v.  16.)  Where,  however,  any  feel  concern  and  sorrow  for  fear 
 they  should  have  committed  this  sin,  it  is  certain  that  they  have  not 
 committed  it.—Keyw.  Blasphemy  cannot  be  directed  against  an  attri- 
 bute  ;  it  can  be  directed  only  against  a  percipient  being,  because  such 
 a  being  only  is  capable  of  perceiving,  or  being  any  way  affected  by  the 
 evil  intended. — DwigtU.  Neither  in  this  world,  nor  in  the  world  to 
 come,  a  proverbial  expression,  used  by  the  rabbins,  implying,  «o  for- 
 giveness.—  WItilhy.  This  phrase  is  equivalent  to  '  shall  never  at  any 
 future  time  be  forgiven;*  hence,  Mark  expresses  it,  'is  in  danger  of 
 eternal  damnation,'— W(I^';oH.  33. Either  make  (allow)  the  tree  good— 
 this  refers  to  Christ ;  '  allow  me  to  be  good,  since  my  fruit  is  good.'— 
 Keffiv.  It  appears  to  be  an  exhortation  to  the  Pharisees :  '  As  you  have 
 uttered  blasphemy,  pretend  no  more  to  sanctity  and  reverence  for 
 sacred  things;  cither  retract  your  bHsphemies,  or  shew  that  you  are 
 
Of  blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Ghost.         S.  MATTHEW,  XFII.         The  parable  of  the  sower  and  the  seed. 
 
 fruit  corrupt :   for  the  tree  is  known  by  his 
 
 fruit. 
 
 3-t  O  '■  generation  of  vipers,  how  can  ye,  being 
 evil,  speak  good  things  Y  "  for  out  of  the  abun- 
 dance of  the  heart  the  mouth  speaketh. 
 
 35  A  good  man  out  of  the  good  treasure  of 
 the  litart  Ijringeth  fortli  good  things  :  and  an 
 evil  man  out  of  the  evil  treasure  bringeth  fortli 
 evil  things. 
 
 30  But  I  say  unto  you,  That  every  idle  word 
 that  men  shall  speak,  they  shall  give  account 
 thereof  in  the  day  of  judgment. 
 
 37  For  by  thy  words  thou  .=;halt  be  justified, 
 and  by  thy  words  thou  shalt  be  condenmed. 
 
 38  H  '  Tlien  certain  of  the  scribes  and  of  the 
 Pharisees  answered,  saying.  Master,  we  would 
 see  a  sign  from  thee. 
 
 39  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  them,  An 
 evil  and  ^  adulterous  generation  seeketh  after 
 a  sign  ;  and  there  shall  no  sign  be  given  to  it, 
 but  the  sign  of  the  prophet  Jonas  : 
 
 40  ■•  For  as  Jonas  was  three  days  and  three 
 nights  in  the  whale's  belly  :  so  shall  the  Son 
 of  man  be  three  days  and  three  nights  in  the 
 heart  of  tlie  earth. 
 
 41  'The  men  of  Nineveh  shall  rise  in  judg- 
 ment with  this  generation,  and  '  shall  condemn 
 it  :  '  because  they  repented  at  the  preaching 
 of  Jonas  ;  and,  behold,  a  greater  than  Jonas  is 
 here. 
 
 42  "'  The  queen  of  the  south  shall  rise  up  in 
 the  judgment  with  this  generation,  and  shall 
 condemn  it ;  for  she  came  from  the  uttermost 
 parts  of  the  earth  to  hear  tlie  wisdom  of  Solo- 
 mon ;  and,  behold,  a  greater  than  Solomon  is 
 here. 
 
 43  "  When  the  unclean  spirit  is  gone  out  of 
 a  man,  °  he  walketh  through  dry  places,  seek- 
 ing rest,  and  findeth  none. 
 
 44  Then  he  saith,  I  will  return  into  my  house 
 
 23   .i3. 
 
 /ch.  16.  I. 
 Mail(8,  M. 
 Liikti  11.16, 
 29.  John  2. 
 
 IS   1  Cf.i 
 
 22. 
 
 mk  11-  .^. 
 liul     18 
 
 (Luke  11.32. 
 
 k  SeeJer   9. 
 
 U.  F.ZC   16. 
 
 51,52.Kom. 
 
 2.  27. 
 i  Joiiuli  3.  & 
 
 ml  Kill  in.l 
 2Clir.!i.  I 
 Luk<'  11.31. 
 
 r>  Heb.  6.  1. 
 &   II).  26. 
 2  1'et.2.  20 
 21,82. 
 
 J  Mark  3.31 
 
 .  19, 
 
 26.21 
 rh-  13.55. 
 k  6.  3. 
 n  2.  12. 
 &7.  3,  5. 
 .^cts  I.  11. 
 I  Cor.  9..1. 
 Gdl    1.  19. 
 
 J.. I 
 
 :  ?ee  John 
 1.5.  11.  (ial. 
 5.  r>  Si  6  15. 
 Col.  3.  n. 
 Huh.  8.  n. 
 
 b  Luke  8  *. 
 c  Lubo  5.  S. 
 
 from  whence  I  came  out ;  and  when  he  is 
 come,  he  findeth  it  empty,  swept,  and  gar- 
 nished. 
 
 43  Then  goeth  he,  and  taketh  with  himself 
 seven  other  .spirits  mure  wicked  than  himself, 
 and  they  enter  in  and  dwell  there  :  ''and  the 
 last  state  of  that  man  is  worse  than  the  first. 
 Even  so  shall  it  be  also  unto  this  w  icked  gener- 
 ation. 
 
 46  t  While  he  yet  talked  to  the  people,  "'  be- 
 hold, his  mother  and  '  his  brethren  stood  with- 
 out, desiring  to  speak  with  him. 
 
 47  Then  one  said  unto  him.  Behold,  thy 
 mother  and  thy  brethren  stand  without,  de- 
 siring to  speak  with  thee. 
 
 48  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  him  that 
 told  liiin.  Who  is  my  mother  Y  and  who  are 
 my  brethren? 
 
 49  And  he  stretched  forth  his  hand  toward 
 his  disciples,  and  said.  Behold  my  mother  and 
 my  brethren  ! 
 
 30  For  '  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my 
 Father  which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my 
 brother,  and  sister,  and  mother. 
 
 CHAP.  Xlll. 
 
 3  T/te  parable  of  the  sower  and  the  seed:  18  th&  expo- 
 sition of  it,  24  The  parable  of  the  tares^  31  of  the 
 mustard  seed,  33  of  the  leaven,  44  of  the  hidden  trea- 
 sure, 45  of  the  pearl,  47  of  the  drawnet  cast  into  the 
 sea:  63  ami  how  Christ  is  contemned  of  his  own 
 eoimtrynten. 
 
 T^HE  same  day  went  Jesus  out  of  the  house, 
 ■*•    °  and  sat  by  the  sea  side, 
 
 2  ^  And  great  multitudes  were  gathered  to- 
 gether unto  him,  so  that  "^  he  went  into  a  ship, 
 and  sat  ;  and  the  whole  multitude  stood  on 
 the  shore. 
 
 3  And  he  spake  many  things  unto  them  in 
 
 open  mockers  and  contemners  of  God,  for  that  you  are  so  in  reality 
 
 your  conduct  proves.'  34.  Out  nf  the  ahundance,  ek  -run  Trepio-creiJ/iaTOt, 
 '  out  of  the  exuberance,  the  overflowing  abuinlance,*  that  is,  wlien  the 
 heart  is  fully  charged,  the  mouth  will  declare  the  quality  of  its  prin- 
 ciples and  passions ;  and  thus,  by  the  blasphemies  uttered  by  the  Pha- 
 risees, their  true  character  was  unveiled. — Watson.  35.  Out  of  the 
 goiid  treasure,  ««  tou  a^aOov  Unfftxvpov,  '  out  of  his  good  treasure,'  xfi? 
 «(ip.itu9,  *  of  the  heart,'  is  omitted  in  a  g-rcat  many  MSS.  36.  Idle 
 word,  {irit^a.  cip-ioi-, '  pernicious  word,' — false,  calumnious.  To  this  sense 
 the  context  naturally  leads. — Camp.  The  term  is  vague  ;  the  sense  of 
 which  must  be  determined  by  the  context. —  Watson.  'Frothy  lan- 
 guage;' unprofitable  discourse  shall  be  accounted  for  in  the  day  of 
 judgment,  much  more  such  horrid  blasphemies  as  those  veuted  by  the 
 Pharisees  against  Christ  and  his  Spirit.— &'i7/.  *  E\il  words;'  see  con- 
 text,  ver.  35. — Whitby.  38.  A  sign,  a  miracle,  in  prouf  of  thy  mission. 
 —Camp.  Christ's  miracles  had  been  public  enough  ;  more  than  his 
 usual  ones  must  therefore  be  intended.— Erf.  They  meant,  as  they 
 expressed  it  on  other  occasions,  '  a  sign  from  heaven,'  (see  Matt.  xvi. 
 1  ;  Luke,  xi.  l6,)  '  some  preternatural  appearance  in  itie  atmosphere.' 
 Perhaps  they  urge  this  as  an  apology  for  not  being  convinced  by  his 
 miracles. —  W'ltsim.  I'erhaps  they  expected  him  to  come  in  the  clouds 
 of  heaven,  (Dan.  vii,  13.) — bonthr.  3y.  Eeil  and  aduUeroTis,  not  only 
 in  a  spiritual  seube.  but  literally  manifest  in  their  polygamy  and  fre- 
 quent divorces. — GUI.  The  si^fn  of  the  prophet,  Jonas,  raised  on  the 
 third  day  from  the  deep,  (see  chap,  xvi,  4.)  Truly  this  was  a  great 
 sign  to  heaven  and  euith.  On  that  day  he  was  declared  the  Son  of 
 God  with  power,  and  m^^de  Lord  both  of  the  living  and  dead,  (Kom. 
 i.  4  ;  xiv.  9.) — Sut.  4\*.  In  the  whale's  belly — see  Jon.  i.  17,  note. 
 Three  days  and  three  nights,  i.e.,  three  days,  as  we  should  express  it, 
 reckoning  tlic  first  and  the  last  for  two  days,  though  only  parts  of 
 days  ;  the  night  of  each  of  the  three  days  are  included,  fur  it  was  cus- 
 tomary with  the  eastern  nations  to  reckon  any  part  of  a  natural  day 
 of  twenty-four  hours  for  the  whole  day.     Our  Lord  was  laid  in  the 
 
 grave  on  Friday,  near  sunset,  continued  there  on  the  Saturday,  and 
 rose  early  on  the  first  day.— W«fs.,  Bens.,  Whitby.  In  the  heart  of 
 the  earth,  that  is,  beneath  its  surface,  as  Jonah  was  said  to  be  in  the 
 heart  of  the  sea,  though  not  in  its  middle  or  centre. —  Watson.  4 1 .  Shall 
 rise  injtidnment,  alluding,  prohabiy,  to  the  custom  of  witnesses,  who 
 rise  up  from  their  seats,  and  staml,  when  they  give  their  testimonies 
 in  a  court  of  judicature.  With  this  (leneratiun,  and  stand  befure  the 
 judgment  seat  together.  Shall  condemn  it,  by  their  example  and  prac 
 tice,  because  they  repented.— G(/;.  A  greater  than  Jonas,  even  the 
 Messiah  himself,  who  comes  with  evident  characters  of  divinity.— 
 Guyse.  42.  Quet-n  of  the  south,  of  Sheba,  which  lay  south  of  Jeru- 
 salem. A  ifreater  than  Solomon,  the  Messiah  liimsclf,  who  is  the  wis- 
 dom of  Goil. — Guyse.  43.  When  the  unclean  spirit,  ^c— this  seems 
 to  relate  to  the  exorcisms  ot  the  Jews  themselves,  hi  which  the  un- 
 clean spirit  might  retire  awhde,  und  return  with  increasing  power. 
 The  language  is  figurative,  and  alludes  also  to  the  satyrs  of  the  hea- 
 then, a  sort  of  demons  in  the  shape  of  goats.  &c.,  which  were  supposed 
 to  range  the  woods  and  deserts.  Our  Lord's  words  relate  to  the  state 
 of  the  Jewish  nation,  which  had  been  for  a  while  reformed  by  John 
 the  liaptist,  but  became  hardened  in  their  infidelity  through  the  Scribes 
 and  Pharisees.— U't/.  45.  Seven— the  Jews  often  meant  by  this  'se- 
 veral,' or  *  many.'— Clarke.  46.  His  brethren,  in  the  Hebrew  idiom 
 this  often  means  no  more  than  near  relations.- CWmp.  50.  The  same 
 is  my  brother,  ^c— Christ  spake  not  this  to  teach  men  to  dishonour 
 their  parents,  or  to  lay  by  natural  aflfection,  but  to  let  all  know  that 
 regeneration  puts  men  into  a  more  honourable  and  happy  relation  to 
 him  than  natural  kindred.— /I«T/fr. 
 
 Chap.  Xlll.- 3.  In  parables,  short,  sententious  sayings,  maxims, 
 or  aphorisms  -,  but.  as  applied  to  our  Saviour's  parables,  they  signify 
 short  narratives  of  some  event  or  fact,  real  or  fictitious,  in  which  a 
 continued  comparison  is  carried  on,  frequently  between  sensible  and 
 spiritual  objeets;  and  under  this  similitude  some  important  doctrine, 
 moral  or  religious,  is  conveyed.     They  have  the  advantages  of  being 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XII.  —  Notice,  I.  Christ's  remarks 
 on  the  Sabbath-day.  '  Those  labours  may  be  done  on  the  Sab- 
 bath-day which  are  neces.sary  to  the  support  of  life  and  to  the 
 service  of'tb*'  day.'     Notice — 
 
 II.  Christ's  reply  to  the  cavils  of  the  Pharisees  respecting  his 
 miracles.  lh_*re  we  see  the  awful  consequences  of  sin  against 
 the  Holy  (jhost.  ()  let  us  beware  of  all  approaches  to  it!  All 
 sin,  finally  unrepcnled,  is  as  ruinous  as  the  unpardonable  sin  ; 
 and  as  awful  coriscq upper's  may  overtako  profane  scoffers, 
 ICO') 
 
 obstinate  infidels,  apostates,  and  those  mere  professors  of 
 Christianity  wiio,  like  the  Pharisees,  have  the  outside  of  reli- 
 gion, while  their  hearts  are  naturally  enmity  ai;ainst  the  law 
 anil  [;race  of  God.     Notice — 
 
 UI.  ChrisVs  remarks  on  his  relatives.  From  these  we  learn 
 how  much  honour  he  puts  upon  those  who  do  his  will.  Such 
 are  dear  to  his  heart,  and  shall  sliare  in  all  the  unspeakable 
 blfssedness  he  has  to  bestow. 
 
 G  \ 
 
The  parable  of  the  sower  and  the  seed.         S.  MATTHEW,  XIIT. 
 
 The  exposition  of  it. 
 
 parables,  saying,  '^  Behold,  a  sower  went  forth 
 
 to  sow  ; 
 
 4  And  when  he  sowed,  some  seeds  fell  by 
 the  way  side,  and  the  fowls  came  and  devoured 
 them  up  : 
 
 5  Some  fell  upon  stony  places,  where  they 
 had  not  much  earth  and  forth witli  they 
 sprung  up,  because  they  liad  no  deepness  of 
 earth  : 
 
 6  And  when  the  sun  was  up,  they  were 
 scorched  ;  and  because  they  had  no  root,  they 
 withered  away. 
 
 7  And  some  fell  among  thorns ;  and  the 
 thorns  sprung  up,  and  choked  them  ; 
 
 8  But  other  tell  into  good  ground,  and 
 brouglit  forth  fruit,  some  '■'  an  hundredfold, 
 some  sixtyfold,  some  thirtyfold. 
 
 9  f  Who  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 
 
 10  And  the  disciples  came,  and  said  unto  him, 
 Why  speakest  thou  unto  them  in  parables  ? 
 
 1 1  He  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Be- 
 cause ^it  is  given  unto  you  to  know  the  mys- 
 teries of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  but  to  them 
 it  is  not  given. 
 
 12  ^  For  whosoever  hath,  to  him  shall  be 
 given,  and  he  shall  have  more  abundance  :  but 
 whosoever  hath  not,  from  him  shall  be  taken 
 away  even  tliat  he  hath. 
 
 13  Therefore  speak  I  to  them  in  parables  : 
 because  they  seeing  see  not ;  and  hearing  they 
 hear  not,  neither  do  they  understand. 
 
 14  And  in  them  is  fulfilled  the  prophecy  of 
 Esaias,  which  saith,  '  By  hearing  ye  shall  hear, 
 and  shall  not  understand  ;  and  seeing  ye  shall 
 see,  and  shuU  not  perceive  : 
 
 15  For  this  people's  heart  is  waxed  gross, 
 and  their  ears  ^  are  dull  of  hearing,  and  their 
 eyes  they  have  closed  ;  lest  at  any  time  they 
 should  see  with  Mf (V  eyes,  and  hear  with  Me//' 
 ears,  and  should  understand  with  their  heart, 
 and  should  be  converted,  and  I  should  heal 
 them. 
 
 /ch    11.  15. 
 Mark  1.  9. 
 
 &  16.  i:. 
 
 Mark  4.  II 
 I  Cor -2  111 
 1  John  2  ■iTJ 
 
 K  ch.  25,  2y 
 Mark  4.  ^5 
 
 Luke  R.  I.S. 
 
 I  Tfi.  6.  9 
 F,»ek.  18.8 
 Mark  4  Vi 
 I.ukeS  10, 
 John  Vi  40 
 Actsl'fl.'JCF, 
 ■1-,  Roin.M 
 fl,  2  Cor.  S 
 l-t.  15 
 
 k  Hob,  5.  It 
 
 ■  Hob.  M. 
 IS   I  Pet.  I. 
 
 tu,  11. 
 
 »  la.  5S.  2. 
 Eie  :*.T  SI, 
 ■A2.  John  5 
 35. 
 
 q  ch.  11.  6. 
 2  Tim, 1.15. 
 
 rch.  19.  2S. 
 ■Mark  10  2S. 
 Lukel8  i^- 
 
 1  Tim,  6.  9. 
 
 2  Tiin.4.IU 
 «Jer. -1,  3. 
 
 16  But  '  blessed  are  your  eyes,  for  they  see  : 
 and  your  ears,  for  they  hear. 
 
 17  For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  "'  That  many 
 prophets  and  righteous  men  have  desired  ti> 
 see  those  thimjs  which  ye  see,  and  have  nut 
 seen  them  ;  and  to  hear  those  thiiujs  which  ye 
 hear,  and  have  not  heard  thv/n. 
 
 18  1i"  Hear  ye  therefore  the  parable  of  the 
 sower. 
 
 19  VV^hen  any  one  heareth  the  word  "uf  the 
 kingdom,  and  understandeth  it  not,  then  com- 
 eth  the  wicked  one,  and  catcheth  away  that 
 wliich  was  sown  in  his  heart.  This  is  he 
 wliich  received  seed  by  the  way  side. 
 
 20  But  he  that  received  the  seed  into  stony 
 places,  the  same  is  he  that  heareth  the  word, 
 and  anon  ■'with  joy  receiveth  it  ; 
 
 21  Yet  hath  he  not  root  in  himself,  butdnreth 
 for  awhile  :  fur  when  tribulation  or  persecution 
 ariseth  because  of  the  word,  by  and  by  ''  he  is 
 offended. 
 
 22  '  He  also  that  received  seed  '  among  the 
 thorns  is  he  that  heareth  the  word  ;  and  the 
 care  of  this  world,  and  tlie  deceitfulness  of 
 riches,  choke  the  word,  and  he  becometh  un- 
 fruitful. 
 
 23  But  he  that  received  seed  into  the  good 
 ground  is  he  that  heareth  the  word,  and  un- 
 derstandeth it;  which  also  heareth  fruit,  and 
 bringeth  forth,  some  an  -hundredfold,  some 
 sixty,  some  thirty. 
 
 24  H  Another  parable  put  he  forth  unto  them, 
 1  saying.  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  likened  unto 
 
 a  man  which  sowed  good  seed  in  his  field  : 
 
 25  But  while  men  slept,  his  enemy  came 
 I  and   sowed  tares  among  the  wheat,  and  went 
 
 his  way. 
 
 26  But  when  the  blade  was  sprung  up,  and 
 brought  forth  fruit,  then  appeared  the  tares 
 also. 
 
 27  So  the  servants  of  the  housholder  came 
 and  said  unto  him,  Sir,   didst  not  thou  sow 
 
 easily  compr.-henrled,  especiallj-  by  rude  minds— of  commanding  atten- 
 tion— exciting  ciinn-ity.  and  reproving'  vice  and  rectifying  error  bv 
 insinuating  truth.— P»r(^M.f.  Our  Lord's  parables  are  superior  to  all 
 others.  He  never  introduces  beasts  or  trees  conversing  together  with 
 the  faculties  nf  men  ;  all  is  built  on  nature  and  life.  Once  only,  in 
 the  rich  man  and  Lnzaius,  the  scene  is  laid  beyond  this  world. — Dr. 
 TotvNsnn.  A  snn-er,  Sfc,  Christ  represents  himself  under  this  image. 
 4.  Some  seedit  fell t  ^c— by  the  different  soils  on  which  the  seed  falls, 
 he  shews  that,  of  a!l  the  crowd  of  people  that  ran  after  his  preaching, 
 there  were  few  in  whom  his  word  took  rnnt  and  bore  fruit.  The  parable 
 was  also  a  represenration  of  all  the  ministers  of  the  gospel,  'Miirk, 
 iv.  U,  1  Cor.  i.x.  11.)  and  points  out  the  soit  of  success  they  are  to 
 expect  from  their  ministry. ^.V«r.  Tfie  ivty  side,  is  the  beaten  path 
 which  lay  through  the  corn  fields.— fl.  Watson.  The  fowls  came,  ^c, 
 where  husbandmen  are  sowing,  thousands  of  starlings  will  cover  the 
 ground  in  Palestine,  and  lay  a  heavy  contiihution  on  the  erain  thrown 
 into  the  furrows,  which  are  not  covered  by  harrowing,  as  in  Europe. — 
 Buckinghnm.  5.  Upon  stony  places,  tirt  ra  7reTpti>3ri,  'upon  rocky 
 ground.'  A  continued  rock,  with  a  very  thin  cover  of  eaith. — Camp. 
 6.  Were  scorrhed — in  Palestine,  during  the  seed  time,  (in  November.) 
 the  sky  is  cloudy  ;  the  seed  then  springs  up  even  in  stony  places  ;  but 
 when  the  sun  dissipates  the  clouds,  it  quickly  outgrows  its  strength. 
 
 —  Rosenm.  J.  Among  thorns,  under  this  word  are  included  brieiy 
 weeds  and  every  other  worthless  plant.— U'a^son.  8.  Into  good 
 g-rounrf— in  sowing,  the  largest  portion  falls  into  good  soil ;  but  Christ's 
 parables  were  designed  to  teach  some  general  truth  only,  and  the  mi- 
 nute circumstances  must  ntit  be  pressed  toomuch. — Barnes.  An  hun. 
 dredfnld — such  an  increase,  even  in  those  fruitful  countries,  was  not 
 very  common,  but,  however,  sometimes  happened,  (see  Gen.  xxvi.  12.) 
 
 —  Dnddr.  u.  The  mysteries,  Td  nv^rnpta,  '  Ihe  secrets.'  —  Camp. 
 The  first  and  leading  sense  of  the  word  is,  '  not  mystery.*  according  to 
 the  meaning  of  the  word  in  English,  denoting  something  incompre- 
 hensible, but  secret  -,  anything  not  disclosed  to  the  world,  though  per- 
 h^ips  communicated  to  a  select  number.— ZJutt.  The  original  word 
 rinps  not  merely  denote  a  thing  hidden,  and  therefore  unknown,  but 
 alcn  a  doctrine  &c.  more  or  less  obscure,  and  which  requires  explica- 
 tion.— B Zoom/.  Jesus  adopted  not  this  mode  of  instruction  till  the 
 Jewish  guides  accused  him  of  being  in  league  with  Satan.  They  would 
 not  have  continued  to  have  heard  Hie  truth  in  plain  language. -Tott-n^- 
 
 12.  Whosoever  halh,  ^c,  this  is  an  allusion  to  a  common  cus- 
 
 end. 
 
 torn  in  all  countries  :  he  who  possesses  much,  or  is  rich,  to  such  a  per- 
 son presents  are  ordinarily  given  ;  ami  the  poor  man,  that  has  little, 
 may  be  ca'-iiv  made  a  prey  of,  and  so  u^sp  his  little.— C/ir/;-?.      A  pro- 
 WHO 
 
 verbial  saying,  and  means,  that  those  who  are  readily  disp'iscd  to  at- 
 tend to  his  doctrine,  shall  Le  fully  informed  about  it ;  whereas  the 
 careless  and  inattentive  ht^arer  shall  have  no  benefit  ironx  his  instruc- 
 tion.—if/'.  Pearre.  *  Hath,'  txav,  is  here  to  have  profitably,  to  use. — 
 Kisley.  From  him  shall  be  taken,  he  shall  be  utterly  deprived  of  those 
 means  and  opportunities  uf  salvation  which  he  has  neglected  and 
 slighted.— Wu(«o«.  13.   Seeing  see  nut,    ^c,  seeing  the  greatest 
 
 miracles,  they  have  not  been  convinced;  and  hearing  the  plainest 
 doctrine,'*,  they  would  not  be  made  to  understand.— S.  Clarke.  They 
 shut  their  eyes  agninst  the  light,  and  neglect  or  abuse  the  means  of 
 knowled^re.  -Jorfin.  l-l.  In  them  is  fulfilled,  ^c,  ava-nXrtpovTat,  'is 
 AGAIN  fulfilled,*— .-1.  Clarke.  This  is  one  of  that  class  of  prophecies 
 wliich  relate  to  a  twofold  event.- Wa/«.  There  must  have  been,  in 
 the  description  <  f  the  prophet,  a  special  view  to  the  age  of  the  Messiah, 
 which  the  obduracy  of  Isaiah's  contemporaries  was  (xliibitcd  to  pre- 
 figure.—C«mp.  TIti--  passage  is  frequently  quoted  and  applied  to  the 
 unbelieving  Jews. — Bp.  Pearce.  By  hearing  ye  shall  hear,  ^c. — the 
 sense  of  the  prophecy  is,  with  respect  to  the  times  of  the  Messiah,  that 
 the  Jews,  whilst  heuring  the  sermons  preached  by  him,  whether  with 
 or  without  parubles,  shnnld  hear  his  voice,  and  the  sijund  of  it,  but  not 
 understand  his  words  internally,  spiritually,  and  experimentally  ;  and 
 whilst  they  saw  with  the  eyes  of  their  bodies  the  miracles  he  wrought, 
 they  should  see  the  facts  done,  which  could  ntit  be  gainsayed  by  them, 
 but  should  not  take  in  the  clear  evidence,  full  proof,  and  certain  de- 
 monstration given  thereby  of  his  Messlahship.- GiV/.  15.  Gross, 
 'fat,'  (see  on  Isa.  vi.  10,  note.)  17-  Many  prophets  and  righteous 
 men,  ^c. — the  words  include  all  the  ancient  saints,  who  earne^tIy  de- 
 sired to  see  Messiah.  —  Watson,  19.  Understandeth  it  not,  fxii 
 T.-t-ievTor,  '  mindeih  it  not.'— Camp.  Iwini^i,  properly  signifies  'to 
 consi'ltr,'  *  think,'  '  lay  to  heart.' — Wat^ion.  The  word  of  the  kingdom, 
 the  instruction  of  the  gospel  -the  Christian  doctrine.- B/omw*/.  Then 
 Cometh— catcheth^hcre  the  promptitude  of  the  enemy,  '  he  cometh 
 i.MMEDiATBLY,'  and  his  hastily  skizimo  and  oathkrino  vp  the  seed, 
 forcibly  express  the  malignant  industry  of  Satan,  and  his  eagerness  to 
 turn  away  the  attention  of  men  from  the  salutary  truths  they  hear.— 
 Watson.  The  knowledge  of  anything  may  be  said  to  be  taken  away 
 when  it  passes  into  oblivion,  or  seemingoblivion.— B/oom/.  '20.  Anon, 
 eiiOv^, '  presently.'— />r*f.^e.  21 .  Vet  halh  he  not  root  in  himself,  the  wiud 
 is  not  rooted  in  him.— Gi7/.  He  is  offended,  .rKavaaXifcTai,  *  he  is  hiu- 
 dered.'— A'eyu'.  '  He  rclapseth.'- C'/imp.  His  faith  is  all  on  the  surface. 
 —J.Iiennet.  'Falleth  away,' becomes  an  apostate. —.Boo/Ar.,  soAVti-r. 
 22.  lirceitfaftiess.  '  delusion. '-/^yf/t^-.  25.  Tares,  OC^via,  'darnel,* 
 not  lares,  for  they  are  food  for  cattle,  and  easily  distinguished  from 
 
/'he  parables  of  the  mustard  seed 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XIII. 
 
 and  of  the  hidden  treasure. 
 
 xoQ^  seed  in  thy  field?  from  whence  then 
 hath  it  tares? 
 
 tJ8  He  said  unto  them,  An  enemy  liath  done 
 tliis.  The  servants  said  unto  him,  Wilt  thou 
 then  that  we  go  and  gatlier  them  up? 
 
 '29  But  he  said,  Nay  ;  lest  while  ye  gather 
 Lip  the  tares,  ye  root  up  also  the  wheat  with 
 them. 
 
 30  Let  botli  grow^  together  until  the  harvest : 
 and  in  the  time  of  harvest  1  will  say  to  the 
 reapers.  Gather  ye  together  first  the  tares,  and 
 bind  them  in  bundles  to  burn  them  :  but 
 *  gather  tlie  wheat  into  my  barn. 
 
 31  t  Another  parable  put  be  forth  unto  them, 
 saying,  "  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  to  a 
 grain  of  mustard  seed,  which  a  man  took,  and 
 sowed  in  his  field  : 
 
 3*2  Which  indeed  is  the  least  of  all  seeds  : 
 but  when  it  is  grown,  it  is  the  greatest  among 
 herbs,  and  beconietli  a  tree,  so  that  the  birds 
 of  the  air  come  and  lodge  in  tlie  branches 
 thereof. 
 
 33  II  ^  Another  parable  spake  he  unto  them  ; 
 The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  leaven, 
 which  a  woman  took,  and  hid  in  three  f  mea- 
 sures of  meal,  till  the  whole  was  leavened. 
 
 34  *"  All  these  things  spake  Jesus  unto  the 
 multitude  in  parables  ;  and  without  a  parable 
 spake  he  not  unto  them  : 
 
 35  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
 by  the  prophet,  saying,  ^  I  will  open  my  mouth 
 in  parables;  "1  will  utter  things  which  have 
 been  kept  secret  from  the  foundation  of  the 
 world. 
 
 36  Then  Jesus  sent  the  multitude  away,  and 
 went  into  the  house  :  and  his  disciples  came 
 unto  him,  saying.  Declare  unto  us  the  parable 
 of  the  tares  of  tlie  field. 
 
 37  He  answered  and  said  unto  them.  He  that 
 soweth  the  good  seed  is  the  Son  of  man  ; 
 
 38  ^  The  field  is  the  world  ;  the  good  seed 
 are  the  children  of  the  kingdom  ;  but  the  tares 
 are  ^  the  children  of  the  wicked  one; 
 
 s    2-  2.3. 
 lie    4.  1. 
 I.trk  I    *1 
 uk«  |:J.18, 
 
 f  The  word 
 ill  the 
 (;reek  is  a 
 
 C'i'ilaiii'fig 
 
 a„d  «  h.af, 
 
 Ih.n,  „  l.int 
 y   M.n-!(  t. 
 
 J  v%.  7«.  a. 
 
 a  Kom.  lb. 
 25,  -26. 
 I   Cor.  8.  7. 
 Eph.  3.  9. 
 Col-  1-26. 
 
 b  ch.  2*.  U. 
 
 &2rt.  19. 
 
 Markl'l  15, 
 
 2li,T.iike-'l. 
 
 47  H'.iii  I" 
 
 18   Ci'l    1.6 
 c  Geu.  3.  13. 
 
 John  S.  «. 
 
 Acts  13    10. 
 
 IJnhnS.S. 
 
 d  Joel  3    It. 
 Rev.  14.1ft. 
 
 ecl>.  IS.  7. 
 
 2  Pet, 2  1.2. 
 |i  Or,  tcan- 
 
 daU. 
 
 fch.  3.  V2. 
 
 Kev.  19.20. 
 
 &  20.   Ill 
 jrJi.  ft    12. 
 
 ver.  50 
 /.  nau.  12.  S 
 
 Wifid.  3.  7. 
 
 IC.r. 15.42, 
 
 48,  .S8 
 i  ver.  9. 
 
 I  Is.  .^5    I. 
 Rev.  3.  18. 
 
 m  Pro  2.  4 
 &  3.  H.  Ift. 
 8c  8.  10,  I'J. 
 
 39  The  enemy  that  sowed  them  is  the  devil; 
 •^  the  harvest  is  the  end  of  the  world  ;  and  the 
 reapers  are  the  angels. 
 
 40  As  therefore  the  tares  are  gathered  and 
 burned  in  the  fire;  so  shall  it  be  in  the  end  of 
 this  world. 
 
 41  The  Sou  of  man  shall  send  forth  his  angels, 
 ''and  they  shall  gather  out  of  his  kingdom  all 
 II  things  that  offend,  and  them  which  do  ini- 
 quity ; 
 
 42  *■  And  shall  cast  them  into  a  furnace  of 
 fire  :  ^  there  shall  be  wailing  and  gnashing  of 
 teeth. 
 
 43  ''  Tlien  shall  the  righteous  shine  forth  as 
 the  sun  in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father.  'Who 
 hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 
 
 44  H  Again,  the  kingdum  of  heaven  is  like 
 unto  treasure  hid  in  a  field  ;  the  wliich  when 
 a  man  hath  found,  he  hideth,  and  for  joy  there- 
 of goeth  and  ^  selleth  all  that  he  hath,  and 
 '  buyeth  that  field. 
 
 45  If  Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like 
 unto  a  merchant  man,  seeking  goodly  pearls  : 
 
 46  Who,  wlien  he  had  found  "'  one  pearl  of 
 great  price,  went  and  sold  all  that  he  had,  and 
 bought  it. 
 
 47  %  Again,  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like 
 unto  a  net,  that  was  ca'Jt  into  the  sea,  and 
 "gathered  of  every  kind  : 
 
 48  Which,  when*  it  was  full,  they  drew  to 
 shore,  and  sat  down,  and  gathered  the  good 
 into  vessels,  but  cast  the  bad  away. 
 
 49  So  shall  it  be  at  the  end  of  the  world  : 
 the  angels  shall  come  forth,  and  "  sever  the 
 wicked  from  among  the  just, 
 
 50  ^  And  sl)al]  cast  them  into  the  furnace  of 
 fire  :  there  shall  be  wailing  and  gnashing  of 
 teeth. 
 
 31  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Have  ye  under- 
 stood all  these  things?  They  say  unto  him. 
 Yea,  Lord. 
 
 52  Then  said  he  unto  them,  Tlierefore  every 
 scribe  which  is  instructed  unto  the  kingdom  of 
 
 corn,  being  a  kind  of  vetch  ;  but  this  weed  was  only  fit  to  be  burnt, 
 and  resembled  wheat. — Camp.  29.  Lest—t/e  root  tip  also  the  u-ftent, 
 — Christ  would  have  his  servants  and  churches  very  cautious  in  cast- 
 ing out  offenders,  lest  they  should  excommunicate  saints  rather  than 
 sinners. — Ottysf.  Great  caution  and  moderation  must  be  used  in 
 inflicting  and  continuing  church  censures,  lest  the  wheat  be  trodden 
 down,  if  not  jtlucked  up.— Hen.  The  parable  must  be  understood  as 
 not  referring  at  all  to  church  di-cipliue,  for  heretics  were,  after  suitable 
 admonition,  to  be  'rejected.'  For  many  ages,  almost  all  ministers, 
 good  and  bad,  advocated  the  rooting  up  of  the  taies  by  the  arm  of 
 power,  and  the  parable  is  opposed  to  religious  persecution.— TTfi^son. 
 30.  Let  both  grow  together,  ^c,  signifies  the  mixture  of  good  and  bad 
 in  the  present  state,  and  that  the  punishment  uf  the  guilty  wculd  in- 
 volve the  innocent  in  suffering;  the  punishment  of  individuals  and 
 nations  is,  therefore,  delayed. — Portfus,  so  Sherlock.  Shews  that  a 
 pure  and  perfect  church  cannot  be  e.xpected  in  the  present  state  of 
 things.— Gi//.  32.  The  least  of  all  seeds,  one  of  the  least.— Tro;)p. 
 
 The  least  of  such  seeds  as  become  large  trees.— >"ir  T.  Browne.  'A 
 stalk  of  mustard-seed  was  in  my  fitld,  into  which  I  was  used  to  climb, 
 as  men  do  into  a  fig  tree.* — H.  Culipha,  in  Whitby/.  This  parable 
 teaches,  that  from  small  beginnings  will  the  Christian  doctrine  spread 
 in  the  world,  and  true  religion  in  the  soul. — Bens.  33.  Leaven, 
 
 which  a  uomuji  fooA"— anciently  the  womcu  kneaded  the  dough  and 
 made  bread.— il/ur.  Three  measures — the  aajov  measure  was  about  a 
 peck  and  a  half  English,  and  three  measures  were  probably  the  quan- 
 tity usually  leavened  at  one  time  for  domestic  use. —  Watson.  See 
 Gen.  xviii.  6.  Till  the  whole  was  /fufcned— the  fornur  parable  repre- 
 sents the  kingdom  of  heaven  as  set  up  iu  the  world,  and  this  in  the 
 heart.— H-'i7.  34.  Without  a  parable  spake  he  not,  §-c.,  that  is,  at 
 this  time;  at  other  times  he  did.— Bens.  Rather,  his  parables  were 
 frequent  and  numerous. — Hew.  35.  That  itmight  be  fulfilled,  §-e. — 
 Christ  answered  to  the  typical  Asaph  as  a  teacher,  and  his  shadowy 
 ministry  was  directly  fulfilled  h\  Christ.— U'u^aoh.  The  words  of  Asaph 
 described  the  manner  in  which  Christ  taught,  and  in  this  sen>e  it  could 
 be  said  that  they  were  fulfilled. — Barnes.  It  is  evideutthat  the  evan- 
 gelist accommodates  the  words  to  the  present  occasion. — Boothr.,  sn 
 Bens.  The  passage  quoted  is  not  a  prophecy,  but  only  means  that 
 Jesus  used  a  mode  of  teaching  similar  to  that  which  the  Divine  Pro- 
 phet formerly  used,  i.  e.,  similitudes,  new  and  belore  unheard  of. — 
 Bloomf.  36.  Declare,  if'paffov,  •  explain.'— .4.  Clarke.  41.  All  thinps 
 that  offend,  waiTa  to  oKak-^.iAa,  'all  the  scandals,'  or  'stumbling 
 101  I 
 
 blocks.'  Whatever  or  whoever  hart  grieved  the  children  of  God,  or 
 been  an  obstruction  to  them  iu  their  Christian  course. — Bens.  42.  A 
 /urnacc  o/^re,  not  a  material  but  a  metaphorical  one,  denoting  the 
 wTath  of  God  —GtV/.  Hell,  which,  in  regard  of  the  severe  torments 
 which  the  damned  shall  feel  there,  is  often  in  Scripture  compared  to 
 tire  ;  torments  proportioned  to,  if  not  exceedine,  that  of  burning  living 
 bodies  in  fire. — Poole  The  allusion  is  to  the  oriental  custom  i-f  huru- 
 ing  alive,  mentioned  in  Pan.  iii.  11. — Bloomf.  44,  Treasure  Itid  in  a 
 field,  $r](Tav(Kft  K€Kpvfifi€tw,  '  to  a  hidden  treasure.*  Not  a  pot  or  chest 
 of  money,  which,  as  an  eminent  critic  observes,  might  liave  been 
 carried  away  without  the  purchase  of  the  field,  hut  rather  a  gold  or 
 silver  mine.  He  hideth,  kept  secret.— Clarke.  The  paral)le  determines 
 nothing  on  the  morality  i^f  the  case,  its  object  being  simply  to  shew 
 that  when  men  are  brought  properly  to  value  'salvation,  they  will  be 
 ready  to  make  any  reqviired  sacrifice  to  obtain  it.  45.  Goodly  pearls, 
 —these  were  favourite  stunes  in  the  cast,  and  estimated  at  a  high 
 valno  ;  and  the  adjacent  coasts  of  the  Red  Sea  made  this  article  of 
 traffic  familiar  to  the  Jews.— Wa/wn.  The  former  seems  to  represent 
 those  in  whose  way  the  gospel  falls,  the  latter  those  who  inquire  after 
 it.— Soil/arA-n.  4".  A  n'-t,  ^c,  om'^nvij,  'a  dragnet,'  which  gathers 
 all  sorts  of  fish  by  the  way.  dragging  the  bottom.— C/wrA-e.  This 
 parable  alludes  to  the  occupation  of  the  apostles  as  fishermen,  and  re- 
 presents them  as  catching  men  indiscriminately  of  all  sorts,  to  compose 
 the  visible  church  of  Chri'^t.- //-W^s.  48.  The  bad,  aaTzpa,  '  corrupt,* 
 or  •  putrid  ;'  it  alludes  to  the  drawing  up  some  dead  fish  with  the  living. 
 —Doddr.  It  means,  '  the  refuse.'  There  is  no  allusion  to  dead  fish, 
 as  Doddridge  thinks.— i)/oom/.  The  law  interdicted  the  use  of  fish 
 without  fins  or  scales ;  hence  the  Hebrew  fishermen  must  have  thrown 
 away,  as  useless,  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  fish  which  they 
 caught.— So  Pirt.  Bib.  The  truth  here  taught  is,  that  though  by  the 
 minbtration  of  Christ's  servants  a  visible  mixed  church  only  i'*  formed, 
 this  will  not  retain  its  permanent  character  :  in  eternity,  the  separation 
 will  be  complete  and  tjoal.  5'2.  Even/  scribe,  §-c.— the  Scribes  were 
 distinguished  hy  their  skill  in  the  Jewish  laws  and  religion,  and  were 
 thus  qualified  for  public  teachers.  They  were,  however,  conversant 
 merely  with  the  letter  of  the  law.  Our  Lord  calls  those  whom  he  here 
 instructed,  Scribes.  These  were  instructed  unto  the  kin f^dom  of  heaven, 
 and  made  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  gospel.  Such  are  here  com- 
 pared to  a  householder,  or  master  of  a  family,  who  had  laid  up  iu  bis 
 treasury  or  storehouse  those  provisions  necessary  for  him  daily  to  dis- 
 pense to  his  td^tnUy. —  Watson,  Gill.       Things  new   and  old,   always 
 
Cfirist  is  contemned. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XIV. 
 
 Jesus  departeth  into  a  dcaert  place. 
 
 heaven  is  like  unto  a  man  that  is  an  house- 
 liolder,  which  brino;eth  forth  out  of  his  treasure 
 '^  things  new  and  old. 
 
 53  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  Jesus 
 had  finished  these  parables,  he  departed  thence. 
 
 54  '  And  when  he  was  come  into  his  own 
 country,  he  taught  them  in  their  synagogue, 
 insomuch  that  they  were  astonished,  and  said, 
 Whence  hath  this  man  this  wisdom,  and  thesf 
 mighty  works? 
 
 55  '  Is  not  this  the  carpenter's  son  ?  is  not  his 
 mother  called  Mary  ?  and  "^  his  brethren,  "James, 
 and  Joses.  and  Simon,  and  Judas? 
 
 56  And  his  sisters,  are  they  not  all  with  us? 
 Whence  then  hath  this  man  all  these  tilings? 
 
 57  Aiid  they  ^were  offended  in  him.  But 
 Jesus  said  unto  them,  ^  A  prophet  is  notwitli- 
 out  honour,  save  in  his  own  country,  and  in  his 
 own  house. 
 
 58  And  '  lie  did  not  many  mighty  works  there 
 because  of  their  unbelief. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 -I  HerofVs  opinion  of  Chr 'ft.  3  Whtriforv  John  Bap- 
 tist was  beheaded.  }'.^  Jlsiis  ik-jKirietk  into  a  desert 
 place:  15  where  he  f'eejeth  ^five  thousand  vicn  with 
 Jive  loaves  and  two  fishes  ■  22  he  walheth  on  the  sea 
 to  his  disciples  ■■  34  arid  hinding  at  Gtnnesuret, 
 healeth  the  sick  by  the  touch  of  the  hem  of  h  is  garment. 
 
 \  T  that  tune  "  Herod  the  totrarcb  heard  of 
 -^~*-  the  fame  of  Jesus, 
 
 q  Catit.7  11 
 
 r  ch.  2.  23. 
 Mark  6.  1- 
 Luke  4.  t6, 
 
 I  Is.  49-  7 
 Mark  r.  :». 
 
 ,r  ch.  1 1  6. 
 Mark  G.'t.l 
 V  l.uke  l.'.'l 
 
 JoUn  t    M 
 
 A.  n  n>. 
 
 a  MaikC.lt. 
 Luk«9.  7. 
 
 II  Or.  flr^ 
 UTonght  tiy 
 
 •  Lev.  18.16, 
 &  20   SI, 
 
 i  i-h.  ai  2fi. 
 
 l.uke  2U-  6. 
 
 A.  n.  3?, 
 •  ch.  in,  '2S. 
 &  12.  15 
 Mark  fi.  3^. 
 I  like  9.  Ii;. 
 JohuC.l,  S. 
 
 2  And  said  unto  his  servants.  This  is  John 
 the  Baptist ;  he  is  risen  from  the  dead  ;  and 
 therefore  mighty  works  ||  do  shew  fortli  them- 
 selves in  him. 
 
 3  ^  ^  For  Herod  had  laid  hold  un  John,  and 
 bound  him,  and  put  him  in  prison  for  Herodias' 
 sake,  his  brother  Philip's  wife. 
 
 4  For  John  saiii  unto  him,  '  It  is  not  lawful 
 for  thee  to  Jiave  her. 
 
 5  And  wlien  lie  would  have  put  him  to  death, 
 he  feared  the  multitude/ because  they  counted 
 him  as  a  prophet. 
 
 6  But  when  Herod's  birthday  was  kept,  the 
 daughter  of  Herodias  danced  f  before  tlunn, 
 and  pleased  Herod. 
 
 7  Whereupon  he  promised  with  an  oath  to 
 give  her  whatsoever  she  would  ask. 
 
 8  And  she,  being  before  instructed  of  her 
 mother, said.  Give  me  here  John  liaptist's  head 
 in  a  charger. 
 
 i>  And  the  king  was  sorry  :  nevertheless  for 
 tiie  oath's  sake,  and  them  which  sat  with  him 
 at  meat,  he  commanded  it  to  be  given  her. 
 
 10  And  he  sent,  and  beheaded  John  in  the 
 prison. 
 
 1 1  And  his  head  was  brought  in  a  charger, 
 and  given  to  the  damsel:  and  she  brought  lY 
 to  her  mother. 
 
 I'2  And  his  disciples  came,  and  took  up  the 
 body,  and  buried  it,  and  went  and  told  Jesus. 
 
 13  t"  When  Jesus  heard  of  it>  he  departed 
 thence  by  ship  into  a  desert  place  apart  :    and 
 
 gathering  in  new  fruits  to  the  old,  that  the  slorehoose  of  their  minds 
 should  never  be  scanty. —  Watson.  54.  His  own  country/,  Nazareth, 
 where  he  had  been  brought  up.  (Luke,  iv.  \6.)-~Iip.  I'earre.  55.  Car^ 
 penter^s  sun,  u  t""  tcktovoc  uior,  the  word  translated  *  carpenter' sig- 
 nifies *a  wcrlter  in  iron,  stone,  or  wood,'  that  is,  'an  artificer;'  but 
 when  used  alone,  without  an  adjective,  in  Scripture  it  uniformly  sig- 
 nifies •  a  carpenter.'— Vf'«(507i.  See  in  Sept.  ;  2  Kings,  xxii.  6;  2Chron. 
 xsiv.  12;  xxxiv.  11;  Fzra,  iii.  7  ;  Isa.xli.  7;  Zech.  i.  20. — Cnmp.  It 
 is  the  ancient  tradition  of  the  cliuich  that  Joseph  was  a  carpenter. — 
 Beausohre .  .\mongst  the  Jews,  all  fathers  were  cnji^ined  to  teach  their 
 children  a  trade. — Lii^htf.  His  brethren,  probably  not  any  sons  of  Jo- 
 seph by  a  former  wife,  as  some  have  supposed,  but  the  sons  of  his 
 mother's  sister,  the  wife  of  Cleopbas  ;  it  being  consistent  with  the  lan- 
 guage of  the  Jews  to  call  cousins  by  the  name  of  brethren. — So  St. 
 Jerome,  see  Whitby.  57.  Theii  ui  re  offended  in  him,  'fell  over  the 
 stumblinghlock  of  his  humble  condition  and  connexions,  and  refused 
 to  acknowledgpe  him  to  be  the  Messiah.'  A  pi-ophet,  fyc. — he  is  more 
 usually  honoured  by  strangers  than  by  his  immediate  connexions, 
 who  arc  apt  to  be  moved  by  envy  at  the  distinction  put  upon  him. — 
 Watson.  This  seems  to  have  been  a  proverbial  speech.— fiiY/.  It  has 
 been  correctly  rendered  by  Doddridge,  'a  prophet  has  nowhere  less 
 honour  than  in  his  own  country.* — Bloom/.  58.  Because  of  their 
 unbelief— not  that  this  limited  his  power,  but  influenced  bntli  the  sick 
 and  their  friends,  who  had  no  inclination  to  make  trial  of  his  power. — 
 Watsun.  It  was  neither  fit  nor  convenient  to  perform  any  more  works, 
 since  they  were  ofTended  with  what  was  done. — Gilt. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. —  l.Tetmrrh,  6  Ttjpapxn^,  signifies  properly,  *thc 
 ruler  over  a  quarrer  of  any  region.'— Ca?/ip.  We  must  take  it  here  in 
 a  more  general  sense,  a  'sovereign.'  Herod's  kingdom  was  divided 
 amongst  three.— ..1/ar.  This  was  Herod  Antipas,  (see  chap.  ii.  1.) 
 Heard  of  the  fame,  that  Herod  had  not  heard  it  before  can  only  be 
 accounted  for  by  the  disregard  which  persons  in  high  rank  shew  to 
 the  concerns  of  religion.  But  now  the  subject  attracted  general  atten- 
 tion, and  he  could  no  longer  remain  in  ignorance.— Sew f£.         2.  This 
 
 is  John,  ^c,  Herod  was  a  Sadduccc,  and  denied  a  resurrection ;  yet  his 
 fears  now  overcame  his  prejudices.— For^tu*.  3.  Put  him  in  prison, 
 where  it  is  calculated  he  lay  a  year  and  a  half. — Hen.  5.  Feared  the 
 multitude,  'apprehended  a  mutiny.' — Guyse.  5.  TAe  daughter  of 
 Herodias,  her  name  was  Salome.  l>attced,  u-pxti^uTo,  not  in  the  rude 
 style  anciently  used  among  the  Jewish  females,  at  public  rejoicings; 
 but  that  lascivious  and  pantomimic  sort  then  recently  introduced  from 
 the  neighbouring  nations  into  the  Jewish  court.^ — So  J«j'.,  6.63. — 
 Bliiomf.  Before  them,  iv  tw  nim^.  '  in  the  midst.'  This  was  a  shame- 
 less glorying  of  Herod  and  his  unlawful  wife  in  their  infamy,  Salome 
 being  the  offspring  of  Philip,  whom  she  had  deserted. —  Watson.  It 
 was  anciently  reckooed  indecent  for  ladies  of  distinction  to  dance  in 
 public.  Instance  queen  Vashti,  and  the  absence  of  Herodias  herself  on 
 this  occasion.  If  so,  this  dancing  was  not  accidental,  but  a  contrivance 
 of  the  mother. — Mackn.  Salome  danced  m  public,  according  to  an 
 ancient  custom  of  eastern  kings,  on  festival  occasions.— BeniwoAi-f. 
 There  appears  no  ground  for  considering  it  in  itself  as  an  act  of  light- 
 ness or  indignity,  the  princess  being  but  a  child,  though  sufficiently  old 
 to  be  instructed  by  her  mother  what  to  ask  of  Herod,  in  consequence 
 of  his  oath. —  Watson.  It  may  be  inferred,  Salome  was  of  age,  carrying 
 the  head,  &c. — Mackn.  y.  Instructed,  ■rrpofitfia<T8ei(Ta, '  instigated.* 
 
 In  a  charger,  ctti  ttivoki,  rendered  'platter,'  Luke,  xi.  3Q. — Scott. 
 y.  Was  anrry,  one  reason  might  be,  because  it  was  an  ill  omen  to  shed 
 blood  on  his  birth  day. — Ham.  For  the  oath's  sake.  Am  tow  opKovs, 
 oaths,  pi.,  (so  Mark,  vi.  26.) — Srott.  10.  He  sent,  an  executioner, 
 as  in  Mark,  vi.  27-  11.  His  head  was  brought  in  a  charger,  a  common 
 practice,  to  prove  the  execution  of  criminals.— Sto/^  13.  He  de. 
 parted,  lest  the  people,  enraged  at  the  murder  of  John,  might  rise  in 
 rebellion,  and  he  bear  the  blame  ;  and  having  a  wish  to  refresh  himself 
 and  his  apostles,  after  a  season  of  excessive  fatigue,  (Mark,  vi.  31.)— 
 Bhomf.  Because  his  time  was  not  yet  come. — Gill.  He  avoided  put- 
 ting himself  in  the  hands  of  his  enemies. — Mar.  On  foot,  mOh  so  it 
 means,  opposed  to  '  on  horseback,;*  and  '  by  land,'  when  contrasted 
 with  '  by  sea.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIII. — We  may  select  the  parable 
 of  the  sower  for  our  particular  notice.  In  this,  our  Lord  has 
 described  the  several  classes  of  hearers  of  the  word  : — I.  The 
 thouffhtlcss  hearers.  And  how  numerous  are  these,  who  Iiave 
 for  years  been  within  the  sound  of  the  Gospel,  and  attended 
 many  thousands  of  sermons,  but  have  never  yet  heard  one. 
 Their  minds  are  beaten  hard  as  a  foot-path  by  crowds  of  vain 
 worldly  thoughts,  and  nothing  sinks  into  them. 
 
 II.  The  fickle  hearers,  who, ahei  being  delighted,  are  oifended. 
 '  Tlie  heart  is  still  a  rock,  and  it  is  only  on  iho  surface  that  its 
 apparent  goodness  lays,  producing  a  momentary  pleasure, 
 without  any  deep,  heart-felt  change.' 
 
 III.  irorW/y  Aearers,  whose  '  cares  so  choke  the  word  tiiat 
 tbey  leave  no  time  and  no  heart  for  the  reading  of  tiie  Bible, 
 for  secret  prayer,  or,  at  last,  for  the  hearing  of  the  word,  and 
 the  sanctification  of  the  Sabbaih.*  'Then  come  riches,  and 
 prove  choking  thorns,'     Rich  men    indeed,   soon  turn  away 
 
 1012 
 
 from  the  faithful  administration  of  the  word  that  would  coun- 
 teract the  evil  tendency  of  their  wealth. 
 
 IV.  The  fruitful  hearers.  These  are  they  '  who,  in  an  honest 
 and  good  heart,  having  heard  the  word,  keep  it,  and  bring  forth 
 fruit  with  patience.'  When  the  Spirit  of  God  renews  the  heart, 
 a  '  man  of  understanding  is  of  an  excellent  spirit ;'  the  word  is 
 received  according  to  its  true  import  by  the  enlightened 
 mind,  and  welcomed  with  deserved  affection  by  the  heart  no 
 longor  a  stone.  This  soil  bears  fruit  meet  for  repentance. 
 Faith,  love,  and  humility,  meekness,  benevolence,  and  dUi- 
 gence,  are  brought  forth  with  'patience.'  ftlay  the  Holy 
 Spirit  enable  us  so  to  '  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  digest'  the 
 Divine  Word,  that  we  may  bring  forth  fruit  to  the  glory  of 
 God  and  the  honour  of  the  Gospel,  not  only  thirty,  and  sixty, 
 but  even  an  liundred  fold.  Amen.— See  Bennett  on  Christ's 
 Preaching. 
 
Christ  fecdctU  Jive  thousand. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XIV. 
 
 /le  heaieth  the  sick. 
 
 when  the  people  had  heard  thereof^  they  fol- 
 lowed hiiu  on  foot  out  of  tho  cities. 
 
 14  And  Jesus  went  furth,  and  saw  a  great 
 multitude,  and  '"was  moved  witli  compassion 
 toward  tliein,  and  lie  liealed  their  sick. 
 
 1j  1[  ^  And  wlien  it  was  evening,  his  disciples 
 came  to  him,  saying,  Tliis  is  a  desert  place,  and 
 the  time  is  now  past  ;  send  the  muUitude  away, 
 that  they  may  go  into  the  villages,  and  buy 
 themselves  victuals. 
 
 16  But  Jesus  said  unto  them,  They  need  not 
 depart;  give  ye  them  to  eat. 
 
 17  And  they  say  unto  him.  We  have  here  but 
 five  loaves,  and  two  fishes. 
 
 18  He  said.  Bring  them  hither  to  me. 
 
 19  And  he  commanded  the  muUitude  to  sit 
 down  on  the  grass,  and  took  the  five  loaves, 
 and  tile  two  fishes,  and  looking  up  to  heaven, 
 ''he  blessed,  and  Ijiake,  and  gave  the  loaves  to 
 his  disciples,  and  the  disciples  to  the  multi- 
 tude, 
 
 •20  And  they  did  all  eat.  and  were  filled  :  and 
 they  took  up  of  the  fragments  that  remained 
 twelve  baskets  full. 
 
 21  And  they  that  had  eaten  were  about  five 
 thousand  men,  beside  women  and  children. 
 
 22  IT  And  straiglitway  Jesus  constrained  his 
 disciples  to  get  into  a  ship,  and  to  go  before 
 him  unto  the  other  side,  while  he  sent  the 
 multitudes  away. 
 
 23  '  And  when  be  had  sent  the  multitudes 
 away,  he  went  up  into  a  mountain  apart  to 
 pray:  ''and  when  the  evening  was  come,  he 
 was  there  alone. 
 
 24  But  the  ship  was  now  in  the  midst  of  the 
 
 k  eh    If.    ni 
 
 m  Pa.  2.  7. 
 Mai'k  I.I. 
 ch.  16.  IG. 
 (tc  '2ii.  G3. 
 I.uke  •1.41. 
 JuhD  I.  19. 
 
 f*  n  69. 
 
 Re  II,  27. 
 
 Arts  3,  37 
 
 Horn    l.'l. 
 
 '.  Murk  6.5:) 
 
 .  rh.  fl    20, 
 
 M:irk  3.  10 
 I.iike  6.  1" 
 Acts  19.  la 
 
 sea,  tossed  with  waves:  for  the  wind  was  con- 
 trary. 
 
 2r>  And  in  the  fourth  watch  of  the  night  Jesus 
 went  unto  thrm,  walking  on  the  sea, 
 
 2G  And  when  the  disciples  saw  him  '  walking 
 on  the  sea,  they  were  trouliled,  saying,  It  is  a 
 spirit  ;  and  they  cried  out  for  fear. 
 
 27  But  straightway  Jesus  spake  unto  them, 
 saying.  Be  of  good  cheer  ;  it  is  I  ;  be  not  afraid. 
 
 28  And  Peter  answered  him  and  said.  Lord, 
 if  it  be  thou,  bid  me  come  unto  thee  on  the 
 water. 
 
 29  Aud  he  said.  Come.  And  when  Peter  was 
 come  down  out  of  the  ship,  he  walked  on  the 
 water,  to  go  to  Jesus. 
 
 30  But  when  he  saw  the  wind  ||  boisterous, 
 he  was  afraid  ;  aud  beginning  to  sink,  he  cried, 
 saying.  Lord,  save  me. 
 
 31  And  immediately  Jesus  stretched  forth  A/.s- 
 hand,  and  caught  him,  and  said  unto  him,  () 
 thou  of  little  faith,  wherefore  didst  thou  doubt? 
 
 32  Aud  when  they  were  come  into  the  ship, 
 the  wind  ceased. 
 
 33  Then  they  that  were  in  the  ship  came  and 
 worshipped  him,  saying.  Of  a  truth  ""  thou  art 
 the  Son  of  God. 
 
 34  t "  And  when  they  were  gone  oyer,  they 
 came  into  the  land  of  Gennesaret. 
 
 35  And  when  the  men  of  that  place  had 
 knowledge  of  liim,  they  sent  out  into  all  that 
 country  round  about,  and  brought  unto  him 
 all  that  were  diseased  ; 
 
 36  And  besought  him  that  they  might  only 
 touch  the  hem  of  his  garment :  and  °  as  many 
 as  touched  were  made  perfectly  whole. 
 
 15.  When  it  vnis  evenin/r,  the  Jews  had  two  evunings.  the  one, 
 commencing  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  (the  time  of  the  evening 
 sacriftce,)  the  other,  about  six,  or  sunset.  — Cnrnpbelt.  This  means 
 the  first  evening-,  which  is  plain  from  ver.  23,  where  another  even- 
 ing is  said  to  have  come  after  the  people  were  fed  and  dismissed.— 
 Bern.  Desert  place,  where  was  no  food,  and  whrre  were  no  hnuses 
 of  entertainment.— Gi//.  The  time  is  now  p'txt,  h  wpa  ^i^e  iraphXBcv, 
 *  the  time  for  dinner.'— JI/«rA:/anrf,  Gill.  Or  '  the  time  for  supper,*  the 
 chief  meal,  which,  in  that  country,  was  commonly  after  the  heat  of 
 the  day.— B/^.  Pearce.  The  day  is  now  far  spent,  (as  in  Mark,  vi.  35,) 
 ^Blonmf.  ig.  To  sit  down,  avaK\<Onvai,  'to  recline.' — Scott.  He 
 blessed,  it  was  God  that  he  blessed,  and  not  the  loaves  ■.  and  it  was  the 
 Jewish  custom  not  to  bless  the  food  but  the  God  who  gave  it.^C'tmp., 
 Watson,  Clarke.  Clirist's  blessing  the  fund  is  called  a  giving  of  thanks 
 in  a  like  case,  chap.  xv.  36;  Mark,  viii.  (i ;  and  in  this  very  case, 
 John,  vi.  11. — Guijse,  He  had,  probably,  a  special  reference  to  the 
 multiplying  of  the  food. — Hen.  He  commanded  upon  the  provisions 
 that  singular  blessing  by  which  they  were  to  be  multiplied  in  the  dis- 
 tribution.—i>orfdr.  Luke  adds,  '  he  blessed  them,'  that  is,  the  loaves  ; 
 he  probably  blessed  God  as  the  donor,  and  the  loaves  also  to  multiply 
 ttxem.— Evan.  Synops.  And  brake,  Jewish  loaves,  like  all  the  oriental 
 ones,  were  thin  and  brittle,  and  rather  fit  to  he  broken  than  cut.— See 
 Rosenm.,  Kninoel.  20.  Twelve  baskets  full,  an  c.\tra"r(hnary  and 
 astonishing  instance  of  our  Lord's  power  over  nature.  —  Porteus. 
 Baskets,  Ko'piviivi,  in  these  the  Jews  always  carried  food  wh'.-n  travel- 
 ling, especially  among  Gentiles,  having  no  reason  to  expect  hospi- 
 tality, or  to  avoid  unclean  food.  Hence  we  may  understand  how  it 
 happened  that  there  should  be  so  many  baskets  with  Jesus  and  the 
 apostles,  (see  Juv.  G.  5i2.)~Btoomf.  21.  Beside  women  and  children, 
 who  might  be  near  as  l^rge  a  number  as  the  men.— Gi7/.  22.  Con. 
 strained  his  disciples,  vriio,  being  too  fond  of  secular  views,  were  in- 
 clined to  stay  at  this  favourable  juncture.— Z>f^rfdr. ,-  so  Gilt,  and  Scott. 
 The  disciples  were  loth  to  go  to  sea  without  Christ.- /fen.,  Mar. 
 llvafKaatv,  he  constrained,  implies  no  more  than  that  he  exhorted  or 
 
 directed  ihvm.— Watson.  'He  caused  them.'— See  Bluomf.,  Krebs, 
 Eisner,  Kypke.  23.  The  evening,  the  second  evening,  which  began 
 at  six  o'clock,  (see  ver.  \b,  nnte.)  25.  Fourth  watch,  the  Jewish  di- 
 vision of  the  night  was  into  three  watches  ;  but  now  the  Roman  dis- 
 tribution into  four  watches  seems  to  have  been  adopted  ;  from  6  to  y  ; 
 9  to  12;  12  to  3;  and  3  to  6  ;  this  was  the  latter. — Watson.  26.  A 
 spirit,  (piivTatTfia,  *  an  apparition,*  *  spectre.' — See  Schlcustier,  Wetstein  ; 
 tjo  Hen.  We  have  here  a  proof  that  the  belief  in  the  existence  of  men 
 after  death,  and  a  spiritual  world,  was  the  belief  of  the  Jews.— -I^H^Avin. 
 The  Je\v<.  especially  the  Pharisees,  had  a  notion,  from  whom  the  dis- 
 ciples might  have  theirs,  of  spirits,  apparitions,  and  demons,  being  to 
 be  seen  in  the  night.  And  the  fear  of  the  disciples  might  be  in- 
 creased, through  a  vulgar  notion  among  seafaring  men,  that  .such 
 sights  are  ominous,  and  portend  evil  to  sailors.— Gi7/.  27.  Be  0/ 
 
 good  cheer,  Oapaetrt,  '  be  courageous.' — Hen.  2S.  1/  it  be  thou,  or 
 
 rather,  'since  it  is  thou  ;'  Peter  di<l  not  doubt  of  its  being  his  Master, 
 or  his  request  would  have  been  most  absurd. — Dav.  30.  To  sink, 
 K-iTanovTtCi<rOai,  '  as  with  a  weight.'  Perhaps  Peter  presumed  on  being 
 able  to  swim,  whifh  art,  for  wise  reasons,  n<iw  failed  him. — Doddr.  I 
 can  recognise  no  such  emphasis  as  Doddridge  supposes,  '  sinking  with 
 a  weight.* — Bloom/.  33.  The  Soti  of  God,  Oeov  Y'ios,  'a  Son  of  God,' 
 and  not  '  the  Son  of  God.'  which  has  another  form  in  the  Greek,  .1  Yiup 
 Tou  Ofov.  The  heathen  mariners  might  mean,  that  Christ  was  only  a 
 prophet. — Camp  This  meant,  aDivinc  person  sent  from  God,  but  not 
 the  Messiah. —  Wets.  A  reference  to  Matt,  xxvii.  43,  and  connexion; 
 Luke,  i.  35  ;  and  Rom.  i.  4  ;  will  prove  this  form  of  speech  to  mean 
 'the  Sou  of  Goil,*  and  it  is  probable  the  vessel  was  worked  by  the  dis- 
 ciples themselves,  and  not  liy  hfathen  mariners,  the  disciples  being  for 
 the  most  part  fishermen.  In  the  passage  in  the  Romans,  unquestion- 
 ably the  highest  possible  conception  of  Christ  as  the  Sou  of  God  must 
 have  been  in  the  mind  of  the  apostle.  36.  finli/  touch,  the  virtue  was 
 not  in  the  garment,  but  the  toucliing  it  was  an  act  of  faith,  and  it  was 
 rewarded. —  Watson. 
 
 Reflect[ons  on  Chap.  XIV.  —  This  chapter  records  — 
 I,  The  beheading  vf  John  the  Baptist.  Such  was  the  reward 
 which  his  honesty  and  faithfulness  obtained  from  those  whom 
 he  warned  ;  but  the  ministers  of  God  must  bo  faithful  re- 
 provers, whether  men  will  hear  or  not.  The  testimony  of  a 
 good  conscience,  even  where  life  is  at  stake,  ought  to  be  esti- 
 mated at  the  worth  of  a  thousand  lives. 
 
 II.  The  miracles  of  Christ's  feeding  the  multitude  and  walking 
 upon  the  water.  From  the  account  of  the  first,  we  learn  to 
 look  to  God  for  his  blessing  before  we  taste  our  food  ;  it  is 
 that  which  can  fiivo  the  most  delicious  flavour  to  the  most 
 humble  fare.  There  is  u  dignity  of  thought,  as  well  a^  dig- 
 1013 
 
 nity  of  enjoyment,  experienced  by  him  who  takes  even  the 
 morsel  of  crust,  and  says,  witii  iiis  heart,  'This  comes  to  mo 
 from  my  heavenly  Fatbor — my  God!' — From  the  second  mi- 
 racle we  are  taught,  in  every  extremity  to  ht't  up  our  hearts 
 to  God  in  prayer.  '  When  faith  is  weak,'  says  ftlutthew 
 Henry,  '  prayer  should  be  strong.*  And  the  matter  of  Peter's 
 prayer  was  pertinent — he  cried,  *  Lord  save  me  !'  Christ  is  the 
 great  Saviour;  he  came  lo  save:  those  tbat  would  be  saved 
 must  not  only  come  to  him,  but  cry  to  him  for  salvation ;  but 
 we  are  never  brought  lo  this  till  we  find  ourselves  sinking  ; 
 sense  of  need  will  drive  us  to  him. 
 
Christ  rcprovelh  the  scribes  and  Pharisees      S.  MATTHEW,  XV.      for  transgressing  God's  commandments. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 3  Christ  reproveth  the  scnlics  and  Plmrlsees  for  trans- 
 gnssiru/  God's  commandments  through  their  own 
 traditions  :  1 1  teachith  how  that  which  tjoeth  into  the 
 movth  doth  not  dfjile  a  man,  21  He  heahth  the 
 daughter  of  the  woman  of  Canaan,  30  and  other 
 great  multitudes  :  3*2  and  with  scren  haves  and  a  few 
 little  fshfs  feedelh  four  thousand  mm,  btside  womm 
 ttnd  cfidiiren. 
 
 T^HEN  *  caine  to  Jesus  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
 -'-    which  were  of  Jerusalem,  saying, 
 -2  ^  Why  do  thy  disciples  transgress  *^  the  tra- 
 dition of  the  elders?  for  they   wash  not  their 
 hands  when  they  eat  bread. 
 
 3  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Why 
 do  ye  also  transgress  the  conunaudment  of 
 God  by  your  tradition? 
 
 4  For  God  commanded,  saying,  *'  Honour  thy 
 father  and  motlier :  and,  "  He  that  curseth  fa- 
 ther or  mother,  let  hiin  die  the  death. 
 
 5  But  ye  say,  Whosoever  shall  say  to  his  fa- 
 ther or  his  mother,  *"  Tt  is  a  gift,  by  whatsoever 
 thou  mightest  be  profited  by  me  ; 
 
 6  And  honour  not  his  father  or  his  mother, 
 he  shall  he  free.  Thus  have  ye  made  the  com- 
 mandment of  God  of  none  effect  by  your  tra- 
 dition. 
 
 7  ^  Ye  hypocrites,  well  did  Esaias  prophesy 
 of  you,  saying, 
 
 8  ''This  people  draweth  nigh  unto  me  with 
 their  moutl),  anil  honouretli  me  with  Mei>  lips  ; 
 but  their  lieart  is  far  from  me. 
 
 y  But  in  vain  tliey  do  worship  me,  '  teaching 
 for  doctrines  the  commandments  of  men. 
 
 10  t ''  And  he  called  the  multitude,  and  said 
 unto  them.  Hear,  and  understand  ; 
 
 1 1  '  Not  that  which  goeth  into  the  mouth 
 defileth  a  man  ;  but  that  which  cometh  out  of 
 the  mouth,  this  defileth  a  man. 
 
 b  Mark  7. 5. 
 c  Col.  2.  8. 
 
 d  Kx  Si).  12. 
 
 Lev.  19  S. 
 
 Deu.  6    16. 
 
 Pro.  23.  22 
 
 Epli.  6.  2. 
 e  Ex.21.  17. 
 
 Lev.  SLi.  9. 
 
 Deu.  27,  16. 
 
 P.  o.  81).  20. 
 
 &  SO.  17 
 /Mark  7.  H, 
 
 y  Itlnrk  7.  6. 
 
 Eie.  SS.  31. 
 
 k  Mark  7,11-. 
 
 /  ArlsUl    15 
 Horn.  11.11. 
 
 I  Is.  9.  ir>. 
 Mai   2.  S 
 i-li    23.  IB. 
 Luke  (i  39 
 
 r  Geiv  fl.  5 
 ft  a.  21. 
 Pro  6.  U. 
 Jer.  17.  9 
 Mark  7.21. 
 
 u  ch  10.  5,  6. 
 Arts  S  25, 
 2fl  «t  \3.1C: 
 Horn.  1&.  S. 
 
 12  Then  came  his  disciples,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Knowest  thou  that  the  Pharisees  were 
 offended,  after  they  heard  this  saying? 
 
 13  But  he  answered  and  said,  '"Every  plant, 
 which  my  heavenly  Father  hath  not  planted, 
 shall  be  rooted  up. 
 
 14  Let  them  alone  :  "they  be  blind  leaders 
 of  the  blind.  And  if  the  blind  lead  tiie  blind, 
 both  shall  fall  into  the  ditch. 
 
 15  "  Then  answered  Peter  and  said  unto  him, 
 Declare  unto  us  this  parable. 
 
 IG  And  Jesus  said,  ^  Are  ye  also  yet  witliout 
 understanding? 
 
 17  Do  not  ye  yet  understand,  tiiat  '^whatso- 
 ever entereth  in  at  the  mouth  goeth  into  the 
 belly,  and  is  cast  out  into  the  dranglit? 
 
 18  But  ■"  those  things  which  proceed  out  of 
 the  mouth  come  forth  from  the  heart ;  and 
 they  defile  the  man. 
 
 10  '  Forout  of  the  heart  proceed  evil  tlionghts, 
 murders,  adulteries,  fornications,  theft.s,  false 
 witness,  blasphemie.s : 
 
 20  These  are  the  things  which  defile  a  man  : 
 but  to  eat  wit!i  unwashen  hands  defileth  not  a 
 man. 
 
 21  If  *  Then  Jesus  went  thence,  and  departed 
 into  the  coasts  of  Tyre  and  Sidon. 
 
 22  And,  behold,  a  woman  of  Canaan  came 
 out  of  the  same  coasts,  and  cried  unto  him, 
 saying,  Have  mercy  on  me,  O  Lord,  thou  son 
 of  David  ;  my  daughter  is  grievously  vexed 
 with  a  devil. 
 
 23  But  he  answered  her  not  a  w^ord.  And 
 his  disciples  came  and  besought  him,  saying, 
 Send  lier  away  ;  for  she  crieth  after  us. 
 
 24  But  he  answered  and  said,  "  I  am  not  sent 
 b\U  unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel. 
 
 25  Then  came  she  and  worshipped  him,  say- 
 ing, Lord,  help  me. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  1.  Scribes,  not  a  sect,  but  au  order  of  men  ;  probably 
 Levitcs,  whu  were  devoted  to  letters  and  public  teacliing,  while  the 
 priests  ofBciated  at  the  sacrifices. — Pict.  Bib.  M'hich  uere  of  Jerusa- 
 lem, those  of  Jerusalem  were  the  chief,  men  of  the  greatest  learning 
 and  abilities,  and  most  expiri  m  their  religion  and  customs.  These 
 were  sent  from  the  Sanhedrim,  or  came  of  themselves. — Gill.  They 
 came  to  propose  captious  qne^tions,  and  lay  snares  for  Jesus. — Bloom/. 
 2.  T/ie  tradition  of  the  elders — the  cabala,  or  unwritten  law,  was 
 counted  by  the  Pharisees  of  equal  authnrily  with  the  law  itself. — Sut. 
 It  is  notorious  that  the  Jews,  at  this  day,  have  scores  of  traditions, 
 which  they  exalt  far  above  the  word  of  God. — Keyu\  Wash  nut  thtir 
 hands — *  he  that  taketh  meat  with  unwashen  hands,'  says  one  of  the 
 rabbles,  '  is  worthy  of  death.' — Ham.  This  custom  was  not  one  of 
 cleanliness,  but  of  superstition  ;  for,  whether  the  hands  needed  cleans- 
 ing or  not,  it  was  equally  binding. —  Watson.  3.  Why  do  ye  also 
 transgress,  ^c — Christ  here  tears  up  the  very  foundation  on  which 
 their  whole  reasonini;;  was  directed,  and  shews  by  a  manifest  example 
 how  this  tradition  is  often  at  variance  with  the  Divine  laws. — Bluovif. 
 4.  Honour,  by  honmir  is  meant  all  kind  of  duty  which  children  owe 
 to  their  parents. — Bezn.  In  1  Tmi.  v.  3,  1",  'to  honour'  means  'to 
 relieve  and  support. — Trapp.  I'ursefh  father,  §-e. — see  Lev.  xx.  Q. 
 'o  KatcoX(*7wv,  '  rcvileth ;'  other  words  are  used  in  the  original  for 
 *  curse.' — Camp.  5.  Jt  is  a  gift  by  whatsoever,  %c.,  'devoted  be 
 everything  of  mine  by  which  thou  mightest  be  profited;  he  shall  not 
 then  honour  his  father  or  his  mother.' — Bonthr.  St.  Mark  exprc>ses 
 it,  'it  is  corban.*  The  word  'corban*  signifies  a  sacred  gift  or  ofl^er- 
 ing,  from  np,  'to  offer;*  and  from  hence  the  treasury  of  the  temple 
 was  called  Kop/3avoi>,  as  the  depositary  of  Ihe  consecrated  or  devoted 
 oflTerings.  Such  gifts  were  unalienable,  and  could  not  be  diverted 
 to  any  other  use.  The  word  'corban'  was  therefore  used  in  vow- 
 ing or  dedicating  anything  to  a  sacred  or  supposed  sacred  use,  and 
 had  the  import  of  a  solemn  oath.  Hence  the  Pharisees  held,  that  if 
 parents  applied  for  relief,  and  the  ctiiklren  said  'Corban,*  tliey  were 
 free  from  obeying  the  fifth  commandment. — So  Watson.  Campbell 
 has  clearly  proved  that  this  was  not  anything  given  in  the  temple,  but 
 a  kind  of  imprecation  on  himself  if  he  ever  gave  anything  to  support 
 his  aged  parents,  (see  Campbell's  note.  Mark,  vii.  II.)  In  case  he  re- 
 pented, the  Pharisees  taught  that  what  he  had  vowed  was  a  sacred 
 thing,  and  belonged  to  them. — Boothmyd.  He  was  not  held  to  be 
 hound  by  his  word  to  devote  his  estate  tt»  sacred  uses  ;  but  not  to  re- 
 lieve  the  parent  he  was  inviolably  bound.— Lt^/i (/bo (.  /.  Prophesy 
 
 of  you,  Ka\u>p  Ttpoeipnreuje  iiept  ifioiv,  may  be  paraphrastically  ren- 
 dered, '  the  words  or  Isaiah  are  exactly  suitable  to  yon.'— Bloom/.,  so 
 Bp.  Pearce.  Tlie  priiphecy  has  respect,  also,  to  the  times  of  the  Mes- 
 siah,  and  ranks,  therefore,  in  that  class  of  predictions  which  have  a 
 primary  and  an  ulterior  application.      g.  Wor.s/iip  me~the  word  '  wor- 
 
 ship'  here  means  everything  by  which  reverence  is  manifested,  and 
 respect  is  had  to  God. — Watson.  The  commtindments  of  men,  (vTij\- 
 fxara  aitV"""^^.  '  institutions  merely  human.' — Camp.  1 1.  Not  that 
 which  goeth  into,  fyc,  '  real  purity  and  impurity  do  not  consist  in  out- 
 ward cleanliness  or  uncleanUness  of  body,  but  they  are  the  inward  and 
 moral  dispositions  of  the  mind.' — S.  Clarke.  13.  Every  plant,  7t.i-t>. 
 (/■i-TCui,  '  plants'  here  signify  '  doctrine,'  by  a  metaphor  common  to  iXw 
 Hebrew  writers,  who  compare  the  human  mind  to  a  field,  and  precepts 
 and  doctrines  to  seeds  and  plants. — Bloom/.  The  Greek  word  properly 
 means,  'every  plantation  or  nursery  of  plants.'  thus  Stly  applying  to  a 
 multitude  of  men,  as  here  to  the  sect  of  the  Pharisees. — Ham.,  so  also 
 Clarke.  14.  Let  thrm  alone,  atpcre  avrovv,  it  means,  'more  entirely 
 
 renounce  them.*— H'ti /son.  \g.  Evil  thoughts,  itaXoftafxot  ttohip"", 
 
 '  wicked  dialogues ;'  for  in  all  evil  surmisings  the  heart  holds  a  conver- 
 sation or  dialogue  with  itself.  Blasphemies,  the  verb  fiXaatfutfitnj,  when 
 applied  to  men,  signifies  '  to  speak  iNJURioifsi.v  of  their  persons,  clia- 
 racters,  &c. ;'  and  when  to  God,  'to  speak  imtiouslv  of  his  natiire, 
 works,  &c.' — A.  Clarke.  21.  Jyito  the  coasts,  ei?  ra  ptpn — as  Christ 
 
 does  not  appear  to  have  actually  entered  into  the  Gentiie  territories, 
 we  must  here  interpret  the  preposition  €ir,  rendered  *  into,'  '  towsnls,' 
 as  the  Syrinr. — Bloom/.  1*2.  O/  Canaan — Mark  calls  her  *  a  Greek — 
 aSyropheiiician  by  nation,'  [chap.  vii.  26.)  By  '  Greek' is  meant  'Gen- 
 tiles,* as  Paul  divides  men  into  Jews  and  Gentiles.  It  does  not,  how- 
 ever, follow  that  she  was  an  idolatress,  for,  in  the  neighbouring 
 countries,  there  were  worshippers  of  the  true  God,  as  Cornelius,  l.jelia, 
 and  others. — Bloom/.  This  woman  was  <'f  that  part  of  the  coast  of 
 Canaan,  on  the  Mediterranean,  in  which  the  cities  of  Tyre  and  Sidon 
 were  situated,  and  is,  in  the  Acts,  termed  the  coasts  of  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
 as  here,  (ver.  21 .) — Wats<in.  Thou  son  of  David — the  Greek  translation 
 of  the  Old  Testament  had  spread  considerable  knowledge  among  the 
 surrounding  nations;  and  of  this  'son  of  David,'  tiiis  woman  had, 
 perhaps,  read  that  he  should  come  to  work  deliverances  in  Israel,  and, 
 having  heard  of  Christ*s  miracles,  she  concluded  this  was  he. — So 
 J.  Bennett.  This  woman  might  be  a  proselyte,  at  least,  of  the  gale, 
 since  she  addressed  our  Lord  by  a  known  character  among  the  Jews. 
 — Guyse.  Is  grievously  vexed  with  a  devil,  kokcuc  Aainoiri^trat,  '  she  is 
 ill-bewitched,*  or  '  possessed  ;'  there  were  degrees  of  that  misery,  and 
 this  was  the   worst  sort.  —  Hen.  23.   Answered  her  not  a  word — 
 
 Augustine  inferred,  from  our  Saviour's  contemjjt  of  her.  that  she  was 
 a  woman  of  a  vicious  and  dissolute  character  ;  but  the  neglect  at  first 
 shewn  was  in  order  to  try  the  faith  and  constancy  of  this  (Jeniile.— 
 Bloom/.  24.  J  am  not  sent — according  to  the  analogy  of  the  .Tewi;<h 
 language,  '  am  principally,  or  in  the  first  place,  sent  to  them.* — 
 S.  Clarke.  The  tost  sheep  o/  the  house  o/  Israel,  meaning  the  whole 
 nation  of  the  Jews,  who,  being  as  sheep  dispersed  without  a  shepherd, 
 arc  therefore  called  'lost  sheep,'  (Mutt.  x.  6.) — Whitby.      House,  sig- 
 
Christ  feedeth  the  multitude. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XVI. 
 
 The  Pharisees  require  a  sign. 
 
 26  But  he  answered  and  said.  It  is  not  meeti   a.  d.  a.'. 
 
 to  take  the  children's  bread,  and  to  cast  it  to 
 '  dogs. 
 
 27  And  she  said,  Truth,  Lord  :  yet  the  dogs 
 eat  of  the  crumbs  which  fall  from  their  master's 
 table. 
 
 28  Tlien  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her, 
 O  woman,  great  is  thy  faith  :  be  it  unto  thee 
 even  as  thou  wilt.  And  her  daughter  was 
 made  whole  from  that  very  hour. 
 
 29  ''  And  Jesus  departed  from  thence,  and 
 came  nigh  '  unto  the  sea  of  Galilee  ;  and  went 
 up  into  a  mountain,  and  sat  down  there. 
 
 30  °  And  great  multitudes  came  unto  him, 
 having  with  tliem  those  that  were  lame,  blind, 
 dumb,  maimed,  and  many  others,  and  cast  them 
 down  at  Jesus'  feet ;  and  he  healed  them  : 
 
 31  Insomuch  that  tlie  multitude  wondered, 
 when  they  saw  the  dumb  to  speak,  the  maimed 
 to  be  whole,  the  lame  to  walk,  and  the  blind 
 to  see  :  and  they  glorified  the  God  of  Israel. 
 
 32  If  ''  Then  Jesus  called  his  disciples  unto 
 him,  and  said,  I  have  compassion  on  the  mul- 
 titude, because  they  continue  with  me  now 
 three  days,  and  have  nothing  to  eat :  and  1 
 will  not  send  them  away  fasting,  lest  they 
 faint  in  the  way. 
 
 33  "  And  his  disciples  say  unto  him.  Whence 
 should  we  have  so  much  bread  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, as  to  fill  so  great  a  multitude? 
 
 34  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  How  many 
 loaves  have  ye?  And  they  said,  Seven,  and  a 
 few  little  fishes. 
 
 35  And  he  commanded  the  multitude  to  sit 
 down  on  the  ground. 
 
 36  And  ''  he  took  the  seven  loaves  and  the 
 fishes,  and  "gave  thanks,  and  brake  them,  and 
 gave  to  his  disciples,  and  the  disciples  to  the 
 multitude. 
 
 37  And  they  did  all  eat,  and  were  filled  :  and 
 they  took  up  of  the  broken  meat  that  was  left 
 seven  baskets  full. 
 
 38  And  they  that  did  eat  were  four  thousand 
 men,  beside  women  and  children. 
 
 39  '  And  he  sent  away  the  multitude,  and 
 took  ship,  and  came  into  the  coasts  of  Mag- 
 dala. 
 
 CHAP.   XVI. 
 
 1    T/te  Pharisees  reqicire  a  S'(/h.     6  Jesits  ivartieth  his 
 disciples  of  the  ieaven  of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees. 
 
 ),  Mnrk7.:<l 
 ;  ch.  4.  IS 
 
 '  ISiitii.g.lS. 
 Luke  2^.19. 
 
 '  ch.  1?.  38. 
 Mark  S.  II 
 I.ukttll  16. 
 «(  l-.i.  5-1— 
 &6.1  Cor.l. 
 22. 
 
 ■  ch.  H.  17. 
 JoUu  0.  9. 
 
 '  Mark  R.27. 
 [,ukc9.  16. 
 
 /.  ch.  H.  S. 
 I.iike  Q.  7, 
 8,9. 
 
 13  The  people's  opinion  of  Christ,  lU  and  Peter's 
 confession  of  him.  2\  Jesus  foreshrweth  his  death, 
 2'.i  r<  provint/  Peter  for  dissuadint^  him  from  it:  24 
 and  athiumishcth  those  that  will  follow  him,  to  bear 
 the  cross. 
 
 nPHE  'Pharisees  also  with  the  Sadducees 
 -^  came,  and  tempting  desired  him  that  he 
 would  shew  them  a  sign  from  heaven. 
 
 2  He  answered  and  said  unto  them,  When  it 
 is  evening,  ye  say.  It  will  lie  fair  weather  :  for 
 the  sky  is  red. 
 
 3  And  in  the  morning.  It  will  be  foul 
 weather  to  day  :  for  the  sky  is  red  and  lowring. 
 
 0  ye  hypocrites,  ye  can  discern  the  face  of  the 
 sky  ;  but  can  ye  not  discern  the  signs  of  the 
 times  ? 
 
 4  ''  A  wicked  and  adulterous  generation  seek- 
 eth  after  a  sign  i  and  there  sliall  no  sign  be 
 given  unto  it,  but  the  .sign  of  the  prophet 
 Jonas.     And  he  left  them,  and  departed. 
 
 3  And  "  when  his  disciples  were  come  to  the 
 other  side,  they  bad  forgotten  to  take  bread. 
 
 6  H  Then  Jesus  said  unto  tbem,  ''  Take  heed 
 and  beware  of  the  leaven  of  tlie  Pharisees  and 
 of  the  Sadducees. 
 
 7  And  they  reasoned  among  themselves,  say- 
 ing. It  is  because  we  have  taken  no  bread. 
 
 8  Which  when  Jesus  perceived,  he  said  unto 
 them,  O  ye  of  little  faith,  why  reason  ye  among 
 yourselves,  because  ye  have  brouglit  no  liread  ? 
 
 9  '  Do  ye  not  yet  understand,  neither  remem- 
 ber the  five  loaves  of  the  five  thousand,  and 
 how  many  baskets  ye  took  up? 
 
 10  'Neither  the  seven  loaves  of  the  four 
 thousand,  and  how  many  baskets  ye  took  up  ? 
 
 11  How  is  it  that  ye  do  not  understand  that 
 
 1  spake  it  not  to  you  concerning  bread,  that 
 ye  should  beware  of  the  leaven  of  the  Phari- 
 sees and  of  the  Sadducees? 
 
 12  Then  understood  they  hovv-  that  he  bade 
 thetn  not  beware  of  the  leaven  of  bread,  but  of 
 the  doctrine  of  tlie  Pliarisees  and  of  the  Sad- 
 ducees. 
 
 13  K  When  Jesus  came  into  the  coasts  of 
 Cas.sarea  Philippi,  he  asked  his  disciples,  say- 
 ing, *  Whom  do  men  say  that  I  the  Son  of  man 
 am  ? 
 
 14  And  they  said,  '' Some  say  that  thou  art 
 John  the  Baptist :  some,  Ehas ;  and  others, 
 Jeremias,  or  one  of  the  prophets. 
 
 nifies  '  family,'  *  nation  ;'  and  Christ  so  said  because  the  Israelites  had 
 all  one  common  father,  Israel. —  Rnsenm.  y6.  To  the  dogs — our  Lord 
 here  adopted  tht' langiiaf;e  of  the  Jews  when  they  spoke  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles, evidently  with  a  view  to  strengthen  hi.s  subsequent  commenda- 
 tion.—So  CaH^j.  31.  Dumf>.  K<i)0wi'f.  the  word  means  •  deaf  and  dumb.' 
 —Blofunf.  Mninipd,  means,  sometimes,  '  disabled,'  but  sometimes 
 *  men  that  had  lost  tlieir  limbs'—'  those  whose  limbs  had  been  ampu- 
 tated ;'  the  recovery  of  such  was  among  the  most  surprising  of  Christ's 
 miracle^. — Hum.,  Doddr.  '  MaimeM'  does  not  imply  the  deprivation  of 
 one  or  more  limbs,  but  the  use  of  them  by  distortion  or  paralysis. 
 37-  Baskets,  o-TTi-pidac,  '  hand-baskets,'  i.  e.,  baskets  with  handles. — 
 Bloom/.  The  hand-baskets  were  carried  by  hand,  but  those  mentioned 
 iu  the  former  miracle,  notpivovt,  were  suspended  from  the  shoulder,  and 
 were  probably  larger.— So  Wiitson,  39.  MngdaUi,  a  place  on  the 
 
 eastern  side  of  the  lake. — Bonthr.  Mark  says,  '  he  came  inio  the  parts 
 of  Dalmanutha,  which  was  a  place  within  the  coasts  of  Magdala.' — 
 Gill. 
 
 Ch.^p.  XVI.  —  1.  Tempting,  iretpnCoi-Tfc,  'to  try  him.' — Camp.     The 
 word  implies  a  captious  malevolence. — Bloovtf.    A  sign—sec  chap.  xii. 
 
 3ti.  note.  3.  Signs  of  the  times,  these  were  the  departure  of  the 
 sceptre  from  Juilah,  for  Junea  was  now  a  Roman  province  ;  the  ap- 
 pearance of  Christ's  forerunner  ;  and  his  own  charatti-r  and  conduct. 
 —  Watson.  4.  .Adultei'Qiis  generation — see  chap.  .\ii.  33,  note.  No 
 sign,  such  as  they  might  demand,  for  they  had  miracles  enough, 
 fi.  The  learen,  means,  '  their  doctrines,'  (ver.  12.)  So  called,  probably, 
 from  their  insinuating  nature. — Ed.  y.  Because  we  liave  taken  na 
 
 hread — this  may  refer  to  the  practice  of  the  Jewish  doctors,  who  often 
 forbade  their  disciples  to  purchase  bread  of  the  heathens  or  Samaritans, 
 which  was  a  partaking  of  their  leaven. — See  Lighlf.  12.  The  doc. 
 trine  of  the  Pharisees,  their  traditions.  .i}id  of  the  Sadducees,  who 
 denied  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  the  spirituality  of  the  soul, 
 (Acts,  xxiii.  8.) — Mar.  13.  Casarea  Philippi,  anciently  Laish  and 
 
 Paneas,  rebudt  by  Philip  the  Tctrarch,  and  called  by  him  'Ca?sarca,' 
 in  honour  of  Tiberias  Caesar,  Philippi  being  added  to  distinguish  it 
 from  Cesarea,  a  seaport  on  the  .Mediterranean. —  Watson,  Duddridge. 
 Whom  do  men  say,  ^c. — Christ  knew,  but  required  an  e.xpress  declara- 
 tion of  their  faith  from  his  disciples. — Mar.  14.  Some  say — John — 
 Herod  and  the  Scribes  believed  in    the  Pythagorean  notion  of  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.4p.  XV We  may  here  remark  on, 
 
 I.  The  Jewish  traditions.  And  Christ  teaches  us  that  his 
 word  must  not  be  deteriorated  by  any  admixture  of  the  fancies 
 and  corruptions  of  men.  '  Ki-ery  word  of  God  is  pure,'  and 
 human  traditions  do  but  pollute  the  stream. 
 
 II.  Human  depravitij.     .\11  vice    proceeds    from    the   heart. 
 
 Tiiis   is   the  soil   wliich   brings   forth   every   noxious   weed. 
 
 Hence  Divine  grace  begins  to  operate  by  renewing  the  heart ; 
 
 and  hence  without  such  a  renewal,  and  '  except  a  man  be  born 
 
 1015 
 
 again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God,'  he  can  be  no  sub- 
 ject of  the  kingdom  of  grace  here,  nor  of  the  kin  L;dom  of  glory 
 hereafter. 
 
 III.  The  excellency  of  faith.  With  what  obstacles  does  it 
 perseveringly  contend  !  How  Clirist  commends  and  rewards 
 it !  An  apostle  does  not  value  it  too  iiighly  when  he  calls  it, 
 '  precious  faith  !'  It  is  the  hand  thai  receives  all  the  Saviour's 
 best  blessings. 
 
Peter's  confession  of  Christ. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XVI. 
 
 Jesus  foresheweth  his  dealh. 
 
 15  He  saith  unto  them,  But  whom  say  ye 
 
 that  I  am  ?  i        j       •  i 
 
 16  And  Simon  Peter  answered  and  said, 
 '  Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God. 
 
 17  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him. 
 Blessed  art  thun,  Simon  Bar-jona  :  "  for  flesh 
 and  blood  hatli  not  revealed  it  unto  thee,  but 
 '  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 
 
 18  And  1  say  also  unto  thee.  That  "  thou  art 
 Peter,  and  "upon  this  rock  I  will  build  my 
 church  ;  and  "the  gates  of  hell  shall  nut  pre- 
 vail against  it. 
 
 19  ''^nd  I  will  give  unto  thee  the  keys  ol 
 the  kingdom  of  heaven  :  and  whatsoever  thou 
 Shalt  bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven  : 
 and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  loose  on  earth  shall 
 he  loosed  in  heaven. 
 
 20  'i  Then  charged  he  his  disciples  that  they 
 should  tell  no  man  that  he  was  Jesus  tlie 
 Christ. 
 
 21  1  From  that  time  lorth  began  Jesus  'to 
 shew  unto  his  disciples,  how  that  he  must  go 
 unto  Jerusalem,  and  suffer  many  things  of  the 
 elders  and  chief  priests  and  scribes,  and  be 
 killed,  and  be  raised  again  the  third  day. 
 
 22  Then  Peter  took  him,  and  began  to  re- 
 buke him,  saying,  t  Be  it  far  from  thee,  Lord  : 
 this  shall  not  be  unto  thee. 
 
 23  But  he  turned,  and  said  unto  Peter,  Get 
 thee  behind  me,  '  Satan  :  '  thou  art  an  offence 
 unto  me  :  for  thou  savourest  not  the  things 
 that  be  of  God,  but  those  that  be  of  men. 
 
 24  t  "  Then  said  Jesus  unto  his  disciples.  If 
 any  man  will  come  afterane.let  him  deny  him- 
 self, and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  me. 
 
 25  For  'whosoever  will  .save  his  life  shall 
 lose  it :  and  whosoever  will  lose  his  life  for  my 
 sake  shall  find  it. 
 
 26  For  what  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall 
 gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ? 
 
 transmieration  of  souls,  as  implied  chap.  xiv.  2.— Bens.  Eltas,  the 
 Messiah's  forerunner,  (Mai.  iii.  I  ;  iv.  i.)—Mar.  Jeremias-B  current 
 tradition  then  prcvaile.l  amoni;  the  Jews,  that  either  Jeremiah  or  some 
 of  the  ancient  prophets  would  rise  again  when  the  Messiah  catnc.- 
 Crndock  l6.  The  Christ,  his  office.     Son,  the  name  of  the  person. 
 
 Livini;.  in  opposition  to  iioU.-ilar.  17-  Blcssidartlhou.  .Mm.m 
 liar  inna,  or  son  of  Jona.  He  is  pronounced  blessed  as  having  a  true 
 knowledge  of  God.  and  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  whom  to  know  is  hfe 
 eternal.  Flesh  and  blood,  that  is,  men,  in  distinction  from  l.od.— 
 am  nut  my  Father,  '  my  heavenly  Father  has  irradiated  your  mind, 
 and' revealed  it  to  you,  by  his  Spirit,  for  the  saving  of  your  soul.  - 
 Ouvse  IH.  Thou  art  Peter.  ^,-.— the  words  are  emphatical  ;  Simon 
 
 had  said  to  Jesus,  •  Thou  art  Christ,  ftc'-Jesus  in  return  says.    Thou 
 art  Peter,'  &c. ;  cr.,  e.  n.Tpot,  Ka,  e,r,  T„.iTj;  t;,  «.rp?.  'thou  art  named 
 rock  and  on  this  rock.'-Comp.     Our  Lord  taught  by  beautuul  and 
 easily  undcrstoml  enigmas.     In  this  passage  he  confirms  to  Simon  the 
 new  name  of  Peter,  which  had  before  been  given  him,  aerceahly  to 
 the  practice  of  the  Jewish  doctors  to  give  new  names  to  their  disciples. 
 Watson,  see  Buttinghausen.  Hor.  Hehr.     Upon  this  rork.  ei.  tout;;  t^ 
 .(Tpc,,  •  upon  this  very  rock.'-.l.  Clarke.     Usr^ot,  Peter,  is  C-reck  for 
 a  rock      Cephas  (John,  i.  42)  is  derived  from  a  Syriac  word,  which 
 ■ilso  signifies 'a  rock. '—iVeu'c.    nerpcK,  Peter,  from  the  word  Trerp.,, 
 •a  rock  '    'Thou  art,  as  thy  name  signifies,  a  substantial  rock;  and 
 as  thou  hast  shewn  it  in  tliis  good  conlession,  I  assure  thee  that  upon 
 this  rock  I  will  build  my  church  ;  fai:h  in  me,  as  the  Son  of  God.  will 
 be  its  great  support,  and  1  will  use  thee  aa  a  glorious  instrument  iii 
 raising  it.'— Bens.     '  Upon  this  true  confession  of  thine.'    Chnst  did 
 not  say,  '  on  thee,  Peter,'  &c.,   but  changes  the  l.-inguage.-C/<ir*e 
 Peter's  person,  and  not  his  confession,  is  here  intended.    Our  baviour 
 says   not  •  1  build,'  but  o,Koao,.n"u,,  •  1  will  hereafter  build  my  church  ; 
 the  Christian  church,  commencing  after  his  resurrection  and  ascension, 
 and  to  be  founded  by  St.  Peter's  preaching  to  the  Jew  and  Gentile, 
 (Acts  ii    11,47;  x.)-Whitbv.     It  is  here  meant,  that  St.  Peter  was 
 the  first  and  principal  preacher  of  the  gospel  in  order  of  time.— 
 S  Clarke.     On  the  stone  which  the  apostle  had  just  confessed,  whicti 
 was  Jesus  Christ  liimself.-.l/."-.     It  is  prnbable  that  Christ  pointed 
 with  his  finger  to  himself  while  he  spoke  these  words  ;  as  in  another 
 instance,  John,  ii.  19-22,-So  Cnyse.     The  opinions  stated  on  this 
 subject  are  six  :-(i  )  Tliat  the  rock  intended  was  Peter  s  confession  - 
 So  Thenrhilnst.Chrysostom.  fiC.aiassius,  Erasmus.  Poole  Scoll.tlurke. 
 llors.,  Benson.  &c.     (ii.l  Peter  himself,  the  instrumental  founder  of 
 the  church.-So  Cyril,  Bas,l.  and  other  fathers -,  and  HhMll.Orotms 
 Ham-.  Le  Clerc,  L'Eof.mt,  S.  Clarke,  Miehaehs,  liloomf.     (m.)  Christ 
 himself.— Augustine,    Witsius,  Ouyse.  Martin,  Gtll    fee. 
 
 himself.— Augustine,    imsius,  Ouyse,  Nartin,  ui»,  «c.      (iv.)   It  in- 
 cludes both  Peter's  confession  and  his  own  personal  labours  ;    on  this 
 confession  which  thou  shalt  preach  1  will  establish  my  church.  -Ueza, 
 Uehtf.,  lip.  Burgess.  Tou-nsend.     (v.;  Christ  himself,  Peter's  confes. 
 sion,  and  Peter  himself,  with  the  aixistles,  are  all  certain  truths  and 
 here  intended.-n...r(.    (vi.)  Christ,  in  his  ".rtdress  to  Peter,  inclued 
 the  apostles  coUeclively.  or  through  the  medium  of  Peter.     1  hi)  "an 
 all  joined  in  the  same  confession,  and  now  Peter's  name  is  enigma- 
 tically made  use  of  to  shew  that  they  were  all  collectively,  in  their 
 office  and  doctrine,  to  he  the  foundation  of  the  Christian  chnrch,  (see 
 Ephes.  ii.  20  ;  Rev.  xxi.  14.)-ir.-(s..n.     Some  eminent  ^^fh''^"  ^o  "°t 
 allow  the  word  ^erpor  to  signify  'rock,'  but  'a  stone,    and  observe 
 that  there  is  a  play  upon  the  word  :    '  Thou  art  n  stone,  ""J  >'.'™  '*'' 
 roc*  I  will,'  &c.-teiff/,,  and  Graneille  Sharp.     IU,po9,  Peter   cannot 
 signify  anything  more  than  a  s.tonc.-Tou.'nsend :  see  also  the  /.erirons 
 of  Sciiufa,    Sehrceelius,   Dawson,    Parkhurst :    the   latter   obserxes, 
 •Homer  uses  TtTpoc.  Peter.  constanUy,  for  a  large  stone    a.P'««  O' 
 fragment  of  a  rock,  such  as  a  man  might  throw,'  (sec  Iliad,  m.,  l.ii«  ; 
 16, 1.  411,  and  20, 1.  288.)    My  church,  here  means,  '  the  whole  body 
 or  society  of  faithful  Christians  throughout  the  world.  —Tomline.    ine 
 gates-formerly  they  held  their  councils  in  the  gates  of  cities,  (Ruth 
 iv.  1  ;  2  Sam.  xix.  8 ;)  •  Christ'  would  therefore  signify,     the  plots  and 
 force  of  hell.'— Jl/.ir.     Of  hell, '  the  machinations  and  jjowers  of  the  in- 
 visible world.'— S.  Clarke,  so  rtosenm.,  Kuinoel,  Watson.    nc;Aai<,ita.. 
 '  the  gates  of  Hades'  are,  by  prolaue  and  sacred  writers,  used  lor  the 
 state  of  death  ;  and  here  is  a  promise  that  not  even  death  itself  shouia 
 prevail  against  the  genuine  members  of  Christ's  church,  or,  that  tliey 
 should  enjoy  a  happy  resurrection.— H'AiMj/.     Our  Lord  forctels  that 
 death,  how  frerpiently  and  cruelly  soever  inflicted  by  the  persecutors 
 1016 
 
 of  his  religion,  should  not  prevent  its  propagat.on.-Heu'.  Neither 
 heresies  nor  persecution  should  be  able  to  destroy  ''•-"'''•'■  .?i"=f,f,- 
 Dression  describes  the  invisible  mansion  of  departed  souls,  with  allu- 
 sion o  the  sepulchres  of  the  Jews  and  other  eastern  nations,  ""fr  the 
 "mrge  of  a  Xce  secured  by  barricaded  gates,  through  which  there  is 
 image  oi  a  l''""-  ,        promises  perpetuity  to  his  church,  notwith- 
 
 EBks-j^^ntn;i^r^:;nSd^»;is^t  ^^:^i^  I 
 
 seems  be  ter  to  understand  the  promise  as  relating  to  the  md.vidual 
 d'o  not  properly  come  under  the  dcs^ripuon  of  a^c^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 accompanyand  denote  promoti.)n  by  the  delivery  of  a  key.  To  confer 
 the  kT-  L  a  phrase  equivalent  to  bestowing  a  sdua  ion  "IffJ^^-; 
 
 'z:^LtttiT',e'r:i,^r.::^z-:^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 Ihou  -'^ll-^^^.^nilo'^e,  were  terms  in  frequent  use  among  the  Jews 
 :,;'l  mVan^t  b.  .hug  and  ^-hid-ling    granung  and  re,^  -eclaring 
 
 ■mXi%™rfor'ab^dishi^rt>rMosaic  law,  or  a  part  of  it   Christ 
 
 behevS  L  The?  loosed,  that  is,  allowed  purification  to  Pa"l.  &.C-. 
 neiic>cr.s,  0,1,      "    '     .        'h„i,s        .io.  Tell  no  man,  ^e.— the  Chnst, 
 
 he'eho?e"o  wlu  Hd t,  {resu"etion  and  ascension  had  set  this  truth 
 he  enose  to  wan.  im  m,       .     .  „,     u       „s(  „(,  ,-„/o  Jerusalem,  Ife. 
 
 '^he%t.suls  wl?e-;;;obah^y  fookingV™  a  dispify  of  his  kmgly  glory, 
 Tnd  h^'pToceMTfo  S^ake  ,Lm  acquainted  »«h„h-,,[;™f /he  hand^ 
 Mar.  22.  TooA:*.n..".-^"';S^°;":;'p,^ru,denly^nt'erru 
 (eomp.  Rorn.  xv  ,  OyW"'^  '  ■  ^^^''^.^^'^Icimp.  llegan  to  relmke, 
 *"T-~rx  la'  ii  merely  d^enot^sXctionately  chiding  him  for  his 
 npfuTo  eitiTiu?!',  It  meieiy  "  .     fJreek   signifies   '  to  speak 
 
 f„rbid.'-.W,r     so    •,„„,;     BUiomf.  _3.  W «,  TOtlJ.^  _^^_  ^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 si"nm'^s  ''an  ev  i  c  m.^sdlor  '-si  iiosL.n.,  Kuinoel.     Satan  spake  hy 
 pfter,  and  used  him  (Without  Peter's  intention)  -sjn  ^nstr'imen    ^ 
 
 iT'^s^::^ge^o?;^i™r'!;r^s;^»?n^a.^'\s,^y^ui^ 
 s^^«-iii-^/^  it  ho?^HESSt  r?^-^ 
 
 ,„„Uu,  ;<.i.To,.,  •  let  him  renounce  himself  fully  .-^.(..Bf  ^^^' _bI,„^/, 
 'r:"ea''rngran?'co'uS;d  L^^ra'-p^e^b:    '  TheJ^or '^h-ou,    or 
 
The  transfigurativn  of  Christ. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XVII 
 
 He  hcalclli  the  lunaiivA, 
 
 or  '  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his 
 soul? 
 
 27  For  '  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  the 
 glory  of  his  Father  *  with  his  angels ;  ''  and 
 then  he  shall  reward  every  man  according  to 
 his  works. 
 
 28  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  "  There  be  some 
 standing  here,  which  sliall  not  taste  of  death, 
 till  they  see  the  Son  of  man  coming  in  his 
 kingdom. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  The  irarisjiguration  of  ChrisU  14  He  healeth  the 
 lunatlcky  22  furttdUih  his  own  passion,  24  and 
 pai/eth  tribute. 
 
 A  ND  ''after  six  days  Jesus  taketh  Peter, 
 ■^^  James,  and  John  his  brother,  and  bringeth 
 them  up  into  an  high  mountain  apart, 
 
 2  And  was  transfigured  before  them  :  and  his 
 face  did  shine  as  the  sun,  and  his  raiment  was 
 white  as  the  light. 
 
 3  And,  behold,  there  appeared  unto  them 
 Moses  and  Elias  talking  with  him. 
 
 4  Then  answered  Peter,  and  said  unto  Jesus, 
 Lord,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here :  if  thou  wilt, 
 let  us  make  here  three  tabernacles  ;  one  for 
 thee,  and  one  for  Moses,  and  one  for  Elias. 
 
 5  ^  While  lie  yet  spake,  behold,  a  bright 
 cloud  overshadowed  them:  and  behold  a  voice 
 out  of  the  cloud,  which  said,  '^  This  is  my  be- 
 loved Son,  '^in  whom  I  am  well  pleased;  ''hear 
 ye  him. 
 
 A.  D.  32. 
 
 y  Ps  49.  7,8 
 :  ch.  as.  64. 
 
 Mark  8.  S3, 
 
 Luke  9.  ilJ 
 a  Dan.  7. 10, 
 
 Zech    14.  5. 
 
 ch.25.  31. 
 
 Jude  M. 
 6  Job  3V.  11. 
 
 Ps.  O'J.  12. 
 
 Vro.-ii.  12. 
 
 Jur    17.  lU. 
 
 f<  3  J.  ly. 
 
 Horn.  a.  6. 
 
 1  Cor  3.  8. 
 
 2  Cor.  5.10. 
 I  Pet.  r  17. 
 R.-V.  2.  23. 
 X(  Ti.  12. 
 
 c  Mark  y.  1. 
 Luke  9.  27. 
 
 A.  D.  32. 
 
 bl  Pet. 1.17. 
 ch.  3.  17. 
 
 e  Deu.tS.l5, 
 I'J.  Acts  S. 
 22, 23. 
 
 /2Pct,  1.18 
 Dan.  S.  18. 
 &  9.  SI.  8: 
 10.  lU,  IS. 
 
 A  ch.  le.  20. 
 Mark  3.  Su. 
 fie  9.  9. 
 
 I  Mal.  ■!.  5. 
 ch.  II.  II. 
 Mark  9.11. 
 
 h  Mal.  4.  6. 
 Luke  I  16, 
 17.  Acta  3. 
 
 13. 
 71  ch.  H.  3, 
 
 10. 
 t  ch.  16.  21. 
 »cb.  II.  14. 
 
 6  ^  And  when  the  disciples  heard  it,  they  fell 
 on  their  face,  and  were  sore  afraid. 
 
 7  And  Jesus  came  and  ^  touched  them,  and 
 said,  Arise,  and  be  not  afraid. 
 
 8  And  when  they  had  lifted  up  their  eyes, 
 they  saw  no  man,  save  Jesus  only. 
 
 9  And  as  they  came  down  from  the  moun- 
 tain, ''Jesus  charged  them,  saying.  Tell  tiie 
 vision  to  no  man,  until  the  Son  of  man  be  riben 
 again  from  the  dead. 
 
 10  And  his  disciples  asked  him,  saying, '  Why 
 then  say  the  scribes  that  Elias  must  first  come? 
 
 1 1  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
 Elias  truly  shall  first  come,  and  ^  restore  all 
 things. 
 
 12  '  But  I  say  unto  you,  that  Elias  is  come 
 already,  and  they  knew  him  not,  but  "Miave 
 done  unto  him  whatsoever  they  listed.  Like- 
 wise °shall  also  the  Son  of  man  suffer  of  them. 
 
 13  "^  Then  the  disciples  understood  that  lie 
 spake  unto  them  of  John  the  Baptist. 
 
 14  ^  ''And  when  they  were  coine  to  the  mul- 
 titude, there  came  to  him  ^certain  man,  kneel- 
 ing down  to  him,  and  saying, 
 
 1j  Lord,  have  mercy  on  my  son  :  for  lie  is 
 lunatick,  and  sore  vexed :  for  ofttiines  he  falleth 
 into  the  fire,  and  oft  into  the  water. 
 
 16  And  I  brought  him  to  thy  disciples,  and 
 they  could  not  cure  him. 
 
 17  Then  Jesus  answered  and  said,  O  faithless 
 and  perverse  generation,  how  long  shall  I  be 
 
 similar  to  this,  Doddr.,  and  Boothr.  In  exchange,  avjaWajna,  'a 
 ransom.* — Watson.  2/.  In  the  glory,  or  '  with  the  glory,  the  autho- 
 rity, and  the  power,  which  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  Son  of  man,  and  as 
 Mediator,  has  received  of  his  Father,'  (John,  v.  22 ;  Acts,  x.  42  ;  comp. 
 with  Ps.  viii.  5,  and  Dan.  vii.  13,  14.) — Mar.  28.  Taste  of  death,  a 
 common  Hebraism  for  '  to  die.'  Coming  in  Ma  kingdom,  '  enter  upon 
 his  reigrn,'  by  the  miraculous  display  of  his  power,  and  the  success  of 
 his  doctrine. — Camp.  Affording  an  earnest  of  future  punishment,  by 
 the  severe  i>unishment  of  the  unbelieving  Jews  of  that  age. —  Whitby. 
 The  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  the  Jewish  economy,  which  our 
 Lord  here  predicts,  took  place  about  forty-three  years  after  this. — 
 A.  Ctarke. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.  —  1.  Six  days,  from  the  confession  of  Peter,  &c. — Gill, 
 Mackn.  Peter,  James,  and  John,  these  three  were  chosen  to  be  wit- 
 nesses of  some  of  the  roost  remarkable  facts  io  the  history  of  our  Lord, 
 especially  the  transfiguration  and  the  agony.  —  iraison.  An  high 
 ■mountain,  generally  said  to  be  Tabor  in  Galilee,  a  famous  spot  in  his- 
 tory, [Judg.  iv.  14,)  but  for  what  reason  does  nnt  appear. — Barnes, 
 Muckn.,  Gill.  It  is  more  probable  that  the  transfiguration  took  place 
 in  Upper  Galilee,  (comp.  chap,  xvi,  13  ;  xvii.  20.) — Mar.  The  order  of 
 the  history  determines  the  transfiguration  to  some  mountain  nut  far 
 fmm  Ciesarca  Philippi,  rather  than  to  Tabor,  which  was  situated  in  the 
 south  of  Galilee  ;  for  after  the  transfiguration,  it  is  said  {Mark,  ix.30,) 
 tliat  'they  departed  and  passed  through  Galilee,*  and  then  came  to 
 Capernaum.  Now  it  is  not  probable  that  the  evangelist  would  have 
 had  this  narration  if  the  mountain  had  been  in  Galilee,  the  region  in 
 which  Capernaum  stood. — Mackn.  2.  Was  transfigured,  niTenop<pu}9>), 
 'metamorphosed.'  Christ  took  on  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  juop^n*' 
 6ov\ou,  (Phil.  ii.  /.)  He  drew  a  veil  over  the  glory  of  his  Godhead; 
 but  now,  in  his  transfiguration,  he  put  by  that  veil,  appeared,  ei-  nop<pi} 
 Otoi',  in  the  form  of  God,  (Phil.  ii.  6,)  and  gave  his  disciples  a  glimpse 
 of  his  glory,  which  could  not  but  change  his  form. — Hen.  Not  the 
 substance  of  the  body  of  Jesus  was  changed,  nor  even  the  shape  altered  ; 
 only  it  received  a  more  glorious  form. — GiU.  4.  Three  tafiemacles, 
 Tpetc  trKfji/av, 'three  booths.'  The  word  means  'booths  composed  of 
 the  branches  of  trees,*  such  as  travellers  construct  en  a  pleasant  spot, 
 unmindful  of  time  and  business. — Blomnf.  5.  A  bright  cloud,  called 
 by  the  apostle,  '  the  excellent  glory,'  (2  Pet.  1.  17,)  wherefore  it  must 
 have  been  the  Shechinah,  or  visible  symbol  of  the  Divine  presence. — 
 Mackn.  Overshadowed  them,  that  is,  Moses  and  Elias. —  GiU.  Ettco-- 
 Kiaaev,  *  surrounded  them.'— .4.  Clarke.  The  Greek  eiriaKtaCia  signifies. 
 '  to  envelop  in  shade,'  which  seems  inconsistent  with  the  descent  of  a 
 bright  cloud ;  but  the  Shechinah  was  at  once  dark  and  bright — a  dark 
 cloud,  which  sent  forth  rays  of  light. —  Watiun.      My  beloved  Sun,  i^c. 
 
 —see  on  Matt.  iii.  17,  note.  Hear  ye  him,  as  superior  to  Moses  and 
 the  prophets. — Befts.  8.  They  saw  no  man,  save  Jesus — one  great 
 
 purpose  of  the  transfiguration  seems  to  have  been  to  represent  the  ces- 
 sation of  tlie  Jewish,  and  the  commencement  of  the  Christian,  dispen- 
 sation. Moses  and  Elias  disappear— the  former  objects  of  the  disciples* 
 veneration  are  no  more;  Christ  remains  alone,  their  unrivalled  and 
 undisputed  Sovereign. — Porteus.  g.  Until  the  Son  of  man  be  riseii, 
 when  such  proof  would  be  given  of  his  mission,  authority,  and  glory, 
 which  would  make  this  account  more  easy  to  be  believed.  —  Gill. 
 10.  Why  then  say  the  scribes,  ^c— our  Saviour  had  forbidden  them  to 
 tell  any  man  the  vision  j  hence  they  might  thus  debate  it :  '  Forasmuch 
 as  Elias  must  first  come,'  (so  the  scribes  teach,  and  they  have  a  text 
 for  it,  Mal.  iv.  5.)  '  and  now  he  is  come,  as  we  have  seen  in  the  mount, 
 why  shouldest  thou,  Lord,  forbid  us  to  tell  it  abroad,  since  this  might 
 be  an  effectual  argument  with  the  Jews  to  move  them  to  acknowledge 
 thee  for  the  true  Messias?' — Trapp.  11.  Elias  truly  shall  first  come, 
 tpxertu  npfiirov,  i.  e.,  is  coming,  is  about  to  cume.  The  pre&ent  is  here 
 used  for  the  (Mture.—Bloomf.  The  rendering  seems  better, '  Elias  first 
 Cometh,'  and  is  preferred  by  Watson.  Restore,  a7T0KaraaTn<r£i,  '  will 
 regulate.' — Doddr.  'Will  reform,'  (seethe  effects  of  John  the  Bap- 
 tist's ministry,  Luke,  i.  1/.) — So  Clarke.  *  He  shall  introduce  a  great 
 moral  restoration  to  holiness  and  God.' — Keyw.  'He  shall  consum- 
 mate the  whole." — Camp.  '  He  shall  finish,'  or  'perform;'  establish, 
 settle  ail  thmgs.  Shut  up  the  first  state  of  the  world,  the  Mosaic 
 economy,  making  entrance,  as  a  harbinger,  on  the  second,  that  of  the 
 Messias.  In  this  sense  it  is  said,  '  the  law  and  tlie  prophets  were  until 
 John.' — Ham.  12.  Knew  him  not,  did  not  acknowledge  him  as  the 
 Elias  of  prophecy,  or  as  the  herald  of  Messiah.  14.  Kneeling  down, 
 
 •yovvK^yuiv,  i.  e.,  he  fell  down  at  his  knees,  embracing  them. —  Watson. 
 \b.  He  is  lunatick,  aeXnvta^eTat,  '  he  is  moon-struck."  —  Bloomfield. 
 Meaning  not  insane,  but  epileptic,  which  disease  was  thought  to  be 
 greatly  influenced  by  the  moon,  as  well  as  madness. —  Watson.  The 
 symptoms  mentioned  at  Luke,  ix.  3f>,  seem  to  shew  that  this  disease 
 was  an  epilepsy,  caused  by  the  power  of  an  evil  spirit.— i/u7«.  Ifi.  The 
 disciples,  that  is,  the  nine  apostles  whom  Jesus  had  leit  buhind  when 
 he  went  up  to  the  mount. —  Watson.  They  could  not — though  Jesus 
 had  given  them  power  to  cast  out  unclean  spirits,  partly  owing  to  their 
 own  unbelief,  and  partly  owing  to  the  unbelief  of  the  father  of  this 
 child,  as  appears  from  what  follows,  and  what  Mark  says.  —  Gill. 
 17.  O  faithless,  Sfc.,  addressed  to  the  disciples.— iiysenm.  Addressed 
 to  the  disciples,  to  the  father,  to  the  whole  multitude.— A'ype;  to  the 
 same  purport,  Doddr.,  Beausobre,  Kuinoei.  The  whole  Jewish  nation 
 might  be  included  in  the  reproof. — Markland.  It  seems  most  probable 
 that  Christ  spake  these  words  with  reference  to  those  scribes  who  had 
 
 l^EFLECTioNs  ON  Ch.4p.  XVI.  —  In  tliis  chapter  we  Luve, 
 1.  A  serious  caution  against  error.  It  is  an  insinuating  leaven. 
 It  eats  like  a  canker.  Let  us  carefully  guard  against  its 
 t'utrance  into  our  minds.  Lt^t  our  appeals  be,  at  all  times,  not 
 to  human  reason  or  wisdom,  but  '  to  the  word  and  to  the  tes- 
 timony.'    This  is  the  touchstone  of  iruth. 
 
 11,  A  hold  conftssion  of  the  truth.     On  Peter's  confession  we 
 
 see  the  faith  of  every  genuine  disciple  of  Christ ;  a  faith  which 
 
 rises  above  mere  human  wisdom,  and  which  God  bestows  as 
 
 his  most  precious  •-■'"t  :   a  faith  which  '^'^'alts  Christ,  nnd    in 
 
 1017 
 
 which,  as  Bishop  Horsley  observes,  it  appeared  that  the 
 apostles  '  not  only  esteemed  and  loved  their  Master  as  a  wise 
 and  virtuous  man.  that  they  not  only  revered  him  as  an  in- 
 spired teacher  of  righteousness,  hut  that  they  believed  in  him 
 as  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  the  Redeemer  of  Israel." 
 
 III.  A  grand  test  ofdisciple&Uip.  The  disciple  of  Christ  must 
 deny  hiiiiself.  That  religion  is  spurious  which  does  not 
 enable  us  to  renounce  ourselves  in  the  siyht  of  God,  and  to 
 become  crucified  to  the  world. 
 
 6  o 
 
drist  payeth  tribute. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XVIII.         He  ivarneth  his  disciples  to  behumble. 
 
 w';th  you  ?  how  long  shall  I  suffer  you  ?  bring 
 him  hither  to  me. 
 
 18  And  Jesus  rebuked  the  devil  ;  and  he  de- 
 parted out  of  him  :  and  the  child  was  cured 
 from  that  very  hour. 
 
 19  Then  came  the  disciples  to  Jesus  apart, 
 and  said,  Why  could  not  we  cast  him  out? 
 
 20  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Because  of 
 your  unbelief:  for  verily  I  say  unto  you,  ''If 
 ye  have  faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  ye 
 shall  say  unto  this  mountain,  Remove  hence 
 to  yonder  place  ;  and  it  shall  remove  ;  and 
 nothing  shall  be  impossible  unto  you. 
 
 21  Howbeit  this  kind  goeth  not  out  but  by 
 prayer  and  tasting. 
 
 22  H'^Aud  while  they  abode  in  Galilee,  Je- 
 sus said  unto  them.  The  Son  of  man  shall  be 
 betrayed  into  the  hands  of  men  : 
 
 23  And  they  shall  kill  him,  and  the  third  day 
 he  shall  be  raised  again.  And  they  were  ex- 
 ceeding sorry. 
 
 24  H  And  'when  they  were  come  to  Caper- 
 naum, they  that  received  || tribute  money  came 
 to  Peter,  and  said,  Doth  not  your  master  pay 
 tribute  ? 
 
 25  He  saith.  Yes.  And  when  he  was  come 
 into  the  house,  Jesus  prevented  him,  saying, 
 What  thinkest  thou,  Simon?  of  whom  do  the 
 kings  of  the  earth  take  custom  or  tribute?  of 
 their  own  children,  or  of  strangers? 
 
 2(5  Peter  saith  unto  him.  Of  strangers.   Jesus 
 
 7  Ph.  21.  51. 
 Markll.^S- 
 Luke  17.  6 
 I  Cor.  12.  9. 
 &  l».  2. 
 
 •ch.  16.21. 
 8c  20.  17. 
 Marks.  91. 
 &9.30,  31. 
 &  in  33. 
 Luke  9.  2-2, 
 •U.  Ik  IS.St. 
 8t  21.  6,  7. 
 
 r  Mark  9.  .?3 
 I  Called  io 
 the  ori- 
 ginal, 
 didrachmi, 
 beinc;  iu 
 value  fif- 
 teeu-pence: 
 See  Kx.  3U, 
 13.  &  SB.  26. 
 
 value  J*  tii(. 
 after5*.ltie 
 ounce. 
 
 b  pg.  131.  2. 
 
 ch.  19.  11. 
 
 Mark  10.14. 
 
 Luke  IS.h). 
 
 I  Cor.14.20. 
 
 I  Pet.  2,  2. 
 c  ch.  20,  27. 
 
 &23.  II. 
 
 rfch.in.  42. 
 Luke  9.  48. 
 
 e  Mark  9. 4? 
 Luke  17.  1, 
 2. 
 
 saith  unto  him.  Then  are  the  children  free. 
 
 27  Notwithstanding,  lest  we  should  offend 
 them,  go  thou  to  the  sea,  and  cast  an  hook, 
 and  take  up  the  fish  that  first  cometh  up  ; 
 and  when  thou  hast  opened  his  moutii,  thou 
 shalt  lind  |(  a  piece  of  money  :  that  take,  and 
 give  unto  them  for  me  and  thee. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII, 
 
 I  Christ  warneth  his  disciples  to  he  humble  and  harm- 
 less: 7  to  avoid  offimcesj  and  not  to  despise  the  Utt/e 
 ones  :  15  teachetk  how  we.  are  to  deal  with  our  bre- 
 thren, when  the}/  offhid  us :  21  and  how  oft  to  for-i/ive 
 them  :  23  which  he  sctteth  forth  by  a  parable  of  the 
 king,  that  took  account  of  his  servants,  32  and  pu- 
 nished him,  who  shewed  no  mercy  to  his  ftllou-. 
 
 AT"  the  same  time  came  the  disciples  unto 
 ■^-^  Jesus,  saying.  Who  is  the  greatest  in  the 
 kingdom  of  heaven  ? 
 
 2  And  Jesus  called  a  little  child  unto  him, 
 and  set  him  in  the  midst  of  them, 
 
 3  And  said.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  **  Except 
 ye  be  converted,  and  become  as  little  children, 
 ye  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  lieaven. 
 
 4  "^  Whosoever  therefore  shall  humble  him- 
 self as  this  little  child,  the  same  is  greatest  in 
 the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 
 5  And  "*  whoso  shall  receive  one  such  little 
 child  in  my  name  receiveth  me. 
 
 0  "  But  whoso  shall  offend  one  of  these  little 
 ones  which  believe  in  me,  it  were  better  for 
 
 probably  mrcked  at  the  inability  of  the  disciples  to  effect  a  cure  in  the 
 name  of  their  Master,  although  they  had  seen  or  heard  of  innumerable 
 instances.— IKfi/.von,  so  Whitby,  2iX\<\  Guyse.  Christ  never  employed 
 these  terms  iti  addressing  his  disciples  ;  they  often  appeared  to  be  men 
 of  little  faitlt,  but  not  faithless.  Hnw  long,  ^c— upbraiding:  them  with 
 the  length  of  time  in  which  he  had  done  his  wonderful  works  among 
 them.— Gi7/.  18.  .fieAwA-^rf,  '  spoke  tohim  with  authority,  and  with 
 the  tone  of  a  master  threatening  him.' — Mar.  19.  Apart,  or  '  secretly,' 
 Vulg.  20.  Because  0/  your  unhelipf,  810  rnv  a7r«<TTiav— the  unbelief 
 of  the  disciples  is  here  meant,  which  is  to  be  understnod  comparatively 
 to  that  complete  faith  which  they  ought  to  have  had,  considering  their 
 long  instruction  and  (he  nature  of  the  office  entrusted  to  them.— 
 Rosenm.  Faith  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  a  degree,  however  small, 
 of  active,  growing  faith.— ir/n'%.  A  grain  of  mustard  seed  was  used 
 proverbially  by  the  Jews,  to  express  the  least  thing.— Buxtorf.  Ye 
 shall  say  unto  this  luounfain,  ^c,  a  proverbial  hyperbole.— HoserjTJi. 
 •  Ye  shali  find  nothing  too  hard  for  you  to  effect  for  the  glory  of  God, 
 and  in  confirmation  of  my  doctrine.'— S.  Clarke.  21.  This  kind,  ^c, 
 that  is,  when  a  possession  by  any  demon  took  place,  which  presented 
 fearful  sigrns,  even  an  ordinary  faith  would  give  way  to  doubt  of  tlie 
 difficulty  of  the  cure,  unless  supported  and  invigorated  by  a  spiritual 
 habit  of  mind.— Trw^son.  22.  Abode,  ava<npe<pofscnov,  'returned.'— 
 Whitby.  •  passed  through.'  for  they  were  on  their  way  back  through 
 Galilee  to  Capernaum.— M^wison.  Shall  be  betrayed,  fx^Wa  7rapa<i<- 
 ioa&at,  '  is  to  DC  delivered  up.'— Cam;?.,  so  Grotius,  and  Wakejield. 
 The  original  word  here  does  not  signify  treachery.— IFa^son,  and 
 Clarke.  23.  Exceeding  Jtorr^— they  did  not  as  yet  comprehend  the 
 connexion  of  our  Lord"  s  death  with  his  gtor>'  and  the  establishment  of 
 his  kingdom.— H'd/ion.  24.  Tribute,  the  half-shekel  paid  every  year 
 by  all  Jews  above  twenty  years  of  age  to  the  temple,  (Exod.  xxx.  13. J 
 —Whitby.  The  question  is  sufficient  proof  that  this  was  not  a  Roman 
 tax,  for  which  demand  would  have  been  at  once  made.  The  temple 
 tribute  was  not  a  perpetual  law,  and  fell  into  disuse  before  the  times 
 of  the  kings,  and  was  now  only  a  custom.  25.  Prevented  him, 
 
 irpoetp9atT(v  avrov,  'anticipated  him,'  bv  taking  up  the  subject  himself. 
 
 26.  Then  are  the  children  free,  i.  e.,  '  then,  if  this  tribute  be  levied  in 
 the  name  of  my  Father,  I,  his  Son,  am  exempted.'— ira/soji,  so  Poo/e. 
 
 27.  Offend  them,  *  make  them  suppose  that  we  undervalue  the  temple, 
 
 which  might  cause  them  to  stumble  at  and  reject  my  pretensions  to  the 
 Messiahship.' — Bloom/.  A  piece  of  money,  arcnt\pa,  'a  stater,'  equal  in 
 value  to  four  drachms  or  two  shekels,  five  shillings  of  our  money,  and, 
 consequently,  was  sufficient  to  pay  the  tribute  for  our  Lord  and  Peter, 
 which  amounted  to  about  half-a-crowu  each.— ^.  Clarke.  We  may 
 suppose  the  money  had  fallen  into  the  sea  and  been  swallowed  by  the 
 fish,  instances  of  which  have  occurred. —  Wetstein.  It  was,  probably, 
 created  for  the  purpose. — Schmidt.  Whether  created,  or  swallowed  by 
 accident,  the  first  supposes  omnipotence,  the  second  omniscience. — So 
 Watson. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII. —  1.  Who  is  the  greatest ?  /icifwv-the  comparative  is 
 here  put  for  the  superlative.— Sur.  From  what  follows  it  is  plain  that 
 they  inquired  which  of  them  should  be  the  greatest. — Boothr.,  so 
 WaKef.  In  the  kingdom  of  /je«('e«— they  expected  a  visible  ministra- 
 tion of  the  Messiah's  power  and  glory;  and  a  carnal  ambition  had 
 mingled  itself  witli  their  better  feelings. —  Watson.  3.  Converted, 
 
 uTpatpnTc,  '  ye  be  changed  ;'  this  is  the  meaning  here,  not  converted. 
 •They  must  lay  aside  their  ambition  and  worldly  pursuits,  before  they 
 be  honoured  to  be  the  members,  much  more  the  ministers,  of  that  new 
 establishment  or  kingdom  he  was  about  to  erect.'— Cum;).  Shall  not 
 eyiter,  cannot  be  so  much  as  members  of  it. — Boothr.  4.  As  this 
 little  child,  inculcate  a  child-like  disposition  in  unambitiousness  j  he 
 might  also  advert  to  the  general  simplicity  and  humility,  docility  ard 
 guilelessness,  of  young  children.  3.  Ojie  such  little  child,  fyc.,  '  one 
 such  guileless  creature  in  my  name,'  i.e.,  because  he  is  my  disciple. 
 — Bloomf.  6.  Offend  one  of  these  little  ones,  aKav6u\i(Tti,  &c.,  *siiall 
 cause  to  stumble, '  &c.  Tempt  them  to  sin,  or  lay  obstructions  in  their 
 way,  and  render  it  rough  and  difficult,  and  thereby  impede  their  pro. 
 gress  in  it. — Bens.  A  millstone,  /jy\ur  oviko^,  'an  upper  millstone,'  a 
 millstone  turned  by  an  ass.— C«m/).  In  ancient  times,  before  the  in- 
 vention of  wind  and  water  roill^,  the  stones  were  turned  sometimes  by 
 slaves,  but  commonly  by  asses  or  mules. — A.  Clarke.  The  upper  stone 
 so  turned,  took  the  name  of  the  'ass  millstone.'— i)/ur.  There  was  a 
 beam  on  which  an  hand-mill  was  fi.ved ;  this  was  called  '  the  ass, '  and 
 might  be  here  intended.— So  Gill.  The  punishment  here  alluded  to, 
 the  greatest  malefactors  among  the  Jews  were  in  those  days  put  to. — 
 Trapp.  This  punishment  was  not  used  among  the  Jews,  but  was  prac- 
 tised by  the  ancient  Syrians.— G)''J^      It  was  also  in  use  among  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVII.  —  We  may  here  remark, 
 I.  On  the  transfiguration.  How  glorious  is  our  Divine  Ke- 
 deemer  !  '  the  brightness  of  his  Father's  glory,  and  the  ex- 
 press image  of  his  person.*  But  if  it  was  so  felicitous  to  have 
 a  glimpse  of  him  on  Mount  Tabor,  what 'will  be  the  felicity  of 
 those  made  glorious  in  his  glory.who  shall  eternally  gaze  upon 
 his  splendour!     Believer,  such  shall  be  your  blessedness  ;  for 
 
 to  you,  as  one  of  the  church  of  God,  is  the  promise  made 
 
 'The  Lord  shall  be  unto  thee  an  everlasting  light;  and  thy 
 God,  thy  glory.' 
 
 c,}^'  ^"  "*^  ^"*^  '^f  '^^  epileptic.  Here  we  see  the  power  of 
 Christ  to  heal ;  nothing  is  too  hard  for  him.  Come,  then,  sin- 
 ner, with  all  your  guilt  and  misery— approach  this  Saviour- 
 believe  his  ability  and  willingness  to  cure  the  disorders  of 
 1018 
 
 your  soul,  and  you  shall  6nd  that  '  he  is  able  to  save  to  the 
 very  uttermost.' 
 
 III.  On  the  payment  of  the  tribute  money.  Here  we  may 
 adopt  the  reflection  of  Bp.  Hall — '  How  should  this  encou- 
 rage our  dependence  upon  that  omnipotent  band  of  thine,  O 
 Lord,  which  hath  heaven,  earth,  sea,  at  thy  disposing!  Still 
 thou  art  the  same  for  thy  members  which  thou  wert  for  thy- 
 self, the  Head.  Rather  than  oflence  shall  be  given  to  the 
 world  by  a  seeming  neglect  of  thy  dear  children,  thou  wilt 
 cause  the  very  fowls  of  heaven  to  bring  them  meat,  and  the 
 fish  of  the  sea  to  bring  them  money.  O  let  us  look  up  ever  to 
 thee,  by  the  eye  of  our  faith,  and  not  be  wanting  in  our  de- 
 pendence upon  thee,  who  canst  not  be  wanting  in  thy  provi- 
 dence over  us.' 
 
Chrisfs  disciples  are  to  avoid  offences,         S.  MATTHEW,  XVIII. 
 
 and  to  forgive  their  brethren. 
 
 him  that  a  millstone  were  hanged  about  his 
 neck,  and  that  he  were  drowned  in  the  depth 
 uf  the  sea. 
 
 7  t  Woe  unto  the  world  because  of  offences! 
 for  'it  must  needs  be  that  offences  come  ;  but 
 
 '  woe    to   that    man    by 
 
 the    offence 
 
 Cometh ! 
 
 8  ''  Wherefore  if  thy  liand  or  thy  foot  offend 
 thee,  cut  them  off,  and  cast  tliem  from  thee  : 
 it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  life  halt  or 
 maimed,  rather  than  having  two  hands  or  two 
 feet  to  be  cast  into  everlasting  fire. 
 
 9  And  if  thine  eye  offend  thee,  pluck  it  out, 
 and  cast  it  from  thee :  it  is  better  for  thee  to 
 enter  into  life  with  one  eye,  rather  than  having 
 two  eyes  to  be  cast  into  hell  fire. 
 
 10  Take  heed  that  ye  despise  not  one  of 
 these  little  ones  ;  for  I  say  unto  you,  Tliat  in 
 heaven  '  their  angels  do  always  ''  behold  the 
 hice  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 
 
 1 1  '  For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  save  that 
 which  was  lost. 
 
 1-2  "'How  think  ye?  if  a  man  have  an  hun- 
 dred sheep,  and  one  of  them  be  gone  astray, 
 doth  he  not  leave  the  ninety  and  nine,  and 
 goeth  into  the  mountains,  and  seeketh  that 
 wliich  is  gone  astray  ? 
 
 13  And  if  so  be  that  he  find  it,  verily  I  say 
 unto  you,  he  rejoiceth  more  of  that  sheep, 
 than  of  the  ninety  and  nine  which  went  not 
 astray. 
 
 14  Even  so  it  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father 
 which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of  these  little 
 ones  should  perish. 
 
 15  1  Moreover  "if  thy  brother  shall  trespass 
 against  thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault  between 
 thee  and  him  alone  :  if  he  shall  hear  thee, 
 °  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother. 
 
 16  But  if  he  will  not  hear  thee,  then  take 
 with  thee  one  or  two  more,  that  in  ''the  month 
 of  two  or  three  witnesses  every  word  may  be 
 established. 
 
 17  And  if  he  sliall  neglect  to  hear  them,  tell 
 it  unto  tlie  church  :  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear 
 the  church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as  an  ^  heathen 
 man  and  a  publican. 
 
 /Luke  17.  I. 
 
 1  C..r.ll,19. 
 
 t/  cb.  '.ju.  S<1. 
 
 k  eh.  5. 29, 
 311.  Mark  9. 
 43,  45, 
 
 Ps.  34.  7. 
 
 Zeoh, 13  7. 
 
 Heh.  1.  14. 
 kKsth.  I,  14. 
 
 Luke  1.  19. 
 /  Luke  9.  56. 
 
 &  19.  10. 
 
 John  3.  17 
 
 &  J2.  47. 
 
 n  Luke  15. 
 
 I  Lev.  19.  7. 
 Ecclua.  19. 
 13.  Luke  17, 
 
 ..  .Tarn.  5.  20 
 
 1  Pet.  3.  I. 
 
 p  Deut.  17. 
 G  ^  19.  15. 
 .Inhn  8.  17. 
 
 2  Cor.  13.1 
 Helj.  111.28, 
 
 ^Roni  16  17. 
 1  I'or.  5,  n 
 2Thes.  9  1',, 
 14  2  John 
 10. 
 
 ■  ch.  \H.  II. 
 John  20  2:1. 
 I  Cor.  5.  4. 
 
 / 1  John  3. 
 
 '2.  &  5.  14. 
 
 r  ch.  r.  14. 
 Markll.2.'i 
 Col.  3.  13. 
 
 750nu«rMo/" 
 jo^jer.uiAit'i 
 
 IH7/    10.. 
 
 T-A 
 
 Roma?i 
 
 IV  M  the 
 
 fit/hlh  part 
 
 of, 
 
 tnh, 
 
 rh  nffr 
 
 fire 
 
 ihiUingt 
 
 ,<n,Cf  IS 
 
 leif 
 
 .tii-ziC 
 
 I'tlf  !><•>"■!/.      1 
 
 Ch. 
 
 2i>.  ;;. 
 
 18  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  '^Whatsoever  ye 
 shall  bind  on  earth  shall  be  bound  in  heaven  : 
 and  whatsoever  ye  shall  loose  on  earth  shall 
 be  loosed  in  heaven. 
 
 19  'A^ain  I  say  unto  yon,  That  if  two  of 
 you  shall  agree  on  earth  as  touching  any 
 thing  that  they  shall  ask,  *  it  shall  be  done  for 
 them  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven. 
 
 20  For  where  two  or  three  are  gathered  to- 
 gether in  my  name,  there  am  1  in  the  midst  of 
 them. 
 
 21  ^  Then  came  Peter  to  him,  and  said,  Lord, 
 how  oft  shall  my  brother  sin  against  me,  and  1 
 forgive  him?  "  till  seven  times  ? 
 
 22  Jesus  saith  nnto  him,  J  say  not  unto  thee. 
 Until  seven  times:  "but,  Until  seventy  times 
 seven. 
 
 23  IT  Therefore  is  tlie  kingdom  of  heaven 
 likened  unto  a  certain  king,  which  would  take 
 account  of  his  servants. 
 
 24  And  when  he  had  begun  to  reckon,  one 
 was  brought  unto  him,  which  owed  him  ten 
 thousand  ||  talents. 
 
 25  But  forasmuch  as  he  had  not  to  pay,  his 
 lord  commanded  him  ^to  be  sold,  and  his  wife, 
 and  children,  and  all  that  he  liad,and  payment 
 to  be  made. 
 
 20  The  servant  therefore  fell  down,  and 
 (I  worshipped  him,  saying.  Lord,  have  patience 
 with  me,  and  I  will  pay  thee  all. 
 
 27  Then  the  lord  of  that  servant  was  moved 
 with  compassion,  and  loosed  him,  and  forgave 
 him  the  debt. 
 
 28  But  the  same  servant  went  out, and  found 
 one  of  his  fellowservants,  which  owed  liim  an 
 hundred  ||  pence  :  and  he  laid  hands  on  him, 
 and  took  Jmn  by  the  throat,  saying.  Pay  me 
 that  thou  owest. 
 
 29  And  his  fellowservant  fell  down  at  bis 
 feet,  and  besought  him,  saying,  Have  patience 
 with  me,  and  1  will  pay  thee  all. 
 
 30  And  he  would  not :  but  went  and  cast 
 him  into  prison,  till  he  should  pay  the  debt. 
 
 31  So  when  his  fellowservants  saw  what  was 
 done,  they  were  very  sorry,  and  came  and  told 
 unto  their  lord  all  that  was  done. 
 
 Greeks. — So  DioiL  Sic.  The  millstones  in  the  east  are  not  moie  than 
 twenty  inches  in  diameter,  and  three  inches  thick  ;  so  that  there  would 
 not  be  that  difficulty  which  some  have  supposed  in  thus  despatchint; 
 criminals.  The  like  proverb  is  often  used  in  India. — See  Roh.  The 
 custom  seems  to  have  grown  into  a  proverb  for  dreadful  and  inevitable 
 rain. — Doddr.  y.  Wue  vnto  the  world,  SfC. — it  is  not  unusual  for 
 Matthew  to  conjoin  speeches  which  were  uttered  at  difTerent  times. 
 These  words  seem  to  be  introduced  from  chap,  v.,  on  the  occa'^ion  of 
 the  word  'to  offend'  being  mentioned,  (ver.  29.) — Kuinoel,  Bloom/. 
 OffencBf,  scandals,  stumbling-blocks,  persecutions,  ho..  For  it  must 
 needs  Ije,  fyc,  ava-)Kn -^ap  cujiv  f\0eiv  ra  ti^ai'SaXa,  '  for  the  coming  of 
 offences  is  unavoidable,*  owing  to  the  wickedness  and  ob^^tinacy  of 
 men.— Clarke.  8.  If  thy  hand— offend  thee,  ^c. — see  on  Matt.  v.  29, 
 notes.  iO.  Little  ones,  'little  children,'  or  those  believers  who  re- 
 semble them  in  docility,  meekness,  humility,  and  indifference  to  all 
 the  world  calls  great  and  honourable. — Porteus.  Their  angels  do  al- 
 ivnys  Itehold  the  face  ff  mi/  Father — the  principal  opinions  on  this  pas- 
 sage are  three : — (i.)  The  holy  angels,  who  behold  the  face  and  enjoy 
 the  favour  of  God,  are  sent  forth  to  minister  to  the  heirs  of  salvation. 
 — Scott.  The  highest  angels  do  not  disdain,  on  proper  occasions,  to 
 perform  services  t>f  protection  and  friendship  for  the  meanest  Christian. 
 — Bena.  Every  particular  saint,  when  there  is  occasion,  has  a  guard 
 of  angels. — Hen.  (ii.)  Every  person  has  a  guardian  angel,  and  these 
 have  always  access  to  God  to  receive  orders  relative  to  the  manage, 
 ment  of  their  charge,  (see  Ps.  xxxiv.  "  ;  Heb.  i.  14.)— .4.  Clarke,  so  St. 
 Jerome,  and  othas.  (iii.)  The  term  'angt  Is'  seems  here  to  he  used  for 
 human  souls  in  a  state  of  immortality,  considered  as  separate  and  dis- 
 tinct from  the  body. — See  Grot.,  Wets.  The  term  '  angt  1'  was  under- 
 stood of  disembodied  spirits  -,  so  Rhoda  said  of  Peter,  '  It  is  his  angel.' 
 The  argument  against  despising  Christ's  disciples,  then,  is  placed  on 
 this  ground — that  they  are  so  tlie  subjects  of  God's  regard,  that  he  will 
 raise  them  to  his  immediate  presence,  and  crown  them  with  immortal 
 life. —  Watson.  1.5.  Thy  brother,  *  thy  Christian  brother.'     Trespass, 
 
 sin.  by  injustice  ;  personal  injury  or  calumny. — Boothr.     Tell  him  his 
 fault,  e\Ef$ov  avTov,  '  expostulate  with  him.' — Camp.     'Endeavour  to 
 convince  him  of  his  fault.' — Bloom/.    *  Reprove  him,'  in  the  most  con- 
 1019 
 
 vincing  manner  thou  canst,  {see  the  use  of  the  word,  John,  viii.  g,  46; 
 xvi.  8;  1  Cor.  xiv.  24;  Tit.  i.  g,  and  James,  ii.  Q.) — Doddr.  'Argue 
 tlie  case  with  him,'  so  the  original ;  and  dn  it  with  reason  and  argu- 
 ment, and  not  with  passion. — Hen.  17.  The  church,  congregation, 
 — Boothr. ;  or  society  of  Christian  brethren.  As  an  heathen  inan,  ^c, 
 'let  him  be  put  out  of  the  church  and  his  company  avoided,  as  the 
 Jews  avoid  that  of  a  heathen  and  a  Roman  tax-gatherer. — Bp.  Mann, 
 so  Blooinf.  18.  Bind,  Sfc. — see  chap.  xvi.  ig,  notes.  ig.  If  two, 
 ffc,  '  whatever  even  two  of  you  shall  ask  in  prayer,  for  direction  and 
 assistance  from  above,  in  forming  your  judicial  determinations,  it  shall 
 be  granted  you,' — Porteus.  20.  There  mn  I — this  is  a  declaration  of 
 such  a  spiritual  and  efficient  presence  as  implies  Divine  perfections, 
 involving  the  attribute  of  omnipresence. — P.  Smith.  Corap.  Exod. 
 XX.  24.  21 .  Till  seven  times  ? — the  Jewish  doctors  used  to  say  they 
 were  to  forgive  unto  three  times,  and  no  more. — GUI,  22.  Seventy 
 times  seven,  a  certain  for  an  uncertain  number,  i.  e.,  as  often  as  he  re- 
 pent, (comp.  Luke,  xvii.) — Bloom/.  23.  The  kingdom  of  heaven, 
 ri  {3a<Ti\eia  twi/  ovpavtav,  'the  administration  of  heaven.' — Camp.  'The 
 economy  of  the  Divine  government.' — Bloomf.  Which  would  take 
 account,  tide\nT€  avvapai  \ofov,  a  Roman  forensic  term — clrise  accounts 
 with,  settle  accounts  with. — Bloomf.  Hxsbervnnts,  probably  collectors 
 of  the  revenues,  or  governors  of  provinces,  who  would  have  to  pay  a 
 certain  annual  sura  f<ir  their  government,  as  is  customary  in  Turkey 
 and  in  the  east ;  these  are  sometimes  greatly  in  arrears,  and  only  re- 
 covered by  an  armed  force. — Bloomf.  24.  Ten  thousand  talents — if 
 silver  talents,  amounting  to  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
 five  thousand  pounds, — Ham.;  if  gold,  amounting  to,  say  some, 
 seventy-two  millions. —  GUI.  The  amount  is  of  little  moment;  ten 
 thousand  talents  being  here  put  for  an  exceeding  great  sum. — Guyse. 
 The  design  here  is  to  intimate  the  number  and  weight  of  our  offences 
 against  God,  and  our  utter  incapacity  of  making  him  any  satisfaction. 
 Doddr.  25.  To  be  sold,  the  custom  in  Judea,  Asia,  Athens,  and 
 Rome.— S.Burder.  See  2  Kings,  iv.  1  ;  Lev.  xxv.ug— 46;  Amos,  viii.  6. 
 26.  Worshipped,  Treami' — -npoainvvit  rvni^,  prostrated  himself  at  his  feet. 
 — Bloomf.  So  among  the  Arabs,  inferiors  fall  down  and  kiss  the  feet, 
 knees,  or  garments  of  their  superiors. — Shaw.      2a.  An  hundredpencCt 
 
Christ  healeth  the  sick. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XIX. 
 
 and  receiveth  little  children. 
 
 32  Then  his  lord,  after  that  he  had  called 
 him,  said  unto  him,  O  thou  wicked  servant,  I 
 forgave  thee  all  that  debt,  because  thou  de- 
 siredst  me : 
 
 33  Shouldest  not  tliou  also  have  had  com- 
 passion on  thy  fellowservant,  even  as  I  had 
 pity  on  thee  ? 
 
 34  And  his  lord  was  wroth,  and  delivered 
 him  to  the  tormentors,  till  he  should  pay  all 
 that  was  due  unto  him. 
 
 35  '  So  likewise  shall  my  heavenly  Father  do 
 also  unto  you,  if  ye  from  your  hearts  forgive 
 not  every  one  his  brother  their  trespasses. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 2  Christ  healeth  the  sick :  .3  answereth  the  Pharisees 
 coneernhifj  divorcement:  10  s/iewrlh  when  marriaije 
 is  necessari/  :  13  recehntti  little  children  :  16  instruet- 
 cth  tile  yonmi  man  how  to  attain  eternal  life,  20  and 
 how  to  he  perfect :  23  telletlt  his  disciples  how  hard  it 
 is  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  Idngdom  of  God, 
 27  arid  promiseth  reward  to  tltose  that  forsake  any 
 thing  to  follow  /tint. 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass,  ''that  when  Jesus  had 
 -^^  finished  these  sayings,  he  departed  from 
 Galilee,  and  came  into  the  coasts  of  Judasa 
 beyond  Jordan ; 
 
 2  ''  And  great  multitudes  followed  him  ;  and 
 he  healed  them  there. 
 
 3  H  The  Piiarisees  also  came  unto  him,  tempt- 
 ing him,  and  saying  unto  liiin.  Is  it  lawful  for  a 
 man  to  put  away  his  wife  for  every  cause? 
 
 4  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
 Have  ye  not  read,  *"  that  he  which  made  t/iem 
 at  the  beginning  made  them  male  and  female, 
 
 5  And  said,  ■'  For  tiiis  cause  shall  a  man  leave 
 father  and  motlier,  and  shall  cleave  to  his  wife : 
 and  "  tliey  twain  sliall  be  one  flesh? 
 
 G  Wherefore  they  are  no  more  twain,  but 
 one  flesh.  What  therefore  God  hath  joined 
 together,  let  not  man  put  asunder. 
 
 7  They  say  unto  him,  ''  Why  did  Moses  then 
 command  to  give  a  writing  of  divorcement,  and 
 to  put  her  away  ? 
 
 Mark  1 1,26. 
 
 Jam.  2.  13 
 
 Murk  10. 1 1 
 l.iikRlG.lS. 
 1  Cor-  7.  H', 
 
 A.  D.  ai. 
 <  MarkUl.l 
 John  10.4U. 
 
 d  Ren.  8.24 
 Mark  ID.  5 
 —9.  Ei>h..^., 
 
 /Deu.SV  I. 
 •i.  S.  31, 
 
 11. 
 
 /■  Prn 
 
 Sl.l'.t 
 
 I   1  C. 
 
 7,  y, 
 
 r    7.  2. 
 17 
 
 *  1  (:.»r.7.3«, 
 
 ai  1ft  9.  5, 
 lb. 
 
 I  Marklll.13. 
 Lukf  IS.15. 
 
 n.  cl. 
 
 la,  3 
 
 .i  Mark  10. 
 ITLiikelH. 
 
 o  LiikolO.25. 
 1 
 
 pRx 
 Dtfu 
 
 20.  13. 
 fi.  7. 
 
 q  ch. 
 r  Le* 
 
 ch.  ■ 
 Hnrr 
 
 \5.  4. 
 .19-18. 
 2.  :19. 
 
 .  ):i.  9. 
 
 5.  hi. 
 
 2.  a. 
 
 Gal. 
 Jam 
 
 8  He  saith  unto  them,  Moses  because  of  the 
 hardness  of  your  hearts  suffered  you  to  pnt 
 away  your  wives  :  but  from  the  beginning  it 
 was  not  so. 
 
 9  ^  And  I  say  unto  you.  Whosoever  shall 
 put  away  his  wife,  except  it  be  for  fornication, 
 and  shall  marry  another,  committcth  adultery: 
 and  whoso  marrieth  her  which  is  put  away 
 doth  commit  adultery. 
 
 10  If  His  disciples  say  unto  him,  ''If  the  case 
 of  the  man  be  so  with  his  wife,  it  is  not  good 
 to  marry. 
 
 ]  I  But  he  said  unto  them,  '  All  men  cainiot 
 receive  this  saying,  save  thcj/  to  whom  it  is 
 Kiven. 
 
 \-2  For  there  are  some  eunuchs,  which  were 
 so  born  from  tkei?'  mother's  womb :  and  there 
 are  some  eunuchs,  which  were  made  eunuchs 
 of  men  :  and  ^  there  be  eunuchs,  which  have 
 made  themselves  eunuchs  for  the  kingdom  of 
 heaven's  sake.  He  that  is  able  to  receive  it, 
 let  him  receive  it. 
 
 13    H  '  Then  were  there  brought  unto   liim 
 
 ttle  children,  that  he  should  put  his  hands  on 
 them,  and  pray  :  and  the"  disciples  rebuked 
 them, 
 
 U  But  Jesus  said.  Suffer  little  children,  and 
 forbid  them  not,  to  come  unto  me:  for  '"of 
 such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 
 lo  And  he  laid  his  hands  on  them,  and  de- 
 parted thence. 
 
 16  t  "  And,  behold,  one  came  and  said  unto 
 him,  "  Good  Master,  what  good  thing  shall  I 
 do,  that  I  may  have  eternal  life? 
 
 1 7  And  he  said  unto  him.  Why  callest  thou 
 me  good?  there  is  none  good  but  one,  that  is-, 
 God  :  but  if  thou  wilt  enter  into  life,  keep  the 
 commandments. 
 
 18  He  saith  unto  him,  Which?  Jesus  said, 
 ■^Thou  shalt  do  no  murder,  Thou  shalt  not 
 commit  adultery.  Thou  shalt  not  steal,  Thou 
 shalt  not  bear  false  witness, 
 
 19  *  Honour  thy  father  and  tht/  mother:  and, 
 '  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself. 
 
 about  tlirce  pounds  two  and  sixpence,  if  in  Roman  pence.  —  Gilt. 
 34.  To  the  tonne/itors,  toiv  fSaauvtarui^,  'jailors.'  '  examiners,' and  may 
 denote  examiners  by  torture.  The  eastern  jailors  were  very  cruel. — 
 So  Camp.  State  criminals  in  the  cast  are  frequently  loaded  with  clogs 
 or  yokes  of  heavy  wood,  in  which  they  cannot  either  lie  or  sit  at  ease  -. 
 and,  by  frequent  scourginfrs,  and  sometimes  by  racking^.  are  quickly 
 brouffht  to  an  untimely  end. — Duddr.  If  a  person  was  suspected  of 
 fraud,  as  there  was  reason  for  in  such  a  case  as  that  mentioned  here, 
 he  was  put  to  very  cruel  tortures  among  the  Asiatics  to  induce  him  to 
 confess. — A.  Clarke, 
 
 Chat.  XIX.  —  1.  Beyond  Jordan,  eastward  of  it,  where  the  tribes  of 
 Gad  and  Reuben  were  originally  settled,  no\y  called  Perea,  (sae  Mark, 
 X.  1  :  John,  x.  40.) — Hnles.  3.  To  put  away,   ^c— two  celebrated 
 
 schools  had  divided  opinions  on  this  question — that  of  Shammah,  or 
 Sammai,  taught  that  it  could  only  be  done  for  adultery;  that  ot  Hillel, 
 on  the  most  trifling  occasions  of  dispute,  &c. — Mar.  4.  Male  and 
 female,  npaevKat  9n\v, '  a  male  and  a  female.' — Camp.  And  thus  joined 
 them  together  as  man  and  wife. — Bp.  Mann.  Joined,  awe^fv^ev,  '  yoked 
 together.* — Hen.  8.  Because  of  the  hardness,  Sfc. — Moses  acted  as 
 a  prudent  lawgiver,  in  allowing  other  causes  of  divorce  beside  whore- 
 dom ;  because,  by  admitting  the  less,  he  avoided  the  greater  evil.  But 
 the  Jews,  whose  hardness  of  heart  rendered  this  expedient  necessary, 
 were  chargeable  with  all  the  evils  that  followed  ;  for  which  reason,  as 
 often  as  they  divorced  tlicir  wives,  unless  for  adultery,  they  sinned 
 against  the  original  law  of  marriage,  and  were  criminal  in  the  sight 
 of  God  notwithstanding  their  law. — Mnckn.  Our  Lord  replies  that 
 Moses  did  not  command,  but  only  suffered  or  tolerated  divorces  to 
 
 prevL-nt  worse  consequences.  He  authoritatively  decides,  that  nothing 
 short  of  adultery  warranted  divorce  ;  and  that  otherwise,  if  the  wom.m 
 married  again,  which  was  permitted  by  the  law,  (Deut.  xxiv.  y,}  she 
 and  her  second  husband  were  both  guilty  of  adultery. — Htilrs.  From 
 the  beffinninff,  may  mean,  '  in  Genesis  it  was  not  Sf),'  the  Jewish  term 
 for  that  book  being  '  in  the  beginning  ;'  ri'irW"13.  this  being  the  first 
 word  in  it. — Clarke.  10.  If  the  case  of  the  man  tie  so.  Sfc.,  tliat  is, 
 that  he  must  bear  with  all  his  wife's  infirmities,  &c. — Hnles.  1 1.  Can- 
 not receive  this  saying,  'cannot  live  single.' — Whithy.  On  Travrec 
 xwpooo-t  Tov  \oyov  tovtov,  'all  men  do  not  receive  this  saying.*  Can- 
 not is  not  in  any  version  except  the  English.  All  men  do  ntit  embrace 
 a  life  of  celibacy. — Snt.  Vi.  Eunuchs — the  word  here  denotes  the 
 chastity  of  a  single  life. — Ham.  For  the  kinc^dmn  of  heai'm's  soke, 
 ab-^tained  from  matrimony  that  they  might  be  free  to  embrace  Chris- 
 tianity.— Bp.  Mann.  The  Jewish  sect  called  the  Esseneswere  here, 
 probably,  alluded  io. — Clarke.  13.  Little  children,  fSp€(pt],  'infants.' 
 — Luke.  Pnt  his  hiinds  on  them,  and  pray — the  prophets  usually  ac- 
 companied tlieir  prayers  for  others  with  the  imposition  of  hands,  (Gen. 
 xlviii.  14;  Num.  xxvii.  18;  2  Kings,  v.  11;  Matt.  ix.  18.) — Davison. 
 17-  Keep  the  commandments,  'if  you  will  obtain  heaven  by  your  own 
 meritorious  doings,  there  is  no  other  way  than  that  of  perfectly  keep- 
 ing all  the  commandments  of  God.'  Our  Lord  was  aware  that  this 
 way  was  shut  up  by  the  first  transgression  ;  yet  he  directs  the  young 
 man  to  try  it,  as  the  most  effectual  method  of  bringing  him  to  see  his 
 error. — So  Scott,  Ike.  It  deserves  consideration  whether  our  Lord  did 
 not  rather  mean,  keep  them  as  an  humbled,  penitent,  believing  sinner 
 should  keep  them;  namely,  from  supreme  love  to  God,  and  with  an 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVHI.  —  Christ  here  tPaches— 
 I.  Humiliti/.  This  is  the  beautiful  garment  of  a  Christian, 
 —' Be  clothed  with  humiUty.'  No  man  can  be  more  unlike 
 Christ  than  a  proud  man.  He  was  inHnitely  condescending  ; 
 and  were  the  most  illustrious  monarch  in  the  world  to  con- 
 descend to  the  meanest  employment,  he  could  not  humble 
 himself  as  did  the  Son  of  God  for  us,  ■  who,  for  our  sakes,  be- 
 came poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty  might  be  made  rich.' 
 
 n.  Self-denial.  We  must  make  sacrifices  if  we  would  he 
 lOtiO 
 
 genuine  Christians.  Let  us  think  how  much  is  meant  in  cut- 
 tinR  off  the  right  hand,  and  plucking  out  the  right  eye.  Our 
 evil  habits,  passions,  and  propensities,  must  all  be  brought 
 into  subjection. 
 
 HI.  Forgiveness.  How  much  has  God  forgiven  us  !  Where, 
 then,  should  we  Urait  our  forgiveness?  We  can  even  go  to 
 the  throne  of  Divine  mercy  and  say,  '  For  thy  name's  sake,  O 
 Lord,  pardon  mine  iniquity,  for  it  is  great.' 
 
How  to  attain  eternal  life. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XX. 
 
 The  labourers  in  the  vineyard. 
 
 20  The  young  man  saith  unto  him,  All  these 
 things  have  I  kept  from  my  youth  up  :  what 
 lack  I  yet? 
 
 '21  Jesus  said  unto  him,  If  thou  wilt  be  per- 
 fect, •  go  and  sell  that  tliou  hast,  and  give  to 
 the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in 
 heaven  :  and  come  and  follow  me. 
 
 •22  But  when  the  young  man  heard  that  say- 
 ing, he  went  away  sorrowful :  for  he  had  great 
 possessions. 
 
 23  1  Then  said  Jesus  unto  his  disciples. 
 Verily  I  say  unto  you,  That  '  a  rich  man  shall 
 hardly  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 
 24  And  again  I  say  unto  you.  It  is  easier  for 
 a  camel  to  go  through  the  eye  of  a  needle, 
 than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom 
 of  God. 
 
 '25  When  his  disciples  heard  it,  they  were 
 exceedingly  amazed,  saying.  Who  then  can  be 
 saved  ? 
 
 26  But  Jesus  beheld  them,  and  said  unto 
 them.  With  men  this  is  impossible;  but  "  with 
 God  all  things  are  possible. 
 
 27  H  "  Then  answered  Peter  and  said  unto 
 liini,  Behold,  ''  we  have  forsaken  all,  and  fol- 
 lowed thee  ;  what  shall  we  have  therefore? 
 
 28  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Verily  I  say 
 unto  you.  That  ye  which  have  followed  me, 
 in  the  regeneration  when  the  Son  of  man  shall 
 sit  in  the  throne  of  his  glory,  'ye  also  shall  sit 
 upon  twelve  thrones,  judging  the  twelve  tribes 
 of  Israel. 
 
 ch.G.  90. 
 Luke  12,33. 
 &  16.  9. 
 Acta  2.  *5. 
 .St-l,3+,  35. 
 I  Titn.fi.  18, 
 id. 
 
 ch  13  22. 
 M.-irklU.2l. 
 I  Cnr-l.  26. 
 I  Tim.  6.9. 
 
 10. 
 
 iiGcn.  18.11 
 
 Job  42.  2. 
 
 Jer.  32.  17. 
 
 Zech.  8.  6. 
 
 Luke  I.  37. 
 
 &  IS.  27. 
 X  Mark  10. 
 
 28.  Luke  IS. 
 
 28. 
 !,  Deu.  33,  9. 
 
 ch.  +.  20. 
 
 Luke  5.  n. 
 
 :  cli.  20.  21. 
 Lukf  22.28, 
 2'.l,  :)0. 
 1  C,ir.f"..2.3. 
 
 I  Mark  10. 
 29,30.Ltike 
 IS.  29,  30. 
 
 I  cli.  20.  Ifi. 
 Se21.  31,32. 
 M.trk  10.31. 
 Luke  13.30. 
 
 II  Tk',  R«mm 
 J'tn'il/  it  the 
 eighth  jiart 
 
 which  aflgT 
 JiveihiUifigi 
 the  aiintv  i, 
 anie'ijie/ice 
 knlfjiertHti . 
 Ch.   18.  28. 
 
 29  "And  every  one  that  hath  forsaken  houses, 
 or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father,  or  mother,  or 
 wife,  or  children,  or  lands,  for  my  name's  sake, 
 shall  receive  an  hundredfold,  and  shall  inherit 
 everlasting  life. 
 
 30  "^  But  many  that  are  first  shall  be  last ; 
 and  the  last  shall  be  first. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  Christ,  by  the  similitude  of  the  labourers  in  the  vine- 
 yard, shewetk  that  God  is  debtor  unto  7io  man:  17 
 foretelleth  his  passion :  20  6y  anstvering  the  mother 
 of  Ztbedee's  children  teacheth  his  disciphs  to  be  lowly  : 
 yO  and  giveth  two  blind  men  thtir  sight. 
 
 T^OR  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a 
 -^  man  that  is  an  housholder,  which  went 
 out  early  in  the  morning  to  hire  labourers  into 
 his  vineyard. 
 
 2  And  when  he  had  agreed  with  the  labourers 
 for  a  II  penny  a  day,  he  sent  them  into  his 
 vineyard. 
 
 3  And  he  went  out  about  the  third  hour,  and 
 saw  others  standing  idle  in  the  marketplace, 
 
 4  And  said  unto  them;  Go  ye  also  into  the 
 vineyard,  and  whatsoever  is  right  I  will  give 
 you.     And  they  went  their  way. 
 
 5  Again  he  went  out  about  the  sixth  and 
 ninth  hour,  and  did  likewise. 
 
 G  And  about  the  eleventh  hour  he  went  out, 
 and  found  others  standing  idle,  and  saith  unto 
 them.  Why  stand  ye  here  all  the  day  idleV 
 
 7  They  say  unto  him,  Because  no  man  hath 
 
 ardent  desire  to  glorify  him  in  all  things. ~~ Key iv.  20.  Alt  theae 
 things  /irwu  I  kept  from  my  youth  up,  en  vtorriTo^  fiov, '  from  my  child- 
 hood.'— Camp.  So  he  imagined,  and  perhaps  he  had  as  to  the  letter, 
 bat  not  as  to  the  spirit,  which  our  Lord  immediately  shews.  21.  Per- 
 fect, that  is,  a  real,  thorough  Christian.  Sell  that  thou  hast,  fyc. — He 
 who  reads  the  heart,  saw  tliat  this  young  man's  bosom  sin  was  the 
 love  of  his  worldly  possessions,  and  that  he  could  not  be  saved  from 
 it  but  by  literally  parting  with  them.  To  him,  therefore,  he  gave  this 
 particular  direction,  which  he  never  designed  for  a  particular  rule  for 
 all  his  followers. — Bens.  Christ  speaks  according  to  the  idiom  of  the 
 nation,  who  esteemed  selling  all  and  giving  to  the  poor  to  be  perfec- 
 tion, and  tried  this  boasting  rich  man  by  their  own  test, — Light/. 
 22.  Sorrowful,  not  caviUing,  but  grieving,  inwardly  convinced  that 
 Christ  had  opened  to  him  the  only  sure  way  of  life,  yet,  so  entangled 
 by  earthly  aft\:ctions  tliat  he  could  not  make  an  effort  towards  it. — 
 Watsoji.  The  whole  of  this  young  man's  conduct  was  a  piece  of  hypo- 
 crisy.— So  Mackn.  But  his  sincerity  in  his  inquiry  and  conduct  is  not 
 questioned  by  Watts,  Henry,  Guyse,  Watsnn,  and  others.  23.  A  rich 
 vian  shall  hardly  enter,  ^c. — the  ditficulty  was,  in  those  times,  in- 
 creased by  tlie  dani^ers  to  which  all  who  professed  the  name  of  Christ 
 were  exposed,  namely,  that  of  being  excommunicated  and  deprived  of 
 their  property. — Rosenm.  24.  It  is  easier  far  a  camel,  KojUfjAov  should 
 be  nafiiKov,  'a  cable.'— See  Bochart,  Castellio,  Whithy.  The  present 
 translation  is  proper. — So  Orot.,  Erasmus,  Lightf.,  Mich.,  Roseinn., 
 Sec.  Camels  are  trained  to  creep  on  their  knees  under  the  low  door- 
 ways of  the  Arabs.  Hence  the  allusion. — Har.  The  Jewish  rabbies 
 would  say  of  what  appeared  an  impossibiUty.  '  It  will  not  happen  be- 
 fore a  camel  or  elephant  has  crept  through  the  eye  of  a  needle.' — Mich. 
 The  camel  being  the  largest  animal  they  were  acquainted  with  in 
 Judea,  its  name  was  proverbial  for  denoting  anything  remarkably 
 large,  and  a  camel  passing  through  a  needle's  eye  became  proverbial 
 for  expressing  a  difficulty. — Camp.  The  words  are  a  proverb,  and 
 proverbs  admit  of  the  most  extravagant  comparisons. — Ed.  26.  But 
 with  God,  ^c,  the  energy  of  Divine  grace  is  able  to  make  a  man  des- 
 pise the  world,  with  all  it  contains,  when  no  efforts  of  man  are  able  to 
 do  it. — Bens.  27.  Forsaken  all — Peter's  all  consisted  but  of  nets, 
 boats,  and  things  of  small  value  ;  yet  they  were  the  means  of  obtain- 
 ing a  decent  maintenance  ;  and  the  same  faith  which  induced  him  to 
 renounce  them  for  Christ's  sake,  would  have  led  him  to  make  larger 
 
 sacrifices,  if  he  had  been  called  to  it,  as  he  afterwards  was.— Sco«. 
 What  shall  we  have?  'what  shall  be  our  reward ''—Barf.  28.  In, 
 the  regeneration,  ev  rt]  7raA,£7yei'ea(V''"^P'"'^'i"'^'^'""'^^^*'0'^^'^'"°'  renova- 
 tion.—ir«/.s-o«.  This  admits  of  two  senses,  and  may  refer  to  the 
 renewing  work  of  grace,  or  the  glorious  restitution  of  all  things  :  both 
 are  included  in  the  paraphrase  of  Guyse,  but  most  learned  commen- 
 tators alter  the  punctuation  of  our  common  bibles,  and  read,  'Ye 
 which  have  followed  me,  in  the  regeneration  when  the  Son,'  &c.  Some 
 reference  may  perhaps  be  had  to  the  establishment  of  the  Christian 
 church,  and  the  condemnation  of  the  Jewish  nation  in  consequence  of 
 their  ministry,  but  the  day  of  judgment  seems  immediately  intended. 
 — Scott.  '  When  I,'  says  our  Saviour,  '  shall  be  exalted  to  everlasting 
 dominion,  and  shall  sit  upon  the  throne  of  eternal  glory,  ye  shall  then 
 be  exalted  also,'  &c.— S.  Clarke.  There  is  an  allusion  here  to  the  cus- 
 tom of  princes  having  their  great  men  ranged  around  them  as  assessors 
 and  advisers,  when  they  sit  in  council  or  in  judgment. —  Por^ews. 
 29.  An  hundredfold,  in  value,  though  nut  in  kind,  even  in  the  present 
 world,  in  the  inward  satisfaction  of  Divine  consolation  attending  real 
 religion.  30.  That  are  first,  in  profession,  and  in  the  opinion  of 
 their  fellow-creatures,  and  their  own  opinion,  for  piety  and  virtue. 
 Shall  be  last,  in  God's  esteem,  and  the  last  in  the  opinion  of  men  and 
 in  their  own  opinion.  Shall  he  first,  preferred  to  others  in  that  day.— 
 Bens.  The  Jews,  the  first  and  most  distinguished  pctiple  of  God  will 
 reject  the  gospel,  and  be  rejected,  and  the  Gentiles,  who  had  no  name 
 among  the  Uving,  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and 
 become  the  tirst,  the  chief,  and  the  most  exalted  people  of  God.—  Clarke. 
 Chap.  XX.  —  1.  Early  in  the  morning,  U,ia  Trpwt,  *  with  the  early 
 dawn.'— B/oom/.  'At  day-break,*  which,  with  the  Jews,  was  about 
 six  o'clock,  and  was  called  *the  first  hour.'— Watson.  3.  The  third 
 hour,  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. ~Bp.  Pear  ce.  Idle,  i.e., 
 unemployed. — Camp.  In  the  marketplace,  ev  tj;  ayopi^,  a  place  where 
 the  markets,  judgments,  and  orations  were  held,  and  all  the  public 
 business  was  transacted ;  where  especially  the  idle,  and  those  who  were 
 out  of  employment,  assembled  in  order  to  procure  employment,  par- 
 ticularly at  the  third  hom.— Bloom/.  5.  The  si.rth  and  ninth  hour, 
 twelve  and  tbree  in  the  afternoon.  6.  The  eleventh  hour,  five  in  the 
 afternoon,  and  they  who  were  then  hired  would  have  to  toil  but  one 
 hour,  till  six  o'clock,  at  which  time  the  day  c\osed.-~Watts.  Ihe 
 Jews  began  their  day  about  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  reckoned 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIX.  —  We  may  here  receive  in- 
 structional. On  the  mniTiage  state.  This  is  too  sacred  an 
 union  to  bo  capriciously  dissolved.  From  its  serious  nature 
 it  ought  not,  however,  to  be  entered  into  without  the  most 
 serious  reflection,  and  the  parties  should  be  suited  to  each 
 other.  Where  this  is  the  case,  we  may  expect  domestic  hap- 
 piness ;  where  it  is  not,  we  need  not  be  surprised  at  domestic 
 discord.  *  Can  two  walk  together  except  they  be  agreed  V 
 We  may  here  receive  instruction — 
 
 II.  Respecting  infants.  How  desirable  is  it  to  lead  the  in- 
 fant mind  to  that  Saviour  who  is  so  '  meek  and  lowly  of  heart,' 
 so  kind  and  condescending,  that  so  our  children  may  enter 
 into  Christ's  kingdom  of  grace  here,  and  that  we  may  finally 
 lO'Jl 
 
 meet  them  in  the  kingdom  of  giory.     We  may  also  receive  in- 
 struction— 
 
 III.  JVith  regard  to  riches.  We  are  shewn  their  danger. 
 With  man's  corrupt  propensities,  they  often  enable  him  to  be 
 more  corrupt.  With  bis  earthly  inclinations,  they  frequently 
 weigh  down  bis  soul,  and  make  him  more  earthly.  The  rich 
 may,  then,  learn  from  Christ's  language  respecting  the  young 
 man,  to  '  use  the  world  so  as  not  to  abuse  it,'  and  the  poor  to 
 be  contented  with  their  lot,  '  for  the  love  of  money  is  the 
 root  of  all  evil  J  which  while  some  coveted  after,  they  have 
 erred  from  the  faith,  and  pierced  themselves  through  with 
 many  sorrows.' 
 
Christ  fortdlcth  his  passion, 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XX. 
 
 and  giveth  two  blind  men  their  sight. 
 
 hired  us.  He  saith  unto  them.  Go  ye  also 
 into  tlie  vineyard  ;  and  whatsoever  is  right, 
 that  shall  ye  receive. 
 
 8  So  when  even  was  come,  the  lord  of  the 
 vineyard  saith  unto  his  steward.  Call  the  la- 
 bourers, and  give  them  their  hire,  beginning 
 from  the  last  unto  the  first. 
 
 9  And  when  they  came  that  rcere  hired 
 about  the  eleventh  hour,  they  received  every 
 man  a  penny. 
 
 10  But  when  the  first  came,  they  supposed 
 that  they  should  have  received  more ;  and 
 they  likewise  received  every  man  a  penny. 
 
 1 1  And  when  they  had  received  it,  they  mur- 
 mured against  the  goodman  of  the  house, 
 
 12  Saying,  These  last  ||  have  wrought  i!(<  one 
 hour,  and  thou  hast  made  them  equal  unto  us, 
 which  have  borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the 
 day. 
 
 13  But  he  answered  one  of  them,  and  said, 
 Friend,  I  do  thee  no  wrong :  didst  not  thou 
 agree  with  me  for  a  penny  ? 
 
 14  Take  that  thine  is,  and  go  thy  way :  I  will 
 give  unto  this  last,  even  as  unto  thee. 
 
 15  °  Is  it  not  lawful  for  me  to  do  what  I  will 
 with  mine  own?  ''Is  thine  eye  evil,  because 
 I  am  good  ? 
 
 16  '^So  the  last  shall  be  first,  and  the  first 
 last :  ""for  many  be  called,  but  few  chosen. 
 
 17  f  And  Jesus  going  up  to  Jerusalem  took 
 the  twelve  disciples  apart  in  the  way,  and  said 
 unto  them, 
 
 18  'Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem;  and  the 
 Son  of  man  shall  be  betrayed  unto  the  chief 
 priests  and  unto  the  scribes,  and  they  shall 
 condemn  him  to  death, 
 
 19  ^  And  shall  deliver  him  to  the  Gentiles  to 
 mock,  and  to  scourge,  and  to  crucify  him  : 
 and  the  third  day  he  shall  rise  again. 
 
 20  U ''  Then  came  to  him  the  mother  of  '  Ze- 
 bedee's  children  with  her  sons,  worshipping 
 him,  and  desiring  a  certain  thing  of  him. 
 
 21  And  he  said  unto  her.  What  wilt  thou  ? 
 She  saith  unto  him,  Grant  that  these  my  two 
 sons  'may  sit,  the  one  on  thy  right  hand,  and 
 
 II  Op,  hnva 
 
 -I  Rom.  0.21. 
 
 b  Oeu   15,  9. 
 
 I'r...  -n.  6. 
 
 cli.  6.  as. 
 cell.  19.  SO. 
 Jch.22.  It. 
 
 <MarklO.S2. 
 Luke  18  SI. 
 John  12.12. 
 
 /cb.  16.21. 
 
 g  ch.  27.  a. 
 Mark  15.  I. 
 16.  &c. 
 Luke  23.  I. 
 Jnlin  13  28, 
 fcc.  .\cta  3, 
 
 h  Mark  10. 
 
 k  ch-   19.  2S. 
 
 /  rh.  21). 
 
 .'(t, 
 
 ^2.  Ma 
 
 k 
 
 H.  S6. 
 
 Lukei^ 
 
 1", 
 
 John  If 
 
 .11. 
 
 m  Luke 
 
 W. 
 
 50. 
 
 •i  Acts  1 
 
 >  o 
 
 Rom  8 
 
 17. 
 
 2  Cor. 
 
 .7- 
 
 Rev.  I. 
 
 y. 
 
 p  Mark  10. 
 ■H. Luke  22. 
 
 '/  1  Pet.  5.3. 
 
 r  ch .  is.  1 1 . 
 Mark  9.35. 
 &  ID.  -13. 
 
 *ch.  in.'l. 
 
 /John  n.  4. 
 ..  Phil.  2.  7. 
 jf  Luke  i'i. 
 
 27.Jobii  I.H. 
 
 U. 
 1/  \9.  53.  in. 
 
 II.  Dan.  9. 
 
 2i.  26. 
 
 John  11.51, 
 
 52.  I  Tim. 
 
 2,  6   Tit.  2. 
 
 M.  1  Pet.L 
 
 19. 
 sch.26.  29. 
 
 Kom.  5.  15, 
 
 19.  Hcb.O. 
 
 29. 
 <i  Mark  ID. 
 
 4S.Lukt-l8. 
 
 the  Other  on  the  left,  in  thy  kingdom. 
 
 22  But  Jesus  answered  and  said.  Ye  know 
 not  what  ye  ask.  Are  ye  able  to  drink  of  '  the 
 cup  that  I  shall  drink  of,  and  to  be  baptized 
 with  '"the  baptism  that  lam  baptized  with? 
 They  say  unto  him.  We  are  able. 
 
 23  And  he  saith  unto  them,  "  Ye  shall  drink 
 indeed  of  my  cup,  and  be  baptized  with  the 
 baptism  that  I  am  baptized  with  :  but  to  sit  on 
 my  riglit  hand,  and  on  my  left,  is  not  mine  to 
 °  give,  but  it  shall  be  given  to  them  for  whom 
 it  is  prepared  of  my  Father. 
 
 24  '*  And  when  the  ten  heard  it,  they  were 
 moved  with  indignation  against  the  two 
 brethren. 
 
 25  But  Jesus  called  them  unto  /irw,and  said. 
 Ye  know  tliat  the  princes  of  the  Gentiles  exer- 
 cise dominion  over  them,  and  they  that  are 
 great  exercise  authority  vipoii  them. 
 
 26  But  ''it  shall  not  be  so  among  you:  but 
 ^whosoever  will  be  great  among  you,  let  him 
 be  your  minister  ; 
 
 27  '  And  whosoever  will  be  chief  among  you, 
 let  him  be  your  servant : 
 
 28  '  Even  as  the  "  Son  of  man  came  not  to  be 
 ministered  unto,  ^  but  to  minister, and  ''to give 
 his  life  a  ranson  '  for  many. 
 
 29  "*  And  as  they  departed  from  Jericho,  a 
 great  multitude  followed  him. 
 
 30  t  And,  behold,  ''two  blind  men  sitting  by 
 the  way  side,  when  they  heard  that  Jesus 
 passed  by,  cried  out,  saying,  Have  mercy  on 
 us,  O  Lord,  tliou  ^on  of  David. 
 
 31  And  the  multitude  rebuked  them,  because 
 they  should  hold  their  peace  :  but  they  cried 
 the  more,  saying,  Have  mercy  on  us,  C)  Lord, 
 thou  son  of  David. 
 
 32  And  Jesus  stood  still,  and  called  them, 
 and  said.  What  will  ye  that  I  shall  do  unto 
 you  ? 
 
 33  They  say  unto  him.  Lord,  that  our  eyes 
 may  be  opened. 
 
 3-1  So  Jesus  had  compassion  on  them,  and 
 touched  their  eyes  :  and  immediately  their 
 eyes  received  sight,  and  they  followed  him. 
 
 twelve  hours  in  \i.—Bp.  Penrce.  Whij  stand  ye,  ^-c— before  a  large 
 mosque  in  Hamadan  is  a  maidan  or  square,  wliich  ser\'es  as  a  market- 
 place. Here  we  observed,  every  morning  before  the  sun  rose,  that  a 
 numerous  band  of  pea.sants  were  collected  with  spades  in  their  hands, 
 waiting,  as  they  informed  us,  to  be  hired  for  the  day  to  work  in  the 
 surrounding  fields  ■-  this  strucli  me  as  an  happy  illustration  of  our  Sa. 
 viour*3  parable.— .Uttrtc?*.  Those  hired  at  the  eleventh  hour  may 
 represent  either  the  Gentiles  called  long  after  the  Jews,  or  those  called 
 late  in  life. — Bens.  8.  Unto  his  steward,  Ttft  tnnpoii^,  '  to  his  agent 
 or  manager.'— lKa/.son.     'To  his  hind.' — Bloom/.  II.  Thei/  jnur- 
 
 mured — this  was  the  case  with  the  Jews  on  the  admission  of  the 
 Gentiles  into  the  church,  {see  Acts,  xi.  2,  3  ;  xiii.  -15,  &c  ;  xvii.  5,  13  ; 
 Rom.  xi.  28.) — Boothr.  15.  Eye  evil,  -novn^oi,  'envious;'  so  said 
 because  envy  shews  itself  especially  in  the  eyefi.— Bloom/.  Good? 
 ayaOo^,  is  here  used  in  the  sense  of  bountiful  or  liberal.  l6.  So  the 
 
 Inst,  ^f.— the  proverbial  sentence  is  here  repeated  to  shew  what  the 
 parable  was  especially  designed  to  illustrate. —  Watson.  For  many  be 
 culled,  ^c— the  citizens  of  Rome  were  all  liable  in  turns  to  serve  as 
 soldiers,  this  was  called  (delectum  habere)  'chusing  them,'  because 
 they  had  always  a  great  many  more  than  they  wanted.  Tlie  great 
 mass  were  called  together,  and  a  choice  made  of  those  most  fit  for  ser- 
 vice ;  hence  the  allusion. — Fleury's  Hist,  o/ the  Israelites.  The  main 
 scope  of  the  parable  respects  the  dealings  of  God  with  men  according 
 to  the  gospel,  and  vindicates  him  from  the  charge  of  injustice  and  par- 
 tiality.— Scott.  20.  The  mother  o/  Zfl'fdte^s  children,  whose  name 
 was  Salome,  as  may  be  concluded  from  Matt,  xxvii.  56,  compared  with 
 Mark.  xv.  40.  She  is  not  called  Zeberiee's  wife,  he  might  now  be  dead. 
 — Gill.  James  andJohn  were  her  sous,  iMa.Tk,x.  35.)— Dean  Stanhope. 
 21.  The  one  on  thy  ri^ht  hand,  §c.— according  to  the  eastern  custom, 
 the  degree  of  proximity  to  the  throne  denoted  the  degree  of  dignity. 
 This  prevailed  too  among  the  western  nations. — Bloom/.  22.  Ye 
 know  not  what  ye  ask,  *  are  not  aware  what  is  implied  in  being  ad- 
 vanced in  my  kingdom,  and  what  is  necessarily  pre-required  in  order 
 thereto.'— i( ens.      To  drink  o/  the  cup,  have  the  same  measure  of 
 
 afflictions  ;  so  the  phrase  means,  see  chap.  xxvi.  39 ;  Ps.  xi.  6  ;  Isa.  li. 
 IT;  Jer.  XXV.  15,  ^c.  The  master  of  the  family  distributed  the  portion 
 of  meat  and  drink  to  each,  in  allusion  to  which  custom.  Almighty  God, 
 as  one  common  Father  and  Ma^te^,  is  viewed,  in  the  dispensations  of 
 providence,  as  appointing  to  every  one  his  respective  share  of  good 
 and  c\i\.—Bp.  Mann.  Baptized,  ^c,  overwhelming  calamities  repre- 
 sented  by  immersion  in  waters,  (so  Ps.  xlii.  7  j  Ixix.  2,  fic.)— Whitby. 
 23.  Ye  shall  indeed  drink,  ^c— James  was  the  first  apostle  who  suf- 
 fered martyrdom.  (Acts,  xii.  2  ;)  and  John  was  scourged,  (Arts,  v.  40,) 
 and  afterwards  banished,  (Rev.  i.  g.)—Doddr.  Is  not  mine  to  cii-e,  ^c, 
 oi'K  effTd-  e/ioi'  fiuvvac  aW  oh.  K:c.,  '  I  cannot  give  unless  to  those  "  for 
 whom  it  is  prepared  of  my  Father." ' — Camp.  ['  Non  est  mcum  dare, 
 sed  quibus  paratura  est  a  Patre  meo.*— il/on^]  It  did  not  belting  to 
 the  Snn  to  give  these  stations  to  any  by  a  private  act  of  his  own  will  as 
 apart  from  the  Father.— A>//h'.  This  expression  argues  no  defect  in 
 the  power  of  Christ,  but  only  a  perfect  conformity  to  his  Father's  will. 
 
 —  Whilfjy.  25.  The  princes  o/  the  Gentiles,  ^c,  '  the  princes  of  the 
 world  have  a  mighty  thirst  after  dominion,  but  it  must  not  be  thus 
 among  you  in  ray  spiritual  kingdom.' — Gvyse.  '  The  princes  of  the 
 world,  and  their  courtiers,  hold  dominion  over  their  countrymen,  but 
 ye  ought  not  to  imitate  their  manners  :  no  one  of  you  should  exercise 
 dominion  over  the  rest,  or  look  down  with  superiority  upon  any  one.' 
 
 —  Itosenm.,  Kiiinoel.  26.  Whosoet^er  will  he  great,  ^c.,  '  uhosocvcr 
 would  be  truly  great  and  honourable  unto  me,  let  him  humble  and 
 deny  himself,  and  labour  to  promote  the  spiritual  interests  of  ethers.' 
 
 —  Guy&e.  Be  ymir  minister,  diaKovov,  '  your  waiting  servant.*  '  Exer- 
 cise unfeigned  liumility.' — Keyw.  27.  Your  S'-rvant,  iovXav,  'slave.' 
 — Camp.  ^S.  A  ransom,  Xvrpov,  [pretium  redemptionis.] — Mont. 
 'A  redemption  price.*  The  apostle  useth  a  word  which  signifieth  a 
 price  paid  instead  of  another,  (i  Tim.  ii.  6,1  so  as  there  is  no  further 
 satisfaction  or  price  to  be  paid  for  any. — Poole.  Far  many,  for  the 
 souls  of  multitudes,  even  of  all  that  should  ever  believe  in  his  name. 
 
 —  Scott,  so  Grot.  31.  Thou  son  o/  David,  i.  e.,  thou  expected  Mes- 
 siah.— Guyse. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.     XX.  —  Observe    here,   I.     The  I  and  at  all  ppriods  of  life,  are  called  into  the  service  of  God  ; 
 sovereignty  and  riches  of  Divine  (jracc.     Sinners  of  all  classes,     and  whea  they  are  so  called,   they  work   for   him,   while   ho 
 1022 
 
Christ's  entri/  into  Jerusalein. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXI. 
 
 He  curseth  the  Jig  tree. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  Christ  rideth  into  Jerusahm  upon  an  ass,  12  driveth 
 the  buijtTs  and  sellers  out  of  the  temple,  17  curseth  the 
 Jiy  tree,  23  putteth  to  silence  the  priests  and  elders,  28 
 aJid  rehuketli  them  by  the  similitude  of  the  tivosons, 
 35  and  the  husbandmen,  who  slew  such  as  were  sent 
 unto  them, 
 
 \  ND  '^  when  they  drew  nigh  unto  Jerusalem, 
 -^~*-  and  were  come  to  Bethphage,  unto  ''the 
 mount  of  Olives,  then  sent  Jesus  two  disciples, 
 
 2  Saying  unto  them.  Go  into  the  village  over 
 against  you,  and  straightway  ye  shall  find  an 
 ass  tied,  and  a  colt  with  her:  loose  them,  and 
 bring  (hem  unto  me. 
 
 3  And  if  any  man  say  ought  unto  you,  ye 
 shall  say,  The  Lord  hath  need  of  them ;  and 
 straightway  he  will  send  them. 
 
 4  All  this  was  done,  that  it  might  be  fulfilled 
 which  was  spoken  by  the  prophet,  saying, 
 
 3  '^  Tell  ye  the  daughter  of  Sion,  Behold,  thy 
 King  cometh  unto  thee,  meek,  and  sitting 
 upon  an  ass,  and  a  colt  the  foal  of  an  ass. 
 
 6  ''  And  the  disciples  went,  and  did  as  Jesus 
 commanded  them, 
 
 7  And  brought  the  ass,  and  the  colt,  and 
 *  put  on  them  their  clothes,  and  they  set  him 
 thereon. 
 
 8  And  a  very  great  multitude  spread  their 
 garments  in  the  way ;  ^  others  cut  down 
 branches  from  the  trees,  and  strawed  them  in 
 the  way. 
 
 9  And  the  multitudes  that  went  before,  and 
 
 a  Mark  U.l. 
 Luke  19  29. 
 b  Zech.U.  4. 
 
 T  l3.  69.  II. 
 Zuch.  9.  9. 
 Johu  12.  15. 
 
 f  See  Lev. 
 23.  40. 
 
 1  Mac.  13. 
 51,  he. 
 
 2  Mac. 10.7. 
 JobQlS.I3. 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 If  P9.II8.  25. 
 /.  Ps.  118.26. 
 
 cli.  23.  3!'. 
 iMavkll.ir., 
 
 Luke \9Ah 
 
 John  2.  13, 
 
 15. 
 
 k  cli.  2  23. 
 
 Luke  7.  Hi. 
 
 JoliuG.   II. 
 
 h  7.W.&9. 
 
 17. 
 /  M.irkll.n. 
 
 Luke  l9Af>. 
 
 J.ihii  2  15, 
 m  Deut.  II. 
 
 25. 
 »  l8.  5U.  7- 
 
 0  Jer.  7.  n . 
 Mai-k  11.17. 
 Luke  19.4(j, 
 
 l>  Pa.  8.  2. 
 
 7  Mark  II. 
 
 ll.Joliii  i1. 
 
 18. 
 -  Mark  11. 
 
 12. 
 jMarkll.13. 
 t  Gr.  o,.ejig 
 
 that  followed,  cried,  saying,  ^  Hosanna  to  the 
 son  of  David  :  "  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in 
 the  name  of  tiie  Lord  ;  Hosanna  in  tlie  highest. 
 
 10  '  And  when  he  was  come  into  Jerusalem, 
 all  the  city  was  moved,  saying.  Who  is  this? 
 
 1 1  And  the  multitude  said.  This  is  Jesus 
 ''  the  prophet  of  Nazareth  of  Galilee. 
 
 12  1[  '  And  Jesus  went  into  the  temple  of 
 God,  and  cast  out  all  them  that  sold  and 
 bought  in  the  temple,  and  overthrew  the 
 tables  of  the  "'moneychangers,  and  the  seats 
 of  them  that  sold  doves, 
 
 13  And  said  unto  them,  It  is  written,  "My 
 house  shall  be  called  the  house  of  prayer ; 
 "  but  ye  have  made  it  a  den  of  thieves. 
 
 14  And  the  blind  and  the  lame  came  to  him 
 in  the  temple  ;  and  he  healed  them. 
 
 15  And  when  the  chief  priests  and  scribes 
 saw  the  wonderful  things  that  he  did,  and  the 
 children  crying  in  the  temple,  and  saying,  Ho- 
 sanna to  the  sou  of  David  ;  they  were  sore 
 displeased, 
 
 16  And  said  unto  him,  Hearest  thou  what 
 these  say?  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Yea; 
 have  ye  never  read,  ''Out  of  the  mouth  of 
 babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  perfected  praise? 
 
 17  If  And  he  left  them,  and  went  out  of  the 
 city  into  "*  Bethany  ;  and  he  lodged  there. 
 
 18  '  Now  in  the  morning  as  he  returned  into 
 the  city,  he  hungered. 
 
 19  'And  when  he  saw  fa  fig  tree  in  the  way, 
 he  came  to  it,  and  found  nothing  thereon,  but 
 
 Chap.  XXI. — 1.  Bethphage,  a  villag-e  near  Jerusalem,  on  the  Mount 
 of  Olives.  The  latter  received  its  name  from  its  oiive  trees;  it  was 
 separated  from  Jerusalem  by  the  brook  Kedron. —  Wells.  The  Jews 
 say  it  vpas  the  outermost  part  of  the  city  within  the  walls ;  it  seems  to 
 have  been  part  within  and  part  without. — Gill.  It  was  inhabited  by 
 I)riests. — Biiothr.  2.  The  village  over  against  yon,  or  opposite,  was 
 llethany.— lt'(7.  It  is  supposed  by  some  to  be  Nob,  distant  two  miles. 
 —  Wntso7i.  Ye  shall  find — here  remark  the  Divine  knowledge  and 
 power  of  our  blessed  Lord. — Stanhope.  An  nss~m  the  east,  this  beast 
 was,  and  still  is,  used  by  princes  and  chief  persons. — See  Niebuhr, 
 Hassehitdsf,  8iC.  3.  The  Lord,  6  Knpio?,  'the  master,'  i.e.,  our 
 master. — Camp.  4.  Might  be  fulfilled — events  were  so  admirably 
 disposed  to  fulfil  God's  purposes,  and,  by  minute  circumstances,  mark 
 tlie  advent  of  Christ. — Bp.  Mann.  5.  Daughter  of  Sion,  Jerusalem, 
 (see  Isa.  I.xii.  1 1  ;  Zech.  ix.g.) — Camp.  Upon  an  ass,  and  a  colt, '  upon 
 on  ass,  even  a  colt,'  (Mark,xi.  7;  Luke,  xix.  35;  John,  xii.  14.) — 
 Whithy,  Bp.  Penrce.  See  Zech.  ix.  9,  note.  The  prophecy  setnis  to 
 require,  and  the  lli^tory  to  warrant,  the  conclusion  that  both  were  rode, 
 (see  ver.  ".) —  Wil. ;  hut  it  is  not  unusual  with  the  sacred  authors,  when 
 either  the  nature  of  the  thing  spoken  of  or  the  attendant  circum- 
 stances are  sufficient  for  precluding  mistakes,  to  employ  the  plural 
 number  for  the  singular.— Comp.  7.  Thereon,  '  upon  tlie  colt,'  (Luke, 
 xix.  ss.) — Whitby.  Kai  cnenaffiacv  tTiava)  avrow,  'upon  the  garments.' 
 — Euthyviius,  so  Btoomf.,  and  Watson.  Christ  rode  on  an  ass,  as  tlie 
 judges  and  kings  of  Israel  did  till  Solomon's  time.  He  appeared  not  in 
 the  pomp  and  pride  of  chariots  and  horses,  which  God  had  forbid  to 
 the  kings  of  Israel,  but  rode  on  the  foal  of  an  ass,  like  David,  the 
 greatest  of  all  his  ancestors.— 5Aer/ocft.  8.  Spread  their  garments, 
 ^c. — an  usual  ceremony  in  the  east  before  kings,  (see  2  Kings,  ix.  13.) 
 — Whithy.  Q.  Hosanna,  an  abbreviation  of  two  Hebrew  words,  sig- 
 nifying '  save  now,'  (see  Ps.cxviii.  25,)  and  were  a  customary  acclama- 
 tion of  the  people  on  common  occasii^ns. — Bp.  Pearce.  '  Hosanna  to 
 the  son  of  David'  is  equivalent  to  '  God  preseVve  the  son  of  David.' 
 •  Prosperous  be  his  leign.'  Blessed  is  he,  '  blessed  be  he.'—  Camp.  In 
 the  name,  J^c,  'whom  God  hath  sent  to  be  our  king  and  deliverer.' — 
 S.  Clarke.  It  was  customary  with  the  Jews,  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles, 
 to  carry  about  branches  of  palm  and  other  trees  in  their  hands,  and 
 losing,  'Hosanna,  save  now,  I  beseech  thee,*  (Ps.  cxviii.  25.)  Tuis 
 custom  they  now  adopted  to  proclaim  Christ  as  the  Messiah.  10.  All 
 the  city,  the  inhabitants. — Watson.  11.  This  is  Jesus  the  prophet,  ?fc  , 
 o  7rpo(/>t)T»ir,  THAT  prophet  whom  Moses  spoke  of,    (Deut.  xviii.  18.) 
 
 Every  expression  of  the  multitude  plainly  intimated  that  tliey  fully 
 received  our  blessed  Lord  as  the  promised  Messiah.  —  A.  Clarke. 
 12.  Into  the  temple,  to  lepov,  not  the  word  vaov:  the  latter  properly 
 meant '  the  house  ;'  the  former,  '  all  the  courts.'  It  was  in  the  outer- 
 most court  that  traffic  was  exercised. — Camp.  Moneychangers — these 
 Ko\\v/h<nai  were  persons  who  exchanged  loreign  and  current  coin  to 
 meet  the  convenience  of  those  who  came  up  to  the  feasts  from  distant 
 countries.  They  had  their  tables  in  the  court  of  the  Gentiles,  where 
 frankincense,  oil,  wine,  doves,  lambs,  and  oxen,  were  sold,  after  the 
 victims  had  been  examined  and  approved  by  the  priests,  and  were  in 
 the  height  of  their  business  now  at  the  approach  ot  the  passnver,  dese- 
 crating the  hallowed  place.  Them  that  sold  dot<es,  which  being  the 
 offerings  of  the  poor,  would,  on  this  occasion,  be  in  great  demand  — 
 So  Watson.  13.  A  den  of  thieves,  Xtja-aiv,  more  properly  robbers.— 
 
 Scott.  This  has  reference  to  the  custom  of  robbers,  who  shelter  them- 
 selves  in  the  dens  and  caves  which  abound  in  Judea.— 2?/).  Smnllbruak. 
 Christ  calls  these  dealers  thieves,  because  it  was  their  avarice  which 
 made  them  chusc  tliis  place  that  they  might  the  belter  sell  their  mer- 
 chandise ;  and  this  name  extended  itself  also  to  the  priests,  who,  for 
 the  sake  of  money,  allowed  thtm  to  carry  on  this  scandalous  trade. — 
 D.  Martin.  15.  The  wonderful  things—not  so  much  referring  to  his 
 cures,  but  his  public  entry — honours— and  authority  used  in  the  tem- 
 ple.—So  Ti'atson.  ]6.  Hearest  thimuhat  these  say  7— it  was  a  common 
 tiling  among  the  Jews  for  the  children  to  be  employed  in  public  accla- 
 mations, and  thus  they  were  accustt>med  to  hail  their  celebrated  rab- 
 bins; this  shouting  was  therefore  no  strange  thing,  but  they  were 
 exasperated,  because  it  was  in  praise  of  a  person  they  deeply  hated. — 
 —Clarke.  The  mouth  of  babes,  ^c— see  Ps.  viii.  2,  note.  Thoii  hast 
 perfected  praise,  KarnpTicrw,  thou  hast  given  it  all  its  parts  and  propor- 
 tions; thou  hast  completed  and  accomplished  it.—Trapp.  ly.  Bethany, 
 a  village  two  miles  east  of  Jerusalem,  at  the  ascent  of  the  Mount  of 
 Olives.— Co/.  It  takes  its  name  from  a  Greek  word,  which  signifies  the 
 dates  of  palm  trees, which  grew  there  in  great  plenty.— We//«.  He  lodged 
 there,  >]uAia6n,  '  he  passed  the  night,'  not  in  the  village  at  the  house  of 
 Lazarus,  but  probably  in  the  open  air  among  the  olive  trees,  with  wh  ch 
 
 the  district  abounded,  for  it  is  added,  'in  the  morning he  was 
 
 hungry,'  which  he  could  scarcely  be  in  coming  so  short  a  distance  as  two 
 miles,  from  the  house  of  Lazarus,  had  he  been  entertained  there.  Our 
 Lord  chose  this  for  the  sake  of  solitude  and  ^irayer.— Watson.  18.  He 
 hungered,  which  proves  the  truth  of  bis  human  nature,  which  was  in  all 
 respects  like  ours  excepting  sia.— Gilt.     19.  Hesnwafig  tree,  avKtivinav, 
 
 freely  and  liberally  gives  to  all  their  reward.   Observe — 
 
 II.  The  folly  of  ambition  in  the  disciples  of  Christ.  It  is, 
 indeed,  foolisuness  in  all.  Those  who  are  placed  on  a  pin- 
 nacle are  in  a  situation  of  danger  ;  and  how  many  have  fallen 
 headlong  and  perished!  liut  in  Christ's  disciples  it  is  most 
 unseemly.  Quite  unlike  him  *  who,  though  he  was  in  the  form 
 of  God,  and  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God,  took 
 upon  himself  the  form  of  a  servant.'  '  If  we  ask  such  things 
 as  are  truly  good  for  us,  or  others,  God  will  not  refuse  our  re- 
 quest ;  but  when  we  pray  under  the  influence  of  pride,  avarice, 
 1023 
 
 or  any  other  passion,  we  *'  know  not  wh^t  we  ask  ;"  we  mis- 
 take poison  for  food  or  medicine  ;  and  if  he  loves  ue,  he  will 
 witiihold  from  us  what  we  foolishly  crave.'  °     Observe — 
 
 III.  The  readiness  of  Christ  to  htlp  those  who  earnestly  seth  his 
 mercy.  '  Let  us  act  in  behalf  of  our  souls,  as  these  bhnd  men 
 did  in  behalf  of  their  sight,  and  our  salvation  is  sure.  Let  us 
 apply  to  the  Son  of  David,  without  losing  a  moment ;  he  is 
 passing  by,  and  we  are  passing  into  eternity,  and  probably 
 will  never  have  a  more  favourable  opportunity  than  the  pre- 
 sent.    Lord,  increase  our  earnestness  and  faith  !' 
 
CJwist  puttetk  to  silence 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXI. 
 
 the  priests  and  elders. 
 
 leaves  only,  and  said  unto  it.  Let  no  fruit 
 grow  on  thee  henceforward  for  ever.  And 
 presently  the  fig  tree  withered  away. 
 
 '20  ^And  when  the  disciples  saw  it^  they  mar- 
 velled, saying,  How  soon  is  the  fig  tree  withered 
 away! 
 
 21  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Verily 
 I  say  unto  you,  "  If  ye  have  faith,  and  *  douht 
 not,  ye  shall  not  only  do  this  which  is  done  to 
 the  fig  tree,  ^  but  also  if  ye  shall  say  unto  this 
 mountain,  Be  thou  removed,  and  be  thou  cast 
 into  the  sea ;  it  shall  be  done. 
 
 22  And  ""all  things,  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 
 in  prayer  believing,  ye  shall  receive. 
 
 23  li "  And  when  he  was  come  into  the 
 temple,  the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  of  the 
 people  came  unto  him  as  he  was  teaching,  and 
 ^said,  By  what  authority  doest  tiiou  these 
 things?  and  who  gave  thee  this  authority  ? 
 
 24  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
 I  also  will  ask  you  one  thing,  which  if  ye  tell 
 me,  I  in  like  wise  will  tell  you  by  what  autho- 
 rity I  do  these  things. 
 
 25  The  baptism  of  John,  whence  was  it? 
 from  heaven,  or  of  men?  And  they  reasoned 
 with  themselves,  saying,  If  we  shall  say.  From 
 heaven  ;  he  will  say  unto  us,  Why  did  ye  not 
 then  believe  him  ? 
 
 26  But  if  we  shall  say,  Of  men  ;  we  fear  the 
 people  ;  "^  for  all  hold  John  as  a  prophet 
 
 27  And  they  answered  Jesus,  and  said,  We 
 cannot  tell.  And  he  said  unto  them,  Neither 
 tell  I  you  by  what  authority  I  do  these  things. 
 
 2R  t  But  what  think  ye?  A  certain  man 
 had  two  sons  ;  and  he  came  to  the  first,  and 
 said,  Son,  go  work  to  day  in  my  vineyard. 
 
 29  **  He  answered  and  said,  I  will  not :  but 
 afterward  he  repented,  and  went. 
 
 30  And  he  came  to  the  second,  and  said  like- 
 wise. And  he  answered  and  said,  I  gOy  sir : 
 and  went  not. 
 
 .31  Whether  of  them  twain  did  the  will  of  his 
 father?  They  say  unto  him.  The  first.  Jesus 
 saith  unto  them,*'  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  That 
 
 Hch.  17-20. 
 Luke  17.  6. 
 J-  Jam.  1.0. 
 y  1  Cor.l3.2. 
 
 z  eh,  7.  7. 
 
 Mark  11.21. 
 
 Luke  It.  9. 
 
 Jiim.  5.  16. 
 
 lJohn3.2-J. 
 
 &  5.  14. 
 a  Matk  II. 
 
 27.  Luke  20. 
 
 1. 
 6  Ex.  2.  14. 
 
 Acib4.  7.  & 
 
 7.  27. 
 
 e  Lake  7.  29, 
 
 /■ch.  3.  I, 
 
 ■  &c 
 
 g  Luke  3. 12, 
 
 h  Pr.  6fl.  9, 
 
 Cant.  8.  II. 
 
 iB.  5.  1. 
 
 Jer.  2.21. 
 
 Mark  12.  I- 
 
 LukeSO    9. 
 ich.lJa.  II, 
 
 15. 
 k  Cajit.S.lJ, 
 
 12. 
 
 (2Chr.  24. 
 21.  St  36.16. 
 Neh.  9.  26 
 ch.  5  12.  & 
 23  34,  37. 
 Acts  7,  52. 
 lThes.2.1.5 
 Heb,  n-36, 
 37. 
 
 m  Pa.  2.  R. 
 Heb.  1.2. 
 
 >.  Ps.  2.  2. 
 ch.  26.  .S  ft 
 27.   I.  John 
 11.53.  Acts 
 4.  27. 
 
 0  i-\\.  26.  5(1, 
 
 he     MAlk 
 
 1-1.  40,  8(p. 
 Luke  22.54, 
 ftc.  John 
 18.   12,  &c 
 Acts  2  23. 
 
 p  Sec  Luke 
 20.  16. 
 
 q  Luke  21 
 24.  Heb.  2. 
 3. 
 
 f  Acts  13.46. 
 Re  \S.  7.  & 
 
 18.  6  &  29 
 2b.  Rom,  O, 
 K  lU,  fc  II. 
 
 1  Ps,  119.  22. 
 
 19.  26  16. 
 Mark  12  10 
 L.ike20  17. 
 Ai:ts  1.  II. 
 Eph.  2  80. 
 I  Pul,2-fi,  7. 
 
 /  ch.  8.  12. 
 •I  la  8.14,15. 
 
 Zcch.  12.  3. 
 
 Luke20.l9. 
 
 Horn-  9.  ,33. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  8. 
 
 the  publicans  and  the  harlots  go  into  the  king- 
 dom of  God  before  you. 
 
 32  For  *^John  came  unto  you  in  the  way  of 
 righteousness,  and  ye  believed  him  not:  ^bnt 
 the  publicans  and  the  harlots  believed  him  : 
 and  ye,  when  ye  had  seen  it^  repented  not 
 afterward,  that  ye  might  believe  him. 
 
 33  1  Hear  another  parable :  There  was  a 
 certain  housholder, ''which  planted  a  vineyard, 
 and  hedged  it  round  about,  and  digged  a  wine- 
 press in  it,  and  built  a  tower,  and  let  it  out  to 
 husbandmen,  and  '  went  into  a  far  country  : 
 
 34  And  when  the  time  of  the  fruit  drew  near, 
 he  sent  his  servants  to  the  husbandmen,  •'  that 
 they  might  receive  the  fruits  of  it. 
 
 35  '  And  the  bu.sbandmen  took  his  servants, 
 and  beat  one,  and  killed  another,  and  stoned 
 another. 
 
 30  Again,  he  sent  other  servants  more  than 
 the  first :  and  they  did  unto  them  likewise. 
 
 37  But  last  of  all  he  sent  unto  them  his  son, 
 saying.  They  will  reverence  my  son. 
 
 38  But  when  the  husbandmen  saw  the  son, 
 they  said  among  themselves,  ""  This  is  the 
 heir ;  "  come,  let  us  kill  him,  and  let  us  seize 
 on  his  inheritance. 
 
 39  °  And  they  caught  him,  and  cast  him  out 
 of  the  vineyard,  and  slew  him. 
 
 40  When  the  lord  therefore  of  the  vineyard 
 cometh,  what  will  he  do  unto  those  husband- 
 men ? 
 
 41  ''They  say  unto  him,  '^  He  will  miserably 
 destroy  those  wicked  men,  ""and  will  let  out 
 his  vineyard  unto  other  husbandmen,  which 
 shall  render  him  tlie  fruits  in  their  seasons. 
 
 42  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  ^Did  ye  never  read 
 in  the  scriptures,  The  stone  which  the  builders 
 rejected,  the  same  is  become  the  head  of  the 
 corner  :  this  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  mar- 
 vellous in  our  eyes? 
 
 43  Therefore  say  I  unto  you,  *  The  kingdom 
 of  God  shall  be  taken  from  you,  and  given  to 
 a  nation  bringing  forth  the  fruits  thereof. 
 
 44  And  whosoever  "shall  fall  on  this  stone 
 
 *one  fig  tree,*  so  spoken  of  either  because  it  stood  alone,  or  more  pro- 
 bably, was  more  branchy  and  verdant  than  the  rest,  and  so  gave  greater 
 promise  of  fruit.  Aiid/iomd  nofhinf^  thereon,  but  leaves — 5^.  Mark  adds, 
 '  for  the  time  of  figs  was  not  yet,'  that  is,  the  time  of  gathering  them 
 had  not  yet  arrived,  and  therefore  tlie  absence  of  figs  arose  from  no- 
 thing but  the  barrenness  of  the  tree. — Watson.  Let  no  fruit  grow,  fyc, 
 the  tip  tree  ivithered— this  weis  'in  the  way,* by  the  road-side, and  pro- 
 bably had  no  owner ;  it  was  commnn  to  anybody,  and  so  no  injury 
 was  done  to  any  person  by  losicg  it. — Gil!,  as  Light/.  This  was  a 
 symbolic  action  cnmnmn  among  the  ancient  prophets.  This  tree  was 
 a  type  or  emblem  of  the  Jewish  nation,  and  particularly  of  the  scribes 
 and  Pharisees,  who,  with  the  greatest  professions,  were  barren  of  good 
 fruit.  The  maledicticn  pronounced  represented  God's  curse  against 
 the  Jews,  who,  after  every  instruction,  grew  worse  and  worse,  Jtc  — 
 So   Wit.;  sec  Ilasenm.  21.   Unto  this  mountaiji — probably  Christ 
 
 pointed  to  the  Mount  of  Olives,  near  which  he  then  was. — Mnrklnnd. 
 Be  thou  removed — ' tn  remove  mountains' was  a  Hebrew  proverb. 
 When  a  man  illustrated  any  science,  or  surmounted  great  difficuhies, 
 he  was  said  to  remove  mountains. — Sut.  22.  All  things  w/iutso^fer 
 ye  shall  ask,  fyc. — this  is  an  expression  which  ought  not  to  be  strained 
 further  than  to  signify  that  there  is  nothing  conducive  to  the  glory  of 
 God  and  our  own  good  but  believers  may  receive  at  the  hand  of  God. 
 — Poole.  23.  Elders,  meaning  macistratcs. — Beausobre.  Voest  thou 
 these  things  ?— this  is  the  driving  of  the  buyers  and  sellers  out  of  the 
 temple. — Gill.  Also  his  public  entry,  miracles,  and  teaching. — Newc. 
 25.  The  baptism,  fyr.,  i.e.,  the  ministry,  of  which  baptism,  upon  re- 
 pentance and  faith  in  the  coming  Messiah,  was  so  prominent  a  part. 
 From  heaven,  or  of  men?  was  he  a  real  or  only  a  pretended  messenger 
 from  God? — Wnlson.  26.  For  alt  hold  John  as  a  prophet — more  respect 
 seems  to  have  been  shewn  to  him  than  to  Jesus  :  even  many  of  the 
 Pharisees  and  Saddncccs  came  to  his  baptism.  The  reason  was,  the 
 people  were  pleased  to  hear  him  say  he  was  the  forerunner  of  the  Mes. 
 siah,  but  when  Jesus  did  come  he  was  not  such  a  person  as  they  wished 
 for  ;  this  disgusted  them. — Lardner.  2S.  Two  sons — these  represent 
 the  hypocritical  Pharisees  and  the  publicans,  or  other  notoriously  wicked 
 men. — Kepw.  32.  In  the  wart  o/ We'A^ro'/snes.v,  walking  in  it  as  well 
 as  teaching  it.  33.  Housholder,  representing  God  the  proprietor  of 
 
 1024 
 
 all.  Planted  a  viiieynrd,  the  Jewish  church  planted  in  Canaan,  (see 
 Isa.  V.  \~A.)~'Bens.  The  city  of  Jerusalem.— .4.  Clarke.  Hedged  it, 
 by  Divine  protection — by  the  fence  of  circumcision  and  the  ceremonial 
 law. — Bens.  A  winepress— t\\\s  is  still  dug  in  the  ground,  in  Persia, 
 and  lined  with  mason's  work.— Sir  J.  Chardin.  The  winepress  is  the 
 n\t3,T.~- Weston.  The  altar  flowed  continually  with  the  bitiod  of  the 
 sacrifices,  as  the  winepress  with  the  blood  of  the  grape. — Bens.  A 
 tower — this  was  an  elevated  building,  where  the  vinedresser  might 
 lodge  to  overlook  and  watch  the  vineyard.— L/^A//.  The  tower  is  the 
 temp\e.— Weston.  Let  it  out  to  hnshandmen,  committed  the  care  and 
 cultivation  of  it  tn  the  priests  and  ciders,  the  ecclesiastical  and  civil 
 rulers,  by  whose  ministry  the  people  were  to  be  instructed  and  go. 
 vcrned  —Bens.  34.  Seroants,  projihets  sent  from  time  to  time.  Receive 
 the  fruits,  alluding  to  the  ancient  custom  of  paying  the  rent  of  a  rami 
 in  kind.  35.  Beat  one,  eieipav,  '  took  his  skin  off,'  '  flayed  him,'  pro- 
 bably meaning  '  excessively  scourged  him.'  Killed  another,  rid  them- 
 selves of  God's  true  witnesses  by  a  variety  of  persecutions.  36.  Other 
 servnntSy  prophets,  apostles,  pastors,  teachers.  More  than  the  first, 
 TrXeioi-af,  '  more  honourable  ;  for  as  the  fulness  of  the  time  approached, 
 each  prophet  more  fully  and  clearly  pointed  out  tlie  coming  Christ. 
 3/.  His  son,  our  Lord  means  himself.  38.  Siiid  among  theinselves, 
 alluding  to  the  conspiracies  in  tlieir  councils  against  Christ,  (see  chap, 
 xxvii.  1.) — Clarke.  42.  The  stone  tehirh  the  buildrrs,  Sfc. — see  Ps,  cxviii. 
 22,  note.  'The  Messiah,  rejected  by  the  Jews,  especially  chief  priests 
 and  rulers  that  had  the  care  of  the  church,  is  become  its  foundation 
 and  its  principal  corner-stone  for  uniting  the  Gentiles  to  it.'—Gui/se. 
 43.  Therefore,  ^c,  'on  this  account,'  ike— Watson.  Shall  be  taken 
 from  yoit,  a  clear  prediction  of  the  rejection  of  the  Jews  and  calling  of 
 the  Gentiles. — Dav.  44.  Whosoei-er  shall  fall,  §-c. — there  seems  to 
 be  an  allusion  to  the  manner  of  Jews  stoning  to  death,  in  which  the 
 person  was  first  cast  down  upon  a  great  stone,  and  if  that  did  not  dis- 
 patch him,  a  very  heavy  one  wa.s  thrown  upon  his  breast.  —  Gu^se. 
 iliere  seems  to  be  an  allusinn  to  the  practice  mentioned  by  St.  Jerome, 
 nf  lifting  great  stones  as  a  trial  of  strength  ;  and  to  '  the  stone  of  stum- 
 bling and  rock  of  offence,' (Isa.  viii.  14,  15.)— //ew.  See  Zceh.  xii.  3, 
 note.  The  allusion  to  the  mode  of  putting  to  tieath  is  far  fetched  ;  the 
 words  signify  a  judicial  wiebling  i  fChri^^t's  power  and  supreme  autho- 
 
Tke  parable  of  the  marriafji:. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXII. 
 
 The  vocntion  of  the  Gentiles. 
 
 shall  be  broken  :  but  on  wbonisoever  it  shall 
 fall,  '  it  will  grind  him  to  powder. 
 
 43  And  when  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees 
 had  heard  his  parables,  they  perceived  that  he 
 spake  of  them. 
 
 40  But  when  they  sought  to  lay  hands  on 
 him,  they  feared  the  multitude,  because  '  they 
 took  him  for  a  prophet. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 I  ritc  parable  of  l/ie  marriaf/e  of  tfie  ktnr/s  son.  9  Tfie 
 vocation  of  tke  Gentiles.  12  The  punishment  of  him 
 that  wanted  the  wedding  f/arment.  15  Tribute  ouij/it 
 to  he  paid  to  CcEsar.  '23  Christ  confuteth  the  Sad- 
 difceesfor  the  resurrection  :  34  answereth  the  lawyer, 
 which  is  the  first  and  great  commandment:  41  and 
 poseth  the  Pharisees  about  the  Mesaias^ 
 
 \  ND  Jesus  answered  '^aiid  spake  unto  them 
 -^*-  again  hy  parables,  and  said, 
 
 2  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  cer- 
 tain khig,  wltich  made  a  marriage  for  his  son, 
 
 .'i  And  sent  forth  his  servants  to  call  them 
 that  were  hidden  to  the  wedding:  and  they 
 would  not  come. 
 
 4  Again,  he  sent  forth  other  servants,  saying, 
 Tell  them  which  are  !)tdden,  Behold,  I  have 
 prepared  my  dinner:  ''my  oxen  and  ?»// fat- 
 lings  arc  liilled,  and  all  things  are  ready : 
 come  unto  the  marriage. 
 
 5  But  they  made  light  of  it,  and  went  their 
 ways,    one  to  his   farm,   anotlier  to  his   mer- 
 
 X  la.  00.  1-2. 
 Dau.  *2.  44. 
 
 I.iike  7.16. 
 Johu  7.  40. 
 
 (I  Luke  1  i. 
 16.  Rev.13. 
 7,  fl. 
 
 :  Dan.  9   20- 
 Luku  19.:;7. 
 
 /■iror,  5.S. 
 Kph.  4,  24. 
 C..1  H  10,12. 
 Khv  3  +.  S 
 lb.  15.  &  19. 
 
 K  ch.  8    12. 
 
 h  ch.  20.  10. 
 
 chandise : 
 G  And  the  remnant  took  his  servants,  and 
 entreated  thc7n  spitefully,  and  slew  them, 
 
 7  But  when  the  king  heard  thereof,  he  was 
 wroth  :  and  he  sent  forth  ''his  armies,  and  de- 
 stroyed those  murderers,  and  burned  up  their 
 city. 
 
 8  Then  saith  he  to  his  servants.  The  wedding 
 is  ready,  but  tliey  wiiich  were  bidden  were  not 
 '^  worthy. 
 
 9  Go  ye  therefore  into  the  highways,  and  as 
 many  as  ye  shall  find,  bid  to  the  marriage. 
 
 10  So  those  servants  went  out  into  the  high- 
 ways, and  ''  gathered  together  all  as  many  as 
 they  found,  both  bad  and  good  :  and  t'ne  wed- 
 ding was  furnished  with  guests. 
 
 1 1  t  And  when  the  king  came  in  to  see  the 
 guests,  he  saw  there  a  man  ^  which  had  not  on 
 a  wedding  garment : 
 
 12  And  he  saith  unto  him,  Friend,  how 
 camest  thou  in  hitlier  not  having  a  wedding 
 garment?     And  he  was  speechless. 
 
 13  Then  said  the  king  to  the  servants.  Bind 
 him  hand  and  foot,  and  take  him  away,  and 
 cast  him  ^into  outer  darkness  ;  there  shall  be 
 weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth. 
 
 14  ^  For  many  are  called,  but  few  are  chosen. 
 
 15  H'Then  went  the  Pharisees,  and  took 
 counsel  how  they  might  entangle  him  in  his 
 talk. 
 
 16  And  they  sent  out  unto  him  their  disciples 
 
 rity  against  all  who  rejected  him,  though  after  much  long-suffering 
 anil  delay.  Shall  be  broken^  avvOXaaOtiaerai,  'shall  be  bruised.'  It 
 shall  grind  him  to  powder,  Xt(c/i»jo-e(,  *  shall  be  dispersed,'  as  chaff,  from 
 AiK/ior,  '  a  winnowing  van.'  The  words  here  used  are  of  different  de- 
 crees of  force,  and  the  latter  is  used  figuratively  for  utter  destruction 
 or  a  dashing  in  pieces. —  Walso7i.  He  who  falls  upon  a  stone  is  bruised 
 indeed,  yet  may  be  healed  ;  but  he  on  whom  an  immense  stone  falls, 
 is  crushed  as  it  were  in  dust,  like  the  chaff  dispersed  to  the  winds. 
 Tliey,  in  a  metaphorical  sense,  fell  u|)nn  the  stone  who  were  offended 
 at  the  mean  station  of  Jesus  ;  the  stone  falls  upon  those  whose  preju- 
 dices remain  unmoved. —  Wets.  Perhaps  here  our  Lord  pointed  to 
 himself  when  he  said,  '  this  stone.'  *  As  the  effects  are  less  dreadful 
 when  a  man  falls  on  a  large  stone  than  when  the  stone  falls  on  him, 
 so  the  punishment  of  those  who  now  reject  my  preaching  will  be  in- 
 ferior to  that  which  I  shall  inflict  on  your  nation  by  the  Romans.' — 
 Aewc,  M'cts.  Those  who  stumbled  at  Christ  on  earth  received  injury, 
 exposed  themselves  to  Divine  displeasure:  to  greater  wrath  are  they 
 exposed,  however,  who  oppose  him  now  that  he  is  exalted  on  high. 
 Here  there  seems  an  allusion  to  Dan.  ii.  44. — Dnv. 
 
 Chap.  XXII.  — 2.  A  marriage,  '  a  marriage  feast' — so  the  Greek  and 
 the  scQuel  imply.  Such  feasts  lasted  several  days,  (Judg.  xiv.  10,  12.) 
 — Whitby.  '  An  inaugural  feast.'  On  that  day  the  oriental  kings  were 
 considered  as  solemnly  united  to  their  country,  which  is  compared  to 
 an  espoused  woman.  Comp.  Ps.  xlv.,  and  l  Kings,  i.  5 — 9;  see  also 
 Luke,  xii.  36  j  xiv.  8;  Esth.ii.  18;  ix.22.— SoiI/(cA.,  Rosenm.,  Kuinoel, 
 and  Schleusner.  3.  Sent  forth  his  serva}its — it  was  the  custom  among 
 the  ancients  for  the  guests  to  be  twice  invited,  or  rather  first  invited, 
 that  they  might  prepare  themselves,  and  then  summoned  a  short  time 
 previous  to  the  banquet,  that  they  might  be  there  at  the  proper  time. 
 — Grntius,  Kuinoel.  The  first  invitation  to  the  Jews  was  given  by  the 
 prophets,  down  to  John  the  Baptist;  the  second  afterwards  by  the 
 apostles  and  other  disciples  in  succession. — R.  Watson.  The  wedding, 
 or  '  nuptial  banquet,'  as  -^aij-cw!  here  properly  signifies. — Bens.  4.  My 
 dinner — as  marriages  were,  among  eastern  nations,  in  the  evening,  it 
 refers  to  a  meal  taken  at  that  time. — Barnes.     7-  Sent  forth  his  nr/nies 
 
 and  destroyed—this  points  out,  in  the  plainest  terms,  the  Roman  armies 
 under  Vespasian  and  Titus,  which,  not  many  years  after  this  was 
 spoken,  besieged  Jerusalem,  destroyed  tlie  city,  and  slaughtered  an 
 immense  number  of  its  inhabitants.— i'ojVef/s.  9-  Go  ye  therefore 
 
 tjito  the  highways,  ^-c— this  picture  is  quite  agreeable  to  eastern  man- 
 ners ;  for  the  Arabs  never  set  hy  anything  that  is  brought  to  table  ;  so 
 that  when  they  kill  a  sheep  they  dress  it  all,  call  in  their  neighbours 
 and  the  poor,  and  finish  everything.— So  Pocorke.  It  is  as  common 
 in  the  east  for  a  rich  man  to  give  a  least  to  the  poor,  and  the  maimed, 
 and  the  blind,  as  it  is  in  England  for  a  nobleman  to  entertain  men  of 
 his  own  degree.  Thus,  does  he  wish  to  gain  some  tempurul  or  spiritual 
 blessing,  he  orders  his  head  servant  to  prepare  a  feast  for  one  or  two 
 hundred  poor  guests.— BoA.  II.  .4  wedding  garment— in  the  east, 
 
 every  guest  was  expected  to  appear  in  an  elegant  dress  ;  this  was  fre- 
 quently a  white  robe.  If  the  guest  were  a  stranger,  one  was  furnished 
 by  the  master  of  the  feast.  It  was  to  a  higli  degree  indecorous  and 
 offensive  to  appear  without  this  garment.— So  Porteus.  The  words 
 ^vhvfia  '(a^i.ov  may  here  signify  *  a  banqueting  robe,*  for  a  certain  style 
 of  dress,  as  far  eis  respected  the  outer  garment,  was  required  at  all 
 feasts.— B/oom/.,  R.  Watson.  I'l.  Friend,  era.pe,  rather  'companion.' 
 —A.  Clarke,  A  wedding  garment— \.\\i^  may  signify  whatsoever  God 
 requireth  of  us,  that  we  may  be  made  meet  for  the  kingdom  of  God. — 
 Poole.  He  was  spfcchless,  itptfiGiOtj, '  he  was  struck  speechless.'— Bens. 
 13.  Cast  him  into  outer  darkness— to  be  cast  out  from  a  feast  was  con- 
 sidered as  a  mark  of  the  greatest  contempt.  Such  an  insult,  however, 
 to  an  eastern  prince,  would  be  thought  to  merit  more  than  ignomi- 
 niously  Ccisting  out,  i.e.,  bonds  and  confinement.— B/oom/.  Outer 
 darkness  may  perhaps  signify  not  merely  the  street,  as  Bp.  Porteus 
 suggests,  but  from  the  enjoyment  of  the  feast  to  the  gloom  of  a  dun- 
 geon, a  common  appurtenance  to  the  house  of  an  eastern  despot. — 
 Eimn.  Syni'ps.  The  signification  is,  the  castingof  the  disorderly  with- 
 out the  pale  of  the  church  into  heathenish  darkness.— -Berw.  14.  Many 
 are  called,  §-c.— see  chap.  xx.  l6,  note.  15.  Pharisees— see  chap.  iii. 
 7,  note.  They  might  entangle  him  in  his  talk,  nit-ji^^vataffiv  ev  Xoyip, 
 might '  entrap  him  ui  his  discourse,'  so  as  to  find  something  on  which 
 
 Reflections  on  Chai'.  XXI — The  subjects  of  this  chap- 
 ter are — I.  The  Saviour's  triumphant  entrance  into  Jerusalem. 
 *  What  other  king  ever  came  destitute  of  armies,  and  meek 
 and  lowly  like  the  Saviour  !  What  other  king  ever  ciime  to 
 his  temple  as  the  prince,  to  publish  righteousness,  to  send  out 
 his  truth,  and  cause  the  isles  to  wait  for  his  law  V  s** 
 
 II.  The  moneychangers  cast  out  of  the  temple.  Let  us  beware 
 how  we  attempt  to  secularize  religion,  and  to  make  a  gain  of 
 godliness.  The  Saviour  abhors  all  such  specious  pretences 
 to  religion,  and  from  such  lot  us  turn  away. 
 
 III.  The  children  praising  the  Redeemer,  *  Hosanna  to  the 
 Son  of  David,  well  becomes  the  mouths  of  little  children,  who 
 should  Ifiarn  the  language  of  Canaan.*  '  Praise  is  perfected 
 out  of  the  mouth  of  such  ;  it  lias  a  peculiar  tendency  to  tiie 
 honour  and  glory  of  God  for  little  children  to  join  in  Iiis 
 praises;  the  praise  would  be  accounted  defective  and  imper- 
 
 1025 
 
 feet  if  they  had  not  their  share  in  it;  which  is  an  encourage- 
 ment for  chiliJren  to  be  good  betimes,  and  to  parents  to  teach 
 them  to  be  so ;  the  labour  neither  of  the  one  nor  of  the  other 
 shall  be  in  vain.' 
 
 IV.  The  Jig  tree  cursed.  Thus  '  a  false  and  hypocritical  pro- 
 fession commonly  withers  in  this  world,  and  it  is  the  effect 
 of  Christ's  curse  ;  the  fig-tree  that  had  no  fruit  soon  lost  its 
 leaves.  Hypocrites  may  look  plausible  for  a  time,  but,  having 
 no  principle,  no  root  in  themselves,  their  profession  will  soon 
 come  to  nothinc;.' 
 
 V.  The  parables  of  the  two  S07is,  and  the  vineyard  hi  out  to 
 husbandmen.  From  the  former  we  learn,  '  that  saying  and 
 doing  are  two  things;  and  many  there  are  that  say,  and  do 
 not :'  from  the  latter,  that  *  God  will  liave  a  church  in  the 
 world,  notwithstanding  the  unwoithiness  and  opposition  of 
 many  that  abuse  the  privileges  of  it.' '' 
 
 0  r 
 
Christ  confidcth  the  SaMucees, 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXII. 
 
 and  answereth  ihe  lawyer. 
 
 with  the  Herodians,  saying,  Master,  we  knovv_ 
 that  thou  ait  true,  and  teachest  the  way  of 
 God  hi  truth,  neither  carest  thou  for  any  luan: 
 for  thou  regardest  not  the  person  of  men 
 
 17  Tell  us  therefore,  What  thinkest  thou  i* 
 Is  it  lawful  to  give  tribute  unto  C:i;sar,  or  not? 
 
 18  But  Jesus  perceived  their  wickedness,  and 
 said.  Why  tempt  ye  me,  ye  hypocrites  V 
 
 19  Shew  me  the  tribute  money.  And  they 
 brought  unto  him  a  1|  penny.  . 
 
 20  And  he  saith  unto  them,  Whose  is  this 
 image  and  ||  superscription  ? 
 
 21  They  say  unto  him,  Ca-sar's.  Ihen  saith 
 he  unto  them,  ■•  Render  therefore  unto  tear 
 the  things  which  are  Caesar's  ;  and  unto  Ood 
 the  things  that  are  God's. 
 
 22  When  they  had  heard  these  words,  tliey 
 marvelled,  and  left  him,  and  went  their  way. 
 
 23  H  '  The  same  day  came  to  him  the  bad- 
 ducees,  ""  which  say  that  there  is  no  resurrec- 
 tion, and  asked  him,  _ 
 
 24  Saying,  Master,  "  Moses  said.  If  a  man 
 die,  having  no  children,  his  brother  shall  marry 
 his  wife,  and  raise  up  seed  unto  his  brother. 
 
 25  °  Now  there  were  with  us  seven  bretliren: 
 and  the  first,  when  he  had  married  a  wife,  de- 
 ceased, and,  having  no  issue,  left  his  wife  unto 
 his  brother :  j    ,      u-   i 
 
 26  Likewise  the  second  also,  and  the  third, 
 unto  the  f  seventh. 
 
 27  And  last  of  all  the  woman  died  also. 
 
 28  Therefore  in  the  resurrection  whose  wife 
 shall  she  be  of  the  seven  ?  for  they  all  had  her. 
 
 29  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  tbeni,  \e 
 do  err,  ''not  knowing  the  scriptures,  nor  the 
 
 t  In  Taluo 
 aevpiipBnce 
 halfretmy  : 
 ch.  2U,  2. 
 
 II  Or. 
 
 »cli.  17-  25. 
 Rom.  13.7. 
 
 /  Mark  12. 
 18.  t.iiku 
 2(1.  27. 
 I  Acta  23.  ft 
 
 Deu,  2.'».  5 
 
 ^  I  John  3.2 
 
 r  Kx.  .1  G.I6. 
 
 M.-xrk  12, 2r. 
 
 L>ike20;t7 
 
 Acts  7.  32. 
 
 Hcb    II. Ill 
 .  di.  7  28. 
 
 t  nfark  12 
 
 t  fir  ..-, 
 
 ,.  J.il.n  20.  9 
 
 r  Pen.  6  5 
 fc  111.  12.  St 
 311  6.  l.uke 
 111.  27. 
 
 u  Lev.  19.13. 
 ell.  19.  10. 
 Harkl2  31. 
 T.uke  10.27. 
 Koni.  IS.  9. 
 Gal.  5.  It. 
 Jain.  2.9. 
 
 J  cli. 
 
 .  12. 
 
 1  Tim.  1.5 
 n  Maik  12. 
 35.  Luko 
 20.  II. 
 
 b  Fcclus.51 
 
 power  of  God. 
 
 30  For  in  the  resurrection  they  neither  marry, 
 nor  are  given  in  marriage,  but  ''are  as  the 
 angels  of  God  in  heaven. 
 
 31  But  as  touching  the  resurrection  of  the 
 dead,  have  ye  not  read  that  which  was  spoken 
 unto  you  by  God,  saying, 
 
 32  '  I  am  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God 
 of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob  y  God  is  not 
 the  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the  living. 
 
 33  And  when  the  multitude  heard  </(/.«, 'they 
 were  astonished  at  his  doctrine. 
 
 34  t '  But  when  the  Pharisees  had  heard  that 
 he  had  put  the  Sadducees  to  silence,  they  were 
 gathered  together. 
 
 35  Then  one  of  them,  ivhich  was  "  a  lawyer, 
 asked  him  a  question,  tempting  him,  and  say- 
 ing- , 
 
 30  Master,  which  is  the  great  coininandmeiit 
 
 in  the  law  'r* 
 
 37  Jesus  said  unto  him,  "  Thou  shalt  love  the 
 Lord  thy  God  witli  all  thy  lieart,  and  with  all 
 thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind. 
 
 38  This  is  the  first  and  great  commandment. 
 
 39  And  the  second  is  like  unto  it,  '  Thou 
 shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself. 
 
 40  '  On  these  two  commandments  hang  all 
 the  law  and  the  prophets. 
 
 41  li"  While  the  Pharisees  were  gathered  to- 
 gether, Jesus  asked  them, 
 
 42  Saying,  What  think  ye  of  Christ?  who.se 
 son  is  he?     They  say  unto  him.  The  son  oS 
 
 David.  -     ,     ,    ,^ 
 
 43  He  saith  unto  them.  How  then  doth  Da- 
 vid in  .spirit  "  call  him  Lord,  saying. 
 
 to  ground  an  accusation  against  him.-Bras.  '?;  ^T*Tri^l 
 best-foundert  opinion  respecting  these  seems  to  be.  that  they  d.il  not 
 form  any  distinct  religious  sect,  though  probably  Sadducees  in  opinion, 
 as  was  Herod,  but  were  rather  a  political  p.irty  or  association,  corn- 
 nosed  of  the  courtiers,  ministers,  domestics,  and  partisans  and  adne- 
 Jents  generally  of  HeroA.-Dhomf.  1/.  Uitbmf.d  tn  gu-e  tniule 
 
 unto  CcBsir.'—lhe  tribute  was  the  poll-tax.  which  was  a  mark  of  the 
 subjection  of  Judea,  as  a  province,  to  the  Roman  power.— B.  nalsou- 
 Casfir— this  was  Tiberius  Ciesar.  CKsar  was  a  name  common  to  all 
 the  Roman  emperors  after  the  time  of  Julius  Cxsar,  as  Pharaoh  was  to 
 the  Icings  of  Egypt.— Barnes.  Herod  neither  favoured  the  domitiation 
 of  Caisai  nor  the  liberty  of  the  Jews.  Hence,  whether  Christ  sided  with 
 him  or  with  these,  he  would  equally  offend  the  Herodians —Bfuoni/. 
 This  question  seems  to  be  founded  on  Deut.  xvii.  15,  which  required 
 the  Jews  to  set  over  them  a  king  of  their  own  nation  ;  on  which  Dr.  A . 
 Clarke  remarks,  -had  Christ  said  Yes,  then  they  would  have  con- 
 demned him  by  this  law  ;  had  he  said  No,  then  they  would  have  ac- 
 cased  him  to  Cxiar.-mUmnis.  18.  Hspocrites-Ml^tt.  vi.  2,  note. 
 10  Tlie  tribute  moneu,  the  coin  in  which  the  ta.t  was  paid  ;  for  the  Ro- 
 mans required  the  payment  in  Roman  money.— Ji.  Watson.  21.  Tnej, 
 sin,  unto  him.  Caisir's-by  admitting  that  this  was  C-esar's  coin,  and 
 by  consenting  to  receive  it  as  the  current  coin  of  their  country,  they 
 in  fact  acknowledged  their  subjection  to  his  government.- i'or'fu". 
 Render  therefore  unto  Cxsar.  *c.-'  Ciesar  is  your  prince,  and  may 
 demand  his  tribute  ;  your  religion  properly  and  solely  belongs  to  God. 
 —Le  Clerr.         23.  Sadducees— me  Matt.  iii.  /,  note.  21.  Master, 
 
 Moses  said,  ^c.-see  Deut.  sxv.  5.  The  object  of  the  Sadducees  here 
 is  to  shew  the  absurdity  and  falsehood  of  the  doctrines  of  a  resurrection 
 and  a  future  state,  by  stating  a  seemingly  insuperable  difficulty  re- 
 specting them.-Porteus.  29.  Not  knowing  the  scriptures,  the  .scrip- 
 ture doltrine  about  a  future  state,  the  power  of  God,  with  whom  it  is 
 no  impossible  thing  to  raise  the  dead,  and  give  them  a  diflferent  sort  01 
 life  in  the  world  to  come.—Gni/se.  30.  In  the  resurrection,  h«e 
 means  in  the  state  to  which  men  are  introduced  by  the  resurrection. - 
 R  Watson,  .is  llie  angels,  that  is,  similar  to  angels,  in  neither  being 
 subject  to  the  appetites  of  the  body,  eating,  drinking.  &c.,  and  in  being 
 immortal.-Bto»m/.  31.  Hace  ye  not  read?  namely,  in  the  botiks  of 
 Moses,  for  which  the  Sadducees  had  a  peculiar  value.— Bens.  32.  (.oa 
 is  not  the  God  oftlie  dead.  «c.-allhough  the  bodies  of  the  patriarchs 
 had  been  long  in  their  graves,  yet  their  souls  had  s"/"^ed,  and  were 
 at  that  moment  in  existence.  Hence  it  necessarily  foUowed,  that  the 
 soul  did  not  perish  with  the  body,  as  the  Sadducees  believed,  but  that 
 it  continued  in  being  after  death.-Por/cM.  The  manner  of  argu- 
 mentation pursued  by  Jesus  was  agreeable  to  the  usual  method  of  the 
 Jewish  doctors,  who  used  to  slightly  allude  to  passages  of  scripture, 
 and  left  their  auditor  to  find  the  consequence  of  any  proposition.- so 
 Kuinoel.  33.  'fhei/  were  astonished  at  Ins  doctrine,  the  assured  man- 
 ner in  which  he  spoke  of  eternal  and  invisible  realities,  as  one  possess- 
 ing the  most  intimate  knowledge  of  them  ;  and  the  ease  with  which  he 
 detected  the  sophistry,  and  silenced  the  cavils,  of  their  most  noted 
 1026 
 
 doctors   and  disputants.-K.  Watson.  35.  A  lawyer,    ►OM"'"',  ™.= 
 
 sM  ed  in  he  interpretation  of  the  law  ,  the  same  as  a  scribe,  which  is 
 the  title  given  to  him  by  St.  Mark.  Tempting  him.  that  is,  trying  his 
 skni  -iJ  k"'""  36.  Which  is  the  great  commandment!  for  some 
 of 'the  doctors  said  sacrittces,  some  circumcision,  some  the  law^f  the 
 sabbath  some  the  law  of  meats,  washings,  &c.— Be«s.  37.  nun  an 
 T^^heakT^-^e  loves  God  with  all  his  heart  who  loves  nothing  in 
 compa?  son  of  him,-with  all  his  soul,  or  rather  «  3^,,  t^  ^.x,;,  '  wit.h 
 all  his  We  -who  s  ready  to  give  up  life  for  his  sake ;  witii  all  his 
 sength  who  exerts  all  the  powers  of  his  body  and  soul  in  the  service 
 of  God  and  with  all  his  mind,-intellect.  J.a.o.y,  who  applies  himself 
 of  J'O"', *"°  "'"rt'nrt  his  holy  vM.— Clarke.  The  words  evidently 
 mean  tha"  God  is  to  "e  loved  wim^he  entire  affection  of  the  soul,  main- 
 Sined  in  tsrnost  vigorous  exercise,  so  that  all  its  faculties  and  powers 
 shall  be  cons"  rated  wholly  to  his  service,  (see  2  Kings,  xxin.  25.)- 
 H  Watson  38.  -rte/i'sJ-whether  the  object  of  it  is  considered, 
 ^"he  manner  in  which  it  is  to  be  observed,  or  its  being  the  pnnciple 
 from  whence  all  the  duties  and  actions  of  men  should  flow,  and  the 
 end  to  wWch  a  are  to  be  referred  :  the  first  command  ,n  order  of  na. 
 ture  time  dignity,  and  causality,-G,» ;  and  great  commandment- 
 Jhe  greatest  but  the  Hebrews  had  not  in  their  tongue  those  degrees 
 of  comDarfson  which  we  have  in  the  same  word,  and  are  often  obliged 
 ?ous?s%re  w"rlsin  the  place  of  superiatives,  (so  chap,  v,  12,  xx 
 o?  "1.1/ "■  39.  The  second  is  like  unto  it.  not  equal,  for  i    is  the 
 
 -^  S'SJwrSoinTits^^ighrjo --r  i^rf,-^^ 
 
 sincerely  as  we  love  ourselves,  and  in  the  same  instances,  nay,  m 
 m"nv  cases,  we  must  deny  ourselves  for  the  good  of  our  neighbour. 
 ?^d  must  make  ourselves  servants  to  the  true  welfare  of  others.--Hen. 
 and  must  maKcuu.av.  they  contain  the  substance  or  abridg- 
 
 i^e^Tofa^VTelil^oufanrmoraLutics  contained  in  the  law  and  tl^^ 
 prophets%hich  therefore  may  he  all  said  to  hang  or  depend  on  them. 
 The  exoression  is  a  metaphor  taken  from  a  custom  mentioned  by  Tc,  - 
 S«",  of  hkng ing  up  their  laws  in  a  public  place  to  be  seen  of  all  men  , 
 .ndT.  i'muorts  that  in  these  precepts  is  compendiously  contained  all 
 ?tat'the7aw'and1rophets  reqfiire,  fn  7'-™-/?  ™',-"rist°or''Me"s* 
 man  —Bens.  42.  What  ttiink  ye  of  Christ  ?  of  the  Christ  or  Mes- 
 S''-DoSir  Camp.  WInme  son  is  he  !  Ti.ot  ulot  6<,t,  ;  '  whose  son 
 hould  ife  be  >■•■  Thrindicative  m.iod  in  the  Greek  New  Testament  has 
 often  all  the  extent  which  is  given  to  that  ^-du,  Hebrew,  where  it 
 sunnlies  most  of  the  other  moods.— Cam;).,  so  also  Le  Uci  c.  J  he  son 
 ^7^  'w-in  this  they  were  all  agreed,  that  the  Messiah  "lust  l,e  a  de- 
 sVendant  of  David.  43.  In  spirit,  that  is,  under  the  influence  ol  the 
 holy  Spirif  as  appears  from  St.  Mark,  who  expresses  ,t,  ■  for  David 
 himseU  by  tl.e  Holy  Ghost,  said"  &c.  Call  him  Lord-bow  could  he 
 Se  hifLord  who  was  not  to  be  born  until  many  ages  afterwards,  aud 
 
Christ  admonisheth  the  people. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXIII. 
 
 Woes  against  hypocrisy. 
 
 44  '  The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit  tlioii 
 on  my  riglit  hand,  till  I  make  thine  enemies 
 tliy  footstool  ? 
 
 4j  If  David  then  call  him  Lord,  how  is  he  his 
 son  ? 
 
 46  ^  Ana  no  man  was  able  to  answer  him  a 
 word,  "  neither  durst  any  man  from  tliat  day 
 forth  asli  him  any  more  questions. 
 
 CHAP.  xxin. 
 
 1  C'irist  adnionisheth  the  piopfe  to  follow  the  (food  doc- 
 trine, not  the  evil  e.rajuples,  of  the  scribes  and  Phari- 
 Sf€s.  5  His  disciples  must  beware  of  their  ambition. 
 !3  ITe  di-nounceth  eight  icoes  against  their  hypocrisi/ 
 ami  blindness  :  34  and  prophesieth  if  the  destruction 
 of  Jt^rualem. 
 
 nPHEN  spake  Jesus  to  the  multitude,  and  to 
 ■*-    liis  disciples, 
 
 2  Saying,  "  The  scrihes  and  the  Pharisees  sit 
 in  Moses'  seat : 
 
 3  All  therefore  whatsoever  they  hid  you  ol)- 
 serve,  that  observe  and  do  ;  but  do  not  ye  after 
 their  works;  for  ^  they  say,  and  do  not. 
 
 4  *"  For  they  bind  heavy  burdens  and  grievous 
 to  be  borne,  and  lay  Mem  on  men's  shoulders; 
 but  they  tJieniselves  will  not  move  them  with 
 one  of  their  fingers. 
 
 5  But  ^  all  their  works  they  do  for  to  be  seen 
 of  men  :  *^  they  make  broad  their  phylacteries, 
 and  enlarge  the  borders  of  their  garments, 
 
 6  *"  And  love  the  uppermost  rooms  at  feasts, 
 and  the  chief  seats  in  the  synagogues, 
 
 7  And  greetinirs  in  the  markets,  and  to  be 
 
 A  D.  as. 
 
 c  Ps.  MO.  1. 
 Acts  2.  34. 
 1  Cor. 15  a5, 
 Heb  1.  I-S. 
 fc  ID.  l-J,  13. 
 
 d  Luke  1 1.  8. 
 
 f  Mark  12. 
 34.  Luke 
 20.  40. 
 
 :  Luke  II. 
 A<i.  A.ts  15. 
 |i>    Gal.  6 
 
 rfcli.  fi.  \,2, 
 
 5,  16, 
 eNum.  15. 
 
 38    Deu.  6. 
 
 8.  9t  22    12. 
 
 I'ro  3.  3. 
 /"Mark  12. 
 '  33,  30. 
 
 Luke  11.43. 
 
 &  XII.  46. 
 
 3  John  9. 
 
 A.  D    33. 
 
 ^  Jam.  3.  I. 
 See2Cf>r.l. 
 21.  1  Pet.  6. 
 3. 
 
 k  Job  92. 2!) 
 Pio.  15.  a3. 
 *  29.  2S. 
 Luke  14.11. 
 ft  18.  14. 
 Jam.  \    6 
 t   I'et.  5.  5. 
 
 /  Lukelt.5-i. 
 
 i<  Arark  12 
 ■l'i.Liike20. 
 
 n  cli.  15.  U. 
 
 ver.  g+, 
 o  cli.  5.  33, 
 
 Si. 
 
 called  of  men,  Rabbi,  Rabbi. 
 
 8  ^  But  be  not  ye  called  Rabbi  :  for  one  is 
 your    Master,   even    Christ ;    and   all    ye   are 
 
 brethren. 
 
 9  And  call  no  man  your  father  upon  the 
 earth:  ''for  one  is  your  Father,  wiiich  is  in 
 heaven. 
 
 10  Neither  be  ye  called  masters :  for  one  is 
 your  Master,  even  Christ. 
 
 11  But  'he  that  is  greatest  among  you  shall 
 be  your  servant. 
 
 12  ''  And  whosoever  shall  exalt  himself  shall 
 be  abased  ;  and  he  that  shall  humble  himself 
 shall  be  exalted. 
 
 13  *[\  But  ^  woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Phari- 
 sees, hypocrites  I  for  ye  shut  up  the  kingdom 
 of  heaven  against  men  :  for  ye  neither  go  in 
 (jourselves^  neither  suffer  ye  them  that  are 
 entering  to  go  in. 
 
 14  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
 hypocrites!  ""for  ye  devour  widows*  houses, 
 and  for  a  pretence  make  long  prayer  :  there- 
 fore ye  shall  receive  the  greater  damnation, 
 
 16  Woe  unto  yon,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
 hypocrites!  for  ye  compass  sea  and  land  to 
 make  one  proselyte,  and  when  he  is  made,  ye 
 make  him  twofold  more  the  child  of  hell  than 
 yourselves. 
 
 16  Woe  unto  you,  ^ ye  blind  guides,  which 
 say,  "  Whosoever  shall  swear  by  the  temple, 
 it  is  nothing ;  but  whosoever  shall  swear  by 
 the  gold  of  the  temple,  he  is  a  debtor! 
 
 was  certainly  to  have  no  secular  dominion  over  him  ?  This  admits  of 
 but  one  reply,  which  should  acknowledge  the  divinity  as  well  as  the 
 humanity  of  the  Christ. — R.  \Vatso7i. 
 
 Chap.  XXIII. —  2.  A'tV— tlie  Jewish  doctors  always  taught  sitting:. — 
 Camp.  In  Moses'  sriit,  the  authority  of  the  mag-istrate,  the  sanhedrim. 
 — Lightf.     As  public  teachers  and  interpreters  of  tlie  law.  3.  All — 
 
 observe  and  do,  as  far  as  they  sit  in  Moses'  seat,  i.  e.,  read  and  preach 
 the  law  that  was  given  by  Moses. — Hen.  4.  TItcy  bind  hettvy  burdens, 
 the  traditions  of  the  elders  ;  'bind'  means  '  to  impose.'  The  allusion 
 is  to  tliose  frequent  snyings  in  use  among  them— such  a  thing  is  bound, 
 and  such  a  thing  is  loosed  ;  such  a  rabhi  binds,  and  such  an  one 
 looses  ;  that  is,  forbids  or  allows  of  sucli  and  such  things.  5.  Works, 
 prayers,  alms-deeds,  fastings,  &c.  Phylacteries — see  on  Exod.  xiii. 
 9,  note.  They  are  called  in  Greek  'phylacteries,'  from  (pvXaTj^,  a 
 word  signifying  *  to  guard  or  keep,'  because  they  were  used  to  preserve 
 the  law  in  memory,  in  order  to  its  observance.  The  Hebrew  term  fur 
 them,  ]*^^n.  signifies  '  prayers,'  because  these  sentences  were  repeated 
 at  their  devotions. — ^o  R.Watson.  Borders,  KpLtfnreda,  'fringes.' — 
 Ham.  See  Num.  xv.  38,  note.  6.  Uppermost  rooms,  or  places.  At 
 the  feasts  of  the  ancients,  each  couch  held  three  persons  ;  and  it  was 
 esteemed  the  greatest  honour  for  the  guest  to  be  placed  on  the  same 
 couch  with  the  master  of  the  house. — Bp.  Pearce.  Chief  seats — in 
 many  places  a  custom  had  crept  in  that  those  who  had  obtained  the 
 fame  of  learning  should  occupy  the  more  honourable  seats.  —  See 
 Relund,  Ant.  Hebr.  The  backs  of  these  seats  were  towards  the  ark, 
 or  chest,  in  which  the  holy  books  were  put.— Gi7/.  7-  And  greetings 
 in  the  murkefs — they  used  t(t  stroll  about  the  markets,  being  public 
 places,  where  there  was  a  great  concourse  of  people,  on  purpose  to  be 
 taken  notice  of  before  multitudes,  with  singular  marks  of  respect,  as 
 stretching  out  the  hand,  uncovering  the  head,  and  bowing  the  knee.— 
 
 Gill.  Rabbi,  a  title  which  the  scrihes  liad  at  that  time  assumed. — Bp. 
 Pearce.  From  the  Hebrew  word  n,  which  signities  'great;'  hence 
 rabbi  meant  '  master,'  or  *  e.xcellent.' — Dr.  Robinson.  It  was  doubled 
 for  the  sake  of  greater  emphasis. — R.  W/itso7t.  8.  Be  ye  ?iol  called 
 Rabbi,  '  let  no  man  among  you  contend  for  superiority  or  precedence.' 
 — S.  Clarke.  9-  Call  no  man  your  father — they  were  to  consider  no 
 
 man  as  the  father  of  tlieir  religion,  that  is,  the  founder,  author,  or 
 director  of  it ;  to  look  up  to  no  man  witli  the  reverence  wherewith  a 
 child  should  regard  a  father,  or  so  as  to  yield  an  absolute  subjection 
 to  his  will  and  pleasure,  or  be  absolutely  swayefl  and  governed  thereby. 
 10.  Masters,  KaytjyiiTai,  '  leaders,'  or  '  guides,' that  is,  of  the  judgments 
 and  consciences  of  men,  exercising  an  authority  and  dominion  over 
 them  which  the  Pharisaical  doctors  had  usurped;  telling  the  people 
 that  they  ought  to  believe  all  their  doctrines,  and  practise  all  their  in- 
 junctions, as  the  commands  of  the  living  God. — Bens.  13.  The  king- 
 dom of  heaven,  here  means  '  tlie  gospel  of  Christ;'  the  Pharisees  would 
 not  receive  it  themselves,  and  hindered  the  common  people  as  far  as 
 they  could. — A.  Clarke.  14.  Devour  widows'  houses — the  word  otniav, 
 '  liouses,'  is  here  used  for  property. — R.  Watson.  Pcrliaps  they  induced 
 many  persons,  when  they  died,  to  leave  them  in  tt  ust  for  their  widows, 
 and  thus  got  their  effects,  which  they  swallowed  at  once  like  som.e 
 greedy  animals. — Scott.  They  made  a  prey  of  weak,  superstitious 
 women,  who,  being  widows,  had  no  protectors,  and  had  property  at 
 thtir  own  disposal. — R.  Watson.  Long  prayer — they  sometimes  con- 
 tinued three  hours  in  prayer. —  Whitby.  15.  Ye  compass  sea  and  land, 
 a.  proverbial  expression,  used  to  denote  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to 
 accomplish  an  object. — R.  Watson.  The  excessive  zeal  of  the  Jews  in 
 making  proselytes  is  even  glanced  at  by  Horace,  1.  I,  sat.  iv.,  v.  142, 
 143.  16.  Sivear  by  the  temple,  it  is  nothing,  the  oath  may  be  violated 
 with  impunity.    By  the  gold,  that  is,  of  the  treasury,  and  the  valuable 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXII This  cliapter  divides  itself 
 
 into  two  parts — I.  The  parable  of  the  marriage  supper,  I'lie 
 ;;ospel  dispensation  is  here  represented  by  a  feast.  To  this 
 (east  the  Jews  were  first  invited,  but  they  slighted  it,  and  we 
 CJentilesare  now  called  to  partake  of  its  benehts.  Without 
 holiness,  however,  no  gospel  blessing  can  ever  be  ours,  and 
 with  this  garment  we  must  be  as  much  clad  as  with  the  garment 
 of  the  Saviour's  righteousness,  ere  we  can  truly  be  partakers 
 of  the  feast  of  fat  things  here,  or  sit  down  at  the  marriage  sup- 
 per of  the  Lamb  in  the  kingdom  above. 
 
 11.  The  disputations  of  our  Lord  with  his  adversaries.  First, 
 with  the  Ilerodians  ;  from  which  we  learn  the  duty  of  contri- 
 liuting  to  support  the  government,  and  the  sacred  obligations 
 of  religion.  Secondly,  with  the  Sadducees;  in  which  our 
 Great  Teacher  plainly  exhibits  the  doctrine  of  a  future  state, 
 the  certainty  of  a  resurrection,  and  the  condition  in  which  we 
 hhall  be  raised  to  another  state.  Thirdly,  with  the  Pharisees; 
 in  which  lie  shews  the  sacred  claims  of  the  divine  law.  'The 
 fulfilling  of  the  law  is  love,  (Kom.  xiii.  10,)  and  the  end  of 
 the  law  is  love.  (1  Tim.  i.  .7.)  The  law  of  love  is  the  nail  in 
 1027 
 
 tlie  sure  place,  fastened  by  the  Master  of  assemblies,  (Eccles 
 xii.  11,)  on  which  is  bung  all  the  glory  of  the  law  and  the 
 prophets,  (Isa.  xxii.34  ;)  a  nail  that  shall  never  be  drawn,  for 
 on  this  nail  all  the  glory  of  the  New  Jerusalem  shall  eternally 
 liang.  Love  never  faileth.  Into  these  two  great  command- 
 ments, therefore,  let  our  hearts  be  delivered  as  into  a  mould  ; 
 in  the  defence  and  evidence  of  these  let  us  spend  our  zeal,  and 
 not  in  notions,  names,  and  strifes  of  words,  as  if  those  were 
 the  mighty  things  on  which  the  law  and  the  propJiets  hung, 
 and  to  tiiem  the  love  of  God  and  our  neighbour  must  be  sacri- 
 ficed ;  but  to  the  commanding  power  of  these  let  every  thing 
 else  be  made  to  truckle.' ^  Tinally,  our  Lord's  retaliation 
 upon  his  adversaries,  by  a  question  which  at  once  put  them  to 
 silence.  This  question  let  us  propose  to  ourselves.  On  its 
 important  subject  let  us  often  dwell.  All  pure  and  influential 
 religion  depends  upon  our  ideas  of  Christ-  Those  who  think 
 meanly  of  him,  think  highly  of  themselves,  and  God  resisteth 
 the  proud,  but  giveth  grace  to  the  bumble.  Reader  !  hearer  ! 
 —  what  think  ye  of  Christ  ? 
 
Christ  for  etelleth 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXIII. 
 
 the  destruction  of  Jerusalem . 
 
 n  Ye  fools  and  blinU  :  for  whether  is  greater, 
 the  gold,  ''or  the  temple  that  sanctifieth  the 
 gold? 
 
 18  And,  Whosoever  shall  swear  by  the  altar, 
 it  is  nothing ;  but  whosoever  sweareth  by  the 
 gift  that  is  upon  it,  he  is  ||  guilty. 
 
 19  Ye  fools  and  blind :  for  whether  is  greater, 
 the  gift,  or  '■  the  altar  that  sanctifieth  the  gift  'i 
 
 20  Whoso  therefore  shall  swear  by  the  altar, 
 sweareth  by  it,  and  by  all  things  thereon. 
 
 21  And  whoso  shall  swear  by  the  temple, 
 sweareth  by  it,  and  by  '  him  that  dwelleth 
 therein. 
 
 22  And  he  that  shall  swear  by  heaven,  swear- 
 eth by  '  the  throne  of  God,  and  by  him  that 
 sitteth  thereon. 
 
 23  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
 hypocrites !  '  for  ye  pay  tithe  of  mint  and 
 t anise  and  cummin,  and  "have  omitted  the 
 weightier  inatters  of  the  law,  j\idgment,  mercy, 
 and  faitli :  these  ouglit  ye  to  have  done,  and 
 not  to  leave  the  other  undone. 
 
 24  Ye  blind  guides,  which  strain  at  a  gnat, 
 and  swallow  a  camel. 
 
 25  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
 hypocrites!  'for  ye  make  clean  the  outside  of 
 the  cup  and  of  the  platter,  but  within  they  are 
 full  of  extortion  and  excess. 
 
 26  Thuu  blind  Pharisee,  cleanse  first  that 
 which  is  within  the  cup  and  platter,  that  the 
 outside  of  them  may  be  clean  also. 
 
 27  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
 hypocrites!  'for  ye  are  like  unto  whited  se- 
 pulchres, which  indeed  appear  beautiful  out- 
 ward, but  are  within  full  of  dead  7nen's  bones, 
 and  of  all  uncleanness. 
 
 28  Even  so  ye  also  outwardly  appear  righte- 
 ous unto  men,  but  within  ye  are  full  of  hypo- 
 
 A.  U.  33, 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 p  Ex.  SO.  29. 
 
 :  Luke  11. 
 
 +7. 
 
 11  Or,  debtor. 
 
 or,  bound. 
 
 7  Ex.20.  3,7. 
 
 <i  Acta7.51, 
 
 62.  1  TlR-s. 
 
 2.  15. 
 
 r  1  Kiu^.13, 
 
 b  Gen. 15  10. 
 
 ■i  Cl.r.  ti,  2 
 
 ITbL-a,2.ll>. 
 
 p.s.  cn.  8,  & 
 
 13:;.  M. 
 
 e  ch.  3.  7.  & 
 
 .  ch.  5.  31. 
 
 12.  3i. 
 
 Ps.  11.4 
 
 Acta  ;.  -19. 
 
 d  ch.  21.  ai, 
 
 35. Luke  II. 
 
 ■ly. 
 
 t  Lhkell. 
 
 *  Acl9  5.  -to. 
 
 \2. 
 
 &  7  5.S,:.9. 
 
 t  Gr.  ».,e. 
 
 H  vi.   111. 
 
 Ih.n,  am. 
 
 /oh    l...  17. 
 
 u  I  Sftin.  lo. 
 
 2C..I-    11. 
 
 2i.  Ho9  6. 
 
 :;i,  -lb. 
 
 G.  M-o.G  8. 
 
 ^  Kev.lSgl. 
 
 e\\.  9   13.  e< 
 
 ^Geii.   1    H. 
 
 12.7. 
 
 IJohnS.  Ij. 
 
 .  2  CI. IV  21, 
 
 2.1, -^1. 
 
 X  Mark  7.  ♦. 
 
 Luke  11.31). 
 
 *  I.uko  13. 
 
 3*. 
 
 ^2Chr.  21. 
 
 21. 
 
 m  Deul.32. 
 
 II,  12. 
 
 2  Ksil ,  I  HO. 
 
 n  Vs.  17.  H. 
 
 y  Luke  II. 
 
 &91.-1. 
 
 ■14.  ACUK3. 
 
 3. 
 
 o  Pa.  1114  20. 
 
 cli.  21.  9. 
 
 and 
 
 and 
 
 crisy  and  iniquity. 
 
 29  *  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
 hypocrites  I  because  ye  build  the  tombs  of  tlie 
 prophets,  and  garnish  the  sepulclires  of  the 
 righteous, 
 
 30  And  say.  If  we  had  been  in  the  days  of 
 our  fathers,  we  would  not  have  been  partakers 
 with  them  in  the  blood  of  the  prophets. 
 
 31  Wherefore  ye  be  witnesses  unto  your- 
 selves, that'' ye  are  the  children  of  them  wliich 
 killed  the  prophets. 
 
 32  ^  Fill  ye  up  then  the  measure  of  your 
 fathers. 
 
 33  Ye  serpents,^e  *^  generation  of  vipers,  how 
 can  ye  escape  the  damnation  of  hell? 
 
 34  t  '^  Wherefore,  behold,  I  send  unto  you 
 prophets,   and    wise   men,   and   scribes : 
 "^ some  of  them  ye  shall  kill  and  crucify; 
 ^  some  of  them  shall  ye  scourge  in  your  syna- 
 gogues, and  persecute  them  from  city  to  city  : 
 
 33  ^  That  upon  you  may  come  all  the  riglite- 
 ous  blood  shed  upon  tlie  earth,  ''from  the  blood 
 of  righteous  Abel  unto  'the  blood  of  Zacharias 
 son  of  Barachias,  whom  ye  slew  between  the 
 temple  and  the  altar. 
 
 36  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  All  these  things 
 shall  come  upon  this  generation. 
 
 37  ''  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  thou  that  killest 
 the  prophets,  'andstonest  them  which  are  sent 
 unto  thee,  how  often  would  '"I  have  gathered 
 thy  children  together,  even  as  a  hen  gathereth 
 her  chickens  "  under  her  wings,  and  ye  would 
 not ! 
 
 38  Behold,  your  house  is  left  unto  you  deso- 
 late. 
 
 39  For  I  say  unto  you,  Ye  shall  not  see  me 
 henceforth,  till  ye  shall  say,  "  Blessed  is  he 
 that  Cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 golden  vessels,  wliich,  as  votive  offerings,  were  deposited  in  it.  He 
 is  a  debtor,  commits  perjury  if  he  perform  not  his  oath.  Thus  they 
 inculcated  the  idea  that  peculiar  sanctity  attached  to  these  gifts  to  the 
 temple,  and  so  heightened  the  supposed  meritoriousness  of  presenting 
 them.  So  it  was  among  the  Greeks  and  Romans. —So  R.  Watson. 
 23.  Anise,  '  dill.'— C«m/».  It  resembles  fennel,  and  is  sometimes  called 
 the  Chinese  fennel.  Cumjnin,  a  similar  herb.— So  Gill.  Mint  was 
 used  to  sprinkle  the  floors  of  rooms  and  the  synagogues,  to  produce  a 
 pleasant  fragrance.  Anise  has  an  aromatic  smelt,  and  is  used  by  per- 
 fumers. These  were  all  herbs  of  little  value,  and  it  was  a  question 
 whether  they  should  be  tithed.— Barnes.  Judgment,  mercy,  and  faith, 
 TMv  Kpiaiv,  Kat  Tov  eXeov,  xni  Tt)v  ttijtiv,  'justice,  humanity,  and  fidelity.' 
 — t'nmp.  24.  Strain  at  a  gnat — the  Jews  were  strictly  observant  of 
 the  law  not  to  eat  any  creeping  thing;  hence,  they  very  carefully 
 strained  their  liquors.— Gi7/.  It  should  have  been  '  strained  out  a  gnat,' 
 and  so  it  is  printed  in  Archhp.  Parker^s  Bible.  The  Greek  means  '  to 
 strain  out  by  a  cloth  or  swve.'—Uoddr.,  Camp.  In  southern  countries 
 these  gnats  swarm,  and  therefore  may  easily  fall  into  wine  vessels. — 
 Bloom/.  Passing  tbe  hquor  through  a  strainer,  that  no  gnat  or  part  of 
 one  might  remain,  grew  iuto  a  proverb  for  exactness  about  little  mat- 
 ters.— Serrariies.  Suallotv  a  camel,  also  proverbial.— Dot/ffr.,  Mackn. 
 25.  The  outside  of  the  ciip,  ffc. — the  allusion  is  to  their  traditions  about 
 washing  their  cups  and  pots  and  brazen  vessels,  (see  Mark.  vii.  4,) 
 which  they  strictly  observed,— Gi7/.  But  within  they  are  full  of  extor- 
 linn  and  excess,  upTTd-ynv  kqi  aKpaaiav,  'rapine  and  intemperance,* 
 which  ye  swallow  down  without  the  least  scruple. — Bens.  This  cen- 
 sure carries  a  double  sting  ;  what  filled  their  cups  was  procured  by  in- 
 justice, and  used  with  intemperance.— iiosenjn.  26.  Cleanse  first 
 that  which  is  within,  'get  food  and  drink  in  an  honest  way  ;  remove 
 all  extortion  and  oppression  out  of  thine  hands;  so  shall  the  outward 
 cleanness  of  thy  cup  and  dish  be  no  reproach  to  thee,  or  testimony  of 
 thine  hypocrisy.'— Gi7f.  2?.  Whited  sepulchres— some  make  this  to 
 
 refer  to  the  custom  of  the  Jews  to  whiten  graves  that  people  might 
 avoid  them,  because  of  the  ceremonial  pollution  contracted  by  the 
 touch  of  a  grave,  (Num.  xix.  iS  ;)  and  it  was  part  of  the  charge  of  the 
 overseers  of  the  highways  to  repair  that  whitening  when  it  was  de- 
 cayed :  sepulchres  were  thus  made  remarkable,  (2  Kings,  xxiii.  l6, 17.) 
 —Hen.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  Jews  to  whiten  their  sepulchres, 
 both  for  the  purpose  of  ornament,  and  to  prevent  the  danger  of  pollu- 
 tiou  by  too  near  an  approach.  The  rabbles  carried  so  far  the  notion 
 "*.tjie  ganger  of  defilement  from  this  cause,  that  they  used  to  mark 
 with  chalk,  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  the  ground  under  which  their 
 sepulchral  caves  extended. —iIo4e«m.     The  graves  of  the    principal 
 
 persons  in  Palestine  were  distinguiblied  by  square  rooms,  with  cupolas 
 built  over  them,  which,  being  constantly  kept  clean,  white- washed, 
 and  beautified,  they  continue  to  this  day  an  excellent  comment  on  this 
 expression  of  our  Saviour.  They  were  thus  whitened  that  people  might 
 discern  they  were  polluted  places,  and,  consequently,  avoid  coming 
 near  them. — Dr.  Shaw.  2().  Ye  build  the  tombs  of  the  prophets,  lyr., 
 —it  was  the  eulogy  of  a  rabbi  by  one  of  his  disciples,  that  he  had 
 adorned  the  sepulchres  of  Adam  and  of  Abraham.  Onr  Lord  does  not 
 condemn  anything  in  this  practice  but  its  hypocrisy.  —  R.  Watstm. 
 
 31.  Ye  be  witnesses  unto  i/fiurselrcs,  naprvpen^  tavrott, '  you  bear  testi- 
 mony against  yourselves.* — Bloomf.  Ye  are  the  children,  ^c. — the 
 sense  is,  '  you  manifestly  shew  that  you  are  like  unto  your  fathers  ;  for 
 as  they  slew  the  prophet-*,   so  do  you  meditate  my  death.'— Wets. 
 
 32.  Fill  ye  up,  Sfc,  as  if  he  had  said,  '  I  contend  with  you  no  longer,  I 
 leave  you  to  yourselves.' — Bens.  3i.  Ye  shall  kill,  Sfc. — fulfilled  in 
 Stephen,  Acts,  vii.  59  ;  St.  James,  xii.  2 ;  St.  Peter,  &c.,  v. ;  St.  Paul 
 and  St.  Barnabas,  xiv.  5,  6. —  Whitby.  35.  Upo?i  the  earth,  em  Tiir 
 in?,  'upon  the  land,'  probably  Judca. — Clarke.  The  blood  of  Zacha- 
 rias, son  of  Barachias — most  commentators  think  this  was  Zechariah, 
 the  son  of  Jehoida  the  priest,  mentioned  2  Chron.  xxiv.  20  ;  and  that 
 IJarachias  was  an  interpolation,  or  a  second  name. — So  Bens.  Zecha- 
 riah, the  minor  prophet,  is  here  intended. — Rla.  3".  As  a  hen  gather' 
 eth  her  chirkens — in  the  east,  birds  of  prey  are  continually  on  the  wing  ; 
 hence  it  is  difficult  to  rear  chickens,  because  at  every  moment  they  arc 
 in  danger  of  being  pounced  on  and  carried  off.  Hence,  the  eye  of  the 
 mother  is  continually  looking  up  to  watch  the  foes,  and  no  sooner  does 
 she  see  them  skimming  along,  than  she  gives  a  scream,  and  the  brood, 
 for  protection,  run  under  her  wings. — Rub.  38.  Your  house,  o  oikov, 
 *  the  temple  ;'  this  is  certainly  what  is  meant.  It  was  once  the  Lord's 
 own  house,  but  now  he  says,  *  your  house,'  for  he  had  abandoned  it. — 
 Clarke.  39.  Till  ye  shall  say.  Blessed,  ^-c. — from  their  connexion, 
 these  words  refer  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  appear  to  sig- 
 nify, that  they  who  had  so  lately  heard  with  indignation  the  children 
 crying  Hosanna,  &c.,  should  soon  be  in  those  circumstances  that  they 
 would  be  glad  of  a  deliverer,  ot  whom  they  would  thus  speak  ;  or,  that 
 many  having  seen  his  predictions  accomplished  should  be  converted 
 to  him,  and  adopt  the  praises  ot  the  children.  Eusebitts  inf<'rms*us 
 that  many  Jews  became  Christians  after  the  dcstructifin  of  Jerusalem. 
 — Boothr.  '  Till  your  calamities  have  taught  you  eagerly  to  wish  for 
 the  Messiah,  and  Divine  grace  shall  have  inclined  you,  as  a  nation, 
 gladly  to  receive  me.' — Doddr.,  so  Gill,  and  Ncoi(;  similar  to  these, 
 Watson.  'Christ  will  not  be  seen  again  till  he  comes  in  the  clouds, 
 and  every  eye  shall  see  hira,'  (Rev.  i.  7.) — Hen.,  Trupp,  Guyse. 
 
 ^  Rkflections  on  Chap.  XXIII.  —  Our  Lord  here  reproves  I  the  traditions  of  men  in  lieu  of  tbe  Word  of  God  ;  and  thoso 
 l.ie  scribes  and  Pharisees — 1.  For  their  ductri/ies.     TeatLing    are  iudeed  '  burdens,  and  grievous  to  be  borne.'    Tbe  sinner 
 1028 
 
Christ  foretelleth 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXIV. 
 
 the  destruction  of  the  temple. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Christ  forettlUth  the  destruction  of  the  temple:  3 
 what  and  how  great  calamities  shall  be  before  it  :  29 
 the  si</ns  of  his  coming  to  judgment.  3ti  And  because 
 that  day  and  hour  is  unknowny  42  we  ought  to  watch 
 like  good  servants,  expecting  every  moment  our  master's 
 coming. 
 
 AND  **  Jesus  went  out,  and  departed  from 
 tiie  temple :  and  his  disciples  came  to 
 him  for  to  shew  him  the  huildings  of  the 
 temple. 
 
 2  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  See  ye  not  all 
 these  things  ?  verily  I  say  unto  you,  ^  There 
 shall  not  be  left  here  one  stone  upon  another, 
 that  shall  not  he  thrown  down. 
 
 3  t  And  as  he  sat  upon  the  mount  of  Olives, 
 '^  the  disciples  came  unto  him  privately,  saying, 
 '^Tell  us,  when  shall  these  things  be  V  and 
 what  shci/l  be  the  sign  of  thy  coming,  and  of 
 the  end  of  the  world  ? 
 
 4  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
 '■'  Take  heed  that  no  man  deceive  you. 
 
 5  For  *"  many  shall  come  in  my  name,  saying, 
 I  am  Christ ;  ^  and  shall  deceive  many, 
 
 (i  And  ye  shall  hear  of  wars  and  rumours  of 
 wars :  see  that  ye  be  not  troubled  :  for  all 
 these  things  must  come  to  pass,  but  the  end  is 
 not  yet. 
 
 7  For  ^  nation  shall  rise  against  nation,  and 
 kingdom  against  kingdom  :  and  there  shall  be 
 famines,  and  pestilences,  and  earthquakes,  in 
 
 1  M.irkiri.  I. 
 
 cMark  I.T3. 
 dlTliesS.l. 
 
 (  Kpli.  5.  11- 
 
 C..l.2.H,l>I. 
 
 y  Tlies.a.S. 
 
 1  Juhii-l  I. 
 /■.lor  1-1.14. 
 ■  &i3.  2I,'2&. 
 
 ver.  '21. 
 
 John  5.  AS. 
 
 I  2  Chr.  I.". 
 6    la,  19,  •;. 
 
 Zeo,  II. I.  3, 
 
 ich.  10.  17. 
 Mark  13.9. 
 I.ukeai.liJ. 
 Jolm  15.20. 
 &  16.  2. 
 Acts  1.2.  3. 
 &  7.  A9.  & 
 1?.  U&c. 
 
 1  [VI.  4.  10. 
 Rev.  8.  lU, 
 
 i;) 
 
 k  ch.  II.  6. 
 ft  \a.  57. 
 
 2  Tim. 1.15. 
 R(  4.  10,  16. 
 
 /ch.  7.  15. 
 
 Arts  20.  29, 
 
 2  Vet.  2.  I , 
 
 n  1  Tim. 4.1. 
 
 vfir.  5,  21. 
 n  ch.    Ill,  22. 
 
 Mark  13  i,S. 
 
 Heb,36,li. 
 
 Kev.  2.  10. 
 ocli.  4.  23. 
 
 &  9.  35. 
 pRora. 10.18. 
 
 C'ji  .1.6.  23. 
 y  Mark  18. 
 
 H  I,uke2t, 
 
 20, 
 -  nan.  9.27. 
 
 k  12.  II. 
 Dau.  <J.  2.1, 
 
 divers  places. 
 
 8  All  these  are  the  beginning  of  sorrows. 
 
 9  ^  Then  shall  they  deliver  you  up  to  be 
 afflicted,  and  shall  kill  you  :  and  ye  shall  be 
 hated  of  all  nations  for  my  name's  sake. 
 
 10  And  then  shall  many  ^  be  offended,  and 
 shall  betray  one  another,  and  shall  hate  one 
 another. 
 
 1 1  And  '  many  false  prophets  shall  rise,  ana 
 ■"  shall  deceive  many. 
 
 12  And  because  iniquity  shall  abound,  the 
 love  of  many  shall  wax  cold. 
 
 13  "  But  he  that  shall  endure  unto  the  end, 
 the  same  shall  be  saved. 
 
 14  And  this  "gospel  of  tiic  kingdom  ^  shall 
 be  preached  in  all  the  world  for  a  witness  unto 
 all  nations  ;  and  then  shall  the  end  come. 
 
 15  **  When  ye  therefore  shall  see  the  abomi- 
 nation of  desolation,  spoken  of  by  '' Daniel  the 
 prophet,  stand  in  the  holy  place,  ("whoso  read- 
 eth,  let  him  understand  :) 
 
 16  Then  let  them  which  be  in  Judaea  flee  into 
 the  mountains  : 
 
 17  Let  him  which  is  on  the  housetop  not 
 come  down  to  take  any  thing  out  of  his  house  : 
 
 18  Neither  let  him  which  is  in  the  field  re- 
 turn hack  to  take  his  clothes. 
 
 19  And  Hvoe  unto  them  that  are  with  child, 
 and  to  them  that  give  suck  in  those  days! 
 
 20  But  pray  ye  that  your  flight  be  not  in  the 
 winter,  neither  on  the  sabbath  day  : 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.— I.  The  buildings — the  Jewish  writers  say,  that  it 
 was  built  with  stones  of  green  and  white  marble.  Some  of  these,  Jose- 
 phvs  says,  were  forty-five  cubits  long:,  five  higli,  ami  six  broad,  that 
 is,  between  sixty  and  seventy  feet  in  length.  There  were  in  the  porches 
 four  rows  of  pillars ;  the  thickness  of  each  pillar  was  as  much  as  three 
 men,  with  their  arms  stretched  out  and  joined  together,  could  grasp  j 
 the  length  twenty-seven  feet,  and  the  number  of  them  162,  and  beau- 
 tiful to  a  miracle. — Gill,  Bens.,  For.  2.  Not  be  left  here  07ie  stone, 
 fyc. — when  the  Romans  had  taken  Jerusalem,  Titus  ordered  his  soldiers 
 to  dig  up  the  foundations  both  of  the  city  and  of  the  tcmi>le.  The 
 Jewish  writers  themselves  acknowledge  tliatTcrentius  Rufus,  who  was 
 left  to  command  the  army,  tore  up  with  a  ploughshare  the  foundations 
 of  the  temple,  hereby  fulfilling  Mic.  iii.  12. — For.  3.  Artd  0/  the  end 
 of  the  world?  Kat  tuc  trvvTt\eias  tou  atwvor, '  the  conclusion  of  the  age,* 
 (corap.  Heb.  ix.  26,  and  1  Cor.  x.  1 1 .) — Bens.  The  end  of  the  age  when 
 the  Jewish  church  and  state  were  to  last. — Bps.  Feurce  and  Portcus. 
 
 5.  Many  shntt  come  in  my  name,  ^c.,  i.  e.,  usurp  his  title,  make  preten- 
 sions to  his  office  and  character. — Camp.  Josephns  says,  Theudas 
 promised  to  divide  Jordan,  and  lead  his  followers  over  dry-shod:  '  he 
 deceived  many.*  Also,  the  Egyptian  (see  Acts,  xxi.  3h)  persuaded 
 30.000  men  to  follow  him  to  the  Mount  of  Olives,  promising  to  lead 
 them  into  Jerusalem  to  subvert  the  Roman  power. — It.  Watsun.  Dosi- 
 theus  [a  Samaritan]  said  he  was  the  Christ  foretold  by  Moses  ;  and 
 Simon  Magus  said  he  appeared  among  the  Jews  as  the  Son  of  God.— 
 Whitby.  These  deceivers  promised  the  Jews  deliverance  from  the 
 Roman  power;  and,  exciting  insurrections,  exasperated  the  Romans, 
 and  drew  down  upon  themselves  misery  and  destruction. — So  Scott. 
 
 6.  Of  wars,  §-c. — these  may  mean  the  commotions,  insurrections,  and 
 seditions  against  the  Romans  and  their  governors,  and  the  intestine 
 slaughters  committed  among  them  sometime  before  the  siege  of  Jeru- 
 salem  and  the  destruction  of  it. — Gill.  Four  emperors,  Nero,  Galba, 
 Otho,  and  Vitellius,  suffered  violent  deaths  in  the  short  space  of  eigh- 
 teen months.  Parties  were  formed,  and  bloody  and  violent  wars  were 
 the  consequence  of  attachment  to  the  particular  emperors.— J?«rnt's. 
 The  end  is  not  yet,  the  end  of  Jerusalem. — Chrys.  7.  Nation  shall 
 rise  against  nw^'on— this  portended  the  dissensions,  insurrections,  and 
 mutual  slaughter  of  the  Jews,  and  those  of  other  nations,  who  dwelt 
 in  the  same  cities  together.  At  Cssarea,  the  Jews  and  Syrians  con- 
 tended  about  the  right  of  the  city,  when  the  Jews  were  expelled,  and 
 iKt.ooO  slain.  The  Jewish  nation  fied  to  arms,  and  ravaged  the  cities 
 and  villages  of  the  Syrians,  slaughtering  immense  numbers.  The  Sy- 
 rians, in  their  turn,  took  ample  revenge. — See  Bp.  Newton,  and  Dr. 
 Lnrdner.  Famines  —  one  was  predicted.  Acts,  xi.  28,  and  is  men- 
 tioned by  Tacitus,  Suetonius,  and  Eusebins ;  in  this  many  perished. 
 Four  times  in  the  reign  of  Claudius  [a.d.  41 — 54]  famines  prevailed  at 
 
 Rome,  in  Palestine,  and  Greece.  Pestilences^oaeis  recorded  in  Baby- 
 lonia, A.D.  40;  in  Italy,  a.d.  66:  both  these  took  place  before  the 
 destruclioQ  of  Jerusalem.  Eur/Ayi/aArei— historians  relate  many  of 
 these  nbout  the  predicted  period.— £(/.  There  was  an  earthquake  in 
 the  reign  of  Tiberius  Csesar,  which  destroyed  twelve  cities  of  Asia, — 
 Sut. ;  when  the  Idumeans  encamped  outside  of  Jerusalem,— Jos. ;  in 
 Crete,  Smyrna,  and  other  places, — Philostratus  -,  at  Rome  in  the  reign 
 of  Claudius;  and  in  the  reign  of  Nero,  the  cities  of  Laodicea,  Hiera- 
 polis,  and  Colosse,  were  overthrown.— So  Tacitus.  8.  The  beginning 
 of  sorrows,  w&ivu>v,  as  if  he  had  said,  'they  are  the  first  pangs  and 
 throes.'  9.  Deliver  you  w/*— here  he  speaks  of  the  calamities  to 
 befal  the  Christians.- Bens.  10.  Be  offended,  i.  e.,  many  Christians, 
 terrified  with  these  persecutions,  shall  become  apostates.— Por.  Be- 
 tray one  another— several  Christians  were  at  first  apprehended,  and 
 then,  by  their  discovery,  a  multitude  of  others  were  convicted,  and 
 cruelly  put  to  death.— So  Tacitus.  13.  Endure,  'he  who  resolutely 
 endures  all  these  extremities,  and  perseveres  to  the  end,  shall  finally 
 be  saved,  and  have  his  life  given  him  as  a  prey,'  (comp.  Matt.  x.  22.) 
 —Doddr.  14.  In  all  the  world,  not  universally,  this  is  not  yet  done  ; 
 but  in  general,  through  the  several  parts  of  the  world,  and  not  only  in 
 Judea.  And  this  was  done  by  St.  Paul  and  the  other  apostles  when 
 Jerusalem  was  destroyed. — Bens.  For  a  ivitness  to  all  nations,  *  that 
 1  am  the  Christ.'  The  end  come,  of  the  Jewish  church  and  polity. — 
 WUitbij,  soGill,  and  others.  15.  The  abomination  of  desolation,  an 
 
 Hebraism  for  'an  abominable  desolation,'  not  only  because  it  was  a 
 Pagan  army,  but  also  on  account  of  the  standards  of  this  army,  of 
 which  the  Romans  made  so  many  idols  ;  for  they  adored  the  eagles  of 
 tbcir  legions,  and  the  images  of  their  gods  and  their  emperors,  which 
 they  bore  in  several  standards  of  their  cohorts.  16.  Into  the  moun- 
 
 tains—J  adesi  is  a  mountainous  country,  in  which  there  are  lung  and 
 spacious  caverns,  which  served  for  a  retreat  and  asylum  in  time  of 
 need,  {I  Sam.  xxii.  1  ;  xxiii.  25;  xxiv.  4.)— Mar.  17.  Housetop,  the 
 fiat  terrace  which  formed  the  roof,  from  which  a  person  might  descend 
 by  stairs,  not  into  the  street,  but  into  the  gateway,  without  going  into 
 the  house.— fi.  Watson.  The  terraces  were  usually  continued  from 
 one  end  of  the  city  to  the  other,  and  terminated  at  the  gates.  This 
 means,  therefore,  that  those  on  the  housetops  were  to  escape  directly 
 out  of  the  city  gate.— So  Clarke.  18.  To  take  his  clothes,  i.  e.,  his 
 upper  garment  or  cloak,  which,  according  to  custom,  he  left  at  home 
 when  he  went  into  the  field,  (see  Mark,  xiii.  \6.)-~Bp.  Fearce.  l^.With 
 child— sach  would  be  in  no  condition  to  fiy,  nor  endure  the  hardships 
 of  a  siege.  Cruel  slaughters  of  these  and  their  infants  took  place  at 
 the  siege  of  Jerusalem.- So  Bp.  Newton.  20.  Winter— Visinauf  states 
 that  rain  and  snow  sometimes  fall  in  great  quantities  in  the  winter  at 
 Jerusalem,  and  the  cold  is  very  severe.- if«r.    Sabbath  day— the  Jews 
 
 who  builds  the  hopes  of  his  justification  before  God  on  any 
 
 other  foundation  than  that  which  is  laid  in  the  Scriptures,  after 
 all  his  toils  will  Hud  no  real  support  for  his  soul,  and  must  sink 
 under  the  load  of  duties  enforced  on  the  ground  of  merit,  as 
 his  soul  will  sink  beneath  the  weight  of  continued  guilt.  Our 
 Lord  also  reproves  the  scribes  and  Pharisees— 
 
 II.  For  the ir  practices.      Hence    he   says,  '  Do  not  ye  after 
 their  works,  for  ihey  say,  and  do  not.'    Pride  and  vain  glory 
 102D 
 
 manifested  themselves  in  all  that  they  did.  In  all  their  reli- 
 gious performances  they  did  but  play  the  hypocrite,  while 
 the  sincere  servants  of  God  were  the  objects  of  their  bitter 
 hatred  and  persecution.  Let  us  take  care  that  our  religion  is 
 not  mere  ostentation  and  vain  show,  and  let  us  dread  the  awful 
 responsibility  of  those  who,  in  persecuting  the  prophets  and 
 saints,  persecute  the  Saviour  himself,  and  must  meet  with  tho 
 persecutor's  reward. 
 
The  signs  of  Chrisfs  coming. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXIV. 
 
 'I  he  day  and  iiour  vnnnown. 
 
 21  For  "  then  shall  be  great  tribulation,  such 
 as  was  not  since  the  beginning  of  the  world  to 
 this  time,  no,  nor  ever  shall  be. 
 
 22  And  except  those  days  should  be  short- 
 ened, there  should  no  flesh  be  saved:  ""but  for 
 the  elect's  sake  those  days  shall  be  shortened. 
 
 23  ''  Then  if  any  nian  shall  say  unto  you,  Lo, 
 here  is  Christ,  or  there  ;  believe  it  not. 
 
 24  For  "^  there  shall  arise  false  Christs,  and 
 false  prophets,  and  shall  shew  great  signs  and 
 wonders  ;  insomuch  that,  "  if  it  were  possible, 
 they  shall  deceive  the  very  elect. 
 
 25  Behold,  I  have  told  you  before. 
 
 26  Wherefore  if  they  shall  say  unto  you,  Be- 
 hold, he  is  in  the  desert;  gonotfortli:  behold, 
 he  is  in  the  secret  chambers;  believe  it  not. 
 
 27  ^  For  as  the  lightning  cometli  uut  of  the 
 east,  and  shineth  even  unto  the  west ;  so  shall 
 also  the  coming  of  the  Sou  of  man  be. 
 
 28  "^  For  wheresoever  the  carcase  is,  there 
 will  the  eagles  be  gathered  together. 
 
 29  H'^  Immediately  after  the  tribulation  of 
 those  days  "  sliall  the  sun  be  darkened,  and  the 
 moon  shall  not  give  her  light,  and  the  stars 
 shall  fall  from  heaven,  and  tlie  powers  of  the 
 heavens  shall  be  shaken  : 
 
 30  ^  And  then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the 
 Son  of  man  in  heaven:  ^and  then  shall  all  the 
 tribes  of  the  earth  mourn,  •'and  they  shall  see 
 the  Son  of  man  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven 
 with  power  and  great  glory. 
 
 31  ^  And  he  shall  send  his  angels  1|  with  a 
 great  sound  of  a  trumpet,  and  they  shall  gather 
 together  his  elect  from  the  four  winds,  from 
 one  end  of  heaven  to  the  other. 
 
 »  Pan    9.  26. 
 «t  \2    1. 
 Joel  2.  2. 
 
 s  Ib,  65.  8,  9 
 Zee  ti.^,  3. 
 
 S  Mark  13 
 SI. Luke  17. 
 S3.  &2I.  8. 
 
 iDeu.  13.  1. 
 ver.  5,  It. 
 STlies.i  9, 
 10,  II. Rev. 
 
 a  Jolin6.  37. 
 &  10.  28,  '29. 
 Rom.  B.2!4, 
 29.  sy. 
 2Tim.2.l3. 
 
 cTob  39    SO. 
 
 Luke  17.37. 
 dDjL.a.7.  II, 
 
 12. 
 ela.  13.  in. 
 
 Kzi-k,32.  7. 
 
 Joel  2.  Ill, 
 3.15 
 
 Am 
 
 (  20 
 
 &  S.  9 
 
 MatklS.SI 
 
 Li.ke2I.25. 
 
 ActB  2.  2'l. 
 
 Rev.  6  12. 
 /Dan.  7.  13, 
 y  Zech.  12. 
 
 12. 
 fcch.  16.  27. 
 
 flrarkl3.26 
 
 Rev.  I.  7. 
 
 I  ch.  13. -ll. 
 I  Cor  15.52, 
 lTh.-s  1  16. 
 
 II  Or.  «■,//.  a 
 Iriimpetiiud 
 
 agreatvoice. 
 
 A.  n.  33. 
 k  Luke  21 . 
 
 /  J.itn   5   0. 
 11  Ur,  /.r. 
 
 m  cli.  16.  28. 
 
 &  23    36. 
 
 Mark  13,90. 
 
 Luke  21.32. 
 «  Ps.102  26. 
 
 Is.  51.  6. 
 
 Jer.  31.  S5, 
 
 36.  ch.  5.18. 
 
 Markl3.3l. 
 
 Luke  21.33. 
 
 Heb.  I.  IL 
 o  Mark  13. 
 
 32.  Acts  1. 
 
 7.  I  Tlies. 
 
 5   2.  2  Pet. 
 
 3    10. 
 J.  Zech  1  ),  7. 
 q  «eti.6.3,l, 
 
 5.  *  7.  b. 
 
 Luke  17. 26 
 
 1  I'et.  3.  20. 
 
 >  Ch.  8.1.  IS. 
 
 MarklS.SS, 
 
 8ti'.  Luke 
 
 2L  36. 
 ;  Lukel2.39. 
 
 1  Thes.  5.2. 
 
 2lVt.  3.  in. 
 
 Rev.  3.3.& 
 
 10.  15. 
 
 uch.  25.  13. 
 1X1169.5.6. 
 
 32  Now  learn  ''a  parable  of  the  fig  tree; 
 When  his  branch  is  yet  tender,  and  putteth 
 forth  leaves,  ye  know  that  summer  is  nigh  : 
 
 33  So  likewise  ye,  when  ye  sliall  see  all  these 
 things,  know  ^  that  ||  it  is  near,  even  at  the 
 doors. 
 
 34  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  "*  This  generation 
 shall  not  pass,  till  all  these  things  be  fnlfilled. 
 
 35  "  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but 
 my  words  shall  not  pass  away. 
 
 3G  H  °  But  of  that  day  and  hour  knoweth  no 
 man,  no,  not  the  angels  of  heaven,  ''but  my 
 Father  only. 
 
 37  But  as  the  days  of  Noe  were,  so  shall  also 
 the  coming  of  tlie  Son  of  man  be. 
 
 38  "^  For  as  in  the  days  that  were  before  the 
 flood  they  were  eating  and  drinking,  marrying 
 and  giving  iu  marriage,  until  the  day  that,  Noe 
 entered  into  the  ark, 
 
 39  And  knevv  not  until  tlie  flood  came,  and 
 took  them  all  away  ;  so  shall  also  the  coining 
 of  the  Son  of  man  be. 
 
 40  ^  Then  shall  two  be  in  the  field  ;  the  one 
 shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left. 
 
 41  Two  women  shall  be  grinding  at  the  mill; 
 t!ie  one  shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left. 
 
 42  IT '  Watch  therefore :  for  ye  know  not 
 what  hour  your  Lord  doth  come, 
 
 43  '  But  know  this,  tliat  if  the  goodman  of 
 the  house  had  known  in  what  watch  the  thief 
 would  come,  ho  would  have  watched,  and 
 would  not  have  suffered  his  house  to  be 
 broken  up. 
 
 44  "  Tlierefore  be  ye  also  ready  :  for  in  such 
 an  hour  as  ye  think  not  the  Son  of  man  cometh. 
 
 were  not  permitted,  by  the  rules  of  their  synagogue,  to  make  more 
 that  two  short  miles  on  a  sabbath,  (Acts,  i.  12.)— jV«r.  2i.  (ireat 
 tribulation— if  all  the  calamities  which  tlie  world  from  the  bcg^inning 
 hath  seen  were  compared  with  those  of  the  Jews,  they  would  be  infe- 
 rior ;— to  speak  in  brief,  no  other  city  ever  suffered  such  things  ;  as  no 
 generation,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  was  ever  more  fruitful 
 of  wickedness.— Jr*se/Vius.  22.  Except—shortened,  there  should  no 
 
 flesh  be  saved— \,\m, mo  Jews  perishtd  in  the  siege,  and  multitudes 
 elsewhere  ;  so  that  the  whole  naiion  must  have  been  exterminated  had 
 these  calamities  lasted  much  longer.— St"o^^  24.  Deceive  the  very 
 
 elect— ^o  strong  will  their  delusions  be,  that,  were  it  possible  to  defeat 
 the  purpose  of  God,  they  would  deceive  the  very  elect  themselves  to 
 their  perdition.— G«vse.  26.  In  the  desert— it  was  usual  for  these 
 impostors  to  lead  their  followers  into  deserts.  pretendiriR  to  work  won- 
 ders  in  these  solitary  places  :  so,  during  the  siege.  Simon  the  son  of 
 Giora  collected  together  many  thousands  in  the  mnnntainous  and 
 desert  parts  of  Judea,  &c.  In  the  secret  chambers,  iu  snme  one  of  tlie 
 secret  and  fortitied  places  of  the  temple,  where,  duritijr  sometime  of  the 
 siege,  were  John  and  Eleazer,  the  heads  of  the  zealots.— Gi7/.  Si.t 
 thousand  unhappy  pers'ms,  deluded  by  a  false  prophet,  who  declared 
 that  God  had  ordered  them  to  go  up  to  the  temple,  where  they  would 
 receive  signs  of  deliverance,  perished  in  the  tiames  or  in  attempting  to 
 escape,  when  the  building  was  fired  by  the  Romans.— Jos.  27.  For 
 
 as  the  lightning,  ^c— coming  0/  the  Son,  ^c,  'in  public  majesty- 
 sudden  ly— through  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.'— fi.  Watson. 
 Coming  in  his  wrath  and  vengeance  to  destroy  that  people,  their  na- 
 tion, city,  and  temple.— G(7^  28.  Wheresoever  the  carcase,  ^t-.- 
 as  the  eagles  collect  wherever  they  find  their  prey,  so  shall  the  Roman 
 armies  follow  the  call  of  Divine  vengeance.  Here  is  a  beautiful  allu- 
 sion to  the  eagles  of  the  Ruman  standard.— A'efcc.  By  'the  carcase' 
 is  meaut  the  Jewish  nation,  morally  and  judicially  dead;  and  the 
 instruments  of  Divine  vengeance,  that  is,  the  Roman  armies,  whose 
 standards  were  eagles.— ii/j.  Porteus.  The  scent  of  birds  of  prey  in 
 the  east  is  remarkably  keen  :  any  garbage  thrown  out  will  soon  at- 
 tract them  ;  and  should  there  be  a  dead  elephant,  or  any  other  beast, 
 in  the  jungle,  vast  numbers  of  ravenous  birds  and  animals  hasten  to 
 the  spot,  contending  with  each  other  for  a  portion.- So  Itub.  29.  The 
 snn  be  darkened,  §c.— it  was  customary  with  the  prophets,  as  it  is  still 
 with  the  eastern  writers,  to  describe  the  utter  ruin  of  states  and  king- 
 doms, not  only  in  general  by  an  universal  darkness,  but  also  by  such 
 strung  figures  as  those  here  used.— Doddr.  The  destructj.m  of  all  the 
 orders  and  dignities  of  the  Jewish  state  represented  by  tlie  luminaries. 
 Here  is  an  instance  of  prophecy  with  a  double  reference;  it  apphes, 
 figuratively,  to  the  destruction  of  the  Jewish  state,  but,  literally,  to  the 
 last  day.— fl.  Watson.  30.  The  sign  of  the  Son  of  ?Hrm— he  gives 
 
 himself  this  title  in  allusion  to  Dan.  vii.  11,  ]4,  having  this  prophecy 
 in  view  throughout,  borrowing  its  ideas  and  expressions.  'The  sign' 
 can  be  no  other  than  that  of  his  vengeance  against  the  Jews,  ternii- 
 natmg  the  Jewish  economy,  on  the  abolition  of  which  depended  the 
 entire  establishment  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Son  of  man.— il/ar.  Tnhes 
 of  the  earth,  t,h  -y,,!,  'of  the  land  j'  the  land  of  Judca  and  its  tribes. 
 1030 
 
 — Clarke.  '  The  earth  '  is  here  to  be  taken  either  in  its  extended  01 
 restricted  sense.  The  Son  of  man  coming  in  the  clouds,  ^c. — sudden 
 and  irresistible  destruction  is  often  so  denoted,  (Ps.  xviii.  1—9  ;  xcvii. 
 2,3;  Isa.  xix.  1  ;  xxvi.  21  ;  Ixvi.  \b.)—Bo<ithr.  This  is  the  manner 
 in  which  the  judge  shall  descend  when  time  shall  be  no  longer. — li. 
 Wats.  31.  Send  his  angels,  Sfc. — there  are  four  opinions  on  this  pas- 
 sage : — (i.)  The  angels  are  his  ministers,  who  shall  blow  tlie  gospel 
 trumpet,  and  gather  his  elect  by  the  ministration  of  tlie  gospel. — Gill. 
 Gospel  preachers  shall  collect  a  people  from  the  most  distant  nations, 
 to  be  the  church  of  Christ. — Lightf.,  Whitby  .-  so  also  Voddr.,  Ham.,  Lc 
 Cterc,  Clarke,  Hosenm.,  Blootitf.  (ii.)  Here  the  events  of  the  last  day 
 seem  to  be  exclusively  referred  to. — R.  Watson,  (iu.)  Strong  as  the 
 language  is,  it  signilies  only  that  our  Lord  would  gather  the  belicveis 
 together  for  their  preservation  wheresoever  they  might  he.  —  Bp. 
 Pearce.  (iv.)  This  is  an  evident  allusion  to  the  Jewish  manner  of  pro- 
 claiming their  festivals  ;  and  intends,  first,  the  trumpet  of  the  gospel, 
 by  which  both  Jews  and  Gentiles  are  summoned  to  attend  the  standard 
 of  the  Messiah;  and,  secondly,  'the  voice  of  the  archangel  and  the 
 trumpet  of  God,'  which  shall  summon  all  men  to  the  bar  of  judgment, 
 (1  Tliess.  iv.  16.)  —  Wil.,  so  Drs.  S.  Clarke  and  Gut/se,  aiul  lip.  Porteus. 
 This  last  opinion  is  strongly  opposed  by  an  eminent  prelate,  who  ob- 
 serves, '  It  is  to  me  a  wonder  how  any  man  can  refer  part  of  the  fore- 
 going discourse  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  part  to  the  end  of 
 the  world,  or  any  distant  event,  when  it  is  said  so  positively  here  in  this 
 conclusion,  "  all  these  things  shall  be  fuliilled  in  this  generation."  ' — 
 Up.  Newton  ;  same  piuport,  Scott.  32.  Now  learn  a  pnrable,  ^c— 
 he  observes  here  that  the  signs  which  he  had  given  would  be  as  cer- 
 tain  an  indication  of  the  time  of  his  coming  as  the  fi^-tree  putting 
 foith  its  leaves  is  of  the  approach  of  summer.— Bp.  Newton.  A  com- 
 parison probably  suggested  by  the  fig-trees  on  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
 where  they  now  vieTC.—Rosenm.,  Kuinoel.  33.  It  is  near,   '  he  is 
 
 near.* — Whitby.  34.  This  generation,  i|  yivea  aurtt,  '  this  very  gene- 
 ration ;'  the  race  of  men  now  living. — Bloomf.  Accordingly,  all  these 
 events  did  actually  take  place  within  forty  years  after  our  Saviour  de- 
 livered this  prophecy. — Bp.  Porteus.  36.  For  of  that  day,  Sfc,  that 
 is,  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  to  take  vengeance  on  the  Jews,  &c. 
 — Gill.  Our  Ixird  foretold  the  time,  and  the  most  remarkable  parti- 
 culars ;  and  it  is  not  reasonable  to  suppose  he  knew  not  the  predicted 
 day,  whether  we  refer  it  to  the  day  of  the  punishment  of  the  Jews,  or 
 the  day  of  judgment.  Mnckfiight's  view  gives  us  plain  and  ea^y  sense. 
 As  to  the  very  day  and  hour  it  was  granted  to  no  one  to  make  known, 
 neither  to  the  angels  in  heaven,  nor  to  the  Son ;  but  the  FatherTjnly 
 had  reserved  this  time  and  season  in  his  own  power,  (conip.  Zech.  xiv. 
 7;  Acts,  i-  ~.)^Boothr.  ■11.  Two  women  shall  be  grinding,  ^c. — 
 
 most  families  grind  their  wheat,  Sic,  at  home,  having  two  portable 
 grindstones  for  that  purpose  ;  the  uppermost  is  turned  round  by  asmall 
 handle  of  wood  or  iron  placed  in  tlie  edge  of  it.  When  this  stone  is 
 large,  or  expcditiun  is  required,  then  a  second  person  is  called  in  to 
 assist.  It  is  usual  for  the  women  aione  to  he  concerned  in  this  em. 
 ploy,  sitting  themselves  down  over  against  each  other,  with  the  mill- 
 stones between  them.— SAuu/'a  Travels.  43.  Broken  up,   literally 
 
The  parable  of  the  ten  virgins, 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXV. 
 
 a7id  of  the  talents. 
 
 45  '  Who  then  is  a  faithful  and  wise  servant, 
 whom  his  lord  hath  made  ruler  over  his  hous- 
 hold,  to  give  them  meat  in  due  season  ? 
 
 46  '  Blessed  is  that  servant,  whom  Iiis  lord 
 when  he  cometh  shall  find  so  doing. 
 
 47  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  That  '  he  shall 
 make  him  ruler  over  all  his  goods. 
 
 48  But  and  if  that  evil  servant  shall  say  in  his 
 lieart,  My  lord  delayeth  his  coming ; 
 
 49  And  shall  begin  to  smite  his  fellowser- 
 vants,  and  to  eat  and  drink  with  the  drunken  ; 
 
 50  The  lord  of  that  servant  shall  come  in  a 
 day  when  he  looketli  not  for  him,  and  iu  an 
 hour  that  he  is  not  aware  of, 
 
 51  And  shall  ||  cut  him  asunder,  and  appoint 
 him  his  portion  with  the  hypocrites  ;  °  there 
 shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 I   The  parable  of  the  te7i  virgins,  14  a7id  of  the  talents. 
 31  Also  the  dcseriptioa  of  the  last  judyvu7it. 
 
 THEN  shall  the  kingdom  of  heaven  be  liken- 
 ed unto  ten  virghis,  which  took  their  lamps, 
 and  went  forth  to  meet  *  the  bridegroom. 
 
 2  ^  And  five  of  them  were  wise,  and  five  were 
 foolish. 
 
 3  They  that  ^cere  foolish  took  their  lamps, 
 and  took  no  oil  with  them : 
 
 4  But  the  wise  took  oil  in  their  vessels  with 
 their  lamps. 
 
 5  While  the  bridegroom  tarried,  ^  they  all 
 slumbered  and  slept. 
 
 6  And  at  midnight  ^  there  was  a  cry  made. 
 Behold,  the  bridegroom  cometh  ;  go  ye  out  to 
 meet  him. 
 
 A.  n.  at. 
 
 X  r.uke  12. 
 
 42.  Acts  an. 
 
 28.  1  Cor.  ■!. 
 2.  Heb.3  5. 
 y  Kev. 16.15 
 
 ;  ch.  2r.. 
 23.  LiiL 
 22.  29. 
 
 t  Or,  cuthiii 
 
 1  Kph. 
 ;iO.  Re 
 7.  &2I 
 
 dc\\    21.  31. 
 rnieB.4.l6. 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 Luko  Vi. 
 35. 
 
 Or,  f(oi'ig 
 
 ,23. 
 
 h  Ps.  5.  5. 
 
 Hab    1.  13. 
 
 JoliiiO.  31, 
 I  (-11.21.  12, 
 
 +  1.  Mark 
 
 13   3:1,  35. 
 
 I,!ikeil.36. 
 
 I  Cor.lfi.l3. 
 
 1  Thcs.-'i.  G. 
 
 I  Pet,  5    ft. 
 
 Rev.  IG.  Vi. 
 k  Luke  19. 
 
 12. 
 
 I  ch.  21.  SS, 
 
 II  .\  talent  is 
 187/.  I0». 
 ch.  18.  21. 
 
 m  Horn. 12  6, 
 I  Cor.  12.  7, 
 It,  -iS. 
 
 Eph.  -i.  n. 
 
 7  Then  all  those  virgins  arose,  and  "  trimmed 
 their  lamps. 
 
 8  And  the  foolish  said  unto  the  wise.  Give 
 us  of  your  oil  ;  for  our  lamps  are  ||  gone 
 out. 
 
 9  But  the  wise  answered,  saying,  Not  so ; 
 lest  there  be  not  enough  for  us  and  you  :  but 
 go  ye  rather  to  them  tliat  sell,  and  buy  for 
 yourselves. 
 
 10  And  while  they  went  to  buy,  the  bride- 
 groom came  ;  and  they  that  were  ready  went 
 in  with  him  to  the  marriage  :  and  *"  the  door 
 was  shut. 
 
 1 1  Afterward  came  also  the  other  virgins, 
 saying,  ^  Lord,  Lord,  open  to  us. 
 
 1*2  But  he  answered  and  said.  Verily  I  say 
 unto  you,  ^  I  know  you  not. 
 
 13  *  Watch  therefore,  for  ye  know  neither  the 
 day  nor  the  hour  wherein  the  Son  of  man 
 cometh. 
 
 14  1''  For  the  liingdom  of  heaven  is  '  as  a 
 man  travelling  into  a  far  country,  ivho  called 
 his  own  servants,  and  delivered  unto  them  his 
 goods. 
 
 15  And  unto  one  he  gave  five  ||  talents,  to 
 another  two,  and  to  another  one  ;  "'to  every 
 man  according  to  his  several  ability ;  and 
 straightway  took  his  journey. 
 
 16  Then  lie  that  had  received  the  five  talents 
 went  and  traded  with  the  same,  and  made 
 them  other  five  talents. 
 
 17  And  likewise  he  that  had  received  two, 
 he  also  gained  other  two. 
 
 18  But  he  that  had  received  one  went  and 
 digged  in  the  earth,  and  hid  his  lord's  money. 
 
 *to  be  dug  thrr,u{*h,'  because  tlie  eastern  clay  houses  were  entered  by 
 perforating  the  walls.  45.  Faithful  mid  vise  servant — this  parable 
 refers  to  ministers,  anil  was  at  once  designed  to  instruct  Christ's  dis- 
 ciples, and  to  reprove  the  scribes  and  doctors.  —  So  R.  Watsoji. 
 51.  Shall  cut  him  asunder,  ^c.  —  cutting:  asunder  was  an  ancient 
 ninde  of  punishment  used  in  several  countries. — Clarke,  as  Newc. 
 AixoTo/itjo'ct  ai'TLiy.  The  verb  dtx^To/iew  dues  not  necessarily  signify 
 •to  cut  into  two  parts,'  but,  as  in  the  Sept.,  *  to  cut  in  pieces,  to  carve, 
 hack,  dissect,'  and  may  well  be  employed  for  'severe  flagellation.' 
 The  expression  evidently  implies  '  severe  punishment,'  but,  from  the 
 context,  '  short  of  death.' — Bloomf.  AfxoTo/iuo-ci  avrov,  'having  dis- 
 carded him.'— Camp.  '  And  will  cut  him  off,"  that  is,  from  his  fcUuw. 
 servants,  and  send  him  to  prison  for  his  unfaithfulness.  'Cut  him 
 asunder'  is,  I  think  with  Campbell,  very  improper,  as  he  is  supposed  to 
 live  after,  and  to  have  his  portion  among  surh-likc  perfidious  servants. 
 —Boothr.  This  punishment  is  transferred  from  corporal  torment  to 
 tlie  terrible  inflictions  of  God's  wrath  upon  unfaithful  servants  in  an- 
 other world. — R.  Watson. 
 
 Chap.  XXV.—  1.  Then  shall,  fyr.—th\s  parable  is  to  carry  on  the 
 subject  of  the  preceding  chapter. — Ptn-.  The  kint^dom  of  heaven,  tlic 
 visible  church.  Virgins,  designing  professors  of  religion,  free  from 
 any  remarkable  outward  stain. — Reader.  Their  lamps— Jevrish  mar- 
 riages, with  their  feasts,  were  at  night. — Bp.  Penrce.  Went  forth  to 
 meet  the  Actrfe^'room— Jewish  marriages  were  thus  conducted  :  After 
 the  marriage  ceremony,  the  bridegroom  conducted  his  spouse,  in  a 
 brilliant  procession,  in  the  evening,  fiom  her  friends'  to  his  own  home. 
 His  young  female  friends  and  relations  were  invited,  and,  with  lamps, 
 waited  iu  a  company  near  the  house  till  the  bridegroom  returned  with 
 
 his  bride  and  attendant  friends ;  when,  after  the  customary  congratu- 
 lations, they  joined  the  train,  and  witli  expressions  of  joy  proceeded  to 
 the  nuptial  least  at  the  bridegroom's  residence.  The  doors  were  then 
 shut,  to  prevent  strangers  from  intruding.  The  like  customs  were  in 
 vogue  among  the  Romans  and  Greeks,  and  are  still  among  the  Hindoos. 
 — /;.  Watson,  Kennett,  Newc.,  Ward's  Hind.,  fyc.  Christ  is  the  bride- 
 groom of  the  church. — Reader.  2.  Wise,  ippovtfiot,  '  provident,'  or 
 '  prudent.' — A.  Clarke,  as  Wakef.,  and  Camp.  Foolish,  txmpai,  '  care- 
 less.'— A.  Clarke.  3.  No  oil,  i.  e.,  but  what  was  in  their  lamps. — 
 Hew.  4.  Oil— in  many  parts  of  the  east,  instead  of  torches  they  carry 
 a  pot  of  oil  in  one  hand,  and  a  lamp  which  is  supplied  from  it  in  the 
 other.— Sir  J.  Chardin.  8.  Are  gone  out,  apivvvvjai,  '  are  going  out.* 
 — A.  Clarke.  10.  The  marriage,  ei?  tous  70^01*?, '  ad  nuptias.'— il/oH^. 
 The  Greek  word  yafiou^  rather  means,  '  the  apartment  in  which  the 
 marriage  feast  was  kept,'  or  the  house  where  the  marriage  was  cele- 
 brated.— Rosenm.  The  door  was  shut — the  bridegroom  at  an  Hindoo 
 marriage  having  entered  the  house,  the  door  was  immediately  shut, 
 and  guarded  by  sepoys.  After,  there  was  no  admission,  though  every 
 expostulation  was  used. — So  Ward's  Hind.  12.  /  know  you  not,  ovk 
 oida  t'jurtc,  '  I  have  no  personal  acquaintance  with  you.' — Dnddr.  *  I 
 do  not  recognise  you  among  those  who  accompanied  me  and  my  spouse, 
 and  so  far  you  are  unknown  to  me,  and  inadmi'^sible.  —  Bloovif.,  so 
 Clarke.  'I  approve  or  regard  you  not,  and  therefore  disown  you, 
 though  my  professed  friends.'  14.  For,  fyc. — the  design  of  tliis  parable 
 is  to  encourage  active  usefulness. — R.  Watson.  As  a  man  travelling, 
 §-c.,  alluding  to  the  Saviour's  leaving  the  world,  and  finally  returning, 
 after  along  WmG.—Bragge.  15.  Five  talents,  if  of  gold,  worth  36,000/. ; 
 of  silver,  2,250/.— Pnd.    This  large  sum  is  mentioned,  to  shew  the  vast 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIV. —  We  may  here  notice, 
 \.  Our  Lard's  predictions.  Bishop  Newton  observes  that, 
 *  our  blessed  Saviour,  as  he  was  the  great  subject  of  prophecy, 
 so  he  was  an  illustrious  prophet  himself;  as  he  excelled  in  all 
 other  gifts  and  graces,  so  was  he  eminent  in  this  also  ;  and 
 gave  ample  proofs  of  his  divine  commission  by  his  prophecies 
 as  well  as  by  his  miracles.'  All  the  circumstances  in  these 
 predictions  were  so  minutely  pointed  out,  that  there  could  be 
 no  mistake;  and  before  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  the 
 Christians  were  saved  by  attending  to  the  Saviour's  warnings ; 
 for,  as  Hishop  Porteus  remarks,  they  fled  from  Jerusalem  '  to 
 Pella,  a  mountainous  country,  and  to  other  places  beyond 
 Jordan.  And  when  Vespasian  was  drawing  his  forces  towards 
 Jerusalem,  Josephus  informs  us,  a  great  multitude  fled  from 
 Jericho  into  a  mountainous  country  for  their  security.'  We 
 may  notice — 
 
 II.  The  practical  improvement  of  these  predictions.  Here  we 
 cannot  err.  To  the  Cnnstians  of  the  early  days  it  was  a  warn- 
 1031 
 
 ing  of  vast  moment,  and  to  us  it  affords  equal  instruction.  We 
 need  not  be  particular  in  asking  whether  its  primary  or  sole 
 reference  be  to  Jerusalem,  or  whether  it  have  a  twofold  object, 
 and  is  designed  to  set  forth  '  the  wrath  to  come,'  which  shall 
 yet  assuredly  overtake  all  the  ungodly.  The  language  may, 
 with  propriety  at  least,  be  so  applied.  The  presumptuous 
 and  careless  sinner,  and  formal  professor,  should  hear  the 
 words  as  addressed  to  him— '  Watcii,  therefore,  for  ye  know 
 not  what  hour  your  Lord  doth  come.*  '  Therefore  be  ye  also 
 ready  ;  for  in  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  man 
 cometh.*  And  the  devout  servant  of  Christ,  whether  he  move 
 in  the  more  elevated  rank  of  minister,  or  in  the  humble  paths 
 of  private  usefulness,  if  he  be  found  faithful  with  regard  to 
 that  which  is  entrustftd  to  him,  and  uses  his  time  and  talents 
 with  a  view  to  the  promotion  of  the  Divine  glory,  shall,  at 
 last,  realize  all  that  is  contained  in  that  gracious  commenda- 
 tion, *  Blessed  is  that  servant  whom  his  Lord,  when  he  cometh, 
 shall  find  so  doing.' 
 
The  description  of 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXV. 
 
 the  last  judgment. 
 
 19  After  a  long  time  the  lord  of  those  ser- 
 vants Cometh,  and  reckoneth  with  them. 
 
 20  And  so  he  that  had  received  five  talents 
 came  and  brought  other  five  talents,  saying. 
 Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto  me  five  talents  :  be- 
 hold, I  have  gained  beside  them  five  talents 
 more. 
 
 21  His  lord  said  unto  him.  Well  done,  thou 
 good  and  faithful  servant :  thou  hast  been 
 faithful  over  a  few  things,  "  I  will  make  thee 
 ruler  over  many  things :  enter  tliou  into  "the 
 joy  of  thy  lord. 
 
 22  He  also  that  had  received  two  talents 
 came  and  said.  Lord,  thou  deliveredst  unto 
 me  two  talents :  behold,  I  have  gained  two 
 other  talents  beside  them. 
 
 2.3  His  lord  saiil  unto  him,  ''Well  done, good 
 and  faithful  servant ;  thou  hast  been  faithful 
 over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  tliee  ruler  over 
 many  things:  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
 lord. 
 
 24  Then  he  which  had  received  the  one  talent 
 came  and  said.  Lord,  I  knew  thee  that  thou  art 
 an  hard  man,  rcajiing  where  thou  hast  not  sown, 
 and  gathering  wliere  thou  hast  not  strawed  : 
 
 25  .\nd  I  was  afraid,  and  went  and  hid  thy 
 talent  in  the  earth  :  lo,  there  thou  hast  that  is 
 thine. 
 
 26  His  lord  answered  and  said  unto  him. 
 Thou  wicked  and  slothful  servant,  thou  knew- 
 
 est  tliat  I  reap  where  I  sowed  not,  and  gather 
 
 where  I  have  not  strawed  : 
 
 27  Thou  oughtest  therefore  to  have  put  my 
 money  to  the  exchangers,  and  then  at  my 
 coming  I  should  have  received  mine  own  with 
 usury. 
 
 28  Take  therefore  the  talent  from  him,  and 
 give  it  unto  him  which  hath  ten  talents. 
 
 29  ''  For  unto  every  one  that  hath  shall  be 
 given,  and  he  sliall  have  abundance  :  but  from 
 him  that  hath  not  shall  be  taken  away  even 
 that  which  he  hath. 
 
 .30  And  cast  ye  the  unprofitable  servant  'into 
 outer  darkness  :  there  shall  be  weeping  and 
 gnashing  of  teeth. 
 
 31  f  '  When  the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in 
 his  glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him, 
 
 'i  ch.  21.  17. 
 ver.  ;il.  16. 
 Luke  I?.  1 1. 
 
 )  Heb  12.  ■-'. 
 STim.S.IS. 
 1  I'ct.  1.8. 
 
 7<'Ii.  13.  12. 
 
 ^tn^U  4.S.'). 
 
 I.iik-o  S.  18. 
 
 &  l».  26. 
 
 John  15.  2. 
 r  cb.  8.  12. 
 
 &21.  51. 
 i  Zccb.  11.  5. 
 
 cb.  16.  27. 
 
 &  19.  28. 
 
 iM.^rk  8.  33. 
 
 Acts  I.  It. 
 
 ITlieB.1.16. 
 
 2Thea.  1.7. 
 
 Jiwle  II 
 
 Ro 
 
 .  7. 
 
 /  Ki.i 
 
 n.H  111, 
 
 ■J  C. 
 
 r-  .V  10. 
 
 U.-v 
 
 .Jil.  12. 
 
 X  Kom.S.17. 
 
 I  lVt.1.1,  9. 
 
 &  :i.  ».  Rev. 
 
 ■il    7. 
 yell    80    29. 
 
 MsrklO.-m, 
 
 I  Cor.  2.  9. 
 
 Hob.  II.  16. 
 ;  Is    58    7. 
 
 K/.ck.  18.  7. 
 
 Jam.  I.  £7, 
 a  H.'b.  13,  :;. 
 
 3  John  5. 
 ft  Jnm.  2.  15, 
 
 16. 
 c  2  Tim.  1 
 
 d  Prnv.  II. 
 31.  f*  l(P.I7. 
 ch.  llj  i-i. 
 Mark  ».  II. 
 Hvb.  G.   lU. 
 
 f  Ps.  6.  6. 
 
 ih.  7.  xa 
 
 Luke  13  ^7. 
 fcU.  13.  -10, 
 ■Vi. 
 
 h  Prov. 
 
 +. 
 
 31,   &I7 
 
 .  f» 
 
 Zvcii 
 
 •> 
 
 H. 
 
 AfXt 
 
 y. 
 
 S, 
 
 1  n.iit 
 
 I».  2 
 
 Jul.  II 
 
 b 
 
 '.'.y 
 
 Kom 
 
 'J 
 
 7, 
 
 then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his  glory  : 
 
 32  And  '  before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  na- 
 tions :  and  "  he  shall  separate  tliem  one  from 
 another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from 
 the  goats : 
 
 33  And  he  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right 
 hand,  but  the  goats  on  the  left. 
 
 34  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  his 
 right  liand,  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father, 
 'inherit  the  kingdom  *" prepared  for  you  from 
 the  foundation  of  the  world  : 
 
 35  ''  For  I  was  an  hungred,  and  ye  gave  me 
 meat :  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  g.ave  me  drink  : 
 °  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in  : 
 
 3G  ''  Naked,  and  )  e  clothed  me  :  I  was  sick, 
 and  ye  vi.'^ited  me  :  '^  I  was  in  prison,  and  ye 
 came  unto  me. 
 
 37  Then  shall  the  righteous  answer  him,  say- 
 ing, Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  an  hungred,  and 
 fed  ihcc  ?  or  thirsty,  and  gave  thee  drink  'i 
 
 38  When  saw  we  thee  a  stranger,  and  took 
 thee  in?  or  naked,  and  clothed  thee? 
 
 39  Or  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison, 
 and  came  unto  thee? 
 
 40  And  tlie  King  sliall  answer  and  say  unto 
 them.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  ''  Inasmuch  as  ye 
 have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my 
 brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me. 
 
 41  Then  shall  he  say  also  unto  them  on  the 
 left  hand,  "Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed,  'into 
 everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  ^  the  devil  and  his 
 angels  : 
 
 42  For  I  was  an  hungred,  and  ye  gave  me  no 
 meat:  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  no  drink  : 
 
 43  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  not  in  : 
 naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  not :  sick,  and  iu 
 prison,  and  ye  visited  me  not. 
 
 44  Then  shall  they  also  answer  him,  saying. 
 Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  an  hungred,  or  athiist, 
 or  a  stranger,  or  naked,  or  sick,  or  iu  prison, 
 and  did  not  minister  unto  thee? 
 
 45  Then  shall  he  answer  them,  saying.  Verily 
 I  say  unto  you,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  not 
 to  one  of  the  least  of  these,  ye  did  it  not  to 
 me. 
 
 ■ICt  And  '  these  shall  go  away  into  everlasting 
 punishment:  but  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 
 
 responsibilities  of  every  reasonable  ereature.— Borfrfr.  19.  Rerkimeth, 
 Kat  trvvaifici  fier  auTwv  \o7ov,  'compares  or  adjusts  the  accnunt  with 
 them  ;'  the  account  required  is  tlicrcfore  exact  and  strict.— n.  lliilsun. 
 21 .  Well  done,  eu,  a  word  of  peculiar  force  and  energ:y,  resembling  our 
 '  bravely  done.'— florfrfr,  Intn  (he  jmj  of  thij  Lord— ia  the  Greek  of 
 Esth.i.K.  19,  xopa,  the  word  here  rendered  'joy,'  is  used  fora  banquet. 
 — Le  Clem.  Eir  tiji/  xupav  Ton  Ki'p(oi'  crov — some  suppose  there  is  a  re. 
 f  ereiice  here  to  the  honours  of  a  feast  j  but  as  the  joy  into  which  Christ 
 entered  was  the  glorification  of  his  humanity  in  body  and  soul,  into 
 the  like  joy  his  servants  shall  come.  24.  A  hard  man,  irKXiipnc.  'se. 
 vere  and  unreasonable  in  thy  demands  upon  thy  servants,  exacting: 
 more  than  they  have  ability  to  perform.'  27.  The  exchangers,  rpn- 
 
 ■ntL^iTai,  so  called  from  the  table  which  was  placed  before  them  ;  they 
 exchanged  coins  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers,  and  acted  as 
 bankers,  giving  interest  for  money.— So  R.  Walson.  With  usurt/, 
 aw  ToKy,  'with  its  produce;'  not  usury,  for  that  is  unlawful  interest. 
 —A.  Clarke.  29.  Unto  ever;/  one  that  hath,  §c.— see  chap.  xiii.  12, 
 
 note.  30.  f/^;n-ft;S/fl/>/e,  apxeioi' here  means  •  useless.'  3l.H*Ap», 
 ^e.,  a  magnificent  description  of  Christ's  second  advent.  Upon  the 
 throne  of  his  K lory,  em  Upovov  Jofnf,  i.e.,  'his  glorious  throne;'  an 
 Hebraism.— B/oom/.  32.  The  sheep  from  the  goats— Ihc  metaphor 
 
 is  taken  from  the  shepherds  of  ancient  times,  who  kept  the  sheep  and 
 goats  ill  difterent  llocks,  and  hastily  separated  them  when  they  became 
 mingled  together. — R.  Watson.  33.   Sheep  on  his  right,   §■(•.,  pro- 
 
 bably alluding  to  the  received  custom  of  the  Jews  in  capital  cases,  to 
 place  them  who  were  to  be  acquitted  on  the  right  hand  in  the  Sanhe. 
 tlrim,  and  those  who  were  to  receive  the  sentence  of  condemnation  on 
 the  left. — Bens.  3ri.  Ye  visited  me,  CTrccTKoi-a.^Ce  signifies  not  only 
 
 ■  to  look  upon,'  but '  to  look  alter;'  that  is,  'to  take  care  of  or  relieve,* 
 and  may  cimiprehend  the  administration  of  both  spiritual  and  temporal 
 comfort. — H.  Watson.  41.  Everlasting  fire — the  fire  spoken  of  is  to 
 be  metaphorically  understood ;  for,  as  corporeal  fire  cannot  act  upon 
 an  incorpore.1I  spirit,  it  is  plain  that,  under  the  image  of  fire,  siiiritiial 
 punishment  is  adumbrated. — Cati>.  4d.  Into  everlasting  punishment, 
 C£!  KoXaaiv  nimviov — into  life  eternal,  tic  ^<,i,\v  aiia^tov — the  very  same 
 word  is  used  to  express  the  misery  of  sinners  and  the  happiness  of  the 
 righteous ;  if  the  former  have  room  to  hope  that  aioriion  punishment 
 means  a  limited  duration  of  suffering,  the  latter  must  have  reason  to 
 dread  that  aionion  life  may  mean  a  limited  period  of  enjoyment,  for  it 
 is  extremely  improbable  that  the  same  term  should  mean  infinitely 
 more  in  the  last  clause  than  it  did  ia  the  preceding.- Or.  Rijtand. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXV.  —  In  this  chapter  we  have, 
 I.  Tlie  parubles  0/ the  ten  virgins  and  of  tlie  talc7its.  From  the 
 first  of  vi-bicli  we  learn,  that  outward  appearances  may  be 
 such  as  to  make  it  difficult  to  distinguish  the  genuine  charac- 
 ter —  that  a  considerable  proportion  of  plausible  professors 
 will  be  found  at  last  insincere— that  we  ought  to  see  that  our 
 religion  does  not  consist  in  the  mere  outward  profession,  but 
 that  we  have  the  oil  of  grace  in  our  hearts;  that  the  time  will 
 arrive  when  mere  profession  shall  avail  us  nothing,  and  that 
 if  we  are  uot  found  at  last  to  be  the  subjects  of  genuine  grace, 
 1032 
 
 we  must  be  eternally  excluded  from  the  marriage  supper  of  the 
 Lamb.  From  the  second,  we  see  that  every  man  has  a  talent 
 entrusted  to  him,  that  all  are  expected  to  use  their  talents  in 
 promoting  the  glory  of  their  Divine  IVIaster,  and  that  the  un- 
 profitable, as  well  as  the  most  profligate  servant  shall  meet 
 with  condign  punishment.  '  Unprofitableness  and  omission  of 
 duty,'  says  Richard  Baxter,  '  is  damnable  unfaithfulness  in  us 
 who  are  but  stewards  and  servants.  To  do  no  barm  is  praiso 
 fit  for  a  stone,  and  uot  ibr  a  man.'     We  have — 
 
 II.    A   solemn    representation   of  the  last  jiuiyment.       When 
 
The  rulers  conspire  against  Christ. 
 
 S.MATTHEW,  XXVI. 
 
 Judas  sellclii  nun. 
 
 ij  \farkM.t 
 l.uke!2-  I 
 Julm  IS.  I 
 
 b  Ps.  2.  2, 
 Jnlm  11.17. 
 Acta'l.  25, 
 Bic. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 1  The  rulers  conspire  against  Christ.  6  The  woman 
 anointeth  his  hrad.  14  Judas  sdleth  him.  17  Christ 
 eateth  the  passover :  26  iiistitHtcth  his  holi/ supper : 
 36  prayetk  in  the  garden  :  47  and  being  betraytd  with 
 a  kiss,  57  is  carried  to  Caiaphas,  69  and  denied  of 
 Peter. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jesus  bad  finished 
 ■*^  all  these  sayings,  he  said  unto  his  disciples, 
 
 2  °  Ye  know  that  after  two  days  is  the  feast 
 of  the  passover,  and  the  Son  of  man  is  betrayed 
 to  be  crucified. 
 
 3  ^  Then  assembled  together  the  chief  priests, 
 and  the  scribes,  and  the  elders  of  the  people, 
 unto  the  palace  of  the  high  priest,  who  was 
 called  Caiaphas, 
 
 4  And  consulted  that  they  might  take  Jesus 
 by  subtilty,  and  kill  him. 
 
 5  But  they  said,  Not  on  the  feast  da^,  lest 
 there  be  an  uproar  among  the  people. 
 
 C  H  "^  Now  when  Jesus  was  in  ^  Bethany,  in 
 the  house  of  Simon  the  leper, 
 
 7  There  came  unto  him  a  woman  having  an 
 alabaster  box  of  very  precious  ointment,  and 
 poured  it  on  his  head,  as  he  sat  at  meat. 
 
 8  '^  But  when  his  disciples  saw  ?7,  they  had  in- 
 dignation, saying,  To  what  purpose  is  this  waste? 
 
 9  For  this  ointment  might  have  been  sold  for 
 much,  and  given  to  the  poor. 
 
 10  When  Jesus  understood  it,  he  said  unto 
 them.   Why  trouble  ye   the  woman?  for  she  /neu.  "5.n 
 hatn  wrought  a  good  work,  upon  me.  ?  seecb.is, 
 
 1 1  f  For  ye  have  the  poor  always  with  you  ;    ^°*'^ 
 but  ^  me  ye  have  not  always. 
 
 12  For  in  that  she  hath  poured  this  ointment 
 
 John  13.  as. 
 Kc  14.  19.  ft 
 
 16.  £.  2S.  & 
 
 17.  II. 
 
 h  l\r.-iik  M. 
 10.   Luke 
 23.  3.  John 
 13.  2,  30, 
 i  Ph.  10.  4, 
 AZech.ll.l3. 
 ch.  27.  3, 
 
 /  Ex.  12    fi, 
 18.  Mark 
 14.  12. 
 LukeL'2.  7. 
 
 n  Ps.  41,  9 
 
 Luke  22.21. 
 
 John  IS.Ifl. 
 o  Pa.  22.  Is. 
 
 53.  Dan,  9. 
 
 26.  Mark  9, 
 
 l2,Lukc24. 
 
 25,  26,  46. 
 
 Act3l7.2..3. 
 
 &  26.  32,  23. 
 
 I  Cor. 15.  3. 
 p  John  17. 
 
 13. 
 
 on  my  body,  she  did  it  for  my  burial. 
 
 13  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Wheresoever  this 
 gospel  shall  be  preached  in  the  whole  world, 
 there  shall  also  this,  that  this  woman  hath 
 done,  be  told  for  a  memorial  of  her. 
 
 14  i*»Then  one  of  the  twelve,  called  'Judas 
 Iscariot,  went  unto  the  chief  priests, 
 
 13  And  said  unto  them,  ^  What  will  ye  give 
 me,  and  I  will  deliver  him  unto  you  ?  And  they 
 covenanted  with  him  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver. 
 
 16  And  from  that  time  he  sought  opportunity 
 to  betray  him. 
 
 17  If  *  Now  the  first  dat/  of  the  feast  of  un- 
 leavened bread  the  disciples  came  to  Jesus, 
 saying  unto  him.  Where  wilt  thou  that  we  pre- 
 pare for  thee  to  eat  the  passover? 
 
 18  And  he  said,  Go  into  the  city  to  such  a 
 man,  and  say  unto  him.  The  Master  saith.  My 
 time  is  at  hand  ;  I  will  keep  the  passover  at 
 thy  house  with  my  disciples. 
 
 19  And  the  disciples  did  as  Jesus  had  ap- 
 pointed them  ;  and  they  made  ready  the  pass- 
 over. 
 
 20  ""  Now  when  the  even  was  come,  he  sat 
 down  with  the  twelve. 
 
 21  And  as  they  did  eat,  he  said.  Verily  I  say 
 unto  you,  that  one  of  you  shall  betray  me, 
 
 22  And  they  were  exceeding  sorrowful,  and 
 began  every  one  of  them  to  say  unto  him. 
 Lord,  is  it  1  ? 
 
 23  And  he  answered  and  said,  "  He  that  dip- 
 peth  his  hand  with  me  in  the  dish,  tlie  same 
 shall  betray  me. 
 
 24  The  Son  of  man  goeth  °as  it  is  written  of 
 him  :  but  ^woe  unto  that  man  by  whom  the 
 
 Chap.  XXVI.  —  2.  Passover — see  Exod.  xii.  27,  and  the  previous  and 
 following  notes.  Is  betrayed,  rather,  *  delivered  np.'— ^.  Clarke.  The 
 present  is  here  put  for  the  future,  denotinf;:  a  certain  and  approaching 
 event.  3.  Palace,  av\iiv,  properly  signifies  an  inclosed  area,  open  to 
 the  air,  but  is  often  applied,  as  here,  to  the  whole  mansion  or  palace  of 
 persons  in  authority.  Caiaphas,  was  high  priest  at  this  time.  He 
 married  a  daughter  of  Annas,  who  also  is  called  high  priest,  because 
 he  had  long  enjoyed  that  dignity.  5.  Not  on  the/east  day,  /i.|  ei*  tj; 
 
 coprr;— the  last  word  is  wrongly  supplied,  confining  it  to  the  passover 
 only';  it  ought  to  be  extended  to  the  seven  succeeding  days  of  unlea- 
 vened bread,  and  have  been  simply  rendered  '  the  feast.'— So  Jt,  Watson, 
 as  Camp,  6.  liethanr/,  about  fifteen  furlongs  from  Jerusalem. —  Wells. 
 Simoti  the  leper,  i.  e.,  who  had  been  a  leper,  and  was,  probably,  healed 
 by  Jesus.— 2?^;ii-.  This  might  be  only  a  surname,  like  that  of  Canaanite, 
 ^chap.  X.  4,)  and  of  Justus,  (Acts,  i.  23.) — Mur.  7.  A  wotnan— it  is 
 not  likely  so  vague  an  expression  would  have  been  used  for  one  so 
 well  known  and  distinguished  as  Mary  the  sister  of  Lazarus  ;  we  must 
 not,  therefore,  confound  this  repast  with  that  mentioned  by  St.  John, 
 xii.  3.— jl/or. ;  so  also  Orif^'eu,  Theophylact,  Le  Cterc,  Whitby,  Light/., 
 &c.  This  was  probably  Mary,  and  the  same  anointing  as  that  in  John, 
 xii. ;  more  probable  than  that  within  the  compass  of  four  days  Christ 
 should  have  been  twice  anointed  with  so  costly  perfume,  and  that  tlie 
 same  fault  should  be  found  with  the  action,  and  the  same  value  set  on 
 the  ointment,  and  the  same  words  used  in  defence  of  the  woman,  and 
 all  this  in  the  presence  of  many  of  the  same  persons. —  Duddr.,  so 
 Boothr.  It  is  probable  that  the  same  woman  might  perform  a  like  ac- 
 tion at  different  times.  That  spoken  of  in  Luke,  vii.  3/,  was  not  in  the 
 house  of  Simon  the  leper,  but  Simon  the  Pharisee ;  that  was  done  in 
 Galilee,  this  near  Jerusalem  ;  the  woman  there  anointed  the  feet ;  here, 
 the  head,  &c.  That  mentioned  in  John,  xii.  3,  was  not  in  Simon's 
 house,  but  in  that  of  Lazarus ;  no  mention  is  made  of  the  alabaster- 
 box,  nor  was  the  ointment  poured  on  his  head,  but  on  his  feet ;  besides, 
 that  was  done  six  days  before  the  passover,  and  this  but  two  ;  Judas 
 only  objected  to  that,  but  the  disciples  in  general  to  this.  The  same- 
 ness of  Christ's  language  is  no  objection,  since  it  was  usual  on  any 
 similar  occasions.— GiV/.  Though  in  John,  xii.,  Simon's  house  is  not 
 mentioned,  and  Lazarus  and  Martha  arc  said  to  be  at  supper,  it  might 
 be  either  that  they  all  dwelt  together  in  the  same  house,  or  that  La- 
 zarus was  at  Simon's  house  as  a  guest,  and  Martha  as  an  assistant  in 
 the  entertainment;  and  that  Mary,  being  there  as  a  friend,  was  the 
 woman  meant  who  anointed  Jesus.  And  though  both  our  Evangelist 
 and  Mark  mention  the  woman's  anointing  only  his  head,  and  the 
 npostle  John  speaks  of  Mary's  anointing  only  bis  feet,  it  is  no  unusnal 
 thing*  for  one  of  these  sacred  historians  to  supply  what  was  omitted  by 
 
 the  others  ;  and  the  apostle  John  writing  last,  might,  for  a  further  en- 
 largement of  the  history,  add  the  anointing  of  his  feet ;  and  so  all  this 
 may  very  well  consist  with  the  histories  being  the  same,  as  they  appear 
 to  be  in  other  circumstances.— G(/i/se.  Alabaster — vessels  of  alabaster 
 were  used  to  keep  the  ointments  incorrupt.  Of  very  precious  ointment, 
 fivpov,  'balsaam.' — Camp.  Mark  calls  it  'ointment  of  spikenard,' 
 which  was  very  odorous,  and  of  a  very  fragrant  smell,  (see  Cant.  i.  12  ;) 
 some  there  render  it  '  pure  nard,'  which  was  liquid,  and  easy  to  be 
 poured  out. — Gill.  The  ancients  were  much  in  the  habit  of  anointing 
 or  perfuming  their  bodies,  and  the  nard  was  esteemed  one  of  the  most 
 precious  perfumes.  John  says  there  was  a  pound  of  this,  (chap.  xii.  3.) 
 Judas  said  it  might  have  been  sold  for  30U  pence,  Q/.  13-5.  ^d.,  (John.; — 
 Barnes.  The  custom  of  anointing  guests  with  perfumed  unguents 
 seems  to  have  been  borrowed  from  the  Egyptians  by  the  Jews. —  W.  C. 
 Taylor.  10.  When  Jesvs  understood  it,  Fi'Dt-?  (ie  6  'lijaofc, '  but  Jesus 
 knowing  it.' — Doddr.,  Camp.  12.  For  my  burial,  irpo?  to  evTa^taaac 
 fie,  '  to  embalm  me,'  (see  Gen.  i.  2,)  Sept.,  A.  Clarke;  that  is,  '  a  pre- 
 paration for  my  burial.'  The  different  rites  of  embalming  in  the  east 
 with  unguents, spices, &c., are  here  alluded  to. — Hew.  14.  Then,  rare, 
 'about  that  time.^— Bloom/.  15.  Thirty  pieces,  §c.,  about  3/.  I5s., 
 the  price  of  a  slain  slave.— Sco^^  See  Exod.  xxi.  32.  l6.  To  betray 
 him,  (va  avTov  irapaSu),  *to  deliver  him  up,*  like  one  delivering  his  bar- 
 gain to  the  purchaser.— So  Cajnp.  18.  The  Nasfer~hy  this  name 
 Jesus  was  probably  known  among  the  disciples.  At  thy  house— aacient 
 writers  remark,  that  at  the  time  of  the  great  feasts  all  the  houses  in 
 Jerusalem  were  open  to  receive  guests-,  and  therefore  the  master  of 
 a  house  would  have  been  ready  to  receive  company.  19.  Made  ready, 
 i.e.,  procured  a  paschal  lamb,  &c. — Barnes.  20.  He  sat  down,  ave- 
 K€iro,  *he  recUncd.'— B/oom/.  The  recumbent  posture  at  meals,  and 
 even  at  the  paschal  supper,  had  long  been  introduced,  although  Uie 
 Israelites  were  at  first  commanded  to  eat  it  standing,  with  staffs  in 
 their  hands,  as  persons  setting  out  on  a  journey.  The  Rabbins  said 
 tlieir  recumbent  posture  was  symbolical  of  their  rest  in  Canaan.— R. 
 Watson.  23.  Dipped  his  hand,  ^c— the  Arabian  fashion  is,  for  all 
 present  to  help  themselves  with  their  hands  out  of  the  same  dish.— 
 Journal  0/ a  Passage /rom  India.  In  the  east,  they  use  neither  knife, 
 fork,  nor  spoon  ;  nor  is  delicacy  so  much  violated,  if  we  consider  the 
 frequent  ablutions,  never  omitted  before  and  after  a  meal.  The  Moors 
 and  Arabians  wash  their  hands  before  every  meal,  which  they  eat  with 
 their  fingers.  The  food  is  thrown  by  a  jerk  into  the  mouth,  so  that  the 
 fingers  are  clean  and  the  mouth  not  touched  —  Bloom/.  See  Jackson's 
 Account  0/  Morocco.  2-1.  Goeth,  vTrayei,  i.  c.,  to  death,  *  he  departs.' 
 —R.  Watson,  so  Grot.,  Cnmerarius.  Kuinotl.HLC,  *  Death'  or  'dying' 
 is  thus  frequently  expressed  by  the  best  Greek  and  Latin  writers.^ 
 
 He  who  humbled  himself  for  our  sakes,  tbe  despised  and 
 insulted  *  Son  of  Man,  shall  take  unto  himself  his  great 
 power  and  reign,'  when  the  whole  race  of  mankind  shall  ap- 
 pear before  bis  awful  tribunal,  find  a  final  separation  shall  take 
 place  between  *  them  that  serve  God  and  them  that  serve  liim 
 not.' 
 
 1033 
 
 •  Great  God  !  what  do  T  see  and  hear? 
 The  end  of  things  created  ! 
 The  Judge  of  mankind  doth  appear 
 
 On  clouds  of  glory  seated  ! 
 The  trumpet  sounds!  the  graves  restore 
 The  dead  which  they  contained  before  ! 
 Prepare,  my  soul,  to  meet  him  I'  Lutbor 
 6    Q 
 
Christ  inntitnteth  his  holy  supper. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXVI. 
 
 He  ■prayeth  in  the  garden. 
 
 Son  of  man  is  betrayed!   it  had  been  good 
 for  that  man  if  he  had  not  been  born. 
 
 25  Then  Judas,  wliich  betrayed  him,  answered 
 and  said.  Master,  is  it  I  ?  He  said  unto  him. 
 Thou  hast  said. 
 
 26  f  And  as  they  were  eating,  'Jesus  took 
 bread,  and  {{  blessed  it,  and  bralce  it,  and  gave 
 it  to  the  disciples,  and  said.  Take,  eat;  'this  is 
 my  body. 
 
 27  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks, 
 and  gave  it  to  them,  saying, '  Drink  ye  all  of  it ; 
 
 28  For  "  this  is  my  blood  '  of  the  new  testa- 
 ment, which  is  shed  "  for  many  for  the  remis- 
 sion of  sins. 
 
 29  But  ^  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not  drink 
 henceforth  of  this  fruit  of  the  vine,  "  until  that 
 day  when  I  drink  it  new  with  you  in  my 
 Father's  kingdom. 
 
 •30  ''  And  when  they  had  sung  an  ||  hymn, 
 they  went  out  into  the  mount  of  Olives. 
 
 .31  Then  saith  Jesus  unto  them,  "All  ye  shall 
 ■"  be  offended  because  of  me  this  night :  for  it 
 is  written,  "  I  will  smite  the  shepherd,  and  the 
 sheep  of  the  flock  shall  be  scattered  abroad. 
 
 .32  But  after  I  am  risen  again,  '  I  will  go  be- 
 fore you  into  Galilee. 
 
 J  Maik  It. 
 
 ii.  Luke 
 
 28.  19. 
 r  I  Cor.  II. 
 
 2.1.  51,  25. 
 l'  Mrmy 
 
 Gri^pk 
 
 copies  have 
 
 give  thjinkt. 
 
 See  Afark 
 
 6.41. 
 t  I  Cor.  10. 
 
 16. 
 (  Mark  14. 
 
 23. 
 u  SeeExod. 
 
 24.  8.  Lev. 
 17.  M. 
 
 X  Jer.  31  91. 
 v  ch.20.  2S. 
 "  Rom.  S.  15. 
 Heb.  9,  22. 
 I  Mark  H. 
 
 25.  Luke 
 22.  18. 
 
 I  Acl-H  10.41. 
 b  Mark  14. 
 
 26. 
 
 II  Or,  ptalm. 
 c  Mark  14. 
 
 27.  John 
 
 16.  32. 
 rf  rh    II.  C. 
 *  Ze.h.13.  7. 
 /"ch.  28.  ", 
 
 g  Mark  14. 
 30,  Luke 
 ■.^J  34.  John 
 13.  38. 
 
 fi  John  12. 
 27. 
 
 I  MarkU.S6. 
 
 Luke  22  42. 
 
 Heb.  5.  7. 
 m  John  12. 
 
 27. 
 u  ch.  20.  22. 
 o  Johns.  30. 
 
 &  6  38. 
 
 Phil.  2.  a. 
 p  Mark  13. 
 
 33  ft  II   38. 
 
 Luke  22.  Ul. 
 
 4t;.  Kph.  6. 
 
 18. 
 
 33  Peter  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Though 
 all  men  shall  be  offended  because  of  thee,  ^c< 
 will  I  never  be  offended. 
 
 34  Jesus  said  unto  him,  ^  Verily  I  say  unto 
 thee.  That  this  night,  before  the  cock  crow, 
 thou  shalt  deny  me  thrice. 
 
 35  Peter  said  unto  him,  Though  I  should  die 
 with  thee,  yet  will  I  not  deny  thee.  Likewise 
 also  said  all  the  disciples. 
 
 36  IT ''  Then  cometh  Jesus  with  them  unto  a 
 place  called  Gethsemane.and  saith  unto  the  dis- 
 ciples, Sit  ye  here,  while  I  go  and  pray  yonder. 
 
 37  And  he  took  with  him  Peter  and  'the  two 
 sons  of  Zebedee,  and  began  to  be  sorrowful 
 and  very  heavy. 
 
 38  Then  saith  he  unto  them,  ''  My  soul  is 
 exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death  :  tarry 
 ye  here,  and  watch  with  me. 
 
 39  And  he  went  a  little  farther,  and  fell  on 
 his  face,  and  '  prayed,  saying,  '"  O  my  Father, 
 if  it  be  possible,  "  let  this  cup  pass  from  me  : 
 nevertheless  "  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  will. 
 
 40  And  he  cometh  imto  the  disciples,  and 
 findeth  them  asleep,  and  saitli  unto  Peter, 
 Wliat,  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  one  hour? 
 
 4  I   '■  Watch  and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into 
 
 Clarke.  As  it  is  written— comp.  Ps.  xli.  9,  with  John.xiii.  18;  see  also 
 Daii.  ix.  26,  2";  Isa.  liii.  4—9. — Barnes.  25.  Thou  hast  said,  a  Jewish 
 form  of  assent  or  affirmation,  equivalent  to  '  it  is  thou.'  26.  Took 
 bread,  rov  nfirov,  '  the  bread,'  or  '  cake,'  for  in  this  form  the  bread  of 
 the  Jews  was  made;  and  if  there  is  any  force  in  the  article,  it  points 
 out  the  cake  as  that  which  had  been  r«servcd  from  the  former  part  of 
 the  feast,  according  to  custom,  but  which  was  now  to  be  employed  to 
 a  higher  purpose,  as  the  emblem  of  the  body  of  our  Lord,  .ind  blessed, 
 not  it,  here  supplied  by  the  translators  ;  this  act  was  an  act  of  thanks, 
 giving  to  God  according  to  the  practice  of  the  Jews,  who  took  no  food 
 or  wine  without  it.  And  brake  »f— this  was  the  manner  in  which  bread 
 was  distributed  at  their  common  meals  when  one  presided,  the  cakes 
 being  thin  and  brittle,  and  knives  not  being  in  use,  nor,  indeed,  con- 
 venient for  the  purpose.— n.  Watson.  Take,  eat.  this  was  the  symbol 
 of  their  partaking  in  the  effects  of  Christ's  death,  signified  by  its  being 
 broken.  Thus  the  Jews  in  their  peace  offerings  ate  part  of  the  victim, 
 and  thus  partook  of  the  sacrifice.—/.^  Clrrt^.  Tbis  is  my  body,  equi- 
 valent  to  'this  bread  signifies  or  represents  my  body.' — R.  Watson. 
 The  bread  could  not  be  Christ's  natural  body  while  he  was  alive ;  for  it 
 was  his  body  that  performed  the  action  of  breaking  and  giving  the 
 bread.  —  Bp.  Mann,  There  is  no  term  in  the  Hebrew  which  ex- 
 presses 'to  signify,'  or  'denote,'  and  the  Greek  here  naturally  takes 
 the  impress  of  the  Hebrew  or  Syriac  idiom,  '  it  is'  being  used  for  '  it 
 signifies.'  Hence  the  similar  use  of  the  verb  in  Gen.  xl.  12  ;  Dan.  vii. 
 24 ;  Matt.  xiii.  39,  SiC.~Bp.  Law.  The  substantive  verb  is  so  used. 
 Gen.  xli.  26;  Exod.  xii.  11;  ICor.  x.  4;  Gal.  iv.  25  ;  Rev.  i.  20  ;  v. 
 6,8;  xi.  4;  xvii.  12,  18;  xix.  8.— Sco«.  Our  Lord  here  alluded  not 
 only  to  the  bread  which  he  broke,  but  to  the  daily  sacrifices  of  the 
 Lamb  in  the  temple  for  the  sins  of  the  people,  cut  and  broken  into  many 
 parts. — Light/.  2".  Took  the  citp — the  Jews  drank  four  cups  in  the 
 paschal  feast.  This  it  should  seem  was  the  third.  Luke  mentions 
 another  which  Christ  drank  after  this,  (Luke,  xxii.  17.)— Le  Cterc. 
 Drink  ye  alt,  ^c— if  the  excuse  of  the  catholics  be  admitted  for  with- 
 holding the  cup  from  the  laity  that  the  disciples  were  all  priests,  then, 
 for  the  same  reason,  the  bread  should  be  confined  to  the  priests  only. 
 28.  Of  the  new  testament,  Tnc  Kao/fjc  biaGr,Kn<;,  'of  the  new  covenant,' 
 alluding  to  Exod.  xxiv.  7,  8.  The  sprinkled  book,  there  contained  the 
 covenant  between  God  and  the  church  and  nation  of  the  Israelites. 
 Christ  calls  the  dispensation  of  his  religion  the  new  covenant,  in  oppo- 
 sition to  the  old,  which  was  in  its  nature  introductory  and  temporary, 
 (see  Jer.  xxxi.  31.)— Ji.  Watson.  The  Old  Testament  >vas  confirmed 
 by  the  blond  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  (Heb.  ix.  18,  19  ;  Exod.  xxiv.  8,)  but 
 the  New  Testament  with  the  blood  of  Christ,  which  is  here  distinguished 
 from  that.— Ken.  Which  is,  that  is,  •  shall  shortly  be.'— Trap;),  Gill. 
 Shed,  fKX"''o/itvof,  *  poured  out.'  The  word  is  often  so  used  in  a  sacri- 
 ficial sense  in  the  Sept.,  signifying  to  pour  ont  or  sprinkle  the  blood  of 
 the  sacrifices  before  the  altar  of  the  Lord  by  way  of  atonement,  (see 
 2  Kings,  xvi.  15;  Lev.  viii.  16 ;  ix.  9;  Exod.  xxix.  12;  Lev.  iv.  7,  17, 
 30,  31,  «ic.)— .1.  Clarke.  For  many,  for  all  the  elect  of  God ;  for  the 
 many  that  were  ordained  to  eternal  Wis.— Gill.  By  '  many'  here  can- 
 not be  understood  all  individuals ;  unless  we  will  say  that  Christ  pur 
 chased  a  remission  of  sins  for  many  who  shall  never  obtain  it, — which 
 how  could  he  do  if  he  died  in  their  stead  ?— suffering  the  wrath  of  God 
 due  to  them  for  sin  is  very  hard  to  understand. —Poo/e.  •  Vast  multi- 
 tudes' are  here  meant,  not  of  the  Jews  only,  but  of  the  Gentiles  also, 
 even  of  all  that  by  faith  receive  the  atonement.— Guj/se.  The  Wes- 
 leyans  give  the  widest  scope  to  the  words  irepi  tto.vAwv,  '  for  many,' 
 that  is,  for  all  mankind. — R.  Watson.  Even  as  many  as  spring  from 
 Adam. — Bens.  And  A.  Clarke  explains  this  view  bv  observing  that, 
 '  Although  the  blood  is  shed,  and  the  atonement  made  for  the  multi- 
 tudes, no  man's  sins  are  taken  away  until,  as  a  penitent,  he  returns  to 
 God ;  and,  feeling  his  utter  incapacity  to  save  himself,  believes  in 
 Christ  Jesus,  who  is  the  Justifier  of  the  ungodly.'— Comm.  in  loc.  For 
 the  remission  of  sins,  'to  open  a  way  by  which  God  may  be  just,  and 
 yet  remit  the  punishment  of  sins.'— AVyw.  The  phrase  a^effic  tiov 
 a^dpTiuv,  *  remission  of  sins,'  does  not'  mean  merely  the  pardon  of 
 1034 
 
 sins,  as  is  generally  understood,  but  the  removal  or  taking  away  of 
 sins  ;  not  only  the  guilt,  but  also  ttic  verj'  nature  of  sin,  and  the  pollu- 
 tion of  the  soul  through  it ;  and  comprehends  all  that  is  generally  un- 
 derstood by  the  terms  justification  and  sauctification.  For  the  use  and 
 meaning  of  the  phrase,  see  Mark,  i.  4;    Luke,  i.  77  1  iu-  3;  xxiv.  4; 
 
 Acts,  ii.  38;  V.  31  ;  X.  43  ;  Xiii.  38;  XXvi.  18;  ColoSS.  i.  14;  Heb.  X.  19. 
 — ,4.  Clarke.  20.  Of  ttds  fruit  of  the  vine,  €k  toi'toi'  too  ^evvrj/iaToc 
 Tnr  aKireXoo,  '  of  the  product  of  the  vine.'  The  Greek  term  for  '  fruit ' 
 is  diflferent,  Knpn-ot.  The  fruit  of  the  vine  is  not  wine,  but  grapes.— 
 Camp.  That  day  when  I  drink  it  new,  ^c— heaven  is  set  forth  as  a 
 banquet,  (chap.  viii.  1 1  ;)  supping,  (Rev.  iii.  20 ;)  eating  and  drinking, 
 (Luke,  xxii.  30.)— Poo/e.  'New'  means  of  a  widely  different  nature 
 from  this;  new  heaven— earth— covenant— man,  mean  of  a  very  dif- 
 ferent nature  from  the  former.— f'/'ir/re.  My  Father's  kingdom,  the 
 kingdom  or  state  of  the  gospel,  erected  at  his  resurrection,  and  more 
 completely  began  at  his  ascension.- ir/n7Ay.  This  is  something  dis. 
 tinct  from  the  kingd"mof  the  Son  :  'the  kingdom  shall  be  delivered  up 
 to  the  Father,  and  God  shall  be  all  in  all ;  then  the  kingdom  of  the  Fa- 
 ther will  take  place,  which  is  no  other  than  ultimate  glory.'- fii//. 
 Dr.  Campbell  intimates  the  possiliility  of  creature- life  being  supported 
 in  heaven  by  means  of  nutriment,  which  would  distinguish  the  nature 
 of  that  life  from  the  life  of  him  who  is  said  '  alone  to  have  immortality.' 
 But,  if  creature. life  must  be  so  maintained  among  the  blessed,  there 
 must  be  a  different  law  for  the  lost,  or  their  numbers  would  soon  be 
 thinned  by  voluntary  starvation,  arising  from  intolerable  misery;  that 
 misery  is,  however,  to  last  for  ever.  Christ's  having  '  alone  immorta- 
 lity,' may  mean  no  more  than  his  having  it  essentially  in  his  own 
 Divine  nature,  whereas  all  creatures  must  have  it  at  the  pleasure  of 
 their  Creator,  for  he  who  created  can  as  easily  annihilate. —Erfifor. 
 30.  Sung  an  hi/mn—the  hallell  which  the  Jews  were  obliged  to  sing 
 on  the  night  of  the  passover.  This  hallell,  or  song  of  praise,  consisted 
 of  six  Psalms,  113  to  118,  inclusive.— (?i«.  Had  this  been  a  new  hymn 
 for  the  occasion,  John  would  have  recorded  it.— Hen.  31.  Offended 
 lierause  of  me  this  night,  i.  e.,  because  of  what  happens  to  me  this 
 night.— He«.  Meaning  that  they  should  fall  away  from  him,  and  be 
 afraid  to  own  him.— S.  Clarke.  It  is  written,  iirc- see  Zech.  xiii.  7, 
 notes.  34.  Cock  cruw  — the  Jews  reckoned  the  first  cock-crowing 
 about  midnight ;  the  second,  about  break  of  day— the  latter  is  hero 
 mea.nl..— Whitby.  '  In  eastern  countries  the  cocks  crow  in  the  night. 
 I  have  often  heard  the  cocks  of  Smyrna  crowing  in  fullchorus  between 
 eleven  and  twelve,  and  with  scarcely  the  variation  of  a  minute.  The 
 second  cock-crowing  is  between  one  and  two ;  therefore  our  Lord's 
 allusion  was  clearly  to  these  seasons.  I  could  calculate  the  hours  of 
 the  night  by  them  as  by  my  watch.'— So  Arundell,  Dlsror.  in  .isia  Minor. 
 The  greatest  difliculty  here  is,  that  the  Jewish  authorities  did  not  allow 
 poultry  to  be  kept  in  Jerusalem.  The  Romans  had,  however,  a  mili- 
 tary guard  there,  and  the  cocks  might  he  kept  in  cofips  by  them,  or 
 Peter  might  have  heard  the  crowing  without  the  walls  of  the  city.— 
 Wil.,  Bloomf.,  Reload.  36.  Gethsemane,  a  garden  at  the  foot  of  the 
 Mount  of  Ohves.— .■!.  Clarke.  II  this  was  a  village,  the  particular  place 
 into  which  our  Lord  entered  was  a  garden  belonging  to  it,  for  so  it  is 
 described  by  St.  John.  As  no  gardens  were  allowed  within  the  walls  ot 
 Jerusalem,  they  abounded  in  the  suburbs.— fl.  Watson.  37.  To  be 
 sorrowful,  IjC.,  XvnetaOai  Kai  aJriMoke.v.  '  to  be  pierced  with  sorrow  and 
 filled  with  anguish.'— fl.  tTofson.  'To  be  sorrowful  in  a  consterna. 
 tion.'— Hen.  38.  My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  ffc,  n^ptSvttot 
 e<TT,v  ;i  itoxn  woo  eojt  KafaToo,  '  my  soul  is  surrounded  with  sorrow.'— 
 Uaddr.,  so  Hen.  Overwhelmed  with  a  deadly  anguish.'- Camp.  In 
 tanto  sum  animi  dolore  ut  emoriar— '  I  am  in  such  trouble  of  mind  that 
 I  shall  iie.'—Castalio.  He  meant  that  his  sorrow  was  so  great  that 
 the  infirmity  of  human  nature  must  sink  under  it.— Bens.  39-  This 
 cup,  these  bitter  sufferings.  '  Cup'  is  often  used  in  this  sense,  (see 
 Matt.  XX.  22  ;  Ps.  xi.  6  ;  Ixxv.  8  ;  Isa.  li.  17  i  Jer.  xxv.  15—17  :  I.am. 
 iv.  21  ;  Ezek.  xxiii.31— 34;  Rev.  xiv.  10.)— Barnes.  40.  One  hour, 
 often  used  for  any  short  time.— ITiV.  41.  That  ye  enter  not  into 
 temptation— be  meaus  not  that  they  may  be  preserved  from  circura- 
 
Christ  helrayed  with  a  kiss. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXVI. 
 
 and  carried  before  Caiaphas, 
 
 temptation :   the   spirit  indeed  is  willing,  but 
 
 the  tlesh  is  weak. 
 
 40  He  went  away  agani  the  seconiJ  tnne,  and 
 
 '  ed    savin<',  O  my  Father,  if  this  cup  may 
 
 ::ot'pass  awaffrom  ^e,  except  I  drink  it,  thy 
 
 will  be  done.  ,   „       ,    .,  1 
 
 43  And  he  came  and  found  them  asleep 
 again  :  for  their  eyes  were  heavy. 
 
 44  And  he  left  them,  and  went  away  agani, 
 and  prayed   the  third  time,  saymg  the  same 
 
 "4^5  Then  cometh  he  to  his  disciples,  and  saith 
 unto  them,  Sleep  on  now,  and  take^oM^  rest : 
 behold,  the  hour  is  at  hand,  and  the  bon  of 
 man  is  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  sinners 
 
 46  Rise,  let  us  be  gomg  :  behold,  he  is  at 
 liand  that  doth  betray  me.  ,     ,    , 
 
 47  f  And  ''  while  he  yet  spake,  lo,  Judas,  one 
 of  the  twelve,  came,  and  with  him  a  great  niul- 
 titude  with  swords  and  staves,  from  the  chief 
 priests  and  elders  of  the  people. 
 
 48  Now  he  that  betrayed  him  gave  them  a 
 sign,  saying.  Whomsoever  I  shall  kiss,  that 
 same  is  he  :  hold  him  fast. 
 
 49  And  forthwith  he  came  to  Jesus,  and  said. 
 Hail,  Master  ;  '  and  kissed  him. 
 
 50  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  "  Friend,  where- 
 fore art  thou  come?  Then  came  they,  and 
 laid  hands  on  Jesus,  and  took  him. 
 
 51  And,  behold,  'one  of  them  which  were 
 with  Jesus  stretched  out  his  hand  and  drew 
 liis  sword,  and  struck  a  servant  of  the  high 
 priest's,  and  smote  off  his  ear, 
 
 5->  Then  said  Jesus  unto  hnn,  Put  up  again 
 thy  sword  into  his  place:  "for  all  they  that 
 take  the  sword  shall  perish  with  tlie  sword. 
 
 53  Thinkest  thou  that  I  cannot  now  pray  to 
 my  Father,  and  he  shall  presently  give  me 
 '  more  than  twelve  legions  of  angels  f 
 
 54  But  how  then  sliall  the  scriptures  be  tul- 
 fllled,  nhat  thus  it  must  be? 
 
 q  ftfark  14. 
 Vi.   Luke 
 ti  17.  John 
 IB.  3.  Acts 
 I.  16. 
 
 -  8  Sam.  20. 
 
 :  I's.  11.  9 
 Jit  55.  13. 
 
 li  Gen.  0.  6. 
 Itev.  13.  iU 
 
 I  2  Khl  r,.17. 
 
 Dan.  7.  lu 
 }  la.  53  7, 
 
 «c.  ver.  24 
 
 Luke  -11. 
 
 25,  4'1,  45. 
 
 J  Lara  4,20 
 
 ver.  54. 
 a  See  JoUu 
 
 18.  15. 
 
 b  Mark  14. 
 53.  Luke  22, 
 5^1  Ji)hn  18. 
 
 c  Pi  87.  12. 
 
 &35.  U. 
 
 Mark  14.55. 
 
 So  Acts  6. 
 
 13. 
 d  Deut.  19. 
 
 r  ch.  27.  40. 
 John  3.  19, 
 
 /  Mark  14. 
 
 g  U.  53.  7. 
 
 rh.  27.  12, 
 
 14. 
 /.  Lev   5.  I. 
 
 1  Sam.  14. 
 
 24,  2l>. 
 
 i  Dan  7.  13 
 ch.  16  27. 
 &  24.  30. 
 Luke  21 .27 
 &  25.  31. 
 John  1,  51 
 Rom.  14  10 
 lTlieB.4,16. 
 Rev    1.  J. 
 
 k  P«.  110,  1. 
 Acts  7.  55. 
 
 I  2  Kin,  13. 
 37,  &  19. 1. 
 
 55  In  that  same  lioiir  said  Jesus  to  the  mul- 
 titudes. Are  ye  come  out  as  against  a  thief 
 with  swords  and  staves  for  to  take  me  ?  I  sat 
 daily  with  you  teaching  in  the  temple,  and  ye 
 laid  no  hold  on  me. 
 
 56  But  all  this  was  done,  that  the  '■  scriptures 
 of  the  prophets  might  be  fulfilled.  Then  °  all 
 the  disciples  forsook  him,  and  fled. 
 
 57  II  I*  And  they  that  had  laid  hold  on  Jesus 
 led  him  away  tj  C^daphas  the  high  priest, 
 where  the  scribes  and  the  elders  were  assem- 
 bled. 
 
 58  But  Peter  followed  him  afar  off  unto  the 
 high  priest's  palace,  and  went  in,  and  sat  with 
 the  servants,  to  see  the  end. 
 
 59  Now  the  chief  priests,  and  elders,  and  all 
 the  council,  sought  false  witness  against  Jesus, 
 to  put  him  to  death  ; 
 
 60  But  found  none:  yea,  though  "^many  false 
 witnesses  came,  yet  found  they  none.  At  the 
 last  came  ''  two  false  witnesses, 
 
 61  And  said,  i:\ns  fellow  said,  "  I  am  able  to 
 destroy  the  temple  of  God,  and  to  build  it  in 
 three  days. 
 
 6'2  '  And  the  high  priest  arose,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Answerest  thou  nothing?  what  is  it 
 which  these  witness  against  thee? 
 
 63  But  ^  Jesus  held  his  peace.  And  the 
 high  priest  answered  and  said  unto  him,  ■'  I 
 adjure  thee  by  the  living  God,  that  thou  tell 
 us  whether  thou  be  the  Christ,  the  Son  of 
 God. 
 
 64  Jesus  saith  unto  him.  Thou  hast  said  : 
 nevertheless  I  say  unto  you,  '  Hereafter  shall 
 ye  see  the  Son  of  man  '^  sitting  on  the  right 
 hand  of  power,  and  coining  in  the  clouds  of 
 heaven. 
 
 65  '  Then  the  high  priest  rent  his  clothes, 
 saying.  He  hath  spoken  blasphemy;  what 
 further  need  have  we  of  witnesses?  behold, 
 now  ye  have  heard  his  blasphemy. 
 
 .tanceB  of  trial  and  danger,  bnt  that  they  ^'^J°'-J;^l'^^^".^^j^. 
 oower  —R.  Watsmi.  The  spirit  indeed  is  icillmg,  jrpof/i.Mov,  o°"J. 
 ^rwfni-  the  intrepidity  of  the  spiritual  and  reEeneratc  inan.  Bui  the 
 ««mea*,  the  Cains  of  imperfection  and  """f '»•  j]"<^V;; 
 not  iit  beUevers,  and  against  which  it  is  necessary  to  guard.-Mur. 
 ^fslelolStw.  ^c,  an  ironical  reproof.-D^.;.  Of  smners  c^up_- 
 'Lw-our  £Srd  thet'eby  signified  that  he  was  to  be  cons.gned  to  t.e 
 
 Si?r.^"bec?uririars!  te'f6a^':rf5° -rj;."AT(;;;™a?"o^;fn 
 
 Effl  ~aU  £^^^rl^Z^=''^ 
 hv  the  Jew;    bnUt  is  not  probable  that  our  Lord  would   o.,  an  occa- 
 
 ^•z^jer^iSrs-ss^ior^K^  3^ 
 
 was  the  custom  of  the  Jews  thus  to  salute  each  other,  (see  Luk'^' ^"- 
 ^f^i^'tU-^Z^^B::^:   ISenZnicklly^V: 
 
 liiiiiiiiiiliii 
 
 wmmmmm 
 
 ISr^'^oJ^X  ^Sn  n4r."^^to«r^^n 
 
 ^ilitfa-  anronerlndfuU  army  with  thera  consisting  of  such  a  nuniber 
 on^Sout-Z'.TcZerarius.  ' T^velve■  are  probably  njent.oned  as 
 bcinfan  usual  numbcrwhen  an  immense  force  was  aU.ided  to.-Ke.pv. 
 srl/aim^  .W/">7-tl.ieves  then  infested  Judea.  who  were  so  strong 
 1035 
 
 and  numerous  as  only  to  be  reduced  by  force.-So  "'<"■■  ^J^-f,"' 
 III  this  wiis  dune.  TOL.™  i,  iXov  Tef-vev,  •  but  this  aU  happened  - 
 Bloom/.  This  was,  probably,  the  observation  <>'""=  Evangelist — 
 -Clarke  That  these  are  the  words  of  Christ,  and  not  of  the  Evan- 
 gelist isc\eM(romMnrk.-Kninoel.  Might  6e>0fHe<i,  as  for  instance 
 irelative  to  Judas,  Ps.  xM.  9  ,  relative  to  Christ  being  treated  as  a 
 transgressor,  Isa.  liii.  12;  relative  to  the  desertion  of  the  disciples, 
 Zech  xiii.  7  58.  Palace.  .v\„.  signifies  an  open  court  i  here,  per- 
 
 hans  the  interior  court,  which  was  open  at  the  top.  -  ii.  »»'"'™"- 
 Servants.  lUfer.,..  'officers,'  such  as  we  term  serjeants.  constables 
 &C-A    Clarke.  59.  Songht  false  uiUess -coBscwas  they  could 
 
 procure  no  other,  and  to  give  their  proceedings  an  appearance  of  jus- 
 {^ce  -Sco«.  In  actions  against  seducers  of  the  people  or  false  pro- 
 phets, the  Jews  considered  it  lawful  to  say  anything  whether  true  or 
 false  no  man  being  permitted  to  say  anything  in  defence  of  them.- 
 Ham  Probably  the  false  witnesses  were  sought,  for  money,  among 
 the^Vstanders  /and  those  zealous  for  the  law  might  be  urged  to  come 
 forwTd  agains  its  reputed  subverter.-fl.  Watson.  So.  found  «onf. 
 noTwo  llTZg  in  testimony,  without  which  the  law  forbade  them 
 ?o  pnTany  r^an  to  dea.h.-ScoW.  61.  To  destroy  the  (emW^-to  speak 
 a°ainst  the  temple  was  a  capital  ofTence,  (sec  Jer.  xxvi.  1, 12.)-B;.. 
 PoT«"  Ourlaviour  had  used  a  figurative  expression  relative  to  the 
 frame  of  his  body,  which  was  now  maliciously  perverted.-B?.  il/<;«». 
 S^adjTe  thelhy  the  living  God-this  was  the  usual  form  "f  PU"";B 
 an  oah  among  the  Jews:  it  implies,  caUing  God  to  witness  the  tulh 
 of  what  was  said.-Cam;..,  Barnes.  The  Christ,  the  anointed  that 
 DavW  spclks  of  in  the  second  Psalm,  and  who  s  there  sard  to  be  he 
 Son  of  God,  to  which  the  high  priest  seems  to  refer.-&i«.  64.  Tlim, 
 A°S° Li  «■.  eT,ra„  a  form  of  respectful  and  modest  assent.-ii/oi-™/. 
 »  ,r.;J..  IxoV  •  moreover '  —  B.  )ra(5on.  Hereafter,  air'apn. 
 ^:Z'^Boonif'KuZer Shalt  ye  see  the  Son  of  'nan  jc,  •  yoa 
 w^iU  roonlee  me  as  the  Messiah,  sitting,'  &c.  ■  You  will  know  and 
 frP^  hv  thelffeSs  (namely,  in  the  destruction  of  your  temple  and  city, 
 a,fi  S  he  mfn  o  your  country,)  that  I  am  he  whom  the  prophets  have 
 described  as  a  glorious  Monarch.'-B/oom/.  Coming, n  the  clouds^c 
 acscriDeuaaaB  „,.(„,  yii  13.  \i.—Bens.  How  came  every  one 
 preseKfal'e  ftisfor"ht  Acknowledgment  that  he  was  the  Christ  ?  It 
 was  because  they  knew  this  was  Daniel' s  description  of  the  Mess.ah.-- 
 n^  Chandler  65.  Rent  his  clothes-in  some  cases  this  was  forbidden 
 .  '.h  Vf/lh  nripst  (Lev  X  6-  xxi.  10;)  yet,  in  case  of  blasphemy,  or 
 anv  Publfc  eK  'ty^U  wi  Jhought  alliJable,  (2  Kings,  xix.  1 ;  1  Mac. 
 vr'^n  CalanhThere  shewed  his  horror  at  hearing  so  mean  a  person 
 c  aim  the  soveret'uty  over  Israel,  and  a  seat  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
 
Christ  denied  of  Peter. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXVII. 
 
 Christ  is  delivered  bound  to  Pilate. 
 
 66  What  think  ye  ?  They  answered  and 
 said,  "  He  is  guilty  of  death. 
 
 67  "Then  did  they  spit  in  his  face,  and  buf- 
 feted him  ;  and  "  others  smote  him  with  ||  the 
 palms  of  their  hands, 
 
 68  Saying,  '  Prophesy  (into  us,  thou  Christ, 
 Who  is  he  that  smote  thee  ? 
 
 69  t ''  Now  Peter  sat  without  in  the  palace  : 
 and  a  damsel  came  unto  him,  saying,  Thou 
 also  wast  with  Jesus  of  Galilee. 
 
 70  But  he  denied  before  them  all,  saying,  I 
 know  not  what  thou  sayest. 
 
 71  And  when  he  was  gone  out  into  the  porch, 
 another  maid  saw  him,  and  said  unto  them  that 
 were  there,  T\iis  fellow  was  also  with  Jesus  of 
 Nazareth. 
 
 7-2  And  again  he  denied  with  an  oath,  I  do 
 not  know  the  man. 
 
 73  And  after  a  while  came  unto  him  they 
 that  stood  by,  and  said  to  Peter,  Surely  thou 
 also  art  one  of  them  ;  for  thy  '  speech  bewray- 
 eth  thee. 
 
 74  Then  'began  he  to  curse  and  to  swear, 
 saying,  I  know  not  tlie  man.  And  immediately 
 the  cock  crew. 
 
 7j  And  Peter  remembered  the  word  of  Jesus, 
 which  said  unto  him,  '  Before  the  cock  crow, 
 thou  shalt  deny  me  thrice.  And  hewentout, 
 and  wept  bitterly. 
 
 A.  D, 26. 
 
 m  Lev.  'H- 
 
 lli.Johu  13, 
 
 7. 
 n  l3.  5a.  6. 
 
 &  5.J.  3. 
 
 ch.  27-  30 
 o  f.uke22  b.*!. 
 
 John  19   3. 
 II  Or,  r<,dt. 
 p  Mark  U. 
 
 65. Luke  2-2. 
 
 64. 
 ?  Mark  U. 
 
 66.  Luke  22. 
 
 55John  13. 
 
 16,  17,  25. 
 
 I  ver   SL 
 Markll.aO. 
 Luke  22.61, 
 62.Johu  13. 
 S3. 
 
 1  Ps.  2.  2. 
 Mark  15   I. 
 Luke  22.06 
 k  23.  I. 
 Jobu  13.28. 
 
 d  2  Sam.  17. 
 23.  Aat  1. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 1  Christ  is  delivered  hotind  to  Pilate.  3  Judas  hang- 
 eth  hiinstif,  19  Pilatey  admonished  of  his  wifcy  24 
 washeth  ft«  hands:  26  and  looseth  Barahbus,  29 
 Christ  is  crowned  with  thorns,  34  crucijitd,  40  muled, 
 50  diethf  and  is  buried:  66  his  sepulchre  is  sraled, 
 and  icatched. 
 
 '\17"H^^   ^^^   morning  was  come,  "all  tlie 
 ''     chief  priests  and  elders  of  the   people 
 took   counsel   against   Jesus   to   put   him    to 
 death  : 
 
 2  And  when  they  had  bound  him,  they  led 
 him  away,  and  ''delivered  him  to  Pontius 
 Pilate  the  governor. 
 
 3  t  '^  Then  Judas,  which  had  betrayed  him, 
 when  he  saw  that  he  was  condemned,  repented 
 himself,  and  brought  again  the  thirty  pieces  of 
 silver  to  the  chief  priests  and  elders, 
 
 4  Saying,  I  have  sinned  in  that  I  have  be- 
 trayed the  innocent  blood.  And  they  said, 
 What  is  that  to  us?  see  thou  to  that. 
 
 5  And  he  cast  down  the  pieces  of  silver  in 
 the  temple,  '^aud  departed,  and  went  and 
 hanged  himself. 
 
 6  And  the  chief  priests  took  the  silver  pieces, 
 and  said,  It  is  not  lawful  for  to  put  them  into 
 the  treasury,  because  it  is  the  price  of 
 blood. 
 
 and  this  when  adjured  upon  oath. — Beris.  67.  Spit  in  his  face,  a 
 mark  of  extreme  contempt  and  abhorrence. — Bloom/.  Even  to  spit  on 
 the  pround  before  a  person  is  still  a  bitter  di*;gTace  in  the  east.— H(tr. 
 And  buffeted  him,  iKo\a<pt<Tav,  '  smote  hira  with  the  fist.' — So  Bloom/., 
 BsThenpfitjlact.  63.  Prophe.ty—who  is  he   that  smote  thee  f — they 
 
 said  this  after  they  had  blindfolded  him,  (Mark,  xiv.  65,  and  Luke, 
 xxii.  64.)— B/oom/.  Very  likely  they  had  covered  his  face,  as  they  did 
 the  faces  of  condemned  persons,  (see  Esth.  vii.  %.)—Har.  "3.  Thy 
 speech  bewrayeth  thee — the  accent,  we  may  suppose,  would  be  strongly 
 marked  in  so  remote,  rude,  and  agricultural  a  province  as  Galilee.— 
 Bloom/.  r4.  To  curse,  KaravaHttLaTi^tiv,  to  anathematize  himself. — 
 a  strong  form  of  imprecation  among  the  Jews,  (see  Rom.  ix.  Z.)—Mnr. 
 And  to  swear,  Kat  ofiwciv.  'to  swear  by  the  name  of  God.'  So  deep 
 and  shameful  was  the  fall  of  Peter.— it.  Watson.  His  first  offence  was 
 a  simple  denial  -  in  his  last  be  breaks  out  in  the  most  sinful  language. 
 —Boothr. 
 
 Chap.  XXVII.  — 1.  When  the  morning  tvas  come,  the  chie/ priests, 
 ^c. — it  seems  they  separated  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  at  daybreak  came 
 together  again  to  consult  on  the  subject  of  executing  the  sentence 
 passed  against  Christ. — Bens.  Took  cow/wf/— their  objects  were,  to 
 obtain  the  confirmation  of  their  sentence  from  Pilate;  the  other,  by 
 charges  of  sedition,  to  engage  the  Roman  governor  to  carry  into  effect 
 the  Roman  method  of  execution  by  crucifixion. — So  R.  Watson.    The 
 
 Jewish  rulers  had  the  power  of  trjing  and  condemning  persons  for 
 crimes  judged  capital  by  their  law,  but  it  seems  that  at  this  time  they 
 could  not  execute  without  the  consent  of  the  Roman  governors, — Duv. 
 2.  The  governor,  ti-jffujip,  this  title  belonged  to  the  proconsular  or  pro- 
 prcetorian  governors  of  the  Roman  provinces;  because,  though  only 
 procurator  of  Jiidca,  which  was  an  inferior  dignity,  he  had  the  procon- 
 sular power  of  life  and  death,  which  was  not  unusual  in  the  lesser  pro- 
 vinces.—  R.  Watson.  3.  Smv  that  he  was  condemned,  whence  it  may  be 
 inferred  that  Judas  thought  Christ  would  have  been  acquitted  by  the 
 Ri>man  governor.— //eiy.  Probably  lie  thought  he  would  have  rescued 
 himself  by  a  miracle.— Tra/>;).  Rcpmled  /limsel/^Sl.  Matthew  ex- 
 presses by  this  word  the  remorse  which  Judas  had  on  account  of  his 
 crime;  but  it  was  not  a  true  repentance,  since  it  was  followed  by  de- 
 spair; whereas  true  repentance  is  never  without  confidence  in  the 
 mercy  of  God,  because  it  is  never  without  faith  and  love. — Mur.  Judas 
 began  to  be  terrified  in  his  conscience,  but  he  had  not  an  heart  to  beg 
 forgiveness,  nor  to  apply  to  Christ  for  a  remedy. — Poole.  4.  Be- 
 trayed the  innocent  blood,  -napabovs  at/ia  afojoi'  delivered  an  innocent 
 man  to  death.  An  Hebrew  idiom.— B/oom/.  5.  Hanged  himsel/, 
 QTriiYfuTo, '  strangled  himself.' — Weston.  '  Strangled  himself,*  or  '  was 
 suffocated.'- Comp.  'Hanged  himself  is  the  perpetual  sense  of  the 
 original  word. — Bloomf.  6.  Into  the  treasury,  en  tov  Kopflavav,  the 
 corban  chamber.- Gi//.    The  sacred  repository  that  was  set  apart  tor 
 
 Reflkctions  on  Chap.  XXVI.  —  This  chapter  is  full  of 
 interesting  facts.  Notice — I.  Christ  anointed  by  the  woman, 
 from  which  we  may  learn,  that  none  ever  did  anything  for 
 Christ  who  were  not  amply  rewarded.  Multitudes  of  queens, 
 princesses,  and  rich  women,  have  had  their  day  in  the  world, 
 and  passed  away  from  before  the  eyes  of  flattering  multitudes 
 just  like  dazzling  meteors,  and  now  their  names  are  only 
 written  in  confused  dust.  But  this  woman,  who  never  dreamt 
 of  such  honour,  is  recorded  among  the  most  illustrious  saints 
 and  servants  of  God  in  the  imperishahle  pages  of  revelation, 
 and  held  forth  as  an  example  of  love  in  the  preaching  of  the 
 everlasting  Gospel;  and  shall  be  to  the  end  of  time  among 
 all  kindreds,  nations,  tongues,  and  people,  while  her  name  is 
 written  in  heaven,  and  registered  among  the  sons  and  daughters 
 of  the  Lord  Almighty.  This  ointment  our  Lord  also  inter- 
 preted as  the  embalming  of  his  body,  an  honour  which  no  other 
 was  permitted  to  perform.     Notice — 
 
 IL  Christ  estahlishing  the  Lord's  supper.  That  any  who  call 
 themselves  Christiiins  should  live  for  years  without  regarding 
 this  sacred  institution  is  a  neglect  of  a  duty  and  a  privilege 
 which  must  he  highly  criminal.  This  is  a  rallying  point  among 
 the  disciples  of  Christ— an  avowal  of  love  to  Christ  before  the 
 world,  and  an  ordinance  which  is  both  adapted  to  comfort  and 
 establish  the  soul.    Notice — 
 
 III.  Christ's  agon?/ in  the  garden.  How  much  is  included  in 
 his  soul  being  '  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death,'— in  his 
 affecting  prayer,  '  Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass 
 from  me  !'— in  the  anticipations  of  that  moment  when  he  said, 
 *  Behold,  he  is  at  hand  that  doth  betray  me  !'  The  knowledge 
 1036 
 
 of  all  we  are  to  suffer  is  happily  concealed  from  us,  but  ap- 
 proaching events,  all  foreseen,  gave  the  most  racking  pain  to 
 him. 
 
 IV.  Christ  betrayed  by  Judas.  Whence  we  may  learn,  as  the 
 excellent  Flavell  remarks,  '  that  the  greatest  professors  had 
 need  be  jealous  over  their  own  hearts,  and  look  well  to  the 
 grounds  and  principles  of  their  professions — that  eminent 
 knowledge  and  profession  puts  a  special  and  eminent  aggrava- 
 tion upon  sin — that  unprincipled  professors  will,  sooner  or 
 later,  become  shameful  apostates— that  men  are  never  in  more 
 imminent  danger  than  when  they  meet  with  temptations 
 exactly  suited  to  their  master  lusts,  to  their  own  iniquity — 
 that  no  man  knows  where  he  shall  stop  when  he  first  engages 
 himself  in  a  way  of  sin — that  the  love  of  the  world  is  a  potent 
 conqueror  of  the  soul — and  [anticipating  part  of  the  next 
 chapter,]  that  that  which  men  promise  themselves  much  plea- 
 sure and,  contentment  in,  in  the  way  of  sin,  may  prove  the 
 greatest  curse  and  misery  to  them  that  everbefel  them  in  the 
 world.' 
 
 V.  Christ  ill  treated  by  the  Jews.  Arraigned  as  a  criminal  at 
 their  bar,  and  treated  with  insult  and  cruelty,  as  though  he 
 were  the  worst  of  foes  to  the  human  race,  instead  of  being  the 
 best  of  friends.  Why  should  any  of  us  think  much  of  suffer- 
 ing for  his  sake  who  has  endured  so  much  for  us?  R" 
 
 VI.  Christ  denied  by  Peter.  Let  his  fall  be  a  warning  to  us 
 against  self-confidence,  and  bis  recovery  induce  the  penitent 
 backslider  not  to  despair,  for  '  the  Lord  turned  and  looked 
 upon  Peter.' 
 
Pilate  admonished  of  his  toife. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXVII. 
 
 Christ  crowned  with  (horns. 
 
 7  And  they  took  counsel,  and  bought  with 
 them  the  potter's  field,  to  bury  strangers  in. 
 
 8  Wherefore  that  field  was  called,  "  The  field 
 of  blood,  unto  this  day. 
 
 9  Then  was  fulfilled  that  which  was  spoken 
 by  Jeremy  the  prophet,  saying.  *"  And  they 
 took  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  the  price  of 
 him  that  was  valued,  ||  whom  they  of  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel  did  value  ; 
 
 10  And  gave  them  for  the  potter's  field,  as 
 the  Lord  appointed  me. 
 
 1  i  And  Jesus  stood  before  the  governor : 
 ^  and  the  governor  asked  him,  saying,  Art  thou 
 the  King  of  the  Jews?  And  Jesus  said  unto 
 him,  ^  Thou  sayest. 
 
 12  And  when  he  was  accused  of  the  chief 
 priests  and  elders,  'he  answered  nothing. 
 
 13  Then  said  Pilate  unto  him,''  Hearest  thou 
 not  how  many  things  they  witness  against  thee? 
 
 U  And  he  answered  him  to  never  a  word  ; 
 insomuch  that  the  governor  marvelled  greatly. 
 
 15  '  Now  at  that  feast  the  governor  was  wont 
 to  release  unto  the  people  a  prisoner,  whom 
 they  would. 
 
 IG  And  they  had  then  a  notable  prisoner, 
 called  Barabbas, 
 
 17  Therefore  when  they  were  gathered  to- 
 gether, Pilate  said  unto  them.  Whom  will  ye 
 that  I  release  unto  you?  Barabbas,  or  Jesus 
 which  is  called  Christ  ? 
 
 18  For  he  knew  that  for  envy  they  had  deli- 
 vered him. 
 
 19  H  When  he  was  set  down  on  the  judgment 
 seat,  his  wife  sent  unto  him,  saying,  Have  thou 
 nothing  to  do  with  that  just  man  :  for  I  have 
 suffered  many  things  this  day  in  a  dream  be- 
 cause of  him. 
 
 20  '"  But  the  chief  priests  and  elders  per- 
 suaded the  multitude  that  they  should  ask  Ba- 
 
 /Zech.  II 
 
 I  Or,  whom 
 thpif  bought 
 of  Ike  chil- 
 dren ti/  Ii- 
 rael. 
 
 ^  Mark  15.2. 
 Imke  23.  3. 
 Jvbn  18.33. 
 
 fcJohDl9,37. 
 1  Tira.0.13. 
 
 ich.  ge.  C3. 
 
 Jrthn  lit  9. 
 k  c\\.  L'fi   6-i. 
 
 Jobul9.1u. 
 
 I  Ntark  IS  fi. 
 Luke  23. 17. 
 JdIiu  1^.39. 
 
 71  Mavk  Ifi. 
 ll.Liike-J3 
 13  Jolin  18. 
 4i>.  Acts  S, 
 H. 
 
 .  Dpu.10.10. 
 Josh. 2. 19. 
 .3.3 
 
 i  Sam 
 
 i.m. 
 
 Acts  5,  28. 
 p  Is    53.  5, 
 
 mark  15. 15. 
 
 r,uke-'3  16, 
 
 21,  25.J.>liu 
 
 19,  1,  16. 
 9  Mark  15. 
 
 16.Jolm  19. 
 
 g, 
 II  Or,  gnver- 
 
 n-ir'i  h»ute. 
 r  Luke  23. 
 
 P.. 
 t  P8.  69.  19. 
 
 Is.  53.  3. 
 
 t  Is.  50.  fl. 
 ch.  26.  67. 
 
 u  Is   M.  7. 
 X  Nu.l5.  35, 
 
 IKiD.-il.lS. 
 
 Acta  7    .'id. 
 
 Htb.   \'A.\2. 
 y  Mark  15. 
 ■  21.  Luke  23 
 
 rabbas,  and  destroy  Jesus. 
 
 21  The  governor  answered  and  said  unto 
 them,  Whether  of  the  twain  will  ye  that  I  re- 
 lease unto  you?     They  said,  Barabbas. 
 
 22  Pilate  saith  unto  them.  What  shall  I  do 
 then  with  Jesus  which  is  called  Christ  ?  They 
 all  say  unto  him.  Let  him  be  crucified. 
 
 23  And  the  governor  said.  Why,  what  evil 
 hath  he  done?  But  they  cried  out  the  more, 
 saying.  Let  him  be  crucified. 
 
 24  t  When  Pilate  saw  that  he  could  prevail 
 nothing,  but  that  rather  a  tumult  was  made, 
 he  "  took  water,  and  washed  his  hands  before 
 the  multitude,  saying,  I  am  innocent  of  the 
 blood  of  this  just  person  :  see  ye  to  it. 
 
 25  Then  answered  all  the  people,  and  said, 
 **  His  blood  be  on  us,  and  on  our  children. 
 
 26  H  Then  released  he  Barabbas  unto  them  : 
 and  when  ^he  had  scourged  Jesus,  he  delivered 
 hiyn  to  be  crucified. 
 
 27  ^  Then  the  soldiers  of  the  governor  took 
 Jesus  into  the  ||  common  hall,  and  gathered 
 unto  him  the  whole  band  oi  soldiers. 
 
 28  And  they  stripped  him,  and  '  put  on  him 
 a  scarlet  robe. 
 
 29  H  *  And  when  they  had  platted  a  crown  of 
 thorns,  they  put  it  upon  his  head,  and  a  reed 
 in  his  right  hand  :  and  they  bowed  the  knee 
 before  him,  and  mocked  him,  saying,  Hail, 
 king  of  the  Jews! 
 
 30  And  *■  they  spit  upon  him,  and  took  the 
 reed,  and  smote  him  on  tlie  head. 
 
 31  And  after  that  they  had  mocked  him, 
 they  took  the  robe  off  from  liim,  and  put  his 
 own  raiment  on  him,  "and  led  him  away  to 
 crucify  him. 
 
 32  "And  as  they  came  out,  ''they  found  a 
 man  of  Cyrene,  Simon  by  name  :  him  they 
 compelled  to  bear  his  cross. 
 
 receiving  corbans,  or  gifts  and  oflFerings  to  God. — Reland.  It  has  been 
 thoiiglit  that  Judas,  by  throwing  down  the  thirty  shekels  in  the  temple 
 among  the  priests,  meant  to  cast  the  money  in  corban,  in  order  to  ex- 
 piate, in  some  measure,  the  atrocity  of  his  crime.  Tbey,  however, 
 would  not  receive  it,  it  being  prohibited  by  the  law  to  deposit  in  the 
 sacred  treasury  any  money  arising  from  base  or  unlawful  gains  ;  so 
 they  interpreted  the  precept,  (see  Deut.  xxiii.  18.)  By  so  doing,  how- 
 ever,  as  Grotius  observes,  they  condemned  themselves,  since  they  exe- 
 crated that  in  the  seller  of  which  they  were  themselves  the  buyers.— 
 Bluumf.  ".  The  potter's  field,  ODe  oi  no  great  vdi\[je,  from  its  price. 
 — Gilt.  Probably  the  potter  had  dug  it  up  for  his  own  use,  and  had 
 rendered  it  good  for  nothing  but  for  such  a  purpose. — Grot.  To  fmry 
 strangers,  Roman  soldiers  which  were  among  them,  or  proselytes,  or 
 those  who  came  from  a  distance  to  the  festivals.  By  this  act  of  huma- 
 nity they  hoped  to  cover  their  wickedness. — Gill.  p.  By  Jeremy — 
 no  such  words  are  in  Jeremiah.  Words  similar  are  in  Zech.xi.  12, 13 ; 
 whence,  doubtless,  the  quotation.  Sume  trifling  error  has  occurred  in 
 transcribing.— See  fl.  Watson,  Bp.  Hall.  11.  Thou  sayest,  i.e.,  ac 
 cording  to  the  Hebrew  idiom,  it  is  as  thou  sayest. —  Bens.  15.  To 
 release,  ^c,  probably  done  by  the  Roman  governor  to  gain  favour. — 
 Gill.  It  was  a  pagan  custom  ;  the  Athenians  had  a  law  to  this  effect 
 in  honour  uf  Ceres. — Dav.  l6.  Barabbas,  a  robber,  imprisoned  for 
 having  been  concerned  in  an  insurrection  or  sedition  in  the  city,  in 
 which  murder  had  been  committed,  (Mark,  xv.  7;  Luke,  xxiii.  19  ; 
 Jolin,  xviii,  40. J — Bp.  Pearce.  17.  Whum  will  ye  that  I  release  ?^ 
 as  Barabbas  was  a  noted  criminal,  Pilate  duubtless  concluded  that  the 
 people  would  unanimously   prefer  Jesus  to  him. — Scott.  18.  Fur 
 
 enny,  &ta  <pBovov,  'through  malice.' — A.Clarke.  Through  the  envy 
 and  malice  of  the  chief  priests  and  scribes. — S.  Clarke.  ig.  His  wife 
 — her  name  was  Claudia  Procula;  and  Grotius  observes,  this  circum- 
 Btaiice  marks  the  time  of  the  event,  and  affords  an  incidental  proof  of 
 the  veracity  of  the  evangeUst ;  for  it  was  only  in  the  reign  of  Tiberius 
 that  the  wives  of  governors  had  obtained  permission  to  attend  them  in 
 the  provinces.  This  day,  means,  'this  night,'  because  the  day  in  Jeru- 
 salem was  reckoned  to  begin  on  the  preceding  evening. — R.  Watson. 
 22,  Be  crucififd,  a  Reman  punishment,  inflicted  on  the  meanest  and 
 worst  of  men  ;  a  torturing  and  a  shameful  death.— Gi7^  24.  That  a 
 tumult  was  made,  and  he  might  fear  the  consequences  of  it,  should  he 
 not  grant  their  request.— Gi7/,  as  Xirot.  Washed  his  hands— it  is  pro- 
 bable that  Pilate  did  this  in  allusion  to  the  law  of  Moses,  (Deut.  xxi,  6, 
 7.) — Duv.  I  am  inclined  to  suppose  that  he  followed  the  Gentile  cus- 
 tom, for  the  rite  was  not  frequent  in  Judea.  Washing  was  usual 
 among  the  Greeks  and  Romans  on  the  commitment  of  any  involuntary 
 crime,  such  as  homicide,  in  order  to  expiate  the  offence. — Bloomfield. 
 25.  His  blood  be,  .^-c.— this  imprecation  has  been  m-toriously  verified. 
 Great  numbers  were  put  to  death  by  Cf  ucilixiun  ;  and  verv  likely  sunje 
 1037 
 
 of  those  very  persons  that  were  so  clamorous  for  the  crucifying  nf 
 Christ ;  and,  if  not,  at  least  their  children.  Five  hundred  of  the  Jews, 
 and  more,  were  sometimes  crucitied  in  a  day ;  till  at  length,  says  their 
 own  historian,  '  there  wanted  rnom  for  crosses,'  '  and  crosses  for 
 bodies  3'  and,  to  this  day,  this  dreadful  wish  is  obviously  upon  them.— 
 Gill.  26.  Scourg'ed  Jfs^i(5— whipping  or  scourging  in  criminal  cases 
 was  common  among  Jews  and  Romans.  The  former  used  a  whip  of 
 three  cords,  and  limited  the  number  of  stripes  to  thirty-nine,  (2  Cor. 
 xi,  24) ;  but  the  Romans'  most  usual  way  of  scourging  was  with  such 
 rods  or  wands  as  the  lictors  carried  in  a  bundle  before  the  chief  magis- 
 trates, and  this  scourging  was  exceedingly  cruel,  tearing  the  flesh  to 
 the  veins  and  arteries.— G«i/se,  so  Eusebius,  The  scourge  was  used  on 
 th<>se  destined  for  crucifixion.— S;?.  Pearce.  He  delif^ered  him  to  he 
 crucified,  a  Roman  punishment.  The  living  body  of  the  sufferer  was 
 fastened  to  two  cross  pieces  of  wood,  by  nails  driven  through  the 
 hands  and  feet;  the  feet  being  nailed  to  the  upright  pnst,  and  the 
 hands  to  the  two  extremities  of  the  transverse  beam.  The  miserable 
 object  lingered  in  dreadful  torments,  for  the  multitude  of  nerves  that 
 terminate  in  the  hands  and  feet  giving  those  parts  the  nicest  sensibility, 
 rendered  the  suffirings  exquisite.— //ors.  27.  The  common  hall,  the 
 pretorium,  or  judgment  hall,  as  it  is  sometimes  called.  The  whole 
 band,  five  hundred  ;  some  say  more.— GUI.  28.  Stripped  hi7n,  took 
 off  his  mantle  or  upper  garment.—.^.  Clarke.  A  scarlet  robe,  or  red 
 cnat,  likely  an  old  coat  of  one  of  their  officers.— Gill.  According  to 
 Mark  and  John,  a  purple  rube,  such  as  emperors  and  kings  wore.— 
 A.  Clarke.  The  ancients  gave  the  name  *  purple'  to  any  colour  that 
 had  a  mixture  of  red  in  it,  and  consequently  these  different  colours 
 might  be  sometimes  called  by  the  same  name.  The  robe  here  used  was 
 the  kind  worn  by  the  Roman  generals  and  other  distinguished  officers 
 of  the  Roman  army,  and  also  by  the  Roman  governors.  This  was 
 probably  one  which  had  been  worn,  and  cast  off  as  useless.— B«j'7»e*. 
 29.  Of  thorns,  oKu^ytDv,  of  the  herb  acanthus,  which  was  smooth  and 
 flexible;  for  mocking,  not  torture,  was  here  intended.— Bp.  Pearce. 
 The  naba  of  nabda  of  the  Arabians  is,  in  all  probability,  the  tree  which 
 afforded  the  crown  of  thorns  put  upon  the  head  of  Christ.  It  grows 
 Ci)mmon  in  the  east,  has  many  small  and  sharp  spires,  and  a  crown 
 might  easily  be  made  of  the  soft,  round,  and  phant  branches.  The 
 leaves  resemble  the  ivy,  and  perhaps  the  soldiers  would  have  a  plant 
 somewhat  resembling  that  with  which  the  emperors  and  generals  were 
 used  to  be  crowned,  that  there  might  be  satire  and  calumny  even  in 
 the  punishments.— Has5e^7Uis^  Trav.  A  reed,  a  cane.— .R.  Watson. 
 Not  a  cane,  but  a  reeA.—Bloomf.  A  walking  std,ff.~ Doddridge. 
 32.  Cajne  out,  out  of  the  city  ;  for,  as  in  the  wilderness  offenders  were 
 executed  without  the  camp,  so  at  Jerusalem  without  the  walls  of  the 
 city.  There  was  a  typical  aUusinn  in  Ibis,  (sec  Hcb.  xiii.  II— 13.)— 
 It.  Watson.     Cyruie,  a  city  in  Lybia.— Gi//.     Compelled,  nffopevaaK 
 
Christ  is  crucified. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXVII. 
 
 and  buried. 
 
 33  "^  And  when  they  were  come  unto  a  place 
 called  Golgotha,  that  is  to  say,  a  place  of  a 
 skull. 
 
 34  1[  °  They  gave  him  vinegar  to  drink  mingled 
 with  gall :  and  when  he  had  tasted  tkereoJ\  he 
 would  not  drink. 
 
 35  ^  And  they  crucified  him,  and  parted  his 
 garments,  casting  lots  :  that  it  might  be  ful- 
 filled which  was  spoken  by  the  i)rophet,  *^  They 
 parted  my  garments  among  them,  and  upon 
 my  vesture  did  they  cast  lots. 
 
 36  ^  And  sitting  down  they  watched  him 
 there  ; 
 
 37  And  ''set  up  over  his  head  his  accusation 
 written,  THIS  IS  JESUS  THE  KING  OF 
 THE  JEWS. 
 
 38  *"  Then  were  there  two  thieves  crucified 
 with  him,  one  on  the  right  hand,  and  another 
 on  the  left. 
 
 39  If  And  ^'they  that  passed  by  reviled  liim, 
 wagging  tlieir  heads, 
 
 40  And  saying,  ^  Thou  that  destroyest  tlie 
 temple,  and  buildest  it  in  three  days,  save  thy- 
 self. '  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  come  down 
 from  the  cross. 
 
 41  Likewise  also  the  chief  priests  mocking 
 him,  with  the  scribes  and  elders,  said, 
 
 42  He  saved  others;  himself  he  cannot  save. 
 
 A.  D.  3.'.. 
 
 ;  Mark  15. 
 
 22.  Luke  23. 
 
 33.Jobii  19. 
 
 17- 
 a  Pa.  69.  21. 
 
 Bee  ver  48. 
 
 6Markl5  21. 
 Luke23.ai. 
 John  19.24. 
 
 (  Mark  15, 
 26.Luke'iS. 
 :i8.  JohDl9. 
 19. 
 
 /Tit.  53.  12. 
 
 Mark  l!i27, 
 
 I,ul.o23,S2, 
 
 S)  John  19. 
 
 18. 
 g  Ca.SS.  7. 
 
 St  109.  25. 
 
 Mark  15.2*). 
 
 I,uke23.3r.. 
 h  ch,  20.  61. 
 
 Jolin  2.  19. 
 
 .■ch.-20.  C3. 
 
 *  Ps-  22.  8. 
 Wisd.  2.  Iti. 
 17,  18. 
 
 p  Ps  m.  21. 
 Markl5.:«. 
 Liike'i;i,:<fi. 
 John  19.-29. 
 
 46 
 
 -  Ey.  2G.  SI. 
 gClir.S.  14, 
 Ma.kIS  :W. 
 1.uLl>  23.45, 
 
 If  he  be  the  King  of  Israel,  let  him  now  come 
 down  from  the  cross,  and  we  will  believe  him. 
 
 43  ^  He  trusted  in  God  ;  let  him  deliver  him 
 now,  if  he  will  have  him  :  for  he  said,  I  am  the 
 Son  of  God, 
 
 44  *  The  thieves  also,  which  were  crucified 
 with  him,  cast  the  same  in  his  teeth. 
 
 45  "'  Now  from  the  sixth  hour  there  was 
 darkness  over  all  the  land  unto  the  ninth 
 hour. 
 
 4G  And  about  the  ninth  hour  "Jesus  cried 
 with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  Eli,  Eli,  lama  sa- 
 bachthani?  that  is  to  say,  "  My  God,  my  God, 
 why  hast  thou  forsaken  me? 
 
 47  Some  of  them  that  stood  there,  when  tiiey 
 heard  thaiy  said.  This  man  callet[i  for  Elias. 
 
 48  And  straightway  one  of  them  ran,  ami 
 took  a  spunge,  ''and  filled  it  with  vinegar,  and 
 put  it  on  a  reed,  and  gave  him  to  drink. 
 
 49  The  rest  said.  Let  be,  let  us  see  whether 
 Elias  will  come  to  save  him. 
 
 oO  H'' Jesus,  when  he  had  cried  again  with  a 
 loud  voice,  yielded  n|i  the  ghost. 
 
 b\  vVnd,  behold,  ""tiie  veil  of  the  temple  was 
 rent  in  twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom;  and 
 the  eartli  did  quake,  and  the  rocks  rent ; 
 
 3'2  And  the  graves  were  opened  ;  and  many 
 bodies  of  the  saints  which  slept  arose, 
 
 *  pressed*  into  the  Bcrvice. — Blonmf.  Tn  bear  his  cross,  that  is,  after 
 Jesus  had  borne  it,  or  rather  the  transverse  part  to  which  the  hands 
 were  nailc^l.  as  long-  as  his  strength  enabled  him,  (see  John,  xi.x.  17.) 
 This  act  was  consitlered  part  of  the  infamy.  It  is  probable  that  the 
 soldiers,  at  the  instigation  of  the  Jews,  took  Simon  for  this  purpose, 
 because  he  was  known  to  favour  Jesus  ;  and  St.  Mark,  by  naming  his 
 sons,  (chap.  xv.  21,)  Alexander  and  Rufus,  seems  to  indicate  that  they 
 were  disciples  of  Christ. — Hew.  33.  Golgotha,  thought  to  have  been 
 so  called  from  its  somewhat  resembling  tlie  shape  of  a  human  skull. — 
 Wells.  It  was  so  called  from  its  being  strewed  with  the  skulls  of  male- 
 factors who  had  been  there  executed.— Zf/oom/.  When  tlic  bodies  were 
 permitted  to  he  buried,  the  skulls  were  excepted,  and  left  on  the  ground. 
 — Kttinoet.  34.  Vinegar,  o^ov,  BOt  Vinegar,  but  a  very  inferior  wine. 
 — Bloom/.  Gall — the  word  x«^»i.  here  rendered  *gall,'  is  used  with 
 great  latitude  in  the  Sept.  The  Hebrew  word  signifying  wormwood 
 is  twice  so  rendered,  (Prov.v.  4  ;  Lam.iii.15.)  At  other  times  it  seems 
 to  denote  any  bitter  or  poisonous  infusion  that  tasted  like  gall.  Mark 
 says  myrrh  ;  but  it  seems  the  two  evangelists  speak  of  the  same  in- 
 gredients.—Be?*,*.  Gall  signifies  any  bitter  infusion.  Tliis  potion  was 
 probably  administered  to  the  condemned,  in  order  to  produce  stupefac- 
 tion, and  take  away  the  sense  of  pain, —  Whitby.  Hf  would  not  drink, 
 as  he  needed  none  of  those  arts  to  diminish  the  sense  of  pain,  and  he 
 wished  to  shew  his  patience  and  resignatiim  to  suffering.— U7n76v. 
 35.  They  cntcijied  him — the  soldiers  acted  as  the  executioners,  which 
 was  the  custom  of  ancient  times.— Suet.,  Cnlig.  32.  The  criminal  was 
 first  nailed  by  the  hands  and  feet  to  the  cross,  as  it  lay  on  the  ground. 
 The  cross  was  then  raised  and  let  fall  violently  into  the  hole  prepared 
 to  receive  it. — Barnes.  Parted  his  garments,  ffc. — the  clothes  of  male- 
 factors, who  were  always  crucified  naked,  were,  by  the  Roman  law, 
 considered  as  the  executioners'  perquisite,  which  they  either  divided  or 
 cast  lots  upon,  the  ticket,  or  whatever  else  they  might  use,  being 
 thrown  into  a  helmet. — So  Virg.  JEn.  5,  5t>,  Bloomf,  Our  Lord's  ves- 
 ture, or  coat,  being  seamless,  or  woven  from  top  to  bottom,  they  did 
 not  choose  to  tear  it  into  pieces,  but  cast  lots  for  it,  who  should  have 
 it, — Gill.  37.  His  accusation  written,  usually  in  black  letters  on  a 
 white  ground,  and  briefly  stated  the  cause  of  the  punishment,  which 
 was  also  proclaimed  by  the  public  crier  in  the  places  of  concourse. — 
 Bloom/,,  see  Suet.,  Damit.  10,  and  Calig.  32,  This  inscription  used  to 
 be  carried  before  or  put  upon  the  criminal  as  he  was  led  to  execution  ; 
 bttt  here  it  was  set  upon  the  cross,  and  perhaps  nailed  to  it ;  to  which 
 the  apostle  seems  to  allude,  Col.  ii.  w.—Gill.  38.  Two  thieves,  dvo 
 Xtjarat,  high-Way  robbers,  whole  bands  of  which  now  infested  Judea, 
 as  we  learn  from  Josephus. — See  Wetstein.  One  on  the  right,  Sfc. — 
 hereby  was  fulfilled,  as  Mark  observes,  chap.  xv.  23,  a  prophecy  in  Isa. 
 liii,  12.  That  passed  hy,  in  the  road  to  or  from  Jerusalem  ;  for,  it  seems, 
 the  crosses  were  placed  by  the  way-side. — Gill.  39.  Reviled,  efihaa- 
 ^n/ioi'v,  they  blasphemed  him. — Hen., Gill.  45.  There  uas  darkness— the 
 more  remarkable  as  it  was  quite  preternatural,  occurring  at  the  pass- 
 over,  which  was  at  full  moon — lasting  from  twelve  at  noon  to  three  in 
 the  afternoon,  whereas  an  eclipse  never  continues  more  than  fifteen 
 minutes;  and  extending  over  all  the  land,  that  is,  over  Palestine. — 
 it.  Watson.  Em  naaav  mv  yw, '  over  all  the  earth,'  so  many  interpre- 
 ters :  some  of  the  ancients  appealed  to  the  annals  of  the  nations  con- 
 cerning this  extraordinary  eclii)se  at  the  death  of  Christ,  as  a  thing 
 well  known,  and  which  gave  notice  to  those  parts  of  the  world  of  some- 
 thing great  then  in  doing;  as  the  sun's  going  back  in  Hezekiah's  time 
 did.  It  IS  reported  that  Dionysius,  at  Heliopolis,  in  Egypt,  took  notice 
 of  this  (larknu.'^s,  and  said,  'Aut  Deus  naturae  patitur,  aut  mundi  ma- 
 china  dissniutur,'— *  either  the  God  of  nature  is  suffering,  or  the  frame 
 of  thcworid  is  dissolving.'— HcH.        -16.  iVi/j/A /lour,  three  in  the  alter- 
 
 noun,  precisely  the  hour  when  the  priests  immolated  the  passover.— 
 Mar.  Eli,  Eli,  fyc. — (quoted  from  Ps.  xxii.  1.  These  are  not  the  pre- 
 cise Hebrew  words,  but  in  the  Syro-Chaldaic  dialect,  which  accounts 
 for  their  being  misunderstood  by  some  of  the  by-standers,  (ver.  47,) 
 who  probably  came  from  a  distance,  and  did  not  well  undeistand  the 
 dialect  spoken  at  Jerusalem. —  Wil.  Why  hast  Ihou/ursakvn  me.' — the 
 language  not  of  complaint,  but  of  suffering  and  i)rayer. — liost-nm.  In 
 the  Hebrew,  God  is  said  to  forsake  any  one  when  he  suffers  him  to 
 labour  under  great  miseries.— Whit/iy.  47.  For  Elias — they  mistook 
 the  former  part  of  the  exclamation  in  the  last  verse,  '  Eli,  Eli,'  for  the 
 vocative  case  of  the  prophet's  name.  —  Hew.,  as  Grot.,  Crad  ,  aiul 
 Camp.  This  seems  to  have  been  an  intentional  and  malicious  pcrvcr- 
 sion  of  Christ's  words,  by  way  of  deriding  his  pretensions  to  tlie  Mes- 
 siahship,  making  thcni  signify  an  entreaty  for  Elias  to  come  to  his 
 assistance. — So  Beza,  Wets.,  Doddr.,  Kuinoel,  Bloom/.,  &c.  48.  (hi 
 a  rend,  *a  stick.' — Camp.  St.  John  says  the  sponge  was  put  upon 
 hyssop,  meaning  the  stalk  of  that  herb,  which  there  might  be  lonij 
 enough  for  the  purpose,  as  the  crosses  were  not  lofty.  This  stalk  might 
 he  called  a  reed,  as  KoXn/iuc  was  used  mctonomically  for  a  rod,  a  staff, 
 Sic. — H.  Watson.  50.  Yielded  tip  the  ghost,  a0»|K€  to  -nvtviiu,  'dis- 
 missed his  spirit.*— Doddr.  An  expression  admirably  suiteil  to  our 
 Lord's  own  words,  (John,  x.  la.)  He  died  by  a  voluntary  act  of  liis 
 own,  and  in  a  way  peculiar  to  himself.  He  alone,  of  all  men  that  ever 
 were,  could  have  continued  alive,  even  in  the  greatest  tortures,  as  k>ng 
 as  he  pleased,  or  have  retired  from  the  body  whenever  he  thought  fit. 
 — Bens. ;  this  is  the  view  of  Doddr.,  Clarke,  and  others.  The  notion 
 that  our  Lord  voluntarily  hastened  Ins  death  by  an  act  of  liis  Divine 
 power,  dying,  not  as  exhausted  by  his  sufferings,  but  by  cutting  lliem 
 short,  is  incorrect.  If  it  were  so,  if  our  Lord  died  not  as  the  effect  of 
 his  crucifixion,  but  of  an  exertion  of  his  Divine  power,  he  was  not  put 
 to  death  by  the  Jews,  and  he  did  not,  as  St.  Paul  says,  '  become  obe- 
 dient to  the  death  of  the  cross,*  although  he  died  upon  it ;  but  the  Jews 
 '  killed  the  Prince  of  Life.'  The  passage  (John,  x.  18)  teaches  us,  that 
 although  possessing  the  power  to  prevent  men  from  indicting  death 
 on  him,  he  would  not  exert  it,  but  surrender  liimself  to  their  will ;  for 
 to  lay  down  his  life  was  surely  to  yield  up  himself  to  be  put  to  death 
 by  his  enemies. — /(.  Watsnn,  so  Bloom/.  The  same  words  are  used  by 
 Euripides,  signifying  simply  'to  die.' — R.  W<itso7i.  51.  The  reil  0/ 
 
 the  temple — there  were  two  veils  of  the  temple  ;  one  at  the  entrance 
 into  the  holy  place,  the  other  between  the  holy  place  and  the  sanc- 
 tuary, called  *  the  inner  veil ;'  and  it  is  called,  Heb.ix.3,  '  the  second 
 veil.'  It  is  particularly  described,  Exod.  xxvi.  31—33,  and  is  the  veil 
 here  intended.  *  It  was  of  the  strongest  contexture,  the  richest  mate- 
 rials, and  the  finest  workmanship.' — Lnrdner.  Wtis  rent,  indicating 
 that  the  Mosaic  dispensation  was  now  virtually  abolished,  and  the  dis- 
 tinction between  Jew  and  Gentile  terminated  through  that  oblation 
 which   had  just  been  offered. — Scott.  52.  The  graves  were  opened, 
 
 instrumentally  by  the  earthquake.  Bodies  0/  the  saints,  ffr. — by  those 
 recently  dead  shewing  themselves  to  their  acquaintance  the  proof  was 
 complete.  These  bodies  were  not  yet  made  glorious,  but,  doubtless, 
 were  then  immortal,  and  ascended  with  their  Saviour.  That  we  hear 
 no  more  of  them,  indicates  that  they  did  not  remain  among  men  and 
 die  a  second  time,  which  would  have  been  an  evil. — R.  Watson.  'I'hat 
 these  had  lately  died,  is  also  the  opinion  of  Bp.  Pearce,  Guyse,  and 
 Mackn.  These  were,  probably,  eminently  holy  men  mentioned  in  the 
 Old  Testament,  who  appeared  in  extraonliitary  splendour,  and  were 
 known  by  revelation  to  those  to  whom  they  appeared,  as  Moses  and 
 Elijah  were  to  the  disciples  at  the  traiisfigur-ition.— So  Fleming.  The 
 purpose  of  this  temporary  resuscitation,  i,for  such  I  conceive  it  was,) 
 seems  to  have  bccu  to  convince  tlie  unbelieving  Jews  of  the  Messiah- 
 
Christ's  death. 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXVIII. 
 
 and  burial. 
 
 S3  And  came  out  of  the  graves  after  his  re- 
 surrection, and  went  into  the  holy  city,  and  ap- 
 peared unto  many. 
 
 34  '  Now  when  the  centurion,  and  they  that 
 were  with  him,  watcliing  Jesus,  saw  the  earth- 
 quake, and  those  things  that  were  done,  they 
 feared  greatly,  saying.  Truly  this  was  the  Son 
 of  God. 
 
 65  And  many  women  were  there  beholding 
 afar  off,  '  which  followed  Jesus  from  Galilee, 
 ministering  unto  him  : 
 
 30  "  Among  which  was  Mary  Magdalene, 
 and  Mary  the  mother  of  James  and  Joses,  and 
 the  mother  of  Zebedee's  children. 
 
 37  *  When  the  even  was  come,  there  came  a 
 rich  man  of  Arimathaa,  named  Joseph,  who 
 also  himself  was  Jesus'  disciple  : 
 
 38  He  went  to  Pilate,  and  begged  the  body 
 of  Jesus.  Then  Pilate  commanded  the  body 
 to  be  delivered. 
 
 39  And  when  Joseph  had  taken  the  body,  he 
 wrapped  it  in  a  clean  linen  cloth, 
 
 (iO  And  'laid  it  in  his  own  new  tomb,  which 
 he  had  hewn  out  in  the  rock  :  and  he  rolled  a 
 great  stone  to  the  dour  of  the  sepulchre,  and 
 departed. 
 
 ()l  And  there  was  Mary  Magdalene,  and  the 
 other  Mary,  sitting  over  against  the  sepulchre. 
 
 C'2  IF  Now  the  next  day,  that  followed  the 
 day  of  the  preparation,  the  chief  priests  and 
 Pharisees  came  together  unto  Pilate, 
 
 G.3  Saying,  Sir,  we  remember  that  that  de- 
 ceiver said,  while  he  was  yet  alive,  "  After 
 three  days  I  will  rise  again. 
 
 64  Command  therefore  that  tlie  sepulchre  be 
 made  sure  until  the  third  day,  lest  his  disciples 
 come  by  niglit,  and  steal  him  away,  and  say 
 unto  the  people,  He  is  risen  from  the  dead  : 
 
 I  ver.  W. 
 I,uke83.47. 
 
 F  Mark  15. 
 1-2  LiiUe23, 
 5il.Julm  I!'. 
 33. 
 
 r/ 13.63.  9. 
 
 sell.  16.  21. 
 8(  17.  23.  ik 
 211. 19.  &  26 
 til.  Marks. 
 31  &  10.34. 
 Luke  9.  22 
 &  IS.  .33.  ik 
 ■Jl.  6,  7. 
 J.111II  2.  19. 
 
 a  Mark  1 R,  i . 
 1. like  ^4  I 
 J..I111  20.  1. 
 
 A  ch.27.  51. . 
 
 11  Or,  Itad 
 
 If  pen. 
 c  See  Mark 
 
 16.  5. 
 
 l.uke  2-1.   1 
 
 J.ili  11  20.12 
 
 <i  Dan.  10.  (1 
 
 e  ell.  19.  40. 
 St  10.  21.  )^ 
 17.23.  &  2(1. 
 
 /"ih.  26.  32. 
 Mark  16.  7. 
 
 so  the  last  error  shall  be  worse  than  the  first. 
 
 63  Pilate  said  unto  them.  Ye  have  a  watch  : 
 go  your  way,  make  it  as  sure  as  ye  can. 
 
 66  So  they  went,  and  made  the  sepulchre 
 sure,  "  sealing  the  stone,  and  setting  a  watch. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 1  ChrisCs  resuTrtctlon  is  declared  by  an  antjel  to  the 
 womin.  9  //e  /limseif'aiipfareth  unto  thtm.  1 1  The 
 hiyh  priests  t/ivc  the  no/dkrs  money  to  say  that  he  was 
 stolen  out  of  his  sepulchre,  16  Christ  appeantk  to 
 his  disciples,  19  and sendeth  them  to  baptize  and  teach 
 all  nations. 
 
 TN  the  "^end  of  the  sabbath,  as  it  began  to 
 -■-  dawn  toward  the  first  dai/  of  the  week,  came 
 Mary  Magdalene  ^  and  the  other  Mary  to  see 
 the  sepulchre. 
 
 2  And,  beliold,  there  ||  was  a  great  earth- 
 quake :  for  ^  the  angel  of  the  Lord  descended. 
 ivom  heaven,  and  came  and  rolled  back  the 
 stone  from  the  door,  and  sat  upon  it. 
 
 3  "'  His  countenance  was  like  lightning,  and 
 his  raiment  white  as  snow  : 
 
 4  And  for  fear  of  him  the  keepers  did  shake, 
 and  became  as  dead  7nen. 
 
 5  And  the  angel  answered  and  said  unto  the 
 women,  Fear  not  ye  :  for  1  know  that  ye  seek 
 Jesus,  which  was  crucified. 
 
 6  He  is  not  here  :  for  he  is  risen,  '^  as  he  said. 
 Come,  see  the  place  where  the  Lord  lay. 
 
 7  And  go  quickly,  and  tell  his  disciples  that 
 he  is  risen  from  the  dead;  and,  behold,  ^he 
 goeth  before  you  into  Galilee  ;  there  shall  ye 
 see  him  :  lo,  I  have  told  you. 
 
 8  And  they  departed  quickly  from  the  se- 
 pulchre with  fear  and  great  joy  ;  and  did  run 
 to  bring  his  disciples  word, 
 
 9  t  And  as  they  went  to  tell  his  disciples, 
 
 ship  of  Jesus,  since  they  themselves  admitted  that  some  of  the  dead 
 would  be  resuscitated  at  tlie  time  of  the  Messiah. — Bloovif.  53.  Hnly 
 city,  Jerusalem,  so  called  because  the  temple  was  there.  —  Barnes. 
 54.  The  cevturum, '  the  Roman  captain,'  whn,  with  a  guard  of  soldiers, 
 was  ordered  to  attend  the  crucifixion  of  Jesui*,  and  see  the  sentence 
 executed.  The  Son  of  God,  6cov  ylor,  '  the  5<m  of  a  god,*  not  *  the  Son 
 of  God,'  which  would  have  been  differently  worded,  o  yloc  rov  Geov, 
 nor  'a  Son  of  God,' which  would  also  have  been  different,  i-iot  tou 
 Geou.  '  A  son  of  a  god'  is  an  expression  periertly  suitable  in  the  mouth 
 of  a  polytheist,  like  the  Roman  centurion, — Cump.  The  meaning  seems 
 to  be  tliat  tliey  thought  Christ  altogetlier  innocent— a  just  man,  (as 
 Luke,  xxiii.  4",)  and,  as  it  were,  a  hero  or  dcmi-god. —  So  Grotius, 
 Jlosentn.,  Kuinoel,  Markland.  If  we  take  the  words  in  the  sense  of 
 Mkssiah,  they  involve  no  difficulty.  The  soldiers  must  have  been 
 quite  aware  of  the  pretensions  of  Jesus  to  be  the  Son  of  God  ;  nay,  the 
 celebrated  Wasse  thinks  it  highly  probable  that  the  centurion  was  pre- 
 sent at  the  trial  of  our  Lord.  The  term  '  Son  of  God,'  as  synonymous 
 with  'Messiah,'  must  have  been  familiar  to  them,  as  being  then  in 
 perpetual  use  ;  besides,  they  had  heard  Jesus  died  addressing  God  as 
 his  Father.  Neither  could  they  be  ignorant  that  he  had,  in  fact,  been 
 delivered  to  death  for  maintainmg  that  claim,  thuugh  nuniinally  con- 
 demned for  sedition.  Where,  then,  is  the  difficulty  of  sup|iosing  that 
 some  exclaimed,  '  This  was  truly  the  personage  he  affirmed  himself  to 
 be,  "the  Son  iif  God?"'  The  soldiers,  however,  probably  used  the 
 words  in  the  popular  sense,  without  fully  understandiug  their  mean- 
 ing.— Bliioinf.  57.  0/  Arimat/i(ca,  he  lived  at  Jerusalem,  but  this  was 
 his  birtli-place  or  former  residence  ;  and  is  tlie  same  with  Ramathaim- 
 zophim,  and  Rama,  (see  I  Sara.  i.  I,  ly ;)  called  Armathaim  in  Sejtt., 
 in  ISara.  i.  1,  3,  ly)  and  viii.  4  j  xv.  34  ;  wi.  13,  and  xxviii.  3.— GUI. 
 
 58.  Begged  the  body—the  bodies  of  persons  executed  for  treason  (and 
 generally  of  crucified  persons;  were  seldom  buried.  60.  Roiled  a  great 
 s/one— it  was  an  oriental  custom  to  guard  the  entrance  of  sepulchres 
 with  large  stones. — Blnomf.  65.  Ye  have  a  wa/cA— this  alludes  to 
 the  guard  of  Roman  soldiers  which  was  at  this  time  allowed  the  Jewish 
 rulers,  for  the  purpose  of  quelling  tumults,  and  preserving  the  jmblic 
 peace.— See  Gmt.,  Bp.  Penrce.  66.  Seulinfj  the  stone,  ^c,  a  custom 
 
 mentioned  in  Dan.  vi,  1".  The  seal  used  in  this  case  was  either  that  of 
 Pilate  or  some  public  seal,  so  that  the  stone  could  not  be  removed  bat 
 by  the  authority  which  the  seal  represented.  A  band  of  Icatlier  or  cord 
 was  in  such  cases  used,  to  each  end  of  which  the  seal  was  attached. — 
 B.  Walson.  Thus  Providence  so  disposed  events,  that  the  extreme 
 anxiety  of  these  men  to  prevent  collusion  should  be  the  means  of  add- 
 ing the  testimony  of  sixty  unexceptionable  witnesses  (the  number  of 
 the  Roman  sohhers  on  the  guard)  to  the  truth  of  the  resurrection,  and 
 to  the  establishing  the  reality  of  it  beyond  all  power  of  contradiction. 
 — Port  ens. 
 
 Chap,  xxviii.  —  1.  Jn  the  end  0/  the  sabbath,  o\\te  o-a/j/^aTtov,  'after 
 the  Sabbath.' — Krebs. ;  so  Boothr.,  Benson,  Watson,  'Sabbath  being 
 over.'— C»»//;.  This  could  only  be  spoken  of  Saturday  evening,  for 
 the  Sabbath  ended  at  sun-set. — Camp.  2.  Earthquake,  ireto/ior, 
 means  '  a  shaking,'  or  commotion'  of  any  kind,  and  probably  here 
 means  no  more  than  the  'confusion'  among  the  guards,  caused  by  the 
 angel's  appearance. — Clarke.  '  A  great  commotion'  in  the  air. — Ham., 
 Le  C/frr,  Pearce,  Wakrf.  •  TrembUng,'  or  *  fear.'— i(/«rA-/.  A  great 
 concussion  of  the  earth,  probably  confined  to  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
 tomb. —  Wats.  '  Earthquake'  is  the  most  usual  signification.— Booi/tr. 
 7.  Into  Galilee,  where  he  ha4l  many  disciples  destined  to  be  witnesses 
 of  his  resurrection,  (1  Cor.  xv.  6.)— Gro/ios.         9.  All  hail,  a.  V/OT A  of 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVII The  chief  subjects  in 
 
 this  chapter  are — I.  The  arraignment  of  Christ  before  Pilate. 
 In  wliich  we  cannot  but  admire  the  dignity  and  meekness  of 
 Him  whom  the  governor  was  constrained  lo  pronounce  *  just;' 
 and  in  which  our  hearts  are  moved  with  astonishment  and  in- 
 dignation at  the  injustice  and  fury  of  his  enemies,  while  we 
 look  at  this  moment  with  the  most  tender  pity  on  that  un- 
 happy race  suffering  under  the  awful  imprecation — '  His 
 blood  be  on  us  and  on  our  children.' 
 
 II.  The  execution  of  Christ.  Barabbas,  the  robber,  was 
 released,  while  the  innocent  Saviour  was  given  up  to  be  cruci- 
 fied, '  to  intimate  that  Christ  was  condemned  for  this  purpose, 
 that  sinners,  even  the  chief  of  sinners,  might  be  released.' 
 And  now  He,  *  by  whose  stripes  we  are  healed  gave  his  back 
 1039 
 
 lo  the  smiters,'  and  '  was  chastised  with  whips,  that  we  might 
 not  be  for  ever  chastised  with  scorpions  ;'  and  he  was  crowned 
 with  thorns  that  we  might  wear  a  crown  of  glory;  and  he 
 was  lifted  up  on  the  cross,  that  we  *  might  not  perish,  but 
 have  everlasting  life.'  lie  loved  us,  and  as  the  most  striking 
 proof  of  bis  love,  *  he  gave  himself  for  us.' 
 
 III.  The  burial  of  Christ.  This  exception  to  the  case  of 
 crucified  malefactors  in  general  was  not  only  a  fulfilment  of 
 propliecy,  (Isa.  liii.9,)  but,  irom  the  extreme  caution  em- 
 ployed by  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees,  to  secure  the  body 
 of  Christ  in  the  tomb,  furnished  a  ground  of  evidence  for  our 
 (aith  which  infidelity,  with  all  its  sophistry,  may  in  vain  en- 
 deavour lo  gainsay  and  resist. 
 
Christ  appeareth  to  the  tvomen, 
 
 S.  MATTHEW,  XXVIII. 
 
 and  to  his  disciples. 
 
 behold,  *  Jesus  met  them,  saying.  All  hail. 
 And  they  came  and  held  him  by  the  feet,  and 
 worshipped  him. 
 
 10  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them.  Be  not  afraid: 
 go  tell  ''  my  brethren  that  they  go  into  Galilee, 
 and  there  shall  they  see  me. 
 
 1 1  H  Now  when  they  were  going,  behold, 
 some  of  the  watch  came  into  the  city,  and 
 shewed  unto  the  chief  priests  all  the  things 
 that  were  done. 
 
 I '2  And  when  they  were  assembled  with  the 
 elders,  and  had  taken  counsel,  they  gave  large 
 money  unto  the  soldiers, 
 
 13  Saying,  Say  ye.  His  disciples  came  by 
 night,  and  stole  him  awat/  while  we  slept. 
 
 14  And  if  this  come  to  the  governor's  ears, 
 we  will  persuade  him,  and  secure  you. 
 
 15  So  they  took  the  money,  and  did  as  they 
 
 John  20.14. 
 
 h  See  J. 
 
 hn 
 
 ■JO.   17 
 
 Ho,n.  >^ 
 
 V.I 
 
 Heb.  2 
 
 11. 
 
 A.  D,  33. 
 
 .'  cli.  26.  32. 
 
 ver. 7, 
 *Dan.  7.  13, 
 
 n.  ch.  II. 
 
 S7.&  16.  28. 
 
 Luke  I.  33. 
 
 ft  10.  22. 
 
 John  3.  35. 
 
 &  5.  2-2.  St 
 
 IS.  3.  &  17. 
 
 2.Acta'J'.3l>. 
 
 Rom.  U.  9. 
 
 1  Cor.  15.27. 
 
 Eph.  I.  Id, 
 
 91,  Phil,  2. 
 
 9,  10.  Heb. 
 
 1.  2.  &  'J-S. 
 
 1  Pet.  9.2-i 
 
 Hev.  17    14. 
 
 I  Mark  16. 
 15. 
 
 m  Is.  &?.  10. 
 Luke  24.47. 
 Acts  2.  38, 
 89.Hniii.IO. 
 \A.  Col.  1. 
 23. 
 
 II  Or,  maMe  dt 
 
 were  taught :  and  this  saying  is  commonly  re- 
 ported among  the  Jews  until  this  day. 
 
 16  If  Then  the  eleven  disciples  went  away 
 into  Galilee,  into  a  mountain  'where  Jesus  had 
 appointed  them. 
 
 17  And  when  they  saw  him,  they  worshipped 
 him  :  but  some  doubted. 
 
 18  And  Jesus  came  and  spake  unto  them, 
 saying,  ''All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven 
 and  in  earth. 
 
 19  If '  Go  ye  therefore,  and  "  [f  teach  all  na- 
 tions, baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
 and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost : 
 
 20  "  Teacliing  them  to  observe  all  things 
 whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you  :  and,  lo, 
 I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
 world.     Amen, 
 
 itcipleifOT,  Chriiliant  of  alt  naliont.     n  Acts  2.  42. 
 
 friendly  and  afTectionate  salatatinn.  12.  And  had  taken  couiiset—we 
 niiipt  account  for  their  incredulity  and  obstinacy  by  considering  that 
 they  were  men  given  up  by  God  to  the  blind  and  malevolent  passions 
 of  their  own  bad  hearts. — It.  Watson.  13.  Sat/  ye,  His  disciples  came 
 hy  nightt  ^f.— this  was  a  falsehood  which  confuted  itself.  The  soldiers 
 asleep  could  not  know  what  passed,  nor  was  it  likely  that  the  timid  dis- 
 ciples would  venture  to  steal  the  body:  and  the  omitting  to  punish 
 them  was  a  full  demonstration  of  the  falsehood  of  the  story. — So  Scott. 
 14.  And  secure  you,  because  it  was  death  for  the  sentinel  to  sleep  upon 
 his  post, — It.  Watson,  17.  Doubted,  cfnoTaGav,  they  hung  in  sus- 
 pense, as  the  scale  in  the  wavering  balance.— //i?/i.  18.  All  power, 
 Sfc,  natra  f^ovcria,  'all  authority,'  but  our  Lord's  authority  implies 
 power  also. — liens.  Hereby  he  asserts  his  universal  dominion  as  Medi- 
 ator, which  is  the  great  foundation  of  the  Christian  religion. — Henry. 
 19- Teach,  liuBtjTevaaTe,  'proselyte.* — Doddr.      'Disciple,'   or   'make 
 
 disciples  oi.^—Wats.,  Bens.  In  the  name,  the  name  is  one,  not  namea. 
 The  persons  [or  subsistences]  three,  eacli  of  whom  is  manifestly  repre- 
 sented as  coequal,  because  the  common  objects  of  trust,  obedience, 
 and  worship,  and  the  source  of  blessing.  Thus  is  the  absolute  unity 
 and  divine  character  of  that  sacred  Three  unequivocally  marked,  in  a 
 rite  by  which  they  become  our  onb  and  only  God,  and  we  become 
 HIS  people. — R.  Watson.  'JO.  I  am,  £70  Ci^n,  ivith  j/om,  not '  1  will  l>e 
 with  you,'  hereby  reminding  them  of  his  Divine  power  and  essence,  to 
 which  all  things  were  present.— B^y.  *  I  am,'  for  he  is  God  to  whom 
 past,  present,  and  to  come,  are  the  same.  Alway,  ma^vti  ra?  ?jfifpa^. 
 '  all  days,'  everj'  day.  My  Spirit,  the  Comforter,  is  with  you. — Henry. 
 Of  the  world,  that  is,  the  gospel  dispensation.— TV^ewc.  Had  the  words 
 related  to  the  apostles  only,  he  would  have  said,  *  all  your  days.' — 
 Whitby.  Their  idea  of  '  the  world,' or  'the  age,*  could  not  be  any 
 other  than  coincident  with  the  expected  daysof  the  Messiah.— P.  Smith. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVIII. — Two  great  facts  are 
 asserted  in  this  cbapter~I.  Christ's  resurrection.  '  The  Lord 
 is  risen  indeed.'  Even  the  contrivances  of  enemies  to  conceal 
 the  fact  have  but  the  more  confirmed  it.  And  '  now  is  the 
 justice  of  God  satisfied,  or  this  prisoner  had  not  been  released; 
 now  is  the  reproach  of  tlie  cross  wiped  away,  and  turned 
 into  triumph  and  glory.  This  great  article  of  our  faith  is 
 established  upon  the  strongest  and  clearest  evidence;  and 
 we  may  joyfully  say.  Now  is  Christ  risen,  and  become  the  first- 
 fruits  of  them  that  slept;  and-ive,  in  conformity  to  his  ex- 
 ample, should  die  to  sin,  and  rise  and  walk  in  newness  of  life.'^ 
 
 11.    The  establishment  of  Christ's  viaHatorial  kingdom.     Now 
 
 he  is  'declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power.'  'Because 
 he  humbled  himself,  therefore  God  thus  exalted  him  ;  and 
 partly  in  pursuance  of  his  design,  he  had  power  given  him 
 over  all  flesh,  that  he  might  give  eternal  life  to  as  many  as 
 were  given  to  him,  (John,  xvii.  2,)  for  the  more  effectual 
 carrying  on  and  completing  our  salvation.  This  power  he  was 
 now  more  sii^nally  invested  with  on  his  resurrection,  (Acts, 
 xiii.  33.  He  had  power  before;  power  to  forgive  sins,  (Matt, 
 ix.  6  ;)  but  now,  all  power  is  given  him.  He  is  now  going  to 
 receive  for  himself  a  kingdom,  (Luke,  xix.  12,)  to  sit  down  at 
 the  right  hand,  (Ps.  ex.  1.)  Having  purchased  it,  nothing 
 remains  but  to  lake  possession  ;  it  is  his  own  for  ever.' 
 
 THE    GOSPEL 
 
 ACCOBDDJO  TO 
 
 S.     M  A  R   K. 
 
 [  Mark  is  another  witness  to  tlic  doctrine  and  miracles  of  the  Lord  Jesus  He  is  supposed  to  be  tlic  person  called  '  Marcus 
 my  son,'  (1  Pet.  v.  13.)  Kasebius  says,  that  he  was  Peter's  amanuensis.  It  is  not  decided  whether  this  Mark  be  the 
 same  person  called  John  Mark,  son  of  a  sister  of  Harnabas,  who  was  servant  to  his  uncle,  and  to  the  Apostle  Paul,  (see 
 Acts,  XV.  .37 — 39. )  The  publication  of  this  gospel  is  supposed  to  have  been  about  the  year  65.  It  is  generally  supposed 
 that  Mark  wrote  for  Gentile  converts,  and  this  will  account  for  his  omitting  many  things  of  interest  to  the  Jews,  such 
 as  the  genealogy  of  Christ,  &c.  This  Ev.ingelist  rebates  the  miracles  of  Jesus  with  particularity,  but  rarely  gives  us  his 
 discourses.     He  introduces  several  circumstances  and  narrations  not  mentioned  by  i\Iatlhew.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  The  office  of  John  the  BajAist.  9  Jesus  is  baptized, 
 12  tempted,  14  he  preacheth :  16  calkth  Peter,  An- 
 drew, Jdmes  and  John  :  23  healeth  one  that  had  a 
 devil,  29  Peter's  mother  in  Uiw,  32  many  diseased 
 p'Tsons,  41  a7td  cleanseth  the  lej}er. 
 
 npHE  beginning  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ, 
 -■-    "  the  Son  of  God  ; 
 2  As  it  is  written  in  the  prophets,  *•  Behold, 
 
 A.  D.  26. 
 
 A.  D.  2ti. 
 
 ending. 
 
 ending. 
 
 c  I^.'IO.  3 
 
 Mat.  a.  3. 
 
 Luke  3.   1. 
 
 John  I.  15, 
 
 23. 
 
 aMat.U.ftS. 
 
 d  Mat.  3.  1 
 
 Luke  1.  35. 
 
 John  1.34, 
 
 b  Mai.  3.  I. 
 
 II  Or,  uiiio. 
 
 M.-it.  U.  10. 
 
 I.ukc  T.-n. 
 
 c.  Mat.  3.  6. 
 
 I  send  my  messenger  before  thy  face,  which 
 sliall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee. 
 
 3  "  The  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  vviklerne.'is. 
 Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make  his 
 paths  straight. 
 
 4  '■  John  did  baptize  in  the  wilderness,  and 
 preach  the  baptism  of  repentance  ||  for  the  re- 
 mission of  sins. 
 
 5  "And  there  went  out  unto  him  all  the  land 
 
 NoTBS  ON  Chap.  I.  —  I.  The  heginning,  ^c— this  is  either  a  short 
 preface,  or  ilcsigncd  to  intimate  that  the  publication  of  Christ's  advent, 
 &c.,  commenced  with  the  ministry  of  John  Baptist.— B.  Walson. 
 ■I.  My  messengtr—see  Mai.  iii.  1,  nnte.  Prepare  tity  wan,  §c.— when 
 a  man  of  rank  has  to  pass  through  a  town  or  village,  a"  messenger  is 
 despatched  to  tell  the  people  to  prepare  the  way,  and  to  await  his 
 lOlU 
 
 orders.  Some  then  sweep  the  road,  others  spread  garments,  others 
 form  arches  and  festoons  en  the  way. — Iloh.  3.  The  voice — see  Isa. 
 xl.  3,  note.  4.  Wilderness — see  Matt.  iii.  2,  note.  The  baptism  of 
 repentance,  because  repentance  was  the  great  thing  he  preached,  a 
 seal  of  which  baptism  was  to  be,  and  the  argument  used  to  press  it 
 was,  remission  of  sins.— Poo/e.        5.  All  the  land,  ^c,  that  is,  vast 
 
Jesus  is  baptized. 
 
 S,  MARK,  I. 
 
 He  cleanseth  the  leper. 
 
 of  JudiEa,  and  they  of  Jerusalem,  and  were  all 
 baptized  of  him  in  the  river  of  Jordan,  confes- 
 sing their  sins. 
 
 6  And  John  was  'clothed  with  camel's  hair, 
 and  with  a  girdle  of  a  skin  abont  his  loins ; 
 and  lie  did  eat  *  locusts  and  wild  honey  ; 
 
 7  And  preached,  saying,  ''There  cometh  one 
 mightier  than  I  after  me,  the  latchet  of  whose 
 shoes  1  am  not  worthy  to  stoop  down  and  un- 
 loose. 
 
 8  '  I  indeed  have  baptized  you  with  water : 
 but  he  shall  baptize  you  'with  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 9  '  And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that 
 Jesus  came  from  Nazareth  of  Galilee,  and  was 
 baptized  of  John  in  Jordan. 
 
 10  "'And  straightway  coming  up  out  of  the 
 water,  he  saw  the  heavens  ||  opened,  and  the 
 Spirit  like  a  dove  descending  upon  him  : 
 
 1 1  And  there  came  a  voice  from  heaven, 
 sayiny,  "  Thou  art  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom 
 I  am  well  pleased. 
 
 12  "And  immediately  the  spirit  driveth  him 
 into  the  wilderness. 
 
 13  And  he  was  there  in  the  wilderness  forty 
 days,  tempted  of  Satan  ;  and  was  with  the  wild 
 beasts;  ""and  the  angels  ministered  unto  him. 
 
 14  ''  Now  after  that  John  was  put  in  prison, 
 Jesus  came  into  Galilee,  'preaching  the  gospel 
 of  the  kingdom  of  God, 
 
 15  And  saying,  '  The  time  is  fulfilled,  and 
 '  the  kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand  :  repent  ye, 
 and  believe  the  gospel. 
 
 16  "  Now  as  he  walked  by  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
 he  saw  Simon  and  Andrew  his  brother  casting 
 a  net  into  the  sea:  for  they  were  fishers. 
 
 17  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Come  ye  after 
 me,  and  I  will  make  you  to  become  fishers  of 
 men. 
 
 18  And  straightway  'they  forsook  their  nets, 
 and  followed  him. 
 
 19  ^  And  when  he  had  gone  a  little  farther 
 thence,  he  saw  James  the  son  of  Zebedee,  and 
 John  his  brother,  who  also  were  in  the  ship 
 mending  their  nets. 
 
 20  And  straightway  he  called  them  :  and 
 they  left  their  father  Zebedee  in  the  ship  with 
 the  hired  servants,  and  went  after  him. 
 
 21  ^  And  they  went  into  Capernaum  ;  and 
 straightway  on  the  sabbath  day  he  entered  into 
 the  synagogue,  and  taught. 
 
 22  'And  they  were  astonished  at  his  doctrine : 
 for  he  taught  them  as  one  that  had  authority, 
 and  not  as  the  scribes. 
 
 23  ''And  there  was  in  their  synagogue  a  man 
 with  an  unclean  spirit ;  and  he  cried  out, 
 
 24  Saying,  Let  us  alone;  '^  what  have  we  to 
 do  with  thee,  thou  Jesus  of  Nazareth  ?  art 
 thou  come  to  destroy  us  ?  I  know  thee  who 
 thou  art,  the  Holy  One  of  God. 
 
 25  And  Jesus  ''  rebuked  him,  saying,  Hold 
 thy  peace,  and  come  out  of  him. 
 
 A.  D.  -ifj. 
 ending 
 
 ^Lev.ll.Sa. 
 
 h  Mat  3.  n. 
 Jotm  I  J7. 
 Act=  13.  ;;5 
 
 ICor  12. IS, 
 
 A.  D.  27. 
 L  Mat.  3    13 
 
 Luke  S.L'l 
 m  .Mat  3.16. 
 
 .lohn  I.  3i. 
 
 1  Or,  cluueii, 
 
 or,  renf. 
 n  Va.  2.  7. 
 
 Mat.  3.  17. 
 
 ch.  9.  7. 
 o  Mat.  i    I. 
 
 Luke  4.  I. 
 
 ending 
 't  Milt   4.  12. 
 r  Mat.  4.  -iX 
 
 t  Dan.  9.  25 
 Gal    4.  4. 
 Kph.  1 .  10. 
 
 (  Mat.  3.  2. 
 &  4.  17 
 
 u  Mat.  4.  13. 
 Luke  5.  4. 
 
 X  Mat.  19. 
 27.  Luke  5 
 
 A.  P  31. 
 :  Mat  4  13 
 Luke  4.  31 
 
 A.  D.  31. 
 
 e  ch.  9. 20. 
 
 r  M.it.  8. 14. 
 Luke  4.  38. 
 
 ff  Mat.  8.  16. 
 Luke  4.  40. 
 
 fi  ch   .3.  12. 
 Luke  4.  41. 
 See  Acts 
 16.  17.  18. 
 
 II  Or,  10  1/11/ 
 titat  tliry 
 4-.eiD  b>m. 
 
 i  Luke  4.  42. 
 
 !I8.61.  1. 
 John  16.28. 
 
 Luke  4.  44. 
 1  .Mat.  8.  2. 
 Luke&.  18. 
 
 •>  Lev.  14.3. 
 4.  10.  Lnke 
 
 p  Luke  5.13 
 
 26  And  when  the  unclean  spirit  "  had  torn 
 him,  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  he  came  out 
 of  him. 
 
 27  And  they  were  all  amazed,  insomuch  that 
 they  questioned  among  themselves,  saying, 
 What  thing  is  this?  what  new  doctrine  is  thisy 
 for  with  authority  commandeth  he  even  the 
 unclean  spirits,  and  they  do  obey  him. 
 
 28  And  immediately  his  fame  spread  abroad 
 throughout  all  the  region  round  about  Galilee. 
 
 29  '  And  forthwitl),  when  they  were  come  out 
 of  the  synagogue,  they  entered  into  the  house 
 of  Simon  and  Andrew,  with  James  and  John. 
 
 30  But  Simon's  wife's  mother  lay  sick  of  a 
 fever,  and  anon  they  tell  him  of  her. 
 
 31  And  he  came  and  took  her  by  the  hand, 
 and  lifted  her  up  ;  and  immediately  the  fever 
 left  her,  and  she  ministered  unto  them. 
 
 32  ^  And  at  even,  when  the  sun  did  set,  they 
 brought  unto  him  all  that  were  diseased,  and 
 them  that  were  possessed  with  devils. 
 
 33  And  all  the  city  was  gathered  together  at 
 the  door. 
 
 34  And  he  healed  many  that  were  sick  of 
 divers  diseases,  and  cast  out  many  devils;  and 
 "  suffered  not  the  devils  ||  to  speak,  because 
 they  knew  him. 
 
 35  And  '  in  the  morning,  rising  up  a  great 
 while  before  day,  he  went  out,  and  departed 
 into  a  solitary  place,  and  there  prayed. 
 
 36  And  Simon  and  they  that  were  with  him 
 followed  after  him. 
 
 37  And  when  they  had  found  him,  they  said 
 unto  him,  All  tiioi  seek  for  thee. 
 
 38  And  he  said  unto  them,  '■  Let  us  go  into 
 the  next  towns,  that  I  may  preach  there  also : 
 for  '  therefore  came  I  forth. 
 
 39  ■"  And  he  preached  in  their  synagogues 
 throughout  all  Galilee,  and  cast  out  devils. 
 
 40  ■■  And  there  came  a  leper  to  him,  beseech- 
 ing him,  and  kneeling  down  to  him,  and  saying 
 unto  liim,  If  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make  me 
 clean. 
 
 41  And  Jesus,  moved  with  compassion,  put 
 forth  /lis  hand,  and  touched  him,  and  saith  ujito 
 him,  I  will  ;  be  thou  clean. 
 
 42  And  as  soon  as  he  had  spoken,  immedi- 
 ately the  leprosy  departed  from  him,  and  he 
 was  cleansed. 
 
 43  And  he  straitly  charged  him,  and  forth- 
 with sent  him  away  ; 
 
 44  And  saith  unto  him,  See  thou  say  nothing 
 to  any  man  :  but  go  thy  way,  shew  thyself  to 
 the  priest,  and  offer  for  thy  cleansing  those 
 things  °  which  Moses  commanded,  for  a  testi- 
 mony unto  tliem. 
 
 45  •■  But  he  went  out,  and  began  to  publish 
 it  much,  and  to  blaze  abroad  the  matter,  inso- 
 much that  Jesus  could  no  more  openly  enter 
 into  the  city,  but  was  without  in  desert  places: 
 "^  and  they  came  to  him  from  every  quarter. 
 
 multitudes  from  all  the  cities,  towns,  and  villages  of  Judea  and  from 
 Jerusalem  it-elf.— G?/,vs«.  6.  Camel's  hair,  ^-c. —  see  Matt.  iii.  4, 
 note.  7.  The  Intrh'el,  ^c.—see  Matt.  iii.  11,  note.  8.  Wilh  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  f^c. — ibid.  10.  The  heavens  opened,  or  '  cloven,'  or  '  rent.' 
 — Gill.  'The  sky  part  asunder.' — Camp.  The  aerial  heavens  are  in- 
 tended. '  The  clouds  seemed  to  be  rent.' — Boolhr.  ll.  Mj/ helored 
 Son — see  Matt.  iii.  1",  note.  12.  The  spirit  drv-eth  him,  fyc.,  eK/?u\\€(, 
 '  thrusteth  him  out,'  or  '  sends  him  away.' — Ben.s.  The  word  does  not 
 imply  force. — Dan.  See  Matt.  iv.  I,  note.  13.  With  the  wild  beasts, 
 — as  a  Roman  might  nt>t  know  how  wild  and  uninhabited  the  deserts 
 of  Arabia  were,  in  which  Christ  was  tempted,  this  is  mentioned,  which 
 Matthew,  writiog  for  Jews,  has  omitted. — See  Bens.  14.  Freaehing, 
 — see  Matt.  iv.  17,  note.  The  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  the  spiritual  king- 
 dom which  he-  was  to  set  up  in  the  world. — Gui/se.  15.  The  time  is 
 fulfilled,  *  the  time  of  my  kingdom,  foretold  by  Daniel,  and  expected  by 
 1041 
 
 yow.'— Bens.  liepent,  §■(?.,  repentance  would  prepare  the  heart  for  a 
 beUeving  reception  of  the  gospel. — Scott.  1~.  Fishers  of  men — see 
 Matt.  iv.  19,  note.  22.  Had  authority,  as  the  great  Lawgiver  him- 
 self.— R.  Watson.  23.  With  an  unclean  spirit,  tv,  'in  an  unclean 
 spirit,'  for  the  spirit  had  the  man  in  his  posse-ssion.— HgTi.  24.  To  do 
 with  thee — see  Matt.  viii.  29,  note.  To  destroy  us? — the  Jews  had  a 
 ti  adition  that  the  Messiah  would  destroy  Gahlee  ;  this,  therefore,  ought 
 to  be  considered  as  spoken  by  the  man,  a  Galileao,  and  not  by  the 
 demon. — Lightfoot.  26.  Tor7j,    ffTrnpafai/,    '  convulsed.'  —  Benson, 
 
 30.  Simon's  wife's  mother,  ^c— see  Matt.  viii.  14,  note.  32.  Pos- 
 sessed with  devils — see  Matt.  iv.  24,  note.  33  and  37.  All,  i.  e.,  a  very 
 great  number. — Gill.  36.  Followed  after  h>m,  KaTtiiu^aii,  '  followed 
 him  eagerly.'  39.  He  preached,  nv  khp-'ttuv,  '  he  continued  preach- 
 ing;' he  never  slackened  his  pace. — A.  Clarke.  40.  Came  a  leper — 
 see  Matt.  viii.  I,  &c.,  notes. 
 
 C    U 
 
Christ  healeth  one  sick  of  the  pahy. 
 
 S.  MARK,  II. 
 
 lie  excuseth  his  disciples  for  not  fasting. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Christ  heal rth  one  silk  of  the  pahy,  Hcalklh  Matthew 
 from  the  neeipi  if  custom,  15  eatetJi  with  puhlicans 
 and  siniiers,  IS  exiuseth  his  disciples  fur  not  fastint/, 
 23  and  for  ptuclting  the  tars  of  corn  on  the  sabbath 
 day. 
 A  ND  again  °  he   entereii  into    Capernaum 
 
 -'*-  after  some  days ;  and  it  was  noised  tliat 
 
 lie  was  in  the  house. 
 
 2  And  straightway  many  were  gathered  to- 
 gether, insomucli  that  there  was  no  room  to 
 receive  them,  no,  not  so  much  as  about  the 
 door :  and  he  preaclied  tlie  word  unto  them. 
 
 3  And  they  come  unto  him,  bringing  one  sicls 
 of  the  palsy,  which  was  borne  of  four. 
 
 4  And  when  they  could  not  come  nigh  unto 
 him  for  the  press,  they  uncovered  the  roof 
 where  he  was :  and  when  they  had  broken  it 
 up,  they  let  down  the  bed  wherein  the  sick  of 
 the  palsy  lay. 
 
 5  When  Jesus  saw  their  faith,  he  said  unto 
 the  sick  of  the  palsy,  Son,  thy  sins  be  forgiven 
 thee. 
 
 6  But  there  were  certain  of  the  scribes  sitting 
 there,  and  reasoning  in  their  hearts, 
 
 7  Why  doth  this  mnn  thus  speak  blasphe- 
 mies? ''who  can  forgive  sins  but  God  only? 
 
 8  And  immediately  "^  when  Jesus  perceived 
 in  his  spirit  that  they  so  reasoned  within  them- 
 selves, lie  said  unto  them,  Why  reason  ye  these 
 things  in  your  hearts? 
 
 9  *■  Whether  is  it  easier  to  say  to  the  sick  of 
 the  palsy,  Tliij  sins  be  forgiven  thee  ;  or  to 
 say.  Arise,  and  take  up  thy  bed,  and  walk  ? 
 
 10  Rut  that  ye  may  know  that  the  Son  of 
 man  hath  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins,  (he 
 saith  to  the  sick  of  the  palsy,) 
 
 1 1  I  say  unto  thee.  Arise,  and  take  up  thy 
 bed,  and  go  thy  way  into  thine  house. 
 
 12  And  immediately  he  arose,  took  up  the 
 bed,  and  went  forth  before  them  all ;  insomuch 
 that  they  w^ere  all  amazed,  and  glorified  God, 
 saying.  We  never  saw  it  on  this  fashion. 
 
 13  '  And  he  went  forth  again  by  the  sea  side  ; 
 and  all  the  multitude  resorted  unto  him,  and 
 he  taught  tliem. 
 
 14  '■  And  as  he  passed  by,  he  saw  Levi  the 
 son  of  Alphicus  sitting  ||  at  the  receipt  of  cus- 
 tom, and  said  unto  him,  Follow  me.  And  he 
 arose  and  followed  him. 
 
 13  *  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  Jesus  sat 
 at  meat  in  his  house,  many  publicans  and  sin- 
 ners sat  also  together  with  Jesus  and  his  dis- 1 
 
 I  Mat.  9.  1. 
 Luke  5.  IS 
 
 J.Tob  U.  1. 
 Is.  n  25. 
 c  Mat.  <J   4. 
 
 A  Mat.  9.  12. 
 13.  A  18.  II. 
 Luke  5.  .11, 
 32.  &  10  ID, 
 I  Ttin.Lli, 
 
 li  Or.r 
 
 h  Mat.  12.  I. 
 I.uko  l>.  I. 
 
 t  Mat.  0.  0, 
 
 /  Mat.  9.  0. 
 L.Ike  5.  27. 
 
 II  Or,  at  Ihe 
 phce  whrre 
 the  c'lslftn 
 teat  received. 
 
 M  Ex.  20.  32 
 S3.  Lev.  2-1 
 9. 
 
 g  Mat.  9.  10. 
 
 0  Mat.  12.  S 
 
 ciples  :  for  there  were  many,  and  they  followed 
 him. 
 
 I(i  And  when  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  saw 
 him  eat  with  publicans  and  sinners,  they  said 
 unto  his  disciples.  How  is  it  that  he  eateth 
 and  drinketh  with  publicans  and  sinners? 
 
 17  When  Jesus  heard  it,  he  saith  unto  them, 
 '■  They  that  are  whole  have  no  need  of  the 
 physician,  but  they  that  are  sick  :  I  came  not 
 to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  repent- 
 ance. 
 
 18  '  And  the  disciples  of  John  and  of  the 
 Pharisees  used  to  fast :  and  they  come  and 
 say  unto  him.  Why  do  the  disciples  of  John 
 and  of  the  Pharisees  fast,  but  thy  disciples  fast 
 not? 
 
 19  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Can  the  chil- 
 dren of  the  bridechamber  fast,  while  the  bride- 
 groom is  with  them  ?  as  long  as  they  have  the 
 bridegroom  with  them,  they  cannot  fast. 
 
 •20  But  the  days  will  come,  when  the  bride- 
 groom shall  be  taken  away  from  them,  and 
 then  shall  they  fast  in  those  days. 
 
 21  No  man  also  seweth  a  piece  of  ||  new 
 cloth  on  an  old  garment :  else  the  new  piece 
 that  filled  it  up  taketh  away  from  the  old,  and 
 the  rent  is  made  worse. 
 
 22  And  no  man  putteth  new  wine  into  old 
 bottles :  else  the  new  wine  doth  burst  the 
 bottles,  and  the  wine  is  spilled,  and  the  bottles 
 will  be  marred  :  but  new  wine  must  be  put 
 into  new  bottles. 
 
 23  '  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  he  went 
 through  the  corn  fields  on  the  sabbath  day  • 
 and  his  disciples  began,  as  they  went,  '  to 
 pluck  the  ears  of  corn. 
 
 24  And  the  Pharisees  said  unto  him,  Behold, 
 why  do  they  on  the  sabbath  day  that  which  is 
 not  lawful? 
 
 2.5  And  he  said  unto  them.  Have  ye  never 
 read  "'what  David  did,  when  he  had  need,  and 
 was  an  hungred,  he,  and  they  that  were  with 
 him  ? 
 
 26  How  he  went  into  the  house  of  God  in 
 the  days  of  Abiathar  the  high  priest,  and  did 
 eat  the  shewbread,  "  which  is  not  lawful  to  eat 
 but  for  the  priests,  and  gave  also  to  them 
 which  were  with  him? 
 
 27  And  he  said  unto  them.  The  sabbath  was 
 made  for  man,  and  not  man  for  the  sabbath  : 
 
 28  Therefore  "  the  Son  of  man  is  Lord  also 
 of  the  sabbath. 
 
 Chap.  II.  — 3.  One  sick  of  the  palsi/  — see  Matt.  ix.  2,  &c.,  DOtes. 
 4.  Uncovered  the  roof,  which  might  easily  be  done,  from  the  slight 
 structure  and  thin  roofing  of  eastern  houses. — So  Bloom/.  They 
 ascended  the  flat  roof,  and  broke  open  the  trap  door,  probably  fastened 
 to  secure  the  house  against  thieves.— So  Liffhtf.,  W/iitbif,  Bens.,  &c. 
 Eastern  houses,  having  generally  but  a  ground  floor,  or  one  upper 
 story,  and  being  built  round  a  court,  it  is  customary  to  fix  cords  from 
 the  parapet  walls  of  tlie  flat  roofs,  and  stretch  a  covering  to  shelter  in 
 hot  weather.  The  rolling  back  of  this  covering  may  therefore  be  all 
 that  is  intended. — Shaw.  The  word  ffTc-yrj,  here  rendered  'roof,*  means 
 a  covering  of  any  kind,  as  well  as  a  roof. — Bootftr.  8.  Li  /lis  spirit, 
 itf  iTi-et'^aTt  atyTuii,  'in  himself.' — Rusenm.,  Camp.  'His  Divine  na- 
 ture, in  and  by  which  he  knew  all  things.*— GiY/.    '  By  his  attribute 
 
 of  omniscience.' — R.  Watson.  10.  Hath  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins, 
 — tile  Jews  had  asked,  '  Who  can  forgive  sins  but  God  only  ?'  (ver.  7.) 
 Jesus,  by  affirming  he  had  power  to  forgive  them,  led  them  to  conclude 
 that  he  claimed  to  be  God. — Bp.  Penrce,  14.  Receipt  of  custom — 
 see  Matt.  ix.  9,  note.  l6,  17.  Publicans  and  sinners,  %c. — see  Matt. 
 
 i.x.  11,  &c.,  notes.  19.  Children  of  the  bridechamber — see  Matt.  ix. 
 16,  note.  21.  JVeui  c^o/A- see  Matt.  ix.  15,  note.  2i.  Old  battles- 
 see  Matt.  ix.  17,  note.  23.  Cornfields — see  Matt.  xii.  I,  note.  24.  Nat 
 lawful — see  Matt.  xii.  2,  note.  26.  Shewbread— see  Exod.  xxv.  30, 
 note.  27.  The  sabbath  was  made  for  man,  and  therefore  works  of 
 necessity  are  not  forbidden  on  that  day,  such  as  are  for  the  necessary 
 comfort,  support,  and  preservation  of  life.— Gill.  28.  Lord  also  of 
 the  sabbath— see  Matt.  xii.  8,  note. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I From   the  contents  of  this 
 
 chapter  we  may  learn,  I.  That  there  is  no  fonjioeness  without 
 repentance.  Have  we  then  felt  that  godly  sorrow  for  sin  '  that 
 needelh  not  to  be  repented  of!' 
 
 II.  Ttiat  Christ  is  empliaticnily  God's  own  beloved  Son.  He 
 is  the  special  object  of  God's  love  ;  let  us  make  him  the  spe- 
 cial ohject  of  our  love. 
 
 III.  That  the  way  to  obtain  blessings  from  Chri.it  is  humbly  to 
 approach  him.  ■  No  application  to  him  was  rejected.  The 
 poor  leper  sought  relief,  and  obtained  it.      0,  then,  let  us 
 
 1042 
 
 seek  to  him,  that  we  may  be  saved  from  the  maladies  of  our 
 souls,  and  obtain  health,  holiness,  and  happiness.*  ^ 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  II. — I.  The  case  of  the  paralytic 
 man  may  teach  us  that  we  sliould  spare  no  pains  in  bringing  our 
 friends  to  Christ  for  salvation.  We  shall  often  tind  great  ob- 
 stacles in  the  way,  but  if  we  had  more  faith  we  might  easily 
 overcome  them. 
 
 II,  The  institution  of  the  sabbath  for  man  should  cau.se  us 
 strictly  to  regard  it.  That  sacred  day  was  intended  to  relieve 
 us  from  the  things  of  this  world — to  cause  our  bodies  to  rest 
 
Christ  healeth  the  withered  hand. 
 
 S.MARK,  III. 
 
 He  chooseth  his  twelve  disciples. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  Christ  healeth  the  withered  hand,  10  and  many  other 
 infirmities:  II  rehuketh  the  unclean  spirits:  13 
 chooseth  his  twelve  apostles :  22  convincith  the  blas- 
 phemy of  casting  out  devils  by  Beelzebub:  31  and 
 sheweth  who  are  his  brother,  sister,  and  mother. 
 
 \  ND  "he  entered  again  into  the  synagogue; 
 -^  and  there  was  a  man  there  which  had  a 
 withered  hand. 
 
 2  And  they  watched  him,  whether  he  would 
 heal  him  on  the  sabbath  day ;  that  tliey  might 
 accuse  him. 
 
 3  And  he  saith  unto  the  man  which  had  the 
 witliered  hand,  t  Stand  forth. 
 
 4  And  lie  saith  unto  them.  Is  it  lawful  to  do 
 good  on  the  sabbatlr  days,  or  to  do  evil  ?  to 
 save  life,  or  to  kill?  IJut  they  held  their 
 peace. 
 
 5  And  when  he  had  looked  round  about  on 
 them  with  anger,  being  grieved  for  the  ||  hard- 
 ness of  their  hearts,  he  saith  unto  the  man, 
 stretch  forth  thine  hand.  And  he  stretched  it 
 out :  and  his  hand  was  restored  whole  as  the 
 other. 
 
 6  ""And  the  Pharisees  went  forth,  and  straight- 
 way took  counsel  with  '  the  Herodians  against 
 him,  how  they  might  destroy  him. 
 
 7  But  Jesus  withdrew  himself  with  his  dis- 
 ciples to  the  sea :  and  a  great  multitude  from 
 Galilee  followed  him,  ■"  and  from  Judoea, 
 
 8  And  from  Jerusalem,  and  from  Idumsa, 
 and  frotn  beyond  Jordan ;  and  they  about 
 Tyre  and  Sidon,  a  great  multitude,  when  they 
 had  heard  what  great  things  he  did,  came  unto 
 him. 
 
 9  And  he  spake  to  his  disciples,  that  a  small 
 ship  should  wait  on  him  because  of  the  multi- 
 tude, lest  they  should  throng  him. 
 
 10  For  he  had  healed  many  ;  insomuch  that 
 they  II  pressed  upon  him  for  to  touch  him,  as 
 many  as  had  plagues. 
 
 1 1  "  And  unclean  spirits,  when  they  saw  him, 
 fell  down  before  him,  and  cried,  saying,  '  Thou 
 art  the  Son  of  God. 
 
 12  And  ^  he  straitly  charged  them  that  they 
 should  not  make  him  known. 
 
 ,  Mrtt.  12.  0 
 Luke  0.  U. 
 
 II  Or,  btlnd- 
 nen. 
 
 6  Mat. 12. H. 
 .;  Mat,22.l6. 
 
 e  ch.  1.  23. 
 24  Luke  '1. 
 
 r  M.it.  M. 
 
 3.S.  ch.  1.  I. 
 S  ch.  1    25, 
 3^   Mat,)2. 
 iti. 
 
 /i  Milt.  III.  I. 
 Luke  6.  12. 
 &1I.  I. 
 
 «ch.  6.  3L 
 
 II  Or,  fcini- 
 
 /  .loliii  7.  5. 
 &  10,  20. 
 
 m  Mat.O  34. 
 
 &  10.  25. 
 
 Lukell.15. 
 
 .l.ilin  7.  20 
 
 lit  «  W,  52. 
 
 &  10,  22. 
 >i  Mat. 12.25. 
 
 o  la.  49.  24. 
 Mat.  12.  29. 
 
 p  Mat,  12. 
 ;!l  l.uko  12. 
 10.  I  Jubu 
 
 13  '■  And  he  goeth  up  into  a  mountain,  and 
 calleth  unto  him  whom  he  would :  and  they 
 came  unto  him. 
 
 14  And  he  ordained  twelve,  that  they  should 
 be  with  him,  and  that  he  might  send  them  forth 
 to  preach, 
 
 13    And  to  have  power  to  heal    sicknesses, 
 and  to  cast  out  devils  : 
 10  And  Simon  '  he  surnamed  Peter  ; 
 
 17  And  James  the  son  of  Zebedee,  and  John 
 the  brother  of  James  ;  and  he  surnamed  them 
 Boanerges,  which  is.  The  sons  of  thunder  : 
 
 18  And  Andrew,  and  Philip,  and  Bartholo- 
 mew, and  Matthew,  and  Thomas,  and  James 
 the  son  of  Alpha;us,  and  ThaddiEUS,  and  Simon 
 the  Canaanite, 
 
 19  And  Judas  Iscariot,  which  also  betrayed 
 him  :  and  they  went  ||  into  an  house. 
 
 20  And  the  multitude  Cometh  togetheragain, 
 '  so  that  they  could  not  so  much  as  eat  bread. 
 
 21  And  when  his  ||  friends  heard  of  it,  they 
 went  out  to  lay  hold  on  him  :  '  for  they  said, 
 He  is  beside  himself. 
 
 22  1[  And  the  scribes  which  came  down  from 
 Jerusalem  said,  '"  He  hath  Beelzebub,  and  by 
 the  prince  of  the  devils  casteth  he  out  devils. 
 
 23  "  And  he  called  them  unto  him,  and  said 
 unto  them  in  parables.  How  can  Satan  cast  out 
 Satan  ? 
 
 24  And  if  a  kingdom  be  divided  against  itself, 
 that  kingdom  cannot  stand. 
 
 23  And  if  a  house  be  divided  against  itself, 
 that  house  cannot  stand. 
 
 20  And  if  Satan  rise  up  against  himself,  and 
 be  divided,  he  cannot  stand,  but  hath  an  end. 
 
 27  °  No  man  can  enter  into  a  strong  man's 
 house,  and  spoil  his  goods,  except  he  will  first 
 bind  the  strong  man  ;  and  then  he  will  spoil 
 his  house. 
 
 28  ''  Verily  I  say  unto  you.  All  sins  shall  be 
 forgiven  unto  the  sons  of  men,  and  blasphemies 
 wherewith  soever  they  shall  blaspheme  : 
 
 29  But  he  that  shall  blaspheme  against  the 
 Holy  Ghost  hath  never  forgiveness,  but  is  in 
 danger  of  eternal  damnation  : 
 
 30  Because  they  said.  He  hath  an  unclean 
 spirit. 
 
 Chap.  III. —  \.  Withered,  probably  paralytic. —  Clarke,  Watson. 
 2,  TAev  watched  him,  n-aperfipoiu.  avrov, '  tbey  maliciously  watched  him.' 
 5.  With  finger,  being  grieved,  '  therefore  it  was  no  uneasy  passion,  but 
 an  excess  of  generous  grief. — A,  Cl/trke.  6.  Took  counsel — see  Matt, 
 xii.  14.  7.  To  the  sea,  of  Galilee.  From  the  dominions  of  Herod 
 Antipas,  on  the  western  side  of  this  lake,  to  those  of  Pliilip  on  the 
 eastern,  to  secure  himself  against  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees.— Bp. 
 Pearce.  10.  Pressed  upon  hitn,  cninnneiv,  '  rushed  upon  him*  through 
 eagerness. — A.  Clarke.  Plagues,  fia<TTiiu^,  metaphorically  meant  every 
 sort  of  grief,  calamity,  punishment,  &c. ;  and  especially  the  more  vio- 
 lent diseases,  leprosy,  bloody  tiux,  &c. — Bloom/.  The  word  properly 
 signifies  *  scourges.'  Those  very  painful  and  afflicting  disorders  seem 
 t.i  be  intended  which  were  frequently  sent,  or  at  least  permitted,  by 
 God,  as  a  scourge  ur  punishment  for  sin.— Bens.,  so  Gill.  1 1 .  Unclean 
 spirits,  i.  e.,  persons  possessed  with  them.  The  Son  of  God.  '  the  Mes. 
 siah.* — S.  Clarke,  so  Bens.  This  signified  something  different  from  the 
 Messiah,  or  the  introductory  words  to  this  gospel  would  he  an  absurd 
 tautology — 'The  beginning  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of 
 God  ;'  it  would  then  be,  *  The  beginning  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  the 
 Christ.'  The  words  are  expressive  of  a  distinct  and  higher  conception, 
 relating  not  to  office  only,  but  also  to  nature.— iJ.  Watson.  14.  He 
 
 ordained.  €noin<r€,  'he  chose,  constituted,  appointed.'  —  Bloomjield. 
 17.  Sons  of  thunder—one  instance  only  is  given  of  impetuosity  in  James 
 and  John,  and  that  from  mistaken  zeal.  Our  Lord  would  not  so  have 
 perpetuated  the  remembrance  of  this  infirmity,  which  his  Divine  grace 
 was  to  cure,  by  affixing  it  upon  tliem  with  their  new  name.    Nor  was 
 
 this  descriptive  of  their  preaching.  From  his  writings,  John's  was 
 sweet  and  attractive.  James  filled  his  high  office,  chiefly  at  Jerusalem, 
 with  '  meekness  of  wisdom.'  The  meaning  probably  is,  that  they 
 should  rank  among  the  greatest  instruments  of  sounding  forth  the 
 authnritalive  voice  of  God  in  his  gospel. — So  R.  Watson,  so  Bp.  Home. 
 20.  Could  not  so  much  as  eat  bread,  '  had  neither  room  nor  opportunity 
 to  get  food.' — Gill.  21.  Beside  hinuself,  efEtrrn,  *  he  is  transported 
 too  tiLT.^—Uoddr.  The  word  is  used  of  vehement  commotion. — Bloom/. 
 The  words  mean,  *  he  acts  unreasonably  ;  he  is  so  intent  on  his  mi- 
 nisti^,  that  he  alike  disregards  his  health  and  safety,*  and  are  a  testi- 
 mony to  his  zeal  and  unwearied  exertions  in  doing  good. — Boothr. 
 22.  He  hath  Beelzebub — see  Matt.  x.  25,  note.  23.  How  can  Satan? 
 Sfc. — see  Matt.  xii.  25,  note.  29.  Blaspheme  against  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 — the  generality  of  interpreters  place  the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost  in 
 the  wilful  malice  ol  those  who  withstand  the  evidence  of  truth,  and 
 who  will  ntit  acknowledge  the  miracles  of  Christ  to  be  wrought  by  the 
 finger  of  God,  but  maliciously,  and  against  the  conviction  of  their  own 
 consciences,  impute  them  to  the  prince  of  darkness.  This  was  cer- 
 tainly the  crime  of  the  Pharisees,  to  whom  Christ  applied  his  discourse ; 
 and  those  also  become  guilty  of  the  same  crime  who  oppose  or  perse- 
 cute the  doctrine,  ways,  and  servants  of  Christ  because  they  are  spiri- 
 tual, or  have  anything  of  the  spirit  appearing  in  them,  and  that  con- 
 trary to  their  own  convictions.  Such  as  are  guilty  of  this  sin  are  ex- 
 cev)ted  from  pardon,  because  the  death  of  Christ  was  not  appointed  for 
 the  expiation  of  it ;  and  there  being  no  sacrifice,  there  can  be  no  satis- 
 faction, and,  consequently,  no  pardon,  (Heb,  x.  26,  27.)    Some  think 
 
 from   their   labour,  and  our  souls  from  their  anxieties  and  worlds.    It  is  a  profane  apology  for  spending  the  sabbath  as 
 
 cares.     It  was  naade  for  man  as  an  accountable  and  an  im-  a  pastime,  that  '  it  was  made  for  man,*  for  God  has  eternally 
 
 ntorial  being  ;  not  that  he  should  indulge  himself  in  his  idle  stamped  upon  it  his  own  signature,  and  he  who  desecrates 
 
 pleasures,  as  the  brute  rolls  in  his  fat  pastures,  but  that  he  the  sacred  day  must  answer  for  the  most  awful  profanation  of 
 
 should  reflect  on  his  eternal  destinips,  and  pay  attention  to  the  Divine  law,  '  Remember  the  sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy.' 
 those  interests  which  should  be  to  him  of  more  value  tlian 
 1043 
 
7'/je  parable  of  the  sower. 
 
 S.  MARK,  IV. 
 
 and  the  meaning  thereof. 
 
 31  If  There  came  then  his  brethren  and  his 
 motlier,  and,  standing  without,  sent  unto  him, 
 caUing  him. 
 
 32  And  the  multitude  sat  about  him,  and 
 they  said  unto  liim,  Behold,  thy  mother  and 
 thy  brethren  without  seek  for  thee. 
 
 33  And  he  answered  them,  saying.  Who  is 
 my  mother,  or  my  brethren V 
 
 34  And  he  loolied  round  about  on  them 
 which  sat  about  him,  and  said,  Behold  my 
 mother  and  my  brethren! 
 
 35  For  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  God, 
 the  same  is  my  brother,  and  my  sister,  and 
 mother. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  TliC  parable  of  the  sower,  liayid  the-  meaning  thereof. 
 21  We  must  communicate  the  liyht  of  our  knowledi/e 
 to  others.  26  The  parable  of  the  seed  growing  se- 
 cretly, 30  and  of  the  mustard  seed.  35  Christ  siilleth 
 the  tcmpi.st  on  the  sea. 
 
 A  ND  "  he  began  again  to  teach  by  the  sea 
 -'^  side  :  and  there  was  gathered  unto  him  a 
 great  multitude,  so  tliat  he  entered  into  a  ship, 
 and  sat  in  the  sea ;  and  the  whole  multitude 
 was  by  the  sea  on  tlie  land. 
 
 '2  And  he  tauglit  them  many  things  by  pa- 
 rables, 'and  said  unto  them  in  his  doctrine, 
 
 3  Hearken  ;  Behold,  there  went  out  a  sower 
 to  sow  : 
 
 4  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  sowed,  some  fell 
 by  the  way  side,  and  the  fowls  of  the  air  came 
 and  devoured  it  up. 
 
 5  And  some  fell  on  stony  ground,  where  it 
 had  not  much  earth  ;  and  immediately  it  sprang 
 up,  because  it  had  no  depth  of  earth  : 
 
 0  But  when  the  sun  was  up,  it  was  scorched  ; 
 and  because  it  had  no  root,  it  withered  away. 
 
 7  And  some  fell  among  thorns,  and  the  thorns 
 grew  up,  and  choked  it,  and  it  yielded  no  fruit. 
 
 8  And  other  fell  on  good  ground,  '^  and  did 
 yield  fruit  that  sprang  u|)  and  increased  ;  and 
 brought  forth,  some  thirty,  and  some  sixty,  and 
 some  an  hundred. 
 
 9  And  he  said  unto  them,  He  that  hath  ears 
 to  hear,  let  him  hear. 
 
 10  ''  And  when  he  was  alone  they  that  were 
 about  him  with  the  twelve  asked  "of  him  the 
 parable. 
 
 1 1  And  he  said  unto  them.  Unto  you  it  is 
 given  to  know  the  mystery  of  the  kingdom  of 
 God  :  but  unto  '  them  that  are  without,  all 
 these  things  are  done  in  parables  : 
 
 12  'That  .seeing  they  may  see,  and  not  per- 
 ceive ;  and  hearing  they  may  hear,  and  not 
 
 d  Mit    13 
 10.  Litkf  S 
 
 el  Cor  5  12 
 Col.  4.  i. 
 IThesJ  12 
 1  Tim    3  7. 
 
 /Is.  6.  9. 
 Mat.  IS  M. 
 Luke  8.  Ill 
 Jolin  12.  40- 
 Act3  28.  20. 
 Rom    11.8. 
 
 A  I  Tim.  H. 
 0,  17. 
 
 i  N!.At.  5  IS. 
 I,ukc8,  10, 
 M  I .  a:V 
 
 [I  The  word 
 it)  the  on- 
 K'iiial  sitttii. 
 tietli  a  les.) 
 measure.-.is 
 M»t.  .5,  15. 
 
 *  iMitt.  10. 
 20.Lukor2. 
 
 (  Mftt.  11.16. 
 
 V.T.  y. 
 ".  M.it.  7.2. 
 
 I.uke  0.38 
 
 1  M.it    13. 
 12    <t  2j,25 
 l.tikc  8   IS 
 8t  19.  26. 
 
 II  Or,  '•!•' 
 ).  llev.H.lS 
 ./  Mat. 1.3  31 
 
 Luke  13.18, 
 
 Acts  2. -n. 
 
 ft  4.  4    fc  6. 
 
 14. &  19.  20. 
 
 understand  ;lest  at  any  time  tliey  should  be  con- 
 verted, and  their  sins  should  be  forgiven  them. 
 
 13  And  he  said  unto  them.  Know  ye  not  this 
 parable?  and  how  then  will  ye  know  all  pa- 
 rables ? 
 
 14  If  *  Tlie  sower  soweth  the  word. 
 
 15  And  these  are  they  by  the  way  side, 
 where  the  word  is  sown  ;  but  when  they  have 
 heard,  Satan  cometh  immediately,  and  laketh 
 away  the  word  that  was  sown  in  their  hearts. 
 
 16  And  these  are  they  likewise  which  are 
 sown  on  stony  ground  ;  who,  when  they  have 
 lieard  the  word,  immediately  receive  it  with 
 gladness  ; 
 
 17  And  have  no  root  in  themselves,  and  so 
 endure  but  for  a  time  :  afterward,  when  afflic- 
 tion or  persecution  ariseth  for  the  word's  sake, 
 immediately  they  are  offended. 
 
 18  And  these  are  they  which  are  sown  among 
 thorns  ;  such  as  hear  the  word, 
 
 19  And  the  cares  of  this  world,  ''  and  the  de- 
 ceitfulness  of  riches,  and  the  lusts  of  other 
 things  entering  in,  choke  the  word,  and  it  be- 
 cometh  unfruitful. 
 
 20  And  these  are  they  which  are  sown  on 
 good  ground  ;  such  as  hear  the  word,  and  re- 
 ceive it,  and  bring  forth  fruit,  some  thirtyfold, 
 some  sixty,  and  some  an  hundred. 
 
 21  t '  And  he  said  unto  them,  Is  a  candle 
 brought  to  be  put  under  a  ||  bushel,  or  under 
 a  bed?  and  not  to  be  set  on  a  candlestick? 
 
 22  '  For  there  is  nothing  hid,  which  shall  not 
 be  manifested  ;  neither  was  any  tiling  kept 
 secret,  but  that  it  should  come  abroad. 
 
 23  '  If  any  man  have  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 
 
 24  And  he  said  unto  them.  Take  heed  what 
 ye  hear:  "'with  what  measure  ye  mete,  it 
 shall  be  measured  to  you  :  and  unto  you  that 
 hear  shall  more  be  given. 
 
 25  "  For  he  that  hath,  to  him  shall  be  given  : 
 and  he  that  hath  not,  from  him  shall  be  taken 
 even  that  which  he  hath. 
 
 26  1  And  he  said,  °  So  is  the  kingdom  of  God, 
 as  if  a  man  should  cast  seed  into  the  ground  ; 
 
 27  And  should  sleep,  and  rise  night  and  day, 
 and  the  seed  should  spring  and  grow  up,  he 
 knoweth  not  how. 
 
 28  For  the  earth  bringeth  forth  fruit  of  her- 
 self; first  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that 
 the  full  corn  in  the  ear. 
 
 29  But  when  the  fruit  is  ||  brought  forth,  im- 
 mediately ''he  putteth  in  the  sickle,  because 
 the  harvest  is  come. 
 
 30  t  And  he  said, ''  Whereunto  shall  we  liken 
 
 the  sin  related  solely  to  the  ascribing  of  the  miracles  of  Christ  to  the 
 agency  of  devils,  and  could  be  committed  by  the  Pharisees  only  ;  while 
 others  say  our  Saviour  spoke  nut  of  what  was  done,  but  of  what  shimld 
 be  done,  when,  under  the  clearer  dispensation  of  the  Spirit,  men  should 
 blaspheme  him.— Cruden,  Burkitt,  Henri/,  so  Whilby.  See  I«att.  .tii. 
 31,  note.  31.  His  ireMren,  c5c— see  Matt.  xU.  46,  note.  SS.  The 
 same  is  mr/  6ro//ier— see  Matt.  .\ii.  50,  note. 
 
 Chap.  IV.— 1..J  sower,  Sfc.—see  Matt.  xiii.  3,  notes.  W.The 
 mi/sleri/— see  Matt.  xiii.  11,  note.  To.t  tfu.  them  that  are  wilhrmt. 
 persons  not  admitted  to  confidence.— B/oom/.  The  Jews  called  the 
 heathens  '  those  that  were  •wiihoMl.'—WMlby .        21.  /s  a  candle,  ^c.. 
 
 — see  Matt.  v.  15,  note.  24.  Take  heed — /3\e7reTe  here  means,  'con. 
 sider.  pay  attention  to,"  for  oar  Lord  is  not  cautioning  against  false 
 doctrine,  but  exhorting  to  attend  seriously  to  the  true. — 11.  Watson. 
 25.  He  that  hath — see  Matt.  xiii.  12,  note.  26.  So  is,  fyc. — this  para- 
 ble is  recorded  only  by  St.  Mark. — fi.  Watson.  It  means,  Christ  bav. 
 ing  once  preached  his  doctrine  in  the  world,  appears  no  more  to  pro- 
 mote it,  but  suffers  it  to  spread  by  means  secret  and  undiscerncd. — 
 Clarke.  The  good  seed  of  the  gospel  sown  in  the  world,  and  sown  in 
 the  heart,  doth  by  degrees  produce  wonderful  effects,  but  without 
 noise.  Let  but  the  word  of  Christ  have  the  place  it  ought  to  have  in 
 the  soul,  and  it  will  shew  itself,  as  the  wisdom  from  above  doth,  in  a 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III. —  I.  ■  From  the  example  of 
 our  Lord,  we  are  taught  to  observe  and  heep  holy  the  sabbath. 
 atatecl  times  are  necessary  for  the  purpose  of  social  worship, 
 and  those  times  should  be  religiously  regarded.  The  Jews 
 had  their  synagogues,  where  the  law  and  the  prophets  were 
 read  every  sabbath  ;  and  to  some  one  of  these  Jesus  and  his 
 disciples  constantly  resorted. 
 
 '^'  \hf^,  "*  -''""''^  against  the  temper  of  the  scribes  and  Phari- 
 sees. VVhile  they  went  to  the  synagogue  with  others,  they 
 did  It  with  the  worst  intention.  They  heard,  not  to  receive 
 1044 
 
 instruction,  but  to  cavil  ;  they  attended,  not  to  present  the 
 spiritual  sacrifices  of  prayer  and  praise,  but  to  find  matter  to 
 gratify  the  malignant  passions  of  their  hearts. 
 
 III.  '  We  may  learn  how  dangerous  it  is  to  resist  the  evidence  of 
 truth ,  and  to  indulge  in  causeless  ajiger  and  malice.  The  scribes 
 and  Pharisees  could  not  deny  the  miracles  which  our  Lord 
 wrought ;  but  their  malice  led  them  to  say  of  him,  "  He  hath 
 Beelzebub  !"  How  dreadful  is  the  state  of  that  man  who  shall 
 never  have  forgiveness!'  '^ 
 
The  legion  of  devils  cast  out. 
 
 S.  MARK,  V. 
 
 They  enter  into  the  swine. 
 
 the  kingdom  of  God  ?  or  with  what  comparison 
 shall  we  compare  it? 
 
 31  It  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  which, 
 when  it  is  sown  in  the  earth,  is  less  than  all 
 the  seeds  that  be  in  the  earth  : 
 
 32  But  when  it  is  sown,  it  groweth  up,  and 
 becometh  greater  than  all  herbs,  and  shooteth 
 out  great  branches ;  so  that  the  fowls  of  the 
 air  may  lodge  under  the  shadow  of  it. 
 
 33  '  And  with  many  such  parables  spake  he 
 the  word  unto  them,  as  they  were  able  to  hear  it. 
 
 34  But  without  a  parable  spake  he  not  unto 
 them  :  and  wlien  they  were  alone,  he  expound- 
 ed all  things  to  his  disciples. 
 
 35  '  And  the  same  day,  when  the  even  was 
 come,  he  saitli  unto  them.  Let  us  pass  over 
 unto  the  other  side. 
 
 36  And  when  they  had  sent  away  the  multi- 
 tude, they  took  him  even  as  he  was  in  the 
 .sliip.  And  there  were  also  with  him  other 
 little  ships. 
 
 37  And  there  arose  a  great  storm  of  wind, 
 and  the  waves  beat  into  the  ship,  so  that  it 
 was  now  full. 
 
 38  And  he  was  in  the  hinder  part  of  the  ship, 
 asleep  on  a  pillow  :  and  they  awake  him,  and 
 say  unto  him.  Master,  carest  thou  not  that  we 
 perish  ? 
 
 39  And  he  arose,  and  rebuked  the  wind,  and 
 said  unto  the  sea.  Peace,  be  still.  And  the 
 wind  ceased,  and  there  was  a  great  calm. 
 
 40  And  he  said  unto  them,  Why  are  ye  so 
 fearful  ?  how  is  it  that  ye  have  no  faith  ? 
 
 41  And  they  feared  exceedingly,  and  said  one 
 to  another,  What  manner  of  man  is  this,  that 
 even  the  wind  and  the  sea  obey  him  ? 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 ]   Christ  dtlivertng  the  possessed  of  the  legion  qfdtvilst 
 13  l/iej/  enter  into  the  swine.     25   He  healeth  tite  wo- 
 man of  the  bhody  issue,  35  and  ratseth  from  death 
 Jairus  his  daug/tter, 
 A  ND  'they  came  over  unto  the  othei  side 
 
 ■^-  of  the  sea,  into  the  country  of  the  Gada- 
 
 renes. 
 
 2  And  when  he  was  come  out  of  the  ship, 
 immediately  there  met  him  out  of  the  tombs  a 
 man  with  an  unclean  spirit, 
 
 3  Who  had  his  dwelling  among  the  tombs; 
 and  no  man  could  bind  him,  no,  not  with 
 chains  : 
 
 4  Becau.se  that  he  had  been  often  bound  with 
 fetters  and  chains,  and  the  chains  had  been 
 
 r  Mat.  IS.Sl 
 Johu  I6.1:j. 
 
 t  Mat.  e.   18, 
 
 b  Mat.  9.  t». 
 Acts  16  39. 
 
 dMat.  &   1, 
 LukeB.  W. 
 
 plucked  asunder  by  him,  and  the  fetters  broken 
 in  pieces  :  neither  could  any  man  tame  him. 
 
 5  And  always,  night  and  day,  he  was  in  the 
 mountains,  and  in  the  tombs,  crying,  and  cut- 
 ting himself  with  stones. 
 
 6  But  when  he  saw  Jesus  afar  off,  he  ran  and 
 worshipped  him, 
 
 7  And  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  and  said. 
 What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thotc  Son 
 of  the  most  high  God  ?  I  adjure  thee  by  God, 
 that  thou  torment  me  not. 
 
 8  For  he  said  unto  him.  Come  out  of  the  man, 
 thou  unclean  spirit. 
 
 a  And  he  asked  him,  What  is  thy  name? 
 And  he  answered,  saying,  My  name  is  Legion  : 
 for  we  are  many. 
 
 10  And  he  besought  him  much  that  he  would 
 not  send  them  away  out  of  the  country. 
 
 11  Now  there  was  there  nigh  unto  the  moun- 
 tains a  great  herd  of  swine  feeding. 
 
 12  And  all  the  devils  besought  him,  saying. 
 Send  us  into  the  swine,  that  we  may  enter  into 
 them. 
 
 13  And  forthwith  Jesus  gave  them  leave. 
 And  the  unclean  spirits  went  out,  and  entered 
 into  the  swine  :  and  the  herd  ran  violently 
 down  a  steep  place  into  the  sea,  (they  were 
 about  two  thousand  ;)  and  were  choked  in  the 
 sea. 
 
 14  And  they  that  fed  the  swine  fled,  and  told 
 it  in  the  city,  and  in  the  country.  And  they 
 went  out  to  see  what  it  was  that  was  done. 
 
 15  And  they  come  to  Jesus,  and  see  him  that 
 was  possessed  with  the  devil,  and  had  the  le- 
 gion, sitting,  and  clothed,  and  in  his  right 
 mind  :  and  they  were  afraid. 
 
 16  And  they  that  saw  it  told  them  how  it 
 befell  to  him  that  was  possessed  with  the 
 devil,  and  also  concerning  the  swine. 
 
 17  And  "■  they  began  to  pray  him  to  depart 
 out  of  their  coasts. 
 
 18  And  when  he  was  come  into  the  ship,  'he 
 that  had  been  possessed  with  the  devil  prayed 
 him  that  he  might  be  with  him. 
 
 19  Howbeit  Jesus  suffered  him  not,  but  saith 
 unto  him.  Go  home  to  thy  friends,  and  tell 
 them  how  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done  for 
 thee,  and  hath  had  compassion  on  thee. 
 
 20  And  he  departed,  and  began  to  publish  in 
 Decapolis  how  great  things  Jesus  had  done  for 
 him  :  and  all  men  did  marvel. 
 
 21  ''  And  when  Jesus  was  passed  over  again 
 
 g-ood  conversation. — Hen.  31.  Like  a  grain,  ^c. — see  Matt.  xiii.  32, 
 note.  34.  Without  a  parafjle—set  Matt.  xiii.  34,  note.  35.  t7nlo 
 
 the  other  side,  of  tlie  sea  of  Galilee,  to  the  country  of  tlie  Gartareoes. — 
 
 Gitl.  36.  They   took  him,    ^c. — 7Tapa\aiJ./3avovTiv  .^VTOv  uti  riv  iv  TUt 
 
 nXoitf),  'having  him  in  the  bark  they  set  sm\.' — Camp.  Ev  rw  nXoit^, 
 *  in  the  boat,'  i.  e.,  his  own  boat,  out  of  ivhich  he  was  teachiu'g.  The 
 disciples  sailed  oflF  with  him  just  as  he  was  in  this  boat,  and  did  not 
 wait  to  provide  any  accommodation^  *ut  the  passage. — A.  Clarke. 
 3".  A  great  storm — see  Matt.  viii.  24,  note.  39.  Be  still,  jrti^i/iwtro, 
 literally,  '  be  thou  gagged.'— iJcjis. 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  1.  Gudarenfs,  so  called  from  Gadara,  a  city  either  adja- 
 cent to,  or  within  the  country  of  the  Gergesenes,  which  was  called  by 
 both  names,  from  these  different  places.— yi//.  See  Matt.  viii.  28,  note. 
 7.  Son  of  tlie  mo^t  high  God  J — although  by  this  declaration  the  demons 
 acknowledged  Christ  as  the  Messiah,  (chap.  i.  24,}  it  was  not  a  mere 
 name  of  office  and  dignity,  for  the  term  was  never  used  in  speakiug  of 
 the  prophets,  and  other  extraordinary  ministers  of  God ;  they  were 
 
 simply  called  '  men  of  God,'  (Deut.  xxxiii.  1 ;  1  Sam.  ix.  7;)  so  that  the 
 '  Son  of  God,'  which  has  been  consecrated  to  the  Messiah,  applies  to 
 the  person  rather  than  to  the  othce. — Mar.  9.  Legion — a  Roman 
 legion  consisted  of  many,  though  its  number  was  not  always  alike. 
 Some  make  it  6666,  and  others  as  mu^h  as  12,500.  Being  many,  the 
 Jews  used  it  to  signify  that  term. — QUI.  10.  Out  of  that  country — 
 this  was  a  heathen  district,  and  the  demons  might  think  to  act  there 
 more  unrestrained. — Gill,  Clarke.  11.. ■!  great  lierd,    about  2000, 
 
 (ver.  13. J  See  Matt.  viii.  30,  note.  13.  Ran  violently — the  devils 
 having  entered  into  the  herd,  they  ran  mad.  and  rushing'to  the  rocks, 
 fell  over  the  precipices  into  the  sea. — So  GiU.  See  in  Matt,  viii.,  notes. 
 C/ioked,  e7Ti'(7ot'To,  'suffocated.'  —  Doddr.  'Drowned.'  —  Bioomf. 
 19.  Tell  them,  ^c. — Christ  wished  some  report  of  his  works  to  extend 
 to  the  Gentiles,  to  prepare  their  minds  for  the  admission  of  the  Divine 
 doctrine  which  was  to  he  announced  to  them. — Maldonati,  liosenm., 
 Kuinoel.        20.  Decapolis — see  Matt.  iv.  25,  note. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  I.  Tlie  j.arable  uf  tlie  sower 
 should  teach  us  to  take  heed  how  we  hear,  and  to  examine 
 our  own  hearts,  to  see  that  we  have  not '  received  the  grace 
 of  Uod  in  vain.' 
 
 II.   The  parable  of  the  springing  seed  sboald  teach  ministers 
 
 not  to  despond  when  tbeir  faithful  labours  seem  to  produce 
 
 no  etfect,  for  the   seed   is   sown,  it  is   springing  up  when 
 
 tbey  do  not  always  see  it,  and  '  in  due  time  they  shall  reap, 
 
 1015 
 
 if  tbey  faint  not.' 
 
 III.  Tlie  parable  of  the  mustard  seed  Bhou\d  encourage  11s  in 
 the  use  of  the  smallest  efforts  for  the  interests  of  Christ,  for 
 the  most  diminutive  seed  may  produce  a  large  tree  ;  and  it 
 may  cheer  us  in  viewing  those  small  beginnings  which  may  be 
 made  in  our  own  vicinity,  or  in  the  world  at  large,  for  im- 
 proving the  spiritual  condition  of  mankind,  for  '  a  little  one 
 shall  become  a  thou -and,  and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation.* 
 
CLrisl  healeth  ihe  woman  of  the  bloody  issue.      S.  MARK,  VI. 
 
 He  is  contemned  of  his  countrymen. 
 
 by  ship  unto  the  other  side,  much  people 
 gathered  unto  him  :  and  he  was  nigli  unto  the 
 sea. 
 
 22  °  And,  behold,  there  cometh  one  of  the 
 rulers  of  the  synagogue,  Jairus  by  name  ;  and 
 when  lie  saw  him,  he  fell  at  his  feet, 
 
 23  And  besought  him  greatly,  saying.  My 
 little  dauglUer  lieth  at  the  point  of  death :  / 
 pray  thee,  come  and  lay  thy  hands  on  her, 
 that  she  may  be  healed  ;  and  she  shall  live. 
 
 24  And  Jesus  went  with  him  ;  and  much 
 people  followed  him,  and  thronged  him. 
 
 25  And  a  certain  woman,  '  which  had  an 
 issue  of  blood  twelve  years, 
 
 26  And  had  suffered  many  things  of  many 
 physicians,  and  had  spent  all  that  she  had,  and 
 was  nothing  bettered,  but  rather  grew  worse, 
 
 27  When  she  had  heard  of  Jesus,  came  in  the 
 press  behind,  and  touched  his  garment. 
 
 28  For  she  said.  If  I  may  touch  but  his 
 clothes,  I  shall  be  whole. 
 
 29  And  straightway  the  fountain  of  her  blood 
 was  dried  up;  and  she  felt  in  her  body  that 
 she  was  healed  of  that  plague. 
 
 30  And  Jesus,  immediately  knowing  in  him- 
 self that  ^virtue  had  gone  out  of  him,  turned 
 him  about  in  the  press,  and  said,  Who  touched 
 my  clothes? 
 
 31  And  his  disciples  said  unto  him.  Thou 
 .seest  the  multitude  thronging  thee,  and  sayest 
 thou.  Who  touched  me? 
 
 32  And  he  looked  round  about  to  see  her 
 that  had  done  this  thing. 
 
 33  But  the  woman  fearing  and  trembling, 
 knowing  what  was  done  in  her,  came  and  fell 
 down  before  him,  and  told  him  all  the  truth. 
 
 34  And  he  said  unto  her.  Daughter,  ''thy 
 faith  hath  made  thee  whole  ;  go  in  peace,  and 
 be  whole  of  thy  plague. 
 
 35  '  While  he  yet  spake,  there  came  from  the 
 ruler  of  the  synagogue's  house  certain  which 
 said.  Thy  daughter  is  dead  :  why  troublest 
 thou  the  Master  any  further? 
 
 3G  As  soon  as  Jesus  heard  the  word  that  was  I 
 
 r  Mat.  9.  18. 
 Luke  8.  41 
 
 yl,uke6.  19. 
 
 h  Mat  0  22. 
 cli  H>  5-.'. 
 Acts  1-1.9. 
 
 k  Julin  II. 
 
 II. 
 I  Acts  y.  JO. 
 
 M  Mat.  a.  % 
 &  g.H<l  k 
 12.  IG  fc  17. 
 y.  cli.  3.  12. 
 Liike^    14 
 
 Mat.  13. 
 ii.  Luke  4. 
 lt>. 
 
 spoken,  he  saith  unto  the  ruler  of  the  syna- 
 gogue. Be  not  afraid,  only  believe. 
 
 37  And  he  suffered  no  man  to  follow  him, 
 save  Peter,  and  James,  and  John  the  brother 
 of  James. 
 
 38  And  he  cometh  to  the  house  of  the  ruler 
 of  the  synagogue,  and  seeth  the  tumult,  and 
 them  that  wept  and  wailed  greatly. 
 
 39  And  when  he  was  come  in,  he  saith  unto 
 them.  Why  make  ye  this  ado,  and  weep?  the 
 damsel  is  not  dead,  but  '  sleepeth. 
 
 40  And  they  laughed  him  to  scorn.  '  But 
 when  he  had  put  them  all  out,  he  taketh  the 
 father  and  the  mother  of  the  damsel,  and  them 
 that  were  with  him,  and  entereth  in  where  the 
 damsel  was  lying. 
 
 41  And  he  took  the  damsel  by  the  hand,  and 
 said  unto  her,  Talitha  cumi ;  which  is,  being 
 interpreted.  Damsel,  I  say  unto  thee.  Arise. 
 
 42  And  straightway  the  damsel  arose,  and 
 walked  ;  for  she  was  of  the  age  of  twelve 
 years.  And  they  were  astonished  with  a  great 
 astonishment. 
 
 43  And  ■"  he  charged  them  straitly  that  no 
 man  should  know  it ;  and  commanded  that 
 something  should  be  given  her  to  eat. 
 
 CHAP.  vr. 
 
 1  Christ  is  contemned  of /lis  couittri/men.  7  He  qiveih 
 the  twelve  power  over  unclean  spirits.  14  Dicers 
 opinions  of  C/irist.  18  John  Baptist  is  belieatted, 
 29  and  I)urietL  30  The  apostles  return  frmn  preach- 
 inij.  34  The  miracle  office  loaves  and  two  fishes. 
 45  Christ  walhtth  on  the  sea  :  53  and  healeth  all  tliat 
 touch  /dm. 
 
 A  ND  °  he  went  out  from  thence,  and  came 
 -^*-  into  his  own  country  ;  and  his  disciples 
 follow  him. 
 
 2  And  when  the  sabbath  day  was  come,  he 
 began  to  teach  in  the  synagogue  :  and  many 
 hearing  him  were  astonished,  saying,  *■  From 
 whence  hath  this  man  these  things?  and  what 
 wisdom  is  this  which  is  given  unto  him,  that 
 even  such  mighty  works  are  wrought  by  his 
 hands  ? 
 
 26.  Nothini;  Aeffefff?— a  leflrned  physician  has  satisfactorily  proved  that 
 all  the  diseases  cured  by  Christ  were  incurable  by  the  art  of  medicine.— 
 Gill.  27.  Touclted  his  ^armeiil,  the  UingQot  it,  in  token  of  faith.— R. 
 yi'atson.  30.  Tliat  virtue  fmd pone  outof/dm.  'knowing  inhimselfthe 
 power  which  had  t^one  from  him.*  Christ  was  conscious  of  the  healing 
 power  which  had  been  exerted  in  answer  to  the  confidence  reposed  in 
 him, — Bootltr.,  so  Rtiiomf.  The  healing  iKiwer  of  Christ,  however,  did 
 not  depend  upon  the  touch,  since  it  was  often  effected  without  that,  and 
 even  when  at  a  distance.— if/rjom/.  It  is  never  said  of  the  apostles  as 
 of  Christ,  that  ivvatn<;,  power  or  virtue,  went  out  of  them  for  healing  : 
 they,  on  the  contrary,  disclaimed  it,  ascribing  the  entire  efficacy  to 
 Christ,  (Acts,  iii.  12,  l6.)  Jesus,  as  God,  had  power  residing  in  him- 
 self which  he  could  exert  at  pleasure. — Ouyse.  Who  touched  ^— it  vr&s 
 not  only  to  announce  a  miracle  which  he  iiad  done  secretly  that  Christ 
 
 asked  this  question,  but  to  publish  to  the  crowd  the  faith  and  humility 
 of  the  woman  who  had  been  healed,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  assure 
 her  of  it.— Jl/«r.  See  on  Matt.  ix.  20,  &c.,  notes.  38.  Seeth  Ihe 
 tumult — incredible  numbers  assemble  in  the  east  to  bewail  a  deceased 
 person. — Chardin.  40.  Lau^'hed  him  to  scorn,  Kat  KaTe7tA(Ji'  awTou, 
 rather  signifies  a  laugh  of  increddlity. — R.  Watson.  43.  No  mtin 
 
 should  know  it,  to  avtiid  untimely  persecution. — R.  Baxter.  He  did 
 not  impose  perpetual  sdence,  hut  only  for  the  present,  to  avoid  the 
 collecting  of  a  multitude,  and  any  political  commotion. — Kuinoel.  An 
 additional  reason  may  have  been  to  prevent  the  dead  being  brought  to 
 him  to  be  restored  to  life.  His  miracles  were  designed  principally  as 
 proofs  of  his  mission,  and  were  not  intended  to  alter  the  order  of  na- 
 ture on  every  request  made  to  him. — Le  Clerc. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  1.  His  own  country,  Nazareth,  the  place  of  his  conccp- 
 
 Reflections  OS  Chap.  V.  —  Let  as  reflect,  I.  On  t/ie 
 man  among  llie  tombs.  How  pitiable  was  his  condition  !  and 
 yet  in  even  a  worse  state  are  multitudes  of  our  fellow  crea- 
 tures. Tliey  are  under  the  influence  of  the  god  of  this  world. 
 Sin  is  their  master,  and  they  are  the  basest  of  slaves.  They 
 are  madly  inflicting  the  worst  of  wounds  upon  their  souls. 
 Yet  many  such  have  been  brought  by  Jesus  to  their  right 
 minds.  Tbo  evil  spirit  has  no  more  dominion  over  them. 
 How  great  are  their  obligations  to  the  Saviour,  and  what  strong 
 reasons  have  they  to  speak  good  of  his  name  !  Reader,  art 
 thou  converted,  lose  no  favourable  opportunity  to  tell  thy 
 friends  bow  great  things  the  Lord  hath  done  for  thee.  Let  us 
 reflect — 
 
 IL  On  the  woman  with  the  issue  of  Hood.  Her  complaint,  like 
 that  of  sin,  was  incurable  but  by  an  Almighty  energy.  Every 
 other  physician  was  of  no  value,  till  she  came  to  Christ.  And 
 here,  like  her,  the  defiled  and  dying  sinner  finds  purity  and 
 life.  Simple  faith  in  the  Son  of  God  is  all  that  is  essential  for 
 1046 
 
 receiving  that  virtue  which  flows  from  Christ— '  Believe  in 
 the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.'  Let  us  re- 
 flect- 
 Ill.  On  the  raisinr)  of  t!ie  ruler's  daui/hter.  'Diseases  and 
 deaths  came  into  the  world  by  the  sin  and  disobedience  of  the 
 first  Adam  ;  but,  by  the  grace  of  the  second  Adam,  both  are 
 conquered  '  And  here  we  learn  that  Christ  works  while  ho 
 commands,  and  works  by  the  command,  and  therefore  may 
 command  what  he  pleases,  even  the  dead  to  arise.  Such  is 
 the  gospel  call  to  those  who  are  by  nature  dead  in  trespasses 
 and  sins,  and  can  no  more  rise  from  that  death  by  their  own 
 power  than  this  child  could;  and  yet  that  word,  '  Awake, 
 and  arise  from  the  dead,'  is  neither  vain  nor  in  vain,  when  it 
 follows  immediately— 'Christ  shall  give  thee  life,'  (Ephes. 
 V,  14.  )  It  is  by  the  word  of  Christ  that  spiritual  life  is  given; 
 and  '  our  spiritual  life  will  appear  by  our  rising  from  the  bed 
 of  sloth  and  carelessness,  and  our  walking  in  a  religious  con- 
 versation in  Christ's  name  and  strength.'  *^ 
 
Divers  opinions  of  Christ. 
 
 S.  MARK,  VI. 
 
 The  apostles  return  from  preaching , 
 
 3  Is  not  this  the  carpenter,  the  son  of  Mary, 
 '  the  brother  of  James,  and  Joses,  and  of  Juda, 
 and  Simon?  and  are  not  his  sisters  here  with 
 us  ?     And  they  ■•  were  offended  at  him. 
 
 4  But  Jesus  said  unto  them,  "A  prophet  is  not 
 without  honour,  but  in  his  own  country,  and 
 anions  '''^  ovm  kin,  and  in  his  own  house. 
 
 5  '  And  he  could  there  do  no  mighty  work, 
 save  that  he  laid  his  hands  upon  a  few  sick 
 folk,  and  healed  them. 
 
 6  And  ^  he  marvelled  because  of  their  unbe- 
 lief. ''  And  he  went  round  about  the  villages, 
 teaching. 
 
 7  H  '  And  he  called  unto  him  the  twelve,  and 
 began  to  send  them  forth  by  two  and  two  j  and 
 gave  them  power  over  unclean  spirits  ; 
 
 8  And  commanded  them  that  they  should 
 take  nothing  for  <Aei>  journey,  save  a  staff  only ; 
 no  scrip,  no  bread,  no  ||  money  in  their  purse: 
 
 9  But  '6e  shod  with  sandals  ;  and  not  put  on 
 two  coats. 
 
 10  '  And  he  said  unto  them.  In  what  place 
 soever  ye  enter  into  an  house,  there  abide 
 till  ye  depart  from  that  place. 
 
 1 1  "'  And  whosoever  shall  not  receive  you, 
 nor  hear  you,  when  ye  depart  thence,  "shake 
 off  the  dust  under  your  feet  for  a  testimony 
 against  them.  Verily  I  say  unto  you.  It  shall 
 be  more  tolerable  for  Sodom  t  and  Gomorrha 
 in  the  day  of  judgment,  than  for  that  city. 
 
 12  And  they  went  out,  and  preached  that 
 men  should  repent. 
 
 1.3  And  they  cast  out  many  devils,  "and 
 anointed  with  oil  many  that  were  sick,  and 
 healed  them. 
 
 14  ''  And  king  Herod  heard  of  him;  (for  his 
 name  was  spread  abroad  :)  and  he  said.  That 
 John  the  Baptist  was  risen  from  the  dead,  and 
 therefore  mighty  works  do  shew  forth  them- 
 selves in  him. 
 
 15  "^  Others  said.  That  it  is  Elias.  And  others 
 said.  That  it  is  a  prophet,  or  as  one  of  the 
 prophets. 
 
 16  '  But  when  Herod  heard  thereof,  he  said, 
 It  is  Jolin,  whom  I  beheaded  :  he  is  risen  from 
 the  dead. 
 
 17  For  Herod  himself  had  sent  forth  and  laid 
 hold  upon  John,  and  bound  him  in  prison  for 
 Herodias'  sake,  his  brother  Philip's  wife  :  for 
 he  had  married  her. 
 
 18  For  John  had  said  unto  Herod, '  It  is  not 
 lawful  for  thee  to  have  thy  brother's  wife. 
 
 19  Therefore  Herodias  had  ||  a  quarrel  against 
 him,  and  would  have  killed  him ;  but  she  could 
 not : 
 
 20  For  Herod  '  feared  John,  knowing  that  he 
 was  a  just  man  and  an  holy,  and  ||  observed 
 him  ;  and  when  he  heard  him,  he  did  many 
 things,  and  heard  him  gladly. 
 
 21  "  And  when  a  convenient  day  was  come, 
 that  Herod  ^  on  his  birthday  made  a  supper  to 
 his  lords,  high  captains,  and  chief  estates  of 
 Galilee : 
 
 A.  D.  31. 
 
 c  See  Mat. 
 
 \2.  4G.  Qal 
 
 1.  19. 
 d  Mat.  11.  6 
 e  Mat.  I.S,  57. 
 
 JoliD  4.  44 
 
 /See  Gen. 
 l!l.2->.  &  32. 
 25.  Mat.  rS. 
 58.  ch.».23. 
 
 '  Ib.  59.  16. 
 
 [Mat.  in,  1, 
 ch.  a.  ig.l-l, 
 Luke  9.  I. 
 
 II  The  word 
 ei^nifietli  u 
 pirn  of 
 braSt  "lO'lfy, 
 
 unmeichol 
 Ifis  than   a 
 f.^f  thing. 
 Mat.  Ill   9, 
 but  here  it 
 in  taken  in 
 peneriil  fur 
 
 Luke  9.  3 
 t  Acts  \2.  8. 
 I  Mat.  10.1  I. 
 
 Luke  9.  '!, 
 
 Ik  HI.  7,8. 
 tij  Mat.  10. 
 
 I'l.LuKe  10 
 
 10. 
 ..  Actsl.S,  51 
 
 t  Gr.  or 
 o  Jam.  6   14. 
 
 p  Mat,  II.  I 
 Luke  9.  7. 
 
 ■  Mat.  14.  2, 
 Luke  S.  19. 
 
 I  Lev.  18  I 
 fc  20.  21. 
 
 !|  Or,  an  i 
 ward 
 grudfie. 
 
 II  Or,  kept 
 him,  or, 
 laved  him. 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 Mat.  II  f.. 
 
 J  Gen.40  2D. 
 
 tf  Est,  5.  3, 
 6.  &  ?.  2. 
 
 z  Mat.  14.9, 
 
 I  Or,  on.  nf 
 hit  ijMatd. 
 
 b  Mat.  14. 
 13. 
 
 0  cb.  3.  20. 
 
 i  Mat.  14. 
 13. 
 
 «  Mat.  0.  36. 
 &  14.  14. 
 
 /Luke 9.  II 
 
 M.at.  14. 
 15    Luke  9. 
 
 h  Num.  11. 
 13,  22. 
 2  Kin.  .1. 43. 
 
 i;  The  Bo- 
 man  peuny 
 IB  Bever- 
 pence  half- 
 penny ;  as 
 Mat.  18  28 
 Wat,  14-17. 
 Luke  9. 13. 
 John  6,  9 
 SeeMat.!.";. 
 31.  ch.  8.  5. 
 
 22  And  when  the  daughter  of  the  said  Hero- 
 dias came  in,  and  danced,  and  pleased  Herod 
 and  them  tliat  sat  with  him,  the  king  said  unto 
 the  damsel,  Ask  of  me  whatsoever  thou  wilt, 
 and  I  will  give  it  thee. 
 
 2.3  And  he  sware  unto  her,  '  Whatsoever 
 thou  shalt  ask  of  me,  I  will  give  it  thee,  unto 
 the  half  of  my  kingdom. 
 
 24  And  she  went  forth,  and  said  unto  her 
 mother.  What  shall  I  ask?  And  she  said, 
 The  head  of  John  the  Baptist. 
 
 25  And  she  came  in  straightway  with  haste 
 unto  the  king,  and  asked,  saying,  I  will  that 
 thou  give  me  by  and  by  in  a  charger  the  head 
 of  John  the  Baptist. 
 
 26  ^  And  the  king  was  exceeding  sorry  ;  yet 
 for  his  oath's  sake,  and  for  their  sakes  which 
 sat  with  him,  he  would  not  reject  her. 
 
 27  And  immediately  the  king  sent  ||  an  exe- 
 cutioner, and  commanded  his  head  to  be 
 brought :  and  he  went  and  beheaded  him  in 
 the  prison, 
 
 28  And  brought  his  head  in  a  charger,  and 
 gave  it  to  the  damsel :  and  the  damsel  gave  it 
 to  her  mother. 
 
 29  And  when  his  disciples  heard  of  it,  they 
 came  and  took  up  his  corpse,  and  laid  it  in  a 
 tomb. 
 
 30  '  And  the  apostles  gathered  themselves 
 together  unto  Jesus,  and  told  him  all  things, 
 both  what  they  had  done,  and  what  they  had 
 taught. 
 
 31  ''  And  he  said  unto  them.  Come  ye  your- 
 selves apart  into  a  desert  place,  and  rest  a 
 while :  for  "  there  were  many  coming  and  going, 
 and  they  had  no  leisure  so  much  as  to  eat. 
 
 32  '"And  they  departed  into  a  desert  place  by 
 ship  privately. 
 
 33  And  the  people  saw  them  departing,  and 
 many  knew  him,  and  ran  afoot  thither  out  of 
 all  cities,  and  outwent  them,  and  came  toge- 
 ther unto  him. 
 
 34  "And  Jesus,  when  he  came  out,  saw  much 
 people,  and  was  moved  with  compassion  to- 
 ward them,  because  they  were  as  sheep  not 
 having  a  shepherd:  and  Hie  began  to  teach 
 them  many  things. 
 
 .35  ^And  when  the  day  was  now  far  spent,  his 
 disciples  came  unto  him,  and  said.  This  is  a 
 desert  place,  and  now  the  time  is  far  passed  : 
 
 36  Send  them  away,  that  they  may  go  into 
 the  country  round  about,  and  into  the  villages, 
 and  buy  themselves  bread  :  for  they  have  no- 
 thing to  eat. 
 
 37  He  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Give  ye 
 them  to  eat.  And  they  say  unto  him,  "  Shall 
 we  go  and  buy  two  hundred  ||  pennyworth  of 
 bread,  and  give  them  to  eat  ? 
 
 38  He  saith  unto  them,  How  many  loaves 
 have  ye  ?  go  and  see.  And  when  they  knew, 
 they  say,  '  Five,  and  two  fishes. 
 
 39  And  he  commanded  them  to  make  all  sit 
 down  by  companies  upon  the  green  grass. 
 
 tioD  anil  cilucation,  and  where  many  of  his  acquaintances  and  relations 
 still  resided.— Ouj(se.  3.  TAe  carpenter —  Vaz  ancient  Jews  were 
 bound  to  teach  their  children  a  trade.— CtarAre.  See  Matt.  xiii.  55, 
 notes.  4.  IVu(  mWioKf  AonoKr— seeMatt.  xiii.  57,  note.  i.  And  he 
 could  there  do  no  mighty  work,  ^c— see  Matt.  xiii.  68,  note.  8.  Take 
 nothing,  ^c— see  on  Matt.  .\.  9— 15,  notes.  13.  Anointed  with  oil, 
 
 as  an  external  symbol  of  health  and  joy,  and  as  an  ordinance  for  the 
 faith  of  them  that  were  healed.— Ouyse.  The  virtues  which  attended 
 its  use  by  the  apostles  must  have  been  supernatural,  since  the  cures 
 were  certain  and  constant.  — U'/ii<6y,  so  Bloomf.  When  St.  James 
 gives  the  eeneraJ  direction,  (chap.  v.  11— 15,)  he  adds  those  peremptory 
 words,  '  And  the  Lord  shall  heal  him."  He  shall  be  restored  to  health, 
 1047 
 
 not  by  the  natural  efficacy  of  the  oil,  but  by  the  supernatural  blessing 
 of  God. — Benson.  14.  That  John  the  Baptist  was  risen,  ^c. — see 
 
 Matt.  xiv.  a,  &c..  notes.  22.  Danced  —  see  Matt.  xiv.  6,  note. 
 23.  Half  of  my  kingdom—^  way  of  speaking  used  by  princes,  when 
 they  give  full  power  to  persons  to  ask  what  they  will  of  them,  and  to 
 express  their  great  mimificence  and  liberality,  (see  Esth.  v.  3,  6.) — ■ 
 Gill.  35.  .i  desert  place,  and  now  the  time  is  far  passed,  ^c. — see 
 Matt.  xiv.  15,  &c.,  notes.  37.  Two  hundred  pennyworth,  ^nsvjeTHhle 
 to  6/.  5s.  of  our  money. — Gill.  This  might  be  just  the  sum  they  now 
 had  in  their  bag. — Grot.,  Doddr.,  Markl.,  Rosenm.,  Kuinoel.  It  wag 
 a  common  expression  to  denote  a  considerable  sum. — Lightf.  39.  By 
 companies,  avunoatov,  signifies  *a  company  of  guests  at  a  table  ;*  hut 
 
Christ  walketh  on  the  sea. 
 
 S.  MARK,  VII.        The  Pharisees Jind fault  with  the  disciples. 
 
 40  And  they  sat  down  in  ranks,  by  hundreds, 
 and  by  fifties. 
 
 41  And  when  he  had  taken  the  five  loaves 
 and  tiie  two  fisihes,  he  looked  up  to  heaven, 
 ■■  and  blessed,  and  biake  the  loaves,  and  gave 
 them  to  his  disciples  to  set  before  them  ;  and 
 the  two  fishes  divided  he  among  thejn  all. 
 
 42  And  they  did  all  eat,  and  were  filled. 
 
 43  And  they  took  up  twelve  baskets  full  of 
 the  fragments,  and  of  the  fishes. 
 
 44  And  they  that  did  eat  of  the  loaves  were 
 about  five  thousand  men. 
 
 45  '  And  straightway  he  constrained  his  dis- 
 ciples to  get  into  the  ship,  and  to  go  to  the 
 other  side  before  ||  unto  Bethsaida,  while  he 
 sent  away  the  people. 
 
 46  And  when  he  had  sent  them  away,  he  de- 
 parted into  a  mountain  to  pray. 
 
 47  ""And  when  even  was  come,  the  ship  was  in 
 the  midst  of  the  sea,  and  he  alone  on  the  land. 
 
 48  And  he  saw  them  toiling  in  rowing ;  for 
 the  wind  was  contrary  unto  them  :  and  about 
 the  fourth  watch  of  the  night  he  cometh  unto 
 them,  walking  upon  the  sea,  and  "would  have 
 passed  by  them. 
 
 49  But  when  they  saw  him  walking  upon  the 
 sea,  they  supposed  it  had  been  a  spirit,  and 
 cried  out : 
 
 50  For  they  all  saw  him,  and  were  troubled. 
 And  immediately  he  talked  with  them,  and 
 saith  unto  them,  Be  of  good  cheer  :  it  is  I  ;  be 
 not  afraid. 
 
 51  And  he  went  up  unto  them  into  the  ship  ; 
 and  the  wind  ceased  :  and  they  were  sore 
 amazed  in  themselves  beyond  measure,  and 
 wondered. 
 
 52  For  °  they  considered  not  the  miracle  of 
 the  loaves  :  for  their  "^  heart  was  hardened. 
 
 53  ''  And  when  they  had  passed  over,  they 
 came  into  the  land  of  Geunesaret,  and  drew  to 
 the  shore. 
 
 i;  Or.  nver 
 B'lhiaidn. 
 
 rn  Mat  \\ 
 ?3  Jobu  li. 
 le,  17. 
 
 1  Sot-  I-uke 
 
 2t.  i8. 
 
 a  eh.  8.  17. 
 
 IS. 
 p  rh.  S   S.  & 
 
 Ifi    M. 
 q  Mat.  M. 
 
 ■  Mat.  9.  '20 
 i-h.5-27,2S. 
 Acts  19. 12. 
 
 II  Or,  dih- 
 j/riiHt/ :  in 
 tlicorigi- 
 ■kU.  vtithlhe 
 fitt:  Tlieo- 
 phylai't,  up 
 to  the  elbntB. 
 
 II  Soxtar  uR 
 is  about  a 
 pint  ai>d 
 ail  half. 
 
 II  Or,  bt-di. 
 
 b  Mat.  la.  2. 
 
 54  And  when  they  were  come  out  of  the 
 
 ship,  straightway  they  knew  him, 
 
 55  And  ran  through  that  whole  region  round 
 about,  and  began  to  carry  about  in  beds  those 
 that  were  sick,  where  they  heard  he  was. 
 
 56  And  whithersoever  he  entered,  into  vil- 
 lages, or  cities,  or  country,  they  laid  the  sici 
 in  the  streets,  and  besought  iiim  tliat  "^  the} 
 might  touch  if  it  were  but  the  border  of  hi 
 garment:  and  as  many  as  touched  |j  him  wert 
 made  whole. 
 
 CHAP.  VII 
 
 I  The  Pharisees  find  fault  at  the  disciples  for  eating 
 ivith  univashen  hands.  8  They  break  the  command- 
 meiit  if  God  by  the  traditions  if  men.  14  Meat  de- 
 Jileth  not  the  man.  24  He  health  the  Syropheuician 
 woman  s  daughter  of  an  uncUayi  spirit,  31  and  one. 
 that  was  deaf  and  stammered  in  his  speech, 
 
 T^HEN  "came  together  unto  him  the  Pbari- 
 -*-  sees,  and  certain  of  the  scribes,  which 
 came  from  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  And  when  they  saw  some  of  his  disciples 
 eat  bread  with  ||  defiled,  that  is  to  say,  with 
 unwashen,  hands,  they  found  fault. 
 
 3  For  the  Pharisees,  and  all  tlie  Jews,  except 
 they  wash  their  hands  ||  oft,  eat  not,  holding 
 the  tradition  of  the  elders. 
 
 4  And  when  they  come  from  the  market,  ex- 
 cept they  wat.h,  they  eat  not.  And  many  other 
 things  there  be,  which  they  have  received  to 
 hold,  (75  the  washing  of  cups,  and  ||pots,  brasen 
 vessels  and  of  ||  tables. 
 
 3  ''  Then  the  Pharisees  and  scribes  asked 
 him.  Why  walk  not  thy  disciples  according 
 to  the  tradition  of  the  elders,  but  eat  bread 
 with  unwashen  hands? 
 
 6  He  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Well 
 hath  Esaias  prophesied  of  you  hypocrites,  as  it 
 is  written,  "  This  people  honoureth  me  witli 
 their  lips,  but  their  heart  is  far  from  me. 
 
 K\iaia,  the  word  in  Luke,  denotes  properly,  as  many  of  them  as  re- 
 clined on  one  bed,  according  to  the  eastern  manner  of  eating.  '  By 
 Christ's  order,  therefore,  the  people  were  to  sit  down  to  this  meal  in 
 companies,  consisting  some  of  fitty  persons,  some  of  an  hundred, 
 according  as  the  ground  would  admit.  The  members  of  each  com- 
 pany, I  suppose,  were  to  be  placed  in  two  rows,  the  one  row  with  their 
 faces  towards  those  of  the  other,  as  if  a  long  table  had  been  between 
 them.  The  first  company  being  thus  set  down,  the  second  was  to  he 
 placed  beside  the  first  in  a  like  form,  and  the  third  by  the  second,  till 
 all  were  set  down,  the  direction  of  the  ranks  being  up  tlie  hill.  And  as 
 the  two  ranks  of  every  division  were  formed  into  one  companv,  by 
 being  placed  with  their  faces  towards  each  other,  so  they  were  di-:tin- 
 guished  from  the  neighbouring  companies,  by  lying  with  their  hacks 
 turned  to  their  backs ;  and  the  whole  body,  thus  ranged,  would  resem- 
 ble a  garden-plot  divided  into  seed-bed"^,  which  is  the  proper  significa- 
 tion of  jrpiitrmi,  'ranks.* — Mnckn.  The  above  arrangement  seems  to 
 have  been  adopted  to  shew  the  apostle's,  and  especially  the  multitude, 
 the  number  fed.— B/oom/.  40.  Rnnka,  Trpumat,  'squares.'  The  word 
 denotes  a  small  plat,  such  as  a  flower-bed  in  a  garden,  (see  Ecclus. 
 
 xxiv.  31.)  These  beds  were  in  the  form  of  oblong  squares. — Camp. 
 45,  &c.  Hf^  constrained  his  disciples,  ffc. — see  Matt.  xiv.  22,  Sec,  notes. 
 52.  For  their  heurt  was  hardened,  nv  rj  Kap3ia  ai'Twi/  ■nf!Tu>()ujfitvti,  '  their 
 minds  were  stupifierl.'—C'itH/j.  '  There  was  a  great  dod  of  dulness, 
 and  stupidity,  and  want  of  attention  in  them.'— Gi7/.  '  Tbey  were  inapt 
 to  learn,  and  slow  to  receive  conviction.'— fl.  l]'fits'in.  The  phra.se  is 
 a  common  phrase  for  unbelief.  It  is  here  equivalent  to  '  little  faith,' 
 as  in  the  parallel  passage  in  Matt.  xiv.  31. — liar.  s.-j.  In  beds,  a  sort 
 of  mats,  mattresses,  or  comnmu  carpets,  carried  upon  hurdles.— H'l/. 
 
 CnAP.  VII.  —  \.  Then  came,  ^c— see  Matt.  xv.  I,  &c..  notes.  4.  Ex- 
 cept they  uvi«/i— because  of  the  law,  (Lev.  xv.  ii,)  the  people  were 
 ordered  to  wash  their  hands  immediately  on  their  return  from  places  of 
 public  concourse,  and  before  they  sat  down  to  meat,  lest  by  touching 
 some  unclean  person  in  the  crowd  they  might  have  defiled  themselves. 
 The  Pharisees,  therefore,  being  very  zealous  in  these  trifle';,  would  not 
 eat  at  any  time  unless  they  washed  their  hands  with  the  greatest  care. 
 From  this  source  came  that  endless  variety  of  purifications  not  pre- 
 scribed in  the  law,  but  ordained  by  the  elders.— Bcws.  Of  cups, 
 TTOTtjpiuv,  any  kind  of  earthen  vessels.    And  of  tables,  Kai  nXivuiv,  pro- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  — The  subjects  in  this  chap- 
 ter are — I.  The  ill  success  of  Christ  at  Capernaum.  The  people 
 were  stumbled  at  his  humble  condition,  and  so  rejected  bim. 
 How  long  will  men  be  daszled  by  glare  and  splendour,  when 
 Christ  came  in  the  humblest  form,  and  those  who  appear  in 
 most  pomp  are  least  like  him!  Paganism  and  popery  are 
 adapted  for  the  eyes,  but  pure  and  undefiled  religion  claims 
 the  heart.  Pride  and  unbelief  were  here  the  main  obstacles 
 to  the  reception  of  Christ,  and  are  they  not  so  still? 
 
 II.  The  commission  to  the  itrelve.  In  consequence  of  this 
 commission,  '  ihey  went  out  and  preached  that  men  should 
 repent.'  Those  who  preach  pririlege  only,  and  not  repent- 
 ance, neither  follow  ihe  example  of  Christ's  forerunner,  nor 
 Christ  himself,  nor  his  apostles  ;  for  they  continually  de- 
 clared that  '  God  hath  commanded  all  men  everywhere  to 
 repent.' 
 
 III.  The  conduct  of  Herod  in  the  affair  of  Herodias,     This 
 
 1048 
 
 prince  stifled  his  convictions,  and  then  ran  the  greatest  lengths 
 in  sin.  Let  us  beware  of  imitating  his  example  ;  nothing  more 
 tends  to  harden  the  heart,  to  drive  onward  to  sin,  and  then 
 finally  to  despair. 
 
 IV.  The  miracle  of  the  loaves  and  fishes.  Let  us.  from  this, 
 remember  that  our  divine  Lord  can  amply  providp  all  tliat 
 we  need,  both  for  the  nourishment  of  our  souls  and  bodies. 
 
 V.  Christ  stilling  the  tempest.  And  let  this  teach  us  that 
 every  tempest  of  life  is  under  his  control.  The  winds  may 
 howl,  and  the  waves  may  roar  ;  but,  with  Christ  at  the  helm, 
 the  church  should  never  yield  to  fear : 
 
 '  With  Christ  in  the  vessel,  we  smile  at  the  storm.' 
 
 VI.  The  virtue  of  Christ  to  heal.  To  him  came  the  sick  and 
 afflicted,  and  as  many  as  touched  him  were  made  whole.  Let 
 the  sin-sick  soul  thus  approach  bim  by  faith  ;  that  contact 
 with  him  brings  with  it  life  and  salvation. 
 
Meat  defilelh  nut  the  man. 
 
 S.  MARK,  VIII. 
 
 Christ  fr.edelh  the  people  miraculoui 
 
 7  Howbeit  in  vain  do  they  worship  mo, 
 teaching  for  doctrines  the  commandments  of 
 men. 
 
 8  For  laying  aside  tlie  commandment  of  God, 
 ye  hold  the  tradition  of  men,  as  the  washing 
 of  pots  and  cups  :  and  many  other  such  like 
 things  ye  do. 
 
 9  And  he  said  unto  them,  Full  well  ye  ||  re- 
 ject tlie  commandment  of  God,  tliat  ye  may 
 keep  your  own  tradition. 
 
 10  For  Moses  said,  ■'  Honour  tliy  father  and 
 thy  mother  ;  and,  °  Whoso  curseth  father  or 
 mother,  let  him  die  the  death  : 
 
 1 1  But  ye  say.  If  a  man  shall  say  to  his  father 
 or  mother.  It  is  '  Corhan,  that  is  to  say,  a  gift, 
 by  whatsoever  thou  mightest  be  profited  by 
 me  ;  he  shall  be  free. 
 
 12  And  ye  sutler  him  no  more  to  do  ought 
 for  bis  father  or  liis  mother; 
 
 13  Making  tlie  word  of  God  of  none  effect 
 through  your  tradition,  which  ye  have  deli- 
 vered :  and  many  such  like  things  do  ye. 
 
 14  t  ^And  when  he  had  called  all  the  people 
 unto  him,  he  said  unto  them,  Hearken  unto  me 
 every  one  of  you,  and  understand  : 
 
 15  There  is  nothing  from  without  a  man,  that 
 entering  into  him  can  defile  him  :  but  the 
 things  which  come  out  of  him,  those  are  they 
 that  defile  the  man. 
 
 16  ""If  any  man  have  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 
 
 17  'And  when  he  was  entered  into  the  house 
 from  the  people,  his  disciples  asked  him  con- 
 cerning the  parable. 
 
 18  And  be  saith  unto  them.  Are  ye  so  with- 
 out understanding  alsoV  Do  ye  not  perceive, 
 that  whatsoever  thing  from  without  entereth 
 into  the  man,  it  cannot  defile  him  ; 
 
 19  Because  it  entereth  not  into  his  heart,  but 
 into  the  belly,  and  goeth  out  into  the  draught, 
 purging  all  meats? 
 
 20  And  he  said,  That  which  cometh  out  of 
 the  man,  that  defileth  the  man. 
 
 21  '  For  from  within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men, 
 proceed  evil  thoughts,  adulteries,  fornications, 
 murders, 
 
 22  Thefts,  f  covetousness,  wickedness,  de- 
 ceit, lasciviousness,  an  evil  eye,  blasphemy, 
 pride,  foolishness  : 
 
 23  All  these  evil  things  come  from  within, 
 and  defile  the  man. 
 
 24  t  '  And  from  thence  he  arose,  and  went 
 into  the  borders  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  and  en- 
 tered into  an  house,  and  would  have  no  man 
 know  it :  but  he  could  not  be  hid. 
 
 25  For  a  certain  woman,  whose  young  daugh- 
 ter had  an  unclean  spirit,  heard  of  him,  and 
 came  and  fell  at  his  feet : 
 
 26  The  woman  was  a  ||  Greek,  a  Syro-pheni- 
 cian  by  nation ;  and  she  besought  him  that  he 
 would  cast  forth  the  devil  out  of  her  daughter. 
 
 27  But  Jesus  said  unto  her.  Let  the  children 
 first  be  filled  :  for  it  is  not  meet  to  take  the 
 
 a  Ex.  so.  12. 
 
 Deul.  5.  16. 
 
 Mat.  15.  4 
 ^  E.X.21.  17. 
 
 Lev.  20  9. 
 
 Pruv.20.20. 
 
 /■Mat    t.'..  5. 
 
 /i  Mat   111^ 
 i  M.it.  10   I& 
 
 ,  Mat.9  3?. 
 l.iikc  11.11 
 
 p  cli.  6.-11. 
 
 Joluill.  41, 
 
 U  IT.  1. 
 9  Joint  11. 
 
 a.1,  38. 
 r  Is.  3.'-,.  5,  C. 
 
 .Mat   11.5 
 
 6  Mat  15.  at. 
 L-  .-h  G  3tl. 
 
 :  Mat   14  19. 
 cb.  6.  41. 
 
 children's  bread,  and  to  cast  it  unto  the  dogs. 
 
 28  And  she  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Yes, 
 Lord  :  yet  the  dogs  under  the  table  eat  of  the 
 children's  crumbs. 
 
 29  And  he  said  unto  her.  For  this  saying  go 
 thy  way  ;  the  devil  is  gone  out  of  thy  daugliter. 
 
 30  And  when  she  was  come  to  her  house,  she 
 found  the  devil  gone  out,  and  her  daughter  laid 
 upon  the  bed. 
 
 Sit""  And  again,  departing  from  the  coasts 
 of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  he  came  unto  the  sea  of 
 Galilee,  through  the  midst  of  the  coasts  of 
 Decapolis. 
 
 32  And  "  they  bring  unto  him  one  that  was 
 deaf,  and  had  an  impediment  in  his  speech  , 
 and  they  beseech  him  to  put  his  hand  upon 
 him. 
 
 33  And  he  took  him  aside  from  the  multi- 
 tude, and  put  his  fingers  into  his  ears,  and  "  he 
 spit,  and  touched  his  tongue  ; 
 
 34  And  ''looking  up  to  heaven,  '' he  sighed, 
 and  saith  unto  liim,  Ephphatha,  that  is.  Be 
 opened. 
 
 35  '  And  straightway  his  ears  were  opened, 
 and  the  string  of  his  tongue  was  loosed,  and  be 
 spake  plain. 
 
 36  And  '  he  charged  them  that  they  should 
 tell  no  man  :  but  tlie  more  he  cliarged  them, 
 so  much  the  more  a  great  deal  they  published  it; 
 
 37  And  were  beyond  measure  astonislied, 
 saying.  He  hath  done  all  things  well  :  he 
 maketti  both  the  deaf  to  hear,  and  the  dumb 
 to  speak. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  C/trist  fi'edeth  the  pefip/i-  viiraculoudy  ;  10  refuselh 
 to  (jive  a  sign  in  the  Phririsets  :  \A  adnumisheth  his 
 disciples  to  beware  of  the  leaven  of  the  Pharisees,  ajid 
 of  the  leaven  of  Herod:  22  t/iveth  a  hliiil  man  h's 
 sii/ht :  27  achiuiU'iedi/eth  that  he  is  the  C/trist,  who 
 slioukl  suffer  and  rise  again  ;  34  and  exhortetli  in 
 patience  ijt  persecution  for  tite  profession  of  the  gospel. 
 
 T  N  those  days  °  the  multitude  being  very 
 ■'-  great,  and  having  nothing  to  eat,  Jesus 
 called  his  disciples  unto  him,  and  saith  unto 
 them, 
 
 2  I  have  compassion  on  the  multitude,  be- 
 cause they  have  now  been  with  me  three  days, 
 and  have  nothing  to  eat : 
 
 3  And  if  I  send  them  away  fasting  to  their 
 own  houses,  they  will  faint  by  the  way  ;  for 
 divers  of  them  came  from  far. 
 
 4  And  his  disciples  answered  him.  From 
 whence  can  a  man  satisfy  these  men  with  bread 
 here  in  the  wilderness? 
 
 5  ''  And  he  asked  them,  How  many  loaves 
 have  ye  ?     And  they  said,  Seven. 
 
 6  And  he  commanded  the  people  to  sit  down 
 on  the  ground  :  and  lie  took  the  seven  loaves, 
 and  gave  thank.s,  and  brake,  and  gave  to  liis 
 disciples  to  set  before  them  ;  and  they  did  set 
 them  before  the  people. 
 
 7  And  thcv  had  a  few  small  fi,shes  :  and  'he 
 
 bably  their  forms  or  seats.  A  bed  or  couch  was  ticfiled  if  any  leper 
 &c.  sat  or  leaned  on  it.  9-  fnlt  well,  KaXtoc,  an  irony. — Clarke. 
 22.  Covetousness,  covetousnesses,  wXcoffftai,  immoderate  desires  after 
 wealth,  and  the  gratifications  of  sense.  Wiekedness,  Trofiipiut,  malice, 
 hatred,  ill-will.  Deceit,  i.e.,  wickedness  disguised.  Pride,  vnef>t]tjtavta, 
 exalting  ourselves  in  our  own  conceit  above,  and  looking  down  with 
 scorn  upon  others.  Fontishness,  a^putti'i'n,  impudence,  inconsideratiun, 
 referrint;  to  rash  speaking  and  acting. — Hen.  26.  Syro-phenieinn — 
 
 the  country  about  Tyre  and  Sidon  was  called  Syro-Phoenicia. — Bens. 
 See  Matt.  xv.  22,  &c.,  notes.  32.  Had  an  impediment  in  his  speech, 
 
 ^o7iAa\ov— the  word  signities  *a  tongue-tied  person.' — R.Watson. 
 '  He  was  not  absolutely  dumb,  but  stammered  to  such  a  degree  that 
 few  undertitood  his  speech,'  (ver.  35.) — Benj.    It  may  mean  that  he 
 
 was  totally  speechless,  as  may  be  collected  from  the  words  of  the  Jews, 
 (ver.  37 ;)  'He  maketh  the  dumb  to  speak.' — Hurn.  33.  Put  his 
 jfinffers,  ^-n.,  to  shew  that  he  neither  used  incantations  nor  medica- 
 ments.—  Ilosenm.  To  represent  the  invisible  efficacy  of  his  power  by 
 outward  signs. — S.  Clarke.  To  teach  us  to  submit  cheerriiUy  to  what- 
 ever he  appoints,  whether  we  perceive  the  reason  cf  his  conditct  i>r 
 nol. — Dav.  34-  Looking  up  to  lienven,  to  denote  that  he  acted  by  a 
 Divine  power,  in  perfect  union  with  the  Father.  Sighed,  as  synipa. 
 thizing  with  the  man  in  misery,  and  in  a  vicv  of  the  calamities  to 
 which  men  are  e-xposed  by  sin. — Srntf.  37.  Ber/nnd  measure  as- 
 tonished, uTrepirepitrtrajr, '  more  than  above  measure,'  e-xeeedingly  affecti-d 
 with  it. — Hen. 
 
 Refi.k-1  IONS  ON  Chap-  X\]. —  Spp  tliose  on  Matthew,  xv. 
 
 10-19 
 
 6  s 
 
Christ  adinonishet/i  his  disciples. 
 
 S.  MARK,  IX. 
 
 Thr.  /ffiiisfiipirrition  of'  Christ 
 
 blessed,  and  commanded  to  set  them  also  be- 
 fore tlie^ii. 
 
 8  So  they  did  eat,  and  were  filled  :  and  the)' 
 took  np  of  the  broken  meat  that  was  left  seven 
 baskets. 
 
 9  And  they  that  had  eaten  were  about  four 
 thousand  :  and  he  sent  them  away. 
 
 10  t  And  •'straightway  he  entered  into  a 
 ship  with  his  disciples,  and  came  into  the  parts 
 of  Dalmanutha. 
 
 1 1  °And  the  Pharisees  came  forth,  and  began 
 to  question  with  him,  seeking  of  him  a  sign 
 from  heaven,  tempting  him. 
 
 12  And  he  sighed  deeply  in  his  spirit,  and 
 saith.  Why  doth  this  generation  seek  after  a 
 sign?  verily  I  say  unto  you.  There  shall  no 
 sign  be  given  unto  this  generation. 
 
 13  And  he  left  them,  and  entering  into  the 
 ship  again  departed  to  the  other  side. 
 
 14  f  '  Now  the  disciples  had  forgotten  to  take 
 bread,  neither  had  they  in  the  ship  with  thera 
 more  than  one  loaf. 
 
 15  *And  he  charged  them,  saying,  Take  heed, 
 beware  of  the  leaven  of  the  Pharisees,  and  of 
 the  leaven  of  Herod. 
 
 \G  And  they  reasoned  among  themselves, 
 .saying.  It  is  '■  because  we  have  no  bread. 
 
 17  And  when  Jesus  knew  it,  he  saith  unto 
 them,  Why  reason  ye,  because  ye  have  no 
 bread  ?  '  perceive  ye  not  yet,  neither  under- 
 stand ?  have  ye  your  heart  yet  hardened? 
 
 18  Having  eyes,  see  ye  not?  and  having  ears, 
 hear  ye  not?  and  do  ye  not  remember? 
 
 19  '■  When  I  brake  the  five  loaves  among  five 
 thousand,  how  many  baskets  full  of  fragments 
 took  ye  up?     They  say  unto  him.  Twelve. 
 
 20  And  '  when  the  seven  among  four  thou- 
 sand, how  many  baskets  full  of  fragments  took 
 ye  up  ?     And  they  said.  Seven. 
 
 21  And  he  said  unto  them.  How  is  it  that "  ye 
 do  not  understand  ? 
 
 22  1  And  he  cometh  to  Bethsaida  ;  and  they 
 bring  a  blind  man  unto  him,  and  besought  him 
 to  touch  him. 
 
 23  And  he  took  the  blind  man  by  the  hand, 
 and  led  him  out  of  the  town  ;  and  when  "  he 
 bad  spit  on  his  eyes,  and  put  his  hands  upon 
 him,  he  asked  him  if  he  saw  ought. 
 
 24  And  he  looked  up,  and  said,  I  see  men  as 
 trees,  walking. 
 
 25  After  that  he  put  his  hands  again  upon  his 
 eyes,  and  made  him  look  up  :  and  he  was  re- 
 stored, and  saw  every  man  clearly. 
 
 26  And  he  sent  him  away  to  his  house,  say- 
 ing. Neither  go  into  the  town,  °  nor  tell  it  to 
 any  in  the  town. 
 
 27  f  ""  And  Jesus  went  out,  and  his  disciples, 
 into  the  towns  of  Caesarea  Philippi:  and  by  the] 
 
 d  Mat,  15.  39, 
 
 *•  Rr.it  l-;.39. 
 
 /Hat.  IG.  5. 
 
 y  Mftt.  16.6 
 [.like  \-i.  1 
 
 k  ftI.at.H.  20, 
 ch.  li.  -W. 
 I.iikL'  9    17, 
 John  6    i:*. 
 
 ;  M.it  15,  37 
 v,.r-  8, 
 
 ■  Mat.  B.  V 
 ch.  5.  «. 
 
 p  Mat.16,1.3. 
 I.uke9.  la. 
 
 9  Mat.  14. 
 
 r  Rfat.  16.  6, 
 
 Jolin  6.  m. 
 
 &  1 1 .  27. 
 >  ^lat  lij.  20 
 f  .Mat.  16.21, 
 
 &   17.  22. 
 
 Luke  9.  22. 
 
 "  Mat. 10.  38, 
 St  10,  21. 
 Luke  9,  23. 
 &  n.  27. 
 
 jc  John  1'2. 
 
 »/  M.at.lO  S3. 
 ■  Luke  9.  26. 
 
 &  12.  9. 
 ;See  Rom.l. 
 
 16,2  TUu  1 
 
 8.  it  i 
 
 12. 
 
 I  Mat.lG,  28. 
 Luke  9.  27, 
 
 b  Mat. 21,30, 
 k  25-  31. 
 Luke  2-2, 18, 
 
 c  Mat.  17.  1 
 Luke  9.  28 
 
 way  he  asked  his  disciples,  saying  unto  them. 
 Whom  do  men  say  that  I  am  ? 
 
 28  And  they  answered,  ''  John  the  Baptist ; 
 but  some  say,  Elias ;  and  others,  One  of  the 
 prophets. 
 
 29  And  he  saith  unto  them.  But  whom  say 
 ye  that  I  am  ?  And  Peter  answereth  and 
 saith  unto  him,  "■  Thou  art  the  Christ. 
 
 30  '  And  he  charged  them  tliat  they  should 
 tell  no  man  of  him. 
 
 31  And  'he  began  to  teach  them,  that  the 
 Son  of  man  must  suffer  many  things,  and  be 
 rejected  of  the  elders,  and  o/"the  chief  priests, 
 and  scribes,  and  be  killed,  and  after  three  days 
 rise  again. 
 
 32  And  he  spake  that  saymg  openly.  And 
 Peter  took  him,  and  began  to  rebuke  him. 
 
 33  But  when  he  had  turned  about  and  looked 
 on  his  disciples,  he  rebuked  Peter,  saying,  (Jet 
 thee  behind  nie,  Satan  :  for  thou  savourest  not 
 the  things  that  be  of  God,  but  the  things  that 
 be  of  men. 
 
 34  t  And  when  he  had  called  the  people 
 unto  him  with  his  disciples  also,  he  said  unto 
 them,  "  Whosoever  will  come  after  me,  let  him 
 deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow 
 me. 
 
 .35  For  "whosoever will  save  his  life  shall  lose 
 it  ;  but  whosoever  shall  lose  his  life  for  my  sake 
 and  the  go.spel's,  the  same  shall  save  it. 
 
 36  For  what  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he  shall 
 gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul? 
 
 37  Or  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for 
 his  soul  ? 
 
 38  ^  Whosoever  therefore  "  shall  be  ashamed 
 of  me  and  of  my  words  in  this  adulterous  and 
 sinful  generation  ;  of  him  also  shall  the  Son  of 
 man  be  ashamed,  when  he  cometh  in  the  glory 
 of  his  Father  with  the  holy  angels. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 2  ./csMs  in  tra7isjigured.  11  He  instructeth  his  dis- 
 ciples cojiccriiing  the  coming  of  EUas :  14  citsietlt 
 forth  a  flmnh  and  deaf  spirit :  SOforetellcfh  his  death 
 aiid  resjirrection  :  33  nhorteth  his  disciples  to  hutni- 
 lit//  :  38  bidding  them  not  to  prohibit  such  as  be  not 
 against  them,  nor  to  gire  ujfence  to  any  of  the  faith- 
 ful. 
 
 A  ND  he  said  unto  them,  "Verily  I  say  unto 
 -^^  you.  That  there  be  some  of  them  that 
 stand  here,  which  shall  not  taste  of  death,  till 
 they  have  seen  '  the  kingdom  of  God  come 
 with  power. 
 
 2  H  "^  And  after  six  days  Jesus  taketh  with 
 him  Peter,  and  James,  and  John,  and  leadeth 
 them  up  into  an  high  mountain  apart  by  them- 
 selves ;  and  he  was  transfigured  before  them. 
 
 3  And  his  raiment  became  shining,  exceeding 
 
 Crap.  VIII.  —  8.  Baskets — see  Matt.  xv.  37.         10.  Dalmanutha —  that  he  is  not  to  be  considered  as  a  mere  abriilger  of  Matthew. — Bens. 
 
 see  Matt.  XV.  39,  note.        11.  .il  «fg-7i— seeMatt.  xii.  38,  note.      15.  The  25.  Evety  man,  anav-ra,  'all  things,'  or  'every  thiog.^—GriestiacA. 
 
 leaven  of  Herod — in  Matthew  it  is  '  of  theSadducees  ;'  which  are  either  27.  Whom  do  men  sfitf,  ffe. — see  Matt.  xvi.  13,  note.        31.  The  Son  nf 
 
 the  same,  Herod  and  his  courllers  being  Sadducees  or  favourers  of  man  must  suffer,  ffc. — see  Matt.  xvi.  21 ,  &c.         34.  Whosoever  will 
 
 them  ;  or  the  Sadducees  being  sticklers  for  Herod  and  his  government,  come  after  me,  ^c. — see  Matt.  xvi.  24,  9iC. 
 
 which  the  Pharisees  had  no  good  opinion  of.— Gi7/.          12.  They  bring  CnAP.  IX.  —  2.   And   after   sjjr    days,    §-c.— see  Matt.   xvii.    1—9, 
 
 II  blind  man,  ffc. — this  miracle  is  recorded  by  Mark  only  ;  a  plain  proof  notes. 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.  VIII Observe  here,   I.  '  The 
 
 eagerness  of  the  people  to  hear  our  Lord.  They  hungered  and 
 tliirsted  for  the  bread  and  water  of  life,  and  both  were  dis- 
 pensed in  rich  abundance.'  h  They  had  been  three  days,  and 
 had  nothint;  to  eat.  From  this  example  we  may  learn  that 
 '  true  zeal  makes  nothing  of  hardships  in  the  way  of  duty.'  >> 
 
 II'  '  "C  lenrn  hoiu  ive  should  guard  against  the  ensnaring  in- 
 fluence of  error.  Our  sentiments  on  every  religious  subject 
 should  be  formed  and  supported  by  Divine  revelation  •  for 
 1030 
 
 doctrinal  error  is  like  leaven,  infecting  even  the  truth  that  may 
 be  connected  with  it,  and  souring  the  temper  and  the  heart. 
 
 III.  '  We  are  encouraged  to  maintain  a  resolute  adherence  to 
 Jesus  by  the  loss  attending  apostasy  and  the  advantages  of 
 perseverance.  For  of  what  importance  can  it  be  if  we  gain 
 the  whole  world,  and  forfeit  or  bo  punished  with  the  loss  of 
 eternal  life  hereafter  1  Let  us,  then,  cleave  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
 with  full  purpose  of  heart.'  ^ 
 
Chiisl  inbtruciclh  his  disciples. 
 
 S.  MARK,  IX.  He  foretelletk  his  death  and  resurrection. 
 
 ■^  white  as  snow  ;  so  as  no  fuller  on  earth  can 
 
 white  them. 
 
 4  And  there  appeared  unto  them  Elias  with 
 Moses  :  and  they  were  talking  with  Jesus. 
 
 5  And  Peter  answered  and  said  to  Jesus, 
 Master,  it  is  good  lor  us  to  be  here :  and  let 
 us  make  three  tabernacles  ;  one  for  thee,  and 
 one  for  Moses,  and  one  for  Ehas. 
 
 6  For  he  wist  not  what  to  say  ;  for  they 
 were  sore  afraid. 
 
 7  And  there  was  a  cloud  that  overshadowed 
 them  :  and  a  voice  came  out  of  the  cloud,  say 
 ing.  This  is  my  beloved  Son  :  hear  him. 
 
 8  And  suddenly,  when  they  had  looked  round 
 about,  they  saw  no  man  any  more,  save  Jesus 
 only  with  themselves. 
 
 9  "  And  as  they  came  down  from  the  moun- 
 tain, he  charged  tlieni  that  they  should  tell  no 
 man  what  things  they  had  seen,  till  the  Son  of 
 man  were  risen  from  the  dead. 
 
 10  And  they  kept  that  saying  with  themselves, 
 t(uestioning  one  with  another  what  the  rising 
 from  the  dead  should  mean. 
 
 1 1  1[  And  they  asked  him,  saying,  Why  say 
 the  scribes  '  that  Elias  must  first  come  'i 
 
 \i   And  he  answered  and  told  them,  Elias 
 verily  cometh   first,  and  restoreth  all  things 
 and  ^how  it  is  written  of  the  Son  of  man,  tliat 
 he  must  suffer  many  things,  and  ^  be  set  at 
 nought. 
 
 13  But  I  say  unto  you.  That  '  Elias  is  indeed 
 come,  and  tliey  have  done  unto  him  whatso- 
 ever they  listed,  as  it  is  written  of  him. 
 
 H  t '  And  when  he  came  to  his  disciples,  he 
 saw  a  great  multitude  about  theni,  and  the 
 scribes  questioiiing  with  them. 
 
 15  And  straightway  all  the  people,  when 
 they  beheld  him,  were  greatly  amazed,  and 
 running  to  him  saluted  him. 
 
 16  And  he  asked  the  scribes,  What  question 
 ye  II  with  them  ? 
 
 17  And  '  one  of  the  multitude  answered  and 
 -said,  Mtister,  I  have  brought  unto  thee  my  son, 
 which  hath  a  dumb  spirit ; 
 
 18  And  wheresoever  he  taketli  him,  he  ||tear- 
 oth  him  :  and  he  foamcth,  and  gnaslieth  with 
 his  teeth,  and  pineth  away  :  and  I  spake  to 
 thy  disciples  that  they  should  cast  him  out ; 
 and  they  could  not. 
 
 1!)  He  answereth  him,  and  saith,  O  faithless 
 generation,  how  long  shall  I  be  with  you  ? 
 how  long  shall  I  suffer  you  ?  bring  him  unto 
 me. 
 
 20  And  they  brought  him  unto  him  :  and 
 "'  when  he  saw  him,  straightway  the  spirit  tare 
 him  ;  and  he  fell  on  the  ground,  and  wallowed 
 foaming. 
 
 21  And  he  asked  his  father,  How  long  is  it 
 ago  since  tliis  came  unto  him  ?  And  he  said, 
 Of  a  child. 
 
 22  And  ofttimes  it  hath  cast  him  into  the  fire, 
 and  into  the  waters,  to  destroy  him  :  but  if 
 tliou  canst  do  any  thing,  have  compassion  on 
 US,  and  help  us. 
 
 2.3  Jesus  said  unto  him,  "  If  thou  canst  be- 
 lieve, all  things  are  possible  to  him  that  be- 
 lieveth. 
 
 d  Dan.  7.  9. 
 Mat  28.  3. 
 
 /Mai.  4. 
 Mat.  17. 
 
 g  V».  22.  6. 
 Is.  53.2,  fee 
 Dan.  9.  26. 
 
 h  I.nke  23. 
 11.  Pliil.  2. 
 
 I*  Mat.  II.M 
 ft  17.  12. 
 Luke  I.  17. 
 
 |[  Or,  rtmuns 
 
 I  Mat   17.11 
 Luke  9.  ^S. 
 
 I  Mat.l7.2U. 
 ch.  II.  1.'3. 
 Luke  17.  6. 
 John  11. -10. 
 
 p  Mat. 17. 22 
 Luke  9.  II. 
 
 7  Mat.  IH.  I. 
 Luke 9.  40. 
 
 ■Mai.  20.26, 
 S7.ch.H).43. 
 
 Mat.  18.  2. 
 cU.  lU.  lb. 
 
 t  Mat. 10.40. 
 Luke  9.  48. 
 
 u  Num.  11. 
 28.  Luke  9. 
 
 y  See  Mat. 
 
 12.  3U. 
 :  Mat. 10  42. 
 
 I  Mat.  18.  0. 
 Luke  17.  I. 
 
 b  Deut.13.fi. 
 Mat.  6.  29. 
 &  18.6. 
 
 II  Or,  cni'JC 
 (/,«./,,„/- 
 /cad  ;  anil 
 60  Vir.  43, 
 47. 
 
 24  And  straightway  the  father  of  the  child 
 cried  out,  and  said  with  tears,  Lord,  I  believe  ; 
 help  tliou  mine  unbelief. 
 
 25  When  Jesus  saw  that  the  people  came 
 running  together,  he  rebuked  the  foul  spirit, 
 saying  unto  him.  Thou  dumb  and  deaf  spirit, 
 I  charge  thee,  come  out  of  him,  and  enter  no 
 more  into  him. 
 
 26  And  the  spirit  cried,  and  rent  him  sore, 
 and  came  out  of  him  :  and  he  was  as  one  dead  ; 
 insomuch  that  many  said.  He  is  dead. 
 
 27  But  Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  lifted 
 him  up  ;  and  he  arose. 
 
 28  °  And  when  he  was  come  into  the  house, 
 his  disciples  asked  him  privately.  Why  could 
 not  we  cast  him  out? 
 
 29  And  he  said  unto  them.  This  kind  can 
 come  forth  by  nothing,  but  by  prayer  and  fast- 
 ing. 
 
 30  IT  And  they  departed  thence,  and  passed 
 through  Galilee  ;  and  he  would  not  that  any 
 man  should  know  it. 
 
 31  ''  For  he  taught  his  disciples,  and  said  unto 
 them,  The  Son  of  man  is  delivered  into  the 
 hands  of  men,  and  they  shall  kill  him  ;  and 
 after  that  he  is  killed,  he  shall  rise  the  third 
 day. 
 
 32  But  they  understood  not  that  saying,  and 
 were  afraid  to  ask  him. 
 
 33  K ''  And  he  came  to  Capernaum  :  and  be- 
 ing in  the  house  he  asked  them.  What  was  it 
 that  ye  disputed  among  yourselves  by  the  way  ? 
 
 34  But  they  held  their  peace:  for  by  the  way 
 they  had  disputed  among  themselves,  who 
 shoidd  be  the  greatest. 
 
 35  And  he  sat  down,  and  called  the  twelve, 
 and  .saith  unto  them,  '  If  any  man  desire  to  be 
 first,  the  same  shall  be  last  of  all,  and  servant 
 of  all. 
 
 36  And  'he  took  a  child,  and  set  him  in  the 
 midst  of  them:  and  when  he  had  taken  him  in 
 his  arms,  he  said  unto  them, 
 
 37  Whosoever  shall  receive  one  of  such  chil- 
 dren in  my  name,  receiveth  me :  and  '  whoso- 
 ever shall  receive  me,  receiveth  not  me,  but 
 him  that  sent  me. 
 
 38  1[ "  And  John  answered  him,  saying,  Mas- 
 ter, we  saw  one  casting  out  devils  in  thy  name, 
 and  he  followeth  not  us  :  and  we  forbad  him, 
 because  he  followeth  not  us. 
 
 39  But  Jesus  said.  Forbid  him  not:  'for there 
 is  no  man  which  shall  do  a  miracle  in  my  name, 
 that  can  lightly  speak  evil  of  me. 
 
 40  For  'be  that  is  not  against  us  is  on  our 
 part. 
 
 41  ^  For  whosoever  shall  give  you  a  cup  of 
 water  to  drink  in  my  name,  because  ye  belong 
 to  Christ,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  shall  not 
 lose  his  reward. 
 
 42  "  And  whosoever  shall  offend  one  of  these 
 little  ones  that  believe  in  me,  it  is  better  for 
 him  that  a  millstone  were  hanged  about  his 
 neck,  and  he  were  cast  into  the  .sea. 
 
 43  "And  if  thy  hand  ||  offend  thee,  cut  it  off- 
 it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  life  maimed, 
 than  having  two  hands  to  go  into  hell,  into  the 
 fire  that  never  shall  be  quenched  : 
 
 W.Whrj  say  the  scribes,  ^c. — see  Matt.  xvii.  10— 12.  notes.      15. Grentlt/  4} .  A  cup  (»/«-«/?/•— see  Ma't.  x.  42,  note.         42.  Ofend  one  of  these 
 
 ttmiized,  '  struck  with  awe.' — Camp.         1".  Which  hath  a  duvdi  spirit,  tittle  cues — see  Matt,  xviii.  6,  note.         43.  Ttuj  hitnd  offend — '  if  one 
 
 — see  Matt.  xvii.  15,  notes.         ig.  O  faithless,  S[c. — see  Matt.  xvii.  17,  who  is  as  useful  or  dear  to  thee  as  a  hand  or  eye,  prevent  thee  from 
 
 notes.        34.  Whc  should  lie  greatest,  fyc. — see  Matt,  xviii.  I,  notes,  walking  in  the  ways  of  God,  or  hinder  thee  therein,  renounce  all  inter- 
 
 3r.  Not  me,  hut  hii/i,  ^c,  i.  e.,  'not  me  only,  hut  also  him,*  &c. — Kuk  course  with  him.'    This  primarily  relates  to  persons — secondarily,  to 
 iOJl 
 
Christ  dispntetft  icith  the  Pharisees 
 
 S.  MARK,X. 
 
 44  *"  Where  their  worm  dieth  not.  and  the  fire 
 
 is  not  quenched. 
 
 45  And  if  thy  fuot  offend  thee,  cut  it  otF:  it 
 is  better  for  thee  to  enter  halt  into  life,  than 
 havinj^  two  feet  to  be  cast  into  hell,  into  the 
 tire  that  never  sliall  be  quenched  : 
 
 46  Where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire 
 is  not  quenciied. 
 
 47  And  if  thine  eye  ||  offend  thee,  pluck  it 
 out :  it  is  better  for  thee  to  enter  into  the  king- 
 dom of  God  with  one  eye,  than  having  two 
 eyes  to  be  cast  into  hell  fire  : 
 
 48  Where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire 
 is  not  quenched, 
 
 49  For  every  one  shall  be  salted  with  fire, 
 ''  and  every  sacrifice  sliall  be  salted  with 
 salt. 
 
 50  '^  Salt /,s' good  :  nut  if  the  salt  have  lost  bis 
 saltness,  wherewith  will  ye  season  it?  ""Have 
 salt  in  yourselves,  and  ^  liave  peace  one  with 
 another. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 2  C/irisl  disputeth  with  the  Pliarisats  touching  divorce- 
 ment: iii  Uesseth  the  children  that  are  hrowjht  ititlo 
 him :  17  rcsoheth  a  rich  man  how  he  may  inherit  Hje 
 cvcrlastiwj  :  23  teUeth  his  disriph-s  of  the  dangvr  of\ 
 
 f  V.y\\.  4,  -"'. 
 Col.  \.  u 
 9  H.^iii,  Vl. 
 
 1  Mat.  19.  I. 
 .Tohn  10.40. 
 
 8t  n.  7. 
 
 :  Dc.it.  94-1, 
 Mat.  5.  31 . 
 ft  19.  7. 
 
 I  Gen.  I.  27. 
 *  5.  2. 
 Gen.  2.  ?4, 
 I  Cor.  6.  m. 
 
 touching  divorcement. 
 
 riches:  2S  promistth  rewards  to  them  that  forsake 
 any  thing  for  the  gospel :  32  fortttlleth  his  dt'ath  and 
 rtsurrcction  :  35  biddcth  the  two  a/nbitious  suitors  to 
 think  rather  of  sufftring  with  him  :  46  and  restoreth 
 to  Bartimceus  his  sight. 
 
 A  ND  "he  arose  from  thence,  and  cometh 
 -^  into  the  coasts  of  Juda;a  by  the  farther 
 side  of  Jordan  :  and  the  people  resort  unto 
 him  again  ;  and,  as  he  was  wont,  he  taught 
 them  again. 
 
 2  If  "*  And  the  Pharisees  came  to  him,  and 
 asked  him.  Is  it  lawful  for  a  man  to  put  away 
 his  wife?  tempting  him. 
 
 3  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them.  What 
 did  Moses  command  you? 
 
 4  And  they  said,  "-'  Moses  suffered  to  write  a 
 bill  of  divorcement,  and  to  put  her  away. 
 
 5  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
 For  the  hardness  of  your  heart  he  wrote  you 
 this  precept. 
 
 6  But   from    the   beginning  of  the  creation 
 God  made  them  male  and  female. 
 
 7  *■■  For  this  cause  shall  a  man  leave  his  father 
 and  motlier,  and  cleave  to  his  wife ; 
 
 8  And  they  twain  shall  be  one  flesh  :  so  then 
 they  are  no  more  twain,  but  one  flesh. 
 
 thicg3.~Bt!Tis.  46.  JS'nrrn  dieth  no^— compare  tliis  with  Isa.  l.xvi.21. 
 'The  worm,'  Sec,  dignities  '  the  guawing^  remorse  of  conscience  ;'  auU 
 *  the  fire,'  &c.,  '  the  horror  and  eieruity  of  punishment.'— jVar.  *  These 
 expressions  are  borrowed  from  Isaiah,  in  which  tlie  propliet  describes 
 the  miserable  end  of  hardened  sinners  by  a  simiHtude  taken  from  the 
 behaviour  of  conquerors,  who,  after  having  gained  the  battle,  go  forth 
 to  view  the  slain  :  thus,  at  the  last  day,  the  devil  and  his  adherents 
 being  vantiuished,  the  saints  shall  go  forth  to  view  them  doomed  to 
 eternal  death.  And  this  punishment  is  represented  by  two  metaphors, 
 drawn  from  the  different  ways  of  burying  the  dead  in  use  among  the 
 Jews.  Bodies  of  men  interred  in  the  earth  are  eaten  up  of  worms, 
 which  die  when  their  food  faileth  ;  and  those  that  arc  burned  are  con- 
 sumed in  fire,  which  extinguishes  itself  when  there  is  no  more  fuel 
 added  to  feed  it.  "  But  it  shall  not  be  so  with  the  wicked  ;  their  worm 
 ^hall  not  die,  and  their  fire,"  '  Sic.—HIackn.  47.  1/ thine  eye,  fyc— 
 sec  Matt.  V.  29,  note.  49.  For  ererr/  one  shall  he  salted  with  fire-- 
 Opiniou  (i.)  Every  one  of  them  that  are  cast  into  hell  shall  be  '  salted 
 with  fire,  and  every  sacrifice  shall  be  salted  with  salt.'— ff^n.  What 
 Jesus  Christ  has  just  called,  by  allusion  to  the  fire  in  the  valley  of  tiic 
 son  of  Hinnom,  *  the  fire  which  is  not  consumed,'  he  here  calls  by  an- 
 other  allusion  taken  from  the  sacrifices,  '  to  be  salted  with  fire,'  i.  e., 
 'to  be  devoured  by  fire,' for  the  samewr»id  in  Hebrew  signifies  'to 
 salt,'  and  'desolate,'  or  '  ravage.'— jVac.  Every  one  that  does  not 
 comply  with  the  preceding  advice,  and,  consequently,  is  cast  into  hell, 
 'shall  be,'  as  it  were,  'salted  with  tire.'  preserved,  not  consumed 
 thereby.— Ben*-.  .Shall  be  seasoned  with  fire  itself,  so  as  to  become 
 inconsumable,  and  shall  endure  for  ever  to  be  tormented,  and  there- 
 fore may  be  said  tc  be  'salted  with  fire,'  an  allusion  to  that  property 
 of  salt  which  is  to  preserve  things  from  corruption.— TV/»76v;  so  Gur/se, 
 (iill,  Burkitt,  Bnothr.,  Sut.  (ii.)  Translate  the  passage, '  tor  every  one 
 shall  be  salted  with  fire,  as  every  sacrifice  shall  be  salted  with  salt.* 
 This  seems  spolicn  to  the  apostles,  and  in  them  to  all  Christians.  It 
 may  give  a  reason  why  they  should  part  with  an  offending  eye,  hand, 
 Aic,  because  every  one  of  them  was  to  be  endued  with  the  Holy  Spirit, 
 and,  consequently,  cuuld  not  be  au  acceptable  sacrifice  to  God  if  they 
 retained  any  favourite  vice,  signified  by  the  eye.  Sec.  The  sense  seems 
 to  be,  as  every  sacrifice  was  to  be  seasoned  with  salt  under  the  old  co- 
 venant, so,  in  the  new,  every  Christian  shall  have  a  portion  of  the 
 Holy  Spirit,  which  will  enable  him  to  mortify  every  corrupt  appetite, 
 •"^c. — Mnckn.  As,  therefore,  every  sacrifice  is  first  prepared  with  salt 
 before  it  is  consumed  by  tire,  so  ye  must  first  hold  yourselves  prepared 
 by  the  salt  of  a  spiritual  life,  to  sacrifice  all  the  honours  and  advantages 
 of  the  woild. — lip.  Mnnn.  fiii.)  Afflictions,  and  painful  sacrifices,  con- 
 nected with  the  profession  of  true  Christianity,  are  here  compared  to 
 fire,  which  has  the  same  virtue  and  use  on  the  soul  that  salt  has  vvitl' 
 respect  t<J  meats. — Beausobre.  The  fire  of  affliction  shall  be  as  salt  to 
 you  ail  that  now  are  thinking  of  pre-eminence;  and  those  uf  you  that 
 
 are  sound,  it  shall  make  fitter  to  be  pure  sacrifices  to  God.  And  you 
 that  are  preachers  and  professors  of  Christianity,  being  thus  salted, 
 yourselves  must  be  the  salt  of  the  earth,  to  season  others  by  holy  doc- 
 trine and  practice. — Baxter.  Perhaps  the  whole  is  an  allusion  to  the 
 purification  of  vessels,  and  eepccially  of  such  metallic  vessels  as  were 
 employed  in  the  service  of  the  sanctuary.  Probably  Num.  xxxi.  2», 
 may  be  a  parallel  text.  '  Ye  disciples  are  the  LordVs  sacrifice.  Ye  shall 
 go  througli  much  tribulation  ;  but  ye  are  salted,  ye  arc  influenced  by 
 the  Spirit  of  God,  and  arc  immortal  till  your  work  is  done  ;  and  you, 
 should  you  be  offered  h/>— martyred— tliis  Spint  shall  preserve,  and  all 
 who  believe  on  me,  from  the  corruption  of  sin  and  from  eternal  perdi- 
 tion.'—  Clarke,  (iv.)  (iod  hath  a  fire  and  a  salt  which  every  man  must 
 endure.  He  has  a  purging  fiie  to  take  away  men's  dross  and  tin  ;  and 
 he  has  a  consuming,  tormenting  fire  for  his  adversaries.  The  saints 
 shall  be  seasoned  with  influences  of  grace,  (Eph.  iv.  29  ;  Col.  iv.  6;)  and 
 shall,  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  be  preserved  by  faith  through  the  power  of 
 God  to  salvation,  their  purity  issuing  in  an  incorruptibility  oi  being, 
 (1  Cor,  XV.  52 — 54;)  Others,  wicked  and  ungodly  men,  who  will  not 
 endure  (his  fire,  nor  be  salted  with  this  salt,  shall  be  salted  witii  an- 
 other fire,  ikc.—1'uule.  (v.)  Wc  must  go  back  to  the  context,  and  then 
 it  means,  'as  ail  sacrifices  under  the  law  were  to  be  salted /or  the  fire 
 of  the  altar,  so  these  sacrifices  of  a  right  hand,  &c.,  must  be  salted,  as 
 it  were,  by  integrity,  of  which  salt  is  the  emblem,  as  being  tlie  great 
 natural  preserver  from  corruption,  to  render  them  acceptable  to  God. 
 A  man  may  give  his  body  to  be  burned,  and  yet.  if  he  do  it  not  from  a 
 principle  t)f  integrity  or  pure  love  to  God,  it  will  avail  nothing,  as  not 
 being  seasoned  for  his  altar.  This  integrity  fof  which  Divine  grace  is 
 the  radical  principle)  must  be  preserved  through  life,  and  wdl  (irevent 
 apostasy  and  preserve  from  quarrelling.' — Wit.  Ei'cry  sncitjice— every 
 person  who  offers  himself  unto  God  in  repentance,  faith,  and  new  obe- 
 dience,  as  a  living  sacrifice,  'shall  be  salted  with  salt,*  even  with  the 
 salt  of  Divine  grace,  which  purifies  the  soul,  dthough  frequently  with 
 pain,)  and  preserves  it  from  corruption.  The  allusion  is  to  Lev.  ii.  IJ. 
 50.  H'we  lost  his  stillness,  ai'a\ov  yci'tjTai,  'become  insipid.' — Benson. 
 IIiu'c  salt  in  puitrselves — as  salt  was  good  both  for  seasoning  and  pre- 
 serving things,  so,  in  a  figurative  manner,  as  denoting  instruction, 
 humility,  it  would  be  useful  both  Ut  themselves  and  others,  (comp. 
 Colos.  iv.  0.) — Bonthr.  '  Salt*  may  signify  the  doctrine  of  grace  and 
 word  of  Christ,  prudence  in  talk  and  conversation,  and  holiness  in 
 heart  and  life.  It  is  an  emlilem  of  firm  union,  concord,  and  agree- 
 ment ;  hence  the  covenant  of  peace  is  called  a  covenant  of  salt.  (Num. 
 xviii.  ID,  compared  with  xxv.  \2.)—Gill.  Comp.  Matt.  v.  13,  note. 
 '  .See  that  ye  have  at  ail  times  the  preserving  principle  of  Divine  grace 
 in  your  hearts.'— .4.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  X. —  I.  F//rrAer  .s/rf^  o/Jorrf(m— see  Matt. xix.  1,  note.  2.  To 
 put  away  his  tvi/e — see  Matt.  xix.  3,  notes.  Tempting  him,  '  trying 
 him*  on  a  question  on  which  the  doctors  were  much  divided.— il/ar. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX.  —  We  may  here  select  ibr 
 our  remarks  —  1.  Christ's  trunsJig^lration.  It  gives  us  an 
 idea  of  wiiat  the  bodies  of  the  saints  shall  be  when  they  shall 
 be  made  like  tbeir  Saviour  ;  and  we  may  here  take  up  the 
 language  of  Henry — 'Gracious  souls  reckon  it  good  to  be  in 
 communioa  with  Christ,  good  to  be  near  him,  good  to  be  in 
 the  mount  with  him,  though  it  be  11  cold  and  solitary  place  ; 
 it  is  good  to  be  hero  retired  from  the  world  and  alone  with 
 Christ;  and  if  it  is  good  to  be  with  Christ  transhgured,  only 
 upon  a  mountain,  with  JNIoses  and  Eli:is,  how  good  will  it  be 
 to  be  with  Ciirist  glorified  in  heaven,  with  -all  tlio  saints!' 
 II.  Chriiit's  discourse  with  his  discinUs.  Aud  if  we  especially 
 1052 
 
 notice  ilie  latter  part,  it  is  peculiarly  solemn  and  impressive. 
 '  If  this  passage  be  taken  according  to  the  common  meaning,' 
 says  Quesnel,  '  it  is  awful  indeed  !  Here  may  be  seen  the 
 greatness,  multiplicity,  and  eternity  of  the  painsof  the  damned. 
 They  suffer  without  being  able  to  die  ;  they  are  burned  with- 
 out being  consumed  ;  they  are  sacrificed  without  being  sanc- 
 tified ;  are  salted  with  the  fire  of  hell,  as  eternal  victims  of  the 
 Divine  justice.  We  must  of  necessity  be  sacrificed  to  God, 
 after  one  way  or  other,  in  eternity  ;  and  we  have  now  the 
 choice,  either  of  the  unquenchable  fire  of  his  justice,  or  of  the 
 everlasting  flame  of  his  love.' 
 
Christ  b/esset/i  the  children. 
 
 S.  MARK,  X. 
 
 He  resloretli  tu  Bartinucus  liis  sty  fit. 
 
 9  What  therefore  God  hath  joined  together, 
 let  no  man  put  asunder. 
 
 10  And  in  the  house  his  disciples  asked  him 
 again  of  the  same  matter. 
 
 i  I  And  he  saitli  unto  them,  '  Whosoever 
 sliall  put  away  his  wife,  and  marry  another, 
 coinmitteth  adultery  against  her. 
 
 1"2  And  if  a  woman  shall  put  away  her  hus- 
 band, and  be  married  to  another,  she  commit- 
 tetli  adultery. 
 
 13  U  ^  And  they  brought  young  children  to 
 him,  that  lie  should  touch  them  :  and  his  dis- 
 ciples rebuked  tliose  that  brought  them. 
 
 14  But  when  Jesus  saw  it,  he  was  much  dis- 
 pleased, and  said  unto  them.  Suffer  the  little 
 children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them 
 not :  for  ''  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 l,j  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  '  Whosoever  shall 
 not  receive  the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little 
 child,  he  shall  not  enter  therein. 
 
 IG  And  he  took  them  up  in  bis  arms,  put  his 
 hands  upon  them,  and  blessed  them. 
 
 17  f'  And  when  he  was  gone  forth  into  the 
 way,  tliere  came  one  running,  and  kneeled  to 
 him,  and  asked  him.  Good  Master,  what  shall 
 1  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal  life? 
 
 18  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Why  callest 
 thou  me  good?  there  is  none  good  but  one, 
 t/iiit  is,  God. 
 
 li)  Thou  knowest  the  commandments,  'Do 
 not  commit  adultery.  Do  not  kill.  Do  not  steal. 
 Do  not  bear  false  witness.  Defraud  not.  Ho- 
 nour thy  father  and  mother. 
 
 •20  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
 Master,  all  these  have  I  observed  from  my 
 youth. 
 
 •21  Then  Jesus  beholding  him  loved  him,  and 
 said  unto  him.  One  thing  thou  lackest:  go  thy 
 way,  sell  wimtsoever  thou  hast,  and  give  to  the 
 poor,  and  thou  shall  have  "'  treasure  in  heaven  : 
 and  come,  take  up  the  cross,  and  follow  me. 
 
 •2'2  And  he  was  sad  at  that  saying,  and  went 
 away  grieved  :  for  he  had  great  possessions. 
 
 ■23  t "  And  Jesus  looked  round  about,  and 
 saith  unto  his  disciples.  How  hardly  shall  they 
 that  have  riches  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
 God  ! 
 
 •24  And  the  disciples  were  astonished  at  his 
 words.  But  Jesus  answereth  again,  and  saith 
 unto  them.  Children,  how  hard  is  it  for  them 
 "  that  trust  in  riches  to  enter  into  the  kingdom 
 of  God ! 
 
 •25  It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through  the 
 eye  of  a  needle,  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter 
 into  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 26  And  they  were  astonished  out  of  measure, 
 saying  among  themselves.  Who  then  can  be 
 saved  ? 
 
 27  And  Jesus  looking  upon  them  saith.  With 
 men  it  is  impossible,  but  not  with  God?  for 
 ''  with  God  all  things  are  possible. 
 
 '28  IT ''  Then  Peter  began  to  say  unto  him,  Lo, 
 we  have  left  all,  and  have  followed  thee. 
 
 29  And  Jesus  answered  and  said.  Verily  I 
 say  unto  you,  There  is  no  man  that  hath  left 
 
 /  Mat.  5.  82. 
 
 &  19.  9. 
 I.iikelti  IS. 
 R..m.  7.  .1. 
 I  Cor.  7.  ill, 
 
 n. 
 
 1  Cm-.  N 
 ■111.  I  I'et.L'. 
 
 A  Mat  lfl.16. 
 
 I.iikplS.IS. 
 (Ex.  2U. 
 
 Horn.  13.  9. 
 
 m  Mat.6. 19, 
 ■20.8c  19.21. 
 Luke  12.33. 
 &  16.  0. 
 
 ,  .lob  31.  34. 
 Ps.  52.  7.  & 
 62.  III. 
 ITim.  6.  17. 
 
 ;>Jer.  32.  17 
 Mat.  19.26 
 Luke  I.  .-17. 
 
 q  Mat. 19.  27. 
 Luke  19.29. 
 
 2  CI. I 
 Luk«l 
 
 Luke  1.1.  H(l. 
 t  M,it.2il  17, 
 Luke  18.31. 
 
 .  .h    S.  31. 
 &  11.  31. 
 Luke  9.  22. 
 Sc  18.31. 
 
 z  Luke22.25. 
 II  Or.  Ihn,k 
 
 a  Mat-  20. 
 26,  2S. 
 ch.  9.  .15- 
 Luke9.  4S. 
 
 c  Mat.20.  2S. 
 
 1  Tim.  2.  6. 
 
 Tit,  S    14. 
 <l  iMat.20  29 
 
 LukelS.35 
 
 house,  or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father,  or  mo- 
 ther, or  wife,  or  children,  or  lands,  for  my  sake, 
 and  the  gospel's, 
 
 30  '  But  he  shall  receive  an  hundredfold  now 
 in  this  time,  houses,  and  brethren,  and  sisters, 
 and  mothers,  and  children,  and  lands,  with  per- 
 secutions ;  and  in  the  world  to  come  eternal 
 life. 
 
 31  'But  many  that  are  first  sliall  be  last; 
 and  tlie  last  first. 
 
 3-2  t  '  And  tlicy  were  in  tlie  way  going  up  to 
 Jerusalem;  and  Jesus  went  before  them  :  and 
 they  were  amazed  ;  and  as  they  followed,  they 
 were  afraid.  "  And  he  took  again  the  twelve, 
 and  began  to  tell  them  what  things  should 
 liappen  unto  him, 
 
 33  Sar/iiuj,  Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem  ; 
 and  the  Son  of  man  shall  be  delivered  unto  the 
 clilef  priests,  and  unto  the  scribes  ;  and  they 
 shall  condemn  him  to  death,  and  shall  deliver 
 him  to  the  Gentiles  : 
 
 34  And  they  shall  mock  him,  and  shall 
 scourge  him,  and  shall  spit  upon  him,  and  shall 
 kill  him:  and  the  third  day  he  shall  rise  again. 
 
 35  II '  And  James  and  John,  the  sons  of  Ze- 
 bedee,  come  unto  him,  saying.  Master,  we 
 would  that  thou  shouldest  do  for  us  whatso- 
 ever we  shall  desire. 
 
 3G  And  he  said  unto  them,  What  would  ye 
 that  I  should  do  for  you? 
 
 37  They  said  unto  him.  Grant  unto  us  that 
 we  may  sit,  one  on  thy  right  hand,  and  the 
 other  on  thy  left  hand,  in  thy  glory. 
 
 38  But  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Ye  know  not 
 what  ye  ask  :  can  ye  drink  of  the  cup  that  I 
 drink  of?  and  be  baptized  with  the  baptism 
 that  I  am  baptized  with  ? 
 
 39  And  they  said  unto  him.  We  can.  And 
 Jesus  said  unto  them.  Ye  shall  indeed  drink  of 
 the  cup  that  I  drink  of;  and  with  the  baptism 
 that  I  am  baptized  withal  shall  ye  be  baptized  : 
 
 40  But  to  sit  on  my  right  hand  and  on  my 
 left  hand  is  not  mine  to  give  ;  but  it  shall  be 
 given  to  them  for  whom  it  is  prepared. 
 
 41  '  And  when  the  ten  heard  it,  they  began 
 to  be  much  displeased  with  James  and  John. 
 
 4'2  But  Jesus  called  them  to  him,  and  saith 
 unto  them,  '  Ye  know  that  they  which  ||  are 
 accounted  to  rule  over  the  Gentiles  exercise 
 lordship  over  them  ;  and  their  great  ones  ex- 
 ercise authority  upon  them. 
 
 43  °  But  so  shall  it  not  be  among  you  :  but 
 whosoever  will  be  great  among  you,  shall  be 
 your  minister : 
 
 44  And  whosoever  of  you  will  be  the  chiefest, 
 shall  be  servant  of  all. 
 
 45  For  even  ""the  Son  of  man  came  not  to  be 
 ministered  unto,  but  to  minister,  and  '  to  give 
 his  life  a  ransom  for  many. 
 
 4G  t  "^  And  they  came  to  Jericho  :  and  as  he 
 went  out  of  Jericho  witli  his  disciples  and  a 
 great  number  of  people,  blind  Bartimseus,  the 
 son  of  Timceus,  sat  by  the  highway  side  beg- 
 
 gi"g- 
 47  And  when  he  heard  that  it  was  Jesus  of 
 
 13.  Brnught  youn/^  children — see  Matt.  xix.  13,  notes.  23.  How 
 hardly  shall  they  that  have  riches — see  Matt.  .\i,\.  23,  notes.  28.  Lo, 
 we  have  left  all— see  Matt.  .xix.  27,  note.  30.  .in  hundred  fold—sve 
 Matt.  xix.  29,  note.  With  persecutions,  rather  'after  persecutions.' — 
 Loesner.  Z\.  That  are  first — see  Matt.  six.  30,  note.  32.  .imazed, 
 at  liis  readiness  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem. — Gitl.  33.  To  the  Geittiles, 
 meaning  '  to  the  Romans.' — GUijin.  3.t.  The  sons  of  Zebedee — see 
 Matt.  XX.  20,  &c.,  notes.  45.  Give  his  life  a  ransom,  that  is,  himself 
 or  his  blooti  for  the  expiation  cf  the  sins  of  men  -,  wiiich  pluiiilv  ex- 
 1053 
 
 presses  the  truth  of  the  satisfaction  against  the  error  of  those  who  view 
 the  (ieath  of  Christ  as  no  more  than  an  example  of  humility,  patience, 
 obedience,  and  such  other  virtues. — Ular.  46.  The  son  iifTimceus — 
 this  is  an  explanation  of  Bartimseus,  which  means  'son  of  Timteus'  in 
 the  Syriac. — Bp.  Pearce,  Camp.  'Bar,'  in  Syriac,  is  equivalent  to 
 '  Ben'  in  Hebrew ;  we  also  find  it  in  Barjonas  and  other  names  ;  so 
 we  affix  tlie  word  in  Johnso;i,  Jackson,  ^c.—  Pict.  Bib.  Matthew  men- 
 tions two  blind  men,  (chap.  xx.  30.)  Mark  speaks  but  of  one,  becaii.'.e 
 he  was,  perhap.s.  the  most  known.— J/ur.     The  Evangelist  mentions 
 
Christ  rideth  with  triumph  into  Jerusalem.        S.  MARK,  XI. 
 
 He  purgeth  the  tempki 
 
 Nazareth,  he  began  to  cry  out,  and  say,  Jesus, 
 thou  son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me. 
 
 48  And  many  eliarjj;ed  him  that  he  should 
 hold  Ills  peace :  hut  he  cried  the  more  a  great 
 deal,  Thou  son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me. 
 
 49  And  Jesus  stood  still,  and  commanded 
 him  to  be  called.  And  they  call  the  blind 
 man,  sayin;;  unto  him.  He  of  good  comfort, 
 rise  ;  he  calleth  thee. 
 
 50  And  he,  casting  away  his  garment,  rose, 
 and  came  to  Jesus. 
 
 51  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
 What  wilt  thou  that  I  should  do  unto  Ihee? 
 The  blind  man  said  unto  him.  Lord,  that  I 
 might  receive  my  sight. 
 
 52  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Go  thy  way ; 
 "thy  faith  hath  ||  made  thee  whole.  And  im- 
 mediately lie  received  his  sight,  and  followed 
 Jesus  in  the  way. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 I  Christ  ri/ttift  with  triumph  iiUo  Jerusalem  :  12  curstth 
 the  fruitless  Irufy  tree:  13  purgeth  tlic  temple:  20 
 exiwrteth  his  tiiscipks  to  stetlfastness  offnith,  ami  tti 
 Jbrt/ire  their  enemies :  27  tmd  defendeth  the  lawful- 
 ness of  his  aetions,  by  the  witness  of  John,  who  was  a 
 man  sent  of  God. 
 
 AND  °  when  they  came  nigh  to  Jeru.salem, 
 unto  Betliphage  and  Bethany,  at  the 
 mount  of  Olives,  he  sendeth  forth  two  of  his 
 disciples, 
 
 2  And  saith  unto  them.  Go  your  way  into 
 the  village  over  against  you  :  and  as  soon  as 
 ye  be  entered  into  it,  ye  shall  find  a  colt  tied, 
 whereon  never  man  sat ;  loo.se  him,  and  bring 
 him. 
 
 3  And  if  any  man  say  unto  yon,  Why  do  ye 
 this?  say  ye  that  the  Lord  hath  need  of  liim  ; 
 and  straightway  he  will  send  him  hither. 
 
 4  And  tliey  went  their  way,  and  found  the 
 colt  tied  by  the  door  without  in  a  place  wliere 
 two  ways  met ;  and  they  loose  him. 
 
 5  And  certain  of  them  that  stood  there  said 
 unto  them,  Wliat  do  ye,  loosing  the  colt? 
 
 6  And  they  said  unto  them  even  as  Jesus 
 had  commanded:  and  they  let  them  go. 
 
 7  And  they  brought  the  colt  to  Jesus,  and 
 cast  their  garments  on  him  ;  and  he  sat  upon 
 him. 
 
 A.  D   S3. 
 b  Mdt.  21.  B. 
 
 d  Pa.  118.  1. 
 crMat.  Sl.1'2. 
 
 /Mat  21. Id. 
 J  Mat.  21. 19. 
 
 1  Mat.  21,  I. 
 I.iibt'  l<l  2<> 
 Juliii.UM4. 
 
 I«.  511.  7. 
 II  Or.aiihiiutf 
 
 ../prflyitr/ur 
 
 nil  iialiont. 
 A  Jfr.  7-  n. 
 /  Milt. 21, 45. 
 
 4t>.Luke  19. 
 
 47, 
 m  Milt  7  2S. 
 
 iTli,  I,  22. 
 
 Luke  4.  32, 
 
 II.,  hull  of 
 C.„d. 
 
 8  ''  And  many  spread  their  garments  in  the 
 way  :  and  others  cut  down  branches  off  the 
 trees,  and  strawed  them  in  the  way. 
 
 9  And  they  that  went  before,  and  they  that 
 followed,  cried,  .saying, '  Hosanna  ;  Blessed  is 
 he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord : 
 
 10  Blessed  he  the  kingdom  of  our  fatlier  Da- 
 vid, that  cometli  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  : 
 ''  Hosanna  in  the  highest. 
 
 1 1  '  And  Jesus  entered  into  Jerusalem,  and 
 into  the  temple  ;  and  when  he  had  looked 
 round  about  upon  all  things,  and  now  the 
 eventide  was  come,  he  went  out  unto  Bethany 
 with  the  twelve. 
 
 12  t  'And  on  the  morrow,  when  they  were 
 come  from  Bethany,  he  was  hungry  : 
 
 13  ^  And  seeing  a  fig  tree  alar  otf  having 
 leaves,  he  came,  if  haply  he  might  find  any 
 thing  thereon :  and  when  he  came  to  it,  he 
 found  nothing  but  leaves  ;  for  (be  time  of  figs 
 was  not  >iet. 
 
 14  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  it.  No 
 man  eat  fruit  of  thee  hereafter  for  ever.  And 
 lis  disciples  heard  it. 
 
 15  "f''And  they  come  to  Jerusalem:  and 
 Jesus  went  into  the  temple,  and  began  to  cast 
 out  them  that  sold  and  bought  in  the  temple, 
 and  overthrew  the  tables  of  the  money  changers, 
 and  the  seats  of  them  that  sold  doves  ; 
 
 16  And  would  not  suffer  that  any  man  should 
 carry  on.v  vessel  through  the  temple. 
 
 17  And  he  taught,  saying  unto  them.  Is  it 
 not  written,  '  My  house  shall  be  called  ||  of  all 
 nations  the  house  of  prayer?  but  'ye  have 
 made  it  a  den  of  thieves. 
 
 18  And  '  the  scribes  and  chief  priests  heard 
 it,  and  sought  how  they  might  destroy  him  ■ 
 for  they  feared  him,  because  "'all  the  people 
 was  astonished  at  his  doctrine. 
 
 19  And  when  even  was  come,  he  went  out  of 
 the  city. 
 
 20  If "  And  in  the  morning,  as  they  passed 
 by,  they  saw  the  fig  tree  dried  up  from  the 
 roots. 
 
 21  And  Peter  calling  to  remembrance  saith 
 unto  him.  Master,  behold,  the  fig  tree  which 
 thou  cursedst  is  withered  away. 
 
 22  And  Jesus  answering  .saith  unto  them, 
 II  Have  faith  in  God. 
 
 Iiini  by  natne.  as  a  iierson  probably  well  kuown  in  those  parts. — .4.  C 
 48.  Sun  of  Uiivid,  expected  Mt'ssiah. — Giit/ne. 
 
 Chap.  W.  ~  \.  Bethpknge — Iielhiini/~Mfiit.  sxi.  1.  Bethany  lay 
 next  Jericho,  and  Bethphage  at  the  font  of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  next 
 to  .leriisalcm. — See  Bp.  Cfmnd/rr.  2.  A  colt,  ^c. — see  the  notes  on 
 
 Matt.  xxi.  2,  &c.  Whereon  nerer  iniin  sat — no  animal  previously  used 
 in  any  way  was  employed  Inr  sacred  uses  even  among  the  heatlien. — 
 Clarke.  9.  He  thitt  ciimeth,  .i  tpxoiitvo-i,  *  he  that  should  come,'  so 
 often  promised,  so  long  expected. — Hen.  10.  Blessed,  §-c.— '  may 
 
 the  kingdom  of  the  Messiah  promised  to  our  father  David  be  esta- 
 blished, and  may  it  long  flourish.'— Bens.     Our  father  David — it  was 
 
 more  usual  with  the  Jews  to  call  Abraham  their  Father  ;  but  because 
 the  Messiah  was  David's  son,  therefore,  with  respect  to  him,  they  here 
 call  him  Iheir  father.— (i'ii(.  12.  He  was  hungry— %ee  Matt.  xxi.  IB, 
 
 note.  Seeinff  a  fig.  tree,  ^c— see  Matt.  xxi.  19,  &c.,  notes.  15.  Into 
 the  temple— munei/ehatigers,  ^c.  ^-c.  —  see  Matt.  xxi.  1'2,  &c.,  notes. 
 17.  Of  all  nations,  naanoi^  eflvtriv,  'for  all  nations.'— ro?«;i.  Mode 
 it  a  den  of  thieves— it  is  probable  that  all  this  worldly  traffic  was  carried 
 on  in  the  court  of  the  Gentiles,  which  was  treated  as  a  common  place, 
 in  pure  enmity  to  Gentiles,  even  though  worshippers  of  the  same  God. 
 Jl.  Watson.  20.  T/ie  fig  tree  dried—see  .Matt.  xxi.  19,  notes.  23.  Be 
 tliou  reiiiui'ed — see  Matt.  xxi.  21,  note. 
 
 Reflections  on  Cii.vp.  X Observe  here,  I.  The  sacred 
 
 union  of  the  marriaae  sf.ate.  It  is  the  cement  of  interest  and 
 afifectioD.  It  is  a  divine  institution,  for  God  liatb  joined  man 
 and  Wife  together.  Properly  understood,  and  carefully  entered 
 into,  marriage  must  therefore  prove  a  blessing. 
 
 II.  Christ's  kindness  to  little  children.  They  were  not  be- 
 neath his  notice,  let  tbem  not  then  be  beneath  ours.  We 
 cannot  bless  them,  hut  we  can  bring  them  to  him  who  can. 
 Let  us  aid  in  this  way  to  increase  the  kingiiom  of  God. 
 
 III.  The  danrier  of  worshippinij  nvtminon.  The  love  of  his 
 possessions  kept  the  young  man  from  Christ.  The  love  of  the 
 world  is  one  of  the  greatest  bars  to  religion.  The  wall  of  gold 
 is  but  erected  to  separate  more  decidedly  man  from  God. 
 The  improvement  of  this  narrative  may  be  found  in  the  words 
 of  an  apostle — '  Love  not  the  world,  neither  the  things  that 
 are  in  the  world  ;  if  any  man  love  the  world,  the  love  of  the 
 Father  is  not  iii  him.' 
 
 1054 
 
 I\'.  The  hwuiliti/  required  in  Christ's  disciples.  They  must 
 receive  the  kingioni  of  God  as  a  little  child,  they  must 
 meekly  take  the  instructions  of  bis  grace.  They  must  not  seek 
 great  things  for  themselves,  nor  lord  it  over  their  brethren, 
 but  rather  be  the  servants  of  the  meanest  of  Christ's  disciples, 
 and  deem  it  their  highest  honour  to  minister  to  them  for  whom 
 Christ  came  to  minister,  when,  though  '  Lord  of  all,'  '  he  took 
 upon  himself  the  form  of  a  servant.' 
 
 V.  The  success  of  earnest  applications  to  the  Saviour  for  mercf. 
 This  we  learn  from  the  story  of  Bartimicus.  '  Misery,'  says 
 Henry,  '  is  the  object  of  mercy;  his  own  miserable  case  he  re- 
 commends to  the  compassion  of  the  Son  of  David,  of  whom  it 
 was  foretold,  that  when  he  should  come  to  save  us,  '  the  eyes 
 of  the  blind  should  he  opened,'  ( Isa.  xxxv.  5.)  In  coming  to 
 Christ  lor  help  and  healing,  we  should  have  an  eye  to  him  as 
 the  promised  Messiah,  the  trustee  of  mercy  and  grace. 
 
The  parable  of  the  vincjard. 
 
 S.  MARK,  XII. 
 
 Of  the  resurrection). 
 
 23  For  °  verily  I  say  unto  you.  That  whoso- 
 ever shall  say  unto  this  mountain,  Be  thou  re- 
 moved, and  he  thou  cast  into  the  sea ;  and 
 shall  not  doubt  in  his  heart,  hut  shall  believe 
 that  those  things  which  he  saith  shall  come  to 
 pass  ;  he  shall  have  whatsoever  he  saith. 
 
 24  Therefore  I  say  unto  you,  ■■  What  things 
 soever  ye  desire,  wlien  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye 
 receive  them,  and  ye  sliall  have  them. 
 
 23  And  when  ye  stand  praying,  ''  forgive,  if 
 ye  have  ought  against  any  :  that  your  Father 
 also  which  is  in  heaven  may  forgive  you  your 
 trespasses. 
 
 26  But  '  if  ye  do  not  forgive,  neither  will  your 
 Father  which  is  in  heaven  forgive  your  tres- 
 passes. 
 
 27  1  And  they  come  again  to  Jerusalem : 
 'and  as  he  was  walking  in  the  temple,  there 
 come  to  him  the  chief  priests,  and  the  scribes, 
 and  the  elders, 
 
 28  And  say  unto  him.  By  what  authority 
 doest  thou  these  things?  and  who  gave  thee 
 this  authority  to  do  these  things  ? 
 
 29  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
 I  will  also  ask  of  you  one  |{  question,  and 
 answer  me,  and  I  will  tell  you  by  what  autho- 
 rity I  do  these  things. 
 
 30  The  baptism  of  John,  was  it  from  heaven, 
 or  of  men  ?  answer  me. 
 
 31  And  they  reasoned  with  themselves,  say- 
 ing, If  we  shall  say,  From  heaven  ;  he  \vill  say. 
 Why  then  did  ye  not  believe  him  ? 
 
 32  But  if  we  shall  say.  Of  men;  they  feared 
 the  people  :  for  '  all  jiien  counted  John,  that 
 he  was  a  prophet  indeed. 
 
 33  And  they  answered  and  said  unto  Jesus, 
 We  cannot  tell.  And  Jesus  answering  saith 
 unto  them.  Neither  do  I  tell  you  by  what  au- 
 thority I  do  these  things. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 \  In  a  parable  of  the  vineyard  let  out  to  unthankful 
 husbandmen,  Christ  forettlhth  the  reprohatton  of  the 
 JeiDSt  and  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles.  13  He  avnid- 
 etk  the  snare  of  the  Pharisees  and  Herodians  about 
 paying  tribute  to  Ccesar  :  \df  convinceth  the  error  of  \ 
 the  Sadihtcees,  who  denied  the  resurrection :  28  re~ 
 solveth  the  scribe.,  who  questioned  of  the  first  com- 
 mandinerit :  35  rifuteth  the  opinion  that  the  scribes 
 held  of  Christ:  38  bidding  the  people  to  beicare  of 
 their  ambition  and  hypocrisy:  41  and  commendeth 
 the  poor  widow  for  her  two  mites,  above  all. 
 
 A  ND  ^he  began  to  speak  unto  tliem  by  pa- 
 -*^*-  rabies.  A  certain  man  planted  a  vineyard, 
 and  set  an  hedge  about  it,  and  digged  a  place 
 for  the  winefat,  and  built  a  tower,  and  let  it 
 out  to  husbandmen,  and  went  into  a  far  country. 
 
 o  %tal.l7.20. 
 &  yi.  21. 
 Luk«  17.6. 
 
 p  Mat 
 
 7.7. 
 
 L,>le 
 
 II. d 
 
 John 
 
 4.t,S 
 
 &  \S. 
 
 7.  » 
 
 le.  i' 
 
 Jam 
 
 .ii,6 
 
 7  Mat 
 
 li  It 
 
 Col.  3 
 
 13. 
 
 r  Mat,lS.35. 
 
 Mat  21,23 
 Lukt  20.  1. 
 
 II  Or,  lh,ng 
 
 I  Mat.  3.  5. 
 &  11.5. 
 ch.  6.  20. 
 
 18.  Joliu  7. 
 23,  30,  4t. 
 
 d  Mat. 22. 15. 
 L.ike2U.20. 
 
 I  Valaing  of 
 our  money 
 sevenpoiiic 
 lialfpt.1111)', 
 (u  Mat,  I?!. 
 2S. 
 
 ^  Brat.22.  23. 
 
 Luke20.i7. 
 
 f  Acts  23.  s. 
 
 g  Deut.25.5, 
 
 2  And  at  the  season  he  sent  to  the  husband- 
 men a  servant,  that  he  might  receive  from  the 
 husbandmen  of  the  fruit  of  the  vineyard. 
 
 3  And  they  caught  him,  and  beat  him,  and 
 sent  Itim  away  empty. 
 
 4  And  again  he  sent  unto  them  another  ser- 
 vant; and  at  him  they  cast  stones,  and  wound- 
 ed him  ill  the  head,  and  sent  him  away  shame- 
 fully handled. 
 
 5  And  again  he  sent  another ;  and  him  the}' 
 killed,  and  many  others  ;  beating  some,  and 
 kiUing  some. 
 
 6  Having  yet  therefore  one  son,  his  wellbe- 
 loved,  he  sent  him  also  last  unto  them,  saying, 
 They  will  reverence  my  son. 
 
 7  But  those  husbandmen  said  among  them- 
 selves. This  is  the  heir ;  come,  let  us  kill  him, 
 and  the  inheritance  shall  be  our's. 
 
 8  And  they  took  him,  and  killed  him,  and 
 cast  him  out  of  the  vineyard. 
 
 9  What  shall  therefore  the  lord  of  the  vine- 
 yard do?  he  will  come  and  destroy  the  hus- 
 bandmen, and  will  give  the  vineyard  unlo 
 others. 
 
 10  And  have  ye  not  read  this  scripture  ; 
 ''  The  stone  which  the  builders  rejected  is  be- 
 come the  head  of  the  corner  : 
 
 1 1  This  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  mar- 
 vellous in  our  eyes? 
 
 12  ''And  they  sought  to  lay  hold  on  him,  but 
 feared  the  people:  for  they  knew  that  he  had 
 spoken  the  parable  against  them:  and  they  left 
 him,  and  went  their  way. 
 
 13  H''  And  they  send  unto  him  certain  of  the 
 Pharisees  and  of  the  Herodians,  to  catch  him 
 in  his  words. 
 
 14  And  when  they  were  come,  they  say  unto 
 him.  Master,  we  know  that  thou  art  true,  ami 
 carest  for  no  man  :  for  thou  regardest  not  the 
 person  of  men,  but  teachest  the  way  of  God  in 
 truth  :  Is  it  lawful  to  give  tribute  to  Cssar,  or 
 not  ? 
 
 13  Shall  we  give,  or  shall  we  not  give?  But 
 he,  knowing  their  hypocrisy,  said  unto  them, 
 Why  tempt  ye  me  ?  bring  me  a  |{  penny,  that 
 I  may  see  it. 
 
 16  And  tliey  brought  it.  And  he  saith  unto 
 them.  Whose  i.^  this  image  and  superscription  ? 
 And  they  said  unto  him,  Ca;sar's. 
 
 17  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  them. 
 Render  to  Cssar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's, 
 and  to  God  the  things  that  are  God's.  And 
 they  marvelled  at  him. 
 
 18  t  °  Then  come  unto  him  the  Sadducees, 
 '  which  say  there  is  no  resurrection  ;  and  they 
 asked  him,  saying, 
 
 1 9  Master,  ^  Moses  wrote  unto  us,  If  a  man's 
 
 24.  Believe  that  ye  rrceiee  them,  ^c.—'  this  trust  mast  necessarily  he  (Zech.  iii.  1 ;  Luke,  xviii.  11 ;  Rev.  si.  i.)— Scott. 
 
 regulated  by  God's  own  promise  and  warrant,  and  it  is  exercised  in  Chap.  XII.  —  1.  Planted  a  vineyard,  fye.  —  see  Matt.  xxi.  33,  Ac 
 
 order  that  we  may  receive.'— i?.  Watson.        25.  Stand  praying— iWis  notes.          13.  Herndinnssee  Matt.  xxii.  16,  note.          14.  Is  it  lawful 
 
 seems  to  have  been  a  frequent  posture  in  prayer  among  the  Jews,  to  give  tribute,  fyc. — see  Matt.  xxii.  17,  &'c.,  notes.          ig.  Master, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XL  — I.  Christ's  riding  into  Jeru- 
 salem in  triumph  rerainiis  us  that  ho  is  king  of  his  church  ;  yet 
 he  has  employed  no  pomp  and  splendour,  to  remind  us  also 
 that  his  kingdom  is  spiritual,  and  '  is  not  of  this  world.' 
 
 II.  Christ's  cursinij  the  barren  Jiff  tree  was  a  striking  symbo- 
 lical sign  of  the  mere  leafy  state  of  the  Jewish  church,  bearing 
 no  fruits  to  the  Divine  glory,  and  its  approaching  destruction 
 by  the  axe  of  the  Romans  ;  but  it  remains,  also,  as  a  warning 
 to  every  fruitless  professor,  who,  if  he  abide  not,  by  true  faitli, 
 in  Christ,  is  no  more  than  an  useless  branch  or  a  withered 
 tree  and  must  at  last  be  hewn  down  by  the  axe  of  Divine 
 1033 
 
 justice,  and  cast  into  the  fire. 
 
 III.  Christ's  driving  the  buyers  and  sellers  out  of  the  temple 
 should  teach  us  to  exercise  an  holy  indignation  against  every 
 corruption  of  God's  worship  and  church.  Imprudent  zeal 
 may,  however,  do  harm;  but  there  is  a  decision  of  conduct 
 which  we  are  here  taught  by  Christ's  example,  which  ought 
 to  be  maintained  for  the  preservation  of  its  purity.  Were 
 Christ  now  to  enter  into  his  churches,  would  he  find  no  buyers 
 and  sellers  to  drive  out  of  them  !  Let  us  also  see  to  it,  that 
 there  are  not  those  which  occupy  that  temple  of  the  heart 
 which  should  alone  be  sabred  to  God. 
 
Christ  conviiiceth  the  error  of  the  Sadilucee/s,    S.  MARK,  XII. 
 
 u'ho  denied  the  resurreclton. 
 
 brother  die,  and  leave  hin  wife  behind  him,  and 
 leave  no  children,  that  liis  brother  slioiild  talie 
 his  wife,  and  raise  up  seed  inito  liis  lirotlier. 
 
 20  Now  there  were  seven  bretliren  :  and  the 
 first  took  a  wife,  and  dying  left  no  seed. 
 
 21  And  the  second  toolc  her,  and  died,  nei- 
 ther left  he  any  seed  :  and  the  third  likewise. 
 
 22  And  the  seven  had  her,  and  left  no  seed  : 
 last  of  all  the  woman  died  also. 
 
 23  In  the  resurrection  therefore,  when  they 
 shall  rise,  whose  wife  shall  she  be  of  ihemV  for 
 the  seven  had  her  to  wife. 
 
 24  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  them,  Do 
 ye  not  therefore  err,  because  ye  know  not  the 
 scriptures,  neither  the  power  of  God  V 
 
 23  For  when  they  shall  rise  from  the  dead, 
 they  neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage; 
 but  "  are  as  the  angels  whicli  are  in  heaven. 
 
 2G  And  as  touching  the  dead,  that  they  rise  : 
 have  ye  not  read  in  the  book  of  Moses,  how  in 
 the  bush  God  spake  unto  him,  saying,  '  I  atn 
 the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isaac, 
 and  the  God  of  Jacob? 
 
 27  He  is  not  the  God  of  tlie  dead,  but  tlie 
 God  of  the  living :  ye  therefore  do  greatly 
 err. 
 
 28  t '  And  one  of  the  scribes  came,  and  hav- 
 ing heard  them  reasoning  together,  and  per- 
 ceiving that  he  had  answered  them  well,  asked 
 him,  Which  is  the  first  commandment  of  all  ? 
 
 29  And  Jesus  answered  him,  The  first  of  all 
 the  commandments  is,  '  Hear,  O  Israel ;  The 
 Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord  : 
 
 30  And  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God 
 with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and 
 with  all  thy  mind,  and  with  all  thy  strength  : 
 this  is  the  first  commandment. 
 
 31  And  the  second  is  like,  nuyneli/  this, 
 '"  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyself. 
 There  is  none  other  commandment  greater 
 than  these. 
 
 32  And  the  scribe  said  unto  him.  Well,  Mas- 
 ter, thou  hast  said  the  truth  :  for  there  is  one 
 
 h  i  Cor.  IS. 
 42,  49,  5i. 
 
 I  Dcut   C.  4. 
 Luke  10.27. 
 
 '.  T.ev.19  19. 
 Mdt,  22.:i^. 
 Hum.  13.  9. 
 (iai.  5.  14. 
 Jam.  2.  8. 
 
 •'  I  Sam-  l.'i 
 'ii  Hos  ti.5 
 :\lic.6.6,7. 
 
 q  ^fat  ^W 
 I.ukc -2(1.41 
 
 3  Sam.  23. 
 Ps.  MO.  I. 
 
 /  ch-  4.  2. 
 I.  M.it.  W.  I, 
 
 K.-.  I, like 
 
 ■Jii.  lli 
 J-  Luke  II. 
 
 4;i. 
 
 I.itktf  21.1. 
 
 II  A  ,,m.  ,.f 
 """"Jl- 
 Mat. 
 
 ID.  ! 
 
 .  12. 
 
 11  It  19  the 
 sevfiuli 
 nail  of  one 
 
 6  2  Cor.S.lZ. 
 
 r  Dent.  24  6 
 I  JoliuS. 
 17. 
 
 God  ;  "  and  there  is  none  other  but  he  : 
 33 _ And  to  love  him  with  all  the  heart,  and 
 
 with  all   the  understanding,  and   with  all   the 
 
 soul,  and  with  all  the  strength,  and  to  love  his 
 
 neighbour  as  himself,  "is  more  than  all  whole 
 
 burnt  otferiiigs  and  sacrifices. 
 34  And  when  Jesus  saw   that  he  answered 
 
 di.screetly,  he  said  unto  him.  Thou  art  not  far 
 
 from  the  kingdom  of  God.     ''And  no  man  after 
 
 that  durst  ask  him  nny  question. 
 36  fAnd  Jesus  answered  and  said,  while  he 
 
 taught  in  the  temple.  How  say  the  scribes  that 
 
 Christ  is  the  son  of  David? 
 
 36  For  David  himself  said  'by  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  'The  Lokd  said  to  my  Lord,  Sit  thou 
 on  my  right  hand,  till  I  make  thine  enemies 
 thy  footstool. 
 
 37  David  therefore  himself  calleth  him  Lord  ; 
 and  whence  is  he  then  his  son?  And  the  com- 
 mon people  heard  him  gladly. 
 
 38  II  And  '  he  .said  unto  them  in  his  doctnne, 
 "  Beware  of  the  scribes,  which  love  to  go  in 
 long  clothing,  and  '' luve  salutations  in  the 
 marketplaces, 
 
 39  And  the  chief  seats  in  the  synagogues, 
 and  the  uppermost  rooms  at  feasts  : 
 
 40  '  Which  devour  widows'  houses,  and  for  a 
 pretence  make  long  prayers  :  these  shall  re- 
 ceive greater  damnation. 
 
 41  t 'And  Jesus  sat  over  against  the  treasury, 
 and  beheld  how  the  people  cast  ||money  "  into 
 the  treasury  :  and  many  that  were  rich  cast  iii 
 much. 
 
 42  And  there  came  a  certain  poor  widow, 
 and  she  threw  in  two  |{  mites,  which  make  a 
 farthing. 
 
 43  And  he  called  unto  him  his  disciples,  and 
 saith  unto  them.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  That 
 ''this  poor  widow  hath  cast  more  in,  than  all 
 they  which  have  cast  into  the  treasury  : 
 
 44  For  all  lliei/  did  cast  in  of  their  abundance  ; 
 but  she  of  her  want  did  cast  in  all  that  she  had, 
 "^  even  all  her  living. 
 
 Moses  wrote,  §-c.— see  Matt.  xxii.  24,  &c.,  notes.  29.  Hear,  O  Israel, 
 fyc. — S/.  Matthew  quotes  tills  passage,  from  Deu.  vi.  4.  5,  short;  St. 
 Mark,  doubtless,  as  our  Lord  spoke  it,  in  full.  Ttie  former  wrote  for 
 the  Jews,  to  whom  the  eatch  words  would  supgest  the  whole  passage. 
 — R.  M'alsnn.  33.  With  alt  the  understanding,  ef  o\ritTti?  afvitrtujv, 
 '  out  of  the  whole  understanding,'  our  rational  powers  and  faculties 
 must  all  be  set  to  work  to  lead  out  the  atfections  of  our  souls  towards 
 God. — Hen.  'M.  Nut  /nr  from  the  kin/^dorn  of  God,  '  not  far  from 
 relishing  the  doctrine  of  Christ,'  against  which  all  the  other  scribes 
 were  so  prejudiced. — Mar.  37.  Lord;  and  whence  is  he  then  his  son  ? 
 — see  Matt,  .xxii,  43,  note.  3S.  Love  salutations,  fyc. — see  Matt,  xxiii. 
 7,  ftc,  notes.  41.  Treasury,  the  place  where  the  chests  stood  into 
 which  money  was  put  for  various  uses.  There  were  thirteen  chests  in 
 the  temple,  six  of  which  were  for  voluntary  oblations,  or  freewill  offer- 
 ings, &c. — Gill,    The  chests  stood  in  the  second  court  of  the  temjjle. 
 
 and  had  each  an  inscription,  signifying  for  what  use  the  offerings  con- 
 tained in  them  were  destined. — Mackn.  What  the  people  gave  was 
 exclusively  designed  for  the  repairs  of  the  temple,  and  for  the  service 
 of  God,  (corap.  2  Kings,  xii.  9.1 — Bnothr.  Cast  mtiner/,  xaAicoi-,  'aes.' 
 — Mont.  '  Brass  money ;'  probably  the  smallest  brass  coin,  called 
 nTD1"lD  ,  '  prutah,'  among  the  Jews,  two  of  which  make  a  farthing. — 
 Clarke.  It  is  difficult  to  state  the  exact  value  of  these  pieces,  being 
 large  and  small,  and  varying  in  value  according  to  circumstances.  The 
 Pharisees  might  give  large  pieces,  which  make  a  noise  in  throwing 
 them  in  ;  if  so,  they  would  each  be  nearly  the  value  of  sixpence. —  Wil. 
 Much,  7roA^a,  '  many,'  may  only  refer  to  the  nnmber  of  the  prntahs 
 which  they  threw  in,  and  not  to  the  value. — Clarke.  42.  .i/arthing, 
 Kudpat'im.  was  a  Konian  cuiu,  in  value  no  more  than  three-fourths  of 
 our  farthing. — Bens. 
 
 Reflkctions  on  Chap.  XIT.  — The  closing  transaction  in 
 this  chapter  is  recorded  in  Luke,  but  not  in  Matthew.  Let 
 lis  remark  on  some  of  the  words  just  as  they  are  written  by 
 the  evangelist:  —  I.  The  people  cast  money  into  ilie  ireasun/. 
 '  This,'  observes  Bishop  Pearce,  '  was  the  chest  where  the 
 treasure  arising  from  the  offerings  was  kept.  It  appears  from 
 a  Kings,  xii.  18,  that  this  chest  was  placed  in  the  temple, 
 (that  is,  in  one  of  the  apartments  of  it,  John,  viii.  20,)  to 
 receive  the  gifts  of  the  worshippers,  for  the  repairs,  the 
 charges  of  sacrifices,  and  other  uses  of  the  temple  and  its 
 service.'  '  Such  funds,'  says  the  author  of  the  Cottage  Bible, 
 '  are  commonly  reckoned  among  our  charities  ;  but  with  the 
 greatest  impropriety,  if  by  that  term  we  understand  anything 
 optional,  whicli  we  may  either  do  or  let  alone,  at  pleasure. 
 The  support  of  divine  worship,  and  the  spread  of  divine  truth, 
 yea,  and  the  relief  of  the  distressed  poor,  are  duties  as  forcibly 
 enjoined  on  us  as  sobriety,  chastity,  or  honesty;  only  God  has 
 left  it  to  our  honour  and  gratitude  to  apportion  the  measure  to 
 our  means.' 
 
 II.  'Maui/ that  were  rich  cast  in  much.'  This  was  conimend- 
 1056 
 
 able — if  we  may  understand  it  not  of  much  small  money 
 merely — and  what  cannot  always  be  said  of  the  rich,  for  to 
 such  funds  many  of  the  rich  cast  in  but  little.  Too  many  pay 
 a  sort  of  tax  once  in  tlieir  life,  which  they  think  is  a  kind  of 
 redemption  from  all  future  demands  for  any  particular  purpose 
 of  Christian  benevolence  ;  and  by  giving  that  as  a  life  sub- 
 scription  which  it  would  never  hurt  them  to  bestow  yearly, 
 and  which  they  could  well  afford,  they  leave  it  to  those  of  in- 
 ferior circumstances  to  provide  the  current  expenses,  'these 
 things  have,  perhaps,  been  often  done  inconsiderately,  but 
 they  ought  not  so  to  be.  What  great  things  might  be  done 
 for  the  purposes  of  Christian  benevolence  were  the  rich  to 
 cast  what  might  properly  be  called  '  much  into  the  treasury!' 
 HI.  ' .-1  certain  poor  widow. ..threw  in  two  inites.'  These  were, 
 indeed,  little,  but  she  did  what  she  could  ;  they  were  '  all 
 that  she  had."  \\'ouid  she  have  given  more  bad  she  possessed 
 it?  Probably  slie  would.  He  who  knew  her  heart  and  her 
 motives  commended  her ;  and  though  her  mite  was  too  little 
 to  obtain  her  the  praise  of  men,  it,  more  than  all  the  rest,  ob- 
 tained the  praise  of  God ;  '  For,  if  there  be  first  a  willing  mind 
 
Christ  foretelleth  the  destruction  of  the  temple,  S.  MARK,  XIII.       and  the  manner  of  his  coming  to  judgment. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Christ  fnrefeUeth  the  destTuction  of  the  tempk  :  9  the 
 persecttiions  for  the  gospel:  10  that  the  gospel  must 
 be  preached  to  all  nations:  14  that  great  calamities 
 shall  happen  to  the  Jews  :  24  and  the  manner  of  his 
 coming  to  judgment :  32  the  hour  whi:reof  being  known 
 to  none,  every  man  is  to  watch  ajid  pray,  that  we  be 
 not  found  unprovided,  when  he  conietk  to  each  one 
 particularly  by  death. 
 
 A  ND  °  as  he  went  out  of  the  temple,  one  of 
 -^*-  his  disciples  saith  unto  him.  Master,  see 
 what  manner  of  stones  and  what  buildings  are 
 here  ! 
 
 2  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him,  Seest 
 thou  these  great  buildings?  ''there  shall  not 
 be  left  one  stone  upon  another,  that  shall  not 
 be  thrown  down. 
 
 .3  And  as  he  sat  upon  the  mount  of  Olives 
 over  against  the  temple,  Peter  and  James  and 
 John  and  Andrew  asked  him  privately, 
 
 4  '■'  Tell  us,  when  shall  these  things  be?  and 
 what  xhall  he  the  sign  when  all  these  things 
 shall  be  fulfilled  ? 
 
 5  And  Jesus  answering  them  began  to  say, 
 •'  Take  heed  lest  any  man  deceive  you  : 
 
 6  For  many  shall  come  in  my  name,  saying, 
 I  am  Christ ;  and  shall  deceive  many. 
 
 7  And  when  ye  shall  hear  of  wars  and  rumours 
 of  wars,  be  ye  not  troubled :  for  such  things 
 must  needs  be  ;  but  the  end  shall  not  be  yet. 
 
 8  For  nation  shall  rise  against  nation,  and 
 kingdom  against  kingdom  :  and  there  shall  be 
 eartliquakes  in  divers  places,  and  there  shall 
 be  famines  and  troubles  :  °  these  are  the  be- 
 ginnings of  II  sorrows. 
 
 9  t  But  f  take  heed  to  yourselves  :  for  they 
 shall  deliver  you  up  to  councils  ;  and  in  the 
 synagogues  ye  shall  be  beaten  :  and  ye  shall 
 be  brought  before  rulers  and  kings  for  my  sake, 
 for  a  testimony  against  them. 
 
 10  And  ^  the  gospel  must  first  be  published 
 among  all  nations. 
 
 1 1  ''  But  when  they  shall  lead  you,  and  de- 
 hver  you  up,  take  no  thought  beforehand  what 
 ye  shall  speak,  neither  do  ye  premeditate:  but 
 whatsoever  shall  be  given  you  in  that  hour, 
 that  speak  ye  :  for  it  is  not  ye  that  speak,  'but 
 the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 12  Now  '  the  brother  shall  betray  the  brother 
 to  death,  and  the  father  the  son;  and  children 
 shall  rise  up  against  their  parents,  and  shall 
 cause  them  to  be  put  to  death. 
 
 1.3  '  And  ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my 
 name's  sake  :  but  "'  he  that  shall  endure  unto 
 the  end,  the  same  shall  be  saved. 
 
 14  1"  But  when  ye  shall  see  the  abomination 
 of  desolation,  °  spoken  of  by  Daniel  the  pro- 
 phet, standing  where  it  ought  not,  (let  him 
 that  readeth  understand,)  then  ''  let  them  that 
 be  in  Judsa  flee  to  the  mountains : 
 
 15  And  let  him  that  is  on  the  housetop  not 
 
 c  Mat  21-  a. 
 Luke'.il.  7. 
 
 d  Jer.  59.  «. 
 F,|.)i.  h   6. 
 I  Tlie3.2.3. 
 
 e  Mat.  24  8. 
 I  The  word 
 in  ttie  ori- 
 ^nal  im- 
 jiurteth  the 
 paiH,  o/a 
 
 trai 
 
 1,1. 
 
 /■Mat. 10. 17, 
 IS.  &  2t.  9, 
 Rev.  2,  10. 
 
 g  Mat.  24. 
 
 h  Mat  10.19. 
 
 k  Mic.  7.  6 
 Mat. 10   21 
 &  '21.  10 
 Luke  21.16. 
 
 Dai 
 
 12 
 
 12.  Mat.  10 
 22.  8c  21.  13, 
 Rev.  2.  10, 
 'J  Mat  24  15 
 o  Dan.  9  27, 
 
 p  Luke  21. 
 21, 
 
 y  Luke  21. 
 23flc23.  29. 
 
 ..  Diui.  7.  10. 
 Zeph.  1.  15. 
 Mat.  24  29, 
 8cc.  Luke 
 21.  25. 
 
 J  Dan, 7. 13, 
 14.  Mat.  16. 
 27.  8t2+30. 
 oh.  U.  02. 
 Acts  1.  II. 
 1  Tlies.  4. 
 16,  2  Thea. 
 I  7,  10. 
 Rev.  I.  7. 
 
 t/  Mat.24,39. 
 Luke  21.29, 
 Sec. 
 
 a  Mat  24  42. 
 
 It  2j,  I.S. 
 
 Luke  12,40, 
 
 &  21.  :i\. 
 
 Rou).13,ll. 
 
 1  The.  5.6 
 6  Mat.  24  45. 
 
 &  25.   14. 
 
 go  down  into  the  house,  neither  enter  therein 
 to  take  any  thing  out  of  his  house  : 
 
 16  And  let  him  that  is  in  the  field  not  turn 
 back  again  for  to  take  up  his  garment. 
 
 17  ''  But  woe  to  them  that  are  witli  child,  and 
 to  them  that  give  suck  in  those  days! 
 
 18  And  pray  ye  that  your  flight  be  not  in  the 
 winter. 
 
 19  '  For  in  those  days  shall  be  affliction,  such 
 as  was  not  from  tlie  beginning  of  the  creation 
 which  God  created  unto  this  time,  neither  shall 
 be. 
 
 ■20  And  except  that  the  Lord  had  shortened 
 those  days,  no  flesh  should  be  saved :  but  for 
 the  elect's  sake,  whom  he  hath  chosen,  he 
 hath  shortened  the  days. 
 
 21  'And  then  if  any  man  shall  say  to  you, 
 Lo,  here  is  Christ ;  or,  lo,  he  is  there  ;  believe 
 him  not : 
 
 22  For  false  Christs  and  false  prophets  shall 
 rise,  and  shall  shew  signs  and  wonders,  to  se- 
 duce, if  it  were  possible,  even  the  elect. 
 
 23  But  '  take  ye  heed  :  behold,  I  liave  fore- 
 told you  all  things. 
 
 24  1 "  But  in  those  days,  after  that  tribulation, 
 the  sun  shall  be  darkened,  and  the  moon  shall 
 not  give  her  light, 
 
 23  And  tlie  stars  of  heaven  shall  fall,  and  the 
 powers  that  are  in  heaven  shall  be  shaken. 
 
 26  '  And  then  shall  they  see  the  Son  of  man 
 comingin  thecloudswith  great  power  and  glory. 
 
 27  And  then  shall  he  send  his  angels,  and 
 shall  gather  together  his  elect  from  the  four 
 winds,  from  the  uttermost  part  of  tlie  earth  to 
 the  uttermost  part  of  heaven. 
 
 28  ''  Now  learn  a  parable  of  the  flg  tree  ; 
 When  her  branch  is  yet  tender,  and  putteth 
 forth  leaves,  ye  know  that  summer  is  near : 
 
 29  So  ye  in  like  manner,  when  ye  shall  see 
 these  things  come  to  pass,  know  that  it  is  nigh, 
 even  at  the  doors. 
 
 30  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  this  generation 
 shall  not  pass,  till  all  these  things  be  done. 
 
 31  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away:  but 
 '  my  words  shall  not  pass  away. 
 
 32  1  But  of  that  day  and  that  hour  knoweth 
 no  man,  no,  not  the  angels  which  are  in  heaven, 
 neither  the  Son,  but  the  Father. 
 
 33  "  Take  ye  heed,  watch  and  pray :  for  ye 
 know  not  when  the  time  is. 
 
 34  ''For  the  So7i  of  man  is  as  a  man  taking 
 a  far  journey,  who  left  his  house,  and  gave  au- 
 thority to  his  servants,  and  to  every  man  his 
 work,  and  commanded  the  porter  to  watch. 
 
 35  '  Watch  ye  tlierefore  :  for  ye  know  not 
 when  the  master  of  the  house  cometh,  at  even, 
 or  at  midniglit,  or  at  the  cockcrowing,  or  in  the 
 morning  : 
 
 36  Lest  coming  suddenly  he  find  you  sleeping. 
 
 37  And  what  I  say  unto  you  I  say  unto  all, 
 Watch. 
 
 Cn.4p,  XIll.  —  32,  Keither  the  Son— C\ir\st,  asGocI,  knew  all  things;  union  of  the  human  nature  with  the  Divinity.— Ti;.    The  Messiah,  as 
 
 hut  the  Divine  wisdom  commuDicated  itself  to  his  human  soul  accord-  such,  was  his  Father's  servant,  (Isa.  xlii.  1,)  and  as  such  refers  hira. 
 
 ing  to  the  divine  pleasure  ;  Christ  is  therefore  said  to  grow  in  wisdom,  self  often  to  his  Father's  will  and  command,  (John,  v.  ig.)—LiglU/. 
 
 which  he  could  not  if  he  necessarily  knew  all  things  by  virtue  of  the  See  Matt,  x-xiv.,  xxv.,  notes. 
 
 it  is  accepted  according  to  that  a  man  hath,  and  not  according  up  for  us  all.' 
 
 to  that  he  Lath  not.'  Reflections   on   Ch.ip.  XIIL  _  In  this  chapter  we  have, 
 
 I\^   '  Jes7ts  sat  over  against  the  treasury,  and  beheld  how  the  I.  Predicted  desolations.      They  have   been   fulfilled   and   are 
 
 people  cast  money  into  the  treasury.'    Let  us  remember  this.  past.     But  there  are  yet  more  awful  desolations  predicted, 
 
 He  is  still  omniscient,  and  beholds   both  our  gifts  and  our  and  which  are  to  come.     The  desohiiion  of  the  Jens  was  Ihat 
 
 motives.     Let  us,  then,  give  without  ostentation,  give  freely,  of  a  nation,  but  God  shall  come  to  judge  the  world  ;  and  '  the 
 
 give  liberally,  and  what  then  have  we  done  in  return  for  God's  earth,  and  all  the  works  that  are  therein,  shall  be  burnt  up.' 
 
 love  to  us  !    '  He  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  freely  gave  him  We  have  here— 
 
 1057  6  T 
 
A  conspiracy  against  Christ, 
 
 S.MARK,  XIV. 
 
 He  instituteth  the  supper. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  A  conspiraci/  against  Christ.  3  Precious  ointment 
 is  poured  on  tiis  head  by  a  woman.  10  Jndas  selleth 
 /lis  Master  for  money.  12  Christ  himself  foreteUeth 
 how  he  sliall  be  lietrayed  of  one  of  his  diseiples  :  22 
 after  the passover  prepared,  and  eaten,  instituteth  his 
 supper  :  26  declarith  aforehand  the  fliyht  of  aJl  his 
 disciphs,  and  Peter's  denial  43  Judas  betrayeth  him 
 with  a  hiss.  46  I/e  is  appre/iended  in  the  garden^  53 
 falsely  acc7ised,  and  impiiiu.sly  condemned  of  ttte  Jews' 
 council :  65  shamefully  abused  by  them  :  66  and  thrice 
 denied  of  Peter, 
 
 AFTER  '  two  days  was  the  feast  of  the 
 passovev,  and  of  unleavened  bread  :  and 
 the  chief  priests  and  tlie  scribes  sought  how 
 they  might  take  liiin  by  craft,  and  put  him  to 
 death. 
 
 2  But  they  said,  Not  on  the  feast  day,  lest 
 there  be  an  uproar  of  tlie  people. 
 
 3  li  ■■  And  being  in  Betliany  in  the  house  of 
 Simon  the  leper,  as  he  sat  at  meat,  there  came 
 a  woman  having  an  alabaster  box  of  ointment 
 of  II  spikenard  very  precious ;  and  she  brake 
 the  box,  and  poured  it  on  his  head. 
 
 4  And  there  were  some  that  had  indignation 
 within  themselves,  and  said.  Why  was  this 
 waste  of  the  ointment  made? 
 
 5  For  it  might  have  been  sold  for  more  than 
 three  hundred  ||  pence,  and  have  been  given 
 to  the  poor.     And  they  murmured  against  her. 
 
 C  And  Jesus  said.  Let  her  alone  ;  why  trouble 
 ye  her?  she  hath  wrought  a  good  work  on  me. 
 
 7  For  '  ye  have  the  poor  with  you  always, 
 and  whensoever  ye  will  ye  may  do  them  good: 
 but  me  ye  have  not  always. 
 
 8  She  hath  done  what  she  could  :  she  is  come 
 aforehand  to  anoint  my  body  to  the  burying. 
 
 9  Verily  1  say  unto  you,  Wheresoever  this 
 gospel  shall  be  preached  throughout  the  whole 
 world,  this  also  that  she  hath  done  shall  be 
 spoken  of  for  a  memorial  of  her. 
 
 10  f  And  .ludas  Iscariot,  one  of  the  twelve, 
 went  unto  the  chief  priests,  to  betray  him  unto 
 them. 
 
 1 1  And  when  they  heard  it,  they  were  glad, 
 and  promised  to  give  him  money.  And  he 
 sought  how  he  might  conveniently  betray  him. 
 
 12  H'  And  the  first  day  of  unleavened  bread, 
 when  they  ||  killed  the  passover,  his  disciples 
 said  unto  him,  Wlicre  wilt  thou  that  we  go 
 and  prepare  that  thou  maycst  eat  the  passover? 
 
 13  And  he  sendeth  fortli  two  of  his  disciples. 
 
 6  ^fal.  S6.  6. 
 Jobo  \S.  I, 
 3.Seo  Luke 
 7.37. 
 
 Or.  purr 
 n'ird,  or,  li- 
 quid nard. 
 
 I  See  Mut. 
 18.  28. 
 
 d  Mat.?6.H. 
 
 ■  Mat.26,  17 
 Luke  2-2.  7 
 
 lOr, 
 iacrtjiced. 
 
 f  M.it.  20,20, 
 
 r  M(it-2f>2.1. 
 Luke  22 22 
 
 h  Mat.26.26. 
 LuVe22. 19. 
 ICur. 11.23. 
 
 Mat  26  30. 
 11  Or,  yiiilin. 
 
 »  Mat    26. 
 33,  31. 
 
 and  saith  unto  them.  Go  ye  into  the  city,  and 
 there  shall  meet  you  a  man  bearing  a  pitcher 
 of  water  :  follow  him. 
 
 14  And  wheresoever  he  shall  go  in,  say  ye  to 
 the  goodman  of  the  house.  The  Master  saith. 
 Where  is  the  guestchamber,  where  I  shall  eat 
 the  passover  with  my  disciples  ? 
 
 13  And  he  will  shew  you  a  large  upper  room 
 furnished  and  prepared :  there  make  ready  for 
 us. 
 
 IC  And  his  diseiples  went  forth,  and  came 
 into  the  city,  and  found  as  he  had  said  unto 
 them  :  and  they  made  ready  the  passover. 
 
 17  '  And  in  the  evening  he  cometh  with  the 
 twelve. 
 
 18  And  as  they  sat  and  did  eat,  Jesus  said. 
 Verily  I  say  unto  you.  One  of  you  which  eat- 
 eth  with  me  shall  betray  me. 
 
 19  And  they  began  to  be  sorrowful,  and  to 
 say  unto  him  one  by  one,  Is  it  I  ?  and  another 
 said.  Is  it  I  ? 
 
 20  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them.  It 
 is  one  of  the  twelve,  that  dippeth  with  me  in 
 the  dish, 
 
 21  ^  The  Son  of  man  indeed  goeth,  as  it  is 
 written  of  him  :  but  woe  to  that  man  by  whom 
 the  Son  of  man  is  betrayed  !  good  were  it  for 
 that  man  if  he  had  never  been  born. 
 
 22  t "  And  as  they  did  eat,  Jesus  took  bread, 
 and  blessed,  and  brake  it,  and  gave  to  them, 
 and  said.  Take,  eat  :  this  is  my  body. 
 
 23  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  when  he  had 
 given  thanks,  he  gave  it  to  them  :  and  they 
 all  drank  of  it. 
 
 24  And  he  said  unto  them,  Tliis  is  my  blood 
 of  the  new  testament,  which  is  shed  for  many. 
 
 25  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  drink  no 
 more  of  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  until  that  day 
 that  I  drink  it  new  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 26  % '  And  when  they  had  sung  an  ||  hymn, 
 they  went  out  into  the  mount  of  Olives. 
 
 27  '  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  All  ye  shall 
 be  offended  because  of  me  this  night :  for  it  is 
 written,  '  1  will  smite  the  shepherd,  and  the 
 sheep  shall  be  scattered. 
 
 28  But  '"after  that  I  am  risen,  I  will  go  before 
 yon  into  Galilee. 
 
 29  "  But  Peter  said  unto  nim.  Although  all 
 shall  be  offended,  yet  will  not  1. 
 
 30  And  Jesus  saith  unto  him.  Verily  I  say  unto 
 thee.  That  this  day,  even  in  tliis  night,  before 
 tlie  cock  crow  twice,  thou  shall  deny  me  thrice. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  3.  And  lieing  in  Bethany  —  see  Matt.  xxvi.  6  — 13, 
 nntes.  Spikenard — the  nard  is  a  herb,  or  small  shrub. — Flint/,  &c. 
 She  brake  the  box,  '  she  opened  it,'  Stjr.,  Ethiop.  '  She  opened  the 
 head  or  top  of  the  bottle  or  vial. — Pees. ;  so  Doddr.,  as  Vrusius,  De 
 Dieu  ;  adopted  by  Stark.,  Kret)S,  Rosenm.,  Kuinoel.  The  word  was 
 appropriated  to  denote  the  opening  of  oil  flasks,  by  breaking:  off  the 
 top  end  of  the  narrow  neck,  which  was  sealed  tip  to  preserve  the  nard, 
 and  denote  its  genuineness. — See  Pliny,  Blooinf.  ^wiin^aaa,  *  she 
 shook'  the  bo.\  so  as  to  break  the  coagulated  parts  of  the  rich  balsam, 
 and  bring  it  to  such  a  degree  of  liquidity  that  it  might  be  fit  to  be 
 poured  out. — So  KnatcttbuU,  Ham.,  U'ti/er/.  '  She  broke  the  cement 
 with  which  the  bo.x  was  closely  stopped.' — Har.  '  She  broke  open  the 
 box,'  which  intimates  that  it  required  an  uncommon  effort  to  bring 
 out  the  contents  ;  an  additional  evidence  of  the  woman's  zeal. — Cuinp. 
 And  poured — pouring  sweet-scented  oil  on  the  head  is  common  in 
 India. — Ward.  12.  Killed  the  passover — see  Matt.  xxvi.   17,  &c., 
 
 notes,  14.  The  guestchamber,  the  chamber  provided  for  guests  that 
 might  be  expected  at  the  passover.— Gi7/.  The  Talmudists  state  that 
 at  the  passover  the  houses  were  not  to  be  let,  but  were  of  common 
 right  for  any  one  to  eat  the  passover  in  them. — Benson.  15.  Upper 
 room,  avw^iov  ....  cCTTpu/icuof ,  such  as  those  which  the  Jews  used  lor 
 
 the  same  purposes  as  those  to  which  our  dining-rooms,  parlours,  and 
 closets,  are  a|iplied — Bloom/.  Furnished — the  Greek  is,  properly,  '  car. 
 peted,'  wliich  implies  not  only  the  covering  of  the  flour,  but  of  the 
 couches  on  which  the  guests  reclined  at  meals. — Camp.  18.  Which 
 ealelh  with  me — this  is  said  to  shew  in  a  more  striking  manner  the 
 enormity  of  the  crime,  (see  Ps.  xli.  g.) — Mar.  20.  That  dippeth,  Sfc. 
 — in  the  east,  persons  never  eat  togetlier  from  one  dish,  except  when 
 a  strong  attachment  subsists  betwixt  two  or  more  persons  of  the  same 
 caste.  The  same  custom  perhaps  existed  among  the  Jews,  and  if  so, 
 it  more  strongly  marks  the  perfidy  of  J  udas. — So  Ward.  It  is  probable 
 that  at  this  very  instant  our  Lord  and  Judas,  with  some  other  of  the 
 disciples,  were  (lipping  the  bitter  herbs  that  were  to  be  eaten  with  the 
 paschal  lamb  in  a  vessel  of  vinegar  or  other  sauce  then  in  use,  which 
 stood  on  the  table  for  that  purpose,  that  so  they  might  make  a  nearer 
 guess  whom  he  meant. — Guyse.  21.  The  Son  of  man  is  betrayed, 
 
 ^c. — sec  Matt,  x-vvi.  24,  &c.  22.  Take,  eat — this  being  after  a  full 
 
 meal  upon  the  paschal  lamb,  evidently  shewed  that  this  institution  was 
 not  for  bodily  refreshment,  but  only  for  spiritual  purposes,  which  were 
 sufliciently  answered  by  eating  and  drinking  ever  so  small  a  quantity. 
 — Guyse.  This  is  my  body,  ffc. — see  Matt.  xxvi.  26,  note.  27.  Shalt 
 be  amended — see  Matt.  xxvi.  36,  &c.,  notes.  32.  Gethsemane — see 
 
 II.    Timely  learnings.     The  Christians   were    told    how   to  the  world  may  end  to-day  or  to-morrow,  we  are  sure  tliat  our 
 
 escape  the  approaching  danger,  and  were  urged  to  '  take  heed,  days  must  soon  end,  and  to  every  one  the  warning  voice  is  at 
 
 watch  and  pray.'     And  we,  too,  are  warned  how  we  may  flee  all  times  seasonahle,  '  Be  ye  also  ready,  for  in  such  an  hour 
 
 from  the  wiath  to  come, and  told  whither  we  may  flee.  Whether  as  ye  think  not,  the  Son  of  man  cometh.' 
 1058 
 
Judas  betrayeth  Christ  with  a  hiss. 
 
 S,  MARK,  XIV. 
 
 lie  is  apprehended  in  the  garden. 
 
 31  But  he  spake  the  more  vehemently,  If  I 
 should  die  with  thee,  I  will  not  deny  thee  in 
 any  wise.     Likewise  also  said  tliey  all. 
 
 32  °  And  they  came  to  a  place  which  was 
 named  Gethsemane  :  and  he  saith  to  his  dis- 
 ciples. Sit  ye  here,  wliile  I  shall  pray. 
 
 33  And  he  taketh  with  him  Peter  and  James 
 and  John,  and  began  to  be  sore  amazed,  and  to 
 be  very  heavy  ; 
 
 34  And  saith  unto  them, '' My  soul  is  exceed- 
 ing; sorrowful  nntu  death  :  tarry  ye  here,  and 
 watch. 
 
 35  And  he  went  forward  a  little,  and  fell  on 
 the  ground,  and  prayed  that,  if  it  were  possible, 
 the  hour  might  pass  from  him. 
 
 3G  And  he  said,  ''  Abba,  Fatlier,  '  all  things 
 are  possible  unto  thee  ;  take  away  this  cup 
 from  me :  '  nevertheless  not  what  I  will,  but 
 what  thou  wilt. 
 
 37  And  lie  cometh,  and  findetli  them  sleep- 
 ing, and  saith  unto  Peter,  Simon,  sleepest 
 thou?  couldest  not  tliou  watch  one  hour? 
 
 38  Watch  ye  and  pray,  lest  ye  enter  into 
 temptation.  '  The  spirit  truly  is  ready,  but 
 the  flesh  is  weak. 
 
 39  And  again  he  went  away,  and  prayed,  and 
 spake  the  same  words. 
 
 40  And  when  he  returned,  he  found  them 
 asleep  again,  (for  their  eyes  were  heavy,)  nei- 
 ther wist  they  what  to  answer  him. 
 
 41  And  he  cometh  the  third  time,  and  saith 
 unto  them.  Sleep  on  now,  and  take  your  rest : 
 it  is  enough,  "  the  hour  is  come  ;  behold,  the 
 Son  of  man  is  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  sin- 
 ners. 
 
 42  '  Rise  up,  let  us  go  ;  lo,  he  that  betrayeth 
 me  is  at  hand. 
 
 43  II  '  And  immediately,  while  he  yet  spake, 
 cometh  Judas,  one  of  the  twelve,  and  with  him 
 a  great  multitude  with  swords  and  staves,  from 
 the  chief  priests  and  the  scribes  and  the 
 elders. 
 
 44  And  he  that  Ijetrayed  him  had  given  them 
 a  token,  saying.  Whomsoever  I  shall  kiss,  that 
 same  is  he  ;  take  him,  and  lead  him  away 
 safely. 
 
 45  And  as  soon  as  he  was  come,  he  goeth 
 straightway  to  him,  and  saith,  Master,  master ; 
 and  kissed  him. 
 
 46  H  And  they  laid  their  hands  on  him,  and 
 took  him. 
 
 47  And  one  of  them  that  stood  by  drew  a 
 sword,  and  smote  a  servant  of  the  high  priest, 
 and  cut  off  his  ear. 
 
 48  '  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
 Are   ye   come   out,  as  against  a  thief,   with 
 
 .  Mat 
 
 ■'fi 
 
 .SR 
 
 I,uki 
 
 ■'■> 
 
 ■Mi 
 
 J.lhll 
 
 IS 
 
 1. 
 
 ?Rotn  S.  15. 
 
 G  >1   4.  6. 
 r  Heb.  a   7. 
 
 /  Rom  7.  2S. 
 Gai-  5.  17. 
 
 X  Mat.26.W. 
 Johuld.),S. 
 
 y  Mat.26  17. 
 Liike?2  47 
 
 J.ihii  IH   ■A. 
 
 •I  Ph.  22.  6. 
 1b.  5S.7,  &c 
 Liike2'2-37. 
 
 i  Pa.  B8.  9. 
 vec.  *27. 
 
 :  Mat.  26.57. 
 l,uke2S.5*. 
 Jubu  18.13 
 
 /  Mat.26,63. 
 
 ^  Is   5S.  7. 
 h  Hat. 26.63. 
 
 i  Af  ftt.  S4  SO. 
 A  26.  2i. 
 Luke22-69. 
 
 k  Mat.  26. 
 5:^.  69. 
 Luke  22.55. 
 JohulB.  16. 
 
 swords  and  with  staves  to  take  me  ? 
 
 49  I  was  daily  with  you  in  the  temple  teach- 
 ing, and  ye  took  me  not :  but  ^  the  scriptures 
 must  be  fulfilled. 
 
 50  ^  And  they  all  forsook  him,  and  fled. 
 
 ol  And  there  followed  him  a  certain  young 
 man,  having  a  linen  cloth  cast  about  his  naked 
 body ;  and  the  young  men  laid  hold  on  him  : 
 
 52  And  he  left  the  linen  eloth,  and  fled  from 
 them  naked. 
 
 53  II  ^  And  they  led  Jesus  away  to  the  high 
 priest :  and  with  him  were  assembled  all  the 
 cliief  priests  and  the  elders  and  the  scribes. 
 
 54  And  Peter  followed  him  afar  off,  even  into 
 the  palace  of  the  high  priest :  and  he  sat  with 
 the  servants,  and  warmed  himself  at  the  fire, 
 
 bo  ""And  the  cliief  priests  and  all  the  council 
 sought  for  witness  against  Jesus  to  put  him  to 
 death  ;  and  found  none. 
 
 56  For  many  bare  false  witness  against  him, 
 but  their  witness  agreed  not  together. 
 
 57  And  there  arose  certain,  and  bare  false 
 witness  against  him,  saying, 
 
 b^  We  heard  him  say,  ^  I  will  destroy  this 
 temple  that  is  made  with  hands,  and  within 
 three  days  I  will  build  another  made  without 
 hands. 
 
 59  But  neither  so  did  their  witness  agree  to- 
 gether. 
 
 60  ^  And  the  high  priest  stood  up  in  the 
 midst,  and  asked  Jesus,  saying,  Answerest 
 thou  nothing?  what  is  it  which  these  witness 
 against  thee? 
 
 61  But  ^beheld  his  peace,  and  answered  no- 
 thing. *'  Again  the  high  priest  asked  him,  and 
 said  unto  him,  Art  thou  the  Clirist,  the  Son  of 
 the  Blessed? 
 
 62  And  Jesus  said,  I  am  :  '  and  ye  shall  see 
 the  Son  of  man  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of 
 power,  and  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven. 
 
 63  Then  the  high  priest  rent  his  clothes,  and 
 saith.  What  need  we  any  further  witnesses? 
 
 G4  Ye  have  heard  the  blasphemy  :  what  think 
 ye  ?  And  they  all  condemned  him  to  be  guilty 
 of  death. 
 
 65  And  some  began  to  spit  on  him,  and  to 
 cover  his  face,  and  to  buffet  him,  and  to  say 
 unto  him,  Prophesy:  and  tlie  servants  did 
 strike  him  with  the  palms  of  tiieir  hands. 
 
 66  f  ^  And  as  Peter  was  beneath  in  the 
 palace,  there  cometh  one  of  the  maids  of  the 
 high  priest : 
 
 67  And  when  she  saw  Peter  warming  himself, 
 she  looked  upon  him,  and  said,  And  thou  also 
 wast  with  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
 
 6S  But  he  denied,  saying,  I  know  not,  neither 
 
 Matt.  xxvi.  36,  &c.,  notes.      33.  Began  to  be  sore  amazed,  eKBafi/SetdQai, 
 
 *  to  be  ill  a  consternation.'  The  word  implirs  the  most  shocking  mix- 
 ture of  terror  and  amazement. — Bens.  36.  Abba,  Father— Ahha,  in 
 the  Syriac,  signifies  'Father,'  as  explained  here  and  in  Rom.  viii.  15, 
 and  (ial.  iv.  6.  It  was,  among  the  Jews,  a  name  of  distinction  foi 
 those  children  which  were  born  Jews  and  were  free.  Hence  it  was 
 not  permitted  for  a  child  born  of  a  female  slave,  or  a  proselyte  of  ihe 
 gate,  and  a  Jew,  to  call  his  father  '  Abba,*  because  the  condition  of  the 
 children  depending,  among  these  peo|ile,  on  that  of  their  mothers,  they 
 were  not  reputed  Jews  by  birth  but  when  they  were  born  of  a  Jewisli 
 mother,  or,  at  least,  of  a  proselyte  of  the  covenant,  {Matt.  i.  5  ;)  and 
 neither  were  they  free  if  their  mother  was  a  slave,  (Gal.  iv,  24.)  But 
 althou>:h  Christ  took  the  form  of  a  servant  when  he  came  into  the 
 world,  {Phil.ii.6,)  nevertheless,  as  he  was  always  God's  own  Son,  and 
 as  he  had  lost  nothing  of  his  natural  and  essential  dignity,  he  pre- 
 served the  privilege  of  a  son  even  to  the  moment  in  which  he  felt  the 
 most  keenly  the  wrath  of  God  j  and  on  that  account  he  cries  to  him 
 
 *  Abba.' — jilar.  '  Father'  seems  here  added  to  explain  the  meaning  of 
 '  AhhA.'—Ligh/f.  43.  Staves,  fvAwv,  'clubs.'  Another  word,  po/Jiot, 
 signifies  'a  staff.* — Bens.  48.  As  agahtst  n  /Ai>/— see  on  Matt.  xxvi. 
 55,  &c.        51.  A  certain  young  man,  probably  one  of  our  Lord's  fol 
 
 1059 
 
 lowers,  aroused  from  his  sleep  by  the  tumult. — Scott,  It  does  not  ap- 
 pear that  he  was  a  disciple,  but  was  probably  suspected.  —  Guyse. 
 Having  a  linen  clotfi,  probably  a  tunic  or  waistcoat. — Bp.  Pearce.  A 
 mere  tunic  would  not  have  excited  attention,  as  the  common  people 
 usually  wore  but  ibis. — Camp.  This  may  have  been  a  thin  upper  gar- 
 ment.—A^^u-c.  Wrapped  up  in  his  sheet. — Mar.  Travellers  state  that, 
 in  Arabia  and  Palestine,  the  poorer  people  have  nothing  but  a  blanket 
 or  sheet  wrapped  round  them.  The  young  man  here  described  was 
 dressed  in  this  mannei  .—i/'tr.  The  young  meyi.  v^avtuKot,  a  common 
 denomination  for  soldiers  among  the  Greeks, — Bens.  52.  Naked — 
 this  does  not  always  in  Scripture  mean  literally  so,  but  without  the 
 upper  garment. — R.  Watson.  55.  Sought  for  witness — see  Matt. 
 
 xxvi.  59,  &c.,  notes.  6l.  Son  of  the  Blessed?  that  is,  the  Son  of  God, 
 far  nothing  is  more  common  in  the  books  of  the  Jews  than  the  word 
 'blessed'  standing  alone  for  that  of  God.— Mur.  65.  To  cover  his 
 
 face,  as  a  malefactor  convicted  of  guilt,  (see  Esth.  vii.  8.) — So  Buxtorf, 
 Stark.,  &c.  In  a  case  of  condemnation,  the  whole  head  was  covered 
 with  a  sack  ;  but  here  there  appears  to  have  been  only  a  handkerchief 
 or  bandage  over  the  eyes. — Bioomf.  66.  And  as  Peter,  ^c— see  Matt, 
 xxvi.  69,  &c.,  notes. 
 
Jesus  brought  bound  to  Pilate. 
 
 S.  MARK,  XV. 
 
 He  is  crowned  with  thotns. 
 
 understand  I  what  thou  sayest.     And  he  went 
 out  into  the  porch  ;  and  the  cock  crew. 
 
 69  'And  a  maid  saw  him  again,  and  began  to 
 say  to  them  that  stood  by,  This  is  one  of  them. 
 
 70  And  he  denied  it  again.  "'  And  a  little 
 after,  they  that  stood  by  said  again  to  Peter, 
 Surely  thou  art  one  of  them  :  "for  thou  art  a 
 Galilisan,  and  thy  speech  agreeth  thereto. 
 
 71  But  he  began  to  curse  and  to  swear,  say- 
 ing, I  know  not  this  man  of  whom  ye  speak. 
 
 72  "  And  the  second  time  the  cock  crew. 
 And  Peter  called  to  mind  the  word  that  Jesus 
 said  unto  him.  Before  the  cock  crow  twice, 
 thou  shalt  deny  me  thrice.  And  ||  when  he 
 thought  thereon,  he  wept. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  Jesus  I'ToiUfttt  Ooitntlj  and  accused  before,  Pilate,  I!} 
 Upon  the  clamour  of  tfte  common  people^  the  murderer 
 Barabbas  is  loosed,  and  Jesus  delivered  up  to  be  cm- 
 cified.  17  He  is  crownedwith  thorns,  \9  spit  on,  and 
 mocked:  21  fainicth  in  bearing  his  cross:  27  hanrj- 
 eth  between  two  thieves  :  29  snffereth  the  triumphing 
 reproaches  of  the  Jeics  :  39  but  confessed  by  the  ccn 
 turion  to  be  the  Son  of  God:  43  and  is  honouraili/ 
 buried  by  Joseph. 
 
 A  ND  °  straightway  in  the  morning  the  chief 
 -^*-  priests  held  a  consultation  with  the  elders 
 and  scribes  and  the  whole  council,  and  bound 
 Jesus,  and  carried  him  away,  and  delivered 
 him  to  Pilate. 
 
 2  I" And  Pilate  asked  him.  Art  thou  the  King 
 of  the  Jews  ?  And  he  answering  said  unto 
 him,  Thou  sayest  it. 
 
 3  And  the  chief  priests  accused  him  of  many 
 things  :  but  he  answered  nothing. 
 
 4  '  And  Pilate  asked  him  again,  saying,  An- 
 swerest  thou  nothing?  behold  how  many  things 
 they  witness  against  thee. 
 
 5  "  But  Jesns  yet  answered  nothing  ;  so  that 
 Pilate  marvelled. 
 
 6  Now  °at  that  feast  he  released  unto  them 
 one  prisoner,  whomsoever  they  desired. 
 
 7  And  there  was  one  named  Barabbas,  tvhicli 
 lay  bound  with  them  that  had  made  insurrec- 
 tion with  him,  who  had  committed  murder  in 
 the  insurrection. 
 
 8  And  the  multitude  crying  aloud  began  to 
 desire  him  to  do  as  he  had  ever  done  unto 
 them. 
 
 9  But  Pilate  answered  them,  saying,  Will  ye 
 that  I  release  unto  you  the  King  of  the  Jews  ? 
 
 10  For  he  knew  that  the  chief  priests  had  de- 
 livered him  for  envy. 
 
 1 1  But  '  the  chief  priests  moved  the  people, 
 that  he  should  rather  release  Barabbas  unto 
 them. 
 
 12  And  Pilate  answered  and  said  again  unto 
 them.  What  will  ye  then  that  I  shall  do  unto 
 him  whom  ye  call  the  King  of  the  Jews? 
 
 13  And  they  cried  out  again.  Crucify  him. 
 
 14  Then  Pilate  said  unto  them,  Why,  what 
 
 (  Mat- 26.71. 
 
 Luke  22.53. 
 
 .lohn  IS.23. 
 m  Mat.  26- 
 
 73.Luke22. 
 
 59-Jobiil8. 
 
 20. 
 n  Acts  2-  7. 
 
 n  Or,  ',*  irnit 
 
 or,  h'bei^a, 
 to  iteep. 
 
 C6. 
 
 aPs-g.  2. 
 Mat-27.  I. 
 I.uki 
 &  23.  I. 
 John  13  28 
 ActsS.  13. 
 &  4.  26. 
 
 t/Ts.  53.  7. 
 John  19.  9- 
 
 e  Mai.27.1.'i. 
 T..ike2.S.17. 
 
 Johu  iB.ay. 
 
 t  Mat.  27.33. 
 Luke  23  3.3. 
 Jobn  19.17. 
 
 "iTs.  22.  18. 
 Luke  23.34, 
 Johu  19.23. 
 
 n  Sec  Mat. 
 
 27.45. 
 
 Luke23.4i. 
 
 John  19.14. 
 (J  Mat.27.S7. 
 
 John  19.  19. 
 
 ,>  Mat.27.3S 
 
 /Mat.  27.44. 
 Luke  23.39. 
 
 /  Mat.S7.4S. 
 Luke33.U. 
 
 X  Pa.  22.  1. 
 Mat.  27.46. 
 
 evil  hath  he  done?     And  they  cried  out  the 
 more  exceedingly,  Crucify  him. 
 
 15  H^  And  so  Pilate,  willing  to  content  the 
 people,  released  Barabbas  unto  them,  and  de- 
 livered Jesus,  when  he  had  scourged  him,  to 
 be  crucified. 
 
 16  ''  And  the  soldiers  led  him  away  into  the 
 hall,  called  Prjctorium  ;  and  they  call  together 
 the  whole  band. 
 
 17  And  they  clothed  him  with  purple,  and 
 platted  a  crown  of  thorns,  and  put  it  about  his 
 head, 
 
 18  And  began  to  salute  him.  Hail,  King  of 
 tlie  Jews! 
 
 19  And  they  smote  him  on  the  head  with  a 
 reed,  and  did  spit  upon  him,  and  bowing  Men- 
 knees  worshipped  him. 
 
 20  And  when  they  had  mocked  him,  they 
 took  off  the  purple  from  him,  and  put  his  own 
 clothes  on  him,  and  led  him  out  to  crucify  him. 
 
 21  '  And  they  compel  one  Simon  a  Cyrenian, 
 who  passed  by,  coming  out  of  the  country,  the 
 father  of  Alexander  and  Rufus,  to  bear  his 
 cross. 
 
 22  ''  And  they  bring  him  unto  the  place  Gol- 
 gotha, which  is,  being  interpreted.  The  place  of 
 a  scull. 
 
 23  '  And  they  gave  him  to  drink  wine  mingled 
 witli  myrrh :  but  he  received  it  not. 
 
 24  And  when  they  had  crucified  him,  ""  they 
 parted  his  garments,  casting  lots  upon  them, 
 what  every  man  should  take. 
 
 25  And  "  it  was  the  third  hour,  and  they  cru- 
 cified him. 
 
 26  And  "the  superscription  of  his  accusation 
 was  written  over,  THE  KING  OF  THF, 
 JEWS. 
 
 27  And  ''  with  him  they  crucify  two  thieves  ; 
 the  one  on  his  right  hand,  and  the  other  on  his 
 left. 
 
 28  And  the  scripture  was  fulfilled,  which  saith, 
 ■"And  he  was  numbered  with  the  transgressors. 
 
 29  And  '  they  that  passed  by  railed  on  him, 
 wagging  their  heads,  and  saying.  Ah,  "  thou 
 that  destroyest  the  temple,  and  buildest  it  in 
 three  days, 
 
 30  Save  thyself,  and  come  down  from  the 
 cross. 
 
 31  Likewise  also  the  chief  priests  mocking 
 said  among  themselves  with  the  scribe.s,  He 
 saved  others  ;  himself  he  cannot  save. 
 
 32  Let  Christ  the  King  of  Israel  descend 
 now  from  the  cross,  that  we  may  see  and  be- 
 lieve. And  'they  that  were  crucified  with  him 
 reviled  him. 
 
 33  And  "when  the  sixth  hour  was  come, 
 there  was  darkness  over  the  whole  land  until 
 the  ninth  hour. 
 
 34  And  at  the  ninth  hour  Jesus  cried  with  a 
 loud  voice,  saying,  '  Eloi,  Eloi,  lama  sabach- 
 thani  ?  which  is,  being  interpreted.  My  God, 
 my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ? 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  \.  And  straightway,  8fc, — see  Matt,  xxvii.,  where  most 
 of  this  chapter  is  explained  in  the  notes.  5.  Yet  answered  nothinir — 
 this  implies  that  he  had  answered  nothing  to  the  former  (juestion,  the 
 reverse  of  which  is  the  fact,  as  appears,  ver.  2.  The  proper  translation 
 is  that  of  all  the  foreign  translations,  ovk^ti  oi-ieu  a:rthp<t*fi,  *  answered 
 no  more.' — Camp.  16.  Prcetorium,  an  inner  hall,  so  called  from  the 
 praetor's  {a  Roman  magistrate)  using  to  give  judgment  here.  17-  Pur- 
 ple— as  royal  robes  were  usually  purple  and  scarlet,  the  colour  of  this 
 garment,  which  was  probably  one  of  the  soldiers',  is  here,  and  in  John, 
 
 xLt.  2,  expressed  by  the  first,  and  in  Matt.  x.xvii.  29,  by  the  last ;  and 
 we  are  told  that  the  Syrian  purple  was  not  very  diflferent  from  scarlet. 
 —Guyse,  21.  The  father  of  ,'ttesfinder  and  Rufus— the^e  wereper- 
 sons  then  well  known,  and  perhaps  of  eminence,  among  Christians. 
 Some  have  thought  they  are  the  persons  mentioned  in  Acts,  xix.  33, 
 and  Rom.  xvi.  13,— GUI.  34  .  Eloi— St,  Matthew  gives  the  Hebrew; 
 S;.  Mark,  the  Syro-Chaldaic,  a  dialect  in  common  use  at  the  time  of 
 Christ.  Why  hast  thou /orsaken  me/— not  meaning  spiritual  deser- 
 tion, but  'why  left  me  to  such  hands V—iigAf/.    The  words  express 
 
 1060 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  XIV. —  Read  reflections  on  the  same  aubjects  in  Matt.  xxvi. 
 
His  death  and  burial. 
 
 S.  MARK,  XVI. 
 
 His  resurrection. 
 
 35  And  some  of  them  that  stood  by,  when 
 they  heard  it,  said,  Behold,  he  calleth  Elias. 
 
 36  And  '  one  ran  and  filled  a  sponge  full  of 
 vinegar,  and  put  it  on  a  reed,  and  "  gave  him 
 to  drink,  saying,  Let  alone  ;  let  us  see  whether 
 Elias  will  come  to  take  liim  down. 
 
 37  "  And  Jesus  cried  witli  a  loud  voice,  and 
 gave  up  the  ghost. 
 
 38  And  I"  the  veil  of  the  temple  was  rent  in 
 twain  from  the  top  to  the  bottom. 
 
 39  t  And  °  when  the  centurion,  which  stood 
 over  against  him,  saw  that  he  so  cried  out,  and 
 gave  up  the  ghost,  he  said.  Truly  this  man 
 was  the  Son  of  God. 
 
 40  "■  There  were  also  women  looking  on  'afar 
 off :  among  whom  was  Mary  Magdalene,  and 
 Mary  the  Mother  of  James  the  less  and  of 
 Joses,  and  Salome  ; 
 
 41  (Who  also,  when  he  was  in  Galilee,  ''fol 
 lowed  him,  and  ministered  unto  him  ;)  and 
 many  other  women  which  came  up  with  him 
 unto  Jerusalem. 
 
 4-2  t^Aiid  now  when  the  even  was  come, 
 because  it  was  the  preparation,  that  is,  the  day 
 before  the  sabbath, 
 
 43  Joseph  of  ArimathiEa,  an  honourable  coun- 
 sellor, which  also  "^  waited  for  the  kingdom  of 
 God,  came,  and  went  in  boldly  unto  Pilate, 
 and  craved  the  body  of  Jesus. 
 
 44  And  Pilate  marvelled  if  he  were  already 
 dead  :  and  calling  unto  him  the  centurion,  he 
 asked  him  whether  he  had  been  any  while 
 dead. 
 
 45  And  when  he  knew  it  of  the  centurion,  he 
 gave  the  body  to  Joseph. 
 
 40  '  And  he  bought  tine  linen,  and  took  him 
 down,  and  wrapped  him  in  the  linen,  and  laid 
 him  in  a  sepulchre  whicli  was  hewn  out  of  a 
 rock,  and  rolled  a  stone  unto  the  door  of  the 
 sepulchre. 
 
 47  And  Mary  Magdalene  and  Mary  the  mo- 
 ther of  Joses  beheld  where  he  was  laid. 
 
 V  Mat.^.49. 
 Jolml9-*J9. 
 :  Ps.  69.  21. 
 
 a  Mat.27.5n. 
 Luke  ■23.'16. 
 Jolm  19-SO. 
 
 frMat.?7.51. 
 Luke  23.45. 
 
 c  ^fat.27.54. 
 Luke  23.47. 
 
 d  Mat.27.55. 
 
 Luke  23.49. 
 
 »Ps.  38.  11. 
 
 /Luke  8.2,3. 
 
 ff  Mat.27..W. 
 Luke  23.50. 
 Johu  19.38. 
 
 I  LakeS.25, 
 33. 
 
 Luke  24,  1. 
 Johu  2U.  1. 
 I,  Luke  23. 
 
 Luke  24.1. 
 Johu  2U.  1 
 
 i  Mat.  27.59, 
 GO  Luke  23. 
 &3.J0I111  19. 
 
 d  Luke  24. 
 3.  Johu2U. 
 II,  12. 
 
 t  Mat.  28.  5, 
 0,7. 
 
 /Mat.26.32. 
 eh.  IL  28. 
 
 ff  See  Mat. 
 28.8. 
 Luke  24.  9 
 
 r,  John  20. 
 
 14. 
 i  Luke  9.  2. 
 
 A  Luke  24. 
 lU.Juliu  2U. 
 18. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  An  angel  declaretk  the  resurrection  of  Ctirist  to  tlirte 
 women.  9  Cfirist  tiimself  appeareth  to  Mary  Mag- 
 dalene :  12  to  tioo  going  into  the  country  :  14  ttien  to 
 the  apostles,  16  whom  tie  stndeth  forth  to  preach  the 
 gospd :  19  and  ascendeth  into  heaven. 
 
 /\  ND  "when  the  sabbath  was  past,  Mary 
 -^^  Magdalene,  and  Mary  the  mother  of 
 James, and  Salome,  ''had  bought  sweet  spices, 
 that  they  might  come  and  anoint  him. 
 
 2  '  And  very  early  in  the  morning  the  first 
 day  of  the  week,  they  came  unto  the  sepulchre 
 at  the  rising  of  the  sun. 
 
 3  And  they  said  among  themselves.  Who 
 shall  roll  us  away  the  stone  from  the  door  of 
 the  sepulchre  ? 
 
 4  And  when  they  looked,  they  saw  that  the 
 stone  was  rolled  away  :  for  it  was  very  great. 
 
 5  ■'And  entering  into  the  sepulchre,  they  saw 
 a  young  man  sitting  on  the  right  side,  clothed 
 in  a  long  white  garment ;  and  they  were  af- 
 frighted. 
 
 G  "  And  he  saith  unto  them.  Be  not  affright- 
 ed :  Ye  seek  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  which  was 
 crucified  :  he  is  risen  ;  he  is  not  here  :  behold 
 the  place  where  they  laid  him. 
 
 7  I5ut  go  your  way,  tell  his  di.sciples  and 
 Peter  that  he  goeth  before  you  into  Galilee  : 
 there  shall  ye  see  him,  ''as  he  said  unto  you. 
 
 8  And  they  went  out  quickly,  and  fled  from 
 the  sepulchre  ;  for  they  trembled  and  were 
 amazed  :  ^  neither  said  they  any  thing  to  any 
 man  ;  for  they  were  afraid. 
 
 9  H  Now  when  Jesus  was  risen  early  the  first 
 t/ti!/  of  the  week,  ''  he  appeared  first  to  Mary 
 Magdalene,  '  out  of  whom  he  had  cast  seven 
 devils. 
 
 10  '  And  she  went  and  told  them  that  had 
 been  with  him,  as  they  mourned  and  wept. 
 
 1 1  '  And  they,  when  they  had  heard  that  he 
 was  alive,  and  had  been  seen  of  her,  believed 
 not. 
 
 the  extinction  of  all  present  and  sensible  comfort.  —  Fi/e  Smith. 
 46.  Hewn  out  of  a  rock,  that  being  tlie  custom  of  tlie  country  and  of 
 most  of  the  eastern  nations. — IStuomf. 
 
 Cbap.  XVI.  —  1.  Bought  sweet  spices — the  Galilean  women  who  had 
 waited  on  Jesus  in  his  last  moments,  and  attended  his  body  to  the 
 sepulchre,  observing  that  his  funeral  rites  were  performed  in  haste, 
 (the  body  being  enrolled  in  nothing  but  a  mixture  of  m>Trh  and  aloes, 
 brought  by  Nicodemus,  John,  xix.  39,)  agreed  among  themselves  to 
 come  when  the  sabbath  was  passed,  and  embalm  their  dead  Lord,  by 
 anointing  and  swathing  him  in  a  proper  manner. — Bens.        2.  At  the 
 
 rising  of  the  sun,  avmetXatToi  jou  iiXtov,  *  about  sun-rise.'— Camp. 
 Meaning  just  before  day-break.  5.  .4  young  man,  an  angel  in  that 
 shape,  (see  Matt,  xxviii.  2.)— S.  Clarke.  It  seems  he  had  now  laid 
 aside  the  terrors  in  which  he  was  arrayed,  and  assumed  the  appearance 
 of  a  human  being,  that  the  women  might  not  be  terrified.— Be«s.  Two 
 are  named,  John,  xx.  12  ;  St.  Mark  and  Matthew  have  mentioned  but 
 one,  because  their  sole  design  was  to  relate  the  conversation  which 
 he  had  with  the  women,  {see  Matt,  xxviii.  5.)  7.  Attd  Peter,  means 
 here,  'especially  Peter.'— So  Bloomf.  He  is  thought  to  be  so  men- 
 tioned to  console  his  mind,  and  to  shew  that  he  was  yet  considered  as 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV.  —  Let  iis  notice  in  this 
 chapter — L  Tlte  rdea^^e  of  Barahhas.  Dr.  Gill  observes,  '  This 
 man  was  an  etnblem  of  tbe  persons  for  whom  Christ  suffered, 
 both  in  his  character  and  in  his  release  ;  in  his  character,  for 
 they  are  such  as  have  rebelled  against  God,  robbed  him  of  his 
 glory,  and  destroyed  themselves  ;  many  of  them  are  notorious 
 sinners,  the  chief  of  sinners,  and  all  of  them  "  by  nature  the 
 children  of  wrath,  as  others  ;"  and  as  the  descendants  of 
 Adam,  under  the  sentence  of  condemnation  and  death  : — in 
 his  release,  for  when  Christ  was  apprehended,  they  were  let 
 go ;  when  he  was  bound,  they  were  loosed ;  when  he  was 
 condemned,  they  were  released  and  acquitted  ;  and  when  the 
 sword  of  justice  was  awaked  against  him,  the  hand  of  grace 
 and  mercy  was  turned  upon  them. 
 
 II.  The  inscription  on  the  cross.  On  this  Dr.  Belfrage  re- 
 marks, '  Whatever  contempt  Pilate  might  intend  to  express  by 
 it  of  our  Lord's  claims  to  royalty,  and  of  the  vain  expectations 
 of  the  Jews,  God  converted  it  into  a  manifestation  of  the  in- 
 nocence and  the  dignity  of  his  Son.  It  was  fixed  on  the  cross 
 to  shew  that  Christ's  kingdom  is  not  a  worldly  one,  that  it 
 hath  not  for  its  ensigns  the  glittering  baubles  of  eartldy  mag- 
 nificence, that  it  hath  not  for  its  rewards  the  vain  distinctions 
 of  earthly  splendour.  Thus  we  are  taught,  that  through  mani- 
 fold tribulation  the  disciples  of  Jesus  shall  enter  into  the 
 kingdom,  and  that  patience  and  charity  are  their  glory  and 
 1061 
 
 their  crown. 
 
 III.  The  achnotvhdgment  of  the  centurion.  '  When,'  says 
 Bishop  Porteus,  '  the  centurion  saw  tlie  meekness,  the  pati- 
 ence, the  resignation,  the  firmness,  with  which  our  Lord  en- 
 dured the  most  excruciating  torments  ;  when  he  heard  him 
 at  one  time  fervently  praying  for  his  murderers;  at  another, 
 disposing  with  dignity  and  authority  of  a  place  in  paradise  to 
 one  of  his  fellow-sufferers  ;  and,  at  length,  with  that  confi- 
 dence which  nothing  but  conscious  virtue  and  conscious  dig- 
 nity could  at  that  time  inspire,  recommending  his  spirit  into 
 the  hands  of  his  heavenly  Father;  he  could  not  but  conclude 
 him  to  be  a  most  extraordinary  person,  and  something  more 
 than  human.  But  when,  moreover,  he  observed  the  astonish- 
 ing events  that  took  place  when  Jesus  expired  ;  the  agitation 
 into  which  the  whole  frame  of  nature  seemed  to  be  thrown  ; 
 the  supernatural  darkness,  the  earthquake,  the  rending  of 
 rocks,  the  opening  of  graves;  he  then  burst  out  involuntarily 
 into  that  striking  exclamation,  "  Truly,  this  was  the  Son  of 
 God."  Here,  then,  we  have  a  testimony  to  the  Divine  cha- 
 racter of  our  Lord,  which  must  be  considered  in  the  highest 
 degree  impartial  and  incorrupt :  the  honest,  unsolicited  tes- 
 timony of  a  plain  man,  a  soldier  and  a  heathen  ;  the  testimony, 
 not  of  one  who  was  prepossessed  in  favour  of  Christ  and  his 
 religion,  but  of  one  who,  by  habit  and  education,  was  probablj 
 strongly  prejudiced  against  them.' 
 
Christ  appcareth  to  two 
 
 S.  MARK,  XVI. 
 
 going  into  the  country. 
 
 12  t  After  that  he  appeared  in  another  form 
 "*  unto  two  of  them,  as  they  walked,  and  went 
 into  tiio  conntry. 
 
 13  And  they  went  and  told  it  unto  the  resi- 
 due :  neither  believed  they  them. 
 
 14  If  "Afterward  he  appeared  unto  the  eleven 
 as  they  sat  ||at  meat,  and  upbraided  them  with 
 their  unbelief  and  hardness  of  lieart,  because 
 they  believed  not  them  which  bad  seen  liim 
 after  he  was  risen. 
 
 1.5  °And  be  said  unto  them.  Go  ye  into  all  the 
 world,  ''and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature . 
 
 IG  ''He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall 
 be  saved  ;  ""but  lie  that  believeth  not  shall  be 
 
 n  I.uko  24. 
 IS. 
 
 n  Luke  2*. 
 
 »6. 
 
 J.ilm  90.19 
 
 1  Cor,  15.  5. 
 II  OrMg^lhcr. 
 o  Mat  es  19 
 
 Jnlm  15.16. 
 /.  Cnl  1.23. 
 ^.lohnS.  18, 
 
 Wj.  Acts  2. 
 
 M.fc  16.  90, 
 
 SI,  32, 
 
 Rnin.  10.  9. 
 
 1  Pfit.  S.2I 
 
 r  joimia.ia. 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 »l,ukeU>.l7 
 
 Acta  ."i,  Ifi. 
 
 &8,7,&  10. 
 
 ISl.  k\9-  }t. 
 I  Acts  2.  *. 
 
 ft   10,  46.  & 
 
 19.0,  I  Cnr. 
 
 12.  Ill,  28. 
 uLukell)  19. 
 
 Aces  2rt.  5. 
 J-  Acts  r>   15, 
 
 16    St  a    17. 
 
 ft  28.8  Jnm. 
 
 5.  14,  15. 
 W  AclB  l.;,3. 
 *:L,.ke2.1.Sl 
 1  Ps.  110.  I. 
 
 Arts  7.  .-ifi, 
 6  Ants  5.  12. 
 
 St  14.  .S. 
 
 ICor.2.4,.^, 
 
 Heb.  2.  4. 
 
 damned. 
 
 17  And  these  signs  shall  follow  them  that 
 believe ;  ^  In  my  name  shall  they  cast  out 
 devils  ;  '  they  shall  speak  witli  new  tongues  ; 
 
 18  "They  sliall  take  up  serpents;  andifthey 
 drink  any  deadly  thing,  it  shall  not  hurt  them  ; 
 ^  they  shall  lay  hands  on  the  sick,  and  they 
 shall  recover. 
 
 19  ^  So  then  ^ after  the  Lord  had  spoken  unto 
 them,  he  was  'received  up  into  heaven,  and 
 "sat  on  the  right  band  of  God. 
 
 20  And  they  went  forth,  and  preached  every 
 where,  t!ie  Lord  working  with  thcm^  ''and  con- 
 firming the  word  with  signs  following.    Amen. 
 
 Christ's  disciple. —  Wliitby.  12.  Another  form,  '  another  dress.' — 
 B/i.  Penrce.  '  A  different  aspect,'  'a  disguised  one.'  —  Jt.  Watson. 
 \6.  S/inll  he  (lamTtfd.  KaTaKpt9t\acTat,  'shall  be  Condemned.' — Camp. 
 'CoBdemned,' that  is,  '  in  the  day  of  final  judgment,  and,  in  conse- 
 quence, shall  perish  eternally.' — Bens.  I".  Shall  follmv,  ttapaKoKov- 
 0rt<ret,  'shall  accompany.' — Clarke.  Cast  out  denils,  or  'demons,' 
 fcomp.  Acts,  V.  iG;  viii.  7;  xvi.  18.) — Boothr.    Speak  with  new  tongues. 
 
 7\w(T(rn(?  \a\i}aovai  (caivnif,  I.e.,  ' foreigm  languages.'  I  as'^ent  to 
 those  commentators  who  interpret  this  of  the  miraculous  faculty  of  ex- 
 pressing the  thoughts  in  languages  never  previously  learnt. — Bloom/. 
 Comp.  Acts,  ii.  4  ;  X.  46  ;  .\ix.  6;  and  1  Cor.  xiv.  18.  Tnkf  up  serpents 
 — comp.  Acts,  xxviii.  5.  Lni/  hands,  ^c— comp.  Acts,  v.  l6  ;  xxviii.  8. 
 — Boothr.  19.  Sat  on  the  right  hand,  '  was  invested  with  the  highest 
 dignity  and  authority.' — Bens. 
 
 Refi.ecttoss  on  Chap.  XVI.  ^ — Notice  here,  I.  The  re- 
 surrection of  Christ,  This  is  a  fact  the  evidences  of  which  are 
 remarkably  strong.  It  was  manifested  in  a  variety  of  ways 
 and  to  various  individuals,  and  even  con6rmed  by  the  very 
 collusion  of  his  enemies.  No  historical  fact  was  evermore 
 clear.  Let  our  faitli  and  hope,  then,  lake  their  stand  at  the 
 empty  tomb  of  the  Saviour,  and  there  learn  to  rest  upon  him 
 for  complete  redemption,  not  only  for  the  redemption  of  the 
 soul,  but  also  for  that  of  the  body,  '  looking  for  that  blessed 
 hope,  and  the  glorious  appearing  of  the  great  God  and  our 
 Saviour  .lesus  Christ,  who  shall  change  our  vile  bodies,  and 
 fashion  them  like  unto  his  own  glorious  body,  according  to 
 the  mighty  working  whereby  he  is  able  to  subdue  all  things 
 unto  himself.' 
 
 II.  The  coJ7i7nis'iJo7i  which  Christ  gav^e  to  his  disciples.  Their 
 appointed  field  of  labour  vras  most  extensive — *  all  the  world  :' 
 iheir  message  concerned  every  child  of  Adam, — iew  and  Gen- 
 
 tile,— and  was  therefore  to  be  addressed  to  every  creature.* 
 Tlie  terms  of  salvation  were  to  be  simply  faith  in  the  Son  of 
 God,  '  he  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved  ;'  and 
 on  the  reception  or  rejection  of  these  terms  depended  tlieir 
 eternal  happiness,  'he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned.* 
 In  the  early  ages,  Christianity  received  the  strongest  cotiHr- 
 mation  of  its  truth  by  miraculous  powers  conferred  on  many 
 who  believed  ;  and  its  truth  being  established  on  the  clearest 
 evidence,  we  have  now  no  other  signs,  and  we  need  no  other 
 than  its  existence  in  the  world,  notwithstanding  all  the  oppo- 
 sition which  has  been  made  to  it;  its  triumphant  progress,  still 
 breaking  down  the  barriers  of  superstition  and  idolatry  among 
 nations ;  and  its  mighty  efficacy  in  subduing  the  strongest  pre- 
 judices and  corruptions  in  the  hearts  of  multitudes,  and  pro- 
 ducing the  fruits  of  holiness  and  righteousness  to  the  glory 
 and  praise  of  God. 
 
 THE    GOSPEL 
 
 ACCORDING    TO 
 
 S.     LUKE 
 
 [It  is  thought,  by  n  any,  that  this  Evangelist  was  hy  hirth  a  Jen-.  Others  say  that  his  name,  which  is  not  of  Hebrew  origin, 
 but  Roman,  is  opposed  to  this  iriea,  and  they  consider  In'm  a  Gentile  by  birth,  which  accounts,  say  they,  for  his  elegant 
 Greek,  but  a  Jew  by  proselytism,  before  his  conversion,  which  accounts  for  his  intimate  knowledge  of  Jewish  rites  and 
 customs.  St.  Jerome  informs  us  that  Luke  was  born  at  Antioch,  that  he  was  by  profession  a  physician,  alluded  to  hy  the 
 Apostle  Paul,  (Col.  iv.  14,)  and  that  he  was  learned  in  the  Greek  language.  He  was  a  disciple  of  Paul,  and  a  beloved 
 companion  in  all  his  travels.  He  relates  things  more  copiously  than  the  other  evangelists,  and  especially  treats  of  those 
 things  which  belong  to  the  priestly  office  of  Christ.  His  Gospel  was  probably  intended  for  the  Gentile  Christians,  for 
 his  numerous  explanations  respecting  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  would  not  have  been  necess.ary  had  he  written  for  the 
 Jews.  He  mentions  many  parables,  discourses,  miracles,  and  events,  which  are  not  found  in  the  other  evangelists,  while 
 several  recorded  hy  them  are  omitted  in  his  pages.  It  is  supposed  that  he  derived  much  of  his  information  from  the 
 Apostle  Paul,  hut  that  the  chief  sources  of  his  intelligence  were  persons  who  had  seen  our  Lord's  miracles  and  heard  his 
 discourses.  Dr.  Cave  observes,  tliat  his  way  and  manner  of  writing  is  accurate  and  exact,  his  style  polite  and  elegant, 
 sublime  and  lofty,  yet  perspicuous ;  and  that  he  expresses  himself  in  purer  Greek  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  other  writers 
 of  the  holy  story'.  This  superiority  of  style  may  perhaps  be  owing  to  his  longer  residence  in  Greece,  and  greater  acquaint- 
 ance with  Gentiles  of  good  education  than  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  other  three  evangelists.  Dr.  Blomnfield  thinks  that,  as  in 
 the  case  of  Timothy,  Luke's  father  w.is  a  Gentile,  and  his  mother  a  Jewess.  He  observes,  '  The  Hebrew  Greek  style  of 
 his  writings,  .and  the  accurate  knowledge  shewn  in  them  of  the  Jewish  religion,  make  it  probable  that  the  writer  was 
 not  a  Jewisli  proselyte,  but  a  Jew  on  the  mother's  side,  though  a  Greek  on  the  father's.  Thus  also  we  are  enabled  to 
 account  for  the  power  of  Greek  style  which  he  occasionally  evinces  ;  for  it  is  likely  that  he  would  by  his  father  be  compe- 
 tently instructed  in  Greek  literature.'  The  date  of  the  writing  of  this  Gospel  is  generally  fixed  a.d.  03.  The  references 
 of  Luke  to  the  Old  Testament  are— Gen.  vii.;  xvii.  19  ;  xix.  ;  Exod.  xxiii.  15— 17  ;  Lev.  xix.  18  ;  Deut.  vi.  5— 13; 
 xvi.  1  —  10;  2  Sam  vii.  II,  1'2;  1  Kings,  x.  I  ;  xvii.  9;  2  Kings,  v.  14;  1  Chron.  xxiv.  10—19;  2  Chron.  viu.  14; 
 xxiv.  20,  21  ;  Ps.  xci.  11  ;  exviii.22,  20;  cxxxii.  11  ;  Isa.  viii.  14;  ix._2;  xxxv.  5  ;  xl.  3  ;  1.  0 ;  lii.  10;  liii.  1,  2;  D.in. 
 ix.  20,  27  ;  Mic.  iii.  12.  Some  of  these  are  predictions  which  have  received  their  fulfdment  in  Christ,  and  in  the  history 
 of  the  Jewish  church.] 
 1002 
 
The  preface  of  Luke  to  his  whole  gospel. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  I. 
 
 The  conception  of  John  the  Baptist. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  The  preface  of  Luke  to  his  ichole  gospd.  5  The  con- 
 ception of  John  the  Baptist,  26  and  of  Christ.  39 
 The  prophfci/  of  Elisabeth,  and  of  Mary,  concernimj 
 Christ.  57  The  nativity  and  circumcision  of  John, 
 67  The  prophecy  of  Zacharias,  hotli  of  Christy  7(i 
 and  if  John. 
 
 "PORASMUCH  as  many  liave  taken  in  liantl 
 ^  to  set  forth  in  order  a  declaration  of  those 
 things  which  are  most  surely  believed  among 
 us, 
 
 2  "  Even  as  they  delivered  them  unto  us, 
 whicli  ^froni  the  beginning  were  eye-witnesses, 
 and  ministers  of  the  word  ; 
 
 3  "^  It  seemed  good  to  me  also,  having  bad 
 perfect  understanding  of  all  tilings  from  the 
 very  first,  to  write  unto  thee  "^  in  order,  "^  most 
 excellent  Theopbilns, 
 
 4  ''Tliat  thou  mightest  know  the  certainty  of 
 those  things,  wlierein  thou  hast  been  instructed. 
 5  IT  'pHEllE  was  ^  in  the  days  of  Herod,  the 
 
 -^  king  of  Judiva,  a  certain  priest  named 
 Zacharias,  ''of  tlie  course  of  Abia  :  and  his  wife 
 was  of  the  daugliters  of  Aaron,  and  her  name 
 tvas  Elisabeth. 
 
 (j  And  they  were  both  'righteous before  God, 
 walking  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordi- 
 nances of  the  Lord  blameless. 
 
 7  And  they  had  no  child,  because  that  Elisa- 
 beth was  barren,  and  they  both  were  now  well 
 stricken  in  years. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  while  be  exe- 
 cuted the  priest's  office  before  God  ''in  the 
 order  of  his  course, 
 
 u  Hob.  8.  3. 
 
 1  Prt.  5.  I. 
 
 2  Put,  I.  16. 
 1  John  I.  I. 
 
 /'  Miitk  I.  I. 
 
 Juhn  10.27. 
 t  Acta  15. 
 
 Ill,  :;5,  28. 
 
 I  Cor. 7.  40. 
 d  Acta  n  .  4. 
 *•  Acts  I.  I. 
 
 /^Johu  20.31. 
 
 Hefore  the 
 Cominou 
 Account, 
 calledAmin 
 nniiiiin,tl»c 
 sixth  Year, 
 
 S  Mat.  2.  I. 
 
 '.  !  Chr.  '2A. 
 10,  IS.Neh, 
 |g.  -J,  17. 
 
 i  Gen.  7.  1. 
 &  17.  1. 
 
 1  Kin  9.  4. 
 
 2  Kin.  ao.a. 
 
 Job  1.  1. 
 Acts  23    I. 
 &  2^.  16. 
 I'bil,  3.  6. 
 
 k  I  CIii-.  21. 
 10.  2  (:hr.8. 
 14.  &3I.  a, 
 
 Before  tbe 
 
 Account, 
 
 called  Anil. 
 
 /  KX.-J0.7,  y. 
 1  Sam  '2.'2H. 
 lClir.:.':l.t.S. 
 
 •JCI 
 
 .29.11 
 
 10. r 
 
 Hiv.8..-1,  4, 
 
 .1  v.s  m.  I. 
 
 ri.lii.it:.  13.22- 
 A  is:  22. 
 Dan.  10.  9, 
 vcr.  29.  ch. 
 2  9.  Acts 
 10.  4.  Rev. 
 1.  17. 
 
 P  vcr.  eO, 
 
 r  Num.G.  3. 
 
 Judg.  13.4. 
 
 ch  7.  33. 
 *  Jcr.  1    a. 
 
 Gal.  I.  15. 
 iMal.4.  5,  C, 
 
 H  Mai.  4.  5. 
 
 Mat.  11.  14. 
 
 Mark  9.  12. 
 X  Ecclu3.48. 
 
 10. 
 11  Or,  by. 
 
 i/Gen.l7.I7. 
 
 c  Dan.  S.  16. 
 ȣ  9.21,  22, 
 23.Mat.IS. 
 10.  Heb.  1. 
 H. 
 
 9  According  to  the  custom  of  the  priest's 
 office,  his  lot  was  '  to  burn  incense  when  he 
 went  into  the  temple  of  the  Lord. 
 
 10  '"And  the  whole  multitude  of  the  people 
 were  praying  without  at  tlie  time  of  incense. 
 
 1 1  And  there  appeared  unto  bim  an  angel  of 
 the  Lord  standing  on  the  right  side  of  "the 
 altar  of  incense. 
 
 12  And  when  Zacharias  saw  him^  '^  be  was 
 troubled,  and  fear  fell  upon  him. 
 
 13  Hut  the  angel  said  unto  him.  Fear  not, 
 Zacliarias  :  for  thy  prayer  is  heard  ;  and  thy 
 wife  Elisabeth  shall  bear  thee  a  son,  and  ''thou 
 shalt  call  his  name  John. 
 
 14  And  thou  shalt  have  joy  and  gladness; 
 and  ''  many  shall  rejoice  at  his  birth. 
 
 \o  For  be  shall  be  great  in  the  sight  of  the 
 Lord,  and  ^ shall  drink  neither  wine  nor  strong 
 drink  ;  and  he  shall  be  tilled  with  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  *  even  from  his  mother's  womb. 
 
 10  ^  And  many  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall 
 he  turn  to  the  Lord  their  God. 
 
 17  "And  he  shall  go  before  him  in  the  spirit 
 and  pov/er  of  Elias,  ^  to  turn  the  hearts  of  the 
 fathers  to  the  children,  and  the  disobedient  ||to 
 the  wisdom  of  tlie  just;  to  make  ready  a 
 people  prepared  for  the  Lord. 
 
 1 8  And  Zacharias  said  unto  the  angel, 
 ^  Whereby  shall  I  know  this?  for  I  am  an  old 
 man,  and  my  wife  well  stricken  in  years. 
 
 19  And  the  angel  answering  said  unto  him, 
 1  am  ^  Gabriel,  that  stand  in  the  presence  of 
 God  ;  and  am  sent  to  speak  unto  thee,  and  to 
 shew  thee  these  glad  tidings. 
 
 Notes  onCbap.  I.^l.  Forasmuch — Luke  does  not  bCRin  with  the 
 narrative  in  the  Jewish  style,  but  with  a  proocmium  like  the  (irccksand 
 Romans,  shewing  his  views  and  motives,  &c. — Hug.  Muni/ — this  must 
 refer  to  some  histories  of  Christ  which  are  now  lost,  for  Matthew  and 
 Mark,  the  only  Evangelists  which  can  be  sujiposed  to  have  written  be- 
 fore  Luke,  could  not,  with  any  propriety,  be  called  '  many.'— iJorfrff. 
 Have  taken  in  hand— this  e.xplaius  to  us  the  original  composition  of 
 the  gospel  histories.  Tti  set  forth  in  order  a  decl'tration,  '  to  compose 
 the  history.' — Duddr.  '  To  compose  a  narrative.' — Camp.,  Boulhrut/d. 
 2.  Were  eye-witnessfs— the  most  important  tilings  said  and  done  by 
 Christ  were  recorded  *  by  eye-witnesses  and  ministers.'  One  of  these 
 'eye-witnesses,'  Matthew,  wrote  a  connected  history  for  the  use  of 
 the  Jewish  converts.  St.  Mark  did  the  same  uniler  the  especial  direc- 
 tion of  St.  Peter,  another  '  eye  witness  from  tlie  beginning.'  Still  there 
 were  many  important  things  which  these  had  not  inserted,  and  Luke, 
 as  he  was  preaching  the  gospel  among  the  Gentiles,  was  not  satisfied 
 with  the  means  of  information  which  they  already  possessed,  and 
 wrote  this  history  for  their  use  and  further  instruction,  under  the  ad- 
 vice,  as  is  commonly  believed,  of  St.  Paul,  iu  whose  company  he  was 
 travelling. — Bp.  J.  B.  Suvintr.  Of  the  word,  tou  Xo-iov,  that  is,  'of 
 the  gospel.' — Duddr.,  Camp.  3.  Having  had  perfect  understanding, 
 'having  accurately  traced  all  these  things.'  The  original,  7ru.pt}Ko\a- 
 thiKOTi  -naaiv  aKptjio',,  plainly  Signifies  that  accuracy  of  investigation  on 
 which  the  perfect  understanding  of  t)ie  subject  was  hailt.— Duddr. 
 From  thf  very  first,  avtiiOev,  'from  above;'  for  if  he  meant  the  same 
 with  'from  the  beginning,'  (ver.  2.)  as  our  translation  intimates,  he 
 woidd  have  used  the  same  word. — Hen.  It  iutimates  that  he  was 
 under  Divine  influence  to  secure  him  from  mistakes,  a  confirmation  of 
 the  '  certaiuty'  of  these  things. — Guyse.  The  English  translation  is  to 
 be  preferred.— So  Whitfty  and  Duddr,  In  order,  here  imports  '  dis- 
 tinctly, particularly,'  as  opposed  to  '  confusedly,  generally,' — Camp. 
 Must  eacellent.  an  epithet  denoting  an  honorary  title,  expressing  re- 
 sitect  to  office  or  rank,  (Acts,  xxxiii.  26  ;  xxiv.  3 ;  xxvii.  2.1.)  It  is  pro- 
 bable that  Thetiphiliis  had  been  the  chief  magistrate  of  some  city  of 
 ii'ite  in  Greece  or  Asia  Minor. — Dav.  4.  Hast  been  instructed,  irept 
 wf  KaTfixif^'K,  as  catechumeus,  (comp.  Acts,  xviii.  25;  Kom.  ii.  18.) — 
 Doddr.,  so  Gilt.  Tauglit  before  baptism  in  a  general  viHy.—Carnp. 
 '  Catechised,'  which  implies  that  St.  Luke's  gospel  is  an  hi.storical  ex- 
 position of  the  catechism  which  Theophilus  bad  learned  when  he  was 
 first  made  a  Christian. — Hurs.  5.  Herod — see  Matt.  ii.  1,  note.  Of 
 the  course  o/.'Kx'u— Zacharias  wa-s  not  high  priest :  he  was  chosen  by 
 lot  to  burn  incense :  the  high  priest  did  it  by  right  of  succession,  and 
 burned  it  in  the  holy  of  holies,  into  which  Zacharias  entered  not. 
 Zacliarias  was  priest  of  the  course  of  Abia,  whereas  the  high  priest  was 
 of  no  course  at  all.  These  several  courses  began  on  the  Sabbath-day, 
 and  continued  to  serve  till  the  next  Sabbath. —  Whitby.  The  priests 
 were  divided  into  twenty-four,  classes,  and  Abia  was  the  eighth, 
 (1  Chron.  xxiv.  10.)  —  Willan.  6.  Bightifous  before  God.  dtnatut  evumiov 
 Tuo  Oeoy,  i.  e.,  weie  really  pious.— JJ/wf/7/-i/.  The  words  e^xwAai?  kui 
 6iiian^fia{Ti  are  generally  interpreted  as  signifying,  the  former  the 
 'moral,'  the  la'ter  the  'ceremonial'  precepts.  —  Ii&7i.t.  Btuintluss, 
 speaking  after  the  manner  of  men  ;  '  blameless,'  compared  with  others; 
 'blameless'  as  far  as  mau  has  a  right  tu  judge. — J.  B.  Humuer. 
 10G3 
 
 'Unreserved  and  universal  obedience  to  every  known  duty,  and  uni- 
 versal and  unfeigned  belief  in  every  known  truth  of  Divine  revelation.' 
 — Dav.  g.  Temple,  -rov  vaov,  'the  'house  '  or  '  sanctuary.'— SeHs. 
 10.  Praying  without— A?.mz.\\  bell  gave  notice  when  the  priests  entered 
 into  the  sanctuary  to  burn  incense,  and  every  one  offered  up  prayer  iu 
 silence,^ IF/«7 6^.  U.  An  ang>;l—t\\em  had  been  neither  prophecy 
 
 nor  angelic  ministry  for  400  years  ;  but  now,  on  the  approach  of  the 
 Messiah,  the  people  are  thus  prepared  for  the  kingdom  of  God. — So 
 Clarke.  On  the  right  side — Dr.  Macknight  observes,  tliat  this  was 
 reckoned  by  all  nations  a  lucky  omen,  and  was  to  encourage  Zacharias  ; 
 but  surely  a  pious  Jew  would  not  take  courage  from  a  heathen  super- 
 stition,  nor  would  the  angel  have  fostered  it. — Ed.  13.  Thy  prayer 
 is  heard,  which  he  had  formerly  offered  up  that  he  might  liave  children. 
 — Boothr.,  Bioouif.  '  Which  he  had  now  offered  up  for  children,'  for  the 
 angel  says  nothing  of  the  advent  of  Christ,  but  of  John.—Maldonati, 
 Kusenm.  For  the  deliverance  of  Israel  by  the  cxi>ected  Messiah,  whose 
 forerunner  John  was  to  be. — Doddr.  John,  '  the  grace  and  favour  of 
 the  hoxA.^—Fawkes.  This  is  a  name  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the 
 Hebrew  scriptures ;  pn\  Jochanan,  or  Joheman,  from  the  root  nn,  *  I 
 have  gratified.'  It  designates  joy,  rejoicing,  and  exultation,  (1  Chron. 
 iii.  15;  vi.  9;  xii.  12;  Isa.  xxx.  ly,  20.)— .Sui.  M.  And  thou  shalt 
 
 have  joy  and  gladness,  kui  tajai  x^P"^  -^oi,  'he  will  be  joy  and  gladness 
 to  thee.' — A.  Clarke.  15.  Great  in  the  sight  ofjhe  Lord,  a  person  of 
 extraordinary  eminence  and  usefulness. — Bens.  Strong  drink,  aiKcpa, 
 i.  e.,  all  lermented  liquors  which  have  the  property  of  intoxicating  or 
 producing  drunkenness.- j4,  Clarke.  The  word  is  originally  Hebrew, 
 IDlI?,  and  is  rendered  by  Buxtorf,  inebriaus  potas,  *inei)riating  drink.' 
 As  he  was  to  preach  repentance  and  self  denial,  he  was  to  he  a  pattern 
 of  that  self-denial. — Bens.  Filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  commonly  sig- 
 nifies that  degree  of  inspiration  with  which  the  prophets  spake. —Jt/«£/c«. 
 17.  Spirit  and  power  of  Elias,  'resembling  him  in  his  manner  of  life 
 and  zeal;'  hence  designated  Elijah,  Mai.  iv.  5. — Mar.  To  turn  the 
 hearts  of  (he  fathers  to  the  children— the  original  passage  in  Malachi, 
 '  shall  turn  the  hearts  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  of  the  children 
 to  their  fathers,'  supported  by  the  Sept.,  which  says,  'the  heart  of  the 
 father  towards  his  son,  and  the  heart  of  a  man  towards  his  neighbour,' 
 strongly  leads  us  to  believe  that  tlie  restoration  of  mutual  affection  and 
 benevolence  which  uniformly  accompanies  true  religion,  is  specified 
 as  one  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  conversion  which  the  preaching  of  the 
 Baptist  should  effect.  It  is  pait  nf  the  character  of  the  irreligious  to 
 be  a<Trop-jut,  'without  natural  affection,'  (Rom.  i.  31.) — J.  B.  Sumner, 
 so  Bens.  He  should  convert  fathers  and  children,  for  the  Hebrew  par- 
 ticle, '71?,  translated  '  to,'  is  the  same  as  '  with.' — Gill,  so  R.  Watson. 
 To  the  wisdom  of  the  just,  or  'the  righteous,'  the  most  obstinate  sin- 
 ners to  true  wisdom.— Be7is.  '  And  by  the  wisdom  of  the  just  to  make 
 the  disobedient  a  people  prepared  for  the  Lord.' — Boothr.,  as  Pearce 
 and  Camp.  Prepared,  KuTeaKiuairpLfvov — the  word  is  used  by  Greek 
 writers  to  express  an  array  supplied  with  alt  necessaries,  so  as  to  be 
 fit  for  service ;  and  to  describe  a  ship  furnished  with  proper  stores. — 
 —It.  Watson.  IS.  Whereby,  ^c,  he  distrusted,  and  wanted  a  sign. 
 — Gill.  19-  That  stand  in  the  presence,  an  image  borrowed  from  the 
 customs  of  oriental  courts,  where  he  is  said  to  stand  before  the  king 
 who  has  always  access  to  the  royal  presence;  it  may  therefore  be 
 
The  conception  of  Christ, 
 
 S.  LUKE,  I. 
 
 The  prophecy  of  Elisabeth  and  Mary, 
 
 20  And,  behold,  "thou  shalt  be  dumb,  and 
 not  able  to  speak,  until  the  day  that  these 
 things  shall  be  performed,  because  thou  be- 
 lievest  not  my  words,  which  shall  be  fulfilled 
 in  their  season. 
 
 21  And  the  people  waited  for  Zacharias,  and 
 marvelled  that  he  tarried  so  long  in  the  temple. 
 
 22  And  when  lie  came  out,  he  could  not 
 speak  unto  them  :  and  they  perceived  that  he 
 had  seen  a  vision  in  the  temple  :  for  he  beck- 
 oned unto  them,  and  remained  speechless. 
 
 23  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  soon  as 
 ^  the  days  of  his  ministration  were  accomplish- 
 ed, he  departed  to  his  own  house. 
 
 24  And  after  those  days  his  wife  Elisabeth 
 conceived,  and  hid  herself  five  months,  saying, 
 
 23  Thus  hath  the  Lord  dealt  with  me  in  the 
 days  wherein  he  looked  on  me^  to  "^  take  away 
 my  reproach  among  men. 
 
 2()  And  in  the  sixth  month  the  angel  Gabriel 
 was  sent  from  God  unto  a  city  of  Galilee, 
 named  Nazareth, 
 
 27  To  a  virgin  ''espoused  to  a  man  whose 
 name  was  Joseph,  of  tlie  house  of  David  ;  and 
 the  virgin's  name  ivas  Mary. 
 
 28  And  the  angel  came  in  unto  her,  and  said, 
 *  Hail,  thou  that  ait  \\  highly  favoured,  *^  the 
 Lord  is  with  thee :  blessed  art  thou  among 
 women. 
 
 29  And  when  she  saw  him^  '^she  was  troubled 
 at  his  saying,  and  cast  in  her  mind  what  manner 
 of  salutation  this  should  be. 
 
 ;?()  And  the  angel  said  unto  her.  Fear  not, 
 Mary  :  for  thou  hast  found  favour  with 
 God. 
 
 31  ""And,  behold,  thou  shalt  conceive  in  thy 
 womb,  and  bring  forth  a  son,  and  '  shalt  call 
 his  name  JESUS. 
 
 Before  the 
 Account 
 called  Anuo 
 Domini  the 
 sixth  Year. 
 
 nEzck  3.-.'6. 
 &  24.  2/. 
 
 b  See  2  KiQ. 
 11.  5. 
 IChr.  9.  95. 
 
 c  (5cn.  30.23. 
 I<r.4.   I.  & 
 M.  1,4. 
 
 d  Mat.  I.  18. 
 Ch.  2.  4,  &. 
 
 •  D.W1.  9,  23. 
 He  1(1.  19. 
 
 ||<)r,  ^ra- 
 
 cepled,  or, 
 
 fjudg.6.]2. 
 
 A  Is.  7.  14. 
 Mat.  I,  21. 
 i  ch.  2.  81. 
 
 Before  the 
 Account 
 called  Anno 
 Domini  the 
 Kixth  Year. 
 
 k  Mark  6.  7. 
 t  2  Sam.  7. 
 
 II,  IS. 
 
 Is.  9.  6,  7. 
 
 &  16.  6. 
 
 Jer.  23.  5. 
 
 Vs.  132,  II. 
 
 Rev.  3.  7. 
 m  Dan.2.44. 
 
 fc  7.  14,27. 
 
 Obad.  21. 
 
 Mic.  4.  7. 
 
 .tohn  12  34. 
 
 Heb.  I.  H. 
 -1  Mat.  1.  20. 
 
 oMat.  14.33. 
 it(l'G.63,  6X. 
 Maik  I.  1. 
 John  1.  34. 
 &  20.  31. 
 Acta  9.  37- 
 Horn.  1.4. 
 
 p  Geii.I8  U, 
 Jer.  3J  17. 
 Zecb.  8  6. 
 Mat  19.  2C. 
 Mark  10.27. 
 Ch  19.  27. 
 Rom.  4.21. 
 
 q  Josh.  21.! 
 10,  II. 
 
 '  ver.  28. 
 Judg.  5,2V. 
 
 32  He  shall  be  great,  ''and  shall  be  called 
 the  Son  of  the  Highest:  and  ■  the  Lord  God 
 shall  give  unto  him  the  throne  of  his  father 
 David  : 
 
 33  •"  And  he  shall  reign  over  the  house  of 
 Jacob  for  ever;  and  of  his  kingdom  there  shall 
 be  no  end. 
 
 34  Then  said  Mary  unto  the  angel,  How 
 shall  this  be,  seeing  I  know  not  a  man  ? 
 
 35  And  the  angel  answered  and  said  unto 
 her,  "  The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon  thee, 
 and  the  power  of  the  highest  shall  overshadow 
 thee :  therefore  also  that  holy  thing  which 
 shall  be  born  of  thee  shall  be  called  "^  the  Son 
 of  God. 
 
 36  And,  behold,  thy  cousin  Elisabeth,  she 
 hath  also  conceived  a  son  in  her  old  age :  and 
 this  is  the  sixth  month  with  her,  who  was  called 
 barren. 
 
 37  For  ''  with  God  nothing  shall  be  impos- 
 sible, 
 
 38  And  Mary  said.  Behold  the  handmaid  of 
 the  Lord  ;  be  it  unto  me  according  to  thy 
 word.     And  the  angel  departed  from  her. 
 
 39  And  Mary  arose  in  those  days,  and  went 
 into  the  hill  country  with  haste,  ''into  a  city 
 of  Juda ; 
 
 40  And  entered  into  the  house  of  Zacharias, 
 and  saluted  Elisabeth. 
 
 41  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  Elisabeth 
 iieard  the  salutation  of  Mary,  the  babe  leaped 
 in  her  womb  ;  and  Elisabeth  was  filled  with 
 the  Holy  Ghost : 
 
 42  And  she  spake  out  with  a  loud  voice,  and 
 said,  '  Blessed  art  thou  among  women,  and 
 blessed  is  the  fruit  of  thy  womb. 
 
 43  And  whence  is  this  to  me,  that  the  mo- 
 ther of  my  Lord  should  come  to  me  ? 
 
 interpreted  'a  favourite  minister,'  (sol  Kin^s^x.  8;  xii.  6;  xvii.  i; 
 Esth.  iv.  5.)—ltlonin/.  20.  Dumh,  this  should  be  the  sign. — Grot. 
 And  not  able  to  speak— the  ne^tive  with  the  affirmation  is,  in  the  He- 
 brew,  the  strongest  affirmation  pnssible. — .'ifarhn.  The  original  word, 
 o-jwjTQH',  signifies  '  deaf,'  as  well  as  ■  dumb  ;*  and  it  seems  plain  that  he 
 was  as  unable  to  hear  as  he  was  to  speak  ;  for  his  friends  were  forced 
 to  make  signs  to  him  that  he  might  understand  them,  (ver.  Gi.)~Gui/se, 
 so  Theophi/lact,  Grolius,  &c.  This  criticism  is  unsupported  by  autho- 
 rity.— Rosenm.  21.  Wnited,  for  his  coming  out,  to  be  blessed  by 
 him,  (see  Num.  vi.  23—26.) — Gill.  Marvelled  that  he  tarried  so  lon^— 
 the  prie^t  usually  did  not  stay  long,  lest  the  people  should  apprehend 
 he  was  slain  by  God's  anger. — Ji/nomf.  22.  Thet/  perceired—for  he 
 
 Reckoned,  'he  marie  signs  by  nodding  the  head;*  iiav^vtov,  '  he  as- 
 sented to  what  appeared  to  be  their  impression.* — R.  Watson,  as 
 Blootnfield.  23.  The  dai/.'i,  ^c.,  the  seven  days  appoiutcd  to  his  course. 
 —  Whithjj.  24.  Hid  herself  Jive  months,  that  she  might  not  contract 
 ceremonial  defilement,  the  child  being  a  Nazarite,  or  for  meditation, 
 prayer,  and  thanksgiving,  on  the  extraordinary  occasion. — Scott ;  the 
 latter  opinion,  Kttinuel.  The  '  five  months*  miglit  be  any  part  of  the 
 time,  and  she  might  do  this  to  avoid  encountering  the  railleries  and 
 gazings  of  the  vulgar,  as  her  age  was  advanced,  or  to  prevent  any  ac- 
 cidents.—Jl/oom/.  A  like  practice  prevails  among  the  Hindoos,  as  a 
 point  of  delicacy  in  bearing  tlie  first  child. —  Ward.  25.  Reproach,  so 
 barrenness  was  accounted  among  the  IsraeUtes. — Gill.  2G.  Sixth 
 month,  after  conception. —  Hmn.,  Gill.  Nazareth — see  Matt.  ii.  23, 
 note.  27.  To  a  virgin  espoused — Matthew  informs  us  of  the  subse- 
 quent appearance  of  the  angel  to  Joseph — Luke,  of  the  previous  an- 
 nunciation to  Mary. — R.  Watson.  28.  Haif,  Xatpe,  'rejoice.* — Snt. 
 The  Lord  is  ivith  thee,  Ki-pioi  /icra  o-h,  '  be  with  thee,'  an  usual  form  of 
 salutation  among  the  Jews,  (see  Ruth,  ii.  4.)— Gi7/,  soCamp.  Blessed, 
 ^c. — a  form  of  salutation,  denoting  kindness,  and  not  reverence. — 
 Mann.  ElXo-jhm^ ""  ""f  f "  ivvm^tv,  '  the  happiest,  most  fortunate,  art 
 thou  of  women.* — Bloom/.,  so  Camp.  29.  Troubled,  bieTapaxfttj, 
 '  disturbed,'  or  '  perplexed'— iJf/is.,  as  Camp.  31 .  Jesus— see  Matt. 
 i.  21,  note.  32.  Great,  '  illustrious.' — Bloomf.  '  Great  in  power  and 
 authority,  in  glory  and  fame,  in  office  and  administration,  yet  not  in 
 a  worhlly  sense.'  'Great  in  his  person,  as  G"d  and  man  united  ;'  in 
 his  prophetic  office,  *  miyhty  in  word  and  deed,'  doctrine  and  miracles ; 
 in  his  priesthood,  establishmg  upon  its  merit  a  constant,  ever-preva- 
 lent, and  universal  intercession.  Called,  appears  to  relate  to  bis  public 
 and  glorious  designation  in  all  ages  of  the  church,  in  time  and  through 
 eternity.— if.  Wntson.  The  Son  of  the  Hit^htsf.  that  is,  '  of  God,*  one 
 of  whose  names  is  v'jr,  '  the  Most  High,'  (see  Gen.  xiv.  18— 20.)— Gi//. 
 *  The  Highest,'  'VilnffToc,  is  sometimes  joined  with  e cor,  *God,'  but 
 often  stands  alone  as  a  title  of  God.  It  is  used  by  the  Sept.  fur  the 
 Hebrew,  |V7y,  '  the  High  One,' or  •  Most  High.'  •  The  Son  of  God,' in 
 B  sense  in  which  no  creature  can  be.  '  The  Son  of  God,'  in  his  higher 
 and  divine  nature.— .R.  Watson.  32.  Throne,  ^c— this  prefigured 
 1064 
 
 the  kingly  dominion  of  Christ ;  and  to  thisJesus  has  succeeded.  Under 
 him  the  ruined  kingdom  of  Judah  has  been  restored.— Uao.  33.  Over 
 the  house  of  Jacob— the  Jewish  people  descended  from  him.  These 
 are  particularly  mentioned,  because  to  them  the  promised  Messiah  was 
 first  sent ;  not,  however,  to  the  exclusion  of  other  nations. — Bloomf. 
 35.  The  Hohj  Ghost  shall,  SfO. — 'Our  Lord  must  be  made  flesh  to  atone, 
 but  without  the  natural  pollution  of  those  for  whom  he  was  to  atone  ; 
 hence  it  was  necessary  tliat  the  manner  of  his  conception  should  be 
 supernatural.' — Hors.  The  power  of  the  Highest — the  power  of  God 
 was  put  forth  by  the  Holy  Ghost  as  the  immediate  Divine  agent  in  this 
 wnrk  ;  and  so  he  exerted  'the  power  of  the  Highest'  as  his  own  power, 
 who,  together  with  the  Father  and  Son,  is  the  Most  High  God,  in  dis- 
 tinction from  all  other  gods  :  accordingly,  at  all  other  times,  the  Divine 
 power  is  called  '  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,'  and  '  the  power  of  the 
 ii\nnt  of  God,'  (Rom.  xv.  13,  \9.)-—Giit/se.  This  is  not  a  repetition  of 
 tlie  same  thing  in  another  form  ;  there  were  two  acts— the  preparation 
 of  tlie  body,  i.e.,  the  miraculous  production  of  a  human  being,  and 
 the  joining  of  the  Divine  nature  with  it  in  personal  union,  so  that  the 
 Christ  might  be  '  Immanuel,  God  with  us,*  and  both  are  referred  to. 
 The  production  of  the  body  is  uniformly  ascribed  to  the  Holy  Spirit ; 
 but  the  impersonating  of  the  Divine  Word  with  the  nature  so  pro- 
 duced  could  only  be  the  personal  act  of  that  Word  himself,  in  c(»u- 
 currence  with  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Spirit.  'The  power  of  the 
 Most  High  God'  shall  overshadow— exert  its  influence  upon  or  in  thee. 
 — R.  Wntson.  The  expression  answers  to  that  in  Gen.  i.  2. — Mar. 
 That  holy  thing,  to  yewioiievov  07(01/,  'the  holy  progeny.' — Campbell. 
 The  Greeks,  when  speaking  of  unborn  children,  used  the  neuter  gen- 
 der.—fl.  Watson.  36.  She  hath  also  conceived— this  is  mentioned 
 to  remove  every  doubt  of  the  miraculous  power  of  God. — S.  Clarke. 
 38.  Behold  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord,  t&ou  I'j  iovXti  Kvptov,  a  Hebrew 
 phrase,  indicating  promptness  of  obedience,  (so  Acts,  ix.  iO  ;  Heb.  x. 
 7,  y.) — Bloomf.  3(j.  A  citi/  of  Juda,  supposed  to  be  Hebron,  this  being 
 one  of  the  cities  given  to  the  priests  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xxi. 
 10,  13  ;)  and  also  said  expressly  to  lie  in  the  mountains  or  hills,  (Josh, 
 xi.  21 ;  XV.  48,  54.)  — U'i?//s.  Mary's  was  a  tedious  and  unpleasant  pil- 
 grimage of  several  scores  of  miles,  intercepted  by  deep  rivers,  and 
 through  many  rough  and  mountainous  ways;  these  she  had  to  pass 
 in  a  country  and  season  of  the  year  not  favourable  to  travelling. — Moses 
 Brown.  She  began  her  course  now  at  little  more  than  thirteen  years 
 of  age,  travelling  on  foot  penniless,  without  any  companion.  This 
 was  to  prepare  her  for  the  bitter  conflicts  prophesied  by  Simeon,  fcomp. 
 Luke,  ii.  35,  and  John,  xix.  26.) — Thomas  Brown.  This  is  interpreted 
 of  Jerusalem  by  Cnmerarius,  and  others.  Hebron  was  the  capital  of 
 the  tribe  of  Judah,  as  Jerusalem  was  of  the  whole  country. — Bloomf. 
 41.  With  the  Holy  Ghost,  'with  extraordinary  gifts,'  'with  a  spirit 
 of  prophecy,'  by  which  she  knew  that  the  Messiah  was  conceived, 
 and  that  Mary  was  the  mother  of  her  Lord.— Gi7/.  43.  The  mother 
 of  mi/  Lord— if  by  the  expression  'my  Lord,'  Elizabeth  meant  only 
 
The  nativity 
 
 S.  LUKE,  I. 
 
 and  circiDncisioH  of  John. 
 
 44  For,  lo,  as  soon  as  the  voice  of  tliy  saluta- 
 tion sounded  in  mine  ears,  the  babe  leaped  in 
 my  womb  for  joy. 
 
 45  And  blessed  is  she  ||  that  believed  :  for 
 there  shall  be  a  performance  of  those  things 
 which  were  toM  her  from  the  Lord. 
 
 46  And  Mary  said,  "  My  soul  doth  magnify 
 the  Lord, 
 
 47  And  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced  in  God  my 
 Saviour. 
 
 48  For*  he  hath  regarded  the  low  estate  of 
 his  handmaiden  :  for,  behold,  from  henceforth 
 "all  generations  shall  call  me  blessed. 
 
 49  For  he  that  is  mighty  "^  hath  done  to  me 
 great  thiujis  ;  and  ^  holy  is  his  name. 
 
 30  And  ^  his  mercy  is  on  them  that  fear  him 
 from  generation  to  generation. 
 
 51  ^  He  hath  shewed  strength  with  his  arm  ; 
 ^  he  iiatii  scattered  the  proud  in  the  imagina- 
 tion of  their  hearts. 
 
 52  ^  He  hath  put  down  the  mighty  from  their 
 seats,  and  exalted  them  of  low  degree. 
 
 63  ^  He  hath  filled  the  hungry  with  good 
 things;  and  the  rich  he  hath  sent  empty  away. 
 
 54  He  hath  holpen  his  servant  Israel,  "^in  re- 
 membrance of  his  mercy  ; 
 
 55  ^  As  he  spake  to  our  fathers,  to  Abraham, 
 and  to  his  seed  fur  ever. 
 
 36  And  Mary  abode  with  her  about  three 
 months,  and  returned  to  her  own  house. 
 
 57  Now  Elisabeth's  full  time  came  that  she 
 should  be  delivered  ;  and  she  brought  forth  a 
 son. 
 
 38  And  her  neighbours  and  her  cousins  heard 
 
 how  the  Lord  had  shewed  great  mercy  upon 
 and  '"they  rejoiced  with  her. 
 
 her ; 
 
 Befitrf  the 
 Accuunt 
 called  Anno 
 Domini  the 
 siith  Year. 
 
 ii  Or,  which 
 b'li'ved  that 
 there. 
 
 I  I  Sam  2  I. 
 Ps  31.  i,3 
 &  35.  9. 
 Hib    3    18 
 
 /  I  ^am  1  M 
 P«.  133    6. 
 
 ./  Mai.  S   12 
 
 ch.  II.  27 
 uj  Ps   71.  19. 
 
 &  Vin.  8,  a 
 .r  Ps  111.9. 
 II  Gen.  17.7. 
 
 F.x.  -Z'i.  6. 
 
 Ps,  lOJ.  17, 
 
 18. 
 :Ps,98    I-& 
 
 11)^.  15.  Is. 
 
 -ID  10.  &  51 
 
 9.  &  Si.lO. 
 ,.  P^.SS.  HI. 
 
 I  Pet  5.  5. 
 6  1  Sam  2  6, 
 
 f<c    Job,  5. 
 
 11.  Ps.  113 
 
 6. 
 c  I  Sam.S,5, 
 
 Pa.  34.  1 1). 
 d  Ps  9-^.  3. 
 
 Ji:r.31  3,20- 
 
 ^Gen.  17.19. 
 Ps.  132.  II. 
 Rum.  1 1. 28 
 Gal.  3.  Iti. 
 
 /ver.  11. 
 
 Before  the 
 Account 
 called  Anno 
 n.imini  the 
 sixth  Year. 
 
 i?  Gen.  17.12. 
 Lev.  12  3. 
 h  ver.  13. 
 
 11  Or,  things. 
 /ver.  39. 
 
 .  Gen,  39.  2, 
 Ps.  80.  17. 
 &  89.21. 
 Acts  11.21, 
 
 .  Joel  2.  29. 
 
 pi  Kin  1.-1S. 
 
 Ps.  41.13.  & 
 
 72.  18,   & 
 
 me  48 
 9  Ex.  3.  16. 
 
 &4   31. 
 
 Ps.  III.  9. 
 
 ch.  7. 16. 
 r  Ps.  132.  17 
 J  Jer   23.  5, 
 
 6.  &  30.  111. 
 
 Dan.  9.  24. 
 
 Acts  .S.  81. 
 
 Rom.  1.  2. 
 
 39  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  ^  on  the  eighth 
 day  they  came  to  circumcise  the  child  ;  and 
 tliey  called  him  Zacharias,  after  the  name  of 
 his  father. 
 
 GO  And  his  mother  answered  and  said,  ^  Not 
 so ;  but  he  shall  be  called  John. 
 
 61  And  they  said  unto  her,  Tnere  is  none  of 
 thy  kindred  that  is  called  by  this  name. 
 
 62  And  they  made  signs  to  liis  father,  how 
 he  would  have  him  called. 
 
 63  And  he  asked  for  a  writing  table,  and 
 wrote,  saying,  '  His  name  is  John.  And  they 
 marvelled  all. 
 
 64  ^  And  his  mouth  was  opened  immediately, 
 and  his  tongue  loosed,  and  he  spake,  and 
 praised  God. 
 
 63  And  fear  came  on  all  that  dwelt  round 
 about  them  :  and  all  these  ||  sayings  were 
 noised  abroad  throughout  all  '  the  hill  country 
 of  Judaea. 
 
 66  And  all  they  that  heard  them  ""  laid  them 
 up  in  their  hearts,  saying.  What  manner  of 
 child  shall  this  be !  And  "  the  hand  of  the 
 Lord  was  with  him. 
 
 67  And  his  father  Zacharias  °  was  filled  witli 
 the  Holy  Ghost,  and  prophesied,  saying, 
 
 68  P  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  ;  for 
 '^  he  hath  visited  and  redeemed  his  people, 
 
 69  'And  hath  raised  up  an  horn  of  salvation 
 for  us  in  the  house  of  his  servant  David  ; 
 
 70  ^  As  he  spake  by  the  moutli  of  his  holy 
 prophets,  which  have  been  since  the  world 
 began  : 
 
 71  That  we  should  be  saved  from  our  ene- 
 mies, and  from  the  baud  of  all  tluit  hate 
 us  ; 
 
 a  man  like  ourselves,  how  was  it  any  conrtesceiision  that  her  near 
 reUtion,  the  mother  of  one  mere  man,  should  come  to  salute  the  mo- 
 ther of  another  m^re  man?  But  if  Mary  was  really  the  mother  of 
 Elizabeth's  Lord  and  Maker,  according  to  the  flesh,  there  was  then 
 cause  sufficient  for  all  her  admiration.—  Venn.  46.  And  Mary  said- 
 most  of  these  phrases  are  borrowed  from  the  Old  Testament,  with 
 which  the  pious  virgin  seems  to  have  been  very  conversant,  espfcialty 
 from  the  song  of  Hannah,  (comp.  l  Sam.  ii.  l— lo  ;  Gen.  x\x.  13  ;  Ps. 
 ciii.  1/;  xcviii.  I ;  lxx.\ix.  10  ;  cvii.  g  ;  M\c.  v'n.  20.)  —  Doddr.  The 
 Hebrews  were  accustomed  to  express  their  joy  or  afllictinn  in  irregular 
 hymns  without  metre.~Gro(.  Mr/  sovl  doth  magmfy—Xhe  Greek  verb, 
 ^Lt-ioXwiiv,  signifies  '  to  celebrate  with  words,'  '  to  extol  with  praises  ;' 
 for,  strictly  speaking,  nothing  can  be  added  to  God.— ATvpe,  Clarke. 
 4Q.  He  hath  regarded,  'looked  favourably,'  Sec,  €n€f3\c^(v,  'm  the 
 most  tender  and  compassionate  manner.' — A.  Clarke,  so  Bluomf.  The 
 tow  estate,  ' the  luwly  condition;'  for  though  of  the  regal  family  of 
 David,  yet  she  was  in  the  humblest  rank  of  society. — R.  Watson.  T^v 
 TanetvwtTtv,  *  the  low  estate.'  (Acts,  viii.  33  ;  Phil.  iii.  21  ;  James,  i.  10  ; 
 Gen.  xvi.  ii ;  xxix.  32;  xxxi.  42;  xli.  52;  Ps.  cxxxvi.  23  ;  Isa.  liii.  8; 
 Lam.  L  3,  7,  9.)  Sept.  The  word  is  uniformly  used  for  a  low  and 
 afflicted  condition,  and  not  for  the  grace  of  humility  or  lowliness,  as 
 seems  to  be  implied  in  the  Common  Prayer  Book. — Scott.  Shall  call 
 me  blessed,  fitKaptou<rt  fie,  '  acknowledge  that  I  am  a  happy  woman.' 
 The  word  dites  not  signify  honour,  but  happiness,  (so  in  James,  v.  11.) 
 — R.  Wutsoii,  as  Doddr.  49.  Great  things,  fieyaXeti,  denotes  '  won- 
 derful benefits.' — Kuinuel,  Rosenm.  'Miracles;'  the  same  word  is 
 applied  by  the  Sept.  to  the  miracles  wrought  in  Egypt  and  in  the  wil- 
 derness.— Bens.  Holy  is — the  word  'holy'  is  sometimes  employed  to 
 signify  '  merciful,"  as  in  the  Sept.,  (2  Sam.  xxii.  26 ;  Ps.  cxlv.  1/  ;  see 
 also  Acts,  xiii.  34,  &c. ;)  it  may  be  here  taken  in  this  sense.  His  name, 
 — 'name'  is  put  for  God.  So  the  Jews,  instead  of  saying  God,  often 
 simply  say  the  '  Name.' ~  Mar.  51.  He  hath  shewed  strength, 
 €Troit]<re  Kparof,  '  he  hath  gained  the  victory  ;'  so  the  word  Kparos,  ren- 
 dered '  strength,'  is  used  by  Homer,  Hesiod,  Sophocles,  Euripides,  and 
 others. — Clarke.  He  hath  scattered,  §c.,  or  '  will  scatter.'  Mary  pro- 
 phesied in  this  song;  and,  in  the  style  of  the  prophets,  the  past  is 
 often  put  for  the  future. — Mar.  In  ancient  times  God  has  frequently 
 given  memorable  instances  of  his  power.— S.  Clarke.  52.  Put  down 
 the  mighty,  may  allude  to  the  removal  of  Saul,  and  establishment  of 
 David's  family  ;  and,  speaking  prophetically,  to  the  destruction  of 
 Satan's  kingdom  and  establishment  of  Christ's.— So  Clarke.  This  re- 
 spects the  pioud  and  haughty  synagogue  of  which  Mary  predicts  the 
 rejection. — Mar.  54  He  hath  holpen,  av-r^Xafttto,  '  hath  succoured.' 
 —Doddr.,  Jebh.  'He  supporteth,'  &c. — Camp.  The  word  properly 
 signifies  '  to  interpose  in  favour  of  a  person  in  great  necessity  or  ex- 
 treme danger ;'  and  also,  *  to  hold  by  the  hand,  to  sustain  from  falling, 
 or  to  lift  up  when  fallen,  and  so  to  aff<»rd  aid.' — Bens.  '  He  hath  taken 
 them  by  the  hand,  and  helped  them  up  that  were  fallen  and  could  not 
 help  themselves.*  Tho-^e  that  were  sunk  under  the  burdens  of  a  broken 
 covenant  of  innoceucy,  are  helped  up  by  the  blessings  of  a  renewed 
 1065 
 
 covenant  of  grace.— Hen.  50.  To  circumcise,  §c.— see  Gen.  xvii. 
 11,  12,  notes.  They  called  him  Zacharias^it  was  the  custom  when 
 they  circumcised  their  children  to  name  them  ;  because,  when  Abra- 
 ham  was  circumcised  God  gave  him  a  ne%v  name,  and  called  him  Abra- 
 ham.—Hen.  *  Called  him  Zacharias  ;'  ordinarily  the  name  of  the  father 
 was  given  to  the  firstborn  son. — A.  Clarke.  It  was  not  usual  to  call 
 the  father  and  the  son  by  the  same  name. — Gill,  Guy.se.  We  find  no 
 instance  in  the  ancient  scriptures  of  any  person  in  Israel  who  was  called 
 after  the  name  of  his  father ;  but  it  was  then  become  cu-^tomary,  as  in 
 the  case  of  Herod  and  his  descendants. — Scott.  6o.  John,  Johanan, 
 'gracious,'  because  he  shall  introduce  the  gospel  of  Christ,  wherein 
 God's  grace  shines  more  bright  than  ever. — Hen.  62.  Made  signs, 
 hence  Zacharias  was  deaf  as  well  as  dumb. — Hen.  We  often  make 
 signs  and  gestures  to  those  who  hear  us  very  well,  (so  Jotm,  xiii.  24.) 
 Hence  we  must  not  infer  that  Zacharias  was  deaf.— fioscHm.,  Kuinocl. 
 6.^.  A  writing  table,  irivaKiiiov,  '  a  tablet;'  a  diminutive  of  Tm-uf  'a 
 table.' — A.  Clarke.  '  A  Uttle  table,'  such  as  they  used  to  write  not  only 
 upon  hut  in,  using  a  style  or  pen  ;  it  was  cither  of  brass,  wood,  or  wax. 
 — So  Gill.  The  ancients  frequently  wrote  on  a  thin  board  smeared 
 over  with  wax. — Bens.  65.  And  fear  came,  §-c.,  ^o/Jor,  'religious 
 fear,' or 'reverence.'  So  the  word  means.  Acts,  ix.  31  ;  Rom.  iii.  18; 
 xiii.  7;  1  Peter,  i.  17;  ii.  18;  iii.  2.  This  extraordinary  event  bei^ot  in 
 the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  Hebron  and  its  environs  a  more  than 
 ordinary  reverence  for  the  Supreme  Being.  —  Su  Clarke.  Sayings, 
 rather  'things,'  comprehending  both  what  was  said  and  done ;  pmia, 
 having  here,  as  in  ver.  37,  and  other  places,  the  sense  of  'matter,' 
 '  affair,'  '  transaction.' — R.  Watson.  66.  The  hand  of  the  Lord  was 
 u-'ith  him,  denoting  God's  special  favour  to  John,  watching  over  and 
 protecting  him,  causing  him  to  grow  up  and  thrive,  to  improve  in 
 knowledge,  &c. — Poole.  67.  Prophesied,  'composed  a  hymn,  and 
 celebrated  God's  praises.' — Rosenm.,  &c.  The  word  is  to  be  taken 
 here  in  its  proper  acceptation  as  predicting  future  events,  for  Zacharias 
 speaks  both  of  what  God  had  done  anl  was  about  to  do. — Clarke,  R 
 Watson,  as  Wetstein.  68.  The  Lord  God  0/  Israel — this  language 
 is  accommodated  to  the  ideas  of  the  Jewish  nation,  whose  views  of 
 deliverance  by  the  Messiah  extended  not  beyond  themselves.— So 
 Wets.  Redeemed,  iiToiyyat  XvTpmaiv,  'he  hath  made  a  ransom' — laid 
 down  the  ransom  price — ransomed  a  captive  from  the  enemy  by  paying 
 a  price. — Clarke.  69.  Horn  of  salvation,  or  'of  deliverance,'  that  is, 
 the  reign  of  the  Messiah,  (Ps.  Ixxxix.  24;  cxxxii.  17.)  A  mode  of 
 speaking  taken  from  those  animals  whose  horns  are  their  defence. 
 Hence,  in  ancient  times,  they  wore  on  their  helmets  a  horn  of  steel, 
 which  was  usually  laid  flat,  but  raised,  and  made  to  stand  upright 
 when  victorious,  (see  1  Sam.  ii.  10;  Ps.  cxii.  9;  cxhiii.  14;  Lam.  ii. 
 17.) — M'tr.  A  new  power  spring-^  from  the  decayed  and  fallen  house 
 of  David. — R.  Watson.  In  the  house,  'in  the  family;*  so  the  word 
 oiKo<:  often  means. — Clarke.  70.  By  the  mouth—*  God  spake  the  same 
 thing  by  all  the  prophets  as  by  one  mouth.' — So  Hen.  Since  the  world 
 began,  'from  the  beginning  of  tSma.'— Doddr.  Literally,  'from  the 
 age.'  The  Jews  divided  time  into  the  age  from  the  creation  to  Mes- 
 6  u 
 
The  prophecy  of  Zacharias. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  II. 
 
 Attgiistus  taxfth  all  the  Roman  empire* 
 
 72  *  To  perform  the  mercy  promised  to  our 
 fathers,  and  to  remember  his  holy  covenant  ; 
 
 73  "  The  oath  which  !ie  sware  to  our  father 
 Abraham, 
 
 74  That  he  would  <rrant  unto  us.  that  we  be- 
 ing delivered  out  of  the  hand  of  our  enemies 
 might  ^  serve  him  without  fear, 
 
 75  ^  In  holiness  and  righteousness  before 
 him,  all  the  days  of  our  life. 
 
 76  And  thou,  child,  shalt  be  called  the  pro- 
 phet of  the  Highest:  for  ^  thou  shalt  go  before 
 the  face  of  the  Lord  to  prepare  his  ways  ; 
 
 77  To  give  knowledge  of  salvation  unto  his 
 people  ""  II  liy  the  remission  of  their  sins, 
 
 78  Through  the  ||  tender  mercy  of  our  God ; 
 whereby  tlie  ||  dayspring  from  on  high  hath 
 visited  us, 
 
 4.  5.  Mat,  II.  10.  ver.  17.        a  Mark  1.4.  ch.  3.  S.      ||  Or,  for.      \\  Or 
 ntercy.     \\  Or,  luiirUins,  or,  ftfO'icA.  Num.21.  17.  Is.  I  I.I.  Zech.S.  8.  & 
 
 Before  the 
 
 Account 
 
 railed  Anno 
 
 P*    9S.  3  & 
 
 1(1  >  S,  9.  k 
 
 106.  +5. 
 
 Ezek.16  60 
 
 ver.  54. 
 u  Gen.  12.3. 
 
 k\7  4.&?2. 
 
 16.  17    Hel>, 
 
 6.  13,  17. 
 r  Rom.6  Ift. 
 
 22.   Hel).  9 
 
 14. 
 y  Jer.  S^39. 
 
 4n.  Rph.  i. 
 
 24.  2  TJies, 
 
 2.  13, 
 
 2  Tim.  1.9. 
 
 Tit.  2.  12. 
 
 1  Pet.  1. 15. 
 
 2  Pet   1.  4 
 I  U    40.  3. 
 
 Mai .  S.  1 .  fit 
 ,  baitftt  of  the 
 .12.  Nfal.4.8, 
 
 Ref'>re  the 
 
 Account 
 
 called  Anno 
 
 Pomini  the 
 
 sixth  Vcar. 
 
 h  IH.  9.  2.  & 
 42.  7.  «t 
 
 Mat  4.  16. 
 
 Acts  26.18. 
 ■  ch.  2.  40. 
 dMat.3.  1. 
 
 &  M.  7. 
 
 Before  the 
 
 .Account 
 
 called  Anno 
 
 Domini  tha 
 
 liftli  Year. 
 ||0r,i'.r.i//tfrf. 
 
 79  ''To  give  light  to  them  that  sit  in  dark- 
 ness and  in  the  shadow  of  death,  to  guide  our 
 feet  into  the  way  of  peace. 
 
 80  And  "^  the  child  grew,  and  waxed  strong 
 in  spirit,  and  ^was  in  the  deserts  till  the  day  of 
 his  sliewing  unto  Israel. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Augustus  taxeth  all  the  Roman  empire.  6  The  na- 
 tivitt/  of  Christ.  8  One  angel  relattth  it  to  the  shep- 
 herds :  13  many  sing  praises  to  God  for  it.  21 
 Christ  is  circumcised.  22  Man/  purified.  28  5/- 
 meon  and  Anna  prophesy  of  Christ :  40  who  inci'eas- 
 cth  in  wisdom,  46  questioneth  in  the  temple  with  the 
 doctors,  61  and  is  obedient  to  his  parents. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that 
 ^^  there  went  out  a  decree  from  C«.sar  Au- 
 gustus, that  all  the  world  should  be  ||  taxed. 
 
 siah,  and  the  age  from  the  Messiah  to  the  consummation  of  all  thio^. 
 The  mcauinp  is,  that  this  great  event  had  been  the  subject  of  prophecy 
 from  the  earliest  times,  by  a  succession  of  holy  prophets.  yi.  The 
 nath,  fyc. — sec  Gen.  xxii.  l6,  &c.  7^-  Without  fear  — the  spiritual 
 
 deliverance  here  mentioned  is  opposed    to  the   agitations  and  fears 
 which  the  soul  feels  under  a  sense  of  its  sinfulness,  and  which  was 
 much  greater  unrtcr  the  law,  since  that  was  a  ministry  of  condemna- 
 tion,  (see  Hcb.  viii.  12  ;    x.  1,2;    xii.  18,   &c.)~71/ar.      'Without  the 
 spirit  of  bondage,'   (see  Rom.  viii.  15.)— Daw.      *  God  mast  be  served 
 with  a  filial,  but  not  a  slavish  fear.* — Hen.     "5.  In  holiness  and  ri^hte- 
 oitstiess,  €v  otTio-rtjTi  Kat  6iKato<Tvi'i] — 'inpietj'and  uprig'htness.' — Cnmp. 
 •  In  the  holiness  and  righteousness  which  does  not  consist  in  burden- 
 some rites,  but  in  that  sincerity  of  mind  which  approves  itself  to  God 
 as  the  inspector  of  all  hearts.'-— B/rtom/.     '  In  all  the  duties  of  piety, 
 righteousnes';,  and  sobriety.' — J.  Brown.     '  From  principles  of  righte- 
 ousness,  and  true  holiness.' — Gill.     Before  him,  tvtDTrtov  avrov,  a  com- 
 mon  Hebraism,  to  denote  here  that  the  virtues  mentioned  are  genuine, 
 under  the  eye  of  God.— C'nnp.     All  the  dni/s,  Sfc. — denoting  the  con- 
 stancy  and  continuance  of  this  service,  not  for  a  day  or  two,  or  only 
 on  festivals  and  Sabbath-days,  asunder  the  Jewish  dispensation,  but 
 every  day  we   live.        76.  Of  the  Highest,  i.e.,  'God,'  by  whom  is 
 meant  'the  Lord  Jesns  Christ.'  whose  prophet,  harbinger,  and  fore- 
 runner John  was  ;    and  so  is  a  prnof  of  Christ  being  the  Supreme,  or 
 Most  High  God. — Gill,  so  Guyse,  R.  Watson.      7".  To  give  knotvledge, 
 hovvat  'ivuiCTiv,  '  to  instruct,*  '  to  make  to  know.'    By  the  remission  of 
 their  sins — *  he  tanght  the  true  nature  of  salvation,  not  that  it  consisted 
 in  deliverance  from  the  Roman  yoke,  or  any  other  calamity,  but  in  the 
 remission  of  sins.* — R.  Watsojt.         78.  The  tender  mercy,  uTrXafx*"^ 
 €\eovt.    'the  bowels  of  mercy,'  a  strong  Hebraism,  implying  God's 
 tender  compassions  for  mankind. — Bens.     The  dm/spring  from  nn  high, 
 'the  dawninp  light.' — Bnothr.     'The  rising  sun.'— ,1/icA.     '  Who  hath 
 caused  a  light  to  spring  from  on  high.' — Camp.  Boothroyd  objects  that 
 the  rising  sun  could  not  spring  from  on  high;  but  Watson  obser\'es 
 that  its  light  is  caught  by  the  lofty  clouds  and  reflected  down  to  earth  ; 
 but  the  original  word,  avaroXn,  not  only  signifies  *  sun  rise,'  but '  com- 
 prehends the  whole,  from  the  dawn  to  the  burst  of  the  orb  of  day.*— 
 Expos,  in  loc.     It  is  worthy  of  observation,  that  *  this  phraseology  i& 
 popular,  and  not  to  be  tried  by  the  strict  rules  of  philosophical  accu- 
 racy.' The  passage  is  more  correctly  rendered  '  day-spring.' — Bloomf  ; 
 sn  aHo  Rosenm.,  Kuin.     By 'the  day-spring.'  understand  'the  gospel 
 dispensation,  as  superior  to  the  patriarchal  or  Mosaic,  with  their  types 
 and  shadows,  as  the  light  of  the  rising  sun  is  superior  to  that  of  the 
 moon  and  stars.'— B^^n.?.    The  Messiah  is  intended  here— the  bright 
 and  morning  st&T.—Gilf.    The  phrase  suggests  to  as  what  Christ  is  to 
 the  world,  and  what  he  should  be  to  ourselves.— J.  B.  Sumner.    Christ 
 is  the  morning  hght.  the  rising  sun,   (Mai.  iv.  2.)     The  gospel  brings 
 light  with  it,  (John,  iii.  19,)  opposed  to  pagan  ignorance,  or  the  moon- 
 
 light of  the  Old-Testament  types  and  figures. — Hen.     Wetstein,  and 
 others,  m&int&'in  that  the  original  signifies  'a  branch}'  the  Sept.  >o 
 use  it  in  Jer.  xxiii.  5  ;  Zech.  iii.  8,  and  vi.  12.    This  is  opposed  by  Grot., 
 Htm.,  and  others;  and  Campbell  observes,  that  it  is  not  natural  to 
 sp'jak  of  a  branch  enlightening  or  directing  the  feet.— Sec  GUI,  and 
 Blimmf.         79.  In  darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of  death— terms  expres- 
 sive of  a  sad  and  miserable  condition,  (see  2  Sara.  xxii.  29 ;  Isa.  viii. 
 22;    Ps.  xliv.   19;  Job,  iii.  5;    Ps.  cvii.   10,   Uj     Isa.  ix.   1.)  —  ;i/«r. 
 8(1.  Strong  in  spirit, '  remarkable  for  strength  of  intellect  and  boldness 
 of  resolution,  and  his  attainments  in  religious  knowledge. '—ii.  Watson. 
 His  shewing,  fyc,  ovaicifetDf.  The  word  ai-adetfcc  is  used  for  the  entering 
 upon  an  office  to  which  any  one  has  been  previously  appointed.    Here, 
 however,  it  means  as  expressed  in  the  translation,  in  opposition  to  the 
 seclusion  and  absolute  privacy  in  which  he  had  kept  himself.- /i.U''f/.s. 
 Chap.  II.  —  1.  Cersar  Augustus— this  was  Caius  Caesar  Octavianus 
 Augustus,  proclaimed  Emperor  of  Rome  n.c  29,  died  A.n.  M.—Ctttrke. 
 He  had  received  the  name  of  Caisar  from  Julins  Caesar  by  adoption  ; 
 and  by  that  name  were  called,  first,  all  those  of  the  family  of  Augustus, 
 afterwards  the  heirs  of  the  empire,  and  finally  the  emperors  themselves. 
 — Suetonius.     All  the  world,  naaav  rr]v  otKavfxtvnv,  '  the  Roman  world,' 
 i.e.,  'the  Roman  empire,'  an  expression  very  frequent  in  the  classical 
 writers, — Bloomf.     As  there  is  no  mention  of  this  circumstance  in  any 
 Roman  hisforians,  it  is  conjectured  that  Judea  only  is  intended,  since 
 it  was  divided   into  many  regions,  parts,  or  provinces.    This  would 
 easily  account  for  the  omission  of  the  fact  elsewhere.     Of  this  opinion 
 are,  Beausobre,  U Enfant,   Lardner,  Doddr.,  Bp.  Pearce,  Rosenm., 
 Kuinoel,  Ac.  &c.      See  Luke,  xxi.  35  ;  Acts,  xi.  28  ;  Matt.  iv.  8,  com- 
 pared with  Deut.  xxxiv.,  et  seq.    Taxed,  aTroypatp^uBai, '  enrolled.*  The 
 Roman  emperor  agreed  that  a  census  should  be  taken  of  all  his  sub- 
 jects.—J.  B.  Sumner.     We  have  the  testimony  of  the  great  and  faith- 
 ful Jewish  historian,  that  no  tax  or  tribute  was  levied  from  Judea  till 
 many  years  after.    Many  Greek  authors  use  the  word  for  registering, 
 as  Arislotlp,  Xenophon,  &c.     In  the  present  case  this  seems  to  have 
 been  a  measure  out  of  the  usual  course,  and  altogether  extraordinary, 
 adopted  solely  with  a  view  to  shew  Herod  his  subjection. — Bloomf  eld. 
 This  census  was  not  necessarily  in  other  cases  followed  by  taxation. — 
 Cnmp.     Schleusner  thinks  that  not  only  Judea  but  all  the  Roman  pro- 
 vinces were  included  in  this  census,  produced  by  curiosity  or  ambition, 
 without  any  pecuniary  exaction.      To  this  Bloomf  eld  brings  as  an  ob- 
 jection, the  silence  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  historians  j  but  many  such 
 circumstances  must  be  omitted  by  historians,  and  it  is  a  question 
 whether  every  census  taken  in  this  country  is  so  recorded.    According 
 to  Prideaux,  the  census  was  common,  and  might  not,  therefore,  occa- 
 sion any  particular  remark,  being  taken  of  the  citizens  of  Rome  every 
 fifth  year  ;  and  he  says  Augustus  first  extended  this  to  the  provinces. 
 'Three  times,'  he  adds,  'during  his  reign  he  caused  the  like  descrip- 
 tion to  be  made.'    The  second  is  that  to  which  St.  Luke  refers.    The 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  We  have  here  stated,  I.  The 
 truth  of  the  Gospels.  Jt  is  confirmed  by  many  eye  witnesses, 
 and  from  them  nas  been  handed  down,  in  one  continuous  hue. 
 from  age  to  age,  to  the  church  ;  so  that  the  interesting  and 
 important  history  of  our  Divine  Redeemer  comes  to  us  in  a 
 form,  of  which  nothing  but  the  most  obstinate  infidehty  would 
 deny  the  authenticity. 
 
 II.  The  characters  ff  Zacharias  and  Elisabeth.  They  both 
 regarded  God's  ordinances,  and  walked  in  all  the  patbsof  holy 
 obedience, — ensamples  lo  them  that  believe. 
 
 III.  A  description  of  J:  ihn  the  Baptist,  and  of  the  success  of 
 his  ministry.  This  man  was  truly  great,  for  he  was  so  in  the 
 sight  of  the  Lord.  '  God  will  set  him  before  his  face  conti- 
 nually, will  employ  him  in  his  work,  and  send  bim  on  his 
 errands,  and  that  shall  make  him  truly  great  and  honourable.' 
 He  should  make  '  ready  a  people,  prepared  for  the  Lord.' 
 TTiis  he  did  by  preaching  repentance;  and,  'nothing  has  a 
 more  direct  tendency  to  prepare  people  for  Christ  than  the 
 doctrine  of  repentance  received  and  submitted  to:  when  sin 
 is  thereby  made  more  grievous,  Christ  will  become  very  pre- 
 cious.* ** 
 
 1066 
 
 IV.  The  salutations  of  Mary  by  the  angel  and  her  cousin* 
 Here  we  learn  that  she  was  blessed  among  women,  but  not 
 placed  above  women.  She  was  congratulated,  but  not  wor- 
 shipped ;  nor  is  there  any  ground  for  viewing  her  as  a  media- 
 trix and  intercessor.  All  generations  may  call  her  blessed  and 
 happy ;  but  all  generations  are  not  prophesied  of  as  paying 
 her  superior  honours.  She  was  an  humble  believer,  and 
 blessed  in  believing.  Hence  it  remains  a  truth  that  there  is 
 '  but  one  Mediator  between  God  and  man,  the  man  Christ 
 Jesus.' 
 
 V.  Mary's  song  of  praise.  A  song  marked  with  the  deepest 
 humility,  and  triumphing  in  that  mercy  which  shall  be  the 
 eternal  theme  of  every  humble  believer. 
 
 VI.  The  prophecy  of  Zacharias.  A  song  which  Gentiles  may 
 now  sing  as  well  as  Jews.  For  us  the  horn  of  David  has 
 budded,  '  for  us  men,  and  for  our  salvation,  he  came  down 
 from  heaven ;'  he  came  to  subdue  all  our  spiritual  ene- 
 mies; on  us  this  true  light  hath  shined.  'Blessed  be  the 
 Lord  God  of  Israel,  for  he  hath  visited  and  redeemed  his 
 people.' 
 
The  nativity  of  Christ, 
 
 S.  LUKE,  II. 
 
 He  is  circumcised. 
 
 2  (■  And  this  taxing  was  first  made  when 
 Cyrenius  was  govenior  of  Syria.) 
 
 3  And  all  went  to  be  taxed,  every  one  into 
 his  own  city. 
 
 4  And  Joseph  also  went  up  from  Galilee,  out 
 of  the  city  of  Nazareth,  into  Judaea,  unto  ^  the 
 city  of  David,  which  is  called  Bethlehem ; 
 (■^  because  he  was  of  the  house  and  lineage  of 
 David  :) 
 
 5  To  be  taxed  with  Mary  "^  his  espoused  wife, 
 being  great  with  child. 
 
 6  And  so  it  was,  that,  while  they  were  there, 
 the  days  were  accomplished  that  she  should 
 be  delivered. 
 
 7  And  "she  brought  forth  her  firstborn  son, 
 and  wrapped  him  in  swaddling  clothes,  and 
 laid  him  in  a  manger ;  because  there  was  no 
 room  for  tliem  in  the  inn. 
 
 8  And  there  were  in  the  same  country  shep- 
 herds abiding  in  the  field,  keeping  ||  watch 
 over  their  fiock  by  night. 
 
 9  And,  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon 
 them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round 
 about  them  :  *"and  they  were  sore  afraid. 
 
 10  And  the  angel  said  unto  them.  Fear  not: 
 for,  behold,  I  bring  you  good  tidings  of  great 
 joy,  ^  which  shall  be  to  all  people. 
 
 1  i  ^  For  unto  you  is  born  this  day  in  the  city 
 of  David  'a  Saviour,  ^  which  is  Christ  the  Lord. 
 
 1*2  And  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  you;  Ye 
 shall  find  the  babe  wrapped  in  swaddling 
 clothes,  lying  in  a  manger. 
 
 13  '  And  suddenly  there  was  with  the  angel 
 a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host  praising  God, 
 and  saying, 
 
 14  "'Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on 
 earth  "peace,  "good  will  toward  men. 
 
 15  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  the  angels  were 
 
 Before  the 
 
 Account 
 
 called  AnDO 
 
 Domini   the 
 
 fifth  Year. 
 
 Acts  5.  37. 
 
 f>  1  Sam.  16. 
 1,4..  John 
 7.  49. 
 
 c  Mat.  1.  16. 
 ch.  I.  •^7. 
 
 d  Mat.  I.  18. 
 .  I.  27. 
 
 e  Mat.  I.  25 
 
 II  Or, 
 llie  nishl 
 
 /ch    I.  12 
 ff  Gen-  12.  3 
 
 Mat.  2B.I&. 
 
 Mark  1.  15. 
 
 ver   31,  S^. 
 
 ch.  U.  47. 
 
 Col.  1.  23. 
 /.  I5   9.  6. 
 
 >.rat.  1.21. 
 k  Mat.  1.  16. 
 
 &  16    16 
 
 ch.  1.  W, 
 
 Acts  2.  36 
 
 8r  10.  36. 
 
 Phil.  g.  11. 
 /  Geo.  28.12. 
 
 &  32.  1,  2. 
 
 Ps.  103.  80, 
 
 SI.&  U8.-2. 
 
 Dan.  7.  10. 
 
 Heb.  1.  14. 
 
 Kev.  5.  11. 
 m  ch.  19.38. 
 
 Eph.  1.  6. 
 
 &  3.  in,  21. 
 
 Rev.  5.  13. 
 nl3.  57.  19. 
 
 ch.  I.  79. 
 
 Rom.  5.  I. 
 
 Eph.  2.  17. 
 
 Col.  L  2U- 
 o  John  3.  IG. 
 
 Eph.  2.4,7. 
 
 2Thes  2.1G. 
 
 1  John  4. 9, 
 
 10. 
 
 p  Gen.37.11. 
 ch.  1.  G6. 
 ver.  51. 
 
 Before  the 
 Account 
 calledAnno 
 Domini  the 
 fourth 
 Year. 
 
 a  Gen. 17. 12. 
 Lev.  12.  3. 
 ch.  1.  59. 
 
 r  Mat.  1.21, 
 25.  ch.l.SI. 
 
 i  Lev.  12.  2, 
 9,-J,  6. 
 
 (  Ek.13.  2 
 &  22.  -29.  8c 
 84.  19 
 Num  3.  13, 
 k  8.  17.  & 
 \A.  15. 
 
 u  Lev.  12.  2, 
 6,8. 
 
 X  la.  4i>   I. 
 Mark  13.13 
 
 gone  away  from  them  into  heaven,  f  the  shep- 
 herds said  one  lo  another.  Let  us  now  go  even 
 unto  Bethlehem,  and  see  this  thing  which  is 
 come  to  pass,  which  the  Lord  hath  made 
 known  unto  us. 
 
 16  And  they  came  with  haste,and  found  Mary, 
 and  Joseph,  and  the  babe  lying  in  a  manger. 
 
 17  And  when  they  iiad  seen  it,  they  made 
 known  abroad  the  saying  which  was  told  them 
 concerning  this  child. 
 
 18  And  all  they  that  heard  it  wondered  at 
 those  things  which  were  told  them  by  the 
 shepherds. 
 
 19  ^  But  Mary  kept  all  these  things,  and 
 pondered  Mem  in  her  heart. 
 
 20  And  the  shepherds  returned,  glorifying 
 and  praising  God  for  all  the  things  that  they 
 had  heard  and  seen,  as  it  was  told  unto  them. 
 
 21  ""And  when  eight  days  were  accomplished 
 for  the  circumcising  of  the  child,  his  name  was 
 called  'JESUS,  which  was  so  named  of  the 
 angel  before  he  was  conceived  in  the  womb. 
 
 22  And  when  ^  the  days  of  her  purification 
 according  to  the  law  of  Moses  were  accom- 
 plished, they  brought  him  to  Jerusalem,  to 
 present  hi/n  to  the  Lord  ; 
 
 23  i;As  it  is  written  in  the  law  of  the  Lord, 
 ^  Every  male  that  openeth  the  womb  shall  be 
 called  holy  to  the  Lord;) 
 
 24  And  to  offer  a  sacrifice  according  to  "that 
 which  is  said  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  A  pair  of 
 turtledoves,  or  two  young  pigeons. 
 
 25  And,  behold,  there  was  a  man  in  Jerusa- 
 lem, whose  name  was  Simeon  ;  and  the  same 
 man  tvos  just  and  devout,  ^  waiting  for  the 
 consolation  of  Israel  :  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
 was  upon  him. 
 
 26  And  it  was  revealed  unto  him  by  the  Holy 
 
 decree  concerning  it  was  issued  out  three  years  before  that  in  which 
 Christ  was  barn,— ^.o  long  had  the  taking  of  this  survey  been  carrying 
 on  through  Syria,  Ccele-Syria,  Phoenicia,  and  Judea,  before  it  came  to 
 Bethlehem.  The  historical  authorities  of  Prideaux  are,  Josephus  and 
 Eusehius. —  Ed.  2.  Wus first  made  ivhen  Cyrenius,  fyc,  (Lat.  Quiri- 
 nius) — from  historical  records  it  appears  that  Cyrenius  was  not  made 
 governor  of  Syria  till  ten  or  twelve  years  after  the  birth  of  Christ ;  and 
 that  at  the  heginnin^  of  bis  government  an  assessment  was  made  in 
 Judea.  To  meet  this  difficulty  the  words  have  been  rendered,  'this 
 was  the  first  assessment  (or  enrolment)  of  Cyrenius,  the  governor  of 
 Syria.*  Autm  h  aTTO-ipa(pn  irpaiTn  fjevero  tiyenovevono^  Tjjt  Si'pias  K.v- 
 ptivtuv.  Thus  it  is  supposed  this  was  made  under  the  superintenderice 
 of  Cyrenius,  afterwards  governor  of  Syria,  and  here  so  called  by  anti- 
 cipation. •  First  made,'  may  have  reference  to  a  second  assessment, 
 that  mentioned  in  history  twelve  years  afterwards.  Josephus  men- 
 tions the  fact  that  the  whole  Jewish  nation  had  taken  an  oath  to  be 
 faithful  to  Caesar  about  the  time  of  Christ's  birth. — Pulpy,  Prid.,  Ham. 
 3.  ."1//  ivent  to  be  taj-ed — Christ  being  born  at  the  time  of  this  enrolling, 
 was  probably  himself  registered,  together  with  Joseph  and  Mary,  as  a 
 subject  of  the  Roman  empire,  and  so  was  born  in  the  form  of  a  ser- 
 vant.—  Gttyse.  His  oun  city,  the  city  which  formerly  belonged  to  his 
 family. — Grot.  4.  Went  up.  ave/)ii— Galilee  was  level,  and  Judea  a 
 hilly  country. — Bloonif.  Bethlehem— thus  an  overruling  providence 
 fulfilled  the  prophecy  of  Micah,  (v.  2.) — Whitby.  5.  With  Mary — 
 this  proves  that  Marj"  was  an  heiress,  though  her  fortune  were  ever  so 
 small ;  otherwise  she  was  under  no  necessity  of  going  to  Bethlehem. 
 This  also  would  be  an  additional  proof  that  she  was  of  the  same  tribe, 
 since  she  could  not  marry  out  of  it.  —  R.  Wafsoii,  as  Bloom/.,  &c. 
 7.  Firstborn — Jesus  is  called  Mary's  firstborn,  because  she  had  none 
 before  him,  though  she  might  not  have  any  after  him  ;  for  the  first  that 
 opened  the  matri.\  was  called  the  firstborn,  though  none  followed  after; 
 and  was  holy  to  the  Lord,  (E.\'h1.  xiii.  2.) — Gill.  Swaddli/ig  clothes — 
 the  binding  up  in  these  was,  by  the  ancients,  studiously  attended  to, 
 lest  the  tender  frame  of  the  intant  might  acquire,  tbrougli  weakness, 
 or  an  accidental  wrench,  any  distortion.  This  practice  was  not  peculiar 
 to  the  ancients,  but  was  in  use  in  this  country  till  the  last  century. — 
 Bloom/.  In  a  vmnger,  £v  rr;  cparvr]—Bp.  Pearce's  notion,  that  this  was 
 a  bag  of  goat's  hair  hung  ah'unt  the  horses'  heads  and  filled  with  barley, 
 is  generally  exploded.— Erf.  This  was  evidently  a  place  inferior  to  the 
 inn,  in  which  there  was  no  room  for  the  mother  and  child.  It  was, 
 probably,  the  stable  of  this  inn,  the  place  where  the  cattle  of  travellers 
 were  separately  accommodateti ;  and  it  might  be  either  an  enclosed 
 court,  or  a  collection  of  caves  or  stables  in  the  rock,  according  to  tra- 
 dition.—R.  Watson.  It  was  one  of  those  natural  stables  which  abound 
 in  Palestine,  affording  shelter  to  both  men  and  cattle.- TAeorforei, 
 Eusebius,  &c.  The  easterns  have  no  mangers,  for  they  have  no  hay, 
 1067 
 
 but  lay  their  fodder  in  stone  troughs.  When  they  tie  down  their  horses 
 in  court. yards,  they  use  sacks.  In  such  a  place  our  blessed  Lord  must 
 certainly  have  been  \di\d.— Russell.  The  original  signifies  not  only  *  a 
 manger,'  but  'a  stable,'  and  in  this  sense  alone  it  should  be  understood 
 in  the  text. — Clarke,  so  Camp.  In  the  iiin,  £u  ru)  Ka^a\v^la^f,  'in  the 
 house  of  strangers.'— Boo^Ar.,  as  Camp.  There  are  three  sorts  of 
 houses  for  travellers  in  the  east :— The  *  Caravansary,*  a  large  square 
 edifice,  with  a  dome  and  a  fountain  in  the  centre,  where  men  and 
 catUe  quarter  together,  having  benches  around  it.  The  '  Xenodochium,' 
 where  persons,  and  not  cattle,  are  comfortably  lodged  and  boarded  at 
 the  pubhc  expense;  and  the  'Stabulum,'  somewhat  resembling  the 
 Caravansary,  and  also  used  for  man  and  beast.  The  second  of  these  is, 
 probably,  here  intended,  and,  being  small,  would  soon  be  filled  by  first 
 comers.— iri7.,  Bloom/.,  Boothr.  8.  In  the  same  country  shepherds, 
 —Bethlehem  was  a  place  of  pasture.  Here  David  kept  his  father's 
 sheep,  CI  Sam.  xvii.  15.)— Gill.  In  the  field—the  shepherds  dwelt  in 
 the  fields  where  they  had  sheep  penned  up;  but,  probably,  in  tents 
 and  booths.— C^urAre,  so  Boothr.  Keeping  watch,  each  three  hours  in 
 turn,  to  preserve  the  sheep  from  beasts  of  prey,  and  from  banditti.— 
 Clarke.  9.  The    angel,    probably   Gabriel. — Guyse.      Came  upon, 
 
 eweinti,  '  stood  over.'—-'!.  Clarke.  11.  The  Lord,  Kvpio?,   'the  Su- 
 
 preme,  Eternal  Being,'  the  Ruler  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth.'  The 
 Sept.  generally  translate  mn\  'Jehovah,'  byKi'pio?,  *  Lord.'— C/ar  Are 
 14.  Glury  to  God— this  is  not  merely  a  wish,  but  an  affirmation. — Gill. 
 In  the  highest,  £v  v^t<rroti,  'in  the  highest  heaven,'  (see  Job,  xvi.  ig. 
 As  the  Jews  reckoned  three  heavens,  the  highest  was  considered  as  the 
 place  of  the  throne  of  God.  The  plural  number  is  used  in  the  original, 
 because  the  Hebrew  word  for  heaven  is  never  in  the  singular.- Camp. 
 2J.  D'lvs  0/  her  purificnliun,  these,  for  a  son,  were  forty  days.— Gi«. 
 To  present  him  to  the  Lord— the  firstborn  belonged  to  God,  and  were 
 presented  to  the  priest,  as  his  representative,  at  theea.stern  gate. — R. 
 Watson.  The  priest  received  him  as  God's  representative  ;  and  Mary's 
 appearance  with  her  first-born  son,  the  true  Messiah,  was  the  first  time 
 of  his  coming  into  his  temple,  as  was  foretold,  Mai.  iii.  I.— Gill.  This 
 'purification'  was  both  of  mother  and  child;  and  our  Lord  Jesus, 
 though  free  from  impurity,  submitted  to  it,  because  he  was  made  sin 
 for  us.— ife;).  23.  Written,  in  Exod.  xiii.  2;  Num.  iii.  13.     When 
 
 God  smote  the  firstborn  of  Egypt,  he  saved  the  firstborn  of  Israel, 
 hence  this  claim  of  redemption,  (see  Exod.  xiii.  12  ;  Num.  iii.  12,  13, 
 4(5,  47,  and  xviii    15,  l6.)  24.  Doves — one  for  a  burnt  and  the  other 
 
 for  a  sill  offering.  These  were  in  lieu  of  a  lamb,  and  a  proof  of  poverty. 
 — Gill,  Camp.  25.  Consolation  o/  Israel,  a  name  of  Messiah  used 
 among  the  Jews.  *  May  I  never  see  the  Consolation,*  was  a  form  of 
 swearing. — Gill.  26.  It  was  re^ealt:d,  Kexptifiarttrnevov,  '  he  was  di- 
 vinely informed,'  'he  bad  an  express  communication  from  God  con- 
 cerning the   subject.'— ^^.C/urAre.      The    Lord's    Cht-iat,    'the   Lord's 
 
Simeon  and  Anna  prophesy  of  Christ, 
 
 LUKE,  II. 
 
 who  iiicreaseth  in  wisdom. 
 
 Ghost,  that  he  should  not  'see  death,  before 
 he  had  seen  the  Lord's  Christ. 
 
 27  And  he  came  '  by  the  Spirit  into  the 
 temple  :  and  when  the  parents  brought  in  the 
 cliild  Jesus,  to  do  for  him  after  the  custom  of 
 the  law, 
 
 •28  Then  took  he  him  up  in  his  arms,  and 
 blessed  God,  and  said, 
 
 '29  Lord,  "  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  de- 
 part in  peace,  according  to  thy  word  : 
 
 30  For  mine  eyes  *■  have  seen  thy  salvation, 
 
 31  Which  thou  hast  prepared  before  the  face 
 of  all  people  ; 
 
 3-2  '^  A  light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles,  and  the 
 glory  of  thy  people  Israel. 
 
 33  And  Josepli  and  his  mother  marvelled  at 
 those  things  which  were  spoken  of  him. 
 
 34  And  Simeon  blessed  them,  and  said  unto 
 Mary  his  mother.  Behold,  this  child  is  set  for 
 the  ''  fall  and  rising  again  of  many  in  Israel ; 
 and  for  °a.  sign  which  shall  be  spoken  against ; 
 
 35  (Yea,  'a  sword  sliall  pierce  through  thy 
 own  soul  also,)  that  the  thoughts  of  many 
 hearts  may  be  revealed. 
 
 36  And  there  was  one  Anna,  a  prophetess, 
 the  daugliter  of  Pbanuel,  of  the  tribe  of  Aser: 
 she  was  of  a  great  age,  and  had  lived  with  an 
 husband  seven  years  from  her  virginity  ; 
 
 37  And  slie  irns  a  widow  of  about  fourscore 
 and  four  years,  which  departed  not  from  the 
 temple,  but  served  God  with  fastings  and 
 prayers  i=  night  and  day. 
 
 38  And  she  coming  in  that  instant  gave 
 thanks  likewise  unto  the  Lord,  and  spake  of 
 him  to  all  them  that  ''looked  for  redemption' 
 in  II  Jerusalem. 
 
 39  And  when  they  had  performed  all  things 
 according  to  tlie  law  of  the  Lord,  they  returned 
 into  Galilee,  to  their  own  city  Nazareth. 
 
 Before  the 
 
 Account 
 
 called  Arnio 
 
 Domini  tlie 
 
 fourth 
 
 Year. 
 
 y  Ps.  S9.  48. 
 Heb.  n.5. 
 ;  Mat.  4.  1. 
 
 t  Gen.  46.30. 
 PhU.   1.  -23 
 
 b  Is.  52, 
 ch.  3.  I 
 
 c  U  9.  S.  » 
 42.6. &. 19.6 
 &  60.  1,2,3, 
 Mat.  *.  16 
 Acts  13.47, 
 &  28.28. 
 
 d  Is  S.  M, 
 Hos.  U.  9. 
 Mat.  21 .  -14 
 Rom .  9. 32, 
 33.  1  Coi.i. 
 23,  21. 
 2  Cor.  2.16 
 I  Pet,  2  7,8 
 r  Acts  28.  22 
 /  Ps  J2.  10. 
 John  19,25, 
 
 Before  the 
 
 .Account 
 
 called  .Anno 
 
 I  vcr.  52. 
 ch.  1.80. 
 
 A  Ex.  23.  15, 
 17.&34,  23, 
 Dcut.  16.  1 
 
 16. 
 A.D, 
 
 I  Slat,  ;.  29. 
 Mark  1  22, 
 ch.  4  22,32 
 .lohu  7.  15, 
 46. 
 
 p  )  Sam.  S. 
 26.  ver.  40 
 11  Or,  ajc. 
 
 40  '  And  the  child  grew,  and  waxed  strong 
 in  spirit,  filled  with  wisdom  :  and  the  grace  of 
 God  was  upon  him. 
 
 41  Now  his  parents  went  to  Jerusalem  'every 
 year  at  the  feast  of  the  passover. 
 
 42  And  when  he  was  twelve  years  old,  they 
 went  up  to  Jerusalem  after  the  custom  of  the 
 feast. 
 
 43  And  when  they  had  fulfilled  the  days,  as 
 they  returned,  the  child  Jesus  tarried  behind 
 in  Jerusalem  ;  and  Joseph  and  his  mother  knew 
 not  of  it. 
 
 44  But  they,  supposing  him  to  have  been  in 
 the  company,  went  a  day's  journey  ;  and  they 
 sought  him  among  their  kinsfolk  and  acquaint- 
 ance. 
 
 4o  And  when  they  found  him  not,  they  turn- 
 ed back  again  to  Jerusalem,  seeking  him. 
 
 40  .\nd  it  came  to  pass,  that  after  tliree  days 
 they  found  him  in  the  temple,  sitting  in  the 
 midst  of  the  doctors,  both  hearing  them,  and 
 asking  them  questioiLS. 
 
 47  And  '  all  that  heard  him  were  astonished 
 at  his  understanding  and  answers. 
 
 48  And  when  tliey  saw  him,  they  were 
 amazed  :  and  his  mother  said  unto  him.  Son, 
 why  hast  thou  tlius  dealt  with  us'r"  behold, 
 thy  father  and  I  have  sought  tliee  sorrowing. 
 
 49  And  he  said  unto  them.  How  is  it  that  ye 
 sought  me  ?  wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be  about 
 ""my  Father's  business? 
 
 50  And  "  they  understood  not  the  saying 
 which  he  spake  unto  them. 
 
 51  And  he  went  down  with  them,  and  came 
 to  Nazareth,  and  was  subject  unto  them  :  but 
 his  mother  °  kept  all  these  sayings  in  her 
 heart. 
 
 52  And    Jesus   ''increased   in   wisdom   and 
 stature,  and  in  favour  with  God  and  man. 
 
 anointed.'— Hem.  Refers  to  Ps.  ii.  2.— Ci/;.  27.  By  Mf  Spin/,  ■  under 
 the  Spirii's  guidance.'  — Scu«.  29.  Depart,  cutoXmis — the  word 
 
 uTToAAo/it  properly  denotes  'to  loosen,'  'set  free,'  &c.  —  Bhtomjleld. 
 '  Loosest  him  from  life.'— ,J.  Clarke.  .iccoriUng  to  thy  uurd—he  seems 
 to  have  understood,  by  tlic  revelation  made  to  him,  that,  as  he  should 
 not  die  before  he  saw  the  Messiah,  so,  when  he  had  seen  him,  he 
 should  speedily  be  removed  by  death.— GiH.  30.  T/ii/  saleatiun,  here 
 means  '  a  Saviour.'— Joi-d'ii.  34.  r<ir  the  fall,  ^-c— Snneon  implies 
 
 that  Christ  would  be  tlic  occasion  of  sin  and  offence  to  those  who  loolt 
 for  a  temporal  Messiah,  and  of  reformation  and  forgiveness  to  those 
 who  are  less  prejudiced  against  h\m.—Biuomf.  '  Fall,'  through  infi. 
 delity  1  'rising,'  through  laith.— »7ii(4.</.  He  will  be  the  means  of 
 bringing  aggravated  ruin  upon  some,  as  well  as  salvation  and  recovery 
 to  others. — Doddr.  For  a  sif^n,  eir  utintiov  avrtKefo^ieifin',  a  but  or 
 mark  to  shoot  at.— Doddr.,  Mackn.  This  finely  intimates  the  deliberate 
 malice  of  Christ's  persecutors.— So  Doddr.  That  he  should  be  for  '  a 
 monument,'  and  *  a  remarkable  example  of  rejection  and  contempt.' — 
 Bloom/.  35.  Yen,  a  sword,  ^c.,  ^ofijiam,  '  a  javelin  or  dart.'— Bras. 
 '  She  must  expect  to  witness  such  things,  from  the  cruelty  and  enmity 
 of  the  people  and  rulers  against  her  son,  as  would,  like  a  sword,  pierce 
 her  soul  with  the  most  e.\quisite  anguish.'— Sco//.  That  the  thoughts, 
 ■  so  that  the  thuu2:hts,'  &c.  The  ministry,  miracles,  and  death  of  Jesus 
 will  discover,  or  bring  to  light,  the  thoughts,  designs,  and  dispositions 
 of  all  characters.- BooMr.  36.  Anna,  the  same  with  Hannah,  sig. 
 nifying  '  grace,'  or  '  gracious.'  .i  prophetess — prophecy  had  ceased 
 some  hundreds  of  years,  yet  was  now  revived ;  and,  as  there  were  pro. 
 phetesses  before  Christ— as  Miriam.  Deborah,  and  Huldah— so  this 
 '.Anna'  aft£r  ;  and  afterwards  four  of  Philip's  daughters. —Gi//.  It  does 
 not  appear  that  this  was  a  prophetess  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word, 
 but  one  capable  of  instructing  others,  (see  the  use  of  the  word  Trpo^n- 
 Tifo,  in  1  Cor.  xiv.  3.)— Clarke.     Phanuel—be  seems  to  have  been  an 
 
 eminent  person  of  the  tribe  of  Asher. — Seott.  Secen  i/ears,  i.  e.,  the 
 term  of  her  marriage  state. — Gill.  33.  To  all  them  that  looked  fur 
 redemption,  the  pi<tus  persons  who  waited  for  a  spiritual  redemption. — 
 Seott.  40.  Strong  in  spirit,  his  rational  soul  became  strong  and 
 vigorous. — A.Clarke.  The  grace,  '  love  and  favour.' — Gi7/,  Clarke, 
 41.  Eeeri/  year — men  went  three  times  a  year  to  the  feasts  of  the  pass- 
 over,  pentecost,  and  tabernacles,  (Deut.  xvi.  l6,)  but  women  were  not 
 obliged  to  go  to  the  passover;  this  was  quite  a  voluntary  thing  in 
 Mary,  which  discovers  her  piety  and  religion. — Gill.  42.  Twelve 
 years — it  seems  to  have  been  the  custom  for  young  persons  to  accom- 
 pany their  parents  at  that  age. — Scott.  43.  The  days,  the  day  of  the 
 passover  feast,  and  the  seven  following  days  of  unleavened  bread. — 
 Bp.  Pearce.  44.  Supposing  him  to  hare  been  in  the  company,  ev  Tn 
 ffi'ioiici.  means,  priperly,  'a  company  of  travellers.' — Camp.,  so 
 Bloom/.  At  the  heathen  festivals,  many  thousands  travel  together ; 
 and  hence  it  is  easy  to  lose  a  triend.  They  travelled  in  companies,  as 
 a  security  against  banditti. — Ho/}.,  Camp.  46.  .ifter  three  days,  the 
 first  spent  in  their  journey  homeward ;  the  second,  in  their  return  to 
 Jerusalem ;  and  the  third,  in  searching  after  Christ  there. — Boothr. 
 In  the  midst — the  doctors  sat  on  benches  of  a  semicircular  form,  raised 
 above  their  auditors  and  disciples,  the  learners  sitting  at  their  feet, 
 (Acts,  xxii.  3.) — Doddr.  Asking  them  questions — this  was  customary 
 with  the  doctors'  disciples,  or  any  present. — R.  Watson.  The  Jewish 
 doctors  set  a  high  value  on  the  interrogatory  system  of  instruction, 
 and  eucouraged  their  disciples  and  auditors  to  ask  questions. — Pict. 
 Bib.  49.  I^isY,  i.  e.,  '  knew.' — Doddr.,  Camp.      About  my  Father's 
 
 bttsiness,  tv  Toir  too  HuTpoc  /ioo,  'at  my  Father's.'  —  Doddr.,  Camp. 
 '  I  ought  to  be  in  my  Father's  house.' — So  Origen,  Chrysostom,  Theo. 
 phylact,  Grotius,  Cappeltus,  Hammond,  Boothroyd,  &c.  The  expres- 
 sion may  refer  to  Mai.  iii.  1. — Light/.  The  phrase  is  equivocal,  and  is 
 preferred  in  our  rendering  hy  Rosenm.,  and  others. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  Rpmark  here,  I.  How  God 
 overrules  alt  worhlly  concerns  for  his  own  glonj.  The  councils 
 and  decrees  of  the  most  mighty  monarchs  shall  but  subserve 
 his  wise  designs.  Here  Cuesar  Augustus  is  made  God's  ser- 
 vant, and  the  faith  of  the  church  is  contirmed  by  the  registry 
 ol  the  Saviour's  family,  while  propliecy  is  accomplished  in 
 bringing  them  to  the  predicted  spot  where  Messiah  should  be 
 born. 
 
 "'''    T!','^  tiirlh  of  a  Saitloiir  is  a  subject  of  jmj  for  angds  and 
 men.     I  nose  benevolent  beings  rejoice  in  tlie  happiness  of  our 
 race,  and  heaven  rings  with  their  shouts  when  even  one  sin- 
 1068 
 
 ner  repents  ;  how,  then,  must  the  whole  mystery  of  redemp- 
 tion, exhibited  though  not  explored,  have  filled  their  bosoms 
 with  tlie  most  exquisite  delight!  And  to  man,  what  joyous 
 news  were  the  tidings  of  '  peace  on  earth'  between  the  offend- 
 ing creature  and  his  God,  and  the  benevolence  of  the  offended 
 Jehovah  towards  such  a  ruined  world  !  O  that,  with  good 
 old  Simeon,  we  may  each  embrace  tiie  Lord's  Christ  in  the 
 arms  of  our  faitli,  in  that  solemn  hour  when  '  heart  and  flesh 
 shall  fail,'  and  say,  with  the  venerable  saint,  'Lord,  now  let- 
 test  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  liave  seen 
 thy  salvation.' 
 
The  preaching  and  baptism  of  John. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  III. 
 
 His  testimony  of  Christ. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  TTie  preaching  and  baptism  of  John  :  ib  his  testimony 
 of  Christ.  W  Herod  imprisoneth  John.  21  Christ 
 baptized,  receiveth  testimony  from  heaven.  23  The 
 aye,  and  yenealoijy  of  Christ  from  Joseph  upwards. 
 
 "lyrOW  ill  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of 
 -'-^  Tiberius  Cssar,  Pontius  Pilate  being  go- 
 vernor of  Juda;a,  and  Herod  being  tetrarch  of 
 Galilee,  and  his  brother  Philip  tetrarch  of 
 IturEca  and  of  the  region  of  Trachonitis,  and 
 I^ysanias  the  tetrarch  of  Abilene, 
 
 2  °  Annas  and  Caiaphas  being  the  high 
 priests,  the  word  of  God  came  unto  John  the 
 son  of  Zacharias  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 3  >>  And  he  came  into  all  the  country  about 
 Jordan,  preaching  the  baptism  of  repentance 
 ''  for  the  remission  of  sins  ; 
 
 4  As  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  the  words 
 of  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  ■^  The  voice  of 
 one  crying  in  the  wilderness.  Prepare  ye  the 
 way  of  the  Lord,  make  his  paths  straight. 
 
 5  Every  valley  shall  be  filled,  and  every 
 mountain  and  hill  shall  be  brought  low  ;  and 
 the  crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and  the 
 rough  ways  shall  be  made  smooth  ; 
 
 6  And  "all  flesh  shall  see  the  salvation  of 
 God. 
 
 7  Then  said  he  to  the  multitude  that  came 
 forth  to  be  baptized  of  him,  *■  O  generation  of 
 vipers,  who  hath  warned  you  to  flee  from  the 
 wrath  to  come  ? 
 
 8  Bring  forth  therefore  fruits  ||  worthy  of  re- 
 pentance, and  begin  not  to  say  within  your- 
 selves. We  have  Abraham  to  our  father :  for  I 
 say  unto  you,  That  God  is  able  of  these  stones 
 to  raise  up  cliildren  unto  Abraham. 
 
 9  And  now  also  the  axe  is  laid  unto  the  root 
 of  the  trees :  *  every  tree  therefore  which 
 bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewn  down, 
 and  cast  into  the  fire. 
 
 10  And  the  people  asked  him,  saying,''  What 
 shall  we  do  then  ? 
 
 1 1  He  answereth  and  saith  unto  them,  '  He 
 that  hath  two  coats,  let  him  impart  to  him  that 
 nath  none ;  and  he  that  hath  meat,  let  him  do 
 likewise. 
 
 <i  John  n.lU, 
 61. Bi  IS.  \i. 
 Acts  4.  C. 
 
 h  Mat.  S.  I. 
 Mark  I.  4. 
 
 d  Is.  40.  S. 
 Mat,  3.  S. 
 Mark  1.3. 
 Jitbu  1.23. 
 
 e  Vs.  98.  2. 
 Is.  5J.  10. 
 cli.  2.  10. 
 
 /  Mat.  S.  ■ 
 
 II  Or,  m'vl 
 for. 
 
 g  Mat.  7.19. 
 
 .  D.  26. 
 
 h  Mat.ai.3:i. 
 ch.  7.  2y. 
 /  cli.  19.  B. 
 
 il  Or,  P<it  no 
 man  in  fear. 
 
 m  Ex.  ia.  I. 
 Lev.  19.  II. 
 
 II  Or,  alio\o- 
 
 \\'0r',in  .u,- 
 
 jieiice. 
 ll  Or,  ftOfn- 
 
 ed,  or,  dc- 
 
 bal'd. 
 
 1  Mil.  3,  n, 
 
 A  Act 
 
 2.  a? 
 
 i  ch.  11.  41. 
 
 2  Cor 
 
 .K.  U 
 
 Jam. 
 
 y,  IW 
 
 16.  I 
 
 John 
 
 3.  17 
 
 U  4. 
 
 20. 
 
 1  nnch.4 12. 
 
 Mai.  13.30. 
 
 A.  D.  SO. 
 ,1  Mat.  14.  3. 
 Mark  6   17. 
 
 .  D.  27. 
 
 7  Mat.  3.  13. 
 
 ■  l.n  I.  32. 
 
 ■  See  Num. 
 
 4.  3,  35,  39, 
 
 43,  47. 
 I  Mat.  13.55. 
 
 Ji>lm6.  42. 
 
 12  Then  i-came  also  publicans  to  be  baptized, 
 and  said  unto  him.  Master,  what  shall  we  do  ? 
 
 13  And  he  said  unto  them,  '  Exact  no  more 
 than  that  which  is  appointed  you. 
 
 14  And  the  soldiers  likewise  demanded  of 
 him,  saying.  And  vvliat  sliall  we  do?  And  he 
 said  unto  them,  ||  Do  violence  to  no  man, 
 "  neither  accuse  any  falsely ;  and  be  content 
 with  your  ||  wages. 
 
 15  And  as  the  people  were  ||  in  expectation, 
 and  all  men  ||  mu.sed  in  their  hearts  of  John, 
 whether  he  were  the  Christ,  or  not ; 
 
 16  John  answered,  saying  unto  them  all,  "  I 
 indeed  baptize  you  with  water ;  but  one 
 mightier  than  I  cometh,  tlie  latchet  of  whose 
 shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose  :  he  shall 
 baptize  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with 
 fire  : 
 
 17  Whose  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will 
 throughly  purge  his  floor,  and  "will  gather  the 
 wheat  into  his  garner  ;  but  the  chatf  he  will 
 burn  with  Are  unquenchable. 
 
 18  And  many  other  things  in  his  exhortation 
 preached  he  unto  the  people. 
 
 19  ■'But  Herod  the  tetrarch,  being  reproved 
 by  him  for  Herodias  his  brother  Philip's  wife, 
 and  for  all  the  evils  which  Herod  had  done, 
 
 20  Added  yet  this  above  all,  that  he  shut  up 
 John  in  prison. 
 
 21  Now  when  all  the  people  were  baptized, 
 ■i  it  came  to  pass,  that  Jesus  also  being  baptized, 
 and  praying,  the  heaven  was  opened, 
 
 22  And  the  Holy  Ghost  descended  in  a  bodily 
 shape  like  a  dove  upon  him,  and  a  voice  came 
 from  heaven,  which  said.  Thou  art  my  beloved 
 Son  ;  in  thee  I  am  well  pleased. 
 
 23  And  Jesus  himself  began  to  be  '  about 
 thirty  years  of  age,  being  (as  was  supposed) 
 "  the  son  of  Joseph,  which  was  the  son  of 
 Heh, 
 
 24  Which  was  the  son  of  Matthat,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Levi,  which  was  tlie  son  of  Melchi, 
 which  was  the  son  of  Janna,  which  was  the  son 
 of  Joseph, 
 
 23  Which  was  the  son  of  Mattathias,  which 
 was  the  son  of  Amos,  which  was  the  son  of 
 
 Chap.  III.  —  1.  Fifteenth  year  of  Tiheritts  Caaar,  the  fifteentli  of  his 
 principality,  and  thirteenth  of  his  monarchy ;  for  he  was  two  years 
 joint  emperor  previous  to  the  death  of  Augustus. — .4.  Clarke.  Pontins 
 Pilule,  fyc. — after  tlie  death  of  Herod  the  Great,  .\rchelaus  succeeded 
 tojudea;  but  he  was  deposed  hy  Augustus,  and  thenceforth  Judea 
 was  governed  by  his  procurators.  Pilate  being  the  fourth  in  succession, 
 who  lield  that  office  ten  years. — R.  Watson.  Tetrarch — after  tlie  death 
 of  Herod  the  Great,  liis  kingdom  was  divided  into  four  parts  or  te- 
 trarchies,  but  distributed  among  three  rulers ;  over  one  of  these  this 
 Herod  Antipas  reigned. — Bens.,  Mar. ;  see  further,  Matt.  xir.  I,  note. 
 The  word  '  tetrarch'  ought  not  to  be  understood  rigorously,  as  it  was 
 occasionally  given  to  a  prince  who  possessed,  perhaps,  a  half  or  a  third 
 part  of  a  state. — Cat.  Jturaia,  the  nation  of  the  Itureans  belonged  to 
 (-'oelc. Syria.  Trachonitis,  was  near  toDecapolis. — So  Pliny.  Ahilene, 
 Ptolemy  speaks  of  Abila  of  Lysanias,  and  Pliny  mentions  it  as  in 
 Ccele-Syria. — Gilt.  2.  Annus  and  Caiaphas,  i^c. — the  law  of  Moses 
 appointed  one  high  priest.  Annas  had  held  the  office  eleven  years, 
 when  he  was  deposed  by  the  Roman  governor,  and  succeeded  hy  his 
 son-in-law,  Caiaphas.  Probably  the  authority  of  Annas  was  still  re- 
 spected by  the  people,  and  he  is  on  that  account  mentioned  here  con- 
 jointly with  Caiaphas. — J .  B.  Sumner.  Annas  still  had  the  honorary 
 title. — H.  Watson.  It  appears  that  he  still  continued  'ruler  of  the 
 people,' and  president  of  the  Sanhedrim.  Some  suppose  that  Annas 
 was  high  priest,  and  Caiaphas  deputy  ;  but  no  deputy  of  the  high  priest 
 was  allowed  to  ofheiate,  except  he  was  ill,  or  by  some  means  incapaci- 
 tated.— Scott.  That  he  was  deputy  is  the  opinion  of  Ligfitfoot,  Krehs, 
 Bloumf.,  &c.  3.  Preaching  the  baptism  of  repentance,  calling  sin- 
 ners of  all  descriptions  to  repentance,  and  admitting  the  penitent  to 
 the  baptism  of  water,  as  an  outward  or  \isible  sign  or  emblem  of  the 
 free  and  full  remission  of  all  their  sins. — Bens.  4.  One  crying,  fyc. — 
 see  Isa.  xl.  3.  note.  6.  Alt  flesh,  fyc,  persons  of  all  nations  should 
 know  and  enjoy  that  great  and  glorious  salvation  which  God  was  then 
 bringing  into  the  world  by  Jesus  Christ. — Guyse.  7-  Vipers,  ^c. — see 
 Matt.  iii.  7,  note.  8.  Fruits — see  Matt.  ill.  8,  note,  .il/raham — see 
 Matt,  iii,  9,  note.  9.  ^j-e— see  Matt.  iii.  10,  note.  \(t.  What  shall 
 we  do?  to  bring  forth  fruits  for  repentance. — Scott.  \\.  He  that  hath 
 1069 
 
 ttvo  coals,  ^c— these  words  and  the  following,  though  not  to  be  taken 
 literally,  yet  certainly  require  more  liberality  than  is  generally  prac- 
 tised amo'ng  Christians.— A'co«.  12.  Publicans,  collectors  of  the  taxes 
 which  the  Romans  had  imposed  on  the  Jews.— Bens.  13.  Ej:acl,  /fc. 
 —the  publicans  or  their  masters  farmed  the  revenue,  and  exacted  more 
 than  their  iae.—Elsley.  14.  Do  riolence,  iitiaewtne,  signifies,  '  to 
 take  a  man  by  the  collar  and  shake  him.'  This  forbids  bullying  con- 
 liuct.—Doddr.  •  Neither  extort  any  man's  goods  or  money  by  force.' 
 —Raphelius.  See  Schleusner.  The  Romans  governed  chiefly  by  mili. 
 tary  force.  Neither  accuse  any  falsely,  avuoipaiTtnv  answers  to  the 
 Hebrew  p©S,  and  signiOes  also  •  to  circumvent'  and  •  oppress.'— Bens. 
 Wages,  o>/,uii..o(r,  includes  not  only  money,  but  wheat,  barley,  &c.— 
 See  Raphelius.  l6.  I  indeed  baptize,  «fc.— See  notes  on  Matt.  in. 
 11,  12.  18.  Preached  he,  ei.ii77eX.i;eTO,  '  he  published  the  good  XM- 
 ings.'— Campbell.  He  evangelized  or  pleached  the  gospel.— Lardner. 
 19.  Herod,  .J-c— see  Matt.  xiv.  1,  &c.,  notes.  21.  All  the  people,  that 
 came  from  several  parts  to  John  to  be  baptized.  Jesus  also  being  bap. 
 Used,  of  John  in  Jordan— (Ae  heaven  mas  opened—see  Matt.  iii.  10, 
 note.         22.  Like  a  ioue— ibid.  23.  Began  to  be  about— v.as  about. 
 
 —Boothr.,  so  Camp.  Thirty,  an  age  at  which  the  priests  under  the 
 law,  who  were  typical  of  Christ,  entered  on  their  work,  (Num.  iv.  23  , 
 1  Chron.  xxiii.  3.)— Gill.  As  was  supposed,  the  son  of  Joseph,  not  really 
 so,  but  miraculously  conceived,  as  before  explained  by  Luke.— Camp. 
 Which  was  the  son  of  Heli,  f,c.—St.  Matthew  traced  the  genealogy 
 through  Joseph,  Luke  through  Mary.  It  is  certain  that  Heli  was  not 
 the  natural  father  of  Joseph,  for  St.  Matthew  expressly  tells  us  that 
 '  Jacob  begat  Joseph  ;  it  is  therefore  inferred,  that  Heli  was  the  father 
 of  Mary,  and  only  father-in-law  of  Joseph.  Females  were  not  men- 
 tioned in  the  Jewish  genealogies;  Mary  is  therefore  only  intimated  or 
 included  when  the  line  is  commenced  from  her  father  Heli.  Luke, 
 writing  for  the  Gentiles,  proves  that  Christ  was  the  seed  of  the  woman  ; 
 Matthew,  writing  for  the  Jews,  deduces  his  legal  descent  from  David 
 and  Abraham.— Lig-A//.  Joseph  might  properly  be  called  the  son  ot 
 Heli,  since  those  who  married  heiresses  were  obliged  to  pass  into  the 
 family  of  their  fathers-in-law,  and  let  themselves  be  reckoned  their 
 sons. — Boothr. 
 
The  genealogy  of  Christ. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  IV. 
 
 The  temptation  andfuiting  of  Christ. 
 
 Naum,  which  was  the  son  of  Esli,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Nagge, 
 
 20  Which  was  the  son  of  Maath,  wliich  was 
 the  son  of  Mattathias,  wliich  was  the  son  of 
 Semei,  which  was  the  son  of  Joseph,  which 
 was  the  son  of  Jiida, 
 
 '27  Which  was  the  son  of  Joanna,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Rhesa,  which  was  the  son  of  Zoro- 
 habel,  which  was  the  son  of  Salathiel,  whicli 
 was  the  son  of  Neri, 
 
 28  Which  was  the  son  of  Melchi,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Addi,  which  was  the  son  of  Cosam, 
 which  was  the  son  of  Elmodaiii,  which  was  Me 
 son  of  Er, 
 
 29  Wliich  was  the  son  of  Jose,  which  was  the 
 son  of  Ehezer,  which  was  the  son  of  Jorim, 
 wliich  was  the  son  of  Matthat,  which  was  the 
 son  of  Levi, 
 
 30  Which  was  the  son  of  Simeon,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Juda,  which  was  t/ie  son  of  Joseph, 
 which  was  the  son  of  Jonan,  which  was  the  son 
 of  Eliakiin, 
 
 31  Which  was  the  so7i  of  Melea,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Menaii,  which  was  the  son  of  Mat- 
 tatha,  which  was  the  son  of  '  Nathan,  "  which 
 was  the  son  of  David, 
 
 32  ^  Which  was  the  son  of  Jesse,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Obed,  which  was  the  son  of  Booz, 
 which  was  the  son  of  Salmon,  which  was  the 
 son  of  Naasson, 
 
 33  Which  was  the  son  of  Aininadab,  which 
 was  the  son  of  Aram,  which  was  the  son  of 
 Esrom,  wliich  was  the  son  of  I'hares,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Juda, 
 
 34  Which  was  the  son  of  Jacob,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Isaac,  which  was  the  son  of  Abraham, 
 'which  was  the  son  of  Thara,  which  was  Me 
 son  of  Nachor, 
 
 3j  Which  was  the  son  of  Saruch,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Ragau,  which  was  the  son  of  Phalec, 
 whicli  was  the  son  of  Heber,  which  was  the  son 
 of  Sala, 
 
 36  '  Which  was  the  son  of  Caiiian,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Arphaxad,  '  which  was  the  son  of 
 Sem,  which  was  the  son  of  Noe,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Lamech, 
 
 37  Which  was  the  son  of  Mathusala,  which 
 was  the  son  of  Enoch,  which  was  the  son  of 
 Jared,  which  was  the  son  of  Maleleel,  which 
 was  the  son  of  Caiiian, 
 
 t  Zprli.  13. 
 
 li. 
 u  2  Sam   5 
 
 H.  I  (;hr. 
 
 3   5. 
 j-BcitlH.IS 
 
 SiclChri 
 
 111,  &c. 
 
 u  Gcn.  M  .24, 
 86. 
 
 I  Gen.  5.  6, 
 Kccft  11.10, 
 
 n   M«t    ♦.   1 
 Walk  1.18. 
 
 f>  ver.  14. 
 ch.  li.  87. 
 
 c  Ex.  St.  SS 
 1  Kin.  19.^. 
 
 J  John  18.11, 
 ,■((  1 1    311 
 Kev  I3l',7. 
 
 II  Or.  f,.n 
 il.iien  lipfart 
 
 f  ncii,  6.  13. 
 &  llj.  80. 
 
 AJohDUSO 
 lleb.  4.  15. 
 
 38  Which  was  the  son  of  Eno.s,  which  was 
 the  son  of  Seth,  which  was  the  son  of  Adam, 
 ''  which  was  the  son  of  God. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 1  The  temptation  and  fasting  of  Christ.  13  Ht  over- 
 Cometh  the  devil:  14  brpinneth  to  preach.  16  The 
 people  of  Nazareth  admire  his  t/raciuns  words.  iiS 
 He  cureth  one  possessed  of  a  devil,  38  Peter's  mother 
 in  law,  40  and  divers  other  sick  persons.  41  TIte 
 devils  aehiowledc/e  Christ,  and  are  reproved  for  it. 
 43  He  preaclteth  throui/h  the  cities. 
 
 A  ND  'Jesus  being  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
 -'*-  returned  from  Jordan,  and  ''  was  led  by 
 
 the  Spirit  into  the  wilderness, 
 
 2  Being  forty  days  tempted  of  tlie  devil. 
 And  ''  ill  those  days  he  did  eat  nothing  :  and 
 when  they  were  ended,  he  afterward  hungered. 
 
 3  And  the  devil  said  unto  him.  If  thou  be 
 the  Son  of  God,  command  this  stone  that  it 
 be  made  bread. 
 
 4  And  Jesus  answered  him,  saying,  ''  It  is 
 written,  That  man  shall  not  live  by  bread 
 alone,  but  by  every  word  of  God. 
 
 And  the  devil,  taking  him  up  into  an  liigh 
 mountain,  shewed  unto  him  all  the  kingdoms 
 of  the  world  in  a  moment  of  time. 
 
 6  And  the  devil  said  nnto  him.  All  this  power 
 will  I  give  thee,  and  the  glory  of  them  :  for 
 °  that  is  delivered  unto  me ;  and  to  whomso- 
 ever I  will  I  give  it. 
 
 7  If  thou  therefore  wilt  ||  worship  me,  all 
 shall  be  thine. 
 
 8  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him. 
 Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan  :  for  'it  is  written. 
 Thou  shalt  worship  the  Lord  thy  God,  and 
 him  only  shalt  thou  serve. 
 
 9  ^  And  he  brought  him  to  Jerusalem,  and 
 set  him  on  a  pinnacle  of  the  temple,  and  said 
 unto  him.  If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God,  cast  thy- 
 self down  from  hence  : 
 
 10  For  ''it  is  written.  He  shall  give  his  angels 
 charge  over  thee,  to  keep  thee  : 
 
 1 1  And  in  their  hands  they  shall  bear  thee 
 up,  lest  at  any  time  thou  dash  thy  foot  against 
 a  stone. 
 
 12  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him,  'It  is 
 said.  Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God.  ■ 
 
 13  And  when  the  devil  had  ended  all  the 
 temptation,  he  departed  from  him  ''  for  a 
 season. 
 
 38.  The  son  of  God,  for,  though  a  creature,  he  had  no  father  or  mother. 
 — Benson. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  2.  Being  forti/  days    tempted — see  Matt.  iv.   I,  &c., 
 notes.        13.  For  a  season — this  implies  that  the  devil  assaulted  Christ 
 
 REFLEcTioys  ON  Chap.  III. — We  may  here  usefully  em- 
 ploy some  hints  of  the  present  Bishop  of  Chester  on  -portions 
 of  this  chapter— I.  On  the  inquiry  of  the  people.  '  "  What  shall 
 we  do  then  !"  It  is  a  satisfactory  sign  when  people's  minds 
 are  so  far  moved  upon  the  subject  of  religion  as  to  inquire  in 
 earnest,  "What  shall  we  do  then?"  If  there  is  "wrath  to 
 come,"  how  shall  we  flee  from  it  !  If  there  is  a  kingdom  pre- 
 pared for  the  righteous,  bow  shall  we  enter  it  V 
 
 II.  On  the  answer  to  the  people's  inepiiry.  They  are  here 
 taught  '  that  they  must  lay  asi<ie  their  selfishness.  They 
 must  live  no  longer,  as  men  without  religion  do  commonly 
 live,  for  themselves  alone,  but  for  God  and  their  fellow-crea- 
 tures. They  must  consider  how  they  can  impart  to  others  a 
 share  of  the  blessings  they  enjoy.'  Their  '  real  duty  is  to 
 pursue  a  Christian  course  in  the  station  to  which  each  man 
 belongs  :  to  shun  (he  particular  evils  which  beset  us,  whether 
 in  riches  or  in  poverty,  in  business  or  in  leisure  :  to  keep  the 
 golden  rule  in  view,  "  Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  bis 
 righteousness."  '  And  here  it  must  be  observed,  '  that  the 
 abandonment  of  sin,  and  the  practice  of  righteousness,  is  not 
 the  procuring  cause  of  .salvation.  It  is  not  repentance,  but 
 the  "  blood  of  Christ  which  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  Vet  the 
 1070 
 
 abandonment  of  sin,  and  the  practice  of  righteousness,  are  ne- 
 cessary to  salvation,  jthough  they  are  not  its  procuring  cause. 
 Every  one  of  those  who  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for 
 the  remission  of  sins  will  ask— How  shall  I  make  it  evident 
 that  "  the  life  which  I  live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  in  the  faith  of 
 the  .Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for  me  V  ' 
 
 III.  Ok  C/c  i'o/cc/ron! /ifai'iTi  testifying  of  Jesus.  '  God  was 
 "  well  pleased''  that  his  Son  should  pay  the  price  of  redemp- 
 tion, and  reconcile  us  to  himself.  Are  we  also  well  pleased 
 with  this  1  Are  we  willing  to  confess,  that  in  ourselves  we 
 have  nothing  to  plead  or  claim,  but  must  receive  "  eternal 
 life  as  the  gift  of  God,  through  Jesus  Christ"  7— God,  how- 
 ever, was  well  pleased  with  Christ,  not  only  as  a  propitiation 
 for  sin,  but  also  as  a  pattern  of  righteousness  ;  and  he  will  be 
 pleased  with  the  disciples  of  Christ,  in  proportion  as  they  fol- 
 low that  pattern,' 
 
 IV.  On  the  origin  of  Adam,  'which  was  the  son  of  God.* 
 '  How  has  sin  corrupted  that  nature,  and  defaced  the  Father's 
 image!  Christ  Jesus,  the  ErtiiNAL  Son  of  God,  appeared 
 to  restore  that  nature,  and  to  renew  the  soul  "  after  the  image 
 of  him  that  created  him."  And  thus  man  became,  once  more, 
 a  child  of  God.' 
 
The  people  of  Nazareth 
 
 S.  LUKE,  IV. 
 
 admire  Christ's  gracious  words. 
 
 14  H'  And  Jesus  returned  ™in  the  power  of 
 the  Spirit  into  "  Galilee  :  and  there  went  out  a 
 fame  of  him  through  all  the  region  round  about. 
 
 15  And  he  taught  in  their  synagogues,  being 
 glorified  of  all. 
 
 Hi  f  And  he  came  to  "Nazareth,  where  he 
 had  been  brought  up  :  and,  as  his  custom  was, 
 ■'  he  went  into  the  synagogue  on  the  sabbath 
 day,  and  stood  up  for  to  read. 
 
 17  And  there  was  delivered  unto  him  the 
 book  of  the  prophet  Esaias.  And  when  he 
 had  opened  the  book,  he  found  the  place  where 
 it  was  written, 
 
 18  '^  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me,  he- 
 cause  he  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  the  gos- 
 pel to  the  poor ;  he  hath  sent  me  to  heal  the 
 brokenhearted,  to  preach  deliverance  to  the 
 captives,  and  recovering  of  sight  to  the  blind, 
 to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised, 
 
 19  To  preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 20  And  he  closed  the  book,  and  he  gave  it 
 again  to  the  minister,  and  sat  down.  And  the 
 eyes  of  all  them  that  were  in  the  synagogue 
 were  fastened  on  him. 
 
 21  And  he  began  to  say  unto  them,  This  day 
 is  this  scripture  fulfilled  in  your  ears. 
 
 22  And  all  bare  him  witness,  and  'wondered 
 at  the  gracious  words  which  proceeded  out  of 
 his  mouth.  And  they  said,  ^  Is  not  this  Jo- 
 seph's son  ? 
 
 •23  And  he  said  unto  them.  Ye  will  surely  say 
 unto  me  this  proverb,  Physician,  heal  thyself: 
 whatsoever  we  have  heard  done  in  '  Caper- 
 naum, do  also  here  in  "  thy  country. 
 
 24  And  he  said.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  No 
 '  prophet  is  accepted  i)i  his  own  country. 
 
 25  But  I  tell  you  of  a  truth,  ''many  widows 
 were  in  Israel  in  the  days  of  Elias,  when  the 
 heaven  was  shut  up  three  years  and  six  months, 
 when  great  famine  was  throughout  all  the 
 land  ; 
 
 26  But  unto  none  of  them  was  Elias  sent, 
 save  unto  Sarepta,  a  city  of  Sidon,  unto  a  wo- 
 man that  was  a  widow. 
 
 27  '  And  many  lepers  were  in  Israel  in  the 
 time  of  Eliseus  the  prophet ;  and  none  of  them 
 was  cleansed,  saving  Naaman  the  Syrian. 
 
 28  And  all  they  in  the  synagogue,  when  they 
 heard  these  things,  were  filled  with  wrath, 
 
 29  And  rose  up,  and  thrust  hira  out  of  the 
 city,  and  led  him  unto  the  ||  brow  of  the  hill 
 
 A  T).  31 
 Mat   2,  23, 
 fi   IH   54. 
 Markfi    I. 
 p  Acts  I3.U. 
 &  17.  8. 
 
 P«.  «.2. 
 M.it.  13.54. 
 Mark  6.  9. 
 ih.  2,  47. 
 John  6.  42. 
 
 (Mat.  4.  IS. 
 
 &   M .  23. 
 r<  Mat.  13.H. 
 
 Mark  6.  I. 
 
 r  Mat. 13.57. 
 
 Mark  ti.  4. 
 
 .luhn  4.  44. 
 r/  1  Kin.  17. 
 
 9   fe  IH.  I. 
 
 Jam.  5.  17. 
 
 ft  Mat.  4.  i:^. 
 Mark  1.21. 
 
 c  Mat.  6.  28, 
 29.  Tit.  2. 
 
 fTt.  10.  in. 
 Dan.  0  21. 
 ch.  1.  :i5. 
 
 q  Mat,  8.  14. 
 Maikl.  29. 
 
 k  Mark  1.25, 
 34,   ver.  34, 
 
 II  Of.  Id  tat/ 
 lliit  lf,rif 
 
 whereon  their  city  was  built,  that  they  might 
 cast  him  down  headlong. 
 
 30  But  he  °  passing  through  the  midst  of 
 them  went  his  way. 
 
 31  And  ''  came  down  to  Capernaum,  a  city  of 
 Galilee,  and  taught  them  on  the  sabbath  days. 
 
 .32  And  they  were  astonished  at  his  doctrine: 
 '  for  his  word  was  with  power. 
 
 33  f ''  And  in  the  synagogue  there  was  a  man, 
 which  had  a  spirit  of  an  unclean  devil,  and 
 cried  out  with  a  loud  voice, 
 
 34  Saying,  ||  Let  tis  alone  ;  what  have  we  to 
 do  with  thee,  Moi(  Jesus  of  Nazareth?  art  thou 
 come  to  destroy  us?  °\  know  thee  who  thou 
 art ;  f  the  Holy  One  of  God. 
 
 35  And  Jesus  rebuked  him, saying.  Hold  thy 
 peace,  and  come  out  of  him.  And  when  the 
 devil  had  thrown  him  ni  the  midst,  he  came 
 out  of  him,  and  hurt  him  not. 
 
 36  And  they  were  all  amazed,  and  spake 
 among  themselves,  saying,  What  a  word  is 
 this!  for  with  authority  and  power  he  com- 
 inandeth  the  unclean  spirits,  and  they  come 
 out. 
 
 37  And  the  fame  of  him  went  out  into  every 
 place  of  the  country  round  about. 
 
 38  H^  And  he  arose  out  of  the  synagogue, 
 and  entered  into  Simon's  house.  And  Simon's 
 wife's  mother  was  taken  with  a  great  fever ; 
 and  they  besought  him  for  her. 
 
 39  And  he  stood  over  lier,  and  rebuked  the 
 fever ;  and  it  left  her :  and  immediately  she 
 arose  and  ministered  unto  them. 
 
 40  11  ''  Now  when  the  sun  was  setting,  all  they 
 that  had  any  sick  with  divers  diseases  brought 
 them  unto  him  ;  and  he  laid  his  hands  on  every 
 one  of  them,  and  healed  them. 
 
 41  'And  devils  also  came  out  of  many,  crying 
 out,  and  saying,  Thou  art  Christ  the  Son  of 
 God.  And  'he  rebuking  them  suffered  them 
 not  II  to  speak :  for  they  knew  that  he  was 
 Christ. 
 
 42  '  And  when  it  was  day,  he  departed  and 
 went  into  a  desert  place :  and  the  people  sought 
 him,  and  came  unto  him,  and  stayed  him,  that 
 he  should  not  depart  from  them. 
 
 43  And  he  said  unto  them,  I  must  preach 
 the  kingdom  of  God  to  other  cities  also  :  for 
 therefore  am  I  sent. 
 
 44  ""  And  he  preached  in  the  synagogues  of 
 Galilee. 
 
 afterwartls,  which,  if  not  before,  he  certainly  did  in  the  garden  of  Geth. 
 semane,  (chap.  xsii.  53,)  where  Jesus  saith  to  the  Jews,  'this  is  your 
 hour  and  the  power  of  darkne-^s.* — Bens.  16.  Stood  up  for  to  read — 
 it  was  a  received  custom  that  tlie  reading  of  the  scriptures  should  be 
 performed,  the  minister  and  tlie  people  standing. — Light/.,  Wetsteiyi, 
 Vilr.  By  standing  up  he  shewed  that  he  was  ready  to  read  the  lesson 
 of  the  day,  if  they  would  let  him. — Bootltr.  It  was  customary,  when 
 any  grave  person  went  into  the  synagogue,  to  invite  hira  to  read  a 
 portion  of  scripture,  and  expound  it,  (see  Acts,  xiii.  15.) — Bp.  Mann. 
 We  do  not  find  that  Christ  ever  read  the  scripture  in  any  other  syna- 
 gogue ;  the  reason  was,  he  was  a  member  of  that  of  Nazareth,  and  the 
 Jewish  writers  tell  us,  that  none  but  a  member  of  the  synagogue  might 
 read  there. — Gui/se.  17-   W/ien  tie  tiad  opened,  avairTi'far,  'having 
 
 unrolled;'  for  books  formerly  were  written  on  rolls  of  paper  or  parch- 
 ment.— Gitt.  These  rolls  were  fastened  with  two  laths  with  handles, 
 by  holding  which  in  his  hand  the  reader  could  roll  or  unroll  the  book 
 at  his  pleasure.— See  Ham.  and  Wolf.  18,  19.  Tfie  Spirit  of  tlie 
 Lord,  ^c. — see  Isa.  Ixi.  1,  notes.  Recovering  of  sight,  ^c,  seems 
 to  allude  to  the  oriental  custom  of  putting  out  the  eyes  of  prisoners. — 
 Cradoc/e.  Bruised,  alludes  to  the  pressure  of  the  heavy  chains,  (see 
 Judg.  xvi.  21  ;  2  Kings,  xxv.  y.)~Doddr.  19.  Acceptalfle  year,  alludes 
 to  the  Jubilee,  (see  Lev.  xxv.  8,  9.) — Mar.,  Btoomf.  20.  To  the  mi- 
 nister, Tw  iiTTtiptTt;,  'to  the  servant'  who  had  brought  it  to  him,  a  sub- 
 
 ordinate officer  who  attended  on  the  minister.  This  officer  had  the 
 charge  of  the  sacred  books,  delivered  them  to  those  to  whom  he  was 
 commanded  by  his  superiors  to  give  them,  and  after  the  reading  depo- 
 sited them  in  their  proper  place. — Camp.  And  sat  down — when  the 
 Jewish  doctors  taught  the  people,  they  sat  down.  (Matt,  xxiii.  2.) 
 Were  fastened  on  him,  expecting  him  to  explain  the  passage.  21.  Ful- 
 filled, by  what  they  heard  him  speak. — Bens.  22.  At  the  gracious 
 itords,  cTTt  Totc  \of  oii  Ttif  xapiTof,  *  thc  graccful  words;'  literally, 
 '  words  of  grace  ;'  may  refer  both  to  the  manner  and  matter  of  the  dis- 
 course.— Eisner,  Doddr.  24.  No  prophet — see  Matt.  xiii.  57,  note. 
 '  It  is  therefore  much  fitter  for  me  to  perform  my  miracles  in  other 
 places  than  among  a  people  whose  prejudices  will  not  give  way  to  con- 
 viction.' 25.  Many  widows,  §-c. — God  uses  a  holy  sovereignty  in  the 
 dispensations  of  his  favour,  not  as  man  judges  to  be  most  likely,  but 
 as  seems  good  in  his  sight ;  witness  the  widow  of  Sarepta,  and  Naa 
 man  the  Syrian. — Guyse.  This  was  a  stab  to  the  pride  of  the  Jews, 
 and  an  intimation  of  the  gracious  regards  of  Heaven  towards  the  other 
 nations  of  the  earth. — J.  Bennett.  27.  Eliseus,  the  Greek  mode  of 
 pronouncing  Elisha. — Mant.  29.  The  hill,  fyc.,  Nazareth  stands  in  a 
 little  vale  between  two  hills..— SflHtf.v.t,  so  Matindret.  34.  What  have 
 we  to  do,  fyc. — see  Matt.  viii.  29,  note.  38.  Simon's  wife's  mother, 
 ^r. — see  Matt.  viii.  14.  note.  39.  Stood  over  her,  emiTTas  firavw  auTtit, 
 '  standing  near  her.' — Camp. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.   IV.  —  We  have  here,   I.  Satan  |  word  of  God  ;  and  this  is  a  never-failing  weapon  if  we  use  it 
 repelled.      The   instrument  which  Christ  employed  was  the  I  against  the  assaults  of  Satan. 
 1071 
 
Christ  teacheth  the  people. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  V. 
 
 He  healetk  one  sick  of  the  palsy. 
 
 A 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Christ  tencheth  the  people  out  of  Peter's  ship  :  4  in  a 
 jniraculous  taking  ofjis/ies,  sheweth  how  he  willmake 
 him  and  his  partners  Jishers  of  men:  12  cleanseth 
 the  leper:  16  prayeth  in  the  witeterwss:  18  healeth 
 one  sick  of  tlic  palsi/ :  27  calleth  Mattliew  the  publi- 
 can: 29  eateth  with  sinntrs,  as  heinij  the  physician 
 of  souls:  mforetelleth  the  fastinr/s  and  afflictions  of 
 the  apostles  after  his  a.'ieensiori :  36  and  likeneth 
 fainthearted  and  weak  disciples  to  old  bottles  and 
 worn  garments. 
 
 ND  "it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  the  people 
 pressed  upon  him  to  hear  the  word  of 
 God,  he  stood  by  tlie  lake  of  Gennesaiet, 
 
 2  And  saw  two  ships  standing  by  the  lake : 
 but  the  fishermen  were  gone  out  of  them,  and 
 were  washing  their  nets. 
 
 3  And  he  entered  into  one  of  tlie  ships,  which 
 was  Snnon's,  and  prayed  liim  that  he  would 
 thrust  out  a  little  from  the  land.  And  he  sat 
 down,  and  taught  the  people  out  of  the  ship. 
 
 4  Now  when  he  had  left  speaking,  he  said 
 unto  Simon,  ''  Launch  out  into  the  deep,  and 
 let  down  your  nets  for  a  draught. 
 
 5  And  Simon  answering  said  unto  him.  Mas- 
 ter, we  have  toiled  all  the  niglit,  and  have  taken 
 nothing :  nevertheless  at  tliy  word  I  will  let 
 down  the  net. 
 
 6  And  when  they  had  tliis  done,  they  in- 
 closed a  great  multitude  of  fishes  :  and  their 
 net  brake. 
 
 7  And  they  beckoned  unto  their  partners, 
 whicli  were  in  the  otlier  sliip,  that  they  should 
 come  and  help  them.  And  tliey  came,  and 
 filled  both  the  ships,  so  tliat  they  began  to 
 sink. 
 
 8  When  Simon  Peter  saw  it,  he  fell  down  at 
 Jesus'  knees,  saying,  '  Depart  from  me  ;  for  I 
 am  a  .sinful  man,  O  Lord. 
 
 9  For  he  was  astonished,  and  all  that  were 
 with  him,  at  the  draught  of  the  fishes  which 
 they  had  taken  : 
 
 10  And  so  was  also  .Tames,  and  John,  the 
 sons  of  Zebedee,  wliich  were  partners  with 
 Simon.  And  Jesus  said  unto  Simon,  Fear  not ; 
 ■"from  henceforth  tliou  slialt  catch  men. 
 
 1 1  And  when  they  had  brought  their  ships  to 
 land,  "  they  forsook  all,  and  followed  him. 
 
 12  H  '  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  was  in  a 
 certain  city,  behold  a  man  full  of  leprosy :  who 
 seeing  Jesus  fell  on  his  face,  and  besought  him 
 saying.  Lord,  if  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make  me 
 clean. 
 
 13  And  he  put  forth  his  hand,  and  touched 
 him,  saying,  I  will  :  be  thou  clean.  And  im- 
 mediately the  leprosy  departed  from  him. 
 
 14  *  And  he  charged  liim  to  tell  no  man:  but 
 go,  and  shew  thyself  to  the  priest,  and  offer 
 
 Mat.  I.  \A 
 M.uh  I.  16 
 
 e  2  S.-un.  6.a 
 1  Kin.  17. 
 
 d  Mat.  i.  19 
 Slark  1.17. 
 
 f  Mat,  4.  20, 
 
 gt  19.  ?7. 
 
 Mark    I.  IS. 
 
 cl».   18.  '28. 
 /  Mat   8   S. 
 
 Mark  1.  IK 
 
 g  Mat.  8  4. 
 
 /i  Lev,  14   4, 
 HI,  ill,  22. 
 
 Mat-  4.  25. 
 Marks  7. 
 Jotin  6.  2. 
 
 N  Mat.  9.  3. 
 .MarK  2.li,7. 
 
 .  Ph.  S2.  5. 
 Is.  -VJ.  20. 
 
 ,'  Mat.  9.  in. 
 Mark  2.  15. 
 .,  ch.  15.  1. 
 
 for  thy  cleansing,  ^  according  as  Moses  com- 
 manded, for  a  testimony  unto  tliem. 
 
 15  But  so  much  the  more  went  there  a  fame 
 abroad  of  him  :  '  and  great  multitudes  came 
 together  to  hear,  and  to  be  healed  by  him  of 
 their  infirmities. 
 
 16  t '  And  he  withdrew  himself  into  the  wil- 
 derness, and  prayed. 
 
 17  And  it  came  to  pass  on  a  certain  day,  as 
 he  was  teaching,  that  there  were  Pharisees  and 
 doctors  of  the  law  sitting  by,  which  were  come 
 out  of  every  town  of  Galilee,  anil  Judiva,  and 
 Jerusalem  :  and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was 
 present  to  heal  them. 
 
 18  t  '  And,  beliold,  men  brought  in  a  bed  a 
 man  which  was  taken  with  a  palsy  ;  and  they 
 sought  tncans  to  bring  him  in,  and  to  lay  him 
 before  him. 
 
 19  And  when  they  could  not  find  by  what 
 trai/  tliey  might  bring  him  in  because  of  the 
 multitude,  they  went  upon  the  housetop,  and 
 let  him  down  through  the  tiling  with  his  couch 
 into  the  midst  before  Jesus. 
 
 '20  And  when  he  saw  their  faith,  he  said  unto 
 him,  Man,  tliy  sins  are  forgiven  thee. 
 
 ■21  "'And  the  scribes  and  the  Pharisees  began 
 to  reason,  saying.  Who  is  this  which  speaketh 
 blasphemies  y  "  Who  can  forgive  sins,  but  God 
 alone  ? 
 
 22  But  when  Jesus  perceived  their  thoughts, 
 ho  answering  said  unto  them,  What  reason  ye 
 in  your  hearts? 
 
 23  Whether  is  easier,  to  say,  Thy  sins  be  for- 
 given thee  ;  or  to  say.  Rise  up  and  walk? 
 
 24  But  tliat  ye  may  know  that  the  Son  of 
 man  hath  power  upon  earth  to  forgive  sins,  (he 
 said  unto  the  sick  of  the  palsy,)  I  say  unto 
 thee.  Arise,  and  take  up  thy  couch,  and  go 
 unto  thine  house. 
 
 2j  And  immediately  he  rose  up  before  them, 
 and  took  up  tliat  whereon  he  lay,  and  departed 
 to  his  own  house,  glorifying  God. 
 
 20  And  they  were  all  amazed,  and  they  glori- 
 fied God,  and  were  filled  with  fear,  saying,  We 
 liave  seen  strange  things  to  day. 
 
 27  t  °  And  after  these  things  he  went  forth, 
 and  saw  a  publican,  named  Levi,  sitting  at  the 
 receipt  of  custom  :  and  he  said  unto  him.  Fol- 
 low me. 
 
 28  And  he  left  all,  rose  up,  and  followed 
 him. 
 
 29  ''  And  Levi  made  him  a  great  feast  in  his 
 own  house  :  and  '  there  was  a  great  company 
 of  publicans  and  of  others  that  sat  down  with 
 them. 
 
 30  But  their  scribes  and  Pharisees  murmured 
 against  his  disciples,  saying.  Why  do  ye  eat 
 and  drink  with  publicans  and  sinners? 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  I .  Lake  of  Gennesnret^see  Matt.  iv.  18,  note.  2.  Two 
 ships,  '  two  small  vessels,'  TiXota — they  were  a  sort  of  large  fishing 
 boats. — Ben.t.  Standing  t)t/  the  lake,  effTwra  napa  rriv  Ai/jvnv,  'agromid 
 near  the  edge.' — Camp.  6.  Their  net  brake,  iic'fi^n'yyi'To,  or  '  began 
 to  break,' or  was  '  likely  to  be  broken.'  Had  it 'broke,' as  our  version 
 states,  they  could  have  caught  no  fish. — A.  Clarke,  Bootltr.  8.  De. 
 part  from  me,  €^e\f)e  an' f/iou,  '  go  ciut  from  me,' i.e.,  from  my  boat. 
 — A.  Clarke.  This  he  said  as  conscious  of  his  own  nnworthiness  to  be 
 in  his  presence. — Gill.  A  consciousness  of  sin  made  him  afraid  lest 
 in  his  presence  some  infirmity  or  offence  should  cKpose  him  to  more 
 than  ordinary  puni'.hment.  {comp.  Judg.  vi.  22,  and  I  Kings,  xvii.  18.) 
 — Doddr.  10.  T/iou  Khalt  catch  men,  ai/t^pwjrouv  efft;    fui^pioi',  'thou 
 
 Shalt  captivate  men.' — Doddr.     Captivate  is  never  applied  to  fishes. — 
 
 Camp.  '  Catch  men  alive.' — A.Clarke.  The  original  is  very  erapha- 
 tical — '  thou  Shalt  be  employed  in  catching  men  alive  ;'  it  is  spoken  in 
 allusion  to  those  fishes  and  beasts  that  are  caught  not  to  be  killed,  but 
 to  be  pul  into  ponds  and  parks. — Bens.  11.  Fursook  all,  fish,  nets, 
 
 ships,  relations,  friends. — Gilt.  14.  Tell  no  man— see  Matt.  viii.  4, 
 
 note.  I".  To  heal  them — by  avrovv,  'them,' must  not  be  understood 
 the  Pharisees  and  lawyers,  who  are  nowhere  said  to  have  been  healed, 
 but  rather  the  sick  of  that  town,  such  as  had  been  brought  toChrist. — 
 Bloiimf.  19.  Tidng— sec  Mark.  ii.  4,  note.  CokcA— see  Matt.  ix.  2, 
 nole.  la.  Sins  are  fargieen  — ibid.,  note.  26.  Strange  things, 
 
 TTupac^ofu,  or  '  incredible  things.* — Camp.  27.  Levi,  or  Matthew.  It 
 was  a  common  thing  among  the  Jews  for  the  same  person  to  have  two 
 names. — Bens.         30.  Publicans  and  sinners  ? — see  Matt.  ix.  11,  note. 
 
 II.  Satan  assailed.   Here  we  see  Christ  destroying 'the  works    Satan  of  men's  souls.    His  word  is  still  '  with  power.' 
 of  the  devil.'    We  cannot,  like  bim,  perform  miracles  on  men's    us  aim  with  this  to  rescue  sinners  from  bis  tbraldom. 
 bodies;  but,  by  the  force   of  bis  trutb,  we  may  dispossess 
 1072 
 
 Let 
 
Christ  reprovcth  the  Pharisees'  blindness 
 
 S.  LUKE,  Vi. 
 
 about  Ihc  obscrvnlit/n  of  Ihr  snbbatli 
 
 31  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  them,  Tliey 
 that  are  wliole  need  not  a  physician  ;  but  tliey 
 tliat  are  sick. 
 
 32  '  I  came  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sin- 
 ners to  repentance. 
 
 33  1[  And  tliey  said  unto  him,  *  Why  do  the 
 disciples  of  John  fast  often,  and  make  prayers, 
 and  likewise  the  disciples  of  the  Pliarisees  ; 
 but  thine  eat  and  drink  r' 
 
 34  And  he  said  uato  tliem,  Can  ye  make  the 
 children  of  tlie  bridcchamber  fast,  wliile  the 
 bridegroom  is  witli  them? 
 
 35  But  the  days  will  come,  wlien  the  bride- 
 groom shall  be  taken  away  from  them,  and  then 
 shall  they  fast  in  those  days. 
 
 36  If '  And  he  spake  also  a  parable  unto 
 them;  No  man  i)utteth  a  piece  ofa  new  gar- 
 ment upon  an  old  ;  if  otherwise,  then  both  the 
 new  maketh  a  rent,  and  the  piece  that  was 
 taken  out  of  tlie  new  agreeth  not  with  tlicold. 
 
 37  And  no  man  putteth  new  wine  into  old 
 bottles  ;  else  the  new  wine  will  burst  the  bot- 
 tles, and  be  spilled,  and  the  bottles  shall 
 perish. 
 
 38  But  new  wine  must  be  put  into  new  bot- 
 tles ;  and  both  are  preserved. 
 
 39  No  man  also  having  drunk  old  loine 
 straightway  desireth  new  :  for  he  saith.  The 
 old  is  better. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  Christ  reproveth  tlie  Pharisees'  blindness  about  the 
 observation  of  tlie  sabbath,  by  scripture^  reason,  and 
 miracle:  13  chousetti  twelve  apostles :  11  healeth  the 
 diseased:  20  preachttk  to  /lis  disciples  before  the 
 people  of  blessinijs  and  curses  :  21  how  we  must  love 
 our  enemies  ;  46  and  join  the  obedience  of  tjood  works 
 to  the  hearing  of  the  word:  lest  in  the  evil  day  of 
 temptation  we  fall  like  an  house  built  upon  the  face 
 of  the  earth,  without  any  foundation. 
 
 A  ND  "  it  came  to  pass  on  the  second  sab- 
 -'^  bath  after  the  first,  that  he  went  tlirough 
 the  corn  fields  ;  and  his  disciples  plucked  the 
 ears  of  corn,  and  did  eat,  rubbing  them  in  their 
 hands. 
 
 2  And  certain  of  the  Pharisees  said  unto 
 them.  Why  do  ye  that  ^  which  is  not  lawful  to 
 do  on  the  sabbath  days  ? 
 
 3  And  Jesus  answering  them  said.  Have  ye 
 not  read  so  much  as  this,  '^  what  David  did, 
 when  liimself  was  an  hungred,  and  tliey  which 
 were  with  him  ; 
 
 4  How  he  went  into  the  house  of  God,  and 
 did  take  and  eat  tlie  sliewbread,  and  gave  also 
 to  them  that  were  with  him  ;  ''  which  it  is  not 
 lawful  to  eat  but  for  the  priests  alone? 
 
 5  And  he  said  unto  them.  That  the  Son  of 
 
 ■  Mat.  0   13 
 1  Tiiu.1.15, 
 
 t  Mat  9.  )G. 
 17.  Maik->. 
 
 S.-e  rh.  13 
 14  &  II.  3 
 John  9.  111. 
 
 S  Mat.  10.  I. 
 /■John  1.42. 
 
 1  Mat.  1.  !5. 
 Maik  3.7. 
 
 /  M.it.  11.16. 
 
 Jam.  y.  h. 
 o  Is.  M.  1. 
 
 it  Gb.  \-i. 
 
 Mat.  5.  G. 
 i>  Is.  61    3. 
 
 Mat.  5.  +. 
 9  Mat.  5.  II 
 
 I  Pet  2.19 
 
 hi.  I  I.h4 
 
 mail  is  Lord  also  of  the  sabbath. 
 
 6  'And  it  came  to  pass  also  on  another  sab- 
 bath, that  he  entered  into  the  synagogue  and 
 taught :  and  there  was  a  man  wliose  right  hand 
 was  withered. 
 
 7  And  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  watched 
 him,  whether  he  would  heal  on  the  sabbath 
 day;  that  they  might  find  an  accusation  against 
 liiin. 
 
 8  But  he  knew  their  thoughts,  and  said  to  the 
 man  which  liad  the  withered  hand.  Rise  up, 
 and  stand  forth  in  the  midst.  And  he  arose 
 and  stood  forth. 
 
 9  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them,  I  will  ask  you 
 one  thing ;  Is  it  lawful  on  the  salibath  days  to 
 do  good,  or  to  do  evil  ?  to  save  life,  or  to  de- 
 stroy it  ? 
 
 10  And  looking  round  about  upon  them  all, 
 he  said  unto  the  man.  Stretch  forth  thy  hand. 
 And  he  did  so  :  and  his  hand  was  restored 
 whole  as  the  other. 
 
 1 1  And  they  were  filled  with  madness ;  and 
 commuiied  one  with  another  what  they  might 
 do  to  Jesus. 
 
 12  'And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that 
 he  went  out  into  a  mountain  to  pray,  and  con- 
 tinued all  iiiglit  in  prayer  to  God. 
 
 13  If  And  when  it  was  day,  he  called  ruito 
 him  his  disciples:  ^and  of  them  he  chose 
 twelve,  whom  also  he  named  apostles  ; 
 
 14  Simon,  ('' wliom  he  also  named  Peter,) 
 and  Andrew  his  brother,  James  and  John, 
 Philip  and  Bartholomew, 
 
 15  Matthew  and  Thomas,  James  tlie  son  of 
 Alpha^us,  and  Simon  called  Zelotcs, 
 
 10  And  Judas  '  the  brother  of  James,  and  Ju- 
 das Iscariot,  which  also  was  tlie  traitor. 
 
 1 7  If  And  he  came  down  with  them,  and  stood 
 in  the  plain,  and  the  company  of  his  disciples, 
 ''  and  a  great  multitude  of  people  out  of  all 
 Juda'a  and  Jerusalem,  and  from  the  sea  coast 
 of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  which  came  to  hear  him, 
 and  to  be  healed  of  their  diseases  ; 
 
 18  And  they  that  were  vexed  with  unclean 
 spirits  :   and  they  were  healed. 
 
 19  And  the  wdiole  multitude  'souglit  to  touch 
 him  :  for  "*  there  went  virtue  out  of  him,  and 
 healed  them  all. 
 
 20  1  And  he  lifted  up  his  eyes  on  his  dis- 
 ciples, and  said, "  Blessed  be  ye  poor  :  for  your's 
 is  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 21  °  Blessed  are  ye  that  hunger  now  :  for  ye 
 shall  be  filled.  ''  Blessed  are  ye  that  weep 
 now  :  for  ye  shall  laugh. 
 
 22  ''  Blessed  are  ye,  when  men  shall  hate  you, 
 and  when  they  '  shall  separate  you  from  their 
 
 31.  Are  whole — see  Matt.  ix.  12,  note.  32.  The  righteous,  as  they 
 arrogantly  supposed  themselves  to  hQ.~Bens.  33.  Fast  o/fen—see 
 Matt.  ix.  14,  &c.,  notes.  37.  Old  hottles  — sec  Matt.  ix.  17,  note, 
 ny.  The  old  is  better — here  he  signifies  the  superior  ctinsolatioii  aiitl  joy 
 the  disciples  liad  been  used  to  find  in  iiis  presence. — Mav. 
 
 Chat.  VI.  —  1.  After  the  first,  'after  the  first  day  of  unleavened 
 bread.' — Doddr.,  Xewc.,  Boothr.,  Dav.  About  this  time  barley  was 
 nearly  ripe  in  Judea. — Dav.  Commentators  are  all  perplexed  with  this 
 passage  ;  for  the  original,  c  (ra/i/iaTy  iei'TepoTrpajTy,  is,  literally,  '  on 
 the  second  first  sabbatli.'  12.  In  prayer  to  God,  tv  nj  Trpocrei'xt;  rov 
 
 Oeor/,  in  a  'proseucha,'  or  'oratory;'  a  small  building'erected  for  re- 
 tirement and  devotion. — So  Drusius,  Mede,  Hum,,  Whitby,  MurkL, 
 Wets,,  Camp.,  Wutts,  Doddr.,  Prid.,  Bitotlir,,he.     'The  oratories  were 
 
 enclosures  fenced  with  walls,  and  without  roofs.— /.eit-is.  Scott  re- 
 marks that  the  construction  of  the  reading  best  suits  this  rendering, 
 which  to  the  Greek  reader  must  be  obvious  ;  but  '  being  in  a  proseu- 
 cha' implies  '  being  in  prayer,'  and  hence,  doubtless,  thefree  rendering 
 of  our  translators. — Ed,  \^.  Culled  Zetotes — this  epithet  was  per- 
 haps added  to  his  nftme  on  account  of  his  uncommon  zeal  in  matters 
 of  religion. — Bens.  20.  And  he  lifted  up  his  eyes,  §■(•. — this,  tliough 
 containing  many  like  remarks,  is  nut  the  same  sermon  as  in  Matthew  : 
 that  was  delivered  on  a  mountain,  this  in  a  plain  ;  that  sitting,  this 
 standing  ;  and  there  is  a  great  dificrence  in  the  expression  when  the 
 parallel  passages  are  comiiarcd. — Doddr.  Poor— see  Matt.  v.  3,  note. 
 21.  Hunger — see  Matt.  v.  6.  note.  22.  Hate  you,  ^c. — see  Matt.  v. 
 10,  note.    Sepurute  you,  may  either  mean  from  company,  as  Gentiles, 
 
 Rt.Fi.rcTiONs    ON    Chav.    V.   —  This    cliapter    is   highly 
 
 interesting  and  instructive,    and  may  lead  us  to  remark 
 
 I.  On  our  Lord's  mirachs.  The  miraculous  draught  of  fishes, 
 the  healing  of  the  leper,  and  curing  of  the  paralytic,  are 
 all  most  amazing  proofs  of  his  power,  witnessed  both  by 
 iiiends  and  enemies,  and  exciting,  even  in  both,  awe  and 
 1073 
 
 admiration. 
 
 II.  On  our  Lord's  instructions.  How  appropriate  !  —  how 
 striking  !  — how  impressive!  He  had  always  a  worti  in  season. 
 Let  us  come  to  him  for  wisdom,  who  '  spake  as  never  man 
 spake.* 
 
Of  loving  our  enemies. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  VII. 
 
 Good  works  enjoined. 
 
 company,  and  sliall  rfc')noach^o«,  anil  cast  out 
 your  name  as  evil,  for  the  Son  of  man's  sake. 
 
 23  '  Rejoice  ye  in  that  day,  and  leap  for  joy  : 
 for,  behold,  your  reward  is  great  in  heaven : 
 for  '  in  the  like  manner  did  their  fathers  unto 
 the  prophets. 
 
 24  "  But  woe  unto  you  '  that  are  rich !  for  '  ye 
 have  received  your  consolation. 
 
 25  '  VV'oe  unto  you  that  are  full !  for  ye  shall 
 hunger.  "  \Voe  unto  you  that  laugh  now!  for 
 ye  shall  mourn  and  weep. 
 
 26  ''  Woe  unto  you,  when  all  men  shall  speak 
 well  of  you  !  for  so  did  their  fathers  to  the  false 
 propliets. 
 
 27  f  "^  But  I  say  unto  you  which  hear,  Love 
 your  enemies,  do  good  to  them  which  hate 
 you, 
 
 28  Bless  them  that  curse  you,  and  ''  pray  for 
 them  which  despitefully  use  you. 
 
 29  '  And  unto  him  that  smiteth  thee  on  the 
 one  cheek  ofter  also  the  other  ;  '  and  him  that 
 taketh  away  thy  cloke  forbid  not  to  take  thy 
 coat  also. 
 
 30  *  Give  to  every  man  that  asketh  of  thee  ; 
 and  of  him  that  taketh  away  thy  goods  ask 
 them  not  again. 
 
 31  ''  And  as  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to 
 you,  do  ye  also  to  them  likewise. 
 
 32  '  For  if  ye  love  them  which  love  you,  what 
 thank  have  ye  ?  for  sinners  also  love  those  that 
 love  them. 
 
 33  And  if  ye  do  good  to  them  which  do 
 good  to  you,  what  thank  have  ye  ?  for  sinners 
 also  do  even  the  same. 
 
 34  '  And  if  ye  lend  to  them  of  whom  ye  hope 
 to  receive,  what  thank  have  ye?  for  sinners 
 also  lend  to  sinners,  to  receive  as  much  again. 
 
 35  But  '  love  ye  your  enemies,  and  do  good, 
 and  "'  lend,  hoping  for  nothing  again  ;  and  your 
 reward  shall  be  great,  and  "  ye  shall  be  the 
 children  of  the  Highest:  for  he  is  kind  unto 
 the  unthankful  and  to  the  evil. 
 
 36  "  Be  ye  therefore  merciful,  as  your  Father 
 also  is  merciful. 
 
 37  ''Judge  not,  and  ye  .shall  not  be  judged  : 
 condemn  not,  and  ye  shall  not  be  condemned  : 
 forgive,  and  ye  shall  be  forgiven  : 
 
 38  ''  Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you  ; 
 good  measure,  pressed  down,  and  shaken  to- 
 gether, and  running  over,  shall  men  give  into 
 your  '  bosom.      For  '  with  the  same  measure 
 
 *  M.-\t.  5.  12 
 Acts  5.  .11. 
 Col.  1.  2*. 
 Jam.  I.  2, 
 
 t  Acta  7.  51. 
 
 t  .Amns  6.  I 
 Ecclus.  .SI 
 8  Jam.  £. 
 
 I  Is,  lia,  IS. 
 
 n  Pr...  11.13, 
 6.roluil£  19. 
 IJoho  4.5. 
 
 c  Ex.  23,  4. 
 
 Pro.  25.  2. 
 
 Mat.  5.4*. 
 
 ver.  35. 
 
 Rrtm.l-i.ao 
 d  ch.  23.  M. 
 
 Acts  7.  fill. 
 
 «  Mat.  5.  39 
 f  1  Cor.  6.7- 
 
 g  Don.  \'j-  7, 
 
 9,  10.  Pro. 
 
 21.26.  Mat. 
 
 5.  42. 
 h  Tob.4.  lli. 
 
 Mat.  7.  12. 
 
 m  P».  37.26, 
 ver.  30. 
 n  Mat,  5.  45. 
 
 I  Mat.  7. 
 Mark  4.24. 
 Jam.  2.  13 
 
 "  Mat, 10,24. 
 John  13.16, 
 ft  15.  20 
 
 }i'Tficted  as 
 hit  mutter. 
 X  .Mat,  7,  8. 
 
 V  See  Prov. 
 '  18.  17. 
 
 ffir.  (1  grifpr. 
 b  Mat  12,35. 
 
 /  Mai,  1.  6. 
 Mat.  7.  21. 
 fc  25,  11, 
 ch    13  26 
 
 r  Mat    7    24 
 
 that  ye  mete  withal  it  shall  be  raeasurej  to 
 you  again. 
 
 39  And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them,  '  Can 
 the  blind  lead  the  blind  Y  shall  they  not  both 
 fall  into  the  ditch  ? 
 
 40  "  The  disciple  is  not  above  his  master : 
 but  every  one  ||  that  is  perfect  shall  be  as  his 
 master. 
 
 41  "And  why  bcholdest  thou  the  mote  that 
 is  in  thy  brother's  eye,  but  perceivest  not  the 
 beam  that  is  in  thine  own  eye'? 
 
 42  Eitlier  how  canst  thou  say  to  thy  brother. 
 Brother,  let  me  pull  out  tlie  mote  that  is  in 
 thine  eye,  when  thou  thyself  beholdest  not  the 
 beam  that  is  in  thine  own  eye  ?  Thou  hypo- 
 crite, '  cast  out  first  the  beam  out  of  thine  own 
 eye,  and  then  shalt  thou  see  clearly  to  pull  out 
 the  mote  that  is  in  thy  brother's  eye. 
 
 43  '  For  a  good  tree  bringeth  not  forth  cor- 
 rupt fruit ;  neither  doth  a  corrupt  tree  bring 
 forth  good  fruit. 
 
 44  For  °  every  tree  is  known  by  his  own  fruit. 
 For  of  thorns  men  do  not  gather  figs,  nor  of  a 
 bramble  bush  gather  they  f  grapes. 
 
 45  ''  A  good  man  out  of  the  good  treasure  of 
 his  heart  bringeth  forth  that  which  is  good  ; 
 and  an  evil  man  out  of  the  evil  treasure  of  liis 
 heart  bringeth  forth  that  which  is  evil :  for  '  of 
 the  abundance  of  tlie  heart  his  mouth  speaketh. 
 
 46  t ''  And  why  call  ye  me.  Lord,  Lord,  and 
 do  not  the  things  which  I  say  ? 
 
 47  "  Whosoever  comcth  to  me,  and  hcareth 
 my  saying.s,  and  doeth  them,  I  will  shew  you 
 to  whom  he  is  like  : 
 
 48  He  is  like  a  man  which  built  an  house, 
 and  digged  deep,  and  laid  the  foundation  on  a 
 rock  :  and  when  the  flood  arose,  the  stream 
 beat  vehemently  upon  that  house,  and  could 
 not  shake  it :  for  it  was  founded  upon  a  rock. 
 
 49  But  he  that  heareth,  and  doeth  not,  is  like 
 a  uian  that  without  a  foundation  built  an  house 
 upon  the  earth  ;  against  which  the  stream  did 
 beat  vehemently,  and  immediately  it  fell ;  and 
 the  ruin  of  that  house  was  great. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  Christ  findctli  a  greater  faith  in  the  ccnturionii  Gen- 
 tilej  than  in  any  of  the  Jews  :  10  heahth  his  su'vartt 
 heiiiy  absent :  11  raiscth  from  death  the  widoiv's  su7t 
 at  Nain :  19  answereth  John's  messengers  with  the 
 declaration  of  his  miracles  :  24  testtjieth  to  the  people 
 
 or  (rom  religious  assemblies.  Cast  out  your  mtme,  may  have  respect 
 to  the  creater  sort  of  excommunication,  called  '  Shammatha  and  Che- 
 rem,'  by  which  a  person  was  devoted  to  destruction,— Gi7^  24.  T/int 
 are  rich,  alluding  to  the  rich  of  the  synag;ogue,  who,  possessed  with 
 the  love  of  their  riches,  despised  Christ  and  his  gospel,  (John,  xii.  42, 
 43  ;  Matt.  ix.  3  ;  John,  ix.  28  ;  Luke.i.  53.)— jl/ar.  'iQ.When  all  men  shall 
 speak  well  of  you,  because  such  universal  applause  is  not  to  be  gained 
 ■without  sinful  compliances.— Bejw.  27-  Love  your  enemies— see  Matt. 
 V.  44,  note.  28.  Bless  them  that  curse  you,  'give  them  kind  and 
 friendly  lauguagc  who  rail  or  speak  evil  oi  yon.*— Bens.  29-  Smiteth, 
 —see  Matt.  v.  39,  note.  30.  Gice— see  Matt.  v.  42,  note.  35.  Httping 
 for  nothing,   in   cases  of  great  necessity.  —  Doddr.  36.  Merciful, 
 
 *  since  ynur  Father  is  merciful,  be  ye  also  merciful,'  (see  Eph.  i.  3  ; 
 Heb.  iv.  3,  and  viii.  b.)—M'ickn.  37-  Jndge  not  — see  Matt.  vii.  I, 
 
 note.  33.  Good  measure—the  allusion  is  to  the  dry  measure  among 
 the  Jews,  which  they  thrust  and  pressed  to  make  it  hold  more.— Gi//. 
 Into  your  bosom— the  eastern  garments  being  long,  folded,  and  girded 
 
 with  a  girdle,  admit  of  carrying  much  corn  in  the  bosom.— Onewf. 
 Cust.  39.  Can  the  blind?  §f. — our  Lord  sometimes  used  parables 
 when  be  knew  open  declarations  would  too  much  inflame  the  passions 
 of  his  hearers.  The  question  means,  '  Can  the  scribes  teach  tliis  way, 
 wliich  they  know  not  themselves  f*  40,  That  is  perfect,  ?fc.,  Kartip- 
 TiCT/iei/or,  or  '  perfected.'  perfectly  instructed  by  Christ's  doctrine,  and 
 perfectly  renewed  by  Iws  grace. — Bens.  Shall  be  as  his  muster — the 
 highest  perfection  of  a  disciple  lies  in  being  like  his  master,  and  learn- 
 ing of  him.  Christ's  followers,  therefore,  notwithstanding  all  difficul- 
 ties and  sufferings,  must  observe  his  butter  instructions. — Guyse. 
 42.  iI/0^1?— Affuiu- see  Matt.  vii.  3,  note.  43.  .<4  good  tree  — see  on 
 Matt.  vii.  16,  &c,,    notes.  4'}.  Good  treasure  of  his  heart,    'good 
 
 graces,  affections,  resolutions,' &c. ;  like  Joseph  bringing  out  his  stores, 
 he  will  bespeaking  and  doing  that  which  is  good  for  God's  glory  and 
 the  edification  of  others,  (see  Prov.  x.  Ii,  13,  14,  20,  21.  31,  ■^•i.]—Hcn. 
 48.  When  the  flood  arose— s.e>i  Matt.  vii.  2r),  &c.,  note. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.  VI.  —  In  this  chapter  we   may  'we  ought, 
 
 observe  —  1.  Chri&t  jyrai/ing.       How   the    devotions   of   the  II.  Christ  teachiuy.       And  what  pliilosopher  ever  taught 
 
 Saviour  shame  ours  !     O  had    that  prayer,   which  lasted  *  all  such  lessons  1     These,  if  learned  and  practised,  would  drive 
 
 night,'  been  recorded,  how  much  should  we  have  seen  of  the  sin  and  misery  out  of  the  world — make  Christians  happy  in 
 
 Saviour's  heart — of  his  truly  devotional  spirit!     How  should  themselves,  and  the  world  happy    within   their   influence— 
 
 we  be  ashamed  by  his  fervour,  .his  benevolence,  his  filial  con-  would  save  men  from  ruin,  and  produce  notliing  bur  glory  to 
 
 fidence  in   God,  his  heavenly  mindedness  !       O  Holy  Spirit,  God. 
 teach  us  to  pray  more  like  the  Saviour  ;  then  we  shall  pray  as 
 1074 
 
The  centurion's  faith. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  VII. 
 
 Christ  answercth  John's  mcssenyen 
 
 what  opinion  he  htld  of  John  :  30  invtighetk  against 
 the  Jews,  who  with  neither  the  manners  of  John  nor 
 of  Jesus  could  be  won  :  3(i  and  sheweth  by  occasion  of 
 Mary  Maodaleuc,  Itow  he  is  a  friend  to  sinners,  not 
 to  maintain  them  in  sins,  iiut  to  foryive  them  their 
 sins,  upon  their  faith  and  repentance . 
 
 NOW  when  he  had  ended  all  his  sayings  in 
 the  audience  of  the  people,  *  he  entered 
 into  Capernaum. 
 
 2  And  a  certain  centurion's  servant,  who  was 
 dear  unto  him,  was  sick,  and  ready  to  die. 
 
 3  And  when  he  heard  of  Jesns,  he  sent  unto 
 him  the  elders  of  the  Jews,  beseeching  him 
 that  he  would  come  and  heal  his  servant. 
 
 4  And  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  they  be- 
 sought him  instantly,  saying.  That  he  was  wor- 
 thy for  whom  he  should  do  this ; 
 
 5  For  he  loveth  our  nation,  and  he  hath  built 
 us  a  synagogue. 
 
 6  Then  Jesus  went  with  them.  And  when 
 he  was  now  not  far  from  the  house,  the  centu- 
 rion sent  friends  to  liim,  saying  unto  him. 
 Lord,  trouble  not  thyself:  for  1  am  not  worthy 
 that  thou  shouldest  enter  under  my  roof: 
 
 7  Wherefore  neither  thought  I  myself  worthy 
 to  come  unto  thee  :  but  say  in  a  word,  and  my 
 servant  shall  be  healed. 
 
 8  For  I  also  am  a  man  set  under  authority, 
 havi[ig  under  me  soldiers,  and  I  say  unto  f  one, 
 Go,  and  he  goeth  ;  and  to  another,  Come,  and 
 he  Cometh ;  and  to  my  servant.  Do  this,  and 
 he  doeth  it. 
 
 9  When  Jesns  heard  these  things,  he  marvel- 
 led at  him,  and  turned  him  about,  and  said 
 unto  the  people  that  followed  him,  1  say  unto 
 you,  I  have  not  found  so  great  faith,  no,  not 
 in  Israel. 
 
 10  And  they  that  were  sent,  returning  to  the 
 liouse,  found  the  servant  whole  that  had  been 
 sick. 
 
 1 1  t  And  it  came  to  pass  the  day  after,  that 
 he  went  into  a  city  called  Nain  ;  and  many  of 
 his  disciples  went  with  him,  and  much  people 
 
 12  Now  when  he  came  nigh  to  the  gate  of 
 the  city,  behold,  there  was  a  dead  man  carried 
 out,  the  only  son  of  his  mother,  and  she  was  a 
 widow  :  and  much  people  of  the  city  was  with 
 her. 
 
 13  And  when  the  Lord  saw  her,  he  had  com- 
 passion on  her,  and  said  unto  her,  Weep  not. 
 
 14  And  he  came  and  touched  the  ||  bier  :  and 
 they  that  bare  him  stood  still.  And  he  said, 
 Young  man,  I  say  unto  thee,  ''  Arise. 
 
 15  And  he  that  was  dead  sat  up,  and  began 
 to  speak.   And  he  delivered  him  to  his  mother. 
 
 IG  ■"'  And  there  came  a  fear  on  all  :  and  they 
 glorified  God,  saying,  ''  That  a  great  prophet  is 
 risen  up  among  us ;  and,  °  That  God  hath  vi- 
 sited his  people. 
 
 A  cli.  8.  M. 
 Ji'lin  11.43. 
 
 Koiu.  4.  17. 
 
 cli.  1.  G.5. 
 
 dell. 
 
 19. 
 
 .Ii.liu  4.  19 
 &  b.  14.  & 
 9.  17. 
 p  ch.  1.  68. 
 
 If  Mat.  1 1 
 
 t  Mat.  II.  7. 
 
 ,11  Mat.  3.  5. 
 ch.  3.  l-i. 
 
 11  Or,  frui- 
 
 ttiit^rt. 
 'i  Acts  20. 
 
 27, 
 II  Or,  u>Hhin 
 
 <j  Mat. II. 16. 
 
 p  Mat.  3.  4. 
 Mark  1.  6. 
 cli.  1.15. 
 
 1 7  And  this  rumour  of  him  went  forth  through- 
 out all  Judaea,  and  throughout  all  the  region 
 round  about. 
 
 18  ''And  the  disciples  of  John  shewed  him  of 
 all  these  things. 
 
 19  f  And  John  calling  unto  him  two  of  his 
 disciples  sent  them  to  Jesus,  saying.  Art  thou 
 he  that  should  come?  or  look  we  for  an- 
 other ? 
 
 20  When  the  men  were  come  unto  him,  tliey 
 said,  John  Baptist  hath  sent  us  unto  tliee,  say- 
 ing, Art  thou  he  that  .should  come  V  or  look 
 we  for  another  ? 
 
 21  And  in  the  same  hour  he  cured  many  of 
 their  infirmities  and  plagues,  and  of  evil  spi- 
 rits ;  and  unto  many  that  were  blind  he  gave 
 sight. 
 
 22  ''Then  Jesus  answering  said  unto  them, 
 Go  your  way,  and  tell  John  what  things  ye 
 have  seen  and  heard  ;  ''  how  that  the  blind  see, 
 the  lame  walk,  the  lepers  are  cleansed,  the  deaf 
 hear,  the  dead  are  raised,  '  to  the  poor  the  gos- 
 pel is  preached. 
 
 23  And  bles.sed  is  he,  whosoever  shall  not  be 
 offended  in  nie. 
 
 24  t  'And  when  the  messengers  of  John  were 
 departed,  he  began  to  speak  unto  the  people 
 concerning  John,  What  went  ye  out  into  the 
 wilderness  for  to  see  ?  A  reed  shaken  with  the 
 wind  ? 
 
 25  But  what  went  ye  out  for  to  see  ?  A  man 
 clothed  in  soft  raiment?  Behold,  they  which 
 are  gorgeously  apparelled,  and  live  delicately, 
 are  in  kings'  courts. 
 
 26  But  what  went  ye  out  for  to  see?  A  pro- 
 phet? Yea,  I  say  unto  you,  and  much  more 
 than  a  prophet. 
 
 27  This  is  he,  of  whom  it  is  written,  '  Behold, 
 I  send  my  messenger  before  thy  face,  which 
 shall  prepare  thy  way  before  thee. 
 
 28  For  I  say  unto  you.  Among  those  that  are 
 born  of  women  there  is  not  a  greater  prophet 
 than  John  the  Baptist  :  but  he  that  is  least  in 
 the  kingdom  of  God  is  greater  than  he. 
 
 29  And  all  the  people  that  heard  hirn,  and 
 the  publicans,  justified  God,  '"  being  baptized 
 with  the  baptism  of  John. 
 
 30  But  the  Pharisees  and  lawyers  ||  rejected 
 "  the  counsel  of  God  ]|  against  themselves,  be- 
 ing not  baptized  of  him. 
 
 31  t  And  the  Lord  said,  °  Whereunto  then 
 shall  I  liken  the  men  of  this  generation  ?  and 
 to  what  are  they  hke  f 
 
 32  They  are  like  unto  children  sitting  in  the 
 marketplace,  and  calling  one  to  another,  and 
 saying.  We  have  piped  unto  yon,  and  ye  have 
 not  danced  ;  we  have  mourned  to  yon,  and  ye 
 have  not  wept. 
 
 33  For  ■"  John  the  Baptist  came  neither  eating 
 
 Cbap.  VII.  —  2.  Centurion^s  servant  —  see  Matt.  viii.  5 — 13,  note. 
 3.  Sent  unto  htm  the  elders,  perhaps  of  the  synagogue  he  had  built, 
 (ver.  5.) — Bp.  Pearce.  In  Matt.  viii.  5,  it  is  said  the  centurion  came 
 himself,  but  it  is  a  common  form  of  expression  to  represent  a  person  as 
 doing  what  is  done  for  him,  (Exod.  xviii.  6;  1  Kings,  v.  7;  Mark,  x. 
 3.^».  compared  witli  Matt.  xx.  10.)—WIdtby.  The  whole  of  what  trans- 
 pired between  Christ  and  the  centurion  seems,  from  Matthew's  ac- 
 count, to  have  been  personal ;  but  Ltike  explains  the  whole  as  done  by 
 deputies  on  the  part  of  the  centurion. — Ed.  4.  He  wiis  worthy — 
 the  centurion  seems  to  have  been  what  they  called  '  a  proselyte  of 
 righteousness.' — Bens.  II.  Nain,  in  Galilee,  not  far  from  Mount 
 Tabor.  Twelve  or  thirteen  miles  from  Capernaum. —  Wells,  Scott. 
 12.  Carried  out — the  burying  grounds  were  out  of  the  city,  but,  as 
 there  is  reason  to  believe,  not  far  from  the  city  gate. — Bloom/.  All  the 
 dead  bodies  being  reckoned  unclean,  the  Jews  were  not  permitted  to 
 bury  their  dead  within  their  cities, —  Whitby.  Much  people — it  was  or- 
 1075 
 
 dained  among  the  Jews,  that  whoever  met  a  corpse  should  attend  it, 
 and  join  in  the  lamentation.— Jos.  14.  Touched  the  bier,  not  the 
 corpse,  that  he  might  not  too  much  shock  tlie  prejudices  of  the  Jews. 
 This  touch  would,  however,  by  the  ceremonial  law,  have  made  any 
 one  unclean.— J.  Bennett.  The  corpse  was  carried  on  a  Utter  or  bier, 
 without  any  covering  but  a  c\a\.\\.—Rosenm.  15.  He  delivered  him, 
 
 ^c  —infidels  have  insinuated  he  was  only  in  a  lethargy ;  but  certainly 
 the  mother,  relations,  and  friends,  who  should  be  the  best  judges,  be- 
 lieved him  Aeai.—Guyse,  Ed.  I6.  A  fear,  tpo/Sor,  '  awe  and  amaze- 
 ment  •—Bloontf.  A  great  prophet,  as  predicted  by  Moses,  (Deut. 
 xviii  15,  18.)— GiH.  Visited  his  people,  sent  his  Messiah,  (see  Luke, 
 i.  6S.)— Stanhope.  19.  .ind  John  calling,  .^-c- this,  and  the  following 
 verses  to  ver.  23  inclusive,  are  explained,  Matt.  xi.  2,  notes.  3il.  The 
 counsel  of  God,  rni/  /3oi.x.ii— the  purpose  of  God  in  the  mission  ol  Johu, 
 his  gracious  design  to  bring  men  to  repentance,  and  place  them  in  a 
 state  of  preparation  to  receive  the  Messiah.—/!.  Watson.     31.  Where. 
 
Christ  IS  a  friend  to  sinners 
 
 S.  LUKE,  VIII. 
 
 upon  their  faith  and  repentance. 
 
 bread  nor  drinking  wine  ;  and  ye  say,  He  hath 
 a  devil. 
 
 34  Tlie  Son  of  man  is  come  eating  and  drink- 
 ing ;  and  ye  saj',  Behold  a  gluttonous  man, 
 and  a  wine'oibber,  a  friend  of  publicans  and 
 sinners ! 
 
 35  ''  But  wisdom  is  justified  of  all  her  children. 
 
 36  t  '  And  one  of  the  Pharisees  desired  him 
 tliat  he  would  eat  with  him.  And  he  went  into 
 the  Pharisee's  house,  and  sat  down  to  meat. 
 
 37  And,  behold,  a  woman  in  the  city,  which 
 was  a  sirmer,  when  she  knew  that  Jesus  sat  at 
 meat  in  the  Pharisee's  house,  brought  an  ala- 
 baster box  of  ointment, 
 
 38  And  stood  at  his  feet  behind  him  weep- 
 ing, and  began  to  wash  his  feet  with  tears,  and 
 did  wipe  them  witli  the  hairs  of  her  head,  and 
 kissed  his  feet,  and  anointed  them  with  the 
 ointment. 
 
 39  Now  when  the  Pharisee  which  had  bidden 
 liim  saw  it,  he  spake  within  himself,  saying, 
 '  Tills  man,  if  he  were  a  prophet,  would  have 
 known  who  and  what  manner  of  woman  this  is 
 that  toucheth  him  :  for  she  is  a  sinner. 
 
 40  And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him,  Si- 
 mon, I  have  somewhat  to  say  unto  thee.  And 
 he  saith.  Master,  say  on. 
 
 41  There  was  a  certain  creditor  which  had 
 two  debtors :  the  one  owed  five  hundred 
 II  pence,  and  tlie  other  fifty. 
 
 42  And  when  they  had  nothing  to  pay,  he 
 frankly  forgave  them  both.  Tell  me  therefore, 
 which  of  them  will  love  him  most  ? 
 
 43  Simon  answered  and  said,  I  suppose  that 
 Ae,  to  whom  he  forgave  most.  And  he  said 
 unto  him.  Thou  hast  rightly  judged. 
 
 44  And  he  turned  to  the  woman,  and  said 
 unto  Simon,  Seest  thon  this  woman?  I  entered 
 
 ?  Mat. 11.19. 
 
 T  Mat.86.6. 
 M.irk  11.3 
 Jolm  11.2. 
 
 li  .See  Mat. 
 18.  S8. 
 
 Maik  -'.  7. 
 
 =  Mat.  9.  ??. 
 Maik  6.:il, 
 &  Ml.  52. 
 cli.  8    in  8: 
 18.  12. 
 
 tt  Mark  16.9. 
 
 into  thine  house,  thou  gavest  me  no  water  for 
 my  feet :  but  she  hath  washed  my  feet  with 
 tears,  and  wiped  them  with  the  hairs  of  her 
 head. 
 
 45  Thou  gavest  me  no  kiss  :  but  this  woman 
 since  the  time  I  came  in  hath  not  ceased  to 
 kiss  my  feet. 
 
 46  '  My  head  with  oil  thou  didst  not  anoint  : 
 hut  this  woman  hath  anointed  my  feet  with 
 ointment. 
 
 47  "  Wherefore  I  say  unto  thee,  Her  sins, 
 which  are  many,  are  forgiven  ;  for  she  loved 
 much:  but  to  whom  little  is  forgiven,  Mf  same 
 loveth  little. 
 
 48  And  he  said  unto  her,  "  Thy  sins  are  for- 
 given. 
 
 49  And  they  that  sat  at  meat  with  him  began 
 to  say  within  themselves,  ''  Who  is  this  tliat 
 forgiveth  sins  also  ? 
 
 50  And  he  said  to  the  woman,  '  Thy  faith 
 hath  saved  thee  ;  go  in  peace. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 3  Women  minister  unto  Clirist  of  their  suhstance. 
 4  Christ,  after  he  had  preached  from  place  to  place, 
 attended  with  his  oposti'S,  proponndeth  the  pftraUe  of 
 the  sower,  16  and  of  llie  candle. :  21  diclarc.lh  who 
 are  his  mother,  and  brethren  .-  22  nbukcth  the  winds  : 
 26  casteth  the  leijion  of  devils  out  of  the  man  into  tlie 
 herd  of  swine :  37  is  rejected  of  the  Gadoreves  ■ 
 is  health  the  woman  of  lier  lliodij  issue,  49  and 
 raiseth  from  death  Jairus*  daiigJder, 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass  afterward,  that  he  went 
 -'*■  throughout  every  city  and  village,  preach- 
 ing and  shewing  the  glad  tidings  of  the  king- 
 dom of  God  :  and  the  twelve  were  with  him, 
 
 2  And  "certain  women,  which  had  been  heal- 
 ed of  evil  spirits  and  infirmities,  Mary  called 
 Magdalene,  "  out  of  whom  went  seven  devils. 
 
 unto  then  shall  I  liken  f  ^c. — see  Matt.  xi.  16 — 19,  notes.  36.  De- 
 sired him  that  he  would  eat,  publicly  invited  him  to  dinner. — R.  Wats. 
 Sat  down,  he  rather  reclineil,  a3  was  the  Jewish  custom,  or  the  woman 
 could  not  have  stood  at  his  leet  behind  him,  (ver.  38.) — Taylor^sFrag, 
 to  Culmet.  37.  A  woman~&  must  difficult  and  often  debated  ques. 
 tiun  has  been  here  raised,  whether  this  woman,  and  Mary  Magdalene, 
 (chap.  viii.  2,)  and  Mary  sister  of  Martha  and  Lazarus,  be  one  and  the 
 same  person.  This  has  been  affirmed  by  many;  but  that  they  were 
 three  different  persons  is  the  opinion  of  Buxtorf,  Ham.,  Basnage, 
 Wolf.,  Illich.,  Markl.,  Rosenm.,  Kuinoel,  &c.  Uy  no  indications  of 
 gospel  history,  wherever  Mary  Magdalene  is  mentioned,  does  it  ap- 
 pear that  she  was  sister  of  Lazarus  and  Martha.  The  woman  here 
 mentioned  was  neither  of  the  same  country  nor  situation  in  life  with 
 Maiy  sister  of  Lazarus;  nor  was  she  Mary  Magdalene,  who  was  a 
 harlot  from  Magdata,  a  city  in  the  half  tribe  of  Wanasseli  beyond  Jor- 
 dan, for  this  woman  belonged  to  Nain. —  IVol/.  This  history  differs 
 from  that  recorded  in  Matt.  xxvi.  6,  Mark,  xiv.,  and  John,  xii. ;  for 
 what  Luke  relates  in  verses  37—39,  and  50,  is  by  no  means  applicable 
 to  Mary  the  sister  of  Lazarus,  who  was  well  known  to  Christ. — Rosenm. 
 Which  was  a  sinner,  ijv  a^tiprw.Xor,  i.  e.,  '  who  had  been  a  sinner,  a 
 fornicatress,  or  an  adulteress.' — Bloom/.  A  mere  heathen  only  is  in- 
 tended j  probably  converted  under  Christ's  ministry,  and  came  now  to 
 shew  her  gratitude.  Such  is  the  meaning  of  the  original  in  Matt.  ix. 
 10,  11,  13)  xi.  19;  x.xvi.  45.— Clarke.  38.  Stood  at  his  feet— Jesas 
 was,  it  seems,  reclining  at  table  on  a  couch,  leaning  on  his  left  elbow, 
 his  head  and  countenance  turned  towards  the  food,  and  his  naked  feet 
 (the  sandals  being  taken  off  before  the  meal)  turned  the  contrary  way 
 towards  which  the  servants  bearing  the  dishes  were  waiting  on  the 
 triclinium  or  lahic.-Maldonat,  and  Kuinoel.  Neither  the  Jews  nor 
 Romans  wore  stockings,  and  they  always  put  off  their  shoes  or  sandals 
 
 at  meals.  They  lay  on  couches  covered  with  stuffs,  the  quality  whereof 
 was  suitable  to  the  circumstances  of  the  entertainer. — Bens.  To  wa.^h , 
 jSpcxetv,  '  to  water.'  With  the  hairs,  ruir  Cpifi,  '  with  the  tresses.' — 
 Doddr.  Doddridge  is  not  correct,  for  in  other  places  of  Scripture  (John, 
 xii.  3  ;  1  Pet.  iii.  3,  &c.)  the  word  in  the  plural  denotes  '  the  hair  of  the 
 head,'  or,  as  we  say,  '  a  head  of  hair.' — Blnomf.  41 .  Five  hundred 
 pence,  6>)uapo.t — these  were  Roman  denarii  or  pence,  worth  each  about 
 7id.  of  our  money,  amounting  in  all  to  15/.  vis.  fid.  The  uther fifty, 
 II.  lis.  3d.— Gill.  44.  fjavest  me  no  water,  §c. — to  guests  (at  least 
 who  were  received  with  peculiar  joy  and  afiection)  it  wis  customary 
 to  furnish  water  for  the  feet,  to  give  tile  kiss  of  welcome,  and  to  anoint 
 the  head.  As  Simon  had  done  none  of  these  to  our  Lord,  he  shewed 
 that  he  regarded  him  only  as  an  indifferent  person.  Washing  the  feet 
 always  preceded  anointing. — It.  Wat.son.  The  custom  yet  remains, 
 among  the  Arabs,  that  when  the  master  of  the  family  presents  himself 
 to  a  stranger,  he  washes  his  feet. — Show.  45.  No  Ai.s-s — a  kiss,  with 
 the  oriental  nations,  forms  part  of  the  common  and  regular  salutation 
 of  friends,  (see  Kopp  on  1  Thess.  v.  26.)  47.  For  .ihe  loved  much,  6jt 
 »i7a7rnffe  TToXv,  *  therefore  her  love  is  great.' — Camp.  Her  loving  is 
 mentioned  not  as  the  cause  or  reason,  but  as  the  effect  and  evidence 
 of  her  being  forgiven.  49,  Within  themseloes,  iv  iavrot^,  'privately 
 among  themselves.'— G!i//stf. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.  —  2.  May// called  Magdalene — so  called  from  her  native 
 place,  Magdala,  (Matt.  xv.  39.)  She  seems  to  have  been  a  woman  of 
 some  wealth,  (comp.  Mark,  xv. 40, 41 ;  xvi.  1.)  Seven  deeds,  'demons.' 
 '  Seven'  denotes  '  fulness,*  and  may  signify  '  many.' — Dae.  This  was 
 a  case  of  inveterate  lunacy. — A.  Clarke.  From  this  circumstance  it 
 has  been  supposed  that  she  was  the  great  sinner  in  the  former  chapter ; 
 but  the  demoniacal  possession  of  her  appears  to  have  been  her  atSic- 
 tion,  not  her  ciime.— Wit.,  It.  Watson,    The  strange  notion  of  com- 
 
 Refleciiuns  on   Chap.    VII We  shall   here    notice— 
 
 I._  T/ie  raisinp  of  tlie  widow's  son.  This  was  a  striking  proof 
 of  the  tenderness  of  his  heart,  and  the  pover  of  his  word. 
 We  cannot  imitate  Christ  in  performing  the  miracle,  but  we 
 may  humbly  imitate  him  in  e.xercising  compassion  towards 
 the  destitute  and  afHicted. 
 
 II-  rAe  pardoninij  of  tlie  woman  that  was  a  sinner.  Here 
 Mr.  y\  atson  observes,  that  the  doctrine  of  the  parable  annexed 
 to  this  transaction  is, '  that  pardon  of  sin  is  wholly  gratuitous, 
 independent  of  any  consideration  of  worthiness  or  abihty  in 
 Ihe  sinner.  When  tho  debtors  had  nothinu-  to  pay,  "he 
 1076 
 
 frankly  forgave  them  both  ;"  wlioily  remitted  the  debt,  and 
 cancelled  their  obliijation.  Answering  to  the  doctrine  of  the 
 parable  is  the  example.  A  woman  who  was  a  "sinner,"'  yet 
 being  penitent,  and  having  faith  in  Christ,  is  freely  forgiven. 
 Free  and  full  salvation  through  the  sole  mercy  of  God  in 
 Christ,  and  by  faith  in  his  merit,  is  the  glorious  doctrine  of 
 the  New  Teblament :  nor  can  it  lead  to  any  abuse,  rightly 
 understood  ;  for  lie  that  halh  much  forgiven,  will  "  love 
 much,"  and  to  him  that  loveth  "  the  commandments  of  God 
 are  not  grievous."  ' 
 
Women  minister  wito  Christ. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  Vill. 
 
 He  casieth  out  the  legion  of  devils. 
 
 3  And  Joanna  the  wife  of  Chuza  Herod's 
 steward,  and  Susanna,  and  many  others,  which 
 ministered  nnto  him  of  their  substance. 
 
 4  H  "^  And  wlicn  much  people  were  gathered 
 together,  and  were  come  to  him  out  of  every 
 city,  he  spake  by  a  parable  : 
 
 5  A  sower  went  out  to  sow  his  seed ;  and  as 
 he  sowed,  some  fell  by  the  way  side  ;  and  it 
 was  trodden  down,  and  the  fowls  of  the  air  de- 
 voured it. 
 
 G  And  some  fell  upon  a  rock  ;  and  as  soon  as 
 it  was  sprnnj5  up,  it  withered  away,  because  it 
 lacked  moisture. 
 
 7  And  some  fell  among  thorns  ;  and  the 
 thorns  sprang  up  with  it,  and  choked  it. 
 
 8  And  other  fell  on  good  ground,  and  sprang 
 up,  and  bare  fruit  an  hundredfold.  And  when 
 he  had  said  these  things,  he  cried.  He  that 
 hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 
 
 9  •>  And  his  disciples  asked  him,  saying, What 
 miyht  this  parable  be? 
 
 10  And  he  said.  Unto  you  it  is  given  to  know 
 the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  God  :  but  to 
 others  in  parables  ;  '  that  seeing  they  might 
 not  see,  and  hearing  they  might  not  under- 
 stand. 
 
 1 1  ''  Now  the  parable  is  this  :  The  seed  is 
 the  word  of  God. 
 
 12  Those  by  the  way  side  are  they  that  hear; 
 then  Cometh  the  devil,  and  taketh  away  the 
 word  out  of  their  hearts,  lest  they  should  be- 
 lieve and  be  saved. 
 
 13  They  on  the  rock  are  they.,  which,  when 
 they  liear,  receive  the  word  with  joy  ;  and 
 these  have  no  root,  whicli  for  a  while  believe, 
 and  in  time  of  temptation  fall  away. 
 
 14  And  that  which  fell  among  thorns  are 
 they,  which,  when  they  have  heard,  go  forth, 
 and  are  choked  with  cares  and  riches  and 
 pleasures  of  this  life,  and  bring  no  fruit  to 
 perfection. 
 
 15  But  that  on  the  good  ground  are  they, 
 which  in  an  honest  and  good  heart,  having 
 heard  the  word,  keep  it,  and  bring  forth  fruit 
 with  patience. 
 
 16  t  ^  No  man,  when  he  hath  lighted  a  candle, 
 ciivereth  it  with  a  vessel,  or  putteth  it  under  a 
 bed  ;  but  setteth  it  on  a  candlestick,  that  they 
 which  enter  in  may  see  the  light. 
 
 17  ''  For  nothing  is  secret,  that  shall  not  be 
 made  manifest ;  neither  any  thing  hid,  that 
 shall  not  be  known  and  come  abroad. 
 
 18  Take  heed  therefore  how  ye  hear:  'for 
 whosoever  hath,  to  him  shall  be  given  ;  and 
 whosoever  liath  not,  from  him  shall  be  taken 
 even  that  which  he  ||  seemeth  to  have. 
 
 19  K  '  Then  came  to  him  his  mother  and  his 
 brethren,  and  could  not  come  at  him  for  the 
 press. 
 
 20  And  it  was  told  him  by  certain  which 
 said.  Thy  mother  and  thy  brethren  stand  with- 
 out, desiring  to  see  thee. 
 
 •21  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them.  My 
 mother  and  my  brethren  are  these  which  hear 
 
 ;  M;\t,  13.2 
 Mark  t.  1. 
 
 ilMat.n.l 
 Mark  4.  I 
 
 /M.it.  I3.1S, 
 Mark  4.  H. 
 
 e  Mat.  5.1.'!. 
 Maik-1.  -n. 
 ch.  U.  33. 
 
 h  Mat.HI,?fi, 
 ch.  12.  2. 
 
 i  Mat.  13.12. 
 &  2S.  29. 
 cli.  19.  26. 
 
 l|Or,  IhinXett, 
 
 thtithehutli. 
 
 k  Mat. 12. 46, 
 
 Mark  3.31 
 
 /  Mat    8   23. 
 Mark  1.  Mb. 
 
 n  Mat.  8.29. 
 Mark  5.  I. 
 
 r,  Hcv.  29.3. 
 
 0  Mat.  H.s^l. 
 p  ActaI6.39. 
 
 the  word  of  God,  and  do  it. 
 
 22  t '  Now  it  came  to  pass  on  a  certain  day, 
 that  he  went  into  a  ship  with  his  disciples  : 
 and  he  said  unto  thein.  Let  us  go  over  unto 
 the  other  side  of  the  lake.  And  they  launched 
 forth. 
 
 23  But  as  they  sailed  he  fell  asleep :  and 
 there  came  down  a  storm  of  wind  on  the  lake  ; 
 and  they  were  filled  with  water,  and  were  in 
 jeopardy. 
 
 24  And  they  came  to  him,  and  awoke  him, 
 saying.  Master,  master,  we  perish.  Then  he 
 arose,  and  rebuked  the  wind  and  the  raging  of 
 the  water  :  and  they  ceased,  and  there  was  a 
 calm. 
 
 2j  And  he  said  unto  them.  Where  is  your 
 faith  ?  And  they  being  afraid  wondered,  say- 
 ing one  to  another.  What  manner  of  man  is 
 this!  for  he  commandeth  even  the  winds  and 
 water,  and  they  obey  him. 
 
 20  1 ""  And  they  arrived  at  the  country  of  the 
 Gadarenes,  which  is  over  against  Galilee. 
 
 27  And  when  he  went  forth  to  land,  there 
 met  him  out  of  the  city  a  certain  man,  which 
 had  devils  long  time,  and  ware  no  clothes,  nei- 
 ther abode  in  any  house,  but  in  the  tombs. 
 
 28  When  he  saw  Jesus,  he  cried  out,  and  fell 
 down  before  him,  and  with  a  loud  voice  said. 
 What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou  Son 
 of  God  most  high  ?  1  beseech  thee,  torment 
 me  not. 
 
 29  (For  he  had  commanded  the  unclean 
 spirit  to  come  out  of  the  man.  For  oftentimes 
 it  had  caught  him  :  and  lie  was  kept  bound 
 with  chains  and  in  fetters  ;  and  he  brake  tlie 
 bands,  and  was  driven  of  the  devil  into  the 
 wilderness.) 
 
 30  And  Jesus  asked  him,  saying.  What  is  thy 
 name?  And  he  said.  Legion  :  because  many 
 devils  were  entered  into  him. 
 
 31  And  they  besought  hiin  that  he  would 
 not  command  them  to  go  out  "into  the  deep. 
 
 32  And  there  was  there  an  herd  of  many 
 swine  feeding  on  the  mountain  :  and  they  be- 
 sought him  that  he  would  suffer  them  to  enter 
 into  them.     And  he  sufiered  them. 
 
 33  Then  went  the  devils  out  of  the  man,  and 
 entered  into  the  swine :  and  the  herd  ran 
 violently  down  a  steep  place  into  the  lake,  and 
 were  choked. 
 
 34  When  they  that  fed  them  saw  what  was 
 done,  they  fled,  and  went  and  told  it  in  the 
 city  and  in  the  country. 
 
 35  Then  they  went  out  to  see  what  was 
 done  ;  and  came  to  Jesus,  and  found  the  man, 
 out  of  whom  the  devils  were  departed,  sitting 
 at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  clothed,  and  in  his  right 
 mind  :  and  they  were  afraid. 
 
 36  They  also  which  saw  it  told  them  by 
 what  means  he  that  was  possessed  of  the  devils 
 was  healed. 
 
 37  1  °  Then  the  whole  multitude  of  the 
 country  of  the  Gadarenes  round  about  p  be- 
 sought him    to  depart  from    them ;   for   they 
 
 mentators  that  Mary  Magdalene  was  a  prostitute  never  can  he  proved. 
 — Cl'trke.  3.  And  Susunnii,  and  jnnnt/  ntherH — these  had  all,  it  seems, 
 been  healed  by  our  Lord,  and  now  shewed  their  gratitude.— ii.  Walson. 
 5.  A  suwer,  !,;:.  —see  Matt.  xiii.  3— s,  notes.  15.  Wit/i  patimce, 
 vTToiievn,  here,  and  in  Kora.  ii.  7,  rather  means  'perseverance.' — 
 Clarke.  I7.  Nutli'mg  is  secret— see  Matt.  x.  26.  note.  18.  Wlio- 
 soener  hath,  ^-c— see  Matt.  xiii.  12,  note.  19.  Mother— brethren- 
 
 see  Matt.  xii.  46.  &c.,  notes.  22.  Went  into  11  ship— see  Matt.  viii. 
 23— 27,  notes.    'M.  Gadarenes,  .5rc.— see  Matt.  viii.  28  notes.     27.  Net- 
 
 1077 
 
 ther  abode  in  any  house  —  lunatics  in  India  ramble  about  at  perfect 
 liberty. — So  Ward.  31.  Jnto  the  deep — that  the  sea  is  not  meant  here 
 is  evident ;  for  to  the  sea  the  demons  went  of  themselves,  when  per- 
 mitted, at  their  own  request,  to  enter  into  the  swine. — Camp.  En  tuv 
 a/Svaaov,  the  place  of  wicked  spirits,  whether  evil  angels,  or  the  disem- 
 bodied spirits  of  wicked  men.  It  sijjnities  that  part  of  hades  where  the 
 wicked  are  reserved  to  the  judgment  of  the  great  day,  but  from  which 
 the  devil  and  his  angels  are  suffered  sometimes  to  emerge,  in  order  to 
 pursue  their  malicious  works  on  earth. — li.  VVutstm.     'The  bottoiniLt.L> 
 
Christ  healeth  the  tvoman  of  the  bloody  issue.     S.  LUKE,  IX. 
 
 He  sendtth  his  apostles  to  work  miracles 
 
 were  taken  with  great  fear :  and  he  went  up 
 into  the  ship,  and  returned  back  again. 
 
 38  Now  ''  the  man  out  of  whom  the  devils 
 were  departed  besought  liim  that  lie  might  be 
 with  him  :  but  Jesus  sent  him  away,  saying, 
 
 39  Return  to  thine  own  house,  and  shew  how 
 great  things  God  hath  done  unto  thee.  And 
 he  went  his  way,  and  published  throughout 
 the  whole  city  how  great  tilings  Jesus  had 
 done  unto  him. 
 
 40  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  Jesus  was 
 returned,  the  people  gladly  received  hiin  :  for 
 they  were  all  waiting  for  him. 
 
 41  IT'  And,  behold,  there  came  a  man  named 
 Jairus,  and  he  was  a  ruler  of  the  synagogue  : 
 and  he  fell  down  at  Jesus'  feet,  and  besought 
 him  that  he  would  come  into  his  house  : 
 
 4'2  For  he  had  one  only  daughter,  about 
 twelve  years  of  age,  and  slie  lay  a  dying.  But 
 as  he  went  the  people  thronged  him. 
 
 43  H  "  And  a  woman  having  an  issue  of  blood 
 twelve  years,  which  had  spent  all  her  living 
 upon  physicians,  neither  could  be  healed  of 
 any. 
 
 44  Came  behind  him,  and  touched  the  border 
 of  his  garment  :  and  immediately  her  issue  of 
 blood  stanched. 
 
 45  And  Jesus  said.  Who  touched  me?  When 
 all  denied,  Peter  and  they  that  were  with  hiin 
 said,  Master,  the  multitude  throng  thee  and 
 press  thee,  and  sayest  thou.  Who  touched  me  y 
 
 46  And  Jesus  said.  Somebody  hath  touched 
 me  :  for  I  perceive  that  '  virtue  is  gone  out  of 
 me. 
 
 47  And  when  the  woman  saw  that  she  was 
 not  hid,  she  caine  trembling,  and  falling  down 
 before  hiin,  she  declared  unto  him  before  all 
 the  people  for  what  cause  she  had  touched 
 him,  and  how  she  was  healed  immediately. 
 
 48  And  he  said  unto  her,  Daughter,  be  of 
 good  comfort :  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole ; 
 go  in  peace. 
 
 49  If  "  While  he  yet  spake,  there  cometh  one 
 from  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue's  house,  say- 
 ing to  him.  Thy  daughter  is  dead  ;  tronble  not 
 the  Master. 
 
 60  But  when  Jesus  heard  (7,  he  answered 
 him,  saying,  Fear  not :  believe  only,  and  she 
 shall  be  made  whole. 
 
 51  And  when  he  came  into  ttie  house,  he 
 suffered  no  man  to  go  in,  save  Peter,  and 
 .lames,  and  John,  and  the  father  and  the  mo- 
 ther of  the  maiden. 
 
 52  And  all  wept,  and  bewailed  her :  but  he 
 said.  Weep  not  ;  she  is  not  dead,  "^  butsleepeth. 
 
 53  And  they  laughed  him  to  scorn,  knowing 
 that  she  was  dead. 
 
 54  And  he  put  them  all  out,  and  took  her  by 
 
 Mill,  0.  IS 
 M.i.  k  5.  ■!■'.. 
 
 I  Marks,  .1 
 ch,  6.  19. 
 
 1/  cli,  7.  14. 
 John  11.13. 
 
 r  M:it.  8.  .1, 
 .Hark  5.  4.S 
 
 1  Mat.  10,  I. 
 Miirk  3  l.S. 
 &  6,  7. 
 
 U  Mat,  10.  7. 
 
 8    Mark  6, 
 
 I'i.  ch.  10. 
 
 1.9. 
 c  Mat.  10,  9. 
 
 .Mark  6   s. 
 
 -■h,  10.  4,  & 
 
 22,  35, 
 
 tl  Mat, in, 11. 
 Mark  G   10. 
 
 Mai  111, U. 
 /Acts  13.fil. 
 
 S  KIark6.13. 
 
 ,  D,  3H. 
 
 h  Mat.  II.  1. 
 
 Mark  fi.  11. 
 
 ch.  2.1.  rt. 
 k  Mark  r>.30. 
 t  .Mat.  14  IS. 
 
 n  Mat, 11  15 
 Mark  fi.  3Pi. 
 John  6.  1,5. 
 
 the  hand,  and  called,  saying.  Maid,  'arise. 
 
 55  And  her  spirit  came  again,  and  she  arose 
 straightway  :  and  he  commanded  to  give  her 
 meat. 
 
 5U  And  her  parents  were  astonislied  :  hut 
 '  he  charged  them  that  they  should  tell  no 
 man  what  was  done. 
 
 CHAP.  I.X. 
 
 1  CltTist  seud<th  his  aposlhs  to  work  inlracks,  and  tu 
 preach.  7  Herod  (ksiied  to  set  Christ.  17  Christ 
 fi  edcth  Jive  thousand  :  18  etiquinth  iv/iat  opinion  tlie 
 world  had  nf  hijn  :  fi>rrteUvth  his  passion;  •2Zprr- 
 poseth  to  all  tlie  pattern  of  his  pnticnee.  23  Tlie 
 transjiguration.  37  He  hraleth  the  lunatiek :  4.'5 
 ttyain  forewarneth  his  disciples  of  his  passion:  46 
 eommendelh  Ituniilitij  :  31  h/ddeth  tiieni  to  shew  mild- 
 ness towards  all,  without  desire  of  revenge.  57  Divers 
 would  follow  him,  but  upon  conditions. 
 
 'T'HEN  "  he  called  his  twelve  disciples  to- 
 -•-  gether,  and  gave  them  power  and  authority 
 over  all  devils,  and  to  cure  diseases. 
 
 2  And  ''  he  sent  them  to  preach  the  kingdom 
 of  God,  and  to  heal  the  .sick. 
 
 3  '  And  he  said  unto  them.  Take  nothing  for 
 your  journey,  neither  staves,  nor  scrip,  neither 
 bread,  neither  money  ;  neither  have  two  coats 
 apiece. 
 
 4  ''  And  whatsoever  house  ye  enter  into, 
 there  abide,  and  thence  depart. 
 
 5  °  And  whosoever  will  not  receive  you,  when 
 ye  go  out  of  that  city,  '  shake  otf  the  very  dust 
 from  your  feet  for  a  testimony  against  them. 
 
 6  *  And  they  departed,  and  went  through  the 
 towns,  preaching  tlie  gospel,  and  healing  every 
 where. 
 
 7  f ''  Now  Herod  the  tetrarch  heard  of  all 
 that  was  done  by  him  ;  and  he  was  perplexed, 
 because  tliat  it  was  said  of  some,  that  John 
 was  risen  from  the  dead  ; 
 
 8  And  of  some,  that  Elias  had  appeared  ; 
 and  of  others,  that  one  of  the  old  prophets  was 
 risen  again. 
 
 9  And  Herod  said,  John  have  I  beheaded  : 
 but  who  is  this,  of  whom  I  hear  such  things? 
 '  And  he  desired  to  see  him. 
 
 10  H  '  And  the  apostles,  when  they  were  re- 
 turned, told  him  ail  that  they  had  done.  '  And 
 he  took  them,  and  went  aside  privately  into  a 
 desert  place  belonging  to  the  city  called  Betli- 
 saida. 
 
 1 1  And  the  people,  when  they  knew  it,  fol- 
 lowed him  :  and  he  received  them,  and  spake 
 unto  them  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  healed 
 them  that  had  need  of  healing. 
 
 12  "'  And  when  the  day  began  to  wear  away, 
 then  came  the  twelve,  and  said  unto  him.  Send 
 the  multitude  away,  that  they  may  go  into  the 
 towns  and  country  round   about,   and  lodge. 
 
 pit  of  heir  is  meant,  wliere  others  of  the  spirits  lay  in  chains  of  darlt- 
 ness.— f;i//.  This  expression  is,  in  Rev.  xx.  3,  rendered  *  into  the  bnt- 
 tnmless  \)'it.'—GuJ/se.  41.  Jairus,  ^-e.—see  Matt.  ix.  18,  19,  notes. 
 43.  Woman — issue — see  Matt.  ix.  20 — 22,  notes.  52.  Not  dead,  tint 
 sleepeth—see  Matt.  ix.  24,  notes.  53.  Langlted,  §c.,  rat}ier  smiled 
 
 with  some  contemptuous  pity. — Trapp. 
 
 Chap.  IX. —  1.  Gave  them  power — see  Matt.  x.  1,  notes.  2.  To 
 
 heat — see  Matt.  x.  8,  note.  3.  Nor  scrip,  ^c. — see  Matt.  x.  10,  note. 
 4.  There  atnde — see  Matt.  x.  11,  note.  5.  Receive  you — see  Matt.  x. 
 14,  note.  7.  Herod  the  tetrarch — see  Matt.  xiv.  1,  note.  /.  Per- 
 ptexed,  iitiTTopei,  strongly  expresses  a  mixture  of  rioubt  and  fear. — 
 Uoddr.         12.  Day  began  to  wear,  §rc. — see  Matt.  xiv.  15 — 22,  notes. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII. — I.  Let  us  take  heed  horn 
 K'p  hear,  lest  the  word  be  tiiken  away,  have  but  transient  root, 
 or  become  choked  with  the  cares  of  life.  '  Blessed  are  '.1  ey 
 that  hear  the  word  of  GotI  and  keep  it.' 
 
 II.  Let  us  leara  to  tru-t  ourselves  to  the  care  and  keeping  of  our 
 blessed  Lord.  There  is  no  tempest  which  he  caimot  still. 
 *  The  Lord  sittetb  on  the  floods.' 
 
 'With  Christ  in  the  vessel. 
 We  smile  at  the  storm.' 
 
 1073 
 
 III.  Let  us  rejoice  that  malignant  spirits  are  under  Almir/hft/ 
 control.  There  is  one  who  can  say  to  them,  as  to  the  troubled 
 waves,  '  hitherto  ye  shall  go, and  no  further. '  Let  us  mind  our 
 duty  '  to  watch  and  pray,'  and  be  will  watch  and  preserve. 
 
 IV.  There  is  virtue  and  power  still  in  the  Saviour  to  meet  the 
 most  extreme  eases.  He  does  not,  indeed,  usually  exercise  it 
 for  the  body,  but  be  does  for  the  soul.  Here  he  yet  heals  the 
 sick  and  raises  the  dead.  I.,ord,  cure  iis  of  the  maladv  o(  sin, 
 and  quicken  us  by  thy  Spirit,  that  being  raised  from  the  death 
 of  sin,  we  may  liven  life  of  righteousness  ! 
 
Christ  fcedelh  five  thousand. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  IX. 
 
 He  healcth  the  lunatich. 
 
 and  get  victuals :  for  we  are  here  in  a  desert 
 place. 
 
 13  But  he  said  unto  them,  Give  ye  them  to 
 eat.  And  tliey  said,  Wc  have  no  more  but 
 five  loaves  and  two  fishes ;  except  we  sliould 
 go  and  buy  meat  for  all  this  people. 
 
 14  For  they  were  about  five  thousand  men. 
 And  he  said  to  his  disciples,  Malie  them  sit 
 down  hy  fifties  in  a  company. 
 
 15  And  they  did  so,  and  made  them  all  sit 
 down. 
 
 16  Then  he  toolc  the  five  loaves  and  the  two 
 fishes,  and  looking  up  to  heaven,  he  blessed 
 them,  and  bral;e,  and  gave  to  the  disciples  to 
 set  before  the  multitude. 
 
 17  And  they  did  eat,  and  were  all  filled  :  and 
 there  was  taken  up  of  fragments  that  remained 
 to  them  twelve  baskets. 
 
 18  H"  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  was  alone 
 praying,  his  disciples  were  with  him  :  and  he 
 asked  them,  saying,  Whom  say  the  people  that 
 I  am? 
 
 19  They  answering  said,  "John  the  Baptist; 
 but  some  say,  Elias  ;  and  others  say,  that  one 
 of  the  old  prophets  is  risen  again. 
 
 20  He  said  unto  them.  But  whom  say  ye  that 
 I  am?  i" Peter  answering  said,  The  Christ  of 
 God. 
 
 21  ''  And  he  straitly  charged  them,  and  com- 
 manded tliEm  to  tell  no  man  that  thing  ; 
 
 22  Saying, 'The  Son  of  man  must  suff'cr  many 
 things,  and  be  rejected  of  the  elders  and  chief 
 priests  and  scribes,  and  be  slain,  and  be  raised 
 the  third  day. 
 
 23  H'And  he  said  to  them  all.  If  any  nian 
 will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and 
 take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  follow  me. 
 
 24  For  wliosoever  will  save  his  life  shall  lose 
 it :  hut  whosoever  will  lose  his  life  for  my  sake, 
 the  same  shall  save  it. 
 
 25  '  For  what  is  a  man  advantaged,  if  he  gain 
 the  whole  world,  and  lose  himself,  or  be  cast 
 away  ? 
 
 26  "  For  wliosoever  shall  be  ashamed  of  me 
 and  of  my  words,  of  him  shall  the  Son  of  man 
 be  ashamed,  when  he  shall  come  in  his  own 
 glory,  and  in  his  Father's,  and  of  the  holy 
 angels. 
 
 27  '  But  I  tell  you  of  a  truth,  there  be  some 
 standing  here,  which  shall  not  taste  of  death, 
 till  they  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 28  t '  And  it  came  to  pass  about  an  eight 
 days  after  these  ||  sayings,  he  took  Peter  and 
 John  and  James,  and  went  up  into  a  mountain 
 to  pray. 
 
 29  And  as  he  prayed,  the  fashion  of  his  coun- 
 tenance was  altered,  and  his  raiment  loas  white 
 and  glistering. 
 
 .30  And,  behold,  there  talked  with  him  two 
 men,  which  were  Moses  and  Elias : 
 
 31  Who  appeared  in  glory,  and  spake  of  his 
 decease  which  he  should  accomplish  at  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 I  Mat.  14  2. 
 vcr.  7.  B. 
 
 q  Hat.  1B.20. 
 
 s  Mat  10, .^a. 
 &  Ifi.  '2A. 
 Mark  8,  31. 
 ch.  14.  27. 
 
 H  Mat  m.3.1 
 Marks.  :i3. 
 2  Tim. 2. 12, 
 
 r:Mat,lfi,28 
 AUik  »,  1. 
 
 V  Mat  17  I 
 Mark  M.  2 
 ,i  Oi,  thi'igi 
 
 o  Mat   3   17. 
 '.  Ads  3.  22. 
 
 d  Mat. 17. II. 
 Mark  9.  II, 
 
 /  Mark  9  3-;, 
 cli.  2.  5U.  & 
 IS.  M. 
 
 J  Mat.  18.  I, 
 Hark  9.  3». 
 
 ft  M.at. 10.40. 
 
 &   IR.  5. 
 
 Mark  9.37 
 
 J.iliir  12.44. 
 
 tk  13.  20. 
 •  Mat.  23.11, 
 
 12. 
 
 k  Mark  9  3H 
 .s,.e  Num. 
 II.  2S. 
 
 32  But  Peter  and  they  that  were  with  him 
 were  heavy  with  sleep  :  and  when  they  were 
 
 awake,  they  saw  his  glory,  and  the  two  men 
 that  stood  with  him. 
 
 33  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  departed 
 from  him,  Peter  said  unto  Jesus,  Master,  it  is 
 good  for  us  to  be  here :  and  let  us  make  three 
 tabernacles  ;  one  for  thee,  and  one  for  Moses, 
 and  one  for  Elias  :  not  knowing  what  he  said. 
 
 34  While  he  thus  spake,  there  came  a  cloud, 
 and  overshadowed  them  :  and  they  feared  as 
 tliey  entered  into  the  cloud. 
 
 3j  And  there  came  a  voice  out  of  the  cloud, 
 saying,  "  This  is  my  beloved  Son  :  *■  hear  him. 
 
 36  And  when  the  voice  was  past,  Jesus  was 
 found  alone.  '  And  they  kept  it  close,  and 
 told  no  man  in  those  days  any  of  those  things 
 which  they  had  seen. 
 
 37  IF''  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  on  the  next 
 day,  when  they  were  come  down  from  the  hill, 
 much  people  met  him. 
 
 38  And,  behold,  a  man  of  the  company  cried 
 out,  saying.  Master,  1  beseech  thee,  look  upon 
 my  son  :  for  he  is  mine  only  child. 
 
 39  And,  lo,  a  spirit  taketh  him,  and  he  sud- 
 denly crieth  out;  and  it  teareth  him  that  he 
 foameth  again,  and  bruising  him  hardly  depart- 
 eth  from  him. 
 
 40  And  I  besouglit  thy  disciples  to  cast  him 
 out ;  and  they  could  not. 
 
 41  And  Jesus  answering  said,  O  faithless  and 
 perverse  generation,  how  long  shall  I  he  with 
 you,  and  suifer  you  ?     Bring  thy  son  hither. 
 
 42  And  as  he  was  yet  a  coming,  the  devil 
 threw  him  down,  and  tare  hrm.  And  Jesus 
 rebuked  the  unclean  spirit,  and  healed  the 
 child,  and  delivered  bim  again  to  his  father. 
 
 43  IF  And  they  were  all  amazed  at  the  mighty 
 power  of  God.  But  wliile  they  wondered  every 
 one  at  all  things  which  Jesus  did,  he  said  unto 
 his  disciples, 
 
 44  "  Let  these  sayings  sink  down  into  your 
 ears  :  for  the  Son  of  man  shall  be  delivered 
 into  the  hands  of  men. 
 
 45  'But  they  understood  not  this  saying,  and 
 it  was  hid  from  them,  that  they  perceived  it 
 not :  and  they  feared  to  ask  him  of  that  saying. 
 
 46  t  ^  Then  there  arose  a  reasoning  among 
 them,  which  of  them  should  he  greatest. 
 
 47  And  Jesus,  perceiving  the  thought  of  their 
 heart,  took  a  child,  and  set  him  hy  him, 
 
 48  And  said  unto  them,  ''  Whosoever  shall 
 receive  tliis  child  in  my  name  receiveth  me  : 
 and  whosoever  sliall  receive  me  receiveth  him 
 that  sent  me  :  '  for  he  that  is  least  among  you 
 all,  the  same  shall  be  great. 
 
 49  t '  And  John  answered  and  said.  Master, 
 we  saw  one  casting  out  devils  in  thy  name  ; 
 and  we  forbad  him,  because  he  followeth  not 
 with  us. 
 
 50  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Forbid  him  not: 
 for  '  he  that  is  not  against  us  is  for  us. 
 
 51  IF  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  tlie  time  was 
 
 18.  IVhojn  say  the  people,  fyc.—  see  on  Matt.  xvi.  13,  &c.,  notes.  23.  If 
 ant;  mnn  wilt  come,  fye.—sce  Matt.  xvi.  24,  notes.  28.  A/tout  an  eight 
 days,  ^c.—Matthew  says  six  days  ;  but  Luke  includes  the  day  on  which 
 the  discnurse  recorded  in  the  preceding  chapter  was  delivered,  and 
 that  on  which  the  fact  here  mentioned  took  place. — Bens.  See  Matt. 
 xvii.  I — 9,  notes.  31.  Spake  of  Iiis  decease — this  interesting  fact  is 
 
 added  by  St.  Luke.  Accomplish—'  to  fulfil  the  death,'  gives  a  strong 
 peculiarity  lo  this  passage.  To  depart  from  life  is  the  common  l()l  ; 
 but  to  fulfil  his  decease  was  peculiar  tw  Christ,  because  his  death  was 
 the  grand  subject  of  prophec\  . — R.  Watson.  38.  Behold,  it  man  af 
 
 the  company,  4<;.— see  Matt.  xvii.  14,  8:c.,  notes.  4C.  Should  be 
 
 1079 
 
 greatest — see  Matt,  xviii.  1,  note.  49.  Casting  out  deeils — that  this 
 man  did  truly  cast  out  demons,  we  have  reason  to  believe  from  the 
 disciples*  words  and  our  Lord's  answer ;  and,  from  the  nature  and 
 strength  of  Jesus'  arguments  in  urging  liis  disciples  not  to  intenere  in 
 the  affair,  it  seems  evident  that  the  man  was  actuated  by  the  best  mo- 
 tives. He  cast  out  devils  in  the  name  of  the  Messiah  ;  but  whether  lie 
 acknowledged  Jesus  in  this  character  cannot  be  ascertained.  It  is 
 thought  he  was  a  disciple  of  the  Baptist's,  and  wrought  miracles  in  the 
 laith  of  Messiah,  whom  his  master  had  declared  was  immediately  to 
 appear. — Dav.  51.  Received  up,  avn\ii<l/i^,  that  is,  to  Gud,  for  the 
 veibisusedof  the  ascensi.tn  of  Christ  in  several  places,  (see  Mark, 
 
Christ  rebuketh  his  disciples. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  X. 
 
 He  sendeth  out  his  seventy  disciples. 
 
 come  that  ""  he  should  be  received  up,  he  sted- 
 fastly  set  his  face  to  go  to  Jerusalem, 
 
 52  And  sent  messengers  before  his  face  :  and 
 they  went,  and  entered  into  a  village  of  the 
 Samaritans,  to  make  ready  for  him. 
 
 53  And  "  they  did  not  receive  him,  because 
 his  face  was  as  though  he  would  go  to  Jerusa- 
 lem. 
 
 54  And  when  his  disciples  James  and  John 
 saw  this,  they  said.  Lord,  wilt  thou  that  we 
 command  tire  to  come  down  from  heaven,  and 
 consume  them,  even  as  "  Elias  did  V 
 
 55  But  he  turned,  and  rebuked  them,  and 
 said,  Ye  know  not  what  manner  of  spirit  ye  are 
 of. 
 
 56  For  ^  the  Son  of  man  is  not  come  to  de- 
 stroy men's  lives,  but  to  save  them.  And  they 
 went  to  another  village. 
 
 57  H  "i  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  they  went 
 in  the  way,  a  certain  man  said  unto  him.  Lord, 
 I  will  follow  thee  whithersoever  tlion  goest. 
 
 58  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Foxes  have 
 holes,  and  birds  of  the  air  have  nests  ;  but  the 
 Son  of  man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head. 
 
 59  '  And  he  said  unto  another,  Follow  me. 
 But  he  said.  Lord,  suffer  me  first  to  go  and 
 bury  my  father. 
 
 60  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Let  the  dead  bury 
 their  dead  :  but  go  thou  and  preach  the  king- 
 dom of  God. 
 
 61  And  another  also  said.  Lord,  *I  will  follow 
 thee  ;  but  let  me  first  go  bid  them  farewell, 
 which  are  at  home  at  my  house. 
 
 62  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  No  man,  having 
 put  his  hand  to  the  plough,  and  lookijig  back, 
 is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 I  Christ  sendtih  out  at  once  seventy  disciphs  to  xcork 
 miracles,  and  to  preach  :  XT  admonisheth  than  to  be 
 humble.,  and  wherein  to  rejoice  :  21  thmiketh  his  Fa- 
 ther for  his  grace  :  23  viatjnijieth  the  happy  estate  of 
 his  church :   25  teacheth  the  latvyer  hotv  to  attain 
 
 m  i\lAi-k  16. 
 19    Acta  I. 
 
 .  ?  Kill.  I. 
 
 Ill,  1^. 
 
 p  John  S.I7. 
 &  VZ.  *7. 
 
 7  Mat.  B.  19. 
 
 ;  PiM"  I  Kin. 
 19.  20. 
 
 1  Mat.  iO.  I, 
 Mark  6.  7. 
 
 Mat.  1(1.  0, 
 
 in.  MHtke. 
 
 R.  ch.  9.  3. 
 /:;  Kin.  4. 
 
 ^  Mat. 10  12. 
 
 'i  Mat  10  M. 
 
 i  U'or.la?7. 
 
 'i  M.'it  til. 10. 
 I  Cot.  II  -l, 
 he.  I  'I'iin 
 5.  IS. 
 
 ,1  Mat  n.  ? 
 fc  •).  17.  & 
 li>.  7.  ver. 
 
 .1  Mat  1 1).  1-1. 
 ch.  n  5. 
 Ai-is  13.51. 
 f*  18.  0. 
 
 "  Mat  10.15. 
 yUxv\i  6.  II. 
 
 pMat.11.2!. 
 
 eternal  life,  and  to  take  every  one  for  his  neighbour 
 that  netdetU  his  mercy  :  41  re/rehendtth  Martha,  and 
 commendeth  Mary  htr  sister. 
 
 A  FTER  these  things  the  Lord  appointed 
 -^^  other  seventy  also,  and  ^sent  them  two 
 and  two  before  his  face  into  every  city  and 
 place,  whither  fie  liimself  would  come. 
 
 'J  Therefore  said  lie  unto  them,  ''The  harvest 
 truly  is  great,  but  the  labourers  are  few : 
 '^  pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord  of  the  harvest, 
 that  he  would  send  forth  labourers  into  his 
 harvest. 
 
 3  Go  your  ways  :  '^  behold,  I  send  you  forth 
 as  lambs  amon<^  wolves. 
 
 4  ^  Carry  neither  piu'se,  nor  scrip,  nor  shoes  ; 
 and  '"salute  no  man  by  the  way. 
 
 5  ^  And  into  wiiatsoever  house  ye  enter,  first 
 say,  Peace  be  to  tliis  house. 
 
 a  And  if  the  son  of  peace  be  there,  yonr  peace 
 shall  rest  upon  it:  if  not,  it  shall  turn  to  you 
 again. 
 
 7  "And  in  the  same  Iiousc  remain,  'eating 
 and  drinlving  such  things  as  they  give:  for 
 nhe  labourer  is  wortliy  of  liis  liire.  Go  not 
 from  liouse  to  house. 
 
 8  And  into  whatsoever  city  ye  enter,  and 
 they  receive  you,  cat  such  tilings  as  are  set 
 before  you  : 
 
 9  'And  heal  the  sick  that  are  therein,  and  say 
 unto  them,  "'The  kingdom  of  God  is  come  nigh 
 unto  you. 
 
 10  Hut  into  whatsoever  city  ye  enter,  and 
 tiiey  receive  you  not,  go  your  ways  out  'Uto 
 tlie  streets  of  the  same,  and  say, 
 
 11  "'Even  the  very  dust  of  your  city,  w'licli 
 cleaveth  on  us,  we  do  wipe  off  against  )  on  : 
 notwithstanding  be  ye  sure  of  this,  that  the 
 kingdom  of  God  is  come  nigh  unto  you. 
 
 12  But  I  say  unto  you,  that  "^it  shall  be  i  lore 
 tolerable  in  that  day  for  Sodom,  than  for  that 
 city. 
 
 13  '^  Woe    unto    thee,   Chorazin !    woe     into 
 
 xvi.  19  ;  Acts.  i.  2,  II,  22  ;  1  Tim.  iii.  I6.)  Stedfastly  set  his  face,  com- 
 posed himself  into  a  firm  and  settled  resolve. ~fi.  Watson.  53.  Be- 
 cause his  face  wus,  Sfn. — the  Samaritans  cuuld  not  refuse  Indeiners  to 
 all  travellers  that  went  to  Jerusalem,  for  the  high  road  lay  throuffb 
 their  country.  Such  travellers  only  as  went  thither  proftssedly  to 
 worship  were  the  objects  of  their  indigoation  ;  hence  the  above  exprcs- 
 sion.  It  plainly  appeared  that  he  was  going  to  worship  at  the  temple, 
 and  tYiereby  in  effect  to  condemn  the  Samaritan  worship  at  Monnt 
 Gerizim. — Bens.  56.  Nat  come  to  de.Ktroy,  ^r. — Griesback,  and  some 
 others,  reject  this  passage  as  an  interpolation  ;  the  context,  however, 
 appears  to  require  it,  and  it  is  equivalent  to  '  'I'he  Son  of  man  is  ctune 
 to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  is  lost.* — R.  Watson.  57.  A  certain 
 man.  ■5'C.— sec  Matt.  viii.  19.  20,  notes.  59.  And  burtj  my  father — 
 see  Matt.  viii.  21,  note.  62.  Harijig  put  his  hand  to  the  plough,  ffc, 
 — this  is  a  proverhial  expression,  and  used  by  the  Greek  writers. — R. 
 Watson.  The  ancient  rinle  and  simple  ploughs  required  peculiar  atten- 
 tion to  make  them  penetrate  the  ground  and  work  stiriight. — Cat.  The 
 meaning  here  is,  *  As  no  man  is  fit  to  manage  a  plough  who  is  not 
 
 intent  on  his  work,  so  no  man  must  think  of  taking  upon  himself  the 
 profession  of  his  gospel  who  allows  worldly  considerations  to  be  upper- 
 most in  his  mind.' — Dp.  Manit.  It  means  that  no  man  pursuing  se- 
 cular interests  is  fit  to  preach  the  kingdom  of  God,  (ver.  Go.)— So  Cill. 
 Chap.  X, —  1.  Other  sevcnti/,  tTepour  l^bo^^^Kov^a,  'seventy  others-,' 
 for  the  English  translation  implies  that  there  were  seventy  sent  before, 
 which  is  not  the  fact. — Camp.  3.  Go  your  tvai/s,  ^c. — see  instruc- 
 tions to  the  twelve,  on  Matt,  x.,  and  notes.  4.  Sa.'ule  no  man,  ^c, 
 — not  that  they  were  to  renounce  the  courtesies  of  life,  but  eastern 
 salutations  were  fiirmal  and  great  liinderHncci.  —  See  S.  Iiurder*s 
 Orient.  Cust.  •  Let  not  matters  of  mere  cunipiiment  detain  you.' — 
 Camp.  6.  The  snn  of  peace,  if  the  niasier  of  the  house  be  of  a  kind 
 and  friendly  disposition. — R.Wat  sun.  if  he  be  piou^and  well-disposeo, 
 and  prepared  to  receive  the  truth. — 5.  Clarke.  In  the  Hebrew  idiom, 
 a  man  who  has  any  good  or  had  quality  is  called  Uie  son  of  it. ^UoiUhr. 
 Y'lur  peace  shall  rest,  '  your  prayer  shall  not  be  inefiectiial.* — R. 
 Watson.  7.  Jji  the  same  tiouse  remain,  §-c. — see  Matt,  x.,  notes. 
 13.  Woe  unto  thee,  Chortizin!  §"C. — see  Matt.  xi.  21,  &c. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX. —  We  may  here  notice  some 
 Rrand  mistakes  in  religion  which  are  commonly  made — I.  The 
 sectarian  mistahes  of  Christ's  disciples.  They  forbade  the  man 
 who  was  employed  in  casting  out  devils  in  Christ's  name. 
 This  was  a  great  error,  and  is  followed  by  many  bigots  to  this 
 day.  They  would  rather  that  men  should  continue  under  the 
 influence  of  the  god  of  this  world,  than  that  the  truth,  as  it 
 is  in  Jesus,  should  be  declared  by  devoted  men  not  within 
 their  pale.  But.  as  the  excellent-spirited  Sumner.  Bishop  of 
 Chester,  observes,  'there  are  two  interests  in  the  world, — the 
 interests  of  Satan,  and  the  interests  of  God  ;  and  whoever  is 
 opposed  to  the  interests  of  Satan,  as  the  man  must  have  been 
 who  was  casting  out  devils  in  Christ's  name,  is,  in  truth,  ad- 
 vancing the  interests  of  God.-  They  also  called  for  fire  from 
 heaven  against  the  Samaritans  who  opposed  them;  a  spirit 
 which  is  not  yet  extinct.  This  spirit  may  kindle  the  fire  and 
 the  fagot  but  it  will  never  kindle  the  flame  of  pure  and  unde- 
 1080 
 
 filed  religion  in  the  world. 
 
 II.  The  secufar  mistakes  of  Christ's  hearers.  The  scribe,  as 
 Matthew  calls  him,  volunteered  his  services  for  Christ  till  he 
 found  that  much  self-denial  was  requisite  to  be  one  of  his  dis- 
 ciples;.and  he  left  him.  Another  would  follow  Christ  if  it 
 would  not  interfere  with  relative  ties.  A  third  must  settle  his 
 family  aflairs,  as  the  phrase  may  signify,  as  well  as  take  leave 
 of  his  friends.  These  instanres  of  excuse  and  delay  are  re- 
 corded to  teach  us  that  religion  is  a  matter  of  too  much  mo- 
 ment to  ndmitof  excuses  nnd  delays, and  that  it  is  nothing  with- 
 out the  lieart.  '  In  the  three  answers  of  Christ,'  says  Bishop 
 J.  B.  Sumner,  '  three  different  qualities  are  recommended  to 
 all  who  are  actively  engaged  in  the  service  of  religion  :  in  the 
 first,  consideration  ;  in  the  second,  devotedness  ;  in  the  third, 
 steady  resolution  and  perseverance;  as  illustrated  by  the 
 proverb,  'no  man  having  put  his  hand  to  the  plough,  and 
 looking  back,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God.' 
 
The  law'/er's  question. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  X. 
 
 Martha  riprehended. 
 
 thee,  Bethsaida!  ""for  if  the  mighty  works  had 
 been  done  in  Tyre  and  Sidon,  which  have  been 
 done  in  yon,  they  had  a  great  while  ago  re- 
 pented, sittnig  in  sackcloth  and  ashes. 
 
 14  Bnt  it  shall  be  more  tolerable  for  Tyre 
 and  Sidon  at  the  judgment,  than  for  you. 
 
 1.5  '  And  thou,  Capernaum,  which  art '  exalted 
 to  heaven,  'shalt  be  thrust  down  to  hell. 
 
 10  "He  that  heareth  you  heareth  ine  ;  and 
 Mie  that  despiseth  you  despiseth  me;  'and 
 he  that  despiseth  me  despiseth  him  that  sent 
 me. 
 
 17  If  And  ^  the  seventy  returned  again  with 
 joy,  saying.  Lord,  even  the  devils  are  subject 
 unto  us  through  thy  name. 
 
 18  And  he  said  unto  them,  "  I  beheld  Satan 
 as  lightning  fall  from  heaven. 
 
 19  Behold,  ''  I  give  unto  you  power  to  tread 
 on  serpents  and  scorpions,  and  over  all  the 
 power  of  tlie  enemy  :  and  nothing  shall  by  any 
 means  hurt  you. 
 
 ■_'()  Notwithstanding  in  this  rejoice  not,  that 
 the  spirits  are  subject  unto  you  ;  but  rather 
 rejoice,  because  "^  your  names  are  written  hi 
 heaven. 
 
 •21  If'' In  that  hour  Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit, 
 and  said,  I  thank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of 
 heaven  and  earth,  that  thou  hast  hid  these 
 things  from  tlie  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  re- 
 vealed them  unto  babes  :  even  so,  Father ;  for 
 so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight. 
 
 22  °  II  All  things  are  delivered  to  me  of  my 
 Father:  and  'no  man  knoweth  who  the  Son 
 is,  hut  the  Fatlier ;  and  who  the  Father  is,  but 
 the  Son,  and  he  to  whom  the  Son  will  reveal 
 hi  III. 
 
 2;?  If  And  he  turned  him  unto  his  disciples, 
 and  said  privately,  ^  Blessed  arc  the  eyes  which 
 see  the  things  that  ye  see  : 
 
 24  For  I  tell  you,  ''  that  many  prophets  and 
 kings  have  desired  to  see  those  things  which 
 ye  see,  and  have  not  seen  them ;  and  to  hear 
 those  things  which  ye  hear,  and  have  not  heard 
 them. 
 
 25  If  And,  behold,  a  certain  lawyer  stood  up, 
 and  tempted  him,  saying,  '  Master,  what  shall 
 I  do  to  inherit  eternal  life? 
 
 20  He  said  unto  him,  What  is  written  in  the 
 law  ?  how  readest  thou  ? 
 
 27  And  he  answering  said,  '  Thou  shalt  love 
 the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with 
 all   thy  soul,  and   with  all  thy  strength,  and 
 
 A.  D.  32. 
 
 .SreGcn.U. 
 ■I.  n.!iit,  I. 
 
 l:f.  ,lor. 
 
 II  Miit.ln.'ltl. 
 
 John  MVHK 
 J-  1  Tlies.  '1. 
 
 V  .Inliii  ti.  2.S. 
 ;  v..r.   I. 
 '1  J.jhnri-31. 
 
 H  U>    II 
 
 Hcv.  9. 1,8( 
 
 12.  9,  9. 
 l>  M.\rk  IG 
 
 19.  Arts2B. 
 
 c  Ex.  39.  .1». 
 
 Ps.  69.  2S. 
 
 I«.  4.  a. 
 
 nun.  12.  I. 
 
 I'l.il.  4.  .t, 
 
 Heb,  12.  2;!. 
 
 Ilev.  13.8. 
 
 .Sc  2n.  12.  & 
 
 21.27. 
 d  M(Lt. 11.25. 
 
 J  \rat.SS.18. 
 .Ii.lin  3  S! 
 
 27.  & 
 17.  2. 
 |(  Many  an- 
 cipiit  ciiiiies 
 add  these 
 fvnrds,  Jud 
 turiiini/  to 
 hi^tiitcipla, 
 
 /.T-thn  1.  18. 
 &  6.  11,  -16 
 e  IMat.ls.l.'i. 
 h  1  Pet.l.lU. 
 
 Eze,  2(1.  II, 
 11,21. 
 H.'iii.  10.  5. 
 I  ch.  16.  15 
 
 o  John  11.1. 
 II.  12.  3,  3. 
 
 - 1  Cor.7.32, 
 
 fliC. 
 
 eh.  8.  35. 
 .Acts  22.  S. 
 
 with  all  thy  mind ;  and  '  thy  neighbour  as  thy- 
 self. 
 
 28  And  he  said  unto  him.  Thou  hast  answered 
 right :  this  do,  and  '"  thou  shalt  live. 
 
 29  But  he,  willing  to  "justify  himself,  said 
 unto  Jesus,  And  who  is  my  neighbour? 
 
 30  And  Jesus  answering  said,  A  certain  man 
 went  down  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho,  and  fell 
 among  thieves,  which  stripped  him  of  his  rai- 
 ment, and  wounded  him,  and  departed,  leaving 
 him  half  dead. 
 
 .31  And  by  chance  there  came  down  a  certain 
 priest  that  way:  and  when  he  saw  him,  °  he 
 passed  by  on  the  other  side. 
 
 32  And  likewise  a  Levite,  when  he  was  at 
 the  place,  came  and  looked  on  him,  and  passed 
 by  on  the  other  side. 
 
 .33  Butacertain  ''Samaritan,  as  he  journeyed, 
 came  where  he  was  :  and  when  he  saw  him,  he 
 had  compassion  on  him, 
 
 34  And  went  to  him,  and  bound  up  his 
 wounds,  pouring  in  oil  and  wine,  and  set  him 
 on  his  own  beast,  and  brought  him  to  au  inn, 
 and  took  care  of  him. 
 
 35  And  on  the  morrow  when  he  departed,  he 
 took  out  two  II  pence,  and  gave  them  to  the 
 
 jhost,  and  said  unto  him.  Take  care  of  him; 
 and  whatsoever  thou  spendest  more,  when  I 
 come  again,  I  will  repay  thee. 
 
 36  Which  now  of  these  three,  thinkest  thou, 
 was  neighbour  unto  him  that  fell  among  the 
 thieves  ? 
 
 37  And  he  said,  He  that  shewed  mercy  on 
 him.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  him.  Go,  and  do 
 thou  likewise. 
 
 38  t  Now  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  went,  that 
 he  entered  into  a  certain  village  :  and  a  certain 
 woman  named  "■  Martha  received  him  into  her 
 house. 
 
 39  And  she  had  a  sister  called  Mary,  '  which 
 also  *sat  at  Jesus'  feet,  and  heard  his  word. 
 
 40  But  Martha  was  cumbered  about  much 
 serving,  and  came  to  him,  and  said.  Lord,  dost 
 thou  not  care  that  my  sister  hath  left  me  to 
 serve  alone  ?  bid  her  therefore  that  she  help 
 me. 
 
 41  And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her. 
 Martha,  Martha,  thou  art  careful  and  troubled 
 about  many  things  : 
 
 42  But  '  one  thing  is  needful :  and  Mary  hath 
 chosen  that  good  part,  which  shall  not  be  taken 
 away  from  her. 
 
 17.  Through  thy  name — this  was  the  grand  distinction  between  Uie 
 miiaclcs  of  our  Lord  and  those  nf  his  servants.  One  was  wroufrht  hy 
 an  original,  the  otlier  by  a  derived  power. — R.  Watson.  IS.  Sfilan, 
 Tif  SoTui'ai',  Satan  himself,  the  verj'  Satan — the  supreme  adversary. 
 Full,  fyc. — thus  should  the  fall  of  the  corrupt  Jewish  state  be,  and 
 thus  was  the  fall  of  idolatry  in  the  Gentile  world. — A.  Clarke.  He, 
 by  his  Divine  omniscience,  saw  the  powers  of  darkness  falling  before 
 their  ministry  and  miracles  ;  and  he  also  foresaw  how  Satan  hereafter, 
 in  a  more  conspicuous  manner,  should  fall  before  the  preaching  of  his 
 gospel  by  his  apostles.  19.  Tu  tread  fin  serpentu,  ^c,  may  be  lite- 
 
 rally understood  as  in  M.irk.  xvi.  IS;  Acts,  s.wiii.  3,  5;  or.  figura- 
 tively, of  the  devil  and  his  emissaries. — Gill,  20.  Jiejoire  not,  ^e. — 
 these  words  must  be  taken  in  a  comparative  sense. — Mar.  Because 
 1/nur  nanie.i,  ^e.,  that  ye  arc  the  children  and  heirs  of  God. — Ham. 
 Are  written,  ^c,  alludes  to  the  custom  of  writing  in  a  register  the 
 names  of  the  inhabitants  of  a  district  or  city,  (see  Exod.  xxx.  12  ;  Dan. 
 xii.  1  ;  Phil.  iv.  ■i.)—Beansat>re.  21.  /  thank  thee,  O  Father,  ^c. — 
 
 Christ  rejoiced  not  in  the  destruction  of  the  wise  and  prudent,  but  in 
 the  display  of  the  riches,  freeness,  and  sovereignty  of  God's  grace  to 
 others. — Gutjse.  S2.  All  things,  ^c. — see  Matt.  xi.  27,  note.  24.  Maiiu 
 prophets,  ffc.—spe  Matt.  xiii.  17,  note.  25.  A  certain  tauaier,  f^c. — 
 see  Matt.  xix.  17,  &c.,  notes.  30.  From  Jernsalem  to  Jericho — about 
 12,001}  priests  and  Levites,  who  used  to  attend  the  temple,  resided  at 
 Jericho,  which  was  about  nineteen  miles  east  of  Jernsalem. — Gnyse. 
 This  road  was  the  worst  in  all  Jhdea,  and  was  particularly  harassed 
 by  robbers,  as  it  lay  through  wild  and  dreary  solitudes. — Jos.  It  was 
 called  '  the  blondv  way.' — Jerome.  The  whole  of  this  road  is  held  to 
 1081 
 
 be  the  most  dangerous  in  Palestine ;  and  indeed  the  very  aspect  of  the 
 scenery  is  sufficient,  on  the  one  hand,  to  tempt  to  robbery,  and,  on  the 
 other,  to  occasion  terror  in  those  that  pass  that  way. — J.  S.  Bucking- 
 ham. 31.  By  cAonce— this  phrase  only  signifies  that  so  it  came  to 
 pass. — Gill.  32.  Passed  by  on  the  other  side,  for  fear  of  legal  pollu. 
 tma.—Trapp.  .13.  A  certain  Samaritan—oar  Lord  here  reproves  the 
 narrow-minded  antipathy  which  the  Jews  bore  to  strangers,  not  by 
 direct  censure  and  public  accusation  of  their  behaviour,  but  by  oppos- 
 ing to  it  an  example  of  humanity  and  mercy,  which,  by  gaining  their 
 admiration,  might  excite  them  to  imitate  ;  an  example  the  more  noble 
 and  affecting,  as  *  the  Jews  have  no  dealings  with  the  Samaritans.' — 
 Tou'nson.  34.  Pouring  in  oil  and  wine — the  Samaritan  supplied  these 
 from  the  stores  which  lie  carried  with  him  in  travelling.  It  was  a  con. 
 stant  custom  in  the  east  to  carry  provisions  on  a  journey,  (see  Judg. 
 xix.  19;  Matt,  xv.  32.1 — Mackn.  The  oil  was  used  for  anointing  the 
 limbs.— Sc/ioF/rg'eTj.  Oil  and  wine,  beaten  together,  appear  to  have 
 been  used  formerly  as  a  common  medicine  for  fresh  wounds. — Har. 
 
 34.  An  inn — see  chap.  ii.  7.  note.  n.ivriuxtiov,  from  irav,  'all,'  and 
 itexofiat,  '  I  receive.'  because  it  receives  all  comers. — A.  Clarke.  A 
 different  term  from  that  in  Luke.  ii.  This  was,  probably,  a  mere  rest- 
 ing-place, (as  the  original  implies,)  and  where  some  person  attended, 
 here  called  the  'host,'  or  'innkeeper,'  to  assist  strangers. —  Williams. 
 
 35.  Twopence,  Roman  denarii, both  worth  about  15rf.  of  our  money  .^ 
 (;(//.  40.  Cumbered,  Tjepieona-To,  '  drawn  different  ways.' — Bens. 
 Just  'distracted.' — Hen.  41.  Careful,  /iepiftva-;,  'anxiously  careful.' 
 And  troubled,  Top/3aCv,  '  disturbed.' or 'hurried.' — Bens.  42.  One 
 thing  is  needful— tiii-i  is  the  eud  of  the  sentence,  according  to  Benzet. 
 
 e  V 
 
Christ  teacheth  to  prnif. 
 
 S.LUKE,  XT. 
 
 He  rebuketh  the  blasphemous  Pharisee, 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Christ  teacheth  to  pray,  and  that  instantly:  11  us- 
 suring  that  God  so  will  give  iis  good  things.  14  He, 
 casting  out  a  dumb  devil,  rebuketh  the  blasphemous 
 Pharisees ;  28  and  sheweth  who  are  blessed :  29 
 preachcth  to  the  people,  37  and  reprekendetk  the  out- 
 ward thew  of  holiness  iii  the  Pharisees,  scribeSj  and 
 lau'i/ers* 
 
 \  ND  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  he  was  pray- 
 ■^^  ing  ill  a  certain  place,  when  he  ceased,  one 
 of  liis  disciples  said  unto  him,  Lord,  teach  us 
 to  pray,  as  John  also  taught  his  disciples. 
 
 2  And  he  said  unto  them,  When  ye  pray, 
 say,  °  Our  Father  which  art  in  heaven,  Hal- 
 lowed be  thy  name.  Thy  kingdom  come. 
 Thy  will  be  done,  as  in  heaven,  so  in  earth. 
 
 3  Give  us  ||  day  by  day  our  daily  bread. 
 
 4  And  forgive  us  our  sins  ;  for  we  also  forgive 
 every  one  that  is  indebted  to  us.  And  lead  us 
 not  into  temptation  ;  hut  deliver  us  from  evil. 
 
 5  And  he  said  unto  them,  Which  of  you  shall 
 have  a  friend,  and  shall  go  unto  him  at  mid- 
 night, and  say  unto  him.  Friend,  lend  me  three 
 loaves  ; 
 
 6  For  a  friend  of  mine  ||  in  his  journey  is 
 come  to  me,  and  I  have  nothing  to  set  before 
 him  V 
 
 7  And  he  from  within  shall  answer  and  say. 
 Trouble  me  not :  the  door  is  now  shut,  and  my 
 children  are  with  me  in  bed;  I  cannot  rise  and 
 give  thee. 
 
 8  I  say  unto  you,  *'  Though  he  will  not  rise 
 
 il  Or,  far  the 
 day. 
 
 II  Or,  out  of 
 hit  wntf. 
 
 b  ch.  18.  1, 
 
 flee. 
 
 ■2  Mat.  7.  7. 
 Sc  a.  22. 
 
 i\rarkn.2t. 
 
 J.ihn  \5.  7. 
 Jam.  I.  6. 
 
 (  Gr.  give. 
 
 e  M.it,  9,  32. 
 
 3>  \2.  n. 
 
 f  Mat.  9.  3t. 
 
 S<  18.2*. 
 t  Gr.  H'Ait- 
 
 but,  aud  Ko 
 
 ver.  IS,  19. 
 a  Mat.  Vi. 
 
 33.  &  IG.  I. 
 
 h  Mat.  12, 
 SS.  Mark  3 
 
 i  John  8.  85. 
 
 and  give  him,  because  he  is  his  friend,  yet  be- 
 cause of  his  importunity  he  will  rise  and  give 
 him  as  many  as  he  needeth. 
 
 y  *^  And  I  say  unto  you.  Ask,  and  it  shall  be 
 given  you  ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find  ;  knock, 
 and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you. 
 
 10  For  every  one  that  asketh  receiveth  ;  and 
 he  that  seeketh  findeth  ;  and  to  him  that  knock- 
 eth  it  shall  be  opened. 
 
 11  ■*  If  a  son  shall  ask  bread  of  any  of  you 
 that  is  a  father,  will  he  give  him  a  stone  ?  or  if 
 he  ash  a  fish,  will  he  for  a  fish  give  him  a  ser- 
 pent? 
 
 1*2  Or  if  he  shall  ask  an  egg,  will  he  f  offer 
 
 him 
 
 a  scorpion  : 
 
 13  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give 
 good  gifts  unto  your  children:  how  mucli 
 more  shall  i/our  heavenly  Father  give  the 
 Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  him  ? 
 
 14  1[ "  And  he  was  casting  out  a  devil,  and  it 
 was  dumb.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the 
 devil  was  gone  out,  the  dumb  spake  ;  and  the 
 people  wondered. 
 
 15  But  some  of  them  said,  ''  He  casteth  out 
 devils  through  f  Beelzebub  the  chief  of  the 
 devils. 
 
 16  And  others,  tempting  him,  ^sought  of 
 him  a  sign  from  heaven. 
 
 17  ''But  'he,  knowing  their  thoughts,  said 
 unto  them,  Every  kingdom  divided  against 
 itself  is  brought  to  desolation  ;  and  a  house 
 divided  asainst  a  house  falleth. 
 
 *  One  dish  to  eat  of.*— Theophylact,  Basil ;  so  also  Clarke.  '  The  better 
 part,'  wliich  Mary  laboured  afk-r. —  W'/tit/jy.  The  care  of  the  soul,  spi- 
 ritual grace,  and  wisdom.— iJen.s.  That  good  part,  or  'portion.' 
 Christ,  the  sum  and  substance  of  the  word  she  heard,  and  eternal  life 
 and  salvation  by  him. — GUI,  as  Hen. 
 
 Chap.  XI. —  I.  Teach  us  to  pray-~\i  was  probably  a  custom  of  the 
 Jews  to  teach  their  disciples  a  short  form  of  prayer  as  a  badge  of  dis- 
 cipleship. — Mede.  As  John  also  taught — whereas  the  Jews'  prayers 
 were  generally  adorations,  and  praises,  and  doxologies,  John  probably 
 taught  his  disciples  such  prayers  as  were  more  tilled  up  with  petitions 
 aud  requests.— /-ig^/i//.  2.  When  ye  pray,  say.  Our  Father,  l^r. — see 
 on  Matt.  vi.  9—13,  notes.  The  prayer  here  is  a  shortened  form  of  that 
 prescribed  in  the  sermon  on  the  mount,  and  taught  on  a  different  occa- 
 sion. 5.  Which  of  pou  shall  have  a  friend — this  is  one  of  the  para- 
 bles which  our  blessed  Lord  at  different  times  uttered,  to  encourage 
 
 importunity  aud  repeated  application  in  prayer.  At  midniphf —jour- 
 neys in  the  cast  arc  often  performed  at  midnight,  on  account  of  the 
 heals  of  the  day.—Har.  Three  /oaj-cs- these  may  seem  many,  but 
 eastern  loaves  are  but  cakes,  like  biscuits. — See  IVarnikru's  Ht-h.  Andq. 
 See  Matt.  xiv.  19,  n<.ite.  7-  Wi/A  me  in  bed,  that  is,  asleep  on  mat 
 
 tresses  in  the  same  room,  according  to  the  custom  tif  tluise  countries. 
 — See  Har.  He  urges  it  as  a  reason  why  he  should  not  rise,  lest  be 
 should  awake  the  young  children. — Ji.  H'ufson.  It  is  usual  for  a  whole 
 family  to  sleep  in  the  same  room,  especially  tho^e  in  lower  Ufe,  layintj 
 their  beds  on  the  ground.— Str  J.  Chnrdin.  12.  A  scorpion ?—Bochart 
 tells  us  that  the  body  of  a  white  scorpion  is  like  an  egg  ;  and  in  Judea 
 the  size  is  not  very  different  from  that  of  an  egg.  the  scorpions  being 
 large. — Bp.  Penrce.  13.  The  Holy  Sphit,  '  good  things,'  in  Matthew. 
 Luke  substitutes  '  the  Holy  Spirit,'  one  of  the  best  gifts,  certainly,  that 
 we  can  implore  or  God  bestow. —  Wit.      U.  Casting  out  a  devil— same 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.  — The  subjects  of  this  chapter 
 are — I.  The  sending  forth  of  the  tevtnty  disciples.  These  were 
 employed  as  reapers  in  the  field  of  the  world,  because  of  the 
 greatness  of  the  harvest.  *  The  harvest,'  said  our  Lord, '  truly 
 is  great,  but  tlie  labourers  are  fevr  :  pray  ye,  therefore,  the 
 Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  would  send  forth  labourers  into 
 his  harvest.'  And  still  there  is  a  preat  harvest.  IVIuch  has 
 indeed  been  accomplished  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  but  how 
 much  more  remains  to  be  done  !  Compared  with  those  that 
 are  the  genuine  disciples  of  Christ,  we  may  yet  say,  '  the  whole 
 world  lieth  in  wickedness.'  Great,  indeed,  is  the  harvest, 
 numerically  considered  ;  great  compared  wiih  the  means  and 
 agency  employed,  and  great  compared  with  what  might  be 
 done  even  with  existing  resources.  Let  our  efforts  he  strenu- 
 ously used  to  increase  the  number  of  labourers  ;  let  able  men 
 not  count  their  lives  dear  to  them  in  this  work,  nor  Christians 
 sparingly  deal  out  their  gold  to  accomplish  the  grea.t  purposes 
 for  which  the  Son  of  God  came  into  the  world,  and  even 
 '  poured  out  his  soul  unto  death. ' 
 
 IL  The  jog  of  Christ  in  the  will  of  his  heavenly  Father.  He 
 did  not,  indeed,  rejoice  in  the  ignorance  of  men,  nor  in  their 
 stupidity  and  hardness  of  heart;  on  the  contrary,  he  even 
 wept  when  he  thought  of  their  infatuation  ;  but  be  rejoiced  in 
 seeing  their  pride  and  vain-glory  humbled,  while  the  mysteries 
 of  his  grace  were  revealed  to  mere  babes  in  knowledge.  Let 
 us  come  to  Christ  as  little  children,  and  he  will  teach  us  the 
 way  of  salvation. 
 
 III.  The  stlf-riyhtcous  Pharisee^  reproved  by  the  parable  of  the 
 good  Samaritan,  liere  received  an  answer  to  his  question,  '  And 
 who  is  my  neighbour?'  '  We  are  taught,'  says  Prebendary 
 Tcwnsend,  '  that  not  only  our  acquaintance,  our  friends,  and 
 countrymen,  are  included  under  this  term,  but  that  our  very 
 1082 
 
 enemies,  when  in  distress,  are  entitled  to  our  sympathy,  our 
 mercy,  and  our  best  exertions  for  their  relief.'  Tlie  fine  ex- 
 ample of  the  good  Samaritan  has  often  been  applied  to  Christ. 
 This  is  not  the  genuine  application  of  the  subject,  but  Christ 
 is  indeed  a  good  Samaritan,  \Vben  we  were  in  the  most  mi- 
 serable and  hopeless  state,  he  pitied  us — he  readily  came  to 
 save  us — he  has  poured  oil  and  wine  into  our  bleeding  hearts, 
 and  rescued  us  from  everlasting  destruction.  '  If  God  so  loved 
 us,  we  ought  also  to  love  one  another.' 
 
 IV.  The  characters  of  Martha  and  Mary.  These  were  both 
 pious  women  ;  but  one  of  a  highly  domestic  character,  the  other 
 more  mental.  Both  were  attached  to  Jesus,  but  they  shewed 
 their  attachment  in  different  ways.  Our  Lord,  however,  lias 
 left  us  an  important  piece  of  instruction  connected  with  the 
 incident  here  recorded.  '  One  thing  is  needful.'  That  he 
 meant  the  care  of  the  soul,  and  had  allusion  to  an  interest  in 
 himself,  is  obvious,  for  the  accompanying  sentence  is  certainly 
 exegetical  of  the  former — *  Mary  hath  chosen  that  good  part 
 which  shall  not  be  taken  away  from  her.'  *  \Vhat  is  that  one 
 thing  V  says  Mr.  Jay.  '  It  is  hearing  the  Saviour's  words — it 
 is  an  attention  to  the  soul — it  is  religion.  \That !  is  nothing 
 else  necessary  ?  Yes.  many  things  ;  but,  compared  with  M/-s 
 they  are  less  than  nothing,  and  vanity.  Other  things  are  acci- 
 dentally needful  ;  this  is  essentially  so.  Other  things  are  oc- 
 casionally needful  ;  this  is  invariably  so.  Other  things  are 
 partially  needful ;  this  is  universally  so,— needful  for  prosperity 
 and  adversity,  needful  for  the  botiy  and  the  soul,  needful  for 
 time  and  eternity.  Some  things  are  needful  for  some  indivi- 
 duals, but  not  for  others  ;  but  this  is  needful  for  all  :  needful 
 for  kings  and  subjects — needful  for  rich  and  poor — needful  for 
 old  and  young.'    May  Mary's  poition  be  ours  ! 
 
Christ  sheweth  who  are  blessed,  and 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XI. 
 
 reprehendech  the  outward  shew  of  holiness. 
 
 18  If  Satan  also  be  divided  against  himself, 
 how  shall  his  kingdom  stand  ?  because  ye  say 
 that  I  cast  out  devils  through  Beelzebub. 
 
 19  And  if  I  by  Beelzebub  cast  out  devils,  by 
 whom  do  your  sons  cast  them  out?  therefore 
 shall  they  be  your  judges. 
 
 20  But  if  I  '  witli  the  finger  of  God  cast  out 
 devils,  no  doubt  the  kingdom  of  God  is  come 
 upon  you. 
 
 ■21  '  When  a  strong  man  armed  keepeth  his 
 palace,  his  goods  are  in  peace  : 
 
 22  But  "  when  a  stronger  than  he  shall  come 
 upon  him  and  overcome  him,  he  taketh  from 
 him  all  his  armour  wherein  he  trusted,  and 
 divideth  his  spoils. 
 
 23  "  He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me : 
 and  he  that  gatheretli  not  with  me  scattereth. 
 
 2-t  "  When  the  unclean  spirit  is  gone  out  of  a 
 man,  he  walketh  through  dry  places,  seeking 
 rest ;  and  finding  none,  he  saith,  I  will  return 
 unto  my  house  whence  I  came  out. 
 
 25  And  when  he  cometh,  he  findeth  it  swept 
 and  garnished. 
 
 26  Then  goeth  he,  and  taketh  to  him  seven 
 other  spirits  more  wicked  than  himself;  and 
 they  enter  in,  and  dwell  there  :  and  ■■  the  last 
 state  of  that  man  is  worse  than  the  first. 
 
 27  1  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  spake  these 
 things,  a  certain  woman  of  the  company  lifted 
 up  her  voice,  and  said  unto  him,  ''  Blessed  is 
 the  womb  that  bare  thee,  and  the  paps  which 
 thou  hast  sucked. 
 
 28  But  he  said.  Yea  'rather,  blessed  are 
 they  that  hear  the  word  of  God,  and  keep  it. 
 
 29  t '  And  when  the  people  were  gathered 
 thick  together,  he  began  to  say,  This  is  an  evil 
 generation  :  they  seek  a  sign  ;  and  there  shall 
 no  sign  be  given  it,  but  the  sign  of  Jonas  the 
 prophet. 
 
 30  For  as  '  Jonas  was  a  sign  unto  the  Nine- 
 vites,  so  shall  also  the  Son  of  man  be  to  this 
 generation. 
 
 31  "  The  queen  of  the  south  shall  rise  up  in 
 the  judgment  with  the  men  of  this  generation, 
 and  condemn  them  :  for  she  came  from  the 
 utmost  parts  of  the  earth  to  hear  the  wisdom 
 of  Solomon  ;  and,  behold,  a  greater  than  Solo- 
 mon is  here. 
 
 32  The  men  of  Nineve  shall  rise  up  in  the 
 judgment  with  this  generation,  and  shall  con- 
 demn it :  for  '  they  repented  at  the  preaching  of 
 Jonas ;  and,  behold,  a  greater  than  Jonas  is  here. 
 
 t  Mat.  12.  29. 
 Mftrk  3.  27- 
 
 p  John  5.  14. 
 Heb,  C.  4. 
 &  10.  -iC. 
 B  Pel.  2.  20. 
 
 7  cli.  t. 
 
 r  Mat.  7.  21. 
 ch.  8.21. 
 Jam.  1.  25. 
 
 f  Jonah  1.17. 
 &  2.  10. 
 
 y  .Mat  5.15. 
 .Mark4. -il. 
 
 [1  See  Mat  5 
 
 15. 
 s  Slat.  0.  -^1 
 
 t  fir.  o  ™„ 
 
 dit  01/  in 
 
 bright  thin 
 
 b  Mat.23.25. 
 c  Tit.  1.  15. 
 
 Dan.  4.  27. 
 ch.  12.  S3. 
 Or,  aj  joM 
 
 /Mat.  2.S.  6. 
 Mark  12. 
 38,39. 
 
 S  Mat.23.27. 
 A  Ps.  3.  9 
 
 33  '  No  man,  when  he  hath  lighted  a  candle, 
 putteth  it  in  a  secret  place,  neitlier  under  a 
 II  bushel,  but  on  a  candlestick,  that  they  whicli 
 come  in  may  see  the  light. 
 
 34  '  The  light  of  the  body  is  the  eye  :  there- 
 fore when  thine  eye  is  single,  thy  whole  body 
 also  is  full  of  light  ;  but  when  thine  ei/e  is  evil, 
 thy  body  also  z*  full  of  darkness. 
 
 35  Take  heed  therefore  that  the  light  which 
 is  in  thee  be  not  darkness. 
 
 36  If  thy  whole  body  therefore  be  full  of 
 light,  having  no  part  dark,  the  whole  shall  be 
 full  of  light,  as  when  f  the  bright  shining  of  a 
 candle  doth  give  thee  light. 
 
 37  t  And  as  he  spake,  a  certain  Pharisee  be- 
 sought him  to  dine  with  him  :  and  he  went  in, 
 and  sat  down  to  meat. 
 
 38  And  °  when  the  Pharisee  saw  it,  he  mar- 
 velled that  he  had  not  first  washed  before 
 dinner. 
 
 39  ■•  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Now  do  ye 
 Pharisees  make  clean  the  outside  of  the  cup 
 and  the  platter  ;  but '  your  inward  part  is  full 
 of  ravening  and  wickedness. 
 
 40  Ye  fools,  did  not  he  that  made  that  wliich 
 is  without  make  that  which  is  within  alsoy 
 
 41  ''  But  rather  give  alms  ||  of  such  things  as 
 ye  have  ;  and,  behold,  all  things  are  clean  unto 
 you. 
 
 42  "But  woe  unto  you,  Pharisees!  for  ye 
 tithe  mint  and  rue  and  all  manner  of  herbs, 
 and  pass  over  judgment  and  the  love  of  God  : 
 these  ought  ye  to  have  done,  and  not  to  leave 
 the  other  undone. 
 
 43  '  Woe  unto  you,  Pharisees !  for  ye  love 
 the  uppermost  seats  in  the  synagogues,  and 
 greetings  in  the  markets. 
 
 44  "  Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Pharisees, 
 hypocrites !  '■  for  ye  are  as  graves  which  appear 
 not,  and  the  men  that  walk  over  the7H  are  not 
 aware  of  them. 
 
 45  t  Then  answered  one  of  the  lawyers,  and 
 said  unto  him.  Master,  thus  saying  thou  re- 
 proachest  us  also. 
 
 46  And  he  said.  Woe  unto  you  also,  ye 
 lawyers !  '  for  ye  lade  men  with  burdens  griev- 
 ous to  be  borne,  and  ye  yourselves  touch  not 
 the  burdens  with  one  of  your  fingers. 
 
 47  ^  Woe  unto  you!  for  ye  build  the  se- 
 pulchres of  the  prophets,  and  your  fathers 
 killed  them. 
 
 48  Truly  ye  bear  witness  that  ye  allow  the 
 
 as  recorded  in  Matt.  ix.  32,  nr  in  xii.  22,  both  being  aUended  with  the 
 same  effect  and  the  same  calumny.— Gi7/.  20.  Finger  of  God,  seems 
 to  be  an  allusion  to  Exod.  viii.  ig,  when  the  magicians  were  outdone 
 by  Moses. — Gut/se.  23.  He  that  is  nut  with  me,  ^c— see  on  Matt, 
 
 xii.  30,  note.  24.  When  the  unclean  spirit,  Iffc. — see  on  Matt.  xii. 
 
 43,  &c.,  notes.  27-  Blessed  is  the  womb,  ^c.,  a  form  of  blessing 
 
 among  the  Je^s.—Gilt.  30.  As  Jonas  wits  a  sign,  §-e.— see  on  Matt, 
 xii.  40,  notes.  31.  The  queen  of  the  south,  ^c— see  on  Malt.  xii. 
 
 42,  notes.  A  greater  tlian,  ^c.,  wXeioi.  loXoyutrot,  '  more  than  a  So- 
 lomon is  here;'  more  of  wisdom,  and  more  heavenly  doctrine  than 
 ever  he  taught.— See  Hnm.  and  Hen.  33.  Hath  lighted  a  candle, 
 ^c— see  on  Matt.  v.  15,  and  vi.  22,  23,  notes.  The  occasion  of  speak- 
 ing these  words  is  not  the  same  here  as  in  Matthew.  35.  Ligfd~l>p 
 not  darkness,  the  moral  judgment  and  understanding  be  not  corrupted 
 by  blind  and  unreasonable  prejudices.— S.  Clarke.  40.  Fools,  a  term, 
 not  of  reproach,  but  of  a  reproving  description  ;  a^pocef,  men  without 
 riiscernment  and  understanding,  although  professed  doctors  of  the  law. 
 Did  not  he  that  made,  fyc. — the  sense  of  the  reproof  is,  *  did  not  he  that 
 made  the  outward  man,'  the  body,  '  also  make  the  inward  man,'  the 
 soul? — R.  Watson.  41.  Of  such  things  as  ye /tave,  according  to  your 
 ability,  [Kara  is  understood  before  ra  ttov-ra.]  —  Grotius,  Rosenm., 
 Schleusner.  42.  Ye  tithe  mint,  ^c— words  uttered  on  a  difTcreut  oc- 
 casion from  those  recorded  in  Matthew  ;  these  in  the  house  of  a  Pha- 
 risee, and  they  in  the  temple.— Gi7/.  44.  .is  graves  which  appear 
 ?j"/— the  metaphor  in  Matt,  xxiii.  27,  is  different.  It  is  there  taken 
 from  the  painted  and  ornamented  sepulchres,  which  are  contrasted 
 with  the  corruption  within.  Here  the  reference  is  to  the  manner  in 
 1083 
 
 which  the  Pharisees  succeeded  in  hiding  their  real  character.— 72.  Wat. 
 son.  45.  Lawyers,  vo/imoi,  private  teachers  of  the  Divine  laws,  while 
 the  7paM|iaTe(c,  'scribes,'  were  their  public  teachers  and  expounders. 
 —Camerariits.  The  distinction  made  between  the  scribes  and  lawyers 
 is  without  foundation.  —  Kuinoel.  They  are  of  the  same  import. — 
 GuTjse.  The  scribes  and  doctors  of  the  law,  in  scripture  phrase,  mean 
 the  same  thing ;  and  he  that  in  Matt.  xxii.  35,  is  called  '  a  doctor  of  the 
 law,'  or  •  a  lawyer,'  in  Mark,  xii.  28,  is  named  *a  scribe,' or  '  one  of  the 
 scribes.' — Cruden.  The  comparison  of  this  with  the  former  verse  will 
 shew  that  the  '  scribes'  and  '  lawyers'  are  the  same  class.  Prenously 
 our  Lord  had  only  pronounced  his  woes  against  the  Pharisees,  but  in 
 ver.  44,  he  joins  the  scribes  with  them,  which  led  the  lawyer  to  say, 
 '  Master,  thus  saying,  thou  reproachest  us  also.' — R.  Watson.  Really 
 a  reference  to  the  preceding  verse  seems  to  strengthen  the  opinion  that 
 this  class  was  distinct  fnm  the  scribes,  for  in  the  previous  verse  tlie 
 scribes  were  addressed  as  well  as  the  Pharisees;  but  the  lawyers 
 thought  they  were  indirectly  included,  and  their  remark  brought  forth 
 the  woe  of  Christ  distinctly  for  them,  iver.  46,]—'  Woe  unto  you  also.' 
 — Ed.  David  Martin  says,  '  AH  the  scribes  mentioned  in  the  gospel 
 were  doctors  of  the  law  ;'  therefore  these  two  expressions  are  some- 
 times confounded  as  signif)  ing  the  same  thing :  but  because  there  were 
 some  of  these  scribes  who  were  of  the  body  of  the  magistrates,  (Matt. 
 xxxiii.  2,  1  Mac.  vii.  12.)  and  others  who  taught  as  professors  in  the 
 public  schools,  the  one  here  mentioned  in  his  quality  of  lawyer  was 
 seemingly  of  the  latter  order. — Nuuveait  Test.,  de  Martin.  46.  Lude 
 men — see  Matt,  xxiii.  4,  note.  47.  Sepulchres  of  the  prophets,  §c. — 
 see  Matt,  xxiii.  2y,  ivc,  notes. 
 
Christ  preachelh  to  his  disciples. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XII. 
 
 He  wariieth  the  people. 
 
 II  Or,/',rbad. 
 
 deeds  of  your  fathers  :  for  they  indeed  killed 
 them,  and  ye  build  their  sepulchres. 
 
 49  Therefore  also  said  the  wisdom  of  God, 
 '  I  will  send  them  prophets  and  apostles,  and 
 some  of  them  they  shall  slay  and  persecute  : 
 
 30  That  the  blood  of  all  the  prophets,  which 
 was  shed  from  the  foundation  of  the  world, 
 may  be  required  of  this  generation  ; 
 
 51  "  From  the  blood  of  Abel  unto  "the blood 
 of  Zacharias,  which  perished  between  the  altar 
 and  the  temple  :  verily  I  say  unto  you,  It  shall 
 be  required  of  this  generation. 
 
 52  "Woe  unto  you,  lawyers!  for  ye  have 
 taken  away  the  key  of  knowledge  :  ye  entered 
 not  in  yourselves,  and  them  that  were  entering 
 in  ye  ||  hindered. 
 
 53  And  as  lie  said  these  tnings  unto  them, 
 the  scribes  and  the  Pharisees  began  to  urge 
 him  vehemently,  and  to  provoke  iiim  to  speak 
 of  many  things : 
 
 54  Laying  wait  for  him,  and  '  seeking  to 
 catch  something  out  of  his  mouth,  that  they 
 might  accuse  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XIL 
 
 1  Christ  preachith  to  his  disciplt:s  to  avoid  hi/pocrisy, 
 
 and  fearfutiiess  in  publishing  his  doctrine  ;   13  irarn- 
 
 I'th  tlte  people  to  betrareofcovttousness,  bi/  the parolile 
 
 of  the  ricn  man  who  set  up  yrentrr  barns.     22  We 
 
 iiinst  not  he  over  careful  of  eartltli/  thinps,  yl  but  seek 
 
 the  kinffdom  of  Oody  3S  (jive  alms,  36  be  reailt/  at  a 
 
 knock  to  open  to  our  Lord  w/iensoever  he  cometh.     41 
 
 C/irisfs  ministers  are  to  see  to  their  charge,  49  and 
 
 look  for  persecution,     54  The  people  7nust  take   thi 
 
 time  nf  grace,  58  because  it  is  a  fearful  thing  to  di  ■ 
 
 wit/iout  reconciliation, 
 
 T  N  "  the  mean  time,  when  tliere  were  gathered 
 
 ■*■   together  an  innumerable  multitude  of  peo- 
 
 ple,insomuch  that  they  trode  one  upon  another, 
 
 he  began  to  say  unto  his  disciples  first  of  all, 
 
 '■  Beware  ye  of  the  leaven  of  the  Pharisees, 
 
 which  is  hypocrisy. 
 
 2  'For  there  is  nothing  covered,  that  shall |cHii.in, si 
 not  be  revealed  ;  neither  hid,  that  sha! 
 known.  ' 
 
 ;)  Therefore  whatsoever  ye  have  spoken  in 
 darkness  shall  be  heard  in  the  light ;  and  that 
 which  ye  have  spoken  in  the  ear  in  closets 
 shall  be  proclaimed  upon  the  housetops. 
 
 4  ''  And  I  say  unto  yon  °  my  friends.  Be  not 
 afraid  of  them  that  kill  the  body,  and  after  that 
 have  no  more  that  they  can  do. 
 
 3  But  I  will  forewarn  you  whom  ye  shall  fear  : 
 
 ^tat.  IG  fi. 
 Mittk».  15. 
 
 rf  Mat.lll.2S. 
 la.  51.  7,  «, 
 12,  13.  .Ter. 
 1.  8. 
 
 .■.lohii  15.11. 
 
 /Mai  111,32. 
 Mark  «.  3S. 
 2  Tim  2.12. 
 lJol>n2.23. 
 
 i;M.-xt,l2.31, 
 8?.  Marks. 
 2&  I  Jubu 
 5.  16. 
 
 A  Mat  to. 19. 
 Mark  1.3.11. 
 ch,  L'l     U. 
 
 IF.celn   II. 
 
 !i.  EtTlus. 
 
 II.  19. 
 
 1  Cor.li.r^i. 
 
 J.1II1    £.  5. 
 II  111-.  r(„  ll,nj 
 
 r.ll.a 
 
 10  rW. 
 '(.  Job  L'O   22. 
 
 Si  27  s.  Ps. 
 
 52.  7.  .lam, 
 
 ■1.  14 
 
 .  Ps,  .S?>,  6. 
 
 Jor    17   II, 
 «  Mat.  G.  20. 
 
 ver  S3. 
 
 1  Tim  6.18, 
 
 19.  Jam.  S. 
 
 5. 
 
 Fear  him,  which  after  he  hath  killed  hath  power 
 to  cast  into  hell  ;  yea,  I  say  unto  you,  Fear  him. 
 
 6  Are  not  five  sparrows  sold  for  two  ||  far- 
 things, and  not  one  of  them  is  forgotten  before 
 God? 
 
 7  But  even  the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are 
 all  numbered.  Fear  not  therefore  :  ye  are  of 
 more  value  than  many  sparrows. 
 
 8  '  Also  I  say  onto  you,  Whosoever  shall 
 confess  me  before  men,  him  shall  the  Son  of 
 man  also  confess  before  the  angels  of  God  : 
 
 9  But  he  that  denieth  nie  before  men  shall 
 be  denied  before  the  angels  of  God. 
 
 10  And  ^whosoever  shall  speak  a  word  against 
 the  Son  of  man,  it  shall  be  forgiven  him  :  but 
 unto  him  that  blasphemeth  against  the  Holy 
 Ghost  it  shall  not  be  forgiven. 
 
 11  ^  And  when  they  bring  you  unto  the  syna- 
 gogues, and  unto  magistrates,  and  powers, 
 take  ye  no  thought  how  or  what  tiling  ye  shall 
 answer,  or  what  ye  shall  say  : 
 
 12  For  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  teach  you  in 
 the  same  hour  what  ye  ought  to  say. 
 
 13  H  And  one  of  the  company  said  unto  him, 
 Master,  speak  to  my  brother,  that  he  divide 
 the  inheritance  with  me. 
 
 14  And  he  said  unto  him,  '  Man,  who  made 
 me  a  judge  or  a  divider  over  you  ? 
 
 13  And  he  said  unto  them,  '■  Take  heed,  and 
 beware  of  covetousness  :  for  a  man's  life  con- 
 sisteth  not  in  the  abundance  of  the  things 
 which  he  possesseth. 
 
 16  And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them,  say- 
 ing. The  ground  of  a  certain  rich  man  brought 
 forth  plentifully  : 
 
 17  And  he  thought  within  himself,  saying. 
 What  shall  I  do,  because  I  have  no  room  where 
 to  bestow  my  fruits? 
 
 18  And  he  said.  This  will  I  do:  I  will  pull 
 down  my  barns,  and  build  greater ;  and  there 
 will  I  bestow  all  my  fruits  and  my  goods. 
 
 19  And  I  will  say  to  my  soul,  '  Soul,  tlioii 
 hast  much  goods  laid  up  for  many  years  ;  take 
 thine  ease,  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry. 
 
 '20  But  God  said  unto  him,  Thou  fool,  this 
 night  II  '"  thy  soul  shall  be  required  of  thee  : 
 "  then  whose  shall  those  things  be,  which  thou 
 hast  provided  ? 
 
 21  So  is  he  that  layeth  up  treasure  for  him- 
 self, "and  is  not  rich  toward  God. 
 
 22  H  And  he  said  unto  his  disciples,  There- 
 
 49.  Wisdom  of  God,  ^c,  God  in  the  all- wise  dispensations  of  his  pro- 
 vidence.—S.  Clarke.  Christ  himself.— Sra«.  St,  Luke  here  so  calls 
 our  Lord,  as  I'uul  does,  1  Cor.  i.  2i.—Bootkr.  50.  That  the  blood, 
 ^c— see  Matt,  xxiii.  35,  36,  notes.  52.  The  kei/,  ^c— those  who  were 
 made  doctors  of  the  law  had  a  key  given  to  tliem  at  their  ordination 
 or  appointment,  which  they  afterwards  wore  as  a  badg-c  of  their  office. 
 Thus  emblematically  did  they  profess  to  open  the  true  meaning  of  the 
 law  and  the  prophets.  53.  Toprunoke  him  to  speak,  by  captious  ques- 
 tions, by  vehement  objections,  by  perverting  what  he  had  said  already, 
 and,  no  doubt,  by  railing  language. —fl.  Watson. 
 
 CnAP.  XII.  —  I.  An inmaneruble  mutiiiude,  tmv  fivpia&an',  ' myriads.* 
 —A.Clarke.       Leaven,   ffc.—see  Matt.  xvi.  0,  note.  1.  Notkimf 
 
 covered— see  Matt.  x.  26,  note.  3.  Hui/sefops—see  Matt.  x.  27,  note. 
 b.  Five  sparrows,  probably  sold  to  be  used  in  the  temple  for  cleansing 
 the  lepers.— iJs'/;//.  .see  Matt.  x.  5!),  note.  7-  Hoici,  ^c— see  Matt. 
 -x.  30,  note.         10.  Blasphemeth  againstjhe  Uoly  Ghost—'  I  forbear  to 
 
 call  it  the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  but  "  the  blasphemy ;"  for 
 though  every  blasphemy  be  a  sin  in  general,  yet  our  Saviour  terms  it 
 *'  the  blasphemy  ;"  and  the  evangelists  do  all  agree  to  give  it  the  same 
 term  ;  and  it  is  nowhere  in  holy  Scripture  called  "the  sin  against  the 
 Holy  Ghost ;"  and  yet  it  appears,  both  in  Matthew  and  Mark,  that 
 there  was  just  occasion  ofTered  to  our  Saviour  to  call  it  so.  where  he 
 compares  it  with  the  sin  against  the  Son  of  man,  but  he  forbears  to 
 call  it  anything  but  *'  the  blasphemy  ;"  thereby,  no  doubt,  to  teach  us 
 itconsistcthonly  in  cursed  speaking  and  blasphemy.' — Hales,  of  Eaton. 
 See  Matt.  -xii.  31,  notes.  II.  Bring  you  unto  the  synagogues — see 
 
 Matt.  X.  17,  notes.  13.  That  he  divide,  by  his  authority  as  a  prophet. 
 —  Le  Clerc.  As  an  arbitrator  of  property. —  Whitby;  as  Grot.,  and 
 Hum.  15,  Of  covetousness,  '  of  inordinate  desires,'   [the  stadium 
 
 habendi,] — So  Grot.,  Whitby.  n-Xeoi-tfiac,  from  ir\e,ov,  'more,'  and 
 exutv,  '  to  have,'  *  the  desire  to  have  more  and  more.'  —  Clarke. 
 2-2.  Take  no  thought,  3(c. — see  on  Matt.  vi.  25,  &c.,  notes.        25.  Can 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI From  this  chapter  we  may 
 
 acqtiire— I.  Instruction  relative  to  prai/ing.  The  request  of  the 
 disciples  to  be  taught  to  pray  may" teach  us  to  follow  their 
 example.  Disappointment  in  our  prayers  may  often  arise,  not 
 only  from  the  lifeless  manner  in  which  we  present  them,  but 
 irom  the  mistakes  we  are  liable  to  make.  We  know  not  how 
 we  should  pray  as  we  ouijht,  but  as  the  Holy  Spirit  teaches 
 us.  We  may  acquire— 
 1084 
 
 II.  Instructimi  relative  to  hearing.  *  Blessed  are  they  that 
 hear  the  word  of  God,  and  keep  it.'  So,  then,  hearing  the 
 word,  without  keeping  it,  will  be  of  little  avail.  It  is  treasure 
 which  must  be  laid  up  in  the  heart.  It  must  be  ammunition 
 always  at  hand  for  the  spiritual  warfare.  It  must  not  only 
 reach  our  ears,  but  our  hearts;  and  its  influence  must  be  seeu 
 in  our  lives.  If  it  is  our  privilege  to  hear  it,  do  we  manifest 
 that  we  also  keep  it  t 
 
We  are  to  seek  the  lunijdom  of  God. 
 
 S,  LUKE,  Xll. 
 
 Til c  faithful  and  wise  steward. 
 
 fore  I  say  unto  you,  "■  Take  no  thought  for 
 your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat ;  neither  for  the 
 body,  what  ye  shall  put  on. 
 
 23  The  life  is  more  than  meat,  and  the  body 
 is  more  than  raiment. 
 
 24  Consider  the  ravens :  for  they  neither  sow 
 nor  reap  ;  which  neither  have  storehouse  nor 
 barn  ;  and  ''  God  feedeth  them  :  how  much 
 more  are  ye  better  than  the  fouls  ? 
 
 25  And  which  of  you  witli  taking  thought 
 can  add  to  his  stature  one  cubit? 
 
 20  If  ye  then  be  not  able  to  do  that  tiling 
 which  is  least,  why  take  ye  thought  for  the 
 rest? 
 
 27  Consider  the  lilies  how  they  grow  :  they 
 toil  not,  they  spin  not ;  and  yet  I  say  unto 
 you,  that  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not  ar- 
 rayed like  one  of  these. 
 
 28  If  then  God  so  clothe  the  grass,  which  is 
 to  day  in  the  field,  and  to  morrow  is  cast  into 
 the  oven  ;  how  much  more  will  he  clothe  you, 
 O  ye  of  little  faith  ? 
 
 29  And  seek  not  ye  what  ye  shall  eat,  or 
 what  ye  shall  drink,  |{  neither  be  ye  of  doubtful 
 mind. 
 
 30  For  all  these  things  do  the  nations  of  the 
 world  seek  after :  and  your  father  knoweth 
 that  ye  have  need  of  these  things. 
 
 311'  But  rather  seek  ye  the  kingdom  of 
 God  ;  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  unto 
 you. 
 
 32  Fear  not,  little  flock  ;  for  '  it  is  your  Fa- 
 ther's good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom. 
 
 33  '  Sell  that  ye  have,  and  give  alms  ;  "  pro- 
 vide yourselves  bags  which  wax  not  old,  a 
 treasure  in  the  heavens  that  faileth  not,  where 
 no  thief  approaclieth,  neither  moth  corrupteth. 
 
 34  For  where  your  treasure  is,  there  will  your 
 heart  be  also. 
 
 35  "^  Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and 
 ^ your  lights  burning  ; 
 
 3G  And  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  that 
 wait  for  their  lord,  when  he  will  return  from 
 the  wedding  ;  that  when  he  cometb  and  knock- 
 eth,  they  may  open  unto  him  immediately. 
 
 37  ^  Blessed  are  those  servants,  whom  the 
 lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find  watching : 
 verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  shall  gird  him- 
 self, and  make  them  to  sit  down  to  meat,  and 
 will  come  forth  and  serve  them. 
 
 38  And  if  he  shall  come  in  the  second  watch, 
 
 A.  n.  33. 
 
 p  Mat,  13.  25. 
 
 g  Job  39.  +1. 
 Ps.  147.  9. 
 
 I  Or,  Im  „„, 
 
 tuijifitne. 
 
 (Mat.  19.21. 
 
 Acta  2,  45. 
 
 tfc  4.34. 
 u  Mat.  6.80. 
 
 ch.  16.  9. 
 
 I  Tim.6.1<i. 
 
 A.  D.  3;J. 
 
 iMiit.2*.4.S. 
 
 1  Thes.  &.'2, 
 
 2  Pet.  3.10. 
 Rev.  3.  3. 
 
 &  IG.  15. 
 
 6  Mat, 24. 'M. 
 
 Hi  -i-i   m. 
 
 Mark  i:i.33. 
 
 fli.  21,  ;ii, 
 
 Si;.  I  Thea. 
 
 5. 6.  -2  Pet. 
 
 3.  12. 
 c  Mat.  24. '15. 
 
 &  25.  21. 
 
 1  Cor   4.  2. 
 
 ■/  Mat  21.17. 
 
 -  Mal.2il3. 
 
 II  Or,  cut  him 
 .,/?.  Mat. 24. 
 
 /Nn.  15.8(1. 
 Hen.  25,  3. 
 John  9  41. 
 itc  15.  22. 
 
 Acts  17.  30. 
 Jam.  4.  17. 
 
 I  Mat.  20.22. 
 Rlark  1U.38. 
 
 II  Or .paiiied. 
 
 k  Mat.  10.  .'li- 
 ver. 4!t. 
 I  Mic.  7.fi. 
 
 or  come  in  the  third  watch,  and  find  them  so, 
 blessed  are  those  servants. 
 
 39  ''And  this  know,  that  if  the  goodman  of 
 the  house  had  known  what  hour  the  thief  would 
 come,  he  would  have  watched,  and  not  have 
 suffered  his  house  to  be  broken  through. 
 
 40  ^  Be  ye  therefore  ready  also  :  for  the  Son 
 of  man  cometh  at  an  hour  when  ye  think  not. 
 
 41  1[  Then  Peter  said  unto  him,  Lord,  speak- 
 est  thou  this  parable  unto  us  or  even  to  all? 
 
 42  And  the  Lord  said,  ""  Who  then  is  that 
 faithful  and  wise  steward,  whom  his  lord  shall 
 make  ruler  over  his  houshold,  to  give  them 
 their  portion  of  meat  in  due  season  ? 
 
 43  Bles-sed  is  tliat  servant,  whom  his  lord 
 when  he  cometh  shall  find  so  doing. 
 
 44  ^  Of  a  truth  I  say  unto  you,  that  he  will 
 make  him  ruler  overall  that  he  hath. 
 
 45  ^  But  and  if  that  servant  say  in  his  heart. 
 My  lord  delayeth  his  coming  ;  and  shall  begin 
 to  beat  the  menservants  and  maidens,  and  to 
 eat  and  drink,  and  to  be  drunken  ; 
 
 40  The  lord  of  that  servant  will  come  in  a 
 day  when  he  looketh  not  for  hitii^  and  at  an 
 hour  when  he  is  not  aware,  and  will  ||  cut  him 
 in  sunder,  and  will  appoint  him  his  portion  with 
 the  unbelievers. 
 
 47  And  *"  that  servant,  which  knew  his  lord's 
 will,  and  prepared  not  hlmseff,  neither  did  ac- 
 cording to  his  will,  shall  be  beaten  with  many 
 stripes. 
 
 48  ^  But  he  that  knew  not,  and  did  commit 
 things  worthy  of  stripes,  shall  be  beaten  with 
 few  stripes.  For  unto  whomsoever  much  is 
 given,  of  him  shall  be  mucli  required  :  and  to 
 whom  men  have  committed  much,  of  him  they 
 will  ask  the  more. 
 
 49  If*^  I  am  come  to  send  fire  on  the  earth  ; 
 and  what  will  I,  if  it  be  already  kindled? 
 
 50  But  '  I  have  a  baptism  to  be  baptized 
 with  ;  and  how  am  I  ||  straitened  till  it  be  ac- 
 complished ! 
 
 51  ^  Suppose  ye  that  I  am  come  to  give  peace 
 on  earth "r*  I  tell  you.  Nay  ;  'but  rather  divi- 
 sion : 
 
 52  ""  For  from  henceforth  there  shall  be  five 
 in  one  house  divided,  three  against  two,  and 
 two  against  three. 
 
 53  The  Father  shall  be  divided  against  the 
 son,  and  the  son  against  the  father ;  the  mother 
 against  the  daughter,  and  the  daughter  against 
 
 ndd  to  his  stature   one  Cuhit,   hvvaTat  irpo-rdetvat   evi  ttiv  h^tKiav  airov 
 
 ■n-rjxvf  t  va,  '  can  prolong  his  life  one  hour.'  The  word  iiAiKia  signifies 
 both  *  stature'  and  'age,'  or  'lifetime.'  For  examples  of  the  latter  ac- 
 ceptation, see  Job,  IK.  21,  23  ;  Heb.  xi.  11.  The  word  Tnjxt'r.  rendered 
 '  cubit,'  is,  properly,  *  a  measure  of  length,'  and  may,  on  that  account, 
 be  thought  inapplicable  to  time ;  but  see  the  like  trope,  Ps.  xx.xix,  5. 
 — Catnp.  29.  Neiffit-r  he  ye  of  a  doubtful  mind,  or  '  in  anxious  sus- 
 pense.'— A.  Clarke.  Mrj  ^erewpjCeo-We,  '  be  not  like  meteors  in  the  air, 
 tossed  about  by  every  wind,)  of  a  tluctuaUng,  unstable  mind  or  judg- 
 ment.'—iJew*.  32.  Little  flock,  compared  with  the  numerous  herds 
 of  the  wicked.— frM^fip.  To  ^ive  you  the  kingdom,  '  to  make  you  mem- 
 bers of  the  kingdom  set  up  by  the  gospel,  and  heirs  of  the  heavenly 
 one.' — liifothr.  33.  lings  which  wax  7iot  old,  alluding  to  the  danger 
 of  losing  money  out  of  a  hole  worn  in  an  old  purse.  Such  is  frequently 
 the  gain  of  this  world,  ami  so  are  its  treasures  horded  up  and  put  into 
 a  bag  with  holes,  (comp.  Hag.  i.  6.)  The  rich  men  of  Judea,  so  soon 
 ravaged  and  destroyed  by  tlie  Romans,  particularly  found  it  so. — 
 Itaddr.  35.  Loins  girt,  ffc,  alluiling  to  the  tying  up  the  long  gar- 
 ments of  the  easterns,  when  travelling  or  doing  any  expeditious  work. 
 Lights  it/n«>i^— lights  servants  were  wont  to  cftrry  at  weddings,  which 
 ■were  usually  in  the  night.— Cvyse.  38.  Skcond  watch,  included  all 
 the  time  from  nine  in  the  evening  till  three  in  the  morning,  and  was 
 as  if  he  had  said  '  whether  he  come  early  or  late.' — Doddr.  39.  Broken 
 through—see  Matt.  xxiv.  43,  note.  42.  Who  then  is  that  faithful,  ^c. 
 — see  Matt,  x.xiv.  45,  note.  45.  Menserrants  and  maidens,  rather,  as 
 the  Greek  signifies,  'boys  and  girls.'  Domestic  slaves,  who  were 
 under  the  discipline  and  government  of  the  house  steward.  —  Hew. 
 46.  Cut  him  in  Minder— see  on  Matt.  xxiv.  51,  notes.  With  the  unbe- 
 1085 
 
 Heifers,  or  rather  'the  unfaithful,*  twc  aviCTinv,  Persons  who  had  tho 
 light  and  knowledge  of  God's  word,  but  made  an  improper  use  of  the 
 privileges  they  received. — A.  Clarke.  47.  Which  knew,  ^c. — many 
 stripes,  seems  to  allude  to  the  law  which  distinguished  between  sins 
 committed  through  ignorance  and  presumptuous  sins,  (Lev.  v.  15; 
 Num.  XV.  29 ;)  also  to  another  law,  concerning  the  number  of  stripes 
 ■  given  to  a  malefactor  to  he  according  to  the  nature  of  the  crime. — Hen. 
 49.  I  am  come  to  send  fire,  to  deliver  to  the  world  a  doctrine  which, 
 shall  incense  the  world  against  me  and  my  followers. —  Whitby,  so 
 Doddr.  It  may  mean,  not  only  the  consuming  influence  of  the  Roman 
 sword,  but  also  the  influence  of  his  own  Spirit  in  the  destruction  of 
 &\n.— 'Clarke.  It  is  a  latal  objection  to  the  notion  of  commentators, 
 that  by  '  fire'  in  this  place  Christ  means  *  persecutions  and  divisions,* 
 that  the  kindling  of  it  is  made  his  most  earnest  wi'-h.  The  *  fire,*  there- 
 fore,  must  be  understood  of  '  the  fire  of  his  word,'  a  figure  of  speech 
 not  strange  to  the  Jews,  applied  here  to  the  gospel,  and  emblematical 
 of  the  intense  power,  the  purifying,  testing,  and  consuming  qualities, 
 of  Christianity.—/;.  Watson.  50.  A  baptism — this  baptism  refers, 
 doubtless,  to  our  Lord's  sufterings,  in  which  he  was  literally  bathed  in 
 blood. —  Wil.  How  am  I  straitened!  Trwr  avv^xofiai,  '  how  am  I  pressed 
 in  spirit.'  (-^ee  Acts,  xviii.  5.) — Bens.  '  Since  the  advancement  of  trutr 
 religion,  which  is  the  greatest  blessing  to  mankind,  must  be  attended 
 with  such  unhappy  divisions,  I  even  long  till  they  take  place.' — Wif. 
 'The  fire  of  persecution  will  break  out  at  my  destruction  ;  and,  seeing 
 that  the  will  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  men  can  no  otherwise  be  ac- 
 complished, great  is  my  desire  that  this  fire  were  already  kindled.'— 
 Bp.  Mann.  51.  Division — *  through  the  perverseness  of  men,  and  in 
 opposition  to  my  intention,  and  in  despite  of  my  authority  and  doc- 
 
Christ  preacheth  repentance. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XIII. 
 
 He  kealeth  the  crooked  woman. 
 
 the  mother  ;  the  mother  hi  law  against  her 
 daughter  in  law,  and  the  daughter  in  law 
 against  her  mother  in  law. 
 
 54  H  .A.nd  he  said  also  to  the  people,  °  When 
 ye  see  a  cloud  rise  out  of  the  west,  straight- 
 way ye  say.  There  cometh  a  shower ;  and  so 
 it  is. 
 
 55  And  when  ye  see  the  south  wind  blow, 
 ye  say.  There  will  be  heat ;  and  it  cometh  to 
 pass. 
 
 56  Ye  hypocrites,  ye  can  discern  the  face  of 
 the  sky  and  of  the  earth  ;  but  how  is  it  that 
 ye  do  not  discern  this  time  ? 
 
 57  Yea,  and  why  even  of  yourselves  judge 
 ye  not  what  is  right? 
 
 58  If  °  When  thou  goestwith  thine  adversary 
 to  the  magistrate,  ''«s  tliuu  art  in  tlie  way, 
 give  diligence  that  thou  luayest  be  delivered 
 from  him  ;  lest  he  bale  thee  to  the  judge,  and 
 the  judge  deliver  thee  to  the  officer,  and  the 
 officer  cast  thee  into  prison. 
 
 59  I  tell  thee,  thou  shalt  not  depart  thence, 
 till  thou  hast  paid  the  very  last  ||  mite. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Christ  preacheth  repentance  upnn  the  pnnishment  of 
 the  Galilttans^  and  othtrs.  6  The  J'ruitless  Jiff  tree 
 '7nnt/  7tot  stand.  1 1  He  hcalcth  the  crooked  wmnan  .- 
 18  shewfth  the  poicerfid  working  of  the  word  in  the 
 hearts  of  his  chosen,  hi/  the  parable  oftheijrain  of 
 mustard  seed,  and  of  Uavai :  24  txhortelh  to  enter  in 
 at  the  strait  ijatey  31  and  rtproveth  Herod  and  Jeru- 
 siilnn, 
 
 nPHERE  were  present  at  that  season  some 
 ■*-  tliat  told  him  of  the  Ga]i]a,^ans,  whose 
 hlood  Pilate  had  minjiled  witli  their  sacrifices. 
 
 2  And  Jesns  answering  said  unto  them,  Sup- 
 pose ye  that  these  Galihcans  were  sinners  ahove 
 all  the  Galilaeans,  because  they  suffered  such 
 things? 
 
 3  I  tell  you,  Nay:  but,  except  ye  repent,  ye 
 shall  all  likewise  perish. 
 
 n  Prn.  95.  8. 
 
 Mat    IJ.'.'r.. 
 ]i  Set*  Fs.S'i, 
 
 a.  ts.  55.  G 
 
 OF,<Ief>tr.r, 
 
 Mat    IS  21 
 ch.  11.4. 
 
 Mark  16. 
 l.s.    Acts  9 
 
 r(  Mat.l?,IO 
 Mark  :t.  2. 
 c\i,  6.  7.  b 
 I*.  S. 
 
 fCb.  lA.S. 
 
 4  Or  those  eighteen,  upon  whom  the  tower 
 in  Siloam  fell,  and  slew  them,  think  ye  that 
 they  were  ||  sinners  above  all  men  that  dwelt 
 in  Jerusalem  ? 
 
 5  I  tell  you,  Nay  :  but,  except  ye  repent,  ye 
 shall  all  likewise  perish. 
 
 6  If  He  spake  also  this  parable  ;  "  A  certain 
 man  liad  a  fig  tree  planted  in  liis  vineyard  ; 
 and  he  came  and  souglit  fruit  tliereon,  and 
 found  none. 
 
 7  Then  said  lie  unto  the  dresser  of  his  vine- 
 yard, Behold,  these  three  years  I  come  seek- 
 ing fruit  on  this  fig  tree,  and  find  none  :  cut  it 
 down;  why  cumbereth  it  the  ground? 
 
 S  And  he  answering  said  unto  him.  Lord,  let 
 it  alone  this  year  also,  till  I  shall  dig  about  it, 
 and  dung  it  ; 
 
 9  And  if  it  bear  fruit,  well :  and  if  not,  then 
 after  that  thou  shalt  cut  it  down. 
 
 10  And  he  was  teaching  in  one  of  the  syna- 
 gogues on  the  sabbath. 
 
 1 1  t  And,  behold,  there  was  a  woman  which 
 had  a  spirit  of  infirmity  eighteen  years,  and 
 was  bowed  together,  and  could  in  no  wise  lift 
 up  herself. 
 
 12  And  when  Jesus  saw  her,  he  called  her  to 
 him,  and  said  unto  her,  Woman,  thou  art  loosed 
 from  tliine  infirmity. 
 
 13  ^  And  he  laid  his  hands  on  her :  and  im- 
 mediately she  was  made  straight,  and  glorified 
 God. 
 
 14  And  the  ruler  of  the  synagogue  answered 
 with  indignation,  because  that  Jesus  had  healed 
 on  the  sabbath  day,  and  said  unto  the  people, 
 ^  There  are  six  days  in  which  men  ought  to 
 work  :  in  them  therefore  come  and  be  healed, 
 and  ""  not  on  the  sabbath  day. 
 
 15  The  Lord  tlien  answered  him,  and  said, 
 Thou  hypocrite,  ''  doth  not  each  one  of  you 
 on  the  sabbath  loose  his  ox  or  his  ass  from  the 
 stall,  and  lead  him  away  to  watering? 
 
 trine.' — R.  Watson.  54.  A  rloud  rise  out  of  the  west — the  waterj'  ^'a- 
 pours  beina:  attracted  by  the  heat  (if  the  sun,  ntit  of  the  Mediterranean 
 sea,  which  lies  west  of  the  lanrt  of  Ju<lea,  and  formed  into  a  cloud,  and 
 driven  by  the  wind.  5.5.  The  south  uind,  from  the  hot  countries, 
 
 E^ypt,  Ethiopia,  and  Arabia,  which  lay  south  of  Judea.— f;i7/.  Heat, 
 Kavauiv,  '  sultry,'  or  '  scorching  heat.' — Bens.  56.  That  ye  do  not  dis- 
 cern ?  '  from  Uie  writings  of  the  prophets,  and  existing  event*;,  that  this 
 is  the  time  of  the  Messiah  ?* — Clarke.  5".  What  is  right  ?  or  '  truth.' 
 — Gill.  It  may  signify,  'Why  do  ye  not  recognise  the  Just  One?' 
 which  may  bo  the  admitted  meaning,  though  the  original  be  in  the 
 neuter  gender,  (comp.  Acts,  iii.  1-4;  vii,  5'i,  and  xxii.  14.)  —  Mar. 
 58.  Magistrnt'',  'ruler.'  nr  'prince,'  or  the  prince  of  the  Sanhedrim, 
 who  sat  as  judge  there. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XHl. —  1.  Galifer'tjis,  very  likely  some  of  the  followers  of 
 Judas  Gaulonitu*;,  or  Judas  of  Galilee,  (see  Acts,  v,  3",)  who  endea- 
 voured to  draw  off  the  Jews  from  the  Roman  government,  and  aflfimied 
 it  was  not  lawful  to  give  tribute  to  Csesar. — Gilt.  3.  Yr  shall  nil 
 likewise  perish,  ('.•aui'Twc, — ver.  5,  o/xoiw?, — 'in  a  like  way,'  'in  the 
 same  manner,' — A.  Clarke :  i.  e.,  you  shall  perish  like  them,  and  in 
 the  same  manner;  for  the  siege  of  Jerusalem,  in  which  so  much  blood 
 was  shed,  began  at  the  passover;  that  is,  at  a  time  when  the  Jews 
 were  as-sembled  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to  offer  their  sacrifices. — 
 Mar.  This  was  literally  fulfilled,  according  to  Josephtis,  for  many 
 thousands  of  the  Jews  were  slaughtered  in  the  temple  and  round  about 
 it,  at  the  feast  of  the  passover,  because  of  their  opposition  to  the  Roman 
 yoke. — Guj/se.  4.  Tower  in  Siloam,  a  tower  in  the  wall  of  Jerusalem, 
 [Neh.  iii.  15,)  near  a  pool  of  the  same  name,  fjohn,  v.  2  ;  ix.  7.) — Slant. 
 
 Sinners,  o<pei\cTat,  '  debtors,' a  Jewish  phrase  for  Sf'nnrrs  ;  those  who 
 obey  not  are  reckoned  debtors  to  the  law,  or  rather,  to  that  Divine  jus- 
 tice from  which  the  law  came. — Clarke.  6.  A  Jig  tree  planted  in  his 
 vineyard — the  unii'n  of  vines  and  fig  trees  in  the  same  garden,  or  plot 
 of  ground,  appears  to  have  been  quite  customary.  —  It.  Watson. 
 7.  Three  years,  may  refer  to  the  time  of  Christ's  personal  ministry. — 
 Neu'c.  Pri>bably  refers  to  the  nature  of  a  fig  tree,  whicli,  if  it  bear  not 
 in  that  time,  may  be  considered  as  barren. — Grot.  Seeking  fruit— the 
 easterns  are  particularly  carelul  of  their  fruit  trees,  on  which  ihey  de- 
 pend for  food  more  than  we. — R.  Watson.  8.  And  dung  it — since 
 fig  trees  bore  fruit,  even  by  the  way-side,  it  is  evident  that  extraordi- 
 nary means  must  here  have  been  used. — R.  Watson.  9.  Andifit  Iteur 
 fruit,  well,  h^i-  juev  -nuinat)  kopttov,  'perhaps  it  will  bear  fruit.' — Camp, 
 After  that  thou  shalt  citt'it  dou'n— the  primary  application  was  to  the 
 Jews,  with  whom  the  Lord  had  long  borne,  spared  a  little  longer  for 
 the  apostles  and  preachers  of  the  gospel  to  call  tbem  to  repentance, 
 and  finally  to  their  city  and  worship  destroyed.  The  parable  is  eijually 
 applicable  to  thnse  who  continue  unfruitful  under  the  means  of  grace. 
 — Scatt.  11.  Of  infirmity,  aatUveia^,  '  of  weakness.'  That  by  '  a  spirit 
 of  infirmity.' we  are  to  understand  an  infirmity  produced  by  an  evil 
 spirit,  we  learn  from  our  Lord's  own  explanation  of  the  phrase,  (verse 
 16.) — Bpjis.  As  the  evangelists  have  given  the  appellation  of  a  '  dumb 
 and  deaf  spirit*  to  the  demon  which  made  the  possessed  in  which  he 
 was  both  dumb  and  deaf,  (Mark,  ix.  25,)  St.  Luke,  in  the  same  manner, 
 here  calls  the  evil  spirit  which  possessed  this  woman  'a  spirit  of  in- 
 firmity,* to  shew  that  the  malady  of  this  woman  was  caused  by  the 
 devil,  (verse  l6.)—Mar.    It  is  generally  supposed  that  th:s  woman  was 
 
 Rrfi.ections  on  Chap.  XII.  —  I.  We  are  here  caietioned 
 agninst  worldly  mindedmss,  in  the  parable  of  the  rich  fool.  Are 
 til  ere  no  counterparts  of  this  man  yet  in  existence?  Alas, 
 there  are  too  many  who  live  only  for  this  world  !  Their  con- 
 stant inquiry  is,  '  What  shall  we  eat1  what  shall  we  drink  ? 
 wherewithal  shall  we  be  clothed?  bow  shall  we  get  rich  V 
 but  never  do  they  propose  the  anxious  and  important  ques- 
 tion, '  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved?'  They  are  as  indif- 
 ferent about  heaven  as  if  it  were  not  worth  having  ;  and  about 
 iheir  souls,  as  if  it  were  of  no  consequence  whether  they 
 should  be  lost  or  saved.  At  all  events,  they  defer  what  they 
 do  not  like.  They  excuse  themselves  that  they  have  no  lime 
 1086 
 
 to  attend  to  religion  ;  they  hope  to  do  so  at  the  last — and  then 
 comes  the  summons,  'Thou  fool,  this  night  thy  soul  siiall  he 
 required  of  thee;  then  whose  sliall  those  things  be  which 
 thou  hast  provided  ?' 
 
 II.  JFe  are  here  urged  to  the  dnty  of  watchfulness,  in  the  parable 
 of  the  diligent  and  faithless  sen^mts.  Can  any  one  say  at  what 
 moment  the  Lord  will  not  come?  lilessed,  then,  is  that  .-ser- 
 vant who  is  found  watching.  But  let  none  dare  to  presume. 
 The  faithless  servant  shall  be  surprised  in  the  midst  of  his 
 wickedness  ;  and  tlie  greater  the  privileges  he  has  abused,  ibo 
 greater  shall  be  his  punishment. 
 
The  grain  of  mustard  seed. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XIII. 
 
 Clirist  reproveth  Herod. 
 
 16  And  oii<;ht  not  this  woman,  'being  a 
 (laughter  of  Abraham,  whom  Satan  hath  bound, 
 10,  these  eighteen  years,  be  loosed  from  this 
 bond  on  the  sabbath  day  ? 
 
 17  And  when  he  had  said  these  things,  all  his 
 adversaries  were  ashamed  :  and  all  the  people 
 rejoiced  for  all  the  glorious  things  that  were 
 done  by  him. 
 
 18  H  ^  Then  said  he.  Unto  what  is  the  king- 
 dom of  God  like  ?  and  whereunto  shall  I  re- 
 semble it  ? 
 
 1!)  It  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  which  a 
 man  took,  and  cast  into  his  garden  ;  and  it 
 grew,  and  waxed  a  great  tree  ;  and  the  fowls 
 of  tile  air  lodged  in  the  branches  of  it. 
 
 •JO  And  again  he  said,  Whereunto  shall  I 
 liken  tlie  kingdom  of  God  ? 
 
 21  It  is  like  leaven,  which  a  woman  took  and 
 hid  in  three  ||  measures  of  meal,  till  the  whole 
 was  leavened. 
 
 22  '■  And  he  went  through  the  cities  and  vil- 
 lages, teaching,  and  journeying  toward  Jeru- 
 salem. 
 
 23  Then  said  one  unto  him.  Lord,  '  are  there 
 few  that  be  saved '?  And  he  said  unto  them, 
 
 24  H '  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate  : 
 for  '  many,  I  say  unto  you,  will  seek  to  enter 
 in,  and  shall  not  be  able. 
 
 2.5  ""  When  once  the  master  of  the  house  is 
 risen  up,  and  "hath  shut  to  the  door,  and  ye 
 begin  to  stand  witliont,  and  to  knock  at  the 
 door,  saying,  °  Lord,  Lord,  open  unto  us  ;  and 
 lie  shall  answer  and  say  unto  you,  ''  I  know  you 
 not  whence  ye  are  : 
 
 26  Then  shall  ye  begin  to  say.  We  have  eaten 
 and  drunk  in  thy  presence,  and  tliou  hast  taught 
 in  our  streets. 
 
 27  ''  But  he  shall  say,  I  tell  you,  I  know  you 
 not  whence  ye  are;  'depart  from  me,  all  !^e 
 workers  of  iniquity. 
 
 A.  D.  ai. 
 /ch.  ly.  9. 
 
 II  See  Mat. 
 Vi.  33. 
 
 2  Rti.  a 
 
 1,3. 
 
 A  5Iat.  7.  13, 
 
 I  SeeJol.n  7. 
 
 ftl.  *<  8-  31. 
 
 «i  13.  33. 
 
 Kc.m    9,31. 
 r.  Ps   3>.  ti. 
 
 Is.  bb.  6. 
 
 p  Mat.  7.  23. 
 &  is.  12. 
 
 ?  Milt.  7.  22 
 8i25.  41. 
 ver.  So. 
 Ps.  6,  8. 
 Mat, 25.41, 
 
 A.  1».  33. 
 
 >  Mat,  8.  Vi 
 
 24.  51, 
 (Mat.  9.  11, 
 
 u  Mat. 19  30 
 X(  20.  16, 
 Mark  10  31. 
 
 y  Mat.  23,37. 
 
 I  Lev.  211.31, 
 
 32.  Ps.  69. 
 
 2,^.  Is.  1.  7. 
 
 Dan.  9.  27. 
 
 Mic.  3.  12. 
 1  Ps.llS.  26. 
 
 Mat.  21.  9. 
 
 Mark  M. 10, 
 
 cli.  19,  38. 
 
 JohD  12.13, 
 
 28  '  There  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of 
 teeth,  '  when  ye  shall  see  Abraham,  and  Isaac, 
 and  Jacob,  and  all  the  prophets,  in  the  king- 
 dom of  God,  and  you  yourselves  thrust  out. 
 
 29  And  they  shall  come  from  the  east,  and 
 from  the  west,  and  from  the  north,  a.nii  from 
 the  south,  and  shall  sit  down  in  the  kingdom 
 of  God. 
 
 30  "  And,  behold,  there  are  last  which  shall 
 be  first,  and  there  are  first  which  shall  be  last. 
 
 31  ^  The  same  day  tliere  came  certain  of  the 
 Pharisees,  saying  unto  liim.  Get  thee  out,  and 
 depart  hence  :  for  Herod  will  kill  thee. 
 
 32  And  he  said  unto  them.  Go  ye,  and  tell 
 that  fox.  Behold,  I  cast  out  devils,  and  I  do 
 cures  to  day  and  to  morrow,  and  the  third  daj 
 '  I  shall  be  perfected. 
 
 33  Nevertheless  I  must  walk  to  day,  and  to 
 morrow,  and  the  dai/  following  :  for  it  cannot 
 be  that  a  prophet  perish  out  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 34  '  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  which  killest 
 the  prophets,  and  stonest  tliem  that  are  sent 
 unto  thee  ;  how  often  would  I  have  gathered 
 thy  children  together,  as  a  hen  doth  gather  her 
 brood  under  tier  wings,  and  ye  would  not! 
 
 35  Behold,  ^  your  house  is  left  unto  you  de- 
 solate :  and  verily  I  say  unto  you.  Ye  shall  not 
 see  me,  until  the  time  come  when  ye  shall  say, 
 "  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 2  Christ  heuletii  t/ie  dropsy  on  the  sabbath:  7  tcachrth 
 humility:  \i  to  feast  the  poor  :  \b  under  the  paral'le 
 of  the  great  supper,  shejceth  how  wnrldly  viitided  men, 
 who  contemn  the  word  of  God,  shall  be  shut  out  of 
 heaven.  25  Those  who  will  be  his  discipks,  to  bear 
 their  cross  must  make  their  accounts  aforehand,  lest 
 with  shame  they  revolt  from  him  afterward,  34  and 
 become  altogether  unprofitable,  like  salt  that  hath  lost 
 his  savour. 
 
 a  detnoniac,  but  we  see  no  proof  of  this. — TFiV.  l6.  A  daughter  of 
 Abrahitm,  a  title  which  the  Jews  highly  valneft,  CMatt.  iii.  9 ;  Luke,  iii. 
 8  ;  John,  viii.  33  ;  Acts,  xiii.  26.; — Grot.  n'hom  Satan  hath  bfmnd — 
 in  the  popular  language  of  the  Jew^,  diseases  or  infirtiiities  were  attri- 
 buted to  Satan,  or  the  devil,  (see  Acts,  x.  38 ;  1  Cor.  v.  5  ;  2  Cor.  xii. 
 r  ;  1  Tim.  i.  20.) — NeuT.  19.  Z.i7,e  a  ffrain,  ^c. — see  Matt.  xiii.  31, 
 
 Ac,  notes.         21.  Like  leaven,  Sfr. — see  Matt.  xiii.  33,  &c.,  notes. 
 
 23.  Are  there  few,  ^c — it  is  a  received  opinion  among  the  Jews,  that 
 all  Nrael  shall  have  a  part  in  the  world  to  come  ;  and  this  man  might 
 pat  the  question  to  know  whether  Christ  was  of  this  sentiment  or  no. 
 
 24.  Strive,  ^e.,  a.,t.ivi^tntie,  '  contend,'  'strive  as  in  an  agony,'  *  exert 
 yonr  utmost  strength  to  enter  in.' — Doddr.  •  Strive  as  those  that  run 
 for  a  ptize  ;  excite  and  exert  yourselves  to  the  utmost.' — Hen.  The 
 metaphor  seems  to  be  taken  from  the  striving,  wrestling,  and  combat, 
 in  the  Olympic  games, — Gill ;  or  in  war. — Doddr.  Strait  gate — Christ 
 alludes  to  the  feasts  and  marriage  suppers  among  the  Jews  :  they  that 
 
 were  invited  entered  by  a  strait  and  narrow  gate  ;  and,  having  once  en- 
 tered, the  gate  was  shut,  and  opened  no  more. — Burkitt.  26.  Eaten 
 and  drunk,  fyc  ,  may  refer  to  their  having  eaten  the  sacrifices  presented 
 to  God  according  to  the  Mosaic  dispensation. — Brennius.  Perhaps 
 some  of  the  yooo  whom  he  had  fed  by  miracle  may  at  last  be  in  this 
 miserable  number,  (John,  vi.  26.)  It  may  also  be  applicable  to  those 
 who  unbelievingly  have  partaken  of  the  Lord's  snpper. — Doddridge. 
 29.  Come  from  tlie  east,  ^c.,  from  remote  nations,  and  be  received  into 
 the  kingdom  of  God. — S.  Clarke.  30.  Last  which  shall  be  first,  §-c. — 
 see  on  Matt.  xix.  30,  note.  31.  Will  kilt  thee,  Oe\et  ae  aKoKTeivai, 
 
 '  intends,'  or  rather,  '  is  determined  to  kill  thee.' — Bens.  32.  7  sliall 
 be  perfected,  TeXftov/iai,  may  refer  to  his  finishing  the  woik  of  redemp- 
 tion, and  being,  by  death,  consecrated  to  his  office  as  the  great  High 
 Priest  and  Captain  of  our  salvation,  as  the  same  word  is  used  in  Heh. 
 ii.  10;  v.  9;  vii.  28. — Bens.      34.  As  a  hen— sec  Matt,  xxiii.  37,  note. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIII We  may  remart,  I.  On 
 
 the  death  of  the  GaliltEans ;  that  by  no  outward  prosperity  or 
 calamity  are  we  to  judge  of  men's  salvation  :  there  is  no  sal- 
 vation vvithout  repentance  We  must  turn  from  sin,  and  to 
 God  ;  if  not,  we  mustpen's/i.  And,  ob,  how  much  is  compre- 
 hended in  tliat  fearful  word  ! — it  is  not  the  body  merely,  but 
 the  soul,  that  must  perish.  It  must  perisb,  not  as  to  time, 
 but  as  to  eternity  ;  it  must  be  cut  off  from  the  happiness  of 
 the  blest,  and  from  the  presence  and  favour  of  God,  without 
 a  gleam  of  bojlft.  for  ever  burning  in  the  worst  of  flames,  those 
 kindled  by  a  guilty  conscience,  and  yet  for  ever  unconsumed  ! 
 We  may  remark — 
 
 II.  On  the  parable  of  the  unfruitful  fig  tree.  An  emblem  of 
 multitudes  who,  spared  year  after  year,  go  on  to  abuse  that 
 goodness  and  mercy  which  should  lead  them  to  repentance  ; 
 and  especially  an  emblem  of  those  who,  privileged  with  the 
 means  of  grace  and  faithful  vine-dressers,  yet  bring  forth  no 
 '  fruits  meet  for  repentance,'  but  continue  barren  cumberers  of 
 the  ground.     We  may  remark — 
 
 III.  On  the  cure  of  the  aped  and  infrjii  woman  on  the  Sabbath- 
 day.  IMr. Williams  has  well  observi'd,  'it  was  doubtless  by 
 design  that  our  Lord  wrought  so  many  miracles  on  the  Sab- 
 
 1087 
 
 bath-day  ;  not  that  be  meant  to  lessen  tlieir  reverence  for  the 
 day,  but  to  correct  their  superstitious  notions,  who,  because 
 they  were  forbidden  secular  labour  on  that  day,  converted  it, 
 in  a  great  measure,  into  a  day  of  idleness  and  indulgence; 
 whereas,  to  a  good  man,  especially  in  this  age  of  Christian 
 activity,  between  devotion  and  benevolence,  it  aifords  equal 
 employment  to  any  day  of  the  week.  .Such  it  did  to  our  Lord 
 himself.  On  that  day  we  always  find  him  either  in  the  temple 
 or  in  the  synagogue  ;  either  instructing  tlie  minds  or  healing 
 the  diseases  of  the  poor  ;  and  thereby  marking  it  out  as  a 
 proper  season,  not  only  for  devotion,  but  for  the  religious  in- 
 struction of  all  classes  ;  and  the  visiting  of  the  sick,  and  car- 
 rying to  them  the  instructions  and  consolations  of  the  Gospel, 
 is  a  holy  work,  eminently  suited  to  this  holy  day.'  We  may 
 remark — 
 
 IV.  On  the  question  and  answer  respecting  the  number  of  the 
 saved;  that  curious  inquiries  on  ihis  subject  had  better  be 
 substituted  by  active  exertions  ;  that  none  can  enter  into 
 heaven  who  do  not  strive  for  it,  and  that  those  that  seek  shall 
 find,  and  those  that  run  the  Christian  race  shall,  at  last,  wear 
 the  heavenly  crown. 
 
Christ  healeth  the  dropsy  on  the  sahhalh.  S.  LUKE,  XIV. 
 
 The  parable  of  the  rjreat  supper. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  as  lie  went  into  the 
 -^*-  house  of  one  of  the  chief  Pliarisees  to  eat 
 bread  on  tlie  sabbath  day,  that  they  watched 
 him. 
 
 ■2  And,  beliuld,  there  was  a  certain  man  be- 
 fore him  which  had  tlie  dropsy. 
 
 3  And  Jesus  answering  .spake  unto  the  law- 
 yers and  Pharisees,  saying,  "  Is  it  lawful  to  heal 
 on  the  sabbath  day  ? 
 
 4  And  tliey  held  their  peace.  And  he  took 
 liim,  and  healed  him,  and  let  him  go  ; 
 
 5  And  answered  tliiin,  saying,  ''  Which  of 
 yon  shall  have  an  ass  or  an  ox  fallen  into  a 
 pit,  and  will  not  straightway  pull  him  out  on 
 the  sabbath  day '? 
 
 G  And  they  could  not  answer  him  again  to 
 these  things. 
 
 7  11  And  he  put  forth  a  parable  to  those  which 
 were  bidden,  when  he  marked  how  they  chose 
 out  the  chief  rooms  ;  saying  unto  tliem, 
 
 8  When  thou  art  bidden  of  any  m<in  to  a 
 wedding,  sit  not  down  in  the  highest  room  ; 
 lest  a  mure  honourable  man  than  thou  be  bid- 
 den of  liim  ; 
 
 9  And  he  that  bade  thee  and  him  come  and 
 say  to  tliee.  Give  this  man  place  ;  and  thou  be- 
 gin with  shame  to  take  the  lowest  room. 
 
 10  '  But  when  thou  art  bidden,  go  and  .sit 
 down  in  the  lowest  room  ;  that  wlien  he  that 
 bade  thee  cometb,  lie  may  say  unto  tliee. 
 Friend,  Go  up  higher  :  then  shalt  thou  have 
 worship  in  the  presence  of  them  that  sit  at 
 meat  with  thee. 
 
 1 1  •'  For  whosoever  exalteth  himself  shall  be 
 abased  ;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall 
 be  exalted. 
 
 1-2  1i  Then  said  he  also  to  him  that  bade  him. 
 When  thou  makest  a  dinner  or  a  supper,  call 
 not  thy  friends,  nor  thy  brethren,  neither  thy 
 kinsmen,  nor  thy  rich  neighbours  ;  lest  they 
 also  bid  thee  again,  and  a  recompence  be  made 
 thee. 
 
 13  But  when  thou  makest  a  feast,  call  °  the 
 poor,  the  maimed,  the  lame,  the  blind  : 
 
 14  And  thou  shalt  be  blessed  -.  for  they  can- 
 not recompense  thee  :  for  thou  slialt  be  recom- 
 pensed at  the  resurrection  of  the  just. 
 
 15  t  And  when  one  of  them  that  sat  at  meat 
 with  him  heard  these  things,  be  said  unto  him, 
 '  Blessed  is  he  that  shall  eat  bread  in  the  king- 
 dom of  God. 
 
 16  *  Then  said  lie  unto  him,  A  certain  man 
 
 i  Et.  23.  5. 
 ch.    13.  l3. 
 
 it  .Inb  S 
 
 .29. 
 
 rs  18.  27, 
 Pro.  89.  2.^ 
 Mat.  23  12 
 cli.  IS  li. 
 .lam,  +  6. 
 1  l'..-t,  5.  5. 
 
 12.  Tob.  2. 
 2.  &  .1.  7. 
 
 /Rev.  19.8, 
 j(  Mat.  22. 2. 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 h  Pro  9.  2, 
 
 M.«.  21. 
 43.  &-22.  8 
 Acts  13.  .16. 
 
 k  Pell   13.  6. 
 
 «c  .33.  9. 
 
 MaL  1».37 
 /Ron). 9.13. 
 mRev.12.il. 
 
 ,M.it.lB.2.1. 
 
 Mark  8.  31. 
 
 ch.  9.  S3. 
 ?  Tim  .3  12. 
 .  Pro  2t.  2/. 
 
 made  a  great  supper,  and  bade  many  : 
 
 17  And  ''sent  his  servant  at  supper  time  to 
 say  to  them  that  were  bidden.  Come  ;  for  all 
 things  are  now  ready. 
 
 18  And  they  all  with  one  consent  began  to 
 make  excuse.  The  first  said  unto  him,  I  have 
 bought  a  piece  of  ground,  and  I  must  needs 
 go  and  see  it :  I  pray  thee  have  me  excused. 
 
 ly  And  another  said,  I  have  bought  five  yoke 
 of  oxen,  and  I  go  to  prove  them  :  I  pray  thee 
 have  me  excused. 
 
 20  And  another  said,  I  have  married  a  wife, 
 and  therefore  I  cannot  come. 
 
 21  So  that  servant  came,  and  shewed  his  lord 
 these  tilings.  Then  the  master  of  the  house 
 being  angry  said  to  his  servant,  (io  out  quickly 
 into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring 
 in  hither  the  poor,  and  the  maimed,  and  the 
 halt,  and  the  blind. 
 
 22  And  the  servant  said.  Lord,  it  is  done  as 
 thou  hast  commanded,  and  yet  there  is  room. 
 
 23  And  the  lord  said  unto  the  servant.  Go 
 out  into  the  highways  and  hedges,  and  compel 
 them  to  come  in,  that  my  house  may  be  filled. 
 
 24  For  I  say  unto  you,  '  That  none  of  those 
 men  which  were  bidden  shall  taste  of  my  sup- 
 per. 
 
 25  IF  And  there  went  great  multitudes  with 
 him  :  and  he  turned,  and  said  unto  them, 
 
 26  '  If  any  man  come  to  me,  '  and  hate  not 
 his  father,  and  mother,  and  wife,  and  children, 
 and  brethren,  and  sisters,  "'  yea,  and  his  own 
 life  also,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple. 
 
 27  And  "  whosoever  doth  not  bear  his  cross, 
 and  come  after  me,  cannot  be  my  disciple. 
 
 28  For  "which  of  you,  intending  to  build  a 
 tower,  sitteth  not  down  first,  and  counteth  the 
 cost,  whether  he  have  sufficient  to  finish  it  ? 
 
 29  Lest  haply,  after  he  hath  laid  tlie  founda- 
 tion, and  is  not  able  to  finish  it,  all  that  behold 
 it  begin  to  mock  him, 
 
 30  Saying,  This  man  began  to  build,  and  was 
 not  able  to  finish. 
 
 31  Or  what  king,  going  to  make  war  against 
 another  king,  sitteth  not  down  first,  and  con- 
 sulteth  whether  he  be  able  with  ten  thousand 
 to  meet  him  that  cometh  against  him  with 
 twenty  thousand  ? 
 
 32  Or  else,  while  the  other  is  yet  a  great  way 
 off,  he  sendeth  an  embassage,  and  desireth 
 conditions  of  peace. 
 
 33  So  likewise,  whosoever  he  be  of  you  that 
 
 Chap.  XIV. —  1.  Watched  him,  or  were  'maliciously  watching,' 
 iraparnpoirjucoi,  [from  Tapn,  intens.,  denoting  ill,  and  T.iptoj,  to  observe, 
 watch.]— .4.  Clarke.  y.  Chief  rooms,  'places.*  As  the  Jews  lay  at 
 their  meals,  the  chief  place  was  to  lie  down  first  on  the  couch,  so  that 
 all  the  rest  must  lie  below  them,— Boo/Zir.  8.  Highest  roow— there 
 
 is  much  ceremony  in  an  eastern  feast  in  placing  the  several  guests  ac- 
 cording to  their  rank  ;  and  Morier,  the  Persian  traveller,  mentions  an 
 instance  of  a  person  who  had  taken  a  seat  below  his  rank  being  de- 
 sired to  move  up  higher.- See  Orient.  Lit.,  No.  1304.  See  Matt,  .xxiii. 
 6,  notes.  10.   ^\  orship,   'respect  and  reverence.'  —  Bp.  Peorre. 
 
 12.  Call  not  thy  friends,  ^c,  '  by  no  means  confine  thy  hospitality  to 
 thy  rich  relations,  acquaintance,  and  neighbours,  lest  the  whole  of  thy 
 reward  be  an  invitation  from  them  to  a  like  entertainment.'— il/acftn. 
 It  is  here  implied  that  we  should  be  sparing  in  entertaining  those  that 
 need  it  not,  in  order  that  we  may  assist  those  that  do  need  with  what 
 is  saved  from  those  needless  entertainments.- Berw.  13.  Call  the 
 poor,  ^c,  may  allude  to  religious  feasts  made  by  the  Jews  on  the  sab- 
 bath, that  they  should  he  of  a  religious  character,  and  rather  for  the 
 poor  than  for  the  entertainment  of  the  rich.— J/ic/i.  The  Arabs,  when 
 they  kill  a  sheep,  dress  the  whole,  and  call  in  their  neighbours  and  the 
 poor.  Thus  Ihe  sequel  of  the  parable  is  quite  in  harmony  with  oriental 
 manners. — S.  Burder.  14.  Blessed,  ^aKaptoc,  '  happy,'  receiving  much 
 nobler  satisfaction  than  banquets  can  give.— Be/w.  At  the  resurrec- 
 tion, notice  will  then  be  taken  of  the  good  works  of  the  saints,  and 
 particularly  of  their  acts  of  beneficence  to  the  poor  members  of  Christ. 
 
 13.  Blessed  is  he  that  shall  eat,  ^-c— the  Jews  had  gross  and  carnal 
 notions  of  a  splendid  feast  at  Messiah's  coming ;  these  notions  this  man 
 
 1088 
 
 seemed  to  have  imbibed.— (?i7/.  The  paraphrase  is,  '  They  are  blessed 
 indeed  that  shall  share  in  the  privileges  and  pleasures  of  Messiah's 
 kingdom  upon  earth,  and  shall  he  admitted  to  all  the  delightful  enter- 
 tainments of  the  heavenly  world  at  the  resurrection  of  the  just.  Tt> 
 eat  hread,  was  a  usual  phrase  for  a  whole  meal,  whether  of  common 
 or  delicious  provisions,  (2  Sam.  ix.  7.  and  xii.  1",  and  Prov.  ix,  5.) — 
 Gvyse.  \7.  And  sent  his  servant — it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that,  as  in 
 this  case,  the  Chinese  give  three  or  four  invitations  to  an  entertain- 
 ment before  it  is  thought  to  be  sincere,— Orient.  Cast.  (8,  iVith 
 one  consent,  otto  /iias,  'straightway,'  or  'with  one  voice,' — Henry. 
 1{).  Bought  fire  yoke — the  orientals  employ  o,xen  for  all  agricultural 
 labour,  and  the  purchase  of  them  is  a  serious  mattcr.^Neighbours  and 
 friends  are  employed  to  judge  of  them,  and  their  fitness  for  the  plough 
 is  tried  in  every  way, — Roh.  To  prove,  ioKtfinaat.  [a  Latinism,]  a 
 Roman  law  term,  [probare,]  to  examine  an  article  of  merchandize, 
 and  pronounce  it  to  be  good. — Mich.  23.  Highways — passmg  tra- 
 vellers in  the  east  refresh  themselves  under  a  hedge  tiy  the  road  side, 
 and  such  were  invited. — Bp.  Mann.  See  on  Matt.  sxii.  9,  notes. 
 Co7npel,  avajKiiaov,  frequently  signifies  only  'pressing  persuasion.' — 
 So  Eisner,  and  Mackn.  26.  And  hate  not,  fyc. — strictly  speaking, 
 this  would  he  unnatural,  and  contrary  to  the  genius  of  the  gospel ; 
 but  one  thing  is  said  to  be  loved  and  another  hated,  in  scripture, 
 when  the  former  is  much  preferred,  and  the  latter  neglected  and  lor- 
 saken,  (comp.  Gen,  xxix,  31  ;  Dent,  xxi,  15 — 17;  Mai.  i.  3;  Rom,  ix. 
 13  ;  and  Matt,  vi,  24,) — Doddr.  'ly.  Bear  his  cross — see  Matt.  x.  3S. 
 note.  28,  .i  toirer,  probably  alludes  to  one  of  those  elegant  turrets 
 and  kiosks  in  which  the  eastern  people  of  fortune  spend  a  considerable 
 
The  parables  of  the  lost  sheep, 
 
 forsaketh  not  all  that  he  hath,  he  cannot  be  my 
 disciple. 
 
 34  H  •■  Salt  is  good  :  but  if  the  salt  have  lost 
 his  savour,  wherewith  shall  it  be  seasoned  ? 
 
 35  It  is  neither  fit  for  the  land,  nor  yet  for 
 the  dunghill  ;  but  men  cast  it  out.  He  that 
 hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1    The  parable  of  the  Inst  sherp  :  8  of  t/ie  piece  of  silver : 
 1  i  oftlte  prodigal  son^ 
 
 H'^HEN  "  drew  near  unto  him  all  the  publicans 
 
 -*-    and  sinners  for  to  hear  him. 
 
 •2  And  the  Pharisees  and  scribes  murmured, 
 saying.  This  man  receiveth  sinners,  i"  and  eateth 
 with  tliem. 
 
 3  t  And  he  spake  this  parable  unto  them, 
 saying, 
 
 4  '  What  man  of  yon,  having  an  hundred 
 sheep,  if  he  lose  one  of  them,  doth  not  leave 
 the  ninety  and  nine  in  the  wilderness,  and  go 
 after  that  which  is  lost,  until  he  find  it? 
 
 5  And  when  he  hath  found  it,  he  layeth  it 
 on  his  slioulders,  rejoicing. 
 
 G  And  when  lie  cometh  home,  he  calleth  to- 
 gether his  friends  and  neighbours,  saying  unto 
 them,  Rejoice  with  me  ;  for  I  have  found  my 
 sheep  ''  wliicli  was  lost. 
 
 7  I  say  unto  you,  that  likewise  joy  shall  be 
 in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth, 
 "more  than  over  ninety  and  nine  just  persons, 
 whicli  need  no  repentance. 
 
 8  %  Either  what  woman  having  ten  ||  pieces 
 of  silver,  if  she  lose  one  piece,  doth  not  light  a 
 candle,  and  sweep  the  house,  and  seek  dili- 
 gently till  she  find  it? 
 
 9  And  when  she  hath  found  it,  she  calleth 
 her  friends  and  her  neighbours  together,  say- 
 ing. Rejoice  with  me  ;  for  I  have  found  the 
 piece  which  I  had  lost. 
 
 10  Likewise,  I  say  unto  you,  there  is  joy  in 
 the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  one 
 sinner  that  repenteth. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XV. 
 
 anil  of  the  prodigal  son. 
 
 h  Acts-  MS. 
 Gal.  -'.  Vi. 
 
 A  I  Pet.  2. 
 10,  25. 
 
 ttie  ei2hth 
 p:trt  of  an 
 
 M-hich 
 C'xnetli  to 
 sei-cnpence 
 h.ilfpetiny, 
 and  U  equal 
 Vi  the  Kn 
 iiiiiT)  peiiii; 
 
 /Mark  11. 
 
 g  Aets2.  ^9. 
 Epii.  2.  13, 
 
 1 1  H  And  he  said,  A  certain  man  had  two  sons  . 
 
 12  And  the  younger  of  them  said  to  his  fa- 
 ther. Father,  give  me  the  portion  of  goods  that 
 falleth  to  me.  And  he  divided  unto  them  'his 
 living. 
 
 13  And  not  many  days  after  the  younger  son 
 gathered  all  together,  and  took  his  journey 
 into  a  far  country,  and  there  wasted  his  sub- 
 stance with  riotous  living. 
 
 14  And  when  he  had  spent  all,  there  arose  a 
 mighty  famine  in  that  land  ;  and  he  began  to 
 be  in  want. 
 
 15  And  he  went  and  joined  himself  to  a  citi- 
 zen of  that  country  ;  and  he  sent  him  into  his 
 fields  to  feed  swine. 
 
 1(3  And  he  would  fain  have  filled  his  belly 
 with  the  husks  that  the  swine  did  eat  :  and  no 
 man  gave  unto  him. 
 
 17  And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said. 
 How  many  hired  servants  of  my  father's  have 
 bread  enough  and  to  spare,  and  I  perish  with 
 hunger! 
 
 18  1  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father,  and  will 
 say  unto  him.  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
 heaven,  and  before  tl;ee, 
 
 19  And  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy 
 son  :  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants. 
 
 20  And  he  arose,  and  came  to  his  father. 
 But  ^  when  he  was  yet  a  great  way  ofl-',  his 
 father  saw  him,  and  had  compassion,  and  ran, 
 and  fell  on  his  neck,  and  kissed  him. 
 
 21  And  the  son  said  unto  him.  Father,  I  have 
 sinned  against  heaven,  ''  and  in  thy  sight,  ami 
 am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son. 
 
 22  But  the  father  said  to  his  servants.  Bring 
 forth  the  best  robe,  and  put  it  on  him  ;  and  put 
 a  ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on  his  feet : 
 
 23  And  bring  hither  the  fatted  calf,  and  kill 
 it ;  and  let  us  eat,  and  be  merry  : 
 
 24  '  For  this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is  alive 
 again  ;  he  was  lost,  and  is  found.  And  they 
 began  to  be  merry. 
 
 23  Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the  field  :  and 
 
 part  of  their  time.— Har.  34.  Salt  is  good,  §-e.~see  on  Matt.  v.  13, 
 notes.        35.  He  that  hatli  ears — see  on  Matt.  xi.  15,  note. 
 
 Ch.vp.  XV.  —  1 .  All,  that  is,  some  of  all  the  different  classes. — Bens, 
 Publicms  and  sinners,  TeXtjvai  (tat  a^ap-o\oi,  tax-gatherers  and  hea- 
 thens ;  persons  who  neither  believed  in  Christ  nor  in  Moses. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 7.  More  than  over,  ^c.,  not  that  God  esteems  one  penitent  sinner  more 
 than  ninety  and  nine  established  saints — the  persons  meant  as  need- 
 ing no  repentance— for  it  would  be  inconsistent  with  the  Divine  wis- 
 dom, goodness,  and  holiness,  to  suppose  this  ;  but  as  a  lather  rejoices 
 over  the  recovery  of  an  extravagant  child,  or  any  other  person  of  that 
 which  he  had  given  up  for  gone,  more  than  in  that  which  was  equally 
 valuable,  but  not  in  such  danger, — so  do  the  holy  inhabitants  of  heaven 
 rejoice  in  the  conversion  of  the  most  abandoned  sinners. — So  Doddr. 
 
 8.  Ten  pieces,  SpaxM^t  dfKa,  or  drachmas,  each  being  the  fourth  part 
 of  a  shekel,  and  of  the  same  value  with  a  Roman  penny,  that  is  "Jhd,,  so 
 that  the  ten  amounted  to  six  shillings  and  threepence. — Gill,  Light  a 
 candle — the  houses  of  the  lower  ranks  were  anciently  very  dark  ;  some 
 of  those  in  Hcrculaneum  and  Pompeii  had  no  windows  at  all,  and 
 others  only  loop-holes- — Bloomf.  \-l.  His  Umng,  rather,  a  living,  or 
 means  of  livelihood. —  Tt'iV-  13.  Riotmis  living,  l^uiv  aawTws,  a  course 
 of  life  that  led  him  to  spend  all;  from  a.  '  not,'  and  uiuia,  '  1  save.' — ■ 
 — A,  Clarke.  15.  To  feed  swine — this  work  was  very  disagreeable 
 and  scandalous  with  the  Jews.        l6.  Husks,  the  pod  or  fruit  of  the 
 
 charub  tree,  which  the  Jews  say  is  the  food  of  beasts. — Gill,  as  Sir 
 Thomas  Brown,  and  Bochurl.  This  food  is,  in  the  southern  countries, 
 still  used  for  the  feeding  of  swine,  and  is  eaten  by  the  poor. — Camp. 
 IS.  .Against  heaven,  eii  tov  ovpavov,  that  is,  against  God.  The  Jews 
 often  make  use  of  this  periphrasis  to  avoid  using  the  reverend  name  ol 
 God.  20.  Fell  on  his  neck,  (Gen.  xlv,  14  ;  Acts,  xx.  37,)  and  kissrd 
 him,  KaTe^iXinTti-  avjov,  'kissed  him  again  and  again.' — --1.  Clarke. 
 22-  Best  rofje,  or  'long  robe.'  This  parment  servants  never  wore; 
 this  shews  that  his  father  was  far  from  intending  to  treat  him  as  a  ser- 
 vant.—Z>odrfr.  Tnv  CTToAtiv  T»)v  TTpwTrjv,  '  thc  fitst  bcst,'  01  '  pfiucipal 
 robe ;'  the  garment  laid  by,  and  used  only  on  festival  occasions. — 
 Bens.,  as  Clarke,  A  ring  on  his  hand,  a  peculiar  mark  of  distinction, 
 (see  Gen.  xli.  4i,)—Grut,  See  also  1  Kings,  xxi.  8;  Etth.  viii.  2; 
 James,  ii.  2.  23.  The  fatted  calf,  in  allusion  to  the  feasts  and  liberal 
 entertainments  of  friends,  whereof  the  fatted  calf  made  a  considerable 
 part,  (Gen.  xviii.  7,  8  ;  1  Sam.  xxviii.  24,  25;  Amos,  vi.4;  Mai.  iv.  2-) 
 — Gill.  And  kill  i7— in  all  hot  climates  meat  rapidly  tends  to  putridity, 
 i.e.,  grows  tender,  and  is  therefore  eaten  on  the  same  day. — Mich. 
 Let  us  eat,  and  he  merri/,  nai  t}ta-jovT€i  et'i^pavCo/iek,  '  eating,  let  us  re- 
 joice, or  be  cheerful.'  Nothing  of  levity  is  here  implied,  but  a  solid, 
 serious,  religious,  heart-felt  joy. — Bens.  25.  Dancing,  x^fuiv,  not 
 
 dancing,  but  a  choir  of  singers.- X.e  Clerc. 
 
 Reflection's  ox  Ch.ip.  XIV.  — Three  important  brandies 
 of  the  Christian  character  are  taught  by  the  Saviour  in  this 
 chapter,  of  all  of  which  he  himself  was  a  striking  example — 
 1.  JIunulitij.  '  Sit  not  down  in  the  highest  place.'  How  much 
 confusion  would  an  attention  to  the  spirit  of  this  rule  have 
 preventeil,  both  in  the  church  and  in  the  world! 
 
 IT.  Charity.  '  When  thou  makest  a  feast,  call  the  poor.' 
 Custom  admits  of  the  practice  in  the  east;  let  those  who  are 
 able  here  at  least  adopt  the  spirit  of  this  command.  How 
 can  we,  as  Christians,  relish  our  luxuries,  when  we  know  that 
 any  of  our  poorer  brethren  are  starving  I  Not  so  has  a  gra- 
 cious and  bountiful  God  dealt  with  us  as  needy  sinners.  He 
 1089 
 
 has  made  a  rich  gospel  feast,  and  freely  invited  us  to  partake 
 of  its  blessings. 
 
 III.  Self-rleniah  The  cross  must  be  the  Christian's  badyte. 
 It  is  now  comparatively  light,  but  still  he  must  bear  tlie 
 cross. 
 
 '  Our  flesh  and  sense  must  be  denied, 
 Passion  and  envy,  lust  and  jiridc  ; 
 While  justice,  temperance,  truth,  and  love. 
 Our  inward  piety  approve.' 
 
 '  Whosoever,'  says  Christ,  '  doth  not  bear  bis  cross  ami  comr 
 after  me,  cannot  be  my  disciple.' 
 
 G  z 
 
The  parahle  nf  the  unjust  steward. 
 
 LUKE,  XVL 
 
 Christ  rrprnreth  the  Pharisees. 
 
 as  he  came  and  drew  nigh  to  the  house,  he 
 heard  musick  and  dancing. 
 
 26  And  he  called  one  of  the  servants,  and 
 asked  what  these  things  meant. 
 
 27  And  he  said  nnto  him.  Thy  brother  is 
 come  ;  and  thy  father  hath  killed  the  fatted 
 calf,  because  he  hath  received  him  safe  and 
 sound. 
 
 28  And  he  was  angry,  and  would  not  go  in  : 
 therefore  came  his  father  out,  and  intreated 
 him. 
 
 29  And  he  answering  said  to  his  father,  Lo, 
 these  many  years  do  I  serve  thee,  neither  trans- 
 gressed I  at  any  time  thy  commandment :  and 
 yet  thou  never  gavest  me  a  kid,  that  I  might 
 make  merry  with  my  friends  : 
 
 30  But  as  soon  as  this  thy  son  was  come, 
 which  hath  devoured  thy  living  with  harlots, 
 thou  hast  killed  for  him  the  fatted  calf. 
 
 31  And  he  said  unto  him.  Son,  thou  art  ever 
 .vith  me,  and  all  that  I  have  is  thine. 
 
 32  It  was  meet  that  we  should  make  merry, 
 and  be  glad  :  '  for  this  thy  brother  was  dead, 
 and  is  alive  again ;  and  was  lost,  and  is  found. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  The  parable  of  the  unjust  stcwaril.  14  Clirist  re- 
 provtth  tlie  lii/pocrisy  of  the  covetous  Pliarisees.  19 
 T/ie  ricli  gliUton,  and  Lazarus  tin  beggar. 
 
 \  ND  he  said  also  unto  his  disciples,  There 
 -^  was  a  certain  rich  man,  which  had  a  stew- 
 ard ;  and  the  same  was  accused  unto  him  that 
 he  had  wasted  his  goods. 
 
 2  And  he  called  him,  and  said  unto  liim. 
 How  is  it  that  I  hear  this  of  thee?  give  an  ac- 
 count of  thy  stewardship  ;  for  thou  mayest  be 
 no  longer  steward. 
 
 3  Then  the  steward  said  within  himself.  What 
 shall  I  do?  for  my  lord  taketh  away  from  me 
 the  stewardship :  I  cannot  dig ;  to  beg  I  am 
 ashamed. 
 
 4  I  am  resolved  what  to  do,  that,  when  I  am 
 put  out  of  the  stewardship,  they  may  receive 
 me  into  tlieir  houses. 
 
 5  So  he  called  every  one  of  his  lord's  debtors 
 tinto  him,  and  said  nnto  the  first.  How  much 
 
 Hn 
 
 ritlK 
 
 t>.-i] 
 
 cniitaiiicth 
 nine  (ril- 
 liMis  three 
 ■  l-mrt^: 
 seo  KzlU. 
 'l'>.  10,  II, 
 
 [ho  nriijiiiiJ 
 
 ciiitiiiuelh 
 
 ahniit 
 
 ('niirteen 
 
 IniHbelg 
 
 and  a 
 
 l."ttle 
 <i.lol,ul2  36. 
 
 Kpli    b.  B. 
 
 I  Thes.  5.5. 
 t  Dan.  4,27. 
 
 ,M.it.  6.  19. 
 
 ,s  19.  21. 
 
 .-I>.  II     11. 
 
 a. 6.17, 
 
 \fat  2b-H. 
 .•It.  10.  ;?7. 
 Or,  richet. 
 
 M.at.  *.  17. 
 «t  11.  12.13. 
 cli.  7.  US. 
 
 k  Ps,  109,26. 
 
 ?7    Is. 40. 
 
 ft    h  51.  6. 
 
 IM.U   5.   18 
 
 I  Pet.  1 ,  25. 
 /  Mat.  5  32 
 
 ft  19.  9. 
 
 owest  thou  unto  my  lord  ? 
 
 6  And  he  said.  An  hundred  ||  measures  of 
 oil.  And  he  said  unto  him.  Take  thy  bill,  and 
 sit  down  quickly,  and  write  fifty. 
 
 7  Then  said  he  to  another.  And  how  much 
 owest  thou  ?  And  he  said.  An  hundred  || mea- 
 sures of  wheat.  And  he  said  unto  him.  Take 
 thy  bill,  and  write  fourscore. 
 
 8  And  the  lord  commended  the  unjust  stew- 
 ard, because  he  had  done  wisely :  for  the 
 children  of  this  world  are  in  their  generation 
 wiser  than  '  the  children  of  light. 
 
 9  And  I  say  unto  you,  ''  Make  to  yourselves 
 friends  of  the  ||  mammon  of  unrighteousness  ; 
 that,  when  ye  fail,  they  may  receive  you  into 
 everlasting  habitations. 
 
 10  '  He  that  is  faithful  in  that  which  is  least 
 is  faithful  also  in  much:  and  he  that  is  unjust 
 in  the  least  is  unjust  also  in  much. 
 
 1 1  If  therefore  ye  have  not  been  faithful  in 
 the  unrighteous  ||  mammon,  who  will  commit 
 to  your  trust  the  true  riches  9 
 
 12  And  if  ye  have  not  been  faithful  in  that 
 which  is  another  man's,  who  shall  give  you  that 
 which  is  your  own  ? 
 
 13  t  '^  No  servant  can  serve  two  masters  :  for 
 either  he  will  hate  the  one,  and  love  the  other  ; 
 or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one,  and  despise  the 
 other.     Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon. 
 
 14  And  the  Pharisees  also,  °  who  were  covet- 
 ous, heard  all  these  tilings  :  and  they  derided 
 him. 
 
 15  And  he  said  unto  them,  Ye  are  they  which 
 'justify  yourselves  before  men ;  but  *  God 
 knoweth  your  hearts :  for  '■  that  which  is 
 highly  esteemed  among  men  is  abomination  in 
 the  sight  of  God. 
 
 10  '  The  law  and  the  prophets  icere  mitil 
 John  :  since  that  time  the  kingdom  of  God  is 
 preached,  and  every  man  prcsseth  into  it. 
 
 17  '  And  it  is  easier  for  heaven  and  earth  to 
 pass,  than  one  tittle  of  the  law  to  fail. 
 
 18  '  Whosoever  putteth  away  his  wife,  and 
 marrieth  another,  eommitteth  adultery  :  and 
 whosoever  marrietli  her  that  is  put  away  from 
 her  husband  connnitteth  adultery. 
 
 19  H  There   was  a  certain  rich   man,  which 
 
 Chap.  XVI.  —  2.  Ttioit  mnyext  be  no  longer  steward — here  is  an 
 ellipsis,  1.  e.,  unless  thou  shalt  have  given  a  satisfactory  account. — 
 Bloom/.  6.  .4n  hundred  meitsnres  of  oil,  called  '  baths*  in  the  Old- 
 Testament  rendering,  {1  King^,  vii.  2S;  2  Chron.  ii.  10;  Ezra,  vii.  22.) 
 —  Doddr.  According  to  Godwin,  the  hath  held  four  gallons  and  a 
 half,  so  that  100  baths  contained  450  gallons,  some  think  more.  Bill, 
 7PaMM«.  '  writing.'— GiV/.  It  may  signify  *  a  lease,'  '  a  bond,*  or  any 
 written  agreement  whatever. — Hew.  The  '  accompt,'  the  writing  in 
 which  the  debt  was  specified,  together  with  the  obligation  to  pay  so 
 much  at  such  and  such  times. — A.Clarke.  7.  Men\ures  0/ wheat, 
 
 tiopoi,  or  'cors  of  wheat,*  [y\^,  Heb.  ;]  the  same  with  '  homers,*  lEzek. 
 xlv.  14.)  (Vrii/H-rn  states  that  this  measure  held  five  bushels  and  five 
 gallons,  making  the  whole  56o  bushels  and  a  half. — Gill.  8.  Wi.telt/, 
 or  '  prudently  for  himself,'  as  the  word  (ppovifiuyv  here  signifies. — Bens. 
 Of  litis  tvorld — tov  oimvoz  here  means  '  this  life,'  the  world,  and  the 
 things  of  it — its  business,  pleasures,  vices,  &c. —  Bloomf.  In  their  ^e- 
 nerotion,  eir  tuv  ^j^veav  tt)v  ^afTaji-,  *  for  their  generation.*  '  For  the 
 temporal  good  of  their  posterity.'— Gif/.  'Towards  their  generation.* 
 'Towards  persons  of  the  same  character,  and  engaged  in  the  same 
 pursuits,  as  tlicinselves.' — Hew.      It  here  signifies  afl'airs  or  actions. 
 
 (as  Gen.  vi.  9;  xxxvii.  2.) — Doddr.  9,  Moke  to  t/oursel"es  friends, 
 ffo.,  be  good  stewards  even  of  the  lowest  talents  wherewith  God  has 
 intrusted  you,  and  particularly  of  your  property.  '  Make  to  yourselves 
 friends'  of  this,  by  doing  all  possible  good  witn  it,  particularly  to  the 
 children  of  God. — Bens.  Make  restitution  of  that  which  is  ill  gotten. 
 —Li^htf.  Mammon,  the  heathen  god  of  plenty. —  Guyse.  It  here 
 means  *  riches,' or  'money.*  Of  unrighteousness,  or  'of  deceit.'  or 
 •  unfaithfulness,'  as  the  word  aii^ta^  may  be  rendered,  because  of  the 
 manner  in  which  it  is  either  used  or  employed,  or  on  account  of  its 
 being  so  apt  to  fail  the  expectation  of  the  owners.  When  ye  fail, 
 'when  ye  die.' — Whitby.  'When  ynur  flesh  and  heart  fail.'  They, 
 who  have  gone  before.  May  receive,  '  may  welcome  you,*  &c.,  or 
 '  ye  shall  be  received.'  after  the  Hebrew  style  of  speaking. — Bensim. 
 12.  If  ye  hat'e  not,  ^c.,  '  if  you  have  embezzled  what  another  gave  you 
 in  trust,  how  can  he  give  you  an  estate  in  perpetuity?* — Version  of 
 1727.  Another  man's — the  translation  has  the  word  'man*  supplied 
 without  reason,  for  it  is  not  '  man,'  but  '  God,'  who  is  intended. — 
 M'irkn.         17.  Tittle — see  Matt.  v.  18,  note.  IS.  Putteth  away  his 
 
 «'i/(.'— see  Matt.  xix.  3,  4,  8,  notes.  19.  Rich  man — the  word  'dives* 
 being  the  Latin  for  *  rich,'  has  occasioned  this  to  be  called  the  parable 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV. — This  chapter  contains — 
 I.  The  parables  of  the  hjst  sheep  and  the  piece  of  silver.  Whence 
 we  learn,  that  there  is  joy  '  in  the  presence  of  tlie  angels  of 
 God  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth.'  Heaven  is  made  glad, 
 and  the  heart  of  a  compassionate  God  exults  for  joy,  for  '  be 
 willeth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner.'  His  eye  quickly  turns 
 away  tVoni  all  that  men  are  accustomed  to  call  good  and  great, 
 to  behold  the  man  who  is  of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  his  ear 
 catrlies  wall  eagerness  the  imploring  cry,  'Lord,  save,  or  I 
 perish.' 
 
 1090 
 
 II.  The  parable  of  the  prodigal  son.  This  is  the  affecting 
 picture  of  a  sinner  who  has  reduced  his  soul  to  misery  and 
 ruin.  But  he  comes  to  himself — he  reflects — he  repents — he 
 returns  to  his  offended  father — he  humbles  himself,  and  sup- 
 plicates forgiveness.  He  meets  a  father  who  even  anticipates 
 bis  wishes ;  wlio  loads  him  with  benefits,  and  rejoices  over 
 him  with  exceeding  joy.  Sinner,  that  sigh  of  misery,  that 
 tear  of  repentance,  and  that  cry  for  mercy,  all  are  heard  in 
 heaven.  '  A  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  0  God,  thou  wilt 
 not  despise.' 
 
The  rich  glutlon,  and  Lazarus  the  beggar.        S.  LUKE,  XVII. 
 
 One  to  forgive  another. 
 
 was  clothed  in  purple  and  fine  linen,  and  fared 
 sumptuously  every  day  : 
 
 '20  And  there  was  a  certain  beggar  named 
 Lazarus,  which  was  laid  at  his  gate,  full  of 
 sores, 
 
 '21  And  desiring  to  be  fed  with  the  crumbs 
 which  fell  from  the  rich  man's  table:  moreover 
 the  dogs  came  and  licked  his  sores. 
 
 •1-2  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  the  beggar  died, 
 and  was  carried  by  the  angels  into  Abraham's 
 bosom  :  the  rich  man  also  died,  and  was 
 buried  ; 
 
 23  And  in  hell  he  lift  up  his  eyes,  being  in 
 torments,  and  seeth  Abraham  afar  off,  and  La- 
 zarus in  his  bosom. 
 
 '24  And  he  cried  and  said.  Father  Abraham, 
 have  mercy  on  me,  and  send  Lazarus,  that  he 
 may  dip  the  tip  of  his  finger  in  water,  and 
 '"cool  my  tongue;  for  I  "  am  tormented  in 
 this  flame. 
 
 '2.J  But  Abraham  said,  Son,  "  remember  that 
 thou  in  thy  lifetime  receivedst  thy  good  things, 
 and  likewise  Lazarus  evil  things:  but  now  he 
 is  comforted,  and  thou  art  tormented. 
 
 26  And  beside  all  this,  between  us  and  you 
 there  is  a  great  gulf  fixed  :  so  that  they  which 
 would  pass  from  hence  to  you  cannot ;  neither 
 can  they  pass  to  us,  that  would  come  from 
 thence. 
 
 27  Then  he  said,  I  pray  thee  therefore,  father, 
 that  thou  wouldest  send  him  to  my  father's 
 house  : 
 
 28  For  I  have  five  brethren  ;  that  he  may 
 testify  unto  them,  lest  they  also  come  into  this 
 place  of  torment. 
 
 29  Abraham  saith  unto  him,  ■'  They  have 
 Moses  and  the  prophets  ;  let  them  hear  them. 
 
 30  And  he  said.  Nay,  father  Abraham  :  but 
 if  one  went  unto  them  from  the  dead,  they  will 
 repent. 
 
 31  And  he  said  unto  him.  If  they  hear  not 
 Moses  and  the  prophets,  ^  neither  will  they  be 
 persuaded,  though  one  rose  from  the  dead. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 1  Christ  tcacheth  to  amid  occasions  of  offence.  3  Owe 
 fo  forgive  another.  6  The  power  of  faith.  7  How  we 
 are  bound  to  God,  and  not  he  to  us.     11   He  healeth 
 
 n  Is,  66.  2*. 
 Mark  9.  4 1 , 
 
 n  Hat.  IS-  fi, 
 7.  .11  ark   y 
 -13.   I  Cor. 
 II.  19. 
 
 b  Mat,  U. 
 
 15,  i\. 
 c  Lev 
 
 Pni. 
 
 Jam 
 
 0  17 
 
 d  Mat. 17. 20, 
 &  SI.  21. 
 Mark  y.  -23. 
 
 ft  1 1 .  -ri 
 
 /Job  23.  3. 
 &  35.  7. 
 Ps.  16,  2. 
 Mat.  25.30. 
 Rom.  3.  12. 
 fa  II.  So. 
 
 A  Lev. 13.45. 
 
 Lev.  13.  2. 
 
 ft  14.  2. 
 Mat.  8.  1. 
 ch.  5.  14. 
 
 ten  lepers.      22    Of  the   kingdom  of  Gody   and  the 
 coming  of  the  Son  of  ULan. 
 
 T^HEN  said  he  unto  the  disciples,  °  It  is  ini- 
 -*-  possible  but  that  offences  will  come  ;  but 
 woe  unto  him,  through  whom  they  come! 
 
 2  It  were  better  for  him  that  a  millstone  were 
 hanged  about  his  neck,  and  he  cast  into  the 
 sea,  than  that  he  should  otFend  one  of  these 
 little  ones. 
 
 3  1[  Take  heed  to  yourselves:  ^if  thy  brother 
 trespass  against  thee,  *"'  rebuke  hiin  ;  and  if  he 
 repent,  forgive  him. 
 
 4  And  if  he  trespass  against  thee  seven  times 
 in  a  day,  and  seven  times  in  a  day  turn  again 
 to  thee,  saying,  1  repent ;  thou  shalt  forgive 
 him. 
 
 5  And  the  apostles  said  unto  the  Lord,  In- 
 crease our  faith. 
 
 6  **  And  the  Lord  said,  If  ye  had  faith  as  a 
 grain  of  mustard  seed,  ye  might  say  unto  this 
 sycamine  tree,  Be  thou  plucked  up  by  the  root, 
 and  be  thou  planted  in  the  sea  ;  and  it  should 
 obey  you. 
 
 7  But  which  of  yon,  having  a  servant  plowing 
 or  feeding  cattle,  will  say  unto  him  by  and  by, 
 when  he  is  come  from  the  field.  Go  and  sit 
 down  to  meat  ? 
 
 8  And  will  not  rather  say  unto  him,  Make 
 ready  wherewith  I  may  sup,  and  gird  thyself, 
 "  and  serve  me,  till  I  have  eaten  and  drunken  ; 
 and  afterward  thou  shalt  eat  and  drink? 
 
 9  Doth  he  thank  that  servant  because  he  did 
 the  things  that  were  commanded  himV  I  trow 
 not. 
 
 10  So  likewise  ye,  when  ye  shall  have  done 
 all  those  things  which  are  commanded  you, 
 say,  We  are  *"  unprofitable  servants:  we  have 
 done  that  which  was  our  duty  to  do. 
 
 1 1  t  And  it  came  to  pass,  ^as  he  went  to  Je- 
 rusalem, that  he  passed  through  the  midst  of 
 Samaria  and  Galilee. 
 
 12  And  as  he  entered  into  a  certain  village, 
 there  met  him  ten  men  that  were  lepers,  ^  which 
 stood  afar  off: 
 
 13  And  they  lifted  up  their  voices,  and  said, 
 Jesus,  Master,  have  mercy  on  us. 
 
 14  And  when  he  saw  theyji,  he  said  unto 
 them,  '  Go  shew  yourselves  unto  the  priests. 
 
 of  *  Dives  anti  Lazarus.* — Wit.  This  is  not  a  history,  but  a  parahle  ; 
 the  incidents  are  all  parabolical. — Doddr.  In  /jMr/;/e— purple  clothing, 
 which  we  may  suppose  hart  originally  been  worn  by  noble  and  royal 
 personages,  was,  in  the  time  of  our  Saviour,  in  general  use  among  the 
 rich  and  opulent.— T.  H.  Home.  20.  Laid  at  his  gate — a  frequent 
 
 resort  of  beggars  was  the  portal  or  porch  of  a  rich  man's  house. — See 
 Horn.  Od.,  p  336.  21.  Desiring  to  be  fed — the  expression  does 'not 
 imply  that  he  was  refused  the  crumbs.  Many  have  represented  the 
 rich  man  as  a  glutton  and  a  drunkard,  rapacious  and  unjust,  cruel  and 
 hard-hearted,  &c.  This  injures  the  simplicity  of  the  parahle,  which  is 
 designed  to  shew  the  danger  of  living  in  the  neglect  of  duties,  though 
 not  chargeable  with  the  commission  of  crimes;  and  particularly  the 
 danger  of  considering  the  gifts  of  Providence  as  our  own  property,  and 
 not  as  a  trust  from  our  Creator,  to  be  employed  in  his  service,  and  for 
 which  we  are  accountable  to  him. — Camp.  *  I  must  maintain  that  the 
 crime  of  the  rich  man  was  not  only  luxury  and  gross  sensuality,  but 
 that,  absorbed  in  selfish  gratification,  he  had  no  thought  or  care  for 
 the  miseries  of  his  poorer  brethren  ;  otherwise,  so  daplorable  an  object 
 must  have  obtained  more  than  the  crumbs  or  scraps  from  his  table.' — 
 Bloomf.  22.  Abraham's  bosom,  a  Jewish  mode  of  speaking. — Bp. 
 Pearce,  The  entertainments  of  heaven  are  described  as  a  magnificent 
 banquet  with  Abraham  and  the  other  patriarchs,  ;comp.  Matt.  viii.  11, 
 and  chap.  xxii.  30.) — Doddr.    The  phrase  bears  allusion  to  the  custom 
 
 at  Jewish  feasts  of  several  guests  lying  on  one  couch,  the  head  of  one 
 being  placed  near  the  bosom  of  another,  (see  John,  xiii.  25.)  The 
 meaning  is,  that  the  beggar  was  received  into  a  state  of  hnppiness,  and 
 afimitted  to  a  place  of  peculiar  honour. — Bp.  Pearce.  23.  In  hell,  ev 
 T(jO  u5f;,  *  in  hades,'  i.  e..  in  the  unseen  or  invisible  world.— BeT?*.  It 
 may  design  the  iJace  of  torment  into  which  wicked  men  enttr  imme- 
 diately after  death  ;  or  the  vengeance  of  God  on  the  Jews  at  the  de- 
 struction of  Jerusalem.— 6//;.  24.  And  he  cried,  ^c— not  literally, 
 this  is  only  a  representation,  by  borrowed  language,  of  the  happy  and 
 miserable  state  of  things,  and  of  the  sense  which  the  righteous  and  the 
 wicked  have  of  them  in  annther  vtor\d—Gu!/se.  Father  Ahrnhnm,  so 
 the  Jews  called  Abraham,  and  were  proud  of  their  descent  from  him  as 
 their  father,  (see  Matt.  iii.  9;  John,  viii.  33,  2^.)— Gill.  25.  Thy  good 
 things,  such  as  were  esteemed  good. — Stanhope.  31.  //  they  hear 
 7wf  Mnses,  l^c— such  were  the  Jewish  voluptuaries  of  that  day,  whc 
 lived  like  heathen,  without  any  regard  to  reiigion.—Atterburt/. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.— 2.  A   millstone,  §-c.— see  Matt,  xviii.  6.  3.  Thy 
 
 brother  trespass— see  Matt,  xviii.  15,  note.  6.  Faith  as  a  grain— see 
 Matt.  xvii.  20,  note.  Sycamine,  'sycamore.* — Doddr.,  Hnsselquist. 
 This  tree  is  most  difficult  to  root  up,  from  the  largeness  of  its  rout.— 
 Shaw.  7.  A  servant,  iouXoi,  is  not  a  hired  servant,  but  'a  slave.'— 
 Kuinoel.  12.  Stood  afar  off,  lepers  being  by  the  laws  separatee!  from 
 the  society  of  their  brethren,  (Lev.  xiii.,  xiv.)         14.  Shew  yourselves. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVI.  — Two  parables  principally 
 occupy  this  chapter — I.  The  unjust  steward.  In  this  we  are 
 reminded  tliat  we  must  soon  give  up  our  account,  and  are 
 cautioned  so  to  manage  our  concerns  as  to  '  promote  most 
 efi'ectuaUy  the  great  end  of  our  being — the  glory  of  God  and 
 our  everlasting  happiness.' 
 
 II.  The  rich  man  and  Lazarus,  Here  we  see  Low  soon  all 
 10!>] 
 
 distinctions  will  cease  ;  and  awfu!  will  be  the  change  of  worlds 
 to  the  rich  ungodly.  How  infinitely  better  is  it  to  be  the  poor 
 rich  man  in  this  world,  than  the  rich  poor  man  in  the  next. 
 Are  we  the  heirs  of  heaveu  ?  then  let  us  not  envy  nobles  their 
 honours,  nor  kings  their  crowns  ;  we  are  heirs  to  *  an  inherit- 
 ance which  is  incorruptible,  uadefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not 
 away.' 
 
Of  the  kingdom  nf  God. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XVIII. 
 
 Of  the  imporlunale  ividnw. 
 
 And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  they  went,  they 
 
 were  cleansed. 
 
 13  And  one  of  them,  when  he  saw  that  he 
 was  healed,  turned  back,  and  with  a  loud  voice 
 glorified  God, 
 
 IG  And  fell  down  on  his  face  at  his  feet, 
 giving  hini  thanks  :  and  he  was  a  Samaritan. 
 
 17  And  Jesus  answering  said,  AV'ere  there 
 not  ten  cleansed?  but  where  ui-c  the  nine? 
 
 18  There  are  not  found  that  return  to  give 
 glory  to  God,  save  this  stranger. 
 
 19  '  And  he  said  unto  him.  Arise,  go  thy 
 way  :  thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole. 
 
 20  If  And  when  he  was  demanded  of  the 
 Pharisees,  when  the  kingdom  of  God  should 
 come,  he  answered  them  and  said.  The  king- 
 dom of  God  Cometh  not  ||  with  observation : 
 
 ■21  '  Neither  shall  tliey  say,  Lo  here  I  or,  lo 
 there !  for,  behold,  "'  the  kingdom  of  God  is 
 II  within  you. 
 
 22  And  he  said  unto  the  disciples,  "  The  days 
 will  come,  when  5'e  shall  desire  to  see  one  of 
 the  days  of  the  Son  of  man,  and  ye  shall  not 
 see  it. 
 
 23  "And  they  shall  say  to  you.  See  here  ;  or, 
 see  there:  go  not  after  them,  nor  follow  them. 
 
 24  ''  For  as  the  lightning,  that  lighteneth  out 
 of  the  one  part  under  heaven,  shineth  unto  the 
 other  part  under  heaven;  so  shall  also  the  Son 
 of  man  be  in  his  day. 
 
 23  ''  But  first  must  he  suffer  many  things,  and 
 be  rejected  of  this  generation. 
 
 26  '  And  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Noe,  so  shall 
 it  be  also  in  the  days  of  the  Son  of  man. 
 
 27  They  did  eat,  they  drank,  they  married 
 wives,  they  were  given  in  marriage,  until  the 
 day  that  Noe  entered  into  the  ark,  and  the 
 flood  came,  and  destroyed  them  all. 
 
 28  '  Likewise  also  as  it  was  in  tlie  days  of 
 Lot ;  they  did  eat,  they  drank,  they  bought, 
 they  sold,  they  planted,  they  builded  ; 
 
 29  But  '  the  same  day  that  Lot  went  out  of 
 Sodom  it  rained  fire  and  brimstone  from  heaven, 
 and  destroyed  them  all. 
 
 30  Even  tlnis  shall  it  be  in  the  day  when  the 
 Son  of  man  "  is  revealed. 
 
 *  Mat.  {1.52. 
 Mo.k  5.3*. 
 fc'  lu   i3. 
 eh.  7.  .'.0.  & 
 s    4S.  &19. 
 
 I  ver.  S.S. 
 m  itom.  li. 
 
 I.  yo, 
 
 H  See  .M.it. 
 0.  15. 
 Join.  17.12 
 
 0  Mat,94.?3. 
 M.irUl.S.21. 
 cll.21.9. 
 
 5  Mark  8. 31. 
 &  'J.  ;il.  & 
 lit   .i:).  ch. 
 
 tGen.  lO.lfi, 
 24. 
 
 t  Mat.2.1  17. 
 Mark  13.15. 
 
 il  Gen. 19.  26. 
 
 1  Mat. 11.39. 
 
 &  Iti   25. 
 
 M.irk8.  S. 
 
 eh   SI.  24. 
 
 John  12.25. 
 'I  Mat-2.l  '111, 
 
 41.  I  Thes. 
 
 4.  17. 
 
 ;i  Tliifi  Sfith 
 vcise  is 
 «-antini!  in 
 niont  of  the 
 Greek  co- 
 pies 
 
 6.Ioti  .19.311. 
 Mat.  24  'IS. 
 
 1  ch.  11.  5. 
 
 &  21.  3G. 
 
 Kr.m. 12.12 
 
 Kph.  6.  la. 
 
 Col    4.2. 
 
 lTlie9.5,l7. 
 I  Gr   i..  « 
 
 co/ai'i  ci'jl. 
 
 31  In  that  day,  lie  ^  which  shall  be  upon  the 
 housetop,  and  his  stuff  in  tlie  house,  let  him 
 not  come  down  to  take  it  away  :  and  he  that  is 
 in  the  field,  let  him  likewise  not  return  back. 
 
 32  '  Remember  Lot's  wife. 
 
 33  ^  Whosoever  shall  seek  to  save  his  life 
 shall  lose  it ;  and  whosoever  shall  lose  his 
 life  shall  preserve  it. 
 
 3-1  "  I  tell  you,  in  that  night  there  shall  be 
 two  men  in  one  bed  ;  the  one  shall  be  taken, 
 and  the  other  shall  be  left. 
 
 35  Two  women  sliall  be  grinding  together ; 
 the  one  shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left. 
 
 36  II  Two  men  shall  be  in  the  field  ;  the  one 
 shall  be  taken,  and  the  other  left. 
 
 37  And  they  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
 ''Where,  Lord?  And  he  said  unto  them.  Where- 
 soever the  body  is,  thither  will  the  eagles  be 
 gatliered  together. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIIL 
 
 3  Of  the  importunate  widow.  9  Of  the  Pharisee  and 
 thf  publican.  15  Cliildnn  brovfjht  to  Christ.  18  A 
 rider  that  would  follow  Christ,  but  is  hindered  by  his 
 riches.  28  The  reward  of  them  that  leave  all  for  his 
 sahf.  31  Htforeshewfth  his  death,  3J  aJid  rtstoreth 
 a  blind  man  to  his  sight. 
 
 A  ND  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them  to  this 
 -*-^  end,  that  men  ought "  always  to  pray,  and 
 not  to  faint ; 
 
 2  Saying,  There  was  fhi  a  city  a  jndge, 
 which  feared  not  God,  neither  regarded  man  : 
 
 3  And  there  was  a  widow  in  that  city  ;  and 
 she  came  inUo  him,  saying,  Avenge  me  of 
 mine  adversary. 
 
 4  And  he  would  not  for  a  while :  but  after- 
 ward he  said  within  himself,  Though  1  fear  not 
 God,  nor  regard  man  ; 
 
 o  ^  Yet  because  this  widow  troubleth  me,  I 
 will  avenge  her,  lest  by  her  continual  coming 
 she  weary  me. 
 
 6  And  the  Lord  said,  Hear  what  the  unjust 
 judge  saith. 
 
 7  And  ^  shall  not  God  avenge  his  own  elect, 
 which  cry  day  and  night  unto  him,  though  he 
 bear  long  with  them  ? 
 
 ^c,  asdirected.Lev.  xiii.  2,  &c.,  xiv.  2,  SiC— Stanhope.  18.  Stranger, 
 aAAo7ei'rir,  'alien;'  so  the  Samaritans  were  considered  by  the  Jews 
 after  the  captivity.— Ham.,  Ctanp.  21.  Is  withinyou,  it  is  of  a  spi- 
 
 ritual nature.— Poo/e.  'Among  yon.^—Doddr. ;  so  Beza,  Raphtlius, 
 Whitby,  &c.  23.  Or,  see  there,  is  Christ.— Gi7/.  24.  As  th".  light- 
 ving,  §rc.— see  Matt.  xxiv.  2",  note.  ^l.  Housetop—see  Matt,  x.xiv. 
 ]/,  note,  atuff,  best  dress  and  furniture.— Dot/rfr.  33.  Shall  seek  to 
 save  his  life,  ^c— see  Matt.  x.  39,  note.  34.  Two  men  in  one  bed, 
 
 •upon  one  couch,'  that  is,  sitting  together  at  supper,  which  was  also 
 in  the  night  season. — Gill.  35.  Two  women  shall  he  grinding — see 
 Matt.  .xxiv.  41,  note.  36.  hi  the  field,  tilling,  sowing,  or  reaping.— 
 
 Gill.        37.  The  eagles  be  gathered— see  Matt.  xxiv.  2S,  notes. 
 Chap.  XVIIL—  1.  Always^  frequently  aiid  habitually,  as  well  as  fer- 
 
 vently, (Rom.  xii.  12;  Ephes.  v.  20;  Phil.  iv.  4,  and  1  Thess.  v.  17.) — 
 Boothr.  And  not  to  faint,  xa*  /^in  ^KK<\K€tv,  '  without  growing  weary.' 
 — Camp.  The  word  is  sometimes  rietcrmioed  by  the  context  to  signify 
 *  discouraged,'  or  '  timid  under  afflictions.'  So  2  Cor.  iv.  16 ;  Eph.  iii. 
 13. — Ham.  'A.  Avenge  me  of  mine  adversary,   fKdtKtjTov  ^e  <ino  ruv 
 
 ai'TiAtKov  liov,  '  do  me  justice  on  ray  adversary.' — Citmp.,  as  Whitby, 
 Doddr.,  so  Blonmf.  7.  His  own  elect.  Christians  ciiosen  out  of  the 
 world  to  be  the  church  and  people  of  God. — Whitby.  Though  hr  bear 
 long  with  them?  Kai  fiaKpoevniov  eir'  avroi^ ;  *  he  cxerciseth  patience 
 towards  the  adversaries  of  his  people,  and  doth  not  lake  vengeance  on 
 them  ;  and  he  excrciseth  the  patience  of  his  |)eiii-le,  and  doth  not  plead 
 for  them  :  he  bore  long  with  the  cry  of  the  Egyptians  that  oppressed 
 Israel,  and  with  the  cry  of  the  sorrows  of  those  that  were  oppressed.* 
 
 lii-FLECTioNs  ON  CuAP.   XVII We  are  here  taught  — 
 
 1.  The  duty  of  the  servant  towards  his  inasier.  Scripture  en- 
 forces upon  us  ail  the  relative  duties  with  re.spect  to  each 
 other.  These  are  essential  to  tlie  maintenance  of  good  order 
 iu  society,  and  are,  in  a  cerlain  sense,  important  branches  of 
 religion  itself.  In  this  chapter  we  are,  however,  to  consider 
 ourselves  as  bearing  the  relation  of  servants  to  God  ;  and 
 while  we  are  to  devote  to  him  the  best  of  our  time  and  talents, 
 as  our  circumstances  in  life  will  allow,— for  be  is  no  unreason- 
 able Master,— we  are  to  remember,  that  in  so  doing  we  but 
 perform  our  duty  ,  that  that  duty,  at  best,  is  most  defective, 
 and  that  we  have  nothing  to  claim  from  God  on  the  score  of 
 iiuman  merit.  '  Ye,  when  ye  shall  have  done  all  those  tilings 
 which  are  commanded  you,  say,  We  are  unprofitable  servants ; 
 we  have  done  that  which  v.-as  our  duty  to  do." 
 
 ,11.   The  ditiy  of  those  who  receive  benefits  towards  their  bene- 
 factor.    '  lilcs.s  the  i/jid,  U  my  soul,  and   forget  not  all   his 
 
 benefits  ;  who  healeth  all  our  diseases,  wlio  forgiveth  all  our 
 iniquities  ;  who  redeemeth  our  lives  from  destruction,  anil 
 crowneth  us  with  loving  kindness  and  with  tender  mercies  !' 
 Such  was  the  language  of  the  psalmist — is  it  ours  t  Are  wo 
 the  daily  recipients  of  the  Divine  bounty  and  care,  goodness 
 and  mercy  \  and  do  we  live  witiiout  acknowledging  the  hand 
 that  feeds  us,  the  arm  that  sustains  us,  the  eye  that  watchi-s 
 us  ?  O  base  ingratitude  !  Even  '  the  ox  knoweth  his  owner, 
 and  the  ass  his  master's  crib.'  Tiie  very  brutes  rebuke  those 
 who  never  raise  the  heart,  nor  bend  the  knee  to  God,  in 
 token  of  gratitude  for  personal  mercies  ;  and  the  stones  of  the 
 building  may  witness  against  thousands  who  daily  receive 
 family  mercies,  but  never  once  repair  to  the  family  altar  to 
 praise  the  God  of  their  mercies.  Be  it  remembered,  that  the 
 eye  of  Omniscience  marks  ingratitude.  '  Were  there  not  ten 
 cieanseil  ?  but  where  are  the  nine  '.  There  are  not  found  that 
 returiied  to  f-.ive  glory  to  God,  save  this  siraiiger.* 
 
Of  the  Pharisee  and  the  puhlican. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XVIII. 
 
 Christ  foresheweth,  his  death. 
 
 8  I  tell  you  •^  that  he  v.ill  avenge  them  spee- 
 dily. Nevertheless  when  the  Son  of  man  Com- 
 eth, shall  he  find  faith  on  the  earth  ? 
 
 9  And  he  spake  this  parable  unto  certain 
 "  which  trusted  in  themselves  ||  tliat  they  were 
 righteous,  and  despised  others  : 
 
 10  Two  men  went  up  into  the  temple  to 
 pray  ;  the  one  a  Pharisee,  and  the  other  a 
 publican. 
 
 1 1  The  Pharisee  ''stood  and  prayed  thus  with 
 himself,  '''  God,  I  thaiili  thee,  that  I  am  not  as 
 other  men  are,  extortioners,  unjust,  adulterers, 
 or  even  as  this  publican. 
 
 12  I  fast  twice  in  the  week,  I  give  tithes  of 
 all  that  I  possess. 
 
 13  And  the  publican,  standing  afar  off,  would 
 not  lift  up  so  much  as  his  eyes  unto  heaven, 
 but  smote  upon  his  breast,  saying,  God  be 
 merciful  to  me  a  sinner. 
 
 14  I  tell  you,  tliis  man  went  down  to  his 
 house  justified  rather  than  the  other:  ''for 
 every  one  that  exalteth  himself  shall  be 
 abased  ;  and  he  that  humbleth  himself  shall  be 
 exalted. 
 
 15  '  And  they  brought  unto  him  also  infants, 
 that  he  would  touch  them  :  but  when  his  dis- 
 ciples saw  it,  they  rebuked  them. 
 
 IG  But  Jesus  called  them  unto  him,  and  said, 
 Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  for- 
 bid them  not :  fur  ''  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
 God. 
 
 17  '  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Whosoever  shall 
 not  receive  the  kingdom  of  God  as  a  little 
 child  shall  in  no  wise  enter  therein. 
 
 IS  "'  And  a  certain  ruler  asked  him,  saying, 
 Good  Master,  what  shall  I  do  to  inherit  eternal 
 life  ? 
 
 19  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Why  callest 
 thou  me  good '?  none  is  good,  save  one,  that 
 is,  God. 
 
 20  Thou  knowest  the  commandments,  "Do 
 not  commit  adultery.  Do  not  kill.  Do  not  steal. 
 Do  not  bear  false  witness,  °  Honour  thy  father 
 and  tliy  mother. 
 
 21  And  he  said.  All  these  have  I  kept  from 
 my  youth  up. 
 
 22  Now  when  Jesus  heard  these  things,  he 
 said  unto  him,  Yet  lackest  thou  one  thing  : 
 ''  sell  all  that  thou  hast,  and  distribute  unto  the 
 poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven: 
 and  come,  follow  me. 
 
 23  And  wlieu  he  heard  this,  he  was  very  sor- 
 rowful :  for  he  was  very  rich. 
 
 24  And  when  Jesus  saw  that  he  was  very 
 sorrowful,  he  said,  ''  How  hardly  shall  they 
 that  have  riches  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God! 
 
 d  Hob  10  37. 
 2Pet.3.8,9. 
 
 ch.  10.  29. 
 &  10.  15. 
 H  Or,  1*  lisi'is 
 
 f  Ps.  \X,.  L'. 
 
 ;'  Is.  1.  15. 
 .St  58.  a. 
 K8V.  3.  17. 
 
 ;.  Job  22.  S9, 
 Mat.  23.  12. 
 ch.  14.   n 
 J.iin.  .1.  0. 
 I  Pel,5.f),b. 
 
 k  1  Cor.  14. 
 20.  1  Pet. 2 
 
 ri  Mat  10. 
 16.  Maik 
 10,  17. 
 
 ;  Ex.20.  12, 
 
 16,  Deu.  5. 
 
 16— 'Jo 
 
 Rom.  13.  9. 
 J  Eph.  6.  2. 
 
 Col.  S.  20. 
 
 p  Mat. 6.  Ifl, 
 20.ft  19.21. 
 I  Tim. 0.19, 
 
 }Pro.  11.28 
 
 ftlal    li'.yO. 
 ell.  1.  37. 
 Mill.  10.27. 
 
 I-  ni.at.  10. 
 21. fc  17.22. 
 «(  20.  17. 
 ftI.-u-klo.32. 
 I  I's.  22.  Is. 
 
 .  Mai  k  9  32. 
 rh.2.  50. 
 (t  y.  45. 
 .foliii  10.  6. 
 «:  12.  16. 
 
 I,  Mat. 20  20. 
 Mark  10.40, 
 
 -ich.  5.  26. 
 Acts  4.  21. 
 &  II.  18. 
 
 25  For  it  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through 
 a  needle's  eye,  than  for  a  rich  man  to  enter 
 into  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 2G  And  they  that  heard  it  said.  Who  then 
 can  be  saved  f 
 
 27  And  he  said,  '  The  things  which  are  im- 
 possible with  men  are  possible  with  God. 
 
 28  '  Then  Peter  said,  Lo,  we  have  left  all, 
 and  followed  thee. 
 
 29  And  he  said  unto  them.  Verily  I  say  unto 
 you,  '  There  is  no  man  that  hatli  left  house,  or 
 parents,  or  brethren,  or  wife,  or  -jhildren,  for 
 the  kingdom  of  God's  sake, 
 
 30  "  Who  shall  not  receive  manifold  more  in 
 this  present  time,  and  in  the  world  to  come 
 life  everlasting. 
 
 31  t  "  Then  he  took  tinto  him  tlie  twelve, 
 and  .said  unto  them.  Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jeru- 
 salem, and  all  tilings  ^  tliat  are  written  by  the 
 prophets  concerning  the  Son  of  man  shall  be 
 accomplished. 
 
 32  For  ^  he  shall  be  delivered  unto  the  Gen- 
 tiles, and  shall  be  mocked,  and  spitefully  en- 
 treated, and  spitted  on  : 
 
 33  And  they  shall  scourge  him,  and  put  him 
 to  death  :  and  the  third  day  he  shall  rise  again. 
 
 34  °  And  they  understood  none  of  these 
 things :  and  this  saying  was  hid  from  them, 
 neither  knew  they  the  things  which  were 
 spoken. 
 
 3.5  t ''  And  it  came  to  pas.s,  tliat  as  he  was 
 come  uigh  unto  Jericho,  a  certain  blind  man 
 sat  by  the  way  side  begging  : 
 
 36  And  hearing  the  multitude  pass  by,  he 
 asked  what  it  meant. 
 
 37  And  they  told  him,  tliat  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
 passeth  by. 
 
 38  And  he  cried,  saying,  Jesus,  thou  son  of 
 David,  have  mercy  on  nic. 
 
 39  And  they  which  went  before  rebuked  him, 
 that  he  should  hold  his  peace  :  but  he  cried 
 so  much  the  more.  Thou  son  of  David,  have 
 mercy  on  me. 
 
 40  And  Jesus  stood,  and  commanded  him  to 
 be  brought  unto  him  :  and  when  he  was  come 
 near,  he  asked  him, 
 
 41  Saying,  What  wilt  thou  that  I  shall  do 
 unto  thee  ?  And  he  said.  Lord,  that  I  may 
 receive  my  sight. 
 
 42  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Receive  thy 
 sight  :  '  thy  faith  hath  saved  thee. 
 
 43  And  immediately  he  received  his  sight, 
 and  followed  him,  "^  glorifying  God  :  and  all 
 the  people,  when  they  saw  it,  gave  praise  unto 
 God. 
 
 — Hen.  '  Will  he  linger  in  tlieir  cause  ?' — Camp.  '  And  is  long-suffer- 
 ing towards  them.'— Gill.  'And  he  is  compassionate  towards  thkm.' 
 —.i.  Clarke.  8.  Speedili/,  cv  raxei,  '  suddenly.'— il/«t'A-rt.  It  is  plain 
 God  might  wait  long,  and  yet  at  length  execute  a  speedy  and  sudden 
 vengeance,  (comp.  Ps.  Ixxiii.  19;  Hab.  ii.  3.)—Do(idt:  S/ia/l  he  find 
 faith  on  the  eurth?  upa  e'vptya^t  tijv  -nturtv  errt  td?  711?;  'will  lie  find 
 this  belief  in  the  land  V—Markl.,  Camp.  'Shall  he  find  a  belief  that 
 he  will  come  and  execute  vengeance  on  the  Jews  ?' — Whitbii.  *  How 
 few  will  be  find  who  by  faith  and  patience  persevere  in  well-doing.'— 
 S.  Clm-ke ;  i.e.,  'shall  he  find  faithful  persons  who  will  cndurL  the 
 trials  that  will  then  be  experienced  ?' — Boothr.  They  had  no  faith  in 
 the  many  warnings  which  our  Lurd  gave  them. — Wil.  10.  To  pray ^ 
 i.  e.,  to  worship  God  at  the  huur  of  prayer. — Clarke.  A  Phnriseesee 
 Matt.  iii.  7,  note.  11.  Stood,  ^c. — the  Jews  used  to  pray  standing, 
 
 (see  Matt.  vi.  5,  note.)  Stu^cis  n-poc  favrov  ravra  irpoai^'xcTo,  '  Stand- 
 ing hv  himself,  prayed  thus.' — Camp.;  so  Doddr.,  and  Buothr.  This 
 was  charactcristical  of  the  sect,  who  always  affected  to  dread  pollution 
 from  the  touch  of  those  whom  they  considered  as  their  inferiors  in 
 ■piety.— Camp.  12.  1  fast  twice— the  Jews  fasted  on  the  second  and 
 fifth  days  of  the  week,  answering  to  our  Monday  and  Thursday.— ii/^ 
 Pearce.        13.  Smote,  )^-c.,  a  token  of  excessive  grief,  commoniy  prac 
 
 tised  in  all  nations.  Be  viercifnl  to  vifi,  \\aa$mi  fxoi,  'be  propitious 
 toward  me  through  sacrifice,  or  let  an  atonement  be  made  for  me  :  I 
 am  a  sinner,  and  cannot  be  saved  hut  in  this  way,'  (see  the  use  of  the 
 word  in  the  Sept.,  Ps.  Ixv.  4;  Ixxviii.  38;  Ixxix.  g.)  —  A.  Clarke. 
 I -l.  Jtistijied,  accounted  &s>  a  righteous  person  in  the  sight  of  God.— 
 Gill.  This  supposes  the  publican's  repentance  to  be  a  true  conversion, 
 and  not  mere  conviction  and  confessing  in  fear. — R.  Baxter.  \6.  Little 
 children,  in  the  literal  strictest  sense ;  and  hence  we  learn  that  these 
 form  a  part  of  Christ's  kingdom.— Soo^Ar.  See  Matt.  six.  13,  note. 
 20.  Thou  knowest  the  commandments  —  see  Matt.  xix.  17,  notes. 
 2'2.  Sell — see  Matt.  xix.  21,  note.  In  the  infancy  of  the  church,  an 
 equal  distribution  of  property  among  Christ's  disciples  was  necessary, 
 to  meet  existing  exigencies,  (comp.  Acts,  iv.  34  —  37.)  —  Hewlett. 
 25.  Easier  for  a  ca77iel—see  Matt.  xix.  24,  note.  28.  Left  all— see 
 
 Matt.  xix.  27.  note.  31.  Written,  ^c.,  particularly  Ps.  ii.  I,  2  ;  xxii. 
 (3—8;  Iba.  I.  6;  Mic.  v.  1  ;  Isa.  Ini.  5,  6,  12;  Ps.  xxii.  1.5,  and  svi.  10  ; 
 Hds.  vi.  2. — Gill.  34.  Understood  none,  cnuld  not  reconcile  them 
 with  their  ideas  of  a  temporal  kingdom. —  Whithy.  35.  A  certain 
 
 blind  man — Matt.  xx.  30,  speaks  of  two,  and  Mark  tells  ns  one  was 
 called  Bartimjcos.  The  most  noted  beggar  is  here  only  mentioned.^ 
 Guyse.        3D.  Son  of  David— ^cq  Malt.  xx.  30,  note. 
 
Of  Zacchaus  the  publican. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XIX. 
 
 The  ten  pieces  of  money. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 1  Of  ZacchtEus  a  publican,  11  The  ten  jmcts  of  money . 
 28  Christ  ridtth  into  Jtriisaltm  with  triumph:  41 
 weepeth  over  it :  45  driveth  the  Imi/ers  and  sellers  out 
 of  the  tt-mple  :  Al  tmchiny  daily  in  it.  The  rulers 
 would  have  destroyed  hini^  but  for  fear  of  the  people. 
 
 A  ND  Jesus  entered  and  passed  through 
 ■^*-  Jericho. 
 
 2  And,  behold,  there  tvas  a  man  named  Zac- 
 chseus,  which  was  the  chief  among  tlie  publi- 
 cans, and  he  was  rich. 
 
 3  And  he  sou};lit  to  see  Jesus  who  he  was  ; 
 and  could  not  for  the  press,  because  he  was 
 little  of  stature. 
 
 4  And  he  ran  before,  and  climbed  up  into  a 
 sycomore  tree  to  see  him  :  for  he  was  to  pass 
 that  way. 
 
 5  And  when  Jesus  came  to  the  place,  he 
 looked  up,  and  saw  him,  and  said  unto  him, 
 Zacchsus,  maiie  haste,  and  come  down  ;  for  to 
 day  I  mus't  abide  at  thy  house. 
 
 6  And  he  made  haste,  and  came  down,  and 
 received  him  joyfully. 
 
 7  And  when  they  saw  it,  they  all  murmured, 
 saying,  °  That  he  was  gone  to  be  guest  with  a 
 man  that  is  a  sinner. 
 
 8  And  Zaccha;us  stood,  and  said  unto  the 
 Lord  ;  Behold,  Lord,  tlie  half  of  my  goods  I 
 give  to  the  poor ;  and  if  I  have  taken  any 
 thing  from  any  man  by  '■  false  accusation,  ^'  I 
 restore  him  fourfold. 
 
 9  And  Jesus  said  uuto  him.  This  day  is  sal- 
 vation come  to  this  house,  forasmuch  as  ''he 
 also  is  "a  son  of  Abraham. 
 
 10  '  For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  seek  and 
 to  save  that  which  was  lost. 
 
 1 1  And  as  they  heard  these  things,  he  added 
 and  spake  a  parable,  because  he  was  nigh  to 
 Jerusalem,  and  because  *  they  thouglit  that 
 the  kingdom  of  God  should  immediately  ap- 
 pear. 
 
 I  Mat.D.n. 
 
 cii.  a.  30. 
 
 /.  rh.  .•».  14. 
 c  Kx.  is.  I. 
 
 1  Sam  l?.S. 
 
 2Sam. 1-2.6. 
 
 ifKom.l  11, 
 
 IL^  lb.  Gal. 
 
 a   1. 
 
 cl».  n.  16. 
 /SlKt   18,  II. 
 
 SeeMnt.lit. 
 
 6.  St  16.  vi. 
 
 H  Acts  1.6. 
 
 II  Mitia  here 
 translated 
 a  pound,  is 
 twelve 
 ouncpR  and 
 ..>n  hair: 
 which  ac 
 cnrdinn  tu 
 five  shil- 
 lini^  the 
 I'iince  is 
 three 
 
 pniiitdstwo 
 sh.lliiisrs 
 and  six- 
 pence. 
 
 i  John  1 .  1 1 . 
 
 t  Or    .»,;,. 
 and  so  ver 
 
 k  Mat-^S  21 
 cli.  16    lU. 
 
 t  Mat.  35.24. 
 
 m  ?S»m.  I, 
 Ifi.  Job  1.1. 
 6.  Alat.  \t. 
 37. 
 
 1  mat.2.^.26. 
 
 12  ^  He  said  therefore,  A  certain  nobleman 
 went  into  a  tar  country  to  receive  for  himself  a 
 kingdom,  and  to  retnni. 
 
 13  And  he  called  his  ten  servants,  and  de- 
 livered them  ten  ||  pounds,  and  said  unto  them, 
 Occupy  till  I  come. 
 
 14  '  But  his  citizens  hated  him,  and  sent  a 
 message  after  him,  saying,  We  will  not  have 
 this  man  to  reign  over  us. 
 
 15  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  he  was 
 returned,  having  received  the  kingdom,  then 
 he  commanded  these  servants  to  be  called 
 unto  him,  to  whom  he  had  given  the  f  money, 
 that  he  might  know  how  much  every  man  hud 
 gained  by  trading. 
 
 16  Then  came  the  first,  saying,  Lord,  thy 
 pound  hath  gained  ten  pounds. 
 
 17  And  fie  said  unto  him.  Well,  thou  good 
 servant  :  because  thou  hast  been  ''faithful  in  a 
 very  little,  have  thou  authority  over  ten  cities. 
 
 18  And  the  second  came,  saying.  Lord,  thy 
 pound  hatli  gained  five  pounds. 
 
 19  And  he  said  likewise  to  him.  Be  thou  also 
 over  five  cities. 
 
 20  And  another  came,  saying,  Lord,  behold, 
 here  is  thy  pound,  which  I  iiave  kept  laid  up 
 in  a  napkin  : 
 
 21  '  For  I  feared  thee,  because  thou  art  an 
 austere  man  :  thou  takestup  tliat  thou  layedst 
 not  down,  and  reapest  that  thou  didst  not  sow. 
 
 22  And  he  saith  unto  him,  '"  Out  uf  thine 
 own  month  will  I  judge  thee,  thou  wicked  ser- 
 vant. "  Thou  knevvest  that  1  was  an  austere 
 man,  taking  up  tliat  I  laid  not  down,  and  reap- 
 ing that  I  did  not  sow  : 
 
 23  Wherefore  then  gavest  not  thou  my  money 
 into  the  bank,  that  at  my  coming  I  might  have 
 required  mine  own  with  usury  y 
 
 24  And  he  said  unto  them  that  stood  by. 
 Take  from  liim  the  pound,  and  give  it  to  him 
 that  hath  ten  pounds. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.  —  2.  Chief  amojt^  the  publicans,  one  of  the  principal 
 tax -gatherers,  or  head  collector. — Buns.  4.  Climbed  up,  ^c. — this 
 mo'le  of  viewing  an  object,  i.e.,  from  a  tree,  seems  to  have  been  not 
 imficqneut,  insomuch  that  it  tjave  ri^e  to  a  proverbial  expression. — 
 Btnnmf.  Si/c'imore — this  curious  tree  pjirtakes  of  the  natures  of  the 
 mulberry  and  the  fij;,  having  a  leaf  4if  the  former,  and  fruit  like  tlie 
 latier.  It  was  very  common  in  Palestine.— C«/.  5.  /  must  abide  nt 
 thy  house — this  would  not  surprise  Zacchxus,  for  hospitality  in  the 
 east  is  a  sacred  rite,  there  biinj::  no  places  for  puhlic  entertainment. 
 The  stranger,  on  passing  thrcmtch  a  villHge.  and  seeing  a  respectable 
 Imuse,  finds  out  tlie  master,  puts  out  his  hand,  and  merely  says,  '  a  pil- 
 Ktim,*  or  '  traveller.'  He  is  then  asked  to  be  seated,  and,  after  a  few 
 questions  about  liis  journey,  his  wants  are  supplied. — Roh.  8.  'I'he 
 h'llfof  mif  goods — some  of  the  publicans  were  very  rich,  and  enjoyed 
 the  honour  of  being  Roman  knights. — So  Jos.  I  fjive,  i.  e.,  purp<jse  lo 
 give. — Elsley.  Bp  false  accusation,  may  probably  signify  any  kind  of 
 oppression,  especially  under  the  pretence  of  law.  /  restore  him  four, 
 fold — this  was  the  utmost  that  the  Jewish  law  required,  even  in  cases 
 of  fraudulent  concealment  and  conviction,  unless  where  an  ox  had 
 been  killed  or  sold,  and  so  the  labour  lost  to  the  owner,  and  the  reco- 
 very rendered  more  difficult. — Doddr.  9.  Salvation,  Christ  himself, 
 its  author,  (Isa.  xlix.  R -,  Luke,  ii.  29,  30;)  or,  as  is  most  usual,  the 
 blessings  of  salvation,  fActs.  iv.  1-2,  and  xxviii.  2S.)  A  son  of  Abraham, 
 may  mean  both  by  birth  and  by  faith. — Gui/se.  1 J .  Spake  a  parable — 
 this  parable  is  very  similar  to  tbnt  of  the  talents,  (Matt  xxv.  14— so.) 
 but  will  be  found  differing  in  several  interesting  particulars.  12.  A 
 certain  nobleman,  avtfpaTo^  tic  tvytvtit,  '  a  certain  man  of  high  birth.* 
 
 — H'tm.  To  receive  for  himself  a  kingdom,  probably  in  allusion  to  the 
 kings  of  Jndea.  who  used  to  go  to  Rome  to  receive  the  investiture  of 
 their  kingdom  from  the  Roman  emperors,  and  then  returned  to  Jndea 
 in  the  full  glory  of  their  character.— Gi'^^''.  Herod  the  Great  went  the 
 long  journey  to  Rome  to  obtain  the  kingdom  of  Jndea  from  Anthony, 
 in  which  he  succeeded  ;  and,  having  received  the  kingdom,  he  after- 
 wards travelled  from  Judea  to  Rhodes,  in  order  to  obtain  a  confirma- 
 tion of  it  from  C?esar,  in  which  he  was  equally  successful.  Archelaus, 
 the  son  and  successor  of  Herod,  did  the  same  ;  and  to  him  our  Lord 
 most  probably  alluded.— T.  H.  Hoi-ne.  Most  of  the  kings  of  the  east 
 were  at  that  time  vassals  to  the  Romans. — Scott.  13.  Ten  pounds, 
 rt£(ta  ^ivar,  'ten  minae.'  The  mina  was  equal  to  sixty  shekels.  Va- 
 luing the  shekel,  therefore,  at  half-a-crown,  the  ten  mina:  would 
 amount  to  75/.  of  our  money. — Hnw.  'Tt-n  is  here  only  used  for 
 '  many,'  and  therefore  must  not  be  attended  to  in  application.  It 
 merely  denotes  the  great  number  of  gifts  and  graces  vouchsafed  to 
 some  Christians.  Occupy  till  I  come,  irpn-yfxarevaaaOe  ttot  tpxop.ai, 
 i.  e.,  '  do  business  with  it,'  *  trade  with  it.' — Bl»tnnf.  *  Be  busy,'  so  the 
 word  properly  signifies. — Hen.  14.  Sent  a  vies.^n^e  after  him,  fyc. — 
 our  Lord  manifestly  alludes  to  the  case  of  Archelaus,  who  went  to 
 Rome  to  solicit  the  emperor  that  he  might  be  reinstated  in  his  father's 
 kingdom  ;  and  the  Jews  sent  an  embassage  after  him  to  petition  and 
 plead  against  him.  However,  he  was  confirmed  in  the  kingdom  of 
 Jndea  for  a  short  time,  and  on  his  return  he  took  ample  vengeance  of 
 bis  enemies  and  opposers,  (Jos.  Antiq.  xvii.  13.) — Bp.  Newton,  Le  Clerc. 
 23.  With  usury,  anv  tokw,  '  with  its  produce,'  i.  e.,  what  the  loan  of  the 
 money  is  fairly  worth,  after  paying  the  person  sufiicientty  for  using  it. 
 
 RpFLErTiONs  ON  Chap.  XVIIL — We  here  see,  I.  The 
 efftcacif  ofprai/tr  -se/  before  7is  in  the  pamhle  of  the  unjust  jjtti'ie. 
 If  sucu  an  one  would  be  wearied  out  witli  the  importuiiaie  cry 
 ot  a  poor  widow,  with  bow  much  more  certainty  may  we  de- 
 pend on  the  success  ot"  our  earnest  supplications  in  times  of 
 need  for  the  blessing  and  aid  of  Him 
 
 *  Whose  heart  is  made  of  tenderness. 
 Whose  bowels  melt  with  love.' 
 
 IL    The  folly  of  self'Tighieonsness  set  before  lis  in  the  parable  of 
 the  Pharhee  and  publican.  The  Pharisee  was  neithernepligent 
 in  duty  nor  cliarity  ;  be  praved,  and  he  gave  alms.     But  he 
 1094 
 
 ihoufilit  highly  of  himself.  He  relied  upon  his  negative  and 
 positive  virtues  ;  he  had  done  harm  to  no  one,  and  he  attended 
 to  the  regular  times  of  worshipping  God.  Alas!  how  many 
 rest  their  hopes  upon  the  very  foundation  here  denounced  ; 
 and  while  priding  themselves  on  a  comparison  with  others 
 worse  than  themselves,  feel  no  need  of  a  Saviour,  and  never 
 approach  him  as  humble  supplicants  for  mercy.  Publicans 
 and  harlots  shall  enter  into  heaven  before  these.  Tiie  poor 
 publican,  conscious  of  guilt,  humbled  before  God,  smiting  on 
 his  breast,  and  scarcely  able  to  lift  up  his  eyes  to  heaven, 
 receives  mercy,  while  this  Pharisee  is  rejected.  '  The  whola 
 need  not  a  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick.' 
 
Christ  cntercth  into  Jerusalem. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XX. 
 
 He  avwiclieth  his  milhority. 
 
 25  (And  they  said  imto  him,  Lord,  he  hath 
 ten  pounds.) 
 
 '26  Fur  I  say  unto  you,  °  That  unto  every 
 one  which  hath  shall  he  given  ;  and  from  him 
 that  hath  not,  even  that  he  hath  shall  be  taken 
 away  from  him. 
 
 27  I5ut  those  mine  enemies,  which  would  not 
 that  I  should  reign  over  them,  bring  hither,  and 
 slay  them  before  me. 
 
 28  H  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  'he 
 went  before,  ascending  up  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 '29  ''  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  he  was  come 
 nigh  to  Bethphage  and  Bethany,  at  the  mount 
 called  the  mount  of  Olives,  he  sent  two  of  his 
 disciples, 
 
 30  Saying,  Go  ye  into  the  village  over  against 
 ilou ;  in  the  which  at  your  entering  ye  shall 
 find  a  colt  tied,  whereon  yet  never  man  sat  : 
 loose  him,  and  bring  him  hither. 
 
 31  And  if  any  man  ask  you,  Why  do  ye 
 loose  him  f  thus  shall  ye  say  unto  him,  Be- 
 cause the  Lord  hath  need  of  him. 
 
 .3'2  And  they  that  were  sent  went  their  way, 
 and  found  even  as  he  had  said  unto  them. 
 
 33  And  as  they  were  loosing  the  colt,  the 
 owners  thereof  said  unto  them.  Why  loose  ye 
 the  colts' 
 
 34  And  they  said.  The  Lord  hath  need  of 
 liim. 
 
 35  And  they  brought  him  to  Jesus  :  '  and 
 they  cast  their  garments  upon  the  colt,  and 
 they  set  Jesus  thereon. 
 
 36  *  And  as  he  went,  they  spread  their  clothes 
 in  the  way. 
 
 37  And  when  he  was  come  nigh,  even  now 
 at  the  descent  of  the  mount  of  Olives,  the 
 whole  mnltitude  of  tlie  disciples  began  to  re- 
 joice and  praise  God  with  a  loud  voice  for  all 
 tlie  mighty  works  that  they  had  seen  ; 
 
 38  Saying,  '  Blessed  be  the  King  that  cometh 
 in  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  "  peace  in  heaven, 
 and  glory  in  the  highest. 
 
 39  And  some  of  the  Pharisees  from  among 
 the  multitude  said  unto  him.  Master,  rebuke 
 thy  disciples. 
 
 40  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them,  I 
 tell  you  that,  if  these  should  hold  their  peace, 
 "  the  stones  would  immediately  cry  out. 
 
 41  IF  And  when  he  was  come  near,  he  beheld 
 the  city,  and  ^  wept  over  it, 
 
 4'2.  Saying,  If  thou  hadst  known,  even  thou, 
 at  least  in  this  thy  day,  the  things  which  be- 
 long unto  thy  peace !   but  now  they  are  hid 
 
 I  Slat.  IS.12, 
 8i  115.  29. 
 Mark*.  25. 
 ch.  8    18. 
 
 q  Mar.  21   1. 
 >tark  II.  I. 
 
 3  Kin  9.13. 
 ^tat.  21.7. 
 Mark  n.7. 
 .I..hnl2.14. 
 
 :\Iat.  21.8. 
 
 1/  .I.'hn  1 1 . 
 
 :  Is.  29  .I,!. 
 Jer,  6.  S,  C. 
 cli.  21.  20. 
 
 n  I  I\in,  'J.  7. 
 
 S    MicS.l2 
 4  M.it   21.  2 
 
 Maik  13-2. 
 
 cl.    21.  6. 
 c!),iii.  9  21. 
 
 ch   I.GS,;rf. 
 
 I  Pet.  2.  12 
 
 dMit  21.12 
 Markll  II. 
 15  Joliii  2. 
 11,  15. 
 
 e  Is.  56.  7. 
 /J«r.  7.  11. 
 
 S  Mark  11 
 IH.  .I..lni7. 
 19.  &  8.  37. 
 
 Acts  9.  U. 
 
 from  thine  eyes. 
 
 43  For  the  days  shall  come  upon  thee,  that 
 thine  enemies  shall  '•  cast  a  trench  about  thee, 
 and  compass  thee  round,  and  keep  thee  in  on 
 every  side, 
 
 44  And  "  shall  lay  thee  even  with  the  ground, 
 and  thy  children  withhi  thee;  and  '' they  shall 
 not  leave  in  thee  one  stone  upon  another ; 
 '  because  thou  knewest  not  the  time  of  thy 
 visitation. 
 
 45  ''  And  he  went  into  the  temple,  and  began 
 to  cast  out  them  that  sold  therein,  and  them 
 that  bought  ; 
 
 46  Saying  unto  them,  '^  It  is  wiitten,  My 
 house  is  llie  house  of  prayer  :  but  ''  ye  have 
 made  it  a  den  of  thieves. 
 
 47  And  he  taught  daily  in  the  temple.  But 
 ^  the  chief  priests  and  the  scribes  and  the  chief 
 of  the  people  sought  to  destroy  him, 
 
 48  And  could  not  find  what  they  might  do : 
 for  all  the  people  ||  were  very  attentive  to  hear 
 him. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  Christ  avoucheth  tits  a-uthoritif  by  a  (juestion  ofjolin^s 
 baptism.  9  Tfie  parable  of  flic  vineyard.  19  Of 
 ffiving  tribute  to  CiESar.  27  He  conviiicetti  t/te  Sad- 
 ducees  ttiat  denied  t/te  rt'Sitrrcctiun.  41  How  Clirist 
 is  tlie  Soil  of  David.  45  He  warnctii  ttis  discipbs  to 
 beware  of  tlie  scribes. 
 
 \  ND  "  it  came  to  pass,  that  on  one  of  those 
 -^  days,  as  he  taught  the  people  in  the 
 temple,  and  preached  the  gospel,  the  chief 
 priests  and  the  scribes  came  upon  him  with 
 the  elders, 
 
 •2  And  spake  unto  him,  saying,  Tell  us,  ^  by 
 what  authority  doest  thou  these  things  ?  or 
 who  is  he  that  gave  thee  this  authority? 
 
 3  And  he  answered  and  said  unto  them,  I 
 will  also  ask  you  one  thing  ;  and  answer  me  : 
 
 4  The  baptism  of  John,  was  it  from  heaven, 
 or  of  men  ? 
 
 5  And  they  reasoned  with  themselves,  saying. 
 If  we  shall  say.  From  heaven  ;  he  will  say, 
 Why  then  believed  ye  him  not  ? 
 
 G  But  and  if  we  say,  Of  men  ;  all  the  people 
 will  stone  us  :  '  for  they  be  persuaded  that 
 John  was  a  prophet. 
 
 7  And  they  answered,  that  they  could  not 
 tell  whence  it  was. 
 
 8  And  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Neither  tell  I 
 you  by  what  authority  I  do  these  tilings. 
 
 9  Then  began  he  to  speak  to  the  people  thi.s 
 
 —.4.  Clarke.  29.  Belliidwgf—see  Matt.  xxi.  1,  note.  Brlhani/SQe 
 Matt.  xxi.  17,  note.  31.  The  Lord,  ^c— see  Matt.  xxi.  3,  ntite. 
 .^6.  Spread  Uieir  clothes,  ^c. — see  Matt.  xxi.  8,  note.  42.  Hid  from 
 tliine  eyes,  by  their  own  wilful  bliutJness  anti  prejudices. — Grot.  They 
 were  given  up  to  a  judicial  blindness  and  hardness  of  heart.— (;)//. 
 43.  Sttall  cost  a  trencli  obout  tliee — when  Titus  attacked  Jerusalem,  the 
 Jews  defended  themselves  so  obstinately  that  he  found  thtre  was  no 
 way  to  gain  liis  purpose  but  to  compass  the  city  round  with  a  trench 
 
 and  mound.  By  this  means  lie  kept  the  besieged  in  on  every  side,  cut 
 uft"  from  them  all  hope  of  safety  by  flight,  and  consumed  them  by  fa- 
 mine.— .Jos.  Bella,  vi.  13.  44.  Not  leore  in  thee  one  stone,  ^c— sto 
 Matt.  xxiv.  2.  note.  Tfie  time  of  thy  visitation,  the  time  when  Gnd 
 had  visited  and  redeemed  his  people  by  sending  the  promised  Messiah, 
 (Luke,  i.  68.)— B;;.  Mann.  46.  A  den  of  thieves— SGQ  Matt.  xxi.  1."*, 
 note. 
 Chap.  XX.  —  1.  ^ntf  it  came  ^optwi— see  Matt.  xxi.  23,  &c.,  notes. 
 
 Refi.fcticins  (IN  CiiAP.  XIX.  — In  this  chapter  we  may 
 notice— I.  Tlie  conversion  ofZaccltceus;  on  which  we  may  adopt 
 the  remark  of  Henry  :  '  Christ  came  into  this  world  to  seek 
 and  save  it.  His  design  was  to  save  when  there  was  not  sal- 
 vation in  any  other;  anti  in  prosecution  of  that  design  he 
 sought,  took  all  probable  means  to  effect  that  salvation.  He 
 seeks  those  that  were  not  worth  seeking  to  ;  he  seeks  to  those 
 that  sought  him  not,  and  asked  not  for  him,  as  to  Zacclia-us 
 here.' 
 
 II.  77ie  parable  of  the  ten  pounds.  '  It  is  observable,'  says 
 Williams,  '  that  the  misconduct  in  this  case  (as  in  Matt.  xxv. 
 25)  arose  from  erroneous  notions  of  the  Divine  cliarac'tr  ; 
 1095 
 
 supposing  that,  as  God  is  the  author  of  all  our  Rraces,  and  all 
 our  mercies  come  from  him,  no  duty  remains  with  us,  either 
 to  exercise  the  one  or  improve  the  other.  Whatever  notion 
 reduces  human  nature  to  mere  machinery,  is  alike  injurious 
 to  the  Divine  character,  and  hostile  to  practical  religion.' 
 
 III.  Christ  weeping  over  Jrrusahm.  See  here  the  feeling  of 
 Christ  for  the  impenitent  Jews,  and  bow  should  we  feel  for  a 
 lost  world  !  Do  we  see  tbe  myriads  around  us  insensible  as 
 Jerusalem,  while  the  most  awful  destruction  awaits  every  im- 
 penitent sinner,  and  do  we  never  drop  a  tear  over  these  mi- 
 serable creatures  ?  Oh,  how  great  is  our  insensibility  !  Let 
 us  think  of  '  the  Redeemer's  tears,  wept  over  lost  souls.' 
 
Of  giving  tribute  to  Ctesar. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XX. 
 
 Christ  convinrclh  the  Sndducecs. 
 
 parable  ;  ''  A  certain  man  planted  a  vineyard, 
 and  let  it  forth  to  Inisbandmen,  and  went  into 
 a  far  conntry  for  a  long  time. 
 
 10  And  at  the  season  he  sent  a  servant  to 
 tlie  husbandmen,  that  they  should  give  him  of 
 the  fruit  of  the  vineyard  :  but  the  husbandmen 
 beat  him,  and  sent  him  away  empty. 
 
 11  And  again  he  sent  another  servant:  and 
 they  beat  him  also,  and  entreated  him  shame- 
 fully, and  sent  him  away  empty. 
 
 1'2  And  again  he  sent  a  third:  and  they 
 wounded  him  also,  and  cast  him  out. 
 
 13  Then  said  the  lord  of  the  vineyard.  What 
 shall  I  do?  I  will  send  my  beloved  son  :  it 
 may  be  they  will  reverence  him  when  they  see 
 him. 
 
 14  But  wlien  llie  husbandmen  saw  him,  they 
 reasoned  among  themselves,  saying.  This  is 
 the  heir:  come,  let  us  kill  him,  that  the  inhe- 
 ritance may  be  our's. 
 
 15  So  they  ca'it  liini  out  of  the  vineyard,  and 
 killed  him.  Wliat  therefore  shall  the  lord  of 
 the  vineyard  do  nnto  them? 
 
 10  He  shall  come  and  destroy  these  husband- 
 men, and  shall  give  the  vineyard  to  others. 
 And  when  they  heard  it,  they  said,  God  forbid. 
 
 17  Anil  he  beheld  them,  and  said.  What  is 
 this  then  that  is  written,  °  Tlie  stone  which  the 
 builders  rejected,  the  same  is  become  the  head 
 of  the  corner? 
 
 18  Whosoever  shall  fall  upon  that  stone  shall 
 be  broken  ;  but  'on  whomsoever  it  shall  fall, 
 it  will  grind  him  to  powder. 
 
 19  K  And  the  chief  priests  and  the  scribes 
 the  same  hour  souglit  to  lay  hands  on  him  ; 
 and  they  feared  tlie  people  :  for  they  perceived 
 that  he  had  spoken  this  parable  against  them. 
 
 20  "  And  they  v.-atched  him,  and  sent  forth 
 spie^j  which  sliovdd  feign  themselves  just  men, 
 that  tliey  miglit  take  hold  of  his  words,  that  so 
 they  might  deliver  him  unto  the  power  and  au- 
 thority of  the  governor. 
 
 21  And  they  asked  him,  saying,  *■  Master,  we 
 know  that  thou  sayost  and  teachest  rightly, 
 neither  acceptcst  thou  the  person  of  any,  but 
 teachest  the  way  of  God  ||  truly  : 
 
 2'2  Is  it  lawful  for  us  to  give  tribute  unto 
 Cassar,  or  no? 
 
 23  But  ho  perceived,  their  craftiness,  and  said 
 nnto  them.  Why  tempt  ye  me  ? 
 
 24  Shew  me  a  ||  penny.  Whose  image  and 
 superscription  hath  it?  They  answered  and 
 said,  C:Esar"s. 
 
 25  And  he  said  unto  thcni.  Render  therefore 
 unto  Cajsar  the  things  wliich  be  Caesar's,  and 
 unto  God  the  tilings  which  be  God's. 
 
 26  And  they  conld  not  take  hold  of  his  words 
 before  the  people :  and  they  marvelled  at  his 
 
 Mark  12. 
 
 ^nan.  2.ni, 
 S-i.   Mat.Sl, 
 
 l|n,-.o/» 
 
 A.  rt.  33. 
 
 Markl2.IS 
 k  Act3  2:1. 
 6.  8. 
 
 /  Deut25.ri 
 
 n  I  Cnr.  1.^. 
 42.  1!',  52. 
 
 ■  p».  no  1. 
 
 Acta  2.  3-t. 
 
 ( Mat.  23.  S. 
 ..  i-h.  II.  13 
 
 answer,  and  held  their  peace. 
 
 27  H '  Then  came  to  him  certain  of  the  S.ul- 
 ducees,  ''  which  deny  that  there  is  any  resurrec- 
 tion ;  and  they  asked  him, 
 
 28  Saying,  Master,  '  Moses  wrote  nnto  us.  If 
 any  man's  brother  die,  having  a  wife,  and  he 
 die  without  children,  that  his  brother  should 
 take  his  wife,  and  raise  up  seed  nnto  his 
 brother. 
 
 29  There  were  therefore  seven  brethren  :  ami 
 the  first  took  a  wife,  and  died  without  children. 
 
 30  And  the  second  took  her  to  wife,  and  he 
 died  childless. 
 
 31  And  the  third  took  her  ;  and  in  like  man- 
 ner the  seven  also:  and  they  left  no  children, 
 and  died. 
 
 32  Last  of  all  the  woman  died  also. 
 
 33  Therefore  in  the  resurrection  whose  wife 
 of  them  is  she  ?  for  seven  had  her  to  wife. 
 
 34  And  Jesus  answering  said  nnto  them.  The 
 children  of  this  world  marry,  and  are  given  in 
 marriage  : 
 
 35  But  they  which  shall  be  accounted  worthy 
 to  obtain  that  world,  and  the  resurrection  from 
 the  dead,  neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in  mar- 
 riage : 
 
 30  Neither  can  they  die  any  more  :  for  "'  they 
 are  equal  unto  the  angels  ;  and  are  the  chil- 
 dren of  God,  "  being  the  children  of  the  resur- 
 rection. 
 
 37  Now  that  the  dead  are  raised,  °  even 
 Moses  shewed  at  the  bush,  when  he  calletli 
 the  Lord  tlie  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God 
 of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob. 
 
 38  For  he  is  not  a  God  of  the  dead,  hut  of 
 the  living:  for  ''all  live  unto  him. 
 
 39  IT  Then  certain  of  tlie  scribes  answering 
 said.  Master,  thou  hast  well  said. 
 
 40  And  after  that  they  durst  not  ask  him  any 
 question  at  all. 
 
 41  And  he  said  unto  them,  ''  How  say  they 
 that  Clirist  is  David's  son  ? 
 
 42  And  David  himself  saith  in  the  book  of 
 Psalms,  '  The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit 
 thou  on  my  right  hand, 
 
 43  Till  I  make  thine  enemies  thy  footstool. 
 
 44  David  therefore  calleth  him  Lord,  bow  is 
 he  then  his  son  ? 
 
 45  t  'Then  in  the  audience  of  all  the  people 
 he  said  unto  his  disciples, 
 
 46  '  Beware  of  the  scribes,  which  desire  to 
 walk  ill  long  robes,  and  "  love  greetings  in  the 
 markets,  and  the  highest  seats  in  the  .syna- 
 gogues, and  the  chief  rooms  at  feasts  ; 
 
 47  *  Which  devour  widow.s'  houses,  and  for  a 
 shew  make  long  prayers:  the  same  shall  re- 
 ceive greater  damnation. 
 
 9.  A  certain  man  planted  a  vineyard,  ?fc. — sec  Matt.  xxi.  33,  &c.,  notes. 
 20.  That  they  mi^ht  take  'mid  of  his  words,  ^c. — see  Matt.  xxii.  15, 
 &c.,  notes.  2".  Then  came  to  him  certain  of  the  Saddncees,  Hfc. — see 
 Matt.  sxii.  23,  Ac.  notes.  39.  Well  said,  KaXwc,  '  beautifully.' or 
 •  finely.'  41 .  Hoic  say  Ihei/  l/tat  Christ  is  Darid's  son  ? — this  passage 
 implies  both  the  existence  of  Davia  in  a  future  state,  and  the  authority 
 of  the  Messiah  over  that  invisible  world  into  which  that  prince  was 
 removed  by  death.  Else,  how  ^rcat  a  monarch  soever  the  Messiah 
 might  have  been,  he  cniild  not  have  been  properly  called  David's  Lnrd, 
 any  more  than  Julius  Cresar  could  have  been  called  the  lnrd  of  Komu. 
 lus,  because  he  reigned  in  Rome  700  years  after  his  death,  and  vastly 
 
 extended  the  bounds  of  that  empire  which  Romulus  founded. — Doddr. 
 44.  tlow  is  he  then  /lis  son  ? — Christ,  as  Goil,  was  David's  Lord  ;  but 
 Christ,  as  man,  was  David's  son:  he  was  both  the  root  and  the  off- 
 springof  David,  (Rev. xxii.  l6.) — Hen.  46.  Lungrohes — tlie  garments 
 of  the  doctors  were  to  be  so  long  as  to  cover  the  whole  body,  even 
 down  to  their  heels,  but  were  not  to  lie  any  longer;  hut  they  did  not 
 always  go  by  this  rule,  some  had  even  a  train  after  them. — Oill. 
 Greetings,  §'c. — see  on  Matt,  xxiii.  7,  note.  Higliest  seats — see  Matt, 
 xxiii.  0,  notes.  47.  Devour  widows^  liouses — see  Matt,  xxiii.  14, 
 note. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chat.  XX.  —  Observe,  I.  On  C/irisfs 
 answer  respcitim/  Ids  authority.  His  miracles  shewed  it,  but 
 those  that  shut  their  eyes  against  the  light  doubt  what  is  evi- 
 dent to  a  demonstration  ;  and  iCthey  bury  the  l;nowled:;e  they 
 have,  they  are  justly  denied  lurtlier  knowledge 
 1096 
 
 II.  On  the  parable  of  tlie  vineyard  let  out  to  husbandmen.  God, 
 by  setting  up  revealed  religion  and  instituted  orders  in  the 
 world,  hath  planted  a  vineyard,  which  he  lets  out  to  those 
 people  among  whom  his  tabernacle  is,  and  they  have  vine- 
 yard work  to  do— needful  and  constant  work,  but  pleasant 
 
He  commcndeth  iha  poor  widow. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XXI.       lie  foretdlcth  the  deslntclioii  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 \  Christ  commcntjeth  the  poor  wifhw.  HHcforeteUeth 
 the  destruction  of  the  tumpte,  and  of  the  city  Jcrusa- 
 hnn  :  25  tlie  signs  also  which  .^hall  he  before  the  last 
 day.     34  He  exhorteth  than  to  be  watchful. 
 
 \  ND  he  looked  up,  ^  and  saw  the  rich  men 
 ■^^  casting  tlieir  gifts  into  the  treasury. 
 
 2  And  lie  saw  also  a  certain  poor  widow  cast- 
 ing in  thither  two  ||  mites. 
 
 :!  And  he  .said.  Of  a  truth  I  say  unto  you, 
 ''  tliat  tills  poor  widow  hath  cast  in  more  than 
 they  all  : 
 
 4  For  all  these  have  of  their  ahundance  cast 
 in  unto  the  offerings  of  God  :  but  she  of  her 
 |ienury  hath  cast  in  all  the  living  that  she  had. 
 
 .5  11  "^  And  as  some  spake  of  the  temple,  how 
 it  was  adorned  with  goodly  stones  and  gifts, he 
 said, 
 
 G  As  for  these  things  which  ye  behold,  tlie 
 days  will  come,  in  the  which  "'  there  sliall  not 
 be  left  one  stone  upon  another,  that  shall  not 
 be  thrown  down. 
 
 7  And  tliey  asked  him,  saying.  Master,  but 
 when  sliall  these  things  be  ?  and  what  sign 
 will  there  be  wlien  these  things  shall  come  to 
 pass? 
 
 8  And  he  said,  °  Take  heed  that  ye  be  not 
 deceived  :  for  many  shall  come  in  my  name, 
 saying,  I  am  Christ;  \\  and  the  time  draweth 
 near  :  go  ye  not  therefore  after  them. 
 
 9  But  when  ye  shall  hear  of  wars  and  com- 
 motions, be  not  terrified  :  for  these  things  must 
 first  come  to  pass;  but  tlie  end  is  not  by  and  by 
 
 10  '  Then  said  lie  unto  them.  Nation  shall  rise 
 against  nation,  and  kingdom  against  kingdom 
 
 i  I  And  great  earthquakes  shall  be  in  divers 
 places,  and  famines,  and  pestilences  ;  and  fear- 
 ful sights  and  great  signs  shall  there  be  from 
 heaven. 
 
 12  ^  But  before  all  these,  tliey  shall  lay  their 
 hands  on  you,  and  persecute  you,  deliverin 
 you  up  to  the  .synagogues,  and  ''  into  prisons, 
 '  being  brought  before  kings  and  rulers  '  for  my 
 name's  sake. 
 
 13  And  '  it  shall  turn  to  yon  for  a  testimony. 
 
 14  ""Settle  it  therefore  in  your  hearts,  not  to 
 meditate  before  what  ye  sliall  answer  : 
 
 15  For  I  will  give  you  a  month  and  wisdom, 
 "  which  all  your  adversaries  shall  not  be  able 
 to  gainsay  nor  resist. 
 
 See  Mnrk 
 12.  42. 
 
 ..  Mat.  34.  4. 
 Ma|.kl:l.  f) 
 K|.li.  5.  0 
 ■>  Thes.  2.:^, 
 
 11  Or,  a>td, 
 n,  lirnt, 
 M.it.3. 2 .  & 
 4.17. 
 
 j7  Mark  i:10. 
 Itcv.  -i.  lU 
 
 /i  Acts4.S  Si 
 5.  IS  fc  IS. 
 4.  Sc  IG.  24. 
 
 iAcl8  25  2.1. 
 
 k  \  Pet.  8. 1.1. 
 
 ;Phil,  I.  28 
 2  Tlies.  I  5 
 
 m  Mat.  10. 
 19.  Maik 
 11.  cli. 
 
 12.  II 
 
 A.  D.  .13. 
 
 I  i\iic.  7.  r.. 
 
 Mark  i:i.l2, 
 p  Act.1 7.  511. 
 ■    12.2. 
 
 ;  Mat. 10  22. 
 
 t  D.tn.  9.2C, 
 7.Zech.ll. 
 
 J.  Dan.  9.  27. 
 &  12.  7. 
 Itoiii  11.25. 
 
 y  Mat.2-1.20- 
 Mnrkl:t.2l. 
 2  Pel.  3.  Ill, 
 
 I  Hat.24..1ll 
 Kev.l.-.  «( 
 14.  n. 
 
 /.  Rom.S.l'.!, 
 23. 
 
 Mat,  21  3? 
 
 Mark  l3.-.ia. 
 
 16  °  And  ye  shall  be  betrayed  both  by  pa- 
 rents, and  brethren,  and  kinsfolks,  and  friends; 
 and  ^' some  of  you  shall  they  cause  to  be  put 
 to  death. 
 
 17  And  ''  ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my 
 name's  sake. 
 
 18  ■■  But  there  shall  not  an  hair  of  your  head 
 perish . 
 
 19  In  your  patience  possess  ye  your  souls. 
 
 20  ''  And  when  ye  shall  see  Jerusalem  com- 
 passed with  armies,  then  know  that  the  desola- 
 tion thereof  is  nigh. 
 
 21  Then  let  them  wliicli  are  in  Judaea  flee  to 
 the  mountains  ;  and  let  tb.em  which  are  in  the 
 midst  of  it  depart  out ;  and  let  not  tliein  tliat 
 are  in  the  countries  enter  thereinto. 
 
 22  For  these  be  the  days  of  vengeance,  that 
 '  all  things  which  are  written  may  be  fultilled. 
 
 23  "  But  woe  unto  them  that  are  with  child, 
 and  to  them  that  give  suck,  in  lliose  days  !  for 
 there  shall  he  great  distress  in  the  land,  and 
 wrath  upon  this  people. 
 
 24  And  they  shall  fall  by  the  edge  of  the 
 sword,  and  .shall  be  led  away  captive  into  all 
 nations  :  and  Jerusalem  shall  be  trodden  down 
 of  the  Gentiles,  ^  until  the  times  of  the  Gentiles 
 be  fulfilled. 
 
 23  H ''  And  there  shall  be  signs  in  the  sun, 
 and  in  the  moon,  and  in  the  stars  ;  and  upon 
 the  earth  distress  of  nations,  with  perplexity; 
 the  sea  and  the  waves  roaring  ; 
 
 26  Men's  hearts  failing  them  for  fear,  .and  for 
 looking  after  those  things  which  are  coining 
 on  the  earth  :  '  for  the  powers  of  heaven  shall 
 be  shaken. 
 
 27  And  then  .shall  they  see  the  Son  of  man 
 °  coming  in  a  cloud  with  power  and  great  glory. 
 
 28  And  when  these  things  begin  to  come  to 
 pass,  then  look  up,  and  lift  up  your  heads  ;  for 
 ''  your  redemption  draweth  nigh. 
 
 29  '  And  he  spake  to  them  a  parable  ;  Be- 
 hold the  fig  tree,  and  all  the  trees  ; 
 
 30  When  they  now  shoot  forth,  ye  sec  and 
 know  of  your  own  selves  that  summer  is  now 
 nigh  at  hand. 
 
 31  So  likewise  ye,  when  ye  see  these  things 
 come  to  pass,  know  ye  that  the  kingdom  of 
 God  is  nigh  at  hand. 
 
 32  Verily  I  say  unto  you.  This  generation 
 shall  not  pass  away,  till  all  be  fulfilled. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  I.  Looked  up,  from  the  grouud,  for  the  treasury  was 
 not  in  a  high  place.— GiVf.  Casting  their  gi/tssec  Mark,  xii.  41 ,  notes. 
 2.  A  certain  poor  widow,  '  miserably  poor,'  as  tlie  original  imports. — 
 Clarke.  5.  And  gifts,  avaOtiiiaffi,  such  gifts  or  presents  made  to  God 
 as  might  be  hung  up  and  exposed  to  open  view. — Poole.  Such  was 
 ihe  golden  vine  which  Herod  gave,  as  Josephus  rel3.tes.—Bootltro^'/(l. 
 C.  Not  left  one  stone — sec  Matt.  xxiv.  2,  note.  8.  Sui/ing,  I  am  Clirint, 
 ^c.~see  Matt.  xxiv.  5,  note.  9.  Hear  of  n'a?'«— .sec  Matt.  xxiv.  6, 
 note.  10.  Nation  shall  j-tse— see  Matt,  xxiv.  7,  note.  II.  Fearful 
 .eights,  of  these  Josephus  mentions  various,  as  a  comet  hanging  over 
 the  city  like  a  fiery  sword,  &c.,  Bell.  vii.  12.  12.  Deliver  nou  up — 
 
 see  Matt.  xxiv.  p,  note.  13.  For  a  testijuony — by  this  means  they 
 
 would  have  an  npportunily  of  leaving  tlicir  testimony  for  Christ,  before 
 kings  and  rulers. — Gill.  18.  .\n  hair,  proverbinl. — Grot.  24.  .ind 
 Jerusalem  shall  be  trodden  down  of  the  Gentiles — the  land  was  sold ,  and 
 no  Jew  was  allowed  to  inhabit  there,  a  rigour  probably  never  used  to- 
 wards any  other  people  conquered  by  the  Romans;  nay,  they  might 
 not  come  within  sight  of  Jerusalem,  or  rather  of  Elia,  the  name  given 
 to  the  new  city,  whicli  was  built  without  the  circuit  of  the  former,  when 
 the  ftjundations  of  the  old  were  ploughed  up,  (see  Ammiati.  Marcel., 
 lib.  xxiii.) — Doddr.  Captive  into  all  nations,  ffc. — 1,100,000  perished 
 at  the  siege  and  capture  of  Jerusalem  by  sword  and  famine  ;  97,000,  in 
 the  whole,  were  captives. — Jos,         25.  Signs  in  the  sun,  ^c. — meta- 
 
 phorical expressions,  relating  to  the  subversion  of  the  Jewish  govern- 
 ment, religion,  and  laws.  They  may  also  be  considered  as  literal,  in 
 tlie  final  dissolution  of  all  things,  (sec  2  Pet.  iii.  10,  ll.)—Gu!/se.  And 
 upon  the  earth,  tjri  Ttif  7t|p — some  late  expositors  think  it  ought  to  be 
 rendered  *  upon  the  land,'  considering  the  prophecy  as  relating  solely 
 to  Judea.  But  what  follows  appears  to  have  a  more  extensive  object, 
 and  to  relate  to  the  nations  and  the  habitable  earth  in  general.  It  is 
 not  at  all  probable  that  by  the  term  eOvuyv,  '  nations,'  used  thrice  in  the 
 preceding  verse  manifestly  for  Gentiles,  are  meant  in  this  verse  only 
 Jews  and  Samaritans. — Camp.  Sea— waves  roaring,  prophetic  ex- 
 pressions for  the  world  in  a  tumultuous  state. — Grot.  26.  Men's  hearts 
 failing  them,  aTToylfvxovTiov  arfpwTrwi',  men  being  quite  cxanimatcd, 
 dispirited,  unsouled,  dying  away  for  fear.— //en.  27.  Coming  in  a 
 cloud  with  power,  ^c,  seems  to  import  his  coming  by  the  Rtmian  array 
 to  besiege  and  destroy  Jerusalem  and  the  unbelieving  Jews,  for  so 
 Christ  seems  plainly  to  interpret  this  coming,  Matt.  xxiv.  27.  —  Whitby. 
 28.  Your  redemption,  i.e.,  from  the  Jewish  persecution;  for  after  the 
 suppression  of  the  .Svnedriuin,  the  gospel  was  far  more  extensively 
 propagated.— BiuODi/.  2g.  Behold  the  fig  tree,  fic.—it  was  spring 
 
 just  before  the  passover,  and  so  Christ  took  occasion,  when  all  the  trees 
 were  budding  on  the  Mount  of  Olives,  wliere  they  then  were,  (Matt, 
 xxiv.,)  to  make  use  of  this  similitude.  32.  This  generation  shall  not 
 pass,  ^c— the  apostle  John,  and  others,  survived  this  catastrophe. — 
 
 and  profilnble.  That  Go(l'.s  ministers  ore  to  call  upon  them 
 to  bring  forth  fruit  accordingly  ;  they  are  God's  rent-gatlieiers, 
 to  put  the  husbandmen  in  mind  of  their  arrears.  That  some 
 of  the  test  men  in  Ihe  world,  and  Christ  himself,  have  had 
 1097 
 
 the  hardest  usage  from  it  for  their  best  services ;  and  that 
 those  who  live  in  the  neglect  of  tlieir  duty  to  God,  know  not 
 into  what  degrees  of  sin  and  destruction  tlicy  are  runninj  i' 
 
The  Jews  conspire  against  Christ 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XXII. 
 
 The  apostles  prepare  the  passover. 
 
 33  ^  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away  :  but 
 my  words  shall  not  pass  away. 
 
 •"54  IfAnd'take  heed  to  yourselves,  lest  at 
 any  time  your  hearts  be  overcharged  with  sur- 
 feiting, and  drunkenness,  and  cares  of  this  life, 
 and  so  that  day  come  upon  you  unawares. 
 
 35  For  ''as  a  snare  shall  it  come  on  all  them 
 that  dwell  on  the  face  of  the  whole  earth. 
 
 36  ^  Watch  ye  therefore,  and  ''  pray  always, 
 that  ye  may  be  accounted  worthy  to  escape 
 all  these  things  that  shall  come  to  pass,  and 
 '  to  stand  before  the  Son  of  man. 
 
 37  '  And  in  the  day  time  he  was  teaching  in 
 the  temple  ;  and  '  at  niglit  he  went  out,  and 
 abode  in  the  mount  that  is  called  the  mount 
 of  Olives. 
 
 38  And  all  the  people  came  early  in  the 
 morning  to  him  in  the  temple,  for  to  hear  him. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  The  Jews  conspire  against  Christ.  3  Sa(a7i  pre- 
 pareth  Judas  to  hetraij  him*  7  The  apostles  prepare 
 the  passover.  19  Christ  institnteth  his  holy  supper , 
 21  covertly  foretelleth  of  the  traitor,  24  dehorteth  the 
 rest  of  his  aposths  from  amhition,  31  assnreth  Peter 
 his  faith  should  not  fail:  34  and  yet  he  should  deny 
 him  thrice.  39  He  prayi  th  in  the  vionnt,  and siaati  th 
 blood,  47  is  bctrai/cd  rvith  a  hiss:  50  he  healeth  Mid- 
 chiis*  ear,  54  he  is  thrice  denied  of  Peter,  63  shame- 
 fnllt/  abused,  66  and  covfcsseth  himself  to  be  the  So7i 
 'of  God. 
 
 "VrOAV  °  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread  drew 
 
 -^^    nitrli,  which  is  called  the  passover. 
 
 2  And  '*  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  sought 
 how  they  might  kill  him  ;  for  they  feared  the 
 people. 
 
 3  H  '^  Then  entered  Satan  into  Judas  sur- 
 named  Iscariot,  being  of  the  number  of  the 
 twelve. 
 
 4  And  he  went  his  way,  and  communed  with 
 the  ciiief  priests  and  captains,  how  he  might 
 betray  him  unto  them. 
 
 5  And  they  were  glad,  and  '^  covenanted  to 
 give  him  money. 
 
 6  And  he  promised,  and  sought  opportunity 
 to  betray  him  unto  them  ||  in  the  absence  of 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 dMat.24.35. 
 
 f  Rom. 13-13. 
 lThefl.5.G. 
 I  Pet.  4.  7. 
 
 /■IThes.  5. 
 
 2.  2  Pet.  ,-1. 
 10.  Uev.  3. 
 
 3.  &  16.  15. 
 ff  Mat.2i.42. 
 
 &  25.  13. 
 Mark  13.33. 
 hch.  18.  I. 
 
 tPs.  1.  5. 
 
 Eph.  6.  13. 
 h  John  6.  1, 
 
 I  Or,  Ihiv 
 hfartiltf  de- 
 
 S  oh.  M,  V>. 
 Acts  In.  41. 
 Hev.  10.  0. 
 
 a  SI.1t.  26.  2. 
 Mark  U.  1. 
 
 *Mat.26.2!l. 
 Mark  14.25. 
 
 4  r«.  2.  2. 
 Joliii  11.17. 
 Acts  4.27. 
 
 i  Mat.20.50. 
 MaikH.22. 
 
 cMat.20.14. 
 Mark  14.10. 
 John  13.  S, 
 27. 
 
 *1  Cor.  11. 
 24. 
 
 nCor.10.16. 
 
 dZect.  11. 
 12. 
 
 II  Or,  uithout 
 tmmll. 
 
 ...P..  11.9. 
 Mai.  24  21, 
 23.  .Mark  11 
 18. John  13 
 21,  26. 
 
 n  Mat.96.24. 
 
 0  Acts  2,  23- 
 &4.  2S. 
 
 the  multitude. 
 
 7  1°  Then  came  the  day  of  unleavened  bread, 
 when  the  passover  must  be  killed. 
 
 8  And  he  sent  Peter  and  John,  saying.  Go 
 and  prepare  us  the  passover,  that  we  may  eat. 
 
 9  And  they  said  unto  him,  Where  wilt  thou 
 that  we  prepare  ? 
 
 10  And  he  said  unto  them.  Behold,  when  ye 
 are  entered  into  the  city,  there  shall  a  man 
 meet  you,  bearing  a  pitcher  of  water  ;  follow 
 him  into  the  house  where  he  entereth  in. 
 
 1 1  And  ye  shall  say  unto  the  goodman  of  the 
 house.  The  Master  saith  unto  thee.  Where  is 
 the  gucstchamber,  where  I  shall  eat  the  pass- 
 over  with  my  disciples  ? 
 
 12  And  he  shall  shew  you  a  large  upper  room 
 furnished  :  there  make  ready. 
 
 13  And  they  went,  and  found  as  he  had  said 
 unto  them  :  and  they  made  ready  the  passover. 
 
 14  '  And  when  the  hour  was  come,  he  sat 
 down,  and  the  twelve  apostles  witli  him. 
 
 15  And  he  said  unto  them,  ||  With  desire  I 
 have  desired  to  eat  this  passover  with  you  be- 
 fore I  suffer  : 
 
 16  For  I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not  any  more 
 eat  thereof,  ^  until  it  be  fulfilled  in  the  king- 
 dom of  God. 
 
 17  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks, 
 and  said,  Take  this,  and  divide  it  among  your- 
 selves : 
 
 18  For  ''  I  say  unto  yon,  I  will  not  drink  of 
 the  fruit  of  the  vine,  until  the  kingdom  of  God 
 shall  come. 
 
 19  U  '  And  he  took  bread,  and  gave  thanks, 
 and  brake  iV,  and  gave  unto  them,  saying.  This 
 is  my  body  which  is  given  for  you  :  '  this  do  in 
 remembrance  of  me. 
 
 20  Likewise  also  the  cup  after  supper,  saying, 
 '  This  cup  IS  the  new  testament  in  my  blood, 
 which  is  shed  for  you. 
 
 211"'  But,  behold,  the  hand  of  him  that  be- 
 trayeth  me  !s  with  me  on  the  table. 
 
 22  "  And  truly  the  Son  of  man  goeth,  °  as  it 
 was  determined  :  but  woe  unto  that  man  by 
 whom  he  is  betrayed! 
 
 Guyse.  35.  As  a  snin-e,  in  wliich  a  bird  is  suddenly  taken  and  cannot 
 g:et  out  again  ;  so  the  destruction  of  the  Jewish  nation  should  be  sud- 
 den and  unavoidable  and  universal. — Gilt.  0/  the  tcfiole  earth,  Tnr,  or 
 *  of  the  whole  land.' — Bens.  It  would  seem  from  the  whole  of  our  Sa. 
 viour's  predictions  that  the  word  cannot  be  conlined  to  Judea,  but 
 must  be  understood,  in  a  succession  of  wars  and  troubles,  to  e.xtend  to 
 the  whole  Roman  empire. — Sut.  36.  Accounted  worth}/  to  escape, 
 
 KaTafitoCiiTc,  sometimes  implies  an  honour  conferred  on  a  person,  (see 
 Acts,  V.  31.)  To  be  counted  *  worthy  to  escape'  is  to  have  the  honour 
 of  it,  and  to  be  fitted  or  prepared  for  iK.— Guyse.  That  you  may  not 
 be  involved  with  the  incredulous  Jews  in  the  same  punishment,  and, 
 above  all,  in  eternal  condemnation. — Mar. 
 
 Chap.  XXII.  —  1.  Femt  of  unleavened  bread — the  Jews  now  ate 
 bread  without  leaven  during  seven  days,  in  commemoration  of  the 
 haste  in  which  they  went  out  of  Egypt,  it  being  such  that  they  had  not 
 time  to  leaven  their  dough,  but  took  it,  with  their  kneading  troughs, 
 along  with  them  as  it  was,  (see  Exod.  xii.  31.) — Gitt.  Sec  Exod.  xii. 
 27,  notes.  Passover — see  Exod.  xii.  13.  &c.,  notes.  3.  Tlien  entered 
 Satan  into  Judas,  i.  c,  he  stirred  up  the  corruptions  and  covetousness 
 of  Judas. — Gayse.  Satan  did  not  enter  corporally,  as  he  did  into  those 
 that  were  possessed  by  him,  but  *  into  his  heart,'  as  the  Ethiopic  ren- 
 ders it ;  he  put  it  into  ilis  heart  to  betray  him,  {John,  xiii.  2.) — Gitt. 
 Judas  conceived  and  meditated  in  his  mind  a  most  diaboUcal  and 
 heinous  crime ;  for  as  those  who  obey  the  Divine  motion  are  said  to 
 
 receive  the  Spirit  as  a  Divine  guest,  so  Satan  is  said  to  enter  into  those 
 who  consent  unto  criminal  suggestions,  (see  John,  xiii.  2;  Acts,  v.  3; 
 Eph.  ii.  2.) — Rosenrn.  The  devil  filled  the  heart  of  Judas  with  avarice, 
 and  tliat  infamous  passion  led  him  to  commit  the  crime  here  specified. 
 — A.  Clarice.  Bein:^  of  the  numtjer  of  the  twetve,  which  is  an  aggrava- 
 tion of  his  sin. —  Gill.  This  is  mentioned  to  mark  the  heinousness  of 
 his  oflFence. — Rosenm.  4.  Captains,  Jewish  oflicers  of  inferior  rank, 
 who,  it  is  probable,  commanded  the  divisions  of  tiie  priests  and  Lcvites 
 that  attended  the  temple,  and  were  themselves  subject  to  a  chief  com- 
 mander, mentioned  Acts,  iv.  ]  ;  v.  24. — Lardner,  Li^htf.  .1.  To  gire 
 hijn  inoney — see  Matt.  xxvi.  15,  note.  10.  There  shall  a  rnan  meet 
 
 you,  ^c,  a  demonstration  of  Christ's  foreknowledge.  —  Guyse. 
 1 1 .  Gttestchamber — sec  Matt.  xxvi.  18,  note.  15.  With  desire  1  have 
 
 desired,  '  I  have  most  earnestly  desired.' — Doddr,,  Bp.  Pearce.  He 
 knew  it  was  to  be  the  prologue  to  his  sufferings,  and  therefore  he  de- 
 sired it.  because  it  was  in  order  to  his  Father's  glory  and  man's  re- 
 demption.— Hen.  16.  Until  it  be  fulfilled,  ^c,  until  everytiiing  be 
 fulfilled  of  which  the  passover  was  a  type  or  symbol. — Hew.  17.  Dt- 
 vide  it — see  Matt.  xxvi.  27,  note.  20.  The  cup — new  testament,  para, 
 phrased,  'this  cup,  which  is  poured  out  for  you,  signifies  the  blood  of 
 the  new  covenant,  which  is  shortly  to  be  ratified  in  (or  by)  the  shed- 
 ding of  my  blood.' — So  A.  Clarke.  See  Matt.  xxvi.  27,  28,  nolis. 
 22.  Goeth — see  Matt.  xxvi.  24,  note.  25.  Exercise  lordship — see  Matt. 
 XX.  25,  note.    And  they  that  exercise  authority,  5fc. — among  the  Gen- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  I.  The  widow's yifts,  may 
 teach  us  that  our  gracious  Lord  particularly  notices  the  small 
 oblations  which  spring  iVom  the  love  of  his  name  in  the  hearts 
 of  his  poor  people,  because  men  are  apt  to  despise  and  dis- 
 courage them  ;  '  lor  man  looketh  at  the  outward  appearance, 
 but  the  Lord  looketh  at  the  heart.' 
 
 IL  The  exhortations  and  prontises  made  to  the  believers,  in  the 
 
 prospect  of  tlie  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  sliew  us  that,  'whatever 
 
 calamities  there  may  be  in  the  world,  or  persecutions  in  the 
 
 church,   "  before  the  end  come,"  we  may  be  sure  that  it  will 
 
 1098 
 
 be  well  with  those  who  serve  the  Lord,  and  their  very  trials 
 shall  "  turn  to  them  for  a  testimony."' 
 
 111.  The  calamities  of  the  Jews.  '  Preach  to  us  the  truth  of 
 Christianity,  and  prove  that  "  though  heaven  and  earth  pass 
 away,  the  words  of  Jesus  shall  not  pass  away  ;"  and  they  may 
 also  remind  us  to  pray  for  those  times  when  neither  the  literal 
 nor  the  mystical  Jerusalem  shall  any  longer  he  trodden  down 
 by  the  Gentiles,  and  when  both  Jews  ami  Gentiles  shall  be 
 turnetl  to  the  Lord. '3 
 
C/iiist prai/eth  in  the  mount. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XXII. 
 
 He  is  betrayed  with  a  hiss. 
 
 23  ^  And  they  began  to  enquire  among  them- 
 selves, which  of  them  it  was  that  sliould  do 
 tins  thing. 
 
 24  t  '■  And  there  was  also  a  strife  among 
 them,  which  of  them  should  be  accounted  the 
 greatest. 
 
 ~25  '  And  he  said  unto  them.  The  kings  of 
 the  Gentiles  exercise  lordship  over  them  ;  and 
 they  that  exercise  authority  upon  them  are 
 called  benefactors. 
 
 26  "  But  ye  shall,  not  be  &o  ■■  '  but  he  that  is 
 greatest  among  you,  let  him  be  as  the  younger  ; 
 and  he  that  is  chief,  as  he  that  doth  serve. 
 
 27  "  For  whether  is  greater,  he  tliat  sitteth  at 
 meat,  or  he  that  serveth  'i  is  not  he  that  sitteth 
 at  meaty  but  *I  am  among  you  as  he  that 
 serveth. 
 
 28  Ye  are  they  which  have  continued  with 
 me  in  '  my  temptations. 
 
 29  And  '  1  appoint  unto  you  a  kingdom,  as 
 my  Father  hath  appointed  unto  me  ; 
 
 30  Tliat  "  ye  may  eat  and  drink  at  my  table 
 in  my  kingdom,  ""and  sit  on  thrones  judging 
 the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel. 
 
 31  H  And  the  Lord  said,  Simon,  Simon,  be- 
 hold, '  Satan  hath  desired  to  have  you,  that  he 
 may  •'  sift  you  as  wheat : 
 
 32  But  °  I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy 
 faith  fail  not:  '  and  when  thou  art  converted, 
 strengthen  thy  brethren. 
 
 33  And  he  said  unto  him,  Lord,  I  am  ready 
 to  go  with  thee,  both  into  prison,  and  to  death. 
 
 34  ^  And  be  said,  I  tell  tliee,  Peter,  the  cock 
 shall  not  crow  this  day,  before  that  thou  shall 
 thrice  deny  that  tliou  knowest  me. 
 
 33  ''  And  he  said  unto  them,  When  I  sent 
 you  without  purse,  and  scrip,  and  shoes, lacked 
 ye  any  thing?     And  they  said.  Nothing. 
 
 36  Then  said  he  unto  them.  But  now,  he 
 that  liath  a  purse,  let  him  take  it,  and  likewise 
 his  scrip  :  and  he  that  hath  no  sword,  let  him 
 sell  his  garment,  and  buy  one. 
 
 37  For  I  say  unto  you,  that  this  that  is 
 written  must  yet  be  accomplished  in  me, 'And 
 lie  was  reckoned  among  the  transgressors  :  for 
 the  things  concerning  me  have  an  end. 
 
 35  And  they  said.  Lord,  behold,  here  are  two 
 swords.     And  he  said  unto  tliem.  It  is  enough. 
 
 89  t '  And  be  came  out,  and  '  went,  as  he 
 was  wont,  to  the  mount  of  Olives  ;  and  his 
 disciples  also  followed  him. 
 
 40  ■"  And  wlien  he  was  at  the  place,  he  said 
 unto  them.  Pray  that  ye  enter  not  into  ten]p- 
 tation. 
 
 q  Marl(9.14. 
 
 ch.  9.  4lJ. 
 
 ■  Mat  20  ?5. 
 Mark  10.12. 
 
 J  >r.it.20.L?0 
 I  Pet   5   3. 
 (  ch.  9  43. 
 
 r  Mat  20  28. 
 Jolin  Kl.ia, 
 1-1  Pliil.2.7. 
 
 U  Hi-b.  4.  ir, 
 
 -•  Mat  21  17. 
 cli.U.32 
 2  C.ir.  I.  7. 
 2Tim  2.  12. 
 
 .1  Mat.  8. 11. 
 ch.  14  K>. 
 Rev.  19.  9 
 
 6  Ps  49.  14. 
 Mat  19.  2S 
 1  Cnr.  6.  2 
 Rev. 3.  21. 
 
 c  1  Pet.  ft.  S. 
 
 d  Amos  9.  9 
 
 ej.ilm  17.9, 
 
 II,  iJ 
 /■Ps.  51.  13. 
 
 J..hn2l.  13, 
 
 10,  17. 
 
 ti  M.it. 213.31 
 Markll  3u 
 Juhu  13  3B 
 
 It  Mat  26  30, 
 .\laikl4  32. 
 J.Jiu  19.  1 
 
 (cli.  21.37. 
 
 m  Mat.  0.  13 
 Be  20  4 1 . 
 Mark  14. 33. 
 
 A.  D.  S3. 
 
 n  Mat.  20.39. 
 
 Markll.'i.V 
 \  Gr  w-V/iHj 
 
 /»  Tnnm:f. 
 <i  John  5.30. 
 
 &  6.  38. 
 
 p  Mat.  4.  II. 
 
 q  John  1 2. 
 27.  Hcl).  5 
 
 .Mat.  20  47 
 Mark  1 4.43 
 John  18.  3. 
 
 /  JIat  26.51. 
 Mark  14  47. 
 John  13.10. 
 
 uMat.26  55. 
 Markll.48. 
 
 1  Mat.2fi.69. 
 Markl4  66. 
 John  13.17, 
 
 »  Mat  26.71. 
 Markl4.fi9. 
 Jotinlrt.25, 
 
 c  Mat.2G.73 
 Mark  14.70 
 John  13  26 
 
 41  "  And  he  was  withdrawn  from  them  about 
 a  stone's  cast,  and  kneeled  down,  and  prayed, 
 
 42  Saying,  Father,  if  thou  be  f  willing,  re- 
 move this  cup  from  me:  nevertheless  "not 
 my  will,  but  thine,  be  done. 
 
 43  And  there  appeared  ''an  angel  nnto  him 
 from  heaven,  strengthening  him. 
 
 44  '  And  being  in  an  agony  he  prayed  more 
 earnestly  :  and  his  sweat  was  as  it  were  great 
 drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the  ground. 
 
 45  And  when  he  rose  up  from  prayer,  and 
 was  come  to  his  disciples,  be  found  thein 
 sleeping  for  sorrow, 
 
 46  And  said  unto  them.  Why  sleep  ye  .••  rise 
 and  '  pray,  lest  ye  enter  into  temptation. 
 
 47  t  And  while  he  yet  spake, '  behold  a  mul- 
 titude, and  he  that  was  called  Judas,  one  of 
 the  twelve,  went  before  them,  and  drew  near 
 unto  Jesus  to  kiss  him. 
 
 48  But  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Judas,  betrayest 
 thou  the  Son  of  man  with  a  kiss? 
 
 49  When  they  which  were  about  him  saw 
 what  would  follow,  they  said  unto  him,  Lord, 
 shall  we  smite  witli  tlie  sword  ? 
 
 50  If  And  '  one  of  them  smote  the  servant  of 
 tlie  high  priest,  and  cut  oft'  his  right  ear. 
 
 51  And  Jesus  answered  and  said,  Suffer  ye 
 thus  far.  And  he  touched  his  ear,  and  healed 
 him. 
 
 52  "  Then  Jesus  said  unto  the  chief  priests, 
 and  captains  of  the  temple,  and  the  elders, 
 which  were  come  to  him.  Be  ye  come  out,  as 
 against  a  thief,  with  swords  and  staves  ? 
 
 53  When  I  was  daily  with  you  in  the  temple, 
 ye  stretched  forth  no  hands  against  me  :  ^  but 
 this  is  your  hour,  and  the  power  of  darkness. 
 
 54  II  ''  Then  took  they  him,  and  led  him,  and 
 brought  him  into  the  high  priest's  house.  "And 
 Peter  followed  afar  off. 
 
 33  "  And  when  they  had  kindled  a  fire  in  the 
 midst  of  the  hall,  and  were  set  down  together, 
 Peter  sat  down  among  them. 
 
 56  But  a  certain  maid  beheld  him  as  he  sat 
 by  the  fire,  and  earnestly  looked  upon  him, 
 and  said.  This  man  was  also  with  liim. 
 
 57  And  he  denied  him,  saying.  Woman,  I 
 know  him  not. 
 
 58  ■•  And  after  a  little  while  another  saw  him, 
 and  said.  Thou  art  also  of  them.  And  Peter 
 said,  Man,  I  am  not. 
 
 59  "  And  about  the  space  of  one  hour  after 
 another  confidently  affirmed,  saying.  Of  a  trutli 
 this  fellow  also  was  with  him  :  for  he  is  a  Ga- 
 lilsan. 
 
 tiles  they  are  reckoned  the  greatest  men  who  have  the  greatest  power, 
 and  who  exercise  it  in  the  most  absolute  manner.  Sad),  however, 
 have  at  times  atfected  the  pompous  titles  of  heiiefacloi-s,  ei^epycTcn— a 
 surname  wliich  some  of  the  kings  of  Egypt  and  Syria  assumed — and 
 tliereby  liave  tacitly  acknowledged  tliat  true  greatness  consists  in  good- 
 ness. *  But  your  greatness  shall  not  be  like  theirs.' — Be7l.3.  23.  Temp- 
 ttdiiina,  ei-  toi?  Trerpairyaotf  na,  '  in  my  trials,'  and  afflictions. — Be/m., 
 so  Bp.  Mann.  31.  Yuu,  (-/lut,  means  'all  of  them.' — So  Cump.  Not 
 only  Peter,  but  all  the  apostles,  for  the  word  '  you'  is  plural.— Gi7/,  so 
 S.  Ciitrke.  f^i/t  i/oii  (IS  wheitt,  '  toss  and  shake  you  with  temptations, 
 as  wheat  is  shaken  in  the  sieve.' — WUitby.  After  the  corn  had  been 
 trodden,  the  clods  of  earth  were  broken  and  sifted,  to  separate  the 
 grainy  this  was  made  a  symbol  of  affliction.— Pic/.  £16.  31.  Corli^ 
 ci-ou — see  Matt.  xxvi.  34,  note.  35.  ^Vitfiout  purses'^e  Matt.  x.9. 
 
 36.  But  itfjw.  tie  th<it  hitli  n  purse,  let  ttim  tike  it,  §-c. — hitlierto  they 
 had  had  abundant  provision  from  the  kindness  of  men  whom  God  had 
 disposed  to  befriend  tlicm;  but  matters  were  now  altered;  they  were 
 to  be  violently  assaulted,  and  could  no  longer  expect  any  of  the  usual 
 succour ;  so  that,  besides  relying  upon  Providence  as  formerly,  they 
 were  to  use  all  prudent  precautions  in  fjrtifying  themselves  against 
 the  trials  tha'  were  coming  on  them. — Markn.  These  commands  to 
 arm  themselves  against  dangers  are  to  be  considered  merely  as  predic- 
 tions and  warnings  given  them  of  tljc  dangers  and  trials  they  were  to 
 meet  with. — Bens,      'i'lmt  liatft  no  snord,  §'''. — f*ui/  o«c*— this  direclioil 
 
 1099 
 
 seems  to  have  been  a  proverbial  form  of  expression  to  provide  against 
 impending  danger.— Dr.  H.  Omen.  3S.  Tu-o  sicuiv/.v  —  these  were 
 
 probably  brought  to  protect  them  against  robbers  and  wild  beasts  on 
 their  journey  to  Jerusalem.- So  G/-o«ius.  It  is  enuu^h,  'it  is  well,' 
 or  '  enough  has  been  said  on  that  subject.'— Kose/im.  The  disciples 
 mistook  our  Saviour's  meaning.  He  made  use  of  a  proverbial  form  of 
 speech  ;  they  took  him  in  a  literal  sense.  He  did  not  think  tit  to  rectify 
 tlieir  misapprehension,  but  replied  as  a  mild  and  humane  master  tj  a 
 well-meaning  servant  of  great  stupidity, '  it  is  very  well.'— So  Ba.inuge, 
 Mnrkl.,  Rosenm.,  Kuinoel,  Bloom/.,  &c.  3g.  Mount  of  Olwes—iee 
 
 M  itt.  xxi.  1,  note.  40.  Pi-ai/,  .Jc- see  Matt.  xxvi.  41,  note.  42.  Fa. 
 Ilier— remove  this  cup— see  WaU.  xx.  2>,  note.  4i.  Great  drops  of 
 
 lAood,  Jitrei  KpoM^o'  aV/iarot,  'as  it  were  clots  of  blood.'— B/oom/fW. 
 Really  blood,  or,  at  least,  mi.xed  witli  particles  of  blood.  These,  by  the 
 vehement  distress  of  his  soul,  were  forced  out  of  the  pores  of  his  body. 
 — Bens.,  as  Whitby,  Clarke,  and  many  other  ancient  and  modem  com- 
 mentators. •  His  sweat  became  like  clots  or  cakes  of  blood  1'  a  sort  of 
 proverb,  says  TAeOjoAj/i'ic/,  applied  to  any  one  who  labours  excessively. 
 So  Grolius,  Hum.,  Markl.,  Bosenm.,  Miller,  Kuinoel,  Bloomfield,  &c. 
 50.  Une  of  them  smote  the  serount—see  Man.  xxvi.  51,  note.  52.  Cup. 
 tains— sec  ver.  4,  note.  53.  Your  hour,  ic.,  alluding,  perhaps,  to 
 the  hour  of  the  night,  the  season  most  favourable  to  deeds  of  dark, 
 ness.  'This  is  the  time  in  which  it  is  permitted  to  you  to  e.xercise  your 
 malice.'-  Whitbu,  so  Clarke.     59-  •<  GaliUan—iee  Matt.  xxvi.  73.  note. 
 
Jesus  is  accused  before  Pilate. 
 
 s.  LUKE,  xxin. 
 
 Herod  mockeih  him. 
 
 60  And  Peter  said,  Man,  I  know  not  what 
 thou  sayest.  And  immediately,  while  he  yet 
 spake,  the  cock  crew. 
 
 61  And  the  Lord  turned,  and  looked  upon 
 Peter.  •'  And  Peter  remembered  the  word  of 
 the  Lord,  how  he  had  said  unto  him,  "  Before 
 the  cock  crow,  thou  shalt  deny  me  thrice. 
 
 62  And  Peter  went  out,  and  wept  bitterly. 
 
 63  l!  ''  And  the  men  that  held  Jesus  mocked 
 him,  and  smote  /«'m. 
 
 64  And  when  they  had  blindfolded  him,  they 
 .struck  him  on  the  face,  and  asked  him,  saying, 
 Prophesy,  who  is  it  that  smote  thee  ? 
 
 65  And  many  other  things  blasphemously 
 spake  they  against  him. 
 
 66  T  ^  And  as  soon  as  it  was  day, ''  the  elders 
 of  the  people  and  the  chief  priests  and  the 
 scribes  came  together,  and  led  him  into  their 
 council,  .saying, 
 
 67  '  Art  thou  the  Christ?  tell  us.  And  he 
 said  unto  them.  If  I  tell  you,  ye  will  not  be- 
 lieve : 
 
 68  And  if  I  also  ask  you,  ye  will  not  answer 
 nie,  nor  let  me  go. 
 
 69  '  Hereafter  shall  the  Son  of  man  sit  on  the 
 right  hand  of  the  power  of  God. 
 
 70  Then  said  they  all,  Art  thou  then  the  Son 
 of  God  ?  And  he  said  unto  them,  '  Ye  say 
 that  I  am. 
 
 71  "'  And  they  said,  What  need  we  any  fur- 
 ther witness?  for  we  ourselves  have  heard  of 
 his  own  moutli. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIIl. 
 
 1  Jestts  is  accused  before  Pifate,  find  sent  to  Hcrnd.  8 
 Herod  mnchcth  him.  12  Heriid  and  Pilate  are  made 
 friends.  13  Barablias  is  desired  of  the  people,  and  is 
 loosed  hit  Pilate,  and  .Tesns  is  ffivcn  to  be  erucijied.  27 
 He  telleth  the  women,  that  lament  him,  the  destruction 
 of  Jerusalem  :  .'J4  praijeth  for  his  enemies.  39  Two 
 evildoers  are  erucijied  with  him.  46  His  death,  50 
 His  burial. 
 
 A  ND  °  the  whole  multitude  of  them  arose, 
 -^^  and  led  him  unto  Pilate. 
 
 2  And  they  began  to  accuse  him,  saying, We 
 found  this fellotv  ''perverting  the  nation,  and 
 ■^forbidding  to  give  tribute  to  Ca>sar,  saying 
 •'  that  he  himself  is  Christ  a  king. 
 
 3  "  And  Pilate  asked  liim,  saying.  Art  thou 
 the  King  of  the  Jews?  And  he  answered  him 
 and  said.  Thou  sayest  it. 
 
 4  Then  said  Pilate  to  the  chief  priests  and  to 
 the  people,  '  I  find  no  fault  in  this  man. 
 
 5  And  they  were  the  more  fierce,  saying.  He 
 stirreth  up  the  people,  teaching  throughout  all 
 Jewry,  beginning  from  Galilee  to  this  place. 
 
 6  When  Pilate  heard  of  Galilee,  he  asked 
 whether  the  man  were  a  Galila>an. 
 
 7  And  as  soon  as  he  knew  that  he  belonged 
 
 diMat.'>e.r.'i 
 Mark  1 1.79. 
 
 rMalL'ti  3», 
 76.Jobu  13. 
 33. 
 
 ^Mat.-?7.  I. 
 ft  .^ct9  4  2G 
 pee  .'A  i-t^ 
 
 »  Mat.  20.64. 
 MarkU.62. 
 Hcb.l.S.  & 
 8.  1. 
 
 a  Mat.  97.  S. 
 fliarklo.  1. 
 Jolin  18.28. 
 
 c  See  Milt. 
 
 17.27.  St  2-2. 
 
 2I.Mnikl2. 
 
 17. 
 d  John  19. 
 
 12. 
 ffMat.  27.  II. 
 
 I  Tim.li.l3. 
 
 /  1  Pel  2.22. 
 
 Mat.  14.  1. 
 Mark  6.  H. 
 
 m  VM.  97. 
 23.1\l<arkl.'). 
 M.Joliii  13. 
 33.  at  ly.  4. 
 
 /I  vep.  I,  9. 
 
 <l  Mat.97.li. 
 Mark  15.  G. 
 John  18.30 
 
 s  Mat.  27.26. 
 
 Markl.'t.l.'i. 
 
 John  19.16- 
 ll(>r,n«M/eil, 
 
 Ex.  23   2. 
 
 unto  ^  Herod's  jurisdiction,  he  sent  him  to 
 Herod,  who  himself  also  was  at  Jerusalem  at 
 that  time. 
 
 8  t  And  when  Herod  saw  Jesus,  he  was  ex- 
 ceeding glad  :  for  ''  he  was  desirous  to  see  him 
 of  a  long  season,  because  '  he  had  heard  many 
 things  of  him  ;  and  he  hoped  to  have  seen 
 some  miracle  done  by  him. 
 
 9  Then  he  questioned  with  him  in  many 
 words  ;  but  he  answered  him  nothing. 
 
 10  And  the  cliief  priests  and  scribes  stood 
 and  vehemently  accused  him. 
 
 1 1  '  And  Herod  with  his  men  of  war  set  him 
 at  nought,  and  mocked  hhn,  and  arrayed  him 
 in  a  gorgeous  robe,  and  sent  him  again  to 
 Pilate. 
 
 12  f  And  the  same  day  '  Pilate  and  Herod 
 were  made  friends  together  :  for  before  they 
 were  at  enmity  lietween  themselve."!. 
 
 13  IT"'  And  'Pilate,  when  he  had  called  to- 
 gether the  chief  priests  and  the  rulers  and  the 
 people, 
 
 14  Said  unto  them,  "  Ye  have  brought  this 
 man  unto  ine,  as  one  that  perverteth  the 
 people :  and,  behold,  °  I,  having  examined 
 him  before  you,  have  found  no  fault  in  this 
 man  touching  those  tilings  whereof  ye  accuse 
 him  : 
 
 15  No,  nor  yet  Herod:  for  I  sent  you  to 
 him  ;  and,  lo,  nothing  worthy  of  death  is  done 
 unto  him. 
 
 16  ''I  will  thereforechasti.se  him,  and  release 
 hi7n. 
 
 17  ''  (For  of  necessity  he  must  release  one 
 unto  them  at  the  feast.) 
 
 18  And  '  they  cried  out  all  at  once,  saying, 
 Away  with  this  man,  and  release  unto  us 
 Baralihas  : 
 
 19  (Who  for  a  certain  sedition  made  in  the 
 city,  and  for  murder,  was  cast  into  prison.) 
 
 20  Pilate  therefore,  willing  to  release  Jesus, 
 spake  again  to  them. 
 
 21  But  they  cried,  saying.  Crucify  Azm,  cru- 
 cify him. 
 
 22  And  he  said  unto  them  the  third  time. 
 Why,  what  evil  hath  he  done?  I  have  found 
 no  cause  of  deatli  in  him  :  I  will  therefore 
 chastise  him,  and  let  hirn  go. 
 
 23  And  they  were  Instant  with  loud  voices, 
 requiring  that  he  might  he  crucified.  And 
 the  voices  of  thein  and  of  the  chief  priests  pre- 
 vailed. 
 
 24  An  d  '  Pilate  ||  gave  sentence  that  it  should 
 be  as  they  required. 
 
 23  And  he  released  unto  them  him  that  for 
 sedition  and  murder  was  cast  into  prison,  whom 
 they  had  desired  ;  but  he  delivered  Jesus  to 
 their  will. 
 
 t>l.  Proithcstf,  f(c. — tins  usatje  of  Christ  refers  to  that  sport  so  nrdin.-try 
 among  children,  called  intifi),,,  in  which  it  is  the  manner  first  to  hlind- 
 folri,  then  to  strike,  (ver.  63,)  then  to  a.sk  who  gave  the  hlow,  and  not 
 to  let  the  person  go  til!  he  had  named  the  right  man  who  had  struck 
 him.  It  wa-s  used  on  this  occasion  to  reproach  our  blessed  Lord,  and 
 to  expose  him  to  ridicule. — Hum.  SeeMatt.  x,\vi,  6^,  notes.  69.  Here- 
 '■fter, '  from  this  very  time.*  Atto  tou  wv,  the  kingdom  of  God  is  now 
 going  to  be  set  up.— J.  Clarke.  The  Son  of  man  sit,  f/e.—see  Matt. 
 -xxvi.  64,  notes. 
 
 Chat.  XXIII.—  1.  Mullilniir,  that  is,  probably,  the  priests,  elders, 
 scribes,  and  captains  of  the  temple,  with  tlieir  servants  and  dependents ; 
 for  the  common  people  were,  for  the  most  jiart,  favourers  of  Jesus. 
 Hence  he  was  seized  in  the  night,  and  '  in  the  absence  of  the  multi- 
 tude,' (chap.  xxii.  6.)—Bp.  Pearce.  2.  Forliiddin^  lo  pioe  triiute. 
 
 an  evident  lie,  (see  Matt.  xxii.  21.) — Whittnj.  3.  Thou  sai/est  it — see 
 Matt,  xxvii.  11,  note.  7.  Ttt  Herf)ft,  Herod  Antipas,  the  same  that 
 
 had  beheaded  John. — llfun.  He  was  then  governor  of  Galilee,  and  at 
 this  very  time  was  come  up  to  the  feast  of  Jerusalem.  11.  Men  of 
 war,  guard. — Gur/se.  A  ^ftr^etnts  rotie,  «rfltiTa  \afinf>nv.  The  word 
 Xa/i7rpo9  was  used  for  '  white  ;*  the  application  of  it  by  Poh/hius  to  the 
 to^fc  worn  by  the  candidates  for  offices  at  Rome,  if  there  were  no  other 
 evidence,  would  be  sufficient.  Such  white  and  splendid  robes  were 
 worn  in  the  east  by  sovereigns.  Herod  caused  our  Lord  to  be  dressed 
 in  such  a  garment,  not,  probably,  to  signify  the  opiniiui  he  had  of  his 
 innocence,  but  in  derisiou  of  his  pretensions  to  royalty. — Camp.,  so 
 Bp.  Pearce,  and  Clarke.  17.  Must  release — see  Matt,  xxvii.  15,  note. 
 18.  Barabbfis — see  Matt,  xxvii.  16,  note. 
 
 1100 
 
 Kiii-LKciioNS  ON  CriAT.  .XXII See  Reflection  II.  to  the  end,  on  Matt.  xxvi. 
 
The  destruction  of  Jerusalem. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XXIII. 
 
 ChrisCs  dtnth  and  buriaL 
 
 26  '  And  as  they  led  him  away,  they  laid  hold 
 upon  one  Simon,  a  Cyrenian,  coming  out  of 
 the  counti-y,  and  on  him  they  laid  the  cross, 
 that  he  might  bear  it  atter  Jesus. 
 
 •27  t  And  there  followed  him  a  great  com- 
 pany of  people,  and  of  women,  which  also  be- 
 wailed and  lamented  him. 
 
 •28  But  Jesus  turning  unto  them  said,  Daugh- 
 ters of  Jerusalem,  weep  not  for  me,  but  weep 
 for  yourselves,  and  for  your  children. 
 
 29  "  For,  behold,  the  days  are  coming,  in  the 
 which  they  shall  say.  Blessed  are  the  barren, 
 and  the  wombs  that  never  bare,  and  the  paps 
 which  never  gave  suck. 
 
 30  ^  Then  shall  they  begin  to  say  to  the 
 mountains,  Fall  on  us  ;  and  to  the  hills,  Cover 
 us. 
 
 31  *'  For  if  they  do  these  things  in  a  green 
 tree,  what  shall  be  done  in  the  dry  ? 
 
 32  *  And  there  were  also  two  other,  malefac- 
 tors, led  with  him  to  be  put  to  death. 
 
 33  And  '^  when  they  were  come  to  the  place, 
 which  is  called  ||  Calvary,  tliere  they  crucified 
 him,  and  the  malefactors,  one  on  the  right 
 hand,  and  the  other  on  the  left. 
 
 34  1[  Then  said  Jesus,  Father,  ^  forgive  them  ; 
 for  '^  they  know  not  wliat  they  do.  And  ''  they 
 parted  his  raiment,  and  cast  lots. 
 
 3j  And  "^  the  people  stood  beholding.  And 
 the  *"  rulers  also  with  them  derided  hhn,  saying, 
 He  saved  otiiers  ;  let  him  save  himself,  if  he  be 
 Christ,  the  chosen  of  God. 
 
 36  And  the  soldiers  also  mocked  him,  coming 
 to  him,  and  offering  him  vinegar, 
 
 37  And  saying.  If  thou  be  the  king  of  the 
 Jews,  save  thyself. 
 
 38  ^  And  a  superscription  also  was  written 
 over  him  in  letters  of  Greek,  and  Latin,  and 
 Hebrew,  THIS  IS  THE  KING  OF  THE 
 JEWS. 
 
 39  H  ''  And  one  of  the  malefactors  which  were 
 hanged  railed  on  him,  saying.  If  thou  be  Christ, 
 save  thyself  and  us. 
 
 40  But  the  other  answering  rebuked  him, 
 saying,  Dost  not  thou  fear  God,  seeing  thou 
 art  in  the  same  condemnation  V 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 rklS.ai 
 Si-e  .lohii 
 19.  17. 
 
 Ezek  20  il. 
 
 &  31.  S,  \. 
 
 1  Pet,  4.  17. 
 =  Ir.  5S.  12. 
 
 Mat.  'J7.  38. 
 a  Rial  27  H3 
 
 M.11K15.?'?. 
 
 .Inliii  I'J   17, 
 
 Irt. 
 11  Or,  the 
 
 I>  Mat.  5.41. 
 
 Acts  7.  CO, 
 
 I  Cor.  i.\-2. 
 L- Acts  3.  17- 
 d  Md,t.2r.35. 
 
 HIaikl5.:.'l. 
 
 .lolinlO.  23. 
 ■2.  17. 
 
 -.■h. 
 
 '    10. 
 
 /^M.it  27..Hy 
 
 M.il.  2-7 Ab 
 
 Miiikir.  33. 
 I  Or,  Imid. 
 
 A  nr.-it. '.'7..^l. 
 i11;irkl5.3S, 
 
 /P*.3I.  5. 
 
 I  IVt.2.  23. 
 m  ^J;it.  -7. 
 
 5ll.M.irkl.^. 
 
 37  .'''.u  19. 
 
 SO. 
 ..HI at   ?T  M. 
 
 W.iiki:..39. 
 
 .    Ps.SS.  M. 
 
 Markl5  4U, 
 See  John 
 ly.  afl. 
 
 p  fll;it.->7.r.7 
 Matkl3.4^. 
 Ji>liul9.38. 
 
 s  Mat  S7.&2. 
 
 I  cli.  3,  2. 
 u   Mark  15. 
 
 !/  Es.20. 10 
 
 41  And  we  indeed  justly  ;  for  we  receive  the 
 due  reward  of  our  deeds:  but  this  man  hath 
 done  nothing  amiss. 
 
 42  And  he  said  unto  Jesus,  Lord,  remember 
 me  when  thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom. 
 
 43  And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Verily  I  say 
 unto  thee.  To  day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in 
 paradise, 
 
 44  '  And  it  was  about  the  sixth  hour,  and 
 there  was  a  darkness  over  all  the  ||  earth  until 
 the  ninth  hour. 
 
 4j  And  the  sun  was  darkened,  and  ''  the  veil 
 of  the  temple  was  rent  in  the  midst. 
 
 46  M  And  when  Jesus  had  cried  witi)  a  loud 
 voice,  he  said,  '  Father,  into  thy  hands  I  com- 
 mend my  spirit  :  '"and  having  said  thus,  he 
 gave  up  the  ghost. 
 
 47  "  Now  when  the  centurion  saw  what  was 
 done,  he  glorified  God,  saying,  Certainly  this 
 was  a  righteous  man. 
 
 48  And  all  the  people  that  came  together  to 
 that  sight,  beholding  the  things  which  were 
 done,  smote  their  breasts,  and  returned, 
 
 49  "  And  all  his  acquaintance,  and  the  women 
 that  followed  him  from  Galilee,  stood  afar  off, 
 beholding  these  things. 
 
 50  1[PAnd,  behold,  thei'e  was  a  man  named 
 Joseph,  a  counsellor;  and  he  was  a  good  man, 
 and  a  just  : 
 
 51  (The  same  had  not  consented  to  the  coun- 
 sel and  deed  of  them  ;)/;e  was  of  Arimathiva,  a 
 city  of  the  Jews  :  ''  who  also  himself  waited  for 
 the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 52  This  7Han  went  unto  Pilate,  and  begged 
 the  body  of  Jesus. 
 
 53  ""  And  he  took  it  down,  and  wrapped  it  in 
 linen,  and  laid  it  in  a  sepulchre  that  was  hewn 
 iu  stone,  wherein  never  man  before  was  laid. 
 
 54  And  that  day  was  '^  the  preparation,  and 
 the  sabbath  drew  on. 
 
 55  And  the  women  also,  '  which  came  with 
 him  from  Galilee,  followed  after,  and  "beheld 
 the  sepulchre,  and  how  his  body  was  laid, 
 
 56  And  they  returned,  and  ^  prepared  spices 
 and  ointments  ;  and  rested  the  sabbath  day 
 ''according  to  the  commandment. 
 
 26.  Arid  on  him  they  laid  the  cross — see  Matt,  xxvii.  32,  notes.  31.  If 
 the?/  do  thfSf^  things  i»  a  grc-en  tree,  %-c.,  '  if  the  Romans  are  ppimittcU 
 to  inflict  su(*h  heavy  punishments  on  me,  who  am  innocent,  how  dread- 
 ful must  the  vengeance  he  which  they  ^llaU  inflict  on  the  nation  whose 
 sins  cry  aloud  to  heaven,  lia^teniufr  the  pace  of  the  Divine  judgments, 
 and  reridt-ring  ttie  perpetrators  as  fit  for  "  punishment  as  dry  wood  is 
 f()r  burning."  '  The  expression  is  proverbial,  and  was  in  frequent  use 
 among  the  .lews,  who  compared  a  good  man  to  a  green  tree,  and  a  bad 
 man  to  a  dead  and  dry  one,  (comp.  Ezck.  xx.  47,  with  Ezek.  xxi.  3; 
 f-ee  also  Ps.  i.  3.) — Bfiif!.  It  was  an  usual  proverbial  adajje,  that  two 
 pieces  of  dry  wood  will  burn  a  green  one.— Gro^  3i.  Tico  other, 
 
 mnlefnrtora — these  were,  perhaps,  not  robbers,  in  the  common  sense 
 of  the  word,  but  Jews  who  took  up  arms  on  the  principle  that  tlie  Ro- 
 mans were  not  to  be  submitted  to,  and  that  their  levies  of  tribute 
 money  were  oppressive;  hence  they  made  no  scruple  to  rob  all  the 
 Romans  they  met. — lip.  Pearce.  Particular  regard  should  here  be 
 paid  to  the  punctuation,  or  our  Lord  is  otlierwise  admitted  to  be  a  ma- 
 lefactor; but  though  he  was  numbered  with  the  transgressors,  he  was 
 not  one.  The  omission  of  the  comma  occurs  in  some  common  copies 
 of  the  Scriptures,  and  ought  to  be  corrected. —  Ed.  ."iS.  Cnlvurp,  or 
 •  Golgotha,*  tliat  is,  the  place  of  a  scull,  a  little  hill  north-west  of  Je- 
 rusalem, and  so  called,  it  is  thought,  from  its  scull-like  form.  It  for- 
 merly stood  outside  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  Some,  as  Stockiiis  and 
 Dr.  E.  D.  Clurke,  have  siippo'^ed  that  the  place  was  so  called  because 
 it  was  a  public  cemetery  ;  hut  Mr.  Taplor  observes  that  it  is  always 
 used  in  the  singular,  '  the  place  of  a  scull,'  which  would  have  been  a 
 very  improper  designation  for  '  a  place  of  many  sculls  ;*  '  one'  might, 
 however,  be  used  for 'many.'    Calvary  is  from  the  Latin  calvus,  '  a. 
 
 hald-pate.'— See  Tin/lor's  Calm.  They  crucified  him— see  Matt,  xxvii. 
 35,  notes.  S.").  The  chosen  of  God,  6  rov  Oeou  tKAeKTiir.  36.  7'ke 
 
 soldiers  also  mocked  hiir.— they  were  angry  that  any  one  should  have 
 pretended  to  royalty  in  Judea,  where  Ceesarhad  established  his  autho- 
 rity.— Mackn.  Vinegar,  the  customary  drink  of  the  Roman  soldiers. 
 ^Mant.  See  Matt,  xxvii.  31,  note.  38.  A  si/perscriptioti— see  Matt. 
 xxvii.  37,  notes.  43.  Paradise,  i.  e.  a6nv,  or  the  intermediate  place 
 of  departed  spirits.  —  Grotins,  Whitby,  Wetstein,  Pearce,  Jtasenm., 
 Miittbif.  Bloomf.,  SiC.  The  region  of  repose  and  rest,  where  the  souls 
 of  the  righteous  abide  in  joyful  hope  of  the  consummation  of  their  bliss. 
 This  was  not  heaven,  for  to  heaven  our  Lord  ascended  not  till  after  his 
 resurrection.  Not  a  place  of  torment,  for  to  any  such  place  the  name 
 of  paradise  never  was  applied.  —  Hors.,  so  Terlu/.,  Orig.,  Chri/sos. 
 Hesiven  and  eternal  glory  is  here  meant.— <?i7/.  That  state  of  blessed- 
 ness which  the  separate  spirits  of  the  righteous  enjoy  in  the  heavenly 
 mansions.— (7?///.sv.  Heaven  is  here  intended,  for  so  the  word  signifies 
 in  Scripture.  12  Cor.  xii.  4;  Rev.  ii.  7;)  in  allusion  to  the  terrestrial 
 paradise,  whicii  was  the  dwelling  which  God  had  designed  for  innocent 
 and  upright  man,  (Gen.  ii.  15,  &c.)— il/ar.  44.  Darkness— niJith  hour 
 —see  Matt,  xxvii.  45,  46,  notes.  45.  Veil— rent— %ee  Matt,  xxvii.  51, 
 notes.  46.  Gaue  vp  the  ghost— see  Matt,  xxvii.  50,  notes.  47,  Cer- 
 tninly  this  ivas  a  righteous  man,  '  was  the  Son  of  God.' — So  Matthew. 
 Both  expressions  might  have  been  uttexeA.— Evangelical  Synopsis. 
 51.  Of  AHmatha:a—?,ee  M3.tt.  xxvii.  57,  note.  ^2.  Begged  the  imdy— 
 sec  Matt,  xxvii.  58,  note.  54.  The  preparation,  both  for  the  sabbath 
 and  for  the  chagigah,  or  grand  festival,  wliich  they  kept  on  the  fifteenth 
 day  of  the  month,  in  a  very  pompous  manner.  —  Gill.  Drew  on, 
 €TTt(jnii<Tk€,  was  just  dawning  or  commencing. — Bloomf. 
 
 Reki.ictions  on  Chap.  XXTIl. — I.  Herud  and  Pontius 
 Pilate  were  made  friends  un  the  occasion  of  Christ^s  arraitinmeiit ; 
 and  '  liow  many  cement  tlieir  friendship  by  contempt  of  him  !' 
 
 II.  Tlie  Jews  jjreferred  t/ie  rckase  of  a  murderer  rather  than 
 that  the  innocent  Jesns  shouht  cscajic  from  tht  ir  hands.  Thus  do 
 meu  still  '  undervalue  and  dorido  biiii  aud  preier  every  Um- 
 1101 
 
 poral  interest,  or  even  a  lust  or  devil,  to  him ;   indignant  that 
 be  should  reign  or  have  any  honour  in  the  world.* 
 
 III.  Jesus,  in  the  midst  of  his  sufferint/s,  prayed  even  for  his 
 enemies.  Let  us  admire  bis  grace,  and  learn  to  imitate  bis 
 example. 
 
 IV,  The  dying  thief  was  saved  upon  the  very  cross ;  '  a  proof 
 
Cfirisfs  resurrection  declared. 
 
 S.LUKE,    XXIV. 
 
 He  appeareth  to  the  two  disciples. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  ChrisCs  resurrection  is  declared  bif  two  angels  to  t/ie 
 women  t/iat  come  to  tlie  seputclirc.  9  Tliese  report  it 
 to  otfiers.  ly  C/trist  tiiinse/f  appenretli  to  the  two 
 disciples  that  wettt  to  Eminaus ;  ^6  afterwards  lie 
 appeareth  to  the  apostles^  and  reprooetli  tlicir  unbelief: 
 47  yiveth  them  a  cliarye :  49  promiseth  tbe  Holy 
 Ghost  •  51  and  so  aseendeth  into  heaven. 
 
 "jVrOW  "upon  the  first  doi/  of  the  week,  very 
 •^  '  early  in  tlie  morning,  they  came  unto  tlie 
 sepulchre,  ''  hringing  the  spices  which  they  had 
 prepared,  ajid  certain  others  with  them. 
 
 2  "  And  they  found  the  stone  rolled  away 
 from  the  sepulchre. 
 
 3  ■■  And  they  entered  in,  and  found  not  the 
 body  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
 
 4  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  they  were  much 
 perplexed  thereabout,  "  behold,  two  men  stood 
 by  them  in  shining  garments  : 
 
 5  And  as  they  were  afraid,  and  bowed  down 
 iheir  faces  to  the  earth,  they  said  unto  them, 
 Why  seek  ye  ||  the  living  among  the  dead  ? 
 
 6  He  is  not  here,  but  is  risen:  'remember 
 how  he  spake  unto  you  when  he  was  yet  in 
 Galilee, 
 
 7  Saying,  The  Son  of  man  must  be  delivered 
 into  tlie  hands  of  sinl'ul  men,  and  be  crucified, 
 and  tlie  third  day  rise  again. 
 
 8  And  ^  they  remembered  his  words, 
 
 9  ''  And  returned  from  the  sepulchre,  and 
 told  all  tliese  things  unto  the  eleven,  and  to 
 all  the  rest. 
 
 10  It  was  Mary  Magdalene,  and  'Joanna, 
 and  Mary  the  mother  of  James,  and  other 
 ?romeii  that  leere  with  them,  which  told  these 
 things  unto  the  apostles. 
 
 1 1  '  And  their  words  seemed  to  them  as  idle 
 tales,  and  they  believed  them  not. 
 
 12  '  Then  arose  Peter,  and  ran  unto  the  se- 
 pulchre ;  and  stooping  down,  he  beheld  the 
 linen  clothes  laid  by  themselves,  and  departed, 
 wondering  in  himself  at  that  which  was  come 
 to  pass. 
 
 13  f  "And,  behold,  two  of  them  went  that 
 same  day  to  a  village  called  Emmaus,  which 
 was  from  Jerusalem  ubuttt  threescore  furlongs. 
 
 Jolin  ■!».  I. 
 6ch.  £3.  56. 
 
 c  Mat,  28. 2 
 Mark  16,  4. 
 
 I  vcr  '21. 
 Mark  16.  5. 
 
 .r.i1ui?0  12. 
 Acts  I,  10. 
 
 /Mat  16  -M. 
 fc  17.  !«. 
 Marks  ,11 
 &9    ,11, 
 
 c\\.  9,  as. 
 
 S  J.,1.11  8,2e 
 
 »  mark  16, 
 12. 
 
 f  Juliill9,°5. 
 
 »  Mat  21  11. 
 
 ch,  7.  16. 
 
 Jolinia  ». 
 
 •1  19..%  6  14. 
 
 Acta  8.  t^. 
 r  ActB7.22. 
 
 « ch.  as.  I, 
 
 Acts  13  27, 
 28, 
 (ch,  1,6S, 
 
 da.  as. 
 
 Acts  1.  6, 
 
 I  Mat,  28.8. 
 Markie  10. 
 
 J  vBr.  4.'i. 
 
 oGcn  3  15 
 R  22  IS.  & 
 26,  4.  &  -19 
 10  Num. 
 91  9.  Duut. 
 IS.  15 
 
 A  Pa.  16.  9, 
 in.  &  22-  & 
 
 112    II 
 
 .  14.  8t 
 
 9   6.  &  40. 
 10,  II  }t;50. 
 
 6.  U  1:3. 
 Jer.  2,15   & 
 ,11.  14,  15. 
 Kz.'k  11.23 
 Sc  1-.  25. 
 Dan.  9   24, 
 Mic.  7.  20, 
 Mai.  3.1.  & 
 4.  2.  See  on 
 John  I.  45. 
 
 c  See  fien. 
 32  26-  &  12. 
 
 7.  SI  ark  6, 
 49, 
 
 14  And  they  talked  together  of  all  these 
 things  which  had  happened. 
 
 lo  And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  while  they  com- 
 muned together  and  reasoned,  "  Jesus  liimself 
 drew  near,  and  went  with  them, 
 
 16  But  "their  eyes  were  holden  that  they 
 should  not  know  him, 
 
 17  And  he  said  unto  them.  What  manner  of 
 communications  are  these  that  ye  have  one  to 
 another,  as  ye  walk,  and  are  sad  ? 
 
 18  And  the  one  of  thein,  ''whose  name  was 
 Cleopas,  answering  said  unto  him.  Art  tliou 
 only  a  stranger  in  Jerusalem,  and  hast  not 
 known  the  things  which  are  come  to  pass  there 
 in  these  days? 
 
 19  And  he  said  unto  them.  What  things? 
 And  they  said  unto  him,  Concerning  Jesus  of 
 Nazareth,  '' which  was  a  prophet  'mighty  in 
 deed  and  word  before  God  and  all  the  people  : 
 
 20  'And  how  the  chief  priests  and  our  rulers 
 delivered  him  to  be  condemned  to  death,  and 
 have  crucified  him. 
 
 •21  But  we  trusted  '  that  it  had  been  he  which 
 should  have  redeemed  Israel :  and  beside  all 
 this,  to  day  is  the  third  day  since  these  things 
 were  done. 
 
 22  Yea,  and  "  certain  women  ,ilso  of  our  com- 
 pany made  us  astonished,  which  were  early  at 
 the  sepulchre  ; 
 
 23  And  when  they  found  not  bis  body,  they 
 came,  saying,  that  they  had  also  seen  a  vision 
 of  angels,  which  said  tliat  he  was  alive. 
 
 24  And  '  certain  of  them  which  were  with  us 
 went  to  the  sepulchre,  and  found  it  even  so 
 as  the  women  had  said  :  but  him  they  saw  not. 
 
 25  Then  he  said  unto  tliem,  O  fools,  and 
 slow  of  heart  to  believe  all  that  the  prophets 
 haVe  spoken  : 
 
 26  ^  Ought  not  Christ  to  have  suffered  these 
 things,  and  to  enter  into  his  glory? 
 
 27  'And  beginning  at  °  Moses  and  '  all  the 
 prophets,  he  e.xpounded  unto  them  in  all  the 
 scriptures  the  things  concerning  himself. 
 
 28  And  they  drew  nigh  imto  the  village, 
 whither  they  went :  and  '  he  made  as  though 
 he  would  have  gone  further. 
 
 Chap,  XXIV,  —  I .  Ttteij^  ilic  women — see  chap,  xxiii,  55,  4.  Tu'O 
 men,  angels  in  tlic  form  of  men, — Gitl.  Stood  At/,  (ircffrno-av,  or  '  sutl- 
 deiily  appeared  to,' — Bens.  5,  Win/  seek  ye  the  tirying  I  ffc,  iiiti- 
 maling,  that  thotigli  Christ  had  heen  dead  he  was  now  living. — Gilt. 
 This  was  a  popular  adage  for  '  why  seek  ye  alive  person  in  a  sepulchre  ?' 
 a.1  appears  from  the  rabbiiiital  citations  in  L'^htfoot  and  Wetstein. 
 13,  Emmatis,  seven  or  eight  miles  west  of  Jerusalem  ;  afterwards  made 
 a  city  and  Roman  colony,  called  Nicopolis, —  It'elts.  15,  Rensonefl, 
 av^nreiv,  *  discussed,  examined,  r)r  inquired  togetlier,' — West.  '  Ria, 
 soned  concerning  these  things,'  namely,  whether  it  was  probable  that 
 Christ  actually  was  risen,  and  therefore,  notwithstanding  lie  had  suf- 
 fered death,  was  the  Me.'^siah. —  Itens.  16.  Their  eyes  were  holden, 
 SfC. — it  does  not  appear  that  Ihcrewas  anything  supernatural  here,  for 
 Christ  appeared  in  another  form.  (Marlt,  xvi,  VI.)— Clarke.  Their  eyes 
 *  were  so  affected  that  they  did  not  see,' — Camp.  They  were  inatten- 
 tive, taking  little  notice  of  their  companion,  as  being  a  stranger, — So 
 Kype,  Rosejim.  Kuinoel,  Sefileusner,  ^c.  They  were  so  oppressed 
 by  grief, — Le  Cterc.  He  miraeulou-iy  affected  their  sight,  so  that  they 
 had  not  a  just  discerning  of  liim.  This  is  very  consistent  with  what  is 
 said  in  Mark,  that  he  appeared  in  another  form;  for  this  alteration 
 upon  tlic  air.  or  upon  the  organs  of  sight,  gave  his  appearance  a  dif- 
 ferent form  from  its  own  ;  but  tliat  the  distinguishing  form  of  his  body, 
 and  features  of  his  face,  themselves,  were  not  altered  is  evident,  be- 
 cause then  there  would  have  been  no  occasion  to  withhold  their  eyes 
 from  knowing  him  ;  and  as  soon  as  that  obstruction  was  removed  tliey 
 knew  who  he  was. — Guyse.  There  was  some  particular  agency  of 
 God  to  divert  their  eyes  from  looking  steadfastly  upon  him,  or  so  to 
 aflFect  their  memories  as  to  render  them  incapable  of  recollecting  who 
 he  was,  though  his  change  of  appearance  might  not  be  without  effect, 
 
 (comp.  ver,  31 ,) — Doddr.,  so  Bloom/.,  as  Grotitis,  Ham.,  Bez.,  Whitlnj. 
 I".  Vl'hat  manner  of  commiinicalions I  '  what  arguments  are  these  that 
 ye  are  debating  one  with  anotlier?' — West.  18,  Cleojias,  was  one  of 
 the  seventy  disciples,  and  father  of  tlie  apostles  James  and  Jnde,  and 
 brotlier  to  Joseph  the  husband  of  Mary  the  mother  of  Christ, — Gill,  lie 
 married  the  sister  of  the  Virgin  Mary;  so  the  ancient  fathers  — Wil. 
 ,'lcf  lltim  only  a  stranger  I  5c, — he  was  surprised  that  any  one  who  had 
 come  from  Jerusalem  should  have  been  ignorant  of  the  extraordinary 
 things  which  had  lately  hapjjened  there, — Bens.  He  might  here  ac- 
 count for  his  ignorance  as  a  stranger,  or  mean  that  any  one  though  a 
 stranger  must  surely  have  known  vvliat  Iiad  made  so  much  noise, — 
 Camp.,  so  others.  2\.  Stiould  hare  redeemed  Israel — they  had  fol- 
 lowed our  Saviour  as  a  temporary  Messiah,  who  would  prove  by  mi- 
 racles his  claim  to  the  throne  of  David,  and  rescue  the  thousands  of 
 Israel  from  a  foreign  yoke.  But  the  event  exhibited  a  sad  reverse  of 
 all  that  Ihey  expected. — J.  Bennett.  25,  0 fools,  il  avoinot,  '  O  foolish,* 
 or  thtuightless  persons, — Bens.  It  seems  to  answer  to  our  word  '  mis- 
 judging, stupid,*  Shu-  of  heart,  /3pa5e(?  ry  Kapiof,  denote  inertness  of 
 intellect. — Blaamf.  26,  Ought  not  Christ  to  hare  suffered  I  tj-r.,  ot'x' 
 £3ei  TTutletv  Tov  XpitrToi' ;  '  was  it  not  necessary  that  Christ  should  suf- 
 fer?*— .i.  Clarke.  '  did  ye  not  know  that  it  was  decretd  (cdei)  that  the 
 Messiah  should  attain  to  honour  and  gloiy  through  much  tribulation  '* 
 — Rosenm..  Kuinoel.  See  Acts,  xiv,  22.  To  accomplish  God*s  design 
 of  saving  the  world  by  the  death  of  his  Son,  in  accordance  with  the 
 oracli-'S  which  had  predicted  it,  (Grn,  iii.  15  ;  Ps.  xxii,  1,  &c. ;  Isa.  I. 
 G,  and  liii.  I  ;  Dan.  ix,  26,)  and,  in  fine,  to  fill  up  the  types  and  figures 
 which  had  represented  it  long  bef  ire,  (John,  iii,  15,  &c,,)  and,  indeed, 
 all  the  sacrifices,— ;l/ar.  28,  He  made  as  though,  §7,*.— Ihis  was  no 
 
 dissimulation  ;  he  only  behaved  as  common  rules  of  ci\  ility  would  have 
 
 of  the  power  and  sovereiijnty  of  our  Lord  Jesus  in  triumphing 
 over  Satan, ' 
 
 V.    God  the  Father  marhed  the  suffrriuns  of  his  Son  with    dis- 
 llil2 
 
 tintjuished  honour,  '  in  making  his  judge,  the  crncifiers,  the 
 ritleiiding  women,  and  even  the  darkened  sun,  the  quailing 
 earth,  and  the  rent  veil,  concur  to  attest  liis  Messiahsliip,''" 
 
He  appeareth  to  the  apostles. 
 
 S.  LUKE,  XXIV. 
 
 and  reproveth  their  unbelief. 
 
 29  But  ''they  constrained  liim,  saying,  Abide 
 with  us  :  for  it  is  toward  evening,  and  the  day 
 is  far  spent.  And  he  went  in  to  tarry  with 
 tliem. 
 
 30  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  sat  at  meat 
 with  them,  "lie  took  bread,  and  blessed  it,  and 
 brake,  and  gave  to  them. 
 
 .SI  And  their  eyes  were  opened,  and  they 
 knew  him  ;  and  he  ||  vanislied  out  of  their 
 siglit. 
 
 32  And  they  said  one  to  another.  Did  not 
 our  heart  burn  within  us,  while  he  talked  with 
 us  by  the  way,  and  while  he  opened  to  us  the 
 scriptures  ? 
 
 33  And  they  rose  up  the  same  hour,  and  re- 
 turned to  Jerusalem,  and  found  the  eleven 
 gathered  together,  and  them  that  were  with 
 them, 
 
 34  Saying,  The  Lord  is  risen  indeed,  and 
 'hath  appeared  to  Simon. 
 
 3j  And  they  told  what  things  were  done  in 
 the  way,  and  how  he  was  known  of  them  in 
 breaking  of  bread. 
 
 36  II*  And  as  they  thus  spake,  Jesus  himself 
 stood  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  saith  unto 
 them.  Peace  be  unto  you. 
 
 37  But  they  were  terrified  and  affrighted,  and 
 .supposed  that  they  had  seen  ^  a  spirit. 
 
 38  And  he  said  unto  them.  Why  are  ye 
 troubled  ?  and  why  do  thoughts  arise  in  your 
 hearts? 
 
 3!)  Behold  my  hands  and  my  feet,  that  it  is  I 
 myself:  '  handle  me,  and  see  ;  for  a  spirit  hath 
 not  flesh  and  bones,  as  ye  see  me  have. 
 
 40  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  he  shewed 
 them  his  hands  and  his  feet. 
 
 /I  Cor. 15 
 
 J  Mark  10, 
 1 1  John  20. 
 VJ.  I  Cor. 
 M.i. 
 
 k  :Hark  0.19. 
 
 t  Jnim  20.20, 
 27. 
 
 k  Gen  43.L't 
 I  John  21.  : 
 
 71  ActslO.ll- 
 t  Mat. 16.21. 
 
 dc  17.  22    * 
 
 20.13.Matl. 
 
 S.  ai.cli.  9. 
 
 22.  &  18.31. 
 
 ver.  6. 
 
 it  ver.  S6. 
 Ps.  22.  U. 
 50.  6.  &  .')3. 
 2,  &c.  Acts 
 17.  .1. 
 
 7  Dan,  9.2), 
 Acts  13,  S8, 
 10,  1  John 
 2,  12, 
 
 r  Gen,  12,  3, 
 Ps,  22,  27. 
 Is.  19.6,  22. 
 Jcr.  31.  il 
 Hos.  a.  23. 
 Mic.  4.  2. 
 Mai.  1.  II. 
 
 1  Johnl5.27, 
 .^cts  1.  8. 
 22.  fi  2.  32, 
 &  3.  15, 
 
 /Is  -14 .3. Joel 
 2.  28.  John 
 14.  16,  20, 
 &  IS.  26.  & 
 16  7,  .^cts 
 I.  4,  ac2,  1, 
 S.C. 
 
 ri  Actsl.  12. 
 
 ,r  2Kii 
 
 Ml, 
 
 .Mark  16. 19, 
 
 John  20.17. 
 
 Acts  1.  9. 
 
 Eph.  4,  8, 
 II  Mat,  a.'iO, 
 ■  17. 
 :  Acta  2.  46. 
 
 &  6.  42. 
 
 41  And  while  they  yet  believed  not  ''for  joy, 
 and  wondered,  he  said  unto  them,  '  Have  ye 
 here  any  meat? 
 
 42  And  they  gave  him  a  piece  of  a  broiled 
 fish,  and  of  an  honeycomb. 
 
 43  ■"  And  he  took  it,  and  did  eat  before  them. 
 
 44  And  he  said  unto  them,  "  These  are  the 
 words  which  I  spake  unto  you,  while  I  was  yet 
 with  you,  that  all  things  must  be  fulfilled, 
 which  were  written  in  tlie  law  of  Moses,  and 
 in  the  prophets,  and  in  the  psalms,  concerning 
 me. 
 
 45  Then  °  opened  he  their  understanding, 
 that  they  might  understand  the  scriptures, 
 
 46  And  said  unto  them,  ^  Thus  it  is  written, 
 and  thus  it  behoved  Clirist  to  suffer,  and  to 
 rise  from  the  dead  the  tliird  day : 
 
 47  And  that  repentance  and  ''  remis.sion  of 
 sins  should  be  preaclied  in  his  name  'among 
 all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 48  And  '  ye  are  witnesses  of  these  things. 
 
 49  f  '  And,  behold,  I  send  the  promise  of  my 
 Father  upon  you  :  but  tarry  ye  in  tlie  city  of 
 Jerusalem,  until  ye  be  endued  with  power  from 
 on  high. 
 
 50  1  And  he  led  them  out  "  as  far  as  to  Be- 
 thany, and  he  lifted  up  his  hands,  and  blessed 
 them. 
 
 51  '  And  it  came  to  pass,  while  he  blessed 
 them,  he  was  parted  from  them,  and  carried  up 
 into  heaven. 
 
 52  ''  And  they  worshipped  him,  and  returned 
 to  Jerusalem  with  great  joy  : 
 
 53  And  were  continually  "  in  the  temple, 
 praising  and  blessing  God.     Amen. 
 
 obliged  any  str.inffer  to  do,  that  he  might  not  seem  to  thrust  himself 
 upon  their  cnmpany. — Gnyse.  29.  T/je  duy  in  fat-  spent,  tnKXintv  h 
 iiiifpn,  '  the  day  has  declined.' — Beits.  31.  Tfteir  eyes  were  opened,  i.e., 
 they  began  to  know  him, — Boothr.  The  expression  is  used  by  the  He- 
 brews, not  only  of  those  whose  eyes  are  physically,  but  morally,  closed, 
 of  those  who  at  length  perceive  what  tliey  before  failed  to  discern,  Csee 
 Gen.  iii.  5 — 7 ;  .X-Xi.  19 — 22  ;  2  Kings,  vi.  17 — 20.) — Rosenm.  He  vanished, 
 rather,  *  he  suddenly  became  invisible;'  atpavroz  e^fvcTo  ott' auTuv, 
 ' ceased  to  be  seen  by  them;'  certainly  he  did  not  vanish  as  a  mere 
 spectre. — Bens.  '  He  suddenly  went  away  from  them.' — 5.  C/iinidler. 
 He  vaniiihed,  not  as  a  spectre,  nor  as  smoke  ;  but  agility  being  a  pro- 
 perty of  his  risen  body,  lie  very  suddenly  and  swiftly  withdrew, — GiU. 
 Probably  during  their  surprise  he  took  the  opportunity  of  withdrawing 
 from  the  place, — .-i.  Clarke.  '  He  withdrew  himself '  (rom  them. — Hen. 
 32.  Burn — this  word  signifies  an  impression  extremely  lively  and  deep 
 on  the  heart. —  .Vur.  The  word  KaLeaUai,  *to  burn,'  is  often  used  of 
 vehement  commotion  and  affection  of  the  mind,  especially  joy ;  thus 
 Ps.  x-xxix.  3  ;  Jer.  xx,  9, — Ki/pe.  34.  .ippeared  to  Simon — the  apostle 
 Paul  refers  to  this,  1  Cor.  xv.  5, — Doddr.  3(5.  Stood  in  the  midst,  ^c, 
 most  probably  by  miraculuusly  opening  and  shutting  the  door,  as  the 
 angel  did,  {Acts,  v.  19.  23,  and  xii.  10  ;)  for  the  door  of  the  house  where 
 they  were  assembleil  was  doubtless  secured  by  locks  and  bolts  ;  for  it 
 was  shut,  saith  Jolm,  for  fear  of  the  Jews,  (John.xx.  19.) — Davidson. 
 37.  A  spirit,  Ttviiffxa,  a  spirit  not  clothed  with  a  real  body. — Henry. 
 
 33.  Thouglits,  ita\oj:<TijLo:,  '  doublful  and  suspicious  reasonings.' — 
 Bens.  41.  Believed  not  for  joy,  yet  doubted,  as  is  sometimes  the  case 
 in  the  occurrence  of  events  very  felicitous,  and  which  happen  suddenly 
 and  unexpectedly.— B/oom/.  44.  trritten—Gvn.  iii.  15;  Isa.  liii.; 
 
 Pan.ix.26;  Hos.  vi.2;  Ps.  xxii,,aud  xvi,  10.  L'lw^prophets—psfdms, 
 alludes  to  the  usual  distinction  among  the  Jews  of  the  books  of  the 
 Old  Testament  into  the  law.  the  prophets,  and  the  Hagiograplut,  or 
 sacred  books,  among  which  last  stands  the  book  of  Psalms,  and  which 
 is  put  for  the  whole.— Gt7/.  49.  Send  the  promise,  Sfc,  '  shed  down 
 
 the  Holy  Ghost  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  according  to  my  Father's 
 promise,'  tJoel,  ii.  2S.1— Gt/^.fe.  52.  The;/  worshipped  /jim— if  Jesus 
 
 had  ascended  before  they  rendered  this  homage,  this  must  have  been 
 an  act  of  w(>rship,  strictly  so  called  ;  for  how  they  could  do  obeisance 
 tn  one  absent,  without  supposing  him  some  way  acquainted  with  what 
 they  did,  or  admitting  him  to  be  a  Divine  person,  is  difficult  to  conceive. 
 Nor  can  it  be  said  that  they  paid  this  homage  '  while  he  was  ascend- 
 ing.* for,  according  to  Acts,  i.  9.  10.  they  continued  to  look  up  towards 
 heaven  until  the  angels  addressed  them.  They  must,  then,  have  wor- 
 shipped him  after  he  had  ascended.— BooWr.  53.  And  were  conti. 
 nually  in  tlie  temple,  i.  e,.  at  all  fit  times.  They  repaired  tliither  in 
 preference  to  any  other  place,  since  there  the  Jews  were  accustomed 
 to  pray  and  ri:tiirn  thanks  to  God,  especially  on  momentous  occasions. 
 ~-BlooyyiJield. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ciup.  XXIV.  —  This  chapter  states  two 
 important  facts — I.  The  nsurrtction  of  Christ,  This  (act  re- 
 quired the  strongest  confirmation  ;  and  nothing  recorded  in 
 Scripture  has  beeo  attested  by  so  many  corroborating  circum- 
 stances and  satisfactory  witnesses.  Let  this  fundamental 
 article  of  the  Cliristian  faitii  often  dwell  in  our  tliougiits,  be 
 raoie  freriuently  repeated  in  our  social  intercourse,  and  in- 
 fluence our  atfections.  '  If  ye  then  be  risen  with  Christ.'  says 
 an  apostle,  '  seek  those  things  which  are  above,  where  Christ 
 sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God.'  This  leads  us  to  notice  the 
 other  itreat  fact  here  recorded,  namely — 
 
 II.  The  ascension  of  Christ.  *  The  disciples,'  says  Henry, 
 *did  not  see  him  rise  from  the  grave,  because  his  restirrcctioa 
 was  capable  of  being  proved  by  their  seeing  him  alive  after- 
 
 wards; but  they  saw  him  ascend  to  heaven.'  And  observe 
 how  he  left  them  ;  while  he  was  blessing  them,  '  he  was  parted 
 from  them  ;'  not  as  if  he  was  taken  away  before  he  had  said  all 
 he  had  to  say,  but  to  intimate  that  his  being  parted  lioin  them 
 did  not  put  an  end  to  liis  blessing  of  them  ;  tor  the  interces- 
 sion which  he  went  to  heaven  to  make  lor  all  his,  is  a  continua- 
 tion of  that  blessing.  He  hegan  to  bless  them  on  earth,  but 
 lie  went  to  heaven  to  go  on  with  it.  Christ  was  now  sending 
 liis  apostles  to  preach  his  Gospel  to  the  world,  and  he  gives 
 them  his  blessin;;,  not  for  themselves  only,  but  to  be  con- 
 ferred in  his  name  upon  all  that  should  believe  on  him  through 
 their  word  ;  lor  '  in  him  all  the  families  of  the  earth  were  to  be 
 blessed. '  For  this  let  us  be  '  continually  in  the  temple,  prais- 
 ing and  blessing  God.     Amen.* 
 
 1103 
 
THE    GOSPEL 
 
 ACCORDING    TO 
 
 S.     JOHN. 
 
 [John  the  Evaiifjclist  was  the  son  of  Zcbedec,  a  fisherman,  of  the  town  of  Bcthsaida,  on  the  sea  of  Galilee,  and  the  younger 
 brother  of  James  the  Elder.  Zehcdce  was  the  owner  of  a  vessel,  and  had  hired  servants,  (Mark,  i.  20.)  From  this, 
 some  have  inferred  that  Acts,  iv.  1^3,  lias  been  misinterpreted  by  those  commentators  who  have  considered  his  children  as 
 altogether  illiterate  ;  but  education  was  not  at  that  time  a  jijeneral  thing,  nor  was  it  probably  thought  im])ortant  among 
 fisliermen  ;  they  miglit,  however,  have  been  well  instructed  in  the  Scriptures,  as  Dr.  Lardncr  considers  them  to  have 
 been.  Jolin  was  a  witness  of  the  transfiguration,  agony  in  tiic  garden,  crucifixion,  and  risen  Saviour,  (INIatt.  xvii.  2  ; 
 Alark,  ix.  2;  Luke,  is.  2H;— Matt.  xxvi.  37;  Mark,  xiv.  33 ;— John,  i'x.  26,  34,  3o  ;  xx.  19—29.)  According  to 
 all  antiquity,  this  Gospel  was  composed  and  published  the  last  of  the  four,  and  not  long  before  the  beginning  of  the  war 
 with  tlie  Romans,  which  terminated  in  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  and  the  dispersion  of  the  Jews.  This  Evangelist 
 alone  records  the  name  of  the  disciple  that  smote  the  high  priest's  servant,  perhaps  purposely  concealed  by  the  others  ; 
 but  Peter  was  now  out  of  the  reach  of  all  enemies.  He  alone  mentions  the  resurrection  of  Lazarus,  most  likely  before 
 passed  over  not  to  incense  the  Jews  against  him,  for  they  had  consulted  to  put  Lazarus  to  death.  The  others  record  our 
 J^ord's  predictions,  John  omits  them  ;  whence  it  is  reasonably  inferred,  that  they  were  most  of  them  now  fnlfiiled. 
 John's  Gospel  will  illustrate  the  following  passages  of  the  Old  Testament: — Gen.  iii.  15;  xxxiii.  19  ;  xlix.  10  ;  Exod. 
 xii.  46;  xvi.  15;  Deut.  xviii.  15— 18,  28  ;  xxi.  23;  Josh  xxiv.  .33  ;  1  Sam,  xvi.  1—4;  2  Kings,  xvii.  24  ;  Ps.  xxii.  16, 
 17,  18;lxix.2I  ;  Ixxxix.  36,  37;  cxviij.  25.26;  Prov.  viii.  20—30;  xxx.  4 ;  Is.  vi.  1— 10;  xi.  12;  xl.  3,  11  ;  liv.  13; 
 Iv.  I  ;  Ivi.  5;  Jer.  xxxi.  34  ;  Ezek.  xx;Kiv  12*  xsxvii.25;  Dan.  vii.  13,  14 ;  Amos,  vii.  10 ;  Mic,  v.  2 ;  Zech.  xii.  10  ; 
 Mai.  iv.  5] 
 
 CHAP.  L 
 
 I  The  divhiityy  humanitif,  and  office  of  J  s us  Christ. 
 J.5  T/ic  testimnnij  of  John.  39  T'hc  calliiuj  of  An- 
 drew, PcteVj  §*c. 
 
 TN  the  beginning  "  was  the   Word,  and    the 
 
 -*■    Word  was  •*  vvitJi  God,  *^  and  the  Word   was 
 
 God. 
 
 a  Prov.8,g2. 
 
 23,  &c    Col 
 
 1.17.  IJ.ihn 
 
 l.I.  Itcv.  1. 
 
 2.  fk  I!).  13. 
 6rr.iv    fl.so. 
 
 ch.  17.  b. 
 
 IJohn  1.  2 
 c  Pliil.  •_'.  0 
 
 I  J.>lm5.7. 
 
 d  Gen.  I.  1. 
 *-  Ps.  33.  fi. 
 
 Col.  1.  IB. 
 
 vrr.lO.Kph. 
 
 3.9.  Hcbl. 
 
 2.  Rpv.-l  11. 
 A.  n.  26. 
 /ch    5    2e. 
 
 IJohn  5.11. 
 jFcl.  8,I2.«(9. 
 
 2  ^  The  same  was  in  the  beginning  with 
 God. 
 
 3  '^  All  things  were  made  by  him  ;  and  with- 
 out him  was  not  any  thing  made  that  was 
 made. 
 
 4  ^  In  bim  was  life  ;  and  ^  the  life  was  the 
 li"ht  of  men. 
 
 Notes  on  Chat.  I.  —  1.  In  the  beginning,  ev  apx'/>  '  i"  the  begin- 
 ning of  things,'  i.e.,  of  the  world. — Bloom/.  The  evang-elist  refers  to 
 the  first  word  of  the  bonk  of  Genesis  ;  n^UJNISt  rendered  by  the  Septua- 
 f^int  as  here,  ci*  apxj;.  W"^  fhe  Word,  i.  e.,  the  Word  existed  at  tlie  be- 
 ginning of  the  creaimn,  and  coDsequently  from  eternity. — Bens.  John 
 wished  to  shew  that  Jesus,  the  Messiah,  was  most  closely,  and  in  a 
 very  sublime  manner,  conjoined  with  God,  and  meant  by  the  Ao^or, 
 •  word,'  an  intelligent  nature,  superior  to  all  angels  and  created  beings, 
 most  intimately  connected  with  God,  yet  to  be  distinguished  from  him  ; 
 proceeding  from  God  before  the  creation  of  the  world,  and  which, 
 therefore,  may,  and  ought  to  be,  accounted  as  God. — Kttinoel.  That 
 this  is  not  said  of  the  written  word,  but  of  the  essential  Word  of  God, 
 the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  clear  from  all  that  is  said  from  hence  to  ver. 
 \\;  and  likewise  from  wliat  this  evangehst  elsewhere  says  of  him, 
 when  he  calls  him  'the  Word  of  Life,'  and  places  him  between  the 
 Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and  speaks  of  the  record  of  the  Word  of 
 God  and  the  testimony  of  Jesus  as  the  same  thing,  and  represents  him 
 as  a  warrior  and  conqueror,  (J  John,  i.  I,  2;  and  v.  7;  Rev.  i.  2,  9; 
 and  xix.  11  —  16.)  Moreover,  this  appears  to  have  been  sptikcn  of 
 Christ,  from  what  other  inspired  writers  have  said  of  him  under  the 
 same  character,  (see  Luke,  i.  'i  ;  Acts,  xx.32  ;  Heb.  iv.  I2  ;  2  Pet.  iii.  5.) 
 And  he  was  the  word  before  he  was  man,  and,  therefore,  not  as  such. 
 Nor  can  any  part  of  the  human  nature  be  so  called  :  not  the  flesh,  for 
 the  Word  was  made  flesh  ;  nor  his  human  soul,  for  self  subsistence, 
 Deity,  eternity,  and  the  creation  of  all  things,  can  never  be  ascribed  to 
 that ;  bat  he  is  the  Word,  as  the  Son  of  God,  as  is  evident  from  what 
 is  here  attributed  to  him,  and  from  the  Word  being  said  to  be  so,  (ver. 
 14,  18,)  and  from  those  places  where  the  Word  is  explained  by  the  Son, 
 (comp.  I  John,  v.  .">,  ";  Matt,  xxviii,  ly.;  And  he  is  so  called  from  his 
 nature,  being  bceotten  of  the  Father  ;  for  as  tlic  Word,  whether  silent 
 or  expressed,  is  the  birth  of  the  mind,  the  image  of  it,  equal  to  it  and 
 distinct  from  it;  so  Christ  is  the  '  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  the  ex- 
 press image  of  his  person,'  in  all  things  equal  to  him,  and  a  distinct 
 person  from  bim. — Gill.  Some  think  Christ  was  called  the  Word  be- 
 cause God  revealed  his  will  by  him;  but  I  rather  think  he  is  thus 
 called  as  possessing  infifiite  wisdom,  and  as  being  the  person  described, 
 Prov.  viii.,  &e. — Boothroyd.  And  Ihe  Word  u-ns  with  God — the  term 
 '  God'  is  here  plainly  meant  of  God  the  Father,  though  he  is  not  here  so 
 called,  because  the  evangelist  had  nut  yet  spoken  of  Christ  under  the 
 title  of  the  Son  ;  and  this  Word,  who  in  the  close  of  the  verse  is  called 
 God,  was  with  God ;  not  as  one  God  with  another  God,  but  as  one 
 divine  person  [subsistence]  with  another  in  the  same  Godhead. — Gui/se. 
 The  fair  interpi  elation  of  being  with  God,  in  the  time  and  circum- 
 stances pointed  out  by  the  connexion,  is,  that  the  Word  existed  in  the 
 eternal  period  before  all  creation,  naturally  and  essentially  one  being 
 with  the  Deity,  yet  possessing  some  species  of  relative  distinction. — 
 Ppe  Smit/i.  And  the  Word  was  Gud,  not  made  a  God,  as  he  is  said 
 hereafter  to  be  '  made  flesh  ;'  nor  constituted  or  appointed  a  God,  or  a 
 God  by  office;  but  truly  and  properly  God  in  the  highest  sense  of  the 
 word. — Gill.  Since  the  Word  is  not  the  God,  with  whom  John  says 
 he  was  before  the  worhl ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  there  are  not  several 
 Gods ;  the  evangelist  then  here  distinctly  marks  the  plurality  of  divine 
 persons  [subsisteucesj  in  the  unity  of  the  essence.— J///r.  When  the 
 1104 
 
 sacred  writer  says  that  the  Word  was  God,  he  meant  to  remove  all 
 scruple  and  doubt  as  to  the  divine  essence  of  Christ.— Sh/.  Some  would 
 read  it,  'the  Word  was  a  god,'  that  is,  a  kind  of  inferior  deity,  as  go- 
 vernors are  called  gods,  (see  John  x.  34  ;  l  Cor.  viii.  5  ;)  but  it  is  im- 
 possible he  should  here  be  so  called  merely  as  a  governor,  because  he 
 is  spoken  of  as  existing  before  the  production  of  any  creatures  whom 
 he  could  govern.  Christianity  was  also  intended  to  destroy  idolatry  ; 
 but  it  would  have  been  a  dangerous  stumblingbhjck  at  its  threshold,  to 
 have  taught  tliat  there  were  two  Gods— one  supreme,  and  the  other 
 subordinate. — Doddr.  It  may  here  be  remarked,  that  the  other  evan- 
 gelists leave  us  to  collect  the  deity  of  Christ  from  his  miracles  and  doc- 
 trine, and  from  the  various  declarations  and  displays  of  his  glory  and 
 perfections  which  they  record  ;  but  John  opens  his  gospel  with  an  ex- 
 press avowal  and  statcmcntof  this  fundamental  truth —ico^/.  2.  The 
 snme,  fyc. — an  emphatical  repetition. — Newc.  3.  Alt  tfiirtg.-i — what 
 the  evangelist  here  calls  'all  things,'  the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews  (chap, 
 i.  2)  calls  ■  the  world ;'  and  St.  Paul  {Col.  i.  l6)  calls  '  all  things  that 
 are  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  visible  and  invisible;'  Moses  calls 'the 
 heavens  and  the  earth,'  (Gen.  i.  1.)  Tlicse  were  all  made  by  *  tlie 
 Word,'  not  as  am  instrumental  cause,  but  as  a  principal  efficient  cause; 
 for  though  it  be  true  that  the  word  translated  Oy  is  sometimes  used  to 
 signify  an  instrumental  cause,  yet  it  is  as  true  that  it  is  often  used  to 
 signify  the  principal  efficient  cause,  (as  Jolin,  vi.  157 ;  Rom.  v.  5 ;  and 
 xi.  36;  Eph.  iv.  6;  Act-;,  iii.  l6,  Ike.) — Poole.  And  without  him,  ^c. — 
 the  same  sentiment  is.  by  a  parallelism  usual  to  the  Hebrew  writers, 
 expressed  both  hy  affirmation  and  negation,  (comp.  Isa.  xxxix.  4;  Jer. 
 xlii.  4  ;  John,  ii.  4,  25:  Luke,  i.  20;  Rom.  ix.  1  ;  Eph.  v.  i.i,  17.)— 
 Bloom/.  Any  thing,  ov6e  tv,  not  so  much  as  any  single  thing  having 
 existence,  whether  among  the  nobler  or  the  meaner  works  of  Ciod. — 
 Bens.  That  ivns  mtide,  o  -^e-^ovcv — it  has  been  asserted  that  the  word 
 here  rendered  '  made,'  never  has  the  sense  here  attributed  to  it ;  but 
 in  the  Septuiigint  it  is  often  so  used,  (see  for  example  Gen.  ii.  4.)  [See 
 many  other  instances  of  the  rendering  of  n13  and  nil'iv]  To  limit  this 
 proposition  to  all  things  done  in  reference  to  the  gospel,  is  whidly  at 
 variance  with  every  principle  of  just  interpretation  or  sound  criticism. 
 — Boothr.  Cfimpbell  renders  the  passage,  'all  things  were  made  by 
 it;  and  without  i/,  &c. ;  by  it  he  means  '  the  W^ord,'  and  so  renders  it 
 according  to  the  grammatical  idiom,  making  the  pronoun  to  agree  with 
 the  noun  ;  but  as  the  Logos  must  mean  sonic  active  intelligent  exist- 
 ence, which,  for  want  of  clearer  language,  we  speak  of  as  a  person, 
 why  should  the  obvious  theology  of  tlie  chapter  be  made  for  a  moment 
 to  bend  to  the  grammar  ? — Ed.  4.  l?i  him  wtts  li/e,  ever  flowing  as 
 water  from  a  fountain,  and  by  which  all  tlie  living  beings  of  heaven 
 and  earth  live  and  move. — BfJis.  The  argument  here  is,  the  produc- 
 tion of  all  things  is  fitly  attributed  to  the  Word,  because  he  possesses 
 conscious  and  active  existence  in  such  a  manner  that  he  is  able  to  im- 
 part existence;  he  is  the  former  of  all  things,  because  he  possesses 
 essential  and  infinite  life,  and  has  the  power  of  communicating  life. 
 In  many  placci^  in  the  Old  Testament  Jehovah  is  called  the  'living 
 God,'  or  '  the  Gnd  of  life,'  in  opposition  to  the  lifeless  and  imaginary- 
 beings  which  the  heathens  worshijiped,  and  to  shew  that  he  is  the  only 
 underived  existence,  and  the  author  of  existence  to  all  other  beings  : 
 '  With  thee  is  the  fountain  of  life.'  Tlie  resemblance  of  thi■^  i)hraseology 
 
The  testimony/  of  John, 
 
 S.  JOHN,  I. 
 
 The  testimony  of  John. 
 
 5  And  ^tlie  light  sliineth  in  darkness;  and 
 the  darkness  comprehended  it  not. 
 
 0  H  '  There  was  a  man  sent  from  God,  whose 
 name  )vas  John. 
 
 7  ''  Tlie  same  came  for  a  witness,  to  bear 
 witness  of  the  Light,  that  all  men  through  him 
 might  believe. 
 
 8  He  was  not  that  Light,  but  was  sent  to 
 bear  witness  of  that  Light. 
 
 9  '  That  was  the  true  Light,  which  lighteth 
 every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world. 
 
 10  He  was  in  the  world,  and  "'  the  world  was 
 made  by  him,  and  the  world  knew  him  not. 
 
 1 1  "  He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own  re- 
 ceived him  not. 
 
 12  But  "as  many  as  received  him,  to  them 
 gave  he  ||  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God, 
 even  to  them  that  believe  on  his  name  : 
 
 i  Mul.  3.  I. 
 Mat.  S.  I. 
 Luke  3.  2. 
 
 I  ver.  A. 
 Is,  49.  6. 
 
 1  Joliii  Z.  8. 
 m  ver.  3, 
 
 Hel).  I.  2. 
 
 &  11.3. 
 n  Lukel9  I*. 
 
 Acts  :i.  26. 
 
 8c  13.  10. 
 o\i>.  5fi.  h. 
 
 Rom.  9.  15. 
 
 (Jill    3.  -B. 
 
 2  I'pt.  I.  4. 
 IJfil.n  3.  I. 
 
 ]|  Or,  the 
 riffhl,  or, 
 l>r  Witt- fie. 
 
 P  cli.  3.  5. 
 
 Jam.  1.  18. 
 
 1  Pc-t.  1.23. 
 7  Mat.  I.  I(i, 
 
 211.  Luke  1 
 
 31, 35. &  2.7. 
 
 1  Tim.a.iG. 
 r  Rfiin.  1.  3. 
 
 Gal.  -1.  4. 
 1  Heb    2.  II, 
 
 I'l,  16,  17. 
 (  Is.  40.  5. 
 
 Mat.  17.  3. 
 
 .■h.  2.  11.  & 
 
 1 1 .  40. 
 
 2  Put  1.  17. 
 u  Col.  1.  19. 
 
 8(  2.  3,  9. 
 
 IC  VLT.  H2. 
 
 cii.:i.  y2.  & 
 
 5.  sa. 
 
 A-  D.30. 
 J-  Mat.  3.11. 
 !\fiirk  1.  7. 
 Luke  3.  16. 
 ver.  27 .  3(1. 
 19  &  2.9,  li 
 &  l>.  I*,     ci 
 
 13  P  Which  were  born,  not  of  blood,  nor  of 
 the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but 
 of  God. 
 
 14  ■*  And  the  Word  "■  was  made  'flesh,  and 
 dwelt  among  us,  (and  ^  we  beheld  his  glory, 
 the  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,) 
 "  full  of  grace  and  truth. 
 
 13  1[  ""' John  bare  witness  of  him,  and  cried, 
 saying,  This  was  be  of  whom  I  spake,  ''  He 
 that  cometh  after  me  is  preferred  before  me: 
 ^  for  he  was  before  me. 
 
 16  And  of  liis  ''fulness  have  all  we  received, 
 and  grace  for  grace. 
 
 17  For  ^  ihe  law  was  given  by  Moses,  but 
 ^  grace  and  "^  truth  came  by  Jesus  Clirist. 
 
 ct>.  3.  .SI.   y  cli.  fl.  5S.  Col.  1.  17.    s  ch.  3.  S4.  Eph.  1.  fi,  7,  8       Col.  I. 
 n.     a  Kx.  yO.  1,  &c.   Deut.  4.  44.  &  6.  I.  &  aS.  *.    i  Koui.  3.  24.  &  0.  -^l. 
 32.  &  U.  6. 
 
 to  the  langURfje  of  Hie  evangelist  was  very  evident.— Fyf  Smith.  Jc^us 
 Christ  as  the  Cieator-God,  is  the  universal  principle  of  life,  (Acts,  xvii. 
 28;)  and  as  tlie  incarnate  Word,  as  he  is  considered  here  by  St.  John, 
 he  is  the  author  of  hfe.  spiritual  and  eternal.— ./I/or,  Ayid  the  life  was 
 the  light  of  men,  tlie  Messiah  was  predicted  by  the  prophets,  and  de- 
 scribed by  himself,  as  the  light  of  Isiael;  tlic  light  to  illuminate  all 
 nations;  the  light  of  men  ;  the  light  of  the  world;  (Isa.  ix.  2  ;  Ix.  1,  20  ; 
 Jolin,  viii.  12 ;  xii.  46 ;  Rev.  xxi.  23.)  In  ttiis  passage  it  is,  thercforr, 
 with  just  coherence  that  he  who  is  the  author  of  existence  is  furihcr 
 represented  as  the  author  of  all  tliat  constitutes  the  good  uf  existence, 
 deliverance  from  error,  sin.  :uid  misery,  all  of  which  are  by  the  frequent 
 scriptural  metaphor  called  darknes'i.—y^/*?  S»HV/i.  He  became  incar- 
 nate, and  dwelt  among  men,  to  enlighten  them  and  teach  them  the 
 way  of  salvation. — Bunthr.  5.  Shineth  i/i  darkness,  'heathenish,' 
 (Eph.  V.  8.)  Jewish,  and  the  fallen  spirit  of  man.— Clarke.  Compre- 
 hended it  not,  or  '  did  not  apprehend  it.'— Scott.  '  Admitted  it  noi.' — 
 Camp.  Or,  '  rejected  it. '—So  Eisner,  Schleusner,  Kuinoel.  '1  he  allu- 
 sion seems  to  be  to  air  so  gross  and  foul  as  to  extinguish  any  light 
 (link  or  torch)  that  may  be  introduced  into  it.— l^i;.  Did  not  under- 
 stand and  prntit  by  it,  as  it  might  have  done  by  the  instruction  thus 
 communicated.  Hence  a  more  perfect  revelation  of  God's  mind  and 
 will  was  necessary.— Sn  Bens.  (i.  John,  John  the  Baptist,  his  name 
 signilicd  'grace  ;'  fitly  given  to  the  Messiah's  forerunner,  who  was  sent 
 to  proclaim  t)ie  immediatcaccnmiilisliment  of  God's  gracious  intentions 
 towards  men. — Bens.  " .  For  a  witness,  ei^  fj.apTvpiav,  '  for  a  testi- 
 
 mony.' The  legal  in'ititutions  had  been  the  testimony,  but  now  the 
 testimony  of  Christ  is  the  testimony  nf  God. —  Hen.  That  all  men,  ffc, 
 — that  all  who  heard  his  discourses  miglit,  by  his  means,  be  engaged 
 to  believe  and  follow  that  divine  illumination.— /Jwrfrf/-.  8.  Sunt  to 
 bear  witness  of  that  Liffht,  sent  from  God,  to  turn  the  attention  of  men 
 sunk  in  ignorance  and  superstition,  and  fix  it  on  an  exalted  teacher, 
 and  one  most  worthy  of  the  name  of  Lig:ht.~ liosenm.  g.  The  true 
 Light,  fyc.  John  shone  by  rellcction  ;  Christ,  in  himself,  and  by  his 
 life  and  doctrine,  was  the  '  true  light.'— Sw^.  The  true  light,  in  oppo- 
 sition to  the  false  lights  of  heathen  philosophy,  the  corrupted  and  faint 
 typical  light  of  the  Jews,  and  in  distinction  from  John  the  Baptist,  and 
 the  prophets  and  apostles  ;  he  is  the  original  fountain  of  light,  from 
 whence  all  divine  knowledge  has  fluwed  in  all  ages. — Juhn  Brown. 
 Which  lighteth,  S(C.,  6  (poin^et  Travra  a]/9pu}TTov  epxofitvov  tit  rof  Kocrfxov, 
 •who,  coming  into  the  world,  enlightencth  every  man.*— Ch;«p.,  as 
 Doddr.  Every  man,  we  must  understand  here  that  exterior  illumina- 
 tion which  is  common  to  all  men,  and  which  infidels  liMve  rejected  ; 
 and  by  '  every  man,'  not  only  the  Jews,  but  also  ihe  Gentiles,  (Jsa. 
 xlii.  6  ;  and  xlix.  6.) — Mar.  10.  Knew  him  not,  ainuv  onK  eyvio,  '  did 
 not  acknowledge  him ;'  for  the  Jewish  rulers  knew  well  enough  that 
 he  w  as  a  teacher  come  from  God  ;  but  they  did  not  clioose  to  acknow- 
 ledge him  as  such.— /I.  Clarke.  They  owned  him  not.  either  as  their 
 Maker  or  Redeemer.  U.  His  own,  ^c-.to  the  Jewish  nation,  to  wh-m 
 he  was  promised,  and  to  whom  only  he  was  personally  sent,  (see  Rom. 
 XV.  8.) — Whithy.  Elf  -ra  t5ta,  'to  his  own  home.' — Camp.  And  his 
 own  received  him  not,  would  not  generally  own  him  as  the  Messiah. — 
 Wliithy.  Kat  oi  ihiot  avTov  ov  irapeXa/^ov, '  and  his  own  family  did  not 
 receive  him.* — Cav\p.  12.  As  many  as  received  him,  as  the  Messiah 
 
 and  Son  of  God. — Bloomf.  As  did  a  remnant  of  the  Jews  and  an  im- 
 mense number  of  the  Gentiles. — Scott.  To  them  gave  he  power,  e^ov- 
 atav,  'dignity,*  'privilege,*  '  honour.'— 7?/oom/.  '  Authority' by  the 
 gospel  charter. — Hen.  To  all  these  he  gave  the  power,  privilege,  or 
 legal  right,  by  adoption,  of  becoming  the  children  of  God.  — Sco^^ 
 Adoption  is  considered  as  an  act  of  the  Father,  but  is  executed  and 
 accomplished  only  by  Jesus  Christ,  (Eph.  i.  5.)— Mar.  The  adoption 
 formerly  jtcrtained  only  to  the  Jews,  yet  under  the  gospel  it  is  no  h^nper 
 confined  to  them,  believing  Jews  and  Greeks  being  all  one  in  Christ 
 Jesus,  (Gal.  iii.  2fi.)—Guyse.  Them  that  helieve,  faiih,  truly  justifying, 
 is  the  receiving  of  Christ.— //om.  13.  Not  of  htood,  ovk  ef  oi/^crwi', 
 
 '  not  of  bloods;'  not  of  the  blond  of  men  and  W'mien,  ornot  of  the  blooit 
 of  Abraham,  which  was  the  boast  of  the  Jews. — Poole.  Nor  of  the 
 will  of  the  flesh — man's  free-will,  which  is  carnal  and  corrupt,  is 
 enmity  to  God,  and  impotent  to  eveiything  that  is  spiritually  good 
 Nor  of  the  will  of  man—the  best  of  men,  as  Abraham,  David,  and 
 others,  who,  though  ever  so  willing  and  desirous  that  their  children, 
 relations,  friends,  and  servants  should  be  horn  again,  find  every  wish  and 
 effort  vain  without  a  Divine  energy.— G(//.  But  of  God,  by  his  Spirit 
 creating  them  anew. — Bens.  H.  The  Word  ivas  made  flesh,  'the 
 Word  became  incarnate.*- Caw/j,  '  Became  flesh ;'  the  idea  is,  that 
 the  Word  was  brought  into  that  state  ov  mode  of  existence  which  is 
 known  by  tlie  term  flesh,  that  is,  the  human  nature,  representinir  the 
 
 no.'. 
 
 human  existence  of  our  Lord  as  assumed  by  a  pre-existent  intelligence. 
 —Pye  Smith.  The  evangelist  here  proceeds  to  shew  how  the  Word 
 came  to  his  own.— Scott.  The  Word  was  clothed  with  a  human  body. 
 — Bloomf.  Hence  we  may  in  some  sort  understand  how  infirmity  and 
 perfection  should  thus  meet  in  the  same  person,  '  the  Word  was  made 
 flesh.'— Hor.v.  It  has  been  thought  that  the  evangelist,  in  the  cx[»res- 
 sion  '  the  Word  was  made  flesh,'  pointed  against  the  error  of  the  Do- 
 cetJe,  who  denied  tlie  human  nature  of  Christ,  supposing  him  to  have 
 been  a  man  only  in  appearance  ;  and  in  the  expression  '  the  Word  was 
 God,*  (ver.  1,)  against  the  error  of  the  Ebionites,  who  denied  his  Di- 
 vine nature,  affirming  that  he  was  no  more  than  a  man.— C«j/i;j.  And 
 dwelt,  (oKtivuiatv.  The  verb  o-kiivow  is  from  o-kih/ii,  ■  a  tent,'  or  *  taber- 
 nacle.'  It  is  used  to  express  a  lasting  residence,  (Rev.  xii.  12  ;  xiii. 
 6;  xxi.  3;)  but,  with  respect  to  Christ,  its  primitive  sense  maybe 
 retained,  for  his  life  on  earth  was  of  short  duration. — Bens,  'Sq- 
 iourned.'—  Camp.,  as  Beza.  *  Pitched  his  tab^nvAcle .'—Doddr.  '  He 
 tabernacled.' — Wesley.  It  is  an  allusit^n  to  the  Shechinah  or  Divine 
 glory  which  resided  in  the  tabernacle.— IJofW;-.,  Gnyse.  He  conde- 
 scended to  dwell  here  on  earth  in  human  nature,  and  visibly  to  display 
 his  glory,  for  many  years. — Scolt.  If  the  expression  docs  nut  necessa- 
 rily cai'ry  the  imjjlication,  it  goes  very  far  towards  doing  so,  of  a  pre- 
 existent  state  in  him  who  thus  condescends  to  dwell  with  men.— Smith. 
 He  who  hath  dwelt  m  heaven  descended  thence,  that  he  might  sojourn 
 among  men,  and  bring  them  salvation.— JKe^A-.  Beheld,  et^£a<^a^le0a, 
 the  word  used  l  John,  i.  i,  'contemplated  his  glory.'— Bens.  Stead- 
 fastly considered  and  observed  it,  with  the  closest  attention  and  highest 
 woiidGT.—  Guyse.  'Beheld  willi  admiration.' — Kuinoel.  His  glory, 
 bu^a.  denotes  his  majesty,  dignity,  divinity. — Kuinoel.  When  Moses 
 received  the  law  fmni  God,  he  icceived  also  a  glory  so  that  his  face 
 shone,  (Exod.  xxxiv.  29.  30,  35  ;)  but  a  far  greater  glory  was  that  of 
 Christ  at  the  transfiguration,  (2 Pel.  i.  16,  19;  2Cor.  iii.  7—11 ;  Heb. 
 iii.  1 — Q.)  —  Wvts.  The  glory  as  o/,  §c-,  wt,  'as  if,'  'as  it  were.' — 
 Bloomf.  The  particle  wr,  as,  signifies  not  a  bare  resemblance,  but 
 what  was  becoming  him  and  ijroper  to  him.  So  it  is  used  to  describe 
 realities  and  their  suitableness  to  character,  (see  Matt,  xiv,  5 ;  2  Cur. 
 iii.  18,  and  Ephcs.  v.  8.)—Guyse.  iu  (like  the  Hebrew,  D)  indicates 
 the  certainty  and  truth  of  a  thing.— ^/«5«.  The  only  begotten,  fxovo- 
 ftvoi's— the  word  here,  and  in  1  John,  iv.  9,  is  used  especially  to  indicate 
 the  sublime  nature  of  Christ,  resulting  from  his  intimate  union  with 
 the  Deity:  but  the  term  also  involves  a  sense  of  'most  beloved.'— 
 Bloomf.  It  is  synonymous  with  the  term  in  the  Old  Testament,  ren- 
 dered by  our  version  '  darling,'  or  '  only  one,'  denoting  an  object  of  the 
 highest  and  most  unique  affection,  such  as  an  only  son  usually  is. — 
 Smith.  Full  of  grace  aJtd  truth,  of  grace  to  procure  tliat  pardon  of  sin 
 and  that  justification  which  the  law  could  not  give;  and  of  trutli  in 
 opposition  to  the  types  and  shadows  of  spiritual  blessings  and  good 
 things  to  come,  of  which  Christ  exhibited  the  substance  and  the  truth. 
 —  IJ  hitljy.  15.  i*/*e/ejTC'/— this  is  properly  sHid  of  those  who  are  placed 
 in  rank  before  others,  as  masters  whom  their  attendants' follow.  It 
 signifies  a  more  honourable  situation,  and,  by  consequence,  a  superior 
 dignity. — Beza.  The  words  comprthend  the  superior  dignity  of  Christ's 
 nature,  oflice,  conmiissjon,  and  exaltation  as  Mediator,  (see  Matt.  iii. 
 II,  the  passage  here  referred  to.)  —  Benson.  He  was  before  me, 
 being  'in  the  beginning  with  Gvd.'—W/tilljy.  A  person  superior  in 
 nature.:  '  for  though  he  was  born  after  me,  he  existid  before  me.'— 
 Bens.  This  must  imdoubtedly  refer  to  the  state  of  glory  in  which 
 Christ  existed  before  his  incarnation,  of  which  the  Baptist  speaks  so 
 plainly,  (chap.  iii.  31.)— So  Doddr..  and  Mackn.  l6.  And  ofhisful- 
 
 ness,  fyc,  *  and  as  he  is  full  tif  wisdom  and  love,  of  grace  and  spiritual 
 life,  he,  as  onr  head,  coramunicateth  so  much  as  is  meet  lor  us.' — 
 Ba.Tter.  Grace  for  grace,  x^p'"  '"'t*  xap'Tot,  'grace  instead  of  gr^ce,* 
 i.  e.,  instead  of  the  benelits  ot  the  law  granted  to  the  Jews,  we  have 
 received  the  blessings  of  the  ^os\)ci.—Chryso.'itom.  '  The  grace  of  God 
 in  the  new  covenant,  instead  of  the  grace  of  God  in  the  oid.' — Beza. 
 It  is  a  pleonasm,  and  means  *  grace  gratuitous.' — Grot.  '  Grace  7ipnn 
 f^race.' — Doddr.,  Wesley,  &c.  '  A  large  abundance  of  all  spiritual  bless- 
 ings, most  freely  bestowed  from  the  fulness  of  Christ.'- Scott.  '  Grace 
 /or  grace:'  God  gives  more  grace  to  those  who  are  thankful  for  that  for- 
 mally received.— Le  Clerc.  Grace  to  advance  grace.— Hen.  Grace  in 
 us,  answering  to  grace  in  Christ:  grace  received  from  Christ  changes 
 into  the  same  image.— C7t>r/f.  Verse  15  is  a  parenthesis,  and  it  is  then 
 obvious,  from  the  connexion,  that  the  passage  means  that,  'of  every 
 grace  wherewith  Chri.st  was  filled,  and  which  was  conferred  above 
 measure  upcm  him,  his  disciples  have  received  a  portion  acc<jrding  to 
 their  measure.'  17.  For  the  law  was  given,  ^c. — here  the  evangelist 
 intimates  that  Jesus  Christ  was  as  truly  the  channel  of  Divine  grace  to 
 7   E 
 
The  lestimony  of  John. 
 
 S  JOHN,  I. 
 
 The  calling  of  Andrew,  Piler,  ^c. 
 
 18  "^  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time ;  °  the 
 only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of 
 the  Father,  he  hath  declared  him. 
 
 19  H  And  this  is 'the  record  of  John,  when 
 ■he  Jews  sent  priests  and  Levites  from  Jerusa- 
 lem to  ask  him.  Who  art  thou  ? 
 
 20  And  ^  he  confessed,  and  denied  not  ;  but 
 confessed,  I  am  not  the  Christ. 
 
 21  And  they  asked  him,  What  then  V  Art 
 thou  "  Elias  ?  And  he  saith,  I  am  not.  Art 
 thou  'II  that  prophet?     And  lie  answered.  No. 
 
 22  Then  said  they  unto  him,  Who  art  thou  ? 
 that  we  may  give  an  answer  to  them  that  sent 
 us.     What  sayest  thou  of  thyself? 
 
 23  '■  He  said,  I  a»i  the  voice  of  one  crying  in 
 the  wilderness.  Make  straight  the  way  of  the 
 Lord,  as  '  said  the  prophet  Esaias. 
 
 24  And  they  which  were  .sent  were  of  the 
 Pharisees. 
 
 23  And  they  asked  him,  and  said  unto  him. 
 Why  baptizest  thou  then,  if  thou  be  not  that 
 Christ,  nor  Elias,  neither  that  prophet? 
 
 26  John  answered  them,  saying,  "  I  baptize 
 with  water:  "but  there  standeth  one  among 
 you,  whom  ye  know  not ; 
 
 27  °  He  it  is,  who  coming  after  me  is  pre- 
 ferred before  ine,  whose  shoe's  latchet  I  am  not 
 
 A.  D.30. 
 
 A,  D,  30. 
 
 d  Ex.  3A    20. 
 
 ;)  Judg7.-:>+ 
 
 Dput.  4.  12. 
 
 ell.  10.  40 
 
 Mat.  II.  27. 
 
 a  Ex.  12.  3. 
 
 Luke  10. 22. 
 
 Is,  53.  7. 
 
 cli.  6.  40. 
 
 ver.  36. 
 
 ITim.l.  17 
 
 Acts  8.  32. 
 
 &6.  16. 
 
 1  Pet,  I.  19. 
 
 1  John  4. 
 
 Rev.  6.  6, 
 
 1.'.  20. 
 
 &c. 
 
 <■  ver.  14. 
 
 r  Is.  53.  11, 
 
 ch,  3.  16,18. 
 
 I  Cor.  15.  S, 
 
 1  John  t.  9. 
 
 Gal.  1    4. 
 
 /  cb.  5.  33. 
 
 Heb.  1.  3.& 
 
 a  Luke3.15. 
 
 2.  17.  Hi.  9. 
 
 ch.  3.  28. 
 
 2S.  I  Pet.  2 
 
 Acts  IS.  25. 
 
 24. &  3.18. 
 
 k  Mai.  *.  5. 
 
 IJohn2.2. 
 
 Mat.  17.  10. 
 
 &  3.5.  &4. 
 
 .  neut.l8.15, 
 
 10.  Rev.  1. 
 
 18 
 
 5. 
 
 ;|  Or,  a  pro- 
 
 II  Or,6'nfe//i. 
 
 pl«-l. 
 
 s  ver.  15,27. 
 
 ft  Mat.  3.  3. 
 
 (  M.-U.  3.  I. 
 
 Mark  1.  3, 
 
 Mat.  3.  6. 
 
 Luke  3.  4. 
 
 Lute  1    17, 
 
 ch.  3  28. 
 
 76,  77.  Sc3. 
 
 I  U.  40.  3. 
 
 3.4. 
 
 «Mat.3   16 
 
 Mark  1.  10 
 
 Luke  3-  2J 
 
 ch.  5.  32, 
 
 X  Mat.  3  11. 
 
 Acta  1.5.  & 
 
 2    4.  tt  10. 
 
 44.   &  19.6. 
 
 m  Mat.  3  11. 
 
 ..  Mai.  3.  1. 
 
 ..  vfir.  15.81). 
 
 Acts  19.  4. 
 
 V  ver.  29. 
 
 worthy  to  unloose. 
 
 28  These  things  were  done  ^in  Bethabara 
 beyond  Jordan,  where  John  was  baptizing. 
 
 29  If  The  next  day  John  seeth  Jesus  coming 
 unto  him,  and  saith,  Behold  ''the  Lamb  of 
 God,  ""which  ||  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
 world. 
 
 30  *  This  is  he  of  whom  I  said,  After  nie 
 Cometh  a  man  which  is  preferred  before  me: 
 for  lie  was  before  me. 
 
 31  And  I  knew  him  not :  but  that  he  should 
 be  made  manifest  to  Israel,  '  therefore  am  I 
 come  baptizing  with  water. 
 
 32  "  And  John  bare  record,  saying,  I  saw  the 
 Spirit  descending  from  heaven  like  a  dove,  and 
 it  abode  upon  him. 
 
 33  And  I  knew  him  not :  but  he  that  sent 
 me  to  baptize  with  water,  the  same  said  unto 
 me.  Upon  whom  thou  shalt  see  the  Spirit  de- 
 scending, and  remaining  on  liim,  ^  the  same  is 
 he  which  baptizeth  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 34  And  I  saw,  and  bare  record  that  this  is  the 
 Son  of  God. 
 
 35  1  Again  the  next  day  after  John  stood, 
 and  two  of  liis  disciples  ; 
 
 36  And  looking  upon  Jesus  as  he  walked,  he 
 saith,  ^  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  ! 
 
 his  disciples,  as  Moses  had  been  of  the  knowledge  of  God's  law  to  the 
 Israelites. — Camp.,  so  Boothr.  Grace  and  truth,  fyc,  grace  opposed 
 to  the  condemoatioD  and  wrath  by  the  law,  and  truth  opposed  to  the 
 ceremonies  thereof. — liens.  As  the  nrnral  law  pointed  out  the  disease 
 which  Christ  cures,  and  the  ceremonial  law  shadowed  fortli  that  which 
 Christ  indeed  perfoiined,  therefore  grace  answers,  by  way  of  contrast, 
 to  the  moral  law.  and  truth  to  the  ceremonial. — Bfzn.  18.  No  man 
 
 hath  seen  God,  fyc,  no  one  of  the  ancient  teachers,  not  even  Moses, 
 knew  God  perfecUy  and  completely. — Bloom/.  Tliou{?h  the  Jews  had 
 seen  God  in  many  wonderful  appearances,  yet  they  had  a  very  gross 
 and  imperfect  idea  of  him.  But  Christ,  in  the  New  Testament,  has 
 given  us  a  true  conception  of  his  essence. — Schoettgen.  No  man  really 
 knows  anything  of  God  to  good  purpose,  as  to  the  mysteries  of  his  na- 
 ture, and  the  glory  and  harmony  of  his  attributes,  hut  he  who  receives 
 his  knowledge  by  faith  in  the  Son  of  Go^.— Scott.  Such  an  ample 
 manifestation  of  himself  God  never  made  to  mankind  before.  These 
 things  were  reserved  to  be  discovered  by  him  who,  alone,  being  in  the 
 hosom  of  the  Fatlier,  knew  before  all  ages  the  secret  counsels  of  God 
 concerning  the  redemption  and  salvation  of  man  ;  and  whatever  is  yet 
 known  concerning  them  is  only  by  this  revelation  of  the  only  begotten 
 Son  of  God. — S.  Clarke.  To  see,  or  behold  God,  as  used  licre,  signifies 
 to  have  a  perfect,  intimate,  and  intellectually  intuitive  knowledge  of 
 the  nature,  perfections,  and  rectoral  dominion  of  the  Divine  Being. 
 Good  men  shall  see  God,  (Matt.  v.  8;)  and  the  term  is  used  for  the 
 religious  knowledge  and  holiness  which  they  attain  in  the  present  life, 
 (chap.  xiv.  7  ;  1  John.  iii.  6  ;  3  John,  1 1  ;)  but  the  manifest  intention  of 
 this  passage  is  to  attribute  to  the  Messiah  such  a  kind  or  degree  of  this 
 spiritual  perception  as  can  be  a  proi)erty  of  no  other  being.  He  has  it 
 not  by  a  revelation,  but  hy  a  peculiar  and  original  knowledge.— So 
 Pye  Smith.  In  the  bosom,  e(v  tov  koXttov,  or  '  upon  the  bosom,*  an  ex- 
 pression taken  from  the  eastern  method  of  reclining  at  meals  ;  and  the 
 most  favoured  guest,  being  nearest  the  host,  seemed  to  lie  in  his  bosom  ; 
 the  sense  is,  therefore,  '  who  is  nearest  the  Father,  most  intimately 
 conjoined  and  the  dearest  to  tiim.'— B/oom/.  It  denotes  a  high  degree 
 »if  confidence,  intimacy,  and  love.  —  Hew.  Declared  him,  'made  bim 
 known.'— /Jorfrfj-.,  Camp.  Fully  declared  his  nature,  perfections,  pur- 
 poses, promises,  counsels,  covenant,  word,  and  works — his  thoughts 
 and  schemes  of  grace — his  love  and  favour  to  the  sons  of  men—his 
 mind  and  will  concerning  the  salvation  of  his  people. — Gill.  19.  The 
 Jews,  the  sanhedrim,  or  public  council  of  the  Jews. —  Whitby.  20.  He 
 confessed,  and  denied  not,  a  mode  of  expression  not  uncommon,  which 
 strengthens  the  affirmation,  (see  2  Kings,  xviii.  36;  Isa.  xxxviii.  1.) — 
 Munt ;  i.  e.,  '  he  solemnly  protested.' — Doddr.  21 .  Art  thou  Elias  ? 
 —in  Matt.  xi.  14,  when  Christ  declared  'he  was,'  it  is  obvious  he 
 meant  in  the  sense  of  Malachi,  John  having  come  in  the  spirit  and 
 power  of  Elijah;  but  here  the  question  meant  'was  he  the  prophet 
 himself?'  and  he  said,  '  I  am  not.'  Art  thou  that  prophet  ?  some  great 
 prophet,  besides  Elijah,  which  the  people  seem  then  to  have  expected. 
 ■-Camp.  That  prophet  promised  by  Moses,  (Deut.  xviii.  1.5.) — Hew. 
 '  A  prophet,'  so  some  read,  and  Doddridge  prefers ;  but  this  nur  Lord 
 called  John,  (Matt.  xi.  11,)  and  he  would  not  have  denied.  23.  Ifun 
 the  voice,  fyc,  eyta  .^ui'n  ^otiJi-Tot  ev  rp  €pr}fj.if),  *1  am  he  whose  voice 
 proclaimeth  in  the  wilderness.' — Camp.  In  effect,  '  I  am  that  fore- 
 runner of  Christ  of  whom  Isaiah  speaks,'  (Isa.  xl.  3.)— iVeu'c,  Berts. 
 Jnhn  answers  in  the  Jewish  manner,  i.  e.,  in  words  borrowed  from  the 
 Old  Testament,  perhaps  Isa.  xl.  3,  quoted  memoriter  from  the  Sept.,  to 
 the  purport,  '  what  the  prophet  has  there  said  will  hold  good  of  me.' — 
 Bloom/.  He  speaks  in  the  exact  language  of  Isaiah,  that,  if  they  would 
 pay  suitable  attention  to  it,  they  might  he  able  easily  to  judge  what 
 was  his  charge  and  occupation,  and  recognise  that  the  Messiah  was 
 soon  to  be  manifested. — Mar.  It  is  a  humble  mode  of  epeakingof  him- 
 self :  '  Far  from  being  the  Messiah,  or  Elias,  or  one  of  the  old  prophets, 
 I  am  nothing  but  a  voice,  a  sound,  that,  as  soon  as  it  has  expressed 
 1106 
 
 the  thought,  of  which  it  is  the  sign,  dies  into  air,  and  is  known  no 
 more.'— Fenelun.  24.  Oftfie  Pharisees—the  greater  part  of  the  san- 
 hedrim was  of  this  seet.—  W/iUkt/.  25.  Wlig  baptizest  tliou!—\.he 
 Jews  never  used  baptism,  but  by  an  order  from  the  sanhedrim,  or  at 
 least  before  three  magistrates,  or  three  graduates,  who  authorized  it 
 by  their  presence  ;  besides,  they  never  baptized  Jews  nor  those  horn  of 
 proselytes,  because  all  those  were  born  in  the  covenant,  and  they  were 
 not  cousulered  as  needing  baptism  like  tliosc  who  were  strangers  be- 
 fore they  entered  into  the  covenant.  But  John  the  Baptist,  observing 
 nothing  of  this  kind,  and  acting,  as  he  could  only  do  with  propriety, 
 by  a  warrant  from  Heaven,  was  aske.l  this  question.— il/«r,  26.  / 
 baptize  tritfi  water,  ^-c— his  baptism  was  introductory  to  a  new  dis- 
 pensation, when  men  should  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the 
 person  who  should  establish  this  dispensation  was  then  among  them. — 
 Boothr.  27.  Shoe's  latchet— set:  Matt.  iii.  11,  note.  '  I  am  not  worthy 
 to  be  his  servant,  or  to  do  him  the  meanest  services.*  —  Benson. 
 28.  Bethabara, '  a  place  of  passage.'  This  village  was  probably  situated 
 on  Jordan,  over  against  Jericho,  at  the  place  where  the  Israelites  under 
 Joshua  passed  that  river,  (Josh.  iii.  16.)— tri/(s.  The  fords  of  Jordan 
 being  here,  made.it  more  convenient  for  assembling  the  people  from 
 both  sides  of  the  river.— i'u(.  29.  The  nezt  dati,  the  day  after  the 
 return  of  the  Pharisees.— Hum.  Tn  crnupioi.,  translated  '  the  next  day,' 
 means  '  soon  afterwards.'- B/oom/.  The  Lamb  of  God,  that  innocent 
 and  holy  person  who  is  to  be  offered  up  a  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  man- 
 kind, prophesied  of  by  Isa.  liii.  ",  and  typified  by  the  pa..chal  lamb,  and 
 ny  the  daily  sacrifice.- Bens.  The  paschal  lamb  was  an  eucharistical 
 sacrifice ;  the  reference  here  is  rather  to  the  daily  sacrifices  for  sin 
 offered  m  the  temple.— ie  Clerc,  so  Gill.  Of  God,  the  gilt  of  God, 
 (chap.  iii.  16  ;  Rom.  viii.  31  ;  comp.  Gen.  xxii.  13;)  and  the  only  excel, 
 lent  and  worthy  sacrifice,  (Heb.  x.5j  1  Pet.  i.  19.)  Whuh  taketh 
 nwau,  or  '  bearcth,'  amounting  to  the  same  thing,  because  Christ  has 
 only  taken  away  our  sins  by  taking  them  upon  himself,  and  bearing 
 them  as  a  victim,  loaded  with  the  sins  of  him  for  whom  it  was  saeri- 
 Beed.— il/or.  'o  aipui',  he  is  '  taking  away'— a  continued  &ct.— Henry. 
 The  sin,  all  sorts  of  sins  and  crimes,  whatever  they  may  be,  (chap.  j. 
 9,)  which  the  legal  victims  could  not  do,  being  but  typical  and  figura- 
 tive, (Acts,  xiii.  39.}  0//Ae  wyr/d,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  (1  John.  ii.  2  ;) 
 a  further  opposition  to  the  Levitical  sacrifices,  the  virtue  of  which  was 
 limited  to  the  Jews.— Jl/or.  The  Saviour  •  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the 
 world'  by  removing  every  hindrance  to  the  foi  givcness  of  sin,  original 
 and  actual,  of  all  men  throughout  the  world  who  rely  on  him  by  hum- 
 ble faith.  Through  his  atoning  sacrifice  it  consists  with  the  glory  of 
 God  to  pardon  all  persons  who  thus  trust  in  \i\m.— Scott.  30. 1're- 
 
 ferred—%ee  ver.  15,  note.  31.  I  knew  him  not,  that  is,  as  the  Mes- 
 siah, until  it  was  revealed  on  whom  he  should  see  the  spirit  descend- 
 ing and  abiding,  the  same  person  was  he.  John  knew  Jesns  as  of  the 
 same  familv,  as  a  holy  man,  and,  probably,  as  a  prophet,  but  not  as  the 
 Christ  until  his  baptism,  (Matt.  iii.  \i.)—Bootlir.  John  had  no  per- 
 sonal knowledge  of  Jesus  till  he  saw  him  come  to  his  baptism.  John 
 had  spent  his  time  in  the  wilderness,  in  solitude— Jesus,  at  Nazareth, 
 in  conversation  ;  there  was  no  correspondence.  Do  interviews  between 
 them.— Hra.,  so  Whilbv,  Mar.,  Doddr..  Gill,  A.  Clarke.  This  latter 
 intcrprelation  ll'ifiidms' hesitates  to  adopt,  since  all  the  male  branches 
 of  families  used  to  meet  at  the  three  great  feasts  of  Jerusalem.— (v;- 
 tase  Bib.  Campbell  thinks  John  might  have  known  Christ  personalty 
 and  as  a  prophet,  but  not  as  the  Messiah.— Four  Gospels  i»  loc.  To 
 Campbell,  Williams  objects,  that  John,  being  a  prophet,  must  have 
 naturally  suspected  he  was  the  person  to  whom  he  was  the  forerunner. 
 Hence  he  adopts  the  first  opinion  of  Boothroyd.—Cott.  Bib.  32.  L'ke 
 a  doee-sec  Matt.  iii.  16,  note.  33.  With  the  Hoi,/  e/ios(-see  Matt, 
 iii     11     note.  35.  John  stood,   teaching  and  baptizing.  — '■"»«'. 
 
 36.  Looking  upon,    eisfSXe'i.ai,    '  looking  steadfastly   upon.    —Doddr. 
 
\ 
 
-2) 
 
 1=^ 
 
 N 
 
 4 
 g 
 
The  calling  of  Philip  and  Nathanael. 
 
 S.JOHN,  II. 
 
 Christ  turnelh  the  water  into  wine. 
 
 37  And  the  two  disciples  heard  him  speak, 
 and  they  followed  Jesus. 
 
 .38  Then  Jesus  turned,  and  saw  them  follow- 
 ing, and  saith  unto  them.  What  seek  ye? 
 They  said  unto  him,  Rahbi,  (which  is  to  say, 
 being  interpreted,  Master,)  where  ||  dwellest 
 thou? 
 
 .■39  He  saith  unto  them.  Come  and  see.  They 
 came  and  saw  where  he  dwelt,  and  abode  with 
 him  that  day  :  for  it  was  ||  about  the  tenth 
 hour. 
 
 40  One  of  the  two  which  heard  John  speak, 
 and  followed  him,  was  'Andrew,  Simon  Peter's 
 brother. 
 
 41  He  first  findeth  his  own  brother  Simon, 
 and  saith  unto  him, We  have  found  the  Messias, 
 which  is,  being  interpreted,  ||  the  Christ. 
 
 42  And  he  brought  him  to  Jesus.  And  when 
 Jesus  belield  him,  he  said.  Thou  art  Simon  the 
 son  of  Jona :  °  thou  shalt  be  called  Cephas, 
 which  is  by  interpretation,  ||  A  stone. 
 
 4.3  f  The  day  following  Jesus  would  go  forth 
 into  Galilee,  and  findeth  Philip,  and  saith  unto 
 him.  Follow  me. 
 
 44  Now  "^  Philip  was  of  Bethsaida,  the  city  of 
 Andrew  and  Peter. 
 
 45  Philip  findeth  "^  Nathanael,  and  saith  unto 
 liim.  We  have  found  him,  of  whom  ■'  Moses  in 
 the  law,  and  the  "prophets,  did  write,  Jesus 
 'of  Nazareth,  the  son  of  Joseph. 
 
 46  And  Nathanael  said  unto  him,  ^  Can  there 
 any  good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?  Philip 
 saith  unto  him,  Come  and  see. 
 
 A.  D.  30. 
 
 A.  D.  30. 
 
 /.  Pb.  32.  2 
 
 &  73.  1. 
 
 .Ii.  8,  39. 
 
 Kiuii.  1*.  2H 
 
 29.  &  y.  6. 
 
 llOr,  abide,t. 
 
 .Mat,14.33. 
 
 II   That  wtt 
 
 /(  Mat.  21.6 
 
 two  hourt  bC' 
 
 &  27.  11,42. 
 
 /ore  night. 
 
 ch.  19.  37. 
 
 &  19.  3. 
 
 s  Mat.  4.  18. 
 
 (Gen.  28.12. 
 
 )|  Or,  the 
 
 Mat.  4.  n. 
 
 anointed. 
 
 Luke  2.  9. 
 
 13  &  22.  43. 
 
 &24.4. 
 
 Acts  1.  10. 
 
 a  Afdt.  16.18. 
 
 II  Or,  Peter. 
 
 fcch.  13.  21. 
 
 c  ch.  21.  2. 
 
 dGen.S.  IS. 
 
 &  49.  10. 
 
 Deut.IS.l8. 
 
 See  on 
 
 Luke2t.27. 
 
 e  Is.  i.  2.  Ik 
 
 7.  14.  Bi9.6. 
 
 Sc  53.  2. 
 
 Mic   5.  9. 
 
 »  6ee  Josh. 
 
 Zech.  6. 12. 
 
 IS.  SS. 
 
 &a.  9. 
 
 See  more 
 
 on  Luke 
 
 2+.  27. 
 
 /  Mat.  2.  23. 
 
 Luke  2.  4. 
 
 S  ch.  7.  41, 
 
 4i,  52. 
 
 47  Jesus  saw  Nathanael  coming  to  him,  and 
 saith  of  him.  Behold  ''  an  Israelite  indeed,  in 
 whom  is  no  guile ! 
 
 48  Nathanael  saith  unto  him.  Whence  know 
 est  thou  me?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto 
 him,  Before  that  Philip  called  thee,  when  thou 
 wast  under  the  fig  tree,  I  saw  thee. 
 
 49  Nathanael  answered  and  saith  unto  him. 
 Rabbi,  '  thou  art  the  Son  of  God  ;  thou  art 
 *  the  King  of  Israel. 
 
 50  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Be- 
 cause I  said  unto  thee,  I  saw  thee  under  the 
 fig  tree,  believest  thou  ?  thou  shalt  see  greater 
 things  than  these. 
 
 51  And  he  saith  unto  him.  Verily,  verily,  I 
 say  unto  you,  '  Hereafter  ye  shall  see  heaven 
 open,  and  the  angels  of  God  ascending  and  de- 
 scending upon  the  Son  of  man. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  Christ  turnetk  water  into  winet  12  departeth  into 
 Capernaum,  and  to  Jerusalem,  14  where  he  purpetk 
 the  temple  of  buyers  and  sellers.  19  He  forettlkth 
 his  death  aitdresurrectioji.  23  Many  htllevedhicause 
 of  his  miracles,  but  he  would  not  trust  himself  with 
 them. 
 
 A  ND  the  third  day  there  was  a  marriage  in 
 -^~*-  ^  Cana  of  Galilee ;  and  the  mother  of  Jesus 
 
 was  there  : 
 
 2  And  both  Jesus  was  called,  and  his  disci- 
 ples, to  the  marriage. 
 
 3  And  when  they  wanted  wine,  the  mother  of 
 Jesus  saith  unto  him,  They  have  no  wine. 
 
 38.  Saw  them  following,  as  desirous  of  becoming:  his  disciples,  or  of 
 being  acquainted  with  hioi.— 5t'o^(.  Whut  seek  ye?  n  C»iTe(Te  ;  '  what 
 is  your  wish?' — Rosenm.  Dwellest  thou  ?  juei-eic,  or  '  lodgest  thou.' — 
 Mar.,  Bloomf.  39.  The  tenth  hour,  according  to  the  Jewish  reckon- 
 ing, four  in  the  afternoon,  when  there  were  but  two  hours  to  night. 
 This  was  about  the  time  when  the  lamb  of  the  daily  sacrifice  of  the 
 evening  was  offered  up;  very  seasonably,  then,  did  John  point  to 
 Christ,  the  Lamb  of  God,  the  antitype  of  that  sacrifice.— Gi7/.  42.  Called 
 Cephas— see  Matt.  xvi.  18,  note.  By  interpretation — John  wrote  his 
 gospel  in  Greek,  and  in  a  Grecian  city  of  Asia  Minor,  and  therefore  was 
 the  more  careful  to  translate  into  Greek  the  Hebrew,  Chaldee,  or 
 Syriac  names,  given  for  a  special  purpose  whereof  they  were  expres- 
 sive.— Camp.  43.  Follow  me,  '  leave  thy  friends,  calling,  Sic,  and 
 be  my  disciple.'  45.  Nathanael,  supposed  to  be  the  same  with  Bar- 
 
 tholomew ;  he  and  Philip  arc  always  mentioned  together  in  the  account 
 of  the  apostles,  (Matt.  x.  3  ;  Mark,  iii.  18  ;  Luke,  vi.  14.)  46.  Ca77ie 
 
 out  of  Nazareth — the  whole  country  of  Galilee  was  had  in  contempt 
 with  the  Jews,  but  Nazareth  was  so  mean  a  place  that  it  seems  it  was 
 even  despised  by  its  neighbours,  the  Galilaeans  themselves,  for  Natha- 
 nael was  himself  a  GalUsean. — Gili.  Nathanael,  on  this  occasion, 
 applied  the  proverb  rather  because  the  Messiah's  nativity  had  been 
 determined  by  the  prophet  Micah  to  Bethlehem — Bens.  See  Mic.  v.  2. 
 Come  and  see,  i.  e.,  judge  for  yoiirsflf ;  seeing  is  believing,  and  conver- 
 sation is  more  than  hearsay. — Blonmf.  47.  An  Israelite  indeed,  a 
 true  son  of  Jacob,  an  honest,  plain-hearted  man  like  him — an  Israelite 
 at  heart. — Gill.  Not  all  the  posterity  of  Jacob  are  worthy  of  that  name 
 but  those  who  carry  with  them  the  probity  of  Jacob,  (Rom.  ix.  6  ) — 
 Grot.  No  guile,  a  reference  to  Gen.  xxv.  27. — Bloomf.  48.  Before 
 that  Philip  called  thee,  %-c. — here  are  two  instances  of  Christ's  omni- 
 science; he  knew  Philip  had  called  Nathanael,  and  he  saw  him  under 
 the  fig  tree. — Gill.  I  saw  thee,  he  saw  what  was  passing  in  his  heart, 
 and  the  pious  meditations  of  Nathanael  at  that  moment.        49.  Son  of 
 
 God — King  of  Israel — two  characters  combined  throughout  the  chapter, 
 because  the  Messiah  could  not  be  the  kinguf  I^^racl.in  tlie  sense  which 
 the  oracles  pointed  out,  if  he  had  not  been  really  the  Son  of  God,  (see 
 Mark,  i.  l  ;  Heb.  i.  8.)— il/«r.  50.  Greater  thivgs,  '  more  remarkable 
 proofs  of  my  mission.' — Bens.  51.  Verily,  afif]v,  a  solemn  assevera- 
 tion,  intimating  that  the  saying  is  true,  and  that  we  must  regeu-d  it  as 
 proceeding  from  the  'Amen,' the  true  and  faithful  witness. — Doddr. 
 Shall  see  heaven  open,  i^-c.,  'see  the  frame  of  nature  subject  to  my 
 commands,  and  such  a  train  of  events,  miracles,  and  providences,  as 
 shall  leave  no  doubt  of  ray  mission;  it  will  appear  as  the  vision  of 
 Jacob,'  (see  Gen.  xx^iii.  12.) — Mackn.,  so  Whitby  and  Guyse.  It  may 
 signify  the  gospel  dispensation;  heaven  opened  to  earth  and  upon 
 earth. — Clarke.  It  may  literally  refer  to  Christ's  ascension. — Ham., 
 so  also  Jl//ir.  Among  other  things,  it  may  refer  to  Christ's  second 
 coming  to  judge  the  world,  (see  2Thess.  i.  10.) — Hen. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  1.  The  third  day,  from  that  on  which  Christ  had  taken 
 his  journey  from  Bethany  into  Galilee. — Wets.  There  was  a  marriage 
 — 7a^or  here  denotes  a  nuptial  feast. — Hen.,  Rosenm.  In  Cana,  a 
 town  near  Capernaum,  called  ■  Cana  of  Galilee,'  to  distinguish  it  from 
 another  Cana. — Bloovif.  There  were  two  other  towns  of  the  same 
 name,  one  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  the  other  in  Ctele-Syria;  this  be- 
 longed to  the  tribe  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  23.) — Bens.  The  mother  of 
 Jesus  was  there,  not  invited,  but  as  a  relation.  This  may  be  inferred 
 from  her  being  present  at  the  feast  and  concerned  about  the  wine. — 
 Bens.,  as  Grot.,  and  Kuinoel.  As  Joseph  is  not  mentioned,  we  may 
 suppose  that  he  died  before  our  Lord  entered  on  his  public  ministry. 
 — Scott,  as  Doddr. ;  see  Lightf.  It  is  conjectured  this  feast  was  at  the 
 house  of  Cleopas,  or  Alpheus,  whose  wife  was  sister  to  the  mother  of 
 our  Lord,  (chap.  xix.  25,)  and  one  of  whose  sons  was  Simon  the  Ca- 
 naanite,  whom  some  have  thought  to  be  so  called  from  his  being  an  in- 
 habitant of  this  Cana,  (Mark,  iii.  \%.)~Doddr.  3.  Wanted  wine — the 
 marriage  feasts  lasted  scTen  days  ;  this  was,  probably,  at  an  advanced 
 
 Rffi-tctions  OS  Ch.ap.  I.  — This  chapter  shews  us  — 
 I.  The  diity  of  Chri^^t.  He  was  from  eternity;  he  made  all 
 things  ;  *  in  liim  we  lire,  and  move,  and  have  our  being  ;'  and 
 all  intelligence,  light,  and  knowledge,  spiritual  and  temporal, 
 flow  from  liim,  the  fountain  of  light  and  blessedness.  He  was 
 with  God — he  was  God,  the  only-begotten  Son,  dwelling  in 
 the  bosom  of  the  Father. 
 
 II.  Tlie  iucarnation  of  Christ.  He  was  made  flesh.  *  For 
 us  men.  and  for  our  salvation,  he  came  down  from  heaven.* 
 He  took  our  flesh  and  blood,  that  he  might  make  known  his 
 i;race  to  us,  shew  us  human  nature  in  perfection,  work  out 
 <»ur  salvation  in  that  nature,  and  in  that  nature  die,  rise  again, 
 and  ascend  to  heaven,  to  sympathize  with  us,  plead  for  us, 
 and  prepare  for  us  an  everlasting  abode.  Some,  indeed, 
 reject  him  ;  but  some  receiveTiim,  they  '  thus  become  sons  of 
 God,  and  if  sons,  then  heirs,  and  partakers  of  the  eternal  in- 
 heritance.' 
 
 III.  John  the  PaptisVa  testiniony  to  Christ.-  Behold  t,he 
 Lamb  of  God  !'     Here  see  all  the  sacrifices  completed.     This 
 
 IIU7 
 
 is  the  efficacious  offering  once  for  all.  Now,  let  the  sacrifices 
 cease,  the  type  is  swallowed  up  in  the  Antitype.  Myriads 
 of  beasts  have  bled  upon  the  Jewish  altars,  but  this  is  '  the 
 all-atoning  Lamb.'  Their  sacrifices  required  coastant  repeti- 
 tion, and  could  never  of  themselves  purify  . 
 
 *  But  Christ,  the  heavenly  Lamb, 
 
 Takes  ali  cut  sins  away, 
 A  sacrifice  of  nobler  name 
 And  richer  blood  than  they.'  vr 
 
 IV.  Tits  early  disciples  of  Christ.  They  followed  him  and 
 communed  with  him.  They  were  men  of  simplicity  and  sin- 
 cerity. Such  must  the  disciples  of  Christ  still  be.  Still  he 
 knows  all  our  hearts,  and  witnesses  all  our  secret  motives  and 
 motions.  Happy  they  who  shall  receive  his  testimony  that 
 they  are  Israelites  indeed,  in  whom  there  is  no  guile  !  They 
 have  seen  much  of  Christ's  grace  and  glory,  but  they  shall  yet 
 see  more  '  and  especially  '  when  he  shall  come  to  be  glorified 
 in  his  saints,  and  to  be  admired  in  all  them  that  believe.' 
 
Christ  purgetli  the  temple. 
 
 S.JUiliN,  il. 
 
 He  furetelleth  his  death  and  resurrection. 
 
 4  Jesus  saitli  unto  her,  ■■  Woman,  '  what 
 have  1  to  do  with  thee  ?  '■  mine  hour  is  not 
 yet  come. 
 
 0  His  mother  saith  unto  the  servants,  What- 
 soever he  saith  unto  you,  do  it. 
 
 6  And  there  were  set  there  six  waterpots  of 
 stone,  °  after  the  manner  of  the  purifying  of 
 the  Jews,  containing  two  or  tliree  firkins  apiece. 
 
 7  Jesus  saith  unto  tlieni,  Fill  the  waterpots 
 with  water.  And  tliey  filled  them  up  to  thehrim. 
 
 8  And  he  saith  unto  them.  Draw  out  now, 
 and  hear  unto  tlie  governor  of  the  feast.  And 
 they  hare  it. 
 
 9  When  the  ruler  of  the  feast  had  tasted  '  the 
 water  that  was  made  wine,  and  knew  not 
 whence  it  was:  (but  the  servants  which  drew 
 the  water  knew  ;)  the  governor  of  the  feast 
 called  the  bridegroom, 
 
 10  And  saith  unto  him.  Every  man  at  the 
 beginning  doth  set  forth  good  wine ;  and  when 
 men  have  well  drunk,  then  that  which  is  worse : 
 hut  thou  hast  kept  the  good  %vine  until  now. 
 
 1 1  This  beginning  of  miracles  did  Jesus  in 
 Cana  of  Galilee,  "^and  manifested  forth  his 
 glory  ;  and  his  disciples  believed  on  him. 
 
 12  II  After  this  he  went  down  to  Capernaum, 
 he,  and  his  mother,  and  •'  his  brethren,  and  his 
 disciples  :  and  they  continued  there  not  many 
 days. 
 
 13  f'And  the  Jews' passover  was  at  hand, 
 and  Jesus  went  up  to  Jerusalem, 
 
 14  '  And  found  in  the  temple  those  that  sold 
 
 A.  D-  sn 
 
 6ch.  19.  20. 
 c  So  2  Sam. 
 
 16.  ID.  Hi  \'i. 
 
 2->. 
 d  ch.  T.  6. 
 
 /ch    i    .11'.. 
 
 /i  Mat, 12.1(1. 
 
 i  Ex.  12  11 
 Deut.  IG.  I, 
 16,  ver.  2.S, 
 cli,  5,  I,* 
 6.4,  8:  11. 
 ,'1,5. 
 
 k  M.nt  51.12, 
 Mark  II.  1 5. 
 LukelK.-l.i. 
 
 /  I.uke  2.  19. 
 
 oxen  and  sheep  and  doves,  and  the  changers 
 of  money  sitting : 
 
 15  And  when  he  had  made  a  scourge  of  small 
 cords,  he  drove  them  all  out  of  the  temple, 
 and  the  sheep,  and  the  oxen  ;  and  poured  out 
 the  changers'  money,  and  overthrew  the  tables ; 
 
 16  And  said  unto  them  that  sold  doves.  Take 
 these  things  hence ;  make  not  '  my  Father's 
 house  an  house  of  merchandise. 
 
 17  And  his  disciples  remembered  that  it  was 
 written,  "'  The  zeal  of  thine  house  hath  eaten 
 me  up. 
 
 18  i  Then  answered  the  Jews  and  said  unto 
 him,  "  What  sign  shewest  thou  unto  us,  seeing 
 that  thou  doest  these  things? 
 
 19  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,°De- 
 I'ku.M. '  stroy  this  temple,  and  in  three  days  I  will  raise 
 
 it  up. 
 
 20  Then  said  the  Jews,  Forty  and  six  years 
 was  this  temple  in  building,  and  wilt  thou  rear 
 it  up  in  three  days? 
 
 21  But  he  spake  ''of  the  temple  of  his  body. 
 
 22  When  therefore  he  was  risen  from  the 
 dead,  ''  his  disciples  remembered  that  he  had 
 said  this  unto  them  ;  and  they  believed  the 
 scripture,  and  the  word  which  Jesus  had  said. 
 
 23  t  Now  when  he  was  in  Jerusalem  at  tlie 
 passover,  in  the  feast  dai/,  many  believed  in 
 his  name,  when  they  saw  the  miracles  which 
 he  did. 
 
 24  But  Jesus  did  not  commit  himself  unto 
 them,  because  he  knew  all  men. 
 
 p  Col.  2.  5. 
 Ileb.  a.  2. 
 So  I  Coi-.S, 
 111    (kS.  I': 
 2  Cor.  ti  Mi, 
 
 3  I,ultc21.S, 
 
 Stage  of  it.— Bloom/.  Btoomfield  thinks  that  the  deficiency  was  occa- 
 sioned hy  Uie  unex|icctcd  arrival  of  Christ  and  his  disciples ;  but  that 
 could  not  be,  because  they  were  invited,  (ver.  2,)  unless  it  be  supposed 
 that  they  were  invited  because  they  happened  to  be  at  Cana,  and  not 
 to  Cana.— £rf.  Their  b<tre  no  a'ine— the  best  commentators  think  that 
 Mary  looked  for  some  miracle.  Dr.  Gui/se  infers  that  he  might  have 
 wrought  some  previous  miracles  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  tamily  or 
 friends.  Scott  thinks  that  the  niiraculoiis  circumstance  of  his  birth, 
 &■■.,  more  probably  led  her  to  e.xpcct  some  such  display  of  his  power. 
 4.  Womitn,  what  hove  I  to  do  with  thee?  t<  cmoi  Kat  aot,  .jwai : 
 '  woman,*  in  the  ancient  languages,  conveys  no  idea  of  disrespect,  but 
 is  used  to  females  of  the  first  rank.  Our  Saviour  means,  'this  is  an 
 affair  in  which  you  are  do  way  concerned ;  leave  that  to  me.'— lip. 
 Maim.  It  was  not  a  matter  proper  for  her  authority  to  interpose  in  ; 
 miracles  were  not  to  be  wrought  to  gratify  friends,  but  at  proper  sea- 
 sons.—S(an/io;)e.  It  was  the  language  of  gentle  rebuke.— So  Bps. 
 Law,  Pearce,  and  Newc,  and  Jh-s.  Dodilr.  and  Camp.  Mine  hour  is  not 
 yet  come,  iupa  here  signifies  '  the  seasonable  time,'  i.  e.,  for  perform- 
 ing the  miracle,  i.  e.,  when  the  wine  was  entirely  gone,  to  remove  all 
 doubts  of  the  reality  of  the  miracle.— So  Rosenm.  5.  Whatsoever  he 
 saitli— do  it;  hereby  she  declares  her  expectation  of  his  performing 
 some  mighty  work  in  answer  to  what  she  had  suggested  to  him.— Bejin. 
 6.  Waterpots,  iSpia,- these  were  large  rats  or  urns,  from  which  tlie 
 water  was  poured  or  drawn  into  lesser  vessels  for  washing  the  hands 
 and  feet— vessels  and  utensils,  (see  Luke,  xi.  3g.)—Bloom/.  The  guests 
 washed  their  hands  before  they  made  their  meal,  which  is  still  the  c(.n- 
 stant  practice  of  the  Jews.— B;;.  Mann.  Containing  two  or  three  fir- 
 kins, ^c,  MCTpnTav,  *  baths,'  rendered  by  the  same  word  in  the  Sept., 
 (2  Chron.  iv.  5.)  The  firkin  contains  nine  gallons  ;  the  bath  seven  and  a 
 half,  some  say  four  and  a  half ;  if  the  latter,  it  reduces  the  size  one  half 
 from  that  of  our  translation.  Much  time  might  be  taken  in  drinking 
 this,  and  the  concourse  of  people  on  such  occasions  was  usually  great. 
 — So  Camp.  We  are  not  obliged  to  suppose  that  all  the  wine  was 
 drunk  up.— See  Lampe  in  toe.  «.  Unto  the  governor  of  the  feast,  rw 
 apxiTpi«\ivy— the  governor  of  the  feast  was  either  the  chief  guest,  who 
 sat  at  the  upper  end  of  the  table,  or  one  whose  ofiSce,  like  the  Sympo- 
 siaclius  among  the  Greeks,  was  to  take  care  that  there  were  neither 
 want  nor  excess.— See  Lighlf.,  Gntise.  The  governor  did  not  sit  at 
 table,  but,  as  being  a  domestic,  stood,  or  went  about  giving  orders  to 
 the  waiters,  and  superintended  the  dishes,  S:c.,  of  the  banquet.— 
 Bloomf.  It  was  usual  for  the  governor  of  the  feast  to  bless  what  was 
 prepared  in  the  cup.  and,  having  diunk  of  it.  to  send  it  round  to  the 
 whole  company.- IF/iifSy.  10.  And  when  men  have  well  drunk,  tjc, 
 then  they  more  easily  take  up  with  bad  wine.- See  Lampe.  "litov 
 lxtQitaf)iaai,  here  rendered  as  above,  thoui;h  it  may  sometimes  signify 
 '  drink  to  excess,'  yet  frequently  denotes  no  more  than  '  to  drink  suffi- 
 ciently i'  and  it  would  be  unjust  and  absurd  to  suppo-e  that  these 
 guests  had   transgressed   the  rules  of  temperance.  II.  Miracles, 
 
 oriiiioy—H  miracle,  portent,  or  prodigy,  is  a  deed  of  immense  and  Di- 
 vine power,  to  which  the  very  laws  of  nature  must  yield,  and,  from  the 
 adjunct,  anything  proving  the  truth  of  any  word  or  lieeil.—Schteusner. 
 Every  sensible  deviation  from,  and  every  seeming  contradiction  to,  the 
 laws  of  nature,  so  far  as  they  arc  known,  must  be  an  evident  and  in. 
 contestable  miracle.— jl/(i;(4//.  a  miracle  may  bring  forth  certain  phe- 
 nomena not  at  variance  with  the  laws  of  nature,  but  operating  in  a  new 
 way  ;  aiid  it  may.  hy  a  direct  agency  or  omnipotence,  produce  pheno- 
 mena which  the  common  laws  of  nature  never  could  produce,  snch  as 
 1108 
 
 raising  the  dead.  Sec. — See  Professor  Brown,  Bloomf.,  Ed,  Manifested 
 fortli  his  glori' — it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  servants  were  pub- 
 licly examined,  and  the  company  received  an  account  of  the  miracle 
 from  them.  "This  passage  means  that  Jesus  demonstrated  his  power 
 and  character  to  the  conviction  of  the  disciples  and  of  all  the  guests. 
 Betirved  on  him,  i.  e.,  more  steadfastly  than  before;  their  faith  was 
 confirmed. — Bens.  14.  Sold  oxen,  Sfc. — there  must  have  been  a  giand 
 market,  for  256,500  victims  are  mentioned  by  Josephns  as  being  offered 
 at  the  passover,  (Wars,  h.  6,  c.  p.) — Doddr.  Much  extortion  was  prac- 
 tised in  the  sale  of  sacrificial  victims,  and  a  great  part  of  the  profit 
 thence  arising  came  into  the  hands  of  the  priest>,  who  sold  the  licence 
 to  vend  commodities  there  at  a  very  dear  rate. — See  citations  in  Lampe. 
 Temple — doves — cliangers  of  vionetj — see  Matt.  xxi.  12,  notes.  15.  A 
 scourge,  ippateWtov,  probably  of  the  ropes  with  which  the  oxen  were 
 driven. — Basnage,  Lampe,  Kuinoel,  Guyse.  He  drove,  'he  drove  out 
 the  men,'  as  the  Persic  version  reads. — GiU.  '  He  drove,'  c|e/ia\e, 
 may  be  understood  not  of  forcible  ejection  by  stripes,  but  of  strict  and 
 authoritative  injunction,  driving  out  the  oxen  and  beasts  only  with  the 
 whip.— So  Lampe,  so  also  Hen.  There  was  probably  no  need  of  stripes, 
 since  those  trafiickers  would  not  scruple  to  obey  the  orders  of  Jesus, 
 and  yield  to  his  pious  injunction,  especially  since  a  great  multitude  of 
 his  followers  and  favourers  were  present,  and  the  people  at  large  held 
 the  frauds  and  impositions  of  the  traffickers  in  detestation. — Bloomf. 
 Poured  out  the  changers^  moneii.  to  sffipa,  'the  small  money.'  thus 
 shewing  his  contempt  of  it. — Heyi.  Nobody  resisted,  fur,  by  a  law  of 
 the  Jews,  profaners  ')f  the  temple  might  be  killed  or  scourged  hy  any 
 person. — Hew.  It  appears  that  Christ  twice  drove  the  buyers  &c.  out 
 of  the  temple  ;  once  at  the  beginning,  and  once  again  (Matt.  xxi.  12) 
 towards  the  close  of  his  ministry. — Grot.  If  this  be  the  same  fact  re- 
 corded by  Matthew  and  Mark,  John  anticipates  three  years,  as  that 
 cleansing  took  place  at  the  last  passover,  in  the  last  week  of  our  Lord's 
 life.  The  vindication  of  God's  house  from  profanation  was  the  first 
 and  last  act  of  our  Lord  ;  and  it  is  probable  he  began  and  finished  his 
 public  ministry  by  this  significant  act. —  Clarke ;  of  the  same  opinion 
 are  Calvin,  Mede,  L'Enfant,  Beausotire,  Lardner,  Hard,  Newc,  Gill, 
 Scott,  Wit.  That  he  only  cleansed  it  once  is  the  opinion  of  Mann, 
 Pearce,  &c.  18.  Wtiatsign!"  ^rc,  what  evidence  for  exercising  such 
 authority? — Ham.  Ti  cn/ietoi'  means,  'what  proof  by  miracle?* — 
 Bloomf.  19.  Destroy  this  temple,  tov  vaov  tootov, 'this  very  temple,* 
 perhaps  pointing  to  his  body  at  the  same  time. — .i.  Clarke.  This  was  a 
 somewhat  obscure  sentence,  but  of  that  sort  which  is  not  unfrequeiitly 
 used  by  the  best  teachers,  for  the  purpose  of  exciting  the  attention, 
 and  sharpening  the  perception,  of  their  auditors. — Rosenm.  He  spoke 
 obscurely  of  his  death,  that  he  might  not  discourage  his  disciples,  and, 
 to  vindicate  his  authority  and  dignity,  appealed  to  his  resurrection.^ 
 Kuinoel,  Bloomf.  21).  Forty  and  six,  ^-c. — the  temple  of  which  the 
 
 Jews  spake  was  rebuilt  by  Herod  the  Great.  Herod  began  the  work 
 sixteen  years  before  the  birth  of  our  Lord ;  the  transactions  here  related 
 took  place  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  our  Lord,  which  make  the  term  ex- 
 actly forty-six  years. — Rosenm.  23.  Many  Ijelieved,  ^r.— thus  the 
 faith  of  our  Lord's  followers  was  originally  founded  on  rational  convic- 
 tion— on  clear  and  stupendous  miracles. — Graves.  24.  Did  not  com- 
 mit,  ?(C. — hence  it  appears  that  the  intellect  of  many  was  convinced, 
 but  the  will  not  subdued,  which  is  essential  to  a  lively  faith. — Grotius. 
 These  believed  Christ  to  be  the  Messiah ;  but  their  hearts  were  net 
 changed,  and  Christ  could  not  trust  himself  to  them. — Clarke. 
 
The  necessity  uf  regeneration. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  III. 
 
 Condemnation  for  unbelief. 
 
 25  And  needed  not  tliat  any  should  testify 
 of  man  :  for  'he  knew  what  was  in  man. 
 
 CHAP.  in. 
 
 1  Christ  teacheth  Nicoikmus  the  nccessiti/  of  reijenera- 
 tion.  14  Of  faith  in  his  death.  16  The  great  love 
 of  God  towards  the  world.  13  Condcmvation  for 
 unbelief.  2;i  The  l-ajitism,  witness^  and  doctrine  of 
 John  concerning  Christ. 
 
 T^HERE  was  a  man  of  tlie  Pliarisees,  named 
 -^    Nicodenius,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews  : 
 
 2  '^  The  same  came  to  Jesus  by  night,  and 
 said  unto  him,  Rabbi,  we  know  that  thou 
 art  a  teacher  come  from  God  :  for  ''  no  man 
 can  do  these  miracles  that  thou  doest,  except 
 '"  God  be  with  him. 
 
 3  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Verily, 
 verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  "^  Except  a  man  be 
 born  II  again,  be  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
 God. 
 
 4  Nicodemussaith  unto  him.  How  can  a  man 
 be  born  when  he  is  old  ?  can  he  enter  the 
 second  time  into  his  mother's  womb,  and  be 
 born  ? 
 
 5  Jesus  answered,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
 thee,  ^  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of 
 tlu'  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
 God. 
 
 G  That  which  is  bom  of  the  flesh  is  flesh  ; 
 and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is  spirit. 
 
 7  Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto  thee,  Ye  must 
 be  born  ||  again. 
 
 S  *"  The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and 
 thou  hearest  the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not 
 tell  whence  it  cometh,  and  whither  it  goeth  : 
 so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit. 
 
 9  Nicodemus  answered  and  said  unto  him, 
 ^  How  can  these  things  be? 
 
 10  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him.  Art 
 thou  a  master  of  Israel,  andkiiowest  not  these 
 things? 
 
 1 1  ••  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  AVe  speak 
 
 A.  D.  SO. 
 
 r  1  Sain.  Iti, 
 
 7  1  Clir.2H 
 9.  i\fat.  [J  1 
 >tui  k  -2.  B. 
 c)i.  b.  Gj.  K 
 
 IG  no. 
 
 Acta  I.  ^-l. 
 Hcv.  2.  23. 
 
 .TJ,  Aets^'. 
 ;  Acta  10  33. 
 
 d  ch.  1.  13. 
 Gal.  G.  15. 
 Tit.  3.  5. 
 Jam.  I.  IS 
 I  Pet.  I.':.**, 
 1  John  3.9. 
 
 II  Or,/ro.H 
 abuvf. 
 
 e  Mark  Ifi. 
 16.  Acts  2. 
 
 38. 
 
 /Kcclea.  II. 
 '     I  Cor.  2. 
 
 g  ch.  6.  52, 
 
 60. 
 k  Mat. 1 1.27. 
 
 ch.  I.  18.  tt 
 
 7.  16.  &  8. 
 
 28.&  12.49. 
 
 &  U.  2i. 
 
 A.  n    30. 
 ver,  3.'. 
 
 APmv.  .3lU. 
 
 ch.C  3:t.  38. 
 
 !>\,(i-i  Si  Hi. 
 
 2H    Acts  2 
 
 :M   lC<.r.l5 
 
 ■17.  Kpli.  1. 
 
 0.  10. 
 I  Nuin,2i,9 
 m  ch    8    23. 
 
 &   12.  32. 
 
 h.  li.   17- 
 o  Horn.  5.  S 
 1  Juhu4.  0. 
 
 ;)I,iikr9  5fi. 
 
 ■h.5.1&.S:S 
 .'i,  «t  li;  17 
 John  4.  u. 
 
 '/  ch,  5.  21. 
 J<i  fi. 'lO.  47. 
 
 8:  :;o.  31. 
 
 ch.  I.  4,0, 
 
 10,  11.  &  u. 
 12. 
 
 /Job  24.  IS, 
 17.  Eph.  5. 
 13. 
 
 H  Or,  disco- 
 vered. 
 
 I  Sain.9.4. 
 *  Mat .3..%  6. 
 
 that  we  do  know,  and  testify  that  we  have 
 seen  ;  and  '  ye  receive  not  our  witness. 
 
 12  If  I  have  told  you  earthly  things,  and  ye 
 believe  not,  how  shall  ye  believe,  if  I  tell  you 
 o/" heavenly  things? 
 
 13  And  ''no  man  hath  ascended  up  to  hea- 
 ven, but  he  that  came  down  from  heaven,  even 
 the  Son  of  man  vvhicli  is  in  heaven. 
 
 14  If  '  And  as  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in 
 the  wilderness,  even  so  "'must  the  Son  of  man 
 be  lifted  up  : 
 
 15  That  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
 not  perish,  but  "  have  eternal  life. 
 
 16  II  "For  God  so  loved  the  world,  tliat  he 
 gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
 believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
 everlasting  life. 
 
 17  ^'For  God  sent  not  his  Son  into  the 
 world  to  condemn  the  world  ;  but  that  the 
 world  througli  bim  might  be  saved. 
 
 18  H''  He  that  believeth  on  him  is  not  con- 
 demned :  but  lie  that  believetii  not  is  con- 
 demned already,  because  be  hath  not  believed 
 in  the  name  of  the  only   begotten  Son  of  God. 
 
 19  And  this  is  the  condemnation,  "■  that  liglit 
 is  come  into  the  world,  and  men  loved  dark- 
 ness rather  tiian  light,  because  their  deeds  were 
 evil. 
 
 20  For  ''every  one  that  doeth  evil  bateth  the 
 light,  neither  Cometh  to  the  light,  lest  his  deeds 
 should  be  ||  reproved. 
 
 21  But  he  that  doeth  truth  cometh  to  the 
 light,  that  his  deeds  may  be  made  manifest, 
 that  they  are  wrought  in  God. 
 
 22  If  After  these  things  came  Jesus  and  his 
 disciples  into  the  land  of  Judiea  ;  and  there  he 
 tarried  with  them,  *  and  baptized. 
 
 23  1[  And  John  also  was  baptizing  in  ^non 
 near  to  "  Salim,  because  there  was  much 
 water  there:  "and  they  came,  and  were  bap- 
 tized. 
 
 CuAP.  III.  —  1.  Nicodermis,  a  ruler,  a  professor  of  laws,  and  of  the 
 number  of  the  Sanhedrim. — Kuinoel.  2.  Rabbi — see  Matt,  xxiii.  7, 
 note.  Came  ffojii  God,  i.  e.,  with  an  extraordinary  commission. — Bens. 
 These  miracles,  reterring  to  the  miracles  he  had  done  at  the  passover, 
 (see  chap.  li.  23.)— Gi//.  3.  Verili/,  verily,  '  I,  the  Amen,  the  Amen, 
 say  it ;'  I,  the  faithful  and  true  witness. — Hen.  Be  born  again,  '^ewrjOr] 
 av£o0ev,  '  be  born  from  above  :'  the  sense,  however,  which  our  trans'- 
 lation  pives  it  is  evidently  that  in  which  Nicodemus  took  it. — Bens. 
 It  is  rendered  'again'  and  *  anew'  by  Grotius,  Beza,  Kype,  Beausobre, 
 Lampe,  &c.  So  the  Vulq.,  Syr.,  &c.  The  Jews  were  not  strangers  to 
 tlie  phrase  ;  the  proselytes  were  said  to  be  burn  anew,  brought  into  the 
 world  a  second  time,  and  by  annther  mother,  and  become  sons  of  Abra- 
 ham.— 'AoBluomf.  and  Gill,  Perhaps,  by  some  extraordinary  emphasis 
 which  our  Lord  gave  to  the  expression,  Nicodemus  understood  that  he 
 meant  more  than  the  Jewish  term  implied,  or  it  is  obvious  he  would 
 not  have  been  puzzled  at  his  observation,  nor  have  replied  as  he  did. 
 — Ed.  By  the  plirase,  our  Lord  signifies  that  no  man,  either  as  a  man 
 or  as  a  son  of  Abraham,  or  as  a  proselyte  to  the  Jewish  religion,  can 
 have  any  true  knowledge  of,  or  right  unto,  the  enjoyment  of  the  king, 
 dom  of  God,  unless  he  is  bnrn  again,  or  regenerated,  and  quickened  by 
 the  Spirit  of  God  ;  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  his  mind  ;  has  Christ  formed 
 in  his  heart;  becomes  a  partaker  of  the  Divine  nature;  and  in  all  re- 
 spects a  new  creature, — another  in  heart,  principle,  practice,  and  con- 
 versation ;  or,  unless  he  be  born  from  above,  as  the  word  is  rendered 
 in  verse  31;  that  is,  by  a  supernatural  power,  having  the  heavenly 
 image  instamped  on  him,  and  being  called  with  an  heavenly  calling. 
 —  Gill.  Cannut  see,  cannot  understand  its  nature,  nor  have  part  or  lot 
 in  the  matter  of  it. — Hen.  4.  How  can  a  man  be  born,  ^c. — not  un- 
 derstanding that  it  was  necessary  for  the  Jews  to  have  any  other  title 
 to  the  blessings  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Messias  than  their  natural  birth. 
 
 he  asked  this  question  in  evident  surprise.— ii.  Watson.  6.  Water 
 and  the  Spirit,  intend  but  one  thing,  i.e.,  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  in  Matt, 
 iii.  11,  'with  the  Holy  Gho&t  and  with  fire,'  representing  the  Spirit's 
 purifying  influences,  (see  Isa.xliv.  3;  Ezek.  xxxvi. 'J5.)— ^/wr.  8.  The 
 wind  bloweth,  §(.*.,  the  work  of  the  Spirit  i--  felt,  but  his  way  of  working 
 is  a  mystery  we  cannot  comprehend.— if»/i/y«.  lo.  A  master  of  Israel, 
 i.  e.,  a  teacher  of  the  law  to  Israel,  cither  as  a  public  preacher  in  their 
 synagogues,  or  in  their  divinity  schools;  vv  as  a  member  of  the  San- 
 hedrim, who  undertook  to  explain  the  law  and  determine  its  meaning. 
 And  knowest  not  thest  ^//i»fi-6— proselytes  are  washed  with  water,  and 
 counted  new  born  j  and  the  prophets  have  foretold  that  the  Spirit's  in- 
 fluences shall  produce  inward  purity,  (see  Jer.  xxxii.  39;  Ezek.  xxxvi, 
 26,  2;.)— So  Clagett.  1 1 .  We  speak  that  ive  do  know,  ^c— John  the 
 liaptist,  and  the  ancient  prophets,  are  alluded  to,  so  some;  the  Father 
 and  Spirit,  together  with  himself,  are  meant,  so  others.— Gu^.^c.  •  I 
 and  my  disciples  do  not  profess  to  teach  a  religion  which  we  do  not 
 understand  ;'  a  strong  but  delicate  reproof  to  Nicodemus,  who  did  not 
 understand  the  very  rudiments  of  the  doctrine  of  salvation.— C/urA-e. 
 12.  ///  have  told  you  earthly  things,  §-c.,  *  what  God  doth  on  earth, 
 on  all  that  he  will  save,  and  illustrate  it  by  a  similitude  which  your 
 senses  perceive,  and  your  ceremonies  signify,  and  yet  you  believe  not 
 things  so  evident,  how  shall  you  believe  if  I  tell  you  the  unseen  things 
 of  heaven  V~Baxter.  13.  And  710  man  hath  ascended,  ^c,  '  Mosts, 
 your  lawgiver,  only  ascended  to  mount  Sinai,  whereas  the  Son  of  man 
 is  come  down  from  heaven,  and  commissioned,  in  an  extraordinary 
 manner,  to  reveal  the  will  of  God  to  men,'  Is  in  heaven,  is  at  present 
 in  heaven,  is  with  God,  and  conscious  of  all  his  gracious  purposes  to- 
 wards men.— Mackn.  14.  Serpent,  §c.— see  on  Num.  xxi.  9,  note. 
 2.J.  iSalim,  by  the  brook  ;  io  the  tribe  of  Issachar.— i»/o«i.  Ainon, 
 eight  miles  from  Scythopolis,  to  the  south,  near  Salira  and  Jordan.— 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  This  chapter  records  two 
 facts — I.  The  viarria je  of  Cana.  This  Christ  honoured  with 
 his  presence  ;  a  sanction  to  the  married  state,  and  a  proof 
 that  well-regulated  social  enjoyments  are  not  displeasing  in 
 bis  sight.  The  Christian  will,  however,  always  bear  in  mind, 
 that  the  omnipresent  Lord  is  wherever  he  is,  and  will  aim 
 lo  observe  the  apostolic  admonition,  *  Whether,  therefore, 
 ye  eat  or  drink,  or  whatever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of 
 Liod." 
 
 II.  The  purging  of  the  temple.  Are  there  no  buyers  and 
 1109 
 
 sellers  admitted  into  God's  temple  now  ?  When  tbe  counter, 
 the  counting-house,  the  exchange,  and  the  rent-roll  obtrude 
 upon  tbe  thoughts  in  the  sacred  hours  of  worship,  let  us, 
 with  a  holy  and  indignant  zeal,  chase  them  out,  for  these  as 
 much  desecrate  the  sacred  place  and  hour  as  did  the  oxen, 
 sheep,  and  doves,  and  the  tables  of  the  money-changers,  the 
 Jewish  temple.  *  God  is  greatly  to  be  feared  in  the  assembly 
 of  the  .saints,  and  to  be  had  in  reverence  of  all  them  that  are 
 about  nim.' 
 
John's  doctrine  concerning  Christ. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  IV.  Christ  talhulh  with  a  wu/nan  of  Samaria. 
 
 24  For  'John  was  not  yet  cast  into  prison. 
 
 25  t  Then  there  arose  a  question  between 
 some  of  John's  disciples  and  the  Jews  about 
 purifyinj;. 
 
 '26  And  they  came  unto  John,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Kabbi,  he  that  was  with  thee  beyond  Jor- 
 dan, "to  whom  thou  barest  witness,  behold,  the 
 same  baptizeth,  and  all  /«e«  come  to  him. 
 
 27  John  answered  and  said,  °  A  man  can 
 II  receive  nothing,  except  it  be  given  him  from 
 heaven. 
 
 28  Ye  yourselves  bear  me  witness,  that  I  said, 
 •'  I  am  not  the  Christ,  but  ■■  that  I  am  sent  be- 
 fore him. 
 
 29  ''  He  that  liath  the  bride  is  the  bridegroom  : 
 but  °  the  friend  of  the  bridegroom,  which  stand- 
 eth  and  heareth  him,  rejoiceth  greatly  because 
 of  the  bridegroom's  voice  :  this  my  joy  there- 
 fore is  fulfilled. 
 
 30  He  must  increase,  but  I  rnust  decrease. 
 
 31  'He  that  cometh  from  above  ^  is  above 
 all  :  ■'he  that  is  of  the  earth  is  earthly,  and 
 speaketh  of  the  earth  :  '  he  that  cometh  from 
 heaven  is  above  all. 
 
 32  And  '  what  he  hath  seen  and  heard,  that 
 he  testifieth  ;  and  no  man  receiveth  his  tes- 
 timony. 
 
 33  He  that  hath  received  his  testimony  '  hath 
 set  to  his  seal  that  Gad  is  true. 
 
 34  "  For  be  whom  God  hath  sent  speaketh 
 the  words  of  God  ;  for  God  giveth  not  the 
 Spirit  °  by  measure  unto  him. 
 
 35  °The   Father  loveth  the  Son,  and  hath 
 
 zch.  1.7,15, 
 27,31. 
 
 a  1  Cor.  4. 7. 
 
 Hvb   5.  4. 
 
 Jaiu.  I.  17. 
 II  Or,  lake 
 
 h  cli.  1 .  W, 
 
 27. 
 c  Sla).  3.  1. 
 
 M.ark  1.  2. 
 
 Luke  1. 17. 
 dWiit.  22.  2. 
 
 2Cor.ll.2. 
 
 Eph.  5.  '25, 
 
 27.  Rev.  21. 
 
 9. 
 e  Cant.  5.  I. 
 /■ver.  IS. 
 
 eh.  8.  23. 
 ir  Mat.28.!8. 
 
 ch  1.  1.^,27. 
 
 Rom,  9.  5. 
 A  1  Cor.  15. 
 
 47. 
 i  ch.  6.  .13. 
 
 lCor.15.47, 
 
 Eph.  1.  21. 
 
 Phil.  2.  y. 
 *  ver  II. 
 
 ch.  8.  26.  8i 
 
 15,  15. 
 I  Rom   .S.  4. 
 
 IJohn  5.10. 
 m  ch.  7.  Iti. 
 nch.  1.  16. 
 <.  Mat.ll-?7 
 
 fl>  28    13. 
 
 r.iikeHl.22. 
 
 ch.5,  211, 2-2. 
 
 (l<13..S.fc  17. 
 
 S.  Heb.  2e. 
 
 fi  Gen.  3.1.19. 
 ft  43.  22. 
 Josh.  24.32. 
 
 given  all  things  into  his  hand. 
 
 36  '"  He  that  believetti  on  the  Son  hath  ever- 
 lasting life  :  and  he  that  believeth  not  the  Son 
 shall  not  see  life  ;  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth 
 on  him. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Christ  ialketh  with  a  woman  of  Samaria,  and  rwcal- 
 cth  himself  unto  htr.  27  His  clisciiiLs  marvel.  31  lie 
 dedart'th  to  them  his  zad  lo  God  s  ylory.  39  Mauij 
 Samaritans  helicve  on  him,  413  He  drpartcili  into 
 Galikt\  and  healttk  the  ruler''s  son  that  lay  sick  at 
 Capernaum. 
 
 AITHEN  therefore  llie   Lord  knew  bow  tlie 
 ^^     Pharisees  had  heard  tliat  Jesus  made  and 
 "baptized  more  disciples  than  Jolni, 
 
 2  (Though  Jesus  himself  baptized  not,  but 
 bis  disciples,) 
 
 3  He  left  Judiea,  and  departed  again  into 
 Galilee. 
 
 4  And  he  must  needs  go  through  Samaria. 
 
 5  Then  cometh  he  to  a  city  of  Samaria,  which 
 is  called  Sycbar,  near  to  the  parcel  of  ground 
 ^  that  Jacob  gave  to  liis  son  Joseph. 
 
 6  Now  Jacob's  well  was  there.  Jesus  there- 
 fore, being  wearied  with  his  journey,  sat  thus 
 on  the  well :  and  it  was  about  the  sixth  hour. 
 
 7  There  cometh  a  woman  of  Samaria  to 
 draw  water :  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Give  me 
 to  drink. 
 
 8  (For  his  disciples  were  gone  away  unto  the 
 city  to  buy  meat.) 
 
 9  Then  saitb  the  woman  of  Samaria  unto  him, 
 How  is  it  that  thou,  being  a  Jew,  askest  drink 
 
 Jerome.  Much  umter,  viara  woWa,  '  abundance  of  water.* — Nonnus. 
 •  A  mnltitnde  of  waters,'  Arab.  •  Many  waters.*— //enry,  Gill,  Gu^/se. 
 'Many  streams.*  The  meaning  of  the  term  is,  unquestionably,  'a 
 fountain,*  and  this  was  divided,  ninst  probably,  into  many  small 
 streams,  for  the  purpose  of  watering  the  contiguous  grounds. — Boothr. 
 2b.  About  purifying,  probably  whether  the  baptism  of  John  or  that 
 of  Jesus,  or  the  traditional  or  the  ceremonial  washings,  were  mo<t 
 efficacious  to  take  away  9.\o.—Scntt.  2S.  All  men,  i.  e.,  many.— Gi7/. 
 27.  A  mancanreceipf,  SfC,  or,  '  a  man  can  receive  nothing  from  Jneaven, 
 unless  it  be  given  him.'— Clarke.  A  man  of  God,  or  prophet,  can  as- 
 sume no  greater  dignity  and  authority  than  God  has  thought  fit  to 
 confer  on  him.  2S.  /  snid,  I  am  not  the  Christ,  '  I  never  pretended 
 to  be  the  Messiah,  but  only  his  harbinger.'— ;i/acA^.  29.  He  that 
 
 hiith  the  hride,  fyr.,  '  haUi  he  got  the  throne  in  men's  affections?  it  is 
 bis  right ;  to  whom  should  the  bride  be  brought  but  to  the  bridegroom  ?' 
 But  the  friend,  SfC- — there  were  two  at  each  wedding,  one  waited  on 
 the  bride,  and  the  other  on  the  bridegroom.- C/urAre.  All  that  John 
 liHd  done,  he  had  done  as  the  friend  of  the  bridegroom,  to  introduce 
 him   to  the   bride,  recommend  him  to  her  affections,  &c. — Benson. 
 
 30.  He  must  increase,  ^-c,  'his  kingdom  and  glory  must  increase  to 
 perfection,   but   mv  preparatory    ministry  will   soon  end.' — Baxter. 
 
 31.  He  that  cometh  from  above,  SfC,  as  Christ  only  came,  (verse  13,)  is 
 greater  than  any  prophets.— S.  Clarke.  33.  Hath  set  to  his  seal— as 
 sealing  was  employed  for  vouching  the  authenticity  of  writings,  to  seal 
 came,  by  a  natural  and  easy  transition,  to  signify  '  to  vouch,  to  attest.' 
 3'>.  All  things  into  his  hand,  as  king  and  judge  universal. —  Benson. 
 36.  That  hfliei-eth  not,  6  aTreit^on'.  The  word  includes  both  incredulity 
 and  disobedience.— //pTjr^. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  A"»ph-,  without  receiving  information  from  any  one. 
 — Bens.  From  its  having  been  related  to  him. — Boothr.  2.  Baptized 
 not — Jesus  did  not  baptize,  perhaps,  because  it  was  not  proper  to  bap- 
 tize in   his  own  name;  and  because  it  was  of  more  importance  to 
 
 preach  than  to  baptize,  (I  Cor.  i.  17.) — Mackn.  Hence  it  was  a  false 
 reiHjrt.  4.  He  must  needs  go  through  Samaria,  that  is,  the  country 
 of  Samaria,  for  the  way  to  Galilee  lay  through  the  midst  of  Samaria.— 
 Gill.  There  was  a  natural  necessity  for  passing  this  way,  and  a  moral 
 necessity  to  gather  some  of  his  sheep.  5.  St/char,  supposed  to  be  the 
 same  with  Shechem,  mentioned  Josh,  xxiv.3-',  &c. — Guyse.  After  the 
 ruin  of  Samaria  by  Salmaneser,  this  place  became  the  capital  of  the 
 Samaritans. — Cal.  It  was  situated  between  the  mountains  Gerizim 
 and  Ebal. — Laney  and  L'Enfant.  This  city  i.s  now  called  Naplosa. — 
 Mintndred.  Xcar  to  the  parcel  of  ground,  7r\n'^K>*'  rati  x^p'ou,  'near 
 the  heritage.'  The  word  means  *  an  estate  in  land,'  and  is  properly  de- 
 nominated 'heritage,*  agreeably  to  what  we  are  told,  Josh.  xxiv.  32. 
 — Camp.,  so  Bettu.tubre.  6.  Sat  thus,  ofTwr,  sat  '  immediately.' — 
 
 Diiildr.  'Then,  therefore,  accordingly  sat.* — Bloomf.,  as  Har.  On 
 the  well,  by  the  side  of  it,  on  the  brink  of  it,  on  the  bare  ground. — 
 Nonnus,  so  Har.  The  Greek  eKaOeCeio,  simply  signifies  he  sat,  not 
 upon  a  stone,  seat,  or  cushion,  but,  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case 
 required,  upon  the  ground. — Chrysostom.  The  sixth  hour,  or  just  high 
 noon;  so  that  the  heat  co-operated  with  the  fatigue  of  the  journey  to 
 increase  both  his  thirst  and  faintness.  Even  in  December,  and  after 
 cold  mornings,  the  days  are  often  very  hot  in  Jiidea. — Bms.  7.  A 
 woman — to  draw  ivater,  the  employment  of  females  (see  Gen.  xxiv.  11, 
 &c.  J  and  Exod.  ii.  1 6  ) — Clarke.  Give  me  to  drink—Haynes,  the  tra- 
 veller, informs  us  that  he  and  his  companions  were  generously  supplied 
 ^vith  water  for  their  horses,  furnished  by  women  who  were  drawing  it 
 from    the    same    well. — Clarke  in   Harmer.  9.  Thou,  being  a  Jew, 
 
 which  she  probably  knew  from  the  dialect  and  dress. — Chrysoslnm.  A 
 Jew,  askest  drink  of  me  ? — there  were  no  friendly  dealings  in  common 
 between  the  Jews  and  .'Samaritans. — Har.  No  dealings — trading  deal- 
 ings they  had,  but  not  friendly  intercourse ;  for  the  Samaritans  were 
 of  foreign  origin,  superstitious,  and  idolatrous,  (2  Kings,  xvii,  24,  33 — 
 41,)  had  ill-treated  the  Jews,  (Ezra,  iv.  l — 6;  Neh.  vi.  1 — U,)  and  op- 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  HI.  —  From  this  chapter  we  may 
 learn  —  I.  T7ie  importance  of  regeneration ;  without  this  we 
 •  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God'.'  This  is,  then,  a  spiritual 
 change,  fitting  the  soul  for  a  spiritual  condition  and  an  eternal 
 staTe.  And,  from  the  language  used,  it  must  be  a  great  change 
 — great  as  that  of  a  new  creation.  It  must,  then,  be  obvious, 
 to  every  serious  and  thinking  mind,  that  more  is  implied  in 
 this  than  any  external  rite  can  communicate,  and.  indeed,  it 
 IS  called  being  born,  not  only  of  water,  but  of  the  spirit.  It 
 is  equally  obvious,  that  many  are  baptized  who  have  never 
 known  '  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  the  renewing  of  the 
 Jloly  Ghost;'  and  who,  though  admitted  into  the  kingdom  of 
 God,  or  visible  church  here,  have  given  awful  proof,  in  their 
 lives  and  deaths,  that  they  have  had  but  the  thing  signifying, 
 and  not  the  thing  signified— and  that  thev  never  could  enter 
 the  kingdom  of  glory.  *That  which  is  born  of  tlie  flesh  is 
 flesh,  and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is  spirit.*  '  If  we 
 1110 
 
 live  after  the  flesh,  we  shall  die  ;  but  if  we,  through  the  Spirit, 
 do  mortify  the  deeds  of  the  body,  we  shall  live' — live  to  God 
 here,  and  live  eternally  with  him  hereafter.  We  also  learn — 
 II.  The  importance  of  faith :  without  this  a  man  '  cannot  see 
 life,  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him.'  Regeneration 
 gives  us  spiritual  life  ;  faith  apprehends  Christ  for  eternal 
 life.  Regeneration  is  a  work  done  in  us;  but  faith  has  re- 
 spect to  work  done  for  us.  Faith  rests  entirely  upon  the 
 perfect  righteousness  and  meritorious  death  of  the  Son  of  God, 
 for  acceptance  and  pardon  ;  it  is,  as  Dr.  Gouge  expresses  it, 
 *  A  saving  grace,  whereby  we  receive  ('hrist,  and  rest  upon 
 him  alone  for  salvation.'  '  We  are,'  says  the  eleventh  article 
 of  the  Church  of  England,  *  accounted  rigliteous  before  God 
 only  for  the  merit  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  by 
 faitii,  and  not  by  our  own  works  or  deservings.'  Thus,  *  Being 
 justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ — and  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God.' 
 
He  revealeth  himself  to  her. 
 
 S.  JOHN.  IV. 
 
 His  zv.nl fur  Gocfs  (flory. 
 
 of  me,  which  am  a  woman  of  Samaria?  for  *^  the 
 Jews  have  no  dealings  with  the  Samaritans. 
 
 iO  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her,  If  thou 
 knewest  the  gift  of  God,  and  who  it  is  that 
 saith  to  thee,  Give  me  to  drink  ;  thou  wouldest 
 have  asked  of  him,  and  he  would  have  given 
 thee  ''  living  water. 
 
 U  The  woman  saith  unto  him,  Sir,  thou 
 hast  nothing  to  draw  with,  and  the  \vell  is 
 deep  :  from  whence  then  hast  thou  that  living 
 water  ? 
 
 12  Art  thou  greater  than  our  father  Jacob, 
 which  gave  us  the  well,  and  drank  thereof  him- 
 S(.df,  and  his  children,  and  his  cattle? 
 
 13  Jesus  answ^ered  and  said  unto  her,  Who- 
 soever drinketh  of  this  water  shall  thirst  again  : 
 
 14  But  "^whosoever  drinketh  of  the  water 
 that  1  shall  give  him  shall  never  thirst ;  but 
 the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  '"shall  be  in 
 liim  a  well  of  water  springing  up  into  everlast- 
 ing life. 
 
 15  ^  The  woman  saith  unto  him.  Sir,  give  me 
 this  water,  that  I  thirst  not,  neither  come  hither 
 to  draw. 
 
 16  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Go,  call  thy  husband, 
 and  come  hitlier. 
 
 17  The  woman  answered  and  said,  I  have  no 
 husband.  Jesus  said  unto  her,  Thou  hast  well 
 said,  I  have  no  husband  : 
 
 18  For  thou  hast  had  five  husbands  ;  and  he 
 whom  thou  now  hast  is  not  thy  husband  :  in 
 that  saidst  thou  truly, 
 
 10  The  woman  saith  unto  him.  Sir,  "^  I  per- 
 ceive that  thou  art  a  prophet. 
 
 120  Our  fathers  worshipped  in  '  this  moun- 
 tain ;  and  ye  say,  that  in  "^ Jerusalem  is  the 
 place  where  men  ought  to  worship. 
 
 21  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Woman,  believe  me, 
 the  hour  cometh,  '  when  ye  shall  neither  in 
 this  mountain,  nor  yet  at  Jerusalem,  worship 
 the  Father. 
 
 22  Ye  worship  ^  ye  know  not  what  :  we 
 know  what  we  worship:  for  "salvation  is  of 
 the  Jews. 
 
 A.  D.  30. 
 
 a  Kin.  17. 
 LH,  Luket) 
 52,  53.  Acts 
 
 lu.  :i8. 
 
 d  Is  IS.  !1  8c 
 ■IV  H  .lcr.2. 
 IM  Zedi.l3 
 I.  &  U.  8. 
 
 ^  See  rb.  fi. 
 :M.&  17  2,-j. 
 
 h  T,aI(*'7.IR. 
 
 9i  24.  19. 
 
 ch.li.  11,  & 
 
 7.  4J). 
 t  Judg.  9.  7. 
 A  Dnut  \-i^. 
 
 •>  Phil    3.  3. 
 p  cli.  1.  17. 
 
 72  Cor,3  i: 
 
 r  ver,  29,  39. 
 
 »  ch.  9.  37. 
 Mat.26.tiH, 
 fi4.Markll 
 01,  62. 
 
 (Job  23.  12 
 ch.6.  38.  fc 
 17.  4.  &  19. 
 
 X  Mat.  9  37. 
 Luke  10.  y. 
 V  l>au.  12,  3, 
 
 23  But  the  hour  cometh,  and  now  is,  when 
 the  true  worshippers  shall  worsliip  the  Father 
 in  "  spirit  ^and  in  truth  :  for  the  Father  seeketh 
 such  to  worship  him. 
 
 24  '^  God  is  a  spirit:  and  they  that  worship 
 him  must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 
 
 2o  The  woman  saith  unto  him,  I  know  that 
 Messias  cometh,  which  is  called  Christ :  when 
 he  is  come,  ^  he  will  teil  us  all  things. 
 
 26  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  ^  I  that  speak  unto 
 thee  am  he. 
 
 27  H  And  upon  this  came  his  disciples,  and 
 marvelled  that  he  talked  with  the  woman  :  yet 
 no  man  said.  What  seekest  thou?  or,  Why 
 talkest  thou  with  her? 
 
 28  The  woman  then  left  her  waterpot,  and 
 went  her  way  into  the  city,  and  saith  to  the 
 men, 
 
 29  Come,  see  a  man,  *  which  told  me  all 
 things  that  ever  I  did  :  is  not  this  the  Christ? 
 
 30  Then  they  went  out  of  the  city,  and  came 
 unto  him. 
 
 31  tin  the  mean  while  his  disciples  prayed 
 him,  saying.  Master,  cat. 
 
 32  But  he  said  unto  them,  I  have  meat  to  eat 
 that  ye  know  not  of 
 
 33  Therefore  said  the  disciples  one  to  another, 
 Hath  any  man  brought  him  ought  to  eat? 
 
 34  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  "  My  meat  is  to  do 
 tiie  will  of  him  that  sent  me,  and  to  finish  his 
 work. 
 
 3.5  Say  not  ye,  There  are  yet  four  months, 
 and  then  cometh  harvest?  behold,  1  say  unto 
 you.  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  look  on  the  fields  ; 
 ''for  they  are  white  already  to  harvest. 
 
 36  ^  And  he  that  reapeth  receiveth  wages, 
 and  gathereth  fiuit  unto  life  eternal :  that  both 
 he  that  sowetb  and  he  that  reapeth  may  re- 
 joice together. 
 
 37  And  herein  is  that  saying  true.  One  sow- 
 eth,  and  another  reapeth. 
 
 38  I  sent  you  to  reap  that  whereon  ye  be- 
 stowed no  labour  :  other  men  laboured,  and  ye 
 are  entered  into  their  labours. 
 
 posed  them  with  a  temple  on  Gcrizim,  &c. — Doddr,  10.  The  gift  nf 
 find,  Christ,  (Isa.  ix.  6 ;  chap.  iii.  i6.) — GiU,  Guyse.  Or  it  may  mean 
 his  free  grace. — Scott.  Some  tiiink  it  here  means  the  Holy  Spirit. — 
 Guyse.  hiring  water,  v6iap  fu)f,  i.e.,  'running  water,'  {see Gen. xxvi. 
 19;  Lev,  xiv.  5.)— Scott,  Can.p.  'Lifc-giving  water.'  —  Ew.  This 
 sitinifies  the  sanctifying  and  comforting  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
 conferring,  sustaining,  and  perfecting  spiritual  life. — Scott.  11.  The 
 tvdl  is  deep,  computed  at  thirty-tive  yards, — Maundrell.  Travellers 
 take  with  them  leathern  buckets  to  draw  water. — Rautvo/f.  12.  Greater 
 than — J'jcwA,  wiser  than  he  who  could  find  no  better  fountain  in  the 
 neighbourhond, —  GUI,  as  Grot.,  so  Rosenm.,  Kuinoel,  &c.  13.  Thirst 
 again,  this  «  atcr  may  allay  the  thirst  of  the  body  for  a  little  while, 
 but  the  appetite  will  soon  return.— B^^ns.  H.  Never  thirst,  after 
 
 sinful  lusts  and  pleasures,  nor  after  the  grace  of  God  infused  into  their 
 souls,  which  is  an  abundant  and  an  abiding  principle. — Gill.  Never 
 thirst  so  as  to  jierish. — Light/.  13.  Give  me  this  wnler—ahe  took  the 
 words  in  their  literal  application. — Bloomf.  She  sneered  and  scoffed 
 at  what  Cliriat  said. — Gill,  as  Lighlf.  and  Lampe.  It  is  not  likely  she 
 scoffed,  from  her  respectful  address,  and  not  being  reproved. — Kuinnel. 
 ly.  Not  thy  husband,  i.e.,  thy  lawful  husband. — Nonnus.  \Q.  Thou 
 art  a  prophet,  by  which  term  was  not  only  meant  those  who  could 
 predict  future  events,  but  also  those  who  could  teach  and  declare  things 
 at  present  hidden,  and  which,  withciut  an  immediate  revelation,  could 
 not  be  known.  So  Samuel  shewed  to  Saul  what  was  in  his  heart, 
 i.1  Sam.  ix.  ly.) — Bloomf.  20.  Our  fathers  worshipped,  §e.— she  re- 
 quested him,  as  a  prophet,  to  settle  the  disputed  point  between  the 
 Samaritans  and  the  Jews,  respecting  worshipping  on  mount  Gerizim 
 or  at  Jerusalem. — Scott.  In  this  mountain — the  temple  on  this  moun- 
 tain was  built  by  Sanballat  for  his  son-in-law,  Manasseh ;  it  was  de- 
 stroyed by  John  Hyrcanus,  the  high  priest;  not  known  whether  re- 
 built,  but   still   the  Samaritans  worshipped  on  the  spot. — Pict.  Bih. 
 
 21.  The  hour  cometh,  ^c. — he  intimated  that  the  question  was  need- 
 less, for  there  would  be  a  total  alteration  in  religious  services. — Bloomf. 
 
 22.  Ye  worship  ye  know  not  what,  fyc,  vjueir  npotTKvi'eirc  6  owk  oi6are, 
 iificit  iTpoaKvvoufitv  6  ot&afiev,  '  ye  worship  what  ye  know  not ;  we  wor- 
 ship what  we  know.' — Camp.,  so  Hen.  The  Samaritans  worshipped 
 the  true  God,  (Ezra,  iv.  2;  2  Kings,  xvii,  32,)  but  they  were  sunk  into 
 j,-ross  ignorance  ;  they  worshipped  him  as  the  God  of  that  land,  (2  Kings, 
 
 nil 
 
 xvii.  27,  33,)  as  a  local  deity,  like  the  gods  of  the  nations. — Hen.  Sal- 
 vation is  of  the  Jews— the  promises  of  salvation,  in  a  particular  manner, 
 belong  to  the  Jews,  and  the  means  of  salvation  ;  and  the  Saviour  him- 
 self proceeds  from  them.—  Gupse.  Salvation  seems  here  to  mean  the 
 Saviour,  the  Messiah,  as  it  does,  Luke,  ii.  30;  Acts,  iv.  12. — Clarke, 
 23.  In  spirit  ajid  in  truth,  n<it  in  ceremonial  observances,  but  in  spi- 
 ritual  ordinances,  with  their  whole  hearts,  in  an  exercise  of  spiritual 
 graces,  and  by  the  aid  and  influences  of  the  Spirit. — Guyse.  24.  God 
 is  a  spirit,  by  way  of  emincncy,  as  well  as  efTcctively,  he  being  the 
 author  and  former  of  all  spirits. — Gill.  25.  Messias  cometh,  ^c,  he 
 
 is  expected  soon,  and  he  will  clear  up  all  doubts. — Guyse.  26.  I — nm 
 Ae—the  woman  expressing  faith  in  the  Messiah,  and  willingness  to  he 
 taught  by  him,  Jesus  tonk  that  opportunity  to  manifest  himself  to  her. 
 —Gu'ise.  He  spoke  plainly,  because  he  was  with  those  with  whom 
 tlie  Jews  had  no  commerce,  and  who  were  not  disposed,  out  of  envy, 
 as  the  Jews  were,  to  seek  his  life,  ^c. — Locke.  IT.  Marvelled  that 
 he  talked  with  the  woman,  for  our  Lord  seemed  rarely  to  converse  with 
 that  sex,  and  the  Jewish  rabbles  considered  it  indecorous  for  a  doctor 
 tn  hold  public  conversation  with  a  woman,  even  though  she  were  his 
 wife,   sister,  or  daughter. — See  Lightf.,  Srhoettgen,  Sec.  28.  Her 
 
 waterpot,  rather  *  her  bucket,' as  she  used  it  to  draw  water.  —  So 
 Nmic.  29.  Told  me  all  things,  i.  e.,  the  most  secret  passages  of  my 
 life. — Clagt'tt.  No  more  is  recorded  but  what  he  told  her  of  her  hus- 
 bands ;  but  it  Is  not  improbable  he  had  told  her  more  of  her  faults. — 
 Hen.  He  had  told  her  a  few  things,  but  his  words  awakened  her  con- 
 science, which  soon  told  her  all  the  rest. —  Bens.  32.  /  have  meat  to 
 eat,  '  I  liave  mental  and  spiritual  enjoyments.' — Bloomf.,  as  Rosenm. 
 He  refers  to  the  expected  conversion  of  the  Samaritans. — Benson. 
 35.  Say  not  ye?  §c.,  '  you  usually  say,  after  seed  time,  Four  months 
 hence  will  come  the  harvest ;  but  the  word  sown  in  the  heart  of  the 
 woman  hath  made  the  Samaritans  already  ripe  for  the  harvest.' — 
 M'/iitby.  Spring. wheat,  as  we  call  it,  injudea,  might  be  ready  in  a 
 hundred  and  twenty  days.  The  barley  was  never  more  than  a  hundred 
 days  from  sowing  to  reaping. —  Siit.  33.  Other  men  lahourcd,  th 
 prophets,  and  John  the  Baptist.— TT/jiYAj/.  'I  have  sowed,  I  have 
 spared  no  labour,  and  now  I  have  hired  you  as  labourers  to  reap  the 
 crop,  that  you  may  rejoice  together  with  me,' — Wets.  Christ  sowed 
 the  seeds  of  salutary  doctrine;  those  who  reaped  are  the  apostles  and 
 
Christ  healeth  the  ruler's  sun. 
 
 S.  JOHN.V. 
 
 The  pool  of  Bethesda. 
 
 39  H  And  many  of  the  Samaritans  of  that  city 
 believed  on  him  '  for  the  saying  of  tlie  woman, 
 which  testified,  He  told  me  all  that  ever  I  did. 
 
 40  So  when  the  Samaritans  were  come  unto 
 him,  they  besought  him  that  he  would  tarry 
 with  them  :  and  he  abode  there  two  days. 
 
 41  And  many  more  believed  because  of  his 
 own  word  ; 
 
 42  And  said  unto  the  woman,  Now  we  be- 
 lieve, not  because  of  thy  saying  :  for  "we  have 
 heard  him  ourselves,  and  know  that  this  is  in- 
 deed the  Christ,  the  Saviour  of  the  world. 
 
 43  K  Now  after  two  days  he  departed  thence, 
 and  went  into  Galilee. 
 
 44  For  ''  Jesus  himself  testified,  that  a  pro- 
 phet hath  no  honour  in  bis  own  country. 
 
 45  Then  when  he  was  come  into  Galilee,  the 
 Galila-ans  received  him,  '  having  seen  all  the 
 things  that  he  did  at  .lerusalem  at  the  feast  : 
 '' for  they  also  went  unto  the  feast. 
 
 46  So  Jesus  came  again  into  Canaof  Galilee, 
 "  where  he  made  the  water  wine.  And  there 
 was  a  certain  ||  nobleman,  whose  son  was  sick 
 at  Capernaum. 
 
 47  When  he  heard  that  Jesus  was  come  out 
 of  Juda;a  into  Galilee,  he  went  unto  him,  and 
 besought  him  that  he  would  come  down,  and 
 heal  his  son  :  for  he  was  at  the  point  of  death. 
 
 48  Then  said  Jesus  unto  him.  'Except  ye  see 
 signs  and  wonders,  ye  will  not  believe. 
 
 49  The  nobleman  .saitli  unto  him.  Sir,  come 
 down  ere  my  child  die. 
 
 50  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Go  thy  way;  thy 
 son  liveth.  And  the  man  believed  the  word 
 that  Jesus  had  spoken  unto  him,  and  he  went 
 his  way. 
 
 51  And  as  he  was  now  going  down, his  servants 
 met  him,  and  told  him,  saying.  Thy  son  liveth. 
 
 52  Then  enquired  he  of  tlicm  the  hour  when 
 he  began  to  amend.     And  they  said  imto  him. 
 
 A.  D.  so. 
 
 :  ver.  29. 
 
 .  ch    17.  S 
 I  John  4.14. 
 
 h  :\!iit.lS..^7 
 JIark  fi.  4. 
 Luke  4.  21 
 
 "Ir.riKr/ifr 
 
 /ICoi.l.SS. 
 
 A    n.  .11. 
 
 a  i.ov.  -a  a 
 
 neut  16  1. 
 
 ch.  2.  t:l. 
 b  Keh.  3  I. 
 
 «{  I:;,  m. 
 II  Or,  ante. 
 
 c  Mat.  9.  6. 
 Jfrtrk  2.  II. 
 Lukf  5.  24 
 
 Yesterday  at  the  seventh  hour  the  fever  left  him. 
 
 53  So  the  father  knew  that  !<  !Cf«  at  the  same 
 hour,  in  the  which  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Thy 
 son  liveth  :  and  himself  believed,  and  his  whole 
 house. 
 
 54  Tills  is  again  the  second  miracle  that 
 Jesus  dill,  when  lie  was  come  out  of  Juda'a 
 into  Galilee. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  Jtsus  on  the  snbhatli  day  cvrcih  liim  that  was  diii(as(d 
 tiiyht  and  tldrty  years.  10  The  Jews  t/urifore  cuvH, 
 and  persecute  him  fur  it.  17  lie  answn-eth  fur  him- 
 self and  reprovetfi  t/iem,  shen-in:.'  hy  the  testimony  of 
 his  Father,  32  of  John, '66  of  his  works,  39  and  of  the 
 scriptures,  who  he  is. 
 
 \  FTER  "  this  there  was  a  feast  of  the  Jews  ; 
 ^-^  and  Jesus  went  up  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 2  Now  there  is  at  Jerusalem  ''  by  the  sheep 
 
 II  7uarhet  a  pool,  which  is  called  in  the  Hebrew 
 tongue  Bethesda,  having  five  porches. 
 
 3  In  these  lay  a  great  multitude  of  impotent 
 folk,  of  blind,  halt,  withered,  waiting  for  the 
 moving  of  the  water. 
 
 4  For  an  angel  went  down  at  a  certain  season 
 into  the  pool,  and  troubled  the  water :  whoso- 
 ever then  first  after  the  troubling  of  the  vvater 
 stepped  in  was  made  whole  of  whatsoever  dis- 
 ease he  had. 
 
 5  And  a  certain  man  was  there,  which  had  an 
 infirmity  thirty  and  eight  years. 
 
 G  When  Jesus  saw  him  lie,  and  knew  that  he 
 had  been  now  a  long  time  in  that  case,  he 
 saith  unto  him,  Wilt  thou  be  made  whole? 
 
 7  The  impotent  man  answered  him.  Sir,  I 
 have  no  man,  when  the  water  is  troubled,  to 
 put  me  into  the  pool :  but  while  I  am  coming, 
 another  steppetb  down  before  me. 
 
 8  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  "  Rise,  take  up  thy 
 bed,  and  walk. 
 
 9  And  immediately  the  man  was  made  whole, 
 
 their  successors,  and,  through  their  means,  the  whole  body  of  faithful 
 frillowers  of  Christ. — Blonmf.  41.  His  own  word — it  seems  to  have 
 an  emphasis  laid  upon  it,  his  own  word,  in  distinction  from  the  woman's 
 saying. — Gitt.  42.  The  world,  the  Jews  and  Samaritans,  the  circum- 
 cised ;  the  Samaritans  probably  thought  not  of  the  salvation  of  the 
 Gentiles,  of  which  the  apostles  long  after  were  ignorant. — Le  Clerc. 
 The  Samaritans  might  itnow  the  nations  were  to  be  gathered  to 
 him,  as  Gen.  xii.  3;  slix.  10. — Grotius.  46..-!  certain  nobieman, 
 
 Tif /JafTiXiKcic.  '  ruler.' — Tindal.  'Officer  of  the  court.*  'Nobleman' 
 conveys  the  idea  of  hereditary  rank  and  certain  dignities,  to  which 
 there  was  nothing  in  Palestine,  or  even  in  Syria,  that  corresponded. — 
 Camp.  The  like  remlciing  by  ihnn..  Wets.,  Rosenm.,  &c.  An  ufhcer 
 in  the  court  of  Herod  the  tctrarch  — Stitnhnpe.  This  is  thought  to  have 
 been  Chusa,  Herod's  steward,  whose  wife  became  afterwards  an  at. 
 tendant  upon  our  Lord,  (Luke,  viii.  i,)  and,  it  has  been  supposed,  in 
 consequence  of  the  miracle  wrought  upon  her  son. — Wit.  47.  Come 
 rfo!c7i— the  whole  route  from  Cana,  according  to  the  position  of  the 
 place  now  so  called,  is  a  continued  descent  towards  Capernaum. — 
 E.  D.  Clarke.  The  distance  from  Cana  to  Capernaum  was  about 
 twenty-three  miles. — Hules.  54.  This  is  a^ain  the  second  iniriicle, 
 
 ffC. — the  words,  tovto  naXtv  id'Tfpov  trit^ietov  fwottjaev  6  Irjntiv^,  &C., 
 imply  no  more  than  'this  second  miracle  Jesus  performed,' &c. — Camp.; 
 that  is,  the  second  he  did  in  that  place,  in  Cana  of  Galilee ;  for  other- 
 wise, in  Jerusalem  and  Judea  he  had  done  many  miracles,  between 
 the  former  and  this.— Gi7/. 
 Chap.  V.  —  I.  A  /east,  Pentecost. — Pearce,  Kc.     Passover. — Lampe, 
 
 Whitb^f,  Doddr.,    Kuinoel,  Boothr.,  &c.  2.  Market — this  word  \(, 
 
 supplied  by  the  translators;  many  critics  prefer  substituting  'gate, 
 (see  Neh.  iii.  I,  32  ;  xii.  39.) — So  Lampe,  Wets.,  Pearce,  Gill,  Mtirkn., 
 Ji(tsenni.,  Kuinoel,  »tc.  We  have  good  evidence  that  one  of  the  gates 
 of  Jerusalem  was  called  the  sheep  gate,  (Neh.iii.,)  but  we  have  no  evi- 
 dence that  any  place  there  was  called  the  sheep  market. — Camp.  I 
 preicr  the  common  translation,  since  the  place  shown  for  the  pool  of 
 Bethesda  is  much  nearer  the  temple  than  the  sheep  gate  coulrl  be.— 
 Doddr.  A  pool,  Ko^vfi/SiMpa — it  denotes  also  a  swimming  place,  {.los. 
 Anti'i.  XV.  3,  3.)  fish-pond,  lake,  or  bath ;  the  latter  is  here  intended. — 
 Bloom/.,  so  Bp.  Pearce,  Doddr,,  fltackn..  Camp.  Bethesda,  i.e.,  'the 
 house  of  mercy,'  a  kind  of  infirmary. — Hen.,  Wit.  Pio-ches,  porticoes, 
 or  cloisters. — Doddr.  Covered  wallts,  to  screen  from  excessive  beat. — 
 Bens.  Separate  divisions  for  the  sick. — Ham.,Mnbn.  3.  Withered — 
 this  disease  was,  doubtless,  the  catalepsy,  a  sudden  contraction  of  the 
 muscles.  So  also  in  1  Kings,  xiii.  4 — 6;  Zcfh.  ii.  17;  Matt.  xii.  10 — 
 13. — Pict.  Bib,  4.  An  angel,  a  messenger  from  Hie  sanhedrim,  sent 
 when  the  pool  had  been  used  for  washing  sacrifices,  when  it  possessed 
 this  virtue.—//"?/!.  Hannnond^s  opinion  is  a  strange  conceit;  it  either 
 means  an  angel  of  the  Lord  in  visible  form,  or  it  \\as  concluded  to  be 
 an  angel,  from  the  agitation  of  the  water,  and  its  virtue. — Gill.  In- 
 ferred to  be  an  angel,  from  ihe  virtue. — Mann,  Peaiee.  Had  the  virtue 
 liroceeded  from  the  sacrifices,  all  who  stepped  in  would  have  been 
 healed,  but  as  Ihe  first  only  was  healed,  it  shewed  the  cure  to  be  mira- 
 culous.— So  Guijse.  5.  An  in/trniitv,  oadcvtta,  'a  weakness.* — Bens. 
 9.  The  man  was  made  whole — this  miraculous  cure  is  not  recorded  by 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.    IV This   chapter  records — I. 
 
 Christ's  conversation  with  the  woman  of  Samaria.  We  have 
 here  an  example  of  liberality.  W^hata  blow  does  it  strike  at 
 sectarianism,  and  yet  there  are  Christians  of  one  denomina- 
 tion who  too  often  will  scarcely  associate  or  have  any  dealings 
 with  those  of  another.  Away  with  such  narrow-minded  pre- 
 judices, or  pretend  not  to  be  followers  of  Him  wlio  hath  set 
 us  a  different  example  that  we  miRht  follow  his  steps.  '  Alas," 
 says  Bishop  Taylor,  '  that  men  whom  God  hath  made  of  the 
 same  flesb  and  blood — men,  on  wliom  he  daily  causes  bis  sun 
 to  rise,  and  his  rain  to  fall — men,  involved  in  the  same  con- 
 demnation, and  dependent  on  the  same  revelation  of  mercy — 
 alas!  that  such  men,  that  any  man,  should  dare  to  say  to  his 
 fellow-man,  "Stand  by,  for  I  am  holier  than  thou."'_We 
 1112 
 
 have  here,  also,  an  example  of  doing  good:  Jesus,  weary  in 
 body,  is  not  weary  in  winning  a  soul,  and  ere  he  slakes  his 
 thirst,  bis  parched  tongue  seizes  the  kind  moment  to  preach 
 the  word  of  life.  O  that  we  were  more  like  our  Divine  blaster 
 in  this  respect — '  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season* — going 
 about  *  doing  good.'    This  chapter  records — 
 
 II.  The  cure  of  the  nobleman's  son.  Here  is  a  father  deeply 
 concerned  for  the  life  of  bis  child.  1'bis  is  a  proper  display 
 of  paternal  feeling,  yet,  alas,  how  many  are  concerned  for 
 their  children's  lives,  who  never  manifest  the  least  concern 
 about  their  souls.  Let  us  implore  the  Saviour  that  he  would 
 cure  the  ruinous  disease  of  sin  with  which  they  are  infected, 
 and  that  he  would  infuse  inio  them,  by  his  spirit,  spiritual, 
 as  llie  earnest  of  eternal,  life. 
 
Jesus  reproveth  the  Jews, 
 
 S.  JOHN,  V. 
 
 and  shewelh  who  he 
 
 and  took  up  his  bed,  and  walked  :  and  "'  on  the 
 same  day  was  the  sabbath. 
 
 10  If  The  Jews  therefore  said  unto  him  that 
 was  cured,  It  is  the  sabbath  day  ;  'it  is  not 
 lawful  for  tliee  to  carry  thy  bed. 
 
 11  He  answered  tliem,  He  that  made  me 
 whole,  the  same  said  unto  me,  Take  up  thy 
 bed,  and  walk. 
 
 {•I  Then  asked  they  him,  Whatman  is  that 
 which  said  unto  thee,  Take  up  thy  bed,  and 
 walk  v 
 
 13  And  he  that  was  healed  wist  not  who  it 
 was :  for  Jesus  had  conveyed  himself  away, 
 i]  a  multitude  beiuj;  in  that  place. 
 
 14  Afterward  Jesus  findeth  him  in  the 
 temple,  and  said  unto  him.  Behold,  thou  art 
 made  whole  :  '  &m  no  more,  lest  a  worse  thing 
 come  unto  thee. 
 
 15  The  man  departed,  and  told  the  Jews  that 
 it  was  Jesus,  which  had  made  him  whole. 
 
 16  And  therefore  did  the  Jews  persecute 
 Jesus,  and  sought  to  slay  him,  because  he  had 
 done  these  things  on  the  sabbath  day. 
 
 17  1[  But  Jesus  answered  them,  ^  My  Father 
 worketh  hitherto,  and  I  work. 
 
 IS  Therefore  the  Jews  ''sought  the  more  to 
 kill  him,  because  he  not  only  had  broken  the 
 sabbath,  but  said  also  that  God  was  his  Father, 
 'making  himself  equal  with  God. 
 
 19  Then  answered  Jesus  and  said  unto  them, 
 Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  i"  The  Son  can 
 do  nothing  of  himself,  but  what  he  seeth  the 
 Father  do :  for  what  things  soever  he  doeth, 
 these  also  doeth  the  Sou  likewise. 
 
 '20  For  '  the  Father  loveth  the  Son,  and 
 sheweth  him  all  things  that  himself  doeth  : 
 and  he  will  shew  him  greater  works  than  these, 
 that  ye  may  marvel. 
 
 •21  For  as  the  Father  raiseth  up  the  dead,  and 
 quickeueth  them;  "'even  so  the  Son  quicken- 
 cth  whom  he  will. 
 
 'i-2  For  the  Father  judgeth  no  man,  but  "hath 
 committed  all  judgment  unto  the  Son  : 
 
 e  Ex.  20.  10 
 Nell.  13. 1!i. 
 Jei-.  1-  21, 
 &c.  Mai. 12. 
 2.  Maik  2. 
 24.  ik  3.  i. 
 Luke  (>.  2. 
 Bi  13.  U. 
 
 /Mat.l2  4?i 
 ch   b.  M. 
 
 i  ch.  10   30, 
 33.Phil.2.6. 
 
 ch.S  28. & 
 9.  +.  &  12. 
 49.  &  U.IO. 
 
 /  Mat   3.  17 
 ch    3.  35. 
 2  Pet.  1.  17 
 
 II  I.uke  7. 
 14  &  8.  51. 
 Ch.ll.2-"i,t3 
 I  .Mat.  11  27 
 &  2H.  18. 
 vtT.27.cli  3. 
 S.^,.  Jfe  17  2. 
 .\ct=  17. .tl. 
 1  iV't    1   5 
 
 .\.  I).  31. 
 II  1  John  2. 
 
 p  ch.S.  16, 
 18.  &  0.  40, 
 47.  &  S.  61. 
 Sc  20.  31. 
 
 1  1  John  S. 
 
 '  ver.  28. 
 Kiih.2-  1,5 
 &  5.  14. 
 Col.  i.  13. 
 
 *  ver.  22. 
 Acts  10  42 
 lb  17.  31. 
 
 t  nau.  7.13 
 
 i  l.i.  26.  19. 
 
 rnies4.lt!. 
 
 lCor.15  52 
 t  DaQ.  12.2. 
 
 Sldt.  25. 32, 
 
 33,46. 
 
 y  ver.  19. 
 
 ;  RIat.  26..39. 
 ch.  4.  31.  & 
 li.  33. 
 
 n  See  ch.  8. 
 
 14.  Hev.  3. 
 
 14. 
 6  Mat.  S.  17. 
 
 Si  17.  6. 
 
 ch.  8.  18. 
 
 1  John  5.  6, 
 
 7,9. 
 cch.  1.  IS, 
 
 19,  27,  32. 
 
 i(2  Pet.  1.19. 
 e  t^ee  Mat. 
 
 13.  20.  &  21. 
 
 2li.  Mark  6. 
 
 20. 
 
 f  1  John  3.9. 
 li  ch.  3.  2.  & 
 
 10. -25.  fc  15. 
 
 23  That  all  /hc?7j  should  honour  the  Son,  evesi 
 as  they  honour  the  Father.  "  He  that  honour- 
 eth  not  the  Son  honoureth  not  the  Father 
 which  hath  sent  him. 
 
 24  Verily,  verilj',  I  say  unto  you,  ^  He  that 
 heareth  my  word,  and  believeth  on  him  that 
 sent  me,  hath  everlasting  life,  and  shall  not 
 come  into  condemnation  ;  ''  but  is  passed  from 
 death  unto  life. 
 
 25  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  The  hour 
 is  coming,  and  now  is.  when  '  the  dead  shall 
 hear  the  voire  of  the  Son  of  God  :  and  they 
 that  hear  shall  live. 
 
 20  For  as  the  Father  hath  life  in  himself;  so 
 hath  he  given  to  the  Son  to  have  life  in  him- 
 self; 
 
 27  And  'hath  given  him  authority  to  execute 
 judgment  also,  'because  he  is  the  Son  of  man. 
 
 28  Marvel  not  at  this:  for  the  hour  is  coming, 
 in  the  which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear 
 his  voice, 
 
 29  "  And  shall  come  forth  ;  "  they  that  have 
 done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of  life  ;  and 
 they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the  resurrection 
 of  damnation. 
 
 30  '■  I  can  of  mine  own  self  do  nothing  :  as  1 
 hear,  I  judge:  and  my  judgment  is  just;  be- 
 cause "  I  seek  not  mine  own  will,  but  the  will 
 of  the  Father  which  hath  sent  me. 
 
 31  °  If  I  bear  witness  of  myself,  my  witness 
 is  not  true. 
 
 32  U  ''  There  is  another  that  beareth  witness 
 of  me;  and  I  know  that  the  witness  which  he 
 witnesseth  of  me  is  true. 
 
 33  Ye  sent  unto  John, '  and  he  bare  witness 
 unto  the  truth. 
 
 34  But  1  receive  not  testimony  from  man  : 
 but  these  things  I  say,  that  ye  might  be  saved. 
 
 35  He  was  a  burning  and  "^  a  shining  light : 
 and  'ye  were  willing  (bra  season  to  rejoice  in 
 his  light. 
 
 30  11  But  'I  have  greater  witness  than  that  of 
 John  :  for  « the  works  which  the  Father  hath 
 
 the  other  evangehsts  ;  they  confined  themsclvet  mostly  to  miracles  in 
 Oalilee;  John  records  these  at  Jerusalem.— Hcniry.  13.  Cmeyed 
 himself  awny,  •  moilestly  slipped  away.'-Durfrf,-.  The  word,  cfewiioc, 
 IS  an  elegant  metaphor  burrowed  from  swimming.— C'siiicifton.  14.  Sin 
 na  more,  guard  against  all  known  sin.— Be;i.!.  Lest  n  worse  thing  come, 
 —our  Lord  seems  not  only  to  have  referred  to  a  general  notion  that 
 diseases  were  the  punishments  of  sin.  but  to  glance  at  some  irregu- 
 larities of  the  man's  younger  years.  —  Uoildr.  i;.  M;i  Fnther,  ,\c. 
 my  Father  and  I,  his  eternal  Son,  always  work  together'.'— Ileveridge. 
 18.  Thnt  God  w,is  /iw  Fut/ier-.  i.  e.,  called  Giirt  his  own  Father ,  this  is 
 the  plain  and  literal  sense  of  the  original,  Trarepu  ,),„,.  The  whole 
 nation  of  the  Jews  thought  GoU  their  Father,  (John,  viii.  41,)  and  they 
 could  not.  therefore,  have  accounted  it  blasphemy  to  have  used  the 
 phrase,  had  they  not  interpreted  it  in  so  high  and  apprnpriatmg  a 
 sense— Uoddr.,  so  Hen.,  Boolhr.,  same  purport,  Camp.  19.  Can  do 
 nothing,  ^r.,  1.  e.,  '  1  do  nothing  in  opposition  to  his  eternal  and  divine 
 laws.  —S.  Clarke.  These  also,  toutii,  not  such  things,  but  '  the  same 
 things.  Unth  the  Son  likewise,  i/xomK,  with  the  same  aiilhoritv,  and 
 liberty,  and  wisdom  ;  the  same  energy  and  efficacy.  20.  All  things 
 that  himself  doth,  U  uhtoc  „ou,,  'which  he  doth,' that  i-,  'wliich  the 
 Son  doth,'  so  it  might  be  construed ;  all  that  the  Son  doth  is  by  direc- 
 tion of  the  Father;  he  shews  him.-Hen.  21,  22.  For  as  the  Father 
 raiseth,  S,c.,  '  even  in  raising  the  dead,  my  Father  hath  communicated 
 his  powei;  to  me.'— Ham.  (_'lirist  seems  here  to  refer  both  to  the  ad- 
 miiiistration  of  his  kingdom  in  this  world,  and  to  his  raising  the  dead 
 and    passing   men's   linal   sentence   in  the  world   to  come.—  Gm/se. 
 
 22.  .411  judgment,  t„v  npicrn/  irtiimi.,  'the  power  of  judging.'— 6'a'mp. 
 
 23.  Hommr  the  Son,  even  as,  i^f  — this  demonstrates  the  equality,  or 
 sameness  rather,  of  the  godhe.td  of  the  Son  and  the  Father.  If  our 
 I.I ird  were  God  only  by  office  ami  investiture,  and  not  in  the  unity  of 
 the  Divtne  essence,  he  would  not  be  hnnoiired  'even  as,'  that  is,  with 
 the  same  honour  as  that  wherewith  the  Father  is  honoured.— Sensim. 
 
 n,  ,  ''^'"'""''"e  '•/"■  it  is  already  begun  in  his  soul.— Boiiiir 
 •20.  ihe  hour  IS  coming,  l,c.,  •  the  time  approaches  when,  by  preaching 
 my  doctrine,  those  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  shsll  be  raised,  and  of 
 .his  ye  shall  see  a  sensible  representation  in  my  actually  raising  the 
 dead  — A  C/,„-Ac.  '  Within  these  few  months  some  dead  bodies  shall  be 
 raised  to  life  by  the  word  of  his  power,  (see  Mark,  v.41  ,  Luke  vh.  14- 
 John,  XI.  43;  andcomp.  Matt,  xxvii.  52,  .53;)  and  many  souls  that  are 
 1113 
 
 dead  in  sin  shall,  by  his  grace,  be  quickened  and  made  spiritually 
 alive.' — Doildr.  26.  To  hone  life  in  hiinselt,to  have  the  power  of 
 
 raising  whom  ho  will.— II'AiY*;/.    What  the  Father  is  to  the  world,  as 
 the  origin  of  natural  life,  so  the  Son  is  to  the  church,  as  the  origin  of 
 all  spiritual  life,  (see  I  Cor.  viii.  6  ;  Col.  i.  19.)— //en.       27.  To  execute 
 judgment— Christ  has  not  only  a  legislative  and  judicial  power,  but  an 
 executive  power  too.     The  phrase  here  is  used  particularly  for  the 
 judgment  of  condemnation,   (Jude,  15;)   nomaat   wpiaiu,  to  execute 
 judgment,  the  same  with  his  taking  vengeance,  (2  Thess.  i.  %.)—Hen. 
 Because  he  is  the  (or,  a)  Son  of  man,  alluding  to  Dan.  vii.  13,  which 
 the  Jews  interpret  as  their  Messiah  ;  and  it  seems  to  teach  us  that  it 
 suits  the  end  of  Divine  wisdom,  that  the  Judge  as  well  as  the  Saviour 
 of  men  should  himself  be  man. — />«ti.        28.  Marvel  not,  ^c,  wonder 
 riot  at  the  resurrection  of  a  few,  for  there  shall  be  a  general  resurrec- 
 tion.— So  Diiddr.        30.  As  I  hear,  I  judge,  '  pronouncing  according  to 
 the  evidence  of  facts  before  me.'—ltoddr.     It  is  an  allusion  to  human 
 courts  where  the  judges  formed  their  sentences  upon  the  testimony  of 
 witnesses  and  the  laws  of  the  country;  though  Cliiist  needed  no  such 
 information. — Bens.    Hearing  is  put  in  this  place  for  the  most  intimate 
 and  exact  knowledge  nf  a  thing.— Gurise.    Not  mine  own  will,  *  not  any 
 distinct  will  or  separate  interest  of  my  own.' — Doddr.         ai.   Is  not 
 true,  a\,i9,t^,  '  is  not  valid.'— //ej/Ztn,  Wesley.    '  Is  not  (to  be  admitted) 
 as  true.' — Doddr.    '  Is  not  to  be  regarded.' — Camp.    The  word  a\r]Hi\f, 
 here  rendered  'true,'  when  used  in  reference  to  the  procedure  in  judi- 
 catories, denotes,  not  what  is  in  itself  true,  but  what  is  proved,  or  what 
 is  accounted  legal  proof.- /3ens.       33.  He  hare  witness  unto  the  truth, 
 of  me  as  the  Messiah.        34 .  /  receive  not  testimunt/,  ^c,  'I  need  not 
 man's  testimony,  but  it  cnncems  your  own  safety  to  believe.' — Baxter. 
 35.  A  burning  anil  a  shining  light,  6  Xnxnyf,  '  a  lamp,'  or  subordinate 
 light;  not  To0wf,  that  true  light  which  was  to  come,  (Luke,  ii.  32.) — 
 Guyse,  as  Henry.    *  He  was  the  flaming  and  shining  light.*    Campbell 
 properly  retains   the  article,  and   thinks  there  is  an  allusion  to  Ps. 
 cxxxii.,  (see  the  Sept.,)  inoifxan,,  tw  Xpiartfi  fiov  Xi'xvov,  and  conse- 
 quently an  insinuation  that  this  was  the  f/ttnp  which  God  had  provided 
 according  to  his  promise.— ii/yfitn/.     The  Jews  denoted  the  ministry 
 of  the  word  by  lamps  or  candles,  (Zech.  iv,  2,  3,  14  ;  Rev.  i.  12;  xi. 
 4 ;)  so  they  denominated  persons  distinguished  by  good  qualities. — 
 Lightf.      Ye  were  willing,  ,,t*eA,io-aTe,  'ye  delighted.'- //e;i.      Fur  a 
 season,  till  he  testified  of  Christ.— //nm. 
 7  c 
 
Moses'  testimony  of  Christ. 
 
 S.JOHN,  VI, 
 
 Christ  feedtth  five  thousand  men. 
 
 given  me  to  finish,  the  same  works  that  I  do, 
 bear  witness  of  me,  that  the  Father  hath  sent 
 me. 
 
 37  And  the  Father  himself,  which  hatli  sent 
 me,  "^  hath  borne  witness  of  me.  Ye  have  nei- 
 ther heard  his  voice  at  any  time,  '  nor  seen  his 
 shape. 
 
 38  And  ye  have  not  his  word  abiding  in  you  : 
 for  whom  lie  hath  sent,  him  ye  believe  not. 
 
 39  t '  Search  the  seriptnies ;  for  in  them 
 ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life  :  and  '  they  are 
 they  which  testify  of  nie. 
 
 40  ■"  And  ye  will  not  come  to  me,  that  ye 
 might  have  life. 
 
 41  "  I  receive  not  honour  from  men. 
 
 4-2  But  I  know  you,  that  ye  have  not  the 
 love  of  God  in  you. 
 
 43  I  am  come  in  my  Father's  name,  and  ye 
 receive  me  not :  if  another  shall  come  in  his 
 own  name,  him  ye  will  receive. 
 
 44  °  How  can  ye  believe,  which  receive 
 honour  one  of  another,  and  seek  not  ''the 
 honour  that  cometh  from  God  only  ? 
 
 45  Do  not  think  that  I  will  accuse  you  to  the 
 Father:  ''  there  is  one  that  accuseth  you,  even 
 Wose.s  in  whom  ye  trust. 
 
 46  For  had  ye  believed  Moses,  ye  would 
 have  believed  me  :  'for  he  wrote  of  me. 
 
 47  But  if  ye  believe  not  his  writings,  how 
 shall  ye  believe  my  words  'i 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  Christ  ftetlHh  five  thousand  men  with  five  loaves  and 
 two  fisfies.  15  Tliereitpon  the  people  u'oulil  have  mud: 
 him  king.  16  But  wUhdruwinij  himself,  lie  walked 
 on  the  sea  to  his  disciples:  26  rejirovtth  the  peo/ile 
 fiocking  after  him,  and  all  the  fleshly  hearers  of  his 
 word :  32  decltireth  h  imself  to  be  the  bread  of  life  to 
 believers.  66  Many  disciples  depart  from  him.  68 
 Peter  confesseth  Iiim.     70  Judas  is  a  devil. 
 
 A  FTER  "  these  things  Jesus  went  over  the 
 -^■*-  sea  of  Galilee,  which  is  the  sea  of  Tiberias. 
 
 2  And  a  great  multitude  followed  him,  be- 
 cause they  saw  his  miracles  which  he  did  on 
 them  that  were  diseased. 
 
 3  And  Jesus  went  up  into  a  mountain,  and 
 there  he  sat  with  his  disciples. 
 
 4  ''  And  the  passover,  a  feast  of  the  Jews, 
 was  nigh. 
 
 h  Mat.  3.  17. 
 
 &  17.  5- 
 ch.  6.  27.  & 
 8.  18. 
 
 t  Deut.  4  12. 
 ch.  1.  19. 
 I  Tim.  1.17. 
 IJohn.4.1S. 
 
 A  Ib   8.  20. 
 
 &  34    16. 
 
 Luke  16.59. 
 
 ver.  46. 
 
 Acta  17.  II. 
 IDea.  IS.  15, 
 
 18.  Luke '24 
 
 27   ch.l  45. 
 m  ch.  I.  II. 
 
 &  .1.  19. 
 I  ver.  34. 
 
 1  rhes.2.6. 
 
 o  civ  12.  «. 
 p  Horn.  2.29. 
 
 7  Kom  2.12. 
 
 Gen.  3.  15. 
 fc  1-2.  S.  (It 
 18  18.  &22. 
 18.  Ik  49.10. 
 Deut- 18.15, 
 IH.  oh  I  45 
 Acta  -id.  22. 
 
 A.  D.  38. 
 I  Mat. 14  15. 
 Mark  6.35. 
 Luke  9.  lU, 
 12. 
 
 6  Lev.  23.  5, 
 7.  Deut.  16. 
 1.  ch.  2.13. 
 &  S.  1. 
 
 c  Mat.t4.lt 
 Mark 6.  35, 
 Luke  9.  12 
 
 d  See  Num. 
 11.21,82. 
 
 /Gen. 49.10. 
 P,..it.l.'*.l5, 
 18  Mat.  II. 
 3.  ch.  1.81 
 St  4.  19,  25. 
 «c.  7.  40. 
 
 S  Mat. 14.23. 
 Mark  6,47, 
 
 5  1°  When  Jesus  then  lifted  up  his  eyes,  and 
 saw  a  great  company  come  unto  him,  he  sailh 
 unto  Philip,  Whence  shall  we  buy  bread,  that 
 these  may  eat? 
 
 (i  And  this  he  said  to  prove  him  :  for  he  him- 
 self knew  what  he  would  do. 
 
 7  Philip  answered  him,  ■■  Two  hundred  pen- 
 nyworth of  bread  is  not  sufficient  for  them, 
 that  every  one  of  tliem  may  take  a  little. 
 
 8  One  of  his  disciples,  Andrew,  Simon  Peter's 
 brother,  saith  unto  him, 
 
 9  There  is  a  lad  here,  which  hath  five  barley 
 loaves,  and  two  i-mall  fishes :  '  but  what  are 
 they  among  so  many? 
 
 10  .\nd  Jesus  said.  Make  the  men  sit  down. 
 Now  there  was  much  grass  in  the  place.  So 
 the  men  sat  down,  in  number  about  five  thou- 
 sand. 
 
 1  1  And  Jesus  took  the  loaves ;  and  when 
 he  had  given  thanks,  he  distributed  to  the 
 disciples,  and  the  disciples  to  them  that 
 were  set  down  ;  and  likewise  of  the  fishes  as 
 much  as  they  would. 
 
 12  When  they  were  filled,  he  said  unto  his 
 disciples,  Gather  up  the  fragments  that  remain, 
 that  nothing  be  lost. 
 
 13  Therefore  they  gathered  them  together, 
 and  filled  twelve  baskets  with  the  fragments  of 
 the  five  barley  loaves,  which  remained  over 
 and  above  unto  them  that  had  eaten. 
 
 14  Then  those  men,  when  they  had  seen  the 
 miracle  that  Jesus  did,  said.  This  is  of  a  truth 
 '  that  prophet  that  should  come  into  the  world. 
 
 15  t  Wlien  Jesus  therefore  perceived  that 
 they  would  come  and  take  him  by  force,  to 
 make  him  a  king,  he  departed  again  into  a 
 mountain  himself  alone. 
 
 16  ^  And  when  even  was  ;io«)  come,  his  dis- 
 ciples went  down  unto  the  sea, 
 
 17  And  entered  into  a  ship,  and  went  over 
 the  sea  toward  Capernaum.  And  it  was  now 
 dark,  and  Jesus  was  not  come  to  thein. 
 
 18  And  the  sea  arose  by  reason  of  a  great 
 wind  that  blew. 
 
 19  So  when  they  had  rowed  about  five  and 
 twenty  or  thirty  furlongs,  they  see  Jesus  walk- 
 ing on  the  sea,  and  drawing  nigh  unto  the 
 ship  :  and  they  were  afraid. 
 
 37.  Ye  have  neither  heard  his  voire,  ^c.  —he  means,  '  I  speak  not  of 
 my  supposed  father,  Joseph ;'  or,  •  you  are  as  ignorant  of  my 
 Father  as  of  one  ynu  never  saw  or  heard.' —  Bens.  He  means.  '  not 
 thtjt  my  Father  ever  spake  visihly  or  audibly  to  any  of  you,  but 
 he  (lid  so  by  his  prophets. — Bp.  Pearce.  He  means,  '  nor  are  you 
 to  e-xpect  that  the  Father  should  testify  of  me  otherwise  than  by 
 his  works,  (or  that  which  was  granted  to  your  fathers  belongs  not 
 to  you,  namely,  to  see  his  glory  and  hear  his  voice  out  of  the  midst 
 of  the  fire.* — Wfiilhi/.  Norseen  his  shape,  £t6o^,  rendered  'shape,*  sig 
 iiifies  an  appearance  or  representation  ;  and  as  many  of  the  Jews  heard 
 the  Father's  voice,  and  saw  the  visible  representation  he  made  at 
 Christ's  liaptism,  and  as,  after  this,  they  heard  a  voice  to  him  from 
 Jieaven,  (cliap.  xii.  28,  29,)  what  is  here  said  seems  to  relate  not  to 
 these  particular  persons,  but  to  the  nation  of  the  Jews,  and  it  strongly 
 intimates  that  this  was  a  peculiar  privilege  not  enjoyed  by  their  ances- 
 tors, and  tliat,  consequently,  the  voices  and  appearances  of  God  under 
 the  Old  Testament  were  mit  of  the  Father,  but  of  the  Son,  as  presages 
 of  his  incarnation ;  otherwise  it  could  not  be  said  that  the  Jews  liad 
 never  before  beard  the  Father*s  voice  at  any  time,  nor  seen  his  appenr- 
 
 ance  in  a  visible  representation  made  by  him. — Gui/se.  33.  His  u-ord, 
 §-c,  the  word  of  prophecy,  which  testified  of  Jesus,— fTf/.  39,  .Search, 
 tpewi-aTe,  'search,'  or  '  ye  search.' — Camp.,  so  Itntlrlr.,  and  Boothr. 
 Weigh  and  consider  with  an  attentive  miud.— G)■«^  Some  take  this 
 as  an  allusion  of  miners  in  search  of  the  precious  metals  ;  others  think 
 it  refers  to  hunters  scenting  their  game;  but  Homer  uses  the  term  in 
 reference  to  a  lion  scouring  the  plain  to  trace  the  footsteps  of  a  man 
 who  had  robbed  his  den. — See  Leigh's  Crit.  Sac.  Ye  Ihinit,  (^u^tlTF, 
 '  ye  know,'  or  'are  assured.* — Bens.  41.  7  receive  not,  ^c,  '  t  seek 
 not  human  applause,  but  God's  glory.* — Lightf.  43.  Anothei — hiai 
 ye  anil  receive,  as  Acts,  v.  36,  37. — Gut/se.  46.  Believed  Moses— helieve 
 me.  from  his  predictions  and  typical  representations. —  Ham.,  Whit, 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  1.  Sea  of  Tiberias— ^cc  Matt.  iv.   18,  note.         5.  And 
 saw  a  great  company,  SfC. — see  notes.   Matt.  xiv.  14—21.  14.  That 
 
 prophet,  Moses  spoke  of  in  Deut.  xviii.  15. — Gilt.  The  phrase  is  one 
 by  which  the  Messiah  was  commonly  designated,  (see  Luke,  vii.  19.) 
 — Btoiimf.  15.  Into  a  mountain,  ere  to  opnr,  'into  the  mountain,' 
 
 where  he  had  preached  (ver.  3,)  whence  he  came  d'.wn  into  the  plain 
 to  feed  the  people. — Hm.         16.  Keen  was  n«w  come — see  Matt.  xiv. 
 
 RtFLECTiONS  ON  Ch*p.  V.  —  This  chapter  records  the 
 miracle  of— I.  The  tame  man  healed.  So  *  the  conversion  of  a 
 sinner,'  says  Henry,  'is  the  cure  of  a  chronical  disease  ;  this 
 is  ordinarily  done  by  the  word,  a  word  of  command — "  arise 
 and  vvalk  ;  lurn  and  live;  make  ye  a  new  heart ;"  which  no 
 more  supposes  a  power  in  us  to  do  it  without  the  grace  of  God, 
 distinguishing  grace,  than  this  supposed  such  a  power  in  the 
 impotent  man.  A  Divine  power  went  along  with  the  nord, 
 and  he  obeyed  the  power  of  Christ's  word  cominantiing  him. 
 The  proof  of  our  spiritual  cure  is  our  rising  and  walking. 
 1114 
 
 Hath  Christ  healed  our  spiritual  diseases,  let  us  go  whither- 
 soever he  sends  us,  and  take  up  whatever  he  is  pleased  to  lay 
 upon  us,  and  walk  before  him.' 
 
 II.  The  conversation  of  our  Lord  with  the  Jews,  occasioned  by 
 the  healing  of  the  lame  'man.  Here  he  asserted  his  inherent 
 power  and  his  co-operation  with  the  Father  in  all  that  he  did, 
 and  claimed  equal  honour  with  him.  Let  us  beware  how  we 
 offer  indignity  to  Christ  by  lowering  him  to  the  scale  of  a  mere 
 creature,  and  let  us  not  fear  to  honour  him  too  highly  ot  whom 
 it  is  said,  '  Let  all  the  angels  of  God  worship  him."   Aiuen. 
 
Christ  vollicth  on  the  sea. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  VI. 
 
 He  is  the  bread  of  life. 
 
 20  But  he  saitli  unto  them.  It  is  I  ;  be  not 
 afraid. 
 
 21  Then  they  willingly  received  him  into  the 
 ship  :  and  immediately  the  ship  was  at  the 
 land  whither  they  went. 
 
 •2-2  H  The  day  following,  when  the  people 
 which  stood  on  the  other  side  of  the  sea  saw 
 that  there  was  none  other  boat  there,  save  that 
 one  whereinto  his  disciples  were  entered,  and 
 that  Jesus  went  not  with  his  disciples  into  the 
 boat,  but  that  his  disciples  were  gone  away 
 alone  ; 
 
 23  (Howbeit  there  came  other  boats  from 
 Tiberias  nigli  nnto  the  place  where  they  did  eat 
 bread,  after  that  the  Lord  had  given  thanks:) 
 
 24  When  the  people  therefore  saw  that  Jesus 
 was  not  there,  neither  his  disciples,  they  also 
 took  shipping,  and  came  to  Capernaum,  seek- 
 ing for  Jesus. 
 
 2j  And  when  they  had  found  him  on  the 
 other  side  of  the  sea,  they  said  unto  liim. 
 Rabbi,  when  earnest  thou  hither? 
 
 2(j  Jesus  answered  them  and  said,  Verily, 
 verily,  I  say  unto  you.  Ye  seek  me,  not  be- 
 cause ye  saw  the  miracles,  but  because  ye  did 
 eat  of  the  loaves,  and  were  filled. 
 
 27  II  Labour  not  for  the  meat  which  perish- 
 eth,  but  '■for  that  meat  which  endureth  unto 
 everlasting  life,  which  the  Son  of  man  shall 
 give  unto  you  :  'for  him  hath  God  the  Father 
 sealed. 
 
 28  Then  said  they  unto  him,  What  shall  we 
 do.  that  we  might  work  the  works  of  God  ? 
 
 29  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  '  This 
 is  the  work  of  God,  that  ye  believe  on  him 
 whom  he  hath  sent. 
 
 30  They  said  therefore  unto  him, '  What  sign 
 shewest  thou  theji,  tliat  we  may  see,  and  be- 
 lieve thee  ?  what  dost  thou  work  ? 
 
 31  "'  Our  Fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the  desert; 
 as  it  is  written,  °  He  gave  them  bread  from 
 heaven  to  eat. 
 
 32  Then  Jesus  said  unto  them,  Verily,  verily, 
 I  say  unto  you,  Moses  gave  you  not  tliat  bread 
 from  heaven  ;  but  my  Father  giveth  you  the 
 true  bread  from  heaven. 
 
 33  For  the  bread  of  God  is  he  which  Cometh 
 down  from  heaven,  and  giveth  life  unto  the 
 world. 
 
 ft  ver.  SI. 
 ch.  4.  li. 
 
 i  Mat.  S,  17. 
 &  17.5 
 Mark  I.  U 
 &9.7.  I, tike 
 3.  S2.  &  y 
 35.  ch.1.33 
 &  5.  37.  & 
 8.  IS.  Acts 
 2.  2-2  2  Pet. 
 I.  17- 
 
 ft  I  John  3. 
 
 Or.it. 12. S6. 
 «i  IG.  I. 
 Mark  8   U. 
 1  Cor  1.  22. 
 
 TO  Ei.  IB  15 
 
 Num.11.  7. 
 
 Neh.9.  15. 
 
 Wisd.  16. 
 
 8it.  (  Cor. 
 
 10.  3. 
 n  P8.  78.  24, 
 
 A    D.  32. 
 
 .  See  ell    4. 
 
 15. 
 1  ver.  48,  58 
 J  eh   4    1 1. 
 
 «i  7.  37. 
 
 ver.  26,  r,l 
 
 I  Ma 
 
 .?]  Si. 
 
 cli. 
 
 u  28,-i9 
 
 :;  T 
 
 m  -lA'.i. 
 
 IJo 
 
 in-2  1» 
 
 .(   M; 
 
 1.-^6..19. 
 
 <'li 
 
 J.  ai) 
 
 X  cb. 
 
 •1.  34. 
 
 V  c\\ 
 
 10.  28. 
 
 Sl   1 
 
 .  12.  *v 
 
 I  Mat. 13.55. 
 Rlark  ti.  3. 
 Luke  4.  22 
 
 b  Cant.  I.  4. 
 ver.  65. 
 
 c  I«.  .54-  13. 
 
 Jer.  31.  34. 
 
 Mic.  4.  2. 
 
 Heb.  S.  10. 
 
 &  10.  16- 
 d  ver.  .37. 
 e  ell.  1.  18. 
 
 Jt  5.  37. 
 /Mat. 1 1.27. 
 
 Luke  10.22. 
 
 ch.l.l8.fc7. 
 
 29.  &  8.  19. 
 H  eh.  3.  16, 
 
 IS,  36. 
 
 ver.  40. 
 
 ft  ver. 
 
 3,35. 
 
 *ver.  51,58. 
 
 3-t  °  Tlien  said  they  unto  him,  Lord,  ever- 
 more give  us  this  bread. 
 
 35  And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  ■■  I  am  the 
 bread  of  life  :  ■"  he  that  Cometh  to  me  shall 
 never  hunger  ;  and  he  that  believeth  on  me 
 shall  never  thirst. 
 
 36  '  But  I  said  unto  you.  That  ye  also  have 
 seen  me,  and  believe  not. 
 
 37  '  All  that  the  Father  giveth  me  shall  come 
 to  me ;  and  '  him  that  cometli  to  me  I  will  in 
 no  wise  cast  out. 
 
 38  For  I  came  down  from  heaven,  "  not  to  do 
 mine  own  will,  '  but  the  will  of  him  that  sent 
 me. 
 
 39  And  this  is  the  Father's  will  which  hath 
 sent  me,  ''  that  of  ail  wliich  lie  hath  given  me 
 I  should  lose  nothing,  but  sliould  raise  it  up 
 again  at  the  last  day. 
 
 40  And  this  is  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me, 
 ^  that  every  one  which  seeth  the  Son,  and  be- 
 lieveth on  him,  may  have  everlasting  life  :  and 
 I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day. 
 
 41  The  Jews  then  murmured  at  him,  because 
 he  said,  1  am  the  bread  which  came  down  from 
 heaven. 
 
 42  And  they  said,  "  Is  not  this  Jesus,  the  son 
 of  Joseph,  whose  father  and  mother  we  know? 
 how  is  it  then  that  hesaith,  1  came  down  from 
 heaven  ? 
 
 43  Jesus  therefore  answered  and  said  unto 
 tliem.  Murmur  not  among  yourselves. 
 
 44  ''  No  man  can  come  to  me,  except  the 
 Father  which  hath  sent  me  draw  him  :  and  I 
 will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day. 
 
 43  '  It  is  written  in  the  prophets,  And  they 
 shall  be  all  taught  of  God.  ''  Every  man  there- 
 fore that  hath  heard,  and  hath  learned  of  the 
 Father,  cometh  unto  me. 
 
 40  '  Not  tliat  any  man  hath  seen  the  Father, 
 'save  he  which  is  of  God,  he  hath  seen  the 
 Father. 
 
 47  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  *  He  that 
 believeth  on  me  hath  everlasting  life. 
 
 48  '■  I  am  that  bread  of  life. 
 
 49  '  Your  fatliers  did  cat  manna  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, and  are  dead. 
 
 50  ■■  This  is  tlie  bread  which  cometh  down 
 from  heaven,  that  a  man  may  eat  tbereof,  and 
 not  die. 
 
 2.1,  note.  22.  The  day  following,  ^c,  'on  the  morrow  the  people 
 who  were  on  the  sea. side,  knowing  ttiat  there  had  been  but  one  boat 
 there,  and  that  Jesus  went  not  into  the  boat  with  his  disciples,  who 
 went  alone,  (other  boats,  however,  arrived  from  Tiberias,  nigh  the 
 place  wliere  they  had  eaten,  after  the  Lord  had  given  thanks ;)  know- 
 ing, besides,  that  neither  Jesus  nor  his  disciples  were  there, — embarked, 
 and  went  to  Capernaum,  seeking  Jesus,'  Vul;^.,  adopted  by  Cnmp.;  see 
 also  Griesbach  and  Boot/tr.  26.  Not  because  ye  saw,  ^c,  '  not  only 
 because,'  &c. — Ew.  27.  Labour  not,  gfc,  i.e.,  not  so  much,  S;c. — 
 Doddr.,  Ew.  That  meat  which  endureth,  ^r.— the  expressing  of  spi- 
 ritual food  by  meat  and  drink  is  familiar  to  eastern  nations,  and  fre- 
 quent in  scripture,  (see  Prov.  i.x.  5  ;  Isa.  Iv.  1.)—Whitbij.  Sealed,  con- 
 firmed, authorized,  commissioned.  It  alludes  to  the  oriental  custom 
 of  impressing  a  seal  on  the  head  or  face  of  a  servant,  military  follower, 
 or  priest. — Bloom/.  The  expression  points  out  Christ's  commission  as 
 a  prophet  or  priest.  As  a  person  who  wishes  to  communicate  his  mind 
 to  another  wlio  is  at  a  distance  writes  a  letter,  seals  it  with  his  own 
 seal,  and  sends  it  directed  for  the  persnn  for  whom  it  was  written  :  so 
 Christ,  who  lay  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  came  to  interpret  the  Di- 
 vine will  to  man,  bearing  the  image,  superscription,  and  seal  of  Gwd, 
 in  his  holiness,  doctrine,  and  miracles.  It  was  the  custom  among  na- 
 tions contiguous  to  Judea  to  set  a  seal  upon  the  victim  deemed  proper 
 for  sacrifice  ;  to  this  there  may  be  allusion,  and  to  the  sacrifice  of  Christ 
 himself. — Clarke.  It  may  be  sufficient  to  say,  that  to  seal  is  a  general 
 phrase  for  authorizing  by  proper  credentials  ;  or  for  marking  a  person 
 out  as  wholly  devoted  to  the  service  of  him  whose  seal  he  bears. — 
 Doddr.  The  miracles  Christ  perfiTmed  were,  as  it  were,  the  seal  of 
 his  authority. — Bit.  Mann.  2B.  Work  the  works,  fyc,  be  always  em. 
 ploved,  so  as  to  be  acceptable  to  God. — Ham.  30.  What  sign  ,?— the 
 miracles  were  not  enough  j  they  wanted  a  sign  from  heaven,  (Matt. 
 1115 
 
 xvi.  1.)— B;i.  Mann.  See  Matt.  xii.  38,  note.  Zn/iciou,  'sign,'  here 
 denotes  '  miracle,'  and  particularly  as  joined  with  the  verb  iroieit.  He 
 had  lately  fed  a  few  thousands ;  but,  say  they,  this  is  nothing  com- 
 pared with  Moses  feeding  our  fathers  for  furty  years.— Boothr.  The 
 word  evidently  means  '  miracle' in  John,  ii.  11,  23,  and  many  other 
 places. — .4.  Clarke.  32.  From  heaven,  nut  from  the  highest  heavens, 
 only  from  the  air.— Gi//.  Not  the  bread  of  heaven,  properly  so  called, 
 the  manna  being  only  material  food  sent  by  the  immediate  power  of 
 GuA.— Wells.  33.  Gireth  life,  not  temporal,  but  eternal.— B;i.  Mann. 
 34.  Gii'e  us  this  bread— they  still  understood  it  of  corporeal  food.— 
 Whitbti.  35.  Never  hunger— never  thirst,  i.  e.,  never  want  anything 
 necessary  to  his  eternal  happiness.— S.  Clarke.  36.  Ye  also  have 
 seen  me,  and  believe  not,  '  signs  and  wonders  will  not  work  true  faith 
 in  you,  so  long  as  ye  follow  me  for  temporal  benefits.'— C/u^e«. 
 37.  Shall  come,  Sf  ei,  '  will  come,'  signifying  the  certainty  of  the  event 
 —Doddr.  Coming  to  Christ,  in  this,  is  the  same  as  believing  in  him 
 —Guyse.  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out,  cv  /<>i  e«/3a\i»  tfu,  '  by  no  means 
 cast  out.'  The  expression  is  extremely  beautiful  and  emphatical.  It 
 represents  an  humble  supplicant  as  coming  into  the  house  of  a  great 
 person  to  cast  himself  upon  his  care.  He  might  fear  his  petition  would 
 be  rejected,  and  he  thrust  out  of  doors;  but  our  Lord  assures  him  to 
 the  contrary.— floirfr.  There  are  two  negatives,  •!  will  not;  no,  1 
 will  not.'— Wen.  40.  Which  seeth  the  Soti,  o  (Jeuipuv  rov  \>\ov,  '  who 
 views  the  Son  with  an  attentive  eye,'  (comp.  Matt,  xxvii.  55  1  Luke,  x. 
 18;  xsi.  6;  John,  xvii.24;  Acts,  iii.  16;  Heb.  vii.  4.)— Dorfrfr.  Alludes, 
 perhaps,  to  the  brazen  serpent,  (see  chap.  iii.  14,  \b.)  —  Wil.  1  will 
 raise,  §-c. — whenever  the  subject  of  resurrection  is  brought  forward 
 among  the  ancient  Jews,  we  must  always  understand  it  of  the  resur. 
 rection  of  the  blessed  to  eternal  life,  and  this  is  what  Christ  here  in- 
 tends.—B/oom/.        45.  Taught  0/  God,  dtouKTOt  lov  Oeou,  be  the  '  dis- 
 
Many  disciples  leave  Christ. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  VII. 
 
 Jesus  reproveth  his  kinsmen. 
 
 51  I  am  the  living  bread  '  which  came  down 
 from  heaven  :  if  any  man  eat  of  this  bread,  he 
 shall  live  for  ever :  and  "  the  bread  that  I  will 
 give  is  my  flesh,  which  I  will  give  for  the  life 
 of  the  world. 
 
 52  The  Jews  therefore  °  strove  among  them 
 selves,  saying,  °  How  can  this  man  give  us  hii 
 flesh  to  eat 't 
 
 53  Then  Jesus  said  untotliem,  Verily,  verily 
 I  say  unto  you.  Except  ''ye  eat  the  flesh  of 
 the  Son  of  man,  and  drink  his  blood,  ye  have 
 no  life  in  you. 
 
 54  '  Whoso  eateth  my  flesh,  and  drinketh 
 my  blood,  bath  eternal  life  ;  and  I  will  raise 
 him  up  at  the  last  day. 
 
 53  For  my  flesh  is  meat  indeed,  and  my 
 blood  is  drink  indeed. 
 
 56  He  that  eateth  my  flesh,  and  drinketh  my 
 blood,  ■■  dwelleth  in  me,  and  I  in  liim. 
 
 57  As  the  living  Father  hath  sent  me,  and  I 
 live  by  the  Father :  so  he  tliat  eateth  me, 
 even  lie  shall  live  by  me. 
 
 58  '  This  is  that  bread  which  came  down 
 from  heaven  :  not  as  your  fathers  did  eat 
 manna,  and  are  dead  :  he  that  eateth  of  this 
 bread  shall  live  for  ever. 
 
 59  These  things  said  he  in  the  synagogue,  as 
 he  taught  in  Capernaum. 
 
 60  '  Slany  therefore  of  bis  disciple,*,  when 
 they  had  heard  this,  said,  This  is  an  hard  say- 
 ing ;  who  can  hear  it? 
 
 61  When  Jesus  knew  in  himself  that  his  dis- 
 ciples murmured  at  it,  he  said  unto  them, 
 Dotli  this  ofl'end  you  ? 
 
 62  "  What  and  if  ye  shall  ^-ee  the  Son  of  man 
 ascend  up  where  he  was  before? 
 
 6-3  '  It  is  the  spirit  tliat  quickeneth ;  the 
 flesh  profiteth  nothing  :  the  words  that  I  speak 
 unto  you,  they  are  spirit,  and  they  are  life. 
 
 64  But  ''  there  are  some  of  you  that  believe 
 not.  For  '  Jesus  knew-  from  the  beginning 
 who  they  were  that  beUeved  not,  and  who 
 should  betray  him. 
 
 65  And  he  said,  Therefore  '  said  I  unto  yon, 
 that  no  man  can  come  unto  me,  except  it  were 
 given  unto  him  of  my  Fallier. 
 
 66  If ''  From  that  time  many  of  his  disciples 
 went  back,  and  walked  no  more  with  him. 
 
 67  Then  said  Jesus  unto  the  twelve.  Will  ye 
 also  go  away? 
 
 I  cl».  S.  13. 
 m  Heb.  10. 
 
 ver.  49,  50, 
 
 I  ell,  3.  IS. 
 
 ai.irkl6.HI. 
 
 Acts  I.  !". 
 
 Eph.  \.  a. 
 r  2Cot.3.C. 
 
 c  Acta  5.  20. 
 
 d  Mat- 16. 16. 
 
 Mark  S.  20. 
 
 I.uke  9.  20. 
 
 ch.  1.  49.  S 
 
 n.  27. 
 e  Luke  6.  13. 
 /ch.  13.27. 
 
 ■  Mat.l2  4r.. 
 Sr^irk  3. .-!! 
 .Acts  1,  14, 
 
 1  ch.  9.  4.  A 
 9.80. ver.  8, 
 30. 
 
 /  cli.  IS.  19. 
 
 t/  ch.S.  19. 
 
 k  ch.  9,  10. 
 
 &  10.  19. 
 I  Mat.  21.46, 
 
 Luke  7.  16. 
 
 ch.  6.  14. 
 
 ver.  40. 
 
 68  Then  Simon  Peter  answered  him,  Lord, 
 to  whom  shall  we  go  ?  thou  liast  '  the  words 
 of  eternal  life. 
 
 69  ''  And  we  believe  and  are  sure  that  thou 
 art  that  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God. 
 
 70  Jesus  answered  them, "  Have  not  I  chosen 
 you  twelve,  ''  and  one  of  you  is  a  devil  ? 
 
 71  He  spake  of  Judas  Iscariot  the  son  of 
 Simon  :  for  he  it  was  that  should  betray  him, 
 being  one  of  the  twelve. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 I  Ji'Sits  rrprovetli  the  ambition  and  boldness  of  his  /tins- 
 vien  :  10  goeth  up  from  Galilee  to  th^  feast  of  taber- 
 nacles :  14  teacheth  in  tlie  temple.  40  Divers  opinions 
 of  him  among  the  people.  45  The  Pharisees  are  angrij 
 that  their  ojficers  took  liim  not  and  chide  with  Nico- 
 demusftr  taking  his  part. 
 
 A  FTER  these  things  Jesus  walked  in  Gali- 
 -^^  lee  :  for  he  would  not  walk  in  Jewry, 
 "  because  the  Jews  sought  to  kill  him. 
 
 2  ''  Now  the  Jews'  feast  of  tabernacles  was  at 
 hand. 
 
 3  °  His  brethren  therefore  said  unto  him,  De- 
 part hence,  and  go  into  Judaea,  that  thy  dis- 
 ciples also  may  see  the  works  that  thou  doest. 
 
 4  For  there  is  no  man  that  doeth  any  thing 
 in  secret,  and  he  himself  seeketh  to  be  known 
 openly.  If  thou  do  these  things,  shew  thyself 
 to  the  world. 
 
 5  For  ''  neither  did  his  brethren  believe  in 
 him. 
 
 6  Then  Jesus  said  unto  them,  '  My  time  is 
 not  yet  come  :  but  your  time  is  alway  ready. 
 
 7  'The  world  cannot  hate  you;  but  me  it 
 hateth,  "  because  I  testify  of  it,  tliat  the  works 
 thereof  are  evil. 
 
 8  Go  ye  up  unto  this  feast  :  I  go  not  up  yet 
 unto  tbi.s  feast ;  "  for  my  time  is  not  yet  full 
 come. 
 
 9  When  he  had  said  these  words  unto  them, 
 he  abode  still  in  Galilee. 
 
 10  UButwlien  his  brethren  were  gone  up,  then 
 went  he  also  up  unto  tlie  feast,  not  openly,  but 
 as  it  were  in  secret. 
 
 1 1  Then  '  the  Jews  sought  him  at  the  feast, 
 and  said,  Where  is  he? 
 
 12  And  '  there  was  much  murmuring  among 
 the  people  concerning  him  :  for  '  some  said. 
 He  is  a  good  man  :  otliers  said.  Nay  ;  but  he 
 deceiveth  the  people. 
 
 ciples  or  scholars  of  God,'  who  shall  humbly  sit  down,  as  it  were,  at 
 his  feet,  and  receive  instructions  from  h'lm.—  Doddr.  51.  The  iieitig 
 bread,  'the  life-giving  bread.'— Eio.  The  bread  that  I  will giue,  ffc., 
 mysteriously  alluding  to  the  death  which  he  was  to  suffer  for  human 
 redemption.  —  Beausohre.  52.  Strove,   enaxovTo,   literally,    'they 
 
 fi'ught,'  that  is,  debated  with  great  violence. — Bens.  53.  Give  his 
 fiesh  to  eat—\ii  many  sacrifices  the  chief  part  of  the  flesh  was  appro- 
 priated to  the  priests  and  the  offerer,  of  which  they  ate.  Our  Lord,  I 
 think,  in  these  verses,  refers  to  himself  as  a  sacrifice  for  sin,  and  inti- 
 mates that  unless  they  ate  his  flesh,  Scc.—Bool/ir.  56.  Dwelleth  in 
 Vie,  and  I  in  him,  a  frequent  mode  of  expressing  a  close  and  intimate 
 union,  {chap.  .\iv.  10;  .xvii.  21,  23,  2B.)—Beimsubre.  SJ.  As  the 
 living  Father,  i^c,  KafJoit  aTrcCTretXe  /i€  o  ^uiv  TTaT-tjp.  'as  the  Father 
 liveth  who  sent  me,'  Sec— Camp.  And  I  live  by  the  Father,  t^c.— 
 Christ's  living  by  the  Father  seems  to  relate  to  his'life  as  man  and  Me- 
 diator ;  because  it  is  here  spoken  of  as  the  coosequeuce  of  his  Father's 
 sending  him ;  and  a  believer's  living  by  bim  is  represented  as  being 
 an  analogy  to  his  living  by  the  Father.         5S.  Eateth— shall  live  for 
 
 ever — the  eating  here  spoken  of  cannot  relate  to  a  sacramental,  much 
 less  to  a  corporeal  and  carnal  eating  and  drinking  the  real  body  and 
 blood  of  Christ ;  for  these  things  were  said  a  year,  at  least,  before  the 
 Lord's  supper  was  instituted,  and  were  then  spoken  of  in  the  present 
 tense,  as  necessary  to  eternal  life.  69.  The  living  God,  here  so  dis- 
 tinguished in  opposition  to  all  false  gods. — Guyse.  70.  .4  devil,  'a 
 spy.' — Camp.  '  An  informer  or  false  accuser.' — Locke,  Hen.  '  An 
 accuser,  enlistet^on  the  side  of  Satan,  who  was  a  murderer  from  the 
 beginning.' — .-I.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  VII.  —  1.  Walked,  or  travelled,  in  Jeiery,  or  Judaia.  2.  Feast 
 of  tabernacles — see  Lev.  xxiii.  34,  note.  3.  His  brethren — see  Matt, 
 xiii.  55,  note.  5.  Neither  did  his  brethren  believe — they  doubted  when 
 they  saw  that  he  did  not  take  the  means  which  they  expected  from 
 the  Messiah,  of  raising  himself  and  them.— Lighlf.  6.  Uly  lime  is 
 not  yet  come,  meaning  of  his  going  up  to  Jerusalem,  a.s  appears  from 
 verse  S.—Gill,  so   Whitliy  and  Clagett.  7.  The  world  cannot  hate 
 
 you,  being  like   themselves.— So  Clagett.  12.  Much  murmuring, 
 
 7077uff^ov  jroAvf, '  much  whispering.' — Bens. '  Much  private  discourse.* 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI. — This  chapter  relates,  I.  27ie 
 miracle  of  feeding  the  multitude.  ChrisliaD,  this  fact  sliould 
 cheer  the  heart  in  every  season  of  the  deepest  poverty  and 
 distress.  He  that  fed  the  multitude  lius  still  the  same  power 
 to  teed  you  ;  and  many  of  God's  people  have  found  it  so  in 
 the  hour  of  extremity.  Let  this  encourage  your  trust  in  him 
 when  Providence  seems  to  frown  upon  you.  Henry  elsewhere 
 shrewdly  remarks, '  He  that  feeds  his  birds  will  not  starve  his 
 babes.' 
 
 1116 
 
 II.  The  conversation  which  ensued  on  the  worhinq  of  this  mi- 
 racle. Here  the  Saviour,  with  his  usual  facility,  appropriately 
 improves  tlie  event,  and  transfers  the  thoughts  of  his  hearers 
 from  *  bread  that  perisheth,'  to  himself  as  '  the  bread  of  life,' 
 'the  true  bread.'  Alas!  how  many  toil  all  their  days  for 
 *  that  which  is  not  bread!'  Nor  can  anything  ever  satisfy  the 
 soul  till  It  is  brought  to  feed  upon  Christ  by  faith,  by  which 
 the  soul  lives  to  God  as  the  blessed  earnest  of  eternally  living 
 with  him. 
 
Jesus  teachet/i  in  the  temple. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  VII. 
 
 Divers  opinions  of  Christ. 
 
 13  Howbeit  no  man  spake  openly  of  him 
 ■"  for  fear  of  the  Jews. 
 
 14  t  Now  about  the  midst  of  the  feast  Jesus 
 went  up  into  the  temple,  and  taught. 
 
 15  "  And  the  Jews  marvelled,  saying,  How 
 knoweth  this  man  |{  letters,  having  never 
 learned? 
 
 16  Jesus  answered  them, and  said,"  My  doc- 
 trine is  not  mine,  hut  his  that  sent  me. 
 
 17  ""If  any  man  will  do  his  will,  he  shall 
 know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God,  or 
 whether  I  speak  of  myself. 
 
 18  "i  He  that  speaketh  of  himself  seeketh  his 
 own  glory  :  but  he  that  seeketh  his  glory  that 
 sent  him,  the  same  is  true,  and  no  unrighteous- 
 ness is  in  him. 
 
 19  '  Did  not  jMoses  give  you  the  law,  and  yet 
 none  of  you  keepeth  the  law?  '  Why  go  ye 
 about  to  kill  me? 
 
 20  The  people  answered  and  said,  '  Thou 
 hast  a  devil :  who  goeth  about  to  kill  thee? 
 
 21  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  I 
 have  done  one  work,  and  ye  all  marvel. 
 
 22  "  Moses  therefore  gave  unto  you  circum- 
 cision ;  (not  because  it  is  of  Moses,  "  but  of  the 
 fathers ;)  and  ye  on  the  sabbatli  day  circum- 
 cise a  man. 
 
 23  If  a  man  on  the  sabbath  day  receive  cir- 
 cumcision, II  that  the  law  of  Moses  should  not 
 be  broken  ;  are  ye  angry  at  me,  because  '  I 
 have  made  a  man  every  whit  whole  on  the 
 sabbath  day  ? 
 
 24  '  Judge  not  according  to  the  appearance, 
 but  judge  righteous  judgment. 
 
 '23  Then  said  some  of  them  of  Jerusalem,  Is 
 not  this  he,  whom  they  seek  to  kill  ? 
 
 26  But,  lo,  he  speaketh  boldly,  and  they  say 
 nothing  unto  him.  "  Do  the  rulers  know  in- 
 deed that  this  is  the  very  Christ? 
 
 27  ''  Howbeit  we  know  this  man  whence  he 
 is  :  but  when  Christ  cometh,  no  man  knoweth 
 whence  he  is. 
 
 28  Then   cried    Jesus  in   the  temple  as  h 
 taught,  saying,  '^  Ye  both    know  me,  and  ye 
 know  whence  I  am  :  and  ''  I  am  not  come  of 
 myself,  but  he  that  sent  me  ''is  true,  ''whom 
 ye  know  not. 
 
 29  But  ^  I  know  him  :  for  I  am  from  him, 
 and  he  hath  sent  me. 
 
 30  Then  ''they  sought  to  take  him  :  but  'no 
 man  laid  hands  on  him,  because  his  hour  was 
 not  yet  come. 
 
 31  And   ''many  of  the   people  believed  on 
 
 A.  D..'!2. 
 m  cli.  9.  2a. 
 19   38. 
 
 iMat. 13.51. 
 
 Mark  6.  2. 
 
 Lukel.  SS. 
 
 Acts  2.  7. 
 U  Or,  Uirn- 
 
 ch.  3-  II. 
 &  s.  -'8 ,  He 
 12.-19   &  14. 
 
 10.  2». 
 pEcclus.  21. 
 
 11.  cb  SAS 
 
 <1  ch.  5.  41. 
 
 Ex.  24.  3. 
 
 Deut.33.  4. 
 
 John  I.  17- 
 
 Acta  7.  38. 
 a  Mat. 12  14 
 
 Mark  3.  6. 
 
 cliS.16,  IB. 
 
 &  10  31,39. 
 
 &  II    53. 
 tch.  8.4J3, 
 
 '2.  &  lu.  21). 
 
 Lev.  12.  3 
 
 !l  Or.  ailiiniit 
 breaking  the 
 bnafM'm. 
 1/  ch.0.8,  9, 
 16. 
 
 ;  Deut.  1.16. 
 l7.Prov.24. 
 23.  cli  B.  15. 
 Jam.  2-  1. 
 
 6  Rtat.13  55. 
 
 Mark  6.  3. 
 
 Luke  4. 22. 
 c  See  ch.  8. 
 
 14. 
 li  ch-  5.  43. 
 
 (t  8.  42. 
 B  ch.  5.  32. 
 
 &8.  26. 
 
 Itoio.  3   4. 
 /ch    I.   IS. 
 
 &  8.  55. 
 e-i\Iat.ll  37, 
 
 ch.  111.  15. 
 /,  Mark  II. 
 
 18.  Luke 
 
 19.  47.  &  20. 
 19.  ver.  19- 
 ch.  8.  .17. 
 
 i  ver.  44. 
 
 ch.  8.  20. 
 *  Mat. 12.23. 
 
 ch.  3,  2.  & 
 
 8.  30. 
 
 /  ch   13   33. 
 
 &  10.  15. 
 
 n  Hos.  5.  6. 
 ch.8.  21.  «i 
 IS.  33. 
 
 Is.  II.  IS. 
 Jam.  I.  I. 
 I  Pet.  1.  I 
 jl  Or,  Gretht. 
 
 p  Is.  55.  1. 
 cb.  6,  35. 
 Rev.  22.  17, 
 
 q  Deut.  IS. 
 
 15, 
 r  Pro.  19.  4. 
 
 Is.  12.  3    & 
 
 14.  3.  ch  4. 
 
 14. 
 t  Is.  44.  9. 
 
 Jool  2.  28. 
 
 ch.  16   7. 
 
 Acts  2.   17, 
 
 33,  28. 
 I  cb.  12.  16. 
 
 &  16.  7. 
 
 V  Deut.  18. 
 
 15,  la.ch.l. 
 
 21.  &  6.  14. 
 :r  ch   4.  42. 
 
 &  6.  69. 
 jy  vei.  52 
 
 ch.  I.  46. 
 =  Ps.  132.11. 
 
 Jer.  23.  5. 
 
 Mic.  5.2. 
 
 Mat.  2.  5. 
 
 Luke  2.  4. 
 '1  I  Sam.  16 
 
 1,4. 
 5  ver.  12. 
 
 ch.  y    16.  & 
 
 10.  19. 
 c  ver.  30 
 
 !  ch.  12.  49. 
 Acts  6.  7. 
 I  Cor.  I  20, 
 26.  &  2.  8. 
 
 said. 
 
 him,  and  said.  When  Christ  cometh,  will  he  do 
 more  miracles  than  these  which  this  man  hath 
 done  ? 
 
 32  II  The  Pharisees  heard  that  the  people 
 murmured  such  things  concerning  him  ;  and 
 the  Pharisees  and  the  chief  priests  sent  officers 
 to  take  him. 
 
 33  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them,  '  Yet  a  little 
 while  am  I  with  you,  and  then  I  go  unto  him 
 that  sent  me. 
 
 34  Ye  ""shall  seek  me, and  shall  not  find  me: 
 and  where  I  am,  thi/her  ye  cannot  come. 
 
 35  Then  said  the  Jews  among  themselves. 
 Whither  will  he  go,  that  we  shall  not  find 
 him  ?  will  he  go  unto  "  the  dispersed  among 
 the  II  Gentiles,  and  teach  the  Gentiles? 
 
 36  What  manner  of  saying  is  this  that  he 
 Ye  shall  seek  me,  and  shall  not  find 
 and   where    I    am,   thither    ye    cannot 
 
 come? 
 
 37  °  In  the  last  day,  that  great  dat/  of  the 
 feast,  Jesus  stood  and  cried,  saying,  ''  If  any 
 man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and  drink. 
 
 38  ''  He  that  believeth  on  me,  as  the  scrip- 
 ture hath  said,  '  out  of  his  belly  shall  flow 
 rivers  of  living  water. 
 
 39  ('But  this  spake  he  of  the  Spirit,  which 
 they  that  believe  on  him  should  receive  :  for 
 the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  yet  fiice7i ;  because 
 that  Jesus  was  not  yet  '  glorified.) 
 
 40  IF  Many  of  the  people  therefore,  when 
 they  heard  this  saying,  said.  Of  a  truth  this  is 
 "  the  Prophet. 
 
 41  Others  said,  "  This  is  the  Christ.  But 
 some  said.  Shall  Christ  come  'out  of  Galilee? 
 
 42  '■  Hath  not  the  scripture  said.  That  Christ 
 cometh  of  the  seed  of  David,  and  out  of  the 
 town  of  Bethlehem,  °  where  David  was? 
 
 43  So  i"  there  was  a  division  among  the  people 
 because  of  him. 
 
 44  And  "=  some  of  them  would  have  taken 
 him  ;  but  no  man  laid  hands  on  him. 
 
 45  t  Then  came  the  officers  to  the 
 priests  and  Pharisees ;  and  they  said 
 them.  Why  have  ye  not  brought  him? 
 
 46  The  officers  answered,  •'  Never  man  spake 
 like  this  man. 
 
 47  Then  answered  them  the  Pharisees,  Are 
 ye  also  deceived  ? 
 
 48  "  Have  any  of  the  rulers  or  of  the  Phari- 
 sees believed  on  him  ? 
 
 49  But  this  people  who  knoweth  not  the  law 
 are  cursed. 
 
 chief 
 unto 
 
 — Whitby,  15.  Letters,  or,  the  scriptures. — So  the  Araff.  and  Peraic, 
 TpafifiaTa,  this  word,  without  the  article,  means  '  learning^,'  and  in 
 particular,  the  knowledge  of  the  Jewish  scriptures. — Kype.  16.  jVoi 
 Viiae,  not  the  effect  ol  learning  and  study,  hut  comes  from  the  source 
 of  all  knowledge. — Bp,  Mann.  *  Is  not  mine  alone,  but,'  kc. — Ew. 
 18.  Unrighteousness,  here  sipnifies  *  imposture,'  placed  in  opposition  to 
 true. — Doddr.  19.  To  kill  me,  in  violation  of  the  si.xth  command- 
 ment.—  Whitbit.  20.  A  dei'it,  *a  lying  spirit.' — Whitby,  ^aifiovtov, 
 *  a  demon.' — Wit.  21.  One  work,  cured  the  man  at  the  pool.  Ye  nil 
 mitrvel  (at  it),  as  a  shocking  piece  of  iniquity  on  the  sabbath  day. — 
 GttL  22.  Ye  on  the  sabbath  day  circumcise  a  man,  notwithstanding 
 the  strict  observance  of  the  sabbath  which  the  law  of  Moses  requires. 
 
 —  Ctilgett.  28.  Ye  both   knoiv  me,  Ktf/ie   oii^are  hai  oidart  TTottev  cifj.i, 
 
 'do  \e  both  know  who  and  whence  I  am  V — Camp.,  so  Chandler, 
 Doddr.,  Wesley,  litiothr.,  &c.  31.  Of  the  people,  e«  toi'  ox.\ov,  'of 
 
 the  muhitude,'  the  inferior  sort,  the  mol»,  the  rabble,  those  of  no 
 figure  receive  the  gospel. — Hen.  35.  The  dispersed,  the  Gentiles, 
 
 among  whom  the  Jews  were  dispersed. —  Clagett.  It  may  design  the 
 Jews,  who  were  scattered  abroad  in  the  times  of  the  Grecian  monarchy, 
 under  the  successors  of  Alexander,  and  particularly  Antiochus,  in  dis- 
 tinction from  the  Babylonish  dispersion. — Gill.  37.  In  the  last  day, 
 the  eighth,  that  great  day  of  the  feast,  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  when 
 there  was  to  be  an  holy  convocation,  attended  with  some  extraordinary 
 sacrifices.  Saying,  If  any  man  thirst,  ^c-,  an  allusion  to  the  custom 
 of  drawing  water  from  the  pool  of  Siloam,  and  offering  it  up  in  the 
 temple  with  much  solemnity,  and  the  sound  of  various  voices  and  iw- 
 1117 
 
 struments  ;  partly  in  commemoration  of  the  miraculous  relief  of  water 
 produced  from  the  stony  rock  by  Moses,  (1  Cor.  x.  4,)  but  prinnpally 
 to  solicit  the  blessingof  rain  for  the  approaching  seed-time.— So //'(7n.; 
 see  GilL  Come  unto  me,  and  drt'/iA-— from  the  ceremony  beftire  him, 
 he  compares  his  doctrine  to  water.— £/).  Mnnn.  38.  Belh/,  frequently 
 put  for  mind,  or  heart,  (comp.  Job,  xv.  35  ;  xx.  20  ;  and  Prov.  xx.  27, 
 :iO.]~ Duddr.  Believers  in  Christ  are  here  compared  to  the  golden 
 vases  of  *he  temple — they  are  filled  with  the  influences  of  the  Spirit,  as 
 were  the  bellies  of  those  vases  with  the  living  waters  of  Siloah.— »Vi7. 
 Rivers  of  lii'ing  wuter—VdQ  efFusion  of  the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is 
 often  so  mentioned,  (see  Isa.  xliv.  3,  )kQ.)— Clagett.  39-  Shuuld  re- 
 ceive,  e/icAXoi-  'Kafx^avnv,  '  were  about  to  receive,'  namely,  after  the 
 resurrection  and  ascension  of  Christ,  according  to  his  promise,  (chap, 
 xiv.  l6  ;  and  xvi.  7.)  The  full  effusion  of  the  extraordinary  prift?  ot  the 
 Spirit  she(t  cm  the  prophets,  as  foretold  by  Isaiah  and  Joel,  took  not 
 place  till  after  the  ascension  of  Christ,  and  was  yet  to  come  on  the  day 
 of  Pentecost;  and  the  universality  of  the  invitation  and  promise  here 
 given  makes  it  evident  that,  on  this  occasion,  our  Lord  had  the  ordi- 
 nary influences  of  the  Spirit  in  his  eye.  These  are  often  in  scripture 
 represented  as  the  consequences  and  the  reward  of  faith.— Ben.ion. 
 
 40.  The  prophet,  whom   Moses  foretold,   (Deut.  xviii.   \S.)—Whitf>i/. 
 
 41.  The  Christ,  the  very  Messiah.— C/a^^(^  -42.  Where  David  vns, 
 dwelt  with  his  father,  Jesse,  (1  Kam.  xvi.  1,  4.)—Bp.  Mann.  43.  A 
 dirixion,  <TX'<^Ma.  'a  warm  dissension.'— Porfrfr.  'A  schism;'  they 
 were  divided  in  sentiment,  and  separated  into  parties.—,^.  Clnrke. 
 4y.  This  people,  oxKo^  o'vro^,  '  this  pupulacc.'— iJt?7w.     '  This  rabble.*— 
 
The  woman  taken  in  adultery. 
 
 S.JOHN.  VIII. 
 
 tourist  tne  iig/it  of  the  world. 
 
 50  Nicodenius  saith  unto  them,  ('  he  ttiat 
 came  fto  Jesus  by  night,  being  one  of  them,) 
 
 51  *  Doth  our  law  judge  ani/  man,  before  it 
 hear  bim,  and  know  what  he  doeth  ? 
 
 52  They  answered  and  said  unto  liini.  Art 
 thou  also  of  Galilee?  Search,  and  look  :  for 
 ''  out  of  Galilee  ariseth  no  prophet. 
 
 53  And  every  man  went  unto  his  own  bouse. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  Christ  dtlivcTcth  the  woman  taken  in  adtiUery.  12 
 He  jireacheth  himself  the  light  of  the  icorld,  and  jus- 
 tijicth  his  doctritie :  33  a/isicereth  the  Jtics  that 
 boasted  of  Abraham,  59  and  conveyeth  himself  from 
 their  cruelty. 
 
 TESUS  went  unto  the  mount  of  Olives. 
 "    2    And    early   in    tlie   morning   he   came 
 again  into  the  temple,  and  all  the  people  came 
 vnitohim;  and  he  sat  down,  and  taught  them. 
 
 3  And  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  brought 
 unto  him  a  woman  taken  in  adultery  ;  and 
 when  they  had  set  her  in  the  midst, 
 
 4  They  say  unto  him,  Master,  this  woman 
 was  taken  in  adultery,  in  the  very  act. 
 
 5*  Now  Moses  in  the  law  commanded  us,  that 
 such  should  be  stoned  :   but  wliat  sayest  thou  ? 
 
 G  This  they  said,  tempting  bim,  that  they 
 might  have  to  accuse  him.  But  Jesus  stooped 
 down,  and  with  his  finger  wrote  on  the  ground, 
 as  though  he  heard  them  not. 
 
 7  So  when  they  continued  asking  Iiim,  he 
 lifted  up  himself,  and  said  unto  them,  *"  He 
 that  is  without  sin  among  you,  let  bim  first 
 cast  a  stoue  at  her. 
 
 8  And  again  be  stooped  down,  and  wrote  on 
 the  ground. 
 
 9  And  they  which  heard  iV,  "^  being  convicted 
 by  their  oirn  conscience,  went  out  one  by  one, 
 beginning  at  the  eldest,  even  unto  the  last : 
 and  Jesus  was  left  alone,  and  the  woman 
 standing  in  the  midst. 
 
 A . D.  32. 
 
 /ch.  S.''. 
 t  Cr.  tutnm. 
 g  Deu,  1.  17. 
 
 &  17.  8,  &c. 
 
 H  19.  15. 
 
 A  Is,  9  1,? 
 Mat.  4.  15. 
 ch.  1.  46. 
 
 d  Luke  9.56. 
 
 &  \-i.  I(. 
 
 ch.  8.  17. 
 e  ch.  5.  li. 
 
 /rli.  I. 4,  5, 
 V    &  S    10 
 h  9.5.  h  \2. 
 35,  86,  46, 
 
 a  Lev.SO.lO. 
 
 b  netit.l7. 
 Rum.  2.  I 
 
 h  Seech.  7. 
 S8.  8t  9.  29. 
 
 .■  ch.  7.  21. 
 k  cli.  3.    (7. 
 
 &  12.  47.  & 
 
 18.  SC. 
 
 /  ver.  29. 
 
 m  Deu. 17.6. 
 &  Iff.   15. 
 Mot.  18.  lA. 
 
 •JC'ir.  13.  1. 
 Heb.lO.  28. 
 ri  ch.  5.37. 
 
 o  ver  65. 
 ch.  10.  3. 
 V  ch    14.  7. 
 
 7  Mark   12. 
 ■II. 
 r  ch.  7-  30. 
 
 t  Ch.  7.  3. 
 
 i  ch.  7.  3*. 
 &  13  SS. 
 (  ver.  21. 
 
 10  When  Jesus  had  lifted  up  himself,  and 
 saw  none  but  the  woman,  he  said  unto  her, 
 Woman,  where  are  those  thine  accusers?  hath 
 no  man  condemned  tliee  ? 
 
 1 1  She  said,  No  man.  Lord.  And  Jesus  said 
 unto  her,  "^Neither  do  I  condemn  thee:  go, 
 and  ^sin  no  more. 
 
 12  H  Then  spake  Jesus  again  unto  them,  say- 
 ing, *■  I  am  the  light  of  the  world  :  be  that  fol- 
 loweth  me  shall  not  walk  in  darkness,  but  shall 
 have  the  light  of  life. 
 
 13  The  Pharisees  therefore  said  unto  him, 
 ^  Thou  bearest  record  of  thyself;  thy  record  is 
 not  true. 
 
 14  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
 Tiiough  I  bear  record  of  myself,^^/  my  record 
 is  true  :  for  I  know  whence  I  came,  and  whi- 
 ther I  go  ;  but  ''ye cannot  tell  whence  I  come, 
 and  wliitber  I  go. 
 
 15  *  Ye  judge  after  the  flesh  ;  ''I  judge  no 
 man. 
 
 IG  And  yet  if  I  judge,  my  judgment  is  true  : 
 for  *  I  am  not  alone,  but  I  and  tlie  Father  that 
 sent  me. 
 
 17  ""It  is  also  written  in  your  law,  that  the 
 testimony  of  two  men  is  true. 
 
 18  I  am  one  that  bear  witness  of  myself, 
 and  "  the  Father  that  sent  me  beareth  witness 
 of  me. 
 
 19  Then  said  they  unto  him,  Wliere  is  thy 
 Father?  Jesus  answered,  "Ye  neither  know 
 me,  nor  my  Father:  ''if  ye  bad  known  me,  ye 
 should  have  known  my  Father  also. 
 
 20  These  words  spake  Jesus  in  '*  the  treasury, 
 as  he  taught  in  tlie  temple  :  and  ^no  man  laid 
 hands  on  bim  ;  for  'bis  hour  was  not  yet  come. 
 
 21  Then  said  Jesus  again  unto  them,  I  go 
 my  way,  and  'ye  shall  seek  me,  and  "shall 
 die  in  your  sins :  whither  I  go,  ye  cannot 
 come. 
 
 A.  Clarke.  *Thi^  wretched  herd.' — Doddr.  Instances  of  their  con- 
 tempt of  the  comnion  people  may  be  seen  in  Light/.  With  great  con- 
 tempt they  style  the  followers  of  Jesus,  'this  people,'  the  common 
 people,  the  dre{;s  of  them,  the  refuse  of  the  earth. — Gill.  Are  cursed, 
 with  a  judicial  blindness.— /Jorfdr.  Are  under  God's  curse,  having  no 
 imderstanding  of  the  law,  (Deut.  xxvii.  26.) — Chigett.  52.  Out  of 
 
 iialilee  ariseth  no  prophet — Jonah  and  Nahum  were  both  of  Galilee, 
 the  meaning  seems  therefore  to  be,  no  great  expected  prophet,  nor  the 
 Messiah. — So  Ket/w.  This  was  a  false  assertion,  for  Isaiah,  ix.  1,  2, 
 foretold  that  a  prophet,  and  even  the  Messiah,  the  great  Light,  should 
 arise  in  Galilee. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  Vill.  —  3.  Taken  in  adultery,  perhaps  in  one  of  the  booths, 
 during  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  at  which  time  the  hearts  of  some  might 
 he  made  too  merry  by  plentifully  eating  and  drinking.  —  Gnyse. 
 5.  Moses — commanded — the  married  adulteress  was  to  be  put  to  death, 
 (Lev.  XX.  10;  Deut.  xxii.  22.)  if  espoused,  the  law  expressly  says,  by 
 stoning,  (Deut.  xxii.  23,  24,)  whence  the  inference  that  tliis  woman 
 was  espoused. —  Whitby.  6.  Tempting  him,  for  if  he  contradicted 
 
 Moses  by  ordering  the  release  of  the  woman,  they  would  liave  set  him 
 down  as  a  false  prophet ;  and  if,  with  Moses,  he  liad  sentenced  her  to 
 death,  he  must  have  acted  contrary  to  his  character  as  a  merciful  Sa- 
 viour.— Bp.  Home.  Stooped  duu-n,  being  then  in  the  usual  sitting 
 posture  oi  a  teacher,  (see  ver.  2.) — Gilpin.  J.  Without  sin,  ava^iap- 
 TnTot,  meaning  the  same  kind  of  sin. — Kype,  so  Clarke.  'Ihis  was  an 
 appeal  to  their  consciences,  for  the  Jewish  writers  bear  witness  of  the 
 general  prevalency  of  adultery  and  fornication  which  then  existed 
 among  their  nation. — So  Pict.  Bib.  First  cast  a  stone — the  first  stone 
 was  thrown  by  the  principal  accuser ;  it  was  of  great  bulk  and  weight, 
 
 and  generally  fatal,  (see  Deut.  xiii.  9;  xvii.  7.) — Grot.  9.  Beginning 
 at  the  eldest,  even  unto  the  last,  otto  twi/  TTpeff/^yjepwi'  ewv  t<iiv  taxariav, 
 '  from  the  most  honourable,  to  those  of  the  least  repute.' — A.  Clarke, 
 as  Keuihenivs.  The  elder  and  most  respected  members  of  the  council, 
 being  self-convicted,  first  withdrew,  and  the  others  followed. —  Wil. 
 In  the  midst,  of  the  people,  the  apostles  being  then  with  their  L')rd.— 
 Sut.  ]  1 .  !\'either  do  J  condemn  thee,  ov6e  c-yu  <tc  KaTaKpii'ci),  '  neither 
 do  1  pass  sentence  on  thee.* — Camp.,  so  Lampe,  and  Kuinoel.  Our 
 Lord  carefully  avoids  assuming  any  appearance  of  magisterial  autlio. 
 rity,  (see  Luke,  xii.  14.) — Wil.  Sin  no  more— the  word  unapTavtiv, 
 '  to  sin,'  is  used  by  the  most  elegant  Greek  classics  to  signify  the  com- 
 mi'-sion  of  adultery. — EUner.  This  was  a  direct  and  strong  condem- 
 nation of  her  conduct.  There  is  no  decisive  proof  that  this  woman 
 was  a  true  penitent. — Scott.  Her  penitence  is  inferred  by  Henry  ;  see 
 REFLECTroNs.  12.  Spake  Jesus  again,  referring  to  his  first  purpose 
 of  instructing  the  people,  (ver.  2.)—Clagett.  I  am  the  light,  §c.,  pro- 
 bably  alluding  to  Malachi,  iv.  2,  where  the  Messiah  is  so  foretold.— 
 Bens.  13.  Bearest  record  of  thyself,  *  bringest  no  proof  of  what  thou 
 affiimcst.' — S.Clarke.  Thy  record,  ^lapropia,  'testimony.' — Bens. 
 15.  After  the  flesh,  '  according  to  the  mcaune'-s  of  my  extraction  and 
 appearance.' — Whitby.  I  judge  no  man,  '  my  business  now  being  that 
 of  a  prnphet,  and  not  of  a  judge. — Clagett.  18.  Beareth  witness,  by 
 
 the  miracles  which  he  enable-,  me  to  perform,  (see  chap.  v.  32,  36.) 
 20.  The  treasury,  a  certain  part  of  the  women's  court,  where  the  chests 
 were  placed  fur  receiving  the  offerings  of  those  whi>  came  to  worship, 
 and  consequently  was  a  place  of  great  concourse.  His  hour,  in  which 
 he  was,  by  Divine  permission,  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  wicked 
 men. — Bens.        21.  Jn  your  sins,  ev  t»;  afiapji^  Ifiuiv,  'in  your  sin,' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIl. — T.  We  see  how  little  the  greatest 
 external  advantages  can  do  without  the  Divine  blessing.  *  Even 
 some  of  the  nearest  relatious  of  our  Lord,  by  whom  he  was 
 most  intimately  known,  were  not  led  to  believe  on  hiin.'b 
 'I'bere  were  no  detects  in  Iiim,  either  in  word  or  deed,  to  coun- 
 teract at  times  the  influence  of  his  doctrine,  as  there  are, 
 idas  !  among  the  most  excellent  of  his  servants ;  and  yet  neither 
 the  truths  that  be  spake,  nor  the  works  he  did,  convinced  them. 
 '  Who  then  can  wonder,  if  some  remain  incorrigible,  even  in 
 the  roost  pious  families  V 
 
 II.  We  learn  how  hardened  were  the  hearts  of  those  who,  not- 
 withstandinq  the  proofs  which  Jesus  qave  <f  his  divine  mission, 
 1118 
 
 sought  every  opportunity  to  destroy  him.  We  have  need  to  pray 
 that  God  may  preser\e  us  from  such  delusion,  and  impart  to 
 us  a  readiness  of  mind  to  embrace  and  hold  the  truth  in  the 
 love  of  it,  and  acknowledge  and  attend  to  Christ  as  sent  of  the 
 Father. 
 
 III.  liliat  meekness,  condescension,  and  luve,  did  Jesus  display 
 in  his  discourse  and  invitations  f  Unmoved  by  the  rage  and  op- 
 position of  the  scribes  and  i^harisees,  he  proclaimed  the  riches 
 of  grace — *  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and 
 drink.'  Well  might  the  people  wonder  at  the  gracious  words 
 which  he  spoke.  ^ 
 
Christ  answereth  the  Jews 
 
 S.  JOHN,  VIII. 
 
 that  boasted  of  Abraham 
 
 22  Tlieil  said  the  Jews,  Will  he  kill  hiinselfV 
 because  he  saith.  Whither  I  ^o,  ye  cannot  come. 
 
 23  And  he  said  unto  them,  "  Ye  are  from 
 beneath;  I  am  from  above:  'ye  are  of  this 
 world  ;  I  am  not  of  this  world. 
 
 24  '  I  said  therefore  unto  you,  that  ye  shall 
 die  in  your  sins  :  "  for  if  ye  believe  not  that  I 
 am  he,  ye  shall  die  in  your  sins. 
 
 25  Then  said  they  unto  him.  Who  art  thou  V 
 And  Jesus  saith  unto  them.  Even  the  same 
 that  I  said  unto  you  from  the  beginning. 
 
 26  I  have  many  things  to  say  and  to  judge  of 
 you :  but  ''  he  that  sent  me  is  true ;  and  '  I 
 speak  to  the  world  those  thmgs  which  I  have 
 beard  of  him. 
 
 27  They  understood  not  that  lie  spake  to 
 them  of  the  Father. 
 
 28  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them.  When  ye 
 have  ''  lifted  up  the  Son  of  man,  "  then  shall  ye 
 know  Uiat  I  am  he,  and  'that  I  do  nothing  of 
 myself;  hnt  ^as  my  Father  hath  taught  me, 
 1  speak  these  things. 
 
 29  And  ''  he  that  sent  ine  is  with  me  :  '  the 
 Father  hath  not  left  me  alone ;  '  for  I  do 
 always  those  things  that  please  him. 
 
 30  As  he  spake  these  words,  '  many  believed 
 ou  him. 
 
 31  Then  said  Jesus  to  those  Jews  which  be- 
 lieved on  him.  If  ye  continue  in  my  word, 
 then  are  ye  my  disciples  indeed  ; 
 
 32  And  ye  shall  know  the  trutli,  and  "' the 
 truth  shall  make  you  free. 
 
 33  H  They  answered  him,"  We  be  Abraham's 
 seed,  and  were  never  in  bondage  to  any  man  : 
 how  sayest  thou.  Ye  shall  be  made  free  ? 
 
 34  Jesus  answered  them.  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
 unto  you,  "  Whosoever  committeth  sin  is  the 
 servant  of  sin. 
 
 35  And  ''the  servant  ahideth  not  in  the  house 
 for  ever :  but  the  Sou  abideth  ever. 
 
 36  ''  If  the  Son  therefore  shall  make  you  free, 
 ye  shall  be  free  indeed. 
 
 37  I  know  that  ye  are  Abraham's  seed ;  but 
 '  ye  seek  to  kill  me,  because  my  word  hath  no 
 place  in  yon. 
 
 38  ^I  speak  that  which  I  have  seen  with  my 
 Father :  and  ye  do  that  which  ye  have  seen 
 with  your  father. 
 
 39  They  answered  and  said  unto  him,  '  Abra- 
 
 t/  ch.  15.  1! 
 fc  17,  16. 
 1  John  1.  i 
 
 ;  ver.  21. 
 
 G  Mark  111. 
 
 b  cli.  7.  29. 
 c  cli-  a.  3-2. 
 
 e  Kom.  1    .1 
 /cli.  5.  lU, 
 
 '<  ch.  It.  10, 
 
 II. 
 I  ver.  16. 
 A  ch.  4.  3+. 
 
 &  5,  30.  & 
 
 6.  S8 
 (ch.?.  31.  & 
 
 III.  4:i.&ll. 
 
 tn  Bnm.0.14, 
 
 18,  S-2.  &  8. 
 
 2.  Jam.  1. 
 
 25.  &  2  i:. 
 It  Lev.25.43. 
 
 M.it.  s.  9. 
 
 ver.  39. 
 
 o  Rom   6  16, 
 20.  2  Pet. 2. 
 
 *ch.  -1,  :12.  A 
 5.  in,  :lo.  gi 
 11.  10,  21, 
 
 I  Mat.  3.  9, 
 ver,  33, 
 
 fc  64   8 
 
 aial.  1,0, 
 alJohiio,  I 
 b  ch,  16,  27. 
 
 &  17,8,  2o 
 c  ch,  5,  43. 
 
 8;  7,  28,  29. 
 dch,  7.  17, 
 
 I  Mat. 13.  38 
 I  John  3  8. 
 
 /Jude6, 
 
 «  Unin.  2.  28. 
 &  9  7  Gal. 
 J.  7,29, 
 
 I  Is, 
 
 ,  16. 
 
 ^ch,  10.  26, 
 27,  1  John 
 
 A  ch.  7  20, 
 K(  10.  20, 
 ver,  52. 
 
 i  ch,  5.  41, 
 &  7,  18, 
 
 /  Zeeh.  1.  r, 
 lleb,  11,13, 
 
 m  ch,  5,  31, 
 
 n  ch,  &.  41. 
 &  16    II.  8c 
 17.  I,  Acts 
 3,  13, 
 
 a  Ch.  7.  2S, 
 29, 
 
 ham  is  our  father.  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  "If 
 ye  were  Abraham's  children,  ye  would  do  the 
 works  of  Abraham. 
 
 40  '  But  now  ye  seek  to  kill  me,  a  man  that 
 hath  told  you  the  truth,  '  which  I  have  heard 
 of  God  :  this  did  not  Abraham. 
 
 41  Ye  do  the  deeds  of  your  father.  Tlien 
 said  they  to  him.  We  be  not  boru  of  fornica- 
 tion ;   "  we  have  one  Father,  even  God. 
 
 42  Jesus  said  unto  them,  °  If  God  were  your 
 Father,  ye  would  love  me  :  ''  for  I  proceeded 
 forth  and  came  from  God  ;  '  neither  came  I  of 
 myself,  but  he  sent  me. 
 
 43  '^  Why  do  ye  not  understand  my  speech '? 
 even  because  ye  cannot  hear  my  word, 
 
 44  "  Ye  are  oVyour  father  the  devil,  and  the 
 lusts  of  your  father  ye  will  do.  He  was  a 
 murderer  from  the  beginning,  and  ''abode  not 
 in  the  truth,  because  there  is  no  truth  in  him. 
 When  he  speaketh  a  lie,  he  speaketh  of  his 
 own  :  for  he  is  a  liar,  and  the  father  of  it. 
 
 45  And  because  I  tell  you  the  truth,  ye  be- 
 lieve me  not. 
 
 46  Which  of  you  conviiiceth  me  of  sin '?  And 
 if  I  say  the  truth,  why  do  ye  not  believe  me? 
 
 47  ^  He  that  is  of  God  heareth  God's  words  : 
 ve  therefore  hear  Mem  not,  because  ye  are  not 
 of  God. 
 
 48  Then  answered  the  Jews,  and  said  unto 
 him.  Say  we  not  well  that  thou  art  a  Sama- 
 ritau,  and  ''  hast  a  devil  ? 
 
 49  Jesus  answered,  I  have  not  a  devil  ;  but 
 I  honour  my  Father,  and  ye  do  dishonour  me. 
 
 50  And  '  I  seek  not  mine  own  glory  :  there 
 is  one  that  seeketb  and  judgeth. 
 
 51  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  ''  If  a  man 
 keep  my  saying,  he  shall  never  see  death. 
 
 52  Then  said  the  Jews  unto  bim.  Now  we 
 know  that  thou  hast  a  devil.  'Abraham  is  dead, 
 and  the  prophets ;  and  thou  sayest.  If  a  man 
 keep  my  saying,  he  shall  never  taste  of  death. 
 
 53  Art  thou  greater  than  our  father  Abraham, 
 which  is  dead  ?  and  the  prophets  are  dead  : 
 whom  makest  thou  thyself? 
 
 54  Jesus  answered,  "'  If  I  honour  myself,  my 
 honour  is  nothing:  "it  is  my  Father  that  ho- 
 nonretb  me  ;  of  whom  ye  say,  that  he  is  your 
 God: 
 
 55  Yet  °  ye    have   not   known   him ;   but   I 
 
 liere  especially  means  the  sin  of  unbelief.— Ca/o.,  so  Hen,,  as  Gttr/se. 
 24.  Thtti  I  am  he,  oxt  €70)  eifii,  '  that  I  am,'  which  some  suppose  refers 
 to  the  name  of  God,  (E.\od.  iii.  14  ;)  but  it  rather  seems  to  be  an  ellip- 
 tical form  of  speech  with  respect  to  his  being  the  Messiah.  (Mark,  xiii. 
 6 ;  Acts.  xiii.  25,) — Gut/se.  25,  Ft-om  the  beginning,  '  what  frnm  the 
 first  I  said  that  I  was,' — S,  Clarke,  so  Whitby,  See  the  like  expres- 
 sion. Gen,  xiii,  4  ;  Xli.  21  ;    xliii.  18,  20.     Trji/  apxnv  o,  t<  nai  \a\ia  v^JLlv, 
 
 *  I  am  the  beginning,  which  also  I  speak  nolo  you,'  (see  Col.  i,  18  ;  Rev. 
 i.  8  J  xxi.  6,  Sec.) — .Austin,  28,  Liftrd  np,  on  the  cross,  (chap.  iii.  14  ; 
 xviii.  32,)-^Bp,  Mnnn.  Know,  by  further  evidences  afforded  by  my 
 resurrection  and  ascension,— Hai/j, ;  and  by  the  effusion  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost, —  Whitby.  31.  Continue,  /ieii/nve,  'dwell,'  as  a  man  doth  at 
 home,  which  is  his  centre,  and  rest,  antl  refuge. — Henri/,  33.  Never 
 in  fjondage,  a  great  falsehood,  for  they  were  so  in  Escypt,  and  to  the 
 Moabites,  Ammonifies,  and  Philistines;  and  to  the  Babylonians,  and 
 at  this  time  under  the  Roman  yoke,  and  paid  tribute  to  Cfesar. — Gift, 
 'lliey  meant  that  they  had  always  held  the  truth  as  sons  of  Abraham, 
 and  had  never  submitted  to  the  slavery  of  idolatry,— So  Miicltnight. 
 34.  Committeth  sin,  ttoiuic'  u/rupT/ui-,  *  worketh.'  or  acteth  known  sin. 
 —  Berts,  '  Every  one  that  makes  sin,'  maltes  contrivances  of  sin, 
 makes  provision  for  the  flesh,  deviseth  iniquity,  Sic^Henri/,  *  Ha- 
 bitually practises  sin  ;'  a  phrase  of  the  very  same  import  with  '  work 
 iiiff  iniquity;'  the  word  generally  signifies  'an  habitual  course  of 
 action.' — Doddr,  The  servant,  ioi-Xoc,  '  the  slave.' — Bens.  35.  The 
 sermmt,  or  'slave,'  abideth  not,  ^c,  he  cannot  be  so  assured  of  his 
 master's  favour  as  to  depend  upon  it  that  he  shall  never  be  turned  out 
 of  the  family, — M'irkn,  But  the  .ion  abideth,  the  eldest  son  and  heir. 
 The  casting  out  of  Ishmacl,  though  a  son  of  Abraham  by  the  bond- 
 woman, beautilully  illustrates  this. — Bens.  The  allusion  is  to  the  case 
 of  servants  in  common,  and  even  the  good  Hebrew  servant  that  loved 
 his  roaster,  and  would  not  go  out  free  at  the  end  of  his  servitude  ;  and 
 who,  after  having  his  ear  bored,  is  said  to  serve  him  for  ever,  (Exod. 
 xxi.  6 ;}  yet  that  for  evel  was  hnt  until  the  year  of  jubilee. — Gitt. 
 
 36.  Son—shatt  make  you  free,  alluding  to  the  custom  of  adoption  by 
 the  sons  or  brethren  in  the  family  which  obtained  in  Greece,  called 
 a5(:A(fo(^e(T(a, —  Grot.  Rather  to  a  custom  among  the  Romans  of  a 
 son's  making  free,  after  his  father's  death,  such  as  were  born  slaves  iu 
 his  house. — Gitt.  39.  Would  do  the  works  of  .Abraham,  resemble  him 
 in  faith  and  holiness. — Bens.  42,  I  proceeded  forth  and  came  from 
 
 God,  to  be  of  God,  born  of  God,  sent  of  God,  are  terms  used  of  be. 
 llevers  and  prophets,  (ver.  47 ;  1  John,  iv.  4  ;  v,  1  ;)  but  the  express!'  'ii 
 here  used  is  peculiar  to  Christ;  it  denotes  his  divine  original  as  well 
 as  mission,  that  he  is  of  the  Father  as  a  Son  of  his  own  essence,  pro- 
 ceeding from  him,  as  well  as  that  he  came  from  the  Father,  as  a  Di- 
 vine messenger.  The  form  of  expression,  ^k  tou  Oe^w  ef  n^yof,  is  often 
 used  by  the  Sept.,  to  signify  a  proper  birth  when  applied  to  man,  (Gen. 
 XV.  4  ;  XXXV.  1 1 ,)  It  is  used  of  Christ  with  respect  to  his  human  birth, 
 (Isa.  xi.  1.) — Guyse,  so  Whitby.  43,  My  speech,  rnv  XaXiav  Trp-  efiriv, 
 '  this  my  mode"  of  speaking  when  illustrating  spiritual  by  natural 
 things,'  'Speech,' XaXia.  refers  to  the  manner  of  speaking.  Word, 
 \oyof,  to  the  matter  or  subject  on  which  he  spoke. —  Clarke.  Ve  cannot 
 hear,  '  cannot  bear.'  The  verb  anovniv  denote^  frequently  in  scripture, 
 and  even  in  profane  authors,  not  barely  '  to  hear,'  but  *  to  hear  pa- 
 tiently,'— Camp.  '  Cannot  bear  to  hear,'  '  will  lend  no  ear,' — Bloomf. 
 44,  He  speaketh  of  his  own,  ck  tuii.  idtu>v  \a\ti,  *  he  speaketh  of  his  own 
 offspring,'  or  'from  his  own  disposition,'  for  he  is  the  father  and  foun- 
 tain of  all  error  and  falsity. — A.  Clarke.  46.  Convinceth,  eKeyx*^'' 
 *  convicteth.'  Of  sin,  Trepi  a^apriar,  'error,  falsehood,  a  departure 
 from  truth.' — Camp.,  so  Pine,  Calo.,  Kype,  Markl.,  Itosenm.,  Kuinoel, 
 &c,  48,  Tliou  art  a  Sinnaritan — this  imputation  was  the  most  re- 
 proachful possible  ;  the  term  implied  that  he  was  an  idolator  and  schis- 
 matic, and  included  everything  that  was  odious  and  despicable.  ."JO,  I 
 seek  not  mine  own  glory,  '  1  do  not  covet  honour,  as  the  false  prophets 
 do.' — Stanhope.  51.  Never   see  death,   the   second   death — eterniil 
 
 death.— (?(/(.  52.  T/t07(  .sayest.  If,  ^c— the  Jews  perverted  his  wnrda 
 as  if  he  snake  of  temporal  death. — Ctagett. 
 
The  blind  mail's  sight  restored. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  IX. 
 
 The  Pharisees  offended  at  it. 
 
 know  him  :  and  if  I  should  say,  1  know  him 
 not,   I  shall  be  a  liar   like   unto  you  :    but  I 
 know  him,  and  keep  his  saying. 
 5Q  Your  father  Abraham  ^rejoiced  to  see  my 
 day  :  ''  and  he  saw  zV,  and  was  glad. 
 
 57  Then  said  the  Jews  unto  him.  Thou  art 
 not  yet  fifty  years  old,  and  hast  thou  seen 
 Abraham  ? 
 
 58  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
 unto  you,  Before  Abraham  was,  ^  I  am. 
 
 59  Then  "took  they  up  stones  to  cast  at 
 him:  but  Jesus  hid  himself,  and  went  out  of 
 the  temple,  *  going  through  the  midst  of  them, 
 and  so  passed  by. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  The  mail  that  icas  horn  filmd  restored  to  sight.  8  He 
 is  brought  to  the  Phnrisies.  13  They  are  offtn^ded  at 
 it,  ami  excommnnicate  him:  35  hut  he  is  received  of 
 Jesus,  and  confessith  him.  39  ^^^10  they  are  whom 
 Christ  enlightcneth. 
 
 \  ND  as  Jesi/s  passed  by,  he  saw  a  man 
 -^^  which  was  blind  from  his  l)irth. 
 
 2  And  his  disciples  asked  him,  saying,  Master, 
 "  who  did  sin,  this  man,  or  his  parents,  that  he 
 was  born  blind? 
 
 3  Jesus  answered.  Neither  hath  this  man 
 sinned,  nor  his  parents:  ''but  that  the  works 
 of  God  should  be  made  manifest  in  him. 
 
 4  '^  I  must  work  the  works  of  him  that  sent 
 me,  while  it  is  day  :  the  night  cometh,  when 
 no  man  can  work. 
 
 5  As  long  as  I  am  in  the  world,  ^  I  am  the 
 light  of  the  world. 
 
 6  When  he  had  thus  spoken,  "^be  spat  on  the 
 ground,  and  made  clay  of  the  spittle,  and  he 
 
 II  anointed  the  eyes  of  the  blind  man  with  the 
 clay, 
 
 7  And  said  unto  him.  Go,  wash  Mn  the  pool 
 of  Siloam,  (which  is  by  interpretation,  Sent.) 
 ^  He  went  his  way  therefore,  and  washed,  and 
 came  seeing. 
 
 8  IT  The  neighbours  therefore,  and  they  which 
 
 p  Luke  10. 
 21. 
 9  Heb.II.I3 
 
 r  Kx.  3. 14. 
 Is.  48.  13, 
 ch.l7.-S  2» 
 Col.  1.  17. 
 Kev.  1,  S. 
 
 «  ch.  1»,  31. 
 39.  &  II.  8. 
 
 (  Lulie  4,  SU. 
 
 cch.  4.  n.& 
 5.  19.  36.  (it 
 II.  9.  «i  13. 
 35.  &  17.  4. 
 
 dch.  1.5,  9. 
 &  3.   19.81 
 9.  12    &  IS. 
 
 II  Or,  tjiread 
 Ihrrliii/  upon 
 
 I  Tcr.  S3. 
 ell.  3.  2. 
 
 kc\\.  7,  12, 
 43.  &  10.19 
 
 te\\.  \.  19. 
 &  ti.  14. 
 
 before  had  seen  him  that  he  was  blind,  said,  Is 
 not  this  he  tiiat  sat  and  begged? 
 
 9  Some  said,  This  is  he  :  others  said.  He  is 
 like  him  :  but  he  said,  I  am  he, 
 
 10  Therefore  said  they  unto  him.  How  were 
 thine  eyes  opened  ? 
 
 11  He  answered  and  said,  ''  A  man  that  is 
 called  Jesus  made  clay,  and  anointed  mine 
 eye.?,  and  said  unto  me.  Go  to  the  pool  of  Si- 
 loam,  and  wash  :  and  1  went  and  washed,  and 
 I  received  sight. 
 
 1*2  Then  said  they  unto  him,  Where  is  he? 
 He  said,  I  know  not. 
 
 13  ^  They  brought  to  the  Pharisees  him  that 
 aforetime  was  blind. 
 
 14  And  it  was  the  sabbath  day  when  Jesus 
 made  the  clay,  and  opened  his  eyes. 
 
 15  Then  again  the  Pharisees  also  asked  him 
 how  he  had  received  his  sight.  He  said  unto 
 them.  He  put  clay  upon  mine  eyes,  and  I 
 washed,  and  do  see. 
 
 16  Therefore  said  some  of  the  Pharisees, 
 This  man  is  not  of  God,  because  he  keepetli 
 not  the  sabbath  day.  Others  said,  *  How  can 
 a  man  that  is  a  sinner  do  sucli  miracles?  And 
 ''  there  was  a  division  among  them. 
 
 17  They  say  unto  the  blind  man  again, What 
 sayest  thou  of  him,  that  he  bath  opened  thine 
 eyes?     He  said,  '  He  is  a  prophet. 
 
 18  But  the  Jews  did  not  believe  concerning 
 him,  that  he  had  been  blind,  and  received  his 
 sight,  until  they  called  the  parents  of  him  that 
 had  received  his  sight. 
 
 19  And  they  asked  them,  saying,  Is  this  your 
 son,  who  ye  say  was  born  blind?  how  then 
 doth  he  now  see? 
 
 20  His  parents  answered  them  and  said.  We 
 know  that  this  is  our  son,  and  that  he  was  born 
 blind  : 
 
 21  But  by  what  means  he  now  seeth,  we 
 know  not ;  or  who  hath  opened  his  eyes,  we 
 know  not :  he  is  of  age  ;  ask  him  :  he  sliall 
 speak  for  himself. 
 
 56.  Rejoiced  to  seemy  day,  tj^nXXuKraTO  \va  tirj  Trjv  ijfifpav  Ttjv  e/itjv, 
 '  was  even  transported  with  a  joyful  tlesire  that  he  might  see  my 
 day.'  The  expression  may,  with  the  strictest  propriety,  signify 
 *  leaping  forward  with  joy  to  meet  the  ohjcct  of  our  wishes,'  as  well 
 as  exulting  in  the  possession  of  it. —Doddridge ;  see  Blackwfilt,  Sac. 
 Clas.  By  his  day,  our  Lord  seems  to  mean  the  time  when  the  pro- 
 mised seed  should  come.  He  saw  it,  his  faith  was  equivalent  to 
 seeing. — Benson.  57.  Fifty,  here  mentioned  as  a  round  number. 
 
 — Grotiiis.  Proverbially  used.  —  Lif^tiffnot,  Doddridge.  Christ  was 
 now  not  thirty-five,  yet,  worn  with  labours,  he  might  appear  older 
 than  he  was.— So  Erasmus.  5S.  7  am,  denotes  a  priority  of  existence, 
 together  with  a  continuation  of  it  to  the  present  time. — Bp.  Pearsun. 
 He  uses  the  same  expression  which  the  eternal  God  does  of  himself, 
 (Exod.  iii.  14. J — Bevpridge.  He  signified  to  them  that  he  was  that  very 
 Divine  Being  which  was  revealed  to  Moses  under  the  name  '  I  AM.' — 
 Bp.  Browne.  Upiv  \f3paafx  fei/caOai,  e-cu  el^ll,  'before  Abraliani  was 
 made  or  born,  I  am.' — Hfu.,  so  Camp.,  Doddr.  An  iine.\ceptionable 
 translation  would  be,  '  before  Abraham  existed,  1  myself  existed.' — 
 P.  Smith.  59.  Sfnues,  some  loose  ones  in  use  for  repairing  the  pave- 
 ment or  temple. — Doddr.  To  cast  at  him,  the  punishment  usual  for 
 blasphemy,  and  sometimes  inflicted  hy  zealots  without  Einy  formal 
 process  or  sentence  of  the  law, — Stuuhnpe. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  1.  Passed  hy,  'was  passing  along'  through  the  streets 
 of  the  city. —  Doddr.,  so  Bp.  Pearce.  2.  Who  did  sin,  ^c. — it  is  in- 
 
 ferred that  this  question  arose  from  a  received  opinion  propagated  by 
 the  Grecian  philosophers,  that  the  souls  of  men  migrate  from  one  body 
 
 to  another  after  death,  and  that  it  meant,  *  Was  it  for  some  sin  of  his 
 own  when  his  soul  was  in  another  body,  or  for  some  sin  of  his  parents 
 at  the  time  of  his  conception,  that  he  was  born  blind  ••' — So  Hum.,  and 
 Whitby.  The  question  had  no  reference  to  the  Pythagorean  doctrine 
 of  transmigration,  as  that  respected  the  gnod  only.  It  means,  'Who 
 sinned  ? — tiiis  man,  that  he  hath  become  blind  ?  or,  if  he  were  born  so, 
 was  it  for  the  sin  of  his  parents  ?* — Bp.  Pearce.  3.  Neither  hath  this 
 man  sinned,  §■(■.,  i.  e.,  his  blindness  was  not  intended  for  the  punish- 
 ment  f»f  any  jiarticular  sin.  4.  The  works,  fyc,  alluding  to  the  cure 
 
 he  was  about  to  effect. — S.  Clarke.  5.  The  light,  ^c;  includes  a  double 
 meaning ;  he  was,  as  predicted  by  Isaiali,  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind 
 literally  and  spiritually.— Eri.  6.  He  aiiointed,  e7rcxp"^e.  'be  spread,' 
 marg.  '  He  daubed  the  clay  upon  the  eyes  of  the  blind  man.* — Henry, 
 7.  Si/oarn— this  was  without  the  walls  of  the  eity,  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
 Moriah. — See  Reland.  There  were  two  pools,  the  upper  and  lower; 
 which  he  meant  is  uncertain. — Bloom/.  Which  is  hy  interpretation. 
 Sent,  signifying  the  same  as  Shiloh  ;  the  meaning  is,  '  which  by  its 
 name  may  put  you  in  mind  of  Messiah,  {who  is  styled  Shiloh,  the  Sent,) 
 by  whom  the  miracle  is  wrought.' — Ham.,  Grot.  g.  He  is  like  him — 
 his  having  received  liis  sight  might  give  him  an  air  of  cheerfulness, 
 which  would  remler  him  somewhat  unlike  what  he  %vfls  before. — Bp. 
 Hull,  Doddr.  13.  To  the  Pharisees,  to  the  council  of  the  Jews,  which 
 consisted  chiefly  of  that  sect. —  Whithy.  14.  It  was  the  sabbath  day 
 
 when,  ^c. — the  anointing  the  eyes  on  the  sabbath  with  any  kind  of 
 medicine,  was  forbidden  to  the  Jews  by  the  tradition  of  the  elders. — 
 See  Light/.      i6.  Not  o/  God,  'not  a  prophet  sent  from  God.' — Whitby. 
 
 REFt,ECTiONS  ON  Chap.  VHI. — Tliis  chapter  contains  SU 
 account  of — I.  The  woman  caught  in  adultery,  in  which  Jesus 
 reproves  the  sin,  yet  shews  compassion  to  the  sinner.  '  For 
 Christ  to  say,  I  do  not  condemn  thee,'  says  Henry,  *  is  in 
 effect  to  say,  I  do  forgive  thee  ;  and  the  Son  of  man  had  power 
 on  eartli  to  forgive  sins,  and  could,  upon  such  grounds,  c:ive 
 this  absolution  ;  for,  as  he  knew  the  hardened  and  impenitent 
 hearts  of  the  prosecutors,  and  therefore  said  that  which  would 
 confound  them,  so  he  knew  the  tenderness  and  sincere  re- 
 pentance of  the  prisoner,  and  therefore  said  that  which  would 
 coniiort  her,  as  he  did  to  that  woman  who  waa  a  ?inner,  such 
 1120 
 
 a  sinner  as  this,  who  was  likewise  looked  upon  with  disdain 
 by  a  Pharisee,  (Luke.  vii.  48,)  *'  Tby  sins  are  forgiven  thee  ; 
 go  in  peace."     So  here,  "  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee.*" 
 
 II.  The  discourse  of  Christ  on  his  heivu  the  Light  of  the  world. 
 This  doctrine,  divinely  attested  by  the  Father  in  tlie  miracles 
 he  wrought,  was  to  chase  away  the  darkness  of  error,  ignor- 
 ance, and  superstition,  and  to  bring  life  and  immortality  to 
 light.  May  we  submit  to  his  instructions  as  our  Prophet— our 
 Divine  Teacher,  who  by  his  Spirit  will  guide  our  feet  into  the 
 way  of  peace. 
 
lie  that  was  born  liliml  excommunicated. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  X. 
 
 Christ  the  door,  and  the  good  shejihird. 
 
 'J2  These  words  spake  his  parents,  because 
 "'  they  feared  the  .Tews :  for  the  Jews  had 
 agreed  already,  that  if  any  man  did  confess 
 tliat  he  was  Christ,  he  "  should  bo  put  out  of 
 the  synagogue. 
 
 •2:)  Therefore  said  his  parents,  He  is  of  age  ; 
 ask  him. 
 
 24  Then  again  called  they  the  man  that  was 
 blind,  and  said  unto  him,  "  Give  God  the 
 praise  :  ''  we  know  that  this  man  is  a  sinner. 
 
 •2.5  He  an.swered  and  said.  Whether  lie  be  a 
 sinner  or  no,  I  know  not :  one  thing  I  know, 
 that,  whereas  I  was  blind,  now  I  see. 
 
 '2Ci  Then  said  they  to  him  again,  What  did 
 he  to  thee  V  how  opened  he  thine  eyes  V 
 
 27  He  answered  them,  I  have  told  you 
 already,  and  ye  did  not  hear:  wherefore  would 
 ye  hear  it  again?  will  ye  also  be  his  disciples? 
 
 '28  Then  they  reviled  him,  and  said,  Thou 
 art  Ills  disciple  ;  but  we  are  Moses'  disciples. 
 
 2!)  We  know  that  God  spake  unto  Moses : 
 as  fur  this  J'tllow,  ''  we  know  not  from  whence 
 he  is. 
 
 30  The  man  answered  and  said  unto  them, 
 '  Why  herein  is  a  marvellous  thing,  that  ye 
 know  not  from  whence  he  is,  and  t/et  he  hath 
 opened  mine  eyes. 
 
 31  Now  we  know  that  ^  God  heareth  not  sin- 
 ners :  but  if  any  man  he  a  worshipper  of  God, 
 and  doeth  his  will,  him  he  heareth. 
 
 32  Since  the  world  began  was  it  not  heard 
 that  any  man  opened  the  eyes  of  one  that  was 
 born  blind. 
 
 33  '  If  this  man  were  not  of  God,  he  could  do 
 nothing. 
 
 34  They  answered  and  said  unto  him,  "Thou 
 wast  altogether  born  in  sins,  and  dost  thou 
 teach  us?     And  they  ||  cast  him  out. 
 
 35  Jesus  heard  that  they  had  cast  him  out ; 
 and  when  he  had  found  him,  he  .said  unto  him, 
 Dost  thou  believe  on  ^  the  Son  of  God? 
 
 I  ver.  St. 
 cli.  16.  2. 
 
 .roHli.7.  19. 
 I  Sam .  6,  £. 
 >  vor.  111. 
 
 1  Job  27,  9. 
 8c  .t5,   1?. 
 Ps   18   U. 
 &  :il.  15.  X( 
 6(3,  Itt  I'n.v. 
 
 1,  a,  &  1.5. 
 ■J9,  n:  •^.  y 
 Is,  1.  \r>. 
 
 Jrr    11.11, 
 A  )1.  12, 
 H/i-k.8. 
 
 Mi 
 
 .  3.  4. 
 
 Zetli.7.  13. 
 
 X  Mat  U  33. 
 Kt  16    16, 
 MatV  1.  I. 
 
 y  cb.  '1,  io. 
 
 z  ch.  5.  22, 
 tf7  See  ch 
 3,  17.  &  12. 
 
 h  Rom  C.I9 
 
 c  ch.  15,  22, 
 21. 
 
 36  He  answered  ami  said.  Who  is  he,  Lord, 
 that  I  might  believe  on  him  ? 
 
 37  And  Jesus  said  unto  him.  Thou  hast  botli 
 seen  him,  and  '  it  is  he  that  talketh  with  thee. 
 
 38  And  he  said,  Lord,  I  believe.  And  he 
 worshipped  him. 
 
 39  H  And  Jesus  said,  '  For  judgment  I  am 
 come  into  this  world,  "  that  they  which  see 
 not  might  see  ;  and  that  they  which  see  might 
 be  made  blind. 
 
 40  And  so?ne  of  the  Pharisees  which  were 
 with  him  heard  these  words,  ''and  said  unto 
 him.  Are  we  blind  also? 
 
 41  Jesus  said  unto  them,  '  If  ye  were  blind, 
 ye  should  have  no  sin  :  but  now  ye  say,  We 
 see  ;  therefore  your  sin  remaineth. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 I  Chr-ist  is  the  dooTj  and  the  good  shepherd.  19  Divers 
 opinions  of  him.  24  Ht  provvth  by  his  works  that  he 
 is  Christ  the  Son  of  God:  39  escupeth  the  Jvws,  40 
 and  wnit  atjain  biijond  Jordan^  whvrc  many  believed 
 on  him. 
 
 "VTERILY,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  tliat 
 '  eiUereth  not  by  the  door  into  the  sheep- 
 fold,  but  chnibeth  up  some  other  way,  the  same 
 is  a  thief  and  a  robber. 
 '2  But  he  tliat  entereth  in  by  the  door  is  the 
 shepherd  uf  the  sheep. 
 
 3  To  him  the  porter  openetli ;  and  tlie  slieep 
 hear  liis  voice  :  and  he  calleth  liis  own  sheep 
 by  name,  and  leadeth  them  out. 
 
 4  And  when  he  putteth  forth  his  own  sheep, 
 he  goeth  before  them,  and  the  sheep  follow 
 him  :  for  they  know  his  voice. 
 
 J  And  a  stranger  will  they  not  follow,  but 
 will  flee  from  him  :  for  they  know  not  the  voice 
 of  strangers. 
 
 (3  This  parable  spake  Jesus  unto  tliem :  but 
 they  understood  not  what  things  they  were 
 which  he  spake  unto  them. 
 
 A  sinner,  meaning  'an  impostor.' — Ham.  A  division,  itxict^h.  *a 
 schism.'— .4.  Clarke.  22.  Put  out  of  the  stjnagtjfjue— this  involved 
 
 exclusion  from  all  sacred  meetint^s,  was  accompanied  with  curses  and 
 maledictions,  and  forbad  every  kind  of  intercourse  with  the  person. — 
 Blnumf.  25.  Whether  he  be  a  sinner,  'that  he  is  a  sinner ;'  et  has 
 
 often  this  force.  See  2  Sam.  xix.  22  ;  1  Kings,  i.  51.  He  proves  he 
 was  not  a  sinner,  ver.  31. — Elsley.  27.  Did  nut  hear,  did  not  regard 
 it,  or  give  credit  to  it.— GiV/.  29.  We  know  not  from  ichence  he  is, 
 know  not  of  any  commission  he  has  from  God.  31.  Heareth  not  sin- 
 ?iers,  '  doth  nnt  enable  impostors  or  false  teachers  to  work  such  miracles 
 as  these.' —  //«m.  32.  That  was  bttrn  blind — such  a  miracle  was 
 
 esteemed  by  the  Jews  a  peculiar  sign  of  the  Messiah,  and  was  never 
 known  to  be  wrought  by  Moses  or  any  other  prophet. —  Groliits. 
 34.  Born  in  stjts,  with,  as  they  thought,  the  visible  marks  of  having 
 sinned.  Cant  him  out — this  was  what  they  called  cherem,  which  was 
 a  cutting  him  off  from  the  whole  congregation  of  Israel ;  an  anathe- 
 matizing him,  and  a  devoting  hira  to  ruin  and  destruction. — Oill. 
 3.S.  On  the  Son  of  God,  the  Messiah,  sent  into  the  world  to  be  the  Sa- 
 viour of  it. —  W/iitfjt/.  39.  Fur  judgment,  ffc.,  on  some  for  tlieir  wilful 
 blindness  and  obstinacy,  and  in  mercy  to  others,  to  give  them  both  the 
 power  of  seeing  naturally  and  spiritually. — Bimlhr.  41.  Xo  sin,  in 
 
 comparison  with  what  you  have. — Doddr.  But  ntin-  ye  sat/,  We  see, 
 ^c,  'as  ye  say,  we  have  knowledge  and  understanding,  then  you  are 
 guilty  of  criminal  unbelief.' — Newc. 
 
 Chap.  X.  —  1 .  Verih/,  verihj,  I  saij,  ^c.—  this  vehement  asseveration 
 speaks  the  certainty  and  weight  of  what  he  ■^:\u\.~Hen.  That  entereth 
 not  by  the  door,  i^r^.— the  priests  held  their  office  hy  Divine  institution  ; 
 and  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  were  the  acknowledged  teachers  of  the 
 people,  though  it  is  doubtful  whether  they  were  by  any  Divine  appoint- 
 ment set  apart  to  that  office.  Christ  himself  is  'the  Door'  by  whom 
 all  true  pastors  enter  into  the  church  to  exercise  their  function.    They 
 
 believe  in  him  for  their  own  salvation,  and  receive  from  him  those  pe- 
 culiar dispositions  and  endowments  which  fit  them  for  their  work. — 
 Scott.  The  sheepfold,  auA.»i— not  a  hove!  or  sheepfold,  such  as  are  in 
 use  with  us,  surrounded  with  walls  and  roofed,  but  rather  formed  of 
 wattled  hurdles  or  wicker  work,  and  it  .signifies  an  open  fold,  such  as 
 those  in  use  among  the  Bethlehemitish  shepherd'*.  —  Bloomf.  He 
 alludes  to  the  sheepfolds  whicli  were  hired  by  those  who  brought  sheep 
 to  sell  fur  sacrifice,  and  which  the  porter,  or  keeper  of  the  field,  would 
 not  open  to  any  but  the  right  owner  of  the  sheep,  when  they  were  to 
 be  led  out.— Bp.  Mann.  From  this  view,  which  is  also  that  of  Sir  Isaac 
 Newton,  Doddridge  dissents  :  he  says,  '  I  cannot  think,  whatever  occa- 
 sion Christ  might  take  from  the  sight  of  sheep  to  represent  his  people 
 under  that  image,  and  himself  as  a  shepherd,  he  would  describe  them 
 like  sheep  shut  u|)  in  a  pen  to  be  sold  for  sacrifice  ;  nor  does  the  shep- 
 herd's leading  them  out  &c.  agree  with  this  circumstance.  In  coun- 
 tries where  there  were  so  many  savage  beasts,  it  might  be  ordinarily 
 necessary  to  have  the  folds  better  secured  than  among  us ;  and  the 
 chief  shepherd  might  often  leave  a  servant  to  watch  them  while  thus 
 shut  up,  and  come  himself  to  lead  them  out  to  pasture  in  the  morning.' 
 — Fam.  Expos,  in  lor.  'I"he  comparison  is  made,  not  to  the  folds  used  by 
 the  common  people  in  remote  parts  of  the  country,  but  to  those  belong- 
 ing to  the  rich  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a  populous  city,  where  the 
 walls  and  other  fencts  need  to  be  stronger,  and  the  entrance  more 
 carefully  kept,  on  account  of  the  greater  danger  from  thieves.— Ctnnp 
 This  view  of  Campbell  is  disputed  by  Bloomfield,  who  remarks,  that 
 '  there  is  no  proof  that  the  folds  were  walled.  They  were,  it  seems,  uf 
 wattled  work,  of  sufficient  height  and  strength  to  secure  the  flock  from 
 the  numerous  wild  beasts  which  infested  that  country.*  3.  By  naiue, 
 — the  eastern  shepherds  gave  particular  names  to  their  sheep,  as  most 
 men  do  now  to  their  horses,  cows,  and  dogs.- See  Theocrit.  Idyl.  v. 
 4.  Sheep  follow  Aim— eastern  sheep  are  not  driven,  but  follow  theif 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  IX.  —  Here,  I.   The  man  bom  blind 
 
 is  restored  to  sight  by  Christ, — a  striking  emblem  of  the  case  of 
 every  enlightened  sinner.  His  mind  is  dark  to  all  spiritual 
 objects,  till  Christ,  by  his  spirit,  removes  the  obstruction  to 
 his  spiritual  sight.  The  means  are  often  simple,  but  the 
 powerlul  eriect  produceil  by  them  is  divine.  The  mode  of 
 operation  is  not  always  explicable,  but  tiit  result  is  evident — 
 \V1\ 
 
 *  Whereas  I  was  blind/  says  the  restored  individual,   *  now  1 
 see.' 
 
 II.  The  Pharisees  cavil  at  the  cure,   and  excommunicate  the 
 cured  man.     How  much  does  their  conduct  resemble  that  of 
 the  world,  where  the  eyes  of  tlie  understanding  are  newly  en- 
 lightened.    They  cavil— they  reproach— ihey  persecute — 
 '  Gaze,  and  admire,  and  hate  the  change.' 
 7    I. 
 
Divers  opinions  of  Christ. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  X. 
 
 He  proveth  himself  to  be  the  Son  of  God. 
 
 7  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  again,  Verily, 
 verily,  I  say  unto  you,  I  am  the  door  of  the 
 
 ■sheep. 
 
 8  All  that  ever  came  before  me  are  thieves 
 and  robbers:  but  the  sheep  did  not  hear  them. 
 
 9  "  I  am  the  door :  by  me  if  any  man  enter  in, 
 he  shall  be  saved,  and  shall  go  in  and  out, 
 and  find  pasture. 
 
 10  The  thief  cometb  not,  but  for  to  steal,  and 
 to  kill,  and  to  destroy  :  I  am  come  that  they 
 might  have  life,  and  that  they  might  have  it 
 more  abundantly. 
 
 1 1  '^  I  am  the  good  shepherd:  the  good  shep- 
 herd giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep. 
 
 1*2  But  he  that  is  an  hireling,  and  not  the 
 shepherd,  whose  own  the  sheep  are  not,  seeth 
 the  wolf  coming,  and  '^  leaveth  the  sheep,  and 
 fieeth  :  and  the  wolf  catcheth  them,  and  scat- 
 tereth  the  sheep. 
 
 13  The  hireling  fleeth,  because  he  is  an  hire- 
 ling, and  careth  not  for  the  siieep. 
 
 14  I  am  the  good  shepherd,  and  ''know  my 
 sheep,  and  am  known  of  mine. 
 
 15  "As  the  Father  knoweth  me,  even  so 
 know  I  the  Father:  *^and  I  lay  down  my  life 
 for  the  sheep. 
 
 16  And  ^  other  sheep  1  have,  which  are  not 
 of  this  fold  :  them  also  I  must  bring,  and  they 
 shall  hear  my  voice  ;  ^and  there  shall  be  one 
 fold,  am/  one  shepherd. 
 
 17  Therefore  doth  my  Father  love  me,  'be- 
 cause I  lay  down  my  life,  that  I  might  take  it 
 again. 
 
 18  No  man  taketh  it  from  me,  but  I  lay  it 
 down  of  myself.  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down, 
 and  1  ''have  power  to  take  it  again.  '  Tliis 
 commandment  have  I  received  of  my  Father. 
 
 19  1  "' There  was  a  division  therefore  again 
 among  the  Jews  for  these  sayings. 
 
 20  And  many  of  them  said,  "  He  hath  a  devil, 
 and  is  mad  ;  why  hear  ye  him  ? 
 
 21  Others  said.  These  are  not  the  words  of 
 him  that  hath  a  devil.  "  Can  a  devil  ''  open 
 the  eyes  of  the  blind  ? 
 
 I  oh.  14.  6. 
 Eph.S.  16. 
 
 )  ts.  40.  M. 
 E/ek  31.12. 
 23  8c  37  21. 
 H.'b  13  2(t, 
 I  Pel,  S.  25 
 &5.4. 
 
 ■  Zech.  II. 
 16,  17. 
 
 <t  Mat.  11.87. 
 /ch.  15.  IS. 
 
 If  Is,  S6.  8, 
 
 h  Eiek    37. 
 
 22.  Kph.  2. 
 
 I*.  I    Pet. 
 
 2.  25. 
 i  fa.  53.  7,  8, 
 
 12.  Heb.  2. 
 
 A  ch.  9.   19. 
 /ch.  6.  38. 
 
 &  15.  1(1. 
 
 Arts  'i.  24, 
 
 32 
 
 »  ch. ; 
 
 IS. 
 
 k  9. 
 n  ch.  7.  211. 
 
 &  8.  48,  5-2 
 o  Ex.  4.  11. 
 
 Pa.  94.  9. 
 
 ft  146.  S. 
 
 A    D.  93. 
 
 p  ch.  9.  6,  7 
 
 82,  33. 
 
 D.  S3. 
 
 g  1   Mac.  4. 
 69. 
 
 Actus.  11. 
 &  5.  12. 
 
 r,  hold  ui 
 iutpente. 
 
 t  ch.  8.  17. 
 t  Jubn4.G. 
 
 X  ch  6.  37, 
 &  17.11.  12. 
 &  IS.  9. 
 
 y  ch.  14.  ':s, 
 ich  17.2,6, 
 
 Ch.  5.  18. 
 d  P*.  82.  6. 
 
 /ch    6    27. 
 
 g  ch.  3.  17. 
 
 &  5    Sfl,  37. 
 
 8c  S    42. 
 A  ch.  b.  17, 
 
 in.  ver-  3(1 
 t  Luke  1.35. 
 
 ch.  9.35, 37. 
 k  ch.  15.  24 
 
 i  ch.  5-  36.  & 
 14.  10,  n. 
 
 2'2  H  And  it  was  at  Jerusalem  the  ''feast  of 
 the  dedication,  and  it  was  winter. 
 
 23  And  Jesus  walked  in  the  temple  ^in  Solo- 
 mon's porch.' 
 
 24  Then  came  the  Jews  round  about  him, 
 and  said  unto  him.  How  long  dost  thou  ||  make 
 us  to  doubt  y  If  thou  be  the  Christ,  tell  us 
 plainly. 
 
 25  Jesus  answered  them,  I  told  you,  and  ye 
 believed  not :  ^  the  works  that  I  do  in  my  Fa- 
 ther's name,  they  bear  witness  of  me. 
 
 26  But '  ye  believe  not,  because  ye  are  not 
 of  my  sheep,  as  I  said  unto  you. 
 
 27  "  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know 
 them,  and  they  follow  me  : 
 
 28  And  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life  ;  and 
 "they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  B.wy  man 
 pluck  them  out  of  my  hand. 
 
 29  *  My  Father,  '  which  gave  them,  me,  is 
 greater  than  all  ;  and  no  man  is  able  to  pluck 
 them  out  of  my  Father's  hand. 
 
 30  "  I  and  my  Father  are  one. 
 
 31  Then  ''  the  Jews  took  up  stones  again  to 
 stone  him, 
 
 32  Jesus  answered  them,  Many  good  works 
 have  I  shewed  you  from  my  Father  ;  for  which 
 of  those  works  do  ye  stone  me  ? 
 
 33  The  Jews  answered  him,  saying,  For  a 
 good  work  we  stone  thee  not ;  but  for  blas- 
 phemy ;  and  because  that  thou,  being  a  man, 
 ^  makest  thyself  God. 
 
 34  Jesus  answered  them,  ''  Is  it  not  written  in 
 your  law,  I  said,  Ye  are  gods? 
 
 35  If  he  called  tliem  gods,  ^  unto  whom  the 
 word  of  God  came,  and  the  scripture  cannot 
 be  broken  ; 
 
 36  Say  ye  of  him,  '"whom  the  Father  hath 
 sanctified,  and  ^  sent  into  the  world,  Thou 
 blasphemest ;  ^  because  I  said,  I  am  '  the  Son 
 of  God  ? 
 
 37  ''  If  I  do  not  the  works  of  my  Father,  be- 
 lieve me  not. 
 
 38  But  if  I  do,  though  ye  believe  not  me, 
 I '  believe  the  works :  that  ye  may  know,  and 
 
 shepherd,  as.  with  us.  the  dog  follows  his  master.— Bp.  Mann,  Mackn. 
 8.  Came  before  me,  cannot  include  the  holy  prophets  and  John  the 
 Baptist. — Gttyse.  All  pretending  to  be  the  Christ,  as  Theudas.  (Acts, 
 V.  36.) — Bootfir.  *  Before  me,'  npa  c^.ov,  may  be  rendered,  *  in  my 
 name,' or  'forme,'  i.e.,  '  pretending  t()  t)e  me.' — Hew.  ^.  By  me, 
 ii  efkov,  *  through  me,'  as  Uie  (\oor.— Hen.  If  ant/,  either  as  a  shep- 
 herd or  teacher— a  sheep  or  disciple. — Donthr.  io.  The  thief  comet h 
 not,  Sfr.,  the  false  teacher  intends  nothing  but  to  make  a  prey  of  the 
 people. — Stanhope.  He  would  carry  away  the  sheep  of  Christ  from 
 him. — Gill.  And  that,  they  might  huve  it  more  nhundantly,  Kai  irept-jirotf 
 exfioiv,  more  than  was  lost  by  sin  ;  or,  '  that  they  might  have  abund- 
 ance,' or  have  it  abundantly  ;  Hte  in  abundance  is  eternal  hfe.— Hen. 
 II.  The  good  shepherd,  6  naXor,  that  good  shepherd  foretold  by  the 
 prophets,  (Isa.  xl.  U  ;  Ezek.  x.\.\iv.  23;  xxxvii.  •24.)— Erasmus,  so  A'. 
 Clarke.  12.  An  hireling,  i.e.,  not  one  who  receives  hire,  but  one 
 who  works  for  the  sake  ofliire. —  Wes.  l6.  Other  sheep,  Jews  living 
 out  of  Canaan.— vrf>//?».<!.  Gentiles.— Dorfrfr.  This  fold,  the  Jewish 
 nation  and  church.- GiVi.  is.  No  man  taketh  it.  ^c— 'it  would  not 
 be  in  the  power  of  any  man  to  take  my  life  away  from  me.  if  I  did  not 
 of  my  own  accord  lay  it  down.'—Hfim.  I  hai^e  power,  efowjiav,  'an- 
 thority.*  Though  we  could  find  instruments  wherewith  to  make  an 
 end  of  our  own  lives,  yet  we  are  not  at  liberty  to  do  it ;  but  Christ  had  a 
 sovereign  authority  to  dispose  of  his  own  life  as  he  pleased  ;  he  was  no 
 debtor,  as  we  are,  cither  to  life  or  death,  but  perfectly  stii  juris,  at  his 
 own  disposal. — Hen.  This  commandment,  *  this  commission,'  or  power 
 of  raising  myself. — S.  Clarke.  '  This  commission*  to  become  the  good 
 shepherd,  and  tn  give  his  life  for  the  sheep.— Boot  hr.  22.  The  feast 
 of  the  dedication— this  fca.&t  was  appointed  by  Judas  Maccabaeus  and 
 his  brethren,  on  account  of  the  purging  of  the  temple,  and  renewing  the 
 altar,  after  the  profanation  of  them  by  Antiochus,  which  feast  lasted 
 eight  days,  and  began  on  the  25th  of  the  month  Chislcn,  which  answers 
 to  part  of  our  December.— GiV/.  23.  Solomon's  porch,  or  '  colonnade.' 
 This  was  a  magnificent  structure,  built  on  the  same  spot  as  that  on 
 which  the  porch  of  Solomon  formerly  stood,  and  so  bore  the  same  name  : 
 mention  is  made  of  it.  Acts,  iii.  1 1 ,  and  v.  12.  It  seems  that  in  winter 
 It  was  a  custom  to  walk  under  this  covering  for  the  purpose  of  shelter. 
 —Gill,  Whitby.  24.  Hoiv  long  dost  thou  make  vs  to  doiiht  ?  thi-  ^vxnv 
 hi^Mv  aiptii,  'Quo  usque  animam  nostram  toUis?'  '  How  long  dost 
 1122 
 
 thou  steal  our  hearts  or  take  away  our  souls,  as  Absalom  stole  away 
 the  hearts  of  the  men  of  Israel,  seducing  the  simple  >* — Mont.,  so  also 
 Hen.  '  How  long  dost  thnu  keep  us  in  suspense  ?'  so  most  understand 
 it. — Hen.  26.  Ye  believe  not,  because  ye  are  not  of  my  sheep,  not  of 
 that  simple,  teachable,  and  inoffensive  temper  which  cliaracterized  his 
 sheep. — Scott.  28.  They  shall  never  perish— Bensn7i    qualifies  the 
 
 doctrine:  '  those  whom  Christ  knows  to  hear,  love,  and  follow  him, 
 shall  never  perish  :'  these  he  calls  conditions.  A.  Clarke  makes  them 
 causes :  '  because  they  hear  my  voice  and  follow  me,  therefore  I  know, 
 I  approve  of,  and  love  them,  and  give  them  eternal  life.'  Whitby  ob- 
 serves, '  Christ  may  here  speak  of  sheep,  continuing  so  to  the  death.' 
 'This,'  says  .'■icott,  'means  that  they  shall  not  perish  except  by  their 
 own  fault :  now,  when  Adam  fell,  it  was  not  agamst  his  will,  or  with- 
 out his  own  fault ;  yet  he  was  overcome,  enslaved,  and  ruined,  and 
 must  have  perished,  with  all  his  race,  had  not  Christ  interposed  ;  and 
 could  the  true  believer,  though  by  his  own  fault,  thus  be  plucked  out 
 of  the  hands  of  Christ,  and  finally  perish,  the  enemy  would  triumph 
 over  the  second  Adam,  in  some  respects,  as  he  did  over  the  first.' — 
 Covim.  in  loco.  Neither  shall  any,  ovx  upiraati  Tic  avja,  neither  shall 
 any  enemy  pluck,  ^c— this  text,  doubtless,  most  eminently  refers  to 
 the  shepherd's  guard  over  them  against  Satan's  assaults,  (I  Pet.  v.  8.) 
 10.  /  and  nif/  Father  are  one,  plainly  demonstrating  the  Deity  of  Christ. 
 It  means,  '  Ilis  almighty  p'  'wer  is  mine,  to  be  employed  for  the  defence 
 of  my  sheep.'  How  widely  different  that  sense  is  in  which  Christians 
 are  said  to  be  one  with  CJnd,  (John,  xvii.  21,)  will  sufficiently  appear 
 by  considering  how  flagrantly  absurd  and  blasphemous  it  would  be  to 
 draw  that  inference  from  their  union  with  God  which  Christ  does  from 
 his.— Doddr.  31.  Took  up  stones,  e^daracTav  XiOovt,  'they  carried 
 stones,*  great  stones,  stones  that  were  a  li>ad,  such  as  they  used  in 
 stoning  malefactors  ;  they  brought  them  from  some  place  at  a  distance, 
 as  it  were  preparing  things  for  his  execulion  without  any  judicial  pro- 
 cess, as  if  he  were  convicted  of  blasphemy  upon  the  notorious  evidence 
 of  the  fact,  which  needed  no  further  trial.  To  stone  hi7n,  the  punish- 
 ment for  blasphemy.— Beren'rfg-f.  32.  Good  tvorks,K-i\a  t(fi<:t,  excel- 
 lent, eminent  works;  it  signifies  both  great  works  and  good  works. — 
 Hen.  3.5.  If  he  railed  them  gods,  fyc,  called  them  who  had  the  spirit 
 of  prophecy,  wisdom,  and  government.  Say  ye  of  me,  to  wliom  the 
 Father  hatli  given  the  spirit  withnut  measure,  and  in  wlioni  he  abideth 
 
Lazarus'  sickntss  and  death. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  XI. 
 
 Martha's  faith  in  Christ. 
 
 believe,  "  that  the   Father  is  in  me,  and  I  in 
 him 
 
 39  "Therefore  they  sought  again  to  take 
 him  :  but  he  escaped  out  of  their  hand, 
 
 40  And  went  away  again  beyond  Jordan  into 
 the  place  "  where  John  at  first  baptized  ;  and 
 there  he  abode. 
 
 41  And  many  resorted  unto  him,  and  said, 
 John  did  no  miracle  :  ''  but  all  things  that  John 
 spake  of  this  man  were  true. 
 
 42  ''  And  many  believed  on  him  there. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Christ  raiseth  Lazants,  four  days  huried.  4b  Many 
 Jews  believe.  47  T/te  iiitf/t  priests  and  Pharisees 
 gather  a  council  ar/ainst  Christ-  49  Caiaphas  pro- 
 phesietli.  54  Jesus  hid  himself,  55  At  the  passovtr 
 they  enquire  after  him,  and  hiy  wait  for  him. 
 
 IVTOW  a  certain  man  was  sick,  named  Laza- 
 -^^  rus,  of  Bethany,  the  town  of  °  Mary  and 
 her  sister  Martha. 
 •2  (''  It  was  that  Mary  which  anointed  the 
 Lord  with  ointment,  and  wiped  his  feet  with 
 her  hair,  whose  brother  Lazarus  was  sick.) 
 
 3  Therefore  his  sisters  sent  unto  him,  saying. 
 Lord,  behold,  he  whom  thou  lovest  is  sick. 
 
 4  When  Jesus  heard  that,  he  said.  This  sick- 
 ness is  not  unto  death  '  but  for  the  glory  of 
 God,  that  the  Son  of  God  might  be  glorified 
 thereby. 
 
 5  Now  Jesus  loved  Martha,  and  her  sister, 
 and  Lazarus. 
 
 6  When  he  had  heard  therefore  that  he  was 
 sick,  ''he  abode  two  days  still  in  the  same  place 
 where  he  was. 
 
 7  Then  after  that  saith  he  to  his  disciples, 
 Let  us  go  into  Judtea  again  : 
 
 8  His  disciples  say  unto  him,  Master,  "the 
 Jews  of  late  sought  to  stone  thee ;  and  goest 
 thou  thither  again? 
 
 9  Jesus  answered,  Are  there  not  twelve  hours 
 in  the  day  ?  '  If  any  man  walk  in  the  day,  he 
 stumbleth  not,  because  he  seeth  the  light  of 
 this  world. 
 
 10  But  *if  a  man  walk  in   the   night,  he 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 n  cb.  14.  10, 
 II.  &17ai. 
 
 1  ch-  7.  3U, 
 44.  &  9.59. 
 
 J  ch.  8. 30. 
 &n.45. 
 
 b  Mat.  26.  7 
 Mark  14.  3. 
 i-h.  13.  3. 
 
 c  ch    9.  3, 
 ver.  40. 
 
 g  ch.  12.  35. 
 
 A  So  Deut. 
 31.  16. 
 IJan.  12.  2. 
 Wat.  9.  24. 
 Acta  7.  CO. 
 15. 
 
 I  Coi 
 1»,  SI. 
 
 (  ch.  5  21  & 
 6  39,  10,  44. 
 
 It,  ch  1.  4  & 
 6  35.  &  14. 
 6.  C»l.  3.  4. 
 1  John  1.  1, 
 2.  &  5.  11. 
 
 ..  ch.  3.  36. 
 IJohoS.lO, 
 lie. 
 
 „  Mat. 16. 16. 
 ch  4.  42. i 
 6.  1 1.  69, 
 
 stumbleth,  because  there  is  no  light  in  him. 
 
 1 1  These  things  said  he  :  and  after  that  he 
 saith  unto  them.  Our  friend  Lazarus  ''  sleepeth ; 
 but  I  go,  that  I  may  awake  him  out  of  sleep. 
 
 12  Then  said  his  disciples,  Lord,  if  he  sleep, 
 he  shall  do  well. 
 
 13  Howbeit  Jesus  spake  of  his  death  ;  but 
 they  thought  that  he  had  spoken  of  taking  of 
 rest  in  sleep. 
 
 14  Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  plainly,  Laza- 
 rus is  dead. 
 
 15  And  I  am  glad  for  your  sakes  that  I  was 
 not  there,  to  the  intent  ye  may  believe ;  never- 
 theless let  us  go  unto  him. 
 
 16  Then  said  Thomas,  which  is  called  Didy- 
 mus,  unto  his  fellowdisciples.  Let  us  also  go, 
 that  we  may  die  with  him. 
 
 17  Then  when  Jesus  came,  he  found  that  he 
 had  lain  in  the  grave  four  days  already. 
 
 18  Now  Bethany  was  nigh  unto  Jerusalem, 
 II  about  fifteen  furlongs  oft": 
 
 19  And  many  of  tlie  Jews  came  to  Martha 
 and  Mary,  to  comfort  them  concerning  their 
 brother. 
 
 20  Then  Martha,  as  soon  as  she  heard  that 
 Jesus  was  coming,  went  and  met  him  :  but 
 Mary  sat  still  in  the  house. 
 
 21  Then  said  Martha  unto  Jesus,  Lord,  if 
 thou  hadst  been  here,  my  brother  had  not  died. 
 
 22  But  I  know,  that  even  now,  '  whatsoever 
 thou  wilt  ask  of  God,  God  will  give  it  thee. 
 
 23  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Thy  brother  shall 
 rise  again. 
 
 24  Martha  saith  unto  him,  ''  I  know  that  he 
 shall  rise  again  in  the  resurrection  at  the  last 
 day. 
 
 25  Jesus  said  unto  her,  I  am  '  the  resurrec- 
 tion, and  the  ""  life  :  "  he  that  believeth  in  me, 
 though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live : 
 
 2G  And  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  me 
 shall  never  die.     Believest  tliou  this  ? 
 
 27  She  saith  unto  liim.  Yea,  Lord  ;  "  I  beheve 
 that  thou  art  the  Clirist,  the  Son  of  God,  which 
 should  come  into  the  world. 
 1   28  And  when  she  had  so  said,  she  went  her 
 
 essentially, 'Thou  blaspheraest,  &c.' — Trapp.  Broken,  \v9nfai,  'dis- 
 solved,* rendered  of  none  effect,  i.  e.,  it  cannot  be  gainsaid  or  set  aside. 
 — A.Clarke.  Al.  John  did  no  miracle,  that  the  people  might  not  be 
 distracted  between  John  and  Clirist,  as  to  wliich  was  the  Messiah. — 
 David  Cotlt/er,  so  Stitlinpjieet. 
 
 Chap.  XI.—  2.  T/iat  Mary  which  anointed,  this  is  said  by  protepsis 
 or  anticipation,  meaning,  'she  who  sometime  afterwards  anointed,' 
 &c. — Greenf.  See  chap.  xii.  3.  notes.  4.  JVo(  unto  death,  ovk  citti 
 wpo?  Qava-Tov,  'will  not  prove  fatal '  is  the  full  import  of  the  Greek. — 
 — Camp.  '  Will  not  prove  finally  mnrtal.*  Glorijied  thereby,  working 
 a  notable  miracle  on  him. — S.Clarke.  6.  .ibode  two  days,  did  not 
 come  to  Bethany  till  Lazarus  had  been  dead  four  days,  (ver.  17,)  that 
 the  miracle  miglit  be  greater,  and  the  evidence  of  his  death  plainer. — 
 So  Whitby.  9.  Twelve  hours— the  Jews,  at  all  times  of  the  year, 
 made  the  day  and  night  equal. — Bloom/.  If  any  man  walk,  fyc. — a 
 traveller  should  use  the  day  to  walk  in,  and  not  the  night.  '  Life  is 
 the  time  to  fulfil  the  word  of  God,  and  to  prepare  for  glory.'  'Jesus 
 is  the  light  of  the  world  ;  he  that  walks  in  his  spirit,  and  by  his  direc- 
 tion, cannot  stumble.' — .i.  Clarke.  Christ  intimates  that  he  was  de- 
 sirous of  doing  his  Father's  will  while  the  day  of  opportunity  lasted. — 
 Doddr.  10.  In  him,  ev  ai-ry,  '  in  it,'  i.  e.,  in  the  world. — Knatchbull. 
 '  Because  there  is  no  light ;'  '  in  it'  had  better  be  omitted  in  the  English. 
 — Camp.        1 1 .  Sleepeth,  so  the  Jews  spoke  of  death  with  reference  to 
 
 good  men,  (Deut.  xxxi.  Id;  2 Sam.  vii.  12  j  Ps.  xiii.  3,)  and  also  bad 
 men,  (Ps.  Ixxvi.  5;  Dan.  sii.  2.)— Whitby.  15.  To  the  intent,  ^c, 
 '  that  your  faith  may  be  better  confirmed  by  my  miracle.'— iJy'.  Mann. 
 \h,  Thomas— Didymus— the  Jews,  when  travelling  into  foreign  coun- 
 tries, or  familiarly  conversing  with  Greeks  or  Romans,  assumed  a 
 Greek  or  Latin  name  of  a  like  signification  with  their  own  ;  here  one  is 
 in  Syriac,  the  other  in  Greek,  bnth  signifying  '  a  turn.' — Burder's 
 Orient.  Cust.  Die  with  him,  i.  e.,  like  Lazarus  ;  they  viewing  the  dan- 
 ger of  going  into  Judjea.— So  Grot.,  Ham.,  Whitby,  Bp.Pearce,  &c. 
 Share  Christ's  fate,  since  he  will  go  among  his  inhuman  enemies  in 
 Judea,  and  die  with  Chiist.— So  Ca/o.,  Lumpe,  Doddr.,  Bloovif.,  &c. 
 ig.  To  comfort  them— the  Jews'  mourning  la.sted  seven  days,  some- 
 times thirty,  during  which  time  friends  came  to  condole  with  them. — 
 Lightf.  20.  Sat  still,  probably  on  the  ground,  the  posture  of  mourners, 
 (comp.  Job,  ii.  8  ;  Ezek.  viii.  14  ;   Matt,  xxvii,  61.)  25.  Though   he 
 
 were  dead,  kuv  anohav^u  '  though  he  should  die.'— Bens.  26.  Whoso- 
 ever liveth,  'j^c,  'everyone  that  is  now  living,' &c. — Doddr.  Shalt 
 never  die — noyt  viorietur  in  sternum — ot,  /in  aTtofav,/  eir  toi'  atu)\:a, 
 '  shall  not  die  for  ever.' — Mont.,  so  Whitby.  27.  /  bel'iere,  TrcTTtaTtvKa, 
 'I  have  believed.'— Hrn.  The  Christ,  /fc.,  the  Messiah  promised  by 
 the  prophets,  and  long  expected  by  the  Jews.— S.  Clarke.  Which 
 should  come,  6  etc  toc  Ko(rtiov  €,>xofitvo9,  '  he  whocometh,*  &c.,  a  third 
 title  here  of  the  Messiah.— (.'«mp.      '  He  which  should  come  into  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X.  —  We  have  liere,  I.  Christ's 
 discourse  on  the  pood  shepherd.  He  represents  himself  as  the 
 d'  or  to  the  fold  — the  church  of  God.  There  is  no  way  of  en- 
 trance but  through  Christ,  by  faith  in  liim  as  the  alone  Sa- 
 viour, lie  is  also  the  Shepherd  ami  the  good  Shepherd  of  the 
 sheep.  He  knows  them,  tenderly  leads  them,  goes  before 
 tliem,  that  they  may  follow  his  steps,  and  even,  in  their  be- 
 half, he  lays  down  his  life.  Anil  '  be  has  other  sheep  besides 
 those  of  the  .lewish  fold.'  These  he  is  constantly  gathering 
 ill  from  among  the  Gentiles,  and  they  shall  be  *  one  fold  under 
 1123 
 
 one  Shepherd.' 
 
 II.  Christ's  disjndntion  in  Sohmwn's  porch,  in  which  be 
 plainly  asserts  his  divinity.  So  the  Jews  understood  him,  as 
 making  himself  equal  with  God  ;  and  as  he  claimed  almighty 
 co-operation  with  the  Father  in  protecting  his  sheep,  so  we 
 must  understand  him  also.  From  these  declarations  of  his 
 own  infallible  lips,  who  '  spake  as  never  man  spake,'  let  none 
 tear  giving  him  too  much  honour,  hut  let  all  men  ■  honour  the 
 .*on  even  as  they  honour  the  Father ;  for  he  that  honouretb 
 tlie  Son,  honouretb  the  Father  also  ' 
 
Lazarus  raised  to  life  again. 
 
 S   JdUN,  XI. 
 
 A  conspiracy  af/ainst  Christ. 
 
 way,  and  called  Mary  her  sister  secretly,  say- 
 ing, The  Master  is  come,  and  calleth  for  thee. 
 
 '!'.>  As  soon  as  she  heard  that,  she  arose 
 quickly,  and  came  unto  him. 
 
 3U  Now  Jesus  was  not  yet  come  into  the  town, 
 but  was  in  that  place  where  Martha  met  him. 
 
 31  *■  Tlie  Jews  then  which  were  with  her  in 
 the  house,  and  comforted  her,  when  they  saw 
 Mary,  tliat  she  rose  up  hastily  and  went  out, 
 followed  her,  sayijig.  She  goeth  unto  the  grave 
 to  weep  there. 
 
 32  Then  when  Mary  was  come  where  Jesus 
 was,  and  saw  him,  she  fell  down  at  his  feet, 
 saying  unto  liini,  '  Loul,  if  thon  hadst  been 
 here,  my  brother  had  not  died. 
 
 33  When  Jesus  tlierefore  saw  her  weeping, 
 and  the  Jews  also  weeping  which  came  with 
 her,  he  groaned  in  the  spirit,  and  f  was  troubled, 
 
 34  And  said,  Where  have  ye  laid  him  y  They 
 said  unto  him.  Lord,  come  and  see. 
 
 35  '  Jesus  wept. 
 
 30  Then  said  the  Jews,  Behold  how  he  loved 
 him  ! 
 
 37  And  some  of  them  said,  Could  not  this 
 man,  'which  opened  the  eyes  of  tlie  blind, 
 have  caused  tliat  even  tliis  man  should  not 
 have  died  V 
 
 38  Jesus  therefore  again  groaning  in  himself 
 Cometh  to  the  grave.  It  was  a  cave,  and  a 
 stone  lay  upon  it. 
 
 39  Jesus  said.  Take  ye  away  the  stone. 
 Martha,  the  sister  ot  him  that  was  dead,  saith 
 unto  him.  Lord,  hy  tliis  time  he  stinketh  :  for 
 be  hath  been  dead  four  days. 
 
 ■10  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Said  I  not  unto  thee, 
 that,  if  thou  wonhlest  believe,  thou  sbouldest 
 '  see  the  glory  of  (jod  ? 
 
 41  Then  they  took  away  the  stone  from  the 
 place  where  the  dead  was  laid.  And  Jesus 
 lifted  up  his  eyes,  and  said.  Father,  I  thank 
 thee  that  thou  hast  heard  me. 
 
 42  And  I  knew  that  thou  hearest  me  always  : 
 hut  "  because  of  the  people  which  stand  by  1 
 said  ity  that  they  may  believe  that  thou  hast 
 sent  me. 
 
 43  And  when  he  thus  had  spoken,  he  cried 
 with  a  loud  voice,  Lazarus,  Come  forth. 
 
 A.  1).  39. 
 
 r  oil.  au.  7. 
 
 V  ch.  1.  S3. 
 "  Bt  III.  42.  & 
 
 12  n,  18. 
 
 r  I'a.  9.  S. 
 
 Mat.  2G.  S. 
 
 Murk  11.  I. 
 
 I.uIbSS.  2. 
 I  i-li.  l'-».  19. 
 
 Aclsl   Itj. 
 
 A  1,11k.,  3  i 
 eh.  IS  11. 
 Acta  1.  G. 
 
 r(  Ifi.  11).  i;. 
 I  .liiliti  -l.-i. 
 
 !■  oil   111.  Hi. 
 
 K|.li    -J    U, 
 IS,  10,  17. 
 
 3  S.'.'  2  Clir 
 13    111. 
 
 44  And  he  that  was  dead  came  forth,  bound 
 hand  and  foot  with  graveclothcs:  and  "hisface 
 was  hound  about  with  a  napkin.  Jesus  saith 
 unto  them.  Loose  him,  and  let  him  go. 
 
 4,5  Then  many  of  the  Jews  which  came  to 
 Mary, 'and  had  seen  the  things  wliich  Jesus 
 did,  believed  on  him. 
 
 40  But  some  of  them  went  their  ways  to  the 
 Pharisees,  and  told  them  what  things  Jesus 
 had  done. 
 
 47  U  '  Then  gathered  the  chief  priests  and 
 the  Pharisees  a  council,  and  said,  °  What  do 
 we?  for  this  man  dcieth  many  miracles. 
 
 48  If  we  let  him  thus  alone,  all  men  will  be- 
 lieve on  him  :  and  the  Romans  .shall  come  and 
 take  away  both  our  place  and  nation. 
 
 4!)  And  one  of  them,  )(a;Hf(/''Caiaphas,  being 
 the  high  priest  that  same  year,  said  unto  them, 
 Ye  know  nothing  at  .all, 
 
 .50  ''  Nor  consider  that  it  is  expedient  for  us, 
 that  one  man  should  die  for  the  people,  and 
 that  the  whole  nation  peri.sh  not. 
 
 .51  And  this  spake  he  not  of  himself:  but 
 being  high  priest  that  year,  he  prophesied  that 
 Jesus  should  die  for  that  nation  ; 
 
 52  And  ''not  for  that  nation  only,  "but  that 
 also  he  should  gatlier  together  in  one  the  cliil- 
 dren  of  God  that  were  scattered  abroad. 
 
 53  Then  from  that  day  forth  they  took  coun- 
 sel together  for  to  put  him  to  death. 
 
 54  Jesus  '  therefore  walked  no  more  openly 
 among  the  Jews  ;  hut  went  thence  unto  a 
 country  near  to  the  wilderness,  into  a  city 
 called  ^  Ephraim,  and  there  continued  with  his 
 disciples. 
 
 55  K '"  And  the  Jews'  passover  was  nigh  at 
 hand  :  and  many  went  out  of  the  country  up 
 to  Jerusalem  before  the  passover,  to  purify 
 themselves. 
 
 50  '  Then  sought  they  for  Jesus,  and  spake 
 among  themselves,  as  they  stood  in  the  temple. 
 What  think  ye,  that  he  will  not  come  to  the 
 feast  ? 
 
 57  Now  both  the  chief  priests  and  the  Phari- 
 sees had  given  a  commandment,  that,  if  any 
 man  knew  where  he  were,  he  should  shew  it, 
 that  they  might  take  him 
 
 world,  o  epxojuewoc,  'that  blessing  of  blessine^s  for  which  the  church  bad 
 waited  fur  so  many  ages.'— Hen.  31 .  FalliiwKd  her,  and  so  became 
 
 witnesses  also  of  the  miracle. — S.  Clarke.  33.  He  groaned  in  the 
 .spirit,  with  a  suppressed  inward  ffroan.— BooMi-.  May  be  rendercil 
 more  intelligibly,  perhaps,  'in  breathioir,  he  groaned,'  nr  'in  the  act 
 of  fetching  breath,  he  groaned.'— Hew.  38.  A  r./i'p— sec  Matt,  xxvii. 
 fin,  note.  A  stone  lay  vpon  it,  Xi(*or  enf:Keno  eir'  awry,  '  shut  lip  with 
 a  stone.'— Cump.  39.  Take  ye  away  the  s(une— this  Christ  himself 
 
 cimld  have  done  without  hands,  but  it  would  have  been  a  trifling  mi- 
 racle, and,  as  others  could  do  it  with  bands,  he  performed  nothing 
 needlessly,  calling  forth  expectation  for  his  more  sublime  miracle.— Krf. 
 liy  this  tivte,  ^c— the  putrifactinn  of  dead  bodies  was  e.'itreraely  rapid 
 111  hot  countries.— JVemc.  He  stxnkelh,  ofe,— the  Greek  means  simply 
 '  to  smell.'— C7ur^-e,  as  Doddr.  For  he  hath  hcen  dead  fimr  days,  Ttrap- 
 Tiiios  7up  ea-it — the  Word  '  dead'  is  not  in  the  original ;  it  is, '  for  he  hath 
 been  four  days,'  i.  e.,  in  the  grave,  and  not  four  days  dead  only. — 
 Drm.,%o  Clarke.  40.  Said  /  n.,(— hence  it  seems  Christ  had  said 
 rnorethan  is  here  recorded. —Guv.sf.  il.  Father,  I  thank  thee— Christ 
 did  not  ordinarily  so  appeal,  but  he  did  so  now  to  shew  that  he  worked 
 by  his  Father's  authority,  and  not,  as  maliciously  said,  hy  the  aid  of 
 devils.— .1/ui.-(cii.  41.  He  that  was  dead,  6  Teei,n«uii,  '  he  that  had  been 
 dead.' — Bens.  Bound  hand  and  ftnit — his  hands  and  feet  were  pro- 
 bably not  bound  together,  but  swathed  singly.- ATumiie/,  so -B/oohj/. 
 His  fare  was  hound,  ^c— if  the  Jews  buried  as  the  Egyptians  did,  the 
 face  was  not  covered  with  a  napkin,  hut  it  only  went  round  the  fore- 
 head and  under  the  chin.— Doiiiir.        49.  High  priest  that  same  year— 
 
 the  liigli  priesthood,  by  Divine  appointment,  was  to  continue  In  the 
 same  person  for  lite;  but  the  Romans  changed  him  at  pleasure,  and 
 made  the  office,  for  the  most  part,  annual. — Whitby.  50.  Expedient 
 for  as  that  one  man  should  die,  '  better  that  one  man  should  be  put  to 
 death  at  a  venture,  for  the  preservation  of  a  whole  nation,  than  that 
 the  whole  n.ition  should  be  ruined  by  your  needless  scrupulousness 
 about  the  life  of  one  man.'  51 .  This  spake  he  not  of  himself,  ^c. — 
 Cjod's  providence  ordered  the  words  in  a  very  different  sense  from  what 
 he  intended.  He  spoke  in  a  political  and  worldly  sense  only,  but  it 
 proved  an  exact  prophecy  of  what  soon  came  to  pass, — S.  Clarke.  He 
 spake  by  Divine  impulse.  He  prophesied,  upoitpintvaev — to  prophesy, 
 does  not  always  signify  'to  predict  future  events,'  but  to  speak  by 
 Divine  impulse  and  direction,  as  in  Luke,  i,  67  arui  yd. — liosenm. ;  so 
 Lampe,  and  h'ype.  The  Jewish  high  priests  had,  in  former  ages,  been 
 often  under  the  inspiration  of  a  prophetic  spirit ;  there  was  therefore 
 some  peculiar  congruity  in  putting  this  oracle  into  his  mouth, — Itoddr. 
 54,  f^o  more,  er,,  rather,  '  not  yet,'  for  within  a  short  time  after  he  ap- 
 peared openly  at  the  passover. — Locke.  A  city  called  Ephraim,  in  the 
 mountainous  country  near  the  wilderness  of  Judea,  at  the  edge  of  the 
 tribe  of  Ephraim. —  Welts.  55.  To  purify  themselves — this  was  cus- 
 
 tomary on  these  occasions  for  those  who  had  contracted  dctilement, 
 or  vowed  a  Nazarite's  vow. — Whitby.  56.  What  think  ye?  fyc,  ti 
 6oKei  vtxiv,  oTi  HI'  fiti.  Sec. — this  ought  to  be  pointed  so  as  to  make  two 
 questions:  '  What  think  ye? — that  he  will  not  come  to  the  feast?* — 
 Peurce,  Camp. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.    XI I.  The  resurrection  of  La-     Christ  in  quirkcninij  dead  sinners.    Thus  by  his  word  ho  speaks 
 
 zarus  was  a  powerful  testimony  to  the  Messiahship  of  Christ.     It    to  dead  sinners,  aiid  they  awaken  from  a  death  of  sin  to  a  life 
 was  an  incontestiblo  evidence  which  none  could  resist.  Hence    of  righteousness, 
 many  ol  the  Jews  believed  on  him.'  III.    The  resurrection  of  Lazarus  was  an  earnest  of  the  final 
 
 II.   I  he  resurrection  of  Luzurus  was  an  anblew  of  the  power  nf  rtsuniclionofaV  men.     'That  same  voice  which  awakened  La- 
 
Mary  anointeth  Christ's  feet. 
 
 S.JOHN,  XII. 
 
 Christ  furctellfth  his  death. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  Jtsus  excuseth  Miiry  anointinri  his  feet.  9  T/te  people 
 flock  to  see  Lazarus.  10  The  hu/h  priests  consult  to 
 hilt  him.  12  C/iristridcth  into  Jerusalem.  20  Greeks 
 desire  to  see  Jestts.  23  Jle  forctelleth  his  death.  37 
 The  Jews  are  (jenerally  blinded :  42  yet  many  chief 
 rulers  believe,  but  ih  not  confess  him :  44  therefore 
 Je^us  calleth  earnestly  for  confession  of  faith. 
 
 'T'HEN  Jesus  six  days  before  the  passover 
 -*-    came  to  liethany,   °  where    Lazarus   was 
 
 which  had  been  dead,  whom  be  raised  from  the 
 
 dead. 
 '2    ■'  There   they   made   him  a  supper ;   and 
 
 Martha  served  :  but  Lazarus  was  one  of  them 
 
 that  sat  at  the  table  with  him. 
 
 3  Then  toolc  ^  Mary  a  pound  of  ointment  of 
 spikenard,  very  costly,  and  anointed  the  feet  of 
 Jesus,  and  wiped  his  feet  with  her  hair:  and  the 
 house  was  filled  with  the  odour  of  the  ointment. 
 
 4  Tlien  saith  one  of  his  disciples,  Judas  Isca- 
 riot,  Simon's  son,  which  should  betray  him, 
 
 5  Why  was  not  this  ointment  sold  for  three 
 hundred  pence,  and  given  to  the  poor? 
 
 G  This  he  said,  not  that  he  cared  for  the  poor ; 
 but  because  he  was  a  thief,  and  ''  had  the  bag, 
 and  bare  what  was  put  therein. 
 
 7  Then  said  Jesus,  Let  her  alone :  against 
 the  day  of  my  burying  hath  she  kept  this. 
 
 8  For  "  the  poor  always  ye  have  with  you  ; 
 but  me  ye  have  not  always. 
 
 9  Mucli  people  of  the  Jews  therefore  knew 
 that  he  was  there  :  and  they  came  not  for 
 Jesus'  sake  only,  but  that  they  might  see  Laza- 
 rus also,  '  whom  he  had  raised  from  the  dead. 
 
 10  11^  But  the  chief  priests  consulted  that 
 they  might  put  Lazarus  also  to  death  ; 
 
 1 1  *■  Because  that  by  reason  of  him  many  of 
 the  Jews  went  away,  and  believed  on  Jesus. 
 
 1'2  t '  On  the  next  day  much  people  that 
 were  come  to  the  feast,  when  they  heard  that 
 Jesus  was  coming  to  Jerusalem, 
 
 13  Took  branches  of  palm  trees,  and  went 
 forth  to  meet  him,  and  cried,  '■  Hosanna : 
 Blessed  is  the  King  of  Israel  tliat  cometh  in 
 the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 /;  Jt.lt.  SO.  6. 
 AUtk  14.3. 
 
 J  T.iika  10. 
 S3,  3y 
 ch,  11.3 
 
 '  Mat.  20.11. 
 Mark  H.  7. 
 
 t;  l.ukf  10. 
 31. 
 
 I  Mat.  21.fl. 
 Mark  11.8. 
 I.uke  19  35, 
 36,  t^c. 
 
 I  Mat.  -21.  J. 
 m  Zocb.  (1.9. 
 
 '1  ch.  7.  39. 
 ||  ch.  14.  SO. 
 
 J  ActB  17.  4. 
 
 r  1  Kin.  8. 
 
 tl.  42. 
 
 Acta  8.  27. 
 u  ch.  1.  44. 
 
 X  eh.  13,  32. 
 &  17.  1. 
 
 1/  1  Cor.  15. 
 
 ;  Mat. 10  39 
 &  10.  20 
 Mark  H  35. 
 I.uko  9.  24. 
 &  17.  33. 
 
 1  ch.  14  3 
 &  17.  21 
 lThes,l.l7 
 
 b  Mat. 20. 38, 
 
 39. Luke  12. 
 
 60.  ch-  13. 
 
 21. 
 c  Luke  22. 
 
 03.  ch.  18. 
 
 37. 
 rfMat.  3. 17. 
 
 14  '  And  Jesus,  when  he  had  found  a  young 
 ass,  sat  thereon  ;  as  it  is  written, 
 
 1 5  "'  Fear  not,  daughter  of  Sion  :  behold,  thy 
 King  Cometh,  sitting  on  an  ass's  colt. 
 
 IG  These  things  "understood  not  hisdi.sciples 
 at  the  first:  "but  when  Jesus  was  glorified, 
 ''then  remembered  tliey  that  these  things  were 
 written  of  him,  and  that  they  had  done  these 
 things  unto  him. 
 
 17  The  people  therefore  that  was  with  him 
 when  he  called  Lazarus  out  of  his  grave,  and 
 raised  him  from  the  dead,  bare  record. 
 
 18  ''  For  this  cause  the  people  also  met  him, 
 for  that  they  heard  that  he  had  done  this 
 miracle. 
 
 19  The  Pharisees  therefore  said  among  them- 
 selves, 'Perceive  ye  how  ye  prevail  nothing? 
 behold,  the  world  is  gone  after  him. 
 
 '20  If  And  there  '  were  certain  (ireeks  among 
 them  '  that  came  up  to  worship  at  the  feast : 
 
 '21  The  same  came  therefore  to  Philip,  "  which 
 was  of  Bethsaida  of  Galilee,  and  desired  him, 
 saying,  Sir,  we  would  see  Jesus. 
 
 •22  Philip  cometh  and  telleth  Andrew  :  and 
 again  Andrew  and  Philip  tell  Jesus. 
 
 '23  f  And  Jesus  answered  them,  saying,  "  The 
 hour  is  come,  that  the  Son  of  man  should  be 
 glorified. 
 
 '24  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  '  Except  a 
 corn  of  wheat  fall  into  the  ground  and  die,  it 
 abideth  alone  :  but  if  it  die,  it  bringeth  forth 
 much  fruit. 
 
 •25  '  He  that  loveth  his  life  shall  lose  it ;  and 
 he  that  hateth  his  life  in  this  world  sliall  keep 
 it  unto  life  eternal. 
 
 '2G  If  any  man  serve  me,  let  him  follow  me  ; 
 and  °  where  I  am,  there  shall  also  my  servant 
 be  :  if  any  man  serve  me,  him  will  my  Father 
 honour. 
 
 27  •'  Now  is  my  soul  troubled ;  and  what 
 shall  I  say?  Father,  save  me  from  this  hour: 
 ■^  but  for  this  cause  came  I  unto  this  hour. 
 
 •28  Father,  glorify  thy  name.  ''Then  came 
 there  a  voice  from  heaven,  sayimj,  I  have  both 
 glorified  it,  and  will  glorify  it  again. 
 
 Chap.  XIT.  —  2.  There,  fyc. — there  arc  two  opinions  on  this  event: 
 Opinion  (i.)  This  story  is  distinct  from  that  related  by  Matthew  and 
 Murk.  This  event  was  six  days  before  the  passover  ;  that,  two  days, 
 (Matt.  XKvi.  2;)  this  occurred  in  the  house  of  Lazarus;  that,  in  the 
 house  of  Simon  the  leper,  (Matt.  xxvi.  6.)  In  this.  Mary  anointed  the 
 feet  of  Jesus  ;  in  that,  a  woman,  not  named,  poured  ointment  on  his 
 head,  (Matt.  xxvi.  y.)—Origen,  Le  Clerc,  Light/.,  Wliiston,  Whitliy. 
 Mnckn.,  Sic.  (ii.)  It  ajipears  more  probable  that  Matthew  and  Mark 
 should  have  introduced  this  story  a  little  out  of  its  place  ;  that  Lazarus, 
 it  lie  made  this  entertainment,  (which  is  not  expressly  said  by  John.) 
 should  have  made  use  of  Simon's  house  as  nujre  convenient  for  it ; 
 and  that  Mary  should  have  poured  this  ointment  on  Christ's  head  and 
 hody.  as  well  as  on  his  feet ;  than  that  within  the  compass  of  four  days 
 Ciirist  should  have  been  twice  anointed,  &c.,  (see  Matt.  xxv.  ?,  note  of 
 Doddr.) — So  liens.  See  further  remarks  at  larpe.  Matt.  xxvi.  7,  notes. 
 Lazarus — sat  at  t/ie  ta/ile — this  describes  him  as  a  guest,  and  not  as 
 master  of  the  house.  Why  was  this  entertainment  given  elsewhere  ? 
 i'robably  for  fear  of  inlerruptitm  from  the  Jews  ;  for  .Ta/in  informs  us, 
 (V  r.  10,)  that  the  chief  priests  were  already  plotting  to  destroy  Lazarus 
 also,  &c. —  Wit.  :i.  Marii,  the  sister  of  Lazarus,  (chap.  xi.  2.)  Oint- 
 ment—see Matt.  .xxvi.  7,  note.  5.  Three  hundred  penee,  gl.  7«.  Bd. 
 English.— i>'j^Wr.  6.  The  tffig,  7\w(r(T„«u,ioi,,  meant,  originally,  'a 
 box.  or  small  chost,'  in  which  pipers  deposited  the  mouth-pieces  of  their 
 instruments  ;  perhaps  this  might  be  a  hag  resembling  one  in  shape ;  or 
 probably  the  term  became  employed  for  any  small  and  portable  box  or 
 casket,  for  holding  money  or  other  valuables. — Schleusner,  liiotnnf. 
 Judas  was  purse-bearer  to  Jesus  and  the  apostles. — S.  Clarke.  Steward 
 and  treasurer  to  the  whole  family,  (see  chap.  xiii.  2g.)— Williams. 
 7-  .igainst  the  day  a/ my  Imrying,  i.e.,'  for  my  embalming.' — Grieslmeh. 
 *  As  a  fit  ceremony  for  my  burial,  which  is  near  at  hand.' — Whitby. 
 
 The  Jews  anointed  the  dead  bodies,  (see  Matt.  xxvi.  12,  notes.)  8.  The 
 poor,  ^c. — '  ye  will  have  opportunities  enough  of  shewing  them  cha- 
 rity.'— Ham.  13.  Took  branches,  ^c. — see  Matt.  xxi.  1 — 9,  notes. 
 17.  Bare  record,  to  that  signal  miracle. — Ham.  20.  Greeks — Opinion 
 (i.)  Foreign  Jews  and  proselytes,  who  spoke  the  Greek  language  ;  these 
 were  called  Greeks,  or  Ellenists. — Bens.,  so  Calv.,  Drusius,  ?ic.  (ii.)  The 
 word"L;A\n^ec,  here  rendered  Greeks,  properly  signifies  'Greeks  by 
 nation  or  birth ;'  and  sometimes  their  name  is  used  for  Gentiles  in 
 general,  as  Rom.  i.  It) ;  ii.  9.  10  ;  compared  with  ver.  14.  Grecians,  or 
 Hellenists,  "l.\\t]vt(7Tat,  are  mentioned  only  in  Acts,  vi.  1  ;  ix.  29  ;  and 
 xi.  20;  and  signifies  such  Jews  as  were  scattered  abroad  in  Gentile 
 nations,  and  used  the  Greek  language. — Guyse.  There  were  at  that 
 time  many  Gentile  inquirers  after  true  religion  ;  they  used  to  frequent 
 the  synagogues  as  proselytes  of  the  gate,  and  were  not  circumcised  ; 
 mentioned  Acts,  xvii.  4.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  these  were 
 Gentiles,  and  not  Jews. — Bloomf.  ;  so  Rosenm.,  Kuinoel,  &c.  24.  Fall 
 into  the  ground  and  die,  alluding  to  his  own  death,  which  should  pro- 
 duce a  glorious  harvest  to  the  Gentile  v.'OT]d.—  Light/.  25.  That 
 loveth  his  li/e,  too  well  to  part  with  it  for  my  sake,  ^c.,  (see  Matt.  x. 
 39,  note.)  Hrt/eZ/i,  loveth  it  not  so  well. — Bp.  Pearce.  2fi.  Where  1 
 am,  or  'shortly  am  to  take  np  my  abode.' — Doddr.  27.  Father,  save, 
 ?fc. — he  here  shews  that  be  hatt  the  same  natural  feelings  as  other 
 men,  but  that  they  were  overruled  by  the  desire  of  promoting  his  Fa- 
 ther's glory. —  Whitby.  Ek  mc  uipar  tjiit,ic,  '  out  of  this  hour,'  praying, 
 not  so  much  that  it  might  not  come,  as  that  be  might  be  brought 
 through  it. — Hen.  28.  Glorijied  it,  by  raising  Lazarus,  and  by  other 
 miracles.  Again,  *  by  thy  resurrection  and  exaltation  ;  by  the  mission 
 of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  tlie  apostles,  witnesses  of  the  resurrection,  and 
 by  giving  thee  a  name  above  every  other,'  (Ephes.  i.  20,  21 ;  Philip, 
 ii.  9,  ID.)  — tVliilby. 
 
 zaru3  shall  awnkeu  the  deati  which  have  slumbered  in  the  tomb  i  they  that  have  done  good,  unto  tlie  resurrection  of  life  ;  and 
 for  ages,  and  '  all  that  are  in  their  graves  shall  coiue  forth;    they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation.' 
 I  I '2.5 
 
The  unbelief  of  the  Jews. 
 
 S.JOHN,  XIII. 
 
 Jesus  caUetk  for  confession  of  faith. 
 
 29  The  people  therefore,  tliat  stood  by,  and 
 heard  it,  said  that  it  thundered  :  others  said. 
 An  angel  spake  to  him. 
 
 30  Jesus  answered  and  said, "  This  voice  came 
 not  because  of  me,  but  for  your  sakes. 
 
 31  Now  is  the  judgment  of  this  world  :  now 
 shall  '  the  prince  of  this  world  be  cast  out. 
 
 32  And  I,  ^  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
 will  draw  •■  all  men  unto  me. 
 
 33  '  This  he  said,  signifying  what  death  he 
 should  die. 
 
 34  The  people  answered  him,  '  We  have 
 heard  out  of  the  law  that  Christ  abideth  for 
 ever :  and  how  sayest  thou.  The  Son  of  man 
 must  be  lifted  up  ?  who  is  this  Son  of  man  ? 
 
 35  Then  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Yet  a  little 
 while  '  is  the  light  with  you.  "'  Walk  while 
 ye  have  the  light,  lest  darkness  come  upon 
 you  :  for  "he  that  walketh  in  darkness  know- 
 eth  not  whither  he  goeth. 
 
 3(3  While  ye  have  light,  believe  in  the  light, 
 that  ye  may  be  °  the  children  of  light.  These 
 things  spake  Jesus,  and  departed,  and  ""did 
 hide  himself  from  them. 
 
 37  K  But  thougli  he  had  done  so  many  mi- 
 racles before  them,  yet  they  believed  not  on 
 him : 
 
 38  That  the  saying  of  Esaias  the  prophet 
 might  be  fulfilled,  which  he  spake, ''  Lord,  who 
 hath  believed  our  report?  and  to  whom  hath 
 the  arm  of  the  Lord  been  revealed  ? 
 
 39  Therefore  they  could  not  believe,  because 
 that  E.saias  said  again, 
 
 40  '  He  hath  blinded  their  eyes,  and  har- 
 dened their  heart ;  that  they  should  not  see 
 with  their  eyes,  nor  understand  with  their 
 heart,  and  be  converted,  and  I  should  heal 
 them. 
 
 41  '  These  things  said  Esaias,  when  he  saw 
 his  glory,  and  spake  of  him. 
 
 4'2  U  Nevertheless  among  the  chief  rulers 
 also  many  believed  on  him  ;  but  '  because  of 
 the  Pharisees  they  did  not  confess  him,  lest 
 
 /Mat.  I2.*29. 
 [.uhe  10.18. 
 
 ch.U  So  & 
 
 16   11-  Arts 
 
 i&  13.2  Cor. 
 
 +  4   Ej.li.S. 
 
 ■2.  Hi  6.  1-2. 
 
 -.■h    3    11. 
 
 «t  fl.  2S, 
 Horn,  a  18. 
 
 Heb.  2.  9, 
 
 ch.  19.  3';. 
 A  Ps.  89,  3r.. 
 
 ,S7-  *  110.  1. 
 
 Is.9.7.fii  5^. 
 
 8    Ezek,  37. 
 
 L'5.  D.aii    2. 
 
 ».  &  7.  U, 
 
 2T.Mic  *,7. 
 I  ch.   L  9   & 
 
 8-12.  8(9.5. 
 
 ver.  4*. 
 m  Jer.lS.  10. 
 
 Eph-  5    9. 
 n  ch.  11.   10. 
 
 lJoltn«,ll- 
 <'  T.uhcie.  9. 
 
 Epl,    5   8. 
 
 I  Tliea..5.'^ 
 
 1  .I..hii2  9, 
 
 10,  11. 
 f>  cli.  8.  59- 
 
 «E  11-M. 
 
 7  Is-  5.1-  1. 
 K.>iii. 10.16, 
 
 X  Mark  9.37. 
 1  Ptt.  I.2I. 
 
 I  ver..SS,  .36. 
 ch.  3-  19.  & 
 8.  12.  &  9, 
 5,39. 
 
 d  Deut  18. 
 19  Mark 
 16.  IG. 
 
 b  ch.  12.  23. 
 H  17.  1,  11, 
 
 l.ukf  22.  3. 
 
 VLT.  27. 
 d  Mnt-Il-27. 
 
 &  28.  18. 
 
 eh.  3.  35.  k 
 
 17.  2.  Acts 
 
 2  36. 1  Cor. 
 
 15.  27.Heb. 
 
 2-  8, 
 ..  ch.  8.  42. 
 
 b  16.  28. 
 
 they  should  be  put  out  of  the  synagogue  : 
 
 43  "  For  they  loved  the  praise  of  men  more 
 than  the  praise  of  God. 
 
 44  K  Jesus  cried  and  said,  '  He  that  believeth 
 on  me,  believeth  not  on  me,  but  on  him  that 
 sent  me. 
 
 45  And  ^he  that  seeth  me  seeth  him  that 
 sent  me. 
 
 45  '  I  am  come  a  light  into  the  world,  that 
 whosoever  believeth  on  me  should  not  abide 
 ill  darkness. 
 
 47  And  if  any  man  hear  my  words,  and  be- 
 lieve not,  °  I  judge  him  not :  for  ''  I  came  not 
 to  judge  the  world,  but  to  save  the  world. 
 
 48  '  He  that  rejecteth  me,  and  receiveth  not 
 my  words,  hath  one  that  judgeth  him  :  ''  the 
 word  that  I  have  spoken,  the  same  sliall  judge 
 him  in  tlie  last  day. 
 
 49  For  "  1  have  not  spoken  of  myself;  but 
 the  Father  which  sent  me,  he  gave  me  a  com- 
 mandment, 'what  I  should  say,  and  what  I 
 should  speak. 
 
 50  And  I  know  that  his  commandment  is  life 
 everlasting :  whatsoever  1  speak  therefore, 
 even  as  the  Father  said  unto  me,  so  I  speak. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 I  Ji.'sus  washfth  the  disciples*  ftet :  exhnrteth  them  to 
 humility  and  charity.  18  He  forehUiOh  ««'/  dis- 
 covcreth  to  John  hi/  a  tolien,  that  Judas  shouhl  betray 
 him:  31  cummmidcth  thetn  to  hme  one  another,  Ziiand 
 foreivarneth  Peter  of  his  denial. 
 
 1V"OW  "before  tlie  feast  of  the  passover, 
 -*-*  when  Jesus  knew  that  ^  his  hour  was  come 
 that  he  should  depart  out  of  this  world  unto 
 the  Father,  having  loved  his  own  which  were 
 in  the  world,  he  loved  them  unto  the  end. 
 
 2  And  supper  being  ended,  "^  the  devil  having 
 now  put  into  the  heart  of  Judas  Iscariot, 
 Simon's  son^  to  betray  him  ; 
 
 3  Jesus  knowing  **  that  the  father  had  given 
 all  things  into  his  hands,  and  *^  that  he  was 
 come  from  God,  and  went  to  God  ; 
 
 30.  For  your  fsakes,  to  convince  and  confirm  you.— Hum.  31.  The 
 judgment  of  this  world,  the  condemnation  of  it  —  the  juflgment 
 passed  upon  its  wicked  principles  and  practices,  and  of  the  vic- 
 tory which  Christians  were  to  gain  over  it  in  consequence  of  the 
 death  of  Christ,  (see  John,  iii.  18,  19;  xv\.  ■i,  u.)— Whitby,  Doddr. 
 'Now  the  time  approaches  when  the  unbelieving  Jews  will  incur 
 punishment,  and  Christ's  kingdom  he  enlarged.'  —  Newn.  33.  //, 
 eav,  * -whea. *—Guyse.  Lifted  up,  fjfc,  *  if  I  be  crucified,  by  that  means 
 I  will  bring  a  great  part  of  tlie  whole  world  to  believe  on  me.^—Htim. 
 34.  Out  of  the  law,  this  term  included  the  prophets  and  all  their  scrip- 
 tures. Christ  abideth  for  ever,  so  they  gathered  from  Dan.  vii.  11; 
 Ezek.  xxxvii.  25  -,  Isa.  ix.  7  ;  Ps.  Ixxxix.  36.  3"  ;  but  had  not  attended 
 to  the  passages  describing  his  sufferings. — Whitby.  '  Who  is  this  Son 
 of  man  ?*  *  What  sort  of  a  Messiah  must  he  be  that  is  to  die  ?' — Detis. 
 36.  Departed,  and  did  hide,  ffc.,  uireAffuv  EKpu/Jn  ott'  auTwv,  'he  with- 
 drew himself  privately  from  them.'— Cflm/*.  37-  So  vinny  miracles, 
 ToaavTa  ffimeia,  signifies  both  'so  many'  and  'so  great,*  and  refers  to 
 all  the  miracles  he  had  wrought  formerly.— //*?».  3a.  Might  he  ful- 
 filled, '  was  plainly  fulfilled.'  It  is  apparent  that  the  accomplishment 
 of  this  prophecy  could  not  be  the  end  they  proposed  to  themselves  in 
 their  unbelief,  and  consequently  the  expression  'iva  TrXnpwdtj  must  be 
 rendered  as  Ahovc.—JeJ'rey,  Doddr.  The  predictions  of  tlie  prophet 
 had  no  coercive  influence  on  the  will,  yet  they  had  an  infallible  com- 
 pletion.—Gt7/.  M'/io  hnth  believed,  ^c— see  Isa.  liii.  1,  nutes.  40.  He 
 hath  blinded—'  I  apprehend  that  all  we  are  here  to  understand  is,  that 
 God  permitted  the  Jews  to  grow  more  and  more  prejudiced  against  the 
 gospel.'— Dorfrfr.  41.  Satv  his  glory.  (Isa.  vi.  i,)  the  Father's  glory.— 
 S.  Clarke.  Christ  was  the  person  spoken  of  by  the  prophet.— Pearson, 
 Doddr.  The  Evangelist  speaks  of  Esaias  seeing  the  glory  of  Christ, 
 whom  he  called  '  Lord  of  Hosts  ;*  it  follows  that  Christ  is  *  the  Lord  of 
 
 Hosts. ^—Whitby.  42.  Believed,  were  inwardly  convinced  that  he 
 was  the  Messiah.  43.  Lofed  the  prnixe  of  men,  durst  not  face  the 
 contempt  of  their  fellow  mortals.  44.  Believeth  not  on  me,  '  not  on 
 
 me  alone,  but  in  him  that  sent  me,  and  thereby  does  an  honour  to  the 
 Father  himself.*  45.  That  seeth  me,  '  regards  me  with  a  lively  faith 
 — does,  in  effect,  see  him  that  sent  me,  and  thereby  tloes  an  honour  to 
 the  Father  himself.'— Ooddr.  '  He  that  seeth  my  works  must  perceive 
 my  Father's  power  present.* — S.  Clnrke.  47.  I  judge  him  tiot,  '  while 
 on  earth  I  pass  no  sentence  on  him,  for  here  I  perform  the  office  of  a 
 prophet,  nntof  ajudge,  (chap.  viii.  is.)  —  Whitby. 
 
 CnAP.  XIII.  —  I.  When  Jesus  knen;  eiSwv  Ifjo-ot-f,  'Jesus  having 
 known.' — Bens.  Batting  lin>ed  his  own,  rovv  idtovv,  'his  own  persons,' 
 that  is,  his  apostles.  Were  in  the  tvorld,  were  to  remain  some  time  in 
 the  world. — Bens.,  as  Hen.  To  the  end,  of  his  life. — Doddr.,  Bens. 
 To  the  end  of  the  world,  and  forever;  so  the  words  £ir  rtXoc  signify, 
 and  are  rendered  'continually,*  Luke,  xviii.  5,  and  in  the  Septungint, 
 on  Ps.  ix.  6,  18,  and  xliv.  23,  answers  to  n^Jib,  which  signifies  '  for 
 ever.'- Gr7/.  The  words  also  signify  '  to  perfection,'  which  idea  may 
 be  included. — Guyse.  He  shewed  this  love  by  communing  with  his 
 disciples  in  the  last  supper,  by  washing  their  feet,  and  by  unfolding 
 the  plenitude  of  grace  and  glory  in  his  valedictory  address. — Hut. 
 2.  Supper  being  ended,  Aqittvov  -jevufitvov,  '  while  they  were  at  supper.' 
 —  Camp.  'Supper  being  come.' — Doddr.,  so  Ham.,  Guyse,  .lennijigs. 
 *  While  the  supper  was  preparing.'  or,  '  was  serving  up,'  or,  '  when 
 they  had  begun  to  sit  down. — Casaubon,  Kype.  See  the  use  of  the 
 same  verb,  chap.  xxi.  4 ;  Acts.  xii.  18 ;  xvi.  35  ;  rendered  '  was  come  ;' 
 and  Acts,  xxi.  40,  'was  made.'— Bews.  That  supper  was  not  ended, 
 appears  frum  ver.  26 — 28. — Boothr.  The  devil  having  now  put,  '  Judas 
 having  now  yielded  to  the  temptations  of  the  devil,  and  the  entice- 
 ments of  his  own  corrupt  and  covetous  inclinations.' — S.  Clarke.    The 
 
 Reflections   on   Ch-'VP.   XII, I.  '■  Ltt  us  learn  to  imitate  Uty  oj' other  s,  let  us  admire  the  constancy  and  sfxd  fastness  of  Christ. 
 
 Mary  in  shewing  our  reyard  to  Christ.     She  gladly  poured  forth  He  shrunk  not  from  sufferings  when  the  Father  might  be  glo- 
 
 ber  choicest  ointment  on  him  whose  name  to  every  believer  is  rified  thereby.      Let  us  not  be  ashamed  to  confess  him,  lest 
 
 more  fragrant  than  ointment  poured  forth.  we  should   suffer  some   temporal  inconvenience,  but  take  up 
 
 II.  *  While  we  see  theuuful  blindness  of  many,  tindthe  inscmibi-  our  cross  and  follow  him,  and  even  rejoice  in  it.'  ^ 
 1I-2U 
 
Jrsus  washetli  his  disciple s\ feet. 
 
 S.JOHN,  XIU. 
 
 He  foretcUeth  wlio  should  betray  hiyn. 
 
 4  *"  He  riseth  from  supper,  and  laid  aside  his 
 garments  ;  and  took  a  towel,  and  girded  him- 
 self. 
 
 5  After  that  he  poureth  water  into  a  bason, 
 and  began  to  wash  the  disciples'  feet,  and  to 
 wipe  them  with  the  towel  wherewith  he  was 
 girded. 
 
 ()  Then  cometh  he  to  Simon  Peter:  and  f  Peter 
 saith  niito  him,  Lord,  ^  dost  thou  wash  my 
 feet? 
 
 7  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  What 
 I  do  thou  knowest  not  now ;  ''  but  thou  shalt 
 know  hereafter. 
 
 8  Peter  saith  unto  him,  Thou  shalt  never 
 wash  my  feet.  Jesus  answered  him,  '  If  I  wash 
 thee  not,  thou  hast  no  part  with  me. 
 
 9  Simon  Peter  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  not  my 
 feet  only,  but  also  my  hands  and  my  head. 
 
 10  Jesus  saith  to  him.  He  that  is  washed 
 needeth  not  save  to  wash  his  feet,  but  is  clean 
 every  whit  :  and  ''ye  are  clean,  but  not  all. 
 
 11  For  'lie  knew  who  should  betray  him; 
 therefore  said  he,  Ye  are  not  all  clean. 
 
 12  So  after  he  had  washed  their  feet,  and  had 
 taken  his  garments,  and  was  set  down  again, 
 he  said  unto  them.  Know  ye  what  I  have  done 
 to  you  ? 
 
 13  "'  Ye  call  me  Master  and  Lord  :  and  ye 
 say  well  ;  for  so  I  am. 
 
 14  "  If  I  then,  your  Lord  and  Master,  have 
 washed  your  feet ;  °  ye  also  ought  to  wash  one 
 another's  feet. 
 
 15  For  '^  I  have  given  you  an  example,  that 
 ye  should  do  as  I  have  done  to  you. 
 
 16  ''  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  The  ser- 
 vant is  not  greater  than  his  lord  ;  neither  he 
 tiiat  is  sent  greater  than  he  that  sent  him. 
 
 17  ^If  ye  know  these  things,  happy  are  ye 
 if  ye  do  them. 
 
 18  If  I  speak  not  of  you  all :  I  know  whom  I 
 have  chosen  :  but  that  the  scripture  may  be 
 fulfilled,  *  He  that  eateth  bread  with  me  hath 
 lifted  up  his  heel  against  me. 
 
 19  '  II  Now  I  tell  you  before  it  come,  that, 
 when  it  is  come  to  pass,  ye  may  believe  that 
 1  am  he. 
 
 1  Cor.  6.11. 
 Epti.  5.  -id 
 Tit.  S.  6. 
 H.^h.  10.  :>2. 
 
 k  c\\.  15.3, 
 I  ch.  C.  04. 
 
 m  Mat.23.fi. 
 
 10    Luke  t>. 
 
 •16.  I  Cor  .8. 
 
 0.  &  12.  A. 
 
 Phil  2.  n. 
 n  Luke  S2. 
 
 27. 
 0  Rom,   12. 
 
 Ill  G.il.  tj.  I, 
 
 2,1  lVt,5,f), 
 p  M.Al  \  I  ■.'!!. 
 
 I'l.ii  ;^  5. 
 I  P^t.-^.  21 
 
 I  J.>lm2.  K 
 7  M:iL!U,2.1 
 Luke  6.  -lU 
 Ch.  15.  20. 
 
 r  Jam.  1.  2h. 
 
 s  Ps,    1 1    9 
 
 M,tt.26  -M 
 
 /  ch.  I  i.  29. 
 
 &  Hi.  1. 
 II  Or,  Ffjtn 
 liencefoTtfi. 
 
 -ftlat  10.  40. 
 
 &  2a.  M. 
 Luke  10.16. 
 
 X  Mat.2G.21. 
 
 I\I,iikl+,18. 
 
 I-ukr'22.2i. 
 W  ch.  12.27. 
 ;  ActB  1.17. 
 
 IJohD2.ia. 
 
 a  cli.  19.26. 
 Sf  20.  2.  & 
 21.7,20,21. 
 
 b  I.uke22.3. 
 ch.  ti.70. 
 
 (i  ch .  1 2.  23. 
 
 e  ch.  14.  is. 
 
 1  Pet    I,  II. 
 /ch.  17.  1, 
 
 4,  5,  6. 
 
 f  ch.  12.  23. 
 
 A  ch,  7.  3i. 
 Si  8.  21. 
 Lev.  19.  Ifi. 
 nh  15.12,17. 
 Kph    5    2. 
 I  Thes.4  9. 
 
 2.  8. 
 
 1  Pet  1-22 
 1  John2,7, 
 H.  &  8.  II, 
 S3.  &4.  81. 
 
 20  "  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  He  that 
 receiveth  whomsoever  I  send  receiveth  me  : 
 and  he  that  receiveth  me  receiveth  him  that 
 sent  me. 
 
 21  "When  Jesus  had  thus  said,  ^  he  was 
 troubled  in  spirit,  and  testified,  and  said.  Ve- 
 rily, verily,  I  say  unto  you,  that  ^  one  of  you 
 shall  betray  me. 
 
 *J-2  Then  the  disciples  looked  one  on  another, 
 doubting  of  whom  he  spake. 
 
 23  Now  '^  there  was  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom 
 one  of  his  disciples,  whom  Jesus  loved. 
 
 24  Simon  Peter  therefore  beckoned  to  him, 
 that  he  should  ask  who  it  should  be  of  whom 
 he  spake. 
 
 25  He  then  lying  on  Jesus'  bieasl  saith  unto 
 him,  Lord,  w^ho  is  it? 
 
 26  Jesus  answered,  He  it  is,  to  whom  I  shall 
 give  a  II  sop,  when  1  have  dipped  it.  And 
 when  he  had  dipped  the  sop,  he  gave  it  to 
 Judas  Iscariot,  the  son  of  Simon. 
 
 27  ^  And  after  the  sop  Satan  entered  into 
 him.  Then  said  Jesus  unto  him,  That  thou 
 doest,  do  quickly. 
 
 28  Now  no  man  at  the  table  knew  for  what 
 intent  he  spake  tliis  unto  liim. 
 
 29  For  some  of  them  thought,  because  ^Ju- 
 das had  the  bag,  that  Jesus  liad  said  unto  him. 
 Buy  those  things  that  we  have  need  of  against 
 tlie  feast ;  or,  that  he  should  give  something 
 to  the  poor. 
 
 30  He  then  having  received  the  sop  went 
 immediately  out :  and  it  was  night. 
 
 31  H  Therefore,  when  he  was  gone  out,  Jesus 
 said,  '^  Now  is  the  Sou  of  man  glorified,  and 
 '■'  God  is  glorified  in  him. 
 
 32  '  If  God  be  glorified  in  him,  God  shall  also 
 glorify  him  in  himself,  and  ^  shall  straightway 
 glorify  him. 
 
 33  Little  children,  yet  a  little  while  I  am 
 with  you.  Ye  shall  seek  me  :  ''  and  as  I  said 
 unto  the  Jews,  Whither  I  go, ye  cannot  come; 
 so  now  I  say  to  you. 
 
 34  '  A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you. 
 That  ye  love  one  another;  as  I  have  loved 
 you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another. 
 
 oriffinal  may  be  rendered,  *the  devil  having  already  put,'  Sic—Doddr. 
 A.  His  garments,  Iiiana,  'mantle.'  The  word  ifiatiov,  in  the  singular, 
 properly  sitrnifies  'the  upper  garment,  the  mantle;'  but  the  plural  is 
 often  used  for  the  singular,  as  chap.  xix.  23  ;  xxiv.  18  ;  xxvi.  65  ;  xxvii. 
 35. — Camp.  A  towel,  \ivTtov,  or  '  linen  cloth.' — GUI.  Girded  himself, 
 bound  his  other  garments  about  him,  as  was  usual  for  one  who  served. 
 —Ham.  5.  Bason,  a  large  hason,  usually  placed  for  this  purpose 
 
 wherever  the  Jews  supped. — Bens.  Wash  the  diiciples*  feet,  r  well- 
 known  act  of  hospitality  in  ca.'^teru  countries,  (Gen.  xviii.  i ;  xix.  2  ; 
 xxiv.  32.)  It  ultimately  became  the  office  of  the  lowest  menial  ser- 
 vants, (1  Sam.  XXV.  41.) — Wil.  By  this  act  he  signified  the  efBcacy 
 and  value  of  his  precious  blood.— B/*.  Hurd.  8.  //  /  wash  thee  not, 
 
 ^r.,  meaning,  by  a  customary  allusion,  that  without  the  pnnty  of 
 mind  this  act  rei)rcsented  by  cleansing  the  body,  he  could  not  be  a 
 worthy  apostle. — S.  Clarke,  g.  Not  my  feet  onl//-~PeteT.  understand- 
 ing something  of  his  Lord's  design,  is  willing  that  he  should  wash  any 
 part,  rather  llian  not  have  an  interest  in  him. — Boothr.  10.  He  that 
 is  u'i:shed,  XeXoi'iJ.evo'i,  *  he  that  hath  been  bathed,'  whose  whole  body 
 hath  been  washed  in  water.  Needeth  not,  after  that,  to  wash  any  part 
 thereof  except  his  feet.— Bens.,  as  Doddr.  and  Cnmp.  As  the  room  in 
 which  they  dressed  themselves,  after  bathing,  was  different  from  that 
 in  which  they  bathed,  their  feet  might  be  so  soiled  in  walking  from  one 
 to  another  as  to  make  it  necessary  immediately  to  wash  them  again. — 
 Cinrins.  There  may  here  be  an  allusion  to  the  custom  of  guests  tir^t 
 bathing  themselves  before  they  went  to  a  feast ;  but,  as  they  walked 
 commonly  in  sandals,  and  wore  no  stockings,  it  was  usual  to  get  their 
 feet  washed  by  the  servants  of  the  family  before  they  laid  themselves 
 on  the  couches.— C«»i;7.  The  meaning  is,  that  he  who  has  heartily 
 received  the  gospel  will  never  after  need  an  entire  change. — A".  Clarke. 
 14.  \'e  also  ought  to  wash  one  another's  feet — and  why  do  we  not  read 
 of  any  one  apostle  ever  washing  the  feet  of  any  other?  Because  they 
 understood  their  Lord  better.  They  knew  he  never  designed  tliat  this 
 should  be  literally  taken,  but  only  to  teach  them  the  great  lesson  of 
 humble  love. — Betis.  16.  Neither  he  that  is  sent,  ovde  anoajoXo^, 
 
 •nor  an  apostle.'     1  think  these  words  were  intended  for  the  suppres- 
 1127 
 
 sion  of  all  worldly  ambition  and  lordly  conduct  in  tiirapnstles  andiheir 
 successors  in  the  ministry  ;  hence  the  translation  should  be,  *  nor  an 
 apostle.'— r/'irAre.  IS.  /  know  whom  I  have  rhosen,  'I  know  that 
 
 one  of  you  will  forsake  and  betray  me  ;  and  I  knew  from  the  beginning 
 that  so  it  would  be  ;  hereby  Ps.xU.  9.  will  be  fulfilled.'— S.  Clarke.  He 
 that  eateth  Are«(/— this  was  a  peculiar  aggravation  in  the  east,  where 
 the  rites  of  hospitality  were  very  sacred,  and  are  to  this  day.— iVen-c. 
 Lifted  up  the  heefsee  Ps.  xli-  9.  note.  21.  Testified,  spake  openly 
 and  plainly. — Bp.  Mann.  Betray  me,  Ttapa^uyan  fie,  '  will  deliver  me 
 up;'  Judas   had   already  betrayed  him.—Clurke.  23.  Leaning  on 
 
 Jesus'  bosom,  agreeably  to  the  resting  posture  <if  the  easterns  at  meals, 
 who  lie  on  couches,  and  resting  on  the  left  elbow,  so  that  the  head  nf 
 each  guest  was  against  the  bosom  of  the  one  next  above  him.— iJ/*. 
 Maim.  24.  Beckoned,  vevei,  with  a  motion  of  the  head,  i.  e.,  '  nodded.' 
 — Doddr.  Made  signs  to  John,  who  was  so  placed  that  he  could  inquire 
 without  being  heard  by  the  rest. — Bp.  Mann.  26.  A  sup,   \}/ii}/j.tov 
 
 [dim.  of  li/o/ior],  'a  morsel,'  marg.,  so  Camp.  It  answers  to  our  '  bit,' 
 as,  '  a  bit  of  bread.' — Bloomf.  Buxtorf  and  others  inform  us  that  at 
 this  feast  the  Jews  have  a  thick  kind  of  sauce,  called  charoseth,  which 
 is  made  of  dates,  raisins,  and  other  ingredients,  to  about  the  con- 
 sistence of  a  thick  paste,  to  represent  the  clay  with  which  their  fathers 
 wrought  in  Egypt.  In  this  sauce  it  is  supposed  that  our  Lord  dipped 
 the  sop  which  he  gave  to  Judas. —  Wil.  27-  Entered  into  hiyn,  with 
 
 great  violence.— i>orf//r.  32.  //  God  be  glorified,  §-c.~it  was  for  the 
 
 honour  of  God  that  Christ  should  suffer  the  ignominious  death  of  the 
 cross,  (see  Heb.  xii.  2;  chap.  xxi.  ig  ;  1  Pet.  iv.  l6j  I  Cor.  vi.  20;)  and 
 it  was  for  the  honour  of  Chri.st  that  he  should  rise  again  from  the  dead, 
 should  ascend,  Stc.—  VVets.  33.  Little  children,  reKi-ui,  may  be  ex- 
 
 pressed in  English,  '  my  dear  children.'  A  term  of  affection  which  was, 
 in  ancient  times,  employed  by  masters  towards  their  de|)endents,  (since 
 they  were  regarded  as  parents,}  and  especially  by  spiritual  instructors 
 towards  their  pupils,  (see  2  Kings,  ii.  12;  lCor.iv.i5;  Gal.iv.ig.)— 
 Bloomf.  31.  A  new  commandment,  ^c,  that  is,  a  very  excellent  one, 
 as  'a  new  name,*  and  '  a  new  song,'  denote  excellent  ones  ;  or  it  is  so 
 called  because  it  is  set  forth  by  Christ  in  a  new  edition  of  it,  and  newly 
 
Christ  comfurtelh  his  disciples. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  XIV. 
 
 The  Comforter  promised. 
 
 35  '  By  this  shall  all  7nen  know  that  ye  are 
 my  disciples,  if  ye  have  love  one  to  another. 
 
 36  If  Simon  Peter  said  unto  him,  Loid,  whi- 
 ther goest  thou?  Jesus  answered  him.  Whi- 
 ther I  go,  thou  canst  not  follow  me  now  ;  but 
 '  thou  shall  follow  nie  afterwards. 
 
 37  Peter  said  unto  him.  Lord,  why  cannot 
 I  follow  thee  now?  I  will  "'  lay  down  my  life 
 for  thy  sake. 
 
 38  Jesus  answered  him.  Wilt  thou  lay  down 
 thy  life  for  my  sake  ?  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
 unto  thee.  The  cock  shall  not  crow,  till  thou 
 hast  denied  me  thrice. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 I  Christ  cnmfurteth  his  disciples  with  the  hnpe  of 
 heaven  :  (J  professcth  himself  the  way^  the  truths  and 
 the  life,  and  one  with  the  father  :  13  u&sur.th  their 
 prayers  in  his  name  to  be  effectiud :  \h  reipiestrth 
 litre  ami  obedicnee,  IG  jtroiniseth  the  Iluly  fihosl  the 
 Comforter,  27  and  leaveth  his  }}eace  with  them. 
 
 T  ET  °  not  your  heart  be  troubled  :  ye  he- 
 J-'  lieve  in  God,  believe  also  in  me. 
 
 2  In  my  father's  house  are  many  mansions  : 
 if  it  tcere  not  so,  I  would  have  told  you.  ''I 
 go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you. 
 
 3  And  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you, 
 "■  I  will  come  again,  and  receive  you  unto  my- 
 self; that  ''where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also. 
 
 4  And  whither  I  go  ye  know,  and  the  way 
 ye  know. 
 
 5  Thomas  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  we  know  not 
 whither  thou  goest;  and  how  can  we  know  the 
 way? 
 
 6  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  am  °  the  way. '  the 
 truth,  and  *  the  life  :  ''  no  man  cometh  unto  the 
 Father,  but  by  me. 
 
 7  '  If  ye  had  known  me,  ye  should  have 
 known  my  father  also  :  and  from  henceforth 
 ye  know  him,  and  have  seen  him. 
 
 8  Philip  saith  unto  him,  Lord,  shew  us  the 
 
 A.  D.  SS. 
 
 A.  P.  33. 
 
 *IJuI.i.J.5 
 
 JV  4.  -At. 
 
 k,-h.  12.  46 
 
 Col.  I.  Vj. 
 
 Heb.  1.  3. 
 
 trU.  2i.  lA 
 
 ■2  Pet.  1  H. 
 
 I  ver.  20. 
 
 n   Mat.  26. 
 
 ^!^  17.  21, 
 
 :i3,  .ti.as. 
 
 23. 
 
 M  ;irV  1 4  ','!•, 
 
 •nch.b.   1U. 
 
 rlii,:1l.  Luke 
 
 S(  7.  Ifi.  & 
 
 •,i2.  M,  ;ti. 
 
 s  2».  hl  m 
 
 49. 
 
 «  ch.  5.  .%, 
 
 &  Hi.  SS. 
 
 «  Mat, 21. 21 
 
 Milrkhi  17 
 
 ft  I'll.  12.  2ti 
 Ik  17.  21. 
 1X1168.4.17, 
 
 -■  Hi^b   0,  8. 
 feU.  1.  17. 
 
 ft  H.  a2. 
 y  ch.  I  -  4.  i 
 
 11.26. 
 h  eh.  III.  9- 
 ■  til.  H.  19. 
 
 ;.  Mat.  7.  7. 
 ft  21.  S2. 
 M. irk  11.2  V. 
 Lulft  II  !• 
 ch. 16.7,  Ifi. 
 k  Iti.  2.S.24. 
 
 IJohn3.22. 
 
 fc  5.  14. 
 J  ver.  21.23. 
 
 ch.t5.UMI. 
 
 I  John  &.  3. 
 T  ch.  15.  26. 
 
 fc  16.  7. 
 
 Knm.  8.  15. 
 
 26. 
 
 »  ch.  15.  8fi. 
 
 H  IG.  13 
 
 I  J»hii  4.6. 
 *  1  C..r.  i.  14. 
 
 u  1  Jnhn  2. 
 
 27. 
 X  Mftt.2S2it 
 
 V  ver.  S.  28. 
 
 t  ch.  1(1.  Ifi. 
 1  I  Cor.  IS. 
 2n. 
 
 i  Tcr.  10. 
 clt.  10  3A.  A 
 1 7 -2 1, 23, 2G 
 
 Father,  and  it  siifficeth  us. 
 
 9  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Have  I  been  so  long 
 time  with  you,  and  yet  hast  tliou  not  known 
 me,  Phihp?  Mie  that  hath  seen  me  hath  seen 
 the  Father  ;  and  how  sayest  thou  then  Shew 
 us  the  Father? 
 
 10  Believest  thou  not  that  '  I  am  in  tlie 
 Fatlier,  and  the  Father  in  me  ?  the  words  that 
 I  speak  unto  you  *"  I  speak  not  of  myself:  hut 
 the  Father  that  dwelleth  in  me,  he  doetli  the 
 works. 
 
 1 1  Beheve  me  that  I  am  in  the  Father,  and 
 the  Father  in  me  :  "  or  else  believe  me  for  the 
 very  works'  .sake. 
 
 \-2  '■  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that 
 believeth  on  me,  tlie  works  tliat  I  do  .shall  he 
 do  also  ;  and  greater  iroi-hs  than  these  shall  he 
 do  ;  because  1  go  unto  my  Father. 
 
 13  ^  And  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name, 
 that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father  may  be  glorified 
 in  the  Son, 
 
 14  If  ye  shall  ask.  anything  in  my  name,  I 
 will  do  it. 
 
 15  IT ''If  ye  love  me,  keep  my  command- 
 ments. 
 
 IG  And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  '  he  shall 
 give  you  another  Comforter,  that  he  may  abide 
 with  you  for  ever  ; 
 
 17  Evc7i  **  the  Spirit  of  truth;  '  wliom  the 
 world  cannot  receive,  because  it  seeth  him  not, 
 neither  kuoweth  him  :  but  ye  know  him  ;  for 
 he  dwelleth  with  yon,  *' and  shall  be  in  you. 
 
 18  *  I  will  not  leave  you  |{  comfortless:  ^I 
 will  come  to  you. 
 
 19  Yet  a  little  while,  and  the  world  seeth  me 
 no  more  ;  but  ^  ye  see  me  :  "  because  1  live, 
 ye  shall  live  also. 
 
 20  At  that  day  ye  shall  know  that  *•  I  am  in 
 my  Father,  and  ye  in  ine,  and  I  in  you. 
 
 21  ^  He  that  hath  my  conunandments,  and 
 keepeth  them,  he  it  is  that  loveth  me  :  and  he 
 
 and  more  clearly  explained  than  before;  and  being  enforced  with  a 
 new  argument  ami  pattern  never  used  before,  '  as  I  have  lnvcd  you.' 
 — Gill.  This  means  nicie  than  a  renewed  command,  and  that  the  en- 
 p^aprements  to  mutual  love  jicculiar  to  the  Christian  dispensation  ares-in- 
 pular  and  cogent  beyond  all  others. — So  Dndilr.  Every  schoul  has  its 
 ijisifjnehy  which  it  may  tic  distinguished.  The  Pharisees,  by  their  re. 
 ception  of  traditions  and  zeal  for  ritual  observances-,  the  disciples  of 
 John  the  Ilaptist  by  the  austerity  of  their  life,  and  their  frequent  fast- 
 ings; but  Jesus  wished  the  characteristic  and  criterion  of  his  followers 
 to  be  mutual  love.  —  Grot.  3vi.  The  cofk  shall  not  crow,  §rr.  — it  is  very 
 common  in  the  east  to  rcgidate  the  time  in  the  night  by  the  crowing 
 of  the  cock  ;  as,  the  midnit;ht  rnck  and  the  morning  cock,  llie  people 
 attach  a  high  value  t<»  thusc  birds  which  crow  with  the  greatest  regu- 
 larity ;  and  some  of  them  keep  the  time  with  astonishing  precision.— 
 Jloh.     See  Malt.  xxvi.  ^4,  notes. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  1.  Be  tronhted,  lapnatjfadta,  '  be  not  SO  troubled  as  to 
 be  put  into  a  hurry  and  confusion,  like  the  troubled  sea.  Be  not  ruf- 
 rted  and  discomposed,  he  not  cast  down  and  disquieted,'  (Ps.xlii,  6.) — 
 Hen.  Ye  beliece  in  Gud,  fyc,  TTttmvcii  eiv  -rnv  iHov,  kui  eit  ffis  wiOTf  I'tTC, 
 *  believe  iu  God,  believe  also  in  me.'  *  Uelieve' would  here  be  better 
 rendered*  trust.* — M.Ouod  ;  so  the  Syr.,  Arab.,  Luther,  Dvddr,,  Weslei/, 
 Camp.,  Bonthr.,  he.  '  Place  your  confidence  in  God,  and  in  mc,  as  tlie 
 Mediator  between  God  and  man. — A.  Clarke.  The  form  of  our  trans- 
 lation is  preferred  by  Bezn,  Grotius,  &c.  2.  My  Father's  house,  i.  e., 
 heaven.— B/oom/.  Mnni/  mansiutis,  probably  alluding  to  the  various 
 apartments  in  the  temple,  and  the  vast  number  of  persons  lodged  there. 
 ~Le  Moyne.  He  alludes  to  the  palaces  of  kings.— /.ft-jw.  3.  To  /»»■*•- 
 pare  a  place — this  is  prepared  in  the  Divine  purpose,  (Matt.  xxv.  34,) 
 
 and  by  Christ,  as  our  High  Priest,  purifying  the  heavenly  places  in 
 which  we  are  to  dwell,  which  wonld  otiicrwise  have  been  considereii 
 as  polluted  by  the  entrance  of  such  sinful  creatures  into  them.  1  will 
 come  a/^ain,  refers  to  Christ's  solemn  appearance  at  the  last  day,  and 
 the  death  of  every  particular  believer  is  Christ's  coming  to  fetch  him 
 home. — Doddr.  5.  How  can  we  know  the  ivny  7 — Thomas  seemed  to 
 have  fancied  that  Christ  was  talking  of  some  particular  place  in  Judca, 
 whither  he  waa  (coing,  and  of  the  road  to  it, — Gill.  6.  The  way,  that 
 leads  to  the  Father.  The  truth,  that  teaches  the  knowledge  of  God. 
 The  life,  that  animates  all  those  that  seek  and  ser\  c  him.  H.  Shew 
 U.1  the  Father — Uie  Jews  conceived  such  gross  ideas  of  the  essence  of 
 Deity,  that  they  would  believe  no  one,  except  him  to  whom  God  had 
 manifested  himself  by  a  certain  external  and  visible  symbol.  This 
 error  the  disciples  of  Christ  also  had  imWibed. —Schoettgen.  1 1.  For 
 the  very  works*  suke,  intending  not  merely  the  miracles  themselves, 
 but  his  sovereign,  godlike  way  of  performing  them. — Guy.se.  12.  Shall 
 he  do,  heal  the  sick,  cast  out  devils,  &c. — Guyse,  Gill.  Greater  works. 
 ^c— speaking  in  all  foreign  tongues,  giving  the  Spirit  by  iinp(»sition  of 
 hands,  &c. — Doddr.  it  means,  not  greater  in  kind,  but  mure  in  num- 
 ber.— Gill,  so  Whithy.  Ifi.  Another  Comforter,  IlnpaKXtiToi,  the  word 
 also  signifies  'an  advocate,*  *a  defender  of  a  cause,'  'a  counsellor,' 
 '  a    patron,'    'a  mediator.'  —  Clarke.  18.  Comfortless,     npt^mvovVf 
 
 '  orphans,'  a  word  elegantly  apjilied  to  those  who  have  lost  any  dear 
 frieud. — Eisner,  so  Doddr.  and  Camp.  The  word  is  an  adjective,  and 
 properly  means  'destitute.' — Bloomf.  ly.  Because  I  lire,  fyr.,  'as 
 surely  as  I  shall  rise  from  the  dead,  so  shall  ye  :  my  resurrection  shall 
 be  the  proof  and  pledge  of  yours.'— ^.  6^/ur/fe.  20.  That  dnij,  may 
 either  mean  of  the  resurrection,  or  descent  of  the  Spirit,  or  of  living 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XIII,  —  Here,  I.  Christ  washes  the 
 disci ples'feet.  Can  we  have  a  finer  practical  enforcenicnt  of 
 the  command,  '  Bo  clothed  with  humility  V 
 
 II.  Christ  predicts  the  apostasy  of  .Juiins.  And  he  knows  who 
 are  his  pretended  and  who  his  real  disciples.  The  mere  pro- 
 fessor of  rehgion  may  deceive  the  world  and  the  church,  but 
 he  cannot  deceive  Christ.     lie  knows  who  shall  betray  him. 
 
 III.  Christ  yivcs  his  disciples  a  7tciv  commandment.  Alas  .  Iiow 
 little  is  this  observed  !     CLrislians  of  dift'erent  persuasions 
 
 1128 
 
 instead  of  loving  each  other,  cannot  agree  to  differ.  Let  one 
 endeavour  to  shew  another  the  faults  of  his  system,  and  con- 
 tentions ensue,  and  violent  passions  burst  forth.  The  world 
 witness  the  inconijruous  scene  to  the  dis;:;race  of  Christ's  reli- 
 gion, and  Satan  beholds  the  schism  made  wider  with  inex- 
 pressible delight.  The  conversion  of  the  world  can  never  be 
 expected  till  this  commandment  be  better  regarded,  and  men 
 shall  be  found  to  exclaim,  '  See  how  these  Christians  love  !' 
 
Christ  leaveth  his  peace  with  them. 
 
 S.JOHN,  XV. 
 
 Love  between  Christ  and  his  members. 
 
 that  lovetli  me  shall  be  loved  of  my  Father, 
 and  I  will  love  him,  and  will  manifebt  myself 
 to  him. 
 
 22  ''  .ludas  saith  unto  liini,  not  Iscaiiot,  Lord, 
 how  is  it  that  thon  wilt  manifest  tliyself  nnto 
 us,  and  not  unto  the  woild? 
 
 23  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  °  U  a 
 man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my  words  :  and  my 
 Father  will  love  hiin,  'and  we  will  come  unto 
 him,  and  make  our  abode  witli  him. 
 
 24  He  that  loveth  me  not  keepeth  not  my 
 sayings  :  and  "^  the  word  whicli  ye  hear  is  not 
 mine,  but  the  Father's  which  sent  me. 
 
 25  These  things  have  1  spoken  unto  you, 
 being  yet  present  with  you. 
 
 2(i  But  ''  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  whom  the  Father  will  send  in  my  name, 
 '  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  all 
 things  to  your  remembrance,  whatsoever  I  have 
 said  unto  you. 
 
 27  '  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give 
 unto  you  :  not  as  the  world  giveth.give  I  nnto 
 you.  '  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither 
 let  it  be  afraid. 
 
 28  Ye  have  heard  how  "'  I  said  unto  yon,  I 
 go  away,  and  come  again  nnto  you.  If  ye 
 loved  me,  ye  would  rejoice,  because  I  .said,  "  1 
 go  unto  the  Father  :  for  "  my  Father  is  greater 
 than  L 
 
 29  And  ''  now  I  have  told  you  before  it  come 
 to  pass,  that,  when  it  is  come  to  pass,  ye  might 
 believe. 
 
 30  Hereafter  1  will  not  talk  much  with  you  : 
 "^  for  the  prince  of  this  world  cometh,  and  hath 
 nothing  in  me. 
 
 31  But  that  the  world  may  know  that  I  love 
 the  Father  ;  and  'as  the  Father  gave  me  com- 
 mandment, even  so  I  do.  Arise,  let  us  go 
 hence. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 1  The  consolation  and  mututd  lore  between  Christ  and 
 his  meml.ers,  under  the  partible  of  the  vine.  \8  A 
 comfort  in  tlie  hatred  and  pcrscculion  of  the  world. 
 
 26  The  office  of  the  Holy  Ghost  j  and  of  the  apoUles. 
 
 T  AM  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father  is  the 
 •*-   hu-sbandinan. 
 
 2  ^  Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not  fruit 
 he  taketh  away:  and  every  branch  that  beareth 
 fruit,  he  purgeth  it,  that  it  may  bring  forth  more 
 fruit. 
 
 3  ^  Now  ye  are  clean  through  the  word  which 
 I  have  spoken  unto  you. 
 
 d  Luke  r>.ic. 
 
 '  vor.  10. 
 ch.5.l9,:« 
 k.  7.  Iti.  & 
 
 ■19. 
 
 I  ver.  16. 
 Luke24.49. 
 
 A  ai'.  17. 
 «  SL-e  ch.  S. 
 
 18  fc  lO.HU. 
 
 I'liil.  2.  6. 
 f>  rli.  l:i.  19. 
 
 &  Iti.  4. 
 
 Phil. 
 Heb. 
 
 E|.h.  5 
 1  Ptl.  I 
 
 d  Hns.  M.S. 
 Pliil,  I.  n. 
 
 fi  \.  I  a. 
 
 Il  Ot,teve>ed 
 fr...u  n.r, 
 A.tsl    13. 
 e  -Milt.  :*.  lU. 
 
 &  7.  ly. 
 
 /ver.  IG. 
 
 ch.U.I3,lt. 
 
 &   IB.  'A. 
 g  M.it.  5.  16. 
 
 Pbil.  I.  II. 
 A  cb.  S.  S\. 
 
 "    13.  35. 
 
 ch.  II.  I.% 
 2i,2:i. 
 
 *ch.  IG.  24. 
 f<  17.  13. 
 I  Joliu  1.4. 
 
 /ch.  13.  Si. 
 
 i  TheB.4  9, 
 
 I  Pet.t.  8. 
 
 1  John  3.1 1. 
 
 &4.  21. 
 m  ch.  HI.  II, 
 
 15.  Kn)n.5 
 
 7,  9.  Hphos. 
 
 5   2.  I  John 
 
 3.  16. 
 n  ch     11.  15, 
 
 S3.Se«Mat. 
 
 VZ.  50. 
 
 oSeeGen  IS. 
 17cb.l7  i'G. 
 Acts  -JO.  27. 
 
 /)  ch.  6.  70. 
 &  13.   IS 
 l.rohii  t.lO, 
 19 
 
 q  Mat.iS  19 
 Murklfi  13- 
 Col    I,  fi. 
 
 I.  13. 
 12. 
 
 u  I  John  1.5. 
 j-ch.  17.  IJ. 
 
 V  Mat.  10  -M. 
 Luke  (i  40. 
 ch.   13.  16. 
 
 4  '^  Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As  the  branch 
 cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself,  except  it  abide  in 
 the  vine  ;  no  more  cau  ye,  except  ye  abide  in 
 me. 
 
 3  I  am  tiie  vine,  ye  are  the  branches  :  He 
 ihat  abideth  in  me,  and  1  in  him,  the  same 
 bringeth  fortli  much  ^  fruit :  for  ||  without  me 
 ye  can  do  nothing. 
 
 G  If  a  man  abide  not  in  me,  ^he  is  cast  fortli 
 as  a  branch,  and  is  witiiered  ;  and  men  gather 
 them,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire,  and  they  are 
 burned, 
 
 7  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words  abide  in 
 you,  ^  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be 
 done  unto  you. 
 
 8  ^  Herein  is  my  Father  glorified,  that  ye 
 bear  much  fruit ;  ""so  sliall  ye  be  my  disciples. 
 
 9  As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have  I 
 loved  you  :  continue  ye  in  my  love. 
 
 lU  'If  ye  keep  my  commandments,  ye  shall 
 abide  in  my  love  ;  even  as  I  have  kept  my 
 Father's  commandments,  and  abide  in  his  love. 
 
 II  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you, 
 that  my  joy  might  remain  in  you,  and  ^  that 
 your  joy  might  be  full. 
 
 1*2  '  Tliis  is  my  commandment,  That  ye  love 
 one  another,  as  I  liave  loved  you. 
 
 1 3  "'  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that 
 a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends. 
 
 14  ""  Ye  are  my  friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever 
 I  command  you. 
 
 15  Hencefortli  I  call  you  not  servants;  for 
 the  servant  knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth  : 
 but  I  have  called  you  friends  ;  °  for  all  things 
 that  1  have  heard  of  my  Father  I  have  made 
 known  unto  you. 
 
 10  ^  Ye  have  not  chosen  me,  but  I  have 
 chosen  you,  and  ''  ordained  yon,  that  ye  should 
 go  and  bring  forth  fruit,  and  that  your  fruit 
 should  remain  :  that  '  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 
 of  the  Fatlier  in  my  name,  he  may  give  it  you. 
 
 17  ^  These  things  1  command  you,  that  ye 
 love  one  another. 
 
 18  '  If  the  world  hate  you,  ye  know  that  it 
 hated  me  before  it  hated  you. 
 
 19  "  If  ye  were  of  the  world,  the  world  would 
 love  his  own  :  but  ^  because  ye  are  not  of  the 
 world,  but  I  have  chosen  you  out  of  the  world, 
 therefore  the  world  hateth  you. 
 
 20  Remember  the  word  that  I  said  unto  you, 
 ^  The  servant  is  not  greater  than  his  lord.  If 
 they  have  persecuted  me,  they  will  also  perse- 
 
 with  him  in  heaven.     22.  Judas— Xh\s  Judas  was  the  brotlier  of  James, 
 (Luke,  vi.  l6.;     How  is  it?  '  what  wondcnul  kindness  is  this?' 
 
 Chap.  XV.— 1.  The  true  rme— perhaps  spoken  while  flrinking:  the 
 last  Clip. — .S".  Clarke.  Perhaps  ihe  vines  which  they  met  with  on  their 
 road  from  Bethany  to  Gcth^emane  might  have  given  rise  to  this  dis- 
 course,— A.  Clarke  .-  or,  perhaps,  the  great  chamber  mitrht  have  a  view 
 of  some  neighbouring  vineyards.— ll'iV.  The  Jewish  church  had  been 
 symbolized  in  the  Old  Testament  by  a  choice  vine,  (Ps.  Ixxx.  8—11  ; 
 Isa.  V.  1—7;  Jer.  ii.  'J I  ;)  but  when  this  highly -favouied  vine  degener- 
 ated, it  was  threatened  to  be  rooted  up  and  superseded  by  the  Chris- 
 tian church,  founded  in  Christ  himself,  as  the  true  vine,  (;f  which  bis 
 disciples  were  to  be  the  members,  or  branches.  But  the  disciples  are 
 warned  tliat  in  this  also  God  wonld  cut  off  every  barren  branch. — 
 Hales.     The  expression  intimates  the  close  union  between  Christ  and 
 
 his  church.  Mij  Father  is  the  husbayidmun,  implying  his  care  of  the 
 church. — atanhope.  2.  Furgeth  it,  dresses  and  prunes  it.— B/;.  Mann, 
 as  Le  Clerc.  3.  Ye  are  clean,  Katiapoi  eare, '  ye  are  pruned.'  5.  With-^ 
 out  me,  '  separate  from  me.' — Duddr.  '  Severed  from  me.*— Camp. 
 ".  Ash  what  ye  will,  seems  chiefly  to  be  meaut  oi  the  gilt  of  miracles. 
 — S.  Clarke.  10.  Ye  shall  abide  in  vii>  love,  enjoy  its  continuance. — 
 Hunt.  II.  That  mil  jni/  might    remttin    in  you,    iva   i\   Xupj.  I'l  e/iij  tv 
 
 v/iiv  neiPt},  '  that  I  may  continue  to  have  joy  in  you.*— Camp.  Ui.  / 
 hare  cho'sert  you,  '  by  my  sovereign  and  effectual  grace,  to  the  honotir- 
 able  office  of  my  apcstles  and  ambassadors.' — Doddr.  Fruit,  the 
 fruirs  of  the  apostolic  ofiire. — Tiffman,  so  Baxter.  That  your  fruit 
 should  rf^main,  that  the  blessed  effect  of  it  should  continue  to  the 
 remotest  generations.  18.  //  hated  vie  before  it  hated  you,  tfit  nptc- 
 Tov  vfi.i,}v  ti.etiiat\Kev,  '  it  hated  me,  your  chief.' — Doddr.      *  The  chief  of 
 
 Refi.ectiovs    on   Cn.\p.  XIV ^  Let  us  remember  that  it 
 
 was  not  for  the  apostles  clone  that  Christ  icent  to  prepare  a  place. 
 He  has  entered  into  heaven  as  the  forerunner  of  all  his  be- 
 lieving people;  and,  by  virtue  of  their  union  to  bim,  they 
 may  be  said  to  sit  together  witii  liim  in  heavenly  places.  Let 
 us  seek  that  better  country,  and  he  continually  advancing  to- 
 wards it.  We  know  the  way,  we  bear  the  truth,  and,  ()  that 
 we  may  feel  and  enjoy  ihe  life  ! 
 
 II.  '  We  are  reminded  that,  as  believers,  we  ounht  not  to  look  imon 
 
 11-29  '^ 
 
 ourstlvfs,  in  avij  circumstances,  as  abandoned  and  deserted  orphans. 
 JMen  may  forsake  us,  and  persecute  us  ;  but  Christ  will  come 
 unto  us,  and  manifest  himself  to  the  eye  of  faith,  though  to 
 the  eye  of  sense  he  is  insensible.  The  Father  will  also  love 
 us  and  watch  over  us  for  good  ;  yea,  he  will  come  and  dwell 
 with  us  by  his  Spirit  and  gracious  presence.  And  if  so,  what 
 reason  have  we  to  adopt  the  language  of  his  apostle — '  Lord, 
 how  is  it  that  thou  wilt  manifest  thvself  to  us,  and  not  unto 
 the  world  ?'  ^ 
 
 7  E 
 
The  office  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  XVI.      Tlic  disciples  comforted  against  trihulutioH. 
 
 cute  you  ;  '  if  tliey  have  kept  niy  saying,  they 
 will  keep  your's  also. 
 
 21  But  "all  these  things  will  they  do  unto 
 you  for  my  name's  sake,  because  they  know 
 not  him  that  sent  me. 
 
 22  '■  If  I  had  not  come  and  spoken  unto  them, 
 they  had  not  had  sin  :  "  but  now  they  have  no 
 II  cloke  for  tlieir  sin. 
 
 23  ■'  He  that  hateth  me  liateth  my  Father 
 also. 
 
 24  If  I  had  not  done  among  them  "  the  works 
 which  none  other  man  did,  they  had  not  had 
 sin :  but  now  have  they  both  seen  and  hated 
 both  me  and  my  Father. 
 
 25  But  //)(.'.■  cijniclh  to  puss,  that  the  word 
 miglit  lie  fulfilled  that  is  written  in  their  law, 
 '  Tiiey  hated  me  without  a  cause. 
 
 2G  ^  But  when  the  Comforter  is  come,  whom 
 I  will  send  unto  you  from  the  Father,  even 
 the  Spirit  of  truth,  which  proceedeth  from  the 
 Father,  •■  he  shall  testify  of  me  : 
 
 27  And  '  ye  also  shall  bear  witness,  because 
 '  ye  have  been  with  me  from  the  beginning. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 1  Clirht  conifurteth  his  dinciphs  against  trilndutinn  hy 
 ilif  promise  of  the  Hoiy  Ghost,  and  by  his  restoTCC- 
 t ion  and  ascnision:  2'3  assure th  their  prayers  made 
 in  his  name  to  be  acceptable  to  his  Father.  33  Pnace 
 in  Christi  and  in  the  world  affiiction. 
 
 T^HESE  tilings  have  I  .spoken  unto  you,  tliat 
 -*■    ye  "  should  not  be  offended. 
 
 2  ^  They  sliall  put  you  out  of  the  synagogues  : 
 yea,  the  time  conieth,  "  that  whosoever  killcth 
 you  will  think  that  lie  doeth  God  service. 
 
 3  And  ■'  those  things  will  they  do  unto  you, 
 because  they  have  not  known  the  Father,  nor 
 me. 
 
 4  But  '^  these  things  have  I  told  you,  that 
 when  the  time  shall  come,  ye  may  remember 
 that  I  told  you  of  them.  And  ''  these  things  I 
 said  not  unto  you  at  the  beginning,  because  1 
 
 A.  D.  S3. 
 
 =  Eaek.  3.  7. 
 -1  Mat- 1 0.22. 
 cli.  16.  3. 
 
 b  ell.?.  41. 
 
 c  Rnin.  1.20 
 Jam.  4  17 
 II  Or,  excuif. 
 
 d  I  Jolin  S. 
 28. 
 
 /Ps.  35.  19. 
 
 &  tip.  ■! 
 g  Luke  24 
 ■19.  ch    1  I. 
 
 17,  sr...>^if,. 
 
 7,  13    Aots 
 •2  H,S. 
 h  1  John  5  6. 
 
 t"  Lulie2t  48. 
 
 Acts  1  8,21. 
 
 2-2,  «!  2  3a. 
 
 &3.15.  &4. 
 
 21  >.  33.  fc  5. 
 
 32  &  ll»,;(9. 
 
 &  1.3.  31. 
 
 I.  Pet.  5.1 
 
 2  Pet.  l.lfi. 
 k  Luke  1.  2. 
 
 1  Jolin  I.  1, 
 
 aMat.ll.e. 
 
 ft  24.  lO.Jk 
 
 •26.  31. 
 fci-li.  *t.  2?. 
 
 Si  &  1«.'V2 
 c  Acta  S.  I. 
 
 fc  9.  l.ll:  26 
 
 9,  10.  II. 
 rfch.  1.^.  21. 
 
 Horn,  in.  ?. 
 
 I  Cor.  2.  8 
 
 1  Tim. 1,13. 
 flcli.  13.  ly. 
 
 &  14.  S9. 
 
 /  Sno  Mat. 
 
 A.D.  33. 
 
 ?ver.  10, 10 
 oh.  7.  ;13. 
 &  13.  3.  & 
 14.  23. 
 
 'i  vcr.  S?. 
 cli.  U.  1. 
 
 ch. 
 
 .  39. 
 
 14.16,26. 
 
 &  15    26. 
 k  Acts  2.  33 
 
 Eph.  4.  8. 
 II  *lr. 
 
 convina. 
 
 I  Acts  2.  22 
 
 —37. 
 
 ".Acts 2.  32. 
 H  ch.  3.  14. 
 
 &  5.  S2. 
 a  ActeSe.lS. 
 pLukelO.lS. 
 
 ch.  12.31, 
 
 Eph.  2.  2. 
 
 Col.  2.  15. 
 
 Heh.2    14. 
 V  Mark  4  ai 
 
 1  Cor.  3.  2. 
 
 Heb.5.  12. 
 r  ch.  14.  17, 
 
 f*  15.  26. 
 *ch.  14.  26 
 
 1  Jnhn  2. 
 
 20,  27. 
 
 '  Mill. II. 27, 
 rh.  X.  35.  f« 
 l.S.  3.  &  17. 
 
 was  with  you. 
 
 5  But  now  '''I  go  my  way  to  him  that  sent 
 me  ;  and  none  of  you  asketh  me.  Whither  goest 
 thou  ? 
 
 (}  But  because  I  have  said  these  things  unto 
 you,  ^sorrow  hath  filled  your  heart. 
 
 7  Nevertheless  1  tell  you  the  truth  ;  It  is  ex- 
 pedient for  you  that  1  go  away  :  for  if  1  go  not 
 away,  '  the  Comforter  will  not  come  unto  you  ; 
 but  ''  if  1  depart,  I  will  send  him  unto  you. 
 
 8  And  when  he  is  come,  he  will  ||  reprove 
 the  work!  of  sin,  and  of  righteousness,  and  of 
 judgment : 
 
 9  '  Of  sin,  because  they  believe  not  on  me  ; 
 
 10  '"  Of  righteousness,  "  because  1  go  to  my 
 Father,  and  ye  see  me  no  more  ; 
 
 11  "  Of  judgment,  because  ''the  prince  of  this 
 world  is  judged. 
 
 12  I  have  yet  many  things  to  say  unto  you, 
 ''but  ye  cannot  bear  them  now. 
 
 13  Howbeit  when  he,  '  the  Spirit  of  truth,  is 
 come,  *  he  will  guide  you  into  all  truth  :  for  he 
 shall  not  speak  of  himself;  but  whatsoever  he 
 shall  hear,  that  shall  he  speak  :  and  he  will 
 shew  you  thing.s  to  c6me. 
 
 14  He  shall  glorify  me  :  for  he  shall  receive 
 of  mine,  and  shall  shew  if  unto  you. 
 
 15  ^  All  things  that  the  Father  hath  are  mine  : 
 therefore  said  I,  that  he  shall  take  of  mine,  and 
 shall  shew  it  unto  you. 
 
 16  "  A  little  while,  and  ye  shall  not  see  me  : 
 and  again,  a  little  while,  and  ye  shall  see  me, 
 ''■  because  I  go  to  the  Father. 
 
 17  Then  said  some  of  his  disciples  anion;: 
 themselves.  What  is  this  tiiat  he  saitli  unto  ns. 
 A  little  while,  and  ye  shall  not  see  me  :  and 
 again,  a  little  while, and  ye  shall  see  me:  and, 
 Because  I  go  to  the  Father? 
 
 18  They  said  tlierefore,  Wfiat  is  this  that  he 
 saith,  A  little  while?  we  cannot  tell  what  he 
 saith. 
 
 19  Now  Jesus  knew  that  they  were  desirous 
 
 you,  your  Lord  and  head.'— Oi7/.  22.  Not  hfid  ain.  the  peculiar  sin 
 of  rejecting  the  Messiah.— Ltg-Ai/.  Coiti|)aratively  have  had  no  sin. 
 25.  This  Cometh  to  pass,  '  is  permitted.' — DmUtr. 
 
 Chap.  XVI.— 1.  iVo(  he  offended,  \vu  y.i\  oKnvha^iaOt^ye,  'that  ye 
 should  not  be  stumbled.* — A.  Clarke.  *  Discouraced.  and  drawn  to 
 renounce  ynur  profession.'— /^orfrfr.,  so  Ba.rter,  Whitby,  Guyse,  and 
 Gill.  '  That  ye  may  not  offend.'— 7I*io(/ir.  2.  Put  you  out,  SfC,  '  ex- 
 communicate yen.*— lip.  Mavn.  See  chap.  ix.  34,  note.  Doeth  Gud 
 seri'ire,  5oft/  \,npciav  Trpoir^epeiv  ti^  ©fy,  '  offer eth  God  service'  '  Will 
 think  lie  offlretli  sacrifice  to  God.'—Cump.,  as  Leiffhton.  This  is  a  rule 
 with  the  Jew<;,  and  which  they  form  upon  the  instance  and  example  of 
 Phinehas.  '  that  whoever  sheds  the  blood  of  wicked  men,  (and  such 
 they  reckoned  the  apostles  and  followers  of  Christ  to  be,)  it  is  all  one 
 as  if  he  oftercd  a  sacrifice.* — See  Gill.  4.  I  was  with  you,  'and  sup- 
 ported you  by  my  immediate  presence.* — A'.  Clarke.  5.  Asketh  me, 
 so  as  to  receive  an  answer  which  they  understood. — Boothr.  They 
 ask  neither  about  the  place  he  was  going'  to,  (chap.  xiv.  2,)  nor  the 
 way  to  it,  nor  the  happiness  to  be  enjoyed  there.— (?f7/.  7.  E.rpe- 
 ftient— the  Kpirit  was  not  to  be  given  in  so  abundant  a  manner  until  he 
 was  glorified. — Boothr.  The  Comforter — the  Spirit  is  represented  as 
 being  to  the  church  in  the  place  of  Christ,  and  for  this  reason  is  styled 
 '  the  Comforter,'  because  his  proper  office  is,  in  the  absence  of  Christ, 
 to  comfort  the  faithful  with  his  gifts  and  graces  until  our  Lord's  second 
 coming.— r/rtcfre.  8.  Reproue,  eAe7fti.  'convince,'  (enmp.  chap.  viii. 
 0.  46  ;  1  Cor.  xiv.  24  ;  Tit.  i.  9  ;  and  James,  ii.  9.)~I)oddr.,  so  Camp. 
 O/jPHrf/fmeH^  that  is,  divine  judgment,  soon  to  be  manifested  in  the 
 pimishment  of  an  incredulous  nation,  and  in  defence  of  the  truth. — 
 Camp.  10.  0/ righteousness,  of  his  righteousness  and  innocence  ;  of 
 the  justice  of  his  cause,  and  the  perfection  of  his  obedience  to  the  Di- 
 
 vine wiU.—Boothr.  Because  I  go  to  the  Father,  fyc,  '  I  am  going  to 
 be  exalted  at  my  Father's  right  hand,  in  testimony  of  his  having  en- 
 tirely approved  of  and  accepted  me,  as  one  that  has  answered  all  his 
 <lemands.'  Ye  see  me  no  more,  that  is,  in  this  humble  state  of  suffer- 
 ing and  abasement.  This  appears  to  be  Christ's  meaning,  because  he 
 said  this  to  comfort  his  disciples  :  and  they  did  see  him  again  after  his 
 resurrection,  and  he  prayed  that  they  should  see  him  in  glory,  (chap. 
 xvii.  1i.)—Gvys''.  11.  i>f  judgment,  because,  tjr.,  'he  shall  convince 
 the  world  that  (iod  hath  exalted  me  to  the  power  of  conquering  Satan 
 and  liis  kingdom,  and  punishing  rebellious  adversaries,  when  tliey 
 shall  see  thai,  by  my  Spirit,  the  kingdom  of  Satan  falleth.  and  the 
 powers  that  served  him  are  partly  converted,  and  partly  confnnnded 
 and  destroyed.'- SH.i^er.  12.  Many  things,  such  as  the  abolition  of 
 the  law,  the  rcjectinn  f^if  the  Jews,  and  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles. — 
 Neivn.  Ye  cannot  hear  them  now,  because  of  their  prejudices  in  favour 
 of  their  own  nation,  the  law  of  Moses,  and  the  ceremonies  of  it,  and 
 the  setting  up  of  a  temporal  kingdom.— G)7/.  13.  He,  the  Spirit— the 
 (Jierk  word  7ri'ci';ua,  is  neuter,  yet  all  the  pronouns  are  masculine; 
 hence  we  may  infer  that  the  Spirit  is  one  of  the  Godhead. — i^oHervey. 
 Things  ^0  cowi^,  things  relating  to  the  state  and  settlement  of  the  gospel 
 church  ;  or  this  may  respect  the  spirit  ()f  prophecy  in  the  apostles 
 respecting  after  ages,  as  the  rise  of  the  man  of  sin,  9iC.,  the  resurrection 
 of  the  saints,  &c.  !4.  He  shall  glorify  me,  '  by  enabling  you  to  work 
 miracles,  and  tn  foretel  futureevents,  and  by  leading  you  to  all  evan- 
 gelical truths  ;  and  by  the  conversion  both  of  Jews  and  fJentile-^.' — 
 Neifc.  In  the  ministration  of  the  gospel,  which  is  'the  ministration 
 of  the  Spirit.'  15.  ^4/^  thfngs,  ^c.all  the  stores  of  grnce.  ifi.  Not 
 see  me,  he  should  be  quickly  taken  from  them  by  death.  Shall  see  me, 
 referring  either  to  his  resurrection,  or  the  forty  days  between  that  and 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.     XV.  — This   chapter  contains,  other,  because  Christ  has  loved  tbera,  and  should  be  viewed  as 
 
 L   I  he  parable  of  the  vine.     'The  great   doctrine  of  which  is,  an  example.     Shall  we  linte  those  whom  Christ  loves?     Be- 
 
 "  wuhout  me,"  or,  independent  of  me,  "  ye  can  do  nothing,"  sides,  the  world  hate  believers  ;  whoever  resolves  to  follow 
 
 that  IS,  bear  no  fruit;  and  the  great  use  of  the  doctrine  is,  to  Christ  decidedly,  is  sure  to  incur  iheir  displeasure  or  enmity; 
 
 guard  Christians  against  self-confidence  and  its  natural  effect  nnd  this  should  also  be  a  reuson  why  Christians  should  cling 
 
 ~TT°^'7v''^*  ^^  f"'^^''  '^^*'^^'  '"  ^'"^  fellowship  ol  the  gospel. 
 JI.  1  he  new  commandment.     Christians  should  love  one  an- 
 il 30 
 
The  acceptance  of  praj/e?'  promised. 
 
 S.JOHN.  XVII. 
 
 Christ  prayeth  to  be  glorified. 
 
 to  ask  him,  and  said  unto  them,  Uo  yeen(]uire 
 among  yourselves  of  tiiat  I  said,  A  little  wliile, 
 and  ye  shall  not  see  me :  and  again,  a  little 
 while,  and  ye  shall  see  me? 
 
 20  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  That  ye 
 shall  weep  and  lament,  but  the  world  sliall  re- 
 joice :  and  ye  sliall  be  sorrowi'ul,  but  your  sor- 
 row shall  be  turned  into  joy. 
 
 21  ^  A  woman  when  she  is  in  travail  hath 
 sorrow,  because  her  hour  is  come  :  but  as  soon 
 as  she  is  delivered  of  the  child,  she  remember- 
 eth  no  more  the  anguish,  for  joy  that  a  man  is 
 born  into  tlie  world. 
 
 22  ^  And  ye  now  therefore  have  sorrow :  but 
 
 I  will  see  you  again,  and  ^  your  heart  shall  re- 
 joice, and  your  joy  no  man  taUeth  from  you. 
 
 23  And  iu  that  day  ye  shall  ask  me  nothing. 
 ^  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Whatsoever 
 ye  shall  ask  the  Father  in  my  name,  he  will 
 give  it  you. 
 
 24  Hitherto  have  ye  asked  nothing  in  my 
 name  :  ask,  and  ye  shall  receive,  "  that  your 
 joy  may  be  full. 
 
 2.>  These  things  have   I  spoken  unto  you  in 
 
 II  proverbs  :  but  the  time  cometh,  when  I  shall 
 no  more  speak  unto  you  in  ||  proverbs,  but  I 
 shall  shew  yon  plainly  of  the  Father. 
 
 20  ^  At  that  day  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name  : 
 and  I  say  not  unto  you,  that  I  will  pray  the 
 Father  for  you  : 
 
 27  *^  For  the  Father  himself  lovetli  you,  be- 
 cause ye  have  loved  me,  and  "  have  believed 
 that  I  came  out  from  God. 
 
 28  *"  I  came  fortli  from  the  father,  and  am 
 come  into  the  world  :  again,  I  leave  the  world, 
 and  go  to  tlie  father. 
 
 29  His  disciples  said  unto  him,  Lo,  now 
 speakest  thou  plainly,  and  speakest  no  ||  pro- 
 verb. 
 
 30  Now  are  we  sure  that  ^thou  knowest  all 
 
 /  ver.  G. 
 
 ;  I.uke  24. 
 
 II.  b-i. 
 
 cU.!"!.  1,27. 
 
 &  SK.  20, 
 
 Acts  2    *6. 
 
 fc  \:i.bi. 
 
 1  Ptt.   I.  8, 
 .  Milt   7-  7. 
 
 cb.  U.  13, 
 
 &  15.  16, 
 
 parables. 
 I  Or, 
 jiurables. 
 
 17.  S. 
 /■ch.  13.  3. 
 
 \\Oi:,pnruble. 
 g  cli.9I.  17. 
 
 1  Mat.36.31. 
 
 M;irkll'*7, 
 k  ch.  L'U.  10, 
 |]  Or,  Au  oKH 
 
 home, 
 tcii.  e.29.  & 
 
 II.  10,  11. 
 rii  Is.  9.  C. 
 
 ch.  M    27. 
 
 Itrtin.  &.  1. 
 
 E|)h.  2.  II, 
 
 Col.  1,  '^0, 
 Kch.  15.   19, 
 
 2  Tim  .3. 12. 
 o  ch.  14.  1. 
 Ij  Horn.  8.37. 
 
 1  .lohit  4.  4. 
 
 ach.  12.  23. 
 
 Ik  13.  32. 
 b  Dau.  7.  14. 
 
 Mat.  11,  27. 
 
 &  28,  18. 
 
 ch.  .S.  35   St 
 
 5.  27.  ICor. 
 
 15.  25,27. 
 
 Phil.  2,    IU, 
 
 Hell.  2.  8. 
 c  ver  0,9,2-1. 
 
 ch.  ti  37. 
 U  Is .  .'i3.  1 1 , 
 
 Jci'.  9.  24. 
 e  1  Cor.  8.4. 
 
 1  Thes.l.  y 
 /ch,  3.  34,  & 
 
 5.  36,  37.  & 
 
 6.  29,  57.  & 
 7-  2U.&  10. 
 36.  it  11.42 
 
 HCh.  13   31, 
 
 &  14,  13. 
 /.  ch.  4.  34.& 
 
 5,36.&  9  3. 
 
 &  19.  3il. 
 I  cb.  14.  31. 
 
 &  15.  10. 
 Ach.  I.  1,2. 
 
 &  II).  30.  & 
 
 14.  9.  I'hil. 
 2.  6,  C.>1.  1, 
 
 15,  l7.Hcb. 
 1.3,  III. 
 
 I  ver.  26. 
 
 Ca.  22,  22. 
 ni  ver.  2,  9, 
 
 ll.ch,b.37, 
 
 Sa.  &  IU29. 
 
 &  15.  19. 
 
 things,  and  needest  not  that  any  man  should 
 ask  thee :  by  this  •'  we  believe  that  thou  camest 
 forth  from  God. 
 
 31  Jesus  answered  them.  Do  ye  now  be- 
 lieve ? 
 
 32  '  Behold,  the  hour  cometh,  yea,  is  now 
 come,  that  ye  shall  be  scattered,  ''  every  man 
 to  II  his  own,  and  shall  leave  me  alone  :  and 
 ^  yet  I  am  not  alone,  because  the  Father  is  with 
 me. 
 
 33  These  things  I  have  spoken  unto  you, 
 that  "'in  me  ye  migiit  have  peace.  "In  the 
 world  ye  shall  liave  tribulation:  "but  be  of 
 good  cheer;  ^'1  have  overcome  the  world. 
 
 CHAP.    XVII. 
 
 1  Christ  prayeth  to  his  Father  to  glorify  him,  6  to  pre- 
 serve his  apQsthSj  11  in  unity,  M  and  truth,  20  to 
 glorify  them,  and  all  other  believers  with  him  in 
 heaven. 
 
 TpHESE  words  spake  Jesus,  and  lifted  up  his 
 -*-  eyes  to  heaven,  and  said,  Father,  "  the  hour 
 is  come  ;  glorify  tliy  Son,  that  thy  Sou  also 
 may  glorify  thee  : 
 
 2  ^  As  thou  hast  given  him  power  over  all 
 flesh,  that  he  should  give  eternal  life  to  as 
 many  '^  as  thou  hast  given  him. 
 
 3  And  '' this  is  life  eternal,  that  they  might 
 know  thee  ^  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
 Christ,  *"  whom  thou  hast  sent. 
 
 4  *"'  1  have  glorilied  thee  on  the  earth  :  ''  I  have 
 finished  the  work  '  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do. 
 
 5  And  now,  O  Father,  glorify  thou  me  with 
 thine  own  self  with  the  glory  ''  which  I  had 
 with  thee  before  the  world  was. 
 
 6  ^  1  have  manifested  thy  name  unto  the  men 
 ""  which  thou  gavest  me  out  of  the  world  : 
 thine  they  were,  and  thou  gavest  them  me  ; 
 and  they  have  kept  thy  word. 
 
 7  Now  they  have  known  that  all  things  wliat- 
 soever  thou  hast  given  ine  are  of  thee. 
 
 the  ascension.— ff/7/.  Plainly  intimating  that  he  would,  ere  long, 
 bring  them  to  an  eternal  abdde  with  him. — Duddr.  23.  Ye  shall  itsk 
 me  nothing,  '  in  that  day  when  that  Spirit  shall  liave  come,  and  shall 
 have  taught  you  all  thing';,  and  satisfied  all  your  doubts,  ye  will  have 
 no  more  to  ask  me  any  further  questions,' — Hum.  '  Ye  shall  ask  no 
 questions,' — Henry.  '  Ye  shall  not  require  anything  of  me.' — Doddr., 
 Biiothr.  Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  the  father,  ^r.— asking  here  signifies 
 jirayer,  and  a  different  word  is  here  used  than  before.— Gt/^  '  What- 
 soever ye  shall  ask,  assisted  by  the  Spmt.'—Gui/se.  '  Whatever  shall 
 he  necessary  for  you.' — Doddr.  Jn  mu  name,  *as  Mediator  between 
 God  and  man.'— W7n74v.  24.  Your  joy  may  befall,  'your  joy,  which 
 will  begin  after  my  resurrection,  may  be  completed  by  the  wonderful 
 success  and  efficacy  of  your  own  ministry.' — S.  Clarke.  25.  In  pro- 
 rer/ts,  cv  nupoifiiaf:,  '  in  figures.' — Camp.,  so  Boothr.  '  In  parables  and 
 allusions.' — B/».  Mann.  '  In  dark  speeches.' — Netvc.  The  time,  either 
 of  his  appearance  aficr  his  resurrection,  or  of  the  day  of  Pentecost. — 
 Gill.  26.  /  sny  not,  Sfc,  that  1  will  pray,  fyc,  '  I  do  not  merely  say 
 that  I  will  ask  the  Father  on  your  account,  and  plead  with  him  for  the 
 acceptance  of  your  prayers,'  &c. —  Doddr.  2".  Fur  the  Father  him- 
 
 self Int-rth  ynn\  fyc,  'for  the  heart  of  the  Father  himself  is  toward  you 
 as  a  God  of  peace,  through  my  blond,'  ^;c. — Guyse.  30.  Now  are  we 
 sure,  ^-c,  'since  tlmu  discernest  our  inmost  doubts  on  this  subject.' — 
 Bens.,  as  Doddr.,  Whitby,   and  Guyne.  32.  Because  the  Father   is 
 
 with  me,  'thougli  forsaken  by  all  of  you,  I  shall  have  his  support.'— 
 Bp.  Mann.        33.  The  world,  that  is,  its  evils. — TH/of.ion. 
 Chap.  XVII.—  I.  Glorify  thy  Sun.&o^c^aov  <toi>  rov  'Yiov,  the  phrase 
 
 denotes  '  to  make  known  any  one's  dignity,  to  display  or  illustrate  his 
 glory.' — Tittman.  AH  the  ciicumstnnces  of  glory  attending  and  fol- 
 lowing  the  sufferings  of  Christ  are  to  be  looked  upon  as  an  answer  to 
 this  jirayer. — Doddr.  May  glorify  thee,  'make  thy  name  famous  by 
 publishing  thy  justice,  goodness,  and  truth,  upon  the  preaching  of  the 
 gospel  to  all  nations.' — Poole.  The  divine  was  glorified  in  the  human, 
 the  human  in  the  divine,  God  in  Christ,  and  Christ  in  God.— Billroth. 
 •2.  As  thoit  hast  given,  ^c.,  'that  as  thou  hast  given  him  power  over  all 
 tlesh,  he  may,'  ifcc. — Boothr.  'As  the  Messiah,  Jesus  clirist,  received 
 from  his  Father  universal  dominion.' — A.  Clarke.  3.  This  is  life 
 eternal,  the  sure  way  to  eternal  life.— 7>/>rff/r.  Know  thee,  knowledge 
 is  here  put  for  faith. — Blanton.  The  only  true  God,  in  opposition  to 
 the  idols  they  have  ignorantly  worshipped.      And  .Tesus  Christ,  Sfc, 
 
 *  and  may  know  also  and  believe  in  Christ  Jesus,  whom  thou  hast  sent 
 into  the  world  as  the  only  Saviour.'— />»f/f/r.  5.  Glorify  thou  me, 
 ^■c,  by  exalting  even  my  human  nature  to  the  right  hand  of  glory, 
 (see  Philip,  ii.  6,  9.)— H7ii7//j/ ;  same  purport,  BUntmf.  With  thine 
 own  self,  Trnpa  treawTw,  *  in  thine  own  jiresence.' — Vamp.  6.  /  have 
 manifested  thy  name,  e^avepwo-a,  '  1  have  brought  il  into  light,  and 
 caused  it  to  shine  in  itself  and  to  illuminate  others.'  Nature  shewed 
 a  little  in  creation— the  Mi>saic  dispensation  more  in  revelation;  but 
 the  full  manifestation  of  God,  his  nature,  and  attributes,  came  only  by 
 Christ.     Out  uf  the  world,  from  among  the  Jewish  people  ;  so  Kocr/nor, 
 
 *  the  worlit,'  is  to  be  understood  in  various  jiarts  of  Christ's  discourses. 
 Kept  thy  word,  tliuugh  their  countrymen  rejected  it. — Clarke.  7.  That 
 all  things,  ^-c,  '  that  1  have  derived  both  my  doctrine  and  miracles 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVI.  —  Two  Rreat  sources  of  con- 
 solation are  here  revealed  to  us — I.  The  Holy  Spirit,  the  Com- 
 forter. What  lie  was  to  the  first  disciples  as  a  comforter,  lie 
 still  is  to  all  believers.  '  And  what,'  says  Calvin,  *  does  tiie 
 Spirit  confer  on  us  1  To  be  waslied  in  the  blood  of  Christ  :  to 
 have  sin  removed  and  abolished  in  us  by  his  death  and  pas- 
 sion; to  have  our  old  man  crucified;  and  to  experience  the 
 power  of  his  resurrection,  by  causing  us  to  walk  in  newness 
 of  life  ;  in  .sliort,  to  be  made  partakers  nf  all  his  blessings. 
 The  Spirit,  then,  bestows  nothing  on  us  that  was  not  in  Jesus 
 Christ,  of  vviioni  he  receives  it  to  give  to  us.  He  does  not  en- 
 liL',hton  us  to  lead  us  astray  from  the  Son  of  God,  but  ho  dis- 
 
 plays  and  opens  to  us  tlie  treasures  which  are  hid  in  Jesus 
 Christ.  In  siiort,  the  Holy  Ghost  bestows  on  us  no  other 
 riches  tlian  those  of  Jesus,  to  the  end  that  he  may  manifest 
 the  glory  of  Christ,  and  magnify  it  in  all  and  I)y  all.' 
 
 il.  Christ  Jesus  the  M-diatnr.  The  disciples  are  here  in- 
 structeil  to  ask  of  the  Father  for  the  blessings  they  need,  in 
 the  name  of  Jesus.  We  need  no  other  mediators  and  interces- 
 sors. It  is  an  insult  to  him  to  suppose  that  any  others  are 
 needed,  as  though  his  mediation  and  intercession  were  not 
 enough.  Let  us,  then,  plead  with  the  I'ather  in  his  name,  as- 
 sured tliat  whatsoever  we  ask  in  that  luimo,  agreeably  to  bis 
 will,  and  really  good  for  us,  believing,  we  shall  receive. 
 
Christ  pray eth  for  his  apostles 
 
 S.JOHN,  XVII. 
 
 and  nil  other  believers. 
 
 8  For  I  have  given  unto  them  the  words 
 "which  thou  gravest  me;  ami  they  have  re- 
 ceived thevi,  "and  have  known  surely  that  I 
 came  out  from  thee,  and  they  have  beheved 
 that  thou  didst  send  me. 
 
 9  I  pray  for  them  :  ^  I  pray  not  for  the  world, 
 but  for  them  which  thon  hast  given  me  ;  for 
 they  are  thine. 
 
 10  And  all  mine  are  tliine,  and  '^  thine  are 
 mine  :    and  I  am  glorified  in  them. 
 
 1 1  ""  And  now  I  am  no  more  in  the  world,  but 
 these  are  in  the  world,  and  I  come  to  thee. 
 Holy  Father,  'keep  through  thine  own  name 
 those  whom  thou  hast  given  me,  '  that  they 
 may  be  one,  "as  we  are. 
 
 I'J  While  I  was  with  them  in  the  world,  *  I 
 kept  them  in  thy  name  :  those  that  thou  gavest 
 me  I  have  kept,  and  ^none  of  them  is  lost, 
 "  but  the  son  of  perdition  ;  ^  that  the  scripture 
 might  be  fulfilled. 
 
 13  And  now  come  I  to  thee  ;  and  these  things 
 I  speak  in  the  world,  that  they  might  have  my 
 joy  fulfilled  in  themselves. 
 
 14  **  I  have  given  them  thy  word  ;  ''and  the 
 world  hath  hated  them,  because  they  are  not 
 of  the  world,  ^  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world. 
 
 15  I  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them 
 out  of  the  world,  but  ""  that  thou  shouldest 
 keep  them  from  the  evil. 
 
 16  •"  They  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am 
 not  of  the  world. 
 
 17  ^  Sanctify  them  through  thy  truth  :  "  thy 
 
 7  cb,  16.  15. 
 
 r  I  Pel-  I.  S 
 Jmle  I. 
 rvei-.2l,&C 
 
 X  civ  6.  .10. 
 
 &  lu   23. 
 
 Heb.  2    IS. 
 S  ch. 18   9. 
 
 1  .lolm«  19 
 X  ch-  6.  70. 
 
 &  13    IPl. 
 a  Ps.  109.  8, 
 
 .\cls  1.  20. 
 b  ver-  S. 
 c  ch.  15.  18, 
 
 19.  I  John 
 
 3.  13. 
 .(  ch.8,  2X 
 
 e  Mat.  fi  1.S 
 Gal  1.  '1. 
 ■1  Thc3.3.3, 
 1  John  5. 18 
 fvcT.  14, 
 g  ch.  l.-i.  3. 
 Acts  15.  !". 
 Kph.  5.  26. 
 
 1  I'et.  i.ys 
 
 ft  2  Sara.  7. 
 2S.  pR.  119 
 IIS,  151. 
 Mh   3.  40. 
 
 ver.  n ,  2''. 
 23  cb.  10  10. 
 Rom.  I2..'>. 
 Gal  3.  2H. 
 n  ch.  li»..SS 
 &  \A.  11. 
 
 icTi.  U.  20 
 I  John  13. 
 St  3.  S4. 
 
 p  ch  12.  : 
 &  U.  3. 
 1  Tlies.  ■ 
 
 ■ch.  15.21. 
 
 &  16.  S. 
 r  ch.  7.  29. 
 
 &  3.  h$. 
 
 10.  \b. 
 
 ch.  15.  15. 
 X  ch.  15.  9. 
 
 word  is  truth. 
 
 18  ^  As  thou  hast  sent  me  into  the  world, 
 even  so  have  I  also  sent  tliem  into  tlie  world. 
 
 19  And  ''for  their  sakes  I  sanctify  myself, 
 that  they  also  might  be  ||  sanctified  through 
 the  truth. 
 
 '20  Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for 
 them  also  which  shall  believe  on  me  through 
 their  word  ; 
 
 21  'That  they  all  may  be  one;  as  "'thou. 
 Father,  ff/7  in  me,  and  1  in  thee,  that  they  al'^o 
 may  be  one  in  us  :  that  the  world  may  believe 
 that  thou  Iiast  sent  me. 
 
 22  And  the  glory  which  thou  gavest  me  1 
 have  given  them  ;  "  that  they  may  be  one, 
 even  as  we  are  one  : 
 
 23  I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me,  "^  that  they  may 
 be  made  perfect  in  one  ;  and  that  the  world 
 may  know  that  thou  hast  sent  me,  and  hast 
 loveu  them,  as  thou  hast  loved  me. 
 
 24  ^Father.  I  will  that  they  also,  whom  tlion 
 hast  given  me,  he  with  me  where  1  am  ;  that 
 they  may  behold  my  glory,  which  thou  hast 
 given  me  :  '■  for  thou  lovedst  me  before  the 
 foundation  of  the  world. 
 
 25  O  righteous  Father,  'the  world  hath  not 
 known  tliee:  but  ^I  have  known  thee,  and 
 *  these  have  known  that  thou  hast  sent  me. 
 
 26  "  And  I  have  declared  unto  them  thy 
 name,  and  will  declare  it :  that  the  love 
 "  wherewith  thou  hast  loved  me  may  be  in 
 them,  and  I  in  them. 
 
 from  tYit^*— Whitby.  9.  J  pray  not  for  the  world,  not  in  these  peti- 
 tions, which  are  adapted  to  the  state  of  believers  ovAy.—Bena.  '  I  am 
 not  yet  come  to  that  part  of  ray  intercession,*  (see  ver.  20.) — A.  Clarke. 
 Our  Lord  prayed,  not  fur  the  wicked  Jews,  who  alike  rejected  him  and 
 the  Father,  but  he  prayed  for  his  murderers,  and  for  all  future  be- 
 lievers, (ver.  20.)  He  kuew  they  were  to  be  rejected  for  their  unbelief, 
 and  hence  he  submitted  tn  the  will  of  his  Father.— i?'<o^Ar.  1 1 .  Throuf^h 
 thine  own  name,  by  his  mighty  power. — Doddr.,  as  Puo/e.  God's  name 
 signifies  the  discoveries  which  he  had  made  by  his  Son,  and  the  meaning- 
 is,  to  keep  them  in  the  belief  and  profession  of  the  gnspe\.~Xewr.  God's 
 name  embracesall  his  periectioos,  and  our  Lord  implores  that  bis  power, 
 love,  faithfulness,  fkc,  may  all  be  employed  for  their  consolation  and 
 prcserv.itioD,  (cmip.  E.Kod-.^xxiii.  19  ;  xxxiv.  6.)— Ed.  Tijpiicroi-  avrovi 
 ev  Ty  oi-ojuuTt  aov,  'preserve  them  in  thy  name.'  WHien  mention  is 
 made  in  .Scripture  of  making  God's  name  known  to  the  heathen,  it 
 means  his  nature  and  attributes;  but  by  manifesting  his  name  to  those 
 who  enjoyed  the  old  dispensation,  tlie  cummunicatinn  of  clearer  light, 
 and  of  those  truths  which  peculiarly  characterize  the  new  dispensation. 
 —  Camp.  Ec  tw  ovofxan,  sernt  eos  in  nomine  tun,  'keep  tliem  in  thy 
 name.'— Mont.'  '  Keep  them  in  the  knowledge  and  fear  i'i  thy  name- 
 in  the  profession  and  service  of  thy  name.'— //e/i.  ;  see  RKKLECTinvs. 
 May  be  one, '  one  body,  united  by  one  spirit  to  me  their  living  head.*— 
 A.  Clarke.  12.  In  thy  name,  by  his  Father's  authority  and  power  in 
 his  doctrines.— G(V/.  ''in  the  steady  ownmg  and  profession  of  thy 
 truth;'  or,  if  we  read  it 'through  thy  name.'  it  means  '  through  thy 
 power  and  the  influence  of  thy  grace.'— i^oo/''.  Son  of  perdition,  sig- 
 nifies one  who  '  deservedly  perishes'— as  '  a  son  of  death,'  (2  Sam.  xii. 
 5,)  'children  of  hell,'  (Matt.xxiii.  1.^,!  and  '  children  of  wrath,'  (Ephes. 
 ii.  3.)  signify  persons  jusUy  obnoxious  to  death,  hell,  and  wrath.— 
 Doddr.,  so  Mackn.  That  the  scripture,  ^c,  or,  '  thus  the  Scripture  is 
 fulfilled,' (see  Ps.xli.  9;  cix.8;  compared  with  Acts,  i.  2n.^—.4.C7ar/fe. 
 13.  In  the  ivorld.  thus  openly.— Z>y(f^/r.  il/^  >»(/,  promised  them,  chap. 
 XV.  U.  Fulfilled,  by  the  presence  of  the  Spirit.— TFAi;;.^.  *  That  their 
 joy  in  me  may  be  complete.'  'Iwa  exwfft  yt]v  x«P<»''  Tt?v  e/^nv  jren-Xripuj- 
 /icKfii/ fv  auTOif.  The  words  »'(  X'^pi  «M'i.  'myjfiy.'  denote  here,  not 
 'the  joy  which  I  have,'  but  *  of  which  I  am  the  object— the  joy  they 
 will  derive  from  me.' — Camp.  ll.  Thy  uord,   roy  \o-jov  aov,   'thy 
 
 doctrine;'  so  John  often  uses  \o',o>i.  '  word.'— Clarke.       15.  That  thou 
 
 shouldest  take  them  out  of  the  world,  Iva  aptu  avTOv^  «k  tow  Koap.ov,  i.  €.» 
 '  withdraw  them  from  impending  dangersi*— Tj'Wman,  Kuinoel.  '  Re- 
 move them  from  this  life.' — Bloomf,  &c.  From  the  evil,  ck  tow  novnpoi'f 
 '  from  the  evil  one,'  or  '  from  the  evil  things.* — Manton.  17.  Sanc- 
 
 tify them,  §c.,  ayia^civ,  '  to  sanctify,*  frequently  signifies  to  consecrate 
 or  set  apart  to  office;  and  the  priests  were  set  apart  lor  the  service  of 
 God  by  sacrifices  offered  for  sin,  and  by  an  holy  anointing,  (Exod. 
 xxix.  1,  U.  21,  and  XXX.  30  ;)  and,  as  our  Lord  speaks  oi  his  own  con- 
 secration to  office  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself,  (ver.  1 9,)  saying,  'for 
 their  sakes  I  sanctify  myself ;'  it  is  natural  to  take  in  at  least  the  notion 
 of  consecration  to  office  by  the  anointing  of  the  Spirit,  in  both  these 
 verses.— GM^/xe.  Consecrate  and  prepare  them  for  the  ministry.— B;?. 
 Mann,  so  Mede.  Preparation  for  the  ministry  was  the  remote  end, 
 but  the  more  immediate  was,  that  their  own  souls  might  be  trans- 
 formed and  purified. ^Z^rtdrfr.  The  prayer  of  Christ  may  be  understood 
 in  both  these  senses.— .4.  Clarke.  19-  Sanctify  mysvlf,  §c,  or,  'set 
 
 myself  apart  as  an  oiTering  holy  to  thee.'— I>orfrfr.  '  I  consecrate  and 
 devote  myself  to  death,  (see  Jer.  xii.  3.)— .4.  Clarke.  Might  be  sane- 
 tijied,  '  may  be  ready  to  die  for  the  truth.*— fi/>.  Mann.  *  May  be  com- 
 pletely fitted  for  their  important  office.*— Doddr.  22.  The  glory,  the 
 power  of  doing  mighty  works  fur  the  confirmation  of  their  doctrine.— 
 Clarke,  Whitby,  ^o  Doothr.  This  power  is  indeed  called  the  glory  of 
 Gt»d,  (John,  xi.  40  ;)  hut  the  words  mean  the  happiness  of  the  everlast- 
 ing state,  (ver.  24.)— J/«h/.  That  it  denotes  '  working  miracles'  is 
 disproved  by  the  24th  verse,  in  which  Jesus,  repeating  llie  words,  ex- 
 pressly speaks  of  the  happiness  of  another  life  ;  besides,  the  subject  of 
 thi>  portion  of  Chri&t's  words  is  not  the  apostles,  but  all  Christians  of 
 all  ages. — Kuinoel.  23.  May  be  made  perfect  in  one,  in  one  body, 
 under  me  as  their  Head. — Guyse.  That  the  world  may  know,  i^c  , 
 when  they  shall  see  the  concord  and  agreement  of  the  saints  in  doc- 
 trine, worship,  and  affection  at  the  latter  day.— Gi/i.  24.  7  will,  HiXto, 
 •  I  would.'— Groi.  It  expresseth  no  more  than  a  petition  or  request, 
 (sec  Mark,  x.  35.]— Camp.  This  was  a  language  peculiar  to  himsflt, 
 and  such  as  does  not  become  ordinary  petitioners,  but  very  well  be- 
 came him.— Hen.  Christ  insists  on  it  as  his  right,  upon  Ihe  foot  of  his 
 purchase,  and  those  covenant  transactions  which  passed  between  liim 
 and  his  Father,  on  the  behalf  of  those  that  were  given  to  him.— Gt//. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVII.  —  Observe,  I.  Christ  here 
 prays  for  himself^'  Gloriiy  thy  Son  ;'  '  now  give  him  victory 
 over  principalities  and  powers  ;  now  let  the  bruising  of  his 
 beel  be  the  breaking  of  the  serpent's  bead  ;  now  let  thy  Son 
 be  so  upheld  as  not  to  fail  or  be  discouraged.'  '  Good  Chris- 
 tians, in  a  trying  hour,  particularly  a  dying  hour,  may  thus 
 plead  :  Now  the  Ijour  is  come,  stand  by  me,  appear  for  me, 
 now  or  never;  now  the  earthly  tabernacle  is  to  be  dissolved, 
 the  hour  is  come  that  I  should  be  glorified,*  (2  Cor.  v.  1. )  And 
 while  Christ  pleads  for  himself,  he  states  why  he  thus  prays, 
 *  that  thy  Son  also  may  glorify  thee.'  '  He  desired  to  he  car- 
 ried triumphantly  through  his  sufferings,  to  his  glorv,  that  lie 
 113-2 
 
 might  glorify  the  Father.'  '  Hereby  he  has  taught  us  what  to 
 eye  and  aim  at  in  our  prayers,  in  all  our  designs  and  desires, 
 and  that  is,  the  honour  of  God.' 
 
 II.  Christ  here  prays  for  his  disciples — '  Keep  them,*  '  for 
 thy  name's  sake,  in  thy  name,  in  the  interest  of  thy  name,  and 
 let  them  ever  be  faithful  to  that,  by  or  through  thy  name,  by 
 thine  own  power,  in  thine  own  hand.  Keep  them  from  the 
 evil  or  out  of  the  evil ;  from  the  evil  one,  the  devil,  and  all  liis 
 instruments-,  from  the  evil  thing— that  is,  sin— everything 
 that  looks  like  It,  or  leads  to  it;  from  the  evil  of  the  world 
 and  of  the  tribulation  in  it,  so  that  it  may  have  no  sting  in  it. 
 Sanctify  them  ;  carry  on  that  good  work  in  them,  complete 
 
Judas  hctrnycth  Christ. 
 
 S.JOHN,  XVIII. 
 
 Peter's  denial. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIII. 
 
 I  Judas  hetrayeth  Ji-sus,  G  The  officers  fall  to  the 
 (/round.  10  Peter  siniteth  off  Malchus'  ear.  1:2 
 Jesus  is  taken,  and  led  unto  An7ias  and  Caiaphas. 
 15  Peter*s  denial.  19  Jesus  examined  before  Caia- 
 phas. 28  His  arraiyument  before  Pilate.  36  His 
 kinydoni.     40  The  Jews  ask  Barahbas  to  be  let  hose. 
 
 "VX/'HEN  Jesus  bad  spoken  these  words,  °he 
 
 '^  went  forth  wfth  his  disciples  over  ''the 
 brook  Cedron,  where  was  a  garden,  into  the 
 wliich  he  entered,  and  his  disciples. 
 
 •2  And  Judas  also,  wliich  betrayed  him,  knew 
 the  place  :  ^  for  Jesus  ofttinies  resorted  thither 
 with  his  disciples. 
 
 3  '■  Judas  then,  having  received  a  band  of 
 men  and  officers  from  the  chief  priests  and 
 Pharisees,  cometh  thither  with  lanterns  and 
 torches  and  weapons. 
 
 •i  Jesus  therefore,  knowing  all  things  that 
 should  come  upon  him,  went  forth,  and  said 
 unto  them.  Whom  seek  ye  ? 
 
 5  Tliey  answered  him,  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
 Jesus  saith  unto  them,  I  am  he.  And  Judas 
 also,  which  betrayed  him,  stood  with  them. 
 
 6  As  soon  then  as  he  had  said  unto  them,  I 
 am  he,  they  went  backward,  and  fell  to  the 
 ground. 
 
 7  Then  asked  he  them  again.  Whom  seek  ye  ? 
 And  they  said,  Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
 
 8  Jesus  answered,  I  have  told  you  that  I  am 
 he  :  if  therefore  ye  seek  me,  let  these  go  their 
 way  : 
 
 9  That  the  saying  might  be  fulfilled,  which 
 he  spake,  'Of  them  which  thou  gavest  me 
 have  I  lost  none. 
 
 10  '  Then  Simon  Peter  having  a  sword  drew 
 it,  and  .smote  the  high  priest's  servant,  and  cut 
 off  liis  right  ear.  The  servant's  name  was 
 Malchns. 
 
 1 1  Then  said  Jesus  unto  Peter,  Put  up  thy 
 sword  into  the  sheath:  ^the  cup  which  my 
 Father  hatli  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it? 
 
 12  Then  the  band  and  the  captain  and  officers 
 of  the  Jews  took  Jesus,  and  bound  him. 
 
 r  Stat  SS.  36. 
 
 .^^a^kU  82. 
 
 l.uke'.'L'  Sy. 
 I  '2  Saul.  15. 
 
 /Mat.26.51. 
 MarkU.17. 
 Luke22.*9, 
 50. 
 
 g  Mat.20.2'> 
 
 k  See  Mat 
 2ti.  57. 
 
 t  l.uUe  .1   2. 
 
 II  .i-id  .«'-'.ui 
 tr„t  Chrifl 
 b"U»<i  unto 
 Vniaphai  lf,e 
 h,,l.  ,,r.«I, 
 ver.  21. 
 
 ft  eh.  II    60. 
 
 t  Mai  2G,bH. 
 MarkM..'>4 
 Luke22.M. 
 
 nMat.26.69. 
 Waikli.Mi 
 Luke»2.5+. 
 
 ,  Mat. 26: 
 l.iike  I, 
 fh  7   I+, 
 2».  &  B. ; 
 
 0  Jer.  21).  2. 
 A.-ta  23  2. 
 II  Or,  u)i(/i  ( 
 
 p  Mat.25  57 
 
 7  Bf at. 26  09, 
 71.  Maik 
 1-1.69.  t.uke 
 
 13  And  ''led  hini  away  to  '  Annas  first;  for 
 he  was  father  in  law  to  Caiaphas,  which  was 
 the  high  priest  that  same  year.  || 
 
 14  ''  Now  Caiaphas  was  he,  which  gave  coun- 
 sel to  the  Jews,  that  it  was  expedient  that  one 
 man  should  die  for  the  people. 
 
 15  U  'And  Simon  Peter  followed  Jesus,  and  so 
 did  another  disciple  :  that  disciple  was  known 
 unto  the  high  priest,  and  went  in  with  Jesus 
 into  tlie  palace  of  the  high  priest. 
 
 16  "'But  Peter  stood  at  the  door  without. 
 Then  went  out  that  other  disciple,  which  was 
 known  unto  the  high  priest,  and  spake  nnto 
 her  that  kept  the  door,  and  brought  in  Peter. 
 
 17  Then  saith  the  damsel  that  kept  tlie  door 
 unto  Peter,  Art  not  thou  also  one  of  tliis  man's 
 disciples?     He  saith,  1  am  not. 
 
 18  And  the  servants  and  officers  stood  there, 
 who  had  made  a  fire  of  coals  ;  for  it  was  cold  : 
 and  they  warmed  them.selves  :  and  Peter  stood 
 with  tliem,  and  warmed  himself. 
 
 19  IT  The  high  priest  then  asked  Jesus  of  his 
 disciples,  and  of  liis  doctrine. 
 
 20  Jesus  answered  him,  "I  spake  openly  to 
 the  world  ;  I  ever  taught  in  the  synagogue, 
 and  in  the  temple,  wliither  the  Jews  always 
 resort ;  and  in  secret  have  I  said  nothing. 
 
 21  Why  askest  thou  me?  ask  them  which 
 beard  me,  what  I  have  said  unto  them  :  be- 
 hold, they  know  what  I  said. 
 
 22  And  when  be  bad  thus  spoken,  one  of  the 
 officers  which  stood  by  "  struck  Jesus  ||  with 
 the  palm  of  his  hand,  saying,  Answerest  tliou 
 tlie  high  priest  so  ? 
 
 23  Jesus  answered  him.  If  I  have  spoken 
 evil,  bear  witness  of  the  evil  :  but  if  well,  why 
 smitest  thou  me  ? 
 
 24  ■'Now  Annas  had  sent  him  bound  unto 
 Caiaphas  the  high  priest. 
 
 25  And  Simon  Peter  stood  and  warmed  him- 
 self. ''They  said  therefore  unto  him.  Art  not 
 thou  also  07ie  of  his  disciples  ?  He  denied  it, 
 and  said,  I  am  not. 
 
 26  One  of  the  servants  of  the  high  priest. 
 
 CitAP.  XVIII.  —  1.  Went  forth,  from  the  guest-chamber,  in  which 
 lie  had  partaken  of  the  passover  with  his  disciples. — Neirc.  Cedron — 
 see  2  Sam.  .\v.  23,  note.  Where  u'ns  a  garden,  called  Gethsemane, 
 (Matt.  xxvi.  36.)  There  was  no  gardens  within  the  city  of  Jerusalem 
 but  rose  gardens,  all  others  were  without.  Whether  this  garden  be- 
 longed to  one  of  Christ's  friends  is  not  certain;  but  since  he  often 
 resorted  hither,  no  doubt  it  was  with  the  leave  and  by  the  consent  of 
 the  proprietor  of  it. — Gill,  3.  A  band,  rriv  otretpav,  vUicb  probably 
 refers  to  that  particular  cohort  which,  it  appears,  the  Roman  procu- 
 rator allowed  the  Jewish  sanhedrim  during  the  time  of  the  public  fes- 
 tivals, for  the  purpose  of  quelling  or  preventing  any  riot  and  sedition 
 among  the  people. — See  Hmenm.  it  consisted  of  about  five  hundred 
 men. —  Wit.  Some  think  it  consisted  of  a  thousand. — Hen.  Haplielins, 
 on  Matt,  xxvii.  27,  as  clearly  proved,  from  Polybiu-s,  that  the  '  spira,* 
 or  '  band,*  was  no  more  than  the  tenth  of  the  fourth  part  of  a  legion, 
 which  sometimes  amounted  to  five  thousand  fotjt ;  but  as  the  number 
 (if  the  legion  was  uncertain,  no  man  can  tell  the  number  of  the  spira. 
 . — Clarke.  6.  Went  buekward  and  fell — our  Lord  must  have  spoken 
 with  majesty,  and  exerted  his  power,  to  produce  such  an  effect ;  and 
 
 by  this  he  shewed  that  he  could  have  escaped  had  it  been  his  intention 
 to  do  so. — Boothr.  8.  Let  theae  po,  he  is  anxious  for  the  safety  of  his 
 disciples,  while  he  voluntarily  exposes  his  own  life,  —  Bp.  Mann. 
 10.  Cut  off  his  right  ear,  the  stroke  was  probably  intended  to  split  his 
 skull. —C/'iric.  See  Matt.  xxvi.  51,  Sic,  and  notes.  ll.TAe  cup, 
 ^c— see  Matt.  XX.  22,  note.  12.  The  captain,  6  xi^(opxov— the  Greek 
 is,  properly,  •  the  commander  of  one  thousand  men,'  and  answers  to 
 our  term  'colonel.'  The  Romans  called  them  military  tribunes. — 
 Wil.  }3.  Annas,  §-c.— see  Luke,  iii.  2,  note.  14.  That  one  man 
 
 should  liif— see  chap.  xi.  50,  and  note.  15.  Palace— see  Matt.  xxvi. 
 58,  note.  16.  Her  that  kept  the  dtwr—it  was  customary  with  the 
 Hebrews  to  have  female  door-keepers.— Gro(.  18.  0/  coals,  charcoal ; 
 coal  is  not  used  in  the  east. — Pict.  Bib.  It  was  cold,  frost  and  snow 
 have  been  known  in  Judea  about  the  season  of  the  passover;  heavy, 
 cold  dews,  also,  then  chill  the  air,  and  this  was  the  middle  of  the 
 TLight.—Lighlf.  23.  Struck  Jesus,  eiuiKe  ^.i^r.ojj,.,  'gave  him  a  blow." 
 Some  think  it  was  with  a  rod  or  wand,  or  with  a  staff,  which  was  the 
 badge  of  his  office.— Hfn.  The  word  is  apparently  used  for  any  blow. 
 —Uoddr. 
 
 it,  crown  it  with  the  perfection  of  holiness.'  As  ministers, 
 sanctify  them,  qualify  them  for  the  office,  separate  them  to 
 the  office,  own  them  in  the  office.  The  great  tiling  to  be  asked 
 of  God  for  gospel  ministers  is,  that  they  may  be  sanctified, 
 effectually  separated  from  the  world,  and  entirely  devoted  to 
 God,  and  experimentally  acquainted  with  the  influence  of  that 
 word  upon  their  own  iiearts  whicii  they  preach  to  others. 
 
 III.  Christ  here  prays  for  the  church  in  pcneral.  *  For  them 
 also  whicli  shall  believe  on  me  through  their  word.'  either 
 preached  by  them  in  their  own  day,  or  written  by  ihem  for  the 
 generation  to  come.  'That  they  nil  maybe  one,*  'incorpo- 
 rated in  one  body,  thougli  living  in  distant  places;  animated 
 by  one  spirit,  stamped  with  tlie  s-inif  image  ami  superscrip- 
 tion, ami  infiuenceti  by  the  same  power.      'I'liat  they  miglil  all 
 
 1 1  .-ia 
 
 be  Init  together  in  the  bond  of  love  and  charity,  all  of  one 
 heart.'  'That  they  may  be  with  me  where  1  am  ;  that  tbejr 
 may  behold  my  glory.'  The  glory  of  the  Redeemer  is  the 
 brightness  of  heaven  ;  that  glory  before  which  angels  cover 
 their  faces,  was  his  glory,  (John,  xvii.  1.)  The  Lamb  is  the 
 light  of  the  new  Jerusalem,  (Rev.  xxi.  23.)  And  '  the  feli- 
 city of  the  redeemed  consists  very  much  in  the  ht^holding  of 
 that  glory.'  'They  will  have  a  clear  insight  into  his  glorious 
 undertaking  ;  they  will  see  into  these  springs  of  love  from 
 whence  flow  all  the  streams  of  grace  ;  they  shall  have  an  ap- 
 propriating sight  of  Christ's  glory,  and  an  assimilating  sight, 
 —they  shall  be  changed  into  the  same  image,  from  glory  ti> 
 glory. "h 
 
Christ's  arraignment  before  Pilate. 
 
 S.  JOHN,  XIX. 
 
 Me  is  scourged  and  beaten. 
 
 being  /lia  kinsman  whose  ear  Peter  cut  otF, 
 saith.  Did  not  I  see  thee  in  the  garden  witli 
 him  y 
 
 27  Peter  then  denied  again :  and  '  immedi- 
 ately the  cocli  crew. 
 
 28  t '  Then  led  they  Jesus  from  Caiaplias 
 unto  II  the  hall  of  judgment :  and  it  was  early  ; 
 'and  they  tliemselves  went  not  into  the  judg- 
 ment hall,  lest  tliey  should  he  defiled  ;  but  that 
 tliey  might  eat  the  passover. 
 
 'Ji*  Pilate  then  went  out  unto  them,  and  said. 
 What  accusation  bring  ye  against  this  man? 
 
 30  They  answered  and  said  unto  him.  If  lie 
 were  not  a  malefactor,  we  would  not  have  de- 
 livered him  up  unto  tliee. 
 
 31  Then  said  Pilate  unto  them.  Take  ye  liiin, 
 and  judge  him  according  to  your  law.  The 
 Jews  therefore  .said  unto  liim.  It  is  not  lawful 
 for  us  to  put  any  man  to  death  : 
 
 3-2  "  That  the  saying  of  Jesus  might  be  ful- 
 filled, wliich  he  spake,  signifying  what  death 
 he  should  die. 
 
 33  '  Then  Pilate  entered  into  the  judgment 
 hall  again,  and  called  Jesus,  and  said  unto  him. 
 Art  thou  the  King  of  the  Jevv.sV 
 
 34  Je.sns  answered  him,  Sayest  thou  tliis  thing 
 of  thyself,  or  did  others  tell  it  thee  of  me? 
 
 3j  Pilate  answered.  Am  I  a  Jew  ?  Thine 
 own  nation  and  the  chief  priests  have  delivered 
 thee  unto  me:  what  liast  thou  done? 
 
 3G  ''Jesus  answered,  '  My  kingdom  is  not  of 
 this  world  :  if  my  kingdom  were  of  this  world, 
 then  woidd  my  servants  fight,  that  I  .should 
 not  be  delivered  to  the  Jews  :  but  now  is  my 
 kingdom  not  from  hence. 
 
 r  Mat.2fl.7+ 
 nTaikl+72. 
 I.ukfS-J.fiu. 
 ch,  13  38, 
 
 «  Mat.  :^.  2, 
 Mark  15.  I. 
 Luke  23.  I 
 Acts  3   rs. 
 
 II  Ov.PiUte't 
 
 Mat.  27.  27 
 (  .\ct8  10.28. 
 Sc  II.  3. 
 
 -.  .Mat.2().19. 
 ell-  12   32, 
 
 vlTim.6  13 
 ;  Dan   2. 14. 
 
 Ik  7.  U. 
 
 [.Ukrl2.l4 
 
 ch.  6.   15.  St 
 
 S.  15. 
 
 6  Mat  27  21. 
 Luke  23  1 
 ch.19.  1.  f> 
 
 t  Mat. 27, 15 
 Mark  1.x  6 
 Luki-23  17, 
 
 il  Acts  3.  H. 
 eLuke23.19 
 
 Ma|.kl5.l5 
 Luku  13  .^1. 
 
 37  Pilate  therefore  said  unto  him.  Art  thou  a 
 king  then?  Jesus  answered,  Tbou sayest  that 
 I  am  a  king.  To  this  end  was  I  born,  and  for 
 this  cause  came  I  into  the  world,  that  I  should 
 bear  witness  unto  the  truth.  Every  one  that 
 "  is  of  the  truth  heareth  my  voice. 
 
 3S  Pilate  .saith  unto  him.  What  is  truth? 
 And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  went  out  again 
 unto  the  Jews,  and  saitli  unto  them,  ''  I  find  in 
 him  no  fault  at  all. 
 
 30  '  But  ye  have  a  custom,  that  I  should  re- 
 lease unto  you  one  at  the  passover  :  will  ye 
 therefore  that  I  release  unto  you  the  King  of 
 the  Jews  ? 
 
 40  '^  Then  cried  they  all  again,  saying,  Not 
 this  man,  but  Barabbas.  °  Now  Barabbas  was 
 a  robber. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I  Clirist  is  scoHTfjefl,  crowned  with  thorns,  (iml  hcaten, 
 4  Pilate  is  desirous  to  release  him,  hutheinti  overcome 
 ivith  the  oulra(/e  of  the  Jews,  he  delivered  him  to  be 
 crucified.  23  Theij  cast  lots  fur  his  ijarmenis.  26 
 He  commendcth  his  mother  to  John.  28  He  diefh. 
 31  His  .tide  is  pierced.  38  He  is  buried  by  Joseph 
 and  Niiodtnufs. 
 
 T^HEN   ^Pilate    therefore    took   Jesus,  and 
 
 -*■    scourged  him. 
 
 •2  And  tlie  soldiers  platted  a  crown  of  thorns, 
 and  put  it  on  his  head,  and  they  put  on  him  a 
 purple  robe, 
 
 3  And  said.  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews!  and  they 
 smote  him  witli  their  hands. 
 
 4  Pilate  tluM'cfore  went  forth  again,  and  saitli 
 unto  tiiein,  Heliold,  I  bring  him  forth  to  you, 
 •^  that  ye  may  know  that  1  find  no  fault  in  bim. 
 
 23.  Then,  'when  tlie  Kin^  was  c^hk-,*  (M^itt.  xxvii.  1;  Mark.  xv. 
 l.)—Tr(ipp.  The  hall  nf  judgmi>iit,  ro  -rr^airaipiov.  '  tlit-  |>ra.'t'irium,' 
 the  governor's  palace.  Properly  s[)eakinf;,  the  prKtnriiim  was  that 
 part  of  the  palace  where  the  snkliers  kept  guard,  (Mnrk,  xv.  I6,) 
 b«t  in  commnn  lanfTuagp  it  was  applied  to  the  palace  in  t^encral.— 
 Bens.  Lest  they  shtmld  he  defiled—the  prsetor's  hall  wasfuU  of  Koman 
 soldiers  ;  atid  a  le^al  pollution  was  contracted  by  the  Jews  from  their 
 presence  even  among  Gentiles,  especially  on  occasions  of  peculiar 
 purity,  as  was  the  p-iss<iver,  (Acts,  x.  -28;  xi.  3.)— //'/m.  31.  It  is 
 
 nut  lawful,  ^e. — it  is  supposed  that  the  power  of  life  and  death  was 
 taki-n  from  the  Jews  when,  on  the  banishment  of  Archclaii'*,  Jndca 
 was  reduced  to  a  Roman  |)rovince,  and  a  Unman  governor  was  placed 
 over  Its  inhabitants,  under  the  title  of  procurator,  sttbordinaie  to  the 
 governor  of  Syria.— fc>.  Pmirre.  na.  That  the  snjjhtff,  ^-r.— he  had 
 signified  (chap.  iii.  U.  xii  32.)  he  shimld  die  upon  the  cross,  which 
 was  nnt  a  Jewish  hut  a  Roman  punishment.— /i/*.  J/'(?jn.  :i3.  Art 
 thou  the  Kin^,  fyc.,  6  0atT,\tv.,  'that  kuip  nf  the  Jews  that  has  been 
 so  much  talked  of,  and  so  long  expeeted--Messiah  the  Prince— art  thou 
 he?  i.  e..  dost  thou  pretend  to  be  he  V—Hen.  The  Jewish  rulers  had 
 suggested  this  ensnaring  (piestion,  as  if  Jesus  was  setting  up  a  title  to 
 the  throne  of  Israel,  and  opposing  C?esar. — Boothr.  31.  Sayest— of 
 
 thysrlf,  'from  a  desire  to  know  the  truth,  or  did  others  lay  it  to  my 
 charge  as  a  crime  V~M'hithy.  3.5.  .im  1  a  Jew?  '  that  I  should  think 
 of  asiting  such  a  question  ?'  whether  he  were  the  expected  Messiah. 
 36.  Uly  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world,  and  not  to  be  propagated  by  force  of 
 arms. —  Wfiitby.  3".  Thou  sayest,  SfC.,  uv  Ac^ct?  or;  (iaatXfvv  ct/ii  tftn, 
 '  thou  truly  sayest  that  I  am  a  king;  it  is  very  true;  I  am  a  king.' 
 IvXif^t-i,  'thnu  sayest,'  signifies  '  it  is  so;'  a  phrase  of  modest  assent, 
 concession,  and  affirmation,  (see  Matt.  xxvi.  25.)  Thai  I  should  bear 
 witnens,  fyc.,  i.  c.,  recommend  and  teach  the  truth,  and  autliuritativcly 
 enjoin  the  observance  of  it  on  me.  This  incluiit-s,  metaphorically,  a 
 notion  of  issuing  injunctions,  orders,  and  regulations,  as  a  king. — 
 Bloomf.  'iH.What  is  truth?  'the  truth  of  which  thou  speakesi  ?' 
 {ver.  37.) — Wait.  'What  is  truth'  (to  mc  ?)  'I  have  no  time  to  in. 
 quire  about  truth.' — I'earce,  Rosenm.  Jesus  did  not  answer  Pilate's 
 question,  because  he  saw  plainly  that  his  iniquitous  judge  had  not 
 such  an  ardent  love  of  truth,  such  a  spirit  of  disinterestedness  and 
 vehement  zeal,  as  truth  deserved. — Smirin.  Pilate  waited  for  no  an- 
 swer to  an  inquiry  which,  in  the  exercise  of  his  judicial  office,  did  not 
 concern  him. — S.  Clarke.  -10.  Burahbas—'iiee  Matt,  xxvii.  16,  note. 
 Chap.  XIX.  —  \. Scourged  him — see  Matt.xxvii.'iS,  note.  2.  A  crown 
 of  thorns — see  Matt.xxvii.  29,  notes.  Purple  roif— see  Matt,  xxvii.  2H, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVIII.  _  Here  is,  T.  Christ  deli- 
 vered up  in  thi  garden.  And  who  is  the  traitor?  Judas — one 
 of  his  disciples  !  Oh.  wretched  man  ?  better  that  thou  bad.st 
 never  been  born  !  How  great  the  crime  to  betray  the  Saviour 
 ofniankind!  Lord,  save  us  iVom  being  traitors  to  thee,  by 
 being  traitors  to  thy  cause  and  interest !  But  what  majesty 
 be  here  (Hsplays  !  He  does  not  shun  bis  enemies  ;  and  while 
 be  yields  to  their  force,  he  gives  them  proof  of  his  own  power. 
 He  that  strikes  them  to  the  ground  could  as  easily  strike  them 
 dead  ;  '  but  in  striking  tiiem  down,  and  no  more,  he  gave  them 
 both  a  cidl  to  repent  and  space  to  repent  ;  but  their  hearts 
 are  liardened.  and  all  is  in  vain.'  'i     Here  is— 
 
 II.  Christ  before  Caiaphas.  He  stands  before  him  as  a  pri- 
 soner, but  nothing  is  laid  to  bis  charge.  There  is  '  no  libel, 
 no  prosecutor  ;  but  the  judge  must  himself  be  the  prosecutor, 
 and  the  prisoner  himself  tlie  witness  ;  and,  against  all  reason 
 and  justice,  he  is  put  on  to  be  his  own  accuser.'  He  is  ques- 
 tioned '  concerning  his  disciples,'— what  sort  of  men  he  had 
 collected  around  him  ;  and  '  concerning  his  doctrines,'— what 
 seditious  principles  be  had  taught.  In  answer  to  these  ques- 
 tions, he  appeals  to  his  doctrines,  and  to  the  testimony  of 
 those  who  had  heard  bim.     la  all  this  there  is  a  dignified  and 
 
 tacit  reproach  of  his  judges,  w!io,  in  dealing  with  him,  did  not 
 judge  righteous  judgment.  '  The  doctrine  of  Christ,'  says 
 }[enry,  '  may  safely  appeal  to  all  that  know  it,  and  has  so  much 
 right  reason  on  its  side,  that  they  who  will  judge  impartially 
 cannot  but  witness  to  it.'     Here  is — 
 
 in.  Christ  before  Pilate.  Being  accused»of  assuming  to  him- 
 self the  dignity  of  *  the  King  of  the  Jews,'  he  declares  to  Pilate 
 the  nature  of  his  kingdom — '  I\Jy  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world.' 
 He  intimates  to  bim  that  his  reign  interfered  not  with  that  of 
 C^sar, — that  he  assumed  no  royal  splendour,  nor  required  any 
 military  guard;  virtually  saying,  *I\Jy  throne  is  on  high,  and 
 surrounded  with  celestial  guards, — mine  is  a  kingdom  of  truth, 
 and  righteousness,  and  peace  ;  and  I  came  from  lieaven  to 
 proclaim  this  truth  on  earth,  ami  to  prepare  the  world  for  its 
 establishment.'  I'ilate  perceives  that  tiie  charges  against  him 
 are  unfounded,  and  that  he  is  entirely  innocent.  Jiut  his 
 worldly  policy  is  rendered  instrumental  in  promoting  the  great 
 designs  of  heavenly  love  and  mercy,  while  be,  guilty  man  and 
 judge,  sacrifices  the  innocent  Jesus  to  please  the  clamorous 
 Jews.  Here  we  see  the  horrible  guilt  of  man,  and  the  wonder- 
 working ways  of  God. 
 
Pilate  (hlh^crelli  Jexus  to  he  crucified.  S.  JOHN,  XIX. 
 
 Lots  cast  for  his  garments. 
 
 5  Then  came  Jesus  foitli,  woiiriiig  the  crown 
 of  thorns,  and  the  purple  robe.  And  Pilate 
 saith  unto  them,  Beliolii  tlie  man ! 
 
 6  "  When  the  chief  priests  therefore  and 
 officers  saw  him,  tliey  cried  out,  saying.  Cru- 
 cify liim,  crucify  him.  Pilate  saith  unto  them, 
 Take  ye  him,  and  crucify  him:  for  I  find  no 
 faidt  in  him. 
 
 7  Tlie  Jews  answered  him,  ''  We  have  a  law, 
 and  by  our  law  he  ought  to  die,  because  °  he 
 made  himself  the  Sou  of  God. 
 
 8  H  When  Pdate  tlierefore  heard  that  saying, 
 he  was  the  more  afraid  ; 
 
 9  And  went  again  into  the  judgment  hall, 
 and  saith  unto  Jesus,  Whence  art  thou  ?  ''  But 
 Jesus  gave  him  no  answer. 
 
 10  Then  saith  I'ilate  unto  him,  Speakest  thou 
 not  unto  me?  knowest  thou  not  tliat  I  have 
 power  to  crucify  thee,  and  have  power  to 
 release  thee  ? 
 
 1  1  Jesus  answered,  ^  Thou  couldest  have  no 
 power  at  all  against  uie,  except  it  were  given 
 thee  from  above  :  therefore  he  tliat  delivered 
 me  unto  thee  hath  the  greater  sin. 
 
 1-2  And  from  thenceforth  Pilate  sought  to  re- 
 lease him  :  hut  the  Jews  cried  out,  saying,  ''  If 
 thou  let  this  man  go,  tliou  art  not  Caesar's 
 friend  :  '  whosoever  maketh  himself  a  king 
 speaketh  against  Ca-sar. 
 
 13  1  When  Pilate  therefore  heard  that  say- 
 ing, he  brought  Jesus  forth,  and  sat  down  in 
 the  judgment  seat  in  a  place  that  is  called  the 
 Pavement,  but  in  the  Hebrew,  Gabbatha. 
 
 14  And  'it  was  tlie  preparation  of  the  pass- 
 over,  and  about  the  sixth  hour:  and  he  saith 
 luito  the  Jews,  Behidd  your  King  ! 
 
 1.3  But  they  cried  out,  Away  with  him, away 
 with  /n/H,  crucify  hiui.  Pilate  saith  unto  them. 
 Shall  I  crucify  your  King?  The  chief  priests 
 answered,  '  We  have  no  kiiig  but  Ca;sar. 
 
 10  "Then  delivered  he  liim  tlierefore  unto 
 them  to  be  crucified.  And  they  took  Jesus, 
 and  led  him  away. 
 
 17  "And  he  hearing  his  cross  "went  forth 
 into  a  place  called  the  place  of  a  skull,  which 
 is  called  in  the  Hebrew  Golgotha  : 
 
 18  Where  they  crucified  him,  and  two  other 
 with  him,  on  either  side  ojie,  and  Jesus  in  the 
 midst. 
 
 19  t '■  And  Pilate  wrote  a  title,  and  put  it 
 on  the  cross.  And  the  writing  was,  JESUS 
 OF  NAZARETH  THE  KING  OF  THE 
 JEWS. 
 
 d  Lev. 21. 16. 
 
 e  M.-it.  2<5  05. 
 
 /  Is.  53.  7. 
 Mat.  :i7. 12 
 
 5:1.  cli.7.:«). 
 
 IGe< 
 
 .  ui.ln. 
 
 m  Mat.  27. 
 96,  SI. 
 Maikir,  IS. 
 Luke-'S.24. 
 
 n  Mat. 27.31, 
 S3.  Mark  15. 
 ?l,92.Ijuke 
 23.  26,  3:1. 
 
 n  Num.  15 
 36.  Heb.  13. 
 12. 
 
 p  Mat  27.37, 
 Marklft.2r>. 
 I.uke  23.83 
 
 1  Mat. 27. 35. 
 Markl5.2I 
 I.iike  23.34. 
 
 Ltike23.l!l 
 II  Or,  C/"]>'u 
 I  l.ukej!4. 18 
 
 .1  ch.  13.  23. 
 &  20.  2-  & 
 91.7,20,24. 
 
 X  ch.  2.  4. 
 
 c  ver.  42. 
 
 Markl542. 
 d  Deti.21.23. 
 
 '20  This  title  then  read  many  of  the  Jews  ■ 
 for  the  place  where  Jesus  was  crucified  was 
 nigh  to  the  city  :  and  it  was  written  in  He- 
 brew, and  Greek,  and  Latin. 
 
 '21  Then  said  the  chief  priests  of  the  Jews  to 
 Pilate,  Write  not,  The  King  of  the  Jews  ;  but 
 that  he  said,  I  am  King  of  the  Jews. 
 
 ■22  Pilate  answered.  What  1  have  written  I 
 have  written. 
 
 23  H  ■>  Then  the  soldiers,  when  they  had  cru- 
 cified Jesus,  took  his  garments,  and  made  four 
 parts,  to  every  soldier  a  part ;  and  also  his  coat : 
 now  the  coat  was  without  seam,  ||  woven  from 
 the  top  throughout. 
 
 24  They  said  tlierefore  among  themselves, 
 Let  us  not  rend  it,  but  cast  lots  for  it,  whose  it 
 shall  be  :  that  the  scripture  might  be  fulfilled, 
 which  saith,  'They  parted  my  raiment  among 
 them,  and  for  my  vesture  they  did  cast  lots. 
 These  things  therefore  the  soldiers  did. 
 
 25  1[ "  Now  there  stood  by  the  cross  of  Jesus 
 his  mother,  and  his  mother's  sister,  Mary  the 
 wife  of  II  ^  Cleophas,  and  Mary  IMagdalene. 
 
 2(3  When  Jesus  therefore  saw  his  mother,  and 
 "  the  disciple  standing  by,  ndiom  he  loved,  he 
 saith  Unto  his  mother,  "■  Woman,  behold  thy 
 son! 
 
 '27  Then  saith  he  to  the  disciple.  Behold  thy 
 mother !  And  from  that  hour  that  disciple  took 
 her  'unto  his  own  home. 
 
 28  1  After  this,  Jesus  knowing  that  all  tilings 
 were  now  accomplished,  '  that  the  scripture 
 might  be  fulfilled,  saith,  1  thirst. 
 
 29  Now  there  was  set  a  vessel  full  of  vinegar  : 
 and  '  they  filled  a  spuiige  with  vinegar,  and  put 
 it  upon  hyssop,  and  put  it  to  his  mouth. 
 
 30  When  Jesus  therefore  had  received  the 
 vinegar,  he  said, ''  It  is  finished  :  and  he  bowed 
 his  head,  and  gave  up  the  ghost. 
 
 31  The  Jews  therefore,  'because  it  was  the 
 preparation,  •'  that  the  bodies  .should  not  re- 
 main upon  the  cross  on  the  sabbath  day,  (for 
 that  sabbath  day  was  an  high  day,)  besought 
 Pilate  that  their  legs  might  be  broken,  and  that 
 they  might  be  taken  away. 
 
 32  Then  came  the  soldiers,  and  brake  the 
 legs  of  the  first,  and  of  the  other  which  was 
 crucified  with  him. 
 
 33  But  when  they  came  to  Jesus,  and  saw  that 
 he  was  dead  already,  they  brake  not  his  legs : 
 
 34  But  one  of  the  stddiers  with  a  spear 
 pierced  his  side,  and  forthwith  "  came  thereout 
 blood  and  water. 
 
 notes.  6.  Crjiri/i/see  Mitt,  xxvii.  22,  note.  7.  By  our  liitv,  alluding 
 either  to  tliat  against  false  prophets,  (Dent,  xviii.  20,)  or  rather  to  that 
 a^aiu.'.t  blasphemy,  (Lev.  x.\iv.l6.)  8.  Afraid,  perhaps,  lest  he  should 
 condemn  some  extraordinary  person. — So  S.Chtrke.  1-2.  K^t  Cepsar's 
 friend — this  was  a  powerful  appeal  to  Pilate,  for  Tiberius  C?esar,  the 
 Roman  emperor,  was  jealous  of  any  opposition  to  his  government,  and 
 punished  with  death  all  poUtieal  crimes. — Whitby.  13.  The  Pavement, 
 probably  a  tesselated  pavement,  after  the  Roman  method,  on  which  the 
 seat  of  judgment  might  he  erected. — Wil.,  as  Clarke.  Giibhathu — from 
 the  etymology  of  this  word,  (probably  ni^,  elevavit,)  this  was  perhaps  a 
 kind  of  stage  or  scaffold,  in  the  midst  of  a  spacious  area  belonging  to 
 the  palace,  on  which  the  governor  might  place  himself  on  public,  and 
 especially  on  judicial,  occasions. — Dotldr,  14.  The  prepttrution,  i.  e., 
 the  day  before  the  paschal  sabbath,  (Mark.  xv.  42.) — Boothr.  The  sixth 
 hitur,  the  third  hour.  (Marlt,  xv.  25.)  Tlic  text  here  has,  perhaps,  a 
 slight  error. — Dnridr.,  Wil.  .Jahn  speaks  with  latitude,  not  intending 
 to  give  the  precise  hour. — liotithr.  As  the  day  was  divided  into  four 
 watches,  the  two  expressions  would  meet  in  one  of  them,  that  is,  the 
 third,  for  at  the  end  of  the  third  would  commence  tlie  watch  contain- 
 ing the  sixth  hour.  The  two  historians  might  say  of  the  same  event, 
 it  liappined  after  nine  o'clock,  or  before  noon. — So  Camp.  17.  Bear- 
 ing hia  crass,  being  compelled  to  drag  it  to  the  gate  of  the  city  nearest 
 to  Calvary  ;  at  which  gate  tliey  met  Simon  ofCyrene,  and,  finding  Jesus 
 unable  to  proceed  with  it.  they  compelled  this  coimtrymau  to  carry  it 
 the  rest  of  the  wn.y,   (see  Matt,  xxvii.  32,  33.)— Wil.  19.  .4  title— 
 
 when  a  crimina"'  was  condemned  to  death,  the  Romans  affixed  to  the 
 ll3a 
 
 instrument  of  their  punishment,  or  ordered  to  be  carried  before  them, 
 a  writing,  expressing  the  crime  for  whicti  they  suffered;  and  this  was 
 called,  in  Latin,  title.— So  Lardner.  20.  In  Hebrew,  4c.— we  learn 
 from  .losephus  that  it  was  Uaual  about  this  period  to  set  up  public  no- 
 tices in  different  languages.— /'«ifi(.  This  made  it  legible  by  all  j  they 
 all  understood  one  or  other  of  these  languages  ;  and  ttie  Jews  carefully 
 brought  up  their  children  to  read.— Hen.  22.  What  I  have  written, 
 ffc.,  i.e.,  the  thing  is  done,  and  cannot  be  recalled.— i.iVA'/-  23.  Took 
 A/.v  sarmtJits,  to  these  the  Roman  soldiers  were  entitled,  as  execu- 
 tioncrs.— C)-o«.  Without  seam— a.  cloak,  the  '  abha.'  is  now  worn  by 
 the  Arabs,  made  of  oue  square  piece,  with  holes  for  the  arms ;  the 
 most  valuable  is  made  witliout  seam.— /'/cf.  Bib.  Isidorus  Pelusiates, 
 lib.  i.  ep.  Ixxiv.,  speaks  of  this  as  a  very  usual  dress  among  the  poorer 
 sort  in  Galilee.— Le  Clerc.  24.  Might  be  falfilled-nMagh  they  acted 
 perfectly  free,  yet  it  was  in  a  remaritable  correspondence  to  the  Divine 
 OTAc\e.~D:tddr.  2ri.  Mar;/  the  wife  of  Cleophax,  the  mother  of  James 
 the  less,  (Mark,  xv.  40,)  whose  father  was  Alpheus,  or  Cleophas,  (Matt. 
 X.  3.)— Whitby.  2H.  1  thirst,  this  was  natural  to  the  occasion,  for 
 thirst  always  attends  continued  torture.— A'ncc.  29.  Upon  hyssop, 
 
 from  Matt,  xxvii.  48,  and  Mark,  xv.  3li,  where  a  reed  is  named,  the 
 stem  of  the  hyssop  seems  to  be  meant. — Rosenm.  30.  Jt  is  finished, 
 more  particularly  refers  to  the  great  work  of  man's  redemption.— 
 Stanhope.  31.  An  high,  day,  being  the  sabbath  in  the  passover  week, 
 —Bp.  Miinn  :  and  it  was  the  second  day  of  the  feast  of  unleavened 
 bread,  on  which  they  offered  the  sheaf  of  new  corn.— Wil.  See  Lev. 
 xxiii.  10,  II J  Exod.  xxiii.  19.        34.  Blood  and  water  this  shewed  the 
 
The  burial  of  Jesus. 
 
 S.JOHN,  XX. 
 
 Ilia  resurrection. 
 
 35  And  lie  that  saw  it  bare  record,  and  his 
 record  is  true  :  and  he  knoweth  that  he  saith 
 true,  that  ye  might  believe. 
 
 36  For  these  things  were  done,  'that  the 
 scripture  should  be  fulfilled,  A  bone  of  him 
 shall  not  be  broken. 
 
 37  And  again  another  scripture  saith,  ^They 
 shall  look  on  him  whom  they  pierced. 
 
 •38  t  "i  And  after  this  Joseph  of  Arimathea, 
 being  a  disciple  of  Jesus,  but  secretly  '  for  fear 
 of  the  Jews,  besought  Pilate  that  he  might 
 take  away  the  body  of  Jesus  :  and  Pilate  gave 
 him  leave.  He  came  therefore,  and  took  the 
 body  of  Jesus. 
 
 39  And  there  came  also  '  Nicodemus,  which 
 at  the  first  came  to  Jesus  by  night,  and  brought 
 a  mixture  of  myrrh  and  aloes,  about  an  hun- 
 dred pound  weight. 
 
 40  Then  took  they  the  body  of  Jesus,  and 
 '  wound  it  in  linen  clothes  with  the  spices,  as 
 the  manner  of  the  Jews  is  to  bury. 
 
 41  Now  in  the  place  where  he  was  crucified 
 there  was  a  garden  ;  and  in  the  garden  a  new 
 sepulchre,  wherein  was  never  man  yet  laid. 
 
 42  "'  There  laid  they  Jesus  therefore  "  because 
 of  the  Jew.s'  preparation  da\j ;  for  the  sepulchre 
 was  nigh  at  hand. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 1  Mary  comelh  to  the  sepulchre :  3  so  do  Peter  and 
 John,  ipnorant  of  the  resurrection.  II  Jestis  ap- 
 peareth  to  j\[nrt/  ilaqdalene.  ]9  ami  tn  his  disciples. 
 24  The  Ijicrcdtilitt/.  and  confession  of  Thoinns.  30 
 The  scripture  is  sufficient  to  salvation. 
 
 T^HE°  first  (iai/  of  the  week  cometh  Mary 
 -*•  Magdalene  early,  when  it  v\'as  yet  dark, 
 unto  the  sepulchre,  and  seeth  the  stone  taken 
 away  from  the  sepulchre. 
 
 2  Then  she  runneth,  and  cometh  to  Simon 
 Peter,  and  to  tlio  ^  other  disciple,  whom  Jesus 
 loved,  and  saitli  unto  them,  They  have  taken 
 away  the  Lord  out  of  the  sepulchre,  and  we 
 know  not  where  they  have  laid  him. 
 
 3  "  Peter  therefore  went  forth,  and  that  other 
 disciple,  and  came  to  the  sepulchre. 
 
 /Ex.  13.46. 
 Num.  9.12. 
 Ps.  M.  °0. 
 
 ff  Pa.  2?.  16, 
 17.Zech.l*. 
 10.  Rev.  1. 
 
 h  Mat.27  57. 
 
 Markl5  4-2. 
 
 I,uke-2:<.ftli. 
 ;  ch.  9.  2i.  fc 
 
 r-'. «. 
 
 ft  oh, 3.  1, 
 &  7.  SO. 
 
 h  ch.  13.  S3 
 h  19.  26.  Si 
 21.7,20,21- 
 
 d  ch.  10.  40. 
 
 /■Ps.  16.  10. 
 Acts  -J.  25 
 —31.  it  13. 
 31,3!.. 
 
 y  Mai-k  '.6  ' 
 
 A  Mrit.  23.  9. 
 Murk  16.  9. 
 
 rLiifa<<2t.16, 
 31.  cb.  21.4. 
 
 ft  Pa   22,  22. 
 
 Mat,  28.111. 
 
 Rom. 8.  29. 
 
 Hcb.  2.  11. 
 /  ch,  16  29. 
 m  Eph,l,17, 
 »i  Mat  gft.UI, 
 
 Luke  24. 10. 
 
 4  So  they  ran  both  together :  and  the  other 
 disciple  did  outrun  Peter,  and  came  first  to  the 
 sepulchre. 
 
 3  And  he  stooping  down,  and loohinrf  in,  saw 
 "  the  linen  clothes  lying  ;  yet  went  he  not  in. 
 
 0  Then  cometh  Simon  Peter  following  him, 
 and  went  into  the  sepulchre,  and  seeth  the 
 linen  clothes  lie, 
 
 7  And  "  the  napkin,  that  was  about  his  head, 
 not  lying  with  the  linen  clothes,  but  wrapped 
 together  in  a  place  by  itself. 
 
 8  Then  went  in  also  that  other  disciple,  which 
 came  first  to  the  sepulchre,  and  he  saw,  and 
 believed. 
 
 9  For  as  yet  they  knew  not  the  'scripture, 
 that  he  must  rise  again  from  the  dead. 
 
 10  Then  the  disciples  went  away  again  unto 
 their  own  home. 
 
 1 1  IF  ^  But  Mary  stood  without  at  the  sepul- 
 chre weeping  :  and  as  she  wept,  she  stooped 
 down,  and  looked  into  the  sepulchre, 
 
 12  And  seeth  two  angels  in  white  sitting,  the 
 one  at  the  head,  and  the  other  at  the  feet, 
 where  the  body  of  Jesus  had  lain. 
 
 13  And  tlu-y  say  unto  her.  Woman,  why 
 weepest  thou  V  She  saith  nuto  them.  Because 
 they  have  taken  away  my  Lord,  and  I  know 
 not  where  they  have  laid  him. 
 
 14  ''  And  when  she  had  tlms  said,  she  turned 
 herself  back,  and  saw  Jesus  standing,  and 
 '  knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus. 
 
 15  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Woman,  why  weepest 
 thou  ?  whom  seekest  thon  ?  She,  supposing 
 him  to  be  tlie  gardener,  saith  unto  him.  Sir,  if 
 thou  have  borne  him  hence,  tell  me  where  thou 
 hast  laid  him,  aiul  I  will  take  him  away. 
 
 IG  Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Mary.  She  turned 
 herself,  and  saith  unto  him,  Rabboni  ;  which  is 
 to  say.  Master. 
 
 17  Jesus  saith  unto  her.  Touch  me  not ;  for 
 I  am  not  yet  ascended  to  my  Father:  but  go 
 to  ''  my  brethren,  and  say  nnto  them,  '  I  ascend 
 unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father;  and  to  "'my 
 God,  and  your  God. 
 
 18  "  Mary  Magdalene  came  and  told  the  dks- 
 
 reality  of  Christ's  death.  It  was  an  indication  that  the  spear  had  pe. 
 netrated  the  pericardium,  in  which  that  water  was  lodged,  and  on  the 
 wounding  of  which  every  animal  dies  immediately. —  West.  Modern 
 anatomists  prove  to  iis  that  the  commentators  are  in  error  respecting 
 the  heart  swimming  in  water,  and  that  the  blood  and  water  must  have 
 flowed  from  the  heart  itself.  The  pericardium  may  also  be  pierced 
 without  the  heart,  and  without  causing  death.  This,  however,  was 
 not  likely  with  such  an  instrument  as  a  spear,  and  the  blood  flowing 
 with  the  water  was  an  evidence  that  the  heart  itself  was  pierced. —  Ed. 
 ^b.  He  that  saw  if,  i.e.,  John,  who  often  thus  modestly  speaks  of  him- 
 self under  one  circumlocution  or  another. — Gill ;  see  ver.  26.  Thnt  ye 
 mip/tt  believe,  that  Jesus  really  died,  and,  consequently,  that  his  rising 
 again  was  a  real  resurrection  from  the  dead. — S.  Clarke.  36.  Tfiat 
 ttie  scripture  sttould  tje  fulfilled,  .i  bone,  fyc,  they  were  permitted,  that 
 thus  the  scripture  might  be  remarkably  fulfilled  in  what  it  says  con- 
 cerning the  paschal  lamb,  which  did  in  so  many  circumstances  re- 
 semble Christ,  (E.xod.  xii.  46,  and  Num.  ix.  12.)  37.  And  again  an- 
 otfier  scripture,  ^c,  which  says,  concerning  the  Jews,  when  they  are 
 to  be  converted  to  the  Messiah  in  the  latter  days,  tZech.  xii.  10.)  for 
 which  reason  God  permitted  them  not  only  to  pierce  the  hands  and  feet 
 of  Jesus,  but  also  to  open  his  side. — Doddr.  39.  And  brought,  not  by 
 himself,  but  by  his  servants.  A  mixture  of  myrrh,  ^c,  this  was  a  very 
 large  quantity,  and  exceedingly  costly,  and  was  not  designed  for  the 
 embalming  of  his  body,  for  he  was  not  embalmed,  but  for  perfuming  it, 
 und  Id  honour  and  respect  to  him. — Gilt.    Aloes,  not  the  same  as  ours. 
 
 but  an  oriental  arrmiatic  shrub.  —  Willan.  See  Ps.  xlv.  8,  note. 
 40.  Wound  it,  einTav  avTo  oOovioi^,  'swathed  it  up  in  linen.' — Doddr. 
 Linen  clotties,  oOovta  means  '  linen  sepulchral  bandages,'  which  were 
 rolled  round  the  body.  To  bury,  evra^iuf  eo',  *  tn  prepare  for  sepul- 
 ture,' either  by  anointing,  rolling  up,  or  in  any  other  way. — Bioomf. 
 
 Chap.  XX. —  1.  Mary  Magdalene — John's  narrative  mentions  but 
 one  Mary,  but  implies  more  persons,  (ver.  2.)  Matttiew  mentions  an- 
 (ither  Mary,  perhaps  the  wife  of  Cleophas,  and  Martt '  other  women.' — 
 Ji'it.  15.  Ttie  gardener,  'farming-man,  or  bailiff.' — Bloom/.  Take 
 tiim  away,  curry  him  to  his  grave  again,  or  provide  some  other  resting, 
 place  for  iiim. — Ham.  16.  Rabboni,  was  the  highest  tiUe  of  honour 
 
 ever  given  to  any  teachers,  and  signilies  *my  master.'  17.  Toucit 
 me  not,  p.r\  itov  <ittdi, — the  verb  signifies '  to  embrace,'  'clasp  the  knees,' 
 *  fall  at  the  feet.'  '  Forbear  to  touch  me.'  in  other  words,  '  let  nie  go  ; 
 waste  not  the  time  in  expressing  your  joy,  hut  tell  the  brethren  tliis 
 comforting  message— in  a  little  time  I  sliall  ascend,'  &e.  The  knees 
 were  embraced  in  the  east  as  a  mark  uf  profound  respect. — Bioomf.  I  am 
 not  yet  ascended,  '  I  shall  not  presently  depart ;'  it  may  as  well  be  done 
 at  another  time.  —  Hen.,  Guiise,  so  Doddr.  .iscended,  avajiefin^a  and 
 aia/3an'u — the  Greek  verb  used  here  and  in  the  latter  part  of  tlie  verse 
 is  active,  as  it  is  likewise  in  chap.  iii.  13,  and  vi.  62,  and  Eplics.  iv. 
 8 — 10,  to  signify  that  our  Lord's  ascension  was  by  his  own  power,  while 
 that  of  believers  is  passive,  (see  1  Thess.  iv.  17.) — Guy.se.  My  bretltren, 
 meaning  tlte  apostles  and  the  rest  of  his  followers,  as  in  Matt,  xxviii. 
 7,  in,  and  Mark,  xvi,  7. — Btoon\f.     By  this  terra  he  intimates  the  full 
 
 Refiections  on  Chap.  XIX.  —  I.  Let  us  '  hehold  him  who 
 endured  the  cross  and  despised  the  shame  ;'  let  us  look  and  love, 
 wonder  and  mourn.  Tbere  was  no  fault  in  him  :  for  whose 
 sake  then  did  he  freely  undergo  all  this,  but  for  his  people's, 
 in  the  greatness  of  his  love  to  them  ? 
 
 II.  In  his  sufferinps  how  worthy  is  he  of  our  imitation  !  Be- 
 hold his  meekness,  patience,  anil  holy  fortitude  ;  his  filial  care 
 of  his  mother  after  the  flesh,  and  his  resignation  and  f;iilh, 
 1136 
 
 whereby  he  committed  his  departing  soul  into  his  heavenly 
 Father's  hand. 
 
 III.  His  crncifxion  is  recorded  hy  a  faithful  eye-witness.  The 
 end  of  this  record  is,  that  we  might  believe  and  be  partakers 
 of  the  virtue  of  his  death,  as  signified  by  the  water  and  blood 
 which  proceeded  from  his  wounds,  for  the  remission  of  our 
 sins,  and  cleansing  us  from  all  unrighteousness.'  u 
 
The.  incrcdulili/  of  Thomas. 
 
 S.  JOHN.  XXI. 
 
 The  miraculous  draught  of  fishes. 
 
 ciples  that  she  had  seen  the  Lord,  and  that  he 
 had  spoken  these  things  unto  her. 
 
 I'J  II  "Then  the  same  day  at  evening;,  being 
 the  first  day  of  the  week,  vviien  tlie  doors  were 
 shut  where  the  disciples  were  assembled  for 
 fear  of  the  Jews,  came  Jesus  and  stood  in  the 
 midst,  and  saith  unto  them.  Peace  he  unto 
 you. 
 
 20  And  when  he  had  so  said,  he  shewed  unto 
 them  his  hands  and  his  side.  ''  Then  were  the 
 disciples  glad,  wlien  they  saw  the  Lord. 
 
 21  Then  said  Jesus  to  them  again.  Peace  he 
 unto  you  :  '  as  my  Father  hath  sent  me,  even 
 so  send  I  you. 
 
 22  And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  breathed 
 on  them,  and  saith  unto  them,  Receive  ye  the 
 Holy  Ghost : 
 
 23  ■"  Whose  soever  sins  ye  remit,  they  are  re- 
 mitted unto  them  ;  and  wliose  soever  sins  ye 
 retain,  they  are  retained. 
 
 24  H  But  Thomas,  one  of  the  twelve,  'called 
 Didymus,  was  not  with  them  when  Jesus  came. 
 
 25  The  other  disciples  therefore  said  unto 
 him,  We  have  seen  the  Lord.  But  he  said 
 unto  them.  Except  I  shall  see  in  his  hands  the 
 print  of  the  nails,  and  put  my  finger  into  the 
 print  of  tlie  nails,  and  thrust  my  hand  into  his 
 side,  I  will  not  believe. 
 
 20  K  And  after  eight  days  again  his  disciples 
 were  within,  and  Thomas  with  them :  then 
 came  Jesus,  the  doors  being  shut,  and  stood  in 
 the  midst,  and  said.  Peace  he  unto  you. 
 
 27  Then  saith  he  to  Thomas,  Reach  hither 
 thy  finger,  and  behold  my  hands  ;  and  '  reach 
 hither  thy  hand,  ahd  thrnst  it  into  my  side  :  and 
 he  not  faithless,  but  believing. 
 
 28  And  Thomas  answered  and  said  unto  faini. 
 My  Lord  and  my  God. 
 
 29  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Thomas,  because 
 thou  hast  seen  me.  thou  liast  believed  :  "bless- 
 ed are  they  that  have  not  seen,  and  yet  have 
 believed. 
 
 30  IT  *  And  many  other  signs  truly  did  Jesus 
 in  the  presence  of  his  disciples,  which  are  not 
 written  in  this  book  : 
 
 0  Mark  16. 
 
 It 
 
 r.uke 
 
 ■^t 
 
 •i6  1  Coi". 
 
 lo 
 
 5. 
 
 fMatt.2fl.l8, 
 
 Ht^h   3.  1. 
 ■J  Tim,  U.S. 
 
 'Mat.  10  \\). 
 he.  Id.  18. 
 
 A.  B,.^3 
 
 If  Luke  I.  -y. 
 
 'z  ch   :i,  1.1. 
 Ifi.  fc.'j.  S-l. 
 
 I  Pfi.  i.9. 
 
 acb.  1.45. 
 A  Mat.  4.21. 
 
 11  Or.  Sin 
 
 n  Luke  .■». 
 0,  7. 
 
 /Hi.  i:i.  2: 
 &  2U.  2. 
 
 3!  *'  But  these  are  written,  that  ye  might  be- 
 lieve that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God  ; 
 'and  that  believing  ye  might  have  life  through 
 his  name. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 I  Christ  appearing  again  to  his  disciples  was  known  of 
 them  by  the  great  draught  of  Jishcs.  12  He  dineth 
 with  them:  Id  eaniestlt/  commandcth  Piter  to  feed 
 his  hxmhs  and  sheep:  l&furetcUe/h  him  of  his  death: 
 22  rehuhcth  his  curiosity  touching  John.  25  The 
 conclusion. 
 
 A  FTER  these  things  Jesus  shewed  himself 
 -^^  again  to  the  disciples  at  the  sea  of  Tibe- 
 rias; and  oil  this  wise  .shewed-he  himself. 
 
 2  There  were  together  Simon  Peter,  and 
 Thomas  called  Didymus,  and  "^  Nathanael  of 
 Cana  in  Galilee,  and  ^  the  sons  of  Zebedee,  and 
 two  other  of  his  disciples. 
 
 3  Simon  Peter  saith  unto  them,  I  goafishing. 
 They  say  unto  him,  We  also  go  with  thee. 
 They  went  forth,  and  entered  into  a  ship  im- 
 mediately ;  and  that  night  they  caught  nothing. 
 
 4  But  when  the  morning  was  now  come,  Jesus 
 stood  on  the  shore  :  but  the  disciples  '^  knew 
 not  that  it  was  Jesus. 
 
 5  Then '' Jesus  saith  unto  them,  ||  Children, 
 have  ye  any  meat?     They  answered  him.  No. 
 
 6  And  he  said  unto  them,  ^  Cast  the  net  on 
 the  right  side  of  the  ship,  and  ye  shall  find. 
 They  cast  tiierefore,  and  now  they  were  not 
 able  to  draw  it  for  the  multitude  of  fishes. 
 
 7  Therefore  '  that  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved 
 saith  unto  Peter,  It  is  the  Lord.  Now  wlien 
 Simon  Peter  heard  that  it  was  the  Lord,  he 
 girt  his  fisher's  coat  unto  him^  (for  he  was 
 naked,)  and  did  cast  himself  into  the  sea. 
 
 8  And  the  other  disciples  came  in  a  little 
 sliip  ;  (for  they  were  not  far  from  land,  but  as 
 it  were  two  hundred  cubits,)  dragging  the  net 
 with  fishes. 
 
 9  As  soon  then  as  they  were  come  to  land, 
 they  saw  a  fire  of  coals  there,  and  fish  laid 
 thereon,  and  bread. 
 
 10  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Bring  of  the  fish 
 which  ye  have  now  caught. 
 
 forgiveness  of  their  fault  in  leaving  him  even  without  ever  mentioning 
 it. — Doddr.  20.  Shewed  them,  ^c,  to  convince  them  that  it  was  liis 
 real  human  body  which  they  saw,  (see  Luke,  xxiv.  3/ — 40.) — Slanhope. 
 
 22.  Breathed  on  them,  a  symbol,  pledge,  and  confirmation  of  wliat  they 
 were  to  receive  on  the  day  of  pentccost.  Receive  ye  the  Hiily  Ghost, 
 i.e.,  the  gifts  nf  the  Spirit,  to  qualify  them  for  their  work. — Gill. 
 
 23.  Whose  soerer  sins  ge  remit,  ffc,  atptcvat,  'to  remit,' is  to  be  ex- 
 plained dcclarativcly. — See  Gl^ms.  Phil.  S'tcr.  21(5.  \<}>t£vai  tqc  a/xap- 
 Tias— '  to  remit  sins,'  is  here  a  part  put  for  the  whole,  i.  e.,  •  remission 
 of  sins  for  the  whole  of  the  salvation  obtained  by  Christ,'  which  is  fre- 
 quently a  custom  of  scripture,  especially  in  the  discourses  of  Christ ; 
 therefore,  '  to  remit  sins,'  here  denotes  '  to  declare  that  pardon  of  sins 
 and  salvation  in  general  will  be  granted  to  ail  those  who  seek  it  by  the 
 appointed  means,'  Sec. — Bloomf.  'Whose  soever  sins  ye  declare  are 
 not  forgiven,  they  are  not  forgiven,'  which  is  the  case  of  all  tioal  un- 
 believers and  impenitent  sinners  &c. — Gill.  This  commission  cer- 
 tainly implies  a  power  of  declaring  with  authority  the  Christian  terms 
 of  pardon,  whose  sins  are  remitted,  and  whose  are  retained,  and  a 
 power  of  inSicting  and  remitting  eccle^iasticat  censures;  that  is,  of 
 excluding  from,  and  re-admitting  into,  a  Christian  congregation,  (see 
 the  note  on  Matt.  xvi.  IJI.)  Some,  indeed,  are  nf  opinion  that  some- 
 thing further  is  intended  in  this  commission  as  piven  to  the  apostles, 
 namely,  the  gift  of  discerning  the  spirits  of  men  in  such  perfection  as 
 to  be  able  to  declare  with  certainty,  to  particular  persons,  whether  or 
 not  they  were  in  a  ^tate  of  pard  m  and  acceptance  with  God  ;  and  it 
 must  be  acknowledged  that  such  a  gift  was  doubtless  conferred,  in  cer- 
 
 tain cases,  on  some  of  the  first  ministers  of  Christ,  (1  Cor.  xii.  10.)— 
 Bens.  Suppose  the  power  of  forgiving  sins  had  really  been  granted  to 
 the  apostles,  haw  presumptuous  is  that  being  who  new  pretends  to  it, 
 without  the  power  of  working  miracles  and  other  apostolical  character- 
 istics.— Ed.  .25.  Thrust  my  hand  into  his  side,  cit,  '  upon* — '  put  my 
 hand  upon  his  side.' — Drs.  Stevenson  and  Doddr.  26.  AJter  eight 
 din/s,  in  the  Jewish  idiom,  signifies  'a  week.'— Guyse.  28.  My  Lord 
 and  niij  God,  '  I  do  not  only  now  acknowledge  thee  to  be  Jesus  my 
 Lord,  infallibly  risen  from  the  dead,  but  I  ct)nfess  tliy  divine  knowledge 
 and  power,  as  tlie  great  incarnate  Deity— the  glorious  Emmanuel.*^ 
 Doddr.  This  is  not  a  mere  formula  of  admiration.  This  sense  is 
 neither  permitted  by  the  words  following,  in  wiiich  Christ  commends 
 the  faith  of  Thomas,  nor  i»y  the  words  preceding— a  sort  of  form  no- 
 where introducing  an  exchunation.  It  is,  however,  doubtful  whether 
 the  disciples  had  a  clear  view  of  the  divine  nature  of  Jesus  as  forming 
 part  of  the  Goilhead,  till  after  the  descent  of  the  Spirit,  though  in  a 
 certain  sense  the  Jews  held  the  divinity  of  the  Messiah.— iJ/oo/n/.  To 
 use  the  Divine  name  as  a  mere  exclamation  of  surprise  was  not  the 
 custom  among  the  Jews.  Does  not  the  word  my  here  imply  the  sub- 
 mission  of  soul,  the  dedication  of  religious  feeling,  which  amount  to  a 
 real  homage  of  adoration  }—P.  Smith.  There  is  not  a  more  expres-s 
 instance  in  the  gospels  of  the  invocation  of  Christ  as  the  true  God. — 
 Beza. 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  — 1.  .it  the  sea  o/TiAenu?,  in  Galilee,  where  he  had  pro- 
 mised that  they  should  see  him,  (Malt  xxviii.  10.)— Mant.  ".  Naked, 
 i.  e.,  had  on  only  his  inner  garments,  in  which  case  this  expression  was 
 
 Reflections   on   Chap.   XX. —  \.  *  Blessed  he  God  for  the 
 
 strong  and  numerous  evidences  he  has  given  of  Christ's  resurrection 
 from  the  dead !  How  clearly  does  this  appear  from  the  open 
 sepulchre,  from  the  orderly  position  of  his  burial  clothes 
 there,  from  the  testimony  of  atii^els,  and  from  his  own  fre- 
 quently showini;  himself  after  his  crucifixion  to  many  faithful 
 witnesses,  who  saw  and  conversed  with  liim  ! 
 
 IJ.  *  How  astonishing  were  the  condescc7ision  aiul  love  of  the 
 11.37 
 
 risen  Saviour  to  them  that  had  so  lately  for sahin  him  in  his  last 
 extremitiis  !  He  appeared,  and  pronounced  peace  unto  them, 
 and  owned  them,  as  he  does  all  that  belicvti  in  him,  for  breth- 
 ren, and  is  t;one  to  heaven  to  manage  jiihI  secure  their  inte- 
 rests with  his  Father,  and  thoir  Father,  his  covenant  God  and 
 their  God.  Happy  souls  !  thai  arc  brou-^ht  to  believe  in  the 
 risen  and  exalted  Jesus,  and  to  claim  and  adurt-  liim  as  the.T 
 Lord  and  their  God.'  g 
 
 7    F 
 
Christ's  c/iarr/e  tu  Peter. 
 
 S.JOHN,  XXI. 
 
 He  rehuketh  Peter's  curiosity. 
 
 11  Simon  Peter  went  up,  and  drew  tlie  net 
 to  land  full  of  great  fishes,  an  hundred  and 
 fifty  and  three ;  and  for  all  there  were  so  many, 
 yet  was  not  the  net  broken. 
 
 12  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  ^  Come  and  dine. 
 And  none  of  the  disciples  durst  aslc  liini.  Who 
 art  thou?  knowing  that  it  was  the  Lord. 
 
 13  Jesus  then  cometli,  and  taketli  bread,  and 
 giveth  them,  and  fish  likewise. 
 
 14  This  is  now  ''the  third  time  that  Jesus 
 shewed  himself  to  his  disciples,  after  that  he 
 was  risen  from  tlie  dead. 
 
 13  t  So  whet,  they  had  dined,  Jesus  saith  to 
 Simon  Peter,  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou 
 me  more  than  these  V  He  saith  unto  him.  Yea, 
 Lord  ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee.  He 
 saith  unto  him.  Feed  my  lambs. 
 
 IG  He  saith  to  him  again  the  second  time, 
 Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me?  He 
 saith  unto  him.  Yea,  Lord  ;  thou  knowest  that 
 I  love  thee.  '  He  saith  unto  him.  Feed  my 
 sheep. 
 
 17  He  saith  unto  him  the  third  time,  Simon, 
 son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me?  Peter  was 
 grieved  because  he  said  unto  him  the  third 
 time,  Lovest  thou  me?  And  he  said  unto 
 him.  Lord,  '  thou  knowest  all  things  ;  thou 
 knowest  that  I  love  thee.  Jesus  saith  unto 
 him.  Feed  my  sliecp. 
 
 18  '  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto   thee.   When 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 i;Acis  lO.ll. 
 
 m  2  Pet.  1. 
 11. 
 
 h  See  ch.  80. 
 19.  ?6. 
 
 n  ch,  IS.  23, 
 
 25.  &  2l>.  2. 
 
 0  Mat.lfi.27. 
 28.  St  S5.3 1 . 
 1  Cor.  1.  5. 
 &  1  i.  26. 
 Hev.  2.  25. 
 ft3.  11.  & 
 22.  7,  20. 
 
 <  .\ct9  20.28 
 lleb.  13  ai). 
 1  Pet.  2.  25. 
 St.b.2,\. 
 
 p  ch.  19.  S5. 
 3  John  12. 
 
 7  ch.  20.  30, 
 
 k  ch.  2.  S», 
 2a.  &  16.30. 
 
 r  Amos  7. 10. 
 
 /ch.  13. -Sfl. 
 Actaia.S,!- 
 
 thou  wast  young,  thou  girdetlst  thyself,  and 
 walkedst  whither  thou  wouldest :  hut  when 
 thou  shalt  be  old,  thou  siialt  stretcli  forth  thy 
 hands,  and  another  shall  ^ird  thee,  and  carry 
 thee  whither  thou  wouldest  not. 
 
 19  This  spake  he,  signifying  "'by  what  death 
 he  should  glorify  God.  And  when  he  had 
 spoken  this,  he  saith  unto  him.  Follow  me. 
 
 20  Then  Peter,  turning  about,  seetii  tlie  dis- 
 ciple "whom  Jesus  loved  following;  which  also 
 leaned  on  his  breast  at  supper,  and  said,  Lord, 
 which  is  he  that  betrayeth  thee? 
 
 21  Peter  seeing  liini  saith  to  Jesus»  Lord,  and 
 what  shall  this  man  <h  ? 
 
 22  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  If  I  will  that  he 
 tarry  ""till  I  come,  what  is  that  to  theeV  fol- 
 low thou  me. 
 
 23  Then  went  this  saying  abroad  among  the 
 brethren,  that  that  disciple  should  not  die:  yet 
 Jesus  said, not  unto  him,  He  shall  not  die  ;  but. 
 If  I  will  that  he  tarry  till  1  come,  what  /.s-  that 
 to  thee  ? 
 
 24  This  is  the  disciple  which  testifieth  of 
 these  things,  and  wrote  these  things :  and  ''we 
 know  that  his  testimony  is  true. 
 
 2j  ''  And  there  are  also  many  other  things 
 whicli  Jesus  did,  the  wliich,  if  they  should  be 
 written  every  one,  "^  1  suppose  that  even  the 
 world  itself  could  not  contain  the  books  that 
 should  be  written.     Ameu. 
 
 used. — Bp.  Mann.  The  fishermen  in  the  east,  when  engaged  in  their 
 vocation,  are  generally  naked,  e.xcepling  a  small  strip  uf  cloth  round 
 their  loins ;  so  that  without  any  inconvenience  they  can  cast  them- 
 selves into  the  sea.— /io6.  11.  Full  of  ffretitji.shes— modern  travel- 
 lers have  fnund  tliat  the  sea  of  Tiberias  abounds  in  fish,  some  of  which 
 are  exceedingly  large. — So  Hur.  12.  Come  nnd  dine,  apio-Tiio-uTe, 
 '  refresh  yourselves.'  Hnmer  uses  the  word  for  a  morning's  meal. — 
 Doddr.  '  Cnme,  eat.* — Wes.  'Come  and  breakfast.'— ZJ^y.  Pearp^. 
 M.  The  third  time,  he  shewed  himself  to  the  disciples  collectively  ;  for 
 the  two  ^rroer,  see  John,  xx.  19,  26.  18.  When  thou  wast  young, 
 '  now,  when  thou  art  young,'  i.  e.,  active,  and  comparatively  not  old. 
 There  is  an  allusion  to  wliat  had  just  happened  in  St.  Peter's  eagerness 
 to  come  to  our  Saviour,  and  girding  himself  to  walk  through  the  ?ea. 
 —Grot.     Thou  shall  stretch,  ^c,  alluding  to  his  crucifixion,  which  took 
 
 place  about  tliirty  years  after,  under  Nero. — Bp.  Mnnn.  ly.  Signi- 
 fying by  what  death— the  reference  is  evidently  to  crucifixini.— i^**'/. 
 Bib.  Follow  7ne,  in  sufferings. — Ham.  22.  Till  I  come,  i.  e.,  t<>  dc. 
 stroy  the  city  and  nation  of  the  Jews. — Light/.  St.  John,  living  till  the 
 reign  of  Trajan,  survived  the  *  coming  of  Christ'  at  the  destruction  of 
 Jerusalem  thirty  years.— //wm.  24.  Which  testifieth  of  these  thing.^, 
 the  writer  of  this  present  history.— S.  Clarke.  25.  The  world  itself, 
 a  strnng  figurative  expression,  agreeable  to  eastern  modes  of  speech, 
 signifying  the  great  number  of  miracles  which  Jesus  wruuglit.— C/j. 
 Pearre,  Camp.  The  world  would  not  receive  and  read  such  bulky 
 volumes  as  would  be  required.— So  Doddr.,  also  Whithy,  Chandler,  &c. 
 Xwpnoai,  the  word  here  means,  'to  receive;'  'will  not  receive,'  seem- 
 ing incrcdiiile  from  the  greatness  of  the  works. — Origen. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  T.  *  Jriiat  if  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ  should  put  the  same  question  to  tis  that  he  did  to  Peter? 
 Are  there  none  of  us  who  should  be  at  a  loss  for  an  answer  ? 
 None  of  us  to  whom  he  inis»Lt  say,  *'  I  know  that  ye  have  not 
 the  love  of  Christ  in  you"?  Blush,  and  be  confounded,  O 
 my  soul,  if  it  must  reply  with  any  degree  of  uncertainty  to  a 
 question  of  so  qreat  importance,  and  in  a  case  where  all  the 
 ardour  of  the  heart  miqht  be  so  justly  expected. 
 
 IL  '  het  us  praise  God  for  these  sacred  records  which  contain 
 
 such  an  authentic  and  e.ract  account  of  those  important  facts  in 
 which  we  are  all  so  nearly  concerntd.  Let  us  earnestly  pray 
 that  their  great  design  may  be  answered  in  us  ;  that,  believini; 
 on  Christ  in  all  the  cliaracters  he  bears,  we  may  have  life 
 tlirout^h  his  name,  and  may  at  length  receive  the  end  of  our 
 faith  in  the  complete  salvation  of  our  souls.  throui;h  him,  to 
 whom,  with  the  Father,  and  the  Spirit,  he  undivided  honours 
 and  everlasting  praises.     Amnn,  and  Amen.'  "^ 
 
 THE 
 
 ACTS  OF  THE   APOSTLES. 
 
 [Tub  writer  of  this  book  is  generally  thought  to  have  been  Luke,  both  from  the  introduction  and  from  the  unanimous  testi- 
 mony of  the  early  Christians.  This  is  inscribed  to  the  same  person  as  liis  gospel  is  inscribed  to,  and  reference  is  here 
 made  to  his  '  former  treatise.'  As  the  narrative  is  continued  to  the  end  of  the  second  year  of  Paul's  imprisonment  at 
 Rome,  it  could  not  have  been  finished  earlier  than  a.d.  6.3,  and  it  contains  the  history  of  thirty  years.  It  relates 
 Christ's  ascension,  the  descent  of  the  Spirit,  the  first  preaching  of  the  apostles,  and  their  miracles  in  confirmation  of 
 their  doctrine,  and  everything  which  p,isscd  in  the  church  till  the  dispersion  of  the  apostles,  who  sep.arated  themselves 
 in  order  to  propagate  the  gospel  throughout  the  world.  The  first  seven,  and  part  of  the  eighth  chapters,  contain  the  rise 
 and  progress  of  the  mother  church  at  Jerusalem ;  then  follow  .accounts  of  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  among  the  Sama- 
 ritans, and  the  founding  of  the  church  at  Antioch  ;  and  lastly,  the  history  of  the  conversion  of  the  more  remote  Gentiles. 
 The  book  of  the  Acts  serves  to  strengthen  or  illustrate  the  following  passages  both  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  : — 
 Deut.  xviii.  15—18;  2  Sam.  vii.  12,  13;  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  16;  Ps.  ii.  I  ;  xvi.  8,  10;  xli.  9;  cix.  8;  ex.  1  ;  Isa.  vi.  9; 
 xxix.14;  lv,5;  Joel,  ii.  28,  29  ;  Amos,  v.  25  ;  ix.  11,12-  Mat.  iii.  11:  Mark,  xvi.  17  j  Luke,  xii.  11,  12;xxiv.49; 
 1  Cor.  XV.  5,] 
 1138 
 
Cfirisfs  ascension. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  I. 
 
 The  apostles  return  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 CHAP.  1. 
 
 I  Christ,  prepanng  his  apostles  to  the  behnlHiuj  of  his 
 ascension,  (jathereth  thnn  together  into  the  mount 
 Olivet^  commandith  iheni  to  expect  in  Jerusukm  the 
 sending  down  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  promiseth  after  few 
 days  to  se7id  it:  by  virtue  whereof  they  should  be 
 witnesses  unto  him,  even  to  the  utmost  parts  of  the 
 earth.  9  After  his  ascension  they  are  warned  hy  two 
 angels  to  depart,  and  to  si  t  their  minds  upon  his  se- 
 cond corning.  12  They  accordinijly  return,  and, 
 giving  theinselves  to  pruyer,  choose  Matthias  apostle 
 171  the  place  of  Judas. 
 
 THE  former  treatise  have  I  made,  O  "  Theo- 
 philus,  of  all  tliat  Jesus  began  both  to  do 
 and  teach, 
 
 -2  ''Until  the  day  in  which  lie  was  taken  up, 
 after  that  he  through  the  Holy  Ghost  '^had 
 given  commandments  unto  the  apostles  whom 
 he  had  chosen : 
 
 3  ^  To  whom  also  he  shewed  himself  alive 
 after  his  passion  by  many  infallible  proofs,  be- 
 ing seen  of  them  forty  days,  and  speaking  of 
 the  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God  : 
 
 4-  ^  And,  II  being  assembled  together  with 
 them,  commanded  them  that  they  should  not 
 depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  wait  for  the  promise 
 of  the  Father,  ^  which,  sailh  he,  ye  have  heard 
 of  me. 
 
 5  ^  For  John  truly  baptized  with  water  ;  ''but 
 ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost  not 
 many  days  hence, 
 
 tj  When  they  therefore  were  come  together, 
 they  asked  of  him,  saying,  '  Lord,  wilt  thou  at 
 this  time  "restore  again  the  kingdom  to  Israel? 
 
 7  And  he  said  unto  them,  '  It  is  not  for  you 
 to  know  the  times  or  the  seasons,  which  the 
 Father  hath  put  in  his  own  power. 
 
 8  ■"  But  ye  shall  receive  ||  power,  "after  that 
 the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you:  and  °ye 
 shall  be  witnesses  unto  me  both  in  Jerusalem, 
 and  in  all  Judsea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  unto  the 
 
 il.ukel.  s. 
 
 6  Miirk  Ifi. 
 ly.  I,uk<;9. 
 51.  &;  i4.51. 
 \<t.  9. 
 I  Tim, 3  16. 
 Mat.  28. 19, 
 MaikHi.l5. 
 .luhii  ^t}-l\ 
 ch.    la  4^1, 
 
 d  Mark  Iti. 
 1-1. Luke  34 
 :tll  J..lm  20. 
 Ifi.k'li,  &21. 
 
 I.  11.  1  Cor. 
 I;'j.  a. 
 
 r  LiikeS4. 
 
 +3,  49. 
 
 ;  Or,  euli,,3 
 
 t-lfi-lher  toith 
 
 Ihem, 
 f  Luke  24. 
 
 19  John  14. 
 
 16,26,27.8: 
 
 lo.ae  fa  16. 
 
 7.  cli.  2.33. 
 g  Mat.  SI). 
 
 Ch.  n.  IG. 
 
 *(  19   4 
 h  Joel  3.  18. 
 
 ch.l!.  4.  & 
 
 II.  \b. 
 
 I  M!it  -24.3. 
 ft  U   1 .  -JB. 
 
 Daii-  7-  y7. 
 
 Amusy.  II. 
 /  .Milt.  1!4.36. 
 
 M;.rkl3.32 
 
 1  Thes.  5.r 
 '(■  cU.2,  I,  4. 
 It  K\X,the 
 
 Holt/  Ghost 
 coming  upi/>i 
 you. 
 
 M  Liike'>4-49. 
 
 u  I.uke  :;4. 
 
 Miit.yR   3, 
 
 Mirk  10.  5. 
 
 Luke  24.  4. 
 
 .l,.lm2U.12 
 
 cli  lU.  3,3U. 
 
 .■li.  2.  7.  & 
 
 \:i    31. 
 (  L'aii.  7.  13 
 
 Mat.  24  30 
 
 Markl.^.26. 
 
 Lukfl2l,27 
 
 John  14.3. 
 
 I  ThoB.  1. 
 
 Ii).&  4.  16. 
 
 2Thes.  1. 
 
 lu  Kev.1.7. 
 Luko  24. 
 
 52. 
 
 ■ch.  9   37. 
 
 a9.  &  2U,  8. 
 t/  Mat   1U.2, 
 
 a  Jude  I . 
 
 (.ch.  2.1,46, 
 
 c  I,uke23. 
 4U,  aj.S(24 
 
 27.  ' 
 
 ■-22. 
 
 ch.  2.  32. 
 
 /P8.4I.0. 
 
 JohuU  18. 
 
 ^  Liiko  22. 
 47.Johul8. 
 
 A  Mat  10.  4- 
 I.ukefi.  16. 
 
 i  ver.  25.  ch. 
 12  2S.  &2a 
 34.  &21.  19. 
 
 ft  Mat.  27.  5, 
 7,  S. 
 
 /  Mat.  26,15. 
 2Pt!t.2.  lo. 
 
 uttermost  part  of  the  earth. 
 
 9  *■  And  when  he  had  spoken  these  things, 
 while  they  belield,  '*  he  was  taken  up;  and  a 
 cloud  received  him  out  of  their  sight, 
 
 10  And  while  they  looked  steadfastly  tow^ard 
 heaven  as  he  went  up,  behold,  two  men  stood 
 by  them  '  in  white  apparel  ; 
 
 1 1  Which  also  said,  "  Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why 
 stand  ye  gazing  up  into  heaven?  this  same 
 Jesus,  which  is  taken  up  from  you  into  heaven, 
 '  shall  so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen 
 him  go  into  heaven. 
 
 12  "  Then  returned  they  unto  Jerusalem  from 
 the  mount  called  Olivet,  which  is  from  Jeru- 
 salem a  sabbath  day's  journey. 
 
 13  And  when  they  were  come  in,  they  went 
 up  *  into  an  upper  room,  where  abode  both 
 ^  Peter,  and  James,  and  John,  and  Andrew, 
 Pliilip,  and  Thomas,  Bartholomew,  and  Mat- 
 thew, James  the  son  of  Alpha?us,  and  ^  Simon 
 Zelotes,  and  "  Judas  the  brother  of  James. 
 
 14  '^  These  all  continued  with  one  accord  in 
 prayer  and  supplication,  with  '^  the  women, 
 and  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus,  and  with  *^  his 
 brethren. 
 
 1 3  11  And  in  those  days  Peter  stood  up  in  the 
 midst  of  tlie  disciples,  and  said,  (liie  number 
 '^  of  the  names  together  were  about  an  hundred 
 and  twenty,) 
 
 16  Men  and  brethren,  this  scripture  must 
 needs  have  been  fulfilled,  ^  which  the  Holy 
 Ghost  by  the  mouth  of  David  spake  before 
 concerning  Judas,  ^  which  was  guide  to  them 
 that  took  Jesus. 
 
 17  For  ^  he  was  numbered  with  us,  and  had 
 obtained  part  of  '  this  ministry. 
 
 18  ''  Now  this  man  purchased  a  field  with 
 ^  the  reward  of  iniquity  ;  and  falling  headlong, 
 he  burst  asunder  in  the  midst,  and  all  his 
 bowels  gushed  out, 
 
 19  And  it  was  known  unto  all  the  dwellers 
 
 Notes  ov  Chap.  I.  —  l.  The  former  treatise,  meaning  the  gospel  of 
 Luke  ;  and  he  here  begins  where  he  there  left  off,  namely,  at  the 
 ascension  of  Christ,  (see  Luke,  xxiv.  51.) — Gill.  Treatise— \oyoi  might 
 here  be  rendered  *  accuunt,  history,  or  narrative.' — Hew  0/  all,  that 
 is,  of  many,  or  the  chief  things.  This  is  a  Hebrew  mode  of  speaking, 
 treqiient  in  the  sacred  writing.s,  especially  of  Luke,  (see  Luke,  iii.  6;  v. 
 •26  ;  sii.  44  ;  xiii.  28.) — Dp.  i'earc^,  lieausohre.  TheopkHus — see  Luke, 
 i.  3,  note.  2.  Taken  up,  denotes  the  ascension  ;  a  most  indefinite 
 
 term,  had  not  the  subject  been  most  famiUar  to  tlie  writer  and  his  cor- 
 respondents.— Ditv.  Ctimmandvients,  instructions  how  to  act. — Doddr. 
 3.  Passion,  or  suffering,  which  was  once  the  incuning  of  the  former 
 word. — Dav.  By  many  infallible  proofs,  eating,  walking,  talking,  &c. 
 — LigUtf.  HoWuit  TCKM'.iJtf'v.  proofs  rendered  'indubitable.' — A.Clarke. 
 Speaking  of  the  things,  J^c,  instructing  them  in  Uiings  relating  to  his 
 spiritual  kingdom. — Jip.  i'earce.  4.  Being  at>stuililtd  tugether  with 
 
 them,  at  their  last  meeting  at  Bethany,  or  mouut  Olivet,  wliich  was  by 
 api'oiniment.  That  they  should  not  depart  from  Jerusalem,  which  does 
 not  necessarily  infer  that  they  were  then  at  Jerusalem  ;  for  they  might 
 be,  and  seem  rather  to  be,  at  Bethany,  or  on  the  mount  of  Olives,  from 
 whence  they  afterwards  returned  to  Jerusalem. — Uill.  Tliey  were  nut 
 at  Jerusalem  when  they  received  this  command;  but  the  command 
 means,  that  they  were  now  to  go  to  Jerusalem,  and  there  continue. 
 —Lightf.  Tliey  were  ncjw  assembled  at  Jerusalem,  to  which  place 
 they  had  gone  to  prepare  fur  the  least  of  Pentecost ;  or  rathLr,  in  obe- 
 dience to  Christ's  conmiand,  who,  alter  he  had  met  ihem  in  Galilee, 
 bad  a|)pointed  them  to  meet  him  there. — Bens.  The  promise,  the  pour- 
 ing forth  of  the  Spirit,  (Joel,  n.28,)  which  also  Christ  had  promised  his 
 itisciples  from  the  Father,  (John,  .\iv.  l6;  and  xv.  26 j  and  xvi.  7.) — 
 Gitt.  5.  Baptized  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  '  there  is  a  nobler  baptism  pre- 
 pared for  you,  to  furnish  you  for  your  great  work.' — Bens.  6.  Come 
 toiitither,  at  Bethany,  (see  Luke,  xxiv,  w.)—Mant.  Restore  again  the 
 kingdom,  '  wilt  thou  break  the  Koman  yoke  from  off  our  necks,  and 
 immediately  erect  the  kingdom  of  the  Messiah?'  This  notion  of  a 
 tcinijoral  kingdom  of  the  Messiah  was,  and  is  to  this  day,  the  great  de- 
 lusion of  the  Jewish  nation.— LtV'''/-  ATTcjhat^KTTakto' signifies  not  only 
 lo  restore,  &c.,  but  'to  finish,*  'make  an  end'— make  an  end  of  that 
 commonwealth  which  opposes  thy  truth,  and  set  up  thy  kingdom  over 
 all  the  land. — See  Schoettgen,  .^.  Clarke.  7.  It  is  not  fur  you  tu  know — 
 I  cannot  but  think  our  Lord's  answer  may  niticnate  it  should  at  length 
 be  restored,  tliough  not  immediately,  or  with  all  the  circumstances 
 they  imagiuetl. —  liinis.     Times — seasont;  x^ovcm  n  «ait)oi's— the  former 
 
 iiyy 
 
 denotes  time  in  general ;  the  latter,  a  point  of  time,  a  fair  occasion. 
 They   are   here   synonymous.  —  Bloomf.  8.  Pinrer — din'ofin,  here 
 
 used,  means  tlie  'energy'  communicated  to  the  disciples  to  work  mi- 
 racles, and  differs  from  the  word  used  in  the  preceduig  veise,  cfao-iu, 
 which  means  God's  infinite  *  authority*  over  all  times  and  seasons,  &c. 
 — A.  Clarke.  g.  Taken  up,  by  the  ministry  of  3,v\^c\s.~ Doddr.  Our 
 Lord  did  not  rise  from  the  grave  before  witnesses,  because  his  subse- 
 quent appearance  to  them  would  prove  the  fact ;  but  he  ascended  be- 
 lore  them,  since  tliey  could  not  see  him  in  heaven  while  they  remained 
 upon  earth. — Jennings.  10.  Two  men,  two  angels  in  human  form. — 
 Stanhope.  11.  Gazing,  with  surprise  and  amazement.  Shall  so  come, 
 in  like  manner,  visible,  in  a  cloud,  In  his  own  person,  with  the  same 
 body,  and  with  such  majesty  and  glory,  (see  Matt.  xvi.  27.)  —  Bens. 
 12.  A  sabbath  duy^s  journei/,  about  2000  cubits,  or  half  a  mW^.—Beau- 
 sobre.  This  was  usually  coniimted  at  about  eight  furlongs,  or  a  mile. 
 It  was  the  distance  between  the  ark  and  the  camp  when  they  marched, 
 (Josh.  iii.  4,)  and  probably  the  same  proportion  was  observed  when 
 they  rested. — Doddr.  13.  An  upper  room,  chosen,  probably,  for  re- 
 
 tirement and  secrecy.— Gi//.  Upper  rooms  were  generally  large,  and 
 adapted  for  social  meetings  ;  and  often  used,  according  to  Lightfoot, 
 tor  religious  purposes. —  Wil.      Zelotes — see  Matt.  x.  4.  14.  tlis 
 
 brethren — see  Matt.  xiii.  55.  15.  An  hundred  and  twenty— Xh^sc  are 
 not  to  be  accounted  the  whole  number  of  believers,  who,  no  doubt, 
 nuw  consisted  of  many  hundreds  or  thousands. — Lightf.  We  read, 
 (1  Cor.  XV.  6,)  that  our  Lord  was  seen  of  above  five  hundred  brethren 
 at  once.  The  number  assembled  on  this  occasion,  it  is  probable,  were 
 such  as  resided  at  Jerusalem  anil  inthe  neighbourliood. — ^^e  Dr.  Walt. 
 These  were  the  number  of  persons  that  met  and  embodied  together  in  a 
 church  state. —tfi//.  A  small  association  of  believers.— i'u^ey.  16.  Must 
 needs  have  been  fulfilled — let  none  be  surprised  or  stumble  at  it,  that 
 ttiis  should  have  been  the  exit  of  one  of  the  twelve,  for  David  had  fore- 
 tuld,  not  only  his  sin,  twhich  Christ  bad  taken  notice  of,  John,  xiii. 
 18.)  from  Ps.  xli.  9,  but  also  his  punishment,  from  Ps.  Ixix.  25.  That 
 Psalm  refers  to  the  Messiah.— //en.  18.  Purchased  a  field— the  chief 
 priests  bought  it,  (Matt,  xxvii.  7.)  but  it  is  common  in  scripture  to 
 consider  a  person  as  himself  doing  that  of  which  he  has  been  the  occa- 
 sion.—iJe/iu4o6rt'.  And  falling  headlong,  -ntitivtji,  '  forward,  or  on  the 
 face. — Eisner,  Parkh.,  Sec.  He  burst  a!,undt;r,  'he  hanged  himself,' 
 (Matt,  xxvii.  5.J  It  seems  that  then  he  fell,  and  his  body  burst. — 
 Ntwc,  Pearce.  ly.  The  field  of  blood,  because  it  was  bought  with 
 
 the  price  of  Christ's  blood.- O'l//,  as  Lightf. 
 
The  descent  of 
 
 THE  ACTS,  II 
 
 the  Huljj  Ghost 
 
 at  Jerusalem  ;  insomuch  as  that  field  is  called 
 in  their  proper  tongue,  Aceldama,  that  is  to 
 say.  The  field  of  blood. 
 
 ■20  For  it  is  written  in  the  hook  of  Psalms, 
 "'  Let  his  habitation  be  desolate,  and  let  no 
 man  dwell  therein  :  and  "his  ||  hishopriek  let 
 another  take. 
 
 •21  Wherefore  of  these  men  which  have  com- 
 panied  with  us  all  the  time  tliat  the  Lord 
 Jesus  went  in  and  out  among  us, 
 
 •22  "  Beginning  from  the  baptism  of  John, 
 unto  that  same  day  that  ''he  was  taken  up  Irom 
 us,  must  one  be  ordained  '  to  he  a  witness  with 
 us  of  his  resurrection. 
 
 23  And  they  appointed  two,  Joseph  called 
 '  Barsabas,  who  was  surnamed  Justus,  and 
 Matthias. 
 
 24  And  they  prayed,  and  said.  Thou,  Lord, 
 'whicli  knowest  tlie  hearts  of  all  men,  shew 
 whether  of  tlicse  two  thou  hast  cliosen, 
 
 '2j  '  That  he  may  take  part  of  tliis  ministry 
 and  apostlesbip,  from  wliich  Judas  by  trans- 
 gression fell,  that  he  might  go  to  his  own  place. 
 
 •26  And  tliey  gave  forth  their  lots  ;  and  the 
 lot  fell  upon  Matthias  ;  and  he  was  numbered 
 with  the  eleven  apostles. 
 
 CHAR  II. 
 
 1  The  apostl'S,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost.,  and  speak- 
 incf  dti^ers  lan;/ua(/es,  are  admired  hi/  some,  and  de- 
 rided by  others.  14  Whom  Peter  disproviiiy,  ntul 
 shewing  that  the  apostles  spake  byihe  power  of  the  Holy 
 Ghosi,  that  Jesits  was  risen  from  the  dead,  ascended 
 into  heaven,  had  poured  down  the  same  Holy  Ghost, 
 
 Or,  .#.:^ 
 or,  charge. 
 
 u  .M:u'k  I.  I. 
 p  vpr.  9. 
 
 <  1  ^:.■l^l,  IC. 
 7.  I  Chr.SS. 
 9  )<<29.  17- 
 Jec  II.  20. 
 &  IT.  10. 
 ''Ii.  15,  8 
 Ki-v.  S.  23. 
 
 I  vcr.  17. 
 
 nl„.v.2:(  ir>, 
 Dftut.lfi.  ft, 
 
 cii.  a<).  15. 
 
 l>Ch.  I.  M 
 
 '/el.   1.  :,. 
 
 ■'  Marti  I'i 
 17.  cli.  III. 
 •10  &  19  Ij. 
 1  Cor.  12. 
 10,  28,  30.  & 
 13.  1.&14. 
 2,  &c. 
 
 t  Gr.  vrhe'i 
 thit  voter 
 
 and  was  the  Messias,  a  man  known  to  them  to  be  ap- 
 proved of  God  by  his  miracles,  wonders,  and  sitpis, 
 and  not  crucified  withottt  his  determinate  counsel  and 
 foreknowledge :  37  he  baptizeth  a  great  number  that 
 were  convtrted.  41  ff'ho  aftcrwarils  divoutly  and 
 charitably  convrse  together :  the  a/)ostlcs  working 
 many  miracles,  and  God  daily  increasiny  his  church. 
 
 A  ND  when  ""tlie  day  of  Pentecost  was  fully 
 -^  come,  ''they  were  ali  with  one  accord  in 
 one  place. 
 
 2  And  suddenly  tliere  came  a  sound  from 
 heaven  as  of  a  rushinj;  niij;hty  wind,  and  '^  it 
 filled  all  the  house  where  tiiey  were  sitting. 
 
 3  And  there  appeared  unto  them  cloven 
 tongues  like  as  of  fire,  and  it  sat  upon  each  of 
 them. 
 
 4  And  ^  tliey  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  and  began  ^to  speak  with  other  tongues, 
 as  the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance. 
 
 5  And  there  were  dwelling  at  Jerusalem 
 Jews,  devout  men,  out  of  every  nation  under 
 heaven. 
 
 6  Now  t  when  this  was  noised  abroad,  the 
 multitude  came  together,  and  were  ||  con- 
 founded, because  that  every  man  heard  them 
 speak  in  iiis  own  lan}j:uage. 
 
 7  And  they  were  all  amazed  and  marvelled, 
 saying  one  to  another,  Behold,  are  not  all 
 these  which  speak  ^  G.ilila^ans  ? 
 
 8  And  how  hear  we  every  man  in  our  own 
 tongue,  wherein  we  were  born  ? 
 
 9  Parthians,  and  Medes,  and  Elamites,  and 
 the  dwellers  in  Mesoputamia,  and  in  Judiea, 
 and  Cappadocia,  in  Pontus,  and  Asia, 
 
 28.  Let  his  hitbitation  he  desolate,^  c. — David's  imprecatious  of  judgment 
 on  his  enemies  (some  of  whom,  indeed,  resembled  Judas)  were  predic 
 tive  of  the  judgments  which  befel  Judas.  — Wi7.  22.  Ordained — the 
 Greek  word  usually  denotir)f?  ordination  is  not  used  here.  The  expres*;ion 
 is.  literally,  *must  one  be  or  becfnne,  -yevetTHai,  a  witness.' — Barnes. 
 23.  Joseph — probably  he  who  iscalled  Joses,  Mark.vi.  3;xv.  10.  25.  His 
 own  place,  a  Hebrew  phrase  for  hell. — Light/.  The  place  which  he  had 
 bought  for  his  burial.— U>a7(;«.  The  place  of  a  traitor,  hell.— //^■«. 
 The  place  of  future  punishment,  allotted  to  sinners  after  death. — Hew. 
 2f>.  The  lot  felt — according  to  fini^Hs,  the  method  was,  to  put  their  lots 
 into  two  urns,  one  of  which  contained  the  names  of  Joseph  and  Mat- 
 thias, and  the  other  a  blank,  and  the  word  '  ai)nstle.'  In  drawing  these 
 out  of  the  urns,  the  blank  came  up  with  the  name  of  Joseph,  and  that 
 on  which  was  written  'apostle,'  with  Matthias. — Orient.  Cu.tt.  Upon 
 Matthias,  probably  one  of  the  seventy  disciples,  and  a  witness  of  the 
 resurrection,  and  otlier  circumstances  of  the  Saviour's  life. — Nelson. 
 Numbered — the  word  avjKuTe''l>>j(Pi<TOtj  is  compounded  o(  .n-v,  'together 
 with,' Kara, 'according  to,'  and  »^n0or.  'a  pebble'  or  's^mall  stone,' 
 used  for  lots,  and  as  a  means  of  enumeration  among  the  Greeks  and 
 other  nations  ;  hence  it  is  probable  that  the  calculus  or  pebble,  and  not 
 parchment,  was  used  on  this  occasion. — So  A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  H.  —  1.  Pentecost,  si^nides  '  tif'.y,'  because  the  feast  was  cele 
 brated  on  the  fiftieth  day  after  the  passover.  It  was  in  commemora- 
 tion of  the  giving  nf  the  law  on  mount  Sinai. — Hew.  See  Lev.  x.\iii. 
 l.'i,  note.  Fiilli/  romie— the  sense  is,  when  the  whole  fifty  days,  from 
 the  passover  to  this  time,  were  fully  come,  or  fulfilled.— GjV^  The  day 
 began  on  the  evening  preceding;  but  on  the  morning  following  it  was 
 fully  come. —  M'il.  They  were  all,  i.  e.,  the  twelve  apostles. — Til/ofstm. 
 This  may  be  understood  of  the  hundred  and  twenty. — GUI,  as  Lii^htf. 
 In  one  place,  probably  in  the  temple,  because  it  was  the  Jewish  himr 
 of  morning  prayer,  the  third  hour  of  the  day,  (ver.  15.) — Bp.  I'earee. 
 We  conceive  that  they  neither  dared  to  ask  the  favour  of  the  temple, 
 nor  would  they  by  any  means  be  so  indulged,  as  they  lay  at  this  time 
 under  the  charge  of  having  stolen  the  body  of  their  Master.  See  Matt, 
 xxviii.  11 — 15. —  Wil.  3.  Clouen  tongues,  ^c,  AiaiiepiCofievai  ^Xo^caat, 
 'distinct  tongues  of  fire,  that  is,  small  flames.' — Bens.  They  were 
 bright  flames,  in  a  pyramidal  form,  which  were  so  parted  as  to  termi- 
 nate in  several  points,  and  thereby  to  aff'ord  a  proper  emblem  of  the 
 marvellous  effect  attending  the  appearance,  by  which  they  were  endued 
 with  a  miraculous  diversity  of  languages. — Doddr.  An  emblem  of  the 
 various  tongues  and  languages  in  which  they  were  to  preach  the  gos- 
 
 pel. These  appearances  were  like  flames  of  fire  pirteii.  and  these parteii 
 flames  lookid  like  tongues  ;  so  a  flame  of  fire  is,  with  the  Jevirs,  called 
 "iDN  plD^.  '  a  tongue  of  fire,*  (Isa.  v.  24.) — Gill,  so  Stanhnpe.  4.  With 
 the  Holy  Ghost,  with  his  gifU.—GilL  Other  tongnei,  i  c..  foreign 
 tongues,  to  which  they  h  id  not  been  accustomed. — Wil.  l/tterancct 
 ixTTo<pOeyietxOat,  i.  e.,from  immediDte  inspiration. — A.  Clarke.  ^.  Dwel- 
 ling, KaTOitcoi'i-TCf,  having  a  firfd  and  permanent  habiiation  :  probably 
 niflny  wealthy  foreign  Jews  had  a  ijeiinanent  residence  in  Jerusalem, 
 to  be  near  the  temple. — Barnes,  .icu-s,  by  nation  and  by  pr  selyfism, 
 (ver.  !(►.) — Whitby.  Devout  men,  worshippers  of  the  true  God.- AVuje. 
 Of  every  nation — some  of  the  dispersed  Jews  met  on  the  day  of  Pente- 
 cost, and  at  the  actual  time  when  they  expected  the  Messiah.— B^-nu- 
 sobre,  and  L'Enfant.  Probably  these  had  come  in  great  numbers, 
 from  all  parts,  in  expectation  of  the  Messiah  and  his  kingdom,  the  lime 
 being  up,  according  to  Daniel'^  wit-ks,  and  other  prophecies,  th;it  he 
 should  appear. — Gill.  Ever/f  nation  under  heaven — the  western  hemi- 
 sphere had  not  then  been  discovered  ;  but  there  were  individuals  prc-^cnt 
 from  countries  here  named,  and  probably  many  more.  —  Wil.  The 
 language  is  probably  used  for  many  countries,  such  strong  phraseology 
 being  common  among  the  Jews.— Ed.  6.  Language,  AiaXtKTo^, '  idiom,' 
 whether  foreign  or  modified  Hebrew. — Barnes.  7-  Galilienns,  rude, 
 unpolished,  and  unlearnml  men,  who  had  never  been  brought  up  in  any 
 school  of  learning,  and  had  never  learned  any  language  but  their  mother 
 tongue,  and  that  they  pronounced  with  an  ill  grace.  The  apostles 
 were  of  Galilee,  and  so,  it  is  likely,  were  the  greatest  part  of  those  that 
 were  with  them.  8.  Our  own  tongue,  for  though  thee  men  were 
 
 Jews  by  descent,  yet  they  were  bnrn  and  brought  up  in  other  cotmtries. 
 which  languages  they  spoke. — Gill.  The  apostles  prohaidy  each  rme 
 addressed  each  class  of  Jews  in  succession,  and  it  might  he  they  were 
 separated  in  groups  for  the  convenience  of  hearing.  Thiy  might  be 
 guided  in  their  address  by  the  costumes  of  the  parties;  or  lathcr,  the 
 Spirit  that  gave  them  ability  to  speak  taught  them  what  languages  to 
 employ.— £d.  y.  Parthians— ^astXuA.  was  a  kingdom  bordering  OD 
 
 Media,  on  the  west.  &c. — Gill.  Medes — of  Media,  east  of  Persia. — 
 Wells.  Elamites,  Persians.  See  Gen.  xiv.  i .  Mesopotamia — the  word 
 means  '  a  place  between  two  rivers.'  Syria,  between  the  two  rivers 
 the  Tigris  and  Euphrates. — GUI.  The  dwellers  in  Mesopotamia,  may 
 perhaps  mean  the  remainder  of  the  Jews  who  had  been  carried  captive 
 into  Assyria,  (2  Kin.  xv.  29;  xvii.  G.)  —  Bp.  Cumberland.  And  in 
 Judtea — a  different  dialect  was  spoken  in  Jndrea  from  that  of  Galilee. — 
 Beatisohre.     Cappadocia,  so  called  from  the  liverCappadox  ;  a  country 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  — I.  Let  us  rejoice  in  the  ascen- 
 sion of  our  risen  Saviour.  He  went  to  heaven  before  many 
 witnesses  ;  he  went  in  our  nature — in  that  nature  that  suffered, 
 to  plead  for  us  who  in  that  nature  iiave  sinned.  lie  went  to 
 fulfil  his  pledge  to  his  disciples,— a  pledge  in  which  all  his 
 faithful  followers  are  equally  interested.  '  I  go  to  prepare  a 
 place  for  you  ;  and  if  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  vou.  I  will 
 come  again  anrl  take  you  to  myself,  that  where  I  nni,  there  ye 
 1140 
 
 may  be  also.* 
 
 II.  Christ  will  always  have  a  sufficiency  of  witnesses  to  bear 
 testimony  to  his  truth.  *  But,*  says  Scott,  '  when  mercenary 
 and  ungodly  men  are  removed,  we  should  beseech  the  great 
 Searcher  of  hearts  to  fill  their  places  in  the  church  with  such 
 ministers  as  have  known  Christ,  and  are  capable  of  being  wit- 
 nesses for  him,  and  of  declaring  to  others  the  efficacy  o(  his 
 sufferings,  and  the  power  of  his  resurrection.' 
 
Peter  shewcth  the  power  of  the  Spirity 
 
 THE  ACTS.  11. 
 
 and  the  resurrection  of  Christ, 
 
 10  Phrygia,  and  Pamphylia,  in  Egypt,  and  in 
 the  parts  of  Libya  about  Cyrene,  and  strangers 
 of  Rome,  Jews  and  proselytes, 
 
 !  1  Cretes  and  Arabians,  we  do  hear  them 
 speak  in  our  tongues  the  wonderful  works  of 
 God. 
 
 12  And  they  were  all  amazed,  and  were  in 
 doubt,  saying  one  to  another,  What  nieaneth 
 this? 
 
 13  Others  mocking  said,  These  men  are  full 
 of  new  wine. 
 
 14  If  But  Peter,  standing  up  with  the  eleven, 
 lifted  U])  his  voice,  and  said  unto  them.  Ye 
 men  of  .hnhva,  and  all  ^e  that  dwell  at  Jeru- 
 salem, be  this  known  unto  you,  and  hearken  to 
 iiiy  words  ; 
 
 15  For  these  are  not  drunken,  as  ye  suppose, 
 ^  seeing  it  is  h?it  the  tlnrd  hour  of  tlie  day. 
 
 16  But  this  is  that  which  was  spoken  by  the 
 prophet  Joel  ; 
 
 17  '' Antl  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last 
 days,  saith  God,  '  I  wdl  pour  out  of  my  Spirit 
 upon  all  flesh:  and  your  sons  and  ''your 
 daughters  shall  prophesy,  and  your  young  men 
 shall  see  visions,  and  your  old  men  shall  dream 
 dreams  : 
 
 18  And  on  my  servants  and  on  my  band- 
 maidens  I  will  pour  out  in  those  days  of  my 
 Spirit;  'and  tliey  shall  prophesy: 
 
 19  "'  And  I  will  shew  wonders  in  heaven 
 above,  and  signs  in  the  earth  beneath  ;  blood, 
 and  fire,  and  vapour  of  smoke  : 
 
 -20  "  The  sun  shall  be  turned  into  darkness, 
 and  the  moon  into  blood,  before  that  great  and 
 notable  day  of  the  Lord  come  : 
 
 21  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  ^/m^  "  whoso- 
 ever shall  call  on  the  n.iine  of  the  Lord  shall 
 be  saved. 
 
 22  Ye  men  of  Israel,  hear  these  words  ;  Jesus 
 of  Nazareth,  a  man  approved  of  God  among 
 you  ""by  miracles  and  wonders  and  signs,  which 
 God  did  by  Iiim  in  the  midst  of  yon,  as  ye 
 
 Kzek.n.ig. 
 
 &  3(i.  27. 
 Joel  2.  -iB, 
 L>9  Zech.lS. 
 10.  John  7. 
 
 /ch.21.  *,9, 
 10.  I  Cor. 
 12.10. -28.  & 
 U.  I.  &c. 
 
 m  Joel  2.  SO, 
 
 'I  Mat.3».29. 
 Markl3.S4-. 
 Luke  21.25. 
 
 &  14.10,  II 
 ch.  10-  ;18. 
 Heb.  2.  *. 
 
 .  ch.  5.  30. 
 
 J  ver.nS.  ch. 
 
 3  I3.&+,I0. 
 
 &  10.  Wi  8, 
 
 1:1   :lif,34,S( 
 
 17  til  Rom. 
 
 I.-JI.&H  II. 
 
 I  C.ir   K.  n. 
 
 k   IS.  Ifi. 
 
 L>Cor  i.  14 
 
 Riil.  I.I. 
 
 Kph.  I.  20. 
 
 Col.  2.  12. 
 
 IThes.l.lu. 
 
 Heb  13.  20. 
 
 I  I'et  I.  2), 
 (  I's,   Iti    8. 
 llOr,  /m,,.y. 
 
 Ml  Kin.2.10, 
 
 ch.  IS.  Sli. 
 r  2  Sam.  7. 
 
 12,  13.  I's. 
 
 132.  II. 
 
 I.uko  I.  32. 
 
 r»a.  Horn.  1. 
 
 -I   2  Tim.  2. 
 
 c  ver,  24. 
 
 ch.  1.  8. 
 
 ftch.  5.  31. 
 
 Phil.  2   9. 
 
 Heb.  iO.  12. 
 
 John  14 
 
 26.  &  IS.2fl. 
 
 &  16.  7,  13. 
 
 ch.  I.  4. 
 <i  ch.  10.45. 
 
 Eph    4.  S. 
 
 Ps.  no.  I. 
 
 Mat.  22.44. 
 
 ICnr.15  25. 
 
 Eph.  I.  20. 
 
 H«b.   I-  13. 
 
 yourselves  also  know  : 
 
 23  Him,  ''being  delivered  by  the  determinate 
 counsel  and  foreknowledge  of  God,  ""  ye  have 
 taken,  and  by  wicked  hands  have  crucified  and 
 slain  : 
 
 24  ^  Whom  God  hath  raised  up,  having  loosed 
 the  pains  of  death  :  because  it  was  not  possible 
 that  he  should  be  hoiden  of  it. 
 
 23  For  David  speaketh  concerning  him,  *  I 
 foresaw  the  Lord  always  before  my  face,  for 
 he  is  on  my  right  liand,  that  1  should  not 
 he  moved  : 
 
 2G  Therefore  did  my  heart  rejoice,  and  my 
 tongue  was  glad  ;  moreover  also  my  flesh  shall 
 rest  in  hope  : 
 
 27  Because  thou  wilt  not  leave  my  soul  in 
 iiell,  neither  wilt  thou  suffer  thine  Holy  One 
 to  see  corruption. 
 
 28  Thou  hast  made  known  to  me  the  ways  of 
 life  ;  thou  shalt  make  me  full  of  joy  with  thy 
 countenance. 
 
 29  Men  and  brethren,  ||  let  me  freely  speak 
 unto  you  "of  the  patriarch  David,  that  he  is 
 both  dead  and  buried,  and  his  scpulclire  is  with 
 us  unto  this  day. 
 
 30  Therefore  being  a  prophet,  '^  and  knowing 
 that  God  had  sworn  with  an  oath  to  him,  that 
 of  the  fruit  of  bis  loins,  according  to  the  flesli, 
 he  would  raise  up  Christ  to  sit  on  his  throne  ; 
 
 31  He  seeing  tliis  before  spake  of  tlie  resur- 
 rection of  Christ,  -that  his  soul  was  not  left  in 
 hell,  neither  his  flesh  did  see  corruption. 
 
 32  ''  This  Jesus  bath  God  raised  up, "  whereof 
 we  all  are  witnesses. 
 
 33  Therefore  ^  being  by  the  right  hand  of 
 God  exalted,  and  ^  having  received  of  the  Fa- 
 ther the  promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  he  *^  hath 
 shed  forth  this,  which  ye  now  see  and  hear. 
 
 34  For  David  is  not  ascended  into  the  hea- 
 vens:  but  he  saith  himself,  *^  The  Lord  said 
 unto  my  Lord,  Sit  thou  on  my  right  hand, 
 
 35  Until  I  make  thy  foes  thy  footstool. 
 
 in  Asia,  in  wliich  were  many  famous  cities.  This  country  was  near 
 the  land  of  Israel,  anil  in  it  dwelt  many  Jews,  who  had  schools  of 
 learning  here.  Pnnlns,  a  country  of  Lesser  Asia.  Axia  is  thought,  in 
 the  New  Testament,  to  be  used  fur  Lydia,  in  its  largest  acceptation  ; 
 or  to  lie  taken  so  as  to  include  Ionia  and  .K"lis,  within  which  compass 
 lay  the  seven  cities,  the  churches  of  whicii  are  called  '  the  churches  of 
 Asia,'  hy  the  sacred  writers. —  Wflls.  10.  Phrt/^ia,  a  country  in  Asia, 
 hounded  on  the  east  by  Cappadocia.  fcc  Ptimphplut,  also  in  Asia, 
 bounded  on  the  south  by  the  sea  of  Pamphylia,  of  which  mention  is 
 made  in  Acts,  xxvii.  5.  Lihiia—Pliny  says,  the  Greeks  call  Africa 
 I.ybia. — Gilt.  We  learn  from  Jnsephus  that  Ptolemy  Lagus  planted 
 a  number  of  captive  Jews  in  Cyrene  and  other  parts  of  Lybia. — Bp. 
 Pearce.  Strangers  nf  Hume,  Jens  mid  proseli/tvs,  that  is,  Jews  mid 
 proselytes,  who  wi  re,  by  birth  or  habitation,  Romans,  but  now  so- 
 jnurned  at  Jerusalem.  Roman  authors  inform  us  that  great  multi- 
 tudes of  Jews  dwelt  at  Rome. — Biscue.  \l,  Cretes,  the  same  with 
 Cherethim,  or  Cherethites,  in  Kzek.  xxv.  16;  Zei>h.  ii.  5  ;  whi>m  the 
 Septuagint  interpreters  call  Crett-s. — Light/.  Or  the  same  with  the 
 Creteans,  (Tit.  i.  12,)  the  inhabitants  of  the  island  of  Crete,  {Acts,  xxvii. 
 7,)  now  caJled  Caodia,  or  Candy. — Gill.  The  uonrler/tii  woj-ks  of  God, 
 ^t7u\c(a  Tov  Ucou,  *  the  great  things  ot  God  ;'  as,  Christ's  redemption, 
 aud  the  grace  of  the  gospel. — Men.  Probably  the  apo-stles  had  dis- 
 coursed to  them  respecting  Jesus'  resurrection  and  ascension  into 
 heaven. — Penrce.  13.  Othrrs  mocking,  3fc. — these  were  probably 
 natives  of  Jiida^a,  who  thought  the  sounds  uttered  by  the  apostles  were 
 mere  unmeaning  noises. — Light/.  Full  of  new  ivinr.  or,  '  sweet  wiiic.' 
 — Hen.,  Ham.,  Doddr.  *  Have  drunk  too  much  this  festival  time.'^ 
 Hen.  14.  Dwell,  o'l  Kajotnori-Tc^,  better  rendered  'sojourn,'  for  these 
 were  strangers,  mentioned  ver.  Q,  lo,  ii. — A.  Clarke.  15.  The  third 
 hour,  nine  in  the  morning;  and  men  usually  do  not  get  drunk  in  the 
 day. — Gfll.  In  thesL-  solemn  fe-^tival  days,  some  of  the  people  used  not 
 to  eat  or  drink  till  I'onn.  —  Light/.  \y.  And  it  shall  come  to  p'iss,  Sfc, 
 — see  Joel,  ii.  2S,  Sic,  notes.  Last  days,  times  of  the  Messiah, — Pyle. 
 Alljiesh,  heathens  as  well  as  Jews. — Lieht/.  19.  /  will  sheiv  wonders, 
 literally,  '  I  will  give  signs,'  dwtrw  Tcp^ra  —  in  many  places  it  does  not 
 of  necessity  mean  miracles,  but  unusual  and  remarkable  appearances. 
 So  here.  See  also.  Matt.  xxiv.  24;  Mark,  xiii.  22;  John,  iv, -JS. — 
 Bnrne.'i.  20.  NotiiOle  day,  of  Jerusalem's  destruction. — Bp.  Mann. 
 The  destruction  of  Jerusalem  was  a  little  day  of  judgment. — Hen. 
 21.  Shalt  be  saved,  escape  the  common  destruction,  (Matt.  xxiv.  13.) — 
 
 Bp.  Mann.  Escape  that  judgment  which  shall  be  a  type  and  earnest 
 of  everlasting  salvation.  In  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  by  the  Ro- 
 mans, not  one  Christian  perished. — Hen.  22.  Approved  u/  Giid,  utto 
 Tou  0eou  nTTor^ciet-j'/ievoi',  *  marked  out  by  God.'  signalized  and  made 
 remarkable  among  you.  23.  By  the  determinate  comusel,  %-c. — it  was 
 the  intention  of  Gnd,  from  the  beginning,  that  Christ  should  suffer; 
 hut  this  neces-^ity  of  suffering  did  not  impose  on  the  Jew.s  the  neces- 
 sity of  putting  him  to  death.  God  decreed  that  he  should  be  delivered 
 up  ;  the  blind  passions  of  wicked  men  did  the  rest.  24.  Having 
 loosed  tfic  pains  o/dertth,  having  delivered  hirafrom  the  power  of  death, 
 'llie  same  Hebrew  word,  ^271,  signities  two  things,  *  a  cord,  or  band,* 
 and  '  a  pang,'  especially  in  women  in  travail ;  hence  the  Sept.  meeting 
 with  the  word.  Ps.  xviii.,  where  it  certainly  signities  x("i''ci,  *  cords,  or 
 band's,'  have  yet  rendered  it  cooi^e?,  '  pangs,'  and,  from  their  example, 
 here  St.  Luke  hath  used  to?  wMva^  Bavarov,  the  'pains*  or  'pangs'  of 
 death,  when  hi)th  the  addition  of  the  word  Xt-o-at,  'loosing,'  and 
 KpaTeitrOat,  '  being  liolden  fast,'  do  shew  the  sense  is  '  band,'  or 
 'cords.'— i/«7H.  It  was  not  ])ossif}le,  i^-c,  it  was  impossible  in  itself, 
 and  contrary  to  the  tenour  of  prophecy. — Newc.  27.  Jn  hell,  the 
 grave,  the  place  of  the  dead.  See  Ps.  xvi.  10,  notes.  Ett-  ^!>av,  '  in  the 
 invisible  world.'  When  our  Lord's  soul  was  separated  from  the  body, 
 it  went  to  paradise,  ^Luke,  xxiii.  43.)  The  meaning  is,  '  Thou  wilt  not 
 leave  my  soul  in  a  state  of  separation  frimi  the  body,  nor  suffer  my 
 body  to  he  corrupted.' — Bens.,  as  Guyse  and  Doddr.  'Thou  wilt  not 
 leave  my  life  in  the  grave. '~i?f.;f/,  Whithy.  Guy.se  says,  if,  as  some 
 critics  contend,  the  words  ['/ft'xn  and  uiSrit]  were  here  to  be  rendered 
 '  life  and  the  grave,'  the  beauty  of  the  antithesis  between  Christ's  soul 
 and  his ^e.s/i,  or  body,  would  be  lost;  and,  to  me,  it  is  scarce  good 
 sense  to  say,  '  Thou  wilt  not  leave  my  life  in  tlie  grave.'  The  objec- 
 tion is,  however,  groundless,  if  we  read  it,  '  Thou  wilt  not  leave  my 
 dead  body  in  the  grave.^  [See  Park  hurst  on  i//i'X»i  iv.  and  aAnt  i.]  There 
 is  then  a  forcible  antithesis  between  the  iorf^  and  the  grave;  and  the 
 beauty  of  the  verse  is  increased  by  the  addition  of  another  between  the 
 Holy  One  and  corruption;  while,  by  the  repetition  of  the  first  member 
 of  the  sentence  in  another  form,  the  whole  receives  the  spirit  and  force 
 of  those  parallels  so  commonly  found  in  scripture  by  repetition. — Ed. 
 Corrnption^it  should  not  be  permitted  to  seize  on  the  body  by  which 
 all  others  were  to  be  raised  to  iiicorruption  and  immortality. — Bp. 
 Home.  33.  By  the  right  hand  o/  God,  a  common  expression  among 
 the  Hebrews  for  his  power. — Barnes.        :ji.  The  Lord  said  unto  my 
 
Tke  lame  man  healed^ 
 
 THE  ACTS.  III. 
 
 by  Peter  and  John, 
 
 3fJ  Therefore  let  all  the  house  of  Israel  know 
 assuredly,  tliat  God  '^hath  made  that  same 
 Jesus,  whom  ye  have  crucified,  both  Lord  and 
 Christ. 
 
 87  l!  Now  when  they  heard  tins,  ^they  were 
 pricked  in  their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter  and 
 to  tlie  rest  of  t!ie  apostles,  Men  and  brethren, 
 what  shall  we  do? 
 
 38  Tlien  Peter  said  unto  them,  •"  Repent,  and 
 be  baptized  every  one  of  you  in  ttie  name  of 
 Jesus  Ciirist  for  the  remission  of  sins,  and  ye 
 shall  receive  tlie  {^ift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 39  For  the  j)roinise  is  unto  you,  and  '  to  your 
 cliildren,  and  ^  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  teen  as 
 many  as  tlie  Lord  our  God  shall  call. 
 
 41)  And  with  nniny  other  words  did  he  testify 
 and  exhort,  sayiiiir,  Save  yourselves  from  this 
 untoward  generation. 
 
 41  If  Then  tiiey  that  gladly  received  bis  word 
 were  baptized  :  and  tlie  same  day  tiiere  were 
 added  ttnio  ihcui  about  three  thousand  souls. 
 
 42  '  And  they  continued  steadfastly  in  tlie 
 apostles'  doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  in  break- 
 ing of  bread,  and  in  prayers- 
 
 43  And  fear  came  upon  every  soul :  and 
 "'many  wonders  and  signs  were  done  by  tlie 
 apostles. 
 
 4-1  And  all  that  believed  were  together,  and 
 "  had  all  tilings  coiiimon  ; 
 
 4j  And  sold  their  possessions  and  goods,  and 
 "  parted  tliem  to  all  men^  as  every  man  had 
 need. 
 
 4{i  ''And  they,  continuing  daily  with  one  ac- 
 cord ''in  the  temple,  and  'breaking  bread 
 II  from  house  to  bouse,  did  eat  their  meat  with 
 gladness  and  singleness  of  heart, 
 
 g  Xecli-  12. 
 in.  Luke  3 
 10.  cli.  0.6. 
 8e  16.  SD. 
 
 h  Liilve  Si. 
 47.cli  3.li) 
 
 k  I'll. 
 
 .15- 
 
 «t  II, ir.,  IS. 
 8«  U  ^  «s 
 I.I.H,  S,  H. 
 Ki.li.  2.  13, 
 17. 
 
 r  vtT,16.  ch. 
 t.  I  l.ltom. 
 VI  VI    Kiili. 
 (i.  !S   Cr.1, 
 1.  -i.  Hcb. 
 10.  I'-u 
 
 <n  Mnrk  16. 
 I",  oil  1. 
 SI.  fl.  5.  12. 
 
 I,  di.  1.  32, 
 31. 
 
 7  I, like  3^. 
 t>i.  ch-S.-VJ 
 
 ||Or,a(  homir. 
 
 acU.  2.  ■]*•,. 
 t  Ps.  65.  17 
 cell.  H.S. 
 
 Lordf^c. — seePs.  ex.  1,  notes.  SJ.  J'ricStd,  SfC,  ntntvfftiiTiv,  the 
 word  tlenotes  to  pierce  or  penetrate  witli  a  needle,  lancet,  or  sharp 
 instrument,  and  tlien  tu  pierce  with  giicf  tir  acute  pain.  It  ariswcrs  to 
 our  word  compunction. — Dnrnes,  38.  For  the  reinission  of  sins,   tu 
 
 u0€ff(v  u/ui(.Tiuii',  '  in  reference  to  the  remission  or  removal  of  sins,' 
 for  baptism  docs  not  purify  the  conscience,  but  only  points  out  the 
 Krace  by  which  this  is  done. — A.  Clm-ke.  Shall  receive  the  gift,  fyc,  t!ie 
 extraordinary  gifts  of  the  Spirit,  particularly  the  gilt  of  speaking  with 
 t'HifiURs,  which  Christ  had  received  from  the  Father,  and  had  now  .slicd 
 on  his  apnsiks,  fsee  chap.  xix.  5,  6.)— Gill.  Some  shall  receive  the 
 external  gifts,  and  each  his  internal  graces  and  comforts. — Henry. 
 Si).  T/te  pnivtise  is  to  yoii  and  to  your  children,  and  particularly  the 
 promise  of  the  spirit,  {Isa.  \V\v.  3;  and  Iix.  1}.)~Giiysf:.  That  ate 
 afar  off,  i.e.,  the  Gentiles. —  Whitby.  -10.  Sni'-e  yourselves,  fftut/MTt, 
 •  be  ye  saved,'  namely,  by  complying  with  the  exhurtation  given.— 
 liem.un.  Al.  lirenkin^  of  brend,  being  put  in  conjunction  with 
 l>rcacliing  anil  praying,  must  here  mean  the  cucharist. — I'oole,  so 
 Lighif.,  Pearson,  &c.  Joint  partaking  of  food  and  pious  exercises. — 
 It'iuthr.  Expressed  their  mutual  afl'ecticn  in  breaking  of  bread  toge- 
 ther,  and  joining  in  social  prayer. — Doddr.  43.  Fear  ctnne~a  general 
 astonishment  seized  upon  all  when  thev  saw  these  wonderful  opera- 
 linns  of  the  Holy  Spirit. —  Hmn.  -11.  Hud  all  things  common — the 
 voluntary  resignatiun  nf  prixa'e  property  to  the  public  stock  was  pro- 
 bably necessary  at  that  early  time,  when  all  charity  ceased  towards 
 Christians,  except  among  tlienihelves.  and  when  they  sciupled  to  par- 
 take of  the  temple  sacrifices,  which  wore  a  great  relief  to  the  pour.— 
 />r.  Hales.  A  community  of  gnods  was  coniinun  at  all  public  religious 
 feasts  at  Jerusalem.  Hou-es,  beds,  every  sort  of  utensil,  were  lent. — 
 See  Lighff.    This  community  of  goods,  which  to  a  great  extent  was 
 
 47  Praising  God,  and  '  having  favour  with  all 
 
 the  people.     And   '  the   Lord   added    to   the 
 church  daily  such  as  should  be  saved. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  Piicr  preaching  to  thi'.  penpht  that  came  to  see  a  lame 
 man  restored  to  his  fett,  1*2  profvsseth  the  cur-e  riot  to 
 have  been  ivronpht  by  his  or  John^s  own  power,  or 
 holiness,  but  by  God,  and  his  Son  Jesus,  and  tliroiu/h 
 faith  in  his  name:  13  witUnl  reprehendini/  them  for 
 crucifyinri  Jesus*  1 7  Which  berause  they  did  it 
 throuyk  iynorancCi  and  that  thereby  were  fulfilled 
 God's  determinate  counsel,  and  the  scriptures:  19  he 
 cihorieth  thtin  by  repentance  and  faith  to  seek  remis- 
 sion of  their  sins,  and  salvation  in  the  same  Jesus. 
 
 TM'OW  Peter  and  John  went  up  together 
 ■^*  "into  the  temple  at  the  hour  of  prayer, 
 ^  hrintj  tlie  ninth  hour. 
 
 2  And  '  a  certain  man  lame  from  his  niother*s 
 womb  was  carried,  wlioni  they  laid  daily  at  the 
 gate  of  the  temple  which  is  called  lieautifnl, 
 ■'to  ask  alms  of  them  that  entered  into  the 
 temple  ; 
 
 3  Who  seeing  Peter  and  John  about  to  go 
 into  the  temple  asked  an  alms. 
 
 4  And  Peter,  fastening  bis  eyes  ujion  him 
 with  John,  said,  L()ok  on  us. 
 
 J  And  he  gave  beed  unto  them,  expecting  to 
 receive  something  of  tliem. 
 
 ()  Then  Peter  said.  Silver  and  gold  have  T 
 none  ;  but  such  as  1  have  give  1  thee  :  '"'In  the 
 name  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth  rise  up  and 
 walk. 
 
 7  And  he  took  bim  by  the  right  hand,  and 
 lifted  him  up  :  and  immediately  bis  feet  and 
 ancle  bones  received  strength. 
 
 practised  before,  was  now  carried  further,  (vcr.  45,1  in  eunsequcnee  of 
 detcntii^n  at  Jeruiialem,  owing  to  the  nutpouting  of  the  Spirit;  there 
 was  a  kind  of  ct»mm;inity  for  the  lime  being,  that  none  might  suffer 
 from  want.  It  is  clear,  then,  an  abs<ilute  community  never  obtained 
 but  for  a  short  time,  (see  I  Cor.xvj.  i,  &c.)— So  A.  Clarke.  It  does  not 
 f'lllow  because  the  richer  Christians  to  relieve  the  i»ior  sold  jiart  of 
 their  gt)ods,  that  they  gave  up  all,  and  had  no  property  in  their  own 
 hand^.  This  power  of  sale  was  left  them,  and  was  voluntary,  (Acts, 
 V.  4.) — Btouvif,  46.  Daily — in  the  temple,  at  the  hour  of  prayer. — 
 Gill.  4/.  Favour  with  all  the  people,  by  their  liberality,  innncency. 
 and  simplicity  of  manners,  olitaining  the  good  opinion  oi  all  that  were 
 unprejudiced.— S.  Clarke;  same  purport,  Gill.  Some  rtad,  '  tliey  had 
 chirity  to  all  the  people ;'  x^P'"  ^X^'^'i'^t '^P^f  o^ov  tov  \avv,  they  did 
 not  confine  tlu'ir  charity  to  those  uf  their  own  community,  but  it  was 
 catholic  and  extensive. — Hen.  The  church,  meaning  here  the  body  ot 
 believers  in  the  gospel  in  general. — Tomline. 
 
 Chap.  111.  —  1.  Together,  (in  to  avro  rather  means  *  at  that  time.' — 
 A.  Clarke.  The  hour  uf  prayer,  being  the  ninth  hour,  or,  tinee  o'clock 
 in  the  afiernoon.  This  was  one  ol  the  hours  of  pravcr  ;  it  was  cus- 
 tomary with  the  Jews  to  pray  ilirce  times  a  day,  (Uau.  vi.  10,)  even- 
 ing, morning,  and  noon,  (Ps.  Iv.  17.)  Murning  was  the  third  hour, 
 nine  o'clock  ;  no()n,  sixth  hour,  twelve  o'clock  ;  evening,  ninth  hour, 
 Ihiee  o'clock  in  afternoon.  2.  The  gate—Beautiful,  thought  t  >  be 
 
 the  eastern  gate  of  the  court  of  the  women,  which  Josvphus  says  was 
 made  of  Corinthian  biass,  and  in  divinity  greatly  exceeded  tlie  silver 
 and  gold  ones. — Gill.  The  Corinthian  bra.'is  was  composed  cf  the 
 mixed  ntctals  ot  the-  statues  of  Corinth,  brass,  gold,  and  silver,  which 
 were  formed  when  tliat  city  was  burnt  Ijy  the  Romans,  about  ISO  years 
 before  thi^  ;  ami  it  was  valued  by  the  anciec.ts  above  gold  and  silver. — 
 
 HtrLKCTioNS  ON  Chap.  II.  —  We  have  here  itTordeil, 
 1-  The  descent  of  i he  Spirit — the  hrst  consequence  uf  the  as- 
 cent of  Christ  into  jjlory,  and  the  further  pledge  of  his  conti- 
 nued and  gracious  influences  with  his  church  and  people  U: 
 all  future  generations.  Here  the  disciples  plainly  saw  the 
 reason  of  their  Lord's  departure,  and  realized  the  fulfilment  of 
 Ids  promise — '  It  is  expedient  for  you  that  I  go  away  :  for,  if 
 1  go  not  away,  the  Comtbrter  will  not  come  unto  you  ;  but  if 
 I  depart,  I  will  send  him  unto  you.' 
 
 II.  Pctt7*s  discourse  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  'i'he  enemies  of 
 pure  religion  have  always  been  ready  to  charge  its  devoted 
 followers  with  fanaticism  ;  and  here  the  multitude,  hearing 
 the  various  languages  spoken  by  the  apostles,  imagined— ex- 
 cepting those  to  whom  each  language  was  addressed — that 
 tiiey  were  in  a  state  of  intoxication,  and  therefore  spoke  inco- 
 herently, or  thorougli  nonsense.  Peter's  discouYse  was  a  ra- 
 tional vindication  of  their  ministry,  founded  on  relative  cir- 
 1I4-J 
 
 cumstaiices,  and  on  the  predictions  of  sacred  writ,  wbicii  now- 
 received  their  fulfilment;  and  these  e.\traordinary  circum- 
 stances were  to  them  an  additional  evidence  thai  Christ  was 
 the  Lord  of  all,  and  the  true  Rlessiab. 
 
 HI.  The  effects  of  2\ter's  di-^course.  Thousands  were  cou- 
 vinced  of  sin — inquired  after  the  way  of  salvation  —repented — 
 believed  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ — embraced  his  ordinances, 
 and  enrolled  themselves  among  his  people.  Thus  the  Spirit 
 of  truth  still  convinces  the  world  of  sin,  of  tlie  personal  and 
 imputed  righteousness  of  Christ,  and  cf  the  truth  of  the  dor- 
 trine  of  approaching  judgment,  leading  sinners  into  all  trutb, 
 and  taking  of  the  thmcs  of  Christ,  and  shewing  them  unto 
 them.  O  iIkU  lie  would  descend  with  more  of  his  gracious 
 influences  upon  our  hearts,  glorifying  Christ  botli  in  us  and 
 by  us,  and  so  convince  and  convert  large  multitudes,  that  we 
 might  witness  a  second  IVntecost,  by  *  the  Lord  adding  to  the 
 church  daily  such  as  shall  be  ^avud.' 
 
Peter  exhovteth  to  repentance. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  IV. 
 
 His  sermon  offaideth  the  rulers 
 
 8  And  he  '  leaping  up  stood,  and  walked,  and 
 entered  with  them  into  tlie  temple,  walking, 
 and  leaping,  and  praising  (iod, 
 
 9  ^  And  all  the  people  saw  hiin  walking  and 
 praising  God  : 
 
 10  And  they  knew  that  it  was  he  which  ^sat 
 for  alms  at  the  Beautiful  gate  of  the  temple  : 
 and  tliey  were  filled  with  wonder  and  amaze- 
 ment at  that  which  had  happened  unto  him. 
 
 1  I  And  as  the  lame  man  which  was  healed 
 held  Peter  and  John,  all  the  people  ran  toge- 
 ther unto  them  in  tlie  porch  '  tliat  is  called 
 Solomon's,  greatly  wondering. 
 
 12  t  And  when  Peter  saw  it,  he  answered 
 unto  the  people.  Ye  men  of  Israel,  why  marvel 
 ye  at  thisV  or  why  look  ye  so  earnestly  on  us, 
 as  though  by  our  own  power  or  holiness  we 
 had  made  this  man  to  walk? 
 
 13  ^  The  God  of  Abraham,  and  of  Isaac,  and 
 of  Jacob,  the  God  of  our  fathers, '  hath  glorified 
 his  Son  Jesus;  whom  ye  "'delivered  up,  and 
 "denied  him  in  the  presence  of  Pilate,  when 
 he  was  determined  to  let  him  go. 
 
 14  But  ye  denied  "the  Holy  One  ''and  tiie 
 Just,  and  desired  a  murderer  to  be  granted 
 unto  you  ; 
 
 15  And  killed  the  ||  Prince  of  life,  "^  whom 
 God  iiath  raised  from  the  dead  ;  '' whereof  we 
 are  witnesses. 
 
 16  ■  And  his  name  through  faith  in  his  name 
 hath  made  this  man  strong,  whom  ye  see  and 
 know :  yea,  the  faith  which  is  by  him  hath 
 given  him  this  perfect  soundness  in  the  pre- 
 sence of  you  all. 
 
 17  And  now,  brethren,  I  wot  that  *  through 
 ignorance  ye  did  it,  as  did  also  your  rulers, 
 
 18  But  "  those  things,  which  God  before  had 
 shewed  ^  by  the  mouth  of  all  his  prophets,  that 
 Christ  should  suffer,  he  hath  so  fulfilled. 
 
 19  H  ^  Repent  ye  therefore,  and  be  converted, 
 that  your  sins  may  be  blotted  out,  when  the 
 times  of  refreshing  shall  come  from  the  pre- 
 sence of  the  Lord  ; 
 
 20  And  he  shall  send  Jesus  Christ,  which  be- 
 fore was  preached  unto  you  : 
 
 A.  D.  a.1 
 
 /  la.  So.  6. 
 
 1  John  10  5.1. 
 ell    5.  \1. 
 
 IT.  1. 
 
 Mat.i!7.'20. 
 
 Mark  15  II. 
 
 Liike-iH  18 
 
 i;i>,  ■il.Joliii 
 
 IS.4tl.  &  li». 
 
 15.  ch.  l:i. 
 
 28. 
 o  Ps.  16    in. 
 
 Mark  I,  -i^ 
 
 Luke  l.H... 
 
 cIi.  2.  21   «( 
 
 ■1    27 
 ;i  (-1.    7.  fiS. 
 
 &  Si.  11. 
 II  nr..'/.i//,i.f. 
 
 Hfb    2.   III. 
 
 ft  5-  9. 
 
 lJ..!iii5  II 
 y  ch.  2.  21. 
 rch.  2  S2. 
 (  Mai.  9.  '.'2 
 
 th.'i.  111.  8t 
 
 li  S. 
 (  I  uke  i'3. 
 
 Si    J-.lirilfi. 
 
 •i.ch.  l.t,27. 
 
 I  Coi-   2    8 
 
 1  Tim. 1.13. 
 u  Luku  21. 
 
 ■I-l.  cli.  2e. 
 
 22. 
 
 22.  Is. 
 
 z  c\\.  I.   II 
 .1  Mat  17  II 
 
 l>  Luke  1.71 
 
 d  di.  ?.  3fl, 
 Hrtin  'J   1,8. 
 
 &  ir..  8. 
 
 Gnl-  3  20 
 e  Gc-ii    \-i.^. 
 
 &  IS.  is    *:< 
 
 22    18   &:;6 
 
 4,  fc  2R.   M 
 
 Gill    :i.  8. 
 /■.Mat    ki  b 
 
 &  l.'i  SV. 
 
 Luke  21.17. 
 
 cli.  13.  32, 
 
 33.  I'i. 
 
 •  vor.  22 
 ~h  Mttt,  1.21 
 
 Luk(?22. 
 ch.  6.  21. 
 
 21  '''  Whom  the  heaven  must  receive  until  the 
 times  of "  restitution  of  all  things,  ''which  God 
 hath  spoken  by  the  mouth  of  all  his  holy  pro- 
 phets since  the  world  began. 
 
 22  For  Moses  truly  said  unto  the  fathers,  *^A 
 prophet  shall  the  Lord  your  God  raise  up  unto 
 you  of  your  brethren,  like  unto  me  ;  him  sliall 
 ye  hear  in  all  thiug.s  whatsoever  lie  shall  say 
 unto  you. 
 
 23  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  Ma/ every  soul, 
 which  will  not  bear  that  prophet,  shall  be  de- 
 -stroyed  from  among  the  people. 
 
 24  Yea,  and  all  the  prophets  from  Samuel 
 and  those  that  follow  after,  as  many  as  have 
 spoken,  have  likewise  foretold  of  these  days. 
 
 2i  *■  Ye  are  the  chihh'en  of  the  prophets,  and 
 of  the  covenant  which  God  made  with  our  fa- 
 thers, sayhig  unto  Abraham,  ^  And  in  thy  seed 
 shall  all  llie  kindreds  of  tlie  earth  be  blessed. 
 
 2(J  *"  Unto  you  first  God,  having  raised  up  his 
 Son  Jesus,  ^sent  him  to  bless  you,  ^'in  turning 
 away  every  one  of  you  from  liis  inifpiities. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  Tlie  rt/Jrrs  of  (he  Jtws  njfhidcd  with  Pcter^s  sernum, 
 4  {though  thovsatids  of  the  people  were  convcrtcif  that 
 heard  the  word,^  imprisoji  him  and  John.  5  differ, 
 upon  exavilnation  Pttvr  hohlh/  nvonc/i/'iu/  (he  fame 
 man  to  be  heahd  tiy  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  that  hu 
 the  same  Jesus  only  ir<:  must  l>e  vtemally  saved,  13 
 they  command  him  and  John  to  preach  no  mort-  in  that 
 iiamcy  adding  also  threatvjting,  23  whereupon  the 
 church  Jiteth  to  prayer.  31  .■^ud  God,  hy  moving  the 
 place  ivhere  they  ivere  assemhld<,  testified  that  he  heard 
 their  prayer:  conjirminf/  the  church  with  the  gift  of 
 the  Holy  Ghostj  and  with  mutual  love  and  charity. 
 
 A  ND  as  they  spake  unto  the  people,  the 
 -^^  priests,  and  the  ||  captain  of  the  temple, 
 and  the  Saddncces,  came  upon  them, 
 
 2  °  Being  grieved  that  they  taught  the  peo- 
 ple, and  preached  through  Jesus  the  resurrec- 
 tion from  the  dead. 
 
 3  And  they  laid  hands  on  them,  and  put 
 them  in  hold  until  the  next  day  ;  for  it  was 
 
 low  eventide. 
 
 Bens.  Tliis  gate  was  added  to  the  court  of  the  Gcctiles  by  Herod  tl-.c 
 Great ;  it  was  thirty  cubits  hi(;h,  and  fifteen  brnad. — See  Jos.,  or  Gill, 
 or  Bens.,  or  Wil.,  &c.  S.  Walked,  ntpievaTft,  'walked  about.* — 
 Be7is.         11.  Pnrch — So/omon'*' — see  Joliii,  x.  ^3,  note.  12.  Or  holi- 
 
 ness, rj  tverfifttiif,  'religious  attachment  to  the  worship  of  God.' — .i. 
 Clarke.      liy  virtue  of  our  'piety.' — Btoomf.  13.  Denied  him,  're- 
 
 fused to  acknowledge  him  as  the  Christ.' — Newc.  '  Refused  to  have 
 him  released  to  you.' — Ham.  In  the  presence  of  Pilate,  Kara  Trpoo-ajTroi/ 
 ntXaTou,  ante  faciem  Pilati. — Mont.  'Against  the  face  of  Pilate,'  in 
 defiance  of  his  reasonings.— So  Hum.  15.  The  Prince  of  tiff,  apxniov 
 Tm  C<^nf.  '  Autlior  of  life,'  so  the  Vulg.,  and  Bnothr.  Jesus  had  life  in 
 liinisilf,  anil  power  to  give  it  to  others  as  Mediator,  (John,  v.  26;)  the 
 contrast  between  killing  such  a  person,  and  desiring  a  murderer,  the 
 destroyer  of  life,  to  be  spared,  is  peculiarly  striking. — Buothroyd,  as 
 Doddr.  19.  Be  converted,  eTritrTpei/faTe — that  the  form  of  the  word 
 
 here  dnes  not  denote  passnlty  is  evident  from  Matt.  xxiv.  18  ;  Mark, 
 xiii.  16;  Luke,  xvii.  31  ;  1  Thess.  i.  9.  The  expression  should  be  ren- 
 dered 'repent  and  return.' — Barnes.  Wheii  the  times  of  rtfrtshini^ 
 shall  come,  rather  '  that  they  may  come.' — Bens.,  as  the  Syr.,  Lif^htf., 
 
 Clarke,  Sic.  "Times  when  God  sh^U  largely  bestow  his  lefreshing 
 grace.' — Bens.  Perhaps  we  may  be  justified  in  reading  '  that  [further] 
 times  of  refreshing  may  come.*— iriV.  20.  Before  was  preached,  in 
 
 the  writings  of  the  Old  Testament ;  in  the  books  of  Moses  and  of  the 
 prophets. — Gill.  '  Who  was  before  appointed  or  designated  to  be  our 
 Saviour.' — So  Xha  A^lexajidrian  a?id  other  ancient  MS S. ;  sn  Bezn,  Vi. 
 tringn,  &c. ;  SO  also  Ham.,  Doddr.,  Wesley,  Stc.  21.  Of  restitution 
 
 of  itll  thinf,'s.  '  when  all  tilings  shall  be  disposed,  ordered,  settled,  in  a 
 perfect  state.'— A'cwc.  [The  word  aTroKatnarrt^,  from  a-no,  which  sig- 
 nifies '  from,'  and  KaOiarai/eiv,  *  to  establish  or  settle  anything,'  viz  ,  in 
 a  good  state;  and  when  airo  is  added  to  it,  then  it  implies  that  chis 
 Kf)od  state  was  preceded  by  a  i)ad  one. — Clarke.]  These  times  will 
 be  the  acco^nplishmcnt  of  all  i)romises  and  prophecies  concerning  (be 
 bringing  in  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles  and  the  conversion  of  the  Jews, 
 HiC.—Gill,  so  Roseinn.  24.  These  days,  the  times  of  Christ  or  the 
 
 Messiah.  25.  The  children  of  the  prophets,  those  to  whom  the  pro- 
 phecies were  directed. — Bp.  Pearce. 
 
 Chap.  IV.—  i.  Captain,  of  the  priestly  guards  and  watches. — Lightf. 
 Sec  Luke,  xxii.  4,  ntite. 
 
 REFLECTIONS  ON  Chap.  III.  —  I.  '  Though,  under  the  gospd 
 state,  we  are  not  tied  to  any  particular  hours  or  place  for  prayer, 
 yet  who  can  think  himself  discharged  from  obligations  to  observe 
 stated  seasons  for  it,  in  the  morning  and  evening  of  every  day  1 
 And  when  God  draws  near  to  us  in  intimations  of  his  mercy, 
 we  may  expect  better  blessings  than  silver  or  gold,  of  which 
 many  that  are  rich  in  faith  may  be  destitute. 
 
 II.  '  Hoto  glorious  is  our  exalted  Saviour,  and  Itvu)  securely 
 may  we  depend  on  him,  and  on  the  divine  authority  of  the  apostles' 
 doctrine  concerning  him,  which  was  preached,  and  was  con- 
 firmed by  miracles,  after  ho  was  gono  to  heaven  !  In  him  an- 
 cient prophecies  are  fulfilled,  throui^h  faith  in  his  name  ;  and 
 by  the  ministrations  of  his  servants,  wonderful  works  have 
 1143 
 
 been  wrought ;  and  he  can  as  easily  give  strength  to  them 
 that  were  spiritually,  as  to  them  that  were  corporally,  impo- 
 tent from  their  birth,  and  enable  them  to  walk  witli  vigour 
 and  joy  in  his  ways. 
 
 HI.  '  How  wonderful  is  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God  in 
 overrulint/  the  ignoraiice  and  the  wickedness  of  men  for  bringing 
 about  the  designs  of  his  own  glory  y  and  the  salvation  of  his  people! 
 And  how  extensive  are  the  pardons  brought  in  by  the  great 
 Redeemer  to  the  vilest  of  sinners,  even  to  those  that  betrayed 
 and  denied  iiim,  and  preferred  a  murderer  before  him  !  What 
 an  encouragement  to  the  greatest  oflenders  to  repent  of  every 
 sin,  and  turn  to  God,  in  hopes  of  forgiveness  through  faith  in 
 the  Lord  Jesusl'K 
 
Peter  and  John  forbidden  to  preach. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  IV. 
 
 The  prayer  of  the  churchy 
 
 4  Howbeit  many  of  tliem  vvlucli  lieard  the 
 word  believer!  ;  and  the  number  of  tlie  men 
 was  about  five  thousand. 
 
 5  H  And  it  came  to  pass  on  tlie  morrow,  that 
 their  rnlers,  and  elders,  and  scribes, 
 
 G  And  ''  Ainias  the  high  priest,  and  Caiaphas, 
 and  John,  and  Alexander,  and  as  many  as  were 
 of  the  kindred  of  the  liigli  priest,  were  gathered 
 together  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 7  And  wlien  they  had  set  them  in  the  midst, 
 they  asked,  '  l^y  what  power,  or  by  what  name, 
 have  ye  done  this? 
 
 8  ''  Then  Peter,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 said  unto  them.  Ye  rulers  of  the  people,  and 
 elders  of  Israel, 
 
 9  If  we  this  day  be  examined  of  the  good 
 deed  done  to  the  impotent  man,  by  what  means 
 he  is  made  whole  ; 
 
 10  Be  it  known  unto  you  all,  and  to  ;ill 
 the  people  of  Israel,  "  tliat  by  the  name  of 
 Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  whom  ye  crucified, 
 '  whom  God  raised  from  the  dead,  even  by  him 
 doth  this  man  stand  here  before  you  whole. 
 
 1 1  ^  This  is  the  stone  which  was  set  at  nought 
 of  you  builders,  which  is  become  the  head  of 
 the  corner 
 
 ].>  h  i\ej(|,(>i.  is  there  salvation  in  any  other: 
 for  there  is  none  other  name  under  heaven 
 given  among  men,  whereby  we  must  be  saved. 
 
 13  H  Now  when  they  saw  the  boldness  of 
 Peter  and  John,  '  and  perceived  that  they  were 
 inilearned  and  ignorant  men,  they  marvelled  ; 
 and  they  took  knowledge  of  them,  that  thcv 
 had  been  with  Jesus. 
 
 14  And  beholding  the  man  wliich  was  healed 
 '■  standing  with  them,  they  could  say  nothing 
 against  it. 
 
 15  But  when  they  had  commanded  them  to 
 go  aside  out  of  the  cohncil,  they  conferred 
 among  themselves, 
 
 16  Saying,  '  Wliat  shall  we  do  to  these  men  ? 
 for  that  indeed  a  notable  miracle  hath  been 
 done  by  them  is  "'manifest  to  all  them  that 
 ilwell  in  Jerusalem  ;  and  we  cannot  deny  it. 
 
 17  But  that  it  spread  no  further  among  the 
 people,  let  us  straitly  threaten  them,  that  they 
 speak  henceforth  to  no  man  in  this  name. 
 
 18  "  And  they  called  them,  and  commanded 
 them  not  to  speak  at  all  nor  teach  in  the  name 
 of  Jesus 
 
 19  But  Peter  and  John  answered  and  said 
 unto  them,  "Whether  it  be  right  in  the  sight  of 
 God  to  hearken  unto  you  more  than  unto 
 God,  judge  ye. 
 
 A  Luke  .-i.  2 
 Joliii  H  -1>.I 
 «j  IS.  13. 
 
 d  l.ul.e  Yi. 
 II,  M. 
 
 U.-ls    10. 
 Miit.Jil.  I'J 
 
 A.  n.  SI. 
 
 pch.  1.  8. 
 
 Ik  2.  32. 
 ^cli.  2i.  15. 
 
 I  Johu  I.  I, 
 
 3. 
 r  Mat  21.26. 
 
 I.ukeSil.  6. 
 
 ly.  &  2i,  ■• 
 
 cli.  5   •2k',. 
 I  ch.  3  7,  .^. 
 
 V  M.^t.  -in.  3. 
 
 Lukc.22    2. 
 
 h-lA  1,  S. 
 J  r.ukr  I  3.^1 
 '<  l.iike  M!^. 
 
 Juliii  U>.-M). 
 
 .  .er    IS   31. 
 
 oil.  9.  27.  «< 
 
 IS  V>.  &  II. 
 
 .■i.  &  ly.  8. 
 
 &26.  26.  & 
 
 28   31. 
 
 Kpli.  r>.  19. 
 
 1  oil.  2.  43. 
 
 ft  .'i.  12. 
 
 ill  3,  n,  16. 
 /v.11.27. 
 h.2  2, * 
 16   26. 
 
 Tr.  29. 
 
 icli,  5.  18. 
 
 Horn.  15.  6. 
 
 6.  2 Cm.  13, 
 
 11.  Phil.  I. 
 
 27.  »  2   2. 
 
 I  Pel  3  9 
 k  ch.  2  .14. 
 I  ch.  1.  8. 
 
 m  ch    1.  22. 
 
 p  \et.  37. 
 
 ch   S.  2. 
 q  ch.  2.  15. 
 
 &  6    1. 
 
 20  ■■  For  we  cannot  but  speak  the  tinngs 
 which  ''we  have  seen  and  heard. 
 
 21  So'when  they  had  further  threatened  them, 
 they  let  them  go,  finding  nothing  how  they 
 might  punish  them, 'because  of  the  people  :  for 
 all  men  glorified  God  for  "  that  which  was  done. 
 
 22  For  the  man  was  above  forty  years  old,  on 
 whom  this  miracle  of  healing  was  shewed. 
 
 23  If  And  being  let  go,  '  they  went  to  their 
 own  company,  and  reported  all  that  the  chief 
 priests  and  elders  had  said  unto  them. 
 
 24  And  when  they  heard  that,  they  lifted  up 
 their  voice  to  God  with  one  accord,  and  said. 
 Lord,  "  thou  art  God,  which  hast  made  heaven, 
 and  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is: 
 
 25  Who  by  the  mouth  of  thy  servant  David 
 hast  said, '  Why  did  the  heathen  rage,  and  the 
 (leople  imagine  vain  things? 
 
 20  The  kings  of  the  earth  stood  up,  and  the 
 rulers  were  gathered  together  against  the 
 Lord,  and  against  his  Christ. 
 
 27  For  '  of  a  truth  against  'thy  holy  child 
 Jesus,  °  whom  thou  hast  anointed,  both  Herod, 
 and  Pontius  Pilate,  with  the  Gentiles,  and  the 
 people  of  Lsrael,  were  gathered  together, 
 
 28  ''  For  to  do  whatsoever  tliy  baud  and  thy 
 counsel  determined  before  to  be  done. 
 
 29  .-Vnd  now-.  Lord,  behold  their  threateiiings: 
 and  grant  unto  thy  servants,  '  that  with  all 
 boldness  they  may  speak  thy  word, 
 
 30  By  stretching  forth  thine  hand  to  heal  ; 
 ''and  that  signs  and  wonders  may  be  done  "by 
 the  name  of  ''  thy  holy  child  Jesus. 
 
 31  IT  And  when  they  had  prayed,  ^  the  place 
 was  shaken  where  they  were  assembled  toge- 
 ther;  and  they  were  all  filled  with  the  llidy 
 Ghost,  ''and  they  spake  the  word  of  (iod  with 
 boldness. 
 
 32  And  the  multitude  of  them  that  believed 
 '  were  of  one  heart  and  of  one  soul  :  ''  neither 
 said  any  of  them  that  ought  of  the  things  which 
 he  possessed  was  his  own  ;  but  they  had  all 
 things  common. 
 
 33  And  with  '  great  power  gave  the  apostles 
 ■"  witness  of  the  resurrection  of  tlie  Lord  Jesus  : 
 and  "  great  grace  was  upon  them  all. 
 
 34  Neither  was  there  any  among  them  that 
 lacked  :  "  for  as  many  as  were  possessors  of 
 lands  or  houses  sold  them,  and  brought  the 
 prices  of  the  things  that  were  sold, 
 
 35  ''  And  laid  thifini  down  at  the  apostles' 
 feet :  ''  and  distribution  was  made  unto  every 
 man  according  as  he  had  need. 
 
 36  And  Joses,  who  by  the  apostles  was  sur- 
 
 4.  Was  about  ftvp.  thousand  —  these  were  fresh  converts.  —  Bens., 
 Guyse.  The  assembly  that  owned  Christianity  was  increased  to 
 that  number. — Baxter.  E^citjCn,  '  became  five  thousand,*  an  aug- 
 mentation of  two  thousand ;  for  we  cannot  think  five  thousand 
 were  now  convened,  which  would  eclipse  the  glory  of  Pentecost. 
 — So  Bens.,   as    Dittiili-.,  and   Poote ;    so   also  Paley.  5.   Rulers, 
 
 i.  e.,  ecclesiastical  rulers — the  chief  priests,  who,  with  the  scribes  and 
 elders  of  the  people,  made  up   the  great  council  at  Jerusalem — Gill. 
 
 6.  Annas — see  Luke,  iii.  2,  note.     Kindred,  race  or  family. — Bp.  Pearce. 
 
 7 .  By  what  pmver,  ei.  iroi^  t^vva^itt-,  *  by  what  supernatural  energy?' 
 m  what  name?  '  by  what  mode  of  incantation  ?'  •  who  is  the  spirit  you 
 invoke?*  raise  prophets,  reputed  witches,  wizards,  &c.,  were  to  be 
 brought  before  the  sanhedrim  to  be  judged. — Clarke.  '  Was  it  by  the 
 use  of  medicine,  magic  art,  or  the  assistance  of  the  devil,  that  they 
 acted  ?* — Gitl.  9.  Good  deed,  evep^jtcia,  '  the  good  work,*  or  '  benefit.' 
 — Bens.  U.  The  stone — see  Matt.  xxi.  42,  note.  13.  Unlearned, 
 a^pafi^iaToi,  without  morc  than  ordinary  education,  such  as  every  one 
 had. — Poole.  Ignorant  7nen,  idiuiTai,  or  '  private  men* — men  of  no 
 name  and  figure — in  no  office  and  e.\altcd  station  of  life. — GUI.  The 
 original  words  import  no  want  of  natural  good  sense,  or  any  ignorance 
 of  what  was  then  the  subject  of  debate. — Uoddr.  16.  Rotable,  known. 
 — Hen.  21 .  Findini^  nothing,  J^c.,  being  at  a  loss  to  (iod  out  a  man. 
 ner  how  they  might  panish  them,  because  of  the  people. — Bp.  Pcaree. 
 22.  .iboveforlij  '/ears  old — the  mir.tcle  was  therefore  the  greater^  the 
 
 1144 
 
 man  being  horn  lame,  he  was  the  more  known,  and  his  testimony  the 
 mnre  credited, — Gill.  24.  With  one  nccurd,  ofioOv^m&ov,  *  with  one 
 
 mind  ;'  one  most  probably  spoke  for  the  rest.— Hen.  '25.  Why  did 
 the.  hftithen,  §■(■. — see  Ps.  ii.  I,  -2,  notes.  i'/.  Child,  Trnir  .sometimes 
 
 cxprt's^^es  sonship,  and  'son*  would  here  have  been  a  more  liappy 
 translation. — Barnes.  Gathered  together,  combined,  by  a  most  auda- 
 cious conspiracy.  38.  Determined,  or  '  marked  out'  in  the  prophecies 
 of  the  Old  Testament,  nnd  jjcrmitted  to  be  done. — Doddr.  It  was  not 
 without  a  Divine  disposition  that  Ctirist  was  made  a  sin  ofTering  (or 
 us.  though  this  in  no  way  excuses  the  wicked  instruments  of  his  draUi 
 and  suffering.— i*or»/e.  2g.  And  now.  Lord,  ra  wv,  Ki-pie— there  is 
 
 an  emphasis  upon  the  now,  to  intimate  that  then  is  (ind's  time  to  ap 
 pear  for  his  people  when  the  power  of  their  enemies  is  most  daring  and 
 tlircatening. — Hen.  .11.  Filled,  fyr.,  'endued  with  special  and  emi- 
 
 nent gifts  of  God's  Holy  Spirit.' — Ham.  .12.  Alt  thiiifrs  common, 
 
 means  evidently  the  use  of  the  possessions  was  commtin,  not  the  pos- 
 sessions  themselves.— iJ/^.dm/.  33.  Great  power,  of  words  and  mi- 
 racles.— Newc.  Meya\t]  bwafxct,  'with  striking  miracles.' — A.  Clarke. 
 Great  grace,  great  favour  among  the  people.— So  Casaubo/i,  Grotius, 
 Bp.  Pearce,  ike.  The  natural  import  of  the  phrase  is,  that  they  en- 
 joyed a  peculiar  sweetness  in  the  gospel. — Doddr.  They  enjoyed  the 
 richest  measures  of  Divine  grace.  Men  thought  well  of  them,  and 
 God's  grace  was  manifet>t  in  their  words  and  aclioas,. —  Giiysc.  36.  The 
 sun  of  consnlation—th'is  needs  also  interpretation;  the  Hebrew  idiom 
 
The  death  of  Ananias  and  Sapphira. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  V. 
 
 The  apostles  again  imprisoned. 
 
 named  Barnabas,  (which  is,  being  interpreted. 
 The  son  of  consolation,)  a  Levite,  and  of  the 
 country  of  Cyprus, 
 37   '  Having  land,  sold  it,  and  brought  the 
 money,  and  laid  it  at  the  apostles'  feet. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  After  that  Ananias  and  Sapphira  his  wife  for  their 
 hypocrisif  at  Pttcr*s  rebuhe  had  fallen  down  dead, 
 12  aJid  that  the  rest  of  the  apostles  had  wrour/ht  many 
 miracles,  14  to  the  increase  of  the  faith  :  17  the  apos- 
 tles arc  (u/ain  imprisoned,  19  bvt  delivered  try  an 
 angel  biddiny  than  to  preach  optmly  to  all :  21  when, 
 lifter  their  teachinq  accordinyl//  in  the  timph;  29  and 
 }nfore  the  council,  03  they  arc  in  daiujcr  to  be  hilbd, 
 thronyh  the  advice  of  Gamaliel,  a  great  cotinsellor 
 among  the  Jcics,  they  be  kept  aliiH\  40  and  are  but 
 beaten  :  for  which  they  glorify  God,  and  cease  no  day 
 from  preaching. 
 
 "DUT  a  certain  man  named  Ananias,  witli 
 -*-'   Sappliira  his  wife,  sold  a  possession, 
 
 *2  And  kept  back  part  of  the  price,  his  wife 
 also  hoinf];  privy  to  it^  "and  brouglit  a  certain 
 I)art,  and  laid  it  at  the  apostles'  feet. 
 
 ;3  *'But  Peter  said,  Ananias,  why  hath  ^  Satan 
 filled  thine  heart  ||  to  lie  to  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 and  to  keep  back  part  of  the  price  of  the 
 land? 
 
 4  Whiles  it  remained,  was  it  not  thine  own  ? 
 and  after  it  was  sold,  was  it  not  in  thine  own 
 power?  why  hast  thou  conceived  this  thing 
 in  thine  heart?  thou  hast  not  lied  unto  men, 
 but  unto  God. 
 
 5  And  Ananias  hearing  these  words  ''fell 
 down,  and  gave  up  the  ghost :  and  great  fear 
 came  on  all  them  that  heard  these  things. 
 
 G  And  the  young  men  arose,  ^  wound  him 
 up,  and  carried  him  out,  and  buried  him. 
 
 7  And  it  was  about  the  space  of  three  hours 
 after,  when  his  wife,  not  knowing  what  was 
 done,  came  in. 
 
 8  And  Peter  answered  unto  her,  Tell  me 
 whether  ye  sold  the  land  for  so  much  ?  And 
 she  said,  Yea,  for  so  much. 
 
 9  Then  Peter  said  unto  her.  How  is  it  that 
 
 vpr   31,35 
 ch.  a.  1,2. 
 
 1  tti  *.  37. 
 h  Nviiii.HO.l-' 
 Deut.i3'.Jl 
 
 /ver   3. 
 
 Mat.  4.  7. 
 
 vor.  h.  cli. 
 '..  1:1.  &  19 
 
 ft   M.  .1   & 
 
 19.11.  RL>m 
 
 i;..  19 
 
 ■lVm:\2\l. 
 
 n.'b  -i   +. 
 4  e\\.  X  II. 
 
 &  1   3:^, 
 ( Jolm  y.  2^ 
 
 &  1-2.  +2.  ^ 
 
 19.  .Sfi, 
 m  ch.  2.  47. 
 
 &  4.21. 
 
 il  Or,  in 
 
 errri/  slrefl. 
 n   Mat    !l.  21. 
 
 fc  IV.3fl.  oil. 
 
 19.  12. 
 
 o  Mart  16. 
 17,  18. 
 Juhn  U.IS 
 
 p  cli.  1.  1,  2, 
 6. 
 
 9  I.ukc  21. 
 la. 
 
 s  .l<.linf..69 
 
 Hi  IT.  :i. 
 
 I  J<)lin5.1I 
 t  oh.  4,  5,  6. 
 
 ye  have  agreed  together  *'to  tempt  the  Spirit 
 of  the  Lord?  behold,  the  feet  of  them  wbicli 
 have  buried  thy  husband  are  at  the  door,  and 
 shall  carry  thee  out. 
 
 10  ^Theu  fell  she  down  straightway  at  his 
 feet,  and  yielded  up  tlie  gliost  :  and  the  young 
 men  came  in,  and  found  her  dead,  and,  carry- 
 ing he)-  forth,  buried  her  by  her  hu.shand. 
 
 1 1  *^  And  great  fear  came  upon  all  the  church, 
 and  upon  as  many  as  heard  these  things. 
 
 12  %  And  '  by  the  hands  of  the  apostles  were 
 many  signs  and  wonders  wrought  among  the 
 people  ;  C*  and  they  were  all  with  one  accord 
 in  Solomon's  porch. 
 
 13  And  '  of  the  rest  durst  no  man  join  him- 
 self to  them:  "'but  tlic  people  magnified 
 them. 
 
 14  And  believers  were  the  more  added  to  the 
 Lord,  multitudes  both  of  men  and  women.) 
 
 15  Insomuch  that  they  brought  forth  thesick 
 II  into  the  streets,  and  laid  them  on  beds  and 
 couches,  "  that  at  the  least  the  shadow  of 
 Peter  passing  by  might  overshadow  some  of 
 them. 
 
 16  There  came  also  a  multitude  OJtt  of  the 
 cities  round  al}0ut  unto  Jerusalem,  bringing 
 "sick  folks,  and  them  which  were  vexed  with 
 unclean  spirits :  and  tliey  were  healed  every 
 one. 
 
 17  If  P  Then  tlie  high  priest  rose  up,  and  all 
 they  that  were  with  him,  (which  is  the  sect  of 
 the  Sadducees,)  and  were  filled  with  |1  indig- 
 nation, 
 
 18  ''And  laid  their  hands  on  the  apostles, 
 and  put  them  in  the  common  prison. 
 
 19  But  '' tlie  angel  of  the  Lord  by  niglit 
 opened  the  prison  doors,  and  brought  them 
 forth,  and  said, 
 
 •20  Go,  stand  and  speak  in  the  temple  to  the 
 people  ^ail  the  words  of  this  life. 
 
 21  And  when  they  heard  that,  they  entered 
 into  the  temple  early  in  tlie  morning,  and 
 taught.  *■  But  the  high  priest  came,  ami  they 
 ithat  were  with  him,  and  called  tlie  council  to- 
 
 may  signify  •  a  kind-hearted  man,'  as  *  a  son  of  Belial'  is  a  morose  and 
 wicked  man,  (1  Sam.  xxv.  17.) — Wil.  UapaK\t]ai<;,  the  word  trans- 
 lated 'consolation,'  means  properly  also  exhortation,  entreaty,  peti- 
 tion, or  advocacy.  It  would  appear  that  the  name  was  bestowed  on 
 account  of  his  talent  for  speaking:  or  exhorting:  the  people  to  holiness, 
 anil  his  success  in  preacliing,  (comp.  Acts,  xi.  23.)~Iiarnes.  Cyprna, 
 an  island  in  the  Mediterranean. — Bp.  Penrce.  3/.  Hnvinff  limd — by 
 the  law,  (Num.xviii.  20,  &c.,)  a  Levite  could  inherit  no  land  in  the 
 division  of  Israel;  but  this  did  not  prevent  his  buying'  thereof  else- 
 where.— Bp.  Pearce.  It  being  said  that  Joses  was  of  Cyprus,  his  land 
 was  there. — Gityse.     This  land  might  have  been  a  legacy. — Bens. 
 
 Chap.  V. — 2.  Kept  back,  evoatptiraTo,  'fraudulently  secreted,*  or 
 *  purloined.' — liens.  3.  Filled  thine  heart,  a  Hebrew  phrase  for  being 
 emboldened  to  do  a  thing. — Dodtir.-,  see  Ham.,  and  Penrce.  To  lie  to 
 the  Holy  Ghu.sl,  TracvtraaHui  ae  to  Uvei'/ia  to  Ayiav,  '  to  put  a  fallacy'  or 
 'cheat  upon  the  Holy  Spirit.'— Wutertand.  'To  deceive  the  Holy 
 Spirit.'  Every  lie  is  told  with  the  intention  to  deceive;  and  they 
 wished  to  deceive  the  apostles,  and,  in  eflTect,  that  Holy  Spirit  under 
 whose  influence  they  professed  to  act.  4.  But  unto  God,  therefore 
 
 the  Holy  Ghost  is  God,  (comp.  ver.  3.)—^.  Clarke,  so  Bp.  Burnett. 
 
 5.  Gttve  xtp  the  Ghost,  eleiZ-i'-fe,  *  expired.'— ,4.  Clarke.  6.  Wound  him 
 up,  in  linen  cluthes  for  his  burial,  (see  Jnhn.  xi.  44  ;  xix.  40  ;  xx.  6,  7.) 
 And  buried  him,  on  the  day  on  which  he  died. — Bp.  Pearce.  That  is, 
 his  friends  buried  him  after  a  proper  time,  and  not  directly.— flm./Zir, 
 The  dead  were,  among  the  Jews,  interred  as  soon  as  possible  alter  the 
 demise. — Pict.  Bib.  It  may  not  be  supposing  too  much  to  imagine 
 that  extraordinary  corruption  and  putre'action  might  follow  this  judg- 
 ment, so  as,  in  a  warm  country,  to  render  the  necessity  of  this  burial 
 even  more  urgent  than  usual.— £rf.  9.  To  tempt  the  Lord  i/nur  God, 
 to  try  whether  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  in  us  was  able  \o  detect  your 
 ft&ud.—  Whitbt/.  10.  Then  felt,  §-f.— the  punishments  here  lecorded 
 would  deter  interested  persons  from  joining  the  Christians  to  partake 
 of  their  goods  and  alms  from  mercenary  motives.— iVcfi-come,  HnU-s. 
 12.  In  Solomon^s  porch — this  remark  seems  to  be  thrown  in  to  shew 
 how  boldly  the  Christian  disciples  professed  belief  in  Jesus.  13.  Of 
 
 the  rest  durst,  ^-c. — the  unconverted  durst  not  join  them  from  false 
 pretences.- iVfwc.  15.  Beds,  KXivoiv — this  word  denotes  usually  the 
 soft  and  valuable  beds  on  which  the  rich  commonly  lay  ;  such  persons 
 were  laid  with  the  poor  in  Peter's  path.— Bwi-nes.  20.  This  life,  '  this 
 life  eternal,'  lately  revealed  through  Jesus  Christ.- Siac*.     21.  Setiate, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  We  may  here  notice,  T.  The 
 courage  of  Peter  and  John.  They  were  indeed  under  extraor- 
 dinary influences;  but  the  same  Spirit  dwells  in  the  hearts  of 
 all  true  believers,  and  under  his  influences  they  should  ever 
 be  bold  for  God,  and  at  all  times  ready  to  seize  the  opportu- 
 nity for  speaking  a  word  in  season  in  his  name. 
 
 IT.  '  The  prayer  of  the  apostles' — from  which  we  learn  that 
 all  the  efforts  of  the  enemies  of  tlie  church  will  be  in  vain. 
 God  knows  how  to  turn  their  counsel  into  foolishness,  and 
 their  rape  into  shame.' b 
 
 III.  The  charity  of  the  church.  Here  we  see  what  religion 
 does  wiien  it  truly  touches  the  heart, —it  makes  Christians 
 kind  and  hnricvolent,  not  doling  out  the  sciinty  pittance  with 
 1U."> 
 
 a  half-shut  band,  but  pouring  the  bounties  which  God  has 
 first  bestowed  into  the  laps  of  those  that  stand  in  need.  Theso 
 hberal  bestowments,  and  this  community  of  goods,  do  not  ap- 
 pear to  be  required  in  the  present  state  of  society  and  in  the 
 present  circumstances  nf  the  churcli  ;  but  the  same  noble  prin- 
 ciples which  then  acted  on  the  minds  of  the  early  Cliristians 
 sliould  still  possess  our  bosoms;  and  tiiough  we  may  not  he 
 called  to  pour  forth  the  overflowing  streams  of  our  wealth,  or 
 make  large  sacrifices  in  the  same  way,  yet,  if  our  hearts  are 
 right  with  God.  we  must  contribute  lari^cly  in  other  ways,  tlie 
 chaimels  of  which  are  open,  and,  for  the  good  of  a  morally  de- 
 solate world,  consecrate  our  silv.T  and  g(dd  to  the  l.urd. 
 
 7  r. 
 
The  counsel 
 
 THE  ACTS,  VI. 
 
 of  Gamaliel. 
 
 gether,  ami  all  the  senate  of  the  children  of 
 Israel,  and  sent  to  the  prison  to  have  them 
 brought. 
 2-2  But  when  the  officers  came,  and  found 
 them  not  in  the  prison,  they  returned,  and 
 told, 
 
 23  Saying,  The  prison  truly  found  we  shut 
 with  all  safety,  and  the  keepers  standing  with- 
 out before  the  doors  :  hut  when  we  had  opened, 
 we  found  no  man  within. 
 
 24  Now  when  the  high  priest  and  "  the  cap- 
 tain of  the  temple  and  the  chief  priests  heard 
 these  things,  they  doubted  of  them  whereunto 
 this  would  grow. 
 
 25  Then  came  one  and  told  them,  saying, 
 Behold,  the  men  whom  ye  put  in  prison  are 
 standing  in  the  temple,  a[id  teaching  the 
 people. 
 
 26  Then  went  the  captain  with  the  officers, 
 and  brought  them  without  violence  :  '  for  they 
 feared  the  people,  lest  they  should  have  been 
 stoned. 
 
 27  And  when  they  had  brought  them,  they 
 set  them  before  the  council :  and  the  high 
 priest  asked  them, 
 
 28  Saying, '  Did  not  we  straitly  command  you 
 that  ye  should  not  teach  in  this  name  ?  and, 
 behold,  ye  have  filled  Jerusalem  with  your 
 doctrine,  '  and  intend  to  bring  this  man's 
 °  blood  upon  us. 
 
 29  t  Then  Peter  and  the  other  apostles  an- 
 swered and  said,  ''  We  ought  to  obey  Uod  ra- 
 ther than  men. 
 
 30  "^  The  God  of  our  fathers  raised  up  Jesus, 
 whom  ye  slew  and  •"  hanged  on  a  tree. 
 
 31  'Him  bath  God  exalted  with  bis  right 
 hand  tu  he  '  a  Prince  and  *  a  Saviour,  ''  for  to 
 give  repentance  to  Israel,  and  forgiveness  of 
 sins. 
 
 32  And  '  we  are  bis  witnesses  of  these  things; 
 and  so  is  also  the  Holy  Ghost,  '  whom  God 
 hath  given  to  them  that  obey  him. 
 
 33  t  '  When  they  heard  that,  they  were  cut 
 to  the  heart,  and  took  counsel  to  slay  them. 
 
 34  Then  stood  there  up  one  in  the  council, 
 a  Pharisee,  named  '"  Gamaliel,  a  doctor  of  the 
 law,  bad  in  reputation  among  all  the  people, 
 and  commanded  to  put  the  apostles  forth  a 
 little  space  ; 
 
 35  And  said  unto  them,  Ye  men  of  Israel, 
 
 I  ch   2.23, 
 
 3li   S(  S.  la. 
 
 Cc  7    52. 
 a  Mat.2.t.35 
 
 ik-.*7.25 
 6ch.  *.  19. 
 cch.  3.  13. 
 
 15.  8122  14 
 d  ch,  10  :19. 
 
 &  13    2<J. 
 
 Gal   3    13. 
 
 I  l'«t.2  -ii 
 ich.  9.  33. 
 
 36.  Phil  2. 
 
 9.Heb.2.IO, 
 
 &  12.  2 
 /  ch   3.  15. 
 S  Mat.  1  21 
 /i  Luka24. 
 
 47  ch  3  'J6. 
 
 &  IS.  33. 
 
 Eph.1.7. 
 
 Cnl.  I.  M. 
 I  Jnhn  15. 
 
 26,  27. 
 k  ch.  2.  4. 
 
 «e  10  11 
 t  ch.  2.  87. 
 
 fc  7.  M. 
 
 •n  ch.  SS.  3. 
 
 The  Third 
 Year  bef-nc 
 the  Accouut 
 cjled  Auuo 
 
 .  Prn.  21.30. 
 I*.  H.  10. 
 Mat.  15.13. 
 
 q  ch,  4   IS 
 -  Mat. 1017, 
 
 ft  23,  3-1. 
 
 Mark  13.0. 
 
 10.  I'hil.  I. 
 20.  Ileb  la 
 34.  .lain,  I, 
 2.  1  Fct.  4 
 13.  IB. 
 (ch.  2.  46. 
 
 ■>  ch    2   41. 
 
 M    1.  &  b. 
 
 11,  &  vcr.7. 
 I.  ch.  9.  29. 
 
 fi  II    20. 
 
 1  Tim. ; 
 
 take  heed  to  yourselves  what  ye  intend  to  do 
 as  touching  these  men. 
 
 36  For  before  these  days  rose  up  Theudas, 
 boasting  himself  to  be  somebody  ;  to  whom  a 
 number  of  men,  about  four  hundred,  joined 
 themselves  :  who  was  slain  ;  and  all,  as  many 
 as  II  obeyed  him,  were  scattered,  and  brought 
 to  nought. 
 
 37  After  this  man  rose  up  Judas  of  Galilee 
 in  the  days  of  the  taxing,  and  drew  away  much 
 people  after  him  :  he  also  peri.shed  ;  and  all, 
 even  as  many  as  obeyed  him,  were  dispersed. 
 
 38  And  now  I  say  unto  you.  Refrain  from 
 these  men,  and  let  them  alone:  "for  if  this 
 counsel  or  this  work  be  of  men,  it  will  come  to 
 nought : 
 
 39  °  But  if  it  be  of  God,  ye  cannot  overthrow 
 it;  lest  haply  ye  be  found  even  ""to  fight 
 against  God. 
 
 40  And  to  him  they  agreed  :  and  when  they 
 had  ''called  the  apostles,  'and  beaten  them, 
 they  commanded  that  they  should  not  speak 
 in  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  let  them  go. 
 
 41  t  And  they  departed  from  the  presence 
 of  the  council,  '  rejoicing  that  they  were 
 counted  worthy  to  suffer  shame  for  his  name. 
 
 42  And  daily  '  in  the  temple,  and  in  every 
 house,  "  they  ceased  not  to  teach  and  preach 
 Jesus  Christ. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  The  ajiostles,  desiro7ts  to  have  the  poor  regarded  fur 
 their  Itoiiily  sustenance ,  as  also  careful  themselves  to 
 dispense  the  word  of  God,  the  food  of  the  wul,  3  ap- 
 point the  office  ofdeaeonship  to  seven  cfiostn  men.  5 
 Ofit'hom  Stephen,  a  man  fill  of  faith^  and  of  the 
 Holt/  Ghost,  is  one.  12  ff^io  is  tahen  of  those, 
 whom  he  co7)foundcd  in  disputing,  liJ  and  afttr 
 falsely  accJised  of  blasphemy  against  the  law  and  the 
 temple. 
 
 A  ND  in  those  days, '^  when  tlic  number  of 
 -^^  the  disciples  was  multipHed,  there  arose 
 a  murmnring  of  the  ^  Grecians  against  the 
 Hebrews,  because  their  widows  were  neglected 
 *^  in  the  daily  ministration. 
 
 2  Then  the  twelve  called  the  multitude  of  the 
 disciples  unto  ;/icm,and  said, ''It  is  not  reason 
 that  we  should  leave  the  word  of  God,  and 
 serve  tables. 
 
 3  Wherefore,  brethren,  *^  look  ye  out  among 
 
 all  the  elders  of  Jerusalem  anrl  other  cities  come  to  the  feast. — Grot. 
 26.  Feared — stoned,  probably  the  people  expected  some  temporal  delU 
 verauce  from  the  apostles,  seeing  their  miracles, — Lardner.  28.  This 
 man,  alluding  to  Jesus,  that  they  would  raise  the  people  against  them 
 as  murderers.— H«7n.  31.  With  his  right  hand,  -ri/  5tfi\i  avruv,  i.  c, 
 
 '  hy  his  power  put  forth,'  or  *to  his  riirlit  hand,'  invested  him  with  the 
 highest  dignity. — lien.  To  i^ive  repentimce — as  repentance  was  not 
 actually  wrought  in  Israel,  the  words  tSownt  n.eTavoiav  may  mean,  *to 
 give  place  or  mum  for  repentance.* — Doddr.  32.  Of  these  thinf^s,  tojv 
 pn^iaT^liv  TiifTiov,  *  of  thesc  transactions,'  i.  e.,  of  Christ's  life  and  mi- 
 racles, and  of  your  murderous  proceedings  against  him. — A.  Clarke. 
 33.  Cut  to  the  hettrl,  for  what  so  cutting  as  a  true  charge  of  guilt  which 
 cannot  be  answered  ?—S.  Clarke.  34.  Gamaliel,  St.  Paul's  teacher, 
 (chap,  xxii.  3.)  called  Rabban.  a  proof  of  his  high  reputation— T^'/n/Ay, 
 35.  What  lie  intend  to  do,  n  tieWcre  Trpao-fren.,  'what  ye  are  abnut  to 
 do.' — A.  Clarke.  36.  Theudas — Jnst'/ihtis  mentions  one  Theudas  in 
 
 the  fourth  of  Claudius'  reign  ;  but  the  name  was  common  with  the 
 Jews,  and  this  might  be  anoihcr  :  there  were  also  several  insurrections, 
 and,  if  any  discrepancy  exists  between  the  two  writers,  we  ought  to 
 prefer  the  inspired  writer  before  .Jo-^ephus,  in  matters  to  which  he  was 
 not  an  eye-witness.— B(scoe.  Probably  the  Tlieudas  here  mentioned 
 was  the  same  as  Judas  of  Galilee,  as  the  Jews  often  had  two  names. — 
 So  Bps.  Usher  and  Pearce,  and  Dr.  Bonthrni/d.      Boastit}^  himself  to 
 
 be  somebudy,  he-fu>i'  ftvai  riva  favrov,  '  saving  that  he  was  a  great  per- 
 sonage.'— A.  Clarke.  *  Setting  himself  up  to  be  King  of  the  Jews.' — 
 Bp.  Penree.  3".  Judas  of  Galilee — sec  Luke,  xiii.  1,  note.  Taxing — 
 ten  years  subsequent  to  that  mentioned  in  I-uke,  ii.  I  ;  jDsephus  says 
 he  taught  that  it  was  a  mark  of  slavery  in  the  Jews  to  pay  tribute  to 
 the  Romans. — Bp.  Penree.  38.  If  this  counsel,  §-*?. — success  is  no 
 certain  criterion  of  the  truth  of  any  religious  system  ;  hut  the  success 
 of  the  gospel  was  supernatural,  considering  the  circumstances  of  its 
 original.- />r.  White. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  1.  Grecians,  those  Jews  converted  to  Christianity  who 
 belonged  to  other  countries.  It  has  been  remarked,  that  the  Greek 
 word  here  used,  'L\\i]viaTat,  like  all  words  of  the  same  termination, 
 ((TTMt^.  implies  '  inferiority.*  'EXXfji-.K,  Hellenes,  implied  '  pure  Greeks,' 
 '  native  Greeks.'  'ETjWn^ia-rai,  Hellcnistai,  'Jews,*  or  others  sojourn- 
 ing among  the  Greeks,  who  spoke  the  Greek  with  a  foreign  idiom  or 
 accent. — So  A.  Clarke.  Hebrew/;,  Jews  converted  to  Christianity,  na- 
 tives of  Judea. — Bp.  Mann.  Daily  ministration,  of  provisions  made 
 for  poor  widows  belonging  to  the  church,  (i  Tim.  v.  16.) — Whitbt/, 
 2.  It  is  not  reason,  '  it  is  not  fit  or  commendable,' — Hen.  Leave  the 
 word,  that  is,  the  preaching  of  it. — Whitlnj.  Serve  tahlrs,  attend  to 
 the  collection  and  distribution  of  alms  for  the  poor.  The  tables  were 
 those  on  which  money  was  paid  and  received. — Srhlejisncr.  3.  Look 
 ye  out,  ^c,  that  no  suspicion  of  interested  views  might  fall  on  the 
 
 Reflectioss  on  Chap.   \ We  here  see,   I.   The  crime 
 
 and  punishment  of  lying.  It  is  not  only  exceedingly  mean  and 
 highly  injurious  to  the  reputation,  but  it  is  a  sin  against  God  ; 
 and  one  which  he  has  visited  in  many  instances,  both  in  scrip- 
 txire  and  common  life,  with  the  severest  displeasure.  Many 
 (acts  have  been  recorded  of  liars  having  been  struck  dead  in 
 114G 
 
 the  very  act  of  lying. 
 
 1 1 .  The  courage  of  the  apostles  in  the  cause  of  truth.  And  liow 
 it  upbraids  the  timid  policy  of  temporizing  Christians!  When 
 truth  and  conscience  make  their  powerful  claims  upon  us,  let 
 us  remember  their  noble  example,  and  say,  '  we  ought  to  obey 
 God  rather  than  men.' 
 
Stephen  falsely  accused. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  Vir. 
 
 His  (ipoloijy. 
 
 you  seven  men  of  honest  report,  full  of  the 
 Holy  Ghost  and  wisdom,  whom  we  may  ap- 
 point over  this  business. 
 
 •t  But  we  '  will  ^ive  ourselves  continually  to 
 prayer,  and  to  the  ministry  of  the  word. 
 
 3  H  And  the  saying  pleased  the  whole  multi- 
 tude :  and  they  cliose  Stephen,  '■'  a  man  full  of 
 faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  "  Philip,  and 
 Prochorus,  and  Nicanor,  and  Tinion,  and  Par- 
 menas,  and  '  Nicolas  a  proselyte  of  Antioch  : 
 
 6  Whom  they  set  before  the  apostles :  and 
 '  when  they  had  prayed,  '  they  laid  iheir  hands 
 on  them. 
 
 7  And  ■"  the  word  of  God  increased  ;  and  the 
 number  of  the  disciples  multiplied  in  Jerusa- 
 lem greatly;  and  a  great  company  "of  the 
 priests  were  obedient  to  the  faith. 
 
 8  And  Stephen,  full  of  faith  and  power,  did 
 great  wonders  and  miracles  among  the  people. 
 
 9  t  Then  there  arose  certain  of  the  syna- 
 gogue, which  is  called  the  synar/oyne  of  the 
 Libertines,  and  Cyrenians,  and  Alexandrian,s, 
 and  of  them  of  Cilicia  and  of  Asia,  disputing 
 with  Stephen. 
 
 10  And  "  they  were  not  able  to  resist  the  wis- 
 dom and  the  spirit  by  which  he  spake. 
 
 1 1  ''  Then  they  suborned  men,  which  said, 
 We  have  heard  him  speak  blasphemous  words 
 against  Moses,  and  ai/ainsl  God. 
 
 12  And  they  stirred  up  the  people,  and  the 
 elders,  and  the  scribes,  and  came  upon  him, 
 and  caught  him,  and  brought /u'm  to  the  coun- 
 cil, 
 
 13  And  set  up  false  witnesses,  which  said, 
 This  man  ceaseth  not  to  speak  blasphemous 
 words  against  this  holy  place,  and  the  law : 
 
 14  ''  For  we  have  heard  him  say,  that  this 
 Jesus  of  Nazareth  shall  'destroy  this  place,  and 
 shall  change,  the  ||  customs  which  Moses  deli- 
 vered us. 
 
 13  And  all  that  sat  in  the  council,  looking 
 
 /ch.  •>.  42. 
 
 U  cli  M.  5,  2C 
 
 *■  c 
 
 ti.  1.  24. 
 
 /ch.8  17.  h 
 
 9 
 
 17-  ft  IS 
 
 H. 
 
 !  Tim.  4. 
 
 M 
 
 fe  5.  22 
 
 :i 
 
 'im.l   6. 
 
 rn 
 
 Ii.l?.-i4 
 
 Xt 
 
 19    I'll. 
 
 Cu 
 
 1.  1.  G, 
 
 o  Luke  SI. 
 
 15.  ch.5.39. 
 See  Ex,  1. 
 12.13. 5t. 17 
 p  I  Kin.  '^1. 
 10,  :;i.Mat 
 26.  ft9,  OU. 
 
 7  ch  'i.'j  !^ 
 r  D;in,  9.  ; 
 II  Or,  ril^i 
 
 iGen-ll  31. 
 &  12.  4,  5. 
 
 eGtrn 
 
 10 
 
 15.  LS 
 
 /Ex. 
 lial. 
 
 12.  40 
 S.  17. 
 
 a  Ex 
 
 3.  IJ. 
 
 steadfastly  on  him,  saw  his  face  as  it  had  been 
 the  face  of  an  angel. 
 
 CHAP.  VII 
 
 1  Stephen,  permitted  to  answer  to  the  accusation  of 
 blasphemy  J  2  shtweththat  Abraham  worshipped  God 
 rightly  J  and  huiu  God  chose  the  fathers  20  before  Mose6 
 was  born,  and  before  the  tabemach:  and  temple  were 
 built:  37  that  Moses  himself  witnessed  of  Christ. 
 44  and  that  all  outward  ceremoniiS  were  ordained  ac- 
 cording to  the  heavenly  pattern,  to  hist  hut  fur  a  time . 
 51  reprehending  their  rebellion,  and  murdering  of 
 Christ,  the  Just  One,  whom  the  prophets  foretold 
 should  come  into  the  loorld.  TtA  Whir-  upon  they  stone 
 him  to  death,  who  commendtth  his  soul  to  Jesus,  and 
 humbly  prayethfor  them. 
 
 THEN  said  the  high  priest,  are  these  things 
 so? 
 
 2  And  he  said,  ^  Men,  brethren,  and  fathers, 
 hearken  ;  The  God  of  glory  appeared  unto  om 
 father  Abraham,  when  he  was  in  Mesopotamia, 
 before  he  dwelt  in  Charran, 
 
 3  And  said  unto  him,  '^' Get  thee  out  of  thy 
 country,  and  from  tliy  kindred,  and  come  into 
 the  land  which  I  shall  shew  thee. 
 
 4  Then  '''  came  he  out  of  the  land  of  the  Chal- 
 diuans,  and  dwelt  in,  Cliarran :  and  from  thence, 
 when  his  father  was  dead,  he  removed  him  into 
 this  land,  wherein  ye  now  dwell. 
 
 5  And  he  gave  him  none  inheritance  in  it,  no, 
 not  so  much  as  to  set  his  foot  on  :  "^  yet  he 
 promised  that  he  would  give  it  to  him  for  a 
 possession,  and  to  his  seed  after  him,  when  as 
 yet  he  had  no  child. 
 
 0  And  God  spake  on  this  wise,  ''  That  his 
 seed  should  sojourn  in  a  strange  land  ;  and 
 that  they  should  bring  them  into  bondage,  and 
 entreat  them  evil  ^  four  hundred  years. 
 
 7  And  the  nation  to  whom  they  shall  be  in 
 bondage  will  1  judge,  said  God  :  and  after  that 
 shall  they  come  forth,  and  ^  serve  me  in  this 
 place. 
 
 aposUcs. — Neivc.  Among  you,  '  among  the  body  of  believers. — Ham., 
 Whithy.  •  From  the  seventy.' — Preh.  Tuwnseml.  *  From  among  the 
 complaining  Hellenists,'  the  names  being  all  Greek. —  Wil.,  as  Guyse. 
 5.  A  proselyte  of  Am ioch,  a  heathen  Greek,  who  had  believed  in  the 
 God  of  Israel,  and  been  circumcised,  and  consequently  was  a  proselyte 
 of  the  covenant ;  for  had  he  been  only  a  proselyte  of  the  gate,  the  Jews 
 cnuld  not  have  associated  witli  him. — A.  Clarke.  ft.  Lnid  their  hands, 
 4r.,  c-vpressive  of  their  approbation  and  blessing;  not  of  conferring  on 
 them  the  Holy  Spirit,  for  the  electors  were  to  choose  only  men  full  of 
 the  Holy  Ghost.— Wil.  7.  A  great  company,  ttoXu?  ox^oft  'a  great 
 crowd,'  or  '  mnltituUe.'— //en.,  liens.  Of  the  priests — the  number  of 
 priests  was  great :  there  were  more  than  four  thousand  who  returned 
 from  the  captivity,  fEzra,  ii.  'i^—:i().)—BeaHsohre.  8.  Full  of  power, 
 livfa/icwf,  of  the  'divine  energy.' — .4.  Clarke.  9.  Libertines,  'free 
 men;'  it  is  a  Roman  name,  and  signifies  '  the  sons  of  freemen,'  cither 
 of  such  Jews  who  of  servants  or  slaves  had  been  made  freemen,  or 
 rather  such  Jews  whose  parents  were  born  free,  or  had  ohtaine<l  their 
 freedom  at  Rome,  or  in  surac  free  city  under  the  Roman  government, 
 as  Paul  at  Tarsus;  probably  the  latter,  they  having  a  peculiar  syna- 
 gogue, which  is  to  be  accounted  for  from  their  not  speaking  the  lan- 
 guage of  the  native  Jews. — Gill.  Some  are  of  opinion  that  the  Liber- 
 tines were  native  Jews  or  proselytes,  who  lived  at  Libertus,  or  Liber- 
 tina,  a  city  of  Africa,  and  had  asynagogue  at  Jerusalem. — See  Schieus- 
 ner,  and  Hosenm.  Cyrenians,  natives  of  the  city  orcountry  of  Cyrene, 
 from  whence  were  many  Jews,  (sec  chap.  ii.  10;  xi.  20  ;j  these,  with 
 those  that  follow,  either  belonged  to  the  same  synagogue  with  the 
 Libertines,  or  rather,  they  severally  had  distinct  synagogues.  Alex- 
 nndrians— that  these  should  have  a  synagogue  at  Jerusalem  need  not 
 be  wondered  at,  when  there  was  such  an  intercourse  between  Jerusa- 
 lem and  Alexandria.      Cilicia,  the  metrupulis  of  which  country  was 
 
 Tarsus,  (chap.  xxi.  39;  xxii.  3.)  And  of  Asia,  that  is,  the  t-ess,  which 
 joined  to  Cilicia,  and  in  which  were  great  numbers  of  Jews,  (see  chap, 
 xxi.  27.) — Gilt.  10.  Not  able  to  i-esist,  5'/?.— Christ's  promise  was  thus 
 fulfilled,  fMatt.  X.  20;  Luke,  xxi.   15.)  — Whitby.  II.  Blasphemous 
 
 u'ords — the  blasphemy  against  Moses  was,  probably,  his  assertion  that 
 the  authority  of  Moses  was  inferior  to  that  of  Christ.  The  blasphemy 
 against  fiiil  was  doubtless  this — the  ascribing  of  divinity  to  one  who 
 had  suffered  publicly  as  a  malefactor. — Hors.  12.  Cnme  upon,  fyc, 
 
 entaravret  awnpnaanv,  '  rushing  on  him,  they  seized  him.' — Benson. 
 U.  Shall  destroy  this  place,  he  had  probably  spoken  of  the  destruction 
 of  the  temple.  15,  The  face  of  an  angel,  aJewish  phrase,  to  express 
 something  more  than  ordinarily  sweet,  graceful,  and  majestic. — Bp. 
 Pearce. 
 
 CfiAC.  VII.  —  2.  Men,  brethren,  and  fathers,  avipev  a6^\<poi  Kcti  ira- 
 repcr— the  Greek  means,  '  ye  men,  who  are  my  brethren  and  fathers.' 
 He  calls  the  scribes  and  elders  'fathers,'  and  the  common  people 
 '  brethren.* — Bp.  Pearce.  Literally,  it  is  '  men-brethren,'  a  n.sual  form 
 in  Greek. — A.  Clarke.  Charran,  called  '  Haran,'  Gen.  xi.  ;n.  5.  None 
 inheritance — the  small  parcels  of  land  which  Abraham  and  Jacob  en- 
 joyed in  Canaan  were  purchased  by  them,  and  are  tlierefore  reckoned 
 no  part  of  God's  gift. — Bp.  Pearce.  6.  Four  hundred,  it  was  four 
 hundred  and  thirty,  (Exod.  xii.  40;  Gal.  iii.  i/.}  Stephen  uses  the 
 round  number  of  four  hundred,  (so  Gen.  .xv.  i:i.)— See  Clarke.  The 
 Israelites  were  not  evil -entreated  four  hundred  years,  but  were  so- 
 journers during  that  time  in  Canaan  and  in  Egypt.  The  four  hundred 
 and  thirty  years  mentioned  in  Exodus  and  Galatians  begin  nut  at  the 
 birth  of  Isaac,  but  when  Abraham  first  went  into  Egypt,  twenty-five 
 years  before ;  and  this,  added  to  the  time  computed  from  the  birth  of 
 Isaac  to  the  time  when  the  Israelites  left  Egypt,  computed  at  four 
 hundred  and  five  years,  makes  four  hundred  and  thirty.  7-  ^iH  i 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  VI. — I.  *  If  men  are  not  qualified 
 even  to  "  serve  tables,*^  or  regulate  charities,  except  they  be  of"  ho- 
 nest report,*^  and  endued  with  heavenly  jvisdom  and  grace,  how 
 pernicious  must  it  be  to  commit  the  impoiiant  trust  of  "  watching 
 for  jntn^s  souls^*  to  such  persons  as  are  evidently  destitute  of  these 
 endowments  /  It  therefore  behoves  liiose  who  are  concerned  in 
 choosing,  appointinc;,  and  ordaining  men  to  any  office  in  the 
 church,  to  do  it  with  good  advice,  serious  deliberation,  and 
 fervpnt  prayer  for  divinn  direction.' a 
 
 II.  '  fyhilc  the  ministry  of  the  word  is  crowned  with  sucrcs.-, 
 1147 
 
 a?id  many  become  obedient  to  the  faith,  men  of  corrupt  minds  will 
 he  exasperated  to  oppose  and  persecute.  The  vilest  charge  was 
 fixed  on  holy  Stephen,  and  has  often  since  been  laid  against 
 men  of  a  similar  spirit.  True  piety,  in  his  case,  was  accounted 
 blasphemy,  and  the  genuine  love  of  his  country,  treason  against 
 it.  Let  us,  amidst  all  such  false  charges,  commit  ourselves  to 
 Jlim  that  judgeth  righteously,  and  be  persuaded  that  he  will 
 at  length  bring  forth  our  righteousness  as  the  light,  and  onr 
 judgmuut  as  the  noon-day  brightness.'  ^ 
 
Stephen's  apoloff^. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  VII. 
 
 Step/ten's  apology. 
 
 8  '■  And  he  gave  him  the  covenant  of  circum- 
 cision :  '  and  so  Abraham  begat  Isaac,  and 
 circumcised  him  tlie  eighth  day  ;  '  and  Isaac 
 begat  Jacob  ;  and  '  Jacob  begat  the  twelve  pa- 
 triarchs. 
 
 9  ""And  the  patriarchs,  moved  with  envy, 
 sold  Joseph  into  Egypt :  °  but  God  was  with 
 him, 
 
 10  And  delivered  him  out  of  all  his  afflictions, 
 "and  gave  him  favour  and  wisdom  in  the  sight 
 of  Pharaoh  king  of  Egypt ;  and  he  made  him 
 governor  over  Egypt  and  all  his  house. 
 
 1 1  ^  Now  there  came  a  dearth  over  all  the 
 land  of  Egypt  and  Chanaan,  and  great  afflic- 
 tion :  and  our  fatliers  found  no  sustenance. 
 
 1'2  ''  But  when  Jacob  heard  that  there  was 
 corn  in  Egypt,  he  sent  out  our  fathers  first. 
 
 13  '  And  at  the  second  time  Joseph  was  made 
 known  to  his  brethren  ;  and  Joseph's  kindred 
 was  made  known  unto  Pharaoh. 
 
 14  '  Then  sent  Joseph,  and  called  his  father 
 Jacob  to  him,  and  '  all  his  kindred,  threescore 
 and  fifteen  souls. 
 
 Ij  "So  Jacob  went  down  into  Egypt,  "and 
 died,  he,  and  our  fathers, 
 
 IG  And  '■  were  carried  over  into  Sychem,  and 
 laid  in  >■  the  sepulchre  that  Abraham  bought 
 for  a  sum  of  money  of  the  sons  of  Emmor  the 
 father  of  Sychem. 
 
 17  But  when  '  the  time  of  the  promise  drew 
 nigh,  whicli  God  had  sworn  to  Abraham,  °  the 
 people  grew  and  multiplied  in  Egypt, 
 
 18  Till  another  king  arose,  which  knew  not 
 Joseph. 
 
 19  The  same  dealt  subtilly  with  our  kindred, 
 and  evil  entreated  our  fatliers,  ""so  that  they 
 cast  out  their  young  children,  to  the  end  they 
 miglit  not  live. 
 
 20  '  In  which  time  Moses  was  born,  and  ''was 
 II  exceeding  fair,  and  nourished  up  in  his  fa- 
 ther's house  three  months: 
 
 '21  And  "when  he  was  cast  out,  Pharaoh's 
 daughter  took  him  up,  and  nourished  him  for 
 her  own  son. 
 
 2'2  And  Moses  was  learned  in  all  the  wisdom 
 of  the  Egyptians,  and  was  'mighty  in  words 
 and  in  deeds. 
 
 23  ^  And  when  he  was  full  forty  years  old, 
 it  came  into  his  heart  to  visit  his  brethren  the 
 children  of  Israel. 
 
 24  And  seeing  one  of  them  suffer  wrong,  he 
 defended  him,  and  avenged  him  that  was  op- 
 pressed, and  smote  the  Egyptian  : 
 
 2.5  II  For  he  supposed  his  brethren  would 
 have  understood  how  that  God  by  his  hand 
 would  deliver  them  :  but  they  understood  not. 
 
 26  '■  And  the  next  day  he  shewed  himself  unto 
 them  as  they  strove,  and  would  have  set  them 
 at  one  again,  saying.  Sirs,  ye  are  brethren ;  why 
 do  ye  wrong  one  to  another  ? 
 
 27  But  he  that  did  his  neighbour  wrong  thrust 
 
 10,  II- 
 
 i  Gl'd.21.2, 
 
 3,4. 
 
 k  Geu.25  26 
 /  Geu  29.31, 
 
 ftc,  &3ii.  5, 
 
 &c.  &  as. 
 
 18,  S3. 
 mGen  37   1, 
 
 11,  2.S   Ps. 
 105.  17. 
 
 n  Gen.39.  ?, 
 
 21,  23. 
 (.  Gen  41-37 
 
 &  42.  6- 
 
 p  Gen. 41, 54. 
 
 q  Gen.  42.  I 
 
 r  Gen,  45.  4, 
 
 Id. 
 
 (  Gen.  45.  9, 
 
 li  Gen,  Af,  'j 
 10  Gen  49. 
 33.  Ei.l.O 
 
 X  Ex.  13  19. 
 
 Jnsh. 21.32 
 j(  Gen.  23,113. 
 
 &  S5,  19, 
 
 :  Gen,  15.13 
 
 .1  Er.l.7,9, 
 9.  Pa.  105. 
 21.  25. 
 
 o  Ex,  3.  8. 
 d  Heb.U.23. 
 II  Or,  /iiir  (o 
 God. 
 
 <  Ex.  2,3,— 
 10. 
 
 /  I.uko  24. 
 19. 
 
 »El.  2.  11, 
 18. 
 
 gee  Luke 
 13.14. cU. 4 
 
 k  Ex.  2.  15. 
 22,  u  4.  20. 
 Sc  13.  3,  4. 
 
 •  Ex.3   5, 
 Joiih.  b.  15. 
 
 p  Ex.  14.  19 
 Nunl  ,20.16. 
 
 7  F.x.  12,41. 
 
 KXl.  1. 
 f  Ex.  7.&8 
 
 X(9.  f<  in.tt 
 
 II. «{  14.P8. 
 
 1115.  27. 
 «  Ex.  14,21, 
 
 27,  2S,  29, 
 /  E».  10.  I, 
 
 3S. 
 u  Ueii.l3.l5, 
 
 IH  ell  3.22 
 II  Of,  ..J  ms- 
 
 ->/■ 
 X  Mat.  17.5 
 vE«.  19.  3, 
 
 17. 
 :  Is.  63.  9. 
 
 Gal.  3.  19. 
 
 Heb,  2  2- 
 a  Ex,  21.  I. 
 
 Dout.5.87, 
 
 31.  H(3.H.  4. 
 
 Jol.n  1.  17. 
 b  Rom   3  2. 
 
 r^  Dent.  9. 16. 
 Pa.  106.  19. 
 
 P«.  81.12. 
 
 Eiek  20.25. 
 
 39.  Rom.  I, 
 
 24    2Tlies. 
 
 2.  II. 
 /Deii  4.  19. 
 
 &  17.  3. 
 
 2  Kin    17. 
 
 10   &  21.  3. 
 
 Jer-  19    13, 
 .;  Amos  6. 
 
 25,  20. 
 
 him  away,  saying,  '  Who  made  thee  a  ruler 
 and  a  judge  over  us  ? 
 
 28  Wilt  thou  kill  me,  as  thou  diddest  the 
 Egyptian  yesterday  ? 
 
 29  '  Then  fled  Moses  at  this  saying,  and  was 
 a  stranger  in  the  land  of  Madian,  where  he  be- 
 gat two  sons. 
 
 30  '  And  when  forty  years  were  expired,  there 
 appeared  to  him  in  the  wilderness  of  mount 
 Sina  an  angel  of  the  Lord  in  a  flame  of  fire  in 
 a  bush. 
 
 31  Wnen  Moses  saw  it,  he  wondered  at  the 
 sight :  and  as  he  drew  near  to  behold  it,  the 
 voice  of  the  Lord  came  unto  him, 
 
 32  Saying,  '"  I  am  the  God  of  thy  fathers, 
 the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isaac, 
 and  the  God  of  Jacob.  Then  Moses  trembled, 
 and  durst  not  behold. 
 
 33  "  Then  said  the  Lord  to  him,  Put  off  thy 
 shoes  from  thy  feet :  for  the  place  where  thou 
 standest  is  holy  ground. 
 
 34  "  I  have  seen,  I  have  seen  the  affliction  of 
 my  people  which  is  in  Egypt,  and  I  have  heard 
 their  groaning,  and  am  come  down  to  deliver 
 them.  And  now  come,  I  will  send  thee  into 
 Egypt.  , 
 
 35  Tliis  Moses  whom  they  refused,  saying. 
 Who  made  thee  a  ruler  and  a  judge?  the  same 
 did  God  send  to  be  a  ruler  and  a  deliverer 
 ''  by  the  hand  of  the  angel  which  appeared  to 
 him  in  the  bush. 
 
 36  '  He  brought  them  out,  after  that  he  had 
 'shewed  wonders  and  signs  in  the  land  of 
 Egypt, '  and  in  the  Red  Sea, '  and  in  the  wilder- 
 ness forty  years. 
 
 37  t  This  is  that  Moses,  which  said  unto  the 
 children  of  Israel,  "  A  prophet  shall  the  Lord 
 your  God  raise  up  unto  you  of  your  brethren, 
 II  like  unto  me  ;  *  him  .shall  ye  hear. 
 
 38  ''  This  is  he,  that  was  in  the  church  in  the 
 wilderness  with  '  the  angel  which  spake  to 
 him  in  the  mount  Sina,  and  ivith  our  fathers  : 
 '  who  received  the  lively  ''  oracles  to  give  unto 
 us  : 
 
 39  To  whom  our  fathers  would  not  obey,  but 
 thrust  him  from  them,  and  in  their  hearts 
 turned  back  again  into  Egypt, 
 
 40  '  Saying  unto  Aaron,  Make  us  gods  to  go 
 before  us  :  for  as  fur  tliis  Moses,  which  brought 
 us  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  we  wot  not  what 
 is  become  of  him. 
 
 41  ^  And  they  made  a  calf  in  those  days,  and 
 offered  sacrifice  unto  the  idol,  and  rejoiced  In 
 the  works  of  their  own  hands. 
 
 42  Then  '  God  turned,  and  gave  them  up  to 
 worship  '  the  host  of  heaven  ;  as  it  is  written 
 in  the  book  of  the  prophets,  i"'  O  ye  house  of 
 Israel,  have  ye  offered  to  me  slain  beasts  and 
 sacrifices  by  the  space  of  forty  years  in  the 
 wilderness  ? 
 
 43  Yea,  ye  took  up  the  tabernacle  of  Moloch, 
 
 jiidf^r,  kp.i-co  e^w,  •  I  wilt  punish,*  So  the  noun  Kpifia  is  used  for  *  pu- 
 nishment,' in  Rom.  xiii.  2;  1  Cor.  xi,  2g,  comp,  with  ver,  30,  3!.— So 
 Bp.  Peaice.  14,  Threescore  ciiid fifteen— l\K  Hebrew,  Gen,  xlvi,  27, 
 and  Deut,  x,  22,  mentions  seventy ;  the  Greek  translation  gives 
 seventy-five,  which  Stephen  quotes.  The  number  added  in  the  Greek 
 is  thought  to  be  supplied  either  by  including  Bve  sons  of  Ephraim  and 
 Manasseh  bnrn  in  Egrynt.  (from  1  Chron.  vii.,)  or  the  wives  of  the 
 patriarchs  who  accompanied  them.  — See  Whitby.  16.  Abraham 
 
 bought,  '  Jacob  bought  it,'  so  Gen.  xxxiii.  ig  ;  Josh,  xxiv.  32,  Some 
 mistake  has  here  crept  into  the  .MS.,  and  '  Jacob'  should  be  supplied 
 for  '  Abraham.'— So  ,-1.  Cbirke,  Boolhr.  Abraham  bought  a  bnrving. 
 place  of  the  children  of  Heth,  (Gen.  xxiii.)  ;  there  Jacob  was  buried. 
 Jacob  bought  a  field  of  the  children  of  Hamor ;  there  Joseph  was  buried. 
 at.  Stephen,  after  the  concise  mode  of  speaking  among  the  Hebrew.s. 
 1148 
 
 contracts  these  two  purchases  into  one. — Bens.  20.  Ejrceedittff  faiTf 
 ajTCiuv  Ty  Oew,  *  fair  to  God,'  marg.  'Divinely  beautiful.' — Doddr. 
 2'2, Mighty  in  words,  rieep,  solid,  weighty,  though  not  uf  a  ready  utter- 
 ance.— Doddr.  Deeds,  alluding:  to  his  miracles. — Newc.  34.  I  have 
 seen,  I  have  seeti,  j.  e.,  '  I  have  surely  seen,'  as  in  Exod.  iii.  7- — Bp. 
 Pearce.  38.  Church,  or  coneregation. — Scott.  Lively  oracles,  \o^ta 
 Coii-Tu,  '  the  living  oracles.' — A.  Clarke.  'The  life-giving  oracles.'— 
 Eiv.  So  called  as  proceeding  not  from  dumb  idols,  but  from  the  living 
 God,  (Lev.  xv-iii.  5.)~Whitby.  43.  Took  up  the  tabernacle  of  Moloch, 
 i^c,  '  carried  about  with  you  one  little  tabernacle,  repo^itury,  or  shrine, 
 in  which  was  inclosed  the  image  of  Moloch,  the  idol  of  the  children  of 
 Ammou,*  (I  Kings,  xi.  ".}  And  the  star,  'and  in  another  shrine  ye 
 carried  with  you  the  figure  of  a  star,  rcproentiuir  your  idol  Remphan, 
 and  worsliippeU  these  false  gods  by  the  iniages  which  yourselves  had 
 
Stephen  stoned. 
 
 THE  ACTS,   VIII. 
 
 IIi6  burial. 
 
 and  the  star  of  your  god  Remplian,  ti<;ures 
 which  ye  made  to  worsliip  them  :  and  i  will 
 carry  you  away  beyond  Babylon. 
 
 44  Our  fathers  had  the  tabernacle  of  witness 
 in  the  wilderness,  as  he  had  appointed,  || speak- 
 ing unto  Moses,  ^  that  he  should  make  it  ac- 
 cording to  the  fashion  that  he  had  seen. 
 
 4d  '  Which  also  our  fathers  ||  that  came  after 
 brought  in  with  Jesus  into  the  possession  of 
 the  Gentiles,  ''  whom  God  drave  out  before  the 
 face  of  our  fathers,  unto  the  days  of  David  ; 
 
 46  '  Who  found  favour  before  God,  and  "'  de- 
 sired to  find  a  tabernacle  for  the  God  of  Jacob. 
 
 47  "  But  Solomon  built  him  an  bouse. 
 
 48  Howbeit  °  the  most  High  dwelleth  not  in 
 temples  made  with  hands  ;  as  saitli  tlie  prophet, 
 
 40  ''  Heaven  is  my  throne,  and  earth  is  my 
 footstool  :  what  house  will  ye  build  me?  saith 
 the  Lord  :  or  what  is  the  place  of  my  rest? 
 
 50  Hath  not  my  hand  made  all  these  things? 
 
 51  t  Ye  '*  stiffnecked  and  ■"  uncircumcised  in 
 heart  and  ears,  ye  do  always  resist  the  Holy 
 Ghost :  as  your  fathers  did,  so  do  ye. 
 
 5*2  ^  Which  of  the  prophets  have  not  your  fa- 
 thers persecuted?  and  they  have  slain  them 
 which  shewed  before  of  the  coming  of  ^  the 
 Just  One  ;  of  whom  ye  have  been  now  the  be- 
 trayers and  murderers  : 
 
 5;]  "  Who  have  received  the  law  by  the  dis- 
 position of  angels,  and  have  not  kept  it. 
 
 54  M  *■  When  they  heard  these  things,  they 
 were  cut  to  the  heart,  and  they  gnashed  on 
 him  with  their  teeth. 
 
 55  But  he,  ^ being  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 looked  up  steadfastly  into  heaven,  and  saw  the 
 glory  of  God,  and  Jesus  standing  on  the  right 
 hand  of  God, 
 
 56  And  said,  Behold,  ^  I  see  the  heavens 
 opened,  and  the  "  Son  of  mau  standing  on  the 
 riizht  hand  of  God. 
 
 II  Or,  who 
 
 k  Nell.  9.24. 
 I'^.  41.  2.  & 
 
 ^H.  55.  cij. 
 13.  \y. 
 
 t  i  Sam.ir>.]. 
 
 2  Saio.  7.1. 
 
 Vs.  89.  19. 
 
 ch.  13.  22. 
 m  I  Kill.  H. 
 
 17-  1  Clir. 
 
 22.  7.  1'3. 
 
 \:V2 
 
 I,  I  Kiu.  I 
 
 I. 
 a  1  Kill  8,S7. 
 
 ■i  Chr.  2.  l>. 
 
 Ri  6.   18.  cli. 
 
 17-  21. 
 />  IH   60.1,  2. 
 
 Mat    5.  34 
 
 35  h2:i.  2i. 
 7  Ex.A2.  a. 
 
 &  33.  3. 
 
 Is.  ^8    4. 
 r  Lev. 20.41. 
 
 neut.lU.lG. 
 
 Jer.  4.  4   & 
 
 6.  10.  fc  9. 
 
 -.^G.Eit;k.41. 
 
 9. 
 *  2  Chr.  36 
 
 16.  A1at.:>l. 
 
 .15.  ft  i!.S.34, 
 
 37.  1  Tbea. 
 
 2.  15. 
 t  c)i.  3.  14. 
 H  Ex.  2U.  I. 
 
 Gal.  3    19. 
 
 Heb.  2.  •£. 
 X  ch.  6.  S3. 
 y  ch.  6.  5. 
 
 =  Ezek.  1.  1. 
 
 Mat.  3.  16. 
 
 ch.  10.  11. 
 a  Dan.  7.  13 
 
 A.  D.  33. 
 
 b  I  Kin.  21. 
 
 13.   Lukd 
 
 4    2'J,  Heb. 
 
 n.  \2. 
 e  Lev. 24  16. 
 d  DeuclSD, 
 
 lU.  &  17.7. 
 
 ch.  8,   I.  & 
 
 22.  20 
 e  ch.  9.  14. 
 /I'B    31.5. 
 
 Luke  23.4(1. 
 g  ch.  9    40. 
 
 ft  20.  36.  & 
 
 /.  Milt.  5  41.. 
 Ltike  6  29. 
 &  23.  34. 
 
 A,  D.  34. 
 
 1  ch.  7.58. 
 &  ■22.  iiU. 
 
 c  Geii.23.2. 
 
 &  50.  10. 
 
 2  Sam  3.31. 
 d  ch,  7.  bS. 
 
 &  ii  1,13,21. 
 
 Ik  2-2.  4.  f* 
 
 SB.  10,  II. 
 
 I  Cor.!5    9. 
 
 GaL  I.  l:l. 
 
 Phil.  3    6. 
 
 1  Tim. 1.13. 
 e  Mat  \\K2i. 
 
 ch.  II.   19. 
 
 57  Then  they  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice, 
 and  stopped  their  ears,  and  ran  upon  him  with 
 one  accord, 
 
 5S  And  ^cast  him  out  of  the  city,  ''and 
 stoned  him :  and  ^  the  witnesses  laid  down  their 
 clothes  at  a  young  man's  feet,  whose  name  was 
 Saul. 
 
 59  And  they  stoned  Stephen,  "  calling  upon 
 God,  and  saying,  Lord  Jesus,  ^"receive  my  spirit, 
 
 60  And  he  ^  kneeled  down,  and  cried  with  a 
 loud  voice,  ''  Lord,  lay  not  this  sin  to  their 
 charge.  And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  fell 
 asleep. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  By  occasion  of  the.  persecution  in  Jcrusatam ,  the 
 cfiurch  htintj  pltntad  in  Samaria,  5  hy  PldUp  the 
 deucun,  who  preached,  did  miracles,  and  baptiztd 
 maiii/,  among  the  ri  st  Simon  the  surcen  r,  a  y.rt:at  se- 
 ducer of  the  pcojile  :  14  Ptttr  and  John  come  to 
 confirm  and  enlarge  the  church  :  where,  by  prayer 
 and  imposition  of  hands  givijig  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 l&  when  Simon  would  have  bouyht  the  like  power  of 
 them,  20  Pritr  sharply  reproving  his  hypocrisy,  and 
 covetous fitss,  and  e.ihorting  him  to  repentance,  toge- 
 ther ivith  John  preaching  the  word  of  the  J-.ord,  re- 
 turn to  Jerusalem.  26  But  the  arujel  st^deth  Philip 
 to  teach,  and  baptize  the  Ethiopian  eunuch. 
 
 A  ND  "  Saul  was  consenting  unto  his  death. 
 ^^  And  at  that  time  there  was  a  great  perse- 
 cution against  the  church  wliich  was  at  Jeru- 
 salem ;  and  ^  they  were  all  scattered  abroad 
 throughout  the  regions  of  Juda'a  and  Samaria, 
 except  the  apostles. 
 
 2  And  devout  men  carried  Stephen  to  his 
 burial,  and  '^  made  great  lamentation  over  him. 
 
 3  As  for  Saul,''  he  made  havock  of  the  churcli, 
 entering  into  every  house,  and  haling  men  and 
 women  committed  thetn  to  prison. 
 
 4  Therefore  "  they  that  were  scattered  abroad 
 went  every  where  preaching  the  word. 
 
 made. — Guyse.  See  Amos,  v.  26,  and  Num.  xxiv.  17,  notes.  It  was 
 customary  fur  the  idolators  of  all  nations  to  carry  images  of  their  gods 
 about  tliem,  in  their  journeys,  military  expeditions,  &c. — A.Clarke, 
 44.  Tnbernacle  of  witness,  rot/  fiapTvpiov,  '  of  the  testimony,'  the  taber- 
 nacle with  the  ark  of  the  testimony  in  it. — Ham.  This  was  a  constant 
 testimony  of  the  relation  between  God  and  Israel. — Bens.  4.5.  With 
 Jesus — Joshua  is  here,  and  in  Heb.  iv.  8,  called  '  Jesus,*  each  signifying 
 •Saviour.* — Bp.  Mann.  46.  Desired,  ^Tt^(raTo,  'petititmed.* — Bens. 
 51.  ^tij'necked—iiee  Exod.  xxxii.  9,  note.  Unaircumcined — to  circum- 
 cise the  heart,  is  to  remove  its  obduracy  ;  to  circumcise  the  ears,  is  to 
 remove  the  backwardness  of  men  to  attend  to  divine  things. — Wil. 
 53.  Bu  the  disposition  of  ungels,  tic  &iaTa-fa<!  a77e\(ov,  *  by  the  ministra- 
 tion of  angels.* — Wes.,  Boothr.  'Through  ranks  of  angels.' — Duddr., 
 Clarke.  *  Amidst  troops  of  attending  angels.' — Guyse.  5S.  Cast  him 
 out  of  the  dtp,  probably  because  no  man  was  to  be  put  to  death  within 
 the  city  ;  so  Jesus  was  taken  out  of  the  city  to  be  crucified,  (see  1  Kings, 
 xxi.  13.) — B]>.  Penrce.  Stoned  him,  this  was  a  tumultuous  act,  nut 
 done  by  the  sanhedrim,  and  doe.'^  not  prove  that  the  Jews  had  then  the 
 power  of  life  anil  deatli. — Tomliue,^^  Lardner.  Pilate  having  been 
 disgraced,  Judea  seems  at  this  time  to  have  been  without  a  procurator; 
 and  Vitellius,  the  governor  of  Syria,  was  a  man  of  great  moderation 
 toward  the  Jews,  who  were  now  left  to  themselves,  at  least  in  religious 
 concerns,  and  Stephen  was  their  first  Christian  victim. — Milner.  Wit- 
 nesses laid  damn  their  clothes,  that  they  mjglit  execute  their  bloody 
 purpose  with  the  greater  readiness.    According  to  the  law,  (Deut.  xvii. 
 
 ",)  the  witnesses  were  the  persons  who  were  to  cast  the  first  stone. — 
 Beausohre.  At  a  young  tnan's  feet — keeping  the  raiment  seems  to 
 have  been  the  customary  oflicc  of  one  who  had  been  active  in  convict- 
 ing the  person  stoned. — Neuc.  Charles  Taylor  argues  from  the  word 
 i-eanat,  and  the  frequent  allusion  of  the  apostle  Paul  to  military  terms, 
 that  he  was  probably  in  his  youth  an  auxiliary  S'  Idier.  Whatever 
 freedom  the  critic  may  use  with  the  Greek  word,  the  arguments  from 
 the  allusions  are  weak,  since  he  has  as  many  to  the  Olympic  games, 
 in  which  we  are  sure  he  was  never  a  competitor.— £d.  59.  Calling 
 
 upon — '  God'  is  supplied  by  our  translators,  *  calling  upon  the  Lord 
 Jesus,  and  saying,'  &c.— So  Pr/le,  Hales,  Boothr.,  A.  Clarke,  Divk^ 
 Barnes.  Such  a  solemn  prayer  to  Christ,  in  which  a  departing  soul  ib 
 thus  solemnly  committed  into  his  hands,  is  such  an  act  of  worship  as 
 we  cannot  believe  any  good  man  would  have  paid  to  a  mere  creature 
 60.  Lay  not  this  sin,  fitj  (TTtjam  auroiv  rnv  afxapTiav  xai'Tni',  literally 
 *  weigh  not  out  to  them  this  sin,'  that  is,  a  punishment  proportionable 
 to  it,  {comp.  1  Sam.  ii.  3;  Job,  xxxi.  6;  Prov.  xvi.  2;  Jsa.  xxvl.  7; 
 Dan.  V,  27.) — Doddr. ;  see  Eisner. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.—  1.  At  that  time,  ev  cKctvy  irj  hfxtp<f,  *  in  that  day,*  the 
 very  day  on  which  Stephen  was  murdered.— 'iJenj;.,  so  Gill.  Scattered, 
 by  this  means  the  gospel  was  the  more  spread. — So  Lightf.,  and  viany 
 others.  3.  Made  havock,  t^XutiaiveTo,  'ravaged  as  a  wild  beast-,'  so 
 the  word  is  used  in  the  Sept.,  Dan.  vi.  22,  and  Ps.  Ixxx.  13.— See  Wol- 
 Jius,  so  Townsend,  and  A.  Clarke.  Haling,  avpiav,  '  dragging'  them 
 before  the   magistrates,   or   dragging   them   to  justice.  — i4.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII The  accusations  of  Stephen 
 
 against  the  Jews,  in  this  discourse,  involve  two  things — 
 1.  Ignorance  of  the  spirituid  nature  of  the  Divine  promises  made 
 to  the  J'athers.  They  confined  all  their  views  to  temporal 
 blessings,  and  regarded  not  the  spiritual.  None  of  the  pa- 
 triarchs, nor  JMoses  himself,  so  enjoyed  the  promises,  for  the 
 temporal  iniieritance  was  never  tlieirs.  The  righteous  hath 
 hope  only  in  his  death.  All  true  believers  count  themselves 
 but  pilgrims  and  strangers  upon  earth  ;  they  look  for  '  an  in- 
 heritance which  is  incorruptible,  nndefiled,  and  that  fadeth 
 not  away.'  The  Jews  prided  themselves  too  much  upon  their 
 temple — as  though  God  could  and  would  only  dwell  there — • 
 and  seemed  to  have  lost  sight  of  the  intention  of  divine  ordi- 
 nances to  purify  the  soul  and  prepare  it  for  the  heavenly  and 
 eternal  temple  not  made  with  hands,  where  the  saints  of  all 
 1I49 
 
 ages  and  nations  serve  God,  in  one  grand  assembly,  without 
 ceasing.     The  second  charge  here  stated  is — 
 
 II.  Obstinacy  in  rejecting  the  Divine  messages  and  messengers. 
 From  the  days  of  Moses,  through  all  the  ages  of  the  prophets, 
 they  had  been  bitter  persecutors  of  those  that  told  them  lhe_ 
 truth,  and  warned  them  of  the  dangerous  consequences  of 
 their  sins,  and  had  now  consummated  their  crimes  by  the 
 murder  of  the  Son  of  (iod.  Oh  !  a^vful  transgressors  !  Can 
 we  wonder  at  the  desolation  of  Jerusalem  ?  rather  let  us  won- 
 der at  the  long-sufieriog  of  a  gracious  God,  who  is  not  willing 
 that  any  should  perish  ;  and  let  us,  while  we  are  here  warned 
 against  obstinacy  and  hardness  of  heart,  cast  ourselves  upon 
 that  Krace  v>'hich  can  pardon  such  sinners,  and  even  saved 
 multitudes  of  this  stiliuecked  generation. 
 
^Simon's  hypocrisy  reproved. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  Vlir. 
 
 The  Ethiopian  eunuch 
 
 5  Then  '  Philip  went  down  to  the  city  of  Sa- 
 maria, and  preached  Christ  unto  them. 
 
 G  And  the  people  with  one  accord  gave  heed 
 unto  those  things  which  Pliilip  spake,  hearing 
 and  seeing  the  miracles  which  he  did. 
 
 7  For  *  unclean  spirits,  crying  with  loud  voice, 
 came  out  of  many  that  were  possessed  with 
 them :  and  many  taken  with  palsies,  and  that 
 were  lame,  were  healed. 
 
 8  And  there  was  great  joy  in  that  city. 
 
 9  But  there  was  a  certain  man,  called  Simon, 
 which  hefore  time  in  the  same  city  ''used  sor- 
 cery, and  bewitclied  the  people  of  Samaria, 
 'giving  out  that  himself  was  some  great  one  : 
 
 10  To  whom  they  all  gave  heed,  from  the 
 least  to  the  greatest,  saying.  This  man  is  the 
 great  power  of  God. 
 
 1 1  And  to  him  they  had  regard,  because  that 
 of  long  time  he  had  bewitched  tliem  with  sor- 
 ceries. 
 
 I'i  liut  when  they  believed  Philip  preaching 
 the  things  'concerning  the  kingdom  of  God, 
 and  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  they  were  bap- 
 tized, both  men  and  women. 
 
 13  Then  Simon  himself  believed  also  :  and 
 when  he  was  baptized,  he  continued  vvith  Philip, 
 and  wondered,  beholding  the  f  miracles  and 
 signs  wliich  were  done. 
 
 14  Now  when  the  .ipostles  which  were  at  Je- 
 rusalem heard  that  Sam.iria  hail  received  the 
 word  of  God,  they  sent  unto  them  Peter  and 
 John  : 
 
 15  Who,  when  they  wore  come  down,  prayed 
 for  them,  '  that  they  might  receive  the  Holy 
 Ghost : 
 
 16  (For  ""as  yet  he  was  fallen  upon  none  of 
 them  :  only  "  they  were  baptized  in  "  the  name 
 of  the  Lord  Jesus.) 
 
 1 7  Then  ''  laid  they  their  hands  on  them,  and 
 they  received  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 18  And  when  Simon  saw  that  through  laying 
 on  of  the  apostles'  hands  the  Holy  Ghost  was 
 given,  he  offered  them  money, 
 
 II)  Saying,  Give  me  also  this  power,  that  on 
 whomsoever  I  lay  hand.s,  he  may  receive  the 
 Holy  Ghost. 
 
 •2(1  BntPetersaid  unto  him,  Thy  money  perish 
 with  thee,  because  '  thou  hast  thought  that 
 '  the  gift  of  God  may  be  purchased  with 
 money. 
 
 21  Thou  hast  neither  part  nor  lot  in  this  mat- 
 ter .-for  thy  heart  is  not  right  in  the  sight  of  God. 
 
 /ch.  t).  5. 
 
 ♦  Or.  .. 
 
 m  ch  I 'J.  9. 
 »  Mai. -28. 19. 
 
 c^.  ?.  SS. 
 «  ch.  10.  49. 
 
 &  I'J.  b. 
 
 p  ch.  C.  0. 
 &  l<).  6. 
 Hcb.  6.  S. 
 
 (  Gcii.  90.  7, 
 17.  K.x.8.fl. 
 Nuni  21.  7 
 
 '.  ch.  IK  17. 
 .  Mnt  ^  Ifl 
 
 M^rklfi  Hi. 
 t  Mat  ir,.1i,. 
 
 .lohii  li.  fill 
 
 &  9.  3.S  **. 
 
 &  M    27. 
 
 ch.  9.  sn. 
 
 IJnhn4.(.'i. 
 
 fc  5.  5,  n. 
 
 '22  Repent  therefore  of  this  thy  wickedness, 
 and  pray  God, '  if  perhaps  the  thought  of  thine 
 heart  may  be  forgiven  thee. 
 
 ■23  For  I  perceive  that  thou  art  in  '  the  gall 
 of  bitterness,  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity. 
 
 24  Then  answered  Simon,  and  said,  "  Pray 
 ye  to  the  Lord  for  me,  that  none  of  these 
 things  which  ye  have  spoken  come  upon  me. 
 
 25  And  they,  when  they  had  testified  and 
 preached  the  word  of  the  Lord,  returned  to 
 Jerusalem,  and  preached  the  gospel  in  many 
 villages  of  the  Samaritans. 
 
 26  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord  spake  unto 
 Philip,  saying.  Arise,  and  go  toward  the  south 
 unto  the  way  that  goeth  down  from  Jerusalem 
 unto  Gaza,  which  is  desert. 
 
 27  And  he  arose  and  went :  and,  behold,  '  a 
 man  of  Ethiopia,  an  eunuch  of  great  authority 
 under  Candace  queen  of  the  Ethiopians,  who 
 had  the  charge  of  all  her  treasure,  and  '  had 
 come  to  Jorn.salem  for  to  worship, 
 
 28  Was  returning,  and  sitting  in  his  chariot 
 read  Esaias  the  prophet. 
 
 29  Then  the  Spirit  said  unto  Philip,  Go  near, 
 and  join  thyself  to  this  chariot. 
 
 30  And  Philip  ran  thither  to  him,  and  heard 
 him  rc?ad  the  prophet  Esaias,  and  said,  Under- 
 standest  thou  what  tliou  readest? 
 
 31  And  he  said.  How  can  1,  except  some 
 man  should  guide  me  ?  And  he  desired  Philip 
 that  he  would  come  up  and  sit  with  him. 
 
 .32  The  place  of  the  scripture  which  he  read 
 was  this,  '  He  was  led  as  a  sheep  to  the 
 slaughter ;  and  like  a  lamb  dumb  before  his 
 shearer,  so  cqiened  he  not  his  mouth  : 
 
 33  In  his  humiliation  his  judgment  was  taken 
 away  :  and  who  sliall  declare  his  generation  ? 
 for  his  life  is  taken  from  the  earth. 
 
 34  And  the  eunuch  answered  Philip,  and 
 said,  I  pray  thee,  of  whom  speaketh  the  pro- 
 phet this?  of  himself,  or  of  some  other  man? 
 
 35  Then  Philip  opened  his  mouth,  "  and  be- 
 gan at  the  same  scripture,  and  preached  unto 
 him  Jesus. 
 
 36  And  as  they  went  on  their  way,  they  came 
 unto  a  certain  water  :  and  the  eunuch  said. 
 See,  /((;/■(.■  ?.s-  water  ;  ''  what  doth  hinder  me  to 
 he  Inptized  ? 
 
 37  And  Philip  said,  '  If  thou  believest  with 
 all  thine  heart,  thou  mayest.  And  he  answered 
 and  said,  ■'  I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
 Son  of  God. 
 
 5.  Philip,  not  the  apostle,  but  one  of  the  seven  deacons,  (chap.  vi.  5.) 
 —Mant.  We  arc  sure  this  was  not  Philip  the  apostle,  as  he  cuntimied 
 at  Jerusalem,  and  as  this  Philip  had  not  the  power  of  comniiinicatiug 
 tlie  miraculous  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  by  the  laying  on  of  hands,  (comp. 
 ver.  14,  15,  17.) — Doddr.  Samaria,  the  city  which  was  formerly  called 
 Samaria,  but  now  Sebaste ;  it  had  been  destroyed  by  Ilyrcaniis,  and 
 was  rebuilt  by  Herod.— Sec  Jus.  d,' Bella  Jud.,  1.  1,  c.  2.  The  apostles 
 in  their  first  mission  were  not  to  t^o  into  any  city  of  the  Samaritans  ; 
 but  when  Christ  by  his  death  had  broken  down  the  middle  wall  of  par- 
 tition, all  obstacles  were  removed.— So  Cave,  9.  Used  siircera,  prac- 
 tised magic  arts ;  hence  he  was  called  Simon  Magus,  for  he  was  a  ma- 
 gician.— Gill.  Bewitched,  efi-jTwc.  astonishing,  amazing,  or  confound- 
 ing the  judgment  of  the  people,  from  (^laTtni,,  '  to  remove  out  of  a 
 place  or  state ;'  *  to  be  transported  beyond  one's  self:'  'to  be  out  of 
 oiic's  wits;'  expressing  exactly  the  effect  produced  by  jugglers  in  the 
 minds  of  the  common  people.  Eastern  jugglers  are  notorious  for  their 
 tricks  to  the  present  day.— Clarke.  Some  frreat  one.  a  person  possessed 
 of  supernatural  powers.— Bois.  10,  This  man,  t)c.,  •  this  is  the  power 
 of  God  which  is  called  great,'  lu/s-.,  &c.  The  great  power  of  God, 
 '  the  power  of  Ciod,  that  great  power.'  so  it  might  he  read ;  that  power 
 which  made  the  world.— Hen.  13.  Seliered  also,  i.e..  that  Jesus 
 
 was  the  tree  Messiah,  and  so  made  capable  of  baptism.— LiVr*!'/.  And 
 wondered,  ef.ffTcTo,  from  the  same  root.  cfiCTrnM',  !>s  the  word  efiarmv 
 in  ver.  9.  '  He  was  as  much  astonished  and  confounded  .it  the  miracles 
 of  Philip  as  the  people  of  Samaria  were  at  his  legerdemain.'— CTiirAf. 
 44-  Sent  unto  them  I'eter  and  John,  a  proof  that  Peter  was  not  siiperi()r  ; 
 fur  he  that  sends  is  greater  than  lie  that  is  scut.— U7ii(!.o.        17.  Tlien 
 
 1150 
 
 laid  they  their  hands  on  them,  Sfc. — on  this  passage  the  writers  of  tlie 
 church  of  England  grmind  the  practice  of  confirming  young  converts 
 in  the  faith.— See  Whithij,  Bp.  Newton,  &c.  18.  He  offered  them 
 
 vioney — fron)  this  act  of  Simon's,  of  wishing  to  purchase  spiritual  gifts 
 with  money,  all  purchase  of  spiritual  offices  or  places  hy  such  sordid 
 means  has  hccn  called  Simony.  20.  Thy  money  perish  with  thee— 
 this  expression  has  always  been  considered  as  a  prophetical  prediction, 
 and  not  an  iniprcratinn.  Simon  here  struck  at  the  very  foundation  of 
 the  Christian  faith,  ascrihing  the  miracles  in  ronlirmation  of  it  to  some 
 higher  art  of  mau'ic  than  he  possessed.— li'Ai/iy.  Tlic  expression  is 
 one  of  alarm  and  danger. —  Wil.  22.  Perhaps,  thought  to  intimate 
 Peter's  fear  lest  Simon  should  have  committed  the  unpardonable  sin, 
 {.see  1  John.v.  \6.)  —  VVil.  23.  Gall  of  hitternt'ss,  expressive  of  a  great 
 degree  of  sin,  (see  Dent.  xxix.  18,  and  Heb.  xii.  15. J — Jip.  Penrce. 
 26.  Gnzn—^Qc  Judg.  xvi.  I,  notes.  This  city  was  destroyed  by  Alex- 
 ander the  Great,  and  so  made  desolate  or  desert. —  Wells.  -27.  Ethiopia, 
 i.e.,  African  Ethiopia. —  Wells.  An  eunuch,  or  chamberlain. — Itp. 
 Pefirre.  ('niidace,  this  had  long  been  the  name  of  the  queens  of 
 African  Kthiopia,  as  we  learn  from  Pliny,  StrnOo,  and  Dio.  —  Wells. 
 Of  pre  at  niithorit//,  fifvaaTnv,  '  a  grandee.'— Vlcny.  '  A  prefect,  lord- 
 chamberlain.' — A.  Clarke.  Had  come  to  Jerusalem,  probably  he  was 
 a  Jewish  proselyte,  and  had  been  at  one  of  the  annual  feasts. — Gill. 
 29.  The  Spirit  said,  by  such  a  secret  suggestion  as  inspired  men  could 
 certainly  distinguish  to  be  a  Divine  revelation. — Willoiighby.  32.  The 
 place,  t\  TTtpioxfjt  '  the  section,'  or  '  paragraph.* — A.  Clarke.  He  was 
 led— sec  Isa.  liii.  7.  S,  notes.  :i.t.  Preached  unto  him  .fesiis,  proved 
 
 from  Isaiah  and  olhcr  prophets  thai  he  was  the  Sun  of  (Jud,  (ver.  V) 
 
SaJiPs  miraculous  conversion. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  IX. 
 
 and  call  to  the  aposthship. 
 
 38  And  he  commanded  the  chariot  to  stand 
 still :  and  they  went  down  both  into  the  water, 
 both  Philip  and  the  eunuch  ;  and  he  baptized 
 him. 
 
 39  And  when  they  were  come  up  out  of  the 
 water,  '  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  caught  away 
 Philip,  tliat  the  eunuch  saw  him  no  more  :  and 
 he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 
 
 40  But  Pliilip  was  found  at  Azotus  :  and 
 passing  through  he  preached  in  all  the  cities, 
 till  he  came  to  Cajsarea. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  Savli  going  towards  Damascus,  4  is  stricken  (town  to 
 the  eartli,  10  is  called  to  the  apostiship,  18  and  is 
 baptized  hy  Anatiias.  20  He preac/ieth  Christ  boldly, 
 2.'}  The  Jews  kuj  wait  to  hill  liini :  29  so  do  the  Gre- 
 cians, hut  he  escapttli  both.  31  The  church  having 
 rest,  Pttcr  hcaletli  ^'En^as  of  the  pulstj,  36  owe/  re- 
 storelU  Tabilha  to  life. 
 
 A  ND  "  Saul,  yet  breathing  out  threatenings 
 -^^  and  slaughter  against  the  disciples  of  the 
 Lord,  went  unto  the  high  priest, 
 
 2  And  desired  of  him  letters  to  Damascus  to 
 the  synagogues,  that  if  he  found  any  f  of  this 
 way,  whether  they  were  men  or  women,  he 
 might  bring  them  bound  unto  Jerusalem. 
 
 3  And  *•  as  he  journeyed,  he  came  near  Da- 
 mascus :  and  suddenly  there  shined  round 
 about  him  a  light  from  heaven  : 
 
 4  And  he  fell  to  the  earth,  and  heard  a  voice 
 saying  unto  him,  Saul,  Saul,  "why  persecutest 
 thou  me  ? 
 
 1  Kin.  IS. 
 12.  2  Kin. 
 
 2.  16.  Kzek. 
 
 3.  IS,  H. 
 
 Gal    I.  )3 
 1  Tim. 1.13. 
 
 t  a,  o/H, 
 way  I    So 
 ch.  19.9,23 
 
 b  ch.  22.  G. 
 ft  36.  IS. 
 1  Cor.l5.  B. 
 
 ■3  Mat. 25.40, 
 
 A.  D,  33. 
 d  cli .  6.  sy. 
 
 /nan.  IP.  7. 
 Se<>  ch  2a, 
 y.  fc  26,  IS, 
 
 gcli.  22.  12 
 
 5  And  he  said,  Who  art  thou,  Lord?  And 
 the  Lord  said,  1  am  Jesus  whom  thou  perse- 
 cutest :  '^  it  is  hard  for  thee  to  kick  against  t!ie 
 pricks. 
 
 6  And  he  trembhng  and  astonished  said. 
 Lord,  ''what  wilt  tiiou  fiave  me  to  do?  And 
 the  hoxdi  said  unto  him,  Arise,  and  go  into  the 
 city,  and  it  shall  be  told  tliee  what  thou  must 
 do. 
 
 7  And  f  the  men  which  journeyed  with  liim 
 stood  speechless,  hearing  a  voice,  but  seeing 
 no  man. 
 
 8  And  Saul  arose  from  the  earth  ;  and  when 
 his  eyes  were  opened,  he  saw  no  man  :  hut 
 they  led  him  by  the  hand,  and  brouglit  kirn 
 into  Damascus. 
 
 i)  And  he  was  three  days  without  sight,  and 
 neither  did  eat  nor  drink. 
 
 10  If  And  tliere  was  a  certain  disciple  at  Da- 
 mascus, ^  named  Ananias  ;  and  to  him  said  the 
 Lord  in  a  vision,  Ananias.  And  he  said.  Be- 
 hold, I  am  herCy  Lord. 
 
 11  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Arise,  and 
 go  into  the  street  which  is  called  Straight,  and 
 enquire  in  the  house  of  Judas  for  one  called 
 Saul,  ^  of  Tarsus  :  for,  behold,  he  praycth, 
 
 12  And  hath  sceri  in  a  vision  a  man  named 
 Ananias  coming  in,  and  putting  his  liand  on 
 him,  that  he  might  receive  his  sight. 
 
 13  Then  Ananias  answered.  Lord,  1  have 
 heard  by  many  of  this  man,  '  how  much  evil  he 
 liath  done  to  thy  saints  at  Jerusalem  : 
 
 14  And   here   he   Iiath   authority    from    the 
 
 — Bj}.  Pfiarce.  38.  Inio  the  water — those  who  practise  baptism  by 
 Immersion,  particularly  justify  their  practice  from  this  passage,  and 
 the  advocates  for  sprinkling  argue  that  the  preposition  m,  frequently 
 signifies  '  unto,'  and  ck,  '  out  of,'  in  the  next  verse,  '  from.'  See  a  de- 
 fence of  the  translation  in  Gill,  and  of  the  other  view  in  Guyse. 
 39.  Ciiught  aicny  Philip— we  are  not  able  to  assign  the  reason  of  this 
 separation,  but,  as  a  miracle,  it  added  the  sanction  of  Heaven  to  the 
 doctrine  of  Philip.— iJif/f.  40.  Azvtus,  called  '  Ashdod'  in  the  Old 
 Testament. — Bp.  Pearre.  See  I  Sam.  v.  Ctcsarea,  formerly  called 
 •the  tower  of  Strabo.'  It  was  on  the  Mediterranean,  between  Dora 
 and  Joppa.  Herod  the  Great  improved  it,  and  named  it  as  above  in 
 compliment  to  Augustus  Caesar,  —  Wells. 
 
 Chap.  IX. — 2.  Desired  nf  him  letters  to  Dumfti,cus  to  the  SJfnagof^ues— 
 the  Jewish  sanhedrim  hail  not  only  the  piiwer  of  seizing  and  scourging 
 oflendcrs  in  their  own  country,  but,  by  the  connivance  and  favour  of 
 the  Romans,  they  might  send  into  other  countries  to  the  synagogues 
 wliich  acknowledged  a  dependence,  in  religious  matters,  upon  the 
 council  at  Jerusalem,  to  apprehend  \\\Qm.—  Ciive.  Damascus,  was  the 
 metrnpolis  of  Syria,  (Isa.  vii.  8.)— Gill.  'ITie  number  of  Jews  in  this 
 city  amounted  to  ten  thousand  ;  and  almost  all  the  women,  even  those 
 whose  husbands  were  heathens,  were  of  tlie  Jewish  religion. — Michaelis, 
 as  Josephus.  Damascus  is  now  a  large  trading  city.  It  has  strong 
 walls,  nine  gates,  and  is  between  four  and  five  miles  in  circumference. 
 Its  inhabitants  arc  at  least  loo.ooi),  chiefly  Arabs  and  Turks,  anmng 
 whom  are  l.i,eon  degraded  Christians. — i'lurke.  3.  As  he  journeyed — 
 the  distance  Saul  went  to  fetch  his  prisoners  is  computed  at  about  150 
 miles,  hy  ihiddr.  Any  of  this  u-ay,  this  religion,  so  "i"n,  *  way,'  in 
 Heb.,  and  .i/mt,  "way,*  in  Helleninic  Greek,  are  often' to  be  under- 
 stood ;  mn^  "Til,  '  the  way  of  the  Lord,'  jmplit^  the  wliole  of  the  wor- 
 ship due  to  him.— (7(irA-(°.  A  /(>''',' lightning. —  JJe  Diett,  Eisner, 
 A.  Clarke.  Excessive  light.— jl/ir/*.,  /wan.,  &c.  Rays  of  glory  from 
 the  body  of  our  Lord.    The  ShekinaJa.— I>oddr.     It  has  been  disputed 
 
 whether  Christ  really  appeared  on  this  occasion.  St.  Lnke  tells  us  that 
 those  who  were  with  Saul  heard  his  voice,  but  saw  no  man  ;  which  in- 
 timates that  he.  saw  what  they  did  not.  But  that  he  saw  Clirist  is  plain 
 from  ver.  17;  xxii.  14;  1  Cor.  ix.  1  ;  and  xv.  8.~Clarke.  4.  Perse- 
 cutest thou  m*?- Christ  so  sym|)alhizes  witii  his  persecuted  members, 
 that  to  persecute  them  is  to  persecute  Christ  himself,  (sec  Heb.  iv.  15.) 
 ~\Vhil/>y,  6.  To  kick,  SfC,  a  proverbial  expression  for  impotent 
 rage,  like  the  ox  kicking  against  the  goad.— //aMs.  The  same  figure 
 is  used  in  Knripides  Bacch.  791  ;  Pindar,  Pyth.  n.  173;  Terence,  i.  2, 
 27:  Ovid, 'Prist,  b.  ii.  15. — Kuinoel.  Pricks,  xevrpn,  means  iiroperly 
 any  sharp  point  which  wdl  pierce  or  j.crforate,  as  the  sting  of  a  bee, 
 Sic,  but  usually  an  ox  goad.  —  C«j'7i«.  8.  When  his   eyes  were 
 
 opened—he  had  closed  them  from  the  excess  of  light.— jVeirc.  g.  With- 
 out siffht— if  tins  blindness  were  not  preternatural,  and  not  from  light- 
 ningor  any  other  common  cause,  why  was  Paul  alone  struck  blind' 
 How  did  scales  grow  over  his  eyes  ?  How  came  tliese  scales  afterwards 
 to  leave  Paul  so  soon  and  suddenly  ?— See  Bloomf.  Neither  did  ent 
 viir  drink,  owing  to  the  an.\icty  of  his  mind.— .^.  Clarke.  U.  The 
 
 street  which  is  called  Straif^'ht,  a  street  in  the  city  of  Damascus,  the 
 streets  being  called  hy  different  names  to  distinguish  them,  as  ours. 
 In  Damascus  there  were  as  many  streets  as  days  in  the  year. — {Jill; 
 sec  Jarchi  and  Kimchi.  Tarsus,  was  a  city  in  Cdicia,  which  Solinua 
 calls  the  mother  of  cities,  and  is  the  same  with  the  Tarshish  of  the  Old 
 Testament.  Here  Saul  was  born,  and  of  it  he  was  a  citizen,  (Acts. 
 xxi.  39;  xxii.3.)— Gi7/.  This  city  was  situated  at  the  north-east  corner 
 of  the  Mediterranean  sea  ;  it  was  a  town  of  such  note  in  the  times  of 
 the  Roman  empire,  that  it  was  not  only  made  the  capital  of  Cilicia,  but 
 was  peculiarly  honoured  with  the  great  privileges  of  a  Roman  colony. 
 Here  many  Jews  dwelt,  and  here  was  an  academy  furnished  witli  many 
 eminent  men,  and  hence  it  was  that  St.  Paul  became  instructed  in 
 liberal  knowledge,  and  so  well  acquainted  with  heathen  authors.— 
 Wells.        13.  Saints,  a  name  by  which  Christians  were  commonly  dis- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIIL  —  Notice  here,  I.  The  per- 
 secution of  the  church.  Here  wo  see  the  persecution  of  the 
 church  overruled  for  the  spread  of  the  Rospel.  The  disciples 
 were  driven  about  like  clouds  before  the  wind;  but,  like  clouds, 
 they  diffused  their  fertilizing  influences  wherever  they  went. 
 'Thus,'  says  Dean  Stanhope,  *  were  the  enemies  of  our  reli- 
 gion eventually  its  greatest  friends  and  promoters.'  And,  by 
 the  same  overrulinj;  I'rovidence  which  was  formerly  observed 
 to  disappoint  the  malice  of  the  devil,  and  brin^;  good  out  of 
 the  evil  of  wicked  men.  his  instruments,  the  success  of  Chris- 
 tianity was  such  as  could  scarcely  have  taken  place  by  any 
 natural  cause  without  the  assistance  of  that  malice  and  cruelty 
 which  were  employed  to  suppress  it.' 
 
 II.  The  character  of  Simvn  Magus.  It  is  obvious  that  ho 
 gave  credence  to  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  but  *  it  is  with  the 
 heart  man  belipveth  unto  righteousness,'  and  his  was  merely 
 the  assent  of  the  understanding,  but  not  the  submission  of  the 
 heart.  It  \vas.  however,  enough  either  to  deceive  the  apos- 
 1151 
 
 ties,  or  at  least  to  admit  him  into  the  ranks  of  the  church. 
 But  the  more  professor  discovered  liis  character,  and  his 
 hypocrisy  was  fully  exposed.  It  is  obvious  that  his  object 
 was  to  make  '  a  gain  of  godliness.'  Whoever  assumes  the 
 character  of  a  disciple  of  Christ,  or  the  office  of  a  minister  of 
 Christ,  under  the  influence  of  such  a  sordid  and  base  motive, 
 is  but  a  counterpart  of  this  Simon  Magus,  and  may  apply  to 
 himself  the  words  addressed  hy  Peter  to  this  impostor — 'Re- 
 pent therefore  of  this  thy  wickedness.' 
 
 III.  The  conversion  of  the  Ethiopian  eunttch ;  on  which  we 
 may  quote  a  remark  of  the  pious  Bishop  Home — '  How  will 
 this  illustrious  Ethiopian  rise  up  in  judgment  against  those 
 Christians  who,  in  the  hours  of  domestic  oase  and  tranquillity, 
 never  open  a  Bible,  when  he  did  not  even  travel  in  his  chariot 
 without  one  !  A  nobleman  thus  employed  was  an  object  th:it 
 engaged  the  attention  of  Heaven,  and  an  evangelist  was  sent 
 to  sow  the  seed  of  eternal  life  in  a  ground  so  well  prepared.' 
 
Ananias  baptizcth  Saul. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  IX. 
 
 Peter's  tnirarles. 
 
 chief  priests   to   bind   all   '  that   call  on  thy 
 name. 
 
 15  But  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Go  thy  way  : 
 for  '  he  is  a  cliosen  vessel  unto  me,  to  bear  my 
 name  before '"  the  Gentiles,  and  "  kings,  and  the 
 chfldren  of  Israel : 
 
 16  For  °  I  will  shew  him  how  great  things  he 
 must  suffer  for  my  name's  sake. 
 
 17  '  And  Ananias  went  his  way,  and  entered 
 into  the  liouse  ;  and  ''  putting  his  hands  on 
 him  said,  Brother  Saul,  the  Lord,  even  .lesus, 
 that  appeared  unto  tliee  in  the  way  as  thou 
 earnest,  hath  sent  me,  that  thou  mightest  re- 
 ceive thy  siglit,  and  '  be  filled  with  the  Holy 
 Ghost. 
 
 18  And  immediately  there  fell  from  his  eyes 
 as  it  had  been  scales  :  and  he  received  sight 
 forlliwitli,  and  arose,  and  was  baptized. 
 
 ly  And  wlien  he  liad  received  meat,  he  was 
 strengthened.  '  Then  was  Saul  certain  days 
 with  the  disciples  whicli  were  at  Damascus. 
 
 20  And  straightway  lie  preached  Christ  in  the 
 synagogues,  '  that  he  is  the  Son  of  God. 
 
 21  But  all  that  heard  hhn  were  amazed,  and 
 said  ;  "  Is  not  this  he  that  destroyed  them  vvliich 
 called  on  tliis  name  in  Jerusalem,  and  came 
 hither  for  that  intent,  that  he  might  bring  tliem 
 bound  unto  the  chief  priests? 
 
 22  But  Saul  increased  the  more  in  strength, 
 'and  confounded  the  Jews  which  dwelt  at  Da- 
 mascus, proving  that  this  is  very  Christ. 
 
 23  K  And  after  that  many  days  were  fulfilled, 
 'the  Jews  took  counsel  to  kill  him  : 
 
 24  '  But  their  laying  await  was  known  of 
 Saul.  And  they  watched  the  gates  day  and 
 night  to  kill  him. 
 
 25  Then  the  disciples  took  him  by  night,  and 
 "let  /lim  down  by  the  wall  in  a  basket. 
 
 2G  And  ''  when  Saul  was  come  to  Jerusalem, 
 he  assayed  to  join  himself  to  tlie  disciples  ;  but 
 they  were  all  afraid  of  him,  and  believed  not 
 that  he  was  a  disciple. 
 
 27  '  But  Barnabas  took  him,  and  brought 
 him  to  the  apostles,  and  declared  unto  them 
 how  he  had  seen  the  Lord  in  the  way,  and  that 
 he  had  spoken  to  him,  ■*  and  how  he  had 
 preached  boldly  at  Damascus  in  the  name  of 
 Jesus. 
 
 28  And  °  he  was  with  them  coming  in  and 
 going  out  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 29  And  he  spake  boldly  in  the  name  of  the 
 
 ch.  7.  6S,  & 
 22.  16. 
 
 1  C.)r.I-2. 
 
 2  Tim- 2.22. 
 /  ch.lS.  2.& 
 
 22.  21.«(26. 
 17    Rom.  I. 
 
 1.  t  C->r.i&. 
 10.  G.il.  1 
 15.  Epti.  3. 
 7.  8.  C    I'im. 
 
 2.  7   2  Tim. 
 I.  II. 
 
 m  R.tin.  1.6. 
 
 fc  II.  13. 
 
 fial.  2.7,8. 
 H  ch.  26   22, 
 
 2H.  &  26.  I. 
 
 f>  rh.2n.  23. 
 
 K  2 1    II. 
 
 2  Tor  1 1 .23. 
 p  ch.  Si.  12, 
 
 i-h    S.  17. 
 
 '1.  31.  S*  3 
 17.  I*.  13  5S. 
 
 ver.  1    Gnl. 
 I.  13,2.1. 
 
 2  Cor  11.26 
 :2  Cur.  11. 
 32. 
 
 lu.  12. 
 i  i-li    22.  i: 
 Gitl.  1.  17, 
 
 r  ch.  -1.36. 
 &  13.  2 
 
 p  Mat.  0.  25. 
 jch.7.  60. 
 
 •11,42.  John 
 II.  4^. 
 
 I  John  1 1.45. 
 li  12.  II. 
 
 ch.  10. 
 
 Lord  Jesus,  and  disputed  against  the  '  Gre- 
 cians :  ^  but  they  went  about  to  slay  him. 
 
 30  Which  when  the  brethren  knew,  they 
 brought  him  down  to  Cajsarea,  and  sent  him 
 forth  to  Tarsus. 
 
 31  ''Then  bad  the  churches  rest  throughout 
 all  Judiea  and  Galilee  and  Samaria,  and  were 
 edified  ;  and  walking  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 
 and  in  the  comfort  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  were 
 multiplied. 
 
 32  H  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  Peter  passed 
 '  throughout  all  qtiartcrs,  he  came  down  also 
 to  the  saints  which  dwelt  at  Lydda. 
 
 33  And  tliere  lie  foniul  a  certain  man  named 
 yEneas,  which  had  kept  his  bed  eight  years, 
 and  was  sick  of  the  palsy. 
 
 34  And  Peter  .said  unto  him,  jEiieas,  '  Jesus 
 Christ  maketh  thee  whole :  arise,  and  make 
 thy  bed.     And  he  arose  immediately. 
 
 35  And  all  that  dwelt  at  Lydda  and  '  Saron 
 saw  him,  and  "'  turned  to  the  Lord. 
 
 3G  H  Now  there  was  at  Joppa  a  certain  dis- 
 ciple named  Tabitha,  which  by  iiiterprctalion  is 
 called  II  Dorcas  :  this  woman  was  full  "of  good 
 works  and  almsdeeds  which  she  did. 
 
 37  And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that 
 she  was  sick,  and  died  :  whom  when  they  had 
 washed,  tliey  laid  lier'm  °an  upper  chamber. 
 
 38  And  forasmuch  as  Lydda  was  nigh  to 
 Joppa,  and  the  disciples  had  heard  that  Peter 
 was  there,  they  sent  unto  him  two  men,  de- 
 siring him  that  he  would  not  ||  delay  to  come 
 to  them. 
 
 3!)  Then  Peter  arose  and  went  with  thcin. 
 When  he  was  come,  they  brouglit  him  into  the 
 upper  chamber :  and  all  the  widows  stood  by 
 him  weeping,  and  shewing  the  coats  and  gar- 
 ments which  Dorcas  made,  while  she  was  with 
 them. 
 
 40  But  Peter  ''  put  them  all  forth,  and 
 ■^  kneeled  down,  and  prayed  ;  and  turning  him 
 to  the  body 'said,  Tabitlia,  arise.  And  slie 
 opened  her  eyes  :  and  when  she  saw  Peter, 
 she  sat  up. 
 
 41  And  he  gave  her  his  hand,  and  lifted  her 
 up,  and  when  he  had  called  the  .saints  and 
 widows,  presented  her  alive. 
 
 42  And  it  was  known  throughout  all  Joppa  ; 
 'and  many  believed  in  the  Lord.  ♦  ^ 
 
 43  And  it  came  to  pas.s,  that  he  tarried  many 
 days  in  Joppa  with  one  '  Simon  a  tanner. 
 
 tinguishcd. — Bp.  Mann.  15.  A  chosen  I'ussel,  one  destined  to  the 
 
 most  honourable  but  difficult  service  in  the  cause  of  Jesus. — Boothr. 
 To  bear  my  name,  ^r.,  to  carry  the  ensi<?n  of  the  cross  before  the  Greeics 
 and  Romans.— .-J.  Clarke.  Before  the  Gentiles,  fiviomcv  etivuiv,  'before 
 nations,'  namely,  heathen  nations. — BeJts..  IH.  Scales,  perhaps  the 
 external  coat  of  the  eye,  shrivelled  by  the  splendour  of  the  light  which 
 struck  him  tiovin.—Tat/ior's  Expos.  Ind.,  so  Doiidr.  22.  Increased 
 the  more  in  strength,  was  more  confirmed  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
 scriptures,  and  of  the  truths  of  Christianity. ~P_tf/e.  Profinf^,  ovftj3t- 
 flal^aiv,  'aflirrainff  it  and  confirming  it.' — tien.  '  23.  Many  days,  three 
 years  after  his  conversion,  (Gal.  i.  17,  rs.)  —  Bp.  I'earce,  Stncli. 
 24.  Oates,  of  the  city.— Voddr.  Perhaps  of  the  linvise  where  he  lodged, 
 not  of  tlie  city,  (see  chap.  xii.  14.)— TT'if.  25.  By  the  wait,  favoured, 
 probably,  by  a  house  built  upon  the  wall ;  a  case  similar  to  that  Josh, 
 ii.  15. — Clarke.  26.  Was  come  to  Jerusalem,  his  chief  object  being 
 to  see  Peter,  (Gal.  i.  is.)— Hales.  Assayed  to  join  himself,  eire.pcTO 
 KoWaadai,  'he  endeavoured  to  get  closely  united  to  them,*  to  he  in  re- 
 ligious fellowship  with  them.- /I.  Clarke.  27.  To  the  apostles,  that 
 is,  Peter  and  James,  fas  (Jal.  i.  IB.l  who,  being  apostles  of  the  circum- 
 cision, or  having  Judiea  under  their  charge,  were  abiding  at  Jerusalem, 
 whilst  the  other  apostles  probably  were  absent,  founding  churches  else- 
 where.— Poole.  28.  Coming  in  and  going  out,  i.  e.,  familiarly  and 
 intimately  conversing  with  them.— Ife((s.  29.  .Igainst  the  Grecians, 
 Hellenistical  Jews.    See  chap.  vi.  1,  note.    These  Paul  chose  rather  to 
 
 dispute  with,  because  they  had  raised  the  persecution  against  Stephen, 
 and  Paul  had  furthered  them  in  it. — Poole.  31.  Rest,  tipiiviji-,  'peace.* 
 —Bens.  This  corresponds  with  the  time  when  Caligula  endeavoured 
 to  place  his  statue  in  the  temple  at  Jerusalem,  which  produced  a  con- 
 sternation among  the  Jews  that  drew  their  attention  from  everything 
 besides.— P«/ev,  as  Lardmr.  32.  Lydda,  a  village,  or  rather  a  con- 
 siderable town,  like  a  city,  about  ten  miles  from  Joppa,  and  one  ilay's 
 jniirney  from  Jerusalem. —  Welts,  Hales,  Cat.,  Jos.  34.  Jesus  Christ, 
 Jesus,  the  true  Messiah.— /^orfrfr.  35.  Saron,  a  town  or  district  ad- 
 
 joining to  Lydda.— ire//,s,  Cal.  31).  Joppa,  the  nearest  seaport  to 
 Jerusalem,  about  forty  miles  from  it.— Bp.  Pearre.  Tabitha,  tcliich  by 
 interpretation  is  called  Dorcas — both  names  signify  'antelope;*  the 
 Arabs  and  Greeks  commonly  gave  names  to  women  of  such  animals 
 as  were  objects  of  delight.— PdrAA.  The  former  name  was  Syriac,  the 
 latter  Greek  ;  by  the  foniicr  she  was  known  among  the  Jews;  by  the 
 latter  among  the  Greeks.— If'AiYiy.  3g.  Shewing  the  coats,  that  is, 
 which  they  had  on,  made  by  her,  rather  than  stock  provided,  as  some 
 suppose. — So  Kuinoel,  Coats  and  garments,  xiTujvav  kui  t/iuria,  'the 
 outer  and  inner  garments.  41.  Saints  and  widows — in  primitive  times, 
 the  widows  formed  a  distinct  part  of  the  Christian  church. — A.  Clarke. 
 43.  A  tanner— the  Gieek  word  indicates  only  that  he  was  a  dealer  in 
 hides.  Our  art  of  tanning  was  probably  then  unknown  ;  and  most  likely 
 he  prepared  skins  to  hold  wine. — See  Rosenm. 
 
 RiFLECTioNs   ON    Chap.    IX.  —  Two  subjects  claim  our 
 notice  in  this  chapter— I.  Saul's  conrcrsion.     This  was  sudden, 
 but  God  is  not  confined  to  any  particular  mode  of  operation  to 
 1152 
 
 produce  the  same  results,  and  frequently  lie  draws  the  soul 
 gently  to  liira,  '  as  with  the  cords  of  a  man.  and  as  with  the 
 bunds  of  love;'    but  conversion   always    produces  the   like 
 
Cornelius  sendethfur  Peter. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  X. 
 
 Peter's  vision. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 I  Cornelius,  a  deuout  mnrt,  5  being  cummandt:ii  hy  an 
 anyel,  sendeth  for  Peter  :  1 1  who  by  a  vinion  1 5,  20 
 is  taught  not  to  despise  the  Gentiles.  34  .-is  he 
 jireaclitth  Christ  to  Cornelius  and  his  company,  44 
 the  Holy  Ghost  fullcth  on  them,  48  and  they  are  bap- 
 tized. 
 
 '^PHERE  was  a  certain  man  in  Ccesarea  called 
 ■*-    Cornelius,  a  centurion  of  tlie  band  called 
 
 tlie  Italian  band, 
 '2  "A  devout  inan,  and  one  that  ''  feared  God 
 
 with  all  his  house,  which  gave  much  alms  to 
 
 the  people,  and  prayed  to  God  alvvay. 
 
 3  '  He  saw  in  a  vision  evidently  about  the 
 ninth  hour  of  the  day  an  angel  of  God  coming 
 in  to  him,  and  saying  unto  him,  Cornehus. 
 
 4  And  when  he  looked  on  him,  he  was  afraid, 
 and  said.  What  is  it.  Lord  ?  And  he  said  unto 
 him,  Thy  prayers  and  thine  alms  are  come  up 
 for  a  memorial  before  God. 
 
 5  And  now  send  men  to  Joppa,  and  call  for 
 one  Simon,  whose  surname  is  Peter : 
 
 6  He  lodgeth  with  one  '^  Simon  a  tanner, 
 whose  house  is  by  the  sea  side  :  "  he  shall  tell 
 thee  wliat  thou  oughtest  to  do. 
 
 7  And  when  the  angel  which  spake  unto 
 Cornelius  was  departed,  he  called  two  of  his 
 houshold  servants,  and  a  devout  soldier  of 
 them  that  waited  on  him  continually  ; 
 
 8  And  when  he  had  declared  all  these  things 
 unto  them,  he  sent  them  to  Joppa. 
 
 9  t  On  the  morrow,  as  they  went  on  their 
 journey,  and  drew  nigh  unto  the  city,  'Peter 
 went  up  upon  the  housetop  to  pray  about  the 
 sixth  hour : 
 
 10  And  he  became  very  hungry,  and  would 
 have  eaten ;  but  while  they  made  ready,  he 
 fell  into  a  trance, 
 
 11  And  ^saw  heaven  opened,  and  a  certain 
 vessel  descending  unto  him,  as  it  had  been  a 
 great  sheet  knit  at  the  four  corners,  and  let 
 
 .  li    H.  2.  fc 
 6  ver.  35. 
 
 dc\i.  9.  -13. 
 f  cli,  n.  M. 
 
 A  Lev.  11.4. 
 
 6  -M.  23. 
 
 Di-ut.  U  a, 
 
 7  Kjck.l. 
 It. 
 
 I  Ciir,I0L'.5 
 I  Tim.  -1  4 
 Til.  I.  15. 
 
 k,:h    II    12. 
 (cli.  IS.-. 
 
 down  to  the  earth  : 
 
 12  Wherein  were  all  manner  of  four-footed 
 beasts  of  the  earth,  and  wild  beasts,  and  creep- 
 ing things,  and  fowls  of  the  air. 
 
 13  And  there  came  a  voice  to  him,  Rise, 
 Peter  ;  kill,  and  eat. 
 
 U  But  Peter  said.  Not  so.  Lord  ;  "  for  I  have 
 never  eaten  any  thing  that  is  common  or  un- 
 clean. 
 
 15  And  the  voice  sj)a/te  unto  him  again  the 
 second  time,  '  What  God  hath  cleansed,  that 
 call  not  thou  common. 
 
 16  This  was  done  thrice  :  and  the  vessel  was 
 received  up  again  into  heaven. 
 
 17  Now  while  Peter  doubted  in  himself  what 
 this  vision  which  he  had  seen  should  mean, 
 behold,  the  men  which  were  sent  from  Corne- 
 lius had  made  enquiry  for  Simon's  house,  and 
 stood  before  the  gate. 
 
 18  And  called,  and  asked  whether  Simon, 
 which  was  surnamed  Peter,  were  lodged  there. 
 
 19  t  While  Peter  thought  on  the  vision, 
 '  the  Spirit  said  unto  him.  Behold,  three  men 
 seek  thee. 
 
 ■20  '  Arise  therefore,  and  get  thee  down,  and 
 go  with  them,  doubting  nothing :  for  I  have 
 sent  them. 
 
 21  Then  Peter  went  down  to  the  men  which 
 were  sent  unto  him  from  Cornelius  ;  and  said, 
 Behold,  I  am  he  whom  ye  seek  :  what  is  the 
 cause  wherefore  ye  are  come  ? 
 
 22  And  they  said,  "  Cornelius  the  centurion, 
 a  just  man,  and  one  that  feareth  God,  and  "of 
 good  report  among  all  the  nation  of  the  Jevv.s, 
 was  warned  from  God  by  an  holy  angel  to 
 send  for  thee  into  his  house,  and  to  hear  words 
 of  thee. 
 
 23  Then  called  he  them  in,  and  lodged  them. 
 And  on  the  morrow  Peter  went  away  wicli 
 them,  "and  certain  brethren  from  Joppa  ac- 
 companied him. 
 
 Cbap.  X.  —  I.  There  was  a  certain  man,  ^c. — the  event  here  re- 
 curded  is  memorable,  as  the  first  fruit  of  the  conversion  of  the  Gentiles 
 to  Christ. — Hales.  A  centurion — see  Matt.  viii.  5,  note.  Itatiun  band, 
 consisting  of  soliliers  collected  out  of  Italy. — Gill.  The  word  owtipa, 
 translated  *  band,' signifies  the  same  as  cohort  or  regiment. — A.Clarke. 
 A  Roman  cohort  consisted  generally  of  about  a  thousand. — Daddr. 
 2.  Devout,  a  term  used  by  Luke  for  uncircumcised  Gentile  converts, 
 who  had  renounced  idolatry,  and  worshipped  the  true  God. — Bp.  Mann. 
 Such  men  were  proselytes  of  the  gate,  and  are  promiscuously  spoken 
 of,  chap.  xiii.  I6,  26,  43,  as  tpofiuvntvoi  lov  Qsov,  and  trt^otitvot  npoan- 
 \uT0i,  persons  *  that  feared  God,  and  were  devout  or  religious  prose- 
 \yX?s.*—Guyse.  The  name  of  proselyte  was  never  applied  by  so  cor- 
 rect a  writer  as  Luke  to  an  uncircumcised  person,  and  there  is  no  suf- 
 ficient authority  for  the  distinction  made  by  many  Icarneil  men  between 
 proselytes  of  righteousness,  who  by  circumcision  became  debtors  to 
 the  whole  law,  and  proselytes  of  the  gate,  who  worshipped  the  true 
 God,  &c.,  and  were  allowed,  though  uncircumcised,  to  live  among  the 
 Jews  and  converse  familiarly  with  them. — Doddr.  Ei/ffe/3ns,  from  (n, 
 '  well,'  and  <r<;/3ofi.ii,  '  I  worship.'  A  person  who  worships  the  true 
 God,  and  is  no  idoiator. — .4.  Clarke.  'A  man  of  real  piety.'— Bcnj. 
 It  cannot  be  doubted  that  Cornelius  was  at  present  in  a  state  of  salva- 
 tion, and  might  have  died  so,  without  knowintc  that  Christ  came  into 
 the  world.  His  faith  in  the  Messiah  was  sincere;  but  Christ  having 
 come,  it  was  not  fitting  that  any  good  man,  who  was  waiting  for  his 
 manifestation,  should  have  remained  ignorat,t  of  that  important  event. 
 — Dick,      .iltvni/,  i.e.,  at  the  hours  of  prayer. — Whitby.  3.  Ninth 
 
 hour,  three  in  the  afternoon,  which  was  the  hour  of  prayer,  fchap.  iii. 
 \.)—Gilt.  The  observation  of  this  hour  shews  that  Cornelius  must 
 have  been  instructed  in  the  Jews'  religion. — Bp.  Home.  4.  A  me- 
 morial, a  manifest  allusion  to  the  meat  offering  so  called,  [mDlX,] 
 Lev.  ii.  llj;  a  memorial,  speaking  after  the  manner  of  men,  to  put  God 
 in  remembrance  that  such  a  person  was  his  worshipper,  and  needed 
 his  protection  and  help.— J.  Clarke.  9.  Upon  the  housetop,  probably 
 for  privacy,— -Vfln/  ;  or  to  pray  towards  Jeru>alero,  as  Daniel  did,  (Dan. 
 vi.  10.)  Sijrth  hour,  noon,  one  of  the  hours  of  daily  prayer.- W/iiVAy. 
 11.  Vessel,  o-Kci/oi,  extends  to  all  sorts  of  household  furniture,  instru- 
 ments of  husbandry,  war,  &c.,  and  we  do  not  call  sheets,  vessels.— 
 Doddr.  The  word  means  anything  which  is  a  receptacle,  and  there- 
 fore applicable  to  a  sheet  tied  up.— Hew.  A  great  sheet,  oUovn,  signi- 
 fies any  •  large  piece  of  linen'  in  which  things  are  wrapped,  and  seems 
 to  have  been  an  emblem  of  the  gospel,  as  extending  to  all  nations  of 
 men. — Doddr.  14.  Common  or  unclean,  by  common  food,  the  Jews 
 meant  such  as  was  eaten  by  the  Gentiles,  but  by  the  law  of  Moses  for. 
 bidden  to  the  Jews,  to  whom,  therefore,  it  was  unclean.— Bp.  Mann. 
 
 15.  H'tth  cleansed,  pronounced  by  this  action  to  be  clean.— B/».  Pearce. 
 
 16.  Thrice,  as  Pharaoh's  dream  was  doubled,  to  convey  a  certain  as- 
 surance of  the  thing,  [Gen.  xU.  32.)— Whitby.  17.  Gate,  niXuiva, 
 refers  properly  to  the  porch  or  principal  entraitce  to  an  eastern  house; 
 it  should  be  rather  '  door.' — Barnes.  22.  .-i  just  man,  rather,  '  a 
 righteous  man,'  a  strict  observer  of  the  practical  duty  of  a  Jew. 
 23.  Certain  brethren,  ^c,  six  in  number,  (chap.  xi.  12,)  taken  as  wit. 
 ne^ses.— Bp.  Pearce.    The  people  of  the  east  have  a  general  propensity 
 
 effects, — it  changes  the  persecutor,  or  the  spirit  that  was  at 
 enmity  against  Christ  and  his  saints,  into  a  praying  servant  of 
 God,  and  his  first  object  is  to  avow  the  change,  and  to  unite 
 himself  with  the  people  whom  he  before  despised  and  perse- 
 cuted. Then  in  turn  the  converted  man  often  becomes  himself 
 the  persecuted,  and  glories  to  suffer,  instead  of  glorying  in 
 inflicting  the  suffering.  Have  you  become  Christians  indeed? 
 then  '  marvel  not  if  the  world  hate  you.'  The  second  subject 
 of  notice  is — 
 
 II.  Ftter^s  miracles.    Two  are  here  recorded — the  cure  of 
 
 iEneas,  who  was  sick  of  the  palsy;   and  the  raising  of  Dorcas 
 
 from  the  dead.     ' -*Eneas,' said   Peter,   *  Jesus  Cliiist  maketh 
 
 thee  whole.'     'Jesus,  llie  true  Alessiah,'  asDoddiidge  ren- 
 
 1153 
 
 ders  and  paraphrases  it,  '  in  whose  name  I  preach  and  act, 
 now  at  this  instant  bealeth  thee,  and  operates  while  I  speak 
 to  strengthen  and  restore  thy  weakened  frame.'  '  It  is  worth 
 our  while,'  remarks  the  same  expositor,  '  to  observe  the  great 
 difference  there  is  between  tlie  manner  in  which  this  miracle 
 is  wrought  by  Peter,  and  that  in  which  Christ  performed  bis 
 works  of  divine  power  and  goodness.  The  different  charac- 
 ters of  the  serranf  ^ad  the  Son,  the  creature  and  the  God,  are 
 everywhere  apparent.'  Christ  healed  by  his  own  power,  hut 
 Peter  by  the  power  of  Christ.  In  Dorcas,  whom  he  raised 
 from  the  dead,  we  see  a  pattern  worthy  of  imitation;  for  a 
 part  of  the  Christian's  duty  is  '  to  do  good  and  to  communi- 
 cate.' 
 
Peter  preacheth  to  Cornelius. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XI. 
 
 Peter's  defence,  on  being  accused 
 
 24  And  the  morrow  after  they  entered  into 
 Cffisarea.  And  Cornelius  waited  for  them,  and 
 had  called  together  his  kinsmen  and  near 
 friends. 
 
 25  And  as  Peter  was  coming  in,  Cornelius 
 met  him,  and  fell  down  at  his  feet,  and  wor- 
 shipped liim. 
 
 26  But  Peter  took  him  up,  saying,  ''  Stand 
 up  ;  I  myself  also  am  a  man. 
 
 27  And  as  he  talked  with  liiin,  he  went  in, 
 and  found  many  that  were  come  together. 
 
 28  And  he  said  unto  them.  Ye  know  how 
 ■I  that  it  is  an  unlawful  thing  for  a  man  that  is 
 a  Jew  to  keep  company,  or  come  unto  one  of 
 another  nation  ;  but  '  God  hath  shewed  me 
 that  I  should  not  call  any  man  common  or  un- 
 clean. 
 
 29  Therefore  came  I  unto  you  without  gain^ 
 saying,  as  soon  as  I  was  sent  for :  I  ask  there- 
 fore for  what  intent  ye  have  sent  for  me? 
 
 30  And  Cornelius  said.  Four  days  ago  I  was 
 fasting  until  this  hour ;  and  at  the  ninth  hour 
 I  prayed  in  my  house,  and,  behold,  'a  man 
 stood  before  me  '  in  bright  clothing, 
 
 31  And  said,  Cornelius,  "  thy  prayer  is  heard, 
 '  and  thine  alms  are  had  in  remembrance  in 
 the  sight  of  God. 
 
 32  Send  therefore  to  Joppa,  and  call  hither 
 Simon,  whose  surname  is  Peter  ;  he  is  lodged 
 in  the  house  of  one  Simon  a  tanner  by  the  sea 
 side  :  who,  when  he  cometh,  shall  speak  unto 
 thee. 
 
 33  Immediately  therefore  I  sent  to  thee  ;  and 
 thou  bast  well  done  that  thou  art  come.  Now 
 therefore  are  we  all  here  present  before  God, 
 to  hear  all  things  that  are  commanded  thee  of 
 God. 
 
 34  U  Then  Peter  opened  his  mouth,  and  said, 
 ''  Of  a  truth  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  respecter 
 of  persons : 
 
 35  But  '■  in  every  nation  he  that  feareth  him, 
 and  worketh  righteousness,  is  accepted  with 
 him. 
 
 36  The  word  which  God  sent  unto  the  chil- 
 dren of  Israel,  'preaching  peace  by  Jesus 
 Christ:   ("he  is  Lord  of  all  :) 
 
 37  That  word,  /  say,  ye  know,  which  was 
 published  throughout  all  Judiea,  and  '  began 
 from  Galilee,  after  the  baptism  which  John 
 preached  ; 
 
 38  How  "i  God  anointed  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
 
 p  oh.  Ii.14, 
 la  Hev  19. 
 lu.  &  S2.  9. 
 
 q  John  ♦.  9. 
 
 &  IS   33. 
 
 ch.  M.  S. 
 
 Gal.2.IS,l4. 
 r  ch.  15,8.  9. 
 
 Eph.  3.  6. 
 
 t  ch.  1.  10 
 
 I  Mat.  -li.  .1. 
 
 mark  16  5. 
 
 Luke -21.1 
 w  ver,  i,  &c. 
 
 Dan.  lu.  13. 
 X  Heb,  6.IU. 
 
 V  Den. 10. 17. 
 
 SChr.  19.; 
 
 Job  34    19. 
 
 Rom.  2.  II 
 
 Gal.  2.  6. 
 
 Eph.  6.  9. 
 
 Col   3.  25. 
 
 1  Pet.  I.  17. 
 ;  ch.  15.  9. 
 
 Rom  2.  13, 
 
 27.  Ik  3.  22, 
 
 29.  &  10.12, 
 
 13.  1  Cor. 
 
 12.  13.  G.il. 
 
 3.28.  Eph. 
 
 2.  l;l,  18.  & 
 
 3.  6, 
 
 a  Is.  57.  19. 
 
 Eph.  2.  14. 
 
 16,  17.  Col. 
 
 1   20. 
 b  Mat  28.18. 
 
 Riim.lO.  12. 
 
 1  Cor.  15. 
 
 27.  Eph.  I. 
 
 SO.  22. 
 
 1  I'et.  3.22. 
 
 Rev.  17   14 
 
 &  19.  to 
 c  I.ulic  4  14 
 d  Luke  4  i>» 
 
 ch.  2.  22    8f 
 
 4.  27.  Heb. 
 1.9. 
 
 e  John  3.  2. 
 /ch.  2.  32. 
 
 g  ch.  5.  30. 
 
 i  John  14.17, 
 
 22.  ch.  I.i. 
 
 31. 
 k  Luke  24. 
 
 30,  43 
 
 John  21.13. 
 
 I  Mat.  28.19, 
 20   ch,  I   8. 
 
 m  John  5  22, 
 27,  ch.  17. 
 31. 
 
 '.  Rom.  14,9, 
 19  2  Cor  5, 
 10.  2  Tim 
 4.  I.  1  Pet, 
 4.  5. 
 
 a  Is,  S3,  II, 
 Jer.  31.  34 
 Dan,  9.  24. 
 Mic.  7.  18, 
 Zech,  13.  1. 
 Mai.  4.  2. 
 ch.  26.  22. 
 
 p  ch    15,  9. 
 it  26.  18. 
 Rom. 10.11, 
 Gal,  3,  22. 
 
 9  ch.  4,  31, 
 Pt  8.  15.  16, 
 17.  &  11  15. 
 
 r  ver    23. 
 
 •  ch,  II.   19, 
 Gal,  3,  14, 
 
 tch.  II.  17. 
 Kt  15,  8,9, 
 Rom,  10,12, 
 u  I  Cor  1,17, 
 X  ch.  2.  38. 
 &@.  16. 
 
 «  ch,  10,  15. 
 Gal   2,  12, 
 
 6  ch.  10.  28. 
 c  Gal,  2,  12. 
 
 with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  power :  who 
 went  about  doing  good,  and  healing  all  that 
 were  oppressed  of  the  devil ;  "^  for  God  was 
 with  him. 
 
 39  And  '  we  are  witnesses  of  all  things  which 
 he  did  both  in  the  land  of  the  Jews,  and  in 
 Jerusalem  ;  ^  whom  they  slew  and  hanged  on 
 a  tree; 
 
 40  Him  "God  raised  up  the  third  day,  and 
 shewed  liim  openly  ; 
 
 41  '  Not  to  all  the  people,  but  unto  witnesses 
 chosen  before  of  God,  ei'en  to  us,  ■■  who  did 
 eat  and  drink  with  him  after  he  rose  from  the 
 dead. 
 
 42  And  '  he  commanded  us  to  preach  unto 
 the  people,  and  to  testify  '"  that  it  is  he  which 
 was  ordained  of  God  to  he  the  Judge  "of 
 quick  and  dead. 
 
 43  "  To  him  give  all  the  prophets  witness, 
 that  through  his  name  ""whosoever  believeth 
 in  him  shall  receive  remission  of  sins. 
 
 44  K  While  Peter  yet  spake  these  words, 
 '  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  on  all  them  which  heard 
 the  word. 
 
 45  'And  they  of  the  circumcision  which  be- 
 lieved were  astonished,  as  many  as  came  with 
 Peter,  'because  that  on  the  Gentiles  also  was 
 poured  out  the  gil't  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 46  For  they  heard  them  speak  with  tongues, 
 and  magnify  God.     Then  answered  Peter, 
 
 47  Can  any  man  forbid  water,  that  these 
 should  not  be  baptized,  which  have  received 
 the  Holy  Gliost  'as  well  as  we? 
 
 48  "  And  he  commanded  them  to  be  bap- 
 tized "in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  Then  prayed 
 they  him  to  tarry  certain  days. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 1  Peter,  being  accused  for  going  in  to  the  Gentiles,  5 
 maketh  his  defence,  18  ii-hiih  is  accepted.  19  2'hc 
 gospel  being  spread  into  Phtnice,  and  Cyprus,  and 
 Antioch,  Barnabas  is  sent  to  confirm  them.  '1^  The 
 disciples  there  are  first  called  Christians.  27  Theg 
 sendreliefto  the  brethrtn  in  Judaa  in  time  of  famine. 
 
 A  ND  the  apostles  and  brethren  that  were  in 
 -^^  Juda-a  lieard  that  tlie  Gentiles  had  also 
 received  the  word  of  God. 
 
 2  And  when  Peter  was  come  np  to  Jerusalem, 
 "  they  that  were  of  the  circumcision  contended 
 with  him, 
 
 3  Saying,  ''  Thou  wentest  in  to  men  uncir- 
 cumcised,  '"  and  didst  eat  with  them. 
 
 for  associates  in  all  their  transactions  and  journeys.— Bofi.  36.  The 
 word,  Tov  \o',ov,  the  •doctrine.* — Barnes,  so  A.  Clarke,  Preach, 
 ing  peace,  i.  e.,  pardon  of  sins,  and  reconciliation  with  God.  —  Up. 
 Pearce.  EvafyeXt^ofievoi-  etpmnv,  'publishing  the  good  tidings  of 
 peace.'  Lorrf  d/n//,  not  only  as  God  overall,  blessed  for  evermore, 
 but  as  Mediator;  all  power,  both  in  heaven  and  earth,  is  put  Into  his 
 hand,  and  all  judgment  comaiitted  to  him. — Hen.         3/.  The  word. 
 
 ptjua,  *  the  thing,'  &c.,  '  you  know  what  was  done  or  accomplished  in 
 Judea,'  &c. — Barnes.  ii.  The  Huly  Ghost  ff.ll— Win  was  a  miracle 
 adiled  by  God  to  the  doctrine  preached  by  St.  Peter,  that  nottiing  now 
 was  to  be  accounted  common  or  unclean,  the  Holy  Ghost  falling  upon 
 the  uncircumcised  as  well  as  the  circumcised,  shewing  that  Gud  now 
 intended  no  difference  between  them. — Light/. 
 Chap.  XI.— 2.  That  were  of  the  circumcision,  those  Jewish  converts 
 
 RELFfxTiONs  ON  Chap.  X.—  Froiu  the  narrative  here 
 given  we  muy  remark— 1.  On  Cumelius'  pieijj.  'Piety,  like 
 the  sun,'  observes  Bishop  Home,  '  communicates  itself  to 
 all  around  it.  The  manners  of  a  family  are  often  in  great 
 measure  guided  by  those  of  the  master.  His  principles  and 
 practices  frequently  diffuse  themselves  through  the  house, 
 and  the  piety  or  profaneness,  the  sobriety  or  intemperance, 
 the  sloth  or  diligence  of  servants,  discover  to  the  world  the 
 nature  of  that  fountain  from  which  they  flow.'  '  It  is  plain, 
 trom  this  passage,'  says  Bishop  Beveridge,  whose  remarks 
 are  just  and  striking,  and  but  too  applicable  in  many  cases, 
 while,  however,  their  application  in  this  instance  to  Cornelius 
 may  be  doubted,  [see  notes  on  ver.  ^,]  *  that,  notwithstanding 
 the  extraordinary  piety  and  devotion  of  Cornelius,  who  was 
 certainly  a  very  moral  man,  he  had  something  still  to  do,  of 
 which  as  yet  he  knew  nothing,  without  which  he  could  not 
 1154 
 
 attain  to  heaven  ;  he  must  send  to  Simon  Peter,  to  be  in- 
 structed in  the  faith  of  Christ  ;  which,  doubtless,  is  as  clear 
 a  demonstration  as  possibly  can  be  desired,  that  all  the  devo- 
 tion and  good  works  imaginable  can  never  bring  us  to  heaven 
 without  Christ,  (chap.  iv.  12  ;)  and  therefore,  although  it  is 
 indispensably  necessary  to  do  good  works,  yet  we  must  not 
 trust  on  them,  but  on  Christ  only,  for  happiness  and  salvation.' 
 We  may  remark — 
 
 II.  On  Vtter's  hnmilihj.  Though  he  was  honoured  with 
 gathering  the  first  fruits  of  the  Gentile  church,  Peier  was  no 
 likeness  of  his  pretended  successors.  He  usurped  nothing. 
 He  refused  the  homage  which  Cornelius,  in  his  ardour  of  spi- 
 rit, would  have  paid  him.  How  would  this  holy  apostle  have 
 shuddered  to  have  heard  the  arrogant  titles  of 'His  Holiness,' 
 and  a  sinful  mortal  spoken  of  as  '  Our  Lord  God  the  Pope!' 
 
Peter's  defence. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XI. 
 
 The  disciples  first  called  Christians. 
 
 4  But  Peter  rehearsed  the  matter  from  the 
 beginning,  and  expounded  it  "^  by  order  unto 
 them,  saying, 
 
 5  °  I  was  in  the  city  of  Joppa  praying  :  and 
 in  a  trance  I  saw  a  vision,  A  certain  vessel 
 descend,  as  it  had  been  a  great  sheet,  letdown 
 from  heaven  by  four  corners ;  and  it  came  even 
 to  me  : 
 
 (i  Upon  the  which  when  I  had  fastened  mine 
 eyes,  I  considered,  and  saw  four-footed  beasts 
 of  the  earth,  and  wild  beasts,  and  creeping 
 things,  and  fowls  of  the  air. 
 
 7  And  I  heard  a  voice  saying  unto  me.  Arise, 
 Peter  ;  slay  and  eat. 
 
 8  But  I  said.  Not  so,  Lord  :  for  nothing 
 common  or  unclean  hath  at  any  time  entered 
 into  my  mouth. 
 
 9  But  the  voice  answered  me  again  from 
 heaven.  What  God  hath  cleansed,  that  call 
 not  thou  common. 
 
 10  And  this  was  done  three  times  :  and  all 
 were  drawn  up  again  into  heaven. 
 
 1 1  And,  behold,  immediately  there  were 
 three  men  already  come  unto  the  house  where 
 I  was,  sent  from  Citsarea  unto  me. 
 
 12  And  ''the  spirit  bade  me  go  with  them, 
 nothing  doubting.  Moreover  ^  these  six 
 brethren  accompanied  me,  and  we  entered 
 into  the  man's  house  : 
 
 13  ''  And  he  shewed  us  how  he  had  seen  an 
 angel  in  his  house,  which  stood  and  said  unto 
 him,  Send  men  to  Joppa,  and  call  for  Simon, 
 whose  surname  is  Peter; 
 
 14  Who  shall  tell  thee  words,  whereby  thou 
 and  all  thy  house  shall  be  saved. 
 
 lo  And  as  I  began  to  speak,  the  Holy 
 Ghost  fell  on  them,  '  as  on  us  at  the  beginning. 
 
 IG  Then  remembered  I  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
 how  that  he  said,  '  John  indeed  baptized  with 
 water;  but  'ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the 
 Holy  Ghost. 
 
 17  ^  Forasmuch  then  as  God  gave  them  the 
 like  gift  as  he  did  unto  us,  who  believed  on 
 the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  "what  was  I,  that  I 
 could  withstand  God  ? 
 
 18  When  they  heard  these  things,  they  held 
 
 A.  D.  42, 
 
 d  Luke  1.  3. 
 
 t  ch.  10.  0, 
 he. 
 
 /John  16. 
 
 19.  &  15,  7. 
 g  ch.  ly.  23 
 
 h  ch.  10.  SO. 
 
 k  niat.  3.  11. 
 
 John  1.  2fi, 
 
 s;}.  ch.1.5. 
 
 &  19.  4. 
 t  la.  ++.  3. 
 
 Joel  2.  2%. 
 
 &  3.  19. 
 m  ch.  15.  9, 
 
 <l  cb.  6 
 9.  29. 
 
 1.  & 
 
 r  Luke  1.66. 
 ch.  2.  47. 
 
 .  ch.  9 
 
 35. 
 
 A.  n 
 
 .12. 
 
 «  ch.  13.  13. 
 &  14.  22. 
 
 xch.  6.  5. 
 ch.  5."l4. 
 
 A,  D.  43. 
 
 =  ch.  9.  30. 
 
 a  cb.  2.  17-& 
 
 1.1.  1.  &  15. 
 
 32.  &  21.  9. 
 
 1  Cor    12. 
 
 28-  Eph.  4 
 
 11. 
 Icb.  21.  10. 
 
 j:  Rom.  15. 
 26.  1  Cor. 
 16.1,  SCor. 
 
 their  peace,  and  glorified  God,  saying,  °  Then 
 hath  God  also  to  the  Gentiles  granted  repent- 
 ance unto  life. 
 
 19  1[  >■  Now  they  which  were  scattered  abroad 
 upon  the  persecution  that  arose  about  Stephen 
 travelled  as  far  as  Phenice,  and  Cyprus,  and 
 Antioch,  preaching  the  word  to  none  but  unto 
 the  Jews  only. 
 
 20  And  some  of  them  were  men  of  Cyprus 
 and  Cyrene,  which,  when  they  were  come  to 
 Antioch,  spake  unto  ''the  Grecians,  preaching 
 the  Lord  Jesus. 
 
 21  And  'the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  with 
 them  :  and  a  great  number  believed,  and 
 'turned  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 22  t  Then  tidings  of  these  things  came  unto 
 the  ears  of  the  church  which  was  in  Jerusalem  : 
 and  they  sent  forth  '  Barnabas,  that  he  should 
 go  as  far  as  Antioch. 
 
 23  Who,  when  he  came,  and  had  seen  the 
 grace  of  God,  was  glad,  and  "  exhorted  them 
 
 ",  that  with  purpose  of  heart  they  would 
 cleave  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 24  For  he  was  a  good  man,  and  "  full  of  the 
 Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith  -.  '  and  much  people 
 was  added  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 25  Then  departed  Barnabas  to  '  Tarsus,  for 
 to  seek  Saul  : 
 
 26  And  when  he  had  found  him,  he  brought 
 him  unto  Antioch.  And  it  came  to  pass,  tliat 
 a  whole  year  they  assembled  themselves  ||  with 
 the  church,  and  taught  much  people.  And 
 the  disciples  were  called  Christians  first  in 
 Antioch. 
 
 27  H  And  in  these  days  came  "  prophets  from 
 Jerusalem  unto  Antioch. 
 
 28  And  there  stood  up  one  of  them  named 
 ''  Agabus,  and  signified  by  the  spirit  that  there 
 should  be  great  dearth  throughout  all  the 
 world  :  which  came  to  pass  in  the  days  of 
 Claudius  Ca;sar. 
 
 29  Then  the  disciples,  every  man  according 
 to  his  ability,  determined  to  send  '  relief  unto 
 the  brethren  which  dwelt  in  Juda;a  : 
 
 30  ''  Which  also  they  did,  and  sent  it  to  the 
 elders  by  the  hands  of  Barnabas  and  Saul. 
 
 who  still  retained  a  veneration  for  the  ceremony  of  circumcision,  and 
 thought  it  to  be  of  perpetual  obligation. — Ben'i.  14.  Whereby — shatt 
 be  saved,  i.e.,  which  would  be  a  means  of  instructing:  him  and  his 
 family  ill  the  right  and  true  way  of  salvation. — Gill.  \7.TUelike 
 fiift,  enabling  them  to  speak  with  tongues,  fcliap.  x.  46,)  as  he  had 
 done  the  apostles  at  the  day  of  pentecost.  IS.  Jiepetttance  nntu  life, 
 that  they  also,  on  their  repenting  and  believing,  should  be  partakers 
 of  eternal  life.— B/>.  Pearce.  ig.  Unto  the  Jews  onlti,  the  Hellenis- 
 
 tical  Jews  that  were  at  Antioch.  These  first  preachers  of  the  gospel 
 did  not  yet  understand  that  the  Gentiles  were  to  he  fellow  heirs. — Hen. 
 Phenice,  a  country  near  to  Syria  and  CTalilee;  its  chief  towns  and 
 cities  were  Tripolis,  Tyre,  Sidon,  &c. — Gill,  so  Doddr.,  and  Newe. 
 Pr.'bably  the  seaport  so  named  in  the  Isle  of  Crete  is  meant. — See 
 Wells.  Cyprus,  an  island  lying  between  the  shores  of  Syria  and  Cilicia. 
 —  Gill.  Antioch,  north  of  .Syria,  on  the  river  Orontes,  about  twelve 
 miles  from  the  shore  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  Seleucus  Nicanor, 
 the  first  king  of  Syria  after  Alexander  the  Great,  so  named  it  in  me- 
 mory of  his  father,  Antiochus,  and  it  was  afterwards  the  royal  seat  of 
 the  successive  kings  of  Syria. —  Wells.  20.  Men  of  Cyprus,  i.  e.,  Jews 
 horn  there  :  such  was  Barnabas,  (Acts,  iv.  36,  j  though  not  among  these, 
 (see  ver.  22.)  .4«rf  Cyrene,  such  were  Simon  and  his  sods,  (Mark,  xv. 
 21.)  Unto  the  Grecians,  or  Hellenist  Jews.— GiH,  21.  The  hand,  ffc, 
 — some  understand  it  of  the  power  of  working  miracles,  but  it  seems 
 
 rather  to  mean  the  power  of  Divine  grace  working  on  the  hearts  of  the 
 hearers. — Hen.  23.  Had  seen-  the  grace  of  God,  '  the  many  instances 
 of  the  powerful  and  efficacious  grace  of  God.' — Gill.  'The  happy 
 effects  of  God's  sanctifying  spirit  among  them.' — Brewster.  26.  He 
 brought  him,  §r(?.,  his  ardent  and  active  mind  being  well  adapted  for 
 such  a  sphere  of  labour. —  Wil.  First  called  Christians,  they  were  be- 
 fore called,  by  the  Jews,  'Nazarenes,'  <.r  'Galileans,'  and,  by  each 
 other,  'disciples,'  'believers,'  'brethren,'  or  'saints;'  but  now  they 
 assumed  the  title  of  their  great  leader,  as  the  Platonists,  &c. — Doddr. 
 It  is  most  likely  that  the  name  was  given  by  the  Gentiles  simply  as  an 
 appellation. — Barnes.  The  word  xP'U^aTioai,  which  we  translate  '  were 
 called,*  signifies,  in  the  New  Testament,  'to  appoint,  warn,  or  nomi. 
 nate,  by  Divine  direction.'  So  used  Matt.  ii.  12  ;  Luke,  ii.  26  ;  Acts, 
 X.  22.  Probably  Saul  and  Barnabas  gave  the  name  from  God  himself. 
 — A.  Clarke.  27.  Prophets,  'teachers,'  the  prophecy  here  was  an 
 occasional  thing. — Pearce.  28.  Throughout  the  world,  e0'  cJArii'  -rrw 
 otKQv}tivnv,  probably  here  means,  'the  land  of  Judea,'  though  some- 
 times the  phrase  is  used  for  the  whole  Roman  empire.  History  informs 
 us  of  several  famines  in  the  reign  of  Claudius.— See  Dion  Cassias,  Jos., 
 Eusebius,  Tacitus.  Most  learned  men  think  that  the  prophecy  alludes 
 to  the  famine  which  took  place  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  emperor's 
 reign,  A.D.  47,  (see  Jos.  Ant.,  lib.  XX.,  c.  2,  s.  5  ;  also,  Kreb's  Obsa.  in 
 Nov.  Test.)— Clarke. 
 
 RiiVi.EfTiONS  ON  Chap.  XI.  —  We  may  observe  here, 
 I  Tlie  jireaching  of  the  (/ospel  to  the  Gentiles.  '  A  thing  which 
 we  poor  sinners  of  the  Gentiles  have  reason  to  reflect  upon 
 with  a  great  deal  of  joy  and  thankfulness,  for  it  was  the  bring- 
 ing of  light  to  us  who  sat  in  darkness.' 
 
 II.   The  preaching  of  the  gospel  to  the  Jews  ,-  the  effect  of  which 
 
 was,   that  '  a  great  number  believed,  and   turned    unto   tlie 
 
 Lord.'     'They  were  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  and 
 
 subscribed  to  the  record  God  had  given  in  it  concerning  bis 
 
 1135 
 
 Son.'  'They  turned  from  a  confidence  in  the  righteousness 
 of  the  law  to  rely  upon  the  righteousness  of  Christ  —  the 
 righteousness  which  is  by  faith  :  they  turned  from  a  loose, 
 careless,  carnal  way  of  living,  to  live  a  holy,  heavenly,  spi- 
 ritual, and  divine  life  :  they  turned  from  worshipping  God  in 
 show  and  ceremony,  to  worship  him  in  the  spirit  and  in  truth. 
 They  turned  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  he  became  all  in  ail  to 
 them.  This  was  tlie  work  of  conversion  wrought  upou  them  j 
 and  it  must  be  wrought  upon  every  one  of  us.'  '• 
 
JlerocTs  prraccntiim 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XII. 
 
 nf  the  Christians. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  Kina  Herod  peTsccntcth  the  Christians,  kiUcth  James, 
 ami' im/irisoneth  Feter ;  whom  an  atujel  dtlivtreth 
 upon  the  prayers  of  the  church.  20  In  his  priile 
 takinii  to  himself  the  honour  due  toGutI,  he  is  stricken 
 btj  oil  antjd,  and  dicth  miserabit/.  24  After  his  death, 
 die  word  of  God  prospereth. 
 
 NOW   about   that   time    Herod    the    King 
 II  stretched  fortli  his  hands  to  vex  certain 
 of  tlie  church. 
 
 2  And  he  killed  James  "  the  brother  of  John 
 with  the  .sword. 
 
 3  And  because  he  saw  it  pleased  the  Jews, 
 he  proceeded  further  to  take  Peter  also.  (Then 
 were  ''the  days  of  unleavened  bread.) 
 
 4  And  '  when  he  had  apprehended  him,  he 
 put  him  in  prison,  and  delivered  hi/ii  to  four 
 quaternions  of  soldiers  to  keep  him  ;  intend- 
 ing after  Easter  to  bring  him  forth  to  the 
 people. 
 
 5  Peter  therefore  was  kept  in  prison  :  but 
 II  prayer  was  made  without  ceasing  of  the 
 church  unto  God  for  him. 
 
 6  And  when  Herod  would  lunve  brought  him 
 forth,  the  same  night  Peter  was  sleeping  be- 
 tween two  soldier.s,  bound  with  two  chains : 
 and  the  keepers  before  the  door  kept  the  prison. 
 
 7  And,  behold,  ''  the  angel  nf  tlie  Lord  came 
 upon  him,  and  a  light  shined  in  tlie  prison  : 
 and  he  smote  Peter  on  the  side,  and  raised 
 him  up,  saying,  Arise  up  quickly.  And  his 
 chains  fell  off  from  his  hands. 
 
 8  And  the  angel  said  unto  him.  Gird  thyself, 
 and  bind  on  thy  sandals.  And  so  he  did.  And 
 he  saith  unto  him.  Cast  thy  garment  about 
 thee,  and  follow  me. 
 
 9  And  he  went  out,  and  followed  him  ;  and 
 °  wist  not  that  it  was  true  which  was  done  by 
 the  angel ;  but  thought  '  he  saw  a  vision. 
 
 10  When  tliey  were  past  ttie  first  and  the 
 second  ward,  they  came  unto  the  iron  gate 
 that  leadeth  unto  the  city  ;  ^wliich  opened  to 
 them  of  his  own  accord  :  and  they  went  out 
 and  passed  on  through  one  street ;  and  forth- 
 with the  angel  departed  from  him. 
 
 1 1  And  when  Peter  was  come  to  himself,  he 
 said.  Now  I  know  of  a  surety,  that  ''  the  Lord 
 hath  sent  his  angel,  and  '  hath  delivered  me 
 out  of  the  hand  of  Herod,  and,/)'o/H  all  the  ex- 
 pectation of  the  people  of  the  Jews. 
 
 Or,  htgnn. 
 
 a  Milt.  4. SI. 
 &  20.  23. 
 
 A  F.x  V>.  U. 
 l.V  &  M.l.'.. 
 c  Joliii2l.tt«. 
 
 2  Cor.  I.n, 
 Kph.  6.  13. 
 I  Thes.  5. 
 
 /■cli    ll».  S, 
 17    f^  11.  : 
 
 4  P«.  .11.  7. 
 
 Dan.  ».  28. 
 
 K  6  22. 
 
 Hrb.  1.  11. 
 1  3a\)h.  19. 
 
 Ph.  S3.  19, 
 
 19.  &  31.22. 
 
 &  11.  2.  «( 
 
 97.  lU. 
 
 2  Cor.  1.10. 
 
 2  I'd.  2.  9. 
 
 k  cli.  +.  23. 
 (ch.  15.  37. 
 
 Gen.  "IS.ie. 
 Mat.ls.lci. 
 
 ch.  13.  16. 
 h  in.  3.^.  8( 
 21.  .10. 
 
 II  Or,  Acir 
 
 t  Gr.  th^>t 
 
 /I'lin^i  lied' 
 
 ;,  1  liin.ft.fl, 
 n.Eitek.2;. 
 
 i;. 
 
 q  1  8.im.  W. 
 
 33.  2  Sam. 
 
 24.  17. 
 rl's.  115.  1. 
 
 *  l8.  55.  II. 
 ch.  0,  7.  Ik 
 19-  20.  Col 
 
 t  ch.  13.  5. 
 
 13.  &  15  37. 
 H  ver.  12. 
 
 12  And  when  he  had  considered  the  thing, 
 '  he  c-ame  to  the  house  of  Mary  the  mother  of 
 'John,  whose  surname  was  Mark  ;  where  many 
 were  gathered  together  "'  praying. 
 
 13  And  as  Peter  knocked  at  the  door  of  the 
 gate,  a  damsel  came  ||  to  hearken,  named  Rhoda. 
 
 14  And  when  she  knew  Peter's  voice,  she 
 opened  not  the  gate  for  gladness,  but  ran  in, 
 and  told  how  Peter  stood  before  the  gate. 
 
 15  And  they  said  unto  her.  Thou  art  mad. 
 But  she  constantly  affirmed  that  it  was  even 
 so.     Then  said  they,  "  It  is  his  angel. 
 
 16  But  Peter  continued  knocking:  and  when 
 they  had  opened  the  door,  and  saw  him,  they 
 were  astonished. 
 
 17  But  he,  "beckoning  unto  them  with  the 
 hand  to  hold  their  jieace,  declared  unto  them 
 how  the  Lord  had  brought  him  out  of  the  pri- 
 son. And  he  said.  Go  shew  these  things  unto 
 James,  and  to  the  brethren.  And  he  departed, 
 and  went  into  another  place. 
 
 18  Now  as  soon  as  it  was  day,  there  was  no 
 small  stir  among  the  soldiers,  what  was  become 
 of  Peter. 
 
 19  And  when  Herod  had  sought  for  him,  and 
 found  him  not,  he  examined  the  keepers,  and 
 commanded  that  ihnj  should  be  put  to  death. 
 And  he  went  down  from  Jud.-ca  to  Cicsarea, 
 and  there  abode. 
 
 20  t  And  Herod  ||was  highly  displeased  with 
 them  of  Tyre  and  Sidon  :  but  they  came  with 
 one  accord  to  him,  and,  having  made  Blastus 
 t  the  king's  chamberlain  their  friend,  desired 
 peace  -,  because  ''  tlieir  country  was  nourished 
 by  the  king's  country. 
 
 21  And  upon  a  set  day  Herod,  arrayed  in 
 royal  apparel,  sat  upon  his  throne,  and  made 
 an  oration  unto  them. 
 
 22  And  the  people  gave  a  shout,  saying.  It 
 is  the  voice  of  a  god,  and  not  of  a  man. 
 
 23  And  immediately  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
 ''smote  him,  because  'he  gave  not  God  the 
 glory  :  and  he  was  eaten  of  worms,  and  gave 
 up  the  ghost. 
 
 24  II  But  '  the  word  of  God  grew  and  multi- 
 plied. 
 
 25  And  Barnabas  and  Saul  returned  from 
 Jerusalem,  when  they  had  fulfilled  their  \\  mi- 
 nistry, and  '  took  with  them  "  John,  whose 
 surname  was  Mark 
 
 Cbap.  XII. —  1.  Herod,  this  was  Herod  Agrippa,  son  of  Aristobuhia, 
 and  grandson  of  Herod  the  Great,  mentioned  Matt.  ii.  1,  see  note. 
 3.  James  the  fii-other  of  John,  sons  of  Zebedee,  (Matt.  x.  2.)  Thus  felt 
 the  first  of  the  apostles  who  gained  the  crown  of  martyrdom. — Cave. 
 His  death  fulfilled.  Matt.  x.^.  1S.—Boi,thr.  3.  Take  Peter  also,  sup. 
 posing  James  and  Peter  to  be  the  two  pillars  of  the  infant  cause. — 
 Clarke.  i.  Four  fptaternions — a  quaternion  is  a  band  of  four,  so 
 that  the  prison  guard  consisted  of  sixteen  soldiers.  —  Bp.  Mann. 
 Easter,  to  iraaxa,  the  passover,  including  the  days  of  unleavened 
 bread,  (John,  xviii.  28.) — Scott.  5.  Without  ceasing  —  the  Greek 
 word,  eKTei-tit,  signifies  both  fervour  and  earnestness,  as  well  as  perse- 
 verance.— Clarke,  as  Whithy.  6.  Bound  with  two  chains— t\\G  Ro- 
 mans fastened  the  prisoner's  right  hand  with  a  light  chain,  the  other 
 end  of  which  was  attached  to  the  left  hand  of  the  soldier  who  guarded 
 him.  Here  he  was  fastened  to  two,  for  greater  security. — Bp.  Pearce  ; 
 so  also  Orot.  and  Lardner.  7.  The  angel,  one  of  the  ministering 
 spirits  sent  forth  by  Christ. — Gill.  Came  n/ioit  him,  entari], '  stood  over 
 him.' — Bens,  itui.vt.ff  Aim  up— the  soldiers  might  be  cast  into  a  deep 
 sleep,  struck  with  blindness,  or  with  confusion  and  astonishment. — 
 Gni/se.  8.  Cast  thy  garment,  the  loose  upper  cloak  worn  on  going 
 out. — jR/).  Mann.  10.  First  and  second  ward,  probably  watches 
 
 placed  in  the  prison  yard,  and  not  city  watches.  Iron  gate,  probably 
 a  strong  outward  gate  between  the  prison  and  the  city. — Guyse.  This 
 gate  wa.s,  mtist  liltely,  strongly  plated  over  with  iron,  for  in  the  east 
 the  gates  are  often  thus  secured  to  the  present  day.      11.  Expectation, 
 
 that  Peter  would  be  sacrificed.— 0/«)-A:e.  12.  Praying,  in  those  times 
 of  danger  it  appears  that  they  held  their  sacred  iisseniblies  in  the  night. 
 —  Whitby.  13.  Door  of  tlie  gate,  or  rather  the  door  of  the  vestibule 
 or  principal  entrance  into  the  house. — Barnes.  15.  His  angel,  it  was 
 familiarly  received  among  the  Jews  that  angels  sometimes  assumed 
 the  shape  of  this  or  that  person.— Light/.  I".  S/tew  these  things,  ffc, 
 that  they  might  bless  God  for  the  deliverance. —  Wliithy.  James,  bro- 
 ther of  Alpheus,  sometimes  called  the  brother  of  our  Lord  :  for  James 
 the  son  of  Zebedee,  the  brother  of  John,  Herod  had  killed,  (ver.  2.) 
 This  James  might  succeed  him  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Jerusalem. — 
 Gill.  Into  another  place,  out  of  Herod's  dominions,  to  avoid  the 
 tyrant's  fury. — Hales.  20.  Their  country  was  nourished  by  the  king's 
 country — it  was  in  Judea  and  Galilee,  which  were  under  Herod's  juris- 
 diction, where  they  vented  the  goods  they  imported,  and  whence  they 
 were  supplied  with  wheat,  honey,  and  oil,  (see  I  Kings,  v.  1,  i  1  ;  Ezek. 
 xxvii.  3,  17,  Ike. ;}  and  it  looks  as  if  Herod  had  forbidden  all  commerce 
 with  them. — Gilt.  21.  Upon  a  set  day,  fyc. — the  facts  here  related 
 are  all  confirmed  by  Josephus.  23.  The  angel  of  the  Lord  smote  him, 
 a  Jewish  mode  of  expressing  that  God  inflicted  a  disease  on  him. — 
 Newc.  25.  Fulfilled  their  ministry,  i  e.,  carried  the  money  collected 
 by  the  Christians  at  Antioch  for  the  brethren  in  Judea,  on  account  of 
 the  tamine. — Gill.  Mark,  a  different  person  from  Mark  the  Evangelist. 
 Probably  the  son  of  Mary,  at  whose  house  the  disciples  met.  (chap.xii. 
 12,}  and  he  is  called  '  sister's  son  to  Barnabas,'  (Col.  iv.  IQ.)—Wil.,  so 
 Grot.,  and  Doddr. 
 
 Rp.rLr.cTiONS    on   Ch*p.    XII.  —  In  this  chapter  we  see,  i  of  encoura,i;ing  the  cburcli  of  Christ  by  sealing  the  trulli  with 
 I.  James  slain.     God  chose  Iiini  to  be  an  lionoured  instrument    his  blood  ;  aud  no  proverb  lias  beun  more  strongly  confirmed 
 115C 
 
Paul  and  Barnabas  sent  to  the  Gentiles. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XIII. 
 
 Elymas  smitten  with  blindness. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 I  Panl  and  Barnabas  are  choaen  to  (jO  to  the  Gentiles. 
 7  Of  Sirpius  Pattlus,  and  Eh/mas  tliv  sorcerer.  14 
 Paul prcacheth  at  .-Intiorfi,  t/iut  Jesus  is  Christ.  42 
 7%e  Gentiles  believe:    45  bttt  the  Jews  tjainsay  and 
 
 blaspheme  :    46  whereupon  the//  turn  to  the  Gentdes. 
 48  .-is  nuinij  as  were  ordained  to  life  believed. 
 
 lyrOW  tliere  were  "in  the  churcli  tliat  was  at 
 -'-  Antioch  certain  prophets  and  teachers; 
 as  '  Barnabas,  and  Simeon  that  was  called 
 Nij;er,  and  '  Lnciiis  of  Cyrene,  and  Manaen, 
 
 II  which  had  been  bronght  up  with  Herod  the 
 tetrarcli,  and  Saul. 
 
 '2  As  they  ministered  to  the  Lord,  and  fasted, 
 the  Holy  (ihost  said,  ''  Separate  me  Barnabas 
 and  Sanl  for  the  work  "  whereunto  I  have 
 called  thom. 
 
 ;3  And  '  when  they  had  fasted  and  prayed, 
 and  laid  their  hands  on  them,  they  sent  them 
 away. 
 
 4  'j  So  they,  being  sent  forth  by  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  departed  unto  Seleucia ;  and  from 
 thence  they  sailed  to  ^  Cyprus. 
 
 5  And  when  they  were  at  Salamis,  *■  they 
 preached  the  word  of  God  in  the  synagogues 
 of  the  Jews  :  and  they  had  also  '  John  to  their 
 minister. 
 
 6  And  when  they  had  gone  through  the  isle 
 unto  Paphos,  they  found  '  a  certain  sorcerer,  a 
 false  prophet,  a  Jew,  whose  name  teas  Bar- 
 jesus : 
 
 7  Which  was  with  the  deputy  of  the  country, 
 Sergius  Paulus,  a  prudent  man  ;  who  called 
 for  Barnabas  and  Saul,  and  desired  to  hear  the 
 word  of  God. 
 
 8  But  '  Elymas  the  sorcerer  (for  so  is  his 
 name  by  interpretation)  withstood  them,  seek- 
 ing to  turn  away  the  deputy  from  the  faith. 
 
 9  Then  Sanl,  (who  also  is  called  Paul,) 
 "■filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  set  his  eyes  on 
 him, 
 
 A.  D.  45. 
 
 A.  D. -r*. 
 
 n  MitLlS-S^ 
 
 J>.liii  R.44. 
 
 1  John  3.  S. 
 
 0  Ex.  9.  3. 
 
 1  Sain.  5.6. 
 
 n  ch .  1 1 .  27. 
 
 Sc  14.  2ti.  & 
 
 15.  35. 
 
 4  ch.  11.22— 
 
 liti. 
 
 c  Horn.  10. 
 
 1|  Or, Ttgrod's 
 
 f'tt'T- 
 
 brother . 
 
 d  Num  S.I4 
 
 ch.  9.  1^.  & 
 
 :^2.il.Hmii. 
 
 }>c\i.  15.  9S. 
 
 1.  1.  Gal.  1. 
 
 9  ch    10.  1.1. 
 
 15   &  2   9. 
 
 fc  17.  a.  Ik. 
 
 e  Mat.  9,  S.S. 
 
 IS.  4. 
 
 «:h,  U.  iO 
 
 r  I,iike4.  16, 
 
 Roin.  In,  15 
 
 vei.  2',. 
 
 Kph.  3  7,K. 
 
 t  Hel)  i:1.22. 
 
 I  Tim.  2.7. 
 
 (th.  12.17. 
 
 2Tim.  l.ll. 
 
 u  veiM!ti,.l->, 
 
 Heb.  5.  4. 
 
 41  ch. 10.35. 
 
 /  ch.  6.  6. 
 
 X  Deu, 7.6,7. 
 
 g  ch.  4.  30. 
 
 «  Ex,  1.  1. 
 Ps.  1(15.23. 
 
 gt.  ch.7.17. 
 
 h  ver.  40. 
 
 s  Ex.  tj.  6. 
 
 &  13.14,16. 
 
 (I  Ex..  16.  35. 
 
 i"  ch.  12.  25. 
 
 Num. 14.38. 
 
 &  15.  37. 
 
 ;M  Ps.  95.  9, 
 
 )ii.ch.7.3ti. 
 
 t  Gr    etToi>i>- 
 
 phornsen, 
 perhaps  for 
 
 k  ch.  8.  9. 
 
 etTiiyhi'fih— 
 
 reaen,  bore. 
 
 or^fad  them. 
 
 at  a  •itifie 
 
 beareth,  or. 
 
 frr.dr.th  lier 
 
 c/.<Vd,Deut. 
 
 1.  31- 
 
 2  Mac.?. 27, 
 
 accord  iiig 
 
 to  the 
 
 f  Ex.  7.  n. 
 
 LXX, 
 
 aTLoi.  3.a. 
 
 Hll.l    SO 
 
 Chrysos- 
 
 b  Deu.  7.  1. 
 
 c  Josh.  1-1.  I. 
 
 2  I's.  78.  55. 
 
 m  ch.  4.  8. 
 
 dJiidg.2.itJ. 
 
 e  1   Sam.  3. 
 
 10  And  said,  O  full  of  all  subtilty  and  all 
 mischief,  ^ikou  child  of  the  devil,  thou  enemy 
 of  all  righteousness,  wilt  thou  not  cease  to 
 pervert  the  right  ways  of  the  Lord? 
 
 1 1  And  now,  behold,  °  the  hand  of  the  Lord 
 ^5  upon  thee,  and  thou  shalt  be  blind,  not  see- 
 ing the  sun  for  a  season.  And  immediately 
 there  fell  on  him  a  mist  and  a  darkness  ;  and 
 he  went  about  seeking  some  to  lead  him  by 
 the  hand, 
 
 1'2  Then  the  deputy,  when  he  saw  what  was 
 done,  believed,  being  astonished  at  the  doc- 
 trine of  the  Lord. 
 
 13  Now  when  Paul  and  his  company  loosed 
 from  Paphos,  they  came  to  Perga  in  Pam- 
 phylia :  and  ''John  departing  from  them  re- 
 turned to  Jerusalem. 
 
 14  ^  But  wben  they  departed  from  Perga, 
 they  came  to  Antioch  in  Pisidia,  and  ''  went 
 into  the  synagogue  on  the  sabbath  day,  and 
 sat  down. 
 
 15  And  "" after  the  reading  of  the  law  and  the 
 prophets  the  rulers  of  the  synagogue  sent  unto 
 them,  saying,  Ye  men  ajid  bretliren,  if  ye  have 
 ^any  word  of  exhortation  f(jr  the  people,  say 
 on. 
 
 IG  Then  Paul  stood  up,  and  *  beckoning  with 
 his  hand  said.  Men  of  Israel,  and  "ye  that  fear 
 God,  give  audience. 
 
 17  Tbe  God  of  this  people  of  Israel  *  chose 
 our  fathers,  and  exalted  the  people  ''when  they 
 dwelt  as  strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  ^  and 
 with  an  high  arm  brought  he  them  out  of  it. 
 
 18  And  ^  about  the  time  of  forty  years  +  suf- 
 fered he  their  manners  in  the  wilderness. 
 
 U)  And  when  ^he  had  destroyed  seven  na- 
 tions in  the  land  of  Chanaan,  '^  he  divided  their 
 land  to  them  by  lot. 
 
 20  And  after  that  "^he  gave  unto  them  fudges 
 about  tlie  space  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  years, 
 ®  until  Samuel  the  prophet. 
 
 Chap.  Xlll.  —  l.  Certain  prophets  and  teachers,  or  'teachers  and 
 instructors.' — Bnothr.  Probably  scattered  by  the  persecution  mt-n- 
 tioned  chap.  viii.  I,  and  came  to  Antioch,  (chap.  xi.  19.) — Whitbij. 
 Called  Niger — the  surname  of  '  Niger,'  or  '  Black,  by  which  Simeon 
 was  known,  seems  to  have  been  given  him  on  account  of  his  com- 
 plexion; perhaps  he  was  a  negro.  Some  have  conjectured  this  was 
 Simon  the  Cyrenian.— i'w^^  Manaen — l)rought  up  with  Herod — the 
 word  cfi'Tpo^u?  denotes  one  who  is  educated  or  nourished  at  the  same 
 time  with  another. — Barnes.  Rich  persons,  and  especially  princes, 
 had  not  only  preceptors  and  attendants,  but  particular  companions  in 
 their  education,  assigned  to  them. — Neivc.  Manaen  must  have  been  a 
 person  uf  family,  as  he  had  been  the  companion  of  Herod  Antipas. — 
 Boothr.  2.  Ministered,  §r.,  engaged  in  a  course  of  devotion  and 
 fasting. — Bp.  Mann.  Said,  by  vision,  voice,  or  internal  suggestions. 
 Keuc.  For  the  ivnrk,  of  publishing  the  gospel. — Bp.  Pearce.  3.  Laid 
 their  hands — this  is  understood  of  ordination  by  Bev.  and  Stnckhouse. 
 Itarnahas  and  Sanl  had  for  a  considerable  time  been  ministers  of  the 
 word  ;  so  that  this  imposition  of  haiifis  could  not  be  for  the  purpose  of 
 t>rdaining  them  ;  nor  does  it  appear  that  any  spiritual  gift  or  new  au- 
 thority was  conferred  by  it.  The  prophets  and  teachers,  in  laying  their 
 hands  on  them,  with  lasting  and  prayer,  acti'd  by  immediate  order  from 
 the  Hnly  Spirit,  thus  giving  a  public  testimony  to  their  assured  confi- 
 dence that  they  were  divinely  appointed  to  that  service,  and  express- 
 ing fervent  desires  for  their  success  in  it. — Scott.  4.  Seleucia,  this 
 city,  built  by  Scleucus,  lay  north-west  of  Antioch,  on  the  Mediterra- 
 nean Sea.     ^.  Salnmis,  a  considerable  city  of  Cyprus,  on  the  east  side. 
 
 —  M'ells.  The  word  of  God,  tov  Xo-^om,  '  the  doctrine  of  God.'  John, 
 called  .lohn  Mark,  chap.  xii.  Vl,  25.  To  their  viiniater,  '  for  their  mi- 
 iiister,'  I'TrnpeTtji-,  to  assist  them  in  minor  offices,  as  deacon  or  ser- 
 vant, that  they  might  give  themselves  wholly  to  the  doctrine  of  the 
 Lord. — A.  Clarke.       6.  I'aphns,  chief  city  of  Cyprus,  on  the  west  side. 
 
 —  v/fliK.       7.  Deputy,  avUvTiaroi,  *  pro-consul,'  i.e.,  chief  governor 
 
 of  a  province,  when  set  over  it  by  the  Roman  senate,  and  not  by  the 
 emperor,  for  he  was  then  called  *  pro-preetor.' — Guyse.  A  prudent 
 man,  avifn  avvtiiu,  '  a  man  of  good  sense'— of  a  soiuid  understanding. 
 — ^.  Clarke.  S.'Br/  interpretation,  i.  e.,  the  word  *  Elymas.*  of  Arabic 
 or  Hebrew  derivation,  signifies  'sorcerer,'  or  'magician.' — Senso?*. 
 Elymas  is  from  the  Arabic  only.— t7ar/c^.  9-  Paul,  '  Saul'  was  his 
 
 Jewish  name,  '  Paul'  his  name  as  a  Roman  citizen  :  so  Silas  is  called 
 Silvauus,  for  the  same  reason,  (xvi.  37.)  From  this  time  Luke  em- 
 ploys the  apostle's  Roman  name  as  a  preacher  to  the  Gentiles. — Light/. 
 10.  Mischief,  ,'.a^ioi»p7iar,  implies  also,  'cunning  and  falsehood.' — 
 Neivc.  From  f.cii5(oc,  'easy,'  and  fp7oi',  'a  work,*  one  who  is  "ready 
 at  his  work  ;'  a  word  whicli  excellenUy  well  defines  a  juggler,  one  who 
 is  expert  at  sleight-of  hand,  though  it  is  often  employed  to  signify  an 
 abandoned  and  accompIi^hcd  villain.— .^.  Clarke.  U.  Mist—dark- 
 
 ness,  dimness,  and  then  total  loss  of  sight.— B/j.  Pearce.  12.  Asto. 
 
 nished  at  the  doctrine,  so  confirmed.— i^jy^c  \^.  Pei-ga,  a  city  in 
 Pamphplia,  a  province  of  Asia  Minor,  on  the  Mediterranean  ;  here 
 yearly  "festivals  are  held  in  honour  of  T)'i&ua.— Wells.  14.  Antioch  in 
 Pisidia,  different  from  that  mentioned  in  ver.  1.  That  was  the  metro- 
 polis of  Syria,  this  of  Pisidia,  a  country  in  the  lesser  Asia,  named  An- 
 tioch for  the  same  reason  as  the  former. — Gutjse.  See  chap.  xi.  19, 
 note.  S"t  down,  probably  in  the  seat  ol  the  doctors.— //«/e«.  The 
 rulers  niiKht  gal  her  from  this  that  they  preached,  as  it  was  a  custom 
 with  those  who  taught —So  Light/.  15.  Law— prophets,  lessons  out 
 of  both  were  read  in  the  morning  service  of  the  synagogues  on  the 
 sabhath-day.— B;».  Pearce.  16.  Ye  that /ear  God,  meaning  here,  and 
 at  ver.  -Jfi,  the  proselvtcs  who  embraced  Judaism,  but  were  not  Jew3 
 by  descent.  1".  E-ralted,  raised  them  from  slavery  to  the  high  rank 
 of  being  his  chosen  people.— .rVcu-c.  18.  Svfffred  he,  ^c,  tenderly 
 bore  with  all  their  infant  faults  ;  so  the  idea  in  the  marg.  20.  Four 
 hundred  and  fifty  years— \\i\%  differs  from  the  Hebrew  chronology  full 
 one  hundred  years',  but  the  apostle  adopts  the  computation  of  the  Sept, 
 
 tbiin  this,  *  that  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed  of  the 
 church.' 
 
 IL  Peter  delivered.  He  had  yet  more  work  to  do,  and  tbe 
 infant  church  were  to  be  confirmed  in  his  case  by  a  miracle, 
 and  that  in  answer  to  prayer,  while  their  voices  were  even 
 enga^^ed  in  their  supplications.  '  Men  ought  nlways  to  pray, 
 and  not  to  faint,'  for  God  is  able  to  do  for  us  exceeding  abuii- 
 IIj7 
 
 dantly  above  all  that  we  ran  ask  or  think. 
 
 111.  HiTod  liestroyed.  The  tyrannical  murderer  himself  must 
 :it  last  bow  beneath  the  awful  stroke  of  the  King  of  kings.  The 
 imperious  murderer  of  God's  minister,  and  usurper  of  those 
 honours  which  are  his  due.  finds,  when  it  is  too  late,  that  there 
 is  '  a  God  that  judnelh  in  tho  earth.'  '  Let  all  the  inhabitants 
 of  the  world  stand  in  awe  of  him  !' 
 
Paul  preachetfi  at  Antioch. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  Xni. 
 
 The  Jews  reject  the  word  of  God, 
 
 21  ""And  afterward  they  desired  a  king  :  and 
 God  gave  unto  them  Saul  the  son  of  Cis,  a  man 
 of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  by  the  space  of  forty 
 years. 
 
 22  And  ^  when  he  liad  removed  him,  ''he 
 raised  up  unto  them  David  to  be  their  king  ; 
 to  whom  also  he  gave  testimony,  and  said,  '  1 
 have  found  David  the  son  of  Jesse,  ''  a  man 
 after  mine  own  heart,  which  shall  fultil  all  my 
 will. 
 
 23  '  Of  this  man's  seed  hath  God  according 
 ■"  to  his  promise  raised  unto  Israel  "  a  Saviour, 
 Jesus : 
 
 24  °  When  John  had  first  preached  before  his 
 coming  the  baptism  of  repentance  to  all  the 
 people  of  Israel. 
 
 2j  And  as  John  fulfilled  his  course,  he  said, 
 P  Whtim  tliink  ye  tliat  1  am?  lam  wot  he. 
 But,  behold,  there  cometh  one  after  me,  whose 
 shoes  of  his  feet  I  am  not  wortliy  to  loose. 
 
 26  Men  and  brethren,  cliildren  of  the  stock 
 of  Abraham,  and  wliosoever  among  you  fear- 
 eth  God,  ''  to  you  is  the  word  of  this  salvation 
 sent. 
 
 27  For  they  that  dwell  at  Jerusalem,  and 
 their  rulers,  '  because  they  knew  him  not,  nor 
 yet  the  voices  of  the  prophets  Svbich  are  read 
 every  sabbath  day,  '  they  have  fulfilled  them'iw 
 condemning  him. 
 
 28  "  And  though  tliey  found  no  cause  of 
 death  in  him,  "  yet  desired  they  Pilate  that  he 
 should  be  slain. 
 
 29  ^  And  when  they  had  fulfilled  all  that  was 
 written  of  him,  '  they  took  him  down  from  tlie 
 tree,  and  laid  him  in  a  sepulchre. 
 
 30  "  But  God  raised  him  from  the  dead  : 
 
 31  And  ^  he  was  seen  many  days  of  them 
 which  came  up  with  him  '^^from  Galilee  to  Jeru- 
 salem, ^  who  are  his  witnesses  unto  the  people. 
 
 32  And  we  declare  unto  you  glad  tidings, 
 how  that  ^  the  promise  which  was  made  unto 
 the  fathers, 
 
 33  God  hath  fulfilled  the  same  unto  us  their 
 children,  in  that  he  hath  raised  up  Jesus  again  ; 
 as  it  is  also  written  in  the  second  psalm,  '^Thou 
 art  my  Son,  this  day  have  I  begotten  thee. 
 
 34  And  as  concerning  that  he  raised  him  up 
 from  the  dead,  noiv  no  more  to  return  to  cor- 
 ruption, he  said  on  this  wise,  ^  I  will  give  you 
 the  sure  f  mercies  of  David. 
 
 3.5  Wherefore  he  saith  also  in  another /««/;«, 
 ^  Thou  shalt  not  suflTer  thine  Holy  One  to  see 
 corruption. 
 
 36  For  David,  ||  after  he  had  served  his  own 
 generation  by  the  will  of  God,  *  fell  on  sleep. 
 
 A.  D.  -13. 
 
 /I  Sam.  8. 
 
 '    Si  10.  1. 
 S  1  Sam.  15. 
 
 23,  2fi,  2S.  8c 
 
 16.  I.  Hos. 
 
 13.  II. 
 h  1  Sam.  16. 
 
 13,  -i  Sam, 
 2.  4.  &  5.3. 
 
 Pa.  89.  20. 
 k  I  Sam.  13. 
 
 14.  ch  7.46 
 /Is.  It.  1. 
 
 Uike  1.  32, 
 
 9.ch. 
 
 !.90. 
 
 Ham.  1 
 
 II  2  Sam  7. 
 
 12.  Ps.  132. 
 
 11. 
 
 .  Mat.  1.21. 
 
 K.>m.ll.2l>. 
 o  Mat.  3.  1. 
 
 Luke  3,  3. 
 p  Milt.  3.  II. 
 
 Mark  1.  7. 
 
 I.iiki 
 
 ch.  9.  31.     II  Or,  ajler 
 i  I  Kin.  2.10.   ch.  2.  2 
 
 3.  16 
 1.  20, 
 
 7  Mat.  10.  6. 
 
 Luke  24.47. 
 
 ver.  46. 
 
 ch.  3.  26. 
 Luke  23. 
 
 34ch.3.l7. 
 
 I  Cor.  2.  8. 
 
 ver.   14.  15. 
 
 ch.  J5,  21. 
 t  Ltilie24-20, 
 
 44.  ch.  26. 
 
 22.1k  28.  S3 
 
 u  Mat  .27  22 
 
 Marklo.n, 
 
 U.Luke  23. 
 
 21,22,.Iohii 
 
 19   (S,  15. 
 jch.3  13,11 
 y  Luke  IS. 
 
 31  8:2+.H. 
 
 Jnhn  19,28, 
 
 30,  36,  37 
 ;  Mat.27.59 
 
 Ma-kl5  46. 
 
 Luke  23  53. 
 
 John  I9.3rt. 
 a  Mat,  28.fi. 
 
 oh.  2.  24.  & 
 
 3.13,15,26. 
 
 &  5.  30. 
 ^J  Mai  -.'S  IC. 
 
 rh.  1.  3. 
 
 I  Cpr.15.5, 
 
 6,7. 
 
 c  cli.  \.  11 
 doh.  1.  8.  & 
 
 2.  .32.  &  3. 
 lb.  St  5.  32. 
 
 F  (Jen.  3.  15. 
 Sc  12.  3  fc 
 22  19.  ch. 
 26  6.  Koni. 
 4.   13.  Gal. 
 
 3.  16. 
 
 /  Ps    2.  7. 
 
 Heb.  1.  5. 
 
 8(  5.  5. 
 g  la.  55.  3. 
 t  Gr.  rn  ,.,.a. 
 
 fhi'ugi  ■ 
 whirh 
 word  the 
 L  XX,  both 
 inlheplact 
 of  Is.  5.^.  3 
 
 many 
 others,  use 
 for  that 
 which  19  in 
 the  He- 
 brew, 7n«- 
 
 h  V%.  16    10 
 
 Dili  of  God,  ver.  22.  Pb.  78. ; 
 
 t.Ier.  51 
 
 .^1. 
 
 Dan.  9 
 
 'M 
 
 Luke! 
 
 .17. 
 
 IJoliii  L 
 
 IS. 
 
 /  Is.  53. 
 
 11. 
 
 Horn.  3 
 
 r« 
 
 He  S.  S. 
 
 Heb.  7. 
 
 19. 
 
 m  Is.  29 
 
 U 
 
 Hab.  1 
 
 5. 
 
 t  Gr.  in  the 
 atek  be- 
 
 fwfen,  or,  in 
 the  labbiUh 
 l/fluteii. 
 
 ■  ch.  11.  S3. 
 !t  14.  ■^. 
 ,  Tit.  2    II. 
 Keb.  12. 15. 
 1  Pet.  5.IS. 
 
 p  cli.  IR.  6. 
 I  Pet.  4.  A. 
 Jude  10. 
 
 a  Mat.  10.  6. 
 
 ch,  3.  2(3. 
 
 ver.  26. 
 
 Rom   1.  16. 
 Ex.  SS.  10. 
 
 Deut.32.SI. 
 
 Is    55.  6.. 
 
 Mat.21.  4.1. 
 
 Kora. 10.19. 
 
 ch.  18.  0. 
 
 &  28.  is. 
 I  Is.  42.  6. 
 
 &  40.  6, 
 
 Luke  2-32. 
 
 V  Mat.10.11. 
 ■  Mark  6.11. 
 
 Luke  9   5. 
 
 ch.  18.  6. 
 ;  Mat.  5.  12 
 
 John  IC.-22 
 
 ch.  S.  40, 
 
 and  was  laid  uiitahis  fathers,  and  saw  corrup- 
 tion : 
 
 37  But  he,  whom  God  raised  again,  saw  no 
 corruption. 
 
 38  II  Be  it  known  unto  you  therefore,  men 
 a7id  bretliren,  that '  througli  this  man  is  preach- 
 ed unto  you  the  forgiveness  of  sins  : 
 
 39  And  '  by  him  all  that  believe  are  justified 
 from  all  things,  from  which  ye  could  not  be 
 justified  by  the  law  of  Moses. 
 
 40  Beware  therefore,  lest  that  come  upon 
 you,  which  is  spoken  of  in  "'  the  prophets  ; 
 
 41  Behold,  ye  despisers,  and  wonder,  and 
 perish  :  for  I  work  a  work  in  your  days,  a 
 work  which  ye  shall  in  no  wise  believe,  though 
 a  man  declare  it  unto  you. 
 
 42  And  when  the  Jews  were  gone  out  of  the 
 synagogue,  the  Gentiles  besought  that  these 
 words  might  be  preached  to  them  f  tlie  next 
 sabbath. 
 
 43  Now  when  the  congregation  was  broken 
 up,  many  of  the  Jews  and  rehgious  proselytes 
 followed  Paul  and  Barnabas  :  who,  speaking 
 to  them,  "  persuaded  them  to  continue  in  °  the 
 grace  of  God. 
 
 44  H  And  the  next  sabbath  day  came  almost 
 the  whole  city  together  to  hear  the  word  of 
 God. 
 
 45  But  when  the  Jews  saw  the  multitudes, 
 they  were  filled  with  envy,  and  ''spake  against 
 those  things  which  were  spoken  by  Paul,  con- 
 tradicting and  blaspheming. 
 
 4G  Then  Paul  and  Barnabas  waxed  bold, 
 and  said,  ''  It  was  necessary  that  tlie  word  of 
 God  should  first  have  been  spoken  to  you  : 
 but  '.seeing  ye  put  it  from  you,  and  judge 
 yourselves  unworthy  of  everlasting  life,  lo, '  we 
 turn  to  the  Gentiles. 
 
 47  For  so  hath  the  Lord  commanded  us, 
 saying,  '  I  have  set  thee  to  be  a  light  of  the 
 Gentiles,  that  thou  shouldest  be  for  salvation 
 unto  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
 
 48  And  when  the  Gentiles  heard  this,  they 
 were  glad,  and  glorified  the  word  of  the  Lord : 
 "  and  as  many  as  were  ordained  to  eternal  life 
 believed. 
 
 49  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  published 
 throughout  all  the  region. 
 
 30  But  the  Jews  stirred  up  the  devout  and 
 honourable  women,  and  the  chief  men  of  the 
 city, and  'raised  persecution  against  Paul  and 
 Barnabas,  and  expelled  them  out  of  their 
 coasts. 
 
 y  I  '  But  they  shook  off  the  dust  of  their  feet 
 against  them,  and  came  unto  Iconium. 
 
 5'2  And  the  disciples  '  were  filled  with  joy, 
 and  with  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 then  in  use  ;  the  same  is  the  chronology  of  Josephus.—Wil.,  Whitbt/. 
 21.  Forty  years,  this  includes  Samuel's  government  as  well  as  Saul's. 
 —Bc^a,  Calv.,  Grot.,  Uoddr.,  &c.  22.  After  mine  own  heart— \  Sam. 
 xiii.  14.  Dote.  25.  Course,  or  'race,'  the  work  of  the  ministr>'  he 
 was  called  to.— Gi7/.  27.  Toice*,  words  or  prophecies.— Py/f.  3S.  That 
 through  this  man,  '  that  this  Jesus  is  the  true  Messiah,^  and  that,  by 
 the  sacrifice  of  his  death,  you  have  obtained  the  means  of  the  full  par. 
 don  of  your  sins.'— P^/e.  41.  Perish,  a<paviai)rn>;,  'turn  pale  with 
 terror,*  and  '  disappear.*  The  word  is  ambiguous,  and  may  mean  both. 
 —Doddr.  •  Hide  yourselves,'  as  people  astonished  and  alarmed  at 
 some  coming  evil.— ;t.  Clarke.  The  Hebrew  is  •  be  astonished.'  The 
 Sept,  '  be  astonished,*  or  *  hide  yourselves,'  (see  Hab.  i.  5.)— Bib.  Heh., 
 
 and  Sept.  45.  Envy,  f,iXu^,  zeal'  for  the  honour  of  the  law. — Bens. 
 46.  Wti^red  fiold,  -naptiT^tTtafTanevoi,  having  great  liberty  of  speech;  a 
 strong,  persuasive,  and  overpowering  eloquence. — .■!.  Clarke,  M'e 
 turn  to  the  Gentiles,  but  not  from  the  Jews  everywhere,  only  those  of 
 Antioch,  for  St.  Paul  still  preached  to  the  Jews  in  every  synagogue, 
 (chap,  xvii.2.) — Wtiithy,  4S,  Ordained  to,  'determined  for.' — Doddr., 
 Boothr.  50.  Devout  and  honoura/jle  women,  some  women  of  quality, 
 who  were  zealous  proselytes  of  the  gate. — Guyse.  Probably  tlieir  hus- 
 bands were  magistrates,  and  these  women  employed  their  influence 
 with  them  to  procure  the  expulsion  of  the  apostles. — Clarke.  51 .  Shook 
 off  the  du.-it — see  Matt.  x.  14,  notes.  Jconiutn,  the  chief  city  of  Lyca- 
 onia,  a  small  province  of  Asia  Minor. — Wells. 
 
 Reflections  cm  Chap.  XIII.  _  We  have  here,  I.  The 
 first  missmiaries  to  the  Gentiles.  Peter  had  preached  to  some, 
 but  this  was  the  first  missionary  tour  that  was  made.  '  We 
 who  were  once  sinners  of  the  Gentiles,  and  now,  through  the 
 goodness  of  God,  brought  to  the  obedience  of  faith,  have 
 
 ii:»s 
 
 great  reason  to  be  thankful,*  says  Boothroyd,  '  that  inspired 
 messengers  were  sent  to  preach  the  gospel,  the  ground  ot  our 
 faith.' 
 
 11.  '  We  hare  nhundunt  reason  for  r/ratitudc  that  the  holy  ierip- 
 turcs  are  rnul  amunij  its  every  sabbath,  as  the  Jews  read  them  in 
 
Paul  healeth  a  cripple. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XIV. 
 
 Pntil  is  stoned. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 I  Paul  and  Barnabas  are  persecuted  from  Iconiwn. 
 8  At  I.ijstra  Paul  hcahth  a  cripple^  whereupon  theij 
 are  reputed  as  rjods,  19  Paxd  is  stoned.  21  They 
 pass  through  dicers  churches,  conjirminf/  the  disciples 
 in  faith  and  patience.  26  Returnlnr/  to  Antioch^ 
 thnj  rejtort  what  God  had  done  with  titein. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pa.ss  in  Iconium,  tliat  they 
 -'-^  went  both  together  into  the  synagogue  of 
 tlie  Jevv.'j,  and  so  spake,  tliat  a  great  multitude 
 both  of  the  Jews  and  also  of  the  Greeks  be- 
 lieved. 
 
 2  But  the  unbelieving  Jevfs  stirred  up  the 
 Gentiles,  and  made  theit  minds  evil  affected 
 against  the  brethren. 
 
 3  Long  time  therefore  abode  they  speaking 
 boldly  in  the  Lord,  °  which  gave  testimony 
 unto  the  word  of  his  grace,  and  granted  signs 
 and  wonders  to  be  done  by  their  hands. 
 
 4  But  the  multitude  of  the  city  was  divided  : 
 and  part  held  with  the  Jews,  and  part  with  the 
 I"  apostles. 
 
 5  And  when  there  was  an  assault  made  both 
 of  the  Gentiles,  and  also  of  the  Jews  with  their 
 rulers,  '  to  use  them  despitefully,  and  to  stone 
 them, 
 
 6  They  were  ware  of  it,  and  ""fled  unto  Lystra 
 and  Derbe,  cities  of  Lycaonia,  and  unto  the 
 region  that  lieth  round  about ; 
 
 7  And  there  they  preached  the  gospel. 
 
 8  f "  And  there  sat  a  certain  man  at  Lystra, 
 impotent  in  his  feet,  being  a  cripple  from  his 
 mother's  womb,  who  never  had  walked  : 
 
 9  The  same  heard  Paul  speak  :  who  stead- 
 fastly beholding  him,  and  '  perceiving  that  he 
 had  faith  to  be  healed, 
 
 10  Said  with  a  loud  voice,  ^Stand  upright  on 
 thy  feet.      And  he  leaped  and  walked. 
 
 1 1  And  when  the  people  saw  wliat  Paul  had 
 done,  they  lifted  up  their  voices,  saying  in  the 
 speech  of  Lycaonia,  ''  The  gods  are  come 
 down  to  us  in  the  likeness  of  men. 
 
 12  And  they  called  Barnabas,  Jupiter;  and 
 Paul,  Mercurius,  because  he  was  the  chief 
 speaker. 
 
 13  Then  the  priest  of  Jupiter,  which  was  be- 
 fore their  city,  brought  oxen  and  garlands 
 unto  the  gates,  'and  would  have  done  sacrifice 
 with  the  people. 
 
 14  Which  when  the  apostles,  Barnabas  and 
 
 h  ch    8    10. 
 
 Sc  'ia  6. 
 
 *  ^tat.2fi  lis. 
 /  ell.  10.  26. 
 
 (  1  Sant.  13 
 ■-'1.  1  Kin. 
 16.  13 
 Jer.  14    SI 
 Amos  -2.  4 
 
 I  Coi 
 
 8.4, 
 
 1  Thes.l 
 p  Gen.  1.  I. 
 
 Ps   33.  6.  & 
 
 M6.6.  Ryv. 
 
 14.  7. 
 }  P>.  81.12. 
 
 ch.  17.  30. 
 
 1  Pet   4.  3. 
 
 ch.  17.  27. 
 
 Roi 
 
 .1 
 
 26.  4. 
 Deut.ll.U. 
 &  21*.  12. 
 Job  5.  10 
 Pa.  63.  10. 
 ifc  68.  9.  & 
 147.  8.  Jer 
 14.22.  Mat. 
 5.  45. 
 (  ch.   13.  45. 
 .2  Cor.  11. 
 25-  2  Tim. 
 3.  II. 
 
 r  Mat.28.l!l. 
 
 t  Gr.  h'ifl 
 tnude  mtuii/ 
 diiC'pUt. 
 
 V  Ch.  11.23. 
 '  &  13  43. 
 ;  iVat.lO.SS. 
 
 &  16.  24. 
 
 Luke  22  28. 
 
 29.  Kom.  8 
 
 17.  2  Tim. 
 
 2.  11,  12.  & 
 
 3.  12. 
 oTit.  I.  5. 
 
 ich.  13  1,S 
 c  ch.  15.  40. 
 
 d  ch.  15.  4, 
 12.  &21.19. 
 
 e  lCor.15,  9. 
 2  Cor. 2.12. 
 Col.  4.  3. 
 Kcv.  3. 8. 
 
 I'aul,  heard  of,  ^  they  rent  their  clothes,  and 
 ran  in  among  the  people,  crying  out, 
 
 lb  And  saying.  Sirs,  'why  do  ye  these 
 things'?  ""We  also  are  men  of  like  passions 
 with  you,  and  preach  unto  you  that  ye  should 
 turn  from  "  these  vanities  °  unto  the  living 
 God,  ''which  made  heaven,  and  earth,  and  the 
 sea,  and  all  things  that  are  therein  : 
 
 I  (i  '  Who  in  times  past  suffered  all  nations  to 
 walk  in  their  own  ways. 
 
 17  '  Nevertheless  he  left  not  himself  without 
 witness,  in  that  he  did  good, and  'gave  us  rain 
 from  heaven,  and  fruitful  seasons,  filling  our 
 hearts  with  food  and  gladness. 
 
 18  And  with  these  sayings  scarce  restrained 
 they  the  people,  that  they  had  not  done  sacri- 
 fice unto  them. 
 
 19  t '  And  there  came  thither  certain  Jews 
 from  Antioch  and  Iconium,  who  persuaded  the 
 people,  "  and,  having  stoned  Paul,  drew  him 
 out  of  the  city,  supposing  he  had  been  dead. 
 
 20  Howbeit,  as  the  disciples  stood  round 
 about  him,  he  rose  up, and  came  into  the  city: 
 and  the  next  day  he  departed  with  Barnabas 
 to  Derbe. 
 
 21  And  when  they  had  preached  the  gospel 
 to  that  city,  ^  and  f  had  taught  many,  they  re- 
 turned again  to  Lystra,  and  to  Iconium,  and 
 Antioch, 
 
 22  Confirming  the  souls  of  the  disciples,  and 
 '  exhorting  them  to  continue  in  tlie  faith,  and 
 that  '  we  must  through  much  tribulation  enter 
 into  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 23  And  when  they  had  *  ordained  them  elders 
 in  every  church,  and  had  prayed  with  fasting, 
 they  commended  them  to  the  Lord,  on  whom 
 they  believed. 
 
 24  And  after  they  had  passed  throughout 
 Pisidia,  they  came  to  Pamphylia. 
 
 25  And  when  they  had  preached  the  word  in 
 Pcrga,  they  went  down  into  Attalia : 
 
 2U  And  thence  sailed  to  Antioch,  i"  from 
 whence  they  had  been  '^  recommended  to  the 
 grace  of  God  for  tlie  work  which  they  fulfilled. 
 
 27  And  when  they  were  come,  and  had  ga- 
 thered the  church  together,  ''  they  rehearsed 
 all  that  God  had  done  with  them,  and  how  he 
 had 'opened  the  door  of  faith  unto  the  Gentiles. 
 
 28  And  there  they  abode  long  time  with  the 
 disciples. 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  —  1.  Greeks,  'EWnvtav,  probably  proselytes  of  tbe  gate. 
 —So  Wltithy,  Clarke,  &c.  They  might  have  been  other  classes.— So 
 Doddr.  2.  Gentiles,  t(,}v  etiiiav.  such  as  were  mere  heathens. — .i.  C. 
 3.  Lonff  time  there/ore  ^-c,  that  is,  for  the  purpose  of  confirming  the 
 great  number  of  believers,  and  of  overcoming  this  opposition. — Newc. 
 5.  To  stone  them,  as  blasphemers  against  the  law,  {Deut.  xiii.  6,  &c.) 
 —  Whitht/.  10.  Sfiid  uith  a  loud  voice,  ^-c— these  gross  idolatnrs  were 
 more  apt  to  be  struck  and  affected  with  signs  and  wonders  than  with 
 reasons  and  arguments,  and  therefore  St.  Paul,  at  his  tirst  preaching 
 among  them,  confirms  his  doctrine  by  a  signal  miracle. — Bp.  Newton. 
 11.  Gads  are  come — the  poets  imagined,  and  even  philosophers,  tliat 
 their  gods  appeared  in  a  human  shape.— H7ii7/j,v.  12.  Jupitei — Mer- 
 curius—  they  believed  that  these  gods  most  frequently  assumed  the 
 human  form,  and  that  Mercury  accompanied  Jupiter.  St.  Paul  they 
 called  Mercury,  as  the  chief  speaker.— See  Clarke,  Doddr.,  Be'iusobve. 
 13.  Which  was  before,  ^c.,  that  is,  the  statue  of  Jupiter  was  before  the 
 city,  for  it  was  usual  to  place  the  temple  or  statue  of  the  tutelary  gnd 
 of  a  city  before  its  gate. — Dps.  Pearce  and  Newc.  Oxen  and  garlands, 
 — n.xen  and  bulls  used  to  be  sacrificed  to  Jupiter.  It  was  cust'imary  to 
 place  garlands  about  the  heads  of  the  victims,  and  also  on  the  statue 
 or  the  god  which  was  worshipped,  and  on  the  priests  who  nffcreil  the 
 sr.crifice. — Newc.      14.  Rent  their  clothes,  expressing  their  dctcstati.m 
 
 of  the  blasphemous  proceedings,  (see  Matt.  xxvi.  65.1 — Bam.  15.  Va. 
 nities,  'false  di  itie?,'  often  so  called,  (see  I  Kings,  xvi.  13.) — Bp. 
 Pearce.  l6.  Suffered  all  nations,  fye.,  navra  ra  efli-n,  '  all  the  Gen- 
 tiles,'distinguished  from  the  Jewish  people. — Clarke.  Meaning  that 
 he  gave  them  no  revelation  of  his  will  like  the  Jews. —  Whithn.  20.  He 
 rose  i/p— this  must  certainly  be  the  effect  of  a  miraculous  cure,  ap. 
 proaching,  as  near  as  one  can  conceive,  to  a  resurrection  from  the 
 dead.  And  came  into  the  city,  probably  to  confirm  the  faith  of  the  new 
 converts. — Doddr.  23.  Ordained,   xe'poToi/rjua^TCi- — the    verb    pro- 
 
 perly denotes  to  stretch  out  the  hand  ;  and  as  it  was  customary  to  elect 
 to  office,  or  to  vote,  by  stretching  out  or  elevating  the  hand,  so  the  woi  d 
 simply  means  to  elect,  appoint,  or  designate  to  any  ofiice. — Barnes.  It 
 means  they  ordained  them  elders  by  the  votes  of  the  people. — So 
 Erasmus,  Cale.,  Bezn.  The  word  does  not  signify  the  choosing  elders 
 by  common  suffrage. — So  Ham.,  Selden.  They  {Paul  and  Barnabas) 
 ordained  them  (the  Christians;  '  elders,'  ^c.  If  an  election  by  holding 
 up  hands  be  intended,  Paul  and  Barnabas  were  the  sole  electors.— 
 Sc(i/t.  All  that  is  meant  by  Paul  and  Barnabas  doing  this  is,  probably, 
 that  thev  presided  in  the  assembly.— J3«rncs.  Elders,  these  elders 
 were  their  stated  pastors. — Scott,  25.  Attalia,  a  seaport  in  Pam- 
 phylia, which  derived  its  name  from  king  Attains,  its  founder. —  Wells. 
 
 tiieir  synagogues.     Let  it  be  our  care  to  understaad  and  practi- 
 cally improve  them.' 
 
 111.  ^  It  is  matter  of  encourarjement  when  numbers  attend  on 
 the  preathing  of  the  gospel.^     *  Faith  coraeth  by  hearing,  and 
 hearing  by  tbe  word  of  God.'     *Tbey  wbo  reject  tbe  counsel 
 llo9 
 
 of  God  in  respect  of  theinseWe.s,  may  be  provolied  at  tbe  cir- 
 cumstance,' but  '  others  will  receive  tbat  trutb  to  tbeir  salva- 
 tion which  tbey  despise  and  reject.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  \I\^.  —  I.  From  the  apostles' ad- 
 dress at  Lystra  we  shouit  learn  In  eontcmplate  Godin  all  his  works. 
 
Dissension  touching  circumcision. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XV. 
 
 The  apostles  consult  uhout  it. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 I  Great  dissension  arisi-ih  touching  circunwision,  ii 
 The  uposttes  consult  about  it,  22  and  send  their  deter- 
 ndnation  Ijy  letters  to  Me  ctiurelies.  36  Paul  and 
 Barnabas,  thinking  to  visit  the  bretltren  together,  fall 
 at  strife,  and  dtpart  asunder. 
 
 A  ND  'certain  men  which  came  down  from 
 -^^  Judaea  taught  the  brethren,  and  said, 
 '■  Except  ye  be  circumcised  '  after  the  manner 
 of  Muses,  ye  cannot  be  saved. 
 
 2  When  therefore  Paul  and  Barnabas  liad 
 no  small  dissension  and  disputation  with  them, 
 they  determined  that  ''  Paul  and  Barnabas,  and 
 certain  other  of  them,  should  go  up  to  Jerusa- 
 lem unto  the  apostles  and  elders  about  this 
 question. 
 
 3  And  "  being  brought  on  their  way  by  the 
 churcli,  they  passed  through  Phenice  and  Sa- 
 maria, '  declaring  the  conversion  of  tl>e  Gen- 
 tiles :  and  they  caused  great  joy  unto  all  the 
 brethren. 
 
 4  And  when  they  were  come  to  Jerusalem, 
 they  were  received  of  the  church,  and  of  tlie 
 apostles  and  elders,  and  ^  they  declared  all 
 things  that  God  had  done  with  them. 
 
 5  But  there  ||  rose  up  certain  of  the  sect  of 
 the  Pharisees  which  believed,  saying, '' That  it 
 was  needful  to  circumcise  them,  and  to  com- 
 mand them  to  keep  the  law  of  Moses. 
 
 6  IT  And  the  apostles  and  elders  came  toge- 
 ther for  to  consider  of  this  matter. 
 
 7  And  when  there  had  been  much  disputing, 
 Peter  rose  up,  and  said  unto  them,  '  Men  and 
 brethren,  ye  know  how  that  a  good  wliile  ago 
 God  made  choice  among  us,  that  the  Gentiles 
 by  my  mouth  should  hear  the  word  of  the 
 gospel,  and  believe. 
 
 8  And  God,  'which  knoweth  the  hearts,  bare 
 
 A.  D.  51. 
 
 A.  D.  52. 
 
 (ch.  10,  AA. 
 
 m  Kom.   10. 
 
 11. 
 
 nch.  10.   15, 
 
 29,  48. 
 
 1  C.ir.  1.  8. 
 
 1  Pel  1.  29. 
 
 ;  Mat.  2.S.4. 
 
 Gal.  5.  1. 
 
 a  Gal.  S.  18, 
 
 p  Rom.  3.  24. 
 
 b  JohuT.ys. 
 
 Eph.  2.  «. 
 
 Tei.  5.  <jul 
 
 Tit.  2.  11. 
 
 5.  2.  Pliil, 
 
 St  3  4,  &. 
 
 S.  -2-  Cul.a. 
 
 H,  11,  ll>. 
 
 A.  D.  52. 
 
 c  Gen. 17-10 
 
 Lev.  12   3 
 
 d  Gdl.  2.  1. 
 
 '/  ch,  11.  27, 
 
 r  ch.  12.  17. 
 
 »  Rom.  15, 
 
 *  ver,  7. 
 
 24     1  Cur, 
 
 16.  G,  11. 
 
 fell.  H    tl 
 
 /Amos  y,n. 
 
 12. 
 
 g  ver.  12. 
 
 ch.   14.27. 
 
 it  -21.  in. 
 
 A.  n    52- 
 
 1  Or,  fowt<p. 
 
 Raid  they. 
 
 «  See  ver.29. 
 
 tfria  ill. 
 
 T  1    ThCB-    1. 
 
 h  ver.  1. 
 
 3. 
 
 y  Gen.  .S5  2 
 
 Kjt.20.3.';:t 
 
 Kick  .20:^11 
 
 1  Cor.  8.  1 . 
 
 Rev.  2.   11. 
 
 80.  &  1  0. 
 
 20.  29. 
 
 .  ch,  10.  20. 
 
 &  11.  le. 
 
 s  ICor.  6  9. 
 IH.  Gnl.  h. 
 19    Kph.5 
 
 3,  Col.  3  5. 
 
 1  Thes  4  3 
 
 1  Pet.  4    3- 
 
 a  Gen.  9,  4. 
 
 Lev.  3.  17. 
 
 *  I  Clir  ?ft. 
 9.  cli.  1.21. 
 
 Deu.  12.16, 
 83. 
 
 them  witness,  '  giving  them  the   Holy   (iliost, 
 even  as  he  did  unto  us  ; 
 
 9  *"  And  put  no  difference  between  us  and 
 them,  "purifying;  their  hearts  by  faith. 
 
 10  Now  therefore  why  tempt  ye  God,  "to 
 put  a  yoke  upon  the  neck  of  the  disciples,  which 
 neither  our  fathers  nor  we  were  able  to  bear? 
 
 1 1  But  ^  we  believe  that  through  the  <:race  of 
 the  Lord  Jesus  Clirist  we  shall  be  saved,  even 
 as  they. 
 
 12  11  Then  all  the  multitude  kept  silence, 
 and  gave  audience  to  Bar«abas  and  Paul,  de- 
 claring what  miracles  and  wonders  God  had 
 ''wrought  among  the  Gentiles  by  them. 
 
 13  If  And  after  they  had  held  their  peace, 
 'James  answered,  saying,  Men  and  brethren, 
 hearken  unto  me  : 
 
 14  *  Simeon  hath  declared  how  God  at  the 
 first  did  visit  the  Gentiles,  to  take  out  of  them 
 a  people  for  his  name. 
 
 15  And  to  tliis  agree  the  words  of  the  pro- 
 phets ;  as  it  is  written, 
 
 16  '  After  this  I  will  retuni,  and  will  build 
 again  the  tabernacle  of  David,  which  is  fallen 
 down  ;  and  I  will  build  again  the  ruins  thereof, 
 and  I  will  set  it  up  : 
 
 17  That  the  residue  of  men  might  seek  after 
 the  Lord,  and  all  the  Gentiles,  upon  whom  my 
 name  is  called,  saith  the  Lord,  who  doeth  all 
 these  things. 
 
 18  Known  unto  God  are  all  his  works  from 
 the  beginning  of  the  world. 
 
 19  Wherefore  "  my  sentence  is,  that  we 
 trouble  not  them,  which  from  among  the  Gen- 
 tiles ^are  turned  to  God  : 
 
 '20  But  that  we  write  unto  them,  that  they 
 abstain  ^  from  pollutions  of  idols,  and  '^  from 
 fornication,  and  yVom  things  strangled,  "and 
 from  blood. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  — 2.  They  determined,  that  is,  the  disciples  of  Antioch.— 
 Bp.  Pearce.  5.  Which  believed,  that  Jesus  was  the  Messiah,  and 
 professed  their  faith  in  him,  and  were  members  of  the  church,  though 
 they  still  retained  many  of  their  Pharisaical  tenets,  and  are  therefore 
 said  to  be  of  that  sect.— Gi//.  lo.  Why  tempt  ye  God?  '  why  do  ve 
 try  the  goodness  and  patience  of  nod  by  opposing-  his  will,  who  has 
 sealed  the  Gentiles  for  his  own  by  giving  them  the  Spirit  }*—Xewromf. 
 •Why  compel  ihe  Gentiles  to  submit  to  greater  burdens  than  he  re- 
 quires ?*—i?p.  Ulunn.  A  yoke,  not  the  moral  law,  which  is  of  eternal 
 obligation,  but  the  ritual,  which,  through  the  multitude  of  its  sacri- 
 fices, ordinances,  Sec,  was  exceedingly  hurthensome  to  the  Jewish 
 people.  — C/urA'^.  11.  Even  ns  they,  by  the  gospel,  and  not  by  the 
 law. — Newc.  13.  James,  son  of  Alpheus,  the  other  being  dead,  (chap. 
 xiv.  2.)  U.Simeon,  i.  e.,  Simim  Peter,  who  had  spoken  before. 
 Simon  is  a  contraction  of  Simenn  in  the  Syriac  language;  Simeon  was 
 his  pure  Hebrew  name ;  and  James,  speaking  to  an  assembly  of  He- 
 brews, uses  it.— Gill.  Vixit,  God  is  said  to  do  so  when  he  blesses  as 
 well  as  when  he  punishes,  (Gen.  xxi.  1  ;  Luke,  i.  68;  xix.  4-i.)~Iip. 
 Mann.  Words  of  the  prophets— Amos  only  \s  quoted  ;  this  is  agreeable 
 to  the  Jewish  way  of  citing  the  scriptures,  one  is  given  fnr  many.— 
 Gilt.      Written,  m  Amos,  ix.  11.  12.  l6.  After  this,  fyn.~the  quota- 
 
 tion and  original  vary  ;  but  perhaps  we  may  account  fur  the  riifftrcnce 
 by  saying  that  James  intended  to  give  the  sense,  not  the  exact  words, 
 of  the  prophecy;  and  in  respect  of  the  sense,  the  two  passages  perfectly 
 harmonize.  i;.  The  residue,  fyc,  plainly  foretels  the  conversion  of 
 
 the  Gentiles.- i>icA:.  19.  Where/ore  my  sentence  is,  &10  c^w  uptvta, 
 
 '  I  judge'  or  '  decide.' — Scott.  The  original  means,  '  I  give  it  as  my 
 opinion  or  judgment,'  not  as  having  authority  over  the  rest,  but  as 
 having  been  an  adviser  with  them.— //en.  20.  Pollutions  0/ idols, 
 explained  ver.  29,  *  meats  offered  to  idols.'  The  Gentiles  believed  that, 
 in  partaking  of  sacrifices,  and  other  consecrated  meat**,  they  had  fel- 
 lowship with  the  gods.  On  this  account,  meats  otfered  to  idols  were 
 an  abomination  to  the  Jews.  With  a  view  therefore  not  to  shock  the 
 feelings  of  the  Jews,  and  that  the  believing  Gentiles  might  not  sym- 
 
 bolize with  idulators,  and  lay  a  stumbling. block  before  their  weak 
 brethren,  the  use  of  such  meats  was  forbidrlen,  although  it  appears, 
 from  the  reasonings  of  Paul,  that  in  all  cases  it  was  not  unlawful. 
 Fornication — this  was  reputed  harmless  among  the  Gentiles,  and  con. 
 nected  with  idolatrous  worship.  In  writing  to  the  CJeutiles,  it  was 
 necessary  to  take  particular  notice  of  a  crime  to  whii-h  the  temptation 
 was  strong,  from  its  frequency  and  the  opinion  of  its  innocence. 
 Things  strangled,  Ihe  bodies  of  animals  put  to  death  by  suffocation, 
 and  in  which  the  blood  is  retained.  And  from  blood,  blood  taken  from 
 an  animal  and  separately  used. —Dirk.  See  on  the  precept  given  to 
 Noah,  Gen.  ix.  1 — ",  notes.  'Things  strangled  and  blood,'  are  under- 
 stood to  comprehend  all  creatures  killed  for  food  without  discharging 
 the  blood  from  tliem  ;  but  perhaps  the  original  precept  to  Noah  did  not 
 go  so  far  ;  and  further  than  that  went  we  are  not  hound,  otherwivc 
 than  may  be  necessary  to  avoid  hurting  the  consciences  of  our  weaker 
 brethren. — Wil.  This  prohibition  also  includes  cruelty,  manslaughter, 
 murder,  &c.,  as  some  of  the  ancient  fathers  have  understood  it. — 
 Clarke.  It  seems  extending  it  too  far  to  extend  it  to  the  violation  of 
 one  of  the  great  commands  of  the  moral  law  ;  why  select  this  com- 
 mand to  the  omission  of  the  rest  ?  Obedience  to  this  could  scarcely 
 fail  to  be  intelligible.— £rf.  On  the  perpetuity  of  this  prohibition  re- 
 lative to  eating  things  with  blood,  there  are  different  opinions.  Some 
 maintain  that  the  precept  was  given  to  Noah,  and  is  still  perpetual; 
 but  there  were  ceremonies  before  the  law  ;  tlic^e  rites  are  confessedly 
 abolished,  and  the  prohibition  might  refer  to  them.  It  is  affirmed  by 
 some  that  things  strangled  Sic.  were  prohibited  because  they  were 
 used  by  the  Gentiles  in  their  idolatrous  sacrifices,  (Ps.  xvi.  4.)  Ac- 
 cording to  this  opinion,  the  prohibition  must  he  considered  as  occa- 
 sional and  local.  Under  the  law,  blood  was  forbidden  because  it  made 
 atonement  for  sin  ;  it  was  then  sacred  ;  it  was  appropriated  to  ttie  ser- 
 vice of  God.  But  now,  when  the  consecration  is  at  an  end,  and  the 
 legal  sacrifices  have  ceased,  blood  is  not  more  sacred  than  water,  and 
 may  be  used  with  as  little  ri-k  of  profanation.— DicA: ;  see  further  argu- 
 ments  in  his  Lectures  on  the  Acts.    On  the  other  side,  it  is  argued  that 
 
 Nature  is  a  volume  which  we  may  read  with  advantage,  and 
 from  which  we  may  learn  his  eternal  power  and  godhead.  Let 
 us  acknowledge  bis  kind  hand  in  the  rain  from  heaven  and 
 the  Iruitful  season,  and  pour  out  before  him  the  gratitude  of 
 devoted  hearts, 
 
 n.  From  ihe  exhortations  of  the  aposths  to  the  infant  churches 
 of  Chn St,  we  see  the  necessity  of  xtahiUty  in  reli./ion.      Without 
 this  we  are  but  us  trees  bearing  hut  leaves,  crralher,  dead  at 
 Il(jO 
 
 the  roots.  And  there  are  many  cases  still  in  which  the  ge- 
 nuine nature  of  our  religion  may  be  tested  by  the  most  severe 
 afflictions.  If,  then,  we  would  hold  fust  the  profession  of  our 
 faith  without  wavering,  endure  to  the  end,  and  so  be  saved,  let 
 us  earnestly  pray  for  the  communication  of  almighty  grace  to 
 strengthen  us  for  every  trial  and  duty,  and  commend  each 
 other,  as  Christians,  to  the  Lord,  in  whom  we  have  believed. 
 
Letters  to  the  churches. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XVI. 
 
 Contention  between  Paul  and  Barnabas. 
 
 21  For  Moses  of  old  time  hath  in  every  city 
 them  tliat  preach  him,  ''  being  read  in  the  syna- 
 gogues every  sabbath  day. 
 
 •2-2  Then  pleased  it  the  apostles  and  elders, 
 with  the  whole  church,  to  send  chosen  men  of 
 their  own  company  to  Antioch  with  Paul  and 
 Barnabas  ;  namely,  Judas  surnamed  "  Barsabas, 
 and  Silas,  chief  men  among  the  brethren  : 
 
 •23  And  they  wrote  letters  by  them  after  this 
 manner  j  The  apostles  and  elders  and  brethren 
 send  greeting  unto  the  brethren  which  are  of 
 the  Gentiles  in  Antioch  and  Syria  and  Cilicia  ; 
 
 24  Forasmuch  as  we  have  heard,  that  ''  cer- 
 tain which  went  out  from  us  hath  troubled  you 
 with  words,  subverting  your  souls,  saying,  Ye 
 must  be  circumcised,  and  keep  the  law :  to 
 whom  we  gave  no  such  cominandment : 
 
 25  It  seemed  good  unto  us,  being  assembled 
 with  one  accord,  to  send  chosen  men  unto  you 
 with  our  beloved  Barnabas  and  Paul, 
 
 20  •■  Men  that  have  hazarded  their  lives  for 
 the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 27  We  have  sent  therefore  Judas  and  Silas, 
 who  shall  also  tell  you  the  same  things  by 
 t  mouth. 
 
 28  For  it  seemed  good  to  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 and  to  us,  to  lay  upon  you  no  greater  burden 
 than  these  necessary  things  ; 
 
 29  '  That  ye  abstain  from  meats  offered  to 
 idols,  and  ^  from  blood,  and  from  things  stran- 
 gled, and  from  fornication  :  from  which  if  ye 
 keep  yourselves,  ye  shall  do  well.  Fare  ye 
 well. 
 
 30  So  when  they  were  dismissed,  they  came 
 to  Antioch  :  and  when  they  had  gathered  the 
 multitude  together,  they  delivered  the  epistle  : 
 
 ;U  Which  wlien  they  had  read,  they  rejoiced 
 for  the  II  consolation. 
 
 32  And  Judas  and  Silas,  being  prophets  also 
 themselves,  ^  exhorted  the  brethren  with  many 
 words,  and  confirmed  them. 
 
 33  And  after  they  had  tarried  there  a  space, 
 they  were  let  '  go  in  peace  from  the  brethren 
 unto  the  apostles. 
 
 3-4  Notwithstanding  it  pleased  Silas  to  abide 
 there  still. 
 
 35  '■  Paul  also  and  Barnabas  continued  in 
 Antioch,  teaching  and  preaching  the  word  of 
 
 il.  2   4,  & 
 lu.  II. 
 
 ech.l3.B0. 
 ft  14.  IQ 
 I  Cur.   10. 
 30.  2  Cor. 
 U.  23,  26. 
 
 f  Gr.  wnril. 
 
 I.  cb.  14.  22. 
 &  13.  23. 
 
 .\.  D.  53. 
 
 /eh.  13.  4, 
 13,  II,  Si. 
 &  14.  I,  6, 
 24,  2&. 
 
 m  cli    12  !2, 
 ■i',   I*  \:\-  5 
 C.il.  \  U) 
 2   rim    4. 
 
 ii.riiiU'u). 
 
 .■"ill.  13.  13. 
 
 It  cli.  16.  5. 
 
 Koin  1(5  21. 
 
 1  Cor.  4  17. 
 
 Phil   2.  19. 
 
 IThej.S.  2 
 
 niin.  1.  2. 
 
 2Tim.  1.2 
 :  2  Tim. 1.5. 
 <i  cb.  ti.3. 
 
 e  1  Cor.  9.  20. 
 fial.  2.  3. 
 See  Gal,  .'i. 
 
 the  Lord,  with  many  others  also. 
 
 36  H  And  some  days  after  Paul  said  unto 
 Barnabas,  Let  us  go  again  and  visit  our  breth- 
 ren '  in  every  city  where  we  have  preached 
 the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  see  how  they  do. 
 
 37  And  Barnabas  determined  to  take  with 
 them  "John,  whose  surname  was  Mark. 
 
 38  But  Paul  thought  not  good  to  take  him 
 with  them,  "  who  departed  from  them  from 
 Pamphylia,  and  went  not  with  them  to  the 
 work. 
 
 39  And  the  contention  was  so  sliarp  between 
 them,  that  they  departed  asunder  one  from  the 
 other:  and  so  Barnabas  took  Mark,  and  sailed 
 unto  Cyprus ; 
 
 40  And  Paul  chose  Silas,  and  departed, 
 °  being  recommended  by  the  brethren  unto  the 
 grace  of  God. 
 
 41  And  he  went  through  Syria  and  Cilicia, 
 confirming  the  churches. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 Paul  having  circnmcisi:d  Timoibij ,  1  and  heinti  called 
 hy  the  Spirit  from  one  country  to  another,  14  con' 
 verleth  Lydia,  16  castetli  out  a  spirit  of  divination, 
 19  For  which  cause  he  and  Situs  are  whipped  and 
 imprisoned.  26  Ttie  prison  doors  arc  opened.  31 
 2'he  jailor  is  converted,  37  and  they  are  dilil'rrcd. 
 
 'T'HEN  came  he  to  '  Derbe  and  Lystra:  and, 
 ■*-  behold,  a  certain  disciple  was  there, ''named 
 Timutheus,  '  the  son  of  a  certain  woman,  which 
 was  a  Jewess,  and  believed  ;  but  his  father  was 
 a  Greek  : 
 
 2  Which ''  was  well  reported  of  by  the  brethren 
 that  were  at  Lystra  and  Iconium. 
 
 3  Him  would  Paul  have  to  go  forth  with 
 him  ;  and  °  took  and  circumcised  him  because 
 of  the  Jews  vvliich  were  in  those  quarters  :  for 
 they  knew  all  that  his  father  was  a  Greek. 
 
 4  And  as  they  went  through  the  cities,  they 
 delivered  them  the  decrees  for  to  keep,  'that 
 were  ordained  of  the  apostles  and  elders  which 
 were  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 5  And  ^  so  were  the  churches  established  in 
 the  faith,  and  increased  in  number  daily. 
 
 6  Now  when  they  had  gone  throughout 
 Phrygia  and  the  region  of  Galatia,  and  were 
 forbidden  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to  preach  the 
 word  in  Asia, 
 
 abstinence  from  blood  is  a  perpetual  command;  that  creatures  that 
 eat  blood  are  cruel,  &c.  i  and  that  '  if  the  eating  of  blood  never  was 
 permitted,  either  before  the  flood  or  after  the  flood,  or  under  the  law 
 or  under  the  gospel,  then  surely  no  man  in  his  senses  will  say  it  is  now 
 lawful  to  eat  it.*  —  See  Clarke,  and  Dr.  Delaney^s  Rev.  Examined. 
 .'il.  The  consolation,  in  knowing  that  they  were  delivered  from  the  ne- 
 cessity of  circumcision,  and  the  other  ceremonies  of  the  law.  32.  Pro. 
 pliels,  'teachers.' — Boothr.  'Prophets'  here  signifying  'teachers 
 under  the  immediate  assistance  of  the  Spirit.' — Bp.  Mann.  38.n7io 
 ile/iarted  frujn  them,  either  through  fatigue,  fear,  weariness  of  his 
 worli,  or  affection  to  his  mother,  (chap.  xiii.  13.)  3g.  The  conten- 
 tion was  so  sharp  l/elween  them,  e^evcTo  ovv  napo^viri^o^,  'there  was 
 therefore  a  paroxysm,  an  incitement,  a  stirring  up.'  But  does  this 
 imply  anger  or  ill-will  on  either  side?  Certainly  not.  —  .4.  Clarke. 
 Barnabas  perhaps  insisting  that  John  Mark  should  go,  as  being  his 
 relation,  in  whose  favour  he  might  urge  the  excellence  of  his  mother 
 Mary,  and  that  the  son  was  but  a  young  man,  not  yet  having  the 
 courage,  resolution,  constancy,  and  solidity  of  elder  ministers,  Sec. — 
 Gill.     Departed  asunder,  they  separated,  but  it  plainly  appears  they 
 
 did  not  become  enemies.  They  preached  the  same  gospel  though  ia 
 different  companies,  each  taking  his  proper  circuit,  and  thus  the  work 
 of  the  Lord  was  performed  with  greater  despatch,  and  perhaps  with 
 greater  success. — Doddr.  40.  Being  recommended,  fyc. — hence  some 
 infer  that  Barnabas  was  in  the  wrong,  he  and  Maik  not  being  so  re- 
 commended; but  it  must  be  observed  ttiat  St.  I-uke  had,  for  the  pre- 
 sent, dropped  the  story  of  Barnabas,  and  was  now  going  on  with  that 
 of  Paul  and  Silas.—  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  XVf. — 1.  Timt'theus,  Timitlhy,  to  whom  Paul  afterwards  ad- 
 dressed two  epistles.— iriV.  A  certain  woman,  named  Eunice,  (2 Tim. 
 i.  5.)  3.  Circumcised  him,  that  he  might  not  ofl'cnd  the  Jews,  and 
 obstruct  his  own  usefulness  and  that  of  Timothy  in  preaching  the  gos- 
 pel, for  they  would  conclude  he  was  uncirciimciscd,  his  father  being  a 
 Greek. — Newc. ;  see  also  Doddr.  4.  The  decrees,  which  were  deter- 
 mined as  their  rule  in  the  late  council  at  Jerusalem.  —  Doddridge. 
 6.  Phtij^'ia — see  chap.  ii.  10,  note.  Galatia — this  division  of  Asia  ad- 
 joined to  Phrygia  in  the  north-east.  It  derived  its  name  from  CalatK, 
 or  (^auls.  some  of  whom  left  Europe,  and  brought  a  great  part  of  the 
 Asiatic  continent  under  their  command. —  Welts.      Forbidden  of  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV.  —  I.  The  conduct  of  the  council 
 at  .Terusalem  may  teach  us  to  exercise  candour  towards  those  Chris- 
 tiaiis  who  diffei  frcn:  us  in  external  matters.  Sectiirian  zeal  lias 
 often  set  the  church  ia  flames  ;  we  have  here  an  example  how 
 to  avoid  kindling  tlrose  flames,  or  how  to  quench  them  when 
 kindled. 
 
 II.  The  contest  between  Paul  and  Barnabas  may  teach  us  to 
 nuike  allowances  for  misunderstandings  among  real  Christians. 
 '  The  best  of  men  are  but  men  at  the  best.'  It  is  here  uncer- 
 tain whether  both  were  warm  in  tlie  dispute;  some  think,  but 
 certainly  without  good  reason,  that  r.arnahas  was  most  or  only 
 11  til 
 
 to  blame.  However,  there  is  no  ground  on  which  to  conclude 
 that  they  parted  with  any  malignant  feeling.  Luther  was 
 warm,  and  is  said  to  have  spoken  in  severe  terms  of  Calvin,  and 
 to  have  called  him  a  dog.  Calvin,  when  they  were  reported 
 to  him,  is  said  to  have  replied,  '  Let  Luther  call  me  a  dog,  or 
 a  devil  ;  I  will  call  him  a  faithful  servant  of  Je.sus  Christ.'  In 
 this  manner  should  contentions,  which  arise  out  of  human  in- 
 firmity, terminate  among  Christians.  Here,  as  in  many  other 
 instances,  they  were  overruled  for  good;  and  the  all-wise 
 Head  of  the  church  still  frequently  makes  them  end  in  '  tho 
 furtherance  of  the  gospel.' 
 
 7   I 
 
Lydia'i 
 
 s  conversion. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XVI. 
 
 The  Jailor  of  Philippi. 
 
 7  After  they  were  come  to  Mjsia,  tliey 
 assayed  to  go  into  Bithynia :  but  the  Spirit 
 suffered  them  not. 
 
 8  And  they  passing  by  Mysia  "came  down 
 to  Troas. 
 
 n  And  a  vision  appeared  to  Paul  in  the  night ; 
 Tliere  stood  a  '  man  of  Macedonia,  and  prayed 
 him,  saying.  Come  over  into  Macedonia,  and 
 lielp  ns. 
 
 10  And  after  he  had  seen  the  vision,  imme- 
 diately we  endeavoured  to  go  '  into  Mace- 
 donia, assuredly  gathering  that  the  Lord  had 
 called  us  for  to  preach  the  gospel  unto  them. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  loosing  from  Troas,  we  came 
 with  a  straight  course  to  Samothracia,  and  the 
 next  day  to  Neapolis  ; 
 
 12  And  from  thence  to  '  Philippi,  which  is 
 II  the  chief  city  of  that  part  of  Macedonia,  itnd 
 a  colony  :  and  we  were  in  that  city  abiding 
 certain  days. 
 
 13  And  on  the  f  sabbath  we  went  out  of  the 
 city  by  a  river  side,  where  prayer  was  wont  to 
 be  made  ;  and  we  sat  down,  and  spake  unto 
 the  women  which  resorted  thither. 
 
 14  T  And  a  certain  woman  named  Lydia,  a 
 seller  of  purple,  of  the  city  of  Thyatira,  which 
 wor.shipped  God,  heard  us  :  whose  '"  heart  the 
 Lord  opened,  that  she  attended  unto  the  things 
 which  were  spoken  of  Paul. 
 
 15  And  when  she  was  baptized,  and  her 
 houshold,  she  besought  us,  saying.  If  ye  have 
 judged  me  to  be  faithful  to  the  Lord,  come 
 into  my  house,  and  abide  there.  And  "  she 
 constrained  us. 
 
 16  IT  And  it  came  to  pass,  as  we  went  to 
 prayer,  a  certain  damsel  "possessed  with  a 
 spirit  II  of  divination  met  us,  which  brought 
 her  masters  ■'much  gain  by  soothsaying  : 
 
 17  The  same  followed  Paul  and  us,  and  cried, 
 saying.  These  men  are  the  servants  of  tlie  most 
 high  God,  which  shew  unto  us  the  way  of  sal- 
 vation. 
 
 18  And  this  did  she  many  days.  But  Paul, 
 ''  being  grieved,  turned  and  said  to  the  spirit, 
 I  command  tliee  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ 
 to  come  out  of  her.  '  And  he  came  out  the 
 same  hour. 
 
 1 9  1  And  '  when  her  masters  saw  that  the 
 hope  of  their   gains  was  gone,  '  they  caught 
 
 A2Cor.2.l2. 
 STim.4.IS. 
 
 /  i'liil.  I.  I. 
 IjOr,  rt'/rji. 
 
 n  Luke  24. 
 
 n  Gen    ly.  3. 
 
 et  33    II. 
 
 JudK.1921 
 
 Lukc2l.-2fi. 
 
 Heb.  13.  2, 
 »  I  Sam.  28. 
 
 II  Or,  o<-i>,. 
 (ha„. 
 p  rh.  19  21. 
 
 S,?e  Mark 
 1.  25,  34. 
 
 ■  Mark  IG 
 17. 
 
 (  ch.  19.  25, 
 26. 
 t  2  Cor.  6.  5. 
 
 "  Mat.10.l8. 
 II  Or,  courl. 
 
 X  1  Kin.   18 
 
 17.  cb,  17. 
 
 ^2  Cor.  6.  5. 
 b  1 1  23, 25. 
 1  Thc8.2.2. 
 
 t  ch.  5.  19. 
 5c  12.  7,  10 
 
 b  I.uVeS  10 
 c:li.  2.  37.  & 
 9.6. 
 
 c  Johns.  16, 
 .36.  &  6.  47 
 IJohn5-IO. 
 
 d  Luke  5.29. 
 &  19.  6. 
 
 Paul  and  Silas,  and  "  drew  them  Into  the 
 II  marketplace  unto  the  ruler.s, 
 
 20  And  brought  them  to  the  magistrates, 
 saying.  These  men,  being  Jews,  "  do  exceed- 
 ingly trouble  our  city, 
 
 21  And  teach  customs,  which  are  not  lawful 
 for  us  to  receive,  neither  to  observe,  being 
 Romans. 
 
 22  And  the  multitude  rose  up  together 
 against  them  :  and  the  magistrates  rent  off 
 their  clothes,  ''  and  commanded  to  beat 
 them. 
 
 23  And  when  they  had  laid  many  stripes 
 upon  them,  they  cast  the/n  into  prison,  charg- 
 ing the  jailor  to  keep  them  safely  : 
 
 24  Who,  having  received  such  a  charge, 
 thrust  them  into  the  inner  prison,  and  made 
 their  feet  fast  in  the  stocks. 
 
 25  t  And  at  midiiiglit  Paul  and  Silas  prayed, 
 and  sang  praises  unto  God  :  and  the  prisoners 
 heard  them. 
 
 26  '  And  suddenly  there  was  a  great  earth- 
 quake, so  that  the  foundations  of  tlie  prison 
 were  shaken  :  and  immediately  "  all  the  doors 
 were  opened,  and  every  one's  bands  were 
 loosed. 
 
 27  And  the  keeper  of  the  prison  awaking  out 
 of  his  sleep,  and  seeing  the  prison  doors  open, 
 he  drew  out  his  sword,  and  would  have  killed 
 himself,  supposing  that  the  prisoners  had  been 
 fled. 
 
 28  But  Paul  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying. 
 Do  thyself  no  harm  :  for  we  are  all  here. 
 
 29  Then  he  called  for  a  light,  and  sprang  in, 
 and  came  trembling,  and  fell  down  before  Paul 
 and  Silas, 
 
 30  And  brought  them  out,  and  said,  ''  Sirs, 
 what  must  I  do  to  be  saved? 
 
 31  And  they  said,  '  Believe  on  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved,  and  thy 
 house. 
 
 32  And  they  spake  unto  him  the  word  of  the 
 Lord,  and  to  all  that  were  in  his  house. 
 
 33  And  he  took  them  the  same  hour  of  the 
 night,  and  washed  their  stripes  ;  and  was  bap- 
 tized, he  and  all  his,  straightway. 
 
 34  And  when  he  had  brought  them  into  hi-; 
 house,  ''  he  set  meat  before  them,  and  rejoiced, 
 believing  in  God  with  all  his  house. 
 
 Hnly  Ghost,  who  at  that  time  had  other  work  for  them  to  do. — Doddr., 
 so  Wltitbtj.  In  Asia — see  chap.  ii.  9,  note.  7.  Mysia,  a  country  in 
 Asia  Minor.  Bitliytiia,  anotlier  country  in  Asia  Minor.  Tim  Spirit 
 suffered  tltem  nut ;  however,  the  gospel  was  preached  here  aftenvard^, 
 and  churches  formed,  (see  1  Pet.  i.  I.)— Gilt.  8.  Troas,  a  small 
 country  west  of  Mysia,  with  a  seaport  town  of  the  same  name. 
 9.  Macedonia — the  Romans  divided  all  the  countries  which,  by  heathen 
 writers,  are  included  under  the  general  name  of  Greece  in  an  extended 
 sense,  into  two  provinces,  namely,  Macedonia  and  Achaia  ;  under  the 
 former  they  included  Macedonia  proper,  Thessaly,  and  Epirus ;  and 
 under  the  latter,  Greece,  properly  so  called,  and  the  Pelopetmesus. — 
 Weits.  10.  tJaMenng-,  drawing  an  inference. — .i.  Clarice.  II.  Loos- 
 ing from  Troas,  which  was  just  by  the  Hellespont,  a  narrow  sea  that 
 divided  Asia  from  Europe.  Samothracia,  an  island  in  the^gean  Sea, 
 or  Archipelago.  Neapolis,  a  seaport  of  Edonis,  a  part  of  Macedonia. 
 — Gill.  12.  Philippi,  a  city  west  of  Neapolis,  named  after  Philip, 
 king  of  Macedon,  who  repaired  and  beautilied  it.  St.  Paul  addressed 
 an  epistle  to  its  inhabitants. — Wefts.  13.  By  the  river  side — it  was 
 customary  with  the  Jews  to  have  their  oratories  or  places  of  prayer  in 
 such  situations.— So  Philo,  Jos.,  Tertullian  ;  see  Paley.  WItere  prayer 
 was  wont  to  be  made,  for  the  convenience  of  purification,  and  because 
 the  Jews  might  not  be  permitted  to  worship  without  the  city. — Whittty. 
 Ov  epo^iftTo  TTpotrsvxn  eifai  may  be  rendered,  '  where  a  proseucha'  (or 
 place  for  prayer)  'was  by  law  allowed.'— Bens.  14.^  seller  of 
 purple,  either  of  purple  silks,  much  worn  in  the  eastern  countries;  or 
 of  the  purple  dye,  fsee  1  Mace.  iv.  23.)  Ttiyatirn,  some  say  this  was  in 
 Lydia,  others  in  Mysia;  and  Pliny  seems  to  place  it  in  Ionia.  This 
 was  Lydia's  native  place,  but  she' was  now  resident  at  Philippi.— G(7/. 
 Worshipped  God,  had  renounced  idolatry,  and  worshipped  the  one  true 
 QoA.—Bp.  Mann.  Ttie  Lord  opened—to  open  the  ear  or  the  heart  is  a 
 phrase  used  to  signify  the  rendering  any  person  willing  or  inclined  to 
 1162 
 
 do  anything.  CPs.  xl.  6.) — Whittjy.  15.  Constrained  its,  prevAiled  by 
 kind  entreaty. — Bp.  Mann.  l6.  .-I  spirit  of  diinnation,  irvfvpa  nutJwvor, 
 'Spiritum  Pythonis.' — Mont.  They  imagined  this  girl  to  be  under  the 
 influence  of  what  the  Greeks  call  'a  Pythonic  spirit,*  that  is,  '  a  spirit 
 of  divination,'  which  tbey  supposed  to  be  an  inspiration  from  Apollo, 
 whom  they  called  'Pythius,'  on  account  of  his  having  de-troyed  a 
 monstrous  serpent  called  '  Python.'  St.  Lake  evidently  thought  this, 
 as  it  appears  to  have  been,  a  real  possession. — Doddr.  An  evil  spirit 
 certainly  had  influence  over  the  mind  and  body  of  this  person,  enabling 
 her  to  utter  oracular  responses. — Townserid.  18.  Paul  tjeint^  f^riered, 
 lest  the  people  should  imagine  that  the  preachers  of  the  gospel  acted  in 
 confederacy  with  the  evil  spirit. — Doddr.  20.  To  tlie  magistrates, 
 (rTpaT,]70(c,  *to  the  military  rulers  or  prjetors.'  21.  Customs  — 
 the  word  *  customs,'  eCti,  refers  to  religious  rites  or  forms  of  worship. 
 — Barnes.  Not  lawful — this  was  a  Roman  colony,  and  the  laws  re. 
 quired  the  people  to  worship  the  gods  of  the  country,  which  Christianity 
 opposed. — Bp.  Mann,  Whitby.  24.  Their  feet  fast  in  the  stocks — it 
 is  generally  supposed  that  these  were  the  cippi.  or  large  pieces  of  wood 
 u-sed  among  tlie  Romans,  which  not  only  loaded  the  legs  of  prisoners, 
 but  sometimes  distended  them  in  a  very  painful  manner. — See  Grot., 
 Biscoe,  Eisner.  29.  He  called  for  a  light,  (putTa,  '  lights.' — Doddr., 
 who  observes  that,  being  in  the  dark,  it  is  not  easy  to  determine  how 
 he  knew  the  jailor's  purpose,  unless  from  some  expressions,  or  from  a 
 Divine  impulse.  Probably,  however,  there  might  be  a  dim  lamp  in  the 
 prison,  but  he  called  for  torches  to  throw  a  greater  light. — Editor. 
 30.  Sirs,  Kvptm,  •  lords,'  an  address  of  respect  ;  a  title  usually  given  to 
 masters  or  owners  of  slaves. —Barnes.  31.  Beliere,  'trust.'  This 
 means  more  than  mere  assent.  '  Fides  est  fiducia.'  About  130  in- 
 stances occur  in  which  the  noun  moTis,  and  the  verb  wiffTei'ci.  are  evi- 
 dently never  used  to  e.vpress  belief  in  any  facr  that  is  not  fitted  to 
 excite  confidence  in  God,  or  in  Clni,t.— jl/.  tif,od.        3).  .Ind  rejoiced. 
 
Paul  preaclieth  at  Thessatonica. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XVII. 
 
 He  disputetit  at  Atlicns, 
 
 35  And  when  it  was  day,  the  magistrates  sent 
 tlie  Serjeants,  saying,  Let  those  men  go. 
 
 36  And  the  keeper  of  the  prison  told  this 
 saying  to  Paul,  The  magistrates  have  sent  to 
 let  you  go  :  now  therefore  depart,  and  go  in 
 peace. 
 
 37  But  Paul  said  unto  them,  They  have 
 beaten  us  openly  uncondemned,  "being  Ro- 
 mans, and  have  cast  us  into  prison  ;  and  now 
 do  they  thrust  us  out  privily?  nay  verily  ;  but 
 let  them  come  themselves  and  fetch  us  out. 
 
 38  And  the  Serjeants  told  these  words  unto 
 the  magistrates :  and  they  feared,  when  they 
 heard  that  they  were  Romans. 
 
 39  And  tliey  came  and  besought  them,  and 
 brought  them  out,  and  'desired  them  to  depart 
 out  of  the  city. 
 
 40  And  they  went  out  of  the  prison,  ^  and 
 entered  into  the  house  of  Lydia  :  and  when 
 they  had  seen  the  brethren,  they  comforted 
 them,  and  departed. 
 
 CHAP.    XVII. 
 
 ]  Paul  preach eth  at  Tkessalonica,  4  where  some  believe . 
 and  others  persecute  him.  10  He  is  sent  to  Berea, 
 and  preaclieth  titere.  \^  Being  persecuted  at  Thessa- 
 tonica, 15  he  Cometh  to  Atltens,  and  disputeth,  and 
 preacheth  the  livinij  God  to  them  unknown,  34  where- 
 bi/  many  are  converted  unto  Christ- 
 
 lyrOVV  when  they  had  passed  through  Am- 
 •'-  phipolis  and  ApoUonia,  they  came  to 
 Thessalonica,  where  was  a  synagogue  of  the 
 Jews  : 
 '2  And  Paul,  as  his  manner  was,  °  went  in 
 unto  them,  and  three  sabbath  days  reasoned 
 with  them  out  of  the  scriptures, 
 
 3  Opening  and  alledging,  ''  that  Christ  must 
 needs  have  suffered,  and  risen  again  from  the 
 dead  ;  and  that  this  Jesus,  ||  whom  I  preach 
 unto  yon,  is  Clirist. 
 
 4  ■"'  And  some  of  them  believed,  and  con- 
 sorted with  Paul  and  •'Silas;  and  of  the  de- 
 vout Greeks  a  great  multitude,  and  of  the  chief 
 women  not  a  few. 
 
 5  t  But  the  Jews  which  believed  not,  moved 
 with  envy,  took  unto  them  certain  lewd  fellows 
 of  the  baser  sort,  and  gathered  a  company,  and 
 
 /Mat.  8.  3i. 
 
 i  Luke  4.16 
 cli.  9,  20.  & 
 13.  5,  14. 
 
 14    1. 
 
 I  ii; 
 
 13.  U  19.  a 
 i  LukeaJ. 
 
 ■Jfi,  4tj. 
 
 ch.  IS   28. 
 
 Gal.  3.  1. 
 II  Or,  vhom, 
 
 said  be,  / 
 
 c  ch!  28.  24. 
 
 dr\\    15.  S2, 
 27,  3.^  1(1. 
 
 /ch.  19.  20. 
 
 g  I.uke2H.2 
 Ji.hn  19  12 
 1  Pet.  2.15 
 
 h  ch   9   2! 
 ■er.  1 1. 
 
 Ib.  34.  16. 
 Luke  16.29. 
 John  5.  39. 
 
 A.  D.54. 
 m  2  Pet.  2.  8 
 
 II  Or,  6.i« 
 
 set  all  the  city  on  an  uproar,  and  assaulted  the 
 house  of 'Jason,  and  sought  to  bring  them  out 
 to  the  people. 
 
 6  And  when  they  found  them  not,  they  drew 
 Jason  and  certain'  brethren  unto  the  rulers  of 
 the  city,  crying,  '  These  that  have  turned  the 
 world  upside  down  are  come  hither  al.so  ; 
 
 7  Whom  Jason  hath  received :  and  these  all 
 do  contrary  to  the  decrees  of  Ca?sar,  ^  saying 
 that  there  is  another  king,  one  Jesus. 
 
 8  And  they  troubled  the  people  and  the 
 rulers  of  the  city,  when  they  heard  these 
 things. 
 
 9  And  wlien  they  had  taken  security  of  Ja- 
 son, and  of  the  other,  they  let  them  go. 
 
 10  IT  And  ''  the  brethren  immediately  sent 
 away  Paul  and  Silas  by  night  unto  Berea:  who 
 coming  thither  went  into  the  synagogue  of  the 
 Jews. 
 
 1 1  These  were  more  noble  than  those  in 
 Thessalonica,  in  that  they  received  the  word 
 with  all  readiness  of  mind,  and  '  searched  the 
 scriptures  daily,  whether  those  things  were  so. 
 
 12  Therefore  many  of  them  believed  ;  also 
 of  honourable  women  which  were  Greeks,  and 
 of  men,  not  a  few. 
 
 13  But  when  the  Jews  of  Thessalonica  had 
 knowledge  that  the  word  of  God  was  preached 
 of  Paul  at  Berea,  they  came  thither  also,  and 
 stirred  up  the  people. 
 
 14  '  And  then  immediately  the  brethren  sent 
 away  Paul  to  go  as  it  were  to  the  sea :  but 
 Silas  and  Timotheus  abode  there  still. 
 
 lo  And  they  that  conducted  Paul  brought 
 him  unto  Athens  :  and  '  receiving  a  command- 
 ment unto  Silas  and  Timotheus  for  to  come  to 
 him  with  all  speed,  they  departed. 
 
 16  1  Now  while  Paul  waited  for  them  at 
 Athens,  "  his  spirit  was  stirred  in  him,  when  he 
 saw  the  city  |{  wliolly  given  to  idolatry. 
 
 17  Therefore  disputed  he  in  the  synagogue 
 with  the  Jews,  and  with  the  devout  persons, 
 and  in  the  market  daily  with  them  that  met 
 with  him. 
 
 18  Then  certain  philosophers  of  the  Epicu- 
 reans, and  of  the  Stoicks,  encountered  him. 
 And  some  said.  What  will  this  ||  babbler  say? 
 
 ^c.,  or  it  may  be  read,  '  he,  believing  in  God,  rejoiced  all  tlie  house 
 over  ;'  TTavoiKt,  '  he  went  to  every  apartment,  expressing  his  joy.' — 
 Henry.  S%.  Serjennts,  'beadles.'  —  Doddr.  The  original  word, 
 paySdoi'xoiT,  means,  *  the  lictors,'  persons  who  carried  before  the  consul 
 the /asces,  which  was  a  hatchet,  round  ftlie  handle  of  which  was  a 
 bundle  of  rods  tied. — A.Clarke.  ^7.  Being  Romans — the  Roman 
 government  was  peculiarly  tender  of  the  lives  and  liberties  of  its  sub. 
 jects. — Cave. 
 
 Chap.  XVII.  —  ! .  Ampttipolis,  a  city  of  Macedonia.  Apollonia,  also 
 placed  by  Pliny  in  Macedonia. — Gill.  Thessalonica,  the  chief  city  of 
 Macedonia ;  an  excellent  mart,  and  the  most  populous  city  of  the 
 country. —  Wells.  3.  Opening,  Atavoiftav,  'explaining,'  or  'unfold- 
 
 ing.'— Barnes,  And  alledging,  Trapaxil^e^ei/of,  'evidently  shewing' 
 them.  The  word  signifies  '  laying  a  thing  open  before  the  eyes  of  the 
 spectators.' — Doddr.  4.  Dei'Out  Greeks,  proselytes  of  the  gate. — 
 Whithji.  5.  Jason,  a  Christian  who  entertained  Paul  and  Silas,  {ver. 
 7.) — Bp.  Pearce.  6.  Turned  the  -world,  ^c.,  unsettled  things,  and 
 brought  them  into  confusion. —  Whithy.  ".  Contrary  to  t/te  decrees, 
 because  the  senate  first,  and  afterwards  the  emperor,  suffered  none  to 
 be  called  king  in  the  provinces  of  the  Roman  empire  without  their  per- 
 
 mission.— Grot.  10.  Berea,  a  large  and  populous  city  in  Macedonia. 
 —  Wells.  11.  More  noble,  of  a  better  and  more  generous  disposition  ; 
 acting  in  a  more  rational  and  becoming  manner. — Boiithr.,  as  Doddr., 
 Ani  Bp.  Pearce.  *  More  ingenuous.' — Ham.  '  More  liberal-minded.' 
 — Hales.  Were  so,  that  is,  conformable  to  their  scriptures  of  the  Old 
 Testament. — Balguy.  13.  Stirred  up,  aaX'z'ieii'  denotes,  properly,  to 
 agitate  or  excite,  as  the  waves  of  the  sea  are  agitated  by  the  wind. — 
 Barnes.  14.  As  it  were  to  the  sea,  appearing  to  go  to  some  neigh- 
 
 bouring seaport  to  evade  pursuit,  but  he  changed  his  route,  and  went 
 to  Athens  by  land. — Bp.  Pearce,  Grot.  Ifi.  Wholly  given  to  idolatry, 
 or  '  full  of  idols,'  Syr.,  Arat).  Athens  was  full  of  temitlcs. — Cicero. 
 They  had  an  altar  dedii-ated  to  twelve  gods. — 'Clmcydides.  KaTei5wXoi' 
 means  'enslaved.'  1".  Market,  a  place  of  public  resort  for  business 
 and  discourse. — Newc.  In  the  east,  people  still  meet  in  such  places 
 for  conversation. — Har.  18.  Epicureans,  a  species  of  atheists.  Stoicks, 
 fatalists. — See  Enfield's  Hist.  Philos.  Tliis  fialibler,  o  <T7repM<'\o7oy 
 owTor,  '  this  grain  gatherer,'  or  '  holder  forth  ;'  a  contemptible  creature, 
 that  picks  up  scattered  seeds  in  the  market  or  elsewhere. — Fleming. 
 '  This  contemptuous,  prattling,  sacrilegious  creature.' — Wits.  'This 
 retailer  of  scraps.'     'This  trilling  fellow,  that  has  somewhere  pickid 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVI. — Notice,  I.  Tlte  conduct  of 
 tlie  apostle  Paul  related  in  this  chapter.  It  leaches  us  '  to  be- 
 come all  tbings  to  all  men,'  in  indifferent  matters,  so  that  we 
 may  win  some.  It  shews  us  that  the  servants  of  God  should 
 ever  be  prepared  to  carry  the  gospel  to  the  needy,  and  to  go 
 when  be  calls  them  ;  and  it  reminds  us  that  our  being  Chris- 
 tians or  ministers  should  not  make  us  altogether  so  spiritual 
 as  not  to  regard  our  secular  rights  ;  in  securing  these  we  do 
 but  regard  the  interests  of  posterity,  and  in  many  cases  secure 
 the  comfort  and  prosperity  of  the  church.  Neither  the  duties 
 nor  rights  of  the  citizen  are  merged  in  the  Christian  ;  hut,  in 
 1163 
 
 the  performance  and  maintenance  of  these  it  may  be  well  to 
 observe  the  apostolic  maxim—'  Let  your  moderation  be  known 
 unto  ail  men.' 
 
 II.  Tlie  diversities  of  operations  in  the  conversion  of  souls. 
 How  great  is  the  contrast  between  the  conversion  of  Lydia, 
 '  whose  heart  the  Lord  opened,"  and  the  terror-struck  jailor, 
 trembling,  and  crying,  '  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  !'  Thus, 
 one  is  allured  to  Christ  by  the  sweet  influences  of  the  gospel, 
 and  another  is  persuaded  by  '  the  terrors  of  the  Lord.' 
 '  There  are  diversities  of  operations,  but  it  is  the  same  God 
 worketh  all  in  all.* 
 
Paid prcnchrth  at  Athfns, 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XVIII 
 
 and  at  Corinth. 
 
 other  some,  He  seemetli  to  be  a  setter  forth  of 
 strange  gods  :  because  he  preached  unto  them 
 Jesus,  and  the  resurrection. 
 
 19  And  they  took  him,  and  brought  him  unto 
 II  Areopagus,  saying,  May  we  know  what  this 
 new  doctrine,  whereof  thou  speakest,  is  ? 
 
 'JO  For  thou  briugest  certain  strange  things 
 to  our  ears ;  we  would  know  therefore  what 
 these  things  mean. 
 
 21  (For  all  the  Athenians  and  strangers  which 
 were  there  spent  tlieir  time  in  nothing  else, 
 but  either  to  tell,  or  to  hear  some  new  thing.) 
 
 •2-1  1i  Then  Paul  stood  in  the  midst  of  ||  Mars' 
 hill,  and  said,  Ye  men  of  Athens,  I  perceive 
 that  in  all  things  ye  are  too  superstitious. 
 
 23  For  as  I  passed  by,  and  beheld  your  ||  de- 
 votions, I  found  an  altar  with  this  inscription, 
 TO  THE  UNKNOWN  GOD.  Whom  there- 
 fore ye  ignorantly  worsliip,  him  declare  I  unto 
 you. 
 
 24  "  God  that  made  the  world  and  all  things 
 therein,  seeing  that  he  is  "  Lord  of  heaven  and 
 earth,  ''  dwellelh  not  in  temples  made  with 
 hands ; 
 
 25  Neither  is  worshipped  with  men's  hands, 
 ''  as  though  he  needed  any  thing,  seeing  '  he 
 giveth  to  all  life,  and  breath,  and  all  things  ; 
 
 2G  And  liatli  made  of  one  blood  all  nations 
 of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth, 
 and  hath  determined  the  times  before  appoint- 
 ed, and  '  the  bounds  of  their  habitations  ; 
 
 27  '  That  they  should  seek  the  Lord,  if  haply 
 tliey  might  feel  after  him,  and  find  him,  "  though 
 he  be  not  far  from  every  one  of  us  : 
 
 28  For  "  in  him  we  live,  and  move,  and  have 
 our  being;  >as  certain  also  of  your  own  poets 
 have  said.  For  we  are  also  his  offspring. 
 
 II  Or,  J/nr.' 
 kill.  It  was 
 tbe  hi^he^t 
 court lu 
 Alliens. 
 
 II  Or.  Ihtt 
 court.//;.. 
 .Ircofajilti. 
 
 II  Or,  g.,dt 
 that  ye  irnr- 
 
 n  ch- 1 4.  15 
 u  M:it.tl  -15 
 p  ch.  7.  19. 
 
 q  Pa.  hi).  8. 
 r  Geo.  -2.  7. 
 
 Nu.  10.  22. 
 
 Job  VZ.  10. 
 
 k  '27.  3.  k. 
 
 .■W.  4.  Is, 13 
 
 5-  St  57.  \a. 
 
 Zech.  m.  1. 
 
 I  Deu.  3?.  8 
 (  Kom.  I.SO. 
 14  ch.  11.  17, 
 
 T  Col.  1.   17. 
 
 Hcb.  I.  a. 
 s  Tit.  1. 1:. 
 
 a  ch.  11.  16. 
 
 Rnin.  3.  -lb. 
 b  Luke  24. 
 
 47,  Tit.  2. 
 
 II.  IS. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.11. 
 
 &  4    3. 
 C  cli.  III.  1?. 
 
 Horn    2    lt>. 
 
 &  U.  10. 
 
 1)  Or,  offertd 
 
 /.nth. 
 
 d  ch.  ■>.  21. 
 
 1  Kom    Ifi.S. 
 
 1  Cor. 16, 10. 
 
 2  Tiui.1. 19. 
 
 29  Forasmuch  then  as  we  are  the  offspring 
 of  God,  '  we  ought  not  to  think  that  tlie  God- 
 head is  like  unto  gold,  or  silver,  or  stone,  graven 
 by  art  and  nian\s  device. 
 
 30  And  "  the  times  of  this  ignorance  God 
 winked  at;  but  ^  now  comniandeth  all  men 
 every  where  to  repent : 
 
 31  Because  he  hath  appointed  a  day,  in  the 
 which  "^  he  will  judge  the  world  in  righteous- 
 ness by  that  man  whom  lie  hath  ordained  ; 
 ivhcreof  he  hatli  ||  given  assurance  unto  ail 
 men,  in  that  ''  he  hath  raised  iiini  from  the  dead. 
 
 32  H  And  when  they  heard  of  the  resurrec- 
 tion of  the  dead,  some  mocked  :  and  others 
 said,  We  will  hear  thee  again  of  this  matter. 
 
 33  So  Paul  departed  from  among  ihein. 
 
 34  Howbeit  certain  men  clave  unto  him,  and 
 believed  :  among  the  which  ivus  Diony.sius  the 
 Areopagite,  and  a  woman  named  Damaris,  and 
 others  with  them. 
 
 CHAP.  XVllI. 
 
 3  Paul  luhourefh  with  his  hands,  and prmcheth  at  Co- 
 rinth to  the  Geittiles.  9  The  Lord  encuuratji  th  him 
 in  a  vision,  I'J  Jit  is  accused  In  fore  UaUto  the  de- 
 puiy,  but  is  dismissed.  18  Afterwards  passing}  fnnn 
 city  to  city  he  strenytheiieth  the  disciples.  24  Apnllos, 
 being  more  perfectly  instructed  by  AquHa  afid  Pris- 
 cilhi,  28  preacheth  Christ  with  yrciit  ejjieary. 
 
 A  FTER  these  things  Paul  departed  from 
 -^~*-   Athens,  and  came  to  Corinth  ; 
 
 •2  And  found  a  certain  Jew  named  "  Aquila, 
 born  in  Pontus,  lately  come  from  Italy,  with 
 his  wife  Priscilla  ;  (because  that  Claudius  had 
 commanded  all  Jews  to  depart  from  Rome  :) 
 and  came  unto  them. 
 
 3  And  because  he  was  of  the  same  craft,  he 
 
 up  some  Kcattercd  notions,  with  which  he  is  vain  enough  to  think  he 
 may  make  a  figure  here.'  A  setter  forth  of  strange  gods,  f  eiwv  daif^o- 
 viiov,  '  of  fnreitju  deities  or  demons.' — Duddr.  1^.  Areopagus,  signifies 
 •Mars'  Hill,*  (ver.  22.)  The  highest  court  of  judicature  was  held  on 
 the  hill  at  Athens  which  bore  this  name  ;  the  court  thence  obtained 
 the  name  of  'the  court  of  Areopagus.' — lip.  Pearce  -,  see  Putter's  Greek 
 Antiquities.  21.  Some  new  thing— Demosthenes  gi%es  the  Athenians 
 exactly  the  same  character :  'inquiring  in  the  public  places  whether 
 there  is  anything  new.' — T.  H.  Home.  22.  And  said— the  apostle 
 Paul  was  a  great  orator.  Lnnginus,  a  person  of  the  finest  taste,  and 
 justest  discernment  in  criticism  and  polite  literature,  classes  the  apostle 
 Paul  among  tbe  most  CL'lebrated  orators  of  Greece.  '  His  -speeches  in 
 the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  are  worthy  the  Roman  senate.  They  breathe 
 a  most  generous  fire  and  fervour — are  animated  with  a  divine  spirit  of 
 liberty  and  truth — abound  with  instances  of  as  fine  address  as  any  of 
 the  most  celebrated  orations  of  Demosthenes  or  Cicero  can  boast ;  and 
 his  answers,  when  at  the  bar,  to  the  questions  proposed  to  him  by  the 
 court,  have  a  politeness  and  a  greatness  which  nothing  in  antiquity 
 hardly  ever  excelled.' — Harwood.  Too  superstitious,  '  somewhat  too 
 religious.' — Newc.  '  In  all  respects  ye  arc  greatly  addicted  to  religious 
 practices.*— .-I.  Clarke,  so  Lardner.  '  Greatly  devoted  to  reverence  fur 
 religion." — Barnes.  ^iiaidmnoveaTepavi,  '  exceedingly  addicted  to  the 
 worship  of  invisible  powers.'— Z>orfrfr.  '  Much  addicted  to  the  worship 
 of  demons.'  —  Boothroyd.  'Too  full  of  demons.* — Josephus,  Mede. 
 23.  Be/ield,  avaOtcupuiv,  'diligently  contemplated  t  attentively  consi- 
 dered.*— Barnes.  Your  devotions,  ra  <ri.i3aap.ara  vfitav,  sacra  vesta. — 
 Mont.  •  The  objects  and  instruments  of  your  worship.'— Doddr.  '  The 
 things  which  ye  worship.*— .B/j.  Pearce.  'The  several  objects  of  your 
 worship,' — Hales,  so  Boothr.  To  the  uvknow.v  God,  there  was  such 
 an  inscription  at  Athens. — Lucian,  Pausanius,  &c.  Him  declare  I, 
 thus  Paul  shewed  he  was  no  'setter  forth  of  strange  gods,'  (ver.  18.) — 
 Hnifs.  24.  God  that  made  the  world,  asserted  contrary  to  the  followers 
 of  Epicurus,  who  attributed  the  formation  of  tWe  world  to  an  accidental 
 concourse  of  atoms ;  and  to  Aristotle,  who  asserted  that  the  world  had 
 subsisted  from  eternity. — Bp.  Newton.  25.  Neither  is  worshipped 
 
 with  men*s  hands,  Bepatitvciatt  •  neither  is  he  served  by  human  hands,' 
 
 lifted  up  in  prayer,  or  stretched  out  with  the  most  costly  offerings,  as 
 though  he  needed  anything. — Doddr.,  Hen.  This  refers  to  a  foolish 
 notion  among  the  heathens  that  the  gods  fed  on  the  fumes  of  sacrifice. 
 — Bentley.  26.  Made  of  one  //loud,  opposed  to  the  disciples  of  Epi- 
 
 curus, wlio  derived  the  origin  of  the  human  race  from  the  mere  efTects 
 of  matter  and  motion  ;  and  to  those  of  Aristnlle,  wlio  denied  tliat  man- 
 kind had  any  beginning,  but  had  subsisted  in  eternal  succession. — Bp. 
 Newton.  All  nations  of  mett, -nav  cOvo^  avBi}u}iTtdv,  *  the  whole  nation 
 of  men.' — Duddr.  Determined  the  times,  oppoi^ed  here  to  the  Epicu- 
 re;ins,  who  referred  all  event^-to  chance  and  accidents  ;  and  the  Stoics, 
 wh'i  attributed  all  to  fate. —  IVil.  TJ.  That  they  should  seek  the  Lord 
 —the  grand  design  of  man's  creation  was,  that  lie  should  be  a  religious 
 being. — Hales.  Haply,  'possibly.* — Doddr.  Tht-y  might  feel  after 
 Arm— the  allusion  is  to  people  groping  in  the  dark,  and  is  intended  to 
 represent  the  difficulty  of  finding  out  Gnd  by  the  mere  light  of  nature. 
 
 —  Wil.  28.  Have  our  being,  '  do  exist.'  For  we  me  also  his  offspring, 
 — these  words  are  well  known  to  be  found  in  Aratus,  a  poet  of  Cilicia, 
 Paul's  own  country,  who  lived  almost  three  hundred  years  before  this 
 time.— Doddr.  29.  The  Godhead,  tlie  Divinity  ;  to  Ottov,  '  the  Di- 
 vine Nature  or  Essence.' — Barnes.  30.  Winked  at,  vncpi&wv,  'over- 
 looked.' — Caryl,  Doddr.,  Rasernn.  '  The  beams  of  his  eye  did  in  a 
 manner  shoot  nvcr  them.* — Howe.  God  had  not  directly  interposed  to 
 prevent  the  ignorance  and  errors  of  the  heathen  world,  hut  had  suffered 
 men  to  follow  tlieir  own  opinions  and  ways. — Boothr.  31.  Wfiereof 
 he  hath  given  assurance,  iriartv  ivapaaxi^v  ttaaiv,  having  given  to  all 
 this  indubitable  proof,  that  Jesus  Christ  shiill  judge  the  world,  by  rais- 
 ing him  from  the  dead. — A.  Clarke.  3i.  Areopagite,  a  judge  in  the 
 courts  of  Areopagus. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  XVIU.  —  1.  foriH/A— this  famous  city  was  now  the  residence 
 of  the  proconsul  of  Achaia.      It  was  commodiously  situated  for  trade. 
 
 —  Wells.  2.  Jews  to  depart  from  Rome,  for  tumultuous  conduct. — 
 See  Suetonius.  3.  Of  the  same  craft— he  learned  a  trade  whilst  amnng 
 the  Jews,  with  whom  it  was  common  for  their  greatest  doctors  to  be 
 brought  up  to  sfjme  trade  or  another.  Aiid  wrought,  with  his  own 
 bands,  to  support  himself,  for  he  was  a  stranger  in  this  place,  and  as 
 yet  there  was  no  church  to  minister  to  him. — Gill.    Tentmakers,  tents 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XVII.  —  I.  Let  us  admire  and  imi- 
 tate the  conduct  of  the  Bereans.  Their  minds  were  open  to  the 
 reception  of  divine  truth,  on  the  conviction  of  evidence.  But 
 they  would  take  nothing  for  granted  ;  they  were  not  believers 
 by  mere  profession,  education,  or  example.  The  subjects 
 which  demanded  their  faith  were  of  infinite  iraporlance, 
 and  ihey  gave  ihem  a  corre,>;ponding  attention.  Truo  Chris- 
 tians should  always  be  able  to  give  '  a  reason  for  the  hope 
 1IG4 
 
 that  is  in  them.* 
 
 II.  How  awful  and  spirit-stirring  is  the  sight  of  a  people  given 
 to  idolatry!  O,  cuutd  the  Christians  in  other  parts  of  the 
 world  see  the  millions  of  Asia  only,  still  devoted,  from  gener- 
 ation to  generation,  to  that  same  idolatry  which  kindled  the 
 file  of  holy  zeal  in  the  bosom  of  the  apostle  Paul,  how  would 
 they  redouble  and  again  redouble  their  efforts  to  turn  them 
 from  their  dumb  idols  to  serve  the  living  God  ' 
 
I'iml  accused  before  Gallio. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XVIII. 
 
 The  preaching  ofApollos. 
 
 abode  with  them,  ''  and  wrought :  for  by  their 
 occupation  they  were  tentmakers. 
 
 4  '  And  he  reasoned  in  the  synagogue  every 
 sabbath,  and  persuaded  the  Jews  and  the 
 Greeks. 
 
 5  And  ''  when  Silas  and  Timotheus  were 
 come  from  Macedonia,  Paul  was  "  pressed  in 
 the  spirit,  and  testified  to  the  Jews  that  Jesus 
 II  icas  Christ. 
 
 G  And  'when  they  opposed  themselves,  and 
 blasphemed,  *  lie  shook  his  raiment,  and  said 
 unto  them,  '■  Your  blood  be  upon  your  own 
 heads;  '  I  am  clean:  'from  henceforth  I  will 
 go  unto  the  Gejitiles. 
 
 7  t  And  he  departed  thence,  and  entered 
 into  a  certain  ?>inn's  liouse,  named  Justus,  one 
 that  worshipped  God,  whose  house  joined  hard 
 to  the  synagogue. 
 
 8  '  And  Crispus,  the  chief  ruler  of  the  syna- 
 gogue, believed  on  the  Lord  with  all  his  house ; 
 and  many  of  tlie  Corinthians  hearing  believed, 
 and  were  baptized. 
 
 9  Then  '"spake  the  Lord  to  Paul  in  the  night 
 hy  a  vision.  Be  not  afraid,  but  speak,  and  hold 
 not  thy  peace  : 
 
 10  "  For  I  am  with  thee,  and  no  man  shall  set 
 on  thee  to  hurt  thee :  for  I  have  much  people 
 in  this  city. 
 
 11  And  he  fcontinued  there  a  year  and  six 
 months,  teaching  the  word  of  God  among 
 them. 
 
 12  If  And  when  Gallio  was  the  deputy  of 
 Achaia,  the  Jews  made  insurrection  with  one 
 accord  against  Paul,  and  brought  him  to  the 
 judgment  seat, 
 
 13  Saying,  Tins  Jellow  persnadeth  men  to 
 worsliip  God  contrary  to  the  law. 
 
 14  And  when  Paul  was  now  about  to  open 
 his  mouth,  Gallio  said  unto  the  Jews,  "  If  it 
 were  a  matter  of  wrong  or  wicked  lewdness,  O 
 t/e  Jews,  reason  would  that  I  should  bear  with 
 you : 
 
 15  But  if  it  be  a  question  of  words  and 
 names,  and  of  your  law,  look  ye  to  it ;  for  I 
 will  be  no  judge  of  such  matters. 
 
 16  And  he  drave  them  from  the  judgment  seat. 
 
 1  Tlies.'».9. 
 
 2  Thes.S  8. 
 c  cU.  17.  8. 
 
 dc\i.  17.  14, 
 
 15. 
 e  Job  33.  18. 
 
 ch.  17.  3. 
 
 ver.  28. 
 II  Or,  it  the 
 
 Chritt. 
 /cli.  13.45. 
 
 1  Pet.  4. 4- 
 ^Neh.5.  13. 
 
 Mat. 1(1  14. 
 
 ch.  13.  M. 
 A  Lev.  2U.9, 
 
 11,  12. 
 
 2SaDi.l.l6. 
 
 Ezo.  18.  13. 
 
 8*  33.  4. 
 >'  E2uk.3. 18, 
 
 19.  &  38.  9, 
 
 ch.  20.  26. 
 k  ch.  13   4ti. 
 
 &  28.  23. 
 /  1  Cor.  1,14. 
 
 t  Gr.  fit 
 thei'e. 
 A   D   SS. 
 eitdinv. 
 
 o  ch   2-3.29. 
 &2o.  11,19 
 
 A.  D.  55. 
 p  1  Cor.  1 .  1 
 
 g  Nuin.G  13. 
 ch.  21.24. 
 rRorn.  16.  1. 
 
 I  I  Cor.  4. 19 
 Heb.  (,.  3. 
 Jam.  4.  15. 
 A    D    .56. 
 
 ,.  Gal.  1.2. 
 
 &4    14. 
 J  ch.  14.  29 
 
 &  15.32,41. 
 S  1  C.'r.l.l2. 
 
 &  3.  5.  6.  & 
 
 4-  6    Tit. 
 
 3.   13. 
 
 c  ch   9.  22. 
 &  17.  3.  fc 
 
 17  Then  all  the  Greeks  took  i"  Sosthenes,  the 
 chief  ruler  of  the  synagogue,  and  beat  him  be- 
 fore the  judgment  seat.  And  Gallio  cared  for 
 none  of  those  things. 
 
 18  t  And  Paul  after  this  tarried  there  yet  a 
 good  while,  and  then  took  his  leave  of  the 
 brethren,  and  sailed  thence  into  Syria,  and 
 with  him  Priscilla  and  Aquila  ;  having  '■  shorn 
 his  head  in  "■  Cenchrea :  for  lie  had  a  vow. 
 
 19  And  he  came  to  Ephesus,  and  left  them 
 there  :  but  he  himself  entered  into  the  syna- 
 gogue, and  reasoned  with  the  Jews. 
 
 '20  When  they  desired  hifu  to  tarry  longer 
 time  with  them,  he  consented  not ; 
 
 •21  But  bade  tliem  farewell,  saying,  'I  must 
 by  all  means  keep  this  feast  that  cometh  in 
 Jerusalem  :  hut  I  will  return  again  unto  you, 
 '  if  God  will.     And  he  sailed  from  Ephesus. 
 
 22  And  when  he  had  landed  at  Cssarea,  and 
 gone  up,  and  saluted  the  church,  he  went  down 
 to  Antioch. 
 
 23  And  after  he  had  spent  some  time  there, 
 he  departed,  and  went  over  all  the  country  of 
 "  Galatia  and  Phrj'gia  in  order, "  strengthening 
 all  the  disciples. 
 
 24  t '  And  a  certain  Jew  named  Apollos, 
 born  at  Alexandria,  an  eloquent  man,  and 
 mighty  in  the  scriptures,  came  to  Ephesus. 
 
 25  This  man  was  instructed  in  the  way  of 
 the  Lord  ;  and  being  '  fervent  in  the  spirit,  he 
 spake  and  taught  diligently  the  things  of  the 
 Lord,  "  knowing  only  the  baptism  of  John. 
 
 26  And  he  began  to  speak  boldly  in  the 
 synagogue .-  whom  when  Aquila  and  Pris- 
 cilla had  heard,  they  took  him  unto  them,  and 
 expounded  unto  him  the  way  of  God  more 
 perfectly. 
 
 27  And  when  he  was  disposed  to  pass  into 
 Achaia,  the  brethren  wrote,  exhorting  the  dis- 
 ciples to  receive  him  :  who,  when  he  was  come, 
 "helped  them  much  which  had  believed  through 
 grace : 
 
 28  For  he  mightily  convinced  the  Jews,  and 
 that  publickly,'' shewing  by  the  scriptures  that 
 Jesus  II  was  Christ. 
 
 of  skins  or  silks  were  much  used  in  those  countries.  —  Boolhroyil. 
 !,.  Pressed  in  the  spirit,  either  by  the  Holy  Spirit  or  his  own.— Gr7;,  as 
 Whithy.  Ziii'tixeTo  Tut  Trveu/iaT*,  '  he  was  constrained  by  the  Spirit  of 
 God,'  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  to  testify  to  the  Jews  that  Jesus 
 was  the  Clirist.  6.  Opposed,  airnaaaoimvuiv,  systematically  op- 
 posing, putting  themselves  in  '  warlike  order.'— ^.  Clarke.  Shook  his 
 raiment— m  case  of  great  emotion  and  anxiety,  the  Jews  used  to  throw 
 open  the  upper  garment,  and  shake  it  at  the  person  with  whom  they 
 were  displeased,  (chap.  xxii.  23.)— B/j.  Mann.  Your  blood,  ^c,  they 
 were  the  authors  of  their  own  ruio.  1  am  clean,  from  their  blood, 
 (chap.  XX.  26.)  The  apostle  seems  to  allude  to  Ezek.  xsxiii.  4,  fic., 
 signifying  that  he  had  discharged  his  duty  as  a  preacher.  —  GUI. 
 K,»(^cipof  c7(o.  1  am  'pure,*  or  'innocent,'  of  your  death  and  ruin. 
 Unto  the  Gentiles— sec  chap.  xiii.  46,  note.  10.  No  man  shall  set  on 
 thee,  ouim  €nittri<reTai  aoi,  no  man  shall  be  permitted  to  '  lay  violent 
 hands'  upon  thee.— .1.  Clarke.  Mueh  people,  because  Christ  saw  that 
 they  were  disposed  to  he\K\e.— Whitby.  '  Whom  God  had  chosen  to 
 be  his  people.'— C(7/.  If  they  were  disposed  to  believe,  then  who  dis- 
 posed them?  Did  not  the  Lord  open  the  heart  of  Lydia?  There  is  no 
 evading  the  act  of  Divine  sovereignty  in  this  case.— Krf.  In  this  city, 
 €v  Ti;  TToXet  TavT,;.  '  in  this  very  city.' — .■!.  Clarke.  VI.  Gallio,  he  was 
 elder  brother  of'Seneca,  the  famous  Roman  philosopher. — Bp.  Pearce. 
 Was  tlie  deputy,  avQitTTarevovio';,  '  being  proconsul.* — Bens.  Achaia, 
 all  that  part  of  Greece  south  of  Thessaly  was  now  so  called.  Gallio 
 WJLS  proconsul. — Bp.  Fearce.       14.  Of  wrong,  abiKt\tx:t,  'of  injustice  ;' 
 
 anything  contrary  to  the  rights  of  the  subject.  >Vicked  lewdness, 
 padi'jvfryefj.a  Tiovrtpov,  '  destructive  mischief;'  something  by  which  the 
 subject  is  grievously  wronged.  Bear  with  you,  '  patiently  hear  you.* 
 —A.Clarke.  15.  irorrfs,  '  doctrines.'  iVumt^s,  whether  Jesus  be  the 
 Christ,  &C- — Newr.  17.  Sosthenes,  mentioned  1  Cor.  i.  1.  Beat  hint, 
 tTt'irroi.,  probably  with  their  fists. — Barnes.  And  Gallio  cared  for  none 
 of  those  tttim'i,  ovdti'  TOVTOiv  rui  TuWiuji'i  e^ueXcf,  'and  Gallio  did  not 
 concern  himself,  did  not  intermeddle  with  any  of  these  things.'  — 
 A.  Clarke.  18.  Cenchrea,  a  seaport  belonging  to  the  Corinthians, 
 on  the  east  of  the  isthmus. — 6(7/.  A  row,  most  probably  a  Nazarite's 
 vow,  in  gratitude  for  some  mercy  received. — So  Gill,  Beausobre.  Some 
 understand  this  vow  to  have  been  ma.le  by  Aquila ;  so  it  is  understood 
 by  Grot..  Ham..  Wits.,  &c.  M"St  commentators  understand  it  of 
 Paul,  as  Cain.,  Whitby,  Doddr.,  Mackn  ,  &c.  19.  Ephesus,  a  famous 
 city,  the  metropolis  of  Proconsular  Asia;  celebrated  especially  for  its 
 temple  to  Diana. —  Wells.  21.  Fea.s/,  passover.         22.  Gone  ttp,  Xo 
 
 Jerusalem,  and  saluted  the  church  there. — Bp.  Pearce.  24.  .ilex, 
 andria,  the  then  metropolis  of  Egypt,  and  seat  of  its  kings ;  built  by 
 Alexander  the  Great.  25.  Instructed,  Kayr\xntxfLvo^,  'catechized,'  and 
 so  trained  up  by  his  parents  in  the  knowledge  of  the  gospel  called  the 
 way  of  the  Lord,  directing  and  leadmg  to  him  as  the  only  Saviour. — 
 Gill.  Taught — knowing  only  the  baptism  of  John — he  taught  that  men 
 were  to  receive  the  baptism  of  repentance  for  the  remission  of  sins. — 
 Boothr.  28.  He  mightily  contmiced,  eyroi-wv  5iaKuTnXe7XeTo,  'he 
 vehemently  confuted.' — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Reflections    on    Ciiap.   XA'TII.  —  'How   much   soever  them  to  one  place  and  another,  according  to  the  good  pleasure 
 
 some  despise  the  gospel  to  their  own  perdition,  God  will  make  of  his  will,  wherever  he  has  a  design  of  grace  upon  a  chosen 
 
 it  effectual  to  others.     Corinthian  sinners  and  chief  rulers  of  people  to  l)ring  them  unto  Christ;  and  if  God  be  with  them, 
 
 the  synagogue  shall  embrace  it,  who  were  most  unlikely  to  re-  who  can  be  against  them  ?'  8" 
 ceive  it.    God  orders  the  stations  of  Lis  servants,  and  sends 
 1165 
 
PauVs  miracles. 
 
 THE   ACTS,  XIX. 
 
 Covjuriug  books  arc  burned. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 6  Tke  Hull/  Ghost  is  f/iven  bi/  Paul's  hands.  9  The 
 Jews  blaspheme  his  doctrine,  which  is  conjinntd  by 
 miracles,  13  The  Jewish  exorcists  16  are  beaten  by 
 tke  devil-  19  Conjuring  books  are  burnt.  24  De- 
 meiriuSt  for  love  of  gain,  raiseth  an  uproar  against 
 Paul,  35  ivhich  is  appeased  by  the  toicnclerk. 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  that,  while  *  ApoUos 
 -^  was  at  Corinth,  Paul  having  passed  through 
 ^  the  upper  coasts  came  to  Ephesus  :  and  find- 
 ing certain  disciples, 
 
 *2  He  said  unto  tliem,  Have  ye  received  the 
 Holy  Ghost  since  ye  beUeved  ?  And  they 
 said  unto  him,  '^  We  have  not  so  much  as  heard 
 whether  there  be  any  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 3  And  he  .said  unto  them,  Unto  what  then 
 were  ye  baptized?  And  they  said,  ''Unto 
 John's  baptism. 
 
 4  Then  said  Paul,  ''John  verily  baptized  with 
 the  baptism  of  repentance,  saying  unto  the 
 people,  that  they  should  believe  on  him  which 
 should  come  after  him,  that  is,  on  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 o  When  they  heard  this^  they  were  baptized 
 ^in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
 
 6  And  when  Paul  had  ^laid  his  hands  upon 
 them,  the  Holy  Ghost  came  on  them  ;  and 
 ^  they  spake  with  tongues,  and  prophesied. 
 
 7  And  all  the  men  were  about  twelve. 
 
 8  '  And  lie  went  into  the  synagogue,  and 
 spake  boldly  for  the  space  of  three  months, 
 disputing  and  persuading  the  things  ''  concern- 
 ing the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 0  But  '  when  divers  were  hardened,  and  be- 
 lieved not,  but  spake  evil  ""  of  that  way  before 
 the  multitude,  he  departed  from  them,  and  se- 
 parated the  disciples,  disputing  daily  in  the 
 sciiool  of  one  Tyraimus. 
 
 10  And  "this  continued  by  the  space  of  two 
 years;  so  that  all  they  which  dwelt  in  Asia 
 beard  the  word  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  both  Jews 
 and  Greeks. 
 
 :  M^t.S.  II 
 John  I.  l.*!, 
 2T,Sil,  ch.l. 
 
 5  ^11.   Iti. 
 
 6  I3,:;i,i;5. 
 
 /rh.3,  16. 
 g  cli.  (i.  6, 
 
 &  S.  \7. 
 I.  cli.  2.  4.  i 
 
 10.  40. 
 
 i  eh.  17.  2 
 
 ft  IS.  1. 
 
 k  ch.  I.S.  & 
 
 J.kI.-  I» 
 
 A.  D.  .'i7. 
 
 ■  Murk  n,. 
 20.  cli.M.:l. 
 >  cli.  A.  I£. 
 See  2  Kill. 
 4.29. 
 
 .  VI.  .S8. 
 
 7  AlatJ:^  -J,!. 
 
 See  Mark 
 
 9.;iS.  l.uke 
 
 9.  -19. 
 
 t  Luke  1.65. 
 fc  7.  16. 
 ch.  2.  +3.  & 
 5.  5,  II. 
 
 (  Mat.  3.  6. 
 
 uch.6.  7.  & 
 12.  24. 
 A.  D.  59. 
 
 X  Rom    15. 
 '25.  Gal.2.1. 
 
 1/  cli.  ao.  ti. 
 
 t  ch.  IS.  21. 
 &  -23.  1 1 . 
 Rom.  15.24 
 
 1 1  And  ^  God  wrought  special  miracles  by 
 the  hands  of  Paul  : 
 
 12  ''So  that  from  iiis  body  were  brought  unto 
 the  sick  handkerchiefs  or  aprons,  and  the  dis- 
 eases departed  from  them,  and  the  evil  spirits 
 went  out  of  them. 
 
 13  1[ '' Then  certain  of  the  vagabond  Jews, 
 exorcists,  'took  upon  them  to  call  over  them 
 which  had  evil  spirits  the  name  of  the  Lord 
 Jesus,  saying.  We  adjure  you  by  Jesus  whom 
 Paul  preacheth. 
 
 14  And  there  were  seven  sons  of  one  Sceva, 
 a  Jew,  and  chief  of  the  priests,  which  did  so. 
 
 lo  And  the  evil  spirit  answered  and  said. 
 Jesus  1  know,  and  Paul  1  know;  but  who  are 
 ye? 
 
 16  And  the  man  in  whom  the  evil  spirit  was 
 leaped  on  them,  and  overcame  them,  and  pre- 
 vailed against  them,  so  that  they  lied  out  of 
 that  house  naked  and  wounded. 
 
 17  And  this  was  known  to  all  the  Jews  and 
 Greeks  also  dwelling  at  Ephesus;  and  "fear 
 fell  on  them  all,  and  the  name  of  the  Lord 
 Jesus  was  magnified. 
 
 15  And  many  that  believed  came,  and  'con- 
 fessed, and  shewed  their  deeds. 
 
 19  Many  of  them  also  which  used  curious 
 arts  brought  their  books  together,  and  burned 
 them  before  all  men  :  and  they  counted  the 
 price  of  them,  and  found  it  fifty  thousand 
 pieces  of  silver. 
 
 20  "  So  mightily  grew  the  word  of  God  and 
 prevailed. 
 
 ■Jl  1^  After  these  things  were  ended,  Paul 
 ^purposed  in  the  spirit,  when  he  had  passed 
 through  Macedonia  and  Achaia,  to  go  to  Jeru- 
 salem, saying.  After  1  have  been  there,  ^I  must 
 also  see  Rome. 
 
 '22  So  he  sent  into  Macedonia  two  of  "  them 
 that  ministered  unto  him,  Timotheus  and 
 ^  Erastus  ;  but  he  himself  stayed  in  Asia  for  a 
 season. 
 
 Chap.  XIX.— 2.  Have  ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  i.e..  the  extraor- 
 dinary gifts  cf  the  Spirit.— /;Mrfrfr.  Nut— heard— Xhcy  were  not  igno- 
 rant that  there  was  a  Holy  Ghost,  because  John  himself  not  only  spake 
 of  the  Spirit  rteseendiufj  on  Christ,  but  likewise  of  Christ  baptizing-  with 
 the  Holy  Ghost,  (Matt.  iii.  II,  and  John,  i.  33,)  but  they  had  not  heard 
 of  the  extraordinary  effusion  of  his  {fifts  and  graces. — Guyse.  They 
 had  not  heard  that  the  Holy  Ghost  had  been  actually  communicated 
 to  any,  especially  in  his  extraordinary  gifts.  They  might  have  been 
 Hellenistic  Jews,  who  had  heard  John  twenty  years  before,  but,  hav- 
 ing repaired  to  their  own  country,  knew  nothing  of  the  progress  of 
 Christianity.  They  knew  of  the  promise  in  the  Old  Testament,  but 
 had  not  heard  of  its  fulfilment.— Bchs.  The  Spirit  had  ceased  since 
 Zechariah  and  Malaclii;  hence  their  ignorance  recently  manifested, 
 Luke,  iii.15;  John,  i.25;  full  effusion  only  after  the  ascension.— i,i>/i(/"., 
 Grot,,  Wliittty.  3.  Unto, or  into,  what  u-ere  ye  baptized?  ioTC\\ri-i\\?Ln'i 
 were  baptized  'in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
 H'lly  GhiKt.*  Unto  J o/ms  tinpt ism,  •wti\ch  jiointed  to  the  coming  Mes- 
 siah, and  believed  the  testimony  concerning  him.— Doddr.  luyawov 
 litfmitjij.a,  that  is,  I  think,  *  m  the  name  of  John,'  not  by  John  him- 
 self, but  by  some  weak  disciple  at  a  distance.— /f??i.  4.  John  verily 
 baptized,  ^c— John's  baptism  was  a  preparative  for  the  reception  of 
 Christ.— £rf.  5.  Wfien  they  heard  t/tis,  they  were  baptized— ih^i^Q 
 are  the  words  of  the  apostle  Paul,  giving  an  account  of  John's  baptism 
 and  of  the  success  of  his  ministry  ;  shewing  that  his  baptism  was  ad- 
 ministered in  tlie  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  ;  and  not  the  words  of  Luke, 
 recording  what  followed  upon  his  account  of  John's  baptism,  for  then 
 he  would  have  said,  when  they  heard  this  account,  they  were  baptized 
 by  Paul,  ike— Gill.  This  verse  should  he  understood  as  a  continua- 
 tion of  Paul's  explanation  of  the  baptism  of  John  which  they  had 
 already  received.  Then  said  Paul,  John  indeed  baptized  the  baptism 
 of  repentance,  sayin;,'  m  the  people  that  they  should  believe  on  him 
 who  should  cume  after  him,  that  is,  on  Christ  Jesus.  And  they  (that 
 the  people  to  whom  John  spake)  having  heard,  (this  doctrine,)  were 
 (in  effect)  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.'— fiu-. ,-  see  Beza, 
 Benson,  Wuljius.  It  is  evitlcnt  that  these  persons  were  rebaptized  by 
 the  nirectinn  of  Paul.  This  is  the  obvious  interpretation.  It  was  not 
 B  matter  of  fact  that  John  baptized  in  the  name  of  Christ  Jesus— if 
 admitted,  the  verse  is  then  an  useless  tautology  of  ver.  4.  It  is  evi- 
 dent that  those  on  whom  Paul  laid  his  hands,  (ver.  6,)  and  those  who 
 were  baptized,  were  the  same  ;  but  these  were  the  pcrsous  wlio  heard 
 1166 
 
 (ver.  5)  what  was  said.  The  narrative  is  continuous. — Barnes.  To  be 
 a  Christian,  a  man  must  be  baptized  nito  the  Christian  faitU.  These 
 persons  had  not  been  baptized  into  that  faith,  and  therefore  were  not 
 Christians:  they  felt  this,  and  were  immediately  baptized  into  the 
 name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. — A.  Clnrke.  St.  Paul's  question,  '  Unto  what 
 then  were  ye  baptized  >'  implies  a  distinction  between  diffeient  kinds 
 of  baptism,  and  denotes  that  while  he  understood  they  had  been  bap- 
 tized,  he  also  concluded  that  they  had  not  received  Christian  baptism, 
 having  never  heard  of  the  Holy  Spirit. — Srott.  Jn  the  name,  ^c,  i.  e., 
 into  the  faith  and  obedience  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  in  the  form 
 appointed  by  the  Lord  Jesus,  at  Malt,  xxviii.  ig. — Bp.  Mann.  8.  Dis- 
 puting, AtaXeyofjLevo^,  '  reasoning.'or  "discoursing." — Benson.  *  Hold- 
 ing conversations  with  them.' — A.Clarke.  Q.  hi  the  school  of  one 
 Ti/rnnntis,  perhaps  a  teacher  of  rhetoric,  who  had  a  large  room  in 
 which  he  used  to  deliver  lectures. — Dp.  Peurce.  12.  Handkercliiefs 
 
 or  aprons,  aovha^m  r\  trfjuiKivt'ia,  sudteria  vel  semicinctia.  The  etymo- 
 logy is  plainly  Latin,  and  determines  it  to  have  been  a  piece  of  linen 
 used  to  wipe  away  sweat  from  the  face.  Calmet  thinks  the  latter  word 
 signifies  '  drawers,'  hut '  aprons'  might  have  been  intended  ;  for  though 
 forming  no  part  of  the  ordinary  dress  of  the  Greeks,  yet  they  might 
 have  been  used  by  men  and  women  to  preserve  their  clothes. — Doddr. 
 The  latter  word  signifies  things  round  their  waists,  doubtless  'girdles,' 
 or  'sashes.* — Bens.  These  articles  perhaps  belonged  to  the  sick,  from 
 whom  they  were  brought  to  touch  Paul's  body, — Mackn.  13.  Exor- 
 cists, who  made  a  trade  of  strolling  about,  with  the  pretence  of  caring 
 possessed  persons  by  magical  arts. — Pyle.  l6.  Naked,  i.e.,  without 
 their  upper  garment. — Bp.  Pcarce.  18.  Shewed  their  deeds,  made  a 
 declaration  of  their  unlawful  deeds  of  this  kind. — Doddr.  Of  the  de- 
 vices by  which  they  had  deceived  the  multitude. — Bnis.  19.  Books^ 
 — burned — Ephesus  was  famed  for  this  sort  of  Icarnmg  ;  here  Apollo- 
 nius  Tyjencus,  in  the  beginning  of  Nero's  reign,  opened  a  school,  and 
 taught  magic,  and  such. like  things.  Frequent  mention  is  made  of  the 
 Ephesian  letters,  which  were  no  other  than  enchantments;  and  even 
 Diana,  the  goddess  of  the  Ephesians,  is  said  to  be  a  magician. 
 Ftfty  thousand  pieces  of  silvei — if  the  silver  pieces  at  Ephesus  arc 
 reckoned  as  an  Attic  drachma,  the  amount  was  equal  to  1562/.  10.5.  of 
 our  mcney  ;  but  if  shekels  were  intended,  in  the  Jewish  way,  then,  the 
 shekel,  being  worth  about  one  of  our  half-crowns,  the  sum  total  would 
 be  6250/. — Giti.  21.  Purposed  in  the  spirit,  determined  within  him- 
 
 self.— Bp.  Pearce. 
 
Demetrius  raiseth  an   uproar. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XX. 
 
 ivhicli  is  appeased  hy  the  townclerh. 
 
 23  And  "  the  same  time  there  arose  no  small 
 stir  about  "■  tliat  way. 
 
 ■24  For  a  certain  man  named  Demetrius,  a 
 silversmith,  which  made  silver  slirines  for 
 Diana,  brought '  no  small  gain  unto  the  crafts- 
 men ; 
 
 •Jj  Whom  he  called  together  with  the  work- 
 men of  like  occupation,  and  said.  Sirs,  ye  know 
 that  by  this  craft  we  have  our  wealth. 
 
 •JG  Moreover  ye  see  and  hear,  that  not  alone 
 at  Ephesus,  but  almost  throughout  all  Asia, 
 tliis  Paul  bath  persuaded  and  turned  away 
 much  people,  saying  that  'they  be  no  gods, 
 wliich  are  made  with  hands  : 
 
 •27  So  tliat  not  oidy  tliis  our  craft  is  in  danger 
 to  be  set  at  nought ;  but  also  that  the  temple 
 of  tlie  great  goddess  Diana  should  be  despised, 
 and  her  magnificence  should  be  destroyed, 
 wliom  all  Asia  and  the  world  worshippeth. 
 
 '28  And  when  they  heard  tliexe  sayings,  they 
 were  full  of  wratli,  and  cried  out,  saying.  Great 
 is  Diana  of  the  Ephesians. 
 
 ■29  And  the  whole  city  was  filled  with  confu- 
 sion :  and  having  caught  ^  Gaius  and  ^  Aristar- 
 clius,  men  of  Macedonia,  Paul's  companions  in 
 travel,  they  rushed  with  one  accord  into  the 
 theatre. 
 
 30  And  when  Paul  would  have  entered  in 
 inito  tlie  people,  the  disciples  suffered  him 
 not. 
 
 31  And  certain  of  the  chief  of  Asia,  which 
 were  his  friends,  sent  unto  him,  desiring  him 
 that  he  would  not  adventure  himself  into  the 
 theatre. 
 
 32  Some  therefore  cried  one  thing,  and  some 
 another  :  for  the  assembly  was  confused  ;  and 
 tlie  more  part  knew  not  wherefore  they  were 
 come  together. 
 
 33  And  they  drew  Alexander  out  of  the 
 multitude,  the  Jews  putting  him  forward. 
 And  '  Alexander  i"  beckoned   with   tlie   liand. 
 
 £-Rom. 16.23 
 \  Cor  1,14. 
 /.  cli.  20   4 
 
 Crtl.  *.  111. 
 
 Pliilei 
 
 .  21. 
 
 I  ITim  1.20 
 2Tiin.l.H. 
 ft  ch.  1-2.  17. 
 
 t  Gr.  th' 
 li-mj'lebffyfr. 
 
 uiiiTt  d'lyt 
 
 a  I  Cor.l6.r. 
 1  Tim.  1.3. 
 
 and  would   have  made  his  defence  unto  the 
 people. 
 
 34  But  when  they  knew  that  he  was  a  Jew, 
 all  with  one  voice  about  the  space  of  two  hours 
 cried  out.  Great  is  Diana  of  the  Ephesians. 
 
 35  And  when  the  townclerk  had  appeased 
 the  people,  he  said.  Ye  men  of  Ephesus,  what 
 man  is  there  that  knoweth  not  how  that  the 
 city  of  the  Ephesians  is  fa  worsliipper  of  the 
 great  goddess  Diana,  and  of  the  imaije  which 
 fell  down  from  Jupiter  V 
 
 36  Seeing  then  that  these  things  cannot  be 
 spoken  against,  ye  ought  to  be  quiet,  and  to 
 do  nothing  rashly. 
 
 37  For  ye  have  brought  hither  these  men, 
 which  are  neither  robbers  of  churches,  nor  yet 
 blasphemers  of  your  goddess. 
 
 38  Wherefore  if  Demetrius,  and  the  crafts- 
 men which  are  with  him,  have  a  matter  against 
 any  man,  {{  the  law  is  open,  and  there  are  de- 
 puties :  let  them  implead  one  another. 
 
 39  But  if  ye  enquire  any  thing  concerning 
 other  matters,  it  shall  be  determined  in  a 
 II  lawful  assembly. 
 
 40  For  we  are  in  danger  to  be  called  in  ques- 
 tion for  this  day's  uproar,  there  being  no  cause 
 whereby  we  may  give  an  account  of  this  con- 
 course. 
 
 41  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  he  dis- 
 missed the  assembly. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 I    Patdgoeth  to  Macedonia.    7  Me  celebmteth  tlie  Lorcrs 
 supper,  anfl  prencfiet/i.       9  Enti/r/iiis  having  J ulhn 
 dim-Ill  dead,   10  is  raised  to  life.      17  At  Miletum  be 
 calleth  the  tldrrs  together,  telicth  tlum  ttliat  shall  be- 
 fall to  hims,elf,  28  cnminiittth   God's  flock  to  them,  29 
 warneth  them  of  false  fenchcrsy  82  commendeth  them 
 to  Godt  36  pragtth  wit^  thi-m,  and  goeth  his  way. 
 X  ND   after   the   uproar   was   ceased,    Paul 
 -^^  called  unto  him   the  disciples,  and   em- 
 braced   them^  and  "departed  for  to  go  into 
 Macedonia. 
 
 23.  A'o  Rmall  sHr,  xapixo?  ovk  oXifoi,  *  no  small  tumult.* — Bens. 
 That   way,    the    doctrine    of  Christianits-.— i?/).  Mann.  24.  Silver 
 
 shrines,  vaov^  ap-yupotr  ApTe|i.(3oc,  literally,  'silver  temples  of  Diana,* 
 that  is,  silver  models,  or  representations  in  miniature,  of  the 
 temple  of  Diana,  and  of  the  iraag-e  which,  as  they  said,  fell  down  from 
 Jupiter.— See  Ham.,  Whitfjjj,  ^nd  Bens.  These  representations  of  this 
 ■wonderof  the  world  were  bnu^ht  by  strangers  from  curiosity  and  devo- 
 tion.— Bp.  Pearce.  For  Diana,  she  is  said  to  he  the  daughter  of  Ju- 
 piter by  Latona,  and  is  called  '  the  goddess  uf  hunting  ;*  the  moon  was 
 worshipped  under  her  name. — Gill.  27-  The  temple  of  the  ^reat 
 
 fro'^rfw.f— Diana  is  here  called  *  the  great  gnddess  ;'  fnr  the  Gentiles  had 
 their  greater  and  their  lesser  gods.  This  temple  was  nearly  a  mile  from 
 the  city,  425  feet  long,  220  feet  hroatl.  ami  had  in  it  12"  pillars,  sixty 
 feet  high.  This  temple  was  burnt  by  Herostratu';,  that  his  name  mig:ht 
 be  handed  down  to  posterity. — Gill.  30.  Would  have  entered,  to  de- 
 fend himself  and  his  two  friends. — Bp.  Mann.  31.  0/  the  chief  of 
 Asiti,  T(i)v  A(Tiapx"H',  'of  the  Asiarchs,'  principal  officers  of  Asia,  who 
 presided  ovur  tlie  public  games, — Bens. ;  who  also  took  charge  of  all 
 religious  S')\vranities.—Si/hf earner.  It  is  supposed  the  games  were  now 
 celebrating,  and  the  apostle  was  in  danger  of  being  thrown  to  the  wild 
 beasts. — Ham.        33.  And  tUeif  drew,  T^poe^ijiatTav,  '  thrust  forward.' — 
 
 Bens.  Alexander^  or  some  of  the  multitude  brought  forth  Alexander 
 into  the  theatre,  in  order  to  kill  him.  Some  think  this  was  Alexander 
 the  coppersmith,  who,  through  fear,  might  have  apostatized  from  this 
 time.— G(7/.  It  seems  probable  that  Alexander  was  a  Jew,  and  nnt  a 
 Christian,  who  only  aimed  to  defend  the  Jews,  and  to  throw  the  blame 
 or  the  uproar  on  the  Christians. — So  Beausofire.  3.s.  Townclerk,  or 
 'principal  magistrate.* — Schleusner.  rpafxnarev^,  'the  scribe,'  pro- 
 baMy  the  proconsul's  secretary,  to  whom  the  direction  of  the  affairs  of 
 the  city  was  committed. — Bens.,  as  Guj/si^.  '  The  chancellor.' — Doddr. 
 '  The  recorder.' — Boothr.,  Ike.  Is  a  ivorshipper,  veuinopov.  '  the  guardian 
 of  the  temple.' — Bp.  Pearce.  Fell  doicn  from  Jupiter,  'from  heaven,' 
 such  was  the  vulgar  opinion  respecting  the  statue  of  Diana  here,  owing 
 to  its  great  antiquity. — Beausobre.  3/.  Rubbers  of  churches,  iepoa- 
 v\off,  *  spoilers  of  sacred  places.'— ,4.  Clarke.  A'.*r  pet  blasphemers  of 
 your  goddess — the  townclerk  gave  this  artful  tuin  tn  Paul's  arguments 
 against  gods  made  with  hands,  that  this  image  could  not  be  intended, 
 his  object  being  to  pacify  the  people. — Bp.  Mann.  38.  Let  them  im- 
 plead— they  had  appointed  days  when  the  pmconsvd  and  deputy  at- 
 tended the  courts. — Grot.  40.  In  (/'/jfypi— there  was  a  Roman  la^v 
 which  made  it  capital  to  raise  a  nut.—  Bens. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.ap.  XIX.  —  Observe  here,  I.  The 
 success  of  the  gospel  at  Ephesus.  This  was  most  strikingly  dis- 
 played in  the  Ephesians  burning  their  books  of  magic,  though 
 tbey  were  of  much  value,  and  though  many  of  them  gained 
 their  livelihood  through  their  sale  and  their  arts.  'Thus,' 
 says  Henry,  '  they  shewed  an  holy  indignation  at  the  sins 
 they  Iiad  been  guilty  of,  and  took  a  pious  revenge  on  those 
 things  that  had  been  the  instruments  of  sin  to  them.  Thus 
 they  sliewed  a  holy  resolution  never  to  return  to  the  use  of 
 their  arts,  and  the  books  which  related  to  them,  again.  Thus 
 they  put  away  a  temptation  to  return  to  them  again.  Thus 
 they  prevented  their  doing  mischief  to  others.  Thus  they 
 shewed  a  contempt  of  the  wealth  of  this  world  in  the  destruc- 
 tion of  their  valuable  books  of  magic.  Thus  tbey  publicly  tes- 
 tified their  joy  for  their  conversion  from  these  wicked  prac- 
 tices.' *  It  is  a  blessed  sight  to  see  the  word  of  God  growing 
 and  prevailing  mightily,  as  it  did  here.* 
 1167 
 
 II.  The  opposition  here  made  to  the  success  of  the  (gospel.  De- 
 metrius, the  shrine-maker,  was  alarmed  because  tis  craft  was 
 in  danger.  Interest  has  often  been  at  the  bottom  of  a  pre- 
 tended zeal  for  religion.  He  pleaded  in  behalf  of  Diana's 
 worship,  '  that  it  had  pomp  on  its  side,  and  numbers  on  its 
 side.'  'The  devotees  of  Mammon  and  Superstition,'  says 
 Scott,  'not  only  impose  on  others,  but  on  themselves,  and 
 imagine  that  they  really  love  their  religion,  while  they  only 
 value  the  aflSuence,  and  splendour,  and  honour,  derived  from 
 it."  The  Ephesian  idolaters  were  wroucht  up  to  the  gn-atest 
 fury,  and  the  apostle  and  early  disciples  might  have  become 
 their  victims;  but  God  could  raise  up  instruments  in  their 
 defence,  and  still  the  most  raging  storm  that  might  threaten 
 their  destruction.  The  prudent  advice  of  the  townclerk  pre- 
 vailed, the  people  were  pacified,  and  thus  ended  the  threaten- 
 ing danger. 
 
Paul  preacheth  at  Macedonia. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XX. 
 
 He  goeth  to  Miletum. 
 
 2  And  when  he  had  gone  over  thuse  parts, 
 and  had  given  them  much  exhortation,  he 
 came  into  Greece, 
 
 3  And  there  abode  three  months.  And 
 ''  when  the  Jews  laid  wait  for  him,  as  he  was 
 about  to  sail  into  Syria,  he  purposed  to  return 
 through  Macedonia. 
 
 4  And  there  accompanied  him  into  Asia  So- 
 pater  of  Berea ;  and  of  the  Thessalonians, 
 "  Aristarchus  and  Secundus  ;  and  "^  Gains  of 
 Derbe,  and  ''  Timotheus ;  and  of  Asia,  '"  Tychi- 
 cus  and  ^  Trophimus. 
 
 5  Tiiese  going  before  tarried  for  us  at  Troas. 
 
 6  And  we  sailed  away  from  Philippi  after 
 ''  the  days  of  unleavened  bread,  and  came  unto 
 them  '  to  Troas  in  five  days  ;  where  we  abode 
 seven  days. 
 
 7  And  upon  'the  first  day  of  the  week,  when 
 the  disciples  came  together  '  to  break  bread, 
 Paul  preached  unto  them,  ready  to  depart  on 
 the  morrow  ;  and  continued  his  speech  until 
 midnight. 
 
 8  And  there  were  many  lights'" in  the  upper 
 cliamber,  where  they  were  gathered  together. 
 
 9  And  there  sat  in  a  window  a  certain  young 
 man  named  Eutychus,  being  fallen  into  a  deep 
 sleep  :  and  as  Paul  was  long  preaching,  he 
 sunk  down  with  sleep,  and  fell  down  from  the 
 third  loft,  and  was  taken  up  dead. 
 
 10  And  Paul  went  down,  and  "fell  on  him, 
 and  embracing  him  said,  °  Trouble  not  your- 
 selves ;  for  his  life  is  in  him. 
 
 1 1  When  he  therefore  was  come  up  again, 
 and  had  broken  bread,  and  eaten,  and  talked  a 
 long  while,  even  till  break  of  day,  so  he  de- 
 parted. 
 
 12  And  they  brought  the  young  man  alive, 
 and  were  not  a  little  comforted. 
 
 13  t  And  we  went  before  to  ship,  and  sailed 
 unto  Assos,  there  intending  to  take  in  Paul: 
 for  so  had  he  appointed,  minding  himself  to  go 
 afoot. 
 
 14  And  when  he  met  with  us  at  Assos,  we 
 took  him  in,  and  came  to  Mitylene. 
 
 15  And  we  sailed  thence,  and  came  the  next 
 daif  over  against  Chios  ;  and  the  next  day  we 
 arrived  at  Sanios,  and  tarried  at  Trogyllium  ; 
 and  the  next  flay  we  came  to  Miletus. 
 
 16  For  Paul  had  determined  to  sail  by  Ephe- 
 sus,  because  he  would  not  spend  t!ie  time  in 
 Asia:    for  ^he  hasted,  if  it  were  possible  for 
 
 b  cli,  9    23. 
 S<  23.  12.  & 
 2.S.S    2  Cor. 
 11.  26. 
 
 c  ch.  19.  29. 
 
 &  ■*7.  2. 
 
 C'»l.  +,  10. 
 d  ch.  19.  29. 
 ecl>.   16.  I. 
 /Eph.  6.21. 
 
 Cnl.  *.  7, 
 
 2Tim-ri2. 
 
 Tit.  3.  12. 
 g  rh.  21.  29. 
 
 2  Tim .4. 20 
 A  Ex.  \i.  II, 
 
 15.  &23.  15, 
 
 ch.  16   S. 
 2.1'; 
 
 2Coi 
 2Titn  4  l.^. 
 »  1  Cor  16.2 
 Kev.  1.  I'l. 
 rh.  2.-12,<fi, 
 1  Cor. 10.16, 
 U   II.  2ti, 
 
 P  ch.  19.  SI. 
 fc  19,  21.  ft 
 
 .  24,  17 
 2.  1. 
 !.r  16.8, 
 
 /  ver.  9. 
 w  ver.  27. 
 
 X  ch,  18.5. 
 y  MArkl.l5. 
 
 [.uke  24.47. 
 
 ch.  2.  38. 
 
 ;  ch.  19.21. 
 
 1  ch.  SI.  1. 
 11.  I  Thcs 
 3.3. 
 
 ft  ch.  21.13. 
 
 Rnin.  8.  SS. 
 
 2  Cor.  4  16. 
 c  2  Tim.  4  7 
 <i  ch.  1.17- 
 
 2  Cor.  4.  I. 
 «  Ral.   I.I. 
 
 Tit.  1.3. 
 
 g  Ch.  18,  6. 
 
 8  Cor.  7.  2. 
 A  Tcr.  2l>. 
 i  Luke  7.3(1. 
 
 John  15  \5. 
 
 Epii.  I.  li- 
 lt I  Tim, 4.16. 
 
 1  Pet,  a.  2. 
 I  1  Cor.  12. 
 
 29. 
 m  Eph.  1.  7, 
 U.  Col.  1. 
 14.  Heb    9. 
 12   1  Pel   1. 
 
 19.  Rev.  5. 
 9. 
 
 1  Soe  Heb. 
 
 9.  14, 
 o  Mat.  7.  15. 
 
 2  Pet    2     1. 
 p  I  Tim,  I. 
 
 20.  1  John 
 2.  19. 
 
 7ch.  19,  10. 
 
 him,  "^to  be  at  Jerusalem  'the  day  of  Pentecost. 
 
 17  1  And  from  Miletus  he  sent  to  Ephesus, 
 and  called  the  elders  of  the  church. 
 
 18  And  when  they  were  come  to  him,  he  said 
 unto  them,  Ye  know,  *from  the  first  day  that  I 
 came  into  Asia,  after  what  manner  I  have  been 
 with  you  at  all  seasons, 
 
 10  Serving  the  Lord  with  all  humility  of 
 mind,  and  with  many  tears,  and  temptations, 
 which  befell  me  *  by  the  lying  in  wait  of  the 
 Jews : 
 
 20  Aiid  how  "  I  kept  back  nothing  that  was 
 profitable  unto  you,  but  have  shewed  you,  and 
 have  taught  you  publickly,  and  from  house  to 
 house, 
 
 21  "  Testifying  both  to  the  Jews,  and  also  t(t 
 the  Greeks,  ^repentance  toward  God, and  faith 
 toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 22  And  now,  behold,  *  I  go  bound  in  the 
 spirit  unto  Jerusalem,  not  knowing  the  things 
 that  shall  befall  me  there  : 
 
 23  Save  that  "  the  Holy  Ghost  witnesseth  in 
 every  city,  saying  that  bonds  and  afflictions 
 II  abide  me. 
 
 24  But  ^^  none  of  these  things  move  me,  noi- 
 ther  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  '^so  that 
 I  might  finish  my  course  with  joy,  ^  and  the 
 ministry,  ^  which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord 
 Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of 
 God. 
 
 25  And  now,  behold,  ^I  know  that  ye  all, 
 among  whom  I  have  gone  preaching  the  king- 
 dom of  God,  shall  see  my  face  no  more. 
 
 26  Wherefore  I  take  yon  to  record  this  day, 
 that  I  am  *''pure  from  the  blood  of  all  invn. 
 
 27  For  ''  I  have  not  shunned  to  declare  unto 
 you  all  '  the  counsel  of  God. 
 
 28  H '^  Take  heed  therefore  unto  yourselves, 
 and  to  all  the  flock,  over  the  which  the  Holy 
 Ghost  '  hath  made  you  overseers,  to  fe^^  the 
 church  of  God,  ™  which  he  hath  purchased 
 "  with  his  own  blood. 
 
 29  For  I  know  this,  that  after  my  departing 
 °  sliali  grievous  wolves  enter  in  among  you, 
 not  sparing  the  flock. 
 
 30  Also  ''  of  your  own  selves  shall  men  arise, 
 speaking  perverse  things,  to  draw  away  dis- 
 ciples after  them. 
 
 31  Therefore  watch,  and  remember,  that  "^  by 
 the  space  of  three  years  I  ceased  not  to  warn 
 every  one  night  and  day  with  tears. 
 
 Chap.  XX.  —  2.  Greece,  the  term,  as  used  in  the  New  Testament,  is 
 equivaleot  to  Achaia,  which  includes  Greece  jiroper,  where  Athens 
 stood,  and  aiso  the  PiBlopenncsus. —  If'ells.  4.  Sop/itfr,  supposed  the 
 same  with  Sosipater,  (Rom.  xvi. -21.)  Ari.'itarrfivs,  mentioned  chap, 
 xix.  29  ;  x.xvii.  2;  Philemoo,  V.  24  ;  Col.  iv.  10,  1 1.  Secimdn  a,  not 
 mentioned  elsewhere.  Cuius,  probahly  the  same  mentioned  chap. 
 xix.29;  mentioned  also,  I  Cor.  i.  U;  Rom.  xvi.  2.1,  and  an  epistle 
 written  tn  him  by  John.  TiWifAcus,  Timothy  of  Lystra,  [chap.  xvi.  i .) 
 honoured  with  two  epistles  from  Paul,  and  mention  of  him  in  the 
 tiUes  of  2  Cor.,  Philip.,  Col.  i.,  2  Thess.,  and  Philem.  Tychicus,  men- 
 tioned 2  Tim.  iv.  12;  Tit.  iii.  12;  Ephcs.  vi.  21,  22;  Col.  \v.  7,  8.  Trn- 
 p/timus,  a  Gentile  convert,  mentinned  cliap.  xxi.  29 ;  2Tim.  iv.  20; 
 these  two  last  beinp  said  to  be  of  Asia,  and  distinguished  from  Gains 
 and  Timothy,  who  were  of  Asia  Minnr,  shews  that  they  were  natives 
 of  Proconsular  Asia.— Dorfrfr.  .5.  Troas,  a  city  in  Asia  Minor,  (chap, 
 xvi.  8.)  6.  Dat/s  a/  unleavened  brcnd,  or  the  passover,  mentioned 
 to  shew  the  season  of  the  year.  7.  First  day,  a  proof  that  the  first 
 Christians  kept  this  day.  To  break  bread,  hence  the  early  Christians 
 had  the  Lord's  supper  on  this  day.— See  Whitby,  and  Etsley.  8.  M-tyuj 
 Ughts—v/hy  is  this  mentinned,  unless  to  account  for  the  effect  pro- 
 duced from  their  heat?  It  seems  otherwi*.e  to  have  no  design  here, 
 nor  any  connexion  ;  but  if  we  connect  it  with  the  next  verse,  then  it 
 may  be  considered  as  a  reason  for  the  extreme  drowsiness  of  Eotv- 
 chiis,  and  the  event  which  followed.— Erf.  9.  Fell  down  from  the 
 third  to/t.  or  story.  Sir  J.  Chnrdin  states,  that  the  windows  in  the 
 east  are  very  large,  and  even  with  the  floor.— Hfitr.  10.  Felt  on  him, 
 as  Elijah  and  Elisha  on  those  they  intended  to  raise,  (I  Kings,  xvii. 
 1168 
 
 21  ;  2  Kings,  iv.  3^.1  His  life  is  in  Aim— the  words  import  that  though 
 he  was  dead  before,  the  apostle  now  perceived  some  symptitms  of  his 
 revival. — Doddr.  II.  Broken  hrend — '  some  suppose  this  was  a  com- 
 mon meal;  I  understand  it  of  the  Lord's  supper,  which  they  met  to 
 celebrate,'  (ver.  7.) — Guyse.  13.  Assas,  a  seaport  town  in  the  pro- 
 vince of  Troas. —  Wells.  15.  Chios,  an  island  in  the  -^gian  sea. 
 Samos.  the  like.  Trogyllium,  a  promontory  in  the  /Egcan  sea.  jVi- 
 letus,  once  the  chief  city  of  Ionia,  famous  as  the  birth  place  of  Thalc'*. 
 —  Gill.  19.  Temptations,  Treipao-fttDv,  'trials,'  namely,  of  his  faith, 
 patience,  and  courage.— Brn*.  21.  Testifying,  declaring  or  preach- 
 ing.'— Bp.  Pearce.  Faith  toward,  '  trust  in.* — 31.  Good.  22.  Bound 
 in  t fie  spirit,  '  under  a  strong  impidse  of  the  Spirit.' — Doddr.  24.  ynne 
 of  these,  ^c.,  ov6evov  Xo-jov  noiovnai,  '  I  make  no  account  of  them.' — 
 Hen.  My  course,  tov  Apofiov  fiov,  'my  ministerial  functii>n.' — .-1.  Clarke. 
 21).  /  take  you  to  record  this  day,  ev  ti/  ^^r]^ltJpot'  nfMcpi^i,  *  1  call  this  day 
 to  witness  to  you.'— So  Slreso,  in  He/'i.  27.  The  cnuwiel  of  God,  the 
 whole  system  of  Divine  truths.  28.  Overseers,  cTTtaKuTTov:,  'inspec- 
 tors,* or  *  bishops.' — Duddr.  'Shepherds  and  overseers.'  Church  of 
 God,  body  of  Christian  people.  (Matt,  xviii.  17.^- i?/>.  Uann.  Pur- 
 chased,  irepi€-notr<TaTo,  occurs  only  in  one  other  placi',  I  Tim.  iii.  13. 
 The  word  properly  means,  to  acquire  or  gain  anything  ;  or  to  make  it 
 ours. — Barnes.  With  his  oivn  hlood — the  blood  of  Christ  is  here  called 
 •  the  blood  of  God,*  as  being  the  blood  of  that  man  who  is  al^o  '  God 
 with  us.*  Surely  by  the  special  direction  nf  the  Spirit  this  expression 
 is  used. — Doddr.  29.  Wuh^es,  false  teachers.— Horn.  30.  Perverse 
 things,  iicffTpa/xncfa,  crooked,  perverted,  distracting  doctrines.  — 
 Barnes.    Things  contrary  to  sound  doctrine.        31.  Night,  hence  they 
 
Paul  goeth  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXI. 
 
 Philip's  daughters. 
 
 32  And  now,  brethren,  I  commend  you  to 
 God,  and  "■  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  which 
 is  able  'to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you 
 '  ui  inheritance  among  all  them  wliich  are 
 sanctified. 
 
 .33  "  1  have  coveted  no  man's  silver,  or  gold, 
 or  apparel. 
 
 94  Yea,  ye  yourselves  know,  "  that  these 
 hands  have  ministered  unto  my  necessities, 
 and  to  them  that  were  with  me. 
 
 35  I  have  shewed  you  all  things,  'bow  that 
 so  labouring  ye  ought  to  support  tlie  wealc, 
 and  to  remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
 how  he  said,  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
 receive. 
 
 36  IF  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  he 
 '  kneeled  down,  and  prayed  with  them  all. 
 
 37  And  they  all  wept  sore,  and  "fell  on  Paul's 
 neck,  and  kissed  him, 
 
 38  Sorrowing  most  of  all  for  the  words  ''which 
 he  spake,  that  they  should  see  his  face  no 
 more.  And  they  accompanied  him  unto  the 
 ship. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 1  Pmd  will  not  hi;  luiii  nfans  he  dhsuaihd  from  yoing 
 to  Jerusaltm,  9  I'ltilij/s  iluu'jjiters prop/ietessis.  17 
 Paul  Cometh  to  Jtnisaltm  :  27  where  he  is  appre- 
 fienr/ed,  and  in  great  danger,  31  hut  by  the  chi^J'  cap- 
 tain is  rescued,  and  permitted  to  speak  to  the  people, 
 
 A  ND  it  came  to  pass,  that  after  we  were 
 -'^  gotten  from  them,  and  had  launched,  we 
 came  with  a  straight  course  unto  Coos,  and  the 
 clay  following  unto  Rhodes,  and  from  thence 
 unto  Patara  : 
 
 2  And  finding  a  ship  sailing  over  unto  Phe- 
 iiicia,  we  went  aboard,  and  set  forth. 
 
 3  Now  when  we  had  discovered  Cyprus,  we 
 left  it  on  the  left  hand,  and  sailed  into  Syria, 
 and  landed  at  Tyre  :  for  there  the  ship  was  to 
 unlade  her  burden. 
 
 4  And  finding  disciples,  we  tarried  there  seven 
 days  :  "  who  said  to  Paul  through  the  Spirit, 
 that  he  should  not  go  up  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 r  Heb.  la.  9. 
 
 icll.  0.  31. 
 /  dt.  26.  19. 
 
 Kph.   I.  IS. 
 
 Col.  I.  12. 
 
 &  3.  24. 
 
 Heb.  9.  15. 
 
 I  Pet.  I.  4. 
 u  I  Sam.  12. 
 
 3.  1  Cor.  9 
 
 12.  2  Cor.  7. 
 
 2.  &  11.  9, 
 
 &  12.17 
 
 X  cb.  18.  S. 
 
 ICor. -1.  1-2. 
 
 I  TheB.2.  9. 
 
 ■J  TheH.3s. 
 if  Kom.15. 1 
 
 1  Cor.9.12. 
 
 5  Cor.ll.  9. 
 l-'-«i  12.  13 
 Eph.  1.  28. 
 IThes.4.11. 
 
 6  5.  14. 
 
 2  The!.  3  6. 
 z  ch.7.6", 
 
 &  91.  b. 
 I  Geii.45.  H. 
 &  46.  29. 
 
 n  ver.  12. 
 ch.  20.  23. 
 
 f  F.ph.-l.  11. 
 2  Tim.  4  -'•. 
 0  cli.  6.  b.  hi 
 8.  26,  4U. 
 
 /Jiicl  Z.  29. 
 ;li.  2.  17 
 ch.  11.23 
 
 !,  ver.  S3, 
 ch.  90.  23. 
 
 k  M:it.  fi.  10 
 &  26   42. 
 I.uke  11  2, 
 &  22.  42. 
 
 5  And  when  we  had  accomplished  tho.'.e  Ga_rs 
 we  departed  and  went  our  way  ;  and  ttiey  a  . 
 brought  us  on  our  way,  with  wives  and  children 
 till  tve  icere  out  of  tlie  city  ;  and  ''  we  kneeled 
 down  on  the  shore,  and  prayed. 
 
 6  And  when  we  had  taken  our  leave  one  o. 
 another,  we  took  ship  ;  and  they  returned 
 "  home  again. 
 
 7  And  when  we  had  finished  our  course  from 
 Tyre,  we  came  to  Ptolemais,  and  saluted  the 
 brethren,  and  abode  with  them  one  day. 
 
 8  And  the  ne.-ct  du!/  we  that  were  of  Paul's 
 company  departed,  and  came  unto  Ca?sarea : 
 and  we  entered  into  tlie  house  of  Philip  ■'  the 
 evangelist,  "  which  was  one.  of  the  seven  ;  and 
 abode  with  him. 
 
 !)  And  tlie  same  man  had  four  daughters, 
 virgins,  ''which  did  prophesy. 
 
 10  And  as  we  tarried  there  many  days,  there 
 came  down  from  Juda?a  a  certain  prophet, 
 named  ^  Agabus. 
 
 1 1  And  wlien  he  was  come  unto  us,  he  took 
 Paul's  girdle,  and  bound  his  own  hands  and 
 feet,  and  said.  Thus  saith  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 ''  So  shall  the  Jews  at  Jerusalem  bind  the  man 
 that  owneth  this  girdle,  and  shall  deliver  him 
 into  the  hands  of  the  Gentiles. 
 
 12  And  when  we  heard  these  things,  both 
 we,  and  they  of  that  place,  besought  him  not 
 to  go  up  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 13  Then  Paul  answered,  '  What  mean  ye  to 
 weep  and  to  break  mine  heart?  for  I  am  ready 
 not  to  be  bound  only,  but  also  to  die  at  Jeru- 
 salem for  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
 
 14  And  when  he  would  not  be  persuaded,  we 
 ceased,  saying, ''  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done, 
 
 15  And  after  those  days  we  took  up  our  car- 
 riages, and  went  up  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 16  There  went  witli  us  also  certain  of  the 
 disciples  of  Ca;sarea,  and  brought  with  them 
 one  iMnason  of  Cyprus,  an  old  disciple,  with 
 whom  we  should  lodge. 
 
 17  '  And  when  we  were  come  to  Jerusalem, 
 the  brethren  received  us  gladly. 
 
 probably  had  nit;bt  meetings  to  avoid  offL'ncc,  and  because  many 
 Christians  were  poor,  and  could  not  arteiid  in  the  day. — Dinidr.  32.  To 
 G  td,  and  lit  the  word  of  his  grace,  *  to  the  [iroviilence  of  God,  and  to 
 the  blessings  and  promises  of  his  gospel. — P^/le.  'The  gospel  as  the 
 favour  and  blcssintj  of  God.' — Guyse.  3.5.  Support  the  we'tk,  '  assist 
 the  need.v  and  infirm.'  More  blessed,  '  much  happier.'  This  is  a  pre- 
 cious monument  of  apostolieal  tradition,  which,  by  being  written  in 
 these  authentic  memoirs,  is  hf^ppily  preserved. — Doddr, 
 
 Chap.  XXI.  —  1.  Were  gotUn  front  them,  airoixTTaadevTav,  'were 
 torn  away  from  them.' — Bens.  Coos,  au  island  in  the  Archipelago. 
 Rhodes,  a  famous  isle  in  the  lesser  Asia.  Patara,  a  seaport  of  Lycia. 
 — Wells.  2.  Plienicia,  this  was  reckoned  a  part  of  Syria. — Bp.  Pearce. 
 3.  Tijre,  the  chief  city  of  Phenicia.  4.  Tlirough  the  Spirit,  not  that 
 tlie  Spirit  contradicted  his  own  impulse  in  the  apostle,  but  they  saw  by 
 the  spirit  of  prophecy  what  awaited  Paul,  and,  of  their  own  inclinations, 
 
 dissuaded  him  from  going  to  Jerusalem.~G(7/.  ".  Ptolemais,  a  ma- 
 ritime city  of  Galilee,  ncarJIountCarmel,  called  so  from  Plolemy,  king 
 of  Egypt,  who  enlarged  it.  Before  that  time  it  had  borne  the  name  of 
 Accho.  {Jndg.  i.  31. J  Its  modern  name  is  Acre— Jos.,  Jerome,  Wells. 
 8.  Philip  the  evangelist,  being  not  a  writer  of  a  gospel,  but  a  preacher 
 of  the  gospel.  One  of  the  seven,  deacons  at  Jerusalem,  (chap.  vi.  .5.) 
 Perhaps  he  was  the  same  who  taught  the  eunuch,  (chap.  viii.  40,)  and 
 afterwards  settled  at  C^sarca. —GiV/.  g.  Virgins,  which  did  prophesp , 
 not  in  public  assemblies,  for  this  was  not  allowed  to  women,  but  they 
 had  a  gift  of  foretelling  future  events  ;  as  was  promised  such  should 
 have  in  gospel  times,  (Joel,  ii.  28.)— Gilt.  10.  Agabus,  mentioned 
 chap.  xi.  28.  11.  He  took  Paul's  girdle,  prophesying  by  symbols  as 
 prophets  of  old,  (Isa.  xx.  2,  3;  Jer.  xiii.  1— n,  Sc.;— GiV/.  15.  Car- 
 riages, '  baggage.' — Bootlir.  '  Bundles.'— ii/"Of"/.  '  We  made  our- 
 selves ready.'— So  Tindal,  and  Bp.  Pearce,  following  the  Vu^g.    Wen! 
 
 Refif.i.tions  on  Chap.  XX.  — Notice  here,  I.  The  acci- 
 dent of  Euli/chus.  '  This  youth  fell  fast  asleep — he  was  carried 
 away  with  it,'  says  Henry  ;  '  so  the  word  is,  which  intimates 
 that  he  strove  against  it,  but  was  overpowered  by  it,  and  at 
 last  "sank  down  with  sleep."  If,  indeed,  this  happened 
 through  indifierence,  he  was  strongly  to  be  condemned;  it  is 
 an  act  of  great  irreverence  to  sleep  while  an  ambassador  is 
 delivering  to  us  a  message  from  the  King  of  kings.  But  it 
 seems  by  no  means  improbable  that  the  lateness  of  the  hour, 
 the  warmth  of  the  room,  and  the  length  of  the  sermon,  all 
 combined  to  produce  the  deep  sleep  ;  and  the  first  and  last 
 causes  are  reasons  against  late  evening  services  and  long  ser- 
 mons. The  extraordinary  occasion  might  justify  this  length- 
 ened discourse  in  an  inspired  apostle  ;  but  the  words  of  a 
 
 once  eminent  preacher  are  worthy  of  remembrance "  I  would 
 
 rather  leave  my  bearers  longing  than  loatljiiig."      We  may, 
 1169 
 
 however,  lamei.t  that  our  frail  bodies  so  often  interfere  with 
 the  enjoyments  of  divine  worship,  and  rejoice  in  ibe  prospect 
 of  that  eternal  worship  where  there  shall  be  no  weariness- 
 no  need  of  "  sleep  to  the  eyes,"  nor  of  "  slumber  to  the  eye- 
 lids."'    IS'otice — 
 
 n.  Paul's  farewell  to  the  elders  of  Ephesus.  This  apostle  bad 
 faithfully  delivered  his  message  ;  he  had  instructed  the  people 
 '  in  season  and  out  of  season  ;'  and  now  he  could  say,  (and  O 
 that  every  minister  could  fearlessly  adopt  the  same  language, ) 
 '  I  am  pure  from  the  blood  of  all  men."  IMay  the  great  Head 
 of  the  church  raise  up  many  such  faithful  servants  ;  then,  in- 
 deed, shall  the  church  be  built  up  ;  while  the  loss  of  such  men 
 shall  be  deeply  lamented  by  their  affectionate  converts;  and 
 when  they  are  finally  taken  away  from  the  scene  of  their  la- 
 bours, their  dead  bodies  be  embalmed  with  their  tears. 
 
Paul  arrives  al  Jerusalem. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXI. 
 
 He  is  apprehended  there. 
 
 18  And  tlie  day  following  Paul  went  in  with 
 us  unto  '"James;  and  all  the  elders  were 
 present. 
 
 19  And  when  he  had  sainted  them,  "he 
 declared  particularly  what  things  God  had  j 
 wrought  among  the  Gentiles  °  by  liis  ministry. 
 
 20  And  when  they  heard  it,  they  glorified 
 the  Lord,  and  said  unto  him.  Thou  seest, 
 brother,  how  many  thousands  of  Jews  there 
 are  which  believe  ;  and  they  are  all  ''zealous 
 of  the  law : 
 
 21  And  they  are  informed  of  thee,  that  thou 
 teachest  all  the  Jews  which  are  among  the 
 Gentiles  to  forsake  Moses,  saying  that  they 
 ought  not  to  circumcise  their  children,  neither 
 to  walk  after  the  customs. 
 
 22  What  is  it  therefore?  the  multitude  must 
 needs  come  together:  for  they  will  hear  that 
 thou  art  come. 
 
 23  Do  therefore  this  that  we  say  to  thee : 
 We  have  four  men  which  have  a  vow  on 
 them  ; 
 
 24  Them  take,  and  purify  thyself  with  them, 
 and  be  at  charges  with  them,  that  they  may 
 ■* shave  their  heads:  and  all  may  know  that 
 those  things,  whereof  they  were  informed  con- 
 cerning thee,  are  nothing  ;  but  that  thou  tliy- 
 self  also  walkest  orderly,  and  keepest  the  law. 
 
 25  As  touching  the  Gentiles  which  believe, 
 'we  have  written  and  concluded  that  they  ob- 
 serve no  such  tiling,  save  only  that  they  keep 
 themselves  from  things  offered  to  idols,  and 
 from  blood,  and  from  strangled,  and  from  for- 
 nication. 
 
 26  Then  Paul  took  the  men,  and  the  next 
 day  purifying  himself  with  them  'entered  into 
 the  temple,  '  to  signify  the  accomplishment  of 
 the  days  of  purification,  until  that  an  off'ering 
 should  be  offered  for  every  one  of  them. 
 
 27  And  when  the  seven  days  were  almost 
 ended,  "  the  Jews  which  were  of  Asia,  when 
 they  saw  him  in  the  temple,  stirred  up  all  the 
 people,  and  ^  laid  hands  on  him, 
 
 28  Crying  out.  Men  of  Israel,  help  :  This  is 
 the  man,  '  that  teacheth  all  men  every  where 
 against  the  people,  and  the  law,  and  this  place  : 
 
 a.  9. 
 
 nch.  15.  4, 
 13  Rom. 15. 
 H,  19. 
 
 0  ch.l.  17. 
 cU.  20.  2i 
 
 pch.  22.  S. 
 Bom.  10.  2. 
 Gal.  1.  14. 
 
 7  Num.  6.  ?, 
 13,  Iri. 
 cli.  18.  13. 
 
 .  ell.  Z\.  IS. 
 1  Xum.O.IS. 
 
 u  cli.2i.  IS. 
 s  cll   26.  SI. 
 
 If  oil  •2^  5, 1 
 
 ThisKiryp- 
 ti.in  rioni 
 A.  D.  55. 
 
 f  See  cll.  5. 
 Sti. 
 
 /ch.  9.  11. 
 &2i.  9. 
 
 and   further    brought    Greeks   also  into   the 
 temple,  and  hath  polluted  this  holy  place. 
 
 29  (For  they  liad  seen  before  with  iiim  in  the 
 city  "  Trophimus  an  Ephesian,  whom  they  sup- 
 posed that  Paul  had  brought  into  the  temple.) 
 
 30  And  "  all  the  city  was  moved,  and  the 
 people  ran  togetlier  :  and  they  took  Paul,  and 
 drew  him  out  of  the  temple  :  and  forthwith  the 
 doors  were  shut. 
 
 31  And  as  they  went  about  to  kill  him, 
 tidings  came  unto  the  chief  captain  of  the 
 band,  that  all  Jerusalem  was  in  an  uproar. 
 
 32  ^  Who  immediately  took  soldiers  and  cen- 
 turions, and  ran  down  unto  them  :  and  when 
 they  saw  the  chief  captain  and  the  soldiers, 
 they  left  beating  of  Paul. 
 
 33  Then  the  chief  captain  came  near,  and 
 took  him,  and  '  commanded  him  to  be  bound 
 with  two  chains  ;  and  demanded  who  he  was, 
 and  what  he  had  done. 
 
 34  And  some  cried  one  thing,  some  another, 
 among  the  multitude  :  and  wlien  he  could  not 
 know  the  certainty  for  the  tumult,  he  com- 
 manded him  to  be  carried  into  the  castle. 
 
 35  And  wlien  he  came  upon  the  stairs,  so  it 
 was,  that  he  was  borne  of  the  soldiers  for  the 
 violence  of  the  people. 
 
 36  For  tlie  multitude  of  the  people  followed 
 after,  crying, ''  Away  with  him. 
 
 37  And  as  Paul  was  to  be  led  into  the  castle, 
 he  said  unto  the  chief  captain.  May  I  speak 
 unto  thee?  Who  said,  Canst  thou  speak 
 Greek? 
 
 38  '  Art  not  thou  tliat  Egyptian,  which  before 
 these  days  niadest  an  uproar,  and  leddest  out 
 into  the  wilderness  four  thousand  men  that 
 were  murderers? 
 
 39  But  Paul  said,  '  I  am  a  man  which  am  a 
 Jew  of  Tarsus,  a  city  in  Cilicia,  a  citizen  of  no 
 mean  city  :  and,  I  beseech  thee,  suft'er  me  to 
 speak  unto  the  people. 
 
 40  And  when  he  had  given  him  licence,  Paul 
 stood  on  the  stairs,  and  ^beckoned  with  the 
 hand  unto  the  people.  And  when  there  was 
 made  a  great  silence,  he  spake  unto  them  in 
 the  Hebrew  tongue,  saying, 
 
 up  to  Jerusalem,  being  Paul's  fifth  and  last  journey  to  Jerusalem, 
 about  twenty-five  years  from  bis  conversion.  18.  Unto  James,  St. 
 James  the  Apostle,  now  Bishop  of  Jerusalem.— Bp.  Mann.  20.  Thou- 
 sands, /juptadec,  '  myriads  ;'  this  intimates  that  there  bad  been  a  most 
 extra  irdinary  and  rapid  w.Tk  even  among  the  Jews. — A.  Clarke. 
 •21 .  Tlie// are  informed  of  thee ,  ^c,  '  misinformed,' as  we  may  inf.r, 
 for  his  conduct  agreed  witli  the  decrees  of  the  council,  (chap.  xv.  -24, 
 &c.,)  and  he  taught  that  it  was  not  necessary  for  the  believing  Gen. 
 tiles  to  be  circumcised,  &c.,  while  he  had  prevailed  with  Timothy  to 
 be  circumcised,  that  he  miffht  give  no  oflTence  to  the  Jews,  (chap.  xvi. 
 3.)— Bn.  Penrce.  22.  What  is  it  therefore  r  >fc.,  '  What,  therefore, 
 should  be  done  V—Bnothr.  23.  Four  men,  of  the  church  at  Jerusa. 
 lem,  believers  in  Christ,  but  weak  ones,  who  were  zealous  of  the  law, 
 and  bigots  to  it,  and  who  had  voluntarily  vowed  a  vow  of  the  Naza- 
 rites,  (see  Num.  vi.  2.)  24.  Purify  thyself  with  them,  as  directed 
 Num.  vi.  5,  8,  9.  Be  at  eharges,  share  in  the  expense  of  the  ofTerings 
 at  the  end  of  the  vows,  (Num.  vi.  13—15.)  SAatie- Num.  vi.  18. — 
 Gill.         25.  Sai'e  only,  ^c. — see  Acts,  xv.  19,  &c.,  notes.  27.  Of 
 
 .^sia,  it  may  be  chiefly  of  Ephesus.— GiV/,  Beausohre.  28.  Brought 
 Greeks  also  into  the  temple,  '  brought  Gentiles  into  the  inner  court  ot 
 the  Israelites,'  which  they  were  forbidden  to  enter. — Newr.  31.  To 
 the  chief  captain  of  the  band,  ry  x*^'«PXy  Trir  un-eipnc,  '  to  the  tribune 
 of  the  cohort,'  called  '  Lysias,'  chap,  xx'iii.  26.     A  cohort,  or  detach- 
 
 ment of  soldiers  belonging  to  the  Roman  legion  was  lodged  in  the  ad- 
 jacent castle,  and  statinned,  on  feast  days,  near  the  temple,  to  prevent 
 disorder. — Bens.  31.  The  castle,  called  '  Antonia,'  where  the  Roman 
 garrison  was  stationed. — Bp.  Pearce.  37.  Canst  tltou  speak  Greeks 
 '  I  am  surprised  to  hear  thee  speak  a  learned  language.' — Hen.  Or, 
 *  dost  thou  know  the  Hellenistic  language  which  the  Jews  of  Greece 
 spoke  ?' — Gill.  Claudius  Lysias  was  not  a  Roman  ;  he  had,  as  him- 
 self informs  us,  purchased  his  citizenship  of  Rome  with  a  great  sum  of 
 money,  (see  chap.  xxii.  28,1  and  it  is  very  likely  that  he  was  but  im- 
 perfectly acquainted  with  the  Latin  tongue,  and  could  less  understand 
 it  in  the  tumult;  hence,  perhaps,  the  question. — Clarke.  The  officer 
 himself  seems  to  have  been  a  Greek,  as  appears  by  his  name,  Lysias, 
 as  well  as  from  his  saying  he  had  purchased  his  freedom. —  Pict.  Bib. 
 38.  That  Egyptian,  one  who  came  from  Egypt,  said  he  was  a  prophet, 
 and  ordered  the  people  to  follow  him  to  the  Mount  of  Olives,  and  they 
 should  see  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  fall  down.  Murderers,  <TiKapitav,  or 
 stcarii,  'assassins,'  so  called  from  the  liltle  swords  which  they  carried 
 under  their  clothes,  and  with  which  they  killed  men  in  the  daytime, 
 in  the  middle  of  the  city.— See  Jos.  40.  Hebrew,  this  was  not  pure 
 
 Hebrew,  but  Syro-Chaldaic  was  his  mother-tongue. — Gill.  This  dialect 
 was  then  commonly  spoken  at  Jerusalem. — Be7is.  He  preferred  it,  to 
 conciliate  the  Jews. — Mant. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXI.  —  I.  '  We  are  again  called  to 
 admire  tlie  courage,  constatwy,  and  perseverance  of  the  great 
 apostle.  Although  the  Spirit  testified  "that  in  every  city 
 boads  and  afflictions  awaited  him,"  and  although  kind  friends 
 urged  and  entreated  Kim  to  endeavour  to  escape  the  danger, 
 yet  he  abode  steadfast.  A  sacred  and  holv  passion  ruled  in 
 his  heart  stronger  than  the  love  of  friends,  of  liberty,  and  even 
 1170 
 
 of  life.  "  The  lore  of  Christ  constrained  him.''  O  that  every 
 minister — every  Christian— may  feel  more  of  this  constraining 
 love  ! 
 
 II.  '  If'e  are  tauylit,  by  tlie  conduct  of  Paul's  friends,  to  loic  t> 
 the  will  of  God,  u'hcnevtr  the  determination  of  it  is  made  knovn. 
 They,  seeing  his  holy  resolution  to  go  to  Jerusalem,  savJ, 
 "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done."     Let  us,  like  them,  ciiui-*. 
 
PauPs  harangue  to  the  people. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXII. 
 
 He  is  carried  into  the  castle. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 1  Paul  dechiTeth  at  large,  how  he  was  converted  to  the 
 faith,  17  and  called  to  his  apustleshi'p.  22  At  the  very 
 mentioning  of  the  Gentiles,  the  people  exclaim  on  him. 
 24  He  should  have  been  scourged,  25  but  claiming  the 
 privilege  of  a  Roman,  he  escapcth. 
 
 TVTEN,  *  brethren,  and  fatliers,  hear  ye  my 
 ■^^■^  defence  which  I  make  now  unto  you. 
 
 2  (And  when  they  heard  that  he  spake  in 
 the  Hebrew  tongue  to  them,  they  kept  the 
 more  silence  :  and  he  saith,) 
 
 3  '  I  am  verily  a  man  which  am  a  Jew,  born 
 in  Tarsus,  a  city  in  Cilicia,  yet  brought  up  in 
 this  city  ^'  at  the  feet  of  ■"  Gamaliel,  and  taught 
 "according  to  the  perfect  manner  of  tlie  law  of 
 the  fathers,  and  '  was  zealous  toward  God,  ^  as 
 ye  all  are  this  day. 
 
 4  ''  And   I    persecuted    this    way    unto    thi 
 death,  binding  and  delivering  into  prisons  both 
 men  and  women. 
 
 5  As  also  the  high  priest  doth  bear  me  wit- 
 ness, and  'all  the  estate  of  the  elders:  'from 
 whom  also  I  received  letters  unto  the  brethren, 
 and  went  to  Damascus,  to  bring  them  which 
 were  there  bound  unto  Jerusalem,  for  to  be 
 punished. 
 
 6  And  '  it  came  to  pass,  that,  as  I  made  my 
 journey,  and  was  come  nigh  unto  Damascus 
 about  noon,  suddenly  there  shone  from  heaven 
 a  great  light  round  about  me. 
 
 7  And  I  fell  unto  the  ground,  and  heard  a 
 voice  saying  unto  me,  Saul,  Saul,  why  perse- 
 cutest  thou  me? 
 
 8  And  I  answered.  Who  art  thou,  Lord  ? 
 And  he  said  unto  me,  I  am  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
 whom  thou  persecutest. 
 
 9  And  "  they  that  were  with  me  saw  indeed 
 the  light,  and  were  afraid  ;  but  they  lieard  not 
 the  voice  of  him  that  spake  to  me. 
 
 10  And  I  said.  What  shall  I  do.  Lord?  And 
 the  Lord  said  unto  me.  Arise,  and  go  into  Da- 
 mascus ;  and  there  it  shall  be  told  thee  of  all 
 things  which  are  appointed  for  thee  to  do. 
 
 I  I  And  when  I  could  not  see  for  the  glory 
 of  that  light,  being  led  by  the  hand  of  them 
 that  were  with  me,  I  came  into  Damascus. 
 
 12  And  "one  Ananias,  a  devout  man  accord- 
 ing to  the  law,  "  having  a  good  report  of  all 
 the  ''Jews  which  dwelt  there, 
 
 13  Came  unto  me    and  stood,  and  said  unto 
 
 ich.2I.S9. 
 2Cr)r.U.22. 
 Phil.  3.  5. 
 
 c  Deal, 33  3. 
 
 2  Kin.  4.38. 
 
 LukeliJ39- 
 d  ch.  5.  34. 
 e  ch.  26  5. 
 /ch.  21.  20. 
 
 Gil    1,  U 
 3  Rom.lO.  2. 
 h  ch    8.  3.  & 
 
 20.P.  Ill,  II. 
 
 Phil,  3   6. 
 
 I  Tun. 1.13. 
 
 iLuke22.66. 
 
 ch.  4.  5. 
 k  ch.  9.  2.  & 
 
 26.  10,  12. 
 
 ch  9.  17. 
 o  ch.  10.  22. 
 plTim.3.  7. 
 
 '/  ch.  3.  13. 
 
 &  5.  3il, 
 r  ch.  9.   15. 
 
 &  26.  16 
 »l  Cor.  9   I. 
 
 &  15.  H. 
 /  ch.  3    11. 
 
 &  7-  52. 
 11  I  Ccir,  II. 
 
 23.  Cal  I. 
 
 12 
 rch-23    II. 
 II  ch.4.  21). 
 
 .V  26    16. 
 I  Ph  2  .-IS. 
 
 Heh   10.22. 
 1  ch.  9.  14. 
 
 Rom.lO  13. 
 b  rh.  9.  -JO. 
 
 2  Cor.  12.2. 
 
 c  ver.  14. 
 d  Mat.  10. 14 
 
 e  ver.  4. 
 ch.  «-  3. 
 /.Mat.  10. 17. 
 
 h  T.uke  II. 
 
 15.  ch.  8.  1. 
 lloiu.  (.32. 
 
 ;  ch.  9.  15. 
 &  13.  2,46. 
 47.  &  13.6, 
 &  26. 17. 
 Rom, 1. 5  h 
 11    13.  M5. 
 
 16.  Gal,  I, 
 IS,  16.  &2, 
 7.  8.  Eph.3. 
 7,  8.  1  Tim. 
 2.  7.  2  Tim 
 I.  II. 
 
 Arh.  21,  So. 
 /  ch.  25.  21. 
 
 ine,  Brother  Saul,  receive  thy  sight.  And  the 
 same  hour  I  looked  up  upon  him. 
 
 14  And  he  said,  ''The  God  of  our  fathers 
 '  hath  chosen  thee,  that  thou  shouldest  know 
 his  will, and  ^see  '  that  Just  One, and  "should- 
 est hear  the  voice  of  his  mouth. 
 
 15  'For  thou  shalt  be  his  witness  unto  all 
 men  of ''what  thou  hast  seen  and  heard. 
 
 16  And  now  why  tarriest  thou?  arise,  and  be 
 baptized,  "  and  wash  away  thy  sins,  "  calling  on 
 the  name  of  the  Lord. 
 
 17  And  ''it  came  to  pass,  that,  when  I  was 
 come  again  to  Jerusalem,  even  while  1  prayed 
 in  the  temple,  I  was  in  a  trance  ; 
 
 18  And  "saw  him  saying  unto  me,  ''Make 
 haste,  and  get  thee  quickly  out  of  Jerusalem  : 
 for  they  will  not  receive  thy  testimony  con- 
 cerning me. 
 
 19  And  I  said.  Lord,  "they  know  that  I  im- 
 prisoned and  ''beat  in  every  synagogue  them 
 that  believed  on  thee  : 
 
 20  ^  And  when  the  blood  of  thy  martyr  Ste- 
 phen was  shed,  I  also  was  standing  by,  and 
 ''  consenting  unto  his  death,  and  kept  the  rai- 
 ment of  them  that  slew  him. 
 
 21  And  he  said  unto  me.  Depart :  '  for  I  will 
 send  thee  far  hence  unto  the  Gentiles. 
 
 22  And  they  gave  him  audience  unto  this 
 word,  and  then  lifted  up  their  voices,  and  said, 
 ''  Away  with  such  a.  fellow  from  the  earth  :  for 
 it  is  not  fit  that  '  he  should  live. 
 
 23  And  as  they  cried  out,  and  cast  off  their 
 clothes,  and  threw  dust  into  the  air, 
 
 24  The  chief  captain  commanded  him  to  be 
 brought  into  the  castle,  and  bade  that  he  should 
 be  examined  by  scourging  ;  that  he  might 
 know  wherefore  they  cried  so  against  him. 
 
 25  And  as  they  bound  him  with  thongs,  Paul 
 said  unto  the  centurion  that  stood  by,  "'  Is  it 
 lawful  for  you  to  scourge  a  man  that  is  a  Ro- 
 man, and  uncondemned  ? 
 
 26  When  the  centurion  heard  that,  he  went 
 and  told  the  chief  captain,  saying,  Take  heed 
 what  thou  doest  :  for  this  man  is  a  Roman. 
 
 27  Then  the  chief  captain  came,  and  said  unto 
 him.  Tell  me,  art  thou  a  Roman?  He  said, 
 Yea. 
 
 28  And  the  ciiief  captain  answered.  With  a 
 great  sum  obtained  I  this  freedom.  And  Paul 
 said.  But  I  was _/iee  born. 
 
 CuAp.  XXII.— 2.  In  the  Hebrew— fhe  native  Jews  held  the  Hellen. 
 istic  or  Greek  Jews  in  contempt ;  they  had  raised  the  tumult,  and  gave 
 the  native  Jews  to  understand  that  Paul  was  an  Hellenist.  Hence 
 their  attention  was  arrested  by  surprise  at  his  speaking  in  the  verna- 
 cular dialect.— Pirf.  Bib.  3.  .it  the  /ee(— the  Jewish  students  sat 
 on  benches,  or  on  mats  on  the  floor,  before  the  feet  of  their  rabbins. — 
 So  Gityse.  The  perfect  manner,  including  the  law  of  Moses,  and  the 
 traditions  and  customs  of  the  elders. — Bp.  Mann.  4.  Unto  the  death, 
 '  unto  death.' — Bp.  Lowth.  5.  The  high  priest,  of  that  period. — Bp. 
 Pearce.  9.  Heard  not — in  chap.  ix.  ",  the  narrative  is,  'hearing  a 
 voice,  but  seeing  no  man ;'  here,  heard  not  ttie  voice.'  The  original 
 word  used  in  both  cases,  <f,aivii,  signifies  thunder,'  and  we  may  recon. 
 cile  these  places  by  saying,  •  They  that  were  with  me  heard  the  voice 
 of  the  thunder,  but  heard  not  the  voice  of  him  that  spake  unto  me,'— 
 Ham. :  or  render  the  text  thus  :  ovk  rtnouaav,  *  they  understood  not  the 
 words  of  him  that  spake  unto  me.*  Thus  the  word  is  used  Gen.  xi.  7  ; 
 xlii.  23;  Dent,  xxviii.  49;  Jer.  v.  15;  2  Kings,  xviii.  26;  Ezek.  iii.6; 
 I  Cor.  xiv.  2. —  IVhitby.  12.  A  devout  man,  ffc,  a  strict  observer  of 
 
 the  law  of  Moses,  both  moral  and  ceremonial. — Gilt.  This  statement 
 served  to  win  the  attention  of  his  hearers. — Neivc.  14.  That  Just 
 One,  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous. — Gill,  l6.  Calling  on  the  name, 
 
 that  is,  professing  thyself  a  Christian.    So  Christians  are  distinguished. 
 
 chap.  ix.  \i.—Whitbr/.  17.  Trance,  or  'ecstacy.'— iJorfdr.  23.  Threw 
 dust — it  is  now  the  practice  of  the  Arabs  to  throw  dust  into  the  air 
 when  they  would  express  their  contempt  of  a  person  and  of  what  he 
 says. —  Oditeifs  Hist,  of  the  Saracens.  24.  Should  be   examined, 
 
 ai/cTaCcffCai — the  word  is  commonly  applied  to  metals  whose  nature  is 
 lesteil  by  lire,  and  then  it  means,  '  to  subject  to  torture  or  torments, 
 in  order  to  extort  a  confession.'  It  was  often  resorted  to  among  the 
 ancients.  Scourging  was  one  mode  of  torture  in  order  to  extort  a 
 secret  from  the  accused. — Barnes.  Scourging — this  was  used  to  make 
 a  prisoner  confess  the  crime  of  which  he  was  accused. — Bp.  Mann. 
 Might  Icuow— not  knowing  the  Hebrew,  the  chief  captain  understood 
 not  the  charge  against  Paul. — Bp.  Pearce.  25.  Bound  him  with 
 
 thongs,  fa.stened  him  with  leathern  straps  to  the  whipping  post,  in  order 
 to  his  iieing  scourged  with  rods.  Is  it  lawful,  ^-c. — a  freeman  of  Rome 
 might  be  bound  with  a  chain,  and  beaten  with  a  staff;  but  it  was 
 reckoned  an  insufl'erable  indignity  to  biud  him  with  thongs  or  scourge 
 him  with  rods. — See  Lardner's  Cred,  28.  /  was  free  burn — as  it  is 
 
 doubtful  whether  Tarsus  was  a  Roman  colony,  or  what  the  Romans 
 called  municipium,  '  a  free-born,'  it  is  thought  that  Paul's  freedom  was 
 received  through  his  ancestors,  for  some  military  services  conferred 
 upon  them  in  the  civil  wars. — Grot.,  see  Lardner. 
 
 submit  to  the  will  of  Him  who  doth  all  things  well,  and  who 
 will  one  day  make  it  appear  so,  to  the  admiration  of  angels 
 and  men. 
 
 in.  *  We  again  see  what  dreadful  confu^wn  prejudice  and  blind 
 zeal  can  effect.     Because  the  apostle  maintained  the  freedom 
 1171 
 
 of  Gentile  converts  from  Jewish  ceremonies,  he  was  falsely 
 charged  witli  spenking  against  Moses,  and  designing  to  pol- 
 lute the  holy  temple.  What  good  may  not  be  evil  spoken  of 
 and  abused,  as  a  cloak  of  mischief,  wlien  men  indulge  malice 
 and  hatred  under  the  disguise  of  religion  ?  ' '' 
 
Paul  is  brought  before  the  council 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXIII. 
 
 A  conspiracy  to  hill  him. 
 
 29  Then  straightway  they  departed  from  him 
 which  sluHild  have  ||  examined  hira :  and  the 
 cliief  captain  also  was  afraid,  after  he  linew 
 tliat  he  was  a  Roman,  and  because  lie  had 
 bound  him. 
 
 30  On  the  morrow,  because  he  would  have 
 known  the  certainty  wherefore  he  was  accused 
 of  the  Jews,  he  loosed  him  from  his  bands,  and 
 commanded  the  chief  priests  and  all  their 
 council  to  appear,  and  brought  Paul  down, 
 and  set  him  before  them. 
 
 CHAP.   XXIII. 
 
 I  As  Paul  plcailelh  his  cause,  2  Ananias  co7nmandeth 
 them  to  smite,  him.  7  Dissension  among  Ins  nccusirs. 
 1 1  God  encourayeth  liim.  14  Tlie  Jews'  layimj  wait 
 for  Paul  20  is  declared  unto  the  chief  captain.  27 
 He  senilelk  him  to  Felix  tlic  governor. 
 
 AND  Paul,  earnestly  beholding  the  council, 
 said.  Men  and  bretluen,  "  I  have  lived  in 
 all  good  conscience  before  God  until  this  day. 
 
 •i  And  the  high  priest  Ananias  commanded 
 them  that  stood  by  him  '' to  smite  him  on  the 
 mouth. 
 
 3  Then  said  Paul  unto  him,  God  shall  smite 
 thee,  thou  whited  wall  :  for  sittest  thou  to 
 judge  me  after  the  law,  and  '  commandest  me 
 to  be  smitten  contrary  to  the  law? 
 
 i  And  they  that  stood  by  said,  Revilest  thou 
 God"s  high  priest  ? 
 
 j  Then  said  Paul,  ■'  I  wist  not,  brethren,  that 
 he  was  the  high  priest ;  for  it  is  written,  °  Thou 
 shalt  not  speak  evil  of  the  ruler  of  thy  people. 
 
 6  But  when  Paul  perceived  that  the  one  part 
 were  Sadducees,  and  the  other  Pharisees,  he 
 cried  out  in  the  council.  Men  and  brethren, ^I 
 am  a  Pliarisee,  the  son  of  a  Pharisee  :  ^  of  the 
 hope  and  resurrection  of  the  dead  I  am  called 
 in  question. 
 
 7  And  when  he  had  so  said,  there  arose  a 
 dissension  between  the  Pharisees  and  the  Sad 
 dncees  :  and  the  multitnde  was  divided. 
 
 8  ''  For  the  Sadducees  say  that  there  is  no 
 resurrection,  neither  angel,  nor  spirit :  but  the 
 Pharisees  confess  both. 
 
 9  .\nd   there  arose   a   great   cry :    and   the 
 
 I  Or,  lorliiTed 
 Aim. 
 
 I  rli.  24.  16 
 
 1  Cor.  4.4. 
 2C.W  1.  12 
 &  4.  a. 
 
 2  Tiiii.l.» 
 Heb.  13.  IS. 
 
 b  I  Kin.  22. 
 24.  Jei-.  20. 
 2.  Jultn  18 
 
 ,  I.ci. 19.35. 
 Deu.25.1,2. 
 JoUu  7.  51. 
 
 tl  ch.  21.  17. 
 >  Ex.  22. 29. 
 
 Kccii'S.  10. 
 
 20.  2  I*pt. 
 
 2. no.  Jude 
 
 S. 
 
 ^cli.  Cfi.  S. 
 ■  I'liil.  3.  5. 
 J  cl>,  24    lii. 
 
 h  Mat,22.23. 
 MHrkl2.19. 
 Luke  20.27. 
 
 A.  ».  60. 
 
 ch.  25.  25 
 &  26   31. 
 
 *  eh.  22.  7, 
 17,  18. 
 
 ;  ch  5.  S9. 
 
 scribes  that  were  of  the  Pharisees'  part  arose, 
 and  strove,  saying,  '  We  find  no  evil  in  this 
 man  ;  but  i'  if  a  spirit  or  an  angel  hath  spoken 
 to  him,  '  let  us  not  figlit  against  God. 
 
 10  And  when  there  arose  a  great  dissension, 
 the  chief  captain,  fearing  lest  Paul  should  have 
 been  pulled  in  pieces  of  them,  commanded  the 
 soldiers  to  go  down,  and  to  take  him  by  force 
 from  among  them,  and  to  bring  him  into  the 
 castle. 
 
 1 1  And  "  the  night  following  the  Lord  stood 
 by  him,  and  said,  Be  of  good  cheer,  Paul  :  for 
 as  thou  hast  testified  of  me  in  Jerusalem,  so 
 must  thou  bear  witness  also  at  Rome. 
 
 12  And  when  it  was  day,  "  certain  of  the  Jews 
 banded  together,  and  bound  themselves  ||  under 
 a  curse,  saying  that  they  would  neither  eat  nor 
 drink  till  they  had  kille'd  Paul. 
 
 13  And  they  were  more  than  forty  which  had 
 made  this  conspiracy. 
 
 14  And  they  came  to  the  chief  priests  and 
 elders,  and  said.  We  have  bound  ourselves 
 under  a  great  curse,  that  we  will  eat  nothing 
 mitil  we  have  slain  Paul. 
 
 1.5  Now  therefore  ye  with  the  council  signify 
 to  the  chief  captain  that  he  bring  him  down 
 unto  yon  to  morrow,  as  though  ye  would  en- 
 quire something  more  perfectly  concerning 
 him  :  and  we,  or  ever  he  come  near,  are  ready 
 to  kill  him. 
 
 1 0  And  when  Paul's  sister's  son  heard  of  their 
 lying  in  wait,  he  went  and  entered  into  the 
 castle,  and  told  Paul. 
 
 17  Then  Paul  called  one  of  the  centurions 
 unto  him,  and  said.  Bring  this  young  man  unto 
 the  chief  captain:  for  he  hath  a  certain  thing 
 to  tell  him. 
 
 18  So  he  took  him,  and  brought  hitn  to  the 
 chief  captain,  and  said,  Paul  the  prisoner  called 
 me  unto  him,  and  prayed  me  to  bring  this 
 young  man  unto  thee,  who  hath  something  to 
 say  unto  thee. 
 
 19  Then  the  chief  captain  took  him  by  the 
 hand,  and  went  n-ith  him  aside  privately,  and 
 asked  him,  Wliat  is  that  thou  hast  to  tell  me? 
 
 Chap.  XXIII.  —  1.  In  all  good  conscie'ice—l?fia\  could  not  intend  to 
 intimate  tliat  he  was  Hee  from  guilt  wriile  perseciilin^  the  Christians; 
 he  thought  the  contrary,  (see  1  Tim.  i.  13;  1  Cor.  xv.  g;  Gal.  i.  13.) 
 He  was  only  examined  respecting  his  conduct  as  a  Christian,  and  there- 
 fore it  would  have  been  impertinent  here  to  vindicate  it  as  a  Jew.  This 
 was,  iu  effect,  a  solemn  appeal  to  his  integrity  in  embracing  Chrisli- 
 anitv,— so  Dorldr. :  in  which  it  is  obvious  he  objects  to  the  general 
 vindication  of  his  integrity  all  his  life,  as  it  is  paraphrased  by  Oui/se 
 and  Grot.  2.  Anatiius,  he  was  at  this  time  dispossessed  of  his  office 
 by  the  Roman  government,  but  the  sanhedrim  being  destitute  ol  a  pre- 
 sident, he  undertook  to  fill  the  place  of  his  own  authority.  This  may 
 account  for  Paul's  ignorance  of  the  station  being  so  filled  :  or  he  might 
 know  it,  and  spoke  ^s  he  did  ironically. — So  IHicli. ;  see  Jos.  3.  God 
 stinll  smile  (Ace— this  is  not  to  be  regarded  in  the  light  of  an  impreca- 
 tion, or  as  an  expression  of  angry  feeling,  but  of  a  prediction  or  strong 
 conviction.— jBnrues.  And  God  did  remarkably  smite  him,  as,  after 
 his  own  house  had  been  reduced  to  ashes,  in  a  tumult  begun  by  his 
 own  son,  he  was  besieged  and  taken  in  the  royal  palace,  where,  having 
 in  vain  attempted  to  hide  himself  in  an  old  aqueduct,  he  was  dragged 
 out  and  slain,  about  five  years  after  this,  in  the  very  beginning  of  the 
 
 Jewish  •xa.T.—Doddr. ;  see  .Tos.  Wliiled  wall,  or  hypocrite.- Scofi. 
 Alluding  to  the  beautiful  ouiside  of  some  walls,  which  are  full  of  dirt  and 
 rubbish  vnthia.—lloddr.  Perhaps  the  allusion  is  to  one  of  the  Jevvish 
 sepulchres.  Probably  at  the  time  .Vnanias  was  clothed  in  a  white 
 robe,  usually  worn  by  great  men  among  the  Jews.— .-Inim.  5.  I  uist 
 not,  ovK  n^etv,  •  I  was  not  aware.'— Dorfrfr.  "  I  did  not  consider  it, 
 for  Paul  conld  not  have  been  seven  days  in  the  temple  at  the  time  of 
 the  feast  without  seeing  the  high  priest.— Hen.  The  prophetic  impulse 
 upon  him  did  not  permit  to  advert  to  the  office.— WAi'Mi/.  '  I  did  not 
 consider  him  as  high  priest,  but  an  usurper,  for  he  came  to  the  office 
 by  bribery  and  corruption.'— G)o(.,  Lighlf.  The  true  interpretation  is, 
 that  there  was  a  vacancy  then  in  the  office  which  Ananias  filled  by 
 courtesy  only,  and  Paul  means  '  I  (lid  not  regard  and  address  him  as 
 the  high  priest.'— Barnes.  6.  Sadducees,  such,  probably,  were  the 
 hi;:h  priest  and  his  relations.— B/J.  I'earce.  Many  of  this  sect  were  m 
 places  of  high  dignity  among  the  Jews.— Jos.  See  Matt.  in.  7,  notes. 
 7.  Was  diiiided,  c^x'"*'!,  'lle"=  '■^^^  "  '  schism'  among  Ihem— Henry. 
 9.  But  if  a  spirit,  ^c,  this  they  said  in  opposition  to  the  Sadducees. 
 —Gill.  13.  This  conspiracy,  this  oath  (<riin.)(io(ria»),  this  agreement 
 or  compact. — Barnes. 
 
 REFLEcrroNS  ox  Chap.  XXII.  —  Froin  this  chapter  we 
 infer — I.  That  n  Christian  should  defend  his  rcliiiious  principles. 
 There  is  a  medium  between  being  always  engaged  in  tlie  lieat 
 of  controversy  and  rationally  defending  our  principles.  Per- 
 6ons  wlio  never  think,  will  never  reason  ;  but  Christians 
 should  both  think  and  reason,  and  'he  always  ready  to  give 
 to  every  one  that  asks  tliem  a  reasonable  answer  for  the  hope 
 that  is  in  them,  with  meekness  and  tear.* 
 
 II.   That  a  Christian  should  maintain  his  civil  rights.     He  has 
 
 rights  as  a  man  and  as  a  Christian,  and  he  may  forward  the 
 
 interests  of  the  latter  by  not  wholly  neglecting  the  former. 
 
 '  Most  unrighteous,'  says  Doddridge,   '  was  it  in  the  Roman 
 
 117-2 
 
 officer,  on  this  popular  clamour,  lo  attempt  putting  this  best 
 of  men  lo  the  torture  ;  most  reasonable  was  Paul's  plea,  as  a 
 Roman  citizen,  to  decline  that  suffering.  It  is  a  prudence 
 worthy  of  being  imitated  by  the  bravest  of  men,  not  lo  throw 
 themselves  into  unnecessary  difficulties.  Nor  are  we  under 
 any  obligation,  as  Christians,  to  give  up  our  civil  privileges, 
 which  we  are  to  esteem  as  tlie  gifts  of  God,  to  every  insolent 
 and  turbulent  invader.  In  a  thousand  circumstances,  gratitude 
 to  God  and  duty  to  men  will  oblige  us  to  insist  upon  them  ; 
 and  a  generous  concern  (or  those  that  are  to  come  after  us  should 
 engage  us  to  labour  and  strive  that  we  may  transmit  them, 
 improved  rather  than  impaired,  to  posterity  as  yet  unborn.' 
 
Paul  is  sent  to  Felix  the  governor. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXIV. 
 
 He  is  accused  by  Tertultus. 
 
 20  And  lie  said,  "The  Jews  have  agreed  tu 
 desire  thee  that  thou  wouldest  bring  down 
 Paul  to  morrow  into  the  council,  as  though 
 they  would  enquire  somewhat  of  him  more 
 perfectly. 
 
 21  But  do  not  tliou  yield  unto  them  :  for  there 
 lie  in  wait  for  him  of  them  more  than  forty  men, 
 which  have  bound  themselves  witli  an  oath,  that 
 tliey  will  neither  eat  nor  drink,  till  they  have 
 killed  him  :  and  now  they  are  ready,  looking 
 for  a  promise  from  thee. 
 
 22  So  the  chief  captain  then  let  the  young 
 man  depart,  and  charged  him.  Sec  thou  tell  no 
 man  that  tliou  hast  shewed  these  things  to  me. 
 
 23  And  he  called  unto  hiyn  two  centurions, 
 saying.  Make  ready  two  hundred  soldiers  to  go 
 to  Ca'sarea,  and  horsemen  threescore  and  ten, 
 and  spearmen  two  hundred,  at  the  third  hour 
 of  the  night ; 
 
 24  And  provide  them  beasts,  that  they  may 
 set  Paul  on,  and  bring  liim  safe  unto  Feli.x  the 
 governor. 
 
 23  And  he  wrote  a  letter  after  this  manner : 
 2G  Claudius  Lysias  unto  the  most  excellent 
 governor  Felix  sendeth  greeting. 
 
 27  '"This  man  was  taken  of  the  Jews,  and 
 should  have  been  killed  of  them  :  then  came  I 
 with  an  army,  and  rescued  him,  having  under- 
 stood that  he  was  a  Roman. 
 
 28  ''  And  when  I  would  have  known  the 
 cause  wherefore  they  accused  him,  I  brought 
 him  forth  into  their  council : 
 
 29  Whom  I  perceived  to  be  accused  'of 
 questions  of  their  law,  'hut  to  have  nothing 
 laid  to  his  charge  worthy  of  death  or  of  bonds. 
 
 yo  And  '  when  it  was  told  me  how  that  the 
 Jews  laid  wait  for  the  man,  I  sent  straightway 
 to  tliee,  and  "  gave  commandment  to  his  ac- 
 cusers also  to  say  before  thee  what  they  had 
 against  him.     Farewell. 
 
 31  Then  the  soldiers,  as  it  was  commanded 
 them,  took  Paul,  and  brought  him  by  night  to 
 Antipatris. 
 
 32  On  the  morrow  they  left  the  horsemen  to  I 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 ver.  18. 
 
 ell    IS.  IS 
 &  25.  m. 
 t.li.26.  31. 
 
 ;  cli.81.  39. 
 '  ch  2t.  1, 
 
 10.  8i2S  1(5. 
 
 ]Mat.27.'J7. 
 
 I>  c\\.  v: 
 
 ail,  .If). 
 S5.  i;. 
 
 lii.  20..^  17. 
 fi.  fa  21.  2fi. 
 1  P8t.2.12, 
 15. 
 
 d  cli.  21.  28. 
 tf  Joliii  13.31. 
 
 /ch.  21    33. 
 
 go  with  him,  and  returned  to  the  castle  : 
 
 33  Who,  when  they  came  to  CiEsarea,  and 
 delivered  the  epistle  to  the  governor,  presented 
 Paul  also  before  him. 
 
 34  And  when  the  governor  had  read  the 
 letter,  he  asked  of  what  province  he  was.  And 
 when  he  understood  that  he  ivas  of  Cilicia; 
 
 35  -'  I  will  hear  thee,  said  he,  when  thine  ac- 
 cusers are  also  come.  And  he  commanded 
 him  to  be  kept  in  ^  Herod's  judgment  hall. 
 
 CHAP.  XXIV. 
 
 1  Paid  being  accused  hi/  Tertullus  the  orator,  10  an- 
 swrreth  for  his  life  and  doctrine.  24  He  preacheth 
 Christ  to  til e  governor  and  his  wife,  26  The  gover- 
 nor hopethfor  a  bribe,  bxit  in  vain.  27  At  hiSt,  going 
 nut  of  his  officcy  he  leavcth  Paul  in  prison. 
 
 A  ND  after  "^  five  days  ^Ananias  the  liigh 
 -^^  priest  descended  with  the  elders,  and  ?r?7/t 
 a  certain  orator  named  Tertullus,  who  informed 
 tlie  governor  against  Paul. 
 
 2  And  when  he  was  called  forth,  Tertullus 
 began  to  accuse  hiiUy  saying,  Seeing  that  by 
 thee  we  enjoy  great  quietness,  and  that  very 
 worthy  deeds  are  done  unto  this  nation  by  thy 
 providence, 
 
 3  We  accept  it  always,  and  in  all  places,  most 
 noble  Felix,  with  all  thankfulness. 
 
 4  Notwithstanding,  that  I  be  not  further  tedi- 
 ous uftto  thee,  I  pray  thee  that  thou  wouldest 
 hear  us  of  thy  clemency  a  few  words. 
 
 5  "^  For  we  have  found  this  man  a  pestilent 
 felloii\  and  a  mover  of  sedition  among  all  the 
 Jews  throughout  t!ie  world,  and  a  ringleader  of 
 the  sect  of  the  Nazarenes  : 
 
 6  ^  Who  also  hath  gone  about  to  profane  the 
 temple:  whom  we  took,  and  would  ''have 
 judged  according  to  our  law. 
 
 7  ''But  the  chief  captain  Lysias  came  ttpon 
 us,  and  with  great  violence  took  hi?n  away  out 
 of  our  hands, 
 
 8  ®  Commanding  his  accusers  to  come  unto 
 thee:  by  examining  of  whom  thyself  mayest 
 take  knowledge  of  all  these  things,  whereof 
 we  accuse  him. 
 
 23.  Ctpsarea,  now  the  ordinary  residence  of  the  governor  of  Judea. 
 —  Beavsobre.  Spenrmen,  probably  those  who  were  arraett  with 
 spears  or  daits,  and  who  attended  on  the  tribune  as  a  guard.— 
 Barnes.       Third   hour,   nine    it'clnck.  24.  Frli.v  the  povernor,    he 
 
 was  the  brother  of  Pallas,  the  favourite  of  the  Roman  emperor, 
 Claudius,  and  through  this  influence  he  was  made  governor  of  Judea. 
 History  describes  him  as  a  monster  of  cruelty,  avarice,  and  licentious- 
 ness.— Beaiisobre.  27.  With  un  army,  aw  tui  aTpuTcvtxart,  '  with  the 
 soldiers.'— B;a.  Fcfzrre.  31.  Antipatris,  a  city  which  lay  in  the  road 
 from  Jerusalem  to  Cje^area,  built  by  Herod  the  Great,  and  so  called 
 in  memory  of  his  father,  Antiiiater.— Gj7/.  35.  In  Herod's  judgment 
 hall,  ei-  Toi  TTpaiTwpioi,  or  praloriuru,  where  a  body  of  soldiers  were  quar- 
 tered, under  whose  guard  prisoners  were  often  deiaincd.  This  was  a 
 palace  and  court,  built  by  Herod  the  Great  when  he  rebuilt  and  beau- 
 tified Cie^area.  Probably  some  tower  belonging  to  it  might  be  used 
 as  a  kind  of  state  prison,  as  is  common  in  such  places. — Doddr. 
 
 Chap.  XXIV.  —  1.  Descended,  to  go  from  the  capital  city,  Jerusalem, 
 to  any  place,  is  called  *  going  <lu\vn  ;'  and  to  go  to  Jerusalem,  is  called 
 *  going  up,'  (chap.  xxv.  i.) — Bp.  Mann.  The  distance  tn  C?esarea  was 
 more  than  seventy  miles;  this  journey  was  a  proof  of  the  inveterate 
 hatred  the  Jews  had  against  Paul.  unwearJeiily  pursuing  him  from 
 time  to  time,  and  from  place  to  place.— IT7/.  TtiTaip,  'a  rhetorician;' 
 the  Latins  distinguish  between  an  orator  and  a  rhetorician,  the  former 
 being  a  pleader  in  courts,  and  the  latter  a  professor  of  rhetoric;  yet 
 
 with  the  Greeks  the  '  rhetor'  is  an  orator.— GiV;.  Tertullus— i\\\p,  ap- 
 pears, from  the  name,  to  have  been  a  Roman  advocate,  engaged  for 
 the  Jews,  as  being  more  conversant  with  the  Roman  language  and 
 the  forms  of  justice.— Benwsoire.  He  was  probably  a  Roman  prose- 
 lyte to  Judaism;  yet  bespeaks  everywhere  as  a  Jew.  Roman  orators, 
 advocates,  &c.,  were  found  in  different  provinces  of  the  Roman  em- 
 pire.— A.  Clarke.  2.  Began  to  accuse  him — this  was  a  laboured,  but 
 flashy  oration,  as  full  of  unmerited  but  fulsome  panegyric  on  Feli.v  as 
 of  falsehood  and  calumny  against  Paul.— De  Courcy.  Almost  every 
 word  is  false,— the  accusation  of  Paul,  the  encomium  of  the  govern- 
 ment of  Felix,  and  tlie  declaration  of  a  lawful  intention  in  what  tliey 
 had  done  and  attempted. — Doddr.  Enjoy  great  quietness,  he  did,  in- 
 deed, suppress  a  formidable  banditti  under  one  Eliezar,  and  the  sedi- 
 tion of  an  Egyptian  impostor,  who  had  seduced  30,000  men;  he  had 
 also  quelled  a  very  afflictive  disturbance  between  the  Syrians  and  the 
 Jews  of  Cassarea.  This  was  all  true  ;  yet  he  was  a  very  bad  governor, 
 — mercenary,  oppressive,  and  cruel.— C^i/rAt'.  lie  e.\ercised  the  autho- 
 rity committed  to  him  with  all  manner  of  cruelty  and  lewdness. — 
 Tacitus.  5.  PvHilent,  the  very  pestilence  itself.— Barnes.  .4  mover 
 of  sedition,  one  who  stirreth  up  tumults. — Bp.  Penrce.  6.  To  pro- 
 
 fane the  temple~~'\i  this  charge  could  have  been  substantiated,  tlie  Jews 
 were  permitted  by  the  Romans  to  put  the  offender  to  death.  It  was 
 founded  on  the  gross  calumny  mentioned  chap.  xxi.  28,  29.  7«  With 
 great  violence,  rather  '  with  an  armed  force,'  /iera  noWn^  /3ia?.    Ter- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXIII. — I.  fFe  see  here  what  a 
 spirit  of  intolerance  prevailed  among  the  Jeios.  '  This  is  the 
 principle  on  whicli  Siiul  the  Pharisee  "breatliedout  threaten- 
 int;s  and  slaughter"  against  the  saints,  and  bis  measure  is  now 
 meted  to  him  again.'  It  was  under  the  influence  of  ibis  spirit 
 that  the  Jews  solemnly  bound  themselves  to  kill  Paul.  Into- 
 lerance will  never  prove  a  principle  to  be  right  or  wrong  ;  and 
 he  who  exercises  it  over  anotber  interferes  with  the  rights 
 of  conscience,  and  dares  to  usurp  the  authority  of  the  Searcher 
 ofbearts. 
 
 1173 
 
 II.  IVe  see  how  Divine  Providence  interposed  for  the  preserva- 
 tion of  the  apostle.  Hence  we  may  learn,  as  in  the  instance  of 
 the  preservation  of  the  saints  at  Damascus  from  bis  persecuting 
 intentions,  that  God  looks  with  a  keen  eye  at  the  heart  of  the 
 persecutor,  and  that  be  has  a  special  regard  for  bis  saints.  He 
 has,  indeed,  often  suftered  them  to  die  as  martyrs*  to  bear 
 witness  to  bis  truth,  as  the  apostle  Paul  ultimately  died  ;  but 
 these  interpositions  of  bis  providence  sufficiently  teach  us 
 the  truth  of  bis  word  of  consolation  to  his  saints — '  He  that 
 toucbetb  you,  toucbelh  the  apple  of  mine  eye.' 
 
Paul's  defence  before  Felix. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXIV. 
 
 He  preacheth  to  Felix  and  his  wife. 
 
 9  And  the  Jews  also  assented,  saying  that 
 these  things  were  so. 
 
 10  Then  Paul,  after  that  the  governor  had 
 beckoned  iintu  him  to  speak,  answered,  Foras- 
 mach  as  I  know  that  thou  hast  been  of  many 
 years  a  judge  unto  this  nation,  I  do  the  more 
 cheerfully  answer  for  myself: 
 
 1 1  liecanse  that  thou  niayest  understand, 
 that  there  are  yet  but  twelve  days  since  I  went 
 up  to  Jerusalem  ''  for  to  worsliip. 
 
 12  '  And  tliey  neither  found  me  in  the  temple 
 disputing;  with  any  man,  neither  raising  up  the 
 people,  neither  in  the  synagogues,  nor  in  the 
 city  : 
 
 13  Neither  can  they  prove  the  things  whereof 
 they  now  accuse  me. 
 
 14  But  this  I  confess  unto  thee,  that  after 
 ^  the  way  which  they  call  heresy,  so  worship  I 
 the  '  God  of  my  fathers,  believing  all  things 
 which  are  written  in  "  the  law  and  in  the 
 propliets  : 
 
 15  And  "have  hope  toward  God,  which  they 
 themselves  also  allow,  "  that  there  shall  be  a 
 resurrection  of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and 
 unjust. 
 
 16  And  ■'herein  do  I  exercise  myself,  to  have 
 always  a  conscience  void  of  offence  toward 
 God,  and  toward  men. 
 
 1 7  Now  after  many  years  ''  I  came  to  bring 
 alms  to  my  nation,  and  offerings. 
 
 18  '  Whereupon  certain  Jews  from  Asia  found 
 me  purified  in  tlie  temple,  neither  with  multi- 
 tude, nor  with  tumult. 
 
 A.  D.  63. 
 Felix   made 
 procurator 
 over  Jiidaa. 
 
 ch.  21.  36. 
 t  cli.  y.i.  8.  * 
 2S.   17, 
 
 k  Sec  Amos 
 11.  ch.  9. 
 
 /2Tim.l.S 
 
 n  cli.  '26.22, 
 &  2S.  23 
 
 ch.  g.S,  6. 
 &  26.6.  7. 
 &  2S.  20. 
 o  n.-iii.  12.  2 
 Joliu  5,  28, 
 29. 
 
 q  ch.  11.  29, 
 3U  .Sc  20.  16, 
 
 Koc 
 
 .15.25. 
 
 8,4. 
 G;d,  2.  10. 
 ■  ch.  21.  26, 
 27.  «( 26.21. 
 
 I  ch  27.  3. 
 8i23.  16. 
 
 y  Ex.  23.  8. 
 
 ■  Ex.  23.  S. 
 ch.  12.  3.  fc 
 85.  9,  14. 
 
 19  '  Who  ought  to  have  been  here  before 
 thee,  and  object,  if  they  had  ought  against  me. 
 
 '20  Or  else  let  these  same  here  say,  if  they 
 have  found  any  evil  doing  in  me,  while  I  stood 
 before  the  council, 
 
 21  E.xcept  it  be  for  this  one  voice,  that  I  cried 
 standing  among  them,  '  Touching  the  resur- 
 rection of  the  dead  I  am  called  in  question  by 
 you  tliis  day. 
 
 22  And  when  Felix  heard  these  things,  hav- 
 ing more  perfect  knowledge  of  tliat  way,  he 
 deferred  them,  and  said.  When  "  Lysias  the 
 chief  captain  shall  come  down,  I  will  know  the 
 uttermost  of  your  matter. 
 
 23  And  he  commanded  a  centurion  to  keep 
 Paul,  and  to  let  him  have  liberty,  and  '  that 
 he  should  forbid  none  of  his  acquaintance  to 
 minister  or  come  unto  him. 
 
 '2A  And  after  certain  days,  when  Felix  came 
 with  his  wife  Drusilla,  which  was  a  Jewess,  he 
 sent  for  Paul,  and  heard  him  concerning  the 
 faitli  ill  Christ. 
 
 25  And  as  he  reasoned  of  righteousness,  tem- 
 perance, and  judgment  to  come,  Felix  trembled, 
 and  answered,  Go  thy  way  for  this  time  ;  when 
 I  have  a  convenient  season,  I  will  call  for  thee. 
 
 26  He  hoped  also  that  '  money  slionld  have 
 been  given  him  of  Paul,  that  he  might  loose 
 him  :  wherefore  he  sent  for  him  the  oftener, 
 and  communed  with  him. 
 
 27  But  after  two  years  Porcius  Festus  came 
 into  Felix'  room  :  and  Felix,  '  willing  to  shew 
 the  Jews  a  pleasure,  left  Paul  bound. 
 
 tullus  intimates  that  Lysias  interfered  contrary  to  law,  for  the  Jews 
 were  vexed  at  his  rescuing  the  apostle.— C.'arAe.  lo.  Then  Paul, 
 Jjrc.— in  a  style  of  the  clo..jest  reasoning:  he  enters  into  a  consideration 
 of  the  three  several  charges  brniiglit  against  hira  by  his  declamatory 
 opponent,  and  refutes  them  all  upon  the  sound  ground  of  facts,  thi- 
 evidence  of  which  could  not  be  disputed.— De  Courcy.  He  dcniiil 
 the  charge  of  sediuon  ;  for,  durin?  twelve  days  since  he  came  to  Jeru- 
 salem, he  had  not  even  publicly  debated.  He  confessed  himself  a 
 Christian,  but  that  his  faith  asreed  with  the  law  and  the  prophets ;  and 
 he  denied  the  charge  of  profaning  the  temple.— H<i/c.9,  A  judge,  ^p.rw, 
 signifying  the  same  as  the  Hebrew  word  DE-JJ,  which  means  '  a  ruler.' 
 °f  '  efy^rnor.'  This  was  the  title  of  the  ancient  governors  of  Israel, 
 Clarke.  1 1 .  For  to  worship,  Trftoanvvnainv,  i.  e..  he  was  actually  en- 
 gaged in  devotion  when  the  tumult  arose.— Biirnes.  14.  The  Goil  of  mi/ 
 fidhers— the  Roman  law  forbad  the  intioduction  of  new  objects  of 
 worship.  This,  therefore,  was  a  very  proper  defence  before  a  Roman 
 governor.— ]Veicc.  15.  0/  the  just  and  unjust,  said  in  contradistinc. 
 tion  to  the  views  of  the  Pharisees,  who  believed  only  in  the  resurrec- 
 tion of  the  former.—  Whitby.  16.  Herein,  t„  toi.tu..  ■  for  this  cause." 
 —Hen.,  Guyse.  I  exercise,  ao-Kw,  '  1  make  it  my  constant  business;* 
 '  I  discipline  myself,  and  live  by  rule.'— //en.  •  1  accustom  or  employ 
 myself.'- iJaj7j«.  1 ;.  Many  years,  of  absence  from  Jerusalem,  about 
 six,— ijp.  Pearce.  Seven.— Biscoe.  22.  Hurina  mare  perfect  linow- 
 ledge,  perhaps  acquired  at  Ciesarea,  where  lie  had  resided  some  years, 
 where  Cornelius  the  centurion  was  converted,  and  Philip  the  evangelist 
 lived.— Whittiy.  The  translation  should  rather  be.  "Felix,  having  heard 
 these  things,  put  them  off  lo  another  time,  saying.  When  1  shall  have 
 acquired  a  more  accurate  knowledge  of  this  sect,  and  when  the  tribune 
 Lysias  shall  have  come  from  Jerusalem,  I  will  judge  of  your  business," 
 —Calmet ;  same  purport.  Wnliejirtd,  so  Be:n,  Grot.,  &c,  24,  Dru- 
 silla, daughtrr  of  Herod  Agrippa,  mentioned  chap,  xii,  I,  \Q.—Bp. 
 Pearce,  as  Jos,      She  was  the  lawful  wife  of  Azizus,  king  of  the  Eme- 
 
 senians,  (or  Emesians.)  whom  she  was  prevailed  upon  to  abandon, 
 through  the  agency  of  a  Jew  magician.  What  aggravated  the  matter 
 was,  that  Azizus  had  but  a  litUe  before  submitted  to  all  the  rites  of  the 
 Ji-wish  religion  as  the  condition  of  the  nuptials, — De  Courcy.  Felix 
 h.-»d  another  wife  prior  to  this,  named  Drusilla;  she  was  a  niece  of 
 Anthony  and  Cleopatra,— See  Tacitus.  25.  Reasoni-d,  hta\ttoiievov 
 id  ainov,  '  and  he  discoursing."  He  might  reason,  and  probably  did, 
 but  this  word  does  not  prove  it. — So  Barnes.  Righteousness,  AcKat- 
 oTfi-tit,  that  great  law  of  justice  which  weighs  actions  in  an  even  ba- 
 lance. Temperance,  eynpareia  signifieth  the  curbing  of  appetite  by  the 
 exertion  of  main  force,  and  is  opposed  to  every  kind  of  licentious  and 
 intemperate  gratiQcaticm  ;  checking  concupiscence  at  the  very  root  of 
 corruption ;  and  placing  a  guard  over  every  sense  and  avenue  of 
 temptation.  Judifment  to  come,  that  judgment  from  which  there  lies 
 no  appeal. — De  Courey.  Felijr  trembled— how  artfully  does  St.  Paul 
 insinuate  himself  into  the  soul  of  this  great  sinner,  and  shake  his  con . 
 science  at  the  remembrance  of  his  vices  I  By  holding  forth  a  beautiful 
 picture  of  the  necessary  virtues,  he  left  it  to  Felix  to  form  the  contrast, 
 and  to  infer  the  blackness  of  bis  own  vices,  A  masterly  stroke  !  and 
 it  effectually  succeeded.— T,  H.  Home.  When  I  have  a  convenient 
 season,  Kaipov  he  Mcrj-Xa/Jui^, '  and  I  will  take  some  future  opportunity,* 
 — Doddr.  26,  He  hoped  also  that  money,  fyc,  most  likely  he  ex- 
 pressed this  wish  to  Paul, — Clarke.  27.  .ifter  two  years,  dated  from 
 the  time  of  the  apostle's  confinement,  Porcius  Festus  came  into  Feliy 
 room,  he  was  made  governor  of  Judea  by  Nero,  many  loud  complaints 
 having  been  made  against  l^elix  for  ins  malpractices.  Left  Paul 
 bound,  when  it  was  in  his  power  to  have  released  him.  But  to  pacify 
 the  Jews,  that  they  might  not  bear  hard  upon  liim  for  his  maladmi- 
 nistration, he  adopted  this  policy,  which,  however,  did  not  avail,  aud 
 he  would  have  been  severely  punished,  but  for  the  interest  which  his 
 brother  Pallas  had  at  court, — Gill. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap,  XXIV,  —  We  have  here,  I,  The 
 speech  of  Tertullus,  in  which  he  accuses  Paul  of  being  a  peace- 
 breaker,  '  the  standard-bearer'  of  a  sect,  and  a  profane  man, 
 Henry  observes  of  the  Jews,  '  they  could  not  have  baitetl 
 Christ's  disciples  if  they  had  not  first  dressed  tliem  up  in  the 
 skins  of  wild  beasts,  nor  have  given  them,  as  they  did,  the 
 vilest  of  treatment,  if  they  had  not  first  represented  them  as 
 the  vilest  of  men  ;  though  the  characters  they  gave  of  them 
 were  absolutely  false,  and  there  was  not  the  least  colour  of 
 foundation  for  them," 
 
 II,  7'he  rlrfencc  of  Paul :  from  which  we  may  remark,  in  the 
 language  of  De  Courey,  that  '  truth  and  innocence  are  no  more 
 really  sullied  by  the  blackest  clouds  of  calumny,  than  the  sun 
 is  by  the  temporary  vapours  that  for  a  moment  intercept  his 
 rays.  1  hat  glorious  luminary  still  continues  to  shine  wilh  un- 
 diminished  brightness,  notwithstanding  all  the  mists  and  tem- 
 pests that  have,  at  intervals,  obscured  his  orb  •  while  the 
 1174 
 
 former  serve  only  as  a  foil  to  set  oif  the  all-pervading  influence 
 of  the  latter.  Thus  gospel  truth  shines  and  derives  eventual 
 triumph  from  the  attempts  which  have  been  made  to  extin- 
 guish or  obscure  its  lustre  ;  and  thus  her  advocates  too  often 
 owe  their  celebrity  to  the  very  investigation  that  was  intended 
 for  their  disgrace," 
 
 III,  The  state  of  mind  of  Fell. r.  Here  is  a  man  convicted, 
 hut  not  ctuiverted  ;  trembling  at  the  throne  of  God's  judgment, 
 but  never  seeking  the  throne  of  God's  mercy  ;  deferring  that 
 to  '  a  convenient  season'  which  admitted  of  no  delay,  '  Un- 
 happy Felix  !  to  consult  the  favour  of  the  world,  at  the  ex- 
 pense of  truth  and  justice  !  and  to  throw  away,  in  guilty  au- 
 pineness  and  unbelief,  the  golden  opportunity  which  Provi- 
 dence afforded  him  of  hearing  the  truth  from  the  mouth  of  the 
 chief  of  apostles  !  Who  would  be  in  his  place  for  a  thousand 
 worlds,  when  he  and  the  apostle  meet  at  the  judgment-seat  of 
 Christ?* 
 
Paul  appealeth  itnto  Casar. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXV. 
 
 He  is  brought  before  Agrippa. 
 
 CHAP.  XXV. 
 
 2  The  Jews  accuse  Paul  hefure  Festus.  8  He  answer- 
 eth  for  hlinst'lfy  1 1  anil  appeukth  unto  Casar.  14 
 Afttru'arth  Festus  optntth  his  tnattt  r  to  king  A'^jrippa. 
 23  and  he  is  broutfht  forth.  25  Festus  cleareth  him 
 to  have  done  nothing  worthy  of  death. 
 
 NOW  when  Festus  was  come  into  the  pro- 
 vhice,  after  three  days  he  ascended  from 
 Ca;sarea  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 •2  "  Then  the  high  priest  and  the  chief  of  the 
 Jews  informed  liim  against  Paul,  and  besought 
 him, 
 
 3  And  desired  favour  against  him,  that  he 
 would  send  for  him  to  Jerusalem,  ''  layingwait 
 in  the  way  to  kill  him. 
 
 4  But  Festus  answered,  that  Paul  should  be 
 kept  at  Ca;sarea,  and  that  he  himself  would 
 depart  shortly  thither. 
 
 j  Let  them  therefore,  said  he,  which  among 
 you  are  able,  go  down  with  jiip,  and  accuse 
 this  man,  '  if  there  be  any  wickedness  in  him. 
 
 G  And  when  he  had  tarried  among  them 
 II  more  than  ten  days,  he  went  down  unto 
 CjEsarea ;  and  the  next  day  sitting  on  the 
 judgment  seat  commanded  Paul  to  be  brought. 
 
 7  And  when  he  was  come,  the  Jews  which 
 came  down  from  Jerusalem  stood  round  about, 
 -  and  laid  many  and  grievous  complaints  against 
 Paul,  which  they  could  not  prove. 
 
 8  While  he  answered  for  himself,  '  Neither 
 against  the  law  of  the  Jews,  neither  against  the 
 temple,  nor  yet  against  Cassar,  have  1  offended 
 any  thing  at  all. 
 
 9  But  Festus,  'willing  to  do  the  Jews  a 
 pleasure,  answered  Paul,  and  said,  ^  Wilt  thou 
 go  up  to  Jerusalem,  and  there  be  judged  of 
 these  things  before  me  ? 
 
 10  Then  said  Paul,  I  stand  at  Caesar's  judg- 
 ment seat,  where  1  ouglit  to  be  judged  :  to  the 
 Jews  have  I  done  no  wrong,  as  thou  very  well 
 knowest. 
 
 1 1  ''  For  if  I  be  an  offender,  or  have  com- 
 mitted any  thing  worthy  of  death,  I  refuse  not 
 to  die :  but  if  there  be  none  of  these  things 
 whereof  these  accuse  me,  no  man  may  deliver 
 me  unto  them.     '  I  appeal  unto  Ca;sar. 
 
 12  Then  Festus,  when  he  had  conferred  with 
 the  council,  answered.  Hast  thou  appealed 
 unto  CtEsar  ?  unto  Ctesar  shalt  thou  go. 
 
 1.3  And  after  certain  days  king  Agrippa  and 
 Bernice  came  unto  Coesarea  to  salute  Festus. 
 
 14  And  when  they  had  been  there  many 
 days,  Festus  declared  Paul's  cause  unto  the 
 king,  saying,  '  There  is  a  certain  man  left  in 
 
 llOr.ass 
 
 diyi. 
 
 dMark  15.3. 
 
 HI,  ch  « 1,  5, 
 13. 
 e  oil.  6.  la. 
 tt  '24   12.  & 
 
 U  vrr    2.j. 
 cli.  IS    N. 
 
 .\.  D.  tyi. 
 
 I  ver.  2,  J. 
 
 .  ch.  IS.  15. 
 
 Or,  /.ra. 
 
 d.ii<Llf'.i  hn 
 It,  enquire 
 fc„„/. 
 
 I  Or,  y:dg- 
 tiieiil. 
 
 ;>  See  ch.  9. 
 15. 
 
 7  ver.  2,  ?T,  7. 
 
 ch.  23   3, 
 ■J9.  &  26.31. 
 ver.  II,  1?. 
 
 bonds  by  Felix  : 
 
 15  '  About  whom,  when  I  was  at  Jerusalem, 
 the  chief  priests  and  the  elders  of  the  Jews  in- 
 formed me,  desiring  to  have  judgment  against 
 him. 
 
 16  "■  To  whom  I  answered.  It  is  not  the  man- 
 ner of  the  Romans  to  deliver  any  man  to  die, 
 before  that  he  which  is  accused  have  the  ac- 
 cusers face  to  face,  and  have  licence  to  answer 
 for  himself  concerning  the  crime  laid  against 
 him. 
 
 17  Therefore,  when  they  were  come  hither, 
 "without  any  delay  on  the  morrow  I  sat  on 
 the  judgment  seat,  and  commanded  the  man 
 to  be  brought  forth. 
 
 18  Against  whom  when  the  accusers  stood 
 up,  they  brought  none  accusation  ol  such 
 things  as  I  supposed  : 
 
 19  °  But  had  certain  questions  against  him  of 
 their  own  superstition,  and  of  one  Jesus,  which 
 was  dead,  whom  Paul  affirmed  to  be  alive. 
 
 20  And  because  ||  I  doubted  of  such  manner 
 of  questions,  I  asked  him  whether  he  would  go 
 to  Jerusalem,  and  there  be  judged  of  these 
 matters. 
 
 •21  But  when  Paul  had  appealed  to  be  re- 
 served unto  the  ||  hearing  of  Augustus,  I  com- 
 manded him  to  be  kept  till  I  might  send  him 
 to  Cicsar. 
 
 22  Then  ''  Agrippa  said  unto  Festus,  I  would 
 also  hear  the  man  myself.  To  morrow,  said 
 be,  thou  shalt  hear  him. 
 
 23  And  on  the  morrow,  when  Agrippa  was 
 come,  and  Bernice,  with  great  pomp,  and  was 
 entered  into  the  place  of  hearing,  with  the  chief 
 captains,  and  principal  men  of  the  city,  at 
 Festus' commandment  Paul  was  brought  forth. 
 
 24  And  Festus  said.  King  Agrippa,  and  all 
 men  which  are  here  present  with  us,  ye  see 
 this  man,  about  whom  ''all  the  multitude  of 
 the  Jews  have  dealt  with  me,  both  at  Jerusa- 
 lem, and  also  here,  crying  that  he  ought  '  not 
 to  live  any  longer. 
 
 25  But  when  I  found  that  '  he  had  committed 
 nothing  worthy  of  death,  '  and  that  he  himself 
 hath  appealed  to  Augustus,  I  have  determined 
 to  send  him. 
 
 26  Of  whom  I  have  no  certain  thing  to  write 
 unto  my  lord.  Wherefore  I  have  brought  hhn 
 forth  before  you,  and  specially  before  thee,  O 
 king  Agrippa,  that,  after  examination  had,  I 
 might  have  somewhat  to  write. 
 
 27  For  it  seemeth  to  me  unreasonable  to  send 
 a  prisoner,  and  not  withal  to  signify  the  crimes 
 laid  against  him. 
 
 Chap.  XXV. —3.  Lnying  wait,  ^c,  '  purposing  to  Jie  in  wait,  that 
 they  might  destroy  him  on  the  way.'— if.>o/Ar.  10.  Casar^s judgment 
 se'it,  'tribunal.' — Doddr.  So  our  courts  are  held  in  the  king's  name, 
 particularly  the  King's  Bench. — Wil.  ll,  /  appeal,  §-c.— every  free- 
 man of  Rome,  in  a  criminal  case,  had  a  right  to  appeal  from  the  go- 
 verning magistrate  of  the  province  to  the  emperor,  in  which  case  he 
 was  sent  to  Rome  to  have  his  cause  tried. — So  Up.  Fearce.  After  this 
 appeal  it  was  highly  penal  for  any  governor  to  proceed  to  any  extre- 
 mities against  the  person  making  it.— See  Bens.,  Biscoe,  Doddr.  The 
 emperors  were  called  Cre'iar;  this  was  Nero. — Bp.  Mann.  12.  Witk 
 the  council,  /lexu  too  irvftjiovXtov,  not  owtipiotj,  hence  it  was  not  the 
 Jewish  sanhedrim,  but  doubtless  the  Rnman  council. — Gui/se,  so  Hen. 
 13.  .igrippii,  son  of  Herod  Agrippa  .Kill.  ;  he  had  now  the'  tetiarchies 
 of  Philip  and  Lysanius,  with  part  of  Galilee,  and  several  towns  in 
 Peraea.- See  Jos..  Lardner,  Biscoe,  Doddr.        ig.  Superstition,  so  the 
 
 heathen  called  Judaism.— See  Qwinc/jVi'm.  Perhaps  'religion'  is  all 
 that  is  here  meant,  for  Festus  would  scarcely  speak  with  disrespect  of 
 Judaism  while  addressing  Agrippa,  a  Jew.— Newcnme,  so  Doddridge. 
 21.  Au!!ustu.s.  ail  the  Roman  eraperors  assumed  this  title  as  well  as  that 
 of  Caesar.— 7J/;.  Pearce.  23.  Bernice,  she  was  Agrippa's  own  sister, 
 widow  of  his  uncle  Herod,  king  of  Chalcis,  after  whose  death  she  lived 
 with  this  brother  in  an  incestuous  manner.  She  was  a  second  time 
 married  to  Polemon,  king  of  Cilicia,  got  divorced  from  him,  and  re- 
 turned to  her  brother.  She  was  also  criminally  intimate  with  Titus 
 Vespasian.  Drusilla,  Felix'  wife,  was  her  sister,— See  Jm.  Tiic.  and 
 Suetuii,.  Hen.  Place  of  hearing,  probably  some  audience  chamber  ; 
 for  Paul  was  not  on  his  trial,  and  no  accusers  were  present.— So  Bp. 
 Pearce.  2ti,  Unto  mi/  lord,  tui  Kupiw,  '  to  his  imperial  majesty.'  The 
 phrase  signifies  '  the  great  lord  of  the  empire,'  a  title  by  which  it  is  well 
 known  the  emperor  was  now  often  spoken  of. —Doddr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXV.  —  I.  Jl'e  here  see  the  perse-  tlie  delusion  must  be  of  thinking  zeal  for  a  party  to  be  zeal  for 
 
 cutingmahce  of  the  .leu-s.      '  Two  years'  delay  liad  not  dimi-  God,  and  hoping,  by  the  most  atrocious  deeds,  to  obtain  tie 
 
 nished  their  rage  and  murderous  intentions. '    •  They  persisted  favour  of  God  ' ' 
 
 with  a  perseverance  worthy  of  a  better  cause. '  •  How  dreadful  II.  '  Again  we  behold  the  triumph  of  the  apostle.     When  a  man 
 
Paul,  before  Agrippa,  declareth  THE  ACTS,  XXVI. 
 
 his  life  from  childhood. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVI. 
 
 2  Pauty  ill  the  presence  of  Agrippa^  declareth  his  lift- 
 from  his  childhood,  12  and  how  miracidoust//  hi'  «?«.% 
 converted^  and  edited  to  his  aposthship.  24  I^estus 
 chargcth  him  to  be  mad,  whereunto  he  answereth  fno- 
 desdy.  28  Agrippa  is  almost  persuaded  to  be  a  Chris- 
 tian. 31  The  whole  company  pronounce  him  inno- 
 cent. 
 
 T^HEN  Agrippa  said  unto  Paul,  Thou  art 
 -■-  permitted  to  speak  for  thyself.  Then  Paul 
 stretched  forth  the  hand,  and  answered  for 
 himself: 
 '2  I  think  myself  happy,  king  Agrippa,  be- 
 cause I  shall  answer  for  myself  tliis  day  before 
 thee  touching  all  the  things  whereof  I  am  ac- 
 cused of  the  Jews  : 
 
 3  Especially  because  I  know  thee  to  be  ex- 
 pert in  all  customs  and  questions  which  are 
 among  the  Jews  :  wherefore  I  beseech  thee  to 
 hear  me  patiently. 
 
 4  My  manner  of  life  from  my  youth,  whicli 
 was  at  tlie  first  among  mine  own  nation  at  Je- 
 rusalem, know  all  the  Jews  ; 
 
 5  Which  knew  me  from  the  beginning,  if  they 
 would  testify,  that  after  "^  the  most  straitest  sect 
 of  our  religion  I  hved  a  Pliarisee. 
 
 G  ^  And  now  I  stand  and  am  judged  for  the 
 hope  of  "^  the  promise  made  of  God  unto  our 
 fathers : 
 
 7  Unto  which  jyromise  ^  our  twelve  tribes, 
 instantly  serving  God  f*^  day  and  night,  ^  hope 
 to  come.  For  wliich  hope's  sake,  king  Agrippa, 
 1  am  accused  of  the  Jews. 
 
 8  Why  should  it  be  thought  a  thing  incredi- 
 ble with  you,  that  God  should  raise  the  dead? 
 
 9^1  verily  thought  with  myself,  t!iat  I  ought 
 to  do  many  things  contrary  to  the  name  of' 
 Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
 
 10  ^  Which  thing  I  also  did  in  Jerusalem  : 
 and  many  of  tlie  saints  did  I  shut  up  in  prison, 
 having  received  authority  *  from  the  chief 
 priests  ;  and  when  they  were  put  to  deatli,  1 
 gave  my  voice  against  them. 
 
 1 1  ^  And  I  punished  them  oft  in  every  syna- 
 gogue, and  compelled  them  to  blaspheme  ;  and 
 being  exceedingly  mad  against  them,  I  perse- 
 cuted them  even  unto  strange  cities. 
 
 VI  '  Whereupon  as  I  went  to  Damascus  with 
 authority  and  commission  from  the  chief 
 priests, 
 
 13  At  midday,  O  king,  I  saw  in  the  way  a 
 light  from  heaven,  above  the  brigiitness  of  the 
 sun,  shining  round  about  me  and  them  which 
 
 ■i\.  15,22. 
 Pliil  3.  5. 
 6  ch.  23.  6. 
 
 c  Gon.3,  15. 
 fc  ■-'?.  IS.  & 
 26.  -J.  Ik  ly 
 ID.  D^u  19. 
 IS.  '2  Sam. 
 7    12,  Ps. 
 i:w.  II. 
 Is  4.  3.«<7. 
 M.  Jt{  9.  6. 
 ^  -M.  10. 
 Jer.23.j    & 
 33.14,15.16. 
 
 fij  37-  21. 
 
 Diiu.  9  24. 
 
 Mic.  7.  SO. 
 
 cb.  r3  32. 
 
 Umn.  15    8. 
 
 Tit.  2    13. 
 d  J^m.  1.  1. 
 t  Gr.  nigkt 
 
 and  daij. 
 e  Luke  2.  37. 
 
 I  Tim.  5.  5. 
 
 IThe3.3.IO. 
 /^  Phil  3.  11 
 g  .Irthn  Ifi,  2. 
 
 \  Tim. I  13. 
 h  di.  e.  3, 
 
 <;  >l.   I.   13 
 ■  <'Ii.  9    II, 
 
 S1.&','.',  .'. 
 *cli.2:i.  19. 
 
 MCh.  ?2.2l. 
 
 o  ts.  35,  5,  U 
 42.  7.  Liikfi 
 1.79.J,>liii 
 3.12  2  Cor. 
 'l.t.  Eph.l. 
 IS.  I  Tlies. 
 3.  5. 
 
 p  2  Cor.6  II. 
 Epii.  4.  Ih. 
 &  5.8.  Cul. 
 I.  13. 
 1  Pet.  8.  9, 
 25, 
 
 g  Luke  1.77. 
 
 r  Epli.  1.  II. 
 Col.  I.  12. 
 
 t  ch.  211.32. 
 
 (  cli.  9.  2U, 
 22, 2tt.  &  U . 
 2G.  U  13,  Hi 
 M,  &  lH,it> 
 17,  fc  IS,  & 
 19,  &  21),  h 
 
 ■z\. 
 
 I  Luke  91. 
 27,  41.  cli. 
 24.14,  &  S. 
 23.  Kom.  3. 
 21. 
 
 s  John  5.  IG 
 it  Luke  2-i. 
 
 £6,  -16. 
 h  I  Cor.  15. 
 
 20.  Col.  1. 
 
 18  Rev.1.5 
 c  Luke2.  32 
 
 U.John  10. 
 20.  ICor.l, 
 23.*  2.  13. 
 14.  &  4.  lU. 
 
 journeyed  with  me, 
 
 14  And  when  we  were  all  fallen  to  the  earth, 
 I  heard  a  voice  speaking  unto  me,  and  saying 
 in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  Saul,  Saul,  why  perse- 
 cutest  thou  me  ?  it  is  hard  for  thee  to  kick 
 against  the  pricks. 
 
 15  And  I  said.  Who  art  thou,  Lord  ?  And  he 
 said,  I  am  Jesus  whom  thou  persecutest. 
 
 16  But  rise,  and  stand  upon  thy  feet :  for  I 
 have  appeared  unto  thee  for  this  purpose,  '"  to 
 make  thee  a  minister  and  a  witness  both  of 
 these  things  wiiich  thou  liast  seen,  and  of  those 
 things  in  the  which  1  will  appear  unto  thee  ; 
 
 17  Delivering  thee  from  the  people,  and/row 
 the  Gentiles,  "unto  whom  now  I  send  thee, 
 
 18  ^  To  open  their  eyes,  and  ''to  turn  them 
 from  darkness  to  light,  awd^from  the  power  of 
 Satan  unto  God,  "^  that  they  may  receive  for- 
 giveness of  sins,  and  ^inheritance  among  them 
 which  are  ^sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in  me. 
 
 10  Whereupon,  O  king  Agrippa,  I  was  not 
 disobedient  unto  the  heavenly  vision  : 
 
 20  But  *  shewed  first  unto  them  of  Damascus, 
 and  at  Jerusalem,  and  throughout  all  the  coasts 
 of  Judea,  and  then  to  the  Gentiles,  that  they 
 should  repent  and  turn  to  God,  and  do  "  works 
 meet  for  repentance. 
 
 21  For  tliese  causes  '  the  Jews  caught  me  in 
 the  temple,  and  went  about  to  kill  me. 
 
 22  Having  llierefore  obtained  help  of  God,  I 
 continue  unto  this  day,  witnessing  both  to 
 small  and  great,  saying  none  other  things  than 
 those  ^'  wiiich  the  prophets  and  '■  Moses  did  say 
 should  come  : 
 
 23  *  That  Christ  should  suffer,  and  ^  that  he 
 should  be  the  first  that  should  rise  from  the 
 dead,  and  "^should  shew  light  unto  the  people, 
 and  to  the  Gentiles. 
 
 24  And  as  he  thus  spake  for  himself,  Festus 
 said  witii  a  loud  voice,  Paul,  "^  thou  art  beside 
 thyself;  much  learning  doth  make  thee  mad. 
 
 25  But  he  said,  I  am  not  mad,  most  noble 
 Festus  ;  but  speak  forth  the  words  of  truth  and 
 soberness. 
 
 26  For  the  king  knovveth  of  these  things,  be- 
 fore whom  also  I  speak  freely  :  for  I  am  per- 
 suaded that  none  of  these  things  are  hidden 
 from  him  ;  for  this  thing  was  not  done  in  a 
 corner. 
 
 27  King  Agrippa,  believest  thou  the  pro- 
 phets?    I  know  that  thou  believest. 
 
 28  Then  Agripp.i  said  unto  Paul,  Almost 
 thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a  Christian. 
 
 CiiAP.  XXVI.  —  3.  Expert  in  nil  customs— h(^\n^  king  of  Judea  at 
 Jerusalem,  Aerippa  had  the  (iirection  uf  the  sacred  treasure,  the  go- 
 vernment  of  the  temple,  and  the  right  of  nomi:'atin^  the  high  priest. 
 5.  Straitest,  'strictest.' — Doddr.  6.  Of  the  promise,  of  a  resurrection 
 of  the  dead,  (see  ver.  8  ;  chap,  xsiii.  6.)—Boothr.  The  promise  of  Christ 
 the  Messiah, —Fy/e;  and  of  salvation  by  him,  and  of  the  resurrection  of 
 the  dead,  and  of  eternal  glory.— Gi//.  Instantly,  *  earne^ly. '—SooCAr. 
 With  intenseness,  ardour,  and  fervency,  as  the  word  signifies. — Gill. 
 7.  Our  twelve  tribes,  but  two  returned,  but  many  of  all  tlie  rest  were 
 among  them. — Beausohre.  10.  Gave  nv/  voice,  joined  in  the  popular 
 cry,  for  Paul  had  no  place  in  the  sanhedrim  to  vote.— See  Lnrdner. 
 11.  To  blaspheme,  to  speak  evil  of  Jesus  and  of  his  religion. — Newc. 
 Thus  the  heathen  afterwards  tested  genuine  Christians,  by  compelling 
 the  accused  to  curse  the  name  of  Christ.— Pi>;£.  Bib.  Exceedingly 
 tnnd,  irepiirawv  efAfiatvofievov,  'beyond  measure  furious.'  —  Benson. 
 Strange,  '  foreign. '—Whitby.  It  means  places  out  of  the  jurisdiction 
 of  the  Jews,  such  as  Damascus.— ,•£.  Clarke.  14.  Thepricks,  xei-Tpa, 
 pi.,  generally  supposed  to  mean  an  ox  goad,  but  in  truth  it  means  mi- 
 litary spurs.— So  C.  Taylor.  i6.  A  minister,  i<7rt,pnTni',  'an  under- 
 rowfr/ that  is,  one  who  is'uoder  the  gui<Iance'  and  '  authority  of 
 another;'  an  'assistant,'  or  'servant.'  So  Paul  was  to  act  solely 
 under  the  authority  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  'try  hard  at  the  oar.' 
 
 18.  Power,  efoi'ffmr,  'authority,'  and  'domination.'  Forgiveness  of 
 sins,  a(pe<jts  aaafirnov,  'the  taking  away.'  or  'removal  of  sins.'  — 
 A.  Clarke.  IQ.  The  heavenly  vision,  tlie  circumstances  of  which  were 
 such  as  that  it  could  not  be  a  delusion,  or  a  deceptio  insus,  but,  witliout 
 doubt,  a  Divine  appearance. — Hen.  Had  it  not  been  a  real  appearance 
 it  could  have  been  no  proof  of  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  and  of  his 
 great  power  and  glory.  —  Boothr.  2i).  Repent,  ^^Tavoeiv  properly 
 
 signifies,  they  ought  to  change  their  mind,  and  change  their  way,  and 
 undo  what  they  bad  done  amiss. — Hen.  21.  To  kill  me,  6iaxeipiaaa$ai, 
 'to  kill  me  with  their  own  hands.' — So  Beza,  and  Doddr.  23.  Should 
 suffer,  '  be  a  sufferer;'  TTadt\Tot,  applied  to  swfferjug  as  Messiah.  The 
 first,  §-c.,  TTpuToc  ef  avaoracrewv,  '  the  chief  of  the  resurrectiun,' the 
 head  or  principal  one.— Hen.  See  Isa.  hii.  3,  &c.  Light,  of  true  reli- 
 gion— of  a  happy  immortality.— BeawsoAre.  21.  Much  learning  doth 
 make  thee  mad,  TioWa  ae  ypafxnara  eii  ;Ltav(ui'  TreptTptJrei,  '  much  study 
 drives  thee  to  madness.*— iJorfrfr.  By  the  '  much  learning,'  it  is  likely 
 Festus  meant  that  Paul  had  got  such  a  vast  variety  of  knowledge  that 
 his  brain  was  overcharged  with  it;  and  he  must  here  refer  to  what  he 
 said  of  spiritual  things,  as  he  made  no  shew  of  learning  as  on  some 
 other  occasions,  (see  chap.  xvii.  28.)  25.  Soberness,  aiatppoavvn^,  'of 
 mental  soundness.' — Clarke.  28.  To  he  a  Christian,  'to  embrace 
 
 Christianity. '—, -J.  Clarke. 
 
 has  a  ?ood  cause  to  plead,  and  a  good  conscience  to  support 
 him,  be  need  not  fear  the  chicanery  and  malice  of  his  foes,  if 
 his  judge  has  any  regard  to  justice.'     '  We  cannot  here  but 
 1176 
 
 adore  the  wisdom  of  God,  vt-ho  often  accomplishes  the  pur- 
 poses of  his  love  and  mercy  by  the  instrumentality  of  wicked 
 and  ungodly  men  '^ 
 
PauFs  voyage  toward  Rome. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXVII. 
 
 T/ie  damiirs  tJiereiif. 
 
 29  And  Paul  said,  "  I  would  to  God,  that  not 
 only  thou,  but  also  all  that  liear  me  this  day, 
 were  both  almost,  and  altogether  such  as  I  am, 
 except  these  bonds. 
 
 30  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  the  king 
 rose  up,  and  tlie  governor,  and  Bernice,  and 
 they  that  sat  with  them  : 
 
 31  And  wlien  they  were  gone  aside,  they 
 talked  between  themselves,  saying,  '  Tliis  man 
 doeth  nothing  worthy  of  deatli  or  of  bonds. 
 
 3-2  Then  said  Agrippa  unto  Festus,  This  man 
 might  have  been  get  at  liberty,  ''if  he  bad  not 
 appealed  unto  Ca:sar. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVII. 
 
 I  Pavl  shijrping  toward  Rome,  10  fnrelelhth  of  the 
 danger  of  the  voyaije,  11  hut  is  nothdieved.  14  They 
 are  tossed  to  and  fro  ivith  tanpest,  41  and  suffer  ship- 
 wreck,  22,  34,  44  i/et  all  come  safe  to  land. 
 
 AND  when  °it  was  determined  that  we 
 should  sail  into  Italy,  they  delivered  Paul 
 and  certain  other  prisoners  unto  one  named 
 Julius,  a  centurion  of  Augustus'  band. 
 
 2  And  entering  into  a  ship  of  Adramyttium, 
 we  launched,  meaning  to  sail  by  the  coasts 
 of  Asia ;  one  '  Aristarcluis,  a  Macedonian  of 
 Tliessalonica,  being  with  us. 
 
 3  And  tlie  next  dan  "'^  touched  at  Sidon. 
 And  Jjlius  '  courteously  entreated  Paul,  and 
 gave  him  liberty  to  go  unto  his  friends  to  re- 
 fresh himself. 
 
 4  And  when  we  had  launched  from  thence, 
 we  sailed  under  Cyprus,  because  the  winds 
 were  contrary. 
 
 5  And  when  we  had  sailed  over  the  sea  of 
 Cilicia  and  Pamphylia,  we  came  to  Myra,  a 
 city  of  Lycia. 
 
 6  And  there  the  centurion  found  a  ship  of 
 Alexandria  sailing  into  Italy  ;  and  he  put  us 
 therein. 
 
 7  And  when  we  had  sailed  slowly  many  days, 
 and  scarce  weie  come  over  against  Cnidns,  the 
 wind  not  suffering  us,  we  sailed  under  |1  Crete. 
 over  against  Salmone  ; 
 
 /rh.  23.  9, 
 211.  i  ib.  85. 
 
 d  The  Fast 
 was  on  the 
 tenth  day 
 (if  the 
 
 nth 
 nth. 
 
 8  And,  hardly  passing  it.  came  unto  a  place 
 which  is  called  The  fair  havens  ;  nigh  where- 
 unto  was  the  city  q/'Lasra 
 
 9  Now  when  much  time  was  spent,  and  when 
 sailing  was  now  dangerous,  ''  because  the  fast 
 was  now  already  past,  Paul  admonislied  them, 
 
 10  And  said  unto  them,  Sirs,  I  perceive  that 
 this  voyage  will  be  with  ||  hurt  and  much  da- 
 mage, not  only  of  the  lading  and  ship,  but  also 
 of  our  lives. 
 
 1 1  Nevertheless  the  centurion  believed  the 
 master  and  the  owner  of  the  ship,  more  than 
 those  things  which  were  spoken  by  Paul. 
 
 1-2  And  because  the  haven  was  not  commo- 
 dious to  winter  in,  the  more  part  advised  to  de- 
 part tlience  also,  if  by  any  means  they  might 
 attain  to  Phenice,  and  there  to  winter;  which 
 is  an  liaven  of  Crete,  and  lieth  toward  the 
 south  west  and  north  west. 
 
 13  And  when  the  south  wind  blew  softly, 
 supposing  tliat  they  had  obtained  their  pur- 
 pose, loosing  thence,  they  sailed  close  by 
 Crete. 
 
 14  But  not  long  after  there  ||  arose  against 
 it  a  tempestuous  wind,  called  Euroclydon. 
 
 13  And  when  the  ship  was  caught,  and  could 
 not  bear  up  into  the  wind,  we  let  her  drive. 
 
 16  And  running  under  a  certain  island  which 
 is  called  Clauda,  we  had  much  work  to  come 
 by  the  boat : 
 
 17  Which  when  they  had  taken  up,  they  used 
 helps,  undergirding  the  ship  ;  and,  fearing  lest 
 they  should  fall  into  the  cjuicksands,  strake  sail, 
 and  so  were  driven. 
 
 18  And  we  being  exceedingly  tossed  with  a 
 tempest,  the  next  day  lUey  lightened  the  ship  ; 
 
 19  And  the  third  day  "  we  cast  out  with  our 
 own  hands  the  tackling  of  the  ship. 
 
 20  And  when  neither  sun  nor  stars  in  many 
 days  appeared,  and  no  small  tempest  lay  on 
 its,  all  iiope  that  we  should  be  saved  was  then 
 taken  away. 
 
 21  But  after  long  abstinence  Paul  stood  forth 
 in  the  midst  of  them,  and  said.  Sirs,  ye  should 
 
 29.  Except  these  bonds — what  a  protligious  eflFect  this  striking  conclu- 
 sion, and  the  sight  of  the  irons  held  up  to  enforce  it,  must  nialte  upon 
 themindsof  the  audience  ! — T.H.  Home.  32.  .ippeided,  after  this,  an 
 inferior  jud^e  could  neither  condemn  nor  acquit.— IKu^/. 
 
 Chap.  XXVII.  —  1.  TI>,  hence  the  writer  of  this  book  was  on  board 
 the  ship  with  Paul, — Bp.  Pearce ;  and  Aristarchus.  (see  next  verse,) 
 and  Tiophimus  the  Ephesian,  who  was  afterwards  left  at  Miletus  sick, 
 (2  Tim.  iv.  20.)  and  others. — Gill.  2.  .\flraniyttiunt,  a  seaport  town 
 in  Mysia,  in  the  lesser  Asia,  over  against  the  island  <jf  Lesbos.  —  Wells. 
 3.  His  friends,  these  were  Cliristians  in  Phenicia,  where  Sidon  was,  as 
 ap|)ears  from  chap.  xi.  19- — lip.  Penree.  5.  Myra,  the  capital  of  Lycia. 
 —  iVells.  7.  Cnidus,  a  city  and  promontory  in  Doris,  in  the  Cher- 
 sonese, or  peninsula  of  Caria,  famous  for  the  marble  statue  of  Venus, 
 made  by  Praxiteles ;  it  was  over  against  the  island  of  Crete,  and  is 
 now  called  Capo  Chio. — Gill.  The  wind  nut  suffering  us,  '  to  go  rif;ht 
 forward,*  so  it  is  added  by  the  Syrinc  version.  Snlmune,  a  promontory 
 or  cape  on  the  eastern  side  of  Crete. — Wells.  S.  The  fair  havens, 
 
 called  by  other  writers  '  Cale  Acte,*  or  '  the  fair  shore.'  9.  Sailing 
 was  now  dangerous,  the  time  after  the  fast  answers  to  the  latter  end  of 
 our  September.  This  was  about  tlie  time  of  our  autumnal  equinox, 
 when  the  Mediterranean  Sea  was  sufficiently  tempestuous. — .-1.  Clarke. 
 To  sail  after  the  fast  was  proverbially  dang:erous  among  the  ancient 
 Jews. — See  Schoettgen.  The  fast,  the  day  of  atnnement,  the  grand 
 fast  of  the  Jews,  (Lev.  xxiii.  27.)       14.  Euroclydon,  eupof  and  K\vf>u)v, 
 
 the  word  signifies  '  an  eastern  .storm.'— Uen.-!.  Thought  to  be  the  same 
 wind  which  is  called  'Typhon,'  a  tempestuous  sort  of  whirlwind  tsr 
 hurricane;  a  violent  storm,  though  without  thunder  or  lightning.  Tlic 
 anrient  versions  read,  '  north-east  wind,'  if  so,  the  Typhon  never  blew 
 in  the  northern  parts:  it  seems,  by  its  name,  to  he  an  easterly  wind. 
 —Gill.  North-east.— Ham.,  Grot.  Euroclydon  was  probably  then 
 what  Levanter  is  now,  the  name  of  any  tempestuous  wind  in  that  sea, 
 blowing  from  the  north-east  round  by  east  to  the  south-east  —Clarke, 
 see   Shaw.  15.   Cauglit,   (jyvapTr'nrHevTor,   '  was   violently  hurried 
 
 away.'— 2Jen.t.  16.  Clnudu,  variously  called,  sometimes  '  Claudus  ;' 
 some  copies  read  *  Cauda,'  some  '  Gandos,'  an  island  near  Crete. 
 Come  by,  '  come  at  and  take  it  into  the  ship.' — Gill.  The  eastern 
 people  are  wont  to  leave  their  skiffs  in  the  sea,  fastened  to  the  stern 
 of  their  vessels. — Churdin.  17.  Undergirding,  probably  what  is  luiw 
 called  '  trapping,'  done  by  putting  large  ropes  under  the  keel  and  over 
 the  gun-whale,  and  is  used  when  a  ship,  by  labouring  hard  in  the  sea, 
 breaks  the  bolts  in  her  sides,  and  this  keeps  her  from  parting.— (ft/^ 
 Quicksands— there  were  two  remarkable  quicksands  on  the  .\trican 
 coast,  IVe  Syrtis  Major,  and  the  Syrtis  Minor,  the  former  near  the  coast 
 of  Cyrene,  the  latter  not  far  from  TtipoU  ;  but,  from  the  direction  in 
 which  the  vessel  was  driven,  they  were  in  no  danger  from  these ;  it 
 means  here.  *  they  were  afraid  of  falling  into  some  shoals.'— r/«;7rf. 
 A  strong  north-east  wind  would  carry  the  vessel  directly  from  Clauda 
 to  the  Syrtis  Major. — Bp.  Pearce.  20.  Keitlter  sun,  4-c.— the  nia- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XXVI.  —  I.  '  We  here  learn  tlie 
 fait/ifuhicss  of  Christ  to  his  own  jromise.  When  Paul  was 
 brought  before  governors  and  kings  tor  his  sake,  it  was  given 
 him  in  that  hour  what  be  shouUl  speak.'  The  apostle  did  not 
 use  laboured  arguments,  but,  by  a  simple  statement  of  the 
 truth,  commended  himself  to  every  man's  conscience. 
 
 II.   '  Ife  are  taught  what  a  dreadful  state  men  are  in  while  nn- 
 
 Utssed  with  the  gospel.     Tliey  have,  indeed,  eyes,  but  see  not ; 
 
 and  hearts,  but  understand  not.    Tbey  boast  of  their  freedom, 
 
 wliile  tbey  are  the  slaves  and   vassals  of  Satan,    Tbe  great 
 
 1177 
 
 design  of  the  gospel  is  to  open  their  eyes  upon  tbeir  guilt  and 
 misery,  that  they  may  turn  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from 
 tbe  power  of  Satan  unto  God. 
 
 III.  '  IVe  see,  in  the  remark  of  Festus,  how  true  it  is  that  the  na- 
 iitral  man  undcrstandeth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit.  They,  in- 
 deed, appear  foolishness  unto  him.  How  many,  even  in  pro- 
 fessedly Christian  countries,  have  deemed  fervent  piety  ant* 
 holy  zeal  in  tbe  cause  of  Christ  nothing  but  madness.  Be  it 
 so  ;  tbe  believer  can  reply  that  tbe  words  be  utters  are  trutb 
 and  soberness.'  '' 
 
 7   L 
 
Paul  suffereth  s/iipwicck. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXVII. 
 
 All  come  safe  to  land. 
 
 have  hearkened  unto  me,  and  not  have  loosed 
 from  Crete,  and  to  have  gained  this  harm  and 
 loss. 
 
 22  And  now  I  exhort  you  to  be  of  good 
 cheer:  for  tliere  shall  be  no  loss  oi  any  man's 
 life  among  you,  but  of  the  ship. 
 
 23  Tor  there  stood  by  me  this  night  the 
 angel  of  God,  whose  I  am,  and  ^  «'hom  I 
 serve, 
 
 24  Saying,  Fear  not,  Paul ;  thou  must  be 
 brought  before  Ca!sar  :  and,  lo,  God  hath  given 
 thee  all  them  that  sail  witli  thee. 
 
 2.5  Wherefore,  sirs,  be  of  good  cheer  :  "^  for  I 
 believe  God,  that  it  shall  be  even  as  it  was 
 told  me. 
 
 26  Howbeit  '  we  must  be  cast  upon  a  certain 
 island. 
 
 27  But  when  the  fourteenth  night  was  come, 
 ns  we  were  driven  up  and  down  in  Adria,  about 
 midnight  the  shipmen  deemed  that  they  drew 
 near  to  some  country  ; 
 
 28  And  sounded,  and  found  it  twenty  fathoms: 
 and  when  they  had  gone  a  little  furtlicr,  they 
 sounded  again,  and  found  it  fifteen  fathoms. 
 
 29  Then  fearing  lest  we  slioiild  have  fallen 
 upon  rocks,  tliey  cast  four  anchors  out  of  the 
 stern,  and  wislied  for  the  day. 
 
 30  And  as  the  shipmen  were  about  to  flee 
 out  of  the  ship,  when  they  had  let  down  the 
 boat  into  the  sea,  under  colour  as  though 
 they  would  have  cast  anchors  out  of  the  fore- 
 ship, 
 
 31  Paul  said  to  the  centurion  and  to  the 
 soldiers.  Except  these  abide  in  the  ship,  ye 
 cannot  be  saved. 
 
 32  Then  the  soldiers  cut  off  the  ropes  of  the 
 boat,  and  let  her  fall  off. 
 
 33  And  while  the  day  was  coming  on,  Paul 
 besought  them  all  to  take  meat,  saying.  This 
 day  is  tlie  fourteenth    day  that  ye  have  tar- 
 
 /ch  2S.  n. 
 
 ij  Dan.  6. 16. 
 H..m.  I.  9. 
 2  Tim.  I..S. 
 
 h  Luke  I.^.'i. 
 lloin.  X.  20, 
 •21    2  Tim. 
 
 11  Kin  1 
 
 .I". 
 
 Mat. 10 
 
 M 
 
 Luke  1? 
 
 &2I.  18 
 
 nSam.9.13. 
 
 Mat  15. 
 
 :ifi. 
 
 IVIark  8 
 
 «. 
 
 John  6. 
 
 II. 
 
 1  Tim.J.S. 
 
 11  Or.cul  the 
 
 titry   Uft 
 
 th'^n  f"  the 
 ttn,  4rc. 
 
 ried  and  continued  fasting,  liaving  taken 
 nothing. 
 
 .04  Wherefore  I  pray  you  to  iukQ  some  meat : 
 for  this  is  for  your  health  :  for  ''  there  shall 
 not  an  hair  fall  from  the  head  of  any  of  you. 
 
 3o  And  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  he  took 
 bread,  and  '  gave  thanks  to  God  in  presence  of 
 them  all  :  and  when  he  had  broken  it,  he  be- 
 gan to  eat. 
 
 36  Then  were  they  all  of  good  cheer,  and 
 they  also  took  some  meat. 
 
 :n  And  we  were  in  all  in  the  ship  two  hun- 
 dred threescore  and  sixteen  "'souls. 
 
 38  And  when  they  had  oaten  enough,  they 
 lightened  the  ship,  and  cast  out  the  wheat  into 
 the  sea. 
 
 39  And  when  it  was  day,  they  knew  not  the 
 land  :  but  they  discovered  a  certain  creek  witli 
 a  shore,  into  the  which  they  were  minded,  if  it 
 were  possible,  to  thrust  in  the  ship. 
 
 40  And  when  they  had  ||  taken  np  the  an- 
 chors, they  committed  thtmseJves  unto  the 
 sea,  and  loosed  tlie  rudder  bands,  and  hoisted 
 up  the  mainsail  to  tiie  wint!,  and  made  toward 
 shore. 
 
 41  And  falling  into  a  place  where  two  seas 
 met,  "  they  ran  the  ship  aground  ;  and  the 
 forepart  stuck  fast,  and  remained  unmoveable, 
 but  tlie  hinder  part  was  broken  witli  the  vio- 
 lence of  liie  waves. 
 
 42  And  the  soldiers'  counsel  was  to  kill  the 
 prisoners,  lest  any  of  them  should  swim  out, 
 and  escape. 
 
 43  But  the  centurion,  willing  to  save  Paul, 
 kept  them  from  their  purpose  ;  and  command- 
 ed that  they  which  could  swim  should  cast 
 themselves  tirst  iiito  the  sea,  and  get  to  land  : 
 
 44  And  the  rest,  some  on  boards,  and  some 
 on  broken  pieces  of  the  ship.  And  so  it  came 
 to  pass,  °  that  they  escaped  all  safe  to  land. 
 
 riner's  compass  was  then  unknown,  and  the  heavenly  bodies  were  the 
 alone  guides. — Bp.  Mann.  '2J.  Fourteenth  nigfit,  from  their  setting 
 out  from  the  'fair  havens.'  Adrin,  the  Adriatic  Sea,  called  hy  the 
 Turks  '  the  Gulph  of  \'en\ce.*~GiU.  All  that  part  of  the  Mediterranean 
 which  lay  south  of  Italy  was  called  the  Adriatic  Sea. — Doddridge. 
 28.  Twentij  fatftumf^,  op-jriat  cikoti,  about  forty  yards.  —  A.  Clarke. 
 20.  Out  of  the  .stern— it  is  not  usual  in  modern  navie^ation  to  cast  out 
 anclmrs  from  the  stern,  or  hinder  part  of  the  ship,  hut  from  the  prow, 
 or  head  of  the  ship ;  but  it  seems  this  was  done  by  the  ancients. —  Gill. 
 The  large,  modern  Egyptian  ships,  called  'saiques,*  always  carr>-  their 
 anchors  at  their  stern,  and  never  at  the  prow. —Sir  J.  Chnrdin.  31.  Ex. 
 rept  thexe  abidf,  ^r.,  the^^e  were  the  conditions  of  safety.— Breu-s/er. 
 These  were  a  means  absolutely  fixed  in  the  decree,  and  as  certainly  to 
 he  accomplished  as  the  end. — Gill.  If  the  end  was  absolutely  decreed, 
 the  means  of  attaining  it  were  so  decreed  likewise  ;  and  the  case  is  the 
 same  in  things  of  still  higher  importance.— Scoff.        33.  Fasting,  that 
 
 is.  they  had  not  eaten  a  regular  meal. — Gill.  34.  1  pray  ynu,  -rrapa- 
 Ka\u>.  '  I  exhort  you.' — Hen.  Not  a  hair,  ffc,  a  proverbial  phrase, 
 expressing  the  utmost  safety  of  their  \'ive%.—Gi(L  38.  Cast  out  the 
 uheitt—th\s  vessel  of  Alexandria  (ver.  6}  seems  to  have  been  laden 
 with  wheat  to  carry  to  Rome,  as  was  frequenUy  done. —  Beausohre. 
 39.  Creek  with  a  shore,  '  bay  with  a  beach.* — Juh7i  Newton.  40.  Loosed 
 the  rudder  hands— some  of  the  Indian  ships  have  three  rudders,  and 
 the  words  here  are,  '  loosed  the  bands  of  the  rudders.*  According  to 
 the  notion  of  modem  navigation,  the  rudder-band  might  be  thought 
 to  be  the  rope  which  is  turned  round  the  tiller  and  made  favt  to  the 
 ship's  side.— G»7/.  These  bands  were  loosed  that  the  rudders  might 
 play  freely,  and  assist  in  getting  into  the  creek. — See  Patterns  Gr. 
 Antiq.  41.  Where  two  seus  met,  '  washed  on  each  side  by  the  sea,* 
 meaning  an  isthmus,  or  narrow  neck  of  land. — Boch.  Meaning  a 
 cape,  or  headland.— Bryan/. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  XXVII.  —  Here  we  learn,  I.  God's 
 special  rare  over  his  people.  His  providential  care  is  over  all 
 his  works,  and  not  even  a  sparrow  falls  lo  the  ground  without 
 bis  permission.  But  the  most  important  links  are  connected 
 with  the  destinies  of  his  cliiltlren.  and  the  apostle's  deliver- 
 ance not  only  involved  that  of  all  those  that  were  with  bim  in 
 (he  ship,  but  the  salvation  of  many  immortal  souls,  both  at 
 Rome  and  elsewhere,  whom  he  was  to  be  the  honoured  instru- 
 ment of  leading  to  a  saving  knowledge  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 II.  God's  special  care  ovtr  his  people  involves  in  it  a  due  regard 
 in  their  own  safety.  If  we  disregard  this  in  our  conduct,  we 
 justly  expose  ourselves  to  the  charge  of  presumption.  If  we 
 wiifiilly  run  into  danger,  we  cannot  expect  safety.  The  apostle 
 trusted  to  God's  providence  in  venturing  to  go  to  Jerusalem, 
 being  impelled  by  the  strongest  sense  of  duty  ;  and  as  was 
 his  day.  so  he  found  his  strength  to  be,  but  he  never  despised 
 the  natural  means  of  effecting  his  deliverance  from  his  ene- 
 mies, using  every  ground  of  defence,  till  he  Hnally  appealed 
 1178 
 
 to  Csesar.  Here,  amidst  the  threatenings  of  the  frowning 
 storm,  he  was  assured  of  the  Divine  protection,  but  not  if  the 
 mariners,  who  alone  could  guide  the  vessel,  left  it  to  perish 
 on  the  rocks.  Let  us  remember  the  connexion  which  God 
 has  equally  made  in  relation  to  our  souls  and  salvation,  uniting, 
 by  inseparable  ties,  the  means  and  the  end.  It  is  as  prepos- 
 terous as  it  is  presumptuous  for  the  sinner  to  say,  willi  folded 
 arms,  '  If  I  am  to  be  saved,  I  shall  be  saved.'  Dr.  Dick  has 
 properly  remarked,  '  God  has  not  determined  to  save  sinners, 
 let  them  live  as  they  will ;  but  he  has  chosen  them  to  salva- 
 tion, "  through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit  and  belief  of  the 
 truth."  To  say,  therefore,  that  unless  the  means  be  employed 
 the  ends  will  not  be  accomplished,  is  to  assert  a  very  simple, 
 self-evident  truth, — that  the  purposes  of  God  will  not  be  ful- 
 tilled,  unless  they  be  fulfilled.  Had  Paul  and  his  company 
 been  preserved  without  the  aid  of  the  sailors,  the  decree  of 
 God  would  not  have  been  executed  ;  nor  would  it  be  executed 
 if  it  were  possible  for  a  sinner  to  escape  eternal  punishment 
 without  faith  and  repentance.' 
 
The  viper  on  Paul's  hand. 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXVHI. 
 
 Paul  preacheth  at  Rome. 
 
 CHAP.  XXVIII. 
 
 1  Paul  nfter  his  shipwreck  is  hi/iiUr/  entertained  of  the 
 barbarians,  5  The  viper  on  his  hand  hurteth  him 
 not.  9  He  hetdetk  many  diseases  in  the  island.  1 1 
 They  depart  towards  Rome.  17  He  declareth  to  tlu 
 Jews  the  cause  of  his  coming.  "24  .4fter  his  preaching 
 some  were  persuaded,  and  some  believed  not.  30  Vet 
 he  preacheth  there  ttvo  gears. 
 
 AND  when  they  were  escaped,  then  they 
 knew  that  "the  island  was  called  Melita. 
 •2   And  the  ^  barbarous  people  shewed  us  no 
 little  kindness  :  for  they  kindled  afire,  and  re- 
 ceived us  every  one,  because  of  the  present 
 rain,  and  because  of  the  cold. 
 
 3  And  when  Paul  had  gathered  a  bundle  of 
 sticks,  and  laid  them  on  the  fire,  there  came 
 a  viper  out  of  the  heat,  and  fastened  on  his 
 hand. 
 
 4  And  when  the  barbarians  saw  the  venomous 
 beast  hang  on  his  hand,  they  said  among  them 
 selves,  No  doubt  this  man  is  a  murderer, 
 whom,  though  he  hath  escaped  the  sea,  yet 
 vengeance  suflfereth  not  to  live. 
 
 5  And  he  shook  off  the  beast  into  the  fire, 
 and  '  felt  no  harm. 
 
 C  Howbeit  they  looked  when  he  should  have 
 swollen,  or  fallen  down  dead  suddenly  :  but 
 after  they  had  looked  a  great  while,  and  saw 
 no  harm  come  to  him,  tliey  changed  their 
 minds,  and  ''  said  that  he  was  a  god. 
 
 7  In  the  same  quarters  were  possessions  of 
 the  chief  man  of  the  island,  whose  name  was 
 Publius  ;  who  received  us,  and  lodged  us  three 
 days  courteously. 
 
 8  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  the  father  of 
 Puhruis  lay  sick  of  a  fever  and  of  a  bloody 
 flux  :  to  whom  Paul  entered  in,  and  "  prayed, 
 and  '  laid  his  hands  on  him,  and  healed  him. 
 
 9  So  when  this  was  done,  others  also,  which 
 had  diseases  in  the  island,  came,  and  were 
 healed  : 
 
 10  Who  also  honoured  us  with  many  ^ho- 
 nours ;  and  when  we  departed,  they  laded  us 
 with  such  things  as  were  necessary. 
 
 1 1  And  after  three  months  we  departed  in 
 a  ship  of  Alexandria,  which  had  wintered  in 
 the  isle,  whose  sign  was  Castor  and  Pollux. 
 
 12  And  landing  at  Syracuse,  we  tarried  there 
 
 a  ch.  27.  26. 
 b  Itnm.  1  11 
 
 J:ill1.  .'i    II. 
 
 /Mark  6  j. 
 
 16.  IS 
 l.-ik*-  1.49. 
 ch,  ly    11. 
 12.  1  Cor. 
 \>   9,  53. 
 J  Mat. 15.  6 
 1  Tim.  5.17 
 
 ch.  2*.  I?, 
 
 13.  &  25.  B. 
 
 (  ch.  22.  24. 
 fe  24.  10.  h 
 25  8.  &  26. 
 
 m  ch.  25.  11. 
 
 ich  26.6,7. 
 ch.  26.  29. 
 lph.3.  l.fc 
 4.  I.  &6-;o. 
 2  Tim, 1.16. 
 &  2  9. 
 Philem.  10. 
 
 ^r,uVe2.34. 
 
 cli  24  5,  14. 
 
 1  Pet.  2. 12. 
 
 ^  4.  14. 
 J  Luke  24. 
 
 27.  ch.  17. 
 
 3.  &  19.8. 
 
 c  See  on  ch. 
 
 three  days. 
 
 13  And  from  thence  we  fetched  a  compass, 
 and  came  to  Rhegium  :  and  after  one  day  the 
 south  wind  blew,  and  we  came  the  next  day  to 
 Puteoli  : 
 
 14  Where  we  found  brethren,  and  were  de- 
 sired to  tarry  with  them  seven  days  :  and  so 
 we  went  toward  Rome. 
 
 15  And  from  thence,  when  the  brethren 
 heard  of  us,  they  came  to  met  us  as  far  as 
 Appii  forum,  and  the  Three  taverns  :  whom 
 when  Paul  saw,  he  thanked  God,  and  took 
 courage. 
 
 16  And  when  we  came  to  Rome,  the  centu- 
 rion delivered  the  prisoners  to  the  captain  of 
 the  guard  :  but  '■  Paul  was  suffered  to  dwell  by 
 himself  with  a  soldier  that  kept  him. 
 
 17  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  after  three  days 
 Paul  called  the  chief  of  the  Jews  together : 
 and  when  they  were  come  together,  he  said 
 unto  them.  Men  and  brethren, '  Though  1  have 
 committed  nothing  against  the  people,  or  cus- 
 toms of  our  fathers,  yet  '  was  I  delivered  pri- 
 soner from  Jerusalem  into  the  hands  of  the 
 Romans. 
 
 18  Who,  '  when  they  had  examined  me. 
 would  have  let  me  go,  because  there  was  no 
 cause  of  death  in  me. 
 
 19  But  when  the  Jews  spake  against  it,  ""I 
 was  constrained  to  appeal  unto  Ca'sar  ;  not 
 that  I  had  ought  to  accuse  my  nation  of. 
 
 20  For  this  cause  therefore  have  I  called  for 
 you,  to  see  you,  and  to  speak  whh  i/ou':  be- 
 cause that  "  for  the  hope  of  Israel  I  am  bound 
 with  °  this  chain. 
 
 21  And  they  said  unto  him,  We  neither  re- 
 ceived letters  out  of  Jndaja  concerning  thee, 
 neither  any  of  the  brethren  that  came  shewed 
 or  spake  any  harm  of  thee. 
 
 22  But  we  desire  to  hear  of  thee  what  thou 
 thinkest :  for  as  concerning  this  sect,  we  know 
 that  every  where  '"  it  is  spoken  against. 
 
 23  And  when  they  had  appointed  him  a  day, 
 there  came  many  to  him  into  his  lodging  ;  ''  to 
 whom  he  expounded  and  testified  the  kingdom 
 of  God,  persuading  them  concerning  Jesus, 
 '  both  out  of  the  law  of  Moses,  and  out  of  the 
 prophets,  from  morning  till  evening. 
 
 Chap.  XXVIII.  —  1.  Melitii— there  are  two  opinions  respecting  this 
 place.  That  it  was,  (i.)  Melite  lUyhca,'  in  the  Adriatic  gulf,  in  the 
 province  of  the  Nestiaeus,  or  Illyrian  people,  mentioned  always  as  bar- 
 barous beyond  measure. — Bryant,  (ii.)  '  Malta,'  situated  in  the  Me- 
 diterranean Sea.  between  Sicily  and  Africa.  St.  Paul  is  said,  after 
 having  wintered  at  RIelita,  to  have  landed  at  Syracuse,  ^ver.  12,  13,) 
 in  Sicily ;  but  if  Melita  had  been  the  island  near  the  Illyrian  coast,  in 
 the  Adriatic  Sea,  the  proper  course  of  the  ship  would  have  been  direct 
 to  Rhegium. —  Bp.  Pearcp,  Wells.  It  wasMalta,  because  of  the  danger 
 from  the  African  Syrtis, — the  centurion  would  not  have  stopped  three 
 months  at  Melite,  only  half  a  league  from  Epidaurus,  an  excellent 
 harbour,— Melite  was  the  wrong  course  for  the  Alexandrian  ship 
 which  wintered  there,  going  to  Puteoli,  (ver.  11,3 — Paul  sailed  from 
 thence  to  Syracuse  and  Rhegium,  the  direct  course  from  Africa. — 
 Poolers  Synapsis.  The  tradition  of  the  country  is,  that  Paul  was  at 
 Malta.  The  people  were,  however,  by  no  means  barbarians  ;  but  Luke 
 seems  to  have  adnptcd  the  style  of  the  Greeks,  who  called  those  bar- 
 barians who  did  not  speak  their  language. — Dirk.  That  Malta  was 
 the  island  is  the  opinion  of  nearly  all  the  Commentators.  2.  Bar- 
 barous— see  on  ver  1,  note,  by  Dick.  The  islatid  was  under  Roman 
 jurisdiction,  as  the  name  Publius  determines ;  but  the  name  *  barba- 
 rian' is  given  as  these  were  probably  Africans  settled  there  when  the 
 Carthaginians  possessed  the  island. — Ligtitf.,  3.  -4  viper,  the  most 
 veiiemous  and  latal  of  all  serpents,  and  thought  by  the  ancients  to  be 
 sent  by  Heaven  to  punish  the  most  enormous  crimes.  —  Dr.  T.  jl/. 
 Harris.  Out  of  the  heat,  from  among  the  sticks  when  they  grew 
 warm.  —  Bp.  Pearce.  4.  The  venemous  beast,  Onptov,  'the  fierce 
 
 animal.* — Doddr.     S(/jfi?ref/i  no/,  oinc  €ia<r€,', '  hath  not  suffered.'  They 
 considered  him  in  effect  dead  after  being  bitten. — Beza.         5.  Shook 
 off,  ^e.,  agreeably  to  the  prediction,  Mark,  xvi.  17,  18.        6.  Swollen, 
 1179 
 
 TtifinpaaOat  means,  properly,  to  burn,  to  be  inflamed,  and  then  to  be 
 swollen  from  inflammation.— B^rHCi-.  That  he  leas  a  ^'orf— Hercules 
 was  wor.shipped  in  this  island,  and  the  power  of  curing  the  bite  of  ser- 
 pents was  attributed  to  him.— Bp.  Pearce,  Benusohre.  They  took 
 him  for  Hercules.— Gro(.,  Whitby.  They  probahly  took  him  for  Apollo, 
 or  Mercury,  for  they  could  not  take  a  man  of  tiis  small  stature  for  Her- 
 cules.—  Wil.  10.  Honoured  us  with  many  honours,  ToWarr  rr/iaic 
 cTiMlTav  t'jiiac,  '  gave  us  many  gifts.'- M^/ii/Av.  The  word  rendered 
 •  honours,*  often  signifies  a  pecuniary  recompence  or  present.— B/*. 
 Pearce.  U.  Sign  was  Castor  and  Pollux,  that  is,  these  figures  were 
 painted  on  the  fore  part  of  the  ship ;  they  were  thought  to  be  propi- 
 tious to  mariners.— WAiWi/.  12.  Syracuse,  formerly  the  capital  of 
 Sicily. —  Wells.  13.  Rhegium,  a  city  and  promontory  in  Calabria,  in 
 Italy,  now  called  '  Reggio.*— ^.  Clarke.  Puteoli,  called  by  the  Italians 
 'Puzzuolo,*  about  eight  miles  from  Naples. —  See  Sandy^s  Trarels. 
 13.  The  brethren,  meaning  Christians  at  Rome.— B/j.  Mann.  Appii 
 forum,  and  The  three  taverns,  towns  that  lay  in  the  Appian  way  to 
 Rome;  the  former  distant  from  it  fifty-one  miles,  the  latter  thiny- 
 ttjree. — Gill.  Ifl.  To  the  cnptain  of  the  guard,  -tm  arftaTontonpx^, 
 perfecto  castrorum. — Mont.  'To  the  commander  of  the  company;* 
 probably  the  officer  who  commanded  the  part  of  the  army  stationed  at 
 Rome,  called  '  the  Praetorian  cohorts.'— B^ausoAre.  Suffered  to  dwell 
 by  himself,  either  owing  to  the  letter  of  Festns,  by  which  it  appeared 
 that  he  was  no  malefactor,  or  rather  to  the  intercession  of  the  cen- 
 turion, who  had  been  very  kind  to  him. — Gill.  With  a  soldier,  to  whom 
 he  was  chained,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  Romans,  (ver.  20 ;  see 
 chap.  xxvi.  29;  mentioned  Col.  iv.  18;  Phil.  i.  7,  13,  l6;  2  Tim.  ii.  9; 
 Philem.  10,  13.)— Gro(.  20.  For  the  hope  of  Israel,  ^c,  that  is,  for 
 preaching  the  coming  of  the  Messiah  and  a  future  ^ttite.—Pyle. 
 23.  Testified  the  kingdom  of  Gad,  that  the  kingdom  which  they  ex- 
 
Paul  preacheth 
 
 THE  ACTS,  XXVIII. 
 
 two  years  at  Roine» 
 
 24  And  'some  believed  the  things  which 
 were  spoken,  and  some  believed  not. 
 
 25  And  when  they  agreed  not  among  them- 
 selves, they  departed,  after  tliat  Paul  had 
 spoken  one  word,  Well  spake  the  Holy  Ghost 
 by  Esaias  the  prophet  unto  our  fathers, 
 
 2G  Saying,  *  Go  unto  this  people,  and  say, 
 Hearing  ye  shall  hear,  and  shall  not  understand ; 
 and  seeing  ye  shall  see,  and  not  perceive  : 
 
 27  For  the  heart  of  tiiis  people  is  waxed 
 gross,  and  their  ears  are  dull  of  hearing,  and 
 then'  eyes  liave  they  closed  ;  lest  they  should 
 see  with  their  eyes,  and  hear  with  their  ears, 
 and  understand  with  their  heart,  and  should  be 
 
 I  ch.  14. 
 &  17.  4. 
 19.  9. 
 
 u^rat. 21.41, 
 43.  ch.  1 8. 
 '16,47.  &  IS. 
 
 X  ch. 
 Epli. 
 
 converted,  and  1  should  heal  tiiem. 
 
 28  Be  it  known  therefore  unto  you,  that  the 
 salvation  of  God  is  sent  "unto  the  Gentiles, 
 and  that  they  will  hear  it. 
 
 29  And  when  he  had  said  these  words,  the 
 Jews  departed,  and  had  great  reasoning  among 
 themselves. 
 
 30  And  Paul  dwelt  two  whole  years  in  his 
 own  hired  house,  and  received  all  that  came  in 
 unto  him, 
 
 31  ''Preaching  the  kingdom  of  God,  and 
 teaching  those  things  which  concern  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  with  all  confidence,  no  man  for- 
 bidding him. 
 
 pected  (Luke,  n.  25,  38  ;  xix.  11)  was  already  come. — Whitby.    Thatit  at   the   twenty-seventh   year  of  St.  Paul's  conversion. — Bp.  Pearce. 
 
 was  of  a  spiritual,  and  not  of  a  tempitral,  nature. — Doddr.      2~.  Heal,  Z\.  Preachitiv;,  and  also  writing.       It  is  ccrtaiD  that  from  Rome  he 
 
 cure  their  spiritual  diseases. — Tip.  Pearce.      29.  Reasoning,  av^i^Tnaiv,  wrote  Eph.,  Col.,  Phil.,  Philemon,  and  perhaps  he  also  wrote  Hebrews. 
 
 *  disputations.'— B(;»A-.  30.  Two  whole  r/ears,  thus  the  history  ends  —Doddr. 
 
 Uf.flections  on  Chap.  XXVIIT.  —  We  may  here  con- 
 template the  apostle  Paul  as — I.  *  The  suhjtct  of  condoltnce, — a 
 poor  shipwrecked  passenger,  stripped  of  all,— a  poor  confined 
 prisoner  carried  to  Rome.'  The  scene  was  dark,  but  even 
 tlirougb  this  thick  darkness  there  was  to  break  forth  a  cheer- 
 ful sunsliine — 
 
 '  Ye  fearful  saints,  fresh  courage  take, 
 Tlie  clouds  ye  so  much  dread 
 Are  biff  with  mercy,  and  shall  break 
 In  blessings  on  your  head.* 
 
 We  may  here  contemplate  the  apostle  Paul  as— 
 
 II.  *  The  subject  of  conyratulation, — as  singularly  owned  by 
 his  God  in  distress,  preserved  himself  from  receiving  hurt  by 
 a  viper  that  fastened  on  his  band,  and  being  made  an  instru- 
 ment of  much  good  on  the  inland  on  which  he  was  cast,  in 
 healing  many  that  were  sick.  In  his  way  to  Rome  he  was 
 also  comforted  by  visits  from  ihe  Christians  of  that  city,  by 
 the  favour  of  the  captain  of  the  guard  into  whose  custody  he 
 
 was  delivered,  and  who,  on  his  arrival,  suffered  him  to  dwell 
 by  himself,  and  did  not  put  him  in  the  common  prison.'  In 
 that  city  he  bad  reason  to  be  comforted  by  his  free  conferences 
 with  the  Jews,  *  both  about  his  own  affairs  and  upon  the  head 
 of  the  Christian  religion  in  general,  the  issue  of  which  was, 
 that  God  was  glorified,  and  many  were  edified.  And  finally, 
 he  was  indulged  with  preaching  the  gospel  to  all  comers,  in 
 his  own  house,  for  two  years  together.'  Here  also  he  wrote 
 some  of  those  epistles  which  must  have  edified  his  own  soul, 
 while  they  tended  to  confirm  tiie  hearts  of  the  saints  of  that 
 day,  and  have  in  all  subsequent  periods  been  esteemed  among 
 the  most  precious  treasures  of  the  church.  Happy  l*aul,  to 
 be  thus  honoured  as  the  instrument  of  advancing  and  building 
 up  the  church  of  Christ!  Happy  Christians,  who  experi- 
 mentally know  with  him,  that  'all  things  shall  work  together 
 for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  that  are  the  called 
 according  to  his  purpose.' 
 
 THE    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 ROMANS. 
 
 [The  Epistles  were  mostly  written  by  the  Apostle  Paid,  and  were  addressed  either  to  churches  or  individuals  who  were  fel- 
 low-labourers in  the  gospel.  The  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  though  fifth  In  order  of  time,  is  placed  first  of  all  the  aposto- 
 lical letters,  either  from  the  pre-eminence  of  Rome,  as  being  the  mistress  of  the  world,  or  because  it  is  the  longest  and 
 roost  comprehensive  of  all  St.  Paul's  Epistles.  This  Epistle  was  probably  written  from  Corinth,  about  the  year  58, 
 being  the  fourth  of  the  Emperor  Nero,  just  before  the  Apostle  set  out  from  that  city  with  contributions  for  the  poor 
 brethren  in  Judaea.  Wlien  this  Epistle  was  penned,  the  Apostle  had  not  been  at  Rome,  but  he  learnt  the  state  of  the 
 church  from  two  Christians,  Aquila  and  Priscilla,  who  had  been  banished  by  the  Emperor  Claudius.  There  were 
 *  strangers  of  Rome,  Jews  and  proselytes,''  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost,  some  of  whom,  dinibtless,  being  converted,  carried 
 liome  the  Christian  faith,  and  hence  arose  the  church  at  Rome.  This  churcli  seems  to  have  flouri^ihed  in  great  purity, 
 and  this  Epistle  was  intended  to  confirm  them  in  the  faith,  and  to  guard  tlicm  against  tlie  errors  of  the  jLidaizing  Chris- 
 tians, shewing  them  that  the  depraved  state  of  man  rendered  the  gospel  necessary,  and  that  Jew  and  Gentile,  as  they 
 equally  needed,  might  alike  be  partakers  of  its  blessings.  The  Apostle's  style  is  frequently  obscure  and  involved  in 
 parentheses,  owing  to  the  warmth  ,and  eagerness  with  which  he  wrote  :  there  are  in  his  writings  many  things  hard  to 
 be  understood,  and  this  is  confessedly  the  most  difficult  of  all  his  epistles.  Hence  the  efforts  of  critics  have  been  ex- 
 hausted on  these  chapters,  and  disputes  have  originated  which  have  unhappily  not  always  been  carried  on  in  the  most 
 Christian  spirit.  He  was,  nevertheless,  a  most  extraordinary  writer.  '  All  his  writings,' says  .ffnrzroorf,  '  bespeak  hitn 
 to  have  been  a  man  of  a  most  exalted  genius  and  the  strongest  abilities.  His  composition  is  peculiarly  nervous  and  ani- 
 mated. He  possessed  a  fervid  conception,  a  glowing  but  chastened  fancy,  a  quick  apprehension ,  and  an  immensely  ample 
 and  liberal  heart.  Inheriting  from  nature  distinguished  powers,  he  carried  the  culture  and  improvement  of  them  to  the 
 most  exalted  lieight  to  which  human  learning  could  push  them.  He  was  an  excellent  scholar,  an  acute  reasoner,  a  great 
 irator,  a  most  instructive  and  spirited  writer.'  The  following  passages  in  other  portions  of  scripture  receive  elucidation 
 f-om  the   Romans  : — Gen.   xv.  6  ;    xvii.  4,  5;    Exod.  xxxiii.  19  ;    Deut.  iv.  7,  8;    xxx.  12,  13;    xx\i.  21  ;   xxxii.  35; 
 
 1  Kings,  xix.  10—14;    Psa.  xiv. ;    xviii.  49;    xxxii.  1,2;    xljv    22;    liii.  ;    Ixix.  23;    Isa.  i.  9;    viii.  14;    xi.  I— 10; 
 xxviii.  16;  xxix.  10;  lii.  7;  lix.20;   Hos.  ii.  23;    Hab.  ii.  4;  Zech.  xii.  10;  Mai.  i.  2,3;    I  Cor.  x.  31;   Gal.  v.  17; 
 
 2  Pel.  1.20.] 
 
 1180 
 
Paul  commendeth  his  calling 
 
 ROMANS,  I. 
 
 to  the  Romajis. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 I  Paul  commendeth  his  calling  to  the  Romans,  9  and 
 his  dtsire  to  come  to  them.  16  Jf'hai  his  pospel  is, 
 and  t/ie  Ttghteousness  which  it  sheweth.  18  God  is 
 aniiTy  tvith  all  manner  of  sin.  21  WTiat  were  the 
 sins  of  the  Gentiles. 
 
 PAUL,  a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  °  called  to 
 be  an  apostle,  ^  separated  unto  the  gospel 
 of  God, 
 
 2  (^  Which  he  had  promised  afore  '^  by  his 
 prophets  in  the  holy  scriptures,) 
 
 3  Concerning  his  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord, 
 •^  which  was  ^  made  of  the  seed  of  David  ac- 
 
 A.  D.  CO. 
 
 I  Acts2!i.:^l. 
 I  Cor.  1.  I. 
 
 G<-a.  1.  I. 
 
 1  Tim. 1.11. 
 
 &  2.  7. 
 
 a  Tim. 1.11. 
 b  Acts  9.  15. 
 
 &  13.  2. 
 
 Gal  I.  15. 
 c  See  on  Acts 
 
 26.6.Tit,l.-2. 
 dch.3.  21. 
 
 &   16-  213. 
 
 Gal.  3.  8. 
 t  Mat.  1.6,16. 
 
 Luke  I.  32. 
 
 Acts  S.  30 
 
 8  Tim.  2.  8. 
 /John  1.  14. 
 
 Gal.  4.  4. 
 
 t  Or    ^ier- 
 
 ^Acta  13  33. 
 /.  Hel).  y  14. 
 ich.  12.  S  & 
 
 15.  15. 
 
 ICor.l5  10. 
 
 Gal.  I.  \h. 
 
 &  2.  9. 
 
 Eph.  3.  9. 
 tl  Or,  to  the 
 
 obfiitience  of 
 
 faith, 
 k  Acts  6.  7. 
 
 ch  16.  26. 
 /  Acts  9.  15. 
 m  ch.  9.  24. 
 
 1  Cor,  1.  2. 
 
 1  Thea.4.7. 
 
 cording  to  t!ie  ile^h  ; 
 
 4  And  t^  declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with 
 power,  according  **  to  tlie  spirit  of  holiness,  by 
 the  resurrection  from  the  dead  : 
 
 3  By  whom  'we  have  received  grace  and 
 apostleship,  ||  for  ''  obedience  to  tlie  faitli 
 among  all  nations,  '  for  his  name  : 
 
 6  Among  whom  are  ye  also  the  called  of 
 Jesus  Christ  : 
 
 7  To  all  that  be  in  Rome,  beloved  of  God, 
 ^  called  to  be  saints  :  "  Grace  to  you  and  peace 
 
 n  I  Cor.  1.3.  2  Cor.  1.2.  Gal.  1.3. 
 
 NoTKS  ON  Chap.  I.  —  1.  Pauf,  Sfc. — according  to  the  ancient  mode 
 of  writing  epistles,  Paul  prefixes  bis  name,  instead  of  subscribing  it  as 
 we  do  now. — Stuart.  A  servant,  bov\o^  properly  signifies  'a  slave;' 
 but  this  name  was  borne  by  the  cbJef  ministers  of  kings  in  the  east.  So 
 Mtises  is  called  the  'slave,'  or  'servant  of  God,*  (Josh.  i.  1.)  Tins 
 honourable  name,  therefore,  denotes  Paul's  high  authority  as  a  minister 
 of  Christ. — Muckn.  The  word  denotes  one  devoted  to  tlie  service  nf 
 another,  and  subject  to  his  will.  A  servant  of  a  man  is  a  slave,  but 
 the  servants  of  a  king  may  be  courtiers  of  the  highest  rank.  Called, 
 K\inoi,  'chosen,'  'invited.'  —  Stuart.  Rather,  'a  called,*  or  special, 
 'apostle;'  'to  be'  is  not  in  the  original.— /fam.  Apostle,  a  legate  of 
 any  kind  ;  one  sent  by  another  on  any  kind  of  business  or  mes- 
 sage.— atuart.  Separated,  i.  e.,  set  apart  in  the  purpose  and  decree 
 of  God  ;  separated  from  his  mother's  womb,'  {Gal.  i.  15.) — Biirkitt. 
 Or  rather  it  refers  to  the  time  when  God  revealed  his  Son  in  him,  that 
 he  might  preach,  &c.,  (Gal.  i.  l6.) — Haldane.  The  word  rendered 
 'separated,'  expresses  the  idea  both  of  selection  and  appointment, 
 (Acts,  xiii,  2.) — Hodge.  The  gospel  of  God,  'for  tlie  gospel  is  of  God,* 
 and  Christ  taught  it  as  received  from  him,  (comp.  John,  viii.  28,  3S  ; 
 v.  ly,  30  ;  .\ii.  49  ;  xiv.  10,  24  ;  xvii.  4—%.)— Stuart.  2.  Which  he 
 
 had  promised — the  gospel,  or  glad-tidings  of  a  Saviour,  was  first 
 preached  to  Ailam  by  God  himself,  (Gen.  iii.  15  ;)  ne.\t  to  Abraham, 
 (Gen.  xvii. ;)  then  predicted  by  the  prophets.—Burkitt.  3.  Concern- 
 ing his  Son,  'the  gospel  of  God  concerns  his  Son  ;'  the  whole  of  it  is 
 comprised  in  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ.  Our  Lord— [he  word 
 translated  *  Lord,'  answers  to  the  different  names  nr  titles  which  the 
 Hebrews  gave  to  God,  but  most  commonly  to  that  of  Jehovah. — Huld. 
 Jl/wde,  ■yei'o/iei'oi',  '  descended,'  for  the  word  is  often  so  employed. — 
 Stuart.  '  Borti ;'  see  tlie  same  sense  of  the  word.  Gal.  iv.  4;  John, 
 viii.  41  ;  I  Pet.  iii.  6. — Hodge.  According  to  the  flesh,  properly  denotes 
 'descent  or  family  of  a  per:>on,'  (see  Rom.  iv.  i  ;  ix.  3,  .5;  1  Cor.  x. 
 \^.)—P!ile,  Parkh.  4.  Declared,  optaihvro^,  '  determinatcly  marked 
 out.' — Eisner,  Parkh.    The  term  properly  dignities  'to  point  out,' or 
 
 *  to  limit,'  as  when  bounds  are  set  to  a  field  to  regulate  its  measure- 
 ment.     Jesus  Christ  became  the  Son  of  David,  but  he  did  not  become 
 
 the  Son  of  God,  but  was  declared,  defined,  or  demonstrated  to  be  so. — 
 Hald.  With  power — [illo  definito  filio  Dei  in  virtute. — Mont.']  'With 
 a  miraculous  display  of  Divine  energy.' — A.  Clarke.  See  Haldane's 
 next  note  following.  Spirit  of  holiness— see  subsequent  notes  on  this 
 verse  by  Wilnon,  &c.  By  his  resurrection — this  was  a  declaration  that 
 he  was  the  Son  of  God  by  evidence  of  the  most  powerful  kind  ;  and  by 
 that  it  was  confirmed  and  established.  That  our  Lord  was  not  consti- 
 tuted •  the  Sou  of  God'  by  the  resurrection,  is  clear  from  the  fact  that 
 he  had  previously  assumed  that  character,  and  was  believed  in  as  such 
 by  his  disciples :  'Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God.' — 
 It.  Watson,  as  Doddr.  The  expression  with  poiver,  is  to  be  construed 
 with  that  of  '  the  Son  of  God,'  which  immediately  precedes  it,  not  with 
 the  word  '  declared,'  and  signifies  '  invested  with  power.'  From  the 
 moment  of  his  resurrection,  Jesus  Christ  entered  on  his  mediatorial 
 power  over  all  things,  as  he  himself  declares,  Matt,  xxviii.  18;  John, 
 xvii.  2.  He  then  appeared  possessed  of  eternal  and  sovereign  power, 
 and  that  in  opposition  to  the  semblance  of  weakness  in  which  he  had 
 appeared  on  earth. — Hald.  [The  whole  verse  is  thus  rendered  in  the 
 proper  Greek  order  hy  Montunus:  'Illo  definito  filio  Dei  in  virtute, 
 secundum  spiritum  sanctificationis,  ex  resurrectione  mnrtuorum  Jesu 
 Christi  Domini  nostri.']    Mucknight  renders  and  paraphrases  the  verse, 
 
 *  But  ivas  declared  the  Son  of  Gud  with  great  power  of  evidence,  with 
 respect  to  his  holy  spiritual  nature,  by  his  resurrection  from  the  dead, 
 after  he  had  been  crucified  by  the  Jewish  rulers  for  catliug  himself  the 
 Son  of  God,  even  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.*  He  further  observes,  that 
 Jesus  was  declared  the  Son  of  God  by  his  own  resurrection,  and  not 
 by  raising  others  from  the  dead— that  this  was  a  public  iL-^timony 
 borne  by  God  himself  to  the  truth  of  our  Lord's  pretensions,  which 
 put  the  matter  beyond  all  doubt;  and  that  with  power,  which  Locke 
 uudeistands  of  the  miraculous  power  described  in  Eph.  i.  19,20,  rather 
 denotes  the  strength  of  the  evidence  by  which  he  was  demonstrated 
 to  be  the  Son  ofGod.'- See  his  Tran&l.  of  the  Epistles,  in  loc.  The 
 Spirit  of  holiness  here  meaus  '  his  Divine  nature,'  as  the  flesh  against 
 which  it  is  set  means  '  his  human  nature,'  (see  '  Spirit*  used  in  like 
 sense,  l  Tim.  iii.  l6 ;  l  Pet.  iii.  18  ;  Hcb.  ix.  14.)— T.  Wilson,  E-rpos.  of 
 Rom.,  1627,  so  Guyse.  '  Our  Lord  was  the  So7i  of  David  according  to 
 the  flesh  or  human  nature;  but  he  whs  the  Son  of  God  according  to  the 
 Spirit  of  holiness,  which  stands  in  direct  opposition  and  contrast  to  the 
 flesh,  or  human  nature  of  Christ.'— ii.  Watso7i.  The  words  refer  to  the 
 operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  proiluction  of  Christ's  body. — 
 Doddr.  Boothroyd  renders  the  passage,  '  proved  to  be  the  Son  of  God 
 with  power,  according  to  the  Holy  Spirit  by  his  resurrection,'  &-c.— 
 Family  Bib.  in  toe.  'Christ  was  proved  to  be  the  true  Messiah,  the 
 Sou  of  David  according  to  the  fiesh,  having  tlie  sok'  right  to  the  throne 
 of  Israel ;  and  God  recognised  tiiis  character  aud  this  right  by  the 
 
 U8I 
 
 resurrection  from  the  dead,  and  sending  forth  the  various  gifts  and 
 graces  of  the  Spirit  of  holiness  in  his  name,* — A.  Clarke.  Moses  Stuart 
 prefers  a  different  sense  to  that  of  most  commentators ;  he  would  read 
 optaiievTo^,  'decreed,  appointed,  established  by  decree,  determined  by 
 decision,'  viz.,  of  a  superior— constituted  '  the  Son  of  God  with  power' 
 after  his  resurrection  from  the  dead.  [Here  he  takes  the  preposition 
 ef  in  the  sense  of  'from,*  or  'ever  since.'- .Ed.]  Here  he  observes 
 that  after  his  resurrection  Christ  was  advanced  to  an  elevation  which, 
 as  Mes.siah,  he  did  not  before  possess;  and  that  the  decree  of  which 
 the  Psalmist  speaks  is,  '  that  the  Son  shall  be  made  universal  king, 
 and  that  his  enemies  shall  be  dashed  in  pieces  before  him,'  (Ps.  ii. 
 S— 12.)  meaning  not  in  a  temporal  but  spiritual  sense;  and  what  is 
 tliis,  he  asks,  but  to  be  the  Son  of  God.  ei-  dwafiet,  with  power  ?  And 
 with  respect  to  the  words  according  to  the  Spirit  of  holiness,  he  fur- 
 ther adds :  'So  much  is  only  meant,  aud  so  mucn  is  altogether  true 
 and  striking — viz.,  that  power  in  bestowing  the  nvevpu  afiuiawn^,  (ren- 
 dered Spirit  of  holiness,)  i.e.,  in  causing  the  new  moral  creation,  is 
 one  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  all  jiroois  that  Jesus  i.s  indeed  the  de- 
 creed Son  of  God,  who  was  promised  in  ancient  times,  and  predicted 
 in  the  holy  Scriptures  by  a  declaration  and  an  oath  never  to  be  for- 
 gotten.' With  regard  to  his  being  declared  the  Son  of  God  by  his  resur- 
 rection, he  asks  how  an  event  common  to  him,  to  Lazarus,  and  to  many 
 others,  could  of  itself  demonstrate  him  to  be  the  Son  of  God?~See 
 Stuart,  Comni.  on  Rom.,  i?i  loc.  With  all  due  respect  to  this  learned 
 writer,  there  certainly  was  no  parallel  between  the  resurrection  of 
 others  and  that  of  Christ.  They  were  raised  by  a  power  not  in  them- 
 selves, but  he  by  his  own  power,  for  he  had  '  power  to  lay  down  his 
 life,  and  power  to  take  it  up  again.*  This  power  and  its  exercise  he 
 had  predicted  ;  and  IC  vrould  appear,  from  the  repeated  declarations  of 
 the  firbt  apostles,  that  they  rested  the  strength  of  the  truth  of  their 
 message,  and  the  majesty  of  their  Master,  on  the  fact  of  his  resurrec- 
 tion.—£rf.  '  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world  professing  to  be  the  Son 
 of  God,  and  was  put  to  death  for  that  profession.  His  resurrection, 
 then,  was  God's  seal  that  his  preteusions  were  just.  In  itself  it  did  not 
 testify  whether  he  was  God  or  man  only  ;  but  it  fully  established  the 
 truth  of  evcrytliing  taught  by  him  ;  and  as  he  taught  his  own  godhead, 
 his  resurrection  is  proof  of  his  Divine  nature.— Ha/rf.,  so  also  Bens. 
 Stuart  sums  up  his  arguments  as  follows  :—' The  conclusion  which  I 
 deduce  from  tlie  whole  is,  that  the  words  mean  that  Christ  was  the  Son 
 of  God  agreeably  to  the  decree  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  (i.  e.,  in  Ps.  li, 
 7,)  and  Son  of  God  endowed  with  power,  which  he  displayed  by  send- 
 ing the  Spirit  in  an  extraordinary  and  glorious  manner  after  his  resur- 
 rection and  exahalion.^—Stuart  in  loc.  5.  By  whom.  At  ov,  'from 
 whom,*  since  his  resurrection.- S?««r(.  Grace  and  apostleship,  a  He- 
 braism, signifying  'the  favour  or  honour  of  the  apostleship.*— Pj/Ze. 
 *  Apostleship'  may  signify  the  office  ;  and  '  grace,'  the  supernatural  en- 
 dowments for  it. — Mackn.  For  obedience  to  the  faith— the  end  of  the 
 Christian  ministry  is  to  produce  a  true,  firm  faith  in  Christ,  which  is 
 called  '  the  obedience  to  the  faith.*  because,  to  believe  is  enforced  by 
 God's  command.— ii.  Watson.  Either  obedience  from  a  principle  of 
 faith,  or  faith  itself,  may  be  here  meant.- il/«cA-H.  Among  alt  rtations, 
 for  his  7i«?/i(?— the  gospel  was  preached  to  bring  all  nations  to  the  obe- 
 dience of  faith.  vTTtp,  on  account  of  the  name,  or  glorious  'honour'  of 
 Christ.— 7i.  Watson.  The  name,  the  glory,  and  the  authority  of  God, 
 have  the  same  significatinn.— Ha/d.  Paul  here  assigns  the  reason  why 
 he  preaches  to  the  Gentiles,  namely,  that  it  is  the  destination  of  his 
 office.— Hald.  6.  Among  whom  are  ye  also,  Sfc,  i.e.,  '  among  those 
 nations  are  ye  who  have  been  won  over  to  obey  the  Christian  faith.' — 
 Stuart.  The  called,  by  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  the  knowledge, 
 faith,  and  fellowship  of  the  gospel.  7-  To  all  that  be  in  Rome,  whe- 
 
 ther Jews  or  Gentiles,  that  are  professors  of  Chxysi.— Guy se.  Beloved 
 of  God,  being  his  adopted  children. -ii.  Watson.  In  opposition  to  the 
 rest  of  men,  whom  God  has  left  in  unbelief.— H«W.  The  appellatir)u 
 is  often  bestowed  00  the  ancient  people  of  God,  or.  at  least,  implied  by 
 what  is  said  concerning  them,  and  which  Paul  here  applies  to  Chris- 
 tians, the  true  Israel  of  God.  Called  to  be  saints,  kAmtoif  aitui<., 
 '  chosen  saints,'  or  '  saints  eftectually  called.'— *7uur/.  Suin^x,  persons 
 washed  and  sanctified  from  common  and  unholy  uses  to  the  peculiar 
 service  of  God.— it.  Watson.  Grare  to  you,  §-c.—' peace  be  with  you,* 
 is  well  known  to  have  been  the  common  salutati'-n,  importing 'all 
 prosperity,*  under  the  Old  Testament ;  and  it  was  used  by  our  Lnni^ 
 and  by  his  apostles  and  seventy  disciples,  during  his  abode  upon  earth, 
 (see  John,  xx.  19,  21.  26;  Matt.  x.  12,  13.  and  Luke,  x.  5.)  But  wheu 
 the  gospel  dispensation  was  set  up,  the  salutation  was  usually  changed 
 into  '  grace  and  peace,'  to  keep  up  our  view  of  God's  free  favour  as  the 
 foundation  of  all  grace  in  us,  and  of  all  our  prosperity  or  peace.— 
 Guyse.  It  means,  'may  grace  be  imparted  to  yoM.*— Stuart.  Grace 
 here  means,  'the  influences  and  fruits  of  the  Spirit;'  'the  favour  and 
 protection  of  God;'  'the  pardon  of  sin;'  'the  enjoyment  of  eternal 
 life  i'  all  which  are  so  called,  because  they  are  gratuitously  bestowed 
 
Paul  sheweth  the  righteousness 
 
 ROMANS,  I. 
 
 of  the  gospel. 
 
 from   God   our   Father,  and   the  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 8  First,  "  I  thank  my  God  through  Jesus 
 Christ  for  you  all,  that  ^  your  faith  is  spoken 
 of  throughout  the  whole  world. 
 
 9  For  ^  God  is  my  witness,  '  whom  I  serve 
 II  with  my  spirit  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son,  that 
 'without  ceasing  I  make  mention  of  you  al- 
 ways in  my  prayers ; 
 
 10  '  Making  request,  if  by  any  means  now  at 
 length  I  might  have  a  prosperous  journey  "by 
 the  will  of  God  to  come  unto  you. 
 
 11  For  I  long  to  see  you,  that  'I  may  im- 
 part unto  you  some  spiritual  gift,  to  the  end 
 ye  may  be  established  ; 
 
 12  That  is,  that  I  may  be  comforted  together 
 II  with  you  by  '  the  mutual  faith  both  of  you 
 and  me. 
 
 13  Now  I  would  not  have  you  ignorant,  bre- 
 thren, that  "  oftentinies  I  purposed  to  come 
 unto  you,  (but  "  was  let  hitherto,)  that  I  might 
 have  some  ''  fruit  ||  among  you  also,  even  as 
 
 A,  D.fiO. 
 c  I  Cor.  9.  16. 
 
 dPs4n.9. 10. 
 
 M-irkS    38. 
 
 2  Tim. I.  8. 
 ;  1  C-r.  1  IS. 
 
 &  \b.  -i 
 /l,uko-2..'*0. 
 
 St,3i.Xc24. 
 
 ■17.  Acts  3 
 
 26.  &  13.*J6. 
 
 46.  ch  a.  9. 
 f  ell.  .t.  2\. 
 h  Hub.  2   4. 
 
 Julm  .1  36. 
 
 Gal.  3,  II. 
 
 Phil.  3.  y. 
 
 Hi'l).  1(1  33. 
 i  .\cts  17.30, 
 Kph.  b.  6. 
 C..I.  3.  6. 
 A  Acts  14. 17. 
 
 m  Ps  19.  I, 
 &C.Actii  14. 
 17.  &  17.27 
 
 among  other  Gentiles. 
 
 14  "  I  am  debtor  both  to  the  Greeks,  and  to 
 the  Barbarians ;  both  to  the  wise,  and  to  tlie 
 unwise. 
 
 15  So,  as  much  as  in  me  is,  I  am  ready  to 
 preach  the  gospel  to  you  that  are  at  Rome  also. 
 
 16  For  ''  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  go.^pel  of 
 Christ:  for  "it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  sal- 
 vation to  every  one  that  believeth  ;  '  to  the 
 Jew  first,  and  also  to  the  Greek. 
 
 17  For  ''therein  is  the  righteousness  of  God 
 revealed  from  faith  to  faith :  as  it  is  written, 
 "  The  just  shall  live  by  faith. 
 
 18  '  For  the  wrath  of  God  is  revealed  from 
 heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and  unrighte- 
 ousness of  men,  who  hold  the  truth  in  un- 
 righteousness ; 
 
 19  Because  i"  that  which  may  be  known  of 
 God  is  manifest  ||  in  them  ;  for  '  God  liatli 
 shewed  it  unto  them. 
 
 20  For  "'  the  invisible  things  of  him  from  the 
 creation  of  tlie  world  are  clearly  seen,  being 
 
 by  God.  In  the  usual  salutations  of  the  Easterns,  'peace*  meant  *  every 
 kind  of  worldly  felicity  ;'  but  in  Paul's  writings  it  signifies  '  that  satis- 
 faction which  results  from  being  in  friendship  with  God ;'  thus,  Rom. 
 V.  I  ;  Philip,  iv.  ;,  fiC.—Muckn.  From  God  our  father,  as  the  fouoda- 
 tion  of  grace. — A.Clarke.     *  God  is  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 
 (comp.  chap,  iii.21,22!  x.  3  ;  comp.Phil.  iii.  9i  Matt.  vi.  33.)— Dorf^fi-. 
 The  grand  object  of  the  apostle  is  to  shew  that  man,  having  Inst  his 
 own  righteousness,  and  thereby  fallen  under  condemnation,  God  has 
 provided  a  righteousness  for  him  by  which,  through  faith,  being  placed 
 to  his  account,  he  is  acquitted  from  guilt,  freed  from  condemnation. 
 
 and  the  Father  of  all  who  are  in  him.'  Paul  here  speaks  of  God  as  both  and  entitled  to  the  reward  of  eternal  hfe.—WM  Re,,mled.  not  that 
 his  Father,  and  the  Father  of  all  those  to  whom  he  wrote,  and  so  con-  it  wa-s  new,  for,  from  the  begmnmg  up  to  Abel,  thetruly  peniteiit  were 
 stituting  one  family,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles.-HciW.  8.  Throngh  justified  by  fa.th  in  the  grand  propitiation  for  sin  appointed  by  God.  but 
 Jesus  «m(-all  acts  of  prayer  and  praise  are  to  have  respect  to  him  because  it  was  fully  um-ofered.  as  the  word  signihes,  brought  Ironi 
 as  the  MKRlToaiiius  c.tuSE  of  their  acceptance  on  the  part  of  God.-  under  the  veil  of  the  types  of  the  law,  &c.-fl.  Watson.  From  f  nth  tu 
 B.  Watson.  '  Through  him  descend  all  our  blessings ;  by  him  are  pre-  fmth,  i.e.,  rigliUy  construed,  the  righteousness  of  God  by  faith  is  re. 
 sented  all  our  prayers ,  the  Mediator  in  all  things  between  God  and  vealed  in  it  (the  gospel;  in  order  to  faith,'  in  order  to  produce  faith  in 
 us,'  (see  Eph.  v.  20  ;  Ileb.  xiii.  \h.)-Bp.  Felt.  Your  fmlh.  not  merely  them  to  whom  it  is  preached  -jlfetn  ■  In  it  the  righteousness  of 
 their  belief  in  Christ's  mission,  without  which  they  could  not  have  God  by  faith.'  that  is,  the  method  wliich  God  hath  contrived  and  pro- 
 been  nominally  Christians,  but  their  faith  a.s  a  vital,  actuating  prin-  posed  for  our  becoming  righteous,  (Isa.  Ivi.  i,)  by  believing  his  ttsti- 
 c\f\9. -R.Watson.  Is  spoken  of.  Kc,a,-,£\\6Ta,,  •  is  celebrated.'-  mony,  and  casting  ourselves  on  his  mercy,  is  revealed  to  ou^aih  and 
 A  Clarke.  Throughout  the  whole  world,  that  is, '  throughout  the  whole  most  clearly  exhibited  as  the  grand  object  of  't--/'"'''';-.,,-K?'f  "'"''"f 
 Roman  empire,'  (sec  Luke.  ii.  l.)  of  which  Rome  being  the  cai.ital,  all  and  Sehlea.mer  interpret  e.i  ».^t,v  to  those  who  have  faith,  Mt  erto- 
 that  passed  there  was  circulated  throughout  the  whole  civilized  world,  neously  ;  the  end  of  the  revelation  being  to  produce  faith  in  all  to 
 and  proclaimed  by  the  voice  of  all  believers.-H.-W.  In  every  place  whom  the  pubUcationjjf  ""S_K°°^,^y;f,^?,°f  J^.'j;;''^'?"^^!};.  ^jjl^h" 
 where  the  Christian  religion  is  professed,  throughout  the  Roman  do-  "   "'-•--        i-m.^  _.„,,»       ....,cc,.-  ...    .=    ^  a,        nnmp,. 
 
 minions. — A.  Clarke.  9.  For  God  is  my  witness — he  makes  this  solemn 
 assertion,  because,  as  he  was  a  stranger  in  person  to  the  church  at 
 Rome,  they  might  otherwise  think  his  expressions  to  be  merely  those 
 of  common  civility.  With  my  spirit.  '  sincerely.'  'With  real,  internal, 
 spiritual  devotedness.* — Stuart.  *  With  the  profoundest  religious  re- 
 verence.'— A.Clarke.     Ex  toto  animo,  '  with  zeal  and  earnestness 
 
 R.  Watson.  'The  righteousness  which  is  by  faith.'  namely,  which  is 
 received  by  faith,  is  revealed  to  faith,  or  in  order  to  be  believed. — 
 Hiili. :  so  also  Whitbv,  and  Vyle.  As  it  is  written,  Tlie  just  sliall  lice 
 tivfaith—A  is  not  necessary  to  consider  this  as  a  specific  prediction. 
 This  is  not  always  the  case  with  the  writers  of  the  New  Testament ; 
 compare,  for  example,  Acts,  xviii.  25 ;  seq.,  chap.  viii.  36 ;  ix.  33  ; 
 x.5;Xi.26;  xiv.ll,i<jc.     It  is  not,  therefore,  necessary  that  we  should 
 
 but  perhaps  It  rather  expresses  the  spiritual  service  in  which  Paul  was  interpret  the  passage  from  Hab.  ii.  4  aa  having  been  origmally  designed 
 
 engaged.         10.  Bv  the  will  of  God.  to  which  we  are  thus  taught  to  to  describe  gospel  justification  by  faith,  for  the  connexion  almits  iiot 
 
 subordinate  all  on^  purposes  and  plans,  even  when  they  excite  in  us  of  this  spec.tic  meaning.    But  it  involves  the  ^^^^V^J^P^.f ;'''»' '"' 
 
 the  strongest  desires.-«.  Watson  1 1 .  Spiritual  gift.  '  miraculous  which  the  apostle  contends-viz.,  hat  •  the  means  of  safety  .sc™ft- 
 
 Mfs.'-Bengel.  Michaells.  Ike.     ■  Endowment  of  the  Holy  Ghost  by  the  dence  or   trust   in  the  Dmne  declarations.'-S(unr(.     «:''''«"'J;'"- 
 
 Uying  on  of  hands,  (see  Acts.  viii.  1  r  ;  xix.  6  j  2  Tim.  i.  6 ;  eomp.  1  Cor.  demns  Professor  Slaarl.  Tholuck.  and  others,  for  ''=»'"? '^'''1,';''*''°" 
 
 xii    174,  9  ,    xiv.  1    12  )-Pale.  Whilhy.  Daddr.     •  Some  of  the  extra-  as  a  mere  accommodation,  and  considers  it  as  a  ">«' """".f ""''»"  ^ 
 
 ordinary  g^fts  conferred  by'tl.e  apostles,  by  which  they  might  be  more  baneful  method  of  handling  the  word  of  God  -£.rpos   of  the  Romans 
 
 established  in  their  most  holy  faith.'-H„;rf.     X.,,c^o  ^k.m-t.ko.  was  ,,.  loc.    The  following  is  Voddr,dge's  note  on  the  P'^f^f «  7,  ^h^  Pro- 
 
 not,  in  the  proper  sense.  ■  miraculous.'  but  truly  '  spiritu.l,'  as  relating  phet  Habakkuk,  speaking  of  the  <l«truc  inn  to  l°'^^JP°"J"":,'^^^, 
 
 (o  the  soul  ■  miraculous  powers  being  confined  to  the  apostles-evan-  by  the  Chaldeans,  observes  how  differen   the  bfa"™'  '"^  =  f  es  of 
 
 gelists  who  first  raised  up  the  churches.  This  'gift'  was  to  be  imparted  good  and  bad  men  wouhl  be    The  sinner's  heart  won  d  be  vainly  lifted 
 
 through  his  teaching  them  according  to  that  superior  knowledge  which  up  to  his  destruction  while  trusting  to  his  °""' "■f,^"'"^^^''^. ''"""^ 
 
 he  had  in  the  minisuy  ..1  Christ ;  and  this  view  is  supported  by  the  in-  whereas  the  righteous    the  truly  good  man,  would  Pf,^«"  <=,  "^'^ ''''•^^y 
 
 tei.tion  he  proposed,  /„  /*.  end  ye  ma«  he  estal,lished%h,ch  is  opposed  believing  the  Divine  declarations    and  acting  according  to  them  ,a.^^d 
 
 to  that  wavering  of  mind  which  is  pr-odueed  by  erroneous  or  defective  thus,  under  the  gospel,  he  that  believes  shall  l;v.<=-'-.f;"",;  *''^P°f-,"' 
 
 views  of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,  the  remedy  of  which  was  more 
 perfect  instruction.— J?.  Watson.  12.  By  the  mutual  faith— ^s  often 
 as  the  apostle  communicated  spiritual  gifts  to  the  disciples,  it  was  a 
 new  proof  of  the  Divine  presence  with  them. — Mackn.  13.  Let,  that 
 is,  hindered  bv  unexpected  oppositions  and  hardships,  (see  Acts,  xiii., 
 xiv.,  /ic.)—Pi/le.  14.  /  am  a  debtor,  i.  e.,  '  1  am  under  an  obligation 
 to  preach  the  gospel,'  (comp.  1  Cor.  ix.  16  ;  2  Cor.  ii. 16  ;  iv.b.)— Stuart. 
 St.  Paul  calls  himself  '  a  debtor'  with  reference  to  his  office. — R.Wals. 
 Wise,  and  to  the  unwise,  i.  e.,  learned  and  unlearned.  —  Stuart. 
 It,.  Ready,  Trpod'Mof,    '  anxiously  desirous.'— ii.  Watson.         I6.  Not 
 
 loc.  The  passage  is'rendered  by  some,  '  the  just  by  faith  sliall  live.'- 
 So  Dr.  Knapp,  Slade,  and  Haldnne.  The  sentiment  is  true,  says  Stuftrt, 
 but  it  does  not  comport  with  the  design  of  Habakkuk.— Co7n/rt.  on  Ro- 
 mans, in  loc.  18.  The  wrath  of  God,  opvn  9emi— we  are  not  here  to 
 understand  any  uneasy  passion  in  the  Divine  lieing,  but  the  displea- 
 sure of  his  rigllteoiisness  expressed  by  the  puni".hment  of  the  ungodly. 
 —Clarke.  Is  reneuled,  by  the  works  of  creation  and  providence  i— by 
 their  own  consciences,— in  the  law  of  Moses.— jW<icA-n.  Vnnndhness, 
 comprehends  all  sins  against  God.  Unrighteousness,  ail  offences  against 
 men.— ii.  Watson.      In  this  verse  the  apostle  proceeds  to  shew  the 
 
 ashamed',  may  alluile  to  the  contempt  in  which  the  gospel  was  held  by  absolute  necessity  of  fa,  h  u  Christ  being  preached  to  all  ra^°  J'tl^™^ 
 
 idolatrous  nations.-.S;«fr.     The  power  of  God,  that  is,  the  efficacious  exception,  Jew  and  Gentile  being  alike  guilty -So  Py^.     Hold    «  ,£- 
 
 means  by  which  God  saves  men  from  sin  and  misery,  and  bestows  on  xo.Ta,v.  properly  s.giuhes,    "ho  detain  °' '^P™™-;-,-^'-"';     ™'j '' "'* 
 
 them  eternal  life.-H,.H.     To  the  Jew  first,  for  the  primiUve  preachers  in  unr,ghleousnes.s    live  contrary  to  what  they  know  ofxt.-Locke 
 
 themselves  being  Jews,  were  directed  first  to  proclaim   the  offers  of  19.  Mamfest   ,n  them,  or  '  anK.ng  them.   -B,o  kit         Becaue  that 
 
 mercy  through  I  Saviour  to  the  Jews.-.S/,-»r(.    The  Jews  had  the  which  maybe  known  of  God  ,s  known  among  them     for  God  hath 
 
 honour  that  the  gospel  should  be  first  preached  to  them,  to  whom  Christ  manifested  it  to  them  by  his  works  of  creation.        ;»■  ^  1  "f '" '™  « 
 
 was  promised,  and  from  whom  he  was  descended,  (see  Matt.  x.  5  ,  things,  ^-..--the  being  and  I'=*'J<?"^ '',  G°^,X^°  "j^  "^  \ 
 
 Rom   ix.  4.]-Bp.  Felt.    Also  to  the  Greek-lhe  Jews  were  accustomed  tion  to  the  heathen  deities,  who,  being  all  corporeal    their  being  and 
 
 to  comprehend  under  the  name  of  Greek  all  the  rest  of  the  world,  as  attributes  were  things  visible.     ^'•""'""■"'■"''""•^^"J^"  "  "J^^"""' 
 
 opposed  to  their  own  nation.-H«M.         1".  The  righteousness  of  God,  &c.     A,o  is  used  to  express  the  cause  or  '"f^^"™™'-,^"'!^'^^,"  P™" 
 
 «,«a,„<r„.,  o,o,.,  plainly  signifies,  in  several  passages  of  this  epistle,  not  perly  rendered  '  by  means  of.'     It  was  sufficient  for    he  apostle  s  pur^ 
 
 the  essential  righteousnesl  of  God's  nature,  but  the  manner  of  becom-  pose  to  shew  that  God  was  manifest  by  his  works  at  "'^t  'nomen',  and 
 
 ing  righteous,  which  God  hath  appointed  and  exhibited  in  the  gospel,  if  then,  of  course  in  aU  preccdmg  ages.-B.  IF»/5on.    Are  clearly  seen. 
 1182 
 
The  sins  of 
 
 ROMANS,  I. 
 
 the  Gentiles. 
 
 understood  by  the  tilings  that  are  made,  even 
 his  eternal  power  and  Godhead  ;  ||  so  that  they 
 are  witliout  excuse  : 
 
 21  Because  that,  when  they  knew  God,  they 
 glorified  him  not  as  God,  neither  were  thank- 
 ful ;  but  "  became  vain  in  their  imaginations, 
 and  their  foolish  heart  was  darkened. 
 
 2'2  "  Professing  themselves  to  be  wise,  they 
 became  fools, 
 
 23  And  changed  the  glory  of  the  uncorrup- 
 tible ''  God  into  au  image  made  like  to  corrup- 
 tible man,  and  to  birds,  and  fourfooted  beasts, 
 and  creeping  things. 
 
 24  ■'  Wherefore  God  also  gave  them  up  to 
 uncleanness  through  the  lusts  of  their  own 
 hearts,  'to  dishonour  their  own  bodies  'be- 
 tween themselves  . 
 
 25  Who  changed  •  the  truth  of  God  "  into  a 
 lie,  and  worshipped  and  served  the  creature 
 II  more  than  the  Creator,  who  is  blessed  for 
 ever.     Amen. 
 
 26  For  this  cause  God  gave  them  up  unto 
 '  vile  affections  ■  for  even  their  women  did 
 change  the  natural  use  into  that  which  is 
 against  nature  : 
 
 1  Or,  th'il 
 theif  inny  bl 
 
 I^.Je, 
 
 ;'  Deu  4.  16. 
 hc.Fs.  \Oij. 
 'i\i  Is  40  18. 
 
 :;(i..ier.2.n 
 
 Kiek.(l,  in. 
 
 Acts  17.29 
 q  Vs.  SI.  12 
 
 Wis   12.23. 
 
 Ads  7.  42. 
 
 Eph.  4.  18, 
 
 19.  2  Thes. 
 
 2.  II,  12. 
 r  1  Cor.G  19. 
 
 I  Tlie8.4-  t 
 
 I  Pet.  4.  -S. 
 
 I  Lev.  13,2:J. 
 /  I  Tbes.l  9. 
 
 I.Inhn5  2n. 
 u  Is.  44.  20 
 Jer.  10.  11. 
 &  1.3.  2J. 
 Amos  2.  4. 
 
 II  Or,  rathrr. 
 
 X  Lev.is.22, 
 23.  Eph.  5. 
 12.Jude  10. 
 
 y  Wifi<i    11. 
 
 L'2,  2;i.  &c. 
 II  Or,  to  ac- 
 
 IfiioioUdne. 
 II  Or,  ..  mind 
 
 void   of 
 
 yidiimfnt. 
 z  Eph.  6.  4. 
 
 lent 
 
 b  cli. 
 
 il  Or, 
 
 toilh  thi-m, 
 c  Hoa.  7.  3. 
 
 Ps.  bO.  18. 
 
 •27  And  likewise  also  the  men,  leaving  the 
 natural  use  of  the  woman,  burned  in  their  lust 
 one  toward  another;  men  with  men  working 
 that  which  is  unseemly,  and  receiving  in  them- 
 selves that  recompence  of  their  error  which 
 was  meet. 
 
 28  'And  even  as  they  did  not  like  ||  to  retain 
 God  in  their  knowledge,  God  gave  them  over 
 to  II  a  reprobate  mind,  to  do  those  things 
 '  which  are  not  convenient ; 
 
 29  Being  filled  with  all  unrighteousness,  for- 
 nication, wickedness,  covetousness,  malicious- 
 ness ;  full  of  envy,  murder,  debate,  deceit, 
 malignity  ;  whisperers, 
 
 30  Backbiters,  haters  of  God,  despiteful, 
 proud,  boasters,  inventors  of  evil  things,  diso- 
 bedient to  parents, 
 
 31  Without  understanding, covenant-breakers, 
 II  without  natural  aifection,  implacable,  un- 
 merciful : 
 
 32  Who ''knowing  thejndgment  of  God,  that 
 they  which  commit  such  things  ^  are  worthy  of 
 death,  not  only  do  tlie  same,  but  ||  *"  have  plea- 
 sure in  them  that  do  them. 
 
 —the  present  tense,  are  seen,  denotes  the  continued  manifestation  of 
 the  beins:  and  perfections  of  God,  by  the  works  of  creation  from  the 
 beeinniPE:.  agreeably  to  Ps.  xix.  1. — Mnckn.  Bein^  understood,  fyc. — 
 not  that  these  works  were  parts  of  God,  as  many  of  tlieheatlien  thought, 
 so  that  G(id  might  be  seen  iK  them,  but  by  them  as  instruments  and 
 witnesses. — R.  il'aison.  Godhfnd — this  does  not  refer  to  all  tlie  Di- 
 vine attributes,  for  they  are  not  all  manifested  in  The  works  of  crea- 
 tion :  it  rcters  ro  tiiose  which  manifest  his  Deity. — Hald.  Paraphrase  : 
 *  Fttr  his  invisible  attributes,  evf/i  !iis  eternal  power  and  Godhead,  though 
 not  discernihlf  by  the  eye  of  the  body,  ever  since  the  creation  of  the 
 world  lire  clearly  seen  by  the  eye  of  men's  mind,  being  understood  bij 
 the  things  uhich  he  hath  made,  so  that  they  are  inexcusable.*  The 
 apostle  means  that  the  Greek  legislators  and  philosophers  were  inex- 
 cusable.—.1/rtcA-n.  21.  Because,  §-/,•. — knew  God — besides  the  mani- 
 festation of  Gud  in  creation,  the  heathens  had  some  internal  lights, 
 from  which  they  had,  in  a  measure,  the  knnwledire  of  the  existence 
 and  authoriry  of  God. — Hald.  They  had  knowledee  sufficient  to  have 
 preserved  them  from  the  baseness  of  idolatry.  Glorified  him  not  as 
 God,  did  not  worship  him  because  of  his  own  perfections  and  majesty. 
 Neither  were  thankful,  did  nut  engage  in  that  act  of  worship  founded 
 upon  the  benefits  we  receive  from  him. — R.  Watson.  Vain,  fyc,  ev 
 Totf  dtuXo-jtafioit,  '  in  their  reasonings.' — Hen.  *  In  their  thoughts  and 
 opinions.*  We  must  not  confine  this  to  the  philosophers  ;  it  means  the 
 gross  tendency  to  superstition  in  the  mass. — R.  Watson.  '  Lost  them- 
 selves in  the  most  irrational  conceptions  and  reasiminffs  about  Him.' 
 — Pyte.  Their  foolish  heart,  aat'veTo<^, '  imprudent.' — Mackn.  Rather, 
 it  designates  the  heart  or  understanding  as  void  of  spiritual  discern- 
 ment and  wisdom. — Hald.  'Their  undisceknino,  unintki-ligent 
 heart,  was  darkened.'— il.  Watson.  22.  Professing,  fyc,  (paanovTe^, 
 implies  a  degree  of  boasting.  They  became  fools — what  folly  could 
 exceed  the  idolatries  of  the  most  cultivated  nations  of  antiquity,  trust- 
 ing in  imaginary  beings  of  whose  very  existence  they  had  no  evi- 
 dence— worshipping  images,  beasts,  reptiles.  SiC. — R.  Watson.  Those 
 most  esteemed  for  their  knowledge;  all  their  knowledge,  for  which 
 tbey  valued  themselves,  profited  them  nothing  as  to  promoting  virtue 
 and  happiness.— Hd/rf.  23.  Changed  the  glory,  'debased  and  dis- 
 honoured the  all-gracious  God,  by  framing  vile  images  of  men  and 
 beasts,  of  birds  and  creeping  things,  whereby  to  represent  him.' — Wells, 
 Burkitt.  Creeping  things,  the  crocodile  and  scarabaens  in  E^ypt,  and 
 serpents  almost  everywhere.- /i.  n'atson.  24.  Gave  them  up,  justly 
 gave  them  up,  without  restraint,  to  the  chosen  way  of  their  own  wicked 
 hearts. — Guyse,  so  Hald.  Unto  vile  aj'ections—iheir  system  of  idolatry 
 necessarily  produced  all  kinds  of  impurity,  for  their  highest  objects  of 
 worship  were  adulterers,  fornicators,  and  prostitutes  of  the  most  in- 
 famous kind;  such  as  Jupiter,  Apollo,  Mars,  Venus.  Sic. —  Clarke. 
 25.  Changed  the  truth,  Sfc.  that  is,  the  true  idea  of  God  exhibited  in 
 the  works  of  creation.  Into  a  lie,  into  the  false  representations  made 
 nf  him  in  their  superstitious  idolatries.- fl^a/d.  [AXnfJtia  tuv  Qeov.  is 
 here  used  fur  Oeoc  aXnP'vof ,  '  the  true  God,'  and  y}/tv6o^,  *  a  lie,'  equiva- 
 lent to  ipc,  for  •  an  idol,'  as  in  Jer.  xiii.  25.— il.  Watson.}  More  than 
 the  Creator,  napa  tov  uTiuavTa,  '  besides  the  Creator.'  They  did  own  a 
 supreme  Xnmcn,  ('  Deity,'  or  Divinity,')  in  their  profession,  but  they 
 did  in  effect  disown  him,  by  the  worship  they  paid  the  creature. — 
 Hen.  Who  is  blessed  for  ever.  Amen— th\s  expression  is  used  by  the 
 apostle  for  the  purpose  of  inflicting  greater  dishunour  upon  idolatry. — 
 Hald.  St.  Paul  here  makes  idolatry  to  be  the  ori^n  of  all  the  corrup- 
 tion and  immorality  of  the  Gentile  world.— B/j.  Burnet.  2".  Receiv- 
 ing in  themselves,  ^c— in  the  effects  on  their  own  bodies,  and  their 
 moral  degradation.- So  Clarke,  and  Boothr.  23.  To  retain  God  in 
 their  knouledge,  or  'to  hare  a  due  acknowledgment  of  him.'— LocAe. 
 A  reprobate  mind,  '  a  mind  judicially  blinded.'— HuW.  'An  unsearch- 
 ing,  injudicious  m'wd.'—Luckfi.  '  A  mind  void  of  all  knowledge  and 
 lelishof  virtue.'— J/acA-«.  To  do,  not^iv,  *  to  work.'  The  word  here 
 IIft3 
 
 u.sed  denotes  'the  habit  of  doing  a  thing.'— JlfacA-n.  Not  convenient, 
 unsuitable  tn  human  nature,  and  which  violate  it.— fl.  Watson.  The 
 original  word  signifies  what  is  snitable  to  ihe  nature  of  man  as  a 
 rational  and  moral  being.  29.  BeiX?  yi//'"rf— this  signifies  that  the 
 
 vices  here  exposed  were  not  tempered  with  virtues,  but  were  alone  and 
 uncontrolled,  possessing  the  mind  and  heart.  Chn-ighfeousness,  uitKia, 
 in  a  limited  sense  this  signifies  '  injustice.'  Tliis  was  the  public  crime 
 of  the  Rnmans,  who  built  their  empire  on  usurpation  and  rapine. — 
 Hald.  Wick'dness,  noytipca,  a  disposition  to  injure  others  by  craft. 
 Hence  the  devil  is  called  6  n-o^-ipoi,  'the  wicked  one,'  by  way  of  emi- 
 nence.—il/'/cA^//.  This  refers  to  the  general  inclination  and  practice  of 
 evil  that  reigned  among  the  heathens,  and  made  ihem  take  pleasure  in 
 vicious  and  nn;)rofitable  actions.  Covetousness,  7i.\£0ftf<a,  strictly  sig- 
 nifies '  taking  the  advantage.'  •overreaching  in  a  bargain.'  Malici- 
 ousness, a  disposition  to  injury  and  revenge.  Full  of  envy— Tacitus 
 remarks  that  ihis  was  the  usual  vice  of  the  villages,  towns,  and  cities, 
 il/wrder,  especially  of  slaves.  Dentate,  strife  about  words,  for  vainglory, 
 and  not  for  Xryxth.—Hald.  Deceit,  6o\o^.  lying,  fal=ity,  prevarication, 
 imposition,  &c.  Whisperers,  \l/tdvpt<nai,  'secret  detractors.'- .4.  C. 
 Those  who  secretly  speak  evil  of  persons  present,— il/'/cA-n. ,-  and  absent 
 aUo.—Hald.  30.  Backbiters,  KaraXaXot,  'revilers,'  speaking  evil  of 
 others  to  their  face.  Distinguished  from  whisperers.— it/^cAn.  '  False 
 accusers,'  'slanderers.' ~  .^4.  C/arAre.  Those  who  take  pleasure  in 
 scandalizing  their  neighbours,  present  or  absent,  are  here  meant.  The 
 word  is  improperly  translated  '  backbiters.'- /f'//rf.  Despiteful,  i(3pta- 
 Toc,  'injurious.'— A''e«'c.  *  Reproachful.'— S^fi'ir^.  It  signifies  '  in- 
 jury accompanied  with  contumely;'  '  inst.lence,'  implying  insult,*  as 
 the  hootings  and  peltings  of  a  mob.—Hald.  Inventors,  ^-c,  eipevpsTav 
 KiiKcov,  those  who  have  invented  destructive  customs,  rites,  fashions, 
 Sic,  as  the  orgies  of  Bacchus,  the  mysteries  of  Ceres,  Stc—Clarke. 
 Disobedient  to  parents— ohcAxQncQ  to  parents  is  iK're  con>idered  as  a 
 duty  taught  by  the  ligiit  of  nature,  the  breach  of  which  condemns  the 
 heathen,  who  had  not  the  fifth  commandment  written  m  words.— i/u/d. 
 31.  Without  understanding,  acwiToi,  '  miprudent,  not  forming  just 
 judgments  of  things.'- Jl/«cfrn.  '  Inconsiderate.'— S;«rt)■^  'Stupid 
 about  things  divine.'— TAo/t/cA-,  so  Clarke,  and  Hald.  '  The  judgment 
 darkened  and  perverted  on  all  moral  subjects.'— fl.  Watson.  Covenant' 
 breakers,  violating  conmion  agreements  and  bargains. — Hald.  With- 
 out natural  ajfei-tion—the  apostle  might  allude  to  the  stoics,  who  re- 
 commended their  apathy,  or  freedom  from  all  affection  and  passiuo,  as 
 the  highest  pitch  of  virtue.— il/arAvi.  Perhaps  it  refers  to  the  exposure 
 of  children.- Bez'/,  Stuart.  It  refers  especially  to  the  want  of  filial 
 and  parental  love.— TAo/wcA'.  We  may  suppose  the  apostle  alludes  to 
 the  exposure  of  infants,  the  frequent  brutal  treatment  of  near  relations, 
 and  the  neglect  of  parents  in  their  old  age.— Ji.  Watson;  hke  puritort, 
 Hald.  Implacable,  atrnovios,  one  who  refuses  to  join  in  those  libations 
 which  were  the  tokens  of  peace  and  friendship ;  who  maintains  perpe- 
 tual enmity  with  those  who  have  offended  him. —  R.  Watson.  It  also 
 refers  to  those  who  violate  the  most  sacred  engagements  entered  into 
 with  all  the  solemnity  of  oaths  and  religious  rites. — Hald.  Unmerciful, 
 'remorseless,'  without  pity.  — fl.  Watson,  so  Haldana.  Witness  the 
 mortal  combats  encouraged  among  the  Romans,  between  men  and  men 
 and  wild  beasts. —  So  Pict.  Bib.  22.  Knowing  tfte  judgments,  to 
 iiKatayfia,  of  God,  '  the  ieuteuce  or  Ordinance  of  God.'  This  the  hea- 
 thens knew  from  the  law  written  on  their  heart. — Hald.  Are  worthy 
 o/rfe«?/i— they  knew  that  murder,  adultery,  and  unnatural  lusts,  de- 
 served death  ;  they  knew  not  only  by  the  light  of  nature  and  conscience, 
 but  by  their  own  laws  condemning  them. —  Whitby.  Thus  Paul  sub- 
 stantiates his  charge  against  the  whole  Gentile  world— a  charge  of  un- 
 godliness and  unrighteousness.  Hence  he  had  good  reason  to  con- 
 clude that  justification  by  works  is  impossible,  and  can  only  be  ob- 
 tained by  grace. — Hald. 
 
God's  impnrtioi  judgment 
 
 ROMANS.  II. 
 
 totoards  Jews  and  Gentiles. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  They  that  sin,  thovffh  they  coJideimi  it  in  others,  can- 
 not c.rcJisc  thrmseh^ts,  6  and  much  less  escape  the 
 jufigmcnt  of  God,  9  whether  they  be  Jews  or  Gentiles. 
 1-t  The  Gentiles  cannot  escape,  17  nor  yet  the  Jews, 
 25  whom  their  circumcision  shall  not  projitf  ij'  they 
 keep  not  the  law. 
 
 THEREFORE  thou  art^inexcusable,0  man, 
 whosoever  thou  art  that  judgest :  ""for 
 whereiu  thou  judgest  another,  thou  condenni- 
 est  tiiyself;  tor  thou  that  judgest  doest  the 
 .same  things. 
 
 2  But  we  are  sure  that  the  judgment  of  God 
 is  according  to  truth  against  them  which  com- 
 mit such  things. 
 
 3  And  thinkest  thou  this,  O  man,  that  judgest 
 them  whicii  do  such  things,  and  doest  the 
 same,  that  tliou  shalt  escape  the  judgment  of 
 God? 
 
 4  Or  despisest  thou  ^  the  riches  of  his  good- 
 ness and  ^  forbearance  and  ""  longsnffering  ; 
 ^not  knowing  that  tlie  goodness  of  God  lead- 
 eth  thee  to  repentance? 
 
 5  But  after  thy  hardness  and  impenitent 
 heart  ^  treasurest  up  unto  thyself  wrath  against 
 
 c  oh.  9.  23. 
 Kph.  I.  7- 
 Si  ■*   A,  '. 
 
 d  ch.  S.  JS. 
 
 e  Ex.  31.  li. 
 
 fU.  :i().  IS. 
 
 /*JobS4.  U. 
 P8.  62,  12. 
 Pro.  24.  13. 
 Jer.  17.  10. 
 &  32.  19. 
 Mat.  16.  27, 
 ch.  U.  12. 
 
 1  Cor.  3.  8. 
 
 2  Cor.  5.10 
 Rev.  2.  23 
 f<  20.  12.  & 
 
 22.  12. 
 
 I  Job  9A.  13. 
 ch.  I.  18- 
 SThes.  1.8. 
 
 k  AmoeS.  i. 
 Luke  12.17, 
 48.  I  Pet.  -1. 
 17. 
 
 t  Gr.  Greek. 
 
 I  1  Pet.  1.7. 
 
 t  Gr.  Gresk. 
 
 m  neu.  10. 
 
 17.  2  Clir. 
 
 19.  7.  Job 
 
 3*.  IS.Acts 
 
 10.  S-l. 
 
 Gal.  2.  6. 
 
 Eph.  6.  9. 
 
 Col-  3.  25. 
 
 1  Pet.  1.17. 
 MMat.7.  21. 
 
 Jam.  1.  22, 
 
 23,  25. 
 
 I  JohuS.  7. 
 
 the  day  of  wrath  and  revelation  of  the  righte- 
 ous judgment  of  God  ; 
 
 6  ■'  VVlio  will  render  to  every  man  according 
 to  his  deeds  : 
 
 7  To  them  who  by  patient  continuance  in 
 well  doing  seek  for  glory  and  honour  and  im- 
 mortality, eternal  life  : 
 
 8  But  unto  them  that  are  contentious,  and 
 '  do  not  obey  the  truth,  but  obey  unrighteous- 
 ness, indignation  and  wrath, 
 
 9  Tribulation  and  angui.sh,  upon  every  soul 
 of  man  that  doeth  evil,  of  the  Jew  ''  first,  and 
 also  of  the  f  Gentile  ; 
 
 10  '  But  glory,  honour,  and  peace,  to  every 
 man  that  worketh  good,  to  the  Jew  first,  and 
 also  to  the  f  Gentile  : 
 
 11  For  '"  there  is  no  respect  of  persons  with 
 God. 
 
 12  For  as  many  as  have  sinned  without  law 
 shall  also  perish  without  law :  and  as  many  as 
 have  sinned  in  the  law  shall  be  judged  by  the 
 law  ; 
 
 13  (For  "not  the  hearers  of  the  law  a/v  just 
 before  God,  but  the  doers  of  the  law  shall  be 
 justified. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  1.  Therefore,  fyc. — frnm  the  state  of  idolatrous  pag:ans, 
 the  apostle  passes  on  to  the  Jews,  who,  while  they  rejeeteft  the  righte- 
 ousness of  Goti,  to  which  the  law  and  the  prophets  bore  witness,  looked 
 for  salvation  from  their  exclusive  privilcpcs  as  a  nation. — Haldnne. 
 He  here  shews  the  Jews  that  they  stood  in  need  of  the  mercy  proffered 
 by  the  gospel  as  much  as  the  Gentiles. — Stuart.  Having  sliewo  that 
 the  Gentiles  could  not  entertain  the  lea=t  hope  of  salvation  according 
 to  the  tenour  of  the  law  of  nature,  it  was  nc.^t  to  be  inquired  whether 
 the  law  of  Moses  gave  the  Jews  any  better  hope.— J/ucA'o.  And,  from 
 what  he  had  said  to  prove  the  heathens  inexcusable  in  their  wicked- 
 ness, he  justly  infers  that  the  crimes  of  those  who  had  such  knowledjE:e 
 of  the  truth  as  to  condemn  the  vices  of  others  were  proportiimately 
 more  inexcusable.  This  evidently  is  the  case  with  the  Jews,  and, 
 without  mentioning  them  at  present,  he  delicately  alludes  to  their 
 spirit  and  practice. — Bnothr.,  so  Tfioluck,  Stuart.  The  address  to  the 
 Jews  is  direct  and  exclusive. — Hold.  0  innn,  dexterously  denotes  the 
 Jew,  without  naming  and  exasperating  him. —  Wells.  It  is  an  expres- 
 sion denoting  earnestness,  2.  Judgviertt,  sentence  of  condemnation. 
 — Hald.  According  to  truth,  most  impartial  and  just.— ire//*,  so 
 Tholuck.  According  to  the  real  character  of  the  person  judged. — 
 Stuart.  According  to  the  true  meaning  of  God's  covenant  with  the 
 father  of  the  Jewish  nation.— il/acfrn.  God  would  not  allow  Jews  to 
 escape  more  than  Gentiles.  The  object  nf  the  apostle  was  to  undeceive 
 the  Jews  in  their  v;iin  hope  of  escape,  while  they  knew  themselves  to 
 be  trfinsgressors.— H'//i/.  3.  Dorst  the  same— the  Jews  of  this  period 
 were  grossly  corrupt. —  See  Josephus.  4.  Despisest  thou,  KciTa^poi/ci?, 
 '  dost  thou  misconstruct,'  '  form  a  wrong  opinion,*  of  the  goodness  of 
 God?—Mackn.  His  extraordinary  goodness  in  giving  thee  the  law. 
 the  covenants,  and  the  promises,  (chap.  ix.  4.) — Wells,  Whitby.  Not 
 knowing,  'not  considering.' — R.  Watson.  'Not  acknowledging.'  — 
 Tholuck,  Stuart.  Absolutely  not  knowing,  presumptuously  trusting 
 in  their  own  external  righteousness.— So  Hald.  5.  After  the  hard, 
 ness,  ^c,  Kara  rtiv  cnXvporttTa,  '  according  to  thy  obduracy.'  or,  '  in- 
 sensibility of  mind.'— Be7^s.  Treasurest  up  unto  thyself  wrath,  Sfc., 
 laying  up  wr.ith  as  in  a  storehouse,  tlirough  a  whole  life  of  repeated 
 offences,  until  the  tinal  day  of  account.— ./i.  Watson.  This  is  a  strong 
 expression,  and  a  beautiful  figure.  It  proves  that  sins  will  be  punished 
 according  to  their  accumulation.  A  man  is  rich  according  to  his  trea- 
 sures. The  wicked  will  be  punished  according  to  the  number  and 
 aggravation  of  their  sins.  6.  To  every  man,  'to  every  individual,' 
 
 according  to  his  deeds — this  signifies  that  there  will  be  a  diversity  of 
 punishment,  (Matt.  xi.  22,  24;  Luke,  xii.  47,  48.)  The  works  of  be- 
 lievers will  not  be  appealed  to  as  the  cause  of  acquittal,  but  as  the  evi- 
 dence of  their  union  with  Christ,  on  account  of  which  they  will  be 
 pronounced  righteous. — Hald.  7.  To  them  who  hy  patient,  fyc,  that 
 is,  those  who  have  the  true  principles  of  grace  implanted  in  them, 
 whether  Jews  or  Gentiles. — GUI.  The  passage  signifies  perseverance 
 in  something  arduous— a  perseverance  which  resists  all  temptations, 
 snares,  persecutions,  &c.  Christ  alone  could  do  this,  but  here  the 
 apostle  only  declares  what  the  Divine  judgment  would  do  according  to 
 the  law  in  which  the  Jews  trusted  for  justification.— //n/rf.  Glory,  has 
 respect  to  that  now  inaccessible  light  and  splendour  in  which  God 
 dwells. — R.  Watson.  Honour,  signifies  the  approbation  and  praise  of 
 God. — Hald.  Immortality,  includes  both  the  resurrection  of  the  body 
 with  deathless  qualities,  and  the  unfading  quality  of  every  enjpyment. 
 Glory  stands  opposed  to  that  distance  from  God's  presence  in  which 
 the  saints  now  are  ;  honour,  to  their  lowly  and  often  calumniated  con- 
 
 dition ;  and  the  immortality,  to  death,  from  which  good  men  arc  not 
 yet  freed. — R.  Watson.  In  all  these  verses  the  apostle  is  referring  to 
 the  law,  and  not,  as  is  generally  understood,  to  the  gospel.  This  would 
 disturb  the  whole  train  of  reasoning,  from  chap.  i.  IS,  to  iii.  20,  where 
 he  arrives  at  this  conclusion — '  That  by  the  deeds,'  &c. — Hutd.  This 
 view  is  supported  by  Fry,  but  other  commentators  apply  verses  7  airt 
 10  to  the  gospel  ;  as  Caluin,  Beza,  Gill,  Qaesnel,  ike.  S.  Contentions, 
 rebellious  and  murmurers  against  the  Divine  laws.  Do  not  obey  the 
 truth,  in  revolt  and  open  war  against  wliat  is  true  and  right  according 
 to  the  Divine  will.  But  obey  unrighteousness,  becoming  slaves  to  evil. 
 —  Hald.  Indignation  and  wrath,  ^}v^lo<;  Kat  op7n,  words  of  nearly  the 
 same  import,  but  the  latter  is  thought  to  express  a  more  permanent 
 emotion. — R.  Watson.  9.  Tribulation  and  anguish,  BXi'^iv  kqi  ptc- 
 
 voxcjpiti,  word's  designating  the  effect  of  the  former.  They  are  often 
 used  by  classic  writers  to  express  '  intense  suffering.'  Upon  every  soul 
 of  man,  i.  e.,  upon  every  man. — Stuart.  That  doeth  evil,  evil  workers, 
 who  practise  wickedness  habitually — Hald.  The  Jew  Jirst — so  far 
 from  being  exempt  from  punishment  because  he  is  a  Jew,  he  shall  be 
 first  condemned,  and  most  severely  punished,  as  being  first  in  the 
 order  of  privileges.  The  same  rule  now  holds  good  as  to  Christians 
 and  Gentiles,  for  we  have  taken  the  place  of  the  Jewish  church. — 
 R.  Watson.  10.  Peace,  a  state  of  confirmed  joy  and  prosperity. 
 
 To  the  Jew Jirst—thc  pious  Jews  who  have  improved  their  superior  ad- 
 vantage,  shall  be  first  in  the  rewards  of  another  life-  11.  No  respect 
 of  persons,  tt  poo  utTT  0X^1}/ ta,  refers  to  judicial  proceedings,  and  to  one 
 being  favoured  in  preference  to  another,  not  because  of  the  merit  of 
 his  cause,  but  through  the  weakness  or  corruptness  of  the  judge.— 
 R.  Watson.  Persons  heie  mean  men  di^tinguishcd  from  one  anjthtr 
 by  their  external  qualities,  country,  kindreil,  sex.  dignity,  oftice,  wealth, 
 and  profession  of  religion. —  So  Beza.  12.  Without  law,  i.  e.,  the 
 
 written  law,  for  none  are  without  law.  '  Where  there  is  no  law,  there 
 is  no  transgression.' — Hald.,  R.  Wat.<ion.  This  means  the  law  of 
 Mose.^.— So  Ham.,  Whithy,  Doddr.,  Slade,  SiC.  It  denotes  any  posi- 
 tive revelation  from  God.  — So  Ti/j//or,  Mackn.,  8tc.  Peri.sh,  be  an- 
 nihilated.— i»y//»T//,  so  seemingly  Loc/fe.  lie  judged;  it  means  real 
 punishment,  but  in  different  degrees.— Doddr.  They  shall  be  dealt 
 with  according  to  the  inferior  dispensation  under  which  they  lived. — 
 A.  Clarke.  That  is,  be  condemned.  No  criticism  can  make  this  ex- 
 pression consistent  with  the  salvation  of  the  Gentiles  who  know  not 
 God.  They  will  be  condemned  by  the  law  written  on  their  hearts. 
 Many  are  inclined  to  think  that  the  condemnation  of  the  heathen  is 
 peculiarly  hard;  but  it  is  equally  just,  and  not  more  severe  than  the 
 punishment  of  those  who  have  sinned  against  revelation.  They  wiU 
 not  be  judged  by  the  light  which  they  had  not,  nor  punished  so  se- 
 verely as  they  who  resisled  that  light.— //t//d.  And  as  many  as  have 
 sinned  171  the  law,  fyc,  ev  i'o;xu»,  '  in,*  or  '  under  law.'— Bejis.  'And 
 so  many  as  have  sinned  under  revelation  will  be  condemned  by  reve- 
 lation.'— Mackn.  13.  Not  the  hearers,  S,-c.,  i.e.,  the  bare  hearers. — 
 Burkitt.  But  the  doers— the  Jewish  doctors  bolstered  up  their  fol- 
 lowers  with  an  opinion  that  all  that  were  Jews,  how  bad  soever  they 
 lived,  should  have  a  place  in  the  world  to  come.  Tliis  the  apostle  here 
 opposes.  It  was  a  great  privilege  that  they  had  the  law,  but  not  a 
 saving  privilege,  unless  they  lived  up  to  the  law  they  had  ;  which  it  is 
 certain  the  Jews  did  not,  and  therefore  they  had  need  of  a  righteous- 
 ness wherein  to  appear  before  God. — Hen.  The  doers,  ^c— the  judg- 
 ment of  the  law  admits  of  no  indulgence  to  tho^^e  that  are  under  it ;  it 
 demands  a  full  and  perfect  personal  observance  of  all  its  requirements ; 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  I,  We  here  behold  the  state  of 
 the  heathen  world.  Alas!  what  is  man  without  the  gospel! 
 He  is  altogether  brutish  ;  reason  is  overpowered  by  supersti- 
 tion ;  God  is  grossly  dishonoureti  ;  men  are  given  up  to  a  re- 
 probate mind,  and  the  soul  is  lost ! 
 1184 
 
 II.  We  see  the  urgent  necessity  for  sendiny  the  gospel  to  tltr 
 heathen.  Nature's  light  has  become  darkness;  through  ilie 
 grossness  of  their  superstition,  men  cannot  even  grope  after 
 God,     O  Lord,  '  send  out  thy  light  and  thy  truth  V 
 
Circumcision,  uithi^ut  huliyics!:. 
 
 ROMANS,  IIT. 
 
 vnpi  ojitidilf 
 
 14  For  when  the  Gentiles,  which  have  not 
 the  law,  do  by  nature  the  things  contained  in 
 the  law,  these,  having  not  tl}e  law,  are  a  law 
 unto  tliemselves  : 
 
 13  Wliicli  shew  the  work  of  tlie  law  written 
 in  their  liearts,  ||  their  conscience  also  bearing 
 witness,  and  their  thonghts  ||  the  mean  while 
 accusing  or  else  excusing  one  another;) 
 
 16  °  In  the  day  when  God  shall  judge  the 
 secrets  of  men  ''by  Jesus  Christ  ''according  to 
 my  gospel. 
 
 17  Behold,  'thou  art  called  a  Jew,  and 
 '  restest  in  the  law,  •  and  makest  thy  boast  of 
 God, 
 
 18  And  "  knowest  /<«  will,  and  ||' approves! 
 the  things  that  are  more  excellent,  being  in- 
 structed out  of  the  law  ; 
 
 19  And  'art  confident  that  thou  thyself  art 
 a  guide  of  the  blind,  a  light  of  them  which  are 
 in  darkness, 
 
 20  An  instructor  of  the  foolish,  a  teacher  of 
 babes, "  which  hast  the  form  of  knowledge  and 
 of  ttie  truth  in  the  law. 
 
 21  'Thou  therefore  which  teachest  another, 
 teachest  thou  not  thyself?  thou  that  preachest 
 a  man  should  not  steal,  dost  thou  steal  ? 
 
 •22  Thou  that  sayest  a  man  should  not  com- 
 mit adultery,  dost  thou  commit  adultery  ?  thou 
 that  abhorrest  idols,  ''  dost  tliou  commit  sacri- 
 lege ? 
 
 23  Thou  that  '  makest  thy  boast  of  the  law. 
 
 II  Or,  thp 
 
 tpit'itiimi/ 
 
 iBith  Ihem, 
 II  Or,  bftwifen 
 
 Ihrmseli'U. 
 o  Eccles.  12. 
 
 I'l.  Mat-  35. 
 
 •SI   John  \->. 
 
 ■H.  cli .  3  6. 
 
 I  Cm- 
 
 .-.SO.  12. 
 
 p  Jnhr 
 
 Acts  l".4^, 
 
 &   17,  .SI. 
 
 2  Tim,  i.  1. 
 
 8.  I  Ppt.4  a. 
 7  th.  l(i   2a. 
 
 mm  in. 
 
 9  Tim  2  ft 
 r  Mat.  S  9 
 .)..lm  S.  3i. 
 
 rii   y.  G,  7. 
 
 2Cor.ll.2-? 
 ,  Mic,  3.  1 1 . 
 
 Oil.  9    4. 
 /  N.  l.S,  25 
 
 &  ;.s  2. 
 
 JnllU  S.  41. 
 <i  neu.  4.  8, 
 
 Ps.  1.47.  19, 
 
 20 
 II  Or,  trSetl 
 
 the  thmirt 
 
 Ittat  ftij[fer. 
 xPliil.  1.  10 
 y  Mat. 15. II. 
 
 fc  2T  16,  17, 
 
 19, 24. John 
 
 y.  .■«,ltl,  41 
 :  ch.  0.  17. 
 
 2  Tim  1.1.1 
 
 &  3   5. 
 ,.  P.S.  50.  16, 
 
 S.C   Mat. 
 
 2::.  3,  Stc 
 '.  Mai.  3.  n 
 c  ver.  17. 
 
 h  Mat   3,  9. 
 
 Joliii  8.  39. 
 
 cli.  9.  6,  7. 
 
 (Jal.  C.  15. 
 
 Rev.  2.  9. 
 i  I  Pel    :f.  4. 
 A  Col.  2.  11. 
 
 Phil    3    3. 
 t  el..  7    6, 
 
 2C.ir    3    a. 
 m    I  (^i.r.  1  .■>. 
 
 2C..r.llM4. 
 
 1  Tlies.  2.  t. 
 
 through  breaking  the  law  dishonourest  thou 
 God  ? 
 
 24  For  the  name  of  God  is  blasphemed  among 
 the  Gentiles  through  you,  as  it  is  ■*  written. 
 
 25  "  For  circumcision  verily  proliteth,  if  thon 
 keep  the  law  :  but  if  thou  be  a  breaker  of  the 
 law,  thy  circumcision  is  made  uncircumcision. 
 
 26  Therefore  'if  the  uncircumcision  keep  the 
 righteousness  of  the  law,  shall  not  his  uncir- 
 cumcision be  counted  for  circumcision? 
 
 27  And  shall  not  uncircumcision  which  is  by 
 nature,  if  it  fulfil  the  law,  ^  judge  thee,  who  by 
 the  letter  and  circumcision  dost  transgress  the 
 law? 
 
 28  For  *■  he  is  not  a  Jew,  which  is  one  out- 
 wardly ;  neither  is  that  circumcision,  which  is 
 outward  in  the  flesh  : 
 
 29  But  he  is  a  Jew,  '  which  is  one  inwardly  ; 
 and  ''circumcision  is  that  of  tire  heart,  '  in  the 
 spirit,  a«rf  not  in  tlie  letter;  ""whose  praise  is 
 not  of  men,  but  of  God. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  T!ie  j-ws'  prerocjative  :  3  which  they  have  not  list . 
 9  hoivheit  thu  law  convinceth  them  also  of  sin:  20 
 thrrefore  no  Jlesh  is  justified  by  the  law y  28  but  all. 
 w  til  I  out  difference,  by  faith  only:  31  aiid  yet  the  lair 
 is  not  ahulished. 
 
 "\^HAT  advantage  then  bath  the  Jew?  or 
 ''     what  profit  is  there  of  circumcision  ? 
 2  Much   every   way :   chiefly,   because   that 
 
 *  unto  thpTn  were  committed  the  oracles  of  God. 
 
 a  patient  continuance  in  well  doing',  without  the  least  deviation,  or 
 the  smallest  speck  ot  sin  ;  and  when  it  does  not  find  this  state  of  perfec- 
 tion, condemns  the  man.  Nor  had  the  legal  expiations  any  Tirtue  in 
 themaelve.'i ;  but,  inasmuch  as  thej-  were  figures  of  the  expiation  m^de 
 by  Jesus  Christ,  tliey  directed  men  to  his  sacrifice.— Wn/rf.  !4.  For 
 
 when  th'-  G'-utHes,  8fc.,  'when  these  wlin  have  no  revelation  act  agree, 
 ahly  to  tlieir  reason  and  conscience,  they  may  be  justified  through 
 Christ  equally  with  the  Jews,' — So  Mnckn.  This  is  an  answer  to  an 
 objectur,  that  God  muld  not  justly  condemn  the  Gentiles,  since  he  had 
 not  given  them  a  law.  To  this  the  ai'ostle  here  replies,  that  though 
 they  have  not  an  external  and  verbal  law,  as  that  which  God  gave  to 
 the  Israelites,  they  have,  however,  the  law  of  their  conscience,  which 
 is  fully  suflicient  to  establish  the  justice  of  their  condemnation.  Mac- 
 knight  misunderstands  the  connexion.  15.  The  work  of  the  law.  ^c., 
 — we  have  here  a  distinction  between  the  law  itself,  and  the  work  of 
 the  law.  Its  work  is  to  tench  what  is  right  or  wrong.  This,  in  some 
 measure,  is  done  by  the  lig-ht  of  nature  in  every  man.  There  remains, 
 then,  in  all  men,  to  a  certain  degree,  a  discernment  of  wliat  the  law 
 requires,  designated  here  'the  work  of  the  law;'  the  performance  or 
 neglect  of  which  is  followed  by  the  approbation  or  disapprobatiim  of 
 the  conscience.  Written  in  their  hearts — this  is  an  allusion  to  the  law 
 that  was  written  by  the  finger  of  God  upon  tables  of  stone,  and  after- 
 wards  written  in  the  scriptures.  The  great  principles  of  this  law  were 
 cnmmunieateil  to  man  in  his  creation,  and  much  of  it  remains  with 
 him  in  his  fallen  state.  l6.  In  the  dntj,  ^-c— this  verse  must  he  con- 
 strued in  connexion  with  ver.  12.  The  secrets,  as  well  as  public  ac- 
 tions. By  Jesus  Christ— A  As.  xvii,  3\.—H'itd.  Not  according  to  ex- 
 ternal pririle^es,  but  tlie  inward  fj  nit  which  these  ought  to  have  pro- 
 duced. — Sfade.  According  to  m>/  gospel,  of  which  Paul  was  the  mi- 
 nister.— Hiild.  By  affirming  that  God  will  judge  'according  to  his 
 gospel,'  Paul  seems  to  intimate  that  a  judgment-day  is  not  plainly  re- 
 vealed by  the  light  of  nature.— S^ir(^^  I7.  Art  cilled  a  Jew,  ^c— 
 in  this  verse,  and  the  three  foUowing.  Paul  classes  the  advantages  of 
 tlie  Jews  under  six  particulars  :  I.  Their  hearing  the  name  of  Jew— 
 2.  Having  received  the  law— 3.  Having  the  true  God  as  their  G^d- 
 4.  Knowing  his  will— 5.  Discerning  what  is  evil— 6.  Their  being  able 
 to  be  teachers  and  guides  of  other  men.—Hald'tne.  \h.  hist  meted, 
 Karnxovfiivoi  etc  rov  vonov,  'being  educated,'  or  'instructed  from  thy 
 childhood  out  of  the  law,'  (2  Tim.  lii.  15.)— Besa.  19.  Guide—light^ 
 instructor— teacher,  titles  which  were  all  assumed  by  the  rabbis. — See 
 Gill.  21.  Teachest  thou  not  thyself— \h\i  implies  that  the  Jews  did 
 not  practise  the  precepts  of  their  law.  Preacheat,  or  'proclaimest.' 
 Macknight  applies  this  to  the  learned  Jews,  but  it  embraces  all. 
 Steal,  ^c— the  sins  here  specified  were  generally  chargeable  on  the 
 Jews.  22.  Sacrilege,  i.e.,  robbing  temples,  &c.,  (comp.  Neh.  xiii. 
 10;  Mai.  iii.  8.)  These  capital  vices  stand  opposed  to  the  principal 
 TLi-tues,  to  '  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly  ;'  and  are  conformable 
 
 to  the  three  odious  vices  which  he  had  noticed  among  the  Gentiles, — 
 namely,  '  ungodliness,  intemperance,  unrighteousness.'  Theft  includes 
 every  notion  of  unrighteousness;  adultery,  that  of  intemperance;  and 
 the  guilt  of  sacrilege,  that  of  ungodliness. — Hnld.  24.  Bhtsphemed, 
 lightly  and  irreverently  spoken  of. — R.  Watson.  25.  For  circum- 
 cision, fyc. — the  as-^ertions  are,  that  circumcision  serves  only  as  a 
 ground  of  condemnation  to  transgressors  of  the  law,  and  that  the 
 want  of  it  would  be  no  detriment  to  those  who  fulfilled  the  law.  The 
 declaration  in  this  veise  is  similar  to  the  way  in  which  our  Lord  an- 
 swers the  rich  yoivif:  man.  If  the  law  is  perfectly  kept,  eternal  life 
 will  be  the  reward  ;  but  if  there  be  any  breach  of  it,  circumcision  is  of 
 no  value  for  salvatit-n.  26.  Therefore  if  the,  fyc,  an  hypothetical 
 
 mode  of  reasoning  common  with  the  apostle.  If  an  uncircumcised 
 Gentile  kept  the  law,  his  uncircumcision  would  avail  as  much  as  the 
 circumcision  of  the  Jew;  for  the  judgment  of  God  regards  only  the 
 observance  or  the  violation  of  the  law,  and  not  extraneous  advantages. 
 — Huld.  Mncknight  renders  the  passage,  'And  if  a  heathen,  in- 
 structed by  right  reason  and  by  the  grace  ol  God,  perfnrm  the  precepts 
 of  law  and  faith,  will  not  God  treat  him  as  a  pers-  n  circumcised  by 
 bestowing  on  him  justification,  the  blessing  promised  to  Abraham's 
 seed  ?'  This  is  considered  as  an  egregious  error  in  the  opinion  of  Ho fd. 
 27.  The  uncircvmcision  which  is  6//  nature,  that  is,  the  Gentiles,  in  their 
 natural  uncircumcised  state. — Hold.  Here  the  apostle  first  intimates, 
 what  he  afterwards  more  especially  states,  that  there  is  a  spiritual  cir- 
 cumcision which  those  naturally  uncircumcised  may  partake  of,  and 
 which,  if  not  experienced  by  the  Jew,  his  corporal  circumcision  woidd 
 avail  him  nothing.  28.  Not  a  Jew,  which  is.  fyc,  '  not  a  true  s^>n  of 
 Abraham,  a  member  of  that  spiritual  church  of  which  the  visible  chuich 
 of  the  Jews  was  but  the  sensible  form,  who  has  nothing  but  natiu'a! 
 birth  and  fleshly  circumcision  to  plead.'  The  true  circumcision  is  of 
 the  heart,  the  cutting  off  and  putting  away  all  its  corrupt  aflfections 
 by  the  sanctification  of  grace.  liy.  In  the  spirit,  meaning  here,  'in 
 the  spiritual  sense  of  the  law,*  and  not  in  the  letter;  its  literal  sense 
 merely,  fsee  feut.  x.  16.) — R.  Watson.  Whose  praise  is  not  of  men — 
 such  persons  must  not  expect  praise  from  men  who  are  only  taken 
 with  outward  things,  but  from  God,  who  searches  and  knows  the  heart. 
 —Gill. 
 
 Chap.  IH.^1.  Whnf  ndvantnge?  §-c. — the  apostle  frequrntly  uses 
 the  interrogatory  style,  either  to  give  strength  to  his  own  conclusions, 
 or  to  bring  forward  what  he  knew  wotdd  he  the  objections  of  others. 
 — R.  Watso7i.  A  Jew  is  introduced  as  speaking,  and  saying,  'If  a  man 
 may  be  a  Jew  by  a  good  frame  of  mind,  by  a  spiritual  circumcision, 
 whit  advantage  hath  the  Jew?' — Boothr.  2.  Much,  'very  great,* 
 
 and  '  very  considerable.' — -Hald.  Every  way,  '  in  many  respects,'  or 
 '  in  every  respect.'— -S^;/f(r£.  The  respects  in  which  the  Jews  were 
 superior  to  the  Gentiles  are  enumerated  Rom.  Lx.  4,  5. — Mnrknight. 
 CItiefty,  TpwTOi', '  primarily.' — Hald.    Oracles— th^  Greeks  use  the  word 
 
 Reflfctions  ov  Chap.  II.  —  ^We  must  all  be  judged  by 
 the  dispensation  uniler  which  we  have  lived.  The  rule  of  the  Di- 
 vine proceeding  will  be  most  equitable  and  just  ;  and  to  whom 
 much  has  been  given,  of  them  much  will  be  required.  Let 
 us  guard  against  the  abuse  of  our  privileges  ;  for  if  they  are 
 abused,  we  shall  find  that  wh  have  been  '*  treasuring  up  wrath 
 against  the  day  of  wrath.'' 
 
 II.  '  IVe  ham  how  vain  it  is  to  have  the  name  of  a  Jew  or  a 
 1135 
 
 Christian.  To  enjoy  an  outward  and  professed  relation  to 
 God,  and  yet  to  be  inwardly  opposed  to  him  and  liis  will,  will 
 only  render  our  own  condition  finally  more  miserable.  To 
 have  known  his  will  without  doing  it;  to  have  distinguished 
 things  that  differ,  and  become  the  instructors  of  the  ignorant, 
 will  furnish  matter  out  of  our  own  mouths  for  aggravated  con- 
 demnatiou.'  t> 
 
 7  M 
 
The  Jews^  prerogative. 
 
 ROMANS,  III. 
 
 Shi  is  universal. 
 
 3  For  what  if '' some  did  not  believe?  ''shall 
 their  unbelief  make  the  faith  of  God  without 
 effect? 
 
 4  '^  God  forbid  :  yea,  let  ^  God  be  true,  but 
 *^  every  man  a  liar  ;  as  it  is  written, '''  That  thou 
 mightest  be  justified  in  thy  sayings,  and  might- 
 est  overcome  when  tliou  art  judged. 
 
 5  But  if  our  unrighteousness  commend  the 
 righteousness  of  God,  what  shall  we  say?  Is 
 God  unrighteous  who  taketh  vengeance?  (^  I 
 speak  as  a  man) 
 
 6  God  forbid  :  for  then  '  how  shall  God  judge 
 the  woHd? 
 
 7  For  if  the  truth  of  God  hath  more  abounded 
 through  my  lie  unto  his  glory  ;  why  yet  am  I 
 also  judged  as  a  sinner? 
 
 8  And  not  rather,  (as  we  be  slanderously  re- 
 ported, and  as  some  affirm  that  we  say,)  ''Let 
 us  do  evil,  that  good  may  come?  whose  dam- 
 nation is  just. 
 
 9  What  then  ?  are  we  better  thait  they  ?  No, 
 in  no  wise  :  for  we  have  before  f  proved  both 
 Jews  and  Gentiles,  that  '  they  are  all  under 
 sin  ; 
 
 iO  As  it  is  written,  '"There  is  none  righteous, 
 no,  not  one  : 
 
 i  Gen.l8,S5. 
 Ki  SI    IT 
 
 *  cli   fi.  20. 
 (*  C.  I,  15. 
 
 t  Gr. 
 
 (charge,},  cli. 
 
 I.  2S,  fcc 
 
 A  2.  l,&c. 
 I  rcr.  23. 
 
 Gal.  3.  22. 
 »j  Pfl.  It.  1, 
 
 2,3.  &  53.1. 
 
 n  Ps.  S.  9. 
 
 Jer.  6.  16. 
 c  Pa.  140.  3, 
 p  Ps.  III.  7. 
 y  Pro.  1.  16, 
 
 Is.  5il    7,  8. 
 r  Ps  3li.  1. 
 I  John  1(1.31. 
 
 St  15.  25. 
 (  Job  5.  16. 
 
 Ps.  107.  A-2. 
 
 Ezc.  16.  63. 
 
 ch.  I.  2l).  & 
 
 ■.'  I. 
 "  ver.  0  23. 
 
 ill,  2.  2. 
 '.(  Or,  tubjtct 
 
 lo  Ihejudff- 
 
 God. 
 X  Pb    113.  9. 
 
 ActslS.  3!t. 
 
 Gal.  2.16  & 
 
 S    11.  Eph 
 
 2.  8,  9.  Tit. 
 
 3.5. 
 ./  ch   7.  7. 
 
 Acts  IMI. 
 
 .1..  I.  17. 
 
 l'h;i.3.  9. 
 
 Hull.  11.  4, 
 
 1  John  5.  46. 
 
 Acts  26.22. 
 /j  cli.  I.  2. 
 
 1  Pet.  I  10, 
 
 1  i  There  is  none  that  understandeth,  there  is 
 none  that  seeketh  after  God. 
 
 1*2  They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they 
 are  together  become  unprofitable  ;  there  is 
 none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one. 
 
 13  "  Their  throat  is  an  ojien  sepulchre  ;  with 
 their  tongues  they  have  used  deceit ;  °  the 
 poison  of  asps  is  under  their  lips  : 
 
 14  ^  Whose  mouth  is  full  of  cursing  and  bit- 
 terness : 
 
 15  ■'  Their  feet  are  swift  to  shed  blood  : 
 
 16  Destruction  and  misery  arc  in  their  ways: 
 
 17  And  the  way  of  peace  have  they  not 
 known  : 
 
 18  '^Thereisno  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes. 
 
 19  Now  we  know  that  what  things  soever 
 '  the  law  saith,  it  saith  to  them  who  are  under 
 the  law  :  tliat  *  every  mouth  may  be  stopped, 
 and  "  all  the  world  may  become  ||  guilty  before 
 God. 
 
 20  Therefore  ^  by  the  deeds  of  the  law  there 
 shall  no  flesh  be  justified  in  his  sight :  for  ^  by 
 the  law  is  the  knowledge  of  sin. 
 
 '21  But  now  '  the  rigliteousness  of  God  with- 
 out tl)e  law  is  manifested,  "being  witnessed  by 
 the  law  ^  and  the  prophets  ; 
 
 AoYin,  '  oracles,'  to  denote  the  responses  which  their  deities,  or  rather 
 their  priests,  matie  to  those  who  consulted  tUQm.~^fnckn.  The  scrip- 
 tures are  designated 'oracles,*  implying  that  they  are  altngcther,  in 
 word  as  well  as  in  sense,  the  communications  of  God.— H'iM.  Ju- 
 daism was,  in  fact,  a  conservative  dispensation,  by  which  tlio  light  of 
 truth  mi^ht  be  kept  from  extinction,  during- all  those  ages  in  which 
 the  nations  of  the  earth  were  running  mad  with  error  and  idolatry  of 
 every  kind.  These  blessed  records  were  therefore  intrusted  to  one 
 people  to  preserire,  and  partially  to  diffuse,  until  the  fuhicss  of  time, 
 when  all  nations  should,  through  the  gospel,  be  put  into  the  possession 
 of  them.  By  means  of  these  *  oracles'  the  .Tews  had  the  knowledge  of 
 God,  the  promises  of  Messiah,  the  doctrine  of  a  future  life,  and  were 
 instructed  in  the  way  of  salvation.— /I.  Watson.  3.  For  what  if,  ffc, 
 here  follows  a  second  objection. — liurkitt.  Mackni^ht  is  mis. 
 taken  in  supposing  this  the  objection  of  a  Jew;  the  apo-^tle  answers 
 the  objection  in  stating  it.— Huld.  Did  not  believe?  had  not  genuine 
 faith  in  their  warnings  and  tlireatenings,  nor,  indeed,  in  their  spiritual 
 promises.  The  foith,  *  the  faithfulness.'  (if  God,  who  pmmiscs  true 
 life  only  to  the  penitent,  the  believing,  and  the  holy,  and  threatens 
 sure  vengeance  against  persevering  and  obstinate  sinners  of  every 
 class.— ii.H'oif^Hn.  TKi7/ioj/^  (#ec^ 'disannul  the  faith  of  God.'— Dorfrfr. 
 4.  But  eneiff,  ^c,  or  'although  every  man  should  be  a  liar,'  i.e., 
 '  whatsoever  we  say  of  men,  who  are  all  mutable  creatures.'  .Tu.stified 
 in  thy  sm/ings,  'in  thy  promises  and  threatenings,*  (see  Matt,  xi.'lp; 
 I.uke,  vii.'2g.:i4  ;  and  x.29.)~Pnole.  And  mightest  overcome,  ^c.the 
 sense  is,  '  let  us  justify  God  in  all  respects,  when  he  condemns  our  con- 
 duct and  vindicates  his  own. ^—Stuart.  5.  But  if  our  nnri<;h(pous- 
 ness,  ^c— the  objection  is  this:  '  If,  then,  it  be  so,  that  the  righteous- 
 ness of  God  has  been  made  more  fully  to  appear,  or  is  more  illustriously 
 manifestcil  from  the  occasion  of  the  sin  of  man,  shall  we  not  say  that 
 it  is  unjust  to  punish  the  sin  that  has  had  this  effect?*  /  speak  as  a 
 man.  that  is  to  say,  in  the  way  that  the  impictv  of  men.  and  their  want 
 of  reverence  for  God.  leads  them  to  speak.  6.  Hoiv  shallGod  judge  ? 
 ^-c— the  reason  of  this  is  manifest,  for  there  is  no  sin  that  any  man 
 can  commit  which  does  not  exalt  some  perfection  of  God  in  the  way 
 of  contrast.  If,  then,  it  be  concluded,  that  because  unrighteousness  in 
 man  illustrates  the  righteousness  of  God,  God  is  unrighteous  when  he 
 taketh  vengeance,  it  must  be  further  said  that  there  is  no  sin  that  God 
 can  justly  punish;  whence  it  follows,  that  God  cannot  any  longer  be 
 the  Judge  of  the  worid.— H(i/rf.  ;,  9.  For  if  the  truth,  ^e.— this  is  a 
 new  and  distinct  objection.  If  the  Jews  could  no  longer  plead  their 
 superior  privileges,  still  their  zeal  to  make  the  true  God  known  might 
 plead  for  them.  The  truth  of  God.  is  truth  respecting  God,  proposed 
 to  the  belief  of  the  Gentile  proselytes.— iJ.  Watson.  My  lie.  '  my  un- 
 faithfulness and  disobedience.'— IKo//.  The  original  word  is  used  in 
 no  other  passage  of  the  New  Testament.  It  signifies  every  sort  of  de- 
 parture  from  truth,  rectitude,  and  honesty  ;  impiety,  wickedness,  and 
 crimes  of  all  kinds  ;  and  the  whole  clause  appears  equivalent  to  that  in 
 the  fifth  verse,  '  If  our  unrighteousness  commend  the  righteousness  of 
 Gnd.'—Schieu.titer.  This  is  the  same  objection  as  before,  stated  in 
 other  words,  by  a  particular  illustration.  If  God's  truth  and  faithful, 
 ness  be  fully  established,  and  made  more  manifest  by  the  lie  of  the 
 sinner,  that  is.  by  his  acting  contrary'  to  truth  Sn  nnt  receiving  but 
 opposing  the  truth  of  God.  why  is  he  condemned  as  a  sinner?  And 
 not  rather,  ^c,  may  be  translated, '  And  why  should  wc  rot  do'  fas  we 
 are  slanderously  represented,  and  as  some  say,  that  we  teach  that  we 
 should  do)  *  evil  that  good  may  come  ?'  The  meaning  is,  '  if  this  good 
 effect  of  glorifying  God  is  to  follow,  why  may  not  tlie  evil  be  done  that 
 leads  to  so  desirable  a  result  ?'  this  is  the  objection  in  ver.  5,  carried  out 
 nT  ^^\  ^"^  extent.— i/tf?rf.  Whose  damnation,  condemnation.— i)»(/^/r., 
 Mackn.,  Stuart.  Is  jtist,  for  adventuring  to  do  evil  that  good  may 
 come  ;  or,  for  laying  these  slanders  to  the  apostle's  chaif^e. —Burkttt. 
 9.  What  then?  are,  ^c— Paul  here  resumes  the  thread  of  his  discourse, 
 U8G 
 
 by  shewing,  that  although  he  has  admitted  that  the  advantages  of  the 
 Jews  over  the  Gentiles  are  great,  it  must  not  thence  be  concluded  that 
 the  Jews  arc  better  than  others.— Ha/d.  10.  As  it  is  vnttffi,  ^c. — 
 these  scriptures  are  collected  from  different  parts  of  the  Old  Testament ; 
 but  there  are  many  editions  of  the  Greek  Sejit.  in  which  they  all  stand 
 together  in  the  fourteenth  Psalm. — Doddr.  It  is  not  necessary,  in  order 
 to  make  good  the  apnstlc's  argument,  that  this  passage  should  be 
 spoken  of  the  Jews  of  tliat  age  in  general ;  it  is  enough  that  the  words 
 generally  agree  to  the  Jews  of  the  age. —  Whitby.  19.  The  /«»'— the 
 foregoing  being  from  the  Psalms,  it  is  evident  that  by  *  the  law'  is  here 
 meant  the  whole  body  of  the  Jewish  scriptures.— il/ncfrn.  The  whole 
 scriptures,  through  which,  in  fact,  the  moral  law  of  the  Jews  was  dif- 
 fused.— R.  Watson.  Two  objections  are  here  anticipated  ; — that  the 
 passages  quoted  are  applicable,  not  to  the  Jews,  but  to  tlie  Gentiles  ; 
 and  that,  even  if  they  referred  to  the  Jews,  it  could  only  be  some 
 wicked  persons  among  tlicm.  To  this  he  replied,  that  if  God  were  to 
 try  the  Jews  according  to  this  law,  they  could  not  stand  before  his 
 strict  justice.  All  the  world,  means  Jew  and  Gentile.  20.  Therefore 
 — dertls,  or  'works  :'  this  is  the  final  conclusion  drawn  from  the  wliole 
 of  the  preceding  discussion,  beginning  at  ver.  18  of  chap.  i. — Hntd. 
 The  law,  i.  e.,  the  law  of  God  in  its  manifestation,  whether  to  Jews  or 
 Gentiles. — R.  Watson.  The  reference  here  is  to  every  law  that  God 
 has  given  to  man.  whether  expressed  in  words  or  imprinted  in  the 
 heart. — Hntd.  T.f  tp-vwc  vofiov, '  by  works  of  law,'  the  article  is  omitted  ; 
 hence  it  is  the  apostle's  purpose  to  shew  that  no  man  whatever  can  be 
 justified  by  the  works  cither  of  the  Jewish  law  or  of  any  other.- Ji/j. 
 Middleton.  The  whole  context  shews  that  he  speaks  of  works  of  moral 
 law,  and  not  of  any  religious  observances,  except  as  they  may  be  pre- 
 sented by  moral  law,  such  as  the  worship  of  God  and  the  sabbath, 
 which  were  appointed  for  man  in  innocence.  As  to  sacrificial  and  pro- 
 pitiatory  ceremonies,  they  were  acts  of  faith  in  the  promised  Christ, 
 and  so  supposed  that  very  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  of  which  he 
 is  about  to  speak  ;  consequently  he  docs  not,  and  could  not,  notice  them 
 distinctly. — R.  Watson.  Justijied,  here  obviously  means,  that  no  man 
 can  obtain  by  means  of  his  works  a  favourable  sentence  from  Divine 
 justice. — Hald.  21.  The  righteousness  rf  God — by  this  'righteousness,' 
 the  justice  or  rectitude  of  the  Divine  nature  is  understood  hy  Camp. 
 'A  righteousness  belonging  to  faith,  and  not  that  conveyed  and  re- 
 ceived by  faith,'  says  Mackn.  This  is  quite  undefined  as  '  God's  me- 
 thod of  justification'  by  Newc.  It  here  signifies  neither  (iod's  rectitude 
 nor  mercy,  but  God's  method  of  constituting  men  righteous,  though 
 in  fact  they  arc  criminal,  and  obnoxious  to  punishment. — R.  Watson, 
 so  Doddr.  AiKaiotrvi'ft — the  original  word  in  the  verse  before  us  is  not 
 'justification;'  it  signifies  justice  or  righteousness  in  the  abstract, — 
 that  is,  the  quality  of  righteousness-  It  signifies,  also,  complete  coii 
 formity  or  obedience  to  the  law  ;  for  if  there  is  any  breach  of  the  law, 
 there  is  no  righteousness.  The  word  rendered  '  righteousness,'  chap, 
 i.  I",  and  in  this  verse,  signifies  both  justice  and  righteousness,— that 
 is  to  say,  conformity  to  the  law.  But  while  both  these  expressions 
 denote  this  conformity,  there  is  an  essential  difference  between  them. 
 'Justice'  imports  conformity  to  the  law  in  executing  its  sentence; 
 '  righteousness,'  conformity  in  obeying  its  precepts,  and  this  is  the 
 meaning  of  the  word  here.  If  these  ideas  be  interchanged  or  con- 
 founded, as  they  often  are,  the  whole  scope  of  the  apostle's  reasoning 
 will  be  misundi  rstood.  Without  the  law,  xwpit  voixov, '  without  law,* 
 signifies,  not  without  perfect  obedience,  but  without  any  regard  what- 
 ever to  the  obedience  of  man  to  the  law.  Mnnifrsted,  clearly  disco- 
 vered, or  made  fully  evident.  Being  wifJiessed  by  the  law— here  '  law,' 
 with  the  article  the,  refers  to  the  five  books  of  Moses,  thus  distinguished 
 from  the  v/ritings  of  the  prophets,  (see  Luke,  xxiv.  44.)  It  was  ob- 
 scurely testified  in  the  first  promise,  'The  seed  of  the  woman,'  Ac. 
 It  was  v;itnessed  in  all  the  declarations  of  mercy,  and  in  the  whole 
 economy  of  the  law  and  by  the  prophets,  (Ps.  li.  11  ;  Ixxi.  15,  19,  24, 
 
Of  Justification 
 
 ROMANS,  IV. 
 
 by  faith  in  Christ. 
 
 22  Even  the  righteousness  of  God  which  is 
 '  by  faith  of  Jesus  Christ  unto  all  and  upon 
 all  them  that  believe  :  for  "■  there  is  no  dif- 
 ference : 
 
 23  For  °  all  have  sinned,  and  come  short  of 
 the  glory  of  God  ; 
 
 24  Being  justified  freely  '  by  his  grace 
 *  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ 
 Jesus : 
 
 25  Whom  God  hath  ||  set  forth  ^to  be  a  pro- 
 pitiation through  faith  '  in  his  blood,  to  declare 
 his  righteousness  'for  the  ||remission  of  'sins 
 that  are  past,  through  the  forbearance  of  God  ; 
 
 26  To  declare,  /  sai/,  at  this  time  his  righte- 
 ousness :  that  he  might  be  just,  and  the  justi- 
 fier  of  him  whicli  believeth  in  Jesus. 
 
 27  "'  Where  is  boasting  then  ?  It  is  excluded. 
 By  what  law?  of  works?  Nay :  but  by  the  law 
 of  faith. 
 
 28  Therefore  we  conclude  "  that  a  man  is 
 justified  by  faith  without  the  deeds  of  the  law. 
 
 29  Is  he  the  God  of  the  Jews  only?  is  he 
 
 »  Acts  m.  3.%  30.  ver.  20,  21,  2-2.  ch.  S. 
 
 c  Cll.  1. 
 through- 
 out. 
 
 d  cU-  10.  12. 
 Gal.  3.  28. 
 Col.  S.  It. 
 
 e  ver.  9.  cll. 
 11.  32.  Gal. 
 
 /^cli'."i.  16. 
 
 EpU.  2.  8, 
 
 Tit.  3  .^,7. 
 g  Mat.20.2H. 
 
 Epli.  1.  7. 
 
 Col,  1.  N. 
 
 1  Tim.  2.  6. 
 
 Heb.  9   1:; 
 
 1  Pet.  1.  IS, 
 
 19 
 
 I  Or,/.„c- 
 urdained. 
 
 /(Lev.  16,15, 
 
 1  Jobu  2. 2. 
 
 8c  4.  10. 
 i  Col.  1.  20, 
 k  Acts  13  3S, 
 
 39.  1  Tim, 
 
 I,  15. 
 
 II  Or,i><i.'s;,i<f 
 over, 
 
 t  Acts  17.30. 
 
 Heb,  9.  15. 
 m  ch.  2.  17, 
 
 23.  ft  4.  2. 
 
 1  Cor.  129, 
 
 3I.Eph.2.9, 
 3.  Gal.  2.  Itj. 
 
 a  ch.  10 
 13.  Gill.  3,8, 
 20,  28. 
 
 1  Is   51 
 M.it 
 
 ;  Gen,  t5. 
 Gal,  3.  Ij 
 Jaiu   2 
 
 not  also  of  the  Gentiles?   Yes,  of  the  Gentiles 
 also  : 
 
 30  Seeing  °  it  is  one  God,  which  shall  justify 
 the  circumcision  by  faith,  and  uncircumcision 
 through  faith. 
 
 31  Do  we  then  make  void  the  law  through 
 faith  ?  God  forbid  ;  yea,  we  establish  the 
 law. 
 
 CHAP.   IV. 
 
 I  Abraham's  faith  was  hnpiited  to  him  for  riyhteous- 
 ness,  10  before  he  was  circumcised.  13  By  faith 
 only  he  and  his  seed  received  the  promise.  16  Abra- 
 ham is  the  father  of  all  that  believe.  24  Our  faith 
 also  shall  be  imputed  to  us  for  riyhttousness. 
 
 "IITHAT  shall  we  then  say  that  "  Abraham, 
 '  '     our  father  as  pertaining  to  the  flesh,  hath 
 
 found? 
 *2  For  if  Abraham  were  ''justified  by  works, 
 
 he   hath   wJtereof  to   glory ;   but  not   before 
 
 God. 
 3  For  what  saith   the  scripture?  "Abraham 
 
 believed  God,  and  it  was  counted  unto  iiim  for 
 
 rij;!iteousness. 
 
 &c. ;  Isa.  xliii.  21  ;  xlv.  24,  25.  &c.  ;  Jer.  xxiii.  5  ;  Dan.  ix.  24  ;  Hos. 
 
 X.  12;  Mai.  iv.  3.)  22.  Which  is  hy  faith—faith  is  no  part  of  that 
 
 righteousness  -,  but  it  is  through  faith  that  it  is  received  an.l  becomes 
 available  for  salvation.  Believers  flee  to  Christ  and  his  righteousnef»s 
 as  the  refuge  set  before  them  in  the  gospel.  By  faith  they  receive  him 
 as  their  surety,  and  place  their  trust  in  him,  as  representing  them  on 
 the  cross,  in  his  death  and  in  his  resurrection.— //uW.  Unto  all,  made 
 manifest  to  all.  And  upon  all,  ^c,  Uke  a  pure,  complete,  and  glorinus 
 rohe,  put  upon  all  them  that  believe. — Doddr.  The  righteousness  of 
 God  being  said  to  be  by  faith  to  all  that  believe,  proves  that  the  phrase 
 means  something  done  or  appointed  by  God,  which  passes  over  to 
 man.  23.  All  have  simted,  ^c,  by  sin  all  men  have  failed  to  glorify 
 God  theirMaker,  Preserver,  and  Governor. —  A'.  Watson.  Come  short, 
 Sfc. — if  they  come  short  of  obeying  the  law,  they  have,  as  sinners, 
 come  short  of  Gcd's  glory.  24.  Justified,  stands  opposed  to  accusa- 
 tion and  condemnation. — Haldane.  Freely,  without  pretending  to 
 plead  any  merit  of  their  own.  li// his  grace,  his  rich  and  sovereign 
 grace. — Doddr.  The  expression  is  redoubled  to  shew  that  all  is  of 
 GoA.—Hald.  With  respect  to  God,  justificatinn  is  of  mere  grace,  rf; 
 avTou  xapirt, — and  with  respect  to  us,  it  is  without  merit,  for  *  freely',' 
 dtiipcav,  seems  to  be  here  used,  not  so  much  to  signify  that  it  is  'a  free 
 gift,' as  it  is  called  x"p"^M«.  chap.  v.  i6,  and  is  strongly  included  in 
 its  being  said  to  be  '  by  his  grace,'  as  to  shew  that  it  is  without  a  cause 
 in  us,  there  being  notliing  in  us  to  move  God  to  it.  Thus,  answerable 
 to  the  Hebrew  word  DOH,  it  is  rendered  by  the  Sept.  6o}peav,  '  without 
 a  cause,'  Ps.  xxxv.  7,  19,  and  Ixix.  A.—Guyne.  Through  the  redemp- 
 tion— the  term  airoXvTpuiat^  denotes  that  kind  of  redemption  of  a  cap- 
 tive which  consisted  in  the  payment  of  a  price  for  his  life  and  liberty. 
 — Boothr.  The  apostle  here  describes  the  meritorious  cause  of  justifi- 
 cation by  a  metaphor  taken  from  the  redemption  of  captives  by  a  price 
 laid  down,  (see  Matt.  xx.  28;  Mark,  x.  45;  1  Tim.  ii.  6;  Heb.  ix.  12.) 
 — Poole.  Though  justification  comes  freely  to  man,  yet  it  is  through 
 the  redemption  or  purchase  of  tlu^  Son  of  God.  7;*  or  by  Christ  Jesus, 
 wholly  in  him,  and  solely  accomplished  by  him.  25.  Whom  God 
 
 hath  set  forth — TrpoeSeru  means,  '  to  exhibit  to  public  view,'  *to  place 
 before  the  eyes  of  men,'  (I  Pet.  i.  20.)  A  propitiation,  iKaaTttpiov,  'a 
 propitiatory  offering,'  the  latter,  Ovfia,  being  implied.  —  Boothr.,  as 
 Eisner.  Some  understand  this  of 'a  propiti;itor\ '  as  signifying  'the 
 mercy-seat,'  as  the  same  word  is  translated  Heb.  ix.  5;  some  as  'a 
 prnpitiatory  sacrifice,' which  is  to  be  preferred  ;  but  it  comes  to  the  same 
 thing. — Hald.  To  propitiate  is  to  appease,  to  turn  away  the  wrath  of 
 an  offended  person.  In  this  case,  the  wrath  to  be  turned  away  is  the 
 wrath  of  God. — R.  Watson.  Through  faith  in  his  blood,  believing  that 
 his  death  is  a  sacrifice  which  atones  for  sin. — Hald.  To  declare,  '  ad 
 ostensionem  jiLstiticB  ejus.' — Mont.  *  For  the  manifestatitm  of,'  &c. — 
 Boothr.  For  the  refnissio?!,  6ia,  'on  account  of.'  That  are  past, 
 '  done  before,' or  'formerly  committed,' under  the  old  dispensation. 
 Forbearance  of  God— it  was  God's  forbearance  that  passed  by  the 
 sins  of  his  people  before  the  death  of  Christ,  till  which  time  his  justice 
 had  received  no  satisfaction. — Hald.  26.  To  declare,  S(c.,  'for  the 
 manifestation  at  this  time  of  his  own  righteousness,*  &c.  That  he 
 might  be  just,  ^c,  'that  he  might  be  righteous,  and  yet  account 
 righteous  him  who  hath  faith  in  Jesus.' — Boothr.  By  'just,'  Taylor 
 would  here  understand  'merciful;'  and  Locke,  'faithful  to  his  pro- 
 mises ;'  but  either  of  these  makes  but  a  very  cold  sense  when  compared 
 with  that  we  have  here  given.    It  is  no  way  wonderful  that  God  should 
 
 be  merciful  or  faithful  to  his  promises,  though  the  justifier  of  believing 
 sinners,  but  that  he  should  be  just  in  such  an  act  might  have  seemed 
 ineredible.  had  we  not  received  such  an  account  of  the  propitiation 
 and  atonement. — Doddr.  27.  Of  works,  if  works  were  admitted  in 
 the  smallest  degree  to  advance  or  aid  man's  justification,  he  might  in 
 that  proportion  have  ground  for  boasting.— /f«M.  28,  Without  the 
 
 deeds,  §-c.,  '  without  perfect  obedience  to  any  law,  as  the  meritorious 
 cause  of  their  justification.'— il/afA:«.  This  passage  asserts  not  merely 
 that  men  Eire  justiiied  by  faith  without //er/wi  obedience  to  any  law, 
 hut  without  any  obedience  of  their  own.  Good  works  are  necessary 
 to  the  believer,  and  are  the  things  which  accompany  salvation;  but 
 they  are  not  in  any  respect  necessary  to  justification  ;  they  have  no- 
 thing  to  do  with  it.  29.  Of  the  Jews— of  the  Gentiles,  rather,  'of 
 
 Jews,'  '  of  Gentiles  :'  he  is  the  God  of  both  when  they  believe  in  his 
 Son. — Hald.  30.  Setting,  §-c.— it  must  not  he  thought  that  God  is 
 variable  in  the  action  of  justifying  sinners.— Pou/e.  Both  Jew  and 
 Gentile  are  justified  by  the  same  God,  in  the  same  way.— Hald.  The 
 circumcision  by  faith,  and  uncircumcision  tlirough  faith,  'the  circum- 
 cised by  faith,  and  the  uncircumcised  by  faith.'  The  prepositions  e« 
 and  bia  are  of  the  same  import. — Stuart.  Ek  Trio-Tewr- oia  th?  TTJtiTewc, 
 — these  expressions  are  precisely  the  same  in  sense,  only  the  addition 
 of  the  article  in  the  last  case  extends,  and  more  pointedly  ascertains, 
 the  meaning.  It  is  one  and  the  same  God  who  shall  justify  the  be-  , 
 lieving  Jews  by  faith,  and  the  believing  Gentiles,  Aia  rn?  ina-reiot,  by 
 TUAT  sxME  faith. —  Clarke.  31.  Do  we  then — the  law,  'the  Old  Tes- 
 tament.'—Siuar/,  Tholnck.  'The  moral  law." — Hald.  We  establish, 
 ffC. — it  is  quite  obvious  in  what  way  gratuitous  justification  by  Christ 
 establi-hes  the  law.  Can  there  be  any  greater  respect  shewn  to  the 
 law  than  that,  when  God  determines  to  save  men  from  its  curse,  he 
 makes  his  own  Son  bear  its  curse  ?  We  sliew  that  by  faith  in  Christ  we 
 receive  a  perfect  righteousness,  by  which,  in  all  its  demands  and  all 
 its  sanctions,  the  law  is  fulfilled.- Hd/rf. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —1.  Abraham— in  the  instance  of  Abraham  the  apostle 
 illustrates  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith,  shewing  that  be,  so 
 eminently  holy,  was  thus  justified  ;  and  who,  then,  could  suppose  that 
 justificatitm  was  to  be  obtained  by  any  other  means?  What  shall  ue 
 then  say  that  Abraham?  ^c— the  Jew  would  ask.  Was  he  not  justified 
 by  circumcision  }—Hald.  As  pcrtaifting  ?  fyc,  rather,  '  hath  found  ac- 
 cording to  the  flesh.' — Ham.  That  is,  respecting  circumcision. — Hald,, 
 so  A.  Clarke.  It  may  mean,  works  done  by  a  man's  own  natuial 
 strength,  flesh  being  often  opposed  to  spirit.— Si^?/,  as  Grot.  The  former 
 is  doubtless  the  meaning. — Ed.  2.  By  ivorks,  by  his  obedience  to 
 
 God  in  submitting  to  the  rite  of  circumcision.  To  glory,  he  would 
 have  matter  of  glorying. — Boothr.  But  not  before  God,  not  being  jus- 
 tified by  circumcision  or  any  work  of  obedience. — Hald.  Therefore 
 he  was  not  justified  by  works.— B/».  Bull,  Ham.  The  most  simple 
 and  satisfactory  interpretation  of  this  verse  is  the  foIlo\\  ing  :  '  If  Abra- 
 ham was  justified  by  works,  he  hath  whereof  to  glory;  but  he  hath 
 not  whereif  to  glory  before  God,  and  therefore  he  was  not  justified  by 
 works.'  —  Hodge.  3.  What  saith  the  scripture?  God's  own  word 
 liath  decided  the  matter.  Abraham  believed,  ^c. — see  Gen.  xv.  6, — 
 Hald.  And  it  was  counted,  %c.,  that  which  he  believed  concerning  the 
 promised  seed  was  graciously  transferred  to  his  account,  or  made 
 over,  or  imputed  to  him,  for  righteousness,  as  if  he  himself  had  done 
 and  suffered  what  the  Messiah,  in  whom  he  believed,  was  to  fulfil  in  his 
 room  and  stead. — Guyse.     Macknight  says  that  'the  believer's  faith  is 
 
 Relfections  on  Chap.  III.  —  I.  Hoic  depraved  is  human 
 nature!  God  has  denounced  Jew  and  Gentde  as  being  all 
 under  sin.  Man,  unrenevred  by  Divine  grace,  presents  to  us 
 an  awful  spectacle.  Human  education  may  soften  the  man- 
 ners, and  human  laws  restrain  from  criminal  acts,  but  still 
 '  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God,  not  subject  to  his 
 law,  nor  can  it  be.'  'All  theworld'are  '  become  guilty  before 
 God. 
 
 1187 
 
 II.  How  adapted  is  the  salivation  of  Christ  to  our  miserable  con- 
 dition !  He  has  paid  a  precious  price  for  the  ransom  of  the 
 soul.  His  righteousness  is  all  perfect  and  all  sufficient  to 
 cover  the  transgressions  of  the  sinner.  The  blessing  is  free  ; 
 the  terms  are  simply  faith  in  the  Divine  Fulfiller  of  the  law  in 
 the  believer's  place  and  stead.  'Lord,  we  would  believe; 
 help  thou  our  unbelief!' 
 
Abraham  s  faith  imputed  to  him 
 
 ROMANS,  IV, 
 
 for  righteousness. 
 
 i  Now  "  to  him  tliat  vvorketh  is  the  reward 
 not  reckoned  of  grace,  but  of  debt. 
 
 5  But  to  him  that  worketh  not,  but  believeth 
 on  him  that  justifieth  '  the  ungodly,  his  faith 
 is  counted  for  righteousness. 
 
 6  Even  as  David  also  describeth  the  blessed- 
 ness of  the  man,  unto  whom  God  imputeth 
 righteousness  without  works, 
 
 7  Sai/inrf, '  Blessed  are  they  whose  iniquities 
 are  forgiven,  and  whose  sins  are  covered. 
 
 8  Blessed  is  the  man  to  whom  the  Lord  will 
 not  impute  sin. 
 
 9  Cometh  this  blessedness  then  upon  the 
 circumcision  on!i/,  or  upon  the  uncircumcision 
 also?  for  we  say  that  faith  was  reckoned  to 
 Abraham  for  righteousness. 
 
 10  Ho%v  was  it  then  reckoned?  when  he  was 
 in  circumcision,  or  in  uncircumcision  ?  Not  in 
 circumcision,  but  iu  uncircumcision. 
 
 11  And  ^he  received  the  sign  of  circum- 
 cision, a  seal  of  the  righteousness  of  tlie  faith 
 which  he  hud  ;/ct  being  uncircumcised  ;  that 
 ■•he  might  be  tlie  father  of  all  them  that  be- 
 lieve, though  they  be  not  circumcised  ;  that 
 
 A.  D. 
 
 ich,  1 
 
 h  Luke  I 
 (Jul.  3.' 
 
 /  ch.  3-  20. 
 &  b    13,  2U. 
 St  7.  H.  10, 
 II.  1  Cjc. 
 15.  50. 
 
 3.  ♦. 
 
 m  ch,  3.  2*. 
 ..  Gal.  3  SS. 
 u  Is   SI    S. 
 
 cb.  9.  B. 
 
 0  Gen.  17.  5 
 Or,  likt 
 
 righteousness  might  be  imputed  unto  them 
 also : 
 
 \-l  And  tne  father  of  circumcision  to  them 
 who  are  not  of  the  circumcision  only,  but  who 
 also  walk  in  the  steps  of  that  faith  of  our  father 
 -Abraham,  which  he  had  being  yet  uncircum- 
 cised. 
 
 13  For  the  promise,  that  he  should  be  the 
 '  heir  of  the  world,  iras  not  to  Abraham,  or  to 
 his  seed,  through  the  law,  but  through  the 
 righteousness  of  faith. 
 
 U  For  '  if  they  which  are  of  the  law  be  heirs, 
 faith  is  made  void,  and  the  promise  made  of 
 none  effect : 
 
 Id  Because  'the  law  worketh  wrath:  for 
 where  no  law  is,  there  is  no  transgression. 
 
 10  Therefore  it  is  of  faitli,  that  it  mipht  be 
 
 by  grace  ;  "  to  the  end  the  promise  might  be 
 sure  to  all  the  seed  ;  not  to  that  only  which  is 
 of  the  law,  but  to  that  also  which  is  of  the 
 faith  of  Abraham  ;  °  wlio  is  the  father  of  us 
 all, 
 
 17  (As  it  is  written,  ■■  I  have  made  thee  a 
 father  of  many  nations,)  ||  before  him  whom  he 
 
 counted  to  him  for  righteousness'  on  account  of  what  Christ  has  done, 
 and  that  this  is  very  different  from  the  doctrine  of  those  who  hold  tliat, 
 by  having  faith  imputed  or  counted  for  righteousness,  the  believer  be- 
 comes perfecHy  righteous.  But  it  is  not  the  act  of  (aith,  but  the  ob- 
 ject  of  faith  is  liere  to  be  regarded  :  and  this  is  what  those  writers  mean 
 who  speak  of  '  imputed  righteousness."  Macknight  places  the  righte. 
 ousness  to  the  account  of  the  act  of  believing,  which  lie  considers  ac- 
 cepted 'by  the  mere  grace  or  favour  of  God,  through  Jesus  Christ;' 
 but  those  who  believe  in  *  imputed  righteousness'  place  the  account  to 
 the  merits  oi  Christ  solely,  as  the  object  of  the  believer's  faith.— .Bii. 
 
 •  If,'  says  Boothroyd,  'righteousness  be  accounted  to  sinners,  whose 
 righteousness  is  it  ?  If  it  be  said  that  sinners,  ou  believing,  are  treated 
 as  righteous,  this  is  readily  granted.  But  the  question  still  is.  On  what 
 grounds  are  they  so  treated  r  Is  it  on  the  ground  of  their  faith  only  ? 
 Has  the  obedience  and  death  of  Christ  no  efficacy  in  this  affair?  If 
 they  have  not.  what  shall  we  make  of  our  apostle's  reasoning  '  Will 
 not  such  a  sentence  make  Christ,  in  the  strictest  sense,  to  have  died  in 
 vain  ?'— jVeu)  Fain.  Bil,.  in  loo.  •  Faith.'  says  Poole,  •  is  not  our  righte- 
 uusiicss  materially,  but  objectively  and  organically,  as  it  apprehends 
 and  applies  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  which  is  the  matter  of  our  jus- 
 tification.'—.^;i7io^  in  loe.  Hodge  objects  here  to  including  the  object, 
 i.e.,  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  as  inconsistent  with  the  connexion 
 of  the  passage  in  both  Testaments;  but  as  he  admits  faith  to  be  the 
 means  and  not  the  ground  of  jusiilicatiou,  it  certainly  must  embrace 
 its  object,  or  how  can  it  be  faith  >—Ed.  He  proceeds,  '  It  was  not  as 
 "one  who  works,"  but  as  a  believer,  that  Abraham  >vas  regarded  in 
 hisjustificatiDn.  It  was  not  works,  but  faith,  that  was  imputed  to 
 him,  in  order  to  his  being  introduced  into  the  ninuber  and  blessings  of 
 the  righteous.  Faith,  therefore,  was  not  the  ground  iif  his  justifica- 
 tion, but  the  means  of  his  being  ju..tified.'— r'oj/jwi.  on  liomins. 
 4.  Workelh,  performs  works  to  entitle  him  to  salvation,  and  obtains  it 
 on  that  account,  whicli  Abraham  did  not.  T/ie  reward,  of  being  ac- 
 cepted, /s  not  reckoned  of  grace,  a  point  of  favour.  But  of  debt,  as 
 what  he  has  a  just  claim  to,  on  the  foot  of  work  and  wages  doe  for  it. 
 — Gtft/se.  Had  Abraham  been  justified  by  faith  as  an  act  or  disposition 
 that  IS  worthy  of  apjirobarion,  he  would  have  been  justified  by  works, 
 and  might  have  boasted.— H./(rf.  5.  Tliat  worketh  not,  with  any  de- 
 sign to  be  justified  by  his  obedience.  But  believetli,  ffc,  depends  upon 
 the  faithful  word  and  free  promise  of  God,  who,  through  and  ou  ac- 
 count of  the  righteousness  cf  Jesus  Christ,  graciously  acquits  and 
 accepts  him.  His  faith,  Jc,  the  object  of  this  man's  faith— that  which 
 he  sees  and  is  persuaded  of  in  the  promise,  and  embraces  for  his  ac- 
 ceptance with  God.  7s  counted,  tjc.,  '  is  reckoned  or  imputed  to  him 
 for  justification.'— Ghi/s,..  Faith  may  be  said  to  be  imputed  to  us  in 
 order  to  our  being  justified  or  beeoming  righteous;  that  is,  as  we  are 
 cliargcd  as  debtors  in  the  book  of  God's  account,  what  Christ  has  done 
 m  fulfilling  all  righteousness  for  us  is  charged  as  the  grand  balance  of 
 the  account;  but  that  it  may  appear  that  wc  are,  according  to  the 
 tenour  of  the  gospel,  entiUed  to  the  benefit  of  this,  it  is  also  entered  iu 
 the  book  of  God's  remembrance  '  that  we  are  believers  ;'  and  this  ap- 
 pearing, wc  are  graciously  discharged,  yea,  and  rewarded,  as  if  we 
 ourselves  had  been  perfectly  innocent  and  obedient.— I>orfrfr.,  see  also 
 Witsitis.  It  is  denied  that  Christ's  obedience  to  the  moral  law  is  im- 
 puted to  any  man,  and  asserted  that  it  is  tl.rough  his  blood,  the  merits 
 of  his  passion  and  dc.ith,  that  we  have  rcdemptioo,  and  not  by  his 
 obedience  to  the  moral  law  in  our  stead.— So  A.  Clarke.  The  ungodly, 
 here  relates  not  to  what  a  man  continues  to  be  alter  his  justification, 
 but  to  what  he  was  ileemed  to  be  before  it.—Guyse.  It  is,  '  that  un- 
 gutlly  one,'  Tov  arrejSn :  particular  reference  is  had  to  Abraham,  who, 
 in  his  state  of  unregeneracy,  was  an  ungodly  person.— Gi»,  as  Henry. 
 0.  hoen  as  David,  8fc.—hy  quoling  the  authority  of  David,  the  apostle 
 also  seizes  on  another  convincing  argument.- So  Hald.  Imputeth— 
 the  same  word  in  the  original  which  in  verses  3,  4,  5,  is  rendered 
 
 •  counted,  or  •  reckoned,"  is  here  rendered  •  im]iutcd.'  All  of  tlicm 
 b.:ar  the  same  nieaiiiiig  of  placing  to  the  believer's  account,  as  if  he 
 
 J1W« 
 
 himself  had  performed  it,  the  righteousness  of  Jesus  Christ,  called  in 
 chap.  V.  19,  ills  '  obedience." — Hald.  Without  works,  without  the  least 
 consideration  of  his  own  good  works  as  an  ingredient  in  his  justifica. 
 tion.  —  Guyse.  7.  Covered — this  appears  to  be  an  allusion  to  the 
 
 mercy. scat  which  covered  the  law.  Sins  must  be  covered  before  they 
 can  be  forgiven.  There  must  be  a  way  iu  which  God  hides  them  from 
 his  face.  This  way  is  through  the  blood  of  Christ.— Hald.  8.  Im- 
 ftute .sin,  'account  sin." — Huothr.  9.  This  blessedness,  privil.'gc  of 
 
 free  pardon  and  acceptance  with  God.  Upon  the  circumcision,  the 
 Jews.  The  uncircumcision,  the  Gentiles. — Guyse.  For  we  say,  tjc, 
 the  fact  that  faith  was  counted  to  Abraham  for  righteousness  is  the 
 fact  on  which  he  builds.  10.  Not  in  circumcision,  ^-c. — this  question 
 determines  that  Abraham's  justification  by  faith  was  previous  to  cir- 
 cumcision, and  therefore  circumcision  could  not  be  its  cause. — Hald, 
 II.  The  sign,  ^c,  or  '  mark,"  which  was  as  a  sign  or  mark  of  the  cove- 
 nant between  God  and  him,  aud  as  God's  seal  of  the  righteousness 
 which  he  possessed  by  believing.  The  term  seat  is  explanatory  of  (he 
 other,  and  denotes  that  the  covenant  was  confirmed  and  ratified.  The 
 father,  '  the  leader,'  the  example  of  the  way  in  which  men  should  be 
 accounted  righteous. — Boothr.  12.  .ind  the  father  of  circumcision, 
 
 fyc. — in  like  manner  a  spiritual  father  to  the  Jews,  who  are  not  so 
 merely  as  circumcised,  but  are  spiritual  children,  following  his  believ- 
 ing example  before  lie  was  circumcised. — So  Guyse.  He  is  the  head 
 and  representative  of  all  the  circumcision — of  all  the  Jews  who  walk 
 in  the  steps  of  that  faith. — .■!.  Clarke.  13.  Heir  of  the  world,  cither 
 Canaan,  the  choicest  spot  in  the  world  ;  or  many  nations  of  the  world 
 who  sprung  from  him ;  or  the  comforts  of  the  hfe  that  now  is ;  or  it 
 points  to  Christ,  heir  of  the  world,  aud  in  him  .\braham  was  also,  (Gen. 
 xii.  3.)— Hen.  Or  it  may  have  reference  to  the  actual  possession  of 
 the  world  by  the  spiritual  seed  of  Abraham  and  Christ  their  head, — 
 Hodge.  Haldane  seems  to  understand  'the  world  to  come,'  {see 
 chap.  viii.  17  ;  Luke,  xii.  32;  2  Tim.  iv.  8;  Rev.  iii.  21.) — Kspos.  of  Rom. 
 in  toe.  Canaan  having  reference  to  a  better  world,  as  a  type.  This 
 is  the  view  taken  of  it  also  by  Bull,  Burkitt,  Ham.,  Mackn.  Parkh., 
 T.  Wilson.  By  '  the  world'  here  is  meant  both  this  world  and  that 
 which  is  to  come.  *  All  things' are  the  believer's. — So  Gill.  Abraham 
 was  to  be  the  medium  through  whom  the  mercy  of  God  was  commu- 
 nicated to  the  world,  his  justification  shewing  the  rule  and  manner 
 according  to  which  ail  men  should  expect  this  blessing.  This  must 
 therefore  relate  to  the  way  in  which  every  person  must  claim  justifica- 
 tion.—So  A.  Clarke.  Through  tlie  law,  the  promise  does  not  belong  to 
 the  Jews  as  such.  They  are  not  heirs  as  belonging  to  the  legal  dispen. 
 sation,  or  as  being  descendants  of  Abraham.  Tttrough  the  righteous- 
 ness of  faith,  the  righteousness  which  was  counted  or  imputed  to 
 Abraham.  14,  For  if  they,  ^-c,  *  if  the  Jews  are  heirs  by  virtue  of 
 
 their  being  under  the  legal  dispensation,  then  the  inheritance  is  not 
 obtained  through  faith;  faith  is  set  aside."  .ind  t/ie promise,  ^c,  the 
 promise  of  the  inheritance  through  faith  is  then  annulled,  as  the  in- 
 heritance is  obtained  through  descent. — Hald.  !.■».  Because  the  law, 
 ^■c,  but  this  is  by  no  means  true  ;  for  the  law,  to  transgressors,  as  all 
 men  arc,  worketh  wrath  or  produceth  punishment. — Bnot/ir.,  so  Clarke. 
 Considering  the  degenerate  state  of  mankind,  (described  chaps,  i.,  ii., 
 iii.,)  the  moral  law,  even  as  discernible  by  the  light  of  nature,  and  much 
 more  as  revenled  by  Moses,  pronounces  a  sentence,  and  exposes  to  an 
 execution,  of  wiatb,  upon  ali  that  are  under  it  as  a  covenant  of  works. 
 — Guyse.  Mark  here,  that  law  without  the  article  is  commonly  used 
 by  the  apostle  in  this  epistle  for  law  in  general,  and  with  the  article, 
 for  the  Mosaic  law. — Greenf.  Our  translation,  by  constantly  saying 
 'the  law,"  is  often  obscure. — Middleton.  16.  Therefore  it  is  offuith, 
 §-c.,  i.  e.,  justification  is  of  faith. — Keyw.  '  Since,  therefore,  it  is  im- 
 possible that  any  of  us  should  be  entitled  to  spii  itiial  and  eternal  bless- 
 ings by  our  own  obedience  to  the  moral  any  more  than  to  the  cere, 
 monial  law,  God  has  wisely  and  mercifully  ordered  that  they  should 
 be  bestowed,  gratis,  upon  the  lieirs  of  salvation." — Guyse.  1 7.  A  fa- 
 tlter  of  many  nations — according  to  tlie  apostle"s  iiiteriiietation  of  this 
 
A  bniham  's  faith. 
 
 ROMANS,  V. 
 
 Justijicatwn  by  Jailh. 
 
 believed,  men  God,  ^  who  quickeiietli  the  dead, 
 and  calloth  those  '  things  which  be  not  as 
 thouj;!i  tliey  were. 
 
 18  Who  against  hope  believed  in  hope,  that 
 he  mijjht  become  the  father  of  many  nations, 
 according  to  that  which  was  spolien,  '  So  shall 
 thy  seed  be. 
 
 19  And  being  not  weak  in  faith,  'he  consi- 
 dered not  his  own  body  now  dead,  wlien  be 
 was  abont  an  hnndred  years  old,  neither  yet 
 the  deadness  of  Sarali's  womb  : 
 
 •20  He  staggered  not  at  the  promise  of  God 
 throiigli  unbelief;  but  was  strong  in  faith, 
 giving  glory  to  God  ; 
 
 •X\  And  being  fully  persuaded  that,  what  he 
 had  promised,  "  he  was  able  also  to  perform. 
 
 •22  And  therefore  it  was  imputed  to  him  for 
 righteousness. 
 
 23  Now  Mt  was  not  written  for  his  sake  alone, 
 that  it  was  imputed  to  him  ; 
 
 24  But  for  us  also,  to  whom  it  shall  be  im- 
 puted, if  we  believe  ''  on  him  that  raised  up 
 Jesus  our  Lord  from  the  dead  ; 
 
 A.  D.  6U. 
 
 A.  D,  60. 
 
 7ch.  8.  11. 
 
 .-  Is    M  6,  fi. 
 
 Ei-h  2.1,5 
 
 cli.  3    as    & 
 
 r  cV.  9.  20, 
 
 5  0.  &  S.32. 
 
 1  Cor.  1  -'S. 
 
 2  <;or.  6.>l. 
 
 I  P.t.  t.  lU 
 
 Uiil.  1.  4 
 
 1  ivt  ■>.■:*. 
 
 Hi  .1.  \K 
 
 J  Geo.  1.^.  5 
 
 Hch.  9.  '2H 
 
 n   1   C..I-.  1.^. 
 
 17,   1  Pet. 
 
 t  Gen.  17.1" 
 
 1.  21 
 
 Si  IS.   1). 
 
 'i  l9    3.'.  IT. 
 
 Heb-  11.  11. 
 
 .I'lhii  ib..s:i. 
 
 Vi. 
 
 ch   .S-JS,tO. 
 
 h  Ki,h.S.  U. 
 
 Col.   I.  20. 
 
 c  Jiilm  10.0. 
 
 &   1*    6. 
 
 Kph.  2.  18. 
 
 &  .H  12. 
 
 Heb.  10.  19 
 
 d  1  Cor.16  1. 
 
 -  H.-b.  S.  C 
 
 /  flljt.  fl.  II, 
 
 't  I's.  1  I')    'i 
 
 12.  Acts  5. 
 
 Luke  1.  H7, 
 
 11.2  Cor  12. 
 
 ■15.  Hl-Li   11. 
 
 lU.  Phil.  2. 
 
 19. 
 
 17.  Jam.  1. 
 
 2.  1-2    lPt!t, 
 
 .c  cli     1.^  1. 
 
 3.  I*. 
 
 I  Cor.  10,  fi, 
 
 if  Jam.  1.  S 
 
 11. 
 
 It  Jam.  I.  12, 
 
 i  Phil.  1.20. 
 
 4  2  Cor. 1,22 
 
 V  Acts2.'Ji. 
 
 Gal.  4.  ii. 
 
 Si  l:t.  80. 
 
 Eph.  1.  13, 
 
 It. 
 
 25  *  Who  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and 
 
 "was  raised  again  for  our  justification. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  Being  justijied  bij  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God,  2 
 and  joy  in  our  hope,  8  that  sith  we  were  reconciLd  by 
 his  blood,  when  we  were  enemies,  10  we  shall  much 
 more  bv  saved  being  reconciled.  \2  As  sin  and  death 
 came  by  Adam,  \1  so  much  mure  riyhiequsmss  aitd 
 lifebyjisus  Christ.  20  JHiere  sin  abounded ,  graoa 
 did  supcrabound. 
 
 THEREFORE  °  being  justified  by  faitii,  we 
 have  ''  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ : 
 
 2  ^  By  whom  also  we  have  access  by  faith 
 into  this  grace  '^wherein  we  stand,  and  "re- 
 juice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God. 
 a  And  not  only  so,  but  *"  we  glory  in  tribula- 
 tions also  :  ^knowing  that  tribulation  worketh 
 patience  ; 
 
 4  ''  And   patience,  experience  ;   and    experi- 
 ence, hope  : 
 
 5  'And  hope  maketh  not  ashamed ;  ''because 
 the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts 
 
 inomise,  il  imports  *a  numerous  spiritual  offspring','  as  well  as  *a  nu- 
 merous natural  posterity.' — Hald.  Before  him.  !fic. — if  we  omit  the 
 parenthesis  we  shall  see  the  text  more  clearly,  as  reniloied  by  Bootli- 
 royd :  '  Who  is  the  father  uf  us  all  in  the  sight  of  rhut  God  in  whom  ho 
 believed,  who  givetli  life  to  tlie  dead,*  &e. — Nsu>  Fam.  Bih.in  loc. 
 God  views  him  as  the  father  of  all  the  spiritual  seed. — Ed.  Who 
 t/uickenefh  the  dend,  refers  to  the  literal  frfct  of  bringing  the  dead  to 
 life. — Hald.  'Gild,  who  can  even  raise  the  dead  to  life,  can  never 
 fail  of  accomplishing  whatsoever  he  has  promised.' — Clarke.  Refers 
 ti)  the  bodies  of  Abraham  and  S-irah. — Biutlhr.,  as  Grot..  Locke,  &c. 
 \i.  Against  hope,  Trap'  eAm^o,  '  beyond  hope.' — Hald.  Against,  [all 
 apparent]  *  ground  fif  hope.* — Stuart.  Bflieved  in  hope,  i.e.,  in  the 
 tiling  that  was  an  object  of  hope.  He  believed  the  promise.  19-  ^'ft 
 weak,  an  usual  way  of  expressing  the  opposite,  implying  that  his  faith 
 was  peculiarly  strong.  20.  Staggered  not.  ov  dtenptOt],  'did  not  dis- 
 pute.'— Mackn.  The  word  signifies  '  to  doubt,'  cr  'he-.itale.'  Gii-ing 
 g/ury,  by  believing,'  that  God  would  do  what  he  promised. — Haldmie. 
 •2->.  Jt  was  imputed,  his  faiih  going  out  in  this  manner  unto,  and  ter- 
 iiMnating  or  resting  upon,  the  Messiah,  its  great  object,  as  set  firth  in 
 the  promise,  (see  John,  viii.  5(5.) — Guyse.  23.  Not  written  for  his 
 
 .sake  alone,  the  hi--tory  of  tiie  way  in  wliich  Abraham  became  righteous 
 does  not  respect  himself  alone,  but  is  equally  applicable  to  all  believers  ; 
 it  is  not  a  singular  fact,  but  is  the  pattern  of  the  justification  of  all 
 who  shall  ever  find  acceptance  with  (iod. — Ihtld.  24.  To  tvhom  it, 
 
 tyc,  that  is.  the  same  righteousness  of  faith  shall  be  imputed  for  justi- 
 fication. Believe  on  him,  the  same  God.  Ttiat  raised,  SfC,  *  who  has 
 now  actually  raised  our  Lord  and  Saviour  from  the  dead,  that  he 
 might  be  eflfectually  blessed  with  all  spiritu.il  blessings  in  him.'  — 
 Guyse.  25.  Delivered,  into  the  hands  of  wicked  men.  For  our  of- 
 ftnres,  on  account  of  them,  nut  for  an  example  or  a  witness  merely, 
 iiuiset/ u^'»« /or,  ^c,  that  he  might  enter  the  holy  place,  presenting 
 his  own  blood  that  we  might  be  declared  righteous  through  his  death 
 lor  u&.  —  Hnld. 
 
 Chap.  V. —  I.  T  A  ere/ore— here  the  apostle  describes  the  blessed  ac- 
 companiments, the  security,  and  the  foundation  of  justification.  By 
 /'j(7/i,  *  believing  on  him  as  revealed  in  the  scriptures,' implying  a 
 knowledge  of  his  person  and  work.— //kW.  '  We  are  justified,  not  for, 
 but  by  means  of,  laith  in  Christ.' — Pearce.  'The  dreadful  breach  is 
 made  up  which  sin  had  opened  between  God  and  us.*  Through  our 
 Lord,  as  our  public  head  and  surety.  2.  By  whom,  as  our  only  Me- 
 diator and  Peace-Maker.      We  have  access,  tijv  ■npoaa-^tcynv,  '  admit- 
 
 tance, entrance,  or  introduction.'— Bens.  Into  this  gi'ace,  'this  ex- 
 cellent  state  of  grace,  and  lull  acceptance  with  GoiX.*— Guyse,  'This 
 grace'  may  also  allude  to  that  covLuant  which  is  called  '  the  covenant 
 of  grace.'— ii(/(7iie.  Rfjoice,  ^c.,  'in  an  a-^sured  hope  of  enjoying 
 that  bleasedpcss  and  glory  which  God  himself  is  possessed  ol."  — 
 Guyse.  3.  We  glory  in  tribulations  also,  not  in  themselves,  but  in 
 their  effects.— Hald.  Patience,  a  calm  submission  to  the  Divine  will. 
 ^Guyse.  4.  Experience,  ouKifim.  'probationem.'— ..l/y/i^  A  meta- 
 phor from  gold  purified  by  five.—Saurin.  The  Greek  signifies  '  trial,' 
 or  '  proof;*  and  proof  implies  that  the  trial  has  proved  the  genuineness 
 of  the  tried  person.  Hype,  the  genuineness  of  our  profession  being 
 manifest,  our  hope  of  glory  is  confirmed.  This  'hope'  first  springs 
 from  a  view  of  Christ's  wurk  and  mediation,  (ver.  2,)  and  here  acquires 
 new  force  by  the  proof  of  the  reality  of  the  believer's  union  with  the 
 Saviour  from  the  fruits  of  righteousness.— i/'//rf,  5.  Makvth  not 
 ashamed,  doth  not  disappoint  or  deceive  us.  Frustrated  hopes  maku 
 ashamed.  This  seems  quoted  from  Ps.  xxii  5.— Poole.  It  is  the  pre- 
 sent effect  of  hope  which  is  here  uitended  :  the  Christian  is  not  ashamed 
 of  his  hope,  though  it  is  ridiculed  by  the  world.— //«/(/.  Because,  Sfc, 
 '  because  it  rests  not  upon  any  merit  in  ourselves,  but  upon  the  free 
 favour  of  God  towards  us,  which,  in  its  gracious  and  effectual  opera- 
 tions, tKKtx^Tai,  is  poured  forth  into,  and  abundantly  fills,  our  souls 
 with  its  lovely  manifestations  and  distinguishing  fruits,  by  the  spi- 
 ritual  influence  and  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit.'— O^yse.  Shed  aliroad, 
 t/iKex"Tat,  gives  the  idea  of  abundance,  magnitude,  &c. — Bloomjield. 
 It  designates  plenty  and  abundance  of  the  highest  sort,  by  a  meta- 
 phor  taken  from  a  torrent,  or  rather  from  the  watering  of  plants.— 
 Carpzov.  ZKK^\v7ai,  '  diftusa  es\.*—Mont.  '  Is  poured  out.'  Refer- 
 ring to  the  abundant  measure  of  the  sense  of  the  love  of  God  to  us. 
 —Haldane,  so  Bp.  Hull,  so  Koppe,  so  also  Gill,  who  remarks,  'hope 
 does  not  depend  upon,  nor  is  it  supported  by,  our  love  and  obedience 
 to  God,  but  the  love  of  God  to  us.'— E.r/)os.  in  loc.  The  love  of  God 
 here  means,  God's  love  to  us,  and  not  ours  to  him,  as  appears  from 
 the  following  verses,  in  which  the  apostle  illustrates  the  greatness 
 and  f«cuess  of  this  love.— Hodge.  Many  writers  confine  this  to  the 
 perception  of  God's  love  to  us,  but  the  spirit  of  adoption  is  doubtless  a 
 spirit  of  love  to  God,  as  well  as  confidence  in  him,  and  must  be  here 
 included.— So  Scott.  Understand  here,  love  to  God,  arising  from  the 
 manifestation  of  his  love  to  m.—Bens.  It  is  far  better,  with  Carpzoo, 
 to  trace  the  reason  for  this  hope  to  the  unbounded  grace  of  God, 
 so  plentifully  poured  out  upon  us  by  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  given  as  a 
 
 Hkflections  on  Chap.  IV. — Here  are  two  important 
 truths — I.  There  is  no  justijication  by  works.  Our  obedience 
 is  detective,  and  can  never  juslit'y  us  ;  and  '  if  Abraham  were 
 justified  by  works,  he  bath  whereof  to  glory,'  But  no  flesh 
 can  glory  in  tiie  sight  of  God.  The  apostle  James  alludes  to 
 tlio  act  of  the  patriarch,  and  adds,  '  "^'e  see,  then,  how  that  by 
 works  a  man  is  justified,  and  not  by  faith  only.'  But  does 
 the  scripture  contradict  itself?  Ceruinly  not ;  but  those  who 
 plead  from  this  that  a  man's  good  works  can  justify  him,  con- 
 tradict the  language  of  the  apostle  Paul,  and,  indeed,  the  whole 
 tenour  of  scripture.  Dr.  Gill,  ihougli  extreme  in  some  views, 
 is  most  clear  on  this  point — *  Ve  see,  then,  how  that  by  works 
 a  man  is  justified,  not  as  causes  procuring  his  justification, 
 but  as  effects  declaring  it ;  for  the  best  works  are  imperfect, 
 and  cannot  be  a  rii:;hteousness  justifying  in  the  sight  of  God, 
 and  are  unprofitable  in  this  respect ;  for,  when  they  are  per- 
 formed in  the  best  manner,  they  are  no  other  than  what  it  is  a 
 man's  duty  to  perform,  and  therefore  cannot  justify  from  sin 
 he  has  committed  :  and  besides,  justification  in  this  sense 
 would  frustrate  the  grace  of  God,  make  void  the  death  of 
 Christ,  and  encourage  boasting  in  men.  Good  works  do  not 
 1189 
 
 go  before  justification,  as  causes  or  conditions,  but  follow  it, 
 as  fruits  and  etiects. ' 
 
 11.  Tl'e  are  justijied  by  the  imputation  of  Christ's  righteousness. 
 The  bold  denial  of  this  doctrine  by  some  writers  is  no  refuta- 
 tion of  it.  There  is  obviously  some  kind  of  imputation  and 
 exchange  takes  place  in  justification,  and  wo  'rest  upon  that 
 Saviour  who  was,  by  gracious  imputation,  mfide  sin  for  us, 
 that  we,  by  a  similar  exchange,  might  be  made  the  righteous- 
 ness of  God  in  him.'  Hence  the  lllh  article  of  the  church  of 
 England  properly  asserts,  '  We  are  accounted  righteous  before 
 God  only  for  the  merits  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.' 
 •  The  righteousness  of  Christ  is  ours,'  says  Bishop  Cooper, 
 '  and  ours  by  us  great  a  right  as  anything  we  possess— to  wit, 
 by  the  free  gift  of  God  ;  for  it  bath  pleased  hira  to  give  us  a 
 garment  who  were  naked  ;  and  to  give  us,  who  had  none  of 
 our  own,  a  righteousness  answerable  to  justice.'  Hence  we 
 conclude,  in  the  language  of  another  esteemed  divine,  '  Justi- 
 fication by  Christ's  imputed  righteousness  is  the  centre  arch 
 of  that  bridge  by  which  we  pass  out  of  time  into  a  blissful 
 eternity.' 
 
Justification  hij  fnitli. 
 
 ROMANS,  V. 
 
 The  abundance  of  grace- 
 
 by  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  given  unto  us. 
 
 6  For  when  we  were  yet  without  strength, 
 II  in  due  time  '  Christ  died  for  the  ungodly. 
 
 7  For  scarcely  for  a  righteous  man  will  one 
 die  :  yet  peradventure  for  a  good  man  some 
 would  even  dare  to  die. 
 
 8  But  "'  God  conunendeth  his  love  toward 
 us,  in  that,  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ 
 died  for  us. 
 
 9  Mucli  more  then,  being  now  justified  "  by 
 his  blood,  we  shall  be  saved  "  from  wrath 
 through  him. 
 
 10  For  'if,  when  we  were  enemies,  '  we  were 
 reconciled  to  God  by  the  death  of  his  Son, 
 much  more,  being  reconciled,  we  shall  be  saved 
 '  by  his  life. 
 
 1 1  And  not  only  so,  but  we  also  'joy  in  God 
 through  our  Lord  ,Iesus  Christ,  by  whom  we 
 have  now  received  the  ||  atonement. 
 
 12  Wherefore,  as  'by  one  man  sin  entered 
 into  the  world,  and  "  death  by  sin  ;  and  so 
 death  passed  upon  all  men,  ||  for  that  all  have 
 sinned  : 
 
 13  (For  until  the  law  sin  was  in  the  world  : 
 but  '  sin  is  not  imputed  when  there  is  no  law. 
 
 14  Nevertheless  death  reigned  from  Adam  to 
 Moses,  even  over  them  that  had  not  sinned 
 
 A.  D.  61). 
 
 A   U.  CU- 
 
 II  Or,  (ICCcirJ- 
 
 y  I  Cor.  16. 
 
 Me  '"  ^ft< 
 
 21,  S2,  45. 
 
 Gill.'*.  1. 
 
 I  vcr.  8.  cb. 
 
 4  25. 
 
 m  John  15. 
 
 IS.   1  Pft  3. 
 
 IS.  1  Johu 
 S.  la    Jy  i. 
 D.  1(1 
 n  ch.  3.  25. 
 
 ;I9.  53.  11. 
 iMat,  ait.yS 
 
 &  SO    28. 
 
 Kpli.  2.  \:\. 
 
 Heh.  9    It. 
 
 t  John  1.  7. 
 
 0  ch.  1.  IS, 
 
 1  Thes.  I. 
 
 ID. 
 P  c)i.  8.  32. 
 
 II  Or,  b,,  one 
 offence. 
 
 1  >Cor.S.lS, 
 
 19.  Eph,  2. 
 
 Ifi.  Col.  1. 
 
 211.  21. 
 
 T  Johu  5.  26. 
 
 Mc  14    19. 
 
 U   Or,  hy  (,,« 
 
 2  Cor.  4.  HI. 
 11. 
 •  ell.  2.  17. 
 
 ujffence. 
 
 \\  Or,  by  one 
 
 Ik  S.  2!).  30. 
 
 ri^hleout- 
 
 fial.  t.  y 
 
 II  Or,  Trr„„- 
 
 aJolin  12.32 
 
 ci7«i/.on. 
 
 Heb.  2.  9. 
 
 vrr    in 
 
 2  Cor.  5.18, 
 
 l!l. 
 
 t  (Jt-n-a.  6. 
 
 1   <-nr,I.H.21. 
 
 H  Gfn    -2.  17. 
 
 6  John  15.22 
 
 ch-  fi,  2M. 
 
 ch.  3.  20.  «i 
 
 1  Ci>r.15.2l. 
 
 4.  15.«c7.8. 
 
 11  Or,  in 
 
 Gal.  3.  19, 
 
 Khotn 
 
 23 
 
 X  cU   4.  15 
 
 c  Luke  7  A7 
 
 1  John  3.  4 
 
 1  Tim.l.l4. 
 
 after  the  similitude  of  Adam's  transgression, 
 ^  wlio  is  the  figure  of  him  that  was  to  come. 
 
 15  But  not  as  the  offence,  so  also  is  the  free 
 gift.  For  if  through  the  offence  of  one  many 
 be  dead,  much  more  the  grace  of  God,  and  the 
 gift  by  grace,  which  is  by  one  man,  Jesus 
 Christ,  hath  abounded  '  unto  many. 
 
 IG  And  not  as  it  was  by  one  that  sinned,  so 
 is  the  gift:  for  the  judgment  ivas  by  one  to 
 condemnation,  but  the  free  gift  is  of  many 
 offences  unto  justification. 
 
 17  For  if  II  by  one  man's  offence  death  reign- 
 ed by  one  ;  much  more  they  whicli  receive 
 abundance  of  grace  and  of  the  gift  of  righteous- 
 ness shall  reign  in  life  by  one,  Jesus  Christ.) 
 
 18  Therefore  as  ||by  the  offence  of  onejuihj- 
 mejit  came  upon  all  men  to  condemnation  ; 
 even  so  |j  by  the  righteousness  of  one  the  free 
 gift  came  "upon  all  men  unto  justification  of 
 life. 
 
 19  For  as  by  one  man's  disobedience  many 
 were  made  sinners,  so  by  the  obedience  of  one 
 shall  many  be  made  righteous. 
 
 20  Moreover  ^  the  law  entered,  that  the 
 offence  might  abound.  But  where  sin  abound- 
 ed, grace  did  much  ''~  more  abound  : 
 
 21  That  as  sin  hath  reigned  unto  death,  even 
 
 pledge  of  his  love.— Bhomf.  By  the  Huly  Ghost,  the  Holy  Ghost  is 
 the  efficient  cause  of  all  these  present  blessings,  and  the  earnest  of 
 those  to  come. — Betia.  6.  Without  strength,  or  wc;ik,  \vithout  abi- 
 
 lity to  save  ourselves. — Hald.  AirCcvwi'— the  orij^inal  signifies  '  weak 
 through  sickness.' and  here  refers  to  the  pernicious  influence  of  sm, 
 which  affects,  as  it  wt-re,  the  whole  man  with  au  incurable  malady, 
 (see  Isa.  i.  5.)— Robert  Cox.  In  due  lime,  'at  the  time  appointed  by 
 the  Father,'  {Gal.  iv.  2,  i.)—Hald.  Ungodly,  Gentiles.  —  LwrAre. 
 Every  human  creature.— i>orff/r.  Christ  died  for  us,  so  considered. 
 There  arc  none  who  are  not  ut  this  character  by  nature.  7.  Hight- 
 eows,  or 'just.*  Good,  or  '  benefirrnt.'  A  just  man  is  approved — a 
 benev(dent  man  is  loved.  8.  Vommendrd, '  recommended.' — Doddr. 
 Ivviajtiat,  *  recommendeth,'  A  most  elegant  and  proper  expression 
 for  those  who  are  wont  to  be  rcciimmendeil  to  us,  who  were  before 
 either  unknown  to,  or  alienateil  from  us. — Benson.  Hi.t  love,  rtjv 
 iavToii  a-fannv,  'commentlat  suam  ipsius  charitatcm,'  'his  own  love.' 
 t).  Much  more,  Sfc,  '  if  God's  love  to  us  was  such  that  Christ  died  for 
 us  when  we  were  sinners,  much  more  when  we  are  perfectly  righteous 
 through  that  death  will  he  save  us  from  future  punishment.* — Hnld, 
 10.  By  hif!  life,  since  '  he  ever  liveth  to  make  intcrcessiim  for  us.' — 
 Whitby,  Wells.  l\.  Is'ot  only  so,  manifestly  refers  back  to  ver.  2, 
 3 ;  and  the  apostle  here  adds,  '  We  also  rejoice  and  glory  in  God  hira- 
 self,  who  is  become  our  God  and  merciful  Father  in  Jesus  Christ.' — 
 Poole.  Joy,  Kui'xwiuei'0(,  'we  exult  or  glory.' — A.  Clnrke.  By  u-hom, 
 ^c,  '  for  by  him  God  is  atcned  and  reconciled.' — Poole.  The  atone- 
 ment, Tijv  KOTaWa^tji-,  'the  reconciliation.* — Bensnti.  12.  Where- 
 fore,  iffr. — from  this  verse  to  the  end  of  the  chapter,  the  apostle  makes 
 a  large  comparison  between  the  first  and  second  Adam,  shewing  that 
 what  was  lost  by  Adam  is  restored  by  Christ. — Poole.  Sin,  from 
 fallen  Adam,  by  natural  generation. — Parkh.  Death,  or  'mortality.' 
 — Hald.  inferior  animals  were  doiiHtlcss  subject  to  death  before,  ac- 
 cording to  the  plan  of  the  Creator  with  respect  to  organized  creatures. 
 Adam  understood  what  the  penalty  was,  having  seen  the  pangs  of 
 death  in  inferioranimals.  This  passage,  therefore,  refers  to  the  access 
 and  dnminion  of  death  over  man,  and  leaves  us  to  suppose  that  had 
 man  not  sinned,  a  physical  change  different  from  dying  would  have 
 transferred  him  to  a  higher  condition.— /Jj-.  P.  Smith.  Passed,  or 
 'passed  throufih  from  Father  to  Son.'  The  meaning  is,  that  death 
 passed  on  all  the  human  race,  because  all  are  sinners. — Hald.  All  hnve 
 sinned— in  Adam,  their  public  head  and  representative,  in  whose  loins 
 they  were  ;  inasmuch  that  they,  on  this  account,  are  by  legal  estima- 
 tion deemed  sinners  in  him.  his  offence  being  imputed  to,  and  punished 
 in,  them. — Guyse.  Being  born  after  the  image  and  likeness  of  Adam. 
 — Ham.  Not  that  death  hath  come  on  all  because  all  have  sinned 
 actually,  (for  infants,  who  have  not  sinned  actually,  die, J  hut  they  have 
 sinned  in  Adam,  i.  e.,  are  involved  in  the  consequences  of  his  sin. — 
 Maekn.  Infants  are  sinners  in  Adam.  Had  infante  no  guilt  in  Adam's 
 sin  they  would  not  meet  death,  or  disease,  or  misery  of  any  kind,  till 
 they  became  actual  transgressors.— Ha W.  13.  Fonintil  the  law,  fyc, 
 for  sin  existed  among  men  from  Adam  to  Moses,  as  well  as  afterwards ; 
 yet  there  is  no  sin  where  there  is  no  law.  There  were  then  both  sin 
 and  law  before  the  giving  of  the  law  of  Moses. — Hnld.,  so  Guyse. 
 14,  Even  over  them,  Sfc. — the  reason  of  introducing  tlie  persons  referred 
 to  by  the  word  '  even,'  implies  that  they  are  >uch  persons  as  apparently 
 ought  to  be  excluded  from  the  reign  of  sin  and  death.  This  cannot 
 designate  those  who  in  any  way  know  the  law,  but  it  evidently  applies 
 to  infants. — Hnld.  The  argument  of  the  apostle  is,  that  there  are  penal 
 evils  which  come  upon  men  antecedently  to  any  transgression  of  their 
 own,  and  as  the  infliction  of  the?e  evUs  implies  a  violation  of  law,  it 
 1190 
 
 follows  that  they  are  regarded  and  treated  as  sinners  on  the  groimd  of 
 the  disobedience  of  another.— Horf^e.  The  figure,  fyc,  ti'ttit,  'type;' 
 the  likeness,  on  account  of  which  Adam  is  so  called,  consisted  in  this, 
 —that  as  Adam  communicated  to  mankind  what  belonged  to  him,  so 
 Christ  communicated  to  mankind  what  belonged  to  him. — Beza.  To 
 come,  Jesus  Christ,  who  in  due  time  was  to  descend  from  his  loins  in 
 an  extraordinary  manner,  and  \\\\n,  like  the  first  Adam,  was  to  come 
 into  the  world  as  a  covenant  head  and  representative  for  conveying 
 life  and  righteousness.— Gwvse.  15.  But  not  us  the  offence,  ^c,  '  the 
 free  gift  is  not  like  the  oftcnce.^—Iiitchie.  '  Yet  not  bo  is  the  free 
 gift  as  was  the  offence.' — Boothr.  'The  gift,'  means  the  benefits 
 freely  conveyed  to  us  through  Jesus  Christ.  Offence,  that  trans- 
 gression of  God's  law  which  is  called  'the  fall.' — Ritchie.  Many  be 
 dp«rf, 'the  many.' — Parkh.  'Many  have  died,' i*;c. — Boothr.  If  the 
 transgression  of  mere  man  was  able  to  pull  down  death  and  wrath 
 upon  all  his  natural  seed,  then  the  obedience  of  one  which  is  God  as 
 well  as  man  will  much  more  abundantly  prevail  to  procure  pardon  and 
 life  for  all  his  spiritual  seed. — Poole.  l6.  And  not  as  it  was,  ^c.  *  and 
 not  so  is  the  gift  as  it  was  by  one  that  sinned,  for  the  sentence  was  by 
 one  offence  to  condemnation,  but  the  free  gift  is  to  the  justification  from 
 many  offences.' — Boothr.  T/ie  free  gift,  to  xaptcr/ia, '  tliegiftof  grace.* 
 — Ben.^.  17.  By  one  man's  offence,  rather,  'by  the  oft'ence  of  one 
 man.'  Reigned — those  who  die  are  here  supposed  to  be  the  subjects  of 
 death,  and  death  is  considered  as  their  sovereign.  If  infants  were  not 
 guilty  in  Adam,  they  could  not  be  under  the  power  of  death. — Hald. 
 IS.  dfff^nce  of  one,  or  '  one  offence.' — Boothr.  '  Per  nnam  offensam.* — 
 Mont.  Boih  of  these  are  equally  true  ;  but  the  latter  appears  to  be  the 
 design  of  the  apostle,  as  the  expression  wants  the  article.  1 9.  Many, 
 01  TToWoi,  'multitudes.' —  H.  Home.  '  The  many,'  including  all  that 
 was  in  Adam,  that  is,  all  the  human  race. — Hald.  Were  innde  sitmers, 
 ffc,  KUTeffTa(fn<Tav,  notes  the  making  of  such  by  a  judicial  act. — Hen. 
 '  were  constituted.'— Sfo»,  Boothr.  Subjected  to  a  law  charge  of  guilt, 
 and  so,  uiiaprtiiXoi  KUTicnaOtiaav,  were  judicially  constituted  sinners, 
 and  condemned  as  such,  they  being  involved  with  their  covenant  head 
 in  his  crime  ;  so,  on  the  contrary,  by  the  imputation  of  the  perfect  and 
 glorious,  active  and  passive,  obedience  of  one  single  person  to  God  and 
 his  law.  namely,  of  Christ  alone,  shall  great  multitudes,  even  all  his 
 spiritual  seed,  be  judicially  constituted  righteous,— Gwy.s''.  20.  The 
 law  entered,oT  'came  into  the  world.'— H'/m.,  Parkh.  '  Law  entered.' 
 — Mackn.  Mackntght  understands  here  not  the  Mosaic  but  the  law  of 
 nature  ;  in  this  I  agree,  understanding  by  this  law  the  moral,  under 
 which  all  men  are. — Boothr.  The  law  here  is  evidently  the  law  of 
 Moses ;  and  the  original  word,  TzapetatiXOev,  signifies  that  the  law 
 entered  in  addition  to  the  law  which  Adam  transgressed.  [This  is  the 
 tft'ect  of  TTupa  in  this  place.]— H///rf.  It  may  mean  the  divine  consti- 
 tutiun  by  which  Adam  and  his  posterity  were  jud^^cd  sinners  by  his  one 
 offence,  for  this  had  the  force  of  a  law.— Z?«i'.  That  the  offence  might 
 abound,  '  so  that  the  offence  abounded.'— Boo(Aroj/d.  Haldane  disap- 
 proves of  this  altered  rendering,  and  observes  that  the  law  was  to  re- 
 strain and  make  fewer  sins,  and  in  this  case  it  was  to  frustrate  it.— 
 Expos,  on  Rom.  in  loc.  Though  the  law  were  not  designed  to  that 
 end.  yet,  by  giving  men  a  clearer  knowledge  of  duty  and  sin,  it,  by 
 consequence,  became  a  means  of  multiplying  and  enhancing  sin. — 
 H'lm  ,  Wells.  21.  Reigned  unto,  literally,  'in  or  by,'  ei-  t^  Oavarui. 
 Death  here,  and  throughout  this  chapter,  as  well  as  in  many  otlK-r 
 places,  signifies  not  temporal  death  merely,  but  the  whole  punishment 
 of  sin,  of  which  temporal  death  is  perhaps  the  smallest  part  — H«/'/. 
 As  sin  had  prevailed  over  all  mankind,  to  bring  upon  them  a  double 
 death,  both  spiritual  and  boddy,  so  might  the  grace  of  God,  through 
 
christians  obliged  to  holiness. 
 
 ROMANS,  Vr. 
 
 Thet/  live  under  grace. 
 
 so  mi<;lit   grace   reifin  through   righteousness 
 unto  eternal  life  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  IVe  Tuay  not  live  in  s/w,  ^for  ice  are  dead  unto  it,  3  as 
 appeareth  by  our  baptism.  12  Let  not  sift  reign  any 
 more,  18  hecausr  we  linve  yielded  ourselves  to  the  ser- 
 vice of  righttousnesSj  23  and  for  that  dtath  is  the 
 irages  of  sin. 
 
 WHAT  shall  we  say  then?   ''Shall  we  con- 
 tinue in  sin,  that  grace  may  abound? 
 
 2  God  forbid.  How  shall  we,  that  are  Mead 
 to  sin,  live  any  longer  therein  V 
 
 3  Know  ye  not,  that  "^  so  many  of  us  as  ||were 
 baptized  into  Jesus  Christ  ''were  baptized  into 
 his  death  ? 
 
 4  Therefore  we  are  ^  buried  with  him  by 
 baptism  into  death:  that  Mike  as  Christ  was 
 raised  up  from  the  dead  by  ^the  glory  of  the 
 Father,  ^  even  so  we  also  should  walk  in  new- 
 ness of  life. 
 
 5  '  For  if  we  have  been  planted  together  in 
 the  likeness  of  his  death,  we  shall  be  also  Iji 
 the  likeness  of  his  resurrection  : 
 
 6  Knowing  this,  that  ''  onr  old  man  is  cruci- 
 fied with  hi7?i^  that  '  the  body  of  sin  might  be 
 destroyed,  that  henceforth  we  should  not  serve 
 sin. 
 
 7  For  '"he  that  is  dead  is  f  freed  from  ^in. 
 
 8  Now  "  if  we  be  dead  with  Christ,  we  believe 
 
 I  ch   3,  8. 
 ver.  lb, 
 
 b  ver. II.  ch. 
 
 7  +.  GaL  -i. 
 19.  «t  fi.  H. 
 C..1.  3.  S, 
 I  I'et    2.21. 
 c  G.il.:i.  27. 
 
 II  Or.  nrf. 
 
 d  I  Cor.  15. 
 29 
 e  C..1.  2.  12. 
 /oh.  8.  II. 
 
 1  Cor.6.  14 
 
 2  Cor.  l.S  4, 
 5  John  2,11. 
 
 &  1 1 .  40. 
 h  Gal.  6.  \5. 
 
 Epii.  4.  ■«, 
 
 23.  ■J4.  Col. 
 
 ^.    10 
 i  Phil.  3.  10, 
 
 II. 
 k  Gal.  2.  go. 
 
 &  5  24-  &  6. 
 
 II.  Rph.  4. 
 
 22.  C..1.  3. 
 
 5,  9. 
 
 /Cil.  2.  I(, 
 m  I  Pet.  4.1. 
 t  Or. 
 
 juitified. 
 n  -l  Tim.  2. 
 
 II. 
 
 A,  D.  CO. 
 ■>  Hev.  I.  18. 
 
 P  Hcb.  9.  27, 
 
 2«. 
 7  I. 'ike  20. 
 
 &  iiy.  ixi. 
 
 «  cll,  7.  5. 
 C..1..S  5. 
 Jnm.  4.  1. 
 
 nr,  icrn\>uii*. 
 X  .-h.  12  I. 
 !  IVt  2.24. 
 &  4.  2. 
 
 V  rh.  7.  4,  6 
 &  a  2.  Gal. 
 h.   18. 
 
 r  Alat.  6  24, 
 J.ilin  S  31. 
 2  Pft.2.19. 
 
 that  we  shall  also  live  witli  him  : 
 
 9  Knowing  that  °  Christ  being  raised  from 
 the  dead  dietb  no  more  ;  death  hath  no  more 
 dominion  over  him. 
 
 10  For  in  that  he  died,  ^he  died  unto  sin 
 once:  but  iu  that  he  liveth, '' he  liveth  unto 
 God. 
 
 1 1  Likewise  reckon  ye  also  yourselves  to  be 
 ""dead  indeed  unto  sin,  but  'alive  unto  God 
 through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
 
 12  *  Let  not  sin  therefore  reign  in  your 
 mortal  body,  that  ye  should  obey  it  in  the  lusts 
 thereof. 
 
 13  Neither  yield  ye  your  "members  as  f  in- 
 struments of  unrighteousness  unto  sin  :  but 
 ^  yield  yourselves  unto  God,  as  those  that  are 
 alive  from  the  dead,  and  your  members  as  in- 
 struments of  righteousness  unto  God. 
 
 14  For  ''sin  sJiall  not  have  dominion  over 
 you:  for  ye  are  not  under  the  law,  but  under 
 grace. 
 
 15  What  then?  shall  we  sin,  'because  we 
 are  not  under  the  law,  but  under  grace?  God 
 forbid. 
 
 1(3  Know  ye  not,  that  *  to  whom  ye  yield 
 yourselves  servants  to  obey,  his  servants  ye 
 are  to  whom  ye  obey  ;  whether  of  sin  unto 
 death,  or  of  obedience  unto  righteousness? 
 
 17  But  God  be  thanked,  that  ye  were  the 
 servants  of  sin,  but  ye  have  obeyed  from  the 
 
 the  righteousness  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  be  effectual  to  restore  man 
 tu  eternal  life. — B/i.  Hull.  Through  righteousness,  even  the  righteous, 
 ncss  of  Ciod,  which  fulfils  the  law,  and  satisfies  his  justice,  and  dis- 
 plays his  hnliness. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  I .  What  shall  we  sny  ?  §-c.,  a  mode  of  expression  used 
 by  the  apostle  when  he  means  to  apticipate  and  repel  an  objection. 
 Shitli  we  continue.^  ^c,  'will  any  i  i«e  object  that  we  who  maintain 
 the  doctrines  ahove  explained  can  think  it  right  to  continue  in  the 
 practice  of  sin,  in  order  that  Divine  grace  may  be  the  more  magnitied 
 in  our  forgiveness?' — Rite.  2.Godforhid,  '  Ne  fiat.' — Mimt.     Mrj 
 
 7€ic)iTo,  Met  it  not  be.' — A.  Clarke.  *  By  no  means,'  marg.,  Boothr., 
 Aredead,  aTrefai/o/^tv,  'have  died.' — Whitby.  '  Live,'  have  a  custom 
 of  sinning. — Bp.  Felt.  '  Take  delight  in  it.'  To  be  dead  to  a  thing  is 
 tn  lose  all  our  relish  for  it,  and  to  forsake  it. — Rvsenm.  Dead  tn  sin, 
 refers  rather  to  the  state  as  justified  persons,  than  to  the  character. — 
 So  Hald.  3,  Baptized  into  his  death,  and  engaged  to  confirm  to  the 
 great  purposes  of  it,  which  were  to  abolish  sin,  (1  Pet.  iv,  1,  2;  1  John, 
 iii.  5.) — Doddr.  A.  Are  buried,  ^-c,  (TuvtTa<pn(i-tv,  'we  have  been 
 lniried  with  him,*  by  being  baptized  ;  buried  as  he  was.  The  prepu-^i- 
 ti'm,  (Tvi;  means  '  lilce,*  in  '  like  manner  with,'  (cnmp.  ver.  6 ;  also  Rom. 
 viii.  17  ;  Col.  iii.  1.) — Stunrt.  As  Christ  was  buried  that  he  might  rise 
 to  a  new  and  heavenly  life,  so  we  are  in  baptism  buried,  i.  e.,  cut  off 
 fr'-m  the  life  of  sin,  that  we  may  rise  again  to  a  new  life  in  faith  and 
 love. —  Hen.  By  the  gl"ry,  tiia  Trjf  Ao^m,  some  would  read  'to  the 
 glory,*  a-s  the  phrase  Aid  A.iffic,  is  rendered  in  2  Pet.  i.  3  ;  and  this  ^ense 
 seems  most  agreeable  to  the  following  context,  and  to  the  last  clause 
 of  the  verse  before  us. — Gnyse.  5.  Planted,  'united.'  I  take  the 
 metaphorical  sen-^e  cf  ihe  word,  av/itporof.  The  literal  sense  is,  '  grow- 
 ing together.'  'Ihe  words  expressthe  union  of  believers  andtheir  con- 
 formity to  Christ. — Boothr.  6.  Old  man,  means  all  that  belongs  to  a 
 man  as  a  descendant  of  Adam,  that  is,  the  whole  frame  of  body  and 
 spirit  depraved  by  sin,  called,  in  this  verse,  the  body  of  sin,  (Eph.  iv. 
 22,  24.)  Crncijied  with  him — whatever  is  done  to  him  is  accounted  to 
 be  done  to  his  people.  Christ,  by  his  death  on  the  cross,  destroyed  sin, 
 triumphed  over  Satan,  (Cnl.  ii.  1.5;  1  John,  Hi.  8.)  Those  who  are 
 crucified  with  him  are  therefore  saved  from  sin.  By  virtue  of  union 
 with  him,  they  experience  the  effects  of  his  crucifixinD.— Dae.  The 
 remembrance  and  consideration  of  his  cross  co  operate,  in  the  most 
 powerful  manner,  with  all  the  other  motives  which  the  gospel  suggests 
 to  destroy  the  former  habits  of  sin,  and  to  inspire  us  with  an  aversion 
 to  it.  Destroyed,  KaTap-jrtUti,  'enervated.*  The  body  of  sin  in  be- 
 lievers is,  indeed,  an  enfeeliled,  conquered,  and  deposed  tyrant ;  and 
 the  stroke  of  death  finishes  its  destruction. — Doddr.  A.  Clarke,  who 
 believed  in  the  possibility  of  attaining  perfection  here,  strongly  con- 
 dems  this  criticism.— C'ymm.  in  loc.        7.  Dead,  in  conformity  to  his 
 
 crucified  head.  Freed  from  sin,  AefitnaKOTai,  '  justificatus  est.' — Mont. 
 Is  legally  aciiuitted  from  any  further  claim  that  this  tyrant  might  pre- 
 tend to  have  to  his  obedience.— (Jh^vsp.  Freed  both  in  respect  to  its 
 guilt  and  its  service,— Poo/e  ;  and  its  dominion. — Gill.  8.  Lire  itith 
 him,  a  spiritual,  holy,  and  heavenly  life  here,  and  an  immortal  life  of 
 blessedness  and  glory.  9.  Knowing  that  Christ,  i^c— this  we  are 
 
 fully  satisfied  of  on  the  ground  of  conformity  to  him,  our  public  head. 
 — Gur/se.  10.  Unto  sin,  'for  sin.*  He  died  as  a  sacrifice  for  sin  ;  and 
 such  was  the  perfection  of  it,  that  he  has  no  need  to  die  again,  {Hob. 
 ix.  26.)— Boothr.  II.  Through,  or  'in  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,'  that 
 
 is,  after  the  similitude  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  so  lives  as  to  die  no  more; 
 or,  it  imports  that  Christ  is  the  root  of  our  spiritual  life,  even  as  the 
 scion  lives  in  the  stock.— Poo/e.  12.  Let  not  sin  reign,   ^c,  take 
 
 heed  that  it  do  not  again  rule  over  yoxi.—Bnothr.  Reign  in  your 
 mortal  body— there  seems  to  be  a  peculiar  emphasis  in  this  expression. 
 If  tlie  apostle  had  meant  merely  to  admonish  us  not  to  allow  sin  to 
 reign  in  us,  it  was  unnecessary  to  have  described  our  body  as  mortal ; 
 but  by  using  this  phrase  he  intimates  that,  as  our  bodies  are  mortal, 
 and  must  return  to  dust,  we  ought  not  tu  think  it  our  chief  care  to 
 gratify  our   corporeal  desires. — Rite.  I3.  As   instruments,   owAa, 
 
 properly  denotes  military  weapons;  it  is  also  applied  to  any  instru- 
 ment of  action.— ilMcA-n.,  as  Doddr.  Comparing  our  hands,  eyes,  &c., 
 and  faculties  of  the  soul,  understanding,  A:c.,  to  tools  to  work  with, 
 or  instruments  of  war,  which  may  be  used  wlU  or  ill.—Poule.  Ali'^e, 
 quickened  from  the  death  of  sin  to  the  life  of  righteousness,  by  the  re- 
 generating Spirit.  Instruments  of  righteousness,  as  weapons  to  be 
 used  in  a  just  and  righteous  n»anner  for  God,  and  devuted  to  his  ser- 
 vice,— Guyse.  14.  Shall  not  have  dominion,  hvpKvaei,  '  sliall  not  lord 
 it ;'  denoting  the  government  of  a  master  over  his  slave. — that  is,  the 
 most  absolute  and  tyrannical  government. — Mackn.  Under  the  law, 
 literally,  '  under  law,'  that  is,  the  moral  law,  as  a  covenant  of  works. 
 — Hald.  Ujider  grace,  your  standing  is  removed  from  under  the  first 
 to  the  second  covenant  head,  and  so  ye  are  not  under  the  law  as  a 
 covenant  of  works  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  its  tenour,  but  under 
 the  covenant  of  grace,  which  contains  unchangeable  promises  and 
 never-failing  springs  of  strength. — Guyse.  This  is  not  a  precept,  but 
 an  assertion.— Ha/d.  16.  Of  sin  unto  death,  'If  you  give  up  your- 
 
 selves to  Sm  as  your  lord  and  master,  you  must  know  that  the  conse- 
 quences will  be  death,'  /vc.  17-  Tfiat  ye  were,  ijc,  '  that  though  you 
 were,'  &c. — Boothr.  That  form  of  doctrine,  ti-ttov  itdLixn?,  '  model  ;* 
 it  may  allude  to  melted  metal  being  farmed  by  the  mould  into  which 
 it  is  poured. — Doddr.  Which  was  delirered  yau,  '  to  which  ye  weie 
 delivered.'— /?of>Mr.,  Ew.  '  The  model  of  doctrine  into  which  ye  were 
 delivered  as  into  a  model ;  that  your  whole  tamper  and  life  might  be 
 framed  and  fashioned  into  an  amiable  and  glorious  correspondence 
 
 Reflections  on  Cfiap.  V.  —  This  chapter  leads  us  to  re- 
 flect on — I.  Our  ruin  by  the  first  Adam.  'All  mankind  were 
 plunged  into  sin  by  the  apostasy  of  Adam,  their  t'alber  and 
 federal  head.  How  terrible  the  effects  of  his  transgression  ! 
 They  come  upon  all,  and  involve  in  one  common  ruin  the  in- 
 fant and  the  man  of  grey  hairs.  They  are  felt  in  our  depra- 
 vity and  moral  pollution,  as  well  as  in  the  thousand  miseries 
 1191 
 
 which  flesh  is  heir  to.'     But  we  have  here— 
 
 II.  Our  rtcovery  hy  the  stcond  Adam,  'Blessed  be  God, 
 who,  in  his  infinite  love  and  compassion,  appointed  and  gave 
 his  Son  as  the  second  Adam,  to  repair  the  ruin  and  desolation 
 of  the  tirst.  Vea,  to  do  more  than  to  repair  them  — to  deliver 
 and  save  us  from  all  our  actual  transgressions,  itWe  believe  in 
 him,  and  receive  the  gift  of  righteousness.' ^ 
 
Christians,  free  from  the  lau 
 
 ROMANS,  VII. 
 
 live  under  grace. 
 
 heart  ''  that  form  of  doctrine  f  which  was  deli- 
 vered you. 
 
 18  Being  then  '  made  free  from  sin,  ye  be- 
 came the  servaiits  of  righteousness. 
 
 19  I  speak  after  the  manner  of  men  because 
 of  the  infirmity  of  your  flesh  :  for  as  ye  have 
 yielded  your  members  servants  to  uncleanness 
 and  to  iniquity  unto  iniquity  ;  even  so  now 
 yield  your  members  servants  to  righteousness 
 unto  holiness. 
 
 20  For  when  ye  were  ■■  the  servants  of  sin,  ye 
 were  free  ffrom  riiihteousness. 
 
 21  '  What  fruit  had  ye  then  in  those  things 
 whereof  ye  are  now  ashamed?  for  'the  end  of 
 those  things  is  death. 
 
 22  But  now  ^  being  made  free  from  sin,  and 
 become  servants  to  God,  ye  have  your  fruit 
 unto  holiness,  and  the  end  everlasting  life. 
 
 23  For  ''  the  wages  of  sin  is  death  ;  but  '  the 
 gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through  Jesus  Christ 
 our  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 1   M>  law  hath  power  over  a  man  lont/er  than  he  liveth. 
 4  Bttt  we  arc  diad  to  the  law.     7  Ytt  is  not  the  laic 
 sin,  12  Imt  holt/,  just,  (footl,  16  as  I  acknowledyet  who 
 am  yrieved  btcause  I  cannot  kttp  it. 
 
 TZ"  NOW  ye  not,  brethren,  (for  I  speak  to 
 -*^  them  tliat  know  tlie  law,)  how  that  the 
 law  hath  dominion  over  a  man  as  long  as  he 
 liveth? 
 
 2  For  ■  the  woman  whicli  hath  an  husband  is 
 bound  by  the  law  to  her  hnsband  so  long  as 
 he  liveth;  but  if  the  husband  be  dead,  she  is 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 
 6  2  Tim.  1. 
 
 13. 
 t  Gr.  wherelo 
 
 t/e  iprre  dtli- 
 
 c  John  8.32. 
 1  Cor  7.2». 
 Gal    5.  1. 
 I  Pet.  2.  16. 
 
 ■1  John  8. 34 
 t  Gr.lo  riiih- 
 
 ?  John  S.3S. 
 
 'A  Gen   2.17. 
 
 I   ch  5.  ia 
 
 I    Jam.  I.  15. 
 
 I  cb.  2,  7.  Rt 
 
 5.  i:.  ?l. 
 
 I  IV-t.   1.  -1. 
 
 A.  D-  GO 
 b   Mat. 5.  3-.? 
 
 c  rh.8.  ?. 
 
 Gal.  2.  19 
 
 &5.  18. 
 
 Kph.  2.  IS, 
 
 Col.S.  14 
 d  Gal.  6.  tf8. 
 
 t  Gr. 
 
 )<ch.  fi.  2 
 Gal.  5,  I 
 Jam.  1. 
 
 Or.  being 
 
 d.-ndtolhiit, 
 
 ch.  6.  a. 
 
 vcr.  4. 
 e-  ch.  2.  39. 
 
 '  Cor  3.  6. 
 ft  ih.3.  SO. 
 
 .  Kx.aO.  17. 
 n.;ti.  5  21 
 Acts  20  93, 
 ch.  13.  9. 
 
 k  ch  4.  15. 
 h  ft.  20. 
 
 t  1  C.>r.  15. 
 50. 
 
 <n  Lcv.ia.S, 
 Exck  20.11, 
 IS.  21 
 2  Cor.  3.  7. 
 
 loosed  from  the  law  of  ^t*;'  iinsband, 
 
 3  So  then  *"if,  while  her  hnsband  liveth,  she 
 be  married  to  another  man,  she  shall  be  called 
 an  adulteress  :  but  if  !ier  husband  be  dead,  she 
 is  free  from  that  law  ;  so  that  slie  is  no  adul- 
 teress, though  she  be  married  to  another  man. 
 
 4  Wherefore,  my  brethren,  ye  also  are  be- 
 come "^  dead  to  the  law  by  the  body  of  Christ; 
 that  ye  should  be  married  to  annther,  even  to 
 hiin  who  is  raised  from  the  dead,  that  wc 
 should  ''bring  forth  fruit  imto  God. 
 
 5  For  when  we  were  in  the  flesh,  t!ie  f  mo- 
 tions of  sins,  which  were  by  the  law,  ^  did  work 
 in  our  members  ^  to  bring  forth  fruit  unto 
 death. 
 
 6  But  now  we  are  delivered  from  the  law, 
 II  that  being  dead  wherein  we  were  held  ;  that 
 we  should  serve  ^in  newness  of  spirit,  and  not 
 in  the  oldness  of  the  letter. 
 
 7  What  sliall  we  say  then?  Is  the  law  sin? 
 God  forbid.  Nay.  *•  1  had  not  known  sin,  but 
 by  the  law  :  for  I  had  not  known  ||lust,  except 
 the  law  had  said,  '  Thou  shall  not  covet. 
 
 8  But  ''sin.  taking  occa'^iou  by  the  command- 
 ment, wrought  in  mo  all  manner  of  concupi- 
 scence.    For  '  without  the  law  sin  was  dead. 
 
 9  For  I  was  alive  without  the  law  once  :  but 
 when  the  commandment  came,  sin  revived,  and 
 I  died. 
 
 10  And  the  commandment,  '"which  was  or- 
 dained to  life,  1  found  to  be  unto  death. 
 
 1 1  For  sin,  taking  occasion  hy  the  command- 
 ment, deceived  me,  and  by  it  slow  me. 
 
 with  it.' — Duddr.  It  means,  that  those  who  had  been  slaves  of  sin 
 had  been  trsii inferred  to  another  master,  whose  authority  they  cordially 
 obeyed. — Eio.  IS.  Made  free,  tXei/f(pu>f*evTec,  this  is  the  word  by 
 
 which  the  act  of  giving  a  slave  his  liberty  was  sig'nified,  called  by  tlie 
 Romans  '  emaDcipation.' — Mackn.  Servants  of  rii^litf.nusneas,  servants 
 to  Christ,  whose  rigrhtenusness  they  submit  to,  to  the  law  nf  righteous- 
 ness, as  held  forth  by  Christ ;  they  give  up  them'^elvos  to  a  course  and 
 life  of  righteousness. — GUI.  19-  After  the  manner  of  men,  iSrc,  '  re- 
 presenting these  things  by  familiar  circcimstances,  tliat  1  may  the 
 better  acciimmodate  my--elf  to  your  capacities.' — Guyse.  And  to  ini' 
 quit/j  unto  iniquity,  adding  one  Sin    to  another.  20.  Ye  wtre  free 
 
 from  righteousness,  '  when  you  served  sin,  God  and  righteousness  had 
 none  of  your  service  ;  why,  then,  should  sin  have  any  of  your  service 
 now?'— Poo/e.  21.  What  fruit,  Sfc,  *  whiit  real  profit,  hnnmr,  or 
 plea-^iire  did  you  find  in  your  former  sinful  services  ?'  22.  Fruit  unto 
 ttuliness,  reap  a  better,  more  excellent,  and  delightful  sort  of  fruit.— 
 Guyst.  23.  The  wages,  o^J/tavit,  preperly  signifies  the  food  and  |)ay 
 which  generals  give  to  their  soldiers  for  their  service.  By  using  this 
 term,  the  apostle  shews  wliat  sort  of  pay  tiie  usurper.  Sin,  gives  to 
 those  who  serve  under  his  banners.  The  gift,  \.ipiiT,aa,  '  the  free  gift.' 
 — Mackn.  The  natural  antithesis  to  the  wages  ui  sin  would  have  been 
 the  wages  of  righteousness ;  but,  tliough  death  is  the  first  reward  of 
 the  service  done  fur  sin,  ettrnal  life  is  merely  the  unmr*ited  gift  of 
 grace. — Gui/se. 
 
 Chap.  VII. —  1.  Know  ye  not,  brethren,  the  aposUe  now  addresses 
 tlie  Jews,  who  thought  the  law  of  Moses  to  be  of  perpetual  obligation. 
 —Boothr.  That  knuic  the  Intv,  he  addresses  the  stock  of  Abraham.- 
 Ham.  As  he  liveth,  '  as  it  liveth  ;'  so  long  as  the  said  law  is  in  force. 
 Bp.  Hall,  so  Doddr.,  and  Buottir.  2.  For  the  wuman,  fyc. — in  the 
 
 Old  Testament,  the  relation  of  God  to  his  chosen  people  is  sometimes 
 represented  under  the  similitude  of  a  marriage  solemnized  at  Mount 
 Sinai ;  and.  in  consequence,  God  is  represented  as  calting  himself  their 
 husband;  hence  the  fitness  of  this  illustration.— iiiYc.  Is  bound  by 
 the  law  to  her  husband — under  the  Mosaic  economy,  the  husband  could 
 divorce  the  wife  almost  at  pleasure ;  but  where  is  the  precept  giving 
 the  like  liberty  to  the  wife?  This  would  have  been  contrary  to  the 
 genius  of  eastern  manners  and  customs.  This  seems  to  be  the  reason 
 why  the  apustle  has  chosen  the  woman,  in  this  case,  in  order  to  exhibit 
 an  example  of  obligation  while  the  life  of  the  parties  continues. — 
 Stuart.  4.  Dead  to  the  law,  '  the  ceremonial  law,  to  which  God  at 
 first  joined  you,  is  now  dead  to  you,  and  you  to  it.' — Pyle.  The  Gen- 
 tiles had  never  been  placed  under  the  ceremonial  law,  therefore  to  the 
 moral  law  only  they  had  been  married.— i/aM.     By  the  body  of  Christ, 
 
 'by  the  cruciticrt  body,  the  death  of  Christ.' — H>im.  5.  In  the  fiexh, 
 under  the  comparatively  carnal  dispensation  of  Moses.— Porfrfr. ;  same 
 purport,  Mirkn.  '  Wlun  we  were  subject  to  the  power  and  effects  of 
 carnal  drsires  and  atti'm^;  when  we  were  unrcgenerate  Jew-^.' — 
 Boothr.  ;  s^me  purport,  Hald.  The  motit^es  of  sin,  a  variety  of  sitifnl 
 passions,  accidentally  occ;isioncd  and  irritated  by  the  \aw.~Duddr.  Did 
 work  in  our  mfmbers,  these  mean  here,  not  merely  those  of  the  body, 
 but  the  animal  facnliies  and  powers. — Locke.  6.  HdiL'crrd  from  the 
 taw,  from  the  niini^tra'ion  of  it  by  Moses ;  from  it,  as  a  covenant  of 
 works  ;  from  its  vigorous  exnction  ;  from  its  curse  and  condemnation  : 
 all  this  hy  Christ;  and  from  its  being  an  irritating  and  provoking  law  to 
 sin,  tliroriffb  the  corruption  of  nature,  by  the  spirit  and  gi  ace  of  Christ : 
 but  not  from  obedience  to  it,  as  in  the  hands  of  Christ.— fii//.  That 
 beins;  dead  wherein  we  were  held,  *  having  died  to  that  hy  which  we  were 
 held,'  i>amely,  thelawof  Mo'^es  ;  a7toBavovje<i  is  the  most  approved  read- 
 ing.—  Boothr.  Newness  of  spirit,  i.e., '  in  a  new  and  spiritual  manner.' 
 —  R.  Cox.  Oldnpus  of  the  letter,  the  old  and  carnal  way  of  retarding 
 only  the  letter  of  the  \KV!.—Guyse.  ".  Is  the  law  sin  ,?— *  will  any  one 
 infer,  from  the  doctrines  I  have  been  stating,  that  the  law  is  an  im- 
 proper institution,  of  which  the  tendency  is  to  encourage  sin  }'~Ititc. 
 I  had  not  known  sin,  '  should  not  have  understood  some  things  to  be 
 really  sinful  and  condemnable,  but  for  the  light  and  authority  of  God's 
 holy  law. '-G'n/sf.  Lust.fhc  lustings  or  covetous  desire^  of  the  heart ; 
 the  law,  therefore,  hath  done  its  part  in  giving  us  knowledge  that  the 
 very  desires  of  the  heart  are  sins. —  Whitby,  Ham.  8.  But  sin,  taking 
 occasion,  ^-c,  through  the  perversity  of  human  nature,  the  mere  cir- 
 cumstance of  certain  things  being  forbidden  sometimes  e.xcites  in  the 
 mind  a  de^^ire  to  experience  the  [supposed]  pleasure  or  advantage  re- 
 sulting from  them. — Rite.  y.  Alive — by  life,  here  'understand  liveli- 
 ness,'  confidence  and  assurance  of  his  good  estaie  and  condition;  full 
 of  vain  hope,  false  joy,  ai>d  presumptuous  confidence.  —  Doddr.,  as 
 At/gufttin,  Calvin,  &c.  ;  so  also  Hald.  H'hen  the  commandment  came, 
 'and  I  became  acquainted  with  its  wide  extent,  unspotted  purity,  and 
 awful  sanctions.' — Doddr.  /  rfiVrf,  death  here  stands  opposed  to  life 
 before,  and  denotes  the  sorrows,  fears,  and  tremblings,  which  seized 
 upon  his  soul,  when  convinced  of  the  badness  of  his  condition  ;  it 
 stabbed  all  his  carnal  mirth,  joy,  and  jollity,  at  the  very  heart. — Bur- 
 kitt.  10.  Ordained  to  life,  '  promising  life  on  the  keeping  of  it.'     / 
 
 found  to  be  unto  death,  the  covenant  being  broken,  and  so  far  from 
 Hiving  life,  the  commandment  now  produced  condemnation.  —So 
 Guyse.  11.  See  ver.  8.  Deceived,  or  'entered  into  the  transgression 
 of  the  commandment,  and  so  rendered  me  guilty  of  death.' — Wells. 
 There  is  an  allusion  here  to  the  serpent  bcguding  Eve. — Mackn.    Slew 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    VI. — There  are  two  classes  of  they  aim  to  do  his  will, — ihey  delight  in  Iiis  law  'after  the 
 
 mea  between  which  the  world  is  divided — I.  T/'ic  scrvajits  of  inner  man.'     lioader,  whose  servant  are  you  ?     Would  yon 
 
 sin.     If  we  do  not  serve  god  from  the  heart,  whatever  profes-  choose  for  your  master  Sin  or  Goil  !     Think  of  the  wages  of 
 
 sion  we  may  make,  wo  are  still  the  servants  of  sin.     *  Ye  can-  the  one —  death  /  think  of  the  bounry  of  the  other — 'eternal 
 
 uot  serve  God  and  mammon.'     The  second  class  are —  life.' 
 
 II.   The  servants  of  God.     They  Study  his  word  to  obey  it, — 
 1192 
 
The  holiness  of  the  law. 
 
 ROMANS,  VIII. 
 
 The  law  of  sia  in  our  members. 
 
 VI  Wlierefore  "the  law  is  holy,  and  the  com- 
 niandmeiit  holy,  and  just,  and  good. 
 
 13  Was  then  that  which  is  good  made  death 
 untonie?  God  forbid.  But  sin,  that  it  might 
 appear  sin,  working  death  in  me  hy  that  which 
 is  good  ;  that  sin  by  tlie  commandment  might 
 become  exceeding  sinlnl. 
 
 14  For  we  know  that  the  law  is  spiritual  :  but 
 I  am  carnal,  "sold  under  sin. 
 
 13  For  that  which  I  do  I  fallow  not:  for 
 ■"what  I  would,  that  do  I  not;  but  what  I  hate, 
 that  do  I. 
 
 16  If  then  I  do  that  which  I  would  not,  I 
 consent  unto  the  law  that  it  is  good. 
 
 17  Now  then  it  is  no  more  I  that  do  it,  but 
 sin  that  dwelleth  in  me. 
 
 18  For  I  know  that  ''in  me  (that  is,  in  my 
 flesh,)  dwelleth  no  good  thing :  for  to  will  is 
 present  with  me  ;  but  how  to  perform  that 
 which  is  good  I  find  not. 
 
 19  For  the  good  that  I  would  I  do  not:  but 
 the  evil  which  I  would  not.  tliat  I  do. 
 
 20  Now  if  I  do  that  I  would  not,  it  is  no  more 
 I  that  do  it,  but  sin  that  dwelleth  in  me. 
 
 ol  Kin.  21, 
 
 20,  ■.'.=>. 
 
 aKiu  17-17 
 
 I  Mac  1.15 
 t  Gr.  A/.o,«, 
 
 P^    I    G 
 V  tidl.  fi.  17 
 
 r  Vs.  I.  2, 
 
 si  Ci.i-.'l.lfi 
 Kph,  3,  16. 
 Col  3.9,1(1 
 
 t  Gal.  5.  17. 
 
 K  rh.  e.  13, 
 19 
 
 h„d,i  .,/ 
 
 21  I  find  then  a  law,  that,  when  I  would  do 
 good,  evil  is  present  with  me. 
 
 22  For  I  'delight  in  the  law  of  God  after 
 '  the  inward  man  : 
 
 23  But  '  I  see  another  law  in  "  my  member.^, 
 warring  against  the  law  of  my  mind,  and  bring- 
 ing me  into  captivity  to  the  law  of  sin  which  is 
 in  my  members. 
 
 24  O  wretched  man  that  I  am !  who  shall 
 deliver  me  from  ||  the  body  of  this  death? 
 
 25  *  I  thank  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
 Lord.  So  then  with  the  mind  I  myself  serve 
 the  law  of  God  ;  but  with  the  flesh  the  law  of 
 sin. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  Thptj  that  are  in  Cttrisf,  and  live  accordincj  to  tin: 
 Spirit,  arc  free  from  condenniation.  5,  13  IVIiat 
 harm  Cometh  of  the  Jies/i ,  6,  14  and  wliat  pood  of  the 
 Spirit:  \1  and  what  of  biing  God's  child,  \Q  whose 
 ylorioTiS  deliverance  nil  things  long  fur,  29  was  before- 
 hand decreed  from  God.  38  Wtiat  can  sever  us  from 
 his  love  ? 
 
 'T^HEUE  is  therefore  now  no  condemnation 
 -*    to  them   which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who 
 
 me,  'subjected  me  to  Ihat  death  which  sin  denounces  against  trans- 
 Srcssors.'— .J.  Clarice.  12.  The  law  is  hoi//,  it  is  by  no  means  itself 
 the  cause  of  sin  ;  whatever  the  law  commands,  is  in  itself  holv.-  Wells. 
 13.  Was  then  Ihat  which  is  good  made  death  P  '  shall  I  then  chaise  my 
 rum  on  this  holy  law  V—Duddr.  Appear  sin,  that  is,  '  malignant,  per- 
 nicious, and  detestable.'  B;/  the  commandment  might,  fyc,  done 
 against  an  express  possible  comraandraent,  might  carry  with  it  a  far 
 greater  degree  of  aggravati-n.— I^V;/s.  U.  The  law  is  spiritual,  if 
 
 the  ceremonial  law  may  be  called  a  carnal  commandment,  because  of 
 its  bodily  services,  yet  the  moral  is  spiritual  in  its  nature,  evtending 
 to  the  thoughts,  desires,  and  afTcctinns  of  the  heart.— BooWir.  The 
 word  •  spiritual'  is  here  expressive  of  general  excellence,  and  includes 
 all  that  IS  meant  by  holy,  just,  and  good,  in  ver.  1-2.— Hodge.  Carnal, 
 •  when  1  consider  myself  by  this  holy  spiritual  law,  notwithstanding 
 my  attainments,  1  am  compelled  to  confess  mvscif  comparatively  car- 
 nal, and  sold  under  sin  by  the  fall  of  my  first  father,  and  by  my  own 
 former  offences.'— BooMr.  Sold  under  sin,  as  slaves  were  procured  by 
 purchase.— tforfg-.  The  full  intensity  of  the  original  would  denote  one 
 ■who  has  sold  himself.— Pici.  Bib.  .Sold  over  to,  and  employed  in  the 
 drudgery  of  tins  service.  This  cannot  mean  the  Christian  believer  or 
 it  would  shew  the  insufficiency  of  the  gospel  as  well  as  of  the  law.— 
 —Clarke.  The  phrase  may  mean,  that  one  is  subject  to  a  power  which, 
 of  himself,  he  cannot  resist,  though  he  desires  to  be  free.— Hodge. 
 ir,.  I  allow  not,  'I  am  far  from  allowing  myself  in  anv  of  the  violations 
 of  Gods  law  which,  through  infirmity,  temptali.n,  and  surprise,  I 
 sometimes  may  be  guilty  of  in  thought,  word,  or  deed.'  Tliat  do  I 
 not,  '  too  often,  through  inadvertence,  sloth,  and  indolence,  I  am  prone 
 to  neglect,  and  do  not  perform  in  so  spiritual  a  manner  as  I  could 
 wish.'  Tliat  do  I,  •  Ihe  sins  that  I  abhor,  to  my  grief  and  humbling 
 before  God.  1  am  insensibly  drawn  into.'— Gi/;/.w.  Here  there  are  two 
 senses  in  which  commentators  understand  the  passage  and  its  con. 
 ne.xion,  *.c.  Hammond  speaks  that  of  one  part)',  when  he  says.  •  The 
 meaning  is,  that  carnal  men,  though  they  are  taught  their  dutv  by  the 
 law,  do  not  such  things  as  their  undersiandiiig  or  conscience  approves. ' 
 Gui/se  expresses  the  opposite  opinion,  making  the  apnstle  the  speaker 
 in  his  '  own  person,'  in  relation  to  what  he  found  after  he  hod  been 
 renewed  and  called  by  grace.  He  speaks  of  himself  in  the  present  tense 
 with  regaril  to  what  he  experienced  after  he  was  converted,  in  the 
 struggles  that  passed  in  liis  own  soul,  between  the  remainder  of  in- 
 <Uvclling  corruption  and  the  principle  of  grace  which  was  wrou"ht  in 
 him.  He  here  speaks  of  two  contrary  principles  distinguishing  iiis  re. 
 newed  self  from  sin  that  dwelt  in  him,  and  personalizes  sin  and  grace 
 under  the  character  of  two  I's,  as  though  they  were  two  different  per. 
 sons  in  him,  (ver.  \b—\i.)— Practical  Exposition,  in  loc.  16.  If  then 
 I  do,  tic  the  conscience  of  carnal  men  smiting  them  for  breaking  the 
 law,  IS  an  aclinowledgment  that  the  law  is  good.— i/nm  •  If  what  I 
 do  contrary  to  the  law  is  what  I  have  an  aversion  to,  it  proves  that  in 
 my  very  lieart  I  [as  a  believer]  am  at  full  agreement  wilh  the  law  ' 
 17.  No  more  I,  ^c,  'no  longer  my  whole  self^'  'much  less  is  it  niv 
 renewed  judgment,  will,  and  affections,  but  sin  that  still  dwells  in  me  ' 
 
 18.  I  know,  'by  sad  experience.'  Flesh,  'corrupt  nature.'  20.  Sin 
 that  dwelleth  in  me,  the  law  is  far  from  being  guilty  of  men's  sins,  but 
 their  carnal  inclinations,  or  the  custom  of  sin,  has  gained  such  power 
 over  them. — Ham.  '  I  must  own  [as  a  believer]  to  the  humbling  my 
 soul  before  God,  that  sin  still  remains  in  me.' — Guyse.  21.  A  law, 
 a  principle  which  lias  the  force  and  power  of  a  law,  and  to  which,  in 
 fact,  1  too  often  yield  obedience. — Boolhr.  22.  The  imvard  man, 
 
 '  my  mind,'  '  the  better  and  nobler  powers  of  my  intellectual  nature.' 
 — Doddr.  Though  the  inner  man  primarily  signifies  'the  soul,'  it,  in 
 the  apostle's  use  of  it,  takes  in  the  idea  of  a  renewed  soul,  and  answers 
 to  what  he  calls  the  new  man,  Eph.  iv.  24 ;  and  Cul.  iii.  lo.  The  ex- 
 pression is  used  but  twice  more  in  the  New  Testament,  and  is  peculiar 
 to  the  apostle,  (see  2  Cor.  iv.  16;  Eph.  iii.  16.)  In  both  places  it  has 
 a  manifest  reference  to  believers. —  Guyse.  The  passage  means  no 
 more  than  that  there  are  some  inward  faculties  in  the  soul  which  de- 
 light in  the  law  ol  Gi>A.— Clarke.  21.0  wretched  man,  'the  very 
 state  of  a  carnal  mind  under  the  law.'— Hum.  The  word  signifies, 
 '  one  wearied  out  with  continual  combats.'  It  is  not  the  voice  of  one 
 desponding  or  doubting,  but  of  one  panting  after  deliverance;  'the 
 groan  of  the  godly.'— Poo/e.  The  body  of  litis  death,  that  state  of  cor. 
 ruption  and  weakness  which  the  believer  cannot  look  upon  without 
 grief,  as  he  would  look  upon  death.— .1/ar.  By  an  Hebraism.  '  from 
 this  dead  body,'  'this  carcase  of  sin  to  wliicli  1  am  inseparably  fas- 
 tened, as  noisome  to  my  soul  as  a  dead  carcase  to  my  senses.'— Poo/e. 
 25.  /  thank  God,  through  .lesus  Christ,  '  blessed  be  God,  by  the  grace 
 and  strenirth  of  Christ,  there  is  a  way  to  escape  from  tliis  sad  condi- 
 tion ;  there  is  a  pardon  for  the  penitent,  and  grace  and  strength  in 
 Christ  to  pirform  what  God  in  Christ  will  accept.' — Ham.  This  lan- 
 guage expresses  the  victory  of  the  believer  over  his  infirmities.- il/ar. 
 Wilh  the  flesh  the  law  of  sin,  being  sometimes  brought  under  the  power 
 of  propensions  to  sin,  and  into  an  unwilling  servitude  to  its  abomin- 
 able interests  and  demands.— Gi(i/se.  Adam  Clarke  adopts  the  opinion 
 of  Locke  and  Dr.  Taylor,  that  the  apostle  here  describes  the  feelings 
 of  a  Jew  under  the  law,  but  dexterously  changes  the  person  to  I,  to 
 give  no  offence.— r»)?H7/i.  in  loc.  It  certainly  does  not  appear  clenr 
 Ihat  the  language  here  used  can  belong  to  the  unregerierate  man  ;  it 
 is  a  stretch  of  conception  to  suppose  that  it  can  be  said  with  truth  of 
 him,  that  he  delights  in  the  law  of  God  in  any  one  of  his  depraved 
 powers.  The  renewed  nature  may  consistently  groan  under  the  sense 
 of  that  depravity  which  still  binds  it  down  as  a  sold  slave :  and  it  is 
 not  likely  that  the  unconverted  sinner  can  thank  God  through  Jesus 
 Christ.  This  is  obviously  the  language  of  one  who,  surveying  the 
 surrounding  atmosphere  of  corruption,  lifts  up  his  head  with  joy  in 
 prospect  of  that  period  when  he  shall  emerge  into  the  glorious  liberty 
 of  the  sons  of  God,  and  '  this  corruption  shall  put  on  incorruption.'— 
 Editor. 
 
 Ch  AH.  VI II.  —  I.  Therefore,  ^c,  apa,  shews  a  connexion  with  some, 
 thing  bclore,  and  seems  to  be  most  immediately  an  inference  from  the 
 last  verse  of  chap,  vii.,  thanking  God  for  deliverance  through  Christ. 
 —Guyse.     Now,  a  connecting  particle.— i).  Martin.      No  condemtm- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  We  may  here  observe  in 
 the  words  of  Dr.  Stiifford-I.  '  That  all  true  believers  become  more 
 and  more  acquainted  wilh  the  remaininq  power  of  sin  in  their 
 hearts,  by  observing  what  passes  within' tlicm.  iVue  believers 
 are  such  as  have  considerable  acquaintance  with  themselves  • 
 they  see  and  know  the  plague  of  their  own  hearts  ■  yea  this 
 IS  ail  increasing  knowledge.  The  longer  they  live,  the  more 
 do  they  know  of  themselves,  and  the  more  notice  do  they  take 
 of  the  least  deviation  from  the  perfect  rule  laid  down  in  the 
 divine  word;  and  the  more  thev  trv  themselves  bv  this  un. 
 erring  standard,  the  more  do  they  complain  and  liuinble  them, 
 selves  before  God." 
 1193 
 
 11.  '  That  sonis  groaning  under  the  sad  remains  nf  the  body  of 
 sin  andilealhcanjind  no  relief,  no  true  peace  nor  comfort,  hut 
 through  Jesus  Christ.'  'There  is  the  blood  of  Christ,  which 
 was  shed  as  an  atoning  sacrifice  for  sin,' — '  tlieie  is,  further, 
 a  perfect  and  everlasting  righteousness,'— '  there  is  also  in 
 (lirist,  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  and  the  power  and  grace  of 
 Christ.  '  The  power  of  sin  can  be  destroyed  by  nothing  short 
 of  his  power  who  sliall  subdue  all  things  to  himself.  This  is 
 be  whom  our  apostle  recommends  to  our  regards  ;  from  him 
 alone  he  expected  deliverance — '  I  thank  God,  llirougb  Christ 
 our  Lord. ' 
 
 T  N 
 
The  efficacy  and  blessedness 
 
 ROMANS,  vni. 
 
 of  Divine  grace. 
 
 *  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit. 
 
 2  For  ^  the  law  of  '^  the  Spirit  of  life  in  Christ 
 Jesus  hath  made  me  free  from  "^  the  law  of  sin 
 and  death. 
 
 3  For  ^  what  the  law  could  not  do,  in  that  it 
 was  weak  through  the  flesh.  ^  God  sending  his 
 own  Son  iu  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  and  ||for 
 sin,  condemned  sin  in  the  flesh  : 
 
 4  That  the  riffhteousness  of  tlie  law  might  be 
 fulfilled  iu  US,  ^  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh, 
 but  after  the  Spirit. 
 
 5  For  *"  they  that  are  after  the  flesh  do  mind 
 the  things  of  the  flesh  ;  but  they  that  are  after 
 the  Spirit  '  the  things  of  the  Spirit. 
 
 6  For  ''t  to  be  carnally  minded  is  death  ;  but 
 f  to  be  spiritually  minded  is  life  and  peace. 
 
 7  Because  f '  tlie  carnal  mind  is  enmity 
 against  God  :  for  it  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of 
 God,  "^  neither  indeed  can  be. 
 
 8  So  then  tliey  that  are  in  the  flesh  cannot 
 please  God. 
 
 9  But  ye  are  not  in  the  flesh, but  iu  the  Spirit, 
 if  so  be  that  "the  Spirit  of  God  dwell  in  you. 
 Now  if  any  man  have  not  °  the  Spirit  of  Clirist, 
 he  is  none  of  bis. 
 
 10  And  if  Cbrist  be  in  you,  the  body  is  dead 
 
 a  ver.  1. 
 
 Gal  5.10,25, 
 6  John  a  SU. 
 
 ch.  6  18.  2-i. 
 
 Gal.  2.  I9.& 
 
 5.  I. 
 C  ICor.lftto. 
 
 2  Cor    3    6 
 <i  ch.7  21, 
 
 ■>5. 
 e  Acts  ri,:i9. 
 
 ch.  3.  yu 
 
 Heb.  7.  18, 
 
 19.  &  in.  I, 
 
 2.  10,  M 
 /GaU3.  13. 
 
 2  Cor  &n. 
 
 I  Or.  hy  a 
 
 tacrijictfor 
 
 h  John  3.  G. 
 
 I  Cor,  2,  14. 
 I  Gal.  5.  Si, 
 
 2.^. 
 tch.  6.21. 
 
 ver.  13. 
 
 Gill.  6.  8, 
 +  Gr.  Mo 
 
 r»i»di..ff  of 
 
 thejl<-ih  : 
 
 So  ver.  7. 
 t  Gr.  Il.« 
 
 m,n.U„^  of 
 
 thf  spirit 
 t  Gr.  Ih'. 
 
 nx,,..Ungof 
 
 thf  fifth. 
 I  J.iin  4.  4 
 T71  I  Cor.  g. 
 
 «  1  Cor  3.16. 
 
 U  fi.  19. 
 0  John  3. 31. 
 Gal,  4.6.  PhU.  1.  19.  1  Pel.  1.11. 
 
 p  Acts  2.  2-V 
 
 7  c\\    6    1,  -S 
 
 I  l%.r.  6  14. 
 ■_'C..r..l  i+. 
 Ki>h.  •-•.  h. 
 
 ^fl',nSi.,„i 
 
 rch.fl.T,  It 
 
 »  ver  6.  Gal. 
 
 «.  8 
 t  Kph    4.22. 
 
 Col.  3.  .5. 
 
 u  Gal.  5.  13. 
 
 xlCnr,2-l2- 
 
 Heb  2  15. 
 V  2  Tiiii  1-7. 
 
 IJohiit.lS 
 :  Is    56,  5. 
 
 Gal.  +.  5.  6 
 aMarkll.36. 
 ft  2  Cor.  1.22, 
 
 &  5  5.Eph. 
 
 t.  13.  b  i. 
 
 SO 
 c  Acts  26.18, 
 
 Gal.  4  7, 
 d  Acts  1 1.22 
 
 Phil.  I.  29 
 
 a  Tim  2.11, 
 
 12. 
 e  2  Cor  4.17, 
 
 I  Pet.  I  6,7. 
 
 &  4.  13. 
 
 /2  Pet.  3,13. 
 
 because  of  sin ;  but  the  Spirit  is  life  because 
 of  righteousness. 
 
 II  But  if  tiie  Spirit  of  'Miiin  that  raised  up 
 Jesus  from  the  dead  dwell  iu  you,  ''he  that 
 raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead  shall  also 
 quicken  your  mortal  bodies  ||  by  his  Spirit 
 that  dwelleth  in  you. 
 
 I'2  "^  Therefore,  brethren,  we  are  debtors,  not 
 to  the  flesh,  to  live  after  the  Hesli. 
 
 13  For  "if  ye  live  after  the  flesh,  ye  shall  die: 
 but  if  ye  through  tlie  Spirit  do  *  mortify  the 
 deeds  of  tlie  body,  ye  shall  live. 
 
 14  For  "as  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of 
 God.  they  are  the  sons  of  God. 
 
 15  For  ^  ye  have  not  received  the  spirit  of 
 bondage  again  ^to  fear;  but  ye  have  received 
 the  ^  Spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  we  cry,  "Abba, 
 Father. 
 
 iG  ''The  Spirit  itself  beareth  witness  with 
 our  spirit,  that  we  are  the  children  of  God  : 
 
 17  And  if  children,  then  heirs  ;  *"  heirs  of  God, 
 and  joint-heirs  witli  Christ;  •' if  so  be  that  we 
 sufl'er  with  him^  that  we  may  be  also  glorified 
 together. 
 
 18  For  I  reckon  that  ^  the  suff'erings  of  this 
 present  time  arc  not  worthy  to  be  compared 
 with  the  glory  which  shall  be  revealed  iu  us. 
 
 19  For  Uhe  earnest  expectation  of  the  crea- 
 
 fion,  oviev  KaraKpi^a,  ' not  one  condemnatinn.'— Gi7^  *No  penalty 
 actually  to  be  inflicted.'— S/«ur/.  The  apostle  mcaot,  whatever  were 
 bis  infirmities  or  defects  when  he  considered  himself  in  reference  to 
 the  lioiy  law  of  God,  yet,  as  a  believer,  he,  together  with  all  such  as 
 Wire  one  in  Christ,  was  freed  from  condemnation.— jBoo^Ar.  In  Christ 
 Jesus,  vitally  united  to  Christ,  and  become  members  of  his  mystical 
 body,  through  faith  in  him.  W'llk  not  after  the  fiesh,  ^c,  act,  in  the 
 general  aud  governing  course  of  their  lives  not  according  to  the  dic- 
 tates and  inclinations  of  corrupt  nature,  for  gratifying  the  flesh,  but 
 according  to  the  written  word  which  was  indited  by  the  Spirit,  and 
 according  to  a  spiritual  principle,  and  under  the  guidance  and  assist- 
 ance of  the  Spirit.— Guif.se,  so  also  Duddr.,  Mackn.,  Hod;^e,  &c.  The 
 passage  also  includes,  and  is  mainly  designed  to  condemn,  seeking 
 acceptance  with  God  by  works  of  righteousness.  See  the  acceptations 
 of  the  ttrms  '  flesh'  and  'spirit,'  Gal.  iii.  3,  and  Phil.  iii.  Z.—Haldane. 
 
 2.  The  Inw  of  the  Spirit  of  life,  the  gospel  revealed  by  the  Spirit,  and 
 which  shews  the  way  of  life  to  a  condemned  sinner.  Made  me  free 
 from,  §7*.,  from  the  condemning  and  ruling  power  of  sin.— Boolhr. 
 
 3.  For  what  the  law.  %-c..  the  moral  law.— Poo/e.  Could  not  do.  not 
 from  any  defect  in  itself,  for  it  is  as  able  to  justify  a  sinless  man  as 
 evcr.~Gu>/se.  Weak  through,  9fc.~the  law  is  weak  to  us  because  we 
 are  weak  to  it.  The  sun  cannot  give  light  to  a  blind  eye.~Po"le.  God 
 sending,  fyc,  'God  hath  done,  who,  by  vending  his  own  Son  in  the 
 likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  and  by  a  sin-offering,  hath  condemned  sin  in 
 the  flesh.'  And  for  sin,  here  the  best  Greek  copies  place  the  comma  : 
 •God  sent  him,  and  as  a  sacrifice  for  sin.' — Hen.,  so  Hodge.  Uepj 
 afjiapTta^  is  the  Very  phrase  in  the  Sept.  by  which  the  sin-offerings, 
 that  were  typical  of  the  sacrifice  of  Christ,  were  usually  expressed.— 
 See  Whitby,  Giit/se.  Condevtned  sin  in  the  Jfrsh,  by  inflicting  the 
 punishment  due  to  it  upon  him.  4.  The  righleousriess  of  the  law, 
 required  by  the  moral  law.  Fulfilled  in,  ev,  us,  or  *  by,'  or  '  for'  us.— 
 Gur/se.   'O  fap  6  vofiov  t/^oi-Xero  /lev,  >iaf)r]vet  ie,  tovto  6  xP'o-to?  enoti^ae 
 
 &t'  n^xa^,  'what  the  law  was  desirous  of,  but,  through  weakness,  could 
 not  obtain,*  that  is,  perfect  obedience  in  order  to  justification  ;  that 
 did  Christ  perform  for  us.—Theop/iylact,  Topladij.  The  same  prepo- 
 sition, ei/,  signifies  '  for,*  in  many  other  parts  of  "the  sacred  writings— 
 for  instance,  Matt.  vi.  7;  Gal. i. 24;  Eph.iv,],32;  Phil.  i.  26;  1  Pet. 
 iv.  \A.~Toplady.  Rather  understand  this  of  sanctification,  for  the 
 apostle  does  not  speak  here  tif  Clirist's  active  obedience,  but  of  the 
 fruits  of  his  death,  a  work  done  in  us,  and  means,  that  by  the  merit 
 of  Christ's  death  we  are  freed  not  only  from  the  guilt,  but  tyranny,  of 
 fAu.—Mnnton.  Understand  both  our  justification  and  sanctification, 
 for  though  the  righteousness  of  the  law  is  not  fulfilled  by  us,  it  is  ful- 
 filled in  us,  there  is  that  to  be  found  upon  and  in  all  true  believers 
 which  answers  the  intention  of  the  law.— Hz-n.  After  the  fiesh,  to  in- 
 dulge its  desires  ami  commands.  After  the  Spirit,  under  the  influences 
 of  the  Spirit  of  God.—Doddr.  5.   Things  of  the  Jlfsh— things  for 
 
 bodily  support  are  lawful ;  but  this  means  things  sinful,  the  lust,  works 
 and  sins  of  the  flesh.  By  minding  these  is  signified,  that  the  bent  and 
 application  of  their  minds  is  to  them.  Things  of  the  Spirit,  spiritual 
 graces,  blessings,  doctrines,  sacrifices,  and  services. — Gill.  6.  To  he 
 rarnally  minded,  to  <p{,ovt\fi.a  Ttjt  aapnot,  'the  minding  rif  the  flesh.*— 
 Doddr.,  Boothr.  The  preferring  and  pursuing  its  interests.— iJodrfr. 
 is  death— a  spiritual  death  in  trespasses  and  sins,  which  deserves,  tends 
 to,  and,  persisted  in,  will  certainly  issue  in,  eternal  death.  Life,  a 
 .spiritual  rife,  the  beginning  and  earnest  of  everlasting  life.  Frace, 
 filling  the  soul  with  serenity  and  peace.— G«^se.  9.  Ye  are  not  in 
 the  fiesh,  he  addresses  the  believers  at  Rome.  If  so  be  that  the  Spirit, 
 'since  the  Spirit.'— Boo/Ar.  EtTrep,  the  rendering  of  this  might  justly 
 1194 
 
 be,  'because  the  Spirit,'  &c. — Guyse,  so  Blarkwell.  Now,  df,  'but,' 
 &c.  '  If  there  should  be  any  of  you  not  partaker  of  the  renewing  and 
 sanctifying  opcrsitions  of  the  Holy  Ghost.'— Gw^/Jte.  Understand  the 
 spirit,  temper,  and  holy  disposition  of  Christ.— Boothr.  It  is  evident  that 
 what  was  fir-t  chilled  the  Spirit  of  God,  is  here  called  the  Spirit  of  Christ ; 
 see  Gal.  iv.  6  ;  Phil.  i.  19  ;  1  Pet.  i.  1 1 :  of  cour.--e  the  latter  phrase  can- 
 not mean  the  disposition  of  Christ,  but  the  Holy  Spirit,  so  called  be- 
 cause possessed  by  Christ  without  measure.  fJohn,  iii.  34  ;  Acts,  x.  38; 
 Is.  xlii.  1,  &c.)  Because  he  is  given,  or  sent,  by  Christ.  (John,  i.  33; 
 XV.  26;  xvi.  7;  Luke,  xxiv.  49.  ike.)  10.  Dead,  'mortal,  and  will 
 
 certainly  die.*  Spirit  is  life,  ^c, '  your  souls  are  made  spiritually  alive, 
 and  shall  live  in  blessedness  for  ever,  on  account  of  the  righteousness 
 of  Christ.— Gh^j!^.  12.  Debtors,  under  an  obligation,  not  to  the  flesh, 
 but  to  grace.- jBwo/Ai-.  13.  Mortify  the  deeds,  fyc,  those  carnal  in- 
 clinations from  whence  all  criminal  indulgences  of  the  body  arise. 
 Live,  iu  complete  iciicity,  in  spite  "(  all  that  death  cm  do  to  the  body, 
 —Doddr.  14.  As  many,  whether  Jew  or  Gentile.- iii/';.  Led  l>y  the 
 Spirit,  '  conduct'  d,  assisted,  and  governed  by  the  light  and  influence 
 of  the  Spirit  of  God.'- Guv*''.  Sons  of  God,  bearmg  his  resemblance. 
 —Rite.  15.  Received  the  spirit  of  bondage,  the  fear  of  death.— £,ocA-e, 
 Pearce.  '  Ye  have  not  come  under  another  dispen-^ation  like  that  of 
 Moses.'  Spirit  of  adoption,  the  confidence  of  children  in  approaching 
 to  God.  Abba,  Father,  \f30a  o  Trarnp— as  *  Abba'  signifies  *  Father'  in 
 the  Jewish  language,  that  is,  the  Syro-Chaldaic,  the  msertion  of  it  here 
 beautifully  represents  the  union  of  the  Jewish  and  Gentile  believers, 
 in  those  devotions  which  were  dictated  by  a  filial  spirit. — Dodd..  The 
 apostle  here  alludes  to  a  law  among  the  Jews  which  forbad  slaves  to 
 call  a  freeman  '  Abba.'— C/u«rfe.  I6.  The  Spirit  itself,  might  be  ren- 
 dered 'himself.'  Benrtth  witness,  confirms,  or  assures.- Horfg-e.  By 
 an  inward  and  joyful  assurance. —/JotWr.  By  working  gracious  dispo- 
 sitions in  us,  and  shinmg  upon  his  own  work  with  clear  and  distin- 
 guishing light.— G«yse.  17.  And  if  children,  then  heir.i,  according 
 to  the  customs  uf  all  nations.  It  was  a  law  among  the  Jews,  as  among 
 the  Romans,  that  adopted  sons,  in  respect  of  inheriting,  were  equal 
 with  natural.— //'£"(.  Heirs  vf  Gad,  and  shall  for  ever  enjoy  him.— 
 Doddr.  Joint  hei  ^with  Christ,  '  co-heirs  with  Christ.'  The  inherit- 
 ance is  his  by  nature,  ours  by  grace. —Poo/e.  If  so  be  that  we  suffer^ 
 '  since  we  suffer,'  &c..  or  '  if  we  j'>intly  suffer,  that  also  we  may  be 
 jointly  gloritieri.'— pMf.  IS.  For  I  reckon,  ^c— having  mentioned 
 suffering,  the  apostle  contrasts  it  with  the  glory  to  be  revealed.— 
 Boothr.  Ao7<C'>Mai,  'I  find  upon  the  most  deliberate  computation, 
 that.'  &c.— ;>'.r/rfr.  As  anarilhinetician  that  is  balancing  an  account. 
 — Hen.  19.  The  earnest  expectation,  anoKapaAoKia,  signifies  the  lift- 
 ing of  the  head  and  the  stretching  of  the  body  as  far  as  possible,  to  hear 
 and  see  something  very  agreeable  or  of  great  importance.— B/'r':-A-H'o//. 
 The  creature,  h  ktktk,  regenerated  Christians. —LtmAorc/j,  Schoettgen, 
 &c.  Christians  recently  converted  from  Judaism  or  heathenism.— 
 Ham.,  Le  Clerc,  Wets.,  SfC.  The  bodies  of  Christians  one  day  to  be 
 renovated.— HrumaHW,  Sadoletus.  The  Gentile  v/or\(i.— Light/.,  Gill, 
 Guyse;  so  S.  Clarke,  who  says,  *  "The  creature,"  or  "  the  whole  crea- 
 tion." as  in  ver.  22,  seems  to  signify  those  many  nations,  or  the  bulk 
 of  mankind,  tn  whom  the  gospel  was  afterwards  to  be  preached,  in 
 contradistinction  to  the  "first  fruits"  in  ver.  23,  who  received  it  in  the 
 apostle's  time.'— Sermons  in  loc,  vol.  vi.  p.  95-  The  rational  creation. 
 —Parkh.  Every  human  creature,  Jews  and  Gentiles.— 3/aeftn..  i^t'c- 
 'The  whole  race  of  mankind;'  for,  in  the  sacred  dialect,  desire  and 
 expectation  is  ascribed  to  creatures  in  reference  to  Uiings  they  want, 
 and  which  tend  to  their  advantage,  though  they  explicjUy  know  no- 
 thing of  them.      Thus  the  Me3.^iah  is  called  '  the  e.\pecUtion  (jrijoj- 
 
Hope,  the  comfort  ami 
 
 ROMANS,  VIII. 
 
 salvation  of  sinners. 
 
 ture  waiteth  for  the  "manifestation  of  the  sons 
 of  God. 
 
 ■20  For  ^  the  creature  was  made  subject  to 
 vanity,  not  willingly,  but  by  reason  of  him  who 
 bath  subjected  the  same  in  hope, 
 
 21  Because  the  creature  itself  also  shall  be 
 delivered  from  the  bondage  of  corruption  into 
 
 1  Or,  mrg 
 
 ^r,l^k  Iti  15, 
 
 Col.  I.  i-l 
 I  Jer.  1-2.  II. 
 A  2  Cor.  5.5. 
 
 Eph.  1.  11 
 /■J  Cor,  5  2,4. 
 m  Luke  -^0. 
 
 36. 
 
 the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God. 
 
 •22  For  we  know  that  ||  the  whole  creation 
 'groaneth  and  travaileth  in  pain  together  until 
 now. 
 
 23  And  not  only  they,  but  ourselves  also, 
 which  have  '  the  firstfruits  of  the  Spirit,  '  even 
 we  ourselves  groan  within  ourselves,  °'  waiting 
 
 JoK.(i)  of  the  Gentiles,  (Gen.  xlix.  10,)  and  ■  the  desire  of  all  nations,'  they  believed  in  a  future  state,  and  hoped  to  share  in  its  advantages. 
 (Hag.  ii.  -.)— Whitby,  iO  Grove :  so  also  Loclte,  Dr.  Taylor,  Duederlin,  Now  the  earnest  waiting  fur  the  manifestation  of  the  sons  of  God,  may 
 Benson,  Turret.  Rnsemn.,  Stuart.  &c. ;  so  some  of  those  quoted  above  include  both  the  expected  improvement  of  the  human  condition  on 
 in  other  words,  Whitbii,  Grove,  Parkh.,  Rite.,  Maekn.  This  does  not  earth,  and  the  glory  that  shall  be  manifested  at  the  resurrection.  Man- 
 mean  good  angels,  for"  they  are  not  subject  to  vanity— nor  devils,  for  kind  in  general  had,  indeerl,  no  knowledge  of  the  nature  of  this  glory  ; 
 they  tremble  at  these  things— nor  the  reprobate  world,  for  thev  scoff  but,  as  they  expected  that  state  in  which  it  will  be  manifested,  the 
 at  these  things— nor  saints  and  believers,  for  they  are  distinctly  men-  apostle,  speaking  of  this  expectation,  might  describe  the  nature  ot  the 
 lioned  ver.  23— not  the  beasts,  for  they  are  incapable  of  a  prospect  thing  expected  more  fully  than  they  understood  it.—Rttc.  (iv.)  Inam- 
 of  futurity  ;  therefore  'tis  meant  of  tin-  whole  frame  of  the  universe—  mate  creation.  Through  the  fall,  the  Lord  subjected  the  creatures  of 
 heaven  and  earth,  and  the  creatures  in  them  ;  they  do,  as  it  were,  ex-  this  lower  world,  and  even  the  visible  creation,  to  vanity.  Everything 
 jiect  the  time  when  they  shall  be  restored  to  the  primitive  state  of  their  seems  perverted  from  its  intended  use:  the  inanimate  creatures  are 
 creation.  The  earth,  and  elementary  bodies,  shall  be  burnt  up.  but  pressed  into  the  service  of  man's  rebellion  ;  the  luminaries  of  heaven 
 thev  shall  be  renewed  and  restored  when  the  children  of  God  come  to  give  him  light  by  which  to  work  wickedness  ;  the  fruits  of  the  earth 
 their  glorious  estate  ;  the  deformation  of  the  creature  began  with  man's  are  sacrificed  to  his  luxury,  &c. ;  its  bowels  are  ransacked  for  metals  to 
 sin,  and  the  reformation  with  his  complete  happiness.— ;i/(in(on.  Hen.,  forge  arms  to  gratify  man's  revenge,  or  to  make  money  for  his  avarice, 
 so  Hald.  The  whole  visible  creation  seems  to  wait  with  earnest  ex-  The  animal  tribes  are  subject  to  pain  and  death  through  man  s  sin, 
 ptctation  for  that  important  period  when  'the  children  of  God  shall  and  their  sufferings  are  exceedingly  increased  by  his  cruelty;  and 
 be  manifested'  in  the  glory  which  is  prepared  for  them  ,  and  in  this  it  nearly  every  part  of  creation  has  been,  and  is,  perverted  to  idolatry 
 resembles  a  man  who,  with  outstretched  neck,  looks  and  waits,  with  which  is  especially  vanity.  Everything  is  in  an  unnatural  state.  Ijoa 
 impatient  longing,  for  the  arrival  of  some  beloved  and  expected  friend,  intends  to  rescue  creation  from  this  bondage  to  man's  depravity,  that 
 —Scott,  so  Luther,  D.  Martin,  Grot.,  Cupel,  Uoddr.,  Mich.,  Koppe,  it  may  partake  of  the  glorious  liberty  of  his^hildren.  and  ^mimsW^r  to 
 Rosenni.,  T.  \i'illiams,  Tholuek.      To  each  of  these  opinions,  objec  ■        ~     ■-         ■  ■      -,-  —  -•  .         ^       ,  ,k.,  ..„»  «     .,„.,   mo- 
 
 i  are  stated  by  those  embracing  the  others  ;  the  principal  objec. 
 tions  are — *  It  cannot  be  regenerated  persons  groaning  under  sin  and 
 longing  to  be  delivered,  for  they  canniit  be  said  to  be  in  a  state  of 
 bondage  to  corruption,  but  are  freed  from  the  dominion  of  sin.' — Gilt. 
 This  interpretation  makes  no  distinction  between  '  creature'  and  '  sdiis' 
 
 it.— Scott.  The  word  rendered  '  creature'  means  the  act  of  founding 
 or  creating,  Rom.  i.  20  ;  and  then  that  which  is  created,  Rom.  i.  25; 
 Col.  i.  15.  The  expres--iou,  'the  whole  creation,"  may,  according  to 
 the  context,  mean,  the  rational  or  irrational  creation.  It  cannot  he 
 said  of  mankind,  or  of  the  rational  creation,  that  they  are  waiting, 
 &c.,  that  they  were  made  subject  to  their  present  state  of  corruption 
 
 d  '  children  of  God,' in  verses  19  and  21,  where  the  writer  has  plainly  not  of  their  own  accord,  and  that  they  are  to  be  made  partakers  of  the 
 
 made  one.— S(uur/.    The  word  rendered  'creature'  in  this  passage,  is  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of  Giid  ;  but  all  can  be  said  of  the  external 
 
 nowhere  used  in  scripture  to  denote  the  ChrisUan  church,  although  world.    The  scriptures  frequently  speak  of  the  whole  creation  as  a 
 
 tlie  phrase 'a  new  creature' is  employed  to  deniite  a  sincere  Chrisiian.  sentient  being,  rejoicing,  trembling,  praising,  &c.,  as  St.  Paul  here 
 
 —Hitc.    It  cannot  be  Christians  recently  ettnverted  from  Judaism  to  represents  it  longing  for  the  great  consummation  of  all  things.    Sottie 
 
 heathenism,  for  what  is  affirmed  is  applicable  to  all  Christians.— .J;n-  earth  is  made  subject  to  vanity,  not  on  its  own  account,  but  by  God  s 
 
 mon.  Turner.  It  cannot  mean  the  Gentile  world.  There  is  no  good 
 reason  for  any  distinction  here,  as  Jew  and  Gentile  are  equally  ex- 
 posed to  the  miseries  of  life. — Stuart.  It  cannot  be  men  in  general 
 bi*ou.;ht  into  a  state  of  bondage  and  corruption,  subject  to  vanity, 
 troubles,  &c.,  and  groaning  for  deliverance,  for  to  desire  anything  of 
 a  spiritual  nature  cannot  be  ascribed  to  men  in  general. — Gilt.  It  is 
 distinguished  from  ■  suns  of  God,'  (ver.  19 — 21  ;)  how,  then,  can  it  mean 
 alt  men,  of  which  they  constitute  a  part  ? — Flatt.      It  cannot  be  the 
 
 punishing  tbe  sins  of  men  ;  and  it  is  scriptural  to  represent  creation  as 
 participating  in  the  blessings  of  Messiah's  reign,  (Is.  xxxv.  1 ,  29  ;  xvu. 
 32j  XV.  15;  2  Pet.  iii.  7—13;  Heb.  xii.  '26,  ■l-.)  —  Hodge.  .4.  Clarke 
 has  a  siring  of  reasoning  in  reference  to  the  restoration  of  the  brute 
 creation,  which  is  too  long  to  be  inserted  here ;  the  scope  of  it  is, 
 that  animals  were  not  made  to  be  miserable— that  they  have  gene- 
 rally become  so  by  man's  fall— and  that  as,  from  the  present  consti- 
 tution of  things,  they  cannot  have  the  happiness  designed  for  them 
 
 viuteriul  creation  :  it  is  but  an  assumption  without  foundation  that  in  this  state,  they  must  have  it  in  another.      On  this   knotty  subject 
 
 this  will  be  changed  for  the  better  after  the  resurrection,  especially  that  the  scripture  is  silent,  because  it  only  reveals  to  us  the  way  of  man  s 
 
 when  it  has  undergone  an  emendation  it  will  be  the  abode  of  spiritual  salvation ;  but  the  probability  of  the  truth  of  these  conjectures,  how 
 
 bodies,  'see  the  contrary,  1  Thess.  iv.  1; ;  1  Cor.  xv.  44,  50,  53 ;  Matt,  much  soever  ridiculed  by  some,  is  most  cordially  subscribed  to  by  the 
 
 xxii.  29,  30.)— S(unr;.     Ver.  21,  and  the  antithesis,  ver. '23  :  "Not  only  Editor.  20.  The  creuture  was  made  subject  to  vanity. -the  whole 
 
 they,  but  ourselves  also,  shew  that  the  apostle  is  speaking,  not  of  the  race  of  men  liable  to  corruption.'— W/.iVJ^V,  Stanhope.   'The  creation, 
 
 brute  and  inanimate  creation,  but  of  mankind,  and  of  their  earnest  de-  it  denotes  the  part  of  the  created  universe  which  is  immediately  re- 
 
 sireof  immortality. '-.Wdclin.  The  prkvaiiing  opinions  above  given  lated  to  man,  or  conies  under  his  influence.    'Vanity    denotes  the 
 
 are  (our,  and  are  thus  supported :  (i.)  The  church  of  God  answers  to  frustration  of  high  and  holy  purposes  to  which  that  part  of  the  uni. 
 
 the  figures  '  the  creature,'  '  the  creaUon,'  '  the  whole  creation,"  (see  verse  is  subjected  by  the  wickedness  of  mankind,  ungratefully  toward.s 
 
 '  the  whole  creation 
 Is  xliii.  7;  Ixv.  1";  and  the  Jewish  church,  Jer.  iv.  23 — 27.)  The 
 words  are  introduced  to  shew  how  the  followers  of  Christ  are  sup- 
 ported under  sufferings.  The  apostle  gives  us  his  estimate  of  afflic- 
 tions, ver.  18,  and  he  declares  that  the  creation  or  church  universal 
 were  of  one  mind  with  him,  being  distinguished  by  earnest  desires 
 and  expeclations  of  tlie  manifestation  of  the  hons  of  God,  (ver.  19.) 
 
 verse  is  subjected  by  t —   -  .      „  . 
 
 God,  and  cruellv  towards  sentient  animals;  abusing  the  gifts  of  Provi- 
 ience.—P.  Smith.  This  designs  the  vanity  and  emptiness  of  the  minds 
 of  the  Gentiles  —(Ji//.  This  is  a  word  of  extensive  signification,  and 
 may  include  all  the  miseries,  and  follies,  and  sins  to  which  men  are  hable 
 in  the  present  life,  together  with  death,  in  which  they  terminate.— 
 Rite.     It  will  be  observed,  that  the  different  interpretations  given  here. 
 
 Sie  I  John,  iii.  2.     In  the  present  time  they  (denominated  the  whole  on  this  and  the  following  verses,  vary  in  accordance  with  the  different 
 
 creation)  are  subject  to  vanity,  or  the  evils  of  life,  (ver.  20 ;  comp.  Ps.  interpretations  of  ver.  ig.— Ed.      Not  willingly,  that  is,  the  creature 
 
 Ixxxix.  47.)    Not  from  choice,  (Heb.  xii.  11.)    The  whole  church  was  did  not  voluntarily  choose  its  present  condition  of  sorrow  and  pain, 
 
 subject  to  suffering  until  the  age  of  the  apostles,  (ver.  22  ;  comp.  Heb.  and  its  frail  and  dying  state.— Siuiirf.     By  reuson  0/ Aim,  through  the 
 
 vi.  12.)     Even  the  apostles  and  their  brethren,  who  received  the  Holv  just  dispensation  of  God.— Stanh.,  Mackn.       In  hope,  eir  t\mii,  'in 
 
 Spirit,  or  Comforter,  earnestly  desired  deliverance  from  this  mortal  hope.'    Here  the  dative  designates  the  slate  or  condition  of  the  crea- 
 
 slate  and  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  (ver.  23.)  the  hopes  of  which  ture,  one  in  which  a  hope  of  deliverance  can  be  indulged.     It  is  not  a 
 
 reconciled  them  to  the  sevirest  afHiclion,  (ver.  24;  comp.  2  Cor.  iv.  state  of  despair.— S((iar(.         21.  Because,  l/c.-Boothroyd  reads   this 
 
 17;  V.  1—1.]—Dnv.     (ii.)  The  Gentile  world,  ij^ca  Kjicit,  'the  whole  and  the  two  preceding  verses  thus,  which  we  perceive  is  agreeably  to 
 
 creation,' or  '  every  creature,'  as  it  may  be  rendered,  signifies  'the  the  tiivision  in  Leusdcn*s  Greek  Testament :  'For  the  earnest  expecta- 
 
 nations  of  the  world  in  distinction  to  the  Jews,'  (see  Mark,  xvi.  15  ;  tioo  of  mankind  waiteth  for  this  manifestation  to  the  sons  of  God  ;  (for 
 
 Col.  i.  23;  Matt,  xxviii.  19.)      The  Jews,  in  their  writings,  often  call  mankind  were  made  subject  to  vanity,  not  willingly,  hut  through  hini 
 
 the  Gentiles  '  the  creatures,' to  distinguish  them  from  the  Israelites,  who  subjected  the  same:)  in  hope  that  mankind  will  be  delivered 
 
 Now,  what  'the  creature,'  ('the  Gentile  world,')  is  represented  as  from  this  bondage  of  corruption  into  the  glorious  freedom  of  the  chil- 
 
 earnestly  wishing  aud  looking  out  for  is,  their  waiting  for  tbe  mani-  dren  of  Goi.'—Family  Bib.  in  loc.     Into  the  glorious  liberty,  is,  m  the 
 
 festation  of  the' sons  of  God,  which  is  made  first  at  their  conversion,  original,  ci?  -rnv  eXeyyepiui-  rtj?  So^rs,  '  into  the  liberty  of  glory.      Ca- 
 
 and  afterwards  openly  and  more  fully  at  the  resurrection  morn.— Gi«.  dogun.        22.  That  the  whole  creation,  '  that  all  mankind.'— Boof/ir. 
 
 We  have  a  key  in  ver.  22  :  '  Preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.'  The  'The  whole  visible  creation.'— Scu«.     'Groaneth  and  travaileth,  and 
 
 heathen  world.    And  in  ver.  20,  in  the  word  iiaraioTr\T,  '  vanity,'  de-  therefore  are  indulging  earnest  expectations  of  deliverance.'     23.  And 
 
 noting  the  emptiness  of  the  mind,  (see  the  state  of  the  Gentiles,  Rom.  not  only  they,  but  ourselves,  who  through  grace  have  believed,  and 
 
 i.  21  ;  Eph.  iv.  17  ;  1  Cor.  iii.  20.)     Further,  throughout  this  whole  place  have  the  first  fruits  of  the  Spirit.— Boothr.     '  Not  only  they.  Gentiles, 
 
 the  apostle  seems  to  allude  to  t;he  bondage  of  the  Israelites  in  Egypt,  but  we,  Jews,   likewise,'  meaning  the  aposUes,  who  were  all  Jews, 
 
 and  their  deliverance  from  it;  with  a  comnarison  made  betwixt  the  and  who,  most  of  them,  received  the  e.xtraorlinary  gifts  of  the  Spirit  on 
 
 Jewish  and  the  Gentile  church.     When  God  would  deliver  Israel  from  the  day  of  pentecost,  the  day  of  the  first  fruits,  to  which  this  may  allude, 
 
 bondage,  he  challenges  him  for  his  son  and  his  first  born,  (Exod.  iv.  or  else  the  Jewish  converts  in  general.— Gi/f.       Waiting,  '  looking.  — 
 
 22.)     And  in  like  manner  the  Gentiles  earnestly  expect  and  wait  for  Boothr.     The  adaption,  '  the  chUdren  of  God  wait  for  their  public  ad- 
 
 such  a  kind  of  manifestation  of  the  sons  of  God  among  themselves. 
 Arioii.  (iii.)  All  mankind,  Jew  and  Gentile,  such  is  the  sense  of  Mark, 
 xvi.  1.1.  All  mankind,  from  the  beginning,  have  felt  the  evil  of  the 
 present  system  of  things ;  many  of  them  looked  for  an  amelioration 
 of  the  human  condition  in  the  present  life;  aud,  generally  speaking, 
 1195 
 
 mission  into  his  family,  and  the  enjoyment  of  the  inheritance  when 
 their  bodies  shall  be  redeemed  from  the  grave,"  &e.— Seo«.  The  allu- 
 sion is  to  Luke,  XX.  36 ;  for  if  men  are  the  children  of  God  by  being 
 the  children  of  the  resurrection,  the  apostle  had  good  reason_to  call 
 the  redemption  of  our  body  from  the  bondage  of  corruption,  viotJcffi"*, 
 
The  ground  of 
 
 ROMANS,  VIII. 
 
 our  Christian  hope. 
 
 for  the  adoption,  to  wit,  the  °  redemption  of 
 our  body. 
 
 24  For  we  are  saved  by  hope  :  but  "hope 
 that  is  seen  is  not  hope  :  for  what  a  man  seeth, 
 why  doth  he  yet  hope  for? 
 
 25  But  if  we  hope  for  that  we  see  not,  then 
 do  we  with  patience  wait  for  it. 
 
 26  Likewise  tlie  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  in- 
 firmities :  for  ''we  know  not  what  we  should 
 pray  for  as  we  ought :  but  "^  the  Spirit  itself 
 niaketh  intercession  for  us  with  groanings 
 vvhicli  cannot  be  uttered. 
 
 27  And  'he  that  searclieth  the  hearts  know- 
 eth  what  is  the  mind  of  the  Spirit,  ||  because 
 he  maketh  intercession  for  the  saints  "  accord- 
 ing to  the  will  of  God. 
 
 28  And  we  know  that  all  things  work  to- 
 gether for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to 
 them  '  who  are  the  called  according  to  his 
 purpose. 
 
 2!)  For  whom  "  he  did  foreknow,  '  he  also  did 
 predestinate  ^  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of 
 his  Son, ''  that  lie  might  be  the  firstborn  among 
 many  bretlireu. 
 
 30  Moreover  whom  he  did  predestinate,  them 
 he  also  "  called  :  and  whom  he  called,  them  he 
 also  ''justilied  :  and  whom  he  justified,  them 
 he  also  ''  glorified. 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 
 n  Luke  21. 
 
 L^.  Eph.1. 
 
 30. 
 
 '^f  Num. 11.9. 
 Ps    lis   ti. 
 
 0  2  Cor.5.  7. 
 
 1  cli.5.  6,10. 
 
 Heb.   11.  1. 
 
 /ch.  4.  25. 
 
 P  Mat  20.22. 
 
 Join.  4.  3. 
 
 9Zcch  12.10. 
 
 Kph,  6.   IS 
 
 ills.  50,  8,  9. 
 
 r  IChr.28.  9. 
 
 Rev.  12.10, 
 
 Ps.  7.  9. 
 
 II. 
 
 I'lo.  17.  3- 
 
 A  Job  34.  29. 
 
 Jer.   11.  20. 
 
 It  17.  ly.  & 
 
 2it.  12. 
 
 Arts  i.  24. 
 
 1  The5,2  4. 
 
 Rev.  2.  23. 
 II  Or,  that. 
 (IJoliu.^  U. 
 /  ch.  9.  11, 
 
 23,21. 
 
 i  >rarkl6.ig. 
 
 Col.  3.  I. 
 
 Heb.  1.  3.& 
 
 9.  1.  &  12  2. 
 
 1  Pet  3.  22 
 k  Heb.  7.  25. 
 
 &  9    24. 
 
 1  John  2.  1 
 
 STiin.  1,9. 
 
 WSqc  tx   33. 
 
 I'J,  17   Va  I. 
 
 /Pa.  44.22. 
 
 G.  Jer.  1.  5. 
 
 ICnr  15.30, 
 
 Rtal.  7.  23. 
 
 3l.2Cor.4, 
 
 ch.  II.  2, 
 
 11. 
 
 2  Tim  2.19. 
 
 I  Pet    1   2 
 
 m  1  Car.  15, 
 
 jEpli.l  5,1  1. 
 
 r.r  2  Cov.  2. 
 
 yJohn  17.22. 
 
 II.  1  John 
 
 2  C.>r.3  Id. 
 
 4  4.«(  bA,S. 
 
 Phil.  3.  21. 
 
 Kov.  12.  n. 
 
 1  John  3.2. 
 
 '.  Eph.  1.21. 
 
 tCoI.   i.  13, 
 
 fc  t).  12. 
 
 13.  Heb    I. 
 
 rol    1  ]I3.  & 
 
 6.  Rev.l.  5. 
 
 2.  IS.  1  Pet. 
 
 ocU.  1.6  fc 
 
 3.22. 
 
 9.24.  Eph.4- 
 
 4.Heb.9  15. 
 
 1  Pet,  2.  9. 
 
 6IC«r    6  11. 
 
 cIoliD  17.22. 
 
 Ejih.  2,  6 . 
 
 ,    3i   What  sliall  we  then  say  to  tliese  things? 
 ^  If  God  be  fur  us,  who  can  be  against  us? 
 
 32  ""  He  that  spared  not  his  uwii  Son,  but 
 f  delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not 
 with  liim  also  freely  give  us  .11  things? 
 
 33  Who  shall  lay  any  tiling  to  the  charge  of 
 God's  elect?    ^ It  is  God  that  justilieth. 
 
 34  •'Who  is  lie  tiiat  condennieth?  It  is 
 Christ  that  died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen  again, 
 '  who  is  even  at  the  right  liand  of  God,  ''  who 
 also  maketh  intercession  for  us. 
 
 3j  Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of 
 Christ?  shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  perse- 
 cution, or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or 
 sword  ? 
 
 36  As  it  is  written,  '  For  thy  sake  we  are 
 killed  all  the  day  long  ;  we  are  accounted  as 
 sheep  for  the  slaughter. 
 
 37  ■"  Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more 
 than  conquerors  through  him  that  loved  us. 
 
 38  For  1  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death. 
 nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  "  principalities,  nor 
 powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come, 
 
 39  Nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other 
 creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the 
 love  of  God,  which  is  in  Clnist  Jesus  our 
 Lord. 
 
 'the  adoption.* — M/ickn.  The  redemption  of  our  body,  for  their  souls 
 ■would  be  in  actual  possession  of  Uie  inheritance  be'fore  that  day.— 
 Poole.  24.  Saved  til/ hope,  or  '  in  hope;'  not  that  hope  is  the  cause 
 
 of  salvation,  Imt  the  means  by  which  souls  are  brought  to  the  enjoy- 
 ment of  it.— G*7/.  True  believers  are  actually  brought  into  a  state  of 
 safety,  Imt  tlieir  comfort  consists  '  in  hope,'  rather  than  in  fruition.— 
 Scnft.  But  hope  that  is,  Sfc.,  we  do  not  hope  for  that  which  we  alrealy 
 enjoy.  Seet/i,  has  in  hand,— O'uv^e.  In  the  lormer  clause,  hope  sig-- 
 nifies  the  grace  itself,  but  here  the  object  of  it,  as  the  resurrection, 
 glory.  ^c.—Gill.  25.  With  patience  wait,  fyc,  especially  if  the  ob- 
 ject of  our  hope  be  very  excellent  and  necessary  for  us,  attainable  by 
 ns,  and  assured  to  us  in  this  way.— iJ^ns.  26.  Likewise,  literally,  '  in 
 the  same  way.'  i.e.,  as  hope  sustains,  so  does  the  Spirit. ^Hodge. 
 Helpeth,  assjsteth  our  weakness.  —  Boothr.  The  word  <TvvavTt\cifj.- 
 fiaveTat  signifies,  that  the  Spirit  heaves  with  us,  over  against  us  ;  helps 
 as  we  would  help  one  that  would  lift  up  a  burden,  by  lifting  at  the 
 other  end. — Hen.  AoOeveta^,  signifies  weaknesses  and  diseases  of  the 
 body,  but  it  is  often  transferred  to  the  mind  — .VacA«.  The  Greek 
 avvavrtXa/ifiaveiat,  gives  US  the  idea  of  helping-  ;inother  to  carry  a  bur- 
 ilen  which  he  cannnt  sustain  himself.— il/HV.  The  Spirit  itself,  '  him- 
 self.'— ^/«c/i:/i.  }Vith  {groanings,  ^c,  excites  vehement  pantings  and 
 breathings  of  soul,  such  as  exceed  the  power  of  language  to  express. 
 27.  Knouelh  what  is,  fyc,  '  is  acquainted  with,  and  approves  of,  wliat 
 we  are  pressing  after,  under  the  Spirit's  influence  and  dictates.'— 
 Guyse.  The  mind  of  the  Spirit,  i.e.,  those  feelings,  or  that  state  of 
 mind,  of  which  the  Spirit  is  the  author.— Ho rf^e.  Maketh  interces- 
 sion—this intercession  of  the  Spirit  is  in  us,  not /or  us  ;  the  latter  is  by 
 Christ,  (1  Tim.  ii.  5.)— Guyse.  Accordim^  to  the  will,  '  he  knows  that 
 this  intercession  of  holy  men  under  suffering  is  agreeable  to  his  will.* 
 —  Boothr.  23.  All  things,  that  occur  in  the  course  of  Divine  provi- 
 dence. Work  together,  atnep-^et,  'co-operate  in  tlieir  connexions  and 
 issue  one  with  another.'— (.'«?/.se.  Cnlled,  by  the  gospel  to  become  the 
 disciples  of  Jesus. — Scott.  According  to  his  purpose,  'who  is  pleased, 
 out  of  his  own  sovereign  goodness,  to  bestow  these  distinctions  on  us 
 who  have  no  title  to  expect  them.'— Rite.  29.  Foreknow,  does  not 
 here  mean  his  ]ircscience,  for  *  known  unto  God,'  ^c,  (.'icts,  xv.  18,) 
 nor  his  forcapproving,  for  he  predestinated  them  not  as  conformed, 
 but  to  be  SO;  sn  that  everything  of  this  kind  is  the  consequence  and 
 cfl'cct,  and  nnt  the  cause,  of  the  foreknowledge  here  spnken  of;  it  must 
 therefore  be  taken  for  God's  distinguishing  and  appropriating  regard, 
 in  a  way  of  love,  kindness,  and  choice,  by  an  act  of  his  understanding 
 in  concurrence  with  his  gracious  will.  The  same  word  here  rendered 
 *  foreknow,"  TrpoeTi'u,  is  translated  '  foreordained,'  irf.oe-^viotTnti'ov, 
 1  Pet.  i.  20.—Otfyse.  To  be  conformed,  ffc.,  in  holiness,  (see  2  Cor. 
 iii.  18;  Eph.  i.  3—7,  11,  12,1  and  in  glory,  (see  1  Cor.  xv.  49;  Phil.  iii. 
 2i.)—P,irkh.  Be  the  firstborn,  have  the  dignity  of  the  first-born,  and 
 be  the  head  of  many  brethren.— BooMr.  30.  Called,  internally,  by 
 his  grace;  externally,  by  his  gospel.  Justified,  accepted  as  righteous 
 through  Christ.      Glorified,  advanced  to  the  honours  of  the  heavenly 
 
 vtot\A.—Gnyse.  31.  If  God  be,  ^c,  'since  God  is  for  us,'  for  the 
 particle  ti,  '  if,'  here  is  not  a  conditional  particle,  but  stands  fnr  tnci, 
 '  since.'  and  is  an  affirmation. — Bens.  Who  can  be  nguinst  us.f  '  what 
 hurt  can  the  world,  the  devil,  and  all  his  instruments,  do  to  us?' — 
 Guyse.  32.  His  own  Son,  tdiov  i-lov,  'his  proper  Sun,'  to  distinguish 
 him  from  sons  by  creation,  adoption,  oroflice. — Bens.  For  us  all,  'for 
 every  human  creature,'  says  Benson,  quoting  2  Cor.  v.  14;  1  Tim.  ii. 
 6;  Heb.  ii.  9.  *  The  sense  is  to  be  determined  by  the  subjects  spoken 
 of  all  along  in  this  discourse,'  says  Guyse  ^  *and  they  are  God's  elect, 
 wh  >m  he  predestinated,'  &c. — So  also  Hen.  33.  Who  shall  lay  any 
 thing,  ^c,  eiKa\eff€t,  'who  shall  lodge  any  accusation  ?'—i)o(/dW//g-f. 
 Elect,  true  believers  who  have  received  Christ. — Bens.  The  Jews 
 were  styled  '  elect.'  The  term  was  now  used  in  reference  to  such  as 
 embraced  Christianity,  and  to  Gentiles  also. —  Wesley.  'Elect,'  means 
 those  who  have  been  predestinated  and  called  according  to  Gnd's  eter- 
 nal purpose.^iJorfrfr.  A  certain,  select  number  of  persons,  whom  God 
 has  so  loved  as  of  his  sovereign  good  will  and  plea'^ure  to  choose  in 
 Christ,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  unto  eternal  life  and  salva- 
 tion, by  certain  ways  and  means  of  his  own  appointing,  as  sanctifica- 
 tion  and  faith,  so  that  they  are  peculiarly  his.—Gill.  34.  Maketh  in- 
 tercession, '  ever  lives  as  a  righteous  advocate,  to  [dead  the  merit  of 
 ins  atoning  blood  in  his  prevalent  intercession  for  us.*  35.  Separate, 
 xwp/aci,  '  divide.'  Love  of  Christ,  may  signify  his  love  to  us,  and  ours 
 to  him.— Guyse.  The  tenour  of  tlie  passage  confines  it  to  the  love  of 
 Christ  to  us. — Stuart.  36.  .4s  it  is  written,  ^c. — what  was  said  in 
 
 former  ages  relating  to  God's  people  in  perilous  circumstances,  from 
 fidelity  to  him,  is  equally  applicable  to  us.— Guyse.  37.  Mure  than 
 
 conquerors,  vTtipviKuififv,  au  intensive  and  powerlul  form  of  expression. 
 —Stuart.  38.  Death  nor  life,  '  no  fear  of  death,  nor  hope  of  lite.'— 
 Grot.  Not  even  death,  which  separates  all.— irc^s.  Nor  angels,  evil 
 angels.- B«j-.,  A.  Clarke.  Good  angels  would  not  attempt  it,  but  evil 
 angels  do  by  temptations  to  sin,  stirring  up  heresies,  ^c.  —  Gill. 
 Angels,  whether  good  or  h^d.-Dens.  The  clause  is  to  be  taken  ge- 
 nerally, without  any  specific  relercnce  to  either  good  or  bad  angels  as 
 such.  '  No  superhuman  power,  no  angel,  however  mighty.' — Hodge. 
 Things  present — things  to  come,  '  neither  present  nor  future  evils.' — 
 Grot..  Koppe.  39.  Height,  nor  depth,  '  evil  spirits  in  the  air  and  in 
 
 hades.'—  Origcn,  so  Wets.  '  Neither  high  and  haughty  speculation  in 
 doctrine  nor  deep  sins. '—,^mArose.  *  Idle  curiosity  about  things  above 
 us  and  below  \xs.'— Augustine.  '  Heretical  sjiecnlatinn  of  the  learned, 
 and  gross  supersiitiou  of  the  vnlf^ar.'—Meliincthon.  *  The  height  of 
 honour  and  worldly  advancement  —  depth  of  disgrace  and  worldly 
 abasement.* — Poole.  Guyse,  Doddr. ;  so  Ham.,  Grot.,  Whitby.  'The 
 highest  created  power,  nor  the  deepest  plots  of  subtle  enemies. '—.Sco^Z. 
 'Nor  heaven  nor  earth.'— ScA/.  *  Heaven  nor  hell. '-Beng-e/,  Wets,, 
 Tholuck,  who  observes,  'This  contrast  is  the  best  adapted  of  any 
 meaning  to  form  the  copestone  of  the  apostle's  cpioicion,'  or  song  of 
 victory.    '  Heaven  above,  and  sheol  below.*— S/fmri. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  I.  How  (/reat  are  the  privi- 
 leges of  a  believer  in  Christ/  Him  the  holy  law  of  God  can 
 never  condemn;  sin  shall  not  have  dominion  over  him  ;  he 
 ran  approach  God  as  a  gracious  and  reconciled  Father.  He 
 IS  the  heir  of  immortal  blessedness.  The  Spirit  of  God  helps 
 all  his  inhrmities,  and  even  liis  ^reat^st  evils  nre  made  to  pro- 
 duce for  liim  the  i^reatest  good. 
 l\9G 
 
 II.  Jf'hat  reason  has  the  believer  m  Christ  to  express  himself  in 
 the  lamjuage  of  holy  triumph  !  With  God  on  his  side,  who  can 
 harm  liim"?  'With  Christ  for  his  portion,  what  good  thing 
 will  ever  be  withheld  from  him!  If  God  acquit,  who  can 
 bring  any  charge  against  him  !  What  being  or  circumstance, 
 above,  below,  or  around,  can  sever  him  from  Divine  love  so 
 great,  so  manifestj  towards  the  believer? 
 
The  sovereignty 
 
 ROMANS,  IX. 
 
 uf  (Joel's  (/race. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  Paul  is  sorry  for  the  Jetos.  T  All  the  seed  of  Ahrahiim 
 irire  not  the  children  of  the  promise.  18  (,'od  hiilh 
 mercy  n/ion  whom  he  wilt.  '21  The  potter  may  do 
 with  his  clay  what  he  list.  23  The  calinig  of  the 
 Gentiles  and.  rejectiny  of  the  Jews  were  foretoU.  U'2 
 The  cause  why  to  few  Jews  embraced  the  ricjhteons- 
 ness  of  faith. 
 
 I  "SAY    the  trutli  in  Christ,  I  lie  not,  my 
 conscience  also  bearing  nie  witness  in  the 
 Holy  Ghost, 
 
 2  ''  That  I  have  great  heaviness  and  continual 
 sorrow  in  my  lieart. 
 
 3  For  '  I  conld  wish  that  myself  were  ||  ac- 
 cnrscd  from  Clirist  for  my  brethren,  my  kins- 
 men according  to  the  flesh  : 
 
 4  •>  Who  arelsraelites;  "to  whom  pertaineth 
 the  adoption,  and  '  tlie  glory,  and  "-'the  ||  cove- 
 nants, and  !>  the  giving  of  the  law,  and  '  the 
 service  of  God,  and  ^  the  promises  ; 
 
 5  '  Whose  are  the  fathers,  and  "  of  wliom  as 
 concerning  the  flesh  Christ  came,  "  who  is  over 
 all,  God  blessed  for  ever.     Amen. 
 
 C  °  Not  as  though  the  word  of  God  hath  taken 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 
 A.  D.  «0. 
 
 a  el.     1.  9. 
 
 ft  Johns.  39. 
 
 L'Cor.l.  SS. 
 
 ch  2.  -^S,  ifl. 
 
 Sc  M    31.  & 
 
 Ik  I    12,  Iti. 
 
 12.  19.  Gal. 
 
 G.il.  6    16. 
 
 1.  20    Phil. 
 
 q  (ial.  4    2.S 
 
 I.H.  1  Tim. 
 
 r  Gfcu.2l.t2. 
 
 2.  7. 
 
 Heb.  II.  18 
 
 6  ch.  10.  1. 
 
 c  Ex.  3i.  33. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 tFf  laru  ted. 
 
 .  Gal-  4.  29. 
 
 d  lieu.  7.  6. 
 
 e  Ex.  4.  2>. 
 
 Dl-u     14    1 
 
 Jcr.  31 .  ft 
 
 /  Gen    19.10. 
 11. 
 
 /  1  Sa.-1.2I. 
 
 1  Kin.  b.  II 
 
 Ps.  i>3.  -i.  & 
 
 78    til. 
 g  ActsS.  9ri. 
 
 t(  Gen. 35.21. 
 
 Heb.8.S,9, 
 
 II  Or,  tettn- 
 
 X  rli.  4.  17- 
 
 h  Ps    U7.I''. 
 
 Jk  8,  ','S. 
 
 .  Heb   9    1 . 
 
 V  (;.-»  23.2S 
 
 t.AcUl3;iJ. 
 
 \\{}r.gTfialer. 
 
 cli.  .1   ■_■. 
 
 II  Or,  lesarr. 
 
 Kph.  2    1-2 
 
 z  M.tl  1    2,3. 
 
 /Deu.  lli.l.V 
 
 Sif  Dcut. 
 
 ch.  n   2S 
 
 21     15 
 
 ,„    Luke  :(. 
 
 Pro.  13.91. 
 
 •iS.  ch.  I-  3. 
 
 Mat.  til  S7. 
 
 n  Jer.  21.  6. 
 
 Luke  14  2'!. 
 
 .Iiihn  1.1, 
 
 .I.thii  12.25. 
 
 Acts  Vit.-iB. 
 
 a  neti.  32.   t 
 
 Heb.  1    8. 
 
 2  Chr.  iy.7. 
 
 lJohn5  211 
 
 J..b  8.  3.  & 
 
 0  Nu.  2A.  13. 
 
 2-1.  10.  Pg. 
 
 cb.  3.  3. 
 
 92.  \J. 
 
 none  etfect.     For  ''they  are  not  all    Israel, 
 wliich  are  of  Israel : 
 
 7  ''  Neither,  because  they  are  the  seed  of 
 Abraham, «/e  thet/  all  children  :  but,  In  ''  Isaac 
 .shall  thy  seed  be  called. 
 
 8  That  is,  They  which  are  the  children  of  the 
 flesh,  these  are  not  the  ciiildren  of  God  :  but 
 *  the  children  of  the  promise  are  counted  for 
 the  seed. 
 
 f)  For  this  is  the  word  of  promise,  *  At  this 
 time  will  I  come,  and  Sarah  shall  have  a 
 son. 
 
 10  And  not  only  t/ns ;  but  when  "Rebecca 
 also  had  conceived  by  one,  even  by  our  father 
 Isaac  ; 
 
 1 1  (For  the  children  being  not  yet  born,  nei- 
 ther having  done  any  good  or  evil,  that  the 
 purpose  of  God  according  to  election  might 
 stand,  not  of  works,  but  of  ^  liim  that  calleth  ;) 
 
 12  It  was  said  unto  her,  *' The  ||  elder  shall 
 serve  the  ||  younger. 
 
 13  As  it  is  written,  ^  Jacob  have  I  loved,  but 
 Esau  have  I  hated. 
 
 14  What  shall  we  say  then?  " /^  there  un- 
 righteousness with  God?     God  forbid. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  \.  In  Christ,  a  form  of  swearing  equivalent  to  swearing 
 by  Jpliovab. — Ftatte,  Kuppe,  Bloom/.,  Mackn.,  &c.  It  is  only  a  solemn 
 declaration,  such  as  the  Spirit  of  Christ  might  prompt. — So  Stuart; 
 see  also  Tholuck.  3.  For  I  could  wish,  if  it  were  lawful  and  con- 
 
 sistent. [Indicative  here  u^ied  for  optative.]— Jo/z/t  Edwards.  That 
 myself  were  accursed,  fyc,  '  i  could  even  wi^h  sj  gieat  a  blessing  to 
 my  brethren,  though  at  the  loss  of  my  own  happiness.' — Whithy,  Wolf. 
 '  I  could  wiah  myself  separated,  excommunicated  from  the  church  of 
 Christ,  sometimes  called  by  the  name  Cbri^t,  [1  Cor.  xii.  12;  Gal.  iii. 
 ti",)  and  lose  present  communion  with  Christ.' — Grot.,  Koppe,  Mar., 
 Gin/se.  '  I  couM  wish  that  I  were  marie  an  anathema,  after  the  example 
 of  Christ  J  like  him  exposed  to  all  the  execrations  of  an  enraged  people, 
 and  even  to  the  infamous  and  accursed  death  of  crucifixinn  itself,  so 
 that  my  brethren  might  be  delivered  from  the  guilt  brought  upon  their 
 own  hearts,  and  become  entitled  to  tbe  rejected  blessings  of  Christ's 
 kingdom,'  —  Doddr.,  Mitckn.,  so  Hen.,  Bovthr.  The  translation  is 
 wrong;  it  should  be,  'J  could  wish  (or  be  content)  to  he  devoted  to 
 death  after  Christ  (i.  e.,  as  Christ  was  before  me)  for  my  brethren,'  &c. 
 I  so  render  the  words  ano  Toir  Xftiarov.  We  have  tbe  like  phrase,  u^ed 
 in  the  same  sense,  by  tbe  same  apostle,  in  iTim.i.S  :  'I  thank  God  whom 
 I  serve,' aTTLi  Trpo^ovwi-,  '  alter  my  forefathers,'  or  'as  they  did  before 
 me,'  (see  also  1  John,  iii.  l6.) — Waterland.  '  That  1  were  a  voluntary 
 offering  or  expiatory  sacrifice,  an  anathema,  a  person  separated  to  de- 
 GtructioD,  to  prevent  the  ruin  of  my  country  men.'  This  way  of  speak- 
 ing signified  tiie  highest  degree  nf  patriotism  or  public  spirit,  to  die  to 
 prevent  any  public  calamity.— /J''«h  Tucket,  Fnrkh.,  Ham.,  S.  Clnrke, 
 Locke,  Gill,  Wolf.,  M'ets.,  so  Clarke.  Acrursed,  avadtf.ia  properly  sig- 
 nifies anything  devoted  to  God  so  as  to  be  destroyed.  '  1  could  wish 
 myself,  [avaOena  ecijtt  ano,^  (or,  as  some  excellent  MSS.  have  it,  liro,) 
 '  Tou  XpiffTOf,]  to  be  df'vnfed  BY  Christ  to  that  temporal  destruction  to 
 which  he  has  adjudged  the  disobedient  Jews,  if,  by  doing  so,  I  might 
 redeem  them." — Camm.  in  Inc.  The  form  of  expression  here  is  the 
 same  with  that  employed  in  tbe  rth  and  8th  verses  of  chap,  v.,  where 
 the  meaning  is,  to  die  instead  of  another : — to  save  another  from  death 
 by  dying  in  his  room .  The  meaning  therefore  is,  that  tbe  apostle  would 
 be  willing  to  submit  to  be  separated  from  the  visible  church  of  Christ 
 by  a  violent  death  in  the  room  of  his  brethren,  it  this  would  be  the 
 means  of  saving  them  from  being  cut  off  from  being  the  church  of  God, 
 and  from  the  calamities  attending  their  rejection. — Ritchie.  The  sen- 
 timent is,  '  such  is  my  love  for  my  kinsmen  after  tlie  flesh,  that,  were 
 it  possible,  I  would  devote  myself  to  the  consequences  of  their  unbe- 
 liel — to  the  destruction  which  threatens  them,  could  they  but  escape 
 by  such  means.'  This  does  not  imply  the  possibility  of  the  case;  it  is 
 merely  a  case  supposed  or  stated,  illustrating  or  expressing  a  feeling 
 or  sentiment ;  nor  does  it  imply  that  he  was  willing  to  be  a  sinner,  or 
 be  for  ever  miserable  to  save  them. — Stuart.  '  I  have  great  heaviness 
 and  continual  sorrow  in  my  heart  (for  I  myself,  r]uxonnv,  did  wish  to 
 be  in  a  state  of  separation  from  Christ)  on  account  of  my  brethren,  my 
 kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh,' — that  is  to  say,  '  I  am  deeply  con- 
 cerned for  my  unbelieving  countrymen  ;  and  I  the  more  pity  and  la- 
 ment their  enmity  against  Jesus,  because  I  myself  was  once  in  their 
 situation,  and  know,  by  my  own  past  experience,  the  bitterness  and 
 danger  of  their  infidel  state.' — Toplady,  Dr.  Bandinel,  Bampton  Lec- 
 tures. The  idea  nf  wishing  himself  eternally  separated  from  Christ  is 
 thought  to  be  iiicon-istent  with  the  apostle's  love  and  zeal,  and  even 
 unlawful,  and  therefore  not  admitted  for  a  moment,  by  Guyse,  Doddr., 
 Gill,  Boothr.,  Rife,  &c.  The  expression  is  evidently  hyperbolical,  and 
 uttered  with  the  fervency  of  strong  affection.— B/oom/.,  so  Gill.  Comp. 
 Exod.  xxxii.  32.  Kinsmeti  according  to  the  flesh,  he  so  distinguishes 
 them  from  his  spiritual  brethren  and  relations. — Gill.  On  this  diflScult 
 passage  there  are,  then,  three  opinions  expressed,  with  some  trifling 
 variations;  —  (i.)  That  the  words  mean  'eternally  separated  from 
 11!)7 
 
 Christ.'—Whithi/,  Sec,  (ii.)  Devoted  to  be  destroyed  for  the  public 
 safety.— /)eu7i  Tucker,  Szc.  (iii.)  That  he  had  himself  been  what  the 
 Jews  now  were,  an  accursed  outcast  fntm  Christ,  and  therefore  the 
 more  grieved  fur  them.— Tuplndy,  »ic.  4.  Jsraelites,  'Jews,'  spoken 
 emphatically.— B/woHi/.  The  adoption,  God  having  owned  them  as 
 his  sons  and  first-born,  (Exod.  iv.  '22,  23;  Hos.  xi.  \.)—Whithy.  The 
 glury,  in  the  Shechinah,  (1  Sam.  iv.  21 ;  Ps.  Ixxxvii.  Z.)—Hnm.  And 
 the  covenants,  with  Abraham,  Gal.  iii.  17;  Moses,  E.xod.  xxlv.  8;  the 
 two  covenants.  Gal.  iv.  24  ;  the  old  and  new  covenant,  Jer.  xxxi.  33, 
 xxxii.  -iO.—  WhUby.  *  I  take  the  covenants  here  mentioned  to  relate 
 more  immediately  to  the  covenant  made  with  Abraham,  which,  on 
 account  of  its  various  articles  and  promulgations,  is  styled  in  the  plu- 
 ral number  *  the  covenants.'— Guj/se.  The  service  of  God,  the  pre- 
 scribed manner  of  worship  appointed  by  God  himself.— Hu'/imo7irf. 
 5.  M'ho^c  are  the  fathers,  descended  of  the  patriarchs.  Abraham,  Isaac, 
 and  Jacob.  — We//s.  Cujiceriiing  the  ficsh  Christ  came,  being  born  of 
 their  nation.  Who  is  over  all,  God,  ^c,  according  to  his  Divine  a^L- 
 tare.—  Whitby.  This  i-,  one  of  the  cases  in  which  Paul  has  directly 
 asserted  Christ  to  be  Supreme  God.— Stuart.  6.  Not  as  though,  ^c, 
 'but  it  is  not  possible  that  the  word  of  God  should  fail.'  But  though 
 some  Jews  will  be  rejected,  yet  the  promises  will  not  fail  to  be  accum- 
 plished  to  the  believing  seed  of  Abraham.— Bo»;/ir.  Not  all  Israel, 
 §■(?.,  some  are  only  so  by  flesh  and  blood,  but  the  promises  are  made 
 to  true  Israelites,  and  in  all  such  are  effectual.— i*oo/e.  7-  Children, 
 that  is,  of  the  promise.— Dorfi/r.  But  in  Isaac,  Isaac  was  previously 
 promised,  but  not  Ishmael ;  and  the  chosen  nation  to  inherit  Canaan, 
 and  from  whom  Messiah  was  to  spring,  was  to  descend  from  Isaac. — 
 Scott.  8.  Children  of  the  flesh—not  the  children  of  God,  on  that  ac- 
 count alone.— n7«7A^.  9.  Sarah  shall  have  a  son,  and  so  God  made 
 a  sovereign  distinction  between  Ishmael  and  Isaac,  as  types  and  sam- 
 ples of  what  he  would   do  between   others  of  Abraham's  posterity. 
 
 10.  And  nut  only,  §-c.— this  distinction  was  not  only  in  this  case,  which 
 mi^iht  be  ascribed  to  Ishmael  being  the  son  of  an  Egyptian  bond- 
 woman, but  so  it  was  in  the  next  generation.  11.  For  the  children, 
 ^c,  for  while  these  infants  were  yet  unborn,  God  made  a  distinction 
 between  them,  preferring  one  to  the  other.— G«/y.se.  In  thus  adducing 
 this  case,  the  apostle  does  not  decide  on  the  eternal  state  of  either  of 
 these  individuals.— Sco».  Tlie  design  of  these  words  was  to  shew  that 
 the  choice  was  not  in  them,  but  in  God;  and  this  is  the  main  point  in 
 regard  to  the  doctrine  of  election,  whether  the  choice  be  to  the  privi. 
 leges  of  the  external  theocracy,  or  to  the  spiritual  and  eternal  bless- 
 ings of  the  kingdom  of  Christ.— //orf^e.  12.  The  elder  shall  serve  the 
 younger,  was  fulfilled  in  a  spiritual  and  mystical  sense  in  their  own 
 persons,  when  the  birthright,  and  the  spiritual  blessings  pertaining  to 
 it,  were  transferred  from  Esau  to  Jacob  ;  when  Esau  was  cut  off  from 
 God's  covenant  and  Jacob  continued  in  it ;  and  when  Esau  lost,  and 
 Jacob  got,  the  promise  of  Canaan,  that  eminent  type  of  the  heavenly 
 inheritance.  It  was  literally  fulfilled  in  their  distant  posterity,  whea 
 the  Israelites  subdued  the  Ednmites,  (2  Sam.  viii.  14;  2  Chron.  xxv. 
 
 11,  12.)— Gui/se.  13.  Loved— hated— the  term  'hate'  is  not  always 
 to  be  taken  absolutely  ;  but  this  text  is  from  Mai.  i.  3,  where  it  evi- 
 dently means  that  God  loved  Jacob  in  a  sense  in  which  he  did  not 
 love  Esau,  and  gave  to  his  posterity  Canaan,  with  many  privileges  given 
 to  no  otlier  nation.  This  shews  that  neither  the  blessings  of  providence 
 nor  grace  are  given  for  human  merit.— Ui/.  These  were  leading  ex- 
 amples of  a  personal  election  of  some  to  all  the  blessings  mentioned  in 
 the  loregoing  chapter,  and  of  God's  passing  by  others,  since  these  two 
 persons  are  mentioned  by  name,  and  the  event  proved  that  Jacob  was 
 a  gond  man,  but  Esau  a  profane  person,  (Heb.  xii.  l6.)— Guyse.  14.  Is 
 there  unrighteousness,  ffr.,  *  if  God  chose  you  in  preference  to  your 
 elder  brethren,  the  Edomites.  to  be  so  long  his  peculiar  church  and 
 people,  what  wrong  can  be  done  to  you  if  the  Gentiles  are  now  called 
 
The  calling  of 
 
 ROMANS,  IX. 
 
 the  Gentiles  foretold. 
 
 15  For  he  saith  to  Moses, ''  I  will  have  inercy 
 on  whom  I  will  have  mercy,  and  I  will  have 
 compassion  on  whom  I  will  have  compassion. 
 
 !6  So  then  it  is  not  of  him  that  willeth,  nor 
 of  him  that  runneth,  but  of  God  that  sheweth 
 mercy. 
 
 17  For  *^  the  scripture  saith  unto  Pharaoh, 
 ^  Even  for  this  same  purpose  have  I  raised 
 thee  up,  that  I  might  shew  my  power  in  thee, 
 and  that  my  name  might  be  declared  tlnough- 
 out  all  the  earth. 
 
 18  Therefore  hath  he  mercy  on  whom  he  will 
 have  mercy,  and  wliom  he  will  he  hardeneth. 
 
 19  Thou  wilt  say  then  unto  me.  Why  doth 
 he  yet  find  fault?  For  ^  who  hath  resisted  his 
 will  y 
 
 '20  Nay  but,  O  man,  who  art  thou  that  ||  re- 
 pliest  against  God?  '"Shall  the  tiling  formed 
 say  to  him  that  formed  it,  \\'\\y  hast  thou  made 
 me  thus? 
 
 2i  Hath  not  the  Spotter  power  over  the  clay, 
 of  the  same  lump  to  make  "  one  vessel  unto 
 honour,  and  another  unto  dishonour? 
 
 *2'2  What  if  God,  wilting  to  slievv  his  wrath, 
 and  to  make  his  power  known,  endured  with 
 much  longsuffering  '  the  vessels  of  wrath 
 II  ''  fitted  to  destruction  : 
 
 23  And  that  he  might  make  known  '  the  riches 
 of  his  glory  on  the  vessels  of  mercy,  w'hich  he 
 had  '"  afore  prepared  unto  glory, 
 
 24  Even  us,  whom  he  hath  called,"  not  of  the 
 Jews  only,  but  also  of  the  Gentiles  ? 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 6  Ex.  33.  19. 
 
 c  See  Gal.  '^ 
 3,  22. 
 d  Ex.  9.  16. 
 
 r2Chr.'>f).fi. 
 Job  9.  I-2,  5t 
 23Lt3.  D:in, 
 4.35. 
 
 [|  Or,  qijfurw- 
 
 d  ilpvUtt 
 uttti  Oodf 
 
 j<.b  a'1.  13, 
 
 /Is  S9.  It,. 
 ft  45.  9.  & 
 
 e*.  8. 
 
 g  Pro.  16.  4, 
 Jcr.  18.  G. 
 
 i  I  Thea  S. 
 
 II  Or.  ma.l, 
 
 k  1  Pet.  2.  rt. 
 
 Jufic  *■ 
 (eh.  2.  4. 
 
 Epl>.  I.  7. 
 
 C..1.  I.  27- 
 n<  ch   rt   2S, 
 
 "1,  31). 
 «  c-h.  3   29 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  \0. 
 
 7  I*!.  10,  22, 
 rcU.  II.  5. 
 
 r  Is   10. 
 
 Lam.  3.  22, 
 u  It).  1.1.  19 
 
 Jer.  oil.   10. 
 
 X  ch.  .)    H. 
 &  III.  2l» 
 
 y  Cli.  1.  17. 
 
 ;  ch.  1(1.  2. 
 1  Gal    b.   I. 
 
 h  I.)iVe9.3t. 
 
 I  Cor.  1 .  2:i. 
 c  Pi    118  22 
 
 Is  8.  11.  Be 
 
 2fl.l0.  Mat. 
 
 i;i  «.  I  Pet. 
 
 2.  6,  7.  8. 
 '/  cli.  lU.  n. 
 II  (Jr.  co». 
 
 founded. 
 
 25  As  he  saith  also  in  Osee,  °\  will  call  them 
 my  people,  which  were  not  my  people  ;  and 
 her  beloved,  which  was  not  beloved. 
 
 "IQ  '^  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  in  the 
 place  where  it  was  said  unto  them.  Ye  arewoi 
 my  people  ;  there  shall  they  be  called  the 
 childreu  of  the  living  God. 
 
 27  Esaias  also  crieth  concerning  Israel, 
 ■^  Though  the  number  of  the  children  of  Israel 
 be  as  the  sand  of  the  sea,  'a  remnant  shall  be 
 saved  : 
 
 28  For  he  will  finish  ||  the  work,  and  cut  it 
 short  in  righteousness  :  *  because  a  short  work 
 will  the  Lord  make  upon  the  earth. 
 
 29  And  as  Esaias  said  before,  *  Except  the 
 Lord  of  Sabaoth  had  left  us  a  seed,  "  we  had 
 been  as  Sodoma,  and  been  made  like  unto 
 Gomorrha. 
 
 30  What  shall  we  say  then?  ''That  the 
 Gentiles,  which  followed  not  after  righteous- 
 ness, have  attained  to  righteousness,  ^  even  the 
 righteousness  which  is  of  faith. 
 
 ;tl  Bnt  Israel,  ^  which  followed  after  the  law 
 of  righteousness, ''hath  not  attained  to  the  law 
 of  righteousness. 
 
 32  Wherefore?  Because  t/iej/  sour/ht  it  not 
 by  faith,  but  as  it  were  by  the  works  of  the  law. 
 For  '^  they  stumbled  at  that  stuniblingstone  ; 
 
 33  As  it  is  written,  "^  Behold,  I  lay  in  Sion  a 
 stumblingstone  and  rock  of  offence :  and 
 "^  Whosoever  believeth  on  him  shall  not  be 
 II  ashamed. 
 
 in? — Dean  Tucker.  *  Is  it  unjust  in  God  to  bestow  favours  to  whom 
 and  in  what  manner  he  pkaseth  V — Boittfir.  15.  For  he  saith,  1  will 
 hare  mercj/,  fyc. — the  connexion  antl  arg;iiment  are  obvious;  it  is  not 
 unjust  in  God  to  exercise  his  sovereig'nty  in  the  distribution  vf  his 
 mercies,  for  he  expressly  claims  the  right. — Htulge.  l6.  Willeth,  as 
 Abraham  did,  that  Ishmael  might  partake  of  the  blessings  of  the  pro- 
 mised seed,  (Gen.  xvii.  18,)  and  when  he  was  grieved  at  the  saying 
 of  Sarah,  (Gen.  xxi.  \fi.)— Whitby.  Also  Isaac  willed  to  bestow  his 
 blessings  on  Esau,  (Gen.  xxvii.  4.) — Hum.  Runneth,  alluding  to 
 Esau's  running  to  fetch  the  venison,  and  returning,  crying,  '  Hast 
 thdu  not,' «£C.,  (Gen.  .xxvii.  5,  3H.)~Whit/ji/,  Hnvi.  17- for,  ^c, 
 
 such  is  the  conduct  of  God  in  other  instances,  when  of  various  sinners 
 he  appoints  one  rather  than  anfther  to  be  a  monument  of  special  ven- 
 geance. For  the  scriptuie  saith,  (see  Exod.  ix.  l6.]—l)oddi\  It  was 
 to  Pharaoh  personitlly,  and  not  to  the  Egyptians,  his  subjects,  that 
 God  said,  •  I  have  raised  thee,'  &c.,  and  so  it  was  a  proper  sample  of 
 God's  righteovis  and  sovereign  dealing  with  purticulnr  persons  whom 
 he  rejects  for  their  sins. — Gui/se.  18.  There/ore  htith  he  mercii,  ffc, 
 we  must,  ilien.  after  all  objections,  rest  the  matter  hero,  that  the  blessed 
 God  is  uncontrollable,  and  unaceoiintable  in  his  dispensations, — Doddr. 
 ly.  Whi/,  ^-c,  '  why  is  this  rejection  laid  to  our  charger'  If  '  His  will' 
 be  so,  'who  hath  resisted'  it  ?  20.  Nat/,  hut  O  man,  ^c,  '  will  you 
 
 charge  uptm  him  the  fault  which  is  absolutely  in  yourselves?*  Ms 
 not  his  decree  of  rejecting  you  the  consequence  of  your  own  impeni- 
 tence and  unbelief?'  Shall  the  thing?  §-c.,  *  are  not  these  nati  mal 
 jirivileges  matters  of  mere  favour  and  bounty?'  21.  Hath  nut  the 
 pntter,  8fc.,  just  as  it  depends  upon  the  will  of  the  potter  what  use  he 
 will  fit  his  vessel  to,  a  superior  or  inferior  end.  —  Dean  Turkt-r, 
 22.  What  if  Gnd?  ^r. — endured?  fya. — the  apostle  here  speaks  of  the 
 iiiipeniient  Jews,  though  he  did  not  think  it  proper  expressly  to  name 
 them.  It  is  certain  they  were  vessels  of  wrath,  and  long  borne  with 
 under  many  advantages,  which  they  ungratefully  abused.— Dnddr. 
 Fitted  for  drstructinn,  KaTt^pTtafieva — this  is  a  passive  verb,  intimating 
 what  the  suiner  is  fitted  for  by  his  own  iniquity — O-ut/se.  23.  Make 
 known  the  riches,  ^r.,  'on  the  other  hand,  should  the  Lord  choose  to 
 display  the  abundance  of  his  glorious  power,  truth,  and  love,  in  his 
 
 dealings  with  some  of  the  same  lump,  whom  he  had  selected  to  be 
 "  vessels  of  mercy,"  what  was  this  to  others  t'~Scott.  Afore  pre- 
 pared, TrporjToi/iaiTci/,  a  diflTcrent  verb  from  that  used  ver.  22,  respecting 
 the  vessels  of  wrath,  and  an  active  verb,  '  whicli  he  God  has  afore  pre- 
 pared,'shewing  wliat  God  himself  doth  upon  the  sinner  in  a  way  of 
 prepiiration  for  designed  happiness. — Gni/se.  2".  Esaias  also,  ^c. — 
 Esaias  had  shewn  that  only  a  remnant  would  be  saved  from  the  innu- 
 merable multitudes  of  Israel,  and  that  Gud  would  finish  his  work  with 
 that  nation  in  a  righteous  but  compendious  manner;  or,  by  taking  a 
 short  account  of  the  chosen  people  among  them,  and  consigning  the 
 rest  to  just  destruction  throughout  the  whole  land. — Scott.  28.  Work, 
 \oyot,  is  here  metaphorical,  taken  from  accounts,  upon  the  balancing 
 of  which,  and  cutting  off  one  part  from  the  other,  the  remainder  is  but 
 a  small  sum.  The  word  ,\o7or  is  often  rendered 'an  account,'  (Acts, 
 xix.40  ;  Rom.  xiv.  12.) — Guyse.  In  righteousness,  'in  justice.'  Earth, 
 land  of  Judea  ;  for  though  in  the  Sept.  it  is  otKoi-^ei-ri  o\t\, '  the  whole 
 world,'  ihe  scope  of  this  passage  seems  to  restrict  the  sense  to  the  land 
 of  Judea,  in  which  restricted  sense  the  word  is  used,  Luke,  ii.  1. — 
 liens.  yo.  What  shall  we  say  then?  in  the  conclusion  of  the  whole 
 argument.— Z)«rfrfr.  That  though  the  poor,  blind,  idolatrous  heathens 
 were  so  far  from  seeking  and  pressing  after  righteousness  to  eternal 
 life,  that  they  were  utterly  ignorant  of  it,  and  unconcerned  about  it ; 
 yet  many  of  these  have,  under  a  sense  ot  their  own  guilt  and  unwor- 
 thiness,  arrived  at  righteousness  for  justification,  even  the  righteous- 
 ness of  Christ.  31.  The  law  ofrighteouMi'sx,  signifii's  '  the  righteous, 
 ness  of  the  law.'  Not  attained,  'not  apprehended,'  a  righteousness 
 which  comes  up  to  its  demands. —  Guyse.  32,  They  stumbled,  like 
 persons  running  a  race  and  meeting  with  a  stone  in  their  way,  which, 
 by  hitting  their  foot  agamst  it,  makes  them  stumble  and  fall,  to  their 
 own  great  hurt,  and  losing  the  prize.  Tin-  same  allusion  is  in  the  next 
 verse. — Guyse.  At  that  stumfiUnpstone,  they  sought  righteousness  not 
 aright,  not  in  a  way  of  believing,  bnt  of  working.  They  stumbled  at 
 the  true  Messiah,  and  so  tar  were  they  from  seeking  righteousness  by 
 Christ,  that  they  took  offence  at  him  to  their  owu  destruction,  (Mark, 
 vi.  3j  1  Cor.  i.  -li.)— Poole. 
 
 TlFFLf  CTiONS  ON  Chap.  IX.  —  After  the  perusal  of  this 
 cliapter,  tli^re  is  no  evadint;  the  fact — 1.  That  in  the  work  of 
 savitKj  sinners  God  acts  as  a  Sovereign.  The  argument  here  is 
 analogical  from  Esau  and  Jacob,  to  their  respective  races,  and 
 to  all  the  saved  and  lost.  Heaven  was  prepared  for  its  heirs 
 hnlure  the  foundation  of  the  world,  and  it  is  here  obvious  that 
 iliey  were,  in  tlie  purpose  of  God,  *  afore  prepared'  for  it. 
 This  takes  away  all  boasting.  This  inspires  the  heart  of 
 the  believer  with  unfeigned  gratitude  to  God.  lie  knows 
 wliat  sin  would  have  done  for  him  ;  he  sees  what  grace 
 has  done  for  him.  He  admires — be  adores.  We  may  ob- 
 serve— 
 
 1198 
 
 II.  That  in  the  event  of  their  destruction,  sinners  are  the  cause 
 of  their  oitm  ruin.  It  is  in  vain  to  retort  upon  God  that  they 
 are  'vessels  of  wrath;*  so  it  must  inevitably  be.  They  do  not 
 know  that  they  are  so  ;  and  they  are  so  only  as  \\\ey  ft  them- 
 selves for  destruction.  Sin  is  their  own  work.  The  grand  sin 
 of  unbelief  is  their  own  work.  I'hey  rt'jf'Ct  Christ,  and  if  they 
 stumble  at  this  only  foundation  which  God  has  laid  in  Zion, 
 there  is  no  other.  'He  that  believeth,  shall  be  saved;  but 
 he  that  believeth  not,  shall  be  damned.'  These  are  the  words 
 of  the  divine  Saviour  himself;  if  we  act  upon  them,  we  are 
 saved  ;  if  not,  we  perish. 
 
Faith  ill  Christ 
 
 ROMANS,  X. 
 
 the  means  of  salvation. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 5  Tlie  scripture  shewei/i  tlic  flijftnnce  betwixt  the  righte- 
 ousness of  tite  law,  anil  this  of  faith,  II  and  that  all, 
 hotii  Jew  and  Gentile,  that  belt-  ve,  sllall  not  tie  con- 
 fonnded,  18  and  that  the  Gentiles  shall  receive  ilte 
 word  and  believe,  19  Isrud  was  not  hjuurant  of 
 these  thini/S, 
 
 "DRETHREN,  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer 
 -*-'  to  God  for  Israel  is,  tiiat  tliey  iiiij^bt  be 
 saved. 
 
 2  For  I  bear  them  record  "  that  they  have  a 
 zeal  of  God,  but  not  accordinf;  to  knowledge. 
 
 ;3  For  tliey  being  ignorant  of  ''  God's  righte- 
 ousness, and  going  about  to  establish  their  own 
 '  righteousness,  have  not  subinitted  themselves 
 unto  the  righteousness  of  God. 
 
 4  For  ''  Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law  for 
 righteousness  to  every  one  thnt  believetli. 
 
 5  For  Moses  describeth  tlie  righteonsjiess 
 vvhicli  is  of  the  law,  '  That  tlie  man  whicli 
 doeth  tliose  things  shall  live  by  tlieni. 
 
 G  But  tlie  righteousness  which  is  of  faith 
 speaketh  on  this  wise,  •'Say  not  in  thine  heart, 
 Who  sliall  ascend  into  heaven  ?  (that  is,  to 
 bring  Christ  down //o/h  above:) 
 
 7  Or,  Who  shall  descend  into  the  deep? 
 (tliat  is,  to  bring  up  Christ  again  from  the 
 dead.) 
 
 8  I5ut  what  saith  it?  *  The  word  is  nigh 
 tliee,  eueit  in  thy  mouth,  and  in  thy  heart: 
 that  is,  the  word  of  faitli,  which  we  preaeli ; 
 
 9  That  ''  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth 
 tlie  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  iu  tliine  heart 
 that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou 
 shalt  be  .saved. 
 
 1(1   For   with   the   heart   man   believeth   unto 
 
 11. 
 
 .V  1     17. 
 .^.  V  eh.  9. 
 
 i  ell.  1.  17. 
 
 K:  't.  30. 
 C  Plril    3.  9. 
 
 J  M.X.  5.17. 
 G.il.  3.  '2i. 
 
 T.pv.  Ifl.  h. 
 Null.  9.  29. 
 Kxe.  20.  M, 
 l;t.  21.  Gal. 
 :l.  12. 
 
 /^PL-Ut.SO. 
 
 12,  13. 
 
 if  Deut.  8fl. 
 
 /.  M.U.I 0.32 
 Luke  12  8. 
 Acts  8.  37. 
 
 ■  .-1,    3    3 
 Hi.|..  1    ■>. 
 
 Is.  .W     1. 
 .li.l.i.  12.38. 
 Ifi    tl„- 
 
 l.,;,i„g  „/ 
 
 11  Or,  jnencti- 
 iitg  f 
 
 I  Pa.  I!>    4. 
 Milt.  'i%.  II. 
 
 ^  ^8   in. 
 
 ftlarklfi  l^, 
 (J..1,  IB.  2.!. 
 :  See  I  Kin 
 IS  111.  Mat 
 i.  fl 
 
 -  Peii.32.-2I. 
 cli  II.  U. 
 V  'I'it    :!-  s. 
 
 :  U 
 
 I. 
 
 Cb.  U.  3U. 
 
 righteousness  ;  ;uid  witli  tlie  mouth  confession 
 is  made  utito  salvation. 
 
 1 1  For  the  scripture  saith,  '  Whosoever  be- 
 lievetli on  him  shall  not  he  ashamed. 
 
 12  For  '"' tiiere  is  no  dirt'erence  between  the 
 Jew  and  the  Greek  :  for  '  the  same  Lord  over 
 all  "'is  rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  him. 
 
 1 3  "  For  whosoever  sliall  call  "  upon  the  name 
 of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved. 
 
 14  How  then  shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom 
 they  have  not  believed?  and  how  shall  they 
 believe  in  him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard  y 
 and  how  shall  they  hear  ^without  a  preacher? 
 
 15  And  how  shall  they  preach,  except  tliey 
 be  sent':'  as  it  is  written,  '*  How  heautifnl  are 
 the  feet  of  them  that  preach  tlie  gospel  of 
 peace,  and  bring  glad  tidings  of  good  things! 
 
 16  But  ■"  they  have  not  all  obeyed  the  gospel. 
 For  Esaias  saith,  ^  Lord,  who  hath  believed 
 four  II  report. 
 
 17  So  then  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  aiul 
 hearing  by  the  word  of  God. 
 
 18  But  I  say,  Have  they  not  heard  ?  Yes 
 verily,  *  their  sound  went  into  all  the  eartli, 
 "  and  their  words  unto  the  ends  of  the  world. 
 
 19  But  I  say.  Did  not  Israel  know?  First 
 ]\I()ses  saith,  ''  i  will  provoke  you  to  jealousy 
 hy  ilif'in  that  are  no  people,  and  by  a  ''foolisli 
 nation  I  will  anger  you. 
 
 20  But  Esaias  is  very  bold,  and  saith,  '  I  was 
 found  of  them  that  sought  me  not ;  I  was 
 made  manifest  unto  them  that  asked  not  after 
 me. 
 
 21  But  to  Israel  he  saith,  "  All  day  long  I 
 have  stretched  forth  my  hands  unto  a  disobe- 
 dient and  gainsaying  people. 
 
 CirAP.  ^.  — \.  Dffth-e  undpi-ayer—h^d  Israel  been  under  an  abso- 
 lute decree  of  rejection  and  reprobation,  this  would  have  been  vain. — 
 Whitby.  Wiiatever  might  be  the  sovereign  dealing's  of  God  with  Israel 
 as  a  people,  tlie  apnstle  wished  it  to  be  understnod  tliat  his  own  di3po. 
 sitinn  towards  them  was  that  of  a  brother  after  the  Hesh  ;  and  that,  as 
 he  knew  nothing  but  their  unbelief  would  ruin  tliem,  he  prayed  that 
 they  might  be  saved  in  God's  way,  by  faith  in  the  Messiah.  It  is  ob- 
 vious from  this,  that  wiiatever  may  be  the  decrees  of  God,  they  are 
 not  ti>  influence  our  pra>ers  for  our  fellow-men — Ed.  2.  A  zenl  u/ 
 
 Gild,  fyc,  a  great  zeal  for  whatever  they  supposed  to  relate  to  God, 
 and  to  the  divine  law.  liut  their  zeal  was  not  directed  by  an  accu- 
 rate and  wcllestablislied  knowledge  of  its  spirit  and  object. — Ritchie. 
 :i.  Gud's  rii^ht'-iiusness,  the  essential  rights  of  God's  justice,  as  they 
 arc  plainly  delivered  in  his  strict  and  high  demands  of  universal,  sin- 
 less, obedience  to  the  precepts  of  his  holy  law,  in  thought,  word,  and 
 deed,  according  to  its  teiinnr  and  of  the  perfect  and  glorious  mediatorial 
 riglitcnusnet-s  of  Christ.  liii^hteousneHU  of  Gad,  appointed,  providrd, 
 ami  exhibited  in  the  gospel,  fur  the  justification  <>f  every  one  that  be- 
 lieveth.— Giiyne.  4.  End — Christ  is  so  called  because,  by  his  deaHi, 
 he  procured  that  justification  for  sinners  throngli  faith,  which  the 
 law  propnseil  to  besttiw  through  works. — Beza.  TtXo?,  'scope.'  The 
 scope  and  design  nf  the  law  was  to  britig  men  to  believe  in  Christ  for 
 righteousness  and  life,  and  its  ceremonial  and  moral  precepts  harmo- 
 niously centre  in  this. — Duddr.  Believing  in  Christ,  receiving  him  by 
 faith,  and  thus  attaining  to  the  righteousnc>s  of  God.  accomplishes  the 
 end  or  ohji,ct  of  what  tlie  law  would  accomplish— viz.,  which  perfect 
 obedience  to  tlic  law  would  accomplish. — Stnart.  It  marks  the  pur- 
 pose of  the  giving  of  the  law  to  lead  the  Jews  to  Christ  by  its  types, 
 Sic.  5.  The  righteousness  which  is  of  the  latv,  the  method  of  justifi- 
 cation, or  of  becoming  righteous. — Hodfff.  6.  Speaketh,  ^c. — Paul 
 here  personifies  the  riglitconsness  by  fai'h,  and  makes  it  say  of  its 
 doctrines  and  precepts  wliatM^ses  said  concerning  his  commandment, 
 ; Deut.  XXX.  II,  14. J  though  m  a  sense  .somewhat  different. — Murku. 
 6,  7-  Ascsnd,  ^c. —  Denrvnd,  ^c,  proverbial  expressions,  signifying 
 doing,  or  attempting  to  do,  some  hard,  impossible  things.    Moses  used 
 
 the  words  to  shew  the  readiness  with  which  the  Jews  might  know 
 their  moral  duty  ,  and  the  apostle,  to  express  the  easiness  of  the  gospel 
 condition  above  that  of  the  Musaical  law. — Hum.  8.  What  saith  it? 
 *  what  is  the  language  of  the  gospel  declaration  ?'  The  word,  the  doc- 
 trine which  reveals  and  exhibits  the  righteousness  of  Christ  to  your 
 faith  is  no  longer  hid  from  you.  In  thy  nmuth,  when  reading  it,  &e. 
 In  thy  heart,  '  when,  in  the  application  of  the  Spirit,  you  cordially  em- 
 brace it.' — Guyse.  ^.Confess,  'courageously  confess.'  hi  thy 
 heart,  with  a  vital  and  influential  faith.  Raised  him,  ^c,  in  proof  of 
 his  divine  mission. —  Doddr.  This  seems  to  have  been  mentioned 
 as  the  principal  article,  because  hy  that  miracle  God  demonstrated 
 Jesijs  to  be  his  Son,  ami  established  his  authority  as  a  Lawgiver  and 
 Teacher. — Maclcn.  10,  With  the  heart,  a  cordial  assent.  Unto 
 riifhtunusness,  or,  so  as  to  obtain  justification. — Doddr.  12.  Sa7ne 
 Lord,  the  Lord  Christ,  spoken  of  as  '  preached,  '  believed  in,'  atui 
 'called  upim,'  in  the  two  verses  following.— GHj/.se.  \3.  Call,  Sfc, 
 — see  Reflections,  II.  1.5,  As  it  is  written.  How  beautiful,  fyc. — the 
 foregoin;r  induction  establishes  the  necessity  of  persons  being  sent  to 
 preacli  the  gospel  'o  the  Gentiles  ;  we,  accordingly,  have  been  sent  to 
 preach  it,  agreeably  to  Isaiah's  prediction,  (chap,  lii.  7.)  l6.  But,  Sfc, 
 all  have  not  obeyed.  So  Isaiah  foretold. —  Wells.  17.  Faith  cometh^ 
 fyc. — tliough  many  believe  not,  yet  hearing  is  the  ordinary  means,  of 
 Gid's  appointment,  for  working  effectually. -Gf/./yAe.  18.  Hat>e  they 
 not  heard,  ^c— many  distant  nations  have  already  heard  these  ghirt 
 tidings,  which  God  will  at  lengih  render  universal;  so  that  the  words 
 of  David,  with  respect  to  the  celestial  luminaries,  may  be  here  applied, 
 —  Doddr.  19,  liO.  Did  not  Israel  know?  ffc.,,  could  they  be  so 
 ignorant  as  not  to  know  that  Gnd  designed,  in  due  season,  to  extend 
 his  mercy  to  the  Gentiles,  as  said  by  Mnses  and  Isaiah?  20.  Very 
 bold,  he  spoke  out,  though  the  Jews  would  be  sure  lo  feel  provoked  at 
 his  prophecy .~J/'i'/.».  21,  But  to  /srwtV— 'the  same  prophet  pre- 
 dicts your  ingratitude  and  unbelief.*  Stretched  forth  my  hands,  as  an 
 affectionate  mother  to  embrace  a  froward  child,  and  encourage  its 
 coming  to  her  j  or,  as  an  orator,  in  token  of  his  desiring  a'Klience,an(l 
 of  the  vehemence  of  his  address, — Giiyse. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  X. —  I.  We  cannot  more  strongly 
 innnifest  our  love  to  our  brethren  of  manhind  than  hy  desiring  their 
 salvation.  For  this  we  should  strive,  for  this  we  should  pray  ; 
 and  as  the  same  gospel  can  .save  all,  by  leading  all  to  tlie  same 
 Saviour,  we  ouglit  to  employ  its  preaching  as  the  means  nf 
 effecting  our  wishes.  Thus  we  shall  give  proof  that  they  are 
 not  merely  in  profession,  hut  procoed  from  the  heart. 
 
 II,  hct  us  rejiiicc  in  (he  hanevoUni  spirit  of  the  qospel.  It  em- 
 1!9S> 
 
 braces  both  Jew  and  Greek  ;  and  '  whosoever  shall  call  upon 
 the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved.'  *That  is,'  as  Mr.  Bax- 
 ter observes,  'of  what  nation  soever  he  be,  if  he  truly  seek 
 Cod,  he  will  be  found  of  him  ;  and  if  he  fear  God  and  work 
 righteousness  by  faith,  he  shall  be  accepted  of  him,  '*  for 
 he  is  the  revvarder  of  those  that  diligently  seek  hiui," 
 (Heb.  XI.  6.)' 
 
God  hath  not 
 
 ROMANS,  XL 
 
 cast  off  all  Israel. 
 
 CHAr.  XI. 
 
 1  God  hath  not  cast  off  all  Israel.  7  Some  iccre  tLcied, 
 though  the  rest  were  hurdfned  IB  There,  is  hope  of 
 thfir  conversio7i.  18  The  Gentihs  may  not  insult 
 upon  them  :  26  for  tha'e  is  a  promise  of  their  salva- 
 tion,    33  God  s  jiid jments  are  unsearchable. 
 
 I  SAY  then,  "*  Hath  God  cast  away  his 
 people?  God  forbid.  For  *•  I  also  am  an 
 Israelite,  of  the  seed  of  Abiaham,  of  the  tribe 
 of  Benjamin. 
 
 2  God  hath  not  cast  away  his  people  which 
 '^  he  foreknew.  Wot  ye  not  what  the  scriptnre 
 saith  t  of  Elias?  how  he  maketh  intercession 
 to  God  against  Israel,  saying, 
 
 3  ^  Lord,  they  have  killed  thy  prophets,  and 
 digged  down  thine  altars  ;  and  I  am  left  alone, 
 and  they  seek  my  life. 
 
 4  But  what  saith  the  answer  of  God  unto 
 him?  ^I  have  reserved  to  myself  seven  thou- 
 sand men,  who  have  not  bowed  the  knee  to 
 the  image  o/'Baal. 
 
 5  ^  Even  so  then  at  this  present  time  also 
 there  is  a  remnant  according  to  the  election  of 
 grace. 
 
 6  And  ^  if  by  grace,  then  is  it  no  more  of 
 works :  otherwise  grace  is  no  more  grace. 
 But  if  it  be  of  works,  then  is  it  no  more  grace  : 
 otherwise  work  is  no  more  work. 
 
 7  Wliat   then?    ''Israel   hath    not   obtained 
 
 r  rli    9.  29. 
 t  Gr.  in 
 Elian. 
 
 •i  1  Kill   ly. 
 
 111.  II 
 
 /oil  p.  1 
 
 e  ch.  *.  4,5 
 Hal    h.  4 
 .Set-  Pen. 9. 
 4,5. 
 
 A.  D.  C(l. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 •1  Cor.  .-i'l*, 
 i  l9.  29.  lU. 
 II  Or,  ft. 
 
 morte. 
 h  Dcu    29.4. 
 
 Is  6  9.  Jer, 
 
 5.21. 
 
 Kiek   12  2. 
 
 Wilt.  IS. 11, 
 
 J..lm  Vi.wy 
 
 Acta  28.  :iii, 
 
 I  I*s    GO.  ?i 
 Ts.  ty.  a3. 
 
 .  Acts  ISlfi. 
 Si  ISe.fcJS. 
 IS.2I.&  *»3. 
 •i\,  i<-  ch. 
 10.  t'J 
 
 Arts  9.  15. 
 &l.'*.i.(i(2'3. 
 ■-'i.ch. 15.16. 
 Ga\.  1.16. 
 .'i:  •>.2,7,8.9. 
 Kph.  3.  8. 
 1  'Cim  2.  7. 
 •-'Tim. I, II. 
 Cor  .7. 16 
 
 ^  9  2S 
 1  Tim  4.16. 
 J;un  6.  2i» 
 -;  I,fv  2.1.10 
 Num.15  18, 
 19,  ao,  SI. 
 
 that  which   he  seeketh  for;  but  tlie  election 
 hath  obtained  it,  and  the  rest  were  ||  blinded. 
 
 8  (According  as  it  is  written,  '  God  hath 
 given  them  the  spirit  of  ||  slumber,  ''  eyes  that 
 they  ."-houM  not  see,  and  ears  that  tliey  should 
 not  hear  ;)  unto  this  day. 
 
 9  And  Uavid  saith, '  Let  their  table  be  made 
 a  snare,  and  a  trap,  and  a  stumblingblock,  and 
 a  recompence  unto  tliem  : 
 
 10  "'  Let  their  eyes  he  darkened,  that  they 
 may  not  see,  and  bow  down  their  back  alway. 
 
 1 1  I  say  then,  Have  they  .stumlded  that  they 
 should  fall?  God  forbid  :  but  rathur  "  through 
 their  fall  salvation  is  cojtie  unto  the  Gentiles, 
 for  to  provoke  them  to  jealousy. 
 
 12  Now  if  the  fall  of  them  be  the  riches  of 
 the  world,  and  the  ||  diminishing  of  them  the 
 riches  of  the  Gentiles  ;  how  much  more  their 
 fulness? 
 
 13  For  I  speak  to  you  Gentiles,  inasmuch  as 
 °  I  am  the  apostle  of  tlie  Gentiles,  I  magnify 
 mine  office  : 
 
 14  If  by  any  means  I  may  provoke  to  emu- 
 lation (hem  which  are  my  flesh,  and  ^  might 
 save  some  of  them. 
 
 15  For  if  the  casting  away  of  them  he  the  re- 
 conciling of  the  world,  what  shall  the  receiving 
 of  (hem  be,  but  life  from  the  dead  ? 
 
 16  For  if  **  the  firstfruit  be  holy,  the  lump  is 
 
 Chap.  XI.  —  1.  .-l/i  Israelilr,  '  not  a  proselyte,  and  I  am  not  cast  off.' 
 — liurkitt.  2.  U'/iich  he  fm-ekncw,  '  whom  he  hath  chnscn  to  faith 
 and  salvation.*— t'orft/r.  *  W'hom,  in  his  eternal  coun-^els  and  designs 
 of  love  and  grace,  he  distinguished  (mm  the  rL-st,  regarded  as  tlie  true 
 spiritual  seed  of  Israel,  and  chose,  not  merely  to  external  piivilege^, 
 but  also  to  special  and  saving  benefits.' — Guyse.  God  hath  among  tlic 
 Israelites  his  foreknown  and  chosen  people  ;  and  these  he  doth  not 
 cast  oflT,  though  he  leave  the  rest  in  their  rebellion. — R.  Baxter.  The 
 foreknowledge  of  which  the  apostle  speaks  in  this  passage  cannot  be 
 God's  fireknowledge  of  his  people  to  be  heirs  of  eternal  hfe ;  for,  in 
 that  case,  the  supposition  of  his  casting  them  off  could  not  possibly  be 
 made.  But  it  is  God's  foreknowledce  of  the  Jews  to  be  liis  church  and 
 visible  poplc  on  earth.— .l/ocA/i.  In  other  words,  he  has  not  utterly 
 rejected  tlic  Jewish  people,  wh^m  he  from  tlie  first  ordained  to  be  his 
 people.— N/»'(ri'.  St.  Paul  here  goes  on  to  shew  the  future  state  of  the 
 Jews  and  Gentiles  as  to  Christianity— viz.,  that  though  the  Jews  were 
 for  their  unbelief  rejected,  and  the  Gentiles  taken  in  their  room  to  he 
 the  people  of  God,  yet  there  was  a  few  of  the  Jews  that  believed  in 
 Christ,  and  so  a  small  remnant  of  them  continued  to  be  God's  people, 
 being  incorporated  with  the  conveited  Gentiles  into  the  Christian 
 church.— LocA:^.  The  apostle  is  obviously  speaking  of  the  remnant  that 
 should  finally  be  saved,  while  the  rest  would  perish  in  unbelief — that 
 remnant  consisted  of  believers  in  Christ,  who  would  be  saved  accord- 
 ing to  the  election  of  grace.  The  whole  connexion  justifies  this  inter- 
 pretation.—i?rf.  Some  have  supposed  that  what  is  said  by  St.  Paul, 
 both  here  and  elsewhere,  of  the  conversionof  the  Jews,  might  relate  to 
 those  converted  in  the  first  propat,'alion  of  the  gospel ;  but  it  is  an  im- 
 portant observation  of  Dr.  U'.  Harris,  that  this  epistle  vpas  written 
 above  thirty  years  after  that  event.  And,  supposing  it  to  have  r<:fer- 
 ence  to  some  future  tmic,  no  event  has  j^ince  occurred  which  can  rea- 
 sonably he  considered  as  its  fulfilment.— irw.  Mnketh  interce^siim— 
 against,  signifies,  to  accuse  or  charge  a  person  with  a  crime. —  Whithij. 
 3.  Thine  altars,  either  those  formerly  uscil  by  the  patriarchs,  and  kept 
 in  veneration,  pulled  down  in  contempt  of  them  and  God's  worship  ;  or 
 s\ich  altars  as  the  i  eligiuus  among  the  ten  tribes  built  since  the  times 
 of  Jeroboam,  who  forbad  them  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem,  but  ordered 
 them  to  go  to  Dan  or  Betlul,  which  they  not  choosing  to  do,  erected 
 altars  in  different  places  for  divine  service,  and  which  the  Jews  say 
 were  allowed  ;  for,  from  that  time,  the  prohibition  of  altars  at  other 
 places  than  at  Jerusalem  ceased.— Gi7^  God  had  no  public  altar  in 
 the  kingdom  of  Samaria,  and  it  is  not  very  likely  that  the  faithful  of 
 that  country  had  prepared  private  and  secret  altars,  since  they  were 
 not  permitted,  after  the  temple  was  built,  to  sacrifice  elsewhere  than 
 in  the  temple,  (John,  iv,  20 ;)  but  as  the  sacrifices  and  offerings  at  the 
 altars  were  then  the  most  solemn  parts  of  divine  worship,  this  word  is 
 here  used  to  express  all  worship  in  general. — Mar.  It  seems  from 
 hence,  that  though  according  to  law  there  was  only  one  altar  for  sacri- 
 fice,  and  that  in  the  place  where  God  had  fixed  his  peculiar  residence, 
 yet  by  some  special  dispensation,  pious  persons  in  the  ten  tribes  built 
 altars  elsewhere.  It  is  well  known,  at  least,  that  Samuel  and  Elijah 
 had  done  it,  and  perhaps  they  were  either  kept  up,  or  others  raised  on 
 the  same  spots  of  gruuud.— /^orfrfr.  5.  Even  sn,  ^c— whatever  we 
 
 may  infer,  as  a  remnant  were  saved  in  the  apparently  hopeless  days  of 
 Elijah,  so  God  will  have  his  remnant  still.— Erf.  That  Is,  a  remnant 
 of  Jews  reserved  or  left,  according  as  they  weie  elected  or  chosen  out 
 from  the  rest  of  their  countrymen,  to  the  blessings  of  the  gospel, 
 through  the  free  grace  of  God,  vouchsafed  to  them  on  their  believing 
 in  Christ,  wilhont  any  previous  merit  on  their  parts,  {see  Eph.  ii.  8,  9.) 
 ]'20U 
 
 —Park'i.  6.  No  more  of  works,  not  by  virtue  of  the  works  of  the 
 law.  Works,  in  this  discourse,  is  understood  to  confer  a  right  of  debt ; 
 hut  grace  is  understood  to  bestow  something  to  which  there  is  no  such 
 claim.— WW/s.  7-  What  then?  'what  is  the  sum  and  substance  of 
 that  which  I  have  been  saying?'— Siuarf.  That  which  hp  seeketh  for, 
 that  is,  say  some,  righteousness  by  obeying  the  law;  [Gill's  interpre- 
 tation ;  so  Stitnrt  and  others ;]  but  this  is  not  meant,  because  the  elec- 
 tion obtained  it,  and  they  were  not  justified  by  such  works.  Others 
 say.  Justification  only;  IsoGni/se,  &c.  j]  but  they  never  sought  that  in 
 its  proper  sense,  for  they  would  not  submit  to  the  righteousness  of 
 God.  The  thing  they  sought,  therefore,  was,  the  honour  of  continu- 
 ing to  be  the  church  and  people  of  GoA.—Ritchie.  Were  h/indcd—by 
 the  strict  rule  of  antiihesis  it  would  have  been,  '  the  rest  hnvc  not  ob- 
 tained ;'  but  the  apostle  rather  chose  to  say,  'theicst  were  blinded,' 
 to  intimate  that  the  proper  cause  of  their  not  obtaining  what  they 
 sought  for  was,  not  any  decree  of  God  about  them,  but  the  wilful 
 blindness  and  hardness  of  their  own  rninds  and  hearts,  which  made  them 
 stumble  at  Christ  to  their  own  perdition,  (chap.  ix.  32.)— Gu^xe.  The 
 word  cTTiapuitit]Tav,  here  rendered  'were  blinded,*  signifies  properlv, 
 'were  hardened.*  being  a  metaphorical  expression,  taken  from  'the 
 skin  of  the  hand  made  liard  by  labour.'  in  general,  it  denotes,  in 
 scripture,  both  hardness  of  heart  and  blindness  of  understanding. — 
 Mackn.  The  election,  put  licre  for  the  elect.  They  might  be  thus 
 called  to  signify  that  elecLi  >n  was  the  original  spring  of  their  conver- 
 sion.—Guvie.  The  election  here  mentioned  as  distinct  from  Israel, 
 God's  chosen  people,  (that  is,  an  election  within  an  election,)  clearly 
 marks  the  difference  between  an  election  of  people  to  special  external 
 privileges,  ami  a  personal  chnice  of  individuals  to  eternal  life  :  and  it 
 refutes  unanswerably  the  reasonings  of  th  ^se  who  would  confine  all 
 these  scriptures  to  the  former  kind  of  election,  and  exclude  the  latter. 
 —  Srott.  8.  God  hath  ffiven  them.  Sfc,  this  by  no  means  implies  that 
 God  infuses  any  new  viciimsncss  ;  but  that  he,  as  a  just  judge,  delivers 
 up  those  who  are  destitute  of  his  grace  unto  Satan  and  to  their  own 
 lusts;  to  he  more  and  more  blinded. — Beza.  9.  Tahle  be  made  a  snare, 
 so  was  the  passover  a  lew  years  after,  when  the  Jews  were  assembled 
 to  eat  it  at  Jerusalem,  and  were  taken  and  destroyed  like  birds  in  a 
 snare. — Ho  Pict.  Bib.  A  recompence,  *  of  their  evil  deeds.' — Whitbi/. 
 II.  Fall?  '  do  I  assert  it  to  be  final  ?'  Salvation  is  come,  /J-c,  is  at  the 
 present  come  to  the  Gentiles  ;  the  future  consequerme  of  which  shall 
 be  to  provoke  them  to  a  holy  emulation  of  sharing  the  blessings  and 
 benefits  to  be  expected  from  their  own  Messiah,  when  they  shall  see 
 so  many  heathen  nations  enjoy  them, — Duddr.  12.  World,  'Gen- 
 tiles as  opposed  to  Jews.' — Purkh.  How  miirh  more  thrir  fulness, 
 '  how  much  more  their  conversion,  when  the  whole  nation  should,  in 
 one  full  body,  acknowledge  their  long  despised  Messiah.'  —  Smtt. 
 13.  You  Gentiles,  'you  believing  Romans.'  The  apostle,  Sfc,  '  by  a 
 special  designation  of  Divine  providence  and  grace.'  I  magnifii  mine 
 office,  '  I  glory  in  it,  and  esteem  it  a  signal  honour  to  be  thus  employed.* 
 15.  For  if  the  cnsting  ntviiy,  ^e.,  'if  God's  throwing  him  out  of  his  visi- 
 ble covenant,  for  their  obstinate  infidelity,  be  turned  into  an  occasion 
 of  his  ha-'tening  to  scud  the  gospel  to  the  Gentiles,  for  bringing  them 
 into  a  state  of  favour  with  him  through  faith  in  liis  Son.*  What  shall 
 the  receiving  of  them  he,  'again  into  his  covenant  ?'—G"i/se.  Life, 
 ^c.,a  kind  of  resurrection  to  the  church  of  God  and  the  cause  of  rigirte- 
 ousness. — Dav.  l6.  Firstfruit,  the  allusion  is  to  the  holy  offering 
 of  firstfruits  to  the  Lord,  (Lrv.  x-xiii.  14,  17  ;)  whereby  the  whole  lump 
 was  sancriiied  for  after  use  tliroughout  the  year  following.  —  Gill. 
 From  these  types  the  apQ^tk  icasons,  that  as  the  first  Jewish  converts 
 
Tlie  Gentiles  are  cautioned 
 
 ROMANS,  XI, 
 
 not  to  insult  the  Jews. 
 
 also  holy :  and  if  the  root  be  holy,  so  are  the 
 branches. 
 
 17  And  if 'some  of  the  branches  be  broken 
 off,  '  and  thou,  being  a  wild  olive  tree,  wert 
 graffed  in  ||  among  them,  and  with  them  par- 
 takest  of  the  root  and  fatness  of  the  olive  tree  ; 
 
 18  *  Boast  not  against  the  branches.  But  if 
 thou  boast,  thou  bearest  not  the  root,  but  the 
 root  tliee. 
 
 19  Thou  wilt  say  then,  The  branches  were 
 broken  off,  that  I  might  be  graffed  in. 
 
 20  Well ;  because  of  unbelief  they  were 
 broken  off,  and  thou  standest  by  faith.  "  Be 
 not  highminded,  but  ^fear: 
 
 21  For  if  God  spared  not  the  natural  branches, 
 take  heed  lest  he  also  spare  not  thee. 
 
 22  Behold  therefore  the  goodness  and  severity 
 of  God  :  on  them  which  fell,  severity  ;  but  to- 
 ward thee,  goodness,  ^  if  thou  continue  in  his 
 goodness  :  otherwise  ^  thou  also  shalt  be  cut 
 off. 
 
 23  And  they  also,  "if  they  abide  not  in  un- 
 belief, shall  be  graffed  in :  for  God  is  able  to 
 graff  them  in  again. 
 
 2-4  For  if  thou  wert  cut  out  of  the  olive  tree 
 which  is  wild  by  nature,  and  wert  graffed  con- 
 trary to  natnre  into  a  good  olive  tree:  how 
 much  more  shall  these,  w^iicli  be  the  natural 
 branches,  be  graffed  into  their  own  olive  tree'? 
 
 25  For  I  wonlil  not,  brethren,  that  ye  should 
 be  ignorant  of  this  mystery,  lest  ye  should  be 
 '*  wise  in  your  own  conceits  ;  that  ^  \\  blindness  \ 
 
 s  Acts  2    39. 
 Kpb.  2.  12, 
 
 II  Or,  for 
 thi'm. 
 II  Cor.lO.1'2. 
 
 X  Pro,28.1 1. 
 Is    (ilJ,  2. 
 Phil.  2.  12. 
 
 tf  1  Cor.  1 5.2. 
 Met.. ■<.(», 1  J. 
 
 (iSCoi-.  3.113. 
 
 b  ch.  19..   Ifi. 
 e  ver.  7. 
 2  Cor  3.  li. 
 I!  Or,  hard- 
 
 d  Luke 
 
 2*.  Kc' 
 
 i  Is.  59.  20. 
 Si;el»3  1.1.7. 
 
 II  Or,  uOi^i/ed. 
 
 ft  ch. 
 Gal. 
 
 110. 
 
 shut 
 
 them  all  vj> 
 
 toe  ether. 
 I  Vs.  .16,  6. 
 ii  Jolt  11.  7. 
 
 Ps.  9-',  5. 
 n  Joli   15.  9 
 
 U.  40.   Vi. 
 
 Jei-.  'J.I.  IH 
 
 \Vis(l.<J,l8. 
 
 1  Cof.  2.10. 
 oJ.ib  JO.  -21. 
 j»  J-ib  35    7. 
 
 ;■<  A\.  II. 
 
 7  1  Coi-.  S  II 
 
 Cnl.    I.    IG. 
 
 .■  Gill.  I.  b. 
 1  Tim.  I  17. 
 2Tiui  4.IM. 
 Heb.  13  21. 
 
 1  Put.  a  11. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  18. 
 Jude  'ii. 
 Kev.  I.  6. 
 
 t  Gr    htvt. 
 
 in  part  is  happened  to  Israel,  *^  until  the  fulness 
 of  the  Gentiles  be  come  in. 
 20  And  so  all  Israel  shall  be  saved :  as  it  is 
 written,  ^  There  shall  come  out  of  Sion  the 
 Deliverer,  and  shall  turn  away  ungodliness 
 from  Jacob  : 
 
 27  ^  For  this  is  my  covenant  unto  them,  when 
 I  shall  take  away  their  sins. 
 
 28  As  concerning  the  gospel,  they  are  ene- 
 mies for  your  sakes  :  but  as  touching  the  elec- 
 tion, they  are  ^  beloved  for  the  fathers'  sakes. 
 
 29  For  the  gifts  and  calling  of  God  an  *■  with- 
 out repentance. 
 
 30  For  as  ye  Mn  times  past  have  not  ||  be- 
 lieved God,  yet  have  now  obtained  mercy 
 through  their  unbelief: 
 
 31  Even  so  have  these  also  now  not  ||  be- 
 lieved, that  through  your  mercy  they  also  may 
 obtain  mercy. 
 
 32  For  '^  God  hath  ||  concluded  them  all  in 
 unbelief,  that  he  might  have  mercy  upon  all. 
 
 3S  O  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wis- 
 dom and  knowledge  of  God!  Miow  unsearch- 
 able are  his  judgments,  and  ""his  ways  past 
 finding  out! 
 
 34  "  For  who  hath  known  the  mind  of  tlie 
 Lord?  or  '^  who  hath  been  his  counsellor? 
 
 35  Or  ^'who  hatli  first  given  to  him,  audit 
 shall  be  recompensed  unto  him  again? 
 
 36  For  '^of  hiin,  and  through  him,  and  to  him, 
 are  all  things :  "  to  f  whom  be  glory  for  ever, 
 
 i  Amen. 
 
 to  Christ  were  acceptable  to  Goi!,  and  entirely  devoted  to  his  service,  so 
 woalil  tlie  whole  nation  in  due  time  be  presented  liolyand  acceptibte  to 
 the  Lord. — Dav.  At  the  commencement  of  the  gospel  era,  the  apostles, 
 and  a  considerable  number  of  other  Jews,  were  received  as  members 
 of  the  Christian  church.  These  maybe  regarded  as  the  firstfruits  of 
 the  nation  in  reference  to  the  gospel. — Rite.  Root,  the  Jewish  nation, 
 constituting  the  church  of  God,  was  denominated  '  a  green  olive  tree,' 
 CJer.  xi.  16,)  of  which  Abraham  was  the  root.  He  was  devoted  to  God, 
 and  accepted  by  him  ;  and  from  this  the  apostle  reasons  that  the 
 branches.  Abraham's  descendants  by  Isaac,  were  destined  for  God's 
 service  and  the  objects  of  his  regard.— Du/i.  17,  A  wild  oHre  tree, 
 rather  '  branch,'  for  branches  only  are  ing^rafted.  —  Ham.,  Mackn. 
 21.  For  if  God  spared  not,  ?fc.,  the  meaning  is,  'if  the  branches  of 
 Abraham's  generous  olive  tree  be  broken  oli',  and  Gentile  nations,  who 
 were  like  the  bimghs  of  the  wild  olive,  grafted  in,  then  ought  the  latter 
 to  be  doubly  careful,  lest  they  should  pmvnke  the  Almie;hty,  by  their 
 infidelity,  in  like  manner  to  reject  them.' — Wil.  The  terms  in  the  pre- 
 ceding verses  may  be  thus  understood  -.—the  root,  Abraham  ;  good 
 olive,  visible  church  nf  Israel :  fatness,  blessings  and  privileges  ;  na- 
 tural brnnchen,  Abraham's  offspring  after  the  tlesh  ;  wild  olive.  Gen- 
 tiles ;  graftinf^,  taking  the  believing  Gentiles  into  his  visible  covenant  j 
 partakinfT  with  the  natural  branches,  sharing  equally  with  the  believ- 
 ing Jews  in  covenant  blessings.  22.  Goodjiess,  xp»ia^TOT»iTa,  '  benig- 
 nity.' Severiti/,  airoTotu.ii',  'strictness  of  his  justice.'  //  thoit  con. 
 tinue,  by  humble  faith,  within  the  sphere  of  his  goodness. — Guyse. 
 21.  How  much  more,  fyc.,  the  reasoning  is  very  just.  The  conversion 
 of  the  Jews,  though  it  bath  not  yet  happened,  appears  more  probable 
 than  did  the  cnnvcrsioii  of  the  Gentiles  before  that  event  took  place. — 
 Markn.  25.  Thin  m?/sleri/,  fyc,  '  this  blindness,'  that  it  was  the  Jews' 
 unbelief  that  separated  them,  and  not  that  they,  the  Gentiles,  were 
 more  worthy.  Called  a  mystery,  because  hid  in  the  counsels  of  eter- 
 nity, and  obscurely  hinted  at  in  ancient  propliecy. —  So  Oiii/se.  Or, 
 perhaps,  called  a  mystery,  seeing  that  the  people  who  we're  God's 
 church  should  be  allowed  to  fall  into  such  an  awful  state.— .S^rf.  The 
 mystery  does  not  relate  to  the  rejection,  but  to  the  intended  calling  of 
 the  Jews.— WhitOt/.  The  fact  that  the  Jews  would  be  converted  must 
 have  been  unknown  to  human  wisdom.— 5^««r/,  Termed  a  mysterv, 
 because  hidden  till  revealed.— P«rA:/j.  In  part,  means  that  their 
 blindness  should  not  last  always,  but  only  for  a  time. — Poole.  It 
 moans  partial  blindness,  or  blindness  to  a  part  of  them ;  for  they  were 
 
 jiot  all  unbelievers,  several  thousands  of  them  had  been  converted  to 
 the  Christian  faith. — A.  Clarke.  Fulness-  of  the  Gentiles,  '  time  of  their 
 more  complete  conversinn,' — Burkitt,  Whithy.  26.  All  Israel,  '  the 
 great  body  of  the  Jewish  people.' — Uav.  Suued,  great  multitudes  shall 
 be  saved  ;  or  it  may  mean,  shall  only  be  nationally  brought  into  the 
 gospel  church,  in  which  salvation  may  warrantably  be  lioped  for 
 through  Jesus  Christ. — Gur/se  ;  of  the  latter  opinion  are  Whitby, 
 Mack)}.,  and  Clarke.  As  it  i.t  tvritten,  hence  from  the  predictions  (if 
 the  prophets,  there  shall  be  a  general  calling  of  the  Jews  before  the 
 second  coming  of  Christ. — Burkitt.  28.  Enemies  for  your  sakes,  ^e., 
 'for  your  conversion,  they  were  permitted  as  enemies  of  Christ  to 
 drive  away  the  gospel  from  them  to  you  ;  but  yet  God  hath  not  quite 
 nulled  his  covenant  with  their  fathers,  but  will  perform  it  in  the  con- 
 version of  all  them  that  are  elect.' — R.  Ba.iter.  29.  The  gifts, '  .'^pe- 
 cial  and  spiritual  gifts  of  God's  free  grace.' — Gill.  And  calling,  ^c, 
 — Tholuik  makes  the  calling  the  external  calling  of  the  Jews  ;  but 
 this  could  not  excite  such  wonder,  admiration,  and  gratitude,  as  are 
 expressed  in  verses  33—36. — Stuart.  Calling  is  equivalent  to  election, 
 as  appears  from  the  context,  the  one  word  being  substituted  for  the 
 other,  and  also  from  the  use  of  the  cognate  terms,  (see  cliap.  viii.  2S  ; 
 i.  7,  ^'C,  &c.) — Hodge.  Without  repentance,  i.  e.,  immutable  and  un- 
 alterable.— Gil/.  God  will  not  repent  of  the  special  favours  allowed 
 to  his  people,  and  his  promises  made  to  their  fathers. — Hum.,  R.  Bar. 
 30.  Through  their  unbelief,  the  unbelief  of  the  Jews  became  the  occa- 
 sion of  their  obtaining  mercy. — Hodge.  31.  Through  your  merci/, 
 Bfc,  'through  the  mercy  bestowed  upon  you.*  They  also  may  obtain 
 merer/,  '  you  being  made  instrumental,  by  your  prayers  and  exertions, 
 in  eflfecting  their  restoration  and  salvation.' — Ed.  32.  For  God  hath 
 amcluded  them  all  in  unbelief,  avveK\Eiu€  -yap  o  Oeoc,  God  hath  *  shut,' 
 or  Mocked,'  them  all  up  under  unbelief.  They  have  been  accused, 
 tried,  condemned,  remanded  to  prison,  shut  or  locked  up  under  the 
 jailor.  Unbelief.  That  he  might  have  inercy,  tlie  time  will  come  wlieu 
 the  Jews  also  shall  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before  them. — Clarke. 
 33.  O  the  depth,  fyc,  fi  fiuOu^..  ..Oeoi-,  'O  the  boundless  riches  both 
 of,'  &c.  Judgments,  Kpifiara,  '  proceedings.'  or  rather  decisions, 
 counsels,  determinations.  Ways,  6iot,  ways  or  'tracts,'  'whose  foot- 
 steps cannot  be  traced.' — Stuart.  35.  Who  hath  first  given,  ^c,  '  who 
 hath  anything  but  what  God  giveth  him  ?'  36.  For  of  him,  ,yc.,  all 
 
 is  of  him,  by  him,  and  to  him,  and  he  of  none. — R.  Baxter.  To  model 
 ourself  and  one's  manners  after  another  j  tu  imitate  him. — Blonmf. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XI We  have  in  this  chapter 
 
 an  exhibition  of  sin  and  grace.  We  here  see— I.  Sm  in  its 
 conseauences.  Israel  broken  off  from  their  privileges,  '  because 
 ot'uDbehef.'  This  is  the  damning  sin  of  the  world,  because 
 they  do  not  truly  believe  in  '  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God.' 
 UnbeHef  liardeiis  the  heurt,  inures  it  to  sin,  and  thus  leads  to 
 separation  from  God,  and  to  consequent  ruin.     We  also  see— 
 
 II.  Grace  in  its  plenitude.  God  will  have  obiects  on  which 
 to  bestow  the  riches  of  his  grace  ;  and  wliile  they  are  despised 
 by  one,  they  shall  be  received  by  another.  The  reiection  of 
 1201 
 
 the  unbelieving  Jews  was  succeeded  by  the  gathering  in  of 
 the  Gentiles  ;  and  the  gathering  in  of  the  Gentiles  shall  bo 
 the  instrumental  cause  of  once  more  gathering  in  the  Jews. 
 The  Redeemer  shall  *  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be  .sa- 
 tisfied ;  heaven  shall  be  peopled,  and  the  mighty  building, 
 founded  on  the  Kock  of  ages,  shall  be  finally  completed  j  not 
 one  spiritual  stone  shall  be  deficient  in  the  spiritual  edifice, 
 and  '  the  top  stone  shall  be  laid  to  the  building  with  shoutings 
 of  Grace,  grace  unto  it !' 
 
Pride  forb  idden. 
 
 ROMANS,  XII. 
 
 Exhortation  to  sundry  duties. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 ]  God's  mercies  must  move  us  to  please  God.  3  No 
 man  must  think  too  well  of  himself,  6  but  attend  evert/ 
 one  on  that  cnlVinq  wherein  he  is  placed.  9  .Love, 
 and  many  othir  dxt/n;,  are  required  of  us.  19  lie- 
 venye  is  specially  furb'uhlen. 
 
 T  "BESEECH  you  therefore,  brethren,  by 
 ■^  the  mercies  of  God,  ^  that  ye  '^present  your 
 bodies  ''a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  unto 
 God,  which  is  your  reasonable  service. 
 
 2  And  "  be  not  conformed  to  this  world  :  but 
 ^be  ye  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your 
 mind,  that  ye  may  ^  prove  what  is  that  good, 
 and  acceptable,  and  perfect,  will  of  God. 
 
 3  For  I  say,  ^  through  the  grace  given  unto 
 me,  to  every  man  that  is  among  you,  '  not  to 
 tiiink  of  himself  more  highly  than  he  ought  to 
 think;  but  to  think  f soberly,  according  as 
 Ciod  hath  dealt  ''  to  every  man  the  measure  of 
 faith. 
 
 4  For  '  as  we  have  many  members  in  one 
 body,  and  all  members  have  not  the  same 
 office  : 
 
 .5  So  "'  we,  being  many,  are  one  body  in 
 Christ,  and  everyone  members  one  of  another. 
 
 0  "  Having  then  gifts  differing  "  according  to 
 the  grace  that  is  given  to  us,  wliether  ^  pro- 
 phecy, let  ns  prophesy  according  to  the  pro- 
 portion of  faith  ; 
 
 7  Or  ministry,  let  tis  wait  on  our  ministering : 
 or  *"  he  tliat  leacheth,  on  teaching ; 
 
 8  Or  '  he   that    cxhorteth,  on  exhortation  : 
 
 «2Cor.l0.1 
 6  I  Pi-t.2  5. 
 c  Ps.  50,  1.1, 
 14.  ch.fi. 13, 
 16,19-1  Cor, 
 
 6,  1.1.  2(P. 
 
 d  Heb.iu.-'n. 
 
 e  1    Pel,  1.1  1. 
 
 1  J..llHL».!5. 
 
 /  K.ph.  I.  IS, 
 &  4.  23. 
 Col     1.2!, 
 
 22,  &  3.  Itl. 
 J  Eph.  5  10, 
 
 17.  I  Thcs. 
 4,  3. 
 h  ch.  1.  5.  8( 
 15.15.  ICor. 
 a.  10.  &  15. 
 Ill  Gal.2.9. 
 Epli.  3.  2, 
 
 7.  S. 
 
 .   Prn.95  87. 
 
 Ecclc8.7.l6, 
 
 ch.  II.  20. 
 t  Gr.  to 
 
 tobriity. 
 k  \  Cor.l2.T, 
 
 U.Ei>h.4.7. 
 n  Cnr.  12.12, 
 
 Eph.  4.  16, 
 m  I  Cor.  m. 
 
 (7.  fc  I2.2t>, 
 
 27.  Eph.  I. 
 
 23.  &  4.  25. 
 I  1  C.:ir.l'2.1 
 1  Pet. 4.  H), 
 11. 
 
 VtT.  S. 
 p  Acts  11.27. 
 
 1  Cor.l2.1ii. 
 
 2S    &  13.  2, 
 
 8c  14.  I,  C, 
 
 29,31. 
 a  Acts  13  1, 
 
 Eph.  4    II. 
 
 Gfil.  fi,  6. 
 
 1  Tim. 5.17. 
 r  Arts  15.32. 
 
 1  Cor.  U.S. 
 
 ^he  that  ||  giveth,  let  him  do  it  \\  with  simpli- 
 city ;  *  he  that  ruleth,  with  dihgence  ;  he  that 
 sheweth  mercy,  "  with  cheerfulness. 
 
 9  ^  ieHove  be  without  dissimulation.  'Ab- 
 hor that  which'  is  evil  ;  cleave  to  that  which  is 
 good. 
 
 10  ^  Be  kindly  affectioned  one  to  another 
 II  with  brotherly  love  ;  ^  in  honour  preferring 
 one  another ; 
 
 11  Not  slothful  in  business;  fervent  in  spirit; 
 serving  the  Lord  ; 
 
 12  '' Kejoicing  in  hope  ;  "^patient  in  tribula- 
 tion ;  •*  continuing  instant  in  prayer  ; 
 
 13  "^  Distributing  to  the  necessity  of  saints  ; 
 'given  to  hospitality. 
 
 14  ^  Bless  them  which  persecute  you  :  bless, 
 and  curse  not. 
 
 15  ^  Rejoice  with  them  that  do  rejoice,  and 
 weep  with  tlieni  that  weep. 
 
 16  '  Be  of  the  same  mind  one  toward  another. 
 ^  Mind  not  high  things,  but  ||'Condescend  to 
 men  of  low  estate.  '  Be  not  wise  in  your  own 
 conceits. 
 
 ]  7  ""  Recompense  to  no  man  evil  for  evil. 
 "  Provide  things  honest  in  the  sight  of  all  men. 
 
 18  If  it  be  possible,  as  much  as  lieth  in  you, 
 '^  live  peaceably  with  all  men. 
 
 19  Dearly  beloved,  ^avenge  not  yourselves, 
 
 Eph.  6  Ifl,  1  Thcs,  5.  17.  clCor.l6,I.S  Cor.  9.1,12.  Heb.  6.  10.  &  13,  16.  IJohnS. 
 17.  /  1  Tim.  3.  8  Tit.  1.  3.  Heb.  13.  8.  I  Pet.  4.  9.  £■  Mat.  5.  44.  Luke  6.  28.  &  23. 
 34.  Acta  7.  60.  I  Cor.  4.  12.  I  Pet. 2.  23.  fc  3.  9.  hi  Cor.  12.  26.  i  ch.  15.  6.  1  Cor. 
 1.  10.  Phil.  2.  2.  ft  3,  16.  I  Pot.  3.  8  k  Ps.  131,  1,  2.  Jer,  45.  5.  ||  Or,  be  eo-itenltd 
 uiih  met.,  ihingt.  I  Prov.  3.  7.  &  26  12.  Is.  6.  21.  ch.  11.  25,  mPro.  20.  22  Rial. 
 6  89.  I  Thfa.  5  15,  1  Pet.  3.  9.  n  ch.  14.  IG.  2  Cor.  8.  21.  o  Mprk  9.  60.  cli  14.19. 
 Hob.  12.  14.    p  Lor.  19.  18.  Pro.24.  29.  Ecclua.  28.  I,  8(C.  ver.  17. 
 
 I  Afat.  6,  1, 
 2,3. 
 
 II  Or, 
 impartclh. 
 
 II  Or. 
 
 liberaily. 
 
 2  Cor,  8  2. 
 (  Acts  20.28. 
 
 I  Tim.S.lT. 
 
 Heh.  13    7, 
 
 ■-iA.  1  Pet. 
 
 5.  2- 
 
 u  2  Cor.  9.  T 
 .r  I  Tim.l..=i 
 
 1  Pet. I-  2-i 
 y  Ps    34,  14 
 
 &  36.  4.  & 
 
 97.  10. 
 
 Amos  5.  15. 
 X  Heb.  IS   I. 
 
 I  Pet   1.22. 
 
 &S.17.&3. 
 
 S.  2  Pet. 
 
 1.  7. 
 II  Or,  in  lb€ 
 
 love  of  lite 
 
 (jrethreii. 
 n  Phil.  2-  3, 
 
 1  Pet.  Ti.  5. 
 (.LukelO.20. 
 
 ch.  S.  2.  & 
 
 15.13.  Phil. 
 
 3.  I.  ft  4.  4. 
 
 lThe8.5.16. 
 
 Heb.  3,  6. 
 
 1  Pet,  4.  13 
 C  Luke21.19 
 
 I  Tim.G.n. 
 
 Heb.  10.36 
 
 fc  12.  1. 
 
 Jam.  1.4.  & 
 
 5.  7.  1  Pet. 
 
 2.  19,20. 
 dU\\tc  \»A. 
 
 Acta  g.  42. 
 &  12.  5.         I 
 Col. 
 
 Chap.  Wl.  ^\.  By  the  mercies  of  God,  6ia  tuiv  oKCTip^wi- row  Ocow, 
 •  by  the  tender  mercies'  or  '  compassions  of  God/  such  as  a  tender 
 father  shews  to  his  refraclory  children,  by  whom,  on  their  humilia- 
 tion, he  is  easily  persuaded  to  forgive  their  oflfcnces.— v4.  Clarke.  Pre- 
 sent your  bodies,  i.  e.,  bodies  and  souls.  The  body  is  here,  by  a  usual 
 figure,  put  for  the  whole  person  ;  nor  can  tlie  soul  be  now  presented 
 to  God  otherwise  tlian  as  dwelling  in  the  body. — Doddr.  A  meta- 
 phor taken  from  bringing  sacrifices  to  the  altar  of  God.  The  per- 
 son offering  picked  out  the  choicest  of  his  flock,  brought  it  to  the 
 altar,  and  presented  it  there  as  an  atonement  for  sin. — A.  Clarke.  A 
 living  sacrifice,  in  opposition  to  the  dead  ones  under  the  law.  Holy. 
 in  opposition  to  the  external,  carnal,  legal  ones.  Acceptable  tinto  God, 
 whereas  the  others  were  not  so  of  themselves,  nor  unless  joined  with 
 a  holy  life  ;  nor  are  they  now  any  longer  so  at  all,  having  been 
 abolished  by  Christ. — Ham.  The  expression  is  in  opposition  to  the 
 sacrifices  of  beasts,  {Ps.  1.  8,  &c. ;  Isa.  1.  ii  ;  Ixvi.  3.]~Mur.  Under 
 the  Old-Testament  economy,  animals  free  from  blemish  were  pre- 
 sented and  devoted  to  God;  under  the  new  dispensation,  a  nobler 
 and  more  spiritual  service  is  to  be  rendered;  not  the  oblation  of 
 animals,  but  the  consecration  of  ourselves. — Hodge.        2.  Conformed, 
 
 —  the  Greek  signifies,  '  to  take  the  colours  and  livery  of  any  one.' — 
 Mar.  To  this  world,  to  the  corrupt  and  sinful  practices  of  the  world, 
 as  the  Jews  were,  (chap,  ii..)  and  the  Gentiles,  (chap,  i.)  Prove, 
 by  trial  and  expezieuce.—Bouthroyd.,  as  Doddridge.  Transformed, 
 fiETQ^opipoifCT^e,  '  metamorphosed,  transfigured;'  appear  as  new  per- 
 sons, and  with  new  huhits.  —  A.  Clarke.  Will  of  God.  which 
 he  has  revealed  in  his  word.  —Gm/se.  All  the  preceptive  parts 
 of  Christianity.— I>orWr.  3.  Not  to^think,  ^c,  not  to  bo  elated  with 
 their  spiritual  gifts.— Boo^Ar.      4.  In  one  body,  i.  e.,  the  natural  body. 
 
 —  Whitby.  5.  So  we,  being  many,  ^c— as  in  the  natural  body  thp 
 members  are  many,  but  united  under  one  head,  so,  in  the  mystical 
 body,  the  persons  are  many,  but  all  united  in  Christ.—  Stnnliope. 
 6.  Gifts— Wic  apostle  means,  not  merely  miracnlou'*  and  extraordinary, 
 but  also  such  ordinary  spiritual  gifts  as  are  ncediul  in  all  ages  for  the 
 edification  and  advantage  of  the  church.— (ruyse.  Differing,  '  z^\t% 
 which  are  diverse.'  According  to  the  grace,  i.e.,  according  to  the 
 diversity  of  the  operations  of  the  Spirit.— Siwari.  Prophecy,  preach- 
 ing by  inspiration,  whether  in  the  way  of  prediction  or  otherwise. — 
 Wil.  The  original  and  proper  meaning  of  the  Hebrew  word  rendered 
 prophet  in  the  Old  Testament,  is,  interpreter,  one  who  explains  or  de- 
 live:s  the  will  of  another.  The  inspiration  of  the  apostles  was  abiding 
 m  the  Christian  church;  that  of  the  prophets  was  occasional  and 
 tran^ent.— //oJ/j-e.  According  to  the  proportion  of  faith,  so  far  as 
 he  has  the  gift  of  inspiration  bestowed  upon  men  in  proportion  to 
 their  faith.— Py/e,  so  I>odrfr.  According  to  the  analogy  of  faith, — 
 the  Just  and  perfect  agreement  which  subsists  between  all  the  doc 
 trines  of  religion.— .J/ur.  /.  Or  jninistrv,  ^c,  iiaKovia,  simply  means 
 the  office  of  a  deacon,  {see  Acts.  vi.  4.)  'Teacheth—the  teacher,  fuMa^ 
 KoXor,  was  a  person  whose  office  it  was  to  instruct  others,  whether 
 by  catechising  or  simply  explaining  the  grand  truths  of  Christianity. 
 8.  Exhortelh,  6  -napaKaXiov,  who  admonished  and  reprehended  ;  or. 
 supported  and  comforted.-^.  Clarke.     This,  I  think,  was  the  ofiice  of 
 
 1-202 
 
 bishop  or  pastor. — Boothr.  Gineth,  distributeth  thealmsof  thechurch. 
 With  simplicity,  being  influenced  by  no  partiality.  Ruleth,  6  irpot- 
 (TTaficvoi,  presides  over  a  particular  business. — Clarke,  as  Guyse.  It 
 may  here  probably  mean  receiving  and  providing  for  strangers,  par- 
 ticularly the  persecuted. — Clarke.  Sheweth  mercy,  ii  set  apart  to  take 
 care  of  the  sick,  widows,  orphans,  &c. — Whitby,  Wells.  The  apostle 
 seems  here  to  have  inculcated  a  general  improvement  of  every  man's 
 talents  for  the  common  benefit  of  the  church,  whatever  his  gifts  and 
 place  were. — Scott.  Q.  Without  dissimu/aiiim,  make  no  empty  pro- 
 fessions. Abhor  that  which  is  evil,  '  hate  !>in,  as  you  would  hate  that 
 hell  to  which  it  leads.'  [The  word  a-rtoajvyoKVTe^,  formed  from  a^vyelD, 
 which  signifies  'to  hate,'  or  *  detest  with  horror;'  the  preposition  in 
 the  word,  ano,  greatly  strengthening  the  meaning.]  Cleai'e,  koWio- 
 Htvoi,  be  cemented,  or  glued  to.  Have  an  unalterable  attachment  to. 
 — Clarke.  10.  Kindly  affectioned,  (pi\oaropyo^\  signifies  a  Strong  affec- 
 tion, like  that  of  parent  animals  for  their  offspring,  and  delight  in  it. — 
 Doddr.  In  honour,  §c.,  '  being  ready  to  think  better  of  others  than  of 
 yourselves.' — Wells.  They  should  go  before  each  other  in  giving 
 honour  and  shewing  respect,  as  the  word  7ipor]-iovfj.evoi  signifies, 
 should  set  each  other  an  example.— GiY^.  11.  Not  slothful  in  busi- 
 
 ness— the  word  rendered  '  business,'  properly  means  '  haste,  zeal,  acti- 
 vity.' The  exhortation  refers  to  religious  activity.— fforf^e,  snBloornf. 
 It  refers  solely  here  to  spiritual  business,  the  affairs  of  piety  and  reli- 
 gion.—Gi7/.  In  spirit,  in  mind.— Horfg-e.  12.  Continuing  instant 
 in  prayer,  'assiduously  persevering  in  prayer.'— U/oo/n/.  The  ori- 
 ginal, TrpoffKapTepoi/vTer,  is  expressive  of  perseverance  and  ardour. 
 —Hodge.  13.  To  hospitality,  as  there  were  no  public  inns,  and  perse- 
 cuted and  banished  Christians  might  need  it.— Black  wall.  14.  Bless, 
 ^c.,  tvXoytiTi,  'give  good  words,'  or  'pray'  for  them  that  give  you 
 bad  words,  KajapaaOi^,  'who  make  due  imprecations  against  you.' 
 — Clarke.  Bless — the  repetition  gives  force. — Mackn.  15.  Weep, 
 ffc.,  labour  after  a  compassionate  or  sympathizing  mind.  l6.  Same 
 mind,  live  in  harmony  and  concord.  Mind  not  high  things,  '  be 
 not  ambitious.'  Condescend,  fyc,  'be  a  companion  of  the  humble.* 
 The  term,  auvaTrayofxevoi,  which  wc  translate  condescend,  from  cw, 
 '  together,*  and  airafiiy,  '  to  lead,'  signifies  *  to  he  led,  dragged,  or  car- 
 ried  away  to  prison  with  another,'  and  points  out  the  state  in  which 
 the  primitive  Christians  were,  despised  and  rejected  of  men,  aud  often 
 led  forth  to  prison  and  death.— H.  Clarke.  What  is  here  tran=ilatcd 
 '  to  men  of  low  estate,*  may  as  well  signify  '  to  low,  or  mean  things,' 
 Toic  TaTTcivotp.  'Do  not  be  ashamed  to  stoop  to  any  proper  office  of 
 brotherly  love  and  kindness  to  the  poorest  and  most  despicable  saints 
 upon  earth.' — Guyse.  In  your  own  conceits, -nap  tLu-Toi^,  'by  your- 
 selves.'  Do  not  suppose  that  wisdom  and  discernment  dwell  alone 
 with  yoa.— Clarke.  17.  Recompense,  ^c,  'never  practise  revenge 
 upon  those  whom  you  think  to  have  injured  you.'— Ham.  Provide, 
 Sfc. — some  think  this  means  '  conciliate  the  favour  and  good-will  of 
 men.'— So  Koppe,  Hodge,  Stuart.  The  translators  are  supported  by 
 A.  Clarke  and  Bloomf.  18.  //  it  be  possible,  ^c,  '  some  men  may 
 not  live  peaceably  with  us,  but  we  must  not  be  the  aggressors.'— Sp. 
 Home.  19.  Give  place  unto  wrath,  '  leave  the  injury  done  you  to  the 
 wrath  of  God.' ~L' Enfant,  Balguy,  Boothr.,  &c.     '  Give  place*  rather 
 
Subjection  due  to  maffisirates. 
 
 ROMANS,  XIII. 
 
 Love  is  the  fidfilling  of  the  law. 
 
 but  rather  give  place  unto  wrath  :  for  it  is 
 written,  '•  Vengeance  is  mine  ;  I  will  repay, 
 saith  the  Lord. 
 
 20  '  Therefore  if  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed 
 him  ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink  :  for  in  so 
 doing  thou  shall  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his  head. 
 
 21  Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome 
 evil  with  good. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 i    Suhjection,  and  many  other  duties,  we  owe  to  the  ma- 
 gistrates.      8   Love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law.     1 1 
 Gluttony  and  drunkenness,  and  the  works  of  dark- 
 ness, are  out  of  season  in  the  time  of  the  gospel. 
 
 T  ET  every  soul  **  be  subject  unto  the  bigher 
 ^  powers.  For  ^  there  is  no  power  but  of 
 God  :  the  powers  that  be  are  ||  ordained  of  God. 
 
 2  Whosoever  therefore  resisteth  '^  the  power, 
 resisteth  the  ordinance  of  God  :  and  they  that 
 resist  siiall  receive  to  themselves  damnation. 
 
 3  For  rulers  are  not  a  terror  to  good  works, 
 but  to  the  evil.  Wilt  thou  then  not  be  afraid 
 of  the  power  ?  "^  do  that  which  is  good,  and 
 thou  shalt  have  praise  of  the  same  : 
 
 4  For  he  is  the  minister  of  God  to  thee  for 
 good.  But  if  thou  do  that  which  is  evil,  be 
 afraid  ;  for  he  beareth  not  the  sword  in  vain  : 
 for  he  is  the  minister  of  God,  a  revenger  to 
 execute  wrath  upon  him  that  doeth  evil. 
 
 5  Wherefore  ^ ye  must  needs  be  subject,  not 
 only  for  wrath,  ^  but  also  for  conscience  sake. 
 
 6  For  for  this  cause  pay  ye  tribute  also  :  for 
 
 7  Deal.  3?. 
 35.  Hob.  10. 
 30. 
 
 Pro.  25.  21, 
 22.  Mat.  5. 
 
 n  Tit    H.  1. 
 
 I    Vni.-l.  13. 
 b  rro.  H.  I.-). 
 
 \C),  Dan.  '>. 
 
 \Vi.H,i. 
 
 Join 
 
 .  n. 
 I'J.ll. 
 
 e  Eccles.  8. 
 f\  Pft.'.M9. 
 
 h  ver.  10. 
 
 Gal.  5.  14. 
 
 Col.  3.  H. 
 
 1  Tim.  1.5. 
 
 Jam.  9.  8. 
 i  Ex.  20.  13, 
 
 &c.  Deii.  5- 
 
 I7,*L.-  Mat. 
 
 19.  LS. 
 *  Le(-.19.I9. 
 
 Mat.  22.  :1ft. 
 
 Markl2..-ll. 
 
 Gal.  5.  U. 
 
 Jam,  2.  8. 
 ;  Mat  22,40. 
 
 vei.  8. 
 -/.  1  Cor.  15 
 
 HI.   E|ili    fi. 
 
 Ik   I   Tlip«. 
 
 5.  ft,  6. 
 •i  Eph.  5.  n. 
 
 Col.  3.  8. 
 o  Eph.  6.  13. 
 
 I  Thes.a  8. 
 p  Phil.  4.  8. 
 
 IThd9.4.l-2. 
 
 I  Pet.  2.12. 
 II  Or,  i/fl- 
 
 q  Pro.  23. 
 
 20.Luke2I. 
 
 3+.  I  Pet.4, 
 
 3. 
 r  I  Cor.  6.9. 
 
 Eph.  5.  5. 
 «  Jaro.3.  i'l. 
 (  Gal.  3.  27. 
 
 Eph.  A.  24. 
 
 Col.  3.  10. 
 It  Gal.  b.   IG. 
 
 I  Put. 2.  II. 
 
 they  are  God's  ministers,  attending  continually 
 upon  this  very  thing. 
 
 7  *'' Render  therefore  to  all  their  dues:  tribute 
 to  whom  tribute  is  due ;  custom  to  whom 
 custom  ;  fear  to  whom  fear;  honour  to  whom 
 honour. 
 
 8  Owe  no  man  any  thing,  but  to  love  one 
 another  :  for  ''  he  that  loveth  another  hath  ful- 
 filled the  law. 
 
 9  For  this, '  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery, 
 Thou  shalt  not  kill,  Thou  shalt  not  steal,  Thou 
 shalt  not  bear  false  witness.  Thou  shalt  not 
 covet ;  and  if  there  be  any  other  command- 
 ment, it  is  briefly  comprehended  in  this  say- 
 ing, namely,  ''  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour 
 as  thyself. 
 
 10  Love  worketh  no  ill  to  his  neighbour: 
 therefore  '  love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law. 
 
 11  And  that,  knowing  the  time,  that  now  it 
 is  high  time  *"  to  awake  out  of  sleep  :  for  now 
 is  our  salvation  nearer  than  when  we  believed. 
 
 12  The  night  is  far  spent,  the  day  is  at  hand  : 
 "  let  us  therefore  cast  oif  the  works  of  darkness, 
 and  "^let  us  put  on  the  armour  of  light. 
 
 13  P  Let  us  walk  {{  honestly,  as  in  the  day  ; 
 ^  not  in  rioting  and  drunkenness, '  not  in  cham- 
 bering and  wantonness,  ^not  in  strife  and  en- 
 vying. 
 
 14  But  *put  ye  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 and  "  make  not  provision  for  the  flesh,  to  fu(fi I 
 the  lusts  thereof 
 
 signifies  to  yield  without  opposing. — Doddr.  Vengeance, '  retribution.' 
 — Stuart.  20.  Heap  cauls,  fyc. — see  Prov.  xxv.  22.  By  such  means 
 the  enemy  shall  be  melted  down,  as  the  fire  melts  metats.  liy  such 
 means  the  Almighty  will  be  engaged  to  take  the  sufferer's  part. — 
 Whitt/y. 
 
 Chap.  XIII.  —  I.  Every  soul,  an  emphatic  expression  for  'everyone' 
 — Hodge,  Be  subject,  ^c. — the  primitive  saints  were  subject  to  sus- 
 picions as  seditious  persons,  perhaps  arising  from  many  of  them  being 
 Jews,  who  scrupled  subjection  to  heathen  magistrates. — Gill.  Higher 
 j)Owers,  €^ovatati,  '  the  superior  civil  authorities.'— Z^orfrfr,  'Civil  ma- 
 gistrates,'  (see  Tit.  iii.  l .)  The  Jews  called  magistrates  '  powers.'  Ky 
 not  speaking  of  persons,  but  *  powers,'  the  apostle  has  respect  to  the 
 office  itself. — Gill.  Ordained,  rerayt^ievai, '  disposed,'  and  '  established.' 
 — Doddr.  2.  The  ordinance,  'the  will  and  appointments.' — Gill. 
 
 Damnation,  judgment  of  the  magistrate  or  God. — Whitby.  3.  Not 
 n  terror,  ^c,  '  such  is  not  the  design  for  which  they  are  appointed.* — 
 Wil.  4.  The  sword,  an  emblem  of  life  and  death  ;  the  civil  magis- 
 trate is  invested  with,  and  includes,  all  sorts  of  punishment  he  has  a 
 right  to  inflict. — Gill.  Many  infer  from  this  passage  the  right  of  in- 
 flicting capital  punishment. — Hodge.  5.  Not  only  for  wrath,  i.  e., 
 we  should  do  our  duty,  not  merely  to  shun  the  evils  of  a  difllerent 
 course,  but  from  a  conscientious  regard  to  the  otiligation  under  which 
 we  are. —  Stuart.  7.  Tribute — custom — these  include  all  sorts  of 
 levies,  taxes,  subsidies,  &c.  The  former  may  design  what  is  laid  on 
 men's  persons  and  estates,  as  poll-money,  land-tax,  Kc. ;  and  the 
 
 latter,  what  arises  from  the  exportation  and  importation  of  goods  to 
 and  from  foreign  parts. — Gill.  Fear,  <}io/3ov,  i.  e.,  reverence. — Doddr., 
 Gill.  8.  But  to  love  one  another — this  is  the  only  debt  never  to  be 
 wholly  dis,charged  ;  for,  though  it  sliuiild  be  always  paying,  yet  ought 
 always  to  be  looked  upon  as  owing.— Gi7/,,  as  Bp.  Hall,  Hen.,  Guyse, 
 Bcc.  ;  no  Hudge.  Scott  asks  why  we  should  be  allowed  to  come  short 
 here,  and  prefers  rendering  the  words,  '  ye  do  owe,'  See,  as  suggested 
 by  ErasmuSf   Comm.  in  loc.  Q.  Thou  shalt  not  commit,  c^-c— the 
 
 principal  duties  of  the  second  table  of  the  law  are  specified  in  the  fol- 
 lowing negative  precepts. — Guyse.  11.  And  that,  nat  tovto,  '  antl 
 this,'  that  is,  '  do  this' — viz.,  all  of  which  he  had  been  exhorting  them 
 to  do.  Knowing  the  time,  etiorer  rov  Kaipov,  'considering  the  time,' 
 i.e.,  since,  or  because,  ye  know  the  time,  the  gospel  time,  alreaiiy 
 come. — Stuart.  Salvation  nearer,  i.  e.,  the  completion  of  it. — Doddr,, 
 R.  Cox.  13.  Honestly,  two-xnM<'i'">?.  *  decently  and  becomingly.' — 
 He7t.  As  in  the  day,  '  as  men  that  walk  in  the  public  and  open  view 
 of  others  in  the  day-time.' — Bp.  Hall.  Rioting,  '  revelling.'— it/acA-n. 
 14.  Put  ye  on,  ^c,  cvivuaa-Oe,  i.  e.,  '  imitate  him,'  in  the  usual  sense 
 of  the  Greek. — Stuart.  A  metaphor  probably  from  the  theatre,  where 
 the  actors  assumed  the  name  and  attire  of  the  person  they  represented. 
 — Pict.  Bib.  The  sons  of  Constantine  'put  on'  their  father. — Euse. 
 bius.  '  To  put  on  such  an  one,'  a  phrase  in  common  use. — Chrys,  A 
 strong  expression  for  endeavouring  to  be  clothed  with  all  the  virtues 
 and  graces  which  composed  Christ's  character.— />orf^/r. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XII.  —  We  here  learn,  L  That 
 ChristiuTi  privilege  should  be  connected  with  Christia?i  practice. 
 We  have,  in  religion,  something  to  do  as  well  as  soraetbing  to 
 believe.  Religion  without  practice  is  but  like  a  statue  with- 
 out life;  there  is  the  form,  but  no  activity.  '  Faitb,  without 
 works,  is  dead.'  The  mercies  of  God  bestowed  upou  us  should 
 be  the  most  powerful  incentives  to  serve  the  cause  of  God, 
 the  church  of  God,  and  our  fellow-creatures  at  large.  We 
 see — 
 
 II.  In  what  manner  that  practice  should  manifest  itself.  God 
 should  have  the  first  and  best  of  our  services  ;  we  should  con- 
 sider our  bodies  and  souls  as  belonging  to  bim.  We  should 
 not  'henceforth  live  unto  ourselves,  but  unto  him  who  died 
 for  us  and  rose  again.'  Every  day  we  should  renew  the  pre- 
 sentation of  our  bodies  and  souls  as  offerings  to  God.  We 
 should  avoid  the  manners,  the  customs,  tbe  habits,  the  maxims, 
 the  motives,  tbe  spirit,  tbe  ends,  the  main  pursuits  of  this 
 world.  We  should  perform  every  duty  devolving  upon  us  in 
 our  church  connexion  as  Christians,  in  tbe  fear  and  to  the  glory 
 of  God  ;  and  in  our  deportment  towards  tbe  world,  by  the  dis- 
 play of  our  prudence,  our  meekness,  and  every  Christian  ex- 
 cellency, we  should  aim  to  *  walk  worthy  of  tbe  vocation 
 wberewiti)  we  are  called.' 
 
 REFLtCTinNs  ON  CuAP.  XIII.  — We  have  here  set  before 
 1203 
 
 us — I.  The  duty  of  subjects.  They  are  to  submit  to  the  higher 
 powers.  Without  magistracy  all  would  be  ruin  and  anarchy 
 around  us.  Earth  would  be  a  moral  chaos  ;  and  such  a  magis- 
 tracy as  we  possess,  limited  and  responsible — for  even  the  king 
 is  responsible  in  the  persons  of  bis  ministers — such  a  magis- 
 tracy especially  claims  obedience  and  reverence.  There  are 
 anomalies  in  our  laws,  which  the  legislature  is  constantly  cor- 
 recting, as  circumstances  may  require,  but  we  have  little  rea- 
 son to  complain  of  the  mode  of  tbeir  execution  ;  as  Britons, 
 therefore,  tbe  appeal  comes  forcibly  to  us,  '  let  every  soul  be 
 subject  to  the  higher  powers.'  But,  as  Christians,  tbe  appeal 
 is  yet  stronger.  We  are  to  study  peace  with  all  men:  not  that 
 we  are  to  be  willing  to  sacrifice  our  political  rights  ;  tbe 
 apostle  Paul  did  not  so;  but  far  from  us  be  the  spirit  of  fac- 
 tion. Especially  let  us,  as  Christians,  remember  our  obliga- 
 tions to  obey  tbe  laws  of  tbe  King  of  kings,  walking  worthy 
 of  tbe  vocation  wherewith  we  profess  to  be  called  ;  and  to  do 
 this  we  have  the  most  perfect  example,  which  it  should  be 
 our  pride  and  glory  to  imitate, — we  should  *  put  on  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ.'     We  have  here  set  before  us — 
 
 II.  The  duty  of  magistrates.  They  are  to  be  a  terror  to  the 
 evil  only.  When  they  stretch  their  prerogative  beyond  this 
 for  party  purposes,  and  give  vent  to  a  persecuting  spirit  under 
 pretext  of  law — which  has  been  tbe  case  in  our  own  country 
 
T>ni/s'  rinr!  meats  inillJTercnt. 
 
 ROMANS,  XIV, 
 
 To  avoid  t/ivinf!  offence. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 3  Men  may  not  contemn  nor  condtmn  one  the  other  fur 
 things  indifftrcnt;  IZ  tint  take  heed  titat  tlicy  give  no 
 offence  in  ttvL-m:  15  for  that  the  apost/e  pTOvctk  un- 
 lawful by  many  reasons. 
 
 TTIM  tliat  "is  weak  in  the  faitli  receive  ye, 
 -•--*-  but  Ij  not  to  doubtful  disputations. 
 •2    For  one   believetli    tliat  lie  ^  may  eat  all 
 things  :  another,  who  is  weak,  eateth  herbs. 
 
 3  Let  not  him  that  eateth  despise  him  that 
 eateth  not ;  and  '  let  not  him  whicli  eateth  not 
 judge  him  that  eateth  :  for  God  hath  received 
 him. 
 
 4  ■*  Who  art  thou  that  judgest  another  man's 
 servant?  to  his  own  master  he  standeth  or  fall- 
 eth.  Yea,  he  .shall  be  holden  up  :  for  God  is 
 able  to  make  him  stand. 
 
 5  '  One  man  esteemeth  one  day  above  an- 
 other :  another  esteemeth  every  day  alike. 
 Let  every  man  be  ||  fully  persuaded  in  his  own 
 mind. 
 
 6  He  that  '  ||  regardeth  the  day,  regardeth  it 
 nnto  the  Lord  ;  and  he  that  regardeth  not  the 
 day,  to  the  Lord  he  doth  not  regard  it.  He 
 that  eateth,  eateth  to  the  Lord,  for  'he  giveth 
 God  thanks ;  and  he  that  eateth  not,  to  the 
 Lord  he  eateth  not,  and  giveth  God  thanks. 
 
 7  For  >■  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself,  and  no 
 man  dieth  to  himself. 
 
 8  For  whether  we  live,  we  live  unto  the 
 Lord  ;  and  whether  we  die,  we  die  unto  the 
 Lord  :  whether  we  live  therefore,  or  die,  we 
 are  the  Lord's. 
 
 9  For  '  to  this  end  Christ  both  died,  and  rose, 
 and  revived,  that  he  might  be  '  Lord  both  of 
 tlie  dead  and  living. 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 
 A.  D.  611. 
 
 /Mat.2S.SI, 
 
 32  Acts  in. 
 
 43.  &i;  SI. 
 
 2Ci.r.  b.\\\ 
 
 Jnde  U.l.'i 
 
 m  Is  45.  23 
 
 Phil.  8.  10. 
 
 ich,  15.  l.T 
 
 I  C'ir.  8    P. 
 
 1 1    &  f .  23. 
 
 n  Mat  I2.S6. 
 
 11  Or.  „ot  It) 
 
 Ga).  6.  5 
 
 yidge  hi.ii 
 
 I  Pet.  +  0 
 
 <tu<ihlf.,l 
 
 tti.oiahU. 
 
 b  ver.  It. 
 
 0  1  Cor.  fl.  (t. 
 
 I  Cnr.10  25. 
 
 i:}.  &  IU.3'2. 
 
 1  Tiin.  A:  4 . 
 
 Tit    1     15. 
 
 C  Col.  2.  16. 
 
 dJiim.  4.  IS. 
 
 P  Acts  10.15. 
 
 v«r  2,  20. 
 
 lCn,-.10  25. 
 
 t  Tim,  *.  4. 
 
 Tit.  1     15. 
 
 t  Gr. 
 
 *■  Gal.  4.  10. 
 
 q  1  Cor.  8.  7, 
 10, 
 t  Gr. 
 
 fol.  2.  10. 
 
 \\  Or. /„Usf 
 
 Cimmon. 
 f  Gr.  nc 
 
 a  Wired. 
 
 cardiiiff  to 
 
 charitif. 
 
 /•Gal.  *.  M. 
 
 rlCor:8.M. 
 ach    12.  17 
 
 11  ''•'■> 
 ahuTveth. 
 
 /  1  Cor.  8.  8. 
 
 !?lCnr  10.31. 
 
 1  Tim.  4.  a. 
 
 t<2Cor.8.21. 
 
 X  Ps.  3.1.  U. 
 
 cl>.  Vi.  lb. 
 
 h  1  Cor.6.I9, 
 
 ?il.  Cal.  2. 
 
 ■JO.  1  T!)<>s 
 
 »  eh.  15.2. 
 
 :>.  10. 1  Pet 
 
 lCorU.12. 
 
 4   2. 
 
 lTlies5.ll. 
 
 :  ver.  15. 
 
 a  Mat.15.ll. 
 
 Acts  10.15. 
 
 ver.  14. 
 
 Tit.  I.  15. 
 
 »3  Cor.  5.15. 
 
 6  1  Cor.  8  9, 
 
 10,  11,  12. 
 
 k  Acts  lO-SG. 
 
 c  i  Cor.8.13. 
 
 10  Hut  why  dost  thou  judge  tliy  brother?  or 
 why  dost  thou  set  at  nought  thy  brother?  for 
 'we  shall  all  stand  before  the  judgment  seat 
 of  Christ. 
 
 it  For  it  is  written,  "^  As  \  live,  saith  the 
 Lord,  every  knee  sliall  bow  to  tne,  and  every 
 tongue  shall  confess  to  God. 
 
 12  So  then  "every  one  of  us  shall  give  ac- 
 count of  himself  to  God. 
 
 13  Let  us  not  therefore  judge  one  another 
 any  mure  :  Iiut  judge  this  rather,  that  ''no  man 
 put  a  stuniblingblock  or  an  occasion  to  fall  in 
 his  brotlier's  way. 
 
 14  I  know,  and  am  persuaded  by  the  Lord 
 Jesus,  ''tiiat  there  is  nothing  f  unclean  of 
 itself:  but  ''to  him  that  esteemeth  any  tiling 
 to  be  t  unclean,  to  him  it  is  unclean. 
 
 15  But  if  tliy  brother  be  grieved  with  f/ii/ 
 meat,  now  walkest  thou  not  f  ciuiritahly.  ■"  De- 
 stroy not  him  with  tliy  meat,  tor  wliom  Christ 
 died. 
 
 16  "  Let  not  then  your  good  be  evil  spoken  of: 
 
 17  '  For  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  meat  and 
 drink;  but  righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy 
 in  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 IS  For  he  that  in  these  things  serveth  Christ 
 ^  is  acceptable  to  God,  and  approved  of  men. 
 
 19  "^  Let  us  therefore  follow  after  the  things 
 which  make  for  peace,  and  things  wherewilli 
 '^  one  may  edify  another. 
 
 20  '  For  meat  destroy  not  the  work  of  God. 
 *  All  things  indeed  are  pure;  "^but  it  75  evil 
 for  that  man  who  eateth  with  offence. 
 
 '21  It  is  good  neither  to  eat  '^  flesh,  nor  to 
 drink  wine,  nor  ani/  thinr/  whereby  thy  brother 
 stumbleth,  or  is  offended,  or  is  made  weak. 
 
 22  Hast  thou  faith?  have  it  to  thyself  before 
 
 Chap.  XIV.  — 1.  Him,  i5'c.— the  exhortation  here  arose  from  the  pre- 
 judices of  the  Jews  in  favour  of  tlie  Mosaical  law,  and  of  certain  days, 
 from  which  the  Gentile  converts  considered  themselves  as  free;  and 
 it  is  desig:ned  to  promote  mutual  forbearance.— Pi//e.  liurkttt,  Whitbv, 
 Welts.  Weak,  §c,  not  fully  persuaded  of  hisChiistian  liberty  in  things 
 indifferent. —  Wells.  Not  to  doubtful  dispntntions.  i.  e.,  '  bewilder  hira 
 not  in  the  discussion  of  abstruse  and  subtie  controversies.' — Valpr/. 
 Not  to  the  judging  of  his  opinions.  Do  not  act  the  part  of  a  judge 
 over  hiTa.—llodgc.  2.  Eateth  herbs— some  Jews  (the  Essenes)  ate 
 no  flesh,  lest  that  which  they  might  bn\-  might  have  been  offered  to 
 idols,  or  have  contracted  some  ceremonial  pollution. — W/iitb;/,  Doddr. 
 3.  Despise,  c^ovOevcirw,  '  set  at  nou[;lit,  despise,  and  account  as  super- 
 stitious.'— Bloomf.  4.  Who  art  thou  ?  §-c.,  '  since  God  has  received 
 him,  who  art  thou,  a  poor,  sinful,  ignorant,  and  fallible  mortal,  that 
 you  should  assume  to  yourself  an  authority  of  sitting  in  judgment 
 upon  his  conscience  ?' — Gui/se.  Another  lyiati's  sertmitt,  *tlic  servant 
 of  another.'  Such  an  one  as  is  favourably  accepted  of  God,  and  is  his 
 servant  and  not  yours.— S/H!irr.  Standeth  or/ullefh,  by  Christ  he  is 
 to  be  acquitted  or  condemned.  Yea,  ^-c,  '  if  he  oft'cnds  in  no  greater 
 points  he  shall  be  upheld  in  his  Christian  profession,  and  established 
 to  eternal  salvation.' — Dnddr.  5.  One  day  abore  another — many  be- 
 lieving Jews  still  observed  the  fi-asts  established  among  them.  An- 
 other estei'meth  every  day,  louked  upon  feast-days  as  abrogated  by 
 Christ. — Bnrkitt.  Up  fully  persuaded,  'act  witli  fulness  of  persuasion 
 that  he  d  cs  that  which  is  lawful.*— TJ'/itVAv.  6.  Unto  the  Lord, 
 
 '  since  he  looks  upon  himself  as  still  commanded  by  the  Lord  to  do  it.' 
 To  the  Lord  he  doth  not  regard  it,  inasmuch  as  he  looks  upon  him- 
 self as  released  by  the  gospel.— TTW/s.  Giveth  God  thanks,  the  former 
 for  his  liberty  ;  the  latter  for  his  hevhs.— Whitby.  7.  For  none  of  us 
 liveth,  ^c— in  eating  or  not  eating,  every  Christian  aims  to  honour 
 God,  because  all  stand  pledged  to  be  entirely  devoted  to  his  honour 
 and  glory.  8.  Whether  we  live,  SfC.,  i.  e..  '  whether  in  a  state  of  life 
 or  death,  we  belong  to  the  Lord,  we  are  bound  to  gloiify  him.'~5^K«^^ 
 9.  Both  of  the  dead,  §-c..  '  he  must  be  the  Lord  of  the  dead,  so  as  to  be 
 able  to  bring  them  to  life  again.'— irAiMy.  'Our  Lord  both  in  lite 
 and  death.'— TFii.  10.  But  why,  §■<:.,  "i.e.,  'such  a  brother  is  not 
 
 amenable  to  you  in  a  matter  of  this  nature ;  Christ  is  his  judge,  who 
 is  the  Supreme  Judge  of  all.'—Stuart.  11.  For  it  is  unittett,  ^c— 
 see  Isa.  xlv.  23,   notes.  13.  Or  an  occasion  to  fall,  by  using  your 
 
 liberty  respecting  meats  and  days,  so  as  to  lead  your  brother  to  follow 
 
 your  example  contrary  to  his  conscience. — Mackn.  14.  By  the  Lord 
 .Tlsus,  '  by  the  faith  o(  the  Lord  Jesus.' — Whitby.  'By  revelation  from 
 the  Lord  Jesus.'— iV«c/fn.  Unclean  of  itself.  God  made  all  things 
 good.  But  to  him  that  esteemeth,  ^c,  'surely  that  creature  is  un- 
 clean to  him,  because  his  conscience  rises  up  against  the  use  thereof.' 
 — Bp.  Hull.  15.  Be  /jriered  ivith  thy  meat,  and  so  driven  off  from 
 the  profession  of  Christianity. — Ham.  Not  charitably,  kuth  aiairt\v, 
 'according  to  love,'  for  'love  worketh  no  ill  to  his  neighbour.'— 
 A.  Clarke.  Destroy  not,  '  destroy  not  his  soul ;'  hence  a  soul  may  be 
 destroyed  for  whom  Christ  died,  says  Whitby,  so  A.  Clarke.  '  Beware 
 lest  he  fall  and  come  into  condemnation.'- S/Kur(.  But  it  is  more 
 probably  under^tnod  correctly  by  many  to  mean,  'destroy  not  his 
 peace.'  The  words  used  both  here  and  in  ver.  20,  imply,  literally,  de- 
 struction by  iDOsening  the  materials  of  which  a  building  Sec.  may  be 
 composed,  and  seem  to  imply  the  loosening  or  disturbing  of  a  person's 
 faith  and  principles,  and  peace  of  mind ;  for  it  does  not  appear  how 
 our  uncharitable  conduct  can  destroy  the  soul  of  a  fellow-Christian; 
 the  greater  danger  is  to  (lurselves,  (comp.  ver.  21  ;  also,  I  Cor.  viii.  11. \ 
 — Wil.  The  destruction  here  spoken  of  seems  rather,  from  the  con- 
 text, to  relate  to  the  destroying  of  a  brother's  peace  than  of  liis  soul. — 
 Guyse,  so  GUI.  Boothroyd  reads,  '  Destroy  not  by  thy  food  the  peace 
 o/him  for  whom  Christ  died.'— F'/?«.  Bib.  in  loc.  16.  Let  not  your 
 
 pood,  Sfc,  i.  e.,  your  liberty,  which  is  in  itself  good,  be  slandered  for 
 being  the  occasion  of  so  much  mischief. — Dnddr.,  as  Gayse.  17.  The 
 kingdom  of  God.  his  reign  within,  his  moral  dominion  over,  the  hearts 
 of  men. — Stuart.  Not  meat  and  drink,  does  not  consist  in  such  carnal 
 and  e.\ternal  things  as  using  and  refusms  differenc  sorts  of  meats  and 
 drinks,  as  was  the  case  under  the  law,  but  is  a  much  more  excellent, 
 pure,  and  spiritual  cimstitution. — Guyse,  so  Ham.  IS.  That  in  these 
 things  serceth  Christ,  with  a  due  regard  to  the  substantials  of  religion. 
 Approved  of  meri,  as  a  sincere  Christian. — Guyse.  Meu  will  speak  well 
 ol  such  a  conduct. — Sluart.  20.  Destroy  not  thf  work  of  Gitd,  faitli 
 
 and  its  consequences  in  renewing  and  sanctifying  the  soul. — lieiche, 
 Theodoret,  Bloomf.  The  work  of  peace  and  edification. — GUI,  as 
 Guyse,  so  Boothr.  '  Cause  not  thy  weak  brother  to  sin  and  to  fall  into 
 condemnation.' — Stuart,  so  Wells,  and  Pyle.  '  Destroy  not  theChris- 
 tian  converts.* — Whitby.  With  offence,  so  as  to  offend  and  endanger 
 others. — Burkitf.  Pure,  rather,  'clean,'  the  known  distinction  be- 
 tween meats  among  the  Jews. —  Wells.  With  offence,  that  is,  so  as  to 
 offend  and  endanger  others. — Burkitt.  22.  Hast  thou  faith  P  have 
 
 in  times  now  happily  gone  by— then  they  net  in  a  way  unwor- 
 thy of  their  office,  and  for  which  they  must  give  a  solemn  ac- 
 count to  God.  They  are  not  to  bear  *  the  sword  in  vain.' 
 Ihey  are  to  administer  strict  and  impartial  justice  to  all  the 
 gvnlty,  without  respect  of  peisons,  as  God  sliall  iudL-e  llu  m. 
 1204   . 
 
 Considering  their  important  office,  and  how  much  depends 
 upon  the  right  execution  of  it,  those  who  hold  the  magisterial 
 authority  claim  a  constant  interest  in  our  prayers,  that  God 
 would  endow  them  'with  grace,  wisdom,  and  understanding.' 
 
I'liiljcarunce  rccoinincnded. 
 
 ROMANS,  XXV. 
 
 Puul  cxcuscili  !iis  writing. 
 
 God.     ^  Happy  is  he    that   condemneth   not 
 himself  in  that  thing  which  he  alloweth. 
 
 ■23  And  he  that  ||  doubteth  is  damned  if  he 
 t'at,  because  he  eatcth  not  of  faith  :  for '  what- 
 soever is  not  of  faitli  is  sin. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 I  TIte  strong  must  bear  with  the  weak.  2  JFe  may  not 
 please  ourselces,  3  for  Christ  did  not  so,  7  but  receive 
 one  the  other,  as  Christ  did  us  all,  8  both  Jeios  9  and 
 Gentiles.      15   Paul  eicuseth   his    icritirtp,    28  and 
 
 promistth  to  see  them,  ^0  and  reqnesteth  thtir  prai/crs. 
 
 "\17"E  °  then  that  are  strong  ought  to  bear  the 
 '  '     ^infirmities  of  the  weak,  and  not  to  please 
 ourselves. 
 
 2  'I,et  every  one  of  us  please  his  neighbour 
 for  his  good  '^  to  edilication. 
 
 3  ^  For  even  Christ  pleased  not  himself ;  but, 
 as  it  is  written,  *"The  reproaches  of  them  that 
 reproached  thee  fell  on  me. 
 
 4  For  ^  whatsoever  things  were  written  afore- 
 time were  written  for  our  learning,  that  we 
 tlirougli  patience  and  comfort  of  the  scriptures 
 might  have  hope. 
 
 o  ''Now  the  God  of  patience  and  consolation 
 grant  you  to  be  likeminded  one  toward  another 
 
 II  according  to  Christ  Jesus  : 
 
 6  That  ye  may  '  with  one  mind  and  one 
 moutli  glorify  God,  even  the  Father  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 7  Wherefore  ''  receive  ye  one  another,  '  as 
 Christ  also  received  us  to  the  glory  of  God. 
 
 8  Now  1  say  that  "^  Jesus  Clirist  was  a  minis- 
 ter of  the  circumcision  for  the  truth  of  God, 
 °  to  confirm  the  promises  made  unto  the 
 fathers ; 
 
 9  And  "  tliat  the  Gentiles  might  glorify  God 
 
 d  IJohnSSl. 
 
 II  Or,  du- 
 C^rrxHh  and 
 pxitteth  a 
 
 d'^'erfuce 
 
 a  Gal.  6.  1 
 b  cb.  J4.  I. 
 
 0  I  Cor.9.19, 
 
 33.  &   1-1.5. 
 
 Phil.-i.+,  5. 
 d  ch.  U.  I!i. 
 e  Mat  -iit  -Sd. 
 
 John  5.  3U. 
 
 &  0.  38, 
 /Ps,  69.  9. 
 y  ch.  4.  93, 
 
 24.  I  Cor.9. 
 
 ,  10. 
 
 10. 
 
 II.  S  Tim. 
 3.  16,  17. 
 
 \[Ot,aflfr  the 
 exam  file  of. 
 i  Acts  4.  S4, 
 
 Ach.  14'.  1,S. 
 I  ch.  5  a. 
 
 m  Mat. 15.21, 
 
 John  1.  II. 
 
 AoieS.  2r». 
 
 26    &  13.46 
 n  cli.  3.  3. 
 
 2  Cor.  1.20. 
 
 o  Johul<l.l6. 
 ch.  9.  23. 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 p  Ps   18.  19. 
 
 yDent.3'2.43. 
 
 rp8.  M7.  I. 
 t  Is.  II. I,  10. 
 
 Rev   5   5. 
 
 &  22.  16 
 
 i  2  Pet. 1.12 
 
 lJuiin;;,2i 
 
 tff  I  Coi-  S.J, 
 7,  10. 
 
 xch.  I.  b.h 
 
 12.  3.  Gnl. 
 
 I.  IS.  Kph. 
 
 a.  7,  8. 
 J/  ch.  II.  13. 
 
 Gnl  2  7,?,y. 
 
 I  Tim.  2  7 
 
 ■J  Tim. I  II. 
 
 Phil    2.  17, 
 II  Or,  «cr.. 
 
 /ici/ij). 
 =  Is.  66.  SO. 
 
 Phil.  2.  17, 
 
 a  Heb.  5,   1. 
 
 6  Acl9  2l  19. 
 
 Gal.  2.  8. 
 cell,  I.  ft.  & 
 
 16    26. 
 
 d  Artsig  II. 
 
 for  hia  mercy;  as  it  is  written,  ^For  this  cause 
 1  will  confess  to  thee  among  the  Gentiles,  and 
 sing  unto  thy  name. 
 
 10  And  again  he  saith,  "^  Rejoice,  ye  Gentiles, 
 witli  his  people. 
 
 1 1  And  again,  'Praise  the  Lord,  all  ye  Gen- 
 tiles ;  and  laud  him,  all  ye  people. 
 
 1'2  And  again,  Esaias  saith,  *  There  shall  be 
 a  root  of  Jesse,  and  lie  tliat  shall  rise  to  reign 
 over  the  Gentiles ;  in  iiim  shall  the  Gentiles 
 trust. 
 
 13  Now  the  God  of  hope  fill  you  with  all  *joy 
 and  peace  in  believing,  that  ye  may  abound  in 
 hope,  through  the  power  of  the  Holy  Gliost. 
 
 14  And  "  I  myself  also  am  persuaded  of  you, 
 my  brethren,  tliat  ye  also  are  full  of  goodness, 
 *  filled  witli  all  knowledge,  able  also  to  admo- 
 nish one  another. 
 
 15  Nevertheless,  brethren,  I  have  written  the 
 more  boldly  unto  you  in  some  sort,  as  putting 
 you  in  mind,  *  because  of  the  grace  that  is 
 given  to  me  of  God, 
 
 IG  That  ^1  should  be  the  minister  of  Jesus 
 Christ  to  the  Gentiles,  ministering  the  gospel 
 of  God,  that  the  ||^  offering  up  of  the  Gentiles 
 might  be  acceptable,  being  sanctified  by  the 
 Holy  Ghost. 
 
 17  I  have  therefore  whereof  I  may  glory 
 through  Jesus  Christ  °  in  those  things  which 
 pertain  to  God. 
 
 18  For  I  will  not  dare  to  speak  of  any  of 
 those  things  ^  which  Chiist  liath  not  wrought 
 by  me,  *^  to  make  the  Gentiles  obedient,  by 
 word  and  deed, 
 
 19  ''Through  mighty  signs  and  wonders,  by 
 the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  so  that  from 
 
 tY  to  thyself,  %c.,  '  if  you  believe  tliat  all  meats  are  lawful,  yet  still 
 rather  cnnccal  It  than  offend  your  weak  brnthcr.* — Gill.  That  con- 
 demiieth  nut,  ii)-n.,  *  that  when  lie  knows  a  thing  to  be  lawful,  so  prac- 
 tises it  as  to  have  no  reasDu  to  accuse  or  condemn  himself.' — Ham. 
 23.  Damned,  nuraKeKpiTat,  'condemned,'  without  a  persuasion  of  the 
 lawfulness  of  the  action. — Ham.  'Self-condemned;'  his  conscience 
 condemns  him  for  what  he  himself  does. — Gi/l.  Not  of  faith,  or  '  from 
 faith,'  is  sin,  whatever  is  done  without  a  conviction  of  its  lawfulness, 
 is  really  sin,  though  it  be  lawful  in  itself. — Muckn. 
 
 Chai-.  XV. —  1.  Strong,  established  ia  the  faith  and  freedom  of  the 
 gospel. — so  Gui/se.  1.  Please  his  neighbour,  'condescend  even  to 
 his  ig:noranee  and  prejudice.^,  where  there  is  reason  to  hope  it  may 
 Conduce  to  his  edification.' — Doddr.  3.  Pleased  not  himself,  hi'^  was 
 a  life  of  ^e]{den\a.\.  — So  Doddr.,   Guyse,  Clarke,  &c.  -1.   Written 
 
 aforetime,  alludes  here  to  any  scriptures  of  the  Old  Testament. — 
 Pyle.      Hojw,    an  assured  and    joyful    hope   in    tribulation. — Doddr. 
 
 5.  Godof  patience  and  consolation,  'who  works  patience  in  us,  and 
 gives  us  tliis  consolation.' — Whitby.  To  be  likeminded,  having  the 
 grace  of  unity  and  charity.— H«m. ;   same  purport,  Gwj/at  &jni  Doddr, 
 
 6.  Glorify  God,  in  your  worshipping  assemblies, — so  Ham.;  also  in 
 common  ciinversatioii,  spirit,  temper,  and  behaviour. — Guyse.  J.  Re- 
 ceive ye  one  another,  into  mutual  love.  As  Christ  also  received  vs, 
 Jews  and  Gentiles,  into  his  love. —  Wells;  same  purport,  Doddr. 
 8.  Jesus  Christ  was  a  minisfer  of  the  circumcision — Ic  take  ofiF  preju- 
 dices from  Gentile  converts,  they  were  to  remember  that  Christ  was 
 Circumcised  and  submit'ed  to  tlie  law,  to  ratify,  establish,  and  give 
 efficacy  to  those  promises  of  the  covenant  of  grace  which  were  made 
 to  the  patriarchs,  ot  which  circumcision  was  the  visible  sign  and  seal ; 
 that  they  might  be  primarily  fulfilled  to  the  spiritual  seed  which  should 
 be  raised  up  from  among  their  natmal  offspring;  andthen  to  all  others 
 of  what  nation  soever  that  should  be  the  children  of  Abraham  by  faith 
 in  Christ  Jesus.  And  therefore  Gentile  believers  ought,  by  all  means, 
 to  shew  the  greatest  tenderness  and  love  to  those  ot  the  circumcision, 
 since  they  are  only  grafted  in  among  them  to  partake  nf  the  privileges 
 of  the  co\cnant  together  with  them.        9.  And  that  the  Gentiles,  'and. 
 
 to  engage  the  brotherly  regards  of  Jewish  converts  to  the  believing 
 Gentiles,  I  would  observe,  tliat  according  to  the  tenoiir  of  the  covenant, 
 and  the  most  extensive  meaning  of  those  promises  which  Christ  con- 
 firmed, salvation  is  now  come  to  the  Gentiles.  13.  The  God  of  hope, 
 who  in  Christ  is  the  object,  ground,  and  author  of  all  the  hope  which 
 Gentiles,  as  well  as  others,  have  of  spiritual  and  eternal  blessings. 
 Through  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  'enlightening,  strengtliening, 
 witnessing,  with  your  minds  and  spirits.' — Gui/se.  14.  Fall  of 
 goodness,  of  an  affectionate,  brotherly  disposition. — Tholuck.  Filled 
 wit/t  all  knowledge,  instructed  in  the  mind  and  design  of  God,  rela- 
 tive to  their  calling  and  its  fruit.— Clarke.  15.  Becuuseof  the  grace, 
 Sfc,  moved  by  his  vocation  as  an  apostle  of  the  Gentiles. — Tholuck. 
 l6.  Ministering  the  gospel  of  God,  X^povp-^ovvTa  to  tua^^^yt\lov^ov  Geou, 
 *  performing  the  iffice  of  a  priest  [in  respect  to]  the  gospel  of  God' — that 
 is,  acting  a  part,  in  respect  to  the  concerns  of  Christians,  not  unlike 
 that  of  a  priest  among  the  Jews. — Stuart.  '  To  preach  the  gospel  as  a 
 priest  of  the  New  Testament.*  that  gospel  by  which  men  are  conse- 
 crated unto  God.  The  terms  here  employed  are  sacrificial. — Carpzov, 
 Bloomf.  That  the  offering,  §c..  'that  the  GentiK-s  may  be  offered  to 
 God,  whom,  as  their  XtiToup-zos,  "minister,"  I  present,  inasmuch  as 
 they  have  been  rendered  clean,  pure,  by  the  sanclifying  influence  of 
 the  Holy  Spirit  on  their  hearts,' — Stuart,  The  apostle  compares  him- 
 self, in  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  to  the  priest,  conversant  about  his 
 sacrifice,  to  prepare  and  fit  it  to  be  offered.  The  tJentiles,  dedicated  by 
 him  to  the  service  of  God,  are  his  sacrifice  or  oblation.  The  Holy 
 Spirit  is  the  salt  poured  on  this  sacrifice,  by  which  they  are  sanctified 
 and  rendered  acceptable  to  God,  (see Nam.  xv.  3 — 10.^ — Whitbi/.  The 
 apostle's  sacrificial  allusion  is  to  Isa.  Ixvi.  20.] — Mackn.  17.  Through 
 Jesus  Christ,  through  his  assistance. —  Whitby,  so  Stuart.  18.  I  wilt 
 not  dare,  ^c. — '  I  will  not  presume  to  appropriate  to  myself  any  praise 
 for  what  I  have  not  done,  or  rather,  fur  what  Christ  has  not  done  by 
 me.' — Stuart,  19.  From   Jerusalem,   J^c,  beginning  at  Jerusalem, 
 
 and  taking  a  circuit  through  Phenice,  aud  Syria,  and  Arabia,  (Acts, 
 XV.  36,  41,  xix.  20,  &c.,)  to  the  Macedonians,  which  join  upon  lUy- 
 ricum.— ffam.    Not  that  he  began  to  preach  at  Jerusalem,  but  at 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIV.  —  We  learn  here,  I.  That 
 Chriftians  shoidd  exercise  forhearance  towards  each  other  in  non- 
 t.'-senticils.  One  regards  a  day  to  the  Lord,  and  another  does 
 not  regard  it ;  one  believes  that  an  ordinance  should  be  ad- 
 ministered in  one  way,  and  another  in  another;  find  thus  the 
 church  of  Christ  is  unavoidably  split  into  different  sections  : 
 but  let  us  remember  that  all  are  members  of  one  body,  and 
 constitute  one  spiritual  church.  Let  us  learn,  therefore,  to 
 forbear  with  oue  anotlier  in  love.      We  also  learn — 
 
 II.   That  true  Christianity  consists   not   in  cxter/ials,  hut  in  in- 
 
 ternals.  The  chief  part  of  mankind  seem  to  imagine  that  reli- 
 gion consists  principally  in  externals  ;  but  we  are  here  taught 
 that  '  the  kingdom  of  God  consists  not  in  meats  and  in  drinks, 
 but  in  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.'  '  It 
 is,'  says  Richard  Baxter,  'in  righteousness  before  God  and 
 man,  and  in  the  love  and  practice  of  peace  with  all,  and  in  the 
 joyful  sense  of  the  love  of  God  and  hope  of  glory  shed  abroad 
 in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  taking  pleasure  to  help  and 
 comfort  our  brethren  in  the  way  to  heaven.  This  ia  Chris- 
 tiauivy.' 
 
Pmd  reijHcstetk  their  prayers. 
 
 ROMANS,  XVI. 
 
 Sundry  salu  tatimis. 
 
 Jerusalem,  and  round  about  unto  lUvricuui,  1 
 have  fully  preached  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
 
 20  Yea,  so  have  I  strived  to  preach  the  gos- 
 pel, not  where  Christ  was  named,  "lest  I  should 
 build  upon  anotlier  man's  foundation  : 
 
 21  But  as  it  is  written,  "■  To  whom  he  was 
 not  spoken  of,  they  sliall  see  :  and  they  that 
 have  not  heard  shall  understand. 
 
 22  For  which  cause  also  "^I  have  been  ||  much 
 hindered  from  coming  to  you. 
 
 23  But  now  having  no  more  place  in  these 
 parts,  and  •'  having  a  great  desire  these  many 
 years  to  come  unto  you  ; 
 
 24  Whensoever  I  take  my  journey  into  Spain, 
 I  will  come  to  yon  :  for  1  trust  to  see  you  in 
 my  journej',  '  and  to  be  brought  on  my  way 
 thitherward  by  yon,  if  first  I  be  somewhat  filled 
 t  with  your  company. 
 
 23  But  now  ^  I  go  unto  Jerusalem  to  minister 
 unto  the  saints. 
 
 26  For  '  it  halli  pleased  them  of  Macedonia 
 and  Achaia  to  make  a  certain  contribution  for 
 the  poor  saints  which  are  at  Jerusalem. 
 
 27  It  hath  pleased  them  verily,  and  their 
 debtors  they  are.  For  "'  if  the  Gentiles  have 
 been  made  partakers  of  their  spiritual  things, 
 "their  duty  is  also  to  minister  unto  them  in 
 carnal  things. 
 
 28  When  therefore  I  have  performed  this, 
 and  have  sealed  to  them  "this  fruit,  I  will  come 
 by  you  into  Spain. 
 
 29  P  And  I  am  sure  that,  when  I  come  unto 
 you,  I  shall  come  in  the  fulness  of  the  blessing 
 of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
 
 30  Now  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  for  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ's  sake,  and  '  for  the  love  of  the 
 Spirit,'  that  ye  strive  together  with  me  in  your' 
 prayers  to  God  for  me  ; 
 
 !  2  Cor.  10. 
 13.  \5,  IG. 
 
 g-ch.  I.  13. 
 
 I  Thes.  i. 
 
 17.  IS. 
 II  Or,  manij 
 
 ajiaUm',,. 
 A.\ct3  lil.L'l, 
 ver.  32, 
 ch    I.  11 
 
 t  Or.  with 
 
 yau,  ver  S3 
 *  Acta  lil.21. 
 
 lie  211.22.  & 
 
 21.  17. 
 MCor.  10,1. 
 
 2,  2 Cor.!*. 
 
 I.  8i9.2, 12. 
 
 n  I  Cor  9. 1 1 . 
 GiU.  6.  6. 
 
 '2  Cnr,  1.11. 
 Cul.  4.  12 
 
 \.  D.  60. 
 
 *2TL€-8.3.g. 
 11  Or.  ir, 
 dhiilinlienl. 
 I  2  Cyr,  8.  4. 
 
 u  ch.  I.  10. 
 X  Acts19.:ei. 
 
 I  Cor,  lAO. 
 
 Jam.  4  )5. 
 r/lCor  lli.lB. 
 ■  2  Cor.  7.  IS. 
 
 STim.l.lO. 
 
 FliiU-ra.  7. 
 
 t  ch.  IG.  gn. 
 1  Cor.  1 4  38. 
 2Cnr.I8.ll. 
 Phil,  1.  9. 
 niics.5  2.1. 
 2TheB.S.IC. 
 Heb.  ia.2o. 
 
 b  Phil.  2.  29 
 3  John  &.  G 
 
 C  Arts  19   2, 
 IS,  2G, 
 2riui.'l-l9 
 
 d  l&ir.lfl  !<'. 
 Col.-l.  15. 
 I'liilem.  «. 
 
 31  'That  I  may  be  delivered  from  them  that 
 II  do  not  believe  in  Judsa  ;  and  that  '  my  ser- 
 vice whicli  /  /lavi'  for  Jerusalem  may  be  ac- 
 cepted of  the  saints  ; 
 
 S2  "That  I  may  come  unto  you  with  joy  ^by 
 the  will  of  God,  and  may  with  you  be  ^re- 
 freshed. 
 
 33  Now  ^  the  God  of  peace  be  with  yon  ali. 
 Amen. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 3  Paul  willtth  the  brethren  to  greet  many,  17  and  ad- 
 
 viset/i  thfnn  to  take  heed  of  those  which  catisr  dissent 
 sion  and  ojfi'tices,  lil  and  after  sundry  salutations 
 endeih  tvith  praise  and  thanks  to  God. 
 
 T  COMMEND  unto  you  Pliebe  our  sister, 
 ■*-  which  is  a  servant  of  the  church  which  is  at 
 "  Cenchrea : 
 
 2  ''That  ye  receive  her  in  t!ie  Lord,  as  be- 
 cometh  saints,  and  that  ye  assist  her  in  what- 
 soever business  she  hath  need  of  you  :  for  she 
 hath  been  a  succonrer  of  many,  and  of  myself 
 also. 
 
 3  Greet  '^  Priscilla  and  Aquila  my  helpers  in 
 Christ  Jesus  : 
 
 4  Who  have  for  my  life  laid  down  their  own 
 necks  :  unto  whom  not  only  1  give  thanks,  but 
 also  all  the  churches  uf  the  Gentiles. 
 
 5  Likewise  (freet  ^  the  church  that  is  in  their 
 house.  Salute  my  wellbeloved  Epenetus,  who 
 is  *the  firstfruits  of  Acliaia  unto  Christ. 
 
 6  Greet  Mary,  who  bestowed  much  labour 
 on  us. 
 
 7  Salute  Androincus  and  Junia,  my  kinsmen, 
 and  my  fellowprisoners,  who  are  of  note  amouf^ 
 the  apostles,  who  also  ^  were  in  Christ  before 
 me, 
 
 8  Greet  Amplias  my  beloved  in  the  Lord. 
 
 Damascus;  from  whence  he  went  to  Arabia,  and  after  that  to  Jeru- 
 salem.—Gi7/.  Fullt/  preached,  or  'fully  tlcciared,'  so  the  Greek  ircTiXn- 
 pmnivat  sigrnifies,  Matt.  v.  17.  —  Mackn.  20.  Named,   preached   by 
 
 others  before  me.~\Vhitfj_i/.  '21.  But  as  it  is  written,  §-c..  a  quota- 
 tion from  Isn.  hi.  15,  respecting  Messiah's  being  made  known  to  the 
 heathen  to  justify  the  principle  he  had  avowed,  that  of  preaching  the 
 gnspel  where  it  was  entirely   unknown  before. —S^uaW.  22.  For 
 
 which  causi',  ^c,  Ato,  'wherefore  I  was  greatly,'  ^c— that  is,  en  ac- 
 count of  his  many  and  urgent  calls  to  preach  elsewhere.  23.  Hwing 
 no  more  place,  ^-c,  '  no  longer  any  place  in  these  regions,'  &c.,  i.  e., 
 *  no  longer  any  considerable  place  where  I  have  not  proclaimed  the 
 gospel.*  24.  Into  S/j(««— there  is  no  evidence  that  this  journey  ever 
 was  taken;  it  was  probably  prevented  by  the  apostle's  long  imprison- 
 ment at  Cresarea. — So  Hodge,  ctnn  mult.  al.  To  /tee  i/ou  in  m.y  jour- 
 ney, taking  Rome  in  his  way.  Thitherward  by  you—i^e  apostle  here 
 refers  to  the  usual  custom  of  the  churches,  when  the  messengers  of 
 the  gospel  departed  from  them,  of  sending  their  elders  8ic.  to  accom- 
 pany them  for  some  distance  on  their  journey.— .SV(/ur/.  27.  Their 
 debtors,  for  it  was  from  Jerusalem  thai  these  Gentiles  first  received  the 
 ^os^eX.—Pyle.  29.  Sealed,  (rtjipa-jiCeaOai.  means,  properly,  to  seal, 
 and  then  to  deliver  safely.  — Thnl tick.  Fruit,  of  their  liberality.— 
 Ham.  29.  Fulness  of  the  blessing,  or  '  with  a  full  power  of  imparting 
 to  you  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit  in  the  most  plentiful  manner.'— T? 'A i76y, 
 Wells.  '  With  such  great  assistance  and  evidence  of  God's  spirit  as 
 will  have  great  and  comfortable  success  among  you.'— H.  Baxter. 
 ^0.  Strive  tngethfr,  (ruva-Ytavi(Ta(TOai,  'that  you  agonize  together  with 
 me.'— Bens.,  as  A.  Clarke.  31.  Dvli^^ered from  them,  ^c— the  Jews 
 at  Jerusalem  had  got  notice  of  the  apostle's  success  in  converting  the 
 (Jentiles,  and,  believing  that  he  taught  them  to  forsake  Muses,  &c., 
 were  exceedingly  enraged  against  htm. — Mackn, 
 
 Chap.  XVI.  — 1.  Sister,  in  the  faith.— Whitby.  Servant,  A^aKovov, 
 'deaconess.' — Bloom/.  The  deaconess  baptized  women,  taught  the 
 female  catechumens,  visited  the  sick,  and  tlie  martyrs,  and  performed 
 other  inferior  offices  in  the  church.— ScA/f«5.  Ccm-hnn,  the  eastern 
 seaport  ot  Coxiath.— Mackn.      Corinth  being  situated  on  a  narrow 
 
 isthmus,  had  two  ports,  one  towards  Europe,  and  the  other  towards 
 Asia;  the  latter  was  called  Cenchrea. —  Hodge.  2.  A  surcourer, 
 
 7rpo(TTaT(p,  *  a  protectress  and  supporter.*- ZJ/f*/»/»/.  The  original  sig- 
 nifies 'hostess,'  nut  uf  a  common  inn,  but  one  whose  house  was  the 
 place  of  lodging  and  entertainment  of  those  who  were  received  by  the 
 church  as  their  guests.— LocA:e.  3.  Helpers,  *  cnadjutors,'  'co-ope- 
 
 rators.'— Blonmf.  They  had  been  very  active  in  spreading  the  gospel. 
 4.  Laid  down  their  own  necks,  proverbial,  and  alluding  to  the  custom 
 0I'  placing  on  blocks  the  necks  of  criminals  who  aie  to  be  beheaded. 
 It  ilenotes  the  undergoing  of  the  greatest  perils. — Mackn.  The  occa- 
 sion alluded  to  might  have  been  in  the  uproar  at  Ephesus, —  Tholui-k; 
 or  that  at  Corinth  during  the  proconsulship  of  Gallio,  (Acts,  xviii.  12.) 
 Mackn.  But  also  all  the  churches,  in  the  vicinity  of  Corinth. — Grot., 
 Koppe.  The  Gentile  churches  in  general.— V'y)■.s^  Bloom/.  These  join 
 in  thanking  Priscilla  and  Aquila  &s  means  of  my  deliverance. — R. 
 Baxter.  5.  Church— in  their  house — the  phrase  seems  to  denote  a 
 Christian  family.— Whitby.  Salute  all  their  Christian  family,  and  the 
 saints  that  use  there  to  assemble  in  communion.- /(.  Baxter.  The 
 apostle  calls  this  family  a  church,  because  of  the  godly  order  anil  reli- 
 gious worship  that  was  exercised  amongst  them. — Poole.  '  I  would 
 rather  understand  this  of  a  Christian  family  than  of  any  other  religious 
 society,  for  there  was  a  church  at  Rome,  and  this  was  distinct  from  it; 
 and  this  stands  in  the  list  of  particular  persons  and  families  to  whom 
 the  apostle  sent  special  salutations. — Guyse.  It  means  the  Christian 
 congregation  that  was  wont  to  assemble  there  for  divine  worsltip. — 
 Bens.  The  accommodations  in  the  houses  of  those  times  and  parts 
 were  spacious.  Perhaps  here  the  church  at  Rome  used  to  assemble  ; 
 for  it  is  to  be  observed,  that  in  all  the  other  greetings  no  church  is 
 mentioned.  Had  it  intended  the  family  only,  surely  tlicre  were  oilier 
 holy  families  also  that  might  as  distinctly  have  been  called  churches. 
 — Ed.  The  Jirst/ruits,  one  of  the  first  Christian  converts  in  Achaia. — 
 Bp.  Hall.  7.  Kinsmen,  so  the  apnstle  styled  all  the  Jews.  Fellow 
 prisoners — before  the  apostie  went  to  Rome  he  was  in  prisons  frequent, 
 f2  Cor.  xi.  23,)  and  so  might  have  had  many  'fellow-prisoners.' — 
 Whitby.     0/  note,  for  their  sufferings  and  service.— ii.  Baxter.    Were 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV.— I.  *  Wliat  a  rich  and  inva- 
 luable treasure  have  ivc  in  the  hull/ Scriptures  f  These  were  writ- 
 ten for  our  instruciion,  patience,  comfort,  and  hope.  Let  us 
 unite  in  the  prayer  of  the  apostle,  **  that  the  God  of  hope  may 
 fill  us  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing."  ^  ^^^ ^.     j 
 
 IL  '  What  aji  cTample  of  zeal  have  wc  in  the  apostle  Paul !  Here     bourers  into  bis  vineyanl.'  b 
 lliOO 
 
 we  see  the  ardour  of  his  mind,  his  love  to  souls,  and  his  wil- 
 lingness to  he  spent  in  the  service  of  the  Lord.  What  a  pat- 
 tern was  this  holy  man  to  all  that  engat;;e  in  the  ministry. 
 What  self-denial,  patience,  love,  and  zeul,  should  they  conti- 
 nually exercise!     May  (Jod  raise   up  aad  send  out  such  la- 
 
Praise  and 
 
 ROMANS,  XVI. 
 
 thanks  to  God. 
 
 9  Salute  Urbane,  our  helper  in  Christ,  and 
 Stachys  my  beloved. 
 
 10  Salute  Apelles  approved  in  Christ.  Sa- 
 lute them  which  are  of  Aristobulus'  ||  hous- 
 hold. 
 
 1 1  Salute  Herodion  my  kinsman.  Greet 
 theni  that  bo  of  tlie  ||  houshold  of  Narcissus, 
 which  are  in  the  Lord. 
 
 12  Salute  Tryphena  and  Trypho.sa,  who  la- 
 bour in  tlie  Lord.  Salute  the  ijeloved  Persis, 
 whieli  laboured  much  in  the  Lord. 
 
 13  Salute  llufus  "chosen  iu  the  Lord,  and 
 his  mother  and  mine. 
 
 14  Salute  Asyncritus,  Phlegon,  Hermas,  Pa- 
 trobas,  Hermes,  and  the  brethren  which  are 
 with  them. 
 
 15  Salute  Philologus,  and  Juha,  Nereus,  and 
 his  sister,  and  Olympas,  and  all  the  saints 
 wliich  are  with  tlieni. 
 
 IG  ''Salute  one  another  with  an  holy  kiss. 
 The  churches  of  Christ  salute  you. 
 
 17  Now  I  beseech  you,  bretln'cn,  mark  them 
 '  whicli  cause  divisions  and  offences  contrary 
 to  the  doctrine  which  ye  have  learned  ;  and 
 '  avoid  them. 
 
 IS  For  they  that  are  such  serve  not  our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  but  '  their  own  belly  ;  and  "'by 
 good  words  and  fair  speeches  deceive  the  hearts 
 of  the  simple. 
 
 19  For  "  your  obedience  is  come  abroad  unto 
 all  men.     I  am  glad  therefore  on  your  behalf: 
 
 1  Or, 
 friends. 
 
 ^  2John  1. 
 
 ftlCor.lSSO. 
 
 2Coc. 13.12. 
 
 ITIteg  5.'_'6. 
 
 1  I'et.  5.  U. 
 i  Acta  15.  1, 
 
 1  Tim.  6.  3. 
 i  1  Cor.  5,  9, 
 
 \\.2  TIics. 
 9.  6,  1*. 
 
 2  Tim-  3.  5. 
 Tit.  3.  11). 
 2  John  in. 
 
 /Phil.  3.  19. 
 
 1  Tim.  6.  5. 
 m  Col.  2.  t. 
 
 2  Tim.  3.  6. 
 Tit,  1.  10. 
 2  Pet.  2.  3. 
 
 nch.  1.8. 
 
 but  yet   I  would  have  you  "  wise  unto  that 
 whicli  is  good,  and  ||  simple  concerning  evil. 
 
 20  And  *■  the  God  of  peace  ''  shall  ||  bruise 
 Satan  under  your  feet  shortly.  '  The  grace  of 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  you.     Amen. 
 
 21  'Timotheus  my  workfellow,  and  'Lucius, 
 and  "  Jason,  and  *  Sosipater,  my  kinsmen,  sa- 
 lute you. 
 
 22  I  Tertius,  who  wrote  this  epistle,  salute 
 you  in  the  Lord. 
 
 23  '^  Gains  minehost,  and  of  the  whole  church, 
 saluteth  you.  '  Erastus  the  chamberlain  of  the 
 city  saluteth  you,  and  Quartus  a  brotlier. 
 
 24  "  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be 
 witli  you  all.     Amen. 
 
 25  Now  ''to  him  that  is  of  power  to  stablish 
 you  °  according  to  my  gospel,  and  the  preacli- 
 ing  of  Jesus  Christ,  ''  according  to  the  revela- 
 tion of  the  mystery,  "  which  was  kept  secret 
 since  the  world  began, 
 
 26  But  ''now  is  made  manifest,  and  by  the 
 scriptures  of  the  prophets,  according  to  the 
 commandment  of  the  everlasting  God,  made 
 known  to  all  nations  for  ^  the  obedience  of 
 faith : 
 
 27  To  i"  God  only  wise,  be  glory  through 
 Jesus  Christ  for  ever.     Amen. 
 
 If  Written  to  the  Romans  from  Corintliu.s, 
 and  sent  by  Phebe  servant  of  the  churclj 
 at  Cenchrea. 
 
 171  Christ  be/ore  me,  in  the  profession  nf  faith,  and  in  the  church  and 
 ministry  of  Christ. — Gill,  10.  Appi-uved,  tried  and  proved,  and  jastly 
 accounted  to  be  a  judicious,  faithful,  and  zealous  disciple  and  servant 
 of  Jesus  Christ.  13.  Rnfiis— this  seems  to  have  been  the  son  of 
 Simon  the  Cyrenian,  (see  Marlt,  xv.  21.) — Guyse.  Chosen,  one  of 
 preat  excellency  in  Christianity.  So  '  chosen' signifies.  Gen.  xxiii. 
 6;  Deot.  xii.  11;  Judg.  xx.  16,  &c.—  Whilhy .  'A  choice  Christian.' 
 — Guyse.  '  Chosen  in  Christ  to  prace  and  glory.' — Gill.  His  mother 
 and  mine,  Rufus'  by  nature,  and  Paul's  by  AffecUoa.— Wells,  Guyse. 
 l6.  Holy  kiss— this  took  place  at  the  end  of  the  prayer  before  the'sa- 
 crament,  and  was  a  token  of  religious  love  and  charity.  The  men 
 saluted  the  men,  and  the  women  the  women,  for  their  seats  were 
 apart.  But  as  an  ill  report  was  raised  early  respecting  it,  it  was 
 dropped.— See  Whitf/y,  Miickn.,  Wells,  Doddr.  The  churches  of  Chri.il 
 salute  you,  that  is,  in  Greece,  or  in  the  neighbourhood  where  the  apostle 
 was. — Gill.  17.  Mark,  aKonttv,  signifies  to  observe  attentively  and 
 diligently,  as  those  do  who  are  placed  on  a  watch-tower  to  observe  the 
 motions  of  their  enemies. — Beits.  Contrary  to  the  doctrine,  of  Christ 
 and  his  apostles. — Gill.  18.  Their  own  belly,  '  their  own  worldly  ease 
 and  advantage. —  Wells.  '  Their  secular  interests  and  carnal  desires.' 
 Fair  speeches,  ev\ofta<;,  '  blessings  ;'  praying  for  or  pronouncing  bless. 
 ings  upon  their  disciples,  or  praising  and  flattering  them.  0/  the  simple, 
 T<,ji<  aKaw.}!/,  'of  the  harmless,'  who,  doing  no  ill  themselves,  are  not 
 upon  their  guard  against  them  that  do.— Hens.  19.  Obedience,  to  the 
 faith,  to  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel.      Unto  all  men,  among  all  the 
 
 churches  in  all  nations. — Gill.  Over  the  Roman  empire. —  Wells.  That 
 so  many  of  the  metropolis  should  have  renouueed  their  idols,  must 
 have  been  much  spoken  of  through  all  the  provinces. — ilackn.  Simple 
 concerniji^  evil,  unacquainted  with  sinning  and  heresies. — It.  Baxter. 
 
 20.  Shall  bruise  Satan,  '  defeat  his  designs  atjainst  the  church,  and  rid 
 you  of  his  instrtmients  that  would  seduce  and  deride  you.' — Wells,  so 
 Gill.     Grace— be  with  you,  to  enable  you  to  abide  by  the  truth.— Gill. 
 
 21.  TForA-/e//ou/,  or  '  fellow,  labourer. '—iJrns.  22.  Who  wrote,  a.s  an 
 amanuensis.  23.  Mine  host,  and  of  the  whole  church,  '  who  has 
 received  me  into  his  house,  and  shewed  me  hospitality ;  and  who 
 shews  an  e.ttensive  hospitality  to  all  Christians.' — Stuart.  Chnmhev- 
 lain  of  the  city,  that  is,  of  Corinth,  where  the  apostle  and  Erastus 
 were  when  this  epistle  was  written.  25.  My  gospel,  i.e.,  the  gospel 
 of  which  he  was  a  minister.  Which  was  kept  secret  since  the  world 
 began,  xpocotf  atwviot?  (re(Tcy,i^evow,  'from  eternal  times  ;'  from  all  the 
 ages  of  the  former  dispensation,  or  that  have  run  out  from  the  begin- 
 ning of  the  world,  being  then  only  obscurely  revealed. — Gill ;  same 
 purport,  Whitby  and  Stuart.  26.  .ind  by  the  scriptures  of,  ^c,  now 
 made  manifest  according  to  the  tcnotir  of  tiie  prophetic  scriptures,  ac- 
 cording to  the  commandment  of  the  eternal  God. — Doddr.  For  the 
 obedience,  ^c,  eic  bnaKotiv  TritrTedjt,  '  in  order  to  produce  and  establish 
 an  obedience  on  the  principle  of  faith.' — Slude.  To  bring  them  to  the 
 obedience  of  faith  or  the  gospel. —  Wells.  27.  God  only  wise,  'the 
 only  wise  God,^  who  has  so  prudently  contrived,  and  so  effectually 
 executed,  this  grand  scheme. — Doddr. 
 
 Rf.FLFCTiONS  ON  Chap.  XVI.  —  We  are  here  taught, 
 I.  Christian  courtesy.  '  The  Christian  religion.'  says  Dr. 
 Jioothroyd,  'teaches  us  to  pay  civil  respect  to  all  ranks  and 
 degrees  of  men.  and  to  address  them  in  the  manner  deemed 
 most  proper  and  becominR.  It  obliges  us  to  bo  grateful  for 
 benefits,  and  to  make  the  best  returns  of  wliicli  wo  are  capable, 
 and  it  inspires  us  with  the  kindest  wishes  for  the  temporal  and 
 spiritual  prosperity  of  our  friends.' 
 
 II.  CUristlnnnnity.  From  the  earliest  period,  in  the  church 
 of  Christ  there  have  been  those  who  have  kindled  the  flame 
 
 of  strife,  and  caused  divisions  where  Christ  has  been  preached, 
 and  where  they  ought  to  have  rejoiced.  Let  us  mark  and 
 avoid  persons  of  contentious  spirits,  who  would  rather  widen 
 a  hreach  than  heal  it,  and  cherish  strivings  about  things  that 
 at  best  are  unprofitable  and  vain.  The  general  conduct  of 
 such  persons  will,  on  examination,  rarely  be  found  to  accord 
 with  the  example  of  the  Master  whom  they  profess  to  serve. 
 Let  us  avoid  the  society  and  spirit  of  such  persons,  and  '  en- 
 deavour to  keep  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace.' 
 
 1-207 
 
THE    FIRST    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 CORINTHIANS. 
 
 [CoRisTH,  the  most  illustrious  of  all  the  Greek  cities,  and  the  capital  of  Achaia,  was  situated  on  the  isthmus  which  joins 
 Pclopennesils  to  Greece;  and  from  its  situation  became  famous  for  its  trade  and  commerce,  wealth  and  luxury.  Here 
 tlie  apostle  laboured  near  two  years,  and  a  numerous  church  was  gathered  and  formed,  consisting  both  of  Jews  and  Gen- 
 tiles. But,  quickly  after  his  departure,  false  teachers  got  in  among  them  ;  they  imbibed  bad  principles,  and  manifested 
 evil  practices,  and  became  divided  into  factions  and  parties.  To  remedy  these  evils  this  epistle  was  principally  written. 
 The  scriptures  which  may  profitably  be  compared  with  portions  of  this  epistle  are,  Exod.  xiii.  21  ;  xiv.  24;  xvi.  15 — So; 
 xvii,  6;  xxxii.  6  ,  Lev.  iii.  3j  vii.  lo  ;  Num.  xiv.  37 ;  xvi.49  ;  xxi.  G  ;  sxv.  1 — 9  ;  Deut.  xx.6;  xxv.4;  xxxil.38; 
 Nell.  ix.  20;  Job,  v.  13;  Ps.  xvi.  10  ;  cv.  39;  Isa.  xxv.  8;  xxviii.  16;  xxix.  14;  xliv.25  ;  liii.  ;  Jer  ix.  23,  24  ;  xxiii. 
 3,  6;   Dan.  vii.  22  ;  Hos,  xiii.  14.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 /Iftcr  his  salntniion  and  thanksc^ivi/ir/,  10  lie  exhortcth 
 them  to  uniti/i  and  12  reproveth  their  dissensions.  18 
 God  destrni/t'th  the  wisdom  of  the  wise,  21  hi/  the  fool- 
 ishness of  yreachinff,  and  26  calkth  not  the  wise, 
 viitihti/f  and  nohle,  hut  27,  2cj  the  foolisht  weak,  and 
 inen  of  no  account. 
 
 T)AUL,  "called  to  be  an  apostle  of  Jesus 
 J-  Christ  "through  the  will  of  God,  and 
 '  Sosthenes  our  brother, 
 
 2  Unto  the  church  of  God  which  is  at 
 Corinth,'' to  them  that  "are  sanctified  in  Christ 
 Jesus,  "^  called  to  be  saints,  with  all  that  in 
 every  place  ^call  upon  tlie  name  of  Jesus 
 Christ  ''our  Lord,  '  both  their's  and  our's  : 
 
 3  '■  Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace,  from  God 
 our  Father,  and/Vom  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 4  '  I  tiiank  my  God  always  on  your  behalf, 
 for  the  grace  of  God  whicli  is  given  you  by 
 Jesus  Christ ; 
 
 5  That  in  every  thing  ye  are  enriched  by 
 him,  "'in  all  utterance,  and  in  all  knowledge  ; 
 
 6  Even  as  "  the  testimony  of  Christ  was  con- 
 firmed in  you  : 
 
 7  So  that  ye  come  behind  in  no  gift ;  "wait- 
 ing for  the  fconiing  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ : 
 
 8  ■'  Who  shall  also  confirm  you  unto  the  end, 
 '^that  lie  may  he  blameless  in  the  day  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 9  '  God  is  faithful,  by  whom  ye  were  called 
 unto  'the  fellowship  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ 
 our  Lord. 
 
 A.  D.  5'J. 
 
 A.  D.  59. 
 
 (  RoDi.l2.IG. 
 
 a<  IS  b. 
 
 SCor.lSII. 
 
 Phil.  2.2.  & 
 
 3. 16.  1  Pet. 
 
 3.8. 
 
 t  Gr. 
 
 $cM*niM, 
 
 cU.  11.  18. 
 
 a  Rnm.  [.  1. 
 
 AS  Cor,  l.L 
 
 Epii.  1.  L 
 
 Col.  1    1. 
 
 c  AcW  18.17. 
 
 dJiidu  L 
 
 flJolm  i;.i<;. 
 
 u  ch.  3.  4. 
 
 Acts  15.  9. 
 
 jr  Actil8.24. 
 
 /Hum.  1.7. 
 
 &  19.  1. 
 
 ■2  Tim   1 .  9, 
 
 cli.  \H.  12. 
 
 S  Acts  9.  !♦. 
 
 V  John  1.42. 
 i2Cor.ll. 4. 
 
 2t.  fc  ^^^&. 
 
 ■2T\xn2:£l. 
 
 Kpli.  4.  d. 
 
 h  eh.  e.  ti. 
 
 i  Kom.S.  «S. 
 
 &  10.  12. 
 
 *  Rom.  \.  7. 
 
 2  C'>r,  I.  2. 
 
 Kpl.    1.2. 
 
 1  .\eTBl8.  H. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.2. 
 
 b  Kou.  16.23. 
 
 /  Koin.  I.  8. 
 
 .«  cli.  12.  8. 
 
 •i  Cur.  S.  7. 
 
 n  ch.  2.  i. 
 
 2  Tim,  I.  a 
 
 c  ch.  16.  15. 
 
 1{«»%  \.  s. 
 
 17. 
 
 0  PhU.  S.20. 
 
 Tit.  2.  IS. 
 
 2  Pel.  3.12. 
 
 \  (.Ir.  Tfvtla- 
 
 t !••',. 
 
 d  ch.  S.  1,4, 
 
 Col.  S,  4. 
 
 13. 2  Pet.  I. 
 
 p  1  Tl.M.  3. 
 
 10. 
 
 IS. 
 
 II  Or,ipetch. 
 
 '2  Col.  1 .  22. 
 
 lThcs.S.23. 
 
 «SCor.S.I5 
 
 r  la.  49.  7. 
 
 /Act9l7.ih 
 
 ch.  10.  l.S. 
 
 ch.  2.  11- 
 
 lThes.5.-.'.l 
 
 g  ch.  15.  2. 
 
 2  Then. 3.  3. 
 
 h  RQtii.l.lii. 
 
 Heb    HI.  23. 
 
 ver.  Hi. 
 
 t  John  IS,  '1. 
 
 i  Job  5.  IS. 
 
 &  17.  21. 
 
 la.  i9. 29- 
 
 1  John  1.  3. 
 
 14.  Jer.  8. 
 
 &  4.  13. 
 
 9. 
 
 10  Now  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  by  tite 
 name  of  onr  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  '  tliat  ye  all 
 speak  the  same  thing,  and  that  there  be  no 
 t divisions  among  you;  but  that  ye  be  per- 
 fectly joined  to<j;ether  in  the  same  mind  and  in 
 the  same  judgment. 
 
 1 1  For  it  iiath  been  declared  unto  me  of  you, 
 my  brethren,  by  them  ichich  are  of  the  house 
 of  Chloe,  that  there  are  contentions  among 
 you. 
 
 12  Now  this  I  say,  "that  every  one  of  you 
 saith,  I  am  of  Paul ;  and  I  of  *  Apollos  ;  and  1 
 of  *'  Cephas  ;  and  I  of  Christ. 
 
 13  ■'Is  Clirist  divided?  was  Paul  crucified 
 for  you  ?  or  were  ye  baptized  in  the  name  of 
 Paul? 
 
 14  I  thank  God  that  I  baptized  none  of  you, 
 but  "  Crispus  and  ^  Gains  ; 
 
 15  Lest  any  should  say  that  I  had  baptized 
 in  mine  own  name. 
 
 16  And  1  baptized  also  the  houshold  of  "^  Ste- 
 phanas :  besides,  1  know  not  whether  I  bap- 
 tized any  other. 
 
 17  For  Christ  sent  me  not  to  baptize,  but  to 
 preach  the  gospel:  *^not  with  wisdom  of 
 II  words,  lest  the  cross  of  Christ  should  be 
 made  of  none  effect. 
 
 18  For  the  preaching  of  the  cross  is  to  °  them 
 that  perish  *^  foolishness  ;  but  unto  us  ^  which 
 are  saved  it  is  the  "  power  of  God. 
 
 19  For  it  is  written,  '  I  will  destroy  the  wis- 
 dom of  the  wise,  and  will  bring  to  nothing  the 
 understanding  of  the  prudent. 
 
 Notes  ov  Chap.  I.  —  1.  CnHed  to  be.  an  apostle — see  Rom.  i.  l.note. 
 Sdst/ienes,  seems  the  same  wlio  was  chief  ruler  of  the  synagogue  of  the 
 Jews  at  Corinth  ;  and  was  converted  to  the  Christian  faith  by  the  apostle 
 Paul  whilst  there,  as  appears  from  his  favouring  the  cause  of  the 
 apostle,  for  which  the  Jews  beat  him.  i  Acts,  xviii.  17.1 — Gilt.  That  it 
 was  that  Sosthenes  is  probable,  but  not  proved. — So  Mackn.,  Wtl.,  &c. 
 2.  Sanctijied .eKterna^Uy  separated  from  others  as  Christians. — So  Locke. 
 Separated  from  the  corruptions  of  their  place  and  age. — A.  Clarke.  A 
 body  of  sincere  Christians,  notwithstaoding  the  irregularities  of  some 
 professed  one.s. — So  Doddr.  Set  apart  in  the  Divine  purpose  ;  as  this 
 is  mentioned  prior  to  their  being  called,  this  sense  must  be  admitted, 
 (see  Jude,  1.) — Bootkr.,  as  Guyse.  Call  upon  the  name,  publicly  own 
 the  worship  of  Chri'^t.^See  Ham.,  and  Whitbi/.  5.  Utterance.  *  the 
 gift  of  tongues.* — Whitby.  Ev  iravn  \ofw.  '  in  all  doctrine,'  the  great 
 truths  of  the  gospel. — See  Schleusner.  Knoivledge,  'the  gift  of  pro- 
 phecy.'—  Whitby.  6.  Testimony  of  Christ,  the  gospel  so  called,  be- 
 cause bearing  a  testimony  to  his  deity,  incarnation,  iKC. — Gill,  as  Wells. 
 7.  Behind  in  no  gift,  '  inferior  to  no  Christian  churches  in  any  extraor- 
 dinary endowments  of  the  Spirit.' — Pyle.  *  Ordinary  or  extraordinary.' 
 — Gill.  g.  Faithful,  to  his  promises. — Bens.  Fellowship,  commu- 
 nion and  society.  10.  Speak  the  same  tiling,  agree  in  the  exercise 
 of  a  peaceful  and  unanimous  temper.— Z>'»(/rfr.  Divisions,  axtofiara, 
 'schisms;*  in  the  same  }7iind,  and  in  the  same  judgment,  touching  all 
 the  great  truths  of  the  gospel ;  waving  unnecessary  controversies. — 
 Bens.  11.  Contentions,  epider,  '  altercations,'  produced  by  the  divi- 
 J208 
 
 sions  mentioned  above.— ^.  C/wrAe.  12.  /  am  of  Paul,  for  he  had 
 been  instrumental  in  their  conversion,  &c.  /  of  .■ipollos,  he  being 
 mure  eloquent  than  Paul,  and  of  a  better  bodily  appearance.  I  of  Ce- 
 phas, or  'Peter.'  he  being  the  oldest  minister,  who  saw  Christ's  mira- 
 cles and  heard  his  doctrines.  0/ C/iri.sY,  without  his  ministers,  and 
 above  ordinances.— Gi//.  It  seems  there  were  now  in  the  church  at  Co. 
 riiith  some  Jevnsh  Christians,  who,  having  heard  Christ  preach,  had 
 been  converted  by  him,  and  who  claimed  greater  respect  on  that  ac- 
 count. Chrysostom  thought  this  was  said  by  Paul  himself,  to  shew 
 the  Corinthians  that  all  ought  to  consider  themselves  as  the  disciples 
 of  Christ,  and  of  no  other  master  ;  otherwise,  they  derogated  from  the 
 honour  due  to  Christ. — Mackn.  U.  Crispus  and  Gaius,  the  first,  the 
 chief  ruler  of  a  synagogue,  (Acts,  xviii.  8  ;)  the  second,  a  prmcipal 
 man  in  the  church  of  Corinth,  (Rom.  xvi.  23.)— Wells.  1.5.  Inmine 
 own  7iame,  to  make  them  his  followers.— C/«r/fe.  l6.  Huus/iold  of 
 
 Stephanas,  among  the  first  converts  in  Achaia,  (1  Cor.  xvi.  \b.)— Wells. 
 17.  Xot  to  baptize,  ^c,  not  principally  to  baptize.— H«w*.  'Not  so 
 much  to  baptize.'- A'ty.  The  Hebrew  scripture  writers  ulten  use  this 
 idiom  to  express  the  preference  of  one  thing  to  another.- Bp.  Peurre. 
 Wisdom  of  words,  ao<pta  Xoyoi-,  *  wisdom  of  speech.'  '  learned  speech,* 
 '  philosophy  and  eluquence.'  18.  Preaching  of  the  cross,  6  A07cjt7.jp 
 ojova-ravpov,  "the  doctrine  of  the  cross. '-J.  Clarke.  *  Concerning  the 
 cross.'— il/u'An.  The  cross,  the  doctrine  of  salvation  by  a  crucified 
 Christ.— Gi7/.  ly.  Of  the  wise,  ruiv  aoipiav,  '  of  wise  men,'  '  of  the 
 philosopher^'  who  in  their  investigations  seek  nothing  less  than  God. 
 
The  excellency  of  godly  iristlom. 
 
 I.CORINTHIANS,  II. 
 
 The  manner  of  Pant's  preaching. 
 
 20  '  Where  is  the  wise  ?  where  is  tlie  scribe  ^ 
 where  is  the  disputer  of  tliis  world?  'hath  not 
 God  made  foolish  tlie  wisdom  of  this  world  ? 
 
 21  "'  For  after  that  in  the  wisdom  of  God  the 
 world  by  wisdom  knew  not  God,  it  pleased 
 God  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  to  save 
 them  that  believe. 
 
 22  For  the  "  Jews  require  a  sign,  and  the 
 Greeks  seek  after  wisdom  : 
 
 23  But  we  preach  Christ  crucified,"  unto  the 
 Jews  a  stumblingblock,  and  unto  the  Greeks 
 ''  foolishness  ; 
 
 24  But  unto  them  which  are  called,  both 
 Jews  and  Greeks,  Christ  ■"  the  power  of  God, 
 and  '  the  wisdom  of  God. 
 
 25  Because  the  foolishness  of  God  is  wiser 
 than  men  ;  and  the  weakness  of  God  is  stronger 
 than  men. 
 
 2()  For  ye  see  your  calling,  brethren,  how 
 tliat  '  not  many  wise  men  after  the  flesh,  not 
 many  mighty,  not  many  noble,  are  called : 
 
 27  But  '  God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things 
 of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise  ;  and  God 
 hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to 
 confound  the  things  which  are  mighty  ; 
 
 28  And  base  things  of  tlie  world,  and  things 
 which  are  despised,  hath  God  chosen,  yea,  and 
 "  things  which  are  not,  "  to  bring  to  nought 
 things  that  are  : 
 
 29  'That  no  flesh  slioulJ  glory  in  his  presence. 
 JiO  But  of  him  are  ye  in  Clirist  Jesus,  who  of 
 
 God  is  made   unto  us  '  wisdom,  and  °  righte- 
 
 A.  D   59. 
 
 >;-  Is   3:i.  IS. 
 
 /  .l.ib  12.  17. 
 21",  24. 
 Is.  11.  25- 
 Ki.m.  I,  22, 
 
 ro  Rom,  1.20. 
 21,  23.  Sm 
 Mat. 1 1.  25. 
 Luke  10.21. 
 
 n  M;it. 12.38. 
 8f  16.  1. 
 IMarkS.  11 
 Liikt;  11.10. 
 •lohii  4.  48- 
 
 »  I«.  S.  11. 
 Mat  11.6  8c 
 IS. ..7.  Lulc 
 a.  :U.  JohD 
 6.  60,  66. 
 Horn  9.  32 
 Gal-  b.  11. 
 1  Pet-  2-  S. 
 
 ;'  vei.  18 
 cl,.  2.  11. 
 
 </  Kom-  1.  t, 
 16.  ver.  18. 
 
 r  Cul.  3.  3- 
 
 Mlat.l  1.2.5. 
 .lam-  2.  .5 
 See  Ps-8-2 
 
 Bom.  1.17 
 -  cli.  2.  6. 
 V  Kom.3.27. 
 
 Eph.  2.  9. 
 :  ver.  24 
 <  Jcf  23. 5.  6. 
 
 Hom.  4.  23. 
 
 2C.n-.  3.  21. 
 
 Phil.  3.  9. 
 
 A.  I>.  .'i9. 
 
 ft.Mi..  17.19 
 (-'  F.ph  1  7. 
 it  Jer-  9.  23, 
 
 21.2  Cor. 
 
 10.  17. 
 
 a  cli. 
 
 ,    17. 
 
 ver. 
 
 .  iS. 
 
 SCor 
 
 .U>  10. 
 
 &  11 
 
 G. 
 
 b  cli. 
 
 .6. 
 
 f  Gal 
 
 G.   11 
 
 Phil. 
 
 3.  8. 
 
 d  Art 
 
 18.  1, 
 
 0,  li 
 
 '■2:c 
 
 ir4  7. 
 
 &  lu 
 
 1,  10, 
 
 &  II 
 
 .til    h 
 
 l:;.  5 
 
 <l. 
 
 Gal 
 
 *.  13. 
 
 /vei.  I. 
 
 ch.  I.  17. 
 
 2  Pet.l.  16. 
 II  Or,  pFT- 
 Mible. 
 ^Bnin.15.19. 
 
 lThea.1.5. 
 I  Gr.  be- 
 ft  2  Cor.  4.  7. 
 
 &  C.  7. 
 \c\\.  14.  20. 
 
 Eph.  4.  13. 
 
 Phil.  3.  15. 
 
 Heb.  b.  14. 
 k  ch.  l.»I). 
 
 &  3.  19. 
 
 ver.  1.  l.r 
 
 2  Cor.  1.12. 
 
 Jam.  3.  15 
 /cli.  1.  SS 
 m  Rom,  16, 
 
 25,  -JS 
 
 Eph.  3.  S  9. 
 
 Col    l.2t). 
 
 2  Tim.  1.9. 
 
 ousness,  and  ^  sanctification,  and  ^"  redemp- 
 tion : 
 
 yi  That,  according  as  it  is  written,  ''  He  tliat 
 glorietli,  let  him  glory  in  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.   II. 
 
 He  dechireth  that  his  preach im/^  1  though  it  bring  not 
 eacdk-nvy  ofspeich,  or  of  4  human  wisrlom:  yet  con- 
 sistfth  in  the  4,  5  power  of  G'od  ■  and  so  far  ejce/let/i 
 6  the  ivisdom  of  this  tvorld,  and  9  human  st/we,  as 
 that  14  the  natural  man  cannot  understtmd  it, 
 
 A  ND  I,  brethren,  when  I  came  to  you,  "came 
 -^^  not  with  excellency  of  .speech  or  of  wi.s- 
 dom,  declaring  unto  you  ^  the  testimony  of 
 God. 
 
 2  For  I  determined  not  to  know  any  thing 
 among  you,  ^  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  cru- 
 cified. 
 
 3  And  ^  I  was  with  you  '^in  weakness,  and  in 
 fear,  and  in  much  trembhng. 
 
 4  And  my  speech  and  my  preaching  ^  was 
 not  with  II  enticing  wordy  of  man's  wisdom, 
 ^  but  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of 
 power  : 
 
 5  That  your  faith  should  not  f  stand  in  the 
 wisdom  of  men,  but  ''  in  the  power  of  God. 
 
 6  Howbeit  we  speak  wisdom  among  them 
 '  that  are  perfect :  yet  not  ^  the  wisdom  of  this 
 world,  nor  of  the  princes  of  this  world,  '  that 
 come  to  nought : 
 
 7  But  we  speak  the  wisdom  of  God  in  a 
 mystery,  ei^en  the  hidden  »(s^o//i,'" which  God 
 ordained  before  the  world  unto  our  glory  : 
 
 20,  Wise— scri&e— disputer,  refer  to  the  Jews,  fsee  Isa.  xxi.x.  li  ;  x.'C.xiii. 
 IB  ;  xliv.  2.5.)  ii)(/jos,  wise,  the  D^n  of  the  prophet,  whose  office  it  was 
 to  teach  others.  I'pa^ifiarevi,  scriOe,  the  '^Z^D  of  the  prophet,  any  man  of 
 learning.  2f  CnTnTnt,  disputer,  the  propounder  of  questions ;  the  seeker 
 of  .illeKorical,  mystical,  and  cabalistlcal  senses  from  the  Huly  Scriptures. 
 — A.  Clarke.  21.  In  the  wisdom  of  God,  by  permission  of  God's  wise 
 providence. — P'jlf.  By  wisdom,  ao^ia,  here  means  the  disquisitions 
 of  the  learned  Grteks,  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of  '  philosophy.' — 
 M'icbn.  Fooliafmess  of  preurking,  the  prcacliing  of  the  cross  being 
 esteemed  by  Jew  and  Gentile  a  foolish,  absurd  doctrine. —  Wells. 
 22.  The  Jews  require  a  sign — they  had  always  been  used  to  miracles 
 in  confirmation  of  the  mission  of  the  prophets  sent  amongst  them,  and 
 therefore  insisted  on  a  sign  proving  Jesus  to  be  the  true  Messiah.^ 
 Gill.  Miracles  were  not  what  they  wanted,  but  anfma,  signs. — 
 Griesbaeh.  [Signa.Tu/g-  ,]  from  heaven  ;  as  Mark,  viii.  11,  Such  as 
 the  manna,  the  sun  standing  still,  ific— Slide.  The  Greeks  seek  after 
 nisdam,  that  is.  a  scheme  of  philosophy  in  the  dnctrines  of  the  gospel. 
 — Mackn.  23.  A  atumblingblovk,  an  occasion  of  offence,  by  reason 
 of  his  mean  appearance,  his  sufferings,  and  death,  they  having  looked 
 fur  a  glorious  and  victorious  Messiah.  Foolishness,  a  silly  tale,  just 
 opposite  to  the  wisdom  they  seek. — Bens.  Called,  effectually  so  by 
 Divine  grace.— I'orfrfr.,  so  Gill.  24,  The  power  of  God,  in  the  miracles 
 by  which  the  gospel  was  confirmed,  his  resurrection,  &c  ,  and  in  de- 
 livering them  from  the  bondai?e  of  sin,  &c.  Wisdom  of  God,  in  the 
 glorious  plan  of  redemption,  and  making  them  wise  unto  salvation. — 
 Scott.  25.  Foolishness  of  God,  fye. — weakness  of  God,  that  is,  what 
 
 the  unbelieving  Greeks  account  '  foolishness,'  and  Jews  '  weakness.* 
 —  Wells.  These  strong  phrases  must  allude  to  the  scheme  which  was 
 God's,  and  not  God  himself;  the  wTld  in  general  never  supposed  that 
 flh-  or  weakness  was  with  Gi'd.—  Ihjddr.  26.  Your  cfdling,  by  grace. 
 — Hum.  To  preach  the  gospel, —  Whitby.  27.  Fool'.-ih,  so  esteemed 
 by  men  of  the  world,  because  they  have  not  those  natural  parts  and 
 abilities,  that  sagacity  and  penetration  in  things  natural  and  civil,  that 
 knowledge  and  learning,  which  many  others  have  — Gill.  To  con- 
 found the  wise,  KaT-iiaxrvai,  *  to  put  them  to  shame,'  by  shewing  them 
 that  what  they  could  not  effect  by  their  wisdom  had  been  accomplished 
 by  what  they  counted  foolishness.      The  weak  things,  ra  ao-eftcn— this 
 
 term  was  applicable  to  the  apostles  in  all  respects— in  birth,  station, 
 and  acquirements  of  every  kmd.  28.  Buse  things,  la  ayevij,  '  igno- 
 
 ble.' Thinf^s  which  tire  despised,  €$uvSivi)fj.€va,  '  made  nought  of,' 
 'mo--t  contemptible.'  Things  that  nrennt,  ^c.,an  hyperbole  very  usual 
 among  good  Greek  writers.— B/»o7«/.  The  Gentiles  were  esteemed 
 base,  and  lortked  upon  as  nothing  by  the  Jews.— Whitby.  30.  Of 
 him,  '  of  God's  grace  and  favour.' — Wells.  '  By  him.' — Boothr.  *  By 
 his  power  and  work. ' — R.  Baxter.  Wisdom,  more  excellent  than  phi- 
 losophy ;  righteousness  for  our  justification  ;  the  Spirit  for  our  sancti- 
 f  ration  ;  and  are  expecting  redemption  from  all  the  evils  and  enemies 
 we  have  to  encounter. — Boothr.  Redemption  from  the  grave  to  a 
 glorious  resurrection,  {see  Gal.  iii.  13;  Rom.  viii.  23;  Eph.  i.  14.)^ 
 Dav.  It  is  here  mentioned  after  righteousness  and  sanctification,  and 
 alludes  to  '  the  redemption  of  the  body.' — Jay. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  1.  Ejrellency  of  speech,  such  as  artificial  arrangement 
 of  words,  &c. — Mackn.  Wisdom,  'human  wisdom.' — Whithy.  The 
 testimony  of  God,  i.e.,  the  witness  which  had  been  given  of  the  gospel  by 
 the  Divine  power,  in  the  gifts  of  prophecy  and  miracles. — Wil.  2.  Not 
 to  know,  *  not  to  teach,'  or  '  to  make  known,' — Horsley.  3.  In  weak- 
 ness, '  of  body  and  speech.' — Whitby.  Fear — trembling,  'awe  of  his 
 great  and  weighty  charge.' — Bp.  Hall.  4.  Demonstration  of  the 
 Spirit,  '  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit.'— il/ucfr/j.  Manifested  by  miracles  and 
 success. — R.  Bn.rter.  Power,  Swafm  is  often  used  in  scripture  to  ex- 
 press the  power  of  working  miracles,  (Acts,  x.  3^.) — Mackn.  5,  Stand, 
 be  founded.— Z)e  Wette.  In  order  that  your  faith  may  stand  not  on 
 human  wisdom,  but  on  the  power  of  God. — Luther.  6.  Perfect, 
 thoroughly  understand  the  nature  of  the  Christian  religion. —  Wells, 
 Wd.  Wisdom  of  this  world,  arts  and  sciences  of  the  Greeks,  and  con- 
 ceits of  the  Jewish  rabbies. —  Wells.  Nor  of  the  princes  of  this  ivorld, 
 meaning,  not  the  idolatry,  superstition,  curious  and  magic  arts  used 
 by  demons.— Gi//.  Come  to  nought,  avails  nothing  for  their  spiritual 
 and  eternal  welfare. — Wells.  7.  hi  a  mystery,  hidden  under  the 
 Jewish  types,  and  darkly  spoken  of  by  the  prophets. — Hain.  Hidden, 
 'before,'  not  after  the  revelation  of  it,  fRom.  xvi.  25,  26;  Eph.  i.  9  ; 
 iii.  4,  &.C.)— Whitby.  Ordained  before  the  world,  before  it  was  to  be 
 opened  in  the  fulness  of  time  to  our  glory.— fl.  Bn.iter.  Unto  our 
 glory, '  to  be  the  means  of  our  happiness  and  glory.' — Whitby,  Bp.  Halt. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I. — This  chapter,  I,  Skews  us 
 what  constitutes  a  hoili/ofreal  Christiatis.  The  church  at  Co- 
 rinth consisted  of  those  who  were  sanctified,  set  apart  from 
 the  world,  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  effectually  called,  by  Divine 
 grace,  out  of  the  darkness  of  sin  and  this  world's  vanities, 
 into  the  light  and  enjoyment  of  the  i;ospel,  called  to  be  saints, 
 or  holy  ones,  and  accustomed  to  call  upon  the  Lord  Jesus  by 
 worshipping  him  and  adoring  him  as  tiieir  great  God  and  Sa- 
 viour. 
 
 II.  ft  reproves  undm-  partiality  to  minivers.  There  is  often 
 regard  to  the  man  more  than  to  the  Master  whom  he  should 
 1209 
 
 exhibit ;  more  regard  to  the  manner  than  to  the  matter.  Every 
 faithful  servant  of  Christ  should  command  attention  by  bis 
 message,  and  esteem  for  his  work. 
 
 III.  It  rchukrs  the  spirit  ofschisyn  ;  for,  as  one  well  remarks, 
 'divisions  in  the  church  fereed  atheism  in  the  world.'  They 
 should  therefore  be  avoided  as  much  as  possible. 
 
 IV.  It  commends  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  This  is  the 
 grand  catholicon  for  the  moral  maladies  of  man.  It  is  by  this 
 simple  means  that  men  are  made  wise  unto  salvation.  And 
 herein  all  the  glory  redounds  to  Him  who  readers  so  simple  a 
 remedy  so  mighty  in  its  operations. 
 
 7  P 
 
The  manner  of  PaiiVs  preachinr/. 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  III. 
 
 Against  strife  anil  division. 
 
 8  "  Which  none  of  the  princes  of  this  world 
 knew:  for  "had  they  known  //,  they  would 
 not  have  crucified  the  Lord  of  glory. 
 
 9  liut  as  it  is  written,  ''Eye  hatli  not  seen, 
 nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the 
 heart  of  man,  the  things  which  God  hath  pre- 
 pared for  them  that  love  him. 
 
 10  But  ''  God  hatli  revealed  tliem  unto  us  by 
 his  Spirit :  for  the  Spirit  searcheth  all  things, 
 yea,  the  deep  things  of  God. 
 
 1 1  For  what  man  knoueth  the  things  of  a 
 man,  'save  the  spirit  of  man  which  is  in  him? 
 "even  so  the  things  of  God  knoweth  no  man, 
 but  the  Spirit  of  God. 
 
 12  Now  we  have  received,  not  the  spirit  of 
 the  world,  but  '  the  spirit  which  is  of  God  ;  that 
 we  might  know  the  things  that  are  freely  given 
 to  us  of  God. 
 
 13  "  Which  things  also  we  speak,  not  in  the 
 words  which  man's  wisdom  teacheth,  but  which 
 the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth;  comparing  spiritual 
 things  with  spiritual. 
 
 14  ^  But  the  natural  man  receiveth  not  the 
 things  of  the  Spirit  of  God  :  ''for  they  are  fool- 
 ishness nnto  him  :  '■  neither  can  ho  know  tliem, 
 because  they  are  spiritually  discerned. 
 
 1.5  "But  he  that  is  spiritual  ||judgeth  all 
 things,  yet  he  himself  is  ||  judged  of  no  man. 
 
 16  '' Foi  who  hath  known  the  mind  of  the 
 Lord,  that  he  f  niay  instruct  him  ?  "'  But  we 
 have  the  mind  of  Christ. 
 
 CHAP.  lU. 
 
 2   MiVt  is  Jit  for  children.     3  Strife  and  division,  ar- 
 guments of  a  fleshly  mind.      7  He  that  pUmtelh,  and 
 
 A.  D.5a, 
 
 1  ^fat.ll.25 
 .lohn  7.  4^^ 
 Acta  13.  27, 
 2  Cor.  3  |.l 
 
 Acts  3.   17. 
 See  John 
 16   3. 
 p  l3.  61.  4. 
 
 7  ^lat.lH  11. 
 &   16.  17. 
 John  14.26. 
 tie  16.  13. 
 lJohn2.27, 
 
 '  Pro.  20.  27. 
 
 ft  87.  19. 
 
 Jer.  17.  9. 
 :  Item.  11.33, 
 
 31. 
 
 <  2  Pel.l.lfi, 
 See  ch.  I. 
 17.  ver.  -l. 
 
 X  Mat.  10  23. 
 V  oh.  1.  is, 
 
 Pro.  28   .■!. 
 
 ITliesS.*!. 
 
 I  John  4.  1. 
 II  Or, 
 
 diteernelli . 
 II  Op, 
 
 diicernrd, 
 
 b  Job  15     !j). 
 
 IB.  -10    13 
 
 Jer.  ?3.  18. 
 
 \Visd,n.l3. 
 
 Uom.ll  S*. 
 t  Gr.  nbalt. 
 c  Jolinl5  15 
 
 1  cli.  2,  l.-i. 
 li  C\\  i.  \\. 
 c  Heb.  5.  13. 
 d  Heb.  5.  12, 
 
 13.  I  Pet.  2. 
 
 fJolin  16.12. 
 /ch.  1.11.8c 
 
 11.  IS.  Gal. 
 
 5,  211,  21. 
 
 Jam.  3.  16. 
 II  Or. 
 fncfioni. 
 
 iGr.OCror'l- 
 
 ing  to  mil;. 
 &  ch.  I.  IS 
 /<  Cb.  *    1 . 
 
 8  Coi-  3.  3. 
 iKom.  y^.^, 
 
 6.  I  I'et.  4. 
 
 II. 
 k  Acts  IS.  4, 
 
 fi,  11.  ch.  1. 
 
 IS.&9. 1.  v*i£ 
 
 15.1.  2  Cor. 
 
 10.14,  \5. 
 /  ActBl!*.21, 
 27.  &  !£».  I . 
 11  ch.  I,  30. 
 
 Be  15.  10. 
 
 2  Cnr.3.  5. 
 'J  2  Cor.  IS. 
 
 II.  Gal.6.3 
 
 0  Pn  62.  12, 
 Rom.  2.  6. 
 ch.  4.  6. 
 Gal.  (}.  4.  5. 
 Rev.  2.  23. 
 «c  22.  12. 
 
 p  Acts  15.  A-. 
 
 2  Cor.  6.  I. 
 II  Or,  tillage, 
 q  Eph.  a.  20. 
 
 Col.  2.  7. 
 
 Heb.  3. 3, -V. 
 
 I  Pet.  ?.  5. 
 Rom,  I.  5. 
 
 &  12.  3. 
 
 Rom.I5.30. 
 
 vcr.B.  chl 
 
 15.  Rev  l\ 
 
 14. 
 
 1  1  Pet.  4.1 1. 
 
 he  that  jvntereth,  is  notitiruj.     9   The  ministers  are 
 
 God's  fallow-workmen.  II  Christ  the  only  founda- 
 tion. 16  Men  the  temples  of  God,  which  "l7  7nust 
 he  kept  hoh/.  19  The  wisdoni  of  this  ivorld  isfoolish- 
 Jiess  with  God. 
 
 A  ND  I,  brethren,  could  not  speak  unto  you 
 -^^  as  unto  "spiritual,  but  as  unto  ''carnal, 
 eveyi  as  unto  ^  babes  in  Christ. 
 
 2  I  have  fed  you  with  ■*  milk,  and  not  with 
 meat:  ^for  hitherto  ye  were  not  able  lo  bear 
 it,  neither  yet  now  are  ye  able. 
 
 3  For  ye  are  yet  carnal :  for  '"whereas  there 
 is  among  you  envying,  and  strife,  and  ||  divi- 
 sions, are  ye  not  carnal,  and  walk  fas  men? 
 
 4  For  while  one  saith,  ^  I  am  of  Paul  ;  and 
 another,  I  ant  of  Apollos  ;   are  ye  not  carual? 
 
 5  Who  then  is  Paul,  and  who  is  Apollos,  but 
 '■  ministers  by  whom  ye  believed,  '  even  as  the 
 Lord  gave  to  every  man? 
 
 6  ''  I  have  planted,  '  Apollos  watered  ;  ""  but 
 God  gave  the  increase. 
 
 7  So  then  "neither  is  he  that  planteth  any 
 thing,  neither  he  that  watereth  ;  but  God  that 
 giveth  the  increase. 
 
 8  Now  he  that  planteth  and  he  that  watereth 
 are  one  :  "  and  every  man  shall  receive  his  own 
 reward  according  to  his  own  labour. 
 
 9  For  P  we  are  labourers  together  with  God  : 
 ye  are  God's  ||  husbandry,  ^e  are  '^  God's  build- 
 ing. 
 
 10  "According  to  the  grace  of  God  which  is 
 given  unto  me,  as  a  wise  masterbuilder,  1  have 
 laid  ^the  foundation,  and  another  buildeth 
 thereon.  But  ^  let  every  man  take  heed  how 
 he  buildeth  thereupon. 
 
 8.  Princes,  aliuding  to  Herod,  Pontius  Pilate,  Scc.—Bp.  Ha/l.  Rather, 
 the  ecclesiastical  rulers  of  the  Jewish  church  state.  Would  not  have 
 rrucijied  the  Lord,  they  would  have  received  him,  and  believed  in  him. 
 
 9.  A.s  it  is  written,  in  Isa.  Ixiv.  4,  with  some  variation,  and  brought  to 
 prove  that  the  gospel  is  mysterious  and  hidden  wisdom.— GiV/.  Ei/e 
 hdth  not  seen,  evidently  applied  here  to  the  church  on  earth  ;  but  the 
 sense  is  often  lost  sight  of  by  quoting  it  in  reference  to  heaven.— i>au. 
 Preachers  usually  misquote  this  passage,  interpolating  it  with  the 
 words  'to  conceive. '—ii'rf.  Them  that  love  him,  in  the  original  text  it  is, 
 '  (or  him  that  waiteth  for  him  ;'  the  sense  is  the  same,  for  such  as  hope 
 in  the  Lord,  and  wait  for  him,  are  lovers  of  him.— G*7/.  10.  Revealed, 
 by  the  gracious  iDtcrnal  illumination  of  his  Spirit,  by  means  of,  and 
 together  with,  his  word.— GH^se.  11.  The  things  of  a  man,  'a  man's 
 secret  thoughts.'— Bp.  //«//.  But  the  Spirit,  this  expression  is  only  to 
 exclude  all  creatures,  of  what  rank  soever,  from  this  knowledge  ;  but 
 no  more  excludes  the  Father  and  Son  from  it,  than  our  Lord  excluded 
 the  Father  and  Spirit  from  equal  knowledge  with  himself,  when  he 
 said,  {Matt.  xi.  27,)  '  No  man  knows  the  Father,  save  the  Son,  and  he 
 to  whom  the  Son  will  reveal  him.'— Gui/se.  12.  Not  the  Spirit  of  the 
 world,  '  which  suggests  worldly  wisdom.'— Whit />//.  The  things'  that 
 nre  freehf  given,  the  great  spiritual  blessings  of  forgiveness  and  salva- 
 tion.—iJ/j.  Ha/l.  13.  V(impu}-ing  spiritual  things,  the  inspired  things 
 nf  the  Old  Testament  with  those  now  revealed  by  the  same  Spirit. — 
 Whithy.  14.  The  ?iaturalman  receiveth  not,  fyr., '  with  all  his  learn- 
 ing,  he  counts  them  fanatic  dreams  and  foolishness.'  Spiritunllif  dis- 
 cerned, by  a  mind  illuminated  by  God's  spirit.— ii.  Baxter.  13.  judg- 
 eth  all  things,  §rc.,  he  may  convince  the  natural  man,  hut  he  himself 
 can  be  cunvinced  or  convicted  by  no  natural  owe.—Rosenm.,  Krause, 
 fic.  '  He  examiueth  all  things,  hut  is  examined  of  no  oue.'—Mackn. 
 AvaKpive*,  '  he  searclies  into,  discerns,  and  is  capable  of  forming  a  right 
 judgment  about  all  things  that  are  necessary  to  he  known  relating  to 
 God's  way  of  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ,  but  he  himself  is  not  discerned, 
 or  certainly  judged  of,  nor  can  be  confuted.*— (?(*;/«.         16.  That  he 
 
 may  instruct  him,  ot  (Tu^/Si/Jtio-ei  tivioi',  *  that  he  may  teach  it,'  that  is, 
 the  mind  of  God ;  not  instruct  God,  but  teach  his  mind  to  others. — 
 A.  Clarke.  Have,  'know,'  'understand.*  The  mind  of  Christ,  con- 
 cerning the  whcle  plan  of  gospel  salvation. — Bens. 
 
 Chap.  HI.  —  I.  Covfd  7iot  apeak — as  unto  spiritual ;  the  apostle  seems 
 to  meet  an  objection  that  he  did  not  tcacli  the  Corinthians  the  sublime 
 parts  of  Christianity. —  Wells.  Carnal,  tjapKiKoct,  persons  under  the  in- 
 fluence of  tleshly  appetites. — A.  Clarke.  *  Fleshly  men,'  which,  as  dif- 
 ferent from  animal  men,  means  persons  of  a  weak  capacity. — Mackn. 
 As  the  apostle  calls  these  Corinthians  '  brethren,*  and  '  babes  in  Christ,* 
 it  shews  that  when  he  spoke  of  them  as  being  'carnal,*  he  did  not 
 mean  it  absolutely,  but  comparatively,  as  they  were  Christians  of  low 
 attainments,  and  more  inrtncnccd  by  fleshly  principles  than  some  other 
 believers. — Guysc.  2.  Milk,  of  the  first  principles  of  religion.  Meat, 
 of  harder  and  higher  doctrines.— Bp.  Half.  3.  Envying  and  strife, 
 
 ^c,  which  arc  the  works  of  the  flesh,  (Gal.  v.  ]^— 21.)— Whitby.  As 
 men,  '  as  the  rest  of  the  world.'— GiV/.  •  According  to  the  corrupt  na- 
 ture of  man.* — R,  Baxter.  5.  Even  as  the  Lord  gave  to  every  man  ? 
 gifts  to  minister  with. — Gill.  7.  So  then,  ^c,  glory  in  God  the  Au- 
 thor, and  not  in  the  instruments. — Ed.  8.  One,  exercising  the  same 
 ministerial  grace  and  nftice.— J?.  Baxter.  9.  Labourers  together  with 
 God,  avve.p-{oi  Be^ov,  'the  fellow- labourers  of  GoA.^—Doddr.,  Mackn, 
 The  servants  or  oflicers  of  God  co-operating  with  each  other  in  that 
 great  work. — Ham.  God's  husbandry,  thus  God's  people,  Isa.  Ixi.  3, 
 are  called  *  the  planting  of  the  Lord.*  God's  building,  thus  the  church 
 is  called  '  the  house  of  God,'  1  Tim.  iii.  \h.— Poole.  Calvin  here  ad- 
 mires the  honour  of  the  ministry;  insignificant  mttrtals  being,  as  it 
 were.  God's  assistants.  The  idea  is,  however,  not  to  be  received  as  ex- 
 pressive of  a  joint  concern  with  God,  but  as  intimating  that  ministers 
 are  fellow-workmen  in  God's  cause.— Erf.  lO.  Foundation,  Jesns 
 Christ  crucified,  [chap,  ii.2.} — Ham.,  Whitby,  Gill,  &c.  Another  build- 
 eth, another  minister  of  the  gospel.  How  he  buildeth,  evenly,  accord- 
 ing to  the  analogy  of  faith  j  in  proportion  to  the  foundation,  &c. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chai-.  II.  — I.  '  Behold  the  native  beauties 
 of  the  gospel!  which  is,  indeed,  God's  own  testiniony,  and  ap- 
 pears best  in  its  own  light  and  language.  All  its  lines  centre 
 in  a  crucified  Christ,  wbose  sacrifice  is  of  infinite  value,  as  be 
 is  the  Lord  of  glory.' 
 
 II.  The  gospel  requires  no  external  aids  to  recoviinend  it.  *  The 
 gaudy,  false,  paint  of  human  oratory  is  so  far  from  setting  off 
 this  important  doctrine  with  advantage,  that  it  obscures  the 
 illustrious  simplicity,  and  Divine  wisdom  and  grace,  which 
 are  its  highest  recommendation.' 
 
 III.  Yet  the  deep  things  which  the  gospel  reveals  exceed  all  hu- 
 man thought,  and  catt  only  be  understood  by  the  infernal  illumina- 
 
 1210 
 
 tion  of  the  Spirit.  These  '  can  neither  be  found  out  by  natural 
 reason,  nor  spiritually  understood  and  relished  by  unrenewed 
 minds, wbicb,  instead  of  cordially  embracing  them,  count  them 
 foolishness,' 
 
 I\^.  But  all  true  heli^virs  are  partakers  of  God's  holy  Spirit* 
 He  leads  them  '  into  all  necessary  truth,  and  gives  them  a  right 
 discerning  of  it  in  a  spiritual  manner,  that  they  may  savingly 
 know  those  great  and  inexpressibly  glorious  things  wbicb  God 
 has  prepared  for  tbem,  and  freely  given  to  them,  and  may  be 
 capable  of  distinguishing  gospel  truths  from  the  errors  that  lie 
 in  opposition  to  tbem.'g'* 
 
Men  the  temples  of  God. 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  IV. 
 
 Of  judging  ministers. 
 
 1 1  For  other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than 
 "  that  is  laid,  "  which  is  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 12  Now  if  any  man  build  upon  this  founda- 
 tion gold,  silver,  precious  stones,  wood,  hay, 
 stubble  ; 
 
 13  '  Every  man's  work  shall  be  made  mani- 
 fest :  for  the  day  "  shall  declare  it,  because  "it 
 fsliall  be  revealed  by  fire  ;  and  the  fire  shall 
 try  every  man's  work  of  what  sort  it  is. 
 
 14  If  any  man's  work  aliide  which  he  hath 
 built  thereupon,  'he  shall  receive  a  reward. 
 
 15  If  any  man's  work  shall  be  burned,  he 
 shall  suffer  loss:  but  he  himself  shall  be  saved  ; 
 ■^  yet  so  as  by  fire. 
 
 lOi  ''  Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of 
 God,  and  that  the  Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in 
 you  ? 
 
 17  If  any  man  ||  defile  the  temple  of  God, 
 him  shall  God  destroy  ;  for  the  temple  of  God 
 is  holy,  which  temple  ye  are. 
 
 18  "  Let  no  man  deceive  himself  If  any  man 
 among  you  seemeth  to  be  wise  in  this  world, 
 let  him  become  a  fool,  that  he  may  be  wise. 
 
 19  For  'the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolish- 
 ness with  God.  For  it  is  written,  ^  He  taketh 
 the  wise  in  their  own  craftiness. 
 
 '20  And  again,  •'  The  Lord  knoweth  the 
 thoughts  of  the  wise,  that  they  are  vain. 
 
 21  Therefore  '  let  no  man  glory  in  men.  For 
 '  all  things  are  your's  ; 
 
 A.  D.  £9. 
 
 A.  D.  69. 
 
 ii  I^.  ^8.  16. 
 
 Mat  II).  IS. 
 
 2  0or.  11.4. 
 
 Gal,  1.  7. 
 
 ntom.  !V   8 
 
 .r  Eph.  2.20. 
 
 cli,  11.  .S. 
 
 2  Cor,  10.  7. 
 
 Gal.:j.  2^. 
 
 y  ch.  4.  5. 
 
 z  1  Pet.  1.  7. 
 
 h  4.  ii. 
 
 aUxW.->.^U. 
 
 ^  Gr.   M 
 
 tevralvd. 
 
 b  cll.  ♦.  5. 
 
 u  Mat   21  Ah. 
 
 rh  3.5    &  9. 
 
 17.2  Cor.G. 
 
 c  Jude  ?3. 
 
 1-  C<tl.  1.25. 
 
 (fch.  6.   19 
 
 \i.  Til  1.7. 
 
 2  Cor- 6- Mi. 
 
 I  Pet,  -1.  10. 
 
 Eph.  2.  SI, 
 
 22.  Hi'b.  .1. 
 
 6.1  Pet.'2.'. 
 
 11   OT,dti{r-!) 
 
 t  Gr.  ihy. 
 
 ch.  3.  13. 
 
 c  Job  9   2. 
 
 cPro.  S.  7 
 
 Ps.130.  .■*.  & 
 
 la.  5.  21. 
 
 M.'t.  2.  Pro. 
 
 21.  2.  Rom. 
 
 3.  20.  &  4..3. 
 
 d  Mat.  7.  I. 
 
 /ch.  1.20. 
 
 Horn.  2.  1, 
 
 ;?.  2.  6. 
 
 16.  &  M.  ^. 
 
 g  jL.b  5.  13. 
 
 10,  IH. 
 
 lUv   20.  13. 
 
 pch.3.  13. 
 
 h  Ps.  91.  M. 
 
 /Rom. 2.  29. 
 
 ich.  1.  12.  & 
 
 2  Cor.  5.  10. 
 
 4.  6.  %«r.  4. 
 
 g  ch.  1.  12. 
 
 5,  G. 
 
 &  3.  4. 
 
 ki  Cor. 4.  5, 
 
 la. 
 
 h  Bom. 12.3, 
 
 22  Whether  Paul,  or  ApoUos,  or  Cephas,  or 
 the  world,  or  life,  or  death,  or  things  present, 
 or  things  to  come  ;  all  are  your's  j 
 
 2.3  And  '  ye  are  Christ's ;  and  Christ  is 
 God's. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  la  tvhat  account  the  ministers  ought  to  he  had.  7 
 We  have  nothing  which  we  have  nutrecciucd.  9  The 
 apostles  spectacles  to  the  worlds  annds,  and  me?i,  13 
 the  filth  and  offscourhig  of  the  world:  15  yet  our  fa- 
 thers in  Christ,  16  whnm  n-e  ought  to  follow. 
 
 T  ET  a  man  so  account  of  us,  as  of  ^  the  mi- 
 -^  nisters  of  Christ,  ^and  stewards  of  the 
 mysteries  of  God. 
 
 2  Moreover  it  is  required  in  stewards,  that  a 
 man  be  found  faithful. 
 
 3  But  with  me  it  is  a  very  small  thing  that  I 
 should  be  judged  of  you,  or  of  man's  t  judg- 
 ment :  yea,  I  judge  not  mine  own  self. 
 
 4  For  I  know  nothing  by  myself;  "^  yet  am  I 
 not  hereby  justified  :  but  he  that  judgeth  me 
 is  the  Lord. 
 
 5  ^  Therefore  judge  notiiing  before  the  time, 
 until  the  Lord  come,  "^  who  both  will  bring  to 
 light  the  bidden  tilings  of  darkness,  and  will 
 make  manifest  the  counsels  of  the  hearts:  and 
 ^then  shall  every  man  have  praise  of  God. 
 
 6  And  these  things,  brethren,  ^  I  have  in  a 
 figure  transferred  to  myself  and  to  ApoUos  for 
 your  sakes  ;  ^  that  ye  might  learn  in  us  not  to 
 
 II.  Can,  rather,  'may.'— 5?(irfe.  12.  Go/d,  silver^  precious  stones, 
 emblems  of  the  valuable  truths  of  the  gospel. — Gill.  Emblems  of  be- 
 lievers, who  are  living  stnnes.— H''!7.,as  Mackn.,  so  St.  Jerome,  Theo- 
 doret,  &c.  Wood,  hay,  stubble,  not  damnable  heresies,  but  empty, 
 trifling,  useless  things  are  meant,  such  as  fables,  endless  genealogies, 
 human  traditions,  Jewish  rites,  &c.,  for  the  builder  here  may  be  saved 
 at  last. — Gill,  so  Wells.  Professors  of  an  unworthy  character  taken  in 
 to  swell  the  church. — So  WiL,  as  Mntkn.  13.  D(iy,  of  judgment. — 
 
 Guyse,  Doddr.,  Scott.  A  day  of  tribulation  and  persecution,  which 
 was  approaching. — So  Whitby,  Gill,  Mackn  ,  Clarke.  Perliajjs  i]  tjAitprz, 
 rendered  *  the  day,'  might  be  rendered  '  time  will  declare  it' — a  little 
 time  manifests  wiiether  a  minister's  doctrine  be  scriptural  and  sound, 
 and  his  doctrines  gi^nnine  or  not. — Bens.  Declare  it,  '  lay  it  open.' — 
 Doddr.  Revealed  by  fire,  not  of  conflagration  or  of  purgatory,  but  of 
 tribulation  and  affliction. — Gill.  Marie  manifest  by  the  fire  of  God's 
 judgment —iJ/j. //«//.      Try,   '  prove.'— Doddr.  H.  Abide,  as  gold 
 
 abides  the  fire. —  Wells.  Perhaps  there  is  an  allusion  to  the  purifying 
 of  different  sorts  of  vessels,  (Num.  xxxi.  23.)— C/«i-Ae.  !5.  Work 
 shall  be  burned,  doclriues  which,  through  ignorance  and  mistake,  are 
 unscriptural  and  false,  though  not  fundamentally  erroneous. — Gityse. 
 Suffer  loss,  of  his  labour  and  pains.— Gi7/,  as  Bp.  Hall,  and  Wells. 
 Sacerf,  because  he  maintains  the  foundation. — Bp.  Hall.  As  by  fire, 
 with  apparent  difficulty  and  danger,  as  a  man  escapes  the  flames  when 
 his  house  and  goods  are  burned. — So  Guyse,  so  Gill.  l6.  I'e  are  the 
 temple  of  God,  that  i.s,  the  church  at  Corinth  incorporated  together  in  a 
 church  state ;  in  allusion  to  Sohjmtin's  temple,  which,  as  it  was  a  type 
 of  the  natural,  so  of  the  mystical,  body  of  Christ.  Divelleth  in  you  ?  in 
 particular  members,  as  a  spirit  of  regeneration,  sanclification,  faith, 
 and  adnption  ;  and  as  the  earnest  and  pledge  of  their  future  glory  ;  and 
 in  the  whole  church  for  their  growth,  comfort,  and  establishment. — 
 Gill.  17.  ^f  <iny  man  defile,  ^c,  by  filthiness  of  the  flesh,  unclcan- 
 ness,  and  fornication  ;  or,  by  filthiness  of  the  spirit — that  is,  of  idola- 
 trous practices;  of  both  which  the  Corinthians  were  guilty,  (comp. 
 chap.  vi.  15— 19  ;  2Cor.  vi.  IG  ;  vii.  l.) — Whitby.  It  would  bee.\tremely 
 dangerous  for  any  one,  by  false  doctrines  or  a  licentious  example,  to 
 defile  the  church  or  any  of  its  members. — Scott.  This  asserts  holiness 
 in  doctrine,  worship,  and  conversation,  to  deter  false  teachers  from 
 making  use  of  any  means  to  corrupt  them. — Gill.  E(  t/?  top  vaov  rov 
 Oeov  ({jOetpii,  'si  qiiis  lemplum  Dei  corrumpit.' — Mont.  '  If  anyone 
 destroy  the  temple  of  God.*  '  1  agree  with  Locke  in  thinking  that  the 
 apostle,  in  this  pa'^sage,  had  the  false  teacher  and  the  faction  at  Co- 
 rinth more  particularly  in  his  eye.' — Mackn.  The  word  should  rather 
 be  rendered  *  corrupt  or  destroy' — that  is,  divide  and  scatter  a  Chris- 
 tian church  or  society  by  schisms  or  unscriptural  doctrines,  or  leaven 
 with  error  and  lead  into  sin  a  real  Christian. — Bens.  The  verb  is  the 
 Csame  in  both  cases :  '  If  any  man  {ipOeipet)  destroy  the  temple  of  God 
 (ipOeipet  Toi/Tov  6  Oeor,)  him  will  God  destroy.'  '  If  any  man  wilfully 
 injure,  corrupt,  or  destroy  the  church  of  God  by  false  doctrine,  God 
 
 will  destroy  him.'— Clarke.  18.  Seemeth  to  be  wise,  &oKet,  'thinketh 
 to  be  wise,'  so  the  word  is  translated  I  Cor.  viii.  2.  The  false  teacher, 
 with  a  view  to  allure  the  Corinthians,  thought  it  wise  to  conceal  some 
 truths  and  qualify  others. — So  Mackn.  Become  a  foul,  acknowledge 
 liis  own  folly. ~<?(7/.  Embrace  that  doctrine  which  the  world  calls 
 foolisliness. —  Whitby.  19.  He  taketh  the  wise  in  their  own  craftiness, 
 the  Jewish  doctors  and  Gentile  philosophers,  with  their  schemes  to 
 corrupt  the  church,  and  which  would  prove  their  own  destruction. 
 The  allusion  is  either  to  the  taking  of  wild  beasts  and  birds  in  snares 
 and  nets,  or  to  the  taking  of  men  in  flight. — Gill.  20.   Thoughts, 
 
 (im\o7(o-Mo)'F,  ■  projects  and  reasonin^rs.' — Guyse.  21.  In  men,  minis- 
 ters, who  are  but  men. — Gill.  All  things  are  yours,  '  prefer  not  one  to 
 annther,  for  they  are  equally  intended  for  your  benefit  and  advantage.' 
 — So  Gill.  22.  The  world,  all  its  affairs  are  in  the  liands  of  Christ,  for 
 the  church's  good.  Life,  is  continued  as  long  as  it  is  best  for  them. 
 Death,  has  lost  its  sting.  Thi7igs  present,  temporal  or  spiritual, 
 comfortable  or  afilictive.  Things  to  come,  the  glory  and  blessed- 
 ness of  a  future  state.— Gh^/s.?.  23.  Ye  are  Christ's,  and  for  bis 
 glory. — R.  Boater.  His  peculiar  people,  property,  and  subjects. — 
 Guyse.  Bought  with  his  blood. — Clarke.  And  Christ  is  God's,  as 
 Man  and  Mediator,  and  for  his  glory. — R.  Baxter.  '  I  think  tliis 
 means,  that  in  making  God's  revelation,  Christ  is  God's  disciple  or 
 servant,'  (see  John,  vii.  16;  viii.  28;  xii.  49;  xiv.  10.) — Macknight. 
 Christ  the  Messiah  is  the  gift  of  God's  eternal  love  and  mercy  to  man- 
 kind, (John,  iii.  l6.) 
 
 Chap,  IV. —  1.  Mi7usters,  iiTrnperaf,  literally,  '  umier-rowers,*  who 
 rowed  in  one  of  tlie  undermost  benches  of  tlie  galleys  :  the  word  means, 
 as  used  by  Greek  writers,  any  inferior  officer  or  assistant. — Clarke. 
 It  intimates  that  ministers  are  to  take  great  pains  in  their  Lord's  ser- 
 \ice.—Giiyse.  Stewards,  or  '  economists,'  (see  Matt.  xxiv.  45  ;  Luke, 
 viii.  3  ;  xii.  42.)  These  officers  were  the  masters'  deputies  in  regu- 
 lating the  concerns  of  the  family,  and  providing  and  distributing  food 
 for  the  household. — Clarke.  As  stewards,  or  '  treasurers,'  the  apostles 
 were  intrusted  with  the  mind  of  Christ,  an  office  which,  in  the  highest 
 sense,  died  with  them. — Dav.  3.  Judged,  '  condemned.' — Dav.,  as 
 
 Mackn.  I  judge  not  mine  own  self,  '  I  dare  not  rely  upon  my  own 
 judgment.' — Stanhope.  '  I  am  conscious  of  no  omission  or  neglect  of 
 duty.'  — See  Beza,  Grot..  Rose7im.  '1  do  not  condemn  myself.' — 
 Mackn.  4.  I  know  nothing  by  myself,  '  am  not  conscious  that  I  am 
 guilty  of  any  evil,  or  have  neglected  to  fulfil  faithfully  the  duty  of  a 
 good  steward.' — A.  Clarke,  as  Mackn.,  Stanhope.  Not  hereby  justi- 
 fied, *  I  do  not  pretend  to  say  that  I  am  not  conscious  of  any  offence 
 towards  God.'— .4.  Clarke.  5.  Judge   nothing,  ^c, 'suspend  your 
 
 censures  of  your  teachers,  and  do  not  auticipate  the  judgment  of  God.' 
 Enery  man  bare  praise,  that  is,  those  who  have  discharged  their  duty 
 fairly  and  honestly. — Stanhope.  6.  Transferred  to  myself  and  to 
 
 ApoUos,  '  I  have  made  use  of  my  own  and  Apollos'  name  in  my  argu- 
 ments against  your  divisions,  because  I  would  spare  to  name  those 
 
 IlEFT.i.CTiova  ON  Chap.  TIT.  —  L  Christ  is  the  only  foumln- 
 iion  on  ?vhich  G"d  has  built  his  church.  Every  genuine  doctrine 
 must  lead  to  him.  Every  true  believer  must  rest  his  soul's 
 salvation  entirely  upon  him.      I4ere  *  Christ  is  all  and  in  all.' 
 
 II.    Whatever  is  7toi  built  upmi  Christ  inust  perish.       No  faith 
 will  stand — no  works  will  stand — no  hope  will  stand — no  com- 
 1-21! 
 
 munity  will  stand,  which  is  not  built  upon  Christ  and  ce- 
 mented in  Christ.  Time,  persecution,  death,  judgment,  will 
 bring  all  to  the  test,  and  will  awfully  disappoint  the  deceived 
 soul.  Christ  is  the  only  solid  ground  for  a  believer's  hope,  and 
 to  him  every  stone  of  the  spiritual  temple  is  united. 
 
The  apostles  spectacles  to  the  tvoi 
 
 Id. 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  V. 
 
 A  scandalous  incest  reproved. 
 
 think  of  null  :il)Ove  that  which  is  written,  that 
 no  one  of  you  '  be  puffed  up  fur  one  against 
 another. 
 
 7  For  vvlio  fuiaUeth  thee  to  liiffei from  an- 
 other f  and  '  what  hast  thou  tiiat  thou  didst 
 not  receive  ?  now  if  tliou  didst  receive  it,  vvliy 
 dost  thou  glory,  as  if  thou  liadst  not  received 
 itf 
 
 8  Now  ye  are  full,  '  now  ye  are  rich,  ye  have 
 reigned  as  liinps  witliout  us  :  and  I  would  to 
 Gud  ye  did  reign,  that  we  also  miglit  reign 
 with  you. 
 
 9  For  I  think  that  God  hath  set  forth  ||  us 
 the  apostles  last,  "'as  it  were  appointed  to 
 death:  for  "we  are  made  a  f  spectacle  unto 
 the  world,  and  to  angels,  and  to  men. 
 
 10  °  We  are  ^  fools  for  Christ's  sake,  but  yc 
 are  wise  in  Christ ;  ''  we  are  weak,  but  ye  are 
 strong ;  ye  are  honourable,  but  we  are  des- 
 pised. 
 
 11  'Even  unto  this  present  hour  we  both 
 hunger,  and  thirst,  and  'are  naked,  and  'are 
 buffeted,  and  have  no  certain  dwellingplace  ; 
 
 1-2  "  And  labour,  working  with  our  own 
 hands  :  "  being  reviled,  we  bless  ;  being  perse- 
 cuted, we  suffer  it : 
 
 1.3  ISoing  defamed,  we  intreat:  'we  are  made 
 as  the  tilth  of  the  world,  and  arc  the  offscour- 
 ing  of  all  things  unto  tliis  day. 
 
 14  I  write  not  these  tilings  to  shame  you,  but 
 '  as  my  beloved  sons  I  warn  yuii. 
 
 15  For  though  ye  have  ten  thousand  in- 
 structors in  Christ,  yet  have  ye  not  many  fa- 
 thers:  for  "in  Christ  Jesus  I  have  begotten 
 you  through  tlie  gospel. 
 
 16  Wherefore   I   beseech  you,  ''be   ye   fol- 
 
 Sc5. 
 t  Gr.  I 
 
 ™3.  27. 
 1.  17 
 
 I  Rev.S.  17. 
 
 II  Or,  n«  the 
 Idttapoillfi; 
 
 •„  P..  41  0-: 
 Rom  9  :16 
 ch  i:>  3l). 
 31.  2  Ci.r.l 
 II.  &  tl.  9. 
 
 n  H.-b.UI.3S. 
 
 t  Gr.  t!ifi>tn. 
 
 .,  ch    5.  3. 
 
 ;,  Arts  17.19 
 
 i-li  I.IK,  J<c 
 Jit  2    II    f. 
 
 VCi 
 
 .  4   R 
 
 r  M..t. 
 I.uki- 
 
 5(  1 1  .-.'S— :^. 
 IMiil    4 
 
 1  j..i>  as, 
 
 Bi.in.  S 
 
 '  A«t8  '^-  i. 
 
 I  Ai-ts  19  3. 
 ft  1\1-  3V 
 I  Tl,es.2  9. 
 ■>The9.  3  9 
 1  riirtl.lO 
 j.44. 
 
 .I.  -^3.  31. 
 
 Act*  7.  60. 
 
 Rom. 12. U. 
 
 '.'».  I  Pet  ?. 
 
 ■i3.  fc  .1  9. 
 V  l.am  3  4.5 
 .:lTlies  -MI 
 u  Acts  IS  11. 
 
 Hiim  \h:H). 
 
 ch   3.  6. 
 
 li.J.  4.  19. 
 
 Philcm.  10. 
 
 Jam.  I.  18 
 b  ch    It.  1. 
 
 Phil.  3.  17- 
 
 l  Thcs.l.G. 
 
 £  Thcs.  3.9. 
 
 A.  D. 
 
 s  l!'.8.' 
 
 33. 
 
 «A. 
 
 ch.  16.  lu. 
 
 Phil.  2.  19. 
 
 I  Thes  3  2 
 rf  I  Tim. I.  2, 
 
 ch.  11.  2. 
 /ch.  7 
 g  ch.   I' 
 ■|  ch.  5.  a. 
 
 Acts  19.21. 
 
 ch.  16.  5. 
 
 2Coc.  1.15, 
 
 23. 
 A  Acts  IS  21. 
 
 Rom. 15  32. 
 
 Heb   6   3. 
 
 Jam.  4.  15. 
 
 ch   i.  4. 
 
 I  Thes.  1.5. 
 
 m2Cor.  10. 
 2.  &  13.  lU. 
 
 lowers  of  me. 
 
 1 7  For  this  cause  have  I  sent  unto  you  "  Ti- 
 
 notheus,  ''  who  is  my  beloved  son,  and  faithful 
 n  the  Lord,  who  shall  bring  you  '  into  icniem- 
 brance  of  my  ways  which  be  in  C'lirist,  as  I 
 '  teach  everywhere  ^  in  every  church. 
 
 18  ''  Now  some  are  puffed  up,  as  though  I 
 would  not  come  to  you. 
 
 19  '  But  I  will  come  to  you  shortly,  '  if  the 
 Lord  will,  and  will  know,  not  the  speech  of 
 them  which  are  puffed  up,  hut  the  power. 
 
 20  For  '  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  in  word, 
 but  in  power. 
 
 21  What  will  ye?  "shall  I  come  unto  you 
 with  a  rod,  or  in  love,  and  in  the  spirit  of  meek- 
 ness ? 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1    Tlie  incestmus  person  6  is  c  vc  rather  of  shame  wilo 
 titrm,  tlian  of  r,joicint/.     7    Tlie  old  leaven  is  to  he 
 
 purged  out. 
 and  avoided. 
 
 10  Heinous  offenders  are  to  be  shamed 
 
 o  Eph.  5.  3. 
 
 6  Lev  18  8 
 Deut.2J  3U 
 &  27.  20. 
 
 cSCor.7.12. 
 
 rfch.  4.  19. 
 
 r2  Cm-  7.  T, 
 10. 
 
 /  Col.  2.  5. 
 
 I  Or. 
 drlnTnine4. 
 
 H  Mat.lG.19. 
 k  IS.  IS. 
 John  20  23. 
 2  Cor  2.  10. 
 8t  13.  S,  10. 
 
 IT  is  reported  commonly  that  there  is  forni- 
 cation among  you,  and  such  fornication  as 
 is  not  so  much  as  "named  among  the  Gentiles, 
 '■  that  one  should  have  his  "  father's  wife. 
 
 2  ''  And  ye  arc  puffed  up,  and  have  not  rather 
 *  mourned,  that  he  lliat  luitli  done  this  deed 
 might  be  taken  away  from  among  you. 
 
 3  '  For  I  verily,  as  absent  in  body,  hut  pre- 
 sent in  spirit,  have  ||  judged  already,  as  though 
 I  were  present,  concerning  him  thai  hath  so 
 done  this  deed, 
 
 4  In  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 when  ye  are  gathered  together,  and  my  spirit, 
 5  with  the  power  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Clirist, 
 
 tcaclierg  among  you  whn  are  guilty  of  making  and  heading  parties.' — 
 Bp.  Peurce.  /.  Who  maketh  thee?  ^c.,  probably  addressed  to  some 
 teachers  glorying  iu  their  gitli.— Clarke.  8.  Full,  of  secular  wis- 
 dom, nuh,  m  wealth  and  spiritual  gifts,  Ccliap.  xiv.  26.)  Reigned, 
 in  tranquillity  and  h  muiir.— ir7ii(/'i(.  '  I  rather  think  this  is  a  strong 
 irony.'— So  Clnrke.  9.  Setfiirlh  us  the  u/iaslles  last,  as  it  were  ap- 
 pointed la  death  :  for  we  are  made  a  speetaele,  ^c— the  allusion  is  to 
 the  Roman  spectacles.  In  the  morning,  men  were  brought  forth, 
 armed,  to  tiu'lit  with  wild  beasts;  at  uoou,  glailiators 
 forth,  naked,  to  flght  with  the  sword,  and  he  that  then 
 only  kept  for  slaugliter  another  day  ;  so  that  these  men  mig! 
 «7r.(luvaT<u.,  '  men  appointed  for  death ;'  and  this  being  the  last  ap- 
 pearance upon  the  theatre  lor  that  day,  they  are  said  to  be  set  forth, 
 tox""".  'the  last.'— II7.i(4j(,  so  Grat.,  Vale.,  Beza,  Eisner,  /,e.  It 
 simply  means  '  men  condemned  to  death.'— ii/oom/.,  as  Chrysosl.  We 
 are  made  a  speetaele.  67,  Oeajpou  <it«j|»>iMt'',  '  we  are  exhibited  on  the 
 theatre  to  the  world;'  '  we  are  lawful  booty  to  all  mankind.'  10.  Fools, 
 —they  were  accustomed  to  hiss,  hoot,  mock,  and  variously  insult  the 
 poor  victims  at  the  theatre.  Ye  are  wise,  §<:.- surely  all  these  expres- 
 sions are  meant  ironically.— C/tii-Ac  so  llackn.  •  Ye,  forsooth,  are 
 very  wise  men,  deeply  learned  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,'  kc.—Ham. 
 Not  ironical,  but  means  '  fools'  and  '  wise'  in  human  estimation  ;  the 
 success  of  the  gospel  under  these  disadvantages  demonstrates  a  mira- 
 culous power.— A7urfe.  11.  Naked,  i.  e.,  •  ill  clothed.'— B/).  Peurce. 
 12.  Workinf!,  obliged  to  labour  for  support,  till  churches  were  formed 
 who  supported  their  ministers.  13.  Ve/ayned,  fiXaajn/ioviievo,,  sig- 
 uifles  '  to  t-peak  injuriously,'  and  may  have  reference  either  to  God  or 
 man.  Filth,  veftKaOap^arix,  'a  purgation,'  or  "lustrativc  sacrifice. 
 offseouriitg,  irepi^n/aa,  '  a  redemption  sacrifice,'  alludes  to  the  practice 
 of  the  heathen,  who,  when  a  city  was  under  great  calamity,  chose 
 some  base  person  as  a  public  expiation.  He  was  maintained  a  whole 
 year  at  the  public  expense,  and  then  led  out  crowned  with  flowers,  and 
 on  his  head  were  heaped  all  the  curses  of  the  country  ;  he  was  then 
 whipped  seven  times,  burnt  alive,  and  his  ashes  were  thrown  into  the 
 
 sea,  the  people  crying,  •  Be  thou  our  pmiiitialion  >'—Hnm.,  Clarke ;  see 
 also  Henry,  Burkilt,  and  Mnekn.  The  word  irepo^tr/ia,  rendered  off. 
 scourings  '  signifies  '  filth  scoured  off.'  It  is  used  most  commonly  to 
 denote  the  sweepings  of  streets  and  stalls,  which,  being  nuisances,  are 
 removed  out  of  sight  as  quickly  as  possible.  14.  To  shame  i/ou,  for 
 
 having  increased  iny  sufferings  by  calumny.— .V<icA-n.     U  am  i/iM,  ttJ 
 behave  more  like  dutiful  chddren.—//.im.,  Whitl/i/.      15.  Ten  tliousand 
 jrouguu  .o.>u,     instructors.   m"P'°«   <ra.Sa,»,o,.t,  •myriads  of  leaders.'      The  word 
 were  brought    means,  the  person  or  servant  employeil  among  the  Greeks  to  lead  a 
 ,  escaped  was     child  to  schoul.-C/arfte.      Not  maun  fathers    possessed  of  affection, 
 aight  be  called     fidelity,  and  disinterestedness,  like  me.-M„r;,n       BeBolten  ,'/"«.    so 
 that  ye  are  born  again  and  brought  into  a  slate  of  salvation.'      16.  Fol- 
 lowers, u.u.iTo.,  •  imitators.'  17-  For  this  cause,  'that  you  imitate 
 me  '          18    Puffed  up,  '  act  with  great  haughtiness,  supposing  I  shall 
 not  revisit  you.'— c;.ir*f.      19.  I»7/;  Aiioie,  consider,  examine,  and  find 
 out— Bens.    Try.  and  put  to  the  proof.- Biooro/.     So  words  of  know- 
 ledge often  denote.— 0((iM.      Nut  the  speeelt,  the  specious  profession. 
 Theoower   how  much  the  power  of  God  attends  their  ministrations. 
 21    With  a  rod,  to  chastise  by  the  exercise  of  my  apostolic  power.— 
 Bens      He  might  have  his  eye  on  the  rod  which  Moses  used  in  inflict- 
 ing the  plague  of  Egypt.     They  knew  that  he  possessed  the  power  of 
 punishing  obstinate  ofl-enders  miraculously,  (2  Cor.  x.  6  ;  xnl.  2,  10.) 
 
 Chap  V  —  1.  C'omOTOn/y,  o\ioc,  '  universally.'— Gi«.  Fornication, 
 iropvco,  ■  whoredom  ;'  here  it  sigiiifles  incest  joined  with  adultery,  the 
 woman's  husband  being  still  alive.  2.  .■Ii'c  puffed  «p-from  the  Co- 
 
 rinthians tolerating  this  crime,  we  may  infer  that  the  guilty  person 
 was  of  some  note  among  tbem.-Muckn.  3.  Judged,  '  passed  sen- 
 
 tence '—Ham.  4,  5.  In  the  name  of,  ^c,  'when  ye  are  gathered 
 together  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,'  that  is,  his  name  on  whose  account 
 ye  assemble,  having  brought  you  together,  Sic- (.Vici/so.if.  And  m;/ 
 spirit  by  the  authnrily  of  the  Spirit,  who  inspired  him.— iUncArn.  It  is 
 not  common  in  scripture  to  speak  of  the  Spirit  as  Mackmght  here  sup- 
 poses ■  the  phrase  probably  therefore  only  intimates  that  Paul  would  be 
 present  in  Ihe  spirit.— /Jan.    •  I  am  to  be  supposed  as  present.'- "•"" 
 
 -Ham. 
 
 Reflections  on   Chap.  IV.  -  '  Here  we  see,  I.  The  true  II.   77ie  professed  minister  of  Christ.     One  who  is  envious  at 
 
 Jistero}artst      AtZhM  steward,   '  rightly  dividing  the  the  success  of  others,   "'^er  than  ;7-c,ng  that  Chis^^ 
 
 word  of  truth,'  and  •  giving  to  each  his  portion  of  meat  in  due  preached.     One  who  'f  P^"'' "'>  !,^™,^'  "f'  iXe'nccustomed 
 
 si.ason.'     One  who  has  '  a  conscience  void  of  offence  towards  ing  himself    less  than  llie  leas    ol     '  «"'"":^  "^Jf"^"^^^^^ 
 
 Uod  and  towards  men,'  and  not  chargeable  of  any  neglect  o  to  propliesy  smooth  ''""S^'^^^''"  '  '^" '» /.'J'^.'S^^,* ''  S^^^^ 
 
 his  ministerial  duty.     One  ready  to  endure  hardship,  as  a  good  every  man's  conscienc^e  in  the  ^'6^' »[ ';'0<' •  "  °°^^  P^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.     One  with  bowels  of  tenderness  and  consists  all  in  words,  but  ™»^^^^,."°  '"P:«:^7"^„f  "''"^^^•"n 
 
 compassion,  yearningover  the  people  of  his  charge,  as  a  father  salutary  change  in  the  hearts  °'  ^'^^  ,'^";''^^,';  ™^  '',°"Jt  U 
 
 over  his  children.     One  who  can  say,  •  Do  as  I  do,'  as  well  as  power  in  the   Holy  Ohost,  and   in  much  assurance.       It 
 '  Do  what  I  say.'     Oh  that  all  who  sustain  the  sacred  office 
 were  sucli  officers  !     Here  \vc  also  sop — 
 12I-2 
 
 power  in  the   Holy   , 
 
 grievous  to  think  that  this  is  no  fanciful  picture. 
 
Heinous  offenders  to  be  avoided. 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  VI. 
 
 Against  going  to  law. 
 
 5  '■  To  deliver  such  an  one  unto  '  Satan  for 
 the  destruction  of  the  flesh,  that  the  spirit 
 may  he  saved  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
 
 6  '  Your  glorying  is  not  good.  Know  ye 
 not  that  '  a  little  leaven  leaveneth  the  whole 
 lump? 
 
 7  Purge  out  therefore  the  old  leaven,  that  ye 
 may  be  a  new  lump,  as  ye  are  unleavened. 
 For  even  "'  Christ  our  "passover  ||  is  sacrificed 
 for  us : 
 
 8  Therefore  "let  us  keep  ||  the  feast,  ""not 
 with  old  leaven,  neither  ''  with  the  leaven  of 
 malice  and  wickedness ;  but  with  the  unlea- 
 vened bread  of  sincerity  and  truth. 
 
 9  I  wrote  unto  yuu  in  an  epistle  '  not  to  com- 
 pany with  fornicators  : 
 
 10  '  Yet  not  altogether  with  the  fornicators 
 '  of  this  world,  or  with  the  covetous,  or  extor- 
 tioners, or  with  idolaters  ;  for  then  must  ye 
 needs  go  "out  of  the  world. 
 
 1 1  But  now  I  have  written  unto  you  not  to 
 keep  company,  '  if  any  man  that  is  called  a 
 brother  be  a  fornicator,  or  covetous,  or  an 
 idolater,  or  a  railer,  or  a  drunkard,  or  an  ex- 
 tortioner ;  with  such  an  one  '  no  not  to  eat. 
 
 12  For  what  have  1  to  do  to  judge  'them 
 also  that  are  without?  do  not  ye  judge  "them 
 that  are  within? 
 
 13  But  them  that  are  without  God  jndgeth. 
 Therefore  ''  put  away  from  among  yourselves 
 that  wicked  person. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1    The    Corinthiims  must  not   ve.v   their  brethren^  in 
 yoiiij  to  law  with  them  ■■  6  especially  under  injideh. 
 
 iriiii.1.211. 
 
 i  Aota2ti.iy. 
 
 k  \vr    2. 
 Ob   3.21.  ^ 
 4.  19.  Jain 
 4.  16. 
 
 (  oil.  15.  as. 
 
 Gal.  b.  9. 
 2  Tim.2.17, 
 
 Jnim   \.'i9. 
 cli.   15.  3. 
 
 r.   Kx.   \-i.   IS 
 
 Kt  v^.  ti. 
 
 ilOr 
 
 holiday. 
 ]i  Petit'.l6,3 
 q  Mat.  \e.  6, 
 
 12.  Mark  8. 
 
 15.  Luke  12. 
 
 1. 
 r  See  ver.  2, 
 
 7.  2  Cor.  li. 
 
 11.  Eph.  5. 
 
 11.  2  Thcs. 
 
 3.  I*. 
 *  cli.  10.  27. 
 Ich.  1.  20. 
 u  JohDl7.l5. 
 
 IJohii5  19. 
 J- Mat.  18.17. 
 
 U..in.ll>  17 
 
 2  Thes    3  0, 
 
 M.  2  John 
 
 10. 
 1/  Gal.  9.  12. 
 T  Maik4  II. 
 
 Ci>l.  4.  5 
 
 lTlies.4.12. 
 
 1  Tim,  3.  7. 
 .<  cli.  6.  1,  2, 
 
 -t.  4. 
 I>  Deut.135, 
 
 Ki   17,  7.  (ic 
 
 21.21.  St  22. 
 
 21,22,2*- 
 
 Dau.  7,2.; 
 Mat.  19.  28. 
 I,ukey2.30 
 Hev  2.^0  & 
 :i  21.  Ifc  2U. 
 4-. 
 /)  2  Pet.  2.  4. 
 Juile  6. 
 
 d  Pro.  SO, 
 22.  Mat.  5. 
 39  +0. 
 Luke 6.  29. 
 Rouj,l2  17, 
 19,  I  Thes. 
 b.  15. 
 
 e  1  Thes.4.6, 
 
 fch.  15.  50. 
 Gal.  a  21. 
 Kph.  6.  5. 
 1  Tim,  I.  9. 
 Hob  12.  II 
 13    .1 
 
 Hf 
 
 ,15. 
 
 9  The  v7iri(/httoits  shall  not  inherit  the  kitufdom  of 
 God.  15  Our  bodies  are  the  mtmfiers  of  Christ,  19 
 and  templts  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  16,  17  They  must 
 not  therefore  be  drjiled. 
 
 T^ARE  any  of  you,  liaviug  a  matter  against 
 -^-^  another,  go  to  law  before  the  unjust,  and 
 not  before  tlie  saints? 
 
 2  Do  ye  not  know  that  °  the  saints  shall 
 judge  the  world?  and  if  the  world  shall  be 
 judged  by  you,  are  ye  unworthy  to  judge  the 
 smallest  matters  ? 
 
 3  Know  ye  not  that  we  shall  ^ judge  angels? 
 how  much  more  things  that  pertain  to  this 
 life? 
 
 4  *^If  then  ye  have  judgments  of  tilings  per- 
 tainhig  to  this  life,  set  them  to  judge  who  are 
 least  esteemed  in  the  church. 
 
 5  I  speak  to  your  shame.  Is  it  so,  that  there 
 is  not  a  wise  man  among  you?  no,  not  one 
 that  shall  be  able  to  j  udge  between  his 
 brethren  ? 
 
 6  But  brother  goeth  to  law  with  brother,  and 
 that  before  the  unbelievers. 
 
 7  Now  therefore  there  is  utterly  a  fault 
 among  you,  because  ye  go  to  law  one  with 
 another.  "^  Why  do  ye  not  rather  take  wrong? 
 why  do  ye  not  rather  suffer  yourselves  to  be 
 defrauded  ? 
 
 8  Nay,  ye  do  wrong,  and  defraud,  "  and  tha 
 your  brethren. 
 
 9  Know  ye  not  that  the  unrighteous  shall  not 
 inherit  the  kingdom  of  God  ?  Be  not  deceived 
 
 f  neither  fornicators,  nor  idolaters,  nor  adulter- 
 ers, nor  effeminate,  nor  abusers  of  themselves 
 with  mankind, 
 
 '  By  my  will,  consent,  and  approbation.' — Bp.  Hull.  With  the  power, 
 that  is,  tlie  miraculous  power  to  impart  efficacy  to  the  expulsion,  (see 
 Matt,  xviii.  18.) — Dav.  '  Ve,  as  a  religious  community,  incorporated 
 into  a  church  state,  when  assembled  for  relit,'ious  purposes,  witli  invo- 
 cation to  Christ  lor  liis  guidance,  &c.,  as  though  I  were  present  with 
 you,  exi)el  this  oltender,  consider  him  as  a  heathen  man  and  a  publi- 
 can, and  deliver  liini  back  into  the  visible  kingdom  of  the  devil.' — Guysc. 
 A  power  was  griven  the  devil  over  the  offender's  body  in  a  miraculous 
 manner. —  Wells.  Satan  was  to  inflict  corporal  punishments  on  such 
 nflenders  for  the  destruction  of  the  flesh.  The  power  of  delivering  to 
 Satan  seems  to  have  been  peculiar  to  the  apostles,  and  tlierefore  St. 
 Paul  here  prescribes  it. —  Whitby,  b.  That  the  spirit  inny  he  .v^ffrf,  that 
 the  disease  may  be  a  means  to  bring  them  to  a  sense  of  sin. — Ham. 
 'i'o  deliver  a  man  to  Satan  for  the  good  of  his  soul,  seems  not  consistent 
 with  the  genius  of  the  Gospel.  The  strong  phrase  seems  only  to  ex- 
 press the  awful  condition  of  those  who  are  shut  out  fmni  the  church, 
 aud  thus  recommitted  to  the  power  of  their  tyrannical  master. — Guyse. 
 6.  A  tittle  leaven,  §c.,  '  such  a  member  continued  among  you  will  de- 
 file the  whole  body.'  7.  Purge  out — the  allusion  is  to  the  Jewish 
 custom  of  casting  out  all  leaven  from  their  houses  before  the  passover, 
 on  penalty  of  being  cut  ofl^  from  the  congregation. — Burkitt.  SeeExod. 
 xii.  15 — 20.  As  ye  urn  unleucened, '  as  ye  are,'  by  your  Christian  profes- 
 sion,'  unleavened.' —  Duddr.  Fur  even  Christ  our  passover,  ^c.,  'for 
 Christ,  our  true  Paschal  Lamb,  offered  himself  a  propitiatory  sacrifice 
 to  cleanse  us  from  all  iniquity.'  8.  Keep  tlte  feast,  the  Lord's  supper, 
 so  called  in  allusion  to  the  passover;  the  former  being  a  commemora- 
 tion of  a  more  glorious  anti-typicalredemption. — Guyse.  Old  leaven,  of 
 heathenism  or  Judaism. — Bens.  Ofvudice,  'of  malignity  and  mischief, 
 which  your  Judaizing  teachers  would  infuse.'  With  the  unleuvened 
 bread  of  siiicerity  and  truth,  '  with  the  most  simple  and  sincere  desire 
 of  knowing  aud  practising  every  branch  of  our  duty.' — Doddr.  9.  Aii 
 epistle — hence  some  liave  thought  there  was  a  previous  epistle,  now 
 lost ;  but  more  probably  it  refers  to  the  early  part  of  this. — See  Ham., 
 Whitby,  To?nline.  Nut  to  company  with  Jurnicutors,  means,  not  out 
 of  choice,  or  in  a  free,  intimate,  and  sociable  manner. — Gui/xe.  10.  Yet 
 7iot  altogether,  ^c.,  '  I  meant  that  you  should  shame  tiie  sinner  by 
 shunning  his  company  when  it  is  unnecessary,  but  not  that  you  sliouhl 
 have  no  company  or  converse  at  all  with  any  that  are  such  ;  for  you 
 live  among  unbelievers,  and  cannot  go  out  o!  the  world.' — R.  Ba.tter. 
 'i'his  exhortation  especially  referred  to  the  Greeks,  for  in  a  city  full  of 
 Greeks,  how  would  it  have  been  possible  to  have  avoided  intercourse 
 
 with  SMchy —Chrysost.  11.  Called  a  brother,  'professing  himself  a 
 Christian.' — Wells.  One  joined  in  church  fellowship.  Not  to  e«^,  out 
 of  choice,  and  in  a  familiar  way,  at  common  meals,  but  more  especially 
 at  the  Lord's  supper.  12.  To  judge  them  that  are  without,  '  I  have 
 
 no  concern  in  furbiddingsuch  converses  with  them  as  the  civil  offices, 
 secular  affairs,  and  relations  of  life  may  call  you  to.'  Do  not  yc  Judge  F 
 '  is  it  not  your  proper  business  as  a  church  to  judge  them  that  are 
 withinP'  13.  God  judgeth,  'they  must  be  lefL  to  the  judgment  of 
 God.' 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  1.  Matter, '  action,'  or  'suit.' — Ham.  Unjust,  heathen 
 magistrates.  Saints,  fellow. Christians.  —  Wells,  R.  Baxter,  Hew. 
 2.  Shall  judge  the  world,  '  shall  be  assessors  with  Christ  in  the  judg- 
 ment wherein  he  shall  condemn  all  the  wicked,  as  well  angels  as  men,' 
 (Matt.  xix.  28 ;  Rev.  xx.  4.)— Dens.,  so  Besa,  Calv.,  Doddr.,  Scott, 
 &.C.  The  saints  shall  not  judge  as  assessors  on  the  throne  with  Christ, 
 for  though  they  shall  sit  on  the  same  throne  with  him  as  reigning,  yet 
 not  as  judging  with  him;  all  judgment  is  solely  committed  to  him. 
 His  meaning  is,  that  in  a  little  time  the  saints,  Christian  men,  men 
 under  a  profession  of  Christianity  at  least,  should  be  governors  in 
 the  world,  and  bear  the  office  of  civil  magistracy  in  it,  which  will  be 
 more  the  case  in  the  latter  day,  (see  Dan.  vii.  IS,  '2?.  -Gill,  so  Lightf., 
 Vitringa,  Whitby,  Clarke,  Ike.  '  Do  ye  not  know  that  the  nispired 
 teachers  amouL^  yuu  judge  the  world  by  the  laws  of  the  Gospel  which 
 they  promulgate?' — Mackn.  '  Christians  can  rightly  judge  of  the  hea- 
 thens i'  that  is,  perceive  their  errors  in  things  pertaining  to  religion. 
 — Rosenm.,  Krause,  &c.  The  meaning  may  be,  '  the  saints  havepuwcr 
 to  discern,  and  authority  to  pass  judgment  on,  the  actions  of  mankind.' 
 — Slude.  '  The  saints  shall  condemn  ihe  world,'  i.  e.,  be  the  means  of 
 increasing  their  condemnation,  as  would  the  men  of  Nineveh  and  the 
 Queen  of  the  South,  (Matt.  xii.  41,  42.)  — Chrysost.,  TheophyL,  Theo- 
 doret,  Bluomf.,  &c.  3.  Angels,  tlie  fallen  angels. — R.  Baxter,  Doddr., 
 Mackn.,  Boothr.  The  apostle  here  speaks  of  the  ministers  of  the 
 gospel,  himself  and  others,  who,  by  the  preaching  otthe  gospel,  through 
 the  jjower  of  Christ,  should  spoU  the  devils  of  their  oracles  and  their 
 idols,  &c. — Clarke,  so  Hew.  4.  Set  them  to  judge  who  are  least,  '  if 
 you  do  not  think  fit  to  trust  your  church  governors  with  it,  refer  it  to 
 an  arbitration  of  two  or  three  of  even  the  meanest  of  your  Christian 
 brethren.' — Pyle,  so  Hum.  and  Guyse.  8.  Nay,  ye  do  wrong,  ^c, 
 
 '  whereas,  ye  wrong  and  defraud,'  &c. — Boothr.  Q.  Neithur  fornica- 
 tors, ^-c. — here  is  a  recital  of  sins  for  which  Corinth  was  inlamous. — 
 Guyse. 
 
 Kkflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  I.  Hote  lamentable  is  it  when 
 unholy  persons  creep  into  ihe  church  of  Christ  !  They  aggravate 
 tiieir  guilt  and  condemnation,  are  stumbling  blocks  in  the  way 
 of  the  weak,  a  great  grief  to  the  strong,  and  highly  injurious 
 to  the  cause  of  God. 
 
 11.  How  a wf id  is  it  to  be  excomtnunicafed  frnm  the  church  of 
 Christ  f  For  tiiose  who  are  unfit  to  hold*  conmiunion  with 
 1*213 
 
 saints  on  earth  are  even  more  unfit  to  hold  communion  with 
 the  spotless  church  in  Leaven.  The  deepest  repentance  be- 
 comes such,  the  most  earnest  supplications  at  the  throne  of 
 grace,  and  the  most  cautious  avoidance  of  all  appearance  of 
 evil,  that  they  may  redeem  their  reputation,  and  be  restored 
 to  the  enjoyment  of  blessiiig-s  so  unspeakably  valuable. 
 
The  duties  of 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  VII. 
 
 the  married  state. 
 
 10  Nor  thieves,  nor  covetous,  nor  dnmkards, 
 nor  revilers,  nor  extortioners,  shall  iiilierit  the 
 kingdom  of  God. 
 
 1 1  And  such  were  ^  some  of  you  :  '■  hut  ye 
 are  washed,  but  ye  are  sanctified,  but  ye  are 
 justified  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
 by  the  Spirit  of  our  God. 
 
 I '2  '  All  things  are  lawful  unto  me,  but  all 
 tilings  are  not  ||  expedient :  all  things  are  law- 
 ful for  me,  but  I  will  not  be  brought  under  the 
 power  of  any. 
 
 13  ''  Meats  for  the  belly,  and  the  belly  for 
 meats :  but  God  shall  destroy  both  it  and 
 them.  Now  the  body  is  not  for  fornication, 
 but  '  for  the  Lord  ;  ""  and  tlie  Lord  for  the 
 body. 
 
 14  And  °  God  hath  both  raised  up  the  Lord, 
 and  will  also  raise  up  us  "  by  his  own  power. 
 
 15  Know  ye  not  tliat  ''your  bodies  are  the 
 members  of  Christ?  shall  1  theu  take  the 
 members  of  Christ,  and  make  t/iem  the  mem- 
 bers of  an  harlot  y     God  forbid. 
 
 10  Whaty  know  ye  not  that  he  which  is 
 joined  to  au  harlot  is  one  body?  for  ''two, 
 .saith  he,  shall  be  one  flesh. 
 
 17  '  But  he  that  is  joined  unto  the  Lord  is 
 one  spirit. 
 
 18  '  Flee  fornication.  Every  sin  that  a  man 
 (loeth  is  without  the  body;  but  he  that  com- 
 niitteth  fornication  siuneth  'against  his  own 
 body. 
 
 li)  What?  "  kno\y  ye  not  that  your  body  is 
 the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  in  yon, 
 which  ye  have  of  God,  ^  "and  ye  are  not  your 
 own  ? 
 
 •20  For  'ye  are  bought  with  a  price  :  there- 
 fore glorify  God  in  your  body,  and  in  your 
 spirit,  which  are  God"s. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 2  He  treateth  of  marriage,  4  shcwinti  it  to  he  a  remerly 
 atjainst  fornication:  10  and  that  tlte  iionti  thirinf 
 OKi/tU  not  litjhilif  to  he  dissolved.  IS,  20  Evert/  man 
 must  he  content  with  his  vocation,  25  Virginity  w/wre- 
 fore  to  be  embraced.  Sf)  And  for  what  respects  we  may 
 cither  marry,  or  abstain  from  marrying. 
 
 3  ch.  12.  2. 
 
 Eph.2.  2.  & 
 
 4.  »-'.  &  i. 
 
 s   Co!-  3-7. 
 
 Tit.  S.  3. 
 '.  ch    1.311. 
 
 FIeh.10  22. 
 i  ch.  10.  23. 
 !|   Or,  profit' 
 
 title. 
 
 k  Jtat. 15.17. 
 Rnm.  14.17. 
 Col.  2.  2^, 
 2:1. 
 
 I  ver,  \^,  19, 
 21).  I  Thes. 
 I.  3,  7. 
 
 II  Kph  5  2.3. 
 ,  Horn.  G.  5, 
 
 S-  a«  3.  ti. 
 
 2  Cor.  4-11. 
 ■  F.pli,   1.   j<l, 
 
 211- 
 ,\t',m.  12.  .S 
 
 ch.  12.  27. 
 
 Eph.  4.  12, 
 
 15,  IG.  &£>- 
 
 311. 
 
 7  Gen.  2  24. 
 
 .M:it.  19   a. 
 
 Eph.  5  31. 
 ■John  17.21, 
 
 22, 23.  Epl>. 
 
 4  4.  S  5. 
 
 31). 
 i  Rom.  6. 12, 
 
 13.  Heb.  13. 
 
 V^\ctR2l)28. 
 ■  .1,   7.  23. 
 
 fi.al    3.  13. 
 
 neh. 9    12. 
 
 I  Pet   1.  18. 
 
 19-  2  Pet  2. 
 
 l.Rev.  5.  9. 
 
 c  Joel  8.  16. 
 
 Zech.  7.  3. 
 
 See  Ex.  19. 
 
 15.   I  Sam. 
 
 21.  4,  S. 
 d  1  Thes.3.5. 
 e  ver.  12,2.^. 
 
 2  Cor.  8  8. 
 
 k  11.  17. 
 
 /Acta  26.29. 
 
 a  ch.  9.  5. 
 
 A  Mat. 10.12. 
 
 clt.  12.  II 
 
 t  1  Tim.  5. 
 
 14. 
 /  See  ver. 12, 
 
 25,  40. 
 mMKia.  14, 
 
 16.  Milt-  h. 
 
 -32.  &  19.  0, 
 
 9.  Mark  10. 
 
 11.  12. 
 
 Luke  16.18 
 
 1V"OVV  concerning  the  things  whereof  ye 
 •^^  wrote  unto  me:  "//  is  good  for  a  man 
 not  to  touch  a  woman. 
 
 2  Nevertheless,  <f(  awoi'rf fornication,  let  every 
 man  have  his  own  wife,  and  let  every  woman 
 have  her  own  husband. 
 
 3  ''  Let  the  husband  render  unto  the  wife  due 
 benevolence  :  and  likewise  also  the  wife  unto 
 the  husband. 
 
 4  The  wife  hath  not  power  of  her  own  body, 
 but  the  husband  :  and  likewise  also  the  hus- 
 band hath  not  power  of  his  own  body,  but  the 
 wife. 
 
 3  '  Defraud  ye  not  one  the  other,  except  it 
 be  with  consent  for  a  time,  that  ye  may  give 
 yourselves  to  fasting  and  prayer;  and  come 
 together  again,  that  ''  Satan  tempt  you  not  for 
 your  incontinency. 
 
 6  But  I  speak  this  by  permission,  'and  not 
 of  commandment. 
 
 7  For  "■  I  would  that  all  men  were  ^  even  as  I 
 myself.  But  ''every  man  hath  his  proper  gift 
 of  God,  one  after  this  manner,  and  another 
 after  that. 
 
 8  I  say  therefore  to  the  unmarried  and 
 widows,  '  It  is  good  for  them  if  they  abide  even 
 as  I. 
 
 9  But  '■  if  they  cannot  contain,  let  them 
 marry  :  for  it  is  better  to  many  than  to  burn. 
 
 10  And  unto  the  married  I  command,  'yet 
 not  I,  but  the  Lord,  '"  Let  not  the  wife  depart 
 from  htr  hn.^band  : 
 
 11  But  and  if  slir  depart,  let  her  remain  un- 
 married, or  be  reconciled  to  hi;r  husband  :  and 
 let  not  the  hu.sband  put  away  his  wife. 
 
 12  But  to  the  rest  speak  I,  "not  the  Lord: 
 If  any  brother  hath  a  wife  that  believeth  not, 
 and  she  be  pleased  to  dwell  with  bun,  let  him 
 not  put  her  away. 
 
 13  And  the  woman  which  hath  an  husband 
 that  believeth  not,  and  if  he  be  pleased  to  dwell 
 with  her,  let  her  not  leave  him. 
 
 14  For  the  unbelieving  husband  is  sanctified 
 by  the  wife,  and  the  unbelieving  wife  is  sanctiT 
 fied  by  the  husband  :  else  "  were  your  children 
 unclean  ;  but  now  are  they  holy. 
 
 II.  Waahed.  ^c,  washed  with  the  water  of  baptism,  in  toltcn  of 
 of  their  having  rcnnunced  idolatry  with  all  its  impurities,  they  were 
 under  the  obhgati'in  of  a  si^Iemn  vow  carefully  to  study  purity  of 
 heart  and  life.  SancfiJiM.  separated  from  idnlators,  and  consecrated 
 to  the  service  of  Goil  ;  a  meaning  often  to  be  found  in  scripture.  It 
 means  here  the  sanctification  of  the  Si^irit,  which  lies  in  a  principle  of 
 spiritual  life  infused  into  t:ie  soul.— Giff.  Justified,  freed  from  sin,  de- 
 livered from  heathenish  ignorance. — M'ir/cn.  Here  it  means,  justified 
 in  the  court  of  conscience,  under  the  witnessings  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
 •  Ye  are  discharged  from  the  condemnation  to  which  ye  were  justly 
 obnoxious.'— f;i;;.  \2.  .tit  tilings,  that  is,  '  all  meats.'  Kut  e:tpe. 
 dient,  that  is,  '  to  cat.' — Mnrkn.  *  Circumstances  may  make  it  im- 
 proper for  me  to  do  that  which  is  not  absolutely  and  universally  cri- 
 minal.' l/nder  the  power  uftttty.  '  I  am  solicitous  to  maintain  such  a 
 superiority  to  appetite  and  pas-^i-m  as  becomes  a  man  and  a  Christian 
 in  these  cases.  13.  Meats  f'lr  the  lieltti,  ^c,  '  food  is  made  for  nourish- 
 ment, anil  our  stomachs  arc  formed  to  digest  food,  but  both  shall 
 mingle  with  dust.' — So  Doddr.  ^'nw  the  Itonij,  ffc,  this  is,  however, 
 not  indiflferent,  like  meats;  it  is  consecrated  to  Christ,  who  shall  raise 
 it  up  at  the  last  day.  14.  Gad  tmth  both  raised,  ^c.,  the  head  is 
 
 raised,  and  so  shall  the  members  be. — So  Gill.  15.  Know  ye  Wit, 
 
 fjc. — hence,  to  the  end,  the  apostle  argues  on  the  exceeding  sinfulness 
 ot  the  sin  of  fornication. — Biirkitt.  18.  Erery  sin,  every  other  sin, 
 
 indeed,  debases  the  soul,  but  this  also  the  body. — So  Wells,  Burltitt, 
 Gttyse.  19.  Temple,  Divinity  dwells  in  it,  and  it  is  consecrated  to 
 God. — Whithy.  20.  A  price,  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.— GtV^.  '  Ye 
 are  the  property  of  God,  purchased  with  his  Son's  blood.' —  So  Mac/cn. 
 CnAp.  VII. — I.  The  thint^s  whereof  ye  terole,  cases  of  conscience; 
 particularly  about  the  expediency  of  marriage  in  the  troubled  state  of 
 the  church. — Bur.  2.  Every  tnitn,  who  has  not  the  gift  of  conti- 
 ncncy. —  Welts.  6.  By  perniissioti,  'not  by  any  express  command 
 which  Christ  gave  in  person  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  or  gives  by  the 
 inspiration  or  suggestion  of  his  Spirit  now  ;  by  which  inspiration  you 
 may  conclude  I  am  guided  when  I  lay  no  such  precautions  as  these.' 
 7.  .-/s  I  myself,  'could  as  easily  live  a  single  life,  in  present  circum- 
 stances.'— Doddr.  10.  Yet  not  I,  '  by  mere  counsel  or  prudential 
 advice ;'  but  the  Lord,  '  namelv,  in  the  first  institution  of  marriage, 
 (Gen.  ii.  24,)  and  the  Lord  Jesus'Christ,  (Matt.  v.  32  ;  xix.  6— g.)— Beits. 
 12.  Not  the  Lord — see  ver.  6,  note.  14.  Is  sanctified — he  is  to  be  so 
 reputed  as  it  relates  to  conjugal  duties. —  Whitby,  Welts.     Unclean,  in 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI Here  we  are  tauglit,  I.  That 
 
 C/iristians  shottld  not  be  litigious  men.  There  is  no  policy  in 
 Roing  to  law,  for  Ian-  never  was  perfectly  guided  by  equity. 
 There  is  no  pii-ty  in  it ;  for  it  ruffle.s  the  temper,  degrades  re- 
 ligion, where  it  occurs  among  Christians,  and  is  generally 
 adopted  by  those  who  injure,  rather  than  hy  the  injured.  It 
 is  highly  discreditable  to  a  Christian  man  to  have  the  finger 
 pointed  to  liim  with  the  accompanying  remark,  '  That  man  is 
 always  at  law.'    We  are  also  taught— 
 
 II.  That  Christians  cannot  be  unholy  nun.  Alas!  they  may 
 I  -'  14 
 
 fall  into  sin — fall  deeply  into  sin  ;  but  they  will  not  lie  down 
 in  it.  It  may  foully  stain  them;  but  they  will  never  rest 
 tranquil  till  every  stain  is  sensihly  washed  away  by  the  appli- 
 cation of  the  precious  and  all-cleansing  blood  of  Christ  to  the 
 heart  ami  conscience.  Christians,  how  vile  soever  ye  have 
 formerly  made  yourselves,  ye  are  not  so  now  ;  '  ye  are 
 washed,  sanctified,  justified  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
 and  by  the  spirit  of  our  God.'  '  Therefore  glorify  God  in 
 your  body  and  spirit,  which  are  God's.  Give  your  whole 
 heart  to  Ilim  who  has  devoted  Ijis  to  you.' 
 
Virginity,  wherefore  to  he  cmhraced. 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  VII. 
 
 Reasons  for  and  ar/ainst  marrying. 
 
 15  But  if  the  unbelieving  depart,  let  him  de- 
 part. A  brother  or  a  sister  is  not  under  bond- 
 age in  such  cases :  but  God  hath  called  us 
 ■"t  'o  peace. 
 
 IG  For  what  kuowest  thou,  O  wife,  whether 
 thou  shalt  ''save  thy  husband  ?  or  fhow  know- 
 est  thou,  O  man,  whether  thou  shalt  save  thy 
 wife  ? 
 
 17  But  as  God  hath  distributed  to  every  man, 
 as  the  Lord  hath  called  every  one,  so  let  him 
 walk.     And  'so  ordain  I  in  all  churches. 
 
 18  Is  any  man  called  being  circumcised?  let 
 him  '  not  become  uncircumcised.  Is  any  called 
 in  uncircumcision  ?  '  let  him  not  be  circum- 
 cised. 
 
 If)  "  Circumcision  is  nothing,  and  uncircum- 
 cision is  nothing,  but  "  the  keeping  of  the  com- 
 mandments of  God. 
 
 20  Let  every  man  abide  in  the  same  calling 
 wherein  he  was  called. 
 
 21  Art  thou  called  if  Hi'-/ a  servant  ?  care  not 
 for  it :  but  if  thou  mayest  be  made  free,  use  it 
 rather. 
 
 22  For  he  that  is  called  in  the  Lord,  being  a 
 servant,  is  'the  Lord's  ffreenian  :  likewise  also 
 he  that  is  called,  being  free,  is  ^  Christ's  ser- 
 vant. 
 
 23  "  Ye  are  bought  with  a  price  ;  be  not  ye 
 the  servants  of  men. 
 
 24  Brethren,  •■  let  every  man,  wherein  he  is 
 called,  therein  abide  with  God. 
 
 23  Now  concerning  virghis  '  I  have  no  com- 
 mandment of  the  Lord  :  yet  I  give  my  judg- 
 ment, as  one  ''that  hath  obtained  mercy  of  the 
 Lord  "^  to  be  faithful. 
 
 26  I  suppose  therefore  that  this  is  good  for 
 the  present  ||  distress,  /  say,  'that  it  is  good 
 for  a  man  so  to  be. 
 
 27  Art  thou  bound  unto  a  wife  ?  seek  not  to 
 be  loosed.  Art  thou  loosed  from  a  wife?  seek 
 not  a  wife. 
 
 28  But  and  if  thou  marry,  thou  hast  not  sin- 
 ned ;  and  if  a  virgin  marry,  she  hath  not  sinned. 
 Nevertheless  such  shall  have  trouble  in  the 
 flesh  :  but  I  spare  you. 
 
 29  But  ^  this  I  say,   brethren,   the   time    is 
 
 p  Rom  12, 
 IS.  (1;  It. 19. 
 ch,  n,  33. 
 Hcb.  I!.  11 
 tor  ,„,.«.n, 
 7  I  Pet.  a.  I, 
 I  Gr.  «..al. 
 
 r  cl>.  1.  17. 
 2  Cor.  1 1. -.iS 
 
 I  Acts  15.  I, 
 5.  IS,  24,i;8. 
 Gal.  5.  •!. 
 
 «  Gal  5.  6. 
 &6.  15. 
 
 X  John  15. 
 \\  1  John 
 2.3.81  3.24 
 
 y Johns.  36 
 Rom.  fi.  18, 
 22.  PbUem. 
 Il>. 
 
 in* 
 
 tGr. 
 /r~. 
 :  ch.  9.21. 
 
 Gal.  5.  13. 
 
 Eph.  6,  B. 
 
 1  Pet.  2,  16. 
 a  ch.  6.  git. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.  18, 
 
 IP.SeeLev- 
 
 25.42. 
 b  ver.  20. 
 e  vet.  6.  in, 
 
 40.  2  Cor  8 
 
 8,  10 
 d  I  Tim.  1. 
 
 18. 
 e  ch.  4.  2, 
 
 I  Tim  1  12 
 II  Or,  jtKcet- 
 
 „ly. 
 /ver.  1,8. 
 
 5R0m.i3.ll. 
 
 1  Pet.  4.  r. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  8, 
 
 h  ch.  9.  18. 
 i  Pg.  39.  6, 
 
 Jam.  1.  10. 
 
 &  -1.  1.1. 
 
 I  Pet.l.  24. 
 
 &  4-7. 
 
 I  John  2. 17. 
 k  I  Tim  5  .-.. 
 t  Gr    ,/  ().« 
 
 i'.r.(,  as 
 
 ver.  SI. 
 
 '1 2  Cor. G.  14. 
 p  ver.  25. 
 q  1  The«.4.S. 
 
 short :  it  remaiueth,  that  both  they  that  have 
 wives  be  as  though  they  had  none ; 
 
 30  And  they  that  weep,  as  though  they  wept 
 not ;  and  they  that  rejoice,  as  though  they  re- 
 joiced not ;  and  they  that  buy,  as  though  they 
 possessed  not ; 
 
 31  And  they  that  use  this  world,  as  not 
 •■abusing  it:  for  'the  fashion  of  this  world 
 passeth  away. 
 
 32  But  I  would  have  you  without  careful- 
 ness. '  He  that  is  unmarried  careth  for  the 
 things  t  that  belong  to  the  Lord,  how  he  may 
 please  the  Lord  ; 
 
 33  But  he  that  is  married  careth  for  the  things 
 that  are  of  the  world,  how  he  may  please  his 
 wife. 
 
 34  There  is  difference  also  between  a  wife 
 and  a  virgin.  The  unmarried  woman  '  careth 
 for  the  things  of  the  Lord,  that  she  may  be 
 holy  both  in  body  and  in  spirit :  but  she  that 
 is  married  careth  for  the  things  of  tlie  world, 
 how  she  may  please  her  husband. 
 
 35  And  this  I  speak  for  your  own  profit ;  not 
 that  I  may  cast  a  snare  upon  you,  but  for  that 
 which  is  comely,  and  that  ye  may  attend  upon 
 the  Lord  without  distraction. 
 
 3t>  But  if  any  man  tliink  tliat  he  behaveth 
 himself  uncomely  toward  his  virgin,  if  she  pass 
 the  flower  oi  her  age,  and  need  so  require,  let 
 liim  do  what  he  will,  he  sinneth  not :  let  them 
 marry. 
 
 37  Nevertheless  he  that  standeth  stedfast  in 
 his  heart,  having  no  necessity,  but  hath  power 
 over  his  own  will,  and  hath  so  decreed  in  his 
 heart  that  he  will  keep  his  virgin,  doetli  well. 
 
 38  "  So  then  he  that  giveth  her  in  marriage 
 doeth  well  ;  but  he  that  giveth  her  not  in 
 marriage  doeth  better. 
 
 39  "  The  wife  is  bound  by  the  law  as  long  as 
 her  husband  Hveth  ;  but  if  her  husband  be 
 dead,  she  is  at  liberty  to  be  married  to  whom 
 she  will  ;  "  only  in  the  Lord. 
 
 40  But  she  is  happier  if  she  so  abide,  ■"  after 
 my  judgment  :  and  ''  I  think  also  that  I  have 
 the  Spirit  of  God. 
 
 the  same  state  that  the  children  of  pa^an  parents  are. — Poole.  Un- 
 lawfully begotten. — GUI.  15.  Nrtt  under  bondage,  is  at  full  liberty, 
 in  such  cases. — Bens.  They  arc  free  to  marry  anotlier  person.  But 
 God  hath  called  us  to  peace — the  believing  party  beinl?  threatened  with 
 desertion,  ought,  as  much  as  possible,  to  seek  for  peace  and  reconcili- 
 ation, and  do  all  that  can  be  done  to  prevent  a  departure. — Gill,  so 
 Wells.  17.  But  as  God  hath  distributed,  fyc. — every  Christian  is 
 bound  to  observe,  as  before,  every  natural  and  civil  duty. — Pijle. 
 21.  Serrant,  or,  '  slave.'  Slaves,  among  the  Rnmans,  were  in  a  con- 
 dition truly  wretched. — So  Parbh.  23.  Bou'^lit — see  chap.  vi.  20, 
 note.  25.  Obtained  mercy — the  apostle,  in  other  passages,  calls  his 
 inspiration  and  supernatural  gifts  '  mercy,'  (2  Cor.  iv.  1,)  and  '  grace,' 
 (Gal.  ii.  g.)—Mackn.  To  be  faithful,  as  an  apostle  of  Christ.— Bp. 
 Hall.  26.  St/p/jose,  '  apprehend.' — Doddr.  'Declare.' — Macknight. 
 For  the  present  distress,  '  because  of  the  present  distress.' — Boothr. 
 The  same  word,  avn-^Kn,  is  used  for  'affliction  arising  from  outward 
 circumstances,'  I.uke,  xxi.  23.  For  a  man,  'a  person.' — Bens.  The 
 original  word  signifies  the  whole  species,  male  and  female.  —  Bp. 
 Pearce.  28.  Shall  hare  trouble — in  such  times  as  these,  married 
 people  will  meet  with  more  than  ordinary  trouble. — Poole.  19.  Time 
 is  short,  may  prophetically  allude  to  the  approaching  persecution  under 
 Nero, — Locke;  or,  thatthetimeoflife  itself  isshort. — Boothr.  SI.  The 
 fashion,  axnfia,  'the  form.'  Passelh  away,  Trapa^et,  'passeth  by,' 
 like  a  pageant, — Sfackn. ;  or  the  shifting  of  scenes  in  a  theatre. — Grot. 
 32.  Without  carefulness,   'anxious  care.'  —  Doddr.     Free  from  the 
 
 greater  cares  of  the  world  that  attend  a  married  life. —  Wells.  Careth, 
 that  is,  '  careth  chiefly.*  33.  But  he  thatis  married  careth,  Sfc,  and 
 it  Ls  his  duty  so  to  do,  so  far  as  becomes  a  Christian.  How  he  may 
 please  his  wife,  in  all  lawful  things,  and  provide  things  needful. — Bens. 
 35.  Cast  a  snare  upon  you,  imposing  what  God  hath  not  imposed. — 
 Poole.  The  allusion  here  is  to  the  Retiarius  among  the  Romans,  who 
 carried  a  small  casting  net  which  he  endeavoured  to  throw  over  his 
 adversary's  head. — Greenf.  36.  His  virf(in,  '  his  virgin  daughter.' — ■ 
 Parkli.,  Schleusner.  The  women  were  kept  very  recluse  in  Greece. 
 It  was  in  the  power  of  the  father  to  give  them  in  marriage  or  not. 
 The  Jews  thought  early  marriage  a  duty. — See  Whittty,  Bp.  Pearce. 
 As  both  the  Jews  and  Greeks  reckoned  celibacy  dishonourable,  some 
 fathers  might  think  it  sinful  to  restrain  their  daughters  from  marriage, 
 while  others,  following  the  opinion  of  the  Essenes  and  more  rigid  phi- 
 losophers, fancied  they  acted  properly  in  restraining  them.  The  Co- 
 rinthians, therefore,  had  judged  it  necessary  to  consult  the  apostle  on 
 that  head.  3".  No  necessity,  from  her  opinion,  inclination,  or  cir- 
 cumstances. Hath  power  over  his  own  will,  its  direction  in  that  affair. 
 — Mackn.  40.  /  think  also,  may  be  rendered,  '  surely  I  have.' — Pyle. 
 The  sense  of  the  word  do^w,  *  1  think,'  is  that  of  entire  confidence.  So 
 it  is  used,  Luke,  xvii.  9;  Acts,  xv.  25,  28 ;  and  xxvi.  g. — Guyse,  cum 
 multis  atiis.  The  words  do  not  clearly  denote  a  certainty  ;  render  them 
 '  and  I  tritst  that,'  &c. — Slade.  '  I  think  the  Spirit  of  God  guides  me  in 
 making  this  judgment.' — Ham. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  I.  Let  us  be  thanhful  for  wives  or  husbands,  and  the  endearing  ties  of  children,  were 
 
 that  peaceable  state  of  society  which  renders  it  not  undesirable  to  likely  to  tempt  them  to   palue  life  even   more    than  Christ. 
 
 enter  upon  the  most  endearintj  connexions  in  life.     The  primitive  Hence  the  apostle's  advice  to  be  as  little  as  possible  encum- 
 
 Christians  Iiad  much  to  endure.     It  required  superior  forti-  bered  with  the  world,  under  such  circumstances, 
 
 lude  to  withstand  the  fury  of  persecution  ;  and  the  love  of  II.  Let  those  who  are  married  perform  the  duties  of  the  con' 
 1215 
 
Of  meats 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  VIH,  IX. 
 
 offered  to  ifJfts, 
 
 CHAP-  VIII. 
 
 1  To  abstain  from  meats  offered  to  idols.  8,  9  We  must 
 not  abuse  our  Christian  tiberti/,  to  the  offence  of  our 
 brethren:  11  but  must  bridle  our  knowledge  with 
 charity. 
 
 NOW  "  as  touching  things  offered  unto  idols, 
 we  know  that  we  all  have  ''knowledge. 
 "  Knowledge  puffeth  up,  but  charity  edifieth, 
 
 2  And  '^  if  any  man  think  that  he  knoweth 
 any  tiling,  he  knoweth  nothing  yet  as  he  ought 
 to  know^ 
 
 3  But  if  any  man  love  God,  *"  the  same  is 
 known  of  him. 
 
 4  As  concerning  therefore  the  eating  of  those 
 things  that  are  offered  in  sacrifice  unto  idols, 
 we  know  that  ^an  idol  zn  nothing  in  the  world, 
 •and  that  there  is  none  other  God  but  one. 
 
 5  For  though  there  be  that  are  ^  called  gods, 
 ivhether  in  heaven  or  in  earth,  (as  there  be 
 j:ods  many,  and  lords  many,) 
 
 (i  But  '  to  us  there  is  but  one  God,  the 
 L-'ather,  ■■  of  whom  are  all  things,  and  we  ||  iu 
 lim  ;  and  '  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  "'  by  whom 
 zre  all  things,  and  we  by  him. 
 
 7  Howbeit  there  is  not  in  every  man  that 
 knowledge  :  for  some  "with  conscience  of  the 
 idol  unto  this  hour  eat  it  as  a  thing  offered 
 unto  an  idol ;  and  tlieir  conscience  being  weak 
 is  °  defiled. 
 
 8  But  ''meat  conimendeth  us  not  to  God: 
 for  neither,  if  we  eat,  ||  are  we  the  better  ;  nei- 
 ther, if  we  eat  not,  ||  are  we  the  worse. 
 
 9  But   ''  take  heed   lest  by  any  means  this 
 
 b  Koin.  14. 
 
 II,  22 
 c  turn  l\.  3, 
 
 10. 
 d  ch.  13.  S, 
 
 9.  \i.  Gal. 
 
 6.  3.  ITim. 
 
 0.  4. 
 ^  Ex.33.  12, 
 
 17.  Niih.  1. 
 
 7    Mat.  7. 
 
 23.  Gal. 4.  9- 
 
 2  Tim. 2  19. 
 fU.AX.  21. 
 
 ch    10.  19 
 ;/  Deu.  1  S9. 
 
 tc  6.  4.  Is. 
 
 ■U.W.   Mark 
 
 VI.  -jg.  vcv. 
 
 n.  Kjih   4.6. 
 
 1  Vim.  -2  5. 
 /t  Jiihn  U1.34 
 I  MiU.  2.  10. 
 
 Kpli.  4.  C. 
 k  Acts  17.28. 
 
 Rom.ll.se. 
 
 M..lm  13.13. 
 
 AcU  2.  36. 
 
 cli.  12.  3. 
 
 Kj.li.  4.  5. 
 
 Pl.il  2,  11. 
 m  J..lin  1.3. 
 
 n  ch.  10,  28, 
 
 29. 
 o  Horn.  U. 
 
 11,  23. 
 pKoin  14.17. 
 II  Or.  haf^e 
 
 w  r'li*  more 
 II  dr.  A.,« 
 
 A.  D.  59. 
 
 [|  Or,  fjiiwr. 
 T  Hotn,   |.I. 
 
 IS.  20. 
 .V  I  Mac.1.47 
 
 t  cli    10.  29, 
 
 -.  Acts  9.  15. 
 
 &  13.  2.  & 
 
 26.  17. 
 
 2Cur,12.l2. 
 
 Gill,  2.7,  S. 
 
 I  Tim.  2.  7. 
 
 2Tim.l.ll. 
 b  AcisS.  3, 
 
 17.  &  18.  9, 
 
 &22-  14,  IS. 
 
 fb  23,  11. 
 
 ch.  15.  3. 
 coh.  -H.  6.  & 
 
 4.  15. 
 diCor  3.  3. 
 
 ft  12.  13. 
 e  ver.  14. 
 
 lThes.2. 1. 
 
 SThes  3.9 
 ||Or,irr.m'.-.. 
 /■Mat. 13. 56. 
 
 Mark  6,  3 
 
 Luke  6.  1.^ 
 
 G.Al.  1.  19 
 g  Mat.  8.  11. 
 
 II  liberty  of  your's  become  ""a  stumblingbloek 
 to  them  that  are  weak. 
 
 10  F"or  if  any  man  see  thee  which  hast  know- 
 ledge sit  at  meat  in  *  the  idol's  temple,  shall 
 not  ^  the  conscience  of  him  which  i.s  weak  be 
 t  emboldened  to  eat  those  things  whicli  are 
 offered  to  idols  ; 
 
 11  And  "through  thy  knowledge  shall  the 
 weak  brother  perisli,  for  whom  Christ  died  ? 
 
 VI  But  '  when  ye  sin  so  against  the  brethren, 
 and  wound  their  weak  conscience,  ye  sin 
 against  Christ. 
 
 13  Wherefore,  ^  if  meat  make  my  brother  to 
 offend,  1  will  eat  no  flesh  while  the  world 
 standeth,  lest  I  make  my  brother  to  oftend. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  He  sheweth  his  li' erti/,  7  ajid  that  the  minister  ovrjht 
 to  livehy  the  tjosfwl :  I.)  i/ct  that  himself'  hath  nf  his 
 own  accord  ahstained,  18  to  lit  either  rhuri/euhlr.  unto 
 tlvm,  2"J  or  offensive  unto  any,  in  matters  indiffaent. 
 2-i  Our  life  is  like  unto  a  race. 
 
 AMI  not  an  apostle?  am  I  not  free? 
 -^-^  ^have  I  not  seen  Je.sus  Clirist  our  Lord? 
 "  are  not  ye  my  work  in  the  Lord  ? 
 
 2  If  I  be  not  an  apostle  unto  others,  yet 
 doubtless  I  am  to  you :  for  ^  the  seal  of  mine 
 apostleship  are  ye  in  the  Lord. 
 
 3  Mine  answer  to  them  that  do  examine  me 
 is  this, 
 
 4  ''  Have  we  not  power  to  eat  and  to  drink  ? 
 3   Have  we  not  power  to  lead  about  a  sister, 
 
 a  II  wife,  as  well  as  other  apostles,  and  as  '  the 
 brethren  of  the  Lord,  and  ^  Cephas? 
 
 Chap.  ^^1I. — 1.  Touching  tilings  nfered  to  idols,  ^c. — the  idol  feasts 
 were  held  in  the  temples  tu  which  the  heathens  iiiviiccl  their  friends. 
 To  these,  it  secras,  Christians  were  invited,  some  of  whom  attended, 
 desirous  of  preserving  the  friendship  of  their  neighbours,  and  perhaps 
 at  the  persuasion  of  tlieir  false  teachers,  who  called  it  an  innocent 
 method  of  avoiding  persecution.  Now  this  wiiuld  imply  approbation  of 
 idolatry;  but  some  justified  the  participation  on  the  ground  tliat  the 
 idol  was  not  a  god,  but  a  mere  stock  or  stone,  and  therefore  their  par- 
 taking was  no  acknowledgment  of  his  godhead,  and  was  merely  a  com- 
 mon meal.  These  seem  to  have  been  the  arguments  employed,  and 
 perhaps  propnuudcrt  to  the  aposUe. — Maekit.,  Bloomf.  The  apostle 
 agrees  with  those  views,  but,  as  all  had  nnt  ctpial  capacities  of  under- 
 standing, he  advises  the  nmre  knowing  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  their 
 liberty,  lest  they  should  stuinhte  the  weak. — Ostervald.  We  know — 
 Boothroyd  includes  all  the  rest  in  a  parenUiesis,  embracing  '  that,* 
 or  *  for,*  and  '  we  ktiow,' ver.  4  ;  and  so  begins  herewith  '  we  know,* 
 jiud  unites  it  with  the  fiist  mrmberof  the  closing  sentence  of  ver.  4, '  we 
 Itnnw— that  an  idol  is  nothing,  ^c.—  Fnm.  Bible.  '  We  know  that  an 
 idol  is  nothbij^,  for  we  have  all  this  knowledge.* — Whithy,  Wells. 
 Knowledge  puffeth  up,  §c.,  '  knowledge,  however,  often  puffeth  up  the 
 person  who  hath  it,  but  love  buiUleth  up  others.*— jl/«oA:n.  2.  Think 
 thtit  he  knoweth,  be  opiuiatcd  of  his  own  knowledge.  3.  Known, 
 '  approved.'— Gf/^.sT.  4.  An  idol,  the  Greek  €<ou>\ov,  signifies  an 
 image  fnrmrd  in  the  mind,  and  which  exists  nowhere  else.  Nothinf^ 
 in  the  world,  has  no  existence  as  a  god.  5.  Whether  in  heaven,  an 
 allusion  to  the  famed  division  of  the  heathen  gods  into  celestial  and 
 terrestrial.  The  former  were  called  ikut,  'gods,*  the  latter  Aainovei:, 
 residing  on  earth  nr  in  the  sea,  and  being  mediators  between  the  su- 
 preme God  and  men.— Mfickn.  Guds  nmn^— they  were  almost  without 
 number  among  the  Egyptians,  Grecians,  Romans,  and  others;  yea, 
 even  among  the  Jews,  who,  falling  into  idolatry,  their  gods  were  ac- 
 cording to  the  number  of  their  cities.  Lords  ninny,  referring  to  the 
 Baalim,  or  the  several  idols  that  went  by  the  name  ui  Baal,  (see  Num. 
 XXV.  3  ;  Exod.  xiv.2;  2  Kings,  i.  2  ;  Judg.  viii.  33.)  ^.  One  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  so  called  in  opposition  to  the  lords  many.— Gi7/.  ?.  Is 
 
 defiled,   is  by  your  example   defiled.— Bp.  Hu//.  W.  Through   thy 
 
 knowledge— n\  thu  instance  mischievous,  rather  than  useful.— iJorf(/r. 
 
 Perish,  be  led  into  sin,  by  acting  contrary  to  the  ju>tgment  of  bis  con- 
 
 science.— Poale.  For  whom  Christ  diV(/— hence  it  is  argued  that  Christ 
 intentionally  died  for  those  that  may  for  ever  perish. —  Whitby.  So  we 
 learn  that  those  may  perish  for  whom  Christ  died ;  this  admits  of  no 
 quibble. — Clarke.  We  see  Christ  died  even  for  them  that  perish.  Ob- 
 serve this,  reader. — Bens.  But  it  must  be  observed,  that  the  words  are 
 put  by  way  of  interrogation,  and  prove  no  matter  of  fact,  even  sup- 
 posing  they  could  be  under^toud  of  eternal  ruin  and  destruction,  and, 
 at  most,  only  imply  the  danger  and  possibility  thereof,  through  of- 
 fences given,  were  they  not  preserved  by  the  power  and  grace  of  God 
 through  Christ,  who  died  for  them,  and  so  will  not  suffer  tliem  to 
 perish ;  though  this  is  no  thanks  to  them  who  lay  stumbling  blocks  in 
 their  way,  and,  as  much  as  in  them  lies,  cause  them  to  perish  in  this 
 sense;  besides,  the  perishing  of  this  weak  brother  is  to  be  understood 
 of  his  peace  and  comfort,  and  is  explained  by  defiling  his  conscience, 
 ver.  7;  by  wounding  it,  ver.  12;  and  making  him  offend,  ver.  13. — 
 Gill.  13.  /  will  eat  no  flesh,  ^c— in  heathen  countries  a  great  part 
 of  the  meat  sold  in  tlic  public  markets  had  been  sacrificed  to  their  idols. 
 And  as  the  Jews  were  scriii)ulons  on  this  point,  it  might,  on  some  oc- 
 casions, be  necessary  for  Christians  to  abstain  from  every  kind  of  flesh, 
 to  avoid  giving  oflTence  to  those  converted  Jews  who  still  retained  their 
 old  prejudices. —  Whitby,  Mackn. 
 
 Chap.  IX. —  1.  Am  l  not  an  apostle  7— he  now  writes  in  answer  to 
 those  who  questioned  his  authority,  (ver.  3.)  '  In  working  with  my 
 own  hands,  am  I  nnt  to  be  viewed  as  such  ?  Does  this  disinterested- 
 ness lessen  my  character  ;'—G«,v.se.  Am  I  not  free  f  '  to  act  as  I  think 
 best  with  regard  to  receiving  a  mnintenance  from  those  to  whom  I 
 minister,  or  not?  Have  I  not  the  liberty  of  a  common  Christian,  yea, 
 and  that  of  an  apostle,  so  as  to  have  a  right  to  preach  the  gospel  with- 
 out reward,  if  I  think  fit  so  to  do?*— flpns.  2.  The  seal  of  mine 
 apnsltfship  are  ye,  '  your  conversion  is  a  confirming  testimony,  like  a 
 sealed  warrant,  to  the  validity  of  my  apostolic  office.'  3.  Answer, 
 aTToXo^ia,  '  apology  and  defence.'  Examine  vie,  avan^ivovai,  '  sit  as  it 
 were  in  judgment  to  censure  me.'  4.  Power,  t^ovaiav,  'authority,* 
 to  demand  a  supply  of  convenient  food  and  drink  from  the  people 
 among  whom  wc  spend  our  time  and  strength.  5.  A  sister,  a  wife, 
 *a  sister  wife,*  a  Christian  wife,— 7I/j.  Pe«>-ce,  JI/«<:/r". ;  or,  *a  sister 
 woman,'  a  Cliristiao  woman. — Mackn.  A6c\tpnv  fwitiKLi  here  must 
 simply  mean,  '  a  wife,'  a  sister  in  Christ  whom  he  had  taken  into  the 
 
 nubial  state  with  the  utmost  fidelity.  Cherishing  for  each  other 
 the  most  tender  regard,  promoting  each  other's  everliisling  in- 
 terests, and  training  up  their  children  in  the  nurture  and 
 admonition  of  the  Lord,  that  they  may  be  truly  holy  and  conse- 
 crated to  his  service. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIII.  —  I.  Let  us  bless  God  if  we 
 possess  supi^ior  knowledge  to  others ;   but  that  linowledge  must 
 be  characterized  by  love  to  Cod,  and  compassion  towards  the 
 1-2IG 
 
 infirmities  of  our  brethren. 
 
 II.  Lit  u&  he  willing  to  make  sacrifice  of  Christian  Uhrrty^ 
 rather  than  stumble  our  Christian  brethren.  Our  judgments 
 must,  however,  regulate  us  in  our  sacrifices,  or  we  may  make 
 ourselves  conformable  to  some  in  the  cut  cf  our  co;U  or  the 
 shape  of  our  hat.  Yet.  if  even  these  things  were  more  seri- 
 ously viewed,  we  had  better  conform  in  them  than  stumble  a 
 weak  brother. 
 
PauVs  disinterested  motives 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  IX. 
 
 in  preaching  the  gosprl. 
 
 G  Or  I  only  and  Barnabas,  ^  have  not  we 
 power  to  foibear  working? 
 
 7  Who  'goeth  a  warfare  any  time  at  his  own 
 charges'?  wlio  ''plantetli  a  vineyard,  and  eateth 
 not  of  the  fruit  thereof?  or  who  'feedeth  a 
 Hock,  and  eateth  not  of  the  milk  of  the  flock  ? 
 
 8  Say  I  these  things  as  a  man?  or  saith  not 
 the  law  tlie  same  also? 
 
 f)  For  it  is  written  in  the  law  of  Moses, 
 "'  Thou  shalt  not  muzzle  the  month  of  the 
 ox  that  treadeth  out  the  corn.  Doth  God 
 take  care  for  oxen  ? 
 
 10  Or  saith  lie  ?7  altogether  for  our  sakes? 
 For  our  sakes,  no  doubt,  this  is  written  :  that 
 "lie  that  ploweth  should  plow  in  hope  ;  and 
 that  he  that  thresheth  in  hope  should  be  par- 
 taker of  his  hope. 
 
 1 1  °  If  we  have  sown  unto  you  spiritual  things, 
 is  it  a  great  thing  if  we  shall  reap  your  carnal 
 things  ? 
 
 12  If  others  be  partakers  of  this  power  over 
 you,  are  not  we  rather?  ^  Nevertlieless  we 
 have  not  used  this  power;  but  suffer  all  things, 
 ''  lest  we  should  hinder  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
 
 13  ^  Do  ye  not  know  that  they  whicli  minis- 
 ter about  holy  things  ||  live  of  the  things  of 
 the  temple?  and  they  which  wait  at  the  altar 
 are  partakers  with  the  altar? 
 
 14  Even  so  Miath  the  Lord  ordained  *  that 
 they  which  preach  the  gospel  should  live  of 
 tlie  gospel. 
 
 15  But  "  I  have  used  none  of  these  things  : 
 neither  have  I  written  these  things,  that  it 
 should  be  so  done  unto  me  ;  for  "^  it  were  better 
 for  me  to  die,  than  that  any  man  should  make 
 my  glorying  void. 
 
 16  For  though  I  preach  the  gospel,  I  have 
 
 A.  D.  59. 
 
 A  -I  Thcs.  3. 
 8,  9. 
 .  2  Cor.  10  -1, 
 
 1  Tim  1.18. 
 ft  ti    \2. 
 
 2  Tim.  2.  3. 
 fc  \   7. 
 
 k  Deu.  au.  6 
 yrn.'n.  18 
 rh  3.  6,  7,8. 
 
 I  .Tol>ri2l.l5 
 I  I'et.  5.  2. 
 
 tn  Oeu.  S5. 4. 
 I  Tim.5  18. 
 
 iRi-m  15.27. 
 Gal.  6.  e. 
 
 P  Acts  20.3.1. 
 
 ver.  15.  tS. 
 
 2  Cor.  11.7, 
 
 9.  &  12.  IS. 
 
 lThes.2  6. 
 9  2  Coi".  1 1 , 
 
 r  Lev.  C.  16, 
 
 26.  h  7.  6, 
 
 &c.  Num. 
 
 5.  9.  to. 
 
 &  13.8—20. 
 
 Deu.  10.  e. 
 
 &  IB.  1. 
 II  Or,  ftpd. 
 t  Mat, 10.10. 
 
 Luke  10.  7. 
 /  Gal-  6    6. 
 
 I  Tim.5, 17. 
 M  ver,  12, 
 
 Acts  18.3. 
 
 ft  20.  34. 
 
 ch.  4.  12. 
 
 1  Tbes  2.9. 
 
 2  The9.3.8. 
 x  2  Cor.  1 1 . 
 
 10. 
 
 r  ch.  .1  S,U, 
 a  ch,  -I.   I. 
 G;.i    2    7, 
 Pliil.  t,  17 
 Col.  I.  2b. 
 
 b  cli    10,  33 
 2  Cor.  1.  5 
 
 &  II    7. 
 c  ch.  7.  ,11, 
 
 d  vef.  1. 
 f-  Gal.  h    n. 
 I  Pet    S     I 
 
 I  Rom.  15. 1. 
 2Cor.ll  29. 
 m  ch.lO.  33. 
 
 )Gal,2.  2.  fa 
 5-7.  I'I'il.  2. 
 16  R;  S.  M 
 a  Tim.  I..  7, 
 Heb.  12.  1. 
 
 p  EphO.  12. 
 
 1  Tim  fi.l2, 
 
 2  Tim,  2.  5. 
 &  4.  7. 
 
 Q  2  Tiin.4-.8. 
 
 Jam,  I.  la. 
 
 I  IVt    I.  4. 
 
 &5.I    Ilev. 
 
 2.   lU,  &  3. 
 
 II. 
 -  2  Tim  2.5, 
 rKom    8,  13. 
 
 Col.  3.  5. 
 tnnm.  e.  18, 
 
 19. 
 
 nothing  to  glory  of:  for  ^necessity  is  laid 
 upon  me  ;  yea,  woe  is  unto  me,  if  I  preach  not 
 the  gospel ! 
 
 17  For  if  I  do  this  thing  willingly,  ^  I  have  a 
 reward  :  but  if  against  my  will,  ^  a  dispensation 
 of  the  gospel  is  committed  unto  me. 
 
 18  What  is  my  reward  then?  Verily  that, 
 ''when  I  preach  the  gospel,  I  may  make  the 
 gospel  of  Christ  without  charge,  tliat  I  '^ abuse 
 not  my  power  in  the  gospel. 
 
 19  For  though  I  be  ''free  from  all  mew,  yet 
 have  ^  I  made  myself  servant  unto  all,  ^  that  1 
 might  gain  the  more. 
 
 20  And  ^unto  the  Jews  I  became  as  a  Jew, 
 that  I  might  gain  the  Jews  ;  to  them  that  are 
 under  tlie  law,  as  under  the  law,  that  I  might 
 gain  them  that  are  under  the  law  ; 
 
 21  ^  To  '  them  that  are  without  law,  as  with- 
 out law,  ('''being  not  without  law  to  God,  but 
 under  the  law  to  Christ,)  that  I  might  gain 
 them  that  are  without  law. 
 
 22  ^  To  the  weak  became  I  as  weak,  that  I 
 might  gain  the  weak  :  ""  1  am  made  all  things 
 to  all  men^  "  that  I  might  by  all  means  save 
 some. 
 
 2.3  And  this  I  do  for  the  gospel's  sake,  that  I 
 might  be  partaker  thereof  with  you. 
 
 24  Know  ye  not  that  they  which  run  in  a 
 race  run  all,  but  one  receiveth  the  prize  ?  °  So 
 run,  that  ye  may  obtain. 
 
 25  And  every  man  that  ''  striveth  for  the 
 mastery  is  temperate  in  all  things.  Now  they 
 do  it  to  obtain  a  corruptible  crown  ;  but  we 
 ''  an  incorruptible. 
 
 26  1  therefore  so  run,  'not  as  uncertainly; 
 so  tight  I,  not  as  one  that  beateth  the  air  : 
 
 27  ^  But  I  keep  under  my  body,  and  ^  bring 
 
 relation  of  a  wife.  6.  Or  I  only  mid  Barvnhas,  *  are  we  the  only  two 
 apostles  that  are  exduded  from  the  right  of  being  maintained  by  the 
 churches  ?'  ".  Who  goeth  a  warfare,  l^-r.  .^— at  this  time  the  Roman 
 
 soldiers  had  lonf?  been  m  the  habit  of  receiving  pay  ;  anciently  it  wa'^ 
 not  so,  certain  classes  served  without  it.  Eateth  not  of  the  milk,  tiie 
 oriental  shepherd  is  generally  paid  in  part  of  the  milk  and  lambs  of 
 his  Hock.—Pict.  Bib.  Every  one  reasonably  expects  a  reward  of  his 
 labour,  and  so  should  every  minister  of  the  gospel.  8.  The  law,  di- 
 
 vine revelation  in  the  Mosaic  law,  (see  Dent.  xxv.  4.)  9.  Doth  God 
 take  carefn-  u.ren?  '  does  this  divine  injunction  merely  relate  to  brute 
 creatures  ?*  10.  For  our  sakes,  he  has  a  further  meaning  in  it. 
 'That  we  spiritual  husbandmen  should  reap  the  necessaries  of  life  as  a 
 just  recompence  from  the  churches.'  12.  If  others,  servants  of  Christ, 
 and  even  false  tt-acbers.  Be  partakers  of  this  power,  'claim  and  exert 
 an  anihority  over  you  for  their  maintenance.'  Are  not  we  rather? — 
 '  are  not  we  who  first  planted  and  watered  the  Corinthian  church  much 
 mure  entitled  to  it  ?'  13.  Do  ye  not  know,  Sfc. — God  expressly  made 
 provision  for  his  ministering  servants  in  the  Mosaic  law,  (Num.  xviii.) 
 
 14.  Hath  the  Lord  ordained— Matt .  x.  9,  10;  Luke,  x.  7.  15.  Better 
 for  me  tu  die,  ilfc,  '  I  had  rather  perish  for  want  than  be  deprived  of  the 
 pleasure  and  honour  of  promoting  the  interest  of  Christ  and  the  good 
 of  souls.*— G»j/se.  Than  that  any  tntni  should  make  my  glorying,  '  that  I 
 have  preached  the  gospel  freely.'  Void,  'by  drawing  nie  to  require  a 
 maintenance;'  in  other  words,  'to  give  occasion  to  them  that  seek 
 occasion  against  me.'— Bens.  l6.  Necessity  is  laid  upon  me,  by  the 
 commission  and  command  of  my  great  Lord,  (Acts,  xxii.  15,  2li  and 
 Rom.  i.  u.)  I".  A  reward,  a  noble  satisfaction  now,  a  gracious 
 reward   of  my  faithlulncbs   and   zeal   in   the  day  of  Christ.— Gu^/.s-e. 
 
 15.  Th'it  J  aliuse  not,  to  any  low  and  secular  purpose.  19.  Free,  '  not 
 bitund  to  do  that  which  seems  unlawful,  inconvenient,  or  disadvan- 
 tageous  tu  myself,  to  please  any  man.'— il*n«.  Have  I  made  myself 
 servant  vnto  all,  ^lAavrov  e^ovXtnaa,  '  I  have  enslaved  myself  to  all ;'  an 
 expression  peculiarly  beautiful  and  proper  as  here  used  by  tlie  apostle. 
 Slaves  wrought  for  their  masters  without  hire,  and  were  careful  to 
 comply  with  their  humours:  and  the  apostle,  while  preaching  the 
 gospel,  reduced  himself  to  the  condition  of  a  slave,  both  by  serving  all 
 men  without  hire,  nay,  without  rcquirint;  a  maintenance  from  them, 
 bud  by  complying  with  their  prejudices  in  all  cases  wherein  he  could 
 do  it  without  sin.— Jl/acAn.      Gain  the  more,  'win  the  more  souls.' 
 
 20.  As  a  ./cH".  reasoning  out  of  the  Old  Testament. —Ou^se.  '  Conform- 
 ing in  all  things  to  their  manner  of  living,  so  far  as  1  could  with  iiino- 
 cence.*  Under  thf  law,  tidnk  themselves  still  bound  by  the  Mosaic 
 law.     As   under   the   law,   observing  it   myself  while    among   then). 
 
 21.  Without  law,  the  Gentiles,  who  did  not  hold  themselves  hound  to 
 observe  Mnses'  law.  As  without  law,  neglecting  its  ceremonies. — 
 Benson.     Bein<^  not  without  law  to  God,  '  a  true  behever'  is  not  avouoi, 
 
 I2I7 
 
 'a  lawless  person  towards  God,'  but  is  ewo/io^,  '  within  the  bond  of 
 the  law  to  Christ;'  not  exempted  from  its  control  as  the  standard  of 
 moral  action,  though  delivered  from  its  power  and  execration  as  a  cove- 
 nant of  works. — To/ilady.  Though  he  was  delivered  from  the  curse 
 and  condemnatinn  of  the  law,  and  as  a  covenant  of  works,  and  the 
 ministry  of  it  by  Moses,  yet  not  from  the  matter  of  it,  and  obedience 
 to  it,  as  a  rule  of  walk  and  conversation. — Gill.  As  much  as  ever 
 obliged  to  obey  the  law  in  its  moral  precepts.  Under  an  indispensable 
 obligation,  in  duty  and  gratitude,  to  obey  Christ's  will  in  ali  things, 
 imitate  his  example,  and  live  to  his  glory ;  and,  in  this  sense,  ali 
 Christians  will  be  under  the  law  for  ever. — Bens.  22.  Became  I  a? 
 weak,  'abstaining  from  the  use  of  my  liberty  in  inditTerent  things, 
 rather  than  that  weak  consciences  should  he  stumbled  and  grieved. 
 23.  Partaker  thereof  with  ynu,  '  have  a  joint  communion  and  partner- 
 ship.'— Guyse.  ^uyKoivuii'ov  avrov,  'a  joint  communicator  of  it,*  the 
 gospel. — Pearre.  24.  They  which  run  in  a  rac,  Sfc. — the  allusion 
 here,  and  in  the  three  following  verses,  is  to  the  famous  games  in 
 Greece,  kept  at  the  Isthmus  of  Coiinth,  called  the  Isthmian  games, 
 particularly  to  the  racing,  wrestling,  boxing,  and  cuffing,  used  on 
 those  occasions. — See  Ham.  Receii^eth  the  prize,  'get  the  garland.* 
 — Gityse.  So  run,  §v.,  alludes  to  an  adherence  to  the  rules  by  which 
 the  race  was  regulated  ;  to  cross  the  white  lines  or  posts  lost  the  prize. 
 — Pict.  Bib.  25.  Every  one  that  striveth,  ^c,  wrestlers  and  boxers, 
 every  one  cf  them,  (6  afiovt^oneiov,)  who  would  contend  in  good  eiirnesC 
 for  victory,  even  to  an  agony,  is  very  exact  in  his  regimen,  ^c,  to  be 
 better  prepared.— Gh^.sp.  Ffir  the  mastery,  alluding  to  a  game  called 
 the  pancratium,  whicli  included  wrestling  and  boxing. — Ham.  A  cor 
 ruptihlc  crown— the  crouns  for  which  the  Greeks  contended  in  the 
 games  were,  for  the  most  part,  made  of  the  leaves  of  trees,  which, 
 though  evergreens,  soon  withered;  they  were  of  wild  olive,  laurel, 
 smallage,  or  parsley. — Mackn.  Or  pine  tree  branches  or  leaves. — 
 Schmitl.  26.  Not  as  uncertainly,  Tpex^n'  uStiXu)^,  is,  'to  run  unno. 
 ticed  ;*  '  I  run  not  as  one  that  is  to  pass  undistinguished,'  solicitous  to 
 gain  the  approbation  of  my  Judge,  Sic. — Doddr.  *  1  so  run  as  one  not 
 out  of  view  of  his  judge.' — Miickn.  The  allusion  seems  to  be  to  the 
 white  line  wliich  was  drawn  irom  the  place  the  runners  set  out  at,  to 
 the  goal  ;  so  that  they  could  not  be  at  a  loss  to  strer  their  course. — 
 Gill.  It  means,  to  run  with  a  full  assurance  of  obtaining  the  prize  set 
 before.  Not  as  one  that  beateth  the  air,  'wasting  my  strength  and 
 labour  by  missing  my  aim,*  as  the  boxer  sometimes  did. — Boothr, 
 The  allusion  here  is  to  the  mock  battle  called  o-Kiajiiax'a,  the  arms 
 using  the  gauntlet  being  exercised  without  an  antagonist, — Mackn., 
 Doddr.  I  attack  the  enemy  directly,  and  combat  with  him  face  to 
 face. — Billroth.  This  is  spoken  in  reference  to  the  Pancratiasls,  fur 
 they  are  accustomed  to  exercise  themselves  by  striking  their  hands 
 against  the  z\x.^-'i'heodoret.  27-  /  k*^cp  under,  *  I  bruise  my  body/ 
 
 7    Q 
 
The  Jews  are  types 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  X. 
 
 and  examples  for  Christians. 
 
 it  into  subjection  :  lest  that  by  any  means, 
 when  I  have  preached  to  others,  I  myself 
 should  be  "  a  castaway. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  The  sacrameJtts  of  the  Jews  6  are  fypes  ofour^s,  1  and 
 their  punishmfJits,  II  ej:(i7jiplts  for  us.  14  fre  must 
 fiy  from  idolatry.  21  We  must  not  make  the  Lord's 
 table  the  table  of  dcvih  :  24  anil  in  things  indifferent 
 we  ynust  have  rcjard  of  our  brethren. 
 
 "j\/rOREOVER,  brethren,  I  would  not  that 
 ■*-'-■-  ye  should  be  ignorant,  how  tliat  all  our 
 fathers  were  under  "  the  cloud,  and  all  passed 
 through  ^  the  sea  ; 
 
 2  And  were  all  baptized  unto  Moses  in  the 
 cloud  and  in  the  sea  ; 
 
 3  And  did  all  eat  the  same  *^ spiritual  meat; 
 
 4  And  did  all  drink  the  same  '^spiritual 
 drink  :  for  they  drank  of  that  spiritual  Rock 
 that    II  followed    them  :   and   that    Rock   was 
 
 n  Jer.  G.  30. 
 2  Cof.  13.5, 
 
 1  Ex.  13.  21. 
 fit  40.  Si. 
 Num.  9. 18. 
 &  t4>.  14. 
 
 I.  33. 
 
 Neh. 
 
 39. 
 b  Et.  I*.  S2. 
 
 Nil  33.  9. 
 
 J.ish.  *.  S3. 
 
 Ps    78.  \Si. 
 c  Ex.  16.  15, 
 
 35.  Neh.  9. 
 
 15,  SO. 
 
 Ps.  73.  2*. 
 d  Ex.  17.  6. 
 
 Nu    20.  11. 
 
 Pn.  73    15. 
 II  Or.  iee;t 
 
 with  Ihem, 
 
 Deu.  9  21. 
 
 P9,  105.  41. 
 
 A.  D.  59. 
 
 .■  Num.  14. 
 
 SO,  3J,  35. 
 
 «c26   64,05. 
 
 Pa.   106.26. 
 
 Heb.  3.  17. 
 
 Jude  5. 
 II  Gr.  OUT 
 Jij/urei. 
 /■Num.  U. 
 
 4.  33.  34. 
 
 Pb.  106.  14. 
 g  ver.  U. 
 h  Ex    33.6. 
 (  ch. 6    Id 
 
 Rev.  2.  II. 
 k  Num.  25 . 
 
 I,  9, 
 
 Ps,  106.  29, 
 /  Ex. 17.2,7- 
 
 Num.  "21   5. 
 
 Deu    6.  16. 
 
 Ps.  78   18. 
 
 56.  &  95    9. 
 
 &  106.  14. 
 m  Nu   '21,6. 
 n  Ex.  16.  2. 
 
 &  17.  '2. 
 
 Nam.  14. 2. 
 
 29.  h  I6.41. 
 o  Num    U. 
 
 37.  &  16.  M. 
 
 Christ. 
 
 5  But  with  many  of  them  God  was  not  weU 
 pleased  :    for   they  ®  were   overthrown  in  the 
 
 wilderness. 
 
 6  Now  these  things  were  f  our  examples,  to 
 the  intent  we  should  not  lust  after  evil  things, 
 as  ^  they  also  lusted. 
 
 7  ^  Neither  be  ye  idolaters,  as  were  some  of 
 them  ;  as  it  is  written,  **  The  people  sat  down 
 to  eat  and  drink,  and  rose  up  to  play. 
 
 8  *  Neither  let  us  commit  fornication,  as  some 
 of  them  committed,  and  ''  fell  in  one  day  three 
 and  twenty  thousand. 
 
 9  Neither  let  us  tempt  Christ,  as  '  some  of 
 them  also  tempted,  and  "^  were  destroyed  of 
 serpents. 
 
 10  Neither  murmur  ye,  as  "some  of  them 
 also  murmured,  and  "^  were  destroyed  of  ^  the 
 destroyer. 
 
 p  Ex.  12.23.  S  Sam.  24.  16.  1  Chr.  21.  15. 
 
 as  the  boxer  did  that  of  his  antagonist.— BooMr.  *  I  keep  under,'  and 
 'bring  into  subjection,*  I'Trajwufw  nat  6ov\ayti}-j(D,  are  agonistical, 
 alluding  ti)  a  cnmbatant's  giving  his  adversaries  black-and-blue  eyes 
 in  cuffing; ;  and  throwini?  them  down,  and  getting  them  under  him  in 
 wrestlintr.  These  are  strong  and  lively  figures,  to  signify  the  mortifi- 
 cation of  sensitive  appetites  and  all  the  evil  propensions  of  the  old 
 man. — See  Beza.  The  word  translated  '  to  keep  under,'  signifies  '  to 
 take  hc'ld  of.  or  to  gripe,  an  adversary,*  as  wrestlers  do  when  they 
 would  give  their  antagoni^t  a  fall,  and  lay  him  flat  with  the  earth,  or 
 "to  beat  and  pound,'  as  wrestlers  anciently  did  with  their  plummets 
 of  lead  ;  whence,  a  word  derived  from  that  in  the  text  signifies  '  putri- 
 fied  wounds.'  The  other  word  signifies  'to  lead  captive,'  to  subject 
 the  body  to  serve  Hnrt,  not  lusts ;  to  lead  it  as  a  slave,  not  to  endure  it 
 as  a  master;  a  bringing  the  atfections  into  order,  that  they  may  not 
 contradict  and  disobey  the  motions  of  the  Spirit  and  sanctified  reason. 
 — Charnock.  ^ovXaiut-^u),  '  1  drag  off  as  a  slave,'  as  the  victors  did 
 their  conquered  antagonists. — Greenf.  Preached  to  others,  Kitp^fat, 
 '  having  preached,*  expresses  the  discharging  of  the  oflice  of  an  herald, 
 whose  business  it  was  to  proclaim  the  coniHtions  of  the  games,  and 
 display  the  prizes,  to  awaken  the  emulation  and  the  courage  of  those 
 who  were  to  contend  for  them.  Rut  the  apostle  intimates  that  there 
 was  this  peculiar  circumstance  attending  the  Christian  contest,  that 
 the  person  who  proclaimed  its  laws  anrl  rewards  to  others  was  also  to 
 engage  himself,  and  that  there  would  he  a  peculiar  infamy  and  misery 
 in  miscarrying. — Bnrder,  so  Doddr.,  Mnckn.,  and  Rosenm.  A  castawarj, 
 aioKi/ior,  'rejected,'  as  unworthy  of  being  placed  among  the  number 
 of  those  to  whom  the  crowns  were  awarded,  \2  Cor.xiii.  5.)  The  word 
 also  signifies,  'that  which  will  not  bear  a  test,'  and  is  used  in  this 
 sense  in  reference  to  metals  which  cannot  endure  the  crucible,  {see 
 Isa.  i.  22,  Sept. ;  1  Cor.  xi.  19  ;  James,  i.  12.)— D.  Martin.  There  was 
 a  public  trial  of  the  competitor  for  the  crown  beforehand,  to  ascertain 
 if  he  were  an  honourable  aud  upright  character;  and  an  accurate  scru- 
 tiny after  the  competition  to  ascertain  if  the  struggle  liad  been  fairly 
 maintained. — See  West's  Pindar.  '  Rejected  of  God  as  an  insincere  and 
 slothful  servant.'— Gu^vse.  '  Be  disapproved  ;  be  rejected  as  unworthy, 
 as  an  insincere  and  slothful  servant.' — Bp.  Home.  'Disapproved  of 
 the  Great  Judge.' — Doddr.  '  My  first  work  is  about  myself,  to  mortify 
 and  subdue  all  my  fleshly  desires,  which  stand  against  my  duty,  and 
 to  keep  my  body  in  constant  subjection  ;  Ie-.t,  when  by  preaching  1  have 
 won  others,  I  should,  as  a  carnal  man.  be  lost  and  cast  away  myself.' 
 — R.  B'lxfer.  On  this  text  the  opponents  of  Calvinism  take  a  grand 
 stand.  St.  Paul  was  certainly  an  elect  person,  if  ever  there  was  one, 
 and  yet  he  declares  it  was  possible  he  himself  might  become  a  repro- 
 bate.—So  says  Benson.  Paul  himself  might  be  rejected  by  the  Great 
 Judge;  and  to  prevent  this  he  ran,  &c. —  Clnrke.  To  avoid  giving 
 offence,  the  apostle  includes  himself,  so  that  much  stress  cannot  here 
 be  laid  on  the  passage  by  those  who  attack  Calvinii^m  ;  nor  does  the 
 apostle  give  any  ground  to  suppose  that  be  had  any  doubts  or  fears  as 
 to  his  salvation.  Vet  it  implies  that  the  failure  was  possible,  and  there- 
 fore proves  that  persons  may  fall  from  a  state  of  grace.— Bp.  B«//. 
 Calvinistical  writers  remark  as  follows: — This  diii  not  imply  that  the 
 apostle  doubted  of  liis  acceptance  or  perseverance ;  but  it  shewed  the 
 
 Corinthians  the  nature  of  his  assurance,  and  forcibly  cautioned  them 
 not  to  rest  in  such  hopes  as  were  consistent  with  indiscriminate  self- 
 indulgence  even  in  things  lawful. — Scott.  The  apostle's  assurance 
 (ver.  26,)  did  not  lead  him  into  a  false  security,  as  he  well  knew  that 
 the  means  and  end  are  inseparably  connected. — Bonthr.  The  apostle's 
 concern  is  lest  he  should  do  anything  that  might  bring  a  reproach  upon 
 the  gospel ;  le^t  some  corruption  of  his  nature  or  other  should  break 
 out,  and  thereby  his  ministry  be  justly  blamed,  and  be  brought  under 
 contempt,  and  so  he  be  rejected  and  disapproved  of  by  men,  and  be- 
 come useless  as  a  preacher;  not  that  he  feared  he  should  become  a 
 reprobate,  as  the  word  is  opposed  to  an  elect  person  ;  or  that  he  should 
 be  a  castaway  eternally,  (^r  be  everlastingly  damned  ;  for  he  knew  in 
 whom  he  had  believed,  Stc.—GHt.  The  papists  lay  great  stress  on  this 
 passage,  to  justify  their  bodily  penances,  &c.,  which  may  nourish 
 superstition,  and  make  the  man  careless  of  real  holiness,  without  sub- 
 duing one  vicious  passion. — Mackn. 
 
 Chat.  X.  —  1.  Moreover,  §-c.— it  seems  evident  here,  that  the-apoatle 
 is  shewing  the  danger  of  being  castaways,  though  enjttying  the  greatest 
 privilege's ;  and  he  strengthens  his  former  remarks  by  a  reference  to 
 the  punishments  inflicted  on  the  Israelitish  people. — Ed.  Fathers — 
 Paul  speaks  of  himself  and  Jewish  brethren. — Wit.,  as  Hrn.,  Gill. 
 Under  the  rlaiid—Xhe  guidance  of  the  cloud. — Bloom/.,  so  Doddrid^f. 
 2.  Baptized— \\\e  waters  standing  up  as  a  wall  on  each  side,  they  wvio 
 as  persons  immcr.sed  in  and  covered  with  water ;  and  very  fitly  repre- 
 sented the  ordinance  of  baptism  as  performed  by  immersion. — Gill. 
 It  is  probable  they  were  sprinkled  with  drops  of  water  from  the  sea, 
 wtiich  stood  up  on  both  sides,  as  they  passed  along,  and  from  the  cloud 
 tliat  was  over  tliem. — Estius.  If  it  be  supposed  tliat  here  is  any  allu- 
 sion to  the  mode  of  baptism,  one  would  think  it  refers  ratlier  to  an  ad- 
 ministration of  it  by  sprinkling  than  by  immersion  ;  since  the  Egypt- 
 ians that  were  drowned  in  the  sea  were  baptized  by  the  waters  cover- 
 ing t\\em.—Guyse.  God  did  thus  solemnly  receive  them  under  pro- 
 tection as  his  people.  3.  Spiritual  meat,  the  manna,  which,  for  its 
 excellence,  is  called  aogcls'  food.— Doddr.  The  manna  is  called  /Jpw/iu 
 nievfiartKov,  '  spiritual  meat,'  as  it  was  not  merely  useful  for  the  body, 
 but  had  a  deeper  spiritual  import. — Billroth.  Jt  typified  Christ, — 
 Whitby ;  the  same  as  is  typiiied  by  the  bread  in  the  Lord's  supper, 
 (John,  vi.  51.)  and  it  meant  true  doctrine  in  particular,  (sceDeut.  viii. 
 3  ;  Ps.  Ixxviii.  25.)~Mackn.  The  meaning  is,  they  all  shared  the  same 
 miraculous  supply,  not  that  they  partook  of  the  same  spiritual  food 
 with  believers,  for  all  were  not  true  believers. — Doddr.  4.  Spiritual 
 drink,  in  its  signification  to  them  and  us,  as  it  had  a  typical  reference, 
 primarily,  to  gospel  benefits  by  Jesus  Christ,  which  are  represented  as 
 the  living  waters  that  he  gives  to  them  who  believe  in  him  ;  and, 
 secondarily,  to  the  cup  in  the  Lord's  supper.  Clinst  being  smitten  by 
 the  rod  of  the  law  in  the  hand  of  justice  when  '  he  bare  our  sins  in  his 
 own  body,'  &c. — Guyse.  Drank  of  that  spiritual  Rock,  i.e.,  of  the 
 water  that  came  from  it. — Welts.  That  spiritual,  or  mysterious.  Bock 
 was  Christ,  a  most  aftecting  representation  of  Christ. — Doddridge. 
 6.  Our  examples,  rather. '  examples  to  ns.' — Slade.  Tv-rroi,  '  figures.' — 
 Guyse.  That  we  avoid  their  crimes,  lest  we  resemble  them  in  their 
 punislvraents. — Stanhope.  J.  To  play,  to  dance,  as  usual  after  idol 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX.  —  We  may  learn  from  this 
 chapter— I.  That  self-denial  is  the  qreat  dntu  of  Christians. 
 And  some  Christians  need  PSpeciaUy  to  be  reminded  of  this 
 duty.  Many  of  the  exercises'of  what  is  called  self-denial  are 
 quite  common  to  some  natural  men,  while  to  some  pious  men 
 they  require  a  great  struggle.  Their  circumstances,  tempta- 
 tions, and  constitutional  and  mental  feelings,  dispositions, 
 and  inclinations  are  such  as  require  the  hardest  conflict.  Vet, 
 in  reliance  on  the  aids  of  Divine  grace,  the  believer  shall, 
 amidst  all,  so  run  that  he  may  obtain  the  prize. 
 
 II.  That  a  man  may  preach  the  gospel,  and  yet  be  a  castaway. 
 It  is  not  necessary  to  inter  that  a  man  may  be  a  real  Christian, 
 and  yet  be  a  castaway;  it  is  sufficient  to  say,  that  he  may  be 
 1218 
 
 a  splendid  professor,  and  yet  fall  short  of  the  prize.  It  is  not 
 necessary  to  infer  that  a  man  may  be  a  chosen  vessel,  called  to 
 be  a  minister,  and  yet  be  a  castaway  ;  it  is  sufficient  to  say, 
 that  a  man  may  possess  talents,  and  be  made  useful  in  pro- 
 claiming the  truth  toothers,  and  yet  he  himself  may  perish. 
 As  in  either  case  the  soul  is  ruined,  what  great  heart-search- 
 ings  ought  we  to  exercise  !  how  continually  should  we  live  in 
 dependence  on  Divine  grace  !  how  deeply  should  we  mourn 
 over  and  repent  of  past  failures!  how  decided  should  we  learn 
 to  be  in  our  Christian  character!  how  earnestly  should  we 
 cry  to  God  to  search  and  try  us,  and  lead  us  in  the  way  ever- 
 lasting ;  and  pursue  our  course,  'looking  unto  Jesus,  who  is 
 the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith  !* 
 
idolatry  and  other  offences 
 
 L  CORINTHIANS,  X. 
 
 to  be  avoided. 
 
 \\  Now  all  these  things  happened  unto  tliem 
 for  II  ensamples  :  and  '^they  are  written  for  onr 
 admonition,  ^  upon  whom  the  ends  of  the  world 
 are  come. 
 
 12  Wherefore  'let  him  that  thinketh  he 
 standeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall. 
 
 13  There  hath  no  temptation  taken  you  but 
 such  as  is  ||  common  to  man  :  but  *■  God  is 
 faithful,  "who  will  not  suffer  you  to  be  tempted 
 above  that  ye  are  able ;  but  will  with  the 
 temptation  also  "  make  a  way  to  escape,  that 
 ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it. 
 
 14  VVherefore,  my  dearly  beloved,  ^flee  from 
 idolatry. 
 
 15  I  speak  as  to  *  wise  men  ;  judge  ye  what 
 I  say. 
 
 16  "  The  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless,  is  it 
 not  the  communion  of  the  blood  of  Christ  ? 
 *"  The  bread  which  we  break,  is  it  not  the  com- 
 munion of  the  body  of  Christ? 
 
 17  For  '^  we  being  many  are  one  bread,  and 
 one  body  :  for  we  are  all  partakers  of  that  one 
 bread. 
 
 18  Behold  ^  Israel  "^  after  the  flesh  :  '"are  not 
 they  which  eat  of  the  sacrifices  partakers  of 
 the  altar? 
 
 19  What  say  I  then?  ^that  the  idol  is  any 
 thing,  or  that  which  is  offered  in  sacrifice  to 
 idols  is  any  thing? 
 
 20  But  /  say,  that  the  things  which  the  Gen- 
 tiles *•  sacrifice,  they  sacrifice  to  devils,  and 
 not  to  God  :  and  I  would  not  that  ye  should 
 have  fellowship  with  devils. 
 
 21  'Ye  cannot  drink  the  cup  of  the  Lord, 
 and  ''  the  cup  of  devils  :  ye  cannot  be  partakers 
 
 A.  D.  59. 
 
 II  Or,  lypet. 
 q  Kom.  15.  4 
 
 oh.  9.  10. 
 r  ch .  7.  29. 
 
 Phil.  *    5. 
 
 Heb    10.  •>&, 
 
 S7.    I  John 
 
 ■-'    18. 
 (  Rl'IU.II.SO. 
 
 (  ch.  1 .  9. 
 u  Ps.  125.  a. 
 3  Pet   2.  9. 
 
 1  ver.  7- 
 
 2  Cor.  6.  17 
 I  Joiiii5.2; 
 
 a  Mat  26.S6, 
 28. 
 
 &  Acts  2.  42, 
 46.  ch  II. 
 23,  S4. 
 
 c  Kom.  12.  5. 
 ch.  12.  27. 
 
 d  Rom.  4.12 
 
 Gal.  6.  16. 
 «  Rom.  <1.  I. 
 
 &  9.  3,  S. 
 
 2  Cor.  11. 
 
 Id. 
 /  Lev.  3.  3. 
 
 &  7.  15. 
 g  ch.  9.  4. 
 
 I  2  Cor.  6. 
 
 15.  16 
 ADeu.32.SS 
 
 /  Deu.  32.21. 
 m  Ezek.  22. 
 
 >  Rom    15.1, 
 
 2,  ver  S). 
 
 ch.  i:i.  i. 
 
 Phil.  2,  4, 
 
 21. 
 p  Bar    6.  2S. 
 
 1   Tim.  4.». 
 7  Ex     19.  5. 
 
 Deut.lO.II 
 
 Ps.2*.  I.   Be 
 
 50.  12. 
 
 ver.  2S. 
 ■  Luke  10.7. 
 
 (Deut.lOH. 
 Ps   21.    1. 
 ver.  26. 
 
 il  Or,  thanks- 
 
 gtVOIff. 
 
 X  Rom. 14.6. 
 rrira.4,3,1. 
 
 Cnl.  3.  17. 
 I  Pet .1  It. 
 i  Rom.  11. 
 
 13  dis,  ra. 
 
 9  Cor.  li.  3. 
 t  Qr.GTftki. 
 
 ;  Acts  20.28. 
 
 ch.  II.  22 
 
 I  Tim.  3.  6. 
 b  Rom.  15.  S. 
 
 ch.  9.19,22. 
 c  ver.  2-1. 
 
 of  the  Lord's  table,  and  of  the  table  of  devils, 
 22   Do  we  'provoke  the   Lord  to  jealousy? 
 ■"  are  we  stronger  than  he  ? 
 
 23  "  All  things  are  lawful  for  me,  but  all 
 things  are  not  expedient:  all  things  are  lawful 
 for  me,  but  all  things  edify  not. 
 
 24  °  Let  no  man  seek  his  own,  but  every  man 
 another's  wealth. 
 
 25  ^  Whatsoever  is  sold  in  the  shambles,  Maf 
 eat,  asking  no  question  for  conscience  sake: 
 
 26  For  "*  the  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  the  ful- 
 ness thereof. 
 
 27  If  any  of  them  that  believe  not  bid  you  to 
 a  feasts  and  ye  be  disposed  to  go  ;  ^whatso- 
 ever is  set  before  you,  eat,  asking  no  question 
 for  conscience  sake. 
 
 28  But  if  any  man  say  unto  you.  This  is 
 offered  in  sacrifice  unto  idols,  eat  not  "for  his 
 sake  that  shewed  it,  and  for  conscience  sake  : 
 for  '  the  earth  is  the  Lord's,  and  tiie  fulness 
 thereof: 
 
 29  Conscience,  I  say,  not  thine  own,  but  of 
 the  other:  for  "why  is  my  liberty  judged  of 
 another  man's  conscience? 
 
 30  For  if  I  by  ||  grace  be  a  partaker,  why  am 
 I  evil  spoken  of  for  that  ^for  which  I  give 
 thanks? 
 
 31  ^  Whether  tlierefore  ye  eat,  or  drink,  or 
 whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God. 
 
 32  '''  Give  none  offence,  neither  to  the  Jews, 
 nor  to  the  f  Gentiles,  nor  to  °  the  church  of 
 God: 
 
 33  Even  as  ''  I  please  all  men  in  all  things^ 
 ^  not  seeking  mine  own  profit,  but  i\ie  profit 
 of  many,  that  they  may  be  saved. 
 
 feasts.— TT7i?7Ay.  The  word  Traifetv  may  extend  in  sense  to  every 
 kind  of  vestal  sport  practised  after  an  idol  sacrifice. — Slade.  11.  For 
 ensamples,  '  for  our  examples.' — Wells.  Ends  of  the  world,  last  age. 
 The  Jews  counted  three  ages— 1,  before  the  law;  2,  under  the  law; 
 3.  under  the  Messiah. — Bp.  Pearce.  Ta  re\n  toiv  ata)vi,>v,  the  ends  of 
 the  limes  included  within  the  whole  duration  of  the  Mosaic  economy. 
 — A.  Clarke.  Properly,  '  the  concluding  age,*  or  '  the  last  dispensa- 
 tion'of  God  to  mankind  on  earth,  that  is,  the  gospel  dispensation. — 
 Doddr.  12.  Thhiketh  he  standeth,  most  assuredly  standeth,  (for  the 
 word  JoKci,  rendered  'thinketh,'  most  certainly  strengthens  rather 
 than  weakens  the  sense,)  or  is  confident  that  he  is  able  to  resist  temp- 
 tation.— Bens.  Take  heed,  /J,\e:reTto,  *  see  to  it.' — Gin/se.  13.  Temp- 
 tntion,  TTCipacTfio?,  '  trial'  of  any  kind,  whether  by  w;iy  of  suffering,  as 
 the  word  means,  James,  i.  2,  1  Pet.  i.  6,  and  in  many  other  places ;  or 
 of  inducements  to  sin,  as  the  expression  signifies,  James,  i.  13,  14. — 
 Bens.  ifi.  The  cup  of  blessing — the  Jews  used  to  conclude  the  pass- 
 over  with  a  cup  so  called,  because  they  gave  thanks  fur  it  liy  blessing 
 God.  Hence,  the  receiving  the  wine  in  the  sacrament,  which  Christ 
 instituted  after  the  paschal  supper,  is  called  by  the  same  name,  being 
 consecrated  by  thanksgiving. — Ham.,  Whitby.  Which  we  bless,  6  cvXo- 
 toufiev,  '  for  which  we  bless  God.' — Mackn.  See  cliap.  xi.  24.  We  are 
 said  to  bless  it,  because,  by  solemn  prayer  in  its  cimsecration,  we  beg 
 of  God  to  bless  it  to  us. — Poole.  The  communion,  that  is,  a  sign,  sym- 
 bol, and  token  of  fellowship  with  Christ  in  his  death.  By  faith  they 
 eat  Christ's  tlesh  and  drink  his  blood,  then  such  as  eat  of  things  sacri- 
 ficed  unto  idols  have  communion  with  them. — Gill.  ly.  One  bread, 
 apTos,  'loaf.'  The  sense  is,  it  is  this  communion  which  makes  us  all 
 one  ;  by  partaking  of  one  and  the  same  bread,  we  are  united  and  formed 
 into  one  mystical  body.  18.  Behold,   fyc.,  by   way  of  illustration, 
 
 those  who  feast  on  the  remainder  of  the  sacrifices,  (see  Lev.  vii.  15, 
 1  Sam.  i.  4,  15,)  do  they  not  join  in  the  worship  there  performed,  and 
 own  the  God  there  worshipped  ?— Bens.  Ip.  Is  any  tfiin^  ?—'  no,  I 
 
 do  not  admit  it ;  I  deny  it,  with  the  advocates  of  universal  liberty,  to 
 take  part  in  idol  entertainments."  20.  But  1  suy,  ^c,  ' !  insist  upon 
 it,  that  the  heathen  sacrifices  are  offered  to  demons,  and  I  would  not 
 have  you  go  into  any  practice  which  may  be  construed  as  holding 
 communion  with  them.'  21.  Ye  cannot,  fyc,  for  the  very  design  of 
 Christianity  is  to  destroy  all  worshipping  of  demons.— Gwj/se.    '  Your 
 
 communicating  with  Christ  in  the  Lord's  supper  is  utterly  inconsistent 
 with  communicating  with  devils  in  the  idol  feasts.' — Burkitt.  Cup  of 
 devils,  cups  drank  at  their  feasts. — Doddr.  Table  of  devils,  or  *  demnns,* 
 meaning  the  sacritice  offered  to  them,  which  was  eaten  on  a  table  in 
 the  demon's  temple. — Mackn.  22.  Provoke  the  Lord  to  jealousy,  al- 
 luding to  the  notion  of  idolatry,  as  a  kind  of  spiritual  adultery,  whicli 
 moved  the  jealousy  of  God. — Doddr.  Do  we  thus  caress  his  rivals? — 
 Bens.      Thus   violate  his   second  commandment? — Ham.  23.  All 
 
 things  are  lawful  for  me,  such  as  the  eating  of  meats,  in  itself  consi- 
 dered, whether  they  have  been  offered  to  idols  or  no ;  but  it  is  not,  at 
 all  times  and  in  all  circumstances,  fit  and  convenient  to  go  to  the  ut- 
 most extent  of  this  liberty,  especially  when  it  would  be  a  matter  of 
 offence  or  stumbling  to  others. — Guyse.  24.  Wealth,  or  '  weal.'^- 
 
 Bens.  25.  In  the  shambles,  as  the  Grecian  priests  had  often  moiu 
 flesh  than  their  families  could  consume,  it  is  probable  that  the  neigh- 
 bouring markets  might  be  chiefly  supplied  from  their  temples;  but 
 there  it  was  not  necessary  scrupulously  to  ask  questions,  no  evd  ex- 
 ample of  idol  commuuion  being  set. — Doddr.,  Ed.  26.  For  the  earlh 
 is  the  Lord*s,  fyc,  therefore  all  these  things  are  to  be  taken  as  God'> 
 common  bounties.— i>yrfrfr.  27.  Fur  conscience  sake,  lest  either  their 
 own  or  another's  conscience  should  be  hurt  thereby. —  Gill.  Be  not 
 scrupulous  about  it.  28.  Eat  not,  give  no  countenance  to  idolatry 
 by  so  doing,  and  be  scrupulous  for  the  sake  of  his  conscience  whose 
 conscience  may  be  tender  on  the  point;  see  ver.  29.  For  the  earth 
 is  the  Lord^s,  ^c,  '  there  is  plenty  of  provision  made  for  your  use  with- 
 out this.' — Ed.  The  latter  clause  of  this  verse  is  omitted  in  the  Syr., 
 Vulg.,  and  Alexandrian,  though  the  repetition  is  far  from  being  im- 
 pertinent.—  Gill.  29.  For  why  is  my  liberty,  ^c,  '  I  ought  not  to  use 
 my  liberty  so  as  to  do  that  which  another  man  thinks  in  his  conscience 
 to  be  evil,  and  so  judges  me  a  transgressor  for  it.' — Bens.,  so  Bp.  Hall, 
 so  Gill.  '-Hi.  For  if  I  by  grace,  ^c,  '  for  though  I  may  lawfully  eat 
 things  sacrificed  to  idols,  by  the  grace  and  privilege  of  my  evangelical 
 liberty,  yet  why  should  I  expose  myself  to  censure,  a->  if  I  were  an 
 idolator,  in  doing  it?' — Bp.  Hall.  31.  To  the  glory  of  God,  keep  his 
 glory  in  view  in  every  action. — So  Mackn.  33.  As  1  please  all  men, 
 that  is,  *  I  endeavour  to  do  it.'  St.  Paul  often,  in  expressing  the  action, 
 means  only  to  express  the  design. — Bp.  Pearce.  In  all  things,  that 
 may  lawfully  be  done. — Guyse. 
 
 Reflections    on  Chap.    X I.    Let   us  beware   of  pre - 
 
 sinning  on  our  privileges.  Oh!  how  many  will  be  found,  at  the 
 last  day,  placed  at  the  Judge's  left  hand,  to  whom  it  will  be  of 
 no  avail  to  plead,  '  Lord,  we  have  ate  and  drank  at  thy  table, 
 and  thou  hast  taught  in  our  streets  !' 
 
 II.  Let  us  remeinhtT  that  communion  with  Christ  in  his  ordi- 
 ?iances  is  a  powerful  reason  why  we  should  nut  commune    with 
 
 i'219 
 
 demons.  In  tbis  country  we  have  no  temptations  from  heathen 
 idolatry,  but  still  we  may  be  the  votaries  of  demons,  if  we  are 
 the  votaries  of  the  world.  May  God  keep  us,  who  profess  his 
 name,  from  allowing  ourselves  in  the  privilege  of  undue  con- 
 formity to  it ;  and  may  we  avoid,  as  much  as  possible,  giving 
 any  cause  of  offence  to  weak  consciences. 
 
Pinil  reprofflh 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  XI. 
 
 sundry  irrcgularitifs. 
 
 CHAP.   XI. 
 
 1  He  repToveth  themt  because  in  hohj  asactnJilirs  4  their 
 men  prayed  with  their  heads  covered,  and  6  women 
 with  their  heads  uncover. d,  17  and  b' cause  (jemrally 
 their  ineetintjs  werj  not  for  the  better  but  for  the  worse, 
 as  21  uanidy  in  profaning  ivith  their  own  feasts  the 
 Lord's  Slipper.  *J3  Lastly,  he  calleth  them  to  the  first 
 instiiuliun  thereof. 
 
 BE  "ye  followers  of  me,  even  as  I  also  am 
 of  Christ. 
 *2  Now  I  praise  you,  brethren,  ^  that  ye  re- 
 member me  in  all  things,  and  *^keep  the  ||  or- 
 dinances, as  I  delivered  them  to  you. 
 
 3  But  I  would  have  you  know,  that  '^  the 
 head  of  every  man  is  Christ ;  and  *the  head  of 
 the  woman  is  the  man;  and  '"the  head  of 
 Christ  is  God. 
 
 4  Every  man  praying  or  ^prophesying,  having 
 Jiis  head  covered,  dishonoureth  his  head. 
 
 o  But  ''every  woman  that  prayeth  or  pro- 
 phesieth  with  her  head  uncovered  dishonour- 
 eth her  head  :  for  that  is  even  all  one  as  if  she 
 were  ' shaven. 
 
 C  For  if  the  woman  be  not  covered,  let  her 
 also  be  shorn  :  but  if  it  be  ''a  shame  for  a  wo- 
 man to  be  shorn  or  shaven,  let  her  be  covered. 
 
 7  For  a  man  indeed  ought  not  to  cover  his 
 head,  forasmuch  as  '  he  is  the  image  and  glory 
 of  God  :  but  the  woman  is  the  glory  of  the 
 man. 
 
 8  For  ^  the  man  is  not  of  the  woman  ;  but 
 the  woman  of  the  man. 
 
 9  "  Neither  was  the  man  created  for  the  wo- 
 man ;  but  the  woman  for  the  man. 
 
 10  For  this  cause  ought  the  woman  °to  have 
 II  power  on  her  head  ''because  of  the  angels. 
 
 1 1  Nevertheless  "^  neither  is  the  man  without 
 the  woman,  neither  the  woman  witliout  the 
 man,  in  the  Lord. 
 
 12  For  as  the  woman  is  of  the  man,  even  so 
 is  the  man  also  by  the  woman;  'but  all  things 
 of  Gud. 
 
 13  Judge  in  yourselves  :  is  it  comely  that  a 
 
 ach.  4.  16. 
 
 Kph.  5.  1. 
 
 rhil.  3.  17. 
 
 I  Thea.l.e 
 
 2Tlies.3.9. 
 b  Ch.  4.  17. 
 e  cb.  7.  17. 
 II  Or,  tradi- 
 
 lioiii, 
 
 S  ThM.  2. 
 
 Id.  &  3.  6. 
 d  Eph.5.3:i 
 e  Gcii.  3.  ir» 
 
 I  Tim  2.11, 
 
 18.  I  Pet  3. 
 
 1,6.6. 
 /John  14. 
 
 23.  ch.3.2:l 
 
 fc  15.  27,2S 
 
 PliilS.  7,  9, 
 
 9. 
 r  ch.  13    10, 
 
 L'S.  6t  11.  I, 
 
 «tc. 
 k  ActsSI-  9. 
 i  Dcu.2l.12. 
 
 /  Gcti.  1.  S6, 
 £7,  &  5.  I. 
 
 &9.  6. 
 
 1  Gen.  2.  If 
 21,  i3 
 
 Ij  Thnt  is,  <i 
 cetriug.,  "■" 
 
 ii  vnder  the 
 puieer  oflitr 
 hutbai.il. 
 
 p  Ecclcs  5  6. 
 
 5  Gal.  3.  iS. 
 
 r  Rom.  II. 
 36. 
 
 Or,  ttit. 
 
 I  ITiiu.  0.4 
 
 /  ch.  7.  17. 
 &  II.  S3. 
 
 uch.MO.n, 
 12    &  3   3, 
 
 II  Or, 
 chit  mi. 
 
 X  Miit  18.  7. 
 I.uke  17.  I. 
 Acts  20  3W 
 
 1  Tim.  4.  I. 
 
 2  Pets  1,2. 
 y  Or,  ttett. 
 y  liiike  2.35 
 
 IJohii2.l9. 
 See  Deut. 
 IS.  3. 
 II  Or,  j,fl 
 cannol  eat, 
 
 J  2  Pet.  2  13. 
 Jude  12. 
 
 a  ch.  10.  Zi. 
 
 b  Jam   2  6. 
 II  Or,  f/.cm 
 
 that  nra 
 
 poor. 
 
 rrh.15   9. 
 
 Gal.  I.  1,11, 
 
 12. 
 dMat.96.2fi. 
 
 MarkI*  22. 
 
 Luke -,'8. 19. 
 
 I  Or, /nra 
 btanCt. 
 
 woman  pray  unto  God  uncovered  ? 
 
 14  Doth  not  even  nature  itself  teach  you, 
 that,  if  a  man  have  long  hair,  it  is  a  shame 
 unto  him '( 
 
 15  But  if  a  woman  have  long  hair,  it  is  a 
 glory  to  her :  for  her  hair  is  given  her  for  a 
 II  covering. 
 
 16  But  ''if  any  man  seem  to  be  contentious, 
 we  have  no  such  custom,  *  neither  the  churches 
 of  God. 
 
 17  Now  in  this  that  I  declare  unto  you  I 
 praise  you  not,  that  ye  come  together  not  for 
 the  better,  but  for  the  worse. 
 
 18  For  first  of  all,  when  ye  come  together  in 
 tiie  church,  "  I  hear  that  there  be  ||  divisions 
 among  you  ;  and  I  partly  believe  it. 
 
 19  For  ^  there  must  be  also  ||  heresies  among 
 yon,  ^  tliat  they  wliich  are  approved  may  be 
 made  manifest  among  you. 
 
 •20  When  ye  come  together  therefore  into 
 one  place,  ||  this  is  not  to  eat  tlie  Lord's 
 supper. 
 
 21  For  in  eating  every  one  taketh  before 
 other  his  own  supper  :  and  one  is  hungry,  and 
 *  anotiier  is  drunken. 
 
 22  What?  have  ye  not  houses  to  eat  and  to 
 drink  in?  or  despise  ye  "the  church  of  God, 
 and  ^sliame  ||  them  that  have  not?  What 
 shall  I  say  to  you?  shall  I  praise  you  in  this? 
 I  praise  you  not. 
 
 23  For  '^  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  that 
 which  also  I  delivered  unto  you,  ''That  tJie 
 Lord  Jesus  tlie  same  niglit  in  which  he  was 
 betrayed  took  bread  : 
 
 24  And  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake 
 it,  and  said,  Take,  eat :  this  is  my  body,  whicli 
 is  broken  for  you  :  this  do  ||  in  remembrance 
 of  me. 
 
 2.3  After  the  same  maimer  aNo  he  took  tlie 
 cup,  when  he  had  supped,  saying.  This  cnp  is 
 tlie  new  testament  in  my  blood:  this  do  ye,  as 
 oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me. 
 
 20  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,   and 
 
 Chap.  XI.  — l.  Followers,  /x«/iiit«(,  '  imitDtors.'  As  I  am  of  Christ, 
 *  so  far,  only,  as  I  copy  my  great  Master. '—(rKj/^e.  2.  /  praise  you, 
 ^c.—lhis  must  be  restrained  to  the  sounder  part  of  the  church.— 
 Whitby,  Burkitt.  3.  Would  havrf  i/au  to  know,  ^c,  *  as  to  your  in- 
 quiry couceming  tlie  manner  in  which  women  sliould  deliver  anything 
 in  public,  when  they  are  by  a  divine  impulse  called  to  do  \t.'—Doddr. 
 The  head  of  Christ,  ^c,  with  respect  to  his  office  as  Mediator,  he  is 
 under  God. — Ham.  4.  Covered,  i.  c.,  with  a  veil,  as  a  woman,  wliich 
 is  a  token  of  subjection.— i?H»Ai7f.  It  seems  that  the  Corinthian  men 
 wore  a  veil  out  of  regard  to  Pharisaical  tradiUons,  and  in  imitation  of 
 the  custom  prevailing  in  the  synagogues ;  which  therefore  the  apostle 
 disapproved. — Voddr.  Though  with  us,  on  some  occasions,  wearing 
 a  hat  is  a  token  of  a  man's  superiority,  and  being  uncovered,  of  infe- 
 riority, yet,  among  the  ancient  eastern  nations,  women's  wearing  a 
 veil  was  a  token  of  modesty  and  subjection,  as  in  the  case  of  Rebecca, 
 (Gen.  xxiv.  6j,)  and  men's  going  unveiled  was  a  token  of  the  superi- 
 ority of  the  male  to  the  female  sex,  and  therefore  it  was  improper  for 
 women  to  throw  oft"  their  veils,  even  though  supposed  to  speak  under 
 divine  inspiration  in  a  public  assembly.  5.  Dishonoureth  her  head, 
 'shews  a  disrespect  to  the  m&n.'—Gur/se.  She  appears  in  a  garb  that 
 disowns  her  subjection,— UV//*;  or,  dishonours  her  natural  modesty. 
 — Bp.  Hull,  Hum.  The  prartice  liere  condemned  was  an  imitation  of 
 the  heathen  ;  the  Bacchic  and  other  pretended  prophetesses  uncovered 
 their  heads,  dishevelled  tleir  hair,  &c. — Mich.  0.  Shorn,  clip  her 
 
 liair  short,  Uke  the  man.  It  was  the  custom  of  those  ages  for  the  men 
 tn  wear  their  hair  exccLding  ^hort,  as  appears  from  the  busts,  statues, 
 and  pictures  that  are  come  to  our  knowledge.— Gu//sp.  Or  shaven,  the 
 Jews  &c.  punished  adulteresses  by  shaving  Iheir  heads.— ./t/«ffr«ig'Ai. 
 7.  The  image  and  glory  of  God,  made  iu  his  likeness,  as  the  first  copy 
 of  the  kind,  before  woman  was  created.— i^oddr.  The  glory  of  the 
 man,  of  all  creatures  coming  nearest  to  him  in  the  excellences  of  his 
 nature. — Bens.  lO.  Have  power  on  her  head,  sec  margin.     Neither 
 
 sacrtd  nor  profane  writers  use  the  word  c^uvaia  to  denote  '  a  veil,'  yet 
 all  agree  it  means  one  heie.—Nnckn.  Because  of  the  angels,  good 
 angels,  who  are  spectators  of  the  indecency,  (see  Heb.  i.  U ;  1  Pet.  i. 
 ]2.)—Grot.,  Ham.,  Doddr.,  Bens.,  &c.  '  Because  of  the  temptation  of 
 evil  angels  tu  that  which  is  a  cause  of  shame.'— HV.tViw,  Muckn.,  &c. 
 1220 
 
 Ministers  of  the  assembly,  before  whom  female  authority  would  be  im- 
 proper.—  Bexa,  8cc.  Certain  spies  are  meant,  appointed  to  watch 
 church  irregularities. — P,'/le,  Schteus.,  Sec.  Messengers  sent  to  watch 
 female  assemblies  on\y.—Taj/lor.  The  meaning  is  not  intelligible.— 
 Locke,  Mich.  1 1 .  Neither  i,v  the  man  without  the  woman,  fyc.,  they 
 
 are  mutual  helps  in  many  cases. — Brns.  12.  liy  the  woman,  born  of 
 her.— 7J/).  Hull.  14.  Nature  il.sr/f  teach,  fyc,  women  have  natu- 
 
 rally longer  hair  than  men. —  Bp.  I'enrce.  It).  But  if  any  man,  ^c, 
 
 '  if  any  man  is  contentious  for  this,'  observe,  no  .^uch  practice  exists 
 in  any  other  New  Testament  church. — Guyse.  IJ.  Now,  ^c,  this  is 
 a  new  subject  on  abuses  of  the  Lord's  supper. — Bur.  18.  In  the 
 
 church,  ev  rtj  €K«\f|ffi^,  'in  the  public  assembly.' — Bens.  Dinisions, 
 oxiafia-ra,  '  schisnis.'  19.  They  which  are  approved  may  be  made 
 
 manifest,  truly  good  men  may  be' distinguished  from  the  bad.— 5/an/i. 
 •21.  His  own  supper,  emio-Tor  to  i6tov  iemvov  TTpo\aij.fiavti,  'every  one 
 taketh  first  his  own  supper.' — Mac/cn.  Jt  alludes  liere  to  the  Agapae, 
 or  love-feasts,  early  established  in  the  church,  the  rich  feasting  the 
 poor  bctore  receiving  the  sacrament ;  but  it  seems  they  ate  first,  thus 
 destroying  their  joint  communion  ;  and  they  ate  and  drank  to  excess. 
 —So  Bur.  Drunken,  fnOt'etv,  '  drinks  to  excess.*— Doddr.  As  the  word 
 sometimes  signifies  only  to  drink  so  freely  as  to  cheer  the  spirits,  and 
 is  rendered  '  well  drank,'  [fieOvaOu^in,)  John.  ii.  10,  and  is  used  by  the 
 Sept.  much  in  the  same  sense,  Gen.  xliii.  34.  and  Cant.  v.  1,  there  is 
 no  necessity  of  thinking  that  any  of  the  Corinthians  used  to  make 
 themselves  drunk  at  the  Lord's  supper.  '  Filled,'  fir  '  plentifully  fed,' 
 opposed  to  one  who  is  hungry.— il/uc^/i.  '22.  Houses,  often  mean 
 
 '  families,'  and  may  be  taken  here  in  opposition  to  church  assemblies, 
 spoken  of  vtr.  16 — 20. — Guyse.  23.  Recnived,  by  immediate  revela- 
 tion.— Mackn.  2-1- My  body,  i.  e.,  a  representation  of  it. — Stunh. 
 Take,  eat— the  apostle  argues,  Christ's  sacrament  was  open  to  rich 
 and  poor,  and  to  be  participated  of  by  all  alike;  hut  they  violated  the 
 spirit  of  the  example  in  their  love-feasts. — See   Whitby.  25.  This 
 
 cup,  i.  e.,  the  wine  contained  in  it.  The  new  testament,  a  memorial  of 
 his  blood,  shed  for  the  ratification  of  the  new  covenant. — Stanhope. 
 26.  This  bread — anti-papistical  writers  here  observe,  that  this  element 
 bears  the  name  of  bread  after  consecration,  consequently  was  not 
 transubstantiated.— If  i7.    Shew,  '  significantly  express,'  solemnly  pu!'- 
 
Of  the  Lord's  supper. 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  XII. 
 
 Spiritual  gifts  diversely  bestowed. 
 
 drink  this  cup,  ||  ye  do  shew  the  Lord's  death 
 '  till  he  come. 
 
 27  '  Wherefore  whosoever  shall  eat  this  bread, 
 and  drink  this  cup  of  the  Lord,  unworthily, 
 shall  be  guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of  the 
 Lord. 
 
 28  But  ^let  a  man  examine  himself,  and  so 
 let  him  eat  of  that  bread,  and  drink  of  that 
 cup. 
 
 29  For  he  that  eateth  and  drinketh  unwor- 
 thily, ealeth  and  drinketh  ||  damnation  to  him- 
 self, not  discerning  the  Lord's  body. 
 
 30  For  this  cause  many  are  weak  and  sickly 
 among  you,  and  many  sleep. 
 
 31  For  "i  if  we  would  judge  ourselves,  we 
 should  not  be  judged. 
 
 .•i2  But  when  we  are  judged, '  we  are  chasten- 
 ed of  the  Lord,  that  we  should  not  be  con- 
 demned with  the  world. 
 
 33  Wherefore,  my  brethren,  when  ye  come 
 together  to  eat,  tarry  one  for  another. 
 
 34  And  if  any  man  ''  hunger,  let  him  eat  at 
 '  home  ;  that  ye  come  not  together  unto  ||  con- 
 demnation. And  the  rest  ""  will  I  set  in  order 
 when  "  I  come. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  Spiritual  pifts  4  are  divers,  7  t/et  all  to  profit  icithal. 
 8  And  to  that  endure  diversetij  bcstoired :  12  that  by 
 the  like  proportion,  as  the  members  of  a  natural  body 
 tend  all  to  the  \Q  mutual  decency,  22  service,  and  26 
 succour  of  the  same  body ;  27  so  we  should  do  one  for 
 another,  to  make  up  the  mystical  body  of  Christ. 
 
 "M"OW  *  concerning  spiritual  gifts,  hreihxQW, 
 -^^    I  would  not  have  you  ignorant. 
 2  Ye  know  ^  that  ye  were  Gentiles,  carried 
 away  unto  these  ^  dumb  idols,  even  as  ye  were 
 led. 
 
 A.  D.  69. 
 
 A.  D.  69. 
 
 II  Ot^ihrwyp 
 
 d  Mark  9  ^P 
 
 f  John  14.3. 
 
 1  John  l.'>, 
 
 &  ai.  22. 
 
 3 
 
 Acta  I    II. 
 
 ll  Or, 
 
 ch.  4.  5.& 
 
 a^alhiTnt. 
 
 15.  yS. 
 
 t  Mat  It>.l7. 
 
 IThe8  4.I6. 
 
 John  I5.;^6. 
 
 STIies  1. 10. 
 
 *>  Cor    .S.  6. 
 
 .lude  14. 
 
 /  Rom.  12.  4j 
 
 Rev.  1.  7 
 
 tie. 
 
 /  Nom  9.10, 
 
 Hfb    2.  4. 
 
 13.  JohD  6. 
 
 1  Pet.4..  10. 
 
 5l,f>3,64.  & 
 
 e  Kph.  4    4. 
 
 13    27. 
 
 ft  Hoin.   12. 
 
 eh.  10.  21 
 
 6,  7,  S. 
 
 e  L'  Cor.  IS. 
 
 Eph.  4.  11. 
 
 5.  Gal.  6.  4. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 II   (^r,  judg- 
 
 ment, Rom. 
 
 r  Kph.  1,  23. 
 
 LI.  2. 
 
 fc  Rom.  12-  fi, 
 
 7.  8.  ch.  14. 
 
 2d.  Eph.  4. 
 
 h  Ps.  .S2.  5. 
 
 7,  8. 
 
 I  John  I.  9. 
 
 I  Pet.  4.10, 
 
 11. 
 
 iPs.  M.  12, 
 
 /ch.2.  6,7. 
 
 13.  Heb,12. 
 
 mch.l.  6.  & 
 
 6—11. 
 
 13  2.  2  Cor. 
 
 8.  7. 
 
 «  Mai.  17.19, 
 
 20.  ch  13  -2. 
 
 2  Cor.  4.13. 
 
 0  Mark  16. 
 
 IS.  Jam.  5. 
 
 *  ver.  21. 
 
 14. 
 
 p  ver.  28,  29. 
 
 /  ver.  2?. 
 
 Markl6.l7. 
 
 \\  Or,  judg- 
 
 Gal.  3.  5. 
 
 Pifnt. 
 m  ch.  7.  IT. 
 
 Tit.  1.  5. 
 n  ch.  4.  19. 
 
 a  Rom. 12.  6. 
 ch.  13.2.  & 
 14.1,  &c. 
 
 r  ch.  14.  29. 
 
 I  John 4.1. 
 
 *  Acts  2.  4. 
 
 &  10.  46. 
 
 ch.  13.  1. 
 
 t  Rom.  12.  6. 
 
 ch.7.  7. 
 
 2Cor.lO  13. 
 
 Eph    4.  7. 
 
 t<  John  3.  8. 
 
 Heb.  2.  4. 
 
 X  Rom. 12.1, 
 
 5,  Eph.  4.4, 
 
 flch.14.1,37. 
 
 16. 
 
 V  ver.  27. 
 
 6ch.  6.  11. 
 
 G.il.  3.   16. 
 
 Eph.  2.  11, 
 
 ;  Rnm.  C.  S. 
 
 12.  1  Thes, 
 
 .1  Gal,  3.  '2%. 
 
 1.  9.  Tit.  3. 
 
 Eph.  2.  13, 
 
 S  1  Pot  i  3. 
 
 H,  Iti.  CI. 
 
 C  P8.  1I&.  fi. 
 
 3.  11.        \  Gc 
 
 3  Wherefore  I  give  you  to  understand,  ^  that 
 no  man  speaking  by  the  Spirit  of  God  calleth 
 Jesus  11  accursed  :  and  *  that  no  man  can  say 
 that  Jesus  is  the  Lord,  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 
 4  Now  f  there  are  diversities  of  gifts,  but  *  the 
 same  Spirit. 
 
 5  ^  And  there  are  differences  of  (|  administra- 
 tions, but  the  same  Lord. 
 
 6  And  tliere  are  diversities  of  operations,  but 
 it  is  the  same  God  *  which  worketh  all  in  all. 
 
 7  '^  But  the  manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given 
 to  every  man  to  profit  withal. 
 
 8  For  to  one  is  given  by  the  Spirit  •  the  word 
 of  wisdom  ;  to  another"'  the  word  of  knowledge 
 by  the  same  Spirit ; 
 
 9  "  To  another  faith  by  the  same  Spirit ;  to 
 another  °  tlie  gifts  of  healing  by  the  same 
 Spirit ; 
 
 10  P  To  another  the  working  of  miracles  ;  to 
 another  "^  prophecy  ;  '  to  another  discerning  of 
 spirits  ;  to  another  'divers  kinds  of  tongues  ; 
 to  another  the  interpretation  of  tongues  : 
 
 11  But  all  tiiese  worketh  that  one  and  the 
 selfsame  Spirit,  '  dividing  to  every  man  seve- 
 rally "  as  he  will. 
 
 12  For  *  as  the  body  is  one,  and  hath  many 
 members,  and  all  the  members  of  that  one 
 body,  being  many,  are  one  body:  ''so  also  is 
 Christ. 
 
 13  For  ^  by  one  Spirit  are  we  all  baptized 
 into  one  body,  ^  whether  tve  be  Jews  or  f  Gen- 
 tiles, whether  we  be  bond  or  free  ;  and  *'have 
 been  all  made  to  drink  into  one  Spirit. 
 
 14  For  the  body  is  not  one  member,  but 
 many. 
 
 15  If  the  foot  shall   say.   Because  I  am  not 
 
 Greeki.    b  John  6.63,   tt  7.  S7,  38,  89. 
 
 lish  and  declare.  —  Hnm.  Till  he  come,  to  close  the  first  scene  of 
 things,  and  receive  all  his  faithful  servants. — Doddr.  2".  Eat—nn. 
 worthiUi,  contrary  to  the  universal  charity  designed  therein. — Ham. 
 In  an  irreverent,  profane,  and  unworthy  manner. — Doddr.  Guilty,  of 
 adreadful  profanation. — Bp.  Hall.  28.  Exumine  himself,  before  sacra- 
 ment,  as  to  the  state  of  hib  mind,  that  he  come  with  due  reverence  and 
 charity. — Stanhope.  As  'o  his  knowledge  of  its  intent,  and  his  desire 
 to  ccniply  with  its  great  design. — Doddr.  29.  Unworthily,  making 
 
 no  distinction  between  the  sacramental  elements  and  common  food. — 
 Abp.  Slinrp.  Damnation,  spt/ia,  'judgment.*  nr  'condemnation;' — 
 Seeker;  i.  e.,  he  takes  the  readiest  way  to  bringdown  the  judgments 
 of  God  upon  him.  The  apostle  afterwards  says,  'we  are  judged,'  or 
 corrected,  'that  we  may  not  be  condemned;  which  plainly  shews  the 
 judgments  spoken  of  might  be  fatherly  chastisements. — Doddr.  Not 
 disverning,  not  distinguishing, — Seeker.  '  Not  perceiving  its  spiritual 
 design.'— fid.  30  Sleep,  have  been  cut  off  by  death.— Guuse,  Doddr. 
 31.  Judge  ourseli^es,  look  into  our  own  hearts,  we  should  prevent  these 
 punishments. — Bp.  Hull,  Stanh.  32.  Judged,  with  temporal  afflic- 
 
 tion, weakness,  sickness,  and  the  like;  they  are  meant  as  warnings. 
 —So  Sta7tli. 
 
 Chap.  XII.  —  \.Now,  Sfc,  this  begins  the  resolution  of  anothei 
 case.— iJ«r.  Spiritual  gifts,  Trvev/j.ajiKuyv,  '  Spiritual  gifts,'  so  rendered 
 chap.  xiv.  1,  and  sometimes  '  spiritual  men,'  chap.  xiv.  37. — Mackn. 
 3.  Cnlleth  Jesus  accursed — if  any  man  spoke  in  a  derogatory  manner  of 
 Christ,  he  had  not  the  Spirit.  But  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  whoever  exalted 
 Christ  was  under  his  indnences, — Ed.  4.  Gifts,  xapio-^iarwi',  '  gifts 
 
 of  grace,'  both  as  to  kind  and  degree. —  Bens.  But  the  same  Spirit,  all 
 proceed  from  the  same  Spirit.  5.  Administrations,  dtaKovtuyv,  offices, 
 services,  or  ministries.  6.  Operations,  divers  miraculous  wurks, 
 
 powerfully  performed  in  tlie  discharge  of  these  offices,  (ver.  fi.)  and 
 virtue  of  these  gifts,  (ver.  4.)        7.  The  manifestation,  ^c,  '  these  evi- 
 
 dent discoveries  of  the  peculiar  presence,  light,  and  power  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost.'  Oilmen  to  every  man,  '  granted  to  those  that  are  favoured  with 
 them.'  To  profit  withal,  not  for  private  advantage,  hut  for  the  instruc- 
 tion, edification,  and  confirmation  of  the  church. — Guyse.  8.  Word 
 of  wisdom,  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  grand  scheme  in  which  the 
 wisdom  of  God  is  so  wonderfully  displayed.  Ability  to  speak  by  way 
 of  information,  counsel,  &c.  Of  knowledge,  inferior  views  of  the 
 meaning  of  the  Old  Testament,  orotlier  things  in  the  Christian  plan. — 
 Doddr.  Ability  to  e.vpound  the  Huly  Scriptures  aright. — Benson, 
 g.  Faith,  a  firm  persuasion  of  being  called  to  work  miracles.— Dorfrfr. 
 To  understand  this  of  the  faith  of  miracles,  is  to  make  it  too  coincident 
 with  the  two  ne.xt  mentioned  gifts.  Understand  by  it,  therefore,  a  fuU 
 assent  to  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  and  boldness  in  preaching  it,  together 
 with  a  firm  trust  in  Christ  for  all  divine  assistance. — Guyse ;  same  pur- 
 port, Locke.  Gifts  of  healing,  bodily  diseases.  10.  VVorking  of 
 miracles,  punishing  notorious  offenders,  as  in  Acts,  v.  5,  10;  xiii.  11  ; 
 raising  the  dead,  Acts,  ix.  40;  conveying  the  Spirit,  Acts,  viii.  17. 
 Prophecy,  may  here  he  restrained  to  a  lower  sort  of  prophets,  as  Agabus, 
 Acts,  xi.,  ^c.  Discerning  of  spirits,  as  to  what  spirit  men  are  actuated 
 by,  &c.,  (chap.  xiv.  29;  v.  3,  9  ;  xiv.  Q.)  Divers  kinds  of  tongues,  faculty 
 of  immediately  speaking  any  foreign  language,  (Acts,  ii.8,  &c.)  Inter, 
 pretation,  of  what  was  said  to  such  as  mingled  in  the  congregation, 
 but  could  not  understand.— Gu^se.  11.  Severally  as  he  will,  this 
 marks  the  distinct  subsistence  uf  the  Spirit. — Ed.  12.  So  alsu  is 
 Christ,  '  all  his  various  members  adorned  with  different  gifts,  make  one 
 mystical  body,  and  the  head  is  Christ.'— So  Whitby.  13.  By  one 
 Spirit,  €v,  'in  one  Spirit.'  '  Witli  the  gifts  of  one  Spirit.' — Mackn.  One 
 Spirit,  '  one  and  the  same  Spirit  of  Gud.' — Bp.  Hall.  Baptized  into 
 one  body,  or  '  church.' — Mackn.  To  drink  into  one  Spirit,  as  we  drink 
 of  the  same  sacramental  cup. — Doddr.,  Locke,  Mackn.  M.  But 
 many,  '  having  several  uses,'  so  are  Christ's  members. 
 
 REFi.rcTioNs  ON   Cn.\p.  XI I.  Let  ics  he  thankful  fur  the 
 
 institution  of  the  Lord's  supper.  It  is  a  most  comforting, 
 strenf^thening,  and  edifying  ordinance  to  those  who  spiritually 
 discern  in  it  the  Lord's  body.  It  is  wisely  and  well  calculated 
 to  bring  that  Saviour  to  our  minds,  the  impressions  of  whose 
 love  are  too  apt  to  wear  away,  from  the  contact  of  the  mind 
 with  this  present  evil  world  ;  and  when  rightly  received,  not 
 as  a  passport  to  heaven,  but  as  a  token  of  our  faith  in  Jesus, 
 as  bis  disciples,  it  is  a  distinguishing  line  of  demarcation 
 between  the  church  and  the  world.  Let  all  who  love  the 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ  thus  avow  their  faith  in  and  attacliment  to 
 him. 
 
 1-221 
 
 II.  Let  us  seriously  examine  ourselves,  if  we  would  partake  of 
 this  huly  ordinance  aright.  To  adopt  tiie  paraphrase  of  Dr. 
 Guyse,  '  Let  every  one  go  into  an  examination  of  his  state 
 before  God;  of  bis  faith,  love,  and  evangelical  repentance; 
 of  the  frame  of  his  heart  and  course  of  life  ;  and  of  Jiis 
 knowledge  and  sense  of  the  spiritual  signification  and  ends 
 of  this  solemn  institution  ;  let  him  see  to  it  that  they  be  agree- 
 able to  what  ought  to  be  found  in  a  sincere  communicant ;  and 
 with  these  serious  inquiries  and  gracious  exercises  of  soul, 
 let  him  eat  of  the  sacramental  bread,  and  drink  of  the  sacra- 
 mental cup.' 
 
The  natural  and  mystical 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  XIII. 
 
 body  of  Christ. 
 
 tlie  hand,  I  am  not  of  the  body  ;  is  it  therefore 
 not  of  the  body  ? 
 
 16  And  if  the  ear  shall  say.  Because  I  am 
 not  the  eye,  I  am  not  of  the  body  ;  is  it  there- 
 fore not  of  the  body  ? 
 
 17  If  the  whole  hoAy  were  an  eye,  where 
 were  the  hearing  ?  If  the  whole  were  hearing, 
 where  were  the  smelling? 
 
 18  But  now  hath  '  God  set  the  members 
 every  one  of  them  in  tlie  body,  ''  as  it  hath 
 pleased  him. 
 
 19  And  if  they  were  all  one  member,  where 
 were  the  body  r" 
 
 20  But  now  are  they  many  members,  yet  but 
 one  body. 
 
 •21  And  the  eye  cannot  say  nnto  the  hand,  I 
 have  no  need  of  thee  :  nor  again  the  head  to 
 the  feet,  I  have  no  need  of  you. 
 
 22  Nay,  much  more  those  members  of  the 
 body,  which  seem  to  be  more  feeble,  are  neces- 
 sary : 
 
 23  And  those  members  of  the  body,  which 
 we  think  to  be  less  honourable,  upon  these  we 
 II  bestow  more  abundant  honour  ;  and  our  un- 
 comely parts  have  more  abundant  comeliness. 
 
 24  For  our  comely  parts  have  no  need  :  but 
 God  hath  tempered  the  body  together,  having 
 given  more  abundant  honour  to  that  part 
 which  lacked  : 
 
 25  That  there  should  be  no  ||  schism  in  the 
 body;  but  that  the  members  should  have  the 
 same  care  one  for  another. 
 
 2G  And  wliether  one  member  suffer,  all  the 
 members  suffer  witli  it ;  or  one  member  be 
 honoured,  all  tlie  members  rejoice  with  it. 
 
 27  Now  '  ye  are  the  body  of  Christ,  and 
 'members  in  particular. 
 
 28  And  ^  God  hath  set  some  in  the  church, 
 first  i"  apostles,  secondarily  '  prophets,  thirdly 
 teachers,  after   that  '  miracles,   then 
 
 J  Uom-12.3. 
 ch    3  5. 
 vcr.  i  1. 
 
 Or,  put  o 
 
 ■  Rom.  1 2.  5, 
 Kph.  1.  2:1. 
 &  4.  12.  & 
 5  2.H,  .SO, 
 
 C.l 
 
 .  24. 
 
 ^Kph.  ."».  SO. 
 g  Kpli.i.  II. 
 I  Kph.  2.20. 
 Sc  S   5. 
 Acts  IS.  I. 
 Koni.  12.  0. 
 •f.         f    «  ver.  10. 
 gilts    Ot     I  ver.  9. 
 
 1.12 
 
 .5  17 
 
 Heb.  13.  IT 
 
 24. 
 (1  Or,  kindM, 
 
 ver.  10. 
 II  Or,  (.oirrri 
 '.  ch.  14.  1, 
 
 3y. 
 
 I  ch.  12.8.9. 
 fo,  gs.Jt  14. 
 l.&c.  See 
 BI»t.  7.  22. 
 Mai. 17.20. 
 Mark  1 1. 23. 
 Luke  17.  6. 
 
 c  Mai  C.l,  S 
 
 d  Prn.in.  12. 
 
 1  Pet,  4.  H. 
 
 II  Or,  ,.  ».l 
 
 «cli.  10.21. 
 PhiL  2.  4. 
 
 /  Pb.  10.  3- 
 
 Rom.  I.  32. 
 g  2  John  4. 
 ii  Or,  to'tii 
 
 tht  tr>,1h. 
 h  Kom.  15.1. 
 
 Gal.  6.  2. 
 
 2  Tiai  2.24. 
 
 healings, "'  helps,  "  governments,  ||  diversities  of 
 tongues. 
 
 29  Are  all  apostles  ?  are  all  prophets  ?  are 
 all  teachers  ?  are  all  ||  workers  of  miracles  ? 
 
 30  Have  all  the  gifts  of  healing  ?  do  all  speak 
 with  tongues?  do  all  interpret? 
 
 31  But  °  covet  earnestly  the  best  gifts  :  and 
 yet  shew  I  unto  you  a  more  excellent  way. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  AV gifts,  %  3  Iioic  e.iciUint  soevtr,  are  nothinp  worth 
 without  cfiarifi/.  4  The  praises  thtreof,  and  13  pre- 
 laiion  before  hope  and  faith. 
 
 npHOUGH  I  Speak  with  the  t()iip:ues  of  men 
 ^  and  of  angels,  and  have  not  cliarity,  1  am 
 become  as  sounding  brass,  or  a  tinkhng 
 cymbal. 
 
 2  And  thougli  I  have  the  fjift  of  "  prophecy, 
 and  understand  all  mysteries,  and  all  know- 
 ledge ;  and  tiiough  I  have  all  faith,  ^  so  tliat  I 
 could  remove  mountains,  and  have  not  charity, 
 
 I  am  nothing, 
 
 3  And  *^  though  I  bestow  all  my  goods  to  feed 
 the  poor,  and  though  I  give  my  body  to  be 
 burned,  and  have  not  charity,  it  profiteth  me 
 nothing. 
 
 4  "^Charity  snffereth  long,  afid  is  kind  ;  cha- 
 rity envieth  not  ;  charily  ||  vaunteth  not  itself, 
 is  not  puft'ed  up, 
 
 5  Doth  not  behave  itself  unseemly,  ®  seeketh 
 not  her  own,  is  not  easily  provoked,  thinketh 
 no  evil ; 
 
 6  '  Rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity,  but  ^  rejoiceth 
 
 II  in  the  trutii  ; 
 
 7  ^  Heareth  all  things,  believeth  all  things, 
 hopeth  all  things,  endureth  all  things. 
 
 8  Charity  never  faileth  :  but  wliether  there 
 be  prophecies,  they  shall  fail  ;  whether  the}'e 
 be  tongues,  they  shall  cease  ;  wliether  there  be 
 knowledge,  il  shall  vanish  away. 
 
 18.  Set  the  members,  appointing  them  to  several  offices  as  he  thought  fit. 
 — Ham.  23.  More  abundant  honour,  adorn  them  by  covering. — Doddr. 
 27.  MembfTs  in  particular,  that  is,  each  believer  i3  a  particular  member 
 of  the  bncty  ot  Christ.  2S.  Apostles,  those  who  received  their  com- 
 
 mission immediately  from  Christ  himself.  Prophets,  who  are  enabled 
 to  (oretel  important  events.— Guy.s*-.  Expounders  of  the  scriptures  of 
 the  Old  Testament.— //ors/ev.  ftuchers,  or  '  preachers.'— See  Burkilt. 
 Whether  evangelists,  pastors,  or  preachers  at  large.  After  that  mi- 
 racles, persons  that  have  an  extensive  pnwer  of  working  them,  (ver. 
 lo.j  Gifts  of  hriiltnga,  those  that  have  the  gift  of  healing  without  art. 
 — Guyse.  Helps,  helpers  in  the  management  of  charities. — Doddr. 
 Prophets  of  the  lower  graile.  and  assistants  of  the  churches  on  various 
 occasions. — Gut/se.  Means  deacons  who  assisted  in  ministering  to  the 
 poor,  baptizing.  «:c-.— See  Whitby,  and  Bur.  They  were  such  as  Mark, 
 Tychicus,  Onesinms,  &c.— Hors.  Goremmeufs,  KvfitpvnefK:,  proporlv 
 signifies  '  the  steering  of  a  ship  with  skill  by  a  pilot,'  and  seems  to  be 
 put  here  metapliorically  for  persons  directing  or  mannging  affairs  with 
 judgment. —Bens.  Such  as  the  gifts  of  discerning  spirits,  men  of  great 
 penetrattnp'  and  judgment,  fit  for  presiding  over  the  temporal  and  spi- 
 ritual affairs  o(  the  cluirch.  Diversities  nf  tongues,  those  having  ability 
 to  interpret  tongues  by  inspiration. — Guyst-..  29.  Are  all  apostles  ? — 
 no;  then  each  should  be  content  with  las  lot,  and  use  it  for  the  gnod 
 of  the  churcli.— H«j«.  31.  Ike  best  gifts,  such  as  may  be  most  ad- 
 
 vantageous to  the  church.— 5«r. 
 
 Chap.  XIII. —  I.  Tongucx  of  men,  in  all  languages.— f?(7/.  As  elo- 
 quent and  polished  men.— Mur.  And  of  angels— most  likely  the  apostle 
 speaks  after  the  manner  of  his  cotintrymen.  wlio  imagined  that  tht^re 
 was  an  angelic  language  which  might  be  acquired,  and  which  was  the 
 key  to  many  mysteries.— J.  Clarke.  C/iarit//,  a^aTrn,  must  here  be 
 taken  in  its  noblest  sense— for  such  a  lor<e  to  the  wh"Ie  church  and  the 
 whole  world  as  arises  from  principles  of  true  piety,  and  ultimately 
 centres  in  God. — Doddr.  Rosenmiiller  prefers  translating  this  '  bene- 
 volence,' ratlier  than  love.  Sounding  brass,  xaX^it  tix^v,  '  a  trumpet 
 made  of  brass. •—.•!.  Clarke.  Tinkling  ci/Jnbul,  made  of  two  hollow  hits 
 of  brass,  struck  one  against  the  other.— Lightf.  Rather  the  '  loud*  or 
 •high  sounding  cymbal,'  as  in  Ps.  cl.  5,  which  the  Sept.  there  render 
 by  Kvn(3a\oir  a\a\aynu,  SL  pbrase  of  the  same  signification  as  this. — 
 
 Gill ;  see  also  Ham.  2.  Knowledge,  of  religion,  or  any  other  sub- 
 ject— Doddr.  Remoiie  mountains,  overcome  ihe  greatest  difficulties. 
 —  Whitby,  Lightf.  The  expression,  in  this  sense,  was  proverbial  among 
 the  Jews.  3.  Bestow  a//— the  Jews  had  an  exalti-d  notion  of  the 
 efficacy  of  alms-giving  in  procuring  the  Divine  favour.  Give  my  body, 
 I'^c.— the  Jewish  Christians  had  been  brought  up  in  the  notion  that 
 martyrdom  fur  the  law  would  even  expiate  for  the  sins  of  the  nation. 
 — Pict.  Bib.  4.  Suffereth  long,   /LaKpoVvfiet,  it  is  '  forbearing  and 
 
 patient.' — B.  Bennet.  'Endures  injuries,  aifionts,  and  provocations.' 
 Kind,  'courteous,  afiable,  and  beneficent.'  Enmeth  nut,  at  the  pros- 
 perity and  comforts  of  others,  civil  or  religious. — Guyse.  Vaunteth 
 not,  is  not  insolent  or  overbearing. — Doddr.  The  word  TrtpTrepeueTai  is 
 of  doubtful  sense,  and  may  also  mean.  *  it  dnth  not  glory  in  its  achieve- 
 ments,' and  perhaps  includes  presumption  and  rashness  in  under- 
 takings. — B.  Bennet,  Is  not  puffed  up,  it  does  not  fill  a  man  with  high 
 and  proud  conceits  of  himself.  5.  Not  behure  itself  unseemly,  'does 
 nothing  indecent,  base,  or  vile.' — Guyse.  The  apostle  had  probably, 
 throughout,  in  his  mind  that  contrast  to  this  beautiful  character  which 
 was  so  prevalent  among  the  Corinthians. — Doddr.  Seeketh  nut  her 
 own,  is  not  selfish.  Provoked,  so  as  to  render  railing  for  railing. 
 Thinketh  no  evil,  does  not  meditate  mischief. — Guyse.  Ov  Xoft^tTai 
 TO  KaKov,  '  will  not  lay  a  snare  for  iis  neighbour,  nor  meditate  evil 
 against  tiim.'  It  does  not  imagine  nor  suspect  evil  in  another  unne- 
 cessarily.— B.  Bennet.  6.  Rejoiceth  not  in  iniquity,  '  takes  no  plea- 
 sure in  doing  any  false  or  unrighteous  thing  itself,  or  in  seeing  it  done 
 by  others.' — Guyse.  '  Rejoices  not  in  men's  weaknesses,  miscarriages, 
 and  follies.' — B.  iiennef.  The  word  rendered  '  iniquity*  signifies  '  false- 
 hood,' as  appears  from'  the  truth,'  towliich  it  is  opposed,  and  falsehood 
 often  signifies  a  false  religion.  ■  Charity  rejoices  not  to  find  men  walk- 
 ing  in  false  worship,  but  in  the  truth  of  the  gospel.' —  Whitby.  7.  Hear- 
 eth,  ■7T€-j€i,  '  covereth  ;*  covereth  the  ill  of  another,  unless  it  be  a 
 greater  charity  to  reveal  it. — Beiuiet,  Bp.  Pean-e.  '  Conceals'  every- 
 thing that  should  be  concealed.- ii.  Clarke.  Belierrth  all  things,  all 
 the  good  things  it  can  of  another.  All  things  said  in  mitigation  of  a 
 fault.- B.  Bennet,  Ham.  Hopeth,  of  a  brother  in  rinubtlul  cases. 
 Endureth,  liolds  out  against  all  discouragemeot>.  ill  usage,  harsh,  un- 
 kind,  treatment:    is    patient   under   many   sufferings.  —  B.  Bennet. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    XII We  learn  here,   I.  That 
 
 there  are  diversities  of  t/ifts  and  stations  in  the  church  ;  and  we 
 may  be  sure  that  the  great  Head  of  the  church  disposes  of 
 these  as  may  best  subserve  bis  wise  designs,  and  promote  the 
 spiritual  and  eternal  interests  ot  ail  its  members.  Let  each 
 122-2 
 
 one  then  esteem  the  other  Iiigbly  in  love  for  his  work's  sake. 
 We  learn— 
 
 II.   That  all  believers  are  one  hodij  in  Christ.     What  an  in- 
 ducement to  the  exercise  of  love  and  sympathy  ! 
 
Prophecy  preferred 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  XIV. 
 
 tu  the  (jift  of  tongues. 
 
 9  '  For  we  know  in  part,  and  we  prophesy  in 
 part. 
 
 10  But  when  that  which  is  perfect  is  come, 
 then  that  which  is  in  part  shall  be  done  away. 
 
 1 1  When  I  was  a  child,  I  spake  as  a  child,  I 
 understood  as  a  child,  I  ||  thought  as  a  child  : 
 but  when  I  became  a  man,  I  put  away  childish 
 things. 
 
 1'2  For  '  now  we  see  through  a  glass,  f  darkly, 
 but  then  '  face  to  face  :  now  I  know  in  part  ; 
 but  then  shall  I  know  even  as  also  I  am  known. 
 
 13  And  now  abideth  faith,  hope,  charity, 
 these  three  ;  but  the  greatest  of  these  is  charity. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  Prophecy  is  commended^  2,  3,  4  and  preferred  hrfore 
 speaking  with  tontjurs,  6  I'// a  comparison  drawn  from 
 musical  instruments.  12  Botk  must  be  referred  to 
 edification,  22  as  to  their  true  and  proptr  end,  26 
 The  true  use  of  each  is  taught,  27  and  the  abuse 
 taxed.  3-4  Women  are  forbidden  to  speak  in  the 
 ch  urch, 
 
 T^OLLOW  after  charity,  and  "desire  spiritual 
 
 V^ft^y  '^but  rather  that  ye  may  prophesy. 
 
 2  For  he  that  "^speaketh  in  au  unknown 
 tongue  speaketh  not  unto  men, but  unto  God: 
 for  no  man  f  understandeth  him;  howbeit  in 
 the  spirit  lie  speaketh  mysteries, 
 
 3  But  he  that  propliesieth  speaketh  unto  men 
 to  edification,  and  exhortation,  and  comfort. 
 
 4  He  that  speaketh  in  an  unknown  tongue 
 edifieth  himself;  but  he  that  prophesieth  edi- 
 fieth  the  church. 
 
 5  I  would  that  ye  all  spake  with  tongues,  but 
 
 c2Cor.  3. 
 
 18   fa  5.  7. 
 
 Phil.  3.  \-i. 
 \   Gr    11  a 
 
 rid'lU 
 
 t  .Mat.  IS  !0, 
 I  John  3. 2 
 
 c  Acts  2.  4. 
 ftt  lu.  46. 
 
 t  Gr.hearfth, 
 Act9  t2.  9. 
 
 +  Gr,  .igniji. 
 cant. 
 
 ipiriti. 
 
 rather  that  ye   prophesied  :   for  greater  is  he 
 
 that  prophesieth  than  he  that  speaketh  with 
 tongues,  except  he  interpret,  that  the  church 
 may  receive  edifying. 
 
 6  Now,  brethren,  if  I  come  unto  you  speaking 
 with  tongues,  what  shall  I  profit  you,  except 
 I  shall  speak  to  you  either  by  '^revelation,  or 
 by  knowledge,  or  by  prophesying,  or  by  doc- 
 trine ? 
 
 7  And  even  things  without  life  giving  sound, 
 whether  pipe  or  harp,  except  they  give  a  dis- 
 tinction in  the  || sounds,  how  shall  it  be  known 
 what  is  piped  or  harped? 
 
 8  For  if  the  trumpet  give  an  uncertain  sound, 
 who  shall  prepare  himself  to  the  battle? 
 
 9  So  likewise  ye,  except  ye  utter  by  the 
 tongue  words  f  easy  to  be  understood,  how 
 shall  it  be  known  what  is  spoken?  for  ye  shall 
 speak  into  the  air. 
 
 10  There  are,  it  may  be,  so  m^ny  kinds  of 
 voices  in  the  world,  and  none  of  them  is  with- 
 out signification. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  if  I  know  not  the  meaning  of 
 the  voice,  I  shall  be  unto  him  that  speaketh  a 
 barbarian,  and  he  that  speaketh  sAa//  be  a  bar- 
 barian unto  me. 
 
 1*2  Even  so  ye,  forasmuch  as  ye  are  zealous 
 fof  spiritual  [fifts,  seek  that  ye  may  excel  to 
 the  edifying  of  the  church. 
 
 13  Wherefore  let  him  that  speaketh  in  an 
 unknown  tongue  pray  that  he  may  interpret. 
 
 14  For  if  1  pray  in  an  unknown  tongue,  my 
 spirit  prayeth,  but  my  understanding  is  un- 
 fruitful. 
 
 9.  Knoioin  part,  ^.,  *itis  all  very  imperfect,  and  short  of  (hat  we 
 shall  know  hereafter.' — Stnnh.  11.  Understood,  etppovow  signifies, 
 '  to  have  the  mind  and  affections  of  children."  It  refer,  to  the  inclina- 
 tions rather  than  jads^ment,  and  notes  the  pursuits  of  children,  their 
 afltHtidn  tn,  and  minding-,  little  and  childish  things. — B.  Bennett.  '  I 
 conceived  as  a  child.'  /  thought,  '  reasoned.'— .^Vucfrn.  12.  Through 
 a  glass — though  glass  was  probably  made  before  that  time,  we  have 
 no  proof  of  its  being  used  for  windows  hefure  the  third  century. — 
 Encr/.  Bi-it.  At  euo-mpov  signifies  any  of  those  transparent  substances 
 which  the  ancients  used  in  their  windows;  such  as  thin  plates  of  horn, 
 transparent  stone,  and  the  like,  through  which  they  saw  the  objects 
 without,  obscurely.— Pe'(i*pe.  Pr<ihably  what  the  ancients  then  used 
 resembled  our  common  wine-bottle  glass. — Wefs.  It  signifies,  *  by 
 means  of  a  mirror  -,'  this  is  the  exact  rendering,  and  the  mirror  which 
 reflects  only  imperfect  forms.  —  Doddr.,  so  Ham.,  and  B.  Bennet. 
 Darkly,  ev  aivt-jtimi,  *  ill  a  riddle,'  as  the  word  imports,  which,  being 
 a  speech  involved  in  ambig^iity.  in  doubtful,  uncertain  terms,  intimates 
 the  same  thing  concerning  our  vision,  that  it  is  not  clear  and  distinct, 
 but  dark  and  obscure. — B.  Bennet.  The  word,  according  to  some,  de- 
 notes '  a  brazen  mirror.'  [see  E.xod.  xxxviii.  8.)  and  the  apostle's  mean- 
 ing  is,  '  we  see  things  as  it  were  by  images  reflected  from  a  mirror;' 
 but  this  idea  does  not  accord  with  seeing  things  obscurely. — Mackn, 
 13.  The  greatest  of  these  is  charity,  faith  is  more  confined  to  ourselves  ; 
 charity  extends  to  many.  A  man  lives  by  his  own  faith  ;  others  are 
 supplied  and  helped  to  li«e  by  his  charity.  It  looks  beyond  our  pre- 
 sent concerns,  and  spreads  its  kind  influences  among  mankind.  It 
 outlasts  the  rest.  Faith  gives  way  to  vibinn  and  light  in  the  other 
 world  ;  hope  issues  in  present,  immediate,  full  enjoyment ;  but  charity 
 never  fails — it  reigns  in  the  regions  above,  and  through  all  the  ages  of 
 eternity. — B.  Bennett. 
 
 Chap.  XIV. —  1.  Follow  after  chanty,  ^lUKere,  'pursue  love  ;*  the 
 word  .signifies  'with  an  eagerness  like  that  with  which  hunters  pursue 
 gMne.''—Duddr.     It  means,  *be  most  earnest  in  your  endeavours  to 
 
 attain  the  noble  grace  of  love.' — Mnckn.  Prophecy,  seems  here  to 
 mean,  preaching  the  word  of  God,  rather  than  uttering  predictions. — 
 Hew.  This  verse  properly  belongs  to  the  preceding  chapter,  and  ought 
 to  have  concluded  it. — Mnr.  2.  lluknouji  tongue,  iXwaaa,  'foreign 
 language.' — Mackn.,  so  Parkh.  But  unto  God,  '  none  else  can  under- 
 stand  him.' — So  Mackn.,  and  Ham.  Howbeit,  ^c.  or  'althougli,'  in 
 or  by  the  inspiration  of  the  Spirit.  He  speaketh  mysteries,  such  things 
 as  are  full  of  Divine  and  hidden  wisdom. — Bens.  4.  Himself, '  him- 
 self only.'  5.  /  would,  'I  wish  indeed.'— iT/acAn.  Rather  that  ye 
 prophesied,  '  that  ye  were  skilful  in  the  doctrines  of  revelation  to  ex- 
 plain  them.' — Guyse.  Greater,  more  beneficial. — Whitby.  Interpret, 
 tell  them  in  plain  words  what  is  meant. — Ham.  6.  By  revelatinnf 
 
 §c.,  '  by  the  revelation  peculiar  to  an  apostle.' — Mackn.  *  Of  some 
 gospel  doctrine  and  mystery,' — Doddr. ;  or  '  by  the  word  oi knowledge,* 
 the  gift  of  a  superior  prophet. — Mnckn.  '  Ability  to  explain  some  com- 
 plicated  text  of  the  Old  Testament,'— iJorfrfr.;  or  '  by  prophesying/ 
 the  inspiration  proper  to  an  inferior  projihet. — Mnckn.  'The  predic- 
 tion  of  some  future  event,'— Oorfrfr. ;  or  '  by  doctrine,^  the  inspiration 
 proper  to  the  ordinary  pastor. — Mackn.  'For  the  regulation  of  life  and 
 manners.'  7-  Except  they  give  a  distinction? — '  how  should  dancers 
 be  directed  by  music,  unless  the  proper  tone  and  modulation  be  duly 
 maintained  f  8.  If  the  trumpet?  Sfc. — '  could  soldiers  know  when 
 to  advance  and  when  to  retreat?'  9.  Speak  into  the  air,  make  a 
 mere  articulate  noise. — Doddr.  '  Your  words  shall  be  vain  and  un- 
 profitable.'—  Whitby.  Tliere  seems  to  be  an  allusion  to  some  proverb, 
 like  our  '  Vou  may  as  well  speak  to  the  winds.' — Blonmf.  10.  There 
 are,  fyc,  'as  many  languau'es  as  nations,  but  they  are  ■^igns  of  ideas 
 only  to  those  acquainted  with  them.'— Guvsc,  so  Bp.  Hall.  Even  the 
 voices  of  birds  and  beasts  are  significant,  much  more  of  men. — Baxter. 
 II.  Barbarian,  so  the  Greeks  called  all  those  who  did  not  speak  thrir 
 iangua;;e.  12.  £""/•«  so  ye,  '  wherefore  ye  also.'  H.  My  under, 
 standing  is  unfruitful,  '  my  meaning  is  without  fruit.' — Mackn.  *  My 
 understanding  the  prayer  is  of  no  advantage  to  the  rest  of  the  com- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIII. — I.  How  opposite  is  the  con- 
 duct of  mam/  professed  Christians  to  the  hvdy  spirit  of  charity  ! 
 As  Dr.  Doddridge  observes,  *  they  can  endure  no  provocations, 
 can  cover  no  faults  of  their  brethren,  can  keep  themselves 
 within  no  bounds,  can  believe  nothing  to  their  advantage. 
 They  vaunt  themselves,  they  are  puffed  up  with  the  conceit 
 of  their  own  wisdom,  they  behave  unseemly,  they  seek  only 
 their  own  reputation  and  profit,  they  believe  the  worst  they 
 can  hear  of  others,  and  suspect  more  than  they  hear;  they 
 envy  those  whose  endowments  and  stations  are  superior  to 
 their  own,  and  instead  of  labouring  themselves  to  excel,  they 
 affect,  by  calumny  and  slander,  to  bring  down  their  brethren 
 to  their  own  level,  or  rather,  as  far  as  possible  below  it.  Alas  ! 
 that  the  genius  of  our  religion  is  so  little  understood  !'  To 
 use,  further,  the  words  of  the  same  divine  — 
 1223 
 
 II.  '  Let  us  cultivate  love  more  and  more,  and  so  much  the 
 rather  as  it  is  a  plant  of  the  celestial  paradise,  winch  will  there 
 for  ever  flourish,  when  tongues  shall  cease,  and  that  knowledge 
 on  which  men  value  themselves  highly  shall  utterly  vanish. 
 The  ripeness  of  adult  age  is  but  as  the  trifling  of  an  infant, 
 when  compared  with  that  manly  and  perfect  state.  The  dim 
 mirror  of  faith  shall  then  be  laid  aside  ;  and  the  truth  of  the 
 objects  now  imperfectly  discerned  shall,  in  full  lustre,  be  pre- 
 sented to  our  eye,  purged  from  every  film,  and  strengthened 
 for  a  brightness  which  would  now  overwhelm  it.  Let  us, 
 then,  press  onwards  to  the  regions  of  eternal  day,  where  "  in 
 God's  light  we  shall  see  light,'"  and  where,  amidst  the  fullest 
 communications  of  bis  love,  we  shall  for  ever  love  him  and 
 each  other,  with  ardours  which  the  best  hearts,  in  their  best 
 moments  on  earth,  can  neithei  attain  nor  conceive.' 
 
The  use  of  prophecj 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  XIV. 
 
 and  speahiiiij  with  tongues. 
 
 15  What  is  it  then?  I  will  pray  with  the  spi- 
 rit, and  I  will  pray  with  the  understanding 
 also  :  *■  I  will  sing  with  the  spirit,  and  I  will 
 sing  '  with  the  understanding  also. 
 
 16  Else  when  thou  shalt  bless  with  the  spirit, 
 how  shall  he  that  occupieth  the  room  of  tlie 
 unlearned  say  Amen  ^  at  thy  giving  of  thanks, 
 seeing  he  understandeth  not  what  thou  sayest  ? 
 
 17  Tor  thou  verily  givest  thanks  well,  but 
 the  other  is  not  edified. 
 
 18  I  thank  my  God,  I  speak  with  tongues 
 more  than  ye  all  : 
 
 19  Yet  in  the  churcli  I  had  rather  speak  five 
 words  vvith  my  understanding,  that  by  my  voice 
 1  might  teach  others  also,  than  ten  thousand 
 words  in  an  unknown  tongue. 
 
 20  Brethren,  ''  be  not  children  in  understand- 
 ing :  howbeit  in  malice  'be  ye  children,  but  in 
 under.standing  be  f  men. 
 
 21  'In  the  law  it  is  'written.  With  men  nf 
 other  tongues  and  other  lips  will  I  speak  unto 
 this  people  ;  and  yet  for  all  that  will  they  not 
 hear  me,  saith  the  Lord. 
 
 22  Wherefore  tongues  are  for  a  sign,  not  to 
 them  that  believe,  but  to  them  that  believe 
 not  :  but  prophesying  scrvet/i  not  for  them 
 that  believe  not,  but  for  them  which  believe. 
 
 23  If  therefore  the  whole  church  be  come 
 together  into  one  place,  and  all  speak  with 
 tongues,  and  there  come  in  those  that  are  tin 
 learned,  or  unbelievers, "  will  they  not  say  that 
 ye  are  mad  ? 
 
 24  But  if  all  prophesy,  and  there  come  in 
 one  that  helieveth  not,  or  one  unlearned,  he  is 
 convinced  of  all,  he  is  judged  of  all  : 
 
 25  And  thus  are  the  secrets  of  his  heart  made 
 manifest ;  and  so  falling  down  on  his  face  he 
 will  worship  God,  and  report  "  that  God  is  in 
 
 e  Eph.  5    IB. 
 Col    .S.  16. 
 
 /  Ps  i;. ;. 
 
 '.  Ps  111  ? 
 Mat,  11  2h 
 ».  18.  :1.  & 
 19  11 
 Horn  ir>  19 
 <-li  :i.  I. 
 
 t  Or  ,."■.'■'". 
 
 "?',  cli.  -. 
 6 
 k  .lol.i.  10. 
 
 I  Is.  ?3.  II, 
 
 '.  Is.  4.i.  H. 
 Zech.  8.  S3. 
 
 p  cli.  12  7. 
 2Cor.l3.  19 
 Kph,  4.  12 
 
 1  I  Tim.  2. 
 11.  12. 
 
 ■  ch.  II.  S. 
 
 Epli    .-i    22. 
 
 C.il.  S.  18. 
 Tit.  2.  5. 
 
 1  P,-t.  3  1 
 </  Gen.  S.  16. 
 
 you  of  a  truth. 
 
 26  How  is  it  then,  brethren?  when  ye  come 
 together,  ever)'  one  of  you  hath  a  psalm,  "hath 
 a  doctrine,  hath  a  tongue,  hath  a  revelation, 
 hath  an  interpretation.  '  Let  all  things  be 
 done  unto  edifying. 
 
 27  If  any  man  speak  in  an  unknown  tongue, 
 let  it  be  by  two,  or  at  the  most  by  three,  and 
 that  by  course  ;   and  let  one  interpret. 
 
 •28  But  if  there  be  no  interpreter,  let  liim  keep 
 silence  in  the  church  ;  and  let  him  speak  to 
 himself,  and  to  God. 
 
 29  Let  the  prophets  speak  two  or  three,  and 
 ^  let  the  other  judge. 
 
 30  If  any  tidnri  be  revealed  to  another  that 
 sitteth  by,  'let  the  first  hold  his  peace. 
 
 31  For  ye  may  all  prophesy  one  by  one,  that 
 all  may  learn,  and  sll  may  be  comforted. 
 
 32  And  'the  spiriis  of  the  prophets  are  sub- 
 ject to  the  prophets. 
 
 33  For  God  is  not  the  author  of  t  confusion, 
 but  of  peace,  '  as  in  all  cliurches  of  the 
 saints. 
 
 34  "  Let  your  women  keep  silence  in  thi^ 
 churches  :  for  it  is  not  permitted  unto  tlieni 
 to  speak  ;  but  *  they  are  connnamled  to  be 
 under  obedience,  as  also  saith  tlie  '  law. 
 
 35  .And  if  they  will  learn  any  thing,  let  them 
 ask  their  husbands  at  home  :  for  it  is  a  shame 
 for  women  to  speak  in  the  church. 
 
 36  What?  came  the  word  of  God  out  from 
 you  ?  or  came  it  unto  you  only  ? 
 
 37  ^  If  any  man  think  himself  to  be  a  prophet, 
 or  spiritual,  let  him  acknowledge  that  the 
 things  that  I  write  unto  you  are  the  command- 
 ments of  the  Lord. 
 
 38  But  if  any  man  be  ignorant,  let  him  be 
 I  ignorant. 
 
 pany.' — Guyse.  15.  Wlint  is  it  then  f — '  what  is  to  be  done?'  I  will 
 pray  witt\  l/ie  Spirit^  ffc. — '  when  the  Spirit  moves  me  to  pray  in  the 
 church  in  an  unltnnwn  language,  I  will  pray  with  the  inspiration  of 
 the  Spirit  ;  but  I  will  pray  also  with  my  meaning  interpreted,'  (rer.  13.) 
 /  wilt  siii^y  fyc,  *  so  also  1  will  sing.' — Mitckn.  With  the  extraordinary 
 gift  of  delivering  a  psalm  or  hymn  extemporary  in  an  unknown  tongue. 
 — Gill.  *  I  will  pray  with  spiritual  affections,  by  the  special  assistance 
 and  dictate  of  the  Holy  .Spirit,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  that  the  under 
 standing  of  my  fellow,  worshippers  may  likewise  apprehend  what  I  say.' 
 — Guysp.  16.  0/  tfie  unlearned^  tow  (3iu>Tof,  *of  the  private  person  ;' 
 so  Josepltus  uses  the  word,  distinguishing  him  from  the  priests. — Anliq. 
 3,  c.  9,  s.  I.  Say  .-tmen— this  questi-m  implies  that  it  was  a  custom  in 
 the  Christian  church,  from  the  beginning,  for  all  the  people,  in  imita- 
 tion of  the  ancient  worship,  to  signify  their  assent  to  the  public  prayers 
 by  saying  '  Amen'  to  the  conclusion  of  them,  (sec  Deut.  xxvii.  15 ;  Neh. 
 viii.  6  )  18.  /  sptiik  uil/t  tongues,  ^-c,  a  gift  botowed  upon  hini, 
 that  he  might  be  able  immediately  to  preach  the  gospel  to  ah  nations. 
 —Muckn.  19.  Wittt  my  nnderstandin^,  in  a  rational  manner. — 
 Ooddr.  *  With  judgment  and  understanding,  so  as  to  express  my 
 meaning  intelligibly.' — Gityxe.  20.  Be  not  citildren  in  understand. 
 
 »"?,  '  by  exercising  the  gift  of  tongues  in  the  manner  you  do,  prefer- 
 ring the  things  which  make  a  (iTie  show,  and  gain  applause,  ab.ive 
 things  more  useful  and  solid.' — Bensmt.  In  malire,  may  mean  every 
 sort  of  ill-temper  and  mind,  contrary  to  the  innocence  of  childhood, 
 and  in  particular  emulation  and  strife  about  the  exercise  of  their  gifts. 
 — Locke.  Or  'wickedness.'  as  the  word  kcikiq  here  signifies.  Be  ye 
 children,  have  all  their  gentleness,  sweetness,  and  innocency.— Betts. 
 In  understanding  be  mm,  act  as  persons  of  mature  judgment. —  WItitby. 
 Behave  with  the  good  sense  and  prudence  of  full-grown  men. — ilnclcn. 
 
 21.  With  men  of  other  tongues,  ^c,  which  .may  be  considered  and  in- 
 terpreted as  an  intimation  of  the  purpose  God  had  of  sending  one  last 
 message  to  them  by  his  servants  endued  with  the  gift  of  tongues. 
 
 22.  Fitr  a  sign,  not  to  thetr.  that  beliei'e — Ihe  gift  of  tongues  was  in. 
 tended  to  propagate  the  gospel  among  those  who  were  strangers  to  it, 
 not  to  edify  those  that  had  already  believed. — Voddr.  24.  If  all  pro- 
 pltesy,  and  interpret  the  scriptures,  by  course. — Bp.  Halt.  Convinced, 
 rather,  *  convicted.'  Judged,  every  one  says  something  to  which  his 
 cnnseience  be.irs  witness.— Bens.  25.  Made  manifest,  '  laid  open  to 
 the  view  of  his  own  mind.'  Falling  down,  with  the  deepest  contrition 
 and  abasement,  such  as  was  manifested  in  times  of  the  most  solemn 
 humiliation,  expressed  by  the  prostration  of  the  body  dnwn  to  the 
 ground.— «i/j/se.  26.  Hou'  is  it  then  /  '  what,  then,  is  to  be  done  ?'— 
 Mai'kn.  •  W'hat  a  shocking  thing  it  is.'  When  ye  come  togetfier,  for 
 social  worship.— /Jorft//-.  Even/  one,  ^c,  one  is  employed  in  one  way 
 and  another  in  another,  and  all'  in  confusion.— Sii.        27.  Let  it  be  by 
 
 12-24 
 
 two,  ^c  'but  at  suitable  times,  in  a  regular  manner,  with  only  two 
 or  three  speakers  in  successi'in.' — So  Guyse.  Here  is  a  reference  to 
 the  order  of  synagogue  worship,  in  which  one  read  the  scripture  in  the 
 Hibrew  language,  another  interpreted  or  preached,  and  another 
 prayed. — Lightf.  28.  Speak  to  himself,  and  to  Ood,  mentally,  in 
 prayer  and  thank^eriving. —  Whitby.  29.  Two  or  three,  in  succession. 
 — Bens.  Judge,  *  discriminate'  between  truth  and  errcr.— i'ye  Smith. 
 Compare  one  doctrine  with  another,  f<ii'  the  further  improvement  of 
 all.  Or  the  sense  may  be,  Met  tlie  cithers  who  have  the  gift  of  dis- 
 cerning spirits.  AiaKpii/tToiirav,  "discern"  whether  they  have  spoken 
 by  inspiration  or  by  private  suggestion.' — Bens.  30.  Let  the  first 
 hold  his  pence,  or  'cease,'  before  the  other  utter  his  revelation. — 
 iVhitby.  32.  The  spirits  of  the  prophets,  or  *  the  spiritual  gifts  be- 
 stowed on  them,'  as  the  word  ■nv^vfi.aTa  is  rendered  ver.  12,  and  ought 
 certainly  to  have  been  rendered  here.— i?*-;is.  Are  sultject,  it  is  in 
 their  power  to  restrain  them.— H'/nVAy.  34.  Not  permitted,  fyc. — 
 
 this  seems  to  contradict  chap.  xi.  5, 13  ;  but,  probably,  prophesying,  in 
 the  foregoing  place,  signified  singing  psalms  and  praying,  nut  leading 
 the  devotiftns,  but  joining  with  others  in  prayer. — Duddr.  To  speak, 
 \a\iiv,  iti  the  New  Testament,  almost  invariably  signifies,  not  to 
 *  ^pcak.'  but  to  '  talk,*  discourse,  and  '  teach.*— See  Schleusner,  Lex.  in 
 v.,  s  12.  The  word  AaXeiv  signifies,  in  profane  writers,  to  speak  im- 
 prudently  and  without  consideration.— il/(n/t'r^  It  is  evident  fmm  the 
 context,  that  the  apostle  refers  here  to  asking  questions,  and  what  we 
 call  dictating  in  the  as&embhes.  It  was  permitted  to  any  man  to  ask 
 questions,  to  object,  altercate,  attempt  to  refute,  &c.,  in  the  syna- 
 gogue  ;  but  this  liberty  was  not  allowed  to  any  woman,  because  it  was 
 indecorous  to  contend  with  men  in  pubhc  assemblies. — A.  Clurke.  The 
 apostle  has  been  all  along  speaking  of  inspired  '  teaching'  and  '  preach- 
 ing.* The  connexion,  therefore,  shews  that  the  wnmen  were  not  to 
 pray  and  prophecy  in  the  cliurch  as  teachers. — Mackn.  35.  Let 
 them  iisk — lit  home  f  here  seems  to  be  a  reference  to  tlie  custom  of 
 Jewish  worship,  in  which  persons  were  allowed  to  ask  questions  of  the 
 preacher  relating  to  what  he  had  delivered,  and,  in  conformity  to  which, 
 our  blessed  Lord,  at  twelve  years  old,  sat  with  the  doctors  asking  them 
 que^>tions,  (Luke,  ii.  45.)  It  is  a  shame  for  women,  fyc,  '  unbecoming 
 and  unsuitable  to  the  modesty  of  the  female  sex,  that  an  uninspired 
 woman  should  take  upon  herself  to  discourse  and  debate  with  men  in 
 the  public  exercises  of  the  church.* — Guyse.  36.  What?  Sfc,  'are 
 you  the  only  Christian  society  that  has  received  the  true  go>pel  ?  If 
 not,  conform  herein  to  the  custom  of  all  the  churches.' — Benson. 
 37.  Are  the  commandments  of  the  Lord,  consonant  with  the  rules  he 
 laid  down  in  his  personal  ministry  about  public  teaching,  diirtated  by 
 inspiration  from  him.  and  not  of  my  own  m\nA}~Guyse,  Doddridge. 
 3S.  Be  ignorant,  'after  this,  his  ignorance  being  wilful,  I  will  trouble 
 
Paul  proveth  the  necessity 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  XV. 
 
 of  our  resurrection. 
 
 39  Wherefore,  brethren,  '  covet  to  propliesy, 
 and  forbid  not  to  speak  with  tongues. 
 
 40  ''  Let  all  things  be  done  decently  and  in 
 order. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 3  Bi/  Christ's  resurrection,  \2  he  proveth  the  necessity 
 of  our  resurrection,  against  all  such  as  denii  the  re- 
 surrection of  the  body.  21  Tlie  fruit,  ^b  and  manner 
 thereof,  51  and  of  the  changing  of  them,  thai  shall  be 
 found  alive  at  the  last  day, 
 
 ly/TOREOVER,  brethren,  I  declare  unto  you 
 -'-'-'■  the  gospel  '  which  I  preached  unto  you, 
 which  also  ye  have  received,  and  ''  vvherein  ye 
 stand  ; 
 
 2  °  By  which  also  ye  are  saved,  if  ye  ||  keep 
 in  memory  f  what  I  preached  unto  you,  unless 
 ■^  ye  have  believed  in  vain. 
 
 3  For  'I  delivered  unto  you  first  of  all  that 
 'which  I  also  received,  how  that  Christ  died 
 for  our  sins  ^  accordin{»  to  the  scriptures  ; 
 
 4  And  that  he  was  buried,  and  that  he  rose 
 again  the  third  day  ^  according  to  the  scrip- 
 tures : 
 
 5  '  And  that  he  was  seen  of  Cephas,  then  '  of 
 the  twelve: 
 
 G  After  that,  he  was  seen  of  above  five  hun- 
 dred brethren  at  once ;  of  whom  the  greater 
 part  remain  unto  this  present,  hut  some  are 
 fallen  asleep. 
 
 7  After  tliat,  he  was  seen  of  James  ;  then  'of 
 all  the  apostles. 
 
 8  "'  And  last  of  all  he  was  seen  of  me  also,  as 
 of  II  one  born  out  of  due  time. 
 
 9  For  I  am  °  the  least  of  the  apostles,  that  am 
 not  meet  to  be  called  an  apostle,  because  °  I 
 persecuted  the  church  of  God. 
 
 10  But  ''by  the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I 
 am  :  and  his  grace  which  ivas  bestowed  upon 
 ine  was  not  in  vain;   but  ''I  laboured  more 
 
 a  ch.  VZ.  -AX. 
 
 r  Mat.  Iti2il 
 
 IThesS.aO. 
 
 Roiii.l!).lS 
 
 A  ver.  33. 
 
 19.  :;  C.>r.M 
 
 5.  Gal    is 
 
 Eph.  .1    7 
 
 PhU.  2.  13. 
 
 a  Gal.  I.  II. 
 b  Rom.  5.  2. 
 c  Horn.  1. 16. 
 
 cli.  I    L'l. 
 U  Or.  hold 
 /ml. 
 f  Gt'.  by  telial 
 
 /Gal  I,  \2. 
 g  Ps.  22.  If>, 
 &C.  Is.  63. 
 
 5,  6.  &C. 
 Dan,  9,  26, 
 Zecli.  IS.  7. 
 Luke  24.26, 
 46.  Acts  3. 
 11?  fc  26  '.'S. 
 I  Pet.  I. II. 
 &  y.  2t. 
 
 h  Ps.  1.  7.  & 
 16    Irt   Is. 
 53.  lU.  HiB. 
 
 6.  2.  Luke 
 21    26.  46 
 Acts  2 
 2,_SLM3. 
 .43,  31,  3i. 
 &  26.:'-i,  23. 
 I  Pet.  I    M 
 
 .  Luke  24.34 
 k  Mat  28  17 
 
 Mark  lU.  14-, 
 
 Luke24.:i6. 
 
 John  20.  19, 
 
 26. Acts   10. 
 
 41. 
 /Luke  24. SO. 
 
 Acta  1.3,  4. 
 m  Acts  9.4, 
 
 17.  &  22.14. 
 
 19.  cb.  9.  1. 
 II  Or, -in 
 
 abortive, 
 n  Eph.  3.  8. 
 u  Aclsfi.3.  & 
 
 9.  I.  Gal.  I. 
 
 I.S.Pbil  3.6 
 
 I  Tim.  I  IH. 
 pEph  2.7.  6. 
 q  2  Cor.  II. 
 
 23.&  12.  11. 
 
 t  Acts  2.21, 
 
 32.  &  4.   to, 
 
 33.  &  13.  SO. 
 
 1/  I  Pet.  1.3. 
 
 :  Acts  26. 
 
 2:^.  ver,  23. 
 
 Cnl.  I.  18. 
 
 Kev    1.  5. 
 a  Koin.  &.I2, 
 
 17. 
 6  Johnll,25. 
 
 Kom  6.  2:1. 
 
 c  ver.  20. 
 IThes4.15, 
 16,  17. 
 
 Ps.  110-  I. 
 Acts  2.  34. 
 35.  Eph.  I. 
 22.  Heb.  1. 
 13.  &  UI.13, 
 /a  Tim  I. 
 10.  Rev.  20. 
 U. 
 
 abundantly  tlian  they  all  :  'yet  not  I,  but  the 
 grace  of  God  which  was  with  me. 
 
 1 1  Therefore  whether  it  icere  1  or  they,  so 
 we  preach,  and  so  ye  believed. 
 
 12  Now  if  Christ  be  preached  that  he  rose 
 from  the  dead,  how  say  some  among  you  that 
 there  is  no  resurrection  of  the  dead  'i 
 
 13  But  if  there  be  no  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
 'then  is  Christ  not  risen  : 
 
 14  And  if  Christ  be  not  risen,  then  is  our 
 preaching  vain,  and  your  faith  is  also  vain. 
 
 \b  Yea,  and  we  are  found  false  witnesses  of 
 God  ;  because  *  we  have  testified  of  God  that 
 he  raised  up  Christ :  whom  he  raised  not  up, 
 if  so  be  that  the  dead  rise  not. 
 
 16  For  if  the  dead  rise  not,  then  is  not  Christ 
 raised  : 
 
 17  And  if  Christ  be  not  raised,  your  faith  is 
 vain  ;  "ye  are  yet  in  your  sins. 
 
 18  Then  they  also  which  are  fallen  asleep  la 
 Christ  are  perished. 
 
 19  *  If  in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in 
 Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most  miserable. 
 
 20  But  now  ^' is  Christ  risen  from  the  dead, 
 and  become  ^  tlie  firstfruits  of  them  that  slept. 
 
 21  For  "since  by  man  came  death,  ^  by  man 
 came  also  the  resurrection  of  the  dead. 
 
 22  For  as  in  Adam  all  die,  even  so  in  Christ 
 shall  all  be  made  alive. 
 
 23  But  '^  every  man  in  his  own  order  :  Christ 
 the  firstfruits ;  afterward  they  that  are  Christ's 
 at  his  coming. 
 
 24  Then  cometh  the  end,  when  he  shall  have 
 delivered  up  ''the  kingdom  to  God,  even  the 
 Father  ;  wiien  he  shall  have  put  down  all  rule 
 and  all  authority  and  power. 
 
 25  For  lie  must  reign,  ^  till  he  hath  put  all 
 enemies  under  his  feet. 
 
 26  ^  The  last  enemy  that  shall  be  destroyed 
 is  death. 
 
 myself  no  further  with  him.'— jl/flc/co,  39.  Forbid  not,  ^c,  subject 
 
 to  the  foregoing  rules  and  directions. — Burkitt. 
 
 Chap.  XV.  —  I.  Moreover,  brethren,  ^c,  signifyine:,  *  some  ff  you 
 deny  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  thereby  overturn  the  gospel 
 from  the  foundation  ;  as  ye  will  perceive,  when  I  repeat  to  you,  breth- 
 ren, the  gospel  which  I  preached  to  you,  which  also  ye  believed,  and 
 in  the  faith  of  which  many  of  you  persevere.' — Mackn.  5.  Cephas, 
 or  Simon  Peter,  (John,  i.  A'-2.)—Gi[L  Of  the  twelve — it  is  no  uncom- 
 mon thing  for  a  body  of  men  to  retain  their  original  name,  though  one 
 or  more  be  abs^ent  or  dead. — Gityse.  6.  Fife  hundred,  probably  in 
 Galilee,  where  there  was  such  a  number  of  disciples. — Doddr.  8.  Seen 
 of  me,  about  two  years  after  his  ascension,  and  several  times  after 
 that. — Ptjle.  Bom  out  of  due  time,  wairepet  iw  eKrpwiiuTt,  like  an 
 '  abortive  birth,'  on  a  sudden,  not  by  the'  gradual  methods  of  grace,  not 
 trained  up  as  the  other  api  sties  :  he  thought  himself  to  be  as  despicable 
 as  an  abortive  birth,  and  always  remembered  it  to  keep  himself  hum- 
 ble.— Guj/sf,  same  purport,  Doddr.  The  Hebrews  and  Romans  used 
 to  compare  vile  and  mean  persons  to  abortions. — Schlevsner.  lo.  Not 
 J,  but  the  grace,  '  not  by  my  own  strength,  but  by  tlie  grace  of  God.' — 
 Bev.  II.  I  or  theij,  all  agree  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  death  and 
 resurrection  of  Christ. — Doddr.  \-2.  Some,  of  their  philosophers. — 
 Whitbt/.  Either  someof  the  Corinthian  church  orof  their  newteachcrs. 
 — Gutfse.  13.  Then  is  Christ  not  risen,  'to  say  that  there  can  be  no 
 resurrection,  and  yet  to  hnid  that  Christ  is  actually  risen,  is  a  contra- 
 diction.'— Pyle.  14.  Our  preaching  vain,  which  pretends  to  take  its 
 authority  from  a  commission  after  his  resurtection.  And  your  faith, 
 founded  chiefly  upon  the  testimony  which  God  then  bore  to  him. — 
 Doddr.  l6.  Then  is  not  Christ  raised,  nor  could  be  either  in  a  private 
 or  public  capacity.  17.  Yet  in  pour  sins,  since  they  could  not  be 
 taken  away  by  the  sacrifice  of  Christ,  unless,  having  satisfied  Divine 
 justice  by  his  death,  he  rdse  again  for  your  justification,  (Rom.  iv.  25. J 
 — Guyse.  IS.  Fallen  nnleep  in  Christ,  'died  in  or  for  this  faith  in 
 Christ.' — Wells.  \Q.  Most  miserable,  eXecivoTcpoi,  'most  pitiable,' 
 for  amidst  the  calamities  and  dangers  to  which  we  are  exposed  for  the 
 sake  of  Christ,  nothing  could  comfort  and  support  us  but  the  hopes 
 of  immurtality. — So  Doddr.  21).  Becutti^  the  firstfruits— see  Lev. 
 x.xiii.  10.    As  the  offering  of  the  first-fruits  derived  a  blessing  on  the 
 
 rest,  so  Christ's  resurrection  secures  the  future  harvest  of  the  dead. — 
 Newc.  21.  By  man,  SfC,  *  through  a  man  came  deaih  ;  through  a 
 man  came  also  the  resurrection.'— .VqcAh.  32.  As  in  Adam,  ^c,  as 
 
 the  death  of  all  mankind  came  by  Adam,  so  the  resurrection  of  all  man- 
 kind comes  by  Christ.  The  wicked  shall  be  raised  by  his  power,  as 
 their  Lord  and  Judge ;  the  righteous  shall  be  raised  by  virtue  of  their 
 union  with  him  as  their  head. —  Bur.  This  cannot  mean  all  the  indi- 
 viduals of  mankind,  because  the  resurrection  here  spoken  of  has  all 
 along  been  represented  as  an  exceeding  grent  benefit ;  it  means  that 
 the  dead  bodies  of  believers  shall  be  quickened  to  an  immortal  hie  of 
 glory  and  blessedness  through  the  merit  nf  his  death.  23.  Every 
 ■man,  esao-Tot,  'every  one,'  Christ,  and  each  of  his  members. — Guyse. 
 In  his  own  order,  tm  i&tui  TayfiiiTi,  *  in  his  proper  band,'  alluding  to  a 
 band  of  soldiers,  arid  iii'timating  the  raising  of  the  righteous  and  the 
 wicked,  each  by  tliemvelves. — Mackn.  Christ  should  rise  firj-t,  and 
 they  who  are  his  property  afterwards. —  Doddr.,  as  Guyse.  24.  The 
 end,  nf  this  world,  of  ordinances,  nf  the  present  mode  of  Christ's  ad- 
 ministering the  affairs  of  providence  and  grace.  The  kingdom,  his 
 natural  and  essential  kingdom,  which  he  has  in  common  with  the  Fa- 
 ther and  the  Spirit,  as  God,  will  have  no  end,  but  only  his  dispensa- 
 tory kingdom. — Guyse.  The  kingdom  here  mtended  is  not  his  essen- 
 tial royalty  as  God  with  God,  for  that  is  inseparable  from  each  of  the 
 three  Divine  Persons;  nor  his  presidency  over  the  church,  as  Head 
 and  Mediator,  for  that  relation  is  indissoluble,  and  he  will  ever  shine 
 as  the  first-bom  among  many  brethren  :  but  it  means  the  kingdom  of 
 that  innumerable  company  whose  names  were  written  in  heaven  ;  and 
 which,  when  their  niimerical  fulness  is  completed,  the  Son  of  God, 
 who  graciously  consented  tn  become  the  Son  of  Man  for  their  sakes, 
 will  present  in  one  entire  ahd  glorified  body  to  the  Fniher. —Toptady. 
 25.  He  must  reign  till,  ^c,  such  was  the  promise  to  Christ,  (Ps.cx.) 
 Put  alt  enemies,  'brought  all  the  world  to  be  subject  to  him.* — 
 Ham.  26.  The  last  enemy,  the  last,  because  he  entered  iuto  the 
 world  after  the  devil  and  sin. — Chrys.  The  last  believers  have  to  grap- 
 ple with. —  Guyse.  Destroyed,  Kcnap^eirai,  '  counter,  worked,  sub- 
 verted, and  finally  overturned.' — A.  Clarke.  Is  death,  by  the  universal 
 resurrection. —  Wells.  For  if  death  be  destroyed,  his  dominion  must 
 be  at  an  end ;  and  if  his  dominion  be  at  an  end,  his  captives  must  be 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  XIV We  may  learn  from  this 
 
 chapter — I.  The  unprojiiablencss  of  religioits  exercises  in  an  un- 
 known tongue.  Hence  the  absurdity  of  those  of  the  cburcb  of 
 Rome. 
 
 1225 
 
 II.  The  usefulness  of  preaching,  or  prophesying.  This  is 
 God's  way  of  convicting  and  converting  sinners,  and  enlarging 
 his  church.  Let  us  be  thaakful  for  the  instructions  commu- 
 nicated through  it,  and  honour  it  as  his  ordinance. 
 
 7   u 
 
The  fruit  and  manner 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  XV. 
 
 of  the  resurrection. 
 
 27  For  be  ^  hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet, 
 liut  when  he  saith,  All  things  are  put  under 
 him,  it  is  manifest  that  he  is  excepted,  which 
 did  put  all  things  under  him. 
 
 '2S  *•  And  when  all  things  shall  be  subdued 
 unto  him,  then  'shall  the  Son  also  himself  be 
 suhject  unto  him  that  put  all  things  under  him, 
 that  God  may  be  all  in  all. 
 
 •29  Else  what  shall  they  do  which  are  baptized 
 for  the  dead,  if  the  dead  rise  not  at  all?  why 
 are  they  then  baptized  for  the  dead  ? 
 
 30  And  ''why  stand  we  in  jeopardy  every 
 hour  V 
 
 31  I  protest  by  ||  '  your  rejoicing  which  I 
 have  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  "'  I  die  daily. 
 
 3'2  If  II  after  the  manner  of  men  "  I  have 
 fought  with  beasts  at  Ephesus,  what  advan- 
 tageth  it  me,  if  the  dead  rise  not?  "let  us  eat 
 and  drink  ;  for  to  morrow  we  die, 
 
 33  Be  not  deceived:  ^evil  communications 
 corrupt  good  manners. 
 
 34  ''  Awake  to  righteousness,  and  sin  not ; 
 '  for  some  have  not  tlie  knowledge  of  Goct:  "I 
 speak  this  to  your  shame. 
 
 30  But  some  man  will  say,  '  How  are  the 
 dead  raised  up?  and  with  what  body  do  they 
 come  ? 
 
 36  Thoti  fool,  "  that  which  thou  sowest  is 
 not  quickened,  except  it  die  : 
 
 37  And  that  which  thou  sowest,  thou  sowest 
 not  that  body  that  shall  be,  but  bare  grain,  it 
 may  chance  of  wheat,  or  of  some  other  yrain  : 
 
 A.  D.  59. 
 
 ff  Ps.  9,  6. 
 Mat.  28.18. 
 Heb.2-8. 
 1  Pet. 3.  22. 
 
 A  Phil,  3. 21. 
 ich    3.23.  & 
 
 4  2  Cor.  II. 
 26.  Gal.  5. 
 
 /  IThpa,2.19. 
 m  Rom.  9. 
 
 36.  ch.4    9. 
 
 2  Cor.*,  in. 
 
 11 .  &  11  iS. 
 [IOr,(o  speak 
 
 afirr  Hie 
 
 mam^  of 
 
 naCor.  1.8 
 o  Is    22    13. 
 
 ft  56.  12. 
 
 Efcles  2.24. 
 
 Wi«d.  2.  6. 
 
 Luke  1:^.19. 
 r  rh.  5    6. 
 7R01U.13  II. 
 
 Kph.  5    U. 
 r  1  Thea  4.5. 
 «  ch.  6    5. 
 (  Eae.  37.  3. 
 
 u  John  12. 
 
 6  John  3.21 
 ft  6  S3, 39, 
 40,  54.  57. 
 I'hil.3.  21. 
 Col.  3.  4. 
 
 C  JohnS.  «!. 
 it  Gen.  2.  7. 
 
 h  3.  19. 
 
 •  Jo)iu3.  IS. 
 
 31- 
 /I'hil  3,  20, 
 
 38  But  God  giveth  it  a  body  as  it  bath  pleased 
 him,  and  to  every  seed  his  own  body. 
 
 39  All  flesh  is  not  the  same  Hesh  :  but  there 
 is  one  kind  of  flesh  of  men,  another  flesh  of 
 beasts,  another  of  fislies,  arid  another  of  birds. 
 
 40  T/iere  are  aho  ce]e?X]a]  bodies,  and  bodies 
 terrestrial :  but  the  glory  of  the  celestial  is 
 one,  and  tiie  glory  of  the  terrestrial  is  another. 
 
 41  There  is  one  glory  of  the  sun,  and  an- 
 other glory  of  the  moon,  and  another  glory  of 
 the  stars  :  for  one  star  difFereth  from  another 
 star  in  glory. 
 
 4'2  ^  So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the  dead. 
 It  is  sown  in  corruption  ;  it  is  raised  in  incor- 
 rupt! on  : 
 
 43  ^  It  is  sown  in  dishonour ;  it  is  raised  in 
 glory :  it  is  sown  in  weakness ;  it  is  raised  in 
 power : 
 
 44  It  is  sown  a  natural  body  ;  it  is  raised  a 
 spiritual  body.  There  is  a  natural  body,  and 
 there  is  a  spiritual  body. 
 
 45  And  so  it  is  written,  The  first  man  Adam 
 "  was  made  a  living  soul  ;  ^  the  last  Adam  ivas 
 made  ^a  quickening  spirit. 
 
 46  Howbeit  that  was  not  first  which  is  spiri- 
 tual, but  that  wiiich  is  natural  ;  and  afterward 
 that  which  is  spiritual. 
 
 47  '^  The  first  man  is  of  the  earth,  "^earthy: 
 the  second  man  is  the  Lord  ^from  heaven. 
 
 48  As  is  the  earthy,  such  are  they  also  that 
 are  earthy  :  ^  and  as  is  the  heavenly,  such  are 
 they  also  that  are  heavenly. 
 
 released  ;  and  if  his  captives  arc  released,  human  nature  must  forsake 
 the  grave,  and  enter  upon  a  state  of  existence  th^it  shall  never  end. — 
 Drew.  27.  When  he  saith,  by  David,  ^Ps.  viii.  6.)  All  thiiigs,  '  that 
 all  creatvirfs.'  It  is  manifest  that  he  is  excepted,  the  Father  himself, 
 who  delepated  this  power  and  authority  to  him,  as  his  vicegerent  in 
 human  nature,  is  to  be  excepted  out  of  the  numlier  of  those  '  all  things' 
 that  are  put  under  him. —  Guyse.  28.  Then  shall  th*'  Son  also  himself 
 be  Kuiiject,  ^r. — the  dclivcrmg  up  the  kingdom  to  the  Father  will  not 
 put  an  end  to  it,  but  eternally  establish  it  in  a  new  and  more  glorious 
 form.  Christ  shall  not  cease  to  reign,  though  the  mode  of  his  ailmi- 
 nistratioD  be  difTerent.  As  a  Divine  Person,  he  will  always  be  one 
 with  the  Father ;  and  though  his  mediatorial  kingdom  shall  cease,  yet 
 the  tfTects  of  it  will  remain  for  ever.  There  will  never  be  a  period  in 
 duration  in  which  the  R^jdeemer  of  sinners  uili  be  thrown  into  the 
 shade,  or  become  of  less  account  than  he  now  iv  ;  or  in  which  *  honour, 
 glory,  and  bk-ssing,'  will  cease  to  he  ascribed  tn  him  by  the  whole 
 creation,  (Rev.  v.  \2~\4.]— A.  Fuller.  That  God  moy  be  all  in  all, 
 that  they  mav  all  enjoy  complete  and  everlasting  happmess  in  the  full 
 communication  of  the  Divine  favour  to  them  forever,  in  a  world  where 
 they  shall  no  longer  need  a  Mediator  to  introduce  them  to  him. — 
 Doddr.  29.  Baptized  for  the  dead — here  are  various  opinions — (i.) 
 The  <  rdinance  of  baptism  was  supcrstitiou-ly  considered  as  in^epara 
 biy  connected  with  tlie  absolute  and  plenary  I'urgivene^s  of  sins  ;  from 
 this  mistaken  notion,  many  wi-ak  believers  were  for  po.-^tpnning  their 
 baptism  till  their  last  moments,  and  so  some  were  never  baptized  at 
 all.  In  this  case,  ^ome  of  their  relatives,  as  weak  a*- themselves,  wcie 
 baptized  for  them  after  they  were  dead,  and  begged  of  God  to  ;iccept 
 the  proxy.  The  meaning  in  this  case  is.  *  what  can  be  their  design 
 who  are  so  baptized  but  to  benefit,  as  they  fondly  suppose,  the  persons 
 who  died  unbaptized?  But  if  these  persons  so  died  as  not  to  live 
 again,  your  imaginary  labour  of  love  can  answer  no  valuable  end 
 whatever.  You  Coiinthlans  are,  then,  most  absurd  who  are  baptized 
 for  the  dead,  if  you  doubt  the  future  resurrection.'— Top/«rfi/,  so  De 
 Dieii,  Grot.,  Mich.,  he.  Baptized  in  the  room  of  the  dead  who  have 
 fallen  by  persecution.  —  Ellis,  Fortuitn  Sucra  -,  adopted  by  Dnddr. 
 (iii.)  Baptized  here  sitcnifies  '  immersed  in  sufferings  ;*  and  then  the 
 sense  is,  'those  who  have  undergone  martyrdom,  and  suffered  death 
 for  the  Christian  religion.'— So  Lig-A?/.,  Pcurcp,  Gill,  Mnckn.,  Rosenm., 
 Krause,  &c.  *  Baptized  for  the  dead  man.  for  Jesus.'— Whitbj/.  (iv.) 
 'Baptized  in  the  confidence  and  expectation  of  a  resurrection  from  the 
 dead.'— So  Chri/.inst  ,  Theod.,  Ham.,  Wets  ,  Bur.,  Pule,  Guyse,  Bloomf. 
 '  Bajitized  in  the  faith  of  Christ's  resurrection.'— So  some.  The  first  of 
 these  interpretations  is  rejected  by  Doddridge,  who  says,  'It  is  more 
 likely  to  have  risen  from  a  mistake  of  this  passage,  than  to  have  been 
 so  early  prevalent.'  30.  In  jeopardy,  ^c,  '  unless  there  were  a  re- 
 surrection, why  have  we  encountered  dangers?'— C/jrys.,  Theophyl., 
 Guyse,  Bloomf.  31.  By  your  rejoicing,  '  by  the  joy  and  glory  of  all 
 Christians.' — Doddr.  'By  all  the  joy  which  I  have  concerning  your 
 Christianity.*— B«r.,  Whitby.  Ntj  Tni-  niicepiiv  Kauxnaiv,  i|i'  fX<^>  '  ^V 
 the  boasting  concerning  you  which  I  have.* — Mackn.  I  die  daily,  he 
 expected  death  daily  from  his  dangers.— So  Gill,  Pijle,hc.  A  torm  of 
 speech  for  '  I  am  continually  exposed  to  death.'— A.Clurke.  32.  Fought 
 with  beasts,  ^r.,  *  fought  with  brutal  men,'  so  called  by  a  metaphor.- 
 1226 
 
 Beza,  Grot.,  Baxt.,  Pearce,  Cradnck.  Doddr.,  Rosenm.,  BiC.  There  is 
 no  reason  to  think  that  the  apostle  had  fought  with  wild  heasts  liter- 
 ally,  as  he  does  not  mention  this  in  the  catalogue  of  his  own  suffer- 
 ings and  dangers,  (2  Cir.  xi,  22 — 28.)  Ignatius  said,  aTro  irpmr  m^XP* 
 Pw^af  y»iP'OM«X">.  '  frnm  Syria  to  Rome  i  fougbt  with  beasts ;'  yet  it 
 is  certain  he  did  not  do  so  literally,  but  he  so  calls  cruel  men.— Boothr. 
 This  was  a  real  physical  contest  with  beasts  in  the  theatre,  (see  2Cor. 
 i.  8.)  which  alludes  to  some  extreme  peril  encountered  at  Ephesus. 
 '  Manner  of  men,'  means  the  barbarous  custom  of  the  men  of  that  age. 
 The  fact  is  not  improbable.  That  the  early  Christians  were  not  un- 
 frcquently  exposed  to  such  contests  is  proved  by  the  records  of  eccle- 
 siastical history  ;  and  profane  history  informs  us,  that  such  a  kind  of 
 punishment  fur  criminals  was  common  in  that  age. — Schleus.,  Murkn., 
 Bloomf.;  so  also  Pise,  Lightf,  Hum.,  Locke,  Eisner,  Whitby,  Wells, 
 Krnuse,  (tc.  Let  us  eat,  ^-c,  quoted  appropriately  from  Isa.  xxii.  13  ; 
 i.e.,  *  fasting  is  unnecessary,  and  temperance  superfluous  ;  let  us  enjoy 
 the  pleasures  of  the  present  life,  since  there  is  no  future  reward.' — 
 B'.oomf.  33.  Kot  deceived,  by  such  .speeches  and  atheistical  tcmpta- 
 tions. — Hmn.  Evil  communicafions,  ffc, '  frequency,  familiarity,  and 
 intimacy  of  conversation  with  men  of  such  a  turn,  hav  e  a  sad  tendency 
 and  influence.'  34  Awake  to  righteousness,  ^c,  'rouse  up  your 
 rcdsonable  powers  to  judge  righteously  and  truly.' — Guyse.  *  Awake, 
 as  beconn's  righteous  and  good  men.' — Doddr.  The  word  eKvf](piiv  is, 
 '  to  become  soiier  after  being  drunk.'  It  represents  theCorintliians  as 
 intoxicated  with  false  doctrine  and  sensual  indulgences.  —  Guyse. 
 3').  With  what  body—ihe  identity  of  the  human  body  must  consist  of 
 some  germ  or  stamen,  which  lemains  immovable. —  Drew.  The  apostle 
 does  n"t  speak  of  some  parts  ot  the  body  being  restored,  but  illustrates 
 the  subject  by  a  comparison  between  material  bodies  as  they  now 
 exi^t,  and  not  between  the  germ  of  the  body  to  be  raised,  and  the  body 
 given  at  the  resurrection,  but  between  the  body  itself  understood  popu- 
 larly.  which  dies,  and  the  body  which  shall  be  raised.— it.  IVatson. 
 3S.  K.rcept  it  die—th^  apostle  appeals  to  a  thing  of  every  day,  little  less 
 wonderful  than  the  resurrection  itself,— the  reproduction  of  grain  from 
 seed  sown,  which  does  not  grow  unless  it  be  rotted  in  the  ground. — 
 Mackn.  39.  All  fe.sh  is  not  the  same  flesh, '  wonder  not  that  out  ofthe 
 very  same  materials  a  body  of  vastly  different  qualities  should  be 
 formed,  as  the  different  sorts  of  flesh  are  formed  out  of  the  same  original 
 mutter.'— Guyse.  40.  There  are  also  celestial  bodies,  '  what  wonder, 
 then,  if  heavenly  bodies  differ  from  earthly,  or  the  bodies  that  rise  from 
 those  that  lie  in  the  grave?'— Cpn*.  41.  One  glory  of  the  suti,  4(C. — the 
 apostle  here  represents  the  different  degrees  of  glory  which  good  men 
 shall  be  invested  with  at  the  Tcsunectit-n.—  Tillofson.  45.  The  lust 
 Adam,  was  made  a  quickening  spirit,  has  not  only  life,  but  life  in  him- 
 self, and  a  power  to  raise  others  to  life, — Pyle ;  and  to  make  their 
 bodies  spiritual,  like  his,  (see  John.  i.  4  ;  v.  21,  •1^.)—Whithy.  46.  But 
 that  which  is  natural,  so  that  we  must  first  receive  our  elementary  and 
 natural  body,  ere  we  can  receive  our  spiritual  and  incorruptible. — 
 Bp.  Hall.  47.  Of  the  earth,  formed  of  the  dust,  and  so  a  mere  man, 
 and  no  more.  The  second  man,  ^r..  the  Lord,  and  so,  well  qualified  to 
 repair  the  loss  sustained  by  the  tall  of  the  first  Adam.—Bev.  48.  As 
 is  the  earthy,  ^c,  '  as  was  A'lam's  body,  so  are  the  bodies  of  those 
 that  descend  from  him.'      As  is  the  heavenly,  §-c.,  '  as  is  the  glorious 
 
The  manner  of 
 
 49  And  ^  as  we  have  borne  the  image  of  the 
 earthy,  ^  we  shall  also  bear  the  image  of  the 
 heavenly. 
 
 50  Now  this  I  say,  brethren,  that  '  flesh  and 
 blood  cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God  ; 
 neither  doth  corruption  inherit  incorruption. 
 
 51  Behold,  I  shew  you  a  mystery  ;  '  We  shall 
 not  all  sleep,  '  but  we  shall  all  be  changed, 
 
 52  In  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
 at  the  last  trump  :  '"  for  the  trumpet  shall 
 sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorrup- 
 tible, and  we  shall  be  changed. 
 
 53  For  this  corruptible  must  put  on  incorrup- 
 tion, and  "this  mortal  must  put  on  immor- 
 tality. 
 
 54  So  when  this  corruptible  shall  have  put  on 
 incorruption,  and  this  mortal  shall  have  put  on 
 immortality,  then  shall  be  brought  to  pass  the 
 saying  that  is  written,  "  Death  is  swallowed  up 
 in  victory. 
 
 55  '' O  death,  where  is  thy  sting?  O  ||grave, 
 where  is  thy  victory  V 
 
 56  The  sting  of  death  is  sin ;  and  ''  the 
 strength  of  sin  is  the  law. 
 
 57  '  But  thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us 
 '  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 58  '  Therefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  be  ye 
 stedfast,  unmoveable,  always  abounding  in  the 
 work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  ye  know  "that 
 your  labour  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  XVL 
 
 1   He  exhorteth  them  to  relieve  the  want  of  the  hrethren 
 
 at  Jtrnsaleni,    10  Commendeth  Tiitwtht/,  \3ajui  after 
 
 friendlij  admonitions,  16  shutteth  up  his  epistle  ivith 
 
 divers  salutations. 
 
 "VTOW   concerning  °  the   collection   for  the 
 
 -'-      saints,    as    I   have    given    order   to   the 
 
 churches  of  Galatia,  even  so  do  ye. 
 
 2  ''  Upon  the  first  clai/  of  the  week  let  every 
 one  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store,  as  God  hath 
 prospered  him,  that  there  be  no  gatherings 
 when  I  come. 
 
 3  And  when  I  come,  '^  whomsoever  ye  shall 
 
 L  CORINTHIANS,  XVI. 
 
 the  resurrection. 
 
 A.  D.  59. 
 
 A.  D.  .W. 
 
 ff  Gen    5.  3. 
 
 \  Gr.  ifi/f, 
 
 h  Rora.  8.29. 
 
 2  Cor.  W.  4, 
 
 2  Cor,  3.13. 
 
 6,  19. 
 
 &4.  tl. 
 
 d  a  Cor.  8.  4, 
 
 Phil   3.  21. 
 
 19. 
 
 1  John  3,  •». 
 
 e  Acta  19. '21. 
 
 .■  Mat  16.17. 
 
 2  Cor.  1.16. 
 
 Jolin3.3.  !i. 
 
 k  1  Tlie.-*.  4. 
 
 1.1.  16,  17. 
 
 /PhU.  3.  -il 
 
 rActs  15.3 
 
 &  17.  1.^.  .t 
 
 m  Zech.'J.n 
 
 21.  5.  Rom 
 
 Mat,  2t.ni. 
 
 1.5.  ■^A 
 
 John  5.  25. 
 
 2  Cor   1    16. 
 
 IThes.4  16. 
 
 5  Acts  IS  21. 
 
 ch.  4-   IP. 
 
 Jam.  4.  15. 
 
 fiSCor.  5..I. 
 
 h  Acta  14  27. 
 
 2Cor.2.l2. 
 
 Col.  4.  3. 
 
 Rev.  3.  S. 
 
 i  Acts  19.  9. 
 
 0  Ts.  2r,.  S. 
 
 ftActsIP.?J. 
 
 Heb.  ■:.  11. 
 
 cb.  4.  17. 
 
 16.  Rev.^;^l. 
 
 I  Rom.  16.21. 
 
 U. 
 
 Phil.  2    20, 
 
 ;i  Hos.13  11 
 
 22.  1  Thes. 
 
 II  Or,  hell. 
 
 3.  2. 
 
 m  \  T\n\.  \. 
 
 q  Rom.4  U, 
 
 12. 
 
 &5.  13.  St  7. 
 
 n  Acts  15  33. 
 
 5,  13. 
 
 r  Rom.".  25. 
 
 och.  1.  12. 
 
 .  1  John  5. 
 
 &  3.  5. 
 
 4.  S. 
 
 CdPet.S.  U. 
 
 H  ch.  3.  9. 
 
 p  Mat.24.42. 
 
 8t  25.  l.^. 
 
 I  Thes.a.S. 
 
 i  Pet.  b.  8. 
 
 q  ch.  IS.  1. 
 
 Phil.  1.  27. 
 
 &4.  1. 
 
 1  Tl.cs.S.fl, 
 
 2Thes.2.l5. 
 
 T  Eph.  6.  10. 
 
 Col.   1.  II. 
 
 a  Acts  1 1.29. 
 
 i  ch.  14.  I. 
 
 &  '24-  17. 
 
 1  Pet   4,  8. 
 
 Rnm.15.26. 
 
 (  ch-  1.  16. 
 
 2  Coi-.  S.  4 
 
 »  Rom.  16  5. 
 
 k  9.  1.  12 
 
 X  -2  Cnr.  8.4. 
 
 Gal.  2.  10. 
 
 R  9.1.  Heb. 
 
 (.Acts  20.  7. 
 
 6.  10. 
 
 Rev.   1.  10. 
 
 V  Heb, 13.17. 
 
 --  Heb.  6.  10. 
 
 a  2Cor.lI  9. 
 
 Phil.  2.  3n. 
 
 Philem.  13. 
 
 c2Cor.9.l9. 
 
 6  Col.  4.  3. 
 
 approve  by  your  letters,  them  will  I  semi  to 
 bring  your  f  liberality  unto  Jerusalem. 
 
 4  ^  And  if  it  be  meet  that  I  go  also,  they 
 shall  go  with  me. 
 
 5  Now  1  will  come  unto  you,  ''when  I  shall 
 pass  through  Macedonia  :  for  1  do  pass  through 
 Macedonia. 
 
 6  And  it  may  be  that  I  will  abide,  yea,  and 
 winter  with  you,  that  ye  may  '"  bring  me  on  my 
 journey  whithersoever  I  go. 
 
 7  For  I  will  not  see  you  now  by  the  wa^'  ; 
 but  I  trust  to  tarry  a  while  with  you,  ^  if  the 
 Lord  permit. 
 
 8  But  I  will  tarry  at  Ephesus  until  Pente- 
 cost. 
 
 9  For  ^  a  great  door  and  effectual  is  opened 
 unto  me,  and  '  there  are  many  adversaries. 
 
 10  Now  "^  if  Timotheus  come,  .see  that  he 
 may  be  with  you  without  fear  :  for  *  he  work- 
 eth  the  work  of  the  Lord,  as  I  also  do. 
 
 W  *"  Let  no  man  therefore  despise  him  :  but 
 conduct  him  forth  "  in  peace,  that  he  may 
 come  unto  nie  :  for  I  look  for  him  with  the 
 brethren. 
 
 12  As  touching  our  brother  °  Apollos,  I 
 greatly  desired  him  to  come  unto  you  with 
 the  brethren  :  but  his  will  was  not  at  all  to 
 come  at  this  time  ;  but  he  will  come  when  he 
 shall  have  convenient  time. 
 
 13  ''Watch  ye,  "^  stand  fast  in  the  faith,  quit 
 you  like  men,  *"  be  strong. 
 
 14  ^  Let  all  your  things  be  done  with  charity. 
 
 15  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  (ye  know  '  the 
 house  of  Stephanas,  that  it  is  "  the  firstfruits  of 
 Achaia,  and  that  they  have  addicted  them- 
 selves to  ^  the  ministry  of  the  saints,) 
 
 16  ^  That  ye  submit  yourselves  unto  such, 
 and  to  every  one  that  helpeth  with  its^  and 
 ^  laboureth. 
 
 17  I  am  glad  of  the  coming  of  Stephanas  and 
 Fortunatus  and  Achaicus  :  ^  for  that  which  was 
 lacking  on  your  part  they  have  supplied. 
 
 18  ^  For  they  have  refreshed  my  spirit  and 
 
 and  spiritual  body  of  Christ-,  so  will  be  the  bodies  of  them  that  are 
 heavenly.' — Gill.  50.  Flesh  and  blood  cannot,  ffc,  at  the  resurrec- 
 
 tion we  shall  not  have  such  bodies  as  we  now  have. — Wells,  Bur. 
 51.  .4  mystery,  or  '  a  secret,'  which  cnuld  never  have  been  discovered 
 by  reason,  or  the  light  of  nature,  and  what  is  of  pure  revelation. — Gill. 
 We,  Christians,  inchuiing  succeeding  generations. — Bens.  Not  al' 
 sleep,  every  individual  believer  shall  not  die. — Guyse.  Shall  nil  be 
 changed,  living  and  dead  believers. — Doddr.  52.  In  a  moment,  tv 
 (nofiui,  "in  an  atom  of  time.' — Guyse.  At  the  last  trump,  alluding  To 
 the  sound  at  Sinai,  so  called  ;  in  like  manner,  at  the  descent  of  Christ 
 from  heaven,  a  great  noise,  called  the  trumpet  of  God,  (1  Thess.  iv.  i6,) 
 will  be  made  by  the  attending  angels. — Mackn.  'Trump,'  or  '  trum- 
 pet,' is  the  symbol  of  the  voice  of  the  Omnipotent  Judge. — Davidson. 
 54.  Death  is  swallowed  up,  ^c,  that  is,  the  Messiah  shall,  by  his  death 
 and  resurrection,  obtain  an  entire  victory  over  death,  not  only  for 
 himself,  but  for  all  his  people. — Gill.  55.  0  death,  v^here  is  thy  sting  ? 
 quoted  from  Hos.  xiii.  14.  The  Sept.  render  it,  '  O  death,  where  is  thy 
 revenge?'  or  'judicial  process.' — Clarke.  56.  The  sting  vf  death  is 
 sin,  the  guilt  of  sin  ;  this  fills  death  with  terrors. — Guyse.  The  strength 
 of  sin  is  the  law,  that  which  constitutes  the  malignity  of  sin  is,  a  trans- 
 gression of  the  divine  law. — Doddr.  5S.  Stedfast,  iipaioi,  'firm  and 
 stable  in  the  faith,  hope,  and  holy  profession  of  the  gospel.' 
 
 Chap.  XVI. —  1.  Collection  for  the  saints,  not  at  Corinth,  but  at  Je- 
 rusalem, as  appears  from  ver.  3.— Gill.  2.  Upon  the  first  day,  fyc, 
 when  you  hold  ycjr  Christian  assemblies  on  that  day,  in  commemora- 
 tion of  the  resurrection  of  our  Lord. — Doddr.      Lay  by  him  in  store. 
 
 •  lay  somewhat  by  itaeU. '—JfUtckn.  The  following  words  shew  that  it 
 was  to  be  put  into  a  common  stock.— Dorfrfr.  No  gatherings,  no  ne- 
 cessity of  making  any  particular  collections. — Bens.  3.  Whomsoever 
 ye  shall  approve,  that  is,  authorize.— it/oc/cH.  6.  Bring  me,  ^c,  'ac- 
 company me  a  little  way,  and  help  me  forward  towards  Jerusalem  or 
 elsewhere.'— Ben.s.  9.  A  great  door,  §v.,  the  door  of  a  house  being 
 the  passage  into  it,  'the  opening  of  a  door,'  in  the  eastern  phrase,  sig- 
 nified the  aflTording  of  an  opportunity  to  a  person  of  doing  a  thing.— 
 Mackn.  10.  If  Timotheus  come,  he  was  already  sent.  {chap.  iv.  )",) 
 but  his  arrival  migbt  possibly  be  retarded  by  incidents  tm  the  road,  and 
 therefore  the  aposile  speaks  cautiously.— G)//.  Without  fear,  of  dis- 
 turbance from  the  factious.— IF/iMi/.  11.  Despise  h>m,  on  account 
 of  his  youth,  (1  lim.  iv.  V2:\—Gill.  With  the  brethren,  Erastus,  who 
 had  been  sent  with  Timothy  to  Corinth,  (Acts,  si.x.22;)  and  Titu**,  who 
 carried  this  letter  ;  and  another  brother  whose  name  is  not  menti'med, 
 (see  2  Cor.  xii.  \7,  18  ;)  and  perhaps  others.— Jl/'icAn.  13.  Watch  ye, 
 like  men  at  their  watch-tower,  keeping  a  good  look  out,  and  ready 
 armed  against  the  enemy.— GiV/.  15.  Firstfruits  of  Achaia,  received 
 the  gospel  at  the  first  preaching  of  it  in  Achaia. — Ham.  l6.  Submit, 
 is  not  here  to  be  understood  of  being  subject  to,  but  only  as  implying 
 an  obsequious  readiness  to  perform  all  ofllces  of  love.  —  Parkhurst. 
 1/.  Stephanas,  supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of  Stephanas,  mentioned 
 ver.  15.  He,  with  Fortunatus  and  Achaicus,  are  supposed  to  have  been 
 the  messengers  sent  by  the  sincere  part  of  the  Christian  church  with 
 the  letter  mentioned  chap.  vii.  i. — Bens.  Lacking— have  supplied,  in 
 the  account  of  the  church  at  Corinth. — So  Pyle.         18.  Sfy  spirit,  by 
 
 RttFLECTiONS  ON  Chap.  XV.  —  We  may  here  remark  on, 
 I.  The  truth  of  Christ's  resurrection.  A  fact  which,  as  it  was 
 of  the  greatest  importance,  has  received  the  strongest  con- 
 firmation. 
 
 n.  The  consequences  of  Christ's  resurrection.  It  confirmed 
 the  truth  of  all  the  doctrines  which  the  apostles  preached.  By 
 this  he  was  'declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power.'  As 
 his  dearh  was  an  atonement  for  sin,  his  resurrection  was 
 proof  that  he  had  power  to  lay  down  his  life,  and  power  to 
 l-2i>7 
 
 take  it  up  again  ;  that  he  was  a  voluntary  sacrifice  for  us, 
 and  so  he  could  plead  our  justification.  His  resurrection  was 
 the  earnest  of  that  of  believers,  as  sure  as  the  first  fruits  are 
 the  earnest  of  the  harvest.  This  was  essential  to  his  de- 
 livering up  his  mediatorial  kingdom,  and,  one  with  his  Father 
 in  the  midst  of  all  his  glorified  subjects,  reigning  for  ever, 
 in  the  splendour  of  his  glory,  amidst  the  multitude  of  the 
 redeemed. 
 
Paui  closeth  his  epistle 
 
 I.  CORINTHIANS,  XVI. 
 
 with  divers  sahttati  ns. 
 
 youi's  :  therefore  *^  acknowledge  ye  them  that 
 are  such. 
 
 19  The  churches  of  Asia  salute  you.  Aquila 
 and  Priscilla  salute  you  much  in  the  Lord, 
 ^  with  the  church  that  is  in  their  house. 
 
 20  All  the  brethren  greet  you.  ^  Greet  ye 
 one  another  with  an  holy  kiss. 
 
 21  *^  The  salutation  of  me  Paul  with  mine 
 own  hand. 
 
 22  If  any    man   ^  love   not  the  Lord   Jesus 
 
 c   i  ThP9.  5 
 
 le.  rbii.  2. 
 
 h  Gal.  I  S,  9. 
 t  Jude  I),I5. 
 ARom.lC.^0. 
 
 Christ,  *>let  him  be  Anathema  '  Maran-atha. 
 
 2.3  ^  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be 
 with  you. 
 
 24  My  love  be  with  you  all  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 Amen. 
 
 t  The  first  epistle  to  the  Corinthians  was 
 written  from  Philippi  by  Stephanas;,  and 
 Fortunatus,  and  Achaicus,  and  Timotheus. 
 
 their  coming  and  presence.— Gi//.  And  yours,  by  taking  upon  them  to 
 bring  this  account. — Bur.,  Wells.  Acknowledge  ye  them,  pay  them  al! 
 proper  re;:ard.— /><irfrfr.  19,  Of  A-iia,  that  part  called  Lydian  .\«ia,  of 
 which  di^itrict  Ephesus  wa<:  the  capital.  St.  Paul's  Asia  seems  every- 
 where to  signify  tliis. — Pnlfy.  Aqniln  and  Pri.tcitln^  these  had  for- 
 merly abode  at  Corinth. — Doddr.  The  church  that  is  in  their  house, 
 their  Cliri<^tian  family,  (see  Acts,  xvi.3l,  .32  ;  xviii.  8.) — Whithij.  20.  Afi 
 holy  kiss—'iee  Rom.  xvi.  16.  note.  21 .  IVith  mine  own  hand,  the  rest 
 of  the  epistle  was  written  by  an  amanuensis,  (see  Rnm.  xvi.  22  ;  2Thess, 
 iii.  \7-)~P_i/l€.  To  prevent  counterfeits,  and  that  the  church  to  whom 
 he  wr<ite  mieht  be  assured  nf  the  genuineness  of  the  epistle,  the  apostle 
 wrote  with  his  own  hand  his  common  salutation,  (see  2  Thess.  iii.  17. 
 '8.) — Gili.      22.  Let  him  6e— the  imperative  is  here  put  for  the  future. 
 
 —  Mackn.  Anathema  Maran-atha — the  Greek  word,  'Anathema, 
 signifies  'execrable;'  the  Syriac,  'Maran-atha,'  'the  Lord  comerh.' — 
 Bur.  '  Let  him  be  accursed  when  the  Lord  comes  to  judgment.' — 
 Whitby.  '  Anathema  Maran-atha,'  were  the  words  with  which  the 
 Jews  began  their  greatest  excommunications,  whereby  they  not  only 
 excluded  sinners  from  their  societv,  but  dehvered  ihem  to  the  Divine 
 Cherem  or  Anathema — that  is,  to  eternal  perdition. — Mackn.  Written 
 from  Fhilippi.  Sfc,  not  so,  but  from  Ephesus,  fver.  8 ;}  nor  was  it  sent 
 hy  Timotheus,  for  he  was  sent  before  the  writing  of  this  epistle,  (see 
 chap.  iv.  17.) — Gill.  The  postscripts  make  no  part  of  the  apostolic 
 writings,  and  are  not  at  all  times  to  be  depended  upon — Tomline. 
 These  additions  have  been  very  presumptuously  made,  and  very  im- 
 prudently retained. — Doddr. 
 
 ftrrLECTioNS  ON  Chap.  XVL  —  I.  '  We  are  here  taught  II.  '  We  learn  that  hrot/ierly  kwe  and  esteem  should  he  constanth/ 
 that  it  is  the  duty  of  Christians  to  e.Tercise  charity,  thus  bearing  exircised  among  fMnc  laltourers  in  the  gospel.  'I'bey  should  be 
 one  anotber'a  bur(iens,  and  so  fulfilling  the  law  of  Christ.  The  free  from  all  jealousy  and  envy,  and  ready  to  honour  and  pro- 
 more  prosperous  should  cheerfully  assist  tliose  that  are  not  so.'  mote  each  other's  usefulness.  The  aged  should  encourage 
 '  Do  good  to  all,  but  especially  to  those  who  are  of  the  house-  their  younger  hretliren,  and  all  employ  their  talents  in  ad- 
 hold  of  faith,'  Tancing  the  work  of  the  Lord.'  •> 
 
 THE    SECOND    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 CORINTHIANS. 
 
 [Titus,  who  had  resided  some  time  at  Corinth,  atter  the  former  epislle,  having  informed  the  apostle  that  the  Corinthians 
 had  received  it  favourahly,  and  excommunicated  the  incestuous  jierson  alluded  to,  1  Cor.  v.  1  ;  he  addresses  this 
 second  epistle  to  them,  with  a  view  to  confirm  those  who  were  already  attached  to  him,  and  to  withdraw  the  rest 
 from  the  false  teacher  and  faction.  The  time  between  sending  this  and  the  former  epistle  is  calculated  at  about 
 twelve  months.  The  references  in  this  epistle  to  the  Old  Testament  are,  Exod.  xvi.  18  ;  xxviii.  24  ;  xxix.  4c»;  xxxiv. 
 1,  -28,  29.  35;  Lev.  xxvi.  I'i:  Is.xxv.  7;  xlix.  8;  Jer.  xxxi.  1—9,33;  Ezek.  xi.  19;  xvi.  18;  xxviii.  24;  xxxvi.  26; 
 xxxvii,  26,  27.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 3  The  ajxfslle  encouratjetk  them  against  troubles,  hi/  the 
 comforts  and  difiiHranccs  ivhich  God  had  given  him, 
 as  m  all  his  nfflivtions,  8  so  particularly  in  his  late 
 danger  in  Asia.  \'2  Ami  calling  both  his  own  cmi- 
 scienre  and  their's  to  witness  of  his  sijicere  manner  of 
 preaching  the  immutable  truth  of  the  gospel,  15  he  ex- 
 CHseth  his  not  cuminrj  to  them,  as  proceeding  not  oj 
 li jhtnessj  but  of  his  lenity  towards  thttn. 
 
 T>AUL,  "an  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ  by  the 
 -*-  will  of  God,  and  Timothy  our  brother, 
 unto  the  church  of  God  which  is  at  Corinth, 
 ^  with  all  the  saints  which  are  in  all  Achaia  : 
 
 2  '^  Grace  be.  to  you  and  peace  from  God  our 
 Father,  AwAfrom  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 3  ^  Blessed  be  God,  even   the  Father  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Father  of  mercies,  and 
 
 o  I  Cor.  l.l. 
 Eph.  I.  L 
 
 Col.  I.  r. 
 
 :  Tim.  I.  I. 
 2  Tim.  I.  I. 
 
 b  HiU.  I.  L 
 
 Coi   1.2. 
 c  KoM.  I.  7. 
 
 I  Cor    I.  S. 
 
 GaL  1.3. 
 
 Phil.  I    2. 
 
 Col.  1.  2. 
 
 1  Thea.  1.1 
 
 'iThes.  1.2. 
 
 Pliilem    3. 
 d  Knii.  I.  3. 
 
 1  Pet.  1.  3. 
 
 A.  D 
 
 till. 
 
 r  Acts 
 Col. 
 
 9    4. 
 
 10, 
 .  21. 
 
 /ch.  4 
 
 IS. 
 
 II  Or,  >> 
 urauglil. 
 
 2  Tin 
 
 .9.17. 
 .2.12. 
 
 h  Acts 
 1  Oor 
 &  Hi, 
 
 iy.23, 
 9. 
 
 the  God  of  all  comfort ; 
 
 4  Who  comforteth  us  in  all  our  tribulation, 
 that  we  may  be  able  to  coinfort  them  which 
 are  in  any  trouble  by  the  comfort,  wherewith 
 we  ourselves  are  comforted  of  God. 
 
 5  For  as  °  the  sufferings  of  Christ  abound  in 
 us,  so  our  consolation  also  aboundeth  by 
 Christ. 
 
 6  And  whether  we  be  afflicted, '  it  is  for  your 
 consolation  and  salvation,  whicli  ||  is  efi'ectual 
 in  the  enduring  of  the  same  sufferings  which 
 we  also  suffer :  or  whether  we  be  comforted, 
 it  is  for  your  consolation  and  salvation. 
 
 7  And  our  hope  of  you  is  stedfast,  knowing, 
 that  ^  as  ye  are  partakers  of  the  sufferings,  so 
 shall  ye  be  also  of  the  consolation. 
 
 8  For  we  would  not,  brethren,  have  you 
 ignorant  of ''  our  trouble  which  came  to  us  in 
 
 JvOTEs  ov  Chap.  \.—\.  Aihaia,  the  province  of  which  Coi-inth  was  peace,  satisfaction,  and  comfort  to  your  minds.'— GiK.        Which  is 
 
 the  metropolis. —  TTV//S.        5.  Sufferings  nf  Christ,  i.e.,  'our  sufferings  effectuai,  IffC,  '  which  is  wrought  Ul  you,'  &c.,  see  mnr^.,  so  Mackn. 
 
 for.' or  '  on  account  of  Christ.'— /fam..  Wells.        6.  For  your  consol'i.  8.  Our  trouble,  ^c,  this  seems  to  refer  to  liis  danger  of  being  torn  in 
 
 (ion,  Jc,  '  seeing  ns,  amidst  all  our  sufferings,  still  continuing  in  and  pieces  by  wild  beasts,  which  he  fought  with  at  Ephesus,  'see  1  Cor.  xv. 
 
 jireaching  the  gospel,  must  confirm  you  in  the  truth,  and  minister  32.)— So  Whitbii,  Bloomf.,  &c.    His  trouble  at  Ephesus  was  but  for  a 
 I-2_',-» 
 
Forgiveness  recommended  towards 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  II. 
 
 the  excommunicated  jjerson. 
 
 Asia,  that  we  were  pressed  out  of  measure, 
 above  strength,  insomuch  that  we  despaired 
 even  of  life 
 
 9  But  we  had  the  ||  sentence  of  death  in  our- 
 selves, that  we  should  '  not  trust  in  ourselves, 
 but  in  God  which  raiseth  the  dead  : 
 
 10  ^  Who  delivered  us  from  so  great  a  death, 
 and  doth  deliver  :  in  whom  we  trust  that  he 
 will  yet  deliver  its ; 
 
 1 1  Ye  also  '  helping  together  by  prayer  for 
 ns,  that  "'  for  the  gift  bestowed  upon  us  by  the 
 means  of  many  persons  thanks  may  be  given 
 by  many  on  our  behalf. 
 
 12  For  our  rejoicing  is  this,  the  testimony  of 
 our  conscience,  that  in  simplicity  and  "godly 
 sincerity,  °  not  with  fleshly  wisdom,  but  by  the 
 grace  of  God,  we  have  had  our  conversation  in 
 the  world,  and  more  abundantly  to  you-ward. 
 
 13  For  we  write  none  other  things  unto  you, 
 than  what  ye  read  or  acknowledge  ;  and  I 
 trust  ye  sliall  acknowledge  even  to  the  end  ; 
 
 14  As  also  ye  have  acknowledged  us  in  part, 
 ■'  that  we  are  your  rejoicing,  even  as  ^  ye  also 
 are  onr's  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
 
 15  And  in  this  confidence  '1  was  minded  to 
 come  unto  you  before,  that  ye  might  have  'a 
 second  ||  benefit ; 
 
 16  And  to  pass  by  you  into  Macedonia,  and 
 '  to  come  again  out  of  Macedonia  unto  you, 
 and  of  you  to  be  brought  on  my  way  toward 
 Judsa. 
 
 17  When  I  therefore  was  thus  minded,  did  I 
 use  lightness?  or  the  things  that  I  purpose,  do 
 I  purpose  "according  to  the  flesh,  that  with  me 
 there  should  be  yea  yea,  and  nay  nay? 
 
 18  But  as  God  is  true,  our  ||  word  toward 
 you  was  not  yea  and  nay. 
 
 19  For  'the  Son  of  God,  Jesus  Christ,  who 
 was  preached  among  you  by  us,  even  by  me 
 
 ll  Or,  atineer, 
 ijer.  17.6,7. 
 
 /  Rom.I5.3u, 
 Pl.il,  I.  19. 
 Phileni.v-! 
 
 n  ch.  2.  17. 
 "  I  Cor  2, .] 
 
 jy  ch.  5.  12. 
 a  Phil.  2   10. 
 
 &-1.  I. 
 
 ITbe9.2.19. 
 
 20. 
 r  I  Cor.4.19. 
 
 I  Rom.  1.11. 
 
 II  Oi-,  grace. 
 
 II  Or. 
 prvaching, 
 
 X  Mark  1.  I 
 Luke  I.  3.i 
 Acts  9.  -dQ. 
 
 y  Heb.  13.8. 
 
 t  Rom.  15.8, 
 9. 
 
 .  I  Joha  2. 
 
 20,  37. 
 b  Eph.  I.  13, 
 
 fe  4.  30. 
 
 2  Tim.?.19, 
 
 Rev.  S.  17. 
 c  ch.5.  5. 
 
 Epl).    1.   14. 
 d  Kom.  I.  9. 
 
 ch.  H.  31. 
 
 Gal.  1.  '^0, 
 
 Phil.  1.  8- 
 e\  Cor.  4,21. 
 
 oh.  2   3.  fc 
 
 I*   20.  h  IS. 
 
 'J,  10. 
 /  1  Cor.  .S.  .5. 
 
 I  Pet.  5.  3. 
 yKnm  II  30. 
 
 t  Cur.  15.  1. 
 
 ich.  I.  23. 
 ft  1>- 20.21. 
 &  13.  10. 
 
 b  ch.  12.21. 
 
 c  cli   7.  16. 
 &  8.  22. 
 Gal.  5.  to. 
 
 d  ch.  7 
 9,  12. 
 
 0  1  Cor.  5.  I 
 
 and  Silvanus  and  Timotheus,  was  not  yea  and 
 nay,  ^but  in  him  was  yea. 
 
 20  ^  For  all  the  promises  of  God  in  him  are 
 yea,  and  in  him  Amen,  unto  the  glory  of  God 
 by  us. 
 
 21  Now  he  which  stablisheth  us  with  you 
 in  Christ,  and  °  bath  anointed  us,  is  God  ; 
 
 22  Who  '^hatb  also  sealed  us,  and  *^  given  the 
 earnest  of  the  Spirit  in  our  hearts. 
 
 23  Moreover  ^  1  call  God  for  a  record  upon 
 my  soul,  ®  that  to  spare  you  I  came  not  as  yet 
 unto  Corinth. 
 
 24  Not  for  ^  that  we  have  dominion  over  your 
 faith,  but  are  helpers  of  your  joy  :  for  ^  by  faith 
 ye  stand. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  Having  shewed  the  reason  why  he  came  not  to  themj 
 6  he  requirefh  them  tu  foTijimt  and  to  cinttfort  that  ex- 
 communicated person,  i  0  tven  us  h  imself  also  upon  h  is 
 true  repentance  had  for  tjiv  en  him,  \'l  iltclariny  withal 
 why  he  departed  from  Tmas  to  Macedonia,  14  and 
 the  happy  success  which  God  gave  to  his  preaching 
 in  ail  places. 
 
 "DUT  I  determmed  this  with  myself,  "that  I 
 -*-^  would  not  come  again  to  yon  in  heaviness. 
 
 2  For  if  I  make  you  sorry,  who  is  he  then 
 that  maketh  me  glad,  but  the  same  which  is 
 made  sorry  by  me  Y 
 
 3  And  I  wrote  this  same  unto  you,  lest,  when 
 I  came,  *■  I  should  have  sorrow  from  tiiem  of 
 whom  I  ought  to  rejoice  ;  '^having  confidence 
 in  you  all,  that  my  joy  is  the  joy  of  you  all. 
 
 4  For  out  of  much  affliction  and  anguish  of 
 heart  I  wrote  unto  you  with  many  tears  ;  "^  not 
 that  ye  should  be  grieved,  but  that  ye  miglit 
 know  the  love  which  I  have  more  abundantly 
 unto  you. 
 
 5  But  *  if  any  have  caused  grief,  he  hath  not 
 
 day,  and  could  not  be  a  reason  why,  as  yet,  he  had  not  come  to  Corinth ; 
 it  seems  rather  to  be  some  other  very  sore  affliction,  not  mentioned  in 
 the  Acts,  and  whicli  had  a  longer  continuance. — Gill.  9-  The  sen- 
 tence of  death  in  ourselves,  daily  e.vpecting  the  execution. — Doddr.  In 
 God  lehich  ritiseth  the  dead,  and  therefore  is  able  to  relieve  the  most 
 distressed. — GUI.  10.  From  so  great  a  death,  on  this  memorable  oc- 
 cdsion.— Doddr.  From  so  g^reat  a  peril  of  death. — Mar.  Doth  deliver, 
 from  dangers  that  still  surround  us.  11.  The  gift  bestowed  upon  us 
 by  the  means  of  many  persons,  '  the  favour  [obtained]  for  us,  by  the 
 importunate  prayers  of  many.' — Doddr.  The  gift  of  grace  to  sustain 
 under  trials. — Mar.  The  gracious  deliverance.— TT>//s.  12.  Forour 
 rejoicing  is  this,  fyc,  'this  confidence  which  we  have  in  God  and  in  you 
 is  emboldened  by  a  consciousness  of  our  own  integritj'.' — Doddr. 
 13.  We  u-rite  none  other,  ^c. — the  faction,  it  seems,  had  assumed  that 
 his  words  were  designedly  ambiguous,  that  he  might  afterwards  inter- 
 pret them  as  suited  his  purpose, — Muckn. ;  but  he  frankly  and  opeidy 
 meant  neither  more  nor  less  than  was  signified  in  the  plain  meaning 
 of  his  words  m  this  and  in  the  former  epistle. — Gvyse.  14.  In  part, 
 i.  e.,  '  some  of  you.'  J5.  In  this  confidence,  of  your  love  and  esteem 
 for  me. — Wells.  A  second  benefit,  Sevrepav  x«f''i'.  i-  e.,  *  a  further  con- 
 firmation and  edification  in  gifts  and  graces  wherewith  ye  were  en- 
 riched by  my  first  coming  to  you.'  17.  Did  I  u.'ic  lightness  ? — '  did  I 
 lightly  change  my  purpose  ? ' — Beris.  '  Was  it  formed  without  due  con- 
 sideration ?' — Muckn.  18.  Not  yea  and  nay,  '  wavering  and  uncer- 
 tain.' 19.  For  the  Son  of  God,  %-c..  i.  e.  our  preaching  concerning 
 him. — BeTis.  }Vas  not  yea  and  nay,  it  had  no  contradiction  in  it.— Gill. 
 He  had  always  preached  Christ  in  the  same  way. — Mar.  20.  Irt  him 
 are  yea,  and  in  him  Amen,  '  the  promises  exhibited  in  the  clearest  light 
 under  the  New-Testament  dispensation  are  in  Christ  the  Amen,  the 
 faithful  and  true  Witness,  (Rev.  iii.  14,)  infallibly  sure,  and  invariably 
 
 the  same.' — Guyse.  Unto  the  glory  of  God  by  ns,  '  as  is  declared  by  us 
 in  our  ministry.' — Bens.  21.  In  Christ,  *  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ.' — 
 Whitby.  Anointed  us,  with  a  holy  unction  of  the  gifts  and  graces  of 
 the  Spirit,  {1  John,  ii.  20,  27.) — Guyse.  So  Dav.  22.  Sealed  //,?— an- 
 ciently, seals  were  used  for  marking  goods  as  the  property  of  the  per- 
 son who  hail  put  his  seal  on  them,  tliat  they  might  be  distinguished  from 
 the  goods  of  others.  Thus,  all  believers  are  here  said  to  be  scaled  with 
 the  Spirit  which  was  promised,  (Eph.  i.  13  j  iv.  30  :)  because  they  were 
 thereby  marked  as  Christ's  property'.  And  given  the  earnest — ser\'ants 
 being  hired  by  giving  them  earnest-money,  the  apostle,  in  allusion  to 
 that  custom,  says,  '  God  hath  given  us  the  eame.?t  of  the  Spirit  in  our 
 hearts  ;  he  hath  hired  us  to  be  the  apostles  of  his  Son,  by  giving  us  the 
 Spirit,  or  spiritual  gifts,  (l  Cor.  xiv.  32.)— Mackn.  The  word  ap^afiuu 
 here  used,  (and  in  chap.  v.  5,  Eph.  i.  14,)  is  the  Hebrew  word  pin?, 
 and  comes  from  a  root  {yX^)  which  signifies,  '  to  become  a  surety,  '  '  to 
 give  a  pledge  ;'  and  is  used  for  a  pledge  in  covenants  and  bargains, 
 [see  Gen.  xxxviii.  17,  18,  20.)  '  The  Spirit  of  God  is  an  earnest  or 
 pledge  of  the  heaveidy  inheritance.' — Gill.  Of  the  Spirit,  i.  e.,  the 
 secret  influences  of  the  Spirit  in  the  hearts  of  behevers.  So  Dav. 
 23.  To  spare  you,  '  lest,  finding  matters  amiss  and  yet  unreformed,  I 
 should  have  "been  forced  to  have  used  my  apostolical  authority  with 
 severity.' — Bp.  Hall.  24.  Not  for  that  tve  have  dominion,  ^c.,  they 
 did  not  assume  tyrannical  power. — Gill. 
 
 CuAP.  II.— 1.  Again,  relates  only  to  his  visit,  for  his  first  visit  was 
 not  with  sorrow,  but  joy. — Guyse,  Mackn.  In  heaviness,  ev  Xutttj,  *  in 
 grief.'  2.  But  the  same,  ^c,  that  is,  '  I  cannot  be  comforted  myself 
 till  his  grief  is  removed.*  3.  Have  sorrow,  '  have  occasion  to  censure 
 and  punish  any.' — Bens.  4.  Might  knoiv  the  lore,  of  which  he  could 
 not  give  a  greater  evidence  than  by  faithfid  reproof.— Gi//.  5.  But 
 in  part,  'who  still  rejoice  over  the  greater  part  of  you.' — Bens. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  Remark  I.  The  troubles  of  the 
 primitive  church.  Apostles  and  believers  '  endured  the  same 
 sufferings.'  With  us  the  day  of  persecution  is  happily  past, 
 or,  at  least,  suspended.  The  enemies  of  the  gospel  can  only 
 snarl;  they  dare  not  devour.  But  true  Christians  are  still  the 
 subjects  of  many  afflictions,  and  ihe  church  is  yet  in  the  wil- 
 derness. '  Jn  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation,'  says  Christ 
 to  his  disciples  ;  aud  many  saints  are  still  called  to  pass 
 •  through  great  tribulation.' 
 1229 
 
 II.  The  consolatio7is  of  the  primitive  church.  'The  Father  of 
 mercies'  comforted  apostles  and  people  with  the  same  con- 
 solations. And  still  we  have  the  same  '  God,  even  the 
 Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;'  the  same  promises  con- 
 firmed in  Christ  Jesus  :  the  same  sealing  and  earnest  of 
 the  Spirit,  May  God  increase  our  consolation  and  our  joy, 
 and  enable  us  to  staud  fast  in  the  faith  of  the  everlasting 
 gospel ! 
 
The  success  of  Paufs  preaching. 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  III. 
 
 The  faith  of  the  Corinthians. 
 
 'grieved  me,  but  in  part :  that  I  may  not  over- 
 charge you  all. 
 
 6  Sufficient  to  such  a  man  is  this  ||  punish- 
 ment, which  teas  inji/cted  ^  of  many. 
 
 7  '^  So  that  contrariwise  ye  ought  rather  to 
 forgive  him,  and  comfort  him,  lest  perhaps 
 such  a  one  should  be  swallowed  up  with  over- 
 much sorrow. 
 
 8  Wherefore  I  beseech  you  that  ye  would 
 confirm  ^07/?'  love  toward  him. 
 
 9  For  to  tiiis  end  also  did  I  write,  that  I 
 might  know  the  proof  of  you,  whether  ye  be 
 'obedient  in  all  things. 
 
 10  To  whom  ye  forgive  any  thing,  I  forgive 
 also  :  for  if  I  forgave  any  thing,  to  whom  I 
 forgave  it,  for  your  sakes  forgave  I  it  ||  in  the 
 person  of  Christ ; 
 
 1 1  Lest  Satan  should  get  an  advantage  of 
 us  :  for  we  are  not  ignorant  of  his  devices. 
 
 1*2  Furthermore,  ''when  1  came  to  Troas  to 
 preach  Christ's  gospel,  and  '  a  door  was  opened 
 unto  me  of  the  Lord, 
 
 13  '"I  had  no  rest  in  ray  spirit,  because  I 
 found  not  Titus  my  brother:  but  taking  my 
 leave  of  them,  I  went  from  thence  into  Mace- 
 donia. 
 
 14  Now  thanks  be  unto  God,  which  always 
 causeth  ns  to  tritunph  in  Christ,  and  niaketh 
 manifest  "  the  savour  of  his  knowledge  by  us 
 in  every  place. 
 
 15  For  we  are  unto  God  a  sweet  savour  of 
 Christ,  °\ii  them  that  are  saved,  and  ''in  them 
 that  perish  : 
 
 16  **  To  the  one  we  are  the  savour  of  death 
 unto  death  ;  and  to  the  other  the  savour  of 
 
 A    D-  60 
 
 /Gal.  4.  12. 
 II  Or,  eoitnte. 
 g  I  Cor  5.4. 
 
 S.  i  Tim.  5. 
 
 2ll. 
 h  Gal.  6.  I. 
 
 Or,  in  the 
 
 tight. 
 
 k  Acts  16.  8. 
 &  •2i\  6. 
 /  I  Cor.  16.9. 
 
 I  Cor. 1. 18. 
 p  ch.  4.  3. 
 
 j.jI.ii  9.  ay. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.7,8. 
 
 II  Or,  d^l 
 
 (i^aii/iil/j/ 
 
 with. 
 t  ch.  4   ?.  & 
 
 II.  IS. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  3. 
 r oh    I.  12 
 
 &  4.  2. 
 ;i  Or,  of. 
 
 a  ch.  5.  12. 
 
 b  10.  8.  12 
 
 &  IS.  II. 
 
 *  Acts  18.27. 
 
 c  1  Cor.  9.  2. 
 
 d  1  Cor  3,  5. 
 
 r  Ex.  24.  12. 
 
 ftSi.  I. 
 /  Ps.  4a  8. 
 
 Jer.  SI.  3A. 
 
 Ez«.  II.  19. 
 
 &  -So.  26. 
 
 Heb.  8.  10. 
 g  John  1-^,5. 
 
 ch.  2.  16. 
 A  I  Cor.  15. 
 
 10.  Phil.  2- 
 
 13. 
 
 1  Cor.  3. 5. 
 
 &  15.  10. 
 
 rh.  5.  18. 
 
 Kph.  3.  7. 
 
 Col.  1 .  25, 
 
 29.  1  Tim. 
 
 1.  II,  12. 
 
 2Tim.  111. 
 k  Jer.  31.31. 
 
 mat.  26.  28. 
 
 Heb.  8.  e.  8. , 
 I  Rom.  2.27,  ! 
 
 S9.  &  7.  6, 
 
 PI  Rom.S.jn. 
 
 St  4.15.  fc  7. 
 
 9,  10.  II. 
 
 Ual.  3.  11). 
 n  John  6.  63. 
 
 Kom.  8.  2. 
 BOr, 
 
 guic^enelli. 
 o  Hoin,  7.11). 
 y  Kx.  3*.  I. 
 
 28    Deu  II). 
 
 I,  fiC. 
 
 life  unto  life.  And  'who  is  sufficient  for  these 
 things  ? 
 
 1  7  For  we  are  not  as  many,  which  [|  "  corrupt 
 the  word  of  God  :  but  as  *  of  sincerity,  but  as  of 
 God.  in  the  sight  of  God  speak  we  ||  in  Christ. 
 
 CHAP.  IIL 
 
 i  Lest  their  false  teachers  should  charge  him  with  vain- 
 glory, Ac  shcweth  the  faith  and  graces  of  the  Co- 
 rinthians to  he  a  sufficitnt  commendation  of  his  mi- 
 nistry. 6  Whereupon  entering  a  comparison  betiveen 
 the  ministers  of  the  law  and  of  the  gospel,  12  he 
 proveth  that  his  ministry  is  so  far  the  more  excellent, 
 as  the  gosptl  of  lift  and  liberty  is  more  glorious  than 
 the  law  of  condemnation. 
 
 Tr\0  "we  begin  again  to  commend  ourselves? 
 ■^-^  or  need  we,  as  some  others,  ''epistles  of 
 commendation  to  you,  or  tetters  of  commenda- 
 tion from  you*? 
 t2  ^  Ye  are  our  epistle  written  in  our  hearts, 
 known  and  read  of  all  men  : 
 
 3  Forasrmtch  as  ye  are  manifestly  declared 
 to  be  the  epistle  of  Christ  ''ministered  by  us. 
 wTitten  not  with  ink,  but  with  the  Spirit  of  the 
 living  God  ;  not  *■  in  tables  of  stone,  but  '^in 
 fleshy  tables  of  the  heart. 
 
 4  And  such  trust  have  we  through  Christ  to 
 God-ward  : 
 
 5  ^  Not  that  we  are  sufficient  of  ourselves  to 
 think  any  thing  as  of  ourselves  ;  but  ''  our  suf- 
 ficiency is  of  God  ; 
 
 6  Who  also  hath  made  us  able  '  ministers  of 
 ''  the  new  testament ;  not  '  of  the  letter,  but  of 
 the  spirit:  for  "'the  letter  killeth,  "but  tlie 
 spirit  II  giveth  life. 
 
 7  But  if  '^  the  ministration  of  death,  ^  written 
 
 6.  Sufficifmt,  Sfc,  '  since  he  hath  been  censured  according  to  my  order, 
 and  professed  his  serious  repentance,  let  this  punishment  he  suJficient, 
 wliich  was  inflicted  upon  him  publicly  in  the  con£Te°:ation.' — Bp.  Hall. 
 9.  Obedient  in  all  things,  as  ready  to  restore  offenders  as  to  censure. — 
 Ham.  10.  1  forgirf,  fyc,  may  extend  to  the  forgiveness  of  any  per- 
 son, but  had  a  particular  respect  to  the  forgiveness  of  the  incestuous 
 person.  For  yniir  sakr.'i,  '  at  your  request,'  or  '  for  your  good,  peace, 
 or  welfare.*— (;///.  In  the  person  of  Christ,  '  in  the  name,  and  by  the 
 authority  of  Christ,  whereby  I  required  you  to  pmiish  him  for  his 
 offence.' — Mackn.  ll.  Lest  Satan  should  get  an  adranta^e.hy  hur- 
 r>-ing  him  into  despair ;  or  representing  the  church  discipline  as  that 
 which  tendeth  to  men's  ruin,  and  so  tempting  him  to  apO:^tasy.— 
 Whitbfi.  12.  Troan,  a  city  of  the  lesser  Asia,  near  the  Hellespont, 
 formerly  called  Troy. — Gill.  A  door  was  opened— see  1  Cor.  xvi.  9,  note. 
 13.  Becaitse  I  found  not  Titus,  from  whom  he  was  exceedingly  desirous 
 of  knowing  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  church  at  Corinth. — Gill.  Into 
 Macedonia,  hoping  to  find  Titus  there. —  Whitby.  14.  To  triumph, 
 ffc. — having  mentioned  liis  success  in  Troas,  the  apostle  calls  to  mind 
 the  success  with  which  God  had  blessed  him  and  his  fellow- ministers, 
 — GUI;  or  the  happy  success  of  his  former  epistle,  reported  to  hira  by 
 Titus. — Ham.  There  is  an  allusion  here  to  the  custom  of  victorious 
 generals,  who,  in  their  triumphal  processions,  carried  some  of  their  re- 
 lations with  them  in  their  chariot.  Maketh  manifest  the  savour — in 
 triumphs,  the  streets  tlirough  which  the  victorious  general  passed  were 
 strewed  with  flowers.  The  people  also  were  used  to  throw  flowers  into 
 the  triumphal  car  as  it  passed  along:  hence  this  allusion.  I6.  To  the 
 one  we  are  the  surour  of  death,  ^c. — captives  of  the  greatest  note  fol- 
 lowed the  triumphal  chariot  in  chains  ;  some  of  them  had  their  lives 
 granted  to  them,  others  were  put  to  death  immediately  after  the  pro- 
 cession ended.  Wherefore,  to  such,  the  smell  of  the  flowers,  and  of 
 the  incense  with  which  the  procession  was  accompanied,  was  a  deadly 
 smelling,  ending  in  their  death.  But  to  those  captives  who  had  their 
 lives  granted  to  them,  this  was  *a  smell  of  life,'  avivifying,  refreshing, 
 smell,  which  ended  in  life  to  them.  Christ  is  here  represented  as  a 
 victorious  general,  riding  in  triumphal  procession,  attended  by  apos- 
 tles, prophets,  &c.,  and  foilowed  by  all  the  idolatrous  nations  as  his 
 
 captives.  Among  these,  the  preachers  of  the  gospel  diffused  the  smell 
 of  the  knowledge  of  Christ,    &c.  17.   Corrupt,    Sfr.,  KaTrtiXfvoiTe^, 
 
 '  treating  as  tavern  keepers  the  Word  of  God  ;'  that  is,  adulterating 
 it.  Persons  of  that  profession  often  adulterated  their  wine  with  water, 
 that  in  selling  it  they  might  have  the  more  profit,  (see  Isa.  i.  22,  Sept.) 
 The  apostles  did  not  roLx  falsehoods  with  the  gospel. — Mackn.,  so 
 Doddr. 
 
 Chap.  III. — 1.  Epistles  of  commendation — these  commendatory  let- 
 ters were  much  in  use  in  the  primitive  church  j  they  were,  properly, 
 letters  of  introduction. — Hlomnf.  These  letters  were  of  great  use  in 
 traveUing,  and  secured  the  warmest  hospitality. — Pict.  Bib.  2.  Ye 
 are  our  epixtle,  '  our  letters  testimonial.' — Guyse.  '  Ye  are  [a  copy]  of 
 our  letter  of  recommendation  from  Christ.'— ./i/ocA-n.  Of  all  men,  '  who 
 know  you,  and  who  must  see  in  you  God's  marvellous  work.'— So 
 Guyse.  3.  The  epistle  of  Christ,  fyc.,  '  a  copy  of  Christ's  letter  of  re- 
 commendation in  my  favour.*  Not  with  ink,  as  the  false  teacher's  let- 
 tor  was.  Aot  in  tattles,  as  Moses'  letter  of  recommendation  to  the 
 Israelites. — Mackn.  Tattles  of  the  heart — for  this  expression  see  Prov. 
 iii.  3  ;  vii.  3  ;  Jer.  xvii.  1.  4.  Such  trust,  '  such  confidence  and  firm 
 persuasion  of  the  truth  of  grace  on  your  souls,  and  of  our  being  the 
 happy  instruments  of  it.' — Gill.  5.  To  think,  '  to  reason,'  any  thing, 
 ^c,  effectual  for  converting. — Mackn.  0.  New  testament,  '  new  co- 
 venant.'— Doddr.,  Gill.  Letter,  '  the  law,  which  was  literally  written 
 with  God's  finger,  but  now  become  a  dead  letter.' — Guyse.  The  Suiaitic 
 covenant,  called  *  the  covenant  of  the  letter.*  in  rdlusion  to  Exod. 
 xxxiv.  32. — Mackn.  But  of  the  spirit,  of  the  gospel  dispensation. — 
 Bens.,  so  called  in  allusion  to  Jer.  .xx.xi.  33,  and  because  published  by 
 the  Spirit's  inspiration,  and  confirmed  by  his  gifts. — Mackn.  '  We  are 
 enabled  to  enter  into  the  sense  and  spirit  of  the  law  and  other  sacred 
 writings,  whereas  the  Pivine  volume  is  to  the  Jews  but  as  a  heap  of  let- 
 ters and  characters.' — Doddr.  Killeth,  it  denounces  death  to  the  sumer. 
 — Dar.  '  The  unbelieving  Jews  are  undone  by  their  obstinate  adherence 
 to  it,  and  more  prejudiced  against  the  gospel  than  those  who  never 
 heard  of  any  Divine  revelation  at  ah.'— -Doddr.  Gii'eth  life,  the  gospel 
 is  a  means  m  the  hand  of  the  Spirit  of  God  of  quickening  dead  sinners, 
 &c.        7.     The  ministration  of  death,  i.  e.,  of  the  covenant  of  death. — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  We  are  here  taught,  I.  Kind- 
 ness towards  our  fallen  and  penitent  brethren.  There  are  many 
 who  would  never  hare  forgiven  Peter,  notwithstanding  his 
 repentance,  and  would  have  driven  him  to  break  his  heart  with 
 anguish  at  their  unkindness,  or  to  sink  into  despair,  had  that 
 been  possible,  after  the  sensible  proofs  he  had  received  of  his 
 Master's  gracious  favour.  There  is  an  inflesibility  of  disci- 
 pline, and  an  hard-hearledness,  among  some  Clirisiian  profes- 
 sors, and  even  ministers  of  the  meeli  and  lowly  Jesus,  which  is 
 as  much  to  be  condemned  as  a  laxity  of  discipline  and  an  in- 
 1230 
 
 difference  to  sin.  Let  such  beware  lest  they  also  be  tempted, 
 and  let  them  be  ever  ready  to  imitate  that  tender-hearted 
 Saviour,  who  would  never  break  the  '  bruised  reed,"  nor  quench 
 *  the  smoking  flax.'     We  here  see — 
 
 II.  The  solemn  effects  of  the  ministry  of  the  gospel.  It  hardens 
 or  softens  ;  it  ruins  or  saves  ;  it  is  a  savour  of  death  unto 
 death,  or  a  'savour  of  life  unto  life.'  With  what  anxious 
 solicitude,  then,  should  ministers  dispense  it,  and  with 
 what  deep  concern  should  it  be  attended  to  by  those  who 
 hear  ! 
 
Superior  excellency  of 
 
 and  enijraven  in  stones,  was  gluriou:-i,  ''  so  that 
 the  cliildren  of  Israel  could  not  stedfastly  he- 
 hold  the  face  of  Moses  for  the  glory  of  his 
 countenance  ;  which  glory  was  to  be  done 
 away  : 
 
 8  How  shall  not  '  the  ministration  of  the 
 spirit  be  rather  glorious? 
 
 9  For  if  tlie  iniinstration  of  condemnation  he 
 glory,  much  more  doth  the  ministration  ^  of 
 rigliteousness  exceed  in  glory. 
 
 10  For  even  that  which  was  made  glorious 
 bad  no  glory  in  this  respect,  by  reason  of  the 
 glory  that  excelleth. 
 
 i  1  For  if  that  which  is  do\ie  away  loas  glori- 
 ous, much  more  that  which  remaineth  is  glo- 
 rious. 
 
 12  Seeing  then  that  we  have  such  hope,  '  we 
 use  great  ||  plainness  of  speech  : 
 
 13  And  not  as  Moses,  "which  put  a  vail  over 
 his  face,  that  the  children  of  Israel  could  not 
 stedfastly  look  to  "  the  end  of  that  which  is 
 aljolished  : 
 
 14  But  ''their  minds  were  blinded  :  for  until 
 this  day  remaineth  the  same  vail  untakenaway 
 in  the  reading  of  the  old  testament ;  which 
 vail  is  done  away  in  Christ. 
 
 15  But  even  unto  this  day,  when  Moses  is 
 read,  the  vail  is  upon  their  heart. 
 
 16  Nevertheless  'when  it  shall  turn  to  the 
 Lord,  °  the  vail  shall  be  taken  away. 
 
 11.  CORINTHIANS,  IV. 
 
 the  gospel  ministration. 
 
 q  Ex    M. 
 3U,  35. 
 
 i  Rom   t.  17. 
 ti-i.  21. 
 
 I  rh.  7.  1. 
 Kph.  0.   19. 
 
 II  Or. 
 
 H  Rx.  31.  33, 
 35, 
 
 jr  Rom. 10  4. 
 Gal.  3.  23. 
 
 t/  Is  6.  10. 
 Mat.  13  n, 
 U.John  l> 
 •10  Acts2H 
 'J6.Roi,j.  II. 
 7,  8,  2a,  ch. 
 4.  4. 
 
 :  Ex.  34.  31. 
 Horn. H. 23, 
 
 12. 
 d  cti  4.  4,  6. 
 
 I  Tim. I. II 
 eRom.  S.  29. 
 
 1  Cor.l5.+y. 
 
 Col   3.  10. 
 I  Or,  './  l/.e 
 
 L^'d  the 
 
 the  Si'irit. 
 
 n  ch.  3.  B, 
 ft    1    CDTj.-i'-t 
 I    ri.ll    I    13 
 t  Gr 
 
 Roi 
 
 .  16. 
 
 &  6.  2 
 ;  ch.  2.  17. 
 I  Thea.  2.  3, 
 
 j'c'h.  6.  4,  7. 
 8c  7.    14. 
 .  ch.  5    II 
 J  I  Cor. 1. 1 
 
 ch 
 
 \h. 
 
 Thes  2,10 
 gjohn  1231. 
 
 &  14.  30.  St 
 
 16.   II  Eph. 
 
 6.  12. 
 h  Is.  fl.  10, 
 
 JohQ  12  «. 
 
 ch.  3.  11. 
 i  ch  3.  8,  9, 
 11,18.  ver. 
 
 6. 
 A  John  I,  IB. 
 
 &  12.  4.5,  & 
 
 14.  9.  Phil. 
 
 2   6    C  il  1. 
 
 15  Hcb.1.3. 
 
 17  Now  ''  the  Lord  is  that  Spirit :  and  where 
 the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  there  is  liberty. 
 
 18  But  we  all,  with  open  face  beholding  'as 
 in  a  glass  ■'  the  glory  of  the  Lord, "  are  changed 
 into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory,  even 
 as  II  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  i/e  ch  clareth  how  he  hath  usedall  sincenty  and  faith- 
 ful diligence  in  preuchinc]  the  gospil,  7  ii-'id  hotv  the 
 troubhs  and  persecutions  which  lie  daibj  endured  for 
 the  same  did  redound  to  t/ie  praise  of  Gud's  power, 
 12  to  the  benefit  of  the  churchy  IG  aytd  to  the  apostle^s 
 own  eternal  glory. 
 
 'yHEREFORE  seeing  we  have  '^  this  niinis- 
 ■^  try,  *■  as  we  have  received  mercy,  we  faint 
 not ; 
 
 2  But  have  renounced  the  hidden  things  of 
 t  dishonesty,  not  walking  in  craftiness,  '^  nor 
 handling  the  word  of  God  deceitfully  ;  but 
 ^  hy  manifestation  of  the  truth  "  commending 
 ourselves  to  every  man's  conscience  in  the 
 sight  of  God. 
 
 3  But  if  our  gospel  be  hid,  ^  it  is  hid  to  them 
 that  are  lost : 
 
 4  In  whom  ^  the  god  of  tliis  world  ^hath 
 blinded  the  minds  of  them  which  believe  nut, 
 lest  '  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  Christ, 
 ^  who  is  the  image  of  God,  should  shine  unto 
 them. 
 
 Mackn.  The  law,  which  he  had  just  represented  as  killing.— GiV/. 
 '  Which  was  in  itself  a  ministration  that  tended  to  death,  and  issued  in 
 endless  destruction  to  all  that  were  left  imdcr  it  without  lookuig  any 
 further.'  Wa.'i  glorious,  delivered  with  a  glory  {ev  5o|j/)  when  God 
 appeared  in  awful  solemnity  at  Mount  Sinai,  and  conversed  with  Moses 
 in  such  an  immediate  manner.— Guy se.  8.  The  7ninistrntions  of  the 
 spirit,  so  called  because  it  ministers  spiritual  things,  as  peace,  pardon, 
 &c.  Rather  glorious,  or  '  more  glorious  than  the  law.'— Ci/7/.  9.  The 
 7ninislration  of  condemnation,  '  of  the  covenant,  which  brought  con- 
 demnation on  sinners.'  The  ministration  of  righteousness,  '  of  the  co- 
 venant, which  bringeth  righteousness  to  believers.'— iU'/fAvi.  Exceed, 
 as  it  puts  us  in  a  certain  way  to  obtain  justification  and  life  everlasting. 
 —Doddr.  10.  That  which  was  made  glorious,  '  which  Wcis  glorified'  by 
 the  shining  of  Moses'  face.  Had  no  glory  in  this  respect,  was  not 
 much  glorified  in  that  respect  when  compared  with  the  more  excellent 
 glory  of  the  covenant  of  the  Spirit.— .Vac Av;.  1 1 .  Remaineth,  immu- 
 table,  through  the  remotest  ages.— Doddr.  12.  Such  hope,  loiavjriv 
 eXniOii,  '  such  a  persuasion  or  assurance'  of  the  superiority  of  the  gos- 
 pel.—.U/zcA-n.  IVe  use  great  plainness, '  freedom  and  boldness  of  speech 
 in  preachingand  publishuigthe  gospel.' — Bur.  13.  Whichput  a  vail, 
 ^■c,  an  emblem  of  the  gospel  being  veiled  under  the  law,  and  of  the 
 darkness  and  obscurity  of  the  law  in  the  business  of  life  and  salvation  ; 
 and  also  of  the  future  blindness  of  the  Jews,  when  the  glory  of  the  gos- 
 pel should  break  forth  in  the  times  of  Christ  and  his  apostles.  M.  The 
 same  vail,  nijt  the  self-same  veil  that  was  on  Moses'  face,  but  the  veil 
 of  bluidness,  darkness,  and  ignorance  upon  the  hearts  of  the  Jews.  In 
 the  reading  of  the  Old  Testament,  the  true,  spiritual,  meaning  of  which 
 they  understood  not,  of  which  darkness  the  veil  on  the  face  of  Moses 
 was  a  type  and  emblem.— G(7/.  l6.  It,  the  Jewish  nation.— TT'/»7iv. 
 i;.  Thai  Sjiirit,  '  the  Hpint.'— Mackn.  '  He  is  that  Spirit  of  the  law  ot 
 whom  I  spake  before,'  to  whom  the  letter  of  it  was  intended  to  lead 
 the  Jews.— Doddr.  The  Lord  Christ  is  that  Spirit,  (ver.  6.}  *  He  is 
 the  blessed  Author  and  Institutor  of  that  spiritual  economy  we  are  now 
 under.'— I>r.  J.  Edwards.  '  Christ  is  that  quickening  and  life-giving 
 Spirit.'— .Bkt.  Where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is,  the  holy  Spirit  of  Christ, 
 conveyed  to  the  soul  by  means  of  the  gospel.— Gw^sf.  Liberty,  of 
 speech,  (ver.  12  ;)  or  freedom  from  Jewish  ceremonies. — Pyle.  A  liberty 
 from  the  bondage  and  servitude  of  the  law ;  from  its  rigorous  exaction, 
 curse,  and  condemnation,  and  from  the  veil  of  former  blindness  and 
 ignorance.— GiV/.  18.  0/*(?7( /ace, 'unveiled  face.'— Jl/acfr/i.  Clearly, 
 distinctly,  and  plainly,  not  in  types  and  shadows. — S.  Clarke.  Behold, 
 ing  as  in  a  glass— as  the  ancient  mirrors  were  made  of  metal  highly 
 polished,  it  must  necessarily  happen  that  the  person  who  looked  on  his 
 image  in  thera  would  have  his  face  strongly  illuminated  by  the  reflected 
 
 rays.-Parkk.  '  Attentively  beholding,  as  by  a  glass  or  mirror,  the 
 glory  of  the  Lord  reflected  from  his  word.'— I>orf(/r.  '  Reflecting  as 
 miiTors.*  KaTOTTTpifoMevoi,  '  receiving  and  reflecting  in  the  manner  of 
 a  mirror  the  glory  of  the  Lord.'  The  apostle  alludes  to  the  light  which 
 issued  from  Moses'  face  when  it  was  not  veiled. — Mackn.  The  glory 
 of  the  Lord,  of  Christ  as  Mediator,  being  full  of  grace  and  ti-uth. — Gill. 
 Saine  image,  holiness  here,  glory  hereafter. — 5.  Clarke.  From  glory  to 
 glory,  an  Hebraism,  denoting  a  contmued  succession  and  increase  of 
 glory.  (Ps.  Ixxxiv.  7.) — Mackn.  Here  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  con- 
 trasts that  can  be  imagined:  Moses  saw  the  shechinah.  and  it  rendered 
 his  face  resplendent,  so  that  he  covered  it  with  a  veil,  the  Jews  not 
 being  able  to  bear  the  reflected  light.  We  behold  Christ  as  in  the  glass 
 of  the  word,  and  (as  the  refiection  of  a  very  luminous  object  from  a 
 mirror  gilds  the  face  on  which  the  reverberated  rays  fall)  our  faces 
 shine  too  ;  and  we  vail  them  not,  but  diffuse  the  lustre,  which,  as  we 
 discover  more  and  more  of  his  glories  in  the  gospel,  is  continually  in- 
 creasing.—Puffrf/-.  As  piu-e  silver  exposed  to  the  rays  of  the  sun,  will 
 itself  send  forth  rays,  not  from  its  own  nature  alone,  but  also  from  the 
 brightness  of  the  sun,  so  also  the  soul,  purified  and  clothed  with  a 
 lustre  above  that  of  silver,  receives  a  ray  from  the  glory  of  the  Spirit, 
 and  sends  it  forth. — Chrysostom.  As  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  it  is  he 
 that  takes  off  the  veil  from  the  heart — that  regenerates,  &c. 
 
 Chap.  IV. — 1.  Mercy,  or  '  special  favours  from  God  in  committing  to 
 us  this  ministry.' — Bur.  Faint  not.  under  suffermgs. — Bens.  2.  Hare 
 renounced,  aiTentafittia,  *  set  at  defiance  ;'  for  the  word  does  not  imply 
 they  ever  had  anything  to  do  with  these  things.— i>r«/(/c.  The  hidden 
 things  of  dishonesty,  KprTTTa  rtjc  aKTxwi'nf,  are  those  dishonourable  sen- 
 sual practices  in  which  impostors  indulge  themselves  privately,  and 
 which  they  carefully  hide,  because  if  they  were  discovered  it  would 
 destroy  their  credit  and  expose  them  to  shame.— Mackn.  3.  Our 
 gospel,  so  called  because  the  apostles  were  entrusted  vrith  it,  and 
 preached  it,  and  in  opposition  to  that  preached  by  the  false  apostles. — 
 Gill.  Be  hid,  KSKaXvufMivov,  '  veiled,'  as  well  as  the  law  of  Moses. — 
 Bens.,  as  Doddr.  It  was  not  veiled  by  any  veil  lying  on  the  gospel 
 itself,  but  by  a  veil  lying  on  the  hearts  of  the  heathen  sophists  and 
 Jewish  scribes,  who  would  destroy  themselves  by  heai"kening  to  their 
 own  prejudices  and  Insts.^Mackn.  To  them  that  are  lost,  tv  toip 
 a.Tro\\vfi.evaiK,  '  perishing,'  namely,  in  a  state  of  ignorance  and  mibelief, 
 of  guilt,  depravity,  weakness,  and  wretchedness. — Bens.,  as  Doddr. 
 To  them  (only)  that  are  reprobate. — Bloomf.  '  Among  the  things  that 
 have  perished,  %vith  which  thmgs  the  God,'  &c. — So  it  has  been  sug- 
 gested by  several  to  the  Editor.  4.  God  of  this  world,  the  devil, 
 whom  idolaters,  called  in  scripture  'the  world,' worshipped  and  obeyed 
 as  if  he  were  a  god. — See  Muckn.  and  Rosen/n.    Hath  l}linded,  the  in- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  I.  Lft  us  '  frequenth/  reflect 
 on  the  excellence  of  the  Christian  dispensation,  as  a  dispensation 
 of  spirit  and  of  life  ;  whereas  the  law  was  the  ministration  of 
 dpath  ;  and  while,  from  the  glory  attending  the  law,  we  infer 
 with  llie  apostle  the  supereminent  glory  of  the  i^ospel,  let  us 
 learn  also  the  superior  obligation  it  brings  us  under  to  re- 
 gard and  obey  it,  and  the  proportionably  greater  danger  of 
 despising  it.* 
 
 II.  Let  lis  earnestly  plead  with  God  in  behalf  of  his  ancient 
 1231 
 
 people,  the  Jtws^  that  whereas  there  is  now  a  veil  upon  their 
 face  '  even  unto  this  day,  when  the  sacred  records  are  read 
 among  them,  tbey  may  turn  unto  the  Lord  and  find  the  veil 
 taken  away  ;  that  so,  by  the  conversion  of  Israel  as  a  nation, 
 there  may  be  a  glorious  accession  of  evidence  to  Christianity, 
 and  that  the  Jews  themselves  may  be  happy  in  the  blessings 
 of  Him  whom  their  fathers  crucified,  and  whom  they  continue 
 contemplunusly  to  reject.  ' 
 
PauVs  support 
 
 11-  CORINTHIANS,  IV, 
 
 in  trouble  and  persecution. 
 
 5  ^  For  we  preach  not  ourselves,  but  Christ 
 Jesus  the  Lord  ;  and  '"ourselves  your  servants 
 for  Jesus'  sake. 
 
 6  For  God,  "  who  commanded  the  light  to 
 shine  out  of  darkness,  fhath  "shhied  in  our 
 hearts,  to  give  ''the  light  of  the  knowledge 
 of  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 7  But  we  have  this  treasure  in  '^earthen 
 vessels,  ''that  the  excellency  of  the  power 
 may  be  of  God,  and  not  of  us. 
 
 8  We  are  *  troubled  on  every  side,  yet  not 
 distressed  ;  ive  are  perplexed,  but  ||  not  in 
 despair ; 
 
 9  Persecuted,  but  not  forsaken  ;  'cast  down, 
 but  not  destroyed  ; 
 
 10  "  Always  bearing  about  in  the  body  the 
 dying  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  '  that  the  life  also  of 
 Jesus  might  be  made  manifest  in  our  body. 
 
 11  For  we  which  live  ''are  alway  delivered 
 unto  death  for  Jesus'  sake,  that  the  life  also  of 
 Jesus  might  be  made  manifest  in  our  mortal 
 flesh. 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 
 /  I  Cor.  I    IS, 
 
 23,  fc  10.  33 
 m  I  Cor.9  I!', 
 
 ch.  I.  2*. 
 '•  Ceu  I  3 
 t  Gr    it  he 
 
 iphfi  halh. 
 o'.'Pel    1  19 
 ,.  ver.  4 
 
 1   Pet.  2.  9 
 
 r  1  Cor.  S.  I 
 cb.  12.  9. 
 
 II  Or,  not 
 uU'igelh»r 
 wilhoul  help. 
 
 I  Ps.  37    24 
 li  I  Cor.  15. 
 
 .SI. 
 
 cli    I.  5,  f). 
 
 Gul   6    r. 
 
 Pl.il    K.  Ill 
 
 Kom    8.  Sli 
 I  Cor. 1531, 
 
 2  Pet    1.1. 
 b  Pb.  116.10. 
 
 f  Rom  8  11. 
 1  Coi.  6.U. 
 
 d  I  Cor.3  21 
 
 ch.  I.e. Col 
 
 1.24.2  Tim. 
 
 2.  10. 
 «ch.  I.  II. 
 
 &8J9.  &  9. 
 
 II,  IS. 
 /  Rom.  7  2?. 
 
 Rph. 3    16 
 
 Col    3.  10 
 
 I  Ppt    3    A. 
 e  Mat.  5  12. 
 
 Hnin.  8.  \S. 
 
 I    Pet.   I .  fl. 
 
 &  !>.  10 
 A  Rom. 3,21. 
 
 ch.  5.  7. 
 
 Heb.  II.  1. 
 
 1*2  So  then  ^  death  worketh  in  us,  but  life  ii. 
 you. 
 
 13  We  having'' the  same  spirit  of  faith,  accord- 
 ing as  it  is  written,  ^  I  believed,  and  therefore 
 have  I  spoken  ;  we  also  believe,  and  therefore 
 speak  ; 
 
 14  Knowing  that  ^  he  which  raised  up  the 
 Lord  Jesns  shall  raise  up  us  also  by  Jesus, 
 and  shall  present  21s  with  you. 
 
 15  For  ''all  things  are  for  your  sakes,  that 
 "  the  abundant  grace  might  through  the  thanks- 
 giving of  many  redound  to  the  glory  of  God. 
 
 10  For  which  cause  we  faint  not;  "but  though 
 our  outward  man  perish,  yet  ''the  inward  7nan 
 is  renewed  day  by  day. 
 
 17  For  ^our  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for 
 a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding 
 and  eternal  weight  of  glory  ; 
 
 18  •*  While  we  look  not  at  the  things  which 
 are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen  : 
 for  the  tilings  which  are  seen  are  temporal  ; 
 but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal. 
 
 fluence  he  has  over  unbelievers  is  expressed  by  •  blinding.'— Gi«.  He 
 blinds  men  by  the  efficacy  of  divers  lusts.— Bur.  The  ima^e  of  God, 
 *  God  manifest  in  the  flesh,' and  so  exacUy  exhibited  the  Father  to 
 mankind.— Be«.s.  5.  We  preach  not  ourselves,  aiming  at  our  own 
 glory  and  profit.— Tf 7/ '7/<t/.  so  Cain.,  and  ^.s^  The  principal  \-iew  in 
 which  the  expre^^i.lu  i>  to  be  understood  is  probablv  this  :— The  word 
 Knpvaaofxtv,  *  wc  jircach,'  may  si^iify.  to  act,  not  merely  as  heralds, 
 but  ambassadors,  see  Kppi-f  in  1  Tim.  ii.  7 ;  2  Tim.  i.  11  ;  2  Pet.  ii.  5.) 
 The  sense  seems  to  be,  *  we  do  not  act  in  this  business  as  principals, 
 nor  despatch,  as  if  it  were  a  business  of  our  own  ;  we  merely  act  as 
 ambassadors  and  procurators  on  the  part  of  another,— namely,  Jesus 
 Christ.*  The  common  interpretation  may  be  included.— B/«;/m</..  so 
 Grot.  The  Lord,  '  the  Christ ;'  the  same  as  *  tlie  Messiah/  '  the 
 Anointed  One  ;'  him  of  whom  the  i^rophets  wrote,  and  who  is  the  ex- 
 pectation, as  he  is  the  glor>-  of  Israel.- .i.  Clarke.  Your  serraiits  for 
 Jesus'  sake,  '  for  the  purpose  of  teachhig  you  the  gospel  of  Jesus/— 
 Mackn.  To  stoop  to  the  humblest  offices  of  love,  out  of  love  to  Christ. 
 —Doddr.  6.  For  God,  who  cotmimnded  the  light,  ffc„  a  beautiful  and 
 striking  allusion  to  the  creation  of  hght,  (Gen.  i.  2.)— Hew.  To  give 
 the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  th^  slory  of  God,  7vwjewt  rnc  5of»if  -rov 
 e£oi'.  '  to  impart  the  lustre  of  the  knowledge  of  God's  glory.'— 2>orfrfr. 
 In  the  face,  tv  TrpoffwTrw,  *  which  reflects  his  glory  in  another  manner 
 than  the  face  of  Moses  did ;'  or  it  may  be  properly  rendered,  *  in  tlie 
 person  of  Jesus  Christ ;'  for,  undoubtedly,  the  glory  here  spoken  of 
 was  reflected  from  liis  whole  per&on,  through  the  union  of  Deity  with 
 humanity.— i?tf«5.  *  Face*  is  to  be  preferred,  as  better  suiting  the  con- 
 text, (chap.  iii.  13,  18.)— ZJorfrfr.  7.  We  have  this  treasure  in  earthen 
 vessels,  ffc,  some  suppose  this  refers  to  Gideon's  lamps  and  pitchers  ; 
 hut  others,  with  more  probability,  to  the  ancient  method  of  hiding 
 treasures  of  money  in  earthen  vessels  or  pots.— Mackn.  Cups  of  the 
 most  beautiful  appearance,  and  ornamented  in  the  most  costly  manner, 
 are  formed  out  of  the  nautilus.  Such  drinking  vessels  are  frequent  in 
 China  and  elsewhere.  Perhaps  to  such  beautiful  vessels  as  these, 
 containing  the  most  costly  liquor,  the  apnstle  here  alludes.  In  earthen 
 ves.sels,  cv  otnpaKn-oit  aneutai,  '  in  ve.ssels  made  of  shell.'  The  shell, 
 or  the  body,  is  beautiful,  though  frail,  Ac.  —  S.  Clarke.  The  ori- 
 ginal  signifies  more  hterally.  '  vessels  made  of  shells,'  whioh  are 
 very  brittle:  and  as  a  shell  is  tbe  outward  part  of  a  fish,  it  is  very 
 fit  to  resemble  our  bodies,  m  which  our  souls  dwell.  —  So  Ham. 
 The  original  properly  signifies  '  testaceous,'  as  being  from  a  shell; 
 but  it  also,  from  the  similsirity,  was  employed  to  denote  a  piece  of 
 baked  earth.  Now  as  that  is  a  proverbiallv  brittle  substance,  so  it 
 came  to  signify  whatever  is  fragile,  mortal,  subject  to  evils  and  cala- 
 mities. —  Bloomf.  '  Earthen  vessels'  describe  bodies  subject  to  be 
 broken  by  continual  pressure.— U'AiYAy  ;  or  rather,  they  may  signify 
 the  outward  mean  condition  of  the  apostles  and  preachers  of  the  word. 
 — Gill.  That  the  ejcellenci/,  ^-c,  '  that  all  our  success  may  be  imputed 
 to  Christ.'— //am.  8.    Troubled,  'greatly  afflicted.*  — Dorfrfr.     On 
 
 evert/  side,  ev  iTa\-Ti,  '  in  every  place,'  or  '  always.'— GfV^  '  Troubled 
 on  every  side,*  ev  wavTi  8\i/3otievoi,  which,  in  allusion  to  the  Grecian 
 games,  seems  to  be  '  griped*  or  '  pressed  down  by  an  adversary.'— 
 A.  Clarke.  Not  distre.-ised,  aTevoxaponfi^voi,  '  not  utterly  overpressed  ; * 
 the  word  properiy  signifies  '  crushed  in  a  strait  passage.'— Dodrfj-.  '  We 
 are  not  brought  to  such  extremities  that  we  can  fight  no  longer.'— 
 A.  Clarke.  '  We  are  pressed  on  every  side,  but  not  straitened.'  The 
 allusion  is  military,  and  is  too  forcible  for  the  games  ;  it  marks  enmity 
 and  war. — C.  Taylor.     Perplexed,  airopov/ievot,  '  puzzled  by  an  antago- 
 
 nist's skill,  so  as  not  to  know  what  to  do.*  Not  in  despair,  of  being  at 
 last  conquerors.  g.  Persecuted,  ^^u>l^o^e^'Ol, '  pursued'  as  in  the  race, 
 by  others  pressing  after,  endeavouring  to  outstrip  him. — A.  Clarke. 
 Not  forsaken,  of  God.— Doddr.  Cast  down,  KaTa/iaWofifvoi,  'to  cast 
 down.'  is  '  to  overcome,'  '  to  throw.' — A.  Clarke.  Not  destroyed,  by 
 our  enemies. — Doddr.  '  Not  destroyed,'  signifies  '  that  though  thrown 
 down,  they  rose  again,  and  surmounted  all  difficulties.*— .4.  Clarke.  It 
 appears  most  probable  that  these  words  may  rather  be  regarded  as  mi- 
 litary allusions,  taken  from  an  army  so  harassed  as  scarcely  to  know 
 how  to  turn  itself. — Bloomf  10.  Bearing  about  in  the  body,  probably 
 alludes  to  the  marks,  wounds,  and  bruises  got  in  the  games,  and  which 
 lasted  through  life. — A.  Clarke.  The  dying  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  tliat  is,  a 
 representation  of  his  sufferings.— UV//s.  That  the  lifp  also  of  Jesus,  it 
 being  a  proof  of  his  resurrection,  and  that  he  still  lives,  that  we  can  do 
 such  things  in  his  name,  ike— Whitby.  11.  Which  live,  '  who  still 
 survive.'  Alway  delivered  unto  death,  every  day  led  out  to  a  new  mar- 
 t>Tdom  in  his  a^me.— Doddr.  That  the  life,  fyc..  '  that  his  holy  and 
 heavenly  life  might  be  conspicuously  exemplified  in  us.'  12.  Death 
 worketh  in  v,s,  continually  exposed  to  dangers.  Life  in  you,  dwelling 
 in  safety,  and  enjoying  all  the  comforts  of  life. — Guysc  •  Death  worketh' 
 continually  to  glorify  his  name  in  us,  '  life  in  you*  while  you  are  called 
 to  live  for  his  honour. — Doddr.  13.  We  having  the  sajne  spirit  of 
 faith,  *  being  both  influenced  by  that  faith  wrought  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
 in  us,  as  well  as  hi  you,  as  it  was  also  by  the  same  spirit  in  the  Old 
 Testament  saints,  as  Da\id  wrote,  when  personating  the  troubles  and 
 dangers  of  Christ,  (Ps.  cxvi.  10,)  I  bcMeved  what  God  revealed  and  pro- 
 mised, and  found  that  it  was  not  in  vain  ;  and,  therefore,  have  1  de- 
 clared it,  to  the  glory  of  his  mercy,  power,  and  faithfulness,  and  for  the 
 encouragement  of  others.  In  the  same  way  we  rest  on  the  promises 
 confirmed  in  Christ,'  Ac. — Guyse.  U.  Present  as,  i^-c,  ministers  and 
 members  of  Christ,  faultless, '&c.,  fJude,  24.)— G'kv^p-  15.  For  your 
 sakes,  i.  e.,  '  for  your  good  we  preach  and  snft'er  all  this.' — Ham.  That 
 the  abundant  grace,  '  that  the  riches  of  Divine  grace,  so  abounding  in 
 Christ,  might  tuni  to  an  overflowing  revenue  of  glory  to  the  God  and 
 Father  of  mercies.by  means  of  grateful  acknowledgments.'  &c.—Gui,sc. 
 16.  Outward  man,  the  body.  Inward  man,  the  mind  or  spirit. —  Whitby , 
 !7-  For  our  light  affliction,  §c. — every  paraphrase  or  translaticm  of  this 
 passage  sinks  infinitely  below  the  astonishing  original  and  the  aggran- 
 dizing thoughts  suggested  by  it.  What  a  fulness  of  sentiment,  language, 
 and  transport  is  here  !  It  signifies  that  all  hyperboles  fall  short  of  de- 
 scribing that  weighty  eternal  glory,  so  solid  and  lasting  that  you  may 
 pass  from  one  hyperbole  to  another,  and  yet,  when  you  have  gained 
 the  last,  are  infinitely  below  it. — Blackwatl.  The  whole  verse  is  a  mas- 
 ter-piece of  the  beautiful  antithesis,  the  lively  description,  and  the  ner- 
 vous diction.  It  may  be  rendered,  '  Our  very  light  affliction,  which  is 
 but  just  for  the  present  moment,  worketh  out  a  far  more  exceeding,  an 
 incomparably  great  and  eternal  weight  of  ^Xory. ^—Htn-vey.  '  A  weight 
 of  glory,*  in  opposition  to  '  our  light  affliction,' — '  an  eternal  weight  of 
 glory,'  in  opposition  to  '  oiu-  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment :' 
 and  '  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory,' as  beyond  com- 
 parison greater  than  all  the  dazzling  glories  of  riches,  fame,  power, 
 pleasure,  or  anything  which  can  he  procured  in  the  present  life. — 
 Mackn.  18.  We  look  nr,t,  ^-c,  (TKoTTtwvuov,  '  are  not  aiming.' — Doddr. 
 The  original  properly  signifies  '  to  look  at  a  mark'  which  we  intend  to 
 hit ;  or  at  an  object  which  we  intend  to  lay  hold  on,  consequenUy,  *  to 
 endeavour  to  obtain.'— .Vac/cn. 
 
 KEFLECTinxs  OK  Chap,  IV-  —  I.  Let  every  reader  seriously  ness  for  ever ;   lie  is  the  captive  of  Satan,  blinded  by  Iiim  fts 
 
 examine  himself  as  to  the  knowledge  he  has  of  this  gospel,  and  tlie  tbe  god  of  this  world,  and  in  tbe  probable  way  to  be  led  on  lo 
 
 rfpi/ree  in  which  he  has  felt  a  sense  of  its  glory  and'excellence  upon  unseen,  but  irretrievable,  destruction. 
 
 hts  heart ;  solemnly  considering,  that  if  the  lustre  and  efficacy  II.  Let  us  adore  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God  in  sending  us 
 
 ot  the  gospel  be  hidden  from  him,  it  is  a  sad  sign  that  he  him-  the  gospel  treasure  in  earthen  vessels,  in  employing  our  felfow- 
 
 self  IS  a  lost  creature,  and  is  hke  to  be  lost  to  God  and  happi-  mortals  rather  than  anRels,  under  the  character  of  his  messeii- 
 1232 
 
The  ground  of  Paul  s  hope 
 
 11.  CORINTHIANS,  V. 
 
 ufimnwrlul  ylury. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  7'iat  in  his  assuvd  hnpp  of  immortal  "lory^  9  and  in 
 expectance  ofit,aTnJ  of  the  peiieraljufi'/meiit,  /c  labour- 
 etli  to  ke-'p  a  f/onrf  cmiscictice,  12  not  that  he  may  herein 
 boast  of  himself,  14  but  as  one  that,  hai'inf]  received 
 life  from  Christ,  eudravovreth  to  live  as  a  jhw  crea- 
 ture to  Christ  onhf,  IS  and  by  his  jninistry  of  recon- 
 ciliation to  reconcile  others  aho  in  Christ  to  God. 
 
 "POR  we  know  that  if  *  our  earthly  house  of 
 -*-  this  tahernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have  a 
 building  of  God,  an  hon^^e  not  made  with 
 hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 
 
 2  For  in  this  ^  we  ^roan,  earnestly  desiring  to 
 he  clothed  upon  with  our  house  which  is  from 
 Iipaven  : 
 
 ti  If  so  be  that  "^being  clothed  we  shall  not 
 be  found  naked. 
 
 4  For  we  that  are  in  this  tabernacle  do  groan, 
 being  burdened  :  not  for  that  we  would  be  un- 
 clothed, but  "^clothed  upon,  that  mortality 
 might  be  swallowed  up  of  life. 
 
 5  Now  ^  he  that  liath  wrought  us  for  the  self- 
 same thing  is  God,  who  also  ^hath  given  unto 
 us  the  earnest  of  the  Spirit. 
 
 6  Therefore  we  are  always  confident,  know- 
 ing that,  whilst  we  are  at  home  in  the  body, 
 
 .  .I.'l.  *.  19. 
 oil.  1    7. 
 ■-'  Pet.  1.13, 
 
 c  ItPv   'i.  18 
 
 d  I  Cnr.  15 
 5."*,  W. 
 
 <■  Ts.  29.  2.1. 
 
 F{«h-  2    10. 
 /Rom.  (i.23 
 
 ch.  I.  22. 
 
 Eph.  1.  14, 
 
 Set.  30. 
 
 .  Mnt.Sri.Sl, 
 3-i.Kom.H. 
 
 k  Rom,  2.  6. 
 Gil!.  6.  7. 
 Ej'h.e.  8. 
 Col   3.  24, 
 ■:5    Rev.  22 
 
 I  Job  -SI    23. 
 
 Hl-'..  10.31. 
 
 Jiiile  23 
 >n  cli.  4.  2. 
 
 f.  c1i.3.  1. 
 
 0  ch     I.  I*. 
 
 T  Gr.  . 
 
 Me. 
 
 f>  cli. 11   l.lfi, 
 17.  &  12.  6. 
 
 we  are  absent  from  the  Lord  : 
 
 7  (For  ^  we  walk  by  faith,  not  by  sight:) 
 
 8  We  are  confident,  I soj/yaud  ^  wilHng  rather 
 to  be  absent  from  the  body,  and  to  be  present 
 with  the  Lord. 
 
 9  Wherefore  we  ||  labour,  that,  wliether  pre- 
 sent or  absent,  we  may  be  accepted  of  him. 
 
 10  '  For  we  must  all  appear  before  the  judg- 
 ment seat  of  Christ;  ^  that  every  one  may  re- 
 ceive the  tWiu'^^  done  in  /i?i' body,  according  to 
 that  he  hath  done,  whether  it  he  good  or  bad. 
 
 1 1  Knowing  therefore  '  the  terror  of  the  Lord, 
 we  persuade  men  ;  but  ^  we  are  made  manifest 
 unto  God  ;  and  I  trust  also  are  made  manifest 
 in  your  consciences. 
 
 12  For  "  we  commend  not  ourselves  again 
 unto  you,  but  give  you  occasion  °  to  glory  on 
 our  behalf,  that  ye  may  have  somewhat  to 
 answer  them  which  glory  j  in  appearance,  and 
 not  in  heart. 
 
 13  For  ^whether  we  be  beside  ourselves,  it  ix 
 to  God  :  or  whether  we  be  sober,  it  is  for  your 
 cause. 
 
 14  For  the  love  of  Christ  constrainetb  us; 
 liecanse  we  thus  judge,  that  *' if  one  died  for 
 all,  then  were  all  dead  : 
 
 Chap.  V.—  I.  If,  eav,  '  after  that.*  or  '  when,'  (see  cav,  John,  xii. 
 32.1 — Bloomf.,  so  Est.,  Srhntt.,  &c.  Our  earthly  house,  ^c,  'our  bodj', 
 iu  which  the  sou!  dwells  as  m  a  house.' — Wells.     Tabernacle,  aKr]vov^t 
 
 *  tent,*  (Job,  iv.  19;  2  Pet.  i.  \2.)—Mnr.  o.kiq  toc  o-cm-oiT,  'house 
 which  is  a  tent,*  [not  in  reg:.,  but  in  app.]— Ea7.,  Markn.  The  force  of 
 the  contrast  is  between  a  temporary  residence  and  a  mati's  home.— So 
 Hew.  Were  dissnli-ed,  Kara\i-ttT] — the  Greek  word  gives  the  idea  of  a 
 tent  which  one  pulls  down  and  folds  up,  as  soldiers  in  their  encamp- 
 ments, and  also  travellers  in  the  ea-=.t,  where  tlie  scarcity  of  inns  makes 
 it  necessary  that  travellers  should  carr>-  tents  with  them  to  lodge  in  — 
 Mar.  A  bnildiu^  of  God,  i.e.,  'a  celestial  body.'  wherein  our  soul  shall 
 dwell  as  in  a  house,  which  shall  remain  eternal.— U'cZ/.s-.  Alluding  to 
 the  body  after  the  resurrection. — Ti'ln'flu/.  Rather  referring  to  the 
 whole  provision  of  felicity  in  the  house  of  many  mansion?.— So  Doddr. 
 Kiif  made  with  ha/td.s—hy  this  expression  the  Hebrews  denoted  the  ex- 
 cellence of  a  thing.— .V'/rAv7.  2.  In  this,  '  in  this  body.' — Boothr. 
 Groan,  under  the  frailt>'  ^-c.  of  the  body. — Bloomf.  To  be  clothed  upon, 
 cTTtvavrrnaHai,  '  to  go  permanently  into  our  habitation.'  It  signifies  [in 
 the  middle  voice]  '  to  go  into  a  house  or  place,'  (2  Tim.  iii.  6.) — Mackn. 
 '  To  be  clothed  with  a  house,'  is  a  ver>'  strong  figure,  which  yet  the 
 apostle  uses  here  and  in  ver.  4,  having  in  his  thoughts  tlie  glory  which 
 each  should  wear,  instead  of  being  clothed,  as  now,  with  that  mortal 
 flesh  which  he  calls  a  tabernacle,  as  it  is  so  mean,  inconvenient,  and 
 precarious  an  abode. — Doddr.  ■  To  be  clothed  with  a  house,'  seems  a 
 harsh  figure  to  us.  but  is  quite  m  the  Jewish  taste.  The  word  '  house' 
 is  used  for  any  part  of  diess ;  a  veil  is  '  the  house  of  the  face ;'  a  glove, 
 
 *  the  house  of  the  fingers.' — See  Towns.  With  our  house  which  is  from 
 heaven,  '  to  enter  the  heavenly  mansion  which  God  has  provided  for 
 us.' — Bens,  It  is  not  the  glorified  body  which  is  here  intended,  for 
 that  will  be  raised  out  of  the  earth,  but  the  heavenly  glon-,  where  de- 
 parted believers  are  immediately  arrayed  ^vith  white  and  shining  robes 
 of  punt}',  &c. — Gilt.  3.  If  so  be,  ^c,  ("since,  ha\ing  put  on  this,  we 
 shall  not  be  found  naked.  — Boofhr.  '  And  surely,  if  we  go  in,  we 
 shall  not  be  found  destitute.' — Mackn.  Naked,  as  far  as  regards  a 
 heavenly  body.— S/oom/.,  so  Gill.  4.  Bein^  burdened,  therewith.— 
 Bens.  With  the  present  weight  of  many  infirmities  and  many  cala- 
 mities.—Dorfrfr.  ;  and  with  the  body  of  sin  an'!  death  they  cany- about 
 with  them— with  Satan's  temptations,  the  afflictions  of  life.  Sec— Gill. 
 Not  for  that  ut  ivould  be  unclothed,  '  not  desiring  to  put  off  these 
 bodies,  but  desiring  another  sort  of  body  and  another  sort  of  life.' — 
 Hatn.  '  Not  because  we  desire  to  go  out  of  this  state,  as  unwilling  to 
 hear  our  affiictions  any  longer,  '  but  to  go  permanently  into'  our  hea- 
 venly habitation,  '  that'  sin,  and  misery",  and  weakness,  and  '  what- 
 ever' in  this  world  '  accompanies  mortality,  may  be  swallowed  up  in' 
 an  eternal  '  life'  of  happiness.— .Vorfrn.  5-  Wrought  us  for  the  self- 
 same thing,  '  to  entertain  this  very  desire.*— il/ffcA:n..  so  Doddr.  '  This 
 longing  for  immortality.'- Ben.?.  '  Hath  appointed  and  prepared  us 
 for  this  glorious  change,  and  hath  filled  our  souls  with  a  longing  for 
 this  immortal  state.'— B«r..  so  Guyse.  *  Who  hath  prepared  us  for 
 this  by  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.'— Gro/.  '  Who  hath  created  us  to 
 \!tns,.'— Cameron.  •  Created  ns  originally  to  this  ^iew.* — Chrt/s.,  Theo- 
 phyl.,  Theodoret,  &c.     *  Destiiied  us  to  or  for.' —Bloomf,  see  Schletis., 
 
 Lex.  '  Selfsame  thing,'  toito,  '  change  from  corruption  to  incorrup- 
 tion,'  &c. — Bloomf.  Is  God,  '  none  but  God  could  have  raised  us  to 
 such  a  temper.* — Howe.  Eartiest  of  the  Spirit,  by  his  Spirit  those  holy 
 aifections,  fer\'ent  desires,  and  faithful  endeavours,  which  are  '  the 
 earnest  of  heaven'  before  we  enjoy  it. — Bur.  See  chap.  i.  22,  note. 
 6.  Therefore,  ^c,  *  we  are  courageous  in  the  midst  of  siurounding 
 danger,  and  are  ready  to  brave  death,  knowing  tliis  is  hut  a  state  of 
 exile.'  At  home,  '  sojourning  ;'  so  ^vbtmown^  here  properly  signifies. 
 — Doddr.  It  is  wrong  to  render  this  *  at  home  in  the  body,*  since  it  is 
 the  apostle's  design  to  intimate  that  it  is  not  our  home. — S.  Clarke,  so 
 Scott.  7-  We  walk  by  faith — brutes  live  by  sense,  men  by  reason. 
 Christians  by  faith. — Ber.  8.  Confident,  of  good  courage.— B/oo»i/. 
 Present,  hence  saints,  when  departed,  go  into  the  highest  heaven, 
 where  they  dwell  with  Christ. — Boyre.       9.   We  labour,  (fnKoTifxovfitOa, 
 
 *  we  make  it  the  height  of  our  ambition.'  Present,  in  the  body,  or 
 absenf,  froni  it.— Doddr.  10.  Receive  the  things,  i.  e.,  the  reward  of 
 the  tilings. —  ^^'ells.  The  words  ra.  dm  tov  o-w/iaTor  signily  '  things  by* 
 or  '  through  the  body  :'  '  done,'  and '  his.'  are  not  in  the  Greek,  and  so  it 
 may  relate  to  the  punishment  of  the  body  or  of  tlie  soul  tlirough  the 
 body. — Guy.te.  11.  The  terror  of  the  Lord,  the  terribleness  of  the 
 Lord's  displeasure.— ,1/QcA-n,  The  strict  judgment  which  must  then 
 pass  on  all  impenitent  shiners.  Persuade  men,  to  take  all  necessary 
 pains  to  escape  it.— Doddr.  Made  manifest  unto  God,  can  humbly 
 appeal  to  him  that  we  are  sincere ;  have  a  testimony  that  we  are  so  iu 
 many  of  your  consciences. — Guyse.         12.  For  we  commend  not,  ^c, 
 
 *  However,  in  thus  speaking,  I  do  not  a  second  time  recommend  my- 
 self to  you,  but  only  give  you  a  just  ground  of  boastuig  concerning 
 me,  as  an  apostle  really  commissioned  by  Christ,  that  ye  may  have  ait 
 answer  to  give  to  them  who  boast  in  a  false  teacher,'  &c. — M<±ckn. 
 13.  Beside  ourselves,  as  our  opposers  pretend. — Wells.  'Transported 
 beyond  ourselves.' — Doddr.  To  God,  '  for  God,'  fcrliis  glorj-. — Mackn. 
 Be  sober,  *  or  whether,  as  others  more  justly  think,  we  herein  act  the 
 part  of  rational  and  good  men,  who  speak  the  words  of  truth  and  sober- 
 ness.'— Guyse.  14.  Con.-'traineth  t^s,  *  bears  us  away,*  hke  a  stronj^ 
 and  resistless  torrent ;  this  is  the  beautiful  import  of  the  word  aviexei- 
 — Doddr.  With  a  sti'ong,  steady,  prevaihng  uifluence.  such  as  winds 
 and  tides  exert  when  they  waft  the  vessel  to  its  destined  harbour.  For 
 all,  all  mankind,  without  exceprion.  (1  Tim.  ii.  6;  Heb.  ii.  9.)—Benji. 
 Not  ever>'  indi\idual  of  mankind,  but  all  lus  people.— Gi//.  All  who 
 should  sincerely  believe  in  him  and  obey  him. — Doddr.  All  sorts  of 
 sinners,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles.  Tlie  term  '  all'  is  often  used,  not 
 universally,  for  every  indi\idual,  but  di.-tributively,  for  all  sorts,  or  for 
 some  of  eveiT  sort,  see  Rom.  xiv.  2  ;  Luke,  xi.  42  ;  2  Kings,  viii.  9.) 
 And  as  the  design  of  the  apostle,  in  wliat  he  here  says,  is  to  xindicate 
 his  zeal  for  the  Gentiles  against  the  cavils  of  his  chief  opposers  among 
 the  Jews,  it  seems  every  way  natural  to  understand  him  as  speakmg 
 of  '  all'  in  the  distributive,  rather  than  in  the  universal  sense.  And 
 in  other  places  the  application,  as  well  as  merit,  of  Christ's  death,  is 
 spoken  of  in  terms  as  universal  as  this,  but  cannot  be  positively  xm- 
 derstcod  in  an  absolutely  unlimited  sense,  as  in  Luke,  iii.  5  ;  John,  iii. 
 17,  and  vi.  33,  and  xii.  32  ;  Acts,  ii.  17.  Then  were  all  dead,  alike  by 
 nature  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  so  that  one  has  no  better  claim  to 
 
 gers  ;  and  such  better  know  our  condition — such  can  sym- 
 pathize with  us— such  can  most  intelligibly  communicate  to 
 us  '  all  the  words  of  this  life.' 
 
 III.  Let  us  live  under  the  consoling  and  animatinp  influence  of  the 
 truth  oftheaospel.  It  is  this  which  makes  the  believer  superior 
 to  all  earthly  sorrows  and  all  earthly  enjoyments.  By  faith  he 
 risps  to  heaven,  and  from  that  exalted  state  looks  down,  with 
 comparative  indifference,  upon  the  troubled  elements  which 
 1233 
 
 disturb  those  beneath  him.  He  looks  with  the  intent  eye  of 
 the  archer  at  the  glorious  object  be  has  in  view,  and,  aiming 
 at  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  his  high  calling,  he  feels  assured 
 that,  in  the  strength  of  Almighty  grace,  he  shall  finally  attain 
 the  summit  of  his  wishes  in  that  felicity  which  shall  make  hira. 
 forget  every  sorrow,  and  which  shall  infinitely  eclipse  every 
 glory  of  this  fast-fading  world. 
 
The  reconcilinlion  of  believers. 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  VI. 
 
 PauFs  faithful  ministri/. 
 
 15  And  that  he  died  for  all,  'that  they  which 
 live  should  not  henceforth  live  unto  them- 
 selves, but  unto  him  which  died  for  them,  and 
 rose  again. 
 
 16  ^Wherefore  henceforth  know  we  no  man 
 after  the  flesh  :  yea,  though  we  have  known 
 Clirist  after  the  flesh,  '  yet  now  henceforth 
 know  we  him  no  more. 
 
 17  Therefore  if  any  man  "he  in  Christ,  ||  he 
 is  'a  new  creature ;  ^old  things  are  passed 
 away  ;  beliold,  all  things  are  become  new. 
 
 18  And  all  things  are  of  God,  'who  hath 
 reconciled  us  to  himself  by  Jesus  Clirist,  and 
 hath  given  to  usthe  ministry  of  reconciliation  ; 
 
 19  To  wit,  that  "  God  was  in  Christ,  recon- 
 ciling the  world  unto  himself,  not  imputing 
 their  trespasses  unto  them  ;  and  hath  f  com- 
 mitted unto  us  the  word  of  reconciliation. 
 
 20  Now  then  we  are  ''  ambassadors  for  Christ, 
 as  '  though  God  did  beseech  you  by  us  :  we 
 pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled 
 
 Mai.  S.  7.    ch   3.  6.     Eph.  6.  21).    « 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 
 A.D.  00. 
 
 r  Rom. 6.11, 
 
 c!  Is.  53.6,5. 
 
 12   &  U.  7, 
 
 12.  Gol   3 
 
 8,  1  Cor.  6. 
 
 13.  IPet  2. 
 
 19.  Gal.  1. 
 
 22,  24. 
 
 20,  1  Thcs. 
 
 1  John  3..1 
 
 6-  10.  1  Pet- 
 
 e  Rom.  I  17. 
 
 4.  2 
 
 &  5    19   & 
 
 r  M.it.  12.50. 
 
 10  3. 
 
 John  15.14. 
 
 G.il   5.  0. 
 
 Pl.il.3  J.8 
 
 Col.  3.  11. 
 
 ( .lohn  0  63. 
 
 u  Knm.  8.  9. 
 
 &  n;  7 
 
 G.lI.  0.  IS. 
 
 11  Oi-,lot  him 
 
 bo 
 
 X  Gal.  5.  6. 
 
 *  6.  15. 
 
 ,  !..  «.  ;<, 
 
 a  1  Cor.  3  9 
 
 ;  Kom.5.10 
 
 Kph,  2.  16. 
 
 d  l9,  49.  8. 
 
 1  .lohn  2.2. 
 
 8.  ».  10. 
 
 o  Rom.  3  21, 
 
 t  Gr.  pu(  i» 
 
 eRom.in3 
 
 b  Job  3.1.  23. 
 
 1  Cor.  9.12 
 
 1.    «  ch.  6.  1. 
 
 to  God. 
 
 21   For  ""he  hath  made  him  to  be  sin  for  us, 
 who  knew  no  sin  ;  that  we  might  be  made 
 "  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him. 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  That  he  hath  approved  himsel f  a  faithful  minister  of 
 Christ,  both  ht/  h/s  exhorttitiutts,  3  and  bi/  hitegriiy 
 of  lifi'.,  4  attd  hi/  pafiiiit  endurim/  all  hinds  of  nffiic- 
 tion  and  disgraces  for  the  gospel.  10  Of  which  he 
 speakfth  the  more  boldly  amongst  them,  because  his 
 heart  is  open  to  them,  13  and  he  expecteth  the  like 
 affiction  from  thnn  again,  14  exhorting  to  Jlee  the 
 society  and  pollutions  of  idolaters,  «s  being  themselves 
 temples  of  the  living  God. 
 
 TTSTE  then,  os  °  workers  together  wfth  him, 
 ' '     ■*  beseech  j/oit  also  "^  that  ye  receive  not 
 the  grace  of  God  in  vain. 
 
 2  (For  he  saith,  *'  I  have  heard  thee  in  a  time 
 accepted,  and  in  the  day  of  salvation  liave  I 
 succoured  thee  :  behold,  now  is  the  accepted 
 time  ;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation.) 
 
 3  ^  Giving  no  oflfence  in  any  thing,  that  the 
 ministry  be  not  blamed  ; 
 
 gospel  blessings  than  others.  15.  Lire  unto  themselves,  pursue  their 
 own  carnal,  selfish,  secuhir,  interests;  indulge  their  own  lusts  and 
 passions,  honoiu',  ease,  and  pleasure. — Gttyse.  But  unto  him,  by  em- 
 ploying their  lives  in  promoting  his  gospel  and  kingdom. —  Wells. 
 ]6.  Know  ire  no  mnn  after  thefiesh,  on  account  of  his  nation,  an- 
 cestors, station,  office  in  the  state. — Markn.  '  We  fear  not  the  great ; 
 we  regard  not  the  rich  nor  wi^e ;  we  consider  all,  only  in  order  to  save 
 all.' — Bens.  *  We  regard  no  man  in  respect  to  worldly  advantages  ; 
 we  serve  him  out  of  no  temporal  ends,  knowing  that  His  kingdom  is 
 not  of  this  world.' — JJ'ells,  Whithy.  Known  Christ  after  the  flesh, 
 principally  valued  him  under  the  notion  of  a  temporal  Messiah. — 
 firiifse,  so  Doddr.  17.  A  new  creature,  '  there  is  a  new  creation  in 
 the  heart  of  that  man,  so  entirely  are  his  principles,  apprehensions, 
 and  pursuits,  changed.' — Doddr.  Old  things,  his  former  affection  to 
 the  things  of  this  wnrlri. —  Whitfni,  Weflx.  18.  Reconciled — by  Jesus 
 Christ,  'restored  friend-^hip  between  him  and  ns  that  believe,  by  the 
 atoning  death  and  suftering  of  Jesus  Chri-t.' — Gutjse.  *  By  his  grace 
 in  Him,  laid  a  proper  and  honourable  foundation  for  the  exercise  of 
 his  mercy  toward!^  us.' — Doddr.  The  ministry  of  reconciliation,  the 
 gospel  which  publishes  peace. — Gill.  19.' In  Christ,  united  to  him, 
 and  manifesting  himself  by  him.  The  world,  Jews  and  Gentiles. 
 20.  Ambnssadors,  pressing  men  to  accept  the  treaty  of  reconciliation. — 
 Doddr.  In  Christ's  stead,  iWTSonnX^ng  him,  as  if  he  were  present  be- 
 fore you. — Gill.  Reconciled  to  God,  thankfully  accept  of  his  friendship 
 and  protection.  21.  To  he  made  sin,  a/iaprtnv,  'a  sin  offering.'— 
 Dnddr.,  Mackn.  Our  sins  were  judicially  imputed  to  him,  by  way  of 
 law  charge,  and,  in  a  sacrificial  sen^e,  as  our  substitute,  who  had 
 freely  undertaken  to  answer  for  them.— Guyse.  The  rii^hteousness  of 
 God,  i.  e.,  divinely  righteous,  a  strong  phrase  for  '  perfectly  righteous.' 
 — Doddr.  The  antithesis  in  the  phraseology  here  is  elegant :  '  Christ 
 was  made  sin,  that  sinners  might  become  the  righteousness  of  God.' — 
 Mackn.,  as  Doddr.    '  How  was  Christ  made  sin  for  us?    Not  by  our 
 
 sins  inherent  in  him— that  is  horrid  blasphemy;  but  by  our  sins  im- 
 puted to  him — that  is  true  divinity.  And  as  he  was  made  sin  for  us, 
 not  by  the  inhesion  of  our  sins  m  liim,  but  by  the  imputation  of  our 
 sins  to  him,  so  are  we  made  the  righteousness  of  God  ui  him,  by  the 
 imputation  of  his  righteousness  to  us,  not  by  the  inhesion  of  his  right- 
 eousness in  us.  He  was  accounted  as  a  sinner,  and  therefore  punished 
 for  US;  we  are  accounted  righteous,  and  therefore  glorified  in  him.' — 
 Bev.  '  He  saith  not  he  made  him  a  suuier,  but  sin,  that  we  might  be 
 made  not  merely  righteous,  but  righteousness— and  that  the  righte- 
 ousness of  God.' — Chrysostiim. 
 
 CriAP.VI.— 1.  Workers  together,  trvvepyovvrt?,  'joint  labourers.'— 
 Doddr.  *  Fellow-labourers'  in  the  ministry  of  reconciharion. — Mackn. 
 With  Ann— this  is  supplied  by  the  translators,  but  not  properly  ;  we  do 
 not  work  nith  Gnd,  but  for  him.  We  are  only  his  instruments,  with 
 which  tie  works  on  tlie  souls  of  men.  '  Paul  may  plant,  &c.,  hut  it  is 
 God  that  giveth  the  increase.'— Erf.  The  work  of  God  he  alone  pro- 
 perly perfonns,  (see  I  Cor.  iii.  ".)  Apostles  and  others  jomtly  labour 
 as  his  instruments,  useful  only  when  he  grants  his  blessing.— Z>nr. 
 The  four  words  which  are  supplied,  without  the  least  necessity,  mar 
 both  the  sense  and  beautj'  of  the  passage. — Mackn.  The  grace  of  God, 
 this  merciful  proclamation  of  paidon. — Doddr.  2.  For  he  saith,  Sfc, 
 in  a  prophecy  of  Christ,  of  what  we  now  preach,  as  taking  place  upon 
 Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews,  God  the  Father  says  to  him  in  his  office  cha- 
 racter, (Isa.  xUx.  8.)  I  have  heard,  ffC. — God  there  speaks  of  a  limited 
 time,  in  which  the  Messiah's  petition  in  favour  of  his  people  was  wel- 
 come to  him,  EUid  in  which  he  was  ready  to  grant  salvation.  Now,  ^c, 
 '  this  is  the  precious  season.' — Doddr.  3.  Giring  no  offence,  '  we 
 contribute  to  your  salvatton,  not  only  by  our  doctrine,  but  example 
 also.' — Stnnh.  The  word  Trpoo-Kojrn,  signifies  '  a  stumbling-block  in 
 general/  or  anythuig  over  which  a  man  stumbles  or  falls;  and  here 
 means  any  transgression  or  scandal  that  might  take  place  among  the 
 ministers  or  the  Cliristians  themselves,  whereby  either  Jews  or  Gen- 
 
 Rkflections  on  Ch.^p.  V. —  From  this  chapter  we  may 
 direct  our  thoughts  to— I.  Immortality.  Our  frail  bodies  are 
 every  moment  crumbling  into  dust;  but  tjie  faith  of  the  Chris- 
 tian believer  looks  forward  to  a  state  in  which  the  soul  shall  be 
 surrounded  with  '  glory,  honour,  immortality,  eternal  life.' 
 And  the  blessedness  of  the  slate  will  consist  in  being  '  present 
 witli  the  Lord.'  '  Present,'  as  Dr. Watts  e.Kpresses  it,  'with 
 that  God  who  shall  eternally  influence  us  to  all  holiness,  who 
 shall  for  ever  shine  upon  us  wiih  liis  own  beams,  and  make  us 
 conformable  to  his  own  holy  image  ;  present  with  that  Lord 
 Hnd  Saviour  from  whom  it  shall  not  be  in  the  power  of  all 
 creatures  to  divest  or  draw  us  aside.' 
 
 II.  Judgment.  This  happiness  will  be  bestowed  judicially. 
 A  trial  shall  take  place.  Every  one  must  give  an  account 
 before  God.  How  h;ive  we  believed  ?  is  one  great  question 
 connected  with  it ;  but  there  is  also  another,  which  too  many 
 overlook, — How  have  we  acted  7  *  Deeds'  will  then  be  brought 
 to  hght.  Dark  deeds  of  the  unbeliever — foul  d^eds  of  the 
 mere  professor.  Let  us,  then,  look  to  our  works  as  well  as  our 
 faith.  They  will  not  justify  us,  but  they  must  be  witnesses 
 for  us.  and  prove  whether  or  not  our  faith  was  genuine.  In 
 this  way,  'By  thy  works  thou  shall  be  justified,  and  by  thy 
 works  thou  shalt  be  condemned.' 
 
 III.  Reconciliation.  To  be  prepared  for  judgment,  we  must 
 be  at  peace  with  God.  This  peace  we  can  only  have  through 
 Jesus  Christ.  He  has  taken  away  our  guilt,  and  through  faith 
 in   bis  merits   vre  become   righteous.     The  ambassadors  of 
 
 1-234 
 
 Heaven  now  entreat  us  to  lay  down  our  weapons  of  rebellion, 
 and  submit  our  hearts  entirely  to  the  God  who  waits  to  be 
 gracious  in  a  way  perfectly  consistent  with  his  honour  and 
 justice, and  which  wonderfully  displays  the  superaboundings  of 
 his  love.  '  It  is.'  says  Ambrose,  *  Christ  that  takes  off  infinite 
 wrath,  and  satisfies  justice,  and  so  God  is  a  most  lovely,  com- 
 passionate, desirable  God  in  Jesus.  All  the  goodness  of  God 
 conies  out  of  God  tlnough  this  golden  pipe,  the  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ.'  *  What  man.'  says  Bolton,  *  can  possibly  ponder  seri- 
 ously upon  this  place,  but  must  be  transported  with  extranrdi- 
 nary  admiration — nay,  adoration — of  the  bottomless  depth,  and 
 infinite  height,  of  God's  incomprehensible,  everlasting,  and  free 
 love  ?  We  most  abhorred  and  vile  wretches  are  the  offenders, 
 traitors,  rebels,  and  enemies,  and  ought  to  seek  and  sue  unto 
 him  first,  upon  the  knees  of  our  souls,  trembling  in  the  dust, 
 and,  if  it  were  possible,  with  tears  of  blood.  And  yet  he  be- 
 gins unto  us,  entreating  us,  by  his  own  Son  and  his  servants  the 
 ministers,  to  come  in,  accept  his  favour  and  grace,  enter  into 
 the  wise  and  good  way,  which  is  precious,  profitable,  honour- 
 able, and  pleasant,  that  he  may  hereafter  set  upon  our  heads 
 everlasting  crowns  of  glory  and  bliss.  He  is  glad  to  sue  us 
 first,  and  send  his  ambassadors,  day  after  day,  beseeching  us 
 to  be  reconciled  unto  him.  Oh,  incomprehensible  depth  of 
 unspeakable  mercy  and  encouragement,  to  come  in  and  trust  in 
 his  mercy  in  case  of  spiritual  misery,  able  to  trample  under 
 foot,  triumphantly,  all  oppositions  of  the  most  raging  hell,  or 
 distrustful  heart.* 
 
Paul  exhorteth  them 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  VII. 
 
 to  avoid  idolatry. 
 
 4  But  ill  all  thine/s  f  approving  ourselves  'as 
 the  ministers  of  God,  in  much  patience,  in 
 afflictions,  in  necessities,  in  distresses, 
 
 5  *  In  stripes,  in  imprisonments,  ||  in  tumults, 
 in  labours,  in  watchings,  in  fastings  ; 
 
 6  By  pureness,  by  knowledge,  by  longsuffer- 
 ing,  by  kindness,  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  love 
 unfeigned, 
 
 7  "  By  the  word  of  truth,  by  '  the  power  of 
 God,  by  '  the  armour  of  righteousness  on  the 
 right  hand  and  on  the  left, 
 
 8  By  honour  and  dishonour,  by  evil  report 
 and  good  report :  as  deceivers,  and  yet  true  ; 
 
 9  As  unknown,  and  ^ yet  well  known;  "'as 
 dying,  and,  behold,  we  live  ;  "  as  chastened, 
 and  not  killed  ; 
 
 10  As  sorrowful,  yet  alway  rejoicing;  as 
 poor,  yet  making  many  rich  ;  as  having  nothing, 
 and  yet  possessing  all  things. 
 
 U  O  ye  Corinthians,  our  mouth  is  open  unto 
 you,  "our  heart  is  enlarged. 
 
 12  Ye  are  not  straitened  in  us,  but''ye  are 
 straitened  in  your  own  bowels. 
 
 13  Now  for  a  recompence  in  the  same,  C  I 
 speak  as  unto  my  children,)  be  ye  also  en- 
 larged. 
 
 14  ■■  Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  together  with 
 unbelievers  :  for  '  what  fellowship  hath  righte- 
 ousness with  unrighteousness?  and  what  com- 
 munion hath  light  with  darkness? 
 
 15  And  what  concord  hath  Christ  with  Belial  ? 
 or  what  part  hath  he  that  believeth  with  an 
 infidel? 
 
 16  And  what  agreement  hath  the  temple  of 
 God  with  idols  ?  for  '  ye  are  the  temple  of  the 
 living  God  ;  as  God  hath  said,  "  I  will  dwell  in 
 them,  and  walk  in  them ;  and  I  will  be  their 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 
 t  Gr.  cum- 
 
 tneiidiiiif, 
 
 ch.  *.  2. 
 n  Cor.  t.  1. 
 »  cli.  11.23, 
 
 &c. 
 II  Or,  I 
 
 i„S.  I 
 
 jn. 
 
 I  loti- 
 
 h  cti.  4.2.  & 
 
 7.  H. 
 
 t  I  Cnr,  2.4. 
 k  ch.  II).  4. 
 
 Kpl).  G.  It, 
 
 13.  2  Tim. 
 
 ♦.  1. 
 
 I  ch.  4.  2.  & 
 
 r>.  u.  iu  II. 
 
 0  ch.  7.  3. 
 p  ch.  12.  15. 
 
 y  1  Cor.4.H. 
 r  Deut.  7.  2, 
 
 .1.  1  Cor.  5. 
 
 0.  &  7.  ;19 
 t  1  Sam.  5.2, 
 
 3.  I  Kin. IS 
 
 21.  Ecclus. 
 13.  17. 
 
 1  Cor.l0.2I. 
 Eph.5  7,11. 
 /  1  Cor.;i.  Ifi. 
 fc  6.  19. 
 Eph.  2.  21, 
 
 22.  Heb.  3. 
 6 
 
 «  Kx.  20.45. 
 Lev.  20.  12. 
 Jer.  31..S3. 
 &  32.  .13. 
 Eie.  II.  20, 
 8c  36,  23.  & 
 37,  26,  &c 
 Zee  3.  8.  & 
 13.  9. 
 
 jr  Is   52.  II. 
 ch.  7.  I. 
 Kev.   18.  4. 
 
 b  Acts  20  33. 
 ch.  12.  17. 
 
 dch.  3.  12. 
 
 e  1  Cor.  l.'l. 
 
 ch.  I.  14. 
 /ch.  1.  4. 
 
 Phil.  2.  17. 
 
 Col.  I.  24. 
 g  ch.  2.  13. 
 
 h  ch.  4.  9. 
 
 i  Deu.  32.25. 
 
 *  ch.  1.  4. 
 
 I  Ree  ch.  2 
 
 God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people. 
 
 17  "  Wherefore  come  out  from  among  them 
 and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,  and  touch 
 not  the  unclean  thinr/  ;  and  I  will  receive  you, 
 
 18  '  And  will  be  a  Father  unto  you,  and  ye 
 shall  be  my  sons  and  daughters,  saith  the  Lord 
 Almighty. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 1  He  proceedeth  in  exhorting  them  to  purity  of  life,  2 
 and  to  bear  him  like  affection  as  he  doth  to  them.  3 
 Whereof  lest  he  iniyht  seem  to  doid}t^  he  declareth  lohut 
 comfort  he  took  in  his  affiictionSy  hy  the  report  which 
 Titus  yave  of  their  godly  sorrow,  which  his  former 
 epistle  had  wrought  in  them,  \^  and  of  their  loving- 
 kindness  and  obedience  towards  Titus,  answerable  to 
 his  formir  boastings  of  them. 
 
 ITAVING  "therefore  these  promises,  dearly 
 ^-^  beloved,  let  us  cleanse  ourselves  from  all 
 filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holi- 
 ness in  the  fear  of  God. 
 
 2  Receive  us  ;  we  have  wronged  no  man,  we 
 have  corrupted  no  man,  ^^  vve  have  defrauded 
 no  man. 
 
 3  I  speak  not  this  to  condemn  ^o«  ;  for  "^  I 
 have  said  before,  that  ye  are  in  our  hearts  to 
 die  and  live  with  j/om. 
 
 4  "^  Great  is  my  boldness  of  speech  toward 
 yon,  ^ great  is  my  glorying  of  you:  ^I  am  filled 
 with  comfort,  I  am  exceeding  joyful  in  all  our 
 tribulation. 
 
 5  For,  ^  when  we  were  come  into  Macedonia, 
 our  flesh  had  no  rest,  but  "  we  were  troubled 
 on  every  side;  "without  it;ere  fightings,  within 
 tvere  fears. 
 
 6  Nevertheless  ^  God,  that  comforteth  those 
 that  are  cast  down,  comforted  us  by  '  the 
 coming  of  Titus  ; 
 
 7  And  not  by  his  coming  only,  but  by  the 
 
 tiles  might  take  occasion  of  offence,  and  vilify  the  gospel  of  Christ. — 
 A.  Clarke.  4.  AffiictionSy  d'Ki^ti^,  means,  '  affliction  in  general.' 
 Necessities,  avu-inat,  '  more  grievous  and  unavoidable  troubles.'  Dis- 
 tresses, oTtvox'Oftiai,  '  such  pressures  as  reduce  us  to  the  greatest 
 straits.' — Whithy.  5.  Jn  tumults,  as  when  assaulted  at  Iconinm, 
 Lystra,  Philippi,  &c. — Mackn.  7.  Armour — on  the  right,  ^-c,  i.  e., 
 '  on  all  sides.'  This  is  said  in  allusion  to  the  armour  of  the  ancients, 
 for  soldiers  carried  bucklers  in  their  left  hands,  and  swords  and  jave- 
 lins in  their  right.— BeHs.  The  armoiu-  here  spoken  of  seems  to  be 
 only  of  the  defensive  kind,  on  the  arms  or  breast,  or  both. — Doddr. 
 
 8.  Deceivers,  '  artful,  designing  men.'  True,  '  upright,'  sincere  in  the 
 sight  of  God. — Bens.  Unknown,  '  looked  on  by  some  as  if  they  knew 
 us  not.'     Well  known,   *  by  others   owned  and  valued.' — Hammond. 
 
 9.  Dying,  seeming  every  day  at  the  point  of  death.  Live,  still  pre- 
 served of  God. — Stank.  10.  Rejoicing,  in  the  testimony  of  a  good 
 conscience  and  spiritual  comforts. — Hum.,  Stanh.  Poor,  in  temporals. 
 Jiich.  in  spirituals.  Possessing  all  things,  '  all  good  things. '^Gi7/. 
 1 1 .  Our  mouth  is  opened,  '  I  speak  freely  to  you.'  Among  the  easterns, 
 to  shut  the  mouth  signified  to  be  out  of  humour,  troubled,  ashamed, 
 or  grieved,  (Isa.  lii.  15  ;}  but  to  have  the  mouth  opened  is  to  be  joyful 
 or  g\a.d.~  Mac  kn.  12.  Ye  are  not  straitened  in  us,  ^c,  there  is  'no 
 want  of  kindness  in  our  souls,  nor  any  deficiency  in  the  gracious  doc- 
 trines, promises,  itc,  but  your  liearts  are  too  much  shut  up  through 
 the  workmgs  of  unbelief,  carnality,  and  coolness  of  affections  against 
 us. — Guyse.  13.  In  the  same,  '  in  the  same  kind.' — Whithy.  14.  Be 
 ye  not,  '  in  order  thereunto,  do  not  marry  with  strangers  to  the  grace 
 of  God.'  Fellowship,  neToxn,  '  intercourse'  or  '  partnership.'  Commu- 
 nion, Kotv<avia.  *  religious  society  and  communication.'  15.  Concord, 
 tTUfi(povt]atr,  'harmony'  or  'mutual  consent.' — Gui/se.  Belial, horn  ^"jl 
 ^^V,  *  without  yoke,'  '  lawless,'  *  rebellious,'  '  wicked,'— i.  e.,  Satan.— 
 Ains.  Part,  /lepi?,  '  desirable  lot'  or  '  portion.'  l6.  Agreement, 
 trv^KaTaOeati,  '  suitable  accord.'    Temple,  habitation  of  God  through 
 
 the  Spirit,  (Eph.  ii.  22,)  and  so  in  a  much  nobler  sense  a  temple  sepa- 
 rated for  his  senice,  than  ever  the  stately  edifice  at  Jerusalem  was.— 
 Guyse.  And  walk  in  them,  ci-oiKriffu.  ev  avTOiv,  *  I  will  inhabit  in  them.' 
 —.4.  Clarke.  1/.  Touch  not  the  unclean  thing,  'practise  not  idol- 
 atrous rites,  have  no  fellowsliip  witli  unbelievers,  &c.,  renounce  all 
 shiful  customs  and  practices.'  18.  Will  be  a  Father,  '  a  better  rela- 
 tion than  any  you  may  lose  upon  earth.'— G«yse.  , 
 
 Chap.  VII. —1.  These  promises—see  last  verses  of  the  preceding 
 chapter.  '  Having  such  gracious  promises  of  God's  abode  among  us.' 
 All  Jilthiness  of  the  Jiesh  and  spirit,  every  impurity  of  X\iQ.— Doddr. 
 '  Filthiness  of  the  flesh'  may  here  signify  '  sensual  affections ;'  and  of 
 the  'spirit,'  'pride  in  the  heart.'— l'T'(7.  Perfecting  holiness,  ho\me^a 
 of  life  and  conversation  is  here  designed.  In  the  fear  of  God,  not  in  a 
 servile,  slavish,  >  fear,  but  in  a  filial  fear,  a  reverential  affection,  for 
 God.— G(7/.  2.  Rereiir  ws,  into  your  affections,  as  you  have  a  large 
 share  in  ours.— U'e/Zs.  Wronged  no  yuan,  in  his  person,  estate,  or 
 name.  Corrupted  no  man,  by  our  doctrines  nor  prmciples.  Defrauded 
 no  man,  or  '  coveted  no  man'— no  man's  silver,  gold,  nor  apparel. — 
 Gill.  EnKeoveKTnTatxev  signifies,  '  to  indulge  a  covetous  temper,  ajid 
 make  a  prey  of  others  bv  it ;'  perhaps  hitimating  tliis  was  the  conduct 
 of  the  false  teachers.— Dor/dr.  4.  Great  is  my  t>oldness,  fyc,  free  in 
 mentioning  your  faults,  but  as  free  in  boasting  of  your  obedience.— 
 
 Ha7n.     I   am  crceedingly  joilful,  [■TrepTrepiCTcei'u^uat,    '  I   SUperabound  in 
 
 joy.'  '  I  have  a  joy  beyond  expression.'  This  is  an  extremely  rai-e 
 verb.  I  have  not  met  with  it  in  any  Greek  author  ;  and  it  occurs  no- 
 where in  the  New  Testament  but  here  and  in  Rom.  v.  20.— .4.  Clarke. 
 
 5.  Without  were  JiKhiings,  strife  and  opposition  to  preaching  the  gospel. 
 —  Wells.  They  had  continual  combats  with  false  teachers  and  furious 
 persecutors.— GiV/.  Fears,  lest  the  false  apostles  should  have  perverted 
 you  from  the  simplicity  which  is  hi  Cluist,  (2  Cor.  xi.  a.)—W/iithy. 
 
 6.  Those  that  are  cast  down,  or  '  humble  ones.'— GiV^.  ".  Your 
 earnest  desire,  to  be  approved  of  us.     Your  mourning,  for  the  just 
 
 Kf.flections  on  Chap.  VI We  see  here  —  I.  What  mi- 
 
 visttrs  ouyht  to  be.  They  should  exercise  the  utmost  caution 
 that  their  ministry  may  not  be  blamed,  and  that  through  them 
 their  great  message  may  not  be  neglected  and  derided.  They 
 should  endure  hardness  as  good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  pa- 
 tiently going  through  evil  and  through  good  report,  and  suffer- 
 ing anything  for  the  sake  of  their  Divine  Master.  Their 
 Hearts  should  overflow  with  love  to  souls,  and  burn  with  zeal 
 for  the  Divine  glory,  while  out  of  their  abundance  their  mouths 
 should  speak.  *  How  much  is  requisite  to  make  a  good  minis- 
 ter of  Jesus  Christ !' 
 1233 
 
 II.  What  Christians  onght  to  be.  They  should  not  receive  the 
 grace  of  God  in  vain,  or  to  no  purpose.  The  heavenly  message 
 of  reconciliation  should  be  embraced  with  open  hearts,  and 
 the  influence  of  liie  grace  of  (Jod  which  it  manifests  should 
 be  seen  in  their  lives.  Ti)ey  should  reciprocate  the  kindly 
 feelings  of  the  ministers  of  Ciod  towards  them,  and  avoid 
 that  unnecessary  intercourse  with  the  devotees  and  idola- 
 ters of  lliis  world  which  can  only  tend  to  unfit  them  for 
 present  communion  with,  and  for  the  everlasting  enjoyment 
 of  God. 
 
The  good  effect  of  godly  sorrow. 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  VIII. 
 
 Paul  erhorteth  to  liberalitr/. 
 
 consolation  wlieiewith  he  was  comforted  in 
 you,  when  he  told  us  your  earnest  desire,  your 
 mourninjr,  your  fervent  mind  toward  me  ;  so 
 that  I  rejoiced  the  more. 
 
 8  For  though  I  made  you  sorry  with  a  letter, 
 I  do  not  repent,  '"  though  I  did  repent :  for  1 
 perceive  that  the  same  epistle  hath  made  you 
 sorry,  though  it  were  but  for  a  season. 
 
 9  Now  I  rejoice,  not  that  ye  were  made 
 sorry,  but  that  ye  sorrowed  to  repentance  :  for 
 ye  were  made  sorry  ||  after  a  godly  manner, 
 that  ye  might  receive  damage  by  us  in  nothing. 
 
 10  For  "  godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  to 
 salvation  not  to  be  repented  of:  "but  the  sor- 
 row of  the  world  worketh  death. 
 
 1 1  For  behold  tliis  selfsame  thing,  that  ye 
 sorrowed  after  a  godly  sort,  what  carefulness 
 it  wrought  in  you,  yea,  u-hnt  clearing  of  your- 
 selves, yea,  n^hat  indignation,  yea,  ichat  fear, 
 yea,  ivhat.  vehement  desire,  yea,  what  zeal, 
 yea,  what  revenge  !  In  all  things  ye  have  ap- 
 proved yourselves  to  be  clear  in  this  matter. 
 
 12  Wlierefore,  though  I  wrote  unto  you,  / 
 ilid  it  not  for  his  cause  that  had  done  the 
 wrong,  nor  for  his  cause  that  suffered  wrong, 
 ''  but  that  our  care  fur  you  in  the  sight  of  God 
 might  appear  unto  you. 
 
 l;(  Therefore  we  were  comforted  in  your 
 comfort :  yea,  and  exceedingly  tlie  more  joyed 
 we  for  the  joy  of  Titus,  because  his  spirit 
 '  was  refreshed  by  you  all. 
 
 14  For  if  I  have  boasted  any  thing  to  him  of 
 you,  I  am  not  ashamed  ;  but  as  we  spake  all 
 things  to  you  in  truth,  even  so  our  boasting, 
 which  I  made  before  Titus,  is  found  a  truth. 
 
 15  And  his  f  inward  affection  is  more  abun- 
 dant toward  you,  whilst  he  remembereth  '  the 
 obedience  of  you  all,  how  with  fear  and  trem- 
 bling ye  received  him. 
 
 IG  I  rejoice  therefore  that  'I  have  confidence 
 in  you  in  all  things. 
 
 Or,  itrord- 
 i»g  t;  God. 
 
 /  n.im.  U". 
 3». 
 
 tGr,..-„i 
 
 h  Acts  11. g9. 
 &  UI.  17. 
 Koin   1.^  '25, 
 21).   I  Cor. 
 Mi    I,  a,  •!. 
 ch.  y.  I. 
 
 c  ver.  17 
 ch.  IS.  18. 
 
 II  O',  !'/'■ 
 vcr.  1.  19. 
 
 d  1  Cor.  1.5. 
 Si  H.  13. 
 
 <cli    9.8. 
 
 J  Mat.  9.  50. 
 Luke  9.  58 
 Phil  2  6,7. 
 h  1  Cor  7  25 
 i  Pro.  19.17, 
 Mat  II)  42. 
 1  Tim  6.18, 
 19.  Heb.lS. 
 16. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  He  stiT'ctk  them  up  to  a  liberal  conirihufion  for  the 
 poor  saints  at  Jerusalem,  hy  the  example  of  the  Mace- 
 donians, 7  bif  commendation  of  their  former  forward- 
 ness, Obi/  the  example  of  Christ,  Hand  hi/  the  spiri- 
 tual profit  that  shidl  ndound  to  themselves  thereby  : 
 16  commendiufj  to  them  the  inlegrit)/  and  iciUingness 
 of  Titus,  and  those  ollur  brethren,  loho  upon  his  re- 
 quest, exhortation,  and  commendation j  were  purposely 
 come  to  them  fur  this  business. 
 
 IVTOREOVER,  brethren,  we  do  you  to  wit 
 -'-'•^  of  the  grace  of  God  bestowed  on  the 
 churches  of  Macedunia  ; 
 
 2  How  that  in  a  threat  trial  of  affliction  the 
 abundance  of  their  joy  and  "their  deep  poverty 
 abounded  unto  the  riches  of  their  f  liberahty. 
 
 3  For  to  their  power,  1  bear  record,  yea, 
 and  beyond  tficir  power  thet/  were  willing  of 
 themselves  ; 
 
 4  Praying  us  with  much  intreaty  that  we 
 would  receive  the  gift,  and  take  upon  us  ''the 
 fellowship  of  the  ministering  to  the  saints. 
 
 5  And  (fits  they  did,  not  as  we  hoped,  but 
 first  gave  their  own  selves  to  the  Lord,  and 
 unto  us  by  the  will  of  God. 
 
 6  Insomuch  that  "^  we  desired  Titus,  that  as 
 he  bad  begun,  so  he  would  also  finish  in  you 
 the  same  ||  grace  also. 
 
 7  Therefore,  as  ^  ye  abound  in  every  thing, 
 in  faith,  and  utterance,  and  knowledge,  and  in 
 all  diligence,  and  in  your  love  to  us,  sec  ^  that 
 ye  abound  in  tills  grace  also. 
 
 8  ^  I  speak  not  by  commandment,  but  by  oc- 
 casion of  the  forwardness  of  others,  and  to 
 prove  the  sincerity  of  your  love. 
 
 9  For  ye  know  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ,  ^  that,  though  he  was  rich,  yet  for  your 
 sakes  he  became  poor,  that  ye  through  his 
 poverty  might  be  ricli. 
 
 10  And  herein  '^  I  give  m// advice:  forUhisis 
 expedient  for  you,  who  have  begun  before,  not 
 
 cause  of  scandal.  Your  fervent  mind,  '  your  affection  towards  me.* — 
 Bp.  Htill.  8.  A  letter,  'ray  former  epistle.'— TI"e/fe.  /  do  not  re- 
 pent, though  1  did,  '  I  am  not  sorrj'  now,  though  1  was  when  I  wrote 
 the  epistle,  doing  it  with  many  tears,'  [chap.  ii.  4.) — Whitby.  g.  To 
 repentance,  their  sorrow  issued  in  true,  evangelical,  repentance.  After 
 a  ^odly  manner,  a  sorrow  God  wrought  in  them.  Damage— in  nothing, 
 their  sorrow  had  not  hurt  their  souls,  but  profited.— GtV/.  lo.  Sor- 
 row  of  the  u'orld,  of  worldly  men,  or  for  worldly  thin§:s. — Bur.  Worketh 
 death,  as  is  common  to  men  of  the  world,  as  Cain,  Pharaoh,- Jiidas, 
 &C. — Gitl.  11.  Carefulness,  to  amend  what  was  amiss.  Clearing  of 
 j/oiir.<ielres,  from  approving  of  the  offender's  sin.— Bens.  Indignation, 
 against  those  who  had  been  the  causes  of  the  miscarriage>. — Wells,  so 
 Bloomf.  Fear,  of  God's  displeasure  and  apostolic  chastisement. 
 Vehement  desire,  to  see  me  again.— Ben.s.  To  satisfy  me. —  Wells. 
 Zeal,  for  the  glory  of  God.  and  tlic  soul  of  the  sinner.— Ben-v.  For  my 
 honour  as  an  apostle.  Revengp.  against  yourselves  for  having  beeu 
 misled.— irV/A5.  Clear,  from  ^u\\t.~  Whitby,  Bur.  Vl.  Not  for  his 
 cause — nor  for  his  cause,  not  from  any  personal  views. — Doddridge. 
 13.  Your  comfort,  promoted  by  casting  the  infamous  sinner  out  of  the 
 church. — Guyse.  15.  Fear  and  trembling,  reverence  and  awe  of  his 
 ministry.— B/*.  Hall. 
 
 Chap.  VIII. — I.  We  do  you  to  ifit,  jvbjpi^ofiev,  '  we  make  known  to 
 you.' — Ham.,  Mackn.,  Clarke.  *  Acquahit  you.' — Guyse.  '  Inform 
 you.'  Of  the  grace  of  God,  of  the  happy  and  honourable  effects  of  its 
 abundant  communication.  2.  Trial,  *  from  persecuting  enemies,'  (comp. 
 
 Acts,  x\i.,  xvii.l  The  abundance  of  their  joy,  for  receiving  the  Chris- 
 tian religion.  Depth  of  their  poverty  abounded,  '  indigent  as  they  are,* 
 they  have  done  wonders  for  the  rehef  of  their  yet  poorer  brethren.' 
 3.  Of  themselves,  '  without  my  solicitation.'  4.  The  fellowship,  *  a 
 part  of  the  mujistration.' — Doddr.  5.  Not  as  we  hoped,  '  but  beyond 
 it.* — Bp.  Half,  Doddr.  Unto  us,  '  to  be  employed  hi  such  services  as 
 the  apostles  should  think  fit.'— Bur.  6.  He  hud  begun,  to  stir  up  the 
 exercise  of  this  Christian  grace  of  liberahty. — Guyse.  7.  Every 
 thing,  '  ever>'  other  grace  and  virtue.'— B/).  HaU.  rtferauce,  either 
 the  gift  of  speaking  with  tongues,  which  many  in  this  church,  had  or 
 of  understandhig  and  explainhig  the  word  of  God  with  freedom  ;  or 
 liberty  of  mind  in  declaring  their  faith  m  Christ.— GrV/.  Knowledge,  of 
 divine  things. — Bens.  Diligence,  in  performing  every*Cliristiaii  duty. 
 Lore  to  us,  '  to  me,  your  spiritual  fatlier.'  In  this  grace,  of  Christian 
 hberality.  8.  Not  by  commandment,  or  by  way  of  injmiction,  be- 
 cause works  of  charity  ought  to  be  voluntaiy.  But  hy  occasion  of  the 
 forwardness  of  others,  '  but  I  recommend  it  on  account  of  the  dili- 
 gence of  the  Macedonians.' — Mackn.  Q.  For  ye  know  the  grace,  ^c, 
 '  and  I  may  well  e.vpect  that  you  will  exert  yourselves  on  this  occa- 
 sion, in  consequence  of  your  acquaintance  with  the  great  and  funda- 
 mental principles  of  the  go^-pel.'^ Doddr.  Though  he  was  rich,  ^c, 
 '  if  Clirist  thus  emptied  hunsclf  that  we  miglit  be  spiritually  rich,  it 
 becomes  us  to  part  with  our  temporals  f-'^r  his  needy  members.' — 
 Whitby.  10.  Jly  adrice,  '  my  opinion.*  This  is  expedient,  ^c,  '  this 
 is  profitable  for  you  who  have  formerly  begun,  not  only  to  make  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  We  may  here  remark.  L  On 
 the  influences  which  the  promises  of  the  gospel  should  have  upon  us, 
 for  they  are  promises  made  to  us  by  a  holy  God  ;  promises,  the 
 consolations  of  which  can  only  be  received  by  those  whose 
 hearts  are  sanctified  by  c;race  ;  and  promises  which  tend  to 
 promote  holiness  of  heart  and  life.  These  promises  should 
 therefore  induce  us  to  forsake  all  sin,  and  to  advance  in  holi- 
 ness, looking  to  the  Spirit  of  Goil  to  grant  us  all  needful  aid 
 to  perfect  holiness  la  the  fear  of  God. 
 
 II.  *  On  the  different  nature  and  properties  of  godly  and  ivorldly 
 
 sorrow.     In  their  cawse— worldly  sorrow  arises  from  the  loss 
 
 of  worldly  property,  or  carnal  pleasures— from  the  failure  of 
 
 ambitious  projects,  or  exposure  to  public  shame  :  godly  sorrow 
 
 1236 
 
 from  a  conviction  of  the  evil  nature  of  sin— a  painful  sense  of 
 God's  anger  on  account  of  it,  and  an  apprehension  of  its  just 
 and  awful  consequences.  In  their  chnracttr — worldly  sorrow 
 is  either  chimorous,  angry,  sullen,  peevish,  revengeful,  rebel- 
 lious, or  murmuring  :  godly  sorrow  is  meek  and  silent,  or,  ifit 
 awakens  revenge,  it  is  against  the  sinner's  own  conduct — 
 against  his  sins.  In  their  effects — 'worldly  sorrow  worketh 
 death,'  by  hardening  the  mind  in  unbelief,  and  as  it  leads  to 
 despair,  often  ends  in  death  and  utter  destruction  both  of  soul 
 and  body:  '  godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  into  salvation.' 
 This  IS  the  partner  of  faith — .the  Christian's  guard  against 
 apostasy,  and  his  guide  to  life  eternal.  '^' 
 
The  reward  of 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  IX. 
 
 bountiful  alms-givinij. 
 
 only  to  ilo,  but  also  to  be  f' forward  a  year 
 ago. 
 
 11  Now  therefore  perform  the  doing  of  it; 
 that  as  t/iere  u-as  a  readiness  to  will,  so  there 
 null/  be  a  performance  also  out  of  that  which 
 ye  have. 
 
 12  For  '  if  there  be  first  a  willing  mind,  it  is 
 accepted  according  to  that  a  man  hath,  and 
 not  according  to  that  he  hatli  not. 
 
 13  For  I  mran  not  that  other  men  be  eased, 
 and  ye  burdened  : 
 
 14  But  by  an  equality,  that  now  at  this  time 
 your  abundance  may  be  a  supply  for  their 
 want,  that  their  abundance  also  may  be  a  snp- 
 pljl  for  your  want :  that  there  may  be  equality : 
 
 15  As  it  is  written,  '"  He  that  had  ijathered 
 much  liad  nothing  over  ;  and  he  that  had  ga- 
 thered little  had  no  lack. 
 
 IG  ISut  thanks  ie  to  God,  which  put  the  same 
 earnest  care  into  the  heart  of  Titus  for  you. 
 
 17  For  indeed  he  accepted  "  the  exhortation  ; 
 but  being  more  forward,  of  his  own  accord  he 
 went  unto  you. 
 
 18  And  we  have  sent  with  him  °  the  brother, 
 whose  praise  is  in  the  gospel  throughout  all 
 the  churches  ; 
 
 19  And  not  that  only,  but  who  was  also 
 '' chosen  of  the  churches  to  travel  with  us  with 
 this  II  grace,  which  is  administered  by  us  ''  to 
 the  glory  of  the  same  'LoxA,a.x\A  declaration  of 
 your  ready  mind  : 
 
 20  Avoiding  this,  that  no  man  should  blame 
 us  in  this  abundance  which  is  administered  by 
 lis : 
 
 21  'Providing  for  honest  things,  not  only  in 
 the  sight  of  the  Lord,  but  also  in  the  sight  of 
 men. 
 
 22  And  we  have  sent  with  them  our  brother, 
 whom  we  have  oftentimes  proved  diligent  in 
 many  things,  but  now  much  more  diligent, 
 upon  the  great  confidence  which  ||  I  have  in 
 yon. 
 
 23  Whether  any  do  enquire  of  Titus,  he  is 
 my  partner  and  fellowhelper  concerning  you  : 
 or  our  brethren  be  enquired  of,  they  are  '  the 
 messengers  of  the  churches,  and  the  glory  of 
 Christ. 
 
 24  Wherefore  shew  ye  to  them,  and  before 
 
 I  M.irk  \S. 
 13,  44. 
 I-uke^l.  3. 
 
 p  I  Cor.  16. 
 3,4. 
 
 II  Or,  gi/l. 
 ver.  4,  6,  7 
 ch.  9.  8. 
 
 1  ch.  4.  15. 
 
 ■Rom.  19.17, 
 Phil.  4.  8. 
 I  I'et.  2.12. 
 
 I  Acta  1 1  29. 
 
 Rom   13.26 
 
 I  Cor.  Iti.l. 
 
 ch.  8.  4. 
 
 Gal.  2.  10. 
 b  ch.  S.  19 
 c  ch.  8.  24. 
 d  ch.  8.  H). 
 
 t  Gr. 
 btfutng. 
 Gen.  33.  11. 
 
 1  Sa,  25.27. 
 
 2  Kin.  5.15. 
 II  Or,  which 
 
 hath  befn  n 
 
 iiKich  ijxiken 
 
 of  berime. 
 /'Pro'.  11.24 
 
 &  19.  17.  & 
 
 22.  9.  Gal. 
 
 6.  7,  9. 
 e  Deu.  15.7. 
 h  E.x.  25.  2. 
 
 &35  6. 
 
 Pro.  11.25. 
 
 Ecclus.  35. 
 
 9,  10.  Rom. 
 
 12.  8.  ch.  8. 
 
 12. 
 i  Pro.  11.24, 
 
 2.5.  &  23  27. 
 
 Phil.  4.  19. 
 k  P8.  112.  9. 
 
 the  churches,  the  proof  of  your  love,  and  of 
 our  '  boasting  on  your  behalf. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  He  yieldeth  the  reason  iclujy  thoufjh  fie  knew  their  for- 
 wardnesSy  yet  he  sent  Titus  and  lits  brethren  hejhre- 
 hand.  6  And  he  proceedeih  in  stirrin;/  thtyn  up  to  a 
 bountiful  alms^  as  being  but  a  kind  of  sowing  of  seed, 
 10  which  shaftreturn  a  great  increase  to  themy\^  and 
 occasion  a  great  sacrifice  of  thanksgivings  unto  God. 
 
 "UOR  as  touching  "the  ministering  to  the 
 -*-  saints,  it  is  superfluous  for  me  to  write  to 
 you  : 
 
 2  For  I  know  *'the  forwardness  of  your  mind, 
 '^  for  which  I  boast  of  you  to  them  of  Mace- 
 donia, that  ''  Achaia  was  ready  a  year  ago  ; 
 and  your  zeal  hath  provoked  very  many. 
 
 3  ^  Yet  have  I  sent  the  brethren,  lest  our 
 boasting  of  you  should  be  in  vain  in  tliis  be- 
 half; thit,  as  I  said,  ye  may  be  ready  : 
 
 4  Lest  haply  if  they  of  Macedonia  come  with 
 me,  and  find  you  unprepared,  we  (that  we  say 
 not,  ye)  should  be  ashamed  in  this  same  con- 
 fident boasting. 
 
 5  Therefore  I  thought  it  necessary  to  exhort 
 the  brethren,  that  they  would  go  before  unto 
 you,  and  make  up  beforehand  your  t  bounty, 
 
 II  whereof  ye  had  notice  before,  that  the  same 
 might  be  ready,  as  a  matte?-  o/bounty,  and  not 
 as  q/'covetousness. 
 
 6  *"  But  this  I  sat/.  He  wliich  sowetli  sparingly 
 shall  reap  also  sparingly  ;  and  be  which  soweth 
 bountifully  shall  reap  also  bountifully. 
 
 7  Every  man  according  as  he  purposeth  in 
 his  heart,  so  lei  him  give;  ^not  grudgingly,  or 
 of  necessity  :  for  ^  God  loveth  a  cheerful  giver. 
 
 8  *  And  God  is  able  to  make  all  grace  abound 
 toward  you  ;  that  ye,  always  having  all  suffi- 
 ciency in  all  things^  may  abound  to  every  good 
 work  : 
 
 9  (As  it  is  written,  ''  He  hath  dispersed 
 abroad  ;  he  hath  given  to  the  poor  :  his  righte- 
 ousness remaineth  for  ever. 
 
 10  Now  he  that  '  ministereth  seed  to  the 
 sower  both  minister  bread  for  your  food,  and 
 multiply  your  seed  sown,  and  increase  the 
 fruits  of  your  ^  righteousness  ;) 
 
 1 1  Being   enriched   in   every    thing   to   all 
 
 collection,  but  also  to  shew  a  remarkable  wUlingrness  in  making  it, 
 since  the  end  of  the  last  year,  when  Titiis  was  with  yo\i..^—Mackn. 
 
 14.  Mail  be  equality,  '  that  ye  and  they  may  be  equally  beholden  to  the 
 brotherly  love  and  bounty  of  one  another,  and  all  may  be  well  pro- 
 Tlded  for  in  their  turns,  according  to  their  respective  occasions.* 
 
 15.  As  it  if!  written,  '  as  it  is  divinely  recorded  concerning  the  manna,' 
 fExod.  xvi.  18.)  16.  The  sume  earnest  care  into  the  heart  of  Titus, 
 to  engage  you  in  this  excellent  and  important  service.  17.  The  ex- 
 hortatiiin,  '  fell  in  with  the  very  tirst  motion  made  to  him  to  go  and 
 excite  you.'  18.  The  brother — it  is  not  certain  who  this  was. — 
 Gui/se.  Most  think  it  was  Luke.— yi7»7%.  19.  With  this  grace, 
 '  with  their  free  gift.'  20.  Should  blame  us,  *  suspect  us  of  fraud  or 
 partiality.' — Gut/se.  21.  Providing  for  honest  ^/j/rtg-s,  for  reputation 
 before  men,  as  well  as  for  a  good  conscience  before  God. — Ham. 
 22.  Our  brother,  B.  tiuxA  excellent  brother. — Guyse.  Thought  to  have 
 been  Apollos,  who  before  was  not  disposed  to  go  to  them,  (I  Cor.  xvi. 
 12.) — Whithji,  Wells.  23.  Whether  any,  ^c,  '  as  to  the  characters  of 
 these  persons,  Titus  is  my  associate  in  the  ministry.' — Guyse.  24.  0/ 
 our  boastingy  '  of  [the  truth]  of  our  boasting.'— B^oom/. 
 
 Chap.  IX. — 2.  Achaia,  a  province  of  Greece,  the  capital  being  Co- 
 rinth.— Calr.  5.  Not  as  of  cutset oujsness,  not  as  a  niggardly  gilt,  ex- 
 torted, or  taken  by  surprise  and  advantage,  from  covetous  persons. — 
 Wells,  Mackn.,  Neivc.  6.  He  which  .soweth  sparim^ly,  %c.,  an  evident 
 allusion  to  husbandry,  (see  ver.  9,  comp.  Prov,  xi.  24.) — Wil.  These 
 words  have  the  air  of  a  proverb,  and  probably  are  such. — Blnumf.  it 
 may  be  paraphrased,  '  God  will  bestow  rewards  proportionable  to  what 
 is  given.' — Doddr.  8.  To  make  all  grace  abound,  to  make  you  the 
 richer,  not  the  poorer,  for  your  liberality. — Ham.  To  return,  with  an 
 increase,  what  is  expended  for  the  necessities  of  the  saints. — Gill. 
 g.  His  righteousness,  '  his  liberality,'  as  the  word  often  sigiiities  in  the 
 Sept. — Whitby.  See  Ps.  cxii.  4,  9.  It  was  common  with  the  Jews  to 
 call  alms,  righteousness.  The  sense  is,  that  what  such  a  man  bestows 
 on  the  poor  shall  not  be  lost,  but  shall  be  hke  the  seed  cast  into  the 
 earth,  shall  spring  up  again,  and  bring  forth  fruit  with  increase.- GzY/. 
 II.  Being  enriched,  '  that  ye  may  be  enriched,'  '  ut  in  omnibus  locu- 
 pletati,'  Vulgate.  See  also  Macknight.  Which  causeth  through  us 
 thanksgiving,  'through  the  pains  I  have  taken.' — Macknight.  '  Both 
 in  us  who  are  your  almoners   to   distribute  it,   and  in  those  in- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIH.  —  I.  It  is  our  duty  to  be  cha- 
 ritable to  poor  brethren.  '  And  a  little  that  is  given  in  love  and 
 with  a  willing  mind,  by  those  that  are  in  strait  circumstances, 
 is  a  high  commendation  of  their  liberality.  Yet  as  the  pro- 
 portion of  alms-deeds  is  accepted  according  to  what  a  man 
 has,  so  some  ought  not  to  be  unreasonably  burdened  to  the 
 easing,  much  less  to  the  enriching,  of  others  ;  nor  ought  any 
 to  give  what  is  not  their  own;  but  all  charity,  as  well  as 
 everything  else,  ought  to  be  managed  with  such  prudence 
 and  faithfulness,  and  in  such  a  disinterested  and  honourable 
 1J37 
 
 way,  as  may  approve  itself  to  God,  as  done  in  his  sight,  and 
 even  to  the  consciences  of  the  whole  world.'  e*^ 
 
 II.  This  duty  is  strongly  enforced  by  the  example  of  Christ, 
 who,  in  his  matchless  grace,  '  though  he  was  rich,  for  our 
 sakes  became  poor,  that  we  through  his  poTerty  might  be 
 made  rich.'  His  benevolence  went  to  the  humbling  of  him- 
 self, to  the  exercise  of  the  greatest  self-denial,  and  even  to  the 
 gift  of  himself,  and  the  expenditure  of  his  precious  blood,  for 
 our  ransom — 
 
 '  Love  divine,  all  love  excelling  !* 
 
Paul's  spiritual  >ni<j'it 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  X. 
 
 and  authority. 
 
 II  fbountifulness,  °  which  causetli  through  us 
 thanksgiving  to  God. 
 
 12  For  the  administration  of  this  service  not 
 only  "supplieth  the  want  of  the  saints,  but  is 
 abundant  also  by  many  thanksgivings  unto  God  ; 
 
 13  Whiles  by  the  experiment  of  this  minis- 
 tration they  ''  glorify  God  for  your  professed 
 subjection  unto  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  for 
 your  liberal  ''  distribution  unto  them,  and  unto 
 all  jnen  ; 
 
 14  And  by  their  prayer  for  you,  which  long 
 after  you  for  the  exceeding  'grace  of  God  in 
 you. 
 
 15  Thanks  6e  unto  God  'for  his  unspeakable 
 gift. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 Agnhist  the  false  aposth's,  who  disgraced  the  weakness 
 of  liis  person  anil  ho<liIt/  presence,  lie  setteth  out  the 
 spiritual  initjht  and  authority,  with  which  he  is  armed 
 against  all  adversary  powers,  7  assurinif  them  that  at 
 his  coming  he  will  he  founil  as  mighty  in  word,  as  A. 
 is  now  in  writing  beina  altsent,  12  and  wiihul  taxing 
 them  for  reaching  out  themselves  bei/ond  their  compass, 
 and  vauiitinif  themselris  into  other  men's  lahonrs. 
 
 TVTOW  °  I  Paul  myself  beseech  you  by  the 
 -^  meekness  and  gentleness  of  Christ,  ■'who 
 II  in  presence  am  base  among  you,  but  being 
 absent  am  bold  toward  you  : 
 
 2  But  I  beseech  i/ou,  '  that  I  may  not  be 
 bold  when  I  am  present  with  that  confidence, 
 wherewith  I  think  to  be  bold  against  some, 
 which  II  think  of  us  as  if  we  walked  according 
 to  the  flesh. 
 
 3  For  thougli  u  e  walk  in  the  flesh,  we  do  not 
 war  after  the  flesh  : 
 
 4  (''  For  the  weapons  "  of  our  warfare  are  not 
 
 A.  D.  til). 
 
 II  Ot, 
 
 librralilu. 
 +  Gr. 
 
 iimpticity. 
 
 c\\.  B.  2. 
 •I  ch.  I.  II. 
 
 St  4.  15. 
 o  th.  S.  ri- 
 
 ch. S    I. 
 Jam.  I.  17 
 
 ..  Kom.  12.1. 
 
 b  ver.  ly.  ch. 
 12.  5.  7,  9. 
 
 li  Or.  in 
 iiuliBard  ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 c]  Cor.  *.2I 
 c)i.  iS.i,  \U. 
 
 d  Eph.  6.13 
 
 1  Thea.fi.S. 
 el  Tim. 1. 18. 
 
 2  Tim.  2.  3. 
 
 A.  D  CO. 
 
 /  Acts  7.22. 
 
 I  Cor.  2,  5. 
 
 ch.  e.  7.  «t 
 
 IH,  3,  4, 
 II  Or,  It,  God. 
 g  Jrr.  I    10, 
 h  I  Cor.l.l'J. 
 
 &  3.  19. 
 II  Or, 
 
 I  ch.  13.2,10. 
 A  ch.  2.  9.  & 
 7.  15. 
 
 i  John  7.  24. 
 
 ch.  5.  12.  & 
 
 II.  IS. 
 m   1  Cor.  H. 
 
 .S7.  1  John 
 
 4.  6. 
 «  I  Cor  3  23. 
 
 &  9.  I.  ch. 
 
 II.  S3. 
 
 t-  Gr.  tixith 
 
 7  I  Cor.  2.  S 
 4.  ver. l.ch 
 12.  5,  7,  9. 
 Gal.  4.  13. 
 
 T  1  Cor.1.17 
 «c2    1,4. 
 ch.  11.6. 
 
 II  Or,  vndft- 
 tlrt'id  it  uol. 
 t  vcr.  15. 
 
 carnal,  but  ''miglity   ||  through    God  ^  to  the 
 pulling  down  of  strong  holds  ;) 
 
 5  ^  Casting  down  ||  imaginations,  and  every 
 high  tiling  that  exalteth  itself  against  the 
 knowledge  of  God.  and  bringing  into  captivity 
 every  thought  to  the  obedience  of  Christ ; 
 
 6  •  And  having  in  a  readiness  to  revenge  all 
 disobedience,  when  ^  your  obedience  is  ful- 
 filled. 
 
 7  '  Do  ye  look  on  things  after  the  outward 
 appearance?  ""If  any  man  trust  to  himself 
 tliat  he  is  Christ'.s,  let  him  of  himself  think  this 
 again,  that,  as  he  is  Christ's,  even  so  are  "  we 
 Christ's. 
 
 8  For  though  I  should  boast  somewhat  more 
 °  of  our  authority,  wliich  the  Lord  hath  given 
 us  for  editication,  and  not  for  your  destruction, 
 ^  I  should  not  be  ashamed  : 
 
 9  That  I  may  not  seem  as  if  I  would  terrify 
 you  by  letters. 
 
 10  For  his  letters,  fsay  tliey,  are  weighty 
 and  powerful;  but  '^/lis  bodily  presence  is 
 weak,  and  /iis  "^  speech  contemptible. 
 
 1 1  Let  such  an  one  tliink  this,  that,  such  ns 
 we  are  in  word  by  letters  when  we  are  absent, 
 such  will  ive  be  also  in  deed  when  we  are 
 present. 
 
 12  '  For  we  dare  not  make  ourselves  of  the 
 number,  or  compare  ourselves  with  some  that 
 commend  themselves :  but  tliey  measuring 
 themselves  by  themselves,  and  comparing 
 themselves  among  themselves,  ||  are  not  wise. 
 
 13  *  But  we  will  not  boast  of  things  without 
 our  measure,  but  according  to  the  measure  of 
 the  II  rule  which  God  hath  distributed  to  us,  a 
 measure  to  reach  even  unto  you. 
 
 dig^nt  Christians  who  receive  it.' — Doddridge.  12.  But  is  abun. 
 dfint  also  by  many  thnnks^'wings,  many  precious  souls  are  sent 
 hereby  to  the  throne  of  grace,  to  give  thanks  to  God. — GUI,  13.  By 
 the  ej-periment,  *  by  the  cxperienceof.'  T/iismhiistr(itit)?i,  this  generous 
 contribution.  And  unto  a!l  men,  and  towards  all  others  who  are  in 
 necessity,  and  whom  you  have  an  opportunity  of  relieving. — Doddr. 
 14.  Lon^  after  you,  have  a  great  affection  for  you. — Wells.  15.  His 
 unspeakable  gift,  '  this  admirable  charit>',  by  which  God  is  so  much 
 glorified,  the  gospel  receives  so  much  credit,  others  are  so  much  bene, 
 liteti.  aiut  you  will  be  so  picntifidly  rewarded  by  God.' — Whithy,  Bur. 
 It  alludes  to  the  work  of  Christ  in  them,  and  not  Christ  liiniseU'. — A. 
 Clarke.  By  a  strong  and  natural  transition,  the  apostle  here  rather 
 glanced  at  the  gift  of  his  only  begotten  Son,  by  our  Father  and  uiur 
 God. — So  Doddr.  It  may  be  doubted  whether  the  apostle  would  call 
 the  gift  of  God's  grace  in  this  instance  to  the  Macedonians,  '  unspeak- 
 able.' So  grand  an  epithet  may  with  more  propriety  be  appUed  to 
 Chri.st. — Mdckn. 
 
 Cqap.  X. — I.  In  presence <nn  base,  'humble.' — Doddr.,  Mackn.  Kice- 
 phorus  Calhstus,  a  Greek  historian  of  the  loiuleenth  ccntmry,  who  pro- 
 bably combined  all  the  traditionary  information  he  could  collect,  speaks 
 of  the  apostle  a-s  '  small  of  stature,  stooping,  and  rather  inclinal)Ie  to 
 crookedness  ;  pale  faced,  of  an  elderly  look,  bald  on  the  liead  j  his  eyes 
 lively,  keen,  and  cheerful,  shaded  in  part  by  his  eyebrows,  which  hung 
 a  httle  over;  his  nose  rather  long,  and  not  ungracefully  bent;  his 
 beard  pretty  thick  of  hair,  and  of  a  sufficient  length,  and,  like  his  locks, 
 interspersed  with  grey.'—Lfi.  ii.  c.  37.  Sf.  Chrysosfom  terms  him  '  a 
 little  man,  about  three  cubits  [or  four  feet  ami  a  half]  in  height.' — 
 Toplndy.  In  tlic  I'hilopatris  oi Lncian,  Treiphon,  who  said  he  was  ba])- 
 tized  by  Paul,  calls  him,  in  ridicide,  '  the  big-nosed,  bald-pated  Gali- 
 lean, who  had  travelled  through  the  air  into  the  third  heaven.* — Wil. 
 2.  May  not  l>e  bold,  ffc,  '  may  not  have  occasion  to  exercise  that  seve- 
 rity which  1  think  myself  obliged  to  exercise  against  some  who  accuse 
 ine  of  weak  beha\iour  in  my  apostleship,*  &c.  According  to  the  flesh, 
 carnal  interests. — Ham.,  Whitby.  3.  Walk  in  the  flesh,  inhabit  mor- 
 tal bodies.    After  the  flesh,  by  carnal  methods,  or  with  worldly  and  in- 
 
 terested views. — Doddr.  4.  Strong  holds,  excited  by  human  policy  in 
 defence  of  idolatry.  The  phrase  wpo?  KutiatpeTtv  oxwpoMaTOJv,  denotes 
 the  beating  down  of  fortresses  by  means  of  military  engines.  Now,  as 
 the  strongholds  of  which  the  apostle  speaks  were  demolished  by  preach- 
 ing, there  is  here,  perhaps,  an  allusion  to  tlie  beating  down  of  the  walls 
 of  Jericho  by  the  priests  blowing  their  ti"umpets,  and  by  the  people's 
 shouting,  (Josh.  vi.  20.) — Mttckn.  5.  Casting  down  imaginatioyis, 
 ^o7^o■|u^)l'f  ^afaipoKUTet,  literally,  '  demolishing  reasonings,'  such  as 
 were  fallacious  and  sophistical,  by  which  vain  men  endeavoured  to  con- 
 trovert, disprove,  or  even  expose  to  contempt  and  ridicule,  the  doctrine 
 of  the  gospel  and  the  whole  Christian  system.— Be/w.  Krenj  high 
 thing,  nav  fij/wfia—the  apostle  alludes  to  the  turrets  raised  on  the  top 
 of  the  walls  of  a  besieged  city  or  fortress,  from  which  the  besieged  an- 
 noyed their  enemies.  To  these  high  structures  tlie  apostle  compared 
 the  proud  imaginations  of  the  enemies  of  revelation.  Bringing  into 
 captivity,  aixMi»\<«>TiC>'''Ter,  '  lead  captive.'  Likewise  a  military  term, 
 often  applied,  also,  to  the  mind,  to  represent  the  thraldom  of  the  alfec- 
 tioiis,  (see  2  Tim.  iii.  6.J  Every  thought,  emptj'  reasonings  and  foolish 
 imaginations.  Tu  the  obedience  of  Christ,  as  slaves  to  the  will  of  the 
 Lord.  6.  And  having  in  a  readiness  to  revenge  nil  disohedience,  '  and 
 are  prepared  to  punish  all  disobedience.' — Mackn.,  so  Ham.  /.  After 
 the  outtriird  appearance  ?  '  judging  of  me  from  my  outward  person  and 
 the  infii'mities  of  my  body.' — Whitby.  Think  this  again,  '  consider.' — 
 Ham.  8.  .Autfiority,  seems  to  refer  to  the  authority  peculiar  to  the 
 apostles  of  inflicting  corporal  punishments  on  refractory  persons,  and 
 delivering  them  up  to  Satan,  (see  1  Cor.  iv.  21,  v.  5,)  which  powernone 
 of  these  false  teachers  could  pretend  to.  —  Whithy.  g.  That  I  may  not 
 seem,  l^c,  '  but  I  forbear  boasting  of  my  power,  that  I  may  not,  &c. 
 13.  Things  without  our  measure — the  word  a/jtrpu  signifies,  '  thuigs  not 
 measured  out  to  the  apostle' — things  not  appointed  him  to  do. — Mackn. 
 Of  the  rule,  tov  Kavovu^,  '  of  the  line.'  This  word  signifies  a  line  or 
 cord  made  use  of  in  measuring  lajid. — Par.;  also,  the  white  line  by 
 wliich  the  part  of  the  stadium  was  marked  in  which  the  racers  were  to 
 run.  In  this  passage,  '  the  measure  of  the  line'  signifies  the  division 
 of  a  country  wliich  is  allotted  to  one ;  and,  in  particular,  the  difterent 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IX I.  JHiat  we  give  to  God  shall 
 
 have  its  reward;  nnd  in  giving  to  his  poor  members  we  give  lo 
 hira.  '  Forasmuch  as  ye  did  it  to  the  least  of  these,'  shall  the 
 Saviour  say,  '  ye  did  it  unto  me.'  How  few  the  seeds!  how- 
 large  the  harvest ! 
 
 IL  What  God  gives  to  us  should  crcite  our  gratitude.  We 
 should  be  thankful  that  we  have  anything  wliich  we  can  in 
 this  way  give  him  back  again,  and  so  shew  our  love  to  him  in 
 1238 
 
 shewing  it  to  his  poor  members  ;  but  while  we  think  of  our 
 own  liberality,  let  it  lead  us  to  think  of  his  liberality  towards 
 us  ;  and  in  contemplating  the  gifts  of  the  munificent  to  the 
 needy,  let  us  raise  our  hearts  to  heaven  in  recollection  of  that 
 infinite  bounty  manifested  towards  us  in  the  gift  of  God's  own 
 and  only-begntten  Son  for  our  redemption,  and  exclaim,  with 
 the  warmest  emotions  of  gratitude,  '  Thanks  be  unto  God  for 
 his  unspeakable  gift.' 
 
PauVs  forced  commendation 
 
 14  For  we  stretch  not  ourselves  beyond  our 
 measure,  as  though  we  reached  not  unto  you: 
 "  for  we  are  come  as  far  as  to  you  also  in 
 preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ : 
 
 la  Not  boasting  of  things  without  otir  mea- 
 sure, that  is,  '  of  other  men's  labours  ;  but 
 having  hope,  when  your  faith  is  increased,  that 
 we  shall  be  |1  enlarged  by  you  according  to 
 our  rule  abundantly, 
 
 1 G  To  preach  the  gospel  in  the  regions  be- 
 yond you,  and  not  to  boast  in  another  man's 
 II  line  of  things  made  ready  to  our  hand. 
 
 17  ''  But  he  that  glorieth,  let  him  glory  in  the 
 Lord. 
 
 18  For  'not  he  that  commendeth  himself  is 
 approved,  but  '  whom  the  Lord  commendeth. 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 1  Out  of  his  jealousy  over  the  Corinthians,  who  seemed 
 to  itmke  more  account  of  the  false  apostles  than  of  him, 
 he  enter eth  into  a  forced  commendation  of  himself  5 
 of  his  equality  with  the  chief  apostles,  7  ofhispreach- 
 imi  the  gospel  to  them  freely,  and  irithoitt  any  their 
 charge,  13  shewing  that  he  was  not  inferior  to  those 
 deceitful  worhers  in  any  legal  prerogative,  23  and  in 
 the  si  rvice  of  Christ,  and  in  all  kind  of  svfft  rings  fur 
 his  ministry ,  far  superior. 
 
 'YJiTOVLD  to  God  ye  could  bear  with  me  a 
 ^^    little  in  '^  mj/  folly:  and  indeed   ||  bear 
 with  me. 
 
 2  For  I  am  ^jealous  over  you  with  godly 
 jealousy  :  for  '^  I  have  espoused  you  to  one 
 husband,  -^that  1  may  present  ^ow  ^a^  a  chaste 
 virgin  to  Christ. 
 
 3  But  I  fear,  lest  by  any  means,  as  '"the  ser- 
 pent beguiled  Eve  through  his  subtilty,  so 
 your  minds  ^should  he  corrupted  from  the 
 simplicity  that  is  in  Christ.  | 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  XL 
 
 and  comparison  with  others. 
 
 >i  1  Cor.  3.  5, 
 10.  &  4.  15. 
 &  9.  I. 
 
 y  Is.  6o.  16. 
 
 I  Ci^r.  1.31. 
 r  Pro    27.  2. 
 
 n  Rnm.2.  29 
 
 a  ver.  16, 
 ch.  5  13. 
 II  Or,  y  do 
 
 1.1. 
 
 i  Col  I.  28. 
 •  Lev.  21.13. 
 /  Gen.  3.  4 
 
 John  H.  41. 
 g  Eph.  6  21. 
 
 Col. 2.  4.  8. 
 
 18  1  Tim. I. 
 
 3.  fc  4.  I 
 
 Heb.  13.  9. 
 
 S  Pet.  3.17. 
 
 h  Gal.  1.7,8. 
 It  Or,  with 
 me. 
 
 I  Cor.  1.17. 
 c  2    1,  13 
 
 1  Acta  IB. 3. 
 I  Cnr  9  6, 
 12    cb.ia.l. 
 
 o  Acts  20,33. 
 ch.  12.  13. 
 
 1  Thes.?.!)- 
 
 2  Tbes.  3.S, 
 9. 
 
 P  Phil.  4. 10, 
 
 15,  16. 
 q  ch.  12.  14, 
 
 16. 
 
 r  Rom.  9.  1. 
 t  Gr.  thii 
 
 thiU  n"t  be 
 
 tlopjied  in 
 
 me. 
 3  I  Cor.9.15. 
 t  ch.  6.  II. 
 
 h  -.  3.&I2. 
 
 ih. 
 u  I  Cor.9.12. 
 T  Acts  15  24 
 
 Rom  16.18. 
 
 Gal.  1.  7.  & 
 
 6.12.  Phil. 
 
 I,  15. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.   1. 
 
 I  John  4.  1. 
 
 Rev.  2.  2. 
 J.CI..2.  17. 
 
 Phil.  3.  2. 
 
 Tit.  1.  la, 
 
 II. 
 z  Gal.  1.  8. 
 
 4  For  if  he  that  cometh  preacheth  another 
 Jesus,  whom  we  have  not  preached,  or  if  ye 
 receive  another  spirit,  which  ye  have  not  re- 
 ceived, or  ^  another  gospel,  which  ye  have 
 not  accepted,  ye  might  well  bear  ||  with 
 him. 
 
 5  For  I  suppose  '  I  was  not  a  whit  behind  the 
 very  chiefest  apostles. 
 
 G  But  though  ^  I  be  rude  in  speech,  yet  not 
 '  in  knowledge  ;  but  "'we  have  been  throughly 
 made  manifest  among  you  in  all  things. 
 
 7  Have  I  committed  an  offence  "in  abasing 
 myself  that  ye  might  be  exalted,  because  I 
 have  preached  to  you  the  gospel  of  God 
 freely  ? 
 
 8  I  robbed  other  churches,  taking  wages  of 
 them,  to  do  you  service. 
 
 9  And  when  I  was  present  with  you,  and 
 wanted,  °  I  was  chargeable  to  no  man  :  for 
 that  which  was  lacking  to  me  '' the  brethren 
 which  came  from  Macedonia  supplied  :  and  in 
 all  thiuffs  I  have  kept  myself  ''from  being 
 burdensome  unto  you,  and  50  will  I  keep 
 myself 
 
 10  'As  the  truth  of  Christ  is  in  me,  f^no 
 man  shall  stop  me  of  this  boasting  in  the 
 regions  of  Achaia. 
 
 11  Wherefore?  *  because  I  love  you  not? 
 God  knoweth. 
 
 12  But  what  I  do,  that  I  will  do,  "  that  I  may 
 cut  off  occasion  from  them  which  desire  occa- 
 sion ;  that  wherein  they  glory,  they  may  be 
 found  even  as  we. 
 
 13  For  such  ^  are  false  apostles,  ^deceitful 
 workers,  transforming  themselves  into  the 
 apostles  of  Christ. 
 
 14  And  no  marvel;  for  Satan  himself  is 
 transformed  into  ^  an  angel  of  light. 
 
 countries  assigned  to  Paiil  as  the  scene  of  liis  preaching-. — Ulnrkn. 
 
 14.  For  we  stretch  not,  ^c,  *  I  am  not  chargeable,  as  your  new  preachers 
 are,  with  extending  my  course  beyond  its  appointed  bounds  -,  as  if, 
 without  proceeding  gradually.  I  had  passed  by  other  towns  and  cities 
 that  lay  in  my  way,  or  had  not  come  unto  you  till  after  ye  had  received 
 the  gospel  by  some  other  hand  ;  for  I  took  all  other  places  far  and  near 
 that  were  within  the  compass  of  my  travels  ;  and  when  I  had  fullilled 
 the  necessary  parts  of  my  ministry,  in  them  severally,  I  advanced  for- 
 ward, till,  at  leng-th,  I  reached  Corinth  also,  where  I  was  the  first  that 
 preached  the  glad  tidings.* — Giiijse.  They  did  net  go  beyond  the  bounds 
 set  them  by  the  purpose  and  providence  of  God  by  gointr  to  Corinth. 
 As  though  we  reached  not,  §-c.,  by  right,  or  according  to  the  will  of  God. 
 In  preachini:,  fyc,  which  was  owned  to  the  conversion  of  souls. — Gill. 
 
 15.  Enlar<^ed  bi/  ynu,  '  that  your  progress  in  Christianit5'  will  enable  me 
 to  keep  my  course  on  beyond  your  country,  and  convert  still  more 
 people  to  the  gosi)eI.' — Pt/le.  l6.  Not  to  boast  in  another  man's  line, 
 or  '  enter  into  another  man's  province  ;*  glory  in  other  men's  labours, 
 as  did  the  false  apostles. — Gill.  I".  Glory  in  the  Lord,  in  the  Lord 
 Jesus,  by  whose  grace  he  is  what  he  is,  and  does  wiiat  he  doth.—  Gnyse. 
 
 Chap.  XI. — 1.  Would,  '  I  wist ;'  for  the  word  '  God'  is  not  in  the  ori- 
 ginal.— Bens.  In  my  folly,  because  self- commendation  proceeds  from 
 vanity  and  folly,  and  those  who  knew  not  circumstances  might  be  dis- 
 posed to  impute  folly  to  the  aposUe,  he  here  uses  the  tcrm.—M'hitby, 
 Bur.  2.  Jealous — ^jealousy  is  a  passion  which  renders  a  person  im- 
 patient of  a  rival  or  partner,  with  respect  to  a  thing  or  person  beloved. 
 By  telluig  them  '  he  was  jealous  over  them,'  the  apostle  gives  them  to 
 know  he  so  exceedingly  loved  them,  that  he  could  not  bear  that  any 
 should  pretend  to  have  more  regard  for  them  than  he  had,  and  withal 
 tliat  he  feared  lest  their  affections  should  be  alienated  from  him  and 
 from  Christ  by  the  false  teachers. — Bfim.  Ef^pouned  pnu,  fyc,  as  the 
 Jews  say  that  Moses  espoused  Israel  to  God  in  Mount  Sinai,  when  he 
 made  them  enter  into  covenant  with  him  there ;  so  the  apostle  saith, 
 By  converting  you  to  the  Christian  faith,  I  have  espoused  you  to  one 
 husband,  even  Cluist. — Whitby,  Bur.  As  a  chaste  j-fV^in,  pure  in  your 
 affection,  and  spotless  in  yoiu"  conduct. — Bens.  There  was  an  officer 
 among  the  Greeks  whose  business  it  was  to  educate  and  form  young 
 
 women,  especially  those  of  rank  and  figure,  designed  for  marriage,  and 
 then  to  present  them  to  those  who  were  to  be  their  husbands ;  and 
 if  this  officer  permitted  thera,  through  negligence,  to  be  corrupted 
 between  the  espousals  and  consummation  of  the  marriage,  great  blame 
 would  naturally  fall  upon   him.— Doddr.  3.    Simplicity   that  is  in 
 
 Christ,  singleness  of  affection. —  Weds.  4.  Another  Jesus,  ^-c,  if  he 
 can  point  out  another  Christ;  another  spirit,  who  can  bestow  superior 
 gifts  ;  another  gospel,  equally  important ;  there  would  be  some  excuse. 
 — Doddr.  5.  Not  a  ivhit  behind,  fyc,  not  inferior  in  gifts,  grace,  and 
 usefulness  to  such  as  Peter,  James,  and  John,  who  seemed  to  be  pillars, 
 and  were  eminent  apostles  of  great  note  among  thera.— Gill,  so  Pt/le 
 and  Ham.  6.  Rude  in  speech — '  yea,  though  my  style  be  plain,  like 
 that  of  an  ordinary  person,'  et  At  Kat  iditoTtic,  without  the  flourishes  of 
 human  rhetoric.  From  his  speeches  and  epistles,  it  is  evident  the 
 apostle  was  no  stranger  to  rhetoric;  but  he  purposely  avoided  the 
 pomp  of  Greek  eloquence,  and  the  studied  Eurts  of  human  oratory,  in 
 preaching,  (see  l  Cor.  ii.  4,  5  )  His  Hebraisms  also  might  not  be  ac- 
 ceptable. Some  have  thought  that  he  had  perhaps  a  stammering  or 
 defect  in  liis  voice. — Gnijse,  Fell.  See  also  Beztt,  Locke,  Blnckwtill, 
 Whitby.  Not  in  knowledge,  of  Christ,  and  of  the  whole  sclierae  of  the 
 gospel  received  by  revelation  from  him,  (Gal.  i.  1*2. J — Gutjse.  7.  Abrui- 
 ing  myself,  by  working  as  a  tent  maker. — Doddr.  S.  Robhed-~taking 
 ivfiges,  *  stripped  other  churches  that  have  been  captivated  to  the  obe- 
 dience of  Christ  by  my  ministry.'  The  words  ecn/Aricra  Xa/Siav  o\l/(,}viuv, 
 are  militar>-  terms  ;  perhaps  there  may  be  some  allusion  to  the  spoils 
 that  are  taken  from  captives,  and  applied  to  further  use  in  carrying  on 
 wars  and  victories. — Guyse.  The  brethren  at  Philip]ii  were  so  anxious 
 to  render  the  apostle's  preaching  in  Corinth  successful,  that  during  his 
 residence  there  they  sent  him  money  to  prevent  his  being  burdensome 
 to  the  Corinthians.  The  apostle  called  this  a  spoiling  of  the  Pliilippians, 
 because  it  was  taking  wages  without  work. — Mackn.  See  Philipp.  iv. 
 15,  ifi.  12.  That  I  will  do,  preaching  the  gospel  gratis.  Even  as  we, 
 '  as  we  are,'  that  their  true  characters  and  deeds  may  be  manifested  to 
 all  the  churches.— XiHc.  13.  Transforming,  ^c,  counterfeiting  the 
 outward  appearance  of  true  apostles. —  Wells.  14.  An  angel  of  light, 
 pretending  to  be  a  ministering  spirit  to  them  whom  he  intends  to  destroy. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    X.  ~  Observe    here,     I.    The        U.  The  boundaries  of  the  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.    These  are 
 
 weapons  of  the  minister  ofjtsus  Christ.     The  ministers  of  the  all   marked    out    for   him.      Every  "man  is  appointed   to  his 
 
 gospel  do  not  war  '  after  the  flesh.'     *  They  have  the  scripture  station,  and  every  soul  within  his  reach  must  be  the  object  of 
 
 magazine  ever  ready  at  hand,  whence  they  may  be  furnished  his  solicitude  ;  while,  if  God  qives  him  success,  to  God  he 
 
 with  mighty  and  spiritual  weapons,  and  may  humbly  hope  humbly,  thankfully,  and  gratefully  ascribes  all  the  glory, 
 that  the  Spirit  of  God  will  render  them  efiectual.' 
 1239 
 
The  apostle  recounteth 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  Xil. 
 
 his  sufferings. 
 
 15  Therefore  it  is  no  great  thing  if  his  minis- 
 ters also  be  transformed  as  the  '  ministers  of 
 righteousness  ;  ■■  whose  end  shall  be  according 
 to  their  works. 
 
 IG  '  I  say  again,  Let  no  man  think  me  a  fool  ; 
 if  otherwise,  yet  as  a  fool  ||  receive  me,  that  I 
 may  boast  myself  a  little. 
 
 17  That  whicli  I  speak,  ''  1  speak  it  not  after 
 the  Lord,  but  as  it  were  foolishly,  "^in  this  con- 
 fidence of  boasting. 
 
 IS  <■  Seeing  that  many  glory  after  the  flesh,  I 
 will  glory  also. 
 
 19  For  ye  suflfer  fools  gladly,  ^seeing  ye 
 yourselves  are  wise. 
 
 •20  For  ye  suffer,  ''  if  a  man  bring  you  into 
 bondage,  if  a  man  devour  iiou,  if  a  man  take  of 
 yoii,\i  A  man  exalt  himself,  if  a  man  smite  you 
 on  the  face. 
 
 21  I  speak  as  concerning  reproach, 'as  though 
 we  had  been  weak.  Howbeit  'whereinsoever 
 any  is  bold,  (I  speak  foolishly,)  I  am  bold  also. 
 
 ii  Are  they  Hebrews?  'so  am  I.  Are 
 they  Israelites?  so  am  I.  Are  they  the  seed 
 of  Abraham?  so  atn  I. 
 
 23  Are  they  ministers  of  Christ?  (I  speak 
 as  a  fool)  I  am  more  ;  '"  in  labours  more  abun- 
 dant, "  in  stripes  above  measure,  in  prisons 
 more  frequent,  "in  deaths  oft. 
 
 2-t  Of  the  Jews  five  times  received  I  ''forty 
 stripes  save  one. 
 
 25  Thrice  was  I  ''  beaten  with  rods,  '  once 
 was  I  stoned,  thrice  I  '  suffered  shipwreck,  a 
 night  and  a  day  I  have  been  in  the  deep  j 
 
 2G  In  journeyings  often,  in  perils  of  waters, 
 in  perils  of  robbers,  '  in  perils  hy  mine  oicn 
 countrymen,  "in  perils  by  the  heathen,  in 
 perils  in  the  city,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness, 
 in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils  among  false 
 brethren ;  i 
 
 o  ell.  3.  9. 
 b  Phil,  3.  19. 
 
 c  ver.  I.  ch, 
 
 IS   6,  II. 
 II  Or,  ,„Jl„. 
 
 /t  I  Cor.  7.  6, 
 o  ch.  9.  4. 
 
 /  PhU.  3.  S, 
 4. 
 
 g  I  Cor.  4.10. 
 
 ."  cli.  10.  10. 
 *  Phil.  3.  4. 
 
 /  Acts  22.  S. 
 Rom  II.  I. 
 PhU.  3.  b. 
 
 m  I  Cor.  15. 
 
 10. 
 n  Acta  B.  Ifi. 
 
 St  211.  2.S,  >ft 
 
 21    II.  ch. 
 
 6.  1.  5. 
 o  1  Cor.  15. 
 
 30,  31,  32. 
 
 ch.  1.  9,  10. 
 
 &  i.  1 1,  h 
 
 0.  0. 
 p  Dea.  25  3. 
 7  Acta  10.22 
 r  Acts  M.19. 
 
 *  Acta ^'7. .n. 
 
 *  Acta  9.  2S 
 8t  1.1.  50  & 
 II,  5.  g^  17. 
 5.  &  211  3. 
 t€  21.  31.  & 
 2M.  10,  II.  h 
 25.  s. 
 
 u  ActH  14.5. 
 !■  19.  23. 
 
 X  Acta20.31. 
 ch   e.  5. 
 jf  I  Cor.4.1I. 
 
 r  See  Acta 
 20.  19,  &c. 
 Rom.  I.  U 
 
 ..  1  Cor.8.13. 
 
 5  ch.  12.  5, 
 9,  10. 
 
 c  Bom.  1.9. 
 k  9. 1.ch.l 
 2.1  Gal.  1. 2. 
 I  Tlies.  2  5 
 
 d  Rom.  9.  5. 
 
 t  Acu  9.  24, 
 
 )  fir.  F.,r  / 
 uitl  come. 
 
 a  Rom.  111.7. 
 ch.  5.  17. 
 Gal.  1.22. 
 
 A  P.  46. 
 at  Luiira, 
 Acta  li.  6. 
 
 27  In  weariness  and  painfulness,  "in  watcli- 
 ings  often,  ^in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fastings 
 often,  in  cold  and  nakedness. 
 
 28  Beside  those  things  that  are  without,  that 
 which  Cometh  upon  me  daily,  '  the  care  of  all 
 the  churches. 
 
 29  "  Who  is  weak,  and  I  am  not  weak  ?  who 
 is  offended,  and  I  burn  not? 
 
 30  If  I  must  needs  glory,  ''I  will  glory  of  the 
 things  whicli  concern  mine  intirmities. 
 
 31  "^  The  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ,  ''  which  is  blessed  for  evermore,  know- 
 eth  that  1  lie  not. 
 
 32  "  In  Damascus  the  governor  under  Aretiis 
 the  king  kept  the  city  of  the  Damascenes  with 
 a  garrison,  desirous  to  apprehend  me  : 
 
 33  And  through  a  window  in  a  basket  was 
 I  let  down  by  the  wall,  and  escaped  his  hands. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 I  FoT  commending  of  his  apostlfs/iip,  though  he  might 
 plory  of  his  icundtrful  rt:vtlatiu7ts,  9  i/et  he  rather 
 chooseth  to  ylori/  of  his  iiijirmities,  11  hlaminq  them 
 for  forciny  him  to  this  vain  boasting.  14  He  pm- 
 7}iistt/i  to  come  to  them  again  :  but  yet  altigcther  in 
 the  afftction  of  a  father,  20  althongk  he  ftorefh  he 
 shall  to  his  grief  Jind  many  oJflnderSf  and  pnblick 
 disorders  there. 
 
 T  T  is  not  expedient  for  me  doubtless  to  glory. 
 •*-  1 1  will  come  to  visions  and  revelations  of 
 the  Lord. 
 
 2  1  knew  a  man  °  in  Christ  about  fourteen 
 years  ago,  (whether  in  the  body,  I  cannot  tell  ; 
 or  whether  out  of  the  body,  I  cannot  tell  : 
 God  knowcth  ;)  such  an  one  ^caught  up  to 
 the  third  heaven. 
 
 3  And  I  knew  such  a  man,  (whether  in  the 
 body,  or  out  of  the  body,  I  cannot  tell  :  God 
 knoweth  ;) 
 
 4  How  that  he  was  caught  up  into  ''paradise, 
 
 15.  l^efrworfr*.  and  not  their  specious  pretences,  (Phil.iii.  18.)— Whitbg. 
 
 16.  Receive  me,  '  bear  with  me.^—Mackn.  IJ.  Not  after  the  Lord, 
 *  not  by  any  immediate  direction  or  inspiration  from  Christ.'— Doddr. 
 As  it  were  fi}(iUshbj—\i(i  does  not  say  that  what  he  said  was  foolishness, 
 but,  it  looked  hke  it,  and  would  be  deemed  so  by  such  who  were  stran- 
 gers to  the  true  springs  of  it.— Gill.  19.  Glorg  nfter  the  flesh,  in  ex- 
 ternal privileges  and  outward  advantages,  particularly  in  being  the 
 natural  seed  of  Abraham.— Bi/r.  19.  For  ye  suffer  fools,  §c.,  this  is 
 written  in  the  highest  strain  of  ridicule.— iVacA-n.,  so  Kewc.  20.  //  a 
 mnn,  fyc.  '  your  patience  in  bearing  I  own  is  very  great ;'  '  for  ye  bear 
 it  if  the  false  teacher  enslave  your  conscience— if  he  eat  ynu  up.'  by 
 living  m  luxury  at  your  expense  ;  '  if  he  extort  presents  from  you  ;  if 
 he  raLse  himself  against  you'  in  virath,  when  ye  refuse  to  comply  \\ith 
 his  will ;  '  if  he  even  beat  you  on  the  fuce.'—Maclcn.  22.  Hebrews, 
 speaking  the  Jewish  language.  Israelites,  descended  from  Jacob. 
 Seed  of  Abraham,  not  proselyte.^. — Bur.  2:i.  /  am  more,  far  exceeding 
 them  in  labours  and  sufferings  for  Christ. — ^oMackn.  24.  Forty  stripes, 
 ^■c,  the  greatest  severity  that  the  Jewish  law  permitted,  (Deut"  xxv.  3.) 
 —Ham.  See  Dent.  xxv.  3,  notes.  2.5.  Hods,  a  bundle  of  which  was 
 carried  before  the  Roman  consul ;  so  that  the  punishment  here  alluded 
 to  was  probably  lutlicted  by  the  Romans.— Kam.  Thrice  I  suffered 
 shipwreck — these  shipwrecks  were  all  different  from  that  in  Acts,  xxvii., 
 for  that  was  not  till  after  the  apostle  wrote  this  epistle.— Gw^se.  In 
 the  deep,  perhaps  tossed  to  and  fro  on  some  broken  piece  of  a  ship.— 
 Up.  Fell,  Whitfig ;  or  in  an  open  boat,  on  the  loss  of  a  ship. — Paley. 
 26.  Of  waters,  in  dangers  from  the  depths  and  rapidity  of  rivers  in  pass 
 ing  them.  To  render  the  word  Tiorai^Mv  '  waters,'  is  confounding  these 
 hazards  with  those  he  endured  in  the  sea  in  a  very  improper  manner. — 
 Dod4r.,  so  Clarke.  Waters  in  travelling  are  here  intended,  in  distinction 
 from  those  of  the  sea. — Gugse.  Wilderness,  country,  as  opposed  to  city 
 or  town. —  Wells.  28,  That  which  cometk  upon  me  daily,  h  tTitavaTaaii 
 fiov  h  KaO'  n)j.€pai/,  *  rushing  in  upon  me  every  day.'  The  word  cTrio-uffxactf 
 properly  signifies, '  a  tmnult  or  crowd  of  people  rising  up  against  a  man 
 at  once,  and  ready  to  bear  him  down.'— /Jodrfr.     The  care  of  all  the 
 
 churches,  meaning  especially  the  churches  he  had  planted.— B/oot»/. 
 29.  Weak,  and  I  am  not  weak?  S[c.,  '  afflicted,  but  I  sympathize  with 
 him,*  &c. — Stanh.  30.  Mine  infirmities,  *  my  sufferings  for  the  gos- 
 pel.'—If  e/Zs. 
 
 Chap.  XII.— 1 .  Not  erpedient,  '  I  well  know  it  is  not  expedient  for 
 me  to  boast,  nor  would  I  indulge  in  such  a  practice ;  but  with  good 
 piu"poses  I  will  now,*  &c.  I  will  come  to  visions,  Iffc. — the  apostle  here 
 prefers  himself  to  the  false  teachers,  on  account  of  special  revelations 
 made  to  him. — Pyle.  Visions,  o-maoiai,  were  things  presented  to  a 
 person  in  a  supernatural  maimer,  so  as  to  be  the  objects  of  his  sight 
 while  awake,  (see  Luke,  i.  11,  26  ;  Acts,  x.  3.i  These  were  visions  of 
 the  Lord ;  and  he  means,  seeing  the  Lord  Jesus  on  different  occasions 
 after  his  ascension,  (Acts,  ix.  27;  xviii.  Q;  xxii.  18;  xxiii.  11  ;)  and 
 especially  those  visions  which  he  saw  when  he  was  cauglit  up  to  the 
 third  heaven.  Revelations— the^Q  were  discoveries  of  matters  unknown, 
 which  Christ  made  to  Paul  by  an  internal  impression  on  his  mind,  or 
 by  speech,  such  as  the  revelations  mentioned.  Acts,  xiii.  2  ;  i  Tim.  iv.  1. 
 — Muckn.  These  extraordinar>' visions  probably  occurred  while  in  a 
 trance  in  the  temple,  (Acts,  xxii.  I".) — Dr.  lienso/i.  2.  I  knew,  may 
 as  well  be  rendered  in  the  present  tense  here,  and  at  the  beginning  of 
 ver.  3,  as  it  is  in  the  latter  part  of  both  these  verses,  where  it  is  said, 
 '  I  cannot  tell:  God  knows;'  ovk  oiia  6  eeoc  otdev.  A  man  in  Christ, 
 means  '  a  beUever  in  Christ,'  or  one  united  to  him  either  really  or  pro- 
 fes.sionally,  or  hoth.—Cuyse.  This  is  to  be  understood  of  himself,  as 
 appears  from  ver.  7,  where  he  speaks  in  the  first  person.— (?/V/.  Four- 
 t'-fn  years  ago — this  happening  so  long  before  he  mentioned  it,  shews 
 how  little  the  apostle  was  disposed  to  speak  vaimtingly  of  himseU'. — 
 Mark.  Whether  in  the  body,  *  whether  I  were  bodily  removed,  and 
 carried  up  to  the  third  heaven,  or  whether  only  in  a  visicm. '—Ham. 
 Third  heaven— the  Jews  reckoned  the  first  heaven  in  the  air,  the  second 
 amidst  the  stars,  the  third  beyond  the  discovery  of  the  human  senses. 
 — So  Mackn.  4.  Paradise,  the  place  where  God  disjilays  the  most 
 august  symbols  nf  his  presence,  and  is  jiot  different  from  the  tliird  heaven. 
 —Saurin.     He  had  a  foretaste  of  the  blessed  state  of  faitliful  souls 
 
 REFLtcriONS  ON  Chap.  XI.  —  I.  Whatever  fair  show  de- 
 ceivers make,  they  will  sehiom  or  ever  appear  like  faithful  ministerSf 
 in  labouring  without  any  hope  of  worldly  advantage  or  honour,  from 
 pure  love  to  Christ  and  the  souls  of  men, 
 
 II.  Hire  the  servants  of  Christ  may  study  patience^  fortitude, 
 meekness,  and  perseverance  in  well  doing  ;  and  confidence  in  God  to 
 protect  deliver,,  and  comfort,  in  every  possible  suffering  and  danger. 
 1240 
 
 Here  they  may  learn  to  think  less  of  their  own  ease,  indul- 
 gence, or  reputation,  and  more  of  tbe  great  concerns  of  godli- 
 ness, and  to  sympathize  with  the  lighter  sorrows  of  their 
 brethren,  even  when  more  heavily  afflicted  themselves.  Here 
 tbey  may  learn  to  keep  in  view  their  obligations  to  their  Lord, 
 ami  to  refer  all  to  his  glory,  as  'the  God  nud  Father  of 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  blessed  for  evermore.'  ■ 
 
Paul  qlorieth 
 
 11.  CORINTHIANS,  XII. 
 
 in  his  iiijirmitics. 
 
 and  lieard  unspeakable  words,  which  it  is  not 
 II  lawful  for  a  man  to  utter. 
 
 5  Of  such  an  one  will  I  glory:  ■* yet  of  myself 
 I  will  not  glory,  hut  in  mine  infirmities. 
 
 6  For  ^though  I  would  desire  to  glory,  I  shall 
 not  be  a  fool  ;  for  I  will  say  the  truth  :  but 
 now  I  forbear,  lest  any  man  should  think  of  me 
 above  that  which  he  seeth  me  to  he,  or  that  he 
 heareth  of  me, 
 
 7  And  lest  I  should  be  exalted  above  mea- 
 sure through  the  abundance  of  the  revelations, 
 there  was  given  to  me  a  ^  thorn  in  the  flesh, 
 ^  the  messenger  of  Satan  to  buffet  me,  lest  I 
 should  be  exalted  above  measure. 
 
 8  ^  For  this  thing  I  besought  the  Lord  thrice, 
 that  it  might  depart  from  me. 
 
 9  And  he  said  unto  nie.  My  grace  is  sufficient 
 for  thee  :  for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in 
 weakness.  Most  gladly  therefore  '  will  I  rather 
 glory  in  my  infirmities,  ^  that  the  power  of 
 Christ  may  rest  upon  me. 
 
 10  Therefore  '  I  take  pleasure  in  infirmities, 
 in  reproaches,  in  necessities,  in  persecutions,  in 
 distresses  for  Christ's  sake:  ""for  when  I  am 
 weak,  then  am  I  strong. 
 
 1 1  I  am  become  "  a  fool  in  glorying ;  ye  have 
 compelled  me  :  for  I  ought  to  have  been  com- 
 mended of  you  :  for  °  in  nothing  am  I  behind 
 
 d  ch.  II.  30, 
 
 /See  Ezek 
 ?8   -H.  Gal, 
 1.  )H,  U. 
 
 e  Job  a.  7. 
 Luke  I3.lfi 
 
 A  See  neiit. 
 3.  23—27. 
 aiat.2G.M. 
 
 I  rli     II.  30. 
 /*  I  Pet.4,M 
 
 I  Rnm.  5.  3, 
 ch.  7.  1. 
 
 ■i  (h.  II.  I, 
 in,  17. 
 
 ■>  rh.  11.5, 
 Gill   2.6,7 
 
 A    n.  60. 
 
 ;.  I  Cor   :i.  7. 
 
 &   I  J.  8,  '1. 
 
 F.pli .  3.  8. 
 7Uoni.l5.lfl, 
 
 19    1  Cor  y. 
 
 3.  cli.-l  ?.& 
 
 6.  -1.  h  II. 
 
 6. 
 r  I  Cor.  1.7. 
 1   I  Cnr.t>.12. 
 
 Oil-  II.  9 
 tth.  11.7. 
 
 I  Cnr.IO.S3. 
 V  1  Car.4  11, 
 
 ■  15. 
 
 :  I  Thes  2.8. 
 
 Phil.  2.  17. 
 n  Johnin.ll. 
 
 ch.  1. 6. Col, 
 
 1.24.2  Tim. 
 
 2,   10. 
 t  Or.  tfOUT 
 
 suhU. 
 h  ch.  6.  12, 
 
 e  ch.S.e,  1«, 
 22. 
 /cli.8.  18. 
 
 -?  ch.  5.  12. 
 h  Kmn.  9-  I. 
 fh.  II.  SI. 
 
 the  very  chiefest  apostles,  though  ^  I  be  no- 
 thing. 
 
 12  '^  Truly  the  signs  of  an  apostle  were 
 wrought  among  you  in  all  patience,  in  signs, 
 and  wonders,  and  mighty  deeds. 
 
 13  '  For  what  is  it  wherein  you  were  inferior 
 to  other  churches,  except  it  be  that  ^I  myself 
 was  not  burdensome  to  you?  forgive  me  *  this 
 wrong. 
 
 14  "Behold,  the  third  time  I  am  ready  to 
 come  to  you  ;  and  I  will  not  be  burdensome 
 to  you  :  for  ""  I  seek  not  your's,  but  you  :  ^  for 
 the  children  ought  not  to  lay  up  for  the  parents, 
 but  the  parents  for  the  children. 
 
 lo  And  '■  I  will  very  gladly  spend  and  be 
 spent  ^for  fyou;  though  '' tlie  more  abun- 
 dantly I  love  you,  the  less  I  be  loved. 
 
 16  But  be  it  so,  '^  I  did  not  burden  you  : 
 nevertheless,  being  crafty,  I  caught  you  with 
 guile. 
 
 17  "^Didl  make  again  of  you  by  any  of  them 
 whom  I  sent  unto  you  ? 
 
 18  ^I  desired  Titus,  and  with  him  I  sent  a 
 ^brother.  Did  Titus  make  a  gain  of  you? 
 walked  we  not  in  the  same  spirit?  walked  we 
 not  in  the  same  steps? 
 
 19  ^  Again,  think  ye  that  we  excuse  ourselves 
 unto  you  ?  '^  we  speak  before  God  in  Christ  ; 
 
 between  death  and  the  resurrection  ;  for  such  is  the  sense  of  'paradise* 
 in  the  New  Testament. ~P(/;-.  Words,  ptma-ra,  '  words,'  beings  used 
 by  the  Hebrews  to  denote  matters  as  well  as  words,  probably  both 
 were  meant  by  the  aposUe. — Mackn.  5.  But  in  vihn-  injirmitit's—see 
 chap.  xi.  30,  because,  the  more  weak  and  contemptible  he  appeared  in 
 the  eyes  of  the  world,  the  more  clearly  was  his  success  in  preaching 
 shewn  to  be  the  effect  of  the  Divine  power. — Bens.  6.  /  shn/l  not  he 
 a  fool,  *  I  should  not  be  justly  chargeable  with  such  folly  and  vanity 
 upon  that  account,  as  I  mig-ht  seem  to  be,  for  I  would  say  nothing  but 
 what  is  strictly  true.'  I  forbear,  lest,  ^-c,  '  lest  any  man  should  esteem 
 me  to  be  above  a  mere  creature,'  A:c.  7.  And  lest,  8(c.,  *  the  Lord 
 himself  took  an  effectual  method  to  keep  me  humble.' — Guyse.  A  thorn 
 in  the  flesh,  the  expression  evidently  mean^  a  great  and  painful  afflic- 
 tion, (see  Num.  x.Kxiii.  55  ;  Josh,  xxiii.  13.)  .i  messenger  of  Sntan — 
 the  scriptures  teach  us  to  consider  afflictions  generally  in  this  light, 
 (see  Job,  i.  and  U.) — Wil.  Some  very  sensible  affliction  is  intended,  as 
 Ezek.  xxviii.  •ZA.^Mar,  Some  bodily  weakness,  occasioned  by  his  rap- 
 ture, and  which  might  have  affected  his  looks,  speech,  or  gesture. — 
 Mnckn.,  Whitby,  Bens.,  Bull,  Wells,  Jortin.  Perhaps  such  a  pain  as 
 the  stone  ;  or,  at  least,  some  bitter  persecution. — Baxter.  Some  great 
 bodily  affliction  or  some  diabolical,  importunate  temptation. — Poole. 
 Perhaps  the  heavenly  glory  made  a  stronger  impression  on  Paul's 
 ner\'es  than  his  strength  could  bear,  and  affected  him  with  a  degree  of 
 palsy,  and  with  a  tremulous  pronunciation,  see  Dau.  \*iii.  27  ;  x.  8  ;  xi. 
 17.) — Newc.  Paralytic  symptoms. — Whitby,  Dr.  Benson,  Doddr.,  Slnde, 
 Boothr.,  Bloomf.,  Sec.  Nervous  debility,  affecting  the  spirits  and 
 speech. —  Waits-.  St.  Paul's  infirmity  was  one  well  known  in  hot  cli- 
 mates, a  chronical  ophthalmia.  Hence  he  was  what  is  called  '  blear- 
 eyed,'  and  was  often,  perhaps,  obliged  to  wear  a  shade.  It  made  his 
 personal  presence  mean  ;  it  was  a  visible  infirmity  in  his  flesh  ;  it  hin- 
 dered his  usefulness,  and  therefore  he  besought  the  Lord  anxiously  that 
 it  might  depart  from  him.  It  made  it,  for  the  most  part,  painfiil  and 
 difficult  to  \vrite  ;  hence  he  generally  employed  an  amanuensis,  and 
 regarded  it  as  a  great  matter  when  he  used  his  own  pen.  The  caJluig 
 it  '  a  messenger  of  Satan,'  is  perfectly  consistent  with  its  being  a  bodily 
 disease.  Satan,  in  fiftj'  places,  is  represented  as  the  immediate  author 
 of  ciirporal  defects  and  maladies.  It  is  quite  probable  that  the  heavenly 
 virions,  or  the  supernatural  light  which  blinded  him  at  his  conversion, 
 might  have  left  a  weakness  and  disease  in  the  organs  immediately 
 affected,  and  unless  the  miracle  which  restored  Paul  to  sight  removed 
 also  a  natural  secondary  effect  of  the  temporary  injury  the  organs  had 
 received,  there  must  have  been  a  predisposition  afterwards  to  the  com- 
 plaint which  he  seems  to  have  had.  The  metaphor  by  which  St.  Paul 
 describes  his  infirmity  is  also  worthy  of  notice,  as  having  much  weight. 
 The  pain  of  ophthalmia,  when  severe,  exactly  resembles  the  prick  of  a 
 thorn  or  pin,  and  leaves  its  subsequent  effect  for  years.  As  thorns  in 
 the  eyes  are  figuratively  used  for  troubles  and  temptations,  I'see  Num. 
 xxxiii.  55,  and  Jo^h.  xxiii.  13.)  if  this  metaphor  had  an  affinity  with  the 
 actual  bodily  sensations  of  the  apostle,  it  %vas  natural  he  shovUd  think 
 of  and  use  it.  But  the  strongest  argimient  rests  upon  Gal.  iv.  15. 
 After  praising  them  for  not  despising  his  fleshly  infirmity,  he  subjoins, 
 •  I  bear  you  record,  that  if  it  had  been  possible  ye  would  have  plucked 
 out  your  own  eyes,  and  have  given  them  to  me.'  How  natural  this 
 context  on  this  hypothesis  !  How  little  so  on  any  other  !  But  if  the 
 apostle  wa.s  speaking  of  diseased  eyes,  which  made  his  a:ri)ect  un^^ightly, 
 and  prevented  perhaps  much  of  the  natural  effect  of  his  preaching,  to 
 which  they  nevertheless  respectfully  listened,  and  with  affectionate 
 sympathy  did  all  they  could  for  his  comfort  and  relief,  how  natural, 
 how  appropriate,  this  grateful  close  of  the  encomium ! — '  In  your  gene- 
 
 rous  and  tender  sympathy  you  would  have  plucked  out  your  own  sound 
 eves,  and  have  transferred  them  to  my  use.'—Janits  Sl'-phen  Vide 
 'Life  of  Mrs.  H.  More.'  Hannah  More  considers  Sfephei}*.-!  idea  as 
 ingenious  and  true.  But  if  the  traditional  account  of  the  apostle's 
 person  be  correct,  it  may  be  objected  to  this  conjecture,  that  while 
 his  eyes  are  particularly  noticed,  there  is  no  allusion  to  their  weakness, 
 but,  on  the  contrary,  they  are  described  by  Nicephortts  CnUistits  as 
 being  '  lively,  keen,  and  cheerful.'  Moreover,  Lucinn,  in  caricaturing 
 him  in  the  '  Philapetus,'  of  which  he  was  the  reputed  author,  would 
 not,  one  should  think,  have  failed  in  noticing  so  glaring  a  blemi.sh, 
 though  it  is  true  he  took  no  notice  of  his  stooping.  In  reference  to  the 
 argument  from  Gal.  iv.  15,  it  maybe  remarked,  that  plucking  out  the 
 eyes  to  serve  a  person  seems  to  be  quite  a  proverbial  form  of  speech. 
 In  makmg  these  remarks,  it  is  not  intended  decidedly  to  invalidate  the 
 opinion  of  Stephen  ;  but  still  the  objections  may  be  worthy  of  no- 
 tice by  those  who  may  be  disposed  hastily  to  embrace  it.  The  same 
 objections  may  be  made  to  the  usually  received  opinion  that  it  was  a 
 paralnic  affection.  The  last  conjecture  here  given,  by  Dr.  Adam 
 Clarke,  is  deserving  of  consideration. — Ed.  I  see  not  but  that  the 
 devil  himself  may  be  meant,  for  the  phrase,  '  a  thorn  in  the  flesh,'  is 
 metaphorical,  and  the  other,  *  a  messenger  of  Satan,'  is  literal,  and 
 explains  it ;  and  the  whole  may  be  read  thus — '  There  was  given  to  me 
 a  thorn  in  the  flesh,  namely,  ayYeXof  loTav,  "  the  angel  Satan  to  buffet 
 me."'  Hemight  often  appear  visibly  ;  have  power  over  his  body, as  over 
 Job  ;  harass  him  by  stirring  up  his  corruptions,  &e.,  and  finally,  instigate 
 emissaries  against  him,  a  sense  rather  to  be  chosen,  as  including  all 
 others  that  have  any  show  of  truth.— G(7/.  The  words  may  be  ren- 
 dered, '  There  was  given  me  a  thorn  in  the  flesh,  that  the  angel  or  mes- 
 senger of  Satan  might  buffet  me.* — Bens.  It  rather  seems  to  signify 
 those  reproaches  which  his  adversaries  loaded  him  \\ith. — Guy.se.  I 
 believe  the  apostle  to  refer  simply  to  the  distresses  he  entlured  tlirough 
 the  opposition  he  met  with  at  Corinth,  which  was  as  painful  and 
 grievous  to  him  as  a  thorn  in  the  flesh,  or  his  being  bound  to  the  stake. 
 — Clarke.  8.  Thriri',  a  fomi  of  expression,  meaning  '  again  and  again.' 
 —  Hew.  9.  Sujficient,  to  support  thee,  il///  strength,  ,'yr.,  our  weak- 
 ness renders  Cluist's  power  more  signal  and  conspicuous.  —  Bur. 
 Mode  perfect  in  weakness,  '  more  illustriously  displayed  in  the  weakness 
 of  the  instrument  by  which  I  work.' — Bens.  'Glory  in  my  infirmi- 
 ties,''  boast  of  my  weaknesses.' — Bejfgelins,  Mnckn.  Rest  upon  me, 
 fiTKTKt^vuxTT},  as  it  were  '  pitch  its  tent  upon  me,'  and  surround  me  on 
 every  side'. — Doddr.  10.  Infrmities,  throughout  this  discourse  mean 
 sufferings. — Guyse.  Weak — stronq-,  *  the  heavier  the  pressures  are,  the 
 greater  supports  I  have  from  Christ.'— //am.  13.  Wherein  ye  were 
 inferior,  '  can  it  be  said  that  ye  have  not  been  enriched  with  spiritual 
 gifts  and  privileges  as  much  as  any  of  all  the  churches  of  Ctrist  ?' — 
 Guyse.  14.  The  third  time,  seems  to  mean,  '  I  have  once  actually 
 been  with  you  ;  I  was  ready  to  come  a  .second  time,  though  your 
 disorders  hindered  that  journey,  ichap.  i.  23;)  and  I  am  now  ready 
 the  third  time. '—Whit by.  For  the  children,  '  I  look  upon  you  as  my 
 spiritual  children,  and  shall  pro\ide  for  you,  without  expectijig  any- 
 thuig  from  you.'— Py/e.  16.  Being  crafty,  ^-c,  that  these  word.9  con- 
 tain a  false  charge  brought  agahist  Paul  by  his  opposers  is  plain  from 
 the  following  verses,  where  he  shews  that  he  and  his  companions  had 
 acted  with  equal  simpUcity  and  disinterestedness  of  heart.  Nothing 
 was  further  from  lihn  than  craft  or  guile  ;  he  was  upright  and  undis- 
 guised in  all  he  did. — Dav.  17.  Did  1  make  a  gain  ? — he  appeals  to 
 themselves  whether  any  person  he  ever  sent  to  them  received  anything 
 of  them  for  his  use.— fiwr. 
 
 7    T 
 
Paul  threalenelk  ohslinaie  sinners. 
 
 II.  CORINTHIANS,  XIII. 
 
 He  concludeth  with  prayer. 
 
 '  but  we  do  all  things,  dearly  beloved,  for  your 
 edifying. 
 
 20  For  I  fear,  lest,  when  I  come,  I  shall  not 
 find  you  such  as  I  would,  and  that  ^  I  shall  be 
 found  unto  you  such  as  ye  would  not :  lest 
 there  be  debates,  envyings,  wraths,  strifes, 
 backbitings,  whisperings,  swellings,  tumults  : 
 
 21  And  lest,  when  I  come  again,  my  God 
 '  will  humble  me  among  you,  and  that  1  shall 
 bewail  many  '"which  have  sinned  already,  and 
 have  not  repented  of  the  uncleanness  and 
 "  fornication  and  lasciviousness  which  they 
 have  committed. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 1  He  thTeateneth  seteriii/y  and  the  power  nfhis  apostle- 
 ship  aoainst  obstinate  sinners.  5  And  advislnp  them 
 to  a  trial  of  their  faith,  7  and  to  a  reformation  of 
 their  sins  before  his  coming,  II  he  concludeth  his 
 epistle  with  a  general  exhortation  and  a  prayer. 
 
 T^HIS  is  "  the  third  time  I  am  coming  to  you. 
 -*-  ''  In  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses 
 shall  every  word  be  established. 
 
 2  '^  I  told  you  before,  and  foretell  you,  as  if  I 
 were  present,  the  second  time  ;  and  being  ab- 
 sent now  I  write  to  them  ''  which  heretofore 
 have  sinned,  and  to  all  other,  that,  if  I  come 
 again,  '^  I  will  not  spare  : 
 
 3  Since  ye  seek  a  proof  of  Christ  '"speaking 
 in  me,  which  to  you-ward  is  not  weak,  but  is 
 mighty  ^  in  you. 
 
 4  ^  For  though  he  was  crucified  through 
 weakness,  yet  '  he  liveth  by  the  power  of  God. 
 For  ^  we  also  are  weak  ||  in  him,  but  we  shall 
 live  with  him  by  the  power  of  God  toward  you. 
 
 A  I  Cor.  4.21 
 
 ch.  10.  a.  & 
 
 13.  2,  10. 
 
 m  ch.  13.  g. 
 
 a  ch.  13,  1*. 
 6  Num.  35. 
 
 30.  Uen  17. 
 
 6.  &  19.  15. 
 
 Mat.  18.16. 
 
 John  8.  17. 
 
 Hcb.  10.29. 
 •;  cb.  10.  2. 
 
 deb.  12.21. 
 
 tch-  I.  2S. 
 /Mat. 10.20. 
 
 1  Cor.  5.  *. 
 
 ch.  2.  10. 
 e  1  Cor.  9.2. 
 A  Phil.  2.7,8. 
 
 1  Pet.  3.  18. 
 ■  Rom.  6.  i. 
 k  See  ch.  10. 
 
 3,4. 
 \\  Or,  miK 
 
 him. 
 /ICor.U.SS. 
 
 m  Rom. 8.10. 
 
 Gal-  4.  19. 
 r,  I  Cor-9.ir7. 
 
 p  1  Cor.'l.lO. 
 ch.  11.30.  & 
 12.  5,  9,  10. 
 
 7  I  Thes.  3. 
 10. 
 
 r  1  Cor  4.21. 
 
 Ch.  2.  a.  & 
 10.  s.  &  l>. 
 20.  21. 
 I  Tit.  I.  13. 
 
 I  ch.  lu.  8. 
 
 wRnm.l?.lfi, 
 IS.  &  IS.-I, 
 1  Cor.  l.lit. 
 PbU.  2.2.6c 
 3.  IB.  1  Pet. 
 
 jrHora.15  33. 
 (/Rora.16  16. 
 
 ICor.ie.20. 
 
 rrhes.5.26. 
 
 I  Pet. 5.  14. 
 3Rom.l6.24. 
 a  PbU.  2.  I. 
 
 5  '  Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the 
 faith  ;  prove  your  own  selves.  Know  ye  not 
 your  own  selves,  ""  how  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in 
 you,  except  ye  be  "  reprobates. 
 
 6  But  1  trust  that  ye  shall  know  that  we  are 
 not  reprobates. 
 
 7  Now  I  pray  to  God  that  ye  do  no  evil ;  not 
 that  we  should  appear  approved,  but  that  ye 
 should  do  that  which  is  honest,  though  "we 
 be  as  reprobates. 
 
 8  For  we  can  do  nothing  against  the  truth, 
 but  for  the  truth. 
 
 9  For  we  are  glad,  ^  when  we  are  weak,  and 
 ye  are  strong :  and  this  also  we  wish,  **  eve7i 
 your  perfection. 
 
 10  "^  Therefore  I  write  these  things  being  ab- 
 sent, lest  being  present  ^  I  should  use  sharp- 
 ness, '  according  to  the  power  which  the  Lord 
 hath  given  me  to  edification,  and  not  to  de- 
 struction. 
 
 1 1  Finally,  brethren,  farewell.  Be  perfect, 
 be  of  good  comfort,  "be  of  one  mind,  live  in 
 peace  ;  and  the  God  of  love  ^  and  peace  shall 
 be  with  you. 
 
 12  "^  Greet  one  another  with  an  holy  kiss. 
 
 13  All  the  saints  salute  you. 
 
 14  ^  The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
 the  love  of  God,  and  "  the  communion  of  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  be  with  you  all.      Amen. 
 
 t  The  second  epistle  to  the  Corinthians 
 was  written  from  Philippi,  a  city  of  Mace- 
 donia, by  Titus  and  Lucas. 
 
 Chap.  XIII.  —  1.  The  third  time  I  am  coming,  'am  preparing' and 
 purposing  to  come.'— Grof.,  Whitby,  Doddr.,  Wets.,  &c.  Witnesses^ 
 the  law  maxim  here  alluded  to  is  found  in  Num.  x.\xv.  30,  Dent.  xvii. 
 6,  19,  15;  and  sanctioned  by  Christ  himself.  Matt,  xviii.  i6.— Bloom/. 
 The  apostle  meant  to  say  that  he  would  act  deliberately  and  judicially 
 in  deciding  everytliing  he  had  to  settle  by  creditable  witnesses,  so  as 
 Christ  had  directed.— So  Doddr.,  and  Gill.  It  seems  too  formal  a  mode 
 of  interpretation  to  suppose  that  the  apostle  meant  acting  according  to 
 the  law  in  Numbers  and  Deuteronomy.— B/oom/.  The  witnesses  might 
 have  been  Steptianas,  Fortunatus,  and  Achaicus.— Z.ig-/ii/".  By  the 
 witnesses,  understand  the  apostle's  own  admonitory  episiles. — Grot., 
 Ham.,  Locke,  Rosenm.,  Bloomf.  Query:  Is  not  this  an  allusion  to 
 the  third  time  of  the  apostle's  coming  ?  Once  he  had  actually  been,  a 
 second  time  he  had  prepared,  now  he  hoped  to  come ;  and  as  a  thing 
 was  established  by  two  or  three  witnesses,  so  he  hoped  by  another  visit 
 more  firmly  to  establish  the  Corinthians  in  the  truths  he  had  preached, 
 — Ed.  This  is  by  way  of  confirmation  respecting  his  visiting  the  Co- 
 rinthians a  third  time.— So  Wets.  3.  Since  ye  seek,  ffC,  'since  ye' 
 insolently  '  demand  a  proof  of  Christ's  speaking  by  me,*  the  threaten- 
 ing? in  ray  first  letter,  '  who  towards  you  is  not  weak,  but  is  strong 
 among  you,  by  the  spiritual  gifts  conferred  on  you,  and  by  the  punish- 
 ments already  inflicted  on  you.*— il/ucArn.  The  allusion  is  tu  the  false 
 teachers  and  their  adherents,  who  were  so  bold  and  daring  as  to  ques- 
 tion the  apostf'lic  commission. — Guyse.  4.  Weak  in  hi7n,  §(?.,  'in 
 common  with  him.' — Hew.  *  And  though  I  also.'  his  apostle.  '  am 
 weak,'  as  he  was,  being  subject  to  persecution,  infamy,  and  death.  *  I 
 shall  nevertheless  shew  myself  alive  with  him,  by'  exercising  'the 
 power  of  God  among  you,'  punishing  you  severely  if  you  do  not  re- 
 pent.— Mackn.  This  expresses  the  life,  power,  and  efficacy  of  the 
 ministers  of  Christ,  in  and  with  them,  not  only  in  preaching,  but  in 
 rebuking,  admonishing,  laying  on  of  censures,  and  punishing  crimi- 
 nals.—  Gill.  5.  Prove  your  otvn  selces,  tauTouc  AoKifiaCtre,  a  meta- 
 phor taken  from  the  trying  of  metals  by  the  touchstone,  or  some  other 
 way,  to  prove  whether  they  be  good  and  pure  or  not;  and  so  signifies 
 such  a  trial  of  persons  and  things  as  may  shew,  or  prove,  whether  they 
 be  genuine  or  spurious,  in  order  to  their  being  allowed  of  or  rejected. 
 Reprobates,  ahoKtixoi,  'not  approved.'— Gwyse.  Mere  nominal  Chris- 
 tians, and  such  as,  whatever  your  gifts  be,  will  finally  be  '  disapproved' 
 and  rejected,  as  reprobate  silver,  that  will  not  stand  the  touchstone.— 
 Doddr.        6.  Not  reprobates,  not  disapproved  of  by  Christ,  but  abun- 
 
 dantly owned  by  him. — Ham.,  Whitby.  y.  That  ye  do  no  evil,  which 
 might  expose  them  to  his  censure. — Bur.  Though  we  be  ns  reprobates, 
 without  proof  of  our  apostolic  power  to  punish,  having  no  occas.iorj  to 
 punish  you. — So  Mackn.  He  was  satisfied  to  have  no  additional  proof 
 of  his  apostleship,  provided  they  lived  becoming  the  go'^pel. — Dav. 
 H.  We  can  do  nothing  a!:^itinst  the  truth,  ^c.,  that  is,  provided  they  did 
 no  evil,  they  would  be  secure  from  his  censure  and  chastisements, — 
 Bur.  9,  When  we  are  weak,  as  having  no  occasion  to  manifest  our 
 power,  and  ye  are  strong,  in  faitli  and  good  works. —  Whitby.  Your 
 perfection,  '  your  being  set  in  perfect  good  order.' — Doddr.,  so  Guyse. 
 Your  reformation,  or  restoration  to  a  perfect  or  right  state.— PHrfr/i. 
 The  word  Ka-rapnC^tv  properly  signifies  'to  reduce  a  dislocated  mem- 
 ber to  its  right  place  in  the  body ;'  also,  to  restore  and  make  things 
 whole  which  have  been  broken,  (Matt.  iv.  21 ;  Gal.  vi.  1  ;  Ezra,  iv.  12, 
 13;)  Sept.  The  word  therefore  is  applied  with  great  propriety  to  a 
 church  in  which  many  of  its  members  had  misbehaved,  and  put  them- 
 selves out  of  their  places. — Mackn.  l\.  Be  perfect,  'be  it  yur  care 
 that  ye  may  arrive  at  the  highest  degrees  of  goodness.* — Daddr.  Seek 
 after  perfection  in  knowledge,  faith,  and  holiness,  and  in  the  perform- 
 ance of  good  works. — Gili.  12.  Holy  kiss — see  1  Cor.  xvi.  20,  note. 
 \4.  The  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ — these  words  must  be  viewed 
 as  a  prayer  addressed  to  the  Holy  Trinity,  and  imply  the  essential  deity 
 of  each  person.  It  is  observable,  that  the  article  is  applied  to  each 
 name,  tow  Kvptov — row  Qeoo — tok  07(011  UvevficiTov, — which  affords  a 
 strong  proof  of  the  personality  of  the  Holy  Spirit. — Lothian.  The  pas- 
 sage may  be  thus  paraphrased :  '  may  the  free  favour  and  gracious 
 presence  and  influence  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  our  only  Saviour, 
 through  whom,  and  by  whose  merit  and  mediation,  all  spiritual  and 
 eternal  blessings  are  procured  and  conveyed  ;  and  may  the  self-mov- 
 ing love  of  God  the  Father,  which  is  the  original  spring  and  source  of 
 all  distinguishing  blessings  ;  and  may  (soii'WPia)  the  richest  communi- 
 cations of  the  Holy  Spirit,  by  whom  these  blessings  are  effectually 
 applied,  and  we  are  brought  into  a  peculiar  fellowship  with  the  Father 
 and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  (1  John,  i.  3,)  and  into  a  participation  of 
 their  love  and  grace  in  all  their  happy  fruits  and  effects  ;  may  all  this, 
 I  say,  be  continually  with  you,  and  abound  toward  you  as  a  church, 
 and  towards  every  individual  member  therein,  that  all  and  each  of  you 
 may  be  completely  blessed  by  these  three  divine  Persons  in  whose 
 names  we  were  baptized,  (Matt,  xxviii.  19,)  and  who  are  undividedly 
 one  in  nature  and  will,  design  and  operation  !     Amen.' — Guyse. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XIL  —  L  If  the  apostle  Pan/required 
 a  thorn  in  the  flesh  to  humble  him,  let  us  not  be  surprised  to  see 
 eminent  Christians  afflicted.  '  There  is  '  a  needs  be  for  all  our 
 chastisements,  whether  of  body  or  spirit.  Some  Christians 
 require  much  to  keep  them  humble,  and  were  they  not 
 Christians  they  would  be  the  proudest  men  upon  earth.  Such 
 naturally  supplicate  relief  from  their  '  thorn  in  the  flesh,' 
 whatever  it  may  be.  Aud  what  better  relief  can  be  obtained 
 than  this  divine  assurance,  '  my  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee.' 
 1242 
 
 LI.  A  good  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  is  always  concerned  for  the 
 peace  and  happiness  of  the  people  committed  to  his  care.  What 
 perpetual  instances  have  we  of  this  disposition  in  the  conduct 
 of  the  apostle,  and  how  deeply  was  he  at  all  times  affected  by 
 any  departures  from  the  faith,  the  love,  and  holiness,  incul- 
 cated by  the  gospel.  Let  people  study  to  cheer  their  pastors 
 by  watching  carefully  over  the  tendency  of  their  principles 
 and  their  practices. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.  XIIL — Let  us  notice    in   this 
 
THE    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 GALATIANS. 
 
 [This  epistle  is  addressed,  not  to  a  single  church  or  city,  but  to  the  Christians  of  a  province  called  Galatia.  It  was  in  Lesser 
 Asia,  and  first  received  the  gospel  from  the  apostle  Paul,  who,  passing  through  it  in  the  latter  part  of  a.d.  30,  was  re- 
 ceived  with  much  acceptance,  and  there  planted  several  churches,  (Acts,  xvi.  3,  G.)  Not  long  after,  some  Juduizing  zealots 
 were  successful  in  persuading  them  to  submit  to  the  law  of  Moses,  urging,  in  support  of  their  arguments,  the  authority 
 of  the  apostles  and  elders  at  Jerusalem.  The  object  of  this  epistle  was  to  counteract  the  impressions  made  by  these  false 
 teachers,  and  to  prevent  the  Galatians  from  bringing  themselves  under  the  bondage  of  the  Mosaical  law.  In  this  epistle 
 is  especially  asserted  the  great  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  without  the  works  of  the  law.  We  may  profitably  read 
 Galatians  in  connexion  with  the  following  passages  of  the  Old  Testament :— Gen.  xii.  .')— 7  ;  xv.  6 ;  xvii.  7  ;  xviu.  18 ; 
 xxi.  10—12;   Deut.  .xxi.  2-3;  xxvii.  26;  xxxiii.  2  ;   Dan.  ix.  24  ;   Zech.  xii.  8.] 
 
 CHAP.   I. 
 
 6  He  wondtreth  that  they  have  so  soo?i  left  him  arid  the 
 yospel,  8  and  accurscth  those  that  preach  any  other 
 gospel  than  he  did.  1 1  He  learned  the  gospel  not  of 
 meny  but  of  God :  14  and  shewet/t  ivhat  he  was  before 
 his  callingy  17  and  what  he  did  presently  after  it. 
 
 PAUL,  an  apostle,  ("^  not  of  men,  neither  by 
 man,  but  *•  by  Jesus  Clirist,  and  God  the 
 Father,  "^  who  raised  him  from  the  dead  ;) 
 '1   And  all  the  brethren  ^  which  are  with  me, 
 ""unto  the  churches  of  Galatia  : 
 
 3  'Grace  be  to  you  and  peace  from  God  the 
 Father,  and/rom  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 
 4  ^  Who  gave  himself  for  our  sins,  that  he 
 might  deliver  ns  ''  from  this  present  evil  world, 
 according  to  the  will  of  God  and  our  Father: 
 
 5  To  whom  be  glory  for  ever  and  ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 6  I  marvel  that  ye  are  so  soon  removed 
 'from  him  that  called  you  into  the  grace  of 
 Christ  unto  another  gospel  : 
 
 7  ''  Which  is  not  another;  but  there  be  some 
 '  that    trouble   you,   and   would   pervert   the 
 
 a  ver.  II,  \'2- 
 b  Acts  9.  6. 
 &2->.  lU,  15, 
 21.  &  26.16. 
 Tit.  1.  3. 
 c  Acts  2,  24 
 
 d  Phu.  -in. 
 
 &  4.  21. 
 t  I  Cor.16.1. 
 /Rom.  1.7. 
 
 1  Cof.  1.3. 
 
 2  Cor.  I.  2. 
 Eph.  1.2. 
 Phil.  I.  2. 
 Col.  L2. 
 
 1  Thes.  1.1. 
 2The9.  1.2. 
 
 2  John  3. 
 
 g  Mat. 20,28. 
 
 Koin.  4.25. 
 
 oh,  2.  20. 
 
 Tit.  2.  11. 
 h  See  Is   65. 
 
 17.  John  15. 
 
 19.  &  17.  14. 
 
 Heb.2.  5.  & 
 
 6.  5. 1  John 
 
 5.  19. 
 I  ch.  5.  8. 
 4 -2  Cor.  II  4. 
 /  Acts  15.  1, 
 
 21.  2  Cor. 2. 
 
 17.  &  11.13. 
 
 ch.  6.10, 12. 
 
 A-  D    53. 
 r.  1  Cor.  10. 
 
 n  Deut.  4.2. 
 
 &  12.  32. 
 
 Pro.  30.  6. 
 
 Kev.  22.  18. 
 o  I  Thes.2.'l. 
 p  ISam  24.7. 
 
 Mat.  28  11. 
 
 1  John  3.  9. 
 91  Thefi2.4. 
 
 Jam.  4.  4. 
 r  I  Cor. IS. I 
 
 *  1  Cor. 15.1 
 
 3.  ver.  1. 
 /  Eph.  3.  3. 
 
 u  Acta  9.  1. 
 
 &  22.  4.  & 
 
 26    It. 
 
 I  Tim. I. IS 
 z  Acts  S.  3. 
 
 gospel  of  Christ. 
 
 8  But  though  "*  we,  or  an  angel  from  heaven, 
 preach  any  other  gospel  unto  you  than  that 
 which  we  have  preached  unto  you,  let  him  be 
 accursed, 
 
 9  As  we  said  before,  so  say  I  now  again,  If 
 any  man  preach  any  other  gospel  unto  you 
 "  than  that  ye  have  received,  let  him  be  ac- 
 cursed. 
 
 10  For  "^  do  I  now  ''persuade  men,  or  God? 
 or  "'do  I  seek  to  please  men?  for  if  I  yet 
 pleased  men,  1  should  not  be  the  servant  of 
 Christ. 
 
 1 1  ''  But  I  certify  you,  brethren,  tiiat  the 
 gospel  which  was  preached  of  me  is  not  after 
 man. 
 
 12  For  ^  I  neither  received  it  of  man,  neither 
 was  I  taught  it,  but  "^by  the  revelation  of  Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 !3  For  ye  have  heard  of  my  conversation  in 
 time  past  in  the  Jews'  religion,  how  that  "  be- 
 yond measure  I  persecuted  the  church  of  God, 
 ;  and  ^  wasted  it : 
 
 NuTES  ON  Chap.  I.  —  \.  Not  of  men,  not  appointed  by  any  society 
 of  men,  or  any  man.  By  Jesus  Christ,  when  at  Damascus,  (Acts,  ix. 
 l.'i,)  and  three  years  after  the  commission  was  renewed,  (Acts,  xxii. 
 21.} — Mackn.  And  God  the  Father,  who,  in  respect  of  his  Divine  na- 
 tore,  was  one  with  Christ. — Hen.  Raised  him  from  the  rfearf— it  might 
 have  been  objected  that  he  had  not  seen  Christ  in  the  flesh  ;  to  which 
 he  could  reply,  that  he  was  not  called  to  be  an  apnstle  by  Christ  in  bis 
 state  of  humiliation,  but  after  his  resurrection  and  ascension,  and, 
 consequently,  his  call  was  the  more  illustrious.  2.  The  brethren, 
 either  of  the  church  whence  he  wntte,  or  companions  in  travel. — Gill. 
 4.  From  this  present  evil  world,  from  its  evil  temper  and  oppressions, 
 designs  and  practices,  iniquities,  snares,  customs,  fashions;  and  fmm 
 the  Jewish  constitution,  incapable  of  giving'  life. — Guyse.  According 
 to  the  will  of  God,  without  any  merit  of  ours. — Bens.  6.  From  him, 
 i.e..  *  God,'  to  whom  the  apostle  ascribes  this  work,  (see  Rom.  ix.  24  ; 
 1  Cor.  vii.  15  ;  chap.  i.  15,  ike.)— Whitby .  *  From  that  Christ  that  hath 
 called  you  in  grace  ;  who  is  the  giver  of  grace  and  peace  equally  with 
 t  he  Father.'  Paul's  special  purpose  is  to  beat  into  our  minds  the  benefit 
 of  Christ,  by  whom  we  come  unto  the  Father. — Luther.  From  Paul, 
 as  the  instrument,  and  the  blessed  God  himself,  by  whose  commission 
 he  preached. — Guyse.     If  it  be  considered  that  the  e.^cpression  in  the 
 
 original  is  ev  x"P't(,  that  is,  '  by  or  through  the  grace  of  Christ,*  (as 
 rendered,  2  Cor.  i.  12,  2Thess.  li.  16,}  and  not  *  into  the  grace,'  there 
 is  no  difficulty  in  admitting  that  the  apostle  points  out  himself.— i>o(/dr. 
 Grace  of  Christ,  that  is,  the  covenant  of  grace  in  Christ.— IKeZ/jt.  The 
 gospel  of  God's  grace. — Guyse.  Another  gospel,  or  pretended  revela- 
 tion from  God.— Bens.  By  the  false  teachers  called  a  gospel.  7-  ^'ot 
 another,  for  there  can  be  but  one  gospel.— So  Bjs.  Ha//.  8.  Or  an 
 angel,  ^c. — he  supposes  an  impossibility  for  the  confirmation  of  what 
 he  had  before  affirmed.— Sur.  Accursed~t\\e  Greek  word  avat^ejua,  in 
 Hebrew  mn,  signifieth  'a  thing  accursed,  execrable,  and  detestable,' 
 which  hath  nothing  to  do,  no  participation  or  communion,  with  God. 
 —Luther.  '  Let  him  be  one  cut  off  from  the  congregation  of  the  wor- 
 shippers  of  God  by  excommunication,  or  one  separated  to  be  publicly 
 punished  with  death.'— Jl/ar An.  Comp.  Rom.  ix.  .3  ;  1  Cor.  xvi.  22. 
 0.  Persuade  men,  Tret^o,  'approve  myself  to  men.*- See  Par.,  Wets. 
 •Endeavour  to  gain  the  favour  of  men.' — Schleusn.,  Boothr.  '  Do  I 
 seek  to  conciliate  the  favour  oi  m^xiV— Grot.,  Ham.,  Eisner,  Rosenm., 
 8ic.  Pleased,  i.e.,  'made  it  the  scope  and  drift  of  my  labours.' — 
 Bp.  Hall.  11.  Not  after  man,  the  tradition  or  invention  of  man. — 
 Duddr.  13.  Heard  of  my  conuersation.  ^c,  so  that  nothing  but  ex- 
 traordinary means  would  have  converted  him  to  the  gospel. — So  Pyle. 
 
 chapter,  I.  The  exhortations.  Let  us  practise  serious  self- 
 examination.  *  Let  us  search,'  says  Doddridge,  '  whether 
 Jesus  Christ  be  in  us.  Whetherhebe  found  in  our  hearts,  whe- 
 ther he  live  and  act  in  us  by  his  Holy  Spirit.  Else  shall  we  be 
 treated  as  reprobate  silver, — shall  we  be  justly  rejected  of 
 God,  and  no  gifts  or  privileges  will  avail  us.'  Let  us  aim  at 
 increasing  perfection  by  studying  increasing  conformity  to 
 Christ,  the  model  of  all  moral  perfection,  and  *  exhort  one 
 another  to  the  diligent  discharge  of  duty,  to  love,  and  good 
 works;  or  comfort  one  another  in  all  distresses,  inward  and 
 outward,  both  by  words  and  deeds.'  Let  us  be  of  one  mind. 
 holding  the  unity  of  the  spirit  and  of  the  faith  in  the  bond 
 of  peace,  and  this  will  promote  personal  and  social  prosperity 
 124.3 
 
 and  edification. 
 
 IL  The  benediction.  'This,' as  Henry  remarks,  *  is  a  very 
 solemn  benediction;  and  we  should  give  all  diligence  to 
 inherit  this  blessing,  that  is,  the  grace  of  Christ,  the  love  of 
 God,  and  the  communion  (or  communication)  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost ;  the  grace  of  Christ  as  Redeemer,  the  love  of  God 
 that  sent  the  Redeemer,  and  all  the  communications  of  his 
 grace  and  love  which  come  to  us  by  the  Holy  Ghost ;  it  is  the 
 communications  of  the  Holy  Ghost  that  qualify  us  for  an  inte- 
 rest in  the  grace  of  Christ,  and  the  love  of  God;  and  we 
 can  desire  no  more  to  make  us  happy  than  the  grace  of 
 Christ,  the  love  of  God,  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost.    Amen.* 
 
Faul  skeivetli  his  reasons 
 
 GALATIANS,  II. 
 
 for  (joiiif)  to  Jerusalem. 
 
 14  And  profited  in  the  Jews'  religion  aljove 
 many  my  f  equals  in  mine  onn  nation,  ''  being 
 more  exceedingly  zealous  ''  of  the  traditions  of 
 my  fathers. 
 
 15  But  when  it  pleased  God, "  who  separated 
 me  from  my  mother's  womb,  and  called  ?«e  by 
 his  grace, 
 
 16  ^  To  reveal  his  Son  in  me,  that "  I  might 
 preach  him  among  the  heathen  ;  immediately 
 I  conferred  not  with  ''  flesh  and  blood  : 
 
 17  Neither  went  I  up  to  Jerusalem  to  them 
 which  were  apostles  before  me  ;  but  I  went 
 into  Arabia,  and  returned  again  unto  Damas- 
 cus. 
 
 18  Then  after  three  years  '  I  ||  went  up  to 
 Jerusalem  to  see  Peter,  and  abode  with  him 
 fifteen  days. 
 
 19  But  'other  of  the  apostles  saw  I  none, 
 save  ^  James  the  Lord's  brother. 
 
 20  Now  the  things  which  I  write  unto  you, 
 ■•behold,  before  God,  I  lie  not. 
 
 21  '  Afterwards  I  came  into  the  regions  of 
 Syria  and  Cilicia  ; 
 
 22  And  was  unknown  by  face  '  unto  the 
 churches  of  Judaja  which  '  were  in  Christ : 
 
 2.3  But  they  had  heard  only.  That  he  which 
 persecuted  us  in  times  past  now  preacheth  the 
 faith  whicli  once  he  destroyed. 
 
 24   And  they  glorified  God  in  me. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  He  shewcth  when  he  ivent  up  arjnhi  to  Jerusalem,  and 
 for  what  purpose  :  3  and  that  Titus  was  not  cirrum- 
 cised:  II  and  that  he  resisted  Petir,  and  tofd  him 
 the  reason,  14  tvht/  he  and  other,  being  Jews,  do  be- 
 lieve in  Christ  to  be  justified  by  faith,  and  not  hf 
 ■works:  20  and  that  they  Hue  not  in  sin,  who  are  so 
 justified. 
 
 A.  n.  AA 
 
 A.  D.  bB. 
 
 (   Gt.  "juatt 
 
 A.  D-  6-2- 
 
 in   ye'irt. 
 
 a  Acts  15.2. 
 
 If  Acts  22.3. 
 
 fc  -irt.  9. 
 
 b  Acts  15. 
 
 Phil.  3.  6. 
 
 12. 
 
 t  Jer.  9.  U. 
 
 Mat.  If»    2. 
 
 Mark  7    5. 
 
 :i  Or, 
 
 A.  D   33. 
 
 ievtrully. 
 
 a  Is.  49    1,5. 
 
 Jer.  1.5. 
 
 c  PI.il.  2    16. 
 
 Acts  9.  15. 
 
 1  Tiies.  3.5. 
 
 &  13.  a.  & 
 
 S-i.   II,  15. 
 
 Bom,   1.  I. 
 
 b  2  Cor.  4.«. 
 
 c  Acts  9.  15. 
 
 d  Acts  15   1, 
 
 8t  22    -^l.  Ik 
 
 8).  2  Cor. 
 
 ■26.  17,  18. 
 
 U.  26. 
 
 Roin.11.13. 
 
 t  cli,  3.  25. 
 
 Eph.  3.  8. 
 
 ch.  S.  1,  13 
 
 dMat  16.17. 
 
 ^2  Cor.  11, 
 
 1  Cor  1  h  50 
 
 20.  ch.  \.  .'i, 
 
 Eph.  6.  Vi. 
 
 9. 
 
 A.  D.  as. 
 
 S  ver.l-l.  ch. 
 
 e  Acts  9,  S6, 
 
 3.1.  &*  16. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 r«»r„M. 
 
 /  1  C.H  .  9.  5. 
 
 A  ch.  6.  3 
 
 g  Mat  i:l,S.i, 
 
 Mark  6.  3. 
 
 .  Arts  in.rii 
 
 h  Rom.  9.  1. 
 
 Rom.  2.11. 
 k  S  Cnr.  Vl. 
 
 1  Acts  9.  30. 
 
 It. 
 
 /Acta  13. Hi. 
 
 Rom.  1.5. 
 
 k  1  Tlios.  S. 
 
 U  II.  13, 
 1  Tim.  2.  7. 
 
 I  Rom.  1C.7. 
 
 2  Tim.l.n. 
 mlThesL'.4. 
 
 «  Acts  9.  15 
 
 fc  13  2.  & 
 
 2g.-21.  gc  26. 
 
 17.  18. 
 
 1  Cor.  15. 
 
 10.  ch.  1.16. 
 
 Col.  1.  29, 
 
 ocli.3.  5. 
 
 V  Mat.16.IS 
 
 Fph.  2,  211, 
 
 Rtv    21.14. 
 
 a  Boin   1.  5. 
 
 (t  12.3,  6.& 
 
 15.   15, 
 
 I  Cor.LS.lll, 
 
 Eph.  3.  8 
 
 r  Acts  1 1  30 
 
 &  2).  17 
 
 Korn.  15  25. 
 
 1  Cor.  16.1. 
 
 2  C.-.r.S,&  9, 
 
 chiiptcra. 
 
 T^HEN  fourteen  years  after  ^  1  went  up  at;aiii 
 -*-  to  Jerusalem  with  Barnabas,  and  took  Titus 
 with  me  also. 
 
 "l  And  I  went  up  by  revelation,  ^and  com- 
 municated unto  them  that  gospel  which  1 
 preach  among  the  Gentiles,  but  ||  privately  to 
 them  whicli  were  of  reputation,  lest  by  any 
 means  *^  I  should  run,  or  had  run,  in  vain. 
 
 3  But  neither  Titus,  who  was  with  me,  being 
 a  Greek,  was  compelled  to  be  circumcised  : 
 
 4  And  that  because  of  ''  false  brethren  una- 
 wares brought  in,  who  came  in  privily  to  spy 
 out  our  "  liberty  which  we  have  in  Christ  Jesus, 
 ^  that  they  miglu  bring  us  into  bondage  : 
 
 5  To  whom  we  gave  place  by  subjection,  no, 
 not  for  an  hour  ;  that  ^  the  truth  of  the  gospel 
 might  continue  with  you. 
 
 6  But  of  those  ^  who  seemed  to  be  somewhat, 
 whatsoever  they  were,  it  maketh  no  matter  to 
 me:  'God  accepteth  no  man's  person:  for 
 they  who  seemed  to  be  somewhat  ^  in  con- 
 ference added  nothing  to  me  : 
 
 7  But  contrariwise,  '  when  they  saw  that  the 
 gospel  of  the  uncircumcision  ""  was  committed 
 unto  me,  as  the  gospel  of  the  circumcision  was 
 unto  Peter ; 
 
 8  (For  he  that  wrought  effectually  in  Peter 
 to  the  apostleship  of  the  circumcision,  "  the 
 same  was  "mighty  in  me  toward  the  Gentiles  :) 
 
 9  And  when  James,  Cephas,  and  John,  who 
 seemed  to  be  ''pillars,  perceived  ''the  grace 
 that  was  given  unto  me,  they  gave  to  me  and 
 Barnabas  the  right  hands  of  fellowship  ;  that 
 we  should  go  unto  the  heathen,  and  they  unto 
 the  circumcision. 
 
 10  Only  theif  iconhl  that  we  should  remem- 
 ber the  poor  i  "■  the  same  which  I  also  was  for- 
 ward to  do. 
 
 14.  Profited,  or  'made  proficiency.' — Wells.  Jews*  religion,  does  not 
 mean  tliat  taught  originaUy  by  Moses,  but  that  practised  among  the 
 Jews  at  this  time,  being  much  of  it  built  on  the  traditions  of  the  elders. 
 — Doddr.  Ef/Hrt/s,  conremporariesof  thesame  age. — Gill.  Traditions, 
 •  oral  traditions,'  (sec  Mark,  vii.  3  ;  Acts,  xxii.  3.}-~W/iitdr/.  15.  Who 
 separated,  Sfc. — the  change  that  was  wrought  in  him  was  in  pursuance 
 of  a  divine  purpose  concerning  him;  whereby  he  wa-;  appointed  to  be 
 a  Christian  and  an  apostle  before  he  came  into  the  woriit. — Hen.  In 
 me,  'by  me.* — Ham.  '  To  me.' — Whithy.  '  Not  only  to  me,  by  eternal 
 declaration,  but  in  me,  by  internal  and  efficacious  illumination,'  (2  Cor. 
 iv.  6.)  l6.  /  conferred  not  with  fiesh  and  blood,   'did  not  stand  to 
 
 consult  the  inclinations,  ease,  and  comforts  of  animal  nature.*— Gi/yse. 
 'Consulted  no  man  on  my  mission,  or  for  instructions  in  it.' — So 
 Whitby  and  Clarke.  1".  Neither  went  I  up  to  Jerusalem,  'proving 
 that  I  did  not  receive  the  gospel  from  men  ;  not  from  the  apostles 
 themselves.' — Gill,  Info  Arubia — not  mentioned  by  Luke  in  the  Acts, 
 he  not  having  been  with  him. —  Whitby.  24.  Glorified  God  in  me, 
 rendered  him  hearty  praises  for  his  grace  to  him.— Guvse. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  I.  Fourteen  years  after,  after  his  conversion,  or  rather 
 ntter  he  had  seen  Peter  at  Jerusalem,  making  it  seventeen  years  after 
 bis  conversion. —  Gill.  Toak  Tilus,  who,  being  a  Gentile  by  birth,  and 
 an  uncircumcised  person,  was  an  instance  of  the  apostle's  not  being 
 asliamcd  to  assert,  even  at  Jerusalem,  that  circumcision  was  not  ne- 
 cessary to  the  believing  Gentiles. —  Wells.  2.  By  revelation,  '  by  the 
 appointment  of  a  special  revelation.' — Doddr.    And  communicated,  ^c. 
 
 '  so  far  was  I  from  receiving  the  gospel  from  them,  that,  ave9€fx>jv,  I 
 explained  it  in  its  full  extent  to  them.' — Guyse.  But  privately,  or 
 'severally,'  marir.  Of  reputation,  or  'of  eminence.' — Bens.  If  the 
 apostle  had  not  communicated  as  he  did  with  the  leading  men  at  Jeru- 
 salem, and  satisfied  them  of  his  doctrine  and  mission,  his  opposers 
 might  unsettle  the  churches  he  had  planted  or  should  plant,  by  urging 
 that  the  apostles  knew  not  what  he  preached,  nor  had  ever  owned  it 
 for  the  gospel,  or  him  for  an  apostle. — Locke.  Lest  by  any  ?neans  I 
 should  run,  'lest,  perhaps,  being  suspected  to  preach  differently  from 
 them,  my  future  and  past  labours  might  become  useless.'  liun  in  vain, 
 — this  is  an  allusion  to  the  rare,  for  he  is  said  to  run  in  vain  who  loses 
 the  prize.  3.  But  neither  Titus,  'however,'  ov6e,  '  not  even  Titus,' 
 &c.,  was  compelled,  tj^ayKairOn,  '  persuaded,'  to  be  circumcised,  though 
 a  converted  Gentile. — Mackn.  4.  And  that  because,  fyc,  tbe  apostle 
 would  not  persuade  him  to  be  circumcised,  that  he  might  bear  his  tes- 
 timony against  the  false  brethren  who  came  to  impose  the  code  of 
 Moses  upon  them. — Ed.,  Guyse.  5.  Truth  of  the  gospel,  which  frees 
 the  Gentiles  from  the  obligation  of  the  }a,w.— Whitby.  6.  Added  no- 
 thing to  me,  'altered  nothing,'  nor  'said  anything,' which  I  did  not 
 know  behtre. — Ham.  Said  nothing  in  reply. — Wil.  ~.  That  the 
 gospel  of  the  circumcision,  ^c,  '  that  I  had  received  from  Christ  the 
 commission  of  preaching  to  the  Gentiles.'  and  so  an  equality  of  office 
 apostolical  to  St.  Peter,  whose  office  was  to  preach  to  the  Jews  espe- 
 cially.— Ham.  9.  Seemed,  '  were  thought,'  ol  iotiouvn?,  (see  1  Cor.  vii. 
 40,  note.)        10,  Remember  the  poor,  the  poor  Christians  in  Judea, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I. — We  may  here  remark — 1.  On 
 the  truth  and  importance  of  the  gospel.  No  system,  professing 
 to  be  divine,  ever  came  to  tbe  world  so  powerfully  supported. 
 False  systems  have  ever  been  introduced  and  supported  by 
 artifice  and  chicanery.  Here  was  no  collusion  in  the  apostle's 
 case.  A  notorious  enemy  lo  the  religion  of  Christ,  be  sud- 
 denly became  its  friend.  A  man  deeply  versed  in  Jewish 
 traditions,  and  strongly  prejudiced  in  their  favour,  begins  at 
 once  to  preach  tlie  doctrines  of  Christ.  A  stranger  to  other 
 believers,  without  receiving  instruction  from  their  lips,  he 
 fully  declares  all  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  a  truth  which,  in 
 final  confirmation  of  Us  divine  character,  he  willingly  sealed 
 with  bis  b'lood.  Nor  can  tbe  soul  fix  firmly  for  eternity  upon 
 any  other  principles.  Philosopliy  and  superstition  fail  in 
 laying  a  satisfactory  foundation.      They  provide  no  consoling 
 
 remedy  for  the  guilty  spint  like  that  conveyed  by  the  great 
 fact,  that  *our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  gave  himself  for  our  sins, 
 that  he  might  deliver  us  from  this  present  evil  world.'  Every 
 corruption  of  truth  which  destroys  this  fact  in  principle  and 
 efficacy  must  he  stamped,  accordingly,  as  '  another  gospel,'  or 
 rather  '  no  gospel.'  and  must  in  the  end  leave  the  soul  in  a 
 state  of  eternal  disappointment,  dismay,  and  ruin. 
 
 II.  On  the  danger  of  instability  in  the  truth  of  the  gospel. 
 These  Galatians  were  unstable,  and  were  soon  removed  from 
 this  good  foundation.  *  But  God  made  a  gracious  provision 
 for  tiieir  being  recovered  and  confirmed  in  the  primitive  faith 
 by  this  epistle.'  The  deep  concern  of  the  apostle  for  them 
 shewed  how  strong  he  felt  the  importance  of  being  established 
 in  the  faith.  '  It  is  a  good  thing  that  the  heart  be  established 
 in  grace.' 
 
The  justification 
 
 GALATIANS,  III. 
 
 of  believers. 
 
 I  i  "  But  wlien  Peter  was  come  to  Aiitioch,  I 
 withstood  him  to  tiie  face,  because  he  was  to 
 be  blamed. 
 
 I '2  For  before  that  certain  came  from  James, 
 Mie  did  eat  with  tlie  Gentiles:  but  when  they 
 were  come,  he  withdrew  and  separated  himself, 
 fearing  them  which  were  of  tiie  circumcision. 
 
 Id  And  the  other  Jews  dissembled  likewise 
 with  him  ;  insomucli  that  Barnabas  also  was 
 carried  away  with  their  dissimnlatiun. 
 
 14  But  when  I  saw  tfiat  they  walked  not  up- 
 rightly accordin^f  to  "  the  tiutli  of  the  gospel, 
 1  said  imto  Peter  '  before  them  all,  ^  If  thou, 
 being  a  Jew,  livest  after  the  manner  of  Gen- 
 tiles, and  not  as  do  the  Jews,  why  compellest 
 thou  the  Gentiles  to  live  as  do  tlie  Jews? 
 
 \b  '  We  u'ho  are  Jews  by  nature,  and  not 
 ^  sinners  of  the  Gentiles, 
 
 l(j  ^  Knowing  tliat  a  man  is  not  justified  by 
 the  works  of  the  law,  but  *"'  by  the  faith  of 
 Jesus  Christ,  even  we  have  believed  in  Jesus 
 Christ,  that  we  might  be  justified  by  the  faith 
 of  Christ,  and  not  by  the  works  of  the  law: 
 for  ''  by  the  works  of  the  law  shall  no  flesh  be 
 justified. 
 
 17  But  if,  wliile  we  seek  to  be  justified  by 
 Ciirist,  we  ourselves  also  are  found  "^sinners, 
 zs  therefore  Christ  the  minister  of  sin  ?  God 
 forbid. 
 
 18  For  if  I  build  again  the  things  which  I 
 destroyed,  I  make  myself  a  transgressor. 
 
 19  For  I  'through  the  law  ^am  dead  to  the 
 law,  that  I  might  •'live  unto  God. 
 
 •20  I  am  '  crucified  with  Christ :  nevertheless 
 I  live  ;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me:  and 
 the  life  which  i  now  live  in  the  flesh  ''  I  live  by 
 the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  '  who  loved  me, 
 and  gave  himself  for  me. 
 
 '21  I  do  not  frustrate  the  grace  of  God  :  for 
 "'  if  righteousness  come  by  the  law,  then  Christ 
 is  dead  in  vain. 
 
 A.  n.  5.^. 
 
 Acts  15.3ft. 
 
 riiii.5.90. 
 y  Aitf.10.28. 
 &  II    3. 
 
 n  Mat.  9    11, 
 
 rh.2;j,i-2 
 
 h  AlIs  I3.B3, 
 
 33. 
 C  Uniii.  1.17. 
 
 &  3,  L':;,  -Jti. 
 
 &8  a  cli.:i. 
 
 2i   HvK  7. 
 
 13,  13 
 
 rf  Ps.  Ml.  9 
 Knm.  i.  20, 
 cli.  3.  11. 
 
 f  Wnm.  8.  9. 
 
 i.b.ll. 
 
 &  7.  4,  6. 
 /<  Rum,  Gil. 
 
 2  Cor.  5  15. 
 
 lTlies,5.iil, 
 
 H^li.  y.  14. 
 
 I  Pet.  4-.  2. 
 ;  R<ini.  6.  C. 
 
 ch    5  24.  & 
 
 6.   \\. 
 c2Cor.5  1.5 
 
 lTlieK.5.IU. 
 
 1   Pet   4.  2. 
 I  ch.  I.  1. 
 
 Kpti.  5.  2. 
 
 Tit.  2.  14. 
 II  cli.  3.  21. 
 
 Heb.  7.  II. 
 
 See  Rom. 
 
 11,6.  ch. 
 5.  4. 
 
 hch    2    14. 
 
 8(  b.  7. 
 
 c  Acts  2. 3d. 
 &  8.  ib.  & 
 HM7.1SC  15. 
 
 5  vet.  14. 
 Epli.  I.  13. 
 Heb.  C.  4. 
 
 J  Koni.  10. 
 
 16,  17. 
 e  cli.  4.  9. 
 f  Heb.  7.  10. 
 
 6  9.  10. 
 
 3  Hel(.IO.S5. 
 
 .■JiiliJijlinS. 
 Or.  to 
 
 Krrnt. 
 h  2  Cor  3.  3. 
 .  Gfii.  I.^».  6. 
 
 Kom,4.8,9, 
 
 !;!,  i2.  Jain. 
 
 i  23 
 il  Or, 
 
 iTiijf'lfd. 
 '.  J. ,1,11  8.39. 
 
 K-'iit    4.  II, 
 
 12,  16. 
 /  See  Roin. 
 
 9.  17.  ver. 
 
 ".  Ge.i-  19.3, 
 ^  18.  IS.  Sc 
 22.  18. 
 Feci  us  44. 
 21.  Acts  3. 
 35. 
 
 ■I  Oeu. 27.26. 
 Jer.  n.3. 
 
 1.  2.  16. 
 P  Hab.  -2.  4. 
 
 Uoin    1.  17. 
 
 Heb  10.38. 
 J  Kom,  4.  4, 
 
 b.U  10    5, 
 
 6.  &  1 1 .  6. 
 
 LcT.  18.  5. 
 
 Neh.  9.  29. 
 
 Eze   20.  11. 
 
 Koin   10.  5. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  He  asketh  what  moved  thrm  to  leave  tfie  faith,  and 
 hang  upon  the  laic?  6  They  that  helievi' art  just  ijtedf 
 9  and  bkssed  with  Abraham.  10  And  this  he  sheweih 
 by  many  reasons. 
 
 r\  FOOLISH  Galatians,  "who  hath  be- 
 ^-^  witched  you,  that  ye  should  not  obey 
 ^  the  truth,  before  whose  eyes  Jesus  Christ 
 hath  been  evidently  set  forth,  crucified  among 
 you  ? 
 
 2  This  only  would  I  learn  of  you,  Received 
 ye  '^  the  Spirit  by  the  works  of  the  law,  "^  or  by 
 the  hearing  of  faith? 
 
 3  Are  ye  so  foolish?  '^having  begun  in  the 
 Spirit,  are  ye  now  made  perfect  by  ^  the  flesh? 
 
 4  ^  Flave  ye  suflfered  ||  so  many  things  in 
 vain  ?  if  it  be  yet  in  vain. 
 
 5  He  therefore  *'  that  ministereth  to  you  the 
 Spirit,  and  worketh  miracles  among  yon,  f/oe^A 
 he  it  by  the  works  of  the  law,  or  by  the  bear- 
 ing of  faith  ? 
 
 6  Even  as  '  Abraham  believed  God,  and  it 
 was  II  accounted  to  him  for  righteousness. 
 
 7  Know  ye  therefore  that  ''  they  which  are  of 
 faith,  the  same  are  the  children  of  Abraham. 
 
 8  And  '  the  scripture,  foreseeing  that  God 
 would  justify  the  heathen  through  faith, 
 preached  before  the  gospel  unto  Abraham, 
 saying,  ^  In  thee  shall  all  nations  be  blessed. 
 
 9  So  then  they  which  be  of  faith  are  blessed 
 with  faithful  Abraham. 
 
 10  For  as  many  as  are  of  the  works  of  the  law 
 are  under  the  curse  :  for  it  is  written,  "  Cursed 
 is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in  all  things 
 which  are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do 
 them. 
 
 1 1  But  °  that  no  man  is  justified  by  the  law 
 in  the  sight  of  God,  it  is  evident :  for,  ''  The 
 just  shall  live  by  faith. 
 
 12  And  *»  the  law  is  not  of  faith  :  but, '  The 
 man  that  doeth  them  shall  live  in  them. 
 
 and  get  collections  for  them  among  the  Gentiles. — Ham.  12.  Certain 
 Clime  from  James,  who  was  then  at  Jerusalem. — Doddr.  These  were 
 Juriaizing  Christians,  believing  in  Christ,  but  zealous  for  the  law. — 
 Gill.  See  Acts,  xxi.  20.  14.  Truth  of  the  gospel,  means,  tlirouRhoat 
 this  epistle,  'Christian  freedom  from  the  law  of  Moses.' — Wells. 
 15.  We  who  are  Jews — not  si/tners  of  the  Gentiles,  a/iapT(u/\oi,  not  with- 
 out  the  knowledge  of  God,'  as  they  have  been.  The  word,  a^apTwXo?, 
 often  signifies  '  a  heathen,'  merely  one  who  had  no  knowledge  of  the 
 true  Gud. — A.  Clarke.  l6.  Knowing,  ^c,  'knowing by  the  law  and 
 
 the  prophets*  that  man  is  not  justified  by  works  of  law,  and  have  not 
 so  souglit  justification.  l".  But,  if  while,  ^c,  '  if  while  we  apostles 
 seek  to  be  justified  by  the  faith  of  Christ,  even  we  ourselves  are  found 
 sinners,  by  practising  tlie  rites  of  the  law  of  Moses  as  necessary  to  sal- 
 vation, contrary  to  our  conscience,  will  Christ  promote  such  iniquity, 
 by  justifying  teachers  who  delude  others  in  matters  of  such  impor- 
 tauce?  By  no  means.' —Mackn.  \Q.  Am  dead  to  the  law,  '  by  the 
 deep  sense  I  have  of  its  spirituality,  extent,  and  strictness  in  its  de- 
 mands for  justification,  I  am  dead  to  all  my  former  expectations  of 
 righteousness  to  eternal  life  by  it,'  {Rom.vii.g,  10.) — Gu^se,  so  Clarke. 
 Live  unto  God,  '  in  a  state  of  favour  and  acceptance  with  him.* — Doddr. 
 
 20.  /  am  crucified,  ^c.,  'crucified  to  the  law,*  or,  amounting  to  the 
 same  thing,  *  the  law  is  crucified  to  us  as  to  all  expectations  of  life 
 from  obeying  his  precepts.*  /  lire,  '  am  brought  into  a  state  of  justifi- 
 cation to  life,  and  so  bring  forth  living  fruits  of  righteousness.' — Guyse. 
 
 21.  /  do  not  frustrate  the  grace  of  God,  ovk  afJerti),  I  do  not  *  contemn,' 
 *  despise,'  or  '  render  useless,'  the  grace  of  God,  the  doctrine  of  Christ 
 crucified  :  which  I  must  do,  if  I  preach  the  necessity  of  observing  the 
 law. — A.Clarke.  '1  do  not  render  void  that  method  of  salvation  which 
 the  gospel  has  revealed.'— Uorfrfr.  By  the  luw—\t  is  needless  here  to 
 dispute,  as  many  do,  about  what  law  the  apostle  alludes  to,  whe- 
 ther moral  or  ceremonial.  It  is  to  the  law  of  God,  whether  written 
 or  unwritten  j  whatever  is  sanctioned  by  his  authority,  whether  cere- 
 
 monial or  moral ;  all  of  which  have  been  fulfilled  by  the  righteousness 
 of  God,  (Matt.  iii.  15.)— Ho/rf. 
 
 Chap.  111. —  I.  Bewitched  you,  (jSaanave,  'enchanted  you.' — Doddr. 
 'Deceived  you.' — Mackn. -,  or  '  infatuated  or  deluded  you,' — Rosemn. 
 'By  mischievous,  as  well  as  by  magical  art,  led  you  into  error.' — So 
 Schleusner.  Pur.  Set  forth,  7rpo€7pa'pn— this  word  was  used  to  denote 
 things  written  on  tables,  and  hung  up  to  public  view. — Mncknight. 
 Christ  crucified  was  set  forth  in  the  most  affecting  representations  of 
 his  word  and  ordinances.  2.  Received  ye  the  Spirit  ?~in  its  extra- 
 ordinary operations  upon  you. — Doddr.  As  a  spirit  of  wisdom  and 
 knowledge — of  regeneration  and  sanctification — of  faith  and  adoption, 
 and  as  the  earnest,  seal,  and  pledge  of  their  future  glory. — Gill.  Hear- 
 ing of  faith  ?  '  the  hearing  of  the  gospel,*  proposing  the  method  nf  j-us- 
 tification  by  faith  in  the  righteousness  and  grace  of  the  Redeemer. — 
 Doddr.  3.  Flfsh,  circumcision,  and  other  carnal  ordinances. — Bp. 
 Hull.  4.  Suffered,  these  Galatians  had  suffered  great  reproach,  many 
 afflictions  and  persecutions,  for  the  sake  of  the  gospel. — Gill.  6.  Even 
 us  Abraham,  ^c,  KaOiar,  'seeing'  Abraham  believed  God,  and  it  was 
 counted  to  him  for  righteousness;*  '  know  ye,  certainly,  that  they,* 
 &c. — Mackn.  The  apostle's  argument  is,  that  there  is  but  one  means 
 and  manner  of  justification,  and  that  Abraham  was  justified  by  faith. 
 — Bp.  Fell.  7.  Children,    true  spiritual  children. —  Whitby,  Wells. 
 
 8.  The  scripture,  foreseeing — here  the  scripture  is  put  for  God,  by 
 whose  inspiration  it  was  written. — Muckn.  In  thee  shull  all  nations 
 be  blessed,  that  is  to  say,  '  by  their  faith  in  that  glorious  person  who  is 
 to  descend  from  thee,  all  persons  whatsoever  shall  be  blessed.'  10.  As 
 are  of  the  works  of  the  law,  of  that  covenant,  and  have  no  higher  views 
 and  expectations  tlian  a  legal  dispensation  could  give. — Doddr.  Are 
 under  the  curse,  as  not  performing  perfectly  all  things  which  the  law 
 requires. —  Whitby.  11.  Thejvst,  Sfc. — see  Hab.  ii.  4,  and  Rom.  i.  17, 
 notes.  12.  Not  of  faith,  ^c,  allows  not  of  such  a  way  of  justifica- 
 tion, but  insists  on  exact  obedience  to  all  its  commands. — Doddridge. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.ap.  IL —  I.  A  believer  is  dead  to  the  law.  II.  A  believer  livs  unto  God.    Though  he  does  not  trust  in 
 
 He  is  dead  to  it  as  a  covenant  of  works.     He  has  no  hope  ibe    law  for  justification,   yet    his  aim  is  to  walk  holily  and 
 
 of  salvation  by  it.    Tbe  apostle  calls  this  being  dead  to  it,  righteously  before  God;  and  if  be  do  not,  be  has  no  evidence 
 
 because  there  is  no  greater  freedom  from  a  yoke,  than  that  of  his  justification  now,  nor  can  he  hope  to  enjoy  the  blessings 
 
 which  is  made  by  death.  of  eternal  life  hereafter. 
 1245 
 
The  apostle's  reasons 
 
 GALATIANS.  III. 
 
 fo7-  a  believer's  justification. 
 
 13  'Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse 
 of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for  us  ;  for  it  is 
 written,  ^  Cursed  is  every  one  that  hangeth  on 
 a  tree  : 
 
 14  "That  the  blessing  of  Abraham  might 
 come  on  the  Gentiles  through  Jesus  Christ ; 
 tliat  we  might  receive  ^^  the  promise  of  the 
 Spirit  through  faith. 
 
 15  Brethren,  1  speak  after  the  manner  of 
 men  ;  ^  Though  it  be  but  a  man's  ||  covenant, 
 yet  if  it  be  confirmed,  no  man  disannulleth,  or 
 addeth  thereto. 
 
 16  Now  ^  to  Abraham  and  his  seed  were  the 
 promises  made.  He  saith  not,  And  to  seeds, 
 as  of  many ;  but  as  of  one,  And  to  thy  seed, 
 which  is  "  Christ. 
 
 17  And  this  I  say,  that  the  covenant,  that 
 was  confirmed  before  of  God  in  Christ,  the 
 law,  ''wiiich  was  four  hundred  and  tliirty  years 
 after,  cannot  disannul,  *^  that  it  should  make 
 the  promise  of  none  effect. 
 
 ch.  4.  5. 
 (Deu. 21.23. 
 
 i<  Rom.  4.  9, 
 16. 
 
 X  l9,  32.  15. 
 
 &  44.  3. 
 
 Jer.  31    S3. 
 
 It  32.  40. 
 
 Eie.  11    19. 
 
 &  •A'i-  27. 
 
 Jnel-2-23,-39. 
 
 Zecli  1-2.10 
 
 John  7.  3'J. 
 
 Acts  2.  3a. 
 V  Heb.  9.  17- 
 It  O"-, 
 
 r  Kom.4.13, 
 14.  vcr.  SI, 
 
 A.  t>   53. 
 
 d  Kom.  8  17. 
 e  Kom.  4.14. 
 /John  15. 
 
 22.  Rom.  4. 
 
 15.  &  S.  20. 
 
 6  7.  8,  13. 
 
 i  Tim.  1.9. 
 g  ver.  16. 
 h  Acts  7.53. 
 
 Heb.  2.  2. 
 I  Ex    20.   19, 
 
 21,22    Deu. 
 
 5.  5,  22,  23, 
 
 27,31.  John 
 
 1.  17.  Acta 
 
 7  9a.  ITim. 
 
 2.  5. 
 
 *  Kom. 3.29. 
 311. 
 /ch.  9.21. 
 
 ,  ver.  9. 
 Rom.  3   9, 
 •A.h  II. 
 
 32. 
 o  Rom.  4.11, 
 
 12.  16. 
 p  Mat.  5    17. 
 
 Kom.  10  4. 
 
 Col.  2.  17. 
 
 Heb.  9.  9, 
 
 10. 
 
 18  For  if  "^the  inheritance  be  of  the  law,  '^  it 
 is  no  more  of  promise  :  but  God  gave  it  to 
 Abraham  by  promise. 
 
 19  Wherefore  then  servcth  the  law?  ^  It 
 was  added  because  of  transgressions,  till  ^  the 
 seed  should  come  to  whom  the  promise  was 
 made  ;  and  it  was  ^  ordained  by  angels  in  the 
 hand  *  of  a  mediator. 
 
 '20  Now  a  mediator  is  not  a  mediator  of  one, 
 ''  but  God  is  one. 
 
 21  Is  the  law  then  against  the  promises  of 
 God  ?  God  forbid  :  '  for  if  tiiere  liad  been  a 
 law  given  which  could  liave  given  life,  verily 
 righteousness  should  have  been  by  the  law. 
 
 22  But '"  the  scripture  hath  concluded  "all 
 under  sin,  °  that  the  promise  by  faith  of  Jesus 
 Christ  might  be  given  to  them  tliat  believe. 
 
 23  But  before  faith  came,  we  were  kept  under 
 the  law,  shut  up  unto  the  faith  which  should 
 afterwards  be  revealed. 
 
 24  Wherefore  ^  the  law  was  our  schoolmaster 
 
 13.  Christ  hath  redeemed,  ffc,  a  believer  is  freed  from  the  malediction 
 and  curse  of  the  law  by  Christ's  bearing  the  curse  for  \\\Tc\.—Bur. 
 Literally,  XpicTTor  vu-av  L^r-^apaofv,  'Christ  hath  bought  us  off.*  J<;c. 
 This  .seems  to  signify  the  liberation  of  a  captive  by  the  payment  of  a 
 ransom. — Bloom/,  The  law — this  is  not  confined  to  the  law  of  Moses, 
 or  the  Jews  only  would  be  redeemed.  The  curse  of  the  law,  from 
 which  all  are  bought  off  by  Christ,  is  not  a  curse  peculiar  to  the  law  of 
 Moses  (  lor,  as  the  Gentiles  were  never  under  that  law,  they  could 
 have  no  concern  with  its  curse.  But  it  is  the  curse  of  that  more  an- 
 cient law  of  works  under  which  Adam  and  Eve  fell,  and  which,  through 
 their  fall,  came  on  all  their  posterity.  And  it  is  the  curse  of  the  law  of 
 nature,  under  which  all  mankind,  as  the  subjects  of  God's  universal 
 government,  are  lying,  for  having  broken  that  law.  The  redemption 
 here,  then,  has  respect  to  both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  by  '  the  law'  is 
 meant,  the  law  of  nature  as  well  as  the  law  of  Moses.— So  Whitbt], 
 JJuddr.,  Markn.  A  curse  for  us,  that  is,  an  accursed  person — a  person 
 ignomimoiisly  punished  as  a  malefactor,  not  because  he  really  was 
 such,  but  was  so  punished,  (see  Isa.  liii.  12.)  He  was  not  really  a 
 malefactor,  and  the  object  of  God's  displeasure,  hut  only  punished  as 
 accursed  persons  are  ;  and  the  curse  of  the  laiv  of  nature,  which  was 
 published  in  the  law  of  Moses,  being  eternal  death,  is  a  curse  which 
 no  one  cari  suppose  Christ  to  have  sutftred. — Mackn.  The  'curse  of 
 the  law'  was  temporal  death,  consisting  of  the  separation  of  soul  and 
 body,  which  was  eternal  death  to  them  who  could  not  raise  themselves 
 from  the  dead,  and  have  no  promise  of  a  resurrection  ;  and  Christ, 
 dying  on  the  cross,  actually  suffered  the  curse  of  the  law,  as  truly  as 
 they  do,  who,  after  being  put  to  death,  are  never  to  rise  again. — So 
 Whitby.  Christ  was  not  only  like  an  accursed  person,  but  he  waseven 
 accursed  by  the  law  ;  becoming  a  surety  for  his  people,  he  was  made 
 under  the  law,  stood  in  their  law  place  and  stead,  and,  having  the  sins 
 of  thtm  all  imputed  to  him,  and  he  answerable  for  them,  the  law,  find- 
 ing them  on  him,  charges  him  with  them,  and  curses  him  for  tliem  ; 
 yea,  he  was  treated  as  such  by  the  justice  of  God,  even  by  his  Father, 
 who  spared  him  not,  &c. — Gill.  '  1  wonder  that  Jerome  and  Entsmus 
 should  labour  and  seek  for  I  know  not  what  figure  of  speech,  to  shew 
 that  Christ  was  not  called  "accursed."  Truly,  in  this  is  placed  all  our 
 hope  ;  in  this,  the  intiuite  love  of  God  is  manifested  ;  in  this  is  placed 
 our  salvation,  that  our  God,  properly  and  without  any  figure,  poured 
 out  all  his  wrath  on  his  own  Son  ;  caused  him  to  be  accursed  that  he 
 might  receive  us  into  favour.  Finally,  without  any  figure,  "  Christ 
 was  made  accursed  for  us,"  in  such  a  manner  that,  unless  he  had  been 
 truly  God,  he  must  have  remained  under  the  curse  forever,  from  which, 
 for  our  sakes,  he  emerged.' — Bezn.  '  As  the  sins  of  Israel  were  all  laid 
 on  the  head  of  the  scapegoat,  so  '*  the  Lord  laid  on  him  the  iniquity  of 
 us  all,"  he  being  cursed,  as  the  apostle  explains  it.~Hald.  '  How 
 could  he  die  if  he  was  nut  a  reputed  sinner  ?  Had  he  not  first  had  a 
 relation  to  our  sin,  he  could  not  injustice  have  undergone  our  punish- 
 ment. He  must,  in  the  order  of  justice,  be  supposed  a  sinner  really  or 
 by  imputation:  really,  he  was  not:  by  imputation,  then,  he  was.' — 
 Chfirnock.  H.  The  blessing  of  .■ibriiham,  in  all  its  eternal  and  spiri- 
 tual benefits.  Might  come  on  the  Gentiles,  as  well  as  on  believing 
 Jews. — Doddr.  15.  Though  it  be  but  a  mnn's  covenant,  ^e. — 710  man 
 disannulleth,  how  much  mure  then  shall  the  covenant  of  God  be  in- 
 violable.— Bp.  Hall.  16.  Nat  untn  seeds — as  of  onf,  one  line  of 
 descendants,  and  centre  in  one  illustrious  person.  *  This  view  I  greatly 
 prefer  to  those  who  suppose  that  Christ  here  signifies  "the  mystical 
 body  of  Christ,"  or  the  aggregate  of  all  believers.'— B/j.  Burnet.  The 
 sentiment  here  objected  to  by  Burnet  is  supported  by  Gilt,  [see  1  Cor. 
 xii.  12.)  17.  Four  hundred  and  thirty  ^'•ars  after,  i.  e.,  after  it  was 
 first  made  with  Abraham  in  Ur  of  the  Chaldees,  when  he  was  seventy, 
 five  years  old.^ — Miwkn.  Cannot  disannul — the  apostle's  argument 
 proceeds  on  this  undeniable  principle  of  justice,  that  a  covenant  made 
 by  two  parties  cannot,  after  it  is  ratified,  be  altered  or  cancelled  except 
 with  the  consent  of  both  the  parties,  who,  in  the  present  case,  were, 
 on  the  one  hand,  God;  and  on  the  other,  Abraham  and  his  seed, 
 Clirist. — Mackn.  19.  Added  because  of  tra/isgressions,  given  to  re- 
 
 strain men  from  sin.  and  to  shew  them  their  guilt,  and  to  make  them 
 seek  out  for  a  remedy,  which  is  to  be  found  only  iu  the  go.'^pel. —  Ham. 
 1246 
 
 It  was  on  account  of  restraining  the  Israelites  from  transgressions, 
 particularly  idolatry,  and  the  vices  connected  with  it ;  the  evil  of  which 
 the  law  discovered  to  them  by  its  prohibitions  and  curse. — Mackn. 
 Till  the  seed  should  come,  even  the  Messiah.  To  whom  the  promise  was 
 made,  into  whom  both  Jews  and  Gentiles  being  ingrafted  by  faith, 
 when  the  gospel  dispensation  took  place,  should  become,  without  dis- 
 tinction, the  spiritual  seed  of  Abraham,  and  be  entitled  to  the  blessings 
 of  promise— Z>orf(ir.  Ordained,  iiaTayei?, '  appointed,'  '  promulgated,' 
 or  '  spoken,*  as  it  Is  expressed  Heb.  ii.  2;  see  also  Acts,  vii.  38,  63.— 
 BcTis.  •  Administered.'— H?H'.  By  angels,  that  the  law  was  given  by 
 the  ministration  of  angels,  is  apparent  from  various  scriptures,  (comp. 
 Ps.  lx\iii.  17;  Acts,  vii.  53  j  Heb.  ii.  2.)— Doddr.  A  mediator,  Moses, 
 then  appointed  by  God  to  act  the  part  of  a  mediator  between  him  and 
 the  people  of  Israel  —Bens.  20.  Now  a  mediator,  fyc. — a  mediator 
 supposes  more  parties  than  one,  and  of  these  parties  the  unchangeable 
 God  is  one.  This  ought  to  be  viewed  as  a  marginal  gloss  only. — So 
 Mich.,  NeuT.,  Marsh.,  and  Bonthr.  Now  a  m  ediator  is  one  that  inter- 
 poseth  between  two  parties,  and  doth  not  merely  transact  for  any  one 
 to  the  exclusion  of  the  other:  but  God,  who  delivered  the  law  to  the 
 Israelites,  and  who  is  immutably  faithful  to  his  promise,  was  one  party, 
 and  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews  were  concerned  in  that  antecedent,  free, 
 and  absolute  promise  made  to  Abraham. — J.  Brown,  as  Guyse.  *  This 
 is  acknowledged  by  all  interpreters  to  be  very  obscure,  especially  con- 
 sidered in  its  connexion.  To  me  the  apostle  s-eenis  to  magnify  the  pro- 
 mise above  the  law,  in  that  the  promise  was  given  to  Abraham  imme- 
 diately by  God,  fwho  is  one  in  essence,)  but  the  law  was  given,  not 
 immediately  by  God,  but  by  Moses,  as  mediator,  who  in  that  action 
 was  a  type  of  Christ.' — Poole.  Understand  it  thus,  in  connexion  with 
 ver.  21,  '  but  the  mediator  ia  not  the  friend  of  one  party,  but  of  two  ur 
 more:  but  God  is  one  of  the  parties  in  giving  of  the  law.  Is  the  law 
 then  of  Gud.  against  the  promises  of  God  ?  God  forbid  !'-£«-.  21.  Is 
 the  law  then  ?  ^c— '  it  is  therefore  absolutely  impossible  that  the  law 
 of  Moses  could,  in  the  intention  of  God,  be  opposite  to  the  design  of 
 the  gospel-promise  made  to  Abraham  and  his  spiritual  seed;  or  that 
 ever  God  should  intend  to  justify  men  by  the  one  as  well  as  by  the 
 other ;  for  if  any  law  had,  or  could  have,  been  given,  by  obedience  to 
 which  men,  in  their  fallen  condition,  could  have  been  entitled  to  eter- 
 nal life,  it  is  certain  God  would  have  spared  his  Son,  that  singularly 
 eminent  seed  of  Abraham,  and  righteousness  forjustification  to  eternal 
 life  should  have  consisted  in  men's  own  conformity  to  that  law.'— 
 J.  BrowJt,  as  Guyse.  22.  Hath  concluded,  avvtKXtiaav,  '  hath  shut 
 them  up  together,'  as  in  a  prison.  All  under  sin,  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
 in  their  fallen  state.  '  Under  a  sentence  of  condemnation  and  incapa- 
 city of  satisfying  for  their  past  offences,  or  rendering  themselves  accept- 
 able to  God  for  time  to  come.' —Guyse.  '  To  be  under  sin,'  signifies  to 
 he  guilty  in  the  eye  of  justice.— H«/(/.  All,  therefore,  must  be  saved  in 
 the  same  way.  not  through  the  law,  but  the  promise. — Ed.,  see  Guyse. 
 23.  Before  faith  came,  the  doctrme  of  faith,  and  Christ,  the  object  of 
 taith. — Guyse,  Gill.  Kept  under  the  law,  as  persons  iu  a  garrison,  as 
 the  word  signifies;  or  under  a  military  guard,  as  it  imports;  and  sig- 
 nifies, that  the  law  kept  a  strict  guard  and  a  watchful  eye  over  them  ; 
 kept  them  close  to  a  discharge  of  duty,  and  held  them  fast,  as  prisoners. 
 Shut  up,  detained,  as  prisoners,  in  a  dark  ilungcon,  where  they  had 
 little  light  and  comfort.  The  allusion  may  be  to  the  custom  of  the 
 eastern  nations  in  the  usage  of  their  slaves  and  captives :  who,  iu  the 
 day-time,  used  to  grind  at  a  mill  in  a  prison-house,  and  in  the  night- 
 time were  put  down  into  a  pit,  and  shut  up,  and  a  mill-stouc  put  to 
 the  mouth  of  the  pit ;  and  so  describes  the  state  of  bondage  and  slavery 
 the  Jews  were  in  under  the  law,  who  differed  nothing  from  servants, 
 to  whom  the  saints  under  the  gospel  dispensation  are  opposed.  Unto 
 the  faith,  SfC,  *  till  Christ,  the  object  of  faith,  come.'— Gi7/.  24.  The 
 law  was  our  schoolmaster,  '  tlie  whole  religious  law  of  Moses  was  to 
 bring  us  up  for  Christ,  and  to  direct  and  lead  us,  like  children,  (7ra(5u- 
 70)701,)  duiing  our  state  of  nonage,  to  him,  shewing  us  oiu-  sin  and 
 danger,'  &c.— Guyse.  It  seems  that  the  word  Triuoa^otYot  here  signifies 
 such  a  master  or  governor  as  hath  a  power  of  restraining  and  correct- 
 ing children,  in  a  manner  that  suits  only  an  infant  state,  or  that  of 
 early  childhood.— Z>o(/rfr.     The  naiiaytayov  is  not  the  '  schoolmaster^* 
 
Believers,  through  Christ, 
 
 GALATIANS,  IV. 
 
 are  freed  from  the  law. 
 
 Roi 
 
 to  lirinff  us  unto  Christ,  ''that  we  might  be 
 justified  by  faith. 
 
 ■2.5  But  after  that  faith  is  come,  we  are  no 
 longer  under  a  schoolmaster. 
 
 ■26  For  ye  'are  all  the  children  of  God  by 
 faith  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 ■27  For  ''as  many  of  you  as  have  been  bap- 
 tized into  Christ  '  have  put  on  Christ. 
 
 28  "  There  is  neither  Jew  nor  Greek,  there  is 
 neither  bond  nor  free,  there  is  neither  male  nor 
 female  ;  for  ye  are  all  '  one  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 ■29  And  ''  if  ye  be  Christ's,  then  are  ye  Abra- 
 ham's seed,  and  ^  heirs  according  to  the  pro- 
 mise. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  JFe  were  under  the  laiv  till  Christ  came,  as  the  heir  is 
 under  his  guardian  till  he  be  of  age.  5  But  Christ 
 freed  us  from  the  law  :  7  therefore  we  are  servants  no 
 longer  to  it.  14  He  remembereth  their  good  will  to 
 him,  and  his  to  them,  22  and  sheweth  that  we  are  the 
 sons  of  Abraham  hi/  the  free  wo/nan. 
 
 "IVTO  W  I  say.  That  the  heir,  as  long  as  he  is 
 -*-*  a  child,  differeth  nothing  from  a  servant, 
 though  he  be  lord  of  all ; 
 
 2  But  is  und-er  tutors  and  governors  until  the 
 time  appointed  of  the  father. 
 
 3  Even  so  we,  when  we  were  cliildren,  "  were 
 in  bondage  under  the  ||elements  of  the  world: 
 
 4  But  "^when  the  fulness  of  the  time  was 
 come,  God  sent  forth  liis  Son,  *^  made  ^  of  a 
 woman,  "  made  under  the  law, 
 
 5  *"  To  redeem  them  that  were  under  the  law, 
 ^  that  we  might  receive  the  adoption  of  sons. 
 
 ff.h>hn  1.  12.  ch.  S.  26."Eph, 
 
 9  Acts  13. 
 
 :<9.ch.  a.lfi 
 r  John  1.  Vi 
 
 Horn.  8.  U, 
 
 15,  16,  cli4. 
 
 b.  1  Jobu  3, 
 
 I,  a. 
 
 1  Bom.  6.  3. 
 /  Rom. 13.14. 
 
 .  10. 
 
 \-i.  lCor.l2. 
 13.  ch.  6.6. 
 Col.  3.  11 
 X  John  10. 
 16.  &  17.  2 
 21.  F,ph.  i 
 1-1,  15.  16 
 
 y<  4.  4,  If) 
 
 r/  Gen.  21.10, 
 
 ■  12.  Rom.  9. 
 
 7.  Heb.  U. 
 
 18. 
 
 z  Eom.S.17. 
 
 ch.  4.  7,28. 
 
 Eph.3.  6. 
 
 n  vcr.  9.  ch. 
 
 2.23.  &5.1. 
 
 Col.  2.  8,  20. 
 
 Ueb.  9.  10. 
 
 il  Or, 
 
 rudimt;tt. 
 
 6  Gen, '10. 10 
 
 Dan.  9.  21. 
 
 Mark  1.  13. 
 
 Kph.  1.  10. 
 
 c  Jobu  l.li. 
 
 Rom.  I.  3. 
 
 Phil.  2.  7. 
 
 Heb.  2.  II. 
 
 d  Gen.  3.  15. 
 
 Is   7.  U. 
 
 Mic.  S.  3. 
 
 Mat.  I.  2-3. 
 
 Luke  I.  31. 
 
 &  2.  7. 
 
 e  M.-it.  5.  17. 
 
 Luke  2.  27. 
 
 /'Mat.  20  29. 
 
 ch.  3,    1.3. 
 
 Tit.  2.  U. 
 
 Heb.  9.  12. 
 
 Eph.  1.  7. 
 
 I  Pet.  1,18, 
 
 ;  Rom.  8,16, 
 17.  ch.3.29. 
 
 k  Eph.  2.  12. 
 
 I  Thea.l  5. 
 
 Ml. 
 
 1  Coi 
 
 i2i; 
 
 Eph.  2.  II, 
 
 12.  I  Tlies. 
 
 1.9 
 m  1  Cor  S.3. 
 
 h  IS.  12. 
 
 2  Tim. 2  19. 
 n  oh,  3.  3. 
 
 Cn\.  2-  20. 
 II  Or,  bnck. 
 V  Rom.  8.  3. 
 
 Heb-  7.  18. 
 II  Or,  Tufii- 
 
 meiits,  ver. 
 
 S. 
 p  Rom.  14  5. 
 
 CoL  S.  16. 
 q  ch.  2   2.  & 
 
 S.  2.  4. 
 
 1  The9  3.5. 
 r  2  Cor.  2.5. 
 J  1  Cor.  2.  S. 
 
 2  Cor.  11  30. 
 &   12.  7,  9. 
 
 tch.  1.  G. 
 
 t  2  Sam.  19. 
 
 27.  Mai.  2. 
 
 7, See  Zech. 
 
 12   8. 
 X  Mat.10,40. 
 
 Luke  10  IB 
 
 John  13  20. 
 
 1  Thes  2  13. 
 II  Or,  jyiinl 
 
 I  the<. 
 
 V  ch. 
 
 ,  5,U. 
 
 6  And  because  ye  are  sons,  God  hath  sent 
 forth  "  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  your  hearts, 
 crying,  Abba,  Father. 
 
 7  Wherefore  thou  art  no  more  a  servant,  but 
 a  son ;  '  and  if  a  son,  tlien  an  heir  of  God 
 through  Christ. 
 
 8  Howbeit  then,  *"  when  ye  knew  not  God, 
 •  ye  did  service  unto  them  which  by  nature 
 are  no  gods. 
 
 9  But  now,  ""after  that  ye  have  known  God, 
 or  rather  are  known  of  God,  "how  turn  ye 
 II  again  to  *^  the  weak  and  beggarly  ||  elements, 
 whereunto  ye  desire  again  to  be  in  bondage  V 
 
 10  P  Ye  observe  days,  and  months,  and  times, 
 and  years. 
 
 1 1  I  am  afraid  of  you,  "^lest  I  have  bestowed 
 upon  you  labour  in  vain. 
 
 12  Brethren,  I  beseech  you,  be  as  I  am  ;  for 
 I  am  as  ye  are:  ""ye  have  not  injured  me  at 
 all. 
 
 13  Ye  know  how  Ulirough  infirmity  of  the 
 flesh  I  preached  the  gospel  unto  you  *  at  the 
 first. 
 
 14  And  my  temptation  which  was  in  my  flesh 
 ye  despised  not,  nor  rejected  ;  but  received 
 me  "  as  an  angel  of  God,  ^  even  as  Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 15  II  Where  is  then  the  blessedness  ye  spake 
 of?  for  I  bear  you  record,  that,  if  if.  had  been 
 possible,  ye  would  have  plucked  out  your  own 
 eyes,  and  have  given  them  to  me. 
 
 16  Am  I  therefore  become  your  enemy,  ''be- 
 cause I  tell  you  the  truth? 
 
 17  They  ''zealously  affect  yo\\,but  not  well; 
 
 but  the  '  servant,'  who  had  the  care  of  the  children  to  lead  them  to, 
 and  to  brinj;  them  back  from,  school,  and  had  the  care  of  them  out  of 
 .school -hours.  Thus,  the  lawdiif  not  teacli  us  the  livint:,  saving-,  know- 
 ledge; but,  by  its  rites  and  ceremonies,  and  especially  by  its  sacrifices, 
 it  directed  us  to  Christ,  that  we  might  be  justified  by  faith.— .4.  Clarke. 
 The  words  to  bring  vs  are  a  supplement  of  our  translators,  and  have 
 nothing  to  answer  them  in  the  orig-inal  -,  and  the  sense  of  the  passag-e 
 is,  '  that  the  law  performed  this  office  of  schoolmaster  until  the  coming: 
 of  Christ.' — Gill.  25.  After  thnt  fitith  came  '  when  Christ  was  mani- 
 fested in  the  flesh,  and  the  gospel  was  preached,  we  were  no  longer 
 under  the  pedagogue  ;  we  came  to  Christ,  learned  of  him,  and  became 
 wise  unto  salvation,'  &c.— ^.  Clarke.  26.  For  pe  are  all  the  rhildrm 
 of  Gad,  fyct  in  a  special  state  of  sonship  and  adoption,  entitled  to  the 
 privileges  and  immunities  of  sons  and  heirs  grown  up  to  maturity. — 
 Bur.  27.  Put  on  Christ,  not  in  profession  only,  hut  in  reality,  by 
 faith,  as  the  Lord  your  righte'-usncss. — Gui/se.  There  is  here  an  allu- 
 sion to  the  symbolical  rite  which,  in  the  first  age,  usually  accompanied 
 baptism.  The  person  to  be  baptized  put  off  his  old  clothes  before  he 
 went  into  the  water,  and  put  on  new  or  clean  raiment  when  he  came 
 out  of  it ;  to  signify  that  he  had  put  off  his  old  corrupted  nature,  with 
 all  his  former  bad  principles  and  corrupt  practices,  and  was  become  a 
 new  man.  Hence  the  expression  Eph.  iv.  22,  2i.—3Iackn.  28.  AVt- 
 t/ter  .h-w  nor  Greek,  ^c.,  no  discrimination  from  any  outward  accidents 
 of  country,  relation,  sex,  Sic.  29.  Ahruhnni's  seed,  that  spiritual  seed 
 of  Abraham,  to  whom  are  made  the  promises  of  justification. — Ham. 
 
 Chap.  IV. — 1,2.  A^ow  I  say,  fyc.,  *  having  observed  that,  while  under 
 the  law,  we  Jews  were  in  a  minority  ;'  the  thought  may  be  further 
 illustrated  by  the  restraint  of  minor'*. — Doddr.  Tutors  nnd  i^twernors, 
 eniTpoTTov^,  '  guardians'  and  governors. — A.  Clarke.  3.  Even  so  we, 
 while  subject  to  Jewish  rituals,  were  in  bondage  under  the  discipline 
 of  the  law,  and  in  an  infant  state.  4.  The  fulness  of  the  ti>ne,  marked 
 out  by  the  prophets. — Doddr.  More  particularly  marked  by  Daniel— 
 the  end  of  the  Mosaic  dispensation  and  Jewish  church  state;  the  last 
 days  of  that  state,  and  the  end  of  the  Jewish  world,  as  to  their  eccle- 
 siastical and  civil  polity. — Gi/t.  God  ,'ienf  forth  hi^  Son,  to  introduce 
 a  new  dispensation. — Hen.  He  liberated  the  churoli  from  their  sub- 
 ject conditinn,  and  introduced  them  into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the 
 sons  of  God. —  Wil.  Made  of  a  woman,  according  to  the  great  original 
 promise,  (Gen.  iii.  15.)     Under  the  law,   under  the  discipline  of  the 
 
 Mosaic  law.  5.  To  redeem,  that  by  submitting  to  its  precepts,  and 
 penalty,  and  curse,  he  might  redeem  and  release  from  future  obligation 
 to  obey  its  ceremonies, —  Dnddr. :  and  from  its  condemning  sentence. 
 Adoption  of  .tons,  privileges  of  the  gospel  state,  that  pertain  to  such 
 children  as  are  arrived  at  mature  age.— G«^5e.  That  the  church,  which 
 till  then  had  been  in  infancy,  and  held  in  a  state  of  servitude,  might 
 enter  into  all  the  rights  of  adoption,  (Rom.  viii.  i5.)— Mar.  6.  The 
 Spirit  of  his  Son,  giving  Jews  and  Gentiles  equal  freedom  in  address- 
 ing to  him  the  overflowinirs  of  filial  confidence  and  love. — Doddr. 
 Ahha,  Father — see  Rom.  viii.  15,  16,  notes.  Slaves  were  never  al- 
 lowed to  call  their  master  Abba. — Selden.  The  apostle  uses  two 
 words  of  the  same  signification,  Hebrew  and  Greek,  to  shew  tlie  equal 
 right  of  Jew  and  Gentile  to  call  God  '  Father.*— So  Gtiyse.  7.  Heir 
 of  God,  of  all  the  promises  of  God,  through  Christ.— i>orf(/r.  Of  the 
 enjoyment  of  tlie  all-sufiicient  God  himself.— Bp//5.  8.  When  ye 
 knew  not  God — the  apostle  here  speaks  of  the  bondage  of  the  Gentiles, 
 who  were  in  bondage  worse  than  the  Jews,  debasing  their  natures  by 
 serving  stupid  idols.— TTf/Zs,  Doddr.  9.  Known  God,  his  mind  and 
 will.  Known  of  God,  who  has  shewn  his  favour  to  you. — Doddr. 
 How  turn  t/e? — '  what  an  infatuation,  to  turn  aside  again  from  the 
 light  and  grace  of  the  gospel,  and  from  its  liberty,  to  a  bondage  which 
 ye  were  never  under  before,  and  consists  m  being  under  the  dark  hints 
 and  severe  injunctions  of  the  Mosaic  law.' — Guyse.  Weuk,  having  no 
 power  to  cleanse  and  justify  the  soul.  Beggarly,  or  '  poor;'  as  they 
 coMld  not  confer  the  spiritual  riches  of  the  gospel,— pardon,  peace,  and 
 assurance.  10.  Ye  observe,  ffc.,  '  as  formerly  ye  observed  your 
 heathen  feasts,  so  now  ye  observe  Jewish  festivals.' — So  Doddridge. 
 12.  Be  as  I  am,  *  follow  my  example  in  laying  aside  your  opinion  of 
 the  necessity  of  the  law.'  For  I  am,  or  rather  '  was  as  ye  are,'  as 
 zealous  of  the  law,  (see  Phil.  iii.  7.  8.)  Ye  have  not  injured  me,  '  there- 
 fore I  speak  out  of  pure  love,  not  any  ill-will.' — Bens.  13.  Through 
 infirmity,  '  not  without  remarkable  bodily  infirmity,  which  I  laboured 
 under."  (-^ee  2  Cnr.  xii.  7 — l2.)~Wells.  14.  As  an  angel,  *  as  if  I  had 
 come  down  from  heaven.'  As  Christ  Jesus,  '  with  as  much  affection 
 and  submission  a.'i  it  can  be  supposed  you  would  have  shewn  to  our 
 nivine  Master,  had  he  visited  you  instead  of  his  ambassador.' — So 
 Doddr,  15.  The  blessedness  he  spake  of,  *  how  happy  ye  were  in  such 
 a  teacher.' — Bp.  Hall.  17.  They,  the  Judaizing  teachers. — Benson. 
 Zealously  affect  you,  '  pretend  great  love  for  you.'     But  not  well,  '  not 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III. —  I.  *  Through  the  amaziiuj 
 goodness  of  God  to  usy  ive  share  with  the  Galatians  in  this  great 
 privilege^  that  Jesus  Christ  crucified  is  evidently  set  forth  anion'/ 
 ■us.  Let  us  make  the  object  familiar  to  our  view — to  our 
 hearts  ;  and  O  that  we  may  all  feel  its  powerful  influence,  to 
 engage  us  to  obey  the  truth,  and  to  comply  with  the  practical 
 design  of  the  gospel. 
 
 II.  '  That  we  may  be  deemed  the  children  of  Abraham,  let  uk 
 have  the  same  faith  with  him;  that,  believing  in  God  as  he  did, 
 1247 
 
 a7id  trusting  in  the  promised  Messiah,  we  may  attain  that 
 righteousness  which  it  is  impossible  to  obtain  by  the  deeds  of  the 
 law,  which  insists  upon  perfect  obedience,  and  passes  sentence 
 upon  every  one  that  has  transgressed  it.  Nothing  can  be 
 more  important  than  to  endeavour  to  impress  our  souls  with 
 this  great  and  fumlamental  truth,  that  if  we  are  of  the  works 
 of  the  law,  and  trust  in  these  for  justification,  we  are  under  a 
 curse.*  <i 
 
Paul  movellt  them  to  stand 
 
 GALATIANS,  V. 
 
 in  the  libcrly  of  the  gospel. 
 
 yea,  they  would  exclude  ||  you,  that  ye  might 
 affect  them. 
 
 18  But  it  is  good  to  be  zealously  affected 
 always  in  a  good  thing,  and  not  only  when  I 
 am  present  with  yon. 
 
 19  "  My  little  children,  of  whom  I  travail  in 
 birth  again  until  Christ  be  formed  in  you, 
 
 20  I  desire  to  be  present  with  you  now,  and 
 to  change  my  voice ;  for  ||  I  stand  in  doubt  of 
 you. 
 
 •21  Tell  me,  ye  that  desire  to  be  under  the 
 law,  do  ye  not  hear  tlie  law  ? 
 
 22  For  it  is  written,  that  Abraham  had  two 
 sons,  ^  the  one  by  a  bondmaid, '  the  other  by 
 a  freewoman. 
 
 23  But  he  tvho  was  of  the  bondwoman  ''was 
 born  after  the  flesh  ;  "but  he  of  the  freewoman 
 loas  by  promise. 
 
 24  Which  things  are  an  allegory  :  for  these 
 are  the  two  ||  covenants  ;  the  one  from  the 
 mount  f  '  Sinai,  which  gendereth  to  bondage, 
 which  is  Agar. 
 
 25  For  this  Agar  is  mount  Sinai  in  Arabia, 
 and  II  ansvvereth  to  Jerusalem  which  now  is, 
 and  is  in  bondage  with  her  children. 
 
 26  But  ^  Jerusalem  which  is  above  is  free, 
 which  is  the  motlier  of  us  all. 
 
 27  For  it  is  written,  •■  Rejoice,  thou  barren 
 that  bearest  not ;  break  forth  and  cry,  thou 
 that  travailest  not  :  for  the  desolate  hath  many 
 
 A.  D.  68. 
 Or,  «*. 
 
 1  t  Cor  ».15. 
 Pliilem,  (0. 
 Jam.  I.  IS. 
 
 I  Or,  /  n»i 
 fur  y.u. 
 
 6Gon.l6.l5. 
 cGen.  21.2. 
 
 d  Rom  9.7,9, 
 
 It  S[  31. 1,!?. 
 Heb.  11.11. 
 
 f   Or.  S>na 
 /Deu,  Sa. 
 
 Jk  Atith. 
 
 g  Is.  2.  2. 
 
 Heb.  12.S2. 
 
 Hev.  S.  12. 
 
 ft  21.  S,  10. 
 K  Is.  54.  I. 
 
 I  Acts  3.  25. 
 
 Rom.  9-  8. 
 
 ch.  3.  29. 
 k  Gen.  21.9. 
 
 /ch.5.  M. 
 8iG.  18. 
 H  ch.  S.  3, 
 
 Gen.  21  10, 
 
 o  John  S.  35. 
 
 a  Jnlin  8.32. 
 
 R(im.  6.  IS. 
 
 I  Pet.  2. 10, 
 b  XcXA  15. 
 
 m.  ch,  2.  4. 
 
 &  4,  9. 
 
 ■■  AclB  15.  I. 
 
 See  Acts  16 
 
 3. 
 d  cli.  3.  10. 
 
 /Heb.  12.1".. 
 
 more  children  than  she  which  bath  an  hus- 
 band. 
 
 28  Now  we,  brethren,  as  Isaac  was,  are  '  the 
 children  of  promise. 
 
 •29  But  as  then  ^  lie  that  was  born  after  the 
 flesh  persecuted  him  that  icas  born  after  the 
 Spirit,  '  even  so  it  is  now. 
 
 30  Nevertheless  what  sailh  "'the  scripture? 
 "  Cast  out  the  bondwoman  and  her  son  ;  for 
 °  the  son  of  the  bondwoman  siiall  not  be  heir 
 with  the  son  of  the  freewoman. 
 
 3!  So  then,  brethren,  we  are  not  children  of 
 the  bondwoman,  ^but  of  the  free. 
 
 CHAP.   V. 
 
 1  He  moveth  them  to  stand  in  their  Hbcrtt/y  3  and  not  to 
 oisiTve  circumcision:  13  I'Ut  rather  lovcy  ivhich  is  the 
 sum  of  the  law.  19  He  rcckom-th  up  the  works  of  the 
 Jiesh,  22  and  the  fruits  if  the.  Spirit,  25  and  exhorteth 
 to  xvalk  in  the  Spirit. 
 
 CTAND  fast  therefore  in  "  the  liberty  where- 
 ^  with  Christ  hath  made  us  free,  and  be  not 
 entangled  again  ''with  the  yoke  of  bondajje. 
 
 2  Behold,  I  Paul  say  unto  you,  that  ''if  ye 
 be  circumcised,  Christ  shall  profit  you  nothing. 
 
 3  For  I  testify  again  to  every  man  that  is 
 circumcised,  "^  that  he  is  a  debtor  to  do  the 
 whole  law. 
 
 4  ^Christ  is  become  of  no  effect  unto  you, 
 whosoever  of  you  are  justified  by  the  law  ; 
 ^ye  are  fallen  from  grace. 
 
 upon  honest  anri  just  grounds.'— Bur.  Exclude  i/ou,  from  the  fold  of 
 Christ;  or'  us,'  (as  in  the  mftr^in.)  from  your  affection. — Hammond. 
 18.  But  it  is  ^ond,  9fr.,  '  it  is  fit  you  should  remember,  it  is  good  to  be 
 zealously  affected  only  in  that  which  is  good.'  ig.  Little  children, 
 an  expression  nf  the  tenderest  affection,  (see  1  John.  ii.  l.)—Markn. 
 I'ntil  Christ  he  formed  in  yu,  and  you  are  renewed  after  the  image  of 
 Christ. —  Doddr.  20,  To  change  my  t'oice,  '  tcmpET  my  discourse, 
 apply  sharper  or  milder  remedies,  as  circumstances  may  require,  bemg: 
 uncertain,  at  this  distance,  which  is  the  best  way  of  dealing  with  yen.' 
 —Ham.,  IVells.  21.  Do  i/e  not  hear  the  law?—'  what  is  said  in  that 
 book  so  often  read  in  your  a-semblic^?'— /.>(jrfrfr,  22.  For  it  iswritten, 
 —Gen.  xvi.  15  ;  x.xi.  3.  Afn-nh'im  had  two  .sons,  but  there  was  a  great 
 difference  between  them.  24.  Which  things  are  an  allegory,  nearly 
 resemhling  what  we  now  ob'^erve  with  reeard  to  the  Jcwivh  and  Chris- 
 tian religion.  Agar  and  Sarah  may  represent  the  two  covenants, 
 25.  This  Agar,  whose  name  signifies  '  a  rock,'  is  a  representation  of 
 those  who  are  under  the  law  given  from  Mount  Sinai,  in  Arabia,  in 
 the  deserts  of  which  the  Hagarcnes,  who  descended  from  Ishmael, 
 were  settled.  Answerelh  to  Jerusalem,  to  the  present  state  of  the 
 earthly  Jerusalem.  26.  Itut  Jerusalem  which  is  nhnt-e,  or  '  that 
 celestial  society  to  which  all  that  believe,  both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  are 
 come,  and  are  united  under  the  new  and  better  dispensation  of  the 
 gospt-1  covenant,  is  the  free  woman,  answering  to  Sarah.'  The  mother 
 of  us  all,  '  to  whom  we,  as  Christian'!,  do  all  belong,  and  became 
 heirs,  as  Isaac  was,  of  the  promises  which  God  was  pleased  to  make  to 
 our  father  Abraham.'  27.  For  it  is  written— XMete  is  a  passage,  Isa. 
 liv.  I,  which  naturally  sugirests  this  thought;  it  alludrs  to  the  greater 
 freedom  and  enlargement  uf  the  church  in  the  Umes  of  the  Messiah. 
 The  children  of  the  Christian  church,  the  spiritual  seed  of  the  true 
 Sarah,  shall  be  abundantly  more  numerous  than  those  of  the  Jewish 
 ever  were.— Z>orf(fr.  The  prophet,  by  a  spirit  of  propliecy.  calleth  upon 
 the  Gentiles,  that  brought  forth  no  children  to  God,  and  to  whtim  God 
 was  not  an  husband,  to  rejf>ice.  and  cry  out  for  joy  ;  for  there  should 
 be  more  believers,  more  children,  br<iught  forth  to  God  among  them 
 than  were  ami>ng  the  Jews;  so  the  church  of  the  Gentiles  are  com- 
 pared to  Sarah,  who  was  a  long  time  barren,  but  then  brought  fi'r;h 
 the  child  of  promise,  the  seed  in  which  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  were 
 to  be  blessed.— Poo/e,  'Rejoice,  and  be  exceeding  glad,  ye  Gentile 
 nations,  who,  like  a  woman  who  has  no  child,  were  for  many  ages 
 destitute  of  a  si  ed  to  serve  the  Lord,  as  Sarah  wa";,  till  she  came  to  he 
 ninety  years  old :  for  such  is  his  love  to  you,  whom  he  has  seemed  so 
 long  to  neglect,  that  as  the  descendants  of  Sarah,  who  was  desolate, 
 and  past  hnpe  nf  child  bearing,  are  more  numerous  than  those  of  Agar, 
 whom  Abraham  also  took  to  wife,  and  who  had  a  son  by  him  while 
 
 she  was  in  her  teeming  age  ;  so,  under  the  gospel  dispensation,  much 
 greater  numbers  of  children  shall  be  born  to  God,*  Sic.—Guyse.  This 
 is  certainly  a  promise  which  relates  to  the  conversion  "f  the  Gentiles. 
 — A.  Clarke.  It  will  be  seen  from  the  quotation  above  of  Doddridge, 
 that  he  views  this  prophecy  as  relating  to  the  future  conversion  of  the 
 Jews,  and  their  increase  and  prosperity  after  their  long  rejection  ;  and 
 he  further  thinks,  that  there  is  an  impropriety  in  giving  Agar,  who 
 was  only  a  slave  and  concubine,  tlie  character  and  title  of  the  married 
 wife,  in  opposition  to  Sirah,  the  principal  wife,  and  the  mistress  nf  the 
 family. — Fam.  Erpos.,  in  lor.  Poule,  Guyse,  and  Clarke,  apitly  the 
 prophecy  decidedly  to  the  Gentiles ;  GUI  says  it  refers  to  the  gospel 
 church,  in  the  beginnings  of  it,  eonsihtiiig  both  of  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
 about  the  time   of  Christ's   death   and   at   Pentecost. — Gill,    in   toe. 
 
 28.  We,  brethren,  believing  Jews  or  Gentiles,  are,  by  special  grace, 
 the  true  children  of  the  promise  made  to  Abraham   and   his  seed. 
 
 29.  He,  Ishmael.  Affer  the  flesh,  having  no  other  advantage.  Per- 
 secuted, '  mocked  and  derided,*  (Gen.  sxi.  9.)  After  the  Spirit,  by  an 
 extraordinary  operation  of  the  Spirit,  and  who  was  the  inheritor  of  the 
 covenant  pmmises.  Enen  so  it  is  now,  *  and  Jewi--h  zealots  and  self- 
 justiciaries  are  exceeding  violent  ag.iinst  them  for  maintaining  that 
 they  only  which  be  of  hiitb  are  blessed  with  faithful  Abraham,*  (chap, 
 iii.  9-)  30.  M'hat  sailh  the  scripture,  in  the  language  of  Sarah, 
 (Gen.  xxi.  10,  12.)  expelling  the  bund-woman  and  her  insolent  son. 
 In  like  manner,  God  wdl  exclude  frnm  his  church  and  covenant  all 
 those  that  seek  to  be  justified  by  the  law;  and  will  not  suffer  them  to 
 inherit  his  kingdom  of  grace  and  glory,  together  with  those  who  arc 
 his  children  through  faith  in  Christ,  (chap.  iii.  26.)  31.  Not  children 
 of  the  bondwoman,  and  therefore  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  Mosaic 
 servile  dispensation. — Guyse. 
 
 Cn.\p.  V,  —  1.  Entan'.:ied,  iv^xeuBe,  '  held  fast  in.' — Mnckn.  Yoke 
 of  bondage,  a  servile  yoke,  which  circnmci-ion  wiuild  lay  upon  yon 
 to  comply  with  the  whule  of  the  Mosaic  law,  as  if  that  weie  necessary 
 to  salvation,  (ver.  3,  and  Acts,  xv.  1.) — Guyse.  The  metaphor  is 
 taken  from  oxen  put  under  a  yoke,  and  implicated  with  it,  from  which 
 they  cannot  disengage  themselves. — Gill.  2.  I  Paul,  '  your  known 
 apostle.' — Ham.  If  ye  he  circumcised,  that  i^,  *  if  ye  juin  circumcision 
 to  the  gospel,  as  a  tiling  necessary  to  justification  and  salvation.'  — 
 Bur.  3.  A  debtor  to  do  the  whole  law,  under  the  riyn)ur  of  that 
 covenant  which  required  perfect  and  sinless  obedience. — Doddridge. 
 4.  Christ  is  become  of  no  effect,  or  '  ye  are  ab'^lishcd  from  Christ/  they 
 had  nothing  to  do  with  him,  nor  he  with  them.— GiV/.  '  Ye  are  loosed 
 from  Christ ;'  so  the  word  KaTapyeo^at  is  rendered  by  our  translators, 
 R'lm.  vii.  2. — Mackn.  'Discharged  from  Christ.'  Fallen  from  grace, 
 '  grace'  here  plainly  signifies,  as  in  Tit.  ii.  10,  11,  and  other  places. 
 
 Reh.kctions  on  Chap.  IV.  —  I.  The  apostle  here  declares 
 several  great  and  important  truths — that  Christian  converts  are 
 free  from  the  yoke  of  the  law — that  through  Cbrist  we  are 
 adopted  sons  of  God—'  that  the  spirit  of  adoption  is  always  the 
 spirit  of  prayer  ;  and  it  is  our  duty  in  prayer  to  eye  God  as  a 
 Father  ;  and  if  we  are  sons,  then  his  heirs,'  and  we  shall  equally 
 share  the  inheritance  of  glory, 
 
 II.  T/ie  apostle  illustrates  the  truths  which  he  here  devlares  by 
 an  allegory :  but  we  must  take  notice  that  he  did  this  under  the 
 guidance  of  inspiration.  Scott  observes,  *  We  should  not,  per- 
 1248 
 
 haps,  have  discovered  this  allegory  in  the  history  of  Sarah 
 and  Agar,  if  the  apostle  had  not  shewn  it  to  us  ;  and  much  so- 
 briety and  discretion  ought  to  be  used  in  thus  applying  scrip- 
 tural narrations.'  I^Ien  of  ignorant  and  enthusiastic  mimls  are 
 often  fond  of  allegorizing  ;  and  with  a  little  fancy  they  may  fit 
 almost  any  part  of  scripture  to  a  special  purpose  :  but  if  this 
 is  not  liandling  the  word  of  God  deceitfully,  it  is  something 
 like  it.  Preachers  should  beware  lest  they  substitute  their 
 own  wild  fancies  for  the  simple  meaning  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
 
Fleshly  lusts  to  be  avoided. 
 
 GALATIANS,  VI. 
 
 The  fi'uiis  of  the  Spirits 
 
 5  For  we  through  the  Spirit  ^  wait  for  the 
 hope  of  righteousness  hy  faith. 
 
 6  For  *"  in  Jesus  Christ  neither  circumcision 
 availeth  any  thinj;,  nor  uncircumcision  ;  but 
 *  faith  whicii  worketh  by  love. 
 
 7  Ye  ''  did  run  well  ;  ^||  who  did  hinder  you 
 that  ye  should  not  obey  the  truth? 
 
 8  This  persuasion  cometh  not  of  him  "'  that 
 calleth  you. 
 
 9  "A  little  leaven  leaveneth  the  whole  lump, 
 
 10  "  I  have  contidence  in  you  tlirough  the 
 Lord,  that  ye  will  be  none  otherwise  minded  : 
 but  ''he  that  troubleth  you  ''shall  bear  his 
 judgment,  whosoever  he  be. 
 
 1 1  ^  And  I,  brethren,  if  I  yet  preach  circum- 
 cision, 'why  do  I  yet  suffer  persecution  ?  then 
 is  *  the  offence  of  the  cross  ceased. 
 
 12  "  I  would  they  were  even  cut  off  "  which 
 trouble  you. 
 
 13  For,  brethren,  ye  have  been  called  unto 
 liberty  ;  only  ^'  use  not  liberty  for  an  occasion 
 to  the  flesh,  but  ''  by  love  serve  one  another. 
 
 14  For  °  all  the  law  is  fulfilled  in  one  word, 
 even  in  this  ;  ^  Tiiou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour 
 as  thyself. 
 
 15  But  if  ye  bite  and  devour  one  another, 
 take  heed  that  ye  be  not  consumed  one  of 
 another. 
 
 16  This  I  say  then, ''Walk  in  the  Spirit, and 
 II  ye  shall  not  fulfil  the  lust  of  the  flesh. 
 
 17  For  ■'the  flesh  lusteth  against  the  Spirit, 
 and  the  Spirit  against  the  flesh  :  and  these  are 
 contrary  the  one  to  the  other:   *  so  that  ye 
 
 ^.  8. 
 
 /,  I  Cor-  7. 
 
 19.  cli.3  28. 
 
 &:  6.  15. 
 
 Col.  S.  U. 
 i  I  Tliea.1,3. 
 
 Jam.  'i.  \  6. 
 
 »0,  93 
 *  1  Cor.9.24 
 t  oti.  «.  I. 
 [|  Or,  who  did 
 
 n  I   Cor   a  6 
 
 St  Vt  3:1. 
 ..  2  Cor.  2. 3. 
 
 &  8.  22. 
 pell    1.7. 
 7  2  Cor.  10.6. 
 T  ch.6.12. 
 *  I  Cor.  15. 
 
 .SO.  ch.  4  29. 
 
 U  6.  17. 
 t  I  Cor.l.?.1 
 u  Josh.  7.2a. 
 
 I  Cor.  ft.  13. 
 
 ch    1 .  S,  9. 
 
 X  Acts  i:j.i, 
 
 2,  a-l. 
 y  I  Cor.  8.3, 
 
 1  Pet.  2  Ifi 
 
 2  Pet.  2.19, 
 Jude  ^■ 
 
 ;  lCor.9.I9. 
 
 ch.  6.  2. 
 a  Mat.  7.12- 
 
 &  22.  *0. 
 
 Jam.  2.  S. 
 
 '  Lev.  19,18. 
 
 Mat.  22  :t9. 
 
 Rom  n.H,9 
 Rom.  6.12. 
 
 &  8.1,  4.  12. 
 
 &  13.  14. 
 
 ver.  23. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  II. 
 I10r./.W>/ 
 
 not. 
 d  Rom.  7,23. 
 
 Sc  8.  6,  7. 
 Rom.  7.1s, 
 
 R  1  Cor.  3.3, 
 Eph.  5.  3. 
 Col.  S.  3. 
 Jh,[u.  3.  14, 
 15. 
 
 h  1  Cor.  6.  9. 
 
 Kph.  5.  5. 
 
 Co).  S.  6. 
 
 Hev.  22.!5. 
 
 Jiihu  15.  2. 
 
 Kph  h.  9. 
 A  Col.  3.  VI. 
 
 Jam.  3.  17. 
 
 /  Rom.  15  14 
 
 1  Cor.  13.7 
 
 n  1  Tim.  1.9. 
 
 Knm.  6.  6. 
 «(  \A.  14. 
 ch    2.  20. 
 1  Pet.  2.11. 
 II  Or. 
 
 I'  Horn.  8.  4, 
 5.  ver.  16. 
 q  Phil.  2.  3. 
 
 Rom.  14.1. 
 &  15.   I. 
 Heb.  12.13. 
 Jam.  5.  19. 
 
 Or. 
 
 '  I  Cor .2. 15. 
 &  3.  1. 
 
 cannot  do  the  things  that  ye  would. 
 
 18  But  f  if  ye  be  led  of  the  Spirit,  ye  aie  not 
 under  the  law. 
 
 19  Now  ^  the  works  of  the  flesh  are  manifest, 
 which  are  these;  Adultery,  fornication,  un- 
 cleanness,  lasciviousness, 
 
 '20  Idolatry,  witchcraft,  hatred,  variance,  emu- 
 lations, wrath,  strife,  seditions,  heresies, 
 
 •21  Envyings,  murders,  drunkenness,  revel- 
 lings,  and  such  like  ;  of  the  which  I  tell  you 
 before,  as  I  have  also  told  you  in  time  past, 
 that  ^  they  which  do  such  things  shall  not  in- 
 herit the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 22  But  '  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy, 
 peace,  longsuffering,  ^  gentleness,  '  goodness, 
 '"faith, 
 
 23  Meekness,  temperance :  "against  such 
 there  is  no  law. 
 
 24  And  they  that  are  Christ's  "have  crucified 
 the  flesh  with  the  ||  affections  and  lusts. 
 
 2j  ''  If  we  live  in  the  Spirit,  let  us  also  walk 
 in  the  Spirit. 
 
 26    '*  Let  us  not  be  desirous  of  vain    glory, 
 provoking  one  another,  envying  one  another. 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  Hf  moveth  them  to  deal  mihlhi  jott/i  a  brother  that 
 hath  slipped,  2  and  to  bear  one  anothtr's  burdrn  :  (> 
 to  be  liberal  to  their  teachers,  9  and  not  weary  of  in  II 
 doing.  12  He  skeweth  what  they  intend  that  preach 
 circumcision.  14  He  glorieth  in  nothing,  save  in  the 
 cross  of  Christ. 
 
 BRETHREN,  *  ||if  a  man  be  overtaken  in  a 
 fault,  ye  ''which  are  spiritual,  restore  sucli 
 
 '  the  doctrine  of  grace;'  for  that  is  what  the  apostle  had  all  along 
 heen  speaking  of,  in  opposition  to  the  law  and  its  works. —  Guyse. 
 .T.  By  fiiith,  '  from  faith  in  Christ,  ami  not  from  the  works  of  the  law.' 
 —Bp.  Hall.  6.  In  Jesus  Christ,  that  is,  in  his  economy  or  dispen- 
 
 satiiin. —  Welts.  Faith  ivhirh  worketh,  a  lively  and  operative  faith. — 
 lip.  Hall.  7.  Ye  did  rim  well,  in  the  Christian  race,  when  they  first 
 set  out  in  a  profession  of  religion.  The  metaphor  is  taken  from  run- 
 ners in  a  race,  (see  l  Cor.  ix.  24.)— Gi//.  Who  did  hinder  youj^ 
 aveno^c — it  properly  signifies  '  coming  across  the  course'  while  a  per- 
 son is  running  in  it,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  justle  and  throw  him  out 
 of  the  way. — Doddr.  8.  This  perf,uasion,  that  is,  the  opinion  tliey 
 were  persuaded  to  believe. — Gill.  That  cnlleth  you.  rather,  *  that  called 
 you' to  a  state  of  salvation  by  my  preaching. —  WtUs.  9.  A  little 
 leaven,  ^c,  a  proverbial  expression,  pretty  much  in  use  among  the 
 Jews,  (see  l  Cor.  v,  6.)  It  is  a  reason  why  errors  should  be  nipped  in 
 the  bud. — Gill.  10.  None  otherwise  minded,  than  I  exhort  ynu  to  be. 
 —  Whitby.  His  judgment,  or  '  condemnation.' — Gilt.  This  relates  not 
 merely  to  church  censure,  but  the  solemn  account  with  God, — Ditddr. 
 
 11.  ///  yet  preach  cirmmcision  ?  ^-c. — probably  some  of  the  false  apos- 
 tles, hearing  of  his  having  circumcised  Timothy  about  this  time,  [Acts, 
 xvi.  3,)  reported  him  as  being  an  advocate  for  circumcision  ;  but  he 
 says,  were  it  so,  is  it  likely  I  should  suffer  persecution  from  the  Jews? 
 
 12.  Cut  off,  that  is,  excommunicated.  —  Clarke.  13.  Fur  an  occasion 
 to  the  flesh,  of  unwarrantable  indulgence  to  any  irregular  appetites  of 
 the  fifi%\\.~  Dofldr.  14.  All  the  law  is  fulfilled,  ?fc  ,  all  the  com- 
 mands  of  the  second  table. — J.  Brown.  16.  Walk  in  the  Spirit, '  after 
 the  Spirit  of  God,  making  his  word  your  rule,'  ^c,  or  in  the  exercise 
 of  his  graces.  17.  The  flesh  lusteth,  ^c,  the  corruption  of  nature, 
 which  is  still  in  regenerate  persons.  The  Spirit,  the  internal  principle 
 of  grace  in  a  regenerate  man.— Gi//.  The  'flesh,'  our  corrupted  na- 
 ture ;  the  '  Spirit,'  whereby  we  are  regenerated. — Bp.  Hull.  Ye  cannot 
 do  the  things  that  ye  would,  '  what'^oever  you  do  in  compliance  with 
 one  of  these  priisciples.  you  do  in  opposition  to  the  other.' — Ham, 
 18.  Led,  in  the  paths  of  holiness.     Of  the  Spirit,  *  the  Spirit  of  God.'— 
 
 Doddr.  Ye  are  not  under  the  law,  the  Spirit  being  received  only  by 
 means  of  the  gospel.— J.  Brown.  IQ.  The  works  of  the  flesh— some 
 of  these  arise,  principally,  if  not  entirely,  from  the  mind  ;  we  may 
 therefore  conclude  that  the  apostle  does  not  mean  the  body,  and  its 
 sensitive  appetites  and  inclinations  only,  but  the  cuiruption  of  humau 
 nature,  as  it  spreads  through  and  defiles  all  the  powers  of  the  soul.— 
 Guyse.  Unclennness,  ai^aVapata,  whatever  is  opposed  to  purity;  pro- 
 bably meaning  here,  as  in  Rom.  i.  24,  2  Cor.  xii.  21,  'unnatural  prac- 
 tices.' Lasciriousness,  cKTcAyeia,  *  lewdness.'— C/ur/iT.  20.  Witch- 
 craft, magic  arts.— GH^se.  Variance,  fpcic,  'contentions,'  proceeding 
 to  open  acts,  as  law  suits.  Sec.  Emulations,  fnXo'.  '  strife,'  to  excel  at 
 the  expense  of  another.  Wrath,  Bvfxoi,  turbulent  passions.  Strife, 
 cpiBttiii,  janglings,  or  strife  about  words.— CVurAa.  Seditions,  iixua- 
 Taaiat,  divisions  of  a  party  spiiit. — Doddr.  21.  RevelUngs,  Kt^pkOi, 
 lascivious  fcastings,  with  obscene  songs,  8ic.  22.  Love,  a-jaTm,  an 
 intense  desire  to  please  God,  and  to  do  good  to  mankind.  Joy,  x^ipa. 
 the  exultation  that  arises  from  a  sense  of  God's  mercy,  communicated 
 to  the  soul  in  tbe  pardon  of  its  iniquities  and  the  prospect  of  eternal 
 glnry.  Peace,  etptivn,  the  calm,  quiet,  and  order,  which  take  place  in 
 the  justified  soul.  Good7iess,  aial^<ji(T>'vn,  doing  good  to  the  bodies  ami 
 souls  of  men  to  the  utmost  of  our  ability. — Clarke.  Faith,  irtaTt^,  is 
 nere  used  for  '  Adelity.*— Clarke,  Doddr.  23.  Against  such  there  is  no 
 law,  '  they  shall,  by  the  grace  of  the  gospel,  be  delivered  frnm  the  con- 
 demning sentence  of  the  Divine  law.*- ZJorfi^r.  24.  And  they  that 
 are  Christ's  have  crucified,  in  virtue  of  his  crucifixion,  and  in  confor- 
 mity to  him.  25.  //  we  live  in  the  Spirit,  'are  actually  made  alive 
 to  God,  let  us  live  up  to  our  Christian  character.'— J.  Brown. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  ~  1.  In  a  fault— the  aposUe  here  especially  means,  any 
 falls  of  professors  into  sin,  through  inadvertency  and  want  of  care  and 
 watchfulness,  in  distinction  from  a  wilful,  obstinate,  and  continued 
 course  of  sinning.— GiV/.  Ye  ivhich  are  spiritual,  more  advanced  and 
 confirmed  in  knowledge  and  gmce.—Guyse.  Such  as  were  eminent 
 for  gifts  and  graces. — Doddr.  Restore  such  an  one.  KuTapTifere,  '  do 
 your  utmost  to  reduce  such  an  one,  like  a  dislocated  member,  to  his 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  Observe  here,  I.  '  That  there 
 is,  in  every  one,  a  struggle  between  fiesh  and  spirit.  "  The  flesh,' 
 that  is,  the  corrupt  and  carnal  part  of  us,  lusteth,  that  is, 
 strives  and  struggles  with  strength  and  vigour  "  against  the 
 Spirit.''  It  opposes  all  the  motions  of  the  Spirit,  and  resists 
 everything  that  is  spiritual.  On  tbe  other  hand,  "  the  Spirit,'' 
 that  is,  the  renewed  part  of  us,  strives  "  against  the  tiesh/ 
 and  opposes  the  will  and  desire  of  it ;  and  hence  it  comes  to 
 pass  that  we  cannot  do  tbe  things  that  we  would,  by  reason  of 
 the  opposition  we  meet  with  from  that  corrupt  and  carnal 
 principle.  There  is  a  struggle  between  the  old  nature  and 
 the  new  nature,  the  remainders  of  sin  anci  the  beginnings  of 
 grace  ;  and  this  Christians  must  expect  will  be  their  exercise 
 1-249 
 
 as  long  as  they  continue  in  this  world.     Observe  again^ 
 
 n.  *  That  it  is  our  duty  a?id  interest,  in  this  struggle,  to  side 
 with  the  better  part,  with  our  convictions  against  our  corrup- 
 tions, and  with  our  graces  against  our  lusts.  And  the  best 
 antidote  against  the  poison  of  sin  is,  to  "  walk  in  the  Spirit,*' 
 to  he  much  in  conversing  with  spiritual  things,  to  mind  the 
 things  of  the  soul,  which  is  the  spiritual  part  of  ihe  man,  more 
 than  those  of  the  body,  which  is  his  carnal  part ;  to  commit 
 ourselves  to  the  guidance  of  the  word,  wherein  the  Holy 
 Spirit  makes  known  the  will  of  God  concerning  us ;  and,  in 
 the  way  of  our  duty,  to  act  in  dependence  on  his  aids  and 
 influences,'  •' 
 
 7  b 
 
Paul  glorieth  in 
 
 GALATIANS,  VI. 
 
 the  cross  of  Christ, 
 
 an  one  *^  in  the  spirit  of  meekness  ;  considerinji 
 thyself,  ^'  lest  thou  also  be  tempted. 
 
 2  ®  Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens,  and  so 
 fulfil  'the  law  of  Christ. 
 
 3  For  ^if  a  man  think  himself  to  be  some- 
 thing, when  ''he  is  nothing,  he  deceiveth  him- 
 self. 
 
 4  But  Met  every  man  prove  his  own  work, 
 and  then  shall  he  have  rejoicing  in  himself 
 alone,  and  ''  not  in  another. 
 
 5  For  '  every  man  shall  bear  his  own  burden. 
 
 6  "*  Let  him  that  is  tauglit  in  tiie  word  com- 
 municate unto  him  that  teacheth  in  all  good 
 things. 
 
 7  "  Be  not  deceived  ;  °  God  is  not  mocked  : 
 for  ■*  whatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he 
 also  reap. 
 
 8  "*  For  he  that  soweth  to  his  flesh  shall  of 
 the  flesh  reap  corruption  ;  but  he  that  soweth 
 to  the  Spirit  shall  of  the  Spirit  reap  life  ever- 
 lasting. 
 
 9  And  Met  us  not  be  weary  in  well  doing: 
 for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap,  "  if  we  faiiit 
 not. 
 
 10  *  As  we  have  therefore  opportunity,  "let 
 us  do  good  unto  all  men,  especially  unto  them 
 
 Heb.9.6.U.  &  10  S6.  &  12.  3,  S.  Rev.  2.  JO. 
 15.  i  Tim.  6.  18.  Tit.  S.8. 
 
 t  John  9.  *.   &  12.  35. 
 
 .\.  D.  58. 
 
 <:  \  Cor.4.2l. 
 
 2The8  S.15. 
 
 ■-'  Tim. a. 25. 
 <i  I  Cor.  7  6. 
 
 *c  10.  12. 
 e  Rom.  15.1. 
 
 ch.  5.  13. 
 
 IThes  5.14. 
 /John  1 3. 1 4, 
 
 16,34.,  &  IS. 
 
 9.  1  John  4! 
 
 21. 
 g  Kom.  12.3. 
 
 I  Cor.  8.  g. 
 
 ch-  a.  6. 
 h  2  Cor.  S.S. 
 
 &  12.   II. 
 .■  I  Cor.  1 1.29. 
 
 8  Cor.  18  5. 
 k  Seo  Luke 
 
 IK.  M. 
 /  Rom.  2.  fi. 
 
 I  C..r.  3.  8. 
 ni  Rom.  15. 
 
 27.  I  Cor.  9. 
 
 II.  11. 
 n  1  Cor.  6.9. 
 
 &  15.  33 
 o  Job  13    9. 
 j>  Luke  16 
 
 25    Rom.  2. 
 
 6  2  Cor .9.6. 
 f  Job  1.  8. 
 
 Pro    J  I.  16. 
 
 1 1'.  l_'. 
 
 Hfim.  S.  13. 
 
 J;un.  3.  IS. 
 t  •>  Thes.  3. 
 
 1.1.  1  Cor. 
 
 15   58. 
 I  Mat.  24. 13. 
 u  I  Thes.  5. 
 
 ych.  2.5,14. 
 :  Phil. 3.  IS. 
 
 b  Phil.  3.  3, 
 7,  8. 
 
 [I  Or, 
 
 c  Rom.  6.  6. 
 ch.  2.  20. 
 
 d  1  Cor.  7. 
 19    cb.  5.6. 
 
 Col.  s.  n. 
 
 p  2  Cor. 5. 17. 
 
 /Pa.  125.5. 
 g  Phil.  3.  16. 
 
 h  Rom.  2.29 
 
 &  4.12.  &  9. 
 
 0.  7,  e.  fh. 
 
 3.7,  9,  29. 
 
 Phil.  a.  3. 
 I  2Cor.l.6.& 
 
 4.  10.  &  II. 
 
 23.  ch.  5.11. 
 
 Col.  I.  21. 
 k  2  Tim,  4. 
 
 22.  Philem. 
 
 25. 
 
 who  are  of  ^  the  housliold  of  faith. 
 
 1 1  Ye  see  how  larj^e  a  letter  I  have  written 
 unto  you  with  mine  own  hand. 
 
 12  As  many  as  desire  to  make  a  fair  shew  in 
 the  flesh,  ^  they  constrain  you  to  be  circum- 
 cised ;  ^  only  lest  they  should  "suffer  persecu- 
 tion for  the  cross  of  Christ. 
 
 13  For  neither  they  themselves  who  are  cir- 
 cumcised keep  the  law  ;  but  desire  to  have 
 you  circumcised,  that  they  may  glory  in  your 
 flesh. 
 
 14  ^But  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save 
 in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  ||  by 
 whom  tlie  world  is  "^  crucified  unto  me,  and  I 
 unto  the  world. 
 
 15  For  'Mn  Christ  Jesus  neither  circumcision 
 availeth  any  thing,  nor  uncircumcision,  but  ^a 
 new  creature. 
 
 16  ^  And  as  many  as  walk  ^according  to  this 
 rule,  peace  be  on  them,  and  mercy,  and  upon 
 "the  Israel  of  God. 
 
 17  From  henceforth  let  no  man  trouble  me  : 
 for  '  I  bear  in  my  body  the  marks  of  the  Lord 
 Jesus. 
 
 18  Brethren,  ''the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ  be  with  your  spirit.     Amen. 
 
 t  Unto  the  Galatians  written  from  Rome. 
 
 proper  place  in  the  body  of  Christ.'— Gwyw.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
 setting  of  bones  that  are  broken,  or  out  of  joint,  which  is  done  with 
 great  care  and  tenderness.  Professors  fallen  into  sin  are  like  broken 
 and  dislocated  bones  ;  they  are  out  of  their  place,  and  lose  both  their 
 comfort  and  usefulness.— GiV/.  2.  Bear  ye,  fyc,  '  let  it  be  your  care, 
 •with  mutual  tenderness,  to  comfort  and  support  the  weak,*  (comp. 
 Rom.  XV.  1,  and  1  Thess.  v.  14.)— Dorfrfr.  This  is  an  allusion  to  tne 
 custom  of  travellers,  who,  when  too  heavily  laden  with  their  hapga^e, 
 relieve  one  anotlier  by  bearing  the  burdens  of  the  weak  or  fatigued, 
 and  thus  shew  their  good  disposition  tnwards  each  other.  Burdens 
 are  here  taken  for  unavoidable  frailties  and  infirmities. — Heu'.  The 
 law  0/  Christ,  which  is  the  law  of  love  to  one  another,  (John,  xiii.  ,14, 
 35.) — Gill.  3.  For  if  a  man,  ^c,  '  remember  what  was  said  before, 
 (chap.  V.  26,}  and  beware  of  an  overweening  opinion  of  yourselves.'— 
 Dnddr.  4.  Prove  his  on-n  work,  '  review  his  own  heart  and  actions 
 by  the  word  of  God.'— Gi7/.  And  then  shall  he  h>ive  rejoicing,  '  matter 
 of  humble  glorying  (Kai-xn/ia)  within  his  own  soul,  on  account  of  what 
 God  has  wrought  in  him  and  enabled  him  to  do.'  And  not  in  another, 
 'and  he  need  not  be  solicitous  about  the  good  opinion  and  applause  of 
 others.*— Guyse.  5.  Bear  his  own  burden,  that  is,  the  punishment 
 of  his  own  sins,  and  not  another's  ;  so  the  judgments  of  Gnd  inflicted 
 on  men  in  this  world  are  often  called  '  a  burden,*  (see  Isa.  xiii.  1 ,  &c. ;) 
 and  so  may  mean  the  punishment  of  the  wicked  in  another  world, 
 which  will  be  grievous  and  intolerable.- Gi7/.  6.  Communicate,  ^c, 
 retorn  temporal  for  spiritual  blessings.— Bp.  Hall.  7.  Be  not  deceived, 
 ffr.,  *  let  not  a  covetous  temper,  or  plausible  suggestion,  seduce  you 
 from  a  faithful  performance  of  duly.  God  will  not  be  imposed  upon, 
 nor  have  his  commandments  contemned.  Like  a  gardener's  crop, 
 your  reward  at  his  hand  shall  be  according  to  the  nature,  quality,  and 
 extent,  of  your  work.'—/.  Brown.  8.  He  that  soweth  to  his  flesh,  ^-e., 
 '  he  that  spends  his  substance  upon  his  lusts,  shall  reap  only  a  perish- 
 ing satisfaction  at  present,  and  eternal  perdition  afterwards.'  Soweth 
 to  the  Spirit,  '  bestoweth  his  temporal  goods  upon  holy  and  spiritual 
 purposes,  under  the  Spirit's  influences,  shall  reap  eternal  \\(e.'—Bp. 
 Hall,  Bur.  11.  How  large  a  fetter,  7^M^^«o'?  fpantiacriv,  may  refer, 
 not  to  the  largeness  or  length  of  this  episUe,  but  to  the  largeness  or  in- 
 elegance of  the  characters  in  which  it  was  y/rittcn. —  Whit/>t/.  So 
 Theophylnct  and  others  think  thisw^as  a  proof  of  his  affection  for  them, 
 that,  not  being  a  ready  writer,  he  had  nevertheless  penned  this  epistle. 
 —  SeeDoddr.  It  may  mean,  "you  see  in  what  large  letters  I  have 
 written  what  follows,  as  deserving  your  most  serious  attention— viz., 
 AS  MANY  AS  DBSiRE,' &c.,  to  thecndofvcr.  13.~D.  Heinsitts.  [' Quam 
 
 longisvobisliterisscripsi.'- Afo«/.]  St.  Paul  was  wont  only  to  dictate 
 his  epistles,  as  Rom.  xvi.  22  ;  I  Cor.  xvi.  21  j  so  that  his  writing  this 
 with  his  own  hand  was  an  argument  of  his  more  tlian  ordinary  con- 
 cern.—WW/s,  so  Gill.  '  I  conclude,  that  what  the  apostle  says  must 
 be  understood  of  the  length  of  the  epistle  ;  in  all  probability  the  largest 
 which  he  had  ever  written  with  his  own  hand.'— .4.  Clarke.  It  may 
 likewise  refer  to  the  important  matter  of  the  epistle.— See  P^v/?.  12.  To 
 make  a  fair  s/i^/c,  by  external,  flourishing  professions  of  religion,  and 
 zealous  observations  of  ceremonial  rites  and  carnal  ordinances.  Lest 
 they  should  suffer,  'that  they  may  escape  the  persecutions  and  re- 
 proaches which  the  furious,  unbelieving  Jews  would  otherwise  bring 
 upon  them.'— GMy.*e,  For  the  cross,  ^c,  'for  maintaining  that  faith 
 in  a  crucified  Saviour  is  alone  sufficient  for  justification.'- Benso^z. 
 13.  Keep  the  laic,  manifest  a  true  esteem  for  it  as  a  spiritual  and  Divine 
 institution.  May  t^lory  in  your  flfsh,  avail  themselves  of  the  many 
 converts  to  Judaism.— /Jorfrfr.  u.  In  the  cross,  '  in  what  Christ  hath 
 done  and  suffered  for  me.'— Bens.  'The  reliance  which  I  have  for  jus- 
 tification on  his  death  and  sufferings.'— Z^orfrfc.  The  world  is  crucified, 
 'men  of  a  worldly  spirit  are  dead  in  their  affections  towards  me.*— 
 Guyse.  'I  am  indifferent  to  all  things  here.*— Dorfrfr.  15.  A  new 
 creature,  '  a  new  creation,*  (see  2  Cor.  v.  17,  note.)  16.  According 
 
 to  this  rule,  '  within  the  boundaries  of  the  rule  laid  down  in  thisepisUe.' 
 —Guyse.  i'cuce,  which  is  the  fruit  of  justification  and  a  new  creation, 
 (Rom.  v.  1.)  Mercy,  the  source  of  that  peace,  and  of  all  our  blessings. 
 The  Israel  of  Gnd,  '  the  church  of  God.'— Be «*.  '  The  true,  spiritual 
 Israel,'  which  God  has  formed  for  himself,  and  receives  and  owns  for 
 his  peculiar  church  and  people  through  his  Son.  17.  Trouble  me,  by 
 disputes  and  quarrels.  The  marks,  *  many  are  the  persecutions  I  have 
 already  endured,  and  I  have  about  me  the  visible  scars  of  stripes, 
 wounds,  and  bonds,'  (Acts,  xx.  23  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  lO,  and  xi.  23,  24,)  *  as 
 marks  of  my  being  his  devoted  servant.*- Gh^s^.  Dr.  Potter  thinks 
 that  the  apostle  here  alludes  to  the  o-TcyjUHTa,  <>r  '  brands,'  with  which 
 the  Greeks  used  to  mark  those  that  were  appointed  to  serve  in  the  wars, 
 lest  they  should  attempt  to  make  their  escape.  But  perhaps  the  refer- 
 ence may  be  to  those  marks  by  which  the  votaries  of  particular  deities 
 were  distinguished.— iJorfrfr.  It  might  allude  to  the  Egyptian  custom, 
 according  to  which,  any  man's  servant  who  tied  to  the  temple  of  Her- 
 cules, and  had  the  sacred  brands  or  marks  of  that  deity  impressed  upon 
 him,  was  supposed  to  be  under  his  immediate  care  and  protection,  and, 
 by  that,  to  be  privileged  from  all  violence  and  harsh  treatment.  — 
 Black  well. 
 
 REFLECTIONS  ON  Chap-  VI.  _  There  are  several  im- 
 portant subjects  in  tliis  chapter— I.  '  Tenderness  due  to  back- 
 sliders. '  We  should  never  encourage  sin,  but  we  should  always 
 look  with  pity  on  the  sinner.  We  should  never  take  by  the 
 hand  the  man  who  Uves  in  sin,  but  as  be  who  repents  and 
 forsakes  sin  shall  find  mercy  of  God,  he  ought  to  find  mercy 
 of  those  that  profess  to  be  the  followers  of  God.  A  gracious 
 God  promises  '  to  heal  the  backslidings  of  the  humble  and 
 penitent  backslider.  Let  us  not  then  pour  boiling  lead  into 
 his  wounds  rather  than  mollify  tbem  with  ointment.  We  are 
 also  liable  ourselves  to  be  tempted,  and  may  in  such  a  pain- 
 1250 
 
 ful  case  receive   back  with  interest   the   kindness  we  have 
 shewn  to  him. 
 
 II.  Severity  due  to  ourselves.  Let  us  search  and  try  our  ways, 
 and  strictly  scrutinize  our  thoughts  and  actions  by  bringing 
 tbem  to  the  test  of  God's  word.  Tbis  will  keep  us  humble  at 
 the  footstool  of  divine  mercy,  constantly  looking  to  the  strong 
 for  strength,  and  by  destroying  our  high  conceits  of  ourselves, 
 make  us  the  less  exposed  to  danger.     Bunyan  sings, 
 
 '  He  that  is  low  needs  fear  no  fall.* 
 
 III.  '  Benevolence  due  to  all.*     Duty  compels  us  liberally  to 
 
THE    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 EPHESIANS. 
 
 [Ephesus  was  a  city  of  Ionia,  and  the  capital  of  the  Proconsular  Asia.  It  was  famous  for  its  temple  of  Diana,  which  was 
 esteemed  one  of  the  seven  wonders  of  the  world;  and  its  inhabitants  were  noted  for  their  superstition,  and  skill  in  ma^ic. 
 St.  Paul  preached  the  gospel  for  a  short  time  at  Ephesus  in  the  year  53,  after  he  liad  been  at  Corinth  ;  and  in  the  fol- 
 lowing year  he  returned  thither,  and  remained  there  moie  than  two  years.  During  this  long  residence  he  made  many 
 converts  to  Christianity,  who  seem  to  have  been  distinguished  by  their  piety  and  their  zeal.  This  epistle  was  written  to 
 the  gospel  church  he  then  formed.  His  object  was  to  guard  them  against  the  artifices  of  false  teachers  that  might  creep 
 in  among  them,  and  to  establish  them  in  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  that  so  they  might  not  be  carried  away  by  thcen-ors 
 of  the  wicked.  References  to  the  Old  Testam.ent  in  the  Ephesians: — Deut.  v.  16  ;  Isa.xsviii,  9,  16  ;  xlvi.  10,  11  ;  Ixi.  ; 
 Jer.  XXXV.  18;  Ezek.  xiii.  9;  Zech.  ix.  10.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 1  After  the  salutation,  3  and  thanksgiving  for  the 
 EphesiaiiSy  4  he  treatith  of  our  election,  6  and  adop- 
 tion hy  grace,  1 1  which  is  the  true  and  proper  foun- 
 tain of  man's  salvation.  13  And  because  the  height 
 of  this  viystery  caniiot  easily  he  attained  -unto.  16  he 
 prayeth  that  they  may  come  IS  to  the  full  knowledge 
 and  '20  posstssion  thereof  in  Christ. 
 
 T>AUL,  an  apostle  of  Jesus  Clirist  ^  by  the 
 -■-  will  of  God,  ^  to  the  saints  which  are  at 
 Ephesus,  ^  and  to  the  faithful  in  Christ  Jesus  : 
 
 2  '■  Grace  be  to  you,  and  peace,  from  God  our 
 Father,  and/rom  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 3  ^  Blessed  he  the  God  and  Father  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  hath  blessed  us  with 
 all  spiritual  blessings  in  heavenly  \\  places  in 
 Christ : 
 
 4  According  as  '^he  hath  chosen  us  in  him 
 ^  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  that  we 
 should  ^  be  holy  and  without  blame  before  him 
 in  love  : 
 
 5  *  Having  predestinated  us  unto  ^  the  adop- 
 
 a  2  Cor.  1.1. 
 A  Rom.  1.  7. 
 
 2  Cor.  1.  r. 
 c  i  Cor.4.I7. 
 
 ch.  6.  21. 
 
 Col.  1.  2. 
 d  Gal.  1.  3. 
 
 Tit.  1     l. 
 e2  Gov.  I.S. 
 
 1  Pet    1.  3. 
 H  Or.  things, 
 
 ch.  6.   12. 
 
 /R..m.  8.28. 
 
 2rhes.2,IS. 
 
 2  Tim.  1.9. 
 Jam.  2.  5, 
 
 I  I'et.  1.  2. 
 
 fe  i.  9. 
 g  1  Pet. 1.20. 
 /,  Luke  I  75. 
 
 ch.  9   10  & 
 
 ^:ll.  Col. I. 
 
 K.IThes  4. 
 
 7  Tit  2.12. 
 1  Rom.  8,29, 
 
 311,  ver.  1 1. 
 *  John  1.12. 
 
 Kom,  8.  15. 
 
 2  Cor.  6.18. 
 
 Gal.  4.  5. 
 
 I  JobnS.  I. 
 
 1  Mat.  1.  2«. 
 Luke  12  S2. 
 I  Cor.  1.21. 
 ver.  9 
 
 vi  Rom. 3  2J. 
 
 &  5.  15. 
 '1  Mat.  3.  17. 
 
 fc  17.  5. 
 
 John  3   35. 
 
 ft  10,  17. 
 0  Acts2<J2fl. 
 
 Horn.  3.  'l\ 
 
 Col.  1.  14 
 
 Heb.  y    12, 
 
 I  Pet.  LIP, 
 
 19.  Rev, 5  9. 
 p  Rom.  2.  4. 
 
 K:  3.  24  &  9. 
 
 23.  ch.  2.  7. 
 
 &  S.  8,  16. 
 
 Phil.  *.  I'J. 
 7  Ro.  16.25 
 
 rh.  a.  4,  9. 
 
 CoL  I.  ^6. 
 ■ch.  3.  11. 
 
 2  Tim.  1.9. 
 Gal.  4-.  4. 
 Heb.  1.2.  & 
 9. 10.  1  Pet. 
 r.  20. 
 
 t  1  Cor.  3.22, 
 
 23.  &  1 1 .  3. 
 
 ch.2.  15.  & 
 
 3.  15. 
 u  Phil.  2.  9, 
 
 CoL  1,  12.  & 
 
 tion  of  children  by  Jesus  Christ  to  himself, 
 'according  to  the  good  pleasure  of  his  will, 
 
 6  To  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  grace, 
 *"  wherein  he  hath  made  us  accepted  in  "  the 
 beloved, 
 
 7  °  In  whom  we  have  redemption  through  his 
 blood,  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  according  to 
 ■'the  riches  of  his  grace  ; 
 
 8  Wherein  he  hath  abounded  toward  us  in 
 all  wi.sdom  and  prudence  ; 
 
 9  ''  Having  made  known  unto  us  the  mystery 
 of  his  will,  according  to  his  good  pleasure 
 'which  he  hath  purposed  in  himself: 
 
 10  That  in  the  dispensation  of  '  the  fulness 
 of  times  '  he  might  gather  together  in  one 
 "  all  things  in  Christ,  both  which  are  in 
 t  heaven,  and  which  are  on  earth ;  even  in 
 him  : 
 
 11  ^  In  whom  also  we  have  obtained  an  in- 
 heritance, ^  being  predestinated  according  to 
 
 10.  Col.  1.20.      \  Gr.  rfte  htarfna.      x  Acts  20.  S2    &  26.  18.  Rom. 9. 17. 
 :  3.  24.  Tit.  S   7   Jam.  2.  5.  1  Pel    1.4.    y  ver.  5. 
 
 Notes  om  Chap.  I.  —  l.  FuiVA/m/— the  apostle  so  stjMes  the  Ephe- 
 sians because  of  their  steady  adherence  to  the  Christian  faith,  without 
 any  repard  to  the  necessity  of  the  ceremonial  law. — Pyle.  3.  All 
 spiritual  blessings,  '  gifts.' — Whitby.  '  With  every  spiritual  blessing,' 
 tv  naar^  evXo-^  la  Trvev^iaTtKtj,  not  only  referring  to  extraordinary  and 
 miraculous  gifts,  but  to  the' sanctifying  and  saving  ^aces  of  the  Spirit, 
 such  as  effectual  calling,  justification,  adoption,  illumination,  and  all 
 the  graces  of  the  Christian  life.  Jn  /leav^^nly  places,  'things,'  ev  toi? 
 evoi'pavion-,  '  as  they  are  things  that  have  a  manifest  respect  to  heaven, 
 and  a  tendency  to  fit  us  for  iX.'—Dnddr,  It  is  *  heavenly  places,'  mcan- 
 inp  the  Christian  church,  called  *  the  kingdom  of  heaven,'  which  will 
 be  perfected  in  the  regions  above. — Mackn.  '  Heavenly  places'  denote 
 *  heaven'  properly  so  called,  because  heavenly  places  signify  heaven, 
 (chap.iii.  10  ;)  the  apostle  means  here,  '  every  spiritual  blessing'  neces- 
 sary to  fit  men  for  heaven. — Beza.  4.  Chosen  us  in  him,  means,  *to 
 choose  to  special  privileges,'  as  Gnd  chose  the  ancient  Israelites,  as  a 
 nation,  to  be  his  peculiar  people,  fActs,  xiii.  17  ;)  or  as  he  chcse  Chris- 
 tians to  peculiar  blessings  before  the  foundation  of  the  wotld. —Purkh. 
 The  Jews  believed  God  had  elected  them  ;  St.  Paul,  to  take  from  their 
 boasting,  declares  that  the  Gentiles  were  thus  elected  in  Chri--t  Jesus. 
 — Whitby.  This  could  not  mean  a  national  choice,  because  the  Ephe- 
 sians  were  not  a  nation. — Gilt.  I  conclude  the  apnstle  speaks  of  whole 
 societies  in  general,  as  consisting  of  saints  and  believers. — Doddridge. 
 Though  the  Ephesians  were  in  a  church  state,  yet  the  apostle  does  not 
 write  to  them  under  that  formal  consideration,  bat  as  saints  and  faith- 
 ful;  it  therefore  intends  an  internal  election  of  particular  persons  to 
 everlasting  li/e  and  salvation. — Gill.  The  apostle  here  considers  elec- 
 tion as  the  sounje  of  our  adoption,  redemption,  and  conversion,  (comp. 
 Acts,  xiii.  46,  and  Rom.  viii.  29.; — Mnr.  In  lore,  '  walking  in  love.' — 
 Doddv.      '  Through  love,'  Syr.      'Through  his  love,' .4rn6.  5.  Pre- 
 
 destinated us — the  word  signifies  Grid's  determination  to  bestow  upon 
 the  Gentiles  the  blessings  here  mentioned.— J/«rA:H.  Here  predestina- 
 tion is  the  same  with  election,  and  is  concerned  with  the  same  persons, 
 and  has  regard  to  a  special  blessing.— Gt«.    If  the  infinite,  eternal. 
 
 and  unchangeable  God  constituted  his  only-begotten  Son  to  be  the 
 Head  and  Saviour  of  his  people  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  he 
 must  also  have  then  chosen  and  appointed  them  to  be  the  members  of 
 his  church  (or  mystical  body)  and  the  subjects  of  his  kingdom. —  Wil. 
 Unto  the  adoption  of  children,  '  fore-ordained  us  to  be  received  into  his 
 family,  by  Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  he  has  chosen  us  for  a  peculiar  people 
 unto  himself.'  6.  Tu  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  grace,  or  *  of  his 
 glorious  grace,'  which  we  can  never  sufficiently  admire. — Doddridge. 
 Wherei7i,  or  'whereby.'  /«,  '  on  account  <if'  the  beloved. — Mackn. 
 God's  beloved  Son  is  the  channel  whence  all  favours  come  to  us. — 
 Mar.  7.  Redemption,  from  the  power  of  sin,  the  tyranny  of  Satan, 
 and  the  final  wrath  and  displeasure  of  God.  Through  his  blond, 
 through  the  pouring  it  forth  on  the  cross  when  he  undertook  the  great 
 and  awful  work  of  making  an  atonement  for  us,  by  the  sacrifice  of  him- 
 self. The  forgiveness  of  sijis, the  full  and  free  remission  of  all  our  most 
 numerous  and  aggravated  sins  is  happily  conveyed  unto  us  on  our  be- 
 lieving in  him.  Jliches  of  his  grace,  which  reaches  even  beyond  the 
 extent  of  all  our  most  heinous  transgressions,  and  where  our  guilt  had 
 risen  to  the  most  fearful  height,  hath  its  superior  triumphs.  8.  In  ail 
 wisdom,  having  contrived  a  way  to  glorify  all  his  attributes  in  the  sal- 
 vation of  men.  g.  Made  known,  by  his  gospel.  Mystery  of  his  will, 
 long  before  concealed,  and  so  a  mystery. — Doddr.  10.  That  in  the 
 
 dispensation  of  the  fulness  of  times,  the  fulness  of  time  appointed  by 
 God,  when  a  new  economy  of  di^^pensation  began. — Gill.  In  this  last 
 and  great  dispensation  of  the  gospel. — Pyle.  Might  gather  together 
 in  one,  avaK.€(pa\at<t}aa7f)<jn,  'rc-unite.  under  one  head,  all  things  in 
 Christ.' — Doddr.  In  heaven — on  earth,  a  Jewish  phrase  for  the  whole 
 world,  equivalent  to  Jews  and  Gentiles. — Locke.  It  seems  more  rea- 
 sunahie  to  understand  it  of  brincing  angels  as  well  as  men  under  the 
 government  of  Christ,  (comp.  Col.  i.  16,  20  ;  Ephes.  iii.  10  ;  Phil.  ii.  10.) 
 The  word  avaKetpaXaiuiaaaOai  must,  in  its  most  literal  signification,  ex- 
 press '  uniting  again  under  one  Head.' — Doddr.  U.  Have  obtained 
 an  inheritance,  (.A\np<^&>}iJ-iv$  'are  become  his  inheritance,'  (see  Deut. 
 xxxii.  9-} — Locke.    *  Have  obtained  the  hope  of  complete  and  everlast- 
 
 communicate  of  temporals  to  them  who  often  sacrifice  much 
 in  this  world  liberally  to  communicate  of  spirituals  to  us. 
 The  poor  of  Cbrist's  riock  also  demand  our  compassionate  re- 
 gards, and  our  hands  and  hearts  are  not  to  be  closed  against 
 I2j1 
 
 any  of  our  fellow  creatures  whose  necessities  claim  relief. 
 '  God  is  good  to  all,'  and  in  this  respect  may  we  in  our  humble 
 measure  aim  to  be  like  God. 
 
Of  adoption  by  grace. 
 
 EPHESIANS,  II. 
 
 The  natural  man  described. 
 
 '  tha  purpose  of  liim  who  worketh  all  things 
 after  the  counsel  of  his  own  will ; 
 
 \-2  "  That  we  should  be  to  the  praise  of  his 
 glory,  "  who  first  j|  trusted  in  Christ. 
 
 13  In  whom  ye  also  trusted,  after  that  ye 
 heard  '  the  word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of  your 
 salvation  :  in  whom  also  after  that  ye  be- 
 lieved, ''  ye  were  sealed  with  that  holy  Spirit 
 of  promise, 
 
 14  °  Which  is  the  earnest  of  our  inheritance 
 '  until  the  redemption  of  ^  the  purchased  pos- 
 session, "  unto  the  praise  of  his  glory. 
 
 1.5  Wherefore  I  also,  '  after  I  heard  of  your 
 faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  love  unto  all  the 
 saints, 
 
 16  '  Cease  not  to  give  thanks  for  you,  making 
 mention  of  you  in  my  prayers  ; 
 
 17  That  '  the  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 the  Father  of  glory,  "may  give  unto  you  the 
 spirit  of  wisdom  and  revelation  ||  in  the  know- 
 ledge of  him  : 
 
 15  "The  eyes  of  your  understanding  being 
 enlightened  ;  that  ye  may  know  what  is  °  the 
 hope  of  his  calling,  and  what  the  riches  of  the 
 glory  of  his  ''inheritance  in  the  saints. 
 
 If)  And  what  is  the  exceeding  greatness  of 
 his  power  to  us-ward  who  believe,  ''  according 
 to  the  working  fof  Iiis  mighty  power, 
 
 20  Which  he  wrought  in  Christ,  when  '  he 
 raised  him  from  the  dead,  and  'set  him  at  his 
 own  right  hand  in  the  heavenly  p/aces, 
 
 •21  'Far  above  all  "  principality,  and  power, 
 and  might,  and  dominion,  and  every  name  that 
 is  named,  not  only  in  this  world,  but  also  in 
 that  which  is  to  come  : 
 
 22  And  "  hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet, 
 
 A.  D.  64. 
 
 A.  D.  61. 
 
 s  Is.  46.  10, 
 
 V  ch.  4.  \h. 
 
 II. 
 
 16. Col  1  IH. 
 
 1  ver.  6,  H. 
 
 Htb.  2,  7. 
 
 2Tlies.2.1.H. 
 
 1  Roiu.  12  5. 
 
 A  Jam    1.  13. 
 
 lCor.lJ.l2, 
 
 II  Or,  hoptd. 
 
 27.  ch.  4.12. 
 
 &  5.  2:).  3U. 
 
 c  John  I.  17. 
 
 CI. 1. 18.21. 
 
 2  Cor.  6.  7. 
 
 a  Col.  2.   10. 
 
 «  1  Cor.r».6. 
 
 d2Cfir.l.23. 
 
 ch.  4.  10. 
 
 ch.  4.  30. 
 
 Col.  S.I1. 
 
 e  2  Cor.1.22. 
 
 A  3.  3. 
 
 /Luke  21. 
 
 23   R.>m.8 
 
 2.S.ch.4.30. 
 
 g  Acts  -'O.L-S 
 
 h  ver   6,  12. 
 
 1  Pet    »    9. 
 
 iCol.  1.1. 
 
 «  John  5. 24. 
 
 I'hilem.  5. 
 
 Col.  2    13. 
 
 *   Horn,  I.  9 
 
 6  ver.  5, 
 
 Pliil.  1  3,  *. 
 
 ch.  l.  18. 
 
 Col.  1.  3. 
 
 c  I  Cor .6. II. 
 
 I  The.s.  I  2. 
 
 ch,  4.  22. 
 
 3  Thes.  1,3. 
 
 Col.  l.2l-.<. 
 
 /  JohniO.17 
 
 3.  7.  I  Johu 
 
 ,n  Col.  1   9. 
 
 5.  19. 
 
 Ii  Or.  f'T  ih^ 
 
 d  ch.  li.  12. 
 
 achiiottledg- 
 
 ecU.&.  6. 
 
 vwtt. 
 
 Col.  3.  &. 
 
 Col.  2    2. 
 
 /Tit.  3.  3. 
 
 ..  Acts  26.13. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.  3. 
 
 0  ch.  2.  12 
 
 ir  Gal.  5.  lb. 
 
 &  4.  1. 
 
 t  Gr.  the 
 
 I>  ver.  11. 
 
 uUU. 
 
 q  Cll.  .1.  7. 
 
 h  Vs.  51.  5. 
 
 Col,  1.29.81 
 
 Rom.  5.  12, 
 
 2.  12. 
 
 14. 
 
 t  Gr.  -f  tht 
 
 .-Rom.  10. 12. 
 
 might  of  hi. 
 
 ch.  1.  7. 
 
 rou:l-T. 
 
 ver.  7. 
 
 T  Acts  i.  Si, 
 
 H  Rom.  5.6, 
 
 33. 
 
 9,  10.  vcr.l. 
 
 1  Fs.  no.  I. 
 
 niom,  (5,  1, 
 
 Acts  7.  ^0, 
 
 5.  Col.2  U'. 
 
 io,  C.l   3  1. 
 
 13,  fc  3.1,3, 
 
 Hcb,  1.3.  & 
 
 il  Or,  by 
 
 10    12. 
 
 whose 
 
 (  Phil.  2.  0, 
 
 gmct : 
 
 lO.Col..'.ll). 
 
 6ce.Ui3l5. 
 
 Heb.  1.  4. 
 
 11,  ver.  8. 
 
 u  Hom.«,3S. 
 
 Tit.  3.  a. 
 
 Col    I.IG.  & 
 
 m  ch.  1.  SO. 
 
 2    1,'.. 
 
 n  Tit.  .3.  1. 
 
 X  Pa.  fl.  6. 
 
 0  ver.  5. 
 
 Mat   •i'^  IS. 
 
 Rom.  3.  ■24. 
 
 I  Cor.  15.27. 
 
 2  Tim.  1  9. 
 
 Heb.  2.  8. 
 
 p  Rom.  4  16. 
 
 and  gave  him  'to  be  the  head  over  all  things 
 
 to  the  church, 
 23  '  Which  is  his  body,  '  the  fulness  of  him 
 "  that  filleth  all  in  all, 
 
 CHAP.   II. 
 
 I  By  comparing  what  joe  were  bt/  3  nature,  with  what 
 we  are  5  by  yrace  :  10  he  declaretht  that  we  arc  made 
 for  (jood  works  :  and  1 3  beint/  brought  near  by  Christ, 
 sttottld  not  live  as  1 1  Gentiles,  and  12  fortd'jncrs  in 
 time  past,  but  as  19  diizens  with  the  saints,  and  the 
 fam  ily  of  God, 
 
 A  ND  ^  you  hath  he  qitickencd,  ''  who  were 
 ■^^   dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  ; 
 
 2  ^  Wherein  in  time  past  ye  walked  accord- 
 ing to  the  course  of  this  world,  according  to 
 '*  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  the  spirit 
 that  now  worketh  in  ®  the  children  of  disobe- 
 dience : 
 
 3  *"  Among  whom  al^o  we  all  had  our  con- 
 versation in  times  past  in  ^  the  lusts  of  our 
 flesli,  fulfilling  f  tlie  desires  of  tlie  flesh  and  of 
 the  mind  ;  and  ''  were  by  nature  the  children 
 of  wrath,  even  as  others. 
 
 4  But  God,  '  who  is  rich  in  mercy,  for  his 
 great  love  wherewith  he  loved  us, 
 
 5  ^  Even  when  we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath 
 '  quickened  us  together  with  Christ,  (||  by 
 grace  ye  are  saved  ;) 
 
 G  And  hath  raised  us  up  together,  and  made 
 us  sit  together  '"in  heavenly  places  in  Christ 
 Jesus  : 
 
 7  That  in  tlie  ages  to  come  he  might  shew 
 the  exceeding  riches  of  iiis  p:race  in  "Ak's 
 kindness  toward  us  tiirough  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 8  °  For    by    grace    are    ye    saved    ''through 
 
 ing  felicity.'— i>odrfr.  12.  Who  first  trusted,  or  *  hoped,'  as  the  word 
 -poii\fl-(«oTaf  signifies. — Bens.  To  render  this  'hoped*  is  objected  to 
 l)y  Doddr,  The  apostle  is  speaking'  of  the  Gentiles.— LocAre.  No  ;  the 
 apostle  speaks  of  his  own  nation ;  for  it  is  evident  that  the  grand  har- 
 vest of  the  believing  Jews  was  gathered  into  the  church  before  Christ 
 was  preached  to  any  of  the  Gentiles.  13.  In  whom  ye  also,  wtio  were 
 once  sinners  nf  the  Gentiles. ~i)orf(/r.,  so  Bur.  Sealed  with  that  huhj 
 Spirit,  'descending  upon  you,  not  only  in  miraculous  gifts,  but  in  its 
 sanctifying  graces,  to  attest  that  you  belong  to  the  family  of  God.*— 
 Doddr.  The  allusion  here  may  be  to  goods  sealed  by  the  purchaser  ; 
 or  things  dedicated  to  God,— .-1.  Clarke  ;  or,  the  practice  of  initiating 
 into  the  mysteries  of  Diana,  by  receiving  a  seal  or  ring  with  figures  of 
 a  he  goat. — Hew.  14.  Utitil  the  redempdou,  'until  you  receive  the 
 complete  redemption.' — Doddr.  Purchast-d  possession,  ihat  is.  'the 
 church,'  (Acts,  xx.  26.)— P«r.  17.  In  the  knowledge  of  him,  'in  the 
 
 acknowledgment  of  him.'— Dorfrfr.  '  For  the  continued  acknowledg- 
 ment of  Jesus  Christ  as  your  Saviour.' — Mackn.  18.  The  hope.  *  what 
 high  and  glorious  hopes  he  hath  called  us  to.'— Bur.  And  whut  the 
 ric/ips  of  the  glory,  ^c,  that  is,  how  great  and  glorious  is  the  inherit- 
 ance which  he  hath  designed  fur  Christians.— tr/n76y,  Wells.  It 
 alludes  to  present  blessings  and  future  happiness.— So  Doddr.  \g.  The 
 exceeding  grenlness  of  (he  power,  i.e.,  *  how  excellent  is  the  power.' — 
 Whith;/.  To  US-ward,  whicli  he  has  manifested  in  the  operations  of 
 his  grace.  According  to  the  working  of  his  mighty  power,  'according 
 to  the  energy  of  the  power  of  his  might,'  subduing  our  hearts.— D'<(/rfr. 
 These  are  most  powerful  expressions  in  the  original,  {koi  ti  to  i/irep- 
 ftiiWov  /it-yefot  TII9  dt'i/tiMewT.)  scarcely  to  be  paralleled  in  any  author, 
 and  superior  to  what  our  language  can  reach.— See  Pearson  andBluck- 
 wtill.  20.  Which  he  wrought  in  Christ,  'a  power  and  energy  like  that 
 by  which  he  confirmed  our  faith,  in  raising  Christ.'  In  the  heavenly 
 places,  'in  the  highest  dignity  and  glory.'— L»orf(/r.  21.  All  princi- 
 
 pality, ffc.,  '  all  those  rulers  and  potentates  by  whom  he  was  here  put 
 to  death.'— //«m.  *  All  the  ranks  nf  the  angelic  world.'— D'^rfrfr.  '  All 
 created  powers.'— C;«rA-s.  22.  Put  all  things  under  his  feet,  in  allu- 
 s'on  to  Ps.  ex.  l.—Itlnckn.  Tu  the  church,  or  for  their  good.— Gw^se. 
 23.  His  body,  so  called,  to  signify  that  its  living  members  are  animated 
 
 by  him,  are  under  his  direction  and  care,  and  united  together  in  him. 
 — Bens.  The  fulness  of  him,  his  relative  fulness  ;  so  that  if  one  mem- 
 ber were  wanted,  he,  as  their  head,  would  be  incomplete.- (r'uys^. 
 
 Chap.  II.  —  I.  Hnth  he  quickened,  these  wurds  are  supplied  by  tlie 
 translators,  taking  the  sense  from  chap.  i.  20,  whicti  cnrre>poncls  with 
 chap.  ii.  6,  7.  Tliey  are  preferred  to  any  otlier  by  Doddr.  and  Boothr.  -, 
 the  latter  reading  'made  alive.'  Some  connect  them  witli  the  last 
 verse  of  the  preceding  chapter,  and  read,  '  and  you  hath  he  filled,'  tliat 
 is,  from  the  fulness  of  Christ,  (John,  i.  14,  lt3.j— So  Hallef,  Chandler, 
 Mackn.  Dend,  ?,c,  death  is  nften  used  by  ail  writers  and  in  all  na- 
 tions to  express  a  state  of  extreme  misery.  Trespasses,  iTapaTT7o>fia<rt, 
 may  signify  the  slightest  deviations  from  the  rule  vf  moral  equity,  as 
 well  as  any  flagrant  offences.  Sins,  cxfiapiia,  '  habitual  knowing  and 
 daring  transgressions.'  —  Clarke.  'Trespasses'  seems  to  be  spoken 
 chiefly  of  the  Jews,  who  had  God's  law  and  yet  regarded  it  not.  '  Sins' 
 chiefly  of  the  Gentiles,  who  knew  not  God. — Bens.  2.  Course  of  this 
 world,  'the  common  vices  and  practices  of  men.' — Boothr. ;  '  especially 
 of  the  heathen  world.'— Py/c.  The  prince,  3fc.,  refers  to  a  Jewish  tra- 
 dition, that  the  air  was  inhabited  by  evil  spirits.— Dorft/r.  Satan  is 
 hence  called  their  prince,  he  being  the  chief  of  evil  spirits.— So  Clarke. 
 Worketh,  or  'operates.'— i^orfrfr.  EvcpyowTOi,  '  wnrketh  inwardly  with 
 energy.' — Bens.  Children  of  disobedience,  'the  heathen  world.' — 
 Whitby.  The  life  of  the  heathen  was  a  course  of  disobedience  to  God. 
 — Mackn.  3.  We  all,  *  we  Jews  as  well  as  the  Gentiles.'  In  the  lusts, 
 4c.,  '  in  the  unbridled  lusts  of  our  flesh,  to  which  we  were  enslaved.' 
 —Doddr.  By  nuture,  'in  that  natural  state  we  derived  from  Adam.' — 
 Wells.  Children  of  wrath,  a  Hebrew  phrase,  expressive  of  '  liable  to,* 
 '  worthy  of  wrath.' — Par.  5.  Quickened  us  together  with   Christ — 
 
 this  seems  to  refer  to  that  union  which  there  is  between  Christ  and  all 
 true  believers,  by  virtue  of  which  they  may  look  on  his  resurrection, 
 ascension,  and  glory,  as  a  pledge  and  security  of  something  of  a  similar 
 nature  to  be  accomplished  in  due  time  in  and  upon  them. — Doddr, 
 6.  Sit  together,  we  may  be  said  to  share  in  these  felicities  and  dignities 
 which  are  conferred  on  Christ. — Bens.  7.  In  the  ages  to  tome,  *in 
 succeeding  generations,  while  the  world  continues.' — Poole.  8.  By 
 grace,  *  by  the  mere  undeserved  mercy  of  God,  who  might  justly  have 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  We  learn  from  this  chapter. 
 I.  The  source  of  our  spiritual  blessinys.  All  our  blessings  flow 
 to  us  freely  from  (iod  our  heavenly  Father,  through  Christ. 
 As  we  could  never  add  to  the  essential  happiness  of  the  ever 
 blessed  God,  it  was  a  movement  of  his  own  benevolence 
 towards  us  in  which  originated  our  present  happiness,  and 
 from  which  alone  must  proceed  all  our  future  bliss. 
 
 JI.   The  design  of  our  spiritual  blessings.      Tiiat   his  church 
 1262 
 
 may  resemble  him,  and  be  his  moral  representative  on  earth, 
 impressed  witii  the  stamp  of  his  holiness  and  love.  That 
 when  every  inferior  work  of  his  hand  shall  perish  as  the  stage 
 and  scaffolding  employed  during  its  erection,  they  may  form 
 one  noble  monument  cemented  together  in  t'hrist  by  faith  and 
 love,  erected  eternally  to  his  honour,  and  on  which  shall  in- 
 delibly be  inscribed — 'to  the  praise  of  the  cloiiy  of  his 
 Glt,^CE. ' 
 
We  are  saved  by  faith. 
 
 EPHESIANS,  II. 
 
 The  ritual  law  abolished. 
 
 faith  ;  and  that  not  of  yourselves  :  ''  it  is  the 
 gift  of  God  : 
 
 9  '  Not  of  works,  lest  any  man  should  boast. 
 
 10  For  we  are  Miis  workmansliip,  created  in 
 Christ  Jesus  unto  good  works,  'which  God 
 hath  before  ||  ordained  that  we  should  walk  in 
 them. 
 
 1 1  Wherefore  "  remember,  that  ye  being  in 
 time  past  Gentiles  in  the  flesli,  who  are  called 
 Uncirciuncision  by  that  which  is  called  '  the 
 Circumcision  in  the  flesh  made  by  hands  ; 
 
 12  ''That  at  that  time  ye  were  without 
 Christ,  '  being  aliens  from  the  commonwealth 
 of  Israel,  and  strangers  from  °  the  covenants 
 of  promise,  ''having  no  hope,  "and  without 
 God  in  the  world  : 
 
 13  ''  But  now  in  Christ  ,Iesus  ye  who  some- 
 times were  °  far  off  are  made  nigh  by  the 
 blood  of  Christ. 
 
 14  For  'he  is  our  peace,  ^  who  hath  made 
 both  one,  and  hatli  broken  down  tlie  middle 
 wall  of  partition  between  us  ; 
 
 15  ''  Having  abolished  'in  his  flesli  the  en- 
 mity, even  the  law  of  commandments  con- 
 tained in  ordinances ;  for  to  make  in  himself 
 of  twain  one  ''  new  man,  so  making  peace  ; 
 
 IG   And  that  he  might  '  reconcile  both  unto 
 
 d  G:\l  Ses.      t  Acts  ?.  39.  vcr    17.       f  Mic  5.  S.  .Tohn  16.  an.   Acts  10 
 1.  Col.  I   2lt.     i^JohnlO  Ifi.  Gal.  3  23.    ftCul.  2.U,20.    i  Col.  t.  22. 
 Gal.  6.  15,  ch.  4.  2t.        /  Col.  I.  20,  21,  22. 
 
 A.  D.  04. 
 
 A.  D.  6t. 
 
 q  MBt.16.17. 
 
 m  Rom.  6.  6. 
 
 John  0.  4-1, 
 
 S.  a.  3.  Col. 
 
 65.  Rom. 10. 
 
 2.  14. 
 
 14,  1.5,  17. 
 
 II  Oi-,  i» 
 
 cb.  1.  19. 
 
 Um.tlr. 
 
 PlrJl.   1.  29 
 
 n  Is.  57.  19. 
 
 f  Horn.  3.80, 
 
 Zech.  9.  10. 
 
 27,  V8.  &  4 
 
 Acts  2.  39. 
 
 2.  &  9.  11. 
 
 &  10   36. 
 
 «<  1 1 .  6. 
 
 Rom.  5    1 
 
 1  Cor.  1.23, 
 
 ver.  13,14. 
 
 30,31. 
 
 0  Ps.  148.14. 
 
 2  Tiiu.  1.9. 
 
 p  .I..hn  10,  9. 
 
 Tit   3.  5. 
 
 &  14.  6. 
 
 t  Deu    32  6. 
 
 Rom.  6.  2. 
 
 I'a.  1110   3. 
 
 ch.  3.  12. 
 
 Is.  19.  25. 
 
 Hcb.  4  16. Sc 
 
 ^  29.  2.3. 
 
 10.  19,  20. 
 
 fc  41   21. 
 
 1  Pet.  3.13 
 
 Joliti  3.3,5 
 
 'J  1  Cor.  12. 
 
 1  Cor   3.  9. 
 
 13,  ch.  4  4. 
 
 2Cor. 5.5.17. 
 
 r  Phil.  3  20 
 
 <-h.  4   24 
 
 Heb.  12.22, 
 
 Tit.  2.  14. 
 
 2.3. 
 
 Ich.  1.  4. 
 
 t  Gal.  6.  10. 
 
 11  Or,  pr«. 
 
 ch.  3.  15. 
 
 Itared. 
 
 /  (  Cor   3  9, 
 
 a  1  Cor.  n. 
 
 10.  ch  4.12. 
 
 2-  ch.  6.  8. 
 
 1   Pet.  S.  4, 
 
 Col.  1.  21. 
 
 5. 
 
 &  2.  13. 
 
 «  Mat,  16.19. 
 
 r  Rom  2.2S, 
 
 Gal.  2   9. 
 
 29.  Col.  2. 
 
 Rev.  21.  14. 
 
 11. 
 
 ^lCor.1229 
 
 J  ch.  4.  1,S. 
 
 cli.4.  11. 
 
 Col.  1.21. 
 
 !,  Ps.  118.22. 
 
 :  See  Ezek. 
 
 Ts.  28,  16. 
 
 13.  9   JohQ 
 
 Mat.  21.42. 
 
 10    16. 
 
 ich.  4.15.16. 
 
 o  Kom.  9.  4, 
 
 «  1  Cor.3  17. 
 
 8. 
 
 fc  6.   19. 
 
 b  1  Thcs.  ». 
 
 2  Cor.  6  16. 
 
 13. 
 
 L  1  Pet  2.  5. 
 
 c  Gal.  4.  8. 
 
 o  Acts  21  33. 
 
 1  The».4.6. 
 
 I.  29.  17,211. 
 
 36.   Kom.  6. 
 
 ch.4.1.&6. 
 
 t2Cor.5.n. 
 
 20.  Phil.  1. 
 
 Col.  1.  24. 
 
 God  in  one  body  by  the  cross,  ""having  slain 
 the  enmity  ||  thereby  : 
 
 17  And  came  "ond  preached  peace  to  you 
 which  were  afar  off,  and  to  "  them  that  were 
 nigh. 
 
 18  For  ■'through  him  we  both  have  access 
 **  by  one  Spirit  unto  the  Father. 
 
 19  Now  therefore  ye  are  no  more  strangers 
 and  foreigners,  but  ^fellow-citizens  with  the 
 saints,  and  of  **  the  houshold  of  God  ; 
 
 20  And  are  ^  built  "upon  the  foundation  of 
 the  "^apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  him- 
 self being  ^  the  chief  corner  stone  ; 
 
 21  ^  In  whom  all  the  building  fitly  framed 
 together  groweth  unto  ""an  holy  teujple  in  the 
 Lord  : 
 
 22  ''  In  whom  ye  also  are  builded  together 
 for  an  habitation  of  God  through  the  Spirit. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 3  The  hidden  mi/stn-t/,  6  that  the  Gentil'S  ahould  he 
 saved,  3  was  made  known  to  Paid  l>//  revthition  : 
 8  and  (o  him  luas  that  grace  given,  that  9  /k-  shuull 
 preach  it.  13  He  desireth  them  not  to  faint  Jur  his 
 tribtdalion,  W  and  prayeth  \9  that  thet/ may  perceive 
 the  great  love  of  Christ  toward  them. 
 
 "OOR  this  cause  I  Paul,  *  the  prisoner  of 
 -*-     Jesus  Christ  ''for  you  Gentiles, 
 
 .  7, 13,  I*,  16.  Col.  i.  3, 13.  2  Tim.  1.  S.&  2 
 2  Tim.  S.  10. 
 
 9.  Plnlem.1,9.      I,  Gal.  &.  11. 
 
 left  you  in  your  sins.'— T/am.  And  that  not  of  yourselves— \.\\e  apostle 
 docs  not  mean  that  faith  is  the  gift  of  God  in  a  peculiar  sense  different 
 from  reasrn  or  any  common  blesbinsr,  but  that  salvation  by  grace, 
 which  faitli  is  the  means  of  obtaining-,  is  the  gift  of  God. — Dunn  Tucker. 
 *Bythis  grace  ye  are  saved,  through  faith ;  and  tkis  [tokto,  "this 
 salvation,"]  not  of  you,  &c.'  The  relative  tomto,  '  this,'  wtiich  is  in  the 
 neuter  gender,  cannot  stand  for  -jriaTit,  *  faith,'  which  is  ihe  feminine; 
 but  it  has  the  whole  sentence  that  goes  before  for  its  antecedent.  The 
 grace  of  faith  is  indeed  the  gift  of  God,  but  the  act  of  believing  is  our 
 own. — So  Clarke.  The  distinction  between  faith  as  a  grace  and  an  act 
 is  both  subtle  and  ridiculous,  for  what  is  the  grace  given  for,  but  to 
 act,  and  liow  can  we  act  faith  without  the  grace  ?  Hence,  then,  with 
 s^trict  propriety,  we  may  here  understand  faith  as  the  gift  of  Gud. — Ed. 
 The  apDstle  means,  this  very  faith  is  not  of  yourselves,  is  not  of  your 
 own  production,  there  being  such  a  natural  averseness  to  it  in  the 
 heart.  Taking  the  clause  as  we  explain  it,  that  i«,  as  asserting  the 
 agency  of  divine  grace  in  the  production  of  faith,  as  well  as  iu  the  con- 
 stitution of  the  method  of  salvation  by  it,  the  thought  rises  with  great 
 spirit.  As  for  the  apostle's  using  the  word  iovto  in  the  neuter  gender 
 t"  signify  '  faith,'  the  thing  he  had  just  before  been  speaking  of,  there 
 are  so  many  similar  instances  to  be  lound  in  scripture,  that  one  would 
 wonder  how  it  were  possible  for  any  judicious  critics  to  have  laid  so 
 much  stress  on  this  as  they  do,  in  rejecting  what  seems,  beyond  all 
 comparison,  the  weightiest  and  most  natural  interpretation,  fcomp.  the 
 original  of  Phil.  i.  29;  Eph.  vi.  18;  Gal.  iii.  17;  iv.  \Q.)—Doddr.  Faith 
 i-i  the  gift  of  God  as  well  as  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  one  as  necessary  as 
 the  other  ;  for  as  the  only  way  to  heaven  is  by  Christ,  so  the  only  way 
 to  Christ  is  by  faith.— JSwr.  The  same  view  enteitained  by  Guyse  and 
 Boothr.  9,  Nut  of  works,  '  not  of  any  merit  of  yours  to  move  God  to 
 it.* — Ham.  'Not  by  works  of  the  Mosaic  law.  or  any  other  obedience 
 nf  our  own.' — Dnddr.  10.  Created  anew  i?i  Christ  Jesits,  to  a  spiritual 
 life  of  holy  obedience.— B/;.  Hall.  Which  God  hnth  before  ordained, 
 '  to  the  performance  of  which  God  hath  before  prepared  us;'  this  is 
 plainly  the  sense  of  the  original,  oh  npotnoiftaaev. — Doddr.  1 1 .  Called 
 vncircujncision,  '  whom  the  Jewish  people  called  uncircumcised,  un- 
 clean, and  sinful.' — Pyle.  The  circumcision  in  the  fieshmadeby  hands, 
 *  performed  by  hands,  and  which  imprints  a  mark  in  the  flesh.' 
 12.  Without  Christ,  '  without  interest  in  him,  or  expectations  of  the 
 Mcsviah.'— iJo//rfr.  Aliens,  both  as  to  temporal  privileges  and  spiritual 
 blessings. — Bens.  The  covenants  of  promise— the  covenant  was  one, 
 but  given  out  at  several  times,  to  Abraham,  Isaac,  &c.,  and  so  spoken 
 of  in  the  plural.  No  hope,  '  no  well  grounded  hope  of  future  happiness.* 
 Without  God,  '  atheists.'  13.  Far  off,  from  all  the  hopes  and  privi- 
 leges of  his  people.  Made  nigh.  '  brought  near  to  God  and  each  other.' 
 By  the  blood  of  Christ,  '  whereby  he  hath  expiated  your  guilt,  and 
 made  a  free  and  honourable  way  for  your  approach  to  God.*    Here  is 
 
 an  obvious  allusion  to  the  blood  of  atonement,  by  which  the  people 
 were  cleansed  from  guilt,  and  had  fiee  liberty  of  entering  the  tempK-, 
 and  conversing  with  God.  U.  Our  peace,  '  the  procurer  of  our  peace.' 
 Made  both  one,  both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  incorporating  them  into  one 
 church.  The  middle  ivalt,  alluding  to  the  wall  which  separated  the 
 court  of  the  Gentiles  from  that  into  which  the  Je«s  only  were  allowed 
 to  enter. — Doddr.  15.  In  his  flesh,  or  body  on  the  cross. — Wells. 
 
 The  enmity,  §-c.,  that  i«,  the  cause  of  this  divi>ion  and  enmity,  which 
 was  the  ceremonial  law,  consisting  of  divers  rites  and  ordinances. — 
 Bp.  Hall.  Ordinances,  such  as  cii  cumcision,  sacj  iticp'^,  washings,  &c. 
 One  new  man, '  one  mystical  body,' '  one  church  renewed,'  &c.  Making 
 pencp,  between  two  kinds  of  people.— Sens.  Itj.  By  the  cross,  '  by 
 
 what  he  suffered  there.'  Slain  the  enmity,  'made  up  the  breach  be- 
 tween    God   and   his   oflTending   creatures.'— Z>o(/rf/'.  17.  Preached 
 
 peace,  by  his  authorized  ambassadors.  You— afar  of,  '  Gentiles.' 
 Them— nigh,  'Jews.' — Doddr.,  so  Bur.  18,  Both,  i.e.,  Jew  and  Gen- 
 tile.— Gill.  Have  access,  the  word  Trpoaayitiyn,  refers  to  the  custom  of 
 introducing  persons  to  the  presence  of  some  prince  or  superior,  by  one 
 appointed  for  the  purpose.— fi/oom/.  ly.  ."Strangers,  alluding  to  the 
 
 name  '13:,  '  a  stranger,'  by  which  the  Jew  called  the  Gentiles. — Gilt. 
 Foreigners  —  perhaps  napoiKot  signifies  'sojourning  strangers,*  who 
 were  not  incorporated  by  complete  proseljtism  into  the  body  of  the 
 Jewish  people,  and  made  au/iTroAiToi,  'fellow-citizens,'  with  equal  pri- 
 vileges. 20.  The  foundation  of  the  apostles,  ^c,  '  the  apostles  them- 
 selves,' (Rev.  xxi.  14.) — Bloomf.  'The  apostles  and  superior  Chris- 
 tian prophets,'  so  called,  because  they  were  inspired  to  declare  the 
 (loctrmes  of  the  gospel,  by  the  faith  of  which  Jew  and  Gentile  were 
 made  one  great  temple. — Mackn.,  Sec.  The  doctrine  taught  by  the 
 prophets  and  apostles. — Clarke.  Christ  is  the  foundation  whom  the 
 apostles  and  prophets  all  agreed  to  la.y.—Gill,  so  Guyse.  The  same 
 thing  has  diffeient  denominations  in  different  respects,  and  here 
 Christ  is  both  the  foundation  and  the  corner  stone,  (see  1  Cor.  iii.  ll  ; 
 1  Pet.  ii.  6.) — Poole.  The  chief  corner-stone,  aKpofivviaiov,  '  the  bottom 
 corner  stone.'  The  stone  placed  in  the  uutwarJ  angle,  by  which  the 
 two  sides  of  a  building  are  united. — Murkn.  Holding  the  several  parts 
 together,  and  supporting  the  whole  stress  of  the  edifice.— iJorfrfr.  This 
 phrase  is  used  liy  the  Jews  to  denote  excellency  in  a  person  ;  so  a  wise 
 scholar  is  called  '  a  corner  stone.' — Gilt.  21.  Fit  It/  framed  together, 
 'harmoniously  cemented.'  —  Doddr.  This  may  aUude  to  Solomon's 
 temple,  of  which  all  the  stones  were  shaped  and  fitted  before  they  were 
 brought  together,  (1  Kings,  vi.  7.)  So  all  the  stones  of  the  heavenly 
 temple  are  fitted  by  the  Holy  Spirit  on  earth  before  they  are  raised  to 
 heaven. —  Wil.  Groweth,  by  the  continual  accession  of  new  converts. 
 —Doddr. 
 
 CiJAP.  in. — 1.  For  this  crtKse— the  sentence  continues  to  chap.  iv.  1, 
 where  the  first  words  are  resumed.    Here  begins  a  parenthesis.    So  in 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  — In  the  case  of  the  Ephesians 
 we  see — I.  Man  in  his  natural  state.  Dead  in  trespasses  and 
 sins  ;  unable  to  do  anything  well  pleasing  to  God  ;  following 
 the  sinful  course  of  a  sinful  world;  under  the  dominion  of 
 Satan  the  prince  of  darkness,  and  consequently  acting  in  dis- 
 obedience to  the  holy  will  of  God;  pursuing  his  own  heart's 
 lusts,  and  studying  how  he  may  best  gratify  the  inclinations 
 of  the  flesh.  In  this  state  he  is  a  child  of  wrath,  exposed  to 
 the  curses  of  a  violated  law  and  the  rig'hteous  indignation  of 
 
 I25;j 
 
 God,  far  from  him  ;  '  without  God  and  without  hope.' 
 
 II.  Man  in  a  state  uf  grace.  Made  alive  to  God  ;  changed 
 by  as  mighty  a  power  and  as  striking  a  proof  as  the  dead  body 
 raised  from  the  grave  ;  introduced  into  tlie  privileges  of  the 
 church  on  earth  and  in  heaven  ;  walking  in  good  works  ;  and 
 secured  upon  the  rock  of  ages,  as  a  spiritual  building,  erected 
 for  eternity,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  that  divine  grace 
 through  \vlucli  the  change  has  been  wrought,  13  carried  on, 
 and  will  be  completed  in  Christ. 
 
Paul's  prayer 
 
 EPHESIANS,  IV. 
 
 Jor  tile  church. 
 
 2  (If  ye  have  heard  of  '  the  dispensation  of 
 the  grace  of  God  ■'  which  is  given  me  to  you- 
 ward  : 
 
 3  "  How  that '  by  revelation  ^  he  made  known 
 unto  me  the  mystery  ;  C"  as  I  wrote  |{  afore  in 
 few  words, 
 
 4  Whereby,  when  ye  read,  ye  may  under- 
 stand my  knowledge  '  in  the  mystery  of 
 Christ) 
 
 5  ^  Which  in  other  ages  was  not  made  known 
 unto  the  sons  of  men,  '  as  it  is  now  revealed 
 unto  his  holy  apostles  and  prophets  by  the 
 Spirit ; 
 
 6  That  the  Gentiles  "should  be  fellovvheirs, 
 and  "  of  the  same  body,  and  "partakers  of  his 
 promise  in  Christ  by  the  gospel : 
 
 7  '  Whereof  I  was  made  a  minister,  ''  ac- 
 cording to  the  gift  of  the  grace  of  God  given 
 unto  me  by  '  the  effectual  working  of  his 
 power. 
 
 8  Unto  me,  '  who  am  less  than  the  least  of 
 all  saints,  is  this  grace  given,  that  '  I  should 
 preach  among  the  Gentiles  "  the  unsearchable 
 riches  of  Christ ; 
 
 9  And  to  make  all  men  see  what  is  the  fel- 
 lowship of  'the  mystery,  'which  from  the 
 beginning  of  the  world  hath  been  hid  in  God, 
 '■  who  created  all  things  by  .Tesus  Christ : 
 
 10  "To  the  intent  that  now  i"  unto  the  prin- 
 cipalities and  powers  in  heavenly  places 
 'might  be  known  by  the  church  the  manifold 
 wisdom  of  God, 
 
 1 1  ''  According  to  the  eternal  purpose  which 
 he  purposed  in  Christ  .Jesus  our  Lord  : 
 
 1'2  In  whom  we  have  boldness  and  "access 
 '^  with  confidence  by  the  faith  of  him. 
 
 13  ^  Wherefore  I  desire  that  ye  faint  not  at 
 my  tribulations  "  for  you,  '  which  is  your 
 glory. 
 
 14  For  this  cause  I  bow  my  knees  unto  the 
 
 A.  D.  6J. 
 
 c  Rom.  1.5. & 
 
 n.l3.lCor. 
 
 4    I.  ch.+.7. 
 
 Ci>l.  i  26. 
 d  Acts  9. 15. 
 
 «*  13.  2. 
 
 Rom.  13.3. 
 
 Gal.  i.  16. 
 
 ver.  8. 
 a  Acts  22.17, 
 
 21.  &  26.17, 
 
 18. 
 /Gal.  I.  12 
 ffRom.16  25, 
 
 Col.  1.20,27. 
 A  oh.  1.9.10. 
 ;    Or,  a  tillta 
 
 i  1  Cor,  ♦.  1. 
 
 cli  6.  1«. 
 *  Acts  10  28. 
 
 Horn  16.26. 
 
 ver.  SJ. 
 I  cl»-  2  20. 
 m  Gal.  3.  ?8, 
 
 29.  ch2.U. 
 n  Oh.  2.  I,';. 
 
 16 
 i>  Gal.  3   14 
 ;iHoiD.  \b.  16. 
 
 Col   1.  23, 
 
 2> 
 f  Kom.  1.6 
 r  Rom. 16.16. 
 
 eh.   I.  19. 
 
 Col.  1.  29. 
 I  1  Cor.15  9. 
 
 1  Tim. 1.13, 
 
 I  Gal. 
 
 .  16. 
 
 &  2  i 
 
 1  Tim 
 
 t  7 
 
 2  Tim.l.ll. 
 
 ..  oh.  1 
 
 7. 
 
 Col.  1 
 
 27. 
 
 X  ver,  3.  ch. 
 
 1,  9. 
 
 ^Kom. 
 
 6.25. 
 
 ver.  5 
 
 1  Cnr 
 
 2.  7. 
 
 Col.  1 
 
 26. 
 
 .  P.   3S 
 
 .  6 
 
 .lolm 
 
 .3. 
 
 Col.  1 
 
 ]6. 
 
 Heb 
 
 .  2. 
 
 a  1  Pel 
 
 I.IS. 
 
 b  Horn 
 
 8.3S. 
 
 ch.  1. 
 
 21. 
 
 Col.  1 
 
 111. 
 
 1  Pet. 
 
 3.22. 
 
 c  1  Cor 
 TTim 
 
 2  7. 
 
 .3.16. 
 
 d  cli.  1 
 
 »■ 
 
 A.D.  64. 
 
 t  ch.  1.  10. 
 
 Phil.  2.  9, 
 
 lU,  11. 
 /  Rom.  9.23. 
 
 ch.  I.  7. 
 
 Phil.  +.  19. 
 
 Col.  1.  27 
 
 cU. 
 
 ,   10. 
 
 Col.  1.  1 
 n  Rom.  7.i2, 
 
 2  Cor.l.M) 
 o  Jolmll  JS. 
 
 ch.  2.  22. 
 p  Col.   1.  23, 
 
 John  I.  16 
 
 .  28. 
 
 ch. 
 
 .  18. 
 
 IThes.S,  S. 
 
 h  ver.  1. 
 
 /  Hcb. 
 
 ff  Acts  11.22. 
 
 Phil.  I.  U. 
 
 i  2  Cor.  1-6. 
 
 Col.  2,9, 10 
 
 Rom  Ifi.25. 
 
 Jiide  2  k 
 "  t   Cor.  2.9. 
 
 r  vpf.  7. 
 
 Col    1,  29, 
 y  Rom.  11. 
 
 ^(i.  It  in.g7. 
 
 Hcb.  13.:;(. 
 
 ch.  3.  1. 
 Philem.1,9. 
 II  Or.  in  the 
 Lord, 
 b  Phil.  1.27. 
 Col-  I.  10, 
 rnit-s.2.I2. 
 
 Acts  20.19. 
 Oal.  5.  22, 
 23   Col.  S. 
 
 12,  IS 
 
 d  Col.  3.  M. 
 Rom,  12.5. 
 I  Cor  I2,li. 
 
 13.  ch.  2.(6 
 /  I  Cop.  12. 
 
 •1,  II. 
 
 IT  ch-  1.  18 
 /.  I  Cor. MS 
 
 ft  8.6- &  12 
 
 5.  2  Cor.n, 
 
 4. 
 I  Jnde  S. 
 
 ver.  13. 
 A-  Gal.  3,  97, 
 
 2S.  Heb.  6. 
 
 G. 
 I  Mai.  2    10. 
 
 I  Cor.  8.  6- 
 
 &  12,6. 
 m  Kom-  II. 
 
 Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 
 15  Of  whom  ''  tlie  whole  family  in  heaven 
 and  earth  is  named, 
 
 IG  That  he  would  grant  you,  'according  to 
 the  riciies  of  his  glory,  "'  to  be  strengthened 
 with  might  by  his  Spirit  in  "  the  inner  man  ; 
 
 17  °  That  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts 
 by  faith  ;  that  ye,  ^  being  rooted  and  grounded 
 in  love, 
 
 18  ''May  be  able  to  comprehend  with  all 
 saints  ^  what  is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and 
 depth,  and  height ; 
 
 19  And  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which 
 passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled 
 ^  with  all  the  fulness  of  God. 
 
 2(»  Now  *  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  ex- 
 ceeding abundantly  "  above  all  that  we  ask 
 or  think,  "  according  to  the  power  that  worketh 
 in  us, 
 
 21  ''Unto  him  be  glory  in  the  church  by 
 Christ  Jesus  throughout  all  ages,  world  with- 
 out end.     Amen. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  He  exhortetk  to  unity,  7  and  dedareth  that  God 
 thcrcfoTe  t/iireth  dithers  11  gifts  unto  Jiien,  that  his 
 church  might  6e  13  edified,  atid  16  grown  up  in 
 Christ.  18  lie  calleth  them  from  the  impurity  of  the 
 Gentiles,  24  to  put  on  the  neiv  man^  25  to  cast  off 
 ^yi^gj  o'id  29  corrupt  communication. 
 
 T  THEREFORE,  "  the  prisoner  ||  of  the 
 ■*-  Lord,)  beseech  you  that  ye  **walk  worthy 
 of  the  vocation  wherewith  ye  are  called, 
 
 2  '^  With  all  lowliness  and  meekness,  with 
 longsufFering,  forbearing  one  another  in  love  ; 
 
 a  Endeavouring  to  keep  the  unity  of  the 
 Spirit  '^  in  the  bond  of  peace, 
 
 4  ''  There  is  one  body,  and  ^one  Spirit,  even 
 as  ye  are  called  in  one  ^  hope  of  your  calling ; 
 
 5  ^  One  Lord,  '  one  faith,  ''  one  baptism, 
 
 0  '  One  God  and  Fatlier  of  all,  who  is  above 
 all,  and  "'  through  ail,  and  in  you  all. 
 
 our  translation,  so  Boothr.  *  For  this  cause,'  for  maintaining  that  the 
 Gentiles  were  no  more  foreigners,  he  was  a  prisoner,  (Acts,  xxi.  28,) 
 and  '  for  this  cause'  he  bowed  his  knees,  (ver.  U.) — Boothr.  The  pri- 
 soner, '  am,"  i.e.,  '  am  the  prisoner ;'  so  it  is  supplied  by  Guvse  and 
 Doddr.  Paul  was  now  a  prisoner  at  Rome,  through  the  malice  of  the 
 Jews,  who  were  exasperated  aerainst  him  for  preaching  to  the  Gentiles. 
 — Gurjse.  2.  //  ye  hmie  heard,  cife  nKoi-ua-re,  '  suice  I  well  know  you 
 have  heard.'  It  cannot  be  imagined  that  they  had  never  heard,  during 
 his  long  stay  at  Ephesus,  of  the  extraordinary  revelation  he  had  re- 
 ceived.— Doddr.  The  particle  ei-jc,  '  if,*  may  be  considered,  not  as  a 
 particle  of  doul»ting,  but  of  affirmation,  and  so  may  be  rendered  '  inas- 
 much,* '  as,'  and  '  since.' — Guyse;  see  also,  Whitby  and  Wells.  The 
 verses  are  thus  connected  by  Guyse — '  ye  cannot  reasonably  doubt  but 
 that  I  undergo  my  sufferings  on  your  account,  since  ye  must  needs 
 have  heard  of  the  divine  commission  given  to  me  to  dispense  the  gos- 
 pel  chiefly  to  you.'  &c.  Dispensation,  meaning  the  gospel,  the  subject 
 matter  of  which  is  the  grace  of  God. — Gill.  3.  Wrote  afore,  *  hmted 
 more  than  once  in  tliis  epistle,  (chap.  i.  9,  10;  chap.  ii.  li,  et  seq.) 
 8.  Less  than  the  least—no  doubt  he  refers  to  what  he  had  been  formerly, 
 (comp.  1  Cor.  xv.  9,  and  I  Tim.  i.  12.]  —  Dnddr.  9-  What  in  the  ffl- 
 loivship  of  the  mystery,  '  what  a  happy  communion  believers  have  in 
 the  glorious  blessings  of  the  gospel.' — Guyse.  Hid  in  God,  concealed 
 in  his  secret  counsels.— Dorfrfr.  Created  all  things,  both  of  the  fii-st  and 
 of  t-he  new  creation.—Poo^c.  10.  Unto  the  prin/yipalities,  .S-r.,  '  good 
 angels,'  (Col.  i.  l6,  and  1  Pet.  iii.  22.)— Poole ;  so  Doddr.  and  Boothr. 
 To  the  intent  that  angels  and  arcliangels,  even  *  the  principalities  and 
 powers,*  who  were  around  the  throne  of  God,  '  in  heavenly  places,* 
 and  had  from  the  begiiming  witnessed  and  adored  the  displays  of  his 
 wisdom  in  the  works  of  creation  and  providence,  should  now  discover 
 still  more  surprising,  and  most  gloriously  and  beautifully  varied,  dis- 
 plays of  it  in  his  church  of  redeemed  sinners.— .Sco/^  12.  Access,  to 
 God  the  Father,  by  faith  in  Christ  the  Mediator.—  Whitby.  13.  Faint 
 not,  nn  eKKaneii',  from  x^C^'^-t  '  to  give  way,'  or  '  draw  back  ;'  it  signi- 
 
 fies, to  behave  as  a  coward  in  time  of  battle,  by  deserting  one's  place 
 or  post. — Mackn.,  as  Beza.  Which  is  your  glory,  *  for  I  suflfer  my  pre- 
 sent imprisonment  on  accoimt  of  demonstrating  your  privileges,*  of 
 which  the  Jews  were  envious.— ..4.  Clarke.  15.  The  whole  family — is 
 named,  being  styled  sons  of  God. — Whitby.  l6.  The  riches  of  his 
 glory,  those  redundant  stores  of  goodness  in  his  gracious  heart  wlilch 
 canueverbe  exhausted.— iJorfrfr.  Strengthened  with  might,  or  *  mightily 
 strengthened.'  The  inner  man,  '  the  soul.'  17.  May  dwell,  '  may  be 
 always  present  with  you  by  iiis  purifying  and  comforting  influences. 
 Hooted  and  grounded,  like  a  tree  tliat  is  set  deep,  and  has  taken  strong 
 bold,  or  like  a  house  whose  foundation  is  broad,  firm,  and  well  wrought. 
 — Stanhope.  Deeply  fixed  and  firmly  established. — Bens.  18.  Depth 
 and  height,  '  depth  downwards  and  height  upwards,'  expressive  of  the 
 depth  of  misery  from  which  the  love  of  Christ  dcUvers  us,  as  well  as  the 
 height  of  glory  to  which  it  exalts  us. — Blackwall.  19.  Passeth  know- 
 ledge, not  only  exceeds  the  Jewish  dispensation,  but  our  most  elevated 
 conceptions. — Doddr.  Fulness,  present  fulness  of  gifts,  graces,  and 
 comforts,  or  complete  holiness,  perfection,  joy,  peace,  conformity  to 
 (iod,  and  commmiion%vithliim  herealter.— Gt//.  20.  The  power,  i.  e.. 
 of  the  Holy  Spirit. —  Wells.  21.  All  ages, '  all  generarions,'  '  Tlu"ough 
 all  the  successions  of  an  endless  eternity,*  may  come  near  tlie  phrase, 
 but  it  caimot  be  expressed  but  short  of  the  sublimity  and  spirit  of  the 
 original. — Doddr.,  Blackwall. 
 
 Chap.  IV.— 3.  Unity  of  the  Spirit,  '  an  unity  of  afl^ection.* — Mackn. 
 4.  One  body,  the  church,  which  is  tlie  body  of  Christ.  One  Spirit,  the 
 Spirit  of  God  which  animates  it. — Darter.  Called  in  one  hope,  '  there 
 is  one  inheritance  ye  are  waiting  for.'  5.  One  Lord,  and  Head  of  all, 
 even  Jesus  Christ. — Doddr.  One  faith,  the  essentials  of  the  Christian 
 faith,  or  creed,  are  one  and  the  f^ame.— Baxter.  One  baptism,  iii  the 
 name  of  the  Father,  of  the  Son,  &c.  6.  One  God  and  Father  nf  all, 
 true  believers.  Afwr  all,  '  governing  as  Supreme  Ruler.'  Through 
 all,  *  diffusbig  vital  influeuce  through  the  body.'  Jn  you  all,  by  that 
 special  residence  which  he  holds  in  those  that  are  the  temples  of  his 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IU.  —  L  Let  us  praise  God  for  the 
 gospel  sent  to  us  Gentiles, — a  gospel  which  reveals  to  us  the 
 inhnite  love  and  mercy  of  God  in  exalting  us  to  the  rank  of 
 fellow-heirs  with  all  the  saints. — which  isaninexhaustible  mine 
 from  which  we  may  obtain  the  riches  of  divine  grace, — and  the 
 mysteries  of  which  are  not  only  calculated  to  absorb  our  souls, 
 but  excite  the  attention  and  admiration  of  principalities  and 
 1234 
 
 powers  in  the  heavenly  world. 
 
 II.  Lit  us  pray  God  to  enlarge  our  views  of,  and  establish  our 
 hearts  in,  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  Here  may  we  take  root 
 downward,  and  bear  fruit  upward,  while,  never  contented 
 with  present  attainments,  we  '  go  on  to  comprehend,  with  all 
 saints,  what  is  the  breadth  and  leni;th,  and  depth  and  height, 
 and  to  know  the  lovo  of  Christ,  whicli  passeth  knowledge.' 
 
Ood  givet/i  divers 
 
 EPHESIANS,  IV. 
 
 gifts  to  men. 
 
 7  But  "  unto  every  one  of  us  is  given  grace 
 according  to  the  measure  of  the  gift  of 
 Christ. 
 
 8  Wherefore  he  saith,  °  When  he  ascended 
 up  on  high,  ^he  led  (|  captivity  captive,  and 
 gave  gifts  unto  men. 
 
 9  **(Now  that  he  ascended,  what  is  it  but 
 that  lie  also  descended  first  into  the  lower 
 parts  of  the  earth? 
 
 10  He  that  descended  is  the  same  also 
 '  that  ascended  up  far  above  all  heavens,  ^  that 
 he  might  ||  fill  all  things.) 
 
 1 1  *  And  he  gave  some,  apostles  ;  and  some, 
 prophets  ;  and  some,  "evangelists  ;  and  some, 
 *  piistors  and  ^  teachers  ; 
 
 12  ^  For  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  for  the 
 work  of  the  ministry,  "^  for  the  edifying  of  ^  the 
 body  of  Christ : 
 
 13  Till  we  all  come  ||  in  the  unity  of  the 
 faith,  ''and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of 
 God,  unto  '^  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure 
 
 n. 
 
 "  Ps  33.  18. 
 p  Judg.5.I2 
 
 Col.  S.  \5- 
 !|  Or,  n  mul- 
 
 titiidf  of 
 
 .]  John  .3. IS. 
 &  6.  33,  li9. 
 r  Actsl.9,11. 
 
 1  Tim. 3. 16. 
 Heb    4.  II. 
 Mt  7.  26.  & 
 8    t .  h  9. 
 24. 
 
 J  Acts  2.33. 
 [|  Ocfut/il. 
 t  I  Cor.  12. 
 
 2-*.  ch.  2. 
 
 ■iO. 
 u  Acts  2], 8, 
 
 2  Tim. -1.5. 
 
 V  Acts  20. 
 
 V  Rom.  12.7. 
 :  1  Cor.12,7. 
 a  1  Cor.  14. 
 
 Sfi. 
 Ach,  1.23. 
 Col.  I.  24. 
 II  Or,  iuto  the 
 ,n,Uy. 
 d  1  Cor.  14.  20.  Col.  1.  28. 
 
 ver   -iff. 
 IJohn3  IS 
 II  Or.  being 
 
 k  cl'i.  1.22. 
 
 fc  2.21. 
 /Cnl.  1    IS 
 m  Col.  2.19 
 
 n  ch.  2.  1,  2, 
 .S.  ver.  22. 
 Col,  3.  7. 
 1  Pet.  4,  3. 
 
 0  Rom.  1.21. 
 p  Acts  26.18, 
 q  <-h.2.  12. 
 
 Gal   4.  W 
 I  Thes,  4  .'i. 
 
 T  Rom.  1  21. 
 
 II  Or,    hanl- 
 
 1  I  Tim.  4.2. 
 /  Rom.  1.21, 
 
 20.  1  Pet.4. 
 
 of  the  (I  .stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ : 
 
 14  That  we  henceforth  be  no  more  "^chil- 
 dren, ^tossed  to  and  fro,  and  carried  about 
 with  every  ^  wind  of  doctrine,  by  the  sleiglit 
 of  men,  and  cunning  craftiness,  *■  whereby  they 
 lie  in  wait  to  deceive  ; 
 
 15  But  '  II  speaking  the  truth  in  love,  '' may 
 grow  up  into  him  in  all  thing.s,  '  which  is  the 
 head,  even  Clnist : 
 
 16  ""From  whom  the  whole  body  fitly  joined 
 together  and  compacted  by  that  which  every 
 joint  supplieth,  according  to  the  effectual 
 working  in  the  measure  of  every  part,  maketh 
 increase  of  the  body  unto  the  edifying  of  itself 
 in  love. 
 
 17  This  I  say  therefore,  and  testify  in  the 
 Lord,  that  "  ye  henceforth  walk  not  as  other 
 Gentiles  walk,  °  in  the  vanity  of  their  mind, 
 
 IS  ^  Having  tlie  understanding  darkened, 
 ''being  alienated  from  the  life  of  God  through 
 the  ignorance  that  is  in  them,  because  of  the 
 ''  II  blindness  of  their  heart : 
 
 10  ^  Who    being   past   feeling   '^  have    given 
 
 grace.— />orfrfr.  7.  According  to  the  menmre,  ^c— this  unity  is  found  in 
 very  g:reat  diversity  of  degrees  of  grrace  and  gifts.— Boaster.  8.  Where- 
 fore he  saifh,  in  the  words  of  David,  (Ps.  bcviii.  18,)  which  may  be  con- 
 sidered apphcable  to  this.  I  cannot  undertake  to  profe  that,  strictly 
 speakmg,  this  is  a  prediction  of  Christ's  ascension,  and  of  his  shedding 
 down  the  gifts  and  graces  of  his  spirit.  The  Psahnist,  celebrating  a 
 late  victory,  goes  back  in  raptmons  meditation  to  God's  victory  over 
 the  Egj'ptiajis,  and  the  spoils  with  which  he  enriched  the  Israelites, 
 ungrateful  and  rebellious  as  they  had  been,  and  by  which  he  prepared 
 for  himself,  in  the  course  of  his  prondcnce,  a  dwelling  among  them; 
 for  the  tabernacle  was  built  principally  with  those  spoils ;  and  the  apos- 
 tie  beautifully  accommodates  the  words  to  the  triumpli  of  an  ascend- 
 ing Saviour,  and  to  the  royal  donatives  of  his  Spirit  which  he  shed 
 dowm  on  his  church.  Bcc—Doddr.  This  i$  part  of  a  prediction  of  Mes- 
 siah's ascension  into  heaven,  which  begins  thus — '  The  chariots  of 
 God's  twenty  thousand  angels,'  ^'C.  This  is  exi)Iained,  Col.  ii.  1.5.  By 
 dying  on  the  cross,  Christ  having  spoiled  all  the  different  orders  of  evil 
 angels  of  their  usurped  rtnmuiion  over  mankind,  he  exposed  them, 
 after  his  ascension,  in  that  spoiled  condition,  to  the  derision  and  con- 
 tempt of  the  good  angels.  This,  however,  is  not  to  be  understood 
 literalty,  but  as  a  figure  of  speech,  importing  the  utter  subjection  of 
 evil  spirits  to  Christ  after  his  ascension,  according  to  1  Pet.  iii.  22.— 
 Mackn.  This  is  to  be  imderstood  of  Messiah's  ascension  to  heaven, 
 which  is  to  be  taken,  not  in  a  figiu-ative,  but  literal  sense,  and  as  real, 
 local,  and  visible  as  Christ's  ascension  to  heaven  was ;  being  from 
 Mount  Olivet,  attended  by  angels,  in  the  sight  of  his  apostles,  after  he 
 had  conversed  with  them,  from  the  time  of  his  resurrection,  forty  days  ; 
 and  which  ascension  was  in  order  to  fulfil  the  type  of  the  high  priest 
 entering  into  the  most  holy  place,  to  make  intercession  for  his  people, 
 to  send  down  his  Spirit,  with  his  gifts  and  graces,  to  make  way  and 
 prepare  mansions  of  glory  for  them,  ajiU  receive  the  glory  promised  and 
 due  to  him.  He  led  cajttivifi/  raptive,  fyc,  expressive  of  Christ's  con- 
 quests and  triumphs  over  sin.  Satan,  the  world,  death,  and  the  grave, 
 and  every  spiritual  enemy  of  his  people.  The  allusion  is  to  the  public 
 triumph  of  the  Romans,  ui  which  captives  were  led  in  chains,  and  ex- 
 posed to  open  \iew .—GiV/.  MiUtary  triumphs  were  not  peculiar  to  the 
 Romans,  (see  Judg.  v.  28—30;  l  Chron.  xvi.  3;  1  Kings,  viii.  65.) — 
 Doddr.,  Mackn.  Hence  it  appears  that  there  is  much  difference  of 
 opinion  among  commentators  respecting  this  passage.  That  it  is  not 
 a  prophecy  of  Christ,  but  an  accommodation.— So  ZJ^rft/r.  Thatitisnot 
 an  accommodation,  but  a  prophecy,  in  figurative  language.— 3/afA;n. 
 That  it  is  neither  an  accommodation  nor  a  figurative  description  of  a 
 prophecy,  but  is  all  to  be  understood  as  a  prophecy  literally  accom- 
 plished.— Gill.  That  this  was  a  prophecy  of  Christ  is  the  opinion  of 
 Poole,  Henri/,  and  Gia/se.  The  Jews  have  always  interpreted  part  of 
 this  psalm  of  the  Messiah.— 5/00 ;»/.  '  Led  capti^-ity  captive'  is  a  com- 
 mon phrase  in  the  New  Testament  to  signify  a  conquest  over  enemies, 
 especially  over  such  as  formerly  had  led  their  present  conquerors  cap- 
 tive.— Whitby.  Captives  were  led  in  chains  behind  the  car  of  the  vic- 
 tor ;  a  custom  not  only  of  the  Romans  but  eastern  countries  in  remotest 
 times.  See  Ps.  bcviii.  I8,  referred  to  here.— P/c^  Bi/t.  And  f^ave— 
 the  word  is  e5a)Kc,  '  received  gifts  to  give  to  men,'  in  the  Greek  version 
 of  the  68th  Psalm  ;  the  Hebrew  signif>iBg  both  '  to  give'  and  '  to  re- 
 ceive.'—Ham.,  so  Whjthy  and  Koppe.  Gifts,  the  gifts  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost. — Gill.  Unto  men — I  may  venture  a  short  criticism  on  a  few 
 words  in  the  origmal :  '  Thou  hast  received  gifts  for  men,'  rnsno  nnp? 
 mN3,  '  thou  hast  taken  gifts  in  man,  in  Adam.'  The  gifts  which 
 Jesus  Christ  distributes  to  man,  he  has  received  in  man,  in  and  l>y  vir- 
 tue of  his  inrarnation;  and  it  is  in  consequence  of  his  being  made  man 
 that  it  may  be  said,  *  the  Lord  God  dwells  among  them  ;'  for  Jesus 
 was  called  Immunuel,  '  God  with  us,'  in  consequence  of  his  hicamation. 
 — Clarke.  9.  He  also  descended — these  words  are  a  conclusion  of 
 Ciirist's  descent  from  heaven,  from  his  ascension  thither ;  for  had  he 
 not  first  descended  from  thence,  it  could  not  have  been  said  of  him  that 
 he  ascended  ;  for  no  man  hath  ascended  to  heaven,  but  he  that  came 
 down  from  heaven,  (John,  iii,  13.)— Gi//.  Loiver  parts  of  the  earth, 
 may  refer  to  his  incarnation,  (see  expression  in  Ps.  cxxxb:  Ls ;  or  to 
 1255 
 
 his  burial,  (Ps.  Ixiii.  9.)— Pearson.  10.  Far  above  all  heavens,  means 
 Messiah's  exaltation  above  all  the  angelical  hosts  inhabitmg  the  hea- 
 vens, (see  Phil.  ii.  ci~\\.)— Mackn.  Fill  all  things,  exercise  an  univer- 
 sal dominion,  and  diffuse  his  influences  over  every  part  of  his  mystical 
 body,  the  church.- .S7«hA.,  so  Doddr.  Fill  all  with  common  or  special 
 grace,  according  to  their  various  receptivity.— iJf/j'ifr;  or  'fulfil  all 
 thmgs'  that  were  types  of  him,  or  predicted  concerning  him.  \\.  He 
 gane  some,  apostles,  that  is  gifts  for  apostles  ;  who  were  such  as  were 
 immediately  called  by  Christ,  had  their  doctrine  from  him,  and  their 
 commission  to  preach  it ;  were  infalhbly  guided  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
 had  power  to  work  miracles  for  the  confirmation  of  their  doctrine,  and 
 universal  authority  to  plant  churches.- G;7/.  Prophets,  to  explain  the 
 mvsteries  of  faith,  and  forctel  future  events,  (see  Acts,  xi.  27;  xiii.  l.) 
 Evangelists,  not  for  fixed  ministers,  but  sent  here  and  there  as  the 
 apostles  thought  fit ;  such  were  Philip,  Luke,  Titus,  Tunothy.  Pastors, 
 these  were  overseers  of  the  flock.  Teachers,  assistants  to  the  pastors. 
 — Gill.  The  teachers  were  to  instruct  the  yoimg  and  ignorant  in  the 
 first  principles  of  the  Chrisrian  religion.— iVacAvi.  12.  For  the  per- 
 fecting of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  'for  the  sake  of  fitting 
 the  saints  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in  order  to  the  building  of  the 
 body  of  Christ.'  '  For  the  purpose  of  giving  the  believmg  Jews  and 
 Gentiles  such  a  complete  knowledge  of  the  gospel  as  should  qualify 
 them  for  preaching  it  to  unbelievers,  and  for  building  the  body  of 
 Christ,  by  converting  them. '—jU«rAv7.  'For  the  finishing  the  chai'acter 
 of  holy  men  who  should  be  destined  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  in 
 subordination  to  the  great  view  that  is  still  to  be  maintained  of  build- 
 ing up  and  edifying  of  the  church,  which  is  the  body  of  Christ.' — Doddr. 
 Edifying, '  building  up  the  church  in  new  members,  faith,  and  holiness.' 
 ■—Poole.  13.  In  the  unity  of  the  faith,  §r.,  '  through  one  faith  and 
 knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  to  perfect  manhood,  as  a  church,  from 
 its  infant  state  in  knowledge.'— J/orArn.  Of  the  knouledge,  or '  acknow- 
 ledgment,' of  the  Son  of  God.— Doddr.  Unto  the  measure  of  the  stature 
 of  the  fulness  of  Christ,  or,  '  to  the  full  measure  of  his  stature;'  i.  e., 
 to  that  maturity  of  age  and  spiritual  stature  wherein  we  shall  be  pos- 
 .sessed  of  his  owm  mind,  and  fully  conformed  to  him.— Ben.?.  11.  Tossed, 
 Sfc,  '  tossed  and  whirled  about,  like  ships  without  a  he\m.''~Mackn. 
 As  waves  of  the  sea..— Doddr.  K\v6u}viCofityoi,  'fluctuating  from 
 withm,'  through  various  restless  lusts  and  passions  working  in  our 
 hearts,  even  when  there  is  nothing  external  to  agitate  or  excite  them. 
 —Bens.  And  carried,  or  '  home,'  about,  as  a  vapour  in  the  air.— 
 Doddr.  With  evo-y  wind  of  doctrine,  or  'temptation  from  without,* 
 when  we  are  assaulted  by  those  who  are  unstable  as  the  wind.  By 
 the  sleight,  or  '  subtlet>','  of  men.— liens.  ^^  tj/  Kvftei^  twi/  av^pujrwt', 
 •  by  the  dicirig  of  men  ;'  the  expression  referring  to  the  artifice  of  those 
 infamous  gamesters  wiio  know  how  to  cog  the  dice. — Chandler.  And 
 cunning  craftiness,  whereby  they  lie  in  fcait  to  deceive,  '  by  the  tricking 
 of  those  long  exercised  in  craftily  deceiWng  others.'— Beira.  '  By  their 
 subtlety  in  every  method  of  deceit. '—Doddr.  15.  Speaking  the  truth, 
 aXnOeiiovre^,  *  teachhig  or  maintaining  the  tnath.'  In  love,  to  God  and 
 one  another.  Into  him,  '  into  his  image  and  spuit.'  I6.  The  whole 
 body,  of  true  Christians.  Fitly,  '  orderly.*  Compacted,  '  knitted  and 
 cemented  together  viuth  the  utmost  firmness.'  By  that  which  every 
 joint,  or  '  part,'  supplieth,  through  proper  channels  of  communication. 
 According  to,  ^c,  '  according  as  every  part,  in  its  measure,  effectually 
 works  for  the  support  and  growth  of  the  whole.'  Maketh  increase  of 
 the  body,  of  the  whole  chiu-ch.  Unto  the  edifying,  or  '  building  up.'— 
 Bens.  'The  apostle's  meanuig  is,  that  as  the  hmnan  body  is  formed  by 
 the  union  of  all  the  members  to  each  other  under  the  head,  and  by  the 
 fitness  of  each  member  for  its  own  office  and  place  in  the  body,  so  the 
 church  is  formed  by  the  union  of  its  members  under  Christ,  the  Head. 
 —Mackn.  17.  Testify,  '  beseech,'  or  *  charge  you.'— /'or.  In  the 
 canity,  fj^aTaiormt,  '  foolishness,'  comprehending  idolatry,  {Acts,  xiv. 
 15.)  and  all  the  vices  of  it,  (Rom.  i.  2i.)—Ma/:kn.  IS.  Alienated, 
 estranged  in  affection,  as  well  as  in  practice.  Ignorance,  of  God  and 
 his  will.— -JSfTW.  Blindness,  rtjv  Trcopcixrn',  '  the  callousness*  or  *  in- 
 sensibility.'—Be^w.  Natural  bUndness  of  men  in  their  unregenerate 
 state. — Dr.   John   Owen,    Doddr.         IQ.  Past  feeling,  aTrnA'r»j''oT6r,   is 
 
God's  gifts  to  men. 
 
 EPHESIANS,  V. 
 
 General  exhortations. 
 
 themselves  over  unto  lasciviousness,  to  work 
 all  uncleanness  with  greediness. 
 
 20  But  ye  have  not  so  learned  Christ ; 
 
 21  "  If  so  be  that  ye  have  heard  him,  and  have 
 been  taught  by  him,  as  the  truth  is  in  Jesus: 
 
 2*2  That  ye  *  put  off  concerning  ^  the  former 
 conversation  '  the  old  man,  which  is  corrupt 
 according  to  the  deceitful  lusts ; 
 
 23  And  "  be  rene\ved  in  the  spirit  of  your 
 mind ; 
 
 24  And  that  ye  ^  put  on  the  new  man,  which 
 after  God  Ms  created  in  righteousness  and 
 II  true  holiness. 
 
 25  Wherefore  putting  away  lying,  "*  speak 
 every  man  truth  with  his  neighbour:  for  ^  we 
 are  members  one  of  another. 
 
 26  'Be  ye  angry,  and  sin  not:  let  not  the 
 sun  go  dow-n  upon  your  w'ratli : 
 
 27  ^  Neither  give  place  to  the  devil. 
 
 28  Let  him  tliat  stole  steal  no  more  :  but 
 rather  ''  let  him  labour,  working  with  his  hands 
 the  thing  which  is  good,  that  he  may  have  ||to 
 give  '  to  him  that  needeth. 
 
 29  ^  Let  no  corrupt  communication  proceed 
 out  of  your  mouth,  but  '  that  which  is  good 
 II  to  the  use  of  edifying,  *"  that  it  may  minister 
 grace  unto  the  hearers. 
 
 30  And  "grieve  not  the  holy  Spirit  of  God, 
 *■  whereby  ye  are  sealed  unto  the  day  of 
 **  redemption. 
 
 31  ''  Let  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger, 
 and  clamour,  and  'evil  speaking,  he  put  away 
 from  yon,  'with  all  malice  : 
 
 32  And  *  be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  tender- 
 hearted, "  forgiving  one  another,  even  as  God 
 for  Christ*s  sake  hath  forgiven  you. 
 
 (2  Cor.  2.  10.      Col.  3.  18,  13.     »  Mat.  6.  I^. 
 
 A.  D,  M. 
 
 '<  rh.  I.  13. 
 X  f.ol.  g.  U. 
 
 &  -S.  8,  9. 
 
 Heb.  13.  I. 
 
 I  ret.  '>.  I. 
 S  ch.  2   2,  3. 
 
 Ter.  17. 
 
 Col.  3.  7. 
 
 1  Pet.  4.  3. 
 
 I  Kom.  6    t). 
 a  Rom.  \i2. 
 
 Col    .S.  to 
 A  Kmn.6.  1. 
 
 2  C.r  O.I7 
 Gal-  f>.  15. 
 <!)).  6.   II. 
 C"l.  3.  ID. 
 
 t  ch.  -i.  III. 
 
 II  Or.  hulinf'i 
 •>/  truth. 
 
 d  Zee.  8.   !  6 
 
 ver    tj 
 
 CM.  3.  9. 
 <  Rf>m.  l-*.5. 
 /I'a.  I.t.  Si 
 
 37.  8. 
 g  2  Cot. 2  10, 
 
 ll.Jnm  1  7. 
 
 1  Pet.  5.  P. 
 h  Acts -JU  3.1 
 
 ITha^i.4.11 
 
 -.•Tl.e5.3.b, 
 
 n,  12. 
 1  Or,  t>  JU- 
 
 frihulf. 
 i  Luke  3.11. 
 t  M.U    V2.36. 
 
 cU    5-  4. 
 
 C..1,  3.  8. 
 (  Ol.'l.  6. 
 
 I  Thea.  5. 
 
 ii. 
 
 II  Or,  M  W/./J, 
 
 n.  Col.  3,16. 
 
 1  Is    7.  13. 
 
 &  61  10. 
 
 Eiff.  10.  +3. 
 
 1  ThM.  5. 
 
 19 
 
 I  ch.  1.  13. 
 P  I.uke  21. 
 
 2i   Horn,  8. 
 
 23.  ch.  1.14 
 9  Col.   3.  8, 
 
 19. 
 r  Tit.  3.  S. 
 
 Jam.  4.  II. 
 
 1   Pet.  2.  1. 
 .  Tit.  3.  3. 
 Mark  II.  25. 
 
 A.  D.  C4. 
 
 a  Mat.  5.  4.5, 
 
 ■18.  Luke  6. 
 
 36  ch  4  32. 
 I>  .lolm  13. 
 
 3(  ft  IS.  12. 
 
 1  Thes.4.9. 
 
 IJi>hri3.ri. 
 
 S.3.  «£  4.21. 
 c  Ual.  1.4. ft 
 
 S-  L'O.  Heb. 
 
 7.  97-  ft  9. 
 
 14.26  ft  10. 
 
 10.  12. 
 
 1  JohD3  16. 
 d  Gt'U.  8.  21. 
 
 Lev.  1.  9. 
 
 2  Cor.  2.1.=). 
 r  Rom.  6.13. 
 
 I  Cor.  6.18. 
 
 2Coi. 12.21. 
 
 ih.  4  19,20. 
 
 (  ol.  3.  .S. 
 
 1  Thes,  4.3, 
 
 ftc 
 /I  Cor  S.  1 . 
 S  Mat.  12  35. 
 
 4,  Jf9. 
 A  Kom.  I  !>9. 
 
 I  Cor.  ft  9. 
 
 Gai.ri.in.ei. 
 
 i  Col.3   5 
 
 I  Tim.lJ  17. 
 f  r.al   5.21. 
 
 Rev.  22.15. 
 u  3er.  i9   8. 
 
 Mat.  8*.  4. 
 
 Col.  «  4.  8. 
 
 18    2  Thes. 
 
 t  Or,  HH- 
 
 hrlief. 
 
 Col   3   6, 
 p  Is,  9.  2. 
 
 Mat.  4.  IG. 
 
 Acts  '26  IS. 
 
 Kom.  1. 
 
 ch. 
 
 1.12 
 
 Id. 
 Tit.  3.  3 
 I   Pet.  ?.  9- 
 I  John  8.12. 
 ft  12.  46. 
 »  Cor.  3.18. 
 ft  4.  6. 
 I  Thes.yS. 
 I  John  2.9. 
 '  Luke  m.A. 
 John  12  36. 
 .  1  Cor.  5.  9, 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 2  AfUr  general  exliortationsy  to  hve,  3  to  Jiy  fornication^ 
 4  anfl  all  uncleanness,  7  tiot  to  converse  with  the  wick- 
 ed, 15  to  walk  warily,  and  to  be  lS^0edwit/i  t/te  Spirit, 
 2*2  Ac  dt'scendcth  to  the  particular  duties,  how  wives 
 ought  to  obey  their  husbands,  2u  and  husbands  ought 
 to  love  their  wives,  32  even  as  Christ  doth  his  church. 
 
 T>E  "ye  therefore  followers  of  God,  as  dear 
 -^   children  ; 
 
 2  And  **  walk  in  love,  "^as  Christ  also  halh 
 loved  us,  and  iiath  given  himself  for  us  an  offer- 
 ing and  a  sacrifice  to  God  "^  for  a  sweetsmelling 
 savour. 
 
 3  But  '^  fornication,  and  all  uncleanness,  or 
 covetousness.  Met  it  not  be  once  named  among 
 you,  as  becomefeh  saints  ; 
 
 4  ^  Neither  filthiness,  nor  foolish  talking,  nor 
 jesting,  ''  which  are  not  convenient  :  but  rather 
 giving  of  thanks. 
 
 5  For  this  ye  know,  that  'no  whoremonger, 
 nor  unclean  person,  nor  covetous  man,  ''  who 
 is  an  idolater.  '  hatii  any  inheritance  in  the 
 kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God. 
 
 6  "'  Let  no  man  deceive  you  with  vain  words : 
 for  because  of  these  things  "  cometh  the  wrath 
 of  God  °  upon  tlie  children  of  ||  disobedience. 
 
 7  Be  not  ye  therefore  partakers  with  them. 
 
 8  ^  For  ye  were  sometimes  darknes.=,  but  now 
 ■^  ore  _ye  light  in  the  Lord:  walk  as  'children 
 of  light: 
 
 9  (For  ^the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  in  all  good- 
 ness and  righteousness  and  truth  ;) 
 
 10  'Proving  what  is  acceptable  unto  the  Lord.' 
 
 11  And  "have  no  fellowship  with  "  the  un- 
 
 j  Gal.  5.  22.        (  Roi 
 11.  &  10.  2W.  2  Cor.6. 
 
 .  12.  2.  rhil.  1.  ID,  J  Tlica   5.21.  I  Tim.  ?.  3. 
 .  2  rbes.3.6,  U.   i  Roin.6.2t.  at.  13. 12.  Gal.&  8. 
 
 peculiaily  sigTiificanf,  properly  meaning:,  *  past  feeling-  pain,*  or  '  void 
 of  distresses.' — Iirii.s.  '  Tlardened  affaiiist  all  impressions  of  grief  on 
 account  of  their  wicked  actions.'  With  greedineuft,  iv  jr.Xeoi-ffiu,  or 
 '  covetonsness  ;'  hence  the  word  is  used  to  denote  inordinate  desire  in 
 general,  (2  Pet.  ii.  U.; — Murhn.  20.  Christ,  that  is.  his  doctrine. — 
 Boothr.  21.  Jf  so  be,  tiye,  '  since  indeed.' — Markn.  '  Forasmuch 
 as.' — Wells.  22.  Old  mnn,  the  evil  habits  of  heathenism.— ir/nY6v, 
 so  Doddr.  See  the  term.  Rom.  vi.  6.  The  allusion  here  is  to  the 
 total  abandoning  and  casting  away  of  a  garment  not  to  be  put  on 
 again. — Poole.  23.  Spirit  of  your  tnind — the  word  voit.  '  mind,' 
 seems  here  to  bo  put  for  the  whole  soul ;  and  Ttvev^ia,  '  the  spirit,'  for 
 the  intellectual  and  leading  faculty.  24.  AVw  man,  ever>'  habit  of 
 \irtue  and  goodness  — Doddr.  A  new  disposition  or  consrttntion  of 
 the  whole  man,  called  a  new  creature,  2  Cor.  v.  17.  and  a  divine  na- 
 ture, 2  Pet.  i.  4.  After  God,  i.  e.,  after  his  image. — Poofe.  25.  Lying, 
 the  heathen  had  no  moral  sentiment,  and  their  philosophers  justified 
 lying. — Whitby.  Members,  fyc,  and  ought  not  to  destroy  mutual  con- 
 fidence.— Stnjih.,  Bur.  2".  Place,  tottov,  '  space,'  mcaiung  time  and 
 opportunity.  Detail,  dia/3u.\oc,  signifies  any  false  accuser,  and  it  may 
 mean,  *  give  no  occasion  to  infidels  to  speak  evil  of  your  religion.' — So 
 Ertismtis,  jlJacK-n.,  as  Gnyse.  28.  Let  him  /rtfiojn-— stealing  is  the 
 effect  of  idleness. —  Chi-ysostojii.  29.  Corrupt  communication,  'rotten 
 speech."  No  speech  '  of  obsccnit>'  and  double-meaning.*  It  is  also 
 applicable  to  flatter)',  railing,  calumny,  boasting,  tattling,  commenda- 
 tions of  vice,  and  profane  jestings  on  reUgion  and  its  ministers. — 
 Mnckn.  30.  Grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit,  §x'.,  the  original  is  very  em- 
 phatical— TO  n^ei'/in  to  07(01-  rov  Qtov,  '  the  Spirit,  the  holy  Spirit  of 
 God.'  Best  rendered,  '  that  holy  Spirit  of  God.' — Doddr.  Grief  is  here 
 ascribed  to  the  holy  Spirit  metaphoricaUy  ;  for.  strictly  speaking,  he  is 
 incapable  of  pain  or  disquiet  of  any  kind. — Muckn.  '  Grieving'  inti- 
 mates that  we  act  towards  him  in  such  a  manner  as  creates  grief  in 
 our  fellow-creatures  when  we  act  so  to  them  ;  as,  when  we  refuse  to 
 hearken  to  his  counsels,  rebel  against  his  government,  and  do  that 
 which  is  opposite  to  his  holy  nature  ;  and  that  He,  in  consequence,  acts 
 so  towards  us  as  men  are  wont  to  do  when  they  are  grieved  by  us,  and 
 displeased  at  us — withdrawing  their  former  kindness,  flying  our  com- 
 
 pany, and  abandoning  us  to  our  enemies. — Whitby.  Sealed,  the  term 
 seems  to  be  a  metaphor,  taken  from  merchants  putting  some  seal  or 
 mark  upon  their  commodities,  by  which  they  may  be  known  to  be 
 theirs.  Day  of  redfmyfion,  the  connexion  must  signify  the  resurrec- 
 tion, (conip'.  Rom.  viii!  23,)  when  the  sealed  property  of  God  shall  be 
 gathered  into  his  treasur)". — Doddr. 
 
 Cii.\p.  v.— 1.  Followers,  fnfitnai,  '  imitators.*— Gk(/sp,  Doddr.  2.  An 
 offering  and  a  sacrifice,  TTpoa<popav  Kai  Ovaiav,  these  different  words  are 
 used  in  reference  to  the  '  peace-offering.'  and  the  '  sin-offering,'  as  the 
 truth  of  both  is  in  the  '  sacrifice  of  Christ,'  which  appeased  God,  and 
 obtains  the  blessings  consequent  upon  his  favoiu".— So  Hates.  As  the 
 first  word  is  used  in  a  multitude  of  places  for  presenting  any  victim 
 before  God,  [see,  for  example,  Matt.  v.  23,  24,)  for  bringing  a  gift,  and 
 offering  it  upon  the  altar,  any  jiarticular  distinction  between  the  words 
 is  unnecessary.— So  Doddr.  The  allusion  is  to  the  typical  burnt-offer- 
 ings and  sin-offerings  to  make  atonement.  Gen.  viii.  20.  21,  and  Lev. 
 iv.  31,^  which  are  all  now  fidfilled,  with  the  richest  advantage  and 
 efficacy,  in  the  sacrifice  of  Christ. — Guyse.  3.  Coretousness,  '  insa- 
 tiable desire'  of  sensual  gratifications,  or  "of  the  means  of  procuring  them. 
 4.  y or  jesting,  ei-rptiTreXia,  '  lewd  terms,' and  ambiguities  of  expression. 
 — Doddr.  Such  as  are  so  far  from  imiocent  pleasantry  and  lawful  jests, 
 that  they  are  not  only  unprofitable  and  vain,  but  very  offensive  to  God, 
 and  insufferable  to  a  chaste  ear. —  Guyse.  Not  ronrenient, '  not  proper.* 
 — Mackn.  5.  Nor  covetous  man,  who  is  greedy  of  those  things  which 
 minister  to  his  sensual  appetite,  and  who  is  therefore  an  idolator  of  the 
 worst  kind,  deif>'ing  as  it  were  the  vilest  idols.— />orfcfr.  Anything  that 
 has  our  highest  esteem  and  regard,  and  is  the  special  object  of  our 
 hope,  our  trust,  and  our  care,— this  we  make  our  God :  thus  the 
 covetous  man  is  an  idolator. — Bur.  8.  As  children  of  light,  an  He- 
 braism, opposed  to  the  children  of  disobedienct',  (ver.  6,)  which  signifies 
 '  persons  that  are  under  the  power  of  darkness  and  disobedience,  a.i 
 though  they  were  born  of  them.*— Guyse.  9.  Is  in  all  goodness, 
 '  consists  in  all  goodness.' — Markn.  10.  Proving  what  is  acceptable, 
 '  what  is  the  mind  and  will  of  God  in  his  word.' — Guyse.  11.  Have 
 no  felloicship,  fit)  affKoivtMivene — the  Greeks  ^lsed  this  word  to  denote 
 *  a  participation  in  their  religious  rites  and  mysteries.' — Mackn.    This 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  IV.  —  \.  Let  Christians  studj/ unity.  W.  Let    Christians  study  hoUnats.      Let   it  be   remembered 
 
 This  can  only  exist  with  barmony.     Let  us  thereforeput  far  thnt  tlie  sinful  thought  is  ibe  germ  of  sinful  wonlsand  actions, 
 
 away  those  unruly  passions  which  grace  should  subdue,  and  and  that  to  give  utterance  to  sinful  thoughts  is  to  familiarize 
 
 live  together  in  love.     As  the  subjects  of  one  Lord,  the  pro-  ourselves  and  others  to  sia;  while  we  must  assuredly  grieve 
 
 fessors  of  one  faith,  the  children  of  one  Father.     Tluis  shall  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  cause  him  to  withdraw  his  gracious  in- 
 
 we  grow  up  into  a  meetness  for  heaven,  and  to  tlie  fulness  of  Huences  and  consolations  from  our  souls. 
 the  stature  of  Christ. 
 I25G 
 
The  duty  of  husbands 
 
 EPHESIANS,  VI. 
 
 totctu  ds  thci 
 
 fruitful  works  of  darkness,  but  rather  'reprove 
 them. 
 
 12  '  For  it  is  a  shame  eveu  to  speak  of  those 
 things  which  are  done  of  tliem  in  secret. 
 
 13  But  'all  things  that  are  ||  reproved  are 
 made  manifest  by  the  light:  for  whatsoever 
 doth  make  manifest  is  light. 
 
 14  Wherefore  ||  he  saith,  ''  Awake  thou  that 
 sleepest,  and  '^  arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ 
 shall  give  thee  light. 
 
 15  '•  See  then  that  ye  walk  circumspectly,  not 
 as  fools,  but  as  wise, 
 
 16  "  Redeeming  the  time,  'because  the  days 
 are  evil. 
 
 17  ^  Wherefore  be  ye  not  unwise,  but  '■under- 
 standing '  what  the  will  of  the  Lord  is. 
 
 IS  And  '  be  not  drunk  with  wine,  wherein  is 
 excess  ;  but  be  filled  witli  the  Spirit ; 
 
 19  Speaking  to  yourselves  'in  psalms  and 
 hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  singing  and  making 
 melody  in  your  heart  to  tlie  Lord  ; 
 
 •20  "'  Giving  tlianks  always  for  all  things  unto 
 God  and  the  Father  "  in  the  name  of  our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ ; 
 
 21  "Submitting  yourselves  one  to  another  in 
 the  fear  of  God. 
 
 '22  ■■  Wives,  submit  yourselves  unto  your  own 
 husbands,  ''  as  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 23  For  '  the  husband  is  tlie  head  of  the  wife, 
 even  as  ''Christ  is  tlie  head  of  the  church :  and 
 he  is  the  saviour  of  '  the  body. 
 
 24  Therefore  as  the  church  is  subject  unto 
 Christ,  so  let  tlie  wives  be  to  their  own  hus- 
 bands "  in  every  thing. 
 
 25  '  Husbands,  love  your  wives,  even  as 
 Christ  also  loved  the  church,  and  'gave  him- 
 self for  it ; 
 
 26  That  he  might  sanctify  and  cleanse  it 
 '  with  the  washing  of  water  '  by  the  word, 
 
 27  i"  That  he  might  present  it  to  himself  a 
 glorious  church,  "  not  having  spot,  or  wrinkle, 
 or  any  such  thing  ;  ""  but  that  it  should  be  holy 
 
 a  John  15.3.  &  17.  17.      4  2Cor.  II.  2.  Col.  I.  22.     c  Cant.  4.  : 
 
 A.  D.  &i. 
 
 y  Lev. 19.17. 
 
 1  Tim  b  2t) 
 s  Rom.  I  24, 
 
 26.  ver.  3. 
 
 0  John  S.20, 
 SI.  Heb.  4. 
 13. 
 
 t  Or, 
 
 dncofered. 
 II  Or,  i(. 
 6  Is.  611.  1. 
 
 Hnin  IS  II, 
 
 12.  1  Cor. 
 
 Ij  .HI. 
 
 I  T!ie9.5.ti- 
 c  John  .'i.V.'. 
 
 Rom.  e.J,:». 
 
 cli.  2.  5. 
 
 Col  3  I. 
 d  Col.  4.5. 
 p  Col    4.  5. 
 
 Gal  6.  10. 
 /  Ecrfe».  1 1. 
 
 8.  &  12.  I 
 
 John  12.S5. 
 
 ch.  6.  15. 
 «■  Col.  4    5. 
 A  Rom.  12.2. 
 i  1  Thes.  4. 
 
 3.  &  5.  18. 
 k  Pro.  29.  1 . 
 
 &  23.29,  3tt. 
 I9.  5.11,  22. 
 !.uke2l.34. 
 t  Acts  l62o. 
 
 1  Cor.14.26. 
 Col.  3.  IG. 
 Jam.  5.  13. 
 
 m  Pa   34.  I. 
 Is.  63.  7. 
 Col.  S.  17. 
 lThes.5.18. 
 
 2  Thes.  1.3. 
 n  Heb.  13.15. 
 
 I  Pet.  2.  5. 
 &  4.  II. 
 
 0  Phil.  2.  3. 
 1  Pet.  5.  5. 
 
 p  Geo.  3.  16. 
 
 1  Cor.  14.34. 
 
 CoL  3.  18. 
 
 Tit.  2.  5. 
 
 I   Pet.  3.  1. 
 7  ch.  6.  ft. 
 r  I  Cor.  11.3. 
 >  ch.  1.22.  « 
 
 4.  15.  Col.  1. 
 13. 
 
 1  c\\    I.  23. 
 
 u  Col.  3.  20, 
 22.  Tit.  2. 
 9 
 
 *Col.  3    19. 
 
 1  Pet.  3.  7. 
 y  Acts  30.28- 
 '  Gal.  I.  4.  8i 
 
 2.  20.  ver  .2. 
 s  John  3.  5. 
 
 Tit.  3-  5. 
 
 Heb.  10  22. 
 
 1  John  5.6. 
 
 .     a  ch.  I.  4. 
 
 e  Gen.  2.  83. 
 
 Horn.  12.  5. 
 
 1  Cnr.  6.15. 
 
 &  12.  27. 
 /  Gen.  2.  21. 
 
 5Ut.  19.  5. 
 
 .Mark  10.7, 
 
 8. 
 y  I  Cor.e.ia. 
 
 *  ver.  25. 
 Col.  3.  19 
 
 a  Pro.  23  22. 
 
 Col.  3.  20. 
 6  Ex.  20.  12. 
 
 Den.  5.  IG. 
 
 «.  27.  16. 
 
 Jer.  35.  IS. 
 
 Ezek. 22. 7. 
 
 Mai,  I.  6. 
 
 Ecclus.  3.S. 
 
 Mat.  1.5.  4. 
 
 Mark-.  10. 
 
 Col.  3.  21. 
 d  Gen  IS  19 
 
 Den  4.  9.  K: 
 
 (i    7,  20.  & 
 
 II.  10.  Ps. 
 
 '8.  4.  Pro. 
 
 19-18  &  22. 
 
 6.  .t  29.  17. 
 
 Col.  3.  22. 
 
 I  Tim-  6.  I- 
 
 Tit.  2   9. 
 
 1  Pet.  2-  18. 
 riCm.l  1.5. 
 
 Phil.  2.  12. 
 1  Chr.  29. 
 
 17.  Col.  3. 
 
 22. 
 Ii  Col.  3.  22, 
 
 and  without  blemish. 
 
 28  So  ought  men  to  love  their  wives  as  their 
 own  bodies.  He  that  loveth  his  wife  lovetb 
 himself. 
 
 29  For  no  man  ever  yet  hated  his  own  flesh  ; 
 but  nourisheth  and  cherisheth  it,  even  as  the 
 Lord  the  church  : 
 
 30  For  '■  we  are  members  of  his  body,  of  his 
 flesh,  and  of  his  bones. 
 
 31  'For  this  cause  shall  a  man  leave  his 
 father  and  mother,  and  shall  be  joined  unto 
 his  wife,  and  they  ^  two  shall  be  one  flesh. 
 
 32  This  is  a  great  mystery  :  but  I  sneak  con- 
 cerning Christ  and  the  church. 
 
 33  Nevertheless  "  let  every  one  of  you  in 
 particular  so  love  his  wife  even  as  himself; 
 and  the  wife  see  that  she  '  reverence  her  hus- 
 band. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 1  The  duty  of  children  towards  their  parents,  5  of  ser- 
 vants towards  thtir  masters.  10  Our  fife  is  a  warfare, 
 12  not  onhj  arjaittst  Jiesh  and  blood,  hut  also  spiritual 
 enemies.  13  The  complete  anntmr  of  a  Christian^ 
 18  and  hotv  it  oucjht  to  be  used.  21  Ti/chicus  is 
 commended. 
 
 /CHILDREN,  '^  obey   your   parents   in    the 
 ^"^   Lord  :  for  tliis  is  right. 
 
 2  ^  Honour  thy  father  and  mother  ;  which  is 
 the  first  commandment  with  promise  ; 
 
 3  That  it  may  be  well  with  thee,  and  thou 
 mayest  live  long  on  the  earth. 
 
 4  And,  ^  ye  fathers,  provoke  not  your  children 
 to  wrath  :  but  "^  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture 
 and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 
 
 5  *  Servants,  be  obedient  to  them  that  are 
 I/our  masters  according  to  the  fiesh,  *"with  fear 
 and  trembling,  ^  in  singleness  of  your  heart,  as 
 unto  Christ ; 
 
 6  "^  Not  with  eyeservice,  as  nienpleasers;  but 
 as  the  servants  of  Christ,  doing  the  will  of  God 
 from  the  heart ; 
 
 7  With  good  will  doing  service,  as  to  the 
 Lord,  and  not  to  men  : 
 
 means  more  than  not  living  in  the  habit  of  these  works ;  it  means  that 
 we  must  declare  our  dislike  and  abhorrence  of  them.— Stank.  With 
 the  unfruitful  u'orks,  producing  no  good.—Mackn.  AKapnov,  '  unfruit- 
 ful.' means  here  not  only  unprofltable,  but  mischievous.— jPorfrfr.  Of 
 darknes.t,  with  those  who  celebrate  the  heathen  mysteries,  which  were 
 tran'^acleU  in  the  night.— J/acA/i.  ii.  In  tiecret,  in  their  nocturnal 
 sacred  mysteries  which,  though,  not  divulged,  were  known  to  be  abomi- 
 nable.—Tt7/i76y,  Chandler.  The  allusion  might  also  be  more  general. 
 — Pict.  Bit/.  13.  Reprored,  'discovered,'  Mnr^.i  Boothr.  Now  all 
 things  to  be  •  reproved'  are  made  manifest  by  the  light.— Jl/f/cA-n.  By 
 the  gospel,  and  by  the  light  of  a  holy  and  upright  life,  the  secret  vice's 
 of  men,  especially  of  heathens,  are  exposed  and  reprehended ;  and  that 
 may  justly  be  called  light  which  maketh  everything  of  this  kind  mani- 
 fest.— Boothr.  u.  Wherefore  hf  stiith,  in  effect,  to  those  that  are 
 yet  in  darkness,  when  speaking  of  the  caUlng  of  the  Gentiles,  and  of 
 the  light  which  they  should  have  by  Christ.  Auake,  §c. — this  is  the 
 natural  import  of  Isa.  L-c.  I — *  Messiah,  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  shhies 
 on  men's  souls ;  they  arise  from  the  dead,  shake  off  their  deep  sleep,' 
 &c. — Dnddr.  15.  Not  as  fnols,  who  have  no  understanding  of  their 
 duty  or  interest. — Be7is.  l6.  Redeeming  the  time,  '  gaining  time.' — 
 Mackn.  Using  caution  in  avoiding  persecution,  and  so  drawing  out 
 time  as  long  as  possible,  not  to  provoke  enemies  to  cut  them  off. — 
 Grot.,  Sic.  The  word  c^ayopaCoufvot  has  a  peculiar  force,  and  implies 
 the  recovering  of  that  which  was  lost,  alluding  to  the  enormities  of  the 
 past  heathen  life. — Saurin.  '  Buying  it  up,'  as  it  were  a  most  precious 
 commodit>',  (though  held  cheap  by  many,)  out  of  the  hands  of  sin  and 
 Satan,  of  sloth,  ease,  pleasure,  and  worldly  business,  which  may  be 
 done  at  the  expense  of  a  little  self-denial,  watchfulness,  zeal,  and  dili- 
 gence, which  will  be  amply  recompensed  in  time  and  eternity  ;  or  en- 
 deavouring to  recover  and  buy  it  back. — Bens.     The  days  are  evil,  for 
 
 the  enemies  and  persecutors  of  Christianity  took  every  advantage  of  any 
 
 imprudence  in  the  professors  of  it.—Stanh.  18.  Wherein  is  excess, 
 u(Tu)T(a,  or  '  dissoluteness,  whereby  ye  are  laid  open  to  other  vices,'  espe- 
 cially uncleanness  and  riotous  Uving. — Mackn.,  Wells,  Ham.  With  the 
 Spirit, '  with  his  holy  influences,  gifts  and  graces,  joys  and  consolations.* 
 — Guyse.  Here  is  doubtless  an  allusion  to  the  dissolute  ceremonies  called 
 *  the  Bacchanalia,'  when  intoxicated  men  and  women  ran  wildly  about 
 the  fields  and  vineyards,  vociferating,  Scc.—Doddr.  19.  speaking — m 
 psalms,  opposed  to  the  impure  hymns  of  Bacchus.  Psah7is,  of  David. 
 Hymns,  inspired  extemporaneous  effusions.  Songs,  wSai,  odes,  preme- 
 ditated regular  poetic  compositions.— .4.  Clarke.  Psalms  may  include 
 other  compositions  be>ides  David's,  adapted  to  instruments  and  voices; 
 plainer  compositions  for  the  voice  only.  Songs,  inspired  compositions 
 sung  by  one  person  alone. — Bloomf.  20.  God  and  the  Father,  '  even 
 the  Father.' — Doddr.  22.  .-Is  unto  the  Lord,  i,  e.,  in  obedience  to  his 
 command.— Bur.  23.  The  body,  i.  e.,  the  chinrch.  See  i.  23.— Gill. 
 26.  Sanctify  and  cleanse  it,  seems  to  allude  to  the  purification  of  vir- 
 gins in  eastern  comitries,  (see  Est.  ii.  3,  9,  12,  &c.) — Dnddr.  Some 
 thuik  it  is  an  allusion  to  Jewish  washings. — Guyse.  32.  But  I  speak 
 concerning  Christ,  '  I  speak  of  these  things  as  they  are  emblems  of 
 Christ  and  of  the  church.'— jl/flcA-n. 
 
 Chap.  VJ. — i.  In  the  Lord,  in  compliance  ^vith,  or  as  far  as  agree- 
 able to,  his  commands.  2.  With  promise,  i.  e.,  a  special  promise. — 
 Whitby,  Doddr.  3.  Lire  long,  in  the  promised  land  of  Canaan. — Bu.r. 
 ier.  This  is  ordinarily  fidfilled,  in  providential  favours  to  reUgiously 
 dutiful  children,  under  the  gospel  dispensation,  (I  Tim.  iv.  8.) — Guyse. 
 4.  ProT'oke  not  your  children  to  wrath,  '  be  careful  not  to  exasperate 
 their  angrj'  passions  by  an  overbearhig  and  tyrauDical  behaviour.* 
 7.  An  to  the  Lord,  influenced  by  a  view  to  his  approbation  and  honour. 
 -Doddr. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  —  We  have  here,  L  Rules  for 
 fellowship  in  society.  Christians  are  to  have  no  fellowsliip 
 with  those  who  live  like  heathen,  whose  riotous  habits  and  im- 
 pure conversation  are  like  heathen  ;  they  can,  indeed,  no  more 
 associate  with  such  than  light  can  associate  with  darkness, 
 and  tbey  know  better  the  value  of  time  than  to  expend  it  in 
 those  vain  pursuits  after  which  the  worid  are  incessantly 
 12j7 
 
 runninc;,  as  children  after  a  shadow. 
 
 IL  Rules  for  maintaininy  tlie  conjugal  union,  Christianity 
 turns  with  disgust  from  fleshly  lusts,  but  looks  with  compla- 
 cency on  the  divinely-appointed  union  of  hearts  in  husband 
 and  wife.  Happy  indeed  is  that  union  which  is  not  cemented 
 by  fleshly  or  sordid  means,  but  where  spirit  blends  with  spi- 
 rit, and  both  meet  in  Christ  our  Head. 
 7  X 
 
The  complete  armour 
 
 EPHESIANS,  VI. 
 
 of  a  Christian. 
 
 8  '  Knowing  that  whatsoever  good  thing  any 
 man  doeth,  the  same  shall  he  receive  of  the 
 Lord,  'whether  he  he  bond  or  free. 
 
 9  And,  ye  'masters,  do  the  same  things  unto 
 them,  II  "'forbearing  threatening:  knowing  that 
 II  "  your  Master  also  is  in  heaven  ;  °  neither  is 
 there  respect  oi  persons  with  him. 
 
 10  Finally,  my  brethren,  be  strong  in  the 
 Lord,  and  ^  in  the  power  of  his  might. 
 
 1 1  ''  Put  on  the  whole  armour  of  God,  that  ye 
 may  be  able  to  stand  against  the  wiles  of  the 
 devil. 
 
 12  For  we  wrestle  not  against  f  flesh  and 
 blood,  but  against  '  principalities,  against  pow- 
 ers, against  '  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  tliis 
 world,  against  ||  spiritual  wickedness  in  )|  high 
 places. 
 
 1.3  "  Wherefore  take  unto  you  the  whole 
 armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  with- 
 stand "■  in  the  evil  day,  and  ||  having  done  all, 
 to  stand. 
 
 14  Stand  therefore,  'having  your  loins  girt 
 about  witli  truth,  and  '  having  on  the  breast- 
 plate of  righteousness ; 
 
 15  ■  And  your  feet  shod  with  the  preparation 
 of  the  gospel  of  peace  ; 
 
 16  Above  all,  tRking  'the  shield  of  faith 
 wherewith  ye  shall  be  able  to  quench  all  the 
 
 II  Or,  Hof  in;  Of "cnnw  ott     ^  I«.  II.  5.  Luke  19.  SS.  1  Pet.  1.  13     :  H. 
 6.  7.  t  Thea.  5  8.a  U.  59.  7.  Rom.  10.  15.     A  1  John  5   4- 
 
 A.  D.  frt. 
 
 i  Bom.  1.  5. 
 
 9  Cor.  5.10. 
 
 Col  S.  2t. 
 k  Gal.  S.  £3. 
 
 Col.  3.  II. 
 (Col  .1  1. 
 II  Or,  mo- 
 
 Lev 
 
 S  1-1. 
 
 Wisd  e.  7. 
 Ecclua.  3.'> 
 12.  Rom.  2. 
 
 11.  C0I..S.    1 
 25. 
 
 P  ch.  1    19. 
 
 f<  3.  to. 
 
 Col.  1.  II. 
 q  Rom    13 
 
 12.  2  Cor. 6. 
 7.  ver.  13 
 
 1  Theg  5.fl. 
 t  Gr.  Wo'.rf 
 
 mid  fifth. 
 r  Mal.lfi.17. 
 
 I  Cor  \h  r.n. 
 «  Horn  3  3d. 
 
 ch    I.  21. 
 
 Col.  9.  l!j. 
 t  I.uke22  M 
 
 Jolm  12  31 
 
 &  14.  311. 
 
 cl»   2.  2. 
 
 Col.  1.  13 
 II  Or,  vflckfit 
 
 ipiriti. 
 i  Or, 
 
 ch     I    3. 
 ,,.9  Cor    10. 
 I    1.  vpr    II. 
 X  ch. 5    18. 
 59.  17.  2  Cor. 
 
 .\.  D.  61 
 
 c  l8.  59.  17 
 
 I  Thea.  6. ft. 
 d  Heb.  4   12 
 
 Rev.  I.  16. 
 
 It  2.  16.  & 
 
 II).  15. 
 f  Luke  m.l. 
 
 Rom   12  12 
 
 Col    1,9. 
 
 I  Thea. 5, 17. 
 /Mai  96  41. 
 
 Mark  13.33. 
 a  oh.  1.  16. 
 
 l':iLl    I     1. 
 
 I  Till)  9  I 
 h  .\cta  4.  29. 
 
 Col    1.  3. 
 
 2The8.  3.1 
 ,2  Cor  3.12. 
 k  2  Cor.  5. 
 
 20. 
 
 I  Acta  26.29. 
 Ji.  28.  20 
 ch.  8.  1. 
 Phil.  1.7. 
 13,  14. 
 
 9  Tim. 1. 16. 
 Kc  2.9. 
 Philem   10. 
 
 II  Or,  ill  o 
 c»oin. 
 
 Or,  lltfrff, 
 1  Acts2S3l. 
 Phil.  I.  2t» 
 1  Thea.  2.2. 
 Col.  4.  7. 
 
 u  Act2  20.  4. 
 I  Tim. 4. 12 
 Til.  3.  12. 
 
 p  Col.  4.  B. 
 
 J  I  Pet  5.1*. 
 
 r  Tit.  9.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  ailh 
 
 lion. 
 
 fiery  darts  of  the  wicked. 
 
 17  And  'take  the  helmet  of  salvation,  and 
 ■^  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of 
 God: 
 
 18  "  Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and  sup- 
 plication in  the  Spirit,  and  'watching  thereunto 
 with  all  perseverance  and  ^supplication  for  all 
 .saints  ; 
 
 19  "And  for  me,  that  utterance  may  be  given 
 unto  me,  that  I  may  open  my  mouth  '  boldly, 
 to  make  known  the  mystery  of  the  gospel, 
 
 20  For  which  '  I  am  an  ambassador  '  ||  in 
 bonds  :  that  ||  therein  ""  I  may  speak  boldly,  as 
 I  ought  to  speak. 
 
 21  But  "  that  ye  also  may  know  my  affairs, 
 anil  how  I  do,  °  Tychicus,  a  beloved  brother 
 and  faithful  minister  in  the  Lord,  sliall  make 
 known  to  you  all  things  : 
 
 2-2  ''  Whom  I  have  sent  unto  you  for  the  same 
 purpose,  that  ye  might  know  our  affairs,  and 
 that  he  might  comfort  your  hearts. 
 
 23  '  Peace  be  to  the  brethren,  and  love  with 
 faith,  from  God  the  Father  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 24  Grace  be  with  all  them  that  love  our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ  '  ||  in  sincerity.     Amen. 
 
 H  Written  from  Rome  unto  the  Ephesians 
 by  Tychicus. 
 
 9.  Forbearing  llireiilming,  '  forbearing  all  passionate  auel  violent  ex- 
 pressions towards  them,  and  forgiving  their  pardonable  faults.'— Pi/le. 
 Neither  is  there  respevt  of  persons,  '  he  will  reward  or  punish  every 
 one  according  to  his  real  character ;  and  will  shew  no  favour  to  any 
 one  on  account  of  his  former  condition  or  station.'  10.  Be  stroni^  m 
 the  Lord,  through  the  assistance  of  the  Lord  Christ.— .VarA-n.  1 1 .  .Ir. 
 mour,  TravoirXm— it  includes  all  sorts  of  armour,  offensive  and  defen- 
 sive.—Doiiir.      Wiles,  ^eOoJiat,   '  subUe  methods."  —  Ohi-<w»,  U'"'. 
 
 ■  Crafty  ways.'— Mucin.  12.  Wrestle,  the  word  iraXn  signifies  such  a 
 strife  as  makes  the  body  shake  again.— Gur.  Flesh  and  blood,  human 
 adversaries.  Principiilities—poicvrs,  the  mighty  princes  of  all  the  in- 
 fernal legions.- Ue/is.  The  expres.sion  alludes  to  the  devil's  power 
 exercised  in  tWs  lower  world.— Giir,  Ungodly  men  may  be  signihed, 
 who  governed  the  world  by  evil  principles,  persecuting  the  church.— 
 Dav.  Rather  evil  angels,  these  being  distiugmshed  from  Hesh  and 
 blood.— .l/m/.vi.  Rulers  0/  the  durknes-i,  ^c,  '  with  the  rulers  of  the 
 blind  idolaters  of  this  world.— .1/«cA-«.  Spirittio!  wickedness  tn  high 
 places,  '  spirits  who  became  authors  and  abettors  of  wickedness,  even 
 while  they  abode  in  heaveidy  places.'— Botirfr.  '  Wicked  spirits  in  the 
 heavenly,  or  aerial,  regions.'— .Vnc*n.  '  The  spiritual  managers  of  the 
 opposition  to  the  kingdom  of  God.'— tocA-e.  Hpot  ra  nvtviiaiiKa  tw 
 ioi.i,p,at  e„  70,1  ^-rovpa^io,!,  strictly,  '  with  spirituals  of  wickedness  m 
 heavenlies,'  either  heavenly  places  or  heavenly  things,  and  relates  to 
 •  the  fallen  angels  as  opposed  to  desh  and  blood.'— fft/yse.  Not  only 
 wicked  spirits  are  meant,  but  sin  spuitualized,  that  sort  with  which 
 saints  may  be  annoyed  ;  as  pride  of  gifts,  of  grace,  of  privUeges.— Gur. 
 
 ■  With  the  spiritual  things  ol  wickedness  in  heavenly  things.'  Those 
 deceivers  are  meant  who,  under  the  profession  of  the  gospel,  were  its 
 corrupters,  introducing  dangerous  errors  among  those  heavenly  things 
 which  it  reveals  to  men.— Cliandler,  Boothr.  14.  Stand  therefore, 
 ^TnTC- this  is  a  mUitary  term,  and  implies  in  it  '  firmness,  order,  and 
 watchfulness.'— So  Gumall.     Truth,  the  gospel  of  Chnst.    Of  righte- 
 
 ousness, a  just  and  holy  conversation.— S/anA.  The  righteousness  of 
 Christ,  which  repels  the  accusations  and  charges  of  Satan. — Gill.  1 
 take  '  truth  and  righteousness'  here  to  signify,  '  sincerity  and  holiness 
 in  heart  and  life.' — Guyse.  15.  Your  feet  shod — shoes  or  boots,  which 
 were  sometimes  of  iron  and  sometimes  of  brass,  are  reckoned  among 
 tlie  armoiu-  of  soldiers. — Gill.  Such  shoes  were  of  great  utility  on 
 stony  or  hard  ways. — Gurnnll.  Preparation  of  the  gospel  of  peace, 
 maintaining  the  practice  of  Christian  charity  and  peaceableness. — 
 Ham.  The  word  troifiaaia,  *  preparation,'  signifies,  rather  '  firm  foot- 
 ing,'— Dav.,  or  '  a  base,'  or  '  foundation  ;'  so  used  by  the  L\X  in 
 Zech.  V.  1 1 ,  and  here  designs  a  firm  and  solid  knowledge  of  the  gospel, 
 as  it  publishes  peace  by  Jesus  Christ,  as  it  yields  a  sure  foundation  for 
 the  Christian  soldier  to  set  his  foot  upon  and  stand  fast  on. — Gill.  For- 
 titude, perseverance,  self-government,  and  peaceableness,  seem  in- 
 tended ;  virtues  especially  requisite  in  the  first  age  of  Christianity. — 
 Mackn.  16,  Faith,  in  the  promises  of  the  gospel- — Pyle.  This  may 
 mean  '  the  grace  of  faith,'  by  which  mighty  things  are  done;  or  rather, 
 '  the  object  of  faith,'  which  faith  uses  as  a  shield ;  so  God  is  a  shield, 
 (Gen.  XV.  I  ;)  and  liis  love  and  favour,  (Ps.  v.  12 ;)  and  Christ,  [Ps. 
 Ixxxiv.  11.; — Gill.  Fiery  darts — the  allusion  is  to  (itKn-niin'puifj.tva, 
 '  tela  ignita,'  '  the  fiery  darts'  cast  by  enemies  into  towns  and  upon 
 houses,  in  order  to  bum  them. — Gill,  Mackn.  They  were  made  of 
 slender  cane. — Btoomf.  Liry  describes  a  weapon  of  tins  kind  as  being 
 surromided,  at  the  upper  part,  with  combustible  matter,  which  being 
 set  on  fire,  the  weapon  was  darted  against  the  enemy. — Par.  These 
 '  fiery  darts'  alluded  to  were  quenched  by  skins  and  hides  of  beasts 
 made  wet,  or  anointed  with  alum. — Gill.  In  battle  they  were  received 
 by  the  soldiers  on  their  shields,  which  were  covered  with  brass  or  iron, 
 in  order  to  extinguish  them,  or  to  prevent  tljeir  effects. — Macknight. 
 1/.  Helmet  of  salnation,  *  of  the  Sa\iour,'  .-irab.  '  The  hope  of  sal- 
 vation,' so  explained  1  Thess.  v.  8. — Stanh.  is.  .ill prayer,  social, 
 private,  &c. —  Wil. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  Learn  here,  L  The  relative 
 and  social  dutirs  of  the  Christian.  Those  of  the  husband  and 
 wife  were  stated  in  the  preceding  chapter,  and  here  we  are 
 taught  tliose  of  children,  fathers,  servants,  and  masters.  In 
 the  order  of  nature,  children  must  for  awhile  submit  to  the 
 care  of  their  parents ;  and,  as  being  interested  in  their  wel- 
 fare, and  able  to  advise  them,  from  the  experience  of  years, 
 better  than  they  can  advise  themselves, — children  should  rather 
 seek  than  shun  their  control.  But,  most  probably,  the  ex- 
 hortation in  this  chapter  especially  refers  to  the  children  of 
 pious  persons  ;  and  it  is  highly  commendable  to  obey  them 
 who  constantly  teach  their  children  to  obey  God,  who  is 
 always  to  be  obeyed  rather  than  men.  Fathers  are  coro- 
 manded  to  shew  a  meek  and  amiable  spirit  towards  their 
 children  ;  not  that  they  are  never  to  correct  them,  for  this 
 would  contradict  other  parts  of  the  divine  command,  but  they 
 are  not  to  use  uncalled-for  and  unnecessary  severity  ;  they 
 are  to  study  to  rule  by  love,  and  thus  will  they  best  prevent 
 the  sin  of  anger  in  their  children  and  enjoy  that  return  of  affec- 
 1258 
 
 tion  which  the  tyrannical,  surly,  and  passionate  father  may  in 
 vain  expect.  He  may,  indeed,  be  feared  and  obeyed,  but 
 rarely  loved  ;  and  the  natural  enmity  of  the  heart  to  God  will 
 too  often  make  his  children  ascribe  his  moroseness  and  seve- 
 rity to  that  religion  which  indeed  forbids  it,  and  induce  them 
 wholly,  at  length,  with  the  broken  yoke  of  their  father,  to  re- 
 linquish the  service  of  their  God.  Servants  have  also  their 
 duties.  They  are  their  masters'  stewards,  to  whom  much  is 
 conlided,  and  tbey  should  be  faithful  in  the  diligent  employ- 
 ment of  their  time,  in  the  punctual  performance  of  their 
 duties,  and  in  the  care  of  the  property  committed  to  tlieir 
 charge.  And  this  not  merely  when  they  are  watched,  or  for 
 the  sole  purpose  of  pleasing  their  employers,  but  as  remem- 
 bering their  responsibility  to  God,  who  eyes  all  their  acli(>ns 
 and  to  whom  they  must  finally  give  an  account.  Let  Christian 
 servants  remember  that  they  are  servants,  though  Cbristians, 
 and  must,  in  that  station  which  God  has  allotted  them, 
 do  the  duty  of  servants.  Masters  must  likewise  remember 
 that  they  have  their  duties  as  masters.     God  is  no  tyrant  to 
 
THE    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 PHILIPPIANS. 
 
 rPiiiLiPPi  was  first  called  Datos.  It  was  a  Roman  colony,  and  the  chief  city  of  one  part  ot  Macedonia,  (  Acts,  xvi  12.)  It 
 took  its  subsequent  name  from  Philip,  King  of  Macedon,  father  of  Alexander  the  Great,  who  rebuilt  and  fortified  it. 
 The  date  of  this  epistle  is  thought  to  be  a.d.  59  or  60,  in  the  fifth  or  sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  Nero.  The  occasion  of 
 it  was  this:  the  Philippians,  by  whom  the  apostle  was  greatly  beloved,  as  the  first  messenger  of  the  gospel  to  them,  and 
 the  instrument  of  their  conversion,  hearing  that  he  was  a  prisoner  at  Rome,  sent  to  him  their  minister  and  pastor,  Epa- 
 phroditus,  and  by  him  a  present  to  support  him  under  his  afflicted  circumstances,  and  who  related  to  liim  the  case  of  this 
 church;  and  at  his  departure  he  sent  by  him  this  letter,  expressing  his  love  to  them,  and,  from  his  own  supports  in_  bis 
 afflictions,  administering  consolation  to'them  in  like  circumstances.  The  references  to  the  Old  Testament  in  this  epistle 
 are,  Ps.  xxii.  6 ;  Iv.  2-2 ;   Isa.  xl.  23  ;  hi.  10  ;  Jer.  ix.  23,  24  ;   Dan.  ix.  26.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 3  He  testijieth  his  thayihfulrtcsa  to  God^  and  his  love  to- 
 laard  them^for  tlie  fruits  of  their  faith ,  and  fellowship 
 in  his  sitffWi/it/s,  9  daily  prajjincj  to  him  for  their 
 increase  in  grace  :  12  he  shcwetit  what  r/flod  the  faith 
 of  Christ  had  received  la/  his  troubles  at  Rome,  21  and 
 how  ready  he  is  to  ylorifij  Christ  cither  by  his  life  or 
 death,  '27  exhortinff  them  to  unity,  28  and  tn  fortitude 
 in  persecution. 
 
 'pAUL  and  Timotheiis,  the  servants  of  Jesus 
 -^  Christ,  to  all  the  saints  '  in  Christ  Jesus 
 which  are  at  Philippi,  with  the  bishops  and 
 deacons : 
 
 2  ''  Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace,  from  God 
 our  Father,  and/;o«i  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 3  '^  I  thauU  my  God  upon  every  ||  remem- 
 brance of  you, 
 
 4  Always  in  every  prayer  of  mine  for  you  all 
 making  request  with  joy, 
 
 5  ''  For  your  fellowship  in  the  gospel  from 
 the  first  day  until  now  ; 
 
 6  Being  confident  of  this  very  thing,  that  he 
 which  hath  begun  °  a  good  work  in  you  ||  will 
 perform  it  '  until  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ : 
 
 JHniu.  1,  7. 
 
 2  Cfpv.  I.  2. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.  2. 
 c  Rnm.I  S,9. 
 
 1  Coi-.  I.  4. 
 
 Epli-  I.  15, 
 
 16.  Col.  1  .1. 
 
 1  Thes.  12. 
 STheB.  1.3. 
 
 II  Or,  mea- 
 
 dRom.12.IS. 
 &  15.86. 
 
 2  Cor.  8.  1. 
 ch.  4.1*.  15. 
 
 e  John  6.  29. 
 I  Thea.  1 .3. 
 II  Or.  mil 
 "  7i  it 
 
 A 
 
 ei    10. 
 
 A.D.  61. 
 II  Or,t/elinve 
 
 g  2  Cor.  'i.'Z. 
 h  7.  3. 
 .  Eph.  3.  1. 
 &  6  20.  Col. 
 4.  'A,  18. 
 2Ti 
 
 A  ch, 
 
 II  Or. 
 
 .   17. 
 4.  H. 
 
 7  Even  as  it  is  meet  for  me  to  think  this  of 
 you  all,  because  ||  I  have  you  ^  in  my  heart  ; 
 inasmuch  as  both  in  ''  my  bonds,  and  in  '  the 
 defence  and  confirmation  of  the  gospel,  ^  ye  all 
 are  ||  partakers  of  my  grace. 
 
 8  For  'God  is  my  record,  ""bow  greatly  I 
 long  after  you  all  in  the  bowels  of  Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 9  And  this  I  pray,  "  that  your  love  may 
 abound  yet  more  and  more  in  knowledge  and 
 in  all  II  judgment ; 
 
 10  That  °  ye  may  ||  approve  things  that  ||are 
 excellent ;  ^  that  ye  may  be  sincere  and  with- 
 out offence  ''  till  the  day  of  Christ ; 
 
 11  Being  filled  with  the  fruits  of  righteous- 
 ness, 'which  are  by  Jesus  Ciirist,  'unto  the 
 glory  and  praise  of  God. 
 
 12  But  I  would  ye  should  understand, 
 brethren,  that  the  things  ivhich  happened  unto 
 me  have  fallen  out  rather  unto  the  furtherance 
 of  the  gospel  ; 
 
 13  So  that  my  bonds  ||in  Christ  are  manifest 
 
 viih 
 
 of  gtw.r. 
 
 I  Knm    I .  'J. 
 &  9.  I. 
 Gal.  I.  20. 
 1  Thea.  2  5, 
 
 m  ch.  2.26. 
 
 &4.  1. 
 ri  I  Thes.   S. 
 
 12.  Pliilem. 
 
 6. 
 
 II  Or,  tenin. 
 •>  Koiii.3.18. 
 
 &  I  a.  8. 
 
 Eph.  5.  10. 
 II  Or,  trif. 
 II  Or,  differ, 
 p  Acta24.i6. 
 
 lTlies.3.13. 
 
 ft  5    S3. 
 tf  I  Cor.  1.8. 
 r  John  15.4, 
 
 S.Kph.S.lO. 
 Col.   I.  6. 
 (  John   15.  8. 
 Eph.  1.  [2,  1-1.      II  Or,  for  Chriat. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  i.  —  1.  To  all  the  saints  in  Cfiri-it  Jesus,  '  to  the 
 holy  thruugli  Christ  Jesus.' — Xewc.  Bishops  and  deacons — the  words 
 '  bishop'  and  '  elder.'  nr  '  presbyter/  are  often  used  promiscuously  in 
 the  writings  of  the  New  Testament.  The  word  '  bishops'  here  is  gene- 
 rally under<"tnii(l  to  mean  '  elders,'  nr  '  presbyters,'  properly  so  called. 
 —  Wells,  Wkitbjj.  Tlie  distinction  between  bishops  and  presbyters  was 
 not  then  g^enerally  established  ;  but  the  pastors  uf  the  church  were  dis- 
 tinguished from  the  deacons,  who  managed  the  secular  matters  and 
 the  charities  of  the  church. — Scvtt.  5.  Fellowship,  communion  with 
 the  apostles  in  the  gospel. —  Whitby.  6.  Good  work,  of  faith  or  grace 
 in  the  whole  compass  of  it. — Guyse.  7-  Partakers  of  my  grace,  'en- 
 abled, by  the  same  grace  of  God,  to  suffer  for  the  gnspel.' — Wells. 
 8.  In  the  bowels,  '  with  the  bowels,'  &c. ;  with  an  affection  like  that 
 wherewith  Jesus  Christ  loved  mankind, — Mnckn. ;  which  greatly  re- 
 sembles  the  compassion  which  Christ  himself  leels  for  those  whom  his 
 grace  has  made  the  members  of  his  body. — Doddr.  With  the  highest 
 and  most  passionate  degree  of  Christian  love. — Hum.  9.  In  know- 
 ledge, of  the  principles  which  tend  so  much  to  endear  us  to  each  other. 
 And  in  all  Judgment,  '  in  all  that  inward  feeling  and  perception  of  these 
 sacred  ties  which  nothing  but  true  experimental  religion  can  give.* — 
 
 Doddr.  10.  Approve,  ei^  to  ^oKiMfft'".  'that  ye  may  try.'— Bcn5. 
 •  Prove  by  e.\perience.'— Howe.  Things,  '  the  tUiass.'— Whitby,  la 
 d(u0tpovTa,  '  things  which  differ.'— //ouv.  '  That  ye  may  know  by 
 experience  how  incomparably  excellent  the  Cliristian  character  is  be- 
 yond any  other.' — Doddr.  Sincere,  eiKtKptvcti,  [from  ciAn,  or  iXn, 
 '  the  shining  or  splendour  of  the  sun,'  aud  Kpivem. — Par.,}  '  separate 
 from  mud'  or  alloy;  unmixed,  pure,  unsta.ine(i.—Jo7ies*  Greek  Lex. 
 Properly,  it  denotes  such  things  as,  on  being  examined  by  the  brightest 
 light,  are  found  pure  and  without  fault.  The  metaphor  is  taken  from 
 tlie  usual  practice  of  chapmen  in  the  view  and  choice  of  their  wares, 
 that  bring  them  forth  to  the  light,  and  hold  up  the  cluth  against  the 
 sun,  to  see  ii  they  can  espy  any  default  in  them.  Pnr'\  as  the  sun.— 
 Leigh.  Without  offence,  'without  occasioning  stumbling.'— JI/«cA:n. 
 Day  of  Christ,   '  death,'  or  rather  '  judgment.'— Fe//.  11.   Being 
 
 Jilted  with  the  fruits,  ^c,  like  fruitful  trees,  that,  according  to  our 
 Saviour's  metaphor,  you  may  be  living  branches  in  Christ  the  true 
 vine,  and  produce  all  holy  tempers,  all  kinds  ot  good  works.— i^r.  Mor- 
 rison, of  China,  on  Philippians.  12.  The  things  whirh  happened  unto 
 me,  '  the  things  relating  to  me,'  being  sent  a  prisoner  to  Rome. — 
 Mnckn.         13.  So  that  my  bonds,  SfC,   '  so  that  it  is  manifest,  both  in 
 
 tbem,  though  ibey  are  among  his  inferior  and  sinful  crea- 
 tures. Let  them  learn  to  imitate  Him  wboss  name  is  Love. 
 Let  them  have  a  fellow-feeling  for  those  of  the  same  nature 
 who  are  placed  under  them  ;  exacting  no  hard  service  ;  pay- 
 ing just  wages  ;  and  especially  watching  over  their  souls  with 
 becoming  solicitude  for  their  eternal  interests,  recollecting 
 that  all  souls  are  equally  precious,  and  are  on  a  level  in  the 
 sight  of  God  ;  neither  is  there  respect  of  persons  with  him. 
 Learn  here — 
 
 IL  The  spiritual  djttifs  of  the  Christian.     He  is  represented 
 in  the  character  of  a  soldier,  for  his  life  must  be  a  continued 
 1239 
 
 conllict  against  spiritual  enemies.  These  be  must '  overcome,* 
 or  lie  can  never  wear  the  conqueror's  crown,  and  sit  down  upon 
 his  throne.  Let  us  see  to  it,  then,  that  we  have  our  girdle 
 and  our  breastplate,  our  shoes  and  our  shieltl,  our  helmet  and 
 our  sword,  all  prepared  for  the  day  of  battle,  for  we  know  not 
 the  moment  of  severe  attack  irom  the  enemy.  Truth,  righte- 
 ousness, and  peace  ;  faith,  hope,  and  a  ready  use  of  the  word 
 of  God,  together  with  constant  prayer  for  llie  aids  of  Almighty 
 grace,  will  best  prepare  us  for  the  conllict,  and  enable  us  to 
 'withstand  in  tlie  evil  day,  and  having  done  all,  to  stand.' 
 
PauVs  wiUingness  to  suffer. 
 
 PHILIPPIANS,  11. 
 
 He  exhortcth  to  unittf. 
 
 *in  all  II  the  palace,  and  i|  in  all  oi\\e\  places ; 
 
 14  And  many  of  the  brethren  in  the  Lord, 
 waxing  confident  by  my  bonds,  are  much  more 
 bold  to  speak  the  word  without  fear. 
 
 15  Some  indeed  preacb  Christ  even  of  envy 
 and  "  strife  ;  and  some  also  of  good  will : 
 
 16  The  one  preach  Christ  of  contention,  not 
 sincerely,  supposing  to  add  affliction  to  my 
 bonds  : 
 
 17  But  the  other  of  love,  knowiug  that  I  am 
 set  for  ^  the  defence  of  the  gospel. 
 
 18  What  tlieu?  notwithstanding,  every  way, 
 whether  in  pretence,  or  in  truth,  Christ  is 
 preached  ;  and  I  therein  do  rejoice,  yea,  and 
 will  rejoice. 
 
 19  For  I  know  that  this  shall  turn  to  my  sal- 
 vation ^  throu^^h  your  prayer,  and  the  supply 
 of  *  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ, 
 
 20  According  to  my  "  earnest  expectation 
 and  my  hope,  that  ''in  nothing  I  shall  be 
 ashamed,  but  that  *^  with  all  boldness,  as 
 always,  so  now  also  Christ  shall  be  magnified 
 in  my  body,  whether  it  be  by  life,  or  by  death. 
 
 iZl  For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is 
 gain. 
 
 22  But  if  1  live  in  the  flesh,  this  is  the  fruit 
 of  my  labour :  yet  what  1  shall  choose  I  wot 
 not. 
 
 23  For  '^  I  nm  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  having 
 a  desire  to  ^  depart,  and  to  be  with  Christ ; 
 which  is  far  better  : 
 
 24  Nevertheless  to  abide  in  the  flesh  is  more 
 needful  for  you. 
 
 "Id  And  *" having  this  confidence,  1  know  that 
 I  shall  abide  and  continue  with  you  all  for 
 your  furtherance  and  joy  of  faith  ; 
 
 26  That  ^your  rejoicing  may  be  more  abun- 
 
 A.  D.  61. 
 
 (  ch. 4    22. 
 
 II  Or,  Citiar't 
 
 eouTl 
 li  Or,  to  all 
 
 Olliert. 
 
 .v2Cor  1. 11 
 
 I  Rmn.  8,  9 
 
 a  Horn,  8.19. 
 
 b  Honi.  £>.  5. 
 
 c  Eph.  6. 19, 
 ■20 
 
 d  2  Cor.  5,8. 
 f  2  Tim.  ■i.6. 
 
 ff2  Cor.1.14. 
 b  b.  1-2. 
 
 A  Kph.  *.  1. 
 Col.  I.  10 
 lTlies.2,12. 
 &4.  1. 
 
 I  ch.  4.  I. 
 
 4  1  Cor.l.lO 
 /  Jude  S. 
 
 n  Bom.  6  17. 
 2  Tira.^.il. 
 
 a  Acts  5.  41. 
 
 Rora.  5.  a. 
 
 p  Eph.  2.  S 
 
 y  Col.  2.  I. 
 r  Acts  16,19, 
 
 Sec.  I  ThcB. 
 
 2.8. 
 
 aSCnr.nil. 
 6  Col.  3  li 
 t  .lolui  3.  2". 
 dRom  l2.Jli. 
 
 «c  l£>.  5 
 
 1  Cor.  I. in. 
 
 2Cor.l3.1i 
 
 cl>.  1.27.  f* 
 
 S.  IB.  &4.2. 
 
 1  P<t.  3,  S. 
 0  Gal.  5.  &l», 
 
 ch.  l.lftJO. 
 
 Jam.  a.  H. 
 /Horn.  12. 10. 
 
 Eph.  5.  21. 
 
 I  Pet.  6.  a. 
 
 dant  in  Jesus  Christ  for  me  by  my  coming  to 
 you  again. 
 
 27  Only  •*  let  your  conversation  be  as  it  be- 
 cometii  the  gospel  of  Christ :  that  whether  I 
 come  and  see  you,  or  else  be  absent,  I  may 
 hear  of  your  aff'airs,  '  that  ye  stand  fast  in  one 
 spirit,  "^  witli  one  mind  'striving  together  for 
 the  faith  of  the  gospel; 
 
 28  And  in  nothing  terrified  by  your  adver- 
 saries :  ""wliich  is  to  them  an  evident  token  of 
 perdition,  "  but  to  you  of  salvation,  and  that  of 
 God. 
 
 29  For  unto  you  ''it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of 
 Christ,  ^  not  only  to  believe  on  him,  but  also  to 
 sufter  for  his  sake  ; 
 
 SO  **  Having  the  same  conflict  ''which  ye  saw 
 in  me,  and  now  hear  to  be  in  me. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  Hf  exhorteth  thvm  to  utti/i/,  and  to  all  humhlejtcxs  of 
 miiid^  hif  the  example  of  Christ^s  hinnitiiy  and  ex- 
 aUfitinn:  12  fo  a  carfful  proceeding  in  the  icm/  nf 
 salviUion,  that  tiny  be  as  lights  to  the  wicked  rvorld, 
 16  (i«r/  comforts  to  him  their  apostle,  icho  is  now  rendi/ 
 to  be  offtred  up  to  God.  19  He  liopeth  to  send  Timothy 
 to  them,  whom  he  greatly  commendethy  25  as  E^xiphro- 
 ditus  also,  whom  he  prestrdly  sendeth  to  tlum. 
 
 TF  tfipre  he  therefore  any  consolation  in 
 ■^  Christ,  if  any  comfort  of  love,  ''if  any  fel- 
 lowship of  the  Spirit,  if  any  ''bowels  and 
 mercies, 
 
 2  *"  Fulfil  ye  my  joy, ''  that  ye  be  likeminded. 
 having  the  same  love,  being  of  one  accord,  of 
 one  mind. 
 
 3  ""Let  nothing  be  done  through  strife  or  vain- 
 glory ;  but  Mn  lowliness  of  mind  let  each 
 esteem  other  better  than  themselves. 
 
 the  praetorium  and  elsewhere,  that  my  bonds  are  for  Christ— i.  e.,  that 
 
 I  suffer  only  for  the  sake  of  Christ,  and  for  no  real  crime.* — Pierce. 
 '  So  that  my  bonds  in  Christ  are  taken  notice  of  in  the  palace  of  Caesar,* 
 &c.,  and  many  have  been  excited  to  inquire  about  this  new  rcligrion 
 much  to  their  advantage.— /Jodrfr.  In  nil  the  palace, '  in  toto  preetorin,' 
 
 *  in  alt  the  pr?etorium.* — Bezu.  '  In  the  whole  palace.'  In  Rome,  tlie 
 prretorium  was  the  place  where  the  prretor  determined  causes  ;  in  the 
 provinces,  the  governor's  palace  was  so  called. — Mnckn.  14.  Woxin^: 
 confident  by  my  boiids,  *  by  the  example  of  my  patience  and  courage  in 
 them.' — Wells.  I5.  Some — of  envy,  '  desirous  to  maintain  a  party  in 
 the  church  to  oppose  me.'  19,  Turn  to  my  salvation,  issue  in  pro- 
 moting it. — Doddr.  This  is  understood  as  *  deliverance  from  prison' 
 by  Pierce  and  Markn.  And  the  supply,  eTTixopn'/iar,  '  the  leading,'  the 
 direction  of  the  Spirit.— J/arA-n.  21.  To  lire  is  Christ,  *  he  is  the 
 supreme  end  of  my  life.'— ZJorfrfr.  To  die  is  gain,  '  the  only  difference 
 between  life  and  death  to  me  is,  that  by  the  one  I  continue  the  longer 
 in  Christ's  service,  and  by  the  other  shall  be  the  sooner  rewarded.' — 
 Pyle.  '  Car  Christ  est  ma  vie,  et  la  mort  m'est  un  gain  ;'  *  for  Christ 
 is  ray  life,  and  death  is  gain  to  me.'— So  the  Fr,  Trans.  *  Mihi  enim 
 est  Christus,  et  in  vita  et  in  mortc  lucrum  ;'  '  for  Christ  is  gain  to  me, 
 both  in  lite  and  in  death.'— Beia.  22.  This  is  the  fruit  of  my  labour, 
 '  this  is  the  fruit  of  my  living  longer,  that  I  can  labour  more.* — Bens. 
 '  The  honour  of  Jesus  Christ,  either  by  ray  services  or  my  sufferings.' 
 — Morrison.         23.  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  {rwcxo^iai  €k  ruyv  dvo, 
 
 *  borne  two  different  ways.'  The  original  is  very  emphatical,  and  seems 
 
 to  be  an  allusioa  to  a  ship  stationed  at  a  particular  place,  and  riiling  at 
 anchor,  and  at  the  same  time  likely  to  be  forced  to  sea  by  the  violence 
 of  the  winds,  which  presents  us  with  a  lively  reprtsentation  of  the 
 apostle's  attachment  to  his  situation  in  the  Christian  church,  and  the 
 vehemence  of  his  desire  to  be  '  unbound,'  avaXvaai,  weigh  anchor,  and 
 set  sail  for  the  heavenly  country.  Which  is  far  better,  ttuW^  fiaWov 
 Kpeiffo-ov,  '  by  ranch  far  better.'- jVficA?!.  '  Better  beyond  all  expres- 
 sion.*— Doddr.  This  is  the  highest  superlative  which  it  is  possible  to 
 form  in  any  language. — Machn.  2".  Omversntion — noXn^veade  sig- 
 nifies, most  literally,  '  to  behave  as  denizens  of  some  city  or  corpo- 
 ration.'— Doddr.  Striving  together,  cTin-a^AoupTcc,  '  wrcstlingtogether,* 
 not  in  contention  with  each  other,  but  in  union  against  the  enemies 
 of  the  gospel  faith. — A.  Clarke.  28.  An  evident  token  nf  perdition — 
 the  unbelieving  Jews  and  Jiuiaizing  Christians  viewed  tlie  firmness  of 
 the  Philippians  in  this  light ;  so  also  did  the  heathen,  considering  it 
 an  obstinacy  in  atheism,  which  would  bring  on  them  eternal  punish- 
 ment in  Tartarus.— jVficAn.  What  tliey  viewed  as  ruinous,  the  apostle 
 desired  the  Philippians  to  look  to  as  a  token  of  salvation.— P^/e. 
 
 Chap.  II. — I.  if  there  be,  this  is  not  doubt,  but  the  strongest  affirm- 
 ation.— Mackn.  Comfort  of  love,  in  God's  love  to  you,  or  yours  to 
 him.  Fellowship,  ^c.,  communion  with  the  Father  through  the  Spirit. 
 Any  bowels,  '  tender  affection  towards  each  other,  or  me,  a  prisoner,* 
 &c.  2.  Fulfil  ye  my  joy,  '  add  this  also,  !.nd  make  my  joy  com- 
 plete.*— Bens.  That  ye  be  likeminded,  'alike  disposed.' — Mackn. 
 '  Equally  affected  to  one  another.'— tfi//.    '  That  ye  may  all  be  unani. 
 
 Reflectiovs  on  Chap.  I.  —  In  this  chapter,  the  apostle 
 I,  Hejoices  in  the  work  of  grace  commenced  in  the  Philippian 
 church.  It  is  a  rich  reward  to  a  labourer  in  t!ie  gospel  field 
 when  be  can  so  bring  in  his  sheaves  with  joy, — wlien  there 
 is  a  communion  of  spirit  among  his  hearers  with  his  own, — 
 when  love  already  abounds  amongst  them, — and  when  they 
 give  evidence  that  their  hearts  are  truly  regenerated  by  Di- 
 vine grace. 
 
 II.  He  prays  earnestly  for  the  Philippians.  We  need  each 
 other's  prayers.  It  is  of  vast  value  to  be  borne  on  the  wings 
 of  faith  and  love  to  the  throne  of  grace,  by  tlie  devout  and 
 earnest  petitions  of  those  who  have  an  interest  there  ;  and  we 
 should  pray  for  each  other,  that  we  superabound  in  every 
 Christian  excellency,  and  so  glorify  our  Father  by  bearing 
 much  fruit,  and  give  proof  to  ourselves  and  others  tli:it  we  are 
 the  genuine  disciples  of  Christ. 
 12t30 
 
 III.  He  glories  in  his  afflictions^  hecatise  much  good  would  he 
 the  result  nf  them.  To  tlie  eye  of  sense  these  would  have 
 seemed  truly  dark,  when  the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  was  con- 
 fined in  chains  ;  but  to  the  eye  of  faith  they  presented  light 
 in  darkness.  Providence  often  works  the  most  gracious  de- 
 sii;ns  in  the  most  unlikely  way.  The  apostle*s  bonds  pro- 
 moted the  furtherance  of  the  gospel.  Bunyan's  imprisonment 
 produced  his  valuable  Pilgrim's  Progress — a  work  which  has 
 been  of  as  much  importance  to  the  church  of  Christ  as  any 
 uninspired  work  that  ever  was  written. 
 
 IV.  He  aspins  after  heaven,  and  yet  is  willing,  for  the  sake  of 
 Christ,  to  wait  his  time  on  earth.  A  proper  model  for  a  Chris- 
 tian spirit. 
 
 y.  He  exhorts  to  consistent  and  persevering  piety.  For  how 
 excellent  soever  the  present  appearances,  it  is  only  '  he  that 
 endures  to  the  end  sliall  be  saved.' 
 
Divers  exhortations. 
 
 PHILIPPIANS,  II. 
 
 Patd  sendcth  Epriphroditns. 
 
 4  ^  Look  not  every  man  on  his  own  things, 
 but  every  man  also  on  the  things  of  others. 
 
 5  ^  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also 
 in  Christ  Jesus  : 
 
 6  Who,  'being  in  the  form  of  God,  ^  thought 
 it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God  : 
 
 7  '  But  made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and 
 took  upon  him  the  form  "*  of  a  servant,  and 
 ^  was  made  in  the  ||  likeness  of  men  : 
 
 8  And  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he 
 humbled  himself,  and  "became  obedient  unto 
 death,  even  the  death  of  tlie  cross. 
 
 9  Wherefore  God  also  ^  hath  highly  exalted 
 him,  and  *^  given  him  a  name  which  is  above 
 every  name  : 
 
 10  'That  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee 
 should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in 
 earth,  and  things  under  the  earth  ; 
 
 11  And  ^that  every  tongue  should  confess 
 that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God 
 the  Father. 
 
 12  Wherefore,  my  beloved,  ^  as  ye  have 
 always  obeyed,  not  as  in  my  presence  only, 
 but  now  much  more  in  my  absence,  work  out 
 your  own  salvation  with  "  fear  and  trembling. 
 
 13  For  ^  it  is  God  which  worketh  in  you 
 both  to  will  and  to  do  of /n'.s  good  pleasure. 
 
 14  Do  all  things  *' without  murmurings  and 
 *  disputings: 
 
 \6  That  ye  may  be  blameless  and  ||  harm- 
 less, "  the  sons  of  God,  without  rebuke, ''  in  the 
 midst  of  *^  a  crooked  and  perverse  nation, 
 among  whom  ||  ^  ye  shine  as  lights  in  the 
 world  ; 
 
 16   Holding  forth  the  word  of  life  ;  that  "  I 
 
 I  R.>m    14    I.    n  Or,  si.icew.      a  Mat.  5.-)5.  Eph.  5.  I.      i  1  Pet.  2.  12. 
 I  Ur,  ikn.eye.      d  !,\M.  5.  14,  16.  Eph.  5.  8.       «  2  Cor.  I.  14.  1  Th&S.  J. 
 
 A.  D.  6t. 
 
 §■   I  Cnr.  10. 
 
 2*,.>3.&I3. 
 
 5. 
 /.  Mat. II. 29. 
 
 John  13-15. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.21. 
 
 1  Johns.  6. 
 I  John  1.1,2 
 
 Jt  17.  5. 
 
 2  Cor.  4.  4. 
 Col.  I.  1.^. 
 Heb.  1.  3. 
 
 k  Johu5  19. 
 
 &  10.  33. 
 I  Ps   32,  6. 
 
 Is    .-iS   X 
 
 Dai 
 
 9.  26, 
 
 Mai  k  9. 
 
 Rom.  1.^.  3 
 m  Is,  42.1.  (t 
 
 49.  3,  6.  ft 
 
 52.13  &  5.^. 
 
 II    Eze.  34. 
 
 23,  24. 
 
 Zech  3.  8. 
 
 Mat  2i).28. 
 
 Luke2:J.27. 
 n  Jobnl.  14. 
 
 Rom.  13  It 
 
 8.  3.  Gal.  4 
 
 4.  Heb.  2. 
 
 14,  17. 
 11  Or,  habit 
 o  Mat.  26,39, 
 
 42.Jf.hu  10, 
 
 18.  Heb,  5, 
 
 8    ft  12.  2, 
 p  Jolm  17.  I, 
 
 2,5.  Acts  2. 
 
 .S3.  Heb.  2. 
 
 9. 
 9  Eph.  1.20, 
 
 21.  Heb. 14. 
 t  Is.  45.  23. 
 
 Mat.  28.18 
 
 Rom. 14  II, 
 
 Rev.  5.  13. 
 t  John  13  13. 
 
 Acts.  2-  3b. 
 
 Rom.  II  9. 
 
 I  Cor.  B.  6 
 
 &  12  3. 
 Ich.  \.  h. 
 u  Eph.  6.  5. 
 J  2  Chr.3  b. 
 
 Heb.  13.21. 
 y  1  Cor.  10. 
 
 10.  1  Pel. 4 
 
 9. 
 
 c  Deu.32.  5, 
 
 II  Or. 
 
 frHnm.16  21. 
 I  Thes.3.2. 
 
 I  Fh.  bh.  13. 
 
 II  Or.  10  cUnr 
 
 m  1  Cor.  10. 
 21,33.  Jl(  13 
 5.  i  Tim.  4. 
 Ill,  16. 
 
 ..  I  Cor.4.l" 
 
 1  Tim.  1.2. 
 
 2  Tim.  1.2. 
 
 0  ch,  1,  SV 
 Plulem.  22. 
 
 p  ch.  4.  18. 
 
 a  Philem.  2. 
 r  2  C..r.8.23. 
 *  2  Cor  1 1.9. 
 Ch,  4.  13. 
 
 (ch.  1.  3. 
 
 may  rejoice  in  the  day  of  Christ,  that  ^  I  have 
 not  run  in  vain,  neither  laboured  in  vain. 
 
 17  Yea,  and  if  ^I  be  f  offered  upon  the  sacri- 
 fice "  and  service  of  your  faith,  '  I  joy,  and  re- 
 joice with  you  all. 
 
 18  For  the  same  cause  also  do  ye  joy,  and 
 rejoice  with  me. 
 
 19  II  But  I  trust  in  the  Lord  Jesus  to  send 
 ^  Timotheus  shortly  unto  you,  that  I  also  may 
 be  of  good  comfort,  when  1  know  your  state. 
 
 20  For  I  have  no  man  '  ||  likeminded,  who 
 will  naturally  care  for  your  state. 
 
 •21  For  all  "'seek  their  own,  not  the  things 
 which  are  Jesus  Christ's, 
 
 •2-2  But  ye  know  the  proof  of  him,  "  that,  as  a 
 son  with  the  father,  he  hath  served  with  me 
 in  the  gospel. 
 
 23  Him  therefore  1  hope  to  send  presently, 
 so  soon  as  I  shall  see  how  it  will  go  with  me. 
 
 24  But  "  I  trust  in  the  Lord  that  I  also  my- 
 self shall  come  shortly. 
 
 25  Yet  1  supposed  it  necessary  to  send  to 
 you  ■*  Epaphroditus,  my  brother,  and  com- 
 panion in  labour,  and  '^  fellowsoldier,  ''  but  your 
 messenger,  and  *he  that  ministered  to  my 
 wants. 
 
 26  *  For  he  longed  after  you  all,  and  was  full 
 of  heaviness,  because  that  ye  had  heard  that 
 he  had  been  sick, 
 
 27  For  indeed  be  was  sick  nigh  unto  death: 
 but  God  had  mercy  on  him  ;  and  not  on  him 
 only,  but  on  me  also,  lest  I  should  have  sorrow 
 upon  sorrow. 
 
 28  I  sent  him  therefore  the  more  carefully, 
 that,  when  ye  see  him  again,  ye  may  rejoice, 
 and  that  I  may  be  the  less  sorrowful. 
 
 29  Receive  him  therefore  in  the  Lord  with 
 
 mous.' — Doddr.  '  Of  one  accord.'  *  Being  alike  in  soul.*— GiV/. 
 4.  Oun  things,  '  own  separate  interests,  profits,  and  conveniences.'— 
 Doddr.  '  On  his  own  goc^d  qualities  only.' — Mackn.  5.  Let  this 
 mind,  ^-c— the  scope  of  the  passage  is  this:  '  Be  willing  to  forego 
 much,  if  you  can  thereby  benefit  others.* — Morr.  6.  Form  of  God, 
 tbe  visible  glorious  light  in  which  the  Deity  is  said  to  dwell.  ;i  Tim. 
 vi.  16;  comp.  Deut.  V.  22,  24;  Nuni.xii.  8;)  called  'the  face/  Ps. 
 xxxi.  16;  *  the  presence,'  Esod.  xxxiii,  15;  'shape,*  John,  v.  3". 
 Mopipn,  the  term  here  used,  signifies  a  person's  external  shape  or  ap- 
 pearance, and  NOT  his  nature  or  essence,  {see  Mark,  xvi.  12  ;  Matt, 
 xvii.  2.)  This  form  Christ  had  with  the  Fatlier  before  the  world  was, 
 (John,  xvii.  5;  Heb.  i.  3,)  and  will  reappear  with  it,  (Matt,  xvi,  27.) 
 'I'his  sense  of  the  word  ^op^n  is  confirmed  by  the  sense  of  /.iop<pT)i' 
 AouXov,  (ver.  ",)  which  evidently  denotes  '  the  appearance  and  be- 
 haviour of  a  bondman  ;*  not  that  Christ  was  really  any  person's  bond- 
 man or  slave. — So  Whitby.  By  mttonomy,  it  means  the  very  nature 
 and  essence.— So  Pearson,  Bull,  Burnet,  Gill,  Eisner,  Sc/iteus.,  Bp. 
 Burgess,  Tomline,Mttgee  ;  same  purport,  many  others.  '  Being  in  the 
 form  and  nature  of  God;'  i.  e.,  being  really  God. —  Valpy,  '  Being 
 very  God.' — Bp.  Hall.  '  Truly  and  properly  GoA.'—Guyse.  Thought 
 it  not  robbery,  ovx  cipTraY/ioi'  hinoaro,  '  he  did  not  covet  to  appear  as 
 God.' — Whitby.  '  He  was  not  eager  or  tenacious  of  retaining  that 
 likeness  of  God*  of  which  he  was  io  possession. — Pierce.  '  He  did  not 
 count  it  an  usurpation,  injury,  or  wrong,  or  any  act  of  rapine,  in  him 
 to  claim  an  equality  of  nature  with  God  the  Father.' — Guyse.  He 
 '  thought  it  not  rohberj''  and  u.surpatioD  '  to  be'  and  appear  '  as  God,' 
 assuming  the  highest  divine  names,  titles,  and  attributes.  &c. — Doddr., 
 so  Slade.  7-  Made  himself  of  no  reputation,  '  emptied  himself  of 
 his  glory.' — So  Guyse,  Doddr.,  and  Wets.        'Eavrov  tKevwire,  literally 
 
 *  he  emptied  himself.*  The  word  nevow  signifies  '  to  turn  the  inhabi- 
 tants out  of  a  house,  city,  or  country;  to  make  it  empty,  to  lay  it 
 waste.'  The  form  of  a  servnnt,  nup<pt}v  6ov\ov  \a(3uiv,  '  the  form  of  a 
 bondman,'  acting  a?  a  bondman,  [Luke,  xxii.  27.; — Mackn.  He  went 
 through  the  most  painful,  humbling,  and  difficult  services  for  our  re- 
 demption and  salvation. — Guyse.  In  the  likeness  of  men,  by  assuming 
 such  a  body  as  theirs. — Bloomf.  9.  Wherefore,  '  tlierefore.* — Doddr., 
 Muckn.  God  hath  highly  exalted  him,  '  hath  exalted  him  to  the  most 
 eminent  dignity." — Doddr.  'Ynepvil/ontre,  '  hath  exceedingly  exalted 
 him.' — Muckn.     A  name,  '  a  title,'  *  dignity.' — Bloomf.     The  name  of 
 
 *  the  Saviour,'  and  the  constituted  Lord  of  all. — Guyse.     The  name 
 
 *  Jesus'  above  all  the  names  of  dignity  possessed  by  angels  and  men, 
 because  nf  the  power  and  authority  which  is  annexed  to  it. — Mackn. 
 The  name  of  God's  Son.— Estius.  It  was  not  the  name  '  Jesus,*  which 
 was  given  him  by  an  angel  before  his  conception  and  birth,  and  was  a 
 name  common  to  men  among  tbe  Jews, — GUI  -,  nor  '  Son  of  God,*  for 
 this  name  be  must  always  have  possessed  bv  virtue  of  his  relation  to 
 
 1261 
 
 the  Father;  this  name  he  has  by  nature.— 71/acftn.,  Gill.  It  seems  to 
 design  such  fame  and  renown,  honour,  glory,  and  dignity,  as  were 
 never  given  unto,  nor  bestowed  upon,  creatures. — Gill.  10.  At  the 
 name,  '  in  the  DAme.'— Doddr.,  Gill.  In  heaven,  angels  and  departed 
 saints.  Jn  earth,  good  and  bad  men.  Under  the  earth,  '  in  the 
 abyss ;'  devils  in  the  bottomless  pit,  and  dead  bodies  raised  bcf  tre  the 
 judgment-seat. — Gill;  same  purport.  Doddr.  11.  Lord,  nf  all. — 
 Bp.  Hall.  12.  Work  out,  ^c— the  words  may  be  rendered  '  work 
 about,'  employ  yourselves  in  things  which  accompany  salvation,  and 
 to  be  performed  by  all  those  that  expect  it.— Gi^^  KuTtpTaCeo-We, 
 '  strongly  work.'— Mackn.  The  word  is  emphatic,  and  seems  to  im- 
 ply diligence,  labour,  and  perseverance.— Poo/e.  Though  we  are  freely 
 saved  in  Chri^t  alone,  apprehended  by  faith,  yet  we  must  press  for- 
 ward unto  salvation  in  a  way  of  righteousness,  seeing  that  the  sons  of 
 God  are  led  by  the  spirit  of  Him  by  whom  they  are  justified,  that  they 
 may  walk  in  good  works.— Beia.  With /ear  and  trembling,  not  with 
 a  servile,  distrustful,  and  desponding  fear,  but  with  a  holy,  filial,  and 
 awful  reverence  of  the  Divine  Majest>'.  13.  For  it  is  God,  *  for  he 
 who  begun  the  work  carries  it  on  with  internal  virtue  and  powerful 
 energy  ;  while,  in  a  way  consistent  with  the  truest  liberty  of  a  ra- 
 tional creature,  he  enables  you  to  perfurm  the  things  that  relate  to 
 your  salvation.'— G«yse.  15.  Harmless,  akepato<,  '  untainted,'  with 
 the  vices  of  the  v^otWA. —Mackn.  '  Sincere,'  marg.  '  Sincere  in  your 
 dealings  with  both  Gud  and  man.'— Guyse.  In  the  midst  of  a  crooked, 
 ^c,  •  among  personsof  crooked  and  perverse  habits. '—B/oom/.  Shine 
 aji  lights  in  the  world;  \6.  holding,  ^c,  an  allusion  to  those  towers 
 that  were  built  at  the  entrance  of  harbours,  and  on  which  fires  were 
 kept  burning,  to  direct  ships  into  the  port.— .Bcza  ;  adopted  hy  Sau. 
 and  Doddr.  The  allusion  is  rather  to  tt^e  heavenly  luminaries.— 
 Bloomf.  Not  rvn  in  fuin,  through  the  course  of  my  apostolic  oflSce. — 
 Doddr.  17.  Offered,  a-^evAo^iai,  'poured  forth.*— Doddr.  'Poured 
 out  on  the  sacrifice.'— .1/«f/:7i.  '  So  as  to  seal  my  testimony  with  my 
 blood,  and  so  be  poured  cut  like  the  wine  and  oil  on  the  meat  and 
 dnnk  offering^,'  (Esnd.  xxix.  2;  Lev.  ii.  J.)  Service  of  your  faith,  for 
 its  cnnfirmation.— Guyse.  21.  Ml,  '  the  generality.*— H'e//s.  23.  Hou 
 if  will  go,  '  what  will  be  the  issue  of  my  triaX.^— Whitby.  25.  Your 
 messenger,  he  had  been  sent  by  the  Philippians  to  carry  relief  to  the 
 ■j,y.>^ne.— Wheat hv.  Fehowsoldier,  a  possible  allusion  to  the  custom 
 in  the  Roman  armV,  under  which  every  soldier  had  a  favourite  c  m- 
 rade,  each  pledging  mutual  aid  io  danger.— Pic/.  Bib.  26.  Because 
 that  ye  had  heard,  '  knowing  that  the  news  would  afflict  you  exceed- 
 in  Jy.'  27.  Nigh  unto  death— those  who  had  the  power  of  working 
 miracles  could  not  exercise  it  according  to  their  own  pleasure,  but 
 according  to  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  or  Paul  would  have 
 healed  Epaphroditus.  Miracles  of  healing  were  gencraUy  wrought 
 lor  convincing  unbelievers.         -JS.  The  more  cirefnlly,  •  fcstinantius,* 
 
Paul  giveth  up  all  for  Christ 
 
 PHILIPPIANS.  III. 
 
 and  his  rti)hleousness 
 
 all   gladness;    and    ||"hold   such   in   reputa 
 tion  : 
 30    Because  for  the  work  of  Christ  he  was 
 nigh  unto   death,  not   regarding  his  life,  "^  to 
 supply  your  lack  of  service  toward  me. 
 
 CHAP.   III. 
 
 1  He  warneth  them  to  beware  of  the  false  teachers  of  the 
 circumcision,  4  shewintj  that  himself  hath  (jreater  cause 
 than  they  to  trust  in  the  righteousness  of  the  law:  7 
 which  notwithstanding  he  counteth  as  duny  and  loss, 
 to  gain  Christ  and  his  righteousness,  \2  therein  ac- 
 knowledging his  own  imperfection,  15  He  exhorteth 
 them  to  be  thus  minded,  17  and  to  imitate  him,  18  and 
 to  decline  the  ways  of  carnal  Christians. 
 
 TJ'INALLY,  my  brethren,  ^rejoice  in  the 
 •*-  Lord.  To  write  the  same  things  to  you, 
 to  me  indeed  is  not  grievous,  but  for  you  it  is 
 safe. 
 
 2  '■  Beware  of  dogs,  beware  of  "evil  workers, 
 ■'  beware  of  the  concision. 
 
 3  For  we  are  °  the  circumcision,  '  which  wor- 
 ship God  in  the  spirit,  and  '■'rejoice  in  Christ 
 .Tesus,  and  have  no  confidence  in  the  flesh. 
 
 4  Though  ''  I  might  also  have  confidence  in 
 the  flesh.  If  any  other  man  thinketh  that  he 
 hath  whereof  he  might  trust  in  the  flesh,  I 
 more  : 
 
 5  '  Circumcised  the  eiglitli  day,  'of  the  stock 
 of  Israel,  'of  the  tril)e  of  Benjamin,  "*  an  He- 
 brew of  the   Hebrews;  as   touching  the  law. 
 
 A.  D.  64. 
 
 .\    I).  61. 
 
 11   Or,   honour 
 
 n  Acl3  23.6. 
 
 tfich . 
 
 H  26.  1.  5. 
 
 u  I  Cor.  16. 
 
 "  A  cts  22.  3. 
 
 18.  1   Thes. 
 
 Gal.  1.  13, 
 
 b.\S.l  Tim, 
 
 14. 
 
 .1.  17. 
 
 p  .\cts  8.  3. 
 
 X  1  Cnr.  16. 
 
 fe  V,   1. 
 
 17.  ch.  4, 
 
 If  Horn.  10  5 
 
 10. 
 
 r  Luke  1.  li. 
 
 »  .Mai.  13.44. 
 
 Ms.  5.S    II. 
 
 Jer. 9.23.24. 
 
 Jnim  17.  3 
 
 1  Cor.  2.  2. 
 
 Col.  2.  2. 
 
 u  Rom.  10,3, 
 
 5. 
 
 X  Bom.  1.17. 
 
 &  3.  21.  22, 
 
 fa  9.  3iP.  ft 
 
 10    3,  6. 
 
 a  2Cor.l3. 
 
 Oal.  2.  16. 
 
 11.  oh.4.  ^. 
 lThes.5.10. 
 
 V  Rom  6  3,4. 
 5.   &  8.   17 
 
 2  Cor  4.  Ill, 
 
 6  Is.  S6.  10. 
 
 11.2  Tim. 
 
 Gal.  5.  15. 
 
 2.  11,  12. 
 
 c2Cor.ll.l3, 
 
 1  Pet.  4.  13. 
 
 d  Kom.2.28. 
 
 *  Acts  26.  7. 
 
 Gal.  5.  2. 
 
 t  Deut.  10. 
 
 16.  &  30    6. 
 
 a  I  Tim.  6. 
 
 Jer.   1.  4. 
 
 1-^ 
 
 Horn  3.  29. 
 fk   \.    11,  IJ- 
 
 6  Heb.  12.23. 
 
 C.il.  2.  H. 
 
 /John  4.23, 
 
 31.  Horn.  7. 
 
 6. 
 
 e  Ps   45.  10. 
 
 U  Gal,  6.  U. 
 
 Luke  S.  62. 
 
 A  2  Cor.  11. 
 
 2  Cor.  5,  16. 
 
 10,21. 
 
 d  I  Cor .9-24, 
 
 I  Gen.  17.12. 
 
 26.  Heb.  6. 
 
 k  2  Cor.  11. 
 
 1. 
 
 22. 
 
 e  2  Tim.  4. 
 
 /  Koin.n.t. 
 
 7,  8.  Heb. 
 
 m  2  Cor.  II. 
 
 12.  1. 
 
 22. 
 
 /Heb.  3.  1. 
 
 "  a  Pharisee  ; 
 
 6  °  Concerning  zeal/persecuting the  church; 
 "^  touching  the  righteousness  which  is  in  the 
 law,  '  blameless. 
 
 7  But  'what  things  were  gain  to  me,  those  I 
 counted  loss  for  Christ. 
 
 8  Yea  doubtless,  and  I  count  all  things  out 
 loss  *  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
 Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  :  for  whom  I  have  suf- 
 fered the  loss  of  all  things,  and  do  count  them 
 but  dung,  that  I  may  win  Christ, 
 
 9  And  be  found  in  liini,  not  having  "mine 
 own  righteousness,  which  is  of  the  law,  but 
 ''  that  which  is  through  the  faith  of  Christ,  the 
 righteousness  whicli  is  of  God  by  faith  : 
 
 10  That  I  may  know  him,  and  the  power  of 
 his  resurrection,  and  -the  fellowship  of  his 
 sufferings,  being  made  conformable  unto  his 
 death  ; 
 
 1 1  If  by  any  means  I  might  ^  attain  unto  the 
 resurrection  of  the  dead. 
 
 12  Not  as  though  1  had  already  *  attained, 
 either  were  already  ^  perfect :  but  I  follow 
 after,  if  that  I  may  apprehend  tliat  for  which 
 also  I  am  apprehended  of  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 13  Bretliren,  I  count  not  myself  to  have  ap- 
 prehended :  but  this  one  thing  Ida, "  forgetting 
 those  things  which  are  behind,  and  '' reaciiing 
 forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before, 
 
 14  ^  I  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of 
 ^  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 I'ntg.  '  rhe  more  speedily.' — Muckn.  30.  Your  lack  of  surrire, 
 owing  to  absence.— //«m.,  P^/le.  '  Supply  the  remainder  of  your 
 beneficence  to  me.'— Pierce. 
 
 Chap.  III.  —  1.  Same  things,  may  refer  to  a  former  epistle,  now 
 lost. — Diadale ;  (com.  1  Cor.  v.  9;  Col.  iv.  i6.j  Or  to  what  he  had 
 said  to  them  formerly. — Fleming;  so  M'/iilbi/,  and  Bur.  Or  to  what 
 he  bad  written  to  other  churches,  ^ot  grievous,  or  'troublesome.* — 
 Gill.  Sitfe,  because  thiof^s  delivered  by  word  of  mouth  only  may 
 escape  the  memory. — Whith;/,  Bur.  2.  Dogs,  so  the  Jews  styled  all 
 heathens,  in  contempt. — Pt/le.  Perhaps  the  unbelieving  Jews  are  so 
 called,  as  are  all  the  wicked,  (Rev.  xxii.  lb.)—Mackn.  There  was  a 
 custom  at  Rome  to  chain  their  dogs  at  the  doors  of  their  houses,  and 
 to  put  an  inscription  over  them,  '  beware  of  this  dog,'  to  which  this 
 may  refer. — L^Enfant.  Concision,  '  Jewish  circumcised  teachers, 
 who  taught  that  circnmci'-ion  was  necessary  to  salvation.* — Par. 
 3.  We  me  the  circumcision,  '  we,  the  disciples  of  Christ,  wbo  have  the 
 superfluous  excesses  of  passion  and  evil  desire  cut  nfl"  from  our  hearts.' 
 — Mnckn.  No  confidence  in  the  fiesh,  '  in  any  carnal  descent  or  birth 
 privilege,  or  carnal  ordinances  of  the  ceremonial  law,'  kc.  5.  Stock 
 of  Israel,  this  is  said  to  distinguish  him  from  an  Ishmaeli'e  or  Edomite, 
 who  were  circumcised,  and  from  a  mere  proselyte.  Trihf-  of  Benja- 
 min, a  genuine  and  legitimate  son  of  Jacob.  An  Hebrew  of  the  He- 
 brews, i.  e..  a  genuine  Hebrew,  both  on  his  father  and  mother's  side. — 
 Gill.  A  Pharisee,  one  of  the  strictest  sects  of  the  Jewish  religion. — 
 Whitby^  (Acts,  xxiii.  6  ;  xxvi.  4,  5.)  6.  Which  is  in  the  laiv,  '  which 
 is  placed  in  an  exact  observation  of  the  law.'— jDorfJr.  7.  Gain  to 
 me,  reckoned  such  by  the  Jews.  I  counted  loss,  the  word  Cn^^o.  signi- 
 fies loss  incurred  in  trade;  and  more  especially  that  kind  of  loss  which 
 is  sustained  at  sea  in  a  storm,  when  goi^ds  are  thrown  overboard  for 
 the  sake  of  saving  the  ship  and  the  people  on  board.  8.  But  loss, 
 '  things  to  be  thrown  away.'  /  hare  suffered  the  loss  of  nil  things, 
 '  have  actually  thrown  overboard  all  things.'  Dung,  o-«it'/JaXa,  *  the 
 vilest  refuse  of  animals,  fruits,'  S<c.~Doddr.,  Mtckn.,  Gill.  [De  rebus 
 vilissimis  dicitur,  frugnm,  animantium  et  horum  excrementis.— Gi- 
 t'lker.]  May  win  Christ,  hfpA.|^<j,  '  may  gain  Christ,'  as  the  profit  of 
 my  voyage.— jl/at-An.  Q.  Found  in  him,  '  covered  all  over  with 
 Christ,  as  a  man  with  the  clothes  he  bad  put  ou.^— Lock,  so  Pierce. 
 Be  vitally  united  to  him  by  a  true  faith  and  love,  and  so  taken  under 
 his  protection  and  favour.  Mine  own  righteousness,  such  as  only  con- 
 sists in  observing  the  precepts  or  expiations  of  the  Jewish  religion. 
 
 The  righteou-'ines.'i  which  is  of  God  h;/  faith,  '  to  be  procured  by  believ- 
 ing in  his  Son,  and  applying  to  him.  as  undone,  without  taking  refuge 
 in  his  righteousness  and  grace.' — Doddr.  10.  That  I  may  know  him, 
 '  know  more  and  miTe  of  him  experimentally  as  my  Saviour.' — Morf. 
 The  power  of  Ais  resurrection,  '  so  as  to  rise  from  the  death  of  sin  to 
 the  life  of  righteousness.' — Whitdy.  The  fellowship  of  his  sufferings, 
 '  and  may  be  daily  led  into  holy  communion  with  him.  in  his  cruci- 
 fixion,' (Rom.  vi.  6.) 'as  also  patiently  enduring  all  sufferings,  even 
 unto  death,  for  his  sake.'  11.  Might  attain  u?ito  the  resurrection,  '  I 
 in  due  time  may  arrive,  like  sailors  at  their  port,  in  glory.' — Guyse. 
 The  allusion  is  here  changed  from  a  voyage  to  a  race.  12.  Not  as 
 though  I  had  already  attained,  '  for  I  have  not  yet  received  the  prize.' 
 — Mnckn.  The  terra  is  taken  from  the  Grecian  games,  and  is  used  of 
 him  that  hath  fioished  the  race  and  course,  conquered,  and  gained  the 
 prize,  although  he  have  not  yet  received  it. — Ham.  Perfect,  Tert- 
 Setmiiai — the  original  word  is  pmperly  used  by  tht-  Greeks  of  *  runner-, 
 in  the  race  course'  who  had  reached  the  goal,  and  conquered  in  the 
 contest;  and  so,  being  declared  conquerors,  were  decorated  with  the 
 promised  rewards. — Schleusner.  J  follow  after,  diuyKu,  '  I  pursue.* — 
 Bens.  Apprehend — these  words  express  the  contention  in  the  race, 
 and  signify  the  endeavouring  to  get  before  those  that  are  before  us, 
 that  we  may  '  apprehend'  or  lay  hold  of  the  prize  by  being  foremost. 
 — Ham.,  Par.  .-ipprchended  of  Christ  Jesus,  '  laid  hold  on  by  Christ 
 Jesus ;'  a  power  which  he  could  not  resist  impelled  him.— So  Mackn. 
 \3.  J  count  not,  ^c,  he  had  not  attained  to  perfect  knowledge— wai 
 not  come  to  the  mark — had  not  received  the  prize. — Gill.  Forgetting 
 those  things  which  are  behind,  '  herein  I  imitate  the  conduct  of  the 
 racers  in  your  celebrated  Grecian  games;  my  thoughts  and  cares  are 
 all  fi.ved  on  this  great  object.' — Doddr.  Reaching  forth.  (TreKTeii-o/ievot. 
 '  exceedingly  stretching  myself  forward  to  the  things  before  me.' 
 1 1.  I  press  toward  the  mark,  Kara  aKo-jrov  ^kuko,  '  I  follow  in  the  course 
 along  the  mark.' — Mackn.  The  white  line  chalked  out  to  guide  their 
 course. —  Wil.  *  I  run  on  in  the  marked-out  course  of  faith  and  holi- 
 ness.'— Mackn.  Toward  the  mark — the  prize  was  placed  in  a  very 
 conspicuous  situation,  so  that  (he  competitors  might  he  animated  by 
 havingit  still  in  their  sight. — Doddr.  Prize  of  the  high  calling,  ^c, 
 TO  ii(>Qp€iov  Trjr  avia  KXMffewc  tou  Qeow  tv  XpitrTiu  \r\aov — it  is  hardly  pos- 
 sible, in  a  literal  translation,  to  reach  the  full  meaning  of  these  words. 
 At  the  game,  the  judges  sat  on  a  bish  seat,  and  fmm  thence,  by  an 
 herald,  summoned  the  combatants  into  the  stadium,  (1  Cor.  ix.  27.) 
 
 Rfc:FLECTioNS  ON  Chap.  II,  —  Here  we  have,  I.  Humility 
 enforced  from  the  example  of  the  Saviuur.  None  could  stoop  so 
 low,  because  none  were  ever  raised  so  high,  *  Let  us  learn 
 of  Jesus,'  says  the  distinguished  missionary,  Morrison  ;  '  did 
 he  forego  celestial  glory  for  our  benefit,  and  shall  we  forego 
 nothing  for  the  good  of  our  brethren?  Shall  we  be  always 
 wrangling  for  distinction,  be  puffed  up  with  vain-glory,  or 
 consider  nobody's  interests  but  our  own  ?  If  it  be  so,  we 
 have  not  yet  learned  Christ.' 
 
 IX.  Diligetice  in  labouring  after  our  salvation  enforced  from  the 
 consideration  of  Divine  grace  working  in  us*  So,  then,  the 
 1262 
 
 agency  of  God  in  us  is  not  incompatible  with  our  agency.  *  In 
 fine,'  the  passage  says,  as  the  same  departed  and  once-devoted 
 missionary  observes,  '  be  earnest  and  deeply  concerned  in 
 religion,  for  God  is  assisting  you.  This  is  easy  of  compre- 
 hension, and  a  great  encouragement.  Under  a  conviction  of 
 its  truth,  let  us  act  upon  it ;  and  instead  of  relaxing  our  en- 
 deavours as  we  advance  to  the  period  of  our  mortal  existence, 
 let  us  double  our  diligence,  and  always  maintain  a  serious 
 concern  to  work  (»ut  our  salvation.'  —  Familiar  Lectures  on  the 
 PhilippianSj  ddivirvd  at  Macao,  in  China. 
 
Particular  admonilions 
 
 PHILIPPIANS,  IV. 
 
 and  general  exhortations. 
 
 15  Let  us  therefore,  as  many  as  be  '^  perfect, 
 "be  thus  minded  :  and  if  in  any  thing  ye  be 
 otherwise  minded,  God  shall  reveal  even  this 
 unto  you. 
 
 16  Nevertheless,  whereto  we  have  already 
 attained,  '  let  iis  walk  '  by  the  same  rule,  '  let 
 us  mind  the  same  thing. 
 
 17  Brethren,  "be  followers  together  of  me, 
 and  mark  them  which  walk  so  as  "ye  have  us 
 for  an  ensaniple. 
 
 18  (For  many  walk,  of  whom  I  have  told  you 
 often,  and  now  tell  you  even  weeping,  that 
 they  are  °  the  enemies  of  the  cross  of  Christ : 
 
 19  I"  Whose  end  is  destruction,  '  whose  God 
 IS  their  belly,  and  '  whose  glory  is  in  their 
 shame,  '  who  mind  earthly  things.) 
 
 20  For 'our  conversation  is  in  heaven;  "from 
 whence  also  we  '  look  for  the  Saviour,  the 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ : 
 
 21  '  Who  shall  change  our  vile  body,  that  it 
 may  be  fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious  body, 
 '  according  to  the  working  whereby  he  is  able 
 °  even  to  subdue  all  things  unto  himself 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  From  particular  admonitions  4  he  proceedeth  to  gene- 
 ral eihortatifins,  10  shewing  how  he  rejoiced  at  their 
 liberality  towards  him  lying  in  prison,  not  so  much 
 for  the  supply  of  his  own  jva?its  as  for  the  grace  of 
 Gnd  in  them.  19  And  so  he  concludeth  with  prayer 
 and  salutations. 
 
 A.  D.  M. 
 
 A    D    >A. 
 
 g  I  Cor.  a.  6. 
 
 rt  ch    1.  8 
 
 &  11.  20. 
 
 b  2  Cor  1. 11 
 
 h  Gal.  5   10. 
 
 ch.  ■-•    16. 
 
 1  Rc.m.l2.1B. 
 
 IThe8.2.l9, 
 
 &  15.  5. 
 
 20. 
 
 lb  Gal   6.  16. 
 
 cch    1.27. 
 
 /cl>.  S.  2. 
 
 d  ch.  2.  2.  & 
 
 m  ICor.1.16. 
 
 3.  16- 
 
 &  II.  1. 
 
 ch.  4.9. 
 
 «Rom.  16.3. 
 
 1  Tl.es.  I.fi. 
 
 ch.  I.  27. 
 
 H  1  Pet.  5  S 
 
 oGal   1.7.  & 
 
 /  E-'^.  32.  32. 
 
 2.  21.  &  e 
 
 Ps.  69.  29. 
 
 12.  ch.  1.15, 
 
 Dan    12.  1. 
 
 10. 
 
 Luke  10.20, 
 
 pi  Cor.  11. 
 
 Rev,  3. 5.  & 
 
 15.  2  Pet. 
 
 13.  8   &  2u, 
 
 2    1. 
 
 12.  &  21.27, 
 
 7Ro!n.!6.l3. 
 
 5R01n.i2.i2. 
 
 1  Tim.  6.S. 
 
 ch,  3.  1. 
 
 Tit.  1.  II. 
 
 :The3,5.I6. 
 
 r  Hos,  4.  7. 
 
 1  Pet.  4   13. 
 
 2  Cfir.11.12 
 
 /.  Heb.  10,25. 
 
 Gal.  6-  IS. 
 
 Jam.  5,8,9. 
 
 •:  Uom   8.  5. 
 
 I  Pet.  4   7. 
 
 t  Eph,  2,  6, 
 
 2  Pet..'1.8,9. 
 
 19.  Col,  3. 
 
 See  2  Thes. 
 
 1.  3. 
 
 2,  2. 
 
 M  Act3  1.  n. 
 
 i  Ps.  55.  22. 
 
 x\  Cor.  1.7. 
 
 Pro.  16.  3. 
 
 I  Thes.l.Ui. 
 
 Mat  6.  25. 
 
 Tit.  2.  13. 
 
 Luke  12  22. 
 
 V  1  Cnr.  15. 
 
 1  Pet.  S.  7. 
 
 43,  A%,  40. 
 
 iJuhnl4.27. 
 
 Col.  3.  4. 
 
 Rom.  5.   L 
 
 I  John  3.  2 
 
 Col.  3.  Id. 
 
 i  Eph.  1.  19. 
 
 H  Or. 
 
 a  1  Cnr.   15. 
 
 venerable. 
 
 26,  27. 
 
 1  1  Thes.  5. 
 
 S3. 
 
 m  ch.  3.  17. 
 
 ri  Rom.  15. 
 
 3.S.  8c  16.20. 
 
 1  Cnr. 14. as. 
 
 2rnr.i3.ll. 
 
 IThes.5,2:i 
 
 Heb.  IS  2a 
 
 THEREFORE,  my  brethren  dearly  beloved 
 and  "  longed  for,  ^  my  joy  and  crown,  so 
 ■^  stand  fast  in  the  Lord,  »///  dearly  beloved. 
 
 2  I  beseech  Euodias,  and  beseech  Syntyche, 
 •^  that  they  be  of  the  same  mind  in  the  Lord. 
 
 3  And  I  intreat  thee  also,  true  yoke-fellow, 
 help  those  women  which  "  laboured  with  me  in 
 the  gospel,  with  Clement  also,  and  with  other 
 my  fellow-labourers,  whose  names  aie  in  *^  the 
 book  of  life. 
 
 4  ^Rejoice  in  the  Lord  alway  :  a n^/ again  I 
 say,  Rejoice. 
 
 5  Let  your  moderation  be  known  unto  all 
 men.     ^  The  Lord  is  at  hand. 
 
 6  'Be  careful  for  nothing;  but  in  every  thing 
 by  prayer  and  supplication  with  thanksgiving 
 Jet  your  requests  be  made  known  unto  God. 
 
 7  And  ^  the  peace  of  God,  wliich  passetli  all 
 understanding,  shall  keep  your  hearts  and 
 minds  through  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 8  Finally,  brethren,  whatsoever  things  are 
 true,  whatsoever  things  are  ||  honest,  whatso- 
 ever things  are  just,  whatsoever  tilings  are 
 pure,  whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  '  whatso- 
 ever things  are  of  good  report ;  if  t/tere  be 
 any  virtue,  and  \i  there  he  any  praise,  think  on 
 these  things. 
 
 9  ■"  Those  things,  which  ye  have  both  learned, 
 and  received,  and  heard,  and  seen  in  me,  do : 
 and  ""the  God  of  peace  shall  be  with  you, 
 
 10  But  I  rejoiced  in  the  Lord  greatly,  that 
 
 The  apostle  here  alludes  to  this  elevated  situation  of  the  judges. — 
 Mackn.  15,  Perfect — TeXeio*  denoted  thnse  who  were  initiated  into 
 the  heathen  mysteries,  as  in  1  Cor.  ii.  6.  It  means,  '  all  who  are  ini- 
 tiated into  the  holy  mysteries  of  our  relig-ion.'— Dorf(/r.  '  Thoroughly 
 instructed  in  nur  Christian  duty.' —  TK/iMy.  Full-grown,  men  in 
 opposition  to  children  ;  denoting  persons  completely  instructed  in  the 
 Christian  doctrine. — Mackn,  It  is  plain  that  the  apostle  could  not  mean 
 •  perfect'  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  expression,  because  he  had  just 
 said  of  himself  that  he  was  not  already  perfect,  and  yet  he  here  puts 
 himself  among  those  tliat  he  styles  '  perfect ;'  and  it  is  not  to  be  sup- 
 posed that  any  other  Christians  were  more  perfect  than  himself.— 
 Guyse.  And  if  in  any  thing,  ^c,  '  and  if  ye  think  differently  from 
 rae  concerning  any  other  point,  even  that  God  will  discover  to  you 
 who  wish  to  be  perfect ;'  he  will  make  you  sensible  of  your  error.  The 
 apostle  is  thought  to  have  had  the  weak  but  sincere  Jewish  converts 
 In   his  eye. — Mackn.  l6.    Whereto   we  have  already  attained,    '  so 
 
 much  of  the  truth  of  God  as  we  have  acquired  the  knowledge  of.' 
 Walk,  nn,  peaceably  and  lovingly.  Same  rule,  '  the  word  of  God.' 
 Same  thing,  '  Christian  unanimity,' — Bp.  Hall.  1".  Of  me,  he  de- 
 sired to  be  imitatid  but  as  he  was  a  fullower  of  Christ. —  Gill. 
 13.  Enemies  of  the  cross,  doctrinal  enemies  ;  they  did  not  depend  upon 
 his  death  alone  for  salvation,  but  made  circumci>iion,  and  the  obser- 
 vation of  the  whole  law  nf  Moses,  necessary  to  it— practical  enemies, 
 who  pleaded  for  Mosaic  rites  to  avoid  reproach  and  persecution  from 
 the  Jews.— Guyse.  19.  Whose  God  is  their  belly,  '  they  devote  them- 
 selves wholly  to  luxury  and  lust.' — Sta/ih.  In  their  shame,  in  those 
 things  which  are  so.  20.  Our  conversation  is  in  heaven,  'tifnan — 
 TO  ffuXiTCK^a,  '  our  city,*  or  '  citizenship,' or  '  civil  rights.'  21.  Who 
 shall  change,  ffC,  or  /j€Tii<Tx»iM«T(o-£(  to  am^xa  rtjr  TuTrfifojireaiE  ty^uiv, 
 '  who  will  refashion,'  or  '  alter  the  fashion  and  condition  of  the  body 
 of  our  humiliation.' — Mackn.,  as  Doddr.,  so  Clarke.  En  ro  levtutfat 
 avTo  ci'fifxopfov  Tty  <iti}p.a7i  t>k  bo^n^  avTov,  '  who  will  refashion  the 
 body  of  our  humiliatiun,  in  order  that  it  may  become  of  a  like  form  with 
 the  body  of  his  glory.' — Mackn.,  so  Clarke.  Who  shall  change,  '  the 
 body  of  our  vileness.'  That  it  may  be  fashioned,  alluding  to  the 
 transformation  of  old  and  broken  vessels  into  the  best  and  newest 
 fashion.— Cur^/.     Working,  evepYCiai/,  '  energy.'—,^.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  My  brethren  dearly,  ^-c— these  tender  expressions  of 
 affection  can  scarcely  be  exceeded.  Lunged  for,  eTmruOinot,  an  ap- 
 pellation which  the  Hebrews  gave  to  things  which  they  greatly  valued, 
 and  which  were  the  objects  of  their  strongest  desiie.  Crown,  in 
 allusion  to  the  crown  with  which  the  victors  in  the  games  were  re- 
 warded.—jV(/cfrn.  2.  Euodias— Syntyche,  two  women  who  were 
 members  of  the  church  at  Philippi,  and  who  seem  to  have  been  at 
 
 variance.  3.  I'o/l:e-/e//yu',  probably  means  Epaphroditus,  who  was 
 minister  in  this  church,  and  by  whom  the  apostle  sent  this  letter. — 
 Gill.  In  chap.  ii.  25,  Epaphroditus  is  called  his  companion  in  labour. 
 — Schleus.  Help  those  women,  above-mentioned,  by  composing  their 
 differences,  or  giving  them  good  Cf)unsel.  Laboured  with  me,  not  by 
 preaching,  for  this  he  disallows,  but  bearing  reproach  for  the  gospel, 
 supporting,  and  encouraging  it.  &c.  Clement,  generally  thought  to 
 means  Clemens  Romanus,  afterwards  bishop  of  Rome.  Other,  my 
 fellow  labourers,  as  Timothy,  who  was  with  him  at  Fhilippi.— Gi//. 
 Whose  names,  as  I  have  reason,  in  charity,  to  hope  [are]  '  in  the  book,' 
 &€.— Doddr.  '  I  am  verily  persuaded,  from  what  appears  of  the  grace 
 of  God  in  them,  that  they  are  favourites  of  Heaven.'— Guyse.  Book 
 of  life,  refers  to  the  custom  of  well-ordered  cities,  which  kept  registers 
 containing  all  the  names  of  the  citizens.  Out  of  these  registers,  apos- 
 tates, fugitives,  and  infamous  persons  were  erased,  (see  Rev.  iii.  5,) 
 while  the  names  of  orderly  citizens  were  continued. — Ham.  4.  Re- 
 joice— alwny,  under  your  greatest  afflictions. —  Wells.  5.  Moderation, 
 patient  enduring  of  afflictions. — Ham.  Meekness  and  patience  under 
 X.x\3\s.~~Whitby,  Wells.  ETneiRri^.  is  of  a  very  extensive  signification. 
 It  means  the  same  as  em^LKeia,  '  mildness,  patience,  yieldingness, 
 gentleness,  clemency,  moderation,'  unwillingness  to  litigate  or  con- 
 tend.— A.  Clarke.  It  means  meekness  under  provocation, readiness  to 
 forgive  injuries,  equity  in  the  management  of  business,  candour  in 
 judging  of  the  characters  and  actions  of  others,  sweetness  of  dispo- 
 sition, and  the  entire  government  of  the  passions,  (see  Titus,  in.  2 ; 
 James,  iii.  17.)  Be  known,  §-c.,  thus  they  would  effectually  recom- 
 mend religion  to  iheir  persecutors. — Mackn.  The  Lord  is  at  hand,  '  to 
 observe  your  beliaviour  and  take  your  part ;  and  soon  to  appear,  to 
 the  confusion  of  your  Jewish  adversaries,  in  the  destruction  of  Jeru- 
 salem ;  and  will  come,  ere  long,  as  the  Judge  of  the  world.— Guyse. 
 6.  Be  careful  for  nothing,  or  '  anxiously  solicitous,'  (see  Matt.  vi.  25.) 
 —  Whitby.  ".  Shall  keep,  S,-c.,  (ppovpnoet,  '  will  guard,'  &c. ;  a  mili- 
 tary term,  expressive  or  the  watching  of  soldiers  in  a  fortified  town, 
 which  is  besieged  by  enemies  without,  and  which  has  mutinous  in- 
 habitants within.— il/uc/fTi.  Heart,  Kap6ia,  '  the  seat  of  the  will  and 
 affections.'  Mind,  vorifxa,  '  the  seat  of  reason  and  memory.' — Beza. 
 8.  True,  '  conformable  to  truth.'  Honest,  aefiva,  '  grave'  or  '  vene- 
 rable.* Just,  '  equitable  and  righteous.'  Pure,  '  chaste  and  holy.' 
 Lovely,  npocT<p(\n,  'amiable'  or  '  friendly  and  kind,'  '  of  good  repnrl.' 
 V.v(pt]na,  '  ot  good  fame,*  or  '  reputable  and  truly  ornamental.'  Virtue, 
 '  real  worth.'  Praise,  justly  resulting  from  the  thing.— Bens.,  as 
 Doddr.  '  True  in  speech,  honest  in  actions,  just  to  others,  pure  wilJi 
 regard  to  yourselves,  lovely,  and  what  more  so  than  trutli  j  of  good 
 report,  as  is  honesty .*—Bengelivs.        9.  Learned,  from  my  preaching 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IIL  —  Behold  here,  I.  What  the 
 Christian  relinquishes — the  things  that  are  behind  ;  tbose  in 
 which,  in  a  natural  state,  be  took  pleasure  and  prided  him- 
 self. All  trust  in  his  being  brought  up  in  any  form  of  reh- 
 gion ;  all  reliance  on  bis  own  good  deeds  and  self-righteous- 
 ness in  any  form  as  a  ground  of  salvation  ;  all  worldly  favour 
 rather  than  dishonour  the  cross;  every  earthly  pleasure  which 
 gratifies  the  flesh  and  vaia  desires  of  the  mind,  and  leads  it 
 away  from  Christ  and  heaven. 
 1-263 
 
 II.  IFTiat  the  Christian  pursues  after.  *  That  glorious  crown 
 and  prize,  for  the  obtaining  whereof,'  says  Baxter,  '  the  high 
 calling  of  God,  by  Jesus  Christ,  hath  encouraged  me  to  seek 
 and  hope.'  'And  0,  that  our  rule  may  be  more  and  more 
 attended  to  in  every  step  of  our  way  !  and  that,  if  in  any  in- 
 stance we  mistake  it,  or  it'  we  fail  in  those  notions  we  ought 
 to  have  of  any  principle  of  Christianity,  which  are  to  add  a 
 sanction  to  it,  God  may  reveal  even  this  unto  us,  and  teach  us 
 to  act  in  a  more  suitable  manner.'  <i 
 
Paul  commendeth 
 
 PIIILIPPIANS,  IV. 
 
 their  liberality. 
 
 now  at  the  last  '^yonr  care  of  me  ||  hath 
 flourished  again  ;  wherein  ye  were  also  care- 
 ful, but  ye  lacked  opportunity. 
 
 11  Not  that  I  speak  in  respect  of  want:  for 
 1  have  learned,  in  whatsoever  state  I  am, 
 ^therewith  to  be  content. 
 
 12  ''  I  know  both  how  to  be  abased,  and  I 
 know  how  to  abound  :  every  where  and  in  all 
 things  I  am  instructed  both  to  be  full  and  to 
 be  hungry,  both  to  abound  and  to  suffer  need. 
 
 13  1  can  do  all  things  ""through  Christ  which 
 strengtheneth  me. 
 
 14  Notwithstanding  ye  have  well  done,  that 
 'ye  did  communicate  with  my  affliction. 
 
 15  Now  ye  Philippians  know  also,  that  in 
 the  beginning  of  the  gospel,  when  I  departed 
 from  Macedonia,  *  no  church  communicated 
 with  me  as  concerning  giving  and  receiving, 
 but  ye  only. 
 
 10  For  even  in  Thessalonica  ye  sent  once 
 and  again  unto  my  necessity. 
 
 A.  D.  6t. 
 ■2  Cor.  11.9. 
 
 p  I  Tim.  C. 
 
 6,  8. 
 7  I  Cor  4  It. 
 
 2  Cor,  6.1U. 
 
 Sc  M.  27. 
 
 *2  Cor.  II. 
 8,  P. 
 
 i<Koin.t5.:;8. 
 
 Tit.  3.  U. 
 I!  Or,  /  have 
 
 TfCi-ivtd  nil. 
 X  eh.  2.  25. 
 j/Heb.lXl6. 
 s  8Cor-9.12. 
 
 n  Ps.  83    I. 
 
 •2  Gov.  9   8. 
 />  Eph.  1.  7. 
 
 h  3.  16. 
 
 c  Rom. 16.27. 
 Gat.  I.  5. 
 
 /Horn. 16.24, 
 
 17  Not  because  I  desire  a  gift :  but  I  desire 
 "fruit  that  may  abound  to  your  account. 
 
 18  But  II  I  have  all,  and  abound  :  I  am  full, 
 having  received  "of  Epaphroditus  the  things 
 which  were  sent  from  you,  ^an  odour  of  a 
 sweet  smell,  ''  a  sacrifice  acceptable,  wellpleas- 
 ing  to  God. 
 
 19  But  my  God  *  shall  supply  all  your  need 
 ^  according  to  his  riches  in  glory  by  Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 20  '^  Now  unto  God  and  our  Father  be  glory 
 for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 21  Salute  every  saint  in  Christ  Jesus.  The 
 brethren  "'which  are  with  me  greet  you. 
 
 '   22  All  the  saints  salute  you,  ''chiefly  they 
 that  are  of  Cicsar's  houshold. 
 23  ""The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christie 
 with  you  all.     Amen. 
 
 1[   It  was  written  to   the   Philippians   from 
 Rome  by  Epaphroditus. 
 
 and  writing-. — Clarke.  As  catechumens. — Bens.  11. /»i  respect  of 
 want,  or  '  not  that  1  was  unhappy  in  want.'  Content,  ayTjpKiif,  lite- 
 rally, '  to  be  self-sufficient.* — Mackn.  '  Having  enough  for  one's- 
 self,'  '  satisfied.' — Morr.  12.  I  am  instructed,  ^lefivtmai,  I  am  ini- 
 tiated into  all  tlie  mysteries  of  poverty  and  want ;  Eilluding  to  initiation 
 into  the  sacred  mysteries  among  the  Greeks. — (ireenf.  18.  An  odour, 
 ffc,  epithets  anciently  given  to  all  the  kinds  of  sacrifices  ;  not  only  to 
 the  peace  and  thank-offerings,  but  to  the  burnt-offerings  and  sin-offer- 
 
 ings, {see  Ephes.  v.  2.) — Mackn.  The  Jews  had  an  altar  nt  ioccnse 
 within  the  temple,  and  of  sacrifice  in  the  court.  On  these  were  offered 
 all  things  that  were  offered  to  God,  and  under  these  two  heads  are 
 works  of  charity    here  represented. — Ham.,  Whitby.  19.  But   mij 
 
 God,  %r.,  'though  I  can  make  no  return  in  kind,  God  will  repay  you.' 
 Through  Christ,  who  governs  the  world  in  his  glorious  state  of  exalta- 
 tion.— Mackn.  Riches  in  glory,  *  the  glorious  riches  of  his  goodness.' 
 —  Whitfii/. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  IV. — We  may  divide  this  chapter 
 into  two  parts,  the  first  of  which  consists  of — I.  Words  of  advice 
 and  caution  to  Christians.  To  stand  t'iist.  which  they  can  only 
 do  '  ia  the  Lord.'  as  lonp  as  they  lean  upon  Christ.  To  main- 
 tain unity  of  spirit,  which  will  tend  to  secure  their  own  peacj, 
 and  recommend  religion  to  others  ;  to  remember  continually 
 what  causes  of  joy  they  have  in  Christ,  which  will  tend  to 
 sweeten  every  bitter  cup  of  sorrow  ;  to  be  modernte  in  all 
 things,  not  yielding,  as  the  world,  to  a  malignant  and  bitter 
 spirit,  and  ungovernable  passions;  to  be  independent  of  un- 
 due anxiety,  casting  their  care  upon  him  who  has  all  things 
 under  his  supreme  control  ;  in  fine,  to  cultivate  things  true, 
 honest,  just,  pure,  lovely,  and  of  good  report.  Attention  to 
 these  wifl  afford  a  sweet  serenity  of  spirit  in  the  raidst  of 
 every  storm,  and  the  peace  of  God,  which  passetb  all  under- 
 standing, shall  keep  the  heart  and  mind,  'through  Christ 
 Jesus.* 
 
 11.  Expressions  of  gratitude  and  affection  to  friends.  The 
 apostle  was  not  like  too  many,  who,  because  they  think  it  the 
 
 duty  of  the  Christian  to  help  Iiis  brother  in  distress,  seem 
 scarcely  sensible  of  any  obligation  to  them  who  have  supplied 
 their  need  out  of  the  fruits  of  their  industry,  and  from  the  trea- 
 sures God  has  bountifully  bestowed  upon  tliem.  He  knew 
 that  a  duty  as  much  belonged  to  him  to  feel  and  express  his 
 gratitude,  as  to  his  friends  to  bestow  their  bounties.  He  deli- 
 cately and  affectionately  mentions  all  the  kindness  of  lln^ 
 Philippians,  and  expresses  the  confidence  that  the  God  of  all 
 grace,  who  remembers  the  cup  of  cold  water  given  to  a  disciph- 
 in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  wouUl  amply  repay  Ihem.  The  an- 
 cient versions  turn  his  words  into  a  prayer,  '  but  may  my  God 
 supply  or  fulfil  all  your  need.'  '  I  am  not  able  so  make  you 
 any  returns,  but  I  pray  that  my  God  would  recompense  it  to 
 you,  that  as  you  have  supplied  my  wants  he  would  supply  all 
 yours.'  It  may,  however,  be  viewed  as  an  assertion  by  way 
 of  promise,  that  though  he  could  not  repay  them,  God  would  ; 
 and  what  a  fine  and  sweet  spirit  of  love  and  courteousness 
 does  the  apostle  here  manifest.  Let  us  follow  him  as  he  fol- 
 lowed Christ. 
 
 THE    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 COLOSSIANS. 
 
 [CoLOssE  was  a  city  of  the  Greater  Plirygia,  in  the  Lesser  Asia.  It  is  said  to  have  perished  a  very  little  time  after  the  writing 
 of  this  epistle,  by  a  violent  earthquake,  in  the  year  of  Christ  C6,  and  in  the  tenth  of  Nero's  reign,  though  it  was  afterwards 
 rebuilt,  and  called  Chona;.  The  Christians  here,  having  heard  of  Paul's  imprisonment  at  Kome,  sent  Epaphras  thither 
 to  inform  him  of  the  state  of  their  affairs,  and  to  inquire  after  his  welfare.  This  epistle  was  written  to  them  in  return. 
 It  has  allusions  to  Deut.  xsx.  6;  Eccles.  x.  10;  Ezek.  xiii.  3;  John,  i.  1  ;  Kom.  viii.  38;  1  Cor.  viii.  6  ;  Eph.  iii.  9; 
 Ileb.  i. '2.1 
 
 r264 
 
Paul  thanketh  God  for  their  faith. 
 
 COLOSSI ANS,  I. 
 
 He  descriheth  the  true  Christ. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  After  salutation  lie  thmiketh  God  for  thtir  faith,  7 
 coiifirmeth  the  doctrine  of  Epaphras,  9  prat/eth  fur- 
 ther for  their  increase  in  (jrace,  14  dtscriheth  the  true 
 Christt  21  eiionrageth  them  to  receive  Jesus  Christ, 
 and  commendcth  his  own  tninistry. 
 
 "pAUL,  °an  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ  by  the 
 -*-     will  of  God,  and  Timotheus  our  brother, 
 
 2  To  the  saints  "^and  faithful  brethren  in 
 Christ  which  are  at  Colosse  :  '^  Grace  be  unto 
 you,  and  peace,  from  God  our  Father  and  tlie 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 3  "  We  give  thanks  to  God  and  the  Father 
 of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  praying  always  for 
 you, 
 
 4  "^  Since  we  heard  of  your  faith  in  Christ 
 Jesus,  and  of  ^  the  love  ivhich  ye  have  to  all 
 the  saints, 
 
 5  For  the  hope  ^  which  is  laid  up  for  you  in 
 heaven,  whereof  ye  heard  before  in  the  word 
 of  the  truth  of  the  gospel ; 
 
 6  Which  is  come  unto  you,  '' as  it  is  in  all 
 the  world  ;  and  '  bringeth  forth  fruit,  as  it  doth 
 also  in  you,  since  the  day  ye  heard  of  it,  and 
 knew  ^  the  grace  of  God  in  truth : 
 
 7  As  ye  also  learned  of  '  Epaphras  our  dear 
 fellowservant,  who  is  for  you  "^a  faitliful  minis- 
 ter of  Christ ; 
 
 8  Who  also  declared  unto  us  your  "love  in 
 the  Spirit. 
 
 9  °  For  this  cause  we  also,  since  the  day  we 
 lieard  ity  do  not  cease  to  pray  for  you,  and  to 
 desire  ^that  ye  might  be  filled  with  ''  the  know- 
 ledge of  his  will  Mn  all  wisdom  and  spiritual 
 understanding  ; 
 
 10  "  That  ye  might  walk  worthy  of  the  Lord 
 'unto  all  pleasing,  "being  fruitful  in  every  good 
 
 a  Epb.  I.  I. 
 
 b  1  Cor.4.17 
 
 Eph.  6.21. 
 
 cGal.  1.3. 
 
 d  I  Cor.  l.-l. 
 
 Epli.  1.  16. 
 
 Phil.  I.3.& 
 
 4.  li. 
 e  rer.  9. 
 
 Eph,  1.  15. 
 
 Philem.  fi. 
 /HelK  6,  ID. 
 g'2  T.m,4S 
 
 I  Pet.  1  ■\. 
 h  !\!at  21  14 
 
 Mark  16  |5 
 
 Rom  10  Id 
 
 ver.  23.  : 
 i  Mark  4.  8. 
 
 .loliti  l.'j.lfi. 
 
 Phil  1.  II. 
 k'2  Cor.C.  1. 
 
 Epii.  A    2, 
 
 Tit.  2.  II 
 
 I  Pet.  5.12 
 tch.1.  |:J. 
 
 Phil.;m.  23. 
 "  2  Cor    II. 
 
 23.  I  Tim. 
 
 4.  6. 
 
 iKom.15  30. 
 )  Eph.  1.  1,'), 
 
 16,  ver  3.4. 
 p  I  Cur.  I  5. 
 ./  Ro.n    12  9 
 
 Eph    5.  10, 
 
 17. 
 
 Eph.  I.S. 
 *  Eph.  4.  1. 
 
 Phil.  I      - 
 
 ITh 
 
 I  12 
 
 II  Tlies4 
 - Jnhn!5  la 
 
 2  Ci.r.  0    8, 
 
 Phil.   I.  II. 
 
 Tit.  3.  I. 
 
 Heb.  13,21, 
 
 A.  D.61. 
 
 X  Eph.  3.16 
 
 &  6    1(1, 
 V  Kph.  1  2. 
 s  Acts  b.  -U. 
 
 Boi 
 
 .  5.  a. 
 
 Eph 
 
 ch.  3   15. 
 6  Acts  26,18. 
 
 Eph.    I.  II. 
 c  Eph  6   12. 
 
 Heb.  2    N, 
 
 I  Pet.  2    9, 
 d  I  Thes.  i. 
 
 12  2  Pet   I. 
 
 II 
 t  Gr-  !!>,•  S">, 
 
 nf  hit  liivi-. 
 
 Mai,  3.  17. 
 
 Kph.  I.  i>, 
 •■  Kph.  1,  7. 
 A2  Cor  4.4. 
 
 Heb,  I.  3, 
 g  Rev.  3.  14 
 /.  John  I.  3. 
 
 I  Cor,  8.  6. 
 
 Eph.  3.9. 
 
 Heh.  I.  2. 
 
 Hum   8H8. 
 
 Eph     I.  21. 
 "16.  IJ 
 
 et    3  2 
 
 work,  and  increasing  in  the  knowledge  of  God  ; 
 
 1 1  ^  Strengthened  w^ith  all  might,  according 
 to  his  glorious  power,  -  unto  all  patience  and 
 longsuffering  ^  with  joyfulness  ; 
 
 12  ^Giving  thanks  unto  the  Father,  which 
 hath  made  us  meet  to  be  partakers  of  ^  the 
 inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light: 
 
 13  Who  hath  delivered  us  from  ^^  the  power 
 of  darkness,  "^and  hath  translated  us  into  the 
 kingdom  of  |  his  dear  Son  : 
 
 14  "  In  whom  we  have  redemption  through 
 his  blood,  even  the  forgiveness  of  sins  : 
 
 15  Who  is  ""the  image  of  the  invisible  God. 
 ^  the  firstborn  of  every  creature  : 
 
 l(i  For  *■  by  him  were  all  things  created,  that 
 are  in  heaven,  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible 
 and  invisible,  whether  they  he  thrones,  or  *  do- 
 minions, or  principalities,  or  powers  :  all  things 
 were  created  ''  by  him,  and  for  him  : 
 
 17  '  And  he  is  before  all  things,  and  by  him 
 all  things  consist. 
 
 18  And  '"he  is  the  head  of  the  body,  the 
 church:  who  is  the  beginning,  "the  firstborn 
 from  the  dead;  that  ||  in  dW^things  he  might 
 have  the  preeminence. 
 
 19  For  it  pleased  the  Father  that  °  in  him 
 should  all  fulness  dwell  ; 
 
 20  And,  II ''having  made  peace  through  tiie 
 blood  of  his  cross,  ''by  him  to  reconcile  'all 
 things  unto  himself;  by  him,  / 50^,  whetlier 
 they  be  things  in  earth,  or  things  in  heaven. 
 
 21  And  you,  Mhat  were  sometime  alienated 
 and  enemies  ||in  your  mind  '  by  wicked  works, 
 yet  now  hath  he  reconciled 
 
 22  "  In  the  body  of  liis  flesh  through  death,  ^to 
 
 NoTSS  oM  CiiAP.  I.  —  5.  For  the  hope,  bia,  'through  the  hope.* 
 6.  AU  the  tvorld,  all  the  Roman  empire,  (comp.  Luke,  ii.  1  j  Acts,  ii.  5  ; 
 Ezra.  i.  •2.)—M'ickn.  8.  Your  lave  in  the  Spirit,    *  your   Christian 
 
 charity.' — Stimh.  'The  love  wrought  in  you  by  the  Spirit.*  10.  Unto 
 all  plfaaing.  i.  e.,  so  as  to  please  him  in  all  things. —  Whitby.  12.  In- 
 heritance, an  aliusion  probably  to  the  distribution  of  Canaan  by  lot. — 
 Pict.  Bib.     In  light,   '  in   glory.' — Doddr.  13.  Power  of  darkness, 
 
 heathen  ignorance,  and  Satan's  dominion  over  the  heathen  world, 
 (Eph.  ii.2;  cunip.  Act&,  x.wi.  17,  \^.)— Whitby.  The  apostle  here 
 includes  himself  as  a  Gentile  convert  according  to  his  usual  method, 
 (see  Eph.  i.  2.  3.) — Pyle.  14.  7ft  whom  we  hare  redemption,  fyc. — see 
 Ephes.  1.  7,  notes.  15.  W/m  is  the  image,  ^c,  '  who  {i.  e.,  Christ)  is 
 (in  his  human  nature)  the  visible  image  of  the  invisible  God.' — Chrysus., 
 Theophyl.,  &,c.  'In  whose  human  nature,  doctrine,  and  works,  the 
 invisible  God,  who^jc  image  he  is,  is  manifested  to  man.' — Baxter. 
 The  person  01  Christ,  as  God  in  human  nature,  is  the  visible  or  sen- 
 sible discovery  of  the  invisible  God,  and  be  that  hatli  seen  him  '  hath 
 seen  Uie  Father.' — Scott.  Christ  is  the  image  of  God,  as  making 
 him  who  is  invisible  in  his  essence  conspicuous  to  us  by  the  divine 
 works  he  wrought;  they  being  such  as  plainly  shewed  that  in  him 
 dwelt  '  the  fnlness  of  the  Godhead  bodily;'  for  an  invisible  God 
 can  only  be  s-ei-n  by  his  effects  of  power,  wisdom,  and  goodness,  by 
 which,  says  the  apostle,  '  from  the  creation,'  &c.,  (Rom.  i.  20.) — 
 Whitby.  The  Jir-sfhurn  nf  every  creature,  explained  ver.  1",  where  it 
 is  said,  'He  is  before  all  things.'  In  respect  of  his  Divine  nature,  he 
 was  begotten  of  the  Father  before  all  creatures :  and,  as  to  his  human 
 nature,  he  was  the  first  that  was  raised  from  the  dead,  never  to  die 
 again.— TFe//s.  In  the  language  of  the  Rabbins,  God  is  called  the 
 firstborn  of  tlie  world. — Mich.  He  was  -rrpunoTOKoz  irao-nc  unaet,)?, '  born 
 or  begotten  before  all  creation,  or  any  creature  was  made,'  wiiich  is 
 the  scripture  way  of  representing  eternity,  (Prov.  viii.  23,  24,  26.) — 
 Henry,  so  Sc/imidiits,  and  Bp.  Burge.^s.  The  person  of  whom  David 
 was  a  type  may  be  here  styled  '  the  Firstborn,*  as  being  Prince  over, 
 and  high  above,  all  creatures,  they  being  all  the  work  of  his  hands. — 
 Whitlty.  He  was  the  Iirst  offspring  of  that  great  and  glorious  scheme 
 formed  in  the  eternal  counsel  of  God,  for  the  restoration  of  a  fallen 
 \\iii\il.--Bp.  Middle  ton.  'Firstborn,*  7rpaiTOTo»cot,  or  '  lirst-begotten,' 
 ill  this  passage,  may  signify  the  'heir  or  Lord  of  the  whole  creation  :' 
 fnr,  anciently,  the  firstborn  was  entitled  to  possess  his  father's  estate, 
 (2  Chron.  xxi.  3  ;)  the  firstborn  was,  likewise,  lord  of  his  brethren, 
 who  were  all  his  servants,  (see  Gen.  xxvii.  37.)  Hence,  among  the 
 Hebrews  and  other  nations,  '  firstborn,'  '  heir,'  and  '  lord'  were  syno- 
 iiymou.s  terms,  (see  Gal.iv.  1.) — See  Whitby,  Mackn.,  Pye  Smith,  and 
 John  Edwards,  and  Henry,  in  the  Reflections  at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 
 1*2Gj 
 
 He  is  as  man,  at  the  head  of  alt  the  creation  of  God ;  nor  can  he,  with 
 any  propriety,  be  considered  as  a  creature,  having  himself  created  all 
 things,  and  existed  before  all  things  were  made.  If  it  be  said  that  God 
 created  Him  first,  and  then  he,  by  a  delegated  power  from  God,  created 
 all  things,  this  is  most  flatly  contradicted  by  the  apostle's  reasoning  in 
 the  l6lh  and  l/th  verses. — Clarke.  16.  For  by  him  u-ere  all  things 
 created,  '  these  high  titles  belong  to  the  Son  Coti';,  because  by  liim  were 
 created  all  tilings,'  Sic. — Mackn.  Thrones,  or  domtnimts — lh:se  terms 
 are  often  used  to  signify  the  highest  orders  of  angels,  and  perliaps  may 
 here  mobt  immediately  design  them;  but  they  may  also  include  the 
 highest  ranks  ot  men. — Guyse.  18.  Who  is  the  beginning,  or,  *  He 
 is  the  beginning,^  Sfc.  'He  is  also  the  beginning,  ur  author,  of  the 
 church,'  the Jirslborn from  the  dead,  or  L'^rd  'of  the  deal,  (Rom.  xiv. 
 9,)  who  make  the  greatest  part  of  the  church.* — Mackn.  He  was  the 
 Iirst  that  rose  from  the  dead  no  more  to  die— Par.  In  all  things,  in 
 creation  and  redemption.— irf//s-.  19.  All  fulness,  chiefly  that  rii«. 
 
 pensatory,  communicative,  fulness,  which  is,  of  the  Father's  good  will 
 and  pleasure,  put  into  the  hands  of  Christ  to  be  distributed  to  others. — 
 Gill.  All  created  perfection,  as  well  as  he  hath  divine  perfection,  that 
 he  should  be  the  spring  and  treasure  of  all  good,  as  the  Head  over  all 
 things  to  his  church,  and  the  universal  Administrator.  —  Buj-fer. 
 20,  To  reconcile  all  things  unto  himself — reconciliation  supposes  a  for- 
 mer state  of  amity  and  friendship,  and,  in  such  an  one,  man  was  origi- 
 nally  with  God  ;  and  a  breach  of  that  friendship,  which  made,  and 
 issued  in,  real  enmity  in  the  heart  of  man.  Himself,  may  mean  here, 
 either  '  to  Christ,'  in  whom  all  the  elect  were  gathered  tugether,  as  in 
 one  head,  and  were  reconciled  in  one  body,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles, 
 through  him,  or  rather,  to  God  the  Father,  to  whom  they  were  ene- 
 mies, yea,  enmity  itself  ;  and  to  whom  the  satisfaction  and  atonement 
 was  made. — Gill.  All  things,  does  not,  I  apprehend,  include  the  holy 
 angels,  who,  having  never  sinned,  cannot  be  said  to  be  reconciled  to 
 Gfjd  ;  but  relates  only  to  all  the  saints  on  earth  or  in  heaven. — Guyse. 
 Whether  they  be  things  in  earth,  or  things  in  heaven,  the  spirits  rf 
 just  men,  then  in  heaven,  owed  their  reconciliation  to  the  Saviour'a 
 undertaking  for  them  :  and  all  on  earth,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles, 
 who  believed  in  Christ,  were  reconciled  uuto  God  through  their  union 
 with  him,  and  their  interest  in  the  atonement  of  his  blood.  Thus,  the 
 whole  became  one  church  and  one  body  in  him. — Scott.  21.  I'nu, 
 Colossians.  Alienated,  strangers  to  the  worship  of  God,  and  engaged 
 in  idolatry. — Wells,  Ham.  Now  hath  he  reconciled,  on  believing  in 
 Christ,  he  hath  brought  into  a  slate  of  reconciliation,  peace,  and  friend- 
 ship with  himself.  22.  In  the  body  of  his  flesh,  by  the  liuman 
 boily  of  Christ,— (»uysf.  Through  death,  as  a  sacrifice  tu  divine  justice 
 for  the  sins  of  men. — Scott. 
 
 7    Y 
 
Paul  exhorteth  them 
 
 COLOSSIANS,  II. 
 
 io  constancy  in  Christ. 
 
 present  you  holy  and  unblameable  and  un- 
 reprovable  in  his  sight : 
 
 m  If  ye  continue  in  the  faith  'grounded  and 
 settled,  and  be  '  not  moved  away  from  the 
 hope  of  the  gospel,  which  ye  have  heard,  '^and 
 which  v>as  preaclied  "  to  every  creature  which 
 is  under  heaven  ;  °  whereof  1  Paul  am  made  a 
 minister ; 
 
 24  ^  Who  now  rejoice  in  my  sufferings  "  for 
 you,  and  fill  up  '  that  which  is  behind  of  the 
 afflictions  of  Christ  in  my  flesh  for  ^  his  body's 
 sake,  which  is  the  church  : 
 
 •23  Whereof  I  am  made  a  minister,  according 
 to  "  the  dispensation  of  God  which  is  given  to 
 me  for  you,  ||  to  fulfil  the  word  of  God  ; 
 
 26  Eoen  '  the  mystery  which  hath  been  hid 
 from  ages  and  from  generations,  '  but  now  is 
 made  manifest  to  his  saints  ; 
 
 27  '  To  vvliom  God  would  make  known  what 
 is  "  the  riches  of  the  glory  of  this  mystery 
 among  the  Gentiles  ;  which  is  Christ  ||  in  you, 
 "  the  hope  of  glory  : 
 
 28  Whom  we  preach,  °  warning  every  man, 
 and  teaching  every  man  in  all  wisdom  ;  ■"  that 
 we  may  present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ 
 Jesus : 
 
 29  "i  Whereunto  I  also  labour, 'striving 'ac- 
 cording to  his  working,  which  worketh  in  me 
 mightily. 
 
 A.  U.  64. 
 
 V  Eph.  3.  17. 
 
 Ch.  2.  7. 
 I  John  15,6. 
 'I  Rom.lu.IS. 
 6  ver   6. 
 c  Acta  1.  17. 
 
 2  Cor.  3.6.(1 
 
 4.  I.  &  5.19. 
 
 Eph.  3.  7. 
 
 ver    25. 
 
 1  Tim.  2  7 
 d  Rom.  B.  3. 
 
 •2  Cor.  7  4. 
 '  Eph  3.1,13. 
 /•-•Cor  1.5,6. 
 
 Phil.  3.  10. 
 
 2  Tim,  1.8. 
 «cS    10. 
 
 g  Eph.  1.23. 
 
 It  1  Cor.9.17. 
 Gill.  2.  7 
 Eph.  3.  2. 
 ver   2.3. 
 
 la  prrach 
 fh"  leord  or 
 God.   Rom- 
 15.  19. 
 iR'.m  16.25. 
 
 1  Cor.  2  7- 
 Eph.  ».  9. 
 
 It  Mat.  13.11. 
 
 2  Tim. 1, 10. 
 12  C..r.2  I*. 
 m  Rom.923. 
 
 i^ph.  I.  7. 
 8c  S.  S. 
 li   Or,  among 
 
 nl  Tim.  I.I. 
 o  Acts  20.20, 
 
 27,  SI. 
 p  2  Cor.11.2. 
 
 Eph. .'..  27. 
 
 ver.  22 
 7lCor  l.'i.lO. 
 r  cli.  2.  1. 
 J  EpU.  I.  19. 
 
 h  3.  7,  20. 
 
 I  Ovy/tar, 
 or,  cere. 
 
 I  ch.  I-  29. 
 Fhil.  1.  8(1 
 I  The9.2.2 
 
 i2  Cor.  1.6. 
 
 d  Phil.  S.  S. 
 
 ch,  1.  9. 
 II  Or, 
 
 IVIirrein. 
 "  I  Cor.  1.2*. 
 
 &2.  6,7. 
 
 Eph,  I.  S. 
 
 ch.  1.  9. 
 /Rom  16.13. 
 
 2  Cor  11.13. 
 
 Eph.  A.  14, 
 
 &  5.  6.  ver. 
 
 8,  18. 
 ff  1  Cor.  5  3. 
 
 I  The9.2.l7. 
 A  ICor.N.-Mi, 
 i  I  Pet.  5.  y, 
 AlThes  4.1, 
 
 Jude  .3. 
 ^Eph    2.  SI, 
 
 22,  &  3.  17, 
 
 ch.  I.  2a. 
 m  Jer.29.  8, 
 
 Rnm,  16.17, 
 
 Eph    5.  6. 
 
 ver.  18. 
 
 Heh.  13.  9. 
 I.  Mat.  15.2. 
 
 Gal.  1.  U. 
 
 ver.  22. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  He  still  exhorteth  thtm  to  be  constant  in  Christ,  8  to 
 beware  of  philosophi/,  and  vain  traditions,  18  wor- 
 shippiny  of  aiu/cls,  20  and  legal  ctrtmonics,  jvhich 
 are  ended  in  Christ. 
 
 'OOR  I  would  that  ye  knew  what  great 
 -^  IP  conflict  I  have  for  you,  and  for  them 
 at  Laodicea,  andyo/-  as  many  as  have  not  seen 
 my  face  in  the  flesh  ; 
 
 2  ''  That  their  hearts  might  be  comforted, 
 "  being  knit  together  in  love,  and  unto  all  riches 
 of  the  full  assurance  of  understanding,  "^  to  the 
 acknowledgment  of  the  mystery  of  God,  and 
 of  the  Father,  and  of  Christ ; 
 
 3  II  ^  In  whom  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of 
 wisdom  and  knowledge. 
 
 4  And  this  1  say,  'lest  any  man  should  be- 
 guile you  with  enticing  words, 
 
 5  For  ^  though  I  be  absent  in  the  flesh,  yet 
 am  I  with  you  in  the  spirit,  joying  and  behold- 
 ing ^  your  order,  and  the  '  stedfastness  of  your 
 faith  in  Christ. 
 
 6  ''  As  ye  have  therefore  received  Christ  Jesus 
 the  Lord,  so  walk  ye  in  him  : 
 
 7  '  Rooted  and  built  up  in  him,  and  stablished 
 in  the  faith,  as  ye  have  been  taught,  abounding 
 therein  with  thanksgiving. 
 
 8  ""  Beware  lest  any  man  spoil  you  through 
 philosophy  and  vain  deceit,  after  "  the  tradition 
 
 23.  If  ye  continue,  might  be  more  agreeable  to  the  apostle's  design 
 rendered  'since  ye  continue;'  for  the  particle  eiye  often  siEnifies 
 'since,'  as  in  2  Cor.  v.  3.  —  Guyse,  Bt^  not  moved  away,  by  false 
 teachers.  —  Clarke.  Every  creature.  Gentile  as  well  as  Jew. — 
 Whithy.  24.  Fill  up  thai  tvhich  is  be/iind,  not  that  he  meant  tlie 
 sufferings  of  Christ  were  imperfect,  but  he  deeply  retained  in 
 his  mind  the  impression  of  that  fiist  lesson  which  he  had  trom  his 
 Saviour's  mouth — viz.,  that  he  was  persecuted  in  his  members,  (Acts, 
 ix.  4  ;)  he  therefore  considers  it  as  the  plan  of  Providence  that  a  cer. 
 tain  measure  of  suffering  should  be  endured  by  this  body,  of  which 
 Christ  was  the  head  ;  and  he  rejoices  to  think  that  what  he  endured 
 in  his  own  person  was  congruous  to  that  wise  and  gracious  scheme. — 
 Doddr.  -25.  To  fu/Jil  the  word,  i.e.,  fully  to  preach  it. —  Whithy. 
 26.  Mystery—^cc  Ephes,  i.  9;  iii.  4.  28.  iVarning,  vov$eTovvTev,  'ad- 
 monishing.*— Doddr.,  Mnckn.  Every  man,  he  repeats  these  words  to 
 shew  that  he  made  no  distinction  between  Jews  and  Gentiles.— Bes'i. 
 Present  every  man  perfect,  SfC. — the  word  Trapaenriaiinev  properly  de- 
 notes the  priest's  bringing  the  sacrifice  or  offering  to  the  altar.  The 
 apostles,  like  priests,  were  appointed  to  prepare  mankind  as  an  accept- 
 able offering  to  God,  (Rom.  xv.  l6.)  29-  Striving,  Sfc,  *  combating 
 vigorously.'  The  word  afwvt^ofxfvov  denotes  the  exertions  of  those 
 who  contended  in  the  Grecian  games.     He  alludes  to  the  opposition 
 
 he  met  with,  and  the  toils  and  sufferings  he  endured.-  So  Doddr.  and 
 Mackn. 
 
 Ch.\p.  11.  —  1.  Laodicea,  a  famous  city,  by  the  river  Lycus,  near  to 
 Colosse.— «i7/.  It  was  the  meiropolis  of  the  greater  Phrygia.  Here 
 was  a  Christian  church  of  some  nnte. — Mackn.  2.  And  unto  all  riches 
 of  the  full  assurance  of  understanding,  i.  e.,  '  the  richest  and  most  as- 
 sured understanding.*  An  e.vtremely  eniphatical  phrase.- -Z>')rf(/r.  'The 
 fullest  conviction  of  mind.' — Wd.  It  means  'spiritual  knowledge  and 
 understanding.*  To  the  acknowledgment,  W\&.X  is,  to  a  gri?ater  and  more 
 perfect  knowledge,  approbation,  and  coiitession  of  the  gospel,  called  '  the 
 mystery,'  (chap.  i.  26,  2".) — GUI.  '  Unto  the  most  lioimnrable,  steady, 
 and  public  confession  uf  these  deep  things  of  God.' — Guyse.  Of  God 
 and  of  the  Father,  '  even  of  the  Father.'  Acknowledgment  or  belief  of 
 the  Father's  purpose  of  saving  the  Gentdes  by  faith  equally  with 
 Jews,  which  was  formerly  a  secret,  but  is  now  made  known  by  Christ, 
 who  hath  accomplished  that  gracious  purpose.— Gw^ap.  3.  In  whom, 
 CK  60  may  be  rendered  '  in  which,'  and  refer  to  the  mystery  as  well  as 
 to  thrist. — Guyse,  so  Bur.  Are  hid,  a-TioKpixpoi,  Maid  up* — Muckn. 
 'Concealed'  from  carnal  minds. — Guyse.  5.  Joying  and  beholding, 
 
 i.  e.,  with  joy  beholding. — Wells.  7.  Rooted,  like  a  tree  planted  in 
 
 a  good  soil,  immoveable  hy  any  wind. — Guyse.     8.  Spoil  ymi,  plunder, 
 rob,  cheat  you.— f/«m.     The  word  (ri/Xa^tuytui'  properly  signifies,  'one 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I —  Let  us  here  notice  two  things  : 
 I.  Christ  as  God.  lie  is  'the  image  of  the  invisible  God.' 
 Not  as  man  was  made  in  the  iraa;;e  of  God,  in  his  natural 
 faculties  and  dominion  over  the  creatures.  No,  he  is  the  ex- 
 press image  of  his  person,  (  Heb.  i.  S. ")  He  is  so  the  image 
 of  God  as  the  son  is  the  image  of  the  father,  who  has  a  natural 
 likeness  to  him  ;  and  thus  he  who  hath  seen  him  hath  seen 
 the  Father  ;  and  his  glory  was  the  glory  of  the  only  begotten 
 of  the  Father,  (John,  i.  14  ;  xiv.  9. )  He  is  *  the  firstborn  of 
 every  creature.*  Not  that  he  is  himself  a  creature,  but  it  re- 
 presents his  eternity,  '  ere  ever  the  earth  was.'  And  it  sig- 
 nifies his  dominion  over  all  things  ;  as  the  firstborn  in  a  family 
 is  heir  and  lord  of  all,  so  he  is  the  heir  of  all  things,  { Heb.  i. 
 2.)  With  a  slight  change  in  the  accent,  the  word  signifies 
 the  first  begetter,  or  producer  of  all  things;  and  so  it  well 
 agrees  with  the  following  clause.  He  is  so  far  from  being 
 himself  a  creature,  that  he  is  the  Creator  ;  for  by  him  were 
 all  things  created  which  are  in  heaven  and  earth,  visible  and 
 invisible,  (ver.  16.)  He  made  all  things  out  of  nothing,— the 
 highest  angel  in  heaven,  as  well  as  men  upon  earth.  Christ 
 is  the  eternal  Wisdom  of  the  Father,  and  the  world  was  made 
 in  wisdom  ;  he  is  the  eternal  Word,  and  the  world  was  made 
 by  the  word  of  God  ;  he  is  the  arm  of  the  Lord ,  and  the  world 
 was  made  by  that  arm.  '  All  things  are  created  by  him  and 
 for  him  ;'  being  made  by  his  power,  they  were  made  according 
 to  his  pleasure  and  for  his  praise.  He  is  the  end  as  well  as 
 the  cause  of  all  things.  To  him  are  all  things,  (Rom.  xi.36.  ) 
 *  He  is  before  all  things.'  He  not  only  bad  a  being  before  he 
 was  born  of  the  virgin,  but  he  had  a  being  before  all  time. 
 1266 
 
 '  By  him  all  things  consist.'  They  not  only  subsist  in  their 
 beings,  but  consist  in  their  order  and  dependences.  He  not 
 only  created  them  all  at  first,  but  it  is  by  the  word  of  his 
 power  that  they  are  still  upheld,  (Heb.  i.  3.)     Notice— 
 
 II.  Christ  as  Mediator.  He  is  '  the  Head  of  the  body  of  the 
 church,'  not  only  a  head  of  government  and  direction  as  a 
 king  of  a  state,  but  a  liead  of  vital  influence,  as  the  head  in 
 the  natural  body  ;  for  all  grace  and  streni;th  are  derived  from 
 him,  and  the  church  is  his  body,  the  fulness  of  him  who  filleth 
 all  in  all,  (Eph.  i.  2'i,  23. )  He  is  the  beginning,  the  first-born 
 from  the  dead,  the  principle  of  our  resurrection,  as  well  as 
 the  first-born  of  himself.  He  was  the  first  that  ever  rose 
 from  the  dead  by  his  own  power,  and  was  declared  to  be  the 
 Son  of  God  and  the  Lord  of  all  things.  And  he  is  the  head  of 
 the  resurrection,  and  has  given  us  an  example  and  evidence 
 of  our  resurrection  from  the  dead.  He  rose  as  the  first-fruits, 
 d  Cor.  XV.  yO. )  He  hath,  *  in  all  things,'  the  pre-eminence. 
 It  was  the  will  of  the  Father,  that  he  should  have  all  power 
 in  heaven  and  earth,  that  he  might  be  preferred  above  angels 
 and  all  the  powers  in  heaven  ;  he  has  obtained  a  more  excel- 
 lent name  than  they,  (Heb.  i.  4.)  And  this  is  the  Father's 
 will,  that  all  men  should  honour  the  Son,  even  as  they  honour 
 the  Father,  CJohn,  v.  23.)  'All  fulness'  dwells  in  him.  Not 
 only  a  fulness  of  abundance  for  himself,  but  redundance  for 
 us.  A  fulness  of  merit  and  righteousness,  of  strength  and 
 grace.  As  the  head  is  the  seat  and  source  of  the  animal  spi- 
 rits, so  is  Christ  of  all  graces  to  his  people  :  of  his  fulness  we 
 receive,  and  grace  for  ^race.  h 
 
Paul  exhorteth  them  to  beware 
 
 COLOSSIANS,  II. 
 
 of  vain  traditions^  ^c. 
 
 of  men,  after  the  ||  °  rudiments  of  the  world, 
 and  not  after  Christ. 
 
 9  For  ^  in  him  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the 
 Godhead  bodily. 
 
 10  **  And  ye  are  complete  in  him,  '  which  is 
 the  head  of  all  ^  principality  and  power  : 
 
 11  In  whom  also  ye  are  *  circumcised  with 
 the  circumcision  made  without  hands,  in  "put- 
 ting off  the  body  of  the  sins  of  the  flesh  by  the 
 circumcision  of  Christ : 
 
 12  ^  Buried  with  him  in  baptism,  wherein 
 also  ^  ye  are  risen  with  him  through  ^  the  faith 
 of  the  operation  of  God,  "  who  hath  raised 
 him  from  the  dead. 
 
 13  **  And  you.  being  dead  in  your  sins  and 
 the  uncircumcision  of  your  flesh,  hath  he  quick- 
 ened together  with  him,  having  forgiven  you 
 all  trespasses ; 
 
 14  ^Blotting  out  the  handwriting  of  ordi- 
 nances that  was  against  us,  which  was  con- 
 trary to  us,  and  took  it  out  of  the  way,  naihng 
 it  to  his  cross  ; 
 
 13  And  ''having  spoiled  ^^  principalities  and 
 powers,  he  made  a  shew  of  them  openly, 
 triumphing  over  them  ||  in  it. 
 
 16  Let  no  man  therefore  *" judge  you  ||^in 
 
 II  Or,  far  eating  and  driiilting. 
 
 !l  Or, 
 flfrnentt. 
 
 0  Gal.  4.3,9. 
 ver.  2t>. 
 
 p  John  I   !♦, 
 
 cli.  1.  19. 
 q  John  1,  16. 
 f  Epb.  1.30, 
 
 21.  1  Pet. 3 
 
 ■22. 
 a  ch.  1.   16, 
 t  Ueu.  )U.1C. 
 
 8t  30.  6. 
 
 Jer.  4.  4. 
 
 Rom.  2.  29. 
 
 Pliil.  3.  3. 
 u  Rom.  6  6 
 
 Eph,  4.  22. 
 
 ch,  3.  8.  9. 
 jr  Horn    6.  4. 
 y  ch,  :J.  1. 
 t  Eph.  1.19. 
 
 &  3.  7. 
 
 1  Acts  2.  24. 
 i  Eph.  2.  I, 
 
 &,  t>,  U. 
 c  Eph.  2.  IS, 
 
 IB. 
 d  Gen.  S.I5. 
 
 Ps.  68.  18. 
 
 Is.  53.  12. 
 
 Mat.   12.29. 
 
 Luke  10  13. 
 
 &  11.23, 
 
 John  13.31. 
 
 &  16.  11. 
 
 Eph.  4-.  8. 
 
 Heb.  g.  14. 
 e  Eph.  6. 12. 
 II  Or,  ,„  him- 
 
 flf, 
 /Rom.  14.3, 
 
 10,  13. 
 g  Rom.  14.  2,  17.  I  Cor.  8.  8. 
 
 A.  D.  64. 
 
 I)  Or.  in  pan. 
 h  Kom.  14.5. 
 Gal.  4.  10. 
 
 k  ver.  4. 
 II  Or,  judge 
 
 agamtt  t/nu. 
 t  tir.  bt^iiip  a 
 
 viiluntiiry  in 
 
 humiUty. 
 
 ver.  23. 
 I  E/ek.  13  3. 
 
 1  Tim.  1.7. 
 n<  Epb.  4  15, 
 
 16. 
 
 Gal.  2.  19. 
 
 Eph.  2,  15, 
 over    S. 
 II  Or, 
 
 tlenwnts, 
 ;<  Gal.  4.  .8, 9. 
 q  I  Tim.  4.3. 
 
 r  la.  29    13 
 Mai    15    9. 
 Tit    I     14. 
 
 i  1  Tiin.4.a. 
 
 /  ver.  8. 
 WOv.puniih- 
 
 meat,  or  in  drink,  or  ||  in  respect  ''of  an  holy- 
 day,  or  of  the  new  moon,  or  of  the  sabbath 
 days  : 
 
 17  '  Which  are  a  shadow  of  things  to  come  ; 
 but  the  body  is  of  Christ. 
 
 18  ''  Let  no  man  ||  beguile  you  of  your  reward 
 t  in  a  voluntary  humility  and  worshipping  of 
 angels,  intruding  into  tliose  things  '  which  he 
 hath  not  seen,  vainly  puffed  up  by  his  fleshly 
 mind, 
 
 19  And  not  holding  ""the  Head,  from  which 
 all  the  body  by  joints  and  bands  having  nou- 
 rishment ministered,  and  knit  together,  in- 
 creaseth  with  the  increase  of  God. 
 
 20  Wherefore  if  ye  be  "dead  with  Christ 
 from  °  the  ||  rudiments  of  the  world,  ■'  why,  as 
 though  living  in  the  world,  are  ye  subject  to 
 ordinances, 
 
 21  C'  Touch  not ;  taste  not ;  handle  not ; 
 
 22  Which  all  are  to  perish  with  the  using  ;) 
 ■"after  the  commandments  and  doctrines  of 
 men  ? 
 
 23  "  Which  things  have  indeed  a  shew  of 
 wisdom  in  *  will  worship,  and  humility,  and 
 II  neglecting  of  the  body;  not  in  any  honour 
 to  the  satisfying  of  the  flesh. 
 
 who  carries  off  anything  as  spoil.'  Aia  <pt\oao(ptav  Kat  Kci-nc  aTrariic, 
 through  philosophy  and  vai7i  deceit,  'through  an  empty  and  deceitful 
 pliilosophy.' — Mackn.  The  philosophy  here  referred  to  is  thnught  to 
 be  that  of  the  Essenes,  a  Jewish  sect  of  high  antiquity,  practising  great 
 austerities  in  their  manner  of  living,  which  was  retired  and  mortified 
 to  an  extreme  degree. —  Wil.,  Clarke.  See  ver.  18.  Rudiments,  t\\G 
 corrupted  heathen  religions  or  worship,  which  contained  only  the  first 
 principles  of  piety. — Muckri.  The  ceremonial  laws  of  the  Jews  are 
 meant,  which  were  useful  in  their  infant  state,  bat  under  the  gn^^pel 
 dispensation  weak,  beggarly,  and  useless.— Gi7/.  p.  Budihi,  '  sub- 
 stantially.*— Doddr.,  Mackn.  '  Essentially.' — Bp.  Hall.  'Truly  and 
 really,'  m  opposition  to  types  and  figures. — A.  Clarke.  That  is,  in  the 
 body  of  Christ  as  opposed  to  the  Jewish  tabernacle  or  temple. — Par. 
 10.  Ye  are  complete,  eo-re  TreirXiipw/.xei'Of,  '  ye  are  made  complete.' — 
 Mackn.  *  Ye  are  filled  by  him'  —  namely,  with  all  spiritual  gifts. — 
 Pierce,  Bengelius.  '  Filled  with  him,'  the  philosophy  of  the  world  was 
 empty,  but  there  was  a  fulness  in  Christ. — A.  Clarke.  The  head  of  all 
 principality,  ^c,  from  whom  the  most  exalted  creatures  derive  their 
 light  and  holiness,  their  honour  and  felicity. — Doddr.  II.  Ye  are 
 
 circumcised — the  Colossians  are  said  to  have  been  so  with  respect  to 
 their  baptism,  (see  ver.  12,)  for  the  emblematical  meaning  of  that  rite 
 signified  '  the  crucifixion  and  burial  of  their  old  man,  or  corrupt  nature, 
 with  Christ,'  (Rom.  vi.  Q.)— Mackn.  12.  Buried,  ^c— see  Rom.  vi. 
 
 3,  4,  notes.  Wherein  also  ye  are  risen  ivith  him,  '  in  which  ordinance 
 also  you  are  represented  as  rai-^cd  with  him.'— />orfrfr.  Through  the 
 faith  of  the  operation  of  God,  *  through  the  belief  of  the  strong  work- 
 ing of  God.' — Mackn.  13.  And  the  uncircumcision  of  your  flesh, 
 dead  in,  abandoned  to,  all  its  sensual  and  irregular  inclinations. 
 Quickened,  making  his  death  and  resurrection  the  means  of  spiritual 
 life  to  you. — Doddr.  ii.  The  A«7irfiyri7!ng',  x^'poTPo'^'oi' signifies  a 
 sort  of  note  under  a  man's  hand,  whereby  he  obliges  himself  to  the 
 payment  of  any  debt.  The  Jews  bound  themselves  to  God,  by  their 
 profession  of  Judaism,  not  to  worship  any  other  deity,  nor  to  neglect 
 any  Divine  institution;  in  consequence  of  which  they  rejected  all  com- 
 munion with  the  Gentiles,  and  thus  it  was  against  them.  Ordinances, 
 — the  word  do^/ja  signifies,  'a  royal  mandate  or  decree,'  which  shews 
 it  refers  to  the  Mosaic  law. — Pierce.  The  moral  precepts  of  the  lawof 
 Moses  is  called  'the  chirograph,'  or  'handwriting  of  ordinances,'  be- 
 cause the  most  essential  of  these  precepts  were  written  by  the  hand  of 
 God  on  two  tables  of  stone;  and  the  rest  Moses  was  directed  to  write 
 in  a  book.  The  '  ordinances'  here  said  to  be  blotted  out  were  a  proof 
 that  God  had  forgiven  the  Colossians  all  trespasses.  In  Ephes.  ii.  15, 
 the  ritual  ordinances  are  meant,  which  separated  the  Jews  from  the 
 Gentiles  ;  but  here  the  ni'iral  precepts,  as  sanctioned  with  the  curse.  By 
 *  blotting  out'  these,  with  the  curse  annexed  to  them,  the  believing 
 Colossians  were  assured  that  God  would  forgive  them  all  the  trespasses 
 of  which  they  sincerely  repented.  Naili)ig,  is  an  allusion  to  the  an- 
 cient custom  of  abrogating  laws  by  driving  a  nail  through  the  tables 
 on  which  they  were  written,  and  hung  up  to  public  view. — Grot.,  so 
 Mackn.  15.  Spoiled,  Sfc. — see  and  comp.  Ephes.  iv.  8  ;  vi.  12.  The 
 word  aneKSvaaficvot  Signifies,  'to  strip  of  one's  arms  or  clothes  fully.' 
 And  because  victors  anciently  stripped  the  vanquished  of  their  arms, 
 it  signifies  'to  spoil  in  general.*     Made  a  shew~in  this  and  the  pre- 
 
 ceding verse,  it  is  supposed  there  is  an  allusion  to  the  Roman  triumphs, 
 (see2Cor.  ii.  14.)  Openly,  as  vanquished.  In  it,  cv  avr^,  'by  it* — 
 that  is,  by  the  cross.  l6.  Judge  you,  Kpo-eTw,  'rule  you.' — Mackn. 
 '  Condemn  you.' — Doddr.  Or  of  the  sabbath  days,  twi/ CTa/3/3aTwv,  *  of 
 sabbaths,'  or  '  weeks,'  most  probably  refers  to  their  feast  of  weeks. — 
 A.  Clarke.  Understand  the  seventh  day,  sabbath.  But  though  the 
 brethren  in  the  first  ages  paid  no  regard  to  this,  they  set  apart  the  first 
 day  of  the  week  for  public  worship,  ^c. — Mackn.;  see  also  Bur., 
 Whitby,  and  Mors.  18.  Let  no  man  beguile  yon,  fiti&ei^  I'^ac  KUTa(3pa- 
 /3ft)CTa),  *  let  n<j  one  make  you  lose  your  reward.' — Mackn.  'Take  the 
 prize  from  you  which  the  /Jpa/Jeur,  brabeus,  or  judge  in  the  contests, 
 has  assigned  you,  in  consequence  of  your  having  obtained  the  victory.' 
 — A.Clarke.  '  Let  no  man  deprive  you  of  your  prize,  for  which,  as  Chris- 
 tians, you  contend.' — Doddr.,  so  Guyse.  In  a  voluntary  humility, 
 GeXuiv  €f  7aTreivo<ppoa-vvt],  'pleasing  himself  in  his  humility,'  or  affect- 
 ing humility- — Bens.  ' '  By  seducing  you  to  worship  angels  as  a  piece 
 of  voluntary  humility  acceptable  to  God.' — Wells.  Pretending,  pro- 
 bably, that  it  was  presumptuous  to  go  to  God  immediately,  without 
 the  mediation  of  those  excellent  creatures. — Bur.  An  opinion  seems 
 to  have  prevailed  among  the  Jews,  that  angels  were  messengers  who 
 presented  our  prayers  to  God,  as  well  as  brought  down  his  favours  to 
 Ub,  (comp.  Tohit,  xi.  14;  xii.  12,  15.)  The  apostle  seems  to  refer  to 
 th'\s.~Doddr.  It  is  most  reasonable  to  conclude  that  these  Christian 
 Essenes  confounded  Christ  with  angels,  and  worshipped  him  as  one 
 only  of  the  number. —  Wil.  Intruding,  §-c.,  '  pretending  to  tell  us  won- 
 derful secrets  relating  to  their  various  ranks,'  Sic— Doddr.  IQ.  With 
 the  increase  of  God,  i.  e.,  in  all  piety. —  Wells.  In  grace  and  holiness. 
 — Doddr.  20.  If  ye  be  dead,  Sfc,  '  if  by  taking  upon  you  Christianity 
 ye  have  renounced,  as  ye  ought,  the  observance  of  heathen  and  Jewish 
 rites.' — Wells.  As  though  liring  in  the  world,  living  under  a  carnal 
 dispensation.— G(/^sp.  When  koo-,hoc,  'the world,'  is  used  in  a  moral 
 sense  by  the  inspired  writers,  it  commonly,  if  not  always,  denotes  '  the 
 Gentiles,'  (see  1  Cor.  i.  29.) — Mackn.  Subject  to  ordinances.  '  bur- 
 dened with  legal  ordinances.' — Guyse.  Jewish  ordinances.  This  being 
 directed  to  the  Jewish  converts  at  Colosse. — Pierce.  I  have  no  doubt 
 but  this  was  intended  for  the  Gentiles,  and  alludes  to  the  rules  ot  the 
 Pythagoreans  respecting  abstinence  from  animal  food,  mentioned  in 
 the  following  verse,  and  of  the  Platonists  concerning  the  worship  of 
 aneels,  condemned  ver.  IS. — Mackn.  21.  Touch  not,  taste  not,  handle 
 not,  without  any  copulative  between,  happdy  expresses  the  eagerness 
 with  which  the  seducing  teachers  inculcate  these  things. — Doddridge. 
 23.  Which  things,  '  which  commandments.'  H  t/fwofs/cp,  the  meaning 
 is,  'a  worship  of  human  invention.'  Neglectmg  of  the  body,  subject- 
 ing it  to  much  mortification.  Not  in  any  honour,  '  not  by  any  proper 
 provision  which  they  make  for  satisfaction  of  the  body.* — Mackn.  '  Yet 
 should  not  be  held  in  any  honour,  as  they  serve  only  to  the  satisfyini; 
 of  the  flesh.' — Boothr.  'These  things  have  a  goodly  show,  beC'tuse 
 men  by  this  means  seem  to  worship  God  with  a  good  mind,  and  hum- 
 ble themselves  and  neglect  the  boily,  which  the  most  part  of  men  curi  - 
 ously  pamper  up  and  cherish  ;  but  yet,  notwithstanding,  the  things 
 themselves  are  of  no  value,  for  so  much  as  they  pertain  not  to  the 
 things  that  are  spiritual  and  everlasting,  but  to  the  nourishment  of  the 
 flesh.'— Be.=:a. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  T.  Believers  are  here  exhorted 
 to  constancy  in  religion.  Voung  Christians  especially  are  greiitly 
 in  danger  of  being  tossed  to  and  fro.  It  is  of  much  import- 
 ance that  they  should  attain  '  to  the  full  assurance  of  under- 
 standing,' and  be  satisfied  respecting  the  foundation  of  their 
 12G7 
 
 principles.  Let  us  '  make  Christ  the  root  and  foundation' of 
 our  faith,  and  then,  whatever  winds  of  doctrine  may  blow,  we 
 shall  not  be  greatly  moved. 
 
 II.  Believtrs  are  here  especially  cautioned  against  vain  philo- 
 sophy, that  is,  against  philosophy  falsely  so  called.     To  love 
 
An  exhortation 
 
 COLOSSIANS,  III. 
 
 to  charity,  humility,  §'c. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  He  sfieweth  where  we  should  seek  Christ.  5  He  ex- 
 horieth  to  mortification,  10  to  put  off  the  old  man, 
 and  to  put  on  Christ,  V2  exhorting  to  charity,  humi- 
 lity, and  other  several  duties. 
 
 TF  ye  then  °  be  risen  with  Christ,  seek  those 
 -'-  things  vvliich  are  above,  where  ''  Christ  sit- 
 teth  on  tlie  right  hand  of  God. 
 
 2  Set  yonr  ||  affection  on  things  above,  not 
 on  things  on  tiie  earth. 
 
 3  '  For  ye  are  dead,  -"and  your  life  is  hid  with 
 Christ  in  God. 
 
 4  '  When  Christ,  who  is  'our  life,  shall  ap- 
 pear, then  shall  ye  also  appear  with  him  ■  in 
 glory. 
 
 5  "  Mortify  therefore  '  your  members  which 
 are  upon  the  earth  ;  '  fornication,  uncleanness, 
 inordinate  affection,  '  evil  concupiscence,  and 
 covetousness,  "  which  is  idolatry  : 
 
 6  °  For  which  things'  sake  tlie  wrath  of  God 
 Cometh  on  "the  children  of  disobedience  : 
 
 7  ''  In  the  which  ye  also  walked  some  time, 
 when  ye  lived  in  them. 
 
 8  ''  Bat  now  ye  also  put  off  all  these ;  anger, 
 wrath,  malice,  blasphemy,  'filthy  communica- 
 tion out  of  your  mouth. 
 
 9  '  Lie  not  one  to  another,  '  seeing  that  ye 
 liave  put  off  the  old  man  with  his  deeds  ; 
 
 10  And  have  put  on  the  new  man,  which  "is 
 renewed  in  knowledge  ''after  the  image  of  him 
 that  'created  him  : 
 
 11  Where  there  is  neither  'Greek  nor  Jew, 
 circumcision  nor  uncircumcision,  Harbarian, 
 Scythian,  bond  nor  free:  "but  Christ  is  all, 
 and  in  all. 
 
 1-2  ^  Put  on  therefore,  "  as  the  elect  of  God, 
 holy  and  beloved,  ''  bowels  of  mercies,  kind- 
 
 A.  D  M. 
 
 A.  D.  G-1. 
 
 cMarkll.?5. 
 
 Eph4.2,SJ. 
 
 11  Or, 
 
 a  Rom.  6.5. 
 
 cojuplainl. 
 
 F.ph.  2.  6, 
 
 ch    S.  \>. 
 
 f  1  Pet.  4   8. 
 
 f>  Rom  &  34.. 
 
 g  John  13  31-. 
 
 Eph.  1.  'iit. 
 
 Rom,  13.3. 
 
 II  Or.  mhid. 
 
 1  Cor    13 
 
 c  Rnm    6.  2. 
 
 Eph    5.  2. 
 
 Gal.  'i.  20. 
 
 Ch.  2.  2. 
 
 ch.  •>.  I'O. 
 
 1  Thes.  4.9. 
 
 d  J  Cor.  5.7, 
 
 I  T.m   1.5. 
 
 ch    1.  5. 
 
 IJohii  3.23 
 
 -  1  .Ii.hn  3  2 
 
 &  4.  21. 
 
 /-John  M.2J. 
 
 /.  Eph    4.  .S. 
 
 &  It.  (i. 
 
 .  Rnm. U  17. 
 
 <j  1  Ci>r.   15. 
 
 Phil.  4.  7 
 
 43.  Phil.  3 
 
 k  I  coi-7  r>. 
 
 ■>1. 
 
 /  Kph.  2.  Iii, 
 
 /.  Rom  8.1.3. 
 
 17.  ■■<.■  *.  ♦. 
 
 r.a.\.  6.  24 
 
 m  ch.  ?    7. 
 
 i  Rom.  b  1.3 
 
 ver    17. 
 
 Ic  Eph    5.  3. 
 
 «  I  Coi-     14. 
 
 /  1  Thes.  4  5. 
 
 26.  Eph.  5. 
 
 n  Eph.  5.  -■.. 
 
 l!l. 
 
 ..  R.im.  1  IS. 
 
 n  ch.  4.  6. 
 
 Eph.  b    0 
 
 p  1  Ci.   10. 
 
 Kei-.  ■.'■:.  15. 
 
 31. 
 
 1  Eph.   .*.  2 
 
 7  Rnm.  1.  8. 
 
 l>  Roin  «.19. 
 
 F.ph.  5.  20. 
 
 SO.  .-v  7.  5. 
 
 Ch.  1.12. & 
 
 1  Cor.ti.  11. 
 
 2.7.  I  Thes. 
 
 Pph,  ?.  -2. 
 
 ft.  13.  Hcb. 
 
 Tit   3.  3, 
 
 IS.  15. 
 
 7  Eph.  4.  22. 
 
 r  Eph.  5  22. 
 
 I  Pet,  2.  1. 
 
 Tic    2   5. 
 
 Heb.  12.  1. 
 
 I  Pet.  3    I. 
 
 -I.am.  1.21. 
 
 *  Eph.  5.  3, 
 
 '  Eph.  4.  29. 
 
 t  F.ph   5.  25, 
 
 »i  .■).  ♦. 
 
 28.  SJ. 
 
 1  Lev.  19.  II. 
 
 I  Pet.  .•*.  7. 
 
 Kph.  +.  25 
 
 H  Eph.  4.31. 
 
 t  F.ph.  4.  22. 
 
 X  Eph  fl   1 . 
 
 2i. 
 
 V  Eph.  5  24, 
 
 u  Rom.  I?  2 
 
 Tit.  2   9. 
 
 J-  Eph.  4.2.3, 
 
 r  Eph.  0,  4. 
 
 •>i 
 
 a  Eph.  a.  5. 
 
 V  Eph.  2,  10, 
 
 &c.  1  Tim. 
 
 jRom.lO.li. 
 
 V^.  1.  Tit.  2. 
 
 ICor  I2.1i. 
 
 9.  1  Pet.  2. 
 
 Gnl    3.  28. 
 
 18. 
 
 ik  5    fi 
 
 1,  ver.  20. 
 
 Eph.  C,  8. 
 
 cPhilem.u; 
 
 ..  Eph.  1.23. 
 
 d  Eph.fl.6,7. 
 
 b  Eph.  4.21 
 
 r.  Eph.  6   9, 
 
 c  1  The9.l.4, 
 
 f\  Cor  7  22. 
 
 1   Pet.  1.  2. 
 
 g  n^m.2.ll. 
 
 2  Pet.  MO. 
 
 Eph.  6.  9 
 
 d  Gnl.  .-i.  22. 
 
 1  Pet.  1.17. 
 
 Phil.  2.  1. 
 
 Ree  Deut. 
 
 Eph.4.2,82 
 
 10.  17. 
 
 ness,    humbleness    of   mind,    meekness,   long- 
 suffering  ; 
 
 13  "  Forbearing  one  another,  and  forgiving 
 one  another,  if  any  man  have  a  ||qiiarrel  against 
 any :  even  as  Christ  forgave  you,  so  also  do  ye. 
 
 14  '"And  above  all  these  things  ^ put  on 
 charity,  wliich  is  the  *^  bond  of  perfectness. 
 
 \b  And  let  '  the  peace  of  God  rule  in  your 
 hearts,  ''  to  the  which  also  ye  are  called  '  in 
 one  body  ;  ""and  be  ye  thankful. 
 
 16  Let  the  word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly 
 in  all  wi.sdom  ;  teaching  and  admonishing  one 
 another  "in  psalms  and  hymns  and  spiritual 
 songs,  singing  "with  grace  in  your  hearts  to 
 the  Lord. 
 
 17  And  ''whatsoever  ye  do  in  word  or  deed, 
 do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  "*  giving 
 thanks  to  God  and  the  Father  by  him. 
 
 18  ''  Wives,  submit  yourselves  unto  your  own 
 husbands,  'as  it  is  tit  in  the  Lord. 
 
 19  '  Husbands,  love  your  wives,  and  be  not 
 "bitter  against  them. 
 
 •20  ^  Children,  obey  your  parents  ^  in  all 
 things:  for  this  is  well  pleasing  unto  the  Lord. 
 
 21  '  Fathers,  provoke  not  your  children  to 
 linger^  lest  they  be  discouraged. 
 
 2*2  "^Servants,  obey  ^  in  all  things  your  mas- 
 ters "^according  to  the  flesh;  not  with  eye- 
 service,  as  menpleasers  ;  but  in  singleness  of 
 heart,  fearing  God  : 
 
 23  ■'  And  wliatsoever  ye  do,  do  it  heartily,  as 
 to  the  Lord,  and  not  unto  men  ; 
 
 24  *"  Knowing  that  of  the  Lord  ye  shall  re- 
 ceive the  reward  of  the  inheritance:  'for  ye 
 serve  tlie  Lord  Christ. 
 
 25  But  he  that  doeth  wrong  shall  receive  for 
 the  wTong  which  he  hath  done  :  and  ^  there  is 
 no  respect  of  persons. 
 
 Cn.\p.  III. —  1.  If  ye  then.  e<  ow,  '  seeing  then.' — A.  Clarke.  '  Since 
 then.' — Macku.  Hisen  with  Christ,  to  the  faith  of  a  better  world. — 
 Seeker.  Seek  those  thiuirs  which  are  abort;  the  better  and  heavenly 
 country,  Christ,  spiritual  blessing-s,  «tc.  Where  Christ  sittelh,  i.  e.,  as 
 he.  when  he  arose,  <Ud  not  stay  long-  on  earth,  nor  minded  the  things 
 of  the  world,  nut  ascended  to  heaven,  where  he  now  is,  so  in  thoughts, 
 desires,  afTettions,  faith,  hope,  and  love,  should  believers.  —  CHI. 
 3.  Dead,  to  the  world,  to  its  vain  and  sinful  motions  and  desires.— J3/?. 
 f-Jall.  Your  life  w  hid,  probably  alludes  to  liiding  property  in  times  of 
 danger. — Pict.  Bib.  '  The  root  of  all  your  spiritual  life,  which  is  your 
 happiness,  is  out  of  sight  with  Christ  in  God.'^B'rj-ter.  4.  Our  ii/e, 
 '  he  is  the  purchaser,  author,  sustainer.  fini:^hGr,  scope,  and  end,  of  our 
 spiritual  Ufe.'—Gtti/se.  '  And  eternal  Ufe  is  in  him,  and  given  forth  by 
 him ;  to  know  him  now  is  the  beginning  of  it ;  and  its  perfection  here- 
 after will  be  in  the  vision  of  him,  coraraunion  with  him,  and  conformity 
 to  him.* — Gill.  Sh'tll  appear,  as  judge  of  the  world,  in  his  own  glory 
 and  that  of  the  Father.— Gf/yxe.  5.  Mortify,  ^eKpititruTe,  'put  them  to 
 death.* — Clarke.  Your  mem'jcrs,  the  motions  and  lusts  that  are  in  us 
 are  here  properly  so  called,  because  that  the  reason  and  will  of  man 
 corrupted,  doth  use  them  as  the  body  its  members. — Beta.  Inordinate 
 affection,  TruCwr,  unnatural  and  degrading  passion,  (see  Rom.  i.  26,  27.) 
 — Clarke.  A  base  vice,  to  which  the  heathen  were  peculiarly  addicted, 
 is  here  intended.  Evil,  Sfc,  eTrtffvuiav  KaKfjv,  immoderate  desire  of 
 every  kind,  especially  of  the  pleasures  of  the  table,  which  lead  men 
 to  gluttony  and  dnmkenness. — Macknight.  Covetousness,  wlvnh  is 
 idolatry— see   Ephes.   v.   5,   note.  6.  Children  of  disobedience,    so 
 
 called  because  they  refused  to  obey  the  gospel. — Mncknight.  See 
 Ephes.  ii.  2,  note.  7.  In  them,  tv,  '  with,'--.V'/cA-n. ,-  or  '  among  thera,' 
 among  the  heathens. — Ham.  8.  Blasphemy,  seems  here  to  mean, 
 '  injurious  and  calumnious  speaking.' — A.Clarke.  The  wounding  of  an- 
 other man's  reputation  by  evil  reports. — Par.  ().  Lie  not,  in  conver- 
 sation and  in  business. — Markn.  '  Do  not  deceive  each  other;  speak 
 the  truth  in  all  your  dealings.'— .^.  Clarke.  Put  off  the  old  man,  ^c— 
 see  Eph.  iv.  22,  note.  10.  Put  on  the  new  "if/n— see  Eph.  iv.  24,  note. 
 Renewed  in  knowledge,  denotes  the  means  of  workuig  our  own  renova- 
 tion—the knowledge  of  the  gospel. — Ham.  There  is  a  daily  renovation 
 of  the  '  new  man'  by  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  by  an  increase  of  spiritual,  ex- 
 perimental, and  saving  knowledge  of  God,  and  Christ,  and  divine  things. 
 —Gilt.  1 1 .  Where  there  is  neither  Greek,  8fc. ,  '  in  which  new  creation 
 and  its  benefits  there  is  no  partial  respect  to  persons,  on  account  of  ex- 
 
 ternal privileges  or  the  want  of  them.  .S'f^^/imn- Sc>'thia  was  a  vast 
 country,  lying  in  Asia  and  Europe.  As  the  Greeks  were  the  most 
 learned  and  pohte,  so  the  Scythians  were  the  most  barbarous  of  the 
 Gentiles.— G(»/Af.  Christ  is  all,  Sfc,  he  is  all  things  as  to  the  pardon 
 and  acceptance  of  believers  of  all  nations ;  and  in  all  periods  of  time 
 and  places  of  the  earth  he  is  among  them. — Bouthr.  Hanng  put  on 
 Christ,  believers  are  complete  in  him.  He  is  all  things  to,  and  in  all, 
 those  that  are  renewed,  both  meritoriously  and  efficaciously,  (i  Cor.  i. 
 30;  XV.  10;  Gal.  ii.  20.)— Poole.  12.  Bowels  of  mercies,  the  tenderest 
 compassion. — Stanh.  14.  Ahove  nil  these  things,   ^c,   errt    -Kaai   he 
 
 TooTon,  '  upon  all,'  '  over  all,'  as  the  outward  garment  envelops  all  the 
 clothing,  so  let  charity,  or  '  love,'  invest  or  compiiss  all  the  rest.  The 
 bond  of  perfectness,  not  only  covers  all,  hut  unites  and  consolidates  the 
 whole.— .4.  Clarke,  as  Giiyse.  15.  The  peace  of  God,  which  believers 
 have  with  God,  or  that  peace  which  should  subsist  amongst  saints 
 themselves,  of  which  God  is  the  Author.— G///.  If  this  is  an  Hebraism 
 for  great  peace,  the  meaning  is,  '  study  to  be  of  a  remarkably  peaceable 
 disposition. '—.l/f/cArM.  Bute,  /^pa/Jet-eToi,  'let  it  fill  your  hearts  with 
 such  a  joy  as  victors  have  when  they  receive  to  /SpafSiioi',  the  prize,  in 
 the  Olympic  games.' — Pasor.  '  Let  it  always  preside  as  the  great  um- 
 pire  in  your  hearts,  as  the  master  of  the  Olympic  games  does  over  them.' 
 — Duddr.,  so  Beza.  '  Let  it  judge,  decide,  and  govern,  as  the  brabeus,  or 
 judge,  in  the  Olympic  contests. '—t7'ir/fe.  l6.  Word  of  Christ,  doctrine 
 of  the  gospel.— //«m.,  Stanh.,  Mackn.,  A.  Clarke.  '  The  whole  word  of 
 God.''— Bi/Jield,Guyse.  Richly,  largely,  plentifully,  in  an  abundant  man- 
 ner. 7k  all  wisdom,  or,  unto  all  wisdom;  in  oriler  to  attain  all  wisdom. 
 —  Gill.  Teaching  and  admonishing  one  another— this  passage  appears 
 to  refer  to  such  meetings  for  devotion  and  mutual  instruction  as  were 
 mentioned  i  Cor.  xiv.  26,  when  each  member  produced  a  devotional 
 psalm,  a  practical  discourse,  &c. ;  only  he  cautions  them  to  admit  no 
 seculnr  or  profane  mixtures  in  their  religious  meetings. — Wit.  The  com- 
 po^itions  here  mentioned  were  probably  those  of  the  Old  Testament. 
 — Ct.  v.,  Sic.  They  were  the  extemporaneous,  and  often  the  inspired, 
 compositions  common  among  the  first  Christians.— i>orff/r.,  Mackn. 
 Psalms— hymns,  SfC. — see  Eph.  v.  10,  note.  Grn'-r,  a  devotional  spirit. 
 —Mackn.  17.  In  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  the  purposes  of  his 
 glory,  and  in  dependence  upon  him. — Doddr.  18.  Wives,  ^c. — see  Eph. 
 v.  22,  note.  ly.  Husbands,  ^V— see  Eph.  v.  25,  note.  20.  Children^ 
 §■(•.— see  Eph.\i.  1.  21.  Frt^A^rs— see  Eph.  vi.4.  22.  Servants— see 
 Eph.  vi.  5,  note.      25.  He  that  doeth  wrong,  ser\-ant  or  master.— Ham. 
 
 and  seek  after  wisdom  is  our  duty,  but  the  wisdom  from  above 
 is  opposed  to  the  wisdom  of  vnin  mpn  ;  and  when  this  sets 
 ifseif  up  against  tlio  revealnd  will  of  God,  it  oui;ht  to  liave  no 
 place  in  the  mind  of  a  genuiue  behever.  Having  once  been 
 1263 
 
 convinced  of  its  truth,  it  becomes  in  all  things  his  standard; 
 and  every  plausible  system  presented  to  him  is  tried  by  this 
 test,  '  To  the  word  and  to  the  testimony.' 
 
 llrFi.FCTiONs  ON  Cn.Ap.  111. —  We  have  here,  L   TheChris- 
 
Divers  precepts 
 
 COLOSSIANS,  IV. 
 
 find  snhitations. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I  He  p.vhortetk  than  to  be  fervtiit  in  prayer^  5  to  walk 
 wisely  toward  thnn  that  arc  not  yet  come  to  the  true 
 knowledge  of  Christ.  10  He  sahttcth  them,  and 
 winhith  them  all  prosperity. 
 
 IV/r ASTEIRS,''  ^ive  unto  >/otir  servants  that 
 
 -^'-^  wliich  is  just  and  equal ;  knowing  that  ye 
 
 also  have  a  Master  in  heaven. 
 
 2  ''Continue  in  prayer,  and  watch  in  the  same 
 '^  with  thanksgivini^  ; 
 
 3  <^  Withal  praying  also  for  us,  that  God 
 would  "^  open  unto  us  a  door  of  utterance,  to 
 speak  *"  the  mystery  of  Christ,  ^  for  which  1  am 
 also  in  bonds : 
 
 4  That  I  may  make  it  manifest,  as  I  ought  to 
 speak. 
 
 5  ^  Walk  in  wisdom  toward  them  that  are 
 without,  '  redeeming  the  time. 
 
 6  Let  your  speech  he  alway  ^  with  grace, 
 'seasoned  with  salt,  '"that  ye  may  know  how 
 ye  ought  to  answer  every  man. 
 
 7  "  AH  my  state  siiall  Tychicus  declare  unto 
 you,  w/io  is  a  beloved  brother,  and  a  faithful 
 minister  and  fellowservant  in  the  Lord  : 
 
 8  °  Whom  I  have  sent  unto  you  for  the  same 
 purpose,  that  he  might  know  your  estate,  and 
 comfort  your  hearts  ; 
 
 9  With  •'Onesimus,  a  faithful  and  beloved 
 brother,  who  is  one  of  you.  They  shall  make 
 known  unto  you  all  things  which  are  done 
 here. 
 
 10  ''  Aristarchus  my  fellowprisoner  salutelh 
 
 t:,.h. 
 
 ft  Lulie  IS.!. 
 
 Roiri    \2.\i 
 
 Kph    6    Ifi. 
 
 ITlies-S  17, 
 
 IH. 
 c  civ  2.  7.  & 
 
 a    16. 
 d  Kph,  6.  19 
 
 2  Tlies  3  I 
 ff  1  Cor.  16  9 
 
 2  Cor.  2.12, 
 /Mat. '.3.11. 
 
 I  Cor,  4.  I 
 
 Eph.  6.  ID. 
 
 ch.  1.26.  & 
 
 2.?. 
 i'  Rph.  6.20. 
 
 Phil.  I.  7. 
 h  Kph.  5  ir>. 
 
 iThcB  +.12. 
 .  Eph.  5.  16 
 A  Kcclts.  10. 
 
 12.  ch  3  16. 
 /  Mark  9  .'.U. 
 m  I  Pet.  3. 
 
 15. 
 
 n  Eph.  6. 
 a  Eph.  6. 
 
 f  ch.  I.  7. 
 Phileiu.  23 
 II  Or,_ 
 
 t  Rom.lft-.Sn, 
 u  Mat    fi.48 
 
 I  Cor   2.  6. 
 
 (t  14.  20. 
 
 Phil.  3.  15. 
 
 Heb.  ."i.  U. 
 li  Oi;j,tUd. 
 
 X  2  Tim.  i. 
 
 b  Philem.  2. 
 c  I  Tim.  4.6 
 
 >i  I  Cor.  16. 
 
 21.2  Tbes. 
 
 3.  17. 
 e  Heb.  13.3, 
 /■Heb.  13.25. 
 
 yon,  and  ""  Marcus,  sister's  son  to  Barnabas, 
 (touching  whom  ye  received  commandments  : 
 if  he  come  unto  you,  receive  him  ;) 
 
 1 1  And  Jesus,  which  is  called  Justus,  who 
 are  of  the  circumcision.  These  only  ni'e  nii/ 
 fellowworkers  unto  the  kingdom  of  God,  which 
 have  been  a  comfort  unto  me. 
 
 1*2  ^  Epaphras,  who  is  otie  of  you,  a  servant  of 
 Christ,  saluteth  you,  always  ||  Mabouring  fer- 
 vently for  you  in  prayers,  that  ye  may  stand 
 "perfect  and  ||complete  in  all  the  will  of  God. 
 
 13  For  1  bear  him  record,  that  he  hath  a 
 great  zeal  for  you,  and  them  that  are  in 
 Laodicea,  and  them  in  Hierapolis. 
 
 14  "Luke,  the  beloved  physician,  and  ^' De- 
 mas,  greet  you. 
 
 \o  Salute  the  brethren  which  are  in  Laodicea, 
 and  Nymphas,  and  '  the  church  which  is  in  his 
 house. 
 
 16  And  when  ^  this  epistle  is  read  among  you, 
 cause  that  it  be  read  also  in  the  church  of  the 
 Laodiceans ;  and  that  ye  likewise  read  the 
 epistle  from  Laodicea. 
 
 17  And  say  to  ^  Archippus,  Take  heed  to 
 ■^  the  ministry  which  thou  hast  received  in  the 
 Lord,  that  thou  fulfil  it. 
 
 18  '^  The  salutation  by  the  hand  of  me  Paul. 
 "  Remember  my  bonds.  *"  Grace  be  with  you. 
 Amen. 
 
 H   Written  from  Rome  to  the  Colossians  by 
 Tychicus  and  Onesimus. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  1.  That  which  is  just  and  equal — as  it  is  bondmen  or 
 slaves  of  whom  the  apostle  speaks,  we  may  at  once  see  with  what  pro- 
 ]iriety  this  exhortation  was  given.  The  condition  of  slaves  among  the 
 Greeks  and  Romans  was  wTetched  in  the  extreme  :  they  could  appeal 
 to  no  law,  and  they  could  expect  neither  justice  nor  equity. — Clarke. 
 2.  Conlinue  in  pruyer^the  direction  here  given,  after  exhorting  to  rela- 
 tive duties,  is  also  given  in  Ephes.  vi.,  after  the  like  exhortation,  teach- 
 ing us  to  join  in  social  prayer  for  giace  to  help  us  to  perform  our 
 rfutics  to  each  other. — So  Mackn.  3.  A  door  o/  utterance — see  1  Cor. 
 xvi.  p,  and  2  Cor.  ii.  12.  The  meaning  here  is,  plentiful  opportunities 
 and  liberty  publicly  to  preach  the  gospel. — Hum.  4.  Manifest,  ^-c, 
 
 known  to  all ;  declaiing  it  plainly,  earnestly,  and  boldly. — Macknight. 
 5.  M'ilhnut,  the  pale  of  the  church ;  your  heathen  neighbours. — Dotidr. 
 Redeeming,  '  gaiuing,*  (see  Ephes.  v.  ITi,  l6,  notes.)  6.  With  graee, 
 
 seasoned,  ^c.,  mild  and  couiteous  ;  wise  and  discreet.  Salt,  on  account 
 of  its  use  in  pre^er^ing  men's  food,  and  rendering  it  palatable,  was  an- 
 ciently the  emblem  of  wisdom  and  ratue,  (so  used,  Matt.  v.  13  ;  Mark, 
 ix.  50.) — Whitl>(i,  Mackn.  7.  Tychicus— sqq  Ephes.  vi.  21.  ().  Onesi- 
 mus, who  had  been  Philemon's  ser\'ant,  {see  Philemon.)  It  is  pro- 
 bable that  this  letter  was  written  after  that  to  Philemon,  and  that 
 the  latter  had  the  desired  efi'cct.—Duddr.  \<\.  Aristarchus,  \h\s\yB.^ 
 a  man  of  Macedonia,  and  a  'I'liessalonian,  (Acts,  xix.  29,  and  xx.  4  ;)  he 
 
 was  of  the  circumcision,  or  a  Jew,  (see  next  verse  ;)  probably  of  two 
 Jewish  parents,  and  though  he  had  a  Greek  name,  the  Jews  often  gave 
 such  an  one  in  the  land  of  strangers.  He  was  a  constant  companion 
 of  the  apostle,  and  one  of  his  fellow-labourers,  as  m  Philemon,  24. 
 Marcus,  the  same  with  John  Mark,  whose  mother's  name  was  Mar>', 
 said  here  to  be  sister  to  Barnabas,  (Acts,  xii.  12,  25  ;  see  further  parti- 
 culars of  him.  Acts,  xv.  3" — 39;  l  Pet.  v.  13;  2  Tim.  iv.  11  ;  Philemon, 
 24.)  Commandments,  'instructions.' — Doddr.  *  Letters  of  commenda- 
 tion.' 11.  Justus — see  Acts,  xviii.  5 — 7.  This  was  very  likely  the 
 same  man. — Gill.  Unto  the  kingdom,  '  in  the  kingdom.' — Mackn, 
 12.  Epaphrus,  who  is  one  0/ you,  a  native  of  Colosse,  (see  chap.  i.  70 — 
 Gill,  Whitbi/.  Complete  —  see  chap.  ii.  10,  notes.  12.  Laodicea — 
 Hierapolis,  two  other  cities  of  Phrj'gia. —  Ti'hithj/.  14.  Luke — see  in- 
 troduction to  Luke.  Demas—^ae  2Tim.  iv.  10.  13.  Laodicea— sec 
 Rev.  iii.  14.  Church,  ^c. — see  1  Cor.  xvi.  19,  note.  1().  Head  the 
 epistle  from  Laodicea,  \vrilten  from  thence.  Thought,  by  some,  to 
 mean  l  Timothy.  17.  Archippus—nce  Philemon,  2.  He  was  now 
 muiister  at  Colosse,  or  co-pastor,  Epajihras  being  at  Rome,  and  a  pri- 
 soner there.— -(^(7/.  18.  Kemember  my  bonds,  this  be  says,  that  they 
 miglit  bear  him  upon  their  hearts, —  Doddr.;  and  learu  patiently  to  en- 
 dui'e  affliction.— Gi7/. 
 
 tian  exhibitfd  in  his  mind  and  heart.  His  aftections  are  su- 
 premely set  upoii  Christ,  with  whom,  as  his  risen  Saviour,  his 
 mind  has  ascended,  and  towards  him  his  soul  is  constantly 
 attracted — 'Whom  having  not  seen  we  love.'  Thus  he  dies 
 unto  sin,  and  lives  unto  righteousness;  his  life  being  'bid 
 with  Christ  in  God,'  with  whom  he  is  hoping  to  spend  a  sin- 
 less and  glorious  life  throughout  eternity. 
 
 II.  The  Christian  exhibited  in  his  *  religious  and  domestic 
 duties.^  Not  a  mere  formalist,  but  offering  up  the  breathings 
 of  his  soul  with  a  truly  devotional  feeling.  Not  wearing  one 
 face  in  his  religious  exercises  and  another  in  the  world,  but 
 consistently  performing  every  relative  duty,  —  and  aiming 
 in  everything,  whether  '  in  word  or  deed,'  to  '  do  all  in  the 
 name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  giving  thanks  to  God,  even  the  Father, 
 by  him.' 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  We  have  here,  I.  £^jAor^a- 
 tions  to  prayer.  This  is  *  certainly  one  of  the  most  estimable  of 
 Christian  privileges.     It    opens  a  communication  betweea 
 
 earth  and  heaven  ;  drawing  up  the  soul  to  God,  and  drawing 
 down  the  blessings  of  his  grace.  It  is  a  duty  of  universal  in- 
 terest ;  for  even  an  apostle,'  of  the  most  distinguished  talents 
 and  labours,  'was  earnest  in  requesting  an  interest  in  the 
 prayers  of  his  brethren  of  Colosse.  Until  we  get  within  the 
 veil,  we  shall  never  know  the  efficacy  of  those  odours  which 
 are  the  prayers  of  saints.*  (Rev.  v.  8.)     Here  are  also — 
 
 II.  Exhortations  to  prudence.  '  Walk  in  wisdom  towards 
 them  that  are  without. '  We  must  not  obtrude  our  religion 
 unreasonably  upon  them.  '  We  must  not  cast  our  pearls  before 
 swine,*  (Matt.  vii.  6.)  On  the  contrary,  we  must  not  dis- 
 guise or  conceal  our  religion  as  if  we  vc^r^  ashamed  of  it. 
 Our  speech  should  be  always  '  with  grace  seasoned  with  salt,' 
 by  which  the  heathen  meant  wit,  but  the  scriptures  mean 
 '  wisdom,  prudence,  and  the  unction  of  the  Saviour's  name.' 
 Thus  may  *  Christians  put  to  silence  the  ignorance  and  re- 
 proaches of  the  world.' 
 
 ie(»!) 
 
THE    FIRST    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 THESSALONIANS. 
 
 [Thessaloxica  was  a  very  large  and  flourishing  free  city  and  sea-port,  the  metropolis  of  Macedonia.  Its  name  was  given  fo 
 it  by  Philip,  King  of  Macedon,  on  account  of  his  conquest  of  Thessalia,  which  this  name  signifies.  It  is  recorded 
 in  the  Acts,  xvii.l — 9.  that  the  apostle  Paul,  in  his  first  journey  upon  the  continent  of  Europe,  preached  the  gospel  at 
 Thessalonica  with  considerable  success  ;  but  that,  after  a  short  stay,  he  was  driven  thence  by  the  malice  and  violence  of 
 the  unbelieving  Jews.  From  Thessalonica  he  went  to  Berea,  and  thence  to  Athens,  at  both  which  places  he  remained 
 but  a  very  short  time.  From  Athens  he  sent  Timothy  to  Thessalonica,  to  confirm  the  new  converts  in  the  faith,  and  to 
 inquire  into  their  conduct.  Timothy,  upon  his  return,  found  the  apostle  Paul  at  Corinth.  Thence,  probably  in  the 
 year  52,  he  wrote  this  epistle  to  the  Thessalonians ;  and  it  is  to  be  supposed  that  the  subjects  of  which  he  treats  were 
 suggested  by  the  account  which  he  received  from  Timothy.  It  is  now  generally  believed  tliat  this  was  written  the  first 
 of  .-ill  St.  Paul's  epistles.  Particular  references  are  made' in  this  epistle  to  Gen.  xv.  16;  Isa.  lix.  17;  Zech.  xiv.  5  ;  and 
 1  Cor.  IV.  22,  31,52.] 
 
 CHAP.  1. 
 
 1  lytc  Thessalonians  are  given  to  understand  both  how 
 mindful  of  them  Saint  Paid  ivus  at  all  times  in  thanks- 
 giving, and  prai/cr  :  6  and  also  how  well  he  was  per- 
 suadt'd  of  the  truth  and  sinctrity  of  their  faith,  and 
 conversion  to  God. 
 
 TDAUL,  and  "  Silvanus,  and  Timotheus,  unto 
 -*-  the  church  of  the  Thessah^nians  which  is 
 in  God  the  Father  and  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ :  ^  Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace,  from 
 God  our  Father,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 2  ^  We  give  thanks  to  God  always  for  you 
 all,  making  mention  of  you  in  our  prayers; 
 
 3  ^  Remembering  without  ceasing  "your  work 
 of  faith,  ^and  labour  of  love,  and  patience  of 
 hope  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  sight  of 
 God  and  our  Father  ; 
 
 4  Knowing,  brethren  ||  beloved,  ^your  elec- 
 tion of  God. 
 
 5  For  ^  our  gospel  came  not  unto  you    in 
 
 o2Cor.  I  19. 
 2Thea.  1.1. 
 
 I  Pet.  5.  1-3. 
 b  Epli.  I.  2. 
 c  Kom.  I.  6. 
 
 Kph.  1.  16. 
 
 Plulem.  1. 
 d  ch  i.  13. 
 *  John  6.  29. 
 
 Gilt    5.  6. 
 
 ch.  3.  6. 
 
 2Thoa.  1.3, 
 
 II  Jam.  2. 
 17 
 
 /Rom.  16.6. 
 
 Hob.  6.  10 
 11  Or,  brloved 
 
 ofG-d,yOfiT 
 
 eUctiuit. 
 ff  Col.  S.  12, 
 
 SThea  ?.I3, 
 h  Mai'k  16. 
 
 211.  I  Oor.2. 
 
 4.  8t  4.  gu. 
 
 A.  U.  64. 
 
 i  2  Cor.  6.  6. 
 k  Col.  2   S. 
 
 Heb.  y.  3. 
 I  c\i   2.  \,S, 
 
 10.  II. 
 
 2Thes.S7. 
 m  1  Ci.r1.l6, 
 
 fc  n    I. 
 
 Phil.  3.  17. 
 
 ch.  2.  U. 
 
 2  Thea.3  9 
 n  Acts  b  41. 
 
 Heb,  10.31. 
 o  Rom.  10. 18. 
 
 p  Rom.  I.  8. 
 
 2  Thes,  1.*. 
 J  ch    -J    I 
 r  I  Cor  }i.2. 
 
 Gal.  A.  S 
 t  Bom.  J   7. 
 
 Phil    3.  20. 
 
 Tit.  2    l.S 
 
 2  Pet.  3  12. 
 
 Rev.  1.  7. 
 I  Acts  I     II 
 
 ch   -1,  16 
 
 2  Thus  1.7, 
 i(  Acta  2  21. 
 Z  Milt.  3.  7. 
 
 Rom    5.  9. 
 
 ch.  5.  9. 
 
 word  only,  but  also  in  power,  and  '  in  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  ''and  in  much  assurance  ;  as  '  ye  know 
 what  manner  of  men  we  were  among  you  for 
 your  sake. 
 
 6  And  ""  ye  became  followers  of  us,  and  of 
 the  Lord,  having  received  the  word  in  much 
 afBiction,  "  with  joy  of  the  Holy  Ghost : 
 
 7  So  that  ye  were  ensamples  to  all  that  be- 
 lieve in  Macedonia  and  Achaia. 
 
 8  For  from  you  °  sounded  out  the  word  of 
 the  Lord  not  only  in  Macedonia  and  Achaia, 
 but  also  ''in  every  place  your  faith  to  God- 
 ward  is  .spread  abroad  ;  so  that  we  need  not  to 
 speak  any  thing. 
 
 9  For  they  themselves  shew  of  us  **  what 
 manner  of  entering  in  we  bad  unto  you,  'and 
 how  ye  turned  to  God  from  idols  to  serve  the 
 living  and  true  God  ; 
 
 10  And  Mo  wait  for  his  Son  *  from  heaven, 
 "  whom  he  raised  from  the  dead,  even  Jesus, 
 which  delivered  us  ^  from  the  wrath  to  come. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I. —  1.  Sihanns,  or  Si]a.s,  (see  Acts,  xviii.  5.) 
 Which  is  in  God,  '  in  subjection  to  God.'&c— .Vo^^/rn.  '  In  an  intimate 
 and  dear  relation  to  God/  &c. — Doddr.  *  Interested  in  his  love  and 
 free  favour,  and  chosen  in  Christ.' — Gill.  3.  Your  work  of  faith,  ^c. 
 — all  these  expressions  are  Hebraisms  for  active  faith,  laborious  love, 
 and  patient  hope,  and  might  very  properly  be  so  translated.  4.  Knnw- 
 ing^your  election,  to  be  partakers  of  the  gospel,  and  to  be  God's  pecu- 
 liar church  and  people. —  H'hitf*'/,  so  Murkn.  That  he  has  chosen  and 
 called  the  Gentiles  to  the  same  prinleg^es  to  which  he  chose  and  called 
 the  Jews. — Clarke.  This  was  not  merely  an  election  to  the  gospel,  or 
 outward  means  of  grace,  since  this  was  common  to  them  with  others, 
 and  might  be  known  without  the  e\idence  after  given ;  but  here  it 
 means  the  election  of  the  members  of  this  church,  not  known  by  in- 
 spiration, but  by  the  manner  of  the  gospel's  coming  unto  them. — Gill. 
 The  words  may  be  paraphrased,  '  fully  persuaded  that  you  are  in  the 
 number  of  those  whom  he  will  finally  own  as  his  chosen  people,  for 
 whom,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  he  had  prepared  a  kmgdom.' 
 — Doddr.  5.  In  power,  S,c.,  with  miracles  and  extraordinary  gifts, 
 and  matter  of  abundant  conviction, — Ham.  In  the  power  of  the  lloly 
 Ghost,  whose  miraculous  and  gracious  influence  concurred  to  add 
 force  to  it. — Dod^r.  In  much  iixsur/ince,  ef  7rAnpu0op,^t  ttoWtj.  The 
 force  of  the  metaphor  is  derived  from  a  ship  under  full  sail,  and  may 
 therefore  well  express  full  assurance  and  complete  conviction,  (so  Heb. 
 
 vi.  11.) — Bloomf.  What  manner,  fyc.,  'how  we  were  enabled,  by 
 these  things,  to  give  full  proof  of  our  ministry.' — Whitbi/.  '  What  men 
 in  vigour  and  zeal  for  your  conversion,  and  boldness  against  all  per- 
 secution.*—So  Doddr.  With  what  meanness  they  appealed,  with  what 
 fear  and  trembling,  with  what  plainness  and  simphcity,  without  the 
 enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom,  ^c-,  so  that  tlie  effects  of  their  mi- 
 nistry must  be  ascribed  to  the  Spirit  of  God.  and  to  the  power  and  elfi- 
 cacy  of  his  grace.  6.  With  joy  of  the  Holt/  Ghost,  not  with  a  mere 
 flash  of  natural  affection,  as  the  stony-ground  hearers.— Gi//.  '  With 
 the  most  cheerful  mind,  assisted  with  the  inward  comforts  of  the  Holy 
 Spirit.' —  P^/e.  /.  In  Macedonia   and  Achaia,   pasts   he  travelled 
 
 through  on  his  way  to  Corinth. —  Wil.  h.  From  you  sounded  out, 
 ^c,  either  the  gospel  was  published  thence  in  other  parts  of  Macedonia 
 and  Achaia,  or  the  fame  of  its  success  at  Thessalonica  was  so  pub- 
 lished, and  disposed  others  to  receive  the  gospel ;  or  both. — Welts. 
 Merchants  traded  from  Thessalonica  to  all  parts  of  Greece,  hence  the 
 news  might  spread. — Grot.  Your  faith  to  God-ward,  irpor  tov  0eov, 
 that  is,  '  in  God.*  Q.  They,  '  your  fellow- citizens.'  What  manner 
 of  entering  in,  that  is,  '  in  what  manner  we  established  ourselves 
 among  you,  as  messengers  of  God,  and  how,  convinced  by  the  miracles 
 we  wrought,  "ye  turned,"'  Scc—Mucknight.  'The  gospel  beuig 
 preached,  ye  were  turned  by  the  powerful  and  efficacious  grace  of 
 God.'— G(7/. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  I.  *  JVe  see  here  a  compendious 
 view  of  the  Christian  character.  It  is  turning  from  idols,  from 
 everything  which  we  have  loved  and  esteemed,  from  every- 
 thing which  we  have  pursued  and  trusted  in  an  irregular  de- 
 gree, *'  to  serve  the  living  and  true  God,"  under  a  real  sense 
 of  his  infinite  perfections  and  glories.  It  is  turning  also  to 
 Jesus  his  Son,  as  saving  us  from  the  wrath  to  come  ;  from  a 
 deep  conviction  of  our  being  justly  exposed  to  wrath  by  our 
 transgressions  against  God,  to  seek  refuge  and  rescue  in 
 Christ,  as  delivering  us  from  it,  by  his  atonement  and  grace, 
 and  completing  that  deliverance  by  his  almighty  power  in  the 
 day  of  his  final  triumph.  It  is  looking  and  waiting,  with  un- 
 shaken faith  and  holy  joy,  for  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God,  from 
 heaven  ;  keeping  the  eye  of  our  soul  habitually  directed  to- 
 1270 
 
 wards  him,  the  loins  of  our  mind  continually  girded  up,  and 
 ourselves  acting  as  servants  who  look  for  their  Lord's  coming.* 
 II.  '  If  this  be  the  ejftct  of  our  receiving/  the  gospel,  it  will  evi* 
 dtnlly  prove  that  it  has  ^'come  to  us,  not  only  in  word,  but  in 
 powvr  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in  much  assurance.''  What- 
 ever afflictions  may  in  that  case  be  allotted  to  us,  while  we 
 hereby  become  followers  of  the  apostles  and  of  Christ,  we  may 
 rejoice  in  the  Lord.  The  ministers  of  Christ  will  rejoice  in 
 such  an  entrance  among  their  people  as  shall  produce  these 
 blessed  consequences,  and  the  word  of  God  will  be  sounded 
 forth  with  the  greatest  advantage  by  those  who  are  pleading 
 for  its  truth,  efficacy,  and  importance,  by  this  silent  but 
 powerful  eloquence.'*^ 
 
The  manner  in  which  thegospcl  ivas       I.  THESSALONIANS,  IT.,  III.  preached  to  the  Thessalonians. 
 
 CHAP.   II. 
 
 I  III  what  manner  the  gospel  was  lirout/ht  and  preached 
 to  the  Thessalotiiaiis,  and  hi  what' sort  alsn  theii  re- 
 ceived it.  18  A  reason  is  rendered  both  wtiif  Saint 
 Paul  was  so  long  absent  from  them,  and  also  whi/  he 
 was  so  desirous  to  see  them. 
 
 "POR  "yourselves,  brethren,  know  our  en- 
 •*■  trance  in  unto  yon,  tliat  it  was  not  in  vain  : 
 •2  But  even  after  that  we  had  suffered  before, 
 and  were  shamefully  entreated,  as  ye  know, 
 at  ''Philippi,  ''we  were  bold  in  our  God  ■' to 
 speak  unto  you  the  gospel  of  God  °  with  much 
 contention. 
 
 3  '  For  our  exhortation  teas  not  of  deceit, 
 nor  of  uncleanness,  nor  in  guile  : 
 
 4  But  as  ^  we  were  allowed  of  God  •'to  be 
 put  in  trust  with  the  gospel,  even  so  we  speak ; 
 'not  as  pleasing  men,  but  God,  'which  trieth 
 our  hearts. 
 
 5  For  '  neither  at  any  time  used  we  flattering 
 words,  as  ye  know,  nor  a  cloke  of  covetous- 
 ness  ;  ■"  God  is  witness  : 
 
 6  "  Nor  of  men  sought  we  glory,  neither  of 
 you,  nor  i/ft  of  others,  when  "  we  might  have 
 [|  been  ''  burdensome,  ''  as  the  apostles  of 
 Christ. 
 
 7  But  'we  were  gentle  among  you,  even  as  a 
 nurse  cherisheth  her  children  : 
 
 8  So  being  affectionately  desirous  of  you,  we 
 were  willing  "to  have  imparted  unto  you,  not 
 whe  gospel  of  God  only,  but  also  'our  own 
 souls,  because  ye  were  dear  unto  us. 
 
 9  For  ye  remember,  brethren,  our  labour  and 
 travail  :  for  "labouring  niglit  and  day,'^  because 
 we  would  not  be  chargeable  unto  any  of  you, 
 we  preached  unto  you  the  gospel  of  God. 
 
 10  ''Ye  are  witnesses,  and  God  a/so,  'how 
 holily  and  justly  and  unblameably  we  behaved 
 ourselves  among  you  that  believe: 
 
 II  As  ye  know  how  we  exhorted  and  com- 
 forted and  charged  every  one  of  you,  as  a 
 father  doth  his  children, 
 
 1'2  'Tliat  ye  would  walk  worthy  of  God, 
 ■■who  hath  called  you  unto  his  kingdom  and 
 glory. 
 
 13  For  this  cause  also  thank  we  God  '  with- 
 
 <i  Acta  17.  2, 
 e  Pliil.  1.30 
 
 Col. 
 
 I. 
 
 /SCor  7.  2. 
 
 ver.  S. 
 
 2  Pet.l.lfi. 
 ff  I  Coi-.7.2.^ 
 
 1  Tim  1.11, 
 12 
 
 ft  1  Cor  0.17 
 
 Gal   2.  7. 
 
 Tit.  1.  3 
 (  G.il.  I.  II). 
 *  Pin,  17.  s 
 
 Rom.  ,1.  27 
 (  .\cts  2U  S;l 
 
 2Cof.  2.  IT. 
 
 &  4.  2   &  7 
 
 2  &  12  17 
 ijj  Rom.  1.9 
 n  John  5.  II. 
 
 W.  8(  12  43. 
 
 1  Tim.5.17. 
 «  1  Cor  9  4, 
 
 6,  12.  18. 
 
 2  Cor.  10.1, 
 2.  10.  11.  & 
 13    10. 
 
 2  Tlies.  3.9 
 Pliileiii8.9. 
 [|  Or.  .,«-i 
 
 liulltrlliflf. 
 
 P  2Cor  H.9. 
 
 7  I  Cor.  9.  1, 
 
 2,  6. 
 r  1  Cor.  2. 3 
 
 k  9   22. 
 
 ■2  Cor.  13.4 
 
 2  Titn.2.21 
 i  KoTii.  Ml. 
 
 &  15.  29. 
 (2Cor.t2.1.'i. 
 u  Acts  20 .31 
 
 1  Cor.  4  12 
 
 2  Cor.  1 1  9 
 STIies   3.S, 
 
 I  2  Cor.  12 
 
 13,  14. 
 V  ch.  1.  5. 
 -■  2  Cor.  7.  2. 
 
 2  Tlies.3.7. 
 o  Eph   4.  1 
 
 Phil    I.  27. 
 
 Cnl.  1.  10- 
 
 cli.  1.  1. 
 6  1  Cor    1.9. 
 
 cli-  h.  24. 
 
 2riies.2.11. 
 
 2  Tim.  1 .9. 
 c  ch.  I.  3. 
 
 it  Mill.  10  40. 
 l!..l.  4  It, 
 2  Pet.  3.  2. 
 
 311   &  7.  32. 
 
 ■  J1.4t.  fi.  12. 
 
 8e  23  31,  .37. 
 
 l.iike  13.33, 
 
 31.  Acts  7. 
 
 52. 
 II  Or,  chmed 
 
 III  "III. 
 h  Estli.3   s 
 (  Luke  1 1  .■■2 
 
 Acts  13  '.0. 
 
 «*    II.  5,  10. 
 
 &  17,  5.  13 
 
 &   18.  12.  1^ 
 
 19   9.  fc  22. 
 
 .n'GeTi7l3.in 
 
 Mat.  23.  32. 
 "  M.at.  24.  6, 
 
 14 
 rt  1  Cor.  S.S 
 
 Col  2,  5. 
 p  ch.  3.  10, 
 q  Rom.  1.13. 
 
 9t  15  22. 
 r  2Cor.l.t4, 
 
 Phil.  2.  16. 
 
 &  4.  1. 
 *  Pro  16,  31. 
 II  Or.  ghii^. 
 
 iiip. 
 I  I  Cor.  15 
 
 23   ch.  3. 
 
 13    Rep.  1. 
 
 7.  &  22.  12. 
 
 ■er.  .5. 
 6  Acts  17.15. 
 
 cRn.n.lR.21. 
 Cor. 16.10- 
 Cor.  1.19. 
 
 li  Kph  3  13 
 Acta  9.  16. 
 &  14.  22  K{ 
 20.23.  Ik  21. 
 
 11 .  I  Cor.4. 
 9,  2  Tim.  3 
 
 12.  I  Pet, 2. 
 21. 
 
 out  ceasing,  because,  when  ye  received  the 
 word  of  God  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye  received 
 it  ''  not  as  the  word  of  men,  but  as  it  is  in 
 truth,  tlie  word  of  God,  which  efTectually 
 worketh  also  in  you  that  believe. 
 
 14  For  ye,  brethren,  became  followers'^ of  the 
 churches  of  God  which  in  Juilrea  are  in  Christ 
 Jesus  :  for  '  ye  also  have  suffered  like  things 
 of  your  own  countrymen,  ^  even  as  they  have 
 of  the  Jews : 
 
 Ij  ''Who  both  killed  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
 '  their  own  prophets,  and  have  ||  persecuted 
 us;  and  they  please  not  God,  'and  are  con- 
 trary to  all  men  : 
 
 16  '  Forbidding  us  to  speak  to  the  Gentiles 
 that  they  might  be  saved,  "'  to  fill  up  their  sins 
 alway  :  "for  the  wrath  is  come  upon  them  to 
 the  uttermost. 
 
 17  But  we,  brethren,  being  taken  from  you 
 fur  a  sliort  time  °  in  presence,  not  in  heart,  en- 
 deavoured the  more  abundantly  •■  to  see  your 
 face  with  great  desire. 
 
 18  Wherefore  we  would  have  come  unto  you, 
 even  I  Paul,  once  and  again  ;  but ''  Satan  hin- 
 dered us. 
 
 1 9  For  ■■  what  is  our  hope,  or  joy,  or  '  crown 
 of  II  rejoicing?  Are  not  even  ye  in  the  pre- 
 sence of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  '  at  his  coming? 
 
 '20  For  ye  ate  our  glory  and  joy. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  Sai?it  Paul  testijieth  his  great  love  to  the  Thessalo' 
 7iiau$,  parti  1/  by  sending  Timothy  unto  them  to 
 strengthm  and  comfort  thtm:  partly  by  rejoiciiig  in 
 their  well  doing  :  \0  and  partly  by  praying  for  them, 
 and  desiring  a  safe  coming  unto  them. 
 
 Xl^HEREFORE  ^  when  we  could  no  longer 
 '  *     forbear,  *•  we  thought  it  good  to  be  left 
 at  Athens  alone  ; 
 
 2  And  sent  '^  Timotheus,  our  brother,  and 
 minister  of  God,  and  our  fellowlabourer  in  the 
 gospel  of  Christ,  to  establish  you,  and  to  com- 
 fort you  concerning  your  faith  : 
 
 3  **  That  no  man  should  be  moved  by  these 
 afflictions:  for  yourselves  know  that  *  we  are 
 appointed  thereunto. 
 
 Chap.  II. — I.  For  pourselves — know,  ^c,  meaning,  that  their  faith 
 in  the  E:ospel  was  well  founded. — Mackn,  Nut  in  vain,  but  attended 
 with  the  demonstration  of  divine  ag-ency. — Doddr.  2.  Suffered  be- 
 fore, '  for,  notwithstanding;  we  had,  before  our  entrance,  suffered.' — 
 Mackn.  At  PhUippi—i^cG  Acts,  xvi.  22 — 24.  We  were  hold,  ennp- 
 pnTtnffafXfffa,  '  Spoke  plainly,  and  without  ambig7iity  ;  publiclyj  before 
 multitudes;  boldly  conscious  that  we  speak  tnith;'  so  the  word  im- 
 ports.-—il/of^n.  With  much  rontention,  *  with  much  fervency  of  7.eal, 
 and  with  powerful  opposition  of  the  grainsayers.' — Bp  Hall.  3.  Of 
 deceit,  or  *  error.* — Gill.  '  Tn  impose  upon,  or  seduce  you.'  Unrlenn- 
 nemt,  to  corrupt  your  morals,  by  favouring  your  corrupt  desires.' 
 Guile,  cunning,  to  promote  worldly  interest.— tTe/fe.  5.  Of  cornet ~ 
 otisness,  '  over-covetousness.'  IWeove^ia,  '  covetousness,'  has  various 
 significations  in  scripture  ;  here  it  may  signify  bad  designs  in  general. 
 — Mackn.  6.  Gtnrj},  '  deference,  or  liberal  provision.' — Wells.  The 
 word  io^av,  in  this  passage,  signifies  the  '  honour'  of  obedience  and 
 maintenance. — Mackn.  BurdensoTnc,  'required  a  chargeable  mainte- 
 nance.'— Bp.  Hall.  7,  A  nur.fie,  '  a  nursing  mother.* — Par.  Cherish, 
 eth,  (*ci\Trn,  signifies,  the  brooding  of  a  hen.  The  idea  suggested  is, 
 warming  them  in  her  bosom,  and  feeding  them  with  her  milk.— .V«cfr7i. 
 e.  Desirous  of  you,  i.  e.,  of  your  good. — Whitby.  Souls,  or  '  lives.' — 
 Wells,  Gill.     '  To  have  spent  our  lives  In  your  service.' — Whitby. 
 
 12.  Kingdom  and  glory,  an  Hebraism  for  glorious  kingdom;  conse- 
 quently, the  apostle  speaks  of  admission  into  the  gospel  dispensation. 
 — Mitckn.  Hopes  of  future  glor>'. — Doddr.  The  honour  and  privilege 
 of  Christians  here,  and  glory  of  saints  in  heaven.— Hram.  13.  Worketh 
 also  inyoit,  bringing  forth  fruit  in  the  practice. — IJ'ells.  !5.  Contrary 
 to  all  men,  the  Jews  bore  an  inveterate  hatred  against  all  the  rest  of 
 mankind. — Dnddr.,  Markn.,  as  Tacitus,  Juvenal,  .Jtisephus-  l6.  For- 
 hiddhig,  '  hmdering.'  For  the  wrath  is  come,  t<j>6u.a€,  *  hath  come.* 
 The  past  time  is  here  put  for  the  present,  for  the  wrath  of  God  had 
 not  yet  fallen  on  the  Jewish  nation ;  rather  read,  *  for  the  wrath  of 
 God  is  coming,'  &c. — Mackn.,  as   Wells.  18.    Satan  hindered  us, 
 
 stirred  up  the  envious  Jews  to  oppose  us. — Bp.  Hall.  IQ.  Croten, 
 ^(.^ — the  allusion  is  to  the  judge  crowning  the  victors  in  the  Olympic 
 games.  So  Christ,  the  Judge,  at  his  coming,  would  crown  the  apostle 
 in  the  presence  of  the  a.ssemhled  universe  ;  and  his  converts  are,  by  a 
 beautiful  figure  of  speech,  called  '  his  crown  of  glory.' — Mackn. 
 
 Chap.  HI. — 1-  A'o  longer  furbear — the  word  trrt-j'ovTef  literally  sig- 
 nifies 'bearing,'  or  'carrying,'  but  never  'forbearing;'  some  such 
 word  as  '  anxiety'  must  be  supplied. — Bens.  Endure  uncertainty  re- 
 specting them,  they  suffering  so  much  from  the  malicious  Jews. — 
 Doddr.,  Pyle.  Left  at  Athens  alone,  where  they  had  some  peculiar 
 need  of  the  comfort  of  an  approved  companion  and  friend. — Doddr. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  II.  —  We  here  see,  I.  The  apostle* s  lives,   readily  taking   up    the   cross   for   the   sake   of  Jesus. 
 
 conduct  as  a  Christian  minister.     Sincere,  pure,  open,  tender,  When  a  people  thus  receive  and  thus  exhibit  the  power  of  the 
 
 atFectionate,  diligent ;  holy,  upright,  unblameable  ;  unassum-  gospel,  they  are  a  minister's  sweetest  reward  ;  and  his  heart 
 
 ing,  disinterested.     He  exhorted,  he  comforted,  he  cherished,  is  indeed  cheered,  amidst  all   bis  sufferings  and  discourage- 
 
 tbe  people  of  his  care.  ments,  in  the  prospect  of  ultimately  meeting  them   '  in  the 
 
 II.    The  Thessalonians"  conduct  as  Christian  converts.     They  presence  of  our  Lord  Jesns  Christ  at  his  coming,*  as  his  *  glory 
 
 rpceived  the  word. — they  reverenced  it  as  the  word  of  God  ;  and  joy.' 
 they  felt  its  power  on  their  hearts,  and  evinced  it  in  their 
 I27I 
 
Paul's  care  for  the  Thessaloaians.  I.  THESSALONIANS,   IV. 
 
 Christ's  second  coming 
 
 .  D.  W. 
 /  A  cts  20. 
 
 4  Tor  verily,  when  we  were  with  you,  we 
 told  you  before  that  we  should  suffer  tribula- 
 tion ;  even  as  it  came  to  pass,  and  ye  know, 
 
 5  Fur  this  cause,  ^  when  1  could  no  longer 
 forbear,  1  sent  to  know  your  faith,  "lest  by 
 some  means  the  tempter  have  tempted  you, 
 and  '  our  labour  be  in  vain. 
 
 6  ^  But  now  when  Timotheuscame  from  you 
 unto  us,  and  brougl)t  us  good  tidings  of  your 
 faith  and  charity,  and  that  ye  have  good  re- 
 membrance of  us  always,  desiring  greatly  to 
 see  us,  '  as  we  also  to  see  you  : 
 
 7  Therefore,  brethren,  ""  we  were  comforted 
 over  you  in  all  our  aflliction  and  distress  by 
 your  faith  : 
 
 8  For  now  we  live,  if  ye  "stand  fast  in  the 
 Lord. 
 
 9  °  For  what  thanks  can  we  render  to  God 
 again  for  you,  for  all  the  joy  wherewith  we  joy 
 for  your  sakes  before  our  God  ; 
 
 10  P  Night  and  day  ''praying  exceedingly 
 '  that  we  might  see  your  face,  *and  might  per- 
 fect that  which  is  lacking  in  your  faith? 
 
 1 1  Now  God  hhnself  and  our  Vather,  and  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ,  |1'  direct  our  way  unto  you. 
 
 12  And  the  Lord  "  make  you  to  increase  and 
 abound  in  love  ^  one  toward  another,  and  to- 
 ward all  7nen,  even  as  we  do  toward  you  : 
 
 13  To  the  end  he  may  Establish  your  hearts 
 iinblameable  in  holiness  before  God,  even  our 
 Father,  at  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
 ^  with  all  liis  saints. 
 
 CHAP.  IV- 
 
 1  He  exIiorlttU  thtm  to  i/o  on  forward  in  all  maniier  of 
 yodlintss,  (j  to  live  holily  andjustli/,  9  to  love  one  an- 
 other, II  and  quivtly  to  follow  their  own  business: 
 13  and  last  of  all  to  i,orrow  inoderatelif  for  the  dead. 
 17  And  unto  this  last  exhortation  is  annexed  a  brief 
 description  of  the  rtsurrection,  and  second  coming  of 
 Christ  tojudi/ment. 
 
 "FURTHERMORE  then  we  ||  beseech  you, 
 ^  brethren,  and  [j  exhort  t/ou  by  the  Lord 
 Jesus,  ^  that  as  ye  have  received  of  us  ^  how 
 ye  ought  to  walk  "  and  to  please  God,  so  ye 
 would  abound  more  and  more. 
 
 2  For  ye  know  w  hat  commandments  we  gave 
 you  by  the  Lord  Jesus. 
 
 3  For  this  is  '^  the  will  of  God,  even  *your 
 sanctification,  '"that  ye  should   abstain   from 
 
 }f  ver.  I. 
 
 ft  I  Cor, 
 ■d  C.r.  I 
 
 Pliil    )!.  16. 
 k  Acts  lU.  1, 
 
 m  2  Cor.  \A. 
 it  7.  0,7,1 
 
 p  .Arts  fi6.  7 
 2  Tim.  IS 
 
 a  Rom.  1. 10, 
 M.  h  15  3.', 
 
 r  ch    2.   17. 
 
 t  :;  Cor.  13  9, 
 1 1 .  Col.  4 
 
 (  Mark  I.  J. 
 
 u  I  Cor.  I  S 
 I'hit    1    lU. 
 
 ■^niPS.2.17. 
 I  John».£0, 
 
 ll  Or,«j"iM/- 
 
 [1  Or,  lieieeeh. 
 
 a  Phil,  1.27, 
 Col. 
 
 h  Col.  3.  5. 
 Horn.   \.i\, 
 
 Kph.  4.  17, 
 
 A  I  Cor.  Ifi. 
 
 %\.  Gal,  4. 
 
 H.  Eph.  -i 
 
 \i.  «   1.  If*. 
 
 aThfs.  la 
 /  Lev-  tfl.il, 
 
 IS.  i  Cor. 
 
 II  Or,  oppret4, 
 
 \\  Or,  i't  the 
 
 niall'T. 
 r.  liThcal.t*. 
 H  Lev.  II. 11. 
 
 ft  19.  2. 
 
 I  Cor.  1    3. 
 
 Hcb.  IS   li. 
 
 1  Pet.  1. 11, 
 
 I  a. 
 
 uLukelO.lti. 
 ll  Or. 
 
 ftjrctfOl. 
 ],  1  Coi-  ii.lO. 
 
 Si  7    *U 
 
 IJohii  3.24. 
 
 '  cli.  5    1 
 
 ■  Jer,  31.34. 
 
 John  G.  ib. 
 
 ft  14.  -^ti. 
 
 H*.-b.  8.  11. 
 IJolni  2.2\). 
 
 "Mat  22  39 
 Joliii  13.31. 
 «e  15.   12. 
 Kph.  5.  '2. 
 
 1  IVt  4.  3. 
 IJuhii3.ll, 
 23    &  4.  -Zl. 
 
 I  Ch.  I.  7. 
 
 i  Ch.  3.  12. 
 r  -i  Thes.  3. 
 
 II.  I  Pet.l. 
 
 15 
 V  Acts  20  35 
 
 Eph   4.  -iH. 
 
 2  The*.  3.7, 
 8,  12. 
 
 .Bom.l.S  I.S. 
 2Cor.  B.2I. 
 Col.  4.  b. 
 1  Pet.  2.  12. 
 
 II  Or,  «f,.o 
 
 n  Se«  Lev. 
 
 19.  aa. 
 
 Dout    14.  I, 
 
 a.  •!  8ain. 
 
 I«.  SO. 
 b  Eph.  2.  12 
 
 I  Coi 
 
 15. 
 
 h  ch.  8.  12. 
 c  Col.  1 
 
 10. 
 
 d  Rom.  12.? 
 Kph.  5.  r 
 f  Kph.  b  87 
 f\  Cor. 6  15, 
 18  Kph  5 
 3.  Col.  3. 5. 
 
 13. 
 d  I  Cnr.  15. 
 
 18,  -a.  ch. 
 
 3.  18. 
 e  I  Ki.lS  17. 
 
 IH.  fit  20  So. 
 /  1  Coi.  lo. 
 
 SI. 
 9  Mat  2«  SO, 
 I  1. 
 
 fornication  : 
 
 4  ^  Tliat  every  one  of  you  shonld  know  liov.' 
 to  possess  his  vessel  in  sanctification  ami 
 lionour ; 
 
 5  "  Not  in  tlie  lust  of  concupiscence,  '  even 
 as  the  Gentiles  '  which  know  not  God  : 
 
 6  '  That  no  man  go  beyond  and  || defraud  his 
 brother  ||  in  any  matter :  because  lliat  tlie 
 Lord  "'  is  the  avenger  of  all  such,  as  we  also 
 have  forewarned  you  and  testified. 
 
 7  For  God  hath  not  called  us  unto  unclean- 
 ness,  "but  unto  holiness. 
 
 8  °  He  therefore  tliat  ||  despiseth,  despiseth 
 not  man,  but  God,  ''  who  hath  also  given  unto 
 us  his  holy  Spirit. 
 
 9  But  as  touching  brotherly  love  '"  ye  need 
 not  tluit  I  write  unto  you  :  for  '  ye  yourselves 
 are  taught  of  God  '  to  love  one  another. 
 
 10  '  And  indeed  ye  do  it  toward  all  the 
 brethren  which  are  in  all  Macedonia  :  but  we 
 beseech  you,  brethren,  "  that  ye  increase  more 
 and  more ; 
 
 1 1  And  that  ye  study  to  be  quiet,  and  '  to  do 
 your  own  business,  and  ^  to  work  with  your 
 own  hands,  as  we  commanded  you  ; 
 
 12  '  That  ye  may  walk  honestly  toward  them 
 that  are  without,  and  that  ye  may  liave  lack 
 II  of  nothing. 
 
 13  But  1  would  not  have  you  to  be  ignorant, 
 brethren,  concerning  them  wliicli  are  asleep, 
 that  ye  sorrow  not,  °  even  as  otliers  ''  which 
 have  no  hope. 
 
 14  For  "if  we  believe  tliat  Jesus  died  and 
 rose  again,  even  so  "^  them  also  which  sleep  in 
 Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him. 
 
 13  For  this  we  say  unto  you  "by  the  word 
 of  the  Lord,  that  '  we  which  are  alive  and  re- 
 main unto  the  coming  of  the  Lord  shall  not 
 prevent  them  which  are  asleep. 
 
 IG  For  *  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from 
 heaven  with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the 
 archangel,  and  with  "  the  trump  of  God  :  'and 
 the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first : 
 
 17  'Then  we  which  are  alive  and  remain 
 shall  be  caught  up  together  with  them  'in  the 
 clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air :  and  so 
 '"shall  we  ever  be  with  the  Lord. 
 
 11.  2  Thcs.    1.7.     A  I  Cor.  15    52.      i  1  Cor.  15.  2-1,  .52. 
 .  20.  ft:  |.l.  3.  &  17.  :;*. 
 
 Itev.  11.  12 
 
 ..  Jol.L 
 
 h  1  Coi'.  15.  51.     1  AcU  t. 
 
 6.  1  sent  to  knoto—i'be  apostle  knew  all  thiogs  respecting  Christ's 
 doctrine,  but  was  not  inspired  with  a  knowledge  of  all  other  thing.s. 
 — Dr.  Eenstm.  Ttmjited  you,  here  evidenUy  signifies,  '  brought  them 
 into  sin.'— Ha;H.  '  Succeeded  in  tempting.'— il/«cA-n.  8.  We  live, 
 in  a  scriptural  sense,  frequently  means  '  to  be  cheerful,  to  rejoice." 
 — H'luunoinl. 
 
 C'HAr.  IV.  — 3.  Fornication,  mopveia,  includes  all  sorts  of  uuclean- 
 ness.- CVwr^t*.  4.  Vessel,  '  body,'  so  called  from  its  frailty,  (2  Cor. 
 iv,  7.) — Pur.  5,  As  the  Gentiles,  among  whom  these  lusts  abounded. 
 — Whitby.  6.  Bei/ond,  the  bounds  of  chastity.— .VacA-n.  Defruud 
 his  Itrother,  by  injustice.— ijpi'(,  Le  Cterc.  By  deflUng  hun  or  his  re- 
 lations. The  context  detennines  the  meaning  to  be.  that  kind  of  injury 
 by  which  his  brother's  chastity  is  violated. — Mackn.  11,  Your  own 
 business,  •  your  proper  business. '-i^oiirfr.  Not  meddling  with  other 
 men's  matters.— Ham.,   Whitby.  12.  Honestly,  ti-.rxnMoi'oJr,   '  be- 
 
 comingly,' *  decently,'  *  respectably.* — A.  Clarke.  13.  Cuncerniag 
 them  which  are  asleep,  a  new  subject  is  here  commenced,  on  the  resur- 
 rection.—.l/flcA-«.  Occasioned  by  the  death  of  some  Christians. — 
 Voddr.  No  hope,  of  a  resurrection.— Py/p.  14.  Eren  so,  the  sen- 
 tence is  elliptical;  '  even  so'  are  we  to  believe,  '  that  them  also,'  &c. 
 —Whitby,   Hells.        15.  We,  that  is,  the  genuine  Christians,  which 
 
 shall  be  found  on  the  earth  when  Clirist  comes. — A.  Clarke,  so  Whitby; 
 so  also  Chrysost.,  Theodoret,  Theophyluct.  Are  alive,  at  the  second 
 coming. — Bp.  Hall.  Prevent,  tiiAt  is,  'anticipate,' or  be  before  those 
 who  are  dead. — Pur.  l6.  With  a  shout — ei.  KeAtoo^ari  denotes  the 
 shout  of  soldiers  in  an  array  at  the  first  onset,  or  which  rowers  utter 
 to  cheer  one  another  in  their  labour,  and  is  used  with  great  propriety 
 to  express  the  loud  acclam.ations  of  the  angelic  host  at  Christ's  second 
 appearance. — Mackn.,  as  Gill,  so  Eisner,  Wets.  It  is  expressive  of  the 
 word  of  command  in  battle. — Pye  Smith.  Hence  it  signifies  '  with 
 an  order,'  and  probably  in  these  words — '  Arise,  ye  dead,  and  come  to 
 judgment!' — .'1.  Clarke.  The  truutp  of  God,  may  most  immediately 
 allude  to  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  exceeding  loud,  when  the  Lord 
 Jehovah  delivered  the  law  at  Mount  Siiiai,  and  may  possibly  signify 
 '  the  voice  of  Christ.' — Guyse.  First,  before  those  who  are  alive  shall 
 be  changed. — Bur.  17.  Cuught  up,  by  the  vigorous  activity  of  our 
 glorified  body  made  spiritual. — llr.  John  Scott,  Piggot,  Whiston.  The 
 word  apnafnao^ittla,  denotes  rather  an  external  force. — Muckn.,  and 
 others.  In  the  clouds,  of  heaven.— Gi7/.  Jn  clouds,  tv  ifipeKniv,  '  in 
 clouds,'  may  signify,  '  by  the  ministry  of  angels,'  called  *  clouds,* 
 Matt.  xxiv.  30,  or  '  in  great  numbers,'  clouds  signifying  '  multitudes 
 of  people,'  Heb.  xii.  1. — Mackn. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    111.   —  I.  Real  Christians  mitst  ll.  lietd  Christians  will  exhibit  the  effects  of  real  reliiiion.    They 
 
 reckon  on  enduriny  afflictions.     Al!  are  not  placed  in  the  like  will   'increase  and  abound,'  overflow,  as  the    word  signifies, 
 
 trying  circumstances,  and  with  us,  in  general,  the  days  of  per-  with   love,  one  toward  another,  and  towards   all  men;   and 
 
 secutioQ  are  past.     But  many  are  yet  called  in  this  manner  to  they  will  he  'established  in  holiness,' 'against  the  fears  of 
 
 endure  'a  great  fight  of  afflictions;'  and  if  their  religion  is  men,  the  frowns  of  the  world,  the  temptations  of  Satan,  and 
 
 deeply  rooted  in  their  hearts,  the  storm  may  blow  in  vain,  wiih  the  doctrines  of  grace.'     Such  the  apostle  prays  for  the 
 
 '  No  man  should  be  moved  by  these  afflictions'—'  Marvel  not  Thessalonians  to  be,  and  he  prays  that  they  may  be  what  all 
 
 if  the  world  hate  yon."  real  t'.hrislians  are. 
 1272 
 
Christ's  coming  descrihetl. 
 
 I.  THESSALONIANS,  V. 
 
 Divers  precepts. 
 
 18  "  Wherefore  ||  cumfort  one  another  with 
 these  words. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  He  proceedtth  in  the  former  descriptinn  of  Christ's 
 cominff  to  juihjmeiit<,  16  and  yiveth  divers  precepts,  '23 
 and  so  ctiucludttk  the  epistle. 
 
 T>  UT  of  ^  the  times  and  the  seasons,  brethren, 
 -■-'   **  ye  have  no  need  that  I  write  unto  yon. 
 
 2  For  yourselves  know  perfectly  that  *■"  tlie 
 (lay  of  the  Lord  so  Cometh  as  a  thief  m  the 
 night. 
 
 3  For  when  they  shall  say,  Peace  and  safety  ; 
 then  ''sudden  destruction  cometh  upon  them, 
 "  as  travail  upon  a  woman  with  child  ;  and  they 
 shall  not  escape. 
 
 4  *"  But  ye,  brethren,  are  not  in  darkness,  that 
 that  day  should  overtake  you  as  a  thief. 
 
 5  Ye  are  all  *''the  children  of  light,  and  the 
 children  of  the  day  :  we  are  not  of  the  night, 
 nor  of  darkness. 
 
 6  ^  Therefore  let  us  not  sleep,  as  do  others  ; 
 but  '  let  us  watch  and  be  sober. 
 
 7  For  ^  they  that  sleep  sleep  in  the  night  ; 
 and  they  that  be  drunken  ^  are  drunken  in  the 
 night. 
 
 8  But  let  us,  who  are  of  the  day,  be  sober, 
 ■"putting  on  the  breastplate  of  faith  and  love; 
 and  for  an  helmet,  the  hope  of  salvation. 
 
 9  For  "God  hath  not  appointed  us  to  wrath, 
 "but  to  obtain  salvation  by  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ, 
 
 10  ^  Who  died  fur  us,  that,  whether  we  wake 
 or  sleep,  we  should  live  together  with  him. 
 
 11  ^  Wherefore  ||  cumfort  yourselves  together, 
 and  edify  une  another,  even  as  also  ye  do. 
 
 12  And  we  beseech  you,  brethren,  ''to  know 
 
 <  cii.  3.  n. 
 
 I  Or,  ethori. 
 
 a  Mat.  '24.  a, 
 36.  Acts  17. 
 
 6  ch.  4    y 
 
 c  Mat  :.'4  ;,S. 
 44.  fc  ^5  in, 
 Luke  13  a<). 
 40.  :i  Pet.S 
 lu.  Keir  H 
 •.i    Ik   IH,  15. 
 
 >l  Is  1.1  fi— 
 9  I.uke  17. 
 27.  ^^,  -.'y.  Kc 
 •>l    :W,  H5. 
 
 :  Tlie 
 
 .  I  9. 
 
 Hos.  l:(.  13 
 /Rmn.  13. 
 
 1.'.  i;i 
 
 1  Ji.hu  2  3 
 If  Ffh  b.  H 
 h  ,M,a.  :^5. ;'.. 
 1  .M:U    2»  l:;. 
 
 A  Co.   I  * 
 
 Kom    13  M. 
 
 1  Pet  5  8 
 A  Luke  -21. 
 
 :ll,  3ti. 
 
 Hftm    13. 1 » 
 
 1  Cor.l5.»* 
 
 Kph.  5  11. 
 (  Acts  2.  Ift. 
 m  Is.  39.  17 
 
 Hph   6.  14, 
 
 IH.  17, 
 I.  Jl-.m.  9 -J?. 
 
 oh.  t.  HI. 
 
 I  Pet.  ','.  8. 
 
 Jude  \. 
 o  2  Thcs,  2, 
 
 IS.  14 
 p  Kom.  ll,*). 
 
 9.  2  Cur   & 
 
 l.-i. 
 9  ch.  i.  18. 
 
 ■  Or,  ex>">Tl. 
 
 ■  I  Gnr.  16 
 la.  PhU.  2, 
 L'9.  I  Tim. 
 5.  17,  Heb. 
 13.  7,  17. 
 
 A.  D.  54. 
 
 I  Mark  9.  50. 
 |]  Or,  Oeieech 
 l-i  Thes.  3. 
 
 II.  12. 
 
 II  Or, 
 liisuTiterh/, 
 
 u  Heh  i*j  l.J. 
 jr  Hum  11.1 
 
 h  \b    I. 
 
 Gal.  6,  1.2 
 y  Gal  5.  -i-i 
 
 Epii.  4    2. 
 
 Col    3.  12. 
 
 2  Tim   <1 
 Lei".  I'J. 
 
 Pro  2('..-2  St 
 
 •i\  :^9    .Mat 
 
 5,  3!l,  44. 
 
 Koni.li.17. 
 
 I   Cor    fi.  7. 
 
 i  Pet  3,  9. 
 a  Gal.  6.  10. 
 
 3.  12. 
 h  2  Gor.6.10. 
 
 Phil.  4.  -1 
 c  Luke  18  I 
 
 &  L'l.  :16, 
 
 Rnm, 12.12, 
 
 K.pli.  6,   IS. 
 
 C..1.   1.  2. 
 
 I  Pet.  4.  7 
 d  Eph,  5  20 
 
 Tol    3.  17. 
 
 Eph.  4-.  :(it. 
 
 1  Tim  4,1 1 
 
 2  Tim.  !.(). 
 See  I  Cor, 
 14-  30. 
 
 /  i  Cor-  1 1. 
 
 r,b9, 
 g  I  Cor  2.  H , 
 
 lo.  I  Juha 
 
 \.  1 
 
 h  piiii.  4.  a 
 
 1  eh    1.  12 
 
 k  Phil  t  y. 
 
 /  ch,  3.  13. 
 m  I  Cor.  )  8. 
 «  I  Cor    1.9 
 &  10.  13. 
 
 i  Thes. 
 /jBoin  16- 
 
 Or.  .,<1y 
 q  Cnl    4- 
 
 2TIIOS.3 
 
 Kom.'fi. 
 
 them  wiiich  labour  among  you,  and  are  over 
 you  in  the  Lord,  and  admonish  you  ; 
 
 13  And  to  esteem  them  very  highly  in  love 
 for  their  work's  sake.  '  And  be  at  peace 
 among  yourselves. 
 
 14  Now  we  II  exhort  you,  brethren,  'warn 
 them  that  are  ||  unruly,  "comfort  the  feeble- 
 minded, ^support  the  weak,  ^be  patient  toward 
 all  men. 
 
 15  "See  that  none  render  evil  for  evil  unto 
 any  man  ;  but  ever^follow  that  which  is  good, 
 both  among  yourselves,  and  to  all  men. 
 
 16  ^  Rejoice  evermore. 
 
 17  *"  Pray  without  ceasing. 
 
 18  ''In  every  thing  give  thanks:  fur  this  is 
 the  will  uf  God  in  Christ  Jesus  concerning 
 you. 
 
 19  ®  Qnencli  not  the  Spirit. 
 
 20  ^  Despise  not  prophesyings. 
 
 21  ^  Prove  all  things;  '^  hold  last  that  which 
 is  good. 
 
 22  '  Abstain  from  all  appearance  of  evil. 
 
 23  And  ^  the  very  God  of  peace  '  sanctify 
 you  wholly  ;  and  I  p/a//  God  yonr  whole 
 spirit  and  soul  and  body  "'  be  preserved  blame- 
 less unto  the  coining  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 24  "  Faithful  ts  he  tliat  calleth  you,  who  also 
 will  do  it. 
 
 25  Brethren,  °  pray  for  U'^. 
 
 26  ''Greet  all  the  brethren  with  an  holy  ki^s. 
 
 27  I  II  charge  you  by  the  Lord  that  "^  this 
 epistle  be  read  unto  all  the  holy  brethren. 
 
 28  '  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  /t 
 with  you.      Amen. 
 
 If   The   first  epistle  unto   the  Thessalonians 
 was  written  from  Athens. 
 
 Chap.  V. — 1 .  Times  arid  the  seasoTis,  events  preceding  the  judgrnent. 
 — So  Doddr.  Xfiovoi.  'times,'  are  longer  periods;  Kotpoi,  '  sca.sous,' 
 are  the  particular  parts  oi  these  periods.— il/ucA/i.  2.  As  a  thief, 
 unexpected. —  Whitby.  Unawares.  3.  Say,  Peace  and  safety ,  '  pro- 
 mise themselves  much  ease  and  peace  for  years  to  come.'  4.  Dark- 
 ness,  a  state  of  unregeileracy,  which  is  a  state  of  darkness.  bUndness, 
 and  ignorance. — Gi/l.  5.  Chiidren  of  light,  '  enlightened  with  spiii- 
 tual  wisdom  and  mider standing,  and  so,  watchful  and  wakeful,  walk- 
 ing- in  the  light  of  gospel  truth  and  hoUness.' — Gui/se.  Xut  of  the 
 night,  ^c,  descriptive  of  the  heathen  living  in  ignorance  of  spiritual 
 things. — Mackn.  6.  Not  sleep,  give  way  to  a  slothful,  careless,  and 
 indolent  frame  of  spirit. — Giiijse.  ~.  Drunken  in  the  night— the  being 
 drunken  in  the  daytime  was  thought  the  greatest  disgrace  even  by  the 
 heathen.— So  Polt/bins;  see  Mackn.,  Ji/onmf.  8.  Of  the  day,  '  sur- 
 rounded with  the  hght  of  gospel  truth,  which  shines  into  our  hearts.' 
 Be  sober,  '  be  vigilajit,'  vntpiafiev,  like  those  that  look  for  the  coming  of 
 our  Lord.  Putting  on  the  breastplate,  ^c,  '  as  we  are  in  a  state  of 
 warfare,  let  us,  like  soldiers  and  sentinels,  that  are  armed  witli  breast- 
 plates and  helmets,  to  secure  the  principal  seats  of  the  natural  Ufe,  put 
 on,  and  daily  make  use  of,  our  Christian  armour.' — Guyse.  See  on 
 Eph.  vi.  14,  1/.  The  breastplate  and  helmet  were  the  two  principal 
 parts  of  the  ancient  armour,  as  guarding  the  head  and  the  heart,  the 
 two  chief  fountains  of  life  and  sensation.— iJKr.,  Whitby.  Q.  Hath 
 not  appointed  us  to  wrath,  namely,  us  believers,  as  he  hath  imbelievers. 
 —  Wells.  This  is  evident,  because  '  Christ  came  not  to  condemn  the 
 world,  but  that  the  world,  through  him,  might  be  saved.' — Boothr. 
 10.  Wake  or  sleep,  *  be  alive  or  dead  at  Christ's  coming.' — Wells. 
 12.  Know,  '  take  special  notice  of.' — Bp.  Hall.  '  To  reverence.' — 
 Doddr.  14.  Unruly,   '  disorderly,'  '  irregular,'  violating  the  order 
 
 prescribed  by  God,  (comp.  2  Thess.  iii.  6,  &c.)— Par.,  :ichleusnei-.  The 
 word  aTUKTov^  is  a  military  tenn,  and  signifies  those  who  break  their 
 ranks,  or  desert  their  posts,  so  that  they  cannot  perform  their  duties 
 as  soldiers,  especially  in  battle.  It  is  fitly  used  to  denote  those  who 
 neglect  the  proper  duty  of  their  office  or  station. — Mackn.  Comfort 
 the  feeblemi)ided,  tou?  o'Ki-^o-^vxov^,  '  those  of  little  souls,'  the  faint- 
 hearted, who,  on  the  eve  of  a  battle,  are  (hspirited.  Support  the  wean, 
 avTtxta&t  Tajf  ac&evuu',  *  shore  up,'  prop  them  that  are  weak,  strengthen 
 
 those  wings  and  companies  that  are  likely  to  be  most  exposed.  Be 
 patieiit  toumrd  all,  m^KpoOufxene  irpor  iravrat,  '  the  disorderly,  feeble- 
 minded, weak,  who  will  exercise  your  patience.' — AJ'larke.  l6.  Rejoice 
 evermore,  '  m  the  Lord,  in  what  he  is  in  himself,  lias  done,  is  doing, 
 and  will  do,  for  you  ;  and  in  the  hope  of  his  glory.'— Onyse.  IJ.  Pray 
 without  censing — this  does  not  mean  that  we  should  never  intermit 
 prayhig,  but  tiiat  we  should  observe  the  stated  seasons  for  prayer. — 
 Mackn.  '  Let  prayer  be  yoiu-  constant  practice,  and  yoiu-  habit  of 
 holy  desire  be  a  continued  ^lual  prayer.' — R.  Baater.  iS.  In  ej>ery 
 thing,  ec  Tra^r,,  *  in  every  condition,'  whether  prosperous  or  adverse. 
 — Mackn.  ly.  Quench  not  the  Spirit,  the  operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
 are  compared  to  fire,  (Matt.  iii.  u.)  '  Cherish  and  improve  his  gra- 
 cious illuminations,  suggestions,  motions,  and  assistances,  as  well  as 
 his  extraordinary,  inclusive  of  his  ordinary,  gifts.'— (rf/ys(?.  See  Eph. 
 V.  18.  This  seems  to  mean,  'not  to  quench  the  Spirit  in  others.' — 
 Bloomf.  2t).  Prophesyings,  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  though  the 
 iustrmuents  possess  but  mean  gUts.—Bp.  Hall.  See  1  Cor.  xiv.  3. 
 21.  Prove  all  things,  the  Eillusion  is  to  the  various  tests  used  by  money- 
 changers in  tryijig  money. — Pict.  Bib.  This  may  have  been  originally 
 intended  for  those  who  had  the  gift  of  discerning  spirits,  and  whose 
 office  it  was  to  try  tliose  who  pretended  to  prophesy,  or  to  speak  by 
 inspiration.  It  may,  however,  be  also  uiulerstood  as  requiring  Chris- 
 tians  in  all  ages,  before  they  receive  any  religious  doctrine,  to  examine 
 whether  it  be  consonant  to  right  reason  and  to  the  word  of  God. — 
 Mackn.  23,  And  the  very  God  of  peucf,  omtoc  bt  6  9eoc  rtjr  fipurrjc, 
 
 literadly,  '  may  the  God  of  peace  himself.'— -B^hs.  Your  whole  spirit, 
 i.  e.,  '  your  whole  person.' — Mackn.  '  All  your  inward  faculties  of 
 understanding,  will,  affections,  and  all  outward  members  of  your 
 bodies.'— if/).  Hall.  24.  Will  do  it,  '  do  this.'— Bouthr.  26.  Holy 
 kiss-see  Rom.  xvi.  l6,  note.  Spirit,  mind  or  intellect ;  sensitive  snul, 
 the  seat  of  the  affections,  appetites,  and  passions ;  body,  in  which 
 these  dwell.  So  thought  Jews  and  Gentiles.— P/r^  Bib.  27.  /  charg-' 
 you,  opKiC^  I'/icE  '  I  adjure  you,'  i.  e.,  '  \  lay  you  under  the  obligation 
 of  an  oath.' — Bens.  Note. — The  subscription  to  this  epistle,  which,  it 
 must  be  observed,  is  not  a  part  of  the  text,  is  erroneous.  It  appears 
 from  chap.  iii.  6,  compared  with  Acts,  x^i.  1,  5,  that  it  was  written 
 from  Corinth.— So  Gilt. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  This  chapter  contains, 
 I.  •  Exhortations  to  hoUuess.  Christianity  has  now  driven  vice 
 into  hiding  places  ;  and  those  who  are  not  ashamed  to  commit 
 sin,  are  at  least  asliamed  of  being  seen  to  commit  it.  Never- 
 theless, the  eye  of  God  records  every  secret  crime,  and  will 
 one  day  open  the  *'  book  of  remembrance"  in  the  presence  of 
 assembled  worlds,  liul  through  thi.s  address  to  the  Thessalo- 
 nian  converts  we  are  urged  to  the  opposite  virtues,  and  to  th.u 
 127n 
 
 course  of  industry  which  has  a  powerful  tendency,  by  usefully 
 filling  up  the  time,  to  preserve  from  temptation. 
 
 IL  '  Consolation  to  the  bereaved.  The  heathen  indulRed  in 
 excessive  grief  for  their  dead;  but  Christians  have  a  bettor 
 hope  respecting  their  departed  Christian  friends.  Those  who 
 die  in  Jesus  do  but  sleep  ;  and  when  he  returns  in  glory,  ho 
 will  hrin;,'  his  departed  saints  with  him.'  v- 
 
 IlEFL^CTIO^S  ON  Cu.M-.  V.  —  I.  The  day  of  the  I.nrJ  ap- 
 7  z 
 
THE    SECOND    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 THESSALONIANS. 
 
 [This,  ns  the  first  epistle,  appears  to  have  been  written  from  Corinth  ;  Silvanus  and  Timothy  being  still  with  Paul.  From 
 some  expressions  in  the  former  epislle,  it  would  seem  that  the  Tbessalonians  were  impressed  with  the  idea  that  Christ 
 would  speedily  come  to  judgment;  and  as  this  error  was  likely  to  produce  a  neglect  of  secular  duties,  the  apostle,  on  being 
 informed  of  it,  wrote  this  epistle  to  undeceive  them.  Being  also  still  exposed  to  the  persecutions  of  the  Jewish  zealots, 
 the  apostle  had  in  view,  at  the  same  time,  to  revive  and  strengthen  them.  There  are  references  in  this  epistle  to  p.assages 
 in  the  Old  Testament  and  the  New.  See  Exod.  vii.  II,  1-2:  viii.  18;  ii.  11  :  Matt.  xvi.  14;  Acts,  xiv.  22;  2  Pet.  i. 
 20,21.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  Saint  Punt  certijieth  them  of  thi;  good  opinion  which 
 he  had  of  their  fiiithy  love,  tttui patience  :  II  and  there- 
 withal useth  divers  reasons  for  the  comforting  of  them 
 in  persecution,  whereof  the  chiefest  is  taken  from  the 
 riifhteovs  judgment  of  God. 
 
 "DAUL,  °  and  Silvanus,  and  Timotlieus,  unto 
 -*■  tlie  churcli  of  the  Tlie.ssalonians  ''in  God 
 our  Fattier  and  the  Lord  .Tesus  Christ  : 
 
 2  '  Grace  unto  yo\i,  and  peace,  from  God  our 
 Father  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 .3  ''  We  are  hound  to  thank  God  always  for 
 yon,  hrethren,  as  it  is  meet,  because  that  your 
 faith  groweth  exceedingly,  and  the  charity  of 
 every  one  of  you  all  toward  each  other  abound- 
 c(h  ; 
 
 4  So  that  °  we  ourselves  glory  in  you  in  the 
 chnrches  of  God  '  for  your  patience  and  faith 
 *  ill  all  your  persecutions  and  tribulations  that 
 ye  endure  : 
 
 5  Which  is  *'  a  manifest  token  of  the  righteous 
 judgment  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  counted 
 worthy  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  '  for  which  ye 
 also  suffer : 
 
 0  '  Seeing  it  is  a  rigliteous  tiling  with  God  to 
 recompense  tribulation  to  them  that  trouble 
 you ; 
 
 7  And  to  you  who  are  troubled  '  rest  with  us, 
 when  ■"  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  revealed  from 
 
 a  2  Cor. 1. 19 
 b  I  Tl.es. 1. 1 
 
 d  IThpn.l  2, 
 3.  Jt  3.  fi,  y. 
 cli.  8.  13. 
 
 ,2  Cor  : 
 8c  9   2. 
 
 t  I  TheR.I  3 
 3  I  Thes.  S 
 
 A  Phil    1 .  2S 
 
 k  Hev.  6.  III. 
 
 /  Rev.  U  IS. 
 m  I  Tlu-s  i 
 lO.Judc  M. 
 
 ■I.I, 
 
 ;y  ii 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 .1'.:.. . 
 
 1  Thes  4.5 
 p  Itoin.  2.  fi. 
 q  Phil  3   19 
 
 2  IVt.  3.  7 
 Deu.  S3.  2. 
 Is   2    19. 
 
 .../.. 
 
 nn^eti  0/ hit 
 
 1  Heb.  10.27 
 8c  12   29. 
 2  Pet.  3.  7. 
 
 b  Mat  24.31. 
 MnrklS27 
 rrhea.4  17 
 
 heaven  with  f  his  mighty  angels, 
 
 8  "  In  flaming  fire  ||  taking  vengeance  on 
 them  °  that  know  not  God,  and  ''  that  obey  not 
 the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ : 
 
 9  ''  Who  shall  be  punished  with  everlasting 
 destruction  from  tlie  presence  of  the  Lord,  and 
 'from  the  glory  of  his  power  ; 
 
 10  '  When  he  shall  come  to  be  glorified  in 
 his  saints,  '  and  to  be  admired  in  all  them  that 
 believe  (because  our  testimony  among  you  was 
 believed)  in  that  day. 
 
 1 1  Wherefore  also  we  pray  always  for  you, 
 that  our  (Jod  would  ||  "  count  you  worthy  of 
 this  calling,  and  fulfil  all  the  good  pleasure  of 
 his  goodness,  and  ^  the  work  of  faith  \\'ith 
 power  : 
 
 12  '  That  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
 may  he  glorified  in  you,  and  ye  in  him,  accord- 
 ing to  the  grace  of  our  God  and  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  He  willct/t  them  to  continue  sttilfast  iJi  th  truth  re- 
 ceived, Qtiheweth  that  there  shall  be  a  dijiarture  from 
 the/ait/ij  9  aud  a  dlscoiuri/  of'  antichrist,  hffore  the 
 diiy  of  the  Lord  come.  15  And  therevpon  reptateth 
 hisfvrmvr  exhvit(\tiony  and  praycth  for  them. 
 
 "VTOW  we  beseech  you,  brethren,  "by  the 
 -^^  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  ''  and  by 
 our  gathering  togetlier  unto  him. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.  —  5.  A  manifest  token  of  the  righteous  judgment 
 of  God,  i.  e.,  that  good  men  enduring  present  affliction,  while  bail  men 
 prosper  and  flourish,  there  will  be  a  rigrhteous  judgment,  in  which 
 things  will  be  set  right,  and  justice  will  take  place.— GiV/.  'This  carries 
 a  plain  demonstration  (eiAetitxa)  of  God's  having  judged  right  in  per- 
 mitting you  to  be  exercised  with  these  troubles,  which  turn  so  much 
 to  his  glory  and  your  own  spiritual  benefit,  and  a  proof  of  an  impartial 
 judgment  to  come.'  6.  Seeing  it  is  a  righteous  thing,  '  suitable  to 
 the  rectitude  of  God's  nature  and  will,  law  and  government,  to  inflict 
 the  severest  punishment  in  due  time  upon  them  that  now  cruelly  per- 
 secute yovi.* — Gvyse.  7.  Best  with  us — '  and  to  t/ou  who  are  troubled 
 he  will  give  rest  u-ith  7ts  ivhen,^  fyc. — Boothr.  8.  Inflaming  fire  tak- 
 ing vengeance,  didoi'To^  £((5ik»|itii',  '  inflicting  punishment  with  flaming 
 fire.'— M«cA-«.        9.  Presence,   '  face.' — Doddr.  10.    To  tje  admired 
 
 in,  ifavita<T0nvai, '  to  be  woudered  at  among.' — A.  Clarke.    The  verse  is 
 
 thus  rendered  and  arranged  by  Boothroj/d :  '  In  that  great  day,  when 
 he  shall  come  to  be  glorified  by  his  saints,  and  to  be  admired  by  all 
 those  that  have  believed,  (for  our  testimony  among  you  hath  been  be- 
 lieved.)*—Fam.  Bib.  In  that  day,  belongs  to  all  that  goes  before. — 
 Gill.  12.  According  to  the  grace,   ^-c.,   KoTa  tuc  xapiv  tow  Gcov  i||uu»v, 
 
 Kai  Kvptov  ln<Tov  Xfitmou,  '  according  to  the  grace  of  Jesus  Christ,  our 
 God  and  Lord.' — M.  Good. 
 
 C)i.\p.  II. —  i- Bi/  the  coming,  rather,  '  concerning  the  coming,' or 
 •  as  to  the  coming. ^-—Pi/le,  Bp.  Newton,  Cradock,  Doddr.,  Muckn.,  &c. 
 By  '  the  coming  of  Christ,'  understand,  to  destroy  Jerusalem  and  the 
 Jewish  state. — Grot.,  Bam.,  Le  Clerc,  Whithj,  Wets.,  &c.  The  opinion 
 of  those  who  refer  this  to  Jerusalem  is  refuted  by  ver,  2,  in  which  the 
 apostle  reprobates  the  opinion  imputed  to  him,  that  he  thought  the 
 day  of  Christ  was  at  hand  j  and  from  what  is  said  about  his  being  re- 
 vealed in  flaming  fire,  &c.,  it  must  refer  to  the  coming  of  Christ  to 
 
 proaches.  '  It  is  appointed  unto  all  roen  once  to  die,  and  after 
 death  the  judgment.*  Our  separation  from  this  world  may  be 
 sudden  ;  it  is  certain. 
 
 II.  Our  duty  in  prospect  of  the  approaching  day  of  the  Lord. 
 Let  us  watch,  nor  suffer  ourselves  to  be  intoxicated  by  the 
 carnal  pursuits  and  pleasures  of  this  world.  And  may  the 
 God  of  peace  sanctify  us  wholly,  and  preserve  us  'blameless 
 unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 
 
 Kti  i.F.CTioNs  ON  Chap.  I.  —  I.  //  is  a  matter  of  thanks  to 
 God  ty/ien  believers  are  distinguished  for  their  moral  excellences. 
 To  Him  who  is  the  giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift  it  is 
 that  they  are  indebted,  and  to  his  gracious  influences  alone 
 must  it  be  a.scribed,  when  they  grow  in  faith,  love,  patience, 
 and  other  Christian  graces,  and  are  thus  enabled  to  endure  the 
 1274 
 
 frowns  of  the  world  and  the  great  fight  of  affliction  in  which 
 they  may  have  to  engage. 
 
 II.  It  should  quiet  our  minds  under  present  persecutions  and 
 afflictions,  that  the  Judye  of  t'le  earth  u-ill^  tre.  long,  do  justice  to 
 ail  m<n.  Those  who  have  believed  in  tiie  Son  of  God  shall 
 enjoy  all  that  is  contained  in  the  promise  of  '  eternal  life.' 
 They  will  eternally  dwell  with,  admire,  and  adore  their  Sa- 
 viour, and  be  glorified  in  him,  while  he  will  be  glorified  in 
 them.  Secured  in  Christ,  they  shall  shine  forth  resplendently 
 in  his  glory,  amidst  the  surrounding  gloom  which  shall  gather 
 over  the  wicked  ;  and  lie  shall  look  glorious  with  his  retinue 
 of  sinless  angels  and  purified  sinners,  the  trophies  vi  his 
 grace 
 
The  apostle  for etelleth 
 
 II.  THESSALONIANS.  II. 
 
 the  appearance  of  antichrist . 
 
 2  ^  That  ye  be  not  soon  shaken  in  mind,  or  be 
 troubled,  neither  by  spirit,  nor  by  word,  nor  by 
 letter  as  from  us,  as  that  the  day  of  Christ  is  at 
 hand. 
 
 3  "^  Let  no  man  deceive  you  by  any  means: 
 for  that  day  shall  not  come,  *"  except  there 
 come  a  falling  away  first,  and  *"  that  man  of 
 sin  be  revealed,  ^  the  son  of  perdition  ; 
 
 4  Who  opposeth  and'^exalteth  himself  above 
 all  that  is  called  God,  or  tiiat  is  worshipped  ; 
 so  that  he  as  God  sitteth  in  the  temple  of  God, 
 -snewing  himself  that  he  is  God. 
 
 5  Remember  ye  not,  that,  when  I  was  yet 
 with  you,  I  told  you  these  things? 
 
 ()  And  now  ye  know  what  ||  withholdeth  that 
 he  might  be  revealed  in  liis  time. 
 
 7  For  ^  the  mystery  of  iniquity  doth  already 
 work  :  only  he  who  now  letteth  ivill  let,  until 
 he  be  taken  out  of  the  way. 
 
 8  And  then  shall  tliat  Wicked  be  revealed, 
 •whom  the  Lord  shall  consume  '"with  the 
 spirit  of  his  mouth,  and  shall  destroy  "  with 
 the  brightness  of  his  coming  : 
 
 9  Eveti  him,  wliose  coming  is  "after  the 
 working  of  Satan  with  all  power  and  ^  signs 
 and  lying  wonders. 
 
 ;  Mat.  ^l   4. 
 Eph.  5.  U. 
 1  John  4. 1. 
 
 d  Mat,  24.  4. 
 
 Eph.  5.  (3. 
 ^  1  TJin.  4.1. 
 /Dau.  7.-J5. 
 
 IJolm  a  18 
 
 Hev.  IS.  II, 
 
 Sic.  See 
 
 I  Mac.2.43, 
 
 62. 
 i(,Tohnl7.l2. 
 /.  Is.  I4-.  13 
 
 Kzek.-2S.2, 
 
 6.9    Dan.  7 
 
 35,  «t  I 
 
 .se. 
 
 Re' 
 .  I  Cor 
 II  Or,  h.Melli. 
 k  I  Juhn  a. 
 
 I  ft    &  -I.  3 
 /  Dan.  7.  iO 
 
 II. 
 iti  Job  4.  9. 
 
 Is.  11.4. 
 
 Hos.  6.  5 
 
 Rev.  -i.  16. 
 
 &  10    15, 
 
 20.  21, 
 n  eh.  I.  8,  9. 
 
 Heh.  10. 27, 
 o  John 
 
 Eph. 
 
 Hev.  18.  23. 
 p  See  Deut. 
 
 IS.  1.  Mat. 
 21.,  24.  Rev. 
 
 13.  13.  & 
 
 19.  21. 
 
 41. 
 
 r  Rom.  1.24, 
 
 »tr.  See 
 
 lKin.22.22. 
 
 K7ek.  14.9. 
 r  Mat.  24.  5, 
 
 II.  1  Tim. 
 
 4    I. 
 
 J-  IThea.l  4. 
 1/  Eph.  I.  4. 
 I  Luke  1,75 
 IPet.  1.  2. 
 
 a  Johnl7.22. 
 
 IThes  2,12 
 
 I  Pet.  o.  10. 
 b  I  Cor.  16 
 
 13.  Phil.  4. 
 
 1. 
 c  I  Cor.  1 1 . 
 
 S.  ch,  3.  6. 
 
 •  I  Cor.  1.8. 
 l'rhes..S.l3 
 1  Pet.  6.10. 
 
 10  And  with  all  deceivableness  of  unriglite- 
 ousness  in  '^  them  that  perish  ;  because  they 
 received  not  the  love  of  the  truth,  that  they 
 might  be  saved. 
 
 11  And  "for  this  cause  God  shall  send  them 
 strong  delusion,  ^  that  they  should  believe  a  lie  : 
 
 12  That  they  all  might  be  damned  who  be- 
 lieved not  the  truth,  but  *  had  pleasure  in  un- 
 righteousness. 
 
 13  But  "we  are  bound  to  give  thanks  alway 
 to  God  for  you,  brethren  beloved  of  the  Lord, 
 because  God  ^  hath  ^  from  the  beginning  chosen 
 you  to  salvation  ^  through  sanctification  of  the 
 Spirit  and  belief  of  the  truth  : 
 
 14  Whereunto  he  called  you  by  our  gospel, 
 to  ^  the  obtaining  of  the  glory  of  our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ. 
 
 15  Tiierefore,  brethren,  ^  stand  fast,  and  hold 
 '^  the  traditions  which  ye  have  been  taught, 
 whether  by  word,  or  our  epistle. 
 
 16  ^  Now  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  himself,  and 
 God,  even  our  Fatlier,  ^  which  hath  loved  us, 
 and  hath  given  us  everlasting  consolation  and 
 ''good  hope  through  grace, 
 
 17  Comfort  your  hearts,  ^and  stablish  you  iu 
 every  good  word  and  work. 
 
 judge  the  world.— il/dr^n.,  so  Dv.  Benson,  Guyse,  Bloom/.,  &c.  The 
 apo.'^tle  has  botli  comings  in  view. — A.  Clarke.  2.  That  ye  be  not,  ^c, 
 may  be  rendered,  '  that  ye  be  not  soon  shaken  from  the  hitherto  settled 
 persuasion  of  your  minds,  nor  he  thrown  into  unreasonable  perturba- 
 tion.'— Bloom/.  Soon  shaken,  (TaKtvfftjvai,  as  ships  are  by  the  waves 
 while  lying  at  anchor. — Mackn.  It  strongly  marks  the  confusion  and 
 distress  of  the  Tliessalonians  in  the  false  apprehension  of  this  cominjG:  of 
 Christ. — A.  Clarke.  In  mind,  otto  tov  voor,  '  from  the  mind;'  i.e.,  they 
 should  retain  the  persuasion  they  had  of  the  truths  which  he  had  be- 
 fore deUvered  to  them.  Neither  by  spirit,  any  pretended  revelation. 
 Nor  by  word,  anything  which  any  person  may  profess  to  have  heard 
 the  apostles  speak.  Nor  by  letter,  anything  misconstrued  in  his  former 
 letter ;  or,  ax  /ram  us,  any  pretending  to  be  written  by  the  apostles, 
 containing  predictions  of  this  kind. — Clarke.  Is  at  hand,  it  is  evident 
 that  the  sacred  writers  now  considered  themselves  as  having  passed 
 the  meridian  of  time,  and  entered,  as  it  were,  into  the  afternoon  of  the 
 world,  (see  1  Cor.  x.  ii  ;  Hob.  i.  2;  ix.  26;  James,  v.  8;  Rev.  xxii.  20.) 
 Even'thing  with  respect  to  degrees  is  what  it  is  by  comparison.  Tak- 
 ing into  consideration  the  whole  of  time,  the  coming  of  Christ  was  '  at 
 hand,'  (Phil.  iv.  5  ;)  but,  takmg  into  consideration  only  a  single  gene- 
 ration, the  day  of  Christ  was  not  '  at  hand.'— .4.  Fuller.  3.  A  /a/ling 
 away,  i}  aKoinaata—thc  article  here  is  emphatical,  denoting  both  that 
 this  was  to  be  a  great  apostasy,  the  apostasy  by  way  of  eminence — and 
 that  the  Thessalonians  had  been  already  apprised  of  its  coming,  (sec  ver. 
 5.}—Miickn.  The  word  signifies  the  rebelUon  of  subjects  against  the  su- 
 preme power  of  the  country  where  they  Uve  ;  or  the  revolt  of  solthers 
 against  their  general ;  or  the  hostile  separation  of  one  part  of  a  nation 
 from  another.  But  in  scripture  it  commonly  signifies  a  departiu-e, 
 either  in  whole  or  in  part,  from  a  religious  faith  and  obedience  formerly 
 professed,  (Acts,  xxi.  21 ;  Heb.  hi.  i2.)~'Chriudler,  see  Mackn.  The 
 judgment-day  shall  not  come  till  after  there  shall  be  a  remarkable  and 
 general  apostasy  from  the  faith,  worship,  and  holniess  of  the  gospel, 
 and  an  anti-Christian  power,  consisting  of  a  succession  of  impious 
 men.  shall  be  made  manifest,  which,  for  subtlety  and  strength  in 
 conntenanchig  and  propagating  the  vilest  corruption  of  doctrines  and 
 manners,  may  be  fitly  styled,  by  way  of  eminence,  '  that  man  of  sin.' — 
 Giiyse.  T/i'it  man  o/  sin — respecting  this  apostasy  and  man  of  sin 
 there  are  many  opinions.  That  it  was  a  great  apostasy  in  the  Chris- 
 tian church  between  the  days  of  Nero  and  Trajan. — So  Vitringa  and 
 Whitby.  That  it  was  the  defection  of  the  Gnostics,  eflFected  by  Simon 
 Magus,  who  was  the  man  of  sin ;  and  the  destruction  of  Jemsalem, 
 the  day  of  the  Lord.— //«)«.  There  are  other  opinions,  so  extremely 
 improbable,  thnt  it  is  enough  to  mention  only  the  names  of  the  respec- 
 tive authors  of  each.  Light/.,  Grot.,  Wets.,  Rosenm.  Tlie  general 
 opinion  of  commentators  is,  that  it  refers  to  the  odious  usurpation  of 
 the  Roman  poutihs,  and  the  abominable  corruptions  of  the  Romish 
 church.— So  Mfde,  Ben.'i.,  Gnyse,  Doddr.,  Gill,  Mackn.  The  apostasy 
 here  described  is  plainly  of  a  religious  nature ;  a  defection  from  the 
 true  rehgion  aiul  worship,  *  a  departing  from  the  faith,'  {I  Tim.  iv.  1  ;) 
 and  all  the  concurrent  marks  and  characters  will  justify  us  in  charging 
 it  on  the  church  of  Rome.—i?;?.  Newton.  It  intends  the  whole  hier- 
 archy of  Rome,  and  especially  popes,  who  may  be  called  '  the  man  of 
 sui,'  because  notoriously  sinful ;  not  only  sinners,  but  sin  itself,  a  sink 
 of  sin,  monsters  of  iniquity.  The  son  o/  perdition,  so  called  as  being 
 the  cause  of  the  perdition  of  thousands  of  souls  ;  for  the  souls  of  men 
 are  their  wares,  and  because  tliey  are,  by  the  righteous  judgment  of 
 
 God,  appointed  and  consigned  to  everlasting  destruction.  —  Gill. 
 4.  E-vaUetk  himsel/  above  all  tliat  is  called  Gyrf— this  has  been  the  cha- 
 racter of  the  pope,  exaltmg  himself  above  all  magistrates,  disposing  of 
 crowns,  &c.— See  Bp.  Newton.  The  usurpation  of  the  papacy  in  divine 
 things  is  so  unequalled,  that  if  these  words  are  not  applicable  to  it, 
 it  is  difficult  to  say  wlio  there  ever  has  been,  or  can  be,  to  whom  they 
 should  belong.  The  manner  in  which  the  pope  has  exalted  himself 
 above  magistrates  is  equally  remarkable  and  detestable ;  but  perhaps 
 it  is  not  so  immediately  referred  to  here,  as  his  taking  upon  him  to 
 control  everything  m  religion. — Doddr.  Sitteth  in  the  temple  o/  God, 
 means  the  Christian  church,  in  the  usual  style  of  the  apostles,  (see 
 1  Cor.  iii.  I6,  17;  2Cor.  vi.  Id;  i  Tim.  iii.  l.") ;  Rev.  iii.  12.)  'Sitting' 
 imphes  ruling  and  pi-esiding ;  '  sitting  as  God'  implies  claiming  divine 
 authority,  in  things  spiritual  as  well  as  temporal.  Shewing  kimsel/, 
 imphes  doing  it  with  pride  and  pomp,  parade  and  ostentation.  That 
 he  is  God—he  has  been  styled,  and  pleased  to  be  styled.  '  Our  Lord  God 
 the  Pope;'  'another  God  upon  earth;'  'king  of  kings,  and  lord  of 
 lords.'— B/?.  Newton.  6.  What  withholdeth,  the  Roman  empire  and 
 emperors  stood  in  his  way;  and  whilst  this  empire  lasted,  and  the 
 emperors  wore  the  imperial  crown,  and  sat  on  the  throne,  and  held 
 the  government  in  their  hands,  the  popes  could  not  come  at  the  height 
 of  their  ambition,  dignity,  and  authority,  nor  sliine  ui  their  glory ;  nor 
 could  the  whore  of  Babylon  take  her  seat  and  sit  upon  the  seven  hills 
 of  Rome,  ".  The  mystery  o/  iniquity,  the  doctrines  and  practices  of 
 Antichrist,  now  secretly  spread,  imbibed,  and  practised.  Dnth  already 
 work,  the  foundations  of  it  were  now  laying  hi  the  church  by  false 
 teachers,  as  idolatry  and  conmiunion  with  idolators,  worshippmg  of 
 angels,  will  worsliip,  difference  of  meats,  celibacy,  and  virginity,  &c. 
 He  who  now  letteth  will  let,  i.  e.,  the  Roman  empu-e.- Gi7/.  8.  With 
 the  spirit  o/ his  mouth,  with  the  free  preacliing  of  liis  gospel,  and  shall 
 utterly  destroy,  at  his  second  coming  in  the  glory  of  his  Father. — 
 Bp.  Newton,  y.  A/tcr  the  working  o/  Satan,  '  according  to  the  energy 
 of  Satan.'— i>orf'/i-.  '  After  the  strong  workmg  of  Satan.' — Mackn. 
 Tliat  malignant  and  deceitful  spirit  shall  endeavour  to  promote  this 
 anticluistian  kingdom  to  the  utiwo?,t.— Doddridge.  Lying  wonders, 
 *  miracles  of  falsehood,'  because  done  for  the  establishment  of  error. — 
 Mackn.  It  is  too  generally  known  that  the  corruptions  of  the  chiych 
 of  Rome  are  all  supported  and  authorized  by  feigned  visions  and 
 miracles,   by  frauds  and  impostures   of   every  kind.  —  Bp.  Newton. 
 
 10.  And  with  all  deceivableness  o/  unrighteousness,  8fc.,  '  and  with  all 
 the  deceit  of  unrighteousness  among  them  who  perish,'  SiC— Mackn. 
 
 11.  Strong  delusions,  'the  energy  of  deceit.'  Those  most  ridiculous 
 l)opish  leg-ends,  which  have  yet  gahied  such  credit  as  to  be  admitted 
 into  their  public  offices,  furnish  out  a  most  affecting  comment  upon 
 these  words.  12.  Damned,  '  condemned.' — Doddr.,  Mackn.  13.  From 
 the  beginning,  this  is  of  the  same  unport  with  'from  everlasting,' 
 {Prov.  \iu.  23.)  The  apostle  speaks  of  havuig  chosen  us  from  bctore 
 the  foundation  of  the  world,  &c.  (Eph.  i.  ■\.)—Guyse.  Dr.  Adam  Clarke 
 interprets  this  of  the  purposes  of  God  to  call  the  Gentiles  to  the  same 
 privileges  with  the  Jews. — Com.  in  loc.  15.  Traditions,  '  mstruc- 
 tions.' — Doddr.  In  the  apostle's  writings,  '  traditions'  are  those  doc- 
 trines and  precepts  which  persons  divinely  inspired  taught  as  the  doc- 
 trines and  precepts  of  God,  whether  they  taught  them  by  word  of 
 mouth  or  by  writing.  Thus,  the  apostle  terms  bis  doctrines  in  general 
 '  traditions,*  (2  Thess.  in.  6.}~Machn. 
 
 Reflections  ON  Chap.  II  — I.  An  awful  apostasy  from  the  '  purports  that  this  falling  away  should  not  be  a  renunciation 
 
 Christian  church.     The  *  fulling  away'  of  those  who  have  pro-  of  the  Christian  name,  but  should  have  its  seat  "in  the  temple 
 
 fessed  Christianity.       'The  description,'  says  Dr.  Pye  Smitli.  of  God,"  in  the  interior  of  the  church,  or  great  body  of  Chris- 
 1275 
 
Paul  cravetk  their  prayers. 
 
 II.  THESSALONIzVNS,  III. 
 
 The  idle,  and  disorder///  censured. 
 
 CHAP,  III. 
 
 1  He  craveth  fisir  prayers  for  himsdf,  3  ttstijiith  tvhat 
 roiijidince  he  hat.'t  intfuin^b  maktth  requistto  God 
 in  tlieir  behalf,  6  givcth  them  divers  prtc-pts,  espe- 
 cially to  shun  idleness,  and  ill  rompanyy  \iy  and  last  of 
 all  voncludt  th  with  pray*  r  and  salutation. 
 
 "CINALLY,  brethren,  "pray  for  us,  that  the 
 -*-  word  of  the  Lord  f  may  have  free  course, 
 and  be  glorified,  even  as  it  is  with  you  : 
 
 2  And  ''that  we  may  be  delivered  from  fun- 
 reasonable  and  wicked  meu  :  "^  for  all  men  have 
 not  faith. 
 
 3  But  '^  the  Lord  is  faithful,  who  shall  stablish 
 you,  and  ^  keep  you  from  evil. 
 
 4  And  ^  we  have  confidence  in  the  Lord 
 touching  you,  that  ye  both  do  and  will  do  the 
 things  which  we  command  you. 
 
 5  And  ^  the  Lord  direct  your  hearts  into  the 
 love  of  God,  and  into  ||  the  patient  waiting  for 
 Christ. 
 
 G  Now  we  command  you,  brethren,  in  the 
 name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  ^  that  ye  with- 
 draw yourselves  '  from  every  brotlier  that 
 walkeih  ^  disorderly,  and  not  after  '  the  tradi- 
 tion wliich  he  received  of  us. 
 
 7  For  yourselves  know  ""how  ye  ought  to 
 follow  us  :  for  "  we  behaved  not  ourselves  dis- 
 orderly amon.5  you  ; 
 
 8  Neitiier  did  we  eat  any  man's  bread  for 
 nouglit  ;  but  **  wrouglit  with  labour  and  travail 
 night  and  da)%  that  we  might  not  be  chargeable 
 
 I  Eph.  6  19 
 Col.  4.  3. 
 lTheB.5.23 
 
 t  Gr.  man 
 
 6  Horn  15  31 
 \  Gv.ah$ufd 
 
 c  Acts  ;;S  -Ji 
 
 Hom.lO.lb 
 
 d  r  Cor.  rs, 
 
 ITheg,5.24 
 *Johii  17. IS 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  B, 
 /■*  Cor.7.16 
 
 Gal.  5.  ID. 
 ?  I  Chr.  29. 
 
 19. 
 
 II  Or.  th^ 
 pfilipfiie  iif 
 
 1  Thea.  I,S. 
 h  lUim    115. 
 17    ver.   II 
 
 1  Tim.  6.5. 
 
 2  J-.liii  10. 
 
 1  Cox-  6  t  J , 
 IT 
 k  I  Tlies    1. 
 
 .  &  j  j; 
 
 1  1  TheB.  2. 
 10. 
 
 r  Acts  IS  3. 
 &  20.  3  J. 
 
 2  Cor    11.9 
 I  Tlies.g.9. 
 
 p  I  Cor.  9  6. 
 I  Thes.  8.6. 
 q  ver.  7. 
 
 r  Gen  3,  19 
 1 1hes.4.ll 
 
 t  ver.  6. 
 
 rlThes.*  II, 
 1  Tim  5.13 
 1  Pet.  4.  15. 
 
 H  1  Tbes.  4. 
 II. 
 
 X  Ephi.  28 
 
 V  Gal.  6.  9. 
 
 "l  Ot,  faint 
 tint. 
 
 Or,  lignify 
 thai  man  hy 
 ail  fpinlU. 
 
 z  Mai.  18.17. 
 
 I  Cor.  5.  9, 
 
 II  ver.  6. 
 
 I  Lev.  19  17. 
 
 IThesS.II. 
 b  Tit.  S.  III. 
 cRom.l5S3. 
 
 &  16.  SO. 
 
 I  Cor.Uai. 
 
 2Cor.lS.ll. 
 
 I  Thes. 5  2S 
 d  1  Cor    16. 
 
 21.  Col.  4. 
 
 18. 
 
 to  any  of  you  : 
 
 9  ^'  Not  because  we  have  not  power,  but  to 
 make  ^ourselves  an  ensample  unto  you  to  fol- 
 low us. 
 
 10  For  even  when  we  were  with  you,  this  we 
 commanded  you,  '  that  if  any  would  not  work, 
 neither  should  he  eat. 
 
 1 1  For  we  hear  that  there  are  some  "  which 
 walk  among  you  disorderly,  '  working  not  at 
 all,  but  are  busybodies. 
 
 1*2  "  Now  them  that  are  such  we  command 
 and  exhort  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  *  that 
 with  quietness  they  work,  and  eat  their  own 
 bread. 
 
 13  But  ye,  brethren,  *'  ||  be  not  weary  in  well 
 doing. 
 
 14  And  if  any  man  obey  not  our  word  ||  by 
 this  epistle,  note  tliat  man,  and  '  have  no  com- 
 pany with  him,  that  he  may  be  ashamed. 
 
 15  ^  Yet  count  him  not  as  an  enemy,  **  but 
 admonish  hitn  as  a  brother. 
 
 16  Now  *^  the  Lord  of  peace  himself  give  you 
 peace  always  by  all  means.  The  Lord  be  with 
 you  all. 
 
 17  ''The  salutation  of  Paul  with  mine  own 
 hand,  which  is  the  token  in  every  epistle  :  so 
 I  write. 
 
 18  ^  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  he 
 with  you  all.     Amen. 
 
 t  The  second  epistle  to  the  Thessalonians 
 was  written  from  Athens. 
 
 Chap.  III.— l.  May  have  free  course,  rpfxt],  '  might  run.'— .4.  Clarke. 
 '  May  nm  a  free  aud  unobbtructed  course  eveo'where.'—Z^orfn'r.  These 
 words  allude  to  the  applause  given  to  those  that  made  a  speedy  pro- 
 gress in  the  races,  which  constituted  so  important  a  part  of  tlie  Grecian 
 games.— So   Dr.  J.  Edwardx,  and  Clarke.  2.  Unrensonnhle—aioiioi 
 
 may  signify,  '  absurd,  cootumacious'  persons,  who  are  not  to  be  fixed 
 by  any  principles,  and  whom  no  topics  can  work  upon.— B/j.  Wilkins, 
 Faith— by  the  word  here,  I  understand  that  upright  and  candid  dispo- 
 sition wiiich  would  engage  men  to  receive  the  testimony  of  the  aposUes. 
 —Doddr.,  so  Mackn.  The  word  means  here,  *  fidelity  and  trustworthy 
 ness.'  agreeable  to  the  meaning  given  to  it  in  tlie  ne.xt  verse—'  but  the 
 J.,ord  is  faithful.'— .4.  Clarke.  The  passage  means,  that  all  professors  do 
 not  cordially  embrace  Christ. —Guijse.  3.  The  Lord  is  faithful,  what- 
 ever difficulties  we  maymect  with.— iJorftir.  From  evil,aT!->  tow  jro^tipov, 
 '  from  the  de\-il,'  or  '  from  the  evil  one.'— .4.  Clarke,  as  Mackn.  5.  Di- 
 red,  KaTcvffvvat ,  •  give  a  proper  direction  to  all  the  passions.'— .4. C/«rA-(?. 
 Into  the  pati€7it  waiting  for  Christ,  eic  vito}xovnv  tow  Xpto-Toi-,  this  may 
 
 rather  signify  'Christian  patience,'  or  that  patience  with  which  Christ 
 himself  suftercd  the  many  injuries  and  afflictions  through  which  he 
 passed. — Doddr.  6.  Walketh  disorderly,  aranroi,  *  not  accordmg  to 
 tactics.'  a  military  allusion. — C.  Taylor,  *  Disorderly  persons,'  arc 
 those  who  profess  to  be  subject  to  the  discipline  of  the  gospel,  yet  do 
 not  walk  according  to  its  precepts,  (see  1  Tim.  v.  14.) — Macknight. 
 ".  ll'e  behared  not  ourselves  disorderly,  ovk  tiTaKino-a/iti^,  '  we  did  not 
 go  out  of  our  rank ;'  *'we  kept  our  place,  and  discliargcd  all  its  duties.' 
 — A.  Clarke.  8.  Night  and  day,  seems  to  intimate  that  the  apostle  was 
 sometimes  obliged  to  sit  up  a  pait  of  the  night  at  his  buf-incss,  as  a 
 tent-maker,  that  he  might  have  the  day  at  leisure  to  preach  to  tho.«e 
 that  came  to  him  for  rehgious  instruction.— Uorfrf*-.  9.  Power, 
 t^uvutav, '  the  right.'— .■!.  Clarke.  Not  that  we  are  destitute  of  '  autho- 
 rity,' from  the  reason  of  things  and  the  express  commission  of  Clirist 
 hunself,  to  take  a  moderate  subsistence. —Dorfrfr.  17.  With  mine 
 own  hand — the  reason  of  this  was  to  prevent  forgeries,  his  letters  being 
 written  by  an  amanuensis. — Mackn. 
 
 tians.'  'That  its  character  would  be  wicked,  its  means  of 
 action  extremely  artful,  deceptive,  and  iniqtiitous,  and  its 
 tendency  most  destructive  ;  tliat  it  should  usurp  a  proud  do- 
 minion, and  claim  even  divine  prerogatives  ;  and  that  it  should 
 at  last  be  annihilated  by  the  pure  doctrine  and  invincible 
 power  of  the  Lord  Jesus.'  The  whole  history  of  popery 
 answers  to  this  description.  It  is  Christianity  awfully  cor- 
 rupted. It  retains  some  of  its  Ifading  features,  but  marred 
 and  mutilated  so  as  barely  to  be  distinguished  from  heathen- 
 ism itself.  But.  m  proporiion  as  the  light  of  revelation  shall 
 spread,  this  thick  darliness  shall  be  chased  away  before  the 
 brightness  of  its  rising;  and  the  word  of  God  which  is  the 
 Spirit,  the  breath  of  his  raoutb,  shall  destroy  every  remains 
 of  this  rampant,  spreading,  and  long -established  heresy. 
 Here  is, 
 
 11.  An  exhortation  to  believers  to  stand  font.  W'bat  was  writ- 
 ten to  the  Thessalonians  was  written  for  the  instruction  and 
 edification  of  the  future  ages  of  the  church  ;  and  the  grand 
 means  of  security  against  all  false  doctrines  and  heresies  is, 
 an  appeal  'to  the  word  and  to  the  testimony.'  Whatever 
 does  not  accord  with  this  ought  to  be  discarded  ;  and  amidst 
 the  discordant  opinions  of  varying  minds,  even  among  good 
 meti,  let  u?,  unfettered  by  the  trammels  of  education  and  pre- 
 judice, take  the  word  of  God  for  our  guide,  and  with  prayer- 
 lul  diligence  we  shall  not  fail  to  find  out  the  essential  truth. 
 
 IIkfle(tions  ON  Chap.  Ill,  —  I.  The  apostle  heie  solicits 
 pr-iy,r.     All  Christians  are  men  of  prayer,  and  the  '  prayer  of 
 
 the  righteous  man  availeth  much.'  The  object  which  lay 
 nearest  to  the  heart  of  the  apostle  was  the  success  of  tho 
 gospel;  and  knowing  how  much  that  success  depends  upon 
 divine  influences,  he  entreated  the  uniti  d  aid  of  his  hretbren 
 at  Thessalonica,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  might  have  free 
 course  and  be  gloritied.  If  we,  like  the  Thessalonians,  have 
 felt  the  power  of  this  gospel  on  our  hearts,  we  shall  not  fail  to 
 pray  that  the  same  blessings  may  be  communicated  to  others. 
 The  gospel,  like  the  fertilizing  rains  and  dews  of  heaven,  fall- 
 ing on  the  earth,  and  making  it  bring  forth  and  bud,  may  bless 
 others  while  it  blesses  ourselves,  filling  them  also  with  ibe 
 fruits  of  righteousness  which  are  by  Jesus,  to  the  glory  and 
 praise  of  God.      In  this  chapter, 
 
 n.  The  apostle  also  enjoins  obedience.  He  seems  especially 
 to  have  his  eye  fi.xed  on  some  indolent  and  gossipping  indi- 
 viduals, who  preferred  idling  to  working,  and  perhaps  rested 
 on  the  bounty  of  the  more  industrious  for  support.  There 
 are  yet  too  many  of  this  description,  who  wear  a  Christian  pro- 
 fession, who  bring  a  disgrace  upon  religion,  vrho  need  to  be 
 reminded  *  that  if  any  would  not  work  neither  should  he  eat,' 
 and  to  be  exhorted  'by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  with 
 quietness  they  work,  and  eat  their  own  bread. '  If  a  person 
 of  this  class  claims  the  friendship  of  a  sincere  Christian,  he  is 
 to  be  shunned  rather  than  countenanced.  His  example  is 
 pernicious,  for  '  evil  communications  corrupt  good  manners  ;' 
 and  the  apostle's  advice  is,  '  have  no  company  with  him,  that 
 he  may  be  ashamed.' 
 
 1:J76 
 
THK    FIRST    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 T  I  M  O  T  H  Y. 
 
 [Timothy  was  the  son  of  a  Greek,  but  his  mother  was  a  Jewess;  this  circumstance  accounts  for  the  fact  that  he  was  not  cir- 
 cumcised in  his  infancy.  Hence  it  was,  that  when  the  apostle  Paul  required  his  services  as  a  preaelier  of  the  gospel,  he 
 circumcised  him,  that  he  might,  hy  so  doing,  meet  the  prejudices  of  the  Jews  against  those  that  were  not  circumcised. 
 Timothy's  motlier,  Eimice,  and  liis  grandmother,  Lois,  were  believers  in  Christ,  and  having  been  tr;iined  up  from  his 
 infancy  In  the  knowledge  of  the  holy  scii])tures,  God  had  blessed  the  tuition  he  had  enjoyed  ;  so  that  he  was  prepared  to 
 receive  the  truth  from  the  lips  of  the  apostle,  who  is  viewed  as  his  spiritual  father,  since  he  calls  him  his  '  own  son  in  the 
 faith,'  (chap.  i.  2. )  Tlie  apostle  Paul  met  with  this  excellent  young  man  at  Lystra,  in  Lycaonia,  of  which  place  he 
 was  a  native,  and  chose  him  as  a  companion  in  his  travels.  It  appears  that  he  was  of  consideral)le  service  in  forwarding 
 the  great  objects  he  had  in  view,  and  rendered  him  much  assistance  in  preaching  the  gospel,  planting  churches,  and 
 writing  epistles.  He  was  also  his  messenger  to  Corinth,  Philippi,  and  Thessalonica;  and  now  he  had  left  him  to  abide 
 awhile  at  Epbesus,  to  check  the  growing  errors  and  heresies,  and  establish  discipline  and  order.  Asa  young  man,  the 
 apnslle  counsels  him  how  to  conduct  himself,  and  what  to  require  in  others  who  claimed  the  privileges  of  Christians. 
 This  and  the  following  epistle  have  therefore  been  peculiarly  valuable  in  guiding  the  church  of  Christ  in  its  discipline, 
 both  as  to  the  duty  of  pastors  and  of  members.  Some  have  thought  that  Timothy  was  placed  as  bishop  over  the  church 
 at  E]>hesus;  but  this  is,  by  others,  thought  not  likely,  seeing  that  his  residence  was  only  temporary,  and  that  they  had 
 elders,  bishops,  or  overseers,  whom  the  Holy  Ghost  had  set  over  them,  and  to  whom  the  apostle  gave  his  instructions  at 
 Miletus.  The  date  of  this  epistle  is  supposed  to  be  about  the  year  G4,  soon  after  the  apostle's  imprisonment  at  Rome. 
 In  this  epistle  there  are  references  to  Gen.  xlv.  10,  11;  Deut.  xlx.  13;  xxxii,  39;  Ezra,  vi.  10;  Isa.  i.  Ij;  xiv.  12; 
 Jer.  xxix.  7;  Ezek.  xxxiii.  9;  Mai.  i.  1 1 ;  and  Rev.  ix.  20,  and  xvl.  14.] 
 
 CHAP.   I. 
 
 1  Timothy  is  pjtt  in  mind  of  the  vhartie  which  was 
 given  unto  him  by  Paul  at  his  yoing  to  Macedonia. 
 6  Of  the  riyld  use  and  end  of  the  law.  11  Of  Saint 
 Paul's  caliiny  to  be  an  apostle,  20  and  of  Hymenceus 
 and  Alexander. 
 
 TDAUL,  an  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ  "by  the 
 -•-  commandment  "  of  God  our  Saviour,  and 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ,  '  which  is  our  liope  ; 
 
 •2  Unto  ''  Timothy, "  mi/  own  son  in  the  faith  : 
 '  Grace,  mercy,  oncf  peace,  from  God  our  Father 
 and  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
 
 ;3  As  I  besought  thee  to  abide  still  at  Epbe- 
 sus, ^vvlien  I  went  into  Macedonia,  that  tbou 
 niightest  charge  some  "  that  they  teach  no 
 other  doctrine. 
 
 4  '  Neither  give  heed  to  fables  and  endless 
 genealogies,  '  which  minister  questions,  rather 
 tlian  godly  edifying  which  is  in  faith:  so  do, 
 
 .5  Now  '  the  end  of  tl>e  coniinandment  is 
 charity  "'  out  of  a  pure  heart,  and  of  a  good 
 conscience,  and  o/ faith  unfeigned: 
 
 A.  D   65. 
 
 A.  D.  65. 
 
 11  Or,  li'.l 
 
 nimi..^  „l. 
 
 u  ch.fl.  4,20, 
 
 o  Acts  9   15. 
 
 u  cU,  6   4. 
 
 Gil.  1.1,11. 
 
 6cli.  2.  3,  Ik 
 
 4.  10.  Tit- 
 
 I.SililO. 
 &S.  4. 
 
 p  Rom.  7  12. 
 
 Jude  25. 
 
 c  Col.  1    !i7. 
 
 7  Gal   S.   19. 
 &  5.  2S. 
 
 d  Acts  16.  1. 
 
 1  Cor.  4  17. 
 
 Phil.  2,  19. 
 
 1  Thes.3.2. 
 
 cTit.  1.  4. 
 
 /Gal.  1.  3. 
 
 8  Tim,  1 .2. 
 
 I   Pet.  1.  2. 
 
 f  ch,  6.  3. 
 
 ff  Acts  20    1, 
 
 2  Tim.  4.3, 
 
 8.  Phil.  2. 
 
 Tit.  1.  9,  & 
 
 24. 
 
 2.  1. 
 
 ft  Gal.  1.6,7. 
 
 .  ch,  6.  15. 
 
 ch.6.  .S.  Ill 
 
 /  1  Cor  9 17 
 
 ;  ch.  i.  7.  8. 
 
 Gal.  2.  7. 
 
 6.  4,  20. 
 
 Col.  1.  25. 
 
 2  Tim.2  14, 
 
 1  Thes.2.4. 
 
 16,  2).  Tit. 
 
 ch.  2.  7. 
 
 1.  14.  St  S. 
 
 2  Tim. 1,11. 
 
 9. 
 
 Tit.   1.  3, 
 
 4ch.  6    4. 
 
 u  2  Cor.  12, 
 
 /  Rom.  IS.  8, 
 
 9. 
 
 10.  Gal.  6. 
 
 X  1  Cor  7.25. 
 
 14. 
 
 y  2  Cor-  3,  5, 
 
 ,11  2  Tim.  2. 
 
 6.  &  4    1. 
 
 22, 
 
 Col.  I    25. 
 
 6  From  wliich  Koaie  ||  having  swerved  have 
 turned  aside  unto  "  vain  jangling; 
 
 7  Desiring  to  be  teachers  of  the  law  ;  "  under- 
 standing neither  what  they  say,  nor  whereof 
 they  affirm. 
 
 8  But  we  know  that  ^the  law  (5  good,  if  a 
 man  use  it  lawfully; 
 
 9  '^  Knowing  this,  that  the  law  is  not  made 
 for  a  righteous  man,  but  for  the  lawless  and 
 disobedient,  for  the  ungodly  and  for  sinners, 
 for  unholy  and  profane,  for  murderers  of  fathers 
 and  murderers  of  mothers,  for  manslayers, 
 
 10  For  whoremongers,  for  them  that  defile 
 themselves  with  mankind,  for  menstealers,  for 
 liars,  for  perjured  persons,  and  if  there  be  any 
 other  thing  that  is  contrary  ""  to  sound  doctrine  ; 
 
 11  According  to  the  glorious  gospel  of  *  the 
 blessed  God,  *  which  was  committed  to  my 
 trust. 
 
 12  And  I  thank  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  "  who 
 hath  enabled  me,  *  for  that  he  counted  me 
 faithful,  ''putting  me  into  the  ministry; 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.— I.  Commandment,  'appointment.* — Whitby, 
 Boothr.  2.  My  own  son  in  the  faith,  *  brought  to  salvation  through 
 Christ  by  my  ministry  alone.* — A.  Clarke,  so  Toplndy.  4.  Fables, 
 called  '  Jewish  fables,'  Titus,  i.  14,  because  they  were  invented  by  the 
 Jewish  doctors,  to  recommend  the  inptitutions  of  Moses. — Macknight. 
 Their  Talmud  abounds  with  them.— .J.  Clarke.  Endless  genealogies — 
 these  genealogies  were  lonp,  intricate  pedigrees,  by  which  they  en- 
 cleavoureil  to  prove  themselves  Jews,  Levites,  priests,  and  the  like  ; 
 and  to  this  we  may  add  the  genealogy  and  pedigree  of  their  conditions, 
 which  they  derived  by  a  long  line  of  succession,  through  the  hands  of 
 many  doctors. — Light/.,  Gnyse.  These  genealogies  were  especially 
 vain,  in  the  circumstances  in  which  the  Jews  then  were,  and  to  which 
 they  would  shortly  be  reduced. — Doddr.  5.  The  end  of  the  command- 
 vient  is  charity,  '  but  these  genealogical  questions  lead  to  strife  and 
 debate.' — .4.   Clarke.  6.    i'ain  jant^ling,   '  vain   discourses   of  Tal- 
 
 miidical  fables,  and  endless  genealogies.'— WAiVAj/.  7.  Desiring  to 
 be  teachers  of  the  law,  ^c.,  '  setting  up  for  doctors  and  interpreters  of 
 the  Jewish  law,  by  their  corrupt  and  uncertain  traditions,  and  to  im- 
 pose it  upon  the  Gentiles,  while  they  knew  not  its  true  ;cope  and 
 design.' — Guyse,  so  Pyle,  and  Mliitby.  S.  The  law  is  good,  rightly 
 understood,  and  when  not  set  in  opposition  to  the  gospel.— Bwr.  The 
 ceremonial  law  is  of  great  use,  if  we  consider  it  as  having  a  t^'pical 
 reference  to  Christ  and  a  gospel  state,  and  not  as  of  perpetual  obliga- 
 tion ;  and  so  is  the  moral  law,  in  itself,  holy,  just,  and  good,  and  use- 
 1-277 
 
 fill  to  convince  of  sin,  and  of  our  need  of  a  Saviour  ;  and  of  immutable 
 obligation,  as  a  rule  of  life  and  standard  of  righteousness,  though  not 
 for  justification.  9.  Not  made  for  a  righteous  man,  '  not  made  to 
 condemn  him' — Guyse.  '  Not  made  for  his  coercion,  restraint,  or 
 pimishment.' — Bp.  Hall.  The  words  iiKaioj  vofio^  ov  kcitui  may  be  ren- 
 dered, *  the  law  does  not  lie  upon  a  righteous  man  or  against  him.' 
 It  docs  not  lie  as  a  weight  or  burden  on  him  ;  its  precept  does  not  lie 
 on  him  as  a  task  to  be  performed  ;  nor  does  its  penaltj'.  the  curse,  lie 
 on  him  as  a  piniishraent  to  he  borne  by  h'un.—Gill.  The  claims  of  the 
 law  are  satisfied ;  its  sentence  is  superseded ;  its  condemning  power  is 
 abolished  with  respect  to  a  righteous  man.  —  Toplady.  Lawless, 
 ai'o/iO£9,  those  who  will  not  be  bound  by  a  law.  Disobedient,  awrro- 
 TaKTotf,  those  who  acknowledge  no  authority.  Ungodly,  afre/Sco-t, 
 the  irreligious,  those  who  do  not  worship  God.  Sinners,  a^apTwKoi^, 
 those  who  transgress  the  laws.  Unholy,  avoatoi^,  totally  polluted 
 within  and  without.  Profane,  fie^r\\oii,  too  abominable  for  public 
 worship.  Monolayers,  av?<po(povoiv,  murderers  simply. — A.  Clarke. 
 10.  Menstealers,  who  kidnapped  and  sold  free  persons  for  slaves.  This 
 was  death,  Exod.  xxi.  16 ;  Deut.  xxiv.  7- — Pict.  Bib.  Sound,  or  '  whole- 
 some.'—  Wells.  1 1 .  The  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God,  ei'uyyeXioi^ 
 T»iv  5offi9  Tov  tiaK<ipiov  Oeoi-,  '  the  gospel  of  the  glory  of  the  blessed,  or 
 happy,  God;'  a  dispensation  which  exhibits  the  glory  of  all  his  attri- 
 butes.— Clarke.  12.  Enabled  me,  '  by  the  assistance  of  his  Spirit, 
 being  myself  Insufficient  for  this  work,'  (2  Cor.  iii.  5,  6.)— Whitby, 
 
Paul's  charge  to  Timothy. 
 
 I.  TIMOTHY,  11. 
 
 IVie  duty  of  prayer. 
 
 13  ^  Who  was  before  a  blasphemer,  and  a 
 persecutor,  and  injurious:  but  I  obtained 
 mercy,  because  ^I  did  ;7ignorantly  in  unbelief. 
 
 14  *'  And  the  grace  of  our  Lord  was  exceed- 
 ing abundant  *"  with  faitli  ''and  love  which  is 
 in  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 Ij  ^  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of 
 all  acceptation,  that  ^  Christ  Jesus  came  into 
 the  world  to  save  sinners ;  of  whom  I  am  chief. 
 
 I G  Howbeit  for  this  cause  ^  I  obtained  mercy, 
 that  in  me  first  Jesus  Clirist  might  shew  forth 
 all  Ion gsutfe ring,  ''  for  a  pattern  to  them  which 
 should  hereafter  believe  on  liim  to  life  ever- 
 lasting. 
 
 17  Now  unto  '  the  King  eternal, '' immortal, 
 ■  invisible,  ""  the  only  wise  God,  "  be  honour 
 and  glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 18  This  charge  "^  I  commit  unto  thee,  son 
 Timothy,  ^  according  to  the  propltecies  which 
 went  before  on  thee,  that  thou  by  them  might- 
 est  *■  war  a  good  warfare ; 
 
 19  "^  Holding  faith,  and  a  good  conscience; 
 which  some  having  put  away  concerning  faith 
 "have  made  shipwreck: 
 
 20  Of  wliom  is  *  HymeuiEUS  and  "Alexander; 
 whom  I  have  ''delivered  unto  Satan,  that  they 
 may  learn  not  to  ^blaspheme. 
 
 fch.3.9,      *cb.6.9.       /2Tim.2.IT.     u2Tim.2.11.    xlCor.fi.fi. 
 
 ::  Aces  8  3- 
 
 *c  9.  I. 
 
 I  Cor    15.9. 
 
 Phil.  3.  6. 
 a  l.uke  -23. 
 
 3*.  John  9. 
 
 SS.-ll.  Acts 
 
 3.17.h  26.9 
 b  Koto.  5  20 
 
 I  Cor.  15. 1 1). 
 c  STim.l.lS. 
 d  T.ulce7.47 
 
 ch. 
 
 1.  h 
 
 4.  9.  3  Tim, 
 2.  II.  Tit. 
 
 rMat,  9  13, 
 ■   Mark  2.  17. 
 
 Luke  5. 32. 
 
 «c  19.  10, 
 
 Rom.  5.  8. 
 
 I  John  3.5. 
 i/2Cor.  4.  1. 
 /i  Acts  I3.S9. 
 .  I's.  10,  16. 
 
 &  U5.  13. 
 
 Dan.  7.  14. 
 
 eh.  G.  15,16. 
 A  Rom.  1.23. 
 /  .Tohn  l.ltj. 
 
 Heb.   11.27. 
 
 I  John  4  12. 
 m  Kom.  16. 
 
 27.  Jude  25 
 «  I  Chr.  29. 
 
 II. 
 o  ch.  6.  13, 
 
 n  Or.  dtiire. 
 •1  Kzra6.  10. 
 
 Jer.  29.  7 
 b  Bora,  13. 1. 
 !l  Or,  PMuWrt/ 
 
 place 
 c  Kom.  12  2. 
 
 ch.  5-  i. 
 d  ch.   1-  I. 
 
 2  Tim.  1  9. 
 e  EzeW.  19 
 
 2H.  John  3. 
 
 16,  17. 
 
 Tit.  2,  M 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  9. 
 /John  17.3. 
 
 2  Tim.a.?.-*. 
 U  Rom.  3.29, 
 
 3'l.  A  10.12. 
 
 Gal.  3.  20. 
 h  Heb.  8.  6. 
 
 &  9.  15. 
 Mat. 20.28. 
 
 Mark  10.15. 
 
 Eph    1.  7. 
 
 Tit  2.  U. 
 A  1  Cor   1.  6. 
 
 2Thea.l.lO. 
 
 2  Tim  1.8 
 1!  Or,  .1  testi- 
 
 l  Rom!  5.  6. 
 
 G,il    4.  *. 
 
 Eph.  1   9.& 
 
 3.5.  Tit. 1.3. 
 n  Eph. 3.7,  S- 
 
 2  Tim. 1. 11. 
 1  Rom-  9.  !. 
 ?  Rom    II. 
 
 I.*).  Bclfi-ie. 
 
 Gal.  I.  16. 
 p  Mai.  I.  II. 
 
 John  4.21. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  That  it  is  meet  to  pray  and  give  thmiks  for  all  mf-ii, 
 and  the  reason  why.  9  How  women  should  he  attired. 
 12  They  are  not  permitted  to  teach.  15  They  skitU 
 he  saved,  noticilhstnnding  the  testimonies  of  God's 
 wrath,  in  childbirth,  if  they  continue  in  faith. 
 
 T  li  EXHORT  therefore,  that,  first  of  all, 
 •*■     supplications,   prayers,  intercessions,  and 
 
 giving  of  thanks,  be  made  for  all  men ; 
 
 '2  °  For  kings,  and  ^for  all  that  are  in  ||  au- 
 thority;  that  we  may  lead  a  quiet  and  peace- 
 able life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty. 
 
 3  For  tliis  is  "^  good  and  acceptable  in  the 
 sight  **  of  God  our  Saviour; 
 
 4  ®  Who  will  have  all  men  to  be  saved,  "^  and 
 to  come  unto  the  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
 
 5  ^  For  there  is  one  God,  and  ''one  mediator 
 between  God  and  men,  the  man  Christ 
 Jesus ; 
 
 6  '  Who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  all,  ''  ||  to 
 be  testified  '  in  due  time. 
 
 7  "'  Whereunto  I  am  ordained  a  preacher, 
 and  an  apostle,  ("  I  speak  the  truth  in  Christ, 
 fi7id  lie  not;)  "a  teacher  of  the  Gentiles  in 
 faith  and  verity. 
 
 8  I  will  therefore  that  men  pray  ^  every  where. 
 
 13.  A  hlnaphemer,  ha\ing  not  only  himself  spoken  evil  of  Christ,  but 
 encouraged,  and  even  compelled,  others  to  do  so,  (Acts,  xxvi.  11.)— 
 Doddr.  Because  1  did  it  ig^norantly,  '  had  I  acted  in  violation  of  my 
 ovni  knowledgre  and  convictions,  it  is  probable  I  should  have  been 
 ?iven  up  to  judicial  blindness  ;  but  as  I  igrnorantly  thought  that  I  was 
 doing  God  service,  he  had  mercy  on  me,  and  in  pardoning  me  the 
 grace  of  Christ  was  illustriously  displayed.'— BooMr.  14.  Was  ex- 
 ceeding abundant,  iirfpeirXeoiuffe,  '  superabovmded.'- ffiit/se,  so  Doddr., 
 and  Miwkn.  With  faith  and  lave,  *  working  eflfectual  faith  in  my  heart, 
 and  producing  a  cordial,  affectionate,  love  in  my  soul,  for  himself,  his 
 people,  and  cause.*- Gi//.  15.  This  is  a  faithful  sat/inff,  ;^c.,  irtaro^  6 
 
 hufov.  '  assuredly  true,  and  worthy  of  entire  acceptance,  is  the  posi- 
 tion that,'  hc.—Blfjomf.  \Q.  In  me  first,  or,  'in  me  the  chief '  of 
 sinners.— Bens.  For  n  pattern,  that  is,"'  for  a  pattern  of  the  pardon  of 
 them  who  should  hereafter  believe.'— jV/zcAn.  i".  Now,   ^c— St. 
 
 Paul,  being  carried  away  vrith  a  delightful  sense  of  God's  mercy,  con- 
 cludes this  digression  with  a  fer\-ent  effusion  of  gratitude  to  God.— 
 Bur.  18.  This  charge,  to  the  Jiidaizers,  not  to  teach  differently.— 
 Markn.,  so  Gill.  The  charge  which  follows,  {chap.  ii.  i.)~lioothr. 
 According  to  the  prophecies  wttir/i  went  before  on  thee,  that  is,  the  testi- 
 monies of  the  brethren  at  Lystra  and  Iconium,  and  the  good  reports 
 they  made  of  him  to  the  apustle,  which  foreboded  future  usefulness  ; 
 or  probably  some  prophecies  of  prophets  of  those  times  foretelling  the 
 future  work  of  Timothy.— G/W.  The  latter  idea,  Baj-ter  also.  War 
 a  gnttd  warfare,  be  more  industrious  to  fulfil  his  ministry,  which  is 
 signified  by  a  '  warfare,'  in  allusion  to  the  ser\ice  of  the  Invites,  which 
 is  so  called  Num.  viii.  24,  with  zeal  and  courage,  faithfulness  and  in- 
 tegrity.—<;i7/.  So  in  the  New  Testament  the  Christian  minister  is  a 
 '  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,'  [2  Tim.  ii.  3.)— irAi7A//.  19.  Holding  faith, 
 '  holding  fast  faith.'— J/acA-n.  Faith  here  means  '  the  doctrine  of 
 faith  ;*  a  sense  in  which  it  is  often  used  in  this  epistle,  {chap.  iii.  9 ; 
 iv.  1  ;  v.  8;)  and  it  means,  '  holding  it  forth  in  the  ministry  of  the 
 word.' — Gill.  As  it  is  here  distinguished  from  a  good  conscience,  it  is 
 plain  that  faith  signifies  an  assent  to  the  truth  of  Christianity.- Dorfrfr. 
 Made  shipwrtclc—m  this  metaphorical  passage  the  apostle  intimates 
 that  a  good  conscience  is  the  pilot  who  must  guide  us  iji  oar  voyage 
 through  the  stormy  sea  of  this  life  into  the  harbour  of  hGa.\en.—Mackn. 
 Jiainng  put  away,  awwaafsevoif  ca.n  by  no  means  prove  that  they  ever 
 
 had  them  before,  as  some  contend,  for  the  word  here  properly  signifies 
 *  to  reject  or  repel,'  as  in  Acts,  vii.  27.— Guyse.  20.  Alexander,  pro- 
 bably the  person  mentioned  Acts,  xLx.  33  ;  and  the  '  coppersmith,' 
 named  2  Tim.  iv.  14,  15.  Delii^ered  unto  Satan,  to  inflict  on  him  cer- 
 tain pains  and  evils,  which  might  possibly  reclaim  him. — Guyse,  Doddr. 
 1  Cor.  V.  5,  where  see  notes  ;  Acts,  six.  33  ;  2  Tim,  iv.  14. 
 
 Chap.  II.  — I.  First  of  all,  this  may  regard  public  prayer. — Gilt, 
 Supplications,  Set^frei^,  prayers  for  averting  evils.  Prai/ers,  n-(<)o<reuxa<, 
 prayers  for  obtainuig  good  things.  Intercessions,  cvrtv^tt-:,  prayers  in 
 behalf  of  others.  Gii'ing  nf  thanks,  evxiipiaruis:,  praises  for  blcssijigs 
 received. — A.  Clarke,  as  Ham.  All  men.  heathens  as  well  as  Christians, 
 enemies  as  well  as  friends.  Ry  this  exhortation  we  are  taught,  while 
 men  live  not  to  despair  of  their  conversion.  4.  WJw  will  have,  *  who 
 commandeth.' — Mackn.  All  men  to  he  saved,  '  all  sorts  of  men.' — 
 Ridgley,  Gill.  As  Jesus  Christ  said  (Matt,  xxiii.  :i7]  that  he  desired  the 
 salvation  of  the  Jews,  because  he  had  called  to  them,  and  tenderly 
 solicited  them;  so  St.  Paul  expresses  himself  here,  that  God  desires 
 the  salvation  of  all  men,  generally,  and  without  distinction  of  con- 
 ditions and  people,  (Gal.  iii.  28  ;)  because  he  sends  his  gospel  to  all, 
 and  invites  all  to  his  favour,  (Prov.  i.  20,  21,  and  \'iii.  l,  2,  3,  &c. ; 
 Matt.  xxii.  9,  and  xxviii.  19  j  Acts,  x\'ii.  30.) — Mar.  The  meaning 
 seems  to  be,  that  God  has  made  sufficient  provision  for  the  salvation 
 of  all,  and  that  it  is  to  be  considered  as  the  general  declaration  of  his 
 will,  that  all  who  know  the  truth  themselves  should  publish  it  to  all 
 around  them,  so  far  as  their  influence  can  extend. — Doddr.  5.  One 
 God,  who  is  the  God  of  the  CJentiles  as  well  as  of  the  Jews,  (Rom.  iii. 
 29,  30. J — Whitby.  One  mediator,  one  species  of  idolatr>'  was,  wor. 
 shipping  God  tlu'ough  false  mediators. — Jitrtin.  The  word  MeTfT^ic. 
 '  mediator,'  signifies  literally,  '  a  middle  person  ;'  one  whose  office  it  is 
 to  reconcile  two  parties  at  enmity  ;  ai)eace-maker. — A. Clarke.  There  is 
 but  one  Mediator  for  all  the  people  of  the  world,  (see  Gal.  iii.  20  ;  Eph. 
 iv.  5;  Rom.  x.  12;  and  comp.  John,  i.  29,  and  1  John,  ii.  2.) — Mar. 
 See  Gal.  iii.  20,  note.  6.  A  ransom  for  all,  so  that  no  nation,  rank, 
 or  condition  of  men  are  excluded  from  the  benefit  of  his  death. — Doddr. 
 The  expression  will  bear  a  more  general  meaning.— il/ocA-n.  '  He 
 stood  in  the  place  of  all,  a  commutative  ransom  j'  for  so  the  original 
 phrase  emphatically  signifies. — Bet'.  7.  In  faith  and  verity,   ad- 
 
 ministering the  gospel  faithfully  and  truly.— Ham.        8.  Every  where. 
 
 Reflfctions  on  Chap.  I.  —  I.  We  are  here  cautioned 
 ayainst  unprofitable  controversies.  Not  that  all  controversies  are 
 unprofitable;  if  carried  oa  in  a  Christian  spirit,  they  often 
 satisfactorily  elicit  truth,  and  so  produce  mucli  advantage. 
 But  let  us  turn  aside  from  '  vain  janglings,'  wild  fancies  and 
 speculations,  which  minister  strife,  and  cannot  possibly  lead 
 to  any  spiritual  edification. 
 
 II.  We  are  here  tauyht  not  to  despise  the  law.  'Believers,' 
 say  some,  *  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  law.'  True  ;  as  Dr. 
 Gill  observes,  '  it  never  was  made  with  any  such  view  as  to 
 obtain  righteousness  by  it;  for  a  righteous  man,  as  Adam  in 
 innocence,  and  all  that  are  justified  by  Christ's  righteousness, 
 need  it  not  for  such  a  purpose,  because  they  are  already 
 rii^bteous,  and  sinners  can  never  attain  to  righteousness  by  it, 
 since  it  cannot  give  life  unto  them.  But  still  tbe  rigbteous 
 man  delights  in  it,  and  cbeerfully  serves  it,  and  the  love  of 
 Christ  constrains  him  to  obey  it  freely,  for  it  does  not  lie  on 
 him,  or  ac-.iinst  him,  as  a  cursing  or  condemning  law,  since 
 1278 
 
 Christ  has  redeemed  him  from  the  curse  of  it.' 
 
 III.  We  are  here  encouraged  hy  an  examjile  of  the  excevdina 
 riches  of  Divine  f/race.  Here  is  a  monument  of  mercy  set  up 
 to  be  regarded  by  all  the  world.  '  A  persecutor,  a  blasphemer, 
 an  oppressor,*  called  to  be  an  apostle  !  Hence  we  are  to  draw 
 this  heart-cheering  conclusion— *  that  it  is  a  faithful  saying 
 and  worthy  of  all  accptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the 
 world  to  save  sinners.' 
 
 1\'.  We  are  here  warned  ayainst  the  dangers  of  apostasy. 
 HymentEus  and  Alexander  seem  to  have  advanced  to  the  most 
 awful  lengths  in  depravity,  to  have  '  blasphemed  the  truths 
 of  Christ,  and  reviled  his  faithful  servants.'  Thus,  as  Dod- 
 dridge expresses  it.  lliey  'made  shipwreck  upon  the  rocks  of 
 surrounding  temptations,  and  so  lost  all  th;it  precious  trea- 
 sure by  which,  had  it  been  wisely  guarded  and  improved, 
 tliey  might  have  been  for  ever  rich  and  happy.'  Would  that 
 wn  had  never  seen  any  modern  professors  like  Hymenx-us  and 
 Alexander  ! 
 
Women  not  permitted  to  teach. 
 
 I.  TIMOTHY,  III. 
 
 Of  bishops  and  deacons. 
 
 ''  lifting  up    liulj'    liaiids,   without    wrath   and 
 doubting. 
 
 9  In  like  manner  also,  that  '  women  adorn 
 themselves  in  modest  apparel,  with  shamefaced- 
 ness  and  sobriety  ;  not  with  ||  broidered  hair, 
 or  gold,  or  pearls,  or  costly  array  ; 
 
 10  '  But  (which  becometh  women  professing 
 godliness)  with  good  works. 
 
 1 1  Let  the  woman  learn  in  silence  with  all 
 subjection. 
 
 12  But '  I  suffer  not  a  woman  to  teach,  "  nor 
 to  usurp  authority  over  the  man,  but  to  be  in 
 silence. 
 
 13  For  "  Adam  was  first  formed,  then  Eve. 
 
 14  And  *'  Adam  was  not  deceived,  but  the 
 woman  being  deceived  was  in  the  transgres- 
 sion. 
 
 15  Notwithstanding  she  shall  be  saved  in 
 childbearing,  if  they  continue  in  faith  and  cha- 
 rity and  holiiiess  with  sobriety. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 2  How  bisfiojiSy  and  deacons,  and  their  ivives  shovld  he 
 qualified,  J  4  and  to  what  end  Saint  Paid  wrote  to 
 Timothy  of  these  thinys.  15  Of  the  church,  and  the 
 blessed  truth  thvriin  taught  and  professed. 
 
 nPHIS  ^  is  a  true  saying,  If  a  man  desire  the 
 •■-      office   of  a  '^bishop,  he  desireth  a  good 
 
 "  work. 
 2  *"  A   bishop  then  must  be  blameless,  "^  the 
 
 husband  of  one  wile,  vigilant,  sober,  ||  of  good 
 
 q  pb.  1*1.  a. 
 
 Is.  1.  15. 
 r  I  Pet.  3.  3, 
 
 ||Or,;./aifrd. 
 «  1  Pvt.  3.  4 
 
 *  lCor.l4.S4. 
 
 X  Geo.  1.27. 
 &  2.  18,  22. 
 
 1  Cor.  Il.fi, 
 9. 
 
 S  Gen.  S.  6. 
 
 2  Cor   11.3. 
 
 a  ch.  1.  15. 
 U  Acts  20. as. 
 
 Phil.  I.  I. 
 c  Kph.  4,  12. 
 d  Tit.  I.  C, 
 
 e  ch.  5.  9. 
 II  Or,  iwdest. 
 
 f  2  Tiui.  2. 
 
 24. 
 g  ver.  8. 
 
 Tit.  1.  7. 
 II  Or,  Not 
 
 ready  lo 
 
 quarrel,  and 
 
 offer  lOTDiig, 
 
 wine. 
 A  8  Tim.  2. 
 
 24. 
 
 t"  I  Pet.  5.  2. 
 A  2  Tim   2. 
 
 24. 
 /  Tit.  I.  6. 
 II  Or,  one 
 
 newiy  come 
 
 lo  (he  fail h. 
 m  le.  1-1.  \i. 
 n  Acts  82. 12. 
 
 1  Cor.  5. 1  2. 
 
 IThes.4.l2. 
 0  ch.  6.  9. 
 
 S Tim.  2.26. 
 p  Acta  6.  3. 
 a  ver.  S. 
 
 Lev.  10.  9. 
 
 Kze.  44.21. 
 
 rch.  1.  19. 
 
 behaviour,  given  to  hospitality,  'apt  to  teach  ; 
 
 3  ^  II  Not  given  to  wine,  ''no  striker,  'not 
 greedy  of  filthy  lucre;  but  ''patient,  not  a 
 brawler,  not  covetous; 
 
 4  One  that  ruleth  well  his  own  house,  '  having 
 his  children  in  subjection  with  all  gravity; 
 
 5  (For  if  a  man  know  not  how  to  rule  his 
 own  house,  how  shall  he  take  care  of  the 
 church  of  God  V) 
 
 6  Not  II  a  novice,  lest  being  lifted  up  with 
 pride  "^  he  fall  into  the  condemnation  of  the 
 devil. 
 
 7  Moreover  he  must  have  a  good  report  "of 
 them  which  are  without ;  lest  he  fall  into  re- 
 proach °  and  the  snare  of  the  devil. 
 
 8  Likewise  must  ''  the  deacons  be  grave,  not 
 doubletongued,  ''  not  given  to  much  wine,  not 
 greedy  of  filthy  lucre  ; 
 
 9  '  Holding  the  mystery  of  the  faith  in  a  pure 
 conscience. 
 
 10  And  let  these  also  first  be  proved;  then 
 let  them  use  the  office  of  a  deacon,  being 
 found  blameless. 
 
 11  ^  Even  so  imtst  their  wives  be  grave,  not 
 slanderers,  sober,  faithful  in  all  things. 
 
 12  Let  the  deacons  be  the  husbands  of  one 
 wife,  ruling  their  children  and  their  own  houses 
 well. 
 
 13  For  '  they  that  have  ||  used  the  office  of  a 
 deacon  well  purchase  to  them'^elves  a  good 
 
 ev  iravTi  roTtu),  the  Jews  first  thought  that  no  prayer  could  be  accept- 
 able but  from  the  temple  at  Jerusalem ;  afterwards,  this  was  extended 
 to  the  Holy  Land  ;  and  when  dispersed,  they  added  their  oratories,  or 
 places  of  prayer,  principally  by  rivers  and  by  the  seaside,  and  in  these 
 they  admitted  of  prayer,  but  nowhere  else.  To  these  prejudices  allu- 
 sions may  here  be  made. — A.  Clarke.  That  is,  in  every  place  appointed 
 for  public  worship. — Mtickn.  Lifting  up  holy  hands,  the  Jews  spread 
 out  their  arms  and  hands  in  prayer. — A.  Clarke.  The  ceremony  of 
 washing-  was,  among  the  Jews,  constantly  used  before  prayers.  This 
 significant  rite  the  apostle  here  applies  to  the  thing  signified  by  it — 
 namely,  cleanness  of  the  heart  and  actions. — Ham.  Without  wrath, 
 inward  resentment  of  injuries,  accompanied  with  a  resolution  of  doing 
 exil  to  those  who  have  injured  us.  Doubtini(s,  6ia\o-(iaiioi,  '  disput- 
 ings,'  by  which  bigots  arc  inflamed  into  a  rage  against  those  who  difier 
 from  them. — Mackn.  *  Doubtuigs'  are  meant;  so  as  not  to  doubt  of 
 the  promises  of  God. — Schleusner,  9.  In  modest  apparel,  for  some 
 of  the  Greek  women  wore  the  cttoAij,  '  stola,'  a  loose  garment,  girded 
 with  a  zone,  v;hich  those  that  were  immodest  allowed  to  be  left  open 
 at  the  side,  so  as  improperly  to  expose  their  limbs.  Hence  this  ex- 
 hortation.—So  A.  Clarke.  12.  To  teach,  in  the  public  assemblies  as 
 ministers  do,  but  only  in  private,  those  of  their  own  sex  and  children. 
 — Boothr.  \A.  Then  Ene,  out  of  liim,  to  denote  her  subordination  to, 
 and  dependence  upon,  him.— Hum.  14.  Adam  was  not  deceived,  but 
 the  woman — Adam  was  not  deceived  at  all,  neither  by  the  serpent  nor 
 by  his  wife ;  he  knew  what  he  did  wheu  he  took  the  fruit  of  her, 
 and  did  eat;  now  since  not  Adam,  but  Eve,  was  deceived,  it  appears 
 that  the  man  is  the  more  proper  person  to  bear  rule  and  authority. — 
 Gill.  The  apostle  intimates,  that  the  tempter  chose  to  make  his  first 
 attack  on  the  woman,  as,  in  her  original  and  most  glorious  state,  the 
 inferior,  and,  consequently,  less  fit  in  future  life  to  take  the  lead  in  im- 
 portant aft'airs. — Doddr.  Was  in  the  transgression,  '  became  in  trans- 
 gression,' '  fell  into  transgression.'  15.  She  shall  be  saved,  Sfc,  that 
 is,  Eve  shall  be  saved,  through  the  promised  seed,  which  eventually 
 sprang  from  her. — Mackn.  This  cannot  relate  generally  to  Eve,  who 
 was  dead  long-  before;  whereas,  this  is  a  promise  for  time  to  come, 
 and  therefore  it  must  relate  to  women  iii  general  that  were  involved 
 with  her  in  the  sentence  pronounced  Gen.  iii.  iG  ;  and  so,  '  she'  is  a 
 noun  of  multitude,  includmg  the  whole  sex  ;  by  an  analogy  of  number, 
 frequent  in  such  cases,  it  is  expressed  in  the  latter  part  of  the  verse  by 
 '  their'  contuiuing,  ^c. — Gur/se,  see  Whitby.  The  passage  does  not 
 mean  that  women  shall  not  die  in  child-bearing,  because  this  is  to  con- 
 tradict plain  fact ;  nor  that  pious  women  may  not  so  die  ;  but  that  the 
 posterity  of  Eve,  in  all  generations,  male  or  female,  are  to  be  saved 
 through  the  child-bearing  of  a  woman;  this  is  evident  by  adding,  'If 
 they  live  in  faith,'  Sec— Mackn. 
 Chap.  III.— -1.  Bishop,  this  word  and  '  presb>'ter'  are  sometimes  in 
 
 the  New  Testament  used  indiscriminately  to  denote  the  same  church 
 officer,  (see  Tit.  i.  5,  7.) — Wells.  A  good  work,  an  honourable  office. — 
 Pyle.  2.  Blameless,  oi  inoffensive  Hie.— Bp.  Hall.  AveTnXnTrrov,  'a 
 person  against  whom  no  evil  can  be  proved;  one  who  is  everywhere 
 invubierable.'  The  word  is  a  metaphor  taken  from  the  case  of  an  ex- 
 pert and  skilful  pugilist,  who  so  defends  every  part  of  his  body  that  it 
 is  impossible  for  his  antagonist  to  give  one  hit.—Clurke.  Husband 
 of  one  wife,  not  having  more  wives  at  once  than  one ;  or,  after  au 
 unjust  repudiation  of  one  wife,  marrying  another. — Bp.  Hall.  By 
 a  good  example,  the  bishops  were  to  correct  the  practice  of  poly- 
 gamy, permitted  to  the  Jews,  (Deut.  xxi.  15.)  Vigilant,  the  word 
 vnfaXiov  comes  from  v>]<pciv,  *  to  be  sober,*  in  opposition  to  one's 
 being  drunk. — Mackn.  That  is,  he  must  be  '  watcliful,' for  one  who 
 drinks  is  apt  to  sleep ;  so  he  who  abstains  from  it  is  more  likely  to 
 attend  to  his  work  and  chdiXge.— A.Clarke.  Sober,  matppoviA, '  prudent.' 
 [Sana;  mentis.)  '  Having  a  well -regulated  mind ;  one  who  governs  his 
 passions.' — Mackn.  Of  good  behaviour,  Kuauiuv,  '  orderly,  decent, 
 grave,  and  correct  in  the  whole  of  his  appearance,  carriage,  and  con- 
 duct.'— A.  Clarke,  Given  to  hospitality,  (juXo^tvut;  literally,  *  a  lover  of 
 strangers.'  The  obligation  particularly  lay  on  the  bishops  of  primitive 
 times  to  be  hospitable  to  such  of  the  brethren  as  were  strangers,  poor, 
 and  persecuted. — Mackn.  Apt  to  teach,  didaKriKov,  one  capable  of 
 teaching ;  not  only  wise  himself,  but  ready  to  communicate  his  wisdom 
 to  others.  3.  Not  given  to  wine,  /ifj  Trapoivov,  '  one  inordinately  at- 
 tached to  wine,' '  a  wine  bibber,  or  tippler.'— .i4.  Clarke.  It  also  means, 
 '  imperious,  abusive,  insolent.' — Kype.  Ko  striker,  pt}  ttXhktii^,  not 
 '  quarrelsome  ;'  '  not  ready  to  strike  a  person  who  may  displease  him ;' 
 no  '  persecutor'  of  those  who  may  differ  from  him.  Not  greedy  of 
 Jilthy  lucre,  fxii  aio-xpoxepiti,  'not  desirous  of  base  gain,' '  not  using 
 base  and  unjustifiable  metliods  to  raise  and  increase  his  revenues.' 
 Not  roretous,  aipiAnpivpoi.,  '  not  a  lover  of  money  ;'  '  not  desiring  the 
 office  for  the  sake  of  its  emoluments.'  6.  Not  a  novice,  veotpvrov, 
 not  a  '  young  plaut,'  not '  recently  ingrafted ;'  that  is.  one  '  not  newly 
 converted  to  the  faith.' — A.  Clarke.  Condemnation  of  the  devil — which 
 appears  to  have  been  uitellectual  pride. — WH.  7.  A  good  report,  not 
 one  who  had  previously  been  a  profligate,  or  scandalous  in  his  life. — 
 A.  Clarke.  One  of  a  beconiuig  life  and  conversation. — Gill.  Without, 
 i.  e.,  without  the  church  ;  unbelieWng  Jews  or  Gentiles. — Bur.  Snare 
 0/ Me  (fef'j/,  being  tempted  by  Satan,  he  relapse  into  former  sins  ;  or, 
 being  reproved  by  those  whom  he  is  set  over,  for  his  former  life,  he  be 
 tempted  by  Satan  to  apostasy,  (chap.  v.  13.) — Whitby.  8.  Not  double- 
 tongued,  *  speaking  one  tiling  to  this  person  and  another  to  that  on  the 
 same  subject.'  9.  Mystery  of  the  faith,  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  In 
 a  pure  conscience,   nut    concealing    or    disguising    these    doctrines. 
 
 10.  Blameless,  hehig  unaccused.— ^/ocA-n.     Irreproachable.— ./I.  Clarke. 
 
 11.  Sober—see  ver.  2.        13.  .-1  good  degree,  of  further  advancement  in 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  —  We  learn  here,  I.  J'hebene- 
 volent  spirit  of  Christian  prayer.  All  men  share  in  it  ;  kings 
 and  subjects  ;  Turks,  infidels,  and  Jews,  as  well  as  Chris- 
 tians ;  persecutors,  as  well  as  persecuted  ;  rich  and  poor. 
 Like  the  rain  from  heaven,  the  blessings  of  prayer  often  fall 
 upon  th.e  evil  as  well  as  the  good  ;  the  just,  as  well  as  the  un- 
 just. 
 
 II.  Smne  duties  of  Christian  females.  Modesty  in  dress, 
 wliich  implies  modesty  in  behaviour  ;  and  a  becoming  deport- 
 1-279 
 
 ment  towards  their  husbands,  who,  while  they  are  not  to 
 tyrannize  over  their  wives,  are  not  to  be  tyrannized  over  by 
 them  ;  and  to  remember  that  the  husband,  as  the  head  of  the 
 family,  is  lo  hold  his  proper  phue  in  it.  Let  pious  females 
 rejoice  that,  if  Christianity  does  not  place  tliem  over  their 
 husbands,  it  gives  them  a  right  to  a  place  near  their  hearts ; 
 and  that,  if  Adam  fell  through  the  woman's  transgression, 
 through  Him  who  '  was  made  of  a  woman,'  all  nations  shall  be 
 blessed. 
 
yl  r/reat  apostasy  fuictold. 
 
 I.  TIMOTHY,  IV. 
 
 Diver.i  p)ecep!s. 
 
 degree,  and  great  boldness  in  the  faith  which 
 is  in  CInist  Jesus. 
 
 14  These  things  write  I  unto  thee,  hoping  to 
 come  nnto  thee  sliortly  : 
 
 15  But  if  I  tarry  long,  that  thou  mayest 
 know  how  thou  ouglitest  to  behave  thyself  "in 
 the  house  of  God,  which  is  the  church  of  the 
 living  God,  the  pillar  and  ||  ground  of  the  truth. 
 
 16  And  witliout  controversy  great  is  the  mys- 
 tery of  godliness  :  '  God  was  f  manifest  in  the 
 flesh,  ''justified  in  the  Spirit,  'seen  of  angels, 
 °  preaclied  unto  the  Gentiles,  ''believed  on  in 
 the  world,  °  received  up  into  glory. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  He.  f.ircfeUe.th  that  in  the  latter  times  there  shall  he  a 
 d'purturt:  from  the  faith.  6  And  to  the  end  that 
 Timothy  niiylit  not  fail  in  doing  his  duty,  he  furnish- 
 tth  him  with  divers  precepts  belonging  thereto. 
 
 "VrOW  the  Spirit  "  speaketh  expressly,  that 
 -^*      "  ill   the  latter  times  some  shall  depart 
 
 6  Col.  I.  6, 
 
 Acts!.  19.    I  Pet   S.C2.        a  John   16.13.    2  Thes.  8.  3. 
 I  JoKn  2.  IS.  Jude  1,    13.    4  I  Vet.  I.  '.iO. 
 
 Tim   S  I,  tfC 
 
 A.  D.  65. 
 
 c  2Thn.3.l3 
 
 •2  Pet.  2.  I. 
 
 Rev.  16.  M. 
 d  Dan. II. 35, 
 
 37,  38.  Rev. 
 
 9.  20. 
 e  Mat.  7    15. 
 
 Rom  16.18. 
 
 2  Pel  v.  3 
 /Eph.  4  19. 
 ff  1  Cor.  7. 
 
 S3.  36.  3^. 
 
 Col.  i.  211, 
 
 21    Heb. 
 
 13.4. 
 h  Rom.  U.3, 
 
 17    I  Cor. 
 
 a.  8 
 •  Geu.  1   29. 
 
 4  Rom  14.6 
 I  Ci>r  lli..')i). 
 
 (Ktjm.H  U, 
 20,  1  Cor 
 III.  25.  Tit 
 1.  IS. 
 
 >„  2  Tim.  3. 
 14.  15. 
 
 n  ch  1 .  4.  h 
 6.20.2  Tim, 
 i!  16.  S3  & 
 4.  4.  Tit.  I. 
 14. 
 
 o  Heb.  5.  1). 
 
 p  i  Cor  S.S. 
 
 trom  tiie  faith,  giving  heed  "^  to  seducing  spirits, 
 '■  and  doctrines  of  devils  ; 
 
 2  *  Speaking  lies  in  hypocrisiy  ;  "■  having  their 
 conscience  seared  with  a  hot  iron  ; 
 
 3  ^Forbidding  to  marry,  ^' and  coinmandintf 
 to  abstain  from  meats,  which  God  hath  created 
 '  to  be  received  ^  with  thanksgiving  of  them 
 which  believe  and  know  the  truth. 
 
 4  For  '  every  creature  of  God  is  good,  and 
 nothing  to  be  refused,  if  it  be  received  with 
 thanksgiving : 
 
 5  For  it  is  sanctified  by  the  word  of  God  and 
 prayer. 
 
 6  If  thou  put  the  bretliren  in  remembrance 
 of  these  things,  tliou  slialt  be  a  good  minister 
 of  Jesus  Christ,  "'nourished  up  in  the  words  of 
 faith  and  of  good  doctrine,  whereunto  thou 
 hast  attained. 
 
 7  But  "refuse  profane  and  old  wives'  fables, 
 and  "  exercise  thyself  rather  unto  godliness. 
 
 8  For   ■'bodily    exercise     profiteth    ||  little ; 
 
 Col,  2.  23.    II  Or,  fur  a  little  time. 
 
 a  hi°:her  office. — Doddr.  15.  The  house  of  God — the  tabernacle  and 
 temple  were  so  called  :  but,  under  the  gospel,  this  name  is  miiformly 
 given  to  Christiau  churches,  or  those  societies  who  profess  faith  in 
 Christ  and  join  in  worshipping  God. — Boothr.  The  great  family  of 
 God,  the  church  of  the  living  God,  is,  in  respect  of  men,  the  pillar  and 
 fcronnd  of  the  truth  :  so  that  it  sustaineth  and  beareth  np,  by  a  faithful 
 profession  and  maintenance  thereof,  the  true  religion  of  God. — Bp. 
 Hull.  16.  Man^est  in  the  flesh,  God  was  manifested  in  the  flesh  of 
 our  blessed  Redeemer,  in  whose  human  nature  the  incarnate  deity 
 dwelt. — Doddr.  In  the  Spirit,  or,  '  by  the  Spirit,'  (comp.  Luke,  iv.  18, 
 and  Matt.  xii.  2S,  Acts,  x.  38  and  2,)  by  the  Eternal  Spirit,  who  raised 
 him  from  the  dead,  (i  Pet.  iii.  18,)  and  so  has  clearly  made  Christ 
 kno^^^l  to  be  the  true  Messiah  and  the  Son  of  God,  [Rom.  i.  4,)  and 
 finally  by  the  sending  down  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  the  apostles,  {Acts, 
 ii.  2;  coinp.  John,  xvi.  8,  9.)  Seen  of  nngels,  (i.)  iji  his  resurrection, 
 (Matt.  xx™i.  -1.)  (ii.)  In  his  ascension  and  entrance  into  heaven, 
 where  he  has  been  received  as  a  triumphant  king,  amidst  the  acclama- 
 tion of  angels,  (Heb.  i.  6;  1  Pet.  iii.  '2-2.)  Preached,  after  his  exalt- 
 ation, conformably  to  the  prophecy,  Ps.  xcvii.  1,  &c.,  and  ex.  1,2; 
 Isa.  xlix.  5,  6,  and  Ui,  15.  Believed  on  in  the  world,  \.  e.,  in  all  the 
 countries  of  the  world,  (Rom.  x.  IS;  Col.  1.  6.) — Mar.  In  all  parts  of 
 the  then  known  world.— IT'i/.  Received  tip  into  glory,  thnt  glory  to 
 which  he  was  to  be  raised  as  Messiah  or  God  incarnate,  and  that  of 
 which  the  apostle  has  marked  the  four  different  degrees  in  what  has 
 been  just  observed,  and  of  which  Christ  had  spoken,  Luke,  xxiv.  2d, 
 and  John,  xvii.  5.  This  last  trait  inchides  here,  in  abridgment  and  by 
 a  sort  of  recapitulation,  all  the  precedinf?. — Mur. 
 
 Chap,  lV.—  l.\ou\  ^r.,  to  stir  up  Timothy  and  others  to  adhere 
 steadfastly  to  the  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  the  apostle  here  pre- 
 dicts an  awful  apostasy  from  it.  The  Spirit  spenkefh,  in  Daniel,  xi. 
 36 — 39. — So  Mede,  Xewton,  Gill,  Scott.  Moreover,  the  apostle  dnes 
 not  say  '  hath  spnken.'  but  *  speaketh*  then,  at  the  time  of  writing 
 these  words,  in  and  by  him, — 6't//.  He  had  been  speaking  before  of 
 the  mysterj'  of  godliness,  and  now  he  speaks  of  the  mystery  of  ini- 
 quity', in  opposition  to  it. — Bp.  Newton.  E.rpress!r/,  that  is,  precisely 
 and  certainly,  not  obscurely  and  involvedly,  as  he  was  wont  to  speak 
 in  the  prophets — Krusmus;  so  Whitfiy.  Latter  times,  ev  varfpoiv 
 Kofpoif,  signifies,  in  the  last  dispensation  of  God,  under  the  Messiah's 
 reign. — Guyse.  It  may  be  translated  '  after  times,'  because  it  denotes 
 future  times,  without  marking  whether  they  are  near  or  remote. — 
 Ben.<i.  It  signifies,  any  time  yet  to  come,  but  denotes  more  particu- 
 larly the  times  of  Christianity.— iJp.  Xewton.  The  times  of  the  little 
 horn,  or  of  antichrist.  (Dan.  vii.)— iVerfe,  Xewton.  Depart,  *  apos- 
 tatize.'— Netvtfin,  Doddr.,  Mackn.,  (comp.  2  Thess.  ii.  3.)  This  great 
 defection,  though  it  distinguished  poi)ery,  must  not  be  confined  to  it, 
 but  may  be  fairly  construed  as  comprehending  other  heresies,  which 
 at  the  same  time  sprung  up  and  flourished,  many  of  which  possessed 
 the  same  secular  character,  and  affected  the  like  austerities. —  WiL,  see 
 Mackn.  To  seducing  spirits:,  who  inspire  false  teachers ;  to  men  that 
 persuade  others  to  believe  them  by  the  pretence  of  some  inspiration  or 
 revelation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  thereby  cause  people  to  err  from  the 
 
 true  faith  of  the  gospel.  The  apostle  means  those  gross  frauds  by 
 which  the  corrupt  teachers  in  the  dark  ages  would  enforce  their  erro- 
 neous doctrines  and  superstitious  practices  on  the  ignorant  multitudes, 
 under  the  notion  of  revelations  from  God,  or  from  angels,  or  departed 
 saints.— Be/J5,  as  Muckn.  Doctrines  of  devils,  '  doctrines  concerning 
 demons,*  meaning  that  the  Gentile  idolatrous  theology  of  worshipping 
 demons  should  be  revived  in  the  adoration  of  saints  and  angels,  a-s 
 thus  stated  in  the  creed  of  Pope  Pius  IV. :  '  I  believe  that  the  saints 
 who  reign  with  Christ  are  to  be  worshipped  and  prayed  to.* — Mede; 
 so  Mackn.,  and  Doddr. ;  though  Williams  says  of  the  latter  writer,  that 
 he  adheres  to  the  common  version.  Such  doctrines  as  are  decreed  by 
 devils,  as  all  damnable  doctrines  be,  are  all  lying  ones,  for  the  devil  is 
 the  father  of  them.  2.  Speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy,  or  'through  the 
 hypocrisy  of  those  that  speak  hes.'—Gill.  Ew  vnonpiott  y}t€v6o\o-jtav, 
 '  through  the  hypocrisy  of  liars.'  Called  liars  because  of  the  gross 
 fictions  and  frauds  which  they  were  to  contrive  for  the  purpose  of 
 establishing  the  worship  of  demons.  Compare  with  this  prediction  the 
 preaching  and  legends  of  the  popish  monks. — Mackn. ;  so  also  Bp. 
 Newton.  Seared,  'past  feeling;'  *  men  of  the  most  infamous  cha- 
 racters, and  of  the  most  enormous  and  scandalous  lives  and  conver- 
 sations ;'  so  that  tlie  metaphor  may  be  taken  either  from  the  searing  of 
 the  flesh  with  an  iron,  or  cauterizing  it,  whereby  it  grows  callius  and 
 hard,  or  from  the  stigmas  or  marks  which  used  to  be  put  upon  male- 
 factors, or  such  as  have  been  guilty  of  notorious  ciimes.  —  Gill. 
 3.  Forbiddittg  to  marry,  the  monks  were  the  first  who  brought  celibacy 
 into  repute. — By.  Newton.  This  passage  points  out,  not  the  Encratites, 
 Montanists,  and  Manichees,  who  spoke  against  marriage,  but  the 
 papists,  who  forbid  it  to  their  priests,  under  a  pretence  of  puritj-  and 
 holiness,  and  at  the  same  time  allow  them  to  live  m  all  manner  of 
 debauchery  and  uncleanness ;  for  these  are  the  persons  that  forbid 
 marriage  in  an  authoritative  way  and  in  hypocrisy. —  Gill.  Abstain 
 from  meats,  it  is  as  much  the  law  and  constitution  of  all  monks  to 
 abstain  from  meats  as  from  marriage.  Some  never  eat  any  flesh, 
 others  only  of  certain  kinds  and  on  certain  days.  Fi'equent  fasts  are 
 the  rule  and  the  boast  of  their  order,  and  their  carnal  humility  is  their 
 spiritual  pride. — Bp.  Newton.  Of  them  which  believe  and  know  the 
 truth,  *  the  truth  of  the  gospel,'  which  frees  from  every  yoke  of  bond- 
 age, and  from  the  burdensome  rites,  ceremoiues,  and  inventions  of 
 men.  5.  Sanctified,  or  *  set  apart  for  use.* — Gill.  By  the  word  of 
 God,  which  allows  the  use.  And  prayer,  which  draws  down  a  blessing 
 upon  it.— Dnddr.  6.  Hast  attained,  he  had  arrived  to  a  considerable 
 degree  of  knowledge  of  gospel  truths.  /.  Profane  and  old  withes' 
 fables,  those  of  the  Jews  or  of^he  Gnostics.— G///.  The  popish  stories 
 of  the  miracles  said  to  be  performed  by  the  saints  and  their  relics,  in 
 confirmation  of  the  superstitions  which  they  inculcated,  which  are 
 fables  only  fit  to  amuse  children.— B;j.  Newton.  Exercise  thyself,  ^c, 
 this  is  an  allusion  to  the  exercises  by  which  the  athletes  prepared 
 themselves  for  the  combats.  The  apostle's  meaning  is,  that  by  the 
 exercise  of  godliness,  men  prepare  tliemselves  for  the  employments  of 
 the  life  to  come. — Mackn.  8.  Bodily  exercise  profiteth  little,  mere 
 formal,  external,  worship,  as  opposed  to  godliness  or  spuitual  worship. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chat.  III.  —  We  have  in  this  chapter, 
 I.  The  leading  characteristics  of  GoiVs  ministers.  Pure  iu  their 
 characters,  prudent  in  their  deportment,  talented  for  the  pul- 
 pit. They  must  be  for  from  intemperance  and  passion  i  their 
 motives  must  be  pure  and  disinterested,  moved,  not  by  the 
 love  of  what  they  can  gain,  but  rather  by  the  \o\e  of  Christ 
 and  of  souls  ;  carrying  religion  with  them  into  their  families, 
 as  well  as  into  their  pulpits;  and  choosing  for  llieir  compa- 
 nions in  life,  those  who  may  be  helpmeets  to  them  in  forward- 
 ing llie  great  objects  which  they  profess  to  have  in  view. 
 
 II.  The  leading  charaittristics  of  Goil's  church.  It  is  '  the 
 pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth.'    The  Christian  church  is  *  to 
 
 exhibit  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  and  to  support  it  by  the  mi- 
 nistry, worship,  and  ordinances,  even  to  the  end  of  the 
 world.'**  "These  things  should  be  frequently  meditated 
 upon  and  prayed  over  by  all  persons  concerned  ;  that  they 
 may  know  how  they  ought  to  beliave  in  the  church  of  the 
 living  God,  according  to  ilie  relations  in  which  they  stand 
 to  him,  to  the  saints,  and  to  the  world;  tliat  ihey  may  liold 
 forth  and  adorn  the  doctrine  of  truth,  as  pillars  and  supporters 
 of  it.  This  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour  will  be  despised  or 
 revered,  in  great  measure,  according  to  the  conduct  of  pro- 
 fessors of  the  gospel.'  ^ 
 
Paul's  precepts  to  Timothy. 
 
 I.  TIMOTHY,  V. 
 
 Ofwiiloivs  and  orphans. 
 
 '' but  godliness  is  profitable  unto  all  tilings, 
 '  baving  pvomise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and  of 
 that  which  is  to  come. 
 
 9  '  This  is  a  faithful  saying  and  worthy  of  all 
 acceptation. 
 
 II)  For  therefore  'we  both  labour  and  suffer 
 reproach,  because  we  "  trust  in  the  living  God, 
 "  who  is  the  saviour  of  all  men,  specially  of 
 those  that  believe. 
 
 1 1  '  These  things  connnand  and  teach. 
 
 12  '  Let  no  man  despise  thy  youth  ;  but  "  be 
 thou  an  e.\aniple  of  the  believers,  in  word,  in 
 conversation,  in  eliarity,  in  spirit,  in  faith,  in 
 purity. 
 
 1:)  Till  I  come,  give  attendance  to  reading, 
 to  exhortation,  to  doctrine. 
 
 14  ''  Neglect  not  the  gift  that  is  in  thee, 
 which  was  given  thee  '  by  propliecy,  "^  with  the 
 laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  presbytery. 
 
 1  j  Meditate  upon  these  things  ;  give  thyself 
 wholly  to  them  ;  that  thy  profiting  may  appear 
 II  to  all. 
 
 l(i  'Take  heed  unto  thyself,  and  unto  the 
 doctrine  ;  continue  in  tliem  :  for  in  doing  this 
 thou  shalt  botli  'save  tliyself,  and  "■'  them  that 
 hear  thee. 
 
 CHAP.   V. 
 
 1  Rules  to  he  observed  in  rejjroving.  3  Of  widows. 
 17  Of  tilers.  23  A  precept  for  Timothy's  health. 
 24  Some,  melt's  siyis  po  before  unto  judyment,  and 
 some  men's  do  follow  after. 
 
 TJEBUKE  '^  not  an  eldfr,  but  intreat  him 
 -*-^     as  a  father ;    o/td  tlie   younger  men  as 
 
 brethren  ; 
 
 2  The  elder  women  as  mothers  ;  the  younger 
 as  sisters,  with  all  purity. 
 
 3  Honour  widows  ''that  are  widows  indeed. 
 
 4  But  if  any  widow  have  children  or  nephews, 
 let  them  learn  first  to  shew  ||  piety  at  home, 
 and   "^  to  requite    their  parents;   "^for  that   is 
 
 q   cli.  6.  6. 
 r  Va.  37.  +. 
 
 &  81.  II.  & 
 
 1 12.  S,  3    & 
 
 I4j.  19 
 
 Mat.  B.  33. 
 
 8:  19.  29. 
 
 Mark  10.  ao. 
 
 Rom.  8,23. 
 1  ch.  1.   la. 
 t  I  Cor.4.ll, 
 
 12. 
 i<  ch.  G.  17. 
 J-  Pa.  36    6. 
 
 &  107.  -2,  0, 
 
 f>  2  Tim. 1 .6. 
 cell.  I    18. 
 d  Acts  G.  fi. 
 
 &  H    17.  & 
 
 13.3.  &  19. 
 
 G.  ch.  5  -iU. 
 
 2  Tim    1.6. 
 
 II  (>.-,  i>.  <,ll 
 e  .Acts  -20.2^. 
 
 f  Kz..-k,  S.'i.S. 
 ■-;Koiii.n.l4, 
 
 b  ver.  5.  Ifi. 
 I!  Or,  hmd- 
 
 f  See  Gen 
 4.'>.  Ill,  II- 
 Milt    1'..  4. 
 K|.h  fi  1.2 
 
 d  .11.  v.  .S. 
 
 I  Cor.  7,32. 
 /  f.nk.-  -i.  r7. 
 
 g  .\cts  ■:(■."- 
 A  Jam.  J.  u. 
 II  Or, 
 delicatdy. 
 
 i  cii.i.  .s.  & 
 
 4.   II.  Sc6. 
 17 
 k  U.  5H.  7. 
 O.il.e.  10. 
 
 11  Oi. 
 k,.,<ifd. 
 
 12  Tim.  3.5. 
 Tit.  I.  16. 
 
 m  Mat.  18. 
 
 17. 
 11  Or.  cftn«/l. 
 H  Luke  2.36. 
 
 cli.  3.  2. 
 
 o  Acts  16  15. 
 
 Heb.  IS.  2. 
 
 1  Pel.  k  9. 
 ;.  Gen.  IS.'l. 
 
 fe  19.  2. 
 
 Luke  7. .«». 
 
 4-1. John  13. 
 
 5,  14. 
 
 <■  I  Cor.  7.  9. 
 
 .  .h   fi.  1 . 
 Tit.  2.  9. 
 t  Or.  for 
 their  railing. 
 
 t  rer.  H.  5, 
 '<  It<im.  12.8. 
 1  Cnr  9.  10, 
 H  Gal  6  6 
 I'liil  2  2!J. 
 I  n,c<.5  12, 
 Hi   Heb.  13. 
 
 .<A.ls2S.lO. 
 
 good  and  acceptable  before  God. 
 
 5  "^  Now  she  that  is  a  widow  indeed,  and  de- 
 solate, trusteth  in  God,  and  *"  continneth  in 
 supplications  and  prayers  ^  night  and  day. 
 
 6  "  But  slie  that  liveth  ||  in  pleasure  is  dead 
 while  she  liveth. 
 
 7  '  And  these  things  give  in  charge,  that  the^ 
 may  be  blameless. 
 
 8  But  if  any  provide  not  for  his  own,  ^  and 
 specially  for  those  of  his  own  ||  house,  '  he 
 batli  denied  the  faith,  "'and  is  worse  than  an 
 infidel. 
 
 9  Let  not  a  widow  be  ||  taken  into  the  num- 
 ber under  threescore  years  old,  "  having  been 
 the  wife  of  one  man, 
 
 10  Well  reported  of  for  good  works  ;  if  she 
 have  brought  up  children,  if  she  have  "^  lodged 
 strangers,  if  she  have  ^  washed  the  saints'  feet, 
 if  she  have  relieved  the  afflicted,  if  she  have 
 diligently  followed  every  good  work. 
 
 11  But  the  younger  widows  refuse:  for  when 
 they  have  begun  to  wax  wanton  against  Christ, 
 they  will  marry ; 
 
 12  Having  damnation,  because  they  have 
 cast  oti'  their  first  faith. 
 
 13  ""  And  withal  they  learn /o  be  idle,  wan- 
 dering about  from  house  to  house  ;  and  not 
 only  idle,  but  tattlers  also  and  busybodies, 
 speaking  tilings  which  they  ought  not. 
 
 14  '  I  will  therefore  that  the  younger  women 
 marry,  bear  children,  guide  the  house,  *  give 
 none  occasion  to  the  adversary  f  to  speak  re- 
 proachfully. 
 
 15  For  some  are  already  turned  aside  after 
 Satan. 
 
 IG  If  any  man  or  woman  that  believeth  have 
 widows,  let  them  relieve  them,  and  let  not  tlie 
 church  be  charged  ;  that  it  may  relieve  *  them 
 that  are  widows  indeed. 
 
 17  "  Let  the  elders  that  rule  well' be  counted 
 
 —Gill,  That  bodily  exercise  of  fasting:  and  strict  penitence  wherewith 
 many  please  themselves.— iJ/>.  Hitfl.  Projitdble,  naturally  tending  to 
 promote  nnr  real  happiness  in  this  world,  and  beLn<r  surely  and  alone 
 effectual  to  secure  the  blessedness  of  the  next. — Duddr.  10.  The 
 Saviour  of  all  men,  that  is,  the  preserver  of  all  men,  and  especially  of 
 good  men,  when  their  temporal  presen'ation  subserves  his  plor.'  and 
 their  good. — Bur.  The  salvation  which  God  intends  for  all,  he  ac- 
 tually gives  to  them  that  believe  in  Christ. — Clarke.  The  passage 
 means,  God  preserves  all  by  the  care  of  his  providence,  but  saves  be- 
 lievers from  eternal  death. — So  Mackn.,  Batter,  Gill.  ii.  Gii^ea 
 thee  bii  propheci/,  Sta,  '  according  to  prophecy,'  '  according:  to  a  pro- 
 phetic impuLse.' — Mackn.  Laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  preslj//ten/, 
 who  appear  to  have  laid  on  tlicir  hands  with  Paul,  '2  Tim,  i.  fi  ;  comp. 
 Acts,  viii.  17.  18.) — ^^'il.  I6.  In  them,  '  in  the  caieful  observation  of 
 these  rules.' — Bp.  H>/ll.  In  the  e.vercises  mentioned,  ver.  12,  13. — 
 Whitbif.  Continue  m  them,  or  '  with'  them,  the  members  of  the  church 
 of  Epliesus  ;  or  rather,  in  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  V. — i.  Rebuke  not,  /aij  e7ri:T\i].'^T/?--literally,  *  do  not  strike  ;' 
 metaphorically,  '  do  not  sharply  reprove.' — Mackn.  With  severity  and 
 harsh  language.  An  elder,  means  here  '  a  grave,  ancient,  man,'  in 
 opposition  to  the  younger  men  m  this  verse. — Whitby,  Wella,  Gill, 
 Mackn.  4.  Nephews,  rather,  '  descendants,  grandchildren.' — Par., 
 so  Mackn.  Let  them  learn,  that  is,  '  let  the  children  learn.'— fi//^  To 
 relieve  their  own  relations  before  they  shew  kindness  to  strangers. — 
 Bur.  5.  A  widow  indeed,  a  proper  object  of  the  church's  charitj-. — 
 — Guyae.  '  A  real  widow,'  m  opposition  to  one  that  is  divorced.  De- 
 solate, without  relarives. — Gill.  Truxleth,  r\\TtiKev,  '  hath  trusted,  and 
 continueth  to  trust. '~.l/«cA-rt.  6.  Liveth  in  pleasure,  Sfc,  properly 
 signifies,  '  faring  dcliciou.sly.' — Doddr.,  so  Mackn.  It  especially  refers 
 to  drinking  strong  and  costly  liquors. — V'liitby.  Dead  while  she  liveth, 
 spiritually  dead.  Dead  to  virtue  and  religion. — Mackn.  8.  His  own, 
 '  his  own  kindred.' — Bur.,  Whitby.    '  His  own  poor  relations.'    His 
 
 (iivn  house,  or  family. — Mackn.  Worse  than  an  infidel — many  of  the 
 heathen  were  especially  careful  of  their  aged  relatives. — So  Mackn. 
 9.  The  number,  of  deaconesses,  whose  office  it  was  to  instruct  the 
 younger  women,  to  attend  those  who  were  sick  and  in  labour,  and  to 
 assist  at  the  baptism  of  females. — Whitby,  so  Guyse.  Of  one  man,  *  of 
 one  husband' — that  is,  at  a  time.  Women  could  divorce  their  hus- 
 band-s  ;  and  those  who  did  usually  married  often,  and,  in  reality,  had 
 more  than  one. — Boothr.  Ancient  authors  inform  us  that  divorces 
 were  common  on  the  wives'  side,  both  among  Jews  and  Genriles. — 
 Whithy.  10.  Washed  the  saint.t''  feet,  thus  condescending  to  the 
 meanest  oflSces  of  kindness.  —  Bur.  See  on  Gen.  xviii.  4,  note. 
 11.  Refuse,  '  reject;'  they  were  to  prefer  those  ou  theh:  pension-list 
 who  had  been  long  and  usefully  employed. — Macknight,  Wil.  Tf'a.T 
 wanton  against  Christ,  that  is,  grow  weary  of  him  and  his  service  in 
 the  church. — Ham.,  Whitby.  '  Consulting  their  o'xi\  ease  and  plea- 
 sui'e,  iiistead  of  Christ's  honour  and  service,  they  will  be  tempted  to 
 marry  at  any  rate,  though  it  be  hito  a  heathen  family.'— ^J?///.?^.  The 
 word  KaT.iarpnvicKToiai  comes  from  a  word,  /jrepeti',  signifying  '  to  pull 
 away,'  and  »><«,  *  rems,'  and  the  metaphor  is  taken  from  high  fed 
 brute  animals,  who,  having  pulled  away  the  reins,  nui  about  at  their 
 pleasm-e. — So  Erasmus.  '  Who  do  not  obey  the  rein.' — Glass.,  Le  Clerc. 
 '  Who  cannot  endure  Clnist's  rein.'  12.  Haein^  condemnation,  '  in- 
 curring condemnarion.' — Mackn.  Because  they  have  cast  off  their  first 
 faith,  by  pledging  their  *  fidelity'  to  a  husband,  they  have  cast  off  their 
 "'  fidelity-'  to  Christ. —A.C tar kc.  '  Because  they  have  put  away  their  first 
 '  fidelity.'  '  By  marning,  they  have  renounced  their  first  engagement 
 to  ser\'e  Christ.'  nunc,  faith,  often  sigiiifies  '  fidelity'  in  performing 
 promises  and  engagements,  (see  Rom.  iii.  3.) — Mackn.  15.  Some  are 
 already,  fyc,  '  some  of  these  young  widows  have  actually  dtme  as  I 
 say,'  (Ver.  11,  12,)  '  and  even  renounced  their  Christian  profession.' — 
 Pyle.  l6.  Have  widows,  of  his  own  family. — Ham.  17.  Elders  that 
 ntle,  meaning  here,  *  elders  in  office.'— Bwr.    The  name  was  given  to 
 
 Rf.flections  on  Cii\".  IV.  — We  here  see.  I.  The  evils 
 of  error.  Whatever  is  contrary  to  God's  word  is  to  be  classed 
 among  *  doctrines  of  devils.*  Tlie  tendency  of  infidelity  and 
 corrupted  Christianity  must  be  alike  ruinous.  Let  us  bless 
 God  if  we  have  been  preserved  from  the  grand  apostasy  which 
 God  bus  clearly  branded  in  his  word  with  the  marks  of  his  bet 
 displeasure. 
 
 II.  The  advantages  of  godliness.  It  is  'profitable  for  all 
 1281 
 
 things.'  It  is  profitable  for  the  body,  and  profitable  for  the 
 soul  ;  profitable  in  sickiu'ss.  and  profitable  in  health  ;  profit- 
 able in  prosperity,  and  profitable  in  adversity  ;  profiuible  for 
 time,  and  profitable  for  eternity.  Let  us  see  to  it,  that  our 
 reliRion  consists  not  merely  in  the  bending  of  the  knee,  but 
 in  submittint;  the  iieart  to  God  ;  not  merely  in  the  observance 
 of  outward  forms  and  ceremonies,  but  in  Keart-felt  and  Ape- 
 rimental  godliness. 
 
The  duty  of  servants. 
 
 I.  TIMOTHY,  Vr. 
 
 What  Timothy  is  to  fly. 
 
 worthy  of  double  lionoiir,  especially  they  who 
 labour  in  the  word  and  doctrine. 
 
 18  For  the  scripture  saith,  ''  Thou  shall  not 
 muzzle  the  ox  that  treadeth  out  the  corn. 
 And,  ^  The  labourer  is  worthy  of  his  reward. 
 
 19  Against  an  elder  receive  not  an  accusa- 
 tion, but  II  "  before  two  or  three  witnesses. 
 
 20  "  Them  that  sin  rebuke  before  all,  '  that 
 others  also  may  fear. 
 
 21  ''I  charge  thee  before  God,  and  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  and  the  elect  angels,  that  thou 
 observe  these  tilings  ||  without  preferring  one 
 before  another,  doing  nothing  by  partiality. 
 
 22  "  Lay  hands  suddenly  on  no  man, '  neither 
 be  partalver  of  other  men's  sins :  keep  thyself 
 pure. 
 
 23  Drink  no  longer  water,  but  use  a  little 
 wine  ^  for  thy  stomach's  sake  and  thine  often 
 infirmities. 
 
 24  '■  Some  men's  sins  are  open  beforehand, 
 going  before  to  judgment ;  and  some  men  they 
 follow  after. 
 
 25  Likewise  also  the  good  works  of  some  are 
 manifest  beforehand  ;  and  they  that  are  other- 
 wise cannot  be  hid. 
 
 CHAP.  VL 
 
 I  Of  the  duty  of  servants.  3  Not  to  have  fellowship 
 with  nnvfangled  teachers.  6  Godliness  is  great  t/ai/tf 
 10  arid  love  of  vtoney  the  rout  of  all  ei>il.  1 1  IFhat 
 Timothy  is  to  fly,  and  what  to  follow,  1 7  and  whereof 
 to  admonish  the  rich.  20  To  keep  the  purity  of  true 
 doctrine,  and  to  avoid  profane  jujiy lings. 
 
 T  KT  as  many  "servants  as  are  inider  the  yoke 
 ^  count  their  own  masters  worthy  of  all 
 honour,  ^  that  the  name  of  God  and  his  doc- 
 trine be  not  blasphemed. 
 2  And  they  that  have  believing  masters,  let 
 them  not  despise  thetn,  *^  because  they  are 
 brethren  ;  but  rather  do  ihe?}i  service,  because 
 they  are  ||  faithful  and  beloved,  partakers  of 
 the  benefit.     ''  These  things  teach  and  exhort. 
 
 y  Deu.  25.  4, 
 I  Cor.  9   9 
 
 ;  Lev.  19  13. 
 Beu.  21.11, 
 15.  Mat.ly, 
 
 10.  Luke  10. 
 
 II  OT,untter. 
 a  Deu. 19.15. 
 A  Gal.  2-  II. 
 
 11.  Tit.  I. 
 i:(. 
 
 cDeu.  13.(1 
 d  ch.  6.  1!. 
 
 2  Tim.2  II 
 
 ft  4.  1. 
 II  Or. without 
 
 prejudice. 
 e  Acta  6,  6. 
 
 &  13    3. 
 
 ch    4.  11. 
 
 2  Tim.  I.  6. 
 /2  John  II. 
 
 Sf  Ps.  104.15. 
 
 Tit. 
 
 ,  9. 
 
 1  Pet  2.  18 
 6  Is.  52.  a 
 Hoiii.  2.2*. 
 Tit.  2.  6,  8. 
 
 A.  D.65. 
 
 .•  ch.  1.  .S. 
 /ch.  L  10. 
 
 2  Tim  1.13 
 
 St  4,  3.  Tit. 
 
 I.  y. 
 ff  Tit.  1    1. 
 l\Oi;  a  fool. 
 A  I  Cor,  8. 8. 
 
 ch.  I.  7. 
 
 II  Or,  «i'c*. 
 
 ch.   I.  4. 
 
 2  Tiiii.2.23. 
 
 Til    3   9. 
 A  I  Cor.  1 1. 
 
 16.  ch,  I   6 
 
 1  Or,  G'lU- 
 uigt  cue  a/ 
 fuiother. 
 
 I  2  Tim.  3.*! 
 n  Tit.   I.  II. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  3, 
 I  Kom.   16. 
 
 17.  2  T.m. 
 
 3  S. 
 
 I  Pa.  37,  16. 
 
 Pro.  15.  16. 
 
 &  16    S. 
 
 Hcb.  13.  5. 
 p  JoX)  1.  21. 
 
 Ps.  49.  17. 
 
 Pro.  27.  24 
 
 Kr.-lc5  5.15. 
 7Gpn.2S20. 
 
 Hfb,  13   5. 
 
 Pro.  I5.'27, 
 
 U  211,  21    ft 
 
 2S.2I1    !Mat. 
 
 i:t  22.  J;un. 
 
 M  Ex.  23,  8. 
 Deu.  16.  19. 
 Or,  6wa 
 
 x2  Tim.  2. 
 
 /nr'u,S3.  t. 
 2  Tim..S.I7. 
 I  Ci)r.9.25, 
 2G  fh.l.lS. 
 2  Tim  4.7. 
 Phil.  3.12, 
 14  ver.  19. 
 />  Hfb  13.23. 
 
 .-li. 
 
 21. 
 
 d  nen.32.39. 
 
 1  Saoi.  2.  6. 
 
 John  5.  21. 
 
 '  Mat.27.n. 
 
 John  IB.."!?. 
 
 llev.  1    5.  & 
 
 3.  14. 
 
 Or.  pro. 
 f>-ui„n. 
 /"Phil     I.  fi. 
 
 lO.lThes.S. 
 
 13.  &  5.  23. 
 
 I    3  If  any  man  ^^  teach  otherwise,  and  consent 
 I '"not  to  wholesome  words,  er<M   the  words  of 
 
 our   Lord  Jesus  Christ,  ^  and  to  tbe  doctrine 
 
 which  is  according  to  godliness  ; 
 
 4  He  is  II  proud,  ^  knowing  nothing,  but 
 II  doting  about  '  questions  and  strifes  of  words, 
 whereof  cometh  envy,  strife,  railings,  evil  sur- 
 misings, 
 
 5  I'  II  Perverse  disputings  of  '  men  of  corrupt 
 minds,  and  destitute  of  the  truth,  "'  supposing 
 that  gain  is  godliness :  "  from  such  withdraw 
 thy. self. 
 
 6  But  **  godliness  with  contentment  is  great 
 gain. 
 
 7  For  Pwe  brought  nothing  into  M 15  world, 
 and  it  is  certain  we  can  carry  nothing  out. 
 
 8  And  '•  having  food  and  raiment  let  us  be 
 therewith  content. 
 
 9  But  ""they  that  will  be  rich  fall  into  temp- 
 tation ^  and  a  snare,  and  into  many  foolish  and 
 hurtful  lusts,  *  which  drown  men  in  destruction 
 and  perdition. 
 
 10  "  For  the  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all 
 evil :  which  while  some  coveted  after,  they 
 have  II  erred  from  the  faith,  and  pierced  them- 
 selves through  with  many  sorrows. 
 
 1 1  ^  But  thou,  '^  O  man  of  God,  flee  these 
 things  ;  and  follow  after  righteousness,  godli- 
 ness, faith,  love,  patience,  meekne.'^s, 
 
 12  "■  Fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  "  lay  hold 
 on  eternal  life,  whereunto  thon  art  also  called, 
 ^  and  hast  professed  a  good  profession  before 
 many  witnesses. 
 
 13  *"  I  give  thee  charge  in  the  sight  of  God, 
 •^who  quickeneth  all  things,  and  hrfore  Christ 
 Jesus,  *"'  who  before  Pontius  Pilate  witnessed  a 
 good  II  confession  ; 
 
 14  That  thou  keep  thifi  commandment  with- 
 out spot,  nnrebukeable,  *"  until  the  appearing  of 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Clu'lst : 
 
 15  Which  in  his  times  he  shall  shew,  who  is 
 
 all  who  held  any  sacred  office  in  the  church,  (Acts,  xx.  28,  corap.  with 
 vcr.  17.) — Mnckni0it.  Double  honour — ti^ij  here  sigTiifies,  '  reward, 
 stipend,  wapes  ;'  because  in  the  discharge  of  his  office  he  would  incur 
 expense,  in  reUevin^  the  sick,  lodpring  stranf^ers,  &c. — Clarke.  I9.  But 
 t/efore,  ctti,  '  unless  by.'  Two  or  three  witnesses — this  method  of  pro- 
 ceedbig  puts  a  stop  to  gjoundless  accusations  of  the  ministers  of  reli- 
 fiion. — Mitrkn.  21 .  Before  God  and  the  Lord  Jesiis  Christ,  ti-wTiov  rov 
 OeoK,  Kai  Kc^iiow  l^ffow  Xpitrrov  '  before  Jesus  Christ,  the  God  and  Lord.' 
 — ^f.  Good.  And  the  elect  an^eU,  so  called  in  opposition  to  apostate 
 angels,  (2  Pet.  ii.  4.) — Mnr.  Those  who,  being  ordained  to  glory,  were 
 immutably  confirmed  in  holiness,  nor  revolted  from  the  diguit>'  and 
 blessedness  in  which  they  were  created.— To/j/arfy.  Perhaps  notlung 
 else  is  meant  than  the  ang-els  chosen  out  from  among  others  to  be  tlie 
 ministering:  s^ervants  of  the  church. — A,  Clarke.  23.  Urink  no  longer 
 ii'fitir,  that  is,  water  alone,  but  mix  wuie  with  it.  The  Greeks  often 
 mingled  their  wine  with  water  in  different  proportions. — Orient.  Lit. 
 21.  Open  beforehtmd,  '  discernible  before  any  witnesses  come  to  appear 
 against  them,'— U'AiVAv.  Follow  after,  are  discovered  only  in  the 
 course  of  time,  and  after  long  acquaintance. — Schleusner. 
 
 Chap.  VI.  —  \.  Servants,  here  mean  'Christian  slaves.' — Mackn. 
 Yoke,  of  bondage  to  the  heathens. —  Whitby.  2.  Despise  them,  abate 
 ought  of  respect  and  observance  to  them,  because  they  are  their  fellow- 
 Christians. — Bp.  Hall.  Because  they  are  faithful  and  beloved,  par- 
 takers of  the  benefit,  '  because  they  who  enjoy  the  benefit  are  believers, 
 and  beloved.' — Bnothr.  3.  An?/  man,  the  Judaizing  teachers  are  here 
 referred  to.— Mackn.  4.  Doting,  fyc,  led  away  by  a  perverse  fond- 
 ness for  Jewish  traditions. — Pyle.  5.  Perverse  disputings,  Tiapa&ta- 
 Tpifiai,  'philosophical  disputations,'  such  as  were  held  in  the  schools 
 
 of  the  philosophers. — Mackn.  Supposing  that  gain,  fyc,  making  reli- 
 gion nothing  but  a  trade  for  worldly  profit  and  advantage. — Pi/le. 
 0.  Godliness  with  coiitenlment,  ^ler'  (n-TapKiar,  '  cum  sufficicutia,'  Vttlg. 
 'With  a  competency.' — Diod.,  Macki}.  'With  inward  contentment 
 and  peace  of  mind.* — Doddr.  9.  That  will  be  rirh,  'cm  whom  the 
 love  of  money  so  prevails,  that  they  arc  resolved  they  will  be  rich,  if 
 by  any  means  they  can  compass  wealth.'  Fall,  Sfc,  yield  to  any  lust 
 that  will  gratify  their  greedy  humours.  10.  Erred  from  the  faith, 
 when  they  cannot  hold  faith  and  a  gnud  conscience  without  the  Inss 
 of  their  wealth. —  Whithy.  Pierced,  ^c,  felt  long  and  incurable  pains, 
 by  the  numerous  wounds  they  have  given  to  their  own  consciences,  as 
 it  were,  on  every  side. — Doddr.  The  word  TrepttTeipac  property  sig- 
 nifies. *  they  have  stabbed  themselves,  as  it  were,  from  head  to  feet,  so 
 as  to  be  all  covered  with  wounds.'— Lei^A,  Mackn.  11.  Man  of  God, 
 a  name  frequently  given  to  the  prophets,  (see  1  Kings,  xiii.  1,  &c.) — 
 Bur.  12.  Fight,  ^c,  plainly  refers  to  the  eagerness  with  which  they 
 who  contended  in  the  Grecian  games  struggled  for,  and  laid  hold  upon, 
 the  crown,  and  the  degree  to  which  the  presence  of  many  spectators 
 animated  them  in  their  contests  for  it. — Doddr.  13.  Who  tjuickeneth, 
 fye.,  'and  therefore  is  able  to  raise  from  the  dead  those  who  suffer  for 
 him.' — Whitby.  It  evidently  alludes,  obliquely,  to  the  possibility  of 
 Timothy  sacrificing  his  life  to  the  honour  of  his  profession.— Tr/i»7Ay. 
 Witnessed  a  good  confession,  this  refers  to  John,  xviii.  37.  14.  This 
 
 commandment,  '  wliich  I  have  now  given  thee. '~l>of/rfr.  Until  the 
 appearing,  it  means,  he  was  to  hand  it  down,  pure,  to  his  successors, 
 and  so  contribute  towards  preserving  it  in  the  world  till  Christ's  second 
 coming. — Mackn.,  as  Doddr.  is.  King  of  kings,  ^c,  a  title  assumed 
 by  the  great  emperors,  (see  Dan.  ii.  37;  Jer.  xxvii.  6;   Ezra,  vii.  12.) 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  V.  — The  different  persons  that 
 constitute  tbe  church  of  Christ  are  here  well  reminded  of 
 their  duties  in  the  several  relations  in  which  they  stand: — 
 L  Ministers  are  to  rebuke  with  meekness,  and  to  respect  aged 
 men  nnd  sympathize  with  widows.  Those  who  engage  in 
 ordainint;  to  the  ministry  are  to  exercise  it  with  caution  ;  and 
 all  who  sustain  the  sacred  office  may  learn  from  Timothy  the 
 exercise  of  temperance. 
 
 IL  Children  are  *  to  shew  piety  at  home,'  and  to  repay  the 
 kindnesses  of  their  parents  when  overtaken  by  the  infirmities 
 of  age. 
 
 1282 
 
 III.  Relatives  of  every  class  are  to  endeavour  to  assist  the 
 needy  relatives  ot  their  family,  and  not  throw  them,  as  burdens, 
 on  the  Christian  body. 
 
 IV.  Christian  communities  are  to  shew  kindness  to  those  who 
 need  it,  not  only  in  word  but  in  deed;  and,  in  particular, 
 female  members,  on  whom  so  much  domestic  responsibility 
 devolves,  are  to  conduct  themselves  with  the  utmost  prudence, 
 watching  over  their  domestic  aflairs,  and  ret^arding  tiie  con- 
 cerns of  the  members  of  their  families,  that  so  iliey  may  not, 
 by  their  neglect,  cause  the  way  of  truth  to  be  evil  spnken  of. 
 and  bring  a  disgrace  upon  religion. 
 
Timothy  enjoined  to  keep 
 
 I.  TIMOTHY,  VI. 
 
 the  purity  of  true  doctrine* 
 
 A.  D.  6fi. 
 
 ^  the  blessed  and  only  Potentate,  "  the  King 
 of  kuigs,  and  Lord  ot"  lords  ; 
 
 16  '  Who  only  hath  immortality,  dwelling  in 
 the  light  which  no  man  can  approach  nnto ; 
 ^  whom  no  man  hath  seen,  nor  can  see  :  '  to 
 whom  be  hononr  and  power  everlasting.  Amen. 
 
 17  Charge  them  that  are  rich  in  this  world, 
 that  they  be  not  highminded, '"  nor  trust  in 
 t"  uncertain  riclies,  bnt  in  "the  hving  God, 
 ■'who  givetli  us  richly  all  things  to  enjoy  ; 
 
 18  That  they  do  good,  that  '  they  be  rich  in 
 good  works,  'ready  to  distribute,  ||  "willing  to 
 communicate ; 
 
 n  Pro.  23. 
 fflThes.  I.  9.  ch.S.  15.  &  ♦.  10.        pActs  14. 17.  &  17.  25.        7  Luke  12.  21,  cli.  5.10. 
 Tit.  a.  8.  Jam.  S.  5.       rRom.  12.  IS.      \\Ov,tociabU.        «  Gal.  6.  6    Heb.  13.16. 
 
 g  ch.l.tl,l7. 
 /.  Rev.l7.l4. 
 
 &  19.  16. 
 I  eh.  1  17. 
 k  Kx.  3.1.  20. 
 
 Jolm  6.  4fi. 
 /  Kpli.  3.  ^1. 
 
 Pliil     1    2U. 
 
 Jude  "15. 
 
 6'i.  10. 
 Mark  10  2-1. 
 LukelS.21. 
 t  Gr.  fl,e  un- 
 cerlninly  of 
 ichft. 
 
 A    1).  1)5. 
 
 f  Mai.  6.  20. 
 
 &  lil.  ai. 
 
 Luke  ia.33. 
 
 ft  16  9. 
 -<  vci.  12. 
 .I'JTiin  l.ll. 
 
 Tit.  !.  9. 
 
 Kfv.  3.  3. 
 (/  ch.  I.  4,  6. 
 
 &  4.  7. 
 
 2  TiiTi.?.II, 
 
 It),  -JJ.  Tit. 
 
 I   14    Si  ^.9. 
 JCh.  l.fi,  19. 
 
 2  Tim.2.IH, 
 
 19  ^  Laying  up  in  store  for  themselves  a  good 
 foundation  against  tlie  time  to  come,  that  tliey 
 may  "  lay  hold  on  eternal  life. 
 
 20  O  Timothy,  ^  keep  that  which  is  com- 
 mitted to  thy  trust,  ^'  avoiding  profane  and  vain 
 babblings,  and  oppositions  of  science  falsely 
 so  called  : 
 
 21  Which  some  professing  'have  erred  con- 
 cerning the  faith.  Grace  be  with  thee.    Amen. 
 
 If  The  first  to  Timothy  was  written  from 
 Laodicea,  whicli  is  the  chiefest  city  of 
 Phrygia  Pacatiana. 
 
 The  aposUe  says  it  belongs  to  God  only,  and  to  oiir  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
 {Rev.  xvii.  14  ;  xix.  16.) — Whitbi/.  These  titles  are  used  by  the  Jews, 
 who  style  the  blessed  God,  *  Lord  ol  ail  lord?.  King  over  all  kings.' 
 The  same  name  is  given  to  Christ,  Rev.  xi.\.  lli,  which  shews  him  to 
 he  equal  with  the  Father.— Gi//.  16.  Dwelling  in  the  light— this  is 
 beautifully  expressed :  light  indicates  purity,  happiness,  glory ;  such  is 
 God's  habitation. — Ed.  \7.  Hiqhminded,   'v^n^oippavtiVf  'elated  in 
 
 mind.'  The  word  signifies,  to  have  an  high  opinion  of  one's  self  in 
 comparison  to  others,  and  to  have  no  regard  to  their  happiness. — 
 Mackii.  Uncertain  riches,  of  which  a  thousand  accidents  may  immedi- 
 ately deprive  them. — Doddr.  18.  Rich  in  good  works,  like  Dorcas. 
 Ready  to  distribute,  unasked.  Willing  to  communicate,  of  their  good 
 things  to  the  poor.  19,  Laying  up  in  store,  ?fc. — the  phrase  is  tlie 
 same  with  that  in  Matt.  vi.  19,  20,  and  takes  in  a  regard  to  spiritual 
 
 riches,  the  riches  of  grace  now— such  as  sanctifying,  justifying,  and 
 pardoning  grace  through  Christ,  which  will  he  a  good  foundation 
 againut  the  time  to  come,  and  will  give  butli  a  right  and  mectness  for 
 the  enjoyment   of  tlie   heavenly  treasure.s. — Gill.  20.  Kiep   that, 
 
 *  guard  the  thing,'  TMf  TrapaKuTaftiKiii',  (see  2  Tim.  i.  12.)  'The  thing' 
 means,  our  Lord's  character  as  the  Son  of  God,  his  dcscentfrom  Abra- 
 ham and  David,  his  birth  of  a  virgirj,  his  doctrine,  miracles,  death, 
 resurrection,  ascension,  and  return  to  judge  the  w-uld.  These,  the 
 contents  of  the  inspired  writings,  were  no  doubt  a  principal  part  of  the 
 deposit  committed  to  Timothy.— il/rtc/f«.  The  gospel  is  meant.—  (Jilt. 
 Profane  and  vain  ba/thlings,  the  impious,  noisy,  senseless,  talking  of 
 the  Judaizers.  Of  science,  'of  knowledge  ;' see  the  word  1  Cor.  xii.  8. 
 The  knowledge  of  the  true  meaning  of  scripture,  to  which  the  false 
 teachers  pretended. — Mackn, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI.  — We  here  learn,  I.  The  duiy 
 of  servants  to  respect  their  masters.  Religious  servants,  who 
 assume  an  equality  with  those  whom  Providence  has  placed 
 above  them  in  the  scale  of  society,  virtually  quarrel  with  the 
 wisdom  of  God  in  putting  them  where  they  are.  They  should 
 remark,  tlmt  God  has  made  various  gradations  in  society  ;  and 
 that,  as  tliey  are  below  their  masters,  their  masters  are  below 
 clhers;  but  that  all  form  a  grand  link,  strengthening  each 
 oiher,  and  made  lo  subserve  each  other's  comfort  and  interest. 
 When,  therefore,  religious  servants  become  discontented  with 
 their  lot,  or  assume,  because  they  Iiave  learned  that  believers 
 are  '  all  one  in  Christ  Jesus,'  they  by  no  means  commend  reli- 
 gion, and  foster  a  spirit  of  pride,  which  is  a  dangerous  failing 
 wherever  it  exists.     Believing  masters  ought  always  to  be 
 
 peculiarly  respected  ;  such,  indeed,  in  addition  to  their  so- 
 cial authority,  have  the  claim  of  esteem  and  love,  because 
 they  will  not  oppress  those  that  are  under  them,  and  will 
 always  feel  concerneti  for  the  welfare  of  their  bodies  and  souls. 
 
 II.  The  duty  of  rich  men  to  communicate  of  their  richt.s.  Let 
 them  not  cherish  inordinate  desires,  nor  nishly  grasp  at  gain 
 with  a  rapacious  hand  ;  neither  let  them  hoard  up  that  which, 
 as  to  theui,  must  be  soon  scattered  to  the  winds,  like  the  dis- 
 persed chaff, — w'hicli  produces  nothing,  but  wliich,  rightly 
 usf'd,  may  be  as  good  seed,  bringing  forth  a  glorious  harvest. 
 
 III.  The  duty  0/ ministers  to  quard  the  treasure  of  the  gospel. 
 Divine  truth  is  a  jewel  committed  lo  their  trust;  let  them 
 hold  it  fast,  and  band  it  down,  pure  and  unsullied,  from  gener- 
 ation to  generation. 
 
 THE    SECOND    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 TIMOTHY. 
 
 [As  the  former  epistle  is  thought  to  have  been  written  from  Rome  during  tlie  apostle  Paul's  first  Imprisonment,  so  this  is 
 supposed  to  have  been  written  during  a  second,  and  about  a  year  after.  Timothy  was  evidently  nou-  somewhere  in  Asia 
 Minor.  Many  have  thought  that  he  was  at  Ephesus;  but  as  St.  Paul  desires  hira  to  bring  the  cloak  with  him  which 
 he  had  left  at  Troas,  (chap.  iv.  13,)  the  correctness  of  this  conjecture  is  doubted,  because  Tio.is  docs  not  lie  in  the  way 
 from  Ephesus  to  Rome,  whither  he  was  directed  to  go  as  quickly  as  he  could.  The  following  references  toother  portions 
 of  holy  writ  are  to  be  found  in  this  epistle; — Exod,  vii.  11,  12;  viii.  18*  ix.  II;  Matt.  xvi.  24;  Acts,  xiv.  22:  2  Pet. 
 i.  20,  21.] 
 
 CHAP.   I. 
 
 1  Paul's  lovp  to  Timot/iy,  and  the  unfeigned  faith  which 
 was  in  Timothy  himself,  his  mother,  and  grandmo- 
 ther, 6  He  is  exhorted  to  stir  up  the  gift  of  God 
 which  was  in  him,  8  to  be  stedfast^  and  patient  in 
 persecution^  V^  and  to  persist  in  the  form  and  truth 
 of  that  dortrine  which  he  had  learned  of  him.  15  Phy- 
 pellus  anil  Hcrmogenes,  and  such  like,  are  noted,  and 
 Onvsiphorus  is  highly  commenderL 
 
 "pAUL, ''an  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ  by  the 
 -^      will  of  God,  according  to  ^  the  promise  of 
 
 aVCor.  1. 1 
 h  Kph.  3.  6. 
 
 Tit    1 .  2. 
 
 Heb.  9.  15. 
 
 A.  D.  66. 
 ;  1  Tiui.1.2. 
 
 d  Ilnm.  l.fl. 
 Eph.  1.  \6. 
 
 r  Acts  22.  3. 
 
 &  :;8.  1.  h 
 
 21  I4.&27. 
 /I  Thes  1. 
 2.  &  3.  1.1, 
 fch  4  9,21 
 2:i.  Rom,  I. 
 9.  Gal,  1.14. 
 
 life  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus, 
 
 2  "  To  Timothy,  my  dearly  beloved  son : 
 Grace,  mercy,  aH(i  peace,  from  God  the  Father 
 and  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 
 
 3^1  thank  God,  ^  whom  I  serve  from  iny 
 forefathers  with  pure  conscience,  that  *"  withoiU 
 ceasing  I  have  remembrance  of  thee  in  my 
 prayers  night  and  day; 
 
 4  ^  Greatly  desiring  to  see  thee,  being  mind- 
 ful of  thy  tears,  that  I  may  be  filled  with  joy  ; 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.—  1.  By  the  uill  of  God,  his  secret  will  ftora 
 
 eternity,  which  separated  him  unto  the  gospel  of  Christ;  and  his 
 revealed  will  to  the  church,  by  which  he  and  Barnabas  were  set  apart 
 to  the  ministry  of  the  word,  (see  Rom.  i.  I ;  Acts,  xiii.  2.)— Gill.  The 
 free  and  sovereig-n  appointment  and  commission  of  God  the  Father.— 
 Guysp.  See  I  Cor,  i.  1.  According  to,  KoTa,  here,  as  in  Titus,  i.  1, 
 denotes  the  end  for  which  Paul  was  made  an  apostle,  •  on  account  of 
 
 1 28a 
 
 publishing  the  promise  of  eternal  life.'— Jl/acA-n.  2.  Son,  in  a  spiri- 
 tual sense.— Gi/;.  See  1  Tim.  i.  2,  note.  3.  From  my  forefathers, 
 '  after  the  manner  of  my  progenitors.'— (?Hi/sf.  '  After  the  example  of 
 my  pious  progenitors.' — Doddr.  '  According' to  the  knowledge  received 
 from  my  forefathers.'— il/fli-/.v(.  'Their  religion  being,  in  substance, 
 the  same  with  that  I  now  profess.'- 7f/».  H«//.  4.  Thy  tears,  shed 
 at  their  last  separation. — Doddr.    Probably  shed  on  being  first  deeply 
 
Paul  cxhortfih  Timotliij 
 
 11.  TIMOTHY,  II. 
 
 to  be  sleclfast  and  patient. 
 
 5  When  I  call  to  remembrance  '■  the  un 
 feigned  failli  that  is  in  tliee,  which  dwelt  first 
 in  tliy  grandmother  Lois,  and  '  thy  mother 
 Ennice  ;  and  1  am  persuaded  that  in  thee  also. 
 
 0  Wherefore  I  put  thee  in  remembrance 
 ''  that  thon  stir  up  the  gift  of  God.  which  is  in 
 tliee  by  the  putting  on  of  my  hand.s. 
 
 7  For  '  God  hatli  not  given  us  the  spirit  of 
 fear;  '"but  of  power,  and  of  love,  and  of  a 
 sound  mind. 
 
 8  "  Be  not  thou  therefore  ashamed  of  "the 
 testimony  of  our  Lord,  nor  of  me ''  Ills  prisoner : 
 ''  but  be  thou  partaker  of  tlie  afflictions  of  the 
 gospel  according  to  the  power  of  God  ; 
 
 9  '  Wlio  hatli  saved  us,  and  '  called  us  with 
 an  holy  calling,  '  not  according  to  our  works, 
 but  "  according  to  his  own  purpose  and  grace, 
 which  was  given  us  in  Christ  Jesus  "  before 
 the  world  began  ; 
 
 10  l?ut  'is  now  made  manifest  by  the  ap- 
 pearing of  our  Saviour  .lesus  Christ,  '  who 
 liath  abolished  death,  and  hath  brought  life 
 and  immortality  to  light  through  the  gospel : 
 
 1 1  "  Wliereunto  I  am  appointed  a  preacher, 
 and  an  apostle,  and  a  teacher  of  the  Gentiles. 
 
 12  ''For  the  which  cause  I  also  sutler  these 
 tilings :  nevertheless  1  am  not  ashamed  :  "  for 
 1  know  whom  I  have  ||  believed,  and  am  per- 
 suaded that  he  is  able  to  ''  keep  that  which  I 
 have  committed  unto  him  °  against  that  day. 
 
 13  'Hold  fast  ^  the  form  of  "sound  words, 
 
 Heb.  10.  23.  Rev.  S.  S.'i.      g  Horn.  3.  SO.  &  6.  17.     h\  Tiiii. 
 
 A.  D.  66. 
 
 h  1  Tim.1.6. 
 ft  i.  6. 
 
 I  Acta  10.  1. 
 
 k  1  Thes.  5. 
 19.  I  Tim. 
 ■I.  14. 
 
 /Horn.  B.  15. 
 
 m  Luke  24. 
 
 49.  Acts  1. 
 
 S. 
 n  Rnm  I.  16. 
 t,  \  Tim.S.6. 
 
 Rev.  I.  2. 
 
 Eph.  3.  I. 
 
 p  Pl.U.  I.  7. 
 
 7  Col.  1.  84. 
 
 ell.  4.  5. 
 r  1  Tim.  1  I. 
 
 Til.  S.  4 
 I  I  Thes.  4. 
 Heb  S.I. 
 I  Rum.  3.20. 
 
 &  !).  11. 
 
 Tit.  3.  5. 
 u  Koin.  H.2tl. 
 jc  Hoin    16. 
 
 2a.  Kph.  1. 
 
 4.  fc  3.  II. 
 
 Tit.  1    2, 
 
 I  Pet.  1  SO. 
 }  Houi.  16. 
 
 26   Eph.  !. 
 
 !)   Col.l  28. 
 
 Tit    1.  3. 
 
 I  I'et.  I.gO. 
 :  I  Cor.  15. 
 
 61,  &5. 
 
 Hob.  8.  14. 
 a  Acts  9.  15. 
 
 Kph.  3.7, ». 
 
 I  Tim.  2. 7. 
 
 fh.  4.  17. 
 I>  Eph,  3.  I. 
 
 ch    2.  9. 
 c  I  Pet  4.19. 
 ||  Or.  traitfd, 
 d  ITioi  6.2U. 
 e  ver-  18. 
 
 ch.  4.  8. 
 
 /ch,  3.  14. 
 
 Tit.  \.  a . 
 
 1.  10.  di  C,  3.   ' 
 
 A.  D.  66 
 
 I  ch.  2   L' 
 It   ITiTIl  1.11 
 (  1  Ti.ii.O.SU 
 "iHoiii.S.ll 
 
 I  Acta  19.1n 
 tch.4.I0,  16 
 
 p  Mat.  5.  7. 
 q  ch.  4.  ly 
 
 Philetn.  7. 
 -  ver.  S 
 /  Acts  2S-2I'. 
 Eph.  fl.  20. 
 
 .  M.-it.  25. 
 
 3.1 — *0. 
 r  2  Thes    1. 
 
 10.  ver.  IV 
 y  Heb.  6.10. 
 
 1  Tim. 1. 2. 
 ch    1.2. 
 /,  Eph.  6.  10. 
 
 ■ch.  1.  13. 
 
 «(  3.  10,  14. 
 II  Or,  % 
 inTtiii  1.18. 
 1  Tim.  3.2. 
 
 Tit.  1.  9. 
 
 '  which  thou  hast  heard  of  me,  '"  in  faith  and 
 love  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 14  '  That  good  thing  which  was  committed 
 unto  tliee  keep  by  the  Holy  Ghost  '"  which 
 dvvelleth  in  us. 
 
 15  Tliis  thou  knowest,  that  "all  they  which 
 are  in  Asia  be  °  turned  away  from  me ;  of 
 whom  are  I'hygellus  and  Herniogenes. 
 
 1 6  The  Lord  ''  give  mercy  unto  ''  the  house  of 
 Onesiphorus ;  '  for  he  oft  refreshed  me,  and 
 '  was  not  ashamed  of  '  my  chain  : 
 
 17  But,  when  he  was  in  Rome,  he  sought  me 
 out  very  ihligently,  and  found  me. 
 
 IH  Tlie  Lord  grant  unto  him  "that  he  may 
 find  mercy  of  the  Lord  '"  in  that  day  :  and  in 
 how  many  things  he  '  ministered  unto  me  at 
 Ephesus,  thou  knowest  very  well. 
 
 CHAP.  n. 
 
 I  He  is  t^i'hoTtvd  nqnin.  to  co7t.st(inci/  and  pprstTennice, 
 and  tn  do  the  duti/  of  a  faithful  srrvunt  of  the  Lord 
 in  dividiin/  the  wor/t  aritjht,  and  stnyin-i  profani?  and 
 vain  babblings.  I"  Of  Ili/mcnwus  and  Pliihtus. 
 1 9  The  foundation  of  the  Lord  is  sure.  22  He  is 
 ftiught  whereof  to  beware,  and  what  to  follow  after^ 
 and.  in  what  sort  the  sirvant  of  the  Lord  ought  to  be- 
 have himself. 
 
 'T^IIOU  tlierefore,"  my  son,  *•  be  strong  in  tlie 
 
 -*-      ^race  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 2  '^  And  the  things  tiiat  thon  hast  heard  of 
 me  II  amon^  many  witnesses,  ''  the  same  com- 
 mit thon  to  faithful  men,  who  shall  be  ^  able 
 to  teach  others  also. 
 
 affected  under  tlie  instructions  of  the  apostle.— So  Muckn.  5.  When 
 I  caU,  Sfc,  •  ca)liiip  to  remembrance  also.'  Grandmother  Lois,  Sfc.~\t 
 is  here  intimated,  that  having  embraced  the  Christian  faith,  she  per- 
 suaded lier  daug^hter  to  iiu  the  same,  and  that  the  instructions  of  these 
 pious  women  prepared  Tim-ahy  tn  receive  the  eospe\.—Mackmff/it. 
 6.  Stir  up,  avaiuiTrvp€i\ — the  metaphor  is  borrowed  from  stirring  up 
 fire  which  is  almost  extinct.  Some  have  thought  it  refers  to  the  priests 
 trimming  the  lamps  in  the  temple,  and  supplying  them  with  oil  to 
 keep  them  continually  burning;  while  others  have  thought  it  alludes 
 to  the  form  of  (lame  in  which  the  Spirit  descended,  (Acts,  ii.  3  ;  see 
 I  Thess.  V.  19.)— i>yfWr.  'Stir  up,  by  diligent  meditation,  reading, 
 and  ])ray(.'r.'—Giir/se.  The  gift,  this  was  the  Holv  Spirit,  and,  through 
 him,  a  particular  power  to  defciul  the  truth.— .4.  Clarke.  /.  A  sonnd 
 mind,  au)<j>pnvtatJ.ov,  '  self-govemment.'  —  Muckn.  S.  Accurdiug  to 
 the  power,  'by  that  strength  which  God  gives  thee. '—Krtm.  y.  Siwed, 
 or  brought  into  a  state  of  salvation. — Scott.  Not  according  to  our 
 works,  'not  for  any  merit  of  onr  works.' — Bp.  Hall.  But  arcnrdinir 
 to  his  own  purpose  and  grace,  '  entirely  of  his  free  favour,  according  to 
 his  own  sovereign  intention  and  resolution,  and  the  mere  unmerited 
 kindness  of  his  own  gracious  heart.'— Gk.vsp.  'In  accomplishment  of 
 his  own  purpose  and  e:\U.*~Muckn.  Be/ore  the  world  began,  '  before 
 the  times  of  the  ages  ;'  i.  e.,  Inng  before  the  times  of  the  Mosaic  dis- 
 pensation.—3/(/cAn.  *  IJefore  the  Jewish  ages.'— ffHyse.  'Before  an- 
 cient di^ipen nations." — Xewc.  '  From  eternal  ages.*  —  Doddr.  Our 
 translators  have    given    the    sen^e.— BooiAr.  )0.  Abolished   death, 
 
 •  ba'h  maile  death  ineflfectual.'  The  word  K<iT,i,>7»ifrai'Tot  signifies,  '  to 
 render  a  thing  inoperative.'— 3/«cA-rt.  *  By  dying  for  our  sins,  has 
 rescued  all  true  believers  from  the  tinal  power  of  death.*— P^^e.  Life 
 mid  iinmorta/itt/,  an  Hebraism  for  immortal  hic.—Tdlotson.  Brought, 
 — to  light,  'thrown  a  light  on  *  the  important  doctrine  of  life  and  im- 
 mortality.— Dnddr.  '  Hath  made  Ufe  and  immortality  clear  ;*  or,  per- 
 haps, tlie  word  ai^O^ipmav  should  be  translated,  not '  hnmortality,'  but 
 '  incorruption ;'  in  which  case  the  meaning  will  be,  'hath  made  tlie 
 life,  or  existence,  of  the  soul  after  death.,  and  tlie  incorruption  of  the 
 body  after  the  resurrection,  clear.'— JI/rt^Avi.  '  Bringing  to  light'  is 
 here  opposed  to  the  feeble  and  glimmering  light  of  the  law,  {2  Pet.  i. 
 19,)  and  expressive  of  the  extensive  diffusion  of  the  gospel,  (i  Tim.  ii. 
 4  ;  Titus,  ii.  u,  12.) — Mar.  Christ  was  the  first  that  rose  again  from 
 the  dead  to  an  immortal  life;  the  path  of  life  was  first  shewn  to  him. 
 
 and  brought  to  life  by  him ;  and  though  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrec 
 tion  of  the  dead  was  known  by  the  Old  Testament  saints,  yet  not  so 
 clearly  as  it  is  now  revealed  in  the  gospel. — GUI.  12.  That  which  I 
 
 hnve  committed  unfit  him,  the  gospel.— jVHcfrn.,  Hew.,  &c.  His  im- 
 mortal soul, — Whithy,  Doddr.  His  whole  pers<m,  snul  and  body,  with 
 all  his  spiritual  concerns  in  this  world,  and  all  his  everlasting  interests 
 in  the  world  to  come. —  Watts.  '  I  am  iiersuadedhe  is  able  to  preserve 
 what  is  committed  in  trust  to  me.'  \\^ii>iiOnKnv ^ov,  literally,  "my  de- 
 posit ;•  something  which  he  had  deposited,  or  which  was  committed  in 
 trust  to  him, — Mtirkn.,  Guffse.  That  day,  the  day  nf  judgment. — 
 Bloomf.  13.  Sound  wordn.  doctrines  of  the  gospel.— Bur.,  S^c/frt-, 
 
 Gill.  'Sound,*  in  opposition  to  the  doctrine  of  false  teachers. — Gill. 
 In  faith  and  lore,  with  a  firm  faitli.  and  in  true  Cliristian  love. — 
 Whithif.  I-l.  That  good   thing,    the    Christian   faith. — Sanderson. 
 
 I."*.  All  they  which  are  in  Asia,  §-c.,  or  *  of  Asia.'  St.  Paul  probably 
 alludes  to  the  behaviour  of  the  A-^iatic  Christians  at  Rome,  (chap.  iv. 
 j6.)  of  which  Timothy  might  have  been  informed  by  travellers.— 
 Doddr .  l6.  He  oft  refreshed  me,  oi-et^ufe,  literallv,  'he  cooled  nie,* 
 
 expressing  the  consolation  derived  from  his  friendly  visits  ;  because  the 
 Hebrews  represented  any  great  affliction  under  tlie  idea  of  a  scorching 
 or  burning  heat,  (see  I  Pet.  iv.  12.)  Perhaps  he  also  included  admi- 
 nistering to  his  wants,  as  formerly  at  Ephesus,  (ver.  lS,)—Macknight. 
 IS.  Lord— Lord,  simply  means,  '  God  grant  him  mercy.'  so  the  word 
 *  God'  is  repeated,  2  Thess.  iii.  ."i.  These  repetitions  are  common  in 
 the  Hebrew  style. — Mar.  That  day,  the  day  of  retribution. — Bp.  Hall. 
 CuAp.  n.  —  I.  In  the.  grace,  grace  here  may  signify  the  office  of  an 
 evangelist,  bestowed  on  Timothy  by  the  grace  of  Christ,  for  it  is  used 
 to  signify  the  office  of  an  apostle,  (Rom.  i.  5 ;)  or  it  may  signify  the 
 spiritual  gifts  bestowed  on  Timothy,  (see  ITim.  iv.  14;  2  Tim.  i.  6.) 
 'I'hat  he  should  be  strong  in  the  exercise  of  these,  and  in  preaching  the 
 unspeakable  benefits  bestowed  on  Jews  and  Gentiles  through  Christ. — 
 Markn.  Keep  up  an  entire  dependence  on  the  inexhaustible  fund  of 
 grace  treasured  up  in  Christ.— (;«//.i(*,  so  Doddr.  and  Gill.  2.  Among 
 many  witnesses,  or  'by  them.'— il/wcAvi.,  Gill.  Confirmed  by  many 
 witnesses ;  ancient  prophet-*,  who  predicted  them.— Gro^  The  apostles 
 and  other  eye-witnesses  who  attended  our  Lord  on  earth. — Markn. 
 Or  rather,  many  witnesses,  who  with  Timothy  heard  tiie  apostle  preach, 
 and  could  testily  to  the  doctrines  he  had  heard  and  received  from  Paul ; 
 unless  reference  should  be  had  here  to  the  time  of  imposition  of  hands 
 
 ]l^F^,^:cTIONS  on  Chap.  I.  —  See  here,  I.  The  blessing  of 
 pious  ancestors.  To  these  is  rationally  attributed,  under  God, 
 the  early  piety  of  Timothy,  who  from  a  child  was  taught  the 
 Holy  Scriptures.  It  is  a  i^reat  blessiiit;  to  have  the  mind 
 early  prepared  for  the  reception  of  divine  truth.  It  is  tlien, 
 like  the  ploughed  field,  ready  for  the  seed,  and  promises  the 
 labourer  an  abundant  crop  of  valuable  fruit. 
 
 II.    The  importance  of  a  sound  creed.     It  is  true,  many  may 
 
 bold  sound  doctrines,  and  yet  live  unsound  lives  ;  but  it  is  as 
 
 true  that  there  can  be  no  sound  life  without  a  sound  creed. 
 
 It  wo  hiiitd  upon  a  rotten  foundation,  our  house  will  prove 
 
 1284 
 
 rotten  also  ;  and  how  beautiful  soever  may  ho  the  fabric  of 
 moral  worth,  it  will  all  prove  vain  if  the  foundation  be  not 
 laid  in  gospel  truth.  Here  let  us  build,  resting  upon  Christ, 
 who  is  the  sum  and  substance  of  tlie  gospel,  and  we  shall 
 *  not  be  ashamed  nor  confounded,  world  without  end.' 
 
 III.  The  reward  of  sympathy  with  sufferiny  Christians.  It 
 not  only  affords  a  sweet  pleasure  in  the  exercise  of  it,  but  it 
 calls  forth  their  earnest  prayers  in  our  behalf;  and  '  in  that 
 day'  the  Lord  will  not  forget  to  reward  tliese  works  of  faith 
 and  labours  of  love. 
 
what  Timothy  is  to  shun. 
 
 II.  TIMOTHY,  II. 
 
 and  what  to  follow  after. 
 
 3  '  Thou  therefore  endure  hardness,  ^  as  a 
 good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 4  "^  No  man  that  warreth  entangleth  himself 
 with  the  affairs  of  this  life  ;  that  he  may  please 
 him  who  hath  chosen  him  to  be  a  soldier. 
 
 5  And  '  if  a  man  also  strive  for  masteries,  ^e/ 
 is  he  not  crowned,  except  he  strive  lawfully. 
 
 6 
 
 The  husbandman  that  labonreth  must 
 
 be  first  partaker  of  the  fruits. 
 
 7  Consider  what  1  say  ;  and  the  Lord  give 
 thee  understanding  in  all  tilings. 
 
 ^(  Remember  that  .lesus  Christ  '  of  the  .seed 
 of  David  '"  was  raised  from  the  dead  "  accord- 
 ing to  my  gospel : 
 
 9  °  Wherein  I  suffer  trouble,  as  an  evil  doer, 
 ^ even  unto  bonds;  ''but  the  word  of  God  is 
 not  bound. 
 
 10  Therefore  'I  endure  all  things  for  the 
 elect's  .sakes,  "  that  they  may  also  obtain  the 
 salvation  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  with  eternal 
 glory. 
 
 1 1  ' /<  is  a  faithful  saying:  For  "if  we  be 
 dead  with  him,  we  shall  .also  live  with  him  : 
 
 12  'If  we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with 
 7ii?n :  ''  if  we  deny  him,  he  also  will  deny  us  : 
 
 1.3  "  If  we  believe  not,  i/et  he  abideth  faithful; 
 '  he  cannot  deny  himself. 
 
 14  Of  these  things  put  Ihetii  in  remembrance, 
 ''  charging  them  before  the  Lord  ■•'  tliat  they 
 strive  not  about  words  to  no  profit,  hut  to  the 
 
 A.  D.  66. 
 
 A    D    1)6 
 
 fiM.  1.  8.  fc 
 
 +.  6, 
 
 ;;  ITim.l.lg. 
 
 /(  1  Cur.y.-J5. 
 
 i  1  Coi'  g.as, 
 
 ^^\3. 
 
 d  1  Tim. 4.7. 
 
 k  1  Cor. 9. 10. 
 
 Ik  ti.  Jii. 
 
 jl  Or,  The 
 
 Tit.  1.  M. 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 lali'iiirini^ 
 
 ynhgrene. 
 
 Jitit,  Ui'tit 
 be  pari-ikpr 
 
 e  I  Tim.l.yO 
 
 I  Umn.l  M,4. 
 
 /  1  Tim.  fi. 
 
 Acts  L'.  .'W. 
 
 &  l;i.  -.iS. 
 
 -   1  Cor.  IS. 
 
 in  1   C.r.  15. 
 
 \'i. 
 
 1,  4,  Jl). 
 
 »  KoH)   -^  l(>. 
 
 h  Mat  94.-?l. 
 
 o  Acts  9.  10. 
 
 K-.iu,  8.  :<j 
 
 ch.  1.  \2 
 
 1  John  2  10. 
 
 V  K,.U    3.  I. 
 Pliil.  1.7. 
 
 11  Or,  iteady. 
 1  Nah.  1.  7. 
 
 Col.  4.3,18. 
 
 Jnim  IO.lt, 
 
 7  A.-tH  2S.31. 
 
 27.   See 
 
 K-iiii  i;  19, 
 
 Num.  Ifi.  5. 
 
 L'«    Pliil    I. 
 
 tl  Tim.  3. 15. 
 
 i;t,  u. 
 
 r  Kph    3  13. 
 
 Cij.  1.  ai. 
 
 ^■i  c.r.  16. 
 
 (  Horn   9.21. 
 
 (ITim  I.  15. 
 
 -  Rom.  e.  5, 
 
 8.  2  Cir    4. 
 
 .11  See  13.52. 
 
 HI. 
 
 11. 
 
 J  Rom.fl.t?. 
 
 1  Pet.  -1.13. 
 
 V  Mat.lU.-i;!. 
 
 Mark  8.  .IS. 
 
 '<  oil.  3.  IV. 
 
 Luke  l>.  y. 
 
 Tit.  3    1. 
 
 ;  Koui.  .1.  3. 
 
 «  ITim.6.11. 
 
 &  !t.  H. 
 
 p  Acta  9.14. 
 
 u  Num.  -23. 
 
 I  Cor.  1.  2. 
 
 19. 
 
 7  1  Tim  1.5. 
 
 h  1  Tim.  5. 
 
 &  4.  12. 
 
 ai.  e*.  0    IS. 
 
 r  ITim.  1.4. 
 
 cli.  4.  1. 
 
 &  4.  7.  &  6. 
 
 <■-  1  Tim.  1  1. 
 
 4    vi-r.  16. 
 
 &  fi.  -l    Tit. 
 
 Tit,  3,  9. 
 
 .s.  y.  II. 
 
 *  Tit  3.  2. 
 
 subverting  ol"  the  hearers. 
 
 15  Study  to  sliew  thyself  approved  unto  God, 
 a  workman  tliat  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed, 
 rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth. 
 
 U>  But  ''shun  profane  and  vain  babblings: 
 for  they  will  increase  unto  more  ungodliness, 
 
 17  And  their  word  will  eat  as  dotii  a  ||  canker: 
 of  whom  is  "^  Hymensus  and  Philetus  ; 
 
 18  Who  *"  concerning  the  truth  have  erred, 
 ^saying  that  the  resurrection  is  past  already  ; 
 and  overthrow  the  faith  of  some. 
 
 19  Nevertheless  ''the  foundation  of  God 
 standeth  |{  sure,  having  this  seal.  The  Lord 
 '  knoweth  them  that  are  his.  And,  Let  every 
 one  that  nameth  the  name  of  Christ  depart 
 from  iniquity. 
 
 liO  ^  But  in  a  great  house  there  are  not  only 
 vessels  of  gold  and  of  silver,  but  also  ot  wood 
 and  of  earth  ;  '  and  some  to  honour,  and  some 
 to  dishonour. 
 
 21  '"  if  a  man  therefore  purge  himself  from 
 these,  he  shall  be  a  vessel  unto  honour,  sanc- 
 tified, and  meet  for  the  master's  use,  and 
 "  prepared  unto  every  good  work. 
 
 t2'2  Flee  also  youthful  lusts:  but  °  follow 
 righteousness,  faith,  charity,  peace,  with  them 
 that  *'  call  on  the  I^ord  ''  out  of  a  pure  heart. 
 
 '23  But  '  foolish  and  unlearned  questions 
 avoid,  knowing  that  they  do  gender  strifes. 
 
 24   And  ^  the  servant  of  the  Lord   must   not 
 
 upon  him,  wlien  he  received  some  ministerial  pif's,  or  an  increase  of 
 them.— C*7/.  3.  As  n  guod  suldier,  the  Roman  soldier,  here  alhuled 
 to,  when  neither  fighting  nor  encamping-,  was  always  exercising:.  The 
 loot  soldiers,  besides  their  armour,  which  was  cumbersome  and  heavy, 
 were  obliged  to  carry  three  days'  provisions;  so  that  they  had  much 
 labour  and  hard.-^hip  constantly  to  endure. —  Wil.  4.  No  man.  that 
 wnrreth,  i^c,  the  legionary  soldiers  among  the  Romans  were  not  suf- 
 fered to  engage  in  agriculture,  merchandize,  mechanical  employments, 
 or  any  business  which  might  divert  tliem  from  their  prol'essinn.  The 
 apostle  here  intimafes  tlie  impropriety  of  ministers  eniangling  them- 
 selves in  secular  busine-.'^es.— Grry^.,  Mttckn,  5.  Jfamanstrwe,  §-e., 
 'contend*  in  the  game?*.  Lnicfully,  '  according  to  the  laws.' — Gu^yse. 
 He  wli'.)  transgressed  the  rules  lust,  and  was  sometimes  punished. — 
 Pict.Bih.  One  law  was,  that  the  combatants  should  contend  naked. 
 This  may  possibly  mean,  as  the  preceding  verse,  that  ministers  should 
 divest  themselves  of  the  iuve  and  cares  of  the  world. — Gupse.  6.  The 
 hushandmnn,  Sfc,  rather,  '  the  husbandman  must  first  labour  before  he 
 partaltes  of  the  fruits.—  Wells.  8.  Of  the  seed  of  Utivid,  Christ  being 
 of  his  seed  according  to  the  tlesh,  or  human  nature,  is  expressive  of  liis 
 incarnation,  shews  that  he  was  truly  man,  and  points  him  out  as  the 
 true  Messiali.  well  known  to  the  .lews. — Gilt.  Tininthy  is  here  called 
 upon  to  assert  the  incarnation  of  Lhrisi,  there  being  some  heretics  who 
 very  early  dtnied  the  tru'n  of  his  human  nature,  as  the  Marciouites 
 and  Mmiichees.  Wns  raised,  ^c. — This  doctrine  Timothy  was  to  press, 
 for  on  it  depends  Christ's  divinity  ;  hU  resurrection  by  his  own  power 
 declaring    him    to    be    God,  (Rom.  i.  4.) — Bur.  g.  The   word — not 
 
 hound,  it  was  the  more  spread  through  the  bonds  of  the  apostle,  and 
 met  with  great  success. — Gilt.  lo.  For  the  elect's sii/ce,  that  the  gra- 
 cious purposes  of  (iud  for  their  happiness  may  be  effected. — Doddr. 
 \1.  A  fuith/ul  saying.  '  certainly  true.*  If  we  he  dead  with  him,  'by 
 union  with  him,  dead  to  sin  and  to  this  world,  and  willing  to  lose  our 
 mortal  hves  for  his  sake.'  Live,  'raised  to  a  glorious  immnrtality,  to 
 live  in  the  heavenly  wnrld,'  {see  John,  xii. -JS,  2() ;  Rom.  viii.  >"; 
 1  Pet.  iv.  13.) — Gui/se.  13.  If  we  fieliene  not,  '  if  we  arc  unfaithful,' 
 
 €t  tmtarovfiei',  so  the  word  should  be  rendered.  —  Doddr.  'Though 
 we  be  unfaithful.*— il/acfr«.,  so  Boothr,  Whethci'  or  not  we  believe 
 the  truths  in  the  preceding  verse,  yet  the  faithful  and  true  witness  will 
 perform  his  gracious  promise,  and  execute  his  threatenings. — Gut/se 
 Should  we  deny  the  faith  and  apostatise,  he  is  true  both  ti»  his  threat- 
 enings and  his  promises. — .^.  Clarlte,  15.  Study,  Sfc, '  strive  to  present 
 thyself  to  God,  an  approved,  unashamed,  workman.' — Mackn.  Ri^hth/ 
 dividing,  a  metaphor,  say  some,  taken  frura  the  right  dissecting  and 
 separatiug  victims  in  sacrifice,  part  for  God  and  part  for  those  allowed 
 to  share.  Others  think  it  refers  to  guiding  a  plough  aright,  and  divid- 
 ing the  clods.  But  perhaps  it  refers  t;>  the  distribution  made  by  the 
 steward  in  delivering  to  each  person  his  appomted  portions. — So  Doddr. 
 Jt  is  opCuTo/ioi'vTu,  literally,  'who  rightly  cutteth  upthewurd;'  in 
 allusion  to  the  action  of  the  priest  who  opened  and  divided  the  sacri- 
 fice, or  rather  of  one  who  carves  at  table,  and  distributes  meat  to  the 
 guests  according  to  their  ages  and  their  state  of  healtli.— il/ficAn. 
 \y.  As  a  ctijiker,  w<;  '^a-^-^pava,  *  as  a  gangrene  ;'  i.e.,  as  a  mortifica- 
 tion in  the  flesh.  So  false  doctrine  fixes  its  mortal  seed  in  the  soul, 
 and  corrupts  and  assimilates  evL-ry  thing  to  itself.— j4.  Clarke.  18.  S«y- 
 ing  that  tht'  resurrection  is  past — most  think  tliat  these  were  persons 
 who  held  that  the  resurrection  preached  by  Jesus  was  purely  a  mctu- 
 
 V2Si> 
 
 pliorical  and  spiritual  one,  and  that  that  was  past;  that  virtue  was  its 
 tiwn  reward  in  tliis  life,  and  all  that  it  could  expect;  for,  as  Sadducees 
 and  Materiali'-ts,  by  denying  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  they  denied 
 all  future  existence. — See  Mackn.  ig.  Foundation— there  are  va- 
 
 rinus  interpretations  (if  this;  soineiindersiand  believers,  they  being  un- 
 shaken by  heresies,  (see  Prov.  x.  25,  and  Kev.  iii.  12.)  a  '  pillar.' — So 
 Du  Base.  Others  translate  the  (ireek  word  'ci.ntract,'  wliich  agrees 
 well  with  a  '  seal.' — See  iVur.  '  God's  covenant.' — H.  Ba.vter.  It  may 
 mean  ihe  apostles  and  prophets,  who  could  not  be  removed  liy  any  at- 
 tempts of  those  who  denied  Uieir  inspiration  and  authority,  (Eph.  li.  20. j 
 — Mackn.  It  may  signify  the  chief  doctrines  of  the  gospel. — Benson. 
 Perhaps  the  doctrine  of  eternal  election. — Gil/.  The  promise  and  hope 
 of  a  future  life  and  resurrection,  as  secured  by  the  mediation  of  Christ. 
 — Boothr.  The  fundamental  doctrine  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
 to  which  God  has  set  his  seal  by  testifying  his  approbation  of  the  aiios- 
 ties,  whom  he  inspired  and  commissioned  to  preach  it. — Gui/se.  The 
 authority  and  power  of  the  Almighty,  on  which  the  religion  of  Christ 
 isbm\t.— A.  Clarke.  Christ  Jesus  is  the  itoundation,  (Matt.  vii.  25.) — 
 Poole,  so  Scott.  Svat — this  word  is  used  to  express  any  sort  of  en- 
 graving or  inscription. — Du  Bnsc.  It  not  only  means  the  seal  itself, 
 with  its  inscription,  but  also  its  impression. — Mackn.  Among  the  Jews, 
 the  seals  were  used  in  buying  and  selling,  that  it  might  be  known  what 
 was  bought,  and  to  conlirm  the  purchase. — GUI.  A  seal,  in  the  sense 
 of  a  figure  with  an  inscription,  was  no  unusual  thing  on  a  foundation- 
 stone,  {Zech.  iii.  Q.) — Mackn.  The  expression  is  here  used  with  pecu- 
 liar propriety,  in  allusion  to  the  custom  of  engraving  upon  sttmes  laid 
 in  the  foundations  of  buildings  the  names  of  the  persons  by  whom,  and 
 the  purposes  for  which,  the  structure  is  raised.— VAx/rfc.  God's  people 
 are  sealed  and  confiimed  in  their  state  by  his  eternal  decree. — Poole. 
 The  I'urks,  Arabs,  and  Persians,  have  usually  only  inscriptions  on  their 
 seals,  and  most  probably  the  Jewish  seals  were  of  the  like  kind,  (see 
 Exod.  xxviii.  11,  :i6.)—Par.  The  Lord  knoweth,  fyc.—Let,  SfC,  1  take 
 this  twofold  inscriptifm  to  signify,  that  on  God's  seal,  'the  Lord  ap- 
 proveth,'  &c. :  and  that  on  the  seal  of  his  f<ilIowers,  '  Let,' Ac. — A. 
 Clarke.  The  two  inscriptions  mean,  that  (>od  is  sure  to  all  those  who 
 are  faitliful  to  him,  and  every  Christian  by  his  laith  i.s  pledged  to  a 
 holy  life. — Ham.  Faith  is  sealed  to  God's  elect,  so  that  they  shall 
 never  lose  it. — Gill.  'I'he  apostle  here  evidently  alludes  to  the  ancient 
 custom  of  engraving  upon  foundation-stonee,  and  his  intention  is  to 
 represent  to  us,  nut  only  a  seal,  but  an  inscription  and  a  device,  which 
 assures  us  of  the  firmness  of  our  foundation  and  the  reason  for  it.  The 
 device  consists  of  two  maxims  to  jiersuade  us  of  the  firmness  of  the 
 believer.  The  knowledge  here  mentioned  is  that  of  approbation  and 
 love,  as  Ps.  i.  6,  John,  x.  2",  Ktc.  The  second  inscription  enables  us 
 to  know  if  we  are  of  the  number  of  those  whom  God  loves. — Du  Bosc. 
 From  iniquity,  '  fiom  doctrinal  iniquity,  errors,  and  heresies  ;  and  from 
 practical  iniquity,  and  iniquitous  men.' — Gill.  20.  A  great  house,  fyc, 
 the  application  of  comparison  is  wanting,  as  in  Rom.  v.  12,  &c.  Just 
 so  in  the  church,  which  is  the  house  of  God,  are  teachers  of  various 
 capacities,  faithful  men  and  seducers. — Mackn.  22.  Lasts,  *  desires,' 
 not  only  sensual,  hut  ambition,  love  of  power,  confidence  in  them- 
 selves and  their  talents,  Stc. — Mackn.,  Boothr.  23.  Unlearned,  '  un- 
 tauglit.' — Mackn.  *  Unpn-fitable.' — Boothr.  'Questions  which  the 
 Judaizcrs  are  so  fond  if.' — Mackn.  Unimportant  and  fruitless  contro- 
 vcrsy,  having  nothing  of  true  and  solid  whilom.— Guyse.      24.  Strioc, 
 
Paul  describeth  the  enemies 
 
 II.  TIMOTHY,  III. 
 
 uft/ie  truth. 
 
 strive  ;  but  be  gentle  unto  all  men,  '  apt  to 
 teach,  II  patient, 
 
 25  "  In  meekness  instructing  those  that  op- 
 pose themselves  ;  '^  if  God  peradventure  will 
 give  them  repentance  >'  to  the  acknowledging 
 of  the  truth  ; 
 
 26  And  that  they  may  f  recover  themselves 
 '  out  of  the  snare  of  the  devil,  who  are  f  taken 
 captive  by  him  at  his  will, 
 
 CHAP.   III. 
 
 I  He  advertiseth  him  of  the  tinus  to  come,  6  describeth 
 the  enemies  of  tlie  truth,  \0 propomideth  unto  him  Ids 
 own  example,  \ti  and  commemlrlh  the  liohj  scriptures. 
 
 'T'HIS  know  also,  that  "  in  the  last  days  peril- 
 -'-      ous  times  shall  come. 
 
 2  For  men  shall  be  >■  lovers  of  their  own 
 selves,  '  covetous,  ''  boasters,  "  proud,  '  blas- 
 phemers, ^  disobedient  to  parents,  unthankful, 
 unholy, 
 
 3  •■  Without  natural  affection, '  trucebreakers, 
 
 II  false  accusers,  '  incontinent,  fierce,  despisers 
 of  those  that  are  good, 
 
 4  '  Traitors,  heady,  highminded,  "  lovers  of 
 pleasures  more  than  lovers  of  God  ; 
 
 .5  Having  a  form  of  godliness,  but  °  denying 
 the  power  thereof :  "from  such  turn  away. 
 
 6  For  ''  of  this  sort  are  they  which  creep  into 
 houses,  and  lead  captive  silly  women  laden 
 
 (  [  Tim.  3.  2. 
 
 3.  Tit.  1.  9. 
 BOr,/w- 
 
 bearing. 
 Gal.  6.  1. 
 
 t  Tira.6.11. 
 
 1  Pet.  3. 15. 
 I  Acts  3.22. 
 g  1  Tim.S.*. 
 
 cli.  3.  7. 
 
 Pit.  1    1. 
 t  Gr.  awnhf. 
 !  1  Tim.S  7. 
 t  Gr.  fakert 
 
 a  I  Tim.<l  1. 
 cli.  -1.  3. 
 2  Pet.  3.  3. 
 
 1  Julio  2- IS. 
 Jiule  18. 
 
 SPliil.  2  21. 
 c  2  Pet.  2.  3. 
 d  Juile  16. 
 •  1  Tim.  6.4 
 /  1  Tim.  1 
 
 211.  2  Pet.2. 
 
 12.  Jri.le  10 
 j;  Koin.  1  311. 
 /(  Rom.  1.31. 
 i  Rom.  1.31. 
 llOr.  makt- 
 
 Tit-  2.  3. 
 k  2  Pet- 3  3 
 12  Pet.  2.10. 
 m  Phil. 3  19. 
 
 2  Pet.  2. 13, 
 Sec.  Jude  "1, 
 19. 
 
 •>  I  Tim.  5,8. 
 
 Tit.  1.  16. 
 o2Tlies,S.6. 
 
 1  Tim.  6.  5. 
 p  Mat  23  U. 
 
 Tit-  1.  11. 
 
 .\.  D.66. 
 I  Tim, 2.4. 
 
 I  Tim.  6. 5, 
 
 fRom.  1.2S. 
 2  Cor,  13.5. 
 Tit.  1.  16. 
 
 II  Or,  .r..« 
 
 Ex.  7.  12* 
 
 Sc8 
 
 18.  & 
 
 xPl.il.  2.22. 
 I  Tim  4-  6. 
 
 II  Or,  tl..„. 
 h'l^t  bfn  n 
 dttiwnt  fot- 
 l...,r  ./. 
 
 V  Acta  13.46, 
 
 5(1. 
 r  Acts  14.  2, 
 
 5. 
 
 1  Acts  14. 
 19,  ..ic. 
 
 \  Ps.  31.  19. 
 
 2  Cor.  I.IU. 
 ch   4.  7. 
 
 C  Ps.  »1.  19. 
 Acts  14.22- 
 Mat,  16  24, 
 John  17.11, 
 1  Cor.15  19 
 1  Tlies.  3. 
 3. 
 
 li  2  Thea  2. 
 11.  iTim  4 
 I.  ch.  2. 16 
 
 e  ch.  1.  13. 
 112.2. 
 
 /John  5. 39 
 
 Pet.l.SO, 
 
 with  sins,  led  away  with  divers  lusts, 
 
 7  Ever  learning,  and  never  able  '  to  come  to 
 the  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
 
 8  '  Now  as  Jannes  and  Jambres  withstood 
 Moses,  so  do  these  also  resist  the  truth  :  '  men 
 of  corrupt  minds,  '  ||  reprobate  concerning  the 
 faith. 
 
 9  But  they  shall  proceed  no  further  :  for  their 
 folly  shall  be  manifest  unto  all  men,"  as  their's 
 also  was. 
 
 10  ^  But  II  thou  hast  fully  known  my  doctrine, 
 manner  of  life,  purpose,  faith,  longsutfering, 
 charity,  patience, 
 
 1 1  Persecutions,  afflictions,  which  came  unto 
 me  ^at  Antioch,  'at  Iconium,  °  at  Lystra ; 
 what  persecutions  I  endured:  but  ''out  of 
 them  all  the  Lord  delivered  nie. 
 
 12  Yea,  and  '  all  tliat  will  live  godly  in  Christ 
 Jesus  shall  sufi'er  persecution. 
 
 13  ''  But  evil  men  and  seducers  shall  wax 
 worse  and  worse,deceiving,  and  being  deceived. 
 
 14  But  °  continue  thou  in  the  things  which 
 thou  hast  learned  and  hast  been  assured  of, 
 knowing  of  whom  thou  hast  learned  them  ; 
 
 15  And  that  from  a  child  thou  hast  known 
 '  the  holy  scriptures,  which  are  able  to  make 
 thee  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  which 
 is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 I    IG  '^  All  scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
 
 •  figlit.' — Mfirkri.  '  Dispute  with  a  quarrelsome  aint  litigious  spirit.' — 
 Ottyse.  *  In  an  angry  and  hostile  manner.' — Doddr.  26.  And  that 
 they  map  recover,  ffc,  '  and  being  caught  alive  by  him  out  of  the  snare 
 of  the  (ievil.  they  may  awake,'  ^c.  Taken  captive,  Zteipeoj,  dentttes 
 the  action  of  a  fisher  or  hunter  who  takes  his  prey  alive,  in  opposition 
 to  one  who  kills  it  in  order  to  catch  it.  The  purpose  of  the  devil's  en. 
 snaring  men  being  to  kill  them,  the  servant  of  Gnd,  who  takes  the 
 wicked  alive  out  of  his  snare,  saves  their  life,  by  giving  them  an  op- 
 portunity of  escaping  and  returning  to  God. — Mackn.,  as  Beivion.  The 
 word  avafrt^hiaiTtv  properly  signifies,  to  awake  from  a  deep  sleep,  or 
 from  a  fit  of  intoxication,  and  refers  to  an  artifice  of  fowlers,  to  scatter 
 seeds  impregnated  with  some  drugs  intended  to  lay  birds  asleep,  tlmt 
 they  may  draw  the  net  over  them  with  the  greater  security  ;  '  being 
 taken  alive.'  &c.,  is  an  unnatural  rendering. —  Doddr. 
 
 Chap.  III.  —  1 .  Lri.il  rf(i.».t,  days  of  Christianity.— IV'tZ/s.  The  phrase 
 e(TxaTa«?  t'lMepatc  signifies,  'future  days,'  (see  Gen.  xlix.  1;)  future 
 times  in  general. — Mackn.  2.  Loner*.  ^c.,<fii\,uiTot,  '  selfish.'  Coret- 
 ous,  <jjt\apyi>pot.  Movers  of  money.*  Banslers,  aXaCovec.  '  vain-glo. 
 rioiis,'  'self-assuming.'  Frond,  iifft-po^.i^ot,  'airy,  light,  trifling  per- 
 sons, who  love  to  make  a  show,'      IJi.tof,rdient,  ^c,  Yovei'ffo'  airtiCdc, 
 
 •  headstrong  children,  whom  their  parents  cannot  persuade.'  Vnlhank- 
 fut,  axap'TTio.  persons  without  grace  or  gracefulness,  who  feel  no 
 obligatitm  for  services,  and  shew  no  gratitude.  Unholy,  nvoaioi, '  with- 
 out  piety,'  '  having  no  heart-reverence  for  God.'  3.  ]ViflKint  natural 
 affection,  aarof-jot,  that  which,  amonic  animals,  parents  bear  to  their 
 young,  and  the  young  to  parents.  Trucebreakers,  aptrovdoi,  from  the 
 negative  a,  and  <Tirov<^n, '  a  libation  ;'  because,  in  making  treaties,  liba- 
 tions of  wine  were  poured  out-  It  means  here,  persons  hound  by  no 
 oath.  Incontinent,  .>«puTt,c,  Irom  the  negative .»,  and  KpuTof, '  power  ;' 
 those  who  want  strength  to  govern  their  appetites.  Fierce,  avnuepoi, 
 from  the  negative  a,  and  tVtpor,  'mild  or  gentle;'  wild,  impetuous. 
 Despisers,  ^c,  o^n\,itn0,n,  'not  lovers  of  good  men.'  4.  Traitor.';, 
 ir,ioaoTac,  from  irpo,  '  before,'  and  o.ou,ii,  '  to  deliver  up  •,'  those  who 
 deliver  anyone  up  to  an  enemv,  who  has  trusted  his  life  in  their  hands. 
 Heady,  npo-ntntv,  from  Ttpo,  'forwards,'  and  irtmta,  'to  fall:'  head- 
 strong, precipitate,  Stc.  Hif^h-rninded,  Tcrvpiafievoi,  from  tu^ot, 
 'smoke  ;'  the  furiously  aspiring.  5.  A  form,  ^top^wtri?,  '  a  draught', 
 'sketch,'  or  '  summary  ;'  it  applies  well  to  those  who  have  all  their 
 religion  in  their  creed,  confession  of  faith,  catechism,  bodies  of  di- 
 vinity, &c.,  while  destitute  of  the  life  of  God  in  their  souls.  —A. 
 Clarke.    These  characters  were  applicable  to  the  Jews  in  the  last  days 
 
 of  tlicir  commonwealth.— U7iirt.((.  I  choose  to  interpret  ihe  words  as 
 describing  some  who  not  only  professed  Christianity,  but  pretended  to 
 teach  it  —Doddr.  The  above  traits  may  be  seen  in  those  who  have 
 constituted  the  popish  apostasy.  The  popish  clergy  have  been  marked 
 by  selfishness,  as  money-lovers  by  their  indulgences  ;  '  disobedient'  to 
 those  in  authority,  as  kings  and  princes ;  and  have  encourageil  ehil- 
 ilrcn  to  dis<ibey  parents,  by  becoming  monks  and  nuns  contrary  to  their 
 will  ■  '  without  natural  affection,'  distinguishes  the  Romish  clergy, 
 who' can  have  neither  wives  nor  children  openly,  and  so  are  without 
 the  natural  afTectinns  of  mankind  ;  and  so  are  interested  relatives,  who 
 shut  up  their  children  in  nunneries;  'covenant  breakers.'  for  they 
 have  asserted  that  no  faith  is  to  be  kept  with  heretics;  'slanderers,' 
 who  impute  the  worst  of  crimes  to  those  that  oppose  them  ;  '  betrayers,' 
 who  have  deUvcred  their  nearest  relations  to  death,  who  opposed  their 
 corruptions-— .1/'i'-A'i..  so  iiunae.  Turn  away,  '  renounce  all  Christian 
 fellowship  with  them.'—Boaihr.  6.  Creep  inlo  homes,  ^c,  '  secretly 
 wind  themselves,  like  snakes,  into  such  families  as  they  can  get  an 
 interest  in,  or  hopes  of  any  advantage  by,  that  they  may  intrude  iuto 
 their  secrets,  and  exercise  au  absolute  tyranny  over  their  estates  and 
 consciences.'- GuKii".  This  is  thought,  by  some,  to  he  a  prtiphetical 
 dest^ription  of  the  practices  of  the  Roman  monks  and  friars  in  the  dark 
 ages  who,  by  hypocritical  pretensions  to  extraordinary  sanctity,  and 
 by  auricular  confessions,  and  other  dangerous  practices,  deluded  and 
 corrupted  their  female  votaries.  But  practices  similar  to  these  began 
 very  early  in  the  church,  and  were,  by  a  gradual  progress,  at  length, 
 under  the  Romish  hierarchy,  formed  into  a  regular  system  of  deceit. 
 Silh/  women,  t/c.  who.  being  laden  with  sins,  and  led  away  by  divers 
 lust's  gladly  embrace  doctrines  which  reconcile  the  practice  of  sin  with 
 the  hope  of  salvation.  ;.  Nerer  ahle  to  come,  ^c,  because  their 
 false  teachers  hide  the  truth  from  them.— .Vuc/tn.  8-  Jannrs  una 
 Jamhres  names  not  in  the  Old  Testament,  hut  taken  from  other  records 
 of  the  Jews  ■  they  are,  questionless,  the  names  of  Pharaoh's  chief  ma- 
 gicians—Hnm.  Reprobate,  aioa^poi.  'utterly  disapproved  and  dis- 
 owned of  God.'— Giiysc.  See  2  Cor-  xiii.  5,  note.  9-  No  further, 
 after  deluding  mankind  awhile.— ;l/ueAn.  10-  Purpose,  to  adhere  to  the 
 truth  of  thegospel-— iyei(s.  13.  Seducers,  '  sorcerers-'— Htim-  roiiret, 
 'jugglers  ■'  probably  persons  dealing  in  false  miracles- —.^.  Clarke. 
 14.  0/  whom,  'of  me,  an  authorized  and  inspired  aposHe  of  Jesus 
 Christ  ' — Bur.  l6.  All  scripture,  f,-c.,  naaa  7pa^ii.  dtroirvet'iTTOv,  u>0e.\(- 
 U09  itpoc  ii>,air,ia\iav,  '  every  Writing,  dlvincly  inspired,  is  profitable  lor 
 doctrine  '  Stc.—A.  Clarke,  so  Pye  Smith.    '  Every  writing  is  divinely 
 
 Rf.fi.ections  on  Chap.  II — Let  us  meditate  on  three 
 things  drawn  from  lliis  chapter — I.  T/ifc7-e  is  strenytli  in  Clirist 
 Jesus.  A  truth  which  is  not  only  encourasing  to  the  minister, 
 who  is  the  good  soldier,  the  competitor  for  the  glorious  prize, 
 and  the  spiritual  husbandman  here  alluded  to,  but  also  to  the 
 private  Christian,  who  has  to  'fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,' 
 to  '  run  with  patience  the  race"  set  before  him,  and  to  sow  to 
 the  spirit,  that  he  may  reap  lite  everlasting. 
 
 II.  There  is  stability  in  tite  CItrlstian's  foundation.  He  who 
 builds  for  eternity  should  see  that  he  builds  not  upon  the 
 sand.  The  believer  rests  upon  the  everlasting  love  of  God, 
 manifested  in  Christ  .fesus,  and  by  which  he  is  unchangeably 
 cemented  to  his  people.  The  believer's  evidence  that  he  is 
 1-28G 
 
 interested  in  this  love  is,  departing  from  all  allowed  iniquity- 
 Ill  There  is  fulhi  in  speculative  questions.  Some  questions 
 there' are,  indcijd,  "in  which  we  may  innocently  indulge  as  a 
 mere  matter  of  amusement;  but  those  questions  that,  alter  all 
 our  debating,  can  never  be  fully  resolved,  and  that  engender 
 strife,  should  be  avoi.led.  While  Christians  are  quarrelling 
 with  each  other,  they  are  not  only  injuring  themselve.s  and 
 degrading  the  cause  of  religion,  but,  as  far  as  they  are  indiyi- 
 dually  concerned,  they  are  leaving  the  enemy  of  souls  in  quiet 
 possession  of  ground  for  which  they  had  much  better  coiilt-nd 
 against  him.  Instead  of  foolish  contentions,  let  us  meekly 
 aim  to  win  souls  to  Christ,  and  to  recover  those  who  are 
 fallen  into  the  snare  of  the  devil. 
 
Timothy  exhorted  to  do  his  duty. 
 
 II.  TIMOTHY,  IV. 
 
 PauVs  trust  in  God, 
 
 God, ''and   is   profitable  for  doctrine,   lor   re- 
 proof, for  correction,  for  instruction  in  riglite- 
 ousness, 
 17  'That  the  man  of  God  may   be  perfect, 
 
 II  ^  throughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 I   ffe  exhorteih   him  to  do  his  duty  with  all  care  and 
 
 diUi/mce,  6  ctrtijieth  him  of  the  nearness  ofhisdeath, 
 9  willeth  him  to  come  s/ieedtli/  unto  him,  and  to  briny 
 Mareus  with  him,  and  certain  other  things  which  he 
 wrote  for,  14  warneth  him  to  beware  of  Alexandtr 
 the  smith,  IG  infornuth  him  what  had  befallen  him 
 at  his  Jirst  artswerinf/,  19  and  Soon  after  he  con- 
 clndtth. 
 
 1  *  CHARGE  thee  therefore  before  God,  and 
 ■■-  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  ^  who  shall  judge 
 the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  appearing  and 
 his  kingdom  ; 
 
 2  Preacli  the  word  ;  be  instant  in  season,  out 
 of  season  ;  reprove,  *"  rebuke,  •*  exhort  with  all 
 longsuffering  and  doctrine, 
 
 3  '^  For  the  time  will  come  when  they  will 
 not  endure  ""sound  doctrine;  ^  but  after  their 
 own  lusts  shall  they  heap  to  themselves 
 teachers,  having  itching  ears; 
 
 4  And  they  shall  turn  away  their  ears  from 
 the  truth,  and  ''shall  l)e  turned  unto  fables. 
 
 5  But  watch  thou  in  all  things, '  endure  afflic- 
 tions, do  the  wurk  of  ^  an  evangelist,  ||  make 
 full  proof  of  thy  ministry. 
 
 6  For  '  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and 
 the  time  of  "'  my  departure  is  at  hand. 
 
 7  "  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  i  have  finished 
 7/iy  coin-se,  I  have  kept  the  faith  : 
 
 8  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  °a 
 crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the 
 righteous  judge,  shall  give  me  ''at  that  day  : 
 and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also 
 that  love  his  appearing. 
 
 9  Do  thy  diligence  to  come  shortly  unto  me  : 
 
 10  For  '' Demas  hath  forsaken  me,  'having 
 
 A.  D.  60. 
 h  Rom.  lf>A. 
 
 I  1  Tmj.6.1 1 
 
 II  Or, 
 prrficted. 
 
 k  ch.  2.  81. 
 
 I  Tim.  5. 
 21.  &  6.  13. 
 ch.  L'.  11. 
 
 Acts  IU,42. 
 
 c  1  Tim.  5. 
 
 20.  Tit.  1. 
 
 l:l.  «(  2.  15. 
 d  ITim.4.13. 
 r  cb.  a.  I. 
 /I  Tim.  I. 
 
 10. 
 g  ch    3,  fi. 
 A  1  Tiin  t.-l. 
 
 &  *.  7.  Tit. 
 
 I.  11. 
 i  ch.  1.8.  & 
 
 •2.  3. 
 k  Acts  21.3 
 
 Kph.  4,   II, 
 II  Or,  fuljil, 
 
 Rom.  10.19 
 
 Cnl.  I.25.& 
 
 4.  17- 
 /Phil.  2.  17. 
 mPhiL  1.23. 
 
 See  2  Pet. 
 
 t.  K. 
 n  I  Cor  9.3*, 
 
 25.  Phil.  3. 
 
 H.  1  Tiui. 
 
 6.  12.  Heb. 
 
 12.  1. 
 ol  Cor.  9.25. 
 
 Jam.  1.  12. 
 
 I  Pet.  S.  I. 
 
 Rev.  2.  10. 
 prb.  I.  12. 
 q  Col.  4.  15. 
 
 rbilem.24 
 r  1  John  2. 
 
 IS. 
 
 *  Seo  ch.  1. 
 
 t  Col.  4.  14. 
 
 Philem.21. 
 M  .-\cts  12. 
 
 25,  ft  15  37. 
 
 Col.  4.  10. 
 X  Acts  20.4, 
 
 Eph.  6.  12. 
 
 Col.  4.  7, 
 
 Tit.  3.  12. 
 
 V  Acts  19.a'i. 
 
 I  Tim. 1.20. 
 I  2  Sam.  3. 
 
 39.  Ps  2B  4. 
 
 Hev.  18.  6, 
 
 I  Or.  our 
 pTttachiags. 
 
 n  ch.  1.  IS. 
 b  Acts  7.  611. 
 
 t  Mat.  10.19. 
 
 Acta  23.  11. 
 
 ft  27.  23. 
 d  Acts  9    1.5. 
 
 &  20.  17,1  e. 
 
 Eph.  3.  8. 
 
 e  Ps.  22.  21, 
 
 Pet.  2.  9. 
 
 /Pa.  121.7. 
 
 ^Rom.11.36 
 
 r.al.  I.  5. 
 
 Heb.  13.21. 
 A  Ads  18.2 
 
 Rnm.  16.3 
 i  STim.l.Jii 
 *  Acts  19.22. 
 
 Horn.  !fi.23, 
 t  Acts  20    4. 
 
 &  21.  29. 
 
 n  vet.  9 
 
 I  Gal.  6.  18. 
 Philem.  25. 
 
 t  Gr.  C^.-ir 
 AVr.,,  nr,  (/,. 
 
 loved  this  present  world,  and  is  departed  unto 
 Thessalonica  ;  C'rescens  to  Galatia,  Titus  unto 
 Dalmatia. 
 
 1 1  '  Only  *  Luke  is  witli  me.  Take  "  Mark, 
 and  bring  him  with  thee  :  for  he  is  profitable 
 to  me  for  the  ministry. 
 
 12  And  ^  Tychicus  have  I  sent  to  Ephesus. 
 
 13  Thecloke  that  I  left  at  Troas  with  Carpus, 
 when  thou  comest,  bring  ^cith  thee^  and  the 
 books,  fmt  especially  the  parchments. 
 
 1 4  ^  Alexander  the  coppersmith  did  me  much 
 evil :  '■  the  Lord  reward  him  according  to  his 
 works  : 
 
 15  Of  whom  be  thou  ware  also  ;  for  he  hath 
 greatly  withstood  |{  our  words. 
 
 16  At  myfirstanswer  no  man  stood  with  me, 
 "*  but  all  men  forsook  me:  ^I pray  God  that  it 
 may  not  he  laid  to  their  charge. 
 
 17  '^  Notwithstanding  the  Lord  stood  with 
 me,  and  strengthened  me  ;  ''  that  by  me  the 
 preaching  might  be  fully  known,  and  that  all 
 the  Gentiles  might  hear :  ami  1  was  delivered 
 *out  of  the  mouth  of  the  liuu. 
 
 18  *■  And  the  Lord  shall  deliver  me  from 
 every  evil  work,  and  will  preserve  me  unto  his 
 heavenly  kingdom  :  ^  to  whom  be  glory  for 
 ever  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 19  SaJute  ^  Prisca  and  Aquila,  and  'the 
 houshold  of  Onesiphorus. 
 
 20  ''  Erastus  abode  at  Corinth  :  but  '  Trophi- 
 mus  have  I  left  at  Miletum  sick. 
 
 21  ""Do  thy  diligence  to  come  before  winter. 
 Eubulus  greeteth  thee,  and  Pudens,  and  Linus, 
 and  Claudia,  and  all  the  brethren. 
 
 22  "The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be\v\i\\  thy  spirit. 
 Grace  be  with  you.     Amen. 
 
 IF  The  second  epistle  unto  Timotheus,  or- 
 dained the  first  bishop  of  the  church  of 
 the  Ephesians,  was  written  from  Rome, 
 when  Paul  was  brought  before  f  Nero  the 
 second  time. 
 
 inspired  and  profitable,'  &c.— So  contends  Watford.  Doctrine,  to  teach 
 the  will  of  Gdd.  Reproof,  to  convince  men  of  the  truth,  and  confound 
 those  denying  it. — A.  Clarke.  It  may  be  rendered  'conversion.' — 
 M'Lean.  For  correction,  a-por  €Travo(>6tiiaiv,  *  for  restoring  things  to 
 their  proper  uses  and  places,  correcting  false  notions,'  Sic.  For  in- 
 struction, ^c,  npov  naideiav  Ttjv  ev  dinatoani't},  '  for  communicating  all 
 initiatory  rehginus  knowledge,'  for  '  schooling  mankind.'  All  true  of 
 the  Jewish  Scriptures.— C/ai- A-^.  17.  Man  nf  God,  Christian  minister. 
 — Mackn.  Perfect,  '  perfected.' — Wil.  All  gaud  works,  '  every  part  of 
 the  good  work  he  is  engaged  in.' — Mackn. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  2.  Preacti  the  word,  Knpi'foi- toi-  Ao7ov,  'proclaim  the 
 doctrine  j'  the  doctrine  of  Christ  crucified.  Be  instant,  ^c,  €7rt(TT»ifi 
 €ii«aip(dc  QKaipojc,  *  be  urgent,  whether  the  times  be  prosperous  or  ad- 
 verse.' Rejjrove,  eSe-i^ov,  'confute'  the  false  teachers.  Rebuke, 
 €TTtTifj.t\aov,  'reprove  cuttingly  or  severely  those  who  will  not  abandon 
 their  sins.'  Exhort,  tra^ak'xKt.aov,  'comfort  the  feeble-minded,  diffi- 
 dent, and  tempted,' — A.Clarke.  And  doctrine, '  with  all  proper  instruc- 
 liun.' — Wells.  *  When  teaching.' — Mackn.  3.  Will  not  endure  sound 
 doctrine,  or 'wholesome  teaching.*  The  monks  and  friars  spake  of 
 nothing  but  miracles  and  lies,  and  the  people  delighted  tc  hear  these 
 fahles. — Mackn,  5.  Make  full  proof ,  '  acLomplish.' — Doddr.  6.  For 
 I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  n^tj  antv^iofxai,  '  I  am  already  poured  out 
 as  a  libation.'  He  considers  himself  as  on  the  eve  of  being  sacrificed  ; 
 and  looks  upon  his  blood  as  the  libation  which  was  poured  on  the 
 sacrificial  offering. — A.Clarke,  as  Blackwall.  7.  /  ftave  fought  a  good 
 Jight — these  terms  are  agonisticai,  in  allusion  to  the  combats  and  race 
 in  the  Orecian  games.  Xov  afit>i,n  tov  koXov  r\-^biviatiai, '  I  have  wrestled 
 that  good  wrestling;'  struggled  hard  and  overcome  in  a  most  ho- 
 nourable cause.    Finished  my  course,  'started  for  the  prize— reached 
 
 the  goal — outstripped  competitors— gained  the  prize.*  Kept  the  faith, 
 'observed  the  laws.*— .4.  Clarke.  Here  are  three  metaphors— the  first 
 from  a  soldier  ;  the  second,  a  runner  in  the  games  ;  the  third,  a  steward . 
 8.  That  day,   the  great  day.— Bur.  10.  Having  loved  this  present 
 
 world,  a7a7rri»Ta?  tov  vvv  atmva,  signifies  the  Jewish  people,  or  system 
 of  Judaism  ;  having  preferred  Judaism  to  Christianity. — A.Clarke.  *Hi.-s 
 own  ease,  safety,  and  profit.'— Bp.  Hall.  A  longer  hfe  in  this  world, 
 not  cliusing  to  hazard  it. — Gill.  Crescens^Titus,  these  went  to  preach 
 the  gospel.— //«m.,  Whitby.  \3.  The  cloke,  rov  <l)ai\ovt]v,  *  Tough 
 great  coat  or  wrapper.' — Schoettg.  Perhaps  a  cloak-bag,  or  portman- 
 teau. — Bloomf.,  so  the  Syr.  Books,  most  likely  his  own  writings. 
 Parchments,  Jewish  Scriptures,  and  a  copy  of  the  Septuagint.— J.  C. 
 Common-place  books,  in  which  he  had  noted  portions  of  the  Old  Tes- 
 tament,  &c.,  to  help  his  memory. — Bp.  Hall.  Letters  received  from 
 the  churches,  and  autographs  of  his  own  letters  to  the  churches. — 
 Dr.  Bfnson.  14.  Alexander  the  coppersmith,  '  the  brazier.'  —  Doddr. 
 We  are  not  to  understand  this  of  any  tradesman,  but  of  some  Rabbin  ; 
 for  it  was  net  unusual  for  the  Jews  to  apply  the  name  of  some  trade, 
 as  an  epithet,  to  their  Rabbins  and  literary  men.  The  Lord  reward, 
 *  I  leave  him  t(i  God,  to  be  recompensed  as  he  deserves.' — Pyle.  In- 
 stead of  cf7TO()ujrj,  '  reward,'  it  is  anodiaact,  in  the  best  MSS.,  '  the  Lord 
 w]  i.L  reward,'  &c. — So  Gvyse  and  A.Clarke.  l6.  First  nnswa-,  defence 
 at  Rome. —  Wells.  Forsook,  owing  to  the  cruelty  of  Nero. — Mackn. 
 17.  The  preaching  might  be  fully  known,  -nXt^poipopriOtj,  '  might  be  car- 
 ried on  with  confidence.' — Dnddr.  The  word  literally' signifies,  'might 
 be  carried  with  a  full  sail ;  that  is,  fully  and  boldly  declared.— J/acAvi. 
 Lion,  Nero;  or  a  proverbial  expression  of  imminent  danger. — Ham. 
 E.xposure  to  wild  beasts  in  the  theatre.  — il/icA.  I9.  Prisca,  i.  e., 
 PrisciUa.— TFeifc. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  Ill L  A  mere  form  of  riodliness  fession  and  error.     Here  let  us  view  our  hearts  as  in  a  glass. 
 
 is  dangerous.     Connected  with  this  has  been  and  still  is  every  Let  us  measure  ourselves  by  this  standard.     The   minister 
 
 vice  and  error.     Let  us  pray  God  that  we  may  feel  its  power,  will  here  be  furnished  with  the  best  materials  for  his  work  ; 
 
 subduing  our  depraved  passions,  and  bringing  every  ibought  and  the  Christian  who  is  most  conversant  with  God's  word, 
 
 and  action  into  obedience  to  Christ.  will  have  the  best  defence  against  those  awful  evils  of  heart 
 
 IL    The  Scriptures  are  the  best  safeqiiai'd  aqainst  all  mere  pro-  and  life  which  have  ensnared  and  ruined  others. 
 1287 
 
THE     EPISTLE     OF    PAUL 
 
 T  T  T  U  S. 
 
 [Titos  was  a  Greek,  an  uncircumcised  Gentile.  He  was  a  man  of  great  gi'ace  and  large  gifts,  and  very  dear  to  the  apostle. 
 From  his  calling  him  his  *  own  son  after  the  common  faith,'  (chap,  i,  4,)  it  is  concluded  that  he  was  converted  by  the 
 apostle.  He  is  often  called  bishop  of  Crete  by  ecclesiastical  writers,  and  is  said  to  have  died  there,  in  the  94th  year  of 
 his  age.  Some  date  this  epistle  in  the  year  55,  and  some  in  04.  Besides  the  particulars  respecting  Titus  contained  in 
 this  epistle,  we  may  learn  other  things  about  him  in  Gal.  ii.  1,  3;  2  Cor.  viii.  G,  16,  17,  2'3  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  10.  In  the 
 epistle  to  Titus  are  found  references  to  Dent.  vii.  6;  xiv.  2;  Is.a.  xxix.  13;  Ezek.  xxxvi.  2.5;  Acts,  x.  45;  Uom.  iii. 
 20;  Eph.v.2;   1  Tim.  iii. ;  2  Tim.  1.9;   Hcb.  ix.   14;   I  Pet.  ii.  9.] 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  For  what  end  Tittis  was  left  in  Crete.  6  How  they 
 that  are  to  be  chosen  viinhtcrs  ought  to  he.  qualified. 
 11  The  mouths  of  evil  tcachrrs  to  be  stopped:  12 
 and  what  manner  of  men  thct/  be. 
 
 "pAIIL»  a  servant  of  Gotl,  and  an  apo.stle  of 
 -*-  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  tlie  faith  of 
 God's  elect,  and  °  tlie  acknowledging  of  the 
 trntli  ^  wliicli  \^  after  godliness  ; 
 '2  ll'^In  hope  of  eternal  life,  which  God.^that 
 cannot  lie,  promi'^ed  '^  before  the  world  began; 
 
 3  *"  Bnt  hath  in  due  times  manifested  his 
 word  tiirou_*!;h  preaching,  ^  which  is  committed 
 inito  me  '' according  to  the  commandment  of 
 God  our  Saviour ; 
 
 4  To  '  Titus  ''  mine  own  son  after  '  the  com- 
 mon faith  :  ^  Grace,  mercy,  ond  peace,  from 
 God  the  Father  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  our 
 Saviour. 
 
 5  For  this  cause  left  I  thee  in  Crete,  that 
 thou  shouldest  "set  in  order  the  things  that 
 are  |I  wanting,  and  "ordaiii  elders  in  every  city, 
 as  I  had  appointed  thee  : 
 
 (i  ^  If  any  !)e  blameless,  ''  the  husband  of  one 
 wife,  "^having  faithful  children,  not  accused  of 
 riot,  or  unruly. 
 
 7  For  a  bishop  must  be  blameless,  as  '  the 
 
 nSTini.2.25. 
 b  I  Tim.  3. 
 16.  (tt  (i.  3. 
 i;  Or.  F->r. 
 c  a  Tim.  1. 
 
 1.  ch.  3.  7. 
 d  Nu.23.lt). 
 
 1  Tim  2.13. 
 !•  Ilnm  16.SS 
 
 2  Tiin.  I.  U. 
 1  Pet.  1.21). 
 
 /2Tim.  I. 
 in. 
 
 ;;  ITIi^k2.4. 
 
 1  Tint.  1.1 1 
 A  ITim.l.l.fc 
 
 2.3,  fcl.Mi. 
 /  SCor  2.1X 
 «c7.  I3.8tfi 
 fi,  16.  83.  fc 
 1-2.  18.  Gill. 
 •i.S. 
 h  I  Tim.  1,2 
 i  linm.  1.12. 
 
 2  Cor.  -I.IM. 
 2  Pet.  I.  1. 
 
 m  F.ph.  i-  2. 
 Col.  1.  2. 
 
 1  Tiro.  1.2. 
 
 2  Tim.  I.  2. 
 't  1  Cor.  II. 
 
 SI. 
 II  Or. /^/Z 
 
 oArts  11.23. 
 2  Tim.  2  2. 
 P  1  Tim.  3. 
 
 2,  Uc. 
 
 7  !Tim.3.12. 
 r  I  Tim.  3.4, 
 
 i:. 
 
 t  MAt.24  4b. 
 I  Cor.  1.1,8. 
 
 A.  D.  65. 
 
 t  Lev.  10.  9. 
 
 1  Tim  3.:^,s. 
 
 Eph.  5.  13. 
 M  I  Tim.  3.2. 
 
 3.1  Pet  b,J, 
 X  1  Tira.3  2, 
 il  Or,  good 
 
 tit  \»gt, 
 t/  2  Tlips.  2. 
 
 15.  2  Tim. 
 
 1  13. 
 
 :  I  Tim. 1.15. 
 fc  -1.  9  at  6, 
 11  2Tim-'2.2. 
 
 II  Or.  .« 
 
 .1  iTim  LIP. 
 &  IJ,  .-*. 
 
 2  Tim.  4,3. 
 ch.  2.  1. 
 
 ft  I  Tim  I.e. 
 .-Knm.t6.18. 
 </  AcU  15.  1. 
 r  Mat.23.H. 
 
 2  Tiin,  3.  e. 
 f  I  Tim  6.5. 
 g  Ac\s  17.23. 
 h  2  Cnr.  13. 
 
 It),  a  Tim. 
 
 1.2. 
 .  ch.  2.  2. 
 k  I  Tim.l.i. 
 
 &4.  7. 
 
 2  Tim  4.4. 
 I  Is,  2!i.  13. 
 
 M;it,    15.  9. 
 
 Col.  2  23. 
 m  Luke  II. 
 
 3i),  411.  4-1. 
 
 Rom.i4  U, 
 
 20.   I  Cor-fi. 
 
 \-2.  fc  lU.SS, 
 
 25.  I  Tim. 
 
 4.  3,  4. 
 »  Uom.  14.23. 
 
 steward  of  God  ;  not  selfwilied,  not  soon  angry, 
 ^  not  given  to  wine,  no  striker,  "  not  given  to 
 iilthy  lucre  ; 
 
 8  "  But  a  lover  ofhospitality,  aloverof  II  good 
 men.  sober,  just,  holy,  temperate  ; 
 
 9  ''  Holding  fast  '  the  faitliful  word  ||  as  he 
 hath  been  taught,  that  he  may  be  able  *  by 
 sound  doctrine  both  to  exhort  and  to  convince 
 the  gainsayers, 
 
 10  For  '■  there  are  many  unruly  and  vain 
 talkers  and  ^  deceivers,  *"  specially  they  of  tlie 
 circumcision  : 
 
 1 1  Who.se  months  must  he  stopped,  "  wlio 
 subvert  whole  houses,  teaching  things  which 
 they  ought  not,  'for  filtliy  lucre's  sake. 
 
 I'i  ^  One  of  themselve.s,  even  a  prophet  of 
 their  own,  said.  The  Cretians  are  alway  liars, 
 evil  beasts,  slow  bellies. 
 
 l.'J  This  witness  is  true.  ''  Wherefore  rebuke 
 them  sharply,  that  they  may  be  '  sound  in  the 
 faith  ; 
 
 14  ■*  Not  giving  heed  to  Jewish  fables,  and 
 '  commandments  of  men,  that  turn  from  the 
 truth. 
 
 15  '"  Unto  the  pure  all  things  arc  pure  ;  but 
 "unto  them  that  are  defiled  and  nubelicving 
 is  nothing  pure;  but  even  their  mind  and  con- 
 science is  defiled. 
 
 NoTKS  ON  Chap.  I. —  \.  Aecarding  to  the  fuith,  KaTa,  *'\tioti\^t  Xo^ 
 — that  is,  in  order  to  promote,  ^c.—Mnckn.  '  Fnr  the  advar. cement  of 
 the  faith.' Ac. — Doddr.  'For  the  proinotinn  of  the  faith.'— U7(i7/v/- 
 2.  Promised,  in  the  covenant  of  redemption. — Duddr.  5.  Left  I  thee 
 in  Crete,  when  he  came  from  Macedonia  into  Greece,  (Acts,  x.t.  2.) 
 Crete  is  au  island  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  now  called  Candy,  (see 
 Acts,  ii.  11.)  Here  Paul  preached  the  gospel  to  the  conversion  of 
 many  ;  bvit  not  having  time  to  fiiiisli  what  he  begun,  left  Titus  here 
 for  that  purpose. —  Gilt.  Ordain  e'ders,  by  his  episcopal  authority. — 
 Bp.  Hall.  We  are  not  to  snppose  that  the  ordination  of  elders  was  the 
 sole  act  of  Titus,  or  alone  resided  in  him  ;  but  in  like  manner  as  Paul 
 and  Barnabas  ordained  elders  in  every  church  by  the  suffrages  of  the 
 people,  (see  Acts,  xiv.  2S.)—Gifl.  In  every  fi/^v— though  the  island 
 was  hut  fifty  miles  broad  and  two  hundred  and  seventy  long,  it  had  a 
 hundred  cities  in  it.— P///i.  1.  4.  c.  12.  6.  Blameless,  not  chargeable 
 with  any  notorious  crime.  (1  Tmi.  iii.  2.)  Faithful,  '  legitimate,'  in  the 
 same  sense  as  sucli  are  called  '  ^odly,'  and  '  holy,'  Mai.  ii.  13  ;  I  Cor. 
 vii.  14.~GiU.  Conip.  iTira.  iii.  2,  3.  *  Believing;'  the  apostle  re- 
 quired that  the  children  of  him  who  was  to  be  ordained  a  bishop  should 
 be  Christians,  and  of  a  sober  behaviour,  as  their  vices  would  bring 
 
 blame  on  the  parents. — Muckn.  11.  Stopped,  not  by  force,  but  by 
 confutation. — Bur.  Subvert  whole  houses,  make  whole  families  go 
 ovor  to  Judaism. — Muckn.  12.  A  prophet  of  their  own,  perhaps  E|m. 
 menides,  for  this  is  by  no  means  certain  ;  as  being  supposed  by  his 
 countrymen,  the  Cretans,  to  speak  by  Divine  inspiration,  and  therefore 
 being  highly  respected  by  them.  Most  of  the  heathen  poets,  imitating 
 the  propliets  of  the  true  God,  laid  claim  to  a  Divine  inspiration. — Par. 
 Evil  fieusts,  men  of  a  hriilal  disposition.  Slow  l>ellies,  men  of  sl'ith, 
 
 intemperance,  and  \nw\iy.~Srhlriisner.  '  Lazy  gluttons.' — Pict.  Bih. 
 J:j.  Sharp/)/,  aTroTo/noi,  a  metaphor  taken  from  surgeons,  wlio,  in  curing 
 l)atients,  are  sometimes  obliged  to  cut  their  flesh  in  such  a  manner 
 as  to  give  them  great  pain.  15.  Unto  the   pure,  fye.,  '  whatever 
 
 false  teachers  may  say  of  unclean  meats,  persons,  or  tilings,  unto 
 the  pure  Christian,  who  uses  tbings  temperately,  all  things  are  pure, 
 or  pot  sinful  in  their  use.' — Mackn.  See  Matt.  xv.  II  ;  Acts,  x.  15; 
 Rom.  xiv,  u,  30—23.  The  apostle  might  allude  to  the  doctrines  of 
 Pythagf)rean  Gentilei^  and  Esscne  Jews,  who  thought  it  sinful  to  eat 
 animal  food,  and  might,  when  converted,  hold  the  same  persuasion. — 
 So  Mackn.  Unbeliemng,  who  did  Dr,t  purely  and  cordially  embrace 
 the  doctrines  of  the  gospel. — Gill.     Pretended  believers.— i*^/f.     Un. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.— Observn  here,  I.  The  oposth's 
 charge.  Timothy  is  exhorted  to  labour  oq  all  favourable 
 occasions,  to  warn  and  reprove  with  ail  Jirlelity  and  meekness, 
 and  to  omit  nothing  that  mi^ht  leave  his  work  unfinished. 
 Happy  are  those  ministers  whose  characters  answer  to  this 
 charge  \  happy  are  those  people  who  possess  such  ministers. 
 
 II.    The  apostle's  example.      Calmly  waiting  his  approaching 
 
 end.     Willing  to  be  a  sacrifice  in  the  cause  of  Lis  divine  Lord 
 
 and  master.     Able,  through   grace,  to  t:ike  a  pleasing  retro- 
 
 Bpect  of  the  past,  view  of  the  present,  and  prospect  of  the 
 
 1288 
 
 future.  To  hiin  tbe  day  of  God  had  no  terrors.  The  Judge 
 was  seen,  by  faith,  smding  on  him  as  his  triend.  His  gracious 
 hand  was  extended  with  the  crown  of  glory,  to  place  it  him- 
 self OD  tbe  brow  of  the  victor,  who  had  '  fought  the  good 
 fight,'  finished  his  course,  and  'kept  the  faith;*  and,  with 
 delight,  he  saw  the  same  hand  crowning  the  myriads  who  had 
 been  faithful  unto  death,'  and  had  loved  the  Saviour's  ap- 
 pearing. O  may  we,  through  grace,  struggle  for  ihe  prize, 
 and  finally  wear  the  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away. 
 
The  duty  of  servants. 
 
 TITUS,  II.,  III. 
 
 Further  directions  to  Titus, 
 
 16  They  profess  that  they  know  (jod  ;  but 
 "ill  works  they  deny  livn,  beUig  abominable, 
 and  disobedient,  ^  and  unto  every  good  work 
 11  reprobate. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 I  Directions  given  unto  TiUts  both  for  his  doctrine  and 
 life.  9  Of'  the  duty  of  servants,  and  in  general  of 
 all  c/iriatians. 
 
 "D  UT  speak  thou  the  things  which  become 
 -'-'   ^  sound  doctrine: 
 
 2  That  tiie  aged  men  be  ||  sober,  grave,  tem- 
 perate, "^  sound  in  faith,  in  charity,  in  patience. 
 
 S  '^  The  aged  women  hkewise,  that  t/ift/  be 
 in  behaviour  as  beconieth  ||  holiness,  not  ||  false 
 accusers,  not  given  to  much  wine,  teacliers  of 
 good  tilings  ; 
 
 4  That  they  may  teach  the  young  women  to 
 be  II  sober,  '^  to  love  their  husbands,  to  love 
 tlieir  children, 
 
 5  To  be  discreet,  chaste,  keepers  at  home, 
 good,  ®  obedient  to  their  own  husbands,  *  that 
 the  word  of  God  be  not  blasphemed. 
 
 6  Young  men  likewise  exhort  to  be  ||  sober 
 minded. 
 
 7  ^  In  all  things  shewing  thyself  a  pattern  of 
 good  works  :  in  doctrine  shewing  uncorrupt- 
 ness,  gravity,  ''  sincerity, 
 
 8  '  Sound  speech,  that  cannot  be  condemned ; 
 ''  that  he  that  is  of  the  contrary  part  *  may  be 
 ashamed,  having  no  evil  thing  to  say  of  you. 
 
 9  Ejckort  "'  servants  to  be  obedient  unto  their 
 own  masters,  and  to  please  them  well  "  in  all 
 things  ;  not  ||  answering  again  ; 
 
 10  Not  purloining,  but  shewing  all  good 
 fidelity  ;  ^  that  they  may  adorn  the  doctrine  of 
 God  our  Saviour  in  all  tilings. 
 
 11  For  ""the   grace   of  God    ||  that    bringeth 
 
 II   Or,  v,n.l  0/ 
 jiiiiffiiiFnl, 
 
 a  I  Tim. 1.10. 
 &  «.  3. 
 STim  l,i:i 
 oil,   I,  ». 
 
 h  ch.  I.  13. 
 c  I  Tim  2  !), 
 
 I  Or,  holy 
 
 2  Tim. 3.  3. 
 I  Or.  w,.e. 
 d  ITini  b  II. 
 '  ICttr  14  .H. 
 Kph.  5.  -l-l 
 Col.  3.  18 
 I  Tini.i  II, 
 1  Pet.3.l,S, 
 
 I  Pet 
 
 h  Epii.  6  21. 
 
 I  Ti 
 
 ,.  6.:i. 
 
 lTim.,5  II, 
 1  Pet.  2.  r.', 
 15.  &  3.  lii. 
 
 /  2  Tbes.  3. 
 14. 
 
 n  Kph.  6.  5 
 Cnl.  3.  22, 
 lTiin.C.1.2 
 I  Pet.  2.  18. 
 
 I  Kph    5.  -lA 
 
 II  Oi-,j,«.,.- 
 
 •  Mat  5.  Iti 
 riiil.  2.  (-■> 
 l>  Rom.  5.l.'i. 
 ch.  3.  4,  5 
 I  Pet.  5  VI. 
 II  Or.  that 
 hringpth 
 tutn'itiun  (., 
 
 aiipeiirrii. 
 
 1  Thes.  4.7. 
 *  1  Pet.  .1.2. 
 
 IJohii2.li;. 
 /  I  Coi-.  1.7, 
 
 Pbil.  3.  2(J- 
 
 ■i  Pet.  :i.\'2. 
 u  Acts  24. If) 
 
 r<il,  I.  S.l-.i 
 
 vh.  1.  2. 
 
 X  C.l.  3.  4.. 
 2Tim.4.l,8 
 Hyf.  f).  2%. 
 I   Pet.  1.  7 
 
 1  John  3.  2. 
 vGal  1.4. &2. 
 
 211    Kph.  5. 
 
 2  I  Tim  2.6. 
 I  Heb.  9,  14. 
 a  Kx.  15.  16. 
 
 &  I  '.I.  ft. 
 I>L'iit.  7.  fi. 
 
 f*  14,  a  fc 
 
 ■id.    Itj. 
 
 1  Pet.  5  9. 
 b  Eph   2.  lU. 
 
 ch.  S.  8. 
 c  2Titii.4,2. 
 rflTim.4.12. 
 
 Rom.  13.1. 
 
 I  Pet. ! 
 
 ,13. 
 
 b  C.il.  1.  10. 
 
 2  Tim.S.il. 
 Heb.  l:t  ei. 
 
 c  Eph.  4.31. 
 rf  2  Tim.  2, 
 
 24,  25. 
 f  Pbil.  4.  5. 
 /  Eph.  4  2. 
 
 Col.  3.  12. 
 
 g  t  Cor.e.n. 
 
 Eph.  2.  I. 
 Ci.l   I.2I.& 
 
 3  7.  1   Pel. 
 
 4  3. 
 
 h  ch.  s.  II. 
 
 II  ih-.p%. 
 
 .  I  Tim.  2.  3. 
 
 k  Unm.3.20 
 &  9.  II.  & 
 II.  fl.  Gitl- 
 2.  Hi.  Eph.: 
 
 salvation  ''  hath  appeared  to  all  men, 
 
 1"2  Teaching  us  'that,  denying  ungodliness 
 ^  and  worldly  lusts,  we  should  live  soberly, 
 righteously,  and  godly,  in  this  present  world  ; 
 
 13  *  Looking  for  that  blessed  "  hope,  and  the 
 glorious  ^  appearing  of  the  great  God  and  our 
 Saviour  Jesus  Christ ; 
 
 14  ^  Who  gave  himself  for  us,  that  he  might 
 redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  '  and  purify  unto 
 hiinseU  "  a  peculiar  people,  '^  zealous  of  good 
 works. 
 
 15  These  things  speak,  and  '^  exhort,  and  re- 
 buke with  all  authority.  ^  Let  no  man  despise 
 thee, 
 
 CHAP.  TIL 
 
 1  Titvs  is  yet  further  directed  by  Patd,  both  concern- 
 iny  the  things  he  should  teach,  and  not  teach.  10  He 
 is  willed  also  to  reject  obstinate  heretixks  :  \2  ivln.  h 
 done,  he  appointeth  hint  both  time  and  place,  ivhcrein 
 he  should  come  unto  him,  and  so  concludeth. 
 
 TpUT  them  in  mind  °  to  be  subject  to  princi- 
 -*•  palities  and  powers,  to  obey  magistrates, 
 ^  to  be  ready  to  every  good  work, 
 
 2  '^  To  speak  evil  of  no  man,  '^  to  be  no 
 brawlers,  /'«^  *^  gentle,  shewing  all  '"meekness 
 unto  all  men. 
 
 3  For  ^  we  ourselves  also  were  sometimes 
 foolish,  disobedient,  deceived,  serving  divers 
 lusts  and  pleasures,  living  in  malice  and  envy, 
 hateful,  and  hating  one  another. 
 
 4  But  after  that  ^  the  kindness  and  ||  love  of 
 '  God  our  Saviour  toward  man  appeared, 
 
 5  ^  Not  by  works  of  righteousness  which  we 
 have  done,  but  according  to  his  mercy  he  saved 
 us,  by  ■  the  washing  of  regeneration,  and  re- 
 newing of  the  Holy  Ghost; 
 
 .  4,  fi,  9.  2  TiQi.  I.O.        f  John  3.  3,5.   Eph.  5.  26.   1  Pet.  3.21. 
 
 faithful  persons,  living  in  intemperance  and  debauchery,  l6.  Pro. 
 
 /ess  that  they  know  Gad,  boast  of  havin°;  the  true  knowledge  of  God's 
 will  from  the  Mosaic  revelation.  Reprobate,  a&oKifim,  (Rom.  i.  28,) 
 'without  disceromeiit.' — Mackn.  '  Utterly  injudicious  and  unapt  for 
 the  performance  of  any  pood  work.' — Giii/se.  '  Disapproved  and  con- 
 demned when  brought  to  the  standard  of  God's  word.' — Doddr.  The 
 metaphor  is  taken  from  bad  money,  which  will  not  pass,  and  is  there- 
 fore us-cless. — Grot. 
 
 Ch.\p.  II. — I.  Sound,  'wholesome.* — Doddr.  2.  Aped  men,  *  elders;' 
 7rpeu/3uTt]c  commcmly  signities  'an  old  man,*  but  the  Hfpt.  use  it  to  de- 
 note an  office  of  dignity.— il/nc/fji.,  Le  Clerc.  Here  the  aged  in  years 
 are  inten<lei1  j  so  in  ver.  3.  —  Henry,  Guyse,  GUI,  A.  Clarke.  Sober, 
 vT\<pa\toi-^,  'watchful.'  —  Doddr.  '  Vigilant.' — Maekn.  As  vigilant 
 soldiers,  not  easily  surprised.  3.  False  acrusers,  *  slanderers.' — Bens. 
 4.  Teach,  au}<ppuviCu><Tt,  '  persnade.' — liluckn.  The  original  expression, 
 (Va  ffw^povif  uo-i  Tfic  I'cav,  is,  literally,  *  that  they  may  render  the  young 
 women  wise,'  or  prudent — namely,  in  the  performance  of  the  duties  of 
 their  station. — Be/ts.  5.  K*'eper.<i  ttt  home — oiKovpov^  signifies,  also, 
 
 *  careful  of  their  families.'  Blnspliemed,  or  evil  spdken  of.  6.  Sober 
 minded,  '  to  govern  their  passions.' — Mackn.  ^Mip^oveiv,  'to  be  pru- 
 dent and  discreet.' — Bi'ns.  8.  Sound  speech,  vfirj,  '  wholesome.' 
 Contrary  port,  '  opposite  side,'  meaning  infidels,  whether  jews  or 
 Gentiles.      10.  Purloining,  voc<pi^oficvofi,  '  secretly  stealing.' — Mackn. 
 
 '  Embezzling;'  keeping  back  part  of  the  price  of  property  sold.  See 
 Acts,  V.  2. — A.  Clarke,  SkS  Doddr.  This  practice  prevailed  amnng  the 
 domestic  Roman  slaves. — Pict.  Bib.  U.  The  grace  of  God,  he\u,  and 
 ill  Gal.  V.  4,  mt-ans,  '  the  gospel,'  being  God's  greatest  favour,  and 
 teaching  us  his  >ci  ace.— J/'/fAvj.  Hatli  appeared,  C7re</iani.  'has  now 
 shone  forth,  in  all  its  light  and  glory,  like  the  rising  sun,  upon  all  na- 
 tions to  whom  he  ordered  it  to  be  prcaclied,'  (Matt.  x,\'viii.  19  ;  Mark, 
 xvi.  15.)— Gkj'sc.  12.  Worldly  lusts,  gluttony.  &c.,  including  love 
 of  riches,  power,  fame,  Sec— Mackn.  u.  Of  the  great  God,  ^c,  rov 
 neyaXov  ©eou  Kat  o-wTijpor  hp-tti',  '  of  our  great  fiod  and  Saviour  Jesus 
 Christ.'— B/^.  Hall,  Ham.  15.  Despise,  'let  thy  doctrine  and  beha- 
 viour be  such,  in  wisdom  and  gravity,  as  may  preserve  thee  from  all 
 contempt.' — Bur. 
 
 Chap.  HI.  —  1.  Put  them,  i.  e.,  the  Cretans.—  Clarke.  To  be  sub. 
 jevt,  because  the  Jews  were  reckoned  seditiou.^-,  and  the  scribes  and 
 Pharisees,  at  least  privately,  opposed  a  heathen  yoke,  &c.  —  GUI. 
 2.  No  bruwU-vs,  'no  fighters.' — Mackn.,  Gilt.  'S.  Foolish,  avomoi, 
 *  without  understanding'  in  our  notions  of  religion.  Disobedient, 
 atrciOeiv,  unpersuaded,  unbelieving,  obstinate,  and  disobedient  to  God. 
 Deceived,  7r/\avu>/ieini,  erring,  wandering  from  the  right  way.  Lusts, 
 en-((^y;uai?,  strong  and  irregular  appetites  of  every  kind.  —  A.  Clarke, 
 Mncku.  5.  Washing  of  regeneration,  ^c— this  is  baptism,  as  a 
 visible  sign  of  the  cleansing  and  purifying  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  L_  I.  True  Clirisfians  and  minis- 
 ters are  such  as  manifest  their  principles  and  chjnaclers  by 
 their  acknowledt^ment  of  '  the  truth  wliich  is  according  to 
 godliness,'  and  are  living  '  in  hope  of  eternal  life,'  founded  on 
 the  grace  of  God,  and  covenanted  eternally  in  Christ  Jesus. 
 Such  a  Christian  was  Paul,  and  such  a  minister;  and  such  will 
 all  those  be  who.  like  iiira,  are  made  partakers  of  divine  grace. 
 
 II.  False  Christians  and  ministers  are  empty  talkers,  and 
 mere  hypocrites.  Strenuous  for  forms,  but  regardless  of  the 
 power  of  religion;  and,  amidst  all  their  profession,  in  the 
 sight  of  Him  who  searcheth  the  heart,  '  abominable  and  dis- 
 obedient, and  to  every  good  work  reprobate.'  Tiiese  may 
 even  so  disguise  themselves  as  to  pass  current  on  earlh,  but 
 they  will  finally  be  reckoned  and  adjudged  as  base  and  worth- 
 less by  the  Great  Judge  of  the  world. 
 
 Reflectiovs  on  Chap.  II This  chapter  contains,  l.A 
 
 summary  of  Christian  duties.  All,  in  their  different  conditions 
 oi  lite,  are  under  some  peculiar  obligations.  The  aged,  to  set 
 an  example  to  the  young  ;  the  young,  faithfully  to  fulfil  their 
 relative  duties  with  alt  prudence.  Servants  are  to  remeni- 
 1289 
 
 her  their  stations,  treating  with  becoming  respect  those  who 
 employ  tbem,  and  faithfully  guarding  what  is  committed  to 
 their  trust. 
 
 II.  A  siunmary  of  the  gospel.  As  Dr.  Doddridge  remarks, — 
 *  It  gives  us  a  view  of  the  nature  of  the  dispensation  as  a  doc- 
 ttine  of  grace,  and  at  the  same  time  a  doctrine  "  according  to 
 godliness.''  It  hath  "appeared  to  all  men,"  and  it  bringeth 
 tliein  salvation,  by  inculcating  the  most  salutary  lessons  that 
 man  can  receive.  It  teaches  us  to  "  deny  ungodliness  and 
 worldly  lusts,'' how  pressing  soever  their  solicitations  may  be. 
 It  instructs  us  in  all  the  branches  of  our  duty  to  God,  to  our- 
 selves, and  to  our  fellow-Christians ;  and  enforces  thera  wilh 
 motives  the  most  generous  and  the  most  animating,  the  glo- 
 rious appearing  of  '  the  great  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus 
 Christ,'  when  he  shall  come  with  everlasting  blessings  in  his 
 hands  to  reward  all  his  faithful  people  ;  and  the  claims  of  gra- 
 titude due  to  our  triumphant  Saviour,  who  has  given  himself 
 to  torture  and  to  death  for  us,  that  he  might  "  redeem  us  from 
 all  iniquity,  and  purify  us  unto  himself,  a  peculiar  people," 
 devoted  to  God,  and  zealous  of  good  works.' 
 
 8  B 
 
Further  directions  to  Titiis^ 
 
 TITUS,  III. 
 
 ■icJiom  Paul  appoinieth  to  meet. 
 
 fi  "^  Whicli  he  shed  on  us  f  abundantly 
 through  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour  ; 
 
 7  "  That  being  justified  by  his  grace,  *"  we 
 should  be  made  heirs  p  according  to  the  hope 
 of  eternal  life. 
 
 8  **  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  these  things 
 I  will  that  thou  affirm  constantly,  that  they 
 which  have  believed  in  God  might  be  carefid 
 ''  to  maintain  good  works.  These  things  are 
 good  and  profitable  unto  men. 
 
 9  But  ^  avoid  foolish  questions,  and  genealo- 
 gies, and  contentions,  and  strivings  about  the 
 law  ;  *  for  they  are  unprofitable  and  vain. 
 
 10  A  man  that  is  an  heretick  "  after  the  first 
 and  second  admonition  "^  reject ; 
 
 11  Knowing  that  he  that  is  such  is  sub- 
 verted, and  sinneth,  *"  being  condemned  of  him- 
 self. 
 
 A.  D.  fi-i. 
 
 m  E:£e.M.23. 
 
 Joel  2.  28. 
 
 John   I.  Iti. 
 
 Acts  2.  33. 
 
 &  10.  45. 
 
 Kom.  S  .'>. 
 t  «i-.  richh. 
 n  Roui.  S.:4, 
 
 r.al.  2.  16. 
 
 Oil,?.  II. 
 
 0  Rom.  a.gS, 
 24. 
 
 }>  ch  I.  5. 
 q  iTiin  1.1.^ 
 
 ch.  1.  9. 
 r  ver.  I,  M. 
 
 ch.  8.  14. 
 
 1  I  Tim.  1.4. 
 2  Tim.  2.23, 
 ch.  I.  14. 
 
 /2Tim.2  IV. 
 
 H^Cor.l.l-J 
 
 .r  Mat. 18.17. 
 Kom  16.17. 
 2  rhes  3  6, 
 ll.'>rim.3 
 5,2  JohnlO 
 
 jActs  I3.4ti. 
 
 I  Or,  pro/ft* 
 
 honest 
 
 trades, 
 
 Eph.  4.28. 
 ;  Rnm.  !5. 
 
 28.  Phil     I. 
 
 II.  8c  4.  17. 
 
 Col.  I.  10. 
 
 2  Pet.  I.H. 
 
 12  When  I  shall  send  Artemas  unto  thee,  or 
 ^  Tychicus,  be  diligent  to  come  unto  me  to 
 Nicopolis :  for  I  have  determined  there  to 
 winter. 
 
 13  Bring  Zenas  the  lawyer  and  °  Apollos  on 
 their  journey  diligently,  that  nothing  be  want- 
 ing unto  them. 
 
 14  And  let  our's  also  learn  •'to  ||  maintain 
 good  works  for  necessary  uses,  tliat  they  be 
 ■■^  not  unfrnitful. 
 
 15  All  that  are  with  me  salute  thee.  Greet 
 them  that  love  us  in  the  faith.  Grace  he  with 
 you  all.     Amen. 
 
 If  It  was  written  to  Titus,  ordained  the  first 
 bishop  of  the  church  of  the  Cretians,  from 
 Nicopolis  of  Macedonia. 
 
 hut  never  to  be  separated  from  thethingsipnified.— .^.  Clarkf.  That  new- 
 birth  of  the  Spirit  is  here  meant  of  which  baptism  was  the  sacramental 
 sign,  but  no  more. — Scott.  They  who  are  rcKenerated  are  washed. 
 The  Spirit's  influences  first  turn  us  to  God,  and  brioK  us  into  the  happy 
 number  of  his  children,  and  afterwards  advance  the  happy  work  by 
 improving  us  more  and  more  in  the  Divine  life  and  image. — Doddr. 
 8.  That  they  which  have  believed^  ^c,  '  that,'  IVa— this  word  is  in- 
 tended to  convey  the  idea  that  the  great  truths  of  the  gospel  previously 
 stated  are  to  be  announced  to  this  end,  '  that  they  which,'  Jtc.  Not 
 that  he  was  to  EifRrm  good  works  only,  but  these  truths  to  lead  to  good 
 works.— £(/.        9.  Foolish  questions,  ffc.—l  Tim.  i.  4,  note.        IQ.An 
 
 heretick,  alpcTiKov,  'a  party' or  'schism  maker,*  in  the  church. — Bens. 
 The  term  '  lieretic'  is  used  only  in  this  place  throughout  tlic  New  Tes- 
 tament, though  the  word  '  heresy'  is  used  frequently  in  the  book  of 
 Acts,  as  equivalent  to  sect,  (see  Acts,  v.  17  ;  xv.  5  ;  xxiv.  5,  14  ;  .\xvi. 
 5;  xxviii.  y^.) — Wil.  Reject,  napairov,  'cast  him  out  of  the  church.' 
 II.  Suhnerttd—i^taTpa-mai  is  commonly  applied  to  buildings,  and  sig- 
 nifies '  to  be  overturned  from  the  foundation.*  It  means  *  perverted.' 
 utterly  depraved.  Condemned  of  himself,  i.  e.,  self-condemned.— 
 Mackn.  12.  Nicopolis,  a  city  in  Thrace. — Uill.  I'.i.  Zenas  the  lawyer, 
 might  formerly  have  been  a  teacher  of  the  law  among  the  Jews,  or  a 
 Roman  lawyer. — Mackn. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  I.'  Christians  should reinemher 
 what  they  were  bifore  their  hearts  were  changed.  They  '  knew 
 not  God  aright,  nor  his  law,  nor  will,  but  were  proud  and  dis- 
 obedient, despising  the  divine  authority,  and  walking  in  the 
 way  of  their  own  hearts  ;  slaves  to  many  evil  desires  and 
 carnal  pleasures,  wanderers  from  God  and  goodness;  malici- 
 ous, envious,  and  bitter  enemies  to  one  another.  Thus  did 
 sin  reign  in  our  hearts  and  minds,  and  spread  its  unholy  in- 
 fluence through  all  our  conduct. 
 
 II.  Christians  shoidd  remember  how  the  cJiange  wrought  in  them 
 was  effected.  Not  by  their  own  power,  nor  by  mere  form  or 
 ceremony,  which  could  never  renew  their  depraved  nature,  but 
 
 by  the  energetical  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit  working  in 
 them  *  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  own  good  pleasure.' 
 
 III.  Christians  shoidd  renumber  the  obliyatioits  devolving  upon 
 them  in  conseijuenee  of  this  change.  The  divine  hte  being  pro- 
 duced in  their  souls,  they  have  been  enabled  to  exercise  faith 
 in  the  Son  of  God  as  the  Alnnnhty  Saviour ;  and  the  necessary 
 consequence  is,  that  good  works,  which  are  the  companions  of 
 faith,  will  manifest  themselves  in  their  lives.  We  look  for 
 these  evidences  in  a  real  Christian,  just  as  we  look  for  action 
 where  there  is  life.  The  man  who  pertorms  not  good  works, 
 shews  that  be  is  no  believer  in  Christ,  is  not  regenerated  by 
 divine  grace,  and  remains  still  *  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.' 
 
 THE      EPISTLE      OF     PAUL 
 
 PHILEMON. 
 
 [PiiiLF.aioN  was  an  inhabitant  of  rcilossc.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  person  of  some  consideration.  He  was  also  a  convert 
 of  the  apostle's ;  and,  from  being  called  a  fellow-labourer,  it  is  supposed  he  held  otlice  in  the  church.  This  epistle  was 
 written  to  him  while  Paul  was  a  prisoner  at  Rome.  Philemon's  servant,  Onesimus,  had  either  embezzled  his  master's 
 goods,  or  robbed  him,  and  theii  ran  away  from  him,  and  fled  to  Rome,  where  the  apostle  was  a  prisoner  in  chains  in  his 
 own  hired  house,  under  the  custody  of  a  soldier,  and  where  he  received  all  that  came,  and  preached  tlie  gospel  to  them, 
 (Acts,  xxviii.  30.)  Among  those  that  went  to  hear  him,  this  fugitive  servant  was  one,  and  was  converted  under  his 
 ministry.  It  further  appears,  th.it  he  not  only  received  the  grace  of  God,  but  had  such  gifts  bestowed  on  him  as  quali- 
 fied him  to  be  a  preacher  of  the  word.  In  consequence,  the  design  of  this  epistle  is  to  reconcile  Philemon  to  his  servant, 
 and  to  intreat  him  to  receive  him  again,  not  only  as  a  servant,  but  as  a  brother  in  Christ ;  and  the  most  proper  and  pru- 
 dent methods  and  arguments  are  used  to  engage  him  to  it.  This  letter  has  been  commended  by  critics  as  the  finest 
 example  of  epistolary  writing  in  existence.] 
 
 4  He  rejoicethto  hear  of  tlie  faith  atid  love  of  Philemon, 
 9  lahom  he  dtsiretk  to  forijive  his  servant  Onesimus, 
 nrui  lovinyli/  to  rective  him  again. 
 
 IDAUL,  'a   prisoner   of  Jesus   Christ,   and 
 Timothy  our  brother,  unto  Philemon  our 
 dearly  beloved,  ''  and  I'ellovvlabourer, 
 2  And  to  our  beloved  Apphia,  and  '  Archip- 
 
 o  Eph.  3,  I. 
 
 &  I.  I. 
 
 2T.01.  1.8. 
 
 ver.  9. 
 b  Phil,  2. 25. 
 c  Col.  4.  17. 
 
 A    1) 
 
 6*, 
 
 d  Plnl 
 
 ■:.a5. 
 
 e  Kom 
 
 10.3. 
 
 ICor. 
 
 6  19. 
 
 i  EpU. 
 
 I.  2. 
 
 g  Rph 
 
 1.  16 
 
 I  The 
 
 .  \.2. 
 
 2  The 
 
 5.  I  3. 
 
 h  Eph. 
 
 1.15. 
 
 Col.  1 
 
 ■t. 
 
 pus  '•  our  fellowsoldier,  and  to  °  the  church  in 
 thy  house : 
 
 3  "■  Grace  to  you,  and  peace,  from  God  our 
 Father  and  the  Lord  .Jesus  Christ. 
 
 i  ^l  thank  my  God,  making  mention  of  thee 
 always  in  my  prayers, 
 
 5  "  Hearhig  of  thy  love  and  faith,  which  thou 
 
 Notes  on  Philemon.  — 1.  Fellnwlahimrer,  hence,  some  infer  that  5.  Loy^e  and  faith,  by  a  transposition,  not  uncommon  in  the  sacred 
 
 Philemon  was  a  minister,  but  the  appellation  is  given  to  men  and  writinsrs,  '  love' here  refers  to  the  saints,  and  '  faith' to  the  LordJesus, 
 
 women  who  assisted  tlie  apostles  in  any  manner.— UViiWjy,  Mackn.  (sec  Matt.  xii.  22;    1  Cor.  vi.  \\.)—Muekn,,  so  Wtils,  and   Whitli;l. 
 1290 
 
Paul  entreateih  Philemon 
 
 PHILEMON. 
 
 to  forgive  Onesiiiiu^i. 
 
 hast  toward  the   Lord  Jesus,  and  towai'd  all 
 saints ; 
 
 6  That  the  communication  of  thy  faith  may 
 become  effectual  '  by  the  acknowledging  of 
 every  good  thing  which  is  in  you  in  Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 7  For  we  have  great  joy  and  consolation  in 
 thy  love,  because  the  bowels  of  the  saints  ^  are 
 refreshed  by  thee,  brother. 
 
 8  Wherefore,  ^  though  I  might  be  much  bold 
 in  Christ  to  injoin  thee  that  which  is  conve- 
 nient, 
 
 9  Yet  for  love's  sake  I  rather  beseech  thee, 
 being  such  an  one  as  Paul  the  aged,  "'  and  now 
 also  a  prisoner  of  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 10  I  beseech  thee  for  my  son  "  Onesimus, 
 °  whom  I  have  begotten  in  my  bonds  : 
 
 11  Which  in  time  past  was  to  thee  unprofit- 
 able, but  now  profitable  to  thee  and  to  me  : 
 
 12  Whom  I  have  sent  again:  tliou  therefore 
 receive  him,  that  is,  mine  own  bowels : 
 
 13  Whom  I  would  have  retained  with  me, 
 ''that  in  thy  stead  he  might  have  ministered 
 unto  me  in  the  bonds  of  tlie  gospel : 
 
 14  But  without  thy  mind  would  I  do  nothing  ; 
 ^  that  thy  benefit  should  not  be  as  it  were  of 
 necessity,  but  willingly. 
 
 15  Tor  perhaps  he  therefore  departed  for  a 
 season,  tliat  thou  shouldest  receive  him  for 
 ever ;  j 
 
 k  2Cor7.l3. 
 
 2  Tim  1,16. 
 
 ver.  20. 
 I  I  I'bes.S.G 
 
 P  1  Cor.  16. 
 17.  I'liil.  2. 
 30, 
 
 7  2  Cor.  9.  7. 
 
 ■  So  Geu.45. 
 5,8. 
 
 .1  ver.  7. 
 H  i  Cor.  7. 
 
 rl'l.il.  1.25. 
 
 fc  •£.  24. 
 n  -2  Cor.l  II. 
 b  Col.  I.7.& 
 
 1.,  12. 
 c  Acts  12.12, 
 
 35. 
 d  Acts  19  29. 
 
 ^  '27.  2. 
 
 Cnl.  4.  10. 
 c  Col.  4.  H. 
 /  2  Tim.  4.. 
 
 10  Not  now  as  a  servant,  but  above  a  servant, 
 ^a  brother  beloved,  specially  to  me,  but  how 
 much  more  unto  thee,  '  both  in  the  flesli,  and 
 in  the  Lord  ? 
 
 17  If  thou  count  me  therefore  "a  partner, 
 receive  him  as  myself, 
 
 18  If  he  hath  wronged  thee,  or  oweth  thee 
 ought,  put  that  on  mine  account ; 
 
 ID  I  Paul  have  written  it  with  mine  own 
 hand,  I  will  repay  it:  albeit  I  do  not  say  to 
 thee  how  thou  owest  unto  me  even  thine  own 
 self  besides. 
 
 20  Yea,  brother,  let  me  have  joy  of  thee  in 
 the  Lord  :  "  refresh  my  bowels  in  the  Lord. 
 
 21  ^  Having  confidence  in  thy  obedience  I 
 wrote  unto  thee,  knowing  that  thou  wilt  also 
 do  more  than  I  say, 
 
 22  But  witlia)  prepare  me  also  a  lodging  :  ftn- 
 ^  I  trust  that  ^  tlirough  your  prayers  I  shall  be 
 given  unto  you. 
 
 23  There  salute  thee  ■'  Epaphras,  my  fellow- 
 prisoner  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  * 
 
 24  ""  Marcus,  ^  Aristarcluis,  "  Demas,  ^  Lucas, 
 my  fellowlabourers. 
 
 25  ^  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  he 
 with  your  spirit.     Amen. 
 
 %   Written   from    Rome    to    Philemon,    by 
 Onesimus  a  servant. 
 
 6.  That  the  cnmmuni cation,  ^c,  '  I  pray  that  the  communication,*  Sec. 
 —So  Mtickn.,  Doddr.,  Guyse.  Ver.  5  is  evidently  a  sort  of  parenthesis. 
 — ICd.  The  worrts  tj  Konwvm  Ttjf  tticttcw?  crov, '  the  fellowship'  or  '  com- 
 niunication  of  thy  faith,'  may  be  noderstood  as  referring  to  the  work 
 o(  love  towards  the  saints,  the  poor  Christians,  which  his  faith  in  Christ 
 enabled  him  to  perform;  faith  being  taken  here  for  its  effects ;  and, 
 indeed,  the  word  Koivmvia,  rendered  'comraanication,*  is  not  unfre- 
 quently  used  to  denote  liberality,  alms-giving. — A.  Clarke,  It  means, 
 *  your  sharing- in  the  common  faith.'  M'li/  become  ejftctual,  ^-c,  '  effec- 
 tual to  engage  you  unto  all  further  acts  of  generosity.'  Bi/  the  ac- 
 knowledging, ^'c,  '  inducing  those  that  hear  of  it,  and  who  receive  the 
 benefit,  to  make  the  most  grateful  acknowledgments  of  all  those  kind 
 and  holy  dispositions  that  are  wrought  and  operate  in  you  and  your 
 benevolent  family  (eit  Xpto-Toi/  Inoow)  "toward"  Jesus  Christ  and  his 
 poor  members  and  servauts.' — Guyse.  Q.  Paul  the  aged,  he,  probably, 
 was  now  more  than  sixty. — Whitby.    As  Paul  was  not  what  is  usually 
 
 called  an  aged  man,  and  the  word  TrpctrySor  signifies,  not  only  an  old 
 man,  but  also  an  ambassador,  because  old  or  elderly  men  were  chosen 
 for  such  an  office,  from  Iheir  experience  and  solidity,  some  have 
 thougbt,  with  some  probability,  that  we  .should  translate  here,  '  Paul 
 the  ambassador.' — A.  Clarke,  lo.  Bci^attoi  m  my  ho7ids,  '  converted  to 
 the  faith  since  I  was  a  prisoner.'~//um.  11.  Unprnjitnble,  '  injuri- 
 
 ous,' (see  Rom.  i.  2S ;  Ephes.  v.  11.)  12.  Mine  own  bowels,  'whom 
 
 I  consider  as  a  part  of  myself.' — Mackn.  13.  In  thy  stead,  '  might 
 have  done  the  good  offices  which  I  know  yourself  would  gladly  per- 
 form.' — Pyle.         14.  Benefit,  'good  deed.' — Mnckn.  15.  Forever, 
 
 alludes,  as  some  suppose,  to  Exnd.  xxi.  6;  but  this  argument  is  still 
 more  touching,  on  supposition  that  the  apostle  had  a  still  further  eye 
 to  their  eternally  dwelling  together  in  heaven. — Guyse.  l6.  Not  vow, 
 *  no  longer.' — Mackn.  I".  A  jmrtner,  namely,  in  thy  friendship. — 
 Whitby,  Wells. 
 
 Rfflections  on  Philemon. — In  this  beautiful  epistle,  our 
 admiring;  thoughts  are  directed  to  Philemon,  Onesimus,  and 
 Paul:  —  I.  Philemon.  'How  elevated  soever  the  station  of 
 Philemon  might  be,'  says  Doddridge,  '  and  bow  plentiful 
 soever  his  circumstances,  it  was  bis  chief  glory  and  felicity  to 
 be  so  distinguished  for  *' faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ"  and 
 *'love  to  all  the  saints.''  The  kind  and  generous  -  hearted 
 Philemon  felt  that  he,  as  a  part  of  the  mystical  body  of 
 Christ,  should  sympathize  with  the  feeling  of  every  member, 
 and  the  most  humble  and  suffering  were  tlie  objects  of  his 
 tender  regards,  Christianity  is  not  a  cold  theory,  it  is  prac- 
 tical ;  and  they  fall  very  far  short  of  illustratinir,  enjoying,  or 
 recommending  it,  who  are  strangers  to  its  '  works  of  faith  and 
 labours  of  love.' 
 
 IL  Oneslmvs.  This  man  was  a  domestic  slave.  Philemon 
 had  a  churcli  in  his  family  •,  or,  at  all  events,  the  church  of 
 Colosse  sometimes  met  in  bis  house.  What  opportunities 
 had  he,  therefore,  of  being  well  instructed,  under  the  care  of 
 his  pious  master.  But,  alas  !  we  have  often  servants  in  our 
 familes,  who,  while  enjoying  every  religious  advantage,  shew 
 by  tlieir  conduct  that  they  are  but  *  unprofitable  servants.' 
 Such  was  Onesimus.  It  is  clear  that  he  ran  away  from  bis 
 master,  and  wronged  him.  Some  suppose  that  be  robbed  him. 
 He  wandered  several  hundreds  of  miles  to  Rome,  and  there 
 Providence  directed  his  steps  to  the  house  of  Paul.  The 
 grace  of  God  touched  liis  heart,  and  arrested  his  progress  in 
 sin,     IFe  became  a  remarkable  monument  of  mercy,  and,  em- 
 
 ploying his  influence  to  save  others,  was  engaged  by  the 
 apostle  to  be  himself  a  preacher  of  the  way  of  salvation  ;  and 
 it  is  inferred,  with  some  reason,  from  what  is  s.iid  of  him  in 
 the  Colossians,  that  he  was  eveii  honoured  with  becoming  dis- 
 tinguished as  the  minister  of  Christ  in  that  church,  where  lie 
 must  have  been  notoriously  known  for  his  sins.  Let  us  not 
 despair  for  the  worst  of  characters.  The  seed  sown  in  the 
 heart  l)y  the  means  of  domestic  religion  may  yet  spring  up  ; 
 and  though  Paul  was  the  instrument  of  converting  Onesimus, 
 his  curiosity  in  hearing  the  apostle  might  have  originated  in 
 some  knowledge  of  his  character  and  doctrines,  which  he  had 
 obtained  from  his  pious  master.  The  day  of  judgment  will 
 shew  bow  many  have,  both  directly  and  indirectly,  been, 
 under  God,  indebted  for  their  salvation  to  the  instrumentality 
 of  family  religion. 
 
 III.  Paul  The  great  apostle  here  appears  in  a  most  ami- 
 able character.  How  much  of  the  Christian  friend  and  bro- 
 ther is  manifested  in  the  lender  expressions  of  Paul  for  Phile- 
 mon, and  in  his  pleadings  for  Onesimus  !  Every  part  of  this 
 epistle  is  powerfully  tuuchino; — irresistibly  persuasive.  The 
 more  we  fee)  the  power  of  Christianity  on  our  hearts,  the 
 more  will  they  be  softened  ;  and  a  recollection  of  the  grace  ol 
 Him  who,  '  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  died  for  us,'  will  con- 
 strain us  '  to  love  our  neighbour  as  ourselves,'  and  especially 
 to  love  *all  those  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity 
 and  truth.' 
 
 1291 
 
THE    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    THE    APOSTLE 
 
 HEBREWS. 
 
 [The  most  eminent  critics  have  decided  that  tlic  apostle  Paul  must  have  written  this  epistle,  which  some  have  douhted.  'Jlic 
 reasons  assigned  for  ascrihing  it  to  him  ore — (i.)  From  the  agreement  lictween  this  and  his  other  epistles;  compare 
 chapters  i.,  ii.,  and  iii.,  with  Colos.  i.  lo,  16;  and  chap.  v.  12,  13.  14,  with  1  Cor.  iii.  1,2;  and  cliap.  xii.  1,  with 
 1  Cor.  ix.  24  ;  and  chap.  \iii.  7,  17,  ivith  1  Thess.  v.  12,  13;  .and  chap.  xiii.  9,  with  Eph.  iv.  14;  and  chap.  xiii.  18, 
 Willi  2  Cor.  i.  12;  and  chap.  xiii.  20,  with  Rom.  xv.  13,  and  Rom.  xv.  20;  1  Thess  v.  23;  and  many  other  places, 
 (ii.)  From  the  order  and  method  of  it, — first  treating  of  doctrines,  and  then  proceeding  to  practical  cxiiortations,  which 
 is  the  common  form  of  Raid's  epistles,  (iii.)  From  various  circumstances;  as,  that  it  was  written  from  Italy,  where 
 I'aul  was  a  prisoner;  and  the  mention  the  author  of  it  makes  of  his  bonds,  and  of  Timothy,  as  well  known  unto  him, 
 who  was  Paul's  companion,  (iv.)  From  the  token  of  his  epistles,  which  appears  in  his  salutation  to  the  churches;  see 
 eh.ip.  xiii.  2-3—25.  (v.)  From  the  testimony  of  the  apostle  Peter,  (2  Pet.  iii.  1.5,  16,)  whence  it  appears,  that  the  apostle 
 did  write  an  epistle  to  the  Ilchrews,  for  to  tiiem  Peter  wrote;  see  1  Pet.  i.  1  ;  2  Pet.  iii.  1  ;  and  what  Peter  refers  to 
 is  to  he  found  in  it ;  sec  chap.  x.  25,  ;!6,  37.  In  none  of  Paul's  epistles  is  there  a  greater  discovery  of  divine  mysteries 
 than  in  this  ;  and  in  it  also  are  things  '  hard  to  be  understood,'  (chap.  v.  1 1. )  As  to  the  apostle's  not  setting  his  name 
 to  it,  the  reasons  might  be,  because  he  was  the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  and  not  so  much  of  the  Jews  ;  and  because  of  the 
 prejudice  of  the  Jews  against  him,  both  believers  and  unbelievers;  wherefore,  had  his  name  been  to  it,  it  might  have 
 prevented  his  usefulness  to  the  one,  and  have  stirred  up  the  rage  of  the  other — Gill.  'I'lie  parties  to  whom  the  epistle 
 •  was  first  addressed  evidently  knew,  however,  from  whom  it  came,  as  the  writer  refers  to  some  acts  of  kindness  which  he 
 had  received  from  them,  (chap.  x.  34,)  and  also  exjiresses  a  hope  of  seeing  them  soon,  (chap.  xiii.  18,  19,  23.)  It  is 
 wortliy  of  consideration,  that  the  testimonies  of  distinguished  writers,  ancient  and  modern,  are  in  favour  of  this  epistle 
 heing'written  by  the  apostle  Paul.  Theargument  of  the  writer  of  this  epistle  m.ay  be  summed  up  in  a  few  words— namely, 
 '  that  only  in  Jesus  Christ  is  the  forgiveness  of  our  sins.'  This  argument  is  chiefly  enforced  by  setting  forth  who  onr 
 S.aviour  Christ  is;  and  then  how  salvation  is  attainable  through  him.  IMany  pa,ssages  of  the  Old  Testament  are  lumin- 
 ouslv  expl.aincd  bv  this  epistle;  more  especiallv  Gen.  xiv,  18,  &c.  ;  xxii.  10,  17  ;  xxxii.  1,  2,  &c. ;  Exod.  xiv.  31  ;  xxiv. 
 6—8  ;  XXV.  40  ;  xxvi.  ;  xl. ;  Lev.  ix.  7,  Stc. ;  xvi.  2,  6,  1 1 ,  12  ;  Num.  xii.  7  ;  xiv.  22,  29,  30;  xv.  30,  31  ;  Deut.  xvii. 
 2—6;  2  Kings,  vi.  17;  Ps.  ii.  1—8;  viii.  4;  xxii.  22—25;  xl.  6;  xiv.  6;  xcv.  7;  xcvii.  7;  cii.  25;  civ.  4;  ex.  1,4; 
 cxliv.  3;  Prov.  iii.  II  ;  Isa.  viii.  18;  xxxiv.  4;  Ii.  6  ;  liv.  13;  Jcr.  xxxi.  31—34;  Dan.  iii.  28  ;  Mich,  vi,  6;  Zech. 
 viii.  8.  Also,  New  Testament  passages.  Acts,  xii.  7;  1  Cor.  xv.  27.  The  principal  critics  who  attribute  this  epistle 
 to  tlie  apostle  Paul  are,  Scni/el,  A.  Clarhe,  Carpzov,  Bales,  Home,  LarJner,  JMnchnight,  Roscnmiilkr,  Tomline,  Townamd, 
 and  M'ltitbt/.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 1  C/irtmt  in  these  last  times  cominrj  to  ns  from  the  Father^ 
 4  is  pre/erred  above  tJte  UJijels,  both  in  person  and 
 office. 
 
 r^  OD,  who  at  sundry  times  and  °  in  divers 
 ^■'^  manners  spake  in  time  past  unto  the 
 fathers  by  tlie  prophets, 
 
 '2   Hath  "*  in  these   last  days  "^  spoken  unto  us 
 by  fiis  Son,  ''whom  he  hath  appointed  heir 
 
 A.  D   61. 
 
 a  Num.  12.6, 
 
 8. 
 b  Pea.  t.  30. 
 
 Gal.  -1,  4. 
 
 Kph.  1.  10. 
 c  Jahn  I.  17. 
 
 &  15.   15. 
 
 .  a  s. 
 
 of  all  things,  '■'by  whom  also  he   made   the 
 worlds; 
 
 3  '  Who  being  the  brightness  of  Jiis  glory, 
 and  the  express  image  of  his  person,  and 
 ^  upholding  all  things  by  the  word  of  his 
 power,  ''when  he  had  by  himself  purged  our 
 sins,  '  sat  down  on  tlie  right  hand  of  the  Ma- 
 jesty on  high ; 
 
 /.  cU.  7.27.  ft 
 9-  12,14,10. 
 Ps.  lit).  I.    Epli.  1.20.  ch.  8.  I.&IO.  12.  &  12,2.  I  Pet.  3.  22. 
 
 A.  D.  04. 
 
 .-  John  I.  3. 
 
 1  Cor,  S.  Ii, 
 C.>l     1.    10 
 
 /  Wisd7.?fi. 
 John  I.  H. 
 &  U.  0. 
 
 2  Cor,  1.  1. 
 Col    1.  15. 
 
 NoTBS  ON  Chap.  I. —  I.  At  sundry  times,  TroXw^iepwr,  'in  sundry 
 pBXts.'— Mark n.  God  discovered  his  will  anciently  in  several  parts,  or 
 parcels,  so  that  one  part  was  to  be  learned  from  one  prophet,  and  an- 
 other from  another. — Pierre.  This  teaches  us,  that  the  grospel,  behig 
 spoken  all  at  once,  by  Christ  and  his  apostles,  no  addition  is  to  be 
 made  to  it  in  after  times. — Markn.  Divers  maTuiers,  as  by  types, 
 figures,  sigTiificant  actions,  and  dark  sayings. — Mnrkn.  In  time  pajtt, 
 ira\ai,  sig^nififS  *  of  old.'  or  in  ancient  time.  It  includes  all  that  space 
 of  time  which  bcg-an  with  the  calling:  of  Abraham,  and  ended  near  four 
 hundred  yeai's  before  Christ,  when  the  spirit  of  prophecy  ceased  iu  the 
 Jewish  church.  The  fathers,  the  ancestors  of  the  Hebrews. — M'Lean. 
 2.  Last  days,  times  of  the  Messiah.— M'Af/A^.  Rather,  the  close  of  the 
 Jewish  ape. — HI' Lean.  His  Son,  this  last  Messenger  being  so  far  supe- 
 rior to  every  other  as  to  admit  of  no  likeness. — Stanh.  There  is  no 
 argument  that  Gcd  did  not  speak  by  Christ  before,  but  not  in  so  clear 
 and  express  a  manner. — Doddr.  Appointed,  *  constituted.'— HV//*. 
 Heir,  fyc,  '  Lord  or  proprietor;'  the  heir  bemg  '  Lord  of  all,'  (Gal. 
 iv,  I,)  which  tiUe  is  applied  to  Christ,  (Acts,  x.  3(3.)  This  denotes  uni- 
 versal dommion. — Markn.,  Whitby.  Heir  among  men  unplics  succes- 
 sion of  right,  iScc..  but  the  Father  dieth  not,  nor  divests  himself  of  his 
 dommion,  &c.  In  scripture  it  often  signifies,  one  having  a  title  to  the 
 inheritance  by  birthiight  or  special  appointment. —il/'Lcfn.  By 
 whom  he  made  the  worlds,  the  heaven  and  the  earth. — Hum.  The 
 whole  creation,  in  the  Jewish  sense. — M'Leaii.  The  original  here 
 [Ala,  ^vith  the  gen.]  signifies  the  efficient,  and  not  the  final  cause. — 
 Mackn.,  McLean.  Aiwi'a?  eTToii\<T<.v,  '  he  constituted  the  ages'  and  dis- 
 pensations of  the  church  and  world. — Doddr.  3.  Who  living  the 
 hrightnessofhis^lory,  iav  airavyaafia  t^c  -iofnr,  the  Uglit,  lustre,  ma- 
 jesty, *  of  glory.' — John  Owen.  *  The  resplendent  out-beamhig  of  the 
 essential  glory  of  God.' — A.  Clarke.  'Being  the  eflFulgence  of  his  glory.' 
 In  scripture,  •  the  glorj'  of  God'  signifies  '  the  perfections  of  God  ;'  the 
 meaning  then  is,  the  Divine  perfections  shone  brightly  in  the  Sou, 
 even  after  he  was  made  ^e<ih  —Mnckn.  The  allu.H,ion  here  is  to  the 
 refulgent  brightness  of  a  lumhmus  body,  and  particvilarly  the  sun, 
 which  is,  indeed,  nothhig  diflercnt  from  the  nature  of  the  sun  itself. — 
 Guyse.  The  e.rprrss  image  of  his  person,  x^/^^ktiip  thv  'vnotnaaeu><! 
 auTov.  '  Image,'  xt>pa«TMp.  is,  pn)pcrly,  an  engra\nng  or  stamping  in- 
 strument, or  a  person  who  engraves  or  stamps.  But  it  is  very  com- 
 120-2 
 
 monly  employed  for  the  figure  itself,  or  image,  engraved  or  stamped ; 
 e-  g-,  upon  coins,  stones,  metal,  wood,  or  WAX.—Stiiart.  '  The  ex- 
 press figure  ur  image  of  his  person.'— J.  Oweji.  The  effulgence  of  his 
 glory,  and  *  the  character  of  his  substance.'  The  original  of  '  image,' 
 or  '  character,'  signifies  the  representation  of  a  thing  by  *  impression  ;' 
 and  is,  therefore,  a  most  eraphatical  word,  since  nothing  can  be  more 
 minutely  and  emphatically  represented  than  by  its  impression  on  wax 
 or  metal.  Just  so  is  tlie  divinitj'  represented  in  the  person  of  God 
 manifest  in  the  Acsh.—Cadogan,  see  Leigh.  Christ  is  '  the  express 
 delineation  of  his  person,'  on  whom  his  hkeness  is  uistampcd  in  living 
 characters,  in  a  maimer  which  no  created  nahu-e  can  admit.— Dodtlr. 
 The  hypostasis  ('person')  of  the  Father  is  the  Father  himself ;  of  him 
 is  the"  Son  said  to  be  the  express  image.  As  is  the  Father,  so  is  the 
 Son.  And  this  agreement  and  likeness  between  the  Father  ami  the 
 Son  is  essential,  not  accidental,  as  those  things  are  between  relations 
 finite  and  corporeal.  What  the  Father  is,  dues,  has,  that  the  Son  is, 
 does,  has  ;  or  else  the  Father,  as  the  Father,  could  not  be  fully  satisfied 
 ia  him,  nor  represented  by  him. — J.  Owen.  Vpholding  all  things  by 
 the  word  of  his  power,  tw  pn^un  ti|9  Anvajucoiv  avruv,  *  his  own  powerful 
 word.'Sfuart.  Many'explain  this  of  the  Father's  power  ;  but  if  the 
 power  of  the  Father  be'  the  power  of  Christ,  to  be  used  by  him  at  plea- 
 sure for  the  security  of  his  people,  it  seems  to  he  all  that  the  cstabli>h- 
 ment  of  our  faith  in  hun  requires.— i>orfrfr.  Surely  no  being  less  than 
 that  which  made  the  world  is  capable  of  sustaining  and  conthuiing  the 
 order  of  the  world  -,  aiid,  therefore,  though  this  be  now  done  by  the 
 Son,  who  is  man  as  well  as  God,  yet  it  is  tnily  and  properly  the  work 
 of  that  Divine  Nature  which  was,  from  all  eternity,  at  the  right  hand 
 of  tlie  Father.— .S7«h;i.  By  himself,  di  iavro,  *  by  the  sacrifice  and 
 offering  of  himself.'— J.  Owen.  The  words  plainly  import,  that  he  was 
 not  only  the  sacrifice,  but  the  priest  who  offered  it,  for  it  was  to  the 
 priestly  oflSce  alone  that  the  work  of  expiating  sins  belonged.  Purged 
 our  sins,  '  made  a  cleansing  of  our  sins,'  i.e.,  expiated  them. — M*Lean. 
 The  word  Kii^upia-^os  imports  such  a  piu-gation  as  is  made  by  expiation 
 and  atonement ;  and,  therefore,  he  is  said  to  '  purge  oiu-  sins.'  and  not 
 '  to  purge  us  from  our  sins.'  It  cannot  here  be  taken  for  sanctifi- 
 cation,  which  it  frequently  means,  because  it  is  spoken  of  as  a  thing 
 already  pa.st  and  perfected.— .7.  Owen.  Right  hand,  most  honourable 
 place.— I>orfri'-.     Majesty  on  high,   God  the  Father,  to  whom  majesty 
 
Christ  preferred  above  anyeh. 
 
 HEBREWS,  fl. 
 
 Obedience  due  to  Christ. 
 
 4  Beinf;;iiiade  so  much  better  than  tlie  anjjels, 
 as  *  he  hath  l)y  inheritance  obtained  a  more 
 excellent  name  tlian  they. 
 
 5  For  nnto  \vliich  of  the  angels  said  he  at 
 any  time,  '  Thou  art  my  Son,  this  day  have  J 
 becjotten  thee  V  And  again,  "*  1  will  he  to  him 
 a  Father,  and  he  shall  be  to  nie  a  Son? 
 
 G  II  And  again,  when  he  bringeth  in  "the 
 firstbegotten  into  the  world,  he  saith,  °  And  let 
 all  the  angels  of  God  worship  him. 
 
 7  And  t  of  tlie  angels  he  saith,  *'  Who  maketh 
 his  angels  spirits,  and  liis  ministers  a  flame  of 
 fire. 
 
 8  Bnt  unto  the  Son  he  saith,  *>  Thy  throne.  O 
 God,  is  for  ever  and  ever:  a  sceptre  of  f  riglite- 
 ousness  is  the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom. 
 
 9  Thou  hast  loved  righteousness,  and  hated 
 iniquity;  therefore  God,  eve7i  thy  God,  ""hath 
 anointed  thee  with  the  oil  of  gladness  above 
 thy  fellows. 
 
 10  And,  ^  Thou,  Lord,  in  the  beginning  hast 
 laid  the  foundation  of  the  eartli  ;  and  the  hea- 
 vens are  the  works  of  thine  hands  : 
 
 h  Eph    1.21. 
 Pliil.'J.'JjIO. 
 
 /  Ps.  2   7. 
 Acta  13- 33, 
 
 11.  I  r.hr. 
 ?*   10.  fc-^. 
 fi  I's  hO.26, 
 
 ll  111",  tf^/,m 
 he  brmg'-th 
 
 «Koii).a.29. 
 
 Col.  I.  13. 
 
 Kev.   1.5. 
 .(  l>cii.3?  IS, 
 
 LXX    1*3. 
 
 "J7  ?.  I  Pet. 
 
 a,  ■>■>. 
 
 t  Gt.uuto. 
 ;•  I's.   t(l4.  ^ 
 7  Ps.  J5.6,7. 
 t  Ur.  T.ghl- 
 
 t  Is   S4.  A.  & 
 •M.  li.  Mat. 
 
 :t  7.  ll> 
 It.v  -21.  I. 
 V  Ps  nn.  1. 
 Mat.  S^.-Il. 
 Mark  IS  3fi 
 l-.ikL- 211.15 
 cli.  10  l-^- 
 ver.  3. 
 
 X  t;i.'u,i9.ifi 
 &  .1--'.  r,  'J, 
 
 2i.  Ps,  31. 
 7.  &  91     M. 
 
 tk  nt;j.''ip.2i. 
 
 Dan    3.  ?S. 
 
 Ik  7.  III.  Xc 
 
 lU.II     Mat. 
 
 IH.  UK 
 
 I.ukc  1.  19. 
 
 &  2.  9.  13. 
 
 AcU  \2.  7. 
 
 SiC.  &  27. 
 
 23 
 t/  Rom.  8.17. 
 
 Tit.  3.  7. 
 
 Jam.  2.  !>. 
 
 1  Pet.  3,  7. 
 }  Gr.  run  out 
 
 'II  leaking 
 
 a  Dea.  33.  8. 
 
 Pb    G9.  17. 
 
 Acts  7.  53. 
 
 i:m   3.  19. 
 0  Nti    IS.  311. 
 
 II  '  They  shall  perisli  ;  but  thou  remainest : 
 and  they  all  shall  wax  old  as  doth  a  garment ; 
 
 \'2  And  as  a  vesture  shalt  tliou  fold  them  up, 
 and  they  shall  be  changed  ;  but  thou  art  the 
 same,  and  thy  years  shall  not  fail. 
 
 13  But  to  wliich  of  the  angels  said  he  at  any 
 time,  "  Sit  on  my  right  hand,  until  I  make 
 thine  enemies  thy  footstool? 
 
 14  "  Are  they  not  al!  ministering  spirits,  sent 
 forth  to  minister  for  them  who  sliall  be  ''heirs 
 of  salvation  r* 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 1    Ife  ought  to  he  obedient  to  Christ  JcsJi.t^  5  ami  tlmt 
 because  he  vouchsafed  to  take  our  nature  tipon  hhn, 
 14  as  it  was  necessari/. 
 
 T^HEREFORE  we  ought  to  give  the  more 
 -*-  earnest  heed  to  the  things  wliich  we  have 
 heard,  lest  at  any  time  we  sliould  flet  ihcm 
 slip. 
 
 2  For  if  the  word  °  spoken  by  angels  was 
 stedfast,  and  ^  every  transgression  and  disobe- 
 dience received  a  just  recompence  of  reward  ; 
 
 31    Pfu.  4.  3.   S(  17.  2.b,  12.  fi  37    26. 
 
 belong. — Gill.  '  The  right  hand' is,  in  classical  writers,  figuratively 
 expressive  of  holding  a  rank  next  to  a  monarch,  {see  Matt.  xx.  21  ;) 
 hut  -when  used  bi  the  New  Testament,  of  Christ,  it  always  implies  par- 
 ticipation in  the  poveniment,  and  equality  of  rank ;  as  in  the  ease  of 
 the  sons  of  Roman  emperors  associated  in  the  imperial  dignity-. — 
 Bloomf.  4.  Beins  mnde,  ^-r.,  he  being  in  his  Di\ino  nature,  and 
 office. capacity,  which  is  foimded  upon  it,  alike  superior  to  the  angels, 
 as  he  really  and  originally  is  so  much  more  excellent  than  Eill  the 
 angels  in  his  own  Di\'ine  person.  The  word  levofitvo^,  here  translated 
 '  made,'  very  often  signifies,  and  is  rendered  '  w;'  and  so  it  expresses 
 what  Christ  really  is,  and  may  respect  his  being  originally,  in  liimself, 
 more  excellent  than  the  angels  ;  at  other  times  it  signifies,  '  manifested 
 to  6e,'  as  it  might  be  rendered  in  Matt.  v.  45,  and  John,  xv.  S ;  and  so 
 Christ's  being  more  excellent  than  the  angels  may  relate  to  the  e\i- 
 dence  and  demonstration  with  which  God  manifests,  or  declares,  him 
 to  be  so ;  and,  at  other  times,  it  signifies  '  made,'  or  *  ordained,'  as  in 
 Mark,  ii.  27;  and  so  Christ's  being  made  more  excellent  than  the 
 angels  may  refer  to  the  office -exaltation  of  his  incarnate  person,  after 
 he  had,  in  his  state  of  humiliarion,  been  made  lower  than  tlie  angels. — 
 Gifj/sp.  KpetTTajv -fei'o/i€i/ot,  '  made  more  excellent  than  the  angels;' 
 is  preferred  above  tliem,  exalted,  actually  placed  in  more  power,  glory, 
 and  dignity. — J.  Owen.  Br/  inherits  nee  obtained,  KeK\n(.ovofj.nKe,  i.  e., 
 as  his  peculiar  lot  and  portion  for  ever.  A  more  erce/lent  vame,  men- 
 tioned in  the  next  verse,  '  Thou  art  my  Son,'  ^x. — J.  fhrm.  5.  Thou 
 art  my  Son,  '  my  essential  Son,'  whom  I  have  begotten  from  eternitj'.' 
 — Guyse.  These  words  are  taken  from  the  second  Psalm,  which, 
 though,  in  some  sense,  it  belong  to  David,  yet  is,  by  the  Jews  them- 
 selves, acknowledged,  in  a  more  sublime  sense,  to  belong  to  the  Mes- 
 siali. — Ham.  Q.  Ar.d  again.  TroXir  here  properly  signifies.  '  the  second 
 time.'  The  Son  of  God  was  bruught  into  om'  world,  the  first  rime,  by 
 his  incarnation  :  but  the  angels  were  not  then  commanded  to  worship 
 liim.  That  command  was  given  after  his  resiurection.  wliich  being,  as 
 it  were,  a  second  incamarion.  is  fitly  called,  '  a  bringing  him  a  second 
 time  into  our  world.' — Mnrkn.  It'/ien  he  bringeth  in  thefrsfbegotlen, 
 namely,  in  the  morning  of  the  resnrreerion,  when  he  was,  in  a  glori- 
 ous majiner,  begotten  from  the  dead. — Bur.  The  words  may  be  better 
 rendered,  '  and  when  he  bringeth  again  the  tirst-begotten  (from  the 
 dead,  Col.  i.  18)  "into  the  world.'" — Whitby :  so  Gill,  and  Mnckn. 
 This  refers  to  the  resurrecrion. — Markn.  To  the  resurrection  and  ex- 
 altation.—^/'Leaw.  To  the  second  coming  of  Christ.— GiV^  To  the 
 whole  work  of  God  in  bringing  forth  the  Messiah  by  Jiis  conception, 
 nati\it>',  unction,  resurrection,  i*cc. — J.  Owen.  And  let  all  the  nnc^els. 
 fyc,  it  is  geueraUy  thought  that  these  words  are  cited  from  the  9/'th 
 Pssjm,  7th  verse,  where,  in  the  Sieptnaffint,  we  have  words  ver>'  like 
 them — '  Worship  Him,  all  his  angels.' — Whitbi/.  UpofTKuvnTaTtixrav, 
 *  worship  him.*  The  word  in  the  New  Testament  is  nowhere  used  but 
 for  religious  worship,  which  is  due  to  God  alone ;  and  when  it  is  re- 
 corded of  any  that  they  did  Trpoffuw^iv,  perform  the  duty  and  homage 
 denoted  by  this  word,  to  any  but  God,  it  is  also  recorded  as  their 
 idolatry,  'Rev.  xiii.  12,  15.} — J.  Owen.  He  gives  our  Saviour  Christ  a 
 clear  testtmony.  so  to  be  the  Son  of  God  in  person  that  he  is  also,  in 
 nature,  one  and  the  same  God  with  liis  Father.  For  whom  should  the 
 angels  worship  but  God  alone,  who,  in  themselves,  have  such  power 
 
 given  them  of  God  ? — Deering.  /.  Spirits,  '  winds,'  which  is  more  in 
 accordance  with  the  next  comparison,  'a  flame  of  fire.* — Wel/s,  so 
 Stuart.  The  meaning  of  thi.s  passage  is,  that  no  higher  titles  are  given 
 to  the  angels  than  those  of  God's  messengers  and  ministers. —  Wfiitby, 
 St'tnh. ;  same  purport,  Sfunrt.  S.  T/iy  throne,  O  Gad.  ffc,  Opoi-o^,  is 
 plainly  the  emblem  of  '  dominion  ;'  because  kings,  when  acting  in  their 
 capacity  as  rulers,  were  accustomed  to  sit  on  thrones.— S/war^  The 
 mediatorial  kingdom  of  Christ  Jesus,  upheld  by  his  divinity.— />r.  J. 
 M.  Mason.  To  render  tliis,  as  some  would  do,  *  God  is  thy  throne  for 
 ever  and  ever,'  is  very  unnatural. — Duddr.  0  God,  6  Oeov,  in  the 
 suigular  number,  is  never  used  absolutely,  or  without  a  restriction  to 
 some  peculiar  consideration  of  it,  as  it  is  here,  of  any  but  the  only  true 
 God.—-./.  Ou'fn,  Grn/se.  .i  sceptre  uf  righteot/sness.  or  '  rectitude.* 
 TIlis  and  the  following  verse  contain  a  prophecy  of  the  duration  and 
 righteousness  of  that  universal  kingdom  which  Christ  was  to  ad 
 minister  after  his  resurrection.  9-  God,  even  thy  God,  6  eeos  auv,  '  O 
 God  thy  God,'  [nora.  for  voc.  as  Rom.  viii.  15,  itc.]  It  is  an  address 
 to  Christ  as  God. — M'Lenn.  Anointed  tftee  with  the  oil  of  gladness, 
 anciently,  kings,  prie>ts,  and  prophets  were  consecrated  to  their  several 
 offices  by  the  ceremony  of  solenm  unction  with  perfumed  oil;  called,  V 
 in  the  Psalm,  '  the  oil  of  gladness,'  because  it  occasioned  great  joy 
 both  to  the  person  anointed  and  to  those  who  were  present  at  the  cere- 
 mony. The  passage  may  be  paraphra^^cd,  '  hath  bestowed  on  thee,  as 
 a  king,  and  a  priest,  and  a  prophet,  endowments,  whereby  thou  e.x- 
 cellest  all  thy  associates  in  these  offices.' — Mnckn.  Above  thy  fellows, 
 Tapa  ToiT  ^cToxoy?  o-oc,  lit.,  *  in  comparison  with  thine  associates,'  i.e., 
 in  office — x\7..,  kings.  God  has  bei^towed  a  higher  reward,  a  greater 
 honour,  on  the  King  Messiah  than  on  any  other  king, — Sluart.  Angels 
 are  here  intended,  for  he  is  proving  Chiist's  superiority  to  these.  As 
 (ind's  mini'^ters,  vested  with  power  and  authority,  they  may  be  termed 
 Christ's  fellows,  not  in  point  of  equality,  but  similarity  of  oifice. — 
 M'Letin.  10.  And  thou.  Lord,  ^c,  this  is  said  still  further  to  display 
 the  greatness  of  the  Son  above  all  the  angels:  and  taken  from  Ps.  cii. 
 25—2".  12.  As  a  resture,  neptfioXaiov,  *  an  upper  garment  or  cloak.' 
 l;j.  But,  de,  *  moreover.' — Markn.  .Said  he— sit,  §c,,  never,  in  his 
 council  or  covenant,  did  he  design  to  give  the  angels  any  such  honour, 
 yet  this  he  said  to  the  Son,  (Ps.  ex.  1.) — GUI.  Enemies— footstool,  an 
 expression  borrowed  from  the  custom  of  ancient  times,  of  treading 
 upon  the  necks  nf  captives  and  captive  kings,  on  the  occasion  of  cele- 
 brating a  triumph  over  thcni,  and  in  token  of  their  complete  pros- 
 tration and  subjection,  (see  Josh.  x.  24  ;  and  so,  often,  in  Homer.) — 
 Stuart.  The  interrogation  here  implies  a  strong  negative;  q.  d., 
 *  God  never  makes  his  angels  iTVfi(3a<Tt\iueiv,  (to  reign  as  joint  kings ;) 
 they  are  rather  his  sen'ants.' — Bloomf. 
 
 CiiAP.  II. — 1.  Let  them  slip,  -napap^vuiiitv,  a  beautiful  allusion  1 1 
 '  leakiog  vessels,' with  which  our  treacherous  hearts  and  memories 
 may  well  be  coniiiared. — Guyse,  so  Ham.  2.  The  word  spoken  by 
 angels,  a  description  of  the  law,  from  whence  the  apostle  argues  to  a 
 stricter  regard  to  Ihe  gospel,  as  from  the  lesser  to  the  greater. — Gill. 
 Stedfast,  ^t/3n(<.r.  '  firm,'  or  '  Stedfast,'  i.  e.,  it  became  an  assured 
 covenant  between  Gnd  and  the  people. — 3.  Owen.  Transgression, 
 TTapa,5t.a-if,  steppiinr  over  the  bounds  the  law  has  set;  doing  what  it 
 prohibits.    Disobedience,  wapanott,  disobedience  imports  contumacy  i 
 
 Reflpctions  on  Chap.  I. — Here  let  us  behold,  I.  The 
 glory  of  Christ's  person.  Here  is  '  God  manifest  in  the  flesb,* 
 Dearing  the  exact  impress  of  his  Deity.  Here  the  Father  is 
 seen  in  tlie  Son  ;  not  a  created  son  of  God,  as  Adam  was,  and 
 as  every  angel  is;  nor  an  adopted  Son,  as  every  believer  is  ; 
 but, '  the  only  begotten  Son.'  We  see  liim  'exbibitini;  the 
 holiness,  wisdom,  justice,  and  truth  of  God  in  his  incarnate 
 state,  so  that  he  who  saw  the  Son  might  be  said  lo  see  the 
 Father.' 
 
 II.  The  fflory  of  Christ's  kinydmn.  Having  *  expiated  our 
 sins  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself,  he  is  now  exalted  to  the  Fa- 
 129.3 
 
 ther's  right  hand,  expecting  till  his  enemies  be  made  his  foot- 
 stool. He  is,  as  Mediator,  invested  with  an  authority  far 
 above  whatever  any  prophet,  priest,  king,  or  even  angel  ever 
 enjoyed,  or  shall  enjoy.  In  the  administration  of  his  empire 
 he  is  immutably  just,  and  his  glorious  throne  shall  abide  for 
 ever.  The  heavens  which  lie  originally  formed  may  be  worn 
 out  like  a  vesture  ;  but  he  will  for  ever  be  the  same,  as  the 
 co-equal  Son  of  God.  O  may  we  admire  the  yrace  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus,  and  cleave  lo  him  with  full  purpose  of  heart  ' 
 May  we  share  with  hiiu  the  glories  of  his  heavenly  king- 
 dom !  '  b 
 
The  gospel  doctrines 
 
 HEBREWS,  11. 
 
 7/iust  be  regarded. 
 
 3  '^  How  shall  we  escape,  it'  we  neglect  so 
 great  salvation;  -^  which  at  the  first  began  to 
 be  spoken  by  the  Lord,  and  was  "^  confirmed 
 unto  us  by  them  that  heard  lihn; 
 
 4  ^  God  also  bearing  them  witness,  ^  both  with 
 signs  and  wonders,  and  with  divers  miracles, 
 and  II  **  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  '  according  to 
 his  own  will  V 
 
 5  Forunto  the  angels  hath  he  not  put  in  sub- 
 jection ''  the  world  to  come,  whereof  we  speak. 
 
 6  Rut  one  in  a  certain  place  testified,  saying, 
 '  What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him  > 
 or  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  visitest  him  Y 
 
 7  Thou  madest  him  ||  a  little  lower  than  the 
 angels  ;  thou  crownedst  him  with  glory  and 
 honour,  and  didst  set  him  over  the  works  of 
 thy  hands: 
 
 A.  D.  frl. 
 
 c  ch.  lu.  2S, 
 
 29   &  12.25. 
 d  Mat.  4.  17. 
 
 Mark  I.  14- 
 
 ch.  I.  2. 
 (•  Luke  I.  2. 
 /'Mark  1 6.20. 
 
 Acts  Ik  3. 
 
 ik  19.  11. 
 
 Rom.  15.13, 
 
 19.   1  Cor. 
 
 8.  +. 
 g  Acta  2.  22, 
 
 ■i:i 
 II  ()r,  d.,tri. 
 
 bul,.ms. 
 h  I  Ciir.    12. 
 
 4,  7,  II. 
 i  Eph. 1.5,9. 
 k  ch.  6.  5. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  13. 
 
 I  Job  7.  17. 
 Ps.  8  4,  He. 
 
 St  vn.  S 
 
 II  Ur.  a  liltk 
 loliiU  ittft- 
 
 \.  D.  04. 
 
 mMat.2S.I3. 
 
 1  C.ir. 15.27. 
 Eph.  1.  22. 
 eh.  I.   13. 
 
 «ICor  15.25. 
 
 o  Phil.  2.  7, 
 
 8,  9. 
 
 [I  Or,  Av. 
 ;>  Acts  2.  33 
 7  John  3.  16. 
 
 &  12.  Sg. 
 
 Rom.  5.  18. 
 
 A  8.  S2. 
 
 2  Cor.  5.15. 
 1  Tim.  2.6. 
 I  John  2.  2. 
 Rev.  5    9. 
 
 r  Liike24  46. 
 *  Rom  11.36. 
 t  kvis  A.  16. 
 
 (t  5.  ;ti. 
 
 ch-  12.  2. 
 "  l.\xkc  13. 
 
 32.  ch-  5,9 
 JCh.lO.U),N. 
 y  Acts  17.26. 
 
 8  '"  Thou  hast  put  all  thin^^s  in  subjection 
 under  his  feet.  For  in  that  he  put  all  in  sub- 
 jection under  him,  he  left  nothing  that  is  not 
 put  under  him.  But  now  "we  see  not  yet 
 all  things  put  under  him. 
 
 9  But  we  see  Jesus,  "who  was  made  a  little 
 low^er  than  the  angels  ||  for  the  suffering  of 
 death,  ^  crowned  with  glury  and  honour;  tliat 
 he  by  the  grace  of  God  should  taste  death 
 ''  for  every  man. 
 
 10  'For  it  became  him,  "^  for  whom  arc  all 
 things,  and  by  whom  are  all  things,  in  bring- 
 ing many  sons  unto  glory,  to  make  '  the  cap- 
 tain of  their  salvation  "perfect  through  suffer- 
 ings. 
 
 1 1  For  "  both  he  that  sanctifieth  and  they 
 who  are  sanctified  "  are  all  of  one :  for  whicli 
 
 refusing  toattcnd  to  Its  commands.— So  J/'Le«H.     Z.  So  great  salvation, 
 
 *  so  great  a  mians  of  salvation  as  the  gospel  is.'— Bp.  Fell.  If  we  dis- 
 believe and  despise  the  news  of  so  great  a  salvation.  Be^an  to  be 
 spoken  by  thr  Lnrd,  '  to  be  preached  by  the  Lord.'— .1/uc;Vk.  4.  Bearing 
 theni  witness,  tbt  word  <Ti'»'eTr</ia,.Ti.poi>i'Toj  signifies  hisjoining  or  adding 
 his  tc-^timony  to  theirs.  He  furnished  them  with  sufficient  credentials, 
 and  fully  attested  the  truth  of  their  doctrine.- .l/'L^'-i;).  With  signs, 
 £(c.,  enabling  them  to  perform  the  most  amazing  signs  and  wonders, 
 and  variuus  incontestible  miracles,  and  endowing  thein  in  a  rich 
 abundance  with  distributions  of  the  Holy  Spirit.— /Jorfrfr.  According 
 to  /tis  own  wUi,  distributed  in  their  different  kinds  and  degrees  to  eatli 
 witness,  according  to  the  good  pleasure  and  sovereign  operation  of 
 God  by  his  Spirit,  (I  Cur.  .xii.  ll.)~Guffse.  5.  For  untn.  ^c— by 
 these  wonderful  operations  the  superiority  of  Christ  is  further  illus- 
 trated, for  to  the  most  exalted  angels  God  has  not  subjected  the  worid 
 to  come,  nor  ever  intended  that  they  shouUl  preside  in  the  latest  and 
 best  dispensation.— 7Vo(7f/r.  The  uorld  to  come,  nhereuf  loe  speak, 
 XaXovnev,  *  we  treat.*  The  '  world*  here  intended  is  no  other  but  the 
 promised  state  of  the  church  under  the  gospel,  with  the  worship  of 
 God  therein,  with  a  special  relation  to  the  Messiah,  the  Author  and 
 Mediaior  of  it,  concerning  which  Uic  apostle  treats  with  tlie  Hebrews 
 ill  tliis  episUe.— J.  Owen.  The  passage  means,  how  much  soever  the 
 annels  were  employed  iu  giving  the  law,  (ver.  2,)  or  arc  made  use  of 
 as  administering  spirits  to  the  heirs  of  salvation,  (chap.  i.  14,}  God  has 
 not  given  them  any  authouty  or  dominion  over  the  Ncw-Te=tiiment 
 clmrch,  and  the  things  belonging  to  it ;  which,  being  to  succeed  the 
 Mosaic  dispensation,  were  commoidy  styled  by  the  Jews,  '  the  world 
 to  come.'—fin!/se.  That  Nan  D^iy,  '  the  world  to  come,'  meant  '  the 
 days  of  the  Mes-siah,'  among  the  Jews,  is  most  evident.— C7«)-A-e.  This 
 phrase  seems  to  denote  the  state  of  the  world  under  the  Messiah,  or 
 the  kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  which  began  at  his  first  advent,  and  shall 
 be  completed  at  his  second  and  glorious  coming.  The  Jews  so  call 
 Messiah's  kingdom,  probably  from  Jsa.  l.w.  17,  where  it  is  represented 
 by  ■  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth.'— Pur.  The  passage  seems  to  in- 
 tend the  gospel,  and  the  gospel  dispensation  and  church  stale,  in 
 opposition  to  the  Jewish  state  and  legal  dispensation,  which  was  called 
 
 •  a  world,'  and  had  in  it  a  worldly  banctuary  and  worldly  ordinances, 
 at  the  end  of  which  Christ  came,  and  then  another  world  took  place, 
 here  called  '  the  world  to  come.'- tfi//.  ■  The  worid  under  the  reign 
 of  Christ.'— S/wur^  It  means.  '  the  latest  and  best  dispensation,  the 
 kingdom  of  the  Messiah,  which  extends  not  only  to  earth,  but  to 
 heaven.'— i>(jrf(/r. ;  so  also  M'Lcnn.  The  following  are  opposed  to  the 
 preceding  opinions;  —  The  gospel  dispensation  is  called  an^vo^ 
 (utWovTos,  '  the  age  to  come,'  (Hch.  vi.  s,)  but  never  by  the  term 
 here  used,  oiKoufxevt\v  fitWovai^v,  *  the  habitable  world  to  come.'  This 
 phrase  signifies  the  heavenly  country  promised  to  Abraham,  and  to 
 his  spiritual  seed.  Wherefore,  as  oiKiWfxevn,  *  the  world,*  Luke,  ii.  I, 
 and  elsewhere,  by  an  usual  figure  of  speech,  signifies  '  the  inhabitanis 
 of  the  world,'  the  phrase  here  used  may  very  well  signify,  *  the  in 
 habitants  of  the  world  to  come,*  called,  Heb.  i.  14.  *  them  who  shall 
 inherit  salvation.'— J/«cA-«.  I  consider  the  sense  to  be,  that  the  hea- 
 venly worid  is  not  under  the  government  <>f  angi-U.  but  of  Christ; 
 and  that  the  heirs  of  it  arc  also  under  him,  who,  for  their  sakcs,  be- 
 came man  ;  and  to  him,  as  having  assumed  human  nature  and  the 
 consequences  of  it,  may  be  applied  the  following  words  of  David. 
 6.  Hut  one,  ^c,  '  but  David  hath  somewhere  testified,  SiC—Boot/ir. 
 
 •  Now  One  in  a  certain  place,'  &c.  i.  e.,  '  now  that  the  Son  of  God  was 
 to  be  made  ilesh,  and  in  the  flesh  was  to  be  appointed  King  universal, 
 David,  in  a  certain  place,  {Ps.  viii.  -i,)  plainly  testified,  saying/  &c.— 
 Mar.kn,  This  is  an  allusion  only,  for  it  seems  evident  that  there  is 
 nothing  in  the  eighth  psalm  by  which,  indeiieudent  upon  the  apostle's 
 authority,  it  could  be  known  to  belong  to  the  Messi.ih.— I>orf(/i-.  It 
 appears  to  me  that  the  words  here  cited  had  a  principd  and  ultimate 
 reference  to  the  Messiah,  who  is  really  a  man,  and  is  spoken  of  as 
 
 *  man,'  and  characterized  as  *  the  Son  of  man,'  in  the  Psalms,  and 
 other  parts  of  the  Old  Testament.  (Ps.  l.\.xx.  IT;  Dan.  vii.  13  ;  Zech. 
 vi.  12,  and  xiii.  7.)  as  well  as  is  called  '  the  man  Christ  Jesus'  in  the 
 New  Testament,  (1  Tim.  ii.  5,)  and  often  spoke  of  himself  as  *  the  Son 
 of  man.'  What  is  man?  Sfc,  '  how  mean  and  inconsiderable  a  crea- 
 ture is  man  in  liimself ;'  or,  '  what  is  the  natvire  of  man,  considered 
 merely  as  such,  in  the  Messiah  Idmsclf,  whose  distinguishing  cha- 
 racter is  "  the  Son  of  man,"  that  thou  shouldst,  for  the  sake  of  man- 
 kind, raise  him  in  human  nature  to  the  office  of  Mediation,  and  enrich 
 
 1294 
 
 him  with  thy  gifts  and  graces,  and  assist  and  own  him  in  hts  work 
 and  e.'calt  him  to  his  throne  and  kingdom?' — Gtit/se.  7.  A  little  lower 
 than  the  angels,  /Jpaxv  rt,  respects  time,  not  decree.  The  marginal 
 reading  is  more  proper. — M'Lean.  For  a  small  season,  in  a  state  of 
 deep  humiliation,  subject  to  miseries  in  soul  and  body,  and  to  death 
 itself.  Thou  crownedst,  ^c,  *  didst  raise  him  from  the  dead,  antl  ad- 
 vance him,  like  a  king,  to  his  throne,'  &c. — Guyse.  s.  Than  hast 
 put,  ^r.—iIf«cArmg-A/ paraphrases  this  verse  thus: — *  Thou  wilt  put," 
 ike,  (see  Eph.  i.  22.)  'Wherefore,  by  subjecting  all  things  to  him, 
 God  will  leave  nothing  unsubjected ;' consequently  there  is  nothing 
 over  which  his  power  wdl  not  at  length  finally  prevail.  '  But  at  pre- 
 sent we  do  not  yet  see  all  things  subjected  to  him  ;  for  evil  angels, 
 and  wicked  men,  are  still  unsubdued  by  him. — Markn.  on  Epistles. 
 Q.  For  the  sufferirig  of  death,  that  he  might  be  capable  of  it. —  Doddr. 
 This  verse  is  translated  and  constructed  thus  by  Mucknight :  *  But  we 
 see  Jesus,  who  for  a  little  while  was  made  less  than  the  angels,  that, 
 by  the  grace  of  God  he  might  taiite  of  death,  {vitep,}  "  on  account  of 
 every  one,*'  {dia,}  for  the  suffering  of  death,  crowned  with  glory  atid 
 honour.' — Mackn.  on  Epistles.  Taste  death,  is  a  Hebraism  for  dying. 
 — Guyse.  For  every  man,  that  ever  was,  or  will  be,  born  into  the 
 world,  witliout  the  exception  of  any.— iie?w.  It  is  true,  Christ  died 
 on  account  of  every  one,  in  the  largest  sense  of  the  expression ;  inas- 
 much as  all  men,  without  exception,  derive  great  and  manifold  advan- 
 tages from  his  death,  although  all  arc  not  to  be  saved  thereby.  How- 
 ever,  as  this  discourse  is  concerning  bringing  many  sods  unto  gloiy 
 through  the  death  of  Christ,  the  phrase  may  signify,  '  on  account  ol 
 every  son' — namely,  of  God,  who  is  to  be  brought  unto  glory. — 
 jVavkn.  Every  one  of  the  many  sons  that  belong  to  him,  whether 
 Jews  or  Gentiles.— Guyse,  as  J.  Owen.  The  word  '  man'  is  not  in  the 
 original  text ;  it  is  only  v-nep  ttuvtuv.  *  for  every  one,'  which  may  be 
 taken  either  collectively,  and  be  rendered,  for  '  the  whole'— that  is, 
 '  the  whole  body,'  the  church,  for  whom  Christ  gave  himself,  and  is 
 the  Saviour  of ;  or  distributively,  and  be  translated,  'for  every  one  j' 
 for  every  one  of  the  sons  God  brings  to  glory,  (ver.  10.) — Gill.  The 
 connexion  points  out  the  heirs  of  salvation,  [i.  14  ;)  the  many  sons, 
 (ver.  10;)  they  who  are  sanctified,  Chri.>t's  brethren,  (ver.  11;)  the 
 church,  (ver.  12;)  the  children  which  God  had  given  him,  (ver.  13;) 
 whose  flesh  he   took   to   deliver  them,  (ver.   U,   15,   &c.) — M'Lean. 
 
 10.  //  became  him,  it  was  suitable  to  the  Divine  wisdom,  the  requi- 
 sitions of  justice,  and  the  economy  of  grace. — Clarke.  Him,  God  the 
 Father,  who  delivered  Christ  to  death.— Gi//,  so  Bp.  Fell.  To  make— 
 pfrfect,  completely  fit  for  the  execution  of  his  office. — Duddr.  *  To 
 bestow,  on  account  of  sufferings,  the  highest  honours  upon  him.' — 
 Stuart.  He  fitted  or  qualified  him  by  means  of  sufferings,  to  he 
 a  complete  and  effectual  Saviour. —  M'Lean.  Captain  —  the  word 
 upxnyov,  here  translated  '  captain,'  is  rendered  '  a  prince,'  Acts,  iii. 
 15.     It  signifies,  '  the  captain  who  leads  them  to  salvation.' — Mackn. 
 
 11.  Fur  both  he  that  santtijieth,  i^-f.— these  terms,  <i  u-yiafwv  kui  ol 
 uyiufw^iei'oi,  seem  constantly  used  through  this  epistle  in  a  sacrificial 
 sense,  with  a  reference  to  legal  purifications  for  separation  or  dedi- 
 cation to  God,  and  being  fitted  for  his  service  ;  or  for  cleansing  from 
 the  Kuilt  of  sin  ;  but  when  they  relate  to  the  sanctification  of  believers 
 in  virtue  of  the  blood  of  Christ,  as  they  do  here  and  in  cliap.  x.  10,  i-i, 
 they  may  well  he  supposed  to  include  also  an  internal  work  of  holi- 
 ness, which  was  signified  by  external  purifications  with  water-  and 
 blood,  as  it  was  purchased  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  is  effected,  in 
 consequence  thereof,  by  the  sanctification  of  the  Spirit,  The  para- 
 phrase of  this  verse  is, — '  Fur  both  the  Redeemer,  who  has  taken  away 
 sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself,  that  its  guilt  may  be  expiated  and  its 
 defilements  removed,  and  the  redeemed,  whose  sins  are  purged  away 
 by  his  blood  and  Spirit,  and  who  arc  thereby  devoted  to  God,  are  all 
 of  one  blood,  partakers  of  one  and  the  same  nature,  from  one  common 
 parent.* — Guyse.  Same  purport. — McLean.  All  of  07ie — Mucknight, 
 ami  snine  others,  interpret  the  passage  '  all  of  one'  Father,  Abraham, 
 (ver,  ]6,)  that,  being  his  brethren,  he  (Christ)  might  have  a  strong 
 affection  for  them;  but  Guyse  properly  remarks,  that  the  original, 
 cf  ivoi,  is  both  the  masculine  and  neuter  gender,  and  may  accordingly 
 mean  o(  one  person,  or  of  one  thing,  and  that  very  consistently  with 
 each  other,  and  with  the  apostle's  argument:  though  their  being  all 
 of  one  nature  seems  to  be  most  directly  intended.  And  though  tho 
 interpretation  which  is  given  above  may  be  a  good  reason  for  Christ's 
 calling  the  sanctified,  brethren,  it  is  not  clear  how  it  shews  that  it  be- 
 came God,  in  bringing  many  sons  to  glory,  to  make  the  Captain  of 
 
Christ  more  worthy 
 
 HEBREWS,  III. 
 
 than  Moses, 
 
 cause  ''  he  is  not  ashamed  to  call  thein  brethren, 
 
 12  Saying, "'  I  will  declare  thy  name  unto  my 
 brethren,  in  the  midst  of  the  church  will  I  sing 
 praise  unto  thee. 
 
 13  And  again,  '' I  will  put  my  trust  in  him. 
 And  again,  "  Behold  I  and  the  children^  which 
 God  hath  given  me. 
 
 14  Forasmuch  then  as  the  children  are  par- 
 takers ot"  flesh  and  blood,  he  '^  also  himself  like- 
 wise took  part  of  the  same;  '  tliat  through 
 death  he  might  destroy  him  that  had  the  power 
 of  deatli,  tliat  is,  the  devil  ; 
 
 !5  And  deliver  them  who  ^  tli rough  fear  of 
 death  were  all  their  lifetime  subject  to  bondage. 
 
 IG  For  verily  f  he  took  not  on  hhii  the  nature 
 of  angels  ;  but  lie  took  on  Jtim  the  seed  of 
 Abraham. 
 
 17  Wherefore  in  all  things  it  behoved  him 
 *'  to  be  made  like  unto  his  brethren,  that  be 
 might  be  'a  merciful  and  faithful  high  priest  in 
 things  pertaining  to  God,  to  make  reconcilia- 
 tion for  the  sins  of  the  people. 
 
 18  ^  For  in  that  he  himself  hath  suffered 
 being  tempted,  he  is  able  to  succour  them  that 
 are  tempted. 
 
 b  Ps.  18.  2. 
 
 Is.  12.  2. 
 c  Is.  8.  13. 
 'i.lohn2(i,i!l. 
 
 &  17.  6,  y, 
 
 II,  13. 
 eJohn  I.  )I. 
 
 Kom   8   3, 
 
 Phil.  2.  7. 
 /■  I  Cor,  I  b, 
 
 51,  55.  Cul. 
 
 2.  15. 
 
 ■»Tim.l.in. 
 ^  Luke  1.71. 
 
 Kom.  8.  15- 
 
 2  Tim.  1.7. 
 
 t  Gr.  ho 
 t.ilfth  not 
 h.Mofau- 
 UfU,  but  uf 
 
 .ibrahmn  I,' 
 t'lketh  hfl-l 
 
 k  pun.  2.  7, 
 
 ■  ch.  4.  IS. 
 St  5.  1,2. 
 
 k  cli.  4.  IS, 
 16  &5.2.  ' 
 7.25. 
 
 '  CHAP.  HI. 
 
 1  Christ  is  more  worthy  than  Mnscs^  7  therefore  if  we 
 heliuve  not  in  him,  we  shall  be  more  worthy  punishmetd 
 than  hardhearted  Israel* 
 
 WHEREFORE,  holy  brethren,  partakers  of 
 "  the  heavenly  calling,  consider  ''  the 
 Apostle  and  High  Priest  of  our  profession, 
 Christ  Jesus  ; 
 
 2  Who  was  faithful  to  him  that  f  appointed 
 him,  as  also  "^  Moses  ivas  faithful  in  all  his 
 house. 
 
 3  For  this  mflH  was  counted  worthy  of  more 
 glory  than  Moses,  inasmuch  as  ^  he  who  hath 
 builded  the  house  bath  more  honour  than  the 
 bouse. 
 
 4  For  every  house  is  builded  by  some  man; 
 but  ^  he  that  built  all  things  is  God. 
 
 5  *"  And  Moses  verily  ivas  faithful  in  all  his 
 house,  as  ^a  servant,  •'  for  a  testimony  of  those 
 things  which  were  to  be  spoken  after ; 
 
 G  But  Christ  as  'a  son  over  his  own  house  ; 
 '■  whose  house  are  we,  Mf  we  hold  fast  the  con- 
 fidence and  the  rejoicing  of  the  hope  firm  unto 
 the  end. 
 
 I.  &■>'!.  13,  Rom.  5.  2.  Col.  l.  23.  cli.  6.  U.  &  10.  85. 
 
 our  salvatinn  perfect  through  sufferings. — Practiruf  E.rpns.  in  lac. 
 la.  Snyivf^,  ?fc.,  to  his  Father,  '  when  I  appear  in  the  human  nature 
 on  the  tartli,  1  will  declare  thy  pcrlections  to  my  brethren  of  man- 
 kind,'&c. — Markn.  13.  Arid  n^^nin,  i^c,  speaking:  as  a  mortal  man, 
 exposed  to  such  exercises  of  faith  in  trials  and  difficulties  as  others 
 were,  he  says  in  a  psalm,  which  represents  his  triumphs  over  his 
 enemies,  and  in  the  language  of  David  his  type,  (Ps.  xvUi.  2,)  like  one 
 that  has  communion  with  his  brethren  in  human  affections,  suffering:s, 
 and  graces,  as  well  as  in  nature,  '  I  will  trust  in  him,*  as  other  good 
 men  have  done.  And  again.  Behold  I  and  the  rhildren,  ^e. —  Isa.  viii. 
 18. — Doddr.,  (iui/se.  He  here  also  makes  a  like  acknowledgment  of 
 his  near  relation  to  thorn,  and  of  his  being  of  the  same  nature  with 
 them,  parents  being  of  the  same  nature  with  their  children. — Bens.,  so 
 Whitb;/.  M.  Fltsh  and  blond,  we  must  understand  by  the  e.\pres- 
 sion  the  complete  nature  of  man,  body  and  soul. — HVLean.  Through 
 death,  by  bis  dyin^.— Ed.  He  might  destroy  iinn,  '  render  ineffectual 
 h'lm.'—Much-n.  '  Destroy  the  tyranny  of  him.'— Bens.  That  had  the 
 power  of  death,  by  tempting  man  to  sin,  and  bringing  death  on  him 
 and  his  posterity.— il/'Lcnn.  '  He  micl't  subdue  him  who  had  a 
 deadly  power.'— iYwfir^  That  is,  the  devil,  death,  which  was  intended 
 by  him  who  was  a  murderer  from  the  beginning  to  be  the  final  ruin  of 
 mankind,  becomes  the  instrument  of  their  exaltation  and  endless 
 glory  ;  and  thus  the  death  brought  in  by  Satan  is  counter- worked, 
 and  rendered  ineffectual  by  the  death  of  Christ.— ,■!.  Clarke.  15.  De- 
 liver them  who  through  fear  of  death,  ^-c,  of  its  consequences.  Jesus 
 did  this  by  making  more  clear  a  future  life  of  happiness,  and  by  be- 
 coming the  first-fruits  of  a  blessed  resurrection  ;  so  that  they  who  be- 
 lieve in  him  have  no  reason  to  be,  as  it  were,  in  a  state  of  slavery, 
 under  a  cruel  and  inexorable  tyrant.— i5«iM(/jr.  l6.  He  tooknot  onhim, 
 ^.'7Ti\afj.i3ui(iTat,  signifies  the  taking  huUl  of  a  thing  with  one's  hand  in 
 order  to  support  or  carry  it  away. — Murku.  The  catching  hold  of  any 
 (*tie  ready  to  perish,  or  laying  hold  of  a  person  running  away,  and 
 with  great  vehemence  and  affection  holding  anything  fast  that  it  be 
 not  lost,  and  helping  persons  to  do  them  good.— Gi//.  The  nature  of 
 angels,  this  nature  being  void  of  our  passions  and  affections ;  but  of 
 men,  that,  having  himself  the  same  infirmities,  8cc.,  he  might  in  this 
 office  more  compassionate  theirs. — Bp.  Fell.  He  took  the  nature  of 
 believers  of  the  human  species,  justly  passing  by  angels,  who,  for 
 
 their  rebellion,  were  left  to  perish  in  their  sin.—Mnckn.  Same  pur- 
 port.— Gui/se  :  so  M'Lean.  IJ.  In  things  pertaining  to  God,  in  offer- 
 ing sacriiices,  prayers,  intercessions,  to  God  ;  in  desiring  grace,  peace, 
 benedictions,  unto  the  jjcople,  (Exod.  xviii.  IQ.)—Bp.  Fell.  18,  Ab/e — 
 rendered  able  to  have  a  fellow-feeling  of  our  miseries  and  afflictions. — 
 Wells. 
 
 Chap.  HI.— I.  //o/y  ire^Aren,  persons  consecrated  to  God. — Clarke. 
 The  heavenly  calling,  '  the  heavenly  invitation:  so  the  word  K\ri(n<i 
 means. — Stuart.  This  generally  signifies  the  call  that  is  given  us  by 
 the  gospel  to  pursue  immortality  and  giory. — Doddridge.  Consider, 
 KaTai'ori'T«T£,  '  observe  well,'  *  consider  attentively.' — Stuart.  The 
 A/tostle  and  High  Priest,  the  former  signifying.  '  as  Gnd's  messenger 
 he  pleads  the  cause  of  God  with  iis;'  and  the  latter,  '  he  pleads  our 
 cause  with  God.' — Bens.  Of  our  profession,  th?  ofio\o-^taf,  *  con- 
 fession.'—iI/rt(?A:n.,  Stuart.  '  Religion.' — Stuart.  2.  Who  was  faith- 
 ful, fyc. — *  What  was  the  faithfulness  commended  in  Muses  ?  That  he 
 did  in  every  point  according  to  that  which  God  had  commanded,  and 
 pretermitted  nothing  that  the  Lord  had  said.  This  was,  then,  tlie 
 faithfulness  of  Christ,  to  do  nothing  but  as  the  will  of  his  Fi^ther. — 
 Derring.  As  also  Moses,  an  allusion  to  the  testimony  winch  God  bore 
 to  Mosos,  (Num.  xii.  7.)  His  house,  the  Jewish  church. — Mackn. 
 :i.  This  man,  '  man'  is  not  in  the  original  ;  it  may  be  supplied  '  this 
 apostle  or  lawgiver,'  &c.  Builded  the  house,  here  signifies  '  formed 
 the  church.'— il/acArn.  Than  the  house— th?in  all  its  members;  con- 
 sequently, than  one  member,  which  Muses  was. —  Wells.  4.  Ei^ery 
 house,  Sfc. — every  family  or  kingdom  has  a  founder,  but  God  has 
 founded  the  church  of  Jews,  and  now  Christians, —  Ham.  He  that 
 fiuilt,  6  KaTdo-Kftiao-ac,  '  he  that  prepared,  furnished,  and  set  in  order.' 
 This  word  is  often  used  tu  signify  God's  preparing  such  things  as  re- 
 late to  the  church  and  bis  worsliip,  (see  Matt.  xi.  10;  Mark,  i.  2 ; 
 Luke,  i.  1/  ;  vii.  27  ;  Heb.  ix.  2,  6  ;  xi.  7  ;  1  Pet.  iii.  iiO.)—Gui/se.  All 
 things— ra  iravra,  is  put  for  Tut-Ta  navra,  '  all  these  things.' — J.  Owen. 
 The  argument  is, — God  governs  all  things,  Christ  governs  the  church 
 -Christ  is  God.— So  Whitby,  5.  For  n  testimony— Mose^*  ministry 
 was  prophetical,  and  bore  witness,  in  all  the  principal  circumstances 
 of  it,  to  the  greater  ministry  of  Christ,— Jonps,  of  Nuyland.  To  fte 
 spoken  after,  by  Christ  and  his  apostles. —  Wells.  6.  As  a  son,  '  as 
 the  Son  of  God,  and  therefore  the  true  Lord  and  owner  of  this  house.' 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  II. — Tbis  chapterexhibits  Christ 
 as — I.  A  suffering  Saviour.  'The  Captain  of  our  salvation' 
 was  'made  perfect  througli  sufferings.'  This  was  the  plan 
 devised  by  iufinite  wisdom,  and  the  only  plan  revealed  for  the 
 salvation  of  fallen  man.  Jay  has  here  remarked,  'we 
 would  not  limit  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,'  or  affirm  that  he  could 
 not  have  pardoned  sin  without  an  atonement.  Let  us  remem- 
 ber the  Supreme  Majesty  is  accountable  to  none.  Our  Sa- 
 viour, in  the  garden,  does  indeed  intimate  that  the  cup  could 
 not  pass  from  him  ;  but  he  resolves  tbis  impossibility  into 
 the  will  of  God.  It  is  sufficient  for  us  to  know,  that  in  this 
 way  God  chose  to  glorify  his  perfections,  and  that  to  us  no 
 other  way  appears  in  which  we  could  have  had  an  equal  dis- 
 play of  the  Divine  attributes.  Justice  could  have  seized  the 
 transgressor,  or  mercy  could  have  spared  him  ;  but  in  the 
 case  before  us,  both  justice  and  mercy  are  blended  in  their 
 exercise.  We  see  the  one  in  requiring  this  mediation,  the 
 other  in  providing  it.  The  law  is  secured,  and  the  offender 
 too.  Sin  is  condemned,  and  the  sinner  pardoned  ;  and  God 
 can  neither  behold  the  iniquity  or  the  misery  of  man.  And 
 if  our  Captain  suffered,  *  let  not  Christians  think  it  strange  if 
 they  should  be  called  to  suffer.  L(3t  them  learn  how  to  be 
 1295 
 
 abased,  as  well  as  how  to  abound  :  let  them  determine  to  pass 
 '  through  evil  report,  as  well  as  good  report;*  and  be  willing 
 to  deny  themselves,  and  take  up  their  cross,  and  follow  him. 
 Would  you  reign  with  him,  and  not  suffer  with  him?  Can 
 the  common  soldier  complain,  when  he  sees  the  Commander 
 enduring  the  same  privations  with  himself?  'The  disciple 
 is  not  above  his  Master,  nor  the  servant  above  his  Lord  :  it  is 
 enough  for  the  disciple  that  he  be  as  his  Master,  and  the  ser- 
 vant as  his  Lord.'     Christ  is  also  here  exhibited  as — 
 
 II.  A  sympathizing  Saviour.  Christians,  he  is  your  Head, 
 and  you  are  his  members,  and  the  members  feel  not  on  earth, 
 without  their  Head  feeling  for  them  in  heaven.  He  sympa- 
 thizes with  every  suffering  believer.  His  everlasting  arms 
 are  extended  for  his  relief,  and  his  gracious  hand  is  ready  for 
 the  appointed  moment  when  it  shall  for  ever  '  wipe  away  all 
 tears.'  '  He  himself  having  been  tempted,'  says  Richard 
 Jiaxter,  'and  tried  by  sufferings,  and  having  overcome  them 
 all,  he  is  now  more  meet  to  be  a  compassionate  helper,  the 
 example,  the  teacher,  and  the  trust  of  them  that  must  follow 
 him  through  temptations,  and,  by  his  merit  and  victory,  hath 
 obtained  power  to  deliver  them.' 
 
A  caution  against  unbelief. 
 
 HEBREWS,  IV.         The  rest  of  Christians  attained  bij  faith. 
 
 7  Wiierefore  (as  "'the  Holy  Ghost  saith, 
 "  To  (lay  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice, 
 
 8  Ilarden  not  your  hearts,  as  in  tlie  provoca- 
 tion, in  the  day  ol"  temptation  in  the  wilder- 
 ness : 
 
 9  When  your  fathers  tempted  me,  proved  me, 
 and  saw  my  works  forty  years. 
 
 10  Wherefore  I  was  grieved  with  that  ge- 
 neration, and  said,  Tiiey  do  alway  err  in 
 their  heart ;  and  they  have  not  known  my 
 ways. 
 
 1 1  So  I  sware  in  my  wrath,  ]  Tliey  shall  not 
 enter  into  my  rest.) 
 
 12  Take  heed,  brethren,  lest  there  be  in  any 
 of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  in  departing 
 from  the  living  God. 
 
 Ir3  But  exhort  one  another  daily,  while  it  is 
 called  To  day  ;  lest  any  of  you  be  hardened 
 tlirough  tlie  deceitfulness  of  sin. 
 
 14  For  we  are  made  partakers  of  Christ,  °  if 
 we  hold  the  beginning  of  our  confidence  sted- 
 fast  unto  the  end  ; 
 
 15  While  it  is  said,  ''To  day  if  ye  will  hear 
 his  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts,  as  in  the 
 provocation. 
 
 16  ■*  For  some,  when  they  had  heard,  did  pro- 
 voke :  howbeit  not  all  that  came  out  of  Egypt 
 by  Moses. 
 
 17  But  witli  whom  was  lie  grieved  forty 
 years?  tv<is  it  not  with  them  that  had  sinned, 
 'whose  carcases  fell  in  the  wilderness? 
 
 18  And  *  to  wiiom  sware  he  that  they  should 
 not   enter   into   liis   rest,    but   to   them    that 
 
 2  Sam.  23, 
 .  Acts  1. 
 
 a  ver.  15. 
 Ps.  95.  7. 
 
 t  Gr.  Iftli-if 
 iliaii  entrr 
 
 7  Num.  1 1.?, 
 ■»,  1 1 ,  M  .-iO, 
 Deu.  I.  3), 
 :f6,  St». 
 
 r  No.  It.*?, 
 
 2P.fcc.&  2IJ. 
 
 65.  Pb.  lufi. 
 
 26,  I  Cor.  I U. 
 
 5.  Judfl  b 
 t  Nu.  14.30. 
 
 I>eu.    1 .  3-1, 
 
 35. 
 
 A.  D.  G-l. 
 (  cb.  4.  6. 
 
 I  Or,  b'::aute 
 l/ir,/  ntre 
 
 •'■>' i'<ii>y 
 
 /..it/,  to. 
 '•  oil,  .X  11. 
 i  I's.  95.  It. 
 
 cli.  S.  II. 
 
 Kx   id.   M. 
 &  31.  17. 
 
 <■  rli.  S.  ly. 
 
 llOr,  rt<.j.,«. 
 }>'l  u,a$  fittt 
 yrtuched. 
 
 f  Pa.  95.  7. 
 cb.  S.  7. 
 
 believed  not? 
 
 ly  *So  we  see  that  they  could  not  enter  in 
 because  of  unbelief. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1     The  rest  of  Christians  is  attaintdhif  faith.     12   The 
 
 piwtfT  of  God* s  word,      14  Btf  our  hitjh  pritst  Jisus 
 
 the  Son  of  God,  sul'jtct  to  injimiiti'ts,  but  not  sin,  \i) 
 
 we  must  and  may  go  boldly  to  the  throne  of  (/race. 
 
 T  ET  "  us  tlierefore  fear,  lest,  a  promise  being 
 
 -'-^  left  us  of  entering  into  his  rest,  any  of  you 
 
 should  seem  to  come  short  of  it. 
 
 2  For  unto  us  was  the  gospel  preached,  as 
 well  as  unto  them:  but  f  the  word  preaclied 
 did  not  profit  them,  ||  not  being  mixed  with 
 faith  in  them  that  heard  it. 
 
 ti  ^  For  we  which  have  believed  do  enter  into 
 rest,  as  he  said,  "As  I  have  sworn  in  my  wrath, 
 if  tliey  siiall  enter  into  my  rest:  although  the 
 works  were  finislied  from  the  foundation  of  the 
 world. 
 
 4  For  he  spake  in  a  certain  place  of  the 
 seventh  d(/i/  on  tliis  wise,  ''  And  God  did  rest 
 the  seventii  day  from  all  his  works. 
 
 .5  And  in  this  place  again,  if  they  shall  enter 
 into  my  rest. 
 
 (i  Seeing  therefore  it  remainetii  tliat  some 
 must  enter  therein,  ''and  they  to  whom  ||  it 
 was  first  preached  entered  not  in  because  of 
 unbelief: 
 
 7  (Again,  he  limiteth  a  certain  day,  saying  iu 
 David,  To  day,  after  so  long  a  time  ;  as  it  is 
 said,  '  To  day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden 
 not  your  liearts. 
 
 — B/i.  II  ill.  M'/inse  house  are  we,  believers,  aus  lively  stones,  built  up 
 a  spiritual  house.— O'i//.  7 .  Wherefnrn,  ^-c.,  '  since  then  the  Son  is 
 the  Father's  faithful  Apostle.'— il/fic^/i.  As  the  Holy  Ghost  saith,  in 
 Ps.  xcv.  /.—Gill.  Tn  day,  while  the  present  day  of  God's  mercy  and 
 patience  lasts.  8.  Harden  not,  ^c,  *  do  not  wilfully  shut  your  eyes 
 atiainst  his  light,  or  stop  your  oars  against  his  voice,  and  resist  his 
 Spirit.'— Gm^sc.  The  promtnntion,  TrapciTroipao-^iw,  '  iu  the  bitter  pro- 
 vocation,' (see  Exod.  xvii.  2 — ~  -,  see  also,  i  Cor.  x.  4.)  9.  And  saw 
 my  works,  Kai,  *  notwithstanding'  they  saw  my  works.  See.  10.  Grieved, 
 'exceedingly  displea'it'd.'  11.  In  tny  wrath,  in  scripture,  human 
 parts  and  passions  are  ascribed  to  (iod,  not  as  really  in  God,  but,  to 
 give  us  some  idea  of  his  attributes  and  operations,  accommodated  to 
 our  manner  of  conceiving  thint^s.  My  rest,  so  God  called  Canaan, 
 because  it  was  his  land.— -VrtrA/i.  12.  Take  heed,  ^c,  '  if  they  were 
 so  punished  for  rebelling  against  Moses,  the  servant,  how  much  more 
 you,  for  rebelling  against  the  Son  Jesus?' — By.  Fell.  Heart  of  un. 
 fielief,  here  denotes  the  principal  efficient  cause,  rendering  the  heart 
 so  evil  as  that  it  should  depart  from  the  living  God.— J.  Owen.  Un- 
 belief, of  his  power,  or  of  his  goodness  to  accomplish  bis  promises, 
 (see  Num.  xiv.,)  upon  which  straightway  followed  disobedience,  and 
 backslidine  from  hmi  and  bis  laws. — Bp.  Fell.  The  livinf^  God,  so 
 called  to  shew  that  he  is  always  ahle  to  punish  unbelievers. —  Whitby. 
 13.  Exhort,  to  steadfastness  in  tlie  faith,  and  to  a  holy,  circumspect 
 care  and  caution,  in  depundence  on  Divine  grace,  against  carnabty 
 of  mind,  supineness.  and  negligence;  and  against  the  temptations  of 
 Satan,  the  allurements  and  lermrs  of  the  world,  and  everything  that 
 has  a  tendency  to  carry  you  off  from  Christ  and  the  gospel. — Guyse. 
 Daily,  naV  ^Kaortji'  iifxepav,  '  every  day;'  i.  e.,  constantly,  habitually. 
 — Stuart.  While  it  is  called  Tn  day,  as  long  as  our  probation  on  earth 
 lasts. —  Whitby.  While  the  gospel  dispensation  continues,  or  the  time 
 of  life  lasts. — Gill.  Be  hardmfd,  'be  lulled  asleep,  stupifled,  and  so 
 led  aside  and  sedncctl  from  Christ,  through  the  gnilefnl  arts  of  in- 
 dwelling sin.  and  the  treachery  with  which  it  works  in  the  heart.'— 
 Guyse.  Through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin,  '  by  smful  delusion.' — 
 Stuart.  14.  Fur,  Sfc.,  should  be  in  a  parenthesis. — Pi^le.  We  are 
 made,  •yeyovanif,  *  we  have  been  made  ;'  a  present  state  is  here  de. 
 noted,  that  whicli  is  already  wrought. — J.  Owen.  Partakers  of  Christ, 
 of  the  blessings  which  Christ  bestows. — Stuart.  Ttte  bfi;inning  of 
 our  confidence,  vnoaTatrtv,  firm  persuasion,  (see  xi.  I  ;)  that  faith  and 
 hope  which  was  begun  in  the  Hebrews  when  they  first  believed  in 
 Christ. — M'Lean.         I".  Sinned,  namely,  by  unbelief. —  W/tithy. 
 
 Chap.  IV.  —  l.  Fear,  with  a  cautious  fear,  a  godly  jealousy,  a  care- 
 ful  circumspection  and  watchfulness. — Gilt.    A  promise,  enayteXiav, 
 
 '  declaration  or  annunciation  of  reward  to  the  faithful.' — Stuart.  Ilis 
 rest,  not  Canaan,  a  type  of  heaven,  but  heaven  itself. — ftill.  as  Guyse, 
 Should  seem  to  come  short  nfit—\.  e.,  should  fail  of  it.— W/iilf'//.  The 
 apostle  warns  against  all  appearance  of  any  such  failing.— J.  Owen. 
 .io«€i,  '  seem,'  this  word  is  a  mere  expletive,  and  seldom  expres>ive  of 
 the  mere  appearance  of  a  thing,  (1  Cur.  viii.  -10.) — M'Lean.  -2.  For 
 
 unto  tis  was  the  gospel  preached,  cvnyyeKifr^ifvot,  '  for  we  aio  made 
 partakers  ol  the  good  tidings  of  eternal  rest,  as  they  also  were.'  The 
 gospel,  as  the  message  of  Ciirist,  being  so  much  more  plainly  preached 
 to  us,  so  low  a  sense  of  the  words  was  not  worthy  of  the  wisdont  and 
 gravity  of  the  apostle. — Daddr.  Mixed,  0-117 Kt^pajutror,  an  allusion  to 
 aliment  mixed  with  the  juices  of  the  stomach,  and  producing  nourish, 
 ment. — A.  Clarke.  3.  />o  enter,  'cordially  believing  the  gospel,  wc 
 are  so  secure  of  final  happine-s  that  it  may.  with  si>inc  propriety,  be 
 said,  we  have  already  entered  into  rest.' — Uoddr.  '  Wc  who  have  be. 
 lieved  do  enter  into  a  slate  uf  spiritual  rest  and  peace;  and,  by  taith 
 and  hope  in  gospel  worship,  into  the  heavenly  rest  within  the  veil,  as 
 a  pledge  ami  assurance  of  its  full  possession.' — Guyse.  The  i>iesent 
 tense  [eto-epx^Mef"]  i^  \^exc  used  ;  it  is  often  put  for  the  fntuie,  and  may 
 be  so  understood  here.  See  Matt.  iii.  n>;  xxvi.  28;  Mark,  ix.  ;u  ; 
 1  Cor.  XV.  a,  12;  [and  in  the  original  of  James,  v.  3;  2  Pet.  id.  II,  in.] 
 — M'Leun  :  so  Mackn.,  who  observes,  it  is  to  shew  the  certainty  of  be- 
 lievers enjoying  their  rest.  The  verse  may  be  thus  paraphrased  ■ 
 '  Wherefore,'  acctirding  lo  (iod's  promise,  *  we,'  the  seed  of  Abraham, 
 '  who  believe,  shall  enter  into  the  rest  of  God.'  Hut  it  is  a  rest  different 
 from  the  seventh-day  rest,  seeing  he  said,  concerning  the  unbelieving 
 Israelites  in  the  wilderness,  '  So  1  sware  in  my  wrath.  They  shall  not 
 enter  into  my  rest,  notwithstanding  the  works'  of  creation  '  were 
 finished,' and  the  seventh-day  rest  was  instituted,  '  iiom  the  forma- 
 tion  of  the  world  .'  consequently,  the  Israelites  hail  enti^rcd  into  that 
 rest  before  the  oath  was  sworn.- il/ucAr».  4,  5,  6.  And  he  spake,  ^c. — 
 the  scope  of  these  verses,  according  to  Macknight^s  paraphrase,  is,  that 
 God's  seventh-day  rest  was  instituted  at  the  creation,  (ver.  4  ;)  but 
 that  a  future  rest  was  mentioned  by  David,  when  m  Canaan,  which 
 would  be  forfeited  by  unbelief ;  and  as  this  was  the  case,  so,  a^  Canaan 
 was  forfeited  by  unbelief,  they  who  have  received  the  good  tidings  of 
 the  rest  in  the  heavenly  country  shall  not  enter  into  it  if  they  do  not 
 believe.  If  they  shall,  in  ver.  3,  is,  properly,  'they  shall  not.'— i>ay. 
 7,  S,  9,  10.  Again,  Iffc.,  Tto.\tvt  'moreover,'  the  Spirit  having  said,  'to- 
 day,' &c.,  when  the  nation  had  long  possessed  Canaan.  If  Joshua, 
 {so  Inffouc,  'Jesus,' in  this  place  signifies.)  had  caused  them  to  rest  ac- 
 cording to  the  full  meaningof  God's  promise,  the  Holy  Ghost  would  not, 
 after  that,  in  David's  time,  have  spoken  of  another  day  for  entering 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  The  duties  here  required 
 are — I.  Rejitction.  Let  us  consider  seriously  and  attentively 
 '  the  natuie,  dignity,  and  office,'  of  the  Lord  Christ,  that  so, 
 fully  persuaded  of  his  divine  character  and  mission,  we  may 
 neither  slight  his  message  nor  his  work,  and,  through  the  sin 
 of  unbelief,  become  excluded  from  the  heavenly  Canaan. 
 
 n.  Exhortation.  Let  us,  with  fidelity  and  brotherly  kind- 
 1296 
 
 ness,  warn  each  other  of  our  dangers,  especially  from  the  de- 
 ceitf'iihiess  of  sin  and  of  our  own  hearts  — 'exhorting  one 
 another  daily  while  it  is  called  To-day,'  and  charging  our 
 souls  by  the  awful  authority  of  *  the  living  God,"  that,  after 
 having  approached  so  near  him.  that,  after  having  so  solemnly 
 professed  to  devote  ourselves  to  him.  nothing  may  ever  pre- 
 vail upon  us  deliberately  and  wickedly  to  depart  from  him. 
 
HO  ^ 
 
The  mtthvritff  of  God's  tvord. 
 
 HEBREWS,  V. 
 
 The  authority  of  ChrisCs  priesthood 
 
 8  For  if  II  Jesus  liad  given  them  rest,  then 
 would  he  not  afterward  have  spoken  of  another 
 day. 
 
 9  There  remaineth  therefore  a  ||  rest  to  the 
 people  of  God. 
 
 10  For  he  that  is  entered  into  his  rest,  he 
 also  hath  ceased  from  his  own  works,  as  God 
 did  from  his.) 
 
 1 1  Let  us  labour  therefore  to  enter  into  that 
 rest,  lest  any  man  fall  ®  after  the  same  example 
 of  II  unbelief. 
 
 1'2  For  the  word  of  God  is  ^  quick,  and  pow- 
 erful, and  'sharper  than  any  "^  two-edged  sword, 
 piercing  even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  soul 
 and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints  and  marrow,  and 
 is  '  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of 
 the  heart. 
 
 1:3  "'  Neither  is  there  any  creature  that  is  not 
 manifest  in  his  sight:  but  all  things  «?c  naked 
 "and  opened  unto  the  eyes  of  him  with  whom 
 we  have  to  do. 
 
 14  Seeing  then  that  we  have  ^a  great  high 
 priest,  ^  that  is  passed  into  the  heavens,  Jesus 
 tlieSon  of  God, ''let  us  hold  fast  ow?- profession. 
 
 15  For  ""we  have  not  an  high  priest  which 
 cannot  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  in- 
 firmities ;  but  ^  was  in  all  points  tempted  like 
 as  ice  arcy  ^ yet  without  sin. 
 
 16  "Let  us  therefore  come  boldly  unto  the 
 throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy, 
 and  find  grace  to  help  in  time  of  need. 
 
 II  Th^tt  i 
 
 JolliWt. 
 
 I  Or,  hfjiiitg 
 of  a  iabbath 
 
 g  ch.  3.  li, 
 
 IB,  19. 
 II  Or,  ,ih- 
 
 ohfdie'icr. 
 U  Is.  49.  2. 
 .  2S.  ^9 
 
 2  Co 
 
 lU.'^ 
 
 k  Kpb.  li.  17 
 Uev.  I.  16. 
 
 •i.  IIJ. 
 :  I  Cor.  14. 
 
 2\,  35. 
 ■n  I's    AA.  18, 
 
 1 1    &.  'JO   8. 
 
 &  139.  n, 
 
 .  Job  -26.  6. 
 15.  II. 
 
 -•Ii 
 
 9. 
 
 l>K\\.l  -26. 
 
 &  9  (2,  2^. 
 7  ch-  HI.  23. 
 T  Is.  M  .S. 
 
 ch.  -i.  18. 
 
 .  I,nlte29,2S. 
 li  Cor.^Sl. 
 
 ch.  7.  26. 
 
 I  Pel.  2.29. 
 
 I  John  3.  5. 
 t,  Eph.2.  18. 
 
 &:  X  1-2.  ch. 
 
 10.  19,  21, 
 
 I  rh.«.  3. 
 
 .  rh.  ■-'.   17. 
 
 :  ch.  a.  3, 
 ft  9  9  & 
 1U.  II.  &. 
 11.4. 
 
 Or.  con 
 
 bear  with. 
 e  ch.  7.  HH. 
 fhev.i.  3. 
 
 Ik  9.7  t<<  16 
 
 6,  15.  !li.  17. 
 
 cli.  7.  27.  & 
 
 9.7. 
 S  2  Chr   26. 
 
 IS.John"3, 
 
 27. 
 h  EJt.  25.  I. 
 
 Num.  I«  5, 
 
 41'.  I  Chr. 
 
 23.  IS. 
 i  John  8.  54. 
 ft  Ps  2   7. 
 
 ch.  I    h. 
 
 I  Ps.  II".  4. 
 ch.7.17.21 
 
 m  Mat.  eti. 
 A9,  a.  44. 
 :Mark  11..%, 
 39.  John 
 17.  I, 
 
 '.  Pe   22.  I. 
 Mat    27.ir., 
 5)1.   Mack 
 \b.  34,  S7 
 
 o  Mat.21.  oS. 
 Maik  \im. 
 
 p  Mat.'Jfi.ay 
 M.irl;  n-;«. 
 l.iiki-  ■y:*.l3. 
 JliImi  \-2^. 
 
 II  ch    3.  6. 
 
 CHAP,  V. 
 
 I  Tilt  authoritij  and  hommr  of  our  Saviour*s  priesthood, 
 11   NtijUgence  in  the  kiLOwlcdge  thereof  is  reproved. 
 
 "OOR  every  high  priest  taken  from  among 
 -^  men  'is  ordained  for  men  'in  things /)er- 
 taining  to  God,  '  tliat  he  may  otfer  hoth  gifts 
 and  sacrifices  for  sins  : 
 
 2  ■"  Who  II  can  have  compassion  on  the 
 ignorant,  and  on  them  that  are  out  of  the 
 way  ;  for  that  "  he  himself  also  is  compassed 
 with  infirmity. 
 
 3  And  '  by  reason  hereof  he  onght,  as  for 
 the  people,  so  also  for  himself,  to  offer  for 
 sins. 
 
 4  ^  And  no  man  taketh  this  honour  unto  him- 
 self, but  he  that  is  called  of  God,  as  ■■  was 
 Aaron. 
 
 o  '  So  also  Christ  glorified  not  himself  to  be 
 made  an  high  priest ;  but  he  that  said  unto 
 him,  '  Thou  art  my  Son,  to  day  have  I  be- 
 gotten thee. 
 
 6  As  he  saith  also  in  another  place,  '  Thou 
 art  a  priest  for  ever  after  the  order  of  Mel- 
 chisedec. 
 
 7  Who  in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  when  he  had 
 ■"  off'ered  up  prayers  and  supplications  "  witli 
 strong  crying  and  tears  unto  him  "  that  was 
 able  to  save  him  from  death,  and  was  heard 
 
 II  ''in  that  he  feared  ; 
 
 8  ''  Though  he  were  a  Son,  yet  learned  he 
 
 into  God's  rest.  *  Therefore,'  seeing  the  Israelites  did  not,  in  Canaan, 
 enter  fully  into  God's  re'-t,  'the  enjoyment  of  aTiother  rest  remaineth 
 to  the  people  of  God,'  in  whieh  they  hhall  rest  completely  from  all  the 
 troubles  of  this  life.  For  the  believer,  entered  into  God's  rest,  has 
 rested  from  his  own  works  of  trial  and  suffering,  (Rev.  xiv.  13,)  like  as 
 God  rested  from  his  works  of  creation. — Trtin.st.  iif  the  Epistles.  In 
 ver.  p,  the  original  for  rest,  KaTaTTautric,  is  changed  for  a  more  expres- 
 sive word,  (Taj3/imt<Tno<:,  'the  keeping  of  a  sabbath.'— .4.  Clarke,  &c. 
 12.  For  the  word  of  God  is  i/uick,  t,c.,  ifuii.,  '  living.  •—M'Lean.  Under- 
 stand Christ,  the  essential  Word  of  God ;  a  known  name  of  Messiah 
 among  the  Jews.  He  is  '  living'  and  '  powerful,'  &c. ;  he  knows  what 
 is  in  man ;  and  tliis  will  be  more  apparent  at  the  last  day. — Gill,  as 
 .1.  Owen.  '  For  the  declaration  of  God  has  an  active  and  mighty 
 power,'  or  '  is  enduring  and  powerful ;'  i.e..  has  an  efficiency  that  never 
 ceases.  The  meaning  is,  that  the  communication  uttered  in  ancient 
 days  has  abated  nothing  of  its  force  and  efficacy  down  to  the  present 
 time  :  it  still  lives  ;  unlielievers  are  still  subject  to  its  power.— .S/uuri. 
 The  word  here  means,  the  gospel  in  all  its  parts,  which  operate  power- 
 fully on  the  minds  of  beUivers.— .1/flcA-«.,  so  Veering,  Baxter,  Poole, 
 Wliitbu,  Pearce.  Neiec,  Wmlen,  Boothr.,  Bens.  This  view  is  also 
 preferred  by  Dmldr.  St.  Paul  meant  the  written  word,  for  he  never 
 calls  Christ  by  tlie  title,  '  the  Word  of  God.'— Sco«.  It  is  not  unusual 
 in  scripture  to  ascribe  that  to  the  word  of  God  which  he  himself  per- 
 forms, either  tiy  means  of  his  word,  or  accirding  to  what  he  hath  pro- 
 mised or  threatemd.  Great  efficacy  is  ascribed  to  the  word  of  God  in 
 the  conversion  of  sinners,  (Ps.  xix.  7;  2  Cor.  x.  4,  5  ;  James,  i.  18  ; 
 1  Pet.  i.  23  ;  I  Thess.  ii.  13.)— .V'Leon.  Each  of  the  above  views  is  in. 
 eluded  by  Oui/se  and  Pi/le.  Dividing  asunder,  ^c.,  the  allusions  in 
 this  and  the  following  verse  are  to  the  operations  of  the  priest,  who, 
 in  dissecting  the  sacrifices,  observed  and  separated  those  parts  which 
 were  the  most  secret,  and  the  most  closely  joined  together. — Ham. 
 The  sense  is,  that  the  Divine  commination  is  of  most  deadly  puritive 
 efficacy. — Stuart.  A  discerner,  KpiTiKor,  signifies  not  only  a  discerner, 
 but  a  judgeandcensurer;  the  language  is  figurative,  but  so  usedJohn, 
 xii.  48  ;  '  the  Word  (6  \o7o?)  shall  judge  him,' &c. — .M'Lean.  li.  Xei- 
 titer,  ^c,  there  is  liere  an  evident  transition  to  God. — Stuart.  His 
 sight,  {avToi',)  '  his,'  evidently  refers  to  the  same  person  with  him  to 
 whom,  in  the  end  of  the  verse,  it  is  said,  we  must  give  an  accunt.^ 
 M'Lean.  Naked  and  opened,  'and  laid  bare;'  a  graceful  allusion  to 
 the  custom,  in  sacrificing,  of  flaying  off  the  skin  from  the  victim,  and 
 cutting  it  open,  whereby  all  the  vitals  and  inwards  are  exposed  to  full 
 view. — Blackwall,  so  Doddr.  Thus  the  burnt-offerings  were  laid  on 
 the  altar.  They  were  stript  of  their  skins,  their  breasts  were  ripped 
 open,  their  bowels  were  taken  out,  and  their  backbone  was  cleft.  This 
 is  the  import  of  the  original  word,  TcTpaxn^'^M*""*  *  open.'    Then  they 
 
 were  divided  into  quarters,  so  that,  outwardlyand  inwardly,  they  were 
 fully  exposed  to  the  eye  of  the  priest,  in  order  to  a  thorough  examina- 
 tion, (Lev.  i.  5,  6;)  and,  being  found  without  blemish,  they  were  laid 
 in  tlieir  natural  order  on  the  altar,  and  burnt,  (ver.  8.)  The  apostle's 
 meaning  is,  that  infidelity  and  hypocrisy,  however  secretly  they  may 
 lurk  in  the  mind,  cannot  be  concealed  from  our  Judge.  With  whom 
 we  hare  to  do,  Trpoi  ov  ijtiiv  6  Xoyov,  '  to  Whom  we  must  give  an  ac- 
 count.' t4.  Seeing  then,  /)e.,  'now,  the  unbelieving  Jews,  on  pre- 
 tence that  the  gospel  has  neither  high  priest  nor  sacrifice  for  sin,  urge 
 you  to  return  to  Judaism;  but,  as  we  have  a  great  High  Priest,  who 
 hath  passed,  &c.,  let  us  hold  fast  our  religion.'— jUi/ci-B.  The  allusion 
 here  is  to  the  High  Priest  passing  through  the  second  veil  into  the  holy 
 of  holies,  on  the  great  day  of  atonement,  (Lev.  xvi.  12— 16.)— M'Lean. 
 15.  For,  ^-c,  '  to  this  constancy  we  are  encouraged  by  the  character  of 
 onr  High  Priest  ;  for,  though  he  be  the  Son  of  God,  he  can  sympa- 
 thize,' &c.  16.  Let  us  therefore,  ^c,  '  through  his  mediation,  as 
 our  High  Priest,  approach  the  throne  of  grace,  on  whieh  God  is  seated 
 to  hear  our  addresses,  that,'  SiC.—Mackn. 
 
 Chap.  V. —  1.  For  everii  high  priest,  §-e.,  '  now,'  to  shew  that  Christ 
 is  a  real  High  Priest,  I  will  describe  the  designation,  the  duties,  and 
 the  qualifications  of  an  high  priest.  For  men,  S<7.,  (Wep,)  to  officiate 
 in  their  stead,  on  their  account,  and  for  their  benefit. — M'Lean.  '  To 
 perform  for  men  the  things  pertaining  to'  the  public  worship  of '  God,' 
 and,  especiallv,  '  that  he  may  offer.'  Stc—Mackn.  Gifts  and  sacrijices, 
 burnt-offerings,  given  to  God,  and  sin-offerings,  such  as  Lev.  iv.  3. — 
 Ham.  2.  Who  can  have  compassion,  he  must  be  able  to  have  a  right 
 measure  of  compassion.  Out  of  the  war/,  •  aving.'—Markn.  Wander- 
 ing- the  ignorant  and  erring  mean  the  same,  those  who  err  or  sin 
 through  ignorance.— il/'Z,e«ii.  3.  People— himself,  this  was  the  high 
 priest'iinder  the  law ;  Christ  had  no  sin  of  his  own  to  answer  for.— 
 Bur  Whitby.  5.  Glorified  not  himself,  did  not  assume  to  himself 
 that  honour.— Wil.  6.'After  the  order,  Jc,  •  the  similitude.'— S/). 
 Fell,  Pule,  Mackn.,  Par.  1.  Who,  Ijc, '  as  he  was  called  to  his  office, 
 (ver.  4,')  so,  as  an  High  Priest,  he  can  commiserate,'  hc.—Macknight. 
 Prayers  and  supplications,  *c.— the  wiird  ienatu.  rendered  'prayers,' 
 si-nifles,  deprecations  or  prayers  against  evil,  and  supplications  are 
 prayers  for  assistance  or  deliverance  from  distress.— it/'Leon.  iKeru- 
 piui  the  word  for  '  supplications.'  signifies  branches  of  olive-trees 
 covered  with  wool,  which  such  as  sued  for  peace  carried  in  their  hands, 
 and  so  came  to  signify  supplications  for  peace.— (»iH,Joj;es's  lar.,  see 
 Plat  i.  35.  Heard  in  that  he  feared,  or  '  was  deUvered  from  that 
 whicli  lie  feared.'— S<aiir<,  as  Doddr.  Seems  to  refer  to  some  prayers 
 he  offered  up  to  he  saved  from  lying  under  the  power  of  death.— 
 Gnyse.  See  his  horrid  fear,  Matt.  xxvi.  37,  38 ;  Mark,  xiv.  33  ;  comp. 
 Luke  xxii.  43. — Par.        8.  Learned  he  obedience,  though  the  eternal 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  — In  this  chapter  we  learn, 
 I.  *  That  men  may  enjoy  the  means  of  grace,  and  have  the  giad 
 tidings  of  rest  and  happiness  announced  to  them;  and  yet,  in  con- 
 sequence of  their  negligence  and  unbelief,  may  never  enjoy  that  rest 
 and  happiness.  Let  U3  fear,  therefore,  lest  any  of  us,  who  en- 
 joy the  means  of  grace,  the  promise  of  rest  and  peace,  and 
 have  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  preached  to  us,  should,  like 
 them,  come  short  of  attaining  these  unspeakable  blessings. 
 The  word  of  promise  cannot  protit,  unless  it  be  cordially  re- 
 1297 
 
 W< 
 
 ceived  and  digested,  as  it  were,  in  the  mind,  by  faith, 
 are  further  reminded —  . 
 
 II.  '  That  both  the  rest  of  the  sabbath  and  the  rest  in  Canaan  were 
 only  typical  of  a  better  rest,  a  future  and  heavenly  one.  This  was 
 intimated  when  the  Israelites  were  called  to  seek  another  rest, 
 long  after  they  had  been  settled  in  Canaan.  What  a  mercy  it  is 
 that  there  is  a  blessed,  a  heavenly  rest  remaining  for  the  people 
 of  God,  when  they  have  finished  their  toils  and  labours  here  !  >> 
 
 8  c 
 
An  exhortation  not  to  fail  bach 
 
 HEBREWS,  VI. 
 
 from  the  faith. 
 
 ^obedience  by  the  things  whicli  lie  suffered  ; 
 
 9  And  *  beinjj;  made  perfect,  he  became  the 
 author  of  eternal  salvation  unto  all  them  that 
 obey  him  ; 
 
 10  Called  of  God  an  high  priest  *  after  the 
 order  of  Melcliisedec. 
 
 1 1  Of  whom  "  we  have  many  things  to  say, 
 and  hard  to  be  uttered,  seeing  ye  are  ^  dull  of 
 hearing, 
 
 12  For  when  for  the  time  ye  ought  to  be 
 teachers,  ye  have  need  that  one  teach  you 
 again  wliich  he  ^  the  first  principles  of  the 
 oracles  of  God  ;  and  are  become  such  as  have 
 need  of  '  milk,  and  not  of  stron<i  meat. 
 
 13  For  every  one  that  usetli  milk  \  is  unskilful 
 in  the  word  of  righteousness  :  for  he  is  "a  babe. 
 
 14  But  strong  meat  belongeth  to  them  that 
 are  |[  of  full  age,  eren  those  who  by  reason  ||of 
 
 r  Phil.  S.  8 
 #  ch.  2.  It) 
 b  1 1 .  40. 
 
 /  ver  6. 
 ch.  G  L'O, 
 
 n  Jnhnlfi.l? 
 2  Pet    S.in 
 
 I  Mat. 1.1.15. 
 1/  rh.  ti    1. 
 
 t  t  C.r.  3.1, 
 
 2.3. 
 t  Gr.  half,  no 
 
 eryrienc- 
 a  1  Cor.  I.S. 
 
 II.  &  Il.'>li. 
 
 Eph.  -1.  I  I. 
 
 I  Pet.  S.  'i. 
 
 I  Cor.  2.  ti 
 Eph.  4.  13. 
 Phil. 3.  l-'i 
 
 II  Or.  «/..., 
 
 fierfec 
 
 I  Cor  2.1-1, 
 1.5 
 »  Phil.  3.  12, 
 13,  11.  ch, 
 
 5  12. 
 
 I)  Or,  iUt 
 
 ytord  uflhr 
 f>'Si'>'>'i"3  "f 
 Chriil. 
 I<  ch.  9,  II 
 '   Acts  10.   I. 
 
 'f  Arts  a    11, 
 IS,  Iti,  17 
 
 6  Ifl    6, 
 
 e  Acts  17  .SI, 
 
 3i. 
 /Arts  91  ?5 
 
 Rom   2.  16 
 if  Acts  IB  21. 
 
 1  Cor,  4  l!l. 
 h  Mat, 12  31, 
 
 32.  ch.  HI. 
 
 26   2  Pet  2- 
 
 20,  21. 
 
 1  .1nhn5.IG. 
 ich.  10.  32. 
 
 use  have  their  senses  exercised    ^  to  discern 
 both  good  and  evil. 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 I  Hf.  exhortfth  not  to  fall  buck  from  tlie  faith,  1 1  hut  to 
 be  sltdfast,  12  diligent^  aadpatitnt  to  wait  ujHtii  God, 
 13  htcause  God  ts  most  st/re  in  his  promise. 
 TPHEREFORE  Meaving  ||  the  principles  ot 
 -*-  tiie  doctrine  of  Cluist,  let  us  go  on  unto 
 perfection  ;  not  laying  again  the  foundation  iA 
 repentance  ^'from  dead  works,  and  of  faith 
 toward  God, 
 
 2  *^  Of  the  doctrine  of  baptisms, ''  and  of  laying 
 on  of  hands,  ''and  of  resurrection  of  the  dead, 
 ^and  of  eternal  judgment. 
 
 3  And  this  will  we  do,  *^  if  God  permit. 
 
 4  For  ^  it  is  impossible  for  tliose  '  who  were 
 once    enlightened,    and    have  tasted   of  ^  the 
 
 k  John  1   10,  &  G.  32.   Eph.  2,  8. 
 
 Son  of  Go(1,  yet,  having:  assumed  human  nature  to  execute  the  priestly 
 office,  he  submitted  practically  to  learn  obedience,  that  he  might  sym 
 pathize  with  his  people.— So  Gui/se.  Thou^rh  a  son,  he  was  trained  up 
 for  more  eminent  services  by  a  series  of  painfu!  discipline. —  liixidr. 
 '  Although  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  he  learned*  how  difficult '  obedience' 
 is  to  men,  '  by  the  thing-s  which  he  suffered.*— 3/^fcA-n.  9.  And  />eing 
 made  perfect,  fyc,  TeXaoytieiK,  *  having  attained  the  end  of  his  race 
 through  sufferings.'— Ti//o/A7m.  'lleing  consecrated*  to  his  priestly 
 office  by  his  passirm.— Or.  J»rA:,ion,  snGui/se,  Dnddr.  'Being  made 
 an  effectual  High  Priest.*  It  always  means,  having  obtained  the 
 highest  degree  of  the  qualities  which  are  peculiar  to  the  person  or 
 thing  which  is  the  subject  of  the  discourse.— ,/l/H(^A,-a.  .4u.'/«*r.  or  meri- 
 torious and  eftcctua]  cause.  10.  Called,  is  a  different  word  from  that 
 in  ver.  4,  [not  KaXov/sevo^,  but  npoaayopevOetv,']  named,  pronounced,  or 
 styled.— J/'/.enn.  II,  Oj  whom,  i^c,  of  Melchisedec.— Wwysf,  Du>fdr., 
 M'Lean.  Here  is  a  digression,  to  the  beginningof  the  seventh  chapter. 
 — Bp.  Fell.  Hard  to  be  utferfd, '  difficult  to  be  explained  when  spoken, 
 because  ye  are  dull  of  hearing^  '  persons  of  slow  understanding.'— 
 Murkn.,  s<»  M'Lean.  12.  For  the  time~Xhe  Hebrews  had  long  had 
 the  gospel;  Jerusalem  was  the  model  church.— il/'L^-'tn.  They  had 
 had  Christ,  the  aiiostles,  and  Old  and  New  Testament  scriptures.— 
 Owen,  M'Lean.  Which  be  the  first  principles,  'certain  first  principles.' 
 —Mackn.  *Thc  very  rudiments  of  divine  doctrine.'— S/uor/.  Orncles, 
 the  Scriptures,  so  called  because  given  out  by  inspiration,  (Acts,  vii. 
 38:  Rv>m.  iii.  2;  2Tim.  iii.  16;  -2  Pet.  i.  21.)— WLerm,  Oic^n.  M.  For 
 every  one  that  vseth  rnilk,  fyc,  the  apostle  compared  the  Hebrews  to 
 babes,  on  account  of  their  weakness  and  ignorance.- Jl/wcA-n.  The 
 sentirnent  is,  that  'as  be  who  must  be  fed  with  milk  is  yet  a  child,  so 
 ye,  who  can  bear  only  the  lighter  kinds  of  spiritual  nourishment,  are 
 yet  (vnntot)  babes  in  religion.'— ^7«a^^  Word  of  righteousness,  the 
 gospel,  because  revealing  the  righteousness  of  God  hy{a\th.—Mnrkn., 
 M'Lean.  'The  doctrine  of  justification.' —  ^.  Cltirke.  so  Pierre. 
 14.  Strong  vienf.  the  more  difficult  and  profound  mysteries  of  Chris- 
 tianity.—B/j.  Hull:  Exercised,  tciv,ivaafiiva.  a  metaphor  borrowed 
 from  the  athletes,  who,  by  ntten  exercising  themselves  in  the  mock 
 fight,  became  fit  for  engaeing  in  the  real  combat.  Grown  Christians, 
 by  often  exerci^-ing  their  spiritual  faculties,  become  able  to  distinguish 
 true  doctrine  from  that  which  is  false.— Jl/'^cftn. 
 
 Chap.  V'^I.— 1.  Lenving  the  principles,  fyc, '  dismissing  the  discourse 
 of  the  principles  of  Christ.'  tov  Ttjv  apxn?  \ofov,  '  the  discourse  of  the 
 beginning.*- 3/'irA,-«.,  as  Doddr.  Toi-  Ttiv  apxm  rov  Xpiarov  Xo-jov,  lite- 
 rally,'the  word  of  the  beginningof  Christ.'— il/'Lfan.  By  the  'princi- 
 ples,' understand  such  as  are  contained  in  the  writings  of  Moses  an  I  the 
 prophets.— il/ucfrn..  as  Pierre.  Understand  the  gospel  which  com- 
 menced with  the  ministry  of  John  Baptist.— JW'Le-/n.  The  introduc- 
 tory elements  of  Christianity.— Sco«.  Unto  perfection,  to  the  doc- 
 trines which  will  render  you  perfect  men  in  the  knowledge  nf  Christ. 
 *lo  be  perfect,'  signifies  to  he  (ullv  instructed  in  the  principles  of  the 
 Christian  faith,  (I  Cor.  U.6.)~Whitfjv.  Let  us  get  a  more  perfect  know- 
 ledge tlian  the  rites,  types.  &c..  of  tlie  law  could  give.  — GUI.  Not  lay 
 ing  agam,  ^c,  *  not  stopping,  as  if  we  had  to  begin  mstructing  you 
 iiy  discoursing  on  repentance,  faith,   baptism.   Sec.'— Mar.  2.  0/ 
 
 baptinm,  fiaTTTtfrnun',  '  of  baptisms.'  The  doctrine  that  everv  believer 
 must  be  baptized.— S/oi-r.  Baptism  n(  water,  and  the  effu.sion  of  the 
 Holy  Spirit,  by  which  the  first  disciples  among  the  Jews,  and  the  first 
 converts  among  the  devout  and  Idolatmus  nations,  were  initiated.— 
 Lord  B'lrrnii^tiin.  Ceremonial  washingsof  the  Jews.  In  the  Leviiical 
 ritual,  many  baptisms,  or  immersions  in  water,  were  enjoined,  as  em- 
 blematical of  that  purity  of  mind  which  is  necessary  to  the  worship- 
 ping ofG'id  acceptably.  To  these  the  words  refer.— So  Si.-A/cK.'./ifr, 
 Mackn.,  IJunthr.,  Hasenm.  The  apnstle  does  not  speak  of  the  legal 
 washings  among  the  Jews— for  why  should  those  who  believed  in 
 
 Christ  be  instructed  concerning  these  >— hut  John's  baptism  and  that 
 of  Christ,  which  were  distinct  from  each  other,  and  were  subjects  of 
 disputation  with  many  among  the  Jews,  (Mark.  vii.  3,  4 ;  John,  iii. 
 22 — 26.) — Bens.,  as  Baxter,  Liinborch.  and  Dtndorf.  Laying  on  of 
 hands,  alluding  to  this  act  on  the  head  of  the  sin-offcring,  by  which 
 the  offerer  confessed  he  desei  ved  doatli,  ainl  intimated  expectations  of 
 pard'in  hy  atonement. —  Mackn.,  Pierce,  Guyse,  Buolhr.  The  laying 
 on  of  hands  by  which  tiie  Spirit  was  communicated  to  those  who  cm- 
 braced  the  gospel.  This  answered  such  great  purposes  in  the  Chris- 
 tian  church,  that  it  might  be  well  mentioned  among  '  first  principles.' 
 —  Doddr.,  as  Baxter.  3.  Thi.s  will  we  do,  i.  c.  go  on  to  perfection 
 in  knowledge.  —  Wells,  Whilby.  4.  hnpossiblc,  hard,  laborious,  and 
 beset  with  many  difficulties.  —  Schleusner.  Exceedingly  difficult. — 
 lUdgley.  Not  strictly  impossible,  but  only  highly  difficult.— i'^f/c. 
 •  Impossible*  doth  sometimes  mean  no  more  than  that  it  is  extremely 
 difficult. — Bp.  Wumnck.  Inlpos:^iblc  by  ordinary  means;  yet  notbuig 
 of  this  kind  is,  in  its  own  nature,  impossible  with  God. — Boothr.  'As 
 for  those  who  seem  to  have  forgot  these  sacred  principles,  and  put  the 
 greatest  slight  upon  them,  hy  renouncing  our  holy  religion,  I  give 
 them  up  as  persons  from  whom  I  have  no  further  expectations.'^ 
 Doddr.  Once  enlightened,  once  baptized  into  the  visihle  church  of 
 Christ. — Toplndr/,  Bcngelius.  The  Syriac  and  Kthiopic  render  it  '  bap- 
 tized,* and  the  word  is  tliou;;ht  to  be  so  used  in  chap.  x.  32.  And,  in- 
 deed, baptism  was  calK^d,  very  early,  'illumination,*  by  the  ancients, 
 as  by  Justin  Martyr  and  Clemens  Alexandrinii^s.  because  onl>  eiiliglit. 
 ened  persons  were  tlie  proper  subjects  of  it.  But  it  is  better  to  retain 
 the  word  '  enlightened'  in  its  proper  sense,  and  to  understand  it  of  per- 
 sons enlightened  with  gospel  knowledge  ;  but  so  enlightened  as  to  see 
 the  evil  effects  of  sin,  but  not  the  evil  that  is  in  s.in  ;  the  good  things 
 which  come  by  Christ,  but  not  the  goodness  that  is  in  Christ  -,  so  as  to 
 reform  externally,  but  not  to  be  sanctified  internally ;  to  have  know- 
 ledge of  God  doctrinally,  but  not  experimentally  :  those  truly  enlight- 
 ened never  fall  so  as  to  perish,  these  do.— So  Gill,  as  Poole.  I  much 
 question  the  propriety  of  limiting  the  phrase  to  baptism,  and  think 
 that  illumination,  as  well  as  regeneration,  in  the  most  important  and 
 scriptural  sense  of  the  words,  were  regularly  to  precede  the  adminis- 
 tration of  that  ordinance.- iJorfrfr.  The  ancient  fathers  called  bap- 
 tism, ^ci)T((T/iur,  '  illumination;'  but  tliat  docs  not  seem  to  be  the 
 meaning  of  the  word  here.  The  word  is  used.  Heb.  x.  32,  for  persons 
 who  are  said  (ver.  26J  to  have  *  received  the  knowledge  of  the  truth  :' 
 and  So,  also,  in  Ephcs.  i.  18;  iii.  9;  com|).  2  Cor.  iv,  4,  6;  understand 
 it  of  believing  the  gospel. — Mackn.  Persons  instructed  in  the  doctrine 
 of  the  gospel,  so  as  to  have  a  spiritiiaJ  apprehension  thereof. — J.Owen, 
 Persons  who  had  obtained  that  measure  of  knowledge  concerning  the 
 truth  and  nature  of  Christianity  which  enabled  tliem  to  make  a  satis- 
 factory profession  of  it,  in  order  to  their  admishion  into  the  chiircli.— 
 Scott.  Persons  who  were  thoroughly  instructed  in  the  nature  and 
 design  of  the  Christian  religion. — A.  Clarke.  Tasted  of  the  heavenly 
 gift,  the  Lord's  supper. — Topl-idy.  Remission  of  sins,  (see  Rom.  v, 
 \5— IS.)— Tillotson.  The  Holy  Ghost,  (see  Acts,  viii.  15.)— B/j.  Hop- 
 kins. The  Holy  Spirit,  called  '  the  gift  of  God,'  (John,  iv.  10  ;  Acts,  ii. 
 38,  viii.  20,)  whose  influence  produced  such  light  and  evidence  with 
 the  preaching  of  the  gospel  as  was  irresistible,  yet  some  believed 
 awhile,  ftc,  (Luke,  viii.  I3.) — See  M'Lean.  The  Holy  Ghost,  in  his 
 miraculous  and  amazing  communications.  —  Doddr.  Endued  with 
 some  measure  of  spiritual  gifts  or  niiraculous  power-*,  so  that  their 
 own  experience  proved  to  them  the  truth  of  the  gospel. — Scolt.  The 
 next  clause  is  exegetical  of  this,  which  means  the  Spirit  of  God,  as  be. 
 stowed  for  introducing  the  new  gospel  state.— J.  Owen.  Have  not  only 
 heard  of  the  signal  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  from  heaven,  hut  have 
 them-elvee  had  an  experimental  taste  thereof,  and  been  themselves 
 partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  well  as  seen  his  miraculous  gifts  in  the 
 
 Reflections  on  Ciiap.  V.  —  Notice  here,  I.  C/m'st  set  be- 
 Jore  IIS  praying  and  suffering.  U  Christ  prayed,  so  ou2;ht  we. 
 He  was  earnest  in  prayer,  and  should  we  be  dull  and  lifeless  7 
 If  Christ,  though  '  a  Son,'  suflered.  and  so  learned  obedience, 
 •how  much  more  do  we  need  the  salutary  lessons*  which  suf- 
 ferint^s  teach  ?  JJut  let  us  neverforgel  that  hissufferinRS  were 
 meritorious,  while  in  otjrs  '  we  receive  the  due  reward  of  our 
 deeds  ;*  and  it  is  of  infinite  mercy  if  we  are  chastised  here  that 
 1298 
 
 we  may  not  be  punished  for  ever. 
 
 II.  The  Hebrews  censured  for  their  dulness  and  ignorance. 
 How  inattentive  to  the  word,  written  and  preached,  are  vast 
 numbers  of  professed  Christians,  or  they  would  not  remain  so 
 sadly  ignorant  as  iliey  are  of  the  great  truths  of  reliiiion. 
 Many,  alas  !  who  have  long  enjoyed  the  gospel  in  its  purity, 
 have  still  need  to  he  taught  '  which  be  the  first  principles,  of 
 the  oracles  of  God.' 
 
Faul  exhortetli  iheiii 
 
 heavenly  gift,  and    '  were  made  partaUeis  ol 
 the  Holy  Ghost, 
 
 3  And  have  tasted  the  f;uud  word  of  God, 
 and  the  powers  of  '"  the  world  to  come, 
 
 6  If  they  shall  fall  away,  to  renew  them 
 agaui  unto  repentance  ;  "  seeing  they  crucify 
 to  themselves  the  Son  of  God  afresh,  and  put 
 him  to  an  open  shame. 
 
 7  For  the  earth  which  drinketh  in  the  rain 
 that  cometli  ol't  upon  it,  and  bringeth  fortli 
 herbs  meet  for  them  ||  by  whom  it  is  dressed, 
 "  receiveth  blessing  from  God  : 
 
 8  ''  But  that  which  beareth  thorns  and  briers 
 IS  rejected,  and  is  nigh  unto  cursing ;  whose 
 end  is  to  be  burned. 
 
 9  But,  beloved,  we  are  persuaded  better 
 tilings  of  you,  and  things  that  accompany  sal- 
 vation, tliougli  we  thus  speal<. 
 
 10  ''  For  'God  is  not  unrighteous  to  forget 
 '  your  work  and  labour  of  love,  which  ye  have 
 slievved  toward  his  name,  in  that  ye  liave 
 t  ministered  to  the  saints,  and  do  minister. 
 
 HEBREWS,  VI. 
 
 10  he  sledfast  and  diligent. 
 
 A.  i).  6*. 
 
 A.  n.  G4. 
 
 e  Gal  3.  2,&. 
 
 u.-li.:i  6,  14. 
 
 ch.  2.  4. 
 
 J,-  Col.  a.  2. 
 
 mch.  2   5. 
 
 y  ch.  10.  36. 
 
 n  ch.   10.  2y. 
 
 ,  Gen.  22.16, 
 
 17.  Ps    105- 
 
 9.  Luke  1. 
 
 73. 
 
 I  Or,  for. 
 
 o  Vs.  G5. lU 
 
 p  Is    5.  6. 
 
 «Ex    ^2.  11. 
 
 ■J  I'rn,l4.n 
 
 Mat    10. -li 
 
 8t  -ib.  411. 
 
 J..I.O  13  L'O. 
 
 r  Horn.  3.  4. 
 
 6  cli .  11-9. 
 
 2  Thes.  1  6, 
 
 cKoin.ll.29 
 
 7. 
 
 t  fir    tii'fT- 
 
 !  1  Tlies.l  3. 
 
 jfned  liKii- 
 
 /  Kom.15  2'). 
 
 !.-lfby  <J'. 
 
 •>  C.»r.  8.  4. 
 
 '.urh. 
 
 «■  9.  1,  Vi. 
 
 2  Tim. 1  13. 
 
 1 1  And  we  desire  that  "  every  one  of  you  do 
 shew  the  same  diligence  Uo  the  full  assurance 
 of  hope  unto  the  end  : 
 
 \-i  That  ye  be  not  slothful,  but  followers  ol 
 them  who  through  faith  and  patience  'inherit 
 the  promises. 
 
 13  For  when  God  made  promise  to  Abraham, 
 because  he  could  swear  by  no  greater,  '  he 
 sware  by  himself, 
 
 14  Saying,  Surely  blessing  I  will  bless  thee, 
 and  multiplying  I  will  multiply  thee. 
 
 15  And  so,  after  he  had  patiently  endured, 
 he  obtained  the  promise. 
 
 16  For  men  verily  swear  by  the  greater  :  and 
 "an  oath  for  confirmation  is  to  them  an  end  ot 
 
 all  strife.  ,       ,     .,     . 
 
 17  Wherein  God,  willing  more  abundantly  to 
 shew  unto  "  the  heirs  of  promise  '  the  immu- 
 tability of  his  counsel,   f  confirmed  it  by  an 
 
 oath  :  •        I  •  i 
 
 18  That  by  two  immutable  things,  in  winch 
 Ut   was  impossible  for  God  to  lie,  we  might 
 
 ■--"?];-.--"i"--^s;--±!,:-?.l^i^^rr  ^:^X^'^'^i.:'^^^^^-yt^^'^^S^^ 
 
 ,o.lrcss  ,.f  the  gosi,ri.-B..x(fr.     The'lVeavenly  gift  of  frei.lom  from     have  pniirfd  on  the  gifts 
 
 the  law  iif  Moses,  aiul  from  the  grievous  superstitions  of  heathenism, 
 which  is  bestowed  on  Jews  and  Gentiles  under  the  gospel.— Jl/inA-n, 
 
 gSs^eL  ren.lers  tl.em  singularly  unworthy  of  the  gr^ice  of  G""'  (fhfl'- 
 I  29!)  God  il'-li^rs  them  to  the  wandering  of  the.r  minds  and  rte  c.ir- 
 
 rare,  but  it  probably 
 (if  Christ  for  the  world.— i>a».,  as  Gill 
 G/iust,  exegetical  of  the  former  clause.— J.  (hvpu  ;  see  above 
 stand  this  of  the  e.\traordinary  gifts  and  influences  of  the  Spirit  which 
 the  primitive  Christians  enjoyed,  and  which  were  often  bestowed  by 
 the  imposition  of  the  apostles'  hands.— i7i«n-(,  so  Umldr.  Tlie  gifts 
 received  at  their  baptism.- .WacAn.  Extraordinary  influences  or  gifts, 
 common  to  numbtrs  who  were  not  regenerated.— Bun.  Gifts,  qualify- 
 ing ihem  for  temporary  usefulness  in  the  church,  and  enabling  some 
 of  them  even  to  preach  tlie  gospel  with  success.— Tup/nrfy.  6-  Ttisled 
 Ihf  good  timrii,  enjoyed  the  consolations  administered,  or  the  hopes 
 cxei'ted,  by  Uie  divine  promises  which  the  gospel  proficrs.— A'(u<//-(. 
 They  had  some  acquaintance  with  the  scripture,  and  some  lelish  for  its 
 doctrines.  To  this  class  Herod  and  Simon  Magus  may  be  referred, 
 (Mark,  vi.  20;  Acts,  viii.  13.)— To/ii'irfy.  The  gospel  had  produced 
 such  hopes  and  joys  as  in  theca^eo(  the  stony-ground  hearers.— A™«. 
 It  may  denote,  that  they  experienced  dehght  in  the  gospel  as  the  fiilnl- 
 nient  of  the  promises  made  to  the  fathers.  This  implies  more  know, 
 ledge  than  what  is  expressed  by  '  tasting  the  heavenly  gift ;  and  the 
 promise  of  God  is  often  called  •  his  go- id  word,'  (Jer.  xxix.  lO  ;  xxxni. 
 14  )—Dn:t.  To  taste  mentally,  is  to  experience;  and,  in  this  case,  to 
 experience  Ihe  power  of  the  gospel  preached,  which  may  afford  much 
 gratilication,  and  produce  a  degree  of  moral  reform,  even  when  it  docs 
 not  either  deeply  or  permanently  affect  the  heart.- n'l/.  Powers  uj 
 Ihe  world  to  come.  ima^Lt,v.  •  powers,'  may  here  denote  the  efticacy  of 
 the  ordinances  of  religion  dispensed  in  the  Christian  church  for  con- 
 certing sinners  i  called  '  the  age  to  come.'  in  conformity  to  the  phraseo- 
 ogy  of  the  Jews,  who  termed  the  age  of  the  Messiah,  'the  age  to 
 "         liy  the  auBOfieit,  '  piwers  or  miracles  of  Mcssrah  s 
 
 M.de,„rl..er.oflhe  Hoi,    ^:^^:;X^:'S:^^^^^ 
 
 They  bias 
 
 U.gy 
 
 come.* — Mnckn 
 
 dispensation,'  is  meant,  the  ability  of  working  miracles  in  proof  ot  the  po- 
 eosnel.  This  a  man  might  have  without  a  grain  of  grace,  (see  1  Cor.  the 
 xiii   2  )—T<ivliidu.  so  J.  Own.     See  also  Matt.  vii.  22,  23,   [especially     sin, 
 
 the  original.']- So  liVLenn.  fl  will  diversify  the  sense  more  to  under- 
 stand this  of  impressions  made  relating  to  the  importance  of  a  future 
 state  —Uoddr.  6.  1/ llien  sliall  full  nwmj,  lie.— it  must  be  observed, 
 that  the  aposUc  in  giving  judgment  upon  the  case,  if  it  should  haippcn, 
 does  not  declare  that  it  actually  does.-Dorfrfr.  The  case  is  stated  only 
 in  tlie  form  of  a  siipposition--«u'iA''i<.  Our  translators,  following 
 Di-o  have  here  inserted  if,  that  this  text  might  not  appear  to  contra- 
 dict the  doctrine  of  tlie  perseverance  of  the  saints  ;  but  no  translator 
 should  take  upon  him  lo  add  to,  or  alter,  the  Scriptures  for  the  sake  of 
 any  favourite  doctrine ;  the  rendering  is,  irapaTreoovTat,  in  the  past 
 time  'have  fallen  away.'— .1/acin.  Tlie  same  rendering  given  by 
 HI' Lean,  Boothr.,  and  Stwirt.  This  passage  d,  les  not  in  any  way  aflcct 
 Ihe  doctrine  of  perseverance ;  for  who  are  the  persons  here  meant  by 
 tl.eapostlc>  He  himself  has  decided  that  they  are  not  Christians. 
 Their  character  is  fully  expressed  in  ver.  8,  under  the  image  of  the 
 earth  which  beareth  thorns  and  briars-,  while  that  of  Christians  is  ex- 
 pressed,  in  the  rth  verse,  unilcr  the  image  ot  the  earth  '  which  hringeth 
 forth  herbs  meet  for  them  by  whom  it  is  dressed.'  These  are  here  siu- 
 dinusly  contrasted.  The  character  of  the  former  is,  therefore,  exhibited 
 by  the  apostle  as  a  direct  contr,-ist  to  that  of  Christians  :  who,  it  is  to 
 be  remembered,  aie  represented  everywhere  in  the  sctipturcsas  brilig- 
 inc  forth  good  fruit.— Duii'/i(.  F'M  owinj,  undoubtedly  signifies,  to 
 become  apparent  enemies  of  Christ.-ii'<».  Wholly  apostatized  from 
 the  profession  of  the  gospel,  and  turned  back  to  the  antiquated  cere- 
 monies of  Moses.— Bou/Ar.,  as  Griyse.  It  must  consist  in  a  total 
 renunciation  of  all  the  constituent  principles  and  d.ictrincs  of  Chris. 
 tianity.-J.  Owen.  To  re;ew  Hum  ,,ffai,i  unto  repeutonce,  to  ren.w  the  people  '  '■"  - 
 good  impressi.ms  made  on  Xb^m.-Doddr.     As  repcntame  is  the  work     .mmutable  thmjs,  his  prom 
 
 Vl'J'J 
 
 phemously  st^le  the  Lord  of  glory  an  impostor  ;  and  make  his  murder, 
 Fn  some  sense  their  own  act  and  deed,  by  horiidly  thinking  and  de- 
 clarrg  that  he  was  deservedly  put  lo  death.-T„,.Wy,  so  J/'f.™« 
 Thev^n  effect,  approve  of  the  wickedness  of  tlie  Jews  «  crucifying  the 
 etern'a  Son  o  Gi'd,  S:c.,  and  so  they  most  perversely  shut  themselves 
 out  from  all  ihe  benefit  of  his  crucifixion,  and  eau.e  his  glorious  name 
 ?o  be  b  asphemcd  in  the  world.-GH.V.«.  m  concluding  the  notes  on 
 Ms  iniprXn  passage,  the  remarks  of  two  commentators  on  the  who  e 
 1  ay  use  udy  be  addld:-Tl.cre  is  a  regular  gradation  in  the  whole 
 «sLge  (i  )  They  had  been  taught  the  principles  or  doctrines  of  Chris- 
 faiiUy  (ii  They  had  enjoyed  ihe  privileges,  or  means  of  grace,  which 
 he  iilw  re  gion  afforded,  (iii.)  They  had  experienced  '-  general, 
 various  gifts  and  graces  bestowed  by  the  Spirit,  (iv.)  They  h^^d  che- 
 rUhed  the  ho,?es  which  the  promises  of  the  gospel  inspire,  v  )  They 
 had  witnessed  (and  perhaps  he  means  to  say.  that  some  of  them  had 
 e.xped  need,  those  spiritual  miraculous  powers  by  which  the  gospel 
 was  fuUv  shewn  to  be  a  religion  from  God,  (comp.  chap.  u.  4  )  Thus, 
 They  had  the  /«"»•«  evidence,  internal  and  external,  of  the  dmne 
 Sin  and  namre  of  the  Christian  religion  ;  consequently,  if  they 
 apo'statfzed  from  it,  there  remained  no  hope  of  their  '^fc-very  -«»..( 
 The  passage  has  no  reference  to  any  person  ,,r.,f,s>.mg  Chrx^hanUy 
 lor  ^backsliders  of  any  kind  ;  but  only  to  apostatrs  fr-™  Christianity 
 to  such  as  reject  the  whole  Christian  systetn,  and  its  ■■I""'"'-,  the  Lord 
 Jesus  An7to  those  of  them  only  who  join  with  the  blaspheming 
 Jews  can  Christ  an  impostor,  and  vindicate  his  murderers  in  having 
 crTcified  hill,  as  a  malefactor  and  thus  they  r.nder  their  salvation  ini- 
 DO  s  ble  by  wilfully  and  malidon.ty  rejecting  the  Lord  that  bought 
 "^  No  man.  bflie.inf;  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  the  great  sacrifice  for 
 
 -,..,  and  acknowledging  Christianity  as  a  dimne  reiielalian,  is  here  in- 
 ei  ded.  th'ugh  he  may  have  unfortunately  bachstidien  from  any  de^ 
 gree  of  the  sllvation  of  God.— 4.  Clarl<e.  7,  8-  Forllie  earth  .^c  is 
 West  or  justly  praised,  which  bringeth  fruit;  but  that  is  cursed,  or 
 bad  whose  f  nit  must  be  for  fire.  So  God  will  bless  those  who  fruit, 
 nuiian^ert^e  means  which  he  useth  in  them  ;  but  will  curse  and 
 
 bu  ;;  ho^wh^  ater.h;g;^kt;^st  means,  shall  turn  lo  reprc^cband 
 isuheme  him  -B.  Baxter.  Eastern  agriculture  consists  much  in 
 watering  ?  if  this  produces  no  good,  the  field  is  neglected  to  be  burnt 
 1  w  drought.-Jf«cAn.  The  allusion  here  is  to  the  custom  of  the 
 o'rintal  and  Roman  agriculturists,  of  burning  bad  and  ""ren 'am  s^ 
 —  I'iet  Bib  9.  Better  tfiings,  than  those  named  ver.  4,  5,  the  saving 
 influences  and  fruits  of  the  Spirit.-M'te»«.  .  '.»•  ''""f.'  f™''  ^.'^^ll 
 •unfaithful,'  so  used  sometimes,  (see  Luke,  x^vi.  '"-l-^^'l: ,,  "^,|,„ 
 full  assurance  of  hope,  •  the  consummation  of  hope  -^''p';""''; 
 ■  For  the  sake  of  a  full  assurance  of  Impc.'-ituart.  12.  Follou^'^' 
 ,'n.nL  •  im\UtoTs.'-Gu„se,  Doddr.  Them  who-mherU,  con^ert.d 
 'oe'^tlwes  in  the  chmch.-i-i.rce,  Maekn.  Hebrews,  inentioned  in  con^ 
 text  and  chap.  xi.-il/'Lmn.-  same  purport,  Owen.  8=="'^^  to  refer  to 
 an  good  meli  departed,  under  what  dispensation  soever  they  d.ed.- 
 Ui.ddr.,  Bens.         13.  For  when  God,  f-     •'■■-  '-  " 
 
 ■.,  this  is  mentioned  to  enc  u- 
 
 liiiftfir  .  liens.         i.i.  roi   ««c/,  ««..,  y,--,  —  --  -        .    ^^         j 
 
 rage  their  hope  and  perseverance  in  faith  and  patience  to  the  end.- 
 
 Smne  16   For  ,„.n  ,,erily  swear,  5v.,  on  important  occasions  they 
 
 bud  their  dep.sitinns  and  promises  with  an  oath,  swearing  by  the 
 
 si.rcme  Grid    (1).  ut.  vi.  13  ;)  and  such  is  reckoned  the  strongest  e- 1- 
 
 '         -la   can  be  given  of   he  truth  of  their  declarations.   So  God  has 
 
 To  the  weakness  of  men,  that  he  might  dcmonsti-ale  to  his 
 
 hat  his  promise  is  a.«  sure  to  them  as  it  w,is  to  him.        18.  f"  o 
 
 i/p  thing's,  his  promise  and  his  oath. -(,■■<;/.».     God  to  lie,  Cud 
 
Christ  Jesus  a  j^riesi 
 
 HEBREWS,  VII. 
 
 after  the  order  of  Melckisedec, 
 
 have  a  strong  consolation,  who  have  fled  for 
 refuge  to  lay  hold  upon  the  hope  "^  set  before 
 US: 
 
 19  Which  hope  we  have  as  an  anchor  of  the 
 soul,  both  sure  and  stedfast,*and  which  enter- 
 eth  into  that  within  the  veil ; 
 
 20  ^  W^hither  the  forerunner  is  for  us  entered, 
 even  Jesus,  ^  made  an  high  priest  for  ever  after 
 the  order  of  Melchisedec. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 1  Christ  Jesus  is  a  priest  after  the  order  of  Melchisedecj 
 
 1 1  and  so,  far  inore   excellent  than   the  priests  of 
 
 Aaron's  order. 
 'OOR  this  "  Melchisedec,  king  of  Salem,  priest 
 -■-    of  the  most  high  God,  who  met  Abraham 
 returning  from  the  slaughter  of  the  kings,  and 
 blessed  him  ; 
 
 2  To  whom  also  Abraham  gave  a  tenth  part 
 of  all ;  first  being  by  interpretation  King  of 
 righteousness,  and  after  that  also  King  of 
 Salem,  which  is.  King  of  peace  ; 
 
 3  Without  father,  without  mother,  f  without 
 descent,  having  neither  beginning  of  days,  nor 
 end  of  life ;  but  made  like  unto  the  Son  of 
 God  ;  abideth  a  priest  continually. 
 
 4  Now  consider  how  great  this  man  ivas, 
 *"  unto  whom  even  the  patriarch  Abraham  gave 
 the  tenth  of  the  spoils. 
 
 5  And  verily  ""  they  tliat  are  of  the  sons  of 
 Levi,  who  receive  the  oflice  of  the  priesthood. 
 
 A.  D.  M. 
 d  ch    12.  I. 
 
 e  Lev.  16.15. 
 ch.  9.  7. 
 
 /ch.  *   U. 
 &  9    I.&9 
 
 SI  ch.  3.  I.« 
 5.  6,  ID.  it 
 
 t  Gr.  viili- 
 
 6  Gen.  11.20 
 
 S  Gftl.S.  21. 
 ver.  18,  li). 
 ch.  8  7. 
 
 h  Is,  It.  1. 
 Mat.  1.3. 
 I.ukc  3.33. 
 Bom.  I.  a 
 Rev.  5.  5. 
 
 have  a  commandment  to  take  tithes  of  the 
 people  according  to  the  law,  that  is,  of  their 
 brethren,  though  they  come  out  of  the  loins  of 
 Abraliam  : 
 t>  But  he  whose  ||  descent  is  not  counted 
 from  them  received  tithes  of  Abraliam,  ''and 
 blessed  "him  that  had  the  promises, 
 
 7  And  withovU  all  contradiction  the  less  is 
 blessed  of  tlie  better. 
 
 8  And  here  men  tliat  die  receive  tithes  ;  but 
 there  he  rctcivetft  thtm^  ""of  whom  it  is  wit- 
 nessed that  he  liveth. 
 
 9  And  as  I  may  so  say,  Levi  also,  who  re- 
 ceiveth  tithes,  payed  tithes  in  Abraham. 
 
 10  For  he  was  yet  in  the  loins  of  his  father, 
 when  Melchisedec  met  him. 
 
 U  ^  If  therefore  perfection  were  by  the  Le- 
 vitical  priesthood,  (for  under  it  the  people 
 received  the  law,)  what  further  need  ?ras  there 
 that  another  priest  should  rise  after  the  order 
 of  Melchisedec,  and  not  be  called  after  the 
 order  of  Aaron  V 
 
 VI  For  the  priesthood  being  changed,  there 
 is  made  of  necessity  a  change  also  of  the  law. 
 
 13  For  he  of  whom  these  things  are  spoken 
 pertaineth  to  another  tribe,  of  which  no  man 
 gave  attendance  at  the  altar. 
 
 14  For  it  is  evident  that  ''our  Lord  sprang 
 out  of  Juda  ;  uf  which  tribe  Moses  spake 
 nothing  concerning  priesthood. 
 
 cannot  lie,  inasmuch  as  that  would  be  contrary  to  his  perfect  nature. 
 — Tomline.  Fled,  from  the  curse  of  the  law.~iI/acA:n.  For  refuge, 
 an  allusion  to  the  cities  of  refuge  underthe  law. — Bur.,  Gui/se.  Hope, 
 here  directly  signifies  the  object  of  hope,  as  in  Acts,  xxviii.  20,  and 
 1  Tim.  i.  I,  which  is  Christ.  19.  An  anchor,  in  allusion  to  the  anchor 
 of  a  ship,  which  does  not  hold  it  steadfast  as  it  is  in  the  ship  itself,  but 
 as  cast  out  of  it,  and  fastening  on  sure  ground  at  a  distance  from  it. 
 M'iMin  the  veil,  our  hope  in  Christ  casts  anchor,  not  downwards,  as 
 other  anchors  are  cast  into  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  but  upwards,  as  it 
 enters  through  the  visible  heavens  after  him,  in  that  glorious  world 
 which  lies  beyond  them. — Guyse.  Here  is  a  reference  to  the  veil  passed 
 by  tlie  high  priest  once  a  year. — Put.  Bib,  20.  The  forerunner— ti 
 forerunner  is  one  who  goes  before,  to  do  some  service  for  another  wlio 
 is  to  follow.  Here  the  allusion  is  to  one  sent  from  a  ship  to  fix  its 
 anchor  in  the  place  to  which  it  is  to  be  drawn. — Mackn. 
 
 Cb.\p.  Vil.  —  I.  For  this  Melchisedec,  ^c,  he  is  introduced  to  shew 
 the  excellency  of  Christ's  priesthood,  with  whose  Melchisedec's  best 
 agreed,  which  vastly  exceeded  that  of  Aaron's. — See  Gui/se.  3.  M'ith- 
 ont  Father,  i.e.,  *  of  an  unknown  father.' — Ew.  Without  descent, 
 a^ti'tLiXo-joTot,  'without  genealogy. *~il/on(. ,  il/acA-«.  The  apostle's 
 meaning  is,  that  Melchisedec  did  not  derive  his  priesthood  from  his 
 parents,  but  was  made  a  priest  of  the  most  high  God  by  a  particular 
 appointment.  And  as  there  was  no  visible  church  of  God  existing  at 
 that  time  in  which  he  could  officiate,  the  appointment  of  God  certainly 
 authorized  him  to  officiate  as  a  priest  for  all  the  worshippers  of  the 
 true  God  in  these  countries.  Of  this  number  his  own  subjects  un- 
 doubtedly were.  So  likewise  was  Abiraelech,  king  of  Gerar,  (Gen. 
 XX.  3;  xxi.22;)  and  Abraham,  with  his  domestics.  Melchisedec, 
 therefore,  wa-^  an  universal  priest. — Mnckn.  Made  like  unto  the  Son 
 of  God,  thus  Melchisedec  is  set  forth  as  a  fit  type  of  Christ,  who  is 
 without  father,  according  to  his  manhood  ;  without  mother,  according 
 to  his  Godhead;  without  begiuning  of  days,  according  to  his  divine 
 nature ;  without  end  of  life,  according  to  his  mediatorial  person ;  and  if 
 Christ  must  needs  be  a  priest  as  God  and  man,  consequently,  he  must 
 
 needs  act  in  his  priestly  office  as  both  God  and  m^xx.—Roherts.  Abideth 
 a  priest  cinttinimthf,  ei?  to  dnivti^e^,  '  all  his  life.' — Mackn.  4.  Hon- 
 great  this  man  was,  in  which  he  prefigured  Christ.  He  must  be  greater, 
 by  the  ordination  of  God,  than  Abraham  himself;  and  much  more  must 
 Christ  be  so,  whose  type  only  Melchisedec  was. — Guyse.  '  Man'  is  not 
 ill  the  original ;  priest  should  be  substituted,  for  to  his  office  the  pas- 
 sage relates.— Pflf.  6.  Received  tithes  of  Ahrahurn,  Melchisedec  re- 
 ceived tithes  of  their  eminent  patriarch  himself ;  and  the  ver>'  law  of 
 tithes  shews,  that  superior  honour  belongs  to  him  who  receives  them 
 above  him  that  pays  them.  7-  The  less  is  blessed  of  the  better,  Christ, 
 the  antitype,  therefore,  must  needs  be  a  much  greater  high  priest  still, 
 as  he,  in  the  right  of  his  own  purchase,  effectually  blesses  his  people 
 with  all  spiritual  blessings. — Guysf'.  8.  He  liveth,  there  is  no  record 
 of  his  death  and  successor;  he  is  represer.ted  only  as  li\'ing,  and  so  the 
 record  stands  of  him  as  if  he  lived  for  ever ;  the  design  of  which  was, 
 that  he  might  be  the  more  eminent  type  of  Christ. — Editor,  Guyse. 
 g.  I'ai/ed  tithes  in  Abraham,  the  whole  tribe  of  Levi  virtually  paid  tithes 
 in  Abraham  as  their  common  father. — Guyse.  11.  Perfection,  '  per- 
 fect remission  of  sins  by  the  sacrifice  which  the  priest  oftered,*  &c. — 
 Bp.  Fell.  Received  the  taw.  may  possibly  include  the  ceremonial  law, 
 and  the  law  respecting  the  priesthood  itself. — See.VLenn.  What  fur- 
 ther need,  ^c,  there  would  have  been  no  need,  as  it  seems  there  was, 
 that  God  should  institute  another  sort  of  priest. — Ham.  That  there 
 was  another  priest  promised  and  expected,  and  that  he  should  arise 
 after  the  order  of  Melchisedec,  and  who  was  to  make  his  soul  an  offer- 
 ing  for  sin,  is  certain,  (Ezra,  ii.  63;  Ps.  ex.  4  ;  Isa.  liii.  10  ;)  and  such 
 an  one  has  risen,  even  Jesus  of  Nazareth ;  and  yet  there  would  have 
 been  no  need  of  him,  and  especially  that  he  should  be  of  a  different 
 order  from  Aaron's,  had  there  been  perfection  by  the  Levitical  priest- 
 hood.— Gill.  12.  A  change  nho  of  the  law,  the  whole  law  concerning 
 the  sacrifices  of  beasts,  and  the  sanctif>-ing  of  the  flesh  by  washing,  &c., 
 was  of  necessity  changed, X\\dX  :s,  abolished  entirely. — Mackn.  13.  An- 
 other tribp,  namely,  Judah  ;  of  which  none,  by  the  law.  were  to  be 
 priests.— //«m.  14.  Evident,  from  the  prophecies  (see  Gen.  xlix.  10, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VI — This  chapter  teaches  us, 
 L  The  ruin  of  ajxjstates.  What  hope,  indeed,  can  they  have 
 who  turn  their  backs  upon  Christ,  and  wilfully  reject  the  only 
 way  of  salvation  ?  But  let  us  not  misinterpret  tins  passage. 
 As  Dr.  John  Owen  observes,  *  Here  is  nothing  against  such 
 as  have  fallen  into  any  great  sin,  or  course  of  sinning,  and 
 endeavour  and  desire  sincerely  to  repent  of  their  sins  j  yea, 
 such  a  desire  and  endeavour  exempt  any  one  from  the  judg- 
 ment here  threatened.  Nay,  this  passage  is  full  of  encou- 
 ragement to  such  :  fi)r,  whereas  it  is  here  declared,  concern- 
 ing those  who  are  rejected  of  God,  that  it  is  *'  impossible  to 
 renew  them,"  or,  to  do  anything  that  shall  have  a  tendency  to 
 repentance,  those  who  are  sincerely  exercised  how  they  may 
 attain  thereunto  have  no  concern  in  this  conimination,  but 
 evidently  the  door  of  mercy  is  still  open  to  them.  And  al- 
 though persons  rejected  of  God  may  full  under  convictions  of 
 their  sin,  attended  with  despair,  which  is  to  them  a  foresight 
 J300 
 
 of  their  future  condition,  yet  they  are  utter  strangers  to  the 
 least  attempt  after  repentance,  on  gospel  terms.  Wherefore, 
 the  *'  impossibility"  intended,  of  what  sort  soever  it  be,  re- 
 spects the  severity  of  God,  not  in  rejecting  great  sinners,  who 
 seek  after  being  renewed  unto  repentance,  (which  would  be 
 contrary  to  innumerable  promises, )  hut  in  giving  up  sinners  of 
 the  stamp  here  mentioned,  to  that  obduracy  and  obstinacy  in 
 sinning,  to  that  blindness  of  mind  and  hardness  of  heart, 
 which  prevents  their  ever  sincerely  seeking  after  repentance, 
 or  any  divinely  appointed  means  for  that  end.' 
 
 II.  The  safety  of  believrrs.  These  apostates  had  no  saving 
 grace  from  wjiich' they  tell  away.  They  had  great  privileges 
 and  great  knowledge,  but  if  the  good  work  had  been  begun  in 
 them,  it  would  have  been  '  performed  until  the  day  of  Jesus 
 Cbrist.'  And  the  heirs  of  the  promise  have  '  strong  consola- 
 tion,' for  its  blessings  are  secured  both  by  the  oath  and  pro- 
 mise of  Hiiu  who  is  Eternal  Truth,  and  cannot  lie. 
 
,'lirist  more  excellent  than 
 
 HEBREWS,  VIII. 
 
 the  priests  of  Aaron's  order. 
 
 15  And  it  is  yet  far  more  evident:  for  that 
 after  the  similitude  of  Melcliisedec  there 
 ariseth  another  priest, 
 
 16  Who  is  made,  not  after  the  law  of  a  carnal 
 commandment,  but  after  the  power  of  an  end- 
 less life. 
 
 1 7  For  he  testifieth,  '  Thou  art  a  priest  for 
 ever  after  the  order  of  Melchisedec. 
 
 18  For  there  is  verily  a  disannulling  of  the 
 commandment  going  before  for  'the  weakness 
 and  unprofitableness  thereof. 
 
 19  For  '  the  law  made  nothing  perfect,  ||  but 
 the  bringing  in  of  "a  better  hope  did;  by  the 
 which  "  we  draw  nigh  unto  God. 
 
 20  And  inasmuch  as  not  without  an  oath  he 
 was  made  priest  : 
 
 •21  (For  those  priests  were  made  ||witlioutan 
 oath  ;  but  this  with  an  oath  by  him  that  said 
 unto  him,  °  The  Lord  sware  and  will  not  re- 
 pent. Thou  art  a  priest  for  ever  after  the  order 
 of  Melchisedec :) 
 
 22  By  so  much  ""was  Jesus  made  a  surety  of 
 a  better  testament. 
 
 2.3  And  they  truly  were  many  priests,  because 
 they  were  not  suffered  to  continue  by  reason 
 of  death  : 
 
 24  But  this  man,  because  he  continueth  ever, 
 hath  II  au  unchangeable  priesthood. 
 
 25  Wherefore  he  is  able  also  to  save  them 
 II  to  the  uttermost  that  come  unto  God  by 
 liim,  seeiiig  he  ever  liveth  '  to  make  interces- 
 sion for  them. 
 
 26  For  such  an  high  priest  became  us,  "■  who 
 
 A.  U   61. 
 
 A.  D.  6i. 
 
 *  Eph.  1.  '20. 
 
 ft  I.  10.  ch. 
 
 S.  1. 
 
 /  Lev.  9.  7. 
 
 Kc  JG.  ti,  II. 
 
 ch.  5.  3.  8c 
 
 9.  7. 
 
 u  Lev.  16.15. 
 
 X  Rom. 6  10, 
 
 iPa.  llrt.  4. 
 
 ch-  9.I2,2S. 
 
 ch.^.6,  10. 
 
 tk  10.  12. 
 
 &  6  eu. 
 
 .wch.  5.  1,  2, 
 
 k  Rom.  8.  3. 
 
 I  cli    2.  10. 
 
 Gal.  4.  9, 
 
 8t5.  9. 
 
 t  Gr. 
 
 /  .\ctB  I3.S9- 
 
 par/ett^d. 
 
 Rom.  3.-J... 
 
 2\,->».  &  8 
 
 3.  Gal  2  1 6. 
 
 ch.  9.  9. 
 
 {1  Or,  hat  it 
 
 was  ('.(• 
 
 bri'.^iug  in. 
 
 Gdl    H-  2\. 
 
 m  ch.  6.  18. 
 
 Sc8   6. 
 
 >,  Rom.  5.  2. 
 
 EpU     2    18. 
 
 a  Eph.  1,20. 
 
 &  :i.   li. 
 
 Col.  3.  1 
 
 ch,  -1.  16. 
 
 ch  1.3  &  10. 
 
 &  10.  19. 
 
 12.  *i  l'2.  2 
 
 II  Or.  wWioul 
 
 11  Or,  of  holy 
 
 swe<>rin?  0/ 
 
 thi'igt. 
 
 a>,  oath. 
 
 b  cli.  0.  6, 
 
 o  Pb.   110.4. 
 
 12,  21, 
 
 p  ch.  8.  6.  & 
 
 cch.9.  II. 
 
 9     15.8;  12. 
 
 <(th.  5.  1. 
 
 24. 
 
 e  Eph.  5.2. 
 
 ch.  9.  14. 
 
 11  Or,  tehich 
 
 paueth  not 
 
 11  Or,  Ihry  are 
 
 from  o„e  to 
 
 fiTietti 
 
 another. 
 
 /Col.  2.  17 
 
 :i  Or, 
 
 ch.  9.  23.  & 
 
 10.   1. 
 
 q  Rom  a;H. 
 
 ff  Ex    25.  40. 
 
 I  Tim.  a  5 
 
 fe  2C.  y-0  & 
 
 ch.  9.  21. 
 
 27   8   Num. 
 
 I  .Iohn2.  1. 
 
 8.4.  Acts  7. 
 
 is  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from  sin- 
 ners, '  and  made  higher  than  the  heavens  ; 
 
 27  Who  needeth  not  daily,  as  those  high 
 priests,  to  offer  up  sacrifice,  '  first  for  his  own 
 sins,  "  and  then  for  the  people's :  for  '  this  he 
 did  once,  when  he  offered  up  himself. 
 
 28  For  the  law  maketh  ''  men  high  priests 
 which  have  infirmity  ;  but  the  word  of  the 
 oath,  which  was  since  the  law,  maheth  the  Son, 
 ''  who  is  t  consecrated  for  evermore. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 1  By  t/ic  tternal  priesthood  of  Christ  the  Levitical 
 priesthood  of  Aaron  is  tibolished.  7  And  the  temporal 
 covenant  with  the  fathers,  by  the  eternal  covenant  of 
 the  gospel. 
 
 "iVTOW  of  the  tilings  which  we  have  spoken 
 -*-*  tliis  is  the  sum  :  We  have  such  an  high 
 priest,  ^  who  is  set  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
 throne  of  the  Majesty  in  the  heavens  ; 
 
 2  A  minister  ||  of  ^tlie  sanctuary,  and  of  "^  the 
 true  tabernacle,  whicli  the  Lord  pitched,  and 
 not  man. 
 
 3  For  ^  every  high  priest  is  ordained  to  offer 
 gifts  and  sacrifices:  wherefore  **  zY  i5  of  neces- 
 sity that  this  man  have  somewhat  also  to  offer. 
 
 4  For  if  he  were  on  eartli,  he  siionld  not  be  a 
 priest,  seeing  that  |j there  are  priests  that  o.ier 
 gifts  according  to  the  law  : 
 
 5  Who  serve  unto  the  example  and  ^  shadow 
 of  heavenly  things,  as  Moses  was  admonislied 
 of  God  when  he  was  abovit  to  make  the  taber- 
 nacle :  ^for,  See,  saitli  he,  that  thou  make  all 
 
 iCTiron.  V.  2)  and  genealogical  tables.  Concerning  priest fwod,  i.e., 
 concerning  their  obtaining  tlie  priestbood.— jl/acAn.  15.  And  it  is 
 yet  far  more  evident,  ^c,  that  the  iiriesthood,  and  consequently  the 
 law  depending  upon  it,  is  so  chang^ed  as  to  be  abolished,  according  to 
 what  has  been  said,  ver.  12.  16.  Not  after  the  taw  of  a  carnal  cum- 
 inntidm^nt,  the  law  of  succession  by  natural  generation. — M'Lean.  The 
 original  signifies  '  frail,'  *  temporary  ;'  such  was  the  Mosaic  law  of  the 
 priesthood. — Dai'.  Requiring  only  the  sacrifices  of  beasts,  and  con- 
 sisting of  such  rites  as  sanctified  only  to  the  purifjing  of  the  fiesh. — 
 Guyse.  An  endless  lift-,  which  he  has  in  himself  as  the  eternal  Son  of 
 God.  And  his  Ufe  as  a  priest  did  not  begin  till  after  his  ascension, 
 when  he  passed  through  the  heavens  into  the  holiest  of  all  with  tiie 
 sacrifice  of  his  crucified  body.— 2Jf /w.         \7.He  testifieth — Ps.  ex.  4. 
 
 18.  A  disannulling — in  this  new  and  everlasthig  priestliood,  there  is,  in 
 reality,  an  abrogation  of  the  whole  system  of  the  Mosaic  law,  and  of 
 all  its  institutions  which  depended  upon  the  Le\itical  priestliood. — 
 Guyse,  so  M'Lean.  Wea/iness  and  unprojitaftleness,  though  the  apostle 
 affirms  that  the  law  of  Moses  was  j'-protitable  for  the  purpose  of  par- 
 domng  sinners,  it  answered  maiv  valuable  ends,  which  he  has  e.x- 
 plained  in  liis  epistle  to  the  GaJatiaV,  (chap.  iii.  ig~'2i.j—Macknight. 
 
 19.  Not/iins.  ovSfv,  'no  one.'— jVwcA-*  'No  man,'  neither  any  of  the 
 priests  that  offered  sacrifices,  nor  any  of  the  people  for  whom  they  were 
 offered.  The  law  was  only  the  outline  of  a  great  plan,  the  shadow  of 
 a  glorions  substance. — A.Clarke.  A  heftfr  hope,  the  priesthood  of 
 Christ,  and  Christ  himself. — Gift.  20.  Not  without  an  oath,  the  apostle's 
 reasoning  here  is  fomidi-d  on  this,  that  God  never  interposed  liis  oath, 
 except  to  shew  the  certainty  and  immutability  of  the  thing  sworn. 
 22.  Surety,  eyyvo^,  '  one  who  draws  near,'  or  '  who  brings  near,'  equi- 
 valent here  to  yieo-(T»|v, 'a  mediator  '  Testament,  6iay»?hj),  used  by  the 
 Jews  in  writing  Greek  (see  Sept.)  to  signify  '  a  covenant.' — M'Lenn. 
 Of  a  better  testament,  of  a  more  permanent  and  effectual  covenant  than 
 the  Sinaitic. — Mackn.  24.  .An  nnchangeable  priesthood,  one  that  will 
 never  be  antiquated  and  give  place  to  another. — Gill.  26.  //o?// — the 
 Sept.  render  the  word  oato-:,  here  used.  e\en/»wi'.  '  merciful,'  and  it  may 
 be  so  translated  here.— Cfr/H/**.,  so  also  ,4,  C/az-A-e.  Harmless,  aKoKOi, 
 *  without  evil,'  •  holy  without  and  holy  within.'  Undpfiled,  ainavro-:, 
 'without  blemish,'  '  ha\"ing  no  bodily  imperfection.'  'Nothing  low, 
 mean,  base,  or  unbecoming,  in  his  conduct.'— t7«j'A-e.  Holy  in  his 
 nature;  harmless  in  his  lilc  ;  undefiled,  contracting  no  evil. — Ouen. 
 Separate  from  sinners — tliis  is  thought  an  allusion  to  the  separation  of 
 the  high  priest,  seven  days  before  he  made  the  aimual  atonement,  (Lev. 
 
 xvi.  17.)  Jesus,  our  high  priest,  had  no  need  of  any  particular  separa- 
 tion before  he  ofiFered  the  sacrifice  of  himself ;  he  was  always  separated 
 from  sinners  in  character  and  behaviour.  And  made  higher  than  the 
 heavens,  '  and  higher  than  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  heavens,  the  angels.' 
 27.  Daily,  kuC'  ijfxepav,  '  from  time  to  time.'  For  the  high  priests 
 offered  sacrifice  oidy  one  day  in  the  year ;  namely,  on  the  tenth  of  the 
 seventh  month.  For  this  he  did  once,  *  for  this  latter  he  did  once' — 
 i.  e.,  '  for  himself  he  offered  no  sacrifice ;  and  for  the  sins  of  the  people 
 he  offered  sacrifice  only  once,  when  he  offered  up  himself.*  28.  Maketh, 
 '  constituteth.'— il/'c/fH. 
 
 Chap.  Vlli. — 1.  The  sum,  the  arguments  in  the  foregoing  chapters, 
 OD  the  superiority  of  Christ's  priesthood,  are  here  summed  up.  and 
 further  proved  from  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Testament.— Py/r. 
 Who  is  set,  fyc.,  and  so  incomparably  excels  all  others. — Guyse.  2.  Of 
 the  sanctuary,  or,  '  in  the  most  holy  place.' — Scott.  The  heavenly 
 one,  so  called  in  allusion  to  the  holy  of  holies,  the  type  of  it. — Gill. 
 The  true  tabernacle,  we  learo  frum  chap.  is.  24,  compared  with 
 ver.  23,  that  the  holy  of  hoUes,  made  with  hands,  were  the  figures  of 
 the  true,  even  of  that  heaven  wherein  is  the  peculiar  residence  of 
 God.  Hence,  Christ  is  here  called  '  a  minister  of  the  true  tabernacle,' 
 &c.,  (see  also  chap.  ix.  11.) — Par.;  so  Baxter,  Mackn.,  M'Lean, 
 A.  Clarke.  It  .seems  most  obvious  to  explain  '  the  true  tabernacle'  tu 
 signify  the  whole  church  of  the  redeemed,  who  are  *  the  habitation  'if 
 God,'  Sec. — Scott.  The  sanctuary  seems  put  for  heaven,  and  the 
 tabernacle  fnr  Christ's  human  nature. — P.  Smith,  as  Owen,  Gutjse, 
 and  GUI.  Mnckniglit  and  A.  Clarke  render  the  text  *a  minister  of 
 the  holy  [thmgs  nr]  places,'  i.  e.,  says  Macknight,  the  heavenly  taber- 
 nacle. '  He,'  says  Clarke,  '  performs  "the  holy  things,"  or  acts,  in 
 tlie  true  tabernacle.  Heaven,  of  which  the  Jewish  tabernacle  was  the 
 type.'  Which  the  Lord  pitched— &ee  Ps.  xxxiii.  6. —  Whitby.  3.  For 
 even/ high  priest,  fyc,  fur  the  special  business  of  every  high  priest  is 
 to  present  oblations  and  sacrifices  of  atonement.  4.  For  if  he  were 
 on  earth,  he  shmtld  not  be  a  priest,  he  could  not  have  officiated  as 
 High  Priest,  that  office  being  only  filled  by  the  sons  of  Aaron. — Guyse. 
 Gifts,  dtopa,  also  comprehends  pmpitiatory  sacrifices.  —  Greenfield. 
 5.  Who  serve,  fyc,  who  minister  in  that  tabernacle,  and  do  the  service 
 of  it,  which  was  a  typical  draught  and  shadowy  representation  of  the 
 true  tabernacle,  in  which  our  blessed  Lord  now  tifficiates  in  heaven, 
 as  an  intercessory  High  Priest.  Intimations  of  this  were  given  to 
 Moses  when  he  was  commanded  to  be  so  particular  in  framing  the 
 tabernacle ;  the  model  of  which,  as  it  was  of  heavenly  origin,  was  a 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VIL  —  Let  us  here  notice,  I.  Mel- 
 chisedec's  priesthood  tifpicol  of  Christ's.  Christ  was  truly  *  Kinf; 
 of  righteousness*  and  '  King  of  peace.'  He  fultilled  all 
 righteousness  in  the  course  of  his  obedience,  and  made  peace 
 by  the  blood  of  bis  cross  ;  and  by  bis  Spirit  he  renews  bis 
 people,  and  enables  them  to  follow  and  practise  righteousness, 
 and  imparts  peace  and  joy  to  their  hearts. 
 
 II.  Christ's  priesthuod  superior  to  the  Lemticnl.  His  is  an 
 unchanging  priesthood,  and  therefore  its  efficacy  shall  ever  re- 
 1301 
 
 main.  He  is  a  spotless  priest,  and  therefore  he  needs  attend  to 
 no  purification  but  that  of  his  people  ;  and  his  sacrifice  and  in- 
 tercession cannot  fail.  He  ever  lives  in  the  highest  heavens ; 
 lives,  we  can  never  want  an   all-sufficient 
 
 and  as  he  ever 
 Intercessor. 
 
 *  He  ever  lives  to  intercede 
 Before  his  Father's  face  ; 
 Give  him,  my  soul,  thy  cause  to  plead. 
 Nor  doubt  the  Father's  grace.'  ** 
 
The  ffospel  covenant. 
 
 HEBREWS,  IX. 
 
 The  rites  of  the  law 
 
 things  according  to  tlie  pattern  shewed  to  tliee 
 ill  the  mount. 
 
 6  But  now  ""hath  he  obtained  a  more  excel- 
 lent ministry,  by  how  much  also  he  is  tlie  me- 
 diator of  a  better  ||  covenant,  wliich  was  esta- 
 blished upon  better  promises. 
 
 7  '  For  if  that  first  covenant  had  been  fault- 
 less, then  should  no  place  have  been  sought 
 for  the  second. 
 
 8  For  finding  fault  with  them,  he  saith,  i*  Be- 
 hold, the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord,  when  I 
 will  make  a  new  covenant  with  the  house  of 
 Israel  and  vvitli  the  house  of  Judah  : 
 
 9  Not  according  to  the  covenant  that  I  made 
 with  their  fathers  in  the  day  when  I  took  them 
 by  the  hand  to  lead  them  out  of  the  land  of 
 Egypt;  because  they  continued  not  in  my 
 covenant,  and  I  regarded  them  not,  saith  the 
 Lord. 
 
 10  For  'this  is  the  covenant  that  I  will  make 
 with  the  house  of  Israel  after  those  days,  saith 
 the  Lord  ;  I  will  f  put  my  laws  into  their  mind, 
 and  write  them  ||  iti  their  hearts :  and  "'  I  will 
 be  to  them  a  God,  and  they  shall  be  to  me  a 
 people  : 
 
 1 1  And  "  they  shall  not  teach  every  man  his 
 neighbour,  and  every  man  his  brother,  saying, 
 Know  tlie  Lord:  for  all  shall  know  me,  from 
 the  least  to  tlie  greatest. 
 
 I "2  For  I  will  be  merciful  to  their  unrighteous- 
 ness, "and  their  sins  and  their  inic|iiities  will  I 
 remember  no  more. 
 
 II  Or. 
 Ititn  mrni. 
 
 k  Jer.  .SI. SI, 
 3-',  33,  »1. 
 
 i!tom.ll.-J7 
 .li.   10.  17. 
 
 p  a  Cor.S,  17. 
 
 />  Kx.  26.  1. 
 e  Kx   -'O.rta. 
 
 «(   til.   t 
 ./  Kx   2.T   SI, 
 ff  i-x,  Jo.  "iS. 
 
 3iP    Lev.  21. 
 
 .'>.  G. 
 II  Oi-,  h^l^^, 
 J  Kx    •Hi'.M, 
 
 ;U   i  +11   .H, 
 
 -I   ch  It  19. 
 !/  Kx   -JJ.  I". 
 
 Mr  :;i>  ;i.'t,  & 
 
 lit.  x  -n 
 h  Kx.  10.  a.i. 
 
 *  Kx.  a.-i  I 
 
 ■ji  (« 31.!; 
 
 II.  12.  IS, 
 -HI.  ver    25. 
 .  ch.  5.  3.  b 
 
 13  '■  111  that  he  saith,  A  \\^\\  covenant^  hehatli 
 made  the  first  old.  Now  that  which  decayeth 
 and  waxeth  old  is  ready  to  vanish  away. 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 I  The  description  of  the  rites  and  bhodj/  sacr/Jicvs  of 
 the  law,  1 1  fiir  inferior  to  the  diffuiti/  and  ptrfcrtion 
 if  the  blood  and  sacrifce  if  Christ. 
 
 ''PHEN    verily   the  first   covenant   had    also 
 -*-    II  ordinances    of  divine    service,    and   "  a 
 
 worhlly  sanctuary. 
 '2    ''  For  there  was  a  tabernacle  made ;    the 
 
 first,  ^  wherein  was  "^  the  candlestick,  and  ^  tlie 
 
 table,  and    the   shewbread ;   which   is   called 
 
 II  tlie  sanctuary. 
 
 3  '  And  after  the  second  veil,  the  tabernacle 
 which  is  called  the  tloliest  of  all  ; 
 
 4  Wliich  had  the  golden  censer,  and  ^  the 
 ark  of  the  covenant  overlaid  round  about  with 
 gold,  wherein  icas  "  the  golden  pot  that  had 
 manna,  and  *  Aaron's  rod  that  budded,  and 
 ''  the  tables  of  the  covenant ; 
 
 5  And  '  over  it  the  cherubims  of  glory  sha- 
 dowing the  mercyseat ;  of  which  we  cannot 
 now  speak  particularly. 
 
 ()  Now  when  these  things  were  thus  ordained, 
 "'the  priests  went  always  into  the  first  taber- 
 nacle, accomplishing  the  service  of  Gixl. 
 
 7  But  into  the  second  wint  the  high  priest 
 alone  "once  every  year,  not  witluuit  blood, 
 "which  be  offered  for  himself,  and  for  the 
 errors  of  the  people  : 
 
 tyi-ifal  platform  of  the  inhabitation  of  the  Deity  in  the  tabernacle  of 
 Christ's  human  nature,  in  which  he  ministers  in  the  heavenly  sanc- 
 tuary.—fff/i/sc.  6.  Huth  he  obtnined  a  more  excellent  ministn/, 
 \eiTorpyuiw,  or  priestly  service.— .I/'Amt?.  By  this  singular  appoint- 
 ment of  Gnd  his  Father,  than  all  that  ever  was  exercised  before  him 
 under  the  old  covenant  tlispensation.  Belter  promises,  more  spiritual, 
 advantageous,  and  heavenly,  extensive  and  absolute.— G'///sf.  7.  Htid 
 h'-pn  fault'fss,  if  sinners  coul-i  Imve  been  sanctified  and  pardoned 
 r\\Qiehy.~Mni-kn.  ^.  For  finding  fault  with  them,  both  with  the 
 covenant  and  the  people  who  continued  not  in  it.—Gill.  He  s/iith, 
 Itfhnld,  .fc.  'God  saith  to  the  Israelites,  (Jer.  xxxi.  31,)  BehoM.'  ftc— 
 Mdckn.  g.  Because  theij  eotttinued  not,  8fc.,  because,  throuf^h  the 
 treachery  ol  their  own  hearts,  which  that  covenant  of  peculiarity,  as 
 such,  dill  not  absolutely  provide  afjainst,  they  were  not  stcadfa.st  in  it, 
 but  despisL'd  and  made  it  void  by  breaking  through  all  its  sacred  bonds. 
 &c.  10.  Put  my  laws  into  their  jnind,  '  enlighten  and  renew  tlieir 
 understandings,  that  they  may  behold  the  spirituality,  puniy.  and 
 extent  of  the  moral  law,  by  an  inward  operation  on  iheir  minds.' — 
 Guyse.  And  I  tvilt  he  to  thfm  u  God,  he  was  the  Goii  and  Kathor  of 
 Christ,  our  Mediator,  and  being  so  to  him  in  this  covenant,  he  became, 
 by  virtue  thereof,  our  God  and  Father,  (John.  xx.  i";  Heb.  ii.  12,  i:t;) 
 and  we  became  heirs  of  God,  and  joint  heirs  with  Christ;  his  people, 
 to  yield  him  all  sincere  obedience.- J,  Ohv-h,  11.  And  they  shall  not 
 teach,  fyr.,  they  shall  have  a  much  more  certain  and  effectual  teaching 
 than  they  can  derive  from  one  another.— /J««/(/r.  This  is  not  designed 
 to  exclude  all  public  and  private,  ministerial,  family  and  social,  in- 
 struction, for  this  is  enforced  in  the  New-Testament  institution  of  a 
 gospel  ministry  to  continue  to  the  consummation  of  all  things,  (Matt, 
 xxviii. -.io,  and  Eph.  iv.  n,  12,  13.)  See,  also.theduty  of  parents,  Eph. 
 vi.  -1 ;  and  mutual  instruction,  fcc,  enforced  in  this  epistle,  chap.  iii. 
 13  ;  X.  24,  25.  This  passage  must  therefore  be  taken  in  a  comparative 
 sense,  or  in  reference  to  the  obscure  manner  of  teaching  under  the 
 law.  All—\.  e.,  all  Sion's  chddren  shall  be  efficaciously  taught  by  my 
 Spirit.  12-  For  I  will  be  rnt^rcifnl.  ^r.,  '  there  shall  be  no  obstruc- 
 tion to  the  free  communications  of  my  grace.*— Gt/i/se.  13.  Ready 
 to  t^anish  nwiy,  €77179  a0ai'<ff;ioi',  '  is  about  to  be  abolished.'— C/«j'/f«. 
 
 Chap.  IX.  —  I,  Ordinances  o/dirine  seri'ice — to  shew  that  the  Sinaitic 
 covenant  wa.s  justly  laid  aside,  the  ai)ostle  judged  it  necessai-y  to  enter 
 into  a  particular  examination  of  the  religious  services  which  it  en- 
 joined, and  to  prove  that  these  were  designed,  not  for  cleansing  the 
 
 conscience  of  the  worshippers,  but  to  prefigure  the  services  of  the 
 new  covenant,  so  that  there  was  now  no  longer  occasion  for  contiuu- 
 ini^  thcm.—Muckn.  A  worldly  sanctunry,  made  of  materials  belonging 
 to  this  world,  and  so  not  lasting.— IFe/Zs,  Poole,  Doddr.  Not  because 
 it  was  made  of  worldly  materials,  but  because  it  was  deemed,  by  the 
 Jews,  typical  of  the  world.  The  outward  tabernacle  typical  of  earlli 
 and  sea,  and  the  inner,  of  heaven.— So  Muckn.  2.  The  Jirst,  '  tiie 
 outward  taljeniacle.'- J/'/rA-n. .-  that  is.  the  first  part  of  the  tabernacle, 
 called  the  holy  place,  in  distinction  from  the  holy  of  holies,  which  was 
 the  second  part  of  the  tabernacle. — Gill.  Called  the  sanctuary,  or  the 
 holy  place  ;  that  is.  the  common  place  of  pubUc  worsliip. — Pyle.  3.  The 
 secimtl  reil.  the  first  veil  was  spread  between  the  court  of  the  people 
 and  the  sanctuary,  {Exod.  xxvi.  36  ;)  and  the  second  veil,  of  which  the 
 apostle  here  speaks,  was  that  which  separated  the  sanctuary  from  the 
 holy  pla.cc.— Mar.  The  scripture  speaks  of  but  one  veil,  (Exod.  xxvi. 
 3 1  ;)  there  was  a  hanging  for  the  door  of  the  tent,  but  that  is  not  called 
 a  veU  ;  hut  in  the  second  temple,  under  which  the  apostle  lived,  there 
 were  two  veils,  which  divided  between  the  holy  place  and  tlie  holy  of 
 holies,  and  there  was  the  space  of  a  cubit  between  them.  The  taber- 
 nacle, or  that  part  of  it,  the  second  part.— Gi//.  4.  H'hirh  had  the 
 golden  center,  means  the  golden  altar. — Owen.  The  golden  censer  is 
 correct. — McLean.  There  were  various  censers  used  by  the  priests  in 
 daily  service,  but  this  was  a  pecuUar  one,  which  was  used  by  the  high 
 priest  on  the  day  of  atonement ;  on  other  days  he  used  a  silver  censer, 
 but  on  that  day  a  golden  one  ;  and  with  it  he  entered  into  the  holy  of 
 holies;  and  though  Moses  does  not  call  it  a  golden  one,  (Lev.  xvi.  12,) 
 yet  Josephus  does,  (Antiq.,  1.  3.)—Gill.  [For  the  funuture  S;c.  of  the 
 tabernacle,  mentioned  in  this  chapter,  and  not  noticed  in  the  notes, 
 refer  to  the  scriptures  in  the  marginal  references,  and  to  the  Index  to 
 Notes  at  the  end  of  the  volume.]  ti.  Ordained,  *  set  in  order.'  Ac- 
 ci'mplisliinii,  '  performing.'  The  serpice  of  God,  those  ordinary  ser- 
 vices which  were  required  in  their  daily  ministration.  —  lip.  Hnil. 
 7.  Once,  on  the  great  day  of  expiation.- /f'(m.  On  that  day  the  priest 
 entered  into  the  holy  of  holies  several  times.  (Lev.  xvi.  12,  15,  17.) — 
 Whitby.  Errors,  any  wilful  sins. — Schleusncr.  All  such  sins  as  were 
 not  committed  wUfully  and  presumptuously. — Ham.  Sins  committed 
 tlu'ough  ignorance.— 5^ e/jAwi.  The  apostle  uses  the  wor<i  a'^vot\p.an-iv, 
 which  signifies  sins  of  ignorance,  to  distinguish  them  from  eapitjil 
 offences  and  presumptuous  sins,  for  which  no  sacrifices  were  provided 
 by  the  law  of  Moses,  bnt  the  sinner  was  to  die  without  mercy,  (Nuni. 
 
 Ri  FLECTIONS  ON  CtiAP.  VIIT We  here  see  tiie  superior 
 
 blessings  enjoyed  by  Christians  in  comparison  with  those  en- 
 joyed by  the  Jews.  Tins  is  manifest— I.  * /«  havlntj  Christ 
 Jnr  our  Hifjh  Priest,  who  is  not  like  those  weak  and  mortal  men 
 that  served  in  the  figurative  fabrics  of  the  tabernacle  and  the 
 temple,  built  by  the  hands  of  men,  but  one  that  is  exalted  into 
 heaven,  the  very  throne  and  habitation  of  God,  there  to  inter- 
 ct^de  for  us.' 
 
 I  [.  In  having  '  a  neiv  and  better  covenant,  of  which  our  Lord 
 is  the  Medinfor.      Tliis  is  well  ordered  in  all  lbint.'s  and  sure. 
 
 It  is  established  on  better  promises  than  the  Sinai  covenant  ; 
 promises  of  the  richest  spiritual  blessings,  f  n  it,  God  engages 
 to  be  a  God  to  liis  people,  and  to  secure  their  love  and  oho. 
 dience  to  himsi-lf;  to  be  merciful  to  their  unrighteousness, 
 and  never  to  remember  their  sins  against  them  ;  to  teach  them 
 his  own  holy  will,  and  to  bring  them  to  a  saving  acquaintance 
 with  himself;  yea,  to  put  his  law  into  their  minds,  and  to 
 write  it  on  tlieir  liearts,  and  to  keep  and  preserve  them  from 
 final  apostasy.  Happy  are  tlio  peo[>!e  who  are  thus  in  cove- 
 nant with  God  !'  ^-' 
 
The  rites  of  the  laio 
 
 IIKliRKWS,  IX. 
 
 inffvior  to  the  sacrifice  of  Christ. 
 
 8  ^  The  Holy  Ghost  tliis  signifying,  tliat  ''the 
 way  into  the  lioliest  of  all  wtis  nut  yet  made 
 manifest,  while  as  the  first  tabernacle  was  yet 
 standing : 
 
 9  Which  ivas  a  fignre  for  the  time  then  pre- 
 sent, in  which  were  offered  both  gifts  and  sacri- 
 fices, '  that  could  not  make  him  that  did  the 
 service  perfect,  as  pertaining  to  the  conscience  ; 
 
 10  Which  stood  only  in  'meats  and  drinks, 
 and  Mivers  washings,  "and  carnal  ||  ordinances, 
 imposed  07i  tfiem  until  the  time  of  reformation. 
 
 1 1  But  Christ  being  come  ^'an  higli  priest  ^of 
 good  things  to  come,  ^  by  a  greater  and  more 
 perfect  tabernacle,  not  made  with  hands,  that 
 is  to  say,  not  of  this  building  ; 
 
 12  Neither  ""by  the  blood  of  goats  and  calves, 
 but  *"  by  his  own  blood  he  entered  in  '^  once 
 into  the  holy  place,  "^  having  obtained  eternal 
 redemption  /(;/■  its. 
 
 13  For  if  ■■■  tlie  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats, 
 and  ""the  ashes  of  an  lieifer  sprinkling  the  un- 
 clean, sanctifieth  to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh  : 
 
 14  How  much  more  ^  shall  the  blood  of 
 Clu-ist,  '■  who  through  the  eternal  Spirit  '  offer- 
 ed himself  without  ||  spot  to  God,  ''purge  your 
 conscience  from  '  dead  works  "'  to  serve  the 
 living  God? 
 
 15  "And  for  this  cause  °he  is  the  mediator 
 of  the  new  testament,  ''that  by  means  of  death, 
 for  the  redemption  of  the  transgressions  thut 
 
 ocb.  7.  23.  &8.  C.&.  12.  21       ;»  Rom.  S  25.  &  5.  6 
 
 }i  L-U.  10.  19. 
 
 211 
 q  .InhD  14. fi- 
 r  Gal.  S.21. 
 
 cli,7.  18,)fl. 
 
 &   10.  1,  II 
 J  Lev.  1 1 .  2. 
 
 Col,  2.  16. 
 t  Num.  19.7, 
 
 &c. 
 u  Eph.  2   15. 
 
 Gill.  2.  20. 
 
 cli.  7.  Ili. 
 II  Or.n/.-i,<.r, 
 
 cerrinuuin. 
 x  cli.3.  1. 
 Vch.  lU.  1. 
 :  cb.  8.  2. 
 (I  cli.  II).  -1 
 6  Acts  20.^8. 
 
 Eph.  I.  :. 
 
 Col.  I.  14. 
 
 I  Pet.  1. 19. 
 
 Rev.  1.5.  & 
 
 5.  9. 
 c  Zech.  S  9. 
 
 vev  2li.  28. 
 
 cli    10.  10. 
 d  Daii.  9  2+. 
 e  Lev.  16.11, 
 
 ir>. 
 /Nuin    19. 
 
 2,  17,  «,c 
 ff  I  Ptft.  I  19, 
 
 I  Join     ■    - 
 
 He' 
 
 I    5. 
 
 h  H 
 
 I  Pet.  3.  18. 
 .  Eph.  2.  5. 
 
 Tit.  2.  11. 
 
 ch.  7  27. 
 |[  Or,  fault, 
 k  ch,  1.3.  & 
 
 10,  22. 
 /ch.  6.  1. 
 m  Lukel.74 
 
 Rom.  6.  13, 
 
 2,',  1  Pot. 
 
 4,  2, 
 n  ITim   «,.';, 
 
 I  Pet.  3    IS, 
 
 A.  L».  61. 
 <j  ch.  3.  I. 
 
 I  Or,  6- 
 bT..nght  i/i. 
 -■  Qui.  3.  15. 
 
 t  Kx.  24    C, 
 
 Kc. 
 II  Or. 
 
 purified. 
 
 I  Ex  2\.  5, 
 <;,  H.  I,ev. 
 Ili.  II,  la. 
 
 II  Or.  ,..,r,./f 
 .1   Kv    2V.  8. 
 
 Mitt,2'i   ■£?: 
 
 15,  ly  xl  Hi 
 It,  i:>.  16, 
 
 IS,  19 
 
 I  Lov    17.11 
 a  ch.  8,  6. 
 
 6  ch.  G.  20. 
 
 c  ch.  8.  2. 
 d  Koin.S  :M. 
 
 ch,  7,  2.^1. 
 
 1  .lohn  2.  I . 
 
 ivcre  under  tlie  first  testament,  **  they  which 
 are  called  might  receive  the  promise  of  eternal 
 inheritance. 
 
 M)  For  wliere  a  testament  is,  there  must  also 
 of  necessity  ||  be  the  death  of  the  testator. 
 
 17  For  "^a  testament  is  of  force  after  men  are 
 dead :  otherwise  it  is  of  no  strength  at  all 
 wliile  the  testator  liveth. 
 
 IS  "Whereupon  neither  the  first  testament 
 was  II  dedicated  without  blood. 
 
 19  For  when  Moses  had  spoken  every  precept 
 to  all  the  people  according  to  the  law,  Mie  took 
 the  blood  of  calves  and  of  goats,  "with  water, 
 and  II  scarlet  wool,  and  hyssop,  and  sprinkled 
 both  the  book,  and  all  tlie  people, 
 
 '20  Saying,  ^  This  is  the  blood  of  the  testa- 
 ment which  God  hath  injoined  unto  you. 
 
 21  Moreover  "he  sprinkled  with  blood  both 
 the  tabernacle,  and  all  the  vessels  of  the 
 ministry. 
 
 '22  And  almost  all  tilings  are  by  the  law 
 purged  with  blood  ;  and  '"  without  shedding  of 
 blood  is  no  remission. 
 
 23  It  was  therefore  necessary  that  "  the  pat- 
 terns of  things  in  the  heavens  should  be  puri- 
 fied witli  these  ;  but  the  heavenly  things  them- 
 selves with  better  sacrifices  tliau  these. 
 
 24  For  ^  Christ  is  not  entered  into  the  holy 
 places  made  with  hands,  which  are  the  figures 
 of  ^  the  true  ;  but  into  heaven  itself,  now  "^to 
 appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us : 
 
 XV.  30,  31  ;  Hcb.  X.  1^.)—M'Lean.  8.  The  Huh/  Ghofit  this  signify- 
 ing,  ^e. — signifying:,  by  this  difficulty  of  enti'ance,  and  the  iiccessity 
 of  the  incense-cloud,  and  the  atoniufj;  blood,  that  the  way  into  the 
 holiest  place — that  is,  into  God's  immediate  presence — *  was  not  yet 
 made  manifest,  while  the  fii"st  tabernacle  had  its  continuance,  and 
 retained  its  station  and  use ;'  or,  in  other  words,  while  the  Jewish 
 economy  lasted. — Doddr.  g.  Vrrfect,  cw  pertaining  to  the  conscience, 
 had  no  power  or  virtue  to  acquit  and  justify  him  that  did  that  service, 
 and  to  appease  and  clear  the  conscience  on  spiritual  matters. — Bp.  Haft. 
 
 10.  Ihitil  the  time  of  reformat  tun,  till  the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  when 
 the  .Tews  themselves  expected   a  reforraatinn   of  the  law. — Whitfnf. 
 
 11.  But  Christ  being  come,  irapa-yevofievov,  may  perhaps  be  rendered, 
 *  being  made,'  as  some  uurierstaud  it. — M'Lean.  An  hit^h  priest,  or 
 Mediator. — Mackn.  Of  good  things  to  come,  '  of  future  blessings, 
 through  a  greater,'  &c. — i^tuart.  By  a  greater  ntid  more  perfect  taher- 
 nricle,  '  through'  the  services  '  of  the  greater  and  more  excellent  taber- 
 nacle.'— Mackn. ;  meaning  the  human  body  of  Christ,  which  was 
 greater  than  Moses'  tabernacle,  iu  value,  worth,  and  dignity. — Gill. 
 Meaiung  tlie  tabernacle  of  the  heavens. — Bp.  Felt.  The  probability  is, 
 that  tlie  writer  compared,  in  his  own  raiud,  the  visible  heavens,  through 
 which  Jesus  passed  in  his  ascension  on  high,  (chap.  iv.  J4;  vi.  20; 
 viii.  1,  2,)  with  the  veil  which  separated  the  outer  sanctuary  of  the 
 Jewish  temple  from  the  inner  one  ;  the  clouds,  or  sky,  (which  conceal 
 the  temple  above  from  our  view,)  being  resembled  to  the  veil  of  the 
 inner  temple.  Be  this  as  it  may,  he  explicitly  declares  that  he  does 
 not  mean  a  material  sanctuaiy. — Stuart.  Not  of  this  building,  KTiaew-;, 
 '  creation.'  Not  of  the  materials  of  this  lower  world,  nor  of  the  order 
 of  created  things.  The  tabernacle  and  temple  were  only  temporary 
 figures  of  the  true  habitation  of  Deity. — M'Lean.  I'J.  By  his  own 
 bluod,  the  essence  of  the  sacrifice  consisted  in  its  death.  But  because 
 its  death  was  effected  by  the  shedding  of  the  aiumal's  blood,  and  was 
 shewed  by  sitrinkling  it  in  the  holy  places,  the  higli  priest  was  said  to 
 enter  into  the  inward  tabernacle  by  the  efficacy  of  the  blood. — Mackn. 
 Christ  carried  his  blood,  not  in  a  basin,  as  the  high  priest  carried  the 
 blood  of  goats  and  calves,  but  in  his  veins ;  and  by  it,  having  hecn  shed 
 by  him.  he  entered,  not  into  the  holy  place  made  with  hands,  but  into 
 heaven  itself,  once  for  all. — Gilt.  Eternal  redemption— nAinely,  from 
 the  grave,  and  from  future  punishment,  followed  by  admission  into 
 heaven,  tliere  to  live  eternally  with  God  in  unspeakable  feUcity. — 
 Mackn.  This  is  called  an  '  eternal  redemption,'  because  it  extends  to 
 the  saints  in  all  ages,  backwards  and  forwards  ;  it  includes  eternal  life 
 and  happiness;  and  such  as  are  sharers  in  it  shall  never  perish,  but 
 shall  be  saved  with  an  everlasting  salvation;  it  is  so  called,  iu  oppo- 
 sition to  the  carnal  expiations  of  the  high  priests,  and  in  distinc- 
 tion from  temporal  redemptions,  deliverances,  and  salvations. — Gi/f. 
 13.  Sanctijieth,  ^c,  removed  all  legal  pollutions,  and  restored  the  un- 
 clean, when  sprinkled  with  them,  to  the  service  of  the  tabernacle, 
 (Num.  xix.) — Stanh.  14.  Through  the  eternal  Spirit — Christ  is  said 
 to  have  offered  himself  through  the  eternal  Spirit,  because  he  was 
 raised  from  the  dead  by  the  Spirit,  (1  Pet.  iii.  18;)  consequently,  he 
 was  enabled  by  the  Spirit  to  offer  himself  to  God  ;  that  is,  to  present 
 his  crucified  body  before  the  throne  of  God  in  heaven,  (see  Heh.  viii. 
 6.) — Mackn.    Christ  is  often  said  to  do  such  and  such  things  by  tlie 
 
 1303 
 
 Holy  Spirit ;  and  as  the  Holy  Ghost  formed  and  filled  the  human  nature 
 of  Christ,  so  he  assisted  and  supported  it  under  sulTcrings.  The  whole 
 clause  is  inserted  by  way  of  paienthesis. — Gill.  15.  And  for  this 
 cause,  '  and  for  bringing  about  this  great  end.'  He  is  the  mediator, 
 ^•r.— Jesus  has  undertaken  and  is  engaged  in  tlie  office  of  the  Me- 
 diator of  the  new  and  better  covenant  already  spoken  of,  (chap.  viii. 
 6,  8.)  By  meatts  of  death,  ^c. — not  of  legal  sacrifit-es,  but  of  his  meri- 
 torious death  for  the  remission  of  sin,  and  deliverance  of  sinners  from 
 the  guilt  and  punishment  of  those  iniquities  wliich  were  committed 
 under  the  Old  as  well  as  New  Testament;  they  who  are  effectually 
 called  to  the  faith  of  Christ,  whether  before  or  alter  his  death,  might, 
 in  virtue  of  it,  be  made  partakers  of  the  great  promise  made  to  Abra- 
 ham, (Gen.  xxii.  18,)  which  included  all  the  hlessuigs  of  grace  and 
 glory.  Testament,  is  the  word  used  in  this  verse,  because  the  new 
 and  better  covenant  carries  the  natiue  of  a  testamentary  disposition.— 
 So  Gnyse.  The  rendering  should  have  been,  '  covenant.'  *  The  me- 
 diator" of  a  testament'  is  a  very  improper  expression.— So  Doddridge. 
 Aia(*i|Kri,  the  word  here  rendered  testament,  ought  to  be  covenant,  as 
 in  the  preceding  chapter.— il/.  Good ;  so  Scott.  By  calling  Christ  'the 
 Mediator  of  the  new  testament.'  our  thoughts  are  turned  away  entirety 
 from  the  view  which  the  Scriptures  give  us  of  his  death  as  a  sacrifice 
 for  sin  ;  whereas,  if  he  is  called  '  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,' 
 which  is  the  true  translation  of  the  words  hia.9r\nr]<:  K'uvnv  fitcirn^,  that 
 appellation  directly  suggests  to  us,  that  the  new  covenant  was  pro- 
 cured and  ratified  by  his  death  as  a  sacrifice  for  sin, — Mackn.  \6.  For 
 ivhere  a  testament  is,  fyc.—in  the  very  nature  and  reason  of  things,  and 
 according  to  the  universal  law  and  custom  of  all  nations,  when  any 
 last  vrill  or  testament  is  made,  the  death  of  the  party  who  therein  dis- 
 posed of  his  own  goods  is  necessary  ;  and  the  proof  of  it  must  be  pro- 
 duced {^ffxatiat)  to  give  it  effect,  in  order  to  its  being  executed.— 
 Guyse.  Now,  wherever  there  is  *  a  covenant,  there  must  necessarily 
 take  place  the  death  of  the  victim,  [rov  iiaift^evov,  the  appointed  sacri- 
 fice ;]  for  a  covenant  is  confirmed  over  the  dead  ;  whereas,  it  is  of  no 
 force  while  the  victim  still  lives.'— JVeu'  Tra7ts.  ofHeb.,  1831  *  1  say, 
 it  is  in  consequence  of  his  undergoing  death  that  he  cffect\iaUy  secures 
 these  blessuigs  to  us  by  his  covenant;  for,  where  a  covenant  [is]  an- 
 swerable to  that  which  tj'pifi^d  this  of  what  1  now  speak,  it  neces- 
 sarily imports  the  death  of  that  by  which  the  covenant  is  confirmed. 
 17.  For  a  testament,  Sfc,  '  for  you  know  that  sacrificial  rites  have  ever 
 attended  the  most  celebrated  covenants  which  God  hath  made  with 
 men  ;  so  that  I  may  say,  "  a  covenant  is  confirmed  over  the  dead  ;  so 
 that  it  does  not  avail,"  nor  has  any  force  at  all,  "  while  he  by  whom  it 
 is  confirmed  liveUi."  '—Duddr.  While  tlie  devisor  lives  he  may  alter 
 his  will ;  and  therefore  his  death  must  be  proved  in  order  to  give  the 
 will  force.  And  in  covenants,  till  the  blood  was  shed,  no  bargain  was 
 struck.— S^/«A.  18.  Whereupon,  ."iy.—' hence,  not  even  the  first 
 covenant,'  &c. ;  not  even  the  covenant  of  Sinai  was  made  without 
 sacrifice. — Mackn.  The  first  testament,  the  first  administratiou  of  the 
 covenant  of  grace  under  the  law,  (Exod.  xxiv.  7,  %.)~Gill.  22.  Al- 
 most  alt  ?/;(H^s— metals  were  purified  by  fire,  and  clothes  by  water,  as 
 exceptions;  see  Num.  xxxi.  23;  Lev.  xvi.  28.— S^n«^.  23.  Better 
 sacrifices — the  plural  is  here  put,  by  an  analogy  of  number,  for  '  a 
 better  sacrifice,'  in  an  antithesis  to  the  legal  sacrifices  j  because  this  is 
 
The  weakness  of  the  law  sacrifices. 
 
 HEBREWS,  X. 
 
 Christ's  perfect  sacrifice. 
 
 25  Nor  yet  that  he  should  offer  himself  often, 
 as  '  the  high  priest  enteretli  into  the  holy 
 place  every  year  with  blood  of  others  ; 
 
 26  For  then  must  he  often  have  suSered  since 
 the  foundation  of  the  world  :  but  now  '  once 
 ^  in  the  end  of  the  world  hath  he  appeared  to 
 put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself. 
 
 27  i"  And  as  it  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to 
 die, '  but  after  this  the  judgment : 
 
 28  So  '  Christ  was  once  '  ofl'ered  to  bear  the 
 sins  "  of  many  ;  and  unto  them  that  "  look  for 
 him  shall  he  appear  the  second  time  without 
 sin  unto  salvation. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 1    The  weakness  of  the  law  sacrijices.     10  The  sacrifice 
 
 of  ChrisCs  body  (mce  offereii,   \4  for  ever  hat/i  taken 
 
 awai/  sins.     19  An  exhortation  to  holdfast  the  faith, 
 
 with  patience  and  thaJtksyivinij. 
 TJ'OR  the  law  having  "a  shadow  ^  of  good 
 -^  things  to  come,  and  not  the  very  image  of 
 the  things,  '^  can  never  with  those  sacrifices 
 wiiich  they  oifered  year  by  year  continually 
 make  the  comers  thereunto  *■  perfect. 
 
 2  For  then  ||  would  they  not  have  ceased  to 
 be  offered  ?  because  that  the  worshippers  once 
 purged  should  have  had  no  more  conscience 
 of  sins. 
 
 ti  '^  But  in  those  sacrifices  there  is  a  remem- 
 brance again  made  of  sins  every  year. 
 
 4  For  ^  it  is  not  possible  that  the  blood  of 
 bulls  and  of  goats  should  take  away  sins. 
 
 5  Wherefore  when  he  cometh  into  the  world, 
 he  saith,  ^  Sacrifice  and  offering  thou  wouldest 
 not,  hut  a  body  ||  hast  thou  prepared  me  : 
 
 G    In   burnt  offerings  and  sacrifices    for  sin 
 thou  hast  had  no  pleasure. 
 7  Then  said  I,  Lo,  I  come  (in  the  volume  of 
 
 /'  ver.  12. 
 
 rli.  7.  27.  & 
 
 10.  10. 
 
 I  Pet.  3. 18. 
 ff  1  Cor.  10. 
 
 II. Gal. 4. 4 
 
 Eph.  I.  10. 
 h  Geu.  3    19. 
 
 Eccles.3.20. 
 ■  L'Cor  5.10. 
 
 Rev.  30.  li, 
 
 IS 
 k  Rom.  6.10. 
 
 I  Pet.  3.19. 
 /  I  Pet.  2  94. 
 
 1  Jiihi.  3.5. 
 m  Mat.  ^6. 
 
 23.  Rom.  5 
 15. 
 1  Tit.  2.  13 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  12. 
 
 d  ver.  14, 
 [1  Or,  tt#y 
 
 a^ul.l  hit!!' 
 
 ceni'ii  Ik  b- 
 
 OtUf,  ij-c. 
 
 «  Lev.  16.  21. 
 ch.  9.  7. 
 
 /  Mic.  6,  G. 
 7.  ch  9.  IS. 
 ver.  11. 
 
 y  Pa.  40.  6, 
 fic.  &  54t,  S 
 ttc.  la  (.11. 
 Jor.  a.  20. 
 Amofl  5.21 
 22. 
 
 li   Or,  ttinu 
 ha*l  fiUld 
 
 h  John  17. 
 oh    13. 
 
 k  Num,2S.3. 
 cli.  7.  27. 
 
 iV%    110   1. 
 .Arts  2.  ;«. 
 
 Ch.  I.  L-J. 
 )  ver.  1. 
 
 t  Some 
 
 copies  bnvp, 
 Then  httatd, 
 
 And  tlx'ir. 
 a  Kom.  5.  2. 
 
 Eph.  2.  13. 
 
 &  3.  12, 
 p  Or,  Ubtrly. 
 r  ch.  9.  8,12. 
 $  John  10.  9. 
 
 &  II.  6. 
 
 ch.  9.8. 
 Il  Or,  new 
 
 madf. 
 t  ch.  9.  3, 
 
 the  book  it  is  written  of  me,)  to  do  thy  will,  O 
 God. 
 
 8  Above  when  he  said.  Sacrifice  and  offering 
 and  burnt  offerings  and  offering  for  sin  thou 
 wouldest  not,  neither  hadst  pleasure  therein  ; 
 which  are  offered  by  the  law  ; 
 
 9  Then  said  he,  Lo,  I  come  to  do  thy  will,  O 
 God.  He  taketh  away  tlie  first,  that  he  may 
 establish  the  second. 
 
 10  ^  By  the  which  will  we  are  sanctified 
 '  througli  the  offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus 
 Christ  once  /b/*  ail. 
 
 11  And  every  priest  standeth  ''daily  minis' 
 tering  and  offering  oftentimes  the  same  sacri- 
 fices, '  which  can  never  take  away  sins  : 
 
 12  "^  But  this  man,  after  lie  had  offered  one 
 sacrifice  for  sins,  for  ever  sat  down  on  the  right 
 hand  of  God  ; 
 
 13  From  henceforth  expecting  "  till  bis  ene- 
 mies be  made  his  footstool. 
 
 14  For  by  one  offering  "^  he  hath  perfected 
 for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified. 
 
 15  Whereof  the  Holy  Gliost  also  is  a  witness 
 to  us :  for  after  that  he  liad  said  before, 
 
 IG  ■*  This  is  the  covenant  that  I  will  make 
 with  them  after  those  days,  saith  the  Lord,  I 
 will  put  my  laws  into  their  liearts,  and  in  tlieir 
 minds  will  I  write  them  ; 
 
 17  t  And  their  sins  and  iniquities  will  I  re- 
 member no  more. 
 
 IS  Now  where  remission  of  these  is,  there  is 
 no  more  offering  for  sin. 
 
 19  Having  therefore, brethren,'' ||  boldness  to 
 enter  Mnto  the  holiest  by  the  blood  of  Jesus, 
 
 20  By  "a  new  and  living  way,  which  he  hath 
 II  consecrated  for  us,  ^  through  the  veil,  that  is 
 to  say,  his  flesh  ; 
 
 more  emineDt  in  its  virtue  than,  and  includes  the  signification  of  all 
 those  sacrifices. — Gut/se.  25.  Xor  yet,  Sfc,  *  not  that  it  was  neces- 
 sary that  he  should  offer  himself  often.*— Dorfdr.,  Guyse,  Mai-kn. 
 ^6.  In  the  end  of  the  world,  avvje.\eta.  tinv  cmovtuv,  i.e.,  at  the  close  of 
 the  Jewish  dispensation. — Toplady.  '  '  At  the  conclusion  of  the  ages  ;* 
 meaning,  the  last  of  the  dispensations  which  God  ever  intended  to 
 give  mankind.— yjorfrfr.  Put  away  sin,  eic  aOeTtjaiv,  '  ahohshed  the 
 power  of  sin.  with  all  its  dreadlul  effecta.'—Gtiyse,  so  lioddr.  Abo- 
 lished the  Levitical  sin-offerings.  2".  Once  to  die—'  and  forasmuch 
 as  it  is  appointed  by  God  that  men  shall  die  but  once.' — Macknight. 
 28.  So  Christ,  fyc,  *  so  Christ  passed  through  one  death,  no  more  to  be 
 subject  to  the  possibility  of  it.'  ShaJl  he  appear,  ^r. — he  shall  come, 
 hkc  the  high  priest  in  his  richest  dress,  when  the  g-rand  act  of  ex- 
 piation  was  over,  without  anything  that  wear.s  the  marks  of  humi- 
 liation or  abasement,  or  resembles  the  form  iji  which  he  came  to  make 
 aji  atonement  for  sin.  Tliere  is,  doubtless,  as  Limhorch  supposes,  an 
 allusion  here  to  the  high  priest  coming  out  to  bless  the  people,  who 
 were  waiting  for  him  in  the  temple,  when  the  g^reat  day  of  atonement 
 was  over;  and  as  he  then  appeared  in  his  golden  garments,  whereas 
 before  he  had  officiated  in  the  plain  dress  of  a  common  priest ;  and  as 
 the  trumpet  of  the  jubilee,  on  that  year,  sounded  to  proclaim  its  com- 
 raencement,  nothing  could  be  more  suitable  to  the  mind  of  a  Jew  to 
 convey  the  aposUe's  idea.— So  Doddr.  Without  sin,  '  without  any  fur- 
 ther offering  for  sin.'— P^/p,  Whitbi/,  Stanh.,  Mackn.,  Stuart.  Having 
 the  glory  of  the  Shechinah  upon  him,  and  not  in  the  likeness  of  sinful 
 flesh. — Fleming. 
 
 Chap.  X. — 1.  A  shadow  of  good  things  to  come,  of  the  cleansing  of 
 the  mind ;  of  the  real  atonement  made  by  Christ ;  of  the  eternal  pardon 
 of  sin  procured  for  believers  by  this  atonement ;  of  access  to  worship 
 God  on  earth,  through  the  blood  of  Christ,  with  the  hope  of  accept- 
 ance ;  of  the  eternal  possession  of  the  heavenly  country,  through  be- 
 lieving and  obeying  the  gospel. — Mackn.  Image,  eiKuv,  may  be  used 
 for  the  essential  or  substantial  form  of  a  thing  ;  that  is,  for  the  very 
 thijig  itself,  as  opposed  to  its  shadow  or  delineation. — Par.  The  very 
 image  here  denotes  the  things  themselves  which  are  to  come  through 
 the  ministration  of  Christ.    Perfect,  in  respect  of  pardon.— J/acAr/i.,  so 
 
 Ham.  This  is  a  beautiful  allusion  to  the  different  states  of  a  picture, 
 the  first  sketch  being  contrasted  with  the  finished  and  exact  por- 
 traiture.— Pict.  Bih.  J.  Every  year,  on  the  great  annual  day  of  ex- 
 piation.—P^/e.  See  Lev.  x\i.  21.  4.  Not  possible,  there  is  no  effi- 
 cacy in  the  blood  of  a  brute  to  cleanse  away  tlie  spiritual  sin  of  man, 
 but  only  typically  in  relation  to  the  blood  of  Christ.  —  Bp.  FtU. 
 5.  When  he,  i.  e.,  Messiah.  A  body  hast  thou  prepared  me,  ataiin  6e 
 Kcnnp-riaa)  /lot,  SO  the  LXX  i  but  the  Hebrew  is,  '  mine  ears  thou  hast 
 opened.'  '  Thou  hast  made  me  perfectly  obedient  to  thee,'  so  the 
 phrase  signifies,  Isa.  I.  5.  And  '  seeing'  the  Son  of  God,  by  being 
 made  flesh,  took  on  him  the  form,  6ov\ov,  of  a  slave,  (Phil.  ii.  7,)  or 
 obedient  servant,  the  expression,  '  thou  hast  prepared  for  me  a  body,' 
 is  equivalent  to  *  mine  ears  Uiovi  hast  opened  ;'  and  both  phrases  sig- 
 nify, '  thou  hast  made  me  thine  obedient  servant.'  This  reconciliation 
 of  the  passages  is  founded  on  the  ancient  phraseology,  in  which  slaves 
 were  called  awnaia,  '  bodies,'  because  tliey  were  as  implicitly  directed 
 by  the  will  of  thek  masters  as  the  body  is  directed  by  the  mind,  [see 
 Rev.  xviii.  13.)  The  LXX,  therefore,  have  given  the  true  sense  of  Ps. 
 xl.  6,  in  what  may  be  called  a  free  translation,  which  the  apostle  hath 
 adopted  for  the  sake  of  perspicuitj'. — Mackn.  in  the  Hebrew  it  is, 
 '  mine  ears  hast  thou  opened,  or  bored ,'  an  expression  which  signifies, 
 *  I  have  devoted  myself  to  thy  perpetual  service,  and  thou  hast  ac- 
 cepted of  me  as  thy  servant,  and  signified  so  much  by  the  boring  of 
 mine  ears.'  7.  In  the  vul/ime,  '  according  to  what  is  foretold  of  me 
 in  scripture,  even  in  tlus  veiy  Psalm.' — Bens.  y.  He  taketh  away 
 the  first,  ^c,  '  God  hath  aboUshed  his  former  will'  or  command  con- 
 cerning the  Levitical  sacrifices,  *  that  he  may  establi.sh  his  second'  will 
 or  command  concerning  the  sacrifice  of  his  son. — Mackn.  10.  By 
 the  which  will,  ^c,  in  the  execution  of  '  which  will  we  are  sanctified,' 
 cleansed  from  our  sins,  and  recommended  to  the  divine  acceptance, 
 even  'by  the  offering,'  Sec— Doddr.  14.  Perfected  for  ever,  hath 
 secured  perfection  of  justification,  sanctification,  and  blessedness. — 
 Poole.  Sanctified,  set  apart  and  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God. — 
 Scott.  18.  No  more  ufferiitg  for  sin,  'no  more  offering  for  sin  is 
 needed.'  20.  A  new  and  tiring  way,  '  life-giving  way.'— &"u'.  It  sig- 
 nifies,  '  newly  made ;'   consequently,   a  way   which  no  person   had 
 
 Reflectio.vs  on  Chap.  IX.  —  Observe  here,  I.  The  imper- 
 ection  of  the  Mosaic  institutes.  A  sanctuary  '  mutable  and 
 perishing  ;•  '  gifts  and  sacrifices  incapable  of  makins;  those 
 perfect  who  presented  thetn,  or  attended  upon  them;'  'cor- 
 poreal purifications  and  ceremonies;'  but  tbey  could  not 
 cleanse  the  conscience, — they  did  not  expiate  guilt. 
 
 H.    The  perfction  of  the  priesthood  of  Christ.     The  precious 
 blood  of  his  one  offering  takes  away  both  the  guilt  and  the 
 1304 
 
 defilement  of  sin.  Thus,  *we  become  heirs  of  the  eternal  in- 
 heritance, and  we  owe  all  our  expectations  of  it  to  the 
 Mediator  of  that  better  covenant,  who,  at  the  expense  of  his 
 own  blood,  procured  redemption  from  the  guilt  and  condemna- 
 tion of  those  transgressions  which  have  been  committed  under 
 the  first  covenant.  What  praise  do  we  owe  to  that  voluntary 
 victim  who  made  his  blood  the  seal  of  that  better  covenant.'*! 
 
Viiul  txhorteth  to  a  stedfasl  fnith , 
 
 HEBREWS,  X. 
 
 and  to  patience. 
 
 21  And  having  "an  high  priest  over  "the 
 house  of  God  ; 
 
 22  '  Let  us  draw  near  with  a  true  heart  '  in 
 full  assurance  of  faith,  having  our  hearts 
 sprinkled  '  from  an  evil  conscience,  and  ''  our 
 bodies  washed  with  pure  water. 
 
 2:3  '  Let  us  hold  fast  tlie  profession  of  our 
 faith  without  wavering;  (for  ''he  is  faithful 
 that  promised  ;) 
 
 24  And  let  us  consider  one  another  to  pro- 
 voice  unto  love  and  to  good  works  : 
 
 25  "  Not  forsaking  the  assembling  of  our- 
 selves together,  as  the  manner  of  some  is ; 
 luit  exhorting  one  another :  and  'so  much  the 
 more,  as  ye  see  ^  the  day  approaching. 
 
 2G  For  ''  if  we  sin  wilfully  'after  that  we  have 
 received  the  knowledge  of  the  trnlh.  there  re- 
 inaineth  no  more  sacrifice  for  sins, 
 
 A.  D  6*. 
 
 A.  P.  61. 
 
 .1  ch.  4.  N. 
 
 A  Ezek.Se.S. 
 
 -r  1  Ti.n.  3. 
 
 Ztph. 1. 18. 
 
 15. 
 
 sc  :i,  a. 
 
 1,  ch    4.  16. 
 
 2  TheB.l.S. 
 
 i  Epli,  :*.  12, 
 
 ch.  12.  29. 
 
 Jam    1    G. 
 
 /  ch.  2.  '2. 
 
 IJolin3!;i. 
 
 n.  Ueu.  17.2. 
 
 a  ch.  9.   N. 
 
 6.  &   19    15. 
 
 6  Ezek.36. 
 
 Mat.  IH.  16, 
 
 2b.  2  Cur. 
 
 Jnhii  8.  17. 
 
 7.  l- 
 
 2  Cov.  13  1. 
 
 c  ch.  4,  U. 
 
 ',  ch    -2.  3,  & 
 
 d  1  Cor,  1.9 
 
 12.  25. 
 
 Ik  III    13. 
 
 ol  Cor,  1 129. 
 
 1  Thoa-S.-?-!. 
 
 ch.  13.  £0. 
 
 2Thes,  S.3 
 
 ;»  Mat,  12. 
 
 ch.  11.  II 
 
 31.32 
 
 e  ActH  2.  ^2 
 
 Kph.  4.  SO. 
 
 Jude  19. 
 
 y  lleu..'i2.S5. 
 
 Kom.  12.19 
 
 /■Rom.l:l.lI. 
 
 r  Peu  32.3fi. 
 
 g  Fhil    *   ft 
 
 Fs.  50.  1 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  9. 
 
 Sc  135.  14 
 
 1  1,    14. 
 
 ,  Luko  I-J5. 
 
 /,  Nil.  l.-iSO. 
 
 ch.  6.  4. 
 
 i2  Pet.  2.211, 
 
 /  Gal.  3.  4. 
 
 21. 
 
 2  John  8. 
 
 27  But  a  certain  fearful  looking  for  of  judg- 
 ment and  ''  fiery  indignation,  which  shall  de- 
 vour the  adversaries. 
 
 28  '  He  that  despised  Moses' law  died  without 
 mercy  ™  under  two  or  three  witnesses  : 
 
 '29  "  Of  how  much  sorer  punisliment,  suppose 
 ye,  sliall  he  he  thought  wortliy,  who  hath 
 trodden  under  foot  the  Son  of  God,  and  °  hath 
 counted  the  blood  of  the  covenant,  wherewith 
 he  was  sanctified,  an  unholy  thing,  ''and  hath 
 done  despite  unto  the  spirit  of  grace? 
 
 30  For  we  know  him  that  hath  said,  "^  Ven- 
 geance belongeth  unto  me,  I  will  recompense, 
 saith  the  Lord.  And  again,  "^  The  Lord  shall 
 judge  his  people. 
 
 31  "^It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hands 
 of  the  living  God. 
 
 32  But  'call  to  remembrance  the  former  days, 
 
 trodden  till  Christ  prepared  it.  Peath  is  this  living:  way  ;  as  reformed 
 hy  Christ,  it  is  with  great  propriety  called  a  '  new  way'  into  the  pre- 
 sence of  God  :  hecause  ori^nally  it  was  a  way  which  led  us  from  the 
 pre.'^ence  of  God  for  ever.  It  is  called  'a  living  way,' because  its  na- 
 ture is  utterly  altered, -being:  made  by  Christ  the  way  to  eternal  life, 
 instead  of  the  way  to  eternal  death. — Mackn.  Christ  himself  is  this 
 new  and  living  way,  in  distinction  to  the  old  way  of  life  by  the  cove- 
 nant of  works,  and  because  newly  revealed  with  greater  clearness  and 
 eiidence,  and  because  it  is  always  new.  Some  render  it,  '  a  new  slain 
 way ;'  because  Jesus  was  but  newly  slain,  and  Christ  is  a  "  livuig 
 way.*  in  opposition  to  the  dead  carcases  of  slain  beasts,  and  to  the 
 dead  and  killmg  letter  of  the  law,  &c. — Gill.  The  word  Trp^o-ifiaTov, 
 means  '  recent,'  and  has  reference  to  the  way  '  lately'  opened  by  the 
 new  covenant  or  gospel  dispensation.  The  '  way'  is  also  called  'new,' 
 because  those  who  draw  nigh  to  Ciod  in  it  have  liberty  of  access  in 
 their  owni  persons  to  the  mercy  seat,  and  there  obtain  pardon  hy  means 
 of  a  sacrifice  altogether  diftcrent  from  that  which  was  offered  for  wor- 
 shippers by  the  Jewish  priests. — Htunrt,  This  way  is  the  way  of  the 
 new  covenant,  now  opened  and  declared  \vith  the  greatest  evidence  to 
 us,  and  is  of  such  perpetual  vise  and  advantage  as  to  be  always  new, 
 so  as  never  to  wax  old  or  decay,  and  may  well  be  called  a  '  living  way,' 
 as  the  once  dead  but  now  living  Redeemer  has  opened  it  for  ns,  and  as 
 it  is  the  way  in  which  we  find  quickening  virtiK'  into  spiritual  life  here, 
 and  are  led  on  to  eternal  life  hereafter. —G'^^y,-;/'.  Through  the  vcd,  the 
 human  nature  of  Christ,  through  which  the  way  to  heaven  is  opened, 
 renewed  and  consecrated,  is  compared  to  the  veil  of  the  tabernacle, 
 (E.xod.  sxvi.  2\—23.)^GilL  Reference  is  here  made  to  the  veil  that 
 was  interposed  between  the  holy  and  the  most  holy  place  of  the  Jewish 
 tabernacle  and  temple,  (see  chap.  \x.  3.1  This  veil,  on  our  Lord's 
 death,  was  rent  from  the  top  to  the  bottom,  by  which  the  most  holy 
 lilace  became  visible  and  accessible  to  all  that  were  in  the  outward 
 tabernacle  ;  by  wliich  fact  was  signified,  that  by  virtue  of  Christ's 
 sacrifice,  whereby  his  flesh  was  torn  and  rent,  the  God  of  heaven  was 
 manifested,  and  the  way  to  heaven  laid  open  to  all  true  believers. — 
 BfiiK.  21.  Orer  t/i''  huiixe  of  God,  it  designates  here  the  spiritual 
 house  of  God — i.e..  Christians. — Stuart.  Etti,  *  in  the  house  of  God ;' 
 in  heaven,  the  true  house  of  God,  to  present  our  prayers,  and  to  inter- 
 cede for  us. — Miickn.  22.  Lft  us  draw  near,  since  everj-  obstruction 
 is  removed.  llpooepxoMa'  signifies  to  approach  or  come  to  God,  m  his 
 worsliip  and  service. — M'Lemi.  A  true  heart,  'a  sincere  heart.* — Mar. 
 Jnfull  usmiranre,  iffC,  '  in  full  confidence  and  steadfast  reUance  upon 
 the  mercies  of  God.' — Ep.  Hall.  Sprinkled— namely,  by  his  blood, 
 *  from'  sin  and  from  '  an  evil  conscience.*  Tliere  is  an  allusion  here 
 to  the  purif>ing  water  with  which  unclean  persons  were  to  be  sprinkled 
 "before  they  might  have  access  to  the  sanctuai-j-.  Num.  six.  17— 20; 
 or  to  that  washing.  Lev.  xvi.  -i.  And  our  bodies  washed  with  pure 
 water,  in  holy  baptism. — Bp.  Felt.  Not  baptismal  water,  but  the  grace 
 of  the  Spirit,  which  is  often  compared  to  water  in  Scripture.  The 
 body,  as  well  as  soul,  needs  washing  and  renewing;  internal  grace 
 influences  outward  actions  wliich  adorn  rehgion,  and  without  which 
 bodies  cannot  be  presented  holy  to  God.  The  allusion  is  to  a  custom 
 of  the  Jews,  who  were  obhged  to  wash  their  bodies  and  make  them 
 clean  when  they  prayed.— (V(//.  This  is  an  allusion  to  the  ceremonial 
 ablutions,  to  signify  that  we  must  join  holiness  of  body  to  purity  of 
 heart,  (l  Tim.  ii.  a.)— Mar.  23.  Hold  fast  the  profession  of  our  faith, 
 \_Tnv ofioXcfiav rt)v e\TTt6o^,\  *hope;'  ['  teoeamus  confessionem spei.'] — 
 Mont.  Promised — promLsed  us  pardon  through  Christ  — Maiknight. 
 24.  Provoke   unto   lore,   etc   -napukvanov   a-jant]^,  *  provocation,'  though 
 
 commonly  used  in  an  ill  sense,  is  sometimes  taken,  as  here,  for  an 
 earnest  and  diligent  '  excitation'  of  the  muids  or  spirits  of  men  *  to  that 
 which  is  good.' — J.  Ow^n.  25.  iYo(  forsaking  the  assembling,  the 
 utmost  dangers  then  attended  this  practice. — Seeker.  As  the  manner 
 of  some  is,  through  fear  ot  persecution,  or  from  a  vain  imagination 
 that  they  are  above  external  ordinances.— B-'/m.  The  day,  uf  Ciod's 
 judgment  on  the  ievis.—  Whithy.  Or  of  God's  general  judgment. — 
 Bp.  fell.  26.  Wilfully,  ^Koi'o-doc,  '  willingly,  of  choice,  without  sur- 
 prisal,  compunction,  or  fear.'  Jiereired,  '  made  an  out-.vard  profes- 
 sion.' The  truth,  '  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel.'  Here  is  a  relinquish- 
 ment and  renunciation  of  the  truth  of  the  gospel  and  its  precious  pro- 
 mises, with  all  duties  thereunti)  belonging,  after  we  have  been  con- 
 vinced of  its  truth,  and  avowed  its  power  and  excellency,  by  choice  ; 
 and  it  is  implied,  that  they  do  it  with  the  preference  of  another  way  of 
 religion,  and  a  resting  therein,  before  the  gospel ;  whereas,  tliere 
 1305 
 
 were  two  things  which  were  the  foundation  of  the  profession  of  the 
 gospel — the  blood  of  the  covenant,  or  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice  of 
 Christ,  with  the  atonement  made  thereby,  and  the  dispensation  of  the 
 Spirit  of  grace  ;  these  they  openly  renounced,  and  declared  that  there 
 was  nothing  of  God  in  them,  ^see  ver.  29.}~J.  Owen.  For  if  any  of 
 us,  who  make  a  profession  of  Christ's  name,  be  so  much  under  the 
 power  of  unbelief,  prejudice,  pride,  and  a  worldly  temper,  as  not 
 merely  through  inadvertency,  or  some  sudden  Imrry  of  spirit,  tempta- 
 tion, and  fear  of  danger,  but  deliberately,  resolutely,  and  willingly, 
 with  full  consent,  to  reject  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  and  the  good, 
 ways  of  the  Lord,  and  to  turn  back  to  Judaism,  or  to  all  irreligion,  and 
 go  on  in  a  course  of  sui  against  God,  after  we  have  been  euhghtened 
 in  and  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  with  respect  to  the  way  of 
 salvation  alone  by  Jesus  Christ,  the  case  of  such  apostates  is  of  ail 
 others  the  most  dreadful ;  they  reject  the  last  and  only  remedy  by  per- 
 fidious unbehef,  and  so  can  have  no  interest  in  it ;  nor  can  there  be 
 any  hope  of  pardon  and  acceptance  with  God  on  any  other  ground 
 whatsoever.  The  sin  here  intended,  as  appeals  from  all  the  jtreceding 
 and  following  context,  is  wihul,  resolute,  contemptuous,  and  utter 
 apostasy  from  the  profession  of  Clu-ist  and  his  gospel ;  and,  therefore, 
 though  we  ought  to  be  always  upou  the  strictest  guard  against  every 
 known  sm,  and  to  be  deeply  humbled  before  God  whenever  we  fall 
 uito  it,  yet  this  text  is  not  to  be  understood  of  every  sin  that  has  been 
 committed  under  the  power  of  temptation  agauist  light  and  conviction, 
 as  some  tender-spirited  Chiisttans  are  often  apt  to  apply  it,  to  their 
 own  great  discouragement  and  terror,  almost  to  utter  despair.— Gwf/se, 
 so  Uoddr.,  and  Mackn.  Here  is  intended  a  total  apostasy  from  the 
 truth,  against  light  and  evidence,  joined  with  obstinacy.— 6'i7/.  It  by 
 no  means  follows,  that  because  they  who  have  rejected  Christ  will  no- 
 where find  any  other  atonement  for  their  sins,  therefore  they  who  be- 
 lieve m  him,  but  have  criminally  violated  some  of  his  precepts,  cannot 
 partake  of  his  atonement,  though  they  apply  for  it  with  penitent  hearts. 
 — Seeker.  27.  Fiery   indignation,  ^c,  an  allusion  to  the  fire  that 
 
 consumed  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  who,  in  the  rebellion  of 
 Korah,  intruded  themselves  into  the  priest's  office,  (Num.  xvi.  35,) 
 and  whose  destruction  is  an  emblem  of  the  destruction  of  tlie  wcked 
 by  fire  at  the  dav  of  judgment,  ;2  Thess.  i.  7.  8.)— Mackn.  The  adcer- 
 S'tries,  i.  e.,  of  the  faith.— i\>u-  Tr.  of  Heb.,  1834.  28.  That  despised 
 Moses^  law,  hv  \\illully  and  presumptuously  shming  against  it.  pai-- 
 ticularly  by  apostatizing  fioni  it  to  idolatry.— HV/Zx.  Died  without 
 vierry,  there  was  no  atonement  nor  sacrifice  for  hiui,  [see  Deut.  xiii.  8, 
 and  xix.  13.)  The  meaning  is  not,  that  every  transgression  of  the 
 Mosaic  law  was  punishable  with  death,  but  that  in  all  cases  which 
 were  of  a  capital  nature,  death,  without  reprieve  or  pardon,  was  in- 
 flicted, where  sugicient  testimony  coiUd  be  had,  (see  Num.  xv.  30,  31.) 
 —Stuart.  29.  Trodden  underfoot,  a  phrase  descriptive  of  the  utmost 
 contempt,  scorn,  and  ill  usage.— O'eV^.  Counted  the  blood,  ffc,  pro- 
 faning and  treating  the  precious  blood  of  the  Son  of  God,  which  ratified 
 the  gracious  covenant  of  his  redemption,  as  the  blood  of  an  ordinary 
 lierson;  nay,  of  a  malefactor.— P///e.  Wherewith  he  was  sanct'.Jied, 
 '  whereby  the  new  covenant  was  ratified.' — Mackn.  '.Xiia^^iv.  *  to 
 sanctify,'  in  this  epistle,  signifies  to  cleaiise  or  pmify  from  the  guilt  of 
 sin  by  the  blood  of  sacrifice,  ichap.  ii.  11  ;  ix.  13;  xiii.  12.;  Christ 
 knew  no  sin,  and  could  not  as  a  sin-ofl'erhig  sanctify  himself.  The 
 person  sanctified  is  not  Christ,  but  the  apostate ;  and  this  is  stated  as 
 a  dreadful  aggravation  of  his  guilt.— -l/'Z-'-Hn.  And  hath  done  despite, 
 ffc,  '  insulted,*  '  hath  maliciously  opposed  the  Spirit,  the  author  of  the 
 miraculous  gifts.*— .V«cArn.  When  any  apostatized  from  the  faith  of 
 Christ  to  Judaism,  after  having  witnessed  the  miraculous  gilt>  of  the 
 Spirit,  and  especially  after  having  possessed  them  himself,  as  is  sup- 
 posed. 'Matt.  vii.  22  ;  iieb.  vi.  4,  5,!  he  could  not  possibly  evade  the 
 force  of  such  proofs,  but  by  ascribuig  them  to  evii  spirits,  (Matt.  xii. 
 24.)  than  which  a  more  malicious  insult  could  not  be  offt-red  to  the 
 Spirit  of  God.— il/'Lcrin.  3U.  For  we  know  him  that  hath  said,  §x'., 
 the  character  of  God  makes  the  pmiishment  of  apostates  certain.  *  For 
 we  know  him,' &c.  Shall  judge  his  people,  avenge  them  of  their  op- 
 pressors ;  and  if  so,  will  he  nut  avenge  his  Son  and  Spirit,  and  the 
 disciples  of  his  Son,  of  tliose  who  insult  them  }— Mackn.  Kpivu,  '  to 
 judge,*  here  means  that  God  will  punish  his  professing  people  when 
 they  rebel  agamst  him.— M'Lenn.  3i.  Limng  Gad,  so  styled  here  to 
 shew  that,  as  he  lives  forever,  he  can  punish  for  ever.— ■l/oe/fnij'/f/. 
 3  J.  But  call  to  remembrance,  ffc.—*  but  I  humbly  hope  you  will  be  de- 
 Uveicd  from  so  terrible  a  ruin  ;  to  encourage  you,  tmnk  uf  your  past 
 8   u 
 
Exhortations  to  patience. 
 
 HEBREWS,  Xr. 
 
 The  nature  of  faith 
 
 ill  which,   "  after  ye  were  illiimiiiated,  ye  en- 
 dured '  a  great  fifjlit  of  aflliotions  ; 
 
 33  Partly,  whilst  ye  were  made  'a  gazing- 
 stock  both  by  reproaches  and  afflictions  ;  and 
 partly,  whilst  ''ye  became  companions  of  them 
 that  were  so  used. 
 
 34  For  ye  had  compassion  of  me  "in  my 
 bonds,  and  ''  took  joyfully  the  spoiling  of  your 
 goods,  knowing  ||  in  yourselves  that '  ye  have 
 in  heaven  a  better  and  an  enduring  sub- 
 stance. 
 
 35  Cast  not  away  therefore  your  confidence, 
 '■  which  hath  great  reconipence  of  reward. 
 
 36  "  For  ye  have  need  of  patience,  that,  after 
 ye  have  done  the  will  of  God,  'ye  might 
 receive  the  promise. 
 
 37  For  ^  yet  a  little  while,  and  "  he  that  shall 
 come  will  come,  and  will  not  tarry. 
 
 38  Now  '  the  just  shall  live  by  faith  :  but  if 
 any  tnan  draw  back,  my  soul  shall  have  no 
 pleasure  in  him. 
 
 39  But  we  are  not  of  them  '  who  draw  back 
 unto  perdition  ;  but  of  them  that  '  believe  to 
 the  saving  of  the  soul. 
 
 I  <-li    6.  ^. 
 r  Pliil.  1.29, 
 
 ;tii.  Ci.i.  ?.i. 
 
 ,  1  c:or.  4.9. 
 r  riiil.  1.  7. 
 
 fi<  1.  tl. 
 
 ITlicsS  U. 
 
 1  Phil.  I.  7. 
 
 2  Tim. 1.16 
 b  Mat-  5.  12. 
 
 Al-Is  &.  'II. 
 
 .  1. 
 
 :.„  s. 
 
 t/oUTtftvrt. 
 iMat.  6.  20. 
 
 S(  19.  21. 
 
 Luke  I2.sn 
 
 1  Tim  r,  |i» 
 d  Mat.  5.  I?. 
 
 &  Id    3?. 
 '  hnVc  il. 
 
 19.  GM.6  9 
 
 ch.  \.i.  I. 
 /Col.  3.  n. 
 
 cU.  9.  15. 
 
 I  PPt.  I,  9. 
 e  l*iiWe  IS.S. 
 
 '2  IVt.  S  9. 
 fc  Hab  2.3,4 
 i  Rom.  I  17. 
 
 Gal  3  11. 
 k  2  P.H.  2. 
 
 ?n,  21. 
 /  Arts  Ifi.  30, 
 
 :tl     I  Thcs. 
 
 .^.'1  2Tlies. 
 
 2.  14. 
 
 1  Hum.  8  24, 
 
 ■-'5.  2  Cor  t. 
 
 IS.  tt  b.  7. 
 ft  vcT.  S9. 
 c  Geu.  I.  (. 
 
 Ps.  33.  (3. 
 
 Jolm  I.  3. 
 
 cli.  I.  2. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  5. 
 d  Gen.  4  4 
 
 lJ»lui3.  12. 
 
 *  Gen.  4  10. 
 
 Mat,  23.  35. 
 
 ch.  12.  2*. 
 II  Or.  u  fft 
 
 tpoktH  nf. 
 
 /Gen.  5,  22. 
 24.  WiB(i.4 
 ID.  Kcchis 
 ■H.  It).  &4P. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 I  What  faith  is,  6  It  Uh^ntt  faith  we  cannot  please 
 God.  7  The  worth  if  fruits  thereof  in  the  fathers  of 
 old  time. 
 
 TVrOW  faith  is  the  ||sub.stance  of  things  hopeil 
 ■*-*    for,  the  evidence  ^of  things  not  seen. 
 
 2  For  ^  by  it  the  elders  obtained  a  good  report. 
 
 3  Through  faitii  we  understand  tiiat  ^'  the 
 worlds  were  framed  by  the  word  of  God»  .so 
 that  things  wliich  are  seen  were  not  made  of 
 things  which  do  appear. 
 
 4  By  faitli  ^  Abel  offered  unto  God  a  more 
 excellent  sacrifice  than  Cain,  by  wliich  he  ob- 
 tained witness  that  he  was  righteous,  God 
 testifying  of  his  gifts  :  and  by  it  lie  being  dead 
 ^  II  y*^t  speaketh. 
 
 5  By  faith  ''  Enoch  was  translated  that  he 
 sliould  not  see  death  ;  and  was  not  found, 
 because  God  had  translated  him  :  for  before 
 his  translation  he  had  tills  testimony,  that  be 
 pleased  (jt>d. 
 
 G  But  witliout  faith  ;'/  is  impossible  to  please 
 him  :  for  he  that  cometh  to  God  must  believe 
 
 grea.V  fight,  'contest.'  Tlie  word  aOXntrtv,  grives  a  \iew  of  their  cou- 
 rage and  bravery. — Doddridge.  The  apostle  uses  the  words  ttoXAiji/ 
 afi\riatv,  'a  great  combat,'  to  signify  that  the  combat  which  the  dis- 
 ciples of  Jesus  maintained  against  their  persecutors  was  more  difficult 
 and  dangerous,  and  at  the  same  time  more  honourable,  than  any  of 
 the  combats  in  the  panics. — Mnckn.  This  rather  alludes  to  the  mortal 
 combats  of  the  gladiators.— Pic^BJA.  33.  A  gnzingstock,  OearpiConcvui, 
 they  were  brought,  as  it  were,  on  the  public  stage  or  theatre,  and 
 there  exposed  to  all  sorts  of  e\ils.— J.  Owen.  Treated  as  crimuials. — 
 Ouf/se.  34.  For  ye  hiid  compassion  of  me,  Sfc,  *  for  ye  even  suffered 
 with  me  in  my  bonds,'  exposing  themselves  to  trouble  in  relieving: 
 him.  These  charitable  offices  the  Jewish  believers  performed  to  the 
 apostle  during-  his  two  years'  imprisonment  at  Jcnisalem  and  in 
 Uxsarca.  35.  Cast  not  ntvuy,  ^c,  as  cowardly  soldiers  their  shielifs. 
 —Ma^kn.  This  was  considered  infamous,  and  in  some  countries  a 
 capital  crime. — Pirt.  Bib.  36.  I'atience,  '  perseverance.' — Mnck/t. 
 ■ij.  He  that  shult  come,  6  cpxc/ici-or,  '  he  who  is  to  come.* — .T.  Om^n. 
 '  He  who  is  coming.'  These  words,  as  used  by  Habakkuk.  referred  to 
 the  power  of  God  to  presene  them  during  the  Babylonish  captivity, 
 and  to  restore  them  to  their  own  land.  Here  they  are  used  by  way  of 
 accommodation,  in  reference  to  Christ's  coming^  to  destroy  Jerusalem 
 and  the  Je\nsh  state, — Mnckn.  This  passage  is  accommodated  to  all 
 other  states  of  the  church ;  and  the  consideration  of  the  coming  of 
 Christ  at  the  last  day  to  the  final  and  eternal  judgment  ouglit  not  to 
 be  omitted.— J.  Own.  38.  Now  thejitst  shriU  lire  bij  faith,  '  now  the 
 just  by  faith  shall  live.' — Mackn.,  as  J.  Owen,  so  tluijse,  and  Boothr. 
 This  rendering  means,  the  just  man,  who  has  faith,  shall  be  preserved. 
 But  this  is  not  the  meaning-  of  the  Greek  or  Hebrew.  '  Faith'  is  put 
 here  as  the  means  of  preser\'ation,  in  opposition  to  "  apostasy  or  defec- 
 tion.'— Stnnrt.  Hc  shall  not  die  from  his  profession. — J.  Owen.  He 
 shall  live  a  spiritual  and  holy  life,  in  a  state  nf  acceptance  with  God, 
 and  communion  with  him,  and  in  all  blessedness  and  glory  with  Christ, 
 for  ever  in  heaven. — Oni/te.  Bnt  if  any  man  draw  back,  *  any  man'  is 
 not  in  the  original.  A.  Clarke  is  indignant  at  the  supplied  words.  He 
 and  Whitby  consider  the  genuine  passage  as  opposed  to  the  doctrine 
 of  final  perseverance.  Gill  says  the  supply  is  justified  by  the  Ethinpic. 
 Dr.  Owen  vindicates  it,  since  the  apostle  refers  to  the  apostate  and  not 
 the  just.     The  text  here  appears  to  be  merely  hj-pothetical, — Ed. 
 
 Chap.  XI. — 1.  Now  faith,  ^-c. — in  illustration  of  what  he  had  said  in 
 the  preceding  chapter,  the  apostle  brings  to  the  view  of  the  Hebrews, 
 from  their  own  scriptures,  encouraging  examples  of  persevering  be- 
 lievers.— So  Mackn.  The  substance,  {■troinaai':,  a  rtal  'subsistence,' 
 as  opposed  to  appearing  phantasms.  The  sense  of  the  place  is  well  ex- 
 pressed in  the  Greek  scholiast:  *  whereas  things  that  are  in  hope  only 
 liave  no  subsistence  of  their  own.  as  being  not  present,  faith  becomes 
 
 the  subsistence  of  tliem.  making  them  to  be  present  after  a  certain 
 manner.' — J.  Owen.  It  gives  them  a  Being  white  yet  in  premise. — 
 Mantnn.  Faiih  is  '  the  confident  expectation,'  (comp.  2  Cor.  ix.  4  ; 
 Heb.  iii.  14,  where  tin?  word  is  so  used.)— 7Jorfrfr.  '  Faith  is  the  confi- 
 dence.'— Mackn.,  so  Boothr.  '  Faith  is  confidence  in  respect  of  things 
 hoped  for.' — .Stuurt.  The  evidence — the  word  cKe'yxov  denotes  '  a  stri'-t 
 proof,'  or  '  demonstration.' — Markn.,  so  Stnart.  The  conviction  of 
 the  mind  respecting  the  truth  of  chvine  revelation. — McLean.  *2.  For 
 by  it,  ^c,  *  and  for  this  the  ancients  were  borne  witness  to  by  God" — 
 j.  e.,  as  justified  and  accepted  persons. — Mackn.  *  On  account  of  this, 
 moreover,  the  ancients  were  commended.' — Stuart.  '  Received  a  tes- 
 timony nf  God's  approbation  and  regard  recorded  in  the  scriptures.' — 
 Ham.,  Whitlty.  3.  Tlirough  faith,  in  the  Divine  revelation.  We 
 understand,  ^r., — which  do  appear,  literally,  *  which  did  appear.' — 
 Mackn.,  as  M  Iiitby.  [The  construction  staiuls  thus:— cir  to  tu  /3,\f- 
 Ttoniva  fti}  '{ffovfvat  c«  iptityofiivuiv.]  It  means  that  the  worlds  were 
 made  without  any  prc-e.vistent  matter  to  form  them  of. — Mucknight. 
 4.  A  more  excrllent  sacrifice,  '  a  better  sacrifice  than  Cain  ;'  a  choicer, 
 a  more  excellent,  sacrifice.  Cam  considered  God  only  as  a  Creator  and 
 Preserver,  whereon  he  offered  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  as  an  acknow- 
 ledgment that  all  these  things  were  made,  preserved,  and  bestowed  on 
 man  by  him;  but  he  had  no  regard  to  sin,  or  the  way  of  deliverance 
 from  it  revealed  in  the  first  promise :  but  the  faith  of  Abel  was  fixed  on 
 God,  not  otdy  as  a  Creator,  but  a<  a  Redeemer  also. — J.  Owen.  The 
 words  TrXetova  Vvuiav  signify,  as  tlie  critics  say,  '  more  sacrifice;'  the 
 word,  in  the  cmnparative  dcgn-c,  signifying  more  in  ?iumber,  rather 
 than  more  in  ralue.  Abel,  as  well  as  Cain,  brought  of  the  fruits  of  tlie 
 ground,  and  he  also  brought  of  the  firstlings  of  his  tinck.— Mackn. 
 Abel  offered  not  only  a  sacrifice,  but  alsft  a  mincha — that  is,  a  meat,  or 
 rather  bread,  ofTeriDg;  so  that  lie  by  the  one  acknowledged  God's  pro- 
 vidential goodness,  and  liy  the  nthcrhis  rcd'^einins mercy. — Ki-nnicott. 
 Yet  spfaketh,  declaring  by  his  faith  that  (iod  is  a  rewarder  of  the 
 righteous,  —  Wfiitby,  Wells;  <r  '  is  yet  spoken  of.* — Gill.  5.  liy  faith 
 Enoch,  ^c,  by  faith  hc  attairn-d  great  excellency,  and  perhaps  his 
 faith  had  reference  to  snme  promise  of  translation,  as  Elijah.  See 
 ii.  Kinps.  ii.  1  — II. — T.  Hnbin'.on.  S/witld  nnt  sre  death,  tov  /i»i  i6(iv 
 Oavarov,  '  that  he  should  nnt  die.*  Deatli  being  the  great  object  of  sen- 
 sible  consideration,  it  is  expressed  by  words  of  sense, — '  seeing  it,' 
 '  tasting  it,'  and  the  like.— J.  Owen  Was  not  found,  implies  that 
 Enoch  was  privately  translated,  as  Elijah  afterwards  was,  (2  Kings, 
 ii.  ]/,)  and  that  his  relations  and  friends  searched  for  him,  but  did  not 
 find  him. — Mackn.  This  testimony,  the  testimony  referred  to  is  Gen.  v. 
 24.  which  the  apostle,  agreeably  to  the  Sept.,  renders,  '  He  pleased 
 (Jod.' — McLean.  6.  That  he  is,  the  expression  answers  to  the  word 
 '  Jehovah,'  and  does  not  merely  mean  his  existence,  but  his  immuta- 
 
 Reflcctions  ON  Chap.  X I.  Leijal  sacrifices  could  never 
 
 atone  for  sin.  Tliey  were  no  more  tlian  shadows.  Had  tbey 
 been  efficacious,  they  needed  not  to  Imve  been  repeated.  Nor 
 was  it  suited  to  the  value  of  the  soul  of  man,  or  the  dignity  of 
 the  great  Jehovah,  that  a  beast's  blood  should  take  away  sin. 
 But— 
 
 II.  The  sacrifice  of  Christ  is  an  all-sufficient  atonement. 
 Hence,  'now  "once,"  "in  the  end  of  the  world."  in  these 
 hist  ages,  the  times  of  the  Messiah,  "hath  he  appeared," 
 finally  and  effectually  "  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of 
 himself."  '  Hence,  all  other  sacrifices  have  ceased  ;  and  hav- 
 ing made  atonement  all-sufficient,  he  no  longer  stands,  as  a 
 priest,  at  the  altar,  but  is  seated,  as  our  Mediator,  at  '  the 
 ric^ht  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high  ■.'  and  all  that  believe  in 
 him  are  *  justified  from  all  things,  from  which  they  could  not 
 have  been  justified  by  the  law  of  Moses.*     And  now — 
 
 HI.  JVc  rnfn/  with  sacred  con  fidence  draw  mar  to  God.  There 
 1  ;>l)o 
 
 is  no  fear  of  being  expelled  from  his  presence,  or  of  his  wrath 
 consuming  us,  if  we  approach  him  through  Christ.  Our 
 prayers  and  our  per.-^ons  may  come  before  him,  with  our  High 
 Priest  ready  to  present  them.  May  we  draw  near  with  '  a 
 true  heart,  and  a  conscience  sprinkled  and  purified  by  faith  in 
 Christ!' 
 
 IV.  Let  w.?  faithfully  adhere  to  his  cause  who  has  done  so  much 
 for  us.  This  is  our  duty,  and  this  is  our  privilege.  Ihivv 
 much  do  we  not  owe  to  him  who  has  done  sucli  i^reat  things 
 lor  us  !  And  whatever  we  may  suffer  or  lose  here  for  our 
 faithful  adherence  to  Christ,  we  have  '  a  great  recompence  of 
 reward,'  and  'a  promise'  of  exceeding  blessedness  in  the  world 
 to  come.  On  the  contrary,  those  who  draw  back,  by  despis- 
 ing the  only  remedy  for  sin,  and  the  only  Saviour  of  sinners, 
 incur  the  awful  displeasure  of  '  the  living  God,'  and  fall  head- 
 long into  perdition. 
 
The  fruits  of  faith 
 
 HEBREWS,  XL 
 
 in  the  fathers  of  the  old  time. 
 
 that  he  is,  and  that  he  is  a  rewanler  of  them 
 that  diUgeiitly  seek  liiiii. 
 
 7  By  faith  *='  Noah,  being  warned  of  God  of 
 things  not  seen  as  yet,  ||  moved  with  fear, 
 ^  prepared  an  ark  to  the  saving  of  his  house  ; 
 by  the  whicii  lie  condemned  the  world,  and 
 became  heir  of  '  the  righteousness  which  is  by 
 faith. 
 
 8  By  faith  ^  Abraham,  when  he  was  called 
 to  go  out  into  a  place  wliich  he  should  after 
 receive  for  an  inheritance,  obeyed  ;  and  he 
 went  out,  not  knowing  whither  he  went. 
 
 9  By  faith  lie  sojourned  in  the  land  of  pro- 
 mise, as  in  a  strange  country,  '  dwelling  in 
 tabernacles  with  Isaac  and  Jacob, '"  the  heirs 
 with  him  of  the  same  promise  : 
 
 10  For  he  looked  for  "a  city  which  hath 
 foundations,  "^  whose  builder  and  maker /s  God, 
 
 1 1  Through  faith  also  ^  Sara  herself  received 
 strength  to  conceive  seed,  and  '  was  delivered 
 of  a  child  when  she  was  past  age,  because  she 
 judged  him  "^ faithful  who  had  promised. 
 
 1*2  Therefore  sprang  there  even  of  one,  and 
 Miim  as  good  as  dead,  ^  so  many  as  the  stars 
 of  the  sky  in  multitude,  and  as  the  sand  which 
 is  by  the  sea  shore  innumerable. 
 
 13  These  all  died  ]'\w  faith,  "not  having  re- 
 ceived the  promises,  but  '^having  seen  them 
 afar  off,  and  were  persuaded  of  them^  and  em- 
 braced them^  and  ^  confessed  that  they  were 
 strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the  earth. 
 
 U  For  they  that  say  such  things  ''declare 
 plainly  that  they  seek  a  country. 
 
 15  And  truly,  if  they  had  been  mindful  of 
 that  coujitry  from  whence  tliey  came  out,  they 
 might  have  had  opportunity  to  have  returned. 
 
 10  But  now  they  desire  a  better  coitntn/,  that 
 is,  an  heavenly:  wherefore  God  is  not  ashamed 
 ^  to  be  called  their  God  :  for  ^  he  hath  pre- 
 pared for  them  a  city. 
 
 17  By  faith  "^Abraham,  when  he  was  tried, 
 
 II  Or,  lieiuff 
 
 wary. 
 h  I  f*t;t.3.20. 
 
 (■  Horn,  3.  22, 
 
 &  4.  13. 
 
 Phil.  3.  9. 
 k  Goii.  1-2.  I, 
 
 4.  Acts  7,2, 
 3,  I 
 
 /  Gen.  12.  8. 
 
 &  li.  :i.  13. 
 
 Pc  18   1.  y 
 m  ch.  (}.  17. 
 
 n  ch    12.  2:^ 
 &  13    14. 
 
 o  ch.  3,  4. 
 Uev.  21.  2, 
 
 10. 
 
 r.iy. 
 
 q  See  Luke 
 
 I.  9ti. 
 r  Rom.  +  21. 
 
 eh.  HP  2.^. 
 s  Itoiii  4.  19. 
 t  Goii   22.17. 
 
 Roiu.  4.  IS. 
 
 }  Gr.nccoTd- 
 
 v.s  I.,  fnith. 
 
 "  vcr.  39. 
 jr  ver.  27. 
 
 John  8    56 
 ij  Geu.23.  4. 
 
 S:  47.  9. 
 
 !  Clir.29.15. 
 
 Pb.  S9.  12. 
 
 &   H'J.  19. 
 
 \  Pet.  I,  17 
 
 «i  2.   11. 
 :  ch.  IS.  It. 
 
 a  EY.3  6,ir, 
 iM.-it.22.  :12. 
 Alts  7.  32 
 
 6  Phil.  3.20. 
 ch.  13.  H. 
 
 e  Gen.  22.  1, 
 
 A.  n  «4. 
 ri  Jain    2.  21. 
 
 II  Or,  r.. 
 
 <■  Geu.2l  12. 
 Rom.  9.  7- 
 
 /Rom.  4  17, 
 19,  21. 
 
 g  Gen. 27  27 
 
 h  Gen.  4d.  5, 
 
 16,  2Q. 
 1  Gen  47  31. 
 
 k  Gen. 50.24, 
 25.  Kx.  13. 
 
 ly. 
 
 I  Kx.  2.  2 
 Acta  7.  20. 
 
 1  El.  I.  IC. 
 
 "Kx.  2.  10. 
 
 (.  ch.  13.  13 
 II  Or,  f.r 
 Chrut. 
 
 qch.    Id    :t:i 
 
 r  Ex,    10.  2S 
 
 ay.  N(  I2:i7. 
 
 &  13.  17,IS, 
 
 i  ver.  13. 
 
 /Ex.  12.  21, 
 &c. 
 
 <  E*;.  U.  22, 
 29. 
 
 offered  up  Isaac  :  and  he  that  had  received 
 the  promises  ^  offered  up  his  only  begotten 
 soiiy 
 
 18  II  Of  whom  it  was  said,  ''That  in  Isaac 
 shall  thy  seed  be  called  : 
 
 19  Accounting  tliat  God  ^  was  able  to  raise 
 him  up,  even  from  the  dead  ;  from  whence 
 also  he  received  him  in  a  figure. 
 
 20  By  faith  ^  Isaac  blessed  Jacob  and  Esau 
 concerning  things  to  come. 
 
 ■■21  By  faith  Jacob,  when  he  was  a  dying, 
 ''  Blessed  both  the  sons  of  Joseph  ;  and  '  wor- 
 shipped, leaning  upon  the  top  of  his  staff. 
 
 22  By  faith  ''  Joseph,  when  he  died,  ||  made 
 mention  of  the  departing  of  the  children  of 
 Israel ;  and  gave  commandment  concerning 
 his  bones. 
 
 23  By  faith  '  Moses,  when  he  was  born,  was 
 hid  three  months  of  his  parents,  because  they 
 saw  he  ivas  a  proper  child  ;  and  they  were  not 
 afraid  of  the  king's  '"commandment. 
 
 24  By  faith  "  Moses,  when  he  was  come  to 
 years,  refused  to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's 
 daughter ; 
 
 25  "  Choosing  rather  to  suffer  allliction  with 
 the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures 
 of  sin  for  a  season  ; 
 
 26  Esteeming 'the  reproach  ||of  Christ  greater 
 riches  than  the  treasures  in  Egypt :  for  he  had 
 respect  unto  ''  the  recompence  of  the  reward. 
 
 27  By  faith  Mie  forsook  Egypt,  not  fearing 
 the  wrath  of  the  king :  for  lie  endured,  as 
 ^seeing  him  wiio  is  invisible. 
 
 28  Through  faith  *■  he  kept  the  passover,  and 
 the  sprinkling  of  blood,  lest  lie  that  destroyed 
 the  tirstborn  srioukl  touch  them. 
 
 29  By  faith  "  they  passed  through  the  Red 
 sea  as  by  dry  land:  which  the  Egyptians 
 assaying  to  do  were  drowned. 
 
 30  By  faith  ^  the  walls  of  Jericho  fell  down, 
 after  they  were  compassed  about  seven  days. 
 
 bility  and  fidelity  to  accomplish  his  promises.  Comp.  Exod.  iii.  13, 14, 
 and  vi.  3 — 6. — Mav.  /.  Wumfd,  xpi/iaTjo-f^eiv,  admonished. — M'Leun. 
 With  fear,  *  relig^ious  fear.' — Mackn.  Condi-mned  the  world,  by  his 
 example  of  obedience  and  faith  lie  condemned  the  unbelief  and  obsti- 
 nacy of  the  world. — Bp.  Hull.  A  person  is  said  to  condemn  those 
 aeainst  whom  he  furnishes  out  matter  of  accusation  :  in  which  view 
 Titus,  iii.  11,  may  be  understood. — Duddr.  Heir,  fyc,  that  is,  posses- 
 sor of  the  righteousness  which  is  by  faith,  and,  of  course,  of  all  the 
 happy  effects  of  it— justificatinn,  &c.  —  Boot/ir.  g.  In  tabernacles,  or 
 '  tents.'  With  Isfuir  and  Jacob — from  the  account  of  the  lives  of  the 
 patriarchs,  Jacob  was  bom  fifteen  years  before  Abraham  died. — Doddr. 
 10.  A  fjV.tf  «'/i(c/( /if(//i/f>»Hrfo/i((w.t,  a  settled,  quiet  habitation  in  heaven; 
 in  opposition  to  'tents'  and  '  tabernacles*  which  had  no  fonndaiion, 
 but  were  moveable  dwellings,  supported  only  by  stakes  and  cords. — 
 Bur,  11.  Through  failh  also  Sara,  'though  she  at  (irst  laughed, 
 yet,  in  the  end,  she  no  longer  dnubted,  but  firmly  believed  God's  pro- 
 mise.'— Mackn.  13.  These  all  died  in  faith,  though  they  did  not  re- 
 ceive the  blessings  promised.  Abraham  and  Sarah,  with  their  chil- 
 dren, Isaac  and  Jacob,  are  here  intended.  That  the  apostle  speaks  of 
 them  only,  and  not  of  Abel,  Enoch,  and  Noah,  is  plain  from  ver.  i."), 
 and  from  his  adding  here,  '  not  having  received  the  promises,' — that 
 is,  the  blessings  promised.  For  the  promise  of  inhtriting  Canaan  was 
 n<tt  made  to  the  antediluvian  believers,  though  the  cnuntry  ty|)ificd  by 
 Canaan  certainly  belonged  to  them. — Mackn.  14.  A  country,  iraTptoa 
 does  not  signify  a  country  in  general,  but  such  a  country  a-^  a  man's 
 father  dwells  in,  and  possesses  rightfully  as  bis  own,  and  wlierein  his 
 children  have  a  right  to  dwell  with  him.  Thus  it  is  strictly  opposed  to 
 a  strange  or  foreign  cnuntry.  They  looked  on  no  place  on  earth  as 
 their  father's  country,  but  sought  that  elsewhere. — M'Lean.  i6  But 
 now  they  detire  a  better,  ^c.  '  now,'  ii'vt,  is  an  illative  or  inferential 
 particle,  and,  joined  with  ?>£,  '  but,'  signifies  an  adversative  inlerence  : 
 '  they  desired  not  a  return  into  their  country,  but  they  desired  an  hea- 
 venly.'— J.  Owen.  '  But,  accounting  tlicmsrives  strangers  both  in 
 Chaldcaand  in  Canaan,  they  raised  up  their  hearts  to  the  desire  of  a 
 better  country — that  is,  an  heavenly.' — Bp.  Hall.  ]Q.  Arcountinf^,  Xo-jt- 
 trofifvot,  computing,  reasoning  in  himself  from  the  principles  of  faith. 
 — J.  Owen.  In  a  figure,  tv  irapafioKr},  this  answers  to,  and  signifies, 
 *  a  typical  representation.'  The  word'xa*  which  is  prefi.Ked,  shews  that 
 there  is  a  particular  stress  to  be  hiid  upon  €1-  nopa0o\}j,  '  iu  a  figure,  as 
 1307 
 
 if  he  had  said,  *  he  received  him  from  the  dead,  not  only  &=,hc  naiTowly 
 escaped  death,  but  also  in  a  figure,  or  type  of  something  future.' — 
 Warburton.  It  plainly  prefigured  to  him  the  resurrection  of  Christ 
 from^he  dead  without  a  figure — that  is,  literally,  after  he  had  been  ac- 
 Xn^^  sacrificed  for  the  sins  of  men. — Pres.  Davies.  20.  Blessed 
 Jacolt  and  Esuit,  giving  the  higher  blessing  to  the  younger  brother. — 
 Bp.  Fell.  Things  to  come,  of  such  a  nature  that  no  human  foresight 
 could  possibly  reach  them. — Duddr.  21.  And  tvnrshipped  leaning 
 upon  the  tup  of  his  staff,  this  is  more  just  than  t!ie  common  translation, 
 *  he  bowed  himself  upon  the  bed's  head.'  It  is  the  translation  of  the 
 Sepf.—Sn  Hnllet,  Mackn.  See,  however,  Gen.  xlvii.  31,  notes.  23.  A 
 proper  child,  aaretov,  '  exceeding  beautiful,'  or  '  comely.' — Giiyse,  so 
 Mackn.  24.  To  years,  not  only  of  discretion,  but  of  e,\pericnce,  aged 
 40. — Hen.  Refused — it  is  not  said  in  scripture  that  Muses  did  this  for- 
 mally, but  he  did  it  in  effect,  by  his  actions. — Mackn.  26.  Reproach 
 of  Christ — all  the  persecutions  of  the  church  arose  from  the  enmity  be- 
 tween the  two  seeds  which  entered  upon  the  first  promi=;e  of  Christ; 
 and  the  adherence  of  believers  to  that  promise  is  the  grand  cause  of 
 that  separation  from  the  world  which  is  the  immediate  cause  of  all 
 their  perseverance  ;  wiTerefore,  the  *  reproach  of  Christ'  signifies  '  the 
 reproach  which,  upon  the  account  of  Christ,  or  their  faith  in  him,  they 
 underwerit ;  for  all  outward  observances  in  tlie  church,  in  all  ages,  are 
 but  the  protession  of  that  faith  -.  Christ  and  his  church  were  considered 
 from  the  beginning  as  one  mystical  body.  Treasures — when  the  trea- 
 sures of  a  nation  are  mentioned,  they  include  its  wealth,  profits,  and 
 advantages.  He  hud  respect,  ane/iK^Tve,  '  he  looked  on.'  He  saw  by 
 the  eyes  of  faitli  as  reprcsentid  in  the  promise. — J .  Owen.  He  *  looked 
 attentively' to  it ;  his  eyes  were  'constantly  directed' to  it. —  Clarke. 
 The  recompence  of  the  reward — Tni-  junrOi^iTroiSojfav  means,  '  the  gra- 
 tuitous reward  that  God  has  annexed  to  faith  and  obedience,  not 
 merited,  but  infallibly  annexed  in  a  way  of  sovereign  bounty.'— 
 J.  Owen.  27.  Not  fearing,  ^c. — the  apostle  s|)eaks  here  of  the  de- 
 paiture  of  Moses  with  the  Israelites,  not  uf  his  flight  to  Miriian,  (Exod. 
 ii.  14,  15,)  for  he  was  then  in  great  fear  ;  but  when  he  went  to  Pha- 
 raoh, with  God's  authority,  to  demand  the  dismission  of  the  Hebrews, 
 he  was  without  fear. — Clarke.  Endured,  Koprepeiv,  is  not  only  abid- 
 ing in  his  duty,  but  with  courage  and  resolution. —J.  Owen.  30.  By 
 faith  the  walls  of  Jericho,  §-c. — God  had  promised  that  the  walls  should 
 fall  if  compassed  about  seven  days.    They  *  believed,'  did  as  they 
 
The  constancy  and  faith 
 
 HEBREWS,  XII. 
 
 oj  the  fathers. 
 
 A.  D.  M. 
 
 y  Josh.  6.'^3. 
 
 J-im.  2.  S3. 
 II  Or,  that 
 
 K»re  tiisobf- 
 
 I  Josh.  I.  1. 
 
 ;.  Judg. -1.  6. 
 cJudg.lS,-:-!. 
 d  Judg.  11. 
 
 I.  &  l->-  7. 
 f  I  Sam.  16. 
 
 1,13.^17.45. 
 /I  Sara.    1. 
 
 eO.  &  12.  20. 
 ff  2  Sara.  7. 
 
 I I ,  \c. 
 
 A  Judg.I4.5, 
 6.  I  bam. 
 17.  34,  35. 
 Dan.  6.  22- 
 
 i  Dan   S.  25. 
 
 *  I  Sam  20.1. 
 
 1  Kin.  ht.3. 
 
 5  Kiu.C.16. 
 (2  Kii..2i'.T, 
 
 &c.  Job  42 
 10.  Ps.  *i.8. 
 f»  Judg.  IS. 
 6,15.1  :^aln. 
 14.  US,  Jdc. 
 
 6  I7.5I.5'2. 
 
 2  Sam. 8. 1, 
 
 ■  IKin.17  22. 
 2  Kin  .4.  35. 
 •  2  Mac.  6. 
 g  Gen .  39  80.  Jer.  SO.  2.  b  S7.  16. 
 
 31  By  faith  ^  the  harlot  Rahah  perished  not 
 with  tlieni  ||  that  believed  not.  wiien  ^  she  had 
 received  the  spies  with  peace. 
 
 32  And  what  shall  I  mure  say  ?  for  the  time 
 would  fail  iiie  to  tell  of  "  Gedeon,  and  of 
 *•  Barak,  and  (^/' *^  Samson,  and  o/ **  Jephthae  ; 
 of  *"  David  also,  and  '  Samuel,  and  of  the 
 prophets  : 
 
 33  Wlio  through  faith  subdued  kingdoms, 
 wrought  righteousness,  ^obtained  promises, 
 ''stopped  tlie  months  of  lions, 
 
 34  'Quenched  the  violence  of  fire,  ^escaped 
 the  edge  of  the  sword,  '  out  of  weakness  were 
 made  strong,  waxed  valiant  in  figiit,  "' turned 
 to  flight  the  armies  of  tiie  aliens. 
 
 35  "  Women  received  their  dead  raised  to  life 
 again  ;  and  others  were  °  tortured,  not  accept- 
 ing deliverance ;  tliat  they  might  obtain  a 
 better  resurrection  : 
 
 3(i  ■'And  others  had  trial  of  c/hc/ mockings 
 and  scourgings,  yea,  moreover  '' of  bonds  and 
 imprisonment : 
 
 19,  28.  fe  7.  7,  &c.  Acts  22.  ?S.    p  2  .If  ao.  7. 1 , 7. 
 
 were  cummantled.  and  the  promise  was  fulfilled,  'Josh.  vi.  1,  &c.l — 
 Ctnrke.  32.  Of  Gi-deon,  some  light  is  thrown  on  the  policy  of 
 (Jidcon's  trunipi  ts,  from  the  fact  that  some  of  the  ancients  at  least 
 used  one  irumix'ter  only  to  each  company,  consequently,  the  three 
 hundred  trumpets  gave  the  idea  of  a  large  army.  This  remark  was 
 not  publishefl  in  time  for  insertion  in  Judges. — See  IK  C.  Taylor. 
 33.  Subdued  fcitigdoms,  as  Joshua  and  David. — lip.  Haft.  Wrvught 
 rtgftteouHiiess,  as  Abraham  and  Phinehas,  [Geo.  xv,  0  ;  Ps.  cvi.  30,  31 ;) 
 or,  turned  the  people  from  idolatry  into  the  way  of  righteousness,  as 
 Samuel  and  Elijah,  (1  Sam.  xii. ;  i  Kings,  xv'm.  3Q.)—Whitf/i/.  Ob- 
 tained promises,  as  Abraham,  of  a  son  ;  Caleb  and  Joshua,  of  the  pro- 
 mised land  ;  Gideon  and  Jephthah.  of  victories. — Bp.  Hull.  Pliinehas, 
 of  the  everlasting  priesthood  ;  David,  first  of  the  kingdom,  and  then  of 
 the  Messiah. — Mackn.  Stopped  the  mouths  of  lions,  as  Samson  and 
 Daniel.  31.  Quenched,  ffc,  as  Shadrach,  Scc—Bp.  Hall.  Esrnped, 
 .•yc,  as  Moses  that  of  Pharaoh,  (Exnd.  xviii.  4  ;)  David  that  of  Goliah 
 and  of  Saul  J  ICIijah  that  of  Jezebel.— j1/ncA-n.,  Bp.  Hall.  As  Lot, 
 Abraham,  Joshua,  the  judges,  Elisha,  and  others.— Gi7/.  Out  ofweak- 
 ?)ess,  fyc,  recovered  tmm  desperate  sicknesses,  after  some  extra- 
 ordinary method,  as  Job  and  Hezekiah;  or  performed  actions  above 
 their  natural  strength  and  power,  as  Gideon,  (Judg.  vii.  I5  ;)  Samson. 
 tJurig.  xvi.  28;)  Jehoshaphat,  (2  Chnm.  xx.  12;)  Jonathan.  ('  Sam. 
 xiv.  12.) — Wells,  Whithy,  W/iens,  heatben  Canaanites.  35.  Women 
 received  their  dead,  as  the  widow  of  Zarephatli,  (1  Kings,  xvii.  20,) 
 and  the  Shunamniitish  woman,  (2  Kings,  iv.  sfi.)— //a/h.  Tortured— 
 this  looks  very  like  a  reference  to  the  case  ofthe  mother  and  herseven 
 s'-ns,  mentioned  2  Maccabees,  vii.  1,  Scc.—  Clftrke,  so  Bp.  Hall,  and 
 Gill.  36.  Cnu-l  mockin^s,  as  Samson  by  the  Philistine;  Elisha  by 
 the  children  ;  Jeremiah  by  Pashur,  and  others;  the  Jews  by  Sanballat 
 and  Tobiah  J  Ihe  prophets,  (Judg.  xvi.  25—28;  2  Kings,  ii.  23,  24; 
 Jer.  XX.  7,  s,  Neh.  iv.  i— 6;  2  Chron.  xxxvj.  15,  16.)  Scourgings,  or 
 '  smitinsrs,'  as  Jeremiah  and  Micaiah,  {Jer.  xx.  2  ;  2  Chron.  xviji,  23, 
 21.)  Bonds  and  imprisonmejtt,  as  Joseph,  Samson,  and  Jeremy, 
 (Geii.xx.\ix.2n:  Judg.  xvi.  21  ;  Jer.  xx.2,  and  xxxvii.  15.)  3".  Stoned, 
 as  Naboth,  fi  Kings,  xxi.  13—19;)  Zechaiiah,  (2  Chron.  xxiv.  ■»!  ;)  and 
 the  prophets,  (.Malt,  xxiii.  37-)— Gill.  Sawn  asunder— thete  is  a  tra- 
 ilition  that  the  prophet  Isaiah  was  thus  martyred.— C/*irA-e.  Tempted, 
 to  renounce  the  true  worship  oi  God.— Weils.  With  present  ease  and 
 prosperity  for  sinful  compliances,  in  lieu  of  punishment  and  death  if 
 they  persevered  in  their  duty,  (see  Dan.  iii.  14,  &c.,  vi.  10,  Sec.)— Pur. 
 Slain,  ^c,  as  the  priests  at  Nob,  (1  Sam.  xxii.  is,  19;)  the  prophets. 
 ( I  Kings,  xviii.  13.)  SiC.—  Gill.  They  wandered  about  in  sheepskins  and 
 !rnats/dns,  referring,  probably,  to  some  in  the  beginning  of  the  opposi- 
 tion made  by  the  Marcabee  family  to  the  attempts  of  the  Syrian  princes 
 to  force  the  Jewish  people  to  abandon  the  religion  of  their  forefathers, 
 and  unite  with  the  heathens  in  their  idolatrous  oustoms,  (1  Maccab.  ii. 
 28-30.)    It  appears  by  a  clause  in  the  last  of  these  verses,  that  they 
 
 13.  ii  Clir. 
 
 24.21.  Acts 
 
 7  as.  U  14. 
 
 19. 
 *S  Kin    1.8 
 
 Mat.  .1    1. 
 /  Zecb.  13  4. 
 
 u  1  Kill.  IS. 
 4  &  19.  g. 
 X  vet.  2,  13, 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 for^fvn. 
 u  fli.  7.  22. 
 
 &8.  6. 
 r  Ch.  5.  !>.  & 
 
 12.  S3.  Hl'V. 
 
 b.  II. 
 
 a  Col.  3.  8. 
 
 I   Pr-t    L'     1. 
 A  I  Cr.  9, 
 
 24.  Fhil.  5. 
 
 13,  II. 
 
 37  '  They  were  stoned,  they  were  sawn 
 asunder,  were  tempted,  were  slain  with  the 
 sword:  "they  wandered  about  Un  sheepskins 
 and  goatskins ;  being  destitute,  afflicted,  tor- 
 mented ; 
 
 38  (Of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy :) 
 they  wandered  in  deserts,  and  in  mountains, 
 and  "  in  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth. 
 
 39  And  these  all,  ^  liaving  obtained  a  good 
 report  through  faith,  received  not  the  pro- 
 mise : 
 
 40  God  having  ||  provided  ^some  better  thing 
 for  US,  that  tiiey  without  us  should  not  be 
 '  made  perfect. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 I  An  e.rhortat'wn  to  constant  faiths  paticnccj  and  god' 
 li/iess.  2*J  A  commendation  of  the  new  testament 
 above  the  old. 
 
 \A,^IIEREFORE    seeing   we   also  are  com- 
 
 '  '     passed  about   with  so  great  a  cloud  of 
 
 witnesses,  "  let  us  lay  aside  every  weight,  and 
 
 the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset  tiSi  and  ^let 
 
 had  their  cattle  with  them,  from  whence  their  miserable  clothing  seems 
 to  have  been  derived.  There  are  numbers  of  such  miserable  outcasts 
 from  common  society  in  that  very  country  to  tliis  day,  not,  indeed,  on 
 a  religious  account,  for  they  are  all  Mohammedans,  but  from  national 
 prejudices,  and  distinctions  arising  from  that  source. —  Uar.  This  was 
 the  garb  of  the  ancient  prophets,  being  mortified  to  all  the  luxuries  of 
 hie. — Mackn.  The  reference  may  be  to  Elijali  and  John  the  Baptist. 
 —  Gill.  Skins  of  wild  beasts  were  often  worn  as  ornaments,  hut  in 
 general  dresses  of  leather  were  only  worn  by  the  lowest  of  the  lower 
 order,  and  were  therefore  considered  a  mark  of  degradation. —  W.  C. 
 Taylor.  38.  In  dens,  as  Elijah,  and  the  himilred  prophets  hid  by 
 Obadiah  and  David,  (I  Sam.  xxiv.  3.) — Mackn.  3y.  Not  the  promise, 
 i.  e.,  its  actual  accomplishment. — Bur.  *  The  promise  of  a  heavenly 
 country.' — Whitby.  '  The  promise  of  the  Messiah' — that  is,  the  Mes- 
 siah promised.— GiV/,  so  Guyse,  Stuart.  40.  Should  not  be  made  per- 
 fect, T€\e«oy<.)<T(,  '  made  complete.'  by  receiving  the  whole  of  the  bless- 
 ings promised  to  believers. — Mackn.  '  Until  we  came  into  the  church 
 state  they  could  not  be  made  perfect,  seeing  the  church  state  itself  was 
 not  so.' — ./.  Owen.  The  Old-Testament  saints  and  we,  makeup  but 
 one  church  and  general  assembly;  and,  as  yet,  all  the  elect  of  God 
 among  the  Jews  are  not  called,  and  so  arc  not  perfect  in  themselves  or 
 v\ithout  us.  Jews  and  Gentiles  will  incorporate  together  in  the  latter 
 day ;  and  besides,  they  and  we  shall  be  glorified  together  in  soul  and 
 body  to  all  eternity. — Gift. 
 
 Chap.  XII. —  1.  So  great  a  clnnd,  this  may  be  an  allusion,  perhaps,  to 
 va.st  numbers  of  birds  flying  together  like  a  cloud,  [Isa.  Ix.  %.)—Cap. 
 To  the  pillar  of  cloud,  (see  l  Cor.  x.  \.)—QilL  Both  the  Greeks  and 
 Latins  fretiueiitly  use  the  term  *  cloud'  to  express  a  great  number  of 
 IJcrsons  or  things :  as  '  a  cloud  of  shields,'  ikc.—Clurke.  Witnesses, 
 the  wortliies  mentioned  in  the  former  chapter. — Whitln/,  Gill.  By 
 using  this  figure,  the  apostle  did  not  mean  to  insinuate  that  the  saints 
 in  the  other  world  know  what  we  are  doing  hi  this,  but  to  teach  us  to 
 think  of  them  often,  that,  by  the  recollection  of  their  trials  and  virtues, 
 we  may  stir  ourselves  up  to  greater  diligence  in  our  Christian  course. 
 —Mackn.  The  word  *  witnesses'  certainly  alludes  to  the  Olympic  race, 
 where  persons  were  appointed  to  stand  at  the  mark,  to  observe  who 
 came  first  thither,  and  to  give  evidence  in  favour  of  the  conqueror, 
 upon  whom,  therefore,  a  crown  was  bestowed  according  to  their  testi- 
 mony.— Doddr.  Every  weight,  as  those  who  ran  in  the  Olympic  races 
 would  tlu*ow  aside  ever\'thing  that  would  impede  them  in  their  course. 
 The  sin  irhuh  di<(h  sn  easily  beset,  cvirepiOTaTov  uuupTutv.  or  '  infolds 
 us,*  hke  till-  tlowiii-,-  t^arments  of  the  east,  thus  ohstnicting  us  in  our 
 course.  Some  think  that  the  metaphor  is  derived  from  the  practice  of 
 hunters,  who,  in  ancient  times,  used  to  surround  wild  beasts,  and  then 
 contract  then:  circle,  in  order  to  cateh  or  destroy  them.— Hew.  '  The 
 weil-circumstanced  sin,' — Dunlop,  so  Clarke;  that  which  has  every- 
 thing in  its  favour, — time,  and  place,  and  opportunity;  the  heart,  and 
 
 REFLrciiONs  ON  CiTAP.  XI. — We  See  here  that,  1.  Faith 
 is  a  reliance  on  the  u-ord  and  }n-<miise  of  God.  What  his  word 
 nsserts,  and  what  it  promises,  are  food  for  faith.  Faith 
 realizes  what  God  promises.  His  promises,  not,  of  course,  in 
 hand,  or  tliey  could  not  be  promises,— are  nevertheless  in  band, 
 so  far  as  faitli  acts,  for  they  are  j^rasped  by  failb,  and  the 
 blessings  promised  are  thus  virtually  possessed.  We  learn 
 here  that  faith  j^ives  a  substance  to  unseen  and  eternal  reali- 
 ties, and  is  ji  sutisfaclory  evidence  to  the  mind  ofthe  believer 
 <>t  things  wbirb  *  eye  bath  not  seen,  nor  ear  beard.'  More- 
 over, that  wiilioui  this  faith  we  cannot  please  God,  for  we 
 then  dijipute  or  deny  Ids  word.  And  here  it  is  set  forth  in 
 nil  its  practical  hearings,  shew  ini;,  in  a  numberof  varied  cases, 
 us  unilorm  operation  upon  tin^  mind,  this  beint?  *  the  ruling 
 l>ri}icip!e  stron;^  in  death.*  Ihe  faith  of  all  believers  meets 
 I3US 
 
 in  one  grand  centre  ;  that  centre  is  Cbnst,  and  Christ  makes 
 heaven. 
 
 II.  Let  the  examples  here  recorded  encourage  us  as  believers  in 
 Christ.  Dr.  Guyse  well  remarks,  '  How  much  greater  helps 
 liave  we  to  our  faith  under  the  jMew-Testament  dispensation 
 than  Old-Testament  believers  had  for  theirs!  Christ,  and  all 
 the  blessings  of  the  gospel,  are  now  exhibited  in  their  full 
 light  and  glory,  that  we  might  enjoy  the  most  perfect  state  of 
 gospel  worship,  privileges,  and  advantages  on  earth,  till  the 
 whole  scheme  of  Divine  wisdom  and  love  shall  be  tinished  ia 
 heaven.  Then  we,  together  with  Old-Testament  believers, 
 shall  he  perfected  for  ever.  O  may  the  strength  and  activity 
 of  our  taith  exceed  theirs  in  proportion  to  our  richer  means 
 and  advantages  I  And  may  we  die,  as  well  as  live,  in  vigorous 
 exercises  of  it !' 
 
An  exhortation  to  faith. 
 
 HEBREWS,  XII. 
 
 patience,  and  godliness. 
 
 us   mil  '  with    patience  the  race   that   is   set 
 before  us, 
 
 '2  Looking  unto  Jesus  the  ||  autlior  and 
 finisher  of  our  faith  ;  '^  wlio  for  the  joy  that 
 was  set  before  him  endured  tl)e  cross,  des- 
 pising the  shame,  and  "  is  set  down  at  the  right 
 liand  of  the  throne  of  God. 
 
 3  '  For  consider  him  that  endured  such  con- 
 tradiction of  sinners  against  hiin-iclf,  ^  lest  ye 
 be  wearied  and  faint  in  your  minds. 
 
 4  ''  Ye  have  not  yet  resisted  unto  blood, 
 striving  against  sin. 
 
 5  And  ye  have  forgotten  the  exhortation 
 which  speaketh  unto  you  as  unto  children, 
 '  My  son,  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of 
 the  Lord,  nor  faint  when  thou  art  rebuked  of 
 him  : 
 
 6  For  '  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth, 
 and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth. 
 
 7  '  If  ye  endure  chastening,  God  dealeth 
 with  you  as  with  sons  ;  fur  what  son  is  he 
 whom  the  father  chasteneth  not? 
 
 8  But  if  ye  be  witliout  chastisement,  '"where- 
 of all  are  partakers,  tlien  are  ye  bastards,  and 
 not  sons. 
 
 9  Furtliermoro  we  have  had  fathers  of  our 
 flesh  which  corrected  us,  and  we  gave  litem 
 
 A.I)    61 
 
 A.  D.  04. 
 
 cK.iDi.r.Mli. 
 ill.   lU.  S6. 
 
 ',  Num.  16. 
 
 ll  t'r 
 
 22.  &  27.16. 
 
 4  l,uk«  iA. 
 
 Job  12.  10. 
 
 Ecclea.  12. 
 
 •2G.  Pliil    a. 
 
 7.  Is.  42.  5. 
 
 K,tKc.  1  Pet. 
 1    II. 
 
 &  57.  16. 
 Zpch.  12.  1 
 
 e  Ps.  110.  1. 
 
 li  Or,  as 
 
 ch.  1.  :t,  13, 
 
 seemed 
 
 &  8.  1. 
 
 i;...,d,  or, 
 
 1  Pet.  3.  22 
 
 mrrl  to 
 
 /Mat.  10. 
 24,  25. 
 
 them. 
 
 *.  \.ev.  M  4*. 
 
 John  15  20. 
 
 ^  19  2. 
 
 g  Gal.  6.  «. 
 
 1  Pet.  1.15, 
 
 IT). 
 
 A  1  Cor.  10 
 
 IS   oh.  Ill 
 
 )•  .Iain,  3.  18. 
 
 3:;,  sa,  M. 
 
 7  Job  4.  .-i,!- 
 
 la.  35.  ."i. 
 
 See  Kcclua. 
 
 i  Job  5.  17. 
 
 25,  2a. 
 
 Pio.  3.  n. 
 
 T  Pro.  4.  2G, 
 
 •27. 
 
 11  Or.  ft.M. 
 
 J  Gal.  6.  1. 
 
 A  Pb,  91.  1?. 
 
 /  Ps.  .S4.  N. 
 
 &  119.  T.'i. 
 
 Kom,  12.18. 
 
 Pro.  3.  12. 
 
 *.  11.19. 
 
 Jam.  1.  12. 
 
 2  Tim.  2.22. 
 
 Kev.  3.   19. 
 
 t,  Mat    5.8. 
 
 /  Deut.  S    .^. 
 
 2  Cor.  7-  I. 
 
 2  Sara,/  U. 
 
 Epli.  5.  6, 
 
 Prov    i:t,2l 
 
 X  2C..r.6.1. 
 
 He  19    18,   & 
 
 V  Gal    ft    4. 
 
 23.  i;l 
 
 i:  Or,  fall 
 
 m  Ps.  73,  1. 
 
 from. 
 
 1  Pet.  5.  9. 
 
 --  Deu.29  1S. 
 
 ch.  3.  12. 
 
 a   Kph    fi.  8. 
 
 Col.  3.  5. 
 
 1  Tlies,  4.3. 
 
 6  Geu.25.33. 
 
 reverence  :  shall  we  not  nitich  ratlier  be  in 
 subjection  unto  "  the  Father  of  spirits,  and 
 Uve  ? 
 
 10  For  they  verily  for  a  few  clays  cha.stened 
 us  II  after  their  own  pleasure  ;  but  he  for  our 
 profit,  "  that  tec  might  be  partakers  of  his  holi- 
 ness. 
 
 1 1  Now  no  chastening  for  the  present  seem- 
 eth  to  be  joyous,  but  grievous  :  nevertlieless 
 afterward  it  yieldeth  ''the  peaceable  fruit  of 
 righteousness  unto  them  wliich  are  exercised 
 thereby. 
 
 12  Wherefore  ''  lift  up  the  hands  which  liang 
 down,  and  the  feeble  knees  ; 
 
 13  '  And  make  ||  straight  paths  for  your  feet, 
 lest  that  which  is  lame  be  turned  out  of  the 
 way  ;  'but  let  it  rather  be  liealed. 
 
 14  'Follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  holi- 
 ness, "without  which  no  man  shall  see  tiie 
 Lord  : 
 
 1j  '^  Looking  diligently  ^  lest  any  man  ||  fail 
 of  the  grace  of  God  ;  "lest  any  root  of  bitter- 
 ness springing  up  trouble  you,  and  tiiereby 
 many  be  defiled  ; 
 
 16  *  Lest  there  be  any  fornicator,  or  profane 
 person,  as  Esau,  •'who  for  one  morsel  of  meat 
 sold  his  birthright. 
 
 the  object;  and  a  sin  In  which  all  these  things  frequently  occur;  and 
 consequently  tJie  transgression  is  frequently  committed. —  Clarke,  a.s 
 Mackn.  The  word  £i-nepi<naTov  is  derived  from  eu, '  well.'Trept,  *abunt,' 
 and  Jo-rjiM't  *  I  stand  :'  the  sin  that  stands  well,  or  is  favourably  situated  j 
 ever  surrounding  the  per.son,  and  soliciting-  his  acquiescence. — Clurke. 
 It  means  here,  '  the  sin  which,  in  present  circvmi stances,  has  the 
 greatest  advantag-e  agauist  us  ;'  a  dl-^position  to  relinquish  or  dissemble 
 the  gospel  for  fear  of  sufTerings. — Doddr.,  so  Newc.  Tlie  sbi  of  unbelief 
 seems  especially  intended,  the  epistle  being  wTitten  to  guard  against 
 tJiat  sin.  —  M' Lea/I.  With  patience,  'with  perseverance,'— iI/McA«. 
 The  rnce,  the  stadium,  or  race-plot,  in  which  the  Christian  race  is  run 
 is  the  world  ^  the  prize  run  for  is  the  heavenly  glor)';  the  mark  to 
 du'ect  in  it  is  Christ;  many  arc  the  runners,  yet  none  but  the  over- 
 comers  have  the  prize ;  which,  being  held  by  Christ,  is  given  to  them. 
 God  sets  the  race  before  the  samts ;  the  way  in  which  they  are  to  run 
 is  marked  out  by  him  in  his  word. — Gill.  2.  Looking  vnfn  Jesus  the 
 author,  fyc,  in  allusion  to  the  judges  of  the  games,  who  set  laws  be- 
 fore tJie  contenders  whereby  they  were  to  govern  themselves,  and  then 
 adjudged  the  crowns  to  the  conquerors. — Ditnlop,  so  Mackn.  Looking, 
 ^■c,  a0opt>.i/Tty,  looking  '  off  and  '  on,'  or  *  from  and  to :'  looking  '  off 
 or  from  the  worUl,  and  all  secular  concerns,  '  to'  Jesus,  and  all  tlie 
 spiiitual  and  hcavejilv'  things  connected  with  him.  This  is  an  allusion 
 to  the  Grecian  gauies ;  those  who  ran  were  to  keep  their  eyes  fixed  on 
 the  mark  of  the  prize—  they  must  keep  the  goal  in  view.— j4.  Clarke.  The 
 author,  fyc.,  '  the  Captain  and  Perfecter  of  the  faith.' — Mackn.  The 
 Joff,  bringing  many  sons  unto  glory  ;  or  the  glory  and  dignity  to  which 
 his  human  nr.ture  aliould  be  advanced. — Ben/:.  3.  Co/isider  him, 
 uta\oy  IT aatft,  the  original  word,  is  very  emphatical,  and,  as  Erasmus 
 Schniiflitis  observes,  is  a  metaphor  taken  from  arithmetical  and  geome- 
 trical proportions;  so  that  it  signifies  the  great  accuracy  and  exactness 
 with  which  they  should  consider  the  author  and  finisher  of  their  faith.— 
 Doddr.  Lest  i/e  he  wearied,  §e. — here  is  a  continued  allusion  to  thecon- 
 tenders  in  the  Grecian  games,  who  when  e.xhani^ted  in  bodily  strength 
 and  courage,  yielded  tlic  palm  to  their  opponents ;  and  were  said  to  be 
 Ko^ieiv,  *  weary,'  or  exhausted.  l^K\vtaULit,  '  to  be  dissolved,  disheart- 
 ened, or  to  have  lost  all  bravei-y  or  courage,' — A.  Clarke.  4.  L'nto  blood, 
 as  Christ.  As  the  martyrs  for  the  truth,  who  persevered  unto  death. 
 Stririvg  agfunst  si'i,  ttjjoc  Ttii-  u/iapnuv  avTu^wnfu/itiui,  '  combating 
 against  sin.'^ — Mackn.  An  allusion  to  boxing  at  the  Grecian  games. — 
 A.  Clurke.  Alludes  to  fighting  with  the  cestus,  or  wrestling. — Mackn. 
 The  cestus  here  alluded  to  was  a  kind  of  iron  glove,  with  which  such 
 hi'a\  y  and  severe  blows  were  given  that  the  blood  frequently  flowed 
 down  to  tlie  ground.  The  apostle  intimates,  that  the  persecution  had 
 not  yet  proceeded  so  far  a-s  to  the  shedding  of  their  blood.— J/«/-. 
 Against  sin,  this  was  the  adversar>-  acting  in  the  persecutors  ;  and  also 
 ill  themselves,  l  Pet.  ii.  \\.—  <)iven.  5.  The  e.rhm-tatioji—'Pvov.  iii. 
 11,  12,  whicli  shews  that  the  address,  which,  at  first  sight,  appears  to 
 be  from  Solomon  to  his  son,  is  properlj-  from  Ciod  himself  t<j  any  per- 
 son m  affliction. — A.  Clarke.  S/iraketli,  diaAe-jtTut,  '  reasoneth'  with 
 you,  as  with  children.— ,V«-'A-ji.  6.  He  chasteneth,  iruioau.  the  divine 
 *  instructive  chastisement'  is  e.\tended  to  all  the  family  of  God. 
 Srourffclh,  argues  a  peculiar  degree,  or  measure,  in  chastisement  above 
 what  is  ordinary;  and  it  is  never  used  but  to  express  a  high  degree  of 
 suftering.  A  scourguig  is  (he  utmost  that  is  used  in  nai&cta,  '  correc- 
 tive instruction.'  Receiveth,  -niipaitxtTai,  '  receives,  accepts,  ow^is, 
 avows.'  T.lfye  endure,  i^c.,  that  is,  with  faith,  submi-^sion.  pa- 
 tience, and  perseverance,  so  as  not  to  faint.  A  mere  suffering  of  things 
 calamitous  is  common  to  mankind,  ajid  is  no  evidence  of  a  gracious 
 recei)tinn  with  God.— .?.  fhieti.  H.  linstards,  in  those  dissidute  ages 
 there  were,  among  tlie  heathen,  many  base-born  clnhhen,  and  it  is 
 1301) 
 
 higlily  probable  that,  as  for  such,  theh:  education  was  much  neglected, 
 so  as  to  come  almost  hito  a  proverb.  11.  The  penrealile  fruit,  pos- 
 
 sibly alluding  to  the  crown  of  ohve  given  to  the  victor  hi  the  Olympic 
 games,  which  was  also  an  emblem  of  peace. —  Doddr.  EaerriseU 
 thereby,  7t7<./ii'Q<T/ici'oiv,  '  to  the  trahied."  An  allusion  still  to  the  (ire- 
 cian  games;  and,  in  the  word  before  us,  to  those  gymnastic  exercises 
 by  which  the  candidates  for  the  prizes  were  trained  to  the  different 
 kinds  of  exercises  in  which  they  were  to  contend  when  the  games  were 
 puhhcly  opened. — Clurke,  as  Mackn.  12,  13.  Lift  up,  §c.,  '  bring  to 
 the  right  position.'— jl/«cA-«.  Taken  from  Isa.  xxxv.  3.  Continued 
 metaphors  in  answer  to  the  first  prescriprion  of  duty,  which  was  to  run 
 a  race,  or  strive  for  a  victorj- ;  wherefore,  the  exhortation  is  applied  to 
 those  parts  of  the  body  which  are  of  principal  use  in  the  gymnastic 
 exercises— viz..  the  hands,  the  knees,  and  tl;e  feet,  whereby  the  body 
 liuts  forth  all  its  strength  to  obtam  the  prize.  The  hands  uhich  hang 
 dotcn,  Traptf^eini-,  '  Weakened  and  dissolved  in  theu"  strength,'  whence, 
 of  course,  they  hang  down ;  which  is  an  evidence  of  behig  weary,  faint, 
 unreaiiy,  and  on  the  point  of  givhig  over.  Feeble  knees,  vapa\t\v/icfa, 
 '  debilitated  ;'  weak,  whose  nervous  vigour  is  dissolved.  Make  straight 
 paths,  seems  to  be  taken  from  Prov.  iv.  26. — J.  Owen.  1>oxm?  uptf.ii, 
 the  words  must  be  translated  '  smooth  or  even  paths,'  because  a  w  hid- 
 ing path  may  be  as  smooth  and  easy  to  walk  in  as  one  that  is  straight. 
 Tlie  apostle  'meant  their  removing  every  obstacle  which  might  impede 
 tlum  in  rumiing  the  Christian  race;  such  as  sensual  pleasures,  Sic. 
 Turned  out  uf  the  n-inj,  'put  OUt  of  joint  '  14.  Folloir,  .yc,  d(Io^tTe, 
 
 'pursue.'  A  metaphor  taken  from  the  chace,  in  which  hunters  exert 
 their  utmost  strength  m  pursuing  their  prey.  —  Mackn.  Holiness. 
 u7(ao-/ioi— in  iThess.  iv.  4,  the  word  is  translated  '  sanctification,' 
 which  properly  consists  in  beuig  free  from  those  lusts  which  are  grati- 
 fied by  means  of  the  senses ;  and  from  those  bad  passions  which  are  of 
 a  more  spiritual  nature,  such  as  anger,  Kc.  The  word  'hohness,' 
 adopted  by  our  translators,  comprehends  all  those  pious  and  vuliious 
 dispositions  which  constitute  a  rehgious  and  moral  character.  15.  Fail, 
 ajiostatize  from  the  gospel. — Clurke.  The  word  vureptto,  '  to  fail,'  sig- 
 nifies sometimes  to  'want,'  or  be  'deficient,'  iu  any  kind,  (Matt.  xix. 
 20  ;)  sometimes,  to  *come  behind,'  (1  Cor.  i.  7  ;)  sometimes,  to  be''  des- 
 titute,' (Heb.  xi.  3" ;)  sometimes,  to  *  come  short  of,'  as  Rom.  iii.  23  ; 
 Heb.  iv.  I .  Wherefore,  to  '  fail  of  grace'  is  to  come  shoit  of  it,  not  to 
 obtain  it,  though  we  seem  to  be  in  the  way  thereto. — J.  Given.  The 
 race  is  still  kept  in  view,  and  the  allusion  is  to  falling  behind  in  it. — 
 M'Lean.  Root  of  bitterwss,  'bitter  root.'  In  scripture,  '  bitteniess' 
 .signifies  gross  sin,  (Acts,  \iii.  23,)  and,  in  particular,  apostasy  or  idol- 
 atry, (Dent.  xxix.  1«  ;^  wherefore,  'a  bitter  root'  is  a  person  utterly 
 corrupted,  and  who,  by  his  errors  and  vices,  corrupts  others.  The  me- 
 taphor shews  that  sin  is  of  an  infectious  nature,  and  that  its  conse- 
 quences aie  deadly  in  the  highest  degree.  Trouble  you,  evoxXrj — this 
 verb,  being  derived  from  ox-'*''?*  'a  crowd,'  signifies  'to  hurry  one 
 along.'  Here  it  denotes  the  influence  which  false  rea-soning  and  evil 
 example  have  to  lead  men  to  renounce  religion. — Mackn.  l6.  Profane 
 person,  as  Ksav.  who,  ^c— Esau  is  said  to  be  '  a  profane  person,'  only 
 because  he  preferred  earthly  before  heavenly  things.— Bee  In  the 
 family  of  Abraham,  the  birtlmght  entitled  the  eldest  to  spiritual  as  well 
 as  temporal  privileges,  all  which  Esau  despised.  Birthright — before 
 the  law  was  given,  the  firstborn  hi  the  family  of  Abraham  had  a  right 
 to  the  priesthood,  (Exod.  xLv.  22,)  and  tu  a  double  portion,  (Deut.  xxi. 
 17 ;;  and  in  the  family  of  Isaac,  he  was  lord  o\-cr  his  brethren,  (Gen. 
 xxvii.  29,  37  ;  xlix,  3.)  Further,  in  that  family,  the  firstborn,  as  the 
 root  of  the  people  of  God,  conveyed  to  his  posterity  all  the  blessings 
 promised  in  the  covenant — such  as  a  right  to  possess  the  land  of  Ca- 
 naan, and  to  be  the  father  of  Him  in  whom  all  nations  were  to  '>? 
 
The  gospel  C07macnd-.,l 
 
 HEBREWS,  Xir. 
 
 in  preference  to  the  Inn:  of  Moses, 
 
 17  For  ye  know  how  that  afterward,  •"  whe 
 he  would  have  inherited  the  blessing,  he  was 
 rejected  :  '^  for  he  found  no  ||  place  of  repent- 
 ance, though  he  sought  it  carefully  with  tears. 
 
 18  For  ye  are  not  come  unto  "  the  mount 
 that  might  be  touched,  and  that  burned  with 
 fire,  nor  unto  blackness,  and  darkness,  and 
 tempest, 
 
 19  And  the  sound  of  a  trumpet,  and  the 
 voice  of  words  ;  wliich  ro/ce  they  that  heard 
 Untreated  that  tiie  word  should  not  be  spoken 
 to  tliem  any  more  : 
 
 tiO  (For  they  could  not  endure  that  which 
 was  commanded,  ^  And  if  so  much  as  a  beast 
 touch  the  mountain,  it  shall  be  stoned,  or 
 thrust  through  with  a  dart: 
 
 *_'l  ""And  so  terriido  was  the  sight,  that  Moses 
 said,  I  exceedingly  fear  and  quake  :) 
 
 t*2  But  ye  are  come  '  unto  mount  Sion,  "^and 
 unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly 
 
 A.  D.64. 
 
 c  Gen  27.3J 
 Hfi,  33. 
 ./  ch.  6  6. 
 II  Or,  way  t'l 
 
 m>'.d. 
 
 f  Ex.  19  r2, 
 18,  l9.St20 
 rs  Dcti.  4 
 il.  ft  i.  2i. 
 Horn  6.  14. 
 ^  S.  i:.. 
 •1  Tim.  1.  7. 
 
 /Kt.  211  19. 
 D^iit  5.  S, 
 •lb.  ft  IS.  to. 
 
 Ga].  4.  26. 
 
 He*-.  .1.  12. 
 Xt  21.  2,  HI, 
 *  I'hi1.3.2U. 
 
 I  Deil.  ■.'■.i.  2 
 Ps.  m.  17. 
 Jn.le  Ik 
 
 m  Bx    \.  29 
 
 .Tain.   1.   18. 
 
 Kev    \\.\ 
 »  I,uke  ID. 
 
 20    Phil.  4. 
 
 3.  Kev.  13 
 
 S 
 
 II  Or. 
 
 "  (."en.  18.25, 
 
 Ps    '1+.  3. 
 V  Plii],  3.  1^ 
 
 cli.   II.  10. 
 7  ch.  8.  6.  & 
 
 a.  15. 
 II  Or, 
 
 leitnmfnt. 
 r  F.X.  21.  8. 
 
 ch.  II    4. 
 /ch.  2.  2.  ^. 
 
 &.S.  17.  Sc 
 
 in.  23.  29. 
 »  Ex.  19.  18. 
 X  Hag.  8.  6. 
 g  Vs.  1112.26, 
 
 Mat.  24.  85, 
 
 Jerusalem,  '  and   to  an  innumerable  company 
 of  angels, 
 
 23  To  the  general  assembly  and  church  of 
 '"the  firstborn,  "which  are  |jwritten  in  lieaven, 
 and  to  God  °  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  sj)irits 
 of  just  men  ^'made  perfect, 
 
 24  And  to  Jesus  'Uiie  mediator  of  the  new 
 II  covenant,  and  to  *"  the  blood  of  sprinkling, 
 that  speaketh  better  things  'tiian  that  o/'Abel. 
 
 25  See  that  ye  refuse  not  him  that  speaketli. 
 For  Mf  they  escaped  not  wlio  refused  hiin  that 
 spake  on  earth,  much  more  sfiti//  not  we  escape, 
 if  we  turn  away  from  him  that  speaketh  from 
 heaven  : 
 
 26  "  Whose  voice  then  shook  the  eartli  :  but 
 now  he  iiath  promised,  saying,  ^  Yet  once  more 
 
 1  shake  not  tlie  earth  only,  but  also  heaven. 
 
 27  And  this  word.  Yet  once  more,  signifieth 
 ^  the  removing  of  those  things  that  ||  are  shaken, 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  10    Rev.  21.  I.      ||  Ot,H,uy  be  tUnken. 
 
 blessed,  and  to  explain  aiid  confirm  these  promises  to  !iis  children,  in 
 his  dying  blessings  to  them  ;  of  which  wc  have  a  remarkable  example 
 in  Jacob,  Gen.  xlix.l— jl///rA-H.  i;.  U,;  wm  rejected,  by  his  father 
 saying  of  Jacob,  *I  have  blessed  him;  vea.  and  ho  shall  be  blessed,' 
 (Gen.  xxvii.  33.)~W7ii%.  Welh.  He  was  reprobated,  not  by  tJod,  hut 
 by  his  father.— J/(icA-«.  He  found  tin  pU/rf  of  repntfunrt;  .Sv.— the 
 meaning'  of  this  undoubtedly  is,  not  that  lie  would  have  repented,  and 
 could  not,  but  that  there  was  '  no  room' for  his  repentance,  it  would 
 not  be  regarded  ;  or,  in  other  words,  that  his  father's  mind  c(udd  not 
 be  changed.— /J«Jf/c..  Whitbi/.  Hall.  This  does  not  intimate  that  any 
 one  that  truly  rcpcnteth,  and  is  converted,  shall  not  be  forgiven  ;  for 
 the  contran-'  is  a  great  part  of  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel.— Vf.  }ifi.rter. 
 Admit  this  passage  in  the  most  severe  sense  to  which  it  can  plausibly 
 be  extended;  it  would  then  only  be  the  ca-^e  of  Esau,  and  prove  the 
 reprobate  state  of //(".v  mind,  but  cannot  he  applied  to  anv  one  who  sin- 
 ci'rely  repents  and  steks  mercyof  God.— /•,>/.  Such  as  wilfully  renounce 
 Christianity  are  not  to  expect  to  find  niiv  pl;ice  of  repentance  in  God, 
 who  has  connected  niin  with  apostasy,  and  decreed  the  destruction  of 
 apostates.— So  UVZ/.s.  is.  For  i/p  nrr  nof  mine  unto  thf  ynnunt,  ffc, 
 the  apostle  means  to  say.  that  the  danger  of  apostates  from  Christ iaiiitv- 
 will  appear  the  greater  hy  considcrini^  they  forsake  a  religion  so  much 
 more  mild  and  gracious,  privileges  and' blessings  so  much  nobler, 
 than  those  of  the  Jewish  law.— P///e;  same  purport,  G»y.vf>.  li).  The 
 voice  of  ifurd.*!,  'the  snnnd  of  words,'  of  the  ten  commandments.— 
 Matkn.  20.  Vonld  m,t  t  ndnre,  fyc,  they  were  conscious  that,  through 
 the  weakness  and  dei)ra\ity  of  nature,  they  were  utterlv  incapable  of 
 coming  up  to  the  sanctity  and  strictness  of' these  commandments  and 
 prohibitions,  and  of  being  justified  hy  their  own  imperfect  obedience  to 
 them;  and  they  knew  not  how  to  bear  up  under  the  dreadful  appear- 
 ances of  God  in  the  manner  of  his  imblishing  them.  AntI  so  severe 
 were  his  injunctions,  as  expressly  to  command,  that  if  man  or  beast 
 passed  over  tiic  i»resrribed  bovmdaries  about  the  mount,  or  even 
 touched  them,  death  should  be  inflicted  ;  which  was  an  awful  indica- 
 tion of  the  great  distance  that  creatures  are  to  be  kept  at  from  God  hy 
 reason  of  sin.  21.  Mm>-^  .•itrid,  ^r.,  this  saying  was  probably  a  well- 
 knowni  and  received  tradition  among  the  Jews,  for  it  is  not  recorded  In 
 the  Old-Testament  Saiptm-es.— (7»T;.tff.  Thi.s  may  allude  to  Exod.  xix. 
 ig,  where  it  is  said,  '  Moses  spake,  and  (loil  aiLswered  him  by  a  voice.* 
 — fliarkn.  22.  Mouut  Sion,  to  a  miUk-r,  sweeter,  and  more  encourag- 
 ing dispensation  of  light  and  grace ;  into  holy  commvmion  with  the 
 New-Testament  church,  which  is  of  a  s])iritual  nature ;  and.  in  oi>posi- 
 tion  to  Mount  Sinai,  may  be  called  iMount  Sion,  as,  like  the  mount 
 which  bore  that  name,  it  is  chosen  and  beloved  of  God  ;  the  pHre  of  his 
 delightful  residence  and  special  manifestation  of  his  favour  ;  tlu-  seat  of 
 divine  worship  and  ordinances  in  religious  assemblies;  and  the  object 
 of  all  bis  gracious  jiromiscs.  Believers  being  said  to  be  come  to  this, 
 may  most  inunfriiatcly  relate  to  the  communion  which  they  are  brought 
 into  with  the  whole  cliurch  on  earth;  though  the  following  parts  of  the 
 description  seem  uinre  immediately  to  relate  to  the  communion  they 
 have,  even  while  they  are  here,  witli  the  church  in  heaven,  and  with 
 God.  and  the  Mediator,  who  are  most  perfectly  enjoyed  there.- rVi/y.^p. 
 The  cif  I/— the  state  of  the  church  under  the  New  Testament  has 'the 
 safety  and  beautiful  order  of  a  city— the  city  of  God.  The  hrnvniht  Je- 
 rustilem,  so  called.  becau.=e,  as  a  city,  it  is  not  of  this  world  ;  because 
 no  small  part  of  its  inhabitants  are  already  actually  instated  in  heaven  ; 
 l)ccause.  as  to  its  state  on  earth,  it  comes  down  from  heaven.  \  Rev.  xxi. 
 2,  3  :)  that  is,  has  its  original  from  Divine  authority  aiul  institution  ;  be- 
 cause the  portion  andinheiitance  of  all  its  inhabitants  lie  in  heaven  ;  be- 
 cause the  spiritual  hfe  and  graces  of  all  that  belong  to  it  are  heavenly  ; 
 and,  finally,  because  their  Tro\<Tti';ia,  *  city  conversation.' is  in  heaven, 
 AniTch,  alluding,  possibly,  to  the  number  at  the  giving  of  the  law,  (Ps. 
 Ixviii.  17  :)  or  refers  to  Dan.  vii.  10.  Tliev  and  we  are  brought  into  one 
 mystical  body,  whereof  Christ  is  the  head,  (Eph.  i.  lo  ;)  one  family, 
 which  is,  in  heaven  and  earth,  called  after  his  name,  (Eph.  iii.  14.  15.) 
 Besides,  there  is  a  mhustry  committed  to  them  for  the  service  of  the 
 church,  (chap.  i.  M,  Sic.)— J.  Owen.  23.  General  assnnUii,  dignity 
 
 of  being  members  of  that  congregation  of  Jews  and  Gentiles,  composed 
 of  aposUes,  the  first-fruits  of  the  faith,  (Rom.  viii.  23.)  and  all  those 
 faithful  persons  whose  names  are  honoured  and  recorded  in  the  book 
 of  God.— //«;».  Called  'general,*  because  it  lakes  its  members  from 
 I3I0 
 
 all  times  and  all  places. — Jone.s,  of  Nniflmid.  Church,  €KK\t]cia,  origi- 
 nally signifies  any  regular  and  orderly  assembly  of  persons,  called  to 
 meet  on  any  occasion.  In  the  Bible,  it  almost  always  means  a  religious 
 assembly. — Seeker.  Fir-ttdorn.  so  called,  because  to  the  lUstborn  the 
 right  of  inheritance  belongs ;  and  in  allusion  to  their  being  sanctified 
 and  registered,  (Num.  iii.  4)).)- Jojip.f,  of  Xni/land.  Those  who  first 
 received  the  gospel  of  Christ  are  here  meant,  and  who  are  elsewhere 
 termed  the  '  first-fruits.'  Written  im  hearer},  alluding  to  the  custom  of 
 enrolling,  or  viTiting  on  tables,  &c.,  the  names  of  all  the  citizens  of  a 
 particular  city  who  had  a  right  to  live  there  and  enjoy  its  privileges. — 
 Clarke.  Judge  of  nil,  a  righteous  Judge,  to  whom  they  can  come  with- 
 out terror ;  for  though  he  is  just,  yet  he  is  a  Saviour,  and  the  justifier 
 of  his  people  on  account  of  the  righteousness  of  his  Son.' — Gill.  Just 
 men,  probaldy  the  ai^ostle  here  uses  the  expression  'just,'  or  righteous, 
 to  intimate  that  he  included  the  patriarchs,  or  Jewish  saints  ;  and  there 
 was  a  peculiar  propriety  in  doing  so,  as  the  epistle  was  addressed  to 
 the  Hebrews.— Wh^/a-.  Made  perfect,  having  run  their  race,  and  wait- 
 ing for  their  crowm  in  the  great  day.^lI-V/Av.  24.  Jesu.<i,  the  mediator 
 of  (he  new  covenant,  by  whom  it  was  purchased,  made,  sealed,  and 
 executed. — R.  Ba.rter.  The  old  covenant  and  its  mediator,  Moses,  are 
 passed  away,  (see  chap.  viii.  13.)  The  new  covenant,  i.  e.,  the  gospel, 
 is  imw  ui  force,  and  will  be  till  the  end  of  the  world,  and  Jesus  is  it.* 
 Mediator. — Clarke.  He  is  here  called  by  the  name  of  '  Jesus,*  which 
 is  significant  of  his  saving  the  church,  which  he  does  as  Mediator  of 
 the  new  covenant,  (chap.  ix.  15—17,  ^c.) — ./.  Owen.  To  the  blood  of 
 sprinklini:.  to  the  real  purifirarion  by  the  sprinkled  blood  of  Christ, 
 which  the  blood  of  the  passovcr  and  sacrifices  typified.  Better  things 
 than  that  of  Abel,  thntcnctU  not  against  us,  as  Abel's  blood  did,  for 
 revenge,  but  saveth  us  by  satisfying  vindictive  justice. — R.  Ita.rfer ; 
 same  idea,  Doddr.  rinpii  tov  A/3(\,  the  reterence  here  seems  to  be  to 
 the  blood  of  the  sacrifice  which  Abel  offered,  and  which  was  acceptable 
 for  the  obtaining  of  mercy,  through  faith,  in  the  atoning  sacrifice  of  the 
 Messiah.  This  was  signally  accepted,  and  spoke  for  good  things  for 
 himself,  but  not  for  others. — Gut/se.  There  seems  to  be,  througliout 
 this  whole  period,  a  reference  to  the  manifestation  God  made  of  him- 
 self upon  Moimt  Sion,  as  being  milder  than  tliat  of  Sinai.  And  the 
 heavenly  society  witlt  which  Christians  are  iucor])orated  is  considered 
 as  resembling  the  former  hi  those  circumstances  in  which  it  was  more 
 amiable  than  the  latter.  Sion  was  the  city  of  God.  In  the  temple 
 which  stood  there,  cherubim  were  the  ornaments  of  the  walls,  both  in 
 the  holy  and  most  holy  i)lace.  to  signify  the  presence  of  angels.  There 
 was  a  general  assembly  and  congregation  of  the  priests,  which  were 
 substituted  instead  of  the  firstborn,  of  whose  names  catalogues  were 
 kept.  There  was  God,  as  the  supreme  Judge  of  controversies,  giving 
 forth  his  oracles.  The  high  priest  was  the  mediator  between  God  and 
 Israel,  (comp.  Luke,  i.  s— lo,)  and  the  blood  of  sprinkling  was  daily 
 u^vd.—Oiiddr.  2.1.  Htm  that  speaketh,  he  alludes  to  his  having  just 
 said  that  his  blood  speaketh— namely,  Christ,  who  speaks  to  you  in  the 
 gospel,  and  by  his  Spirit  and  messengers,  and  whose  speaking  even 
 now  is  a  prelude  to  the  final  scene.  In  this  command,  the  apostle  ha.s 
 respect  to  the  double  solemn  charge  given  by  God  to  his  church,  to 
 hear  and  obey  his  Son  :  the  first,  Deut.  xviii.  1.5,  ip,  a  charge  intended 
 to  prepare  the  church  for  their  duty  in  the  pmpcr  season ;  the  other 
 charge  was  given  immediately  from  Heaven,  (Matt.  xvii.  5.1 — Benson. 
 .Spake  on  earth,  by  Moses.  Speaketh  from  ttenven,  by  his  SjHrit,  (1  Pet. 
 i.  ii.) — Whitby.  If  their  ancestors  escaped  not  the  vengeance  of  God 
 when  they  refused  to  hear,  believe,  and  obey,  tlic  legal  covenant  which 
 he  spake  on  earth  from  Mount  Sinai,  much  more  and  greater  sinners 
 are  all  such  who  turn  aside  scornfully  from  Jesus,  and  receive  not  the 
 voice  of  God's  Son,  and  the  revelation  of  his  gospel  covenant  by  it, 
 (chap.  i.  2 ;  John,  i.  14,  l6,  17,    18  ;  iii.  13.)  —  I'oole.  26.  Shook  the 
 
 earth,  at  the  giving  of  the  law  it  trembled,  (Ps.  Ixviii.  8  ;)  but  the  pro- 
 phets describe  the  great  changes  and  revolutions  which  should  be 
 effected,  and  the  power  by  which  the  last  and  perfect  dispensation  of 
 the  Messiah  should  be  accomplished,  by  '  shaking  the  heavens  and  the 
 earth,'  (Hag.  ii.  fi.  7  ;)  signifying,  a  thorough  revolution.— Piy/f.  In 
 the  prophetic  writings,  the  Jewish  state  and  worship  are  called  '  the 
 heaven,'  cither  because  ap])ointed  hy  heaven,  or  as  being  an  emblem 
 of  the  church  of  the  firstborn.  27.  Things  that  are  shaken,  iTa\ti'uitevaiv, 
 is  a  meta-jhor  taken  from  ships  which  are  losscd  backwards  and  for- 
 
Divers  admonitions 
 
 HEBREWS,  XIII. 
 
 OS  to  charit'/,  §"c. 
 
 as  of  thiiif;s  tlitit  are  made,  that  those  things 
 which  cannot  be  sliaken  may  remain. 
 
 28  Wherefore  ue  receiving  a  kingdom  vvliich 
 cannot  be  moved,  |jlet  ns  liave  grace,  wliereby 
 we  may  serve  God  acceptably  with  reverence 
 and  godly  fear  : 
 
 •2'.)  For  '•  our  God  is  a  consuming  fire. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 1  Divers  ndmojutions^  as  to  charitif^  4  to  honest  life, 
 5  to  avoid  covetmisness,  7  to  reijnrd  G<nts  preac/iers, 
 9  to  take  heed  of  strange  doctrines,  10  to  vnnfvssCh-isti 
 }6  to  pive  alms,  17  to  ohri/  ijnwrnDrSy  18  '(>  pray  for 
 the  apostle.      20   The  eonrlu.sion. 
 
 T  ET  ^  brotherly  love  continue. 
 
 •^  2  '' Re  not  forgetful  to  entertain  strangers: 
 
 for   thereby   *^  some   have   entertained   angels 
 
 unawares. 
 
 3  ''  Remember  them  that  are  in  bonds,  as 
 bound  with  tliem  ;  anfl  tliem  which  suffer  ad- 
 versity, as  being  yourselves  also  in  the  body. 
 
 4  Marriage  i.-i  honourable  in  all,  and  the  bed 
 inidefiled  :  "^but  whoremongers  and  adulterers 
 God  will  judge. 
 
 5  Let  your  conversation  be  without  covetous- 
 ness  ;  and  ^ be  content  with  such  things  as  ye 
 have :  for  be  hath  said,  ^  I  will  never  leave 
 thee,  nor  forsake  thee. 
 
 II  Or,  Irt  lit 
 
 fwlU  fmt. 
 :   B.t    -iA     17. 
 
 Dpu  4  yt. 
 dc  9.  :*.  Ph 
 50   3  It  !i;, 
 
 3.  Ii.6li,l.1 
 2  Tliua.l.S. 
 ch.  lU  a7. 
 
 a  Rom.  12. 
 
 10.  1  Tlien. 
 
 4.  9-  1  I'tt 
 1 .  22.  &  9 
 17.  R:  3  rt 
 &4    S 
 
 2  Pet.  I.  7 
 ] John  3  It, 
 »ic.  &  1.  7, 
 2iJ,  21. 
 
 /.  M.it.  25.3^. 
 Rom.  12  IS. 
 1  Tim  3  •>. 
 i   Pt't.  •!.  !l 
 
 c  Oea.  18.3, 
 Jt  19.  2. 
 
 d  Mat. 25  36 
 Knm.  12  15. 
 I  Cor.l2.2ti 
 C(.l   4.  18 
 1  Vet.  3.  R. 
 
 «  I  Cor.  ti.9 
 Gil.  5.  1!>, 
 •21  Epii.  .S. 
 f..  Col.  3.  5, 
 (i    Rev.  22 
 
 /  Mat  6.  25. 
 31.  Phil.  4. 
 
 11.  12. 
 
 I  Tim, fi, 6,8 
 g  Gcii.aS  15. 
 neu  31  6, 
 8..(oBh.l,:i 
 IChr.2ft,20. 
 Ps.  37.  23. 
 
 A.  n.  frl. 
 
 I'9.  *J7,  I.  Si 
 
 'M\.  I,  II,  12. 
 1^  lis.  6. 
 v,r.  17 
 
 elhe 
 
 rfiitiet. 
 
 I  John  8  58. 
 
 ch.  1.  12. 
 
 Kev.  I.  4. 
 m  Kph.4.  14. 
 
 &  a.  6.  Col. 
 
 2.  4,  8. 
 
 I  John  4.  1. 
 
 Roi 
 
 ,  U. 
 
 a  I  Cnr.  9.13. 
 
 8t  Ml.   IB. 
 ji  Kx.  29.  It. 
 
 Lev.  4.  11, 
 
 12,21.  &  6. 
 
 311.  &  9.  II. 
 
 Si  IH.  27. 
 
 Nnm.  l!i.  3. 
 7  John  19. 
 
 17.  18. 
 
 Acts?.  58. 
 r  ch.  11.  26. 
 
 1  Pet.  4  14 
 I  Mic.  9    II'. 
 
 Phil.  3.  211 
 
 ch.  11.  10, 
 
 lli.  ft  12.22. 
 (  Kiih.  5.  20. 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  5 
 H  Lev.  7.  12. 
 
 Pa   50.  14, 
 :».  &  69.30, 
 
 31. 
 
 :  107 
 
 22. «[  116.17. 
 X  Hos.  14.2. 
 
 {)  So  that  we  may  boldly  say,  "  The  Lord  is 
 my  helper,  and  1  will  not  fear  what  man  shall 
 do  unto  me. 
 
 7  '  Remember  them  which  ||  have  the  rule 
 over  you,  who  have  spoken  unto  you  the  word 
 of  God  :  ''  whose  faith  follow,  considering  the 
 end  oi  their  conversation  : 
 
 8  Jesus  Christ  '  the  same  yesterday,  and  to 
 day,  and  for  ever. 
 
 9  "'  Be  not  carried  about  with  divers  and 
 strange  doctrines.  For  it  is  a  good  thing  that 
 the  heart  be  established  with  grace  ;  "  not  with 
 meats,  which  have  not  profited  them  that  have 
 been  occu|)ied  therein. 
 
 10  **  We  have  an  altar,  whereof  they  have  no 
 rigiit  to  eat  which  serve  the  tabernacle. 
 
 11  For  ''the  bodies  of  those  beasts,  whose 
 blood  is  brouglit  into  the  sanctuary  by  the  higii 
 priest  for  sin,  are  burned  without  tlie  camp. 
 
 12  Wlierefore  Jesus  also,  that  he  might  sanc- 
 tify the  people  with  his  own  blood,  ''suffered 
 without  the  gate. 
 
 13  Let  us  go  forth  therefore  unto  him  with- 
 out the  camp,  bearing  Miis  reproach. 
 
 14  ^  For  here  have  we  no  continuing  city,  but 
 we  seek  one  to  come. 
 
 15  *  By  him  therefore  let  us  offer  "  the  sacri- 
 fice of  praise  to  God  continually,  that  is,  ^  the 
 
 wards  by  the  winds  and  waves  till  they  arc  sunk  or  beaten  to  pieces. 
 The  Jewi^^b  worsliip,  heathen  idolatry,  and  the  powers  which  supported 
 these  forms  of  worship,  are  the  tilings  foretold  liere  to  be  shaken  ;  and 
 that  they  are  to  be  removed  is  evident,  (Hag.  ii.  21.)  As  of  things  that 
 are  made,  un-  it  en  at  ijufvMv — this  is  probably  an  ellipsis  for  tliifi^s  made 
 with  hands,  which,  according  to  tlie  Hebrew  idiom,  denotes  thintjs  of 
 an  inferior,  and  even  imperfect,  nature,  and  so  might  include  the 
 Mosaic  form  of  worship  as  inferior  to  the  Christian.  2b.  A  kingdom, 
 t<fc.,  in  allusion  to  Dan.  vii.  IS  ;  so  Christ  called  the  gospel  dispensation 
 *  the  kingdom  of  heaven.*  L''t  ns  hire  grace,  S(c.,  'let  us  holdfast 
 (xapiv)  a  gift  whereby  we  can  worship  God  acceptably,'  ^c.  29.  A 
 consuming  fire— t\\c  apostle  liad  in  his  eye.  Dent,  iv.24.  He  adopts  the 
 same  language  to  deter  from  apostasy  now :  for  though  God  appears 
 full  of  mercy  in  the  gospel,  he  is  as  much  detennlued  to  pmiish  the 
 rebellious  as  ever. — Mnckn. 
 
 Chap.  XHI.  —  \.  Let  brotherlii  Int'e,  .^-c,  an  exhortation  peculiarly 
 suited  to  converted  Jews,  as  they  had  very  strong  prejudices  again.st 
 their  Gentile  brethren. — Diodati.  2.  lie  notforgeffnt,  J^c, '  of  stranger- 
 love  (<iH\o^evia)  be  not  forgetful,'  alluding  to  Christian  brethren  tra- 
 velling to  preach,  or  to  escape  persecution. — M'Lenn.  Entertained 
 fingels—sec  Gen.  xix.  2.  This  is  mentioned  to  make  us  sensible  that 
 the  unknown  persons,  to  whom  we  shew  kindness,  may  be  persons  of 
 the  greatest  worth. — Mnckn.  In  those  early  times,  when  inns  were 
 hardly  known,  it  was  an  otfice  of  charity  and  mercy  to  receive,  lodge, 
 and  entertain,  travellers. — .4.  Clarite.  3.  In  bunds,  such  Christians 
 as  are  in  prisou. —I't/le.  In  the  body,  subject  to  all  that  befals  other 
 men.— //'/m.  i.  Marriage,  ^c,  some  condemned  it  as  inconsistent 
 with  strict  chastity,  and  others  accounted  fornication  no  sin  ;  hence 
 this  exhortation. — So  Gui/se.  5.  Nor  forsake  thee,  ovd'  nv  fj.r\  Tt  67^11- 
 TaAiTTw,  '  no,  1  will  not  leave  thee;  no,  no,  I  will  not  forsake  thee.' — 
 Guysp.  *  Neither  will  I  ever  utterly  forsake  thee,'  (see  Josh.  i.  .■»,)  The 
 multitude  of  the  negative  particles,  and  their  position  in  the  original, 
 render  this  passage  exceedingly  emphatical  and  beautiful.  6.  Sa  that 
 we  may  Unldhj  say,  '  so  that,  taking  courage,  we  may  say.' — Macknight. 
 7.  Ruir,  '  liave  presided  over  you.' — Uoddr.  '  Have  been  your  spiritual 
 guides  and  governors.' — Pylc.  Tu)!/  t'l^ou/ici'wi',  *  guides  and  leaders.' — 
 iiuyse,  so  M'Lenn.  H'tiose  faith  fallow,  considering,  S(C.,  '  of  who.se 
 conversation,  attentively  considering  the  ending,  imitate  their  faith.* — 
 Mackn.  8.  The  same  yesterday,  ^r.,  the  phrase  was  used  to  e.vpress 
 all  time — past,  present,  and  to  come. — Leslie.  9.  Diners  and  strange 
 doctrines,  'with  various  and  foreign  doctrines.'    Ai3uxuis  TroiKtAaip, 
 
 'various  doctrines'  are  doctrines  inconsistent  with  each  other;  dis- 
 cordant doctrines.— iV«rA-H.  '  Variegated  doctrines,'  that  blended  the 
 law  and  the  gospel. —r/rtj-A-ie:  but  fei-a.v  &f6axat^,  'foreign  doctrines,' 
 are  doctrines  introduced  iutc  the  church  by  unauthorized  teachers.— 
 Mackn.  EstabHshrd  mth  grace,  the  sense  of  the  Divine  favour,  and 
 the  grace  brought  to  us  by  the  gospel.— U'^Z/i//.  Fully  satisfied  with 
 the  truth  ami  efficacy  of  the  gospel  —A.  Clarke.  Tlie  phrase  is  Jewish 
 for  comforting,  strengthening,  or  refreshing  the  heart,  which  is  ascribed 
 to  food,  (see  Judg.  xix.  5,  8;  Ps.  civ.  15,)  opposed  here  to  the  Jewish 
 prejudices  about  the  distinction  of  meats. — M'Lean.  Not  with  meats, 
 eaten  at  the  Jewish  festivals,  and  their  festivals.— W/nVA//.  10.  An 
 nlttr,  the  altar  here  is  put  for  tlie  sacrifice  on  the  altar.— i4.  Clarke. 
 A  spiritual  and  living  altar  and  sacrifice,  Christ.  Ser>u%  Iffc,  are  ad- 
 dicted to  the  ceremonies  of  the  abrogated  law.— C;k  Hall.  11.  For 
 the  bodies,  ^r.,  the  flesh  of  the  sm-offering  was  burnt,  and  not  eaten, 
 proving  they  had  no  real  benefit  from  it,  but  must  look  to  Christ,  whose 
 sacrifice  it  pointed  out.— .4.  Clarke.  12.  Sanctify,  is  here  to  be  taken 
 in  a  sacrilicial  sense  fr)r  purging  from  the  guilt  of  sin,  and  consecrating 
 to  God.—Guyse.  Sujfered  witfuuft  the  gatr— the  Israelites  havmg  cities 
 to  live  in  at  the  time  our  L<jrd  suffered,  'without  the  gate' was  the 
 same  as  '  without  the  camp  in  the  wildcniess.'  Wherefore  criminals, 
 being  regarded  as  unclean,  were  always  put  to  death  without  the  gates 
 of  their  cities.- J/^fAv).  This  fact,  the  apostle  tells  us,  was  ordered  hy 
 Providence,  em  purpose  that  Christ  might  fulfil  his  type  otthe  sin-offer- 
 ing, or  expiatory  sacrifice,  wh.ose  body  was  to  he  burnt  without  the 
 camp. — Lfslie.  Kf.  Ho  forth,  '  leave  the  Jewish  camp' — that  is,  the 
 Jewish  ceremonial  religion,  and  entirely  embrace  his  more  excellent 
 dispensation. — Pyle.  14.  For  here,  l^c,  the  leaving  our  habitation, 
 kindred,  and  friends,  need  not  distress  us,  '  for  we  have  not  here  an 
 abiding  place,' &c.—./I/rtrA-H.  An  elegant  and  forcible  allusion  to  the 
 apjiroaching  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  which  hajjpened  seven  or  eight 
 years  after  this.— .1.  C/ocAre.  15.  By  him,  ^c,  'and  though  perse- 
 cuted, hy  Him,  as  our  High  Priest,  "let  us  offer,'  »ic.—Mat'/m.  The 
 trnit  of  oar  lips,  'the  praises  of  God  uttered  with  our  lips,'  and  so 
 "called ;  just  as  the  good  works  of  the  virtuous  woman  are  called  '  the 
 fruit  of  her  hands,'  iProv.xxxi.  ^\.)~~Estius.  In  Hoseaitis  'calves  of 
 our  lips,'  here  called  '  fruit,'  because  the  use  of  our  lips  in  praise  was 
 to  come  in  the  room  of  all  thank-offerings  by  calves,  (Ps.  11.  16,  1".)— 
 Owen.  Giiung  thanks,  o^oXoYwwiTfcv— the  word  is  used  by  the  Sept.  to 
 denote  the  praising  of  God  publicly  ;  because,  to  praise  God  is  to  con- 
 fess or  declare  his  perfections  and  benefits. — Mackn. 
 
 REFLrcTioNS  ON  Cii-AP.  XII — ThJs  chapter  is  full  of  en- 
 couragement to  believers,  drawn  — I.  Froin  the  crample  of  a 
 cloud  of  witnesses.  Patriarclis.  propliets,  and  martyrs,  have 
 run  the  race  and  triuinpliantly  finisiied  the  course.  Let  us, 
 too,  lay  aside  every  weight  and  every  worldly  encumbrance, 
 for  'the  lightest  garment  may  impede  tiinse  who  run  a  race, 
 when  blown  about  by  the  wind.*  Let  us  see  to  it,  that  neither 
 persecutions  nor  trials,  nor  cares  nor  pleasures,  check  us  in 
 the  Christian  course.  '  So  run  that  ye  may  obtain.'  And  con- 
 stantly let  us  keep  Jesus  in  our  eye;  remembering  bis  ex- 
 ample of  patience  and  suffering  in  performing  the  work  of 
 our  salvation,  and  struggling  to  obtain  the  mediatorial  crown  ; 
 recollecting,  too,  that  he  can  give  power  to  the  faint,  and  to 
 them  who  liave  no  might  he  incieasetli  slrength.  '  looking  unto 
 Jesus,  who  is  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith.' 
 I3I1 
 
 II.  Our  enconragement  is  drawn  from  the  fatherly  discipline 
 of  God.  Illegitimates  are  not  chastised,  hut  children  are;  so 
 are  the  children  of  God.  The  magistrate  uses  the  sword,  but 
 t!ie  Father  the  rod.  God  cor-ects  his  people,  but  he  does  not 
 slay  them. 
 
 III.  Our  encouragement  is  drawn  //om  the  'disoveries  and 
 blessings  of  gospel  (trace.  Here  is  deliverance  from  the  law, 
 from  its  curse  anil  terrors,  and  the  richest  privileges  are  set 
 before  condemned  sinners  ;  and  all  who  believe  in  Jesus  are 
 brought  to  the  city  of  God  ;  the  general  assembly  and  churcn 
 of  the  firstborn  are  associated  with  myriads  of  angels  and  ib*' 
 spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect ;  yea,  and  ihronjjh  Jesus,  tlip 
 Mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  tiiey  are  now  accepted,  and 
 shall  finally  stand  before  God,  the  judge  of  all.*  b 
 
Paul  exhortefh  them 
 
 HEBREWS,  XIH. 
 
 foproyfor  /lim. 
 
 fruit  o^  our  lips  f  giving  thanks  to  hi'^  name. 
 
 16  ''  But  to  do  f:;ood  and  to  communicate 
 forget  not:  for  'with  such  sacrifices  God  is 
 well  pleased. 
 
 17  "*  Obey  them  that  ||  have  the  rule  over 
 you,  and  submit  yourselves  :  for  ^  tliey  watch 
 for  your  souls,  as  they  that  must  give  account, 
 that  they  may  do  it  with  joy,  and  not  with 
 grief:  for  that  is  unprcifitable  for  you. 
 
 18  "^  Pray  for  lis:  for  we  trust  we  have  ■'a 
 good  conscience,  in  all  things  willing  to  live 
 honestly. 
 
 19  But  I  beseech  you  ®  the  rather  to  do  this, 
 that  I  may  be  restored  to  you  the  sooner. 
 
 20  Now  Uhe  God  of  peace,  ^  that  brought 
 
 I  Thes.  5.23.     «■  Acts  2.  M,  3?-  Horn.  4.  ?4.  A  S    11.   I 
 4    14.  Gal.  I.  I.  Col.  2.  19.     I  Thes.  I.  10.   I  Pvf.  I--»I 
 
 A.  D.  64 
 
 t  fir.  ron- 
 Pt,iHg  to 
 vKnm.ia.l.*), 
 ;  iCrtr.fl.ia. 
 
 Phil.  \.  IS. 
 
 ch.  6.  10. 
 n  Phil.  2.  29. 
 
 I  Til. 
 
 I  Til 
 
 .  5.17 
 
 A  Ez.-k  a  17. 
 St  .-W.  %  7. 
 .A.ls-'i).  ;;6, 
 
 rKom  15.S0 
 
 Ei>l..  C.  I!i. 
 
 Col.  4    .1 
 
 lThes.5.2&. 
 
 2Tliea..S.I. 
 d  Act8  2S.  1. 
 
 &  'i\.  115. 
 
 2  Cor.  I.l'>. 
 r  Philom.'^V. 
 /■Rom.l5..1:» 
 V  15.    2  Cor. 
 
 A.  D.  61. 
 
 /.  Is.  -10.  II. 
 Eze,  3».  23. 
 &  'M,  2*. 
 John  10.11. 
 U.  I  Pot.  2. 
 2.'».  &  h.  4. 
 
 I  Zech.i?.  II. 
 ch    in.  29. 
 
 II  Or.  leita- 
 tnent. 
 
 A  2  Thes.  2. 
 17.  I  Pel.  5 
 
 II  Oi-,  rfntf^ 
 /  Phil.  2.  lA. 
 tn  tiiU.  1.  5. 
 
 2  Tim  4  18. 
 
 Rev.  I.  6. 
 71  1  Pet  5,12 
 "  I  Thes.3  2, 
 p  lTini.li.l2. 
 7  ver.  7,  17, 
 
 again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  ''that 
 great  shepherd  of  the  sheep,  '  through  the 
 blood  of  the  everlasting  [|  covenant, 
 
 "21  ^  Make  you  perfect  in  every  good  work  to 
 do  his  will,  II  '  working  in  you  that  which  is 
 wellpleasiiig  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ : 
 "'  to  whom  he  glory  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen. 
 
 2'2  And  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  suffer  the 
 word  of  exhortation  :  for  "  1  have  written  a 
 letter  unto  you  in  few  words. 
 
 23  Know  ye  that  "our  brother  Timothy  ^is 
 set  at  liberty  ;  with  whom,  if  he  come  shortly, 
 I  will  see  you. 
 
 24  Salute  all  them  ''  that  have  tlie  rule  over 
 you,  and  ail  the  saints.   They  of  Italy  salute  you. 
 
 25  ^  Grace  be  with  you  all.     Amen. 
 
 .1    Written   to  the    Hebrews   from   Italy   bv 
 Timothy. 
 
 1 6.  Fo7-  with  .mch  sficrijirp.i,  the  sense  is, '  duties  like  these  Christianity  re- 
 quires, not  the  blood  of  bullocks  and  goats.' — Stuart.  I/.  Have  the  mlf, 
 '  preside.* — Doddr.  Unpi-ofitabie,  a\vcmE\€^,  the  word  means, '  exceed- 
 ingly liurtful  or  dangerous,*  comp.  Phitem.  ver.  11  ;  Eph.  v.  11.; — Far, 
 18.  A  good  conscience,  '  though  represented  by  some  of  you  as  an  apos- 
 tate and  an  enemy  to  the  law.* — Bp.  Fell.  To  lire  hoiiestly,  avaciTpe- 
 <})£ut>at,  '  to  conduct  ourselves  well.'  19.  To  do  this,  that  is.  to  pray 
 for  us. — A.  Clitrke.  '20.  Through  the  blood— there  is  an  ambiguity  in 
 the  connexion  of  these  words.  Some  think  they  refer  to  God's  bring- 
 ing again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  that  en- 
 gageraent  or  covenant  which  was  sealed  by  his  blood. — So  Gur/se.  and 
 GUI.  Beza,  nnd  othrrs.  connect  the  clause  with  the  words  immediately 
 preceding — namely,  '  that  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,'  which  our  Lord 
 was  constituted  by  the  blond  of  the  everlasting  covenant.  And  this 
 sense  seems  to  be  far  preferable,  :comp.  Acts,  xx.  28.  and  John,  x.  11.) 
 — Doddr.  On  this  point  we  also  find  the  like  opposition  of  opinion  in 
 Moses  StiiartBiui  John  Otvm.  The  fonner  says,  '  What  can  be  the  sense 
 of  raising  Christ  from  the  dead  bythe  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant  ? 
 Almiglit>-;>»Mrr  raised  him  from  the  dead,  not  the  blood 0/  the  covenant. 
 Beyond  all  reasonable  doubt,  then,  tv  n.tfi<nt,  '  through  the  blood,* 
 characterizes  the  great  Shepherd  who  "  laid  down  his  life  for  his  sheep," 
 (John,  X.  13,)  and  who  sanctioned  a  New-Testament,  or  covenant,  by 
 
 his  blood,  (Heb.  ix.  15—23  ;  Matt.  xxvi.  28.)  The  meaning  is,  that  "  the 
 great  Shepherd"  is  provided  with,  or,  so  to  speak,  carries  along  with 
 him,  blood,  sanctioning  a  covenant  which  is  of  penietual  force.'  — 
 i'omm.  on  Heb.  in  loc.  Owen  meets  the  objections  of  the  passage  just 
 quoted :— '  But  how  is  Christ  said  to  bring  from  the  dead  "  through  the 
 blood  of  the  covenant"  ?  In  reply,  we  remark,  that  the  dceth  of  Christ, 
 if  he  had  not  risen,  would  not  have  completed  our  redemption, —we 
 should  have  been  yet  in  our  sins ;  for  then  evidence  would  be  given  that 
 atonement  was  not  made.  The  bare  resurrection  of  Christ  would  not 
 have  saved  ns  ;  for  so  any  other  man  may  be  raised  by  the  power  of 
 God.  But  the  "  bringing  again  Christ  from  the  dead,"  through  the 
 blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  gives  assurance  of  the  complete 
 redemption  and  salvation  of  the  church.'— .ft^.r/jo.-;.  of  Heb.  in  lor.  There 
 is  a  tliird  meaning  given  by  some,  that  the  apostle  implored  the  follow, 
 ing  blessings  ^ver.  21)  through  Christ's  atoning  blood.— B'i7.  A  fourth 
 view  is  taken  by  McLean .— ' This  whole  verse  is  just  a  periphrasis  [or 
 circunilocutinnj  for  "  God  the  Father  as  the  God  of  Peace-,**  including 
 the  way  in  whicli  he  has  manifested  himself  to  be  so— viz.,  iu  raising 
 our  Lord  Jesus  from  the  dead,  through,  in,  or  by,  the  blood  of  the  ever- 
 lasting covenant.'— i'«r«/Vi/-.  on  Heb.  in  loc.  21.  Mnke  yim  perffcl, 
 •make  you  lit ;'  so  the  word  KuTapTiirai  signifies.  '  Prepare  you  for 
 every  good  work.'— 3/«cA-n.,  as  J.  Owen,  so  M'Lcan. 
 
 Reflections  on  CiiAr.  XIII.  —  We  may  divide  this  chap- 
 ter into  two  parts  : — I.  The.  ixhitrlations.  And  Cliristians  may 
 here  learn  the  duties  of  brotherly  love,  liospitaliiy,  sympathy, 
 purity  of  conduct,  and  contentment  with  their  lot;  and  those 
 duties  which  they  owe  to  their  ministers  as  their  spiritual 
 guides,  who  anxiously  watcii  over  their  souls,  remembering 
 the  solemn  account  which  they  must  give  to  God.  'The 
 utmost  care/  says  Williams,  '  is  due  from  us,  not  to  occasion 
 them  grief,  or  vexation  on  our  account  ;  and  a  great  ^riet"  10 
 such  it  certainly  must  be,  when  their  people  act  inconsistpntly 
 with  their  profession,  or  discover  a  refractory,  discordant,  or 
 volatile  disposition.  Christians  should,  however,  never  de- 
 generate to  a  blind  submission  to  whatever  a  Christian  teacher 
 may  advance,  without  authority  from  the  Scriptures.  We 
 have,  in  all  cases,  an  appeal  '*  to  the  law  and  to  the  testimony ; 
 if  they  speak  not  according  to  this  word,  it  is  because  they 
 have  no  IiL;ht  in  them,''  (Isa.  viii.  i*0.)'  Their  ministers 
 should  also  share  an  interest  in  their  prayers.  Henry  re- 
 marks, 'they  need  the  prayers  of  their  people;  and  the  more 
 earnestly  the  people  pray  for  their  ministers,  the  more  benefit 
 they  may  expert  to  reap  from  their  ministry.  They  should 
 pray  that  God  would  teach  those  who  are  to  teach  them  ;  that 
 he  would  make  them  vigilant,  and  wise,  and  zealous,  and  suc- 
 cessful ;  that  he  would  assist  them  in  all  their  labours,  sup- 
 port tbein  under  all  their  burdens,  and  strengthen  them  under 
 all  their  temptations  ' 
 
 II,   The prai/rr.     'The   God  of  peace  make  you  perfect  in 
 
 every  good  work,'  or  (it  you  for  it.  Dr.  Gill  observes,  *  Men 
 are  naturally  unfit  for  i;ood  works  ;  In  order  to  do  tliem  aright, 
 it  is  necessary  lljat  they  should  liave  knowledge  of  the  will  of 
 God  ;  that  they  sliouKi  be  regenerated  and  created  in  Clirisl  ; 
 tliat  they  may  be  sanctified  and  clennspil,  and  so  nif-Hl  for  the 
 blaster's  use  ;  that  they  have  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  strent;lh 
 from  Christ;  and  that  they  be  believers  in  him  :  nor  is  there 
 always  a  fitness  in  saints  themselves,  or  a  readiness  to  good 
 works,  only  u  hen  God  gives  both  will  and  power  to  do  them  ; 
 wlierefore  such  a  petition  as  this  is  very  proper  and  pertinent. ' 
 Another  prayer  tollows,  or  the  same  is  carried  on  and  more 
 largely  expres.sed  —  '  Working  in  you  tliat  which  is  well 
 pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ.  The  good  work 
 of  grace  being  necessary  to  the  performance  of  good  works. 
 This  is  a  work,  not  of  man,  hut  of  God.  Something  111  a  ninu's 
 heart,  and  not  anything  without  him  or  done  by  him.  And  it 
 is  a  gradual  or  progressive  work  ;  it  is  carried  on  by  degrees, 
 and  is  not  yet  perfect,  though  it  will  be.  And  all  this  is 
 "  through  .Tesus  Christ."  All  the  grace  necessary  tor  the  he- 
 ginning,  and  carrying  on,  and  finishing,  of  the  work  of  grace, 
 and  for  the  performance  of  every  good  work,  comes  through 
 the  hands  of  Christ,  in  whom  all  fulness  of  it  dwells,  and 
 throni^h  the  blood  and  intercession  of  Christ,  by  virtue  of 
 which  it  is  communicated  ;  and  all  become  acceptable  to  God 
 through  him,  as  the  persons  of  the  Lord's  people,  so  the  grace 
 that  is  wrought  in  them,  and  the  works  done  by  them.'  *To 
 him  be  glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen.' 
 
 THE     GENERAL     EPISTLE 
 
 JAMES. 
 
 [The  seven  following  epistles  .ire  usu.nlly  called  Catholic,  but  for  what  reason  is  not  agreed.  The  most  probaWe  one  is,  that 
 they  were  not  addressed  lo  either  p.-.rticular  persons  or  individuals,  hut  to  Christians  in  general  ;  to  this,  however,  there 
 are  exceptions  ;  for  the  second  epistle  of  John  is  addressed  '  to  an  elect  lady'  only,  and  the  tliird,  to  the  well-hclovel 
 Gaius.  James  was  an  apostle  of  the  circumcision,  and  chiefly  abode  at  Jerusalem.  The  design  of  this  epistle  is  to 
 correct  the  errors  that  had  sprung  up  respecting  faith  and  justification,  and  to  enforce  on  all  a  strict  regard  to  holy 
 obedience.  The  references  to  other  parts  of  scripture  to  be  found  in  this  epistle  are  Gen.  xv.  6  ;  xx.  17  ;  xxii.  9 — I'i  ; 
 Deut.  ix.  18— '20;  Josh.  ii.  1  ;  1  Kings,  iii.  9,  II,  12  ;  viii.  -Hj;  xvii.  1  ;  xviiii.  42—4.3;  Job,  i.  21,  22;  xlii.  10;  I's. 
 xciv.  12;  Isa.  xli.  >S;  Jer.  xxix.  12,  l;i ;  Mai.  iii.  (i. 
 IS  1 2 
 
Believers  to  rejoice  under  the  cross. 
 
 JAMES,  I. 
 
 and  to  ash  patience  of  God. 
 
 CHAP.  r. 
 
 1  /Fe  are  to  rejoice  iiii/lcr  the  cross,  5  to  nak  patience  of 
 Gody  13  tin<l  in  our  trials  not  to  impute  our  weaknessj 
 or  sins,,  vttfo  /((Hi,  19  but  ratlwr  to  hearken  to  the  word, 
 to  meditate  in  it,  and  to  do  thereafter*  20  Otherwise 
 men  inay  seejn,  but  never  be  truly  religious. 
 
 *  TAMES,  ^  a  servant  of  God  and  of  the  Lord 
 *^    Jesus  Christ,  ^  to  the  twelve  tribes  '■  whicli 
 
 are  scattered  abroad,  greeting. 
 2  My  bretlireii,  "^  count  it  all  joy  ^  when  ye 
 
 fall  into  divers  temptations  ; 
 S  ^  Knowing   t/iis,    that  the  trying   of  your 
 
 faith  worketh  patience. 
 
 4  But  let  patience  have  he?'  perfect  work, 
 that  ye  may  be  perfect  and  entire,  wanting 
 nothing, 
 
 5  ^  If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  Met  him  ask 
 of  God,  that  givetli  to  all  men  liberally,  and 
 upbraideth  not ;  and  *^  it  shall  be  given  him. 
 
 6  ^  But  let  liim  ask  in  faith,  nothing  wavering. 
 For  he  that  wavereth  is  like  a  wave  of  the  sea 
 driven  witii  the  wind  and  tossed. 
 
 7  For  let  not  that  man  think  that  he  shall 
 receive  any  thing  of  tiie  Lord. 
 
 8  "'  A  double  minded  man  is  unstable  in  all 
 his  ways. 
 
 9  Let  the  brotlier  of  low  degree  ||  rejoice  in 
 that  he  is  exalted  : 
 
 10  But  tlie  rich,  in  that  he  is  made  low:  be- 
 cause "as  the  ilowcr  of  the  grass  he  shall  pass 
 away. 
 
 11  For  the  sun  is  no  sooner  risen    with   a  I 
 
 Arts  13.17. 
 
 !k   )'> 
 
 !f. 
 
 (i.\\.  1,19  (t 
 2  u.  Jnde  I. 
 
 A  Tit.  I    I. 
 
 c  Acts  26.  7. 
 
 '/  neu.3;.'.'(i. 
 .Ii.hn  7.  35. 
 Acts?.  5.  Sc 
 H.  I.  I  Pet. 
 I    I 
 
 c  ^rat.  5.  12. 
 Acts  5.  11. 
 Hc!>  111  31 
 I  Pet,  4.ia, 
 
 /I  PL-t.  1.6 
 ;/  Hoin.S.  3. 
 
 1 1. 1 L^  Pro  v. 
 
 ■i.  H. 
 Mat, 7.7.  fc 
 
 •>l  2-2   M.-Lik 
 
 II  21.  I, like 
 
 II.  y.  Jol.n 
 
 U.  13,  &  15. 
 
 7.  a  |(i.  2:1. 
 (t  Jer.29.  12. 
 
 IJohn5.  K, 
 
 IS. 
 /M.irkn.21, 
 
 I  Tim.  2.8. 
 m  ch.  *.  9. 
 II  Or,  shry. 
 
 I  Ji.liii2J7 
 
 0  J..b  5,  17. 
 
 Pro-  3.   II, 
 
 12.  Hob.  12. 
 
 S.K(;v.3.]9. 
 P  I  Cor.  9.25, 
 
 2  Tim.  4.  8. 
 
 cli.  2   5. 
 
 I  Pet   5.  1. 
 
 Uev.  2.  III. 
 ./  Mat. 10,22. 
 
 &  19.28,29. 
 
 «h.  2.  5. 
 II  Or,  tviU. 
 
 ■Job  15.  35. 
 1'3.  7.  II. 
 
 Rom.  6.21, 
 
 r  .Iolm:i,  27. 
 
 1  Cor.    1.  7. 
 -i  Nu.  2.1   19. 
 
 I  S:u.i    15. 
 
 2il.M.tl   -AX.. 
 
 Iti.m.  11.20. 
 
 "  Jol.ii   I.IJ. 
 
 X:  3    3, 
 
 1  Cor.  i.l.'i. 
 
 1  Pet    1.23. 
 
 y  Epii.  I    12- 
 
 's  Jer.  2.  3. 
 
 lev.  U.  1 
 
 Eccle5.5.l. 
 
 6  Pro.  10.19. 
 
 &  17.  27. 
 
 Kccles.  5.2. 
 c  Pro,  II.. 
 
 17.  &  lfi:52. 
 
 Kccles,  7.9. 
 •I  Cfil.  3.  H. 
 
 I  Pet.  2.   I, 
 r-  Acts  I32(j. 
 
 Rom.  I.  ]l>. 
 
 I  Cor. 15,2. 
 
 Eph.  1 
 
 Tit. 
 
 II 
 
 burning  heat,  but  it  withereth  the  grass,  anti 
 the  Hower  thereof  falleth,  and  the  grace  of  th« 
 fasliion  of  it  pt-rLshetii :  so  also  shall  the  rich 
 man  fade  away  in  his  ways. 
 
 1'2  "  Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temp- 
 tation :  for  when  he  is  tried,  he  shall  receive 
 ^the  crown  of  life,  ''which  the  Lord  hath  pro- 
 mised to  tliem  that  love  iiim. 
 
 13  Let  no  man  say  when  lie  is  tempted,  I  am 
 tempted  of  God  :  for  God  cannot  be  tempted 
 with  II  evil,  neither  tempteth  he  any  man  : 
 
 14  But  every  man  is  tempted,  when  he  is 
 drawn  away  of  his  own  lust,  and  enticed. 
 
 15  Then  ""  when  lust  hath  conceived,  it  briiig- 
 eth  forth  sin  :  and  sin,  when  it  is  finished, 
 'bringeth  fortli  death. 
 
 16  Do  not  err,  my  beloved  brethren. 
 
 17  '  Every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  is 
 from  above,  and  cometh  down  from  the  Father 
 of  lights,  "  with  whom  is  no  variableness,  neither 
 shadow  of  turning. 
 
 18  "^  Of  his  own  will  begat  he  us  with  the 
 word  of  truth,  ^  that  we  should  be  a  kind  of 
 ^  firstfruits  of  his  creatures. 
 
 19  Wherefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  ''let 
 every  man  be  swift  to  hear,  ''slow  to  speak, 
 '^  slow  to  wrath: 
 
 20  For  the  wrath  of  man  worketh  not  the 
 righteousness  of  God. 
 
 21  Wherefore  'May  apart  all  filthiness  and 
 superfluity  of  naughtiness,  and  receive  with 
 meekness  the  engrafted  word,  ^  which  is  able 
 to  save  your  souls. 
 
 NoTKS  ON  CiTAP.  r.  —  l.Jfivies,  called  'James  the  I.c->,'  Mark, 
 XV.  40,  the  son  of  AlpliEeus,  and  cousin  to  our  Lnrtl  by  tiis  mother, 
 is  allowed  to  be  the  author  of  this  epistle.  In  the  Act.-i,  and  in  St. 
 Paul's  epistles,  he  i.s  several  times  mentioned  with  great  rii^tinction, 
 fActs,  xii.  17;  XV.  13;  xxi.  IS;  I  Cor.  xv.  7;  Gal.  i.  19  ;  ii-  9.  12.)  He 
 was  put  to  death  in  the  year  sixty-two,  in  a  tumnit  raised  by  the 
 unhelievmg:  Jews,  when  there  was  nn  Roman  governor  in  Jude-.i. 
 This  epistle  is  thought  to  have  been  written  a  short  time  before  that 
 event.  —  Buothroyd,  Munlun,  Tomline.  The  twelve  tribes,  not  tlie 
 Christian  Jews  scattered  abroad  upon  the  persecution  raised  at  the 
 death  of  Stephen,  (Acts,  viii.  1,  4,  and  xi.  19;)  but  the  posterity  of 
 those  who  had  been  dispersed  in  former  cai>tivities  by  the  Assyrians 
 and  others,  and  who  remained  in  the  several  countries  whither  they 
 were  carried.  —  GUI.  2.  Tfrnptntions,  or  'trials,'  (ver.  3;  2  Cor. 
 viii.  2.) — Martin.  3.  Wurketh,   KuTcp7.iCfTru,  or  '  pcrfcctetb.'  — 
 
 Mnnlon.  5.  Wisdom,  in  scripture  signifies  the  thorough,  practical, 
 knowledge  of  God,  of  one's  self,  and  of  a  Saviour.  —  ..■I.  Clarke.  This 
 is  to  be  restrained  to  the  circumstances  of  the  te^t — 'wisdom, 'or 
 'skill,*  to  bear  afflictions.— jVfm^on.  6.  In  faith,  'believing  that 
 
 God  is,  that  he  has  all  good,  and  that  he  is  ever  ready  to  impart  to  his 
 creatures  whatever  tliey  need.' — A.  Clarice.  Nothing  ivareriiiff,  (ui&cv 
 dtaKpniofi€i'o\,  'nothing  doubting' — that  is,  '  do  not  stand  disputing  in 
 thy  ihoughts,'  (see  Rom.  iv.  20.) — Manlon.  This  di=;putation  signifies 
 a  degree  beyond  doubting. —  Cnrj/l.  Like  a  ware  of  the  sen,  which 
 moves  on,  and  seems  to  come  to  the  shore,  bat  immediately  returns 
 with  impetuosity  into  the  gulf  from  whence  it  came. — Saurin.  3.  A 
 double  minded  man,  Si\l/vxo<;  ai-tjp— the  word  signilies,  'one  that  has 
 two  souls  ;'  and  may  imply,  'an  hypocrite,*  (chap.  iv.  8,)  or  one  dis- 
 tracled  and  divided  in  his  thoughts,  floating  between  two  different 
 ways  and  rii)inion«;,  as  if  he  had  two  minds  or  two  souls.— il/ow^o«. 
 A  man  with  one  soul  for  earth  and  another  for  heaven,  who  wishes  to 
 secure  both  worlds ;  he  will  not  give  up  earth,  and  he  is  loth  to  let 
 heaven  go. — A.  Vlnrke.  9.  R.rnlted,  to  be  rich  in  faith,  and  an  heir  of 
 the  kingdom  of  God,  (chap.  ii.  5  ;  Luke,  vi.  •l(i.)-~\Vbitby.  More  par- 
 ticularly it  may  note  the  honour  of  afflictions,  that  we  are  thought 
 worthy  to  he  sufTcrers  for  anything  in  which  Christ  is  concerned. — 
 Manton.  10.  Made  lmi\  humbled  in  mind. — Dnddr.  The  meaning 
 is,  that  the  glory  of  their  condition  is,  that  when  God  hath  made  them 
 most  high,  they  are  most  low  in  their  own  thoughts.  Because  as  the 
 Jinwer,  ?fc.,  '  this  is  the  reastn  why  they  should  be  of  a  lowly  mind, 
 because  the  pomp  of  their  condition  is  but  as  the  flower  of  the  field.' 
 11.  Fade  awai/,  tmp'\vBt]aL7ai,  a  word  proper  to  herbs  when  they  lose 
 their  verdure  and  beauty.  In  his  ways,  ev  iropfiair,  or  'journeys.'  The 
 word  is  eniphatical,  and  imports  tliat  earnest  industry  by  which  men 
 compass  sea  and  land,  run  liithcr  and  i  hither  in  the  pursuit  of  wealth  ; 
 and  yet,  when  all  is  done,  it  farietli  like  a  flower.  12.  Temptntitm, 
 
 affliction  is  so  called,  because,  though  in  itself  a  punishment  for  sin, 
 yet  to  the  godly  it  is  only  a  trial.  For  tvhen  he  is  tried,  doKifio^ 
 yevoiicvoi—ihe  word  is  often  translated  '  approved,*  (Rom.  xiv.  18  ;  so 
 I  Cor.  xi.  19.)  'When  he  is  mnde  or  found  approved' — that  is,  right 
 and  sound  in  the  laith  ;  a  metaphor  taken  from  metals,  whose  excel- 
 lency is  discerned  in  the  tire.  The  orown  of  lift',  *a  living  crown,' 
 such  as  \\\\\  jiimrish  to  a. I  eternity. — Manton.  There  may  be  an  allu- 
 sion here  to  the  coniest.'^  in  the  Grecian  games  •  he  is  crowned,  wlio 
 conquers,  and  none  else- — .-i.Clarki:  i:t.  Tf^m/i/t-f;— hcic, '  totemiil' 
 11^13 
 
 signifies,  to  solicit  one  to  sin,  and  actually  to  seduce  him  into  sin. — 
 Miickn.  Another  kind  of  temptation  is  designed  ;  he  first  spoke  of  out- 
 ward trials,  now  he  speaks  of  inward  temptations.  Let  no  man.  say 
 when  he  is  tempted,  /u)(ie(f  Treipafo/ienor,  'tempted  to  sin.'  See  the 
 word  '  tempter,'  Matt,  iv,  3  ;  so  also  in  the  Lord's  Prayer.  Tempted 
 of  God,  solicited  or  enforced  to  evil.  Cannot  be  tempted  with  evil, 
 bring  unchangeably  holy.  Neither  tempteth,  by  inward  solicitation, 
 or  niitward  dispensation  ;  He  cannot  be  the  Author  of  sin. — Mnntan. 
 J  4.  Whrn  he  is  drawn  away  of  his  own  htst,  nvd  enlired,  efcAKo/ieftip 
 Km  i^tXeufo/ici/oc,  literally,  '  being  drawn  t)Ut  when  caught  with  a  bait,' 
 An  allusion  to  the  drawing  of  fish  out  of  the  water  with  a  baited  hook. 
 — Dnddr.  Since  the  original  words  are  sometimes  used  to  express  the 
 enticement  of  harlot'--,  the  apostle  seems  rather  to  have  had  that  idea 
 in  his  mind  ;  especially  as  in  the  subsequent  verse  he  speaks  of  lust's 
 conceiving  and  bringing  forth  sin. — Mackn.  The  metaphor  is  double, 
 alluding  both  to  fish  and  women.— -4.  Clarke.  15.  Sin,  when  it  is 
 finished,  or  '  perpetrated.' — Doddr.  '  Being  perfected,'  awoTe\c(TOei(Ta, 
 literally,  'being  brought  to  maturity.'  The  word  is  elegantly  applied 
 to  sin  after  it  is  brought  forth,  to  denote  its  arriving  at  such  a  state  of 
 maturity  as  in  its  turn  to  become  a  father  and  beget  death. — Mackn. 
 Death,  a  modest  word  for  damnation, — Manton.  16.  Do  not  err,  fit} 
 nXavaaOe,  *  do  not  waudcr,'  a  metaphor  taken  from  shrcp;  and  some- 
 times it  notes  errors  in  ])ractice,  as  in  Isa.  Ixiv. — Manton.  '  Do  not  so 
 grossly  impose  upon  yourselves  as  to  ascribe  your  wilful  failings  to 
 Him  to  whom  we  owe  all  that  is  or  can  be  good  in  us.' — I'y/e. 
 17.  Every  good  gift,  fyc,  the  senr.e  is,  that  nothing  but  good  and  per- 
 fect gifts  come  from  above. — Jacobi.  No  variableness,  TTopaWayt),  an 
 astronomical  word,  taken  from  the  heavenly  bodies,  which  suffer  many 
 declinations  and  revolutions.  The  heavenly  lights  have  their  vicissi- 
 tudes, eclipses,  and  decreases  ;  but  our  sun  shineth  always  with  a  like 
 brightness  and  glory.  Neither  shadow  of  turning,  Tpowtif  a-noaKiaafin, 
 —the  allusion  is  continued  :  stars,  according  to  their  different  site  and 
 posture,  have  divers  adumbrations;  as,  the  nearer  the  sun  is  to  us, 
 the  less  sliadows  it  cafteth, — the  further  ofl',  the  greater  ;  so  that  we 
 know  the  various  motions  and  turning  of  the  sun  by  the  difference  of 
 the  shadows:  but  God  has  no  such  changes— this  is  a  sun  that  dotli 
 not  set  or  rise,  cannot  be  overcast  or  eclii>sed. — Manton.  The  apostle, 
 of  couise,  uses  the  popular  and  vulgar  opinion  respecting  the  motions 
 of  the  sun,  to  illustrate  his  subject,  as  Manton  does  in  explanation.^ 
 Ed.  18.  ftf  his  own  icill,  /3ov\t)f€tt,  *  because  he  would,'  or  'being 
 willing.'  This  word  is  put  to  deny  compulsion  or  necessity;  God 
 needed  rot  to  save  any  ;  and,  also,  to  exclude  mcx'it.— Manton.  A  kind 
 of  firstfruits,  should  have  the  favour  of  being  first  called  to  the  Chris- 
 tian faith,  before  the  Gentiles. — Mackn.  19.  Be  swift  to  hear,  'he 
 docile,'  or  '  teachable,'  seeing  God  puts  so  much  honour  on  his  word. 
 Slow  to  speak,  'do  not  rashly  precipitate  your  judgment  or  opinion 
 concerning  things  of  faith.'  Sloiv  to  wrath,  '  be  not  angrily  prejiidiccd 
 against  those  that  seem  to  differ  and  dissent  from  you.' — Manton. 
 21.  Lay  apart,  aTvoHefttvut,  '  laying  aside ;'  put  it  off,  as  a  rotten  and 
 filthy  garment.  Sin  is  an  abomination  to  God— it  should  be  so  to  men. 
 All  filthiness,  naaav  pKTT.ipiai',  used  for  the  filthiness  of  ulcers. — Manlon. 
 Some  think  the  allusion  is  to  circumcision. — Muckn.  Some  limit  this 
 to  certain  lusts ;  but  the  sense  here  must  be  general,  to  imply  all  sin  ; 
 or  more  paiticularly  restrained  to  (ilthy  and  evil  speaking:  or  else  it 
 will  not  so  well  suit  with  the  context.  Superjluity  ofnaughtinesSgrnv 
 S   E 
 
Doers  of  the  word  are  Messed. 
 
 JAMES,  II. 
 
 The  poor  to  be  rrrjnrded. 
 
 22  But  'be  ye  doers  of  the  word,  and  not 
 hearers  only,  deceiving  yonr  own  selves. 
 
 23  For  ^  if  any  be  a  hearer  of  tlie  word,  and 
 not  a  doer,  be  is  like  nnto  a  man  beholding  liis 
 natural  face  in  a  glass  : 
 
 24  For  he  beholdeth  himself,  and  goeth  his 
 way,  and  straightway  forgetteth  what  manner 
 of  man  he  was. 
 
 25  But  "  whoso  loolceth  into  the  perfect  '  law 
 of  lilierty,  and  conlinueth  therein,h<^  being  not 
 a  forgetful  bearer,  but  a  doer  of  the  work, '  this 
 man  shall  be  blessed  in  his  ||  deed. 
 
 26  If  any  man  among  you  seem  to  be  reli- 
 gious, and  '  bridleth  not  his  tongue,  but  de- 
 ceiveth  his  own  heart,  this  man's  religion  is 
 vain. 
 
 27  Pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God 
 and  the  Father  is  this,  "  To  visit  the  fatherless 
 and  widows  in  their  affliction,  "  nitd  to  keep 
 himself  unspotted  from  the  world. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 1  It  is  not  afjreeahJe  to  Cfiristtan  profession  to  retjard 
 the  Tick,  and  to  deapisr  the  poor  brethren  :  13  rather 
 we  are  lo  be  lovittp,  and  merciful:  \4and  not  to  boast  of 
 ftiith  where  no  deeds  are,  17  which  is  but  a  deaii  faith-, 
 19  the  faith  of  devUsy  21  not  of  Abraham,  26  and 
 liahab. 
 
 IVTY  brethren,  have  not  the  faith  of  our  Lord 
 
 -*-'-*-     Jesus   Christ,  '^  the  Lord  of  glory,  with 
 '■  respect  of  persons. 
 
 2  For  if  there  come  unto  your  f  assembly  a 
 man  with  a  gold  ring,  in  goodly  apparel,  and 
 there  come  in  also  a  poor  man  in  vile  raiment ; 
 
 /  Mat.  7  21 
 Luke  6.  l(i. 
 ft  11.  2^. 
 Horn  •2.\3 
 1  John  i.  7 
 
 g  Luke  6.17, 
 Ac.  See  cli 
 :;.  II,  &u. 
 
 *  JohiilS.lT. 
 
 II  Or.  do.r.g 
 
 I  Pa.  34.  Vi. 
 «[«>.  I, 
 I  Pel.S.IU. 
 
 m  Is  I.  Ilj, 
 17.  fc  S8.  It, 
 7.  Mat.  5?5, 
 .St;. 
 
 n  Horn.  12,2 
 rh.  I    * 
 I  John  5.18. 
 
 Hru   SI.  23 
 
 ft  28.  2\. 
 
 Mftt.  ee.is. 
 
 ver.  9, 
 Jude  16. 
 t  Or.  tj/na- 
 gogut. 
 
 A.D.  cir.  CO. 
 
 II  Or,  mell, 
 or,  seeiiity. 
 
 r  John  7.  .IS. 
 I  Cor.  1.26, 
 
 d  Luke  \i. 
 21.1  Tim  G 
 l8.Rev.a9 
 
 II  Or,  Ov.t. 
 
 e  Ex  20,  6. 
 1  Sam  2.3(J 
 Pro,  S.  17. 
 
 Mm 
 
 .  3. 
 
 Luke  6.  20. 
 &  la.  .12, 
 
 1  V.nr.  S.  9. 
 
 2  Tim.  4.8. 
 
 ch 
 
 12 
 
 /ICt)r.ll.?;; 
 ^Acts  13.511. 
 
 k  17.  6.  »t 
 
 IS.  12.  ch. 
 
 5.6. 
 A  Lev.  11.18. 
 
 Mat  22.30 
 
 Horn.  I.S.  S. 
 
 9.GaI.5.U. 
 
 &  6    2. 
 
 I  ver.  I 
 
 *  I)ou.27.26. 
 Mat.  5.  19. 
 Onl.  3.  10. 
 
 II  Or,  thnt 
 Ian-  ithicli 
 tnid. 
 
 I  Ex,  '10.   IS, 
 
 IS.  Mat.  6. 
 I  a,  ft  18.S5, 
 
 >  1  John  4. 
 IT,  18. 
 
 3  And  ye  have  respect  to  him  that  weareth 
 the  gay  clothing,  and  say  unto  him.  Sit  tliou 
 here  ||  in  a  good  place  ;  and  say  to  the  poor 
 Stand  thou  there,  or  sit  here  under  my  foot- 
 stool : 
 
 4  Are  ye  not  then  partial  in  yourselves,  and 
 are  become  judges  of  evil  thoughts? 
 
 5  Hearken,  my  beloved  bretiiren,  "^  Hath  not 
 God  chosen  the  poor  of  this  world  ''  ricli  in 
 faith,  and  iieirs  of  \\  the  kingdom  *■'  which  he 
 hatii  promised  to  tliem  that  love  him? 
 
 G  But  ^  ye  liave  despised  the  poor.  Do  not 
 rich  men  oppress  you,  ^  and  draw  you  before 
 the  judgment  seats ? 
 
 7  Do  not  tiiey  blaspheme  that  worthy  name 
 by  the  whicii  ye  are  called? 
 
 8  If  ye  fulfil  the  royal  law  according  to  the 
 scripture,  ''  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbour  as 
 thyself,  ye  do  well  : 
 
 9  Hut  *  if  ye  have  respect  to  persons,  ye  com- 
 mit sin,  and  are  convinced  of  the  law  as  trans- 
 gressors. 
 
 10  For  whosoever  shall  keep  the  whole  law, 
 and  yet  offend  in  one  point,  ^  lie  is  guilty  of  all. 
 
 11  For  II  he  that  said,  '  Do  not  commit  adul- 
 tery, said  also,  Do  not  kill.  Now  if  thou  com- 
 mit no  adultery,  yet  if  thou  kill,  thou  art  be- 
 come a  transgressor  of  the  law. 
 
 12  So  speak  ye,  and  so  do,  as  they  that  shall 
 be  judged  by  '"  the  law  of  liberty. 
 
 13  For  "he  sliall  have  judgment  without 
 mercy,  that  hath  shewed  no  mercy  ;  and 
 "mercy  ||  rejoiceth  against  judgment. 
 
 TTtpttTffeiav  KaKia?,  it  maybe  rendered,  '  tlic  overflowings  of  malice;' 
 and  so  it  notes  scnffs,  and  railing,?,  and  evil  speakings,  which  are  the 
 superfluity  of  Uiat  in  which  everythine'  is  superfluous.  Some  make  it 
 an  allusion  to  the  §;<irl)ago  of  the  sacnrtces  in  the  brook  Kedron.  With 
 meekness,  *  with  a.  teachable  mind.' — M'tnlon.  All  evil  lustings,  (ver. 
 14,;  and  all  the  distempers  of  the  tongue,  and  angry  passions,  are  here 
 intended. —  M'hitbi/.  '21.  Deceivhii^,  TTapa\o-^i^ofUvoi — the  word  ini- 
 plies  a  sopbistic;il  argument  (ir  .'iylltjf^ism,  whicli  has  an  appearance  or 
 probability  of  truth,  but  is  false  in  matter  nr  form,  and  is  put  by  the 
 apostle  to  imply  those  false  disoourses  whioh  are  in  the  consciences  of 
 men.  25.  W/ioso  Inukfth,  o  de  irapa>ii<\]/ar,  a  metajihor  taken  from 
 those  that  do  not  only  glance  upon  a  thing,  but  bend  their  body  to- 
 wards it,  that  they  may  pierce  it  with  their  eyes,  and  narrowly  jiry 
 into  it.  The  word  is  so  used,  Luke,  xxiv.  la ;  John,  xx.  4.  5  ;  I  Pet. 
 i.  12.  It  here  implies  deepness  of  meditation,  diligence  of  inquiry,  and 
 liveliness  of  impres-sinn. — Manton.  Lmv  of  liberty,  the  gospel;  so 
 called,  because  it  frees  us  from  the  bondage  of  the  Mosaic  institution, 
 from  the  guilt  and  punishment,  and  from  the  dominion,  of  sin,  and 
 treats  us  as  freemen  and  sons  rather  than  servants.  —  Stanhope. 
 26.  Bridleth  not  his  tongue,  from  bitter  zeal,  contentious,  and  impre- 
 cations, {chap.  iii.  10,  14.) — Whithy.  2~.  Pure  religion,  that  whicli 
 is  clear  and  without  any  flaw.— /^orfrfr.  There  seems  here  to  be  an 
 allusion  to  the  excellence  of  a  precious  stone,  which  consists  much  in 
 Its  being  KuOopa  Kai  aiiminov,  *  Clear,  and  without  flaw  or  cloud.' — 
 Tillotson.  Is  this — not  that  the  apostle  is  giving  a  full  definition  of 
 true  religion,  only  he  mentions  some  of  the  effects  of  it,  by  which  it  is 
 known,  and  without  which  it  cannot  be  true  and  genuine. — GUI-  The 
 i)riginal  word.  (*p)|(T'.£{.i,  rendered  'religitm,'  strictly  signifies  '  divine 
 worshiji,'  and  intimates  here,  that  no  kirul  of  religious  services  paid  to 
 the  Deity  can  be  of  any  avail,  if  we  neglect  the  royal  law  of  charity, 
 and  Id  visit  the  fatherless  and  widows  in  their  affliction. — Dnddr. 
 
 Cny\p.  II.  —  I.  The  faith  of  our  Lmd  Jesus  Christ,  ^c.,  '  the  faith  of 
 the  glory  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,'  so  the  Sijriac.  The  glory  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ  consists  in  his  bemg  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  Go- 
 
 vernor and  Judge  of  the  worlds,  visible  and  invisible.  With  respect, 
 ^c,  ev  7Tpoau>TTo\n^ii.tti,  regard  shewn  to  persons  on  account  of  their 
 station,  riches,  and  other  external  circumstances.  2.  Asseml/l//—tUti 
 word  avvayuyn  sometimes  denotes  an  assembly  of  persons,  sometimes 
 the  house  in  which  such  an  asscnibiy  is  held  ;  here  it  means  the  house, 
 or  room,  where  tlie  Chriaiians  assembled  for  worship,— jI/hcA-h.  It 
 means  the  ecclesiastical  court,  or  convention,  for  decision  ot  strifes, 
 wlurein  they  were  not  to  favour  the  cause  of  the  rich  against  the  pooi". 
 —  Manton.  The  apostle  is  adilrcs^sing  Jews  who  frequented  their 
 sfjnugogues,  (so  the  original.)  and  carried  on  their  worshi)p  there,  and 
 judicial  proceedings.— jI.  Clarke.  With  a  gold  ring,  xi.'vai,6aK7vKio^-~ 
 perhaps  this  compound  word  might  have  been  rendered,  'having  his 
 lingers  adorned  with  gold  rings.' — Doddr,  Those  who  valued  them- 
 selves upon  the  richness  and  luxury  of  their  dress  were  accustomed 
 to  deck  their  fingers  with  a  considerable  number  of  costly  and  valuable 
 rings,  frequently  wearing  several  upon  one  linger. — Albert's  Obseiv, 
 i'hilog.  in  loc.  3.  Foutstoul,  which  belonged  to  the  tribunals,  or 
 
 judgment-seats.— We^/s.  4.  Judges  of  evil  thtxights,  '  judges  who 
 reason  \\\.*^Jiezu.  *  Judges  possessed  of  evil  thoti^hts.* — Mneknight. 
 :>.  Rich  in  faith,  a  common  ellipsis  is  liere  supplied  by  Doddr.  and 
 Mnekn.,  '  [to  be]  rich  in  faith,'  (see  Eph.  i.  4,  Gr.)  8.  The  rttyul  Inw, 
 — the  republican  Greeks  used  to  call  the  laws  of  (he  Persians,  myal. 
 because  ordained  by  kings.  This  refers  to  that  law  of  Christ  our  King 
 which  he  calls  eminently  his,  (John,  xiii.  34  ;  xv.  \2.)—Wil.  li).  Gailtij 
 of  all,  for  the  obedience  to  God's  will  is  required  universally  (o  all  that 
 he  commands  ;  and  he  that  offends  in  one,  though  he  keep  all  the 
 rest,  is  guilty  of  the  breacii  of  that  obedience,  and  punishable,  as  well 
 as  if  he  had  broken  all. — Hum.  This  is  in  opposition  to  the  Jewish 
 doctors,  who  affirmed,  that  by  observing  any  one  precept  of  the  law 
 with  care,  men  secured  to  tiiemselves  the  lavour  of  God,  notwith- 
 standing they  neglected  all  the  le^t.—Mackn.  12.  Judged  by  the  law 
 of  liberti/~hea.Xhens  will  be  judged  by  the  law  of  nature;  Jews,  by  the 
 law  of  Moses ;  and  those  who  live  under  the  gospel  dispensation,  ac- 
 cording to   the  gospel   of  Christ. — Gill.        13.  And  mercy   rejoiceth 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I. — From  the  subjects  in  this 
 chapter,  we  select — I.  Affliction.  This  is  often  the  lot  of  God's 
 people.  But,  contrary  to  the  mere  reasoning  of  sense,  we 
 must  count  every  affliction  a  joy.  'I"o  believers  it  is  a  proof 
 of  the  fatherly  disciplino  of  God,  and  is  the  path  to  their  hea- 
 venly rest;  for  through  much  tribulation  they  are  called  to 
 enter  the  kingdom.  These  believers  were  persecuted  for 
 rit^hteousness'  sake,  and  to  them  it  was  to  be  a  source  of  joy 
 that  they  were  counted  worthy  to  suffer  for  Christ.  The  cross 
 only  preceded  the  crown. 
 
 II.  Temptatioyi.  This  is  a  painful  part  of  the  Christian's 
 experience.  Like  his  Master,  he  is  liable  to  be  tempted  ; 
 but,  unlike  his  Master,  he  is  not  without  sin.  There  is,  as 
 Hervey  somewhere  observes,  the  tinder  of  corruption  within, 
 ready  to  catch  the  sparks  of  corruption  without.  But,  as 
 some  other  writer  has  observed,  there  is  no  sin  in  beirii; 
 1314 
 
 tempted;  the  sin  is  in  falling  into  the  snare  of  the  tempter. 
 And  knowing  how  weak  he  is  in  himself,  this  would  induce 
 the  Christian  to  flee  from  temptation.  The  bait  will  not  take 
 imless  we  }tf)pioach  it.  Jt  is  man's  lust  wliich  entices  and 
 ruins  him.  J.,ord,  pardon  our  sins,  and  '  lead  us  not  into 
 temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil.' 
 
 III.  Hearing  the  word,  (iod's  word  is  the  instrument  which 
 he  employs  tor  effecting  the  work  of  grace  in  the  heart,  and 
 carrying  it  on  ami  compleiing  it,  his  Spirit  accompanying  that 
 word  with  power.  Let  us.  then,  earnestly  listen  to  it — receive 
 it  witli  meekness— aim  to  impress  it  on  our  memory  and  our 
 hearts,  and  to  regard  it  in  onr  lives.  For  that  pure  n'ligion 
 which  it  inculcates  teaches  the  bridling  of  the  tongue,  and 
 the  opening  of  ihe  lieart  and  hand,  to  minister  to  the  wants 
 of  the  poor  of  Christ  s  flock,  and  relieve  the  miseries  of  man- 
 kind. 
 
Faith  without  works  is  dead. 
 
 JAMES,  III. 
 
 Of  governing  the  tongue. 
 
 14  ''  What  duth  it  profit,  my  brethren,  though 
 a  man  say  he  hath  faith,  and  liave  not  works? 
 can  faith  save  hiinV 
 
 15  "*  If  a  brother  or  sister  be  naked,  and  des- 
 titute of  daily  food, 
 
 lu  And  '  one  of  you  say  unto  them,  Depart 
 in  peace,  be  ye  wanned  and  filled  ;  notwith- 
 standing ye  give  them  not  those  things  vvliich 
 are  needful  to  the  body  ;  what  doth  it  profit? 
 
 1 7  Even  so  faith,  if  it  hath  not  works,  is  dead, 
 being  f  alone. 
 
 18  Yea,  a  man  may  say,  Tliou  hast  faith,  ajid 
 I  have  works :  shew  me  thy  faith  ||  without 
 tliy  works,  ''  and  I  will  shew  thee  my  faith  by 
 my  works. 
 
 19  Tliuu  believest  that  there  is  one  God  ; 
 thou  doest  well :  '  the  devils  also  believe,  and 
 tremble. 
 
 20  But  wilt  thou  know,  O  vain  man,  that 
 faith  without  works  is  dead? 
 
 21  Was  not  Abraham  our  father  justified  by 
 works,  "  when  he  had  offered  Isaac  his  son 
 upon  the  altar? 
 
 22  II  Seest  thou  "  how  faith  wrought  with  his 
 works,  and  by  works  was  faith  made  per- 
 fect? 
 
 2.3  And  the  scripture  was  fulfilled  which 
 saith,  ''  Abraham  believed  God,  and  it  was  im- 
 puted unto  him  for  righteousness  :  and  he  was 
 called  "^  the  Friend  of  God. 
 
 24  Ye  see  then  how  that  by  works  a  man  is 
 justified,  and  not  by  faith  only. 
 
 2.5  Likewise  also  "  was  not  Rahab  the  harlot 
 justified  by  works,  when  she  had  received  the 
 messengers,  and  had  sent  them  out  another 
 way? 
 
 26  For  as  the  body  without  the  ||  spirit  is 
 dead,  so  faith  without  works  is  dead  also. 
 
 A  D   cir-  60. 
 
 7  See  Job  SI. 
 19.  -itt. 
 Luke  3.  M. 
 
 t  Gr.  6w 
 •  Ml/. 
 
 II  Some 
 copies  read, 
 l»i  thy  taorks. 
 
 *  cli.  3.  13, 
 
 I.uke  +.  84. 
 Acta  16  17. 
 h  19.  15. 
 
 II  Or,  Thm 
 jHeii.11.17 
 
 V  Gen.  15.  6. 
 Kom.  4.  3. 
 Gal.  S.  6. 
 
 =  2  Clir.  20. 
 7.  Is.  41.  B. 
 
 Mat.  23.  9, 
 14.  Rom.  2. 
 30,21. 
 
 1  Pet.  5.  3. 
 b  I.uke  6.37. 
 I!  Or, 
 jiidi/meni. 
 
 c  IKin.B.46. 
 
 2  Chr.  6.36. 
 Pro.  20.  9. 
 Eccle8.7.20. 
 I  John  I.  S 
 
 d  Ps.  34.  13. 
 
 Ecclus.  U. 
 
 I.  He  19.  16. 
 
 &  25.  8.  ch. 
 
 I.  26.  I  Pet. 
 
 3,  10. 
 e  ^rat,  12.37 
 /■PB.  32.  9. 
 
 g  Pro.  18. 
 
 IS.  &  15.  2. 
 h  Pa.  12.  3. 
 
 &  73.  8,  9. 
 II  Or,  wood, 
 i  Pro.  16.27. 
 
 k  Mat   15.11, 
 18.  19,20. 
 Mark?.  15, 
 ■iO,  23. 
 
 t  Gr.  wheel. 
 
 f  Gr  nature. 
 
 t  Gr.  wti 
 
 oj  Mlfl'l. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  We  are  not  rashly  or  arruyatUli/  to  nprove  others  :  5 
 but  rather  to  bridle  the  tonyur,  a  little  incmber,  but  a 
 powerful  instrument  of  much  yood,  and  yreat  harm. 
 13  They  who  be  truly  wise  be  7nild,  and  peaceable^ 
 without  envyiny,  and  strife. 
 
 IV/r  Y  brethren,  '*be  not  many  masters,  *'know- 
 •^'-^     ing   that    we  shall   receive  the  greater 
 
 II  condemnation. 
 
 2  For  '^  in  many  things  wo  oftend  all.  ^  It"  any 
 man  offend  not  in  word,  '^  the  same  is  a  perfect 
 man,  and  able  also  to  bridle  the  whole  body. 
 
 3  Behold,  'vve  put  bits  in  the  horses' mouths, 
 that  they  may  obey  us  ;  and  we  turn  about 
 their  whole  body. 
 
 4  Behold  also  the  ships,  which  though  the?/ 
 be  so  great,  and  are  driven  of  fierce  winds,  yet 
 are  they  turned  about  with  a  very  small  helm, 
 whithersoever  the  governor  listetii. 
 
 3  Even  so  ^the  tongue  is  a  little  member, 
 and  ^  boasteth  great  things.  Behold,  how 
 great  ||  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth  ! 
 
 6  And  '  the  tongue  is  a  fire,  a  world  of  ini- 
 quity :  so  is  the  tongue  among  our  members, 
 that  ^  it  defileth  the  whole  body,  and  setteth 
 on  fire  the  f  course  of  nature  ;  and  it  is  set  on 
 fire  of  hell. 
 
 7  For  every  f  kind  of  beasts,  and  of  birds,  and 
 of  serpents,  and  of  things  in  the  sea,  is  tamed, 
 and  hatli  been  tamed  of  f  mankind  : 
 
 8  But  the  tongue  can  no  man  tame  ;  it  is  an 
 unruly  evil,  'full  of  deadly  poison. 
 
 9  Therewith  bless  we  God,  even  the  Father; 
 and  therewith  curse  we  men,  "'  which  are  made 
 after  the  similitude  of  God. 
 
 10  Out  of  tlie  same  mouth  proceedeth  bless- 
 ing and  cursing.  My  brethren,  these  things 
 ought  not  so  to  be. 
 
 against  judgment,  '  but  mercy  will  exult  over  judgment  to  him  who 
 shewed  mercy,'  (Ps.  xviii.  l^.'i—HIuc/cn,  H.  Sat/  he  hath  faith— ob. 
 serve  with  what  caution  the  apostle  expresses  himself.  There  is  a  vast 
 difference  between  believing:  and  saying  we  believe. — Top/ndi/.  Cnn 
 faith  save  him  ? — such  a  faith  as  this — a  faith  without  works,  an  his- 
 torical one.  a  mere  profession  of  faith,  which  lies  only  in  words,  and 
 has  no  deeds  to  shew  the  truth  and  genuineness  of  it.  True  faith,  in- 
 deed, has  no  casual  influence  cm  salvation,  or  has  any  virtue  or  efficacy 
 in  itself  to  save  ;  Christ,  the  object  of  faith,  is  the  only  cause  and  au- 
 thor of  salvation.— Gl7^  19.  Thotf  /jelitvest,  S^c,  '  one  act  of  thy  faith 
 is  the  believing  one  true  Gnd  ;  and  this  is  most  absolutely  necessary 
 for  thee;  but  if  thy  life  be  not  answerable  to  this  part  of  thy  faith,  and 
 that  evidenced  by  piety  and  charity,  thon  art  then  to  remember,  that 
 the  believing  there  is  one  God  is  snch  a  good  quality  as  is  common  to 
 thee  and  the  devils  also  ;  and,  if  it  have  no  more  joined  to  it,  will  be- 
 stead thee  uo  more  than  them.' — Httm.  20.  0  imin  man,  uvOt>unre 
 K€v€,  'an  empty  man;'  a  metapht'r  taken  from  an  empty  vessel. — 
 jif'into?!.  Faith  without  works  is  dead,  implies  that  works  are  the 
 effects  and  signs  of  the  life  of  fa.\th.~ Poole.  21.  Justified  by  works, 
 not  as  the  causes  of  his  justification,  that  is  denied,  Rom.  iv.  2,  but  as 
 effects  of  it ;  shewing  the  truth  of  his  faith,  and  the  reality  of  his  jus- 
 tification.— Gill.  22.  Seest  thou,  §-c. — the  attentive  reader  must  see 
 in  what  a  powerful  manner  his  faith  iu  the  promises  of  God  operated 
 to  ijroduce  good  works,  in  obedience  t«)  his  commands,  in  the  most 
 trying  circumstances,  universally  and  without  reserve.  Mndeperfp':t, 
 as  the  tree  is  in  its  perfect  slate  when  grown  t<i  maturity  and  loaded 
 on  every  branch  with  abundance  of  valuable  fruit. — Scott.  2\.  By 
 works,  ^c. — see  ver.  21,  note.  2fi.  Dead  also,  a  vain  thing,  useless, 
 and  unprofitable  ;  can  neither  justify  nor  save,  nor  prove  that  a  man  is 
 justified,  or  will  be  saved. — Gill. 
 
 Chap.  III. — \.  Masters,  it?)aaK,i\ut ,  '  teachers. '—GKyse.  Doddr.  Bp. 
 Hall  understands  it  to  mean,  '  leaders  of  factions:'  but  Dr.  Doddridge 
 justly  observes,  that  when  he  forbids  many  to  be  such,  he  seems  to 
 allow  that  sume  may  ;  and,  constquently,  '  teachers'  ought  to  be  ex- 
 plained in  an  innocent  and  indifferent  sense. — See  Fam.  E.rpos.  in  toe. 
 '  Let  none  of  you  rashly,  and  without  proper  quaUfi cations,  undertake 
 
 the  office  of  teachers  of  others  ;  an  office  into  which  many  are  ready  lo 
 intrude  themselves  without  being  called  of  God  to  it.'  The  Jews  had 
 a  great  desire  to  be  teachers,  (l  Tim.  i.  7.)  These  teachers  of  the  law 
 in  the  Christian  church  were  the  great  corrupters  of  the  gospel. — 
 Mttckn.  The  greater  condemnation,  if  we  err  by  taking  on  us  an  office 
 for  which  we  are  not  qualified.— JS^-h-s.  *  We  shall  undergo  greater  and 
 stricter  judgment  than  others  io  a  more  private  station  of  life.'  2.  For 
 in  many  things  u>e  offend  all,  the  many  infirmities  to  which  the  best  oi 
 us  are  subject,  may,  indeed,  teach  us  to  tliink  with  awe  of  that  exact 
 trial  we  are  then  to  undergo.  The  word  mutofiev,  properly  speaking, 
 signifies,  'to  trip  ;'  we  are  too  ready  to  trip  and  stumble  in  our  walk. — 
 Doddr.  Perfect,  in  such  a  kind  and  degree  as  human  frailty  admits; 
 eminently  good  ;  he  may  be  reasonably  presumed  upright  and  blame- 
 less in  all  the  course  of  his  practice. — Barrow.  The  sense  is,  *  he  who, 
 in  common,  is  so  careful  of  his  speech  as  not  to  offend  his  brethren, 
 may  he  looked  upon  as  a  sincere  and  truly  religious  man,  or  he  may  be 
 accounted  a  wise  and  prudent  man.'  The  whole  hody,  either  the  church, 
 or  rather,  to  keep  under  his  whole  body,  that  sin  shall  not  reign  in  it, 
 or  the  lusts  of  it  be  in  common  obeyed.  5.  Bonsteth  great  things — 
 in  a  good  sense,  a  bridled  and  sanctificil  tongue  has  great  power, 
 weight,  and  influence.  (Prov.  x.  20,  21.) — GUI.  If  it  be  left  under  the 
 power  of  an  unsandified  heart,  it  talks  at  an  extravagant  rate,  with  all 
 the  airs  of  haughtiness  and  contempt  of  others.  Behold — a  little  Jire — 
 like  a  spark  of  fire  in  the  midst  of  combustible  matter,  the  tongue,  by 
 injurious  language,  kindles  a  terrible  flame  of  contention  and  confu- 
 sion all  around  it.  —  Guyse.  6.  A  world,  means  here  a  mass. — 
 A.  Clarke.  Of  iniquity,  so  called,  because  there  is  no  iniquity  which  an 
 unbridled  tongue  is  not  capable  of  producing. — Mackn.,  Wells.  Setteth 
 on  fire  the  course  of  Jiuture,  rov  rpoxov  Trjt  ■yevecedy^,  *  the  natural  wheel 
 or  frame.'  The  wonderful  mechanism  of  the  human  body,  and  its 
 power  of  affecting  and  of  being  affected  by  the  soul,  is  in  this  passage 
 aptly  represented  by  the  wheels  of  a  machine,  which  act  on  each  other. 
 — Mackn.  The  allusion  may  be  to  the  penal  wheel  of  the  Greeks, 
 known  to  the  Jews,  on  which  criminals  were  extended  to  make  them 
 confess,  or  punish  them,  under  which  fire  was  often  placed  to  increase 
 the  torment. — A.  Clarke.         10.  Ought  not  so  to  be,  at  least  among 
 
 "Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  _  On  this  chapter  you  may  ob- 
 serve, as  Dr.  Manton  lias  remarked— I.  *  That  in  the  scriptures 
 there  is  sometimes  a  senniny  difference^  but  no  real  contrariety. 
 Tbus  Paul,  iiaving  to  deal  with  Pharisaical  justiciaries,  proves 
 invincibly  justification  by  faith  without  works  :  James,  bavins; 
 to  th*al  with  carnal  gospellers,  proves  as  stron.^ly  that  a  pro- 
 fession of  f:iith  without  works  is  vain.  The  scripture  has  so 
 J315 
 
 poised  and  contemplated  all  doctrines  and  expressions,  that 
 it  mii;ht  wisely  prevent  human  mistakes  and  errors  on  every 
 band,  and  sentences  might  not  be  violently  urged  apart,  but 
 measured  by  the  proportion  of  faith. 
 
 II.  '  That  a  hare  profession  of  faith  is  not  enough  to  acquit  us 
 from  hypocrisy.  Christ  would  not  own  ihem  that  professed  his 
 name,  but  wrought  iniquity,  (Matt.  vii.  21,  22.)' 
 
The  fruits  of  godly  wisdom. 
 
 JAMES,  IV. 
 
 Against  covetousncss,  Sfc. 
 
 11  Doth  a  fountain  send  forth  at  the  same 
 II  place  sweet  waler  and  bitter? 
 
 12  Can  the  fig  tree,  my  brethren,  bear  olive 
 berries?  either  a  vine,  figs?  so ca«  no  fountain 
 botli  yield  salt  water  and  fresh. 
 
 13  "Who  is  a  wise  man  and  endued  with 
 knowledge  among  you?  let  him  shew  out  of  a 
 good  conversation  °  his  works  ''  with  meekness 
 of  wisdom. 
 
 14  But  if  ye  have  '  bitter  envying  and  strife 
 ill  your  hearts,  'glory  not,  and  lie  not  against 
 the  truth. 
 
 ki  '  This  wisdom  descendeth  not  from  above, 
 but  is  earthly,  ||  sensual,  devilish. 
 
 16  For  '  where  envying  and  strife  is,  there  is 
 t  confusion  and  every  evil  work. 
 
 17  Dut  "the  wisdom  that  is  from  above  is 
 first  pure,  then  peaceable,  gentle,  and  easy  to 
 be  intreated,  full  of  mercy  and  good  fruits, 
 II  witliout  partiality,  "and  without  hypocrisy. 
 
 18  '  And  the  fruit  of  righteousness  is  sown  in 
 peace  of  them  that  make  peace. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  IVe  are  to  strive  apninst  cocetousness,  4  inteviperance, 
 5  pride,  1 1  dtfraction^  and  rash  judgment  of  others  : 
 13  and  not  to   he   conjidcnt  in   tfte  yood  success  of 
 
 A.D.  rir.  60. 
 II  Or,  hole. 
 
 p  ch. 
 
 T  Horn.  2.  17, 
 £3. 
 
 »ch.  I.  17. 
 
 Plnl.S.  19. 
 \\Or.unt.,r^l, 
 
 Ju<le  I'J 
 /  I  Cot.  8.3. 
 
 t^al.  5.  Sip. 
 t  Gr.  tunmll, 
 
 or.  Unquiet- 
 
 tit  it. 
 u  I  Cor.  2.  fi, 
 
 7. 
 II  OT,mlhout 
 
 wraiiiflinff. 
 X  Rom.  li.9. 
 
 &-i.  I. 
 1  JitlitiS  18 
 !/  Prn.  11.18. 
 Hos.  10.  li 
 Ulai.  5.  9. 
 Pl.il.  1.  II. 
 Heb.  12.11. 
 
 II  Or. 
 braietingt. 
 U  Or,  ;.(«.- 
 
 So  ver.  3. 
 oRom.  T.2A. 
 
 Gal.  5.  17. 
 
 I  I*ct.  2.11. 
 It  Or,  rnrv 
 (,  Job  27.  9. 
 
 »t  35.  12. 
 
 Ps.  IS.  41. 
 
 Pro. 
 
 Is. 
 
 16. 
 
 ,l<>r.  11    1 1 . 
 
 Mic.  3.  'I. 
 
 Zecli.7.  13. 
 e  Pb,  66.  18 
 
 IJoIin  S  22. 
 
 &  5    11. 
 I)  Or, 
 
 l)lraiiirft. 
 U  Ps.  73.  27. 
 «lJo1iti2.1£i. 
 /  J'lli"  15. 
 
 19.  k  17.14. 
 
 Gal.  I.  10. 
 jSce  Gen.  6. 
 
 6.  &  8   21. 
 
 Num.  1 1.29. 
 
 Pro.  21.  10. 
 II  Or. 
 
 tnviousljf. 
 h  Job  22.  29. 
 
 Ps.  138.  0. 
 
 Prov.  3.  3-1. 
 
 &  89.  2-'). 
 
 Mat.  23.19, 
 
 Luke  1.  &i. 
 
 k   U.  II.  k 
 
 \fi,  14. 
 
 I  l»ot.  5.  5. 
 i'  Kph.  -l.  27. 
 
 worldli/  bii^siness,  but  mindful  ever  of  the  uncertninty 
 of  this  life,  to  commit  ourselves  and  all  uiir  offairs  to 
 God's  providence. 
 
 "PROM  whence  co?nc  wars  and  ||  fij^htings 
 -*-  among  you  V  coytie  they  not  hence,  even  of 
 your  II  lusts  °  that  war  in  your  members? 
 
 2  Ye  lust, and  have  not:  ye  ||  kill,  and  desire 
 to  have,  and  cannot  obtain  :  ye  fight  and  war, 
 yet  ye  have  not,  because  ye  ask  not. 
 
 3  ^  Ye  ask,  and  receive  not,  '^  because  ye  ask 
 amiss,  that  ye  may  consume  it  upon  your 
 II  lusts. 
 
 4  '*Ye  adulterers  and  adulteresses,  know  ye 
 not  that  *"  the  friendsliip  of  the  world  is  enmity 
 vvitb  God  V  ^whosoever  therefore  will  be  a  friend 
 of  the  world  is  the  enemy  of  God. 
 
 5  Do  ye  think  that  the  scripture  saitli  in 
 vain,  ^  The  spirit  that  dvvelleth  in  us  lusteth 
 II  to  envy? 
 
 G  liut  he  giveth  more  grace.  Wherefore  he 
 saith,  ^'  God  resistcth  the  proud,  but  giveth 
 grace  unto  the  humble. 
 
 7  Submit  yourselves  therefore  to  God.  '  Re- 
 sist the  devil,  and  he  will  flee  from  you. 
 
 8  ''  Draw  nigh  to  God,  and  he  will  draw  nigli 
 to  you.     '  Cleanse   your    hands,   yc    sinners  ; 
 
 P(  C    1 1.   1  Pet.  5.  9.         A  2  Clir.  15   2.        Ms,  I.  Ifi. 
 
 those  Who  profess  Christianity.— Bfrw.  II,  12.  Duth  n  fnuntuin,  Sfc. 
 —the  ojiostle  reasons  from  what  is  impo.ssib!e  in  nature  to  what  is 
 absurd  in  manners.— iJur.  13.  Who  is  a  ufise  mim?  §7?.— he  who 
 would  shew  himself  a  master  of  religious  wisdom  most  suppress  Uiis 
 wretched  habit,  and  reduce  himself  to  a  meek  and  charitable  disposi- 
 tion  toward  his  brethren.— Pv/p.  14.  But  if  ye  hai^e  bitter  envying^ 
 u  ie  Cn^ov,  '  zeal;*  which  he  calls  bitter,  partly  to  distinguish  it  from 
 the  zeal  which  is  good,— whereas  this  he  speaks  of  is  evil,  and  though 
 it  pretends  to  be  zeal,  is  really  no  other  than  envy,— and  parUy  be- 
 cause it  commonly  proceeds  from  an  imbittered  spirit,  and  tends  to  the 
 imbitteringof  it  more.  Strife,  the  natural  effect  of  bitter  zeal  or  envy. 
 Giort/  not,  not  of  your  zeal,  or  rather  wisdom,  there  being  really  just 
 cause  of  shame.  Lie  not  against  the  truth,  by  professing  yourselves 
 wise  or  zealous,  when  ye  are  really  neither.— Poo/c.  15.  Is  earthlu, 
 having  this  life  only  in  view.  Sensunf,  i|/hx'«»n  '  animal,' having  for 
 its  object  the  gratification  nf  the  passions  and  animal  propensities. 
 Devilish,  ia(/ioim)>fif,  'demoniacal;'  inspired  by  demons. — Clarke. 
 Contrary  to   the  true   celestial   wisdom.— i/«m.  i;.  Wisdom,  this 
 
 term,  in  scripture,  is  frequently  used  for  religion.  This  is  generally 
 the  use  of  it  io  Proverbs,  and  the  evident  sense  of  it  in  this  chapter.— 
 Dr.  Mncwhorter,  U.  S.  Pure,  07^1,  '  chaste,  holy,  and  clean.'  Peace- 
 able,  (ipuvtKn,  living  in  peace  with  others,  and  promoting  peace  among 
 men.  Gentle,  eitieiKt\^,  *  meek,' '  modest,'  of  an  '  equal  mind.'  Putting 
 the  best  construction  upon  all  tlic  actions  of  others.  Easy  to  be  in- 
 treated,  €ti7rc(^»if,  not  stubborn,  of  a  yielding  disposition  in  indifferent 
 things.  Full  uf  mercy,  parsing  by  transgressions  ;  performing  acts  of 
 kindness.  Without  purtinUip,  aimh-piTOf,  '  without  making  a  differ- 
 ence;' rendering  to  every  man  his  due— knowing  no  raan  after  the 
 flesh.  — ^.  Clarke.  The  original  signifies,  '  being  without  a  partial, 
 wrangling,  suspicious,  judging  temper;*  so  that  there  is  no  English 
 word  fully  expressive  of  it.— Dr.  Macivhorter.  Without  hypocrisy, 
 nri'TroKpiTor,  '  without  dissimulation ;'  without  pretending  to  be  what 
 it  is  not.— .4.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  IV.— 1.  Wars  aiid  Jightings— when  this  epistle  was  written, 
 the  Jews  had  great  wars  and  fightings,  not  only  with  their  neighbours. 
 
 hut  even  among  themselves,  in  every  city  and  family,  as  is  stated  by 
 Josephns.  Not  only  in  Judea,  but  in  Alexandria,  S>Tia,  and  many 
 other  places. —  Whitby.  2.  Ye  lust.iTTii^viitfre,  'ye  desire;'  it  means, 
 liowever,  inordinate  and  passionate  desires.  Desire  to  hmw,  f  iiXowre, 
 '  emulate,  or  are  given  to  envy.'  Cannot  obtain,  ov  dwaatfe  cirnvxtiv — 
 the  word  is  emphatical,  '  ye  cannot  Eurive  to  happiness.'  Aslt  nut,  do 
 not  use  the  lawful  means  of  prayer. — Mantnn.  3.  Ask  amiss,  KaKut, 
 '  wickedly.* — fllarkn.  For  what  was  the  aim  of  their  prayers  ?— ye  ask, 
 that  i/e  may  cojisiime,  ^-c.  ■!.  Adulterers,  ^c,  must  be  understood 
 spiritually,  from  the  context,  which  is  to  inveigh  against  those  lusts 
 and  pleasures  which  inveigle  the  soul,  and  witlidraw  it  from  God. 
 Now  these  are  spiritual  adulterers,  whom  the  love  of  the  world  alienates 
 and  estranges  from  the  Lord. — Mantun.  The  friendship  of  the  world, 
 which  stands  in  competition  with,  and  indisposes  you  from,  doing  God's 
 will, — liiir.  5.  That  the  scripture  saith  in  vain,  Xeyei  kcvm^,  '  speaketh 
 falsely ;'  that  is,  when  it  declares  that  the  friendship  of  tlie  wicked, 
 which  is  purchased  by  following  them  in  their  evil  courses,  is  enmity 
 against  God.  Here  James  had  in  his  eye  those  passages  of  the  Jewish 
 Scriptures  where  the  thuigs  mentioned  are  declared  sinful,  and  de- 
 nounced as  deadly,  either  direcUy  or  by  implication  ;  particularly  Ps. 
 V.  5,  6 ;  vii.  II ;  ix.  17 ;  Isa.  xiii.  U.) — Mackn.  It  seems  best  to  con- 
 clude that  the  apostle  had  not  any  regard  to  any  one  particular  passage, 
 but  that  his  meanmg  is,  the  sense  of  the  scripture  everywhere,  where 
 it  speaks  of  this  matter,  is  to  this  purpose. — Gill.  The  spirit— lustet/i 
 to  envy? — such  is  the  corruption  of  our  natures,  till  renewed  by  grace  j 
 it  has  envious  tlioughts  of  those  who  have  more  earthly  things  thau 
 we  ourselves.  —  Guyse.  'Lusteth  "against"  en\'y,'  Luth.  Version. 
 6.  lie  giveth  more  grace,  ffC. — on  the  contrary,  in  whomsoever  the 
 Spirit  of  God  dwells,  he,  or  God  by  him,  gives  them  such  a  gracious 
 impression  as  tends  to  humility,  ike.  Wherefore,  i^c. — to  encourage 
 their  hopes  and  prayers,  God  sets  liimself,  as  it  were,  in  battle  an"ay, 
 {avTnaaatTat)  with  iiuUgnation  and  disdain,  against  those  that  are 
 ambitious  and  haughty,  self- conceited  and  self-sufficient. — Guyse. 
 8.  Druiv  nigh  to  God,  by  prayer,  humiliation,  repentance,  and  obedi- 
 ence.    And  he  will  draw  iiigh  to  yuu,  in  mercy. —  Wliitby.     Cleanse  your 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —The  subjects  in  this  chap- 
 ter are— I,  False  irisdom.  '  Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart 
 llie  mouth  speaketli.'  The  tongue  shews  the  state  of  the 
 mind.  There  can  be  no  greater  proof  that  the  heart  is  not 
 under  the  influence  of  religion  than  when  the  tongue  is  un- 
 bruliod,  and,  like  a  high-mettled  horse,  recklessly  pursues  its 
 course,  to  the  danger  and  injury  of  whomsoever  may  be  in  the 
 way.  Ihe  ungoverned  tongue  is,  indeed,  a  tire  of  the  most 
 dangerous  kind  ;  hell  kindles  it,  and  it  kindles  hell.  And  too 
 often  has  its  vile  fury  been  displayed  under  the  profession  of 
 zeal  for  religion,  while  the  angry  words  and  odious  names 
 which  have  been  employed  have  tended  only  to  degrade  it  in 
 the  eyes  of  the  world.  •  From  envy,  hatred,  malice,  and  all 
 uncharitableness,  good  Lord,  deliver  us.* 
 
 II.  True  wisdom.  How  lovely  is  its  character  !  Mark  ita 
 pecuharities  :  '*  Pure"— '  studious  of  virtue  and  holiness,  in 
 all  manner  of  conversation.'  "  Peaceable"— in  families,  neigh- 
 bourhoods, and  societies.  'The  distinguished  features  of  a 
 truly  religious  man  are,  that  be  is  a  peace-maker;  he  loves 
 peace  ;  peace  is  bis  atmosphere  ;  he  dwells  in  peace  ■,  and  the 
 benign  rays  of  peace  flow  from  him  as  beams  proceed  from  the 
 sun.'  "Gentle."  He  who  is  governed  by  this  gentle  and 
 l.3l(i 
 
 heavenly  religion  will  be  fair,  calm,  and  equal.  He  will  not 
 kindle  into  a  flame  about  the  precise  and  perfect  boundaries  of 
 righteousness  with  those  with  whom  he  has  dealings  ;  he  will 
 yield  in  doubtful  and  smaller  matters,  and  recede  in  some 
 things  from  what  he  ira:\gines  is  right,  for  the  sake  of  love  and 
 peace.  '*  Knsy  to  be  entreated."  '  Those  whose  Iiearts  have 
 been  rendered  docile,  tractable,  and  easy  to  be  entreated,  by 
 Divine  grace,  are  easily  entreated  to  receive  Divine  truth,  and 
 readily  submit  to  their  duty.'  "  Full  of  mercy."  '  The  truly 
 pious  are  disposed  to  everything  that  is  kind,  benevolent, 
 charitable,  and  good;  feel  compassion  for  the  miserable,  in- 
 clined to  relit; ve  those  that  want,  and  to  forgive  those  who 
 oflend.'  "  Good  fruits."  '  Religion  is  not  a  barren  tree,  but 
 brings  forth  in  abundance  ;  and  the  fruits  which  it  produces 
 are  good,  such  as  promote  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  highest 
 interest  and  happiness  of  man.'  "  Without  partiality."  '  Es- 
 teendng  and  treating  every  one  according  to  his  apprehended 
 worth,  the  truly  reUgious  carry  themselves  superior  to  the 
 mean  spirit  of  partiality,  uncandid  conjecture,  and  destructive 
 cen^oriousness.*  *'  Without  hypocrisy."  '  True  religion  wears 
 no  mask,  disguise,  or  deceitfulness.'  *  What  fruit.s  does  owr 
 leligion  produce  V — Macwhorter. 
 
Ai/aiitst  detraction  and  censoriousncss. 
 
 JAMt'.S,  V. 
 
 Wicked  rich  men  threatened. 
 
 and  "'  purify  yuur  hearts,  ye  "  double  miiuled. 
 
 9  °  Be  afflicted,  and  muiirii,  and  weep  :  let 
 your  laugliter  be  turned  to  mourning,  and 
 i/uur  joy  to  heaviness. 
 
 10  ''Humble  yourselves  in  the  sight  of  the 
 Lord,  and  lie  shall  lift  you  up. 
 
 1 1  ''  .Speak  not  evil  one  of  another,  brethren. 
 He  that  speaketh  evil  of  his  brother,  'and 
 judgeth  his  brother,  speaketh  evil  of  the  law, 
 and  judj;eth  the  \avi :  but  if  thou  judge  tlie 
 law,  thou  art  not  a  doer  of  the  law,  but  a 
 judge. 
 
 1'2  There  is  one  lawgiver,  'who  is  able  to 
 save  and  to  destroy :  '  who  art  thuu  that 
 judgest  another? 
 
 la  "  Go  to  now,  ye  that  say,  To  day  or  to 
 morrow  we  will  go  into  such  a  city,  and  con- 
 tinue there  a  year,  and  buy  and  sell,  and  get 
 gain  : 
 
 14  Whereas  ye  know  not  what  shall  be  on 
 the  morrow.  For  what  i.s  yom-  life?  ||  ^  It  is 
 even  a  vapour,  that  appeareth  for  a  little  time, 
 and  then  vanisheth  away. 
 
 Ij  For  that  ye  oui/hi  to  say,  >' If  the  Lord 
 will,  we  shall  live,  and  do  this,  or  that. 
 
 10  But  now  ye  rejoice  in  your  boastings: 
 '  all  such  rejoicing  is  evil. 
 
 17  Therefore  "to  him   that  knoweth    to   do 
 good,  and  doeth  it  not,  to  him  it  is  sin. 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1    Wichcd  rich  men  are  to  f ear  God's  vengenncc.      7  We 
 ought  to  be  patitnt  in  a^ictions,  after  the  example  of 
 
 m  I  l'et.l.L>2 
 I  Julm3.3. 
 71  cli     I.  8. 
 X  Mat.  5. 1. 
 
 p  Job  22.  29. 
 
 Mai.  2a.  12. 
 
 Luke  14.11. 
 
 ft  IH    14, 
 
 I  I'L-t.  5  G 
 '/  Ki.li.  .1.31. 
 
 1  I'et.  2  1. 
 r  MiU.  7.   1. 
 
 Luke  6.  :J7. 
 
 Rom.  2.  I. 
 
 II  Or,  F-irit 
 
 X  Job  7    7. 
 
 Ps.  1112.  3. 
 
 ch.  I.  10 
 
 I  IVt    I. -24 
 
 lJol.it  S.17, 
 IJ  Acts  tS.'Jl. 
 
 1   C.r  -1  19. 
 
 fc   Ifi.  7. 
 
 U<-h.  6.  3. 
 z  1  Coi.  &.  6. 
 
 'I  Luke  [■:. 
 
 ■17,  Juhii  «. 
 
 H.im.  1.20, 
 21,  32.  &  2 
 17,  IS,  'Zi. 
 
 n  Pro.  11. as. 
 Luke  G.  2+ 
 1  Tiiu.6  9. 
 
 .Job  13.  ?S, 
 Mill.  6  20. 
 cli.  2.  2. 
 
 d  Lev. 19.13. 
 Job  '2\.  10, 
 II.  Ji-v.2'i. 
 I.S.  nial.  3 
 Etdus. 
 
 34. 
 
 1  22 
 
 a  Deu,2+  15 
 
 /Job  21.  13 
 Amos  ti.  1,4 
 Luke  10  19, 
 25.  1  Tim. 
 5.  fi. 
 
 ?  ch.  2.  6. 
 
 h  licii  ll.U. 
 
 HO! 
 
 24. 
 0.  3. 
 Juel  2.  2:i. 
 'l^i^h.  10.  1 
 Pbil.  4  5 
 Heb.  10.26, 
 37.  1  Pet. 
 4.  7. 
 
 the  prophets,  antl  Job  :  12  to  forbtur  stvcaring,  13  lo 
 ]-rng  ill  ndcersiti/y  to  sing  in  proaperity '.  16  to  ac~ 
 hnuwled'jc  mutually  our  several  faults,  to  pray  one  for 
 another t  19  and  to  reduce  a  straying  brother  to  the 
 truth. 
 
 O  °  to  now,  ye  rich  men,  weep  and  howl 
 fur  your  miseries  that  shall  come  upon 
 
 G 
 
 you. 
 
 ■2  Your  riches  are  corrupted,  and  ''your  gar- 
 ments are  motheaten. 
 
 3  Your  gold  and  silver  is  cankered  ;  and  the 
 rust  of  tliem  shall  be  a  wituess  against  you, 
 and  shall  eat  your  flesh  as  it  were  fire.  *^  Ye 
 have  heaped  treasure  together  for  the  last 
 ^ays. 
 
 4  Behold,  ''  the  hire  of  the  labourers  who 
 have  reaped  down  your  fields,  which  is  of  you 
 kept  back  by  fraud,  crieth  :  and  *"  the  cries  of 
 them  which  liave  reaped  are  entered  into  the 
 ears  of  the  Lord  of  sabaoth. 
 
 5  '"Ye  have  lived  in  pleasure  on  the  earth, 
 and  been  wanton  ;  ye  have  nourished  your 
 hearts,  as  in  a  day  of  slaughter. 
 
 6  ^  Ye  have  condemned  and  killed  the  just; 
 ajid  he  doth  not  resist  you. 
 
 7  II  Be  patient  therefore,  brethren,  unto  the 
 coming  of  tlie  Lord.  Behold,  the  husband- 
 man waiteth  for  the  precious  fruit  of  the  earth, 
 and  hatli  long  patience  for  it,  until  he  receive 
 •>  tlie  early  and  latter  rain. 
 
 8  Be  ye  also  patient;  stablish  your  hearts: 
 'for  the  coming  of  the  Lord  draweth  nigh. 
 
 hands,  Sfc. — these  expressions  denote  the  purity  of  the  outward  convcr- 
 satiuii  and  of  the  iuward  aflections. — Gill.  The  priests  prepaied  them- 
 selves  for  performing-  the  services  of  the  tabernacle  by  washing  and 
 cleanting-  their  bodies.  In  like  manner,  the  people,  before  they  prayed, 
 always  washed  their  hands.  In  both  cases  the  rite  was  emhleniatictU, 
 denoting  that  purity  of  heart  and  life  which  is  necessary  to  render  men's 
 worship  acceptable  to  the  Deitj'.  9.  lie  afflicted,  §c.,  for  your  crimes. 
 —  Manfcn.  U.  Speak  jwt  erii,  %-c.,  fitj  KaTa\a\en6  aWnXiov,  '  speak 
 not  one  against  another  j'  the  word  implies  aiiy  speaking  to  the  pre- 
 judice of  another,  true  or  false. — Manton.  'You  who  are  converted, 
 do  not  sicinder  and  censure  rashly. '—Py/e.  Judiset/t,  *  condenmeth,' 
 in  matters  pertaiuiiig  to  cniiscicuce,  Speiiketh  evil  of  the  law,  both  of 
 Moses  and  of  Christ,  which  forbids  that  kind  of  speaking.  12.  One 
 iaie^icer,  and  thereby  thou  assumest  the  prerogative  of  Christ. — Nackn. 
 13.  Go  to  now,  A-f€  vuv,  '  Come  now.'  Same  meaning  as  MSn,  (Gen.xi. 
 3,  4,  7.)  *  Come  and  hear,'  &c. — A.  Clarke.  A  phrase  awakening  con- 
 sideration and  attention. — Manton.  We  will  go  into  such  a  city,  ^c. — 
 the  merchants  of  the  east  have  ever  been  famous  for  their  tradmg  pere- 
 grinations, {see  Gen.  xxxvii.  25.) — Rob.  To  this  day  Ihey  travel  with 
 their  good.s  from  place  to  place,  sellmg  some  and  buying  others,  which 
 they  again  dispose  of  elsewhere  in  the  like  way.  The  long  delay  at 
 difierent  places  often  cause  the  lapse  of  many  ycctrs  before  the  merchant 
 returns  home  with  liis  gjiins. — So  Pict.  Bib.  16.  Rejoice  in  your 
 boastini^s.  *  take  pleasure  in  speaking  thus  arrogantly  and  magnificently 
 of  your  own  purposes.' — Hammond.  17.  To  him  that  knoweth,  fyc— 
 this  or  any  other  crime  must  be  greater  in  a  Christian  tlian  in  any  other 
 man  J  because,  by  the  clear  revelation  of  the  gospel,  he  ought  to  have 
 better  notions  of  his  dnty. —Pyle. 
 
 Chap.  V. — 1.  Go  to  now,  \-{e  vw,  '  come  now.' — Mackn,  It  is  a  kind 
 of  asciting  or  calling  them  to  the  throne  of  God's  judgment. — Manton. 
 Itic/i  mi-n,  these  in  general  rejected  the  gospel,  from  worldly  hiterest. 
 — Scott.  Miseries  that  shall  ciinie,  those  in  which  the  Jews  were  in- 
 volved m  their  wars  with  the  Ronuuis,  and  which,  by  the  signs  pointed 
 out  in  our  Lord's  prophecy  of  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  St.  James, 
 who  wrote  this  letter  in  Judea,  knew  were  at  hand.  These  fell  heaviest 
 on  the  Jews  in  Judea,  but  they  extended  also  to  the  Jews  in  the  pro- 
 vinces.— Mackn.    The  apostle  is  not  writing  to  the  Jews  in  Judea  and 
 
 at  Jerusalem,  but  the  Christians  of  the  twelve  tribes,  scattered  in  the 
 several  parts  of  the  world,  and  who  were  not  distressed  by  that  cala- 
 mity ;  but  eternal  miseries,  or  the  torments  of  hell,  arc  here  intended, 
 which,  unless  they  repented,  would  soon  overtake  them.  —  (lilt. 
 2.  Riches  are  corrupted^  aean-rrc,  '  putrified  ;'  this  shews  that  the  apostle 
 is  speakhig  of  stores  of  corn,  wine,  and  oil,  which,  like  the  rich  fool, 
 (Luke,  xii.  18,)  they  had  amassed,  probably  by  rapine  and  fraud.— 
 Mackn.  'Your  food,  like  manna,  is  putritied  by  being  kept,  (Exod. 
 xvi.  20  ;)  and  the  p-ar7?ifn/s  which  should  have  covered  the  needy,  being 
 laid  up  in  your  wardrobes,  are  devoured  by  moths.' — Ham.  See  Luke, 
 xii.  18;  Jer.  xli.  8;  Job,  xxvii.  16.  In  the  eastern  countries,  where 
 fashions  do  not  change,  garments  of  costly  stuff  were  laid  up  in  their 
 wardrobes,  as  a  part  of  their  riches,  (see  Gen.  xlv.  22  ;  Judges,  xiv.  22, 1  a  ; 
 2  Kings,  v.  5.) — Mackn.  3.  Cankered,  or  rusted.  The  rust—a^  gold 
 is  not  capable  of  rust,  it  is  thought  the  word  means  the  foulness  that 
 metal  may  contract. — Par.  Gold  and  silver  are  here  mentioned  for  all 
 kinds  of  metals.— J>/aK/ora.  It  is  a  strong  poetical  figure.  Ye  haw 
 heaped  treasure,  '  ye  have  treasured  up  misery  (eiO  in  the  last  days  of 
 your  commonwealth.' — Mackn.  *  For  the  time  of  the  final  destruc- 
 tion of  your  state,  which  is  now  coming  on.'—Wells.  So  Doddr.  The 
 last  days  of  life,  or  time. — So  Gilt.  4.  Behold,  the  hire,  §e.— sec  the 
 precept.  Lev.  xix.  13;  Deut.  xxiv.  \5 :  the  keephig  back  the  hire  is, 
 therefore,  truly  st>ied  fraud  and  oppression  ;  and  all  sins  of  tliat  nature 
 cry  for  vengeance. — Whitby.  Of  subuoth,  '  of  hosts,'  (see  Rom.  ix.  29, 
 note.)  b.  As  in  a  day  of  slaughter,  or  *  for  a  day  of  slaughter,' — 
 namely,  as  the  sacrifices,  wliicli  are  first  fattened,  and  then  slaughtered, 
 (see  Ps.  xxxvii.  2f>.)~Whitby.  '  A  day  of  slaughter'  was  also  a  day  of 
 fea-sting;  for  the  Jewish  festivals  were  generally  preceded  by  sacrifices, 
 on  many  of  which  the  offerers  themselves  feasted,  (see  Isa.  xxxiv.  6.)— 
 Wil.  6.  The  just— '  the  just  Onk  _:'  I  rather  think  the  Lord  himself  is 
 meant;  so  called.  Acts,  iii.  14;  vii.  52;  xxii.  H;  and  the  great  sin  of 
 the  Jews  was,  in  putting  him  to  death.— il/ot-An.  The  true  Christian  ; 
 many  an  one  havijig  patiently  suffered  and  submitted  to  death  from  the 
 oppressor  and  persecutor.— So  Wells,  he  Clerr,  l)r.  Benson.  Meaning 
 not  Christ,  but  poor  samts,  since  the  apostle  is  not  writing  to  Jerusalem 
 Jews,    nor  to   unbelievers,  but    to  professors  of    religion.  7-  Be 
 
 patient— this  is  addressed  to  the  poor  ajid  oppressed.— GzV;.     The  com- 
 
 Rkflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  We  shall  notice  two  things 
 which  are  here  condemned — L  War.  It  were  well  if  the  go- 
 vernors of  nations  professedly  Christian  were  to  ask  this 
 question  before  they  drew  the  sword — *  Whence  come  wars?' 
 l)o  not  '  pride,  covetousness,  sensuality,  ambition,'  lie  at  the 
 bottom  1  Would  not  a  little  yielding  and  pacific  spirit  often 
 sheathe  the  horrible  weapon^  Why  is  there  not  a  state  mi- 
 nister of  peace  in  every  country,  to  employ  all  his  energies  in 
 et'ecting  this  object  before  nations  are  impoverislied  and  my- 
 riads of  human  victims  slaughtered  for  some  cause  in  itself 
 comparatively  the  most  insignificant?  O,  when  shall  men 
 iearn  war  no  innre  ^  How  long  shall  the  cruel  and  ambitious 
 inunurc  the  earili  with  human  gore  ( 
 lo!7 
 
 II.  Presumptuous  boasting.  IIow*  customary  is  it  for  men  to 
 lay  their  sciienies,  and  follow  up  their  plans,  for  worldly  ng- 
 grandisement,  without  ever  thinking  that  they  are  dependent 
 upon  God  for  every  breath  they  draw,  and  that,  without  his 
 blessing  and  permission,  all  may  prove  abortive.  The  mer- 
 cliant  dreams  of  his  projected  gains — prepares  for  the  hour 
 when  he  shall  fill  his  coft'ers — and,  at  the  very  moment  for 
 realizing  his  expectations,  lie  himself  fills  his  grave!  O  Lord, 
 '  so  teach  us  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts 
 unto  wisdom,'  and  so  to  pursue  our  plans  as  to  resign  all  our 
 concerns  to  thy  gracious  disposal,  saying,  '  If  the  Lord  will, 
 we  shall  do  this  or  that.' 
 
An  exhortation  to  patience. 
 
 JAMES,  V. 
 
 The  efficanj  ofpraye 
 
 9  ''  II  Grudge  not  one  ai;ainst  another,  bre- 
 thren, lest  ye  be  condemned  :  behold,  the  judge 
 '  standeth  before  the  door. 
 
 10  "'Take,  my  brethren,  tlie  prophets,  who 
 have  spoken  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  for  an 
 example  of  suffering  affliction,  and  of  patience. 
 
 1 1  Behold,  °  we  count  them  happy  which 
 endure.  Ye  have  heard  of  "  the  patience  of 
 Job,  and  have  seen  ''  the  end  of  the  Lord  ;  that 
 ''  the  Lord  is  very  pitiful,  and  of  tender  mercy. 
 
 12  But  above  all  things,  my  brethren,  'swear 
 not,  neither  by  heaven,  neither  by  the  earth, 
 neither  by  any  other  oath :  but  let  your  yea 
 be  yea  ;  and  '/"'"■  "fy,  nay  ;  lest  ye  fall  into 
 condemnation. 
 
 1.3  Is  any  among  you  afflicted  ?  let  him  pray. 
 Is  any  merry?  Met  him  sing  psalms. 
 
 14  Is  any  sick  among  you  ?  let  him  call  for 
 the  elders  of  the  church  ;  and  let  them  pray 
 over  him,  '  anointing  him  with  oil  in  the  name 
 of  the  Lord  . 
 
 15  And  the  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick. 
 
 A  n.  rir.  nil 
 
 *  Cll.  I.  II. 
 II  Or,  Cr«».,, 
 or,  ffricre 
 
 H'tl. 
 
 t  Mat.  21.33, 
 I  Cor,   1,  5- 
 
 m  Mat.  5.12. 
 Heb.  11.35, 
 
 n  Ps. 
 
 94.  12. 
 
 Mat. 
 
 .-;.  10, 
 
 11.  & 
 
 10.22. 
 
 O   Ji.b 
 
 .  21, 
 
 22.  & 
 
 •2.  10. 
 
 p  Job  12.  (0, 
 
 &1-. 
 
 V  Nii» 
 
 .  tl. 
 
 18.  !■ 
 
 .  103. 
 
 Eph. 
 
 Col. : 
 
 I  Mark  6  13. 
 &  \6.  18. 
 
 «  Is.  33.  2+. 
 Mat.  9.  2. 
 
 jGen.  20.17. 
 Num.  11.2. 
 Deu.  9.  18, 
 19,  SO. 
 Josh.  10. 1?. 
 1  Sa.  12.  IS. 
 
 1  Kin.  IS  G 
 
 2  Kin,  4.33. 
 &  19.15.2a 
 fc  20.  2,  4. 
 &c.  Ps.  10. 
 n.St  34. 1£. 
 &  Mb.  \S. 
 Pro.  15.  29. 
 &  28.  9. 
 Jolin  9.  SI. 
 I  Jobo  3.32. 
 
 V  Acts  14.15. 
 5l  Kin. 17. 1. 
 
 I  Or,  in 
 
 prater. 
 
 1  Luke  4.26. 
 
 b  I  Kin.  19. 
 
 42,45. 
 c  Mat. 18.15. 
 d  Rom.  II. 
 
 14  1  Cor,  9. 
 
 22.  I  Tim. 
 
 4.  16. 
 e  Pro.  10   12. 
 
 I  Pet   4.  6. 
 
 and  the  Lord  shall  raise  him  up;  "and  it  lie 
 have  committed  sins,  they  shall  be  forgiven 
 him. 
 
 16  Confess  i/oiir  faults  one  to  another,  and 
 pray  one  for  another,  that  ye  may  be  healed. 
 '^  The  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous 
 man  availeth  much. 
 
 17  Elias  was  a  man  ^subject  to  like  passions 
 as  we  are,  and  ''he  prayed  ||  earnestly  that  it 
 might  not  rain:  "*  and  it  rained  not  on  tlie 
 earth  by  the  space  of  three  years  and  .six 
 months. 
 
 18  And  ""he  prayed  again,  and  the  heaven 
 gave  rain,  and  the  earth  brought  fortli  her 
 fruit. 
 
 19  Brethren,  "  if  any  of  you  do  err  from  the 
 truth,  and  one  convert  liim  ; 
 
 20  Let  him  know,  that  he  wliich  converteth 
 the  sinner  from  tlie  error  of  liis  way  "^  shall  save 
 a  soul  from  death,  and  "  shall  hide  a  multitude 
 of  sins. 
 
 (H^  of  the  Lord,  either  means,  to  destroy  the  Jewish  polity,  or  his 
 genera]  coming. — Bur.  9.  Grudge  not,  /xn  o-TevaCeTC,  '  groaii  not.* 
 Groaniug,  when  it  is  the  effect  of  impatience,  or  desire  of  revenue,  be- 
 comes criminal. — Mnclm.  *  Grudge  not  on  account  of  any  happiness, 
 temporal  or  spiritual,  which  another  enjoys ;'  do  not  inwardly  repine 
 at  it,  Condfmned,  at  the  bar  of  Christ.  10.  For  nn  entmple,  their 
 ainictions  were  many  and  great,  and  yet  they  were  patient  under  them. 
 — Gilt.  12.  Sivrnr  not.  '  let  no  provocations  draw  you  into  the  vice 
 of  conmion  sweai'ing." — Pjite.  I  rather  think  he  forbade  them,  when 
 brought  before  the  tribunals  of  their  per'^eeutors.  to  deny  their  faith 
 with  oaths,  which  some  of  them,  it  seem.'^.  thonglit  they  might  do  with 
 a  safe  consrience,  if  the  oath  were  one  of  those  which  were  reckoned 
 not  binding. — Miirfcn.  14.  Anointhis^  him  with  oif,  which,  some  think, 
 was  only  done  in  a  common  medicinal  way,  oil  being  used  much  in  the 
 eastern  countries  for  most  disorders;  and  so  these  elders  used  an  ordi- 
 nary medicine  as  well  as  prayer  :  or  rather,  this  refers  to  an  extraordi- 
 nary gift  which  some  elders  had  of  healing  diseases,  as  sometimes  by 
 touching  and  by  laying  on  of  hands,  or  by  e.xpressing  some  words,  and 
 so  by  anointing  with  oil.  (see  Mark,  vi,  IJ  ;)  which  extraor<linary  gifts 
 being  now  ceased,  the  rite  or  ceremony  of  anointing  \vith  oil  ceases  in 
 coarse. — Gilt.  15.  The  prai/rir  0/  faith,  a  prayer  which  the  elder, 
 moved  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  was  to  make  for  the  recovery  of  the  sick,  in 
 tlie  full  persuasion  that  the  Lord  would  raise  him  up,  (1  John,  v.  16.) 
 — Mackn.  If  he  hnr>t'  cominitti'd  sins— nnva^Xy.  sins  for  which  God  was 
 pleased  to  inflict  this  bodily  disease  upon  him,  as  on  the  members  of 
 
 the  church  at  Corinth,  (see  1  Cor.  xi.  30,  32.)  Where  the  sickness  was 
 by  way  of  chastisement,  the  healing  was  a  testimony  of  God's  forgive- 
 ness.—  Whitfjt/.  16.  Confess,  ffc. — these  words  eU-c  understood  of  con- 
 fessing private  injuries,  that  so  the  sick  person  may  reconcile  himself 
 to  his  neighbour,  as  well  as  to  God. — liur.  The  effectual  fenu-nt 
 prayer,  seems  to  denote  the  inspired  prayer,  or  the  prayer  of  a  righteous 
 man, '  wrought  in'  him  by  the  operation  or  energy  of  the  Holy  Spirit. — 
 Par.  'The  unwrought  prayer  ;'  the  word  is  applied  to  those  possessed 
 with  evil  spirits,  and  they  were  most  violently  moved,  (Mark,  v.  3, 
 4.)  So  the  Holy  Spirit  moves  the  unwrought  prayer.  See  Caryl. 
 17.  Prat/i-d—thfit  it  might  not  raiH,— this  is  not  recorded  in  express 
 words,  but  may  be  gathered  from  I  Kings,  xvii.  1.  The  earth,  the  land 
 of  Israel  only  is  meant. — Gill.  20.  A  multitude  0/ 5in-s,  which  shall 
 be  forgiven  the  convert. — Dp.  Hall,  so  Mnnlan,  and  Gill.  By  his  con- 
 version many  sins  will  also  be  prevented  from  himself;  and  many  sins 
 of  others  will  be  prevented,  which  would  have  been  committed  through 
 his  evil  example  and  inlluence. — Gui/se.  Some  writers  flunk  it  means 
 their  own  sins. — So  Wells,  Whithy,  Atterlmr//.  Both  ideas  are  included 
 by  Doddr.  From  the  very  abrupt  termination  of  this  epistle,  Hr.  Ben- 
 sun  and  others  have  thought  that  it  never  was  concluded,  the  writer 
 haWng  been  led  suddenly  to  martjrdom.  The  elder  James  was  be- 
 headed by  Herod,  and  probably  \vith  as  little  notice  as  John  the  Baptist, 
 (comp.  Acts.  xii.  2,  and  Matt.  xiv.  10.1  And  if  this  were  w^ritten  by  the 
 younger  James,  he  suddenly  suflfered  martyrdom  ;  probably  in  a  popu- 
 lar tumult.— H^i7. 
 
 Reflections  on  Ciiai*.  V.  — We  have  Iiere,  I.  JVtiminqs 
 to  oppressors.  Are  there  any  who  be;ir  tbe  Cliristian  name, 
 yet  oppress  the  poor  !  there  are.  Are  there  any  who  allow 
 the  labourer  not  enough  for  food,  while  tbey  roll  in  their 
 riches  ?  there  are.  Let  tbeni  tremble  at  tbe  sight  of  their  ill- 
 gotten  wealth  ;  and  still  more  at  the  thought  of  that  account 
 which  ihey  must  give  to  God.  the  Judge  of  all,  at  that  great 
 day  when  he  shall  render  to  every  man  according  to  bis 
 works.     We  have  here — 
 
 II.  Consolatory  exhortations  to  the  oppressed.  Tbey  need  only 
 exercise  patience  and  prayer  ;  remembering  tbe  suffering  pro- 
 phets and  pious  men  of  past  ages,  and  looking  up  to  the 
 coming  of  their  Lord,  which  'draweih  ni^h.'  Happy  then  will 
 they  be  who  sball  then  be  found  in  a  right  spirit  ;  pniying, 
 praising,  meekly  conducting  themselves  toward.-^  their  breth- 
 ren, and  aiming  at  the  restoration  and  conversion  of  the  souls 
 of  their  fellow-sinners  ! 
 
 THE    FIRST    EPISTLE    GENERAL 
 
 PETE  R. 
 
 [The  occaslnn  of  wrilin;;  this  epistle  was  this;  Peter  meeting-  with  Sy1vr\mi«.  a  faillifiil  brother,  wlio  hail  been  a  coiiipanion 
 of  the  apostle  Paul,  takes  this  opportunity  of  sending  a  letter  by  him  to  the  converted  .lews  dispersed  among  the  Gentile 
 I'onntries.  -where  he,  with  Paul  and  several  others,  travelled.  It  is  said  by  the  apostle  to  have  been  written  from 
 H.ihylon,  concerning  which  the  general  opinion  is,  that  Babylon  is  here  used  figuratively  for  Rome.  The  date  of  this 
 epistle  is  supposed  to  have  been  about  A.n.  ().5  or  G6  ;  and  the  second  is  thought  to  have  been  written  a  year  or  two  after- 
 wards, not  long  before  the  apostle's  martyrdom  at  Home.  Passages  from  other  Scriptures  alluded  to  in  I  Peter: — Gen. 
 vi.  7;   xviii.  12;  Exod    six.  .5,  G;   Deut.  vii.fi;    Isa.  x.li;  xxviii.  Ki  ;  xl.  0— R  ;  xlviii.  9,  10;  liii.  ;  Ivii.  15;   Ixi.  (i; 
 
 Jer 
 
 Ezek.  ii;.  Gjxix.  5,  Gjxxxiv.  4;  Uan.  ii.  44 ; 
 
 13; 
 
 2G  ;  Hos.  i.  9,  10  ;  Mag.  li.  7  ;  Zech. 
 
 J318 
 
 9.J 
 
Spiritual  graces  of  the  believer. 
 
 I.  PETER,  I. 
 
 Christ's  salutation  prophesied  of  old. 
 
 PI 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1    He  hJesseth  God    for  /lis  mnnlfohl  spirUval  ymces 
 10  shewing  that  the  mitoation  in  Christ  is  iiu  news 
 but  a  thimi  prophesied  of  old :  13  and  exhorteth  them 
 accordingly  to  a  f/odli/  couversation,  forasmuch   as 
 they  are  now  born  anew  by  iht  word  of  God. 
 
 ►  ETER,  an  apostle  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  the 
 strangers  ^  scattered  throughout  Poutus, 
 Galatia,  Cappadocia,  Asia,  and  Bithyuia. 
 '1  **  Elect ""  accordiug  to  the  foreknowledge  of 
 God  the  Father,  "^  through  sanctitication  of  the 
 Spirit,  unto  obedience  and  '^sprinkling  of  the 
 blood  of  Jesus  Christ;  ^  Grace  unto  you,  and 
 peace,  be  multiplied. 
 
 3  **  Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  ''according  to  his 
 t  abundant  mercy  '  hath  begotten  us  again 
 unto  a  lively  hope  ''  by  the  resurrection  of 
 Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead, 
 
 4  To  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  and  unde- 
 filed,  '  and  that  fadeth  not  away,  "'  reserved  in 
 heaven  ||  for  you. 
 
 5  "  Wlio  are  kept  by  the  power  of  God  througli 
 faith  unto  salvation  ready  to  be  revealed  in  the 
 last  time.      0 
 
 6  "  Wherein  ye  greatly  rejoice,  though  now 
 ^  for  a  season,  if  need  be,  *'  ye  are  in  heaviness 
 through  manifold  temptations  : 
 
 7  That  •■  the  trial  of  your  faith,  being  much 
 more  precious  than  of  gold  that  perisheth, 
 tiiough  ^  it  be  tried  with  tire,  '  might  be  found 
 unto  praise  and  honour  and  glory  at  the  ap- 
 pearing of  Jesus  Christ : 
 
 8  "Whom  having  not  seen,  ye  love;  ^  in 
 whom,  thougli  now  ye  see  kiin  not,  yet  be- 
 lieving, ye  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and 
 
 a  John?.  S.!*, 
 
 Acts  2. 5, 9, 
 
 lu.  Jam.lJ. 
 b  Eph.  1.  *. 
 
 cU.  2.  9. 
 c  Koiu.  8.29 
 
 &  It.  2. 
 d  2  Tbes.  2. 
 
 13. 
 e  Heb.  10  22. 
 
 tc  12.  24.. 
 /Horn.  I.  7. 
 
 2  Pet.  1.  2. 
 
 JuHe  2. 
 i/2Cor.  1.3, 
 
 Eph.  1 .  3. 
 A  Tit.  3  6. 
 t  Gr.  much. 
 I  John  3.8,5. 
 
 J^rn.  I,  18. 
 k  lC..r-l5.-20 
 
 1  Thes.t.l*. 
 
 ill.  ;i    21. 
 
 2  Cru.  G  It). 
 
 vh.  I.  IS. 
 ;»'2Cor.4.l7. 
 
 cli.  5.  Ml. 
 f  Jam.  I.  2. 
 r  Jam.   I.  3, 
 
 12  cii   4  12 
 *  Job  2.3.  10. 
 
 Ps   (id    10. 
 
 Pro.  17.  3. 
 
 Is.  48.  in. 
 
 Ze.-li.  i:1.''. 
 
 I  Cir.  3.i:i, 
 I  Koni.  2    7. 
 
 UP.  I  Coi.-l 
 
 5.2Tlies.l. 
 
 7_l-2. 
 u  I  John  i. 
 
 20 
 jr.lt>hii  211.29. 
 
 A.n.  cii-.GO. 
 
 -  Deii.  10.17. 
 
 Ads  111.  31. 
 
 Rom.  2.  II. 
 )2  Cor.  7.  I 
 
 Pl.il.  2.  12. 
 
 Heh.  12. 2S. 
 
 full  of  glory : 
 
 y  Receiving''' the  end  of  your  faith, /.Tfy/  the 
 salvation  oi'  t/our  souls. 
 
 10  'Of  which  salvation  the  prophets  have 
 enquired  and  searched  diligently,  who  prophe- 
 sied of  the  grace  i/iat  should  come  unto  you  : 
 
 1 1  Searcliiiig  what,  or  what  manner  of  time 
 *the  Spirit  of  Ciirist  which  was  in  them  did 
 signify,  wlien  it  testitied  beforehand  *"  the  suf- 
 ferings of  Christ,  and  tlie  glory  tliat  should 
 follow. 
 
 P2  ''Unto  wliom  it  was  revealed,  that  "^  not 
 unto  tliemselves,  but  unto  us  tliey  did  minister 
 the  things,  wiiich  are  now  reported  unto  you 
 by  them  that  have  preached  the  gospel  unto 
 you  with  '^  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from 
 heaven;  •"  which  things  the  angels  desire  to 
 look  into. 
 
 13  Wherefore  ^  gird  up  the  loins  of  your 
 mind,  ^  be  sober,  and  hope  f  to  the  end  for  tlie 
 grace  that  is  to  be  brought  unto  you  'at  the 
 revelation  of  Jesus  Christ ; 
 
 14  As  obedient  children,  ''not  fashioning 
 yourselves  according  to  the  former  lusts  '  in 
 your  ignorance : 
 
 15  "'  But  as  he  which  hath  called  you  is  holy, 
 so  be  ye  holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation  ; 
 
 16  Because  it  is  written,  "  Be  ye  holy  ;  for  I 
 am  holy. 
 
 17  And  if  ye  call  on  the  Father,  "who  with- 
 out respect  of  persons  judgeth  according  to 
 every  man's  work,  ^  pass  the  time  of  your  *'  so- 
 journing here  in  fear  : 
 
 18  Forasmuch  as  ye  know  ""that  ye  were  not 
 redeemed  with  corruptible  things,  an  silver  and 
 
 7  2  Cor.  5.  6.   Heh.  11,13.  ch.  2.  11.       r  I  Cor  6.  20.  &  7.  23. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I. —  1.  To  the  strangers,  ■aap^in&i^Loi^,  the  heathen 
 Jews,  called  'straugers'  in  the  gates. — Beza,  Luther,  Bens.,  Mich.  It 
 signifies,  any  one  who,  as  a  traveller,  stays  only  iu  pa^&ing,  a  descrip- 
 tion which  best  applies  to  Chtistians  in  ihe  spiritual  sense.— S^'?ifff>'. 
 It  has  a  special  reference  to  the  peisecuted  Christians,  converts  from 
 Judaism,  driven  to  seek  refuge  where  the  influence  uf  their  brethren 
 could  n<>t  extend. — So  A.  Clarke.  So  called,  in  a  civil  sen-^e,  because 
 they  were  not  in  their  own  land. —  Gill.  Scattered— see  James,  i.  i, 
 note.  Ponfus,  fyc- — all  these  countries,  as  the  best  geogratihers  think, 
 lay  in  what  was  called  the  Lesser  Asia. — Gui/se.  2.  Elect,  chosen 
 to  peculiar  privileges  and  bles'-iugs. —/'((<-.  Objects  of  Uod's  special 
 and  eternal  choice,  according  to  the  kind,  distinguishing,  notice  which 
 God  the  Father  took  of  them  beiore  all  worlds,  with  a  gracious  design 
 of  bringing  them  to  eternal  life.— Gui/se.  This  electing  love  and  grace 
 is  the  part  of  God  the  Father  in  onrsalvation. —TraiV.  Fureknuwtedge, 
 iliscovered  in  the  prophetical  writings,  which  foretold  of  these  bless- 
 ings to  be  conveyed  by  the  Messiah.  — TI7i/76^.  The  projecting  of  all 
 his  schemes  with  the  most  consummate  wisdom,  and  perfect  discern- 
 ing of  every  future  event. — Doddr.  Through  sanclijicntinu  —  see 
 2Tliess.  ii.  13,  note.  The  apostle  here  calls  us  to  the  effect  by  which 
 ourelectitm  is  declared,  and  justified  to  us,  sanctiQcation. — Caluin. 
 Unto  obedience,  to  cng-iije  and  enable  them  to  yield  themsilves  up 
 unto  all  holy  obedience  to  his  commandments  in  heart  and  life. — 
 Guyse.  Eph.  i.  iv.  The  passage  is  doubtless  elliptical,  (it  requires 
 Tr«7Teu>c  af'er  £«•  vn.inauv,)  and  should  be  as  Uom.  i.  5,  'to  the  obedi- 
 ence of  faith.'— Pf/^«e.  Sprinkling,  fyc,  in  allusion  to  the  sprinkling 
 of  the  blond  of  the  passover  lamb,  (Exo<l.  xii.  2'2,  23;)  or  to  the  sprin- 
 kling of  the  bloud  on  the  book  of  the  covenant,  and  on  the  people  at 
 Mount  Sinai,  (Exod.  xxiv.  8  ;)  or  to  other  sprinklings  of  blood  in  their 
 legal  sacrifices.  The  application  of  the  blood  of  Christ  to  the  heart  by 
 the  Spirit  of  God,  for  cleansing,  pardon,  and  justification,   is  meant. 
 
 3.  Begotten  ».«,  in  regeneration. — GUI.  A  lively  hope,  '  a  living  hope,* 
 a  Hebraism  for  'a  hope  of  life'  Bi/  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ, 
 which  was  both  a  proof  and  pledge  of  our  resurrection. — Mncknight. 
 
 4.  Undefiled,  that  is,  into  wliich  nothing  that  pollutcth  can  enter,  (see 
 Rev.  xxi.  '27.)  —  Jioddr.  Fadelh  nut  awn//,  nnopapToi',  *  it  cannot 
 wither,*  ir  is  always  in  '  bloom ;'  a  metaphor  taken  trom  those  flowers 
 that  never  lose  their  hue  nor  their  fragrance. —  Clarke.  5.  Kept — 
 the  word  (ppoi'tKti'/tti.u  is  a  military  term,  used  lor  those  who  are  iiept 
 as  in  a  fort  or  garrison-town  besieged. — .^bp.  Leighton,  sn  Bluckwall, 
 Doddr.  By  thr-  power  of  God,  ev  fiuvafict  iteov,  by  the  'mighty*  and 
 '  miracle-working  power  of  God.'— C7«rA-^.  Ihe  term  is  very  einpha- 
 tical  here.  It  represents  believers  as  attacked  hy  evil  spirits  and  wicked 
 men,  their  enemies,  but  defended  against  their  attacks  '  by  the  power 
 of  God,*  SiC. — Mnckn.  Tiiey  are  secure  from  harm  under  the  observa- 
 tion of  an  all-seeing  eye,  and  protection  of  an  Almighty  hand.  — 
 Btackwall.  Lust  time,  second  appearance  of  Clirist.— Dodrf/-.,  so  Wells. 
 6,  //  need  he,  '  if  God  sees  it  best  for  you.' — Wells.  Manifold  tempta- 
 tions, various  trials.— />orfrfr.  7.  That  the  trial,  §r.,  *  proof  of  your 
 faith,*  &c.      In  the  first  age  the  Chriatians  were  subject  to  persecution 
 
 1319 
 
 and  death,  that,  their  faith  being  put  to  the  severest  trial,  mankind 
 might  have,  in  their  liied  and  persevering  faith,  whrtt  is  infinitely  more 
 l)rofitahle  to  them  than  all  the  gold  -iiiil  silver  in  the  world— namely, 
 such  an  irrefragable  demonstration  of  tlie  truth  of  the  facts  on  which 
 the  Cliristian  religion  is  built,  as  will  bring  praise  and  honour  and 
 glory  to  God,  and  to  the  martyrs  themselves  at  the  last  day.  8.  Though 
 now  ye  see  him  not,   '  not  now  looking.'— JI/"cA-h.  Q.  Receiving  the 
 
 end,  like  conquerors  in  the  games  receiving  as  a  reward  of  grace  (leXot) 
 the  perfection  and  ultimate  aim  of  your  faith  and  the  end  which  it 
 issues  in. — Guyse.  10.  Searched  diligently,  e^i\pevvmrLkv,  like  miners 
 digging  for  precious  ore.  —  Guyse.  Prophesied  of  the  grace,  fyc  ,  that 
 abundant  grace  that  shouUI  be  given  to  the  church  in  the  times  of  the 
 gospel.  H.  Searching  whnl,  or  what  manner  nf  titne,  ^c,  bending 
 
 their  thoughts  intentiveVy  to  know  where  and  at  what  time  Christ  the 
 Messiah  should  come  iniu  Ihe  world,  and  should  suffer,  and  shoulil 
 re-enter  into  his  gh'ry.~/jt/'.  flail.  12.  Not  unto  themselves,  these 
 things  were  not  to  have  their  accomplishment  in  their  times.— GiW. 
 The  angels  desire  to  look  into,  *  into  which  things  angels  earnestly  de- 
 sire to  look  attentively.'  napuKin/-u<,  literally,  'to  stoop,'  this  being 
 the  action  of  one  who  desires  to  look  narrowly  into  a  thing.  Tliis 
 earnest  desire  of  the  angels  to  contemplate  the  suft'eriogs  of  Chiist, 
 was  emblematically  signified  by  the  cherubim,  (see  Exod.  xxv.  20.)  To 
 this  there  is  a  plain  allusion  ;  and  the  apostle  signifies,  thatiftheae 
 things  so  deeply  intLicsted  angels,  how  much  more  ought  they  to  in- 
 terest us. — So  J/'irA/i.  13.  Oii-d  up,  ^e.,  a  figure  Irom  the  eastern 
 custom  of  fastening  up  long  gai  incuts  by  a  girdle,  when  about  to  exert 
 themselves  or  journc-y.— So  i'ur.  As  the  Israelites  were  to  have  their 
 loins  girded  at  the  passover,  when  tUey  were  setting  out  from  Egypt 
 for  the  land  of  Canaan,  (Exod.  xii.  \l.)— Guyse.  This  figure  signifies 
 '  the  faculties  of  the  mind'  being  i.iepared  to  exert  themselves  properly. 
 —Muckn.  Be  sober,  vtrt^sovTi^,  *  moderate  your  appetites  to,  and  make 
 a  temjierate  use  of,  the  tlnngs  of  this  world,  with  holy  vigilance,  like 
 servants  that  wait  f.r  (he  coming  of  their  Lord,'  (Luke,  xii.  35—3/.) 
 Hope  to  the  end.  '  maintain  a  sincere,  unshaken,  growing,  and  perse- 
 vering trust  and  hope  in  Chri^t  to  the  end  of  your  days.'  14.  Not 
 fas/iioning  yourselres,  fiti  auaxijiiixTi^onevoi,  or  '  being  conformed  to 
 the  corrupt  inclinations  or  desires,  schemes,  principles,  practices,  lan- 
 guage, and  fashions,  of  the  men  of  this  world.' — Guyse.  According  to 
 the  former  lusts  in  your  ignorance,  '  the  lusts  which  formerly  ruled  yuu 
 during  your  ignorance  of  God.*  15.  As  he— is  holy — Christianity  has 
 an  infinite  advantage  over  heathenism,  which  scarcely  produced  a 
 god  whose  example  was  not  abominable. — .A.  Clarke.  Convermtitm, 
 always  in  scripture  signifies,  carriage,  deportment,  the  course  of  ac- 
 tion.— Jay.  l6.  It  is  written,  in  Lev.  six.  2.  IJ.  If  ye  call,  '  see- 
 ing ye  call.'  Sojourning — ttie  word  TTiipoiKiat,  properly  signifies,  the 
 stay  which  travellers  make  in  a  place  when  finishing  some  busiuLss. 
 The  term  signifies  that  this  earth  is  not  our  home,  and  that  we  arc  id 
 remain  in  it  only  a  short  time,  (see  Hcb.  xi.  \3.)—HIackn.  in.  Anf 
 redeemed,  ^c,  eXrrpioyoTt— the  word  signilies,  '  to  ransnm,  to  .kiiver 
 by  paying  a  price'     Particularly  it  signifies  '  to  ransom  a  captive  Iioni 
 
Brotherly  love  commended. 
 
 gold,  from  your  vain  conversation  '^  received  by 
 tradition  from  your  fathers  ; 
 
 19  But  ^  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ, 
 "as  of  a  lamb  witiiout  blemish  and  without  spot: 
 
 20  "^  Who  verily  was  foreordained  before  the 
 foundation  of  the  world,  but  was  manifest  ^  in 
 these  last  times  for  you, 
 
 21  Who  by  luin  do  believe  in  God,  ^  that 
 raised  him  up  from  the  dead,  and  '''  gave  him 
 glory;  that  your  faith  and  hope  miyht  be  iuGod. 
 
 22  Seeing  ye  ''have  purified  your  souls  in 
 obeying  the  truth  through  tlie  Spirit  unto  un. 
 feigned  "  iove  of  tlie  brethren,  see  that  ye  love 
 one  another  with  a  pure  heart  fervently: 
 
 23  ^  Being  born  again,  not  of  corruptible 
 seed,  hut  of  incorruptible,  '^  by  the  word  of 
 God,  which  liveth  and  abideth  for  ever. 
 
 24  II  For  <■  all  fle.sh  is  as  grass,  and  all  the 
 glory  of  man  as  the  flower  of  grass.  The 
 grass  withereth,  and  the  flower  thereof  falleth 
 away : 
 
 25  ^  But  the  word  of  the  Lord  endureth  for 
 ever.  ^  And  this  is  the  word  which  by  the 
 gospel  is  preached  unto  you. 
 
 CHAP.   II. 
 
 I  He  dehorteth  them  from  the  Ircnch  of  charity:  4 
 shewing  that  Christ  is  the  foundation  whereupon  theij 
 are  built.  1 1  He  heseecheth  them  also  to  abstain  from 
 fieshly  lusts,  V.i  to  he  obedient  to  magistrateSj  18  and 
 teachcth  serrants  hoiv  to  obey  their  mastas,  20  pa- 
 tiently suffering  for  well  doing,  after  the  example  of 
 Christ. 
 
 26.  Is.  10.  8.  Luke  IC.  IT, 
 
 1  M.  I  Tim, 
 I.  5    lU-l. 
 in.  1.  c\\.  1 
 17.  &  3.  S. 
 U  1.  8. 
 
 2  Pet.  I.  7. 
 
 tt  1.  7,?l. 
 rf  Jolin  1,13 
 
 St  3  5, 
 
 Jam.  I,   IS. 
 
 I  Joliti  ll.ii. 
 
 I  Or,  F<.r 
 
 thai. 
 /!'«.  1M.15. 
 
 Is>.  40.  i;.  & 
 
 &I.IS,  Jttm. 
 
 ff  Pr.  10-3,1?, 
 \  John  I.  I,  U,  I  John  1,  I,  S. 
 
 A.D.  cir.tiO. 
 
 t  Eae.  20.  IS. 
 
 Ch.  *.  3 
 t  Acts  :;0.23. 
 
 Kph.  I    7. 
 
 Heb.  9.  1*, 
 
 14.  Kev5  y. 
 >i  Ex.  \2.  5. 
 
 Is.  53.  7. 
 
 Jolin  I.  89, 
 
 .SB    I  Cur. 
 
 5  7- 
 X  Htin  3.?5. 
 
 Kpii..s'i,n. 
 
 Col, 
 
 2(>. 
 
 Tim,  l.fl, 
 
 10.  Tit     I. 
 
 a,  3,  Kcv. 
 
 IS.  S. 
 •;  Gal.  -I,  4. 
 
 Kph.  I.  10. 
 
 H«h,  J.  2.  & 
 
 9.  2ti. 
 I  Arls  2,21 
 a  Mat  28.18. 
 
 Acts  2.  33. 
 
 &  .1.  13. 
 
 Kph    I    90, 
 
 Phil    2   9, 
 
 Heb,  2   y. 
 
 ch,  .t   2.'. 
 
 A.n. . 
 
 s  15.  g. 
 
 1,  12  9, 
 Tilt 
 
 '.  Kph.  1,22, 
 2ft,  31.  Col. 
 3.  S.  Heb. 
 12,  I.  .Iain, 
 I.  2l.«c6.9, 
 oh.  +.  2, 
 
 ti  M.it.  18.  S. 
 Mark  10,15. 
 Roin    6,  \. 
 
 1  Cop,  it. 
 
 20.  ch.  1.23. 
 c  I   C"!-.  3.S. 
 
 Hfb.  5.  IS, 
 13. 
 d  Ps-  31,  8. 
 
 Heb.  6  5. 
 e  Vs.  1 18,  S2. 
 
 Mat   2 1, +2. 
 
 Acts-1  II. 
 /Kph.  2.21, 
 
 22 
 iJ  Or.  br  t/ff 
 
 built. 
 e  Heb    S.  6. 
 A  Ifl.  61,  (i. 
 
 &66,  2[, 
 
 vcr,  9. 
 t  Hoa.  14.  2. 
 
 Mai.  I.  11. 
 
 Horn.  12,  I. 
 
 Heb.  IS.  15, 
 
 111. 
 k  Phil.  \  13. 
 
 ch,  4.  II. 
 /  Is,  2d.  16 
 
 Rom,  9. ;«. 
 11  Or.  B« 
 
 mV*.  118  22. 
 
 Rlttt  21.12. 
 
 Acts  4.  II. 
 n  Is.  S.  I ). 
 
 T.tike  2   :'4 
 
 Rom.  P.  S3. 
 0  I  Cor.  I  23. 
 p  tx.  9,  16. 
 
 Koin.  9  22. 
 
 1  Tlies.  5.9. 
 
 Ju.le  1. 
 7  Pent.  10. 
 
 "       '      1.2. 
 
 I.  PETER.  II.  Christ  is  the  foundation, 
 
 WHEREFORE  Maying  aside   ail   malice, 
 ^^    and  all  guile,  and  hypocrisies,  and  envies, 
 and  all  evil  speakings, 
 
 2  ^  As  newborn  babes,  desire  the  sincere 
 ^  milk  of  the  word,  that  ye  may  grow  thereby  : 
 
 3  If  so  be  ye  have  '*  tasted  that  the  Lord  is 
 gracious. 
 
 4  To  whom  coming,  as  unto  a  living  stone, 
 ^disallowed  indeed  of  men,  but  chosen  of  God. 
 and  precious, 
 
 5  ^  Ye  also,  as  lively  stones,  ||  are  built  up 
 ^a  spn-itnal  house,  "an  holy  priesthood,  to 
 offer  up  'spiritual  sacrifices,  ''acceptable  to 
 God  by  Jesus  Christ, 
 
 6  Wherefore  also  it  is  contained  in  the  scrip- 
 ture, '  Behold,  I  lay  in  Sion  a  cliief  corner 
 stone,  elect,  precious :  and  he  that  believeth 
 on  him  shall  not  be  confounded. 
 
 7  Unto  you  therefore  which  believe  he  is 
 II  precious :  but  unto  them  whicli  be  disobe- 
 dient, ""  the  stone  which  the  builders  disallow- 
 ed, the  same  is  made  the  head  of  the  corner, 
 
 8  "  And  a  stone  of  stumbling,  and  a  rock  of 
 offence.  '^  even  to  them  which  stumble  at  the 
 word,  being  disobedient :  ''  whercunto  alsi>  tlioy 
 were  appointed. 
 
 9  But  ye  are  '^  a  chosen  generation,  '  a  royal 
 priesthood,  "an  holy  nation,  *  ||  a  peculiar  peo- 
 ple ;  that  ye  should  shew  forth  the  ||  praises  of 
 him  who  hath  called  you  out  of  "  darkness  into 
 his  marvellous  light : 
 
 r  v.*.  I!).  .^.6.  ° 
 
 Kev.  1.6.  fe  5.  10.     J  John  17.  19.  1  Cor.  3.  17.  S  Tim.  1.  9,  /  Deu.  4.  20,  n  7.  B. 
 
 t*  M.  2.  &  26.  18,  19.  Act«  20.  2H,  Eph.  I.  14.  Tit.  2.  II.  ||  Or,  a  purchated  pfnple. 
 
 il  Or,  virhift.        -J  Acts  2U.  19.  Kph.  5.  S.    Col.  I    l3.    I  The.i.  5.4,  5. 
 
 the  enemy.'— Pfli-.  The  allusion  is  to  the  redemption  of  the  people  of 
 Israel,  and  of  the  firstborn,  by  shekels,  (Exod.  x.x.x.  12,  13;  Num.  iii. 
 4fi — ^8.)  Vain  conveisation  received,  fyc,  probably  means,  the  tradi- 
 tion of  the  elders,  which  our  Lord  inveighs  against,  fMatt.  xv.  3,  Sec.,) 
 and  the  apostle  Paul  was  brought  up  in,  and  zealous  of,  before  con- 
 version, {Gal.  i.  14,)  as  the  Pharisees  were— Gi7/.  To  which  we  may 
 add  all  the  corrupt  and  sinful  customs  of  their  lives.  19.  As  of  a 
 Inmb  u-ithnut  ftlemish—Q\\r\%\  is  that  preat  and  everlasting  sacrifice  that 
 gave  value  and  virtue  to  all  the  sacrifices  under  the  law;  their  blood 
 was  of  no  worth  to  the  purging  away  of  sin  but  by  relation  to  his 
 blood,  and  the  laws  concerning  the  choice  of  the  paschal  lamb,  or  other 
 lambs  for  sacrifice,  were  but  obscure  and  imperfect  shadows  of  His 
 purity  and  perfections  who  is  the  nndefiled  Lamb  of  Go<\.—Le\ghton. 
 The  Jews  have  a  notion  that  the  rcfiemption  vf  the  Israelites  out  of 
 Egypt,  when  a  Iamb  without  blemish  was  taken  and  sacrificed,  and 
 eaten,  had  a  respect  to  the  redemption  tf  the  Messiah.  20.  Fore- 
 ordainpd,  this  includes  the  choice  of  Christ  as  the  head  of  the  election, 
 and  the  pre-ordination  of  his  human  nature  to  the  grace  of  union  to 
 his  Divine  person,  and  the  pre-appointment  of  him  to  various  things. 
 The  allusion  is  to  the  taking  of  the  passnver  lamb  Jrom  the  sheep,  or 
 from  the  goats,  and  keeping  it  separate,  from  the  tenth  to  the  four- 
 teenth day  of  the  month,  before  it  was  slain.— Gt//,  21,  Bv  him, 
 'through  him,' or  through  his  gospel.  Might  be  in  God,  founded  on 
 his  power  and  veracity,— .l/rjfAvi.  -22.  Seeing,  ^c— the  apostle  now 
 changes  the  subject  to  brotherly  love.— Gi7/,  IV  have  purijied.  ^-c, 
 •  since  ye  have  been  enabled  to  mortify  and  subdue  those  corruptions 
 which  formerly  defiled  your  souls,  and  to  become  holy  in  heart  and 
 life  by  the  obedience  of  faith,'  8ic.—  Gui/se.  23.  Not  of  corruptible 
 seed,  '  not  laying  the  stress  of  your  confidence  on  your  pedigree  from 
 Abraham.'— Dorfrfr,  By  the  teord,  t^m  \o-fou  ifun-ro?  Ocoi/,  '  by  the  dec- 
 trine  of  the  living  God,*  which  shall  never  change.  —  .4.  Clarke. 
 24.  For   all  flesh,  ^c— see  Isa.  xl.  6—8.  25.  The    word,   to    pn/ia. 
 
 '  what  is  spoken'  by  the  gospel  preached  unto  you.— .4.  Clnr/c. 
 
 Chap.  II.  — 2.  As  newborn  babes—the  Jewish  doctors  called  new 
 proselytes  '  little  children,'  and  '  new-born  babes.'  The  apostle  Peter 
 gave  the  Christians  at  Pontus  the  latter  appellation,  perhaps,  because 
 many  of  them  were  but  newly  converted.  The  sincere  milk  of  the 
 word,  TO  Xo'fiKov,  aboXov  7J^.l,  '  the  unadulterated  Tr\\\V..*—Mark}\ight. 
 •The  pure  doctrines  of  the  gospel,'  as  delivered  in  the  epistles  and  the 
 gospels.  Grow  thereby,  unto  salvation.— /I.  Clarke.  To  the  proper 
 stature  and  stiength  of  the  children  of  (.iod.SIuckn.  When  holiness 
 increases,  when  the  sanctifying  graces  of  the  Spirit  grow  stronger  in 
 
 the  soul,  and  consequently  act  more  strongly  in  the  life  of  a  Christian, 
 then  he  grows  spiritually. — Leightnn.  3.  Tasted— this  seems  to  lefer 
 to  Ps.  xxxiv.  8  ;  and  there  is  still  a  reference  to  the  sucking  cliild,  that, 
 having  once  tasted  its  mother's  milk,  ever  after  desires  ami  lon:?s  for 
 it. — A.  Clnrke.  4.  Living  stone— \\evi:  Hi.  Peter  had  his  eye  on  Isa. 
 xxviii,  16.  The  apostle  here  terms  the  Lord  C'hri^:it  'a  living  >tonc,'  to 
 shew  th^t  the  temple  of  which  he  is  the  foimdation  is  built  of  living 
 men,  and  represents  their  entering  into  the  Christian  church  by  their 
 coming  to  this  living  stone,  to  be  built  thereon  as  livmg  stones.  Dis- 
 allowed,  'rejected.'  The  person  spoken  of  Ps.  cxviii.  •<J2,  23.  Christ 
 applied  this  to  himself.  (Matt,  xxi.  42.)  Precious,  evTcfiov,  '  hnnour- 
 aiiic,'  howsoever  despised  and  rejected  hymen. — A.  Clarke.  5.  House 
 — oiK.jt  often  signifies,  as  here,  '  a  temple,'  [see  1  Tim.  in.  16,  and  Eph. 
 ii.  21.) — Mackn.  By  a  tigure  of  speech,  the  house  itself,  or  mateiial 
 building,  is  put  for  the  household  or  family  which  occupies  it,  the  con- 
 tainer being  put  for  the  contained. — A.  Clnrke.  An  holy  prieathoud, 
 ttp.iTtr/ia,  properly,  is  'a  college  or  company  of  priests.'— jl/rtf/rnif  A/. 
 7.  He  is  precious, '  it,'  the  stone. — Doddr.  'Yftiv  ot-i'  h  ri^'i  toic  wtaTCv- 
 ovaiv,  'the  honour  is  to  you  who  believe,'  i.  c.,  the  honour  of  being  in 
 this  building,— .4.  Clarke,  so  the  St/r.  '  Whosoever  builds  upon  this 
 stone  shall  not  be  put  to  shame;  now,  to  you  who  believe  is  this 
 honour  granted.'— S/eig^er,  sn  Mackn.  '  Vobis  igitur  honor,*  '  to  you 
 therefore  that  believe  he  is  honour,'  Vulg.  ['Vobis  est  (lapis)  bono- 
 rificiis,*  or,  a.s  others,  'preciosus.* — Valln  ;  so  also  Lw^A.,  Cnlv.,Vat.., 
 Grot.,  Bengel.,  Rtc]  Numerous  critics  favour  the  sense  of  our  trans- 
 lators, •  to  you  the  stone  is  preciou';,'  but  the  rendering  of  Clnrke  and 
 S/ifig'pr  are  very  natural,— Erf.  But  unto  them  which  be  disobedient, 
 the  stone,  ffc,  '  hut  to  the  disobedient'  is  the  dishonour  written,  (Ps. 
 cxviii.  22.)  'The  stone,'  A:c. — Mackn.  s.  .■ippointed,  to  which  de- 
 struction, not  to  their  sin,  the  righteous  God  appointed  them. — B'l.r., 
 DntK  9.  .4  chosen  generation,  choosing,  here,  is  the  work  nf  eflfectual 
 calling,  or  severing  of  believers  from  the  rest,  for  it  signifies  a  differ- 
 ence in  their  present  estate,  as  do  likewise  the  other  words  joined  with 
 it.  Hut  this  election  is  altogether  conformable  to  that  of  God's  eternal 
 decree,  and  is  no  other  but  the  execution  or  performance  of  it. — 
 Leighton.  A  roynl  priesthood,  'a  dignified  kingdom  of  priests,'  who 
 are  all  designed  to  reign  with  Christ;  and  all  may  have  access  to  God. — 
 Bn.r.  An  holy  nation,  the  allusion  is  throughnut  to  the  people  of  Israel 
 in  general,  who,  in  the  external  way,  were  all  that  is  here  said,  but 
 was  only  true,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  of  such  as  were  chosen  and  c;i!leil 
 among  the  Jews,  (see  Exod.  xix.  5.  fi.) — Gill.  A  peculiar  penple,  Aooc 
 CK  neftmoinaiv,  '  a  purchased  people.'    nb^Di  a  private  property  belong- 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  I.  Admire  the  beauty  of  the 
 dispensation  of  grace:  the  harmony  which  there  is  in  iheelec- 
 tion  of  the  Father,  the  redemption  of  the  Son,  and  the  sanc- 
 tifiration  of  the  Spirit,  in  order  to  ohedience  here,  and  Rlory 
 hereafter!  Are  wo  anxious  to  know  our  election  of  God? 
 God  never  separates  the  means  from  the  end;  and  if  he  has 
 chosen  any  to  salvation,  it  is  in  connexion  with  the  applica- 
 tion of  the  atoning  blood  of  Christ  to  the  conscience,  and  the 
 work  of  the  Spirit  on  the  heart,  sanctifyinj;  us  so  as  to  secure 
 our  sincere  and  humble  obedience  to  the  Divine  will. 
 
 II.  Admire  fhenbundant  mercy  and  grace  ot'God  totcards  believers, 
 1320  ^         ^ 
 
 begotten  to  a  lively  and  assured  hope  of  an  inheritance  incor- 
 ruptible, undefiled,  and  unfading,  reserved  for  them  in  heaven, 
 ()  let  them  ever  keep  it  in  view,  :uid  earnestly  pray  to  be  kept 
 by  the  power  of  God  through  faiih  to  the  enjoyment  of  it ! 
 
 III.  Admire  the  sure  foundation  fnr  our  faith  and  hnpe  u-hich 
 we  have  in  thr  f,ospil.  How  perisliing  soever  earthly  things 
 may  be,  and  how  precarious  soever  all  human  dependencies, 
 the  word  of  God,  by  wliich  believers,  througli  his  Spirit,  are 
 regenerated,  ahidnih  for  ever.  This  is  the  incorrupiible 
 seed  sown  in  the  heart,  which  springs  up  and  yields  a  har- 
 vest of  spiritual  fruit.  '• 
 
Obedience  to  mae/istrates. 
 
 1.  PETER,  in. 
 
 The  duti/  of  wives  and  husbands. 
 
 10  '  Which  ill  tiini?  past  leerc  not  a  people, 
 but  (lie  now  tlie  people  of  Goil  :  which  liail 
 not  obtained  mercy,  but  now  have  obtaiiieil 
 mercy. 
 
 1 1  Dearlybeloved,  I  beseech  _(/oM  "as  strangers 
 and  pilgrims,  ^  abstain  from  fleshly  lusts, "  which 
 war  against  the  soul ; 
 
 I "2  '■  Having  your  conversation  honest  among 
 the  Gentiles :  that,  ||  whereas  tney  speak 
 against  you  as  evildoers,  '  they  may  by  jiour 
 good  works,  whicli  they  shall  behold,  glorify 
 Uod  ''  in  the  day  of  visitation. 
 
 1.')  "Submit  yourselves  to  every  ordinance  of 
 man  for  the  Lord's  sake  :  whether  it  be  to  the 
 king,  as  supreme  ; 
 
 M  Or  unto  governors,  as  unto  them  that  are 
 sent  by  him  '  for  the  punishment  of  evildoers, 
 and  ^  for  the  praise  of  them  that  do  well. 
 
 1.5  For  so  is  tlie  will  of  God,  that  ''  with  well 
 doing  ye  may  put  to  silence  t!ie  ignorance  of 
 foolish  men  : 
 
 IG  '  As  free,  and  not  f  using  ynin-  liberty  for 
 a  cloke  of  maliciousness,  but  as  ''  the  servants 
 of  God. 
 
 17  '  II  Honour  all  meti.  "'  Love  the  brother- 
 hood.    "  Fear  God.     Honour  the  king. 
 
 18  "  Servants,  be  subject  to  your  masters  with 
 all  fear ;  not  only  to  the  good  and  gentle,  but 
 also  to  the  froward. 
 
 19  For  this  ;'*■  ||  ''thankworthy,  if  a  man  for 
 conscience  toward  God  endure  grief,  suffernig 
 wrongfully. 
 
 20  For  ''  what  glory  /.<  it,  if,  ulien  ye  be  buf- 
 feted for  your  faults,  ye  shall  take  it  patiently? 
 but  if,  when  ye  do  well,  and  suffer /o;-  it,  ye 
 take  it  patiently,  this  is  ||  acceptable  with 
 God. 
 
 •11   For  '  even  hereunto  were  ye  called:  be- 
 
 A.D.  otr.  CO. 
 
 A.D.  cir.  60 
 
 X  nos  1  9. 
 
 f  rh    3.  18- 
 
 10.  Si  •>   t\ 
 
 h  ^^oni'-  remi, 
 
 Hoin.  8-  25. 
 
 /.Ioirn"l3.l5. 
 
 PliLI.  a.  5. 
 
 y  1  Clir.  '2M. 
 
 I  Juhn  i.  6. 
 
 \b.  Pn    3<i. 
 
 "  Is.  .S3   9. 
 
 la.  &  119. 
 
 l-uke?3  11. 
 
 •9    HL-b.  II. 
 
 Jiihii  S.  4<>. 
 
 I.i.  di    1.  17, 
 
 2Cor   5-il. 
 
 :Hwm.l:l  11. 
 
 H«b    1.  15. 
 
 Gul.  5.  le. 
 
 X  Is.  53    7. 
 
 1  Jam.  4    1 
 
 .M^t-  27.31. 
 
 AK-nn.lJ.lT. 
 
 .lohi.  -S.  4^ 
 
 2  Cor.  S  -J  1 . 
 
 \'i    fk-b  12, 
 
 I'liil    i   15. 
 
 :'.. 
 
 Tit.  2   8. 
 
 V  Luke  23. 
 
 ch.  3.  IG, 
 
 lli. 
 
 ||()r,ur;,-T*';-,. 
 
 li  Or,  c«m- 
 
 c  Milt.  5.  IG 
 
 '•utlM  his 
 
 d  Luke  19. 
 
 M. 
 
 /is.  5.3.  4, 
 
 e  -Mat.2?.  ?l. 
 
 »,  6,  II. 
 
 Kom.  13.  1. 
 
 M.it    8.  17. 
 
 TiL.  A.  \. 
 
 H..-b.  9.  2« 
 
 /Rom.  13.1. 
 
 :l  Or,  /.-. 
 .(  Rom.  6.  2. 
 
 a  K.im.  13.3. 
 
 tl.  fe  7.  G 
 b  Is.  ^H.  5 
 
 h    Tit.  1.  3. 
 
 -■  Is.  53    6. 
 
 xer    I-.'. 
 
 E/ek.  34.6. 
 
 .(  Kze.3l..3. 
 
 *  37,  24 
 
 Jnhll    llMl. 
 
 '  (iil.r,  1.13 
 
 11,  lii.Hr-b. 
 
 t     l.ir     llrllli,,ff. 
 
 13.  2U.  cli. 
 
 k  I  V.ot.T.-Z-i. 
 
 5.  4. 
 
 I  Hrtm. 12.10. 
 
 Phil.  •>   3. 
 
 n  1  Cor.  14.34 
 
 Oi.E  ('•em. 
 
 Eph.  5.  22. 
 
 ■n  Heb   l-'l.i. 
 
 C.l.  3    18. 
 
 eh     1,  «■» 
 
 Tit.  2.  ■>. 
 
 n  Pn).2l-.'JI 
 
 I>  1  C.Ji-,7.1ii. 
 
 M.it.  2?  -*l. 
 
 (  Mat.  IS.I.. 
 
 Itnm     IS  7. 
 
 1  C,.r.  9.  ly 
 
 .    Kpli.  fi.  .5 
 
 CiI.  3.  32. 
 
 '/oil.  2.  12. 
 
 1  Tim.  ii.l. 
 
 <■  1  Tim.  2.9. 
 
 Til.  ■-'.  9. 
 
 Tit-2.3,8(c 
 
 1  f)r.  thHiih. 
 
 /I's.  ir>,  13. 
 
 l.iike  6.  -Ai. 
 
 R...o,2.  29 
 
 ver.  2(P. 
 
 ti.  7.  22. 
 
 .  Mat    5.10. 
 
 2  Cor.  4   16. 
 
 K..m    1.3.5. 
 
 Cli.  3     U 
 
 7  I'll    3.  1* 
 
 «;  I    M,  15. 
 
 1  Or,  tli.vih 
 
 T  aiat.  lfi.2-1. 
 
 Acts  14.  23. 
 
 1  Tl.es.3  J. 
 
 2  rim.3.12. 
 
 I  cause  "  Chri-st  also  .suffered  ||  for  us,  *  leaving  us 
 an  exainpk',  tliat  ye  should  lolluvv  his  steps. : 
 
 22  ''  Wlio  did  no  sin,  neither  was  guile  found 
 in  his  mouth  : 
 
 23  ^  Who,  when  be  was  revilei],  reviled  not 
 again;  wlien  lie  suffered,  he  threatened  not; 
 hut  ''  II  committed  liimself  to  him  that  judgetli 
 righteously  ; 
 
 24  ^  Who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  his 
 own  body  ||  on  the  tree,  ''  that  we,  being  dead 
 to  sins,  should  live  unto  righteousness:  ''by 
 whose  stripes  ye  were  healed. 
 
 25  For  '^  ye  were  as  sheep  going  astray  ;  but 
 are  now  returned  ''unto  the  Shepherd  and 
 Bishop  of  your  souls. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 I  H  teacheth  the  duty  of  wives  and  husbands  to  each 
 Other,  S  exhorti/tf/  all  7nfn  to  unifi/  and  love,  14  and 
 to  sufftr  persrcu'tinn.  19  f/e  dcrhiefh  also  the  bene- 
 Jits  of  Christ  toward  the  old  icorld. 
 
 T  IKEWISE,  °  ye  wives,  be  in  subjection  to 
 -^  your  own  husbands;  tiiat,  if  any  obey  not 
 the  word,  ^  tliey  also  may  without  the  word 
 be  won  by  tlie  conversation  of  tlie  wives  ; 
 
 2  '^  While  they  behold  your  chaste  conversa 
 tion  coupled  with  fear. 
 
 3  '^  Whose  adorning  let  it  not  be  that  outward 
 ndorniug  of  plaiting  the  hair,  and  of  wearing 
 of  gold,  or  of  putting  on  of  apparel  ; 
 
 4  But  Iff.  it  be  ^  the  hidden  man  of  the  heart, 
 in  that  which  is  not  corruptible,  even  the  orna- 
 ment of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in 
 the  sight  of  God  of  great  price. 
 
 For  after  this  mnnner  in  the  old  time  the 
 holy  women  also,  who  trusted  in  God,  adorned 
 themselves,  being  in  subjection  unto  their  own 
 husbands ; 
 
 ing  to  God  Almi?htj','  fDeut.  vii.  6.)— J.  Clarke.  Durkness,  of  the 
 former  (lispeiisation  ;  and  in  wliich  tlie  Jews  p.irticularly  were  respect- 
 ing tlie  coming  of  Christ,  &c.  Light,  of  the  gospel  and  Spirit.  10.  Not 
 a  people,  *  not  formed  hy  God  fur  himself  and  his  praise,  n^r  Christ's 
 willing  pe  'ple  ;  nor  truly  known  tu  others  as  the  people  of  God.* — GUI. 
 il.  An  stranis'-rs  and  pilgrims,  'sojourners  and  travellers.' — I\Inck/i. 
 '  Consider  that  yuur  citizenship  is  in  another  world,  and  in  this  you 
 are  but  passengv-rs  :  do  not,  therefore,  gratify  those  sensual  appetites 
 which  aim  at  present  enjoyments,  and  are  opp  >site  to  those  desires  of 
 the  soul  tliat  place  and  seek  their  true  happiness  in  heaven. —Stuni'iope. 
 Flesh/i/  lusts,  include  not  only  sensual  propensities,  but  covetousntss, 
 pride,  envy,  and  other  aspiring  and  mali^cnant  passion-*,  (sci;  Gal.  v. 
 19 — 21) — T.Sciitt.  \'l.  Cuiit'ersatiiin  tiunt-st,    'behaviour  comely.' 
 
 apeak  asainst  you  its  evildoers — the  heathens  spread  many  calumnies 
 concerning  the  Christians. — Mrtckn.  Day  of  visitation,  'when  tliey 
 persecute  you.* — Whitby,  so  Pv/e,  and  3IuckH.  '  In  the  day  of  [theirj 
 visitation;'  tlie  season  when  the  gospel  is  preached  among  them. — 
 Doddr,  13.  Suhinit—\\\e  Jews  still  retained  their  prejudices  that  they, 
 as  the  peculiar  people  of  God,  could  not  be  bound  in  conscience  to  obey 
 any  foreign  jurisdiction,  exercised  Ly  heathens  and  iUolators,  such  as 
 the  Romans,  their  then  conquerors,  were. — Stanh.  Eoery  ordinance, 
 *  every  human  constitution'  of  government. — Doddr.  *  Every  human 
 creation  of  magistrates.*  The  zealots  maintained  that  obedience  was 
 due  to  no  matristrates  but  to  those  who  were  appointed  by  God,  as  the 
 Jewish  kings  had  been. — Muckn.  God  hath,  uideed,  been  more  express 
 in  the  officers  and  government  of  his  own  house,  his  church  ;  but  civil 
 societies  he  hath  left  at  liberty  in  the  choosing  and  modelling  of  civil 
 government. — Lci^httni.  For  tlie  Lord'' s  sake,  '  that  ye  may  not  bring 
 any  reflection  upon  the  religion  of  Christ.' — Doddr.  15.  Put  to  si- 
 /cMz-e,  0(uui'v,  proi)erly  sig:nifies,  to  muzzle  a  beast,  to  hinder  it  from 
 eating  or  from  bituig,  (I  Tim.  v.  18.)  l6.  As  free,  '  live  as  freemen.' 
 
 The  Jews  boasted  of  having  been  at  all  times  freemen,  governed  by 
 their  own  laws,  (John,  viii.  33.)  Peter  here  exhorts  them  to  maintain 
 their  fi'cedom  from  complying  with  the  established  idolatry. — Mackn. 
 
 Fur  a  c/mA-^— many  of  the  Jews  rebelled  against  the  Romans,  and 
 against  the  governors  sent  by  them,  upon  this  very  pretence,  that  they 
 were  a  free  people,  and  ought  to  jireserve  their  liberty.  And  thus  tliey 
 used  their  liberty  for  a  chike  of  maliciousness. —  Whithy.  Bmt/itrhood, 
 'your  believing  bretlnen.*  —  Guy.se.  \8.  Froward,   cKoXioit,   'the 
 
 crooked,  perverse,  unreasonable,  morose,  and  au.stere.'  —  A.Clarke. 
 19.  Thankworthy,  graceful,  and  deserves  applause. — Doddr.  'An  ac- 
 ceptable thing.' — iViickn.  20.  For  what  glory?  'but  what  praise?' 
 The  word  k\€ov  properly  signifies  'renown;'  "here  it  is  put  for  that 
 praise  wliich  follows  great  and  noble  deeds,  and  which  is  the  spring  of 
 renown.  21.  Leaving  us  an  example,  viTO'^pa,inov,  signifies  such  a 
 pattern  as  painters  and  writingmasters  place  before  their  scholars  to  be 
 imitated.— Bes'f.  The  word  import.s,  he  left  his  footsteps  as  a  copy  to 
 be  followed. — Leighfon.  24.  Bare  our  sins,   an  allusion  to  Isaiah, 
 
 liii.  12.  Avny^intv, '  he  bare  our  sins,'  i.  e.,  as  a  heavy  hmAen.—Lfighfon. 
 Dead  to  si/us,  uTTOfevoint/oi,  '  freed  from  sins.' — Mackn.,  as  Beza,  and 
 Schmidius.  'From  their  dominion.' — Beza,  Schm.  'From  their  pu- 
 nishment, as  well  as  power.' — Mackn. 
 
 CH.A.P.  III.  —  1.  Ye  wit'es—comp.  Ephes.  v.  22.  If  any  obey  not,  ^c. 
 —that  the  husbands  who  are  not  converted  to  Christianity  by  the  gospel 
 preached  to  them,  may,  by  the  amiable  behaviour  of  their  wives,  wliicb 
 they  are  taught  by  Christianity,  be,  without  any  more  preachuig, 
 wroit^ht  on,  and  converted  to  the  faith.— H«m.  2.  Fear,  reverence 
 
 of  their  husbands— fear  of  God. —  Gill.  3.  That  outward  adorning  of 
 
 plaiting  the  hiiir,  Sfc. — this  was  the  most  ancient  and  most  simple  mode 
 of  disposing  of  tliis  chief  oniament  of  the  female  head.  It  was  prac- 
 tised  anciently  m  every  part  of  the  east ;  and  is  so  to  the  present  day 
 in  India,  China,  and  also  in  iiarliary.  It  was  also  prevalent  among  tht 
 Greeks  and  Romans.  Thin  plates  of  gold  were  often  mi  .ed  with  the 
 hair,  to  make  it  appear  more  ornamental  by  the  reflection  of  light  and 
 of  the  solar  rays.  Small  golden  buckles  were  also  used  in  diftereat 
 parts :  and  among  the  Roman  ladies,  pearls  and  precious  stones  of  dif- 
 ferent  colours. — .-1.  Clarke.  This  is  not  to  be  interpreted  as  absolutely 
 prohibiting  the  ornaments  of  dress,  but  only  the  making  these  thhig 
 
 Reflections  on  Cii.\p.  II.  —  Observe  here,  I.  The  sim- 
 pli.:jty  ivit/t  which  ice  should  receive  the  po'^pcL  God's  truth 
 should  he  the  delisht  and  noLirishmeut  of  our  souls,  as  the 
 milk  of  the  mother's  breast  is  of  llie  new-boru  infant;  and  we 
 give  the  best  proof  that  it  is  so  when  we  '  grow  in  grace  and 
 in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  S.iviour  Jesus  Christ.' 
 With  implicit  confidence  we  should  rest  upon  our  living 
 Foundation,  on  which,  as  'living  stones,'  we  are  built  up  to- 
 gether ;  here,  whatever  may  happen,  we  shall  be  safe  and  un- 
 shaken. Our  estimation  of  Christ  will  shew  what  reliance 
 we  have  on  him;  for  while  he  is  little  thought  of  by  the 
 1321 
 
 world,  and  altog^'ther  rejected,  unto  them  which  believe  '  he 
 is  precious.'     Ohserve — 
 
 II.  7V/('  mannrr  in  which  we  should  conduit  oursdves  in  the 
 world.  Counting  ourselves  '  pilgrims  and  strangers,'  and  re- 
 sisting those  'fleshly  lusts' which  'are  the  enemies  to  the 
 spiritual  peace,  comfort,  and  welfare  of  llie  soul;'  and,  in  all 
 our  social  and  civil  duties,  following  after  peace,  endeavouring; 
 to  set  tlie  Lord  Christ  always  before  us,  as  a  pattern  which 
 we  are  required  carefully  to  study,  and  as  closely  as  possible 
 to  copy. 
 
 8  F 
 
An  exhortation  to  unity  and  love. 
 
 I.  PETER,  Iir.       Thehenejits  of  Christ  toward  the  old  icorld^ 
 
 6  Even  as  Sara  obeyed  Abraham,  ^calling  him 
 lord  :  whose  fdaughters  ye  are,  as  long  as  ye  do 
 well,  and  are  not  afraid  with  any  amazement. 
 
 7  '^  Likewise,  ye  hnsbands,  dwell  with  thrm 
 according  to  knowledge,  giving  honour  unto 
 the  wife,  'as  unto  the  weaker  vessel,  and  as 
 being  heirs  together  of  the  grace  of  life  ;  ^  that 
 your  prayers  be  not  hindered. 
 
 8  Finally, '  he  yv  all  of  one  mind,  having  com- 
 passion one  of  another,  *"  ||  love  as  brethren, 
 "Ae  pitiful,  he  courteous: 
 
 9  °  Not  rendering  evil  for  evil,  or  railing  for 
 railing:  but  contrariwise  blessing;  knowing 
 that  ye  are  thereunto  called,  ''that  ye  should 
 inherit  a  blessing. 
 
 10  For  ""he  that  will  love  life,  and  see  good 
 days,  ""  let  him  refrain  lils  tongue  from  evil, 
 and  his  lips  thnt  they  speak  no  guile  : 
 
 1 1  Let  him  ^  eschew  evil,  and  do  good  ;  *  let 
 him  seek  peace,  and  ensue  it. 
 
 12  For  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  ate  over  the 
 righteous,  and  his  ears  are  open  unto  their 
 prayers  :  but  the  face  of  the  Lord  is  f  against 
 them  that  do  evil, 
 
 13  "^  And  who  is  he  that  will  harm  you,  if  ye 
 be  followers  of  that  which  is  good  ? 
 
 14  ■  But  and  if  ye  suffer  for  righteousness'] 
 
 Tob.  Ig.  7.  Rom.  8.28.    y  Mat.  5.10,  II,  1^.  ch  2.  19.  8e  \.  14 
 
 \g  Gen.lS.U'. 
 t  Gr    fAi7- 
 
 h  I  Cor  7.  3. 
 Eph,  5.  ib 
 Col.  3.  19. 
 
 I  I  Cor.  1 2.23. 
 1  Thes.  4  4. 
 
 t  See  Job  42. 
 8.  Mat. 5.23, 
 2*    H  13. ID. 
 
 I  Rom.  12. 
 16.  &  15.  5- 
 Phil.  3.  16. 
 
 )n  Rom.  I? 
 lU.  Heb.lS, 
 I.  ch.  2.17, 
 
 II  Or,  loving 
 to  the  bre- 
 
 n  C.l   3.  I?. 
 
 Kph.  +    3». 
 o  Prn,  17,13. 
 
 &  20.  22. 
 
 Mat.  b.  39. 
 
 Rom.  12  I+. 
 
 17.  IC^r.  + 
 
 12.  1  Thes. 
 
 p  Mat  '.'5.14 
 <]  P«.  »1.  \i, 
 
 rh    If    1 ,  2>. 
 
 Rev  14  5. 
 f  Ps    87.  27. 
 
 Is    I.  16,17 
 
 3  .r.>hn  1 1 
 (Rom. 12.18 
 
 ><.    II.  19. 
 
 Hob.  12.  14. 
 I.  John  9.  31 
 
 iixm.  5.  16. 
 f  Gr,  iijion. 
 X  Pro.  16.  7, 
 
 Jum.  I.  12. 
 
 i  Is  S.  I?,I3. 
 
 Jer.  I    3. 
 
 Jnho  14.  I, 
 
 27. 
 n  Ps.  I19.^e 
 
 Acts  4.  8 
 
 Col.  4.  6. 
 
 2  Tim.  2.25. 
 If  Or, 
 
 rtotrtiicf. 
 t  Heb.  (3.13 
 c  Tit.  2  8 
 
 ch.  2.  12, 
 
 d  Rom   5.6. 
 Heb.  9,  20, 
 2S.  v\\    2. 
 21.  &  4.  I. 
 
 «*?  Cor.l.i,4. 
 
 /Col.  I.  81, 
 
 .J  Kom.  1.  4. 
 
 ««  8,  11, 
 Ach.  I.  12. 
 
 «c  4.6. 
 Is.  42  7.  fc 
 
 49.  D.  &  61. 
 
 1 
 A  Gen,  6.  3, 
 
 S.  13. 
 (  Heb.  n.  7. 
 
 n  Gtfii.  7.  7. 
 
 &  8.  IS. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  5. 
 
 I  E[ih.5,  26. 
 
 «  Tit.  3,  .'.. 
 pRom.lO.lll. 
 
 7ch.  1.3. 
 
 sake,  happy  rtr^^ve;  and  '  be  not  afraid  of  their 
 terror,  neither  be  troubled  ; 
 
 15  But  sanctify  the  Lord  God  in  your  hearts  ■ 
 and  '^be  ready  always  to  fjive  an  answer  to 
 every  man  that  asketh  you  a  reason  of  the 
 hope  that  is  in  you  with  meekness  and  |j  fear: 
 
 16  ''Having  a  good  coiiscience ;  'that, 
 whereas  they  speak  evil  of  you,  as  of  evil- 
 doers, they  may  be  ashamed  that  falsely  ac- 
 cuse your  good  conversation  in  Christ. 
 
 17  For  it  is  better,  if  the  will  of  God  be  so, 
 that  ye  suffer  for  well  doing,  than  for  evil  doing. 
 
 18  For  Christ  also  hath  ^  once  suffered  for 
 sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might 
 bring  us  to  God,  '"being  put  to  death  'in  the 
 flesh,  hut  ''■quickened  by  the  Spirit: 
 
 19  By  which  also  he  went  and  ^preached 
 unto  the  spirits  '  in  prison  ; 
 
 20  Which  sometime  were  disobedient,  ^  when 
 once  the  longsuffering  of  God  waited  in  the 
 days  of  Noah,  while  '  tlie  ark  was  a  preparing, 
 "'  wherein  few,  that  is,  eight  souls  were  saved 
 by  water. 
 
 21  "  The  like  figure  whereunto  even  baptism 
 doth  also  now  save  us  (not  the  putting  away 
 of  "  the  filth  of  the  flesh,  ''  but  the  answer  of  a 
 good  conscience  toward  God,)  ''by  the  resur- 
 rection of  Jesns  Clirist : 
 
 our  chief  concern,  (comp.  John,  vi,  27,  with  l  Tim,  v.  H.]— Doddridge. 
 6.  And  are  nut  afraid,  ^r.,  that,  is,  are  not  moved  by  ynnr  fears  to  deny 
 the  truth,  as  she  was,  for  '  she  was  afraid,*  {Gen.  xviii,  15.)— U'A?//.?/, 
 '  Follow  her  example  in  well-doing,  but  not  in  those  weak  fears  to 
 which  she  yiehled,  and  was  drawn  into  inconvenience  and  dissimula- 
 tion,'—B/*.  Ha/l.  7.  According  to  knowledge,  according'  to  the  supe- 
 rior knowledge  which  religion  gives  of  these  duties.  Giving  /lotwur, 
 TfMnv— in  scripture,  the  word  is  used  for  '  maintenance,'  because  to  sup- 
 ply any  one  with  the  necessaries  and  conveniences  of  life  was  con- 
 sidered, in  ancient  times,  as  doing  him  honour.  Accordingly,  the 
 Greeks,  in  reward  for  eminent  services  done  to  the  community,  decreed 
 maintenance  at  the  public  expense  to  those  who  had  performed  these 
 services.  Wfnkcr  vrsset— the  Greek  word  <7«f uor  being  used  to  denote 
 the  human  body,  (i  Thess.  iv.  4.)  it  may  here  be  translated  '  body'  or 
 '  person.'  This  intimates,  that  as  much  relief  as  possible  from  bodily 
 labour  should  be  allowed  to  the  wife  ;  which  is  reasonable,  considering 
 the  many  bodily  troubles  women  are  subject  to,  in  the  breeding,  bear- 
 ing, and  nursinf?  of  children.  Grace  of  life,  'gift  of  life.'  That  i/onr 
 propers  be  not  hindered,  by  reason  of  family  quarrels.  —  i(/«c/r7*!,  as 
 Doddr.  10.  He  thnt  wiU  lore  life,  fyc,  by  these  virtues  the  comforts 
 of  life  will  be  secured,  [ver.  10,  11.)  the  favour  of  God  engaged,  and  the 
 malice  of  men  in  a  great  measure  disarmed,  {ver.  13  )— Doddridge. 
 J3.  Followers,  'imitators,*  Of  that  ichich  is  good,  rov  ayaOot>,  '  of  the 
 good  one:~MucfcH.  See  the  epithet.  Matt!  xix.  17.  ]4.  Jie  not 
 afraid  of  their  terror,  •  fear  neither  Jew  nor  Gentile,'— il/prf^,  '  Fear  no 
 tlireatenings  nor  dangers  from  persecutors.'— //«m.,  Gin/ae,  Mackn. 
 Neither  he  troubled,  as  they  are,  under  the  various  calamities  of  life, 
 who  are,  alas  !  utterly  destitute  nf  your  support.— Z>(*rfrfr,  15.  Siwc- 
 f'f^^  or  '  glorify ;'  for  this,  among  the  Hebrews,  is  one  of  the  ordinary 
 significations  of  the  word  'to  sanctify,'  (Lev.  x.  3;  Num,  xx.  12;  Deut, 
 xxxu.  51 ;  Ezek.  xxxviii.  23.)— Mar.  '  Keep  up  high  and  honotirable 
 thoughts  of  the  Lord  Jehovah,  with  a  holy  reverential  fear  of  him,  {Isa. 
 \iii.  12,  13,)  and  with  an  entire  trust  in  his  infinite  wisdom,  power, 
 mercy,  and  faithfulness,  for  your  security,  and  for  ordering  all  events 
 to  your  everlasting  honour  and  joy.'  To  gire  an  answer,  •  to  make 
 yourapologyfaTToXo^iaiO  byword  and  deed,  in  defence  of  your  Christian 
 faith  and  confidence,'— &'«//.•!*'.  \s.  For  Christ  also— suffered,  and  in 
 his  case  it  is  an  evidence  that  sufferings  are  no  e\idence  of  the  wicked- 
 ness of  the  sufferer,  nor  of  the  badness  of  his  cause.— .i/«c^.  Though 
 tliis  seems  a  digression,  yet  the  subject  is  properlv  connected  with  his 
 purpose  of  annnating  them  under  sufferings.— /Jorfrfr.  ig.  Preached 
 
 unto  the  spirits  in  prison,  by  the  power  of  which  Divine  Spirit  of  his, 
 long  before  his  manifestation  in  the  flesh,  he  came  to  the  old  world  ; 
 and  by  the  mouth  of  Noah,  that  '  preacher  of  righteousness,'  spake  to 
 them  whose  spirits  are  now  fast  prisoned  in  hell ;  which  were,  in  their 
 lifetime,  wicked  and  disobedient  to  his  holy  counsels,  when  the  patient 
 Inng-suffering  of  God  gave  a  large  respite  to  them  for  their  repentance 
 and  conversion,  even  all  the  while  that  the  ark  was  prejiaring  by  Noah. 
 —lip.  Hall,  so  Martin,  Seeker,  Pearson,  Henri/,  Gui/se.  Itnrfdr.,  Mackn., 
 Gill,  Scott,  Boothr.,  Bens.  In  other  words,  that  same  Spirit  which 
 raised  Christ  from  the  dead,  preached,  in  the  preaching  of  Noah,  to  the 
 spirits  now  in  hell  for  their  disobedience,  notwithstanding  God's  long- 
 suffering  during  the  whole  time  the  ark  was  in  preparation.  This  seems 
 the  clearest  meaning— £d.  Christ  preached,  or  rather  proclaimed, 
 his  kingdom  to  the  antediluvians  in  hades.— So  the  Ancients,  and  many 
 7nodern  Conun., so  Bloomf.  In  prison,  'in  safe  keeping.'  The  souls  in 
 custody  were  those  '  which  sometime  were  disobedient ;'  an  cxpres.sion 
 which  impUcs  that  they  were  recovered  from  that  disobetUence,  and, 
 before  their  death,  had  been  brought  to  repentance  and  faith  in  the  Re- 
 deemer to  come.  To  such  souls  Christ  went  and  preached :  but  cer- 
 1322 
 
 tainly  neither  repentance  nor  faith  ;  for  the  preaching  of  either  comes 
 too  late  for  the  departed  soul.  These  souls  had  believed  and  repented, 
 or  they  had  not  been  in  that  part  of  the  nether  regions  wliich  the  soul 
 of  the  Redeemer  visited.  Nor  was  the  end  of  his  preaching  any  libera- 
 tion of  them  from  purgatorial  pains,  of  which  the  Scriptures  know  no- 
 thing. But  if  he  went  to  proclaim  to  them  the  glad  tidings  that  he 
 had  actually  offered  the  sacrifice  of  their  redemption,  and  was  about  to 
 appear  before  the  Father  as  their  Intercessor,  in  the  merit  of  his  own 
 bUK)d,  this  was  a  preacliing  fit  to  be  addressed  to  departed  souls,  and 
 would  give  new  animation  and  assurance  to  their  hope  of  the  consura- 
 niation,  in  due  season,  of  their  hiiss.—Hars/ei/.  The  inhabitants  of  the 
 antediluvian  world,  having  been  disobedient,  and  convicted  of  the  most 
 llagraut  transgressions  against  God,  were  sentenced,  by  his  just  law, 
 to  destruction .  But  their  punishment  was  delayed,  to  see  if  they  would 
 repent ;  and  the  long-suffering  of  God  waited  one  hundred  and  twenty 
 years,  which  were  granted  to  them  for  this  purpose ;  during  which  time, 
 as  criminals  tried  and  convicted,  they  are  represented  as  criminals 
 being  in  prison,  detained  under  the  arrest  of  Divine  justice,  which 
 waited  either  for  their  repentance,  or  the  expiration  of  the  respite,  that 
 the  imnishnient  pronounced  might  be  iutUcted. — A.  Clarke.  Christ 
 lireached  to  the  li\-ing  by  his  ajiostles,  whose  spirits  were  imprisoued 
 in  their  bodies,  that  they  might  not  be  disobedient,  as  those  in  the  days 
 of  Noah  had  been,  when  all  but  eight  persons  perished  in  the  universal 
 deluge,  —  H'cAfon.  Christ  fulfilled  in  person,  and  afterwards  moro 
 amply  by  his  apostles,  that  prophecy  in  Isa.  Ixi.  1.  '  The  Spirit  upon 
 him,'  and  it  was  sent  from  him  on  his  aposUes,  to  preach  to  '  spirits  in 
 prison ;'  '  to  preach  liberty  to  those  captives,'  captive  spirits,  and  there- 
 fore called  '  spirits  in  prison,'  to  illustrate  the  thing  the  more,  by  oppo- 
 sition to  that  Spirit  of  Christ,  *  the  Spirit  of  liberty,*  setting  them  Iree  ; 
 and  this  to  shew  the  greater  efficacy  of  Christ's  preacliing  than  of 
 Noah's ;  though  he  was  a  signal  preacher  of  righteousness,  yet,  oidy 
 himself  and  his  family,  eight  persons,  were  saved  by  him  ;  but  multi- 
 tudes of  all  nations  by  the  Spirit  and  preachingof  Christ  in  the  gospel.— 
 Leighton.  Other  opinions  have  been  broached  on  thisditficult  passage. 
 Some  understand  it  of  souls  who  were  in  some  lower  place  in  paradise, 
 fc  tpwXaKi],  or  in  a  watch-tower,  where  they  were  waiting  the  Re- 
 deemer's'coming ;  others,  of  those  in  hell,  whom  he  dehvered  to  grace 
 his  triumph.— See  Dr.  Morels  Theo'og.  Works,  Pearson  on  Creed,  p.  2-28. 
 Understand  it  of  Noah's  preaching  to  his  own  family,  shut  up  with  him 
 in  the  ark. — Bp.  Barring  ton.  Understand  it  of  those  in  the  darkness 
 of  heathen  ignorance.  —  Whitby,  Burnet.  20.  Saved  by  tvater,  dt 
 v^ixTo^,  may  be  more  naturally  understood  to  mean  '  from,' or 'out  of,* 
 the  water,— GH^«e,  as  Pyle ;  or,  '  safely  conveyed  through  the  water.' 
 —Mackn.  21.  The  like  figure— i.  e,,  the  ark,  and  the  safety  of  those 
 which  were  in  it,  and  not  the  water,  prefigured  the  gospel  salvation  in 
 Christ,  as  signified  by  baptism, — Guyse.  Baptism  diith  also  711  >w  sane 
 us.  *  to  which  water,  the  antitype  baptism,  now  saveth  us  al.so,  through 
 the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ.'— 3/arAn.  The  water  of  baptism, 
 typifying  the  regenerating  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  is  the  means  of 
 salvation  to  all  those  who  receive  this  Holy  Spirit  in  its  quickening, 
 cleansing  efficacy,— .4.  Clarke.  Not  the  putting  away,  SfC,  as  if  he  had 
 said,  by  *  baptism  I  do  not  mean  merely,  or  chiefly,  the  sprinkluig  or 
 washing  of  the  body,  with  water,  from  its  filthiness,  which  is  only  the 
 outward,  or\isible,  sign  of  baptism;  but  the  inward  renewing  grace 
 of  God,  producing  the  "answer  of  a  good  conscience,"  or  a  divine 
 consciousness  that  both  our  persons  and  our  actions  are  accepted.' — 
 Bens.  By  the  resurrection,  'we  are  made  partakers  of  his  salvation, 
 and  thus'restipulate  to  God,  according  to  our  baptismal  engagements, 
 through  faith  in  the  resurrection  of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  as  he  was 
 delivered,'  &c, — Guyse. 
 
Peter  exhorteth 
 
 I.  PETER,  IV. 
 
 to  cease  from  sin. 
 
 22  Who  is  gone  into  heaven,  and  'is  on  the 
 right  liand  of  God;  'ano;els  and  authorities 
 and  powers  being  made  subject  unto  him. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  He  exhorteth  them  to  cpasefrom  sin  hy  the  example  of 
 Christ,  and  the  consideration  of  the  general  end  tliat 
 notv  approacheth  ■■  12  and  comfurteth  them  against 
 persecution. 
 
 "PORASMUCH  then  °  as  Christ  bath  suf- 
 ■^  fered  for  us  in  the  flesh,  arm  yourselves 
 likewise  with  the  same  mind:  for  ^  he  that 
 hath  suffered  in  the  flesh  hath  ceased  from 
 sin; 
 
 2  '^  That  he  no  longer  '^  should  live  the  rest 
 of  his  time  in  the  flesh  to  the  lusts  of  men, 
 
 but  to  the  will  of  God. 
 
 3  ^  For  the  time  past  of  our  life  may  suffice 
 us  ^  to  have  wrought  the  will  of  the  Gentiles, 
 when  we  walked  in  lasciviousness,  lusts,  ex- 
 cess of  wine,  revellings,  banquetings,  and  abo- 
 minable idolatries : 
 
 4  Wherein  they  think  it  strauge  that  ye  run 
 not  with  them  to  the  same  excess  of  riot, 
 ^speaking  evil  ofj/ou: 
 
 5  Who  shall  give  account  to  him  that  is 
 ready  '  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead. 
 
 6  For  for  this  cause  "^  was  the  gospel  preached 
 also  to  them  that  are  dead,  that  tliey  might  be 
 judged  according  to  men  in  the  flesh,  but  live 
 according  to  God  in  the  spirit. 
 
 7  But  '  the  end  of  all  things  is  at  hand  :  *"  be 
 ye  therefore  sober,  and  watch  unto  prayer. 
 
 r  Ps    III).    1. 
 Koin   a.  Hi 
 Eph    I.  iO, 
 CI.  3.  I. 
 Heb.  I.  3. 
 
 t  Rota  9-3S. 
 I  Cor  15  24.. 
 Epb.  I.  21, 
 
 a  cti.  3.  18. 
 A  Rom.  6  2, 
 
 7.  Gal. 5. 2+ 
 
 Col.  H.  3,rv 
 c  Horn.  14.7. 
 
 ch.  2.  1. 
 d  nal.  2.  20. 
 
 I'h.  I.   M. 
 
 1 .  l-T 
 
 K.I 
 
 .  6.  II 
 
 2  Cor.  5.15 
 Jam.  I.  18. 
 
 /^EzL-k.  41. 
 6.  Vt  4>  9 
 Arts  17.30. 
 
 ff  Kpli.  2.  2. 
 fc  I   17. 
 
 1  Tile's.  4  5. 
 Til.  >J,  3 
 cli.   I.  U. 
 
 'i  Acts  \)i.i5 
 
 &  m  6  ch 
 
 3.  16. 
 
 i  Acts  10  42. 
 &  17.  31. 
 Kom.U.lO. 
 12.  I  Cor. 
 15.  51,  52. 
 
 2  Tim.  *l 
 Jam.  5.  9. 
 
 *■  ch.  3.  19. 
 /  Mat.  21.13, 
 
 14   Rom.  13. 
 
 12.  Phil.  4. 
 
 5.  Heb.  10. 
 
 25.  Jam.  5. 
 
 8    2  Pet.  .S. 
 
 9,11.  I  John 
 
 2.    18. 
 m  Mat.  26. 
 
 41    T.uke 
 
 21.  3+.  Col 
 
 4.  2  ch.  I. 
 VS.  &  5.  3. 
 
 A  D.  i 
 
 .CO. 
 
 n  Heh    13    1. 
 
 C.l    3,  II, 
 V  Pro    10.12- 
 
 1  Cor.  13  7. 
 
 Jatn.  5    20. 
 I  Or,  w,n. 
 p  Rom. 12.13. 
 
 Heb.  13.  2. 
 q  2  Cor.  9  7. 
 
 Phil.  :;.  14. 
 
 Philem.  1  + 
 r  Horn.  12.6 
 
 1  Cor.  4.  7. 
 I  Mat.  21  Ah. 
 
 &  25.  11,21. 
 
 Luke  12  12. 
 
 1  Cor.4.1,2 
 
 Tit.  t.  7 
 t  1  Cor    124 
 
 Eph.  4.  11. 
 u  Jer.  S3.  22. 
 X  Rom. 12.6, 
 
 7,  8.  1  Cor. 
 
 3.  10. 
 !,  Eph    6.  2i). 
 
 ch.  2.  5. 
 I  1  Tim.  6. 
 
 Ifi,ch.5  II. 
 
 Rev.  I.  6. 
 a  I  Cor.  3.13. 
 
 ch.  I.  7. 
 b  Acta  6.  41. 
 
 Jam.  I.  2. 
 c  Horn.  8. 17 
 
 2  Cor.  I.  7. 
 &  4.  10. 
 Pliii.  3.  10. 
 Col.  1.2*. 
 2  Tim.2.12. 
 ch  5.  I,  to 
 Kev.  I.  9. 
 
 d  ch.  1.5,6. 
 Mat.  5.  II. 
 
 2  Cor. 12. 10. 
 
 Jam.  1.  12. 
 
 ch.  2  19,20. 
 
 fc  3.  14. 
 /ch.  2.  12. 
 
 &  3.  16. 
 i?ch,  2.  20. 
 I,  lThe8  4.1l. 
 
 1  Tim. 5. 13. 
 i"  Acta  b.  41. 
 k  IB.  10.  12- 
 
 8  "  And  above  all  things  have  fervent  charity 
 among  yourselves:  foi  "charity  ||  shall  cover 
 the  n)uUitude  of  sms. 
 
 9  *' Use  hospitality  one  to  another  ''without 
 grudging. 
 
 10  ^  As  every  man  hath  received  the  gift, 
 even  so  minister  the  same  one  to  another,  "  as 
 good  stewards  of  *■  the  manifold  grace  of  God. 
 
 11  "  If  any  man  speak,  let  him  speak  as  the 
 oracles  of  God  ;  ^  if  any  man  minister,  let  him 
 do  it  as  of  the  ability  which  God  giveth :  that 
 ^  God  in  all  things  may  be  glorified  through 
 Jesus  Christ,  ^  to  whom  be  praise  and  dominion 
 for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 12  Beloved,  think  it  not  strange  concerning 
 "  the  fiery  trial  which  is  to  try  you,  as  though 
 some  strange  thing  happened  unto  you: 
 
 13  ''But  rejoice,  inasmuch  as  '^  ye  are  par- 
 takers of  Christ's  sufl'erings;  '^  that,  when  his 
 glory  shall  be  revealed,  ye  may  be  glad  also 
 with  exceeding  joy. 
 
 14  ^If  ye  be  reproached  for  the  name  of 
 Christ,  happy  are  ye ;  for  the  spirit  of  glory  and 
 of  God  restetli  upon  you  :  ^  on  their  part  he  is 
 evil  spoken  of,  but  on  your  part  he  is  glorified, 
 
 15  But  ^let  none  of  you  suft'er  as  a  murderer, 
 or  as  a  thief,  or  as  an  evildoer,  **  or  as  a  busy- 
 body in  other  men's  matters. 
 
 16  Yet  if  any  man  suffer  as  a  Christian,  let 
 him  not  be  ashamed  ;  *  but  let  him  glorify  God 
 on  this  behalf. 
 
 1 7  For  the  time  is  come  ^  that  judgment  must 
 
 Jer   25   2f.  &  49    12    EzeV.  9  6.  Mai.  3.  6 
 
 Chap.  IV. — I.  Forasmuch  then,  Sfc,  '  to  return  from  the  digression, 
 iii.  19 — 22.  Since  Clirist  suffered,  let  this  furtify  you.' — Gtii/se.  The 
 siimf  mind,  the  same  fortitude  and  resolution  of  mind  in  his  cause. — 
 Duddr.,  so  Guyse,  Mnckn.,  and  Bens.  '  Let  the  suflTerings  of  Christ 
 have  their  due  effect  upon  you,  in  conforming  you  to  his  death,  that 
 yon  may,  as  crucified  or  dead  men,  give  over  sinning,  being  as  dead  to 
 fleshly  lusts.* — Ba.vter.  Ceased,  '  rested.*— iT/uc/trft.  For  whosoever 
 has  crucified  the  old  man.  and  patiently  suffered  in  conformity  to 
 Christ,  has  renounced  all  former  sinful  principles  and  practices.— Gw^-se. 
 3.  To  have  wrought  the  will  of  the  Gentiles,  *  we  did  too  long  live  ac- 
 cording to  heathen  sensuality,  and  in  the  bacchanals  and  jovialities  of 
 their  idolatry.' —  Bn.tter.  L'lscirian.sne.ss,  nenopeufxcvoui,  as  distin- 
 guished from  lusts,  denotes  outward  actions  of  a  base  kind,  fornica- 
 tion, adultery,  incest,  ^c. — Mnckn.  Banquetings,  iroroa — thosemeet- 
 ings  in  which  the  he.itheu  strove  with  each  other  who  should  continue 
 longest  to  drink  ;  consequently,  the  original  word  might  be  translated, 
 
 •  drinking  matches.* — Estius.  Revellings,  kwhoi^,  '  lascivious  feast- 
 ings,'  with  drunken  songs,  &c.  AOominnble  idolatries,  uBtfierotf 
 c(5ta>\o\aTpcui(r,  the  abominations  practised  at  their  idol  feasts — im- 
 pure rites.— yl.  Clarke.  4.  Run  not,  alludi^s  to  the  practice  of  the 
 votaries  of  Bacchus,  who  run  about  the  streets  and  fields  like  mad 
 people,  committing  every  sort  of  excess.  The  same  excess  of  riot, '  into 
 the  same  slough  of  dissoluteness.'  The  word  avaxvatt  signifies  '  a 
 collection  of  water,'  '  a  miry  pool.'    The  other  wnrd  atruina,  signifies 
 
 •  a  dissolute  course  of  life,'  {Luke,  xv.  13.)  The  metaphorical  expres- 
 sion, '  slough  of  dissoluteness,'  strongly  marks  the  danger  and  misery 
 of  living  in  the  vices  mentioned  in  ver.  3,  which  were  practiced  in  the 
 heathen  temples. — Mackn.  ko:cjia  signifies  '  riot  or  luxury.'  Though 
 all  men  are  not,  in  the  grossest  kind,  guilty  of  this,  yet  they  are  all  of 
 them  some  way  truly  riotous  or  luxurious,  lavishing  away  themselves 
 and  their  days  upon  the  poor,  perishing,  delights  of  sin,  each  according 
 to  his  own  palate  and  humour. — Leighton.  5.  The  t]uick  and  the 
 dead,  i.  e.,  the  living  and  the  dead.' — Seeker.  6.  For  this  cause,  or, 
 to  this  end.  Was  the  gospel  preached,  ever  since  it  was  intimated  to 
 Adam  in  the  first  promise.  To  them  that  are  dead,  of  past  generations. 
 That  they  might  be  judged,  ^c,  or,  that  though  they  were  *  judged  in 
 
 the  flesh,  according  to'  the  manner  of  *  men,'  with  rash,  unrighteous 
 judgment,  condemned  as  evil  doers,  and  some  of  them  put  to  death, 
 they  might  '  live  according  to  God,'  agreeably  to  his  word  and  will. 
 In  the  spirit,  '  in  the  soul,'  renewed  after  the  Divine  image,  &c. — Bens. 
 *  To  encourage  you  to  suffer  death  for  Christ,  know  that  for  this  pur- 
 pose the  gospel  hath  been  preached,  even  to  the  dead  in  sins,  (Eph.  ii. 
 I,)  to  the  Gentiles,  to  assure  them,  that  although  they  may  be  con- 
 demned to  death,  indeed,  by  men,  in  their  fleshly  body,  as  Christ  was, 
 yet  they  shall  live  eternally,  by  the  power  of  God,  in  their  spiritual 
 body,  as  Christ  now  liveth.' — Mackn.  7.  The  end  0/ all  thing.i—th\s. 
 can  hardly  signify  the  destruction  of  .Jerusalem,  an  event  in  which 
 most  of  those  to  whom  the  apostle  wrote  were  comparatively  hut  little 
 concerned:  it  must  mean  the  death  of  individuals,  or  the  consumma- 
 tion of  all  things. — So  Baxter,  Doddr.  Peter  did  not  mean  the  end  of 
 this  mundane  system,  but  of  the  temjile,  of  the  Levitical  priesthood, 
 and  of  the  whole  Jewish  economy.  This  epistle  was  written  A.n.  ^7  ; 
 about  a  year  after  the  war  with  the  Romans  began,  which  ended  in  the 
 destruction  of  Jerusalem,  and  of  the  Jewish  state;  and  Feter,  who 
 had  heard  his  Master's  prophecy  concerning  these  events,  and  concern- 
 ing the  signs  of  their  approach,  had  good  reason  to  say  that  they  had 
 approached. — Mackn.  The  Jewish  church,  &c.,  and  death,  &c.,  are 
 taken  into  tlie  view  of  Guyse  and  Gill,  Sober,  '  temperate,'  Arah.  ; 
 Gill.  8.  Charity,  aya-rrn,  '  love.'  Shall  cover — see  on  James,  v.  20, 
 note.  10.  As  every  man,  Sfc,  '  let  every  man,  according  as  he  haih 
 received  (xupitrfAa)  a  spiritual  gift,'  Sic.—3Iitrk7i.,  as  Whithif.  The 
 word  xai)i<Jti.a  means  any  blessing  of  providence  or  grace,  and  here 
 may  signify  ^ome  office  in  the  church. — A,  Clarke.  11.  Let  him  speak. 
 SfC,  '  preach  no  doctrine  but  such  as  is  agreeable  to  the  oracles  oi 
 GoA.""— Wells.  Minister  to,  '  supply  the  necessities  of  others.' — Bar. 
 12.  Fiery  trial,  TrupcKTu,  *  the  burning,'  denotes  the  grievous  persecu- 
 tion which  the  Christians  in  Pontns^c.  were  suffering  for  their  faith. 
 — Mackn.  '  Trying  them  as  a  fire'  is  used  for  exploring  and  purifying 
 gold  and  other  metals. — Ham.  15.  A  busybody,  in  the  public  affairs 
 of  other  people  ;  a  vice  whereto  the  Jews  of  this  time  were  remarkably 
 addicted,— i'ur. ;  so  also  to  theft,  murder,  and  all  kinds  of  wickedness, 
 as  say  Josephus,  Whitby.        17.  The  time  is  come,  ^c, '  even  the  Chris- 
 
 Heflfctions  on  Ciiai'.  III.  —  The  subjects  here  noticed 
 ^re — I.  The  mutual  duty  of  husbands  and  wives.  United  toge- 
 ther for  life,  how  much  oi'  their  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual 
 happiness  depends  upon  their  deportment  towards  each  other! 
 If  either  of  them  be  overbearing,  what  a  tendency  has  it  to 
 bhint  the  affections ;  and  if  the  case  be  that  one  only  is  con- 
 verted to  God,  how  Pain  will  be  all  the  prayers  and  exhorta- 
 tions of  the  converted  party,  if  not  joined  with  Christian  pru- 
 dence and  amiability  ;  while,  in  every  case,  disunion  between 
 the  beads  of  the  family  must  unfit  both  for  family  and  closet 
 devotion,  and  so  their  prayers  be  Iiindered. 
 
 II.  Union  amongst  brethren.  This  is  a  perpetual  theme  of 
 the  scriptures,  and  it  is  one  of  the  strongest  proofs  and  recom- 
 mendations of  Christianity.  '  By  this  shall  all  men  know-  that 
 ve  are  my  disciples,'  says  Christ,  '  if  ye  have  love  one  to- 
 1323 
 
 wards  another.'  And  he  prayed  '  that  they  all  may  be  one, 
 as  thou,  Father,  art  in  me  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be 
 one  in  us,  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me.' 
 
 III.  Submission  under  sufferings.  Another  frequent  theme, 
 peculiarly  necessary  for  the  early  Christians,  and  not  alto- 
 gether unnecessary  now.  Sufferings,  of  one  kind  or  other, 
 will  attend  Christians  as  long  as  they  are  in  this  world  ;  but 
 nothing  can  essentially  injure  the  soul  that  is  secured  in 
 Christ. 
 
 IV.  Baptism  an  emblem  of  regeneration.  Let  it  be  observed, 
 that  baptism  does  not  save  us,  if  we  are  destitute  of  a  purified 
 conscience,  of  a  new  heart,  and  a  right  spirit.  It  does  not 
 consist  in  the  mere  application  of  water,  and  '  the  putting 
 away  of  the  filth  of  the  flesh,  but  the  answer  of  a  good  con- 
 science towards  God.' 
 
The  duty  of  elders. 
 
 I.  PETER,  V. 
 
 An  exhortation  to  vioilance 
 
 begin  at  the  house  of  God  :  and  '  if  il  first  be- 
 gin at  us,  "'  what  shall  the  eud  he  of  them  that 
 obey  not  tlie  gospel  of  God? 
 
 18  "And  if  the  righteous  scarcely  be  saved, 
 where  shall  the  ungodly  and  the  sinner  ap- 
 pear? 
 
 19  Wherefore  let  them  that  suffer  according 
 to  the  will  of  Gild  "commit  the  keeping  of 
 their  souls  to  him  in  well  doing,  as  unto  a  faith- 
 ful Creator. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  He  exhorietli   the  dders  to  feed  tlieir  Jlocks,  5  ffie 
 
 1/nuTjger  to  oheij,  8  and  all  to  be  sober,  jcatc/iful,  and 
 
 constant  i&  the  faith  :  9  to  resist  the  cruel  adversary 
 
 the  devil. 
 
 'T'HE  elders  which  are  among  you  I  exhort, 
 
 -••    who  am  also  ''  an  elder,  and  '"  a  witness  of 
 
 the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  also  '  a  partaker 
 
 of  the  glory  tliat  shall  be  revealed  : 
 
 ■2  ■•  Feed  the  flock  of  God  ||  which  is  among 
 yon,  taking  the  oversight  thereof,  "  not  by  con- 
 straint, but  willingly  ;  'not  for  filthy  lucre,  but 
 of  a  ready  mind  ; 
 
 3  Neither  as  ||  i^lieing  lords  over  ''  God's  he- 
 ritage, but  '  being  ensamples  to  the  flock.         \ 
 
 4  And  when  'the  chief  Shepherd  shall  ap-' 
 pear,  ye  shall  receive  '  a  crown  of  glory  "  that  I 
 fadetli  not  away.  ' 
 
 5  Likewise,  ye  younger,  submit  yourselves 
 unto  the  elder.     Yea,  "  all  of  you  be  subject'; 
 
 A.D,cir.6f> 
 
 /  LukeiS.-il, 
 m  Luke  10. 
 
 \%  14. 
 «  Pro    11.31. 
 
 La1ie-23.31. 
 o  Ps.  31 .  -'.. 
 
 Luke  ^3  16 
 
 2  Tim. 1  12. 
 
 a  Plulem.  9. 
 b  Luke  «4. 
 
 43.  Acts  1. 
 
 8.  22.  &  5. 
 
 32.  k  10.39. 
 c  Rom.  8.17, 
 
 IS.Rev  1.9 
 ,/  John  21. 
 
 15,  16,  17. 
 
 Acts  20  -JS. 
 II  Or,  „, 
 
 niHeh  at  in 
 
 you  il. 
 r  1  Cor.  9.17 
 /  I  Tim.  3  S. 
 
 8.  Tit    1.  7. 
 
 ■'  ^:^:r 
 
 g  Eze   S4.  4. 
 
 Mat.  20.3.i, 
 
 L'6.  I  Cor,  3. 
 
 i'.  ?  Ci.r.  1 
 
 ■i-J. 
 h  Ps-  as.  12. 
 
 )t  71.  2. 
 .■  Phil.  3    IT 
 
 2  TheB.  3.9. 
 
 1  Tim.fl.ia. 
 Tit.  2.7. 
 
 A  Hcb.  i:)SO 
 I  I  Cor.  !>  -3. 
 
 2  rim   4  3 
 Jaui    I.  12. 
 
 m  ch.   \.  K. 
 n  Horn.  12. 
 
 10.  Ppli.  5. 
 
 2t.  Pliil.  2 
 
 P  Ti.  -ST.  15. 
 
 It  M.  2. 
 y  .T-iin   '1    10. 
 r  ['s.  S7,  -i.^ 
 
 r.r,  22.  \\'is 
 
 I.'  IS.  Mnt. 
 
 G.  25    Luke 
 
 12  11,?;;. 
 Phil.  4.  ti. 
 Heb.  IS.  5. 
 
 t  Luke  21. 
 
 34.  36. 
 
 IThcs.!i.6. 
 
 ch.  4.  7, 
 t  Job  J.  7.  «( 
 
 2,  2,  I.nko 
 
 22  SI.  Kev. 
 
 12.  12. 
 «  Eph.  6  II, 
 
 13  Jam.*.?. 
 J- Acts  14  t-i 
 
 1  Thpfl.  X\  y^. 
 
 2  Tim  S.I:! 
 .;h.  2.  21 
 
 r/  I  Cor.  1.9. 
 
 t  Tim  ii,r2. 
 I  2  Cor.*. 17. 
 
 ch.  1    6. 
 1  Heb   13.21. 
 
 .t«>le  l\. 
 b  2  TheH,  2. 
 
 17.  &3.  3. 
 cch.  4.  II. 
 
 Kev.  I.  6. 
 rfsCnr  1.19. 
 ^I!cb.  13.22. 
 /  Aci»2il.2il. 
 
 1  'or.  15.1. 
 
 2  Pet.  t.l2. 
 r.\ct8  12.12, 
 
 4  lEoi 
 
 .  16. 
 
 V  C.r.lS  12 
 lTl.ej5.26. 
 Kpb .  e.  23. 
 
 one  to  another,  and  be  clothed  vvitl)  humility: 
 for  "God  resisteth  the  proud,  and  ^giveth 
 grace  to  the  liumble. 
 
 6  "^  Humble  yourselves  therefore  under  tlie 
 mighty  hand  of  God,  that  he  may  exalt  you  in 
 due  time  : 
 
 7  '  Casting  all  your  care  upon  him  ;  for  he 
 careth  for  you. 
 
 8  *  Be  .<=ober,  be  vigilant  ;  because  'your  ad- 
 versary the  devil,  as  a  roarin*^  lion,  walketh 
 about,  seeking  whom  lie  may  devour : 
 
 9  "  Whom  resist  stedfast  in  tlie  faith,  ^know- 
 ing that  the  .same  afflictions  are  accomplished 
 in  your  brethren  that  are  in  the  world. 
 
 10  But  the  God  of  all  grace,  'who  hath 
 called  us  unto  liis  eternal  glory  by  Christ  Jesus, 
 after  that  ye  have  suffered  'a  while, "  make  you 
 perfect,  ^  stablish,  strengthen,  settle  yon. 
 
 11  "^  To  him  he  glory  and  doiniiiiou  for  ever 
 and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 12  *^  By  Silvanus,  a  faithful  brother  unto  you, 
 as  I  suppose,  I  have  ''written  briefly,  exhort- 
 ing, and  testifying  •"that  this  is  the  true  grace 
 of  God  wherein  ye  stand. 
 
 13  The  church  that  is  at  Babylon,  elected 
 together  with  you^  saluteth  you  ;  and  so  doth 
 ^  Marcus  my  son. 
 
 11  "  Greet  ye  one  another  with  a  kiss  of  cha- 
 rity. '  Peace  be  with  you  all  that  are  in  Christ 
 Jesus.     Amen. 
 
 tian  cburch  itself  is  now  to  undergo  the  sharpest  discipline  ;  ho^v  diead- 
 fnl,  then,  must  he  the  judgment  on  the  infidel,*  ^c. — I'yle.  House  nf 
 God,  so  the  bclicvintj  Jews  arc  called,  because  ihey  wtre  now  become 
 tlie  family  and  people  of  God,  in  the  roum  'f  the  unbelieving 
 Jews.  IH.  Scarcely  he  savedf  /loXit,  '  with  difficulty,'  Doddr.,  Mnckn., 
 docs  n'lt  alluite  to  the  day  of  judgment,  hut  to  the  time  of  the  destruc- 
 tion of  jLTiisalem,  (ccmp.  2  Pet.  i.  11  ;  Matt.  xxiv.  13.) — Mackn.  It  is 
 to  be  understood  more  generally  ofthe  difficulty  with  which  good  men 
 pet  to  heaven  through  this  cn&naring  world.  Probably  quoted  from 
 Sept.   of  Prov.   xi,  31.— /iorfi/r.  ig.  Commit,   napaTUkd^aitrav,  as   a 
 
 deposit,  (see  2  Tim.  i.  12,)  to  be  restored  to  thtni  at  the  resurrection. 
 Souls,  ^vxat, '  lives  ;'  so  translated,  Matt.  x.  39;  or  it  may  edlude  to 
 Luke,  xxiu.  iQ.—.Miick/i. 
 
 Chap.  V. — 1.  Elders,  guides  and  governors  of  the  Christian  church. 
 —  iVel/s.  An  elder,  avunptiTfiuiepot,  'a  fellow-elder.' — Mackn.  This 
 is  quite  diflTertnt  from  the  high  tocie  of  the  Pope,  who,  under  pretence 
 of  being  Peter's  successor,  and  head  of  the  church,  cnnimands  with 
 sovereign  authority,  like  a  h.rd,  and  not  a  fellow-eUUT. — Guyse.  Par- 
 taker uf  the  glory,  in  hope. — Dothlr.  K.n(i'a>foc,  '  a  partner'  in  the  title 
 to  the  lieavcidy  inlieri^ance. — Ed.  2.  ^ot  hy  cutislraint,  fmt  willingly — 
 in  the  tirst  age,  when  the  profe.'^sion  of  the  gospel  exposed  men  to  per- 
 secution, and  when  the  persecution  fell  more  especially  on  the  bish-tps, 
 it  may  easily  he  imagined  that  some  who  were  appointed  to  that  ( ffice 
 would  undertake  it  uuwi  lingly,  perhaps  because  they  were  not  willing 
 to  suffer.  In  5uch  cases,  the  apobtle  advised  persons  to  decline  the 
 riffice,  Brtt  of  a  ready  mifid,  npoOvfitai,  'from  good  disposition.' 
 4.  A  crown,  Sfc,  in  allusion  to  the  crowns  of  green  leaves  of  trees  and 
 herbs,  bestowid  by  the  ancients  as  the  reward  of  military  prowess,  or 
 1  f  victory  in  the  games,  (ste  I  Cor.  ix.  25.)  These,  tigcther  with  the 
 honours  of  which  tliey  Wire  the  symbols,  soon  faded  away.  5.  Be 
 vlottied,  §-e.,  eytcofifSuiaaaOe — Julius  PoUtiX,  lib.  iv.,  c.  18,  tells  us  that 
 the  €fKO/i^ojfia,  icoar.--e  <-toJik,]  a  white  cloak,  was  used  by  slaves. 
 Wfittby  says,  it  was  a  frock  put  over  the  re&t  of  the  clothes;  and  that 
 the  apostle's  meaning  is,  *  that  humility  should  be  visible,  over  all  the 
 other  Christian  virtues,  in  our  whole  behaviour.' — Mackn.        7.  Cast- 
 
 ing,  cT(pfH7r>/'avTc?— this  word  may  express  a  very  hasty  action,  as  that 
 of  throwing  overboard  whatever  will  lighten  n  thip  in  a  >torm  ;  and  it 
 may  intimate,  that  when  cares  come  upon  us  so  as  to  endanger  our 
 spiritual  safety,  we  should,  without  delay,  cast  them  upm  (lod,  {see 
 Acts,  xxvii.  19,  Gr.)  —  Ed.  Care,  fieptixv^v,  '  your  anxtety,  your  dis- 
 tnicting  care.' — A.  Clarke.  Which,  as  it  were,  rends  and  tetus  the 
 mind  to  pieces. — Doddr.,  as  Tillnts.  For  he  citrelh  fur  yon,  on  qi'tm 
 fitXu  TTcpi  i'^wv,  '  for  he  meddles,  or  concerns  himself,  with  the  thii  gs 
 that  interest  you.' — .A.  Clarke.  That  is,  '  casting  off  all  anxious  caies 
 and  solicitudes,  and  reposing  them  on  God  and  his  providence.* — 
 BUiomf.  8.  Softer,  temperate.  10.  .-1  tthile,  o\iyov.  '  a  little,'  either 
 iu  respect  nf  time  or  of  degree,  or  perhaps  in  respect  of  both,  because, 
 compjired  with  the  jnys  of  heaven,  the  sufferings  of  this  life  are  both 
 light  and  momentary. — Mackn.  Make  you  perfect,  KaropTujai,  put 
 you  in  *  complete  joint,  as  the  timbers  of  a  building.'  Staftlish,  ampt^nif 
 make  you  '  firm'  in  every  part;  and  that  you  may  be  mutual  supports, 
 the  whole  building  being  one  in  the  Lord.  Strengthtn,  a0ext^aai, 
 'cramp  and  bind  ©veiy  part.'  Settle,  Oe^eXtwtrai,  cause  all  to  rest  so 
 '  evenly'  and  '  tirmly'  upon  the  best  and  surest  foundation,  that  ye  may 
 grow  together  to  a  holy  temple  in  the  Lord.  These  phrases  are  archi- 
 tcclnral,  and  the  apostle  has  in  view  the  fine  image  of  chap.  ii.  5. — 
 A.  Clarke.  13.  Baftylon—mo^t  early  writers  suppose  this  to  be  figu- 
 rativc  of  Rome. — So  Grot.,  Whithy,  Ham.,  Lardn.,  Mackn.,  Wil.,  Sut., 
 ^c.  1  am  of  opinion  that  it  was  the  ancient  celchiated  Babjlon.  in 
 Assyria,  which  was,  as  Dr.  Benson  observes,  the  metropolis  of  the 
 eastern  dispersion  of  the  Jews.— .^.  Clarke ;  nearly  the  same,  Bp.  Cntn- 
 berl'ind,  ixnA  Cradock i  so  7i\so  Beza  and  Lightfoot.  The  apo>tle  was 
 probably  at  or  near  Bab)  Ion,  in  Chaldca,  or  in  Egypf.— Guyse.  Elected, 
 ^■c,  'jointly  with  you,  some  of  the  chosen  people  of  GoA.*—We/ls. 
 Marcus,  supposed  to  be  the  same  mentioned  Acts,  xii.  12.  John  Mark, 
 mentioned  Acts,  xii.,  appears  to  have  been  a  different  person  from  the 
 evangelist  Mark  ;  but  the  latter  seems  to  he  here  meant,  for  under  St. 
 Peter's  instruction  he  is  said  to  have  written  his  gospel. — Doddr.  My 
 son,  in  the  faith. — Ham. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  I.  *  TAe  rccolhction  of  the 
 sttff'er{n(}s  of  onr  Lord  for  us,  and  the  end  and  design  of  tfum, 
 shoitlJ  excite  vvr  z<al  in  his  sacred  cause.  If  he  has  so  loved  us 
 as  to  endure  the  cross  and  to  despise  the  shame,  that  he  might 
 redeem  us  from  iniquity  and  bring  us  to  God,  shall  we  shrink 
 from  suffering:  the  least  degree  of  shame  or  reproach  for  him  ! 
 O  let  us  not  live  according  to  the  evil  desires  and  lusts 
 to  which  mnny  are  si:bjected  ;  but  let  the  will  of  God,  re- 
 vealed in  the  gospel,  be  the  rule  of  our  conduct.  Let  us 
 deeply  regret  our  past  offenci  s,  and  Iiumbly  adore  the  grace 
 which  has  pardoned  us,  and  delivered  us  from  these  excesses. 
 
 II.  *  Let  ns  ever  hccp  in  mind  that  the  end  of  all  things  is  near. 
 Soon  shall  all  be  numbered  with  the  dead.  God  will  change 
 our  countenance,  and  send  us  away  ;  and  all  our  opportunities 
 of  service  lor  God  and  one  another  will  end  also.     O  let  us, 
 
 tiien,  work  while  it  is  day  ;  be  sober-minded,  and  wiilch  unto 
 prayer  ;  and  maintain  and  exercise  forheaiance  and  candour, 
 fervent  love,  and  good  will  towards  all.'^ 
 
 Ui-.Fi.bCi  IONS  ON  Cii.AP.  V.  —  We  here  see,  I.  The  pastor  s 
 dufif.  The  labourer  is  worthy  of  his  hire,  but  let  liim  bewnro 
 of  his  motives,  and  let  hira  rather  study  to  feed  the  flock  of 
 Christ  than  to  fleece  it, 
 
 II.  The  Christians  hahit.  Humility,  like  a  robe,  should  be 
 thrown  all  around  him  ;  and  the  truly  humble  Christian  most 
 resembles  Christ. 
 
 III.  The  devil's  acUritij.  He  goes  about  to  devour,  llis 
 part  is  to  tempt;  it  is'^ours  to  resist.  May  the  God  of  all 
 grace  enable  us  henceforth  so  to  do ;  make  us  perfect,  stablish, 
 strengthen,  settle  us!  To  him  be  L^lory  and  dominion  for 
 ever  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 \Vyl\ 
 
THE    SECOND    EPISTLE    GENEllAE 
 
 OF 
 
 P  E  T  E  R. 
 
 [The  design  of  this  epistle  was  similar  to  that  of  the  former,  and  it  is  addressed  to  the  same  persons.  It  is  thought  to  have 
 been  written  very  shortly  before  the  apostle's  deatlK  References  in  this  epistle  to  other  portions  of  holy  writ ; — Gen.  i. 
 (i— 9;  vii.  1,  2,  y,  4, .),  (3,  7,  8,  9,  11,  10,  -ii,  -23  :  xi\-.  IG,  '24,  ^j ;  Num.  xxii.  -'j,  7,  -21,  -23,  -23;  Josli.  x'xiii.  14;  '2  Sam. 
 xxiii.  '2;   Ps.  cii.  2t) ;  Isa.  v.  19;  Ixv.  17 — 19;   JIalt.  xvii.   1 — 5;   Rev.  xxi.] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 I  Confirming  thein  in  hope  of  the  increase  of  GoiVs 
 ffraceHf  5  fie  exhorteth  them,  by  faith,  anii  good  works, 
 to  make  their  calling  sure:  12  whtreof  iie  is  careful 
 to  rentetnbtr  them,  knowing  that  his  death  is  at  hand : 
 16  and  icarneth  them  tube  constant  in  I  he  faith  of 
 Christ,  who  is  the  true  Son  of  God,  by  the  ei/ewitness 
 of  the  aposth'S  beholding  his  majtstg,  and  bg  the  testi- 
 mong  of  the  Father,  and  the  prophets, 
 
 II  CIMON  Peter,  a  servant  and  an  apostle  of 
 ^  Jesus  Christ,  to  them  that  have  obtained 
 
 °  like  precions  faith  witli  ns  through  the  riglite- 
 ousness  fof  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ: 
 •2  I"  Grace  and  peace  be  multiplied  unto  you 
 through  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  of  Jesus 
 our  Lord, 
 
 3  According  as  his  divine  power  halli  given 
 inito  us  all  things  that  pertain  unto  life  and 
 godliness,  '  through  the  knowledge  of  him 
 ■"  that  hath  called  us  ||  to  glory  a.nd  virtue : 
 
 4  °  Whereby  are  given  inito  us  exceeding 
 great  and  precious  promises  :  that  by  these 
 ye  might  be  '  partakers  of  the  divine  nature, 
 ^  having  escaped  the  corruption  that  is  in  the 
 world  through  lust. 
 
 5  And  beside  this,  i"  giving  all  diligence,  add 
 to  your  faith  virtue  ;  and  to  virtue  '  know- 
 ledge ; 
 
 6  And  to  knowledge  temperance ;  and  to 
 temperance  patience  ;  and  to  patience  godli- 
 ness ; 
 
 7  And  to  godliness  brotherly  kindness ;  and 
 ''  to  brotherly  kindness  charity. 
 
 8  For  if  these  things  be  in  you,  and  abound, 
 they  ma^i.e  t/ou  that  ye  shall  neither  be  f  barren 
 
 II  Or, 
 
 A.-t«  l:.,  1 4. 
 a  Ktiin.  I.ri. 
 
 ■i  r..r   1.  13 
 
 Eih.  1.  .i. 
 
 Tit    t     1 
 t  Gr.  n/,,.,r 
 
 G'jd  i,H't 
 
 Saiiour. 
 
 Tit.  S.  13. 
 6  Dan,  4.1  S( 
 
 IS,  2h.  I  P,i. 
 
 1.-^.  Jude  2. 
 
 c  John  17.3 
 
 d  1  Tlics  3 
 I  ?  K:  -1.  ;, 
 *:  riiesj  11. 
 ■>  Tim  1.9 
 I  ret  ;?.  9 
 h  .1.  9. 
 
 II  Or,/.,/. 
 
 e  i  r..r    7    I 
 
 Kpli    1   21 
 H.l.   !■;   lu- 
 
 ll fli    3.  IS 
 i  1  Pet.  3.  7 
 
 k  G:.l.  6.  10. 
 ITIie8.3.l:; 
 
 I  c. 
 
 ..  E|.li.5.  2 
 
 Heb.  9    1. 
 
 I  Jnhu  I. 
 
 ..  IJ.ll>, I  3  I 
 
 p  ch    3.  17 
 
 7  Ito.ii 
 
 r. 
 
 11 
 
 U    IM. 
 
 I, 
 
 ;(. 
 
 1  c'>   : 
 
 l.lohi 
 
 ■?l 
 
 j».i---  a 
 
 r  1  I'et. 
 
 !i. 
 
 i'^ 
 
 ch.  A. 
 
 7 
 
 *  2  Cor 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 u   See  Deut 
 
 4.  -Zi.^i.  & 
 
 31.  14. 
 
 2  Tim.  4.  6. 
 X  J.ilm  21. 
 
 18,  19. 
 
 «  I  Cor. I  17. 
 
 &  2.  I,  4. 
 
 2  Cor.  2. 17. 
 
 K  4.  2 
 :Mat.l7.I,2. 
 
 M;iik  9.  a. 
 
 Joliii  I.  14. 
 
 I  John  1   1. 
 
 ft  4.  14. 
 '<  Mat.  3.  17. 
 
 A  17    5. 
 
 MHik  I.  II. 
 
 &  9.  7 
 
 Luke  A.  'i2. 
 
 fi  !'.  Xt. 
 0  Si-e  Kx.3. 
 
 h.  Josh,  h 
 
 15    MM.n 
 
 6. 
 
 '  nor  unfruitful  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord 
 Je.sus  Christ. 
 
 9  But  lie  that  lacketh  these  things  ""ishlind, 
 and  cannot  see  afar  off,  and  hath  forgotten  that 
 he  was  "  purgei  from  his  old  sins. 
 
 10  Wherefore  tiie  rather,  hrethren,  give  dili- 
 gence "  to  make  your  calling  and  election  sure  : 
 for  if  ye  do  these  things,  ''ye  shall  never  fall  : 
 
 11  For  so  an  entrance  s!)all  be  ministered 
 unto  you  abundantly  into  the  everlasting  king- 
 dom of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 1*2  Wherefore  *'  I  will  not  be  negligent  to  put 
 you  always  in  remembrance  uf  ihese  things, 
 ■"  though  ye  know  t/um,  and  be  established  in 
 the  present  truth. 
 
 13  Yea,  I  think  it  meet,  *as  long  as  I  am  in 
 this  tabernacle,  *■  to  stir  yon  up  by  putting  ^?/y« 
 in  remembrance  ; 
 
 U  "  Knowing  that  shortly  1  must  put  off  Mi> 
 my  tabernacle,  even  as  "  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
 hath  shewed  me. 
 
 10  Moreover  I  will  endeavour  that  ye  may 
 be  able  after  [uy  decease  to  have  these  things 
 always  in  remembrance. 
 
 16  For  we  liave  not  followed  ^cunningly  de- 
 vised fables,  when  we  made  known  unto  you 
 the  power  and  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ,  but  ^  were  eyewitnesses  of  his  majesty. 
 
 17  For  he  received  from  Gud  the  Father  ho- 
 nour and  glory,  when  there  came  such  a  voice 
 to  him  from  tlie  excellent  glory,  "  This  is  my 
 beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased. 
 
 IS  And  this  voice  which  came  from  heaven 
 we  heard,  when  we  were  with  him  in  ^  the  holy 
 mount. 
 
 Notes  ov  Chap.  I. — l.  Of  Gud  and  our  Sntuour  Jesus  Christ,  tow 
 Oeou  r'l/iwi'  Kai  SL0Tr]po9  Intrtm  XpiJTow,  *  of  OUT  God  and  SaviDur  JlSUS 
 Christ.*  On  what  authority  our  translators  have  rendered  this  '  of 
 God  and  our  Savinur,'  1  know  not.  Perhaps  they  pointed  the  Greik 
 text  thus,  Oeoii,  seiarating  God  from  the  other  part  of  the  sentence. 
 But  the  propriety  of  tlie  language  dues  not  admit  of  that  punctuation. — 
 So  Mnckn.  The  same  rendering,  Wdls  and  Doddr.  2.  Through  the 
 knou/tdge  «/  Gad,  tv  eTTi-^tonaei,  *  by  the  acknowledging-  of  God.' — 
 Clarke.  3.  Life  and  gudlineas,  felicity  hereafter,  and  purity  here. — 
 Ham,  Or,  to  the  life  vf  godliness.— Jf'/nV/«//.  To  a  godly  life.— -l/acA-n. 
 Glory  and  virtue,  the  glorious  state  answerable  to  '  life'  in  the  preced- 
 ing clause,  and  grace  answerable  to  '  gndUne:>s'  in  the  said  clause. — 
 GUI.  'By  glory  and  virtue.'  an  Hebraism  lor  a  gtnii-ms  virtue  or 
 power.  So  v.  l6.  Ji-r.  xxxii.  3;  Eph.  i.  19,  20. — ytnr,,  so  Guyse. 
 4.  Wher-^by,  6t  «v,  '  by  whom.* — Machi.  5.  Add,  ejnx^p'iTno^uTe, 
 '  lead  t',1  hand  in  hand,'  alluding,  as  most  think,  to  the  chorus  in  tlie 
 Grecian  dance,  when  they  danced  with  jnined  hands. — Clarke.  Lead 
 up.  as  in  a  dance,  one  of  these  virtues  after  another,  in  a  beautifid 
 and  majestic  order. — Doddr.  Virtue,  ofierriv — the  word  is  used  in  the 
 Greek  writers  for  '  courage,  fortitude,  resolution.' — Ham.,  i'ur.  Com- 
 monly used  by  the  Greek  poets  to  denote  military  courage.  6.  Tern, 
 perance,  eyKpaTemi'— tliis  virtue  consists  in  a  confirmed  habit  of  go- 
 verning all  the  affictiou'^,  passions,  and  appetites  of  our  nature,  in  a 
 proper  nianni  r — Mach/t.  Patience,  bearing  tri;ils  and  difficulties  with 
 an  even  mind.  /.  Charity,  uTaTrni/,  love  to  the  whole  human  race, 
 even  to  your  persecutors. — Clarke.  9.  Blind,  spiritually  blind,  as 
 being  destitute  of  saving  knowledge. — Poole.  And  cannot  f.ee  nfur  off, 
 ^uwTTuCtiiis  '  shutting  his  eyes.' — Mnckn.,  as  Borh.  The  apustle  uses 
 tliis  word  to  shew  that  the  blindness  of  which  lie  spake  was  wilful.— 
 Mnckn.  The  word  signifies,  literally,  purblind.  — Bens.  'Short- 
 sighted,* so  as  to  see  things  near  only;  the  things  of  the  world,  but  not 
 of  heaven.— /*ow/''.  Wilfully  blind  against  the  li^tit  t<f  truth.— BooMr. 
 And  hath  forfrntteu,  ^c— he  profcsseth  himself  to  ha\e  been  purged 
 
 from  his  old  sins,  in  justification  and  sanctification,  by  the  blnod  and 
 Spirit  of  Christ,  yet  still  lives  in  sin.  10.  Calling,  *  your  effectual 
 calling  to  the  faith  of  Christ.*  Election,  •  your  eternal  election  to 
 grace  and  glory.' — Poole.  Sure,  '  to  us  in  ourccnsciences,  being  sure 
 before  in  the  secret  purpose  of  God. 'Scott.  Rather,  sure  tn  others  , 
 thiy  cannot  be  made  more  sure  on  God's  part;  and  as  for  making  them 
 more  sure  to  ourselves,  that  isthework  of  the  Spirit  of  Gud. — Gitl. 
 Never  full,  *  not  wholly  apostatize  from  God's  ways.' — Poole.  Mac 
 ^H/g-Af  understands  this  of  the  calling  and  election  of  the  Jews  to  he 
 the  church  and  people  nf  God,  seeing  that  men's  election  to  ettrnal  life 
 cannot  be  more  fiim  than  at  first ;  and  that  the  word  '  fall'  is  used  to 
 signify  the  rejection  of  the  Jews  ns  a  nation,  and  their  falling  from 
 their  privileges  as  the  people  of  God,  (Rom.  xi.  11,)  Transl.  of  Epis. 
 in  loc.  II.  Abundantly,  -nXov^tw^,  '  of  abundant  goodness,'  (Eplies. 
 ii.  A.)—Bl(toinf.  An  abundant,  free,  honourable,  and  triumphant  en- 
 trance. There  seems  to  be  an  allusion  to  the  triumphs  granted  by  the 
 Romans  to  their  generals  who  had  distinguished  themselves  by  puitmg 
 an  end  to  a  war,  or  doing  some  signal  military  service  to  a  state.— (.VurAc. 
 
 12.  The  present  truth,  *  the  truth  which  I  am  now  declaring.'— If^c/Zs. 
 
 13.  This  tnbernaele,  the  mortal  body,  the  tabernacle  of  an  immortal 
 spirit,  but  constituted  of  frail  and  light  materials.— P«r.  14.  Shewed 
 me,  meaning  the  revelation  maile  to  him,  (John,  xxi.  Ifi,  VJ.)—M<iLkn. 
 1.1.  Fndetirourt  by  leaving  behind  these  epistles  fur  future  perusal. — 
 Wells.  After  my  decease,  fj.tn,t  tiji/  tuiji-  e^uAov,  'after  my  going  out,' 
 1.  c.,  of  his  tabernacle. — Clarke.  16.  Cunningly  devised  fables,  suih 
 as  tliose  of  the  heathen,  concerning  the  appearances  of  their  gods  upun 
 earth  in  human  foim-^.  But  were  eyewitnesses,  eTroTiTai,  '  beholders.' 
 The  initiated  into  tht:  grcatur  mysteries  of  the  heathen  were  so  called, 
 because  they  were  admitted  to  behold  a  shiumg  image  which  repre- 
 j-ented  the  supreme  God,  and  heard  an  hymn  in  which  his  attributes 
 were  described  and  celebrated.  In  oppusiiiim  to  these  vain  mysterie-, 
 St,  pL-ter  places  the  much  niuie  grand  and  iinpurtant  mystery  of  the 
 transfiguration,   (Malt.  xui.  I,  2.)— J/ficAv*.         ij.  Eacetlent  glury,  ur 
 
The  wicked  principles 
 
 II.  PETER,  II. 
 
 of  seducers  described. 
 
 1 9  We  have  also  a  more  sure  word  of  pro- 
 phecy ;  whereimto  ye  do  well  that  ye  take 
 heed,  as  unto  '  a  light  that  shiiieth  in  a  dark 
 place,  until  the  day  danii,  and  ''  the  day  star 
 arise  in  your  hearts  : 
 
 20  Knowing  this  first,  that  "  no  prophecy  of 
 the  scripture  is  of  any  private  interpretation. 
 
 21  For  'the  prophecy  came  not  ||  in  old  time 
 by  the  will  of  man  :  ^  but  holy  men  of  God 
 spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 CHAP.   II. 
 
 I  He  foretelleth  thtmi  of  false  teachers,  shewing  the  im- 
 piety and  punishmint  both  of  them  and  their  fol- 
 lowers :  7  from  which  the  godly  shall  be  delivered,  as 
 Lot  was  out  of  Soflom:  10  and  more  fully  describeth 
 the  manners  of  those  profane  and  Unsphemous  se- 
 ducers, whereby  thty  may  be  the  better  known,  and 
 avoided. 
 
 T>  UT  "  there  were  false  prophets  also  among 
 -■--'  the  people,  even  as  ''there  shall  be  false 
 teachers  among  you,  who  privily  shall  bring  in 
 damnable  heresies,  even  '^denying  the  Lord 
 *"  that  bought  them,  "^and  bring  upon  them- 
 selves swift  destruction. 
 
 2  And  many  shall  follow  their  ||  pernicious 
 ways ;  by  reason  of  whom  the  way  of  trutli 
 shall  be  evil  spoken  of. 
 
 3  And  ^  through  covetousness  shall  they  with 
 feigned  words  ^make  merchandise  of  you: 
 '■  whose  judi^ment  now  of  a  long  time  lingereth 
 not,  and  their  damnation  sUmihereth  not- 
 
 4  For  if  God  spared  not  '  the  angels  ''  that 
 sinned,  but  '  cast  them  down  to  hell,  and  deli- 
 vered them  into  chains  of  darkness,  to  be  re- 
 served unto  judgment ; 
 
 Vs    119. 
 105.  John 
 5.  35. 
 d  Rev.  2. 29. 
 &  28,  16. 
 See  2  Cor. 
 4.  4,  6. 
 Rom.  12  6. 
 /  2  Tim.  3. 
 10.  I  Pet. 
 t.  II. 
 
 Or,  al  any 
 time. 
 
 >  2  Sam  .23. 
 2.  Luke  I. 
 70.  Acts  I. 
 16.  &  3.   18. 
 
 a  Deu.  13.  I 
 b  Mat.-2l.ll. 
 
 Acta  gil.Sii. 
 
 \  Cor.11.19. 
 
 1  Tim  4.  I. 
 
 2  Tim.  3.  I, 
 5.  1  John  4 
 I.  Jude  18. 
 
 c  Jude  4. 
 d  I  Cor.6.20. 
 
 Gil.  3,  \X 
 
 Eph.  I.  7. 
 
 Heb.  10.  29. 
 
 1  Pet.  I  19. 
 
 Rev,  5.  9, 
 e  Phil.  3.  19 
 II  Or,  Lsrivi. 
 
 oui  wayt,  OS 
 
 gome  copies 
 
 read. 
 /Rom.  16. 
 
 IS.  2  Cor. 
 
 12.   17,  H. 
 
 I  Tim   6  5. 
 
 Tit.  1.  11. 
 Cor.  2,17. 
 
 ch. 
 
 IG. 
 
 h  Deu. 32  35. 
 
 Jude  4,  15. 
 i  Job  ■!,  13. 
 
 Juiie  6. 
 A  John8.4.k 
 
 I  J..hn3  8. 
 /  I,.ik.-S.  SI. 
 
 Rev.iTO  -J.S. 
 
 A.  D.  GG 
 
 n  Gen.  7.  I, 
 
 7.  ;>J.  HL-b. 
 
 II  7.  I  Pet. 
 
 3.  20. 
 
 r  I  Pet.S  19. 
 .  I'll.  S    6. 
 )>  Geti  19.2(. 
 
 Deu.  29.23 
 
 Jude  7 
 q  Nu.  y6,  10. 
 
 *P3.  119, 
 |:!9,  15S. 
 Ezck.  9  ■ 
 
 T  Jude  4, 7, 
 8,  10,  16. 
 
 il  Or,_  _ 
 y  Jude  8. 
 
 ijSome  read, 
 
 ogn  lit  I 
 
 Ihrmielref. 
 a  Jer    12.  3, 
 
 Jude  10. 
 
 c  See  Rnin. 
 
 l.S.  13. 
 d  Jude  12 
 f  I  Cor    1 1 . 
 
 20,  21. 
 
 5  And  spared  not  tlie  old  world,  but  saved 
 ™  Noah  the  eighth  person^  "  a  preacher  of 
 righteousness,  °  bringing  in  the  flood  upon  the 
 world  (if  the  ungodly  ; 
 
 6  And  ''turning  the  cities  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
 morrha  into  ashes  condemned  them  witli  an 
 overthrow,  ''  making  them  an  ensample  unto 
 those  that  after  should  live  ungodly  ; 
 
 7  And  'delivered  just  Lot,  vexed  with  the 
 filthy  conversation  of  the  wicked  : 
 
 8  {*  For  that  righteous  man  dwelling  among 
 them,  Mn  seeing  and  hearing,  vexed  his  righte- 
 ous soul  from  day  to  day  with  their  unlawful 
 deeds  ;) 
 
 9  "  The  Lord  knoweth  how  to  deliver  the 
 godly  out  of  temptations,  and  to  reserve  the 
 unjust  unto  the  day  of  judgment  to  be 
 punished  : 
 
 10  Hut  chiefly  ^  them  that  walk  after  the 
 flesh  in  the  lust  of  uncleanness,  and  despise 
 II  government.  ^  Presumptuous  are  they,  self- 
 willed,  they  are  not  afraid  to  speak  evil  of 
 dignities. 
 
 1 1  Whereas  '  angels,  which  are  greater  in 
 power  and  might,  bring  not  railing  accusation 
 II  against  them  before  the  Lord. 
 
 VI  But  these, '^  as  natural  brute  beasts,  made 
 to  be  taken  and  destroyed,  speak  evil  of  tlie 
 things  that  they  understand  not  ;  and  shall 
 utterly  perish  in  their  own  corruption  ; 
 
 13  ^  And  shall  receive  the  reward  of  un- 
 righteousness, as  they  that  count  it  pleasure 
 *^^  to  riot  in  tlie  day  time.  ''  Spots  th^y  are. 
 and  blemishes,  sporting  themselves  witli  their 
 own  deceivings  while  *^  they  feast  with  you  ; 
 
 bright  cloud,  which  tlien  appeared,  and  was  the  constant  symbol  of  the 
 Divine  presence. —  Whithi/.  ig.  We  have  also  a  more  sure  tvord,  ^c, 
 '  and  so  wo  have  the  prophetic  word,  (chap.  iii.  2,)  more  firm,  [or  con- 
 firmed,] [made  surer  and  clearer.]  to  which,'  A:c. — Mackn.,  so  Bnwyer, 
 J/nddr.,  Clarke,  Boothr.,  &c.  From  what  occurred  at  the  transfigura- 
 tion, '  we  have  the  word  of  prophecy'  contained  in  the  Old  Testament, 
 and  that  delivered  by  Christ,  or  any  of  his  apostles,  '  more  confirmed' 
 to  us,  as  that  event  shewed  he  was  the  Sod  of  God,  the  true  Messiah, 
 SiQ. ;  and  it  also  proved  the  fflory  he  h.nd  originally  with  the  Father, 
 and  with  which  he  would  he,  and  even  now  is,  invested,  so  as  to  be 
 able  to  accomplish  all  the  prophecies  yet  unfulfilled.  Light, '  lamp.' 
 Prophecy  is  like  a  lamp  in  the  night,  affording  some  light  as  to  the 
 events  foretold  ;  but  tlie  accomplishment  is  as  the  dawn  of  the  day,  when 
 Christians  understand  it  fully. — Boothr.  Dark  place,  atix/inpui.  *  nasty,* 
 such  as  a  dungeon,  which  is  commonly  dark. — Mackn.  Until  the  day 
 d'licn,  %c.,  till  the  day  of  Chri-^t's  glorious  appearing  shall  hegin  to 
 break,  and  till  he,  as  '  the  sun  of  righteousness,  the  day-star  from  on 
 high,  and  the  bright  and  morning  star,*  (Mai.  iv.  2;  Luke,  i.  73;  and 
 Rev.  x.\ii,  l6,'t  shall  arise  in  full  lustre,  and  shed  such  a  transcendent 
 liicht  in  your  souls  as  shall  entirely  dissipate  all  obscurity  or  doubt 
 iihout  what  was  intimated  by  the  vision  on  the  mount,  and  is  further 
 confirmed  by  the  sure  word  of  prophecy. — Guyie.  20.  Private  inter- 
 ptetafion,  limv  £irt\vaeuii,  *  private  impulse.' — Doddr.  '  Private  in- 
 vtntion.'— jl/f;cArn. 
 
 CuAP.  II. — I.  Among  the  ppople,  *  among  the  Jews,  even  as  there 
 shall  be  among  you  Christians.*  Damnable  hereste-i,  literally,  'destruc- 
 tive heresies.* — Mackn.,  as  PuoIp,  and  Doddr.  Denying  the  Lord  thai 
 finugkt  them— men  professing  to  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  *  redeemed 
 the  church  with  his  own  blood,'  and  considering  themselves  as  bought 
 
 with  that  inestimable  '  price,*  instead  of  glorifying  him  by  devoted 
 obedience,  would  cast  off  his  yoke,  renounce  his  authority,  and  refuse 
 to  have  him  '  to  reign  over  them.' — Scott,  Swift,  i.  c,  irresistible  de. 
 struction.  2.  The  way  of  truth  shall  lie  evil  spoken  of,  on  acccmnt  of 
 the  vicious  lives  of  the  false  teachers.  3.  With  feigned  words,  '  ficti- 
 tious tales  ;'  perhaps  the  apostle  had  in  view  those  monkish  fables  which 
 early  prevailed,  and  spn^ad  in  after  ages. — So  Mackn.  5.  Nonh.  the 
 eighth  person,  that  is,  with  seven  others.  This  expression  is  agreeable 
 to  the  manner  of  using  the  ordinal  numbers  in  the  purest  Greek  authors. 
 — Par.  A  preacher,  kiiri-ku.  '  a  crier,  or  herald.'  The  world  of  the  un- 
 godly, so  the  antediluvians  were  called,  having  lost  alt  knowledge  of 
 God.  9.  The  Lord  knoweth  how  to  deliver,  §t.,  which  is  obvious 
 from  the  preservation  of  Noah  and  Lot,  10.  Despise  government, 
 both  of  God  and  man,  haling  to  be  restrained  therel)y.  In  this  pas- 
 sage the  apostle  had  an  eye  to  the  false  teachers  of  the  Jewish  nation, 
 whose  principles  led  tliem  to  despise  the  heathen  magistrates,  and 
 even  to  revile  and  resi-,t  them. — Mackn.  H,  Angels — bring  not  rail- 
 ing accusation  again-tt  them,  in  giving  in  their  report  of  tliese  false 
 teachers,  they  state  matters  as  they  are,  and  bring  no  railing  accusa- 
 tion against  them,  even  bef'.>re  the  L"rd. — Boothr.  12.  .4s  natural 
 brute  brants,  actuated  by  the  impulse  of  their  passions.  13.  As  they, 
 ^■r. — a  new  sentence.  *  They  reckon  riot  which  is  in  the  day,  plea- 
 sure. They  are  spots,*  &c.  Sporting  titemselves  with  t/ieir  oiVn  de^ 
 ceifings,  '  living  in  riot,  by  their  own  deceits.*  The  word  fi/Tiiv<p^v 
 properly  signifies,  '  to  live  in'  sensual  pleasure,  especially  that  of  eat- 
 ing and  drinking  carried  to  excess.  While  they  feast,  '  when  they 
 feast.*  The  primitive  Christians  were  used  to  feast  together  before 
 they  celebrated  the  Lord's  supper,  because  it  was  instituted  by  Christ 
 afttr  he  had  eaten  the  passover  with  his  disciples,  (see  1  Cor.  xi.  21.) 
 
 Rfflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  This  chapter  sbew8  us, 
 L  The  design  of  the  promises — to  make  us  '  partiikers  of  the 
 Divine  nature.'  Not  the  Divine  essence;  this  cannot  be. 
 Hut  those  who  truly  embrace  the  promises  are  made  by  them 
 to  resemble  Liod,  in  some  degree  being  renewed  in  tlie  spirit 
 of  their  mind,  and  having  *  holy  dispositions,  holy  affections, 
 holy  wills,  holy  habits,  and  holy  enjoyments  ;  and  so,  being 
 holy  characters,  and  possessing  holy  expectations,  they  are 
 *  changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory,  as  by  the 
 Spirit  of  our  God.' 
 
 II.  The  diligence  of  the  Christian.  'TLe  barren  and  fruitless 
 professor,' says  Boothroyd,  *  though  formerly  cleansed  from 
 sonrie  of  his  grosser  sins,  has  just  come  to  doubt  of  his  state. 
 It  is  only  by  adding  to  our  faith  the  lovely  train  of  Christian 
 graces,  and  abounding  in  the  exercise  of  them,  that  our  effec- 
 tual calling  of  God,  and  our  election,  as  the  spring  and  cause 
 
 of  it,  can  be  made  sure  to  ourselves  and  manifest  to  others. 
 lie  that  is  destitute  of  these  things  is  blind,  having  closed  his 
 eyes,  as  being  averse  to  the  consideration  of  his  own  condi- 
 tion, and  to  the  instructions,  exhortations,  and  warnings  of 
 God's  holy  word.  Jt  is  the  diligent  hand  that  maketh  rich  ; 
 and  if  we  would  enjoy  the  consolations  of  the  gospel,  and  the 
 h  mour  of  a  triumphant  entrance  into  the  everlasting  kingdom 
 of  our  Lord,  we  must  labour  to  abound  in  all  the  fruits  of 
 pi-'ty  and  devotion.' 
 
 III.  The  guidance  of  God's  u'ord.  We  have  a  sure  word  of 
 prophecy,  well  attested,  and  constantly  confirmed  in  the  events 
 of  the  church  and  world,  and  in  the  experience  of  Chrislians. 
 To  this  let  us  submit  ourselves  ;  it  will  lead  us,  assuredly,  to 
 tlie  Saviour,  and  so  guide  our  feet  in  the  way  of  peace,  and 
 lead  us  finally  to  the  mansions  of  glory. 
 
The  character  of  backsliders  described.  II.  PETER,  III. 
 
 Of  Christ^s  second  cominf/. 
 
 14  Having  eyes  full  of  f  adultery,  and  that 
 cannot  cease  from  sin  ;  beguiling  unstable 
 souls:  ^an  lieart  they  have  exercised  with  co- 
 vetous practices  ;  cursed  children  : 
 
 15  Wliich  have  forsaken  the  right  way,  and 
 are  gone  astray,  following  the  way  of  ^Balaam 
 the  son  of  Bosor,  wlio  loved  the  wages  of  un- 
 righteousness ; 
 
 }(i  But  was  rebuked  for  his  iniquity:  the 
 dumb  ass  speaking  with  man's  voice  forbad  the 
 madness  of  the  prophet. 
 
 17  ''These  are  wells  without  water,  clouds 
 that  are  carried  with  a  tempest ;  to  whom  the 
 mist  of  darkness  is  reserved  for  ever. 
 
 1 8  For  when  '  they  speak  great  swelling  rvords 
 of  vanity,  they  allure  through  the  lusts  of  the 
 flesh,  thruugh  much  wantonness,  those  that 
 ^  were  [|  clean  escaped  from  them  who  live  in 
 error. 
 
 19  While  they  promise  them  '  liberty,  they 
 themselves  are  "'  the  servants  of  corruption  : 
 for  of  whom  a  man  is  overcome,  of  the  same  is 
 he  brought  in  bondage. 
 
 ■20  For  "  if  after  they  "  have  escaped  the  pol- 
 lutions of  the  world  ''through  the  knowledge 
 of  the  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  they  are 
 again  entangled  therein,  and  overcome,  the 
 latter  end  is  worse  with  them  than  the  begin- 
 ning. 
 
 21  For  "'it  had  been  better  for  them  not  to 
 have  known  the  way  of  righteousness,  tlian, 
 after  they  have  known  it,  to  turn  from  the  holy 
 commandment  delivered  unto  them. 
 
 *2-2  But  it  is  happened  unto  them  according 
 to  the  true  proverb,  '  The  dog  is  turned  to  his 
 own  vomit  again  ;  and  tlie  sow  that  was  washed 
 to  her  wallowing  in  the  mire. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  He  assureth  them  of  the  certainty  of  Christ's  coinhty 
 
 g  Nil,  ■>?.  s 
 7.  SI.  AW. 
 Jude  II. 
 
 It  Art9  2.  4fl. 
 ch.  I.  4. 
 ver.  au. 
 
 11  Or,  for  a 
 liltl^,  r>r,  a 
 ivhilf,  as 
 f-nme  read. 
 
 /  Gal.  5.  l:<. 
 I  Pet.  2.  16. 
 
 m  John  8.84 
 Kom,  6    16. 
 
 ..  Mat.  IS  4ft. 
 Luke  ll.iO 
 Heh.04,)(.c 
 id  10    iJli,^. 
 
 '.  ch.  I.  4. 
 ver.  13. 
 
 J)  ch.  1.  2. 
 
 ?  Luke  12. 
 
 c  1  Tim  1.1. 
 
 a  Tim.  3.  I. 
 
 J  11(1  e  Id. 
 ft  ch.  2.  10. 
 
 e  U.  5    tf). 
 Jer.  17.  l-'i. 
 Kie.  12  «■:, 
 a;.  Mhi.21. 
 48.  Luke 
 I -J.  45. 
 
 /Gen.  \.  6, 
 
 y.  Ps.  Xi.  6. 
 
 Heb    n.  3. 
 f  Gt.coiisuI- 
 
 i'lg. 
 g  Ps.  21.  2. 
 
 &  136  6. 
 
 C.il.  1.  17. 
 h  Gen  7,  II. 
 
 ■>1,  2-2,  '^J. 
 
 ch.  -i 
 
 .   10. 
 
 m  Hab.  2.  -S. 
 
 Heb   MP.S7. 
 n  Is    SO.  Ifi. 
 
 I  Pel.  3.au. 
 
 ver.  15. 
 o  Vae.  Ifl.fi'l, 
 
 32.  &  3311. 
 J}  Kom.  2.  4. 
 
 1  Tim.  2.  4. 
 
 tojudyment^ayuinut  thnsv  svormrs  who  disjmte  UQuinst 
 it :  B  warniny  thv  <;odli/,J'or  the  long  patience  of  God, 
 to  hasten  their  repv/iinnce.  10  He  describeth  also  the 
 manner  how  the  world  shall  he  desfroycd :  1 1  eahort- 
 huf  them,  from  the  rxpectatiim  thtrtof,  to  all  holinrss 
 of  life  :  16  and  nynin,  lo  think  the  patience  of  God  to 
 tend  to  their  salvatiuiij  us  Paul  wrote  to  them  in  his 
 ej)ist'es. 
 
 T*^HIS  second  epistle,  beloved,   I   now  write 
 ,  •*-    unto  you  ;  in  both  which  °  I  stir  up  your 
 
 pure  minds  by  way  of  remembrance  : 
 j    '2  That  ye  may  be  mindful  of  the  words  which 
 !  were  spoken  before  by  the  holy  prophets,  ^and 
 
 of  the  conmiandment  of  us  the  apostles  of  the 
 
 Lord  and  Saviour  : 
 
 '    3  *^  Knowing  this  first,  that  there  shall  come 
 iin  the  last  day  scoffers,  '^walking  after  their 
 I  own  lusts, 
 I   4  And  saying,  '^  Where  is  the  promise  of  his 
 
 coming?  for  since   the  fathers  fell  asleep,  all 
 
 tilings  contiime  as  the^  were  from   the  begin- 
 I  ning  of  the  creation. 
 
 5  For  this  they  willingly  are  ignorant  of,  that 
 'by  the  word  of  God  the  lieavens  were  of  old, 
 and  the  earth  f^standing  out  of  the  water  and 
 in  the  water  : 
 
 6  ^  Whereby  the  world  that  then  was,  being 
 overflowed  with  water,  perished : 
 
 7  But  '  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  which  are 
 now,  by  the  same  word  are  kept  in  store,  re- 
 served unto  '' fire  against  the  day  of  judgment 
 and  perdition  of  ungodly  men. 
 
 8  But,  beloved,  be  not  ignorant  of  this  one 
 thing,  that  one  day  is  with  the  Lord  as  a 
 thousand  years,  and  '  a  thousand  years  as  one 
 day. 
 
 9  ""The  Lord  is  not  slack  concerning  his 
 promise,  as  some  men  count  slackness  ;  but 
 "  z's  longsuffering  to  us-ward,  "not  willing  that 
 any  should  perish,  but  ''  that  all  should  come 
 to  repentance. 
 
 These  previous  suppers  were  called  (Jude,  12)  a7ajra(,  Move  feasts,' 
 because  the  rich,  by  feasting  their  poor  brethren,  expressed  their 
 love  to  them.  On  these  occasions,  the  false  teachers  and  their  dis- 
 ciples were  guilty  of  much  lewdness. — Mankn.  14.  Having  ey en  full 
 of  udiiltfry,  o{}>Oa\fiovv — ficarow  ^lolxa\tiot — there  is  a  prodigious 
 strength  in  this  expression  ;  it  properly  signifies,  their  having  an  adul- 
 teress continnally  before  their  eyes. — Doddr.  Unstable  souls,  not  esta- 
 blished in  the  faith  and  practiceof  the  gospel, — ?Inckn.  15.  Bitsor — 
 the  Hebrew  says  Beor,  and  so  two  ancient  NSS.,  and  some  of  tht 
 Versiojjs  read  in  this  passage. — Clarke,  17.  Wells  without  water — 
 there  being  few  wells,  and  little  rain,  in  the  eastern  countries,  it  was  a 
 grievous  disappointment  to  a  thirsty  traveller  to  come  to  a  well  that 
 had  no  water.  Clouds,  fyc. — in  a  dry  country,  the  husbandman's  dis- 
 appointment was  great  to  see  clouds  arise  which  gave  him  the  pro- 
 spect  of  rain,  but  ended  in  a  tempest,  which,  instead  of  refreshing, 
 destroyed  the  fruits  of  the  earth.  By  these  comparis<ins,  the  ostenta- 
 tion, liypocrisy,  levity,  and  perniciousness,  of  the  false  teachers  are 
 setforili  in  the  strongest  colojirs.  Mist  of  darkness,  'blackness  of 
 darkness.'  In  scripture,  *  darkness*  signifies  a  state  of  disconsolate 
 misery,  (see  Matt.  viii.  12.)  The  text  means,  a  great  dcree  of  future 
 misery.  18.  For  when,  ^c,  '  because,  speaking  great  swelling  words 
 of  falsehood,  they  allure  by  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  even  by  lascivious- 
 nesses,  those  who  have  actually  fled  away  from  them  who  are  living 
 in  error.* — Mnckn.  Clean  escaped,  'nearly  escaped.'  —  Boothroyd. 
 19.  For  of  whom,  l^c,  '  for  by  what  a  man  is  conquered,  by  that  al:^o 
 he  is  enslaved.' — Mnckn.  This  is  an  aUnsion  to  the  aucient  custom  of 
 making  those  slaves  who  were  conquered  and  taken  in  battle. — Le 
 Clerc,  see  Just.  Inst.,  lib.  i.,tit.  3.  'JO.  For  if  after  they  hare  escaped 
 the  pollutions,  ^c. — the  word  /jLia<Tti.aTa,  in  the  language  of  the  ancient 
 physicians,  signilied  the  infection  of  the  plague.  Jt  is  here  used  to 
 denote  sin  in  general,  but  more  especially  the  sin  of  lasciviousnes.s,  on 
 
 account  of  its  infectious  nature  and  destructive  consequences.  Para- 
 PHRASK — '  If,  having  fled  away  from  the  pollutions  of  the  heathens, 
 through  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  being  a 
 second  time  entangled  in  these  lascivious  practices,  they  are  overcome 
 by  them,  the  latter  pollutions  are  more  fatal  to  them  than  the  first, 
 because  they  are  more  aggravated,  more  difficult  to  be  expelled,  and 
 will  be  more  severely  punished,'  (see  Matt.  xii.  45.) — Mackn.  22.  The 
 dog  is  turned,  §-f.— this  proverb,  with  great  propriety  and  strength, 
 marks  out  the  sottishness  and  odious  manners  of  wretches  enslaved  to 
 sensual  appetites  and  carnal  lusts, and  theextieme  difficulty  of  reform- 
 ing vicious  and  inveterate  habits. — BlackwaU. 
 
 Chap.  111.— I.  Pure  minds,  such  a--  remain  yet  untainted  by  here- 
 sies.—  Wells.  Ei^i«pil'n  biavoiav,  '  sinccram  mentem.* — Mont.  '  Your 
 sincere  mind.'— il/«c^«.  2- By  the  holy  prophets—see   Jude,    14; 
 
 Dan.  xii.  2. —  Whitby.  3.  In  the  last  days,  en-'  eo-xarou  tuiv  i)fj.€pwv. 
 Perhaps  it  means  the  last  part  of  the  days  of  the  world's  duration.— 
 Mackn.  i.  Since  the  fathers,  '  except  that  the  fathers  are  fallen 
 asleep.*— Grotte,  Add.  Posth.  Serm.  Ail  things  continue,  such  as  the 
 existence  and  motion  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  the  seasons,  &c.  &.c. — 
 Mackn.  5.  For  this  they  willingly  are  ignorant  of,  '  can  they  forget 
 all  the  facts,  and  wink  thus  at  all  the  former  demonstrations  of  divine 
 ju^itice  and  Providence  over  mankind?' — Pyle.  '.Reserved  unto 
 fire,  ^c. — the  like  language  was  figurative  when  spoken  by  the  pro- 
 phets, and  literally  interpreted  exhibits  im|)ossibilities,  as  '  rolling  up 
 the  heavens,'  &c.,  '  turning  the  moon  into  blood,'  &c. ;  but  consider- 
 ing the  constituent  parts  of  which  this  terraqueous  globe  is  composed, 
 tlie  destructions  here  mentioned  are  all  possible,  and  may  be  under- 
 strtod  literally  in  the  apostolic  phraseology, — Mackn.  9,  Not  willing 
 that  any  should  perish,  that  is,  God  has  provided  a  sufficient  sacrifice 
 fur  their  sin  in  Christ;  he  reprieveth  ihem  from  deserved  damnation 
 and  patiently  endureth  them  ;  he  ofl'ereUi  pardon  aud  salvation  to  all 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II.  — Two  classes  of  men  are 
 Ijere  especially  described  — I.  False  teachers.  There  have  al- 
 ways been  such  men.  even  among  teachers  in  tlie  church  of 
 Clirist ;  teaching  the  most  soul-deceiving  doctrines,  walking 
 after  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  grasping  at  gain,  rather  than  aim- 
 ing to  win  souls  to  C'iinst,  and  leading  them  by  their  example 
 into  sin,  instead  of  being  instruments  in  saving  their  souls. 
 Dreadful  will  be  tbeir  account,  and  awlul  their  reward ! — 
 'whose  judgment  lingereth  not,  and  their  damnation  slum- 
 beretli  not.' 
 
 1327 
 
 II.  False  professors.     Alas,  how  many  bave  we  seen  who 
 
 have  reformed  their  lives,  and,  yielding  to  the  conviction  of 
 tlieir  consciences,  become,  for  awbile,  seemingly  most  reli- 
 liious  characters  ;  but  they  have  not  passed  the  boundary  from 
 nature  to  grace,  and  after  having  made  these  more  than  hope- 
 ful appearances,  they  have  returned  to  their  natural  propen- 
 sities, the  animal  habits  prevail,  and  in  them  the  proverb  is 
 deplorably  illustrated,  *  The  dog  is  turned  to  his  own  vomit 
 attain,  and  the  sow  that  was  washed  to  her  wallowing  in  the 
 m 1  re ! ' 
 
77ie  manner  of  the  worhVs  dissolution. 
 
 II.  PETER,  III. 
 
 Peter  cxhorteth  to  holiness* 
 
 10  But  ''  tlie  day  of  the  Lord  will  come  as  a 
 thief  in  the  night  :  in  the  whicli  'the  lieavens 
 shall  pass  away  with  a  o;reat  noise,  and  the 
 elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat,  the  earth 
 also  and  tlie  works  that  are  therein  shall  be 
 burned  up. 
 
 11  Seeinij  then  that  all  these  things  shall  be 
 dissolved,  what  maimer  of  persons  ought  ye  to 
 be  'in  all  holy  conversation  and  godliness, 
 
 12  '  Looking  for  and  || hasting  unto  the  com- 
 ing of  the  day  of  God,  wherein  the  heavens 
 being  on  fire  shall  "  be  dissolved,  and  the  ele- 
 ments shall  "  melt  with  fervent  heat? 
 
 13  Nevertiieless  we,  according  to  his  promise, 
 look  for  ^  now  heavens  and  a  new  earth,  where- 
 in dwelleth  righteousness. 
 
 14  Wherefore,  beloved,  seeing  that  ye  look 
 for  such  things,  be  diligent  "^  that  ye  may  he 
 found   of  him    in    peace,   without   spot,   and 
 
 A.    D.  C6. 
 
 q  Mat. --M -1:1 
 Luke  I2.S9 
 I  Thes.  ft.3 
 Kev.  S.  -Ah 
 16.   lo 
 
 T  I's    102.26- 
 
 u  51  a 
 
 Mat   2(.3J. 
 
 Mark  13  31 
 
 Rnin    8.  'iU. 
 
 Heb    1.  n. 
 
 Rev.  20.11. 
 
 &  21.  I. 
 *  I  Vet.  \Ab- 
 I  1    Cnp.    I    7 
 
 Tit.  ■!.  I.S 
 
 lltf  camiita 
 u  Ps.  oil.  3- 
 
 Is.  A\    -1. 
 X  Mic.  1.1 
 
 ver.   UP. 
 J,  Is   65.  I7.& 
 
 Cti.*>2.    Kev 
 
 81.   I.  27. 
 z   I  Cm-.  1    8. 
 
 &  15  sa. 
 Phil.  1,  in, 
 
 IThe8..3.i:!. 
 ft  5,  £3. 
 
 i  Rom.fi.  19. 
 ICoi.l5.?l. 
 lTlieB.4.15. 
 
 c  Mark  13 
 S.S.  fh.i.i: 
 
 d  Epli  I  I 
 ch.  I.  1(1,1 
 
 <■  Kpli  A.  ■ 
 I  Put.  2. 
 A 2  Tim.  -1 
 
 blameless. 
 
 13  And  account  that  "the  longsuflfering  of 
 our  Lord  is  salvation  ;  even  as  our  beloved 
 brother  Paul  also  according  to  tiie  wisdom 
 given  unto  him  hath  written  unto  you  ; 
 
 16  As  also  in  all  his  epistles,  ^speaking  in 
 them  of  these  things  ;  in  which  are  some 
 things  hard  to  be  understood,  which  they  that 
 are  unlearned  and  unstable  wrest,  as  thej/  da 
 also  the  other  scriptures,  unto  their  own  de- 
 struction. 
 
 17  Ye  therefore,  beloved, '^  seeing  ye  know 
 these  ^/i7»/7s  before,  •*  beware  lest  ye  also,  being 
 led  away  with  the  error  of  the  wicked,  fall  from 
 your  own  stedfastness. 
 
 18  '■  But  grow  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge 
 of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Clirist.  ^  To 
 him  be  glory  both  now  and  for  ever.     Amen. 
 
 that  will  accept  it,  who  hear  his  offer,  he. — Baxter.  Tiiat  the  whole 
 number  of  the  objects  of  his  sijccial  love,  who  belong  to  the  election  of 
 grace,  may  be  cailed  in  their  several  generations. — Guyse.  '  Not  will- 
 ing that  any  of  us  should  perish,  whom  he  has  loved  with  an  everlast- 
 ing love.' — Gill.  Many  wlio  were  Christians  at  the  time  that  the  apustle 
 wrote  owed  thtir  salvation  to  '  the  long  suffering  of  God,*  who  thus  gave 
 them  time  and  grace  for  repentance;  and  even  some  of  those  who 
 were  then  objectmg  to  the  delay  of  Christ's  coming,  as  if  it  invalidated 
 the  truth  of  the  gospel,  might  at  length  be  converted,  and  know  that 
 '  God'  was  not  willing  that  they  should  perish,  but  that  they  should 
 come  to  repentance. — Scntt.  ii).  Day  of  the  Lord,  destruction  of 
 Jerusalem. — Ham.  The  judgment  day,  (ver.  7.) — Voddr.,  so  H'ty,  &c. 
 As  a  thief,  break  in  upon  men  when  they  least  e-vpect  it,  with  a  ter- 
 rible alarm. —  Duddr.  With  a  great  noise,  '  with  a  storm.'  —  EraS' 
 mus.  JCleinents,  the  word  o-Toixtmi  signifies,  the  first  principles  or  con- 
 stituent parts  of  anything. — Mnrkn.  12.  Histing  unto  the  coming, 
 i.  e.,  hasting  to  prepare  for  W.—  Whitht/.  Earnestly  desiring  W.—Pur., 
 Macka.;  same  purport,  Duddr.  13.  His  promise — see  Is.  Ixv.  17, 
 and  Ixvi.  22.  Neic  he'iveiix  and  n  new  enith,  not  a  new  church  state, 
 for  that  hart  taken  place  already,  hut  literally.  Nut  new  for  sub.stance, 
 hut  f.ir  qualities  ;  all  being  purged  and  purified  by  fire,  cleared  of  every- 
 thing noxious,  needless,  and  disagreeable  :  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth 
 will  appear,  refiriL-d  an;l  j)urgeil  from  everything  wtiich  the  curse  brought 
 thereon  for  man's  sin.  Dwelleth  rightenusness,  means  righteous  men. 
 These  only  will  be  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  neavensanrt  the  new  earth. 
 — Gill.  The  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth,  which  Peter  and  John  tell 
 us  expressly  are  to  succeed  the  present  he.-^vens  and  earth  after  the 
 general  judgment,  do  by  no  means  signify  the  state  of  things  called  the 
 millennium,  which  is  to  take  place  and  come  to  an  end  before  the 
 general  judgment.  15.  Is  aulmtion,  designed  to  promote  the  salva- 
 tion of  sinners.    Paul — hath  written  unto  yuii,  this  cpisUe  being  writ- 
 
 ten  to  those  to  whom  the  first  epistle  was  sent,  the  persons  to  whom 
 Paul  wrote  concerning  the  long  suffering  of  God  were  the  Jewish  and 
 Gentile  Christians  in  Pontus,  Galatia.  &c.  Accordingly,  we  know  he 
 wrote  to  the  Ephesians,  chap.  ii.  3,  4,  5 ;  to  the  Colossians,  chap.  i.  21  ; 
 and  to  Timothy,  first  epistle,  chap.  ii.  4  -.  things  which  imply  that  God's 
 bearing  with  sinners  is  intended  for  their  salvation.  The  persons  to 
 whom  Peter's  epistles  were  sent  were,  for  the  most  part,  Paul's  con- 
 verts.—.V'/cfrn.  This  may  refer  to  Rom.  ii.  4,  which,  though  addressed 
 to  the  Uomans,  might  be  considered  as  designed  U'T  the  jreneral  use  of 
 Ctiristians. — Dnddr.  l6.  Of  these   things,  about  which   Peter  'lad 
 
 written,  as  Christ's  coming  to  judgment,  i  Thcss.  iii.  13;  iv.  14 — 18; 
 •2  Thess.  i.  7— lo  ;  Tit.  ii.  I3  ;  resurrection,  1  Cor.  .w.  22  ;  PhiHp.  iii.  20, 
 21  ;  burning  of  the  earth,  2  Thess.  i.  8;  heavenly  couniry,  2  Cor.  v. 
 1—11);  introduction  of  the  righteous  into  that  country,  1  Thess.  iv.  17; 
 ileb.  iv.  9;  xii.  14,  18,  24  ;  judgment,  Kom.  xiv.  lO.—Mackn.  Ttiingn 
 hard  to  be  understood,  as  the  destruction  of  antichrist,  resurrection, 
 change  of  the  living  saints,  standing  before  the  judiiment  seat,  S.c., 
 (see  )  Thcss.  iv.  13—17  ;  2  Thess.  i.  7.  8,  and  ii.  8  j  l  Cur.  xv.  44,  51, 
 52;  2  Cor.  V.  10;  Rom.  xiv.  \2.)^GiU.  Unlearned,  «;iaWt-ic,  '  un- 
 teachahle. '—Ka^us,  so  Mnrkn.  Does  not  mean  destitute  of  what  we 
 call  human  learning,  but  not  well  skilled  in  divine  things.  Unslnhle, 
 not  well  grounded  in  the  faith.  Wrest,  misapply  and  pervert.— W/j. 
 Atterbury,  '  Wiest,*  <jjp'.ii\ovatv,  a  word  use  I  for  putting  a  person  to 
 ttie  torture. — Mnckn.  They  make  scripture  speak  an  unnatural  sen>e, 
 which  was  never  intended,  as  the  limbs  of  tortured  persons  are  dis- 
 torted on  the  rack. — Par.  17.  Beivare,  '  be  on  your  guard.'  The 
 word  ipfXaaatafft  is  a  military  term,  denoting  the  action  ot  soldiers 
 who  ktjcp  guard   in   fortified  towns  or   castles.  18.  Fur    ever,    eic 
 
 ii^epav  aiu)io\',  '  until  the  day  of  eternity.' — Alnckn.  'iliis  teaches  us 
 that  eternity  is  a  day  without  a  night— a  real  and  perpetual  day. — 
 Bengetius. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  III.  —  Let  us  now  notice,  L  The 
 solemn  event  here  jtrcdicted and  tlvscrihul.  It  may  or  it  may  not 
 come  while  we  remain  alive  upon  the  earth,  but  it  will  come 
 at  last,  and  we  shall  be  deeply  interested  in  it.  Every  hour, 
 while  we  are  hastening  to  dissolution,  the  world  is  also  has- 
 tening to  dissolution  with  us.  And  in  that  solemn  moment 
 when  all  that  earth  has  called  good  and  great  shall  have  passed 
 away,  blessed  indeed  will  he  be  who  can  stand  upon  the  ruins 
 of  liie  world,  and  say,  '  1  have  lost  nothing,' — who.  indeed, 
 shall  view  himself  the  possessor  of  purity  and  felicity  this 
 %vorld  could  never  afibrd,  and  an  inheritance  and  glories  which 
 render  tlie  greatest  honours  and  possessions  of  earth  nothing. 
 
 and  *less  than  nothing  and  vanity.*     Let  us  notice — 
 
 II.  The  influence  which  this  predicted  ertnt  should  hfivv  vjion 
 our  hearts  and  lives.  *  What  manner  of  persons  oui^ht  we  to 
 be!"  How  should  we  stand  upon  our  watch  tower'  How 
 seriously  should  we  inquire  into  our  future  prospects!  How- 
 should  we  dread  backsliding  and  apostasy  !  O  that  the  loog- 
 sutiVring  of  God  may  be  to  us  salvation  !  Thai  the  Holy  Spirit 
 may  guide  us  into  all  truth  !  That  we  may  hold  fast  the  pro- 
 fession of  our  faith  without  wavering!  Th;it  we  may  'grow 
 in  grace.'  and  so  be  made  meet  for  glory,  through  our  Lord 
 and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  And  let  us  repeat  wiili  the  apostle, 
 *  To  him  be  glory,  both  now  and  for  ever.     Anu-n.' 
 
 THE    FIRST    EPISTLE    GENERAL 
 
 JOHN. 
 
 [Tins  epistle  is  not  addressed  lo  any  particular  church,  but  seems  to  have  been  written  for  the  purpose  of  correcting  tlie  pre- 
 vailing errors  of  the  day,  especially  those  of  the  DocetJE,  some  of  whom  denied  the  divinity,  and  some  the  humanity,  of 
 Christ,  and  the  Nicolait.ins,  who  pretended  that  the  sufferings  of  Christ  en  our  behalf  released  us  from  all  obligations  to 
 follow  holiness  and  practise  good  works.  There  is  a  peculiar  style  and  s|,irit  in  the  writings  of  John  ;  and  the  reader 
 .nust  be  struck  with  the  strong  resemblance  which  there  is  in  his  spirit  and  language  to  the  spirit  and  language  of  the 
 Jiscourses  of  his  divine  Lord  and  Master  which  he  recorded  in  his  gosiiel.  As  '  the  disciple  whom  Jbsus  loved,'  he 
 seems  to  have  trodden  very  closely  in  his  footsteps.  The  date  of  this  epistle  is  fixed  at  about  A.u.  G8.  Serijitures^  re- 
 fcritd  to  in  John:— Cien.  iv.  4—8;  Deut.  xiii.  13;  1  Kings,  viii.  4G ;  Job,  xix.  "26;  xlii.  8;  I's.  xvi.  II  ; 
 vii.  20;  Isa.  ix.  6;  liii. ;  liv.  5;  Iv.  7;  Ixi.  1  ;  Jer.  xxxi.  'di,  ;34;  iVIic.  vi.  8;  Rom.  iii.  24.] 
 1328 
 
 xli.  !) ;  Eccl. 
 
The  person  of  Christ  described. 
 
 I.  JOHN,  I.,  11. 
 
 Confessions  of  sins  enjoined. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 1  He  dcscriheth  the  person  of  Christ,  in  whom  wc  have 
 ctfrnal  life,  hy  a  communion  unth  God:  5  to  which 
 we  7nust  adjoin  holiness  of  life,  to  testifi/  the  truth  of 
 that  our  communion  and  profession  of  faith,  as  also 
 to  assure  ns  of  the  forgiveness  of  our  sins  by  Christ's 
 death. 
 
 n^HAT    ^  wiiich    was   from   the   beginning, 
 -*-    which  we  liave  heard,  which  we  have  seen 
 
 with  our  eyes,  ^  which  we  have  looked  upon, 
 
 and  ^  our  hands  have  handled,  of  the  Word  of 
 
 life  ; 
 •2  (For  ''  the  life  "^was  manifested,  and  we  have 
 
 seen  ?7,  ""and  bear  witness,  ^  and  shew  unto  you 
 
 that  eternal  life,  ^  which  was  with  the  Father, 
 
 and  was  manifested  unto  us  ;) 
 
 3  '  Tiiat  which  we  have  seen  and  heard  de- 
 clare we  unto  you,  that  ye  also  may  have  fel- 
 lowship with  us  :  and  truly  ^  our  fellowship  is 
 with  the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 4  And  these  things  write  we  unto  you,  'that 
 your  joy  may  be  full. 
 
 5  ■"  This  then  is  the  message  which  we  have 
 heard  of  him,  and  declare  unto  you,  tiiat  "God 
 is  light,  and  in  him  is  no  darkness  at  all. 
 
 It  J.)hi>  I  14 
 ■2  Pet.  1  1(> 
 ch.  1.  1 1 
 
 c  Luke  lii. 
 39,  J..lin 
 20.  27, 
 
 dJohii  1.4. 
 &  U.  2b.  & 
 14,  G. 
 
 Koi 
 
 .  16. 
 
 16. 1  Till 
 
 Iti.  ch.  3.  5. 
 /.Tohiiai. 
 
 ■3i.  Acts  2. 
 
 32. 
 
 ^  oh.  S.  20. 
 A  J.ilin  I  1,2. 
 i  Acts  4.  20 
 /t  Jnli.i  IT. 
 
 II     2  Cur. I. 
 
 9  cli.  2  24 
 /  Joli.i  15. 
 
 U.  (t  16,  ?4 
 
 2J..hn  12. 
 n,  Cll.  .-i.  II. 
 ri  John  I.  9. 
 
 h  8.  la.  Ki 
 
 9.  5.  &  12. 
 
 35,  36. 
 
 0  I  Cor.6  n. 
 Eph.  1.  7- 
 Heb   9.  11. 
 I  Pet    1.19. 
 .•Ii    2   2. 
 
 R." 
 
 7  1  Kill. 8. in. 
 
 2  ri.i.  li  .sii. 
 
 Job  0.  •,'.  fa 
 
 iD.li.  &  25. 
 
 4   Pro. 811.9. 
 
 Etcles.7  ai). 
 
 Jura.  3,  2. 
 r  ch.  2.  4. 
 i  I'B.  32.  5. 
 
 Pro.  28.  IS. 
 /  ver.  7. 
 
 Ps.  51.  2. 
 
 1  Kom.9.3t. 
 I  Tim.  2  ■)- 
 Hel>.  7.  2b. 
 &  9.  24^. 
 
 6  "^  If  we  say  that  we  have  fellowship  with 
 him,  and  walk  in  darkness,  we  lie,  and  do  not 
 the  trutli ; 
 
 7  But  if  we  walk  in  the  light,  as  he  is  in  the 
 ligiu,  we  have  fellowship  one  with  another,  and 
 ''  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth 
 us  from  all  sin. 
 
 8  '^  If  we  say  that  we  have  no  sin,  we  deceive 
 ourselves,  ^aiid  tlie  truth  is  not  in  us. 
 
 9  ^  If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and 
 just  to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  *  cleanse  us 
 from  all  unrighteousness, 
 
 10  If  we  say  that  we  have  not  sinned,  we 
 make  him  a  liar,  and  his  word  is  not  in  us. 
 
 CHAP.  11. 
 
 I  ffe  comforteth  them  ayainst  the  sins  of  infirmity,  3 
 Riijhtly  to  know  God  is  to  keep  his  commandments ^ 
 9  to  love  our  brethren,  15  and  not  to  love  the  world. 
 18  We  must  beware  of  seducers :  2^  from  whose  de- 
 ceits the  podlt/  arc  safe,  preserved  by  perseverance  in 
 faith,  and  hoUjiess  of  life* 
 
 "IV/rY  little  children,  tliese  things  write  I  unto 
 
 iVJL        yQy^    jj^^t    yg    gji^    j^Q^^  J^jjJ     if    j^i^y    jy,3,^    j.J,;^ 
 
 ^  we  have  an  advocate  with  tlie  Father,  Jesus 
 Christ  the  righteous  : 
 
 NoTKS  ON  C'lAP.  I. — 1.  That  which  was,  that  is,  as  the  expression 
 here  means,  *  the  word  which  was  j'  namely,  with  the  Father  (ver.  2) 
 before  he  was  manifested. — Bens.  That  glorious  personage,  Jesus 
 Christ  the  Lord. — Clarke.  From  the  beginni?ig,  of  the  gospel,  meaning 
 the  entrance  of  Christ  upon  his  ministry,  (see  the  phrase,  John,  xv.  1~  ; 
 Acts,  xxvi.  4  ;  1  John,  ii.  7,  24;  iii.  U  ;  2  John,  5,  6.) — Muckn.,  ^o 
 Benson,  Whitby,  Rosenm.,  Sec.  Who  needed  to  be  informed  that  he 
 was  from  the  beginning  of  the  gospel?  The  phrase  is  equivalent  with 
 John,  i.  1,  and  means  from  eternity. — Bens.,  so  Guyse,  Martin,  Bp. 
 Built  Carpxav,  Gill,  Sciitt,  Boothr.,  Clarke,  Sic.  It  seems  not  incon- 
 gruous to  suppose  that  the  apostle  intended,  by  his  language,  to  em- 
 brace both  the  meanings  together. — Ham.,  so  Doddr.  '  From  the 
 beginning  of  the  gospel  declaration,  and  indeed  from  the  beginning  of 
 the  world,  and  previous  to  its  existence.'— Pucw/jftr.  in  loc.  Which  we 
 have  heard,  ^-c,  proclaim  the  doctrine  of  eternal  life. — Clarke.  Seen — 
 looked  upon,  the  first  word  merely  expresses  perceptive  vision  ;  the 
 second,  surveying,  bthulding,  contemplating.— L«cA-p.  "o  edeaJaiicOa, 
 •which  we  have  attentively  looked  upon,'  that  is,  with  a  kind  of 
 delight  and  admiration. — Blarkwall.  Have  handled,  this  probably 
 refers  to  Thomas's  having  insisted  upon  handling  Christ's  body,  in 
 proof  of  his  resurrection. — Doddr.  These  words  were  peculiarly  level- 
 led against  the  Memandrians,  called  also  Docetse,  who  denied  the  real 
 existence  of  the  flesh  of  Christ,  and  asserted  that  it  was  only  a  visible 
 appearance. — Berriman.  Of  the  Word  of  life,  nepi  tou  Xoyov  rnv  ^totj^, 
 literally,  '  concerning  the  word  of  life;*  but  the  expression  is  an  He- 
 braism, which  sheweth  it  ought  to  be  translated,  *  concerning  the  living 
 V7ord  ;'  the  real  manifestation  of  the  word  or  Son  of  God  in  the  flesh. 
 — Mnckn.  1.  The  life  was  manifested,  that  life-giving  word  of  his 
 Father  was  manifreted  in  the  flesh. — Bp.  Hull.  The  life  of  the  word  in 
 the  flesh.  Shew, '  declare.'— it/f//;A:n.  3.  Fellowship— the  Greeks  used 
 the  word  Koivwvta  to  denote  a  participation  in  their  religious  rites  and 
 mysteries,  and  in  the  benefits  stippo^cd  to  be  procured  by  them. — 
 Chandl.  It  also  signifies  a  fellowship  or  company  of  men  joined  toge- 
 ther by  some  common  bond,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  cpitain 
 advantages  by  means  of  tlieir  union.  It  here  means  the  union  of 
 Christ's  disciples  in  one  common  faith,  society,  or  church,  for  worship- 
 ping the  only  true  God.  through  the  mediatiim  of  his  son  Jesus  Christ ; 
 and  for  receiving  from  him,  through  the  same  mediation,  the  great 
 blessings  of  protection  and  direction  in  the  present  lite,  and  of  pardon 
 and  eternal  happiness  in  the  life  to  come.  The  Father,  the  great 
 Father  of  the  universe,  and  his  son  Jesus  Christ,  who  governs  the  world 
 under  him,  are  the  lieads  of  this  fellowship.— 7l/«rAn.  5.  God  is 
 liffht— St.  John  uses  this  term  as  equivalent  to  holiness.  The  Gnostics 
 admitted  that  the  Supreme  Being  was  perfectly  holy,  and  pure  light; 
 but  they  denied  that  the  Supreme  Being  was  the  Gnd  whom  the  Jews 
 and  Christians  worshipped.  For  the  Jews  and  tlie  Christians  worship- 
 ped the  Creator  of  the  world  ;  and  the  Gnostics  asserted  that  the 
 Creator  of  the  world  was  either  a  spirit  of  darkness,  or,  if  he  was  a 
 
 spirit  of  ^'gnt,  that  he  was  not  free  from  darkness.  7.  Walk  in  the 
 light,  live  a  holy  and  righteous  hfe,  deriving  continual  light,  power, 
 and  life  from  hira.  Wc  have  fellmoship  one  with  another,  that  is,  we 
 have  communion  with  God,  and  God  condescends  to  held  communion 
 with  us.— Clarke,  so  Wells.  S.  If  we  sap,  ^c,  it  is  very  likely  that 
 the  lieretics,  against  whose  evil  doctrines  the  apostle  writes,  denied 
 that  they  had  any  sin,  or  needed  any  saviour. — Clarke.  The  design  of 
 John  was,  to  shew  that  those  who  seek  to  extenuate  their  sins,  or  have 
 a  great  opinion  of  their  own  holiness,  have  not  any  part  in  the  merits 
 of  the  blood  of  Christ,  (Matt.  ix.  13  :  xi.  28.)— iJ/ar.  9.  7/  we  confess 
 our  sins,  to  God,  with  a  becoming  lowliness  and  contrition  of  spirit. 
 Faithful  and  just,  in  consideration  of  his  engagements  to  our  great 
 surety,  and  to  us  by  him. — Doddr.  Reference  is  here  made  to  the 
 satisfaction  of  Christ,  on  account  of  which  God  pardons  our  sins,  (see 
 2  Thess.  i.  6,  7,  and  2  Tim.  iv.  8.) — Mar.  God  is  called  faithful  (n-<(jTos) 
 in  the  Old  as  well  as  in  the  New  Testament,  in  as  far  as  he  keeps  and 
 fulfils  what  he  has  promised — remains  faithful  to  the  revealed  word 
 and  law  given  by  himself.  Now,  because  God,  even  in  the  OhI  Testa- 
 ment, had  promised  the  pardon  of  sins,  under  the  condition  of  repent- 
 ance; (lor  example,  Jer.  xxxi.  .^i,  &c. ;  Heb.  vii.  8,  &c. ;  Mic.  vii.  18, 
 8iC. ;  Hos.  v.  15,  &c. ;  Zeph.  iii.  12,  ^c. ;)  but  confirms  this  promise  in 
 the  New  Testament,  and  realizes  it  by  the  scheme  of  salvation  in 
 Christ ;  he  is  here  also  called  'faithful,'  in  as  far  as  he  pardons  sin  to 
 those  who  repent.  But  St.  John  adds  jhs^  Now,  commonly,  the  par- 
 doning of  sin  is  represented  as  the  act  of  divine  mercy  and  love. 
 Therefore  the  meaning  of  the  word  is  this—'  Gud  is  faithful,  because 
 he  is  righteous.*  His  righteousness  makes  him  keep  what  he  has  pro- 
 mised and  revealed  as  the  law  of  the  new  covenant  to  the  repenting 
 sinner — viz.,  that  the  sinner,  when  he  repents,  and  confesses  his  sins, 
 shall  from  him  receive  pardon  and  a  new  power  of  life. — Lucke.  Tu 
 forgive,  not  the  act  of  forgiveness  as  in  Gud,  proceeding  upon  the 
 bloodshed  and  sacrifice  of  Christ,  is  meant ;  but  an  application  of  par- 
 doning grace  to  a  poor  sensible  sinner,  bumbled  under  a  sense  of  sin, 
 and  confessing  it  Ijcfore  the  Lord. — Gill.  Cleanse— of  sin,  means  sanc- 
 tification  ;  but  more  commonly  remission  of  sins,  (Ps.  xix.  12;  li.  2j 
 Tit.  ii.  14,  Sic.)—Mtir.  To  cleanse  us  from  the  reigning  power  and  de- 
 filement nf  all  our  iniquities  by  the  sanctificaiion  of  the  Spirit,  which 
 was  purchased  by  the  blood  of  his  Son,  to  purify  our  hearts  and  lives. 
 — Guyse.  10.  Make  him  a  liar,  contradict  and  renounce  the  word  of 
 Gnd. — LUcke. 
 
 Chap.  II. — I.  My  little  children,  Tcxna  [diminutive  of  leKi-a]  is  a 
 tender  and  aflfectioncte  appellation,  denoting  paternal  authority,  love, 
 and  concern. — Lardner.  Perhaps  many  to  whom  the  aptjstle  wrote 
 were  converted  by  his  ministry,  which  engaged  his  most  affectionate 
 love  to  them  ;  and  as  he  was  by  this  time  an  old  man,  it  was  the  more 
 decent  and  befitting  his  age  to  speak  to  all  believers  under  this  title. — 
 Gi/yse.  That  ye  sin  nof— having  told  them  (chap.  i.  10)  tiiat  no  man  is 
 without  sin,  it  is  plain  that,  by  their  not  sinning,  the  apostle  meant, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  I.  —  We  here  behold,  I.  The 
 dignity  and  glory  of  Christ.  How  incomprehensible  soever  it 
 Diay  be  to  us,  *  he  was  with  the  Father,  as  his  beloved  Son  ; 
 one  with  hira  in  nature,  will,  counsel,  and  operation,  before  he 
 was  manifest  in  flesh.  He  had  a  glory  with  hira  before  the 
 world  existed,— a  glory,  the  emanation  of  his  own  infinite  es- 
 sence and  perfections.  He  had  life  in  himself,  and  was  the 
 source  of  life  and  being  to  all  creatures,  and  of  holiness  and 
 happiness  to  the  intelligent  and  spiritual  world. '^ 
 
 TI.  The  privileges  and  practices  of  believers.  They  have  com- 
 munion with  the  Father  and  with  Jesus  Christ.  They  parti- 
 cip;:te  of  the  blessings  flowing  from  the  divine  fulness.  God 
 1329 
 
 mates  himself  over  to  the  believer,  and  the  beliepei*  makes 
 himself  over  to  God.  But  no  such  fellowship  exists  unless 
 there  be  holiness  in  our  hearts  and  lives.  There  is  no  fellow- 
 ship between  liglit  and  darkness.  Hence,  how  high  soever 
 may  be  our  proi'ession,  and  Iiow  vauntingly  soever  we  may 
 talk  of  our  privileges,  if  our  spirits  and  our  lives  do  not  bear 
 witness  to  the  truth  of  our  professions,  we  only  deceive  our- 
 selves;— 
 
 *  Mistaken  souls  !  that  dream  of  heaven. 
 And  make  their  empty  boast 
 Of  inward  joys  and  sins  forgiven, 
 While  they  are  slaves  to  lust.' 
 
 8    G 
 
Rightly  to  know  God 
 
 I.JOHN,  II. 
 
 is  to  keep  his  commandments. 
 
 2  And  ''  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins 
 and  not  for  our's  only,  but  "^also  for  the  sins  oj 
 the  whole  world. 
 
 3  And  hereby  we  do  know  that  w'e  know 
 him,  if  we  keep  his  commandments. 
 
 4  ''  He  that  saith,  I  know  him,  and  keepeth 
 not  his  commandments,  "is  a  liar,  and  the 
 truth  is  not  in  him. 
 
 5  But  'whoso  keepeth  his  word,  ^in  him 
 "erily  is  the  love  of  God  perfected  :  "  hereby 
 know  we  that  we  are  in  bim. 
 
 6  '  He  that  saith  he  abideth  in  him  ^  ought 
 himself  also  so  to  walk,  even  as  he  walked. 
 
 7  Brethren,  'I  write  no  new  commandment 
 unto  you,  but  an  old  commandment  "'  w  hich 
 ye  had  from  the  beginning.  The  old  com- 
 mandment is  the  word  which  ye  have  heard 
 from  the  begiiuiing. 
 
 8  Again,  °  a  new  commandment  I  write  unto 
 you,  which  thing  is  true  in  him  and  in  you  : 
 "because  the  darkness  is  past,  and  ""the  true 
 light  now  shineth. 
 
 9  "I  He  that  saith  he  is  in  the  light,  and  hateth 
 his  brother,  is  in  darkness  even  until  now. 
 
 10  '  He  that  loveth  his  brother  abideth  in  the 
 light,  and  'there  is  none  f  occasion  of  stumbling 
 in  him. 
 
 11  But  he  that  hateth  his  brother  is  in  dark- 
 ness, and  '  walketh  in  darkness,  and  knoweth 
 
 Arter 
 
 After 
 
 A.  1).  fiO. 
 
 A.  D.  90 
 
 6  Kotn  3  25. 
 
 2  Cor.  5  18. 
 
 ch.  1.  7.  & 
 
 ♦.  10. 
 
 u  LuUe  24. 
 
 c  John  1.29. 
 
 47.  Acts  1. 
 
 h  ■!.  +S.  & 
 
 IS,  &  10  -1:1 
 
 11.  51.52 
 
 &  IS.  3S. 
 
 th.  4.  14. 
 
 ch.  1.  7. 
 
 d  cl).  1.  6.  & 
 
 X  ch.  1.  I. 
 
 \  20. 
 
 ech.  1.8. 
 
 /John  14. 
 
 21.  M. 
 
 g  ch.  4.  IS. 
 
 h  ch.  ♦.  13. 
 
 i  Jnhn  15. 
 
 4,  5 
 
 k  Mat. 11.29. 
 
 J.ihH  13.15. 
 1   l'et.2.  21. 
 
 y  Eph.  6.10. 
 
 I  2  John  b. 
 mch.3.  II. 
 2  Jobu  5. 
 
 =  H0TO.I2.S. 
 
 a  Mat.  6.  24. 
 
 GaU  1.  10. 
 
 Jam.  4.  4. 
 
 n  John  IS. 
 
 3i.&  15.12. 
 
 A  Eccles.  5. 
 
 0  Horn. 13.12. 
 
 11. 
 
 Eph .  5.  8. 
 
 t  1  Cor  TSI. 
 
 1  Thes.6.5, 
 
 Jam.  I.  10. 
 
 8. 
 
 &  4    14. 
 
 1  Jnhn  1,  g. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.24. 
 
 «(  8.  Vi.  & 
 
 rf  John  21.5. 
 
 12.  AS. 
 
 e  Heh.  1.  2. 
 
 7  1  Cor. 13.2. 
 
 /2Thes.2.3, 
 
 2  Pel.  1-  9. 
 
 Ac.  S  Pct.2. 
 
 ch.  3.14,15. 
 
 I    ch.  4.  3. 
 
 ch.  3.  14. 
 
 ^  Mat.  84.5, 
 
 »  S  Pot. 1.10. 
 
 24.  i  John 
 
 \GT.tcn„dal. 
 
 7. 
 
 h  i  Tim. 4.1 
 
 (John  12.35. 
 
 2  Tim.  3.1, 
 
 not  whither  he  goeth,  because  that  darkness 
 hath  bhnded  his  eyes. 
 
 12  I  writr  unto  you,  little  children,  because 
 "  your  sins  are  forgiven  you  for  his  name's  sake. 
 
 Hi  I  write  unto  you.  fathers,  because  ye  have 
 known  him  "^  that  is  from  the  beginning.  I 
 write  unto  you,  young  men,  because  ye  have 
 overcome  the  wicked  one.  I  write  unto  you, 
 little  children,  because  ye  have  known  the 
 Father. 
 
 14  I  have  written  unto  you,  fathers,  because 
 ye  liave  known  him  that  is  from  the  beginning. 
 I  have  written  unto  you,  young  men,  because 
 ''ye  are  strong,  and  the  word  of  God  abideth  in 
 you,  and  ye  have  overcome  t!ie  wicked  one. 
 
 15  ^  Love  not  the  world,  neither  tlie  things 
 that  are  in  the  world.  '^  If  any  man  love  the 
 world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him. 
 
 IG  For  all  that  /*■  in  the  world,  the  lust  of  the 
 flesh,  ^and  the  lust  of  the  eyes,  and  the  pride 
 of  life,  is  not  of  the  Father,  but  is  of  the 
 world. 
 
 17  And  "^  the  world  passeth  away,  and  the 
 lust  thereof:  but  he  that  doeth  the  will  of 
 God  abideth  for  ever. 
 
 18  ^  Little  children,  ^it  is  tlie  last  time  :  and 
 as  ye  have  heard  that  ""anticlirist  shall  come, 
 ^even  now  are  there  many  antichrists;  where- 
 by we  know  ''  that  it  is  the  last  time. 
 
 either  their  not  sinning  habitually,  or  their  not  sinning:  wilfully. — 
 Mackn.  To  take  heed  of  giving  way  to  any  known  iniquity,  or  falling 
 into  it  through  surprise  or  temptation,  much  more  of  living  in  the 
 practice  of  it.— Gmvsc.  The  words  regard  both  what  follows  and  what 
 precedes— iVa  fin  <J/u«pTnTe,  *  to  caution  you  against  sin,  by  shewing 
 you  that  all  wilful  and  habitual  sin  is  utterly  inconsistent  with  divine 
 communion.'— iiosf«7n.  Arid  if  any  man  sin,  '  and  when  any  man 
 sins.*- Z,iicA-e.  The  particle  Uav)  rendered  'if*  frequently  signifies 
 '  when,'  and  particularly  in  the  style  of  our  apostle,  as  in  John,  xii. 
 32,  and  xiv.  3,  and  xvi.  y.—Guyse.  We  fun-e  an  advocnt e—t\\i%  com- 
 monly signifies  one  who  is  to  plead  for  a  person  in  a  court  of  judica- 
 ture.— Doddr.  It  properly  signifies  the  same  with  patron  among  the 
 Romans,  a  great  person,  who  used  to  patronize  the  cause  of  some  of 
 inferior  rank,  and  who  was  also  a  sponsor  for  their  good  behaviour.— 
 Dr.  Sinn.  Harris.  As  in  common  life,  any  one  who  has  found  a  friend 
 to  help  him  forward,  does,  therefore,  the  more  confidently  look  for 
 success;  so  we.  when  filled  with  compunction  for  sin,  so  much  the 
 more  confidently^  trust  for  pardon,  in  reliance  on  Jesus,  who  is  the  pro- 
 pitiation  for  our  s'ms.—Rosenm.  2.  Propitiation,  Waatio^,  the 
 '  atoning  sacrifice'  for  our  sins.  This  is  the  proper  sense  of  the  worrl 
 as  used  in  the  Sept.,  where  it  often  occurs,  (see  Lev.  vi.  6,  7 ;  Num. 
 V.  3  i  Ezek.  xliv.  27.}— Clarke,  Mackn.  The  '  propitiation,'  or  appeas- 
 ing sacrifice,  being  provided  by  God  himself,  as  the  grand  display  of  his 
 love  to  us,  cannot  be  intended  to  dispose  him  to  mercy,  as  before  im- 
 placable ;  but  to  render  his  mercy,  to  which  he  is  infinitely  propense, 
 consistent  with  his  justice  and  holiness,  that  it  may  be  honourably 
 displayed.— Sco//.  The  uftole  world,  all  men  in  general.— FJ'Ai/A?/, 
 Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews,  all  the  descendants  of  Adam.—Clarke  '  All 
 mankind,*  and  if  their  sins  be  not  pardoned,  it  is  not  for  want  of  suffi- 
 ciency in  Christ's  sufferings.— Btrerirf^e.  The  apostle  is  speaking  of 
 all  those  who  believe,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles,  over  the  whole  world. 
 —Doildr.,  as  Gi^i/se.  St.  John  here  opposes  the  propitiation  by  the 
 blood  of  Christ  to  that  which  was  made  by  the  blood  of  the  victims,  the 
 virtue  and  efficacy  of  which,  although  only  typical,  was  confined  en- 
 tirely to  the  Jews,  and  did  not  extend  toother  people.— Mar.  Christ  is 
 a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood  ;  the  benefit  of  his  propitiatory 
 sacrifice  is  only  received  and  enjoyed  through  faith;  so  that  it  appears, 
 Christ  is  a  propitiation  only  for  believers,  a  character  which  docs  not 
 agree  with  all  mankind.- Gi«.  3.  Know  that  wp.  know  him.  *  that 
 we  have  known  him.' —  Mackn.  Truly  and  acceptably.— H7ji76v. 
 Truly  and  savingly. — Bens.  With  a  knowledge  of  appropriation  and 
 feeling,  which  is  nn  other  than  faith,  (Isa.  liii.  II.)— ;i/ar.  If  we  keep 
 his  command jncnts,  a  true  and  saving  knowledge  of  Christ,  which  in- 
 cludes faith  in  him  and  love  to  him,  has  a  powerful  influence  to  engage 
 us  unto  a  sincere,  cheerful,  and  unreserved  obedience  to  whatever  he 
 has  commanded,  both  in  the  precepts  of  the  moral  law  and  in  the  insti- 
 tutions of  the  gospel,  (John,  xv.  \A.)—Guyse,  so  Gill.  5.  Perfected, 
 does  not  mean  its  absolute  perfection,  but  the  sincerity  and  reality  of 
 \t.—GiU.  In  him,  interested  in  the  Son  of  God,  and  united  to  him.— 
 Doddr.  6.  Abideth  in  him,  pretends  to  be  a  member  of  Christ,  (see 
 John,  XV.  4.) — Ham.  Even  as  he  walked,  tracing  and  endeavouring  to 
 imitate  his  example.— Dorfrfr.  The  as  is  not  a  note  of  equality,  but  of 
 likeness,  believers  making  Christ's  obedience  and  life  the  rule  of  theirs. 
 — Gill.  7.  An  old  commandment,  founded  in  nature,  recommended 
 by  the  Mosaic  law.— Uodrfr.  1  he  commandment  meant  is  love,  which 
 was  written  on  Adam's  heart  in  a  state  of  innocence,  and  was  a  branch 
 of  the  divine  image  enstampcd  upon  him  ;  and  is  what  was  delivered 
 in  the  law  of  Mo>cs,  for  love  to  God  and  men  is  the  sum  and  substance 
 of  that,  and  was  taught  by  Christ  and  his  apostles,  SiC.—Gilt.  From 
 1330 
 
 the  bef^inning,  of  your  acquaintance  with  Christianity. — Doddridge' 
 8.  Again,  a  new  commandment — '  to  give  you  a  larger  and  still  more 
 striking  view  of  it,  I  now  again  write  lo  e.vplain  the  excellent  duty  of 
 brotherly  love.'  True  in  him,  '  copied  out  with  the  greatest  truth  and 
 evidence  in  Christ,  who,  in  his  trauscendtnt  love,  hath  set  you  the 
 brightest  example  of  it.'  And  in  you,  *  imitaied,  in  a  good  degree,  in 
 you,  who  are  taught  of  God  to  love  one  another.'  Darkness,  of  the 
 Old-Testament  dispensation,  and  of  your  former  state  of  ignorance, 
 error,  and  sin.  True  light,  of  the  gospel. — Gupse.  ().  In  the  light, 
 in  Christ  the  light ;  or  has  the  true  knowledge  of  the  light  of  the  gos- 
 pel, or  is  illuminated  by  the  Spirit  of  God. — Gill.  Hateth,  fyc,  is  under 
 the  power  of  an  uncharitable,  malicious  and  revengeful  temper  to- 
 wards his  Christian  brother.     J/i  darkness,  in  a  state  of  sin  and  error. 
 
 10.  None  occasion  of  stumbling,  no  room  for  taking  offence  at  him. 
 
 11.  Knoweth  not  whither  he  goeth,  does  not  understand  the  way  that 
 leads  to  eternal  life. — Gut/se.  12.  I  write — little  children,  to  guard 
 the  least  and  weakest  of  you  against  sin. — Doddridge.  Your  sins  are 
 forgiven,   and  therefore  you   ought  to  regard   these  duties.  —  Pyle. 
 
 13.  Fathers — John  gave  the  appellation  of  '  fathers'  to  those  who  are 
 called  by  the  other  apostles  wpetr/Ji-Tepot,  '  seniores,'  *  elders,'  on  ac- 
 count of  their  long  standing  in  the  Christian  faith.  These  seem  to 
 have  been  of  the  number  of  the  eye-witnesses.  Ye  have  known  him, 
 •  known  Christ,'  his  doctrine,  and  precepts,  and  manner  of  life. — 
 Mackn.  From  the  beginning,  '  the  eternal  Sou  of  God  before  all 
 worlds.' — Bp.  Hall.  '  Ye  have  known  his  manner  of  life  ^c.  from  the 
 beginning.' — Mackn.  '  And,  therefore,  with  this  clear  knowledge,  de- 
 ficiency in  these  essential  duties  would  be  utterly  inexcusable. '-P^/e. 
 '  For  ye  must  know  that  what  I  am  going  to  write  is  his  precept.' 
 Ynung  men,  vigorous  Christians.— il/wcAn.  Neacio-Ktu,  persons  in  their 
 prime,  probably  from  20  to  50.  The  word  in  the  Sept.  is  used  for  those 
 fit  to  bear  arms.  This  pivis  a  peculiar  application  to  the  passage. — 
 Pict.  Bib.  Overcome,  through  the  power  of  Divine  grace,  got  the  vic- 
 tory over  him.— Gi7/.  And  as  ye  are  conquerors  only  '  through  him 
 that  loved  you,*  ye  ought  to  love  him,  and  your  brethren  for  his  sake. 
 
 14.  /  have  written  unto  you,  fathers — to  impress  these  things  more 
 deeply  upon  you  severally,  *  I  now  say  again,  1  write  them  to  yoa 
 respectively.'— So  Guyse,  15.  The  world,  as  the  apostle  distinguishes 
 '  the  world*  from  '  the  things  which  are  in  the  world,'  it  is  probable 
 that  by  '  the  world,'  he  means  the  wicked  men  of  the  world ;  and  by 
 '  the  things,'  &c.,  the  bad  principles  and  corrupt  dispositions  belonging 
 to  the  men  of  the  world. — Mackn.  If  any  man  love  the  world,  if  his 
 heart  he  set  upon  it. — Bp.  Hall.  16.  Lnst  of  the  flesh,  after  sensual 
 pleasures.  Lust  of  the  eyes,  after  magnificence,  in  houses,  equipages, 
 and  dress.  Pride  of  life,  founded  on  titles,  offices,  and  riches. — Mackn. 
 17.  World  passeth  away,  ■napa'^e-rai,  *  the  fashion,  form,  and  scheme  of 
 it.' — Gill.  The  Greek  word  which  St.  John  uses,  and  which  we  have 
 translated  hy  '  passing,*  *  going,'  '  fleeting,'  signifies  also  '  to  deceive,' 
 '  to  seduce,'  '  to  carry  beyond  proper  bounds.'— STipfrmV/p,  Le  Pire. 
 [See  'Tiapafi^,  'lead  aside,*  'to  disappear.' — Jonvs^s  Lex.'\  *  To  vanish 
 away.* — Par.  The  world  passes  like  a  glaring  pageant,  which  only 
 amuses  the  eyes  for  a  few  transient  moments,  and  then  disappears. — 
 Doddr.  18.  Jt  is  the  last  time,  '  ye  are  fallen  into  the  last  stage  of 
 the  world  ;  neither  shall  there  be  any  new  state  of  things  between  this 
 and  the  final  judgment.' — Bp.  Hall.  Antichrist — AtTixp'OTor  is  no- 
 where found  but  in  John's  first  and  second  epistles.  It  may  have  two 
 meanings  ;  for,  if  the  preposition  in  the  word  denotes  '  in  place  of,'  the 
 name  will  signify  one  who  puts  himself  in  the  place  of  Christ ;  conse- 
 quently. Antichrist  is  a  false  Christ.  But,  if  the  preposition  denotes 
 opposition.  Antichrist  is  one  who  opposeth  Christ.    Many  antichrists. 
 
A  warning  against  false  teachers. 
 
 I.  JOHN,  III. 
 
 God's  love  toivards  believers. 
 
 19  '  They  went  out  from  us,  but  they  were 
 not  of  us  ;  for  '  if  they  had  been  of  us,  they 
 would  no  doubt  have  continued  with  us :  but 
 they  went  out,  '  that  they  might  be  made 
 manifest  that  they  were  not  all  of  us. 
 
 20  But  °'  ye  have  an  unction  "  from  the  Holy 
 One,  and  °  ye  know  all  thino;s. 
 
 21  I  have  not  written  unto  you  because  ye 
 know  not  the  truth,  but  because  ye  know  it, 
 and  that  no  lie  is  of  tlie  truth. 
 
 2-2  '  Who  is  a  liar  but  he  that  denieth  that 
 Jesus  is  the  Clirist?  He  is  antichrist,  that  de- 
 nieth the  Father  and  the  Son. 
 
 23  ''  Whosoever  denieth  the  Son,  the  same 
 hath  not  the  Father:  [hut]  'he  that  acknow- 
 ledgeth  the  .Son  hath  the  Father  also. 
 
 24  Let  that  therefore  abide  in  you,  'which 
 ye  have  heard  from  the  beginning.  If  that 
 which  ye  have  heard  from  the  beginning  shall 
 remain  in  you,  '  ye  also  shall  continue  in  the 
 Son,  and  in  the  Father. 
 
 25  "  And  this  is  the  promise  that  he  hath 
 promised  us,  even  eternal  life. 
 
 26  These  things  have  I  written  unto  you 
 ^  concerning  them  that  seduce  you. 
 
 27  But  *'  the  anointing  which  ye  have  received 
 of  him  abideth  in  you,  and  ^  ye  need  not  that 
 any  man  teach  you:  but  as  the  same  anointing 
 '  teacheth  you  of  all  things,  and  is  truth,  and 
 is  no  lie,  and  even  as  it  hath  taught  you,  he 
 
 I  Duut,  IS. 
 
 13.  Ps.41.0 
 
 Acts  ^u  30. 
 k  Mat.2I.24. 
 
 John  6,  37, 
 
 &  I U.  28,29. 
 
 2  Tim, a, 19. 
 I  lCor.l).l9. 
 m  2  Cor. 121. 
 
 Hob.  I.  9. 
 
 ver.  87. 
 n.Mark  1.24. 
 
 Act&  3.  14. 
 o  JoliQ  lU  4, 
 
 5.  &  14.  26. 
 
 &  16.  13. 
 
 ver  27. 
 p  ch   4.  3. 
 
 2  Jolm  7. 
 7  John  15.23. 
 
 2  John  9 
 r  John  14.  7, 
 
 y,  lu. 
 
 X  ch   3.  7. 
 
 9  Jolm  7. 
 V  ver.  20. 
 ■;  Jer.  31.33, 
 
 34.  Heb.  8. 
 
 10,  11. 
 
 .1  John  14. 
 26.  &  16.13. 
 ver.  2I». 
 
 II  Or,  ir. 
 A  ch.  3.  2, 
 c  cU   4,  17, 
 
 rfAct.i22.14. 
 II  Or,  l„.„ 
 
 o  John  I,  12. 
 ft  John  15. 
 
 If^.l!)    «£  16. 
 
 3  &  17  25. 
 I..  56   5. 
 
 Rom 
 
 S.I5 
 
 Cal  -■<  2fi.;fi 
 4  6.  ch.  5.1. 
 d  Rom.  S. 19, 
 2  Cor,  4  17. 
 Kom.  S  2r*. 
 
 1  Cor  13.4  9. 
 Phil.  3.  21. 
 Col   3.  4. 
 
 2  Pet.  1.  4, 
 /■Job  19.  2b. 
 
 Ps  16,  II. 
 ^rat,  5.  8. 
 
 II  or. 13.12, 
 2  Cor.  5.  7, 
 rch   4.  17. 
 
 /■  Rom  4  15. 
 
 ch.  5.  17. 
 
 ch.  1    2. 
 h  Is  53.  6,  0. 
 
 III  Tim. 
 
 1,  ir».  Heb. 
 
 1    3^  9 
 26.  1  Pet  2, 
 24. 
 
 /  2  Cor.  5.21 
 Heb,  4    15, 
 &  9.  28. 
 1  Pet  2.  22. 
 
 shall  abide  in  ||  him. 
 
 28  And  now,  little  children,  abide  in  him  ; 
 that,  *•  when  he  shall  appear,  we  may  have  con- 
 fidence, ''  and  not  be  ashamed  before  him  at 
 his  coming. 
 
 29  "  If  ye  know  that  he  is  righteous,  ||  ye 
 know  that  °  every  one  that  doeth  righteousness 
 is  born  of  him. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 1  He  declareth  the  singular  love  of  God  towards  us,  in 
 making  us  his  suns :  3  iv/to  therefore  ought  obediently 
 to  keep  his  commandments,  11  as  also  brotherly  to 
 love  one  another, 
 
 IDEHOLD,  what  manner  of  love  the  Father 
 -^  hath  bestowed  upon  iis,  that  ^  we  should 
 be  called  the  sons  of  God  :  therefore  tlie  world 
 knoweth  us  not,  ^  because  it  knew  him 
 not. 
 
 2  Beloved,  *^now  are  we  the  sons  of  God,  and 
 "^it  dotli  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be  :  but 
 we  know  that,  when  he  shall  appear,  ^  we  shall 
 be  like  him ;  for  ^we  shall  see  him  as  he  is. 
 
 3  ^  And  every  man  that  hath  this  hope  in  him 
 purifietli  himself,  even  as  he  is  pure. 
 
 4  Whosoever  committeth  sin  transgresseth 
 also  the  law  :  for  ^  sin  is  the  transgression  of 
 the  law. 
 
 5  And  ye  know  '  that  he  was  manifested  ''  to 
 take  away  our  sins  ;  and  ^  in  him  is  no  sin. 
 
 false  prophets  and  teachers  foretold  by  our  Lord  to  arise  about  the  time 
 of  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  ami  who  were  now  gone  abroad. — 
 Mackn.  19.  Thnj  went  out  from  us,  •  Christians  of  Jodea,'  (Acts,  xv. 
 1,)  and  '  apostles,'  (Acts,  xv.  24.)  Not  of  us,  they  were  '  false  breihreii,* 
 (Gal.  ii.  4,)  and  '  false  apostles,'  (2  Cor.  xi.  13.)  Of  us,  agreeing  in 
 doctrine,  kc.—  Whitbij.  This  is  one  of  the  marks  of  Antichrist,  that  he 
 had  been  in  the  Christian  church,  and  a  teacher  by  profession,  but  had 
 left  it,  or  apostatized.— .l/(ifA-«.,  as  Doddr.  20.  An  unction,  the 
 grace  of  the  Spirit  is  called  a  chrism,  or  anointing,  in  allusion  to  the 
 anointing  oil  under  the  law. — Gill.  Persons  called  to  offices,  to  the 
 execution  of  which  singular  endowments  were  requisite,  were,  under 
 the  law,  anointed  with  perfumed  oils,  in  token  of  God's  conferring 
 these  endowments  on  them.  The  Ho/i/  One,  '  the  Holy  Spirit.' — 
 Mackn.,  as  likewise  Pt/le.  '  Ye  have  an  inward  anointing  of  the  Holy 
 One,  even  the  spirit  of  purity  and  joy,  which  Christ,  the  Holy  One  of 
 God,  hath  poured  upon  us.' — Doddr.  A  rich  unction  of  the  Spirit,  in 
 his  gifts  and  graces,  which  belongs  to  you  as  '  kings  and  priests  unto 
 God,'  (Rev.  i.  6.)  and  is  shed  abundantly  upon  you  through  Jesus 
 Christ,  your  exalted  Saviour,  who  is,  by  way  of  eminence,  the  Holy 
 One,  (Dan.  ix.  24  ;  Acts,  iii.  14  ;  Rev.  iii.  7.)— Gi/z/se.  All  things,  re- 
 lating to  Christianity,  and  that  experimentally,  so  as  effectually  to 
 preserve  you  against  the  world, — Doddr.  21.  No  lie,  none  of  those 
 false  doctrines  taught  by  the  antichrists,  or  heretics,  is  any  branch  '  of 
 the  truth  of  the  gospel.' — Wells.  22.  ITVm  j.s  a  liar.' — who  ^  in  the 
 most  dangerous  sense  that  can  be  imagined.  But  he  that  denieth,  ^c. 
 — this  is  the  most  pernicious  of  all  errors.— Doddr.  Some  are  of 
 opinion  that  this  was  written  against  Cerinthus,  who,  in  his  doctrine, 
 separated  Jesus  from  Christ,  maintaining  them  to  be  two  distinct  per- 
 sons, and  denied  him  to  be  the  Son  of  God. — See  Berrimnn.  23.  De- 
 nieth the  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  to  he  the  true,  natural,  essential,  and  eter- 
 Dal  Son  of  God. — Gill.  Hath  not  the  Father,  no  interest  in  him. — 
 Doddr.  Does  not  hold  the  Father,  or  *  beheve  the  Father,*  as  the 
 Si/riac  Version  renders  it ;  for  there  cannot  be  a  Father  without  a  Sun ; 
 
 and  he  that  honourcth  not  the  Son,  by  owning  him  as  such,  honours 
 not  the  Father.  If  Christ  is  only  a  Son  in  a  figurative  and  metaphori- 
 cal sense,  the  Father  is  only  a  Father  in  the  same  sense. — Gill.  But 
 he,  ^c. — this  is  wanting  in  most  Greek  copies,  but  was  probably 
 dropped  through  carelessness,  but  is  in  the  Atexmidrian  copy,  in  four 
 of  Beza's  MSS.,  and  in  some  others;  and  in  the  Vulgate,  Si/riac,  and 
 Ethiopia  Versions;  and  confirms  and  illustrates  what  was  said  before. 
 No  doubt  but  they  made  a  part  of  the  original. — Guyse,  Gill,  Doddr. 
 24.  In  the  Son,  fyc,  in  the  love  and  favour  ol  the  Son  and  of  the  Father, 
 and  in  communion  with  both.  The  Son  is  placed  here  before  the 
 Father,  because  no  man  cometh  to  the  Father  but  by  him,  and  tliey  are 
 equal  in  essence  and  in  dignity. — Bur.  26.  Seduce  you,  endeavour 
 so  to  do. —  Wells.  Ihere  are  many  passages,  both  in  sacred  and  pro- 
 fane authors,  in  which  a  person  is  said  to  do  a  thing  which  he  attempts. 
 — Blackwall.  27.  Ye  need  not  that  any  man  teach  you,  any  new  doc- 
 trine.— Bur, 
 
 Chap.  HI. —  \.  Sons,  T^Kva,  'children.*  Knoweth  us  not,  '  doth  not 
 acknowledge  us  for  what  we  really  are.' — Doddr.  2.  When  he  shall 
 appear,  to  judge  the  world.  Like  him,  in  body  and  mind. — Macknigtit, 
 In  holiness,  happiness,  purity,  and  immortality'. — Bur.  As  he  is,  in  the 
 glory  which  he  now  enjoys  with  the  father. — Mackn.  Our  clear  view 
 of  Christ  will  then  transfonn  us  into  his  holy  image.  3.  Purijieth 
 himself,  from  every  pollution,  with  a  sincere  desire  to  advance  daily  in 
 evcr>'  branch  of  moral  perfection  and  excellence. — Doddr.  He  Eiims  at 
 all  possible  piuity  of  heart  and  life. —  Gw^se.  4.  Committeth  sm,  Hves 
 in  the  commission  of  it. — Whitby.  *  Ever>'  one  who  worketh  sin,'  nav 
 6  TTf  ituv  rnv  afiaprtav.  The  word  '  worketh'  denotes  continued  action. 
 Hence  it  is  applied  to  a  tree's  producing  fruit,  (Matt.  iii.  8,  Iti,)  and  to 
 a  foimtain's  sending  forth  its  water  contuiually,  (James,  Ui.  12.)  The 
 meaning  therefore  is,  '  he  who  worketli  sin  as  one  worketh  in  a  trade 
 or  occupation.' — Mackn.  5.  To  take  away  our  .^ins,  not  only  their 
 guilt,  but  to  piurify  us  from  their  power  and  domiiuon,  (Rom.  vi.  6.1— 
 Wliitljy. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  II. —  I.  The  apostle  here  directs 
 believers  to  the  advocacy  and  atonement  of  Christ  for  help  and  re- 
 lief against  sinful  injirmifiis.  The  propitiatory  sacrifice  of 
 Christ,  and  his  advocacy  founded  upon  it,  are  extended  to  all 
 believing  sinners,  of  the  Gentiles  as  well  as  of  the  J^'ws, 
 through  the  whole  world.  Hut  it  must  be  remembered,  that 
 they  vainly  pretend  to  have  a  right  knowledge  of  Christ,  or 
 true  faith  in  him  for  their  own  salvation,  if  they  cast  off  a  con- 
 scientious regard  to  his  commandments.     Hence — 
 
 II.  '  The  apostle  ilescribes  the  effects  of  a  saving  knowledge  of 
 and  union  with  Christ,  a<  productive  of  obedience  and  love  to  the 
 Irretliren.  They  give  the  lie  to  their  own  profession,  and  to  the 
 truth  itself,  who  have  no  sincere  love  to  Christ,  which  would 
 engage  them  to  a  holy  imitation  of  him.  And  the  law  of  love 
 to  his  people  is,  for  substance,  an  old  commandment,  but,  for 
 circumstances  suited  to  the  light  and  truth  of  the  gospel,  is 
 a  new  one  ;  and  whatever  any  one  may  pretend  to,  his  loving 
 his  Christian  brother  or  not  is  a  plain  test  of  his  either  being 
 truly  enlightened  or  remaining  under  the  power  of  darkness. 
 
 III.  '  The  apostle  cautions  against  all  inordinate  love  of  this 
 
 1331 
 
 world  and  antichristian  errors.  The  love  of  this  world  is  an 
 enemy  to  the  love  of  God.  As  far  as  we  are  carried  away  with 
 pleasures,  riches,  or  honours,  which  are  all  precarious,  empty, 
 and  perishing,  so  far  are  we  estranged  from  the  love  of  God  to 
 us,  and  a  predominant  love  of  this  world  is  inconsistent  with  a 
 true  love  to  him  who  cannot  be  the  author  of  any  evil  intlueuce 
 that  the  things  of  flesh  and  sense  make  upon  us.  And  how 
 dangerous  are  the  schemes  of  men  of  an  antichristian  spirit, 
 which  have  worked  in  all  ages  of  the  church!  \Vhen  pro- 
 fessors of  Christ's  name  go  into  it,  this  makes  it  evident  that 
 they  never  were  sincere  believers  ;  for  they  would  otherwise 
 undoubtedly  have  persisted  in  the  faith  and  fellowship  of  the 
 gospel.  But  all  true  believers  have  an  holy  unction  of  the 
 Spirit  from  their  exalted  head  and  Saviour, and  are  well  satis- 
 fied with  all  the  fundomental  articles  of  the  gospel.  The  great 
 promise  of  eternal  life  belongs  to  them  ;  and  they  being  able 
 to  persist  in  their  most  holy  taith,  continue  in  union  and  com- 
 munion with  Christ,  to  their  own  and  their  faithful  Pastor's 
 joy,  and  confidence  at  his  second  and  most  glorious  appear- 
 
The  duty  of  brotherly  love. 
 
 I.JOHN,  IV. 
 
 How  to  try  the  spirits. 
 
 6  Whosoever  abideth  in  him  sirineth  nut : 
 ■"  whosoever  siniieth  hath  not  seen  him,  neither 
 known  him. 
 
 7  Little  children,  "let  no  man  deceive  you  : 
 "  he  that  doeth  righteousness  is  righteous,  even 
 as  he  is  righteous. 
 
 8  ''  He  that  committeth  sin  is  of  the  devil ; 
 for  the  devil  sinneth  from  the  beginning.  For 
 this  purpose  the  Son  of  God  was  manifested, 
 '  that  he  might  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil. 
 
 9  '  Whosoever  is  born  of  God  doth  not  com- 
 mit sin  ;  for  Miis  seed  remaineth  in  him  :  and 
 he  cannot  sin,  because  he  is  born  of  God. 
 
 10  In  this  the  children  of  God  are  manifest, 
 and  the  children  of  the  devil :  '  whosoever 
 doeth  not  righteousness  is  not  of  God,  "  nei- 
 ther lie  that  loveth  not  his  brother. 
 
 1 1  For  '  this  is  the  ||  message  that  ye  heard 
 from  the  beginning,  "  that  we  should  love  one 
 another. 
 
 1-2  Not  as  ''  Cain,  who  was  of  that  wicked  one, 
 and  slew  his  brother.  And  wherefore  slew  he 
 him?  Because  his  own  works  were  evil,  and 
 his  brother's  righteous. 
 
 13  Marvel  not,  my  brethren,  if  °  the  world 
 hate  you. 
 
 14  ''  We  know  that  we  have  passed  from 
 death  unto  life,  because  we  love  the  brethren. 
 "  He  that  loveth  not  his  brother  abideth  in 
 death. 
 
 13  ''  Whosoever  hateth  his  brother  is  a  mur- 
 derer :  and  ye  know  that  "  no  murderer  hath 
 eternal  life  abiding  in  him. 
 
 16  '  Hereby  perceive  we  the  love  of  God, 
 because  he  laid  down  his  life  for  us :  and  we 
 ought  to  lay  down  our  lives  for  the  brethren. 
 
 17  But  *  whoso  hath  this  world's  good,  and 
 seeth  his  brother  have  need,  and  shutteth  up 
 his  bowels  of  compassion  from  him,  ''  liow 
 dwelleth  the  love  of  God  in  him? 
 
 18  My  little  children,  'let  us  not  love  in 
 
 n  ch.  2.  26. 
 0  Eiek.  18. 
 
 y  Gcn.S.  (5, 
 Luke  10  IS. 
 Joltii  (6.11. 
 Heb.  2.  U. 
 
 r  ch.  5.  18. 
 
 I  I  Pet. 1.23. 
 
 2.  89. 
 .  4.  8. 
 
 J- .Hi.  1.5.  & 
 
 2.  7 
 !l  Or,  co".- 
 
 n,md,nnl. 
 V  .l-»lin  IS. 
 
 M.  *  l5.1->. 
 
 ver.  2.1. 
 
 fh.  4.  7,  21. 
 
 2  John  5. 
 ;  Gen.  4  4,S. 
 
 Heb.  11.  4. 
 
 Jude  II. 
 a  John  15  18, 
 
 19.  &  17.14 
 
 2Tim.S.I2. 
 
 4  ch.  2.  10. 
 
 tt  Mat.  5  21, 
 22.  ch.  4.20. 
 
 eBnl.  5.  21. 
 Kcv.  21.  8. 
 
 /Johns.  16. 
 
 Sc  15.  IS. 
 
 H.on.  5.  ft. 
 
 Eph.  5.2.25. 
 
 ch.  4.  9,  II. 
 j7  Doo.  15.  7 
 
 I.iikeS.  U 
 A  ch.  .1.  20. 
 i  K/c.  33  SI. 
 
 Koiu.  12.  9. 
 
 Eph. 4.  15. 
 
 J«m.  2.  15. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.22. 
 
 A.  D   90 
 
 .  1.8. 
 
 t,  Job 
 37.  c 
 tGr. 
 
 t  I  Cor.  1.1 
 m  Jub  ■>2.26. 
 li  Heb.  lii.^a 
 
 ch.  a.  -23.  & 
 
 4.  17. 
 0  Ps.  34.  15. 
 
 Ik  145.1S,I9 
 
 Pro.  15.  -29. 
 
 Jcr.  29.  \2. 
 
 Mat.  7.  S  Kt 
 
 21. 22. Mark 
 
 ll.-M.  Jnlui 
 
 14.13.  &  15, 
 
 7.  &  16.  2:1, 
 
 3-1.  Jam  5. 
 
 16.  ch.5  U. 
 p  John  fi.  29 
 
 &  9.  31- 
 q  John  6.  29 
 
 ft  17.  3. 
 r  Mat.L'L'.SU. 
 
 John  Wi.il. 
 
 &  15.  12. 
 
 Kph.  A    2. 
 
 I  Thes.l, 
 
 I  Pet.  *  .H. 
 
 vet.  11. 
 
 ch.  4-  21 
 J  ch.  2.8.  in. 
 /  John  14.23. 
 
 h  15.  111. 
 
 ch,  4.  1-2 
 u  Johnl7.2l, 
 
 Ac. 
 X  Rom  S  0. 
 
 ch.  i.  n. 
 
 a  Jer.  29.  S. 
 
 .Mixt.  2».  1. 
 b  ICi.r.Il  ■:'». 
 
 iThesS  21. 
 
 Kev.  3.  2. 
 C  Mat  21.5. 
 
 21.  Acts  20. 
 
 30.1  Tim.  I. 
 
 I.  2  IVt    2. 
 
 1  ch    -'    IS. 
 
 2  Jolin  7. 
 d  1  Cor.  12. 
 
 3.  ch. 
 
 ■>•> 
 
 /Vxhrs 
 7.  ch.  2 
 
 1  Cor  2.  12. 
 Kph.  2.  2  Sc 
 6.  12. 
 
 word,  neither  in  tongue  ;  but  in  deed  and  in 
 truth. 
 
 19  And  hereby  we  know  •=  that  we  are  of  the 
 truth,  and  shall  f  assure  our  hearts  befoie  him. 
 
 20  '  For  it"  our  heart  condemn  us,  God  is 
 greater  than  our  heart,  and  knoweth  all  tilings, 
 
 '21  "^  Beloved,  if  our  heart  condemn  us  not, 
 ^  then  have  we  confidence  toward  God. 
 
 22  And  ^  whatsoever  we  ask,  we  receive  of 
 him,  because  we  keep  his  commandments, 
 ''and  do  those  things  that  are  pleasing  in  his 
 sight. 
 
 23  "^  And  this  is  his  commandment,  That  we 
 should  believe  on  the  name  of  his  Son  Jesus 
 Christ,  'and  love  one  another,  ^as  he  gave  us 
 commandment. 
 
 24  And  ^  he  that  keepeth  his  commandments 
 "dwelleth  in  him, and  he  in  him.  And  ''here- 
 by we  know  that  he  abideth  in  us,  by  the 
 Spirit  which  he  hath  given  us. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 1  He  warnfth  them  not  to  believe  all  teachers,  who  honst 
 of  ihe  Spirit,  hut  to  try  them  hi/  the  rules  of  the  catho- 
 lich  fuith  :  7  and  hy  many  reasons  exhorteth  to  bro- 
 therly love. 
 
 "DELOVED,  "believe  not  every  spirit,  but 
 -*-'  ''try  the  spirits  whether  they  are  of  God  : 
 because  *^  many  false  prophets  are  gone  out 
 into  the  world. 
 
 2  Hereby  know  ye  t!ie  Spirit  of  God:  ^  Every 
 spirit  that  confesseth  tliat  Jesus  Christ  is  come 
 in  the  flesh  is  of  God  : 
 
 3  And  "^ every  spirit  that  confesseth  not  that 
 Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the  flesh  is  not  of 
 God  :  and  this  is  that  spirit  of  antichrist, 
 whereof  ye  liave  heard  that  it  should  come  ; 
 and  ''  even  now  already  is  it  in  the  world. 
 
 4  ^  Ye  are  of  God,  little  children,  and  have 
 overcome  them  :  because  greater  is  he  that  is 
 in  you,  than  ''he  that  is  in  the  world. 
 
 6.  Sinneth  not,  does  not  go  on  in  a  course  and  habit  of  sinning-. 
 — Bttr.,  so  Gill.  Fuller  reads  the  passage  by  substituting  '  apos- 
 tatizeth'  for  '  sinneth,'  as  in  this  epistle  the  apostle  treats  much  of 
 apostasy. — Harmony  of  Script.  J.  Let  no  man  deceive  you,  that  faith 
 without  righteousness  will  make  you  righteous  before  God.— U'AiVi//. 
 He  that  doeth  righteousness  is  rii^/iteous,  '  he  only  who,  from  principles 
 of  faith  and  love,  conscientiously  and  habitually  works  righteousness 
 [6  iiotciiv  rriv  itKaioavvm)  iu  his  religious  behaviour  towards  God,  and 
 upright  dealings  with  men,  is  both  inherently  and  actively  righteous, 
 according  to  his  measure  and  degree,  in  imitation  of  the  blessed  Jesus.* 
 — Guyse.  8.  That  committeth  sin,  makes  it  his  willing  practice. — Bp. 
 Hull.  His  constant  business, — (.'('//,  His  trade. — Guyse.  Sin?iflhf>-om 
 the  heginning,  that  is,  hath  so  sinned  ;  for  as  the  present  tense  denuteth 
 continuation  of  action,  it  impUeth  what  is  passed  of  that  action  as  well 
 as  what  is  present.— J/ucA-rt.  Destroy  the  works  of  the  devil,  undo  all 
 that  the  devil  had  done,  by  recovering  mankind  out  of  that  sinful  state 
 to  wliich  the  devil  had  brought  them.— Bey.  The  expressive  word  Xvar] 
 here  leads  us  to  look  on  sin  and  miseiy  as  a  fabric,  of  which  the  devil 
 is  the  great  architect,  and  which  Christ  is  come  to  overthrow  and  de- 
 molish.— Doddr.  9.  Doth  not  commit  sin— cannot  sin,  he  can  never 
 be  guilty  of  deliberate  and  habitual  vice.— Pyle.  It  is  certain  these 
 words  must  be  taken  in  something  of  a  qualified  sense,  or  they  would 
 prove  not  only  the  sinless  perfection  of  every  child  of  God,  but  also  the 
 impeccabilit>'  of  every  such  person,  or  the  impossibility  of  his  sinning, 
 whicii  none  have  been  wild  or  enthusiastical  enough  to  assert.  It  mu.st 
 therefore,  I  think,  be  understood  only  as  expressing  a  strong  disincli- 
 
 nation to  sin,  iu  the  kind  and  degree  referred  to  before.  And  it  is  cer- 
 tain there  are  many  passages  of  scripture  in  which  the  word  •  cannot ' 
 must  be  taken  in  such  a  latitude,  (comp.  Luke,  xiii.  3:i ;  Heb.  ix.  5; 
 Neh.  vi.  3  ;  Num.  xxii.  18.) — Doddr.  His  seed  remaineth  in  him— the 
 grace  of  the  Spirit  -,  the  internal  principle  of  grace  in  the  soul. — Gill. 
 }-l.  Passed  froin  death — here  it  is  insinuated  that  all  mankind,  as  sin- 
 ners, are  under  the  condemnation  of  death.— il/HcA-n.  Because  we  love, 
 the  hrethren — this  is  the  evidence  ;  when  we  love  them  not  merely  as 
 relatives,  neighbours,  Sic,  but  as  bearing  the  image  of  Christ.— Gi7/. 
 15. /s  a  murderer,  iu  his  heart. —  Wil.  AcypwiroKToi'or,  'man-slayer;' 
 he  who  indulgeth  hatred  to  his  brother,  lays  himself  open  to  the  in- 
 fluence of  such  passions  as  may  hurry  him  to  slay  his  brother.  2ii.  For 
 if  our  heart,  ^c,  'butifour  heart  condemn  us,  certainly  God  is  greater,' 
 itc.  22.  We  receive,  '  shall  receive;'  present  tense  for  the  future. 
 This  declaration  must  be  limited,  in  accordance  with  other  passages  of 
 scripture,  '  agreeable  to  his  will,'  (l  John,  v.  14,  15  j  James,  i.  6.J — So 
 I^lnckn. 
 
 CnAP.  IV.—  1.  Every  spirit,  every  teacher  who  pretends  to  be  in- 
 spired.— Bur.  3.  T/iat  .Te.ws  Christ  is  come  in  the  flesh,  his  true  and 
 real  humanity,  and  his  Messiahship.  —  Gill,  .intichrist,  endently  a 
 general  name  for  all  false  teachers  in  every  age,  especially  if  their  doc- 
 trines have  a  tendency  to  derogate  from  Christ's  chaiactcr  and  actions. 
 — Mackn.  Roman  catholics  plead  that  the  pope  cannot  be  antichrist, 
 because  he  maintains  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come  iu  the  flesh  ;  but  St. 
 John  tells  ns  that  there  are  many  antichrists— many  who  oppose  Christ 
 and  his  truth,  though  in  difljerent  ways.— PFi/.        4.  I'e  are  of  God, 
 
 Reflections  on  Chai*.  Ill I.  Let  us  admire  the  rjrace  of 
 
 God  in  adopting  sinmrs  as  his  children.  The  aposile  speaks  of  it 
 as  something  extraordinary.  To  have  been  paidoned  sinners 
 would  have  been  much  ;  to  have  been  justified  as  well  as  par- 
 doned, more;  but  to  be  absolutely  entitled  to  all  the  honours, 
 felicities,  and  privileges  of  sons  of  God,  is  such  a  stretch  of 
 grace  as  may  well  induce  us  to  cry  out  in  admiraiion,  '  O,  the 
 depth  !'  *  If  sons,  then  heirs,  heirs  of  God  ;'  and  what  can  we 
 have  more  !— heirs  of  every  sood  that  he  possesses  who  is  the 
 fountain  of  all  good  ;  '  and  joint  heirs  with  Christ,  the  only 
 begotten  Son  of  God,'  partaking  of  every  blessing  in  common 
 
 with  him. 
 
 II.  Let  us  cherish  love  for  the  children  of  God^  as  one  of  the 
 stronyest  evidences  that  we  ore  his  children,  l^et  us  admire  his 
 image  wherever  we  behold  it.  Had  we  more  of  the  spirit  of 
 love,  we  should  not  be  so  much  divided  into  rancorous  sects 
 and  parties  ;  ministers  of  Christ,  of  every  name  and  denomina- 
 tion, would  love  each  other  ashrethren  ;  and  private  Chris- 
 tians, influenced  by  the  example,  would  enjoy  the  incontest- 
 able evidence  much  stronger  than  they  now  do — '  We  know 
 that  we  have  passed  from  death  unto  life,  because  we  love 
 the  brethren.' 
 
All  exhortation  to  brotherly  love. 
 
 I.  JOHN,  V. 
 
 Faitli  testijird  hij  love. 
 
 5  '  They  are  of  the  world  :  therefore  speak 
 they  of  the  world,  and  '  the  world  heareth 
 them. 
 
 6  We  are  of  God  :  '  he  that  knoweth  God 
 heareth  us  ;  he  that  is  not  of  God  heareth  not 
 ns.  Hereby  know  we  "  the  spirit  of  truth, and 
 the  spirit  of  error. 
 
 7  "  Beloved,  let  us  love  one  another:  for  love 
 is  of  God  ;  and  every  one  that  loveth  is  born 
 of  God,  and  knowetli  God. 
 
 8  He  that  loveth  not  "  knoweth  not  God  ; 
 for  ''  God  is  love. 
 
 9  'In  this  was  manifested  the  love  of  God 
 toward  us,  because  that  God  sent  his  only  be- 
 f;otten  Son  into  the  world,  'that  we  might  live 
 through  him. 
 
 10  Herein  is  love,  'not  that  we  loved  God, 
 but  that  he  loved  us,  and  sent  his  Son  '  to  be 
 the  propitiation  for  our  sins. 
 
 1 1  Beloved,  "  if  God  so  loved  us,  we  ought 
 also  to  love  one  another. 
 
 12  '  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time.  If 
 we  love  one  another,  God  dwelleth  in  us,  and 
 'his  love  is  perfected  in  us. 
 
 13  '  Hereby  know  we  that  we  dwell  in  him, 
 and  he  in  us,  because  he  hatli  given  us  of  his 
 Spirit. 
 
 14  And  "we  have  seen  and  do  testify  that 
 ^  the  Father  sent  the  Son  to  be  the  Saviour  of 
 the  world. 
 
 15  '^  Whosoever  shall  confess  that  Jesus  is 
 the  Son  of  God,  God  dwelleth  in  liini,  and  he 
 in  God. 
 
 16  And  we  have  known  and  believed  the 
 love  that  God  hath  to  us.  ''  God  is  love  ;  and 
 °  he  that  dwelleth  in  love  dwelleth  in  God,  and 
 God  in  him. 
 
 i  John  3.  SI. 
 k  John  \0. 
 
 19  k  17.14. 
 /  John  9,  47. 
 
 &  111.  27. 
 
 ICi>r  14  37. 
 
 2  Cor.  10.7. 
 n.  Is.  8.  20. 
 
 John  14.17. 
 
 ,.  ver.  16, 
 q  John  3.16. 
 
 Rom.  3.8. 
 
 &  8.  32.  cb. 
 
 3.  l(i. 
 rcb.  5.  II. 
 
 r  John  15,16. 
 Rom.  5  a, 
 10.  Tit  3.4, 
 
 u  Mat, 18.33, 
 John  15  12, 
 U.  ch.3,16, 
 
 X  John  1,18. 
 1  Tim. 6. 16. 
 yer.  20. 
 
 u  ch,  2.  5. 
 
 ver   IS, 
 ;  John  14. 
 
 20.  ch,  3.-24. 
 
 0  Ron),  10,9. 
 ch,  5.  1,  5. 
 
 d  ver.  S, 
 
 e  ver,  12, 
 ch,  3. 24, 
 
 .4  fter 
 A.  D.90. 
 
 k  ver,  IS, 
 
 /  M;it.  32  ST, 
 SR,John  IS. 
 34.  &  1^.12, 
 ch.  3.  23. 
 
 a  John  I.  12. 
 6  ch.  2.  22, 
 
 23.  &  4.  2, 
 
 15 
 c  John  1.13. 
 d  John  15. 
 
 23, 
 
 f  John  14-15, 
 21,23.  A  1.^, 
 I0.2John  6. 
 
 /Mic,  6,  8. 
 Mat.  1 1. SO. 
 
 i;  John  16. 
 33.  ch.  3,9, 
 &  4.  4, 
 
 h  I  Cor.  15. 
 57,  cb.4.15. 
 
 17  Herein  is  four  love  made  perfect,  that 
 'we  may  have  boldness  in  the  day  of  judg- 
 ment :  ^  because  as  he  is,  so  are  we  in  this 
 world. 
 
 1 8  There  is  no  fear  in  love  ;  but  perfect  love 
 casteth  out  fear:  because  fear  hath  torment. 
 He  tliat  feareth  i"  is  not  made  perfect  in  love. 
 
 19  We  love  him,  because  he  first  loved  us. 
 
 20  '  If  a  man  say,  I  love  God,  and  hateth  his 
 brother,  he  is  a  liar :  for  he  that  loveth  not  his 
 brother  whom  he  hath  seen,  how  can  he  love 
 God  '  whom  he  hath  not  seen  ? 
 
 21  And  'this  commandment  have  we  from 
 him.  That  he  who  loveth  God  love  his  brotliei 
 also, 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 1  He  that  loveth  God  loveth  his  childTenj  and  keepeth 
 his  commandiiienta  :  3  which  to  the  fiiithful  are  liffht, 
 and  not  grievous^  9  Jfsus  is  the  Son  of  God,  able  to 
 save  us,  14  and  to  hear  our  prayers,  which  we  make 
 for  ourselves,  and  for  others, 
 
 WHOSOEVER  °believeth  that  "Jesus  is 
 the  Christ  is  "  born  of  God  :  "^  and  every 
 one  that  loveth  him  that  begat  loveth  him  also 
 that  is  begotten  of  him. 
 
 2  By  this  we  know  that  we  love  tlie  children 
 of  God,  when  we  love  God,  and  keep  his  com- 
 mandments. 
 
 3  ^  For  this  is  the  love  of  God,  that  we  keep 
 liis  commandments  :  and  'his  commandments 
 are  not  grievous. 
 
 4  For  ^  whatsoever  is  born  of  God  over- 
 conieth  the  world  :  and  this  is  the  victory  that 
 overcometli  the  world,  even  our  faith. 
 
 5  Who  is  he  that  overcometh  the  world,  but 
 "he  that  believetli  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of 
 God? 
 
 'under  the  influence  of  the  Divine  Spirit.* — Clarke.  Overcome  them, 
 the  assaults  of  the  pestilent  false  teachers. — Bp.  Hall.  6.  We  are  of 
 God,  'our  doctrine  is  the  true,  pure,  doctrine  of  Christ.' — Ham.  Hereby 
 know  tee  the  spirit  of  truth,  by  the  doctrines  and  writings  of  the  apos- 
 tles and  evangelists. — Bur.  p.  His  onh/  begotten  Son — it  is  supposed 
 that  the  apostle  here  uses  this  term  to  overturn  the  error  of  Ehion  and 
 Cerinthus,  who  affirmed  that  Christ  was  not  God's  Son  by  nature,  but 
 was  so  called  on  account  of  his  virtues. — Mackn.  10.  Herein  is  love, 
 §-c.,  it  began  on  his  part,  was  voluntary  and  free,  without  any  obliga- 
 tion or  desert  on  our  part  to  incline  it. — Stnnh.  12.  Xo  man  hath 
 seen,  fyc. — the  connexion  here  seems  to  be,  '  No  one  hath  seen  God  at 
 any  time.  Yet,  from  what  his  Son  hath  taught  us,  we  know  that  If 
 we  love  one  another,  the  uature  of  God  abideth  in  us,*  &c.  13.  Giri-7t 
 us  ff  his  Spirit,  '  operating  in  us  by  his  gracious  influences.'  *  He  hath 
 given  us  the  gifts  of  his  Spirit  ;*  these  were  given  to  the  apostles  to  en- 
 able them  to  prove  the  tiuth  of  their  testimony. — Mackn.  14.  T/ie 
 Sariour  of  the  world,  of  both  Jews  and  Gentiles,  that  do,  or  ever  shall, 
 believe  in  him  throughout  the  world.  Tsee  John,  iii.  l6.i  —  Gui/se. 
 1 7.  Made  perfect — our  love  to  God  is  made  to  appear  to  be  perfect,  true, 
 and  genume.  by  our  love  to  the  brethren.  Bold/itss,  t^c,  '  for  knowing 
 hereby  that  they  have  passed  from  death  to  life,  they  justly  conclude 
 that  they  shall  not  enter  into  condemnation,  and  therefore  are  not 
 afraid  of  the  awful  judg^nent. — Gill,  as  Guyse.  Because  as  he  is,  all 
 love  to  us,  so  we  resemble  liim. — Guyse.  18.  Nufear,  seems  here 
 opposed  to  '  boldness'  in  the  foregoing  verse. — Pyle.    There  is  a  filial 
 
 reverence  of  God,  but  no  dread  of  him  as  an  enemy. — So  Guyse.  The 
 literal  sense  is  as  follows ;  '  (Slavish)  fear  exists  not  in  this  love,  but 
 perfect  love  (such  as  this)  casts  aside  fear;  for  (such)  fear  carries  with 
 it  terror  (which  is  inconsistent  with  love  ;  since;  he  who  feareth  is  not 
 perfected  in  love,  does  not  love  perfectly  and  sincerely.'  'i'ofiov, '  fear,' 
 here  sigiiifies  a  fear,  not  of  displeasing  God,  but  of  incurring  his  pmiish- 
 ment,  which  conscience  raises.  Casteth  out  fear,  refers  to  the  preced- 
 ing verse,  and  is  contrasted  vsith  a  joyful  confidence  in  the  mercy  of 
 OoA.—Bloumf.  19.  We  love  him,  because,  fyc,  our  love  to  him  is 
 kindled  by,  and  is  the  fruit  and  effect  of,  his  own  free  love  to  us. — 
 Guyse. 
 
 Chap.  V.  —  I.  Believeth  that  JesuJi  is  the  Christ,  this  is  not  to  be  un- 
 derstood of  a  mere  speculative  beUef,  but  such  a  faith  as  induces  to 
 obey  Christ  impUcitiy. — Markn.  2.  By  this  tee  know,  ^c,  our  love 
 of  God's  followers  is  a  proof  that  we  love  God  j  our  love  to  God  is  the 
 cause  why  we  love  his  children  ;  and  our  keeping  the  commandments 
 of  God  is  the  proof  tliat  we  love  liim. — Clarke.  3.  Aot  grifmus,  '  not 
 burdensome.' — Mackn.  To  one  who  truly  loves  God,  it  is  a  delight  to 
 be  conformed  to  the  will  of  God. —  Whitby.  Machnight  qualifies  this, 
 and  says  it  means,  bis  commandments  in  orduiary  cases,  excepting 
 those  which  respect  the  sacrifice  of  hbertj-,  liie,  &c.,  for  liim  ;  but 
 surely  there  should  be  no  exception,  and  those  who  have  thus  suffered 
 for  him  have  found  even  death  itself  sweet,  though  of  the  most  painful 
 kind.  Where  he  has  required  extraordinary  obedience,  he  has  given 
 extraordinary  strength. — Ed.     What  he  conunandeth  us  to  do,  he 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV.  —  The  substance  of  the  ex- 
 hortation in  this  chapter  may  be  summed  up  under  three 
 heads: — I.  *  Try  the  spirits.^  Let  us  bring  every  doctrine  to 
 the  touchstone  of  divine  truth.  We  may  be  certain  of  this, 
 that  those  spirita  are  not  of  God  that  have  not  the  most  ex- 
 alted views  of  Chri.st.  There  is  no  danger  of  thinking  too 
 highly  of  him  to  whom  the  church  has  ever  ascribed  glory — 
 whom  angels  worship  —  whom  God  the  Father  has  highly 
 honoured — and  who  shall  be  the  object  of  admiration,  and  the 
 theme  of  praise  among  glorified  spirits,  through  the  ages  of 
 eternity. 
 
 II.  Love  God.  Love  him  for  what  he  is  in  himself,  for 
 'God  is  love.*  Love  him  for  what  he  has  done  fur  us.  The 
 eift  of  his  Son  for  our  redemption  is  a  greater  proof  of  his 
 love  than  if  he  had  given  us  a  world  or  an  universe. 
 
 III.  I^ove  the  hrethrt-n.  '  Beloved,  if  God  so  loved  us,  we 
 ought  also  to  love  one  another.'     *  For,'  says  IJr.  Gili,  '  those 
 
 iad3 
 
 who  are  the  objects  of  God's  love  ought  to  be  the  objects  of 
 ours  ;  and  if  God  has  loved  our  fellow  Christians  and  bre- 
 thren to  such  a  degree  as  to  send  his  Son  to  die  for  them,  we 
 ought  to  love  them  too ;  and  if  we  are  interested  in  the  same 
 love,  the  obligation  is  still  the  greater  ;  and  if  God  loved  them 
 with  so  great  a  love  when  they  did  not  love  him,  but  were 
 enemies  to  him,  then  surely  we  ought  to  love  them  now  they 
 are  become  the  friends  of  God  and  ours  also  ;  as  God  loved 
 them  freely  and  when  unlovely,  and  us  likewise  in  the  same 
 manner  and  under  the  same  circumstances,  then  ought  we  to 
 love,  and  continue  to  love,  the  saints,  though  there  may  be 
 something  in  their  temper  and  conduct  disagreeable  :  God  is 
 to  be  imitated  in  his  love  ;  and  his  love  to  us,  which  is  un- 
 merited and  matchless,  should  influence  and  engage  us  to  the 
 love  of  the  brethren,  who  have  a  far  greater  claim  to  our  love 
 than  we  can  make  to  the  love  of  God,  and  which  indeed,  is 
 none  at  all,  but  what  he  is  pleased  to  give  us.* 
 
The  witnesses  of  our  faith. 
 
 I.  JOHN,  V. 
 
 The  b'Mever's  confidence  in  prayer. 
 
 6  This  is  lie  that  came  '  by  water  and  Ijlood, 
 even  Jesus  Clirist;  not  by  water  only,  but  by 
 water  and  blood.  '  And  it  is  the  Spirit  that 
 beareth  witness,  because  the  Spirit  is  truth. 
 
 7  For  there  are  three  that  bear  record  in 
 heaven,  the  Father,  '  the  Word,  and  the  Holy 
 Ghost :  "'  and  these  three  are  one. 
 
 8  And  there  are  three  that  bear  witness  in 
 earth,  the  spirit,  and  the  water,  and  the  blood : 
 and  these  three  agree  in  one. 
 
 9  If  we  receive  "  the  witness  of  men,  the  wit- 
 ness of  God  is  greater  :  °  for  this  is  the  witness 
 of  God  which  he  hath  testified  of  his  Son. 
 
 10  He    that   believeth  on  the   Son  of  God 
 fhath  the  witness  in  himself:  he  that  believeth 
 not  God  ''  hath  made  him  a  liar ;  because  he  ^^^'''ss 
 believeth  not  the  record  that  God  gave  of  his 
 
 Son.  I 
 
 I  John  19.3+. 
 h  Jolin  14. 
 
 17.  &  15.26. 
 
 &  16.  13. 
 
 1  Tim.3.16. 
 
 /John  I.  1. 
 
 Rev   19,  13. 
 m  John  10. 
 
 30. 
 
 >  Mat.  3.  IB, 
 17.  &  17.  a 
 
 p  Bora.  8.16. 
 Ga!    ■ 
 
 r  oh,  2.  25 
 I  John  I.  1 
 
 ch.  4.  9. 
 /  John  S.  36. 
 
 i  5.  24. 
 
 ucb.  I.  I,!. 
 
 i;  Or,  con- 
 cantiii^  him. 
 X  ch.  3.  22. 
 
 y  Job  42.  8. 
 Jam.  5.  U, 
 
 1 1  '  And  this  is  the  record,  tliat  God  hath 
 given  to  us  eternal  life,  and  '  this  life  is  in  his 
 Son. 
 
 12  '  He  that  hath  the  Son  hath  life  ;  and  he 
 that  hath  not  the  Son  of  God  bath  not  life. 
 
 13  "  These  things  have  I  written  unto  you 
 that  believe  on  the  name  of  tlie  Son  of  God  ; 
 "'  tliat  ye  may  know  that  ye  have  eternal  life, 
 and  that  ye  may  believe  on  the  name  of  the 
 Son  of  God. 
 
 14  And  this  is  the  confidence  that  we  have 
 II  in  him,  that,  -^  if  we  ask  any  thing  according 
 to  his  will,  he  heareth  us : 
 
 15  And  if  we  know  that  he  hear  u.s,  whatso- 
 ever we  ask,  we  know  that  we  have  the  peti- 
 tions that  we  desired  of  him. 
 
 IG  If  any  man  see  his  brother  sin  a  sin  which 
 is  not  unto  death,  he  shall  ask,  and  '  he  shall 
 
 helpeth  us  to  do  j  and  thence  it  is  that  his  commandments  are  not  British  copy  before  mentioned,  put  it  into  another  edition  of  hiS  trans- 
 
 Krievous.-Sp.  Sanderson.        6.  Came  by  water  and  blood.  f,r.,  did  not  lation.-GW.    The  Trinitarians  h»d  less  occasion  to  mterpolate  this 
 
 only  instruct  men  in  the  purest  morals,  but  shed  his  most  precious  Verse  than  the  Antitrinitarians  had  to  take  it  out  of  the  sacred  cajnon  ; 
 
 blood  to  expiate  our  oSmcea.-Uoddr.    He  ■  came  with  the  use  of  u.  e.  and  it  is  much  more  liliely  that  some  transcnber  might,  through  the 
 
 introducing  baptism,  and  in  order  to  shed  his  blood  ;•  i.  e. ,  in  order  to  similitude  of  the  hoginning  of  the  seventh  and  eighth  verses,  or  through 
 
 purif)-  and  to  save.— See  Poole,  WMtba,  Mackn.    The  baptism  refers  to  some  obscurity  in  the  n-ritmg  of  that  part  ot  tiis  copy,  carelessly  sup 
 
 his  own  baptism  by  John.-Bfn?rf.,"iios<.,im.,  &c.    The  allusion  is  to  over  the  seventh,  than  that  any  should  be  so  danng  as  designedly  to 
 
 the  blood  and  water  which  dowed  from  Chrisfs  wounded  side.— //am.,  add  it  to  the  text.— So  Retinoids  m  Henri/ ;  see  uiujse.     i  o  me  it  seems 
 
 Dr.  Benson,  Hiirs.    Water  and  blood  are  evidences  of  the  animal  na-  probable  that  the  verses  are  genuine ;  but  I  am  mchncd  to  agree  with 
 
 ture,  the  humanity  of  Christ,  not  only  in  his  birth,  but  also  at  his  death,  the  learned  Bps.  Horsjeyjind  JliMMon^thM  ttey  wUl^^lf  genuine^  not 
 
 .vhen  water  and  blood  issued  from  his  side,  from  whence  his  ha\"inK     "■     *'      ""     *"""  n        c       m        snr       t-rp  ore 
 
 dci-idedlv  prove  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinitj-,  and  therefore  by  far  too 
 much  aiixicty  about  the  determination  of  the  critical  question  as  to 
 their  authenticity-  has  been  felt  and  expressed  by  the  orthodox  in 
 general  —Bloomf.  In  an  ancient  copy,  supposed  to  be  a  thousand 
 vears  old  in  the  possession  of  one  of  the  Syrian  chiu-ches,  visited  by 
 'l>r  Climdim  Bncbanan,  which  copy  was  presented  to  him,  the  passage 
 is  omitted  on  which  he  has  remarlted  :— '  Notwithstanding  this  oims- 
 sion,  the  author  believes  the  passage  to  be  genuine.  The  foundation 
 on  which  he  builds  this  opinion  is  the  following  :— Considering,  as  he 
 does  that  the  learning  and  argument  on  both  sides  of  the  subject  have 
 
 come  by  water  and  blood  might  be  concluded ;  (John,  xLx.  34  ;)  and 
 such  an  evidence  establishes  in  ever>'  one  a  historical  knowledge  de- 
 rived from  sense. — Scftultens,  who  thinks  this  opposed  to  the  Doceta:. 
 Tlie  allusion  is  to  the  external  washing,  and  the  Jewish  sacrifices. — 
 Cradock.  The  allusion  is  to  the  two  sacraments  of  baptism  and  the 
 Lord's  supper. — Carpz.,  Bloomf.  The  sense  is,  that  as  at  his  baptism, 
 so  at  his  death,  he  was  manifested  to  be  the  Son  of  God. — Gill,  so  Pyle. 
 7.  For  there  ore  three  that  bear  record,  ^c,  no  result  of  modem  criti- 
 cism is  more  certain  than  that  this  passage  is  spurious.— LiicA-e.       It  is  .iVJt.,,  V..CI  ^..- — f, --=  „„„  „„  ,1... 
 
 Ukely  this  verse  is  not  gcnuine.-C/ar*e.    The  evidence  in  favour  of  been  nearly  equal,  he  would  rest  the  genuineness  of  the  verse  on  the 
 
 tlie  genuineness  of  these  words  is  so  inferior  to  that  of  the  opposite  answer  to  the  following  question— Which  is  must  liKely  to  be  true, 
 
 side,  that  the  great  majority  of  persons  who  have  gone  through  the  that  the  Arians  of  the  fourth  century,  m  their  fury  agamst  the  church, 
 
 whole  case  (which  is  no  triding  labourl  are  satisfied  of  their  spurious-  should  silently  omit  a  testimony  (in  transcnbing  then-  copies)  which 
 
 ness.    The  probability  is,  that  the  passage  was  originally  a  marginal  if  tnie,  destroyed  their  whole  system;  or  that  the  general  ciiurcn 
 
 comment  on  •  the  Spirit,  the  water,  and  the  blood,'  and  was  introduced,  shoidd  direcUy  forge  and  insert  it  ?     However,  it  it  be  genuine,  it  is 
 
 by  the  ignorance  or  the  predUection  of  transcribers,  into  the  text  of  only  one  .if  the  hewn  stones  of  the  temple.    If  it  be  not  Benuiiie,  it  is 
 
 the  vulgate  Latin  version.-i>ve  Smith.    The  rejection  of  this  text  is  not  a  comer  stone.'— C*mft./n  Researches  m  As,a.    Whether  the  text 
 
 founded  on  its  being  wanted  in  aU  the  ancient  Greek  MSS.,  in  the  first  be  authentic  or  not,  it  contains  nothmg  but  what  is  abundanUy  as- 
 
 Syriac,  in  the  Coptii,  Arabic,  and  Ethiopic  versions,  and  in  many  of  the  serted  elsewhere  ;  and  that,  both  with  regard  to  the  Trinity  m  gener^, 
 
 present  Latin  MSS.     It  is  also  said,  that  it  was  quoted  by  few  of  the  and  this  their  dirae  testimony  m  particular,  icomp.  John,  \m.  17,  Is, 
 
 Greek  writers  that  Uved  before  the  CouncU  of  Nice.     In  consequence  and  v.  6.)-Joru:s,  of  Xayhnd.     ^V*  "'P'i^'  '°  *,t.  T^^f,"'  ^°°"°' 
 
 of  these  facts,  it  was  omitted  in  several  protestant  editions  of  the  New  verted  text,  the  advocates  for  the  doctrine  of  the  Holy  Tnmty  may  say, 
 
 Testament-by  Lutl,er  and  Era.rmns;  and  since,  by  Kewc.,  Griesbach,  Non  tali  auxilio.  'such  aid  is  not  wanted.      For  this  doctmie  is  recog- 
 
 and  others :  also,  m  several  editions  of  the  EngUsh  Bible,  in  the  reigns  nised,  at  least,  in  its  essential  parts,  m  the  first  Paee  "1  the  B>We !  't  >^ 
 
 of  Henry  VIII.,  Edward  VI.,  and  Queen  Ehzabeth,  the  passage  has  shadowed  out  in  many  other  parts  of  the  Old  Testament   and  seems 
 
 been  marked  as  doubtful,  by  being  printed  in  a  smaUer  type,  or  inserted  expressly  revealed,  or  assumed,  m  almost  everj' book  of  the  New.— 
 
 inbra^tets     Z<.«r,rf?.  doubts  ?l,e  genuineness  of  the  passage,  and  He.elet.    I -•"!  P^'^ 'he  Amitrmitanans  eve.^- te.xt  m  the 
 
 Boolhrovd  excludes  it.     It  has,  however,  many  advocates,  some  of  will  only  leave  me  o»»,  that  is  enough  for  me  to  prove  the  doctrme  o 
 
 which  shall  here  be  quoted-JBrf.  A  cause  is  very  badly  defended  when  the  Tr„n7y-'  The  grace  of  our  ^o-J"  J^.s<;s  Chkist  a,  d  the  love  of 
 
 it  has  such  miserable  reasons  to  aBege  against  the  force  and  evidence  God,  and  the  commmuon  of  the  Hol^  Ghost  be  with  y"''J"'-  — 
 
 of  a  text  of  scripture.  To  justify  the  objections  to  it,  the  passage  ought  Ree.  Rowland  Hill,  '"™"''''""'''^"  "''''' '''^^f'^Vh^^^    the  m  rf 
 
 to  be  found  only  in  a  smkll  number  of  MSS..  or  in  modem  MSS.  of  agree  in  one.  i.e.,  ui  the  same  t'',^.''™^^-  .„These  three   -  he  m^^^ 
 
 Uttle  anthorit^•,  and  it  should  have  been  miknown  to  Christian  antiquity  :  culous  gifts  of  the  Spmt,  the  baptismal  wa  er.  the  sacTanu'ital  bloody 
 
 instead  of  which,  we  find  it  in  a  great  number  of  MSS.,  even  the  most  -noddr.,  Markn.    The  expression  ""^h'  perhjs  be    eferred  ^^  the 
 
 ancient,  and  in  the  most  pure  and  venerable  works  of  ecclesiastical  an-  scene  of  Christ's  death,  when  the  ?^'^^^^l'P'"*  °l°^'  witaess  to  rte 
 
 Uquity.     St.  Jerome,  and  many  others,  used  it  in  disputing  with  the  the  W»od  and  ,mcr  flowing  from  his  side   bore  a  united  witii^ss^^^^^^^ 
 
 Arians  and  other  heretics  ,  St.  Cyprian,  who  lived  an  hundred  and  fifty  reality  of  his  death   (see  John,  "^-^O'^^'jf  :*,';''■         »•  ^^"^.Z 
 
 years  only  after  the  apostle  John,  quotes  this  text  in  his  treatise  on  the  men,  •  testunony  of  men,'  &c.,  as  7';,'?° '"  ;'"?r.n,i  fs^reTcLrvin? 
 
 imityof  thechurch;and  r.-rtuman.  more  ancient  sttll,  in  a  contro-  law  enjoined,  (Deut.  xix.  15.)     The  testimony  of  God  is  more  de^^^^^^^ 
 
 versial  work.  Tertullian  flourished  towards  the  end  of  the  age  in  which  our  regard.     Now  what  1  have  stated  is  the  reniarkable  teshmony 
 
 St.  John  died,  and  this  is  proof  incontestable  that  these  words  were  (iod  has  given,  and  is  yet  ^V-^'S' ^.f'^^^^l^^ ^^ ^^^^r^I^^\he 
 
 read  in  the  first  MSS.  of  this  epistle.-.i;„r/m.  It  is  certain  the  passage  Boothr         10.  T*""'."«f '""'r'{'A*jSi?^  "^^ 
 
 is  to  be  seen  in  many  Latin  MSS.  of  an  early  date,  and  stands  in  the  Spint,  he  has  an  "P'^'™','-"^'/"^^?;"^,^^^?  ChriS  -^VOTSf     "^   ™' 
 
 vulgatc  Latin  edition  of  the  London  Polyglott  Bible  ;   and  the  Latin  of  the  suitableness,  worth,  and  excellency  o/ chnst^_  M/yw. 
 
 translation  which  bears  the  name  of  Jerom  has  it,  who,  uj  an  epistle  of 
 his  to  Eustorhium,  prefixed  to  his  translation  of  these  canonical  epis- 
 tles, complains  of  the  omission  of  it  by  faithful  interpreters.  As  to  its 
 being  wanting  in  some  Greek  MSS.,  it  is  certain  it  is  to  be  found  in 
 many  others  ;  it  is  in  an  old  British  copy,  and  in  the  Complutensian 
 edition,  the  compilers  of  which  made  use  of  various  copies  ;  and  out  of 
 eLxteen  ancient  copies  of  Robert  Stephens's,  nine  of  them  had  it ;  and 
 as  to  its  not  being  cited  by  some  of  the  ancient  fathers,  this  can  be  no 
 
 The 
 
 .erord  •  the  witness ;'  '1116  thing  wliich  God  hath  witnessed,'  (ver.io.) 
 Hath  'gifen.  •  will  give."  In  his  Son,  '  through  his  Son.'— ;i/acA«t>/i(. 
 12  Hath  the  Son  hath  life—vibo  is  vitally  united  to,  and  so  has  a  spe- 
 cial interest  in,  the  Son  of  God,  as  his  head  and  redeemer,  through 
 faith  m  him,  is  already  spiritually  alive,  both  in  a  legal  and  moral  sense, 
 and  has  the  whole  of  everlasting  life  in  title  and  sure  reversion.  That 
 hath  not  the  Son.  ■  that,  through  unbelief,  rejects  the  Son  of  God,'  /cc. 
 _Gui/sf  14.  Ask  anil  thing,  the  power  of  working  miracles,  the 
 
 :Xirnt™m;Vohhrrpu"riJusresTor;t;;to'<;;itmlgM"beh,-^^^^^^^  P''  °f'^^''r;^»'''^  *'''^H''nedmore''taimed';rtllv'TuV«tu'^ 
 
 coDV  though  not  in  the  copies  used  by  them,  through  the  carelessness  these  verses  to  the  tlungs  mentioned  more  mimediatelj  ;  but  >et  it  is 
 
 or1f2thfS^.ess  of  IransSers ;  or  it  might  be  in  their  copies,  and  yet  now  a  truth    and  ever  will  be,  *-' -^^  "^J.^^-^^ 'f  "f^t"  Is 
 
 not  cited  by  them  ;  and  vet,  certain  it  is,  it  is  cited  by  many  of  them,-  his  vyill,  and  ask  in  a  proper  "^""•,,^'^J^^".''ff  "'f„7/""''';- »^ 
 
 bv  Fnlgentius  Jerom    iihanasiu.i.  Ciiprian.  Tertullian-Xhe  latter  about  Markn.         15.  II  e  knoit'  timt  ue  hare  the  Petitions,  before  the  mercy 
 
 ^l'yil"Z%^Zi,tlZun^  hundred  years,  or  little  more,  of  the  desired,  or  the  favour  asked  for,  is  con  erred   "-ey  are  as  sure  o    hav^ 
 
 writing  of  the  eni.stlc  which  may  be  enough  to  satisfy  any  one  of  the  ing  it.  in  God's  own  time  and  way,  35  il  they  now  had  it  in  "and  and 
 
 reCne.°ess  of  thispal^ge.     Besides,  there  never  was  Ly  dispute  fact.-Gi«.        >6.  If  any  one.  «re.    •  if  ^"^  ""/if.^^  ^'^  brother  sm 
 
 about  it.  till  K™,,.„„,,  left  ii  out  in  the  first  edition  of  his  translation  of  a  sin  not  unto  death,  let  him  Bs)L  God   and  he  wi  I  grant  to  hun  'ife  for 
 
 the  NeviJ  Testament ;  and  yet  he  himself,  upon  the  credit  of  the  old  those  who  sm  not  unto  death.'-il/aet«.  A  sm  whieh  is  nut  unto  death, 
 1334 
 
Holiness  of  the  Christian. 
 
 I.  JOHN,  V. 
 
 Confidence  in  Christ. 
 
 give  him  life  for  them  that  sin  not  unto  death. 
 '  There  is  a  sin  unto  death  :  "  I  do  not  say  that 
 he  shall  pray  for  it. 
 
 17  ■'  All  unrighteousness  is  sin  :  and  there  is 
 a  sin  not  unto  death. 
 
 18  We  know  that  'whosoever  is  born  of  God 
 sinneth  not ;  but  he  that  is  begotten  of  God 
 ''keepeth  himself,  and  that  wicked  one  touch- 
 eth  him  not. 
 
 19  And  we  know  that  we  are  of  God,  and 
 
 After 
 
 After 
 
 A.  D.  90. 
 
 A.  11.  90. 
 
 =  Mat  1^.31, 
 
 e  Gal.  I.  4. 
 
 S->.  M«ck  3. 
 
 /  Luke->4.45. 
 
 29.  Luke  12. 
 
 g  John  17.  3. 
 
 10.  Heb.  6. 
 
 A  IB.  9.  6   & 
 
 4,  6.  &  10. 
 
 4 1.  6.  &  S4. 
 
 2t>. 
 
 5.  John  SO. 
 
 a  jQt.  7.  16. 
 
 2S.  Acts  20 
 
 &  It    II. 
 
 2S.  Rom   9. 
 
 John  17.  9. 
 
 6.  1  Tim.  3. 
 
 hch.  3.  4. 
 
 16.  Tit,  -2. 
 
 c  1  Fet  1  S3 
 
 13.  Heb  1  8. 
 
 oil.  3.  9 
 
 i  ver.  11,  12 
 
 d  Jam.  l.?7. 
 
 13. 
 
 4  ICor.in.U 
 
 *  the  whole  world  lieth  it]  wickedness. 
 
 20  And  we  know  that  the  Son  of  God  is 
 come,  and  ''hatli  given  us  an  understanding, 
 ^  that  we  may  know  him  that  is  true,  and  we 
 are  in  him  that  is  true,  even  in  his  Son  Jesus 
 Christ.  ''This  is  the  true  God,  'and  eternal 
 life. 
 
 21  Little  children,  ^  keep  yourselves  from 
 idols.     Amen. 
 
 any  single  sin  -which  a  good  man  commits  through  infirmity  or  sur- 
 prise.—Dr.  Benso7i.  Any  sin  whatever,  except  that  which  Christ  de- 
 clared unpartlonable.— Z>orf(/r.  No  particular  sin  is  intended,  but  an 
 entire  class  or  species  of  sins.  But  this  being  the  sin  of  a  brother,  it 
 must  mean  a  species  of  sins  which  can  occur  among  Christians,  and 
 not  among  those  who  are  not  Christians. — See  Calchi.  The  difference 
 between  mortal  sin,  and  sin  not  unto  death,  must  be  externally  percep- 
 tible, and  not  unknown  to  the  readers,  or  it  would  have  been  stated 
 more  precisely. — Lacke.  He  shall  give  him  life,  either  refers  to  God, 
 or,  as  a  Hebraism,  may  signify,  'life  shall  be  given  him.'  God  re- 
 markably punished  the  sins  of  the  early  Christians,  isee  1  Cor.  xi.  30.) 
 The  *  any  man'  here  addressed  was  not  an  ordinary  Christian,  but  one 
 who  was  endowed  with  the  gift  of  healbig  diseases.  The  brother,  re- 
 ferred to  was  not  every  brother  who  had  sinned,  but  the  brother  only 
 who  had  been  punished  for  his  sin  with  some  mortal  disea.se.  hut  who, 
 having  repented  of  his  sin,  it  was  not  a  sin  unto  death ;  and  the  life  to 
 be  asked  was  not,  then,  etemaJ  life,  but  a  miraculous  recovery-  from 
 the  disease  under  which  he  was  labouring,  ;see  James,  v.  li.]—Mac/in., 
 as  Dr.  Benson,  and  Pyle.  It  has  been  suggested,  that  sin  \isited  by 
 diseases  of  the  body,  which  were  cured  by  miracle,  is  here  intended. 
 But  as  there  does  not  appear  to  be  anything  in  the  context  which  re- 
 lates to  miraculous  powers,  or  to  the  cure  of  bodily  diseases,  and  this 
 is  a  direction  to  Christians  in  common,  about  pra>"ing  one  for  another, 
 all  of  which  cannot  be  supposed,  even  in  the  apostle's  days,  to  have 
 had  the  supeniatviral  gift  of  healing,  there  seems  to  be  no  foundation 
 for  that  thought. — Gut/se.  A  brother  sins  who  is  under  the  inspection 
 and  care  of  tlie  saints  ;  it  is  known  not  to  be  unto  death,  because  he 
 does  not  continue  in  it ;  he  repents,  loathes  it,  confesses  it,  forsakes  it ; 
 his  brother  prays  for  him,  and  God  gives  him  'life,' — that  is,  comfort 
 and  pardon.  There  is  a  sin  unto  death — that  is,  tUe  sin  against  the  Holy 
 Ghost.~Gi7/.  See  Matt.  xii.  31,  32  ;  Heb.  x.  26—29,  notes.— So  lieza. 
 Wolf.,  Sic.  But  if  St.  John  meant  the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  why 
 should  he  not  have  expressed  himself  more  distinctly  ?  why  should  he 
 not  have  caUed  it  by  the  same  name  as  Christ  liad  called  it  ?  More- 
 over, since  it  cannot  be,  by  human  means,  determined  whether  an  evil 
 of  such  magnitude  Is  really  present  in  a  given  case,  this  particular  sin 
 cannot  at  all  be  meant  here.  It  is  plain  that  St.  John  can  have  meant 
 in  general  only  such  sins  of  which  spiritual  death  is  the  inevitable  con- 
 sequence— i.  e.,  sins  by  which,  according  to  the  laws  of  the  kingdom  of 
 God,  the  capability  for  the  Christian  hfe  is  necessarily  abolished,  and 
 the  Christian  salvation  lost.  As,  according  to  St.  John,  passing  from 
 death  unto  life  is  effected  by  faith  in  Christ,  and  entirely  accomplished 
 by  brotherly  love,  (chap.  iii.  14  ;  John.  v.  24  ;  iii.  36  ;)  so  by  infidehty. 
 worldly  heresy,  and  Cain-like  want  of  love,  the  Christian  life  is  again 
 lost.    This  is  the  sin  unto  death,  which  would  easily  be  recognised  by 
 
 John's  readers.  The  culmination  of  this  sin  is  the  complete  passing 
 over  into  the  world  of  darkness  and  spiritual  death— that  is,  the  apos- 
 tasy from  Christianitj',  (see  Heb.  x.  25,)  or  idolatry. — Liicke.  Apostasy 
 from  Christianit)'  was  intcudcd,  which,  at  that  time,  was  accompanied 
 with  the  most  miraculous  proofs  of  its  truth. — Jortln.  17.  There  is 
 II  sin  7i(it  unto  death,  not  aggravated  Uke  that  against  the  Holy  Ghost, 
 or  that  of  utter  apostasy.  Ifi.  Sinneth  not,  is  never  suffered  to  com- 
 mit the  unpardonable  sin.  Keepeth  himself,  that  is,  by  watchfulness 
 and  prayer,  and  by  strength  derived  from  Christ.  That  wicked  one, 
 Satan. — Giq/se.  IQ.  We  know,  by  the  testimony  of  the  Spirit,  and 
 our  own  consciences.  The  whole  world,  all  the  rest  of  mankind.  Lieth 
 in  wickedness,  ev  tw  -rovne^^f  'in  the  wicked  one,'  under  his  dominion. 
 20.  In  him  that  is  true,  ev  Ty  a^nVntf),  *  in  the  true  one;'  in  his  favour, 
 and  in  a  state  of  union  and  fellowship  with  him. — Bens.  This  is  the 
 true  God,  and  eternal  /(/e— many  refer  this,  not  to  the  immediate  ante- 
 cedent, but  to  avTov,  '  his.'  There  is  supposed  to  be  an  eUiptical  ex- 
 pression for  OUTOi    eo-TJi'  6  nAr)(^ii'or  0eO9,  kui  (ai'Tii^  h  fwi)  aiwixoc,    '  this 
 
 is  the  true  God,  and  this  the  eternal  life,'  [or  Kat  [o  vio^  avTov)  h  aiwi'ior.] 
 Such  a  construcrion  may  be  admitted  in  such  a  writer  as  John,  where 
 many  constructions  are  har.sh  and  anomalous.  Of  this  opinion  are 
 Grotius,  S.  Clarke,  Dr.  Benson,  Wets.,  Hosenm^,  Srhleus.,  ^c.  The 
 construction  of  the  verse  seems  to  be — '  This  [ev  y  £a^icv  ev  ry  i/(ui  auroo 
 I.  Xp.]  is  the  only  true  God,  and  in  this  only  (in  the  knowledge  of  him, 
 and  in  the  communion  with  him,  through  the  Son)  consists  eternal  life.* 
 — Liicke.  *  This  same  Jesus  Christ  is  no  other  than  the  true  God,'  ^c. 
 —  Wells,  so  Whitbji,  Bnrkitt.  Guyse.  '  The  Son  of  God,'  which  is  the 
 immediate  antecedent  to  the  relative  '  this  ;'  he  is  the  true  God,  with 
 his  Father  and  the  Spirit,  in  distinction  from  all  false,  fictitious,  or  no- 
 minal deities.~GiV/.  'This,  or  He,  is  the  true  God,  as  one  with  the 
 Father,  and  the  person  I  before  mentioned  as  the  Word  of  Life,  and  as 
 the  "Everlasting  Life,"  which  was  with  the  Father,'  (chap.  i.  1,2.) 
 This  appears  to  me  the  obvious,  the  natural,  constniction  and  sense  of 
 the  te.\t. — Boothr.  Tliis  is  an  argument  of  the  Deity  of  Christ  which 
 almost  all  those  who  have  written  in  its  defence  have  urged,  and 
 which,  I  think,  none  who  have  opposed  it  have  so  much  as  appeared  to 
 answer. — Doddr.  -ii  From  idols,  from  heathen  idols  and  idolatry, 
 into  which  the  saints  of  those  times  might  be  liable  to  be  drawn,  by 
 reason  of  their  dwelling  among  heathen  idolators,  and  being  related  to 
 them,  and  by  the  too  great  freedom  used  in  eating  things  sacrificed  to 
 idols  in  their  temples;  and  from  all  other  idols  that  might  be  introduced 
 by  some  who  went  by  the  name  of  Christians,  as  the  Gnostics,  who 
 worshipped  the  images  of  Simon  and  Helena  ;  and  the  passage  may  be 
 an  antidote  against  the  worshipping  of  images,  afterwards  introduced 
 by  the  papists. — Gill. 
 
 Heflection's  on  Chap.  V.  —  Notice  here,  I.  The  faith 
 of  true  believers.  It  is  a  believing  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the 
 anointed  Messiah,  and  as  such,  receiving  him  as  our  *  only 
 Saviour  aud  Redeemer.'  It  is  an  influential  principle,  which 
 leads  us  to  love  the  children  of  God,  who  bear  tiie  image  of 
 his  Son,  and  indeed,  to  delight  in  all  his  commandments.  It 
 IS  a  faith  that  overcomes  the  world,  triumphing  over  the  lusts 
 and  pleasures  of  sin  and  sense;  and  '  Who  is  he  that  over- 
 cometh  the  world,  but  he  that  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the  Son 
 of  God  r 
 
 II.  The  sin  unto  death.  Whatever  this  may  be,  and  most 
 probably  it  intends  final  apostasy,  the  apostle  cheers  the  de- 
 sponding heart  by  asserting  that  *  there  is  a  sin  not  unto  death  ;' 
 so  that  those  who  have  a  weight  of  sin  upon  their  souls  may 
 yet  be  encouraged  to  look  at  the  cross,  and  not  to  suppose 
 that  though  every  sin  merits  death,  every  sin  will  be  punished 
 with  death  ;  were  it  so,  who  would  have  hope  ?  ^  es,  evp-n  if 
 (Treat  sins  were  not  blotted  out  by  the  precious  blood  of  Christ, 
 who  might  not  despair  !     No,  our  sin  cannot  be  punished  with 
 
 death  if  we  flee  to  Christ  for  life.  But  let  us  beware  of  tam- 
 pering with  sin,  lest  we  die  in  our  guilt,  and  lest,  our  hearts 
 becoming  hardened  through  its  deceitfulness,  we  wholly  de- 
 part from  our  profession,  and  give  painful  proof  that  the  root 
 of  the  matter  was  not  in  us,  and  that  whatever  consolations  or 
 pleasures  we  found  for  awhile  in  religion,  we  never,  as  true 
 believers,  had  the  Spirit  bearing  witness  with  our  spirits  that 
 we  were  the  children  of  God. 
 
 III.  Tlie  exhortation  to  avoid  idols.  Far  removed  from  every 
 temptation  to  heathen  idolatry,  we  are  not  in  danger  from  that 
 quarter  ;  and  our  common  sense  generally  points  out  to  us  the 
 folly  of  worshipping  images,  so  that  even  a  papist  indignantly 
 denies  the  charge.  Yet  are  we  to  remember,  that  whatever 
 holds  a  supreme  place  in  that  heart  which  God  alone  has  a 
 right  to  claim,  is,  to  all  intents  and  purposes  an  idol; — that 
 idol  may  be  dwelt  on  in  the  fancy,  gazed  on  with  the  bodily 
 eyes,  or  grasped  with  the  hand.  It  may  be  worldly  pleasure, 
 flesh  and  blood,  or  mammon.  Let  us  give  Christ  our  hearts  ; 
 he  demands  them — he  deserves  them.     Amen. 
 
 1«35 
 
THE    SECOND    EPISTLE 
 
 JOHN. 
 
 [The  writer  of  this  epistle  styles  himself  *  the  Elder,'  a  name  of  office,  and  expressive  of  long  standings  as  a  Christian,  amidsi 
 the  many  persecutions  of  the  age,  and  so,  on  that  account,  entitling  him  to  respect  from  the  disciples  of  Christ.  The 
 person  to  whom  it  is  addressed  is  called  '  the  elect  lady;'  '  lady,'  on  account  of  her  honour  and  richus  ;  and  '  elect,'  on 
 account  of  her  grace.  Some  have,  however,  given  other  renderings  to  her  title.  C/e/«e«s  ^l/exaWr/Hws  imagined  that 
 this  epistle  was  written  to  a  Babylonian  woman,  named  Eclecta.  Dr.  Boothrotid  renders  it,  '  to  the  Lady  Electa ;'  and 
 he  observes,  that,  from  the  article,  and  Greek  usage,  it  is  clearly  a  proper  name,  and  not  an  appellative,  signifying  the 
 chosen  or  excellent  lady.  Woljius  and  Wetstein  render  it  in  the  same  manner.  This  is  also  the  rendering  of  tlie  Vulgate, 
 and  it  is  remarked  in  the  Pictorial  Bible,  that  the  absence  in  the  Greek  of  the  article  seems  to  justify  this  interpretation. 
 ffeuman.  Dr.  Benson,  and  Liicke  are  of  opinion  that  the  name  was  Kvpia,  '  Kyria,*  and  translate  the  inscription  thus: 
 '  To  the  elect  Kyria.*  Cassiodorus^  among  the  ancients,  thought  a  particular  church  was  meant  by  the  apostle,  and  not  a 
 lady.  Whiston  mentions  the  church  of  Philadelphia  ;  and  Whithy  and  Lord  Barrirtpton  that  of  Jerusalem.  Some  were 
 of  opinion  that  the  Christian  church  in  general  was  intended,  (comp.  Isa.  liv.  1  ;  Gal.  iv.  24,  &:c. )  Many  writers, 
 among  whom  are  Beza,  Dr.  Gardner,  Le  Clerc,  are  decidedly  in  favour  of  our  translation.  The  former  thus  writes 
 in  justification  of  his  opinion — *  Some  think  *'  Eclecta"  a  proper  name,  which  I  do  not  approve,  hecnuse,  in  that  case, 
 the  order  of  the  words  would  have  been  Kvpta  EKXtKrij,  to  the  Lady  Eclecta.  Others  think  that  this  name  denotes 
 the  Christian  church  in  general;  but  that  is  disproved,  first,  by  its  being  a  manner  of  speaking  altogether  unxisual ; 
 secondly,  by  the  apostle's  expressly  promising,  in  the  two  last  verses,  to  come  to  lier  and  her  children ;  thirdly,  by  sending 
 to  her  the  salutation  of  her  sister,  whom  also  he  calls  Eclecta.  I  therefore  think  tliis  epistle  was  inscribed  to  a  woman  of 
 eminence,  of  whom  there  were  some,  here  and  there,  who  supported  the  church  with  their  wealth,  and  that  he  called  her 
 elect,  that  is,  excellent,  and  gave  her  the  title  of  Ki'pta,  Lady,  just  as  Lulie  gave  to  Theophilus,  and  Paul  gave  to  Festus, 
 the  title  of  KpaTroro^,  mn^t  excellent.  For  the  Christian  religion  doth  not  forbid  such  honourable  titles  to  he  given  when 
 they  are  due.'  Slade  observes,  it  may  he  *  to  an  elect  lady,'  to  a  Christian  convert.  Bp.  Tomlinc  says,  that  there  ap- 
 pears to  he  no  reason  for  departing  from  the  received  translation.  It  is  supposed  that  the  lady's  name  was  omitted,  lest 
 the  enemies  of  the  gospel,  into  whose  hands  it  might  come,  finding  lier  jjointed  out  as  a  person  of  eminence  among  the 
 Christians,  might  have  given  her  trouble.  It  is  not  known  where  this  lady  lived,  but,  from  the  apostle's  proposing  to 
 visit  her  soon,  it  is  conjectured  that  she  lived  not  far  from  Ephcsus.  where  the  apostle  abode  when  he  wrote  to  her.  The 
 design  of  the  epistle  was  to  caution  the  lady  to  whom  it  was  addressed  against  those  false  teachers  who  asserted  that 
 Christ  was  not  a  real  man,  but  only  a  man  in  appearance,  and  that  he  did  not  actually  suffer  what  he  seemed  to  suffer ; 
 a  doctrine  altogether  destructive  of  the  atonement  of  Christ.] 
 
 1  He  exhorteth  a  certain  honourable  mairnn,  with  her 
 children^  to  persevere  in  Christian  love  andhilitf,  8 
 lest  they  lose  the  reward  of  their  former  profession: 
 10  and  to  have  nothiny  to  do  with  those  seducers  that 
 briny  not  the  true  doctrine  of  Christ  Jesus. 
 
 HTHE  elder  unto  the  elect  lady  and  her 
 -*-  children,  *  whom  I  love  in  the  truth;  and 
 not  I  only,  but  also  all  they  that  have  known 
 **the  truth  ; 
 
 2  For  the  truth's  sake,  which  dwelleth  in  us, 
 and  shall  be  with  us  for  ever. 
 
 3  '^  Grace  the  with  you,  mercy,  and  peace, 
 from  God  the  Father,  and  from  the  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Father,  '^  in  truth  and 
 love. 
 
 4  I  rejoiced  greatly  that  I  found  of  thy  chil- 
 dren *  walking  in  truth,  as  we  have  received  a 
 conimandmeut  from  the  Fatlier. 
 
 3  And  now  I  beseech  thee,  lady,  ^  not  as 
 though  I  wrote  a  new  commandment  unto 
 thee,  but  that  which  we  had  from  the  begin- 
 ning, ^  that  we  love  one  another. 
 
 6  And  ^  this  is  love,  that  we  walk  after  his 
 commandments.     This  is  the  commandment, 
 
 a  1  John  ». 
 
 IS.  3  Jolxi 
 
 I   ver.  S. 
 *  John  8.  S2. 
 
 Gal.  ^,6,li. 
 
 &  a  \.tt5. 
 
 7.  Col.  I.  5. 
 
 2TlieB.8.i:t. 
 
 I  Tim.  2.  4. 
 
 Hob  w.-m. 
 
 c  I  Tim.  1.2. 
 t  Gr.iLallbe. 
 d  ver.  I. 
 
 e  ^  John  3 
 
 f\  .Tnlm2.7, 
 9    &  S.  It. 
 
 g  Jolin  13. 
 ■M.  r*  15.12. 
 Epli.  5.  2 
 I    I'et.  4.  ft. 
 Uohn  3  23. 
 
 h  John  U. 
 lo.Ji.  ft  15. 
 10.  1  Jrihn 
 ■2,  5.  &  6.  3. 
 
 k  IJolin  4  1 
 /  I  John  4  £ 
 
 Mark  IH  9 
 I.  Gal .  .H.  1 
 Hel..  1U..S2, 
 35. 
 
 copies  read, 
 
 bill  tifit  v- 
 
 '  I  Juliii  3. 
 23. 
 
 q  Rom.  16. 
 17.  1  Cnr.5. 
 II  &  U-.Ti. 
 Gill.  I.  8.  9 
 9  Tim.  .-i  5, 
 Tit.  ;i    1(1, 
 
 r3  J.-lM.  IS. 
 
 t  Or.  mfiih 
 to  ini'Hlh. 
 
 J  JolMi  17.13 
 1  John  l.'l. 
 
 II  Or.  V'ir. 
 
 I  1  Pet.  5.13 
 
 That,  '  as  ye  have  heard  from  the  beginning, 
 ye  shonld  walk  in  it. 
 
 7  For  ''  many  deceivers  are  entered  into  the 
 world,  ^  who  confess  not  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
 come  in  the  flesh.  ""This is  a  deceiver  and  an 
 antichrist. 
 
 8  "Look  to  yourselves,  ''that  we  lose  not 
 those  things  which  we  have  ||  wrought,  but 
 that  we  receive  a  full  reward. 
 
 9  ^  Whosoever  transgre-sseth,  and  abide th 
 not  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  hath  not  God. 
 He  that  abideth  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  he 
 hath  both  the  Father  and  the  Son. 
 
 10  If  there  come  any  unto  you,  and  bring 
 not  this  doctrine,  receive  liim  not  into  t/our 
 house,  *' neither  bid  him  God  speed  : 
 
 11  For  he  that  biddeth  him  God  speed  is 
 partaker  of  his  evil  deeds. 
 
 12  ■"  Having  many  things  to  write  unto  you, 
 I  would  not  tvrite  with  paper  and  ink  :  hut  I 
 trust  to  come  unto  you,  and  speak  f  face  to 
 face,  Uhat  ||  our  joy  may  be  full. 
 
 13  'The  children  of  thy  elect  sister  greet 
 thee.     Amen. 
 
 Notes  on  the  SEro\'D  Epistle  of  Johv.  —  l.  Unto  the  elect 
 ladi) — the  sense  seems  to  be,  '  to  the  truly  Christian  lady.' — Bloomf.,  as 
 Sciiteus.,  Dr.  Benson,  Sec. ;  see  Introd.  to  the  Epistle.  Love  in  the 
 truth,  sincerely. — Pt/le.  Or  '  in  the  faith,'  (see  Gal.  vi.  10  ;  Tit.  iii.  15.) 
 — Gilt.  Or  '  on  account  of  adherence  to  the  true  doctrine.*  2.  For 
 the  truth^s  sake,  through  the  influence  of  the  gnspel. — Mackn.  4. 1 
 found,  ?fc. — probably  some  of  her  sons  had  travelled  abroad,  as  the 
 wnrd  TrepiTTaTorcri  may  si^iify.  and  the  apostle  had  met  with  them,  and 
 seen  their  excellent  spirit  and  deportment  as  became  the  gospel. — Guj/se. 
 Ill  truth,  in  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel. —  Whitby,  Doddr.  5.  Not  as 
 thoHffh  I  wrote  a  7iew  commandment,  §-c. — see  I  John,  ii.  /,  8,  notes. 
 d.  And  this,  ^c. — see  1  Jolm,  v.  3,  notes.         /.  For  many  deceivers,  §-c. 
 
 —see  1  John,  iv.  i,  note.  9.  Hath  not  God,  for  his  Father.  Both  the 
 Father  and  the  Son,  an  interest  in  both.— Gi7^  10.  God  •speed,  i.  e., 
 in  the  propagation  of  error.— Z>o//rfr.  Do  not  gave  him  the  iisual  form 
 of  salutation,  '  a  good  day  to  you,'  &c. ;  the  meaning  is,  that  with  such 
 no  familiar  conversation  should  behad.— Gj7/.  This  is  generally  thought 
 to  allude  to  the  Jews  forbidding  to  have  any  familiar  correspondence 
 \vith  excommunicated  persons,  who  weie  to  be  treated  Hke  heathen 
 men  and  publicans,  (see  Matt,  xviii.  i";  see  also  1  Cor.  v.  9,  11.1 
 11.  Is  partaker,  has  fellowship  with,  instead  of  reproving  or  shunning 
 him.— Gi//.  l;».  Elect  si.stt-r,  or  '  Christian  sister.'— MWfe.  Probably 
 the  sister  was  absent  or  dead,  so  that  the  salutation  of  her  children 
 only  was  sent.— Guysc. 
 
 Reflections    on    the    Second     Epistle     of    John. sistent  believers  and  servants  of  Christ.     All  who  know  and 
 
 I.  *  Though  not  many  noble  or  rich  are  called,  yet  there  are  some ;  love  the  gospel,  will   love  sucli  as  profess  and  adorn  it,  and 
 
 and  nothing  adds  more  to  their  honour  than  to  be  humble,  con-  will  most  cordially   pray  for  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  to  rest 
 
 l;}3G 
 
THE     THIRD     EPISTLE 
 
 JOHN. 
 
 f  Gaius,  or  Caius,  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  person  of  some  substance.  It  is  not  exactly  known  who  he  was.  '  We  read  of 
 one,  Gaius,  of  Corinth,  (Horn.  xvi.  2f'i,)  who  hospitably  received  the  apostle  Paul,  when  he  went  out  to  preach  the  gospel 
 gratis  ;  and  if  this  were,  as  he  seems  to  have  been,  the  same,  he  was  St.  Paul's  convert ;  nor  is  St.  John's  callin,^  him  his 
 child  an  argument  to  the  contrary;  since,  in  the  general,  he  addresses  all  Christians  in  the  same  tender  and  affectionate 
 style,  agreeably  to  the  sweetness  of  his  temper,  and  suitably  to  his  advanced  years.'  This  letter  was  written  to  commend 
 the  hospitalitv  of  Gaius,  to  rebuke  the  arrogance  of  Diotrephes,  who  had  assumed  to  himself  the  chief  direction  of  the 
 affairs  of  the  church,  and  to  recommend  the  example  of  Demetrius,  whose  disposition  and  behaviour  were  worthy  of 
 imitation.] 
 
 He  commendeth  Gaius  for  his  piety,  5  and  hospitality 
 7  to  true  preachers:  9  rouij)hining  of  the  unkind 
 dealiny  of  ambitious  Diotri  phes  on  the  contrary  side, 
 11  whose  evil  example  is  not  to  be  followed:  12  unit 
 Cfiveth  special  testimony  to  the  good  rtport  of  Deme 
 trius. 
 
 'T^HE    elder    unto    the    wellbelovcd    Gaius, 
 -*-    "  whom  I  love  ||  in  the  truth. 
 
 2  Beloved,  I  ||  wish  above  all  things  that 
 thou  inayest  prosper  and  be  in  health,  even  as 
 thy  soul  prospereth. 
 
 3  For  I  rejoiced  greatly,  when  the  brethren 
 came  and  testified  of  the  truth  that  is  in  thee, 
 even  as  ^  thou  walkest  in  the  truth. 
 
 4  I  have  no  greater  joy  than  to  hear  that 
 ■^niy  children  walk  in  truth. 
 
 5  Beloved,  thou  doest  faithfully  whatsoever 
 thou  doest  to  the  brethren,  and  to  strangers  ; 
 
 6  Which  have  borne  witness  of  thy  charity 
 before  the  cliurch  :  whom  if  thou  bring  forward 
 on  their  journey  f  after  a  godly  sort,  thou  shalt 
 do  well  : 
 
 7  Because  that  for  his  name's  sake  they  went 
 forth,  ^  taking  nothing  of  the  Gentiles. 
 
 2  John  1. 
 Or,  lr,.ij,. 
 Oi",  prng. 
 
 r  1  Cor.  4.15. 
 Phileni.  III. 
 
 f  Gr.  WOT 
 of  God. 
 
 P«  37.  27. 
 Is  1-  16,17, 
 1  Pet.  :<.ll. 
 / 1  J..tm  2. 
 
 !9,  Sc  3.  6,9. 
 
 ff  1  Tim.  3.7 
 
 h  JnhD2l. 
 
 I  2  Jolm  1-2. 
 
 t  fir.  mniitk 
 tu  iiwuth. 
 
 8  We  therefore  ought  to  receive  such,  that 
 we  might  be  fellowhelpers  to  the  truth. 
 
 9  1  wrote  unto  the  church  :  but  Diotrephes, 
 who  loveth  to  have  the  preeminence  among 
 them,  receiveth  us  not. 
 
 10  Wherefore,  if  I  come,  I  will  remember  his 
 deeds  which  he  doeth,  prating  against  us  with 
 malicious  words  :  and  not  content  therewith, 
 neither  doth  he  himself  receive  the  brethren, 
 and  forbiddeth  them  that  would,  and  casteth 
 t/iew  out  of  the  church. 
 
 11  Beloved,  *"  follow  not  tliat  which  is  evil, 
 but  that  which  is  good.  ^  He  that  doeth  good 
 is  of  God  :  but  he  that  doeth  evil  hath  not 
 seen  God. 
 
 12  Demetrius  ^  hath  good  report  of  all  mcT?, 
 and  of  the  truth  itself:  yea,  and  we  also  bear 
 record;  "and  ye  know  that  our  record  is  true. 
 
 13  '  I  had  many  things  to  write,  but  I  will  not 
 with  ink  and  pen  write  unto  thee  : 
 
 14  But  I  trust  I  shall  shortly  see  thee,  and 
 we  shall  speak  fface  to  face.  Peace  be  to 
 thee.  Our  friends  salute  thee.  Greet  the 
 friends  by  name. 
 
 Notes  on  the  Third  Epistle  op  Johx. —  l.  Gaius,  or,  accord- 
 ing to  the  Latin  orthography,  '  Caius.'  This  name  is  mentioned  five 
 times.  One  Caius  was  with  St.  Paul  atEphesus,  (Acts,  six.  29.)  There 
 was  also  Caius  of  Dcrbe,  (Acts,  xx.  4.)  A  Caius  with  whom  Paul 
 lodged  at  Rnme,  (Rom.  xvi.  ii.)  A  Caius  ba|>tized  at  Corinth,  (1  Cor. 
 i.  14.)  probably  the  same  as  that  mentioned  in  the  Romans.  A  Caius 
 to  whom  this  epistle  was  written.  There  was  hkewise  a  Caius  Bishop 
 of  PergaiiK's ;  and  Whiston  and  Mile  have  attiibuted  this  epistle  to 
 him,  as  he  lived  at  the  time  it  was  sent ;  but  Caius  was  neither  a  bishop 
 nor  a  deaciui,  but  a  private  member  of  some  chiu^ch  of  which  the 
 apostle  took  the  inspection.— jVaeAn. ;  see  the  Introd.  to  the  Epistle. 
 Cains  was  an  eminent  Christian,  who  lived  m  some  city  not  far  from 
 Ephesus,  where  St.  John  chiefly  resided  after  his  leavmg  Judea  ;  for. 
 ver.  14,  the  apostle  speaks  of  shortly  coming  to  him,  which  he  could 
 not  well  have  done  if  Caius  lived  at  Coiinth,  or  any  other  remote  place. 
 — Lnrdner.  2.  /  wish  ahoj'e  all  things,  '  above  all  persons,'  having  a 
 great  concern  for  your  temporal  and  spiritual  advantage.  —  Hallet. 
 Hepi  TTavTov  €vxoiJ.ai,  '  Dcum  oro  de  omnibus  rebus,'  *  I  pray  God  con- 
 cerning all  things.' — Beza.  The  rendering  of  Bez/i  is  decidedly  op- 
 posed, as  contraiy  to  the  use  of  the  preposition  among  Greek  writers, 
 or  in  the  Gr.  Test.,  or  Sept.,  by  LUcke  ;  so  Estiu-H,  and  Schmidiu,':.  '  I 
 pray  that  in  respect  of  all  things.' — Doddr.,  so  Mackn.  '  I  wish 
 that  thou  mayest  prosper  in   all   things.'  —  Boothr.     Perhaps   St. 
 
 John  had  learned  from  the  brethren  that  Caius  was  in  bad  health. — 
 Liiclce.  Q.  Diotrephes  —  perhaps  this  was  a  Gentile  convert  who 
 would  not  admit  the  Jews.— G»-o^  Very  probably  he  was  a  Jew,  who 
 opposed  the  admission  of  the  Gentiles.— i^orfrfy.  He  might  have  been 
 the  author  of  a  new  %Qct.— Erasmus,  so  Bede.  It  is  Hkely  that  he  was 
 a  deacon,  and,  having  charge  of  the  church's  stock,  he  had  it  in  his 
 power  to  refuse  relief  to  the  brethren  and  strangers  who  applied  to 
 liim ;  ajid,  by  so  doing,  he  cast  them  out  of  the  church— that  is,  obliged 
 them  to  depart.— /fe«7;m/?.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  bishop  ;  and  as 
 he  loved  to  rule  everj'thmg  in  his  church  according  to  his  ow^l  plea- 
 sure, his  otfice  as  a  bishop  enabled  him  to  restrain  the  deacons  from 
 employini^  any  part  of  the  church's  stock  in  reheving  the  brethren  and 
 the  strangers. — Lardner.  It  is  very  Ukely  he  was  pastor. — Gill.  Who 
 loveth  to  hiiiie  the  preeminence  nmoit:^  them,  '  who  loveth  to  rule  them.' 
 10.  /  will  remember  /us  deeds—the  Greek  uTro^ivrjo-w,  properly  signifies 
 '  to  bring  another  to  the  remembrance  of  a  thing,'  and  it  is  so  trans- 
 lated Jude,  5. — Mackn.  '  He  would  put  Diotrephes  in  mind  of  his 
 evil  deeds,  and  endeavour  to  persuade  him  to  repent  of  them  by  mild 
 admonitions.' — So  Heiimnn  and  Lnrdner.  '  He  would  pubhcly  reprove 
 him  for  impeding  the  faith  and  injuring  the  church.'— So  Whitby. 
 U.  Hath  not  seen  God,  'hath  not  had  any  believing  views  of  him.— 
 Wil.  12.  Demetrius,  perhaps  another  member  of  the  church,  or,  pos- 
 sibly, the  bearer  of  this  letter.— ^1.  Clarke. 
 
 upon  them  'from  God  the  Father,  and  from  the  Lord  Jesiia 
 Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Father,  in  truth  and  love.' 
 
 II.  '  We  are  again  admonished  to  abound  in  brotherly  love,  and 
 to  adhere  to  the  truth  against  all  opposers.  "  By  this  shall 
 all  men  know,"  said  Jeaus,  "  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye 
 have  love  to  one  another."  This,  then,  is  the  test,  the  proof 
 that  we  are  to  give  to  the  world  that  we  are  the  disciples 
 of  Him  who  so  loved  us  as  to  give  up  himself  to  death  for  us, 
 to  redeem  us  to  God  hy  his  blood.' 
 
 Reflections  ON  the  Third  Episti.k  of  John'.  —  Let  us 
 notice  the  persons  whose  names  appear  in  this  chapter:  — 
 L  Gaius.  He  was  a  C'hristian  whose  soul  prospered.  And 
 how  enviable  is  such  a  state!  How  pitiable  is  the  condition 
 of  a  man  who  drags  about  a  sickly  body  !  but  how  much  more 
 is  he  to  be  pitied  who  ha.s  a  sickly  soul,  whose  spiritual  evi- 
 1337 
 
 dences  are  of  so  dubious  a  nature  that  he  is  like  a  man  sus- 
 pended between  life  and  death  !  O,  what  are  treasures,  in- 
 fluence, honour,  health  of  hody,  without  health  of  soul !  Here 
 '  send,  Lord, — Lord,  we  beseech  thee,  send  prosperity  !'  This 
 prosperity  may  exist  when  all  others  fail,  and  riches  and 
 health  may  flee  away.  Gaius  seems  to  have  had  a  prosperous 
 soul  in  a  weak  body  ;  and  how  does  this  kindle  up  the  lamp 
 of  joy,  while  the  lamp  of  nature  t^limmers  or  expires  !  Be  it 
 remembered,  that  the  soul  that  has  *  fellowship'  with  God  and 
 with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ  is  sure  to  be  in  a  prosperous  state. 
 It  has  '  eternal  life,'  and  it  need  no  more.  Alas,  that  there  are 
 so  many  whom  we  may  address  in  language  diametrically  oppo- 
 site to  this,  an-.l  wish  that  they  rnay  prosper  and  be  in  health 
 in  their  souls,  even  as  their  circumstances  and  their  bodily 
 health  prosper!  They  breathe  freely  of  the  air  of  this  world, 
 8  H 
 
THE     GENERAL     EPISTLE 
 
 J  U  D  E. 
 
 [The  writer  of  this  epistle  was  the  brother  of  James,  which  is  confirmed  by  all  copies.  He  is  mentioned  in  the  gospels,  .is 
 Jndas,  with  the  addition  of  his  surname  Lebbeus  or  Tliaddeus,  to  distinguish  him  from  Judas  Iscariot.  From  the 
 aj^reement  of  this  portion  of  holy  writ  with  the  second  epistle  of  Peter,  it  seems  to  have  been  written  about  the  same 
 time,  and  upon  the  same  occasion.  Jude  seems  to  cite  a  passage  out  of  Peter,  as  l^eter,  in  the  same  chapter,  cites  the 
 Apostle  Paul,  which  only  shews  agreement  in  their  doctrine  and  writing.  £stius  and  Witsius  were  of  opinion  that  Jude 
 wrote  to  Christians  everywhere,  but  especially  to  the  converted  Jews.  Hammotid  thought  this  epistle  was  directed  to 
 Christians  alone,  and  with  a  design  to  secure  them  against  the  error  of  tiie  Gnostics.  Benson  also  thought  it  was 
 written  to  Jewish  believers,  especially  to  those  of  the  western  dispersion  ;  for,  according  to  him,  Jude  wrote  to  the  very 
 persons  to  whom  Peter  wrote  his  epistles.  Lardner  and  Macknight  were  of  opinion  that  it  was  intended  for  all,  without 
 distinction,  who  had  embraced  the  gospel.  Some  6x  the  date  as  early  as  the  year  70;  and  others,  as  late  as  90.  Refer- 
 ences in  Jude  to  the  Old  Testament — Gen.  iv.  5;  v.  18;  xix.  24;  Num.  xiv.  29  ;  xvi.  1  ;  xxii.  7 — 21  ;  xxvi.  64;  Dent, 
 xxix.  23  ;  Ezek.  xiv.  7  ;  Dan,  x.  13 ;  Zech.  iii.  2.  4,  5  ] 
 
 He  exhorteth  them  to  be  constant  in  the  profession  of  the 
 faith.  4  Fnhe  teachers  are  crept  in  to  seduce  them  : 
 for  whose  damnable  dortrine  and  manners  horrible 
 punishment  is  prepared .  20  whereas  the  godly,  6y 
 the  assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  prayers  to 
 God,  may  persevere,  and  grow  in  grace,  and  keep 
 thevisflves,  and  recover  others  out  of  the  snares  of 
 tho:>e  deceivers. 
 
 JUDE,  the  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
 •^  ^  brother  of  James,  to  them  that  are  sancti- 
 fied by  God  the  Father,  and  ''preserved  in 
 Jesus  Christ,  and  '^  called  : 
 
 2  Mercy  unto  you,  and  "^  peace,  and  love,  be 
 multiplied. 
 
 3  Beloved,  when  I  gave  all  diligence  to  write 
 unto  you  ^  of  the  common  salvation,  it  was 
 needful  for  me  to  write  unto  you,  and  exhort 
 7/ou  that  *"  ye  should  earnestly  contend  for  the 
 faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto  the  saints. 
 
 4  ^  For  there  are  certain  men  crept  in  una- 
 wares, ^  who  were  before  of  old  ordained  to 
 
 a  r,<ike6  10. 
 Acts  I     l:i. 
 
 /.  John  17. 
 
 II,  1-^,  15. 
 
 I  Pet.  1.  5. 
 >■  Horn.  1.  7. 
 .(  I  I'et.  1.2. 
 
 2  Pet.  I.  i. 
 
 ffTit.  1.4. 
 
 &  «  12, 
 
 •i  Tim. 1. 13. 
 
 &  4.  7. 
 g  Gal    S.  4. 
 
 2  Pet.  2,  I. 
 /.  Rom.  9.21, 
 
 ■22.  I  Pet, 2, 
 
 A.D.  cir.  66. 
 
 /  2  Pet,  2  10. 
 *Tit  i.  M. 
 
 Heb.  12.  15. 
 /  Tit.  I.  16. 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  I. 
 
 1  John  3.22. 
 
 m  1  Cor.  10.9. 
 
 n  Nu.  U.29, 
 S7.  &:2«.64. 
 Ps.  108.  26 
 Heb.  3.  17, 
 19. 
 
 o  John  8.  «. 
 
 |[  Or,  princi- 
 
 ft  2  Pet.  2.  +. 
 q  Rev,  211.11) 
 r  Gen. 19  'i^. 
 Deu.  29  -'3 
 2  Pet.  y.  6. 
 
 *  2  Pet  8.10 
 /  Ex,  S-3.  29 
 
 this   condemnation,    ungodly    men,   '  turning 
 
 ^  the  grace  of  our  God  into  lasciviousness,  and 
 '  denying  the  only  Lord  God,  and  our  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ. 
 3  I  will  therefore  put  you  in  remembrance, 
 though  ye  once  knew  thi.s,  how  that  "'  the 
 Lord,  having  saved  the  people  out  of  the  land 
 of  Egypt,  afterward  "  destroyed  them  that 
 believed  not. 
 
 6  And  "^  the  angels  which  kept  not  their  ||  first 
 estate,  but  left  their  own  habitation,  ^he  hath 
 reserved  in  everlasting  chains  imder  darkness 
 ''  unto  tlie  judgment  of  the  great  day. 
 
 7  Even  as  'Sodom  and  Gomorrha,  and  the 
 cities  about  them  in  like  manner,  giving  them- 
 selves over  to  fornication,  and  going  after 
 t  strange  flesh,  are  set  forth  for  an  example, 
 suffering  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire. 
 
 8  "  Likewise  also  these  Jiif/ii/  dreamers  defile 
 the  flesh,  despise  dominion,  and  'speak  evil  of 
 dignities. 
 
 Notes  on  Jude.  —  3.  Common  satmifion,  a  salvation  for  Jews  and 
 Gentiles,  rich  and  poor,  honourable  and  ignoble,  bond  and  free,  learned 
 and  illiterate.  Earnestly  contend,  eTraYOJufw^iai — this  word,  in  its 
 simple  form,  denotes  that  vehement  fighting  and  stri^-ing  which  was 
 wont  to  be  among  wrestlers  in  their  .solemn  grames ;  but  being  here 
 compounded,  it  imports  a  more  renowned  and  famous  contcntinn  than 
 ordinary ;  as  those  that  fouj^ht  for  their  very  souls,  dearer  than  life 
 itself  ;  and  so  great  is  this  contention,  that  no  one  English  word  is  able 
 to  express  the  Greek  ;  'to  contend  vrith  all  their  strength,  cxtraordi- 
 narily,  beyond  measure,  most  earnestly.'  do  scarcely  render  the  mean- 
 ing of  the  word.— Jen%n.  Once  delwered,  *  delivered  once  for  all,'  so 
 as  to  need  no  further  confirmation  besides  the  evidence  given  of  it  by 
 Christ  and  his  apostles,  and  so  as  to  admit  of  no  alterations  or  addi- 
 tions. — Pyle.  4.  Of  old  ordnined  to  this  condemnation,  ■npo-it'jpamitvot 
 etc  TouTo  TO  Kpi^iu,  '  before  written.'  Jude  means,  that  these  wicked 
 teachers  had  their  punishment '  before  written,'— that  is,  '  foretold,'  in 
 what  is  written  concerning  the  wicked  Sodomites  and  rebellious  Israel- 
 ites, whose  crimes  were  the  same  with  theirs.— jV«cArt.  This  mani- 
 festly relates,  not  to  their  having  been  before  ordained  to  their  sin,  but 
 to  their  being  awfully  judged  and  condemned  for  \t.~Guasp.  'Who 
 were  registered  to  this  condemnation.'  The  word  may  well  signi^, 
 •  described  and  put  upon  record. '-that  is.  whose  character  and  con- 
 demnation may  be  considered  as  described  in  the  punishment  of  noto- 
 rious sinners,  who  were  a  kind  of  representatives  of  them.— Dorfrfr. 
 Here  is  an  allusion,  as  some  think,  to  a  ciLStom  among  the  Romans  of 
 posting  up  in  the  forums  the  names  of  persons  accused  of  certain 
 crimes,  with  rewards  for  their  apprehension,  and  sometimes  for  killing 
 
 them.  Such  men,  that  is,  wicked  teachers  or  preachers,  are  proscribed 
 in  many  parts  of  the  word  of  God,  (see  Ps.  1.  j6.) — WH.  Turning  thf 
 grace,  ifc,  so  perverting  the  doctiine  of  the  gospel  as  to  teach  that  it 
 even  countenances  and  encourages  lasciviousness. —  Wells.  Denying, 
 Sfc. — Jude's  meaning  is,  that  these  ungodly  teachers,  in  order  to  avoid 
 persecution,  denied  the  only  Lord  God  of  the  universe,  by  acknowledg- 
 ing and  worshipping  the  heathen  deities.  Also,  they  denied  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  by  denying  that  they  were  his  disciples.— Macknig/it. 
 6.  Their  fir^t  estate — this  first  estate  Christ  e.Kpresses  by  the  word 
 'truth,'  (John,  \iii.  44.)  It  signifies  righteousness  and  true  holiness, 
 hoHness  of  truth,  wherein  stands  the  image  of  God,  (Eph- iv.  24.)  Left 
 their  own  habitation,  that  proper  station  and  set  office  in  heavei\ 
 wlicrein  their  great  Lord  and  Master  was  pleased  tn  fix  them,  for  serv- 
 ing him.  Their  own,  that  place  properly  and  peculiarly  appointed, 
 allotted,  and  set  out  for  them,  by  God, — that  is,  to  serve  and  honour 
 him  in. — Gerhard,  Jenkyn,  so  Scott.  7-  Going  after  strange  fiesh,  a 
 covert  expression,  implying  their  monstrous  and  unlawful  lusts.  — 
 Manton.  Suffering  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire,  having  their  cities  so 
 consumed  by  fire  as  to  be  incapable  of  being  rebuilt;  and  thus  exhibit- 
 ing, in  their  punishment,  a  pmper  emblem  of  that  '  eternal  fire'  which 
 is  to  be  the  punishment  of  the  wicked  at  the  last  day.— TKe/^.  8.  Filthy 
 dreamers,  men  carried  away  with  their  own  giddy  fancies  and  idle 
 dreams,  who  defile  themselves  with  abominable  lusts,  despise  autho- 
 rity,  and  speak  scornfully  and  disgracefully  of  all  those  that  are  in 
 dignity  and  eminence  above  them.  —  Bp.  Hall.  Despise  dominion, 
 KfptoTr}v,  usually  in  scripture  expresses  *  civil  govenmnent,'  and  by 
 dignities  may  be  understood  '  government  and   governors  ecclesi- 
 
 and  partake  of  its  good  things,  but  they  draw  down  no  spiritual 
 blessings  from  on  high.  Gains  walked  ia  the  truth,  making 
 that  his  boundary  line  and  guide.  Gaius  practised  love  towards 
 the  church  of  Christ  ;  he  bad  for  every  Christiao  a  generous 
 heart  and  an  open  hand.  So  may  we  walk  worthy  of  the  to- 
 cation  wherewith  we  profess  to  be  called. 
 
 II.  Diotrrphes.  This  man.  whether  a  member  or  a  leader 
 of  the  church,  was  distinguished  by  an  overbearing  spirit, 
 which  is  not  consistent  in  either  :  and  he  had  no  kindly  feel- 
 ing for  his  poorer  brethren  ;  he  had  not  the  charity  which 
 shews  itself  in  deeds  ;  nor  had  he  learnt  to  govern  his  tongue. 
 I<et  unfeeling  tyrants  in  the  church  of  Christ  look  at  the  cha- 
 1338 
 
 racter  of  Diotrephes.  and  learn  to  be  ashamed. 
 
 III.  Demetrius.  He  was  a  man  of  good  report.  This  is 
 highly  important  in  the  Christian  character.  Not  only  should 
 feiJoH'-Christians  be  able  to  bear  testimony  to  us,  but  they 
 that  are  on  the  contrary  part,  how  much  soever  they  may  hate 
 our  principles,  yet  should  have  no  evil  thing  justly  to  say  of 
 us.  Then,  'Whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever  things  are 
 honest,  whatsoever  things  are  just,  whatsoever  things  are  pure, 
 whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good 
 report;  if  there  be  any  virtue,  and  if  there  he  any  praise,'  let 
 us  'think  on  these  things.* 
 
The  punishment  of  false  preachers. 
 
 JUDE. 
 
 The  safety  of  the  godly. 
 
 9  Yet  "  Mioliael  the  archangel,  when  con- 
 tending with  the  d*vil  he  disputed  ahout  the 
 uody  (if  Moses.  ^  durst  not  bring  against  him  a 
 raihng  accusation,  but  said,  *'The  Lord  rebuke 
 thee. 
 
 10  ^  But  these  speak  evil  of  those  things 
 which  they  know  not :  but  what  they  know 
 naturally,  as  brute  beasts,  in  those  things  they 
 corrupt  themselves. 
 
 11  Woe  unto  them!  for  they  have  gone  in 
 the  way  ^  of  Cain,  and  ^  ran  greedily  after  the 
 error  of  Balaam  for  reward,  and  perished  ''in 
 the  gainsaying  of  Core, 
 
 12  '^  These  are  spots  in  your  ®  feasts  of  cha- 
 rity, when  they  feast  with  you,  fecdintr  them- 
 selves without  fear:  '"clouds  they  are  without 
 water,  ^carried  about  of  winds;  trees  whose 
 fruit  withereth,  without  fruit,  twice  dead, 
 ^plucked  up  by  the  roots  ; 
 
 13  '  Raging  waves  of  the  sea,  ''  foaming  out 
 their  own  shame  ;  wandering  stars,  '  to  whom 
 is  reserved  the  blackness  of  darkness  for  ever. 
 
 14  And  Enock  also, '"the  seventh  from  Adam, 
 prophesied  of  these,  saying.  Behold,  "the  Lord 
 Cometh  with  ten  thousands  of  his  saints, 
 
 Ja  To  execute  judgment  upon  all,  and  to 
 convince  all  that  are  ungodly  among  them  of 
 all  their  ungodly  deeds  which  they  have  un- 
 godly committed,  and  of  all  their  "hard 
 apeeches  which  ungodly  sinners  have  spoken 
 against  him. 
 
 a  Gen.  +   5 
 Unhll  !1.I3. 
 
 6  Num.'ii.T, 
 21.  5  l'e[ 
 2.  15. 
 
 c  Num.  16  I, 
 
 d  2  Pet  2  13. 
 e  I  Cor.  11. 
 
 21. 
 /Pro.  25.H. 
 
 2  I'et.  2  17. 
 ^  Kph.  t  H. 
 
 A  Mat  15.13. 
 
 n  (^.eii.  5.18. 
 
 1  n.'ii.  ai.  2. 
 
 D.m.  7.  10. 
 Zecb.  M.5. 
 Mat.  25.31. 
 
 2  Thes.  1.7 
 Rev.  1.  7. 
 
 o  I  Sam  3  2. 
 Ps.  3t.  \K 
 
 &  n.  *. 
 
 Mai.  S,  l.S. 
 
 p  2  Pot.2  19 
 
 a  Pro.  28.21. 
 Jiiin.2  1,9. 
 
 r  2  Pet.  3.  2. 
 
 I   Pro.   18.  1. 
 
 Ezek   U  7, 
 
 Hos.  4.  14. 
 
 8t  y.  1(1, 
 
 Heb.  Ill  25. 
 u  I  Coi-.^.H. 
 
 Jam.  3  15. 
 T  Col.  -2.  7 
 
 1  Tim.  1.4 
 »/  Rum.  8  26. 
 
 Eph  ti.  IS. 
 :  Tit.  2,   I.S. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.12. 
 
 a  Rom.  II. 
 
 14,  I  Tim. 
 
 4.  16, 
 AAmos  1.1 1, 
 
 I  Cor.  3.  15. 
 
 Zocli   3   2 
 c  Zei-h.  3,  4, 
 
 •■j.  Ret-   3  4 
 •fRnm.16  23. 
 
 Kpli,  3    20. 
 r  Col.  1.  22. 
 
 j'Rom,  16. 
 27.  I  Tim. 
 1.  17- «i  2.3. 
 
 16  These  are  murmurers,  complainers,  walk- 
 ing after  their  own  lusts;  and  ''their  moutli 
 speaketh  great  swelling  wortts,  ''  having  men's 
 persons  in  admiration  because  of  advantage. 
 
 1 7  ''  But,  beloved,  remember  ye  the  words 
 which  were  spoken  before  of  the  apostles  of 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ; 
 
 18  How  that  they  told  you  '  there  should  be 
 mockers  in  the  last  time,  who  should  walk  after 
 their  own  ungodly  lusts. 
 
 19  These  be  they  *■  who  separate  themselves, 
 "  sensual,  having  not  the  Spirit. 
 
 20  But  ye,  beloved,  ^  building  up  yourselves 
 on  your  most  holy  faith,  Spraying  in  the  Holy 
 Ghost, 
 
 21  Keep  yourselves  in  the  love  of  God, 
 ^looking  for  the  mercy  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ  unto  eternal  life. 
 
 22  And  of  some  have  compassion,  making  a 
 difference  : 
 
 23  And  others  "''  save  with  fear,  ^  pulling  them 
 out  of  the  fire ;  hating  even  ^  the  garment 
 spotted  by  the  flesh. 
 
 24  ^  Now  unto  him  that  is  able  to  keep  you 
 from  falling,  and  *  to  present  you  faultless 
 before  the  presence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding 
 joy. 
 
 25  ^  To  the  only  wise  God  our  Saviour,  be 
 glory  and  majesty,  dominion  and  power,  both 
 now  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 astical,'  as  apostles,  pastors,  teachers,  and  elders.— Man  ton.  Either 
 the  government  of  the  world  by  God,  denyuig:  or  speaking  evil  of  his 
 providence,  or  the  dominion  and  kingly  power  of  Christ,  to  which  they 
 cared  not  to  be  subject ;  or  rather,  civil  magistracy,  choosing'  rather 
 anarchy  and  confusion  that  they  might  do  as  they  pleased. — 6'///. 
 Uig^nities,  dofu?,  'glories' — that  is,  those  who  possess  the  glor>-  of  the 
 magistrates'  office.  The  Jews,  fancjing  it  sinful  to  obey  the  heathen 
 magistrates,  despised  both  them  and  their  office.  These  ungodly 
 teachers  carried  tbe  matter  still  further ;  they  reviled  all  magistrates 
 whatever,  as  enemies  to  the  natin^al  liberty  of  mankind. — Mnckjiight. 
 9 .  Dispittcd  nhouf  the  body  of  Mosfs — the  substance  of  this  storj'  is  con- 
 tained in  Dcut.  .\.\.xiv.  6,  that  the  body  of  Moses  was  secretly  buried  by 
 the  Lord.  The  circumstances  here  related  by  Jnde  niicht  have  been 
 recorded  by  Divine  revelation,  which  are  here  authorized  and  made 
 scripture ;  and,  indeed,  it  is  usual  with  the  penmen  of  holy  writ  to  add 
 such  circumstances  as  were  not  mentioned  in  tlie  place  where  the 
 ?.:3tor5' was  first  recorded,  see,  for  uistance,  2Tim.  iii.  8.) — Manton. 
 Perhaps,  had  the  devil  been  able  to  discover  to  the  Jews  the  place  where 
 Moses  was  first  mtcrred,  they  would  afterwards  have  paid  an  idolatrous 
 honour  to  his  remains  ;  and  it  would  have  gratified  his  malice  exceed- 
 ingly to  have  made  him  an  occasion  of  idolatry  after  h>s  death  who 
 liad  been  so  great  an  enemy  to  it  in  his  life  :  to  prevent  tbis,  Michael 
 biiried  the  body  secretly.— So  T(7/o^j;on.  It  may  be  doubtful  whether 
 the  dispute  was  not  abnut  the  body  of  Moses  when  he  was  on  the 
 water  in  the  basket,  which  body  Satan  would  have  drowned ;  or  it  is 
 more  likely,  from  /-ech.  iii.,  to  be  the  temple,  law,  and  Jewish  poUcy, 
 called  '  the  body  of  Moses,*  as  the  chiu-ch  is  called  '  the  body  of  Christ.' 
 — Bttj-ter.  Ry  '  Satan'  ui  Zechariah's  vision,  ,'Zech.  iii.  1,1  and  ita^oXo^, 
 *  the  devil,'  in  this  epistle,  may  be  understood  '  Tatnai  and  Shether- 
 boznai,'  the  king  of  Persia's  lieutenants,  who  opposed  the  restoration 
 of  Jerusalem,  and  who,  on  that  account,  might  be  called  '  Satan,' or 
 the  '  Adversary'  of  the  Jews,'  in  Uie  same  manner  that  Peter  was  called 
 'Satan'  by  his  master,  for  opposing  his  suffering  at  Jerusalem.  Ac- 
 cording to  this  interpretation,  Jude's  meaning  is,  that  the  angel  in 
 Zechariah's  vision  brought  no  reviling  accusation  against  the  adver 
 saries  of  the  Jews,  but  reproved  them  with  modesty,  on  account  of 
 tUeir  being  magistrates.  Tins  Jnde  mentioned  to  shew  the  ungodly 
 teachers  who  reviled  the  Roman  magistrates  that  they  were  culpable 
 in  domg  what  the  angels,  who,  as  Peter  observes,  (2  Epist.  ii.  11,)  are 
 greater  in  power  than  they,  did  not  attempt  tn  do.— So  f,e  Clerc. 
 1 1 .  Gone  in  the  way  of  Cain,  cSc,  have  imitated  Cain  m  offering  God  a 
 faithless  sacrifice,  and  envying  and  persecuting  them  that  do  better; 
 and  they  are  covetous  worldlings  that,  like  Balaam,  would  do  evil  for 
 reward  or  gain ;  and  they  have  imitated  Core  [the  same  with  Korah, 
 Num.  xvi.  I]  m  opposing  Moses  and  Aaron,  magistrates  and  apostles, 
 and  shall  perish  as  they  did. — Ba.iter.  12.  Spots — the  word  aTTt\n?ie\ 
 j.roperly  signifies  'rocks  m  the  sea,'  which,  when  they  rise  about  its 
 surface,  appear  Uke  spots. — Mtirkn.  The  allusion  is  either  to  spots  in 
 garments,  or  in  faces,  or  in  sacrifices ;  or  to  a  sort  of  earth  that  defiles  : 
 or  else  to  rocks  and  hollow  stones  on  shores,  lakes,  and  rivers,  which 
 collect  filth  and  slime;  fdl  which  serve  tn  expose  and  point  out  the 
 persons  designed. — Gifl.  In  pour  feasts  of  charity,  'love  feasts,' 
 ayaTraii.  Feeding  theitmelves  without  fear,  Troi^iaivovriK  —  ministers 
 were  called  Troi/itier,  'shepherds,*  or  'feeders;'  these  false  teachers 
 oidy  took  care  of  themselves.  Without  fear,  'without  any  fear  of  pu- 
 lishment  from  God,  or  of  disgrace  from  the  world.' — Mackn.  Clouds, 
 1339 
 
 Sfc. — see  2  Pet.  ii.  17,  note.  Trees  whose  fruit  withereth,  (j)9ivo7TU}ptva, 
 '  withered  autumnal  trees.*  In  the  eastern  coiuitries,  the  finest  fruits 
 being  produced  in  autumn,  by  calling  the  corrupt  teachers  '  autumnal 
 trees,'  Jnde  intimated  the  just  expectation  which  was  entertauied  of 
 their  being  fruitful  in  good  doctrine,  but,  by  adding  'without  fruit.'  he 
 marked  their  uselessness,  and  the  disappointment  of  their  disciples. 
 Tuire  dead,  dead  the  former  and  present  year — dead  both  under  the 
 Mosaic  and  gosp'i  dispensation. — Mackn.  Dead  in  trespasses  and  sins, 
 and  dead  in  the  decay  of  that  life  which  they  seemed  to  have  under  the 
 gospel.  This  U  an  Hebraism  for  '  very  dead,'  as  double  is  put  for 
 'much.* — Maaton.  Plucked  up  by  the  mots,  'rooted  out.' — Mackn. 
 'Rooted  out  of  God's  vineyard  ;'  they  sh^  no':  have  a  visible  abode 
 and  stantling  there. — Manton.  13.  Raging  wa>'es,   tarbolent  and 
 
 furious.— jl/ffcA'n.  Wandering  stars—the  Jews  are  said  to  have  called 
 their  teachers  '  stars.*  Christian  teachers  are  so  represented  Rev.  i. 
 l6;  ii.  1 ;  and  as  these  have  irregular  motions,  beins  sometimes  ^^f^- 
 tionary  and  sometimes  retrograac,  cncy  may  ce  proper  emblems  of 
 teachers  who  are  unsettled  in  their  principles,  and  irregular  in  their  be- 
 haviour.— Mackn.  Perhaps  an  astronomical  critic  would  observe,  that 
 false  teachers  are  represented  as  planetary  or  wandering  stars,  that  in 
 their  eccentricities  have  nm  out  to  an  eternal  aphelion  from  the  Sun  of 
 Righteousness,  beyond  the  system  which  he  warms,  illuminates,  and 
 beautifies,  and  therefore  must  wander  through  the  blackness  of  dark- 
 ness for  ever — a  darkness  unpierced  by  one  ray  from  the  great  sun  and 
 centi-e  of  tl'.e  moral  world:  'blackness  of  darkness,' an  abstract  pre- 
 dicated of  an  abstract ;  how  gloomy  and  strong  the  expression  ! — Pre- 
 sidtnt  Darifs.  14.  Ejioch — the  seventh,  i^c,  so  called  to  distinguish 
 hira  from  the  son  of  Cain,  (Gen.  iv.  )/.)— Mackn.  Prophesied— a  pre- 
 cious fragment  of  antediluvian  history  is  here  preserved  to  us,  as  it 
 seems,  by  the  special  providence  of  God.  who  taught  the  apostle  Jnde 
 to  distinguish  between  what  was  genuine  and  spurious  in  the  tradition. 
 — Doddr  19.  Separate  themselves,  on  account  of  their  pretended 
 
 great  illumination. — Mackn.  The  word  here  used,  aTTooiopifoiTct.may 
 signify  the  nnbomiding  of  a  thing,  and  the  removing  of  a  thijig  from 
 those  bounds  and  limits  whereui  it  was  set  and  placed ;  and  this  inter- 
 pretation of  making  themselves  boundless,  as  being  a  generation  of 
 libertines  that  would  be  kept  within  no  boimds  or  compass  of  restraint 
 by  scripture  magistrates,  church  discipUne,  Szc  ,  doth  best  agree  to  the 
 word,  and  also  to  the  whole  series  of  the  epistle.  The  word  has  an- 
 other meaning,  and  imports  the  parting  or  separating  one  thhig  from 
 another  by  bounds  and  limits  set  between  them,  as  lands  by  land- 
 marks, &c. ;  and  these  seducers  might  be  said  to  separate  themselves, 
 divide,  or  bound  themselves  from  others,  both  doctrinally  and  practi- 
 enlly. — Jenkyn.  22.  Of  some  have  compassion,  '  who  through  simpli- 
 city have  been  seduced.' — Bp.  Hall.  23.  With  fear,  by  terrifjing  of 
 them,  or  making  them  afraid  of  continuing  in  their  sui  to  the  ruin  of 
 soul  and  body. — Jenkyn,  so  Gill.  Pulling  them  out,  l^c,  as  we  would 
 anything  valuable  or  "dear. — Pict.  Bib.  A  proverbial  expression,  used 
 Amos.  iv.  11;  Zecb.  iii.  2;  1  Cor.  iii.  15  ;  it  denotes  haste  in  reclaiming 
 offenders,  lest  they  should  be  lost.  Sin  is  likened  to  fire,  or  it  may 
 signify  Divine  wrath,  (Heb.  sii,  29.) — Mackn.  Spotted  by  the  Hesh, 
 i.  e.,  a  leprous  garment ;  or  perhaps  the  allusion  may  be  to  Zech  iii  4, 
 b.—  Wil.  An  allusion  to  the  strictness  of  the  Jewish  law  against 
 touching  unclean  tilings — Pyle.  24.  From  fallings  amatarovi  that 
 is,  'from  total  apostasy.' — Manton, 
 
r  H  E     REVELATION' 
 
 OF 
 
 S.  JOHN  THE  DIVINE. 
 
 [Ims  book  IS  sometimes  called  '  the  Apocalypse,' a  word  which  has  the  same  meaning  as  '  the  Revelation,' being  derived  from 
 a  Greek  word  signifying  '  to  reveal.'  St.  John  was  banished  to  Patmos,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Domitian,  so 
 that  the  date  of  it  is  usually  fixed  at  about  95  or  96.  Justin  Martyr,  who  lived  about  sixty  V-'ars  aflur  it  was  written, 
 ascribes  it  to  tlic  Apostle  John.  Its  authenticity  was,  indeed,  never  disputed  till  the  third  ccnUnv  ;  some  absurd  opinions 
 were  then  deduced  from  it  concerning  the  millennium,  and  those  who  opposed  them  foolishlv  denounced  the  book,  be- 
 cause of  those  who  mistook  or  abused  it.  This  prophecy  was  designed  as  a  standing  monument  to  the  churcli,  to  know 
 what  destinies  attend  it  ;  but,  as  Sir  Isaac  Newtoii  remarks,  •  the  folly  of  interpreters  has  been  to  foretel  times  and  things 
 by  It,  as  if  God  designed  to  make  them  prophets. '  Among  the  other  fallible,  curious,  and  op;)osile  specimens  of  nioderii 
 prophets,  professing  to  derive  their  predictions  from  this  book,  two  mav  be  mentioned— the  Rev.  James  Hicheno,  M.A., 
 a  highly  respectable  baptist  minister,  at  Newbury,  positively  foretold  flie  doivnfal  of  popery  and  despotism  in  1819;  and 
 Dr.  Warmsley,  a  Roman-catholic  divine  of  Bath,  and  vicar  apostolic  of  the  west  of  England,  published  a  work,  in  1771, 
 in  which  he  endeavoured  to  demonstrate  that  protestantism  is  the  '  grand  apostasy,'  and  was  to  be  extirpated  in  18^5  ; 
 Without  doubt,  the  predictions  of  this  book  are  given  for  our  prayerful  study,  and  the  striking  evidences  of  their  fulfil- 
 ment will,  perliaps,  ere  long,  burst  forth  in  so  strong  a  light  .as  to  leave  not  a  shadow  of  doubt  on  the  mind  respecting 
 the  truth  of  the  interpretation.  Meantime,  here  is  ground  for  the  exercise  of  faith,  hope,  zeal,  meditation,  and  prayer'; 
 and  while  we  witness  the  most  astonishing  movements  in  the  church,  and  in  the  world,  we  look  up  with  jov  at  the  hasten- 
 ing prospect  of  the  downfal  of  the  church's  enemies,  and  the  conquests  of  the  King  of  Kings  and  Loiin  of  Louds  ;  and 
 we  seem  to  hear  the  first  breakings  forth  of  that  triumphant  si, out,  ■  Babylon  the  great  is  fallen,  is  fallen  ;'  and  to  see 
 far  more  than  the  dawn  of  that  day  when  the  celestial  city  shall  have  the  glory  and  the  honour  of  the  nations  brought  into 
 It.  '  He  which  testifieth  these  things  saith,  Smely  I  come  .luickly;  Amen.  Even  so,  come.  Lord  Jesus.'  There  are 
 numerous  references  in  Tlie  Revelation  to  other  parts  of  scripture :  — Gen.  ii.  9  ;  Exod,  iii.  14;  Num.  xxiv.  14  ;  xxv.  1  ; 
 xxxi.  16;  1  Kings,  xvi.  31  ;  xxi.  25  ;  Isa.  i.  18;  ii.  19— '21  ;  sxi.  9;  xxii.  2-2;  xxxiv.  10  ;  xliv.  0 ;  Iv.  l,2;'lxiii  3; 
 Isv.  17;  Ixvi.  22;  Jer.  Ii.  7,  8;  Ezek.  i.  5,  '26— '28 ;  iii.  3;  xxxvii.  5,  9,  10,  14;  xl.  ;  xxxviii,  2,  &c.:  xlvii.  l_l-2  • 
 D.™,  vii.  2,.3,  9,  iO,  II,  12,  13,20;  xii.  1,  7  ;  Zech.  iv.  2,  11—14;  vi.  2— 8- xiii.  1  ] 
 
 CHAP.    I. 
 
 4  John  writetU  his  revelation  to  the  seven  ehiirehes  of 
 .-isia^  slynified  hij  the  seven  f/ohlrn  cantllr sticks.  7  The 
 coniinfj  of  Christ.  14  His  f/hrious  power  and  ma- 
 j'^l.'/- 
 
 nPHE  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,  °  wliicli  God 
 -'-  gave  unto  him,  to  shew  unto  bis  servants 
 things  which  ''  must  shortly  come  to  pass  ;  and 
 'he  sent  and  signified  it  by  his  angel  unto  his 
 servant  John : 
 
 2  >•  Who  bare  record  of  the  word  of  God,  and 
 of  the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  all 
 things  °  that  he  saw. 
 
 3  '  Blessed  is  he  that  readeth,  and  they  that 
 
 A  n.  'jG. 
 
 A.  D.  S6. 
 
 e  Rom.  IS. 
 
 11.  Jam.  5. 
 
 8   1  P,-t  4  7. 
 
 cll    -22.  10. 
 
 '.  Kx    3.  14. 
 
 a  Jolm  fl,  3?. 
 
 &  8.  36.  & 
 
 A  Z.>ch    3.  9. 
 
 fc  -1,  10. 
 
 ch    a.  1.  & 
 
 /  J.ilm  a.  11. 
 
 ch.  3.   14. 
 
 cli.CO  &  13. 
 
 20.  Col.  1. 
 
 «  Eph    1    «0 
 
 oh.  17-  H,fc 
 
 /•Luke  n. 
 
 19    16. 
 
 23.  cli-22  7. 
 
 0  Joliri  18.  S-1 
 
 hear  tlie  words  of  this  prophecy,  and  keep  those 
 things  which  are  written  therein  :  for  ^  the  time 
 is  at  hand. 
 
 4  JOHN  to  the  seven  churches  which  are  in 
 '-'  Asia :  Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace, 
 from  him  "which  is,  and  '  which  was,  and  which 
 is  to  coine  ;  'and  from  the  seven  Spirits  which 
 are  before  bis  throne  ; 
 
 5  And  from  Jesus  Christ,  '  w/io  is  the  faithful 
 witness,  ait(t  the  '"first  begotten  of  the  dead, 
 and  "  the  prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth. 
 Unto  him  "that  loved  us,  ''and  washed  us 
 from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood. 
 
 It!  15.  !).  Gal.  S.  Hi.        f>  Heb.  9.  II.  1  John  I.  7. 
 
 Notes  on  Chap.  I.— l.  Hinns—oiM  Lord  foretold  many  things 
 before  Ills  passion,  but  not  all  tlungs,  for  it  was  not  vet  seasonable. 
 Many  things,  Ukcwise,  his  Spirit  foretold  in  the  writings  of  the  apostles, 
 so  far  as  the  necessities  of  those  times  required :  now  he  comprises 
 them  all  in  one  short  book,  therem  presupposing  all  the  other  pro- 
 phecies, and,  at  the  same  time,  explaining,  continuing,  and  perfecting 
 Ihem  in  one  thread.— i?ens.  S*(/r«;;— meaning  that  the  beginning  of 
 the  events  to  be  revealed  was  not  to  be  sought  in  any  distant  period, 
 hut  concerned  the  very  times  in  which  the  prophecies  were  delivered, 
 and  that  they  were  to  follow  in  succession  until  their  final  consumma- 
 tion. — /)n«««r,  Denn  M'uodhonse.  3.  Blessed— the  same  kind  of 
 blessing  is  pronounced  in  Matt.  xiii.  16;  Luke,  xi.  28;  2  Pet.  i.  19,  on 
 those  who  cultivate  spiritual  knowledge,  who  attend  with  faith  to  the 
 liglit  of  prophecy  shining  in  a  dark  place  until  the  day  dawn.— Il'ooif*. 
 *  Happy  shall  those  believers  be.  who,  during  the  tribulations  now 
 coming  on.  shall  hear  and  attend  to  the  declarations  of  this  book.'- 
 PnifeKsvr  Lee.  lieadeth—heitr— this  distinction  is  rcraai-kable ;  for 
 books  being  then  in  MS.,  were  m  few  hands,  and  it  was  a  much  readier 
 way  to  publish  a  prophecy,  or  anything,  by  public  readmg  than  by 
 transcribing  copies.  It  was  also  the  custom  of  that  age  to  read  all  the 
 np<i5tolical  writings  m  the  congregations  of  the  faithful.  And  perhaps 
 John  sent  this  book,  by  a  single  i)crson,  into  Asia,  who  read  it  in  the 
 ehurcbes,  while  many  heard.— /Jctis.  Keep  those  tilings,  lor  some 
 things  in  this  hook  are  of  a  practical  nature,  especially  in  the  epistles 
 to  the  seven  churches.  Tlie  lime  is  at  hand,  when  these  tbmgs  should 
 begm  to  be  fulfilled.— Ci«.    These  things  embrace  the  whole  dispensa- 
 
 tion  of  Providence  to  the  end  of  time;  and  the  meaning  is,  that  their 
 fulfilment  was  immediately  to  commence,  and  to  proceed  with  a  rapidity 
 which  demanded  their  utmost  vigilance  and  attention.— Ui/.  4.  .*ieeen 
 churches— Ephesas.  SmyTiia,  Pergamos,  Thyatira.  Sardis,  Philadelphia, 
 Laodicea.  There  were  other  churches  in  A^ia-MiIlor,  [or  Proconsular 
 Asia,— />orft/r.,]  but  these  lay  nearest  to  the  apostle,  and  were  more 
 particularly  under  his  care ;  though  the  message  was  sent  to  the 
 chiu-ches  in  general,  and  perhaps  it  concerns  the  whole  Christian  world . 
 —.-I.  Vliirke.  From  him  which  is,  i^-c,  i.e.,  God  the  Father.  —  Gi7/,  so 
 Hum.  It  is  of  the  same  meaning  with  the  great '  1  am'  of  Exod.  iii.  u. 
 —  iVondh.  This  phraseology  is  purely  Jewish,  and  probably  taken 
 from  mrr',  '  Jeuovaii,'  which  is  supposed  to  include  hi  itself  all  time, 
 past,  present,  and  future, — .4.  Clarke.  Theseeen  Spirits,  i.  e.,  the  Holy 
 Spirit.  '  Seven,'  in  the  language  of  prophecy,  often  signifies  perfection, 
 and  may  better  be  understood  of  the  most  perfect  Spirit  of  God  than 
 of  seven  angels. — J.oeman,  as  Btimet,  and  Doddr.  The  seven  angels 
 arc  here  meant ;  for  the  ancient  Jews  supposed  that  there  were  seven 
 ministering  angels  before  the  throne,  as  there  were  seven  ministers  at- 
 tendant on  the  throne  of  a  Persian  monarch.  Hence  we  infer  '  angels' 
 arc  meant,  from  the  place,  the  number,  and  the  tradition,  —  Clarke. 
 It  does  not  appear  to  be  a  correct  mode  of  interjireting  scripture,  to  sup- 
 pose that  any  inspired  prophet  would  be  instructed  to  express  himself 
 in  language  merely  borrowed  from  tradition. — Ed.  5.  The  faithfiit 
 
 wilTiess,  who  died  to  seal  with  his  blood  the  truth  of  his  doctrine. — 
 Dimlniz.  And  the  first  tiegatten  of  the  dead,  •  firstborn. '—/>o(/rfrtrfg-c, 
 Woodh.      '  The  firstborn  of  them  that  rise  again  from  the  dead.' — 
 
 RiFLECTiONS  ON  Jeiic  — I.  What  awful  characters  are  found 
 amouff  professors  of  the  ijospcl,  and  have  even  appeared  among  mi- 
 nisters !  The  cases  here  described  shew  us  the  horrible  extent 
 ot  sin  to  which  some  may  go.     Lord,  what  is  man  ! 
 
 II.  What  need  have  Ke  if  cinumspection,  and  of  cnmmittini/ 
 oui selves  to  the  caie  of  God  f  Our  natures  are  radically  as 
 1310 
 
 depraved  as  those  which  are  here  described.  May  we  build 
 ourselves  up  by  the  use  of  all  appointed  means  on  the  founda- 
 tion, Christ,  till  the  top-stone  is  laid  to  the  building  by  the 
 great  Architect  himself, '  with  shoutings  of  Grace,  grace  unto 
 il.'    To  him  be  glory,  both  now  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
The  coming  of  Christ. 
 
 REVELATION,  I. 
 
 His  glorious  power  and  mnjer.ty. 
 
 6  And  hath  'made  us  kings  and  priests  unto 
 God  and  his  Fatlier ;  'to  him  be  glory  and  do- 
 minion for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 7  '  Behold,  he  cometh  with  clouds  ;  and  every 
 eye  shall  see  him,  and  '  they  also  which  pierced 
 him  :  and  all  kindreds  of  the  earth  shall  wail 
 because  of  him.     Even  so,  Amen. 
 
 8  "  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning 
 and  the  ending,  saith  the  Lord,  '  which  is,  and 
 which  was,  and  which  is  to  come,  the  Almiglity. 
 
 9  I  John,  who  also  am  your  brother,  and 
 ^  companion  in  tribulation,  and  '  in  the  kingdom 
 and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ,  was  in  the  isle 
 that  is  called  Patmos,  "for  the  word  of  God, 
 and  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 10  ''  I  was  in  the  Spirit  on  '^  the  Lord's  day, 
 and  heard  behind  me  "^  a  great  voice,  as  of  a 
 trumpet, 
 
 1 1  Saying,  "  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  '  the 
 first  and  tlie  last :  and.  What  thou  seest,  write 
 in  a  book,  and  send  it  unto  the  seven  churches 
 wliich  are  in  Asia ;  unto  Ephesus,  and  unto 
 Smyrna,  and  unto  Pergamos,  and  unto  Thya- 
 tira,  and  unto  Sardis,  and  unto  Philadelphia, 
 and  unto  Laodicea. 
 
 12  And  I  turned  to  see  tlie  voice  that  spake 
 with  me.  And  being  turned,  •■'  I  saw  seven 
 golden  candlesticks  ; 
 
 13  •■  And  in  the  midst  of  the  seven  candle- 
 
 A.  D.  9ti. 
 
 A.  I>.  91). 
 
 7  1   Pet.  2.  .% 
 
 .  Kiek   1  8e 
 
 9.  ch.  6,  10. 
 
 l>ati.  7    13. 
 
 tt  2U.  6. 
 
 &  Id    16 
 
 r  lTim.6,16. 
 
 *ch.  14,  14. 
 
 Heb.  13.21. 
 
 k  Dan.  10.  5 
 
 1  Pft,  -l.Il. 
 
 U-U.  15,  6. 
 
 ftb.  11. 
 
 m  Pan.  7.  9. 
 
 t  Diiii    7,  13 
 
 '<  Djn.  111.  6 
 
 Mat.  ■Z\  30. 
 
 ch.  2.  18.  St 
 
 &  :;i5.  fij. 
 
 19.  12. 
 
 A--ts  I.  11. 
 
 0  Kzek.  I,  7. 
 
 (Zech  IMu 
 
 Dan.  10  6 
 
 Jftim  19  ;i7. 
 
 ch    2    18. 
 
 "  Is.  41.  4.  St 
 
 p  V:ii\_A:\:2. 
 
 ■H.  6.  &  i8. 
 
 D^ui.   lu.  li 
 
 12.  ver.  17. 
 
 uli.  14.  :.'.  Sc 
 
 ch.  a.  8.  & 
 
 la.  h. 
 
 21.  6    ft,  22. 
 
 y  vcc.  JO.ch- 
 
 13.  ver.  It. 
 
 ■-".  1.  \  .S.  1. 
 
 J  VCI-.  4. 
 
 r  U    49    i. 
 
 ch.4.K.)ii  11. 
 
 Kpli.  U.  17 
 
 1?    &  lb.  5. 
 
 Heb    4    12. 
 
 ,V  Pliil.   1.7. 
 
 ch-  2.  l.'.lij. 
 
 &  4.  14. 
 
 fc  19.  I5,:l. 
 
 2  Tim.  1.8. 
 
 t  Acts'iii.lii. 
 
 I  R.-nn.H,  17. 
 
 rh    Id.   1. 
 
 2  Tiin.2  12. 
 
 /  K^eK    1.2,-t, 
 
 1  ch.  6    9. 
 
 1.  D.iit.  s.  18. 
 
 ver.  2. 
 
 &  III.  to 
 
 b  Acts  10.10. 
 
 a-  Is    \\.~\.ik 
 
 2  Cor.  12.2. 
 
 4ie.M5.l2. 
 
 cli,  1.2. &I7. 
 
 ch.2.S.H!  ^^•>. 
 
 3    .Sc  21.  10. 
 
 IS.  v.'r.  11. 
 
 c  Joliii20  2ii. 
 
 y  Rom.  fi    !). 
 
 Acts  20.  7. 
 
 ;  ch.  4.  9. 
 
 1  Cor.  16.2. 
 
 &  b.  14. 
 
 d  cli.  4.   1.  i.: 
 
 <i  Pb,  tiS.  20. 
 
 10.  S. 
 
 ch    20    1. 
 
 e  ver.  8 
 
 b  ver  I2,&c. 
 
 /ver.  17. 
 
 c  ch   2.1, &c 
 
 dch.4.  l,8(c. 
 
 «f  ver.  16. 
 
 /ver.  12. 
 
 g  ver.  20. 
 
 ff  Mai.  2.  7. 
 
 Bx.  25   ^T. 
 
 ch.  2.  l,&c, 
 
 Ztjdi.  4.  2. 
 
 h  Zerh.  4.  2. 
 
 Mat   5.  IS. 
 
 h  ch.  2.  1. 
 
 Phil,  2.  15. 
 
 Sticks  '  one  like  unto  tlie  Son  of  man,  '■clothed 
 with  a  garment  down  to  the  foot,  and  'girt 
 about  tlie  paps  with  a  golden  girdle. 
 
 14  His  head  and  "^  his  hairs  toere  white  like 
 wool,  as  white  as  snow  ;  and  "  his  eyes  were  as 
 a  flame  of  fire  ; 
 
 15  ^  And  his  feet  like  unto  fine  brass,  as  if 
 they  burned  in  a  furnace ;  and  ■*  his  voice  as 
 the  sound  of  many  waters. 
 
 16  ''  And  he  had  in  his  right  hand  seven  stars  : 
 and  'out  of  his  mouth  went  a  sharp  twoedged 
 sword  ;  ''and  his  countenance  teas  as  the  sun 
 siiineth  in  his  strength. 
 
 17  And  '  when  I  saw  him,  I  fell  at  his  feet  as 
 dead.  And  "he  laid  his  right  hand  upon  me, 
 saying  unto  me,  Fear  not ;  "  I  am  the  first  and 
 tlie  last ; 
 
 18  ^  I  am  he  that  liveth,  and  was  dead  ;  and, 
 behold,  ^  I  am  alive  for  evermore.  Amen  ;  and 
 ""have  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death. 
 
 19  Write  ''the  things  which  thou  hast  seen, 
 ■^and  the  things  which  are,  '^  and  the  things 
 which  shall  be  hereafter ; 
 
 20  The  mystery  ^  of  the  seven  stars  which 
 tiiou  sawest  in  my  right  hand,  ^and  the  seven 
 golden  candlesticks.  The  seven  stars  are  ^the 
 angels  of  the  seven  churches  :  and  "the  seven 
 candlesticks  which  thou  sawest  are  the  seven 
 churches. 
 
 Brightman.  The  prinre  of  the  kings,  'the  supreme  ruler  of  all  the 
 kings.' — iJoddr.  6.  Kings,  partakers  of  his  present,  anil  heirs  of  his 
 eternal,  kingdom.  1'rie.sts,  to  whom  we  continually  offer  ourselves  a 
 holy  living:  sacrifice.— Bews.  The  most  reputable  MS.  versions  and 
 fathers  have,  fSaai^eiai-  lepetc,  "  a  kingdom  and  prienfs ;*  i.e.,  a  king- 
 dom of  priests,  or  a  royal  priesthood.  The  regal  and  sacerdotal  dig- 
 nities ai"e  the  two  highest  that  can  possibly  ctist  among  nicu ;  and 
 these  two  are  here  mentioned,  to  shew  the  glorious  prerogatives  and 
 state  of  the  children  of  God.— ,4.  Clarke.  Unto  God  and  his  Father,  '  to 
 his  God  and  Father.' — Boothr.  7.  Cometh  with  clouds,  *  he  is  coming 
 with  clouds,'  or  'on  clouds;'  i.e.,  with  sovereign  power  and  glory, 
 (see  Dan.  vii.  13;  coiup.  Deut.  xx.xiii.  i!6;  Ps.  xviii.  9,  10.) — Neivcome. 
 As  foretold,  Dan.  vii.  13 ;  Matt.  xxiv.  30,  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  in  the 
 glory  of  the  Father,  to  preside  at  the  general  judgment. —  Woodh.  The 
 evangelist  represents  this  as  then  going  on  in  the  present  tense,  just 
 as  the  predictions  are  frequently  made  by  the  liebrew  prophets. 
 Whence  it  must  follow,  beyond  all  doubt,  that  the  period  here  intended 
 to  be  pouited  out  must  fall  within  the  apostolic  age.  This  identifies 
 the  subject  with  the  prophecy  of  our  Lord,  Matt.  xsiv.  30  ;  Mark,  xiii. 
 26;  Matt.  xxvi.  64 ;  Mark,  xiv.  62,  which  compare  with  Dan.  vii.  13; 
 Acts,  i.,ii. ;  2  Thess.  i.  7 — 10;  otherwise,  these  interwoven  and  mu- 
 tually confirmatory  texts  must  stand  for  nothing. — Prof.  Lee.  Per- 
 haps it  may  refer  to  his  comii\g  to  destroy  Jerusalem,  as  he  was  to  be 
 particularly  manifested  to  them  that  pierced  h.m\.— A.  Clarke.  They  also 
 rvhirk  pierci'd  him,  not  only  the  Jews,  but  Ukewise  all  who  wound  hun 
 by  their  transgressions,  (see  Heb.  vi.  6.) — Woodh.  And  all  kindreds  of 
 the  e-arth,  naaai  a!  ijwXai  tij?  ^^c,  'all  the  tribes  of  the  land.'  By  this 
 the  Jewish  people  are  most  evidently  intended,  and  therefore  the  whole 
 verse  may  be  understood  as  predicting  the  destruction  of  the  Jews,  and 
 is  a  presumptive  proof  that  the  Apocalypse  was  written  before  the  final 
 overthrow  of  the  Jewish  state. — .-1.  Clarke.  This  ^iew,  which  is  that  of 
 Whithpy  is  opposed  by  Doddridge,  who  says,  '  It  la  surprising  that 
 Dr.  Whitby  shotdd  interpret  these  words  as  relating  to  the  temporal 
 calamities  to  befal  the  Jews,  when  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  was 
 long  since  passed.  And  whatever  slaughter  was  made  of  the  Jews  in 
 Lybia,  Smyrna,  Alexandria,  and  other  places,  aftci-wards,  it  conld,  by 
 no  means,  be  called  "  tlie  coming  of  Christ  in  his  clouds,"  by  way  of 
 eminence.'— F«w.  E.rpos.  in  loc  Andrew  Fuller  cons\Aex^  that  these 
 prophecies  might  have  a  retrospective  view,  and  refer  to  events,  the 
 beginning  of  which  are  already  accomplished. — Expos.  Disc,  on  Apoc. 
 8.  i  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  '  I  am  from  eternity  to  eternity.'  This  mode 
 of  speech  is  borrowed  from  the  Jews,  who  express  the  whole  compass 
 of  things  by  N  and  n,  the  first  and  last  letters  of  the  Hebrew  alphabet ; 
 but  as  St.  John  was  writing  in  Greek,  he  accommodates  the  whole  to 
 the  Greek  alphabet,  of  which  Mplia  and  Omega  are  the  first  and  last 
 letters. — Clarke.  These  words  are  thought,  by  some,  to  be  spoken  by 
 the  Father.  —  So  Grotias  and  Bengelius.  They  are  considered  as 
 spoken  by  the  Son.  by  Doddridge.  If  the  words  should  be  understood 
 as  spoken  by  the  Father,  our  Lord's  applying  so  many  of  these  titles 
 afterwards  to  himself  plainly  proves  his  partaking,  with  the  Father, 
 in  the  glory  peculiar  to  the  Divine  nature,  and  incommunicable  to  any 
 
 creature.  —  E.rpos.  on  the  Creed.  Q.  Patmos,  an  island  south  of 
 Samos,  in  the  Archipelago ;  it  is  now  called  Palmosa.  Here  the  Roman 
 emperors  used  to  confine  offenders. —  Wells.  Wells  speaks  of  Patmos 
 as  moderately  fruitful ;  but  modem  geographers  tell  us  that  it  is  totally 
 barren  and  dreaiy,  and  ileserving  rather  the  name  of  a  rock  than  that 
 of  an  island. — II''.  Jones.  Tlie  island  was  not  far  fi'om  the  churches 
 addressed. — Wil.  For  the  testimony,  for  his  adherence  to  the  faith. — 
 Woodh.  10.  In  the  Spirit,  '  in  an  ecstasy  or  trance,' — Dauhuz ;  i,  e., 
 '  I  received  the  Spirit  of  prophecy,  and  was  inider  its  influence.' — 
 Clarke,  as  Lotvman.  On  the  Lord^s  day,  on  which  the  church  is  used 
 to  assemble  tor  religious  worship. — Lowman.  As  of  a  trumpet,  such  as 
 was  heard  at  the  giving  of  the  law  on  Mount  Sinai,  (Exod.  xix.  l(i.) — 
 Guyse.  11.  Unto  Ephesus,  ^c. — see  the  respective  epistles  to  each, 
 
 and  notes. — Editor.  12.  3'o  see  the  voice,  that  is,  the  person  from 
 whom  it  came. — Clarke.  Seven  goldtn  candlesticks,  or  a  lamp,  made 
 of  pure  gold,  haWng  seven  branches,  like  to  the  lamp  in  the  holy  place 
 in  the  temple,  (Exod.  xxv.  31.) — Lowman.  To  represent  the  seven 
 churches,  as  explained  ver.  20, —  Woodh.  These  chiu-ches  are  compared 
 to  candlesticks,  because  intended  to  hold  forth  light. — Gill.  13.  And 
 in  the  inidst,  ^c. — the  priest  used  to  stand  in  the  midst  of  the  branches 
 when  he  lighted  the  lamps,  (see  Num.  viii.  2,  3.) — Gt/yse,  Son  of  man, 
 — our  Saviour  is  so  called,  Dan.  x.  I6,  and  this  is  the  appellation  which 
 our  Lord  generally  adopted  of  himself. — Woodh.  Clothed,  §-c.— his 
 clothing  much  resembles  that  of  the  Jewish  high  priest ;  and  he  is  re- 
 presented much  in  the  same  manner  as  are  the  Divine  appearances  in 
 Daniel's  Wsions.— B/j.  Newton.  See  Lev.  vi.  10  ;  xW.  4;  Exod.  xxxLx.S. 
 14.  His  head,  S,-c.~the  like  expressions  are  contained  in  descriptions 
 found  in  Matt.  xvii.  2  ;  Dan.  vii.  9  ;  x.  5,  6. —  Woodh.  Whit.e  like  ivool, 
 an  emblem  of  antiquity  and  glory.  Eyes  were  as  a  fiame,  denoting 
 omniscience.  15.  Feet — brass,  emblem  of  stability  and  permanence. 
 -Clarke.  His  voice,  'his  gospel.'  As  the  sound  of  mariy  waters,  heard 
 far  and  near;  or,  '  his  voice  of  vengeance  terrible  and  irresistible.' — 
 Gill.  The  original  word,  xa'"ioA(/3ui'w,  which  is  here  translated  '  fine 
 brass,'  signifies  brass  which  is  found  in  Lebanon,  and  which  was  ac- 
 counted purer  than  gold  itself.  —  W.  Jones.  16.  Seveii  stars,  the 
 angels  of  the  seven  churches,  (ver.  20.)  Twoedged  sword,  the  word  of 
 God,  (see  Ephes.  vi.  17;  Heb.  iv.  12.)  As  the  sun — see  Matt.  xvii.  2. 
 This  metaphor  is  to  set  forth  the  glory  and  majesty  of  Christ. — Gill,  as 
 Brightman.  17.  Fear  not,  I  am,  ^c. — a  way  of  speaking  by  God, 
 when  he  is  about  to  comfort  his  people,  and  remove  their  fears,  (see 
 Isa.  xli.  4  ;  xliv.  6  ;  and  xhiii.  12.)  — Gill.  18.  /  a^n  he  that  liveth,  ^c, 
 even  that  Christ  which  lived  here  on  eaith,  and  was  put  to  death,  and 
 rose  again  to  life,  and  now  liveth  never  to  die  again,  and  hath  all  power 
 over  the  invisible  state  of  death,  and  over  death  itself. — Ham.  The 
 keys,  the  power  of  opening  and  shutting,  of  making  ahve  and  destroy- 
 ing.—  Newc.  Of  hell  and  of  death,  'death  and  hades,'  the  unseen 
 world. — Boothr.,  as  Howe,  and  Doddr.  20.  Angels,  'pastors,  minis- 
 ters, or  chief  guides,'  usually  called,  in  the  Jewish  language,  '  angels 
 of  the  churches.' — Pyle.  The  term  is  used,  in  the  Old  Testament,  for 
 a  messenger,  ambassador,  or  representative,  one  who  bears  a  deputed 
 ofiice  or  commission,  tsee  Mai.  ii.  7.) — Woodh. 
 
 Ueplections  ON  Chap.  I — Observe,  I.  *  The  preface  to  scheme  of  the  Christian  revelation,*  says  Dr.  Woodhouse,  'is 
 this  hook,  in  which  we  have  its  title,  its  author,  the  end  of  mediatorial  throughout.  God  [the  Father]  giveth  to  the  Son, 
 writing  it,  the  instruments  employed,  and  an  invitation  to  dispensing  knowledge  and  favour  through  bim.'  '  This  know- 
 study  it.*   Its  title  is   'The  Revelationof  Jesus  Christ.'   *  Tlie  ledge/  adds  Williams, '  was,  by  the  Son  and  through  tlie  Spirit, 
 
What  John  teas  commanded  to  write 
 
 REVELATION,  II. 
 
 in  commendation  or  reproof. 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 What  is  command  d  tn  he  written  to  the  ant/eh.  that  is, 
 the  ministers  nf  the  churches  of  I  Ephesus,  8  Smyrtm, 
 12  Fergnmos,  \9t  Thyatira  :  and  ii-hat  is  commended, 
 nr  found  wanting  in  them. 
 
 UNTO  the  angel  of  the  church  of  Ephesus 
 write  ;  These  things  saith  '  he  that  hold- 
 eth  the  seven  stars  in  his  rij;ht  hand,  "  who 
 walketh  in  the  midst  of  the  seven  golden  can- 
 dlesticks ; 
 
 •2  *=  I  know  thy  works,  and  thy  labonr,  and  thy 
 patience,  and  how  thou  canst  not  bear  them 
 which  are  evil :  and  "  thou  hast  tried  them 
 °  which  say  they  are  apostles,  and  are  not,  and 
 hast  found  them  liars  : 
 
 3  And  hast  borne,  and  hast  patience,  and  for 
 my  name's  sake  hast  laboured,  and  hast  'not 
 fainted. 
 
 4  Nevertheless!  have  «om<;ui/io< against  thee, 
 because  thon  lia^t  left  thy  first  love. 
 
 5  Remember  tlierefnre  from  whence  thou  art 
 
 fallen,  and  repent,  and  do  the  first  works ; 
 
 'or 
 
 a  ch.  1.  16. 
 211. 
 b  ch.  I.   13. 
 
 cPa.  I.  6. 
 ver9,l3,IB. 
 rh..1.  1,8, 
 
 ■  2  Cor.  11. 
 
 la  a  Pet. 
 
 rGa\.  6.  9 
 Heb.  12  3,5 
 
 f  Mat.21.41 
 
 h  ver.  15. 
 
 i  Mat   11. IS. 
 
 Ic  13.  9,  4S. 
 
 ver.  11,  17. 
 
 29.  ch.  3.  t, 
 
 1.3,  as.  & 
 
 13.  9 
 *  ch.  22.  8. 
 
 11. 
 I  Gen   2-  9. 
 
 m  ch.  1 .  8, 
 17,  IS. 
 
 ,4  ver.  S. 
 
 .,  Lnke  I?. 
 
 21,  I  Tim. 
 
 t»    ]S.  Jam 
 
 2.5. 
 p  Kom.  2.17. 
 
 23,  29.  3t  9. 
 
 fi. 
 .;  ch.  3.  9. 
 
 r  :\r.it.io.22. 
 
 ■  Mat.  21.13. 
 
 (  Jam.  1.  12. 
 ch.  3.  II. 
 
 else  I  will  come  unto  thee  quickly,  and  will 
 remove  thy  candlestick  out  of  liis  place,  ex- 
 cept thou  repent. 
 
 6  But  this  tliiiii  bast,  that  thou  hatest  the 
 deeds  of  "the  Nicolaitaiies,  which  I  also  hate. 
 
 7  '  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  bear  wliat 
 the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches ;  To  him 
 that  overcometh  will  I  give  '  to  eat  of  '  tlie 
 tree  of  life,  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  para- 
 dise of  God. 
 
 8  And  unto  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Smyrna 
 write  ;  These  things  saith  ""  the  first  and  the 
 last,  which  was  dead,  and  is  alive  ; 
 
 9  "  I  know  thy  works,  and  tribulation,  and 
 poverty,  (but  thou  art  °  rich)  and  /  /inotv  tlie 
 blasphemy  of  ''  them  which  say  they  are  Jews, 
 and  are  not, ''  but  are  the  synagogue  of  Satan. 
 
 10  '  Fear  none  of  those  things  which  thon 
 sbalt  sutler :  behold,  the  devil  shall  cast  sottie 
 of  you  into  prison,  that  ye  may  be  tried  ;  and 
 ye  shall  liave  tribulation  ten  days  :  '  be  thou 
 faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  '  a 
 crown  of  life. 
 
 Chap  II.  — 1.  p„fo,  5-c.— this  and  the  foUon-ing  epistles  have  rather 
 a  literal  tlian  a  mvstical  meanini?,— II'«'.  ^Jiye;— see  chap.  i.  20,  note. 
 Ephestos-see  Uk  Inlr.nlnclion  to  Kphrsians.  HolrMh,  frc.  protects 
 his  miiusters  by  his  iiower.— Brf.  In  the  midsl,  *fC.— see  chap.  i.  2D, 
 note  2.  A'nou',  observe  and  approve.  3.  iJorne.  undergone  afflic- 
 tions.—Hnm.  4.  I.e/l  thy  first  lore-ttK  Grceli  word  n<(.iiKat  may 
 sienify  only  that  a  remissioii  of  it  had  taken  place.— Heu'.  This  ap- 
 pears to  have  been  since  the  aposOe  Paul's  time,  for  he  commends  them 
 throughout.— /)</«4i'=.  Bv  their  •  first  love'  is  meant  that  love,  de- 
 U?ht,  and  cratitmle  towards  their  G"d  and  Saviour  which  was  kindled 
 in  their  hearts  when  they  lirst  tasted  that  the  Lord  is  eracious.  5.  Re- 
 more  Ihi,  candlestick,  imports  that  it  should  be  struck  off  from  the 
 number  of  churclies  ;  that  he  would  withdraw  the  oU,  or  take  away  the 
 influences  of  his  Spirit  from  them,  whereby  their  light,  life,  and  com- 
 fort would  be  gone,  and  their  lamp  extinguished.— 11  .  Jonra.  I  his 
 threat  upon  this  and  other  eastern  chiu-ches  was  foltiUed,  partly  by  the 
 nersecutions  under  Decius,  GaUus,  and  Valerian,  and  more  emmently, 
 afterwards,  by  the  Saracens  and  Turks.  These  once  famous  cities  have 
 long  become  desolate  villages.— Pv/e.  6.  Mcohiitnnes,  the  followers 
 of  one  Nicolas,  who  held  and  taught  that  the  most  impure  practices 
 were  indifferent,  or  even  innocent.-BooMr.  ,•  see  also  \e,r,:,Be,i,u<ol,re, 
 and  VEn/imt.  They  inculcated  celibacy,  and  taught  that  Chnst  s 
 divine  nature  descended  upon  hira  at  baptism,  and  reascended  at  Ins 
 crucifixion.-i'ic/.  Bit,.  7-  He  that  h„tU  an  ear,  «c.-see  Matt.  xi. 
 l.s  note  To  him  th'it  orercmnelh^-Rs  he  who  conquered  his  enemies 
 had  generally  not  onlv  great  honour,  but  also  a  reward,  so  here  a  great 
 reward  is  iiromised.  -r'^  viKavr,.  '  to  the  conqueror  ■;  and  as  in  the  Gre- 
 cian games,  to  wliicli'  there  may  be  an  allusion,  the  cun-iiieror  was 
 
 crowned  with  the  leaves  of  some  tree,  here  is  promised  that  they 
 should  •  cat  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  life  .-  that  is,  that  they  should 
 have  a  h.ippy  and  glorious  immortality.  ■  The  tree  of  life'  is  frequently 
 spoken  of  by  the  Rabbins,  and  by  it  they  generally  mean  the  immor- 
 tality of  the  soaL— Clarke.  8.  Sm;;ma— this  was  the  nearest  of  the 
 seven  cities  to  Ephesus,  being  about  45  miles  northward  of  it.— Up. 
 Newton.  It  is  still  a  flourishing  commercial  city,  havuig  about  1311.000 
 inhabitants.— ;'!>«.  Bilj.  The  first  and  the  last— see  chap,  i,  8,  note. 
 Which  was  dead,  *c.  —  see  chap.  i.  18,  note.  9.  Thy  works,  good 
 works.  Porerti/,  literally, 'through  the  spoUiug  of  their  goods,'  to 
 which  they  were  exposed  for  the  profession  of  Christ. — (Jill.  "The 
 poverty  which  tliou  thinkest  of  thyself  because  thou  hast  but  few 
 Christians  in  thy  charch.'—Dauhuz.  But  thou  art  rich.  '  rich  in  faith, 
 and  heirs  of  the  kingdom.'— G///.  Tlie  Miuiphcmy—the  word  occa- 
 sionally means  '  scandalous  abuse,  '  calumny,'  or  '  malediction,'  as  it 
 does  here.— See  Par.  It  means,  to  apply  a  sacred  name  to  an  unholy 
 thing;  and  this  is  one  meaning  of  the  word  in  this  book.— C/rir*e. 
 Which  sail  Ihev  are  Jews,  fyc.  who  asserted  themseh  es  to  be  the  true 
 Israel  of  God,  Jews  that  were  so  inwardly,  regenerate  persons,  or  truly 
 Christians  ;  for  the  Christians,  baptized  persons,  were  by  the  heathens 
 calledJews.  10.  'JVip  rfei-i/.  he  having  a  hand  in  instigating  to  per- 
 secution, to  stop  the  progress  of  the  gospel.  Tried,  in  their  graces. 
 Ten  dtijs,  may  mean  the  ten  persecutions  under  the  Roman  emperors ; 
 Nero,  in  the  year  1)4  or  in  66 ;  Domitian,  about  gn ;  Trajan,  in  104  ; 
 Hadrian,  in  125  ;  Marcus  Antoninus,  in  151  ;  Septimus  Severus,  in  197  ; 
 Maximinus,  in  *23.s.  23(>,  237  ;  Decius,  in  250  ;  Valerianus,  in  257  ;  Dio- 
 clesian,  m  303.  Some  think  the  Dioclesian  persecution  only  is  meant, 
 which  lasted  ten  years  ;  and  this  opinion  is  not  without  reason,  since 
 
 communicated  to  his  servant  ,Iohn  ;  and  thus  tlie  most  perfect 
 harmony,  or  rather  unity,  is  preserved  between  the  Father, 
 the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Spirit.'  It  is'  the  revelation  of  .lesus 
 Christ;'  'the  whole  Bible  is  so,'  says  Matthew  Henry,  'for 
 all  revelation  comes  through  Christ,  and  all  centres  in  him  ; 
 and  especially  in  these  last  days  God  has  spoken  to  us  by  his 
 Son  and  concernini;  liisSon.  Christ,  as  the  King  of  his  church, 
 has  been  pleased  thus  tar  to  let  liis  church  know  by  what 
 rules  and  methods  he  will  proceed  in  his  government;  and, 
 as  the  prophet  of  the  chiircli,  he  has  made  known  to  us  the 
 things  that  shall  be  hereafter.'  The  author  of  this  book  is 
 God  ;  '  for,'  continues  the  same  writer,  '  the  events  recorded 
 must' depend  on  his  will,  and  could  only  be  the  object  of  Di- 
 vine prescience."  The  end  of  writing  it  was  'to  shew  unto 
 his  servants.'  '  This  revelation  was  not  designed  only  for  the 
 useof  Christ'sextraordinarv  servants,  the  ministers,  but  for  all 
 hisservanls,  the  members  of  the  church  ;  tliey  have  all  a  right 
 to  the  oracles  of  God  ;  all  have  their  concern  in  them.'  'Ihe  in- 
 struments employed  in  this  work  are,  the  angel  of  .Tohn  :  '  The 
 angel  signified  it  to  the  apostle  John.  As  the  angels  are  the 
 messengers  of  Christ,  the  ministers  are  the  messengers  of  the 
 churches;  what  they  receive  from  heaven,  they  are  to  com- 
 rounicate'to  the  churches.'  We  have  also  an  invitation  to 
 study  it.  '  We  are  not  to  be  weary,'  says  Henry,  '  on  account 
 of  the  obscurity  of  many  things  in  it ;  it  will  repay  the  labour 
 of  the  careful  and  attentive  reader.'  '  It  is.  however,  very 
 needful,'  as  Bickersteth  prudently  observes,  m  his  "  Practical 
 Guide  to  the  Prophecies,"  '  to  study  the  subject  with  a  holy 
 awe  on  the  mind,  remembering  that  we  are  considering  that 
 which  was  given  by  the  inspiration  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Fu- 
 ture things  are  not,  however,  to  be  pried  into  beyond  what 
 God  has  revealed;  so  far  as  he  has  revealed  them,  it  is  our 
 duty  and  privilege  to  search  into  them.  Let  us  be  content  to 
 1342 
 
 rest  in  such  general  statements  as  the  word  of  God  authorizes, 
 till  events  ain  so  completed  as  to  shew  what  God  intended  ; 
 and  let  uscoiiieuiplaie  the  future  prospects  of  the  church  with 
 that  waiting  spirit  which  leaves  to  God  the  unfolding  of  his 
 own  will  and  purpose.'     We  may  observe, 
 
 II.  'The  sniutatiua  to  the  seven  churches.'  "Grace  be  unto 
 you,  and  peace."  'There  can  be  no  true  peace,"  says  Henry, 
 '  where  there  is  no  true  grace  ;  and  where  grace  goes  before, 
 peace  will  follow.'  This  is  described  as  flowing  from  God  the 
 Father,  who  is  always  the  same  ;  and  what  he  was  to  the  Old- 
 Testament  church  he  is  still  to  the  New—'  the  Lord  God, 
 merciful  and  gracious.'  This  comes  to  us  through  Jesus 
 Christ,  here  mentioned  last,  to  connect  the  future  description 
 of"  his  glorious  person  :  and  is  applied  to  the  heart  by  the  Holy 
 Spirit!  here  called  the  Seven  Spirits,  because  of  his  being  infi- 
 nitely perfect.  Beautiful  to  the  believer  is  this  description 
 of  Christ,  as  '  the  faithful  witness'  of  God's  will  ;  '  the  hrst- 
 begotten  of  the  dead,'  and  pattern  of  his  own  resurrection  ; 
 '  the  Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth,"  who  has  all  under  his 
 control  to  make  their  movements  ultimately  answer  the  most 
 glorious  ends,  which  will  be  seen  in  the  triumphs  of  bis 
 church,  and  who,  in  his  great  love,  has  shed  his  blood  to  purify 
 that  church  arul  to  fit  them  to  be  a  kingdom  of  priests,  to  mi- 
 nister before  him  in  felicity  for  ever.  He  comes— he  is  com- 
 ing now—he  will  finally  come  in  grandeur  and  glory,  when  he 
 shall  judge  a  trembling  and  guilty  world,  antl  be  admired  m 
 all  tlieni  that  believe  ;  and  then  shall  our  blessedness  be  com- 
 plete in  him  'from  whom  aie  all  things,  and  to  whom  are  all 
 things."    Notice, 
 
 III.  '  The  vision  of  John.'  Here  we  can  only  observe,  that 
 the  churches  are  to  give  light  to  all  around,  and  that  Christ  is 
 in  the  midst  of  his  churches,  and  has  promised  so  to  be  to  the 
 end  of  the  world.     Amen. 
 
What  John  was  commanded  to  write 
 
 REVELATION,  II. 
 
 ill  cnmmendalion  or  reproof. 
 
 1 1  "  He  that  Imth  an  ear,  let  liim  liear  what 
 the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  cliurches ;  He  that 
 overcometh  shall  not  be  hurt  of  ^  the  second 
 death. 
 
 12  And  to  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Perga- 
 mos  write  ;  These  things  saith  >'  he  which  hath 
 the  sliarp  s-.vord  with  two  edges ; 
 
 13  '  i  know  thy  works,  and  where  thou  dwell- 
 est,  even  "  where  Satan's  seat  is :  and  thou 
 holdest  fast  my  name,  and  hast  not  denied  my 
 faitli,  even  in  those  days  wherein  Antipas  teas 
 my  faithful  martyr,  who  was  slain  among  you, 
 where  Satan  dwelleth. 
 
 14  But  I  have  a  few  things  against  thee,  be- 
 cause thou  hast  there  them  that  hold  the  doc- 
 trine of  '■  Balaam,  who  taught  Balac  to  cast  a 
 stumblingblock  before  the  children  of  Israel, 
 ''  to  eat  things  sacrificed  unto  idols,  •'  and  to 
 commit  fornication. 
 
 15  So  hast  thou  also  them  tliat  hold  the  doc- 
 trine "of  the  Nicolaitanes,  which  thing  I  hate. 
 
 16  Repent;  or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee 
 quickly,  and  ''will  fight  against  them  with  the 
 sword  of  my  mouth. 
 
 17  ^  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what 
 the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches  ;  To  him 
 that  overcometh  will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  hidden 
 manna,  and  will  give  him  a  white  stone,  "and 
 in  the  stone  ''  a  new  name  written,  which  no 
 man  knoweth  saving  he  that  receiveth  it. 
 
 A.  I)    W. 
 
 A.  n  96. 
 
 u  vet,  7. 
 
 oh.  IS.  9. 
 
 x(-h.20.  li. 
 
 i  ch.  1.14,15. 
 
 &SI.8. 
 
 k  ver.  2. 
 
 (/  cb.  1.  16. 
 
 t  ver.  2. 
 
 a  ver.  9. 
 
 I  \  Kio.  16. 
 
 31.  &  2)  25 
 
 2  Kin.  9.  7. 
 
 m  Ex.3*.ir> 
 
 Acts  15.  2u, 
 
 2<M  Cor. 10. 
 
 19,  2l>. 
 
 ver.  11. 
 
 n  Knin    2.  4. 
 
 eh.  9.  20. 
 
 b  Num.  21. 
 
 li    &  25    1. 
 
 &  31.  10. 
 
 2  Pet,  2.15. 
 
 Jude  II. 
 
 olRam.lC.7. 
 
 c  ver.  I'O. 
 
 lChr.28,  9. 
 
 Acts  15   29. 
 
 &  29    17. 
 
 1   C-.r.  8    y, 
 
 2  Chr.  6.30. 
 
 hVfi  lU.  10, 
 
 Ps.  7.  9. 
 
 20 
 
 Jer.  11.  20 
 
 d  1   Cor.G  13, 
 
 &  17,  10.  & 
 
 ftc. 
 
 20.  12, 
 
 e  ver.  fi. 
 
 J..iui  2  24. 
 
 fU.  11.4. 
 
 25.  Acts  I. 
 
 2TheB.  J.S. 
 
 24.  Koin.8. 
 
 ch.  1-  lii    & 
 
 27. 
 
 ly,  \5,2\- 
 
 ;.  Ps.  69.  12. 
 
 g- ver.  7,  II. 
 
 Mat.  10  27 
 
 Koin    8.  6. 
 
 ft  14.   12. 
 
 2  Cor  5  10. 
 
 Gal   6.5. 
 
 h  ch.  S.  IS. 
 
 th,  20    12. 
 
 St  19.  12. 
 
 7  Actsl5  2fl. 
 
 r  Ch.  3.   11. 
 
 18  And  unto  the  angel  of  the  chnroh  in 
 Thyatira  write  ;  These  things  saith  the  Son  of 
 God,  'who  hath  his  eyes  hke  unto  a  flame  of 
 fire,  and  his  feet  aie  like  fine  brass  ; 
 
 19  ^  I  know  thy  works,  and  charity,  and  ser- 
 vice, and  faith,  and  tliy  patience, and  thy  works; 
 and  the  last  to  be  more  than  the  first. 
 
 20  Notwithstanding  I  have  a  few  things 
 against  thee,  because  thou  sufferest  that  wo- 
 man '  Jezebel,  which  calleth  herself  a  pro- 
 phetess, to  teach  and  to  seduce  my  servants 
 '"  to  commit  fornication,  and  to  eat  tilings 
 sacrificed  unto  idols. 
 
 2!  And  I  gave  her  space  "to  repent  of  her 
 fornication  ;  and  she  repented  not. 
 
 22  Behold,  I  will  cast  her  into  a  bed,  and 
 them  that  commit  adultery  with  her  into  great 
 tribulation,  except  they  repent  of  their  deeds. 
 
 23  And  I  will  kill  her  children  with  death  ; 
 and  all  the  churches  shall  know  that  °  I  am  he 
 which  searcheth  the  reins  and  hearts  :  and  ^  I 
 will  give  unto  every  one  of  you  according  to 
 your  works. 
 
 24  But  unto  you  I  say,  and  unto  the  rest  in 
 Thyatira,  as  many  as  have  not  this  doctrine, 
 and  which  have  not  known  the  depths  of  Satan, 
 as  they  speak ;  ^  I  will  put  upon  you  none  other 
 burden. 
 
 25  But  "^that  which  ye  have  already  hold 
 fast  till  I  come. 
 
 it  is  usual  in  prophetic  writmgs,  and  in  lliis  bonk  of  Revelation,  to  put 
 days  for  years. — Gill.      By  ten  days,  understand  '  frequency  and  abun- 
 dance,' as  the  expression  signifies,  Gen.  xxxi.  7,  41  ;  Num.  xiv.  22} 
 Neh.  iv.  12;  Job,  xix,3;  Dan.  i.  20. — Lawman,  see  A.Clarke.     Some 
 think  the  shortness  of  the  affliction  is  here  intended.      11.  Second  death, 
 that  is,  an  eternal  separation  from  God  and  the  glory  of  liis  power. — 
 A.Clarke.     The  phrase  is  Jewish,  and  is  opposed  to  the  first  deatli,  or  the 
 death  of  the  body,  whicli  is  the  effect  of  sin,  and  is  appointed  of  God, 
 and  which  belongs  to  the  people  of  God  as  well  as   others ;  but  the 
 second  death  of  body  and  soul  iii  hell  is  peculiar  to  wicked  men. — GUI. 
 A  state  of  misery,  which  is  as  bad  as,  or  worse  than,  death,  may  pro- 
 perly enough  be  called  by  that  name  ;  and  for  this  reason  the  punish- 
 ment of  wicked  men,  after  the  day  of  judgment,  is  frequently  and  fitly, 
 in  this  hook  of  Revelation,  called  '  the  second  death.'— TiV.        12.  Per- 
 f^aynos — this  place  was  formerly  the  metropolis  of  Mysia,  ajid  the  seat 
 of  the  Attalian  kings,  and  lies  about  64  miles  north  of  Smyrna. — lip. 
 Xeivtun.     It  is  now  called  Bergamo,   and  has  a  population  of  about 
 14,000.  —  fic/.  BiO.       The  sharp  sword,  fyc. — see  chap.  i.    l6,   note. 
 13.  l^'here  Satan's  seat  is,  otiov  oifpovoi  rou  ^aravn,  *  where  Satan  has  his 
 throne  -,'  where  he  reigns  as  king,  and  is  universally  obeyed.— ,4.  Clarke. 
 Where  the  powers  of  darkness  and  corruption  have  a  numerous  and 
 powerful  paity.—Lowman.     Holdest  fast,  amidst  coiTuptions  and  per- 
 secutions,    si//  name,  the  name  of  Christ,  or  the  gospel. — Gill.     Anti- 
 pas — respecting  this  martyr,  no  account  whatever  has  been  preserved 
 to  these  times. —  Woodh.        14,  15.  The  doctrine  of  Balaam— sec  Num. 
 XXV.  1,2;  xxxi.  16.     'As  he  taught  Balak  how  to  seduce  the  Israelite,^, 
 so  some  among  you  seduce  my  disciples,  and  teach  the  impure  doc- 
 trines of  the  Nicolaitanes,'  (see  ver.  6.) — Buothr.  17.  To  eat   of 
 the  hidden  manna,  in  opposition  to  eating  things  sacrificed  to  idols,  re- 
 fused by  him.    The  allusion  is  to  the  manna  which  the  Israt-lites  ate  of 
 in  the  wilderness,  which  may  be  called  '  hidden,"  because  they  knew 
 not  what  it  was  when  tliey  first  saw  it ;  or,  because  it  was  laid  up  in  a 
 golden  pot  in  the  most  holy  place ;  or  rather,  because  it  was  at  first 
 hidden  under  the  dew.    The  Jews  supposed  the  manna  had  respect  to 
 things  future,  and  do  expect  it  in  the  times  of  the  Messiali. — Gill.      It 
 was  a  constant  tradition  of  the  Jews,  that  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  the 
 tablesnf  stone,  Aaron's  rod,  the  holy  anointing  oil,  and  the  pot  of  manna, 
 were  hidden  by  King  Josiah,  when  Jerusalem  was  taken  by  the  Chal- 
 deans ;  and  that  these  shall  all  be  restored  in  the  days  of  the  Messiah. — 
 Clarke.      The  hidilcn  manna  may  refer  to  the  words  of  Christ,  (John, 
 vi.  51,)  '  1  am  the  living  bread,'  ike. — a  much  greater  instance  of  God's 
 favour  and  grace  than  feeding  the  Israelites  with  manna  from  heaven. 
 —  Lowman.      White  atime,  ^c— white  stones  were  given  to  the  con- 
 querors in  the  Olympic  games,  with  their  names  upon  them,  and  the 
 value  of  the  prize  they  won  ;  and  here  applied,  may  respect  the  crown  of 
 life  and  glory  given  to  them  who  are  more  than  conquerors  throitgh 
 Christ,  with  their  riglitand  title  to  it,  and  the  excellency  of  it.  The  Ro- 
 mans in  judgment  used  to  give  their  suffrages  for  condemnation  by 
 castingblackstonesinto  the  urn,  and  for  absolution  white  stones, — Gill. 
 Those  who  gave  white  stones  were  ftir  absolving  the  culprit;  those 
 who  gave  black,  were  for  his  condemnation.     So  taking  it,  by  the 
 white  stone  is  meant  pardon  or  acquittance,  and  the  evidence  of  it. — 
 A.  Clarke.     But  the  allusion   is  rather  to  a  custom  among  the  Jews, 
 who  used  to  examine  the  priests  and  Levites,  before  they  went  to  their 
 service,  or  to  the  Sanhedrim,  to  judge  and  pass  sentence,  whether  their 
 ways  and  works  were  right,  and  if  they  were  approved  they  gave  them 
 the  stone  of  the  sanctuary. — Gill.  And  in  the  stone  a  new  name  written, 
 at  Rome,  some  white  stones  have  been  dug  up,  some  greater,  some 
 less,  with  names  and  letters,  and  other  engravings  upon  them,  which 
 1343 
 
 Pignorius  has  given  the  figures  of;  and  to  such  some  have  thought  the 
 allusion  here  is,  and  may  serve  to  illustrate  this  passage. — Gill.  There 
 were  stones  called  tessarre,  used  among  the  Romans  on  various  occa- 
 sit)ns  ;  some  as  cards  of  admisbion  to  a  banquet ;  some,  inscribed  with 
 the  names  of  provisions,  garments,  gold  or  silver  vessels,  horses, 
 slaves,  &c.,  were  scattered,  sometimes,  by  the  emperors,  among  the 
 crowds  in  the  theatres,  and  entitled  the  holders  to  the  articles  named  ; 
 some  were  given  as  tickets  to  receive  grain,  in  tlie  public  distributions 
 t)f  corn  ;  and  some,  called  tessera  hospitnles,  were  given  as  badges  of 
 friendship  and  alliance  :  on  these  some  device  was  engraved,  as  a  testi- 
 mony that  a  contract  of  friendship  had  been  made  bet  ween  the  parties. 
 A  small  oblong  square  piece  of  wood,  bone,  stone,  or  ivory,  was  taken 
 and  divided  into  two  equal  parts,  on  wliich  each  of  the  parties  wrote 
 his  own  name,  and  then  interchanged  it  with  the  other.  This  was 
 carefully  preserved  and  handed  down  even  to  posterity  in  the  same 
 family;  and  by  producing  this  when  they  travelled,  it  gave  a  mutual 
 claim  to  the  bearers  of  kind  reception  and  hospitable  entertainment  at 
 each  other's  houses.  The  tessarae,  taken  in  this  sense,  seems  to  have 
 been  a  kind  of  tally:  and  the  two  parts  were  compared  ttigcther  to 
 ascertain  the  truth.  Now  it  is  very  probable  that  St.  John  may  allude 
 to  this.  And  the  words  may  mean,  that  the  person  is  taken  into  a 
 state  of  intimate  friendship  with  Christ,  that  the  contract  is  witnessed 
 by  some  especial  token  or  seal,  as  the  earnest  of  the  Spirit,  hence  he  is 
 adopted  into  the  heavenly  family,  and  enjoys  its  provisions,  manna, 
 tree  of  life.  Sec,  he  acquires  a  new  name,  *  child  of  God,'  which  no 
 man  can  know  or  undtrstand  but  he  who  has  received  the  tessarce,  or 
 Divine  witness,  and  as  his  Friend  and  Redeemer  can  be  found  every. 
 where,  on  retaining  this  tessar(E,\\e  may  claim  direction,  succour,  sup- 
 port, grace,  and  glory.— i4.  Clarke,  see  also  T.  H.  Home.  18.  Tht/a- 
 tira,  about  fifty  miles  south-east  of  Pergamns.— Sp.  Neivtnn.  Now 
 called Ak-hissar,  and  hasabout  1000  houses.— Put.  liib.  19.  Service, 
 6iaKoviav,  '  miuistratiOTi ;'  properly,  pious  and  benevolent  service  to 
 widows,  orphans,  aud  the  poor  in  general.— ..4.  Clarke.  And  thy  works: 
 and  the  last,  ^c,  *  and  thy  last  works,  which  are  better  than  the  first.* 
 —Buothr.  20.  Jezehel,  might  be,  literally,  a  woman  of  rank  and  in- 
 fluence, who  seduced  the  Christians  to  intermix  idolatry  with  their  re- 
 ligion ;  such  a  woman  would  be  fitly  represented  under  the  name  of 
 Queen  Jezebel.  — WoorfA.,  A.  Clarke.  But  it  may  be  applied  in  a  sym- 
 bnlical  sense,  for  by  a  woman  is  often  signified  a  city,  a  nation,  a 
 church,  and  it  may  signify  a  sect  of  seducers.— WoorfA. ;  this  view  is 
 that  of  W.  Jones.  It  means  a  synagogue  of  false  apostles,  pretending 
 to  be  Christians.— Sede.  By  her  is  meant  the  apostate  Church  of 
 Rome,  comparable  to  Jezebel,  the  wife  of  Ahab. —  Gi//.  Calleth  herself 
 a  prophetess,  '  set  up  for  a  teacher.'-^.  Clarke.  Rome  papal  pretends 
 to  be  an  infallible  interpreter  of  the  Scriptures.— GiVi.  22.  Cast  her 
 into  a  bed,  bring  down  her  pride,  and  severely  chastise  her  and  all  her 
 idolatrous  adherents.— Ptf/e.  23.  Her  children,  her  followers  shall 
 be  cut  od.—Bp.  Hull.  With  death,  an  Hebrew  mode  of  expression, 
 denoting  the  certainty  of  the  thing  denounced.— WrwrfA.  Shall  know, 
 'shall  discern  a  divine  power  in  their  punishment.' —  Lotymo?*. 
 24.  Have  not  kjiown  the  depths,  §-c.,  '  have  not  acknowledged,  or  gi\en 
 way  to,  or  assisted,  these  secret  designs  of  the  devil.' — Dauhuz.  I 
 will  put  upon  you  none  other  burden,  is  a  commendation  of  the  sound 
 part  of  the  church  ;  that  they  have  no  need  of  any  new  exhortation  or 
 charge  to  be  given  them.— C/ar/re.  It  means,  '  1  will  not  severely  re- 
 prove you.— Doddr.  This  refers,  perhaps,  to  the  gospel  decree  ad- 
 dressed to  Gentile  proselytes,  now  abolished  with  the  Jewish  polity.- 
 Lord  Barrington.  There  is  much  probability  in  Lord  Barrington's 
 conjecture.— R'i/.        2b.  Hold  fast  tilt  I  come,  'let   nothing   prevail 
 
The  church  of  Sardis  reproved. 
 
 REVELATION,  III. 
 
 Philadelphia  approved  for  diligence. 
 
 26  And  he  that  overcometh,  and  keepeth 
 '  my  works  unto  the  end,  '  to  him  will  I  give 
 power  over  the  nations  : 
 
 27  "  And  he  shall  rule  them  with  a  rod  of 
 iron  ;  as  the  vessels  of  a  potter  shall  they  be 
 broken  to  shivers :  even  as  I  received  of  my 
 Father. 
 
 28  And  I  will  give  him  ^  the  morning  star. 
 
 29  ''  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what 
 the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches. 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 2  The  angel  of  the  church  of  Sardis  is  reproved,  3  ea:- 
 horted  to  repent,  and  threutenrd  if  he  do  not  npent. 
 8  The  angel  of  the  church  of  Philadelphia  10  is  ap- 
 proved for  his  diliijence  and  patience.  15  The  aiigel 
 of  Laodicea  rebuked^  for  ht-inij  neither  hot  nor  cold, 
 19  and  admonished  to  he  more  zealous,  20  Christ 
 standeth  at  the  dour  and  knocktth. 
 
 A  ND  unto  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Sardis 
 -^^  write  ;  These  things  saith  he  **  that  hath 
 the  seven  spirits  of  God,  and  the  seven  stars  ; 
 *'  I  know  thy  works,  that  thou  hast  a  name  that 
 thou  livest,  ^  and  art  dead. 
 
 2  Be  watchful,  and  strengthen  the  things 
 which  remain,  that  are  ready  to  die:  for  I  have 
 not  found  thy  works  perfect  before  God. 
 
 3  **  Remember  therefore  how  thou  hast  re- 
 ceived and  heard,  and  hold  fast,  and  ^repent. 
 ^  If  therefore  thou  shalt  not  watch,  I  will  come 
 on  thee  as  a  thief,  and  thou  shalt  not  know 
 what  iionr  I  will  come  upon  thee, 
 
 4  Thou  hast  ^a  few  names  even  in  Sardis 
 
 A.  D.  96. 
 
 a  John  <a.  2y, 
 I  JohiiH,23 
 
 /  Mat.  10.28 
 Luke  '*i.-J9, 
 3H  I  Cor  6. 
 3  ch    3.  21. 
 
 N  Ps.2.  8,9. 
 &  A9-   11. 
 Da 
 
 .  V2 
 
 ■  Epli.S.1,5. 
 1  Tim   5.  (i. 
 
 4  I  Tim  fi.2o. 
 
 S  Tim  I. IS. 
 
 ver.  1 1 . 
 It  v«f.  19 
 r  Mat.  21  4?, 
 
 M.OcSS.  13. 
 
 Sialic  l:*..S3. 
 
 Luke  l?.3n, 
 
 40.  I  Thci. 
 
 5.  -3,  6. 
 
 2  Pot.  :Mil. 
 
 ch.  Ili    15. 
 g  Acts  ).  15. 
 
 A  JuUe  23. 
 I  ch.  *.  4    I 
 
 k  cli.  19.  g. 
 
 Pa.  I.a  i-8, 
 m  Phil.   1.  H. 
 
 ch    I;l   a    Si 
 
 I"    S-  &  20. 
 
 !•-'  St  21  27 
 •I  Mat  I0.S2. 
 
 Luke  12  8, 
 0  ch.  2.  7. 
 
 p  Acts  3.  M. 
 q  I  John  b. 
 
 X  1  C.r  16.9 
 2  Cor.  2  1'J 
 ly  ch.  2.  9. 
 
 z  Ih.  19.  23. 
 &  60.  U. 
 
 i2  Pet.  2.9. 
 A  l-uke  2.  I. 
 r.  U  SI.  17. 
 d  Phil   \.  b. 
 
 ch.I  3.&22. 
 
 7,  IS,  2g. 
 «  vev   3. 
 
 ch.  2.  25. 
 /ch.  2.  10. 
 
 ■  lKiii,7.21, 
 
 Gal.  2.  9. 
 
 which  have  not  ^detiled  their  garments  ;  and 
 they  shall  walk  with  me  'in  white:  for  they 
 are  worthy. 
 
 5  He  that  overcometh,  ''  the  same  shall  be 
 clothed  in  white  raiment ;  and  I  will  not  ^blot 
 out  his  name  out  of  the  "'  book  of  life,  but  "  I 
 will  confess  his  name  before  my  Father,  and 
 before  his  angels. 
 
 6  ^^  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the 
 Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches. 
 
 7  And  to  tiie  angel  of  the  church  in  Phila- 
 delphia write;  These  things  saith  ''he  that  is 
 holy,  *^  he  that  is  true,  he  that  hath  '  the  key  of 
 David,  Mie  that  openeth,  and  no  nianshutteth; 
 and  '  shutteth,  and  no  man  openeth  ; 
 
 8  "  1  know  thy  works  :  behold,  I  liave  set  be- 
 fore thee  'an  open  door,  and  no  man  can  shut 
 it :  for  thou  hast  a  little  strength,  and  hast  kept 
 my  word,  and  hast  not  denied  my  name. 
 
 9  B.^hold,  1  will  make  '''them  of  the  synagogue 
 of  Satan,  which  say  they  are  Jews,  and  are  not, 
 but  do  lie  ;  beiiold,  '  1  w'ill  make  tiiem  tocoine 
 and  worship  before  thy  feet,  and  to  know  that 
 I  have  loved  thee. 
 
 10  Because  thou  hast  kept  the  word  of  my 
 patience,  *I  also  will  keep  thee  froin  the  iioiir 
 of  temptation,  which  shall  come  upon  "  all  the 
 world,  to  try  them  that  dwell  "  upon  the  earth. 
 
 1 1  Behold,  ^  I  come  quickly  :  "  hold  that  fast 
 which  thou  hast,  that  no  man  take  *"  thy  crown. 
 
 12  Him  that  overcometh  will  I  make  ^  a  pillar 
 in  the  temple  of  my  God,  and  he  shall  go  no 
 
 upon  you  to  make  a  sacrifice  of  me  and  my  cause.'— iJorfrfr.     TiU  I 
 
 come,  ti^  execute  the  threatened  judgments. — Clarke,  26.  Keepeth 
 tny  works,  '  perseveres  in  the  faith  and  holiness  of  the  gospel.' — Guyse. 
 Power  oner  the  naliuns,  Christianitv  shall  at  last  rule  over  all  nations. 
 27.  ^Vith  a  rod  of  iron,  with  tiio  strictest  adminit-tration  of  justice  ; 
 and  those  who  finally  despise  the  word,  and  rebel,  shall  be  broken  and 
 destroyed. — Clarke;    similar  views  in    Lowman.  28.  The  mornins 
 
 star,  signifies  dignity  and  pre-eminence,  as  the  morning  star  e.xccls  the 
 others  in  brightness. — Schleufi.  It  means,  shall  have  the  brightest  and 
 most  glorious  empire  next  to  that  of  Christ  himself.  Stars  are  emblems 
 of  states  ;  and  as  the  morning  star  is  that  which  immediately  precedes 
 the  rising  of  the  ?un,  it  probably  here  intends  an  empire  which  should 
 usher  in  the  universal  sway  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ. — Clmke.  It 
 means,  I  will  give  them  so  clear  an  understanding  of  the  privileges 
 and  blessings  of  my  gospel,  as  if  a  day  star  arose  in  their  hearts, 
 (2  Pet.  i.  19.) — Lowmnn.  By  this  understand  Christ,  so  called  chap. 
 xxii.  16,  and  an  illustrious  appearance  of  him  at  the  close  of  this  church 
 state,  and  a  communication  uf  much  light  and  grace  from  him.^Gt//, 
 so  Guyse. 
 
 Chap.  III. — 1.  Sardis,  this,  li!.e  Thyatira,  was  a  city  of  Lybia,  and 
 its  metropolis,  the  scat  of  King  Crcesus.  It  is  now  an  obscure  little 
 village,  called,  by  the  Turks.  Sart.  It  is  thirty-three  miles  from  Thya- 
 tira.— Gill.  A  name  that  thou  livest,  ^-c.,  '  thou  maiutainest  a  cha- 
 racter in  neighbouring  churches  for  religion  and  piety,  and  makest  a 
 splendid  profession.'  Dead,  little  real  religion  at  heart. — Doddridge. 
 2.  Be  watchful — this  supposes  an  existing  state  of  slumber. —  W.  Jones. 
 Things  which  remain,  '  those  gifts  and  good  habits  which  are  left  thee 
 as  yet.'— Poo/e.  3.  How  ht:st  thou  received,  §-c.— the  fault  of  Sardis 
 was  not  heresy,  or  corruption  of  doctrine;  it  was  negligence  and 
 supineness :  she  knew  the  will  of  her  Lord,  but  did  it  not. —  Wood- 
 house.  As  a  thief,  '  seize  thee  by  une.-ipcctcd  judgments.'— Bp.  Hall. 
 4.  Have  not  defiled  their  garments,  '  have  preserved  themselves  from 
 the  common  corruption,'— LoH'7/mn.  '  They  have  not  defiled  their 
 souls;'  for  the  Hebrews  considered  holiness  as  the  garb  of  the  soul, 
 and  evil  actions  as  stains  or  spots  on  this  garb. — Clarke.    Among  the 
 
 Jews,  if  a  priest's  garments  were  spotted  or  defiled  he  might  not  minis- 
 ter. — Gill.  In  white— under  the  law,  the  garments  of  the  priests  were 
 white  ;  and  so  were  also  those  worn  in  the  courts  of  princes.  These 
 were  marks  of  favour  and  honour,  and  are,  in  scripture,  emblems  of 
 purity,  (chap.  xix.  8.)—Lowm(in.  White  raiment  was  used  among  the 
 Romans  as  a  token  of  joy  at  festivals,  and  on  birthdays,  and  at  wed- 
 dings, and  such  like  times. —  Gill.  It  means,  they  shall  be  raised  lo  a 
 state  of  eternal  glory,  and  shall  be  for  ever  with  their  Lord. — Clarke. 
 .'1.  Bunk  of  life — this  expression  is  taken  from  the  custom  of  register- 
 ing in  a  book  the  names  of  the  freemen  of  a  city,  which  were  kept  in, 
 or  struck  out.  according  to  their  behaviour  in  observing  or  breaking 
 the  laws. — Pyte.  7.  Philadilphin,  another  city  of  Lybia,  distant 
 from  Thyatira  about  twenty-seven  miles. — Gill.  It  now  contains  about 
 3000  houses. — Pict.  Bih.  He  that  in  holy— this  epithet  belongs  to  the 
 Deity,  (Exod.  xxviii.  36;  Isa.  vi.  3  ;)  it  belongs  to  the  Son,  as  partak- 
 ing the  nature  of  the  Father,  (Ps.  xvi.  10;  Luke,  iv.  34  ;  Acts.iii.  14.)— 
 M'oodh.  Key  vf  David,  expressive  of  power  and  authority  in  the  spi- 
 ritual kingdom,  as  the  promised  Son  of  l)rtvid.~B;j.  Hall.  See  Matt. 
 xvi.  19,  note.  That  openeth,  and  no  man  shutteth,  *  and  none  can 
 shut  it.'  The  original  is  more  general  than  the  use  of  the  word  *  man' 
 would  imply — k.u  ow5eit  KXciet. — Schnlpfivld.  Expressive  of  Christ's 
 sovcieignty,  power,  and  authority  in  this  church  state.  8.  An  open 
 door,  an  uncommon  opportunity  of  preaching  the  gospeL — Gill.  See 
 Acts,  xiv.  27 ;  1  Cor.  xvi.  9 ;  2  Cor.  ii.  12 ;  so  also  Duuhuz  and  Low' 
 7nan.  9.  To  come  and  worship,  '  pay  thee  the  lowest  homage.' — 
 Bens.  10.  Will  keep  thee,  probably  fulfilled  in   some  subsequent 
 
 persecution. —  Woodh.  11.  Crown— Wiq  word  '  crown'  is  used,  by 
 our  translators,  for  both  the  *  Stephanos'  and  the  '  diadem.' — Comm. 
 from  Henry  and  Scott.  The  Stephanos  was  a  crown  or  garland  be- 
 stowed on  the  victors  in  combats,  or  given  to  conquerors,  as  2  Tim.  iv. 
 8.— See  Mnckn.  The  diadem  was  a  swathe  or  fillet  <>f  fine  linen, 
 bound  about  the  heads  of  the  ancient  eastern  kings. —  Par.  \2.  A 
 pillar— \\vz  pillars  of  a  sumptuous  temple  are  both  the  strength  ami 
 ornament  of  it,  so  shall  all  who  steadily  sutfer  in  my  name  be  of  my 
 future  church,  triumphant  and  glorious.     And,  as  it  has  been  the  cus- 
 
 Reflections  on  Ch.^p.  II.— Let  us  notice  generally  the 
 four  epistles  in  this  chapter— I.  To  Me  c/(«rcA  of  Ephesus ;  from 
 which  we  may  learn,  that  ('hrist  marks  the  state  of  the  churcbes 
 and  of  all  tiieir  individual  members;  that  he  notices  declen- 
 sions of  heart  and  life  ;  that  where  these  exist  nothing  can 
 save  the  church  or  the  member  but  sincere  and  earnest  re- 
 pentance and  return  to  God,  and  that  this  must  take  place 
 without  delay,  or  the  visitation  of  judgment  may  quickly  de- 
 stroy the  guilty  backsliders.  That  Christ  also  graciously  no- 
 tices every  good  symptom  and  trait  in  the  Christian,  and 
 commends  what  is  excellent,  and  nothing  more  than  the  hatred 
 uf  sinful  principles  and  practices;  and  those  who  hold  on, 
 resisting  sin  and  error  to  the  end,  shall  meet  with  the  most 
 glorious  reward.     In  the  epistle — 
 
 II.  To  the  church  of  Smyrna,  we  are  taught  not  to  fear 
 1344 
 
 them  who  can  only  kill  the  body,  but  to  '  fear  him  who  hath 
 power  to  cast  both  soul  and  body  into  hell  fire.'  as  in  the 
 former  epistle  ;  and  that  the  persevering  Christian  shall  be 
 the  crowned  saint.      From  the  epistle — 
 
 III.  To  the  church  at  Perpa/nos,  we  learn  God's  haired  to 
 sin,  and  the  abhorrence  in  which  he  holds  all  those  who  se- 
 duce  others  to  sin.     And  in  the  epistle — 
 
 IV.  To  the  church  at  Thyatira,  we  have  a  commendation  of 
 Christian  love  to  God  and  man,  and  fidelity  in  the  cause  of 
 C'iirist,  an  assurance  of  the  ultimate  triumphs  of  pure  and  un- 
 defded  religion,  and  of  the  blessed  enjoyments  connected 
 with  it.  I\Iay  Christ,  '  the  bright  and  the  morning  star.' arise 
 and  shine  in  our  hearts,  diffusing  throuf»h  them  heavenly 
 light  and  joy. 
 
The  church  of  Laodicea  rebuked. 
 
 REVELATION.  IV. 
 
 John  sceth  the  throne  of  God. 
 
 more  out :  and  ''  I  will  write  upon  him  the  name 
 of  my  God,  and  tlie  name  of  the  city  of  my 
 God,  icliich  is  'new  Jerusalem,  which  cometh 
 down  out  of  heaven  from  my  God  :  '  and  I  will 
 iDvite  upon  him  my  new  name. 
 
 13  '  He  that  hatli  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what 
 the  Spirit  saitli  unto  the  churches. 
 
 14  And  unto  the  angel  of  the  church  ||of  the 
 Laodiceans  write;  "These  things  saith  the 
 Amen,  "  the  faithful  and  true  witness,  "  the  be- 
 ginning of  the  creation  of  God  ; 
 
 15  ''1  know  thy  works,  that  thou  art  neither 
 cold  nor  hot :  I  would  thouwert  cold  or  hot. 
 
 16  So  then  because  thou  art  lukewarm,  and 
 neither  cold  nor  hot,  I  will  spue  thee  out  of 
 my  mouth. 
 
 17  Because  thou  sayest,  '■  I  am  rich,  and  in- 
 creased with  goods,  and  have  need  of  nothing; 
 and  knowest  not  that  thou  art  wretched,  and 
 miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and  naked  ; 
 
 18  I  counsel  thee  '  to  buy  of  me  gold  tried  in 
 the  fire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich  ;  and  '  white 
 raiment,  that  tliou  mayest  be  clothed,  and  that 
 the  shame  of  thy  nakedness  do  not  appear ; 
 and  anoint  thine  eyes  with  eyesalve,  that  thou 
 mayest  see. 
 
 1 9  '  As  many  as  I  love,  I  rebuke  and  chasten  : 
 
 Ueb.  12.  a2. 
 
 k  cb.  22   4. 
 I  cli.  2.  7, 
 
 II  Or,  ,„ 
 Li,idffn. 
 
 rri  Is    03.   IG. 
 
 n  cli.  I.  6.  «, 
 19.11.  Ik22. 
 6,  ver.  7. 
 
 M  Col    1.  15. 
 
 /»  ver.  I. 
 
 1}  Hoa    12.  8. 
 1  Cor.  4.  S. 
 
 r  Tb   55.  1. 
 Mat.  1.4.44 
 «;  2a    9. 
 
 i'^  Ciir.  5.3 
 ch.  7.  l.S  fc 
 16.  15.  &  19. 
 8. 
 
 (  Job  5.  17. 
 rro.  .S.  11, 
 12.  Heb.  12 
 5,  6.  Jiim. 
 1.  12. 
 
 2S. 
 
 z  Mat  19  23, 
 Luke22..S0, 
 
 1  Cor.  0.  2. 
 
 2  rim  2  12 
 ch.2.  l'li,27. 
 
 6  oil.  11.  12. 
 
 c  cli    I.  19. 
 
 fc  22.  6. 
 d  cli.  1.  10. 
 
 «(  17.  3.  & 
 
 21.  10. 
 «Is.6,  1. 
 
 Jcr.  17.  12. 
 
 Ezek. 1 .  26 
 
 ^:  10    1. 
 
 Dan.  7.  9. 
 
 be  zealous  therefore,  and  repent. 
 
 20  Behold,  "  I  stand  at  the  door,  and  knock  : 
 '  if  any  man  hear  my  voice,  and  open  the  door, 
 '  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup  with  him, 
 and  he  with  me. 
 
 '21  To  him  that  overcometh  "  will  I  grant  to 
 sit  with  me  in  my  throne,  even  as  I  also  over- 
 came, and  Qin  set  down  with  my  Father  in  his 
 throne. 
 
 22  "  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what 
 the  Spirit  saitli  unto  the  churches. 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 2  John  seeth  the  throne  of  God  in  heavm.  4  The  fotcr 
 and  twenty  elders.  6  The  four  beasts  full  ofeyfs  be- 
 fore and  bt'hhid.  }0  The  elders  lay  down  their  crowns, 
 and  worship  him  that  sat  on  the  throni', 
 
 A  FTER  tins  I  looked,  ond,  beliold,  a  door 
 ^■*-  ivas  opened  in  heaven:  and  *  the  first 
 voice  vi'hich  I  lieard  was  as  it  were  of  a  trum- 
 pet talking  with  me  ;  which  said,  ^  Come  up 
 liither,  ^  and  I  will  shew  thee  things  which  must 
 be  hereafter. 
 
 2  And  immediately  *^  I  was  in  the  Spirit:  and, 
 behold,  ^a  throne  was  set  in  heaven,  and  one 
 sat  on  the  throne. 
 
 3  And  he  that  sat  was  to  look  upon  like  a 
 
 torn  to  engrave  upon  the  pillars  of  lofty  buildings  tUe  names  and 
 achievements  of  illustrious  persons,  so  sliali  these,  my  st-rvanls,  be 
 characterized  with  the  noblest  and  happiest  of  all  titles,  such  as  the 
 servants  of  the  living  ami  true  God,  mt-mliers  of  his  heavenly  king- 
 dom.— Pijle.  This  is  to  be  cnnsiilcrcd  as  the  symbol  of  an  eternal 
 state  to  be  enjoyed  in  the  New  Jerusalem.— W«w6i/jE,  Rusenmiiller. 
 11.  Laof/iccrt^is— Laodicea  lay  south  nf  Pinladelpliia,  in  the  way  to 
 return  to  Ephcsus.  The  seven  clinrches  lie  in  a  circular  form,  so  that 
 the  natural  progifss  was  from  Ephesus  to  Smyrna,  and  then  succes- 
 sively to  Pcrganio-^,  Thyatira,  Sartlis,  Philadelphia,  Laodicea,  and  so 
 round  to  Ephesns  again,  which  is  the  order  that  St.  John  has  observed 
 in  addressing  tlicm,  and  which,  probably,  was  the  circuit  which  he 
 took  in  his  visitation.  That  there  was  a  flourishing  church  at  Laodicea, 
 ID  the  primitive  times  of  Christianity,  is  evident  from  St.  Paul's  epistle 
 to  the  Colossians,  in  which  mention  is  several  times  made  of  the  Lao- 
 diceans.— Bp.  Newton.  There  were  four  cities  called  Laodicea,  two 
 in  Asia  Minor,  and  two  in  Syria  ;  tliis  was  one  of  the  former.  This  is 
 the  most  desolate  of  the  seven  cities;  an  extensive  heap  of  ruins. — 
 Pict.  Bib.  Siiith  the  Atnen—the  word  *  amen'  imports  truth  and  cer- 
 tainty ;  and  when  the  Lord  addresses  them  under  this  title,  it  is  as 
 though  he  said,  '  I  am  He.  all  whose  threatenings  and  promises  will 
 he  most  strictly  and  assuredly  fulfilled.' — \V.  Jones.  The  he^inning  of 
 the  creation,  not  the  first  creature  tliat  was  made,  but  tlie  first  cause  of 
 the  crcrition. — Gill.  The  Greek  term  apx'i.  here  translated  *  beginning,' 
 often  denotes  the  'head  or  cliicf,'  and  this  is  the  meaning  in  this  place. 
 —  W.  Junes.  As  this  is  the  last  of  the  introductions  to  the  several 
 epistles,  it  may  be  pr"per  here  to  remark  nu  a  peculiarity  not  noticed 
 by  the  commentators.  The  reader  will  observe,  that  tiie  epithets  ap- 
 plied  to  Christ,  taken  from  the  former  descriptions  of  him  m  the  first 
 chapter,  are  here  severally  used  for  the  difterent  churches.  The  reason 
 appears  to  be,  that  they  had  each  reference  to  the  peculiar  state  of  ihe 
 church  addressed,  and  to  the  particular  promises  and  threatenings 
 made  to  it.  The  address  to  Ephes;is  is  from  htm  '  who  lioldeth  the 
 seven  stars,  ^c,  and  who  walketh  in  the  midst.' 8:c. ;  indicative  of  his 
 presence  in  his  churches,  as  ])reparatory  to  the  threatening  that  it 
 should  be  withdrawn;  '  I  will  remove  thy  candlestick.'  &c..  and  no 
 longer  keep  the  lamps  burning.  To  Smyrna  he  is  described  as  'the 
 first  and  the  last,  which  was  dead,  and  is  alive;'  a  description  calcu- 
 lated to  cheer  the  spirits  of  the  faithful  in  the  prospect  of  suffering 
 death  from  the  hands  of  persecutors,  and  intemied  to  shew,  that  be- 
 cause he  lives,  they  should  hve  also,  and  so  receive  the  pnmiised 
 '  crown  of  life,*  and  not  be  hurt  by  '  the  second  dt-ath.'  To  Perganios 
 Christ  is  described  as  '  He  which  hath  the  sharp  sword,*  and  the 
 threatening  is  against  those  holding  the  doctrine  of  Balaam,  *  I  will 
 
 fight  ag.iin.st  them,'  Iki:.  ;  the  manner  in  which  he  is  introduced  is 
 therefore  expressive  of  his  power  to  inflict  his  threatening.  To  the 
 church  of  Thyatira  he  is  depicted  as  having  '  eyes  like  unto  a  flame  of 
 fire;*  and  the  threatening  is,  that  the  punishment  of  the  seducer  and 
 the  seduced  should  be  such  as  that  all  the  churches  should  know  he 
 searched  the  heart.  To  Sardis  he  is  represented  as  having  '  the  seven 
 spirits  of  God,  and  the  seven  stars,'  discerning,  with  the  most  perfect 
 knowledge,  the  state  of  the  churches;  to  intimate,  that  tliough  they 
 might  deceive  others  by  specious  appearances,  they  could  not  elude  his 
 scrutinizing  inquiries.  And  to  the  church  of  Philadelijhia,  he  is  exhi- 
 bited as  having  '  the  key  of  David,'  as  '  lie  that  opencth,*  he,  prepa- 
 ratory to  his  purpose  to  deliver  and  preserve  the  faithful  members  of 
 that  church. — Ed.  15.  Neither  cold  nor  hot,  alive,  hut  not  lively. — 
 Gili.  Indifferent  in  matters  of  religion. — Pple.  1  uould  thou  wert, 
 not  that  it  was  an  indifferent  thing  to  Christ ;  but  the  expressi<in  signi- 
 fies his  detestation  of  lukewarmness,  and  that  it  is  better  to  be  igno- 
 rnit,  and  not  a  professor  of  religion,  than  to  he  a  vain  and  carnal  oue. 
 — OitL  ]G.  ^p?te  thee,  'cast  thee  off  with  the  utmost  indignation 
 and  aversion.' — Pyle.  The  allusion  is  to  the  known  effect  of  tepid 
 water  on  the  stomach,  which  generally  produces  a  nausea. — Clarke. 
 17.  Rich,  ^c,  '  imaginest  thyself  to  be  in  so  good  a  state  as  to  want 
 nothing,  and  knowest  not  that  thou  art,  indeed,  in  want  of  all  things 
 truly  gooil.' — Lawman.  18.  Buy — see  Isa.  Iv.  1,4.     Gold — see  ]  Pet. 
 
 i.  7.  White  raiment, '  which  is  the  righteousness  of  the  saints,'  (chap- 
 xix.  8.) — Wil.  Eyesalve,  spiritual  illumination,  the  unction  of  the 
 Holy  One,  which  teachcth  all  tilings. — Berts.  20.  Behold,  I  staitd  at 
 ihe  door,  ^c. — the  kingdom  of  Christ  is  described  as  a  feast.  He  is  the 
 111  idrgroom,  and  his  servants  sit  in  his  bouse  till  a  late  hour,  waiting 
 his  arrival;  wlien,  returning  from  tlie  wedding,  according  to  eastern 
 custom,  lie  knocketb,  and  they  open  to  him,  and  he  makcth  tliera  sit 
 down  to  eat. —  Woodh.  See  Luke,  xii.  3(3,  &e.  It  alludes  to  Cant.  v.  2. 
 The  words  are  evidently  figurative.  The  door  signifies  the  entry,  or 
 admission,  into  the  human  heart.  The  Saviour  standing  and  knocking 
 at  the  door  imports  his  importunity  for  access,  and  the  metho.ts  he 
 uses  to  obtain  it.  Come  in — sitp,  signify,  be  will  come  into  the  soul 
 with  spiritual  refreshments,  and  give  the  believer  sweet  communion  in 
 llie  consolations  of  his  Spirit. —  W.  Jones.  21.  Sit  with  nie  in  my 
 throne,  advance  to  dignity  and  honour. — Ed.  Some  commentators 
 con.sider  these  cliurcbes  as  emblems  of  seven  different  states  of  the 
 Christian  church. — So  Vitr.,  and  Gill. 
 
 Chap.  IV. — 1.  A  door,  §-c.,  similar  to  other  descriptions,  (Ezek.  i.  1  ; 
 X.  1.)  ^.  A  throne,  similar  to  the  representation  of  Jehovah's  ma- 
 jesty. Is.  vi. ;  Ezek.  i.  ^G.— Woodh.  3.  To  look  jj/iou  tike,  the  resem- 
 blance was  like  the  most  precious  stones  used  to  adorn  princes. — Low- 
 
 Rkflection's  on  Chap.  III.  — The  addresses  here  are  to 
 llie  three  remiuning  churches— T.  Sardis.  The  address  to  this 
 cliurch  exhibits  Christ  as  the  discerner  of  spirits,  and  so  not 
 to  be  deceived  by  outward  appearances  ;  urges  the  necessity 
 of  watchfulness,  and  intimates  the  danger  of  a  languishini^ 
 state  of  mind  ia  religion;  while  it  enforces  purity  of  faith, 
 heart,  antl  life,  as  preparatory  to  the  enjoyment  of  everlasting 
 purity,  and  the  final  triumph  over  sin,  death,  and  hell. 
 
 II.  Philadelphia  shews  a  cliurch  vchich  though  weak  in 
 numbers  and  gifts,  was  yet  *  alive,  zealous,  and  faithful. 
 The  Christian-;  of  this  church  had  kept  Ins  word,  believing  his 
 doctrines,  fearing  his  denunciations,  embracinf^  his  promises, 
 and  obeying  his  precepts  with  humility  and  perseverance  ;  and 
 be  would  keep  them  in  the  hour  of  trial  and  difJiculty.  When 
 believers  are  consistent  and  watchful,  tho  Lord  knows  how  to 
 deliver  them  from  ihe  hour  of  temptation.      And  what  an  en- 
 
 laij 
 
 couragement  is  it  to  hold  fast  our  integrity,  faith,  and  hope, 
 and,  by  the  power  and  grace  of  Christ,  to  fight  and  vanquish 
 all  eneniie*s,  that  such  will  be  made  pillars  in  the  temple  of 
 God,  not  only  a  part  of  it,  but  a  beautiful,  ornamental  part.' '' 
 
 111.  Laoilieea  presents  us  wiih  a  most  afl'ecting  state  of 
 things  too  common  in  the  ciiurches,  and  to  he  seen  in  bodies 
 as  well  as  individuals.  Here  we  see  the  form  of  godliness 
 without  the  power.  People  not  averse  to  religion,  but  dis- 
 playing no  activity  in  its  cause.  As  such  persons  are  gene- 
 rally wrapped  up  in  self-complacency,  and  rest  in  carnal 
 security,  they  are  here  warned  to  see  to  it  that  their  graces  an; 
 genuine,  that  their  souls  are  justified,  and  that  their  mimls 
 are  enlightened  with  more  llian  nn^re  liead-knowledge.  Ai 
 the  door  of  such  hearts  Christ  knock>:  by  his  word  and  Spirit, 
 his  providences,  his  mercies,  and  iiis  judgments.  O  let  them 
 open,  that  the  King  of  glory  may  enter  in  ! 
 6  I 
 
The  four  beasts  full  of  eyes. 
 
 REVELATION,  V. 
 
 The  hook  sealed  with  seven  seals. 
 
 jasper  and  a  sardine  stone:  'and  l/it-re  vas 
 a  rainbow  round  about  the  throne,  in  sight  like 
 unto  an  emerald. 
 
 4  ^  And  round  about  the  throne  were  four 
 and  twenty  seats  :  and  upon  the  seats  I  saw 
 four  and  twenty  elders  sitting,  *^  clothed  in 
 white  raiment ;  'and  they  had  on  their  heads 
 crowns  of  gold. 
 
 5  And  out  of  the  throne  proceeded  •=  light- 
 nings and  thunderirtgs  and  voices  :  '  and  there 
 ivere  seven  lamps  of  iire  burning  before  the 
 throne,  which  are  "'  the  seven  Spirits  of 
 God. 
 
 6  And  before  the  throne  there  ivas  "a  sea  of 
 glass  like  unto  crystal:  "and  in  the  midst  of 
 the  throne,  and  round  about  the  throne,  ivere 
 four  beasts  full  of  eyes  before  ''and  be- 
 hind. 
 
 7  **  And  the  first  beast  was  like  a  lion,  and 
 the  second  beast  like  a  calf,  and  the  third  beast 
 had  a  face  as  a  man,  and  the  fourth  beast  was 
 like  a  flying  eagle. 
 
 8  And  the  four  beasts  had  each  of  them  ""six 
 wings  about  him  ;  and  they  were  full  of  eyes 
 'within:  and  f  they  rest  not  day  and  night, 
 saying,'  Holy,  holy,  holy, "  Lord  God  Almighty, 
 ^  which  was,  and  is,  and  is  to  come. 
 
 9  And  when  those  beasts  give  glory  and  ho- 
 nour and  thanks  to  him  that  sat  on  the  throne, 
 ''who  liveth  for  ever  and  ever, 
 
 10  '"■  The  four  and  twenty  elders  fall  down  be- 
 fore him  that  sat  on  the  throne,  "and  worship 
 him  that  liveth  for  ever  and   ever,  ^  and  cast 
 
 A.  D.  96. 
 
 h  ch    S.  4,  .S. 
 
 &  6.11.  &7. 
 
 9.  IS.  U.  ft 
 
 19.  n, 
 1  vcr.  III. 
 *  ch    !^    .').  U 
 
 ir>  IS, 
 
 -2  Clir.^  iO. 
 Eiek.  I.  IS. 
 Z-fch.  \.  2. 
 m  cti  I.  *.  & 
 S.  t.  &  5.  6 
 
 n  F.x   Z^.B. 
 
 ch.  15.  2. 
 oKiek.  I.  S 
 
 q  Num.  ?.  ?, 
 K,i-.  Kzek  I. 
 lU.  S<  lU.U 
 
 (5r.  thfg 
 'I'lr^  iioreil. 
 U.  I).  3. 
 ch.  \.8. 
 ch.  1.4. 
 
 wch.  I.  18. 
 
 8t  it.  14.  & 
 
 15.7. 
 jch.5.8,  H. 
 
 ver.  9. 
 
 ver.  4. 
 
 A.  D.  S8. 
 
 c  ch.  5.  12. 
 
 ■I  Gen.  I.  1. 
 Acta  17.21. 
 Kph.  :t.  9. 
 C-.l.  1.  Ifi. 
 ch.  10.  6. 
 
 l>ls   SP.  11. 
 Diu\.  \i.  4. 
 
 J  Gt-n.  49.9, 
 
 HI.  Heb.  7. 
 
 11. 
 »  Is.  11.1,10, 
 
 Kom.l5.1S 
 
 ch.  a3.  16. 
 /ver.  1. 
 
 ch.  6    I. 
 t  Is.  53.  7. 
 
 John  1.  2<t, 
 
 .Sfi   I  Pet   I . 
 
 19.  ch.l3  8. 
 
 ver  9,  12, 
 h  Zech.  3,  9, 
 
 8(  4.  10. 
 
 eh.  4.  5, 
 
 their  crowns  before  the  throne,  saying, 
 
 1 1  "^  Thou  art  worthy,  O  Lord,  to  receive 
 glory  and  honour  and  power:  •*  for  thon  liast 
 created  all  tilings  and  for  thy  pleasure  they 
 are  and  were  created. 
 
 CHAP.  V. 
 
 I  The  hook  sealed  with  screw  seals :  9  which  only  the 
 Lamb  that  was  slain  is  worthy  to  open.  12  2'here- 
 fore  the  elders  fvaise  hiniy  9  cmd  confess  that  he  re- 
 deemt'd  thtm  with  his  blood. 
 
 A  ND  I  saw  in  the  riglit  hand  of  him  that  sat 
 '^*-  on  the  throne  "^a  book  written  within  and 
 on  the  backside,  ''sealed  with  seven  seals. 
 
 2  And  I  saw  a  strong  angel  proclaiming  with 
 a  loud  voice.  Who  is  worthy  to  open  the  book, 
 and  to  loose  the  seals  thereof? 
 
 3  And  no  man  *^  in  heaven,  nor  in  earth,  nei- 
 ther under  the  earth,  was  able  to  open  tlie 
 book,  neither  to  look  thereon. 
 
 4  And  I  wept  much,  because  no  man  was 
 found  worthy  to  open  and  to  read  the  book, 
 neither  to  look  thereon. 
 
 o  And  one  of  the  elders  saith  unto  ine.  Weep 
 not:  behold,  ^  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Juda, 
 ''the  Root  of  David,  hath  prevailed  to  open 
 the  book,  ''  and  to  loose  the  seven  seals  tliereof. 
 
 6  And  I  belield,  and,  lo,  in  the  midst  of  the 
 throne  and  of  the  four  beasts,  and  in  the  midst 
 of  the  elders,  stood  ^a  Lamb  as  it  had  been  slain, 
 having  seven  horns  and  ".seven  eyes,  which 
 are  '  the  seven  Spirits  of  God  sent  forth  into  all 
 the  earth. 
 
 man.  .Jasper,  many  suppose  means  '  diamond,*  because  stated,  at 
 chap.  xxi.  11,  to  be  '  clear  as  crystal.' — Schleus.  An  emblem  of  God's 
 purity. — Guyae.  Sitrdiui',  of  a  red  flame  colour,  found  in  Sardinia. — 
 Schlfus.  An  emblem  of  God's  justice  and  fierce  indignation  against 
 his  enemies. — Gui/se.  Rainbow,  a  token  of  God's  mercy  and  faithful- 
 ness to  Christians,  as  of  old,  (Genesis,  ix.  9—17.)— Pi//-?,  so  Gityst. 
 Emeruld,  this  is  of  a  green  colour,  the  prevailing  one  in  the  rainbow. 
 — GUI.  4.  Ftmr  and  twenty  eld'^rs,  these,  answering  to  the  twenty- 
 four  lieads  of  tlie  courses  of  the  Jewish  priests,  were  to  signify  the 
 ministers  and  pastors  of  the  New  Testament,  White,  to  denote  the 
 sacredness  of  their  function,  and  their  purity  of  life.  Crowns  of  gold, 
 to  shew  their  superiority  over  the  Jewish  priests  ;  because  Christ  has 
 made  them  a  royal  priesthood,  (see  1  Pet.  ii.  9.)—Pyle.  By  these 
 elders  are  represented  tlie  whole  Israel  of  God,  all  the  members  of  the 
 gospel  church,  from  the  first  to  the  last  of  it,  styled  elders  because  of 
 their  gravity,  prudence,  and  knowleiige. — GUI.  They  denote  redeemed 
 sinners,  (see  v.  8 — 10.}— H'.  Jones.  The  number  of  these  elders  may 
 refer  to  the  twenty-four  courses  into  which  the  priests  were  divided, 
 (see  1  Chron.  xxiv.  -,)  or  to  the  twelve  patriarchs  and  twelve  apostles, 
 as  the  heads  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  churches.  —  Scott. 
 5.  Lightnings,  ^c,  as  at  Sinai.— U'oodA.  Seven  spirits— see  chap.  i.  -1, 
 note.  A  symbol  for  the  Holy  Spirit.— troorfA.  The  allusion  is  to  the 
 candlesticks,  (Exod.  xxxvii.  I".)  6.  A  sea  o/^/hs.s,  another  reference 
 to  Solomon's  temple,  (see  Exod.  xxx.  IS,  &c.,  and  1  Kings,  vii.  23.J 
 The  antitype  of  this  molten  sea  John  beheld  in  heaven,  and  we  can  be 
 at  no  loss  to  understand  that  it  symbolized  the  bioml  of  Christ,  (Zech, 
 xiii.  I  ;  comp.  Rev.  xii  1 1  ;  vii.  u  ;  and  i.  5.) — W.  .Jones.  It  is  un- 
 derstood of  the  gospel,  by  Gill.  Four  hensts,  '  four  living  creatures,' 
 tt.»a. — Doddr.,  Lowmttn,  and  Woudh.  By  comparing  the  description 
 given  of  these  living  creatures,  with  the  description  given  at  Is.  vi., 
 Ezek.  i.  10,  it  sufficiently  appears  that  the  same  are  intended  in  all  the 
 passages.  —  Lowmun,  Woodh.  These  creature.^  represent  the  holy 
 angels,  —  Lawman;  represent  the  four  evangelists. — So  Tradition. 
 They  represent  the  four  officers  in  the  Christian  church — the  ruling 
 elder,  the  pastor,  the  deacon,  and  the  teacher. — Dr.  Goodwin.  They 
 represent  the  whole  bodvof  the  church,  or  of  private  Christians,  in  allu- 
 sion to  the  whole  army  of  the  Israelites  encamping  with  their  standards, 
 that  bore  the  fisures  of  the  beasts  here  named,  and  the  man  about  the 
 tabernacle  in  the  wilderness. — SoMede,  Whistun.Sir  I.sanc  Newton,  Sec. 
 They  represent  the  various  gifts  with  which  God  blesses  his  mmisters, 
 courage  like  lions,  meekness  like  calves,  wisdom  and  prudence,  which 
 most  adorn  a  man,  and  piercing  insight  into  the  mysteries  of  God's 
 
 kingdom,  rendering  them  like  carries;  some  excel  in  some  of  these 
 qualities,  and  some  in  otliers, — I'uule.  They  represent  the  ministers 
 of  the  gospel  in  general  in  the  successive  ages  of  the  church ;  and 
 their  numtiers,  •  four,*  may  allude  to  the  four  parts  of  the  world  ;  their 
 '  hving,*  intimate  their  spiritual  life;  and  "eyes,*  spiritual  light; 
 '  before,*  to  see  the  deep  things  of  God's  word  ;  and,  '  iiehind,*  how 
 sacrifices,  types,  and  predictions  are  fulfilled  in  Christ. — Gill,  so  Guyse, 
 Scott,  W.  Jones.  Eyes,  denote  knowledge,  wisdom,  prudence,  and 
 foresight.  —  Vitr.     See  Ezck.  i.  18,  note.  7.  A  calf,    *a  steer,    a 
 
 young  bullock.' —  Woodh.,  so  Schleus.  '  An  ox,'  so  the  word  here 
 signifies  in  the  Hellenistic  language,  and  with  the  Septuttgint  inter- 
 preters, and  agrees  with  Ezek.  i.  10. — GUI.  s.  Wings,  denoting 
 zeal  and  readiness  to  projiagatc  the  gospel. — Stnnh.  Rest  not,  in- 
 cessantly praise  God.  at  all  stated  and  fit  times. — Newc,  Holy,  holy, 
 ^■c. — see  Isa.  vi.  2,  3.  10.  Cast  their  crowns,  in  token  of  homage. — 
 Hales. 
 
 Chap.  V. — J.  A  book  irrittt-n  within  and  an  the  backside,  sealed,  fyc. 
 —the  pointing  should  be  different,  '  written  within,  and  on  the  back- 
 side sealed,'  9iC. — So  Grotius,  Lnwtnan,  Fuller.  See  Ezek.  ii.  10,  note. 
 Sealed  with  seven  seals,  to  shew  that  the  decrees  of  God  are  inscrutable, 
 and  with  reference  to  so  many  signal  perioiis  of  prophcey.  We  are  to 
 conceive  of  this  book  as  consisting  of  seven  rolls,  so  that  the  opening 
 of  one  seal  only  laid  open  the  contents  of  one  roll. — Bp.  Newton. 
 •2.  A  strong  angel,  *  an  angel  of  chief  power.' — Lowrnan.  To  open  the 
 hook,  '  to  know  and  reveal  these  great  futurities  of  the  church  of  God.' 
 — Pyle.  3.  No  w«m,  oi-itir,  'no  one.' — Doddr.,  Woodh.  '  No  being 
 throughout  the  whole  creation.* — Lowman.  Look  thereon,  '  into,'  or 
 'thereui.' — Doddr.,  Woodh.  4.  Wept  much,  knowing  what  instruction 
 and  consolation  the  church  would  receive  from  the  book. — Newc,  so 
 Gill.  0.  Lion  of  the  trihe  of  Judah,  the  victorious  prince  of  the 
 house  of  David,  in  the  warlike  tribe  of  Judah,  comjiared  to  a  lion, 
 (Gen.  xlix.  6—10;)  whom  Isaiah  calls  the  stem  of  Jesse,  (Isa.  xi.  1, 
 10.) — Pyle.  6.  A  lamh,  to  which  Christ,  both  in  the  Old  and  New 
 Testament,  is  often  compared,  .^.v  it  had  been  slain,  or  '  as  having 
 been  slain.*  Christ  had  really  been  slain  by  the  wicked  hands  of  the 
 Jews,  and  not  in  appearance  only  ;  the  as  here  is  not  a  note  of  mere 
 similitude  and  likeness,  but  of  reality  and  truth,  (see  John,  i.  1-i.) 
 Seren  horns,  expressive  of  the  power  of  Christ,  and  *  seven'  expresses 
 the  fulness  and  perfection  of  his  power  and  authority. — GUI,  so  Woodh. 
 Spren  eyes,  may  <lesign  the  perfect  knowledee  of  Christ,  his  foresight  of 
 future  events,  and  his  all-wise  providence,  which  is  always  and  every- 
 where concerned  to  fulfil  and  accomplish  them. — GUI.    May  signify 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  IV. —  I.  Our  corrnant  God  and 
 Saviour  rules  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  He  is  bright  and  glorious 
 in  the  eyes  of  his  church,  while  tliat  same  splendour  shall  ap- 
 pear terrible  to  his  enemies.  The  rainbow  round  about  his 
 throne  reminds  the  church  that  what  he  was  to  Noah  he  still  is 
 to  them — a  faithful  covenant-keeping  God.  The  fiery  sardine 
 is  expressive  of  that  fiery  vengeance  with  which  he  shall 
 *  devour  the  adversaries.*     For  '  our  God  is  a  consuming  fire. ' 
 
 II.  The  church  in  heaven  and  on  earth  incessayitly  strre  and 
 134G 
 
 adore  their  coveriant  God  and  Savionr.  This  is  the  honour 
 and  happiness  of  all  the  saints,  both  ministers  and  people, 
 and  the  worship  of  earth  is  only  a  faint  foretaste  of  the  wor- 
 ship of  heaven,  which  literally  shall  never  cease  in  frames 
 never  weary,  and  where  the  holy  and  happy  glorified  shall 
 adore  the  '  Holy,  holy,  holy  Lord  God  Almighty,"  and  uni'f 
 in  the  general  acclamation,  'Thou  art  worthy,  U  Lord,  to  re- 
 ceive glory,  and  lionour,  and  power  !' 
 
The  elders  pr a Ut  (he  Lamb. 
 
 REVELATION,  VI. 
 
 T/te  opening  of  the  seals. 
 
 7  And  he  came  and  took  the  book  out  of  the 
 right  hand  ^  of  him  tliat  sat  upon  tlie  throne. 
 
 8  And  when  he  had  taken  tiie  book,  *  the 
 four  beasts  and  four  and  twenty  elders  fell 
 down  before  the  Lamb,  having  every  one  of 
 them  "^  harps,  and  gok!:*n  vials  fnll  of||  odours, 
 "which  are  the  prayers  of  saints. 
 
 9  And  °  they  sung  a  new  song,  saying, 
 ''Thou  art  worthy  to  take  the  book,  and  to 
 open  the  seals  thereof:  '' fur  thou  wast  slain, 
 and  Miast  redeemed  us  to  God  by  thy  blood 
 "out  of  every  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people, 
 and  nation  ; 
 
 10  *  And  hast  made  us  unto  our  God  kings 
 and  priests  :  and  we  shall  reign  on  the  earth. 
 
 1 1  And  I  beheld,  and  1  heard  the  voice  of 
 many  angels  "round  about  the  throne  and  the 
 beasts  and  the  elders  :  and  the  number  of  them 
 was  ^  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand,  and 
 thousands  of  thousands  ; 
 
 12  Saying  with  a  loud  voice,  ^  Worthy  is  the 
 Lamb  that  was  slain  to  receive  power,  and 
 riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  honour, 
 and  glory,  and  blessing. 
 
 13  And  ''every  creature  which  is  in  heaven, 
 and  on  the  earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and  such 
 as  are  in  the  sea,  and  all  that  are  in  them,  heard 
 I  saying.  *  Blessing,  and  honour,  and  glory,  and 
 power,  be  unto  him  ^  that  sitteth  upon  the 
 throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 14  ''And  the  four  beasts  said,  Amen.  And 
 the  four  and  twenty  elders  fell  down  and  wor- 
 shipped him  "^  that  liveth  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 &   IS,  2. 
 II    (li,i'ici^n»r, 
 
 /.  Vs.  HI.  3, 
 
 rh.  8.  .1,  4- 
 1  Pa.  4U.  .1. 
 
 cit,   II.  2. 
 P  eh.  4.  II. 
 q  ver.  6 
 r  Acts  -.'0  SS. 
 
 Kom    :<   24. 
 
 I  Unr.  r.,.u. 
 
 6  7,  S.1 
 Kpii.  I.  7, 
 Col.  I.  II. 
 ileb.  9    i-i. 
 
 I  Pet  1  la, 
 19  -i  Pet.  5. 
 I.I  .'ohii  1 
 
 7  ch,  U.  '1. 
 s  Dan.  '1    1. 
 
 Be  i>.  -'^ 
 L-li.  7-  9.  & 
 II.  9    &  II. 
 6 
 I  Kv.  19,  6. 
 
 •J\>    tJ.  i  22, 
 
 .<  ch.  4.^.6. 
 .r  IN    &S.  17. 
 
 n;iti.  7.  IIJ. 
 
 IWj.  12.  2i. 
 .J  oil.  4,  II. 
 ;  I'hil.  2.  10. 
 
 V.  r.  3. 
 <i  1  Chr.  29. 
 
 II.  Rom.  9 
 
 a.  Rt  Iti.  27. 
 
 1  Timti.lO 
 
 1  Pet.  +.11. 
 
 hb.  II, 
 
 cli.  1.  fi. 
 b  ch.  6.  16. 
 
 &  7    10. 
 c  ch.  19.  4. 
 li  ch.  4.9,I0. 
 
 a  ch,  5.  5,  G, 
 7. 
 
 (.  cli.   1,  7, 
 
 c  Zecli   6.  3. 
 
 ch.  ly.  II. 
 ((  Vh  4J.  t,5, 
 
 I, XX, 
 «•  Zech,  11  II 
 
 ch.   1-1     II. 
 
 /ch.  l.  7 
 K  Zcch.6.  2. 
 
 h  cl).  *.  7. 
 Zech   0.  : 
 
 qiiait,  :iii(l 
 the  ttvelfth 
 part  uf  A 
 
 CHAP.   VL 
 
 1  The  opening  of  the  seals  in  order,  and  what  followed 
 thereupon,  coniaiuimj  a  ptuiphecy  to  the  end  of  the 
 world. 
 
 A  ND  "  I  saw  when  the  Lamb  opened  one  of 
 -^  the  seals,  and  I  heard,  as  it  were  the  noise 
 of  thunder,  ^'  one  of  the  four  beasts  saying, 
 Come  and  see. 
 
 2  And  I  saw,  and  behold  ""  a  white  horse: 
 "^and  be  that  sat  on  him  had  a  bow;  ^'and  a 
 crown  was  given  unto  him  :  and  he  went  forth 
 conquering,  and  to  conquer. 
 
 3  And  when  he  bad  opened  the  second  seal, 
 *"  I  hoard  the  second  beast  say,  Come  and  see. 
 
 4  ^And  there  went  out  another  horse  tliat 
 was  red  :  and  power  was  given  to  him  that  sat 
 thereon  to  take  peace  from  the  earth,  and  that 
 they  should  kill  one  another:  and  there  was 
 given  unto  him  a  great  sword. 
 
 5  And  when  he  liad  opened  tlie  third  seal, 
 *"  I  heard  the  third  beast  say,  Come  and  see, 
 And  I  beheld,  and  lo  'a  black  horse;  and  he 
 that  sat  on  him  had  a  pair  of  balances  in  his 
 hand. 
 
 e  And  I  heard  a  voice  in  the  midst  of  the 
 four  beasts  say,  ||  A  measure  of  wheat  for  a 
 penny,  and  three  measures  of  barley  for  a 
 penny  ;  and  ^  see  thou  hurt  not  the  oil  and  the 
 wine. 
 
 7  And  when  he  had  opened  the  fourth  seal, 
 ^  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  fourth  beast  say, 
 Come  and  see. 
 
 his  omnipresence,  Csee  Zech.  iii.  9;  iv.  lO.)~Wnodh.  7-  Took  the 
 bi.uk,  it  being  given  to  him,  as  chap.  i.  1,  and  a  commission  and  autho- 
 rity to  open  it,  and  make  it  manifest  (o  others.— Gj7/.  8.  Taken, 
 *  received.* — Voddr.,  Wuodh.  Harps,  being  instruments  of  music, 
 may  here  intend  the  praises  and  tlianksgivings  of  the  saints.— Gi7/. 
 Golden  vials — these  seem  to  mean  a  sort  of  patera,  basin,  or  other  open 
 vessel,  on  which  were  deposited,  before  tlie  altar,  the  offerings  of  meal 
 or  incense.  Full  of  odours,  or  *  incense.' — Woudh.  At  the  dedication 
 of  the  tabernacle,  the  twelve  elders,  or  princes,  vi  Israel,  offered  each 
 of  them  a  golden  spoonful  of  incense,  (Num.  vii.  10,  14.)  — Dnubuz. 
 Prftyers,  fyc,  ^ep^e^ented  under  the  symbol  of  incense,  Ps.  cxli.  2. — 
 Woodh.  This  denotes  that  the  prayers  of  God's  true  worshippers  are 
 acceptable  spiritual  sacrifices.— jVp«'c.  9.  A  new  song — the  suffer- 
 ings and  exaltation  of  Christ  furnished  a  subject  of  sons  unknown  to 
 former  ages. —  Wuodh.  It  was  new,  as  belonging  pecuHaily  to  Chris- 
 tians, for  they  only  worship  God  through  Christ,  the  only  Mediator. 
 ^Pyle.  Mi.^Kings   iind    priests  —  see   chap.   i.   6,    note.      Attd  we 
 
 shall  reign  on  the  earth,  '  and  we,  through  thy  favour,  merit,  and  in- 
 fluence, shall  gain  the  victory,  and  triumph  over  all  our  spiritual  ene- 
 mies, sin,  Satan,  and  the  world.' — GuiLse.  so  Mnr.  The  Christian 
 cause  siiall  prevail  through  all  ages. — Doddr.,  so  Boothr.  11.  Ten 
 thousand  times,  Sfc,  that  is,  an  innumerable  company,  {Mcb.  xii.  22.) 
 —  Woudh.  12.  To  receive  power,  ^-c— here  are  seven  words  used  to 
 express  the  praise  due  to  Christ. — Gill.  Perhaps  this  means  he  is 
 worthy   of  the    most  perfect  praise. — Ed.  13.  Every   creature — a 
 
 Hebrew  mode  of  expressing  the  whole  creation,  as  Phil.  ii.  9 — H- 
 Thus  was  represented  tlie  worship  of  the  Christian  church,  to  be  per- 
 formed towards  God  and  Jesus  Christ,  through  all  its  periods  of  time 
 on  earth. — Pyle. 
 
 Chap.  VI.— 1.  Opened  one  of  the  seats — it  is  common  to  fix  the  date 
 of  this  event  from  the  time  when  John  was  favoured  with  the  vision, 
 hut  it  would  appear  that  the  subject  of  prophecy  is  taken  up  from  tiie 
 time  of  Christ's  ascension,  or  the  setting  up  of  his  kingdom  at  Pente- 
 cost.—  W.  Jones.  The  scene  throughout  is  laid  in  heaven;  and  the 
 things  seen  were  to  pass  upim  the  earth.— A>/7A.  2.  White  horse — 
 bow — crown,  emlilematical  of  Christ,  his  victory,  triumph,  and  royalty. 
 -~Jos.  Mede,  Hales,  so  W.  Junes.  Comp.  Ps.  .\lv.  3.  The  white  horse 
 denoted  the  purity  and  peaceable  nature  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ. — 
 W.  Jones.  White  horses  were  formerly  used  in  triumphs,  in  token  of 
 victory,  and  Jews  and  Romans  accounted  the  sight  of  one  in  a  dream 
 as  a  happy  omen. — Pict.  Bib.    He  went  forth  conquering~i\Q:vex  did 
 
 the  power  of  Satan  sustain  such  a  shock  as  when  the  first  preachers 
 went  forth  to  convert  the  world.— AV(VA.  4.  Another  horse — red^ 
 this  second  seal  is  noted  for  war  and  slaughter.  It  commenced  with 
 Trajan,  and  continued  till  Commodus,  ninety-five  years. — Jus.  Mede, 
 Bp.  Newton.  The  red  horse  is  an  emblem  of  Satan  and  his  kingdom, 
 founded  in  cruelty,  blood,  and  injustice.  Power— a  great  sword,  im- 
 ports the  power  of  the  Roman  government,  put  into  his  hands  to  de- 
 stroy men's  lives.  Kill  one  a?wther,  a  breach  of  peace  among  them- 
 selves. Josephui's  Wars  of  the  Jews,  and  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem, 
 illustrate  this  period. —  IK.  Jones.  Among  other  slaughters  in  the  latter 
 end  of  the  Roman  emperor  Trajan,  the  Jews  resident  in  Egypt  and 
 Cyprus  rebelled  against  the  Romans,  (to  whom  they  were  tributary,) 
 and  are  revtoited  to  have  put  to  death  4fiO,00i>j  yet  they  were  subdued, 
 and  prodigious  numbers  slain  by  the  Romans. — Lowman.  If  one  horse 
 represent  the  Christian  religion,  another  horse  must,  in  like  manner, 
 if  there  be  any  perfect  harmony  in  the  vision,  represent  another  reli- 
 gion;  and  each  religion  must  have  its  author,  or  its  head,  as  each 
 horse  had  its  rider.  Another  religion,  of  an  opposite  nature  from  the 
 Christian,  is  here  described  ;  a  religion  to  be  propagated  by  slaughter; 
 ^^uch  was  Mahometanism. — Keith.  5.  Black  horse — hnlances — this 
 third  seal,  or  period,  is  characterized  by  the  strict  execution  of  justice 
 and  judgment,  and  by  the  procuring  of  provisions.  It  commenced 
 with  Septimus  Severus,  and  continued  forty-two  years.— Jos.  Mede, 
 Bp.  Newton.  '  Balances*  is  an  improper  translation.  The  Greek  is 
 C<'70f,  '  a  yoke,'  which  is  the  badge  or  symbol  of  slavery.  The  black 
 horse  and  rider,  with  a  yoke,  denotes  the  corruption  of  Christianity  in 
 this  period,  and  the  papal  yoke. — W.  Jones.  The  repetition  of  the 
 same  symbol  manifestly  requires  a  corresponding  similarity  in  the  na- 
 tnre  of  the  object  represented.  If  the  former  symbols  represented  two 
 religions,  this  must  al^o  denote  some  form  of  religion.  But  there  is  a 
 difference,  this  is  not  said  to  be  '  an*  ther.'  The  Roman-catholic  faith 
 is  not  professedly  another  than  the  Christian.  Blackness  is  its  fitting 
 symbol,  and  marks  its  character  as  a  religion.  The  light  of  the  gospel 
 was  hid  by  it,  ;ind  dark  superstitions  took  its  place. — Keith.  Towers 
 fixes  the  period  of  thi>  seal  as  far  onwards  as  the  invasion  of  the  Roman 
 empire  by  the  Goths  and  Vandals,  a.d.  410 — 5t)6. — Illus.  of  Proph. 
 Numerous  commentators  differ  from  each  other  in  the  illustrations  of 
 the  third  seal. —  W.Jones.  6.  .i  measnre  of  wheat  for  a  penny,  i^c. — 
 the  intent  of  this  prophecy  is,  that  com  should  be  provided  for  the 
 people,  and  distributed  in  exact  measure  and  proportion. — Bp.  Newton. 
 Wheat,  barley,  oil,  and  wine,  formed,  with  the  eastern  nations  of  an- 
 
 Rf.flections  on  Chap.  V I.  It  shoidd  fill  vx  with  un- 
 utterable joy  when  we  lift  up  our  eyes  to  thf  throne  of  Gnd,  that 
 we  there  diseem  the  La  sib  wearing  the  marks  of  slaughter.  We 
 should,  then,  gratefully  remember  bis  dying  love  ;  for  it  is 
 bis  precious  blood  which  cleanses  us  from  all  sin,  and  em- 
 boldens our  addresses  to  God,  conscious  as  we  are  that  our 
 guilt  is  attended  with  great  agi^ravations. 
 
 II.  '  With  the  prayer.^  of  the  saints,  which  come  up  hcfore  God 
 as  incense,  may  they  ever  mingle  their  most  ardent  praises  for  this 
 1347 
 
 divine  condcscetisian.  And  out  of  gratitude  to  their  Redeemer 
 let  lliem  rejoice  to  see  the  glorious  change  in  his  condition, 
 from  his  humiliation  and  suftenngs  on  earth  to  his  exaltation 
 and  reward  in  li^aven  ;  and  let  tliem  ardently  long  for  the 
 happy  season  when  the  full  choir  of  the  redeemed  "  from 
 every  nation,  and  people,  and  tongue,"  shall  unite  in  this  joy- 
 ful acclaraatioD,  "  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  to  re- 
 ceive power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom,  aud  strength,  and 
 honour,  and  glory,  and  blessing.'' '«! 
 
The  fiflh  and  sixth 
 
 REVELATION,  VI. 
 
 $cnh  opf.neil. 
 
 8  ""And  I  looked,  and  behold  a  pale  liovse  : 
 and  his  name  that  sat  on  him  was  Death,  and 
 Hell  followed  with  him.  And  power  was 
 given  II  unto  them  over  the  fourth  part  of  the 
 earth,  "  to  kill  with  sword,  and  with  hunger, 
 "and  with  death, ''and  with  tlie  beasts  of  the 
 earth. 
 
 9  And  when  he  had  opened  tlie  fifth  seal,  I 
 .<-aw  under  ^  the  altar  '  the  souls  of  them  that 
 were  slain  'for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  '  the 
 testimony  which  they  held  : 
 
 10  And  they  cried  witli  a  loud  voice,  saying, 
 "  How  long,  O  Lord,  '  holy  and  true,  '  dost 
 thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our  blood  on  them 
 that  dwell  on  the  earth  V 
 
 1 1  And  'white  robes  were  given  unto  every 
 (jiio  of  them  ;  and  it  was  said  unto  them,"  that 
 they  should  rest  yet  for  a  little  season,  until 
 their  fellow-servants  also  and  tlieir  brethren, 
 that  should  be  killed  as  they  were,  should  be 
 fulfilled. 
 
 A.  D.  96. 
 
 A.  D    EW 
 
 Ill  Zocli.  6.3, 
 
 6  ch.  16.  IS. 
 
 c  Joel  3.  10, 
 
 31.  &  3.  If.. 
 
 II  Or,  (o  Aim. 
 
 Mat.  24  29. 
 
 n  Eiek.  U. 
 
 Acts  2.  20. 
 
 A  rh.  9.   10. 
 
 oSERd    15.5 
 
 &  y.  1. 
 
 Il   (»r,  grem 
 
 J>y'- 
 
 ^Ps.  109.26. 
 
 In    34    4. 
 
 1  ch.  9.  3.  & 
 
 Heb.  1.  l"*, 
 
 9    13   &  \\. 
 
 13. 
 
 f  ch.  SO.  4. 
 
 /  Ji^r.  3.  23. 
 fc  4.  34 
 
 ch.  16.  20. 
 
 rh.  ViM.H 
 
 10.  in. 
 
 u  .See  Zech. 
 
 1.  12. 
 
 .r  rh   S.  7. 
 
 V  t:h.   11.  18. 
 
 h  Hns.  10.  fl. 
 
 ;cl..  .■!.  ■),  -^ 
 
 I.iike-i3  30. 
 
 fii  T,  9.  n 
 
 ch.  M.  6. 
 
 1  Hcb  11  4U. 
 
 ch.  14.  J3. 
 
 ila.  13  6,&o. 
 
 Zeph.  I.  14, 
 
 «n-.  ch.  Ifi. 
 
 k  Vs.  76.  7. 
 
 12  And  1  belield  wlien  he  had  opened  the 
 sixth  seal,  ^  and,  lo,  tliere  was  a  great  earth- 
 quake ;  and  *"  the  sun  became  black  as  sack- 
 cloth of  hair,  and  the  moon  became  as  blood  ; 
 
 13  "And  the  stars  of  heaven  fell  unto  the 
 earth,  even  as  a  fig  tree  casteth  her  ||  untimely 
 figs,  when  she  is  shaken  of  a  mighty  wind. 
 
 14  "And  the  heaven  departed  as  a  scrowl 
 when  it  is  rolled  together;  and  "" every  moun- 
 tain and  island  were  moved  out  of  their  places. 
 
 Ij  And  the  kings  of  the  earth,  and  the  great 
 men,  and  the  rich  men,  and  the  chief  captains, 
 and  the  mighty  men,  and  every  bondman,  and 
 every  free  man,  ^  hid  themselves  in  the  dens 
 and  in  the  rocks  of  the  mountains; 
 
 16  ■*  And  said  to  the  mountains  and  rocks. 
 Fall  on  us,  and  hide  us  from  the  face  of  him 
 that  sitteth  on  the  tin-one,  and  from  the  wrath 
 of  the  Lamb : 
 
 17  '  For  the  great  day  of  iiis  wrath  is  come  ; 
 ''  and  who  shall  be  able  to  stand  ? 
 
 tif[uity,  the  main  support  of  life.— TToorfA.  8.  Pale  fmrse— I)  eat  li- 
 the fourth  seal,  or  period,  is  distinguished  by  a  concurrence  of  evils— 
 war,  famine,  pestilence,  and  wild  beasts.  This  perind  commences  with 
 the  Emperor  Maximin,  and  continues  liU  the  time  of  Dioclesian,  about 
 fifty  year.^.  The  history  of  Maximin  and  his  successors  is  full  nf  wars, 
 murders,  invasions,  rebellions.  &c.  These  wars  produced  famine; 
 then  followed  pestilence,  which,  while  Gallus  and  Voluslan  were  em- 
 perors, pervaded  all  the  Roman  provinces,  and.  for  fifteen  years,  incre- 
 <libly  exhausted  them.  When  countries  are  depopulated,  wild  beasts 
 multiply,  and  come  into  towns  to  destroy  men  ;  and  one  special  in- 
 hiance  is  recorded  of  five  hundred  wolves  entering  a  city  which  was  de- 
 serted  by  its  inhabitants.  The  •  pale  horse'  is  very  suitable  to  the  mor- 
 tality of  this  period.— ^os.  Mede,  Bp.  Newton.  Between  the  years  193 
 and  2/0,  in  less  ilian  eighty  years,  there  were  more  than  twenty  em- 
 perors, and,  at  one  time,  thirty  pretenders  to  the  throne.  Such  a  state 
 nf  things  will  account  for  tlic  wars,  famine.  &c.— ,4.  Fuller;  same 
 view.  Gill  and  Loicnmn.  Infidelity  is  meant  by  the  pale  horse.  The 
 revulutions  and  convulsions  it  has  already  produced,  it  is  to  be  feared, 
 may  be  considered  as  the  beginning  only  of  that  work  of  death  and 
 destruction  which,  even  on  earth,  infidelity  can  do.— A'eiM.  I  under, 
 stand  this  of  spiritual  death,  or  apostasy  from  the  Christian  professinn, 
 and  object  to  all  the  literal  interpretations,  because  they  leave  the 
 church  of  Christ,  or  the  Christian  profession,  entirely  out  of  the  ques- 
 tion, thus  glaring  tlie  word  of  prophecy  a  private  interpretation. — 
 W.  Jones.  Power — to  kill,  may  denote  persecution  as  one  prominent 
 cause  of  apostasy,  thus  demonstrating  the  spiritual  death  of  multitudes  ; 
 or  the  sword  may  denote  the  sword  with  which  Christ  threatens  to  fight, 
 (ctiap.  ii.  16.)  Fourth  part,  ^c— the  greater  part  of  the  Roman  empire, 
 which  was  thought,  by  some,  to  be  about  the  fourth  part  of  the  world 
 then  known.— Jos.  Mede.  //w7)/fer.  may  denote  the  scarcity  nf  the  word 
 ot  God,  from  a  want  of  spiritual  pastors.  Death, '  to  be  carnally  minded 
 is  death;*  this  is  meant.  Betists,  false  teachers-,  '  giievnus  wolves, • 
 (see  Paul's  address  to  the  church  at  Ephcsus.  and  John,  x.) — \V.  .Imi.  s. 
 g.  Under  the  u.'t'tr,  ^c.  —  the  scene  here,  like  several  others  in  this 
 book,  is  evidently  borrowed  from  the  Jewish  temple.  It  presents  us 
 with  the  altar  of  burnt-offerings,  which  stood  just  within  the  entrance 
 to  the  court .  Hut  instead  of  the  appointed  sacrifice:,  heboid  it  streams 
 with  human  blood!  and  instead  nf  the  bones  of  those  legal  victims, 
 behold,  the  souh  of  the  martyrs— who  had  been  sacrificed,  not,  indeed, 
 to  God,  but  for  his  cause,  victims  tn  Jewish  and  pagan  cruelty — lie  cry- 
 ing imder  the  altar!— U')7.  Descriptive  of  a  dreadiul  persecution  of 
 the  Christians,  and  marking  the  fifth  seal,  or  period.— Bp.  Newton. 
 So  persecution  of  the  Christians  was  so  great  as  that  which  had  its 
 name  from  the  EmpercT  Dioclesian,  a.d.  2S1.  It  began  with  the 
 slaughter  of  17,000  within  thirty  days;  and  in  Egypt  alone,  a  very 
 small  part  of  the  Roman  empire,  144,000  were  put  to  death.— Nede, 
 Daubuz.  10.  How  long,  fyc,  expiesscs  the  extreme  cruelty  of  the 
 persecutors. — Jos.  Mede.  It  is  suppnscd,  by  some,  tliat  this  cry  pro- 
 ceeded from  the  souls  of  those  who  had  been  slain  under  nine  of  the 
 persecutions  inflicted  by  the  pacnn  Roman  government,  and  that  they 
 bad  only  to  wait  the  completitMi  of  their  number  under  the  tenth, 
 winch  being  accomplished,  God  would  avenge  their  injured  cause,  by 
 llie  destruction  of  heatlienlsm  in  the  empire,  which  accordingly  took 
 place.  If  tills  be  the  view,  then  the  opening  of  this  seal  would  refer 
 to  about  the  year  270,  when  the  terrible  persecution  broke  out  which 
 hefel  the  churches  under  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Decius.  The  pro- 
 Jessed  and  avowed  object  of  that  persecution  was  nothing  less  than 
 the  utter  extirpation  of  Christianity,  name  and  thing,  from  the  earth, 
 t  ithers,  however,  date  the  opening  of  this  fifth  seal  posterior  to  the  tenth 
 (persecution,  which  took  place  under  the  Emperor  Dioclesian,  about 
 fifty  years  aJftenvarUs,  A.D.  303;  and  so  they  understood  what  is  said 
 
 respecting  their  *  fellow- ser\'ants  and  their  brethren  who  were  killed,' 
 as  they  had  been,  to  look  forwards  to  the  persecutions  which  were  to 
 be  renewed  under  Rome  papal,  or  antichrist.  If  this  last  be  the  correct 
 view  of  the  answer  returned  to  the  appeal  of  the  martyrs,  then  the 
 period  of  time  occupied  by  the  seal  must  be  taken  from  the  death  of 
 Christ,  the  first  Christian  martyr,  to  the  great  day  of  recompence, 
 when  the  noble  anny  of  martyrs  will  be  completed,  and  their  injured 
 cause  avenged.— VI'.  JonpA-.  11.  White  rohes,   .V.— they  were  ad- 
 
 mitted to  the  ranks  of  the  blessed.  The  metaphor  is  taken  from  the 
 custom  of  the  Jews  in  admitting  the  priests  to  their  office ;  they  were 
 so  clothed  and  received  into  the  court  of  the  priests.— Jos.  Mede.  See 
 Rev.  iv.  4,  note.  Rest,  wait  till  the  glorious  number  of  mart>Ts  should 
 be  fulfilled,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  persecution,  and  then  the  divine 
 judgments  should  fall  on  their  adversaries.— P///e.  12.  A  great  earth- 
 quake, great  changes  and  revolutions  during  the  sLxth  period.  This 
 may,  with  propriety,  be  applied  to  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  me- 
 morable revolutions  which  ever  were  in  the  world— the  subversion  of 
 the  heathen  reUginn,  and  establishment  of  the  Christian,  which  was 
 begun  by  Constantine  the  Great,  and  was  completed  by  his  successors. 
 — Rp.  Newton.  Comp.  Hag.  ii.  6,  21.  Almost  all  commentators  con- 
 sider the  sixth  seal  as  representing  the  downfall  of  heathenism  in  the 
 Roman  empire.  The  great  earthquake  evidently  imports  a  mighty 
 change  in  the  'ecclesiastical  polity'  of  the  Roman  empire,  consisting 
 in  the  total  overthrow  of  that  heathenish  persecuting  power  which  had 
 recently  tleluged  the  earth  with  the  blood  of  the  saints  and  mart^-rs. 
 This  stupendous  event  was  brought  about  by  the  arms  of  Constantine. 
 —  IV.  Jones.  To  a  mind  not  warped  by  theory,  the  opening  of  the  sLxth 
 seal  discloses  to  the  eye  of  faith  a  mightier  event  than  the  conversion 
 of  Constantine.  or  the  subversion  of  paganism.  The  opening  of  the 
 sixth  seal  is  the  great  day  of  the  ■wrath  of  the  Lamb.— A'ftV/i.  Sun — 
 moon.  13.  Stnrs—'  the  sun'  in  the  empire  must  be  the  chief  ruler,  or 
 supreme  power  ;  *  the  moon  and  stars'  must  be  delegated  authorities  ; 
 *  the  heavens'  denote  the  church  or  state  ;  '  mountains  and  islands' 
 are  great  and  little  kingdoms  ;  '  the  stars'  denote  the  ministers  of 
 church  or  state.  These,  therefore,  comprehend  not  only  the  ministers 
 of  state,  but  also  the  entire  body  of  priests,  augurs,  vestals,  and  other 
 public  officers  who  ministered  at  the  altars  of  the  heathen  deities,  or 
 were  any  way  engaged,  by  their  official  station,  in  celebration  of  the 
 rites  of  divination,  or  pagan  worship.  When  these  ministers  of  the 
 fabulous  deities  of  paganism  were  degraded  from  their  rank,  and 
 stripped  of  all  their  emoluments ;  wlien  they  were  not  only  restrained 
 in  their  ministrations,  but  their  very  names  and  orders  were  abolished  ; 
 the  stars  of  that  system  might,  with  great  propriety,  be  said  to  fall  to 
 the  earth.  Eren  as  a  fig  tree— to  appreciate  the  force  of  the  figure,  ob- 
 serve, that  when  the  fruit  of  this  tree  is  fully  ripe,  it  falls  of  its  own 
 weight;  but  such  is  the  tenacity  of  the  stem,  that,  before  the  fruit  is 
 ripe,  it  requires  *  the  shaking  of  a  mighty  wind' to  make  it  quit  its  hold. 
 The  dispossession  of  the  pagan  priests  and  public  functionaries  be- 
 longing to  the  heathen  Roman  government  would  be  as  when  unripe 
 fruit  is  shaken  off  by  means  of  a  boisterous  wind.  14.  Heaven,  the 
 entire  system  of  the  ecclesiastical  state, —  U'.  Jones.  Mountain  — 
 fs/'inrf— places  of  the  greatest  security  in  times  of  danger  and  hostile 
 invasion,  and  therefore  represented  as  aiTording  no  safety  during  this 
 dreadful  visitation.— U'oorf/i.  15.  And  the  kings,  §c.,the  powers  and 
 subjects  of  pagan  idolatry  own  themselves  overcome  by  the  Christian 
 religion. — Dtiuhuz.  ifi.  And  said  to  the  mountains  and  rocks,  fyc, 
 i.e.,  they  apply  themselves  to  worldly  means,  to  worldly  helps  and 
 powers.— Cucj//,  Wrath  0/  the  Lamb— the  expression  marks  the  hope- 
 less condition  of  the  incorrigible  enemies  of  Christ  and  his  church  ;  for 
 if  the  Lamb  of  God,  the  only  Saviour  of  men,  be  their  adversary,  des- 
 perate indeed  must  their  case  be  ! — W.  Jones. 
 
 Kem.ections  on  Chap.  VI.  —  After  reading  this  awful 
 and  instructive  chapter,  let  us  meditate — I.  On  the  persecuted. 
 *  Let  lis  not  form  a  hasty  and  inconsiderate  judgment  on  their 
 condition.     The  dead  who  "  die  in  the  Lord,"  and  those  who 
 
 have  been  persecuted  to  death  for  bis  sake,  and  in  his  cause, 
 are  incomparably  more  happy  than  those  who  are  the  happiest 
 among  the  living.  The  while  robes  and  golden  crowns  with 
 which  ihey  are  adorned  are  an  abundant  compensation,  not 
 
The  number  of  them  that  icere  sealed. 
 
 REVELATION,  VII. 
 
 The  multitude  of  the  redeemed. 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 3  An  angel  spahth  the  servants  of  God  in  their  fure- 
 htuds.  4  The  nmnbrr  of  them  that  ivere  sealed  :  of 
 the  tribes  of  Israel  a  certain  number.  9  Of  nil  other 
 nations  an  innumerable  nudtitnde,  which  staiid  before 
 the  throne,  clad  in  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their 
 hands.  14  Their  rubes  were  washed  in  the  blood  of 
 the  Lamb. 
 
 A  ND  after  these  things  I  saw  four  angels 
 -^~*-  stamiing  on  the  four  corners  of  the  earth, 
 ^  holding  the  four  winds  of  the  earth,  ^  that  the 
 wind  should  not  blow  on  the  earth,  nor  on  the 
 sea,  nor  on  any  tree. 
 
 2  And  I  saw  another  angel  ascending  from 
 the  east,  having  the  seal  of  the  living  God : 
 and  he  cried  with  a  loud  voice  to  tlie  four 
 angels,  lo  whom  it  was  given  to  hurt  the  earth 
 and  the  sea, 
 
 3  Saying,  *^  Hurt  not  the  earth,  neither  the 
 sea,  nor  the  trees,  till  we  have  ''sealed  the 
 servants  of  our  God  "in  their  foreheads. 
 
 4  ^  And  I  heard  the  number  of  tiiem  which 
 were  sealed  :  and  there  ivere  sealed  ^an  hun- 
 dred and  forty  and  four  thousand  of  all  the 
 tribes  of  the  children  of  Israel. 
 
 5  Of  the  tribe  of  Juda  were  sealed  twelve 
 thousand.     Of  the  tribe  of  Reuben  were  sealed 
 
 I     A.  D.  96. 
 
 a  Dan.  7.  'I 
 
 h  c\\.  9.  1. 
 
 c  cli.  6.  0.  h. 
 
 0.  4. 
 d  Eiek  9.4. 
 
 ch.  14.  I. 
 e  .-h.  22.  4, 
 /ch.  <*.  16. 
 S  cli.   14.   I. 
 
 h  ch.  S,5,I8, 
 S>  4.  4.  ^  6 
 
 H.  v«r.  U. 
 
 i  Ps.  ■■».  8. 
 
 !s   4S.  II. 
 
 .ler.  .S    'lA. 
 
 flos.  1.1.4. 
 
 ch     19.  1. 
 m  <-h.  5    13. 
 >i  ch.  4,  6. 
 
 twelve  thousand.     Of  the  tribe  of  Gad  were 
 sealed  twelve  thousand. 
 
 6  Of  the  tribe  of  Aser  were  sealed  twelve 
 thousand.  Of  the  tribe  of  Nepthalim  were 
 sealed  twelve  thousand.  Of  the  tribe  of  Ma- 
 nasses  were  sealed  twelve  thousand. 
 
 7  Of  the  tribe  of  Simeon  were  sealed  twelve 
 thousand.  Of  the  tribe  of  Levi  were  sealed 
 twelve  thousand.  Of  the  tribe  of  Issachar 
 itere  sealed  twelve  thousand. 
 
 8  Of  the  tribe  of  Zabulon  icere  sealed  twelve 
 thousand.  Of  the  tribe  of  Joseph  ii?e/-^  sealed 
 twelve  thousand.  Of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin 
 ivere  sealed  twelve  thousand. 
 
 9  After  this  I  beheld,  and,  lo,  ''a  great  mul- 
 titude, which  no  man  could  number,  'of  all 
 nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues, 
 stood  before  the  throne,  and  before  the  Lamb, 
 '' cfotbed  with  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their 
 hands  ; 
 
 10  And  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying, 
 'Salvation  to  our  God  '"which  sitteth  upon 
 the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb. 
 
 11  "And  all  the  angels  stood  round  about 
 the  throne,  and  about  the  elders  and  the  four 
 beasts,  and  fell  before  tlie  throne  on  their 
 faces,  and  worshipped  God, 
 
 Chap.  VII. — 1.  After  these  things  I  saw,  fyr. — to  complete  the  outline 
 of  the  religious  state  of  the  world  as  connected  with  Cliristianity  is  the 
 purpose  of  this  vision,  descriptive  of  the  partial  and  simultaneous  con- 
 version of  many  of  the  Jews  and  Israelites,  for  which  the  universal  war 
 is  on  every  side  suspended  or  delayed  previous  to  the  last  great  catas- 
 trophe, which  shall  decide  the  fate  of  the  world  and  the  triumph  of  the 
 church.  The  first  si.>c  seals  seem  to  give  a  representation,  in  a  g'eneral 
 view,  of  the  church  of  Christ,  and  of  the  various  forms  of  false  faith  by 
 which  it  was  to  be  assailed,  till  the  great  day  of  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb. 
 And  the  vision  introduced  previous  to  the  opening;  of  the  seventh  seal 
 terminates  in  the  still  further  prospect  of  the  blessedness  of  the  saints, 
 when  '  the  Lamb  shall  lead  them,'  &c. — Keith.  This  chapter  contains 
 a  vision  seen  at  the  end  of  the  sLsth,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  seventh 
 seal,  which  expresses  the  security'  of  the  saints  in  all  ages  following-, 
 the  praises  of  angels  and  men  on  that  account,  and  the  happiness  of  all 
 the  people  of  God  in  the  millennium  state. — GUI.  See  objection  to  this 
 view  on  ver.  15.  Four  corners,  mean  the  whole  earth,  {Isa.  xi.  12; 
 Ezek.  vii.  2.) — Woodh.  Holding  the  fmir  winds — winds  are  emblems  of 
 commotions,  a  figurative  expression,  to  shew  that  God  designed  to  put 
 a  stop  to  the  preceding  commotions  in  the  world. — Lawman.  This 
 may  apply  to  the  universal  peace  in  the  time  of  Constantine. — Dnubuz. 
 By  '  withholding  the  four  winds,'  Jonf.t  understands  the  '  withholding 
 of  the  induences  of  the  Spirit,'  in  consequence  of  which  a  form  of  godli- 
 ness prevailed,  \vithout  its  vital  power. — Lectures  on  the  Apoc.  How 
 can  Jones  reconcile  this  view  with  his  Commentary,  'holding  for  a 
 season  the  fovu-  winds,  and  restraining  their  mischievous  impetuosity'  ? 
 Had  the  writer  for  a  moment  reflected  on  these  words,  he  never  would 
 have  used  them,  for  he  must  have  seen  that  he  had  no  right  apprehen- 
 sion of  the  symbol,  which  certainly  denotes  tlie  storm  which  had  com- 
 menced in  the  earthquake. — Do".  2.  Angel— aii  angel,  in  prophetic 
 style,  expresses  everything  that  brings  a  message  from  God,  or  executes 
 his  will,  as  a  prophetic  dream,  a  pillar  of  fire,  i^-c. — Lowman.  From 
 the  east — omens  from  the  esist  were  esteemed  prosperous. — Newcome. 
 The  seal,  fyc. — as  seals  were  in  use  with  ancient  nations  to  secure  pos- 
 sessions, each  person  having  his  peculiar  mark,  by  which  he  ascer- 
 tained the  property  to  be  his  own  ;  hence  '  the  seal  of  God'  affords  his 
 mark  by  which  he  knoweth  them  that  are  his. — Woodh.  By  this 
 'angel,'  understand  the  uncreated  angel  of  the  covenant,  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  from  Judea,  the  east,  the  place  of  the  rising  sun,  and  who 
 brought  life  and  joy  to  his  people.  By  '  the  seal,*  understand  his  hav- 
 ing  the  impress  of  deity  upon  him.  Loud  rnice,  expresses  power  and 
 authority.  Hurt,  ^c— it  has  been  much  doubted  what  particular  judg- 
 ments are  meant  by  these  figurative  terms,  hut  all  agree  that  some 
 dismal  calamity  is  uitended,  from  which  these  who  were  sealed  were  to 
 escape.— S/an A.        3.  Sealed  the  servants,  denotes  the  hiding  and  con- 
 
 cealing, and  so  securing  the  saints  amidst  all  the  calamities  of  the  em- 
 pire, and  throughout  the  whole  time  of  the  Romish  apostasy. — Gill,  so 
 Guyse.  An  expression  in  allusion  to  the  ancient  custom  of  marking 
 servants  in  their  foreheads  to  distinguish  what  they  were  and  to  whom 
 they  belonged.  Baptism  being  the  seal  or  sign,  mark  and  character, 
 of  the  Lord,  the  seal  at  this  juncture  must  imply  that  many  converts 
 should  be  baptized  and  make  an  open  profession. — Bp.  Newton.  The 
 sealing  alludes  to  a  tradition  of  the  Jews,  that  upon  the  day  of  expia- 
 tion all  the  ))eople  are  sealed  up  In  the  bonks  of  life  and  death ;  for  the 
 Jews,  in  their  Talmud,  tell  us,  that  in  the  beginning  of  every  new 
 year,  or  first  day  of  the  month  Tisri,  the  seventh  month  of  the  sacred 
 year,  three  books  are  opened  in  judgment ;  the  book  of  life,  in  which 
 the  names  of  those  are  written  who  are  perfectly  just ;  the  book 
 of  death,  in  which  the  names  of  those  are  written  who  are  athe- 
 ists, or  very  wicked  ;  and  a  third  book,  of  those  whose  Judgment 
 is  suspended  till  the  day  of  expiation,  and  whose  names  are  not 
 \%Titten  in  the  book  of  life  or  death  before  that  day.  The  first  ten 
 days  of  this  month  they  call  the  penitential  days ;  and  all  these  days 
 they  fast  and  pray,  and  are  very  devout,  that  on  the  tenth  day  their 
 sins  may  be  remitted,  and  their  names  may  be  written  in  the  book 
 of  life :  which  day  is  therefore  called  '  the  day  of  expiation.'  And 
 upon  this  tenth  day,  in  returning  home  from  their  synagogues, 
 they  say  to  one  another,  '  God  the  Creator  seal  you  to  a  good  year  ;* 
 for  they  conceive  that  the  books  are  now  sealed  up,  and  that  the 
 sentence  of  God  remains  unchanged  to  the  end  of  the  year.  —  Sir 
 I.  Newton.  The  servants  of  God  were  sealed  to  distinguish  them 
 from  those  who  received  not  the  truth,  but  had  pleasure  in  unrighte- 
 ousness, and  to  secure  and  presen'e  them  from  the  condenniation  that 
 was  coming  upon  the  profession  or  outward  state  of  Christianity  in  the 
 world.  Of  such  Paul  says,  '  They  are  sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemp- 
 tion.'—  W.  Jones.  4.  Sealed  an  hundred,  ^c. — as  the  church  of  Christ 
 was  first  formed  out  of  the  Jewish,  so  here,  ver.  4 — 8,  the  spiritual 
 Israel  is  first  mentioned ;  and  the  number  of  the  thousands  of  Israel 
 (144,(i00j  is  that  of  the  twelve  patriarchs  multiplied  by  the  twelve 
 apostles,  which  we  shall  find  to  be  a  sacred  number  throughout  the 
 Revelation. — Bp.  Newton.  As  the  head  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  the 
 Jewish  nation  represented  the  whole  body  of  the  Jewish  people,  so 
 these  good  and  faithful  Christians  are  here  st>'led  the  true  Israel  of 
 God.  The  number  mentioned  is  not  intended  to  signify  an  exact 
 number,  but  that  it  was  considerable.— f*y/e.  g.  Lo,  a  great  multi- 
 tude, ^-c— the  144,000  of  the  sealed,  the  flrstfruits  to  Christ,  having  led 
 the  way,  the  Gentiles,  afterwards  converted,  follow,  are  incorporated 
 with  them,  and  are  presented  before  the  throne,  clothed  with  white 
 robes,  washed  piu*e  from  their  sins,  and  bearing  palms  in  their  hands, 
 the  signals  of  joy,  and  festivity,  and  victory.         ll,  12.  And  all  the 
 
 only  for  every  lighter  suffering,  but  even  for  the  slow  fire  and 
 the  rack,  those  most  dreadful  instruments  of  torture.*  Let  us 
 meditate — 
 
 II.  '  On  the  persecutors.  Though  these  may  exult  over  the 
 saints  for  awhile,  yet  "  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked  is  for  a 
 short  time  ","  their  guilty  spirits  will  soon  be  summoned  before 
 the  great  "  Aveneer  of  blood,"  and  the  day  is  coming  when 
 they  shall  be  publicly  brought  forth  to  suffer  the  utmost  de- 
 mands of  his  justice  ;  even  that  day  when  all  the  figurative 
 descriptions  here  used  shall  be  fully  answered  in  their  literal 
 meaning.  It  is  no  wonder  that  ungodly  sinners  fly  from  this 
 alarming  and  tremendous  scene  with  wild  consternation  and 
 1349 
 
 confusion;  no  wonder  tliat  they  rend  the  very  heavens  with 
 their  cries,  and  call  upon  the  mountains  to  fall  on  them,  and 
 the  rocks  to  cover  them  ;  for,  oh  !  what  were  the  sudden  and 
 irresistible  crush  of  a  rock  or  a  mountain,  when  compared 
 with  the  weight  of  tbe  wrath  of  the  Lamb,  and  with  the  fire 
 and  brimstone  of  the  "  second  death  !"  O  that,  by  the  ex- 
 pectation of  this  awful  day,  men  of  all  ranks  and  conditions 
 may  be  influenced  to  make  their  application  to  him,  while  he 
 yet  appears  in  the  displays  of  his  grace  and  mercy  ;  to  '*  kiss 
 the  Son,  lest  he  be  angry,  and  they  perish  from  the  way,"  even 
 when  his  wrath  is  only  beginning  to  be  kindled.*  ^ 
 
'J'he  apparel  of  God's  servants. 
 
 REVELATION,  VIII. 
 
 The  opening  of  the  seventh  seal. 
 
 12  "Saying,  Amen:  Blessini;,  and  glory,  and 
 wisdom,  and  thanlcsi^iving,  and  honour,  and 
 power,  and  might,  be  unto  our  God  for  ever 
 and  ever.     Amen. 
 
 13  And  one  of  the  elders  answered,  saying 
 unto  me.  What  are  these  which  are  arrayed  in 
 '' white  robes?  and  whence  came  they? 
 
 14  And  I  said  unto  him.  Sir,  thou  knowest. 
 And  he  said  to  me,  ''  These  are  they  which 
 came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and  liave  '  wash- 
 ed their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the 
 blood  of  the  Lamb. 
 
 15  Therefore  are  they  before  the  throne  of 
 God,  and  serve  him  day  and  night  in  his 
 temple :  and  he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne 
 shall  'dwell  among  them. 
 
 IG  'They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither 
 thirst  any  more  ;  "  neither  shall  the  sun  l^ght 
 on  them,  nor  any  heat. 
 
 17  For  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of 
 the  throne  "  shall  feed  them,  and  shall  lead 
 them  unto  living  fountains  of  waters  :  ''and 
 God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes. 
 
 A-  D.  96. 
 o  ch   5.  13, 
 
 g  cb.  I>.  9. 
 17.  G. 
 
 t  la.  I.  I«. 
 Heb.  9  1 
 1  John  I 
 ch.  l.&.  S 
 Zech. 3  : 
 4,  S. 
 
 /  l3.  49.  lU. 
 i<  Pi.  121.  6 
 
 V  I-.  25.  9, 
 ch.  21.  '1. 
 
 h  Tob.  12.15. 
 
 M.-,t.  Ifl.  10. 
 
 Luke  I.  19. 
 c  2  Chr.  29. 
 
 25-28. 
 
 I  Or,  flrfd 
 
 it  !•!  Ihe 
 
 jtrai/m 
 J  ch.  5.  8. 
 ■  Ex.  MO.  I. 
 
 ch.  13,  9. 
 /Th.  1*1.  2. 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 I  At  the  opening  of  ihe  seventh  seal.,  2  seven  angels  had 
 seven  trumptts  given  them.  6  Four  oj' them  sound 
 their  trumpets^  and  greut  phigues  follow.  3  Another 
 angel  putteth  incense  to  the  prayers  of  the  saints  on 
 the  golden  altar, 
 
 A  ND  ■*  when  he  had  opened  the  seventh 
 ■^^  seal,  there  was  silence  in  heaven  about 
 the  space  of  half  an  honr. 
 
 2  ^  And  I  saw  the  seven  anjrels  which  stood 
 before  God  ;  *^  and  to  them  were  given  seven 
 trumpets. 
 
 3  And  another  angel  came  and  stood  at  the 
 altar,  havinjj;  a  golden  censer ;  and  there  was 
 given  unto  him  much  incense,  that  he  should 
 
 II  offer  it  witii  ''  the  prayers  of  all  saints  upon 
 ^  the  golden  altar  which  w^as  before  the  throne. 
 
 4  And  *"  the  smoke  of  the  incense,  ivhich 
 came  with  the  prayers  of  the  saints,  ascended 
 up  before  God  out  of  the  angel's  hand. 
 
 5  And  the  angel  took  the  censer,  and  filled 
 it  with  fire  of  the  altar,  and  cast  it  \\  into  the 
 
 angels,  fyc. — the  heavenly  angels  close  around  them,  and,  rejoicing'  at 
 their  redemption,  unite  in  a  chorus  of  praise.— TPoorfA.  13.  H'hnt 
 are  these  ? — the  question  is  only  asked  to  excite  attention. —  Dauhuz. 
 15.  Therefore,  f^c. — this  is  a  figurative  description  of  the  future  happi- 
 ness of  this  redeemed  multitude. — Wtmdb.  The  whole  of  this  vision 
 respects  the  mcllennium  state,  or  thou  sand -years*  reign  of  Clirist  with 
 the  saints  on  earth.  The  throne  of  God  will  be  in  the  midst  of  the 
 New-Jerusalem  church.  The  churches  and  the  ministers  will  be 
 guarded  by  ministering  spirits,  ai\d  celebrate  the  pertections  of  the 
 divine  nature,  and  give  God  the  glory  of  all  his  works. — So  OUl.  It 
 excites  our  svirprise  that  any  should  apply  all  this  to  a  niillenniaJ  state, 
 for  there  is  a  great  beaut>",  propriety',  and  force  to  be  perceived  in  it 
 when  taken  iu  its  obvious  and  plain  sense,  as  drawing  aside  the  cur- 
 tain, if  we  may  so  speak,  and  furnishing  the  church  mditant  with  a 
 Anew  of  the  state  of  things  in  heaven,  inviting  them  to  look  within  the 
 veil,  Ac. — W .  .Jones;  so  also  Loirrnan,  Giit/se,  and  Bnnthr.  This  scene 
 is  in  the  most  holy  place  ;  and  it  is  delightful  to  observe,  that  though 
 the  apostasy  of  the  church  forms  the  chief  visions  of  the  Revelation  to 
 John,  yet  we  are  assured  of  the  salvation  of  an  iimumcrabie  multitude. 
 This  part  of  the  vision  is  most  seasonably  introduced  to  encourage  the 
 faithful  to  confess  Christ,  during  the  apparent  triumph  of  the  man  of 
 sin. — Dfi>\  1".  Living  foil  nffiins— a  spring,  in  the  Hebrew  phrase- 
 
 ology, is  termed  '  living  water,'  because  constantly  boiling  up  and  run- 
 ning on.  By  these  perpetual  fountains  we  are  to  understand  endless 
 sources  of  comfort  and  happiness,  which  Jesus  Christ  will  open  out  of 
 his  own  infinite  plenitude  to  all  glorified  souls. — A.  Clarke. 
 
 Chap.  VIII.  —  i.  TAe  se?>enM  se/i/,  this  is  of  much  longer  duration, 
 and  comprehends  many  more  events,  than  any  of  the  former  seals.  It 
 comprehends,  indeed,  seven  periods,  distinguished  by  the  sounding  of 
 seven  trumpets. — Up.  Newton.  Silence  in  heaven,  understand  that 
 peace  and  rest  which  the  church  enjoyed  upon  Constantine's  having 
 defeated  all  his  enemies.  Half  nn  hour,  '  a  little  while.'  for  in  a  short 
 time  Hie  Arian  heresy  broke  out.  The  allusion  is,  as  in  the  whole  of 
 the  following  vision  of  the  angel  at  the  altar,  to  the  offering  of  the  in- 
 cense ;  at  which  time  the  people  were  removed  from  the  temple,  from 
 between  the  porch  and  altar,  to  sonic  more  distant  place,  and  the  priest 
 was  alone  wliile  he  offered  incmse,  and  then  prayed  a  short  prayer 
 that  the  people  might  not  be  affrighted  lest  he  should  he  dead. — GUI. 
 In  the  present  instance,  the  silence  takes  place,  not  during,  but  before 
 the  time  of  incense, — before  the  angel  takes  his  station  at  the  altar, 
 fver.  3.)  Hence  the  supposed  allusion  fails;  the  silence,  however, 
 evidently  means  a  solemn  pause  in  the  bustle  of  human  affairs;  and 
 after  a  period  of  about  three  hundred  years'  almost  incessant  persecu- 
 tion, i.  e..  during  the  space  of  time  occupied  by  the  first  six  seals,  the 
 clmrcli  certainly  enjoyed  a  season  of  rc-t. —  W.Jones.  This  expression 
 may  indicate  the  state  of  mind  of  the  true  church,  when  paganism  was 
 destroyed,  and  nominal  Christianity  exalted  to  its  [dace.    Astonished 
 
 at  the  events,  and  not  knowing  to  what  they  tended,  they  quietlycom- 
 mitted  their  cause  to  (iod.  To  be  assured  that  the  high  priest  received 
 their  prayers,  and  offered  them  with  odours  of  a  sweet  smell, — those 
 arising  from  his  own  sacrifice,  (Eph.  v.  2.)  could  not  but  refresh  their 
 spirits;  and  this  is  the  consolation  imparted  by  the  scene  before  us. — 
 iMv.  2.  Seven  trumprt.s— the  seals  foretold  the  state  of  the  Roman 
 empire  till  it  became  Christian,  and  of  the  church  till  its  civil  establish- 
 ment ;  the  trumpets  forctel  the  state  of  Rome,  and  of  the  church  after- 
 ward.— Xewc.  The  seventh  seal  is  manifestly  of  a  different  character 
 from  all  the  former;  and,  if  we  mistake  not  greatly,  the  order  is,  not 
 that  all  the  seals  describe  events  that,  according  to  human  canons  of 
 interpretation,  must  necessarily  follow  in  the  same  order,  but  that  the 
 spiritual  state  of  the  world  was  described  previous  to  the  political ;  the 
 outline  of  the  former  is  contained  in  the  first  six  seals,  and  the  seventh 
 seal,  under  the  seven  trumpets,  begins  to  open  up  the  latter. — Keith. 
 3.  Stood  (it  the  altar,  it  is  afterwards  called  '  the  golden  altar  which 
 was  before  the  throne.'  Upon  this  altar,  standing  before  the  mercy- 
 seat,  (the  local  seat  of  the  Divine  glory  in  the  temple,)  was  to  be  of- 
 fered no  strange  incense,  (Exod.  xxs.  9. 38,)  or  strange  fire,  (Lev.  x.  1  ;) 
 and  by  no  strange  priest'*,  (Num.  xvi. ;)  but  incense,  offered  thereon 
 by  the  legal  pric-ts,  was  as  an  atonement  for  the  people,  (Num.  xvi.  46,) 
 who  accompanied  this  offering-  by  their  prayers.  For  it  was  the  cus- 
 tom of  the  devout  people  to  offer  up  their  prayers  in  the  court  of  the 
 temple,  while  the  priest  was  burning  incense  within,  (see  Luke,  i.  9, 
 10,  -Jl.)  This  angel  may  he  supposed  to  represent  the  Christian  priest- 
 hood in  general,  as  exercised  in  subordination  to  the  great  high  priest. 
 -Woodh.  Christ  himself,  the  angel  of  God's  presence,  is  here  in- 
 tended.—G///,  W.  .I'inea.  Previous  to  the  ninety-sixth  year  of  the 
 Christian' era,  a  torrent  of  disorders  had  muUiphed  under  the  long 
 tyranny  of  the  Emperor  Domitian.  But  tlie  period  immediately  sub- 
 sequent to  that  time  was  marked  by  *  the  happiness  of  the  Romans,' 
 which,  together  with  its  transitory  nature,  is  described  by  Gibbon, 
 Hist.  vol.  i.  pp.  12G,  127,  chap.  3.  As  the  time  immediately  subse- 
 quent  to  the  writing  of  the  apocalypse  was  peculiarly  distinguished,  in 
 the  history  of  the  world,  for  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  the  human 
 race,  so  the  first  ages  of  the  church,  while  pure  and  primitive  Chris- 
 tianity prevailed,  were  not  less  distinguished,  above  all  others,  for  the 
 holy  lives  of  the  believers  in  Jesus.  And  if  the  peace  and  happiness, 
 of  a  transitory  nature,  which  then  extended  over  the  Roman  empire, 
 were  significantly  symbolized  by  the  silence  in  heaven,  so  also  did  the 
 piety  of  Christians  give  as  unwonted  a  token  from  the  sons  of  men  of 
 *  much  incense  oft'ercd,'  &c. — Keith.  4.  And  the  smolce  of  the  in- 
 eense,  alluding  to  the  incense  the  priest  took  in  his  hand,  and  cast  upon 
 the  burning  coals  ;  and  shews  how  that  by  the  smoke  of  the  incense, 
 or  the  virtue  of  Christ's  mediation,  the  imperfections  of  the  prayers 
 of  the  saints  are  covered,  perfumed,  and  made  acceptable  to  God. 
 5.  Fire— cast  it  info  the  earth,— cast  the  fire,  not  the  censer. — W.Jones. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  VII.  —  I.  Let  us  rejoice  in  the  num- 
 ber of  the  redeemed.  The  final  triumphs  of  Christ  shall  be  such 
 that  *  he  shall  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul  and  he  satisfied.^ 
 The  number  of  the  trophies  of  his  grace  no  man  shall  be  able 
 In  number.  God's  hidden  ones  have  been  numerous  in  all  ages. 
 Many  a  precious  gem  has  been  concealed  from  the  world  in 
 the  deepest  obscurity.  Many  thousands,  unknown  to  us,  have 
 not  bowed  the  knee  to  Baal.  What  a  host  is  there  of  re- 
 deemed infants,  who  shall  never  be  condemned  for  their 
 works  !  and  what  a  mighty  mass  &hali  be  added  to  all  these, 
 when  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom  shall  be  preached,  in  a  yet 
 more  extensive  sense  than  it  ever  has  been,  to  all  nations,  and 
 all  nations  shall  call  the  Redeemer  blessed!  0,  may  the 
 whole  eartli  soon  be  filled  with  his  glory! 
 
 II.  Let  us  remember  that  the  glory  of  our  salvation  is  to  he 
 nsrribtd  entirely  to  the  sovereign  grace  of  God  throwih  Christ. 
 This  is  the  song  of  the  church  in  heaven,  and  must  be  the 
 1.050 
 
 song  of  the  true  church  on  earth.  They  strike  no  jarring  notes 
 on  this  subject,  or  their  final  junction  would  cause  discord  in 
 heaven.  Sweetly  shall  all  the  multitude  of  the  redeeined 
 blend  their  hearts  in  this  one  song — '  Salvation  to  our  God 
 which  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb  !' 
 
 III.  Lei  vs  anticipate,  by  faith  and  hnj»\  the  state  affinal 
 blessedness.  It  is  a  state  of  worsliip  where  we  shall  never  be 
 weary,  and  where  the  assembly  shall  never  break  up.  It 
 is  a  state  of  nearness  to  God,  where  no  cloud  shall  shut  out  his 
 presence.  It  is  a  state  of  satisfaction  wljere  the  ^oul  shall 
 never  again  find  an  *  empty  void,*  for  the  eternal  God  himself 
 shall  amply  fill  it  with  all  the  happiness  which  is  suited  to  its 
 nature,  and  which  it  can  desire, — where  it  shall  never  again  be 
 tried  by  fiery  persecutions  and  temptations,— where  bliss  shall 
 flow  from  the  fountain  of  bliss  as  a  perennial  stream,  and 
 every  tear  shall  be  eternally  wiped  away. 
 
The  sounding  of 
 
 REVELATION,  IX. 
 
 the  aiujels*  trumpets* 
 
 earth  :  and  ^  there  were  voices,  and  thunder- 
 ings,  and  lightnings,  ''and  an  earthquake. 
 (i  And  the  seven  angels  which  had  the  seven 
 trumpets  prepared  themselves  to  sound. 
 
 7  The  first  angel  sounded,  'and  there  follow- 
 ed hail  and  fire  mingled  with  blood,  and  they 
 were  cast  ^  upon  the  earth  :  and  the  third  part 
 '  of  trees  was  burnt  up,  and  all  green  grass  was 
 burnt  up. 
 
 8  And  the  second  angel  sounded,  ""and  as  it 
 were  a  great  mountain  burning  with  fire  was 
 cast  into  the  sea  ;  "  and  the  tliird  part  of  the 
 sea  "  became  blood  ; 
 
 9  P  And  the  third  part  of  the  creatures  which 
 were  in  the  sea,  and  had  life,  died  ;  and  the 
 third  part  of  the  ships  were  destroyed. 
 
 10  And  the  third  angel  sounded, '' and  there 
 fell  a  great  star  from  heaven,  burning  as  it  were 
 a  lamp,  ""and  it  fell  upon  the  third  part  of  the 
 rivers,  and  upon  the  fountains  of  waters; 
 
 1 1  ^  And  the  name  of  the  star  is  called  Worm- 
 wood :  'and  the  third  part  of  the  waters  be- 
 came wormwood  ;  and  many  men  died  of  the 
 waters,  because  they  were  made  bitter. 
 
 12  "  And  the  fourtli  angel  sounded,  and  the 
 third  part  of  the  sun  was  smitten,  and  the  third 
 
 Amos  7.    1 
 
 I  cii.  ic.  n. 
 
 .  Kzek.  I  \. 
 
 u  Is.  n  in. 
 
 Amos  a.  9. 
 
 1  T.iikf  10. 
 18.  cb.  8.10 
 
 b  I,nkB8,3l. 
 ch.  17.  8.  & 
 20    I.  ver. 
 
 part  of  the  niuun,  and  the  third  part  of  the 
 stars;  so  as  the  third  part  of  them  was  dark- 
 ened, and  the  day  shone  not  for  a  tliird  part  of 
 it,  and  the  night  likewise. 
 
 13  And  I  beheld,  ''and  heard  an  angel  flying 
 through  the  midst  of  heaven,  saying  with  a 
 loud  voice,  ^  Woe,  woe,  woe,  to  the  inhabiters 
 of  the  earth  by  reason  of  the  other  voices  of 
 the  trumpet  of  the  three  angels,  which  are  yet 
 to  sound ! 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 1  At  the  soutidiny  of  the  fifth  tnifjel,  a  star  faJleth  from 
 heaven,  to  whom  is  given  the  key  of  the  bottomless  j>it. 
 2  He  openefh  the  pit,  and  there  come  forth  tocusts  like 
 scorpions.  12  The  Jirst  woe  past.  13  The  sixth 
 trumpet  soundeth.  14  Four  angels  are  let  loose^  that 
 were  bound, 
 
 A  ND  the  fifth  angel  sounded,  **  and  I  saw  a 
 ■^~*-   star  fall  from  heaven  unto  the  earth  :  and 
 
 to  him  was  given  the  key  of  ^  the  bottomless 
 pit. 
 2  And  he  opened  the  bottomless  pit;  "^  and 
 there  arose  a  smoke  out  of  the  pit,  as  the 
 smoke  of  a  great  furnace  ;  and  the  sun  and  the 
 air  were  darkened  by  reason  of  the  smoke  of 
 the  pit. 
 
 By  '  fire'  here  are  meant  the  judgments  of  Gcd,  and  his  wrath  and  fury, 
 poured  forth  like  fire  upon  the  Roman  empire,  now  become  Chiistian  ; 
 and  so  was  an  emblem  of  ihose  calamities  coming  npon  it  at  the 
 sounding  of  the  trumpets  ;  and  shews,  that  as  Christ  prays  and  inter- 
 ceiies  for  his  own  people,  for  their  comfort  and  safety,  so  he  will  bring 
 down  his  judgments  upon  his  and  their  enemies. — Gill.  Voices,  ffc, 
 the  usual  prophetic  signs  of  great  calamities  and  commotions  upon 
 earth.  7.  Hnil  and Jere—at  tlic  sounding  of  the  first  trumpet,  the 
 barbarous  nations,  like  a  storm  of  hail  ami  fire,  mingled  with  blood, 
 invade  the  Koman  lerritorie",  and  destroy  the  third  part  0/  the  trees, 
 that  is,  the  trees  of  the  third  part  of  the  earth  ;  und  the  green  grass, 
 that  is,  both  old  and  young,  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  together.  I 
 conceive  this  principally  ri-fers  to  tlie  irruiitions  of  the  Goths,  under 
 Aiaric,  .395,  who  ravaged  Gieece,  Italy,  and  Rome.  —  Bp.  Neieton,  so 
 Gill.  Trees — fmrnt  vp,  seem  to  mean  people  of  the  higher  rank,  who 
 suffered  much,  in  these  calamities,  (see  Isa.  ii.  13  ;  Zech.  xi.  2;)  yea, 
 princes,  nobles,  and  ruler.^,  both  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  who  suffered 
 much  at  this  time.  '  Trees'  arc  interpreted  of  these  by  the  Targum,  on 
 Isa.  ii.  13,  and  Zech.  xi.  l,  2.~GifL  Jones,  misled  by  his  ideas  nf  the 
 four  winds,  considers  this  a  prophecy  of  the  declension  of  the  church  : 
 but  it  undoubtedly  regards,  not  the  heaven,  hut  the  earth. — Dut<iitsi»i. 
 
 8.  Great  monnfnin,  may  signify  the  Roman  empire,  ami  it  may  have 
 respect  to  the  sacking  of  Rome  by  Alaricns,  king  of  the  West  Goths,  in 
 410  or  412.  Kingdoms  and  cities  ape  called  mountains,  Zech.  iv.  7, 
 Isa.  xiii.  2  ;  and  to  Rome  the  term  might  apply,  seeing  it  was  built  on 
 seven  mountains. — Gill.  Cast  info  the  .s^'n— the  sea,  as  a  collection  of 
 waters,  is  an  emblem  of  large  collections  of  people  into  one  body  po- 
 litic, (chap.  xvii.  \5.)—Gu7/se.  This  may  signify  the  great  number  of 
 people  within  its  jurisdiction  which  suffered,  and  were  thrown  into 
 confusion  at  this  time;  so  valamities  are  expressed,  Ps.  xlvi.  2. —  Gill. 
 A  burning  mountain  cast  into  the  sea  was  the  direct  and  expressive 
 symbol  of  a  great  maritime  and  naval  war.  The  naval  power  of  Rome 
 was  unequal  to  the  task  of  saving  even  the  imperial  city  from  the  ra- 
 vages of  the  Vandals.— G/AAon,?.  After  Genseric  had  secured  the  empire 
 of  the  Mediterranean,  the  emperors  of  Rome  and  of  Constantinople 
 strove  in  vain  to  dispossess  him  of  his  power.  A  last  and  desperate 
 attempt  was  again  marie,  and  failed,  in  the  year  46s,  by  the  emperor  of 
 the  East.— AViCA.  Third  p'trt,  i.e.,  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Rome,  signi- 
 fied by  the  sea,  (see  Jer.  Ii.  3fi,)  was  afflicted  with  wars  and  blnodsVicd. 
 
 9.  Creatvres-~i?i  /he  sen,  inliabitants  of  tVie  Roman  empire.  Died,  were 
 put  to  death  by  the  barbarians.— G(7/.  Ships,  the  third  part  of  men  in 
 their  ships  of  war  and  vessels  of  merchandize  were  destroyed.— Gm/za'p. 
 
 10.  Star,  a  great  prince  :  a  similitude  not  unusual  in  poetical  diction. 
 —Bp.  Newtim.  The  name  of  Attila  is,  tn  this  day,  a  memorial  of  his 
 greatness.  Kings  served  under  his  standard,  watched  his  nod,  and 
 trembled  at  his  frown.— See  Gibbons,  Kt-ith.  Fell—hU  coming,  there- 
 fore, is  sudden  and  unexpected,  and  hi->  stay  hut  short.  11.  Cnll'-d 
 Wormwood,  a  bitter  enemy.  Within  two  years  after  Attila's  retrefit 
 from  Italy,  Genseric,  king  of  the  Vandals,  embarked  from  Africa,  with 
 300,000  Vandals  and  Moors,  and,  arriving  unexpectedly  upon  the  Rn- 
 
 man  coasts,  captured  Rome,  plundered  it,  and  carried  off  immense 
 booty.— B/).  Newton.  'The  scourge  of  Go<i'  was  a  name  which  Attila 
 appropriated  to  himself,  and  inserted  anions  his  royal  titles.  He  was 
 *  the  scourge  of  his  enemies,  and  the  terrier  of  the  world.'  And  the 
 third  part  of  the  waters  bernme  wormwood — Italy  was  divided  against 
 itself,  and  Mdan  contended  with  Rome.  Thousands  of  the  soldiers  of 
 Attila  combined  with  the  othtr  confederates  of  Italy,  at  the  foot  of  the 
 Alps  and  on  the  banks  of  the  Po  ;  and  from  the  territory  watered  My 
 its  tributary  streams,  hordes  of  relentless  enemies  and  oppressors  issued 
 against  Rome,  and  prepared  the  way  for  its  final  subversion,  il/un.y 
 vien  died,  ^t-.— Pope  Geiasius  was  a  subject  of  Odoacer,  and  affirms, 
 with  strong  exaggerations,  that  in  .Emilia,  Tusrany,  an{l  the  adjacent 
 provinces,  the  linman  species  was  almost  extnpated. — See  Gibbons, 
 Keith.  12.  Sun— moon— stars,  i.e.,  the  ereat  lights  of  the  Roman 
 empire.  In  a.d.  476,  Odoacer,  kini;  of  the  Heruli,  put  an  end  to  the 
 very  name  f  fthe  western  empire,  and  caused  himself  to  be  proclaimed 
 king  of  lialy.  Thus  the  Roman  '  sun'  was  extingui-hetl  in  the  western 
 empire,  but  the  lesser  luminaries  still  sulisisted,  fnr  Home  was  still  al- 
 lowed to  have  her  srn-ite  and  cou.suls,  and  other  subordinate  magis- 
 trates, as  before.  They,  however,  were  totally  suppressed  when  Italy 
 was  made  a  province  of  the  eastern  empire,  and  Rome  was  degraded 
 to  the  level  of  other  places,  and  made  a  poor  dukedom,  tributary  to 
 Ravenna.  13.   Woe,  woe,  icoe— the  three   other  trumpets   should 
 
 sc-und  to  still  greater  and  more  terrible  itlaguts.  —  Bp.  Newtvn,  so 
 Kei/h. 
 
 Chap.  IX.—  1.  Star  fall  from  heaven,  the  star  is  Satan,  the  chief  of 
 the  fallen  angels.— WoorfA.  Stars  sometimes  signify  angels  ;  and  here 
 the  falling  star  seems  to  denote  the  perniis--ion  by  Divine  providence 
 of  those  evil  and  calamitous  events  which  are  described  as  ensuing. 
 Bottntnless  pit,  hcW.—Lownuin.  These  verses  announce  the  rise  aud 
 progress  of  the  Mahometan  imposture,  about  Golior  fins.  The  key  to 
 the  pit  expressed  the  power  God  permitted  him  to  acquire  in  spreading 
 his  delusions. — Boothr.  M' hammed  had  nevirbeen  a  star,  as  that 
 emblem  marks  out  the  ministers  of  Christianity.  I  should  therefore 
 fix  upon  the  western  corrupter  of  Christianity,  wliosc  mystery  of  ini- 
 fiuity  hart  been  long  working,  hut  burst  forth  almost  at  the  same  time 
 with  the  imposture  of  Mohammed.— Sfo//.  Thoutrh  the  emblem  might 
 be  applied  with  great  apparent  propriety  to  the  Mohammedan  powtr, 
 yet  this  opinion,  however  general,  seems  not  consistent  with  the  scene 
 as  a  whole.  The  '  star  falls  from  heaven,'  which  usually  signifies  '  the 
 church.'— D«".  Bred  up  in  idolatry,  and  trained  to  mercantile  pur- 
 suits, Mahomet  had  never  professed  Christianity,  nor  been  a  teacher 
 in  the  Christian  church;  consequently  he  could  nfit  be  an  apostate 
 from  the  faith,  the  veiy  thing  denoted  by  the  fall  of  this  star  from 
 heaven  unto  the  earth.— TF.  Jo?ies.  In  all  probability,  the  first  apostasy 
 of  the  bishop  of  Rome  is  here  prophesied  ;  and  perhaps,  by  his  having 
 the  key  of  the  bottomless  pit,  may  be  meant  his  instiumentality  in 
 sending  many  thousand  souls  to  hell.— Poo/c.  2.  Sinoke,  that  is,  a 
 
 false  religion,  that  of  the  impostor  Mahomet,  was  set  up,  which  filled 
 the  world  with  darkness  and  error.— Bp.  Newton.      This  '  smoke'  was 
 
 Refi.kctions  on  Cif.AP.  VIII.  —  We  may  here  contrast  the 
 spirit  of  the  pious  and  the  spirit  of  the  wicked  : — I.  7'//e  spirit 
 of  the  pious  is  a  peace:ib\p,  devout  spirit.  *  The  prayers  of 
 saints'  continually  ascend  up  bftbre  the  altar  of  heaven, 
 and  are  presented  there  with  the  much  incense  of  the  Sa- 
 viour's merits.  Delightful  are  the  days  when  their  numbers 
 increase,  and  heavenly  shall  the  slate  of  the  church  and  ihe 
 world  be  when  under  the  influence  of  their  examples  and 
 prayers.  'They  shall  not  hurt  nor  destroy  in  all  the  holy 
 mountain,'  and  men  '  shidl  le^rn  war  no  more.' 
 13oI 
 
 II.  The  spirit  of  the  ivicked  is  a  turbulent  and  destructive 
 spirit.  Like  the'ferocious  beasts  of  the  desert,  these  greedily 
 devour  each  other.  There  is  no  quarter  of  the  plobe  in  which 
 the  earth  has  not  been  drunk  with  their  blood,  shed  in 
 continued  scenes  of  butchering  warfare.  But  let  us  rejoice 
 that  an  all-wise  Providence  makes  even  *  the  wrath  of  man 
 to  praise  hira,'  and  that  all  these  scenes  shall  ultimately  close 
 with  the  final  happiness  of  the  saints,  and  the  eternal  glorifi- 
 cation of  their  God  and  Saviour. 
 
Oj  ihe  beasts  which 
 
 REVELATION,  IX. 
 
 came  out  of  the  bottomless  pit 
 
 3  And  there  came  out  of  tlie  smoke  ''  locusts 
 upon  the  earth :  and  unto  them  was  given 
 power,  °as  the  scorpions  of  the  earth  have 
 power. 
 
 4  And  it  was  commanded  them  '  that  they 
 should  not  hurt  «the  grass  of  the  earth,  neither 
 any  green  thing,  neither  any  tree  ;  but  only 
 those  men  which  have  not  "  the  seal  of  God  in 
 their  foreheads. 
 
 5  And  to  tliem  it  was  given  that  they  should 
 not  kill  them,  '  but  that  they  should  be  tor- 
 mented five  months  :  and  their  torment  was  as 
 the  torment  of  a  scorpion,  when  he  strikelh  a 
 man. 
 
 6  And  in  those  days  '  shall  men  seek  death, 
 and  shall  not  find  it  ;  and  shall  desire  to  die, 
 and  death  shall  Hee  from  them. 
 
 7  And  '  the  shapes  of  the  locusts  vere  like 
 unto  horses  prepared  unto  battle  ;  "'  and  on 
 their  heads  were  as  it  were  crowns  like  gold, 
 "  and  their  faces  were  as  the  faces  of  men. 
 
 8  And  tliey  had  hair  as  the  hair  of  women, 
 and  °  their  teeth  were  as  the  teeth  of  lions. 
 
 d  Ex.  10.  4. 
 Judg.  7.  12. 
 e  ver.  ID. 
 
 /"eh   6.  6   & 
 7.  3. 
 r  ch.  8.  7. 
 
 »  ch    7   3. 
 See  Ex    12. 
 
 k  Job  3.  21 
 Ls.  2.  I!l. 
 Jer,  «,  S 
 
 I  Joel  2.  4. 
 mNah.3.i; 
 
 p  Joel  2.  b, 
 6,7. 
 
 q  ver.  5. 
 
 [I  That  is  to 
 
 9  And  they  had  breastplates,  as  it  were 
 breastplates  of  iron  ;  and  the  sound  of  their 
 wings  was  ''as  the  sound  of  cliariots  of  many 
 horses  running  to  battle. 
 
 10  And  they  had  tails  like  unto  scorpions, 
 and  there  were  stings  in  their  tails  :  '•  and  their 
 power  was  to  hurt  men  five  months. 
 
 1 1  '  And  they  had  a  king  over  them,  which 
 is  '  the  angel  of  the  bottomless  pit,  whose 
 name  in  the  Hebrew  tongue  is  Abaddon,  but 
 in  tlie  Greek  tongue  hath  his  name  ||  Apollyon. 
 
 12  'One  woe  is  past;  and,  behold,  there 
 come  two  woes  more  hereafter. 
 
 13  And  tlie  sixth  angel  sounded,  and  1  lieard 
 a  voice  from  the  four  horns  of  the  golden  altar 
 which  is  before  God, 
 
 14  Saying  to  the  sixth  angel  which  had  the 
 trumpet.  Loose  the  four  angels  which  are 
 bound  "  in  the  great  river  Euphrates. 
 
 1j  And  the  four  angels  were  loosed,  which 
 were  prepared  ||  for  an  lionr,  and  a  day,  and  a 
 month,  and  a  year,  for  to  slay  the  third  part  of 
 men. 
 
 a  suitable  symbol  of  the  religion  of  Mahomet.  It  was  not  like  the 
 gospel  of  Jesus,  a  light  from  heaven,  but  a  '  smolie'  out  of  tlie  bottom- 
 less pit.— A'piV/i.  This  may  denote  false  doctrine  and  superstitious 
 worship,  which  sprung  from  the  decrees  of  popes  and  councils,  and  the 
 alcoran  of  Mahomet.— Gi».  The  '  smoke'  might  signify  popish  dark- 
 ness, which  was  preparatory  to  the  locusts,  or  Mahomet's  destructive 
 hordes  of  Saracens.— .1.  FiMer.  3.  Lncitsts,  tfc,  heretics,  particu- 
 larly the  Gnostics  and  Nicolaitans.— II  oWA.  Here  is  an  allusion  to 
 the  habits  of  locusts,  which,  as  Fhni/  and  the  eastern  historians  tell  us, 
 b;ecd  m  pits  and  deep  slimy  holes  in  the  latter  part  of  the  suinmer; 
 and  from  the  eggs  or  spawn  there  laid  arise  the  vast  swarms  in  the 
 spring  following.  By  this,  in  the  same  figurative  language  used  by 
 J. .el,  i.  6.  ii.  5—7,  are  described  the  terrible  forces  of  the  Saracens 
 and  Arabians,  uiidLT  Mahomet  and  his  successors,  their  leaders;  in- 
 vading and  ravaging  not  only  the  European  kingdoms,  but  large  tracts 
 both  of  Asia  and  Africa.— Pj/fe.  Swarms  of  Saracens,  like  locusts, 
 overspread  the  earth,  and  speedily  extended  their  ravages  over  the 
 Roman  empire,  from  east  to  west.— A'e;;/i.  The  first  woe  appears  to 
 have  been  the  impostor  Mohammed,  whose  false  religion  is  compared 
 to  thick  smoke,  bursting  from  the  bottomless  pit,  and  darkening  the 
 sun  and  air.  The  swarms  of  locusts  issuing  from  that  smoke  were  his 
 followers,  the  Arabians  or  Saraieiis,  for  to  them  the  whole  description 
 filly  applies.- Jl/'icun.  1  concur  with  those  expositors  who  admit 
 the  locusts  to  be  Mahomet's  destructive  hordes  of  Saracens.— J.  Fuller. 
 These  are  the  locusts  of  the  church  of  Rome,  to  whom  every  part  of 
 the  prophecy  of  this  fifth  trumpet  applies.— »'.  Jones.  The  expression 
 that  the  locusts  tormenied,  but  did  not  kill,  is  peculiarly  appropriate  to 
 the  general  practice  of  the  anti-Christiau  army.  The  clergy  reduced 
 the  world  to  be  their  wretched  slaves,  and  put  few  or  none  to  death, 
 during  the  period  specified.  Their  influence  in  the  ecclesiastical  em- 
 pire, signified  by  '  the  sun  and  air  darkened.'  was  universal ;  not  so  the 
 power  of  Maliomet ;  it  was  chiefly  limited  to  the  east.— /ynw.  Poicci-, 
 us  the  acorpions— these  were  locust  scorpions,  a  symbol  of  a  serpentine 
 kind,  since  a  scorpion  is  a  kind  of  serpunt.  The  tail  with  a  sting  doth 
 set  out  the  propagation  of  that  diabolical  Mohammedan  false  prophecy, 
 with  its  whole  furniture.  4.  Not  hurt  the  grass,  ^c— this  shews  that 
 they  were  not  natural,  but  symbolical  locusts. — Jus.  Mede.  Under- 
 stand this  command  as  descriptive  of  true  Christians  in  their  flourish- 
 ing state.  Grusfi,  under  the  dews  of  heavenly  grace.  Green,  in  a  fruit- 
 ful condition.  Any  tree,  trees  of  righteousness,  good  and  righteous 
 men.— Gi«.  Have  not  the  seal,  5r.,  are  not  the  true  servants  of  God, 
 but  corrupt  and  idolatrous  Christians.  In  those  countries  of  Asia, 
 Africa,  and  Europe,  where  the  Saracens  extended  their  conquests,  the 
 Christians  were  generally  guilty  of  idolatry  in  worshipping  of  saints, 
 if  not  of  images.— B/i.  Newton.  Here  is  a  manifest  allusion  to  the 
 Christian  profession,  the  sealed  and  unsealed;  the  true  servants  of 
 God,  as  in  chap.  vii.  3,  and  the  false  professors  ;  frum  which,  1  think. 
 we  may  fairly  infer  that  the  primary  design  of  the  prophecy  refers  to 
 papal  Rome,  and  not  to  the  evils  which  came  upon  the  world  through 
 Mahomet.— ir.  Juws.  5.  Tliut  ttiey  should  not  kill,  ^c- the  Sara- 
 cens greatly  h;irassed  and  tormented  the  Greek  and  Latin  churches, 
 but  they  did  not  extirpate  the  one  or  the  other.  Fioe  months — this  time 
 seems  an  allusion  to  the  time  in  which  natural  locusts  are  used  to  do 
 harm,  and  after  which  they  die.— Loieman.  It  appears  that  the  usual 
 practice  of  the  Saracens  was,  to  make  their  excursions  during  the  five 
 summer  months.— B/i.  Newton.  According  to  the  prophetic  way  of 
 counting,  that  is,  each  day  for  a  year,  five  months  make  150  years, 
 which  is  only  a  short  portion  of  the  term  of  Antichrist's  reign  ;  but  it 
 is  about  the  space  of  time  that  elapsed  between  the  fall  of  the  western 
 Roman  empire  and  the  rise  ot  the  Mahometan  imposture ;  and  so  the 
 five  months  may  denote  the  time  from  the  fifth  trumpet's  beginning 
 to  blow  to  the  first  rise  of  that  evil  which  came  to  its  rise  by  tlie  sixth 
 trumpet,  during  which  time  Antichrist  was  settling  himself  upon  his 
 throne.— ir.  Jones.  6.  Seek  death,  men  shall  be  weary  of  their  lives 
 from  these  calamities.— Jiw.  Mede.  Men  were  weary  of  life,  when 
 life  was  spared  only  for  a  renewal  of  woe— Keith.  7.  And  the  s'nipes 
 1352 
 
 o/the  locusts,  5-.-.— the  nature  and  quality  of  the  locusts  arc  here  de- 
 scribed, paitly  in  allusion  to  the  properties  of  natural  locusts,  and  the 
 description  given  of  them  by  the  prophet  Joel,  and  parUy  in  allusion 
 to  the  habits  and  manners  of  the  Arabians,  to  shew  that  not  real,  but 
 figurative  locusts  are  here  intended.  Like  unto  horses,  ^e.— copied 
 from  Joel,  ii.  4.  Many  authors  have  observed,  that  the  head  of  a  locust 
 resembles  that  of  a  horse.  Tiie  Italians,  therefore,  call  them  'cava- 
 lette,'  as  it  were  little  horses.  The  Arabians,  too,  have  in  all  ages 
 been  famous  (or  their  horses  and  horsemanship.  Their  strength  is 
 well  known  to  consist  chiefly  in  their  cavalry.  Crowns  like  gold,  al- 
 ludes to  the  turbans  worn  by  the  Arabians.- By;.  Newton.  The  tur- 
 bans  of  the  Saracens,  like  unto  a  coronet,  were  their  ornament  and 
 their  boast.— Afif*.  It  may  allude  to  the  extent  of  their  dominion.— 
 Jos.  llede.  Faces  of  men,  cXothei  with  beards.  S.  Hair  o/ women, 
 resembhng  the  hair  of  women.— Bfi.  Neulun,  H'l/.  Teeth,  tfc,  strong 
 to  devour,  (Joel,  i.  6  ',—Jos.  Mede.  9.  Breastplates,  implies   then- 
 
 strength  in  resistance.  Sound  of  their  wings,  this  expresses  their  im- 
 pttuosity.— 11  if.      It  describes  the  rapidity  of  their  conquests.— P.»(e. 
 
 10.  Stings  in  their  tails,  signifies  the  p'lison  which  tliey  left  behind 
 them.  They  poisoned  the  principles  of  the  Christian  world  where  they 
 prevailed  with  the  doctrines  of  unitarianism,  fatalism,  and  the  thirst 
 of  conquest  and  blood.— H'lf.  The  whole  description  here  given  ex- 
 hibits a  strange  composition  of  the  greatest  violence  united  to  the 
 most  consummate  deceit;  of  grandeur  and  baseness;  01  effeminacy 
 and  obstinate  hardness ;  of  tenderness  conjoined  with  fierceness  and 
 cruelty  the  most  terrible ;  a  monstrous  motley  mixture  of  contrary 
 qualities.  These  qualities  as  described  are  characteristic  of  the  Romish 
 church,  and  especially  of  the  inquisition.  — So  11'.  Jones,  and  Dan. 
 
 11.  The  angel  of  the  bottomless  pit,  ^e.— Mahomet,  the  commander  of 
 the  faithful,  at  the  head  of  his  armies,  and  wiih  his  sword  in  his  hand, 
 held  Jews  and  Greeks  alike  as  his  natural  enemies;  and  unbelievers, 
 of  whatever  nation,  could  know  him  only  as  the  '  destroyer.'— Aei//i. 
 Mahomei  is  intended,  the  king  of  the  eastern  locusts,  as  the  pope  of  the 
 western  ones.— Gi».  That  evil  spirit,  the  prince  of  the  powers  of  dark- 
 ness.—ioii'in.,  Woudh.  In  chap.  xiii.  4,  this  king  of  the  locusts  is 
 spoken  of  as  •  the  dragon  which  gave  power  to  the  beast."  His  name 
 signifies  '  the  destroyer,'  and  it  seems  here  to  be  opposed  to  the  name 
 Jesus,  which  denotes  '  a  Saviour.'— VF.  Jones.  12.  Une  woe,  denotes 
 •  one  period.'— Bp.  Newton.  13.  The  si.ith  angel  sounded—ttie  great 
 and  terrible  events  proclaimed  by  the  sixth  trumpet  respect  the  long 
 and  bloody  wars  bioiight  on  the  Roman  empire  by  the  Turks  or  Sara- 
 cens.—flun.  This  prophecy  may  very  well  be  applied  to  the  irruptions 
 of  the  Saracens,  the  Turks,  and  the  Tartars.  — Jlfic/i.  2n<roii.  to  N.  T. 
 The  objections  to  the  last  trumpet  being  applied  to  Mahomet,  rested 
 upon  the  application  of  this  trumpet  to  the  Mahometan  corruptions,  or 
 the  t*o  trumpets  would  be  resolved  into  the  same  one.— So  II'.  Jones. 
 The/our  horns,  ^c— thus  it  appears  that  the  scene  of  this  vision  was 
 still  iu  the  temple.  A  mice,  was  a  strong  indication  of  the  Divine  dis- 
 pleasure when  heard  from  the  place  which  was  a  sanctuary  and  |)ro. 
 tection.— Bp.  Newton.  In  the  Greek  it  is  '  one  voice,'  that  of  the  one 
 Mediator,  not  supplicating,  but  commanding.— GiK.  II.  The  four 
 angels  the  four  leaders  of  the  Turks  or  Othmans.— Jos.  Mede,  Bp. 
 Newton.  Called  '  four,'  because  of  the  principalities  or  governments 
 into  which  they  were  divided  — Iconium,  Bagdad,  Aleppo,  and  Da- 
 mascus; called  'angels,'  because  of  their  power  and  strength,  with 
 which  they  bore  all  before  them.— Gi«.  The  four  governments  cannot 
 here  be  meant,  for  they  weie  not  erected  till  the  death  of  Melech  Se. 
 pah,  who  died  A.  n.  IU92,  which  far  outruns  the  date  ot  the  present 
 period,  even  by  some  hundreds  of  years.  Four  is  an  universal  term, 
 and  not  necessary  h  i  be  literally  understood,  as  the  four  corners  denote 
 ■all  the  earih,'  (Isa.  xi.  12;  Ezek.  vii.  2;  comp.  Ezck.  xi.  2.)  By  un- 
 loosing '  the  four  angels,'  then,  understand  '  the  whole  power  of  these 
 destroyers.'— /.OH'mun.  15.  Loosed— an  hour,  and  a  da;/,  and  a  month, 
 and  a  jieui— this  means  only  a  determined  time,  as  if  the  very  time 
 was  ascertained  by  years,  days,  months,  and  even  hours.— Louiman, 
 so  Wit.    The  prophetic  time  here  amounts  to  391  years  and  fifteen 
 
27te  vision  of  the  four  angels. 
 
 REVELATION,  X. 
 
 An  angd  with  a  booh. 
 
 IG  And  "  ttie  lup.iiliei-  of  the  nviny  'of  the 
 horsemen  were  two  liuudred  thousand  thou- 
 sand :  '  and  1  heard  the  numher  of  tlieni. 
 
 17  And  thus  1  saw  the  liorses  in  the  vision, 
 and  them  that  sat  on  them,  having  breastplates 
 of  lire,  and  of  jacinth,  and  brimstone:  "and  the 
 heads  of  the  horses  icere  as  the  heads  of  lions  ; 
 and  out  of  their  mouths  issued  fire  and  smoke 
 and  brimstone. 
 
 18  By  these  three  was  the  third  part  of  men 
 killed,  by  the  fire,  and  by  the  smoke,  and  by 
 the  brimstone,  which  issued  out  of  their 
 mouths. 
 
 19  For  their  power  is  iu  their  mouth,  and  in 
 their  tails:  ''for  their  tails  ircre  like  unto  ser- 
 pents, and  had  heads,  and  with  them  they  do 
 hurt. 
 
 20  And  the  rest  of  the  men  which  were  not 
 killed  by  these  plagues  '''yet  repented  not  of 
 the  works  of  their  hands,  that  they  should  not 
 
 X  Ts.  b8.  17, 
 1)^111.  7.  10. 
 V  Kzck.38.+. 
 
 A.  n.  OG. 
 
 it  I.rv.  17.  7. 
 Ili-!i.  3'.?.I7. 
 I's.  lOG,  :17. 
 lCor.hl.-:o. 
 
 ■  I's    1 15 
 
 &  135.  15. 
 
 l)(in.  5.  SS. 
 
 fch.  S3.  15. 
 
 a  Eiek.  l.«9 
 4  M.it.  17.  1 
 
 cli.  I.  10. 
 c  cli.  1.  IS. 
 
 worship  ''devils,  "and  idols  of  gold,  and  silver, 
 and  brass,  and  stone,  and  of  wood  :  which  nei- 
 ther can  see,  nor  hear,  nor  walk  : 
 21  Neither  repented  tliey  of  tlieir  murders, 
 •■  nor  of  their  sorceries,  nor  uf  their  fornication, 
 nor  of  their  thefts. 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 1  A  niuihty  stvonf}  an(/el  appeareth  with  a  hook  open  in 
 his  hand.  6  //t  swcareth  hi/  him  that  liveth  for  ever, 
 thai  there  shall  he  no  more  time.  9  John  is  commanded 
 to  take  and  eat  the  book. 
 
 \  ND    I  saw   another  mighty   angel   come 
 
 -^^  down  from  heaven,  clothed  with  a  cloud  : 
 ^  and  a  rainbow  icas  upon  his  head,  and  ''his 
 face  was  as  it  were  the  sun,  and  '^  his  feet  as 
 pillars  of  fire  : 
 
 2  And  he  had  in  his  hand  a  little  book  open : 
 •^and  he  set  his  right  foot  upon  the  sea,  and 
 his  \ehJhoi  on  the  earth. 
 
 days,  the  hour  being:  equal  to  fifteen  days,  a  day  being  a  year  in  pro- 
 phetic terms.  Now  it  is  wonderfully  remarkable  that  the  first  coufnicst 
 mentioned  in  history  of  the  Othmans  over  the  Clnistians  was  in  the 
 year  of  Christ  lJ3i  ;  compute  391  years  from  that  time,  and  they  will 
 terminate  in  the  year  1672  ;  and  in  that  year  Mahomet  the  Fourth  took 
 Camenicc  from  the  Poles,  and  forty-eight  towns  and  villages  in  that 
 territory  were  delivered  up  to  the  Sultan  on  the  treaty  of  peace.  Where- 
 uptm  Prince  Cantimcr,  an  historical  writer,  hath  made  this  memorable 
 reflection  :  '  This  was  tlie  la^t  victory  by  which  any  advantage  accrued 
 to  the  Othman  state.* — Bp.  Netvton.  These  are  mystical  years. — 
 A.  Fuller.  Third  part — the  term  may  generally  mean,  a  considerable 
 mimiier  of  the  countries  which  they  invaded. — Lorvmnn.  The  Maho- 
 metans conquered  full  a  third  iiart  of  the  then  Christian  world. — 
 Woiulh.  16.  Two   hundred   thousand   thousand,    Gr.,   'myriads  of 
 
 myriads' — i.e.,  many  myriads.  — /.(^(c/h/iw.  The  Othman  emperors 
 brnught  miglity  armies  into  the  field.  Mahomet  the  Second,  for  in- 
 stance, besieged  Constantinople  with  4no,oii0  men,  and  their  armies 
 consisted   chiefly  of  horsemen.  17.  Brensfplates  of  fire,   f,-c. — the 
 
 colnnr  of  fire  is  red,  of  hyacinth,  blue,  and  of  brimstone,  yellow,  the 
 constant  colours  worn  by  the  Othmans  in  \Tar. — So  B/i.  Neirtnn.  As 
 the  heads  of  lions,  fierce  and  terrible  in  their  appearance. —  los.  JMede. 
 Out  of  their  jnuuths^  may  be  referred  either  to  the  horses  or  horsemen, 
 or  both. — Gill.  Fire — S7nuke — /ifiw.s/o»e,  a  manifest  allusion  to  great 
 gnns  and  gunpowder,  which  were  invented  in  the  period  marked  hy 
 this  trum|)et,  and  were  of  sii;nal  service  to  the  Othmansin  their  wars. — 
 Bp.  Newttin,  Jos.  Mede.  The  symbol  here  is  expressive  of  what  a  body 
 of  horsemen,  fighting  with  fire-arms,  would  aiijjcar  to  a  distant  spec- 
 tator who  had  never  before  seen  or  heard  anything  of  the  kind. — 
 A.  Fuller.  18.  These  three,  the  Alexandrian  copy,  and  some  others, 
 read,  '  by  these  three  plagues.'  ig.  Power  is  in  their  mouth,  in  their 
 guns,  or  what  came  out  of  them.  Tails,  may  design  the  foot  soldiers, 
 which  were  as  the  tail  to  their  horse,  and  who  sometimes  did  great 
 service;  or  it  may  mean,  the  way  of  fighting  when  they  fled,  by  cast- 
 ing up  arrows,  which  fell  on  their  piiisuers ;  or  it  may  mean,  the  false 
 prophet's  doctrines,  who  is  the  tail,  (Isa.  ix.  15.)~Gi7/.  Tails— like 
 unto  serpents— Ihc  Greeks  drew  after  them  the  same  poisonous  train 
 as  the  Saracens,  propagating  the  same  imposture.  —  Bp.  Newton. 
 20,  21.  And  the  rest,  i!,v.,  that  is.  'the  rest  of  those  who  had  not  the 
 seal  of  God  in  their  torchcad,  who  were  not  killed  by  these  plagues.' — 
 A.  Fuller.  The  western  Christians  under  the  Rnman-catholic  govern- 
 ments, who  had  seen  the  eastern  and  Greek  churches  thus  punished 
 and  quite  destroyed,  still  persevered  in  the  practice  of  idolatry,  saint 
 worship,  and  image  worship,  and  their  cruel  spirit  of  persecution. — 
 Pi/le.  '21.  Sorceries— in  the  middle  ages,  what  is  calleil  'the  black 
 art'  was  much  studied  and  practised  in  all  its  branches. —  il'il.  I  have 
 rendered  the  word  ^apu.tKtiaiv  'poisoning'^,'  rather  than  'sorceries'  or 
 'witchcrafts.'  The  wicked  practice  of  poi^^oning  grew  general  in  the 
 church  of  Rome,  and  especially  in  Italy. — Lowman,  so  Grot. 
 
 Chap.  X. —  \.  Another  vii{{hty  tm^el,  fyr\,  as  the  prophecy  of  this 
 chapter  respects  the  Reformation,  Luther,  with  the  rest  of  the  re- 
 formers, is  here  intended.  And  here  arc  denoted  his  strength,  courage, 
 Divine  authority,  protection,  and  the  clear  doctrine  of  peace  and  recon- 
 ciliation he  brought. — Ihntlmz.  The  angel  and  accompanying  meta- 
 phors are  all  considered  as  descriptive  of  the  Reformation,  by  Kvith. 
 This  means  the  uncreated  angel,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  appears 
 both  by  comparing  this  with  Dan.  vii.  9,  and  chap.  x.  5,  6,  and  from 
 the  power  he  gave  to  the  two  witnesses,  (chap.  xi.  3,)  which  cannot 
 agree  with  a  created  ange!,~G»7/.    This  is  tlic  Lord  Christ  himself. 
 
 whose  apparel,  countenance,  and  voice,  and  his  whole  airay,  is  more 
 majestical  than  can  suit  with  a  creature. — Brightman  ,-  same  purport, 
 Martin,  so  Doddr.,  A.  Fuller,  Dav.,  Keifw.  The  resemblance  is  much 
 like  Christ  himself.  It  seems  probable,  from  the  grandeur  and  magni- 
 ficence of  the  scenery,  that  this  was  the  Son  of  God  himself. — W.  Jones, 
 It  would  seem  rather  to  be  a  created  angel,  for  though  'a  mighty 
 angel,'  it  was  only  'another  mighty  angel,'  putting  hhn  on  a  level 
 with  other  angels  ;  and  he  swai-e  not  by  himself,  but  by  him  that  sitteth 
 on  the  throne,  and  though  '  his  face  was  as  the  sun,'  so  the  church  Ls 
 represented,  chap.  xii.  1.  —  SoWest.,  Woodh.,  Wit.  Clothed  with  a 
 cloud:  and  a  rainbow  was,  ^1:. — 'to  come  in  tiie  clouds,  or  with  the 
 clouds  of  heaven,'  is,  among  the  Jews,  a  knowni  symbol  of  Di\ine 
 power  and  majesty.  A  rainbow,  was  a  proper  emblem  of  God's  cove- 
 nant with  mankind  after  the  flood,  and  fit  to  be  made  a  sign  that  God 
 is  always  mindful  of  his  covenant  and  promise.  The  brightness  and 
 splendour  of  the  sun  and  of  fire  were  also  proper  figures  to  express  the 
 majesty  of  a  Divine  appearance. — Lineman.  The  rainbow  had  reference 
 to  the  Reformation.  They  who  had  been  saved,  as  in  an  ark.  from  tlie 
 flood  of  idolatry  that  had  overspread  the  eai'th,  looked,  at  length,  on 
 the  Reformation  as  the  rainbow  of  their  hope— the  pledge  which  their 
 God,  who  had  established  his  covenant  with  them,  gave  them  from  on 
 high,  that  he  remembered  his  everlasting  covenant,  and  that,  in  a 
 spiritual,  as  well  as  iJi  a  natural  sense,  there  should  no  more  be  a  flood 
 to  desti"oy  all  tiesh.  As  it  were  the  sun,  the  light  shone  upon  the  earth. 
 The  'light'  of  the  Reformation  is  become  an  historic  tenn.  This  light 
 to  enlighten  the  world  emanated  not  from  an  angehe  being;  he  was 
 but  the  messenger  of  light,  to  bear  it  from  heaven  to  the  earth. — Keith. 
 2.  .i  little  book — there  is  but  one  book  of  the  Revelation  of  Jesus  Christ, 
 tchap.  xxii.  18.)  'The  Bible'  literally  means,  'the  book;'  and  the 
 translation,  or,  by  the  simplest  figure,  the  opening  of  it.  especially  of 
 the  New  Testament,  unfolding  the  precepts  of  Jesus,  and  the  doctrines 
 of  the  gospel,  gave  a  character  to  the  Reformation,  which,  in  respect 
 to  the  wide  extended  diffusion  of  the  Scriptures  by  the  then  recent  art 
 of  printing,  the  days  of  the  apostles  scarcely  equalled.  The  gospel,  as 
 *  a  book,'  may  be  said  to  have  been  for  the  first  time  'open'  to  the 
 world. — Keith.  This  little  book  contains  a  prophetic  account  of  the 
 papal  tyranny  and  usurpation,  (or  the  reign  of  Antichrist,)  during  the 
 entire  period  of  1260  years,  and  under  all  the  three  woe  trumpets,  forms 
 a  sort  of  episode  to  the  general  scries  of  predictions,  appended  as  a 
 codicil  to  the  greater  book  of  the  Apocalypse.— To  the  above  purport, 
 Faber.  The  contents  of  the  little  book  will  be  found  in  this  to  the  ilth 
 chapter,  inclusive. —  W.  Jones.  A  codicil  to  the  larger  book,  and  pro- 
 perly comes  under  the  sixth  trumpet,  to  describe  the  state  of  the  western 
 church  after  the  state  of  the  eastern.— B;>.  Newloii.  This  is  the  same 
 book  which,  in  chap,  v.,  is  represented  as  in  the  right  hand  of  him  that 
 sat  on  the  throne,  and  as  shut  and  sealed  ;  but  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of 
 Judah,  the  Lamb  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  having  taken  it  out  of  his 
 hand,  unloosed  its  seals  and  opened  it. — Gill,  so  Sir.  I.  Newton.  Set 
 his  right  font  upon  the  sea,  l^c. — as  iii  scripture  language  *  the  heavens 
 and  earth'  mean  the  universe  iu  general,  so  '  earth  ana  sea*  mean  our 
 world,  or  tlii'*  terraqueous  globe.  By  the  '  earth,'  the  Jews  understood 
 the  great  continent  of  all  Asia  and  Africa,  to  which  they  had  access  by 
 land  ;  and  by  '  the  isles  of  the  sea,'  the  places  to  which  they  sailed  by 
 sea,  or  the  several  paits  of  Europe ;  and  hence,  in  this  prophecy,  tlie 
 '  earth  and  sea'  aie  put  for  the  nations  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  empires. 
 This  sense  will  represent  the  angel  with  one  foot  on  Asia  and  another 
 on  Europe,  to  signify  the  prophecies  he  was  to  reveal  would  relate  to 
 both  the  empires  of  the  east  and  west ;  but  the  former  sense  seems  most 
 
 Reflections  ox  Cii  \?.  IX. —  I.  '  It  is  a  righteous  procedure 
 in  the  divine  dispensations  to  leave  men  to  become  the  victims  of 
 error  and  ofjndp7naU  ivho  have  enjoj/ed  the  lii/ht  of  truth,  but  hated 
 it  because  their  deeds  were  evil.  How  oftpn  has  God  given  sucii 
 up  to  u  reprobate  mind  to  work  all  iniquity  with  greediness! 
 He  has  sutlered  some  apostates  from  tlie  trutli  to  invent  urul 
 propagate  the  most  palpable  absurdities;  and  yet  corrupt  and 
 depraved  Christians  have  been  ready  to  embrace  tbem  in  pre- 
 ference to  his  own  boly  word.  'Ilins  he  gives  up  men  who 
 have  no  plensum  in  the  truth  to  believe  a  he  ;  and  such  clia- 
 
 racteis  combined  spread  around  tbem  desohition  and  ruiu. 
 
 II,  '  lie  matf  rejoice  that  the  Lord  hath  a  hook  in  the  nose, 
 ttnii  a  bridle  in  the  mouth,  of  ev<rt/  bnastinr/  enemy,  bij  whatever 
 method  he  threattns  to  subi'crt  his  cause.  He  gives  deceivers  or 
 destroyers  power  till  his  own  purposes  of  judgment  or  correc 
 lion  are  accomplished,  and  then  he  cuts  them  otl',  or  lays  them 
 aside  at  his  pleasure.  'Ihus  one  woe  comes  on  after  another 
 on  hypocrites  and  corrupt  churches;  but  they  who  iiave  the 
 seal  of  God  on  their  foreheads  cannot  be  hurt.'  *> 
 
 8   K 
 
The  termination  of  time  proclaimed.  REVELATION,  X. 
 
 John  eateth  the  book. 
 
 3  And  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  as  wlien  a  lion 
 roareth  :  and  when  he  had  cried, "  seven  thun- 
 ders uttered  their  voices. 
 
 4  And  when  the  seven  thunders  had  uttered 
 their  voices,  I  was  about  to  write  :  and  I  heard 
 A  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me,  '  Seal  up 
 those  things  which  the  seven  thunders  uttered, 
 and  write  them  not. 
 
 5  And  the  angel  which  I  saw  stand  upon  the 
 sea  and  upon  the  earth  ^  lifted  up  his  hand  to 
 heaven, 
 
 6  And  sware  by  him  that  liveth  for  ever  and 
 ever,  ''who  created  heaven,  and  the  things  that 
 therein  are,  and  the  earth,  and  the  things  that 
 therein  are, and  the  sea,and  the  things  which  are 
 therein,  '  that  there  should  be  time  no  longer : 
 
 7  But  ''  in  the  days  of  the  voice  of  the  seventh 
 angel,  when  he  sliall  begin  to  sound,  the  mys- 
 tery of  God  should  be  finished,  as  he  hath  de- 
 clared to  his  servants  the  prophets. 
 
 8  And  '  the  voice  which  I  heard  from  heaven 
 spake  unto  me  again,  and  said.  Go  and  take 
 
 A.  D.  9fi. 
 ■  ch.  8.  5. 
 
 f  Ei.  6.  8 
 Dan.  Vi.  7. 
 
 i  Dau.  12.  7. 
 
 ch.  le.  17. 
 
 tell.  II.  15. 
 
 m  Jcr.  IS  If 
 Eie.  2.  8.  J 
 3.  I,i,  3. 
 
 I  Ezek   3. 
 I  Ezek. 2.1 
 
 the  little  book  which  is  open  in  tlie  hand  of 
 the  angel  which  standetli  upon  tlie  sea  and 
 upon  the  earth. 
 
 9  And  I  went  unto  tlie  angel,  and  said  unto 
 him,  Give  me  the  little  book.  And  he  said 
 unto  me,  "'  Take  it,  and  eat  it  up  ;  and  it  shall 
 make  thy  belly  bitter,  but  it  shall  be  in  tliy 
 mouth  sweet  as  honey. 
 
 10  And  I  took  the  little  book  out  of  the 
 angel's  hand,  and  ate  it  up;  "and  it  was  in  my 
 mouth  sneet  as  honey  :  and  as  soon  as  I  had 
 eaten  it,  "my  belly  was  bitter. 
 
 1 1  And  he  said  unto  me,  Tliou  must  prophesy 
 again  before  many  peoples,  and  nations,  and 
 tongues,  and  kings. 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 3  The  two  witnesses  prophesy,  fi  Thiif  haw  power  to 
 shut  heaven,  that  U  ruin  not.  7  The  baist  shall  fight 
 arjainst  them,  and  kill  them.  8  Thej/  lie  vnburied, 
 II  aiid  after  three  days  and  a  half  rise  again.  14 
 The  second  woe  is  past.  15  The  seventh  trumpet 
 soundeth. 
 
 natural. — Lowman,  see  Sir  I.  Nctvton.  This  position  si^fles  that 
 Christ  is  both  Lord  and  possessor  of  the  terraqueous  globe. — Gill ;  same 
 Ijurport,  Dav.  The  Reformation  bej^an  hi  the  interior  of  Europe,  but 
 the  chief  settlements  of  protestantism  have  been  on  the  'sea,'  m 
 Sweden,  almost  cut  off  from  the  continent ;  in  Denmark,  whose  capital 
 lies  in  an  inland;  in  maritime  Holland,  and  insular  Britain. — Kiith. 
 3.  Seven  thunders— X\\vy  may  be  a  particular  prophecy,  or  perhaps  seven 
 distinct  prophecies. —  Woodh.  Some  understand  this  of  the  ministers 
 of  the  gospel  in  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  who  were  '  sons  of  thun- 
 der,* and  think  that  they  are  the  same  with  the  angels  in  chap.  xiv.  6  ; 
 or  rather,  these  may  sig^nify  the  denunciations  of  God's  judtjments,  and 
 f)f  his  wrath,  both  upon  the  eastern  and  western  Antichrist,  the  Turk 
 and  Pope,  siMrnified  by  the  seven  vials  hereafter  to  be  poured  out.  men- 
 tioned in  chap,  xvi,— G*7/.  Interpreters  are  almost  muversally  ag^reed 
 that  '  thunders'  denote  war;  and  the  symbol  is  peculiarly  appropriate 
 after  the  introdnction  of  tire-arms  and  artillery  in  the  art  of  war.  After 
 the  establishment  nf  the  Reformation,  we  may  mark  seven  noted 
 periods  of  wars.  Tlie  pacification  of  Passau  had  not  lasted  lonp.  when 
 it  was  suddenly  interrupted  as  with  the  voice  of  thmidcr.  In  1569,  hos- 
 tilities commenced  between  the  armies  of  Spain  and  the  protectants 
 of  Holland  and  Zealand  ;  during:  five  years  of  this  period,  the  Duke  of 
 Alva  boasted  he  had  delivered  18,000  protestants  into  the  hands  of  the 
 executioner.  In  1 606,  Holland  was  acknowledged  free ;  and  the  thunder 
 could  not  be  said  to  cease  but  with  a  suspension  of  hostilities  and  a 
 truce  of  twelve  years,  first  entered  into  in  the  year  1607.  This  thunder 
 rolled  with  equal  violence  over  France,  the  papists  being  led  on  by  the 
 Duke  of  Guise.  In  isgs,  the  commotions  were  calmed  by  the  edict  of 
 Nautz,  passed  by  Henry  IV.,  grantuig  full  liberty  to  the  protestants. 
 The  second  thunder  was  during  the  memorable  thirtj-  years'  war,  from 
 1619  to  l64rt,  which  was  termuiated  by  the  celebrated  treaty  of  West- 
 phalia. The  third  thunder  was  ushered  in  by  the  invasion  of  Holland, 
 the  persecution  of  protestants,  and  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of 
 Nantz,  by  Louis  XIV.  The  edict  of  Nan tz  was  revoked  in  1685;  the 
 league  of  Augsburg  was  formed  in  1687.  The  bloody  war  continued 
 till  1697,  when  it  terminated  by  the  peace  of  Ryswick.  The  third  thunder 
 was  rapidly  succeeded  by  the  fovirth,  to  which  the  name  of  '  Marl- 
 borough' is  the  ready  index.  In  1701,  the  grand  alliance  was  formed 
 against  France.  In  1713,  peace  was  concluded  at  Utrecht  between 
 France,  England,  Portugal,  the  United  Pro^ices,  Prussia,  and  Savoy; 
 and  in  the  following  year,  at  Radstadt,  between  Germany  and  Spain. 
 From  1714  to  1739  there  was  a  period  of  comparative  repose.  In  1739 
 war  was  declared  by  Great  Britain  against  Spain  ;  and  in  1744,  against 
 France.  Now  were  fought  the  battles  of  Dettingen  and  Funtenoy.  In 
 1740,  after  the  death  of  Charles  VI.,  the  wars  of  Frederick  the  Great 
 began,  and  Britons,  Prussians,  Dutch.  Austrians,  Bohemians,  Bava- 
 rians, Silesians,  Hanoverians,  Sardinians,  Spaniards,  and  Italians,  all 
 mingled  in  the  warfare.  And  no  calm  was  interposed  till  17-18,  when 
 peace  was  concluded  by  the  treaty  of  Ai.\-!a-Chapelle.  This  ended  the 
 fifth  thuniler.  The  sixth  was  the  seven  years'  war,  commencing  in 
 1755  and  concluding  in  1763.  The  protestant  countries  of  Pnis^^ia  and 
 Britain  stood  against  a  confederacy  of  continental  kingdoms  :  and 
 America,  as  well  as  Europe,  became  the  scene  of  severe  conflicts.  The 
 battle  of  Minden,  the  siege  of  Quebec,  the  taking  of  Belleisle,  the  cap- 
 ture of  Guadaloupe,  the  Havannah,  and  Maitinique,  ai"e  among  the 
 memorials  of  this  war.    The  last  of  the  seven  thunders  did  not  make 
 
 long  delay.  The  seven  years'  war  terminated  m  1/63;  in  177.J  the 
 North  American  war  began  ;  France  declared  war  against  Britain  in 
 1773.  The  next  season  Spain  foUowed  her  example;  and,  in  1780, 
 Holland  was  added  to  the  enemies  of  England.  In  1782  the  American 
 war  was  ended.— A'e(7/j.  By  the  'seven  thunders,'  imderstand  seven 
 kingdf>nis  embracing  the  Reformation,  and  uttering  the  edicts  of  their 
 authorities,  (i.)  The  German  princes,  making  one  republic;  lii.)  the 
 Swiss  Cantons  ;  (iii.)  Sweden;  (iv.)  Denmark,  with  Norway ;  (v.)  Eng- 
 land and  Ireland  ;  (vi.)  Scotland ;  (Wi.)  United  Provinces  of  the  Nether- 
 lands.— Dnuhuz.  4.  Write  thfm  not,  for  the  things  uttered  by  the 
 voices  were  to  be  exhibited  in  another  form,  and  at  another  time,  under 
 the  seven  vials. — Gill.  5.  Lifttd  up  his  hmid  —  see  Gen.  xiv.  22; 
 Dent,  xxxii.  40.  6.  That  there  should  be  time  no  longer,  .Wi  xpo''"*' 
 ovK  c<rT.i(  en,  '  time  should  not  be  as  yet.* — Daitbuz,  Lowman.  '  That 
 there  should  be  delay  no  longer.'— Gill.  It  signifies,  there  should  be 
 no  '  delay'  of  the  destructioi\  of  the  church's  enemies,  and  of  its  pros- 
 perous and  glorious  condition.  For  xpwi'or  sometimes  signifies  '  delay.' 
 — Doddr.  The  true  key  to  this  passage  is  Dan.  .\ii.  7,  where  the  man 
 clothed  in  linen  swears,  that  to  the  end  of  wonders  should  be  a  time, 
 times,  and  a  half;  and  here  the  angel  swears,  that  time  shoidd  be  no 
 longer  ;  that  is,  that  this  time,  and  the  times,  and  half  a  time,  should 
 be  no  longer  ;  that  these  dates  would  be  up,  and  the  events  affixed  to 
 them  be  accomplished,  when  the  seventh  angel  shoidd  begin  to  sound 
 his  trumpet.  The  same  di\isions  of  time  are  made  in  Rev.  xii.  14  ;  and 
 are  the  same  exactly  with  the  1 260  days  or  years,  and  the  forty-two 
 months  of  years,  so  often  mentioned  in  this  book  ;  for  '  a  time'  is  a  pro- 
 phetic year,  that  is,  360  years  ;  and  '  times  *  are  two  prophetic  years, 
 or  720  years  ;  and  '  half  a  time'  is  half  a  prophetic  year,  or  isn  years  ; 
 in  all,  1260  years  :  now,  add  the  several  events  to  be  accompUshed  in 
 this  period  of  time,  and  it  will  give  the  full  sense  of  this  passage  thus — 
 the  angel  swears  that  the  time  of  Antichrist's  reign,  his  tyranny  over 
 the  saints,  his  persecution  of  them,  which  was  to  last  forty-two  months, 
 [chap.  xiii.  5,)  should  be  no  longer  ;  nor  of  the  holy  city  being  trodden 
 under  foot  by  the  Gentiles,  the  papists,  which  bears  the  same  date, 
 fehap.  xi.  2,)  and  is  called  the  times  of  the  Gentiles,  (Lnke,  xxi.  24 ;) 
 nor  of  the  witnesses  prophesyhig  in  sackcloth,  which  has  just  the  same 
 measure  of  duration,  (chap.  xi.  3  ;)  nor  of  the  church's  retirement,  and 
 being  hid  in  the  wiltierness,  (chap.  xii.  14;}  ui  short,  the  time  of  the 
 four  monarchies,  and  of  the  last  of  them,  the  Roman,  and  of  the  last 
 branch  of  that,  the  papal,  should  be  no  more  than  HU  the  stnmding  of 
 the  seventh  trumpet,  when  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  should  become 
 the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ,  (chap  xt.  \5.)—GiU.  This 
 means,  it  shall  not  be  long  before  the  secret  of  God  is  fulfilled. — Grot. 
 It  means,  that  the  glorious  state  of  the  church  should  not  be  '  as  yet,* 
 but,  however,  it  should  not  be  long  to  it. — Daubuz.  7-  The  im/steri/ 
 nf  God,  in  liis  providence  towards  the  church.  Should  he  finishfd, 
 '  perfected.' — Lowman,  as  Dp.  Butler.  >J.  Take  it,  and  eat  it  up,  that 
 is,  thoroughly  consider  and  digest  it,  (read  Ezek.  iii.  :i.)—Bp.  Newton. 
 Bitter-sweet — the  events  it  shall  reveal  shall  be  an  occasion  for  com- 
 fort and  joy,  for  grief  and  sorrow.  U.  Tlmu  must  prophesy  again 
 he/itrr  many  peoples,  Sfc,  that  is,  these  prophecies  concerned  the  public. 
 — Loirman.  What  he  had  now  seen  was  only  preparatory  to  what 
 should  follow,  and  he  must  go  over  the  ground  again,  writing  pro- 
 phecies which  respect  many  people. — A.  Fuller. 
 
 Refltctions  on   Chap.  X.  —  Let  us  fix  our  thoughts  on 
 
 the  solemn  declaration  here  made  by  the  angel,  that  '  time 
 should  be  no  longer:' — I,  The  time  of  the  triumph  of  the  ene- 
 mies of  Christ  shall  soon  cease.  A  more  glorious  riay  awaits  the 
 church  than  she  has  ever  yet  seen  ;  she  shall  soon  put  on  her 
 beautiful  garments,  and  appear  in  all  her  lustre,  to  the  joy  of 
 heaven  and  the  admiration  of  earth. 
 
 II.   2^he  time  of  our  individual  continuance  in  this  world  shall 
 1354 
 
 soon  cease.  The  time  of  our  hearing  the  gospel,— the  time  of 
 God's  patience  with  us, — the  time  fur  preparation  for  eternity. 
 We  shall  have  no  longer  added  to  our  lives  years,  hut  merely 
 months,  then  weeks,  then  days,  then  minutes!  'O  that  we 
 may  consider  lime  and  all  its  concerns  as  very  .shortly  to 
 vanish,  that  our  thoughts  and  our  cares  may  be  din^cted  more 
 and  more  to  our  own  eternal  interest,  and  to  that  of  our  fellow- 
 creatures-* 
 
Power  given  unto 
 
 REVELATION,  XL 
 
 the  two  witnesses* 
 
 A  ND  there  was  given  me  ''' a  reed  like  unto 
 -^~^  a  roil  :  and  the  angel  stood,  saying,  "^  Rise, 
 and  measure  the  temple  of  (jod,  and  the  altar, 
 and  them  that  worship  therein. 
 
 1  But  '^  the  court  which  is  without  the  temple 
 t leave  out,  and  measure  it  not;  ''for it  is  given 
 unto  the  Gentiles  :  and  the  holy  city  shall  they 
 ^  tread  under  foot  '^  forty  and  two  months. 
 
 3  And  II  I  will  give  j^owcr  unto  my  two 
 ^witnesses,  ''and  they  shall  prophesy  'a  thou- 
 sand two  hundred  a/irf  threescore  days,  clothed 
 in  sackcloth. 
 
 4  These  are  the  ^  two  olive  trees,  and  the 
 two  candlesticks  standing  before  the  God  of 
 the  earth. 
 
 5  And  if  any  man  will  hurt  them,  '  fire  pro- 
 ceedeth  out  of  their  mouth,  and  devoureth 
 their  enemies  :  "'  and  if  any  man  will  hurt 
 them,  he  must  in  this  manner  be  killed. 
 
 6  These  "have  pov/er  to  shut  heaven,  that  it 
 rain  not  in  the  days  of  their  prophecy  :  and 
 '^  have  power  over  waters  to  turn  them  to  blood, 
 and  to  smite  the  earth  with  all  plagues,  as  often 
 as  they  will. 
 
 7  And  when  they  ^  shall  have  finished  their 
 testimony,  "^  the  beast  that  ascendeth  'out  of 
 the  bottomless  pit  *  shall  make  war  against 
 them,  and  shall  overcome  them,  and  kill  them. 
 
 A.  D.  96. 
 
 0  Ezek.10.3, 
 8c  C  Ztcli  S. 
 I    ch  21.15. 
 
 i  Xum.  as. 
 
 18. 
 c  Kzek.  40, 
 
 17,20. 
 t  Gr.  c«»t 
 
 out. 
 d  Ps.  79    1. 
 
 Luke9l.24. 
 e  Dan.  8.  lU. 
 
 1  Mac.S5l, 
 /di.  13.  5. 
 il  Or,  /  «./« 
 
 thai  iboif 
 inaif  pru- 
 
 e  c1i.2i}.  4, 
 A  ch.  I?i.  10 
 i  cli.  1-2  G. 
 A  Ps.  b>.  8. 
 Jer.  11.  16 
 Zech  4.  3, 
 
 \\,n. 
 
 1  2  Kin, 1.10, 
 
 13.  Jer  1. 
 
 Jam.  5.  16, 
 
 17. 
 o  Ei.  7.  19. 
 ;•  Luke  13. 
 
 <l  ch.  IS  1, 
 IJ.  U  17.  3. 
 
 T  ch.  9.  2. 
 
 J  Dan,  7.  2! 
 Zech.  14.2. 
 
 A.n.  96. 
 
 (  ch    14.  S. 
 
 &  17.  1,5. 
 
 &  IS.  10. 
 u  Heb    13. 
 
 12.  ch.  18. 
 
 24. 
 f  ch.  17.  I&. 
 
 y  Ph,  79. 2,3 
 
 =  cb,  12.  12 
 
 &  13   8. 
 II  Esth.S.IS 
 
 c  ver.  9. 
 d  Ez..-k.37.5, 
 9,  10,  14. 
 
 e  IB.  14.  13. 
 
 ch.  12.  b. 
 /  Is.  60.  8. 
 
 Acts  1.  ?i. 
 g  2  Kin. :;.!, 
 
 5.  7 
 k  ch,  G    12. 
 1  ch.  1(5.  i;-. 
 t  Gr.  nam  , 
 
 ofrnr,,. 
 
 Ch.  3   4. 
 fr  Josli.7.  19. 
 
 ch     IV  7- & 
 
 15   4. 
 /  L-h.  8-  IS. 
 
 &  9.  12.  & 
 
 15.  1. 
 
 8  And  their  dead  bodies  shall  lie  m  the 
 street  of  ^  the  great  city,  which  spiritually  is 
 called  Sodom  and  Egypt,  "  where  also  our 
 Lord  was  crucified. 
 
 9  '^  And  they  of  the  people  and  kindreds  and 
 tongues  and  nations  shall  see  their  dead  bodies 
 three  days  and  an  half, ''and  shall  not  suffer 
 their  dead  bodies  to  be  put  in  graves. 
 
 10  '"'  And  they  that  dwell  upon  the  earth 
 shall  rejoice  over  them,  and  make  merry,  ''and 
 shall  send  gifts  one  to  another;  ^because 
 these  two  prophets  tormented  them  that  dwelt 
 on  the  earth, 
 
 11  •"  And  after  three  days  and  an  lialf  ^  the 
 Spirit  of  life  from  God  entered  into  them,  and 
 they  stood  upon  their  feet ;  and  great  fear  ffell 
 upon  them  wliich  saw  them. 
 
 12  And  they  lieard  a  great  voice  from  heaven 
 saying  unto  them,  Come  up  hither.  ^  And 
 they  ascended  up  to  heaven  "^  in  a  cloud  ;  ^and 
 their  enemies  beheld  them. 
 
 13  And  the  same  hour  ''was  there  a  great 
 earthquake,  *  and  the  tenth  part  of  the  city 
 fell,  and  in  the  earthquake  were  slain  f  of  men 
 seven  thousand :  and  the  remnant  were  affright- 
 ed, ^  and  gave  glory  to  the  God  of  heaven. 
 
 14  '  The  second  woe  is  past ;  and,  behold, 
 the  third  woe  cometh  quickly. 
 
 Chap.  XI,  —  l.  Rise,  and  meatnire  the  temple — heaven,  or  the  church, 
 is  still  the  place  of  vision.  In  the  language  is  a  plain  allusion  to  Zech. 
 ii.  1—5. — Dav.  The  langriage  in  which  he  is  addressed,  and  his  work 
 pointed  out,  is  evidently  borrowed  from  the  Mosaic  economy—the  me- 
 taphors, the  figure.s,  the  symbols,  are  all  Jewish  :  the  temple,  the  altar, 
 the  worshippers,  the  outer  court,  the  Gentiles,  the  holy  city,  or  Jeru- 
 salem, all  naturally  direct  our  \iews  backwards  to  the  existing  state 
 of  things  under  the  former  dispensation,  the  old  covenant,  which  was 
 typical  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  the  New-Testament  church.  — 
 W.  Junes.  2.  The  riturt  irJiUh  is  without  the  temple  leave  ottt — Chris- 
 ^ianity  obtained  a  legal  estabhshmcnt  and  support  in  the  days  of  Con- 
 •itantine  ;  the  natural  consequence  of  which  was,  that  many  Gentiles 
 Hocked  into  the  outer  coiut  of  Christianitj-  wlio  had  not  the  seal  of  God 
 Cither  in  their  hearts  or  on  their  foreheads.  To  shew  that  the  Almighty 
 makes  a  distinction,  he  orders  John,  as  it  were  ui  the  character  of  a 
 fMr\'eyor,  faithfully  and  carefully  to  measure— that  is,  describe— the 
 ■  nuer  temple  of  God  and  its  true  worshippers,  which  is  done  in  this  and 
 the  three  followuig  chapters.  These  we  do  not  consider  as  successive 
 prophecies,  but  as  contemporary,  or  synchronical,  as  some  express  it, 
 and  are  all  comprised  witliin  the  period  of  fort>'-t\vo  months— that  is, 
 12tio  prophetic  days  or  years,  the  months  of  the  ancients  beuig  thirty 
 days  each. —  Wil.  The  huh/  cittj  shnll  they  trend  under  foot,  l^c. — a  fit 
 representation  of  great  corruption  in  the  common  and  usual  worship 
 of  God  by  heathen  doctrines  ajid  idolatrous  modes  of  worship. — Loicm. 
 Such  cornj|itious  shall  prevail  in  the  Cluistian  church,  though  by  pro- 
 fession the  holy  city  and  the  temple  of  God,  that  they  who  pretend  to 
 DC  its  inhabitants,  and  to  worship  m  it,  shall  be  no  better  in  tlie  di\-ine 
 account  than  Gentiles. — Doddr.  The  allusion  here  is  to  Jerusalem 
 being  trodden  under  foot,  wasted  and  destroyed  by  the  Romans,  i  Luke, 
 \.\i.  24.)  Fort!/  and  two  months — the  date  here  given  Is  to  be  reckoned 
 from  the  first  of  Antichrist's  reign,  when  the  Pope  of  Rome  was  de- 
 clared universal  Bishop. — GUI.  3.  Two  witnesses — the  two  witnesses 
 are,  the  scriptures  and  the  ^ssembliesoi  Ilie  faithful. — Brifrhtmim.  Un- 
 polluted pries-ts  and  faithful  magistrates.— Z^r.  More.  The  Waldenses 
 and  Albigenses. — lip.  LUiyd,  Fuber.  It  means  the  martyrs,  'two' 
 being  put  for  a  small  number,  because  it  is  said  in  chap,  xiii.3,  that  all 
 the  world  went  after  the  beast. — Mnr.  It  means,  that  part  of  the  mi- 
 nistry (ministers  being  in  scripture  called  '  witnesses')  who  preach  the 
 gospel  faithfully  during  tMe  reign  of  Antichrist. — Poole.  The  Old  Tes- 
 tament and  the  New. —  T;'.  Jones,  as  Itr.  Park,  Croly,  and  Frere.  They 
 are,  the  Word  of  God  and  ihe  Spirit  (  f  God.— Dai:  '  They  are,  the  pro- 
 testant  and  the  Greek  chuic)ivs.  —  Reader.  Interpreters  agree  that 
 '  two  witnesses*  mean,  '  witnesses  enough  to  attest  the  truth,'  in  allu- 
 sion to  the  law,  that  by  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every 
 matter  in  dispute  is  decided. ~/Vffy.  These  '  two  wimesses'  mean,  not 
 any  two  particular  persons,  but  a  succession  of  faithful  ministers;  for 
 their  prophesying  or  preaching  in  sackcloth  was  to  last  Tifiii  years; 
 and  their  being  spoken  of  as  two  may  well  be  cousidered  with  respect 
 to  the  sufiiciency  of  their  witness  bearing,  and  in  allusion  to  Moses 
 and  Aaron,  the  deliverers  of  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt,  and 
 revivers  of  the  worship  of  God  among  them ;  to  Elijah  and  EUsha,  the 
 opjinscrs  of  Baal's  idolatry  ;  and  Zerubbabel  and  Joshua,  the  rebuilders 
 of  the  temple;  all  which  persons  seem  to  be  referred  to,  ver.  4,  5,  6. 
 Aud  perhaps  it  may  pnint  to  snme  remarkable  pair^  of  witnesses  against 
 popish  corruptions  that  should  arise  in  a  succession  of  them  during 
 this  period;  such  as  the  Albigenses  and  Waldenses — John  Huss  and 
 Jerome  of  Prague  ;  Luther  and  Calvin  ;  and  the  like. — Guyse,  so  Bp. 
 Newton,  Lowman,  Gill,  Scott,  .i.  Fuller.  A  thousand  two  hundred  a?id 
 threescore  dups,  that  is,  so  many  years,  which  is  the  date  of  the  beast's 
 reign. — Gill.  Clothed  in  sackcloth,  the  established  costume  of  mourn- 
 ing and  distress,  (2  Sam.  iii.  31 ;  I  Kings,  ii.31 ;  xxi.  27;  Job,  svi.  15; 
 1355 
 
 Ps.  XXX.  !  I ,  he.)—  Wil.  4.  The  two  oUne  trees,  or  represented  by  them 
 in  Zech. iv.  3,  !l — 14,  which  there  design  Joshua  and  Zerubbabel,  who,  in 
 laying  out  themselves,  ihcir  gifts,  and  wealth,  in  rebuilding  and  finishing 
 the  temple,  were  types  of  these  witnesses,  the  ministers  of  the  gospel, 
 in  the  successive  ages  of  the  apostasy  ;  who  may  be  compared  to  olive 
 trees,  because  of  the  oil  of  grace  aud  the  truth  of  it  in  them,  and  be- 
 cause of  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit  of  Grid  bestowed  on  them.— Gi//.  And 
 the  two  candlesticks,  taken  from  Zech.  iv.  It  means,  that  the  witnesses 
 shall  glorify  God  by  a  constant  testimony  oftiuthj  as  if  a  lamp  was 
 kept  always  burning,  by  a  continual  supply  of  oil  from  a  living  olive- 
 tree,  constantly  feeding  it  with  oil,  that  it  may  never  go  out. — Lowm. 
 By  '  the  two  candlesticks,'  uuder>tand  '  the  law  and  the  gospel.* — 
 Pr.  Lee.  5.  Fire  proceedeth,  in  the  denunciation  of  judgment  on  the 
 wicked.— So  Mede,  Lowm.,  \V.  Jones,  ^c.  The  allusion  is  to  Jer.  v.  14. 
 6.  Power  to  shut,  ffc. — the  allusions  here  are  to  1  Kings,  xvii.  1  ;  and 
 to  the  miracles,  Exod.  iv.  9  ;  vii.  17—20.  Itmeans,  that  as  God  wrought 
 miracles  in  defence  nf  his  old  prophets,  so  he  will  yet  vindicate  the 
 cause  of  the  Christian  reformers,  Ac—Pi^^e.  7.  Aud  ivhen  they  shall 
 hufe  finished,  ^-c,  kui  orav  rtXetruai  Tt]v  ^uprupmi-,  '  while  they  shall 
 perform  their  testimony.' — Daubuz,  The  original  may  mean,  the  time 
 of  their  testimony  as  well  as  the  end  of  it.  "OTrtv  TeAdo-wo-t,  as  orav 
 Tzapaiibiaaiv  i'/Liuf, '  when  they  deliver  you  up,'  {Matt.  x.  19.)  The  most 
 probable  sense  seems  to  be,  that  the  witnesses  are  to  meet  with  oppo- 
 sition and  persecution  during  the  whole  of  this  period. — Lowmnn. 
 Kill  them,  i.  e.,  at  the  end  of  the  period  they  will  be  silenced  for  a  time. 
 —  Gill,  W.  Jones.  y.  The  great  city,  'the  anti- Christian  church,' 
 which,  for  filthioess,  is  compai-ed  to  Sodom  ;  for  tyranny  and  oppres- 
 sion, to  Egypt ;  and  fur  persecution,  cruelty,  and  bloi  dshed,  to  Jeru- 
 salem.— W.  Jones.  The  whi'le  empire  of  the  Romish  Antichrist. — Gill, 
 sn  Lowmfi7i.  Q.  Shall  see  their  dead  bodies  three  days  a/id  an  half, 
 '  insult  over  the  witnesses  silenced  and  deprived  of  power  and  oppor- 
 timity  of  prophesying.'  The  allusion,  with  respect  to  time,  may  be  to 
 the  time  that  Antiochus,  called  Epiphanes,  held  Jerusalem  in  his  hands, 
 after  he  had  conquered  it,  which  was  just  tliree  years  and  six  months, 
 during  which  time  he  spoiled  the  temple,  and  caused  the  daily  sacrifice 
 to  ctase,- O'lV/.  The  allusion  seems  to  be  to  the  time  of  Christ's  lying 
 in  the  grave.  1 1 .  The  Spirit  of  life — entered  into  them,  '  the  power 
 rf  God  shall  be  manifested  in  a  remarkable  manner  for  their  deliver- 
 ance, as  if  dead  bodies  were  raised  to  life,'  &c.  12.  They  ascended — 
 as  these  witnesses  were  represented  raised  from  the  dead,  in  confor- 
 mity with  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  so  further,  in  imitation  of  his  as- 
 cension into  heaven,  they  are  represented  as  ascending  in  a  public 
 manner,  in  the  presence,  and  to  the  great  confusion,  of  their  enemies, 
 who  shall  behold  them,  after  all  their  oppression,  exalted  by  the  glo- 
 rious power  of  God,  to  a  state  of  great  honour  and  influence,  as  well  as 
 of  security  and  peace. — Lowman,  so  Doddr.  13.  Earth'/uake,  com- 
 motions. The  tenth  part,  i.  e.,  a  very  considerable  part  of  its  power. 
 .Sei^en  thousand,  '  many  persons  shall  be  cut  off  in  her  defence.' — 
 Lowman.  This  seems  to  represent  some  great  calamities  which  were 
 to  befal  the  enemies  of  the  Reformation  during  the  following  period. 
 — Doddr.  This  alludes  to  the  Greek  church  falling  under  the  Ottomans 
 in  1453. — Daubuz,  W.  Jones.  This  event  was  fulfilled  in  the  revolu- 
 tion of  1683. — So  Faber.  It  was  the  revolution  in  France. — Fuller. 
 The  revolution  in  France  is  meant,  which  will  be  conquered  and  re- 
 formed from  popery.— G(7/.  The  kingdom  of  France  is  meant.  The 
 ;i)nij  are  '  names  of  men,'  men  of  tiile,  office,  and  dignity,  who,  for 
 iiaviug  killed  the  witnesses,  themselves  are  to  be  killed,  or  bereft  of 
 rank  and  title. — Dr.  T.  Goodwin.  No  doubt  France  is  here  intended ; 
 and  the  7000  may  be  the  ecclesiastical  orders  of  monks  and  friers  that 
 will  be   des'royed. — P.  Jurieu.  14.  The  second  woe  is  past — that 
 
 '  woe'  is  designated  by  the  four  angels  of  the  Euphrates,  and  this  caa 
 
The  scverUh  angel  sounc/eth. 
 
 REVELATION,  XII. 
 
 The  great  red  dragon^ 
 
 15  And  '"  the  seventh  ans^el  sounded;  "and 
 there  were  great  voices  in  heaven,  saying, 
 **  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the 
 kingdoms  uf  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ;  ''and 
 lie  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 16  And  "'the  four  and  twenty  elders,  which 
 sat  before  God  on  their  seats,  fell  upon  their 
 faces,  and  worshipped  God, 
 
 17  Saying,  We  give  thee  thanks,  O  Lord 
 God  Ahniglity,  ^  which  art,  and  wast,  and  art 
 to  come  ;  because  thou  hast  taken  to  thee  thy 
 great  power,  ''and  hast  reigned. 
 
 18  '  And  the  nations  weie  angry,  and  thy 
 wrath  is  come,  "and  the  time  of  the  dead,  that 
 they  sliould  be  judged,  and  that  thou  shouldest 
 give  reward  unto  thy  servants  the  prophets, 
 and  to  the  saints,  and  them  tliat  fear  thy  name, 
 ''small  and  great;  ^and  shouldest  destroy 
 them  which  ||  destroy  the  earth. 
 
 19  And  ^  the  temple  of  God  was  opened  in 
 heaven,  and  there  was  seen  in  his  temple  the 
 ark  of  his  testament :  and  "  there  were  light- 
 nings, and  voices,  and  thunderings,  and  an 
 earthquake,  ''and  great  hail. 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 1  A  jroman  clothed  with  the  sun  travaHcth.  4  The 
 (Teat  red  dragon  standeth  before  her,  ready  to  devour] 
 'her  child:  6  ichen  she  ivas  delivered  she  jieeth  iHto\ 
 
 A.  D.  96. 
 
 -(.  c\i.  10.  7. 
 ..  Is.  27.  13, 
 
 ch.  16.17. & 
 
 lU.  6. 
 o  ch.  13.  10. 
 ;>  Unu.  i.  44. 
 7.  14,  18, 
 
 ,  ill.  4.  »    & 
 b.  ^  U  19 '1. 
 
 r  ch.  1.  4,  8. 
 
 &  4.  6.  ft: 
 
 16    S. 
 J  oh.  19.  6. 
 
 I  ver.  2,  9. 
 
 II  Dan   7.  9, 
 10.  ch.  G.IU 
 
 X  ch.  19.  6, 
 1/  i:h.  13  lU. 
 .'«<  18.  0. 
 
 |inr,c"rrH;ir 
 ;  ch,  15.&,8 
 
 I,  ch,  s.  a.  & 
 
 IC.  18. 
 
 I!  Or* 
 
 ■  I«.  66   ' 
 Gal.  4, 
 
 II  Or,  lign. 
 b  ch.  17,  3. 
 
 fc\\    17    IS, 
 g  nnn.3    H 
 
 c!i   'i   Zl. 
 
 19.  1.^.. 
 
 I  Dan.  10,1.1, 
 21.  Uc  \2.  1. 
 
 the  wilderness.  7  Miehael  and  his  angels  fight  xcith 
 the  dragon,  and  prevail.  13  The  dragon  bciiij  cast 
 down  into  the  earth,  ptrsecuteth  the  woman. 
 
 AND  tiiere  appeared  a  great  ||  wonder  in 
 heaven  ;  a  woman  clothed  with  the  sun, 
 and  the  moon  under  lier  feet,  and  upon  her 
 head  a  crown  of  twelve  stars  : 
 
 '2  And  she  being  with  child  cried,  *  travailing 
 in  birtii,  and  pained  to  be  dehvered. 
 
 3  And  there  appeared  another  ||  wonder  in 
 heaven;  and  behold  "^  a  great  red  dragon, 
 •^having  seven  heads  and  ten  horns,  •>  apd 
 seven  crowns  upon  liis  heads. 
 
 4  And  ''his  tail  drew  the  tliird  part  ^ of  the 
 stars  of  heaven,  ^  and  did  cast  tliem  to  the 
 earth  :  and  tlie  dragon  stood  ''  before  the  wo- 
 man which  was  ready  to  be  delivered,  '  for  to 
 devour  her  child  as  soon  as  it  was  born. 
 
 o  And  she  brought  fortli  a  man  child,  ''  who 
 was  to  rule  all  nations  with  a  rod  of  iron  :  and 
 her  child  was  caught  up  unto  God,  and  to  his 
 throne. 
 
 fi  And  '  the  woman  fled  into  the  wilderness, 
 where  she  hath  a  place  prepared  of  God,  that 
 they  should  feed  her  there  '"a  thousand  two 
 hundred  arid  threescore  days. 
 
 7  And  there  was  war  in  heaven  :  "  Micliael 
 and  his  angels  fought  "against  the  dragon; 
 and  the  drai;on  fought  and  his  angels, 
 
 only  1)0  said  to  be  past  when  the  waters  of  the  Euphrates,  as  under  the 
 sixth  vial,  arc  dried  up.  Bat  the  Turkish  empire  is  not  yet  dissolved. 
 —Keith.  15.  The  seventh  angel  sfiMHtfcf?,  this  is  the  last  or  seventh 
 wuc  trumpet,  which  brings  the  ruin  and  downfall  of  the  anti-christi;m 
 kingdom.—/?/).  Newton.  Accordinffto  the  mnstaccuratecomputatinn, 
 the  part  of  the  world  which  is  occupied  by  professed  Christians,  of  all 
 denominations,  protectants  and  catlmlics,  is  only  as  five;  the  Maho- 
 niftans  as  six  ;  and  the  worshippers  of  dumb  idols  as  nineteen.  Nine- 
 teen out  of  thirty  '.  So  that  the  fulness  of  the  nations  has  not  yet  come 
 into  any  profession  of  Christianity,  far  less  into  the  scriptural  profes- 
 sion of  it  J  find  the  Jews  are  still  waiting  in  blindness  unto  this  day. 
 But  under  this  '  seventh  trumpet  and  last  vial,'  when  Antichrivt  shall 
 be  destroyed,  and  Satan  bound,  then  the  gospel  *-hall  be  more  univer- 
 sally spread  throughout  the  world  than  it  has  ever  hitherto  been. — 
 W.  Jojies.  18.  The  natiofis  were  angry — Rome,  papal,  and  its  Gen- 
 tiles, angrv  at  Christ's  power  and  reign.— G(7/.  .ind  the  time  of  the 
 (lead  that  they  should  be  jiidgeii.  ?ir.,  '  the  time  of  judgment  and  end  of 
 all  things.'— So  W.  Jones.  Fignratively,  '  the  dead,'  meaning,  literally, 
 •the  martyrs;'  and  their  being  judged,  their  vindication.— So  Grot., 
 Lowmnn,  Gill.  19.  Was  opened,  i.  e.,  more  open  discoveries  were  now 
 made,  with  the  usual  concomitants  of  the  Divine  presence,  and  espe- 
 cially at  the  giving  of  new  laws  and  revelations,  (Exod.  xx.  IS  ;  chap, 
 iv.  5  :  viii.  5.)—Bp.  Newton.  This  verse  forms  a  part  of  chap,  xii.,  ac- 
 cording to  Doddr. 
 
 CuAi*.  Xll.— 1.  Wonder,  properly,  '  sign,  or  countersign.' — /)/»'.,  so 
 Gill.  A  woman,  ^c,  the  church.— B/*.  Newton.  The  church  glori- 
 ously arrayed.— Dorfrfc.  The  church,  the  common  mother  of  all  be- 
 lievers. — Bef.  Dih. ;  so  also  Gill,  and  W.  .Jones.  Clothed  with  the  nun, 
 to  denote  the  blessings  of  light  and  knowledge  this  church  enjoys  from 
 Jesus  Christ  the  Sun  of  Righteousness.  The  moon,  might  signify  the 
 lesser  lights  of  the  Jewish  economy,  now  put  down.  The  twelre  stars, 
 an  emblem  of  her  doctrine,  from  the  twelve  apostles.  — /'.<//e,  so 
 W.Jones,  and  Keit/i.  Symbolic  scenes  ought,  probably,  to  be  ex- 
 plained like  parables  :  the  leading  ideas  being  ascertained,  subordinate 
 parts  may  be  viewed  as  mere  decorations.  Light  is  the  most  splendid 
 object  of  nature;  and  hence  the  heavenly  bodies  form  the  splendid 
 dress  of  this  woman .  To  call  the  moon  the  law  of  Moses,  betrays  no 
 correct  knowledge  of  the  old  coicnaut,  or  reverence  for  the  institutions 
 of  heaven.  The  church  might  be  seen  with  the  law  in  her  hand,  but 
 never  under  her  feet.— Dait.  Tlie  whole  of  this  chapter  is  constructed 
 on  ihc  principles  of  typical  reference  or  analogy  ;  and  probably  we 
 sliall  find  a  clue  to  guide  tis  into  ilie  meaning  of  much  that  it  contains, 
 in  what  the  apostle  says  to  the  church  at  Ephesus,  (chap.  v.  23—32.) 
 In  this  vision  we  are  carried  back  to  the  first  setting  up  of  Christ's 
 kingdom  in  the  world,  or  to  the  primitive  ages  of  the  church. — 
 W.  Jones.  2.  Travailing,  denotes  the  earnest  desire  of  the  true 
 church  after  the  increase  of  believers.— J.  Fuller.  The  chief  thing 
 here  intended  is  fruitfuhiess,  denoting  the  converts  which  the  church 
 should  bring  forth  to  God  amidst  her  sufferings  and  persecutions.— 
 Jioothr.  Or  It  may  denote  the  grievous  pcr^^ccutions  which  attended 
 the  apostles  of  Christ  and  succeeding  ministers  of  the  word,  throughout 
 
 the  limes  of  the  ten  Roman  emperors,  and  especially  under  Dioclesiaii, 
 when  the  time  \va>;  thawing  on  apace  that  a  Christian  emperor  should 
 he  brought  forth,  who  shouhl  be  a  means  of  spreading  the  gospel. — 
 Gill,  so  Scott.    The  travailing  in  birth,  and  paining  to  be  delivered,  is 
 to  he  referred  to  the  death  of  Christ ;  and  the  issue  or  product  of  this 
 parturition  was  Clirist  himself,  '  considered  as  the  firstborn  from  the 
 dead,'  in  which  capacity  he  was  to*  rule  all  nations  with  a  rod  of  iron  ;* 
 by  which  is  intimated  the  enetgy  and  success  of  his  administration, 
 H't  that  it  would  he  bloody  or  tyrannical,  (Ps.  li.  7—9  ;  Rev.  ii.  27.) — 
 W.  .Tones.         3.  Another  ivonder,  or  '  sign.'     A  great  red  dragon,  the 
 well  known   symbol  of  the  devil,  or  Satan.     Ited.  purple,  or  scarlet, 
 was  the  distinguishing  colour  of  the  Roman  cm))erors,  as  it  has  been 
 since  of  the  popes  and  cardinals.     His  seven  heads,  as  the  angel  after- 
 wards explains  the  visions,  (chap.  xvii.  9,  10,)  allude  to  the  seven  liills 
 on  which  Rome  was  built,  and  to  ttie  seven  formsof  government  which 
 successively  prevailed  there.     His  ten  horns  typify  the  ten  kingdoms 
 into  which  the  Roman  empire  was  divided  ;  and  tlie  '  seven  crowns 
 upon  his  heads'  denote  tliat  at  this  time  the  imperial   power  was  in 
 Rome,  the  city  seated  on  seven  hills,  which  presides  over  the  whole 
 world.— B/'.  Newton,  so  Loivmnn.         4.  His  tail  drew  the  third  part  of 
 the  star^  of  heaven,  that  is,  he  subjf'cletl  the  third  part  of  the  princes 
 and  potfiitatcs  of  the  earth  ;  and  the  Roman  empire  is  represented 
 as  the  third  part  of  tlie  world.     Stood  hefnre  the  womnn,  denoting  the 
 vigilance  of  the  Roman   power   over   Christianity. — S/v.  Newton.      I 
 think  that '  stars'  here  signify  '  the  ministers  of  the  churches,' accord- 
 ing to  Rev.  i.  20 :  and  if  so,  the  drawing  them  may  refer  to  the  evil  in- 
 flicted on  the  churches  at  the  beginning  of  Christianity,  by  persecutions 
 prior  to  the  time  of  Cnnstantine.— IF.  Jones.         5.  Brought  forth  a 
 man  child,  pointing  out  the  deliverance  of  the  Christian  church  by 
 Constantine. — Bp.  Newton.     Christ  mystically,  or  Christ  in  his  mem- 
 bers, they  are  the  seed  of  the  woman— the  chm-cU.— Gill,  so  Faher,  and 
 W.  Jones.     Wc  miagine  the  '  man  child'  to  be  the  symbol  of  the  nobler 
 race  of  confessois  and  martyrs,  who  quitted  themsLlves  like  men,  ami 
 having  conquered,  were  elevated  to  the  highest  place  in  the  church. — 
 Dav.     Rule  all  nations,  !^c.,  alluding  to  I's.   ii.   9,  and  denoting  the 
 universality  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
 would  rule  over  the  enemies. — Gill.     Caught  up,  exalted. — Pyle.    The 
 allusion  here  may  be  to  the  preservation  of  Joash,  in  the  time  of  Atha- 
 liah's  usurpation,  (2  Kings,  xi.  2,3.)— Grot.        6.  Fled,  not  directly; 
 this  is  said  by  way  of  anticipation. — Gill,  as  Bp.  Newton.    This  sig- 
 nifies  the   disappearance   of  the  true  church,  and  its  obscure  state  and 
 condition,  quickly  after  the  above  advance  of  it.     Wilderness,  means 
 here  a  country  tjiinly  inhabited.     Such  was  the  local  state  of  Chris- 
 tians during  the  period  specified  ;  and  hence  they  are  little  known  in 
 history.     Those  who  sojourned  in  Piedmont  were  the  most  public-spi- 
 rited, and  the  greatest  number,  most  probably,  on  any  one  spot  on  earth. 
 — Dan.        7.  There  traswar  i?i  heaven,  e^ei-ero,  '  there  had  been  war  in 
 heaven.*    The  conflict  between  the  dragon  and  the  woman  in  the  wil- 
 derness is  suspended,  while  tlie  battle  in  heaven  is  described  ;  and  is 
 afterwards  resumed  exactly  where  the  narrative  is  broken  off. —  Wondh. 
 It  seems  bcut  to  understand  this  of  the  war  commenced  by  Constantine 
 
 estimony  to  hi,;  l 
 
 The  ruin  of  Antichritst.     A  terrible  woe  av\ 
 li}56 
 
'the  great  dragon  overcome. 
 
 REVELATION,  XIII. 
 
 The  beast  ivith  seven  heads. 
 
 B  And  prevailed  not ;  neither  was  tlieir  place 
 Couiul  any  more  in  lieaven. 
 
 9  And  ''  tlie  great  dragon  was  cast  out,  "^  tbat 
 old  serpent,  called  the  Devil,  and  Satan, 
 '  which  deceiveth  the  whole  world  :  '  he  was 
 cast  out  into  the  earth,  and  his  angels  were 
 cast  out  with  him. 
 
 10  And  I  heard  a  lond  voice  .saying  in  heaven, 
 '  Now  is  come  salvation,  and  strength,  and  the 
 kingdom  of  our  God,  and  tlie  power  of  his 
 Christ:  for  the  accuser  of  our  hrethren  is  cast 
 dowji,  "  which  accused  them  hefore  our  God 
 day  and  night. 
 
 1 1  And  *  they  overcame  him  hy  the  hlood  of 
 the  Lanili,  and  by  the  word  of  their  testimony; 
 'and  they  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death. 
 
 I "2  Tlierefore  'rejoice,  ye  heavens,  and  ye 
 that  dwell  in  them.  "  Woe  to  the  inhabiters 
 of  tlie  earth  and  of  the  sea!  for  the  devil  is 
 come  down  unto  you,  having  great  wrath, 
 ''  because  he  knoweth  that  he  hath  but  a  short 
 time. 
 
 13  And  when  the  dragon  saw  that  he  was 
 cast  unto  the  earth,  he  persecuted  '  the  woman 
 which  brought  forth  the  man  child. 
 
 14  •'And  to  the  woman  were  given  two  wings 
 of  a  great  eagle,  '  that  she  might  fly  ''into  the 
 wilderness,  into  her  place,  where  she  is  nou- 
 rished ^  for  a  time,  and  times,  and  half  a  time, 
 from  the  face  of  the  serpent. 
 
 15  And  the  serpent  ''cast  out  of  his  mouth 
 water  as  a  flood  after  the  woman,  that  he  might 
 cause  her  to  be  carried  away  of  the  flood. 
 
 IG  And  the  earth  helped  the  woman, and  the 
 earth  opened  her  mouth,  and  swallowed  up 
 the  flood  which  the  dragon  cast  out  of  his 
 mouth. 
 
 17  And  the  dragon  was  wroth  with  the  wo- 
 man, '  and  went  to  make  war  with  the  remnant 
 of  her  seed,  '■  which  keep  the  commandments  of 
 God,  and  have  '  the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 A   D.  96. 
 
 A.  D.  'Ji) 
 
 }>  Luke  10. 
 
 l8.Jolinl2. 
 
 SI. 
 
 q  Geii    3.  1, 
 
 4.  cl..*.'l»  2. 
 
 r  cli.  20.  3. 
 
 i  ch.  y.  1. 
 
 n  mn  7.2,7 
 
 b  ch.  12. -S,  & 
 
 /  ch.  11.  15. 
 
 17.  3,  y,  12. 
 
 «c  19.  1. 
 
 il  Or,  t,nmft. 
 
 ch.  17.  3 
 
 H  Job  ].9.ft 
 
 c  Dan   ;.  6. 
 
 3.  5.  Zecli. 
 
 :i.  1 
 
 d  Dan.  7-5. 
 
 X  K..in.8..S{. 
 
 e  Uan.  7.  4. 
 
 SI,  a7.&  l(j 
 
 ■10. 
 
 f  e\\    12.  fl. 
 
 u  Luke  11. 
 
 U  ch.  Iti.  to. 
 
 ^'0. 
 
 /.  ch.  12.  4. 
 
 z  Ps  !i6.  n. 
 
 !b.  4'J.  \■^. 
 
 i  vfi-.   13,  \\. 
 
 eU.  IR.  •i\\. 
 
 t  fir.  il.n;. 
 
 n  ch.  8.  i:i. 
 
 A  cli.  17.6. 
 
 k  ij.  10. 
 
 b  ch.  11).  6. 
 
 (ch.  18.  18. 
 
 .-  ver.  5. 
 
 ...  Dan.  7   S, 
 
 11,  aj.S:  11. 
 
 d  E.K-  lit.  4 
 
 30. 
 
 I  Mjic.2  29, 
 30,  31. 
 
 II  Ov,liim'ihe 
 
 »■  ver.  r,. 
 /ch,  17.  S. 
 
 n  Ch.   U.S. 
 &  12.  6. 
 
 •J  D.an.  7.  25. 
 
 &  12.7. 
 
 -.John  1.  M 
 
 Ci.l.  2.  9. 
 
 h  Is.  5!)    19. 
 
 ;.  Dan.  7.  21 
 
 ch.  n    7.  Ik 
 
 0  ch.  11.  IS. 
 
 &  17.  15. 
 
 •  Gen.  R.  15. 
 
 r  Ex.  .S>.  32. 
 
 dt.  11.7   & 
 
 Diui.  12.  1. 
 
 13.  7. 
 
 Phil    I    3. 
 
 A  cli.  11    12. 
 
 ch.  3.  5.  & 
 
 /  1  Cr»r.  2.   1. 
 
 20    12,  I5.&: 
 
 1  Joint  .110. 
 
 21.  27. 
 
 ch-  1.  2.9. 
 
 t  ch.  17.  S. 
 
 &  6.  g.  b 
 
 /  Ch.  2.  7. 
 
 20.  -l. 
 
 «  In.  3.3.  1. 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 I  A  hvast  riscth  out  of  the  sen  with  seven  heath  and  fe7t 
 horns,  to  ivhom  the  t/rai/on  f/iveth  his  power.  1 1  An- 
 other beast  cumeth  np  out  of  the  earth  :  14  cavs'th  an 
 imntfe  to  he  made  of  the  fnrnur  beast,  15  and  that 
 men  should  worship  if,  16  and  receive  his  mark. 
 
 AND  I  Stood  Upon  the  .'^and  of  the  sea,  and 
 saw  "a  beast  rise  up  out  of  the  sea,  '^  hav- 
 '\\v^  seven  heads  and  ten  hums,  and  upon  his 
 horns   ten    crowns,    and   upon   his   heads    tlie 
 
 II  name  of  blasphemy. 
 
 2  ""  And  tiie  beast  which  I  saw  was  like  unto 
 a  leopard,  ''and  his  feet  w^ere  as  the  feet  of  a 
 bear,  ''and  his  nioutii  as  the  mouth  of  a  lion  : 
 and  ""the  dragon  ^ave  him  bis  power,  ^'and  his 
 seat,  *^  and  great  autliority. 
 
 3  And  I  saw  one  of  his  heads  '  as  it  were 
 t  wounded  to  death;  and  his  deadly  wound 
 was  healed  :  and  ^  all  the  world  wondered  after 
 the  beast. 
 
 4  And  ihey  worshipped  the  dragon  which 
 gave  power  unto  the  lieast :  and  they  wor- 
 shipped the  beast,  saying,  '  Who  is  like  unto 
 the  beast  ?  who  is  able  to  make  war  with  him  ? 
 
 5  And  there  was  given  unto  him  "'a  mouth 
 speaking  great  things  and  blasphemies  ;  and 
 power  was  given  unto  him  ||to  continue  "forty 
 and  two  months. 
 
 G  And  he  opened  his  mouth  in  blasphemy 
 against  God,  to  blaspheme  his  name,  "^and  his 
 tabernacle,  and  them  that  dwell  in  heaven. 
 
 7  And  it  was  given  unto  liim  ''to  make  war 
 with  the  saints,  and  to  overcome  them  :  ''  and 
 power  was  given  him  over  all  kindreds,  and 
 tongues,  and  nations. 
 
 8  And  all  that  dwell  upon  the  earth  shall 
 worship  him,  ^  whose  names  are  not  writte4i  in 
 the  book  of  life  of  the  Lamb  slain  ^from  the 
 foundation  of  the  world. 
 
 9  '  If  any  man  have  an  ear,  let  him  hear. 
 
 10  "He  that  leadetb  into  captivity  shall  go 
 
 against  paganism. — Gill.  By  applying  *  the  woman  in  heaven'  (ver. 
 1)  to  the  Christian  church,  and  the  '  man  child  hruiii^ht  forth  by  her' 
 (ver.  5)  to  the  first  Cliristian  emperor,  *  the  war  in  heaven'  implies  all 
 the  strugfcles  of  the  jirimitive  saints  with  enemies  and  persecutors. — 
 Stanh.  Miehnel  and  Itis  angels,  are  the  followers  of  the  Lamb,  the 
 friends  of  the  gospel,  who  professed  Christianity.  Thedragon's  angels, 
 the  supporters  ot  the  ohl  idolatry. —  W.  Junrs.  Michael  represents 
 Chri>it,  (Dan.  x.  21,)  and  thtise  who  foiigrht  with  him  are  said  to  be  his 
 confessors.  Tins  battle  may  be  considered  to  have  consisted  in  the 
 fierce  contention,  religious  controversy,  bigotry,  and  persecution,  that 
 the  dominant  clergy,  whether  Arians  or  orthodox,  maintained  for  a 
 considerable  time  after  the  empire  was  nomiDally  Christian.  14.  Two 
 w'j»^5— the  care  of  Provitlence  is  here  signified,  in  allusion  to  Deut. 
 xxxii.  10,  11.  Ihe  princes  of  Piedmont,  and  others,  afforded  an  asylum 
 to  the  few  true  believers  who  were  pursued  by  the  calumnies  and  ma- 
 lice of  the  fiery  dragon. — Dnv.  15.  Cast  out — wafer,  a  flood  of  per- 
 secution. T/ie  enrth  helped  the  woman,  by  the  protection  afforded  to 
 the  remnant  of  the  womati's  seed.  This  was  remarkably  fulfilled  in 
 the  case  of  the  Albigenscs  and  Waldenses;  the  former,  protected  by 
 the  Counts  of  Tnuluuse,  in  the  south  uf  France;  and  the  latter,  by  tlie 
 Dukes  of  Savoy,  in  the  valleys  of  Piedmont. —  W.  Junes.  The  passage 
 seems  generally  to  mean,  that  the  providence  of  God  will  raise  up  some 
 persons  who  shall  aid  and  assist  true  Christians,  notwithstanding  the 
 violence  and  persecution. — Lowman. 
 
 Chap.  XIII. — 1.  A  beast,  §■(•. — this  beast  appears  to  have  been  pagan 
 Rome. — Keith.  Described  here  at  large,  hut  only  mentioned  chap.  xi.  7. 
 This  beast  appears  to  mean  Christian  Rome. — B/t.  Newton.  It  means 
 that  secular  power  which  has  su|)ported  the  chuieh  of  Rome.  Rise  vp 
 out  of  the  sea,  rising  up  out  of  the  perturbed  slate  of  things  in  the 
 world.  The  description  given  of  the  beast  leaves  no  doubt  of  its  being 
 the  same  as  the  fourth  he.ist  in  Diuiiel,  (chap,  vii.)— .^.  Fuller.  The 
 name  of  bliisphemt/,  papal  Home,  assuming  that  power  which  only  be- 
 longs to  God  and  Christ,  as,  power  over  the  conscience,  to  forgive  sin, 
 
 fic.—Gill.  2.  Lilce  unto  n  leopard,  ^r.— Daniel  saw  three  previous 
 beasts,  a  Hon,  a  bear,  and  a  leop.ird,  all  wliich  had,  in  St.  JohnS  time, 
 passed  away,  and  had  been  ab-orbcd  in  the  Roman  beast.  John  tlicre^ 
 fore  describes  this  beast  as  compounded  of  those  three. —  M'il.  Thus, 
 the  btastof  the  Apocalypse  embodies  the  most  terrible  parts  and  pro- 
 perties of  all  the  four  hearts  of  Daniel.— IT'.  .Tones.  Sent,  *  throne.*— 
 Wakefield,  Dnuhiiz,  Duddr.,  Wnndh.,  Kc.  3.  One  of  its  heads  us  it 
 were  wounded— tUi^  signified  that  this  new  power  arose  in  the  Rnniaii 
 empire  after  that  empire  had  received  such  a  blow  in  one  of  its  heads, 
 or  fi>rms  of  government,  as  left  no  human  probalile  prospect  that  Rome 
 would  ever  rise  to  power  and  empire  any  moie.  Allusion  is  made  to 
 the  time  when  the  Roman  empire  was  overturned  by  the  northern  na- 
 tions, and  the  very  name  of  ■  emperor'  eoa'-id.  Rime  heing  rciiuced  t<> 
 a  poor  dukedom.  Afterwards,  the  new  p"wcr  hero  represented  arose, 
 when  the  government  (ell  into  the  hands  ot  the  pnpes,  and  the  Roman 
 name   agam   bcca-ne   formidable.  —  See   Lowman,   and    lip.    Newton. 
 
 4.  T/tey  worshipped  the  dragon,  ^c. — the  generality  of  the  subjects  of 
 these  idolitrous   Christian    governments   soon   ctuiformed. — So  Pi/le. 
 
 5.  Speaking  great  things,  calling  himself  by  high  and  lofty  titles;  as, 
 his  Holiness,  Infallible,  the  Vicar  of  God  on  earth,  our  Lord  God  the 
 Pope,  Christ's  vicar,  Peter's  successor.  Head  of  the  church.  Universal 
 bishop,  ^'C.  Blasphemies,  promising  pardons.  Sec. — Gill,  W.  Jones. 
 Forty  and  two  months,  1260  days,  or  prophetic  years.  If  we  reckon 
 from  the  time  when  he  was  made  universal  bishop  hy  Phoeas,  in  the 
 year  6o6,  and  add  1260,  the  expiration  of  his  reign  will  fall  in  the  year 
 \S66  ;  but  of  this  we  cannot  be  certain  ;  however,  tlie  conjecture  is  not 
 improbalde. —  Gill.  6.  His  tabernacle,  he  blasphemes  the  chnrrli  of 
 Goil  by  anathematizing,  as  heretics  and  schismatics,  true  Christians. 
 And  them  that  dwell  in  hearen,  by  idolatrous  worship  i.npinus  adora- 
 tion, and  fabulous  legends.  —Bp.  Newton.  "■  -ind  it  was  given  unto 
 him  to  make  wtir — a  reference  again  to  Daniel,  (see  Dan.  vii,  21  and 
 25.)  —  W.  .Tones.  10.  He  that  leodeth — shall  go — the  enemies  of  Gnd 
 and  Christ  shall  suffer  the  law  of  retaliation. — Bp.  Newton,    Here  i? 
 
 ■Rr.rLECTiONS  ON  Chap.  XII.  —  We  may  herp  observe, 
 X.TIte  i,hrtj  of  ihe  church.  Clirist  is  her  sun.  She  .shines 
 brightly  only  in  his  brightness,  and  all  inferior  ijlory  is  trodden 
 under  her  feet. 
 
 II.    The   trials   of  the  church.     She   has  had   frequently   to 
 struggle  with  the  violence  of  error  and  persecution.     She  has 
 ideed  travuiled  to  bring  forth  ;  Pharaohs  and  Horods  have 
 1367 
 
 beset  the  infant  seed  from  their  birth  ;  and  the  dragon  Las 
 never  ceased  lo  vomit  out  his  floods  to  sweep  away  Chris- 
 tianity from  the  face  of  the  earth. 
 
 in.  The  jiroicction  of  the  church.  In  llie  worst  of  times 
 God  has  found  a  bidini;  place  for  his  'miden  ones  ;  liis  provi- 
 deuce  has  still  upheld  his  church,  :nid  the  gates  of  bell  .shall 
 not  prevail  against  it. 
 
The  beast  with  two  ho 
 
 REVELATION,  XIV. 
 
 Z'/iC  lamb  and  his  company. 
 
 into  captivity  :  '  he  tliat  killeth  with  tlie  sword 
 must  be  killed  with  the  sword.  ''  Here  is  tlie 
 patience  and  the  faitli  of  the  saints. 
 
 1 1  And  I  helield  another  beast  ^  coming  up 
 out  of  the  earth  ;  and  he  had  two  horns  like  a 
 Iamb,  and  he  spake  as  a  dragon. 
 
 12  And  he  exerciseth  all  the  power  of  the 
 first  beast  before  him,  and  causeth  the  earth 
 and  them  which  dwell  therein  to  worship  the 
 first  beast,  °  whose  deadly  wound  was  liealed. 
 
 13  And  ''he  doeth  great  wonders,  "so  that 
 he  maketh  fire  come  down  from  heaven  on  the 
 earth  in  the  sight  of  men, 
 
 14  And  ''deceiveth  them  that  dwell  on  the 
 earth  "  by  the  means  of  those  miracles  which 
 he  !iad  power  to  do  in  the  sight  of  the  beast ; 
 .'-aying  to  them  that  dwell  oji  the  earth,  that 
 they  should  make  an  image  to  the  beast,  which 
 had  the  wcmnd  by  a  sword,  'and  did  live. 
 
 la  And  he  had  power  to  give  ^Wie  unto  the 
 image  of  the  beast,  that  the  image  of  the  beast 
 should  both  speak,  *and  cause  that  as  many 
 as  would  not  worship  the  image  of  the  beast 
 should  be  killed. 
 
 16  And  he  caused  all,  both  small  and  great, 
 rich  and  poor,  free  and  bond,  ''  f  to  receive  a 
 mark  in  their  right  hand,  or  in  their  foreheads  : 
 
 17  And  that  no  man  might  buy  or  sell,  save 
 
 b  Ueu.  IS.  1, 
 
 •2,  3.  niut. 
 
 2*.  21 
 
 2  Ttiea.2  ft. 
 
 cli,  hi.  U. 
 r  I   Kill.   IS. 
 
 Mrt   2Iviii.l, 
 
 III,  12 
 rf  c\\     12.  <l. 
 
 &   19.  ■-■ti. 
 e  2  Thes.  2. 
 
 !l.  111. 
 /2  Kin.  20. 
 
 t  Gr.  trMf/i. 
 
 &    19 
 
 20. 
 
 ft 
 
 20.4 
 
 /,  cli 
 
 4.  g 
 
 &   Ifi 
 
 •-'». 
 
 ^i 
 
 ao.  •» 
 
 t  (Jr. 
 
 to  ff 
 
 rf 
 
 thrrn 
 
 A.    D.  96. 
 
 cU.  14.  11. 
 eh.  \f>.  3. 
 cli.  I#.  9. 
 n  ch.   1&.  2. 
 
 I  cli.  21.  17 
 
 a  ch.  6.  5. 
 
 *  cli.  7.  1. 
 
 '  di.  7.  H. 
 13.  Ili. 
 
 & 
 
 rfch.  1.  IS 
 &  iU.  ti. 
 
 i,v,.r.l. 
 
 4  2  Cor  11.9. 
 
 he  that  had  the  mark,  or  '  the  name  of  the 
 beast,  "  or  the  number  of  his  name. 
 
 18  '  Here  is  wisdom.  Let  him  that  hath 
 understanding  count  ""  the  number  of  the 
 beast ;  "  for  it  is  the  number  of  a  man  ;  and  his 
 number  is  Six  hundred  threescore  and  six. 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 1  T/ie  Lamb  sta7idi»(l  on  mount  Sion  with  his  compani/, 
 ft  An  anfjcl  prtacht^th  ttie  pospeL  8  Tlie  fall  of  Ba~ 
 hi/lon.  15  T/ie  Imrvest  of  the  world,  and  putting  in 
 of  the  sickle.  '20  The  vintage  and  winepress  of  the 
 wrath  of  God. 
 
 AND  I  looked,  and,  lo,  °a  Lamb  stood  on 
 the  mount  Sion,  and  with  him  ^  an  hun- 
 dred forty  and  four  thousand,  "having  his 
 Father's  name  written  in  their  foreheads. 
 
 2  And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven,  "^  as  the 
 voice  of  many  waters,  and  as  the  voice  of  a 
 great  thunder:  and  1  heard  the  voice  of  "  harp- 
 ers har|)ing  with  their  harps  : 
 
 3  And  'they  sung  as  it  were  a  new  song 
 before  the  throne,  and  before  the  four  beasts, 
 and  the  elders :  and  no  man  could  learn  that 
 song  '  but  the  hundred  and  forty  and  four 
 thousand,  which  were  redeemed  from  the  earth. 
 
 4  These  are  they  which  were  not  defiled 
 with  women  ;   '■  for   they  are  virgins.     These 
 
 the  patience,  fyc,  which  may  mean,  that  it  requirps  both  failli  ami 
 patience  in  the  saints  to  believe  that  Antichrist  will  be  thus  distro^-etl, 
 and  to  wail  quittly  till  the  time  comes. — Gitt.  11.  .iriuther  hfisl. 
 llic  cliiircli  of  the  Greek  empire.— S/j-  /.  Newton.  '  The  beast  with  ten 
 crowned  horns'  is  the  Roman  empire,  as  divided  into  ten  kingdoms  ; 
 '  the  beast  with  two  horns  like  a  lamb'  is  the  Roman  hierarchy,  or 
 body  of  the  clergy,  both  regular  and  secular.  This  beast  is  afterwarrls 
 called  '  the  false  prophet,'  (chap.  xvi.  13  j  xix.  20 ;i  which  sufficiently 
 proves  that  false  doctors  and  teachers  are  particularly  designed.  This 
 beast  pretended  to  be  all  meekness,  but  he  '  spake  as  a  dragon,'  had  a 
 voice  of  terror. — Bji.  Newton.  This  beast  means  the  paual  powiT 
 arising  after  the  first.— Sn  Keith.  12.  C'insetli—to  wors/iifi  th^  Jimt 
 fiefist,  used  its  authority  to  spread  the  power  of  this  new  Roman  go- 
 vernment.—/.i<u'mii«.  13.  Duelh  great  wonders,  pretends,  like  other 
 false  prophels,  to  shew  signs  and  wonders.  14.  Make  an  image  of 
 the  4ensf— the  pope,  the  idol  of  the  church.  He  represents  in  himself 
 the  whole  poncr  of  the  beast,  and  is  the  head  of  all  authority,  tem- 
 poral as  well  as  spiritual.— B/i.  Newton.  The  image  of  the  heast,  we 
 apprehend,  was  not,  as  interpreters  generally  state,  the  jiope  ;  for 
 without  him  the  second  beast,  wlio  makes  the  image,  would  liavc  been 
 without  a  head.  Besides,  the  popes  were  far  from  being  worshipped  m 
 the  period  of  the  zenith  of  their  glory.  The  clergy  were,  as  a  corpora- 
 tion, from  the  time  of  their  union  under  Constantine,  deemed  infalli- 
 ble, and  (eared  :  but  they  often  treated  the  popes  with  disrespect  ;  and 
 these  were  still  more  contemned,  occasionally,  by  the  emperors  and 
 Roman  people.  No  princes  were  so  cruelly  used  as  some  popes  were. 
 ReligiiitLs  uniforinitij  was  the  image  of  the  empire  which  all  were  com- 
 manded to  worship;  and  no  one  who  had  not  this  imprinled  on  his 
 forehead  and  right  hand,  visible  in  their  sentiments  and  actions,  was 
 permitted  to  live— be  was  treated  as  an  outcast  from  earth  and  heaven. 
 —Dav.  The  image  of  the  beast  we  apprehend  to  be  a  counterpart  of 
 that  svstem  of  idolatry  and  intolerance  which  prevailed  in  ancient 
 Rome.'  15.  Power  to  friee  life,  ^-c- to  this  system  popery  has  given 
 life,  and  caused  it  to  speak  so  loud,  that  all  were  compelled  to  obey  its 
 fovtei.—Hatcheson.  l6.  .4  mark,  so  servants  were  marked  by  their 
 masters  ;  soldiers,  by  their  generals ;  and  devotees,  by  their  deities.— 
 See  Bp.  Newton.  18.  Here  is  wisdom,  seems  to  indicate  that  the 
 <liscernment  of  the  object  referred  to  requires  the  highest  exertion  of 
 the  mental,  if  not  of  tlie  spiritual,  eaiiacity  of  men,  (comp.  Prov.  ii. 
 2—5;  Job,  xxviii.  1-2-28  ;  1  Cor.  ii.  6—111.)— Ddo.  Among  the  ancients, 
 *>ne  way  of  propounding  and  solving  secrets,  and  difficult  problems, 
 was,  by  finding  out  things,  or  persons,  or  names,  hy  numbers,  answer, 
 iiig  to,  or  expressing  them.— Pj/e.  The  fihrase  alludes  to  the  custom 
 of  expressing  numbers  by  letters,  which  were  the  only  numerals  em- 
 ployed previous  to  the  tenth  century,  and  consists  of  those  letters 
 iiMially  called  six  hundred  and  sixty  six.— flao.  Count  the  namlter, 
 that  is,  find  out,  hy  a  given  numher.  the  name  of  the  beast,  so  as  to 
 know  when  this  tyrannical  power  shall  arise.- Lniiimun.  It  is  the 
 naaiher  of  a  man,  meaning,  it  is  a  method  of  numbering  practised 
 
 among  men  ;  as  'tlie  measure  of  a  man,'  (chap.  xxi.  17,)  is  such  a 
 measure  as  men  commonly  use  in  measuring. —J3p.  Newton.  His 
 namher  is  Sir  hundred  threescore  and  six— Sir  I.  Newton,  copying  7re- 
 7i,tus.  a  hearer  of  Polycarp's,  who  was  a  disciple  of  John,  finds  this 
 number  answering  to  the  Greek  word  Aaitivm,  Lalinus ;  thus,  \.  30, 
 a  1  T  300,  e.  5,  t.  10,  V.  50,  o.  70,  f.  200,  in  all.  066  ;  and,  consequently, 
 meaning  the  I.atin  church;  but  Falier  says,  that  there  is  no  Greek 
 authority  for  writing  the  word  with  the  broad  [«i]  '  ei.'  Some  find  it 
 in  Ludoricus,  the  Latin  name  of  '  Louis,'  given  to  a  numerous  line  of 
 French  kings  ;  and  the  conjectures  on  this  have  been  as  numerous  as 
 they  are  unsatisfactory.  The  date  itself  may  furnish  some  key  hy 
 which  to  calculate  the  duration  of  the  beast  from  its  rise,  though  some 
 have  thought  the  number  marks  the  period  of  its  fall,  and  it  was,  <in 
 this  score,  looked  for  in  I66li.  Doddridge  says,  "  I  suppose  this  number, 
 666  is  mentioned  to  signify,  that  the  appearance  of  that  power,  whose 
 elTorts  were  to  continue  1260  years,  was  to  happen  about  660  years 
 after  the  date  of  the  Revelation,  a.d.  96.  And  this  I  take  to  be  the 
 grand  key  by  which  the  era  of  the  fall  of  Babylon  is  to  be  calculated, 
 as  it  fixes  the  rise  of  the  beast  to  the  year  756,  or  thereabouts  j  when, 
 upon  the  destruction  of  the  exarchate  of  Ravenna,  the  pope  became  a 
 temporal  monarch  ;  that  is,  in  prophetic  language,  a  beast.'  This  is  the 
 generally  received  opinion  of  the  commentators.  Crolii  thinks  60b 
 means  a'humau  number;  that  is,  a  number  commonly  in  use,  which 
 he  supposes  to  mark  the  rise  of  the  Iniiuisilion,  666  years  after  that  of 
 popery,  and  these  numbers  taken  together  make  lisis,  the  exact  time  of 
 the  rise  of  that  abominable  institution. 
 
 CuAe  XIV— 1.  i /0(/*P(/,  <)C— in  the  tivo  preceding  chapters  an  ac- 
 count is  given  of  the  state  of  the  church,  as  oppressed  imder  Rome 
 pagan  and  Rome  papal,  and  here  of  its  more  glorious  and  victorious 
 condition,  with  Christ  at  the  head  of  it.— Gill.  A  Lamb,  Chnst,  the 
 true  paschal  Lamb,  shewing  here  that  his  mediatorial  government  is 
 the  fruit  of  his  sufferings,  and  the  cause  of  his  people's  safety  and  fide- 
 lity —ptarham.  .Vouul  Sion,  the  gospel  church.— Hen.,  H  it.  .-In 
 hundred fortn,  ffc.,  expressive  of  many,  the  number  of  Chnst's  people. 
 Name  uUtten,  Ac,  making  a  bold  profession  of  their  faith  m  God  and 
 Christ  —Hen.  2.  -■Inrf  /  heard,  ^c— the  expressions  in  this  verse  are 
 a  plain  allusion  to  the  strength  and  harmony  of  the  temple-mu.sic, 
 where  so  great  a  number  of  voices  and  instruments  were  used,  in  suig- 
 ing  psalms  and  praise  to  God  in  their  most  solemn  acts  of  worship.- 
 Lawman  3  A  new  song,  of  redeeming  grace ;  the  same  with  that 
 in  chap  v.  9.  Before  the  titrane,  ^c,  i.  e.,  publicly  in  the  church.— 
 Gill  No  man,  '  110  ouc.'—IJae.  Could  learn  that  song  liut  the  hun- 
 dred .S-c  for,  a.s  it  related  immediately  to  redemption,  the  proud,  the 
 impenitent  the  unbelieving,  and  the  carnal,  could  not  understand  the 
 nature  or  the  glory  of  this  subject;  nor  could  angels  join  m  it,  not 
 being  '  redeemed  to  God  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,'  though  they  mute 
 in  worshipping  him,  as  worthy  to  receive  all  honour  and  blessing.-- 
 Scott.  i.  Not  dejiled—rirgins,  in  opposiHou  to  the  followers  ol  Anti- 
 christ who  were  idolators,  spiritual  fornicators,  (chap.  xvm.  1— 0.1— 
 
 Refi.htions  on  Chap.  XIII.  — I.  From  the  liistorical  cha- 
 racter and  e.risting  features  of  popery,  we  cannot  doulit  tlie  pro- 
 priety nf  rccngnismg  it  in  the'lieusts  of  this  chapter.  Never  were 
 more  lilaspliemies  uttered,  never  were  more  cruelties  prac- 
 tised, never  were  greater  pretences  made  of  miraculous 
 powers,  never  was  more  despotic  authority  exercised  over 
 r-onscience.  by  any  body  politic  and  ecclesiastical,  tban  by  the 
 church  of  Rome. 
 
 J  I.  What,  nr  be  the  meaning  of  the  wj/sterious  jiuinUr.  1 1  us 
 1358 
 
 r, juice  that  we  have  the  plainest  as^urane^i  that  the  power  of  the 
 corrupt  Roman  government  and  hierarchy  shall  ere  long  come  to  an 
 iud,  and  yield  to  the  qlorious  reign  of  out  gracous  Redeenur.  U 
 may  the  mysterious  predictions  respectini;  the  desirable 
 event  soon  be  unravelled  by  the  acluid  lulfilmcnt,  and  the 
 cliurch  of  Christ  ■  look  forth  as  the  niorniofi,  lair  as  the  moon, 
 clear  as  the  sun,  and  terrible,'  to  her  enemies,  '  as  an  army 
 with  banners  !' 
 
The  fall  of  Babylon. 
 
 REVELATION,  XIV. 
 
 The  harvest  of  the  worlff. 
 
 are  they  'which  follow  the  Lamb  whitiierso- 
 ever  he  gooth.  Tiiese  f '■  were  redeemed  from 
 amon^  men,  ^  heiiifj  the  firstfruits  unto  God 
 and  to  the  Lamb. 
 
 5  And  "Mn  theh'  mouth  was  found  no  guile: 
 for  "they  are  without  fault  before  the  throne 
 of  God. 
 
 6  And  I  saw  another  angel  °fly  in  the  midst 
 of  heaven,  *•  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to 
 preach  unto  theni  that  dwell  on  the  earth, 
 ''  and  to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue, 
 and  people, 
 
 7  Saying  with  a  loud  voice,  'Fear  God,  and 
 give  glory  to  him;  for  the  hour  of  his  judgment 
 is  come  :  ^and  worship  him  that  made  heaven, 
 ind  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  fountains  of 
 waters. 
 
 8  And  there  followed  another  angel,  saying, 
 *  Babylon  is  fallen,  is  fallen,  "  that  great  city, 
 because  she  made  all  nations  diink  of  the  wine 
 of  the  wrath  of  lier  fornication. 
 
 9  And  the  third  angel  followed  them,  saying 
 with  a  loud  voice,  '*  If  any  man  worship  the 
 beast  and  his  image,  and  receive  his  mark  in 
 his  forehead,  or  in  his  hand, 
 
 10  The  same  ^  shall  drink  of  the  wine  of  the 
 wrath  of  God,  which  is  ^poured  out  without 
 mixture  into  "the  cup  of  his  indignation;  and 
 ''he  shall  be  tormented  with  ^"  fire  and  brim- 
 stone in  the  presence  of  the  holy  angels,  and 
 in  the  presence  of  the  Lamb: 
 
 11  And  ''  the  smoke  of  their  torment  ascend- 
 eth  up  for  ever  and  ever :  and  they  have  no 
 rest  day  nor  night,  who  worship  the  beast  and 
 his  image,  and  whosoever  receiveth  the  mark 
 of  his  name. 
 
 12  "^  Here  is  the  patience  of  the  saints  :  ""here 
 
 A.  U    BG, 
 
 .  ch.  a.  4.  & 
 
 7.  ir..  17.  Sc 
 
 17.  14.. 
 t  Gr.  Wtfre 
 
 bo'ight. 
 k  cli.  5.  9. 
 /  Jiim    I.  18. 
 
 Zeph-.-i.  13. 
 H  K|.h    h,  27. 
 
 Jude  24. 
 o  ch    8.  1.1. 
 p  Eph.  A.  9. 
 
 ID,  VI.  Til. 
 
 I.  2. 
 
 7  ch.  13.  7. 
 
 ch.  II.  13. 
 4c  15.  4. 
 
 I  Is.  21.  9, 
 Jer.  51.  S. 
 ch.  IS-  2. 
 
 ri  Jer.  51  7 
 ch.  II.  S  .% 
 10.91.  St  17. 
 2,  a  fa  IS.  3, 
 10,  is,  ai.  & 
 19.  2. 
 
 X  ch.  1.1.  IJ, 
 
 15,  iti. 
 
 y  Ps  7.'),  fi. 
 Is.  51  17 
 Jcr.-J5    15 
 
 :  ch.  1^    6 
 
 «  ch.  II).  19. 
 
 6  ch.  20,  10. 
 
 c  ch.  19.  20 
 
 d  Is,  34.  10. 
 cli.  19.3. 
 
 /ch. 
 
 g  Eccle8.4.l, 
 2.  ch   "0.  6 
 
 h  1  Cor.  15. 
 
 IH.  1  Thee. 
 
 4.  16. 
 II   Or, /rum 
 
 hf:<-rf<.tih 
 
 s-'itU  the 
 
 Sfiril,   i'e-. 
 .2  The-. 1. 7. 
 
 Heb  4!',  10. 
 
 fh.  6.  II 
 k  Kzek    i.2<' 
 
 Dan.  7-  13. 
 
 ch.  1.  Hi 
 I  ch.  6.  2, 
 m  ch,  IG  17- 
 «  Joel  3.  \:i 
 
 Mat.  13  :19 
 
 o  Jer.  SI. 33. 
 ch.  13.  12, 
 li  Or,  dried. 
 
 p  ch.  Ifi.  8. 
 q  Joel  3.  13. 
 
 Is.  1,3.  3. 
 
 I,.^iii  I.  15. 
 'I'h.  II.  8. 
 
 Hph  13.  19, 
 <  ch.  19.  14.. 
 
 are  they  that  keep  the  commandments  of  God, 
 and  the  faith  of  Jesus. 
 
 13  And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying 
 unto  me,  Write,  ^  Blessed  «;t'  the  dead  ''whicli 
 die  in  the  Lord  ||  from  henceforth  :  Yea,  saith 
 the  Spirit,  '  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
 labours  ;  and  their  works  do  follow  them. 
 
 14  And  I  looked,  and  behold  a  white  cloud, 
 and  upon  the  cloud  one  sat  ''  like  unto  the  Son 
 of  man.  '  having  on  his  head  a  golden  crown, 
 and  in  his  hand  a  sharp  sickle. 
 
 13  And  another  angel  '"came  out  of  the 
 temple,  crying  with  a  loud  voice  to  him  that 
 sat  on  the  cloud,  "  Thrust  in  thy  sickle,  and 
 reap  :  for  the  time  is  come  for  thee  to  reap  ; 
 for  the  harvest  °of  the  earth  is  ||  ripe. 
 
 16  And  he  that  sat  on  tlie  cloud  thrust  in 
 bis  sickle  on  the  earth  ;  and  the  earth  was 
 reaped. 
 
 1 7  And  another  angel  came  out  of  the  temple 
 which  is  in  heaven,  he  also  having  a  sharp 
 sickle. 
 
 18  And  another  angel  came  out  from  the 
 altar,  ''which  had  power  over  fire;  and  cried 
 with  a  loud  cry  to  him  that  had  the  sharp 
 sickle,  saying, ''Thrust  in  thy  sharp  sickle,  and 
 gather  the  clusters  of  the  vine  of  the  earth  ; 
 for  her  grapes  are  fully  ripe. 
 
 19  And  the  angel  thrust  in  his  sickle  into 
 the  eartli,  and  gathered  the  vine  of  the  earth, 
 and  cast  it  into  ""the  great  winepress  of  the 
 wrath  of  God. 
 
 20  And  *  the  winepress  was  trodden  '  without 
 the  city,  and  blood  came  out  of  the  winepress, 
 "  even  unto  the  horse  bridles,  by  the  space  of 
 a  thousand  and  six  hundred  furlongs. 
 
 D'it\  The  Jirstfruits—AS  the  firstborn  and  first-fruits  under  the  law 
 were  holy  and  consecrated  to  God,  so  -were  these  persons  redeemed 
 from  the  rest  of  maiikiiid,  freed  from  the  antichristiau  corruptions  of 
 the  church,  to  serve  God  accnniing  to  the  trutli  of  the  Christian  reli- 
 K-ion,  faith,  and  worsliiji. — Lowman.  b.  A'o  fi-"//e— their  profession 
 was  characterized  by  sincerity  and  purity. — W.  Jimfs.  Without  fault, 
 washed  hi  the  blood  of  Christ,  antl  justified  by  his  righteousness. — Gill. 
 The  expression  seems  to  allude  to  the  law  anionfz:  the  Jews,  wliich 
 ordered  a  strict  search  into  all  the  creatures  brought  for  sacrifice,  and 
 forbade  the  oftering  in  which  there  was  any  defect,  or  superfluity,  or 
 notable  blemish.— 5/o«/i.  &.  And  I  saw  nnol/ier  angel,   §c.  — the 
 
 period  here  referred  to  must  be  the  Reformation.—  IT'.  Jones.  It  is  ge- 
 nerally admitteti,  by  the  best  interpreters,  that  the  three  ang:els  intro- 
 duced in  these  and  the  followuiff  verses  were  emblemntical  heralds  of 
 the  proGTessive  reformation  from  popery. — Scott.  This  is  interpreted 
 of  the  Bible  Society,  by  Cunninuhtiv^c.  Many  commentators  refer  this 
 to  the  times  of  the  Pi'r)tcstant  Rcformatifm  ;  but  though  the  gospel  was 
 then  widely  circulated,  ver>-  few  attempts  were  or  could  be  made  to 
 carry  it  beyond  the  bonnds  of  Christendom  ;  it  was  reserved  for  the 
 present  period,  by  means  of  Bible  antl  Missionary  Socictii,  s,  on  a  grand 
 scale,  to  carry  it  to  '  every  nation,'  Bic.—  Wd.  8.  Another  ani^el,  the 
 AValdcnses  and  Albigenses,  say  some,— so  Bp.  Nealon  ;  Luther  and 
 nie  Reformers,  say  others,— so  Faber  -.  but  to  me  it  appears  that  a  set 
 of  ministers  in  the  spiritual  reign  of  Christ  is  meant— G'(7/.  If  we  ex- 
 plain the  first  angel  as  the  herald  of  the  dawnin:;  of  the  Reformation, 
 ill  the  twelfth,  thirteenth,  and  fourteenth  centuries,  we  may  properly 
 explain  this  of  the  IJohemians  and  others  in  the  fifteenth,  who  were 
 their  genuine  oft'spring  and  successors- John  Huss,  and  Jerome  of 
 Prague,  especially.— .Sco/f.  Bahylon.  by  this  is  generally  understood 
 •  Rome.' — Hen.  Is  faUen,  that  is,  '  Babylon  now  begins  to  fall,  and 
 will  asFuredly  and  finally  fall.'— Py/t;.  lii  the  style  of  prophecy,  things 
 •"O  he  afterwards  acconipUshed  are  represented  as  already  done,  in 
 order  to  shew  the  certainty  of  the  prediction.— /,oir?««».  Wine  of  the 
 wrath,  must  mean  '  wine  without  mixture.'  '  Without  dilutuig,'  (see 
 Ps.  Lxxv.,  and  Is.  li.^— U'lV.  g.  The  third  angel,  still  means  a  set  of 
 gospel  ministers  in  the  spiritual  reign  of  Christ ;  the  first  set  publish  the 
 gospel,  which  leads  on  to  the  ruin  of  Antichrist :  the  second,  proclaim 
 the  downfall  of  Rome ;  and  the  third,  denounce  the  wrath  of  God  upon 
 all  that  have  professed  the  popish  reUgion.  10.  Wine  of  the  u-nith  of 
 God,  Sfc,  it  is  probably  in  allusion  to  the  cup  which  the  Jews  gave  to 
 malefactors  to  stupily  them.— See  Gill.  With  fire  and  ftrimstone,  an 
 allusion  to  the  destruction  of  Sodom  and  Goiiiorrha.  Holy  angels— 
 Lamh—t\\e.  latter  will  be  their  judge,  and  the  former  their  executioners. 
 12,  Here  is  the  patience,  fyc,  '  that  which  has  required  their  patience, 
 and  about  which  it  has  been  exercised,  what  they  have  been  patiently 
 waiting  for— namely,  the  destruction  of  Anticlirist. '—(,'///.  Here  are 
 they,  fyc,  i.  e.,  *  here  are  their  triumphs.*— So  Doddr.  13.  Die  in  the 
 Lord—the  particular  sense  of  these  words  is,  to  declare  Uie  happy 
 state  of  those  saints  and  martyrs  who  were  already  dead  in  and  for  the 
 
 faith  of  Christ,  and  should  not  live  to  see  those  cruel  and  fearful  suf- 
 ferings which  should  afterwards  come  upon  the  Christians.  And  this 
 is  grounded  upon  the  general  truth,  that '  they  are  hapjjy  which  die  in 
 the  Lord.' — Til.  1  rather  thhik  that  this  relates  to  all  true  believers 
 who  have  a  saving  interest  in  Christ,  than  merely  to  martyrs  for  his 
 sake  ;  for  this  best  agrees  with  the  meaning  of  like  plirases  hi  1  Cor. 
 XV.  18,  and  l  Thess.  iv.  14,  iG,  and  a  declaration  of  the  blessedness  of 
 all  such  is  more  extensively  useful  and  encouraging  to  the  whole 
 churcli  under  her  various  troubles,  in  the  present  state  of  sin  and  sor- 
 row.— Gvyse.  14.  .'I  golden  crown,  the  ensign  of  royalty  and  sove- 
 reign power.  15.  Thruxt  in  thy  sirkle  and  reap — the  allusion  here 
 may  be  to  the  putting  in  of  the  sickle  and  reaping  the  tlrst  corn  hi 
 Judea,  at  the  feast  of  the  passover,  by  the  order  of  the  sanhedrim  which 
 sat  in  the  temple  ;  nor  did  any  reap  till  they  had  heard  the  word  given 
 them,  '  reap,'  by  the  messengers  of  the  court,  called  the  angels  or 
 messengers  of  the  sanhedrim. — Lightf.  The  act  of  reapUig  is  a  symbol 
 of  gatherhig  in  Christ's  elect,  but  not  of  the  execution  of  Divine  judg- 
 ments ;  but  the  vintage  is  always  a  symbol  of  the  wrath  of  God. — So 
 Cunninghamc,  Sir  I.  Newton,  Horsley.  The  bare  reaping  of  the  com, 
 which  is  a  good  fruit,  seems  to  denote  no  more  than  the  separation  of 
 it  from  the  earth. — Daubnz.  Ripe — niarg.,  *  dried,'  referring  to  the 
 state  of  ripe  wheat  in  hot  countries ;  and  figuratively  implying  that  the 
 world  was  ripe  for  destruction. —  Wil,  '  Two  judgments'  are  liere  sig- 
 nified, and  in  the  course  of  Providence  the  one  will  precede  the  other, 
 as  in  the  course  of  nature  the  harvest  is  before  the  vintage  ;  and  the 
 latter  will  surpass  the  former,  and  be  attended  with  a  more  terrible  de- 
 struction of  God's  enemies. — Jip,  A'ewton.  *  Harvest'  may  sometime.s 
 he  taken  for  God's  gathering  together  his  people,  or  his  saints  departed 
 in  Clirist ;  but  as  these  expressions  are  plahily  taken  from  Joel,  iii.  13, 
 tiie  harvest  and\uitage  arc  expressive  of  judgment. — Luwm.  Icertaiidy 
 agree  with  those  writers  who  explain  the  '  harvest'  as  denoting  a  har- 
 vest, not  of  mercy,  but  of  Divine  indignation  against  the  worsluppers 
 of  the  beast  and  his  image. —  W.  Jones,  so  Hiitcheson.  As  these  ex- 
 pressions, and  those  hi  the  next  vision,  manifestly  allude  to  Joel,  iii. 
 13,  where  they  signify  the  judgments  of  God  for  the  great  wicked- 
 ness of  the  people,  and  as  the  '  sharp  sickle'  in  the  hand  of  the  angel 
 that  appeared  in  the  next  vision  (ver.  \7)  was  an  emblem  of  execution, 
 it  seems  most  proper  to  interpret  the  same  emblem  in  the  same  way 
 hi  both  visions. — Giiy-fe.  18.  Poiver  over  fire,  having  the  office  of  in- 
 flicting Divine  vengeance. — Grot.  Her  grapes  are  fully  ripe,  the  mea- 
 sure of  their  crimes  were  filled  up.—  Vitr.,  Gill.  2u,  The  winepress 
 ivas  trodden — '  to  tread  a  wuiepress,'  from  the  Jewish  custom  of  press- 
 uig  grapes,  signifies  destruction,  attended  with  great  slaughter. — Bp. 
 Hard.  Unto  the  horse  hridles,  hyperbohcal,  and  expressive  of  vast 
 slaughter  and  effusion  of  blood. — Bp.  Neirton,  Wnodh.  A  thousand 
 and  sis  hundred  furlongs — 20(1  Italian  miles;  the  exact  extent  of  the 
 estates  belonging  to  the  Roman  church,  called  '  St.  Peter's  patrimony.' 
 — Jos.  Mate. 
 
The 
 
 •  of  the.  I  am  It. 
 
 REVELATION,  XV.,  XVI. 
 
 T!ie  scrrn  viah  of  wralh. 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 Tlu:  seven  anffeh  with  the  S''ven  last  Jjhtfjvca.  3  The 
 sour;  of  them  that  overcome  the  beast.  7  The  seven 
 via/sJuU  of  the  wrath  of  God. 
 
 \  ND  °I  saw  another  sign  in  heaven,  great 
 -^^  and  marvellons,  '■  seven  angels  having  the 
 seven  last  plagues;  "'for  in  them  is  filled  up 
 the  wrath  of  God. 
 
 2  And  I  saw  as  it  were  '■  a  sea  of  glass 
 ■^  mingled  with  fire  :  and  tliem  that  had  gotten 
 the  victory  over  ttie  heast,  '^and  over  his 
 image,  and  over  his  mark,  and  over  the  num- 
 ber of  his  name,  stand  on  the  sea  of  glass, 
 '•'  having  the  harps  of  God. 
 
 3  And  they  sing  ''  tlie  song  of  Moses  the  ser- 
 vant of  God,  and  tlie  song  of  the  Lamb,  saying, 
 '  Great  and  marvellous  are  thy  works.  Lord 
 God  .\lmighty  ;  '' jnst  and  true  ate  thy  ways, 
 thou  King  of  ||  saints. 
 
 4  '  Who  shall  not  fear  thee,  O  Lord,  and 
 glorify  thy  name?  for  ihnu  only  art  holy  :  for 
 "'all  nations  shall  come  and  worship  before 
 thee  ;  for  thy  judgments  are  made  manifest. 
 
 5  And  after  that  I  looked,  and,  behold,  "  the 
 temple  of  the  tabernacle  of  the  testimony  in 
 heaven  was  opened  : 
 
 6  °  And  the  seven  angels  came  out  of  the 
 temple,  having  the  seven  plagues,  '' clothed  in 
 pure  and  white  linen,  and  having  their  breasts 
 
 n  ell.  12.  1  ,3 
 6cli.  16.  1. 
 
 »  21.9. 
 c  cli.  1 1-  10 
 
 I.  1.  r,  K 
 .  IS. 
 >■  Max.  .1.11. 
 
 i-l».  1 1.  S 
 Deiii.  :is.l 
 Ps.  lll.-i  & 
 vm.  u. 
 
 »  Ps.  115.17. 
 Hr>3  11.  9 
 cli.  10.  7. 
 
 n  Or,  »-'li'»u, 
 
 I  Kx.  1.',.  M, 
 15,  IG.  J.>r. 
 111.  7. 
 
 'I  Is.  Cli.  23. 
 
 li-li-  11.  in. 
 
 S««Niiii).l. 
 50. 
 
 vpr    I. 
 ]}  Ex.  23.  «. 
 8.  Eiek  41. 
 17,  IS.  cli.  I 
 13. 
 
 7  ch.  ♦.  0. 
 
 Ul   6. 
 *  Kx-  -in.  .^». 
 
 1  Kin.S.10. 
 
 ?Cl.r  r..ll, 
 
 I«.  6.  4. 
 <2  riics.1.9 
 
 rch.  13.  16, 
 17. 
 ■cli.  13.  11. 
 
 «  ch   8.  Id. 
 /  Ex.  7.  211. 
 
 girded  with  };olden  girdles. 
 
 7  ''  And  one  of  the  four  beasts  gave  unto  the 
 seven  angels  seven  golden  vials  full  of  the 
 wrath  of  God,  '  who  liveth  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 8  And  '  tlie  temple  was  filled  with  smoke 
 '  from  the  glory  of  God,  and  from  his  power  ; 
 and  no  man  was  able  to  enter  into  the  temple, 
 till  the  seven  pla'.^ues  of  the  seven  angels  were 
 fulfilled. 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 2  The  anods  pour  out  their  xi'mls  full  of  wra/fi.  G  The 
 phiqnts  that,  fallout  thereupon.  15  Christ  conicth  as 
 a  thief.      Blvssed  art  they  that  icntch. 
 
 A  ND  I  beard  a  ^reat  voice  out  of  the  temple 
 •^^  saying  "  to  tlie  seven  angels.  Go  your 
 ways,  and  pour  out  tlie  vials  ^  of  the  wrath  of 
 God  upon  tiie  earth. 
 
 2  And  the  first  went,  and  poured  out  his  vial 
 *^  upon  the  earth;  and  ''there  fell  a  noisome 
 and  ^rievons  sore  upon  the  men '^  which  had 
 the  mark  of  the  beast,  and  upon  them  ^  which 
 worshipped  his  image. 
 
 3  And  the  second  angel  poured  out  his  vial 
 ^upon  the  sea;  and  ''it  became  as  the  blood 
 of  a  dead  man  :  '  and  every  living  sonl  died  in 
 the  sea. 
 
 4  And  the  third  angel  poured  out  his  vial 
 •^  upon  the  rivers  and  fountains  of  waters ; 
 '  and  they  became  blood. 
 
 CnAp,  XV. —  1.  And  I  saw  —  this  chapter  is  a  preparation  to  the 
 pouring  out  of  the  seven  vials,  as  chap.  i.  is  to  the  sending  of  the  seven 
 epistles,  and  chap.  iv.  to  the  seven  seals  and  seven  trumpets.— G///. 
 Sei^en  !n.st  pfncri/es— these  seven  last  plagues  must  necessarily  fall 
 nnder  the  seventh  and  last  trumpet,  or  the  third  and  last  woe  trumpet ; 
 so  that,  as  the  seventh  seal  contained  the  seven  trumpets,  the  seven 
 trumpets  comprehend  the  seven  vials.  If  these  seven  last  plagues 
 coincide  in  time  with  the  seventh  and  last  trumpet,  they  are  all  yet 
 to  come ;  for  the  sixth  trumpet  is  not  yet  pa?t,  nor  the  woe  of  the 
 Turkish  or  Ottoman  empire  yet  ended.— B/j.  Xenton.  2.  Sen  of 
 ffhs-t,  may  signify  the  pure  state  of  the  church.— U'rf/)/f,  Gmt.  It  may 
 denote  a  multitude  of  saints.— Dniifutz.  Understand  it  of  the  pure 
 gospel.- fi;Y/.  The  atoning  blood  of  Christ.— ir.  Jone.-;.  Mingled  with 
 fire—DxQ  fire  of  porsecutioii. — Dnnhuz.  The  fire  to  he  poured  out  on 
 the  vials.— n>/;j/('.  'The  waves  flash  flame,' symhoUi-ally  expressive 
 of  anger  aiul  vengeance.  —  IV.  Jones.  3.  The;/  sin^,  ^t-.- as  the 
 Israelites  sang  the  praises  of  God,  for  their  deliverance  at  the  Red  Sea, 
 in  a  hymn  composed  by  Moses,  so  these  saints,  having  obtained  a 
 greater  deliverance  and  salvation  by  Christ,  sang  an  hy.mn  of  praise. 
 5.  T/ie  tahernarle  of  the  tf.itimonr/,  that  is,  the  mo.st  holy  place. — 
 Lowmun.  The  tabernacle,  the  ajigels  in  the  undress  of  the  priests,  the 
 four  living  animals,  or  cherubim,  the  cloud  of  glory,  ^c,  all  proclaim 
 the  scene  to  be  the  true  church  of  the  living  God.— /)«<•.  ".  Bcfists, 
 or  living  creatures.— G///.  Golden  vtufs,  or  bowls  ;  a  symbol  borrowed 
 from  the  golden  bowls  full  of  incense  in  the  temple  service. —  Duv. 
 9.  Fitted  icith  sinoke,  may  design  God's  powerful  and  gracious  ])re- 
 sence  in  his  church,  in  allusion  to  the  cloud  which  filled  the  tabernacle, 
 so  that  Moses  could  not  enter :  and  which  filled  the  temple,  so  that 
 the  priests  could  not  minister,  (Exod.  xl.  :(4.  35  ;  1  Kings,  viii.  lo,  1 1 .} 
 — Giti.  This  is  a  further  proof  of  the  majestic  presence  anil  extraordi- 
 nary interposition  of  Gnd  in  the  execution  of  these  judgments.— 
 lip.  Ntfwton.  i\'«>  iiiftn  was  nf/te  to  euter—there  will  be  no  entering  into 
 the  temple  so  as  fully  to  understand  them.—  Gift. 
 
 Chap.  XVI.  —  2.  Poured  out  /lis  ?'/«/— as  the  vials  here  described 
 were  used  for  libations  at  sacriiices,  from  which  the  liquor  was  poured 
 out  at  once,  it  is  probable  that  these  divine  judgments  will  be  rapidly 
 executed.— So  Vitr.,  and  Dtnthuz.  Upon  the  earth,  may  signify  those 
 popish  countries  which  are  upon  the  continent,  as  France  and  Ger- 
 many.  The  first  vial  will  bring  great  distress  upon  the  popish  party 
 in  the  empire.— Gf//.  Sermnjis.  The  Seripl.  ClironoL,  in  Bickersteth, 
 dates  the  pouring  out  of  this  vial  in  1792,  during  the  French  Republic. 
 —See  Birkersteth's  Pntrt.  Guide  to  the  Prophecies,  5th  edit.,  p.  359. 
 The  first  vial  was  pouretl  out  in  the  French  Revolution,  \7^9.— Keith. 
 A  noisurne  and  ^rieeous  snre,  resembling  the  sixth  plague  in  Egypt, 
 [Exod.  i.x.  9.) — Bp.  Neutoji.  '  An  ulcer,'  or  '  sore,'  in  prophetic 
 language,  denotes  the  utter  incapacity  of  the  goveniment  to  preserve 
 its  independence  and  protect  its  subjects,  ;see  Isa.  i.  6  :  Jcr.  xxx.  12; 
 Nah.  iii.  ]y.)    A  person  suffering  under  a  mahgoant  ulcer  is  physically 
 
 disqualified  from  doing  any  work,  how  much  soever  his  heart  may  be 
 set  on  it.  Such  is  the  state  to  which  Antichrist  was  to  he  reduced  by 
 the  first  angel.  We  conceive  this  ulcer  was  formed  by  John,  elector  of 
 Saxon>,  wlien  he  assumed  the  power  to  regulate  the  aftairs  of  his  do- 
 minions, independent  of  the  emperor,  pope,  and  majoritj-  of  the  clergy 
 of  the  empire,  A.n.  1527.  Tlie  example  was  followed  by  all  the  Gertuan 
 princes.  The  hotly  of  Antichrist  now  lost  for  ever  the  use  of  some  of 
 his  most  important  members. — Dud.  That  there  is  here  an  allusion  to 
 the  grand  schism  which  took  place  in  the  church  of  Rome  when  Luther 
 and  his  friends  broke  off  from  her  communion  is  indisputable.  This 
 first  plague  in  the  Christian  world  answers  to  the  first  trumpet,  and 
 points  at  the  time  when  some  of  the  ten  kings,  iulluenccd  by  a  due  re- 
 gard to  their  own  interests,  boldly  stood  forward  in  defence  of  the  pub- 
 lication of  the  Scriptures  against  the  church  of  Rome  ;  and  when  those 
 kings  who  had  given  their  power  to  the  beast  began  to  withdraw  their 
 support.  This  broke  the  unif(trmity  which  had  now  subsisted  through 
 so  many  centuries,  maintaining  one  confession,  or  form,  of  religion  ; 
 and  it  occasioned  a  schism  which  was  never  healed, — a  malady  in  the 
 body  ]>olitic  which  proved  incurable. —  W.  .Tones.  3.  The  second  au<;el 
 poured  out  his  vinl  upon  the  sen — this  may  intend  the  maritime  powers 
 belongini;  to  the  church  of  Rome,  particularly  Spain  and  Portugal. — 
 Gilt.  This  seems  to  have  been  fulfilled  in  the  Italian  campaigns  of  the 
 French,  iti  1  ~{y.\.— Script.  Chron.  in  Bickersteth.  The  secmd  vial  seems 
 t(j  have  been  poured  out  in  the  naval  wars  of  Great  Ilritain  against 
 France  and  Europe,  commencing  1703.— Keith.  According  to  the  ex- 
 planation given  us  of  the  symbolic  term,  'sea,'  in  Rev.  xvii.  1,  15,  it 
 must  nicau  the  great  bulk,  or  body,  of  the  worshippers  of  the  beast — 
 the  antichri'itian  party.  As  Ihi'  blond  of  u  deud  ?«*(»— '  blood,' in  the 
 language  of  i)rnphccy,  denotes  wars,  fightings,  strifes;  and  here  may 
 signify  the  prevailing  rancour  of  the  antichristian  party  against  one 
 another. —  II'.  Jones.  The  description  seems  to  he  taken  from  the 
 piaerucs  of  Egypt,  (see  Exod.vii.  20,21.)  and  points  out  great  mortality 
 and  slaughter.- Lfjn-Hi//n.  This  plague  may  portray  universal  death, 
 or  dotruction,  to  the  frightful  tyranny  and  despntJsm  of  the  clerical 
 power,  by  all  the  governments  of  the  Babylonish  empire  ceasing  to 
 ci)m|;cl  men,  by  the  terrors  of  death,  to  worship  the  image  of  the  beast. 
 The  law  of  toleration  long  since  virtually  began  to  rule  Europe,  and  it 
 was  absolute  death  to  the  lite  of  the  beast— to  the  ambition,  pride,  and 
 madness  of  the  clergy.  The  peace  of  Westphalia  indicted  this  plague, 
 iu  ifiis.  on  the  Germans,  who  worshipped  this  heast.  More  gradually 
 it  passed  into  other  kingdoms,  and  none  now  dare  absohitcly  put  men 
 to  death  for  their  religion. — Dud.  4.  The  third  nuclei  poured  out  his 
 villi  upon  the  rirers  nnd  fnuntftins—t\\\%  may  point  to  those  places  ad- 
 jacent to  Rome,  as  Italy  and  Savoy.  And  theij  hecume  blood— the-^e 
 countries  will  be  covered  with  blood,  and  a  reformation  will  ensue 
 upon  it. — Gilt.  'These  rivers  and  fountains*  denote  the  Jesuits,  and 
 other  impish  emissaries,  whose  plague  was  inflicted  when  they  were 
 driven  from  the  diflercnt  coiurts  of  Europe.— Joi.  Mede,  Dr.  H.  More. 
 
 Reflections    on    Chap.    XIV.  —  Observe  here,   I.   The  Christ  and  his  church.     This  judgment  is  denounced  in  the 
 
 happiyiess  mid  jinritif  of  the  oil  urch  of  Christ.     The  Lamb  is  on  gospel,  and  already  do  we  see  sufficient  tokens  of  the  Divire 
 
 mount  Sion  ;  Clirist  is  in  the  midst  of  his  church,  who  sing  (lispleasure  on  the  spiritual  Babylon.    She  must  fall  ;  anil,  to- 
 
 his  praises  anil  celebrate  his  redeeming  love.     Ihese  are  tliey  RPther  with  iier,  all  the  enemies  ot  Christ  sludl  lick  the  (lust, 
 
 wbom  he  has  renewed  by  his  £;race,  washed  in  his  blood,  and  The  sickle  is  preparing,  but   the  saints  at   no  perioil   have 
 
 sanctified  by  his  Spirit,  and  wjiom  he  shall  present  '  faultless  cause  to  fear,  for  *  blessed  are  the  dead   which  die  in   the 
 
 before  the  tiirone  of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy.'  Lord.' 
 
 IL    The  misery  and  dvstrnrtion   which    await   the   ennuirt   of 
 I.^fiO 
 
Seven  angels  pour  out 
 
 REVELATION,  XVI. 
 
 their  vials  ofxvr'iih. 
 
 5  And  I  heard  tlie  angel  of  the  waters  say, 
 "  Thou  art  rigliteoiis,  O  Lord,  "  vvliich  art,  and 
 wast,  and  shall  be,  because  thou  hast  judged 
 thus. 
 
 6  For  °  they  have  shed  the  blood  ''of  saints 
 and  prophets,  ■"  and  thou  hast  given  them  blood 
 to  drinli  ;  for  tliey  are  worthy. 
 
 7  And  I  heard  another  out  of  the  altar  say. 
 Even  so,  '  Lord  God  Almighty,  '  true  and 
 righteous  are  tliy  judgments. 
 
 8  And  the  fourth  angel  poured  out  his  vial 
 '  upon  the  sun  ;  "  and  power  was  given  unto 
 him  to  scorch  men  with  fire. 
 
 9  And  men  were  ||  scorched  with  great  heat, 
 and  '  blasphemed  the  name  of  God,  wliich  hath 
 power  over  these  plagues  :  *  and  they  repented 
 not  'to  give  him  glory. 
 
 10  And  the  fifth  angel  poured  out  his  vial 
 "upon  the  seat  of  the  beast;  ""and  his  king- 
 dom was  full  of  darkness  ;  '  and  they  gnawed 
 their  tongues  for  pain, 
 
 1 1  And  '^  blasphemed  the  God  of  heaven 
 because  of  tiieir  pains  and  ^  their  sores, 'and 
 
 A.  D.  &Q. 
 
 A.  D,  96. 
 
 m  ch.    15.  3. 
 
 '.  cl».  1.  4,  8. 
 &  4.  8,  & 
 11.  17. 
 
 3  ch    9,  U 
 
 A  SeeJer.M). 
 38.  &  ol.Sli 
 
 0  Mat.  23.81, 
 
 .  l3.  41.2,-i5 
 
 35.  ch.  13. 
 
 15. 
 
 k  1  John  4. 
 
 P  ch.  11.  18. 
 
 1,  2,  3. 
 
 f<  IS.  2Lt- 
 
 I  ch.  12.  3,  V. 
 
 7  Is.  19.  2G. 
 
 r  Ch.  15.  3, 
 
 s  ch.  13.  10. 
 
 m  ch    19  2.1. 
 
 &  14.  10.  fie 
 
 &  yd    10. 
 
 13.  a. 
 
 n  I  Tim  .4.1. 
 
 Jam.  S.  15. 
 
 0  -2  Thes.  2 
 
 tch    fi.  12. 
 
 9  ch.  13  1  \ 
 
 1'  ch    9.  17, 
 
 14  8t  19,  211 
 
 IS,  &U.  18. 
 
 p  Luke  2.   1 
 
 1  ch.  17.  H. 
 
 II  Or,bur„ed. 
 
 &   19.  19   & 
 
 ■;;o  8. 
 
 X  ver.  11,31 
 
 r  Mal,?4  43. 
 
 t/  Dan.  5.  22, 
 
 1  Thes.5.2, 
 
 23.  ch.9  20. 
 
 2  Pet. -S.  Ill 
 
 sch.  II.  13. 
 
 ch.  3    3. 
 
 &  11   7. 
 
 .  2  Cor    5.  :i 
 
 ch.  3.  4,  18. 
 
 a  ch.  IX  2. 
 b  eh.  9.  2 
 
 t  ch.  19   19. 
 
 c  ch.  11.  10. 
 
 d  VQT.  9,21. 
 
 /ver.  9. 
 
 repented  not  of  tiicir  deeds. 
 
 12  And  the  sixth  angel  poured  out  his  vial 
 ^  upon  the  great  river  Eujihrate.s  ;  ''and  tlie 
 water  thereof  was  dried  up,  '  that  the  way  of 
 the  kings  of  t!ie  east  iniglit  be  prepared. 
 
 13  And  I  saw  tliree  unclean  '•spirits  like 
 frogs  co/nc  out  of  the  mouth  of  '  the  dragon, 
 and  out  of  the  moutli  of  the  beast,  and  out  of 
 the  moutii  of '"t!ie  false  prophet. 
 
 14  "  For  they  are  the  spirits  of  devils,  °  work- 
 ing miracles,  n-Jiicfi  go  forth  unto  the  kings  of 
 tlie  eartli  ''and  of  tlie  whole  world,  to  gather 
 them  to  ''the  battle  of  that  great  day  of  God 
 Almighty. 
 
 15  '  Behold,  I  come  as  a  thief.  Blessed 
 is  he  that  watcheth,  and  keepeth  his  gar- 
 ments, Mest  he  walk  naked,  and  they  see  his 
 shame. 
 
 16  *  And  he  gathered  them  together  into  a 
 place  called  in  the  Hebrew  tongue  Armaged- 
 don. 
 
 17  And  the  seventh  angel  poured  out  his  vial 
 into  the  air ;  and  there  came  a  great  voice  out 
 
 The  third  vial  seems  to  be  the  counterpart  of  the  third  trumpet,  fchap. 
 ^■iii.  10.)  If  the  '  .~ea'  denote  the  main  body  of  the  followers  of  Anti- 
 christ, then  the  '  rivers  and  fountains  of  waters'  must  signify  particular 
 nations,  provinces,  and  states,  lying  remote  from  the  heart  of  the 
 beast's  seat,  or  from  the  centre  of  government ;  such  were  France, 
 Spain,  and  Britain.  '  The  waters  became  blood,'  which  may  point  to 
 the  wars  and  blood ^ihed diners  within  the  bounds  of  those  nations. 
 Tliat  tbe  events  of  the  French  Revolution  were  included  in  this  vial 
 seems  clear  j  but  it  is  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  many  had  not  ijre- 
 ceded  it  equally  connected  with  the  pouring  out  of  this  vial. — So  W. 
 Jones.  This  vial  refers  entirely  to  the  events  of  the  French  Revolution. 
 —So  Faher  and  Fuller.  The  third  vial  was  poured  out  during  the  su- 
 liremacy  of  Napoleon,  1802  to  1815.— CAco^.  in  Bicker^teth.  The  pour- 
 ing out  of  this  vial  ?eems  to  designate  the  same  scene  as  that  of  Attila's 
 devastations  in  northern  Italy,  aJongthe  Poand  its  numerous  tributary 
 rivers.  Prophecy  fulfiHed  by  Buonai)arte's  campaigns  in  Piedmont, 
 Lnmbardy,  &c. ;  Suworrow's  campaign,  battle  of  Marengo,  ^c. — Keith. 
 Rivers  and  springs  supply  the  sea,  and  therefore  more  properly  repre- 
 sent the  resources  of  the  nation  than  the  pro\'inces,  or  various  dis- 
 tricts, of  the  coMutry.  Hence,  this  plague  was  to  fall  on  the  finances 
 of  the  Babyloniiui  government,  which  were  to  be  exhausted,  or  changed 
 into  'blood.'  strife,  contentions,  &c.  Frederick  the  Great  first  intro- 
 duced a  new  system.  Without  the  advice  or  countenance  of  the 
 clergy  of  any  confession,  he  seized  the  estates  of  the  clergy,  plundered 
 the  convents,  &c. ;  and  his  example  was  afterwards  imitated  by  other 
 princes,  catholic  and  protectant. — Dav.  5.  The  nnf^el  of  the  waters, 
 i.  e.,  whose  commission  was  to  pour  out  his  \ial  on  the  countries  sig- 
 nified by  the  'rivers  and  fountains  of  waters.' — Guyse.  6.  Thou  hast 
 f^ireii  them  blood,  SfC. — this  is  an  intimation  of  retributive  judgment. 
 All  Europe,  previous  to  the  Reformation,  was  stained  with  the  blood 
 of  the  martyrs ;  and  since  that  memorable  era,  France,  and  Germany, 
 and  Spain,  and  Portugal,  and  Italy,  have  been  deeply  enjraged  in  that 
 impious  pracrice.  Nor  did  our  country  escape  punishment  in  the  civil 
 wars  among  us,  during  nearly  the  whole  of  the  i/th  century. — W.  Jones. 
 8.  The  fourth  angel  poured  out  his  vial  ujinn  the  su?i — understand  the 
 pope,  his  creatures,  and  the  cardinals,  the  sun  in  the  antichristian 
 kingdom.— GjVt.  By  this  understand  the  hght  of  the  antichristian 
 world,  consisting  in  man's  wisdom,  in  its  church  policy  and  church 
 authority.  By  the  scorching,  understand  the  heat  and  animosity 
 which,  for  two  centuries  after  the  Reformation,  existed  in  church 
 policy,  and  when  ecclesiastical  autliorit>'  grew  more  intense  by  oppo- 
 sition. lilasphemed—God,  may  allude  to  the  prevalence  of  deism  and 
 infidelity,  the  certain  consequence  of  these  wranglings  and  disputings  ; 
 men  not  distinguishing  betw-ecn  Christianity  and  its  corruptions. — So 
 W.Jones.  As  *  the  lightsof  heaven,' in  prophecy,  are  usually  symbols  of 
 princes  and  rulers,  I  should  understand  by  this  the  roost  splendid  and 
 iUustrious  prince  among  those  subject  to  the  beast.  This  must  be  the 
 monarch  of  France.  He  was  the  sun  of  the  Babylonian  heavens  from 
 the  days  of  Clovis,  founder  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Franks,  in  Gaul,  till 
 the  end  of  the  18th  century.  But  by  this  'pouring  out,'  instead  of 
 cheering  and  vivifying  heat,  he  sends  forth  oidy  burning  fire,  to  tor- 
 ment and  to  destroy.  A  full  illustrarion  of  this  prophecy  every  one 
 may  find  in  the  authentic  records  of  the  power  of  France,  from  1  "89  to 
 the  present  rime. — Dav.  The  *smi'  in  the  fourth  trumpet,  and  fourth 
 vial,  is  the  emblem  of  the  imperial  power  of  Rome.  Buonaparte  was 
 crownied  emperor,  the  successor  of  Charlemagne,  in  1804,  king  of  Italy. 
 As  such,  be  scorched  men  by  his  power  .—So  Keith.  10.  And  the  fifth 
 angel  poured  out  his  vial  itpon  the  scat  of  the  beast — this  is  some  great 
 calamity  which  shall  fall  upon  Rome  itself,  and  shall  darken  and  con- 
 found the  whole  antichristian  emuire. — Bp.  Neicton.  This  vial  was 
 poured  out  on  Rome  in  1H05,  when  the  city  was  plundered  and  the  pope 
 made  captive.— So  Morell.  The  *  beast'  denotes  the  antichristian 
 power,  and  'the  throne,'  his  dominion,  by  which  he  exercised  that 
 power  with  success.  This  throne  was  properly  the  dominion  of  the  ten 
 horns.  Napoleon  revolutionized  Europe.  The  Emperor  Francis,  of 
 Austria,  declared  the  imperial  constitutton  at  an  end.  He  retained  the 
 title  of  emperor,  but '  the  holy  Roman  empire,'  having  lasted  full  1000 
 1301 
 
 years,  was  declared  no  more,  and  its  influence  gone. — Dan.  The 
 pouring  out  of  this  vial  corresponds  to  the  sounding  of  the  fifth  trum- 
 pet, as  its  counterpart,  (see  chap.  L\.  1 — 11.)  '  The  seat'  or  throne  of 
 t  he  beast  here  means  those  kingdoms  which  still  continue  to  give  him 
 support ;  and  the  pouring  out  of  this  fifth  vial  relates  to  modem  events. 
 — So  W.  Jones.  Keith  considers  tliis  vial  as  poured  out  by  the  re- 
 establishment  of  popery  and  the  inquisition,  in  1814;  the  miserable 
 state  of  Rome  in  1816  ;  and  the  darkness  and  wretchedness  of  the  Ro- 
 man-catholic kingdoms  from  1814  to  \%-2Q.—Sig^ns  of  the  Times.  This 
 is  interpreted  as  the  expulsion  of  the  western  and  eastern  emperors 
 from  their  capital  cities,  Rome  and  Constantinople. —  So  Dauhvz. 
 lii.  And.  the  sij-th  angel  poured  out  his  vial  upon  the  great  river  Eu- 
 phrates— this  river  is  dried  up,  signifying  the  easy  invasion  of  the 
 nation's  enemies  to  this  antichristian  kingdom. — Lou-man.  The  allu- 
 sion seems  to  be  to  the  invasion  of  the  kingdom  of  Babylon  by  Cyrus 
 and  the  kings  who  were  subject  to  him,  isee  Isa.  xlv.  2;  xlvi,  11.) — 
 DaiK  The  eastern  Antichrist,  the  Turks,  are  meant,  in  whose  domi- 
 nion the  river  is. — Gill.  This  is  illustrated  by  the  commotions  of  the 
 Turkish  empire,  including  insurrection  of  Greece,  ravages  of  cholera 
 and  plagues,  &c.  i^c. — Keith.  This  plague  refers  to  the  depopulation 
 and  destruction  of  the  Grecian  empire,  and  the  bringing  of  the  Turks 
 into  Europe,  who  liave  greatly  distressed  and  tormented  the  corrupted 
 Christians,  or  pajiists.- So  Dauhuz.  This  sixth  vial  answers  to  the 
 sixth  trumpet,  (chap.  ix.  14,]  and  has  an  evident  reference  to  the  Ma- 
 hometan powers.  Tlie  destrucHon  of  the  'Airkish  navy,  by  the  fleets 
 of  the  three  combined  powers,  was  a  blow  ;  and  when  we  sec  that  fol- 
 lowed up  by  the  defeat  of  their  armies,  and  the  advance  of  the  Russians 
 to  the  walls  of  Constantinople,  what  shall  we  say  ?  Every  week  pro- 
 duces fresh  evidence  that  the  pouring  out  of  this  sixth  vial  is  arrived. 
 —  W.  Jones.  Tlie  drying  up  of  the  Euphrates,  that  the  way  of  the 
 kings  of  the  east  may  t)c  prepared,  seems  to  refer  to  the  ret»im  of  the 
 dispersed  of  Judah  to  tbeii'  owm  land.— So  Jos.  Slede.  It  applies  espe- 
 cially to  the  return  of  the  long-lost  ten  tribes  of  Israel. — So  Faber.  It 
 appears  to  me,  that  this  vial  implies  the  mvasion  of  the  papal  kingdom 
 from  the  east. — Doddr.  13.  Three  unclean  spirits  like  frogs — monks, 
 reUgious  knights,  and  secular  clergy. — Daubuz.  Tlie  allusion  here  is 
 to  the  plague  of  frogs,  (Exod.  viii.  5,  6;)  and  the  antichristian  emis- 
 saries are  fitly  compared  to  them  for  their  impurity. —  Gill.  14.  Thet/ 
 are  the  spirits  of  devils— ivhich  go  forth ;  wicked  and  deceitful  emis- 
 saries, or  corrupt  principles,  disseminated  in  the  earth,  stimulating 
 the  kintrs  and  governments  to  unite  in  the  common  cause  of  tyraimy, 
 superstition,  and  infidelity  ;  to  oppose  all  reformation,  and  prevent  the 
 spread  of  the  everlasting  gospel. —  W.  Jones.  It  seems  as  if  a  spirit  of 
 infatuation,  like  that  of  Pharaoh,  at  the  Red  Sea,  will  possess  the  kings 
 of  the  earth,  enemies  to  Ciu'ist,  prior  to  their  last  overthrow.  But  in 
 what  particular  mode  their  hostility  will  be  manifested,  and  by  what 
 means  Christ  will  prevail  against  them,  is  too  much  for  us  to  deter- 
 mine.— A.  Fuller.  15.  Behold,  I  come  as  a  thief,  does  not  mean 
 Christ's  personal  coming,  but  coming  in  a  way  of  vengeance,  for  the 
 final  destruction  of  Antichrist,  which  takes  place  at  the  pouring  out  of 
 the  seventh  \ial. —  W.Jones.  Watcheth,  and  keepeti.  h'S  garments — 
 there  may  here  be  an  allusion  to  what  that  Jewish  officer,  called  the 
 man  of  the  mountain — that  is,  of  the  house  of  the  Lord — used  to  do 
 when  taking  his  round  in  the  temple,  to  examine  the  watch ;  if  he  met 
 with  any  asleep,  he  had  liberty  to  set  fire  to  liis  garments. — Lightf. 
 Perhaps  the  sleepy  watchman,  whose  garments  were  burnt,  might  be 
 obliged  to  appear  in  tlieir  fragments  the  next  day,  which  would  be  a 
 great  disgrace. — Doddr.  Tliey  were  beaten  by  the  provost,  and  their 
 garments  were  taken  and  burnt.— ^(/w.  I6.  ^r(M'i^'t'>/rfon,  means  the 
 '  mountain  of  destruction  ;'  alluding  to  Megiddo,  where  Sisera  and  the 
 host  of  Jabin  were  overthrown  in  the  days  of  the  Judges,  (see  Judg.  v. 
 19.) — W,  Jones.  17.  And  the  seventh  angel  poured  out  his  vial  into  ihi- 
 air,  the  seat  of  Satan's  residence,  (Ephes.  ii.  2  ;i  so  that  this  last  period 
 shaU  not  only  complete  the  ruin  of  the  kingdom  of  the  beast,  but  will 
 also  shake  the  kingdom  of  Satan  everj-where.—  Bp.  Newton,  so  Lowm. 
 Paganism,  Mahometanism,  apostate  Judaism,  and  everjthuig  which 
 stands  opposed  to  the  truth  as  it  is  iu  Jesus,  will  now  be  driven,  out  of 
 8  1. 
 
Jokn^s  vision  of 
 
 REVELATION,  XVII. 
 
 the  great  whore. 
 
 of  the  temple  of  heaven,  from  the  throne,  say- 
 ing, "  It  is  done. 
 
 18  And  ^  there  were  voices,  and  thunders, 
 and  lightnings  ;  ^and  there  was  a  great  earth- 
 quake, ^  such  as  was  not  since  men  were  upon 
 the  earth,  so  mighty  an  earthquake,  and  so 
 great. 
 
 19  And  *  the  great  city  was  divided  into  three 
 parts,  and  the  cities  of  the  nations  fell :  and 
 great  Babylon  ^  came  in  remembrance  before 
 God,  '^  to  give  unto  her  the  cup  of  the  wine  of 
 the  fierceness  of  his  wrath. 
 
 !20  And  "^  every  island  fled  away,  and  the 
 mountains  were  not  found. 
 
 21  °  And  there  fell  upon  men  a  great  bail  out 
 of  heaven,  every  stone  about  the  weight  of  a 
 talent  :  and  ^  men  blasphemed  God  because  of 
 ^  the  plague  of  the  liail  ;  for  the  plague  thereof 
 was  exceeding  great. 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 3,  4  ^  woman  arrayed  in  purple  and  scarht,  with  a 
 golden  cup  in  her  hand,  sitteth  upon  the  beast,  5  ivhich 
 is  great  Bahyhn,  the  mother  of  all  abominations.  9 
 The  interpretation  of  the  seven  heads,  \2and  the  ten 
 horns.  8  The  punishment  of  the  whore.  14  The 
 victory  of  the  lAinih. 
 
 A  ND  there  came  °  one  of  the  seven  angels 
 -^*-  which  had  the  seven  vials,  and  talked 
 with  me,  saying  unto  me,  Come  hither  ;  ''  I 
 will  shew  unto  thee  the  judgment  of  '^  the 
 great  whore  "^that  sitteth  upon  many  waters  : 
 
 2  "  With  whom  the  kings  of  the  earth  have 
 committed  fornication,  and  *■  the  inhabitants  of 
 
 A.  D.  96. 
 >i  cti.  21.  6. 
 
 r  ch.  4.  6,  & 
 
 8.5. &  II.  19 
 •J  cli.  II.  i:i. 
 ;  Dan.  1-2.  I. 
 
 a  ch.  U.  6. 
 &  17.  18. 
 
 b  Ch.  18.  5. 
 
 c  l3.  SI.  17, 
 23.  Jer.  25. 
 15,  16. 
 clt.  U.  10. 
 
 d  cU.  6.  14. 
 
 /ver.  9,  U. 
 
 e^  See  E.x.  9. 
 i-i,  21,  t'j. 
 
 fflch,  21.  9. 
 b  ch.  16.  19. 
 
 &  IS.  16,17, 
 
 19. 
 c  Nah,  S.  4. 
 
 ch.  19,  8. 
 d  Jer.  51.13. 
 
 ver.  15. 
 «  ch.  18.  3. 
 /Jer.  51.  7. 
 
 ch.  14.8.  & 
 
 18.  3. 
 
 A  ver.  y. 
 /  ver.  12. 
 
 m  ch.  18.12, 
 16 
 
 n  Dan.  I  r. S3, 
 t  Gr.  gUdeU- 
 o  Jer.  61.  7. 
 
 ch.  18.  6. 
 p  ch.  U.  8. 
 
 «2Tlies.2  7- 
 r  ch.  M.S. 
 
 &  14.  S.  & 
 
 16.19.  ft  18. 
 
 2,  10,21. 
 (  ch.  18  9. 
 
 &  19.  2. 
 II  Or, /trni- 
 
 (  ch.  Ifi'  24, 
 u  ch.  13.  15. 
 &  16.  6. 
 
 X  ch.6.9,10. 
 
 &  12.  n. 
 
 11  ch.  II.  7. 
 
 &  13.  1. 
 z  ch.  I-**    10. 
 
 ver.  II. 
 a  oh.  IS.  3 
 b  ch.  13.  a. 
 
 c  ch.  13.  18. 
 d  ch.  13.  1. 
 
 the  earth  have  been  made  drunk  with  the  wine 
 of  her  furnication. 
 
 3  So  he  carried  me  away  in  the  spirit  '•'into 
 the  wilderness  :  and  I  saw  a  woman  sit  "  upon 
 a  scarlet  coloured  beast,  full  of  '  names  of 
 blasphemy,  ''  having  seven  heads  and  '  ten 
 horns. 
 
 4  And  the  woman  '"was  arrayed  in  purple 
 and  scarlet  colour,  "and  |  decked  with  gold 
 and  precious  stones  and  pearls,  ^  having  a 
 golden  cup  in  her  hand  ^  full  of  abominations 
 and  filthiness  of  her  fornication  : 
 
 3  And  upon  her  forehead  ivas  a  name  written 
 'I  MYSTERY,  BABYLON  'THE  GREAT, 
 ^THE  MOTHER  OF  ||  HARLOTS  AND 
 ABOMINATIONS  OF  THE  EARTH. 
 
 6  And  I  saw  *  the  woman  drunken  "  with  the 
 blood  of  the  saints,  and  with  the  blood  of  '^  the 
 martyrs  of  Jesus  :  and  when  I  saw  her,  I  won- 
 dered with  great  admiration. 
 
 7  And  the  angel  said  unto  me.  Wherefore 
 didst  thou  marvel?  I  will  tell  thee  the  mystery 
 of  the  woman,  and  of  the  beast  that  carrieth 
 her,  which  hath  the  seven  heads  and  ten  horns. 
 
 8  The  beast  that  thou  sawest  was,  and  is  not ; 
 and  ^  shall  ascend  out  of  the  bottomless  pit, 
 and  ^  go  into  perdition  :  and  they  that  dwell 
 on  the  earth  *  shall  wonder,  "^  whose  names 
 were  not  written  in  the  book  of  life  from  the 
 foundation  of  the  world,  when  they  behold  the 
 beast  that  was,  and  is  not,  and  yet  is. 
 
 9  And  '^here2s  the  mind  which  hath  wisdom. 
 •*  The  seven  heads  are  seven  mountains,  on 
 which  the  woman  sitteth. 
 
 the  world. — W.  Jones.  It  is  done,  their  reigii  is  past,  past  for  ever. — 
 Dav.  18.  Voices,  ffC,  importing  great  revolutions  aiid  awful  judg- 
 ments. 19.  Three  parts,  or  factions. — Bp.  Newton.  This  alludes  to 
 the  three  great  naticmal  communions,  which,  indeed,  had  existed  from 
 the  time  of  the  Reformation— viz.,  the  papal,  the  Lutheran,  and  the 
 CaU-inistic  ;  which  denotes  the  total  ruin  and  destruction  of  all  national 
 churches. —  W.  Jojws.  This  seems  to  denote,  that  instead  of  ten  parts, 
 in  which  the  glory  of  the  great  city  consisted,  seven  of  the  kingdoms 
 which  gave  their  power  to  her  will  first  be  revolutionized  by  the 
 seventh  angel.  FeU—the  subonlinate  communities  of  the  antichristian 
 empire ;  all  her  dependencies,  every  corporation  or  institution  consti- 
 tuted by  her  wisdom,  inriuenced  by  her  principles,  and  exemplifying 
 her  practices,  shall  be  utterly  destroyed.  20.  And  every  island  fled 
 awnij,nnd  the  mountains,  indicating  the  total  abolition  of  the  powers 
 of  the  wild  beasts. — Dan.  The  utter  extirpation  of  all  the  antichris- 
 tian powers  in  every  shape.— GjV/.  21.  A  great  hail,  an  emblem  of 
 miparalleled  misery. — Dap. 
 
 Cn.tp.  XV'II.  —  I.  One  of  the  seven  angels — talked;  as  the  '  seventh 
 seal'  and  the  *  seventh  trimipet*  contained  many  more  particulars 
 than  any  of  the  former  seals  and  former  trumpets,  so  the  '  seventh 
 \ial'  contains  more  than  any  of  the  former  vials.  The  destruction  of 
 the  antichristian  empire  is  a  subject  of  such  importance,  that  the  Holy 
 Spirit  has  thought  fit  to  represent  it  under  a  variety  of  images.  The 
 ^reat  whore  that  sitteth  upon  vinnij  «'«(er5— ancient  Babylon,  seated 
 on  the  great  river  Euphrates,  is  so  described  by  Jeremiah,  (li.  13,) 
 meaning,  according  to  the  angel's  own  explanation,  (ver.  15,)  'ruUng 
 over  many  peoples  and  nations.'  li.  With  whom  the  kings  of  the 
 earth  have  committed  fornication,  as  with  Tyre,  (Is.  xxiii.  17,)  and 
 inferior  persons ;  also,  the  inhabitants,  as  was  said  of  ancient  Baby- 
 lon, (Jer.  li.  7.)  3.  Woman  sit  upon  a  scarlet  colojired  beast,  emblem 
 of  a  church  or  city  governing  an  empire.  The  scarlet  colour  denotes 
 the  cruelty  of  the  beast,  and  alludes  to  the  distinguished  colour  of 
 the   Roman  emperors  and  magistrates.     Names  of  blasphemy,    fyc. 
 
 the  same  beast  described  chap.  xiii.  4.  Arrayed  in  purple,  the  co- 
 lour of  the  popes  and  cardinals,  as  well  as  of  the  emperors  and 
 senators  of  Rome.  Decked,  fyc.,  descriptive  of  the  pride,  grandeur, 
 and  magnificence  of  the  church  of  Rome.  Golden  cup,  to  signify  the 
 specious  and  alluring  arts  by  which  she  bewitches  and  incites  men  to 
 idolatr>'.  5.  Upon  her  forehead,  fyc,  alluding  to  the  practice  of  some 
 notorious  prostitutes,  who  had  their  names  written  in  a  label  upon 
 their  foreheads.  Mysterv,  impUes  that  she  deals  in  mysteries ;  and  it 
 is  a  mysterj'  that  a  Christian  cit>',  professing  to  be  the  city  of  God, 
 should  prove  another  Babylon  in  idolatr>'  and  cruelty  to  the  people  of 
 God. — Bp.  Newton.  This  ' mystery' is  what  St.  Paul  calls 'the  mys- 
 tery of  iniquity.' — Daubnz.  'Mystery  of  iniquity'  is  the  name  given 
 to  ^Vntichrist  in  the  aposUe's  time,  when  but  in  embrjo,  ci  Thess.  ii.7.) 
 — Gill.  Babylon'  the  Great,  far  more  powerful  over  the  bodies  and 
 souls  of  men  than  her  type  had  ever  been.— Z>«f'.  The  Mother  op 
 Harlots,  corrupting  the  nations  \^ith  the  grossest  idolatry.— ZJ;;. 
 Hurd.  Abo.mi  nations,  denote  all  objects  of  worship  opposed  to  Deity, 
 who  is  tlie  alone  object  of  religious  adoration. — Dav.  6.  Drunkni 
 with  the  blood,  Sfc,  witness  the  slaughters  of  the  Waldenses  and  Albi- 
 genses ;  the  butcheries  of  the  Duke  d'Alva  in  the  Low  Countries ;  the 
 massacres  in  France,  Ireland,  and  other  places;  the  burning  of  the 
 martyrs  in  Queen  Mary's  days  here,  with  numerous  other  instances. 
 8.  Wm,  and  w  not — *  was,*  the  Roman  empire,  as  pagan,  described  by 
 a  dragon  with  seven  heads  and  ten  horns,  with  crowns  on  the  heads ; 
 but  *  is  not,'  as  yet,  in  the  apostle  John's  time,  as  papal,  described 
 vrith  seven  heads,  and  ten  horns,  and  crowns  on  the  horns.  Bottom- 
 less />i7— hell,  whence  the  antichristian  beast  has  its  power ;  perdition  ; 
 everlasting  destruction. — Gill.  The  beast,  the  tyrannical,  idolatrous 
 empire  was  idolatrous  under  the  heathen  emperors ;  ceased  awhile 
 to  be  so  ;  then  the  same  idolatrous  power  revived  under  another  form. 
 — Bp.  Newton.  9.  Here  is  the  mind  which  hulk  wisdom,  *  here  is  a 
 secret  to  be  revealed  and  explained  ;  so  that  he  that  hears  it  mu&t  have 
 wisdom,  and  employ  it,   to  consider  attentively  what  is  proposed.' — 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  XV.  and  XVI.  —  I.  In  the  pouring 
 out  the  viais,  we  see  that  God  only  bears  for  awhile  with  the  cor- 
 rupt state  of  the  church  and  the  world ;  just  as  he  bore  with  the 
 old  world  before  the  flood,  and  with  the  guilty  nations  of  the 
 plain;  but  a  day  of  retribution  approaches. 
 
 II.  That  the  day  of  God's  righteous  retribution  upon  corrupt 
 churches  and  nations  will  he  truly  awful.  We  have  seen  some 
 of  the  plagues  inflicted  upon  such,"  but  the  last  dregs  of  the 
 cup  of  his  wrath  are  not  poured  out.  Much  greater  punish- 
 ments will  probably  be  inflicted  upon  all  those  deceivers  who 
 have  made  religion  a  stalking-horse  to  serve  secular  purposes. 
 This  is  perhaps  indicated  by  the  approaching  earthquake, 
 such  as  was  not  since  men  were  upon  the  earth,  so  mighty  an 
 earthquake,  and  so  great. 
 1362 
 
 III.  That  we  ought  to  watch  and  improve,  by  all  the  notices  and 
 signs  which  God  has  given  us  respecting  the  eventful  period  which 
 is  about  to  come  upon  the  church  and  the  world.  We  live  in  a 
 day  of  uncommon  signs.  The  commotions  at  home  and  abroad 
 are  not  without  meaning.  Things  at  this  moment  do  not  as- 
 sume that  mighty  and  astounding  character  which  a  few  years 
 since  alarmed  the  nations  ;  but  the  elements  are  yet  in  a  dis- 
 turbed state.  The  clouds  portend  further  storms.  The  beast 
 and  the  false  prophet  are  evidently  rapidly  decreasing  in 
 strength  ;  and  if,  as  some  suppose,  the  former  may  yet  make 
 a  mii^hty  struggle  for  dominion,  we  may  yet  rest  assured  that 
 his  doom  is  nigh,  and  Babylon  shall  fall  for  ever.  Amen,  and 
 Amen. 
 
The  victory  of  the  Lamb. 
 
 REVELATION,  XVIII. 
 
 The  fall  of  Babylon. 
 
 10  And  there  are  seven  kings:  five  are  fallen, 
 and  one  is,  and  the  other  is  not  yet  come  ;  and 
 when  he  cometh,  he  must  continue  a  short 
 space. 
 
 1 1  And  the  beast  that  was,  and  is  not,  even 
 he  is  the  eighth,  and  is  of  the  seven,  "and  goeth 
 into  perdition. 
 
 12  And  '  the  ten  horns  which  thou  sawest  are 
 ten  kings,  which  have  received  no  kingdom  as 
 yet ;  but  receive  power  as  kings  one  hour  with 
 the  beast. 
 
 13  These  have  one  mind,  and  shall  give  their 
 power  and  strength  unto  the  beast. 
 
 14  ^  These  shall  make  war  with  the  Lamb, 
 and  the  Lamb  shall  overcome  tliem  :  ''  for  he 
 is  Lord  of  lords,  and  King  of  kings:  'and  they 
 that  are  with  him  are  called,  and  chosen,  and 
 faithful. 
 
 15  And  he  saith  unto  me, '  The  waters  which 
 thou  sawest,  where  the  wliore  sitteth,  'are 
 peoples,  and  multitudes,  and  nations,  and 
 tongues. 
 
 IG  And  the  ten  horns  which  thou  sawest 
 upon  the  beast,  "these  shall  hate  the  whore, 
 and  shall  make  her  desolate  "  and  naked, 
 and  shall  eat  her  flesh,  and  °  burn  her  with 
 fire. 
 
 17  ■"  For  God  hath  put  in  their  hearts  to  fulfil 
 his  will,  and  to  agree,  and  give  their  kingdom 
 unto  the  beast,  ''  until  the  words  of  God  shall 
 be  fulfilled. 
 
 18  And  the  woman  which  thou  sawest  'is 
 that  great  city,  '  which  reigneth  over  the  kings 
 of  the  earth. 
 
 g  ch.  16.  14. 
 
 &  19.  19. 
 ft  Deut.  10. 
 
 17.  I  Tim. 
 
 6    \b. 
 
 ■-li.  19.  16 
 i  Jer.  50.  41. 
 
 4j.  ch.  It.i 
 k  Is.  8.  7. 
 
 ver.  1. 
 (  ch.  13.  7. 
 
 m  Jer.  .10  41 
 4?  ch.16.1'2, 
 
 ;.  Kzek.  16. 
 37— H. 
 cli.  18    16. 
 
 u  cU.  IS.  8. 
 
 g  ch.  10.  7. 
 
 ch.  16.  19. 
 ch    12.  4. 
 
 c  19.13.  19. St 
 
 21.  9.  Jer. 
 
 61.  8.  ch. 
 
 14   8. 
 d  IB    13.  21. 
 
 &  21    8.  8. 
 
 ;^1.  14.  Jer, 
 
 .'>'i.39,  &  51. 
 
 ;17. 
 .-  U.  14-  23. 
 
 &  34    II. 
 
 Mark  5.2,3. 
 /.:h.  11.8. 
 
 it  17  2. 
 i?  ver.  11,15. 
 
 Is.  47.  15. 
 II  Or,  piuft. 
 h  Is.  48.  20. 
 
 &  52.  1 1 
 
 Jer.  50. 8.  & 
 
 51.  6,45 
 
 2  Cor  6.17. 
 <  Gen.  18  20. 
 
 21.  Jer    51. 
 
 9. Jonah  1 
 
 *'ch.  16    19. 
 
 (  l'«.  137.  8. 
 Jer.  50  15, 
 29,  &5I.24, 
 49.2  Tim.4. 
 14.  ch.  13. 
 10. 
 
 m  ch.  14.10. 
 
 n  cti.  16.  19. 
 
 o  Kzek.  28.2, 
 
 p  Is.  47.7,8. 
 ZepU. 2  15. 
 
 CHAP.  XVIIL 
 
 2  Babif Ion  is  fallen.  4  The  people  of  God  commanded 
 to  depart  out  of  Iter,  9  The  kings  of  the  earth,  II 
 with  the  merchants  and  mariners,  lament  over  her.  20 
 The  saints  rejoice  for  the  j tidy ments  of  God  upon  her. 
 
 A  ND  ^  after  these  things  I  saw  another  angel 
 -^-^  come  down  from  heaven,  having  f;reat 
 power ;  "^and  the  earth  was  lightened  with  his 
 glory. 
 
 2  And  he  cried  mightily  with  a  strong  voice, 
 saying,  ^  Bahylon  the  great  is  fallen,  is  fallen, 
 and  ^  is  hecome  the  habitation  of  devils,  and 
 the  hold  of  every  foul  spirit,  and  ^a  cage  of 
 every  unclean  and  hateful  bird. 
 
 3  For  all  nations  ''have  drunk  of  the  wine  of 
 the  wrath  of  her  fornication,  and  the  kings  of 
 the  earth  have  committed  fornication  with  her, 
 ^and  the  merchants  of  the  earth  are  waxed 
 rich  through  the  ||abundance  of  her  delicacies. 
 
 4  And  I  heard  another  voice  from  heaven, 
 saymg,  ^  Come  out  of  her,  my  people,  that  ye 
 be  not  partakers  of  her  sins,  and  that  ye  receive 
 not  of  her  plagues. 
 
 5  '  For  her  sins  have  reached  unto  heaven, 
 and  ''  God  hath  remembered  her  iniquities, 
 
 6  -  Reward  her  even  as  she  rewarded  you, 
 and  double  unto  her  double  according  to  her 
 works  :  "'  in  the  cup  which  she  hath  filled  "  fill 
 to  her  double. 
 
 7  '^  How  much  she  hath  glorified  herself,  and 
 lived  deliciously,  so  much  torment  and  sorrow 
 give  her :  for  she  saith  in  her  heart,  I  sit  & 
 ^  queen,  and  am  no  widow,  and  shall  see  no 
 sorrow. 
 
 Daubtiz.  Seven  ■monntain-'s,  Ronie,  seated  on  seven  hills. — Lawmnn, 
 GUI,  See.  10.  Seren  ktni^s,  in  the  style  of  propliecy,  mean  '  kiog-doms,' 
 or  '  forms  and  states  of  government.'  Daniel  interprets  '  the  beasts,' 
 in  his  priiphecy,  to  mean  *  kings' — that  is,  kingdoms,  empires,  or  dis- 
 tinct governments,  (Dan.  vii.  17,  23.) — Lnwm.  Five  are  fallen,  five  of 
 the  forms  of  government, — kings,  consuls,  dictators,  decemvirs,  and 
 military  tribunes.  The  sixth  is  the  power  of  the  Ccesars,  or  emperors, 
 which  was  subsisting  at  the  time  of  this  vision.— .B/j.  Newton,  The 
 other  is  not  yet  come,  refers  to  the  emperors  professing  Chri-stianity. 
 And  when  he  cometh,  he  must  continue  a  short  spuce — this  was  the 
 seventh  head,  or  form  of  government,  and  it  lasted  only  150  years,  be- 
 ginning with  Constaaitiiie  the  Great,  a.d.  325,  and  ending  with  Au- 
 gustulus,  A.D.  476.  At  tlds  period  the  empire  was  divided  into  ten 
 kingdoms.  11.  And  the  lieaxt  that  wis,  and  is  not — he  is  the  eighth, 
 in  other  words,  '  the  beast  of  whicli  1  have  been  just  now  speaking  in 
 ver.  8,  the  Roman  empire  that  was  before  tliis,  and  is  not,  it  being 
 wounded  to  death  in  the  seventh  head,  and  broken  up  mto  ten  separate 
 kingdoms,  it  still  continues  to  exist  in  that  one  catholic  \isible  church 
 of  which  Rome  and  its  bi?,hops,  to  whom  the  ten  kings  gave  their 
 power  and  strength,  is  the  head  and  representative.'  ATid  is  of  the 
 seven,  that  is,  it  was  nursed  up  by  the  seventh  head,  or  Christian  em- 
 perors ;  and  is,  in  fact,  all  the  seven  over  again  under  another  name. 
 —  W.  Janes.  12.  Ten  kin°-s,  the  ten  kingdoms  of  Europe  uito  which 
 this  western  empire  shall  be  broken,  by  the  wars  and  devastations 
 brought  on  it  by  the  barbarous  nations.— P^/e.  'Ten'  does  not  always, 
 in  prophec)',  signify  a  precise  number. — Lowm.  Which  hare  received 
 no  kiyigdom  as  yet — at  the  time  of  this  vision,  these  kingdoms  had  not 
 risen  into  existence.  Three  hundred  and  fifty  years  must  revolve,  and 
 then  the  empire  that  was  in  existence  when  John  wrote  the  Book  of  the 
 Revelation  should  be  invaded  by  the  Goths  and  Vandals,  who  would 
 tear  it  in  pieces,  and  parcel  it  out  into  ten  mdependent  states ;  and 
 tltfu,  in  the  same  hour  in  which  Antichrist  received  his  power  and 
 dominion,  these  ten  kings  should  also  receive  theirs. — W.  Jones.  One 
 hour,  niav  itpcif,  rather,  '  at  the  same  hour  or  point  of  time,'  as  several 
 learned  interpreters  have  justly  observed. — Lowman.  13.  These  have 
 one  mind,  ^r.— the.-^e  kings  will  be  seduced  into  so  high  an  opinion,  and 
 thence  affected  with  so  much  dread  of  this  apostolical  church  govern- 
 ment, that  they  will  lend  all  their  arras,  and  join  their  civil  powers,  in 
 support  of  it,  and  fnrce  the  consciences  of  Christians  to  comply  with  it, 
 and  implicitly  submit  to  it.— Pyle.  14.  War  with  the  Lrt;/ii— the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ,  so  often  spokeu  of  in  this  book  under  this  character. 
 
 (chap.  V.  6,  12;  vi.  1 ;  vii.  10,  and  xiv.  1.)  Understand  this  of  a  war 
 with  his  members,  of  their  persecuting  of  the  saints  and  faithful  wit- 
 nesses of  Christ  in  all  ages,  within  their  jiu-isilictions,  being  instigated 
 to  it  by  '  the  beast,"  underwhoseuiflueuce  they  are. — Gill.  15.  Peoples, 
 and  multitudes,  ^c. — so  many  plural  words  fitly  denote  the  great  ex- 
 tent of  the  power  and  jurisdiction  of  Rome,  extending  over  all  coim- 
 tries  and  kingdoms  professing  the  same  religion. — Bp.  Newton.  16.  The 
 ten  horns— shall  hate  the  icAort— these  very  nations,  who  will  thus  sup- 
 port the  idolatry  and  persecution  of  '  the  beast'  for  a  time,  will  at 
 length  grow  sensible  of  her  extravagant  clahns  and  grievous  oppres- 
 sions ;  and  will  not  only  withdraw  their  protection  from  her,  but  use 
 their  power  against  her. — Lowm.  17.  God  hath  put  in  their  hearts, 
 hath  left  them  under  a  fatal  infatuation.— i)(»rf(/r.  The  words  of  God^ 
 may  perhaps  allude  to  Dan,  vii.  25,  20. — Bp.  Newton. 
 
 Chap.  XVIII. — Bp.  Jehb  has  reduced  this  chapter  to  the  form  of  an 
 ode,  containing,  (i.)  A  proclamation  that  Babylon  is  fallen;  (ii.)  A 
 warning  and  charge  to  the  people  of  God  to  come  out  of  her;  (iii.)  A 
 lamentation  over  her  by  all  the  classes  of  mankind  particularly  inter- 
 ested in  her  fall.  2.  The  habitation  of  devils,  an  expression  from  Isa. 
 xiii.  21,  '  satjTS  shall  dance  there ;'  the  word  '  satyrs'  there  being  in 
 the  Greek,  demons,  or  devils. — Bp.  Newton.  The  hold  of  every  foul 
 spirit — devils  are  frequently  called  unclean  spirits,  and  these  appear  in 
 desert  and  desolate  places,  (Matt.  xii.  43.)  A  cage  of  every  unrlenn  and 
 hateful  bird,  such  as  vultures,  kites,  owls,  &c.,  which  generally  reside 
 in  desolate  and  imuihabited  places.  3.  All  nations,  all  the  nations  of 
 the  Roman  empire  ;  the  European  nations. — Gill.  And  the  merchants, 
 fyc. — as  the  destruction  of  Rome  is  here  compared  to  the  destruction  of 
 Tyre,  we  easily  see  how  proper  it  is  to  describe  the  sins  of  Rome  by 
 figures  taken  from  the  sms  of  Tyre. — Lowm.  Writers  in  general  con- 
 sider this  prophecy  to  relate  to  the  city  of  Rome,  but  it  denotes  the  en- 
 tire  antichristian  dominion  ;  Rome  may  be  inchided. — Dav.  4.  Come 
 out,  ^c,  similar  terms  used  by  the  prophets  in  urguig  God's  people  to 
 flee  from  Babylon,  (Isa.  xlvUi.  20;  Iii.  U  ;  Jer.l.  and  U.)— Pyle.  6.  Re- 
 ward, l!fc. — by  the  Jewish  laws,  some  offences  were  punished  by  reta- 
 liation. In  the  case  of  theft,  the  law  required  the  thief  to  restore 
 double.  To  this  there  is  here  an  allusion.— LoHvn.  This  is  a  prediction 
 rather  than  a  command. — Dauhuz.  I  should  rather  interpret  this 
 phraseology  as  indicative  or  declaratory  of  what  will  be  the  answer  to 
 the  prayers  of  the  people  of  God  in  the  judgnients  inflicted  on  Babylon, 
 than  as  an  incitement  to  a  spirit  of  retaliation. — W.  Jones.  7.  A 
 queen— see  the  application  of  the  same  imagery,  Isa.  xlvii.  7j  in  relation 
 
 Reflections  ox  Chap.  XVII.  —  Stripped  of  its  prophetic 
 symbols,  this  chapter  describes — I.  Popery  in  power,  breathing 
 out  blasphemous  claims,  decorated  wiih  attractive  splendour, 
 attracting  the  nations  by  sinful  allurements;  distinguished 
 by  ber  pretended  mysteries,  her  seat  of  power,  and  her  abo- 
 minable practices  ;  swaying  the  nations  of  the  earth  far  and 
 wide  around  her,  and  warring  with  all  those  w)io  faithfully 
 attach  themselves  to  tbe  pure  and  undefiled  religion  of  the 
 1363 
 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ.     This  chapter  describes — 
 
 II.  Popery  ruined  for  ever;  cast  down  to  hell,  whence  it 
 had  its  origin  ;  hated  by  the  nations  once  enslaved  by  her 
 power,  and  destroyed  by  their  agency.  Who  can  look  at  the 
 proceedings  of  late  years,  in  various  kingdoms  long  subject  to 
 the  tyrant  power,  without  seeing  the  incipient  signs  of  those 
 days  when  this  prophecy  shall  receive  an  ample  fulfilment! 
 Even  so.     Amen. 
 
The  fall  of  Babylon  lamented. 
 
 REVELATION,  XIX. 
 
 God's  judgments  praised. 
 
 8  Therefore  shall  her  plagues  come  ''in  one 
 day,  death,  and  niunrning,  and  famine  ;  and 
 'she  shall  he  utterly  burned  with  fire:  'for 
 strong  is  the  Lord  God  who  jndgeth  her. 
 
 9  And  '  the  kings  of  the  earth,  who  have 
 committed  fornication  and  lived  deliciously 
 with  her,  "shall  bewail  her,  and  lament  for  her, 
 'when  they  shall  see  the  smoke  of  her  burning, 
 
 10  Standing  afar  off  for  the  fear  of  her  tor- 
 ment, saying,  'Alas,  alas  that  great  city  Baby- 
 lon, that  mighty  city!  'for  in  one  hour  is  thy 
 judgment  come. 
 
 1 1  And  °  the  merchants  of  the  earth  shall 
 weep  and  mourn  over  her  ;  for  no  man  buyeth 
 their  merchandise  any  more  : 
 
 l'2  "The  merchandise  of  gold,  and  silver,  and 
 precious  stones,  and  of  pearls,  and  tine  linen, 
 and  purple,  and  silk,  and  scarlet,  and  all 
 II  thyine  wood,  and  all  manner  vessels  of  ivory, 
 and  all  manner  vessels  of  most  precious  wood, 
 and  of  brass,  and  iron,  and  marble, 
 
 13  And  cinnamon,  and  odours,  and  ointments, 
 and  frankincense,  and  wine,  and  oil,  and  fine 
 flour,  and  wheat,  and  beasts,  and  sheep,  and 
 horses,  and  chariots,  and  ||  slaves,  and  '  souls 
 of  men. 
 
 14  And  the  fruits  that  thy  soni  lusted  after 
 are  departed  from  thee,  and  all  things  which 
 were  dainty  and  goodly  are  departed  from 
 thee,  and  thou  shalt  find  them  no  more  at  all. 
 
 13  ''The  merchants  of  these  things,  which 
 were  made  rich  by  her,  shall  stand  afar  off  for 
 the  fear  of  her  torment,  weeping  and  wailing, 
 
 16  And  saying,  Alas,  alas  that  great  city, 
 '  that  was  clothed  in  fine  linen,  and  purple, 
 and  scarlet,  and  decked  with  gold,  and  precious 
 stones,  and  pearls ! 
 
 17  'For  in  one  hour  so  great  riches  is  come 
 to  nought.  And  ^  every  shipmaster,  and  all 
 the  company  in  ships,  and  sailors,  and  as  many 
 as  trade  by  sea,  stood  afar  off, 
 
 18  ^  And  cried  when  they  saw  the  smoke  of 
 her  burning,  saying,  '  What  city  is  like  unto 
 this  great  city ! 
 
 19  And  ''  they  cast  dust  on  their  heads,  and 
 cried,  weeping  and  wailing,  saying,  Alas,  alas 
 
 ch.   I).   17. 
 /  Fze  26,  l«, 
 
 17.  ch.1/2. 
 
 ver.  S. 
 »  Jer.  5tl.  W. 
 
 tl  I^.  21,9. 
 cli  U.  s. 
 =  ver.  17,  19 
 
 >  Ezek.  87. 
 27—36. 
 vpr.  3. 
 
 II  Or,  6o(/iV». 
 c  Kick.  27. 
 
 r  U,  2,1,  14, 
 Eze.  27,  29 
 
 31',  31. 
 
 ver,  9. 
 i  c)i.  13,  4. 
 k  Josh,  7,  6 
 
 I  Sam, 4  12 
 
 Job  2,  12. 
 
 Eztk, 27.30, 
 
 '«  iB   4-1.23. 
 
 .%  -19.  I  J, 
 
 Jer.  51,  49, 
 1  Luke  11, 
 
 4!1.6(), 
 
 cli.  19.  2. 
 
 ,.  cl 
 
 19,  3, 
 
 at  1 
 
 6.  2U. 
 
 7  Is 
 
 21.  S, 
 
 J.-r 
 
 7,  St  Ik 
 
 16, 
 
 9. 11  2S, 
 
 III, 
 
 Ejc.  26. 
 
 13. 
 
 Jer  7  31.  R 
 16,  9,  Ik  2.?. 
 10,  &.S.i,  11. 
 
 «2Kin.9.22 
 Nah  3  4 
 ch.  17.2,5 
 
 X  ch.  17.  6, 
 
 jjer.  51.  19. 
 
 Ach.4.  11, 
 Kt  7.  in,  12. 
 
 li  Dcut.  3?. 
 
 43  eh.  6.10. 
 
 fc  !8   211. 
 e  Is.  3t.  10. 
 
 ch.  It.  II. 
 
 &  19    9,  18 
 /ch.  4  4,  6. 
 
 10  hS.  14, 
 !>  I  Clir.  16 
 
 36,  Neh,  5, 
 
 13.  &  9.  6. 
 
 ch.  5.  U. 
 
 that  great  city,  wherein  were  made  rich  all 
 that  had  ships  in  the  sea  by  reason  of  her 
 costliness !  '  for  in  one  hour  is  she  made 
 desolate. 
 
 20  ■"  Rejoice  over  her,  ihoti  heaven,  and  ye 
 holy  apostles  and  prophets;  for  °  God  hath 
 avenged  you  on  her. 
 
 •21  And  a  mighty  angel  took  up  a  stone  like 
 a  great  millstone,  and  cast  il  into  the  sea,  say- 
 ing, °  Thus  with  violence  shall  that  great  city 
 Babylon  be  tlirown  down,  and  ''shall  be  found 
 no  more  at  all. 
 
 2'2  ''  And  the  voice  of  harpers,  and  musicians, 
 and  of  pipers,  and  trumpeters,  shall  be  heard 
 no  more  at  all  in  thee  ;  and  no  craftsman,  of 
 whatsoever  craft  he  be,  shall  be  found  any 
 more  in  thee  ;  and  the  sound  of  a  millstone 
 shall  be  heard  no  more  at  all  in  thee  ; 
 
 23  'And  the  light  of  a  candle  shall  shine  no 
 more  at  all  in  thee;  'and  the  voice  of  the 
 bridegroom  and  of  the  bride  shall  be  heard  no 
 more  at  all  in  thee  :  for  '  thy  merchants  were 
 the  great  men  of  the  earth  ;  "  for  by  thy  sor- 
 ceries were  all  nations  deceived. 
 
 24  And  'in  her  was  found  the  blood  of  pro- 
 phets, and  of  saints,  and  of  all  that  '  were  slain 
 upon  the  earth. 
 
 CHAP.  XIX. 
 
 I  God  is  praised  in  heaven  for  jutlying  ihe  great  whore, 
 and  avenging  the  blond  of  his  saints.  7  The  marringe 
 of  the  Lfiml),  10  The  angil  will  not  be  ivorshipjied. 
 1 7   The  fowls  called  to  the  great  slaughter. 
 
 A  ND  after  these  tilings  °  I  heard  a  great 
 ■^  voice  of  niucli  people  in  heaven,  saying. 
 Alleluia;  ^Salvation,  and  glory,  and  honour, 
 and  power,  unto  the  Lord  our  God  : 
 
 2  For  '^  true  and  righteous  are  his  judgments  : 
 for  he  hath  judged  the  great  whore,  which  did 
 corrupt  the  earth  with  her  fornication,  and 
 ''  hath  avenged  the  blood  of  his  servants  at  her 
 hand. 
 
 3  And  again  they  said,  Alleluia.  And  "  her 
 smoke  rose  up  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 4  And  Uhe  four  and  twenty  elders  and  the 
 four  beasts  fell  down  and  worshipped  God  that 
 sat  on  the  throne,  saying,  *^Ameii ;  Alleluia. 
 
 to  the  literal  Babylon.— TT'oorfA.  8.  Fire,  in  prophetic  language,  im- 
 plies utter  destruction.  The  comiption,  superstition,  and  usurped  do- 
 minion of  Rome  shall  be  utterly  destroyed.— U'oorf.  9.  ShaU  bewaif, 
 —these  lamentations  are  copied  from  the  like  over  Tjre,  in  the  26th 
 and  27th  chapters  of  Ezekiel.— i?p.  Xeivton.  These  kinp:s  shall  be  in- 
 strumental in  destroying  the  spiritual  Babylon,  and  yet  shall  mourn 
 her  fall.— U'codA.  12.  Thgine  u-ood—tlns  is  said  to  be  a  tree  much 
 like  the  cjpress,  mentioned  by  Homer,  Odyss.  1.  6,  v.  60  ;  by  Pliny,  Xat. 
 Hist.,  lib.  .\iii.  c.  16;  and  by  others.  How  much  the  different  articles 
 mentioned  in  the  I2th  and  I3th  verses  were  m  request  amone:  the  an- 
 cients, and  how  highly  valued.every  scholar  knows —-•J.  r/orAre.  13.  And 
 slfiirs — marg.,  '  bodies'— ^nd  sotds  <(/men— can  we  avoid  recalling  to 
 memory  the  purgatory,  penances,  commutations,  indulgences,  made 
 saleable  in  the  corrupt  papal  church  ?—iroorf/i.  17-  In  one  hour,  a 
 very  short  time ;  expressing  the  speediness  of  Rome's  destruction. — 
 Gill.  20.  Rejoice,  i^c— see  the  same  rejoicing  and  desolation  an- 
 nounced upon  the  prophesied  fall  of  ancient  Babylon,  {Jer.  li.  48.)— 
 Woodh.  Apostles,  by  these  may  be  understood  here  the  ordinary  mi- 
 nisters cf  the  word,  who  are  sent  forth  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  will 
 see  the  destruction  of  Babylon,  and  will  be  such  as  have  preached  and 
 defended  the  pure  apostolic  doctrine ;  and  by  prophets,  such  as  have  a 
 
 gift  of  interpreting  the  scriptures  and  preaching  the  gospel.  The  saire 
 with  the  two  %Wtnesses,  i.  e.,  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  and  churcb.es 
 of  Christ,  who  till  this  time  will  have  prophesied  in  sackcloth,  but  shall 
 now  put  it  off,  and  put  on  the  garments  of  praise  and  joy.— Gili. 
 21.  Took  up  a  stone,  i^r.- this  emblem  of  the  sudden  and  inevitable 
 destruction  of  Rome  is  an  emblem  copied  from  and  improved  from  Jer. 
 li.  63,  6i.— B/).  jYeu7o7i.  This  was  done  to  impre.-s  un  John's  mind, 
 and  that  of  his  readers,  that  the  doom  of  Babylon  is  scaled  and  sure.— 
 Boothr.  22.  And  the  I'oice  of  harpers,  ^c. — '  there  shall  be  no  more 
 m\isicians  for  the  entertainment  of  the  rich  and  great ;  no  more  trades- 
 men or  artificers  to  furnish  the  conveniences  of  life ;  no  more  servants 
 or  slaves  to  grind  at  the  mill,  and  supply  the  necessaries  of  life.* 
 23.  And  the  lii;ht,  ^c. — '  there  shall  be  no  more  lights  ;  no  more  bridal 
 songs ;  the  city  shall  never  be  peopled  again  by  new  marriages,  but 
 shall  remain  depopulated  for  ever.* — Bp.  Newton. 
 
 CiiAP.  XIX. —  1. 1  heard  a  great  voice,  SfC. — this  is  a  continuance  of 
 the  sublime  ode  in  the  preceding  chapter,  which  ends  with  the  tenth 
 verse.— So  Wil.  AlMuUt,  Helt.  'hallelujah.'  2.  True,  in  fulfilling 
 his  promises  and  ihrcatenings.  llighteovs,  in  proportioning  her  pu- 
 nishment to  her  crimes. — Bp.  Newton.  4.  Elders — 6c(is/s— see  chap, 
 iv.,  notes. 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap.  Will.  —  I.  As  spiritual  Babylon 
 must  be  destroyed,  how  gracious  is  the  warning  and  invitation 
 given  to  escape  fruvi  her/  At  the  time  of  the  Reformation  this 
 was  largely  obeyed,  and  many  a  precious  soul  lias  been  saved 
 by  fleeing  from  the  wrath  to  come  on  the  devoted  community. 
 But,al:is!  what  myriads  never  see  the  unadulterated  predic- 
 tions which  plainly  describe  the  polluted  city,  for  their  spi- 
 ritual tyrants  prohibit  their  perusal,  and  those  who  do  see 
 them  submit  to  their  interpretation  instead  of  thinking  for 
 themselves,  and  comparing  scripture  with  scripture,  which 
 1304 
 
 would  shew  them  in  colours  too  clearly  to  be  mistaken,  not 
 paiian,  but  papal  Rome,  '  the  dealer  in  the  souls  of  men.' 
 
 1 1 .  Let  us  njoice  in  the  hastening  downfall  of  the  spiritual  Ba- 
 Ighin.  O  what  a  change  will  it  make  in  the  face  of  the  church 
 and  the  world  !  '  The  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place'  shall 
 then,  indeed,  be  glad,  and  '  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blos- 
 som as  the  rose.'  Light  sliall  chv^se  away  darkness;  holiness 
 shall  shame  impurity  ;  truth  shall  supplant  error  ;  and  heaven 
 shall  unite  with  earth  in  one  eternal  song  of  praise.     Amen. 
 
The  marrinije  of  the  Lamb. 
 
 REVELATION,  XX. 
 
 The  finih  called  to  the  slaughter 
 
 5  And  a  voice  came  out  of  the  throne,  sayhig, 
 '•  Praise  our  Goil,  all  ye  liis  servants,  and  ye 
 that  fear  him,  '  both  small  and  great. 
 
 0  '  And  I  heard  as  it  were  the  voice  of  a  great 
 multitude,  and  as  the  voice  of  many  waters, 
 and  as  tlie  voice  of  mighty  thunderings,  say- 
 ing. Alleluia :  for  '  the  Lord  God  omnipotent 
 reigneth. 
 
 7  Let  us  be  glad  and  rejoice,  and  give  honour 
 to  him:  for  ™  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  is 
 come,  and  his  wife  hath  made  herself  ready. 
 
 8  And  °  to  her  was  granted  that  she  should 
 be  arrayed  in  fine  linen,  clean  and  ||  white  : 
 "for  the  fine  linen  is  tlie  righteousness  of 
 saints. 
 
 9  And  he  saith  unto  me.  Write,  ^ Blessed  are 
 they  which  are  called  unto  the  marriage  supper 
 of  the  Lamb.  And  he  saith  unto  me,  ''  These 
 are  the  true  sayings  of  God. 
 
 10  And  '  I  fell  at  his  feet  to  worship  him. 
 And  he  said  unto  me,  '  See  thou  do  it  not :  I 
 am  thy  fellowservant,  and  of  thy  brethren 
 'that  have  the  testimony  of  Jesus:  worship 
 God  :  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the  spirit 
 of  prophecy. 
 
 1 1  "  And  I  saw  heaven  opened,  and  behold 
 'a  white  horse  ;  and  he  that  sat  upon  him  ivas 
 called  ''  Faithful  and  True,  and  ^  in  righteous- 
 ness he  doth  judge  and  make  war. 
 
 \i  "  His  eyes  icere  as  a  flame  of  fire,  ''  and 
 on  his  head  were  many  crowns  ;  '  and  he  had 
 a  name  written,  that  no  man  knew,  but  he 
 himself. 
 
 13  "^  And  he  ivas  clothed  with  a  vesture 
 dipped  in  blood  :  and  his  name  is  called  'The 
 Word  of  God. 
 
 14  'And  the  armies  which  were  in  heaven 
 followed  him  upon  white  horses,  ^  clothed  in 
 fine  linen,  white  and  clean. 
 
 15  And  ''out  of  his  mouth  goeth  a  sharp 
 sword,  that  with  it  he  should  smite  the  nations : 
 
 (  l.l..hn5  10, 
 
 1/  ch.  3.  H 
 =  Is.  1 1.  4. 
 
 J  1«-  63.  2. 3. 
 
 /ch.  11.20. 
 r  Mat.  2S.  .1. 
 chAA.  &7. 
 y. 
 
 .  Is   II.  4. 
 2Thes.8  8. 
 ch.  1.  16. 
 
 h  Ps.  13 1.  1 
 
 i  Ps.  2.  a. 
 
 &  IS.-..  I. 
 
 ch.  2,  -27.  «t 
 
 <  ell.  II.  IS. 
 
 ii-5. 
 
 «£  311.  12, 
 
 A  19.  63.  3. 
 
 frKzok.l.-21. 
 
 eh.  14.  19, 
 
 &  4:1  -2. 
 
 20. 
 
 ch.  li.  2. 
 
 I  ver.  12. 
 
 .»  Dan.  2.17. 
 
 1  Tim.  6.15. 
 
 I  ch.  11.  15, 
 
 ch.  17.  14. 
 
 17.  St  I3.IU. 
 
 »i  Mat.  2S. 
 
 a  Ezek.  39. 
 17. 
 
 :*.  h  25.  lu. 
 
 ■2  Cor.  11.  2. 
 
 Kph.  b.32. 
 ch.  21.sr,  9. 
 n  I's-  45.  13, 
 
 P  Eyek.  30. 
 
 IS,  -io. 
 
 l-t.Ezek.l6. 
 
 )U.  ch  3.18. 
 
 II  Or,  bright 
 
 o  Ps.  13>    9. 
 
 p  Mat.S2.  2, 
 
 3.  Luke  11. 
 
 Id,  16. 
 
 q  ch.  (6.  16. 
 
 &  17. 13,  IK 
 
 &  2i.  li. 
 
 r  ch.  23.  8. 
 
 «  Acts  10.26 
 
 r  ch.   16.  l.'t, 
 
 Ik  1*.  11.  15, 
 
 U. 
 
 «ch.  11.  10. 
 &  21.8. 
 X  ver.  15. 
 
 y  ver.  IT,  18. 
 X  ch.  17.  16. 
 
 r  ch.  1.  19. 
 &9.  I. 
 
 and  '  he  shall  rule  them  with  a  rod  of  iron :  and 
 '  he  treadeth  tlie  winepress  of  the  fierceness 
 and  wrath  of  almighty  God. 
 
 IG  And  'he  hath  on  his  vesture  and  on  his 
 thiiih  a  name  written,  "' KING  OF  KINGS, 
 AND  LORD  OF  LORDS. 
 
 17  And  I  saw  an  angel  standing  in  the  sun; 
 and  he  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying  "  to  all 
 the  fowls  that  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven, 
 "  Come  and  gather  yourselves  together  unto 
 the  supper  of  the  great  God  ; 
 
 18  "  That  ye  may  eat  the  flesh  of  kings,  and 
 the  flesh  of  captains,  and  the  flesh  of  mighty 
 men,  and  the  flesh  of  horses,  and  of  them  that 
 sit  on  them,  and  the  flesh  of  all  men,  both  free 
 and  bond,  both  small  and  great. 
 
 19  ''  And  I  saw  the  beast,  and  the  kings  of 
 the  earth,  and  their  armies,  gathered  together 
 to  make  war  against  him  that  sat  on  the  horse, 
 and  against  his  army. 
 
 20  '  And  the  beast  was  taken,  and  with  him 
 the  false  prophet  that  wrought  miracles  before 
 him,  with  which  he  deceived  them  that  had 
 received  the  mark  of  the  beast,  and  ^  them  that 
 worshipped  his  image.  '  These  both  were  cast 
 alive  into  a  lake  of  fire  "  burning  with  brim- 
 stone. 
 
 21  And  the  remnant  'were  slain  with  the 
 sword  of  him  that  sat  upon  the  horse,  which 
 sword  proceeded  out  of  his  mouth:  'and  all 
 the  fowls  ^  were  filled  with  their  flesh. 
 
 CHAP.  XX. 
 
 2  Satan  hound  for  n  thousand  years,  6  T/ieJirstrC' 
 surrectlon  :  they  hltssed  t/uit  have  part  therein.  7 
 Satan  Lt  loose  again.  8  Gog  and  Magog.  10  The 
 devil  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone*  12  The 
 last  aJid  general  resurrtction, 
 
 A  ND  I  saw  an  angel  come  down  from  bca- 
 ■^^  veil,  *  having  the  key  of  the  bottomless 
 pit  and  a  great  chain  in  his  hand. 
 
 /.  Mnrringe  of  the  Lamb — this  term  expresses  the  union  between  Christ 
 and  his  church.  This  will  now  be  consuniniatecl ;  the  previous  period 
 may  be  considered  as  only  tlie  time  of  betrothing-.— So  Dai\  At  the 
 period  when  Babylon  falls,  the  Jews  shall  be  brought  into  the  chiu-ch 
 of  Christ,  with  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles,  according  to  Romans,  chap. 
 xi. ;  and  what  an  espousal  and  marriage  supper  will  that  be,  when 
 Jews  and  Gentiles,  from  every  nation  under  heaven,  shall  be  brought 
 to  believe  in  Jesus,  and  led  to  confess  him  as  the  true  Messiah,  their 
 Lord,  their  Saviour,  and  then*  King-.  Tliis  will  be  the  day  of  the  glad- 
 ness of  his  heart,  (Cant.  iii.  ii.) — W.  Jonea.  8.  Injfne  linen,  fyc,  not 
 in  worldly  splendour,  like  the  harlot,  but  in  pure,  simple,  though  re- 
 splendent, garments,  which  are  the  clothing  of  the  heavenly  inhabitants, 
 She  '  had  washed  her  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the 
 Lamb,*  (chap.  vii.  li.)  Uy  faith  in  her  Redeemer  she  has  become 
 righteous ;  for  this  is  '  the  tine  luien,'  '  the  righteousness  of  the  saints.' 
 —  IVoodh.  10.  See  thou  do  it  no^— this  uijmiction  irepeated  chap, 
 xxii.  9)  is  very  strong  against  angel  worship. —  Wondh.  That  hnce  the  /es- 
 timony  of  Jesits—Teyeise  the  last  clause  :  '  The  spirit  of  prophecy  is  the 
 testimony  of  Jesus  ;'  the  true  spirit,  design,  and  end  of  all  prophecy  is, 
 to  reveal  Christ.— i?'/;-.  11.7  .satv  hettven  opt-nrd,  §(■.— the  grand  sub- 
 ject of  this  and  the  following  verses  is  the  battle  of  Armageddon,  men- 
 tioned in  chap.  xvi.  IJ — 16. —  W.  Jones.  We  now  come  to  the  grand 
 and  decisive  combat  between  the  Christian  and  antichristian  powers. 
 Here  the  '  seven  seals,'  the  '  seven  tnunpets,'  the  '  seven  vials,'  and 
 all  their  accompanying  warnings  unite.  White  horse,  the  same  seen  in 
 the  early  part  of  the  vision.  Faithful,  i^c.— the  epithets  elsewhere  ap- 
 plied to  the  Messiah  are  here  collected,  and  so  arranged  as  to  display 
 his  glorj',  his  power,  and  his  anger. —  Woodh.  12.  Many  crowns,  denote 
 his  nimierous  conquests  and  kingdoms.— B;>.  Newton.  A  name  written 
 that  no  viun  knew,  '  JUVH,'  '  Jehov.\ii,'  which  the  Jews  never  at- 
 tempted to  pronounce ;  when  reading  in  the  Bible,  they  read  "Ziti, 
 Adonai,ior  it;  and,  to  a  man,  declare  that  no  man  can  pronounce  it, 
 and  that  the  true  pronunciation  has  been  lost  since  the  Babylonish 
 capti\'ity,  and  that  God  alone  knows  its  true  interpretation  and  pro- 
 nunciation.—J.  Clarfce.    It  is  remarkable  that  among  the  Hindoos  it  is 
 
 scarcely  possible  to  ascertain  the  name  of  the  reigning  monarch.  His 
 titles  may  be  a.scertaincd,  not  his  name,  as  if  it  were  too  sacred.  Tliey 
 shudder  when  requested  to  pronounce  it.— Le  Cierc.  \3.  Vesture 
 dipped,  §-('.— corop.  Isa.  Ixiii.   !.     Word  of  God — see  John,  i.  1,  note. 
 
 14.  Fine  linen,  SfC,  an  emblem  of  victory  and  sanctity. — Bp.  Newton. 
 
 15.  Out  of  his  mouth  goeth  a  sharp  sword — see  chap.  i.  iS.  Jiod  of  iron 
 — see  Ps.  ii.  9-  A  prophecy  of  Christ,  mentioned  twice  before  in  this 
 book,  (chap.  ii.  27,  and  xii.  5.)  Treadeth  the  wineprrsssee  ver.  19,  20, 
 and  Isa.  Ixiii.  3.  l6.  On  his  thigh,  ^c,  may  either  mean  upon  that 
 part  of  his  garment  which  covered  his  thigh,  or  else  on  his  sword, 
 which  he  sometimes  girt  upon  his  thigh.  It  may  denote  the  perpetuity 
 of  Christ's  name,  power,  and  dominion,  wliicli  will  continue  to  the 
 latest  posterity,  (Ps.  Ixxii.  I?.) — Gill.  The  ancient  custom  to  place  in- 
 scriptions on  the  thighs  of  statues  is  evident,  from  some  remarkable 
 figures  still  extant. — iJaiK  King  of  Kings— the  very  same  title  given 
 to  the  Lamb  in  chap.  xvii.  14. —  W.  Jones.  IT-  A}i  angel stnndini^  in  the 
 sun,  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  or  rather,  a  set  of  go.'pel  ministers,  such 
 as  in  chap,  xiv.,  who  may  be  said  to  stand  in  the  ^mi,  in  like  mamier 
 as  the  woman,  the  church,  was  seen  clothed  with  it,  (chap.  xii.  1,}  and 
 may  denote  tlie  conspicuousness  of  gospel  preachers.  The  fowls,  mean- 
 ing Christian  princes  and  their  people,  who  will  share  the  spoils  of  the 
 anticlnistian  people,  and  possess  their  kingdoms,  substance,  and 
 estates.— Gi7/.  Supper  of  the  great  God,  '  great  supper  of  God'  is  by 
 far  the  best  supported  reading. — Grieshach.  Thc^e  lofty  strains  are 
 copied  from  the  ancient  prophets,  (Ezek.  xxxix.  17,  \S.)—Bp.  Newton. 
 18.  Flesh,  in  symbolical  language,  signilies  the  riches,  goods,  and  pos- 
 sessions of  any  persons  conquered  or  slain. — Daubuz.  19.  Beast — 
 this  and  the  false  prophet  (ver.  20)  represent  the  antichristian  powers, 
 civil  and  ecclesiasrical.  Armies,  adherents  and  followers. — Bp.  New- 
 ton. Thus  endeth  the  representations  contained  \vithin  the  seventh 
 seal. — Pyle.  The  prophecy  in  general  means,  that  now  all  the  powers 
 of  the  apostasy  shEdl  be  destroyed;  no  opposition  shall  remain  to  hin- 
 der that  happy  state  of  the  church  which  is  to  follow  in  the  ne.\t  period. 
 — Lawman. 
 
 CuAP.  XX. — 1.  An  angel— having  the  key — Is  not  this  the  Judge  of 
 
 Reflkctions  OS  Cn.\P.  XIX.  —  I.  God's  judgments  must 
 be  admired,  as  wtll  as  his  merry.  'God,  who  is  holy,  is  also 
 just  and  true  ;  and  rishteous  are  his  judtjments,  though  ihey 
 are  awful  and  tremendous.' 
 
 II.  Miseralde  at  last  will  be  the  end  of  all  those  who  oppose 
 1365 
 
 Christ,  whether  papists  or  not  papists  ;  such  form  a  part  of 
 the  army  of  Antichrist,  and  iheir  ruin  is  inevitable.  0,  tiien, 
 let  the  rebellious  cast  down  their  weapons  at  the  feet  of 
 Christ,  while  yet  there  is  hope.  He  is  as  full  of  mercy  as  he 
 is  of  power. 
 
Satan  bound  for 
 
 REVELATION,  XX. 
 
 a  thousand  years. 
 
 2  And  he  laid  hold  on  *■  the  dragon,  that  old 
 serpent,  which  is  the  Devil,  and  Satan,  "  and 
 bound  him  a  thousand  years, 
 
 3  And  cast  him  into  the  bottomless  pit,  and 
 shut  him  up,  and  ''set  a  seal  upon  him,  '  that 
 he  should  deceive  the  nations  no  more,  till  the 
 thousand  years  should  be  fulfilled:  and  after 
 that  he  must  be  loosed  a  little  season. 
 
 4  And  I  saw  '  thrones,  and  they  sat  upon 
 them,  and  ^ judgment  was  given  unto  them: 
 
 /.  cli.  ti.  9. 
 ch.  13,  12. 
 
 /Rom.  9.  17 
 o-r.m.ili 
 ch.  &.  10. 
 
 and  I  saw  "the  souls  of  them  that  were  be- 
 headed for  the  witness  of  Jesus,  and  for  the 
 word  of  God,  and  '  which  had  not  worshipped 
 the  beast,  ''  neither  his  image,  neither  had  re- 
 ceived his  mark  upon  their  foreheads,  or  in 
 their  hands  ;  and  they  lived  and  '  reigned  with 
 Christ  a  thousand  years. 
 5  But  the  rest  of  the  dead  lived  not  again 
 until  the  thousand  years  were  finished.  This 
 is  the  first  resurrection. 
 
 all  i — Dav.  2.  Bound  him,  by  chains,  as  conqnernrs  treat  tlip  con- 
 quered. The  idea  appears  to  be,  that  his  proper  work  of  deception 
 and  destruction  shall  cease  during  the  specified  period. — Dav.  A  t/tou- 
 sand  z/eurs—ihe  very  same  period  that  Is  allotted  for  the  reipn  of  the 
 saints  with  Christ  upon  the  earth.  This,  being  a  prophecy,  is  not  to 
 be  interpreted  literally,  but  in  the  same  way  as  we  have  explained 
 other  prophecies  in  this  book.  But  then  a  question  arises— Are  we  so 
 to  understand  the  '  thousand  years' ?  If  so,  Satan  is  to  be  bound,  and 
 the  saints  are  to  rciRn  on  the  earth,  360,000  years.  The  apostles,  how- 
 ever,  speak  of  '  the  last  days,'  and  of '  the  coming  of  the  Lord  drawing 
 nigh,'  hut,  in  this  view,  the  world  would  be  yet  in  its  infancy.  It  is 
 therefore  to  be  inferred,  that  the  term  in  this  passage  is  to  be  under- 
 stood literally,  even  as  we  do  the  names  of  the  devil  and  Satan.  In 
 all  prophecies  there  must  be  introduced  some  terms  that  are  to  be  un- 
 derstood literally,  otherwise  the  prophecy  could  have  no  definite  mean- 
 ing, and  no  certain  application  ;  and  such  seems  to  be  the  case  before 
 us.— So  ir.  Jonifs.  To  understand  the  words  figuratively  is  more  con- 
 sistent with  the  symbolic  nature  of  the  book.  Tliis,  to  man,  throws 
 back  his  hope  of  the  future  perfect  state  to  a  distance  far  more  remote 
 than  seems  suggested  by  the  apostles.  But  shortness  or  length  of  time. 
 even  in  its  aspect  to  us,  milch  depends  on  the  nature  and  extent  of 
 work  to  be  done  during  a  specified  period. — Dar,  Without  presuming 
 to  decide  the  question,  though,  at  first,  from  preconceived  opinions, 
 we  revolt  at  the  immense  period,  if  prophetically  calculated,  yet  what 
 a  glorious  view  does  it  give  us  of  •  the  number  which  no  man  can 
 number,'  and  tlie  mighty,  tlie  Almi^htii,  superiority  of  Christ's  king- 
 dom and  dominion.  While  we  compare  the  period  with  the  previous 
 speck  of  the  world's  existence,  and  think  of  the  multiplied  stock  of 
 Adam's  redeemed  sons,  during  so  long  a  reign  and  triumph  of  truth, 
 how  it  seems  to  throw  a  splendid  light  on  that  prediction.—*  He  shall 
 see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  be  satisfied.^  It  will,  indeed,  delay 
 the  resurrection,  hut  whether  our  bodies  be  raised  sooner  or  later,  the 
 glorified  spirit  will  know  no  impatience  in  the  world  of  bliss.  The 
 terms  '  latter  days,'  •  last  times,'  &c.,  employed  by  the  apostles,  may 
 be  so  used  quite  consistently  with  this  hypotlicsis,  as  signifying  merely 
 the  approaching  expiration  of  the  Jewish  dispensation,  and  the  latter 
 times  of  Antichrist ;  and  some  terms  respecting  approaching  judgment 
 may  relate  to  that  speedy  account  which  every  individual  must  give 
 on  the  rapidly  approaching  dissolution  of  his  mortal  body. — Ed.  The 
 above  remarks  had  just  been  written,  when  the  following  were  found 
 in  Lti  Fterfierp^s  Piistfttniwus  Pieces,  in  allusion  to  the  opinion  of  a 
 high  German  divine  who  adopted  the  longer  period  :  '  I  should  rather,' 
 says  Flech<ire,  *  be  of  this  opinion,  for  a  day  is  before  the  Lord  as  a 
 thousand  years,  and  a  thousand  years  as  a  day.  How  would  at  last 
 vanish  the  pitiful  objections  of  unbelievers,  concerning  God's  choosing 
 t.'  create  a  world  where  the  good  were  to  bear  no  proportion  to  the 
 wicked  !  What  a  fine  instance  should  we  have  of  God's  mercy,  and 
 oftheeflScacy  of  our  Saviour's  blood  I  How  gloriously  would  these 
 words  be  explained—"  I  punish  to  the  third  or  fourth  generation,  hut 
 shew  mercy  unto  thousands  [of  pcnerati  ns]  of  them  that  love  me  I"  * 
 —Rer.  Jnlin  Flecliere's  fVorks,  vol.  ix.  TUere  is,  however,  yet  an- 
 other interpretation  of  a  thousand  years,  and  that  is,  that  it  is  an  ex- 
 pression for  a  great  number  of  years.  On  which  De.  Adam  Clarke 
 remarks,  '  It  is  not  likely  that  the  number,  "  a  thousand  years,"  is  to 
 be  taken  literally  here,  and  year  symbolically  and  figuratively  in  all 
 the  book  beside.  I  am  satisfied  that  this  period  should  not  be  taken 
 literally.  "Thousand  years"  is  a  mystic  number  among  the  Jews.' 
 To  the  question— How  many  are  the  days  of  the  Messiah  ?  Rah, 
 Elieser  said,  '  The  days  of  the  Messiah  are  a  thousand  years.'  Both 
 the  Greeks  and  Latins  had  the  same  form  of  speech.  Some  believed 
 that  '  some  were  obliged  to  make  a  long  peregrination  under  the  earth 
 before  they  arose  to  a  state  of  happiness,  for  it  was  a  journey  of  a 
 thousand  years.— RepuMie  of  Plain,  b.  x.  So  the  Romans  ;  speaking 
 of  the  puiiishment  of  the  wicked,  Virgil  says, 
 
 '  But  when  a  thnmnad  rolling  years  are  past. 
 So  long  their  dreary  punishment  shall  last.' — .En.,  lib,  vi.  748. 
 See  Clarke's  Com.  in  lor.  ;  see  also  Guyse.  4.  The  souls  of  them  that 
 were  heheaded,  as  John  the  Baptist,  &-c. ;  and  since  this  kind  of  punish- 
 ment was  a  Roman  one,  it  seems  particularly  to  point  at  such  persons 
 who  sulTered  under  the  Roman  pagan  emperors.  And  they  lived, 
 meaning,  not  spiritually,  for  this  they  did  before,  but  corporeally,  soul 
 being  sometimes  put  for  body.  (Ps.  xvi.  10.)— Gill.  This  does  not 
 mean  the  individual  persons  that  suffered  martyrdom,  but  their  suc- 
 cessors in  the  same  spirit.— Gt/,yse.  Reigned  with  Christ  a  thousand 
 j/enrs- Jewish  and  Christian  writers  have  long  taught  that  these 
 'thousand  years'  would  be  the  seventh  millenary  of  the  world.— B/j. 
 Newton.  That  the  martyrs  will  he  literally  raised,  and  that  Christ 
 w-ill  descend  from  heaven  with  his  saints,  personally,  in  Jerusalem, 
 and  at  the  end  of  the  '  thousand  years'  shall  follow  the  general  jiidg. 
 ment,  is  the  opinion  maintained  hy  Mede,  Dr.  Thomas  Burnett,  Gill, 
 Faber,  Frere,  Hales,  Sfo.  An  opinion  which  is  also  thought  to  offer 
 the  least  violence  to  scripture,  in  the  view  of  the  late  Bp.  Vajt  Mildert ; 
 see  his  Boi/le  Lectures.  In  opposition  to  this  opinion,  it  is  argued, 
 that  the  removal  of  the  saints  to  earth  for  ■  a  thousand  years'  would 
 1366 
 
 be  a  deterioration  of  their  state,  especially  while  the  world  is  still  sub- 
 ject to  sin  and  sorrow,  which  must  evidently  be  the  case  till  after  the 
 destruction  of  Gog  and  Magog.  It  seems  incongruous  to  associate  the 
 children  of  the  resurrection  with  the  subjects  of  mortality  and  sin. 
 The  idea  of  our  Lord  leaving  his  seat  in  glory  for  one  on  earth  seems 
 most  absurd  and  unscriptural.  The  terms  of  this  resurrection,  '  I  saw 
 the  souls,'  &c.,  are  inapplicable  to  a  literal  resurrection,  for  the  terms 
 are  never  used  in  reference  to  the  resurrection  of  the  body.  The  rc- 
 aiiimation  of  their  spirits  is  like  the  reappearance  of  Ellas  in  the  per- 
 son of  John  the  Baptist.  It  is,  in  the  figurative  langunge  of  this  book, 
 a  rcanimation  of  the  church,  by  the  same  spirit  and  temper  being  given 
 as  was  displayed  in  the  saints  and  martyrs  of  former  ages ;  for  the 
 same  spirit,  poured  from  on  high,  will  ever  form  the  same  holy  and 
 zealous  characters.  This  does  not  appear  to  agree  with  the  general 
 descriptioo  of  the  general  judgment,  where  all  alike  stand  before  God ; 
 and  though  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first,  it  does  not  lollow  that 
 they  should  rise  a  thousand  years  before.  These  are  the  views  main- 
 tained by  Whitby,  Guuse,  Hopkins,  Doddr.,  Pres.  Edwards,  Lawman, 
 A.  Fuller,  Scott,  Bogue,  Woodh.,  Boothr.  Buck  observes,  '  I  rather 
 suppose  that  the  reign  of  Christ  and  resurrection  of  saints  alluded  to  is 
 only  figurative,  and  that  nothing  more  is  meant  than  that,  before  the 
 general  judgment,  the  Jews  shall  he  converted,  genuine  Christianity 
 he  diffused  through  all  nations,  and  Christ  shall  reign  by  his  spiritual 
 presence  in  a  glorious  manner.  It  will,  however,  be  a  time  of  eminent 
 holiness,  clear  light  and  knowledge,  love,  peace,  and  friendship,  agree- 
 ment in  doctrine  and  worship.  Human  life  will  perhaps  rarely  be 
 endangered  by  the  poisons  of  the  mineral,  vegetable,  and  animal  king- 
 doms. Beasts  of  prey,  perhaps,  will  be  extirpated  or  tamed  by  the 
 power  of  man.  The  inhabitants  of  every  place  will  rest  secure  from 
 the  fear  of  rob'iery  and  murder.  War  shall  he  entirely  ended.  Capital 
 crimes  and  punishments  be  heard  of  no  more.  Governments  placed 
 on  fair,  just,  and  humane  foundations.  The  torch  of  civil  discord  will 
 be  extinguished.  Perhaps  pagans,  Turks,  deists,  and  Jews,  will  be  as 
 few  in  number  as  Christians  are  now.  Kings,  nobles,  magistrates, 
 and  rulers  in  churches,  shall  act  with  principle,  and  he  forward  to  pro- 
 mote  the  best  interests  of  men  ;  tyranny,  oppression,  persecution, 
 bigfitry,  and  crueltv,  shall  cease.  Business  will  he  attended  to  without 
 conteniion,  dishonesty,  and  covetousness.'  In  the  improvements  of 
 arts  and  sciences,  things  which  injure  now  will  be  rendered  harmless. 
 And,  '  above  all,  the  Bible  will  be  more  highly  appreciated,  its  harmony 
 perceived,  its  superiority  owned,  and  its  energy  felt,  by  millions  of 
 human  beings ;  in  fact,  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  o 
 the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.  The  time  when  the  millennium 
 shall  commence  is  commonly  thought  to  be  about  the  seven  thou- 
 sandth  year  of  the  world.  It  will  most  probably  come  on  by  degrees, 
 and  be  in  a  manner  introduced  years  before  that  time.'— T/ifo;»sr.i)ic(. 
 The  Revelation  is  a  professedly  symbolical  book  ;  and  the  force  of  ob- 
 jection is  great  against  its  being  interpreted  literally.  The  whole  of 
 this  very  vision  is  symbolical  i  the  dragon,  the  binding  with  a  chain, 
 and  the  sealing.  Why,  then,  are  we  immediately  to  make  a  transition 
 from  the  symbolical  to  the  literal,  from  the  style  of  prophecy  to  the 
 style  of  history  l-Wnrdlaw.  '  Upon  the  whole.'  says  Jones,  in  sum- 
 ming up  the  arguments  on  this  question,  •  1  think  we  may  see,  from 
 the  plain  concurring  doctrine  of  the  New  Testament,  that  at  the  second 
 or  personal  coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  there  will  be  a  resur- 
 rection of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and  unjust,  which  will  be  imme- 
 diately  followed  by  the  judgment  of  both— hy  the  eternal  and  heavenly 
 reward  of  the  righteous,  and  the  evcriasting  punishment  of  the  wicked  ; 
 and  if  so,  it  most  follow  as  a  necessary  consequence,  that  the  first  re- 
 surrection, which  is  a  thousand  years  before  this,  must  be  understood, 
 not  in  a  literal,  but  metaphorical  sense.'— Lrcdires  on  the  Apocalypse. 
 From  the  use  of  the  term  '  resurrection'  in  the  vision  of  the  dry  bones, 
 and  from  its  generally  supposed  signification  in  the  '  two  witnesses,' 
 it  is  strongly  probable  that  the  resurrection  here  spoken  of  is  not 
 literal.— Bd.  Birkrrsteth  comes  to  a  very  difTerent  conclusion  from 
 the  last-mentioned  writer,  lie  says,  'There  doesappear  to  the  author 
 considerable  evidence  that  the  Lord  of  glory  will  so  dwell  on  earth  as 
 to  be  visible  in  his  glory  -,  in  a  manner,  however,  aod  to  an  extent,  that 
 we  cannot  comprehend.  But  this  is  a  subject  of  that  ihlense  holiness, 
 and  there  is  such  danger  of  rash  familiarity,  that  it  requires  us  to  enter 
 decnly  into  the  direction  given  to  Moses,  ■  Draw  not  nigh  hither,'  Ac. 
 —Prart.  Guide  to  the  Prnpliecies.  The  meaning  of  a  prophecy  of  this 
 kinrl  can  only  be  made  manifest  by  the  event  which  is  to  fulfil  it.  Be- 
 fore that  time  shall  arrive,  it  is  unsafe  to  conjecture  after  what  method 
 it  shall  be  fulfilled,  literally  or  t)'pically  ;  it  is  best,  therefore,  after  the 
 example  ol  the  wise  father,  lienaeus.  respecting  another  prophecy,  to 
 •  wait  the  completion  of  the  prediction. '-irooi/i.  There  have  been 
 some  who  consider  the  resurrection  here  predicted  as  spiritual  and 
 pa.il  i  among  whom  are.  Bp.  Halt,  R.  Barrier,  Gipps.  Vint.,  and  Bush. 
 6.  Tlie  rest  of  the  dead,  that  is,  the  wicked  dead.— 6'i«.  That  is,  the 
 party  of  the  beast,  who  were  slain,  (chap.  xix.  21.)  shall  not  revive,  or 
 recover  any  part  of  their  former  power,  but  remain  altogether  unable 
 to  disturb  the  peace  or  prosperity  of  the  church,  till  the  thousand  years 
 shall  he  accomplished.  This  happy  state  of  the  church  may  weU  be 
 called  '  life  from  the  dead,'  or  a  first  resurrection.— Lowm.    The  rest 
 
The  last  and 
 
 REVELATION,  XXI. 
 
 general  resurrection. 
 
 6  Blessed  and  holy  is  lie  that  hath  part  in 
 the  first  resurrection  :  on  such  "'  the  second 
 death  hath  no  power,  but  they  shall  be  "priests 
 of  God  and  of  Christ,  "  and  shall  reign  with  him 
 a  thousand  years. 
 
 7  And  when  the  thousand  years  are  expired, 
 ^  Satan  shall  be  loosed  out  of  his  prison, 
 
 8  And  shall  go  out ''  to  deceive  the  nations 
 which  are  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth, 
 '  Gog  and  Magog,  '  to  gather  them  together  to 
 battle  :  the  number  of  whom  is  as  the  sand  of 
 the  sea. 
 
 9  '  And  they  went  up  on  the  breadth  of  the 
 earth,  and  compassed  the  camp  of  the  saints 
 about,  and  the  beloved  city  :  and  fire  came 
 down  from  God  out  of  heaven,  and  devoured 
 them. 
 
 10  "  And  the  devil  that  deceived  them  was 
 cast  into  tlie  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,  *  where 
 the  beast  and  the  false  prophet  arc,  and  ^  shall 
 be  tormented  day  and  niglit  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 11  And  I  saw  a  great  white  throne,  and  him 
 that  sat  on  it,  from  whose  face  '  the  earth  and 
 the  heaven  fled  away  ;  "  and  there  was  found 
 no  place  for  them. 
 
 A-  n  06. 
 
 .»  rU.S.  II. 
 
 &2I.8. 
 .1  Is.  61.6 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  9. 
 
 rli.1.6.  &  5. 
 
 111. 
 o  ver.  4. 
 
 ('  ver.  2. 
 7  ver.  S,  10 
 
 r  K/elt.SS  S. 
 \  :19,  1. 
 I  cii.  16.  It. 
 
 I«  a  8. 
 V.wk.  S8.  0, 
 
 T  ch.  !0  2H 
 yrti.  14.  ll\ 
 
 ;  2  Pet.  3.7, 
 10,  II- 
 ch.  21.  I. 
 
 a  Van.  2.  35 
 
 A.  D.  90. 
 
 I,  ell.  19.  5. 
 c  Drm  7.  10. 
 d  Pa.  09.  ys. 
 
 n.aii.  12.  1. 
 
 Phil.  +,  ;l. 
 
 cli   3.  5.  & 
 
 13.8.  &  21. 
 
 S7. 
 e  .ler.  17.  10. 
 
 &  3?.  19. 
 
 »I  .It.  16.27. 
 
 Riim.  2   6. 
 
 Cll.  2,   23.  S: 
 
 2>.  12.  ver. 
 
 13. 
 /rh.6.  8. 
 II  Or,  the 
 
 g  ver    12. 
 /•  I  Cor.  15. 
 
 26.  .51,  !i5. 
 I  ver.  0. 
 
 cll    21.8. 
 k  cll.  19.  20. 
 
 a  Is.  f>b.    17. 
 
 &  6fi.  22. 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  13. 
 b  ch.  20.  II. 
 
 I-2  And  I  saw  the  dead,  ''small  and  great, 
 stand  before  God  ;  ''  and  the  books  were  open- 
 ed :  and  another  ''  book  was  opened,  which  is 
 the  hook  of  life  :  and  the  dead  were  judged  out 
 of  those  things  which  were  written  in  the 
 books,  "according  to  their  works. 
 
 13  And  the  sea  gave  up  the  dead  which  were 
 ill  it;  'and  death  and  ||  hell  delivered  up 
 the  dead  which  were  in  them:  ''and  they 
 were  judged  every  man  according  to  their 
 works. 
 
 14  And  '•death  and  hell  were  cast  into  the 
 lake  of  fire.     '  This  is  the  second  death. 
 
 15  And  whosoever  was  not  found  written  in 
 the  book  of  life  ''  was  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire. 
 
 CHAP.  XXI. 
 
 I  A  neio  heaven  and  a  neio  earth.  10  The  heavenly 
 Jerusalem,  loith  a  full  description  thereof.  23  She 
 needeth  no  sun,  the  glorif  of  God  ;'?  her  light.  24 
 The  kings  of  the  earth  bring  their  riches  unto  her. 
 
 \  ND  ^  I  saw  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth  : 
 ■^^  ^  for  the  first  heaven  and  the  first  earth 
 were  passed  away  ;  and  there  was  no  more 
 sea. 
 
 of  the  dead,  even  the  subdued  pagans,  (or  papists,  say  others.)  were 
 kept  as  in  a  state  of  death,  out  of  power,  till  the  dragon  revived  their 
 power  again  a  thousand  years  after. — R.  Baxter.  '  First  resurrection* 
 IS  here  usfd  to  express  the  flnnrishinp  condition  of  the  churcli  for  one 
 thousand  years. — Ham.  6.  Blessed,  fyc,  '  happy  are  the  holy  Chris- 
 tians who  shall  he  partakers  in  the  privileges,  blessings,  and  comforts, 
 of  this  delivered  and  advanced  church  ;  they  shall  no  more  fall  under 
 the  pagan  power,  (or  papal,  say  others,)  nor  partake  with  them  of  that 
 utter  destructinn  which  is  a  second  death,  even  as  holy  souls  with 
 Christ  in  heaven  have  there  the  state  of  a  tir^t  resurrection  before  the 
 body  rise,  and  are  secured  from  the  condemnation  nf  the  wicked.' — 
 B.  Baxter.  7-  Loosed,  said  ti^uratively.  8.  S/tull  f^o  out  to  deceive 
 the  nations  tvhich  ure  in  the  four  quiirters — this  new  rebellion  against 
 the  laws  of  God  and  easy  yoke  of  Clirist  is  of  formidable  extent ;  '  four 
 corners'  means,  *  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  are  engaged  in  it.'  It  is 
 an  apostasy  of  a  new  kind,  different,  at  least,  from  the  former  apos- 
 tasy, in  which  the  beast  and  false  prophet  were  Satan's  instruments  of 
 mischief.  Beyond  this  wo  have  little  ground  for  conjecture. —  Woodh. 
 Whether  this  is  spoken  figuratively  or  literally,  it  evidently  means  that 
 the  church  will  once  more  be  disturbed  by  persons  like  the  barbarous 
 northern  natinns,  who  have  often  disturbed  the  peace  of  the  world  by 
 their  invasions  ;  but  it  will  prove  a  fruitless  attempt,  and  their  com- 
 jjlete  ruin.— So  Lowm.  Gog  and  Magog,  figuratively  describe  the 
 enemies  of  true  religion,  and  of  its  faitliful  professors. — Lowm.  See 
 the  prophecy  in  Ezek.  xxxviii.,  and  notes.  To  battle — those  who  date 
 the  conversion  and  return  of  the  Jews  within  this  period  consider  this 
 as  an  attack  upon  them  by  the  Tartars. — Wil.  y.  Compassed  the 
 tump  of  the  saints,  the  holy  ones  who  have  part  in  the  first  resur- 
 rection. T/ie  heloved  citij,  the  New  Jerusalem  ;  the  gentral  assembly 
 and  church  of  the  firstborn.  These,  probably,  will  be  with  Christ,  on 
 the  same  spot  of  gfund  where  the  Old  Jerusalem  stond,  a  city  so 
 highly  favoured,  and  so  much  distinguished,  by  (ind. — Gilt.  The  in- 
 vaders will  spread  far  and  wide  over  the  peaceful  habitations  of  the 
 saints,  and  besiege  them  even  in  their  camps  and  capital  cities,  and 
 threaten  to  spoil  and  subdue  them. — Lowm.  11.  A  great  white  throne, 
 ?fC. — this  opens  the  scene  of  the  general  re'^urrection  and  judgment. 
 •  White*  expres'^es  the  justice  and  equity  of  the  judgment ;  and  '  him 
 that  sat  on  it'  must  be  the  son  of  God,  *  to  whom  the  Father  has  com- 
 initted  all  judgment.' — Bp.  Newton.  12.  The  books  were  opened — 
 men,  owing  to  the  imperfection  of  their  knowledge,  and  of  their  me- 
 
 mories, make  use  of  books;  but  God*s  infinite  knowledge  requires  no 
 such  assistance.  It  is  merely  in  allusion  to  human  proceedings  that 
 this  is  spoken.  His  memory  is  itself  the  book  from  which  he  judges 
 the  world. — A.  Fuller.  13.  The  sea  gave  vp  the  dt-nd,  particular  re- 
 gard may  be  liad  to  the  men  of  the  old  world  drowned  by  the  flood. — 
 Gill,  Mors.  14.  Death  and  hell,  '  death  and  hades,'  or  '  the  grave.* 
 These  are  things  which  belong  to  time,  and  which,  as  rivers  are  lost  in 
 the  ocean,  will  now  be  swallowed  up  in  eternity. —  W.  Jones.  Second 
 death — see  ehap.  ii.  11.  note. 
 
 Chap.  XXI. — 1.  A  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth — Opinion  I. — This 
 vision  is  not  to  be  interpreted  of  the  church  triumphant  in  heaven, 
 since  the  New  Jerusalem  here  described  descends  from  heaven  to 
 earth.  This,  then,  is  to  be  understood  of  tlie  glorious  state  of  the 
 church  during  the  thousand  years.  The  holy  city  and  new  Jerusalem 
 is  the  same  with  the  beloved  city  in  chap.  xx.  9  ;  what  is  there  briefly 
 hinted,  is  here  largely  described  and  insisted  on.  Passed  away,  not  in 
 substance,  but  in  quality.  No  more  sea — in  a  mystical  sense,  there 
 will  be  no  more  wicked  men,  tumultuous  and  turbulent,  like  the 
 troubled  sea. — Gill.  Opiniov  II. — Under  these  images,  in  accordance 
 with  other  parts  of  scripture,  is  represented  that  assembly  of  saints 
 purified  from  sin  and  made  glorious,  in  contrast  with  the  great,  the 
 impure,  the  idolatrous  city  which  had  been  destroyed. —  Woodh.  It 
 expresses  a  happy  renovation  of  all  things. — Bp.  Hall.  Some  inter- 
 preters understand  these  concluding  chapters  principally  of  the  state 
 of  the  church  on  earth  at  the  millennium  ;  but  they  come  in  order  sub- 
 sequent to  the  account  of  the  general  judgment ;  and  we  can  never 
 attain  to  a  satisfactory  understanding  of  prophecy  if  imagination  or 
 conjecture  be  allowed  to  carry  us  backward  or  forward  without  any 
 fixed  principles.  There  is  no  necessity  here  for  returning  back  to  the 
 preceding  millennium.  Many  of  the  expressions  here  cannot  consist 
 with  any  state  where  the  least  remains  of  sin  and  sorrow  can  be  found. 
 In  this  new  world  there  was  no  sea,  which  happily  represents  an  entire 
 freedom  from  polluting  and  conflicting  passions,  distressing  tempta- 
 tions, tempestuous  troubles,  changes,  and  alarms,  and  from  whatever 
 can  divide  or  interrupt  '  the  communion  of  saints'  with  each  other. 
 Some  think  it  implies,  also,  that  there  is  abundance  of  room  in  that 
 bles'^ed  world,  as  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  earth  is  now  covered 
 with  the  sea.  Opinio?j  III. — The  '  heavens*  and  the  '  earth*  occur  in 
 prophecy  in  a  figurative  sense,  and  particularly  in  the  Apocalypse; 
 and    in  this  sense,  John's  vision  may  apply  to  the  millennium.    It 
 
 Reflections  on  Chap,  XX. — I.  Let  us  rejoice  in  the  ap- 
 proachinij  millennium.  If  the  exact  time  be  Iiidden  from  us  by 
 Him  who  has  the  times  and  seasons  in  his  oven  hand,  never- 
 theless the  event  itself  is  clearly  revealed.  To  this  glorious 
 event  all  the  lines  of  prophecy  tend  ;  and  whether  it  be  sooner 
 or  later,  whether  it  be  for  a  thousand  or  more  years,  whether 
 Christ  shall  personally  reign  on  earth  or  not,  we  are  assured 
 that  a  golden  age  yet  awaits  the  world,  when  the  saints  shall 
 reign  gloriously,  and  when  Christ  shall  be  glorified  in  them. 
 
 II.  Let  us  employ  our  e/ier/jies  to  accelerate  the  approaching 
 millennium.  We  cannot,  in  one  sense,  hasten  God's  time,  but 
 we  knovp  that  he  connects  the  means  and  the  end,  and  it  is 
 most  probable  that  he  will  employ  the  instrumentality  of 
 former  Christians  as  pioneers  to  the  approaching  numerous 
 army  before  whose  face  the  forces  of  Antichrist  shall  flee  and 
 hide  their  heads  in  darkness.  Already  the  drops  portend  the 
 blessed  shower  that  shall  refresh  the  whole  earth.  The  gospel 
 is  read  and  preached  in  almost  every  tongue.  The  first  la- 
 bourers are  going  forth  into  all  lands.  The  first  fruits  are 
 1367 
 
 gathering  in.  The  signs  around  are  ominous.  Everything 
 is  tending  to  subserve  the  great  cause:  and  as  the  press 
 accelerated  the  Ileformation,  so  the  rapid  communication  of 
 steam  and  of  railroads  shall  facilitate  the  mediums  of  inter- 
 course between  man  and  man  ;  and  what  is  primarily  intended 
 to  advance  commerce,  shall  advance  divine  knowledge  in  the 
 world. 
 
 III.  Let  us  often  think  on  the  solemn  events  which  shall  follow 
 the  milleiinium.  Christ  shall  appear  to  judge  all  men  ;  the 
 trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised.  All  shall 
 stand  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ.  The  scrutinizing 
 Judge  shall  discern  and  separate  the  righteous  from  the 
 wicked.  Each  one  shall  then  be  judged  according  to  his 
 works.  The  wicked  shall  go  into  eternal  punishment,  and 
 the  righteous  into  life  eternal.  To  adopt  the  words  of  a 
 striking  writer,  'The  two  eternities  are  exposed  to  view; 
 time  expires  ;  and  the  two  worlds  of  rational  and  immortal 
 creatures  remain  to  glorify  grace  and  justice,  as  long  as  God 
 endures.* 
 
A  description  of 
 
 REVELATION.  XXI. 
 
 t/ie  hcnrcnhf  Jerusalem 
 
 2  And  I  .lohii  saw  "  the  holy  city,  new  Jeru- 
 salem, coming  down  from  God  out  of  lieaven, 
 prepared  ''  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  liusband. 
 
 3  And  I  lieard  a  great  voice  out  of  heaven 
 saying.  Behold,"  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with 
 men,  and  he  will  dwell  with  tliem,  and  they 
 shall  be  his  people,  and  God  himself  shall  be 
 with  them,  and  he  their  God. 
 
 4  '  And  God  siiall  wipe  away  all  tears  from 
 their  eyes;  and  ^ there  shall  be  no  more  death, 
 ''neither  sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there 
 be  any  more  pain :  for  the  former  things  are 
 passed  away. 
 
 3  And  '  he  that  sat  upon  the  throne  said, 
 '  Behold,  I  make  all  things  new.  And  he  said 
 unto  me,  Write:  for  '  these  words  are  true  and 
 faithful. 
 
 G  And  he  said  unto  me,  "'  It  is  done.  "I  am 
 Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end. 
 °  I  will  give  unto  him  that  is  athirst  of  the 
 fountain  of  the  water  of  life  freely. 
 
 7  He  that  overcometh  shall  inherit  ||  all 
 things ;  and  '  I  will  be  his  God,  and  he  shall 
 be  my  son. 
 
 5  '  But  the  fearful,  and  unbelieving,  and  the 
 abominable,  and  murderers,  and  whoremongers, 
 and  sorcerers,  and  idolaters,  and  all  liars,  shall 
 have  tlieir  part  in  '  the  lake  which  burneth 
 with  fire  and  brimstone  :  which  is  the  second 
 death. 
 
 9  And  there  came  unto  nie  one  of  '  the  seven 
 nngels  which  had  the  seven  vials  full  of  the 
 seven  last  plagues,  and  talked  with  me,  saying, 
 Come  hither,  I  will  shew  thee  '  the  bride,  the 
 Lamb's  wife. 
 
 10  And  he  cirried  me  away  "in  the  spirit  to 
 a  great  and  high  mountain,  and  shewed  me 
 ^  that  great  city,  the  Iioly  .lerusalem,  descend- 
 ing out  of  lieaven  fiom  God, 
 
 c  Is  52.  I. 
 Gal.  4.  ao 
 Heb.  II.  I' 
 
 13  11  cl).  H 
 
 12    \cr.  lu. 
 d  la.  54.  5. 
 
 lit  61.  III. 
 
 2Cor   11.2. 
 e  Lcv.215. 1 1, 
 
 12  E/ek.43 
 
 7.  2  Cor.  6. 
 
 10  ch  7.15. 
 / 19.  25   8. 
 
 oh-  7.  17. 
 g  1  Ciir.  15. 
 
 26,  54. 
 
 ch.  20.  14. 
 li  Is   35.  lu. 
 
 &  61.  3.  & 
 
 65.  19. 
 I  ch.  4.  2.  9. 
 
 fc5.1.&  2(1. 
 
 II. 
 k  Is.  43.  19. 
 
 .,.  ch.  hi.  17, 
 >i  ch.  I.  b.  til 
 
 22   13 
 o  Is.  12,  S.  «. 
 
 55.  I  Juhu 
 
 4.  lu.  14.  «c 
 
 7.  37. 
 
 Ch    22.  17. 
 II  Or,  Ihfitf 
 
 ;.  7,L.ch.  8.  R 
 
 Heb.  8.  10. 
 7  1  Cor,  6.9, 
 
 lu.  Gal   5. 
 
 19.  20,  21. 
 
 Kph.  5. 
 
 I  Tin 
 
 1,  { 
 
 Ht^b,  12  14, 
 cli.  22  1.^. 
 r  ch.  20.  14, 
 
 (  ch.  19 
 VlT.  i. 
 
 ' 
 
 H    ch        1. 
 
 H  17.  3 
 
 111 
 
 X  K7el.. 
 
 IS 
 
 (.  M,it.ie.ifi. 
 
 Gal.  2,   9 
 Kph.  2.  1><I 
 
 c  Kiek.*ri3, 
 /.jch  2  1. 
 ch.  11.  I. 
 
 1 1  ^  Having  the  glory  of  God  :  and  her  light 
 ivas  Hke  unto  a  stone  most  precious,  even  hke 
 a  jasper  stone,  clear  as  crystal ; 
 
 12  And  had  a  wall  great  and  high,  and  had 
 ^  twelve  gates,  and  at  the  gates  twelve  angels, 
 and  names  written  thereon,  which  are  the 
 names  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  tlie  children  of 
 Israel : 
 
 13  *  On  the  east  three  gates  ;  on  the  north 
 three  gates  ;  on  the  south  three  gates  ;  and  on 
 the  west  three  gates. 
 
 14  And  the  wall  of  the  city  had  twelve  foun- 
 dations, and  ^in  them  the  names  of  the  twelve 
 apostles  of  the  Lamb. 
 
 lo  And  he  that  talked  with  me  *^had  a  golden 
 reed  to  measure  the  city,  and  the  gates  thereof, 
 and  the  wall  thereof. 
 
 16  And  the  city  lietli  foursquare,  and  tlie 
 length  is  as  large  as  the  breadth  :  and  he  mea- 
 sured the  city  with  the  reed,  twelve  thousand 
 fnrlongs.  The  length  and  the  breadth  and  the 
 height  of  it  are  equal. 
 
 17  And  he  measured  the  wall  thereof,  an 
 hnndred  and  forty  a}id  four  cubits,  according 
 to  the  measure  of  a  man,  that  is,  of  the  angel. 
 
 18  And  the  building  of  the  wall  of  it  was  uf 
 jasper  :  and  the  city  ivas  pure  gold,  like  unto 
 clear  glass. 
 
 19  ''And  the  foundations  of  the  wall  of  the 
 city  were  garnished  with  all  inatmer  of  precious 
 stones.  Tiie  first  foundation  i<.v/.s- jasper ;  tlie 
 second, sapphire;  t!ie  third,  a  chalcedony;  the 
 fourth,  an  emerald  ; 
 
 '20  The  fifth,  sardonyx;  the  sixth,  sardius; 
 the  seventh,  clirysulytc;  tlie  eighth,  beryl; 
 the  ninth,  a  topaz;  the  tenth,  a  chrysoprasus  ; 
 the  eleventh,  a  jacintli  ;  the  twelfth,  an 
 amethyst. 
 
 I    And  the  twelve  gates u't/v,'  twelve  pearls; 
 
 appears  to  accord  witli  tlic  promise,  Isa.  Ixv.  17.  Yet  the  Apostle 
 Peter,  referring:  to  the  same  promise,  applies  it  to  that  state  of  tliinss 
 which  shall  succeed  the  literal  dibsolution  of  the  world,  which  must  be 
 the  state  of  heavenly  happiness.  This  [jromise,  then,  has  a  twofold 
 application— the  prophetic  spirit,  in  dilating  upon  the  liai'piness  of  the 
 millennium,  r.ins  beyond  it,  and  anticipates  the  succeeding  glorius  of 
 the  heavenly  state,  to  which  it  is  so  nearly  allied. — M'Lean,  so  IK.  Jojies. 
 The  scene  of  triumpli  will  have  its  openinp  here.  The  millennium 
 will  be  heaven  begun  below  ;  and  heaven  will  be  the  millennium  con- 
 summated, the  perfection  of  i!s  light,  ci{  knowledge,  vi  holiness,  and 
 of  joy.  In  confirmation  of  this  view,  remark  how  similar  the  language 
 is  which  the  prophets  employ  in  t!e^cl■ihing  both  stages  of  the  same 
 progressive  glory;  so  similar,  that,  of  various  parts  of  it,  commen- 
 tators have  differed  in  their  application  ;  and  the  descriptions  appear, 
 at  times,  to  run  so  much  into  each  other  ns  to  render  it  difficult  to 
 draw  the  line  of  distinction  between  them.— Z>f.  Wardlau:  Opinion 
 IV. — The  truth  appears  to  me  to  be  this — It  is  a  representation  of  hea- 
 venly glory,  in  so  far  as  that  glory  relates  to  the  state  of  the  eartli  on 
 which  we  dwell ;  which,  instead  of  being  the  .seat  of  the  mother  of 
 harhits,  shall  become  the  seat  of  the  holy  city,  the  New  Jerusalem, 
 CDming  down,  SiC.  The  earth  will  net  he  annihilated  by  tire  any  more 
 than  it  was  by  water.  It  will  he  purified  from  sin,  and  all  its  effects. 
 The  generation  of  a  corrupt  race  of  creatures  having  terminated,  it 
 will  become  the  perfect  and  perpetual  abode  of  righteousness,  &c. — 
 A.  Fuller.  2.  Coming  down — out  of  heareri.  a  local  descent  of  all 
 the  samts,  with  Christ,  from  the  third  heaven  into  the  air,  where  they 
 will  be  met  by  living  saints  :  and  their  bodies  being  raised  and  united 
 to  their  souls,  they  will  reign  with  Christ  in  the  new  earth. — Gill.  The 
 object  seems  to  have  appeared  in  the  air  before  John,  that  he  might 
 contemplate  and  examine  it. — Scott,  as  Dnddr.  See  Peter's  vision, 
 Acts,  X.  9 — 15.  3,  4.  Behold,  the  tnhernncle,  ffC. — the  phrase  seems 
 to  denote  the  personal  presence  of  Christ  with  his  saints  in  human 
 nature,  like,  thou;;h  different  from,  that  in  the  time  of  liis  humiliation, 
 and  designs  something  distinct  from  his  spiritual  presence,  and  from 
 the  heaveuly  glory,  or  ultimate  state  of  happiness.— 6'i//.  The  ancient 
 predictions  are  fulfilled,  (Lev.  xxvi.  U,  12  ;  Jer.  xxxiii.23  ;  Ezek.  xxxvii. 
 26,  27 ;  Isa.  XXV.  S.)—P(/li:  The  allusion  is  to  the  tabernacle  with  the 
 Israelites,  and  the  Shechinah  in  the  midst  of  them.— Gilt.  5.  New, 
 perfect  and  glorious,— iJ/i,  Hall.  6.  It  is  done,  seems  to  allude  to  the 
 old  creation.  '  He  spake  and  it  was  done,'  {see  Ps.  xxxiii.  9,)  The 
 whole  election  of  grace  is  completed. — Gill.  The  truth  and  certainty 
 of  this  blessed  state  are  ratified  by  the  word  and  promise  of  God. — 
 W.  Jones.    Alpha,  ^c— see  chap.  i.  8,  note.  7.  He  that  overcometh 
 
 —see  chap.  ii.  7,  note.      8.  The  fearful,  ^fiXoit— those  who.  convinced 
 of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion,  would  not  openly  embrace  it,  for 
 1368 
 
 fear  of  losing  life  or  property  ;  and  those  who,  having  received  it,  in  the 
 time  of  persecution  fell  away.  Unbelieving,  who  resist  against  full 
 evidence.  AbominnlUe,  €/J3e\i'-y/i€kotc,  those  who  are  pnlluted  with  un- 
 natural lusts.  9.  The  L'im't's  wife,  the  pure  and  huly  Christian  church. 
 — A.  Clarke.  The  church  now  purged  from  corruptions. — I'l/le.  \O.Aiul 
 shewed  me  that  great  city — as  the  New  Jerusalem  is  denominated  '  the 
 bride,  the  Lamb's  wife,'  all  that  is  said  of  her  as  a  city,  from  ver.  10 — 2", 
 thou^'h  couched  in  highly  figurative  language,  is  descriptive  of  the 
 clmrch  triumpliant.— .■!.  Fuller.  11.  Having  the  glory  of  God,  a 
 most  glorious  brightness,  like  the  shining  light  of  the  Shechinah,  for- 
 merly the  glory  of  God  in  the  temple. —  Lowman.  13.  A  wall  great 
 tnid  hig/i,  means  the  Almighty  power  of  God  as  their  defence.— 0"i7/. 
 It  expresses  the  great  safety  and  security  of  the  inhabitants, — Loum. 
 Tueli-e  gales — on  these  were  inscribed  the  names  of  the  twelve  tribes 
 of  Israel,  denoting  that  none  but  Israelites  indeed,  who  have  the  seal 
 of  G"d  in  their  foreheads,  shall  enter  into  it. — A.  Fuller.  H.  Tweli^e 
 foundations,  ffc,  figuratively  shewing,  that  they  who  shall  huild  their 
 faith  on  the  foundation  of  apostolical  doctrme  and  institutions,  have 
 a  right  to  the  blessings  of  this  holy  and  happy  state. — Lowmnn.  See 
 Ephes,  ii,  2U,  15,  Had  a  golden  reed,  i^r.- this  description  of  the 
 New  Jerusalem  is  an  assemblage  of  the  sublimest  and  richest  imagery 
 of  Ezckiel  and  other  ancient  prophets. — Bp.  Kewtou.  See  Ezek.  xl.  &c. 
 16.  Twelre  thousand  furlongs— \bi)0  miWs ;  an  immense  size  ;  perhaps  to 
 shew  the  large  luiniher  of  the  redeemed  ;  and  the  gates  always  remain- 
 ing open  may  possibly  imply  surrounding  inhabitants  still  augmenting 
 the  number. — Krf,  I7.  According  to  the  measure  of  a  man,  of  the 
 common  measure  among  men. — Lowman.  18.  of  jasper— the  gems 
 which  are  described  as  decorating  this  glorious  city  have  ever  been  in 
 the  highest  request  in  the  eastern  regions,  which  produce  them. — 
 ^]'oQdh.  The  oriental  jasper  was  exceedingly  hard,  and  almost  inde- 
 structible.— ,4.  Clarke.  19,  Precious  stones,  the  pearls  and  precious 
 stones  with  which  she  is  adorned  are  her  spiritual  riches  and  glory.— 
 A.  Fuller.  Sapphire,  hard,  and  fine  blue.  CVm/cprfa;?^,  a  semi-pellu- 
 cid gem,  of  which  there  are  white,  milky-veined,  brownish. black 
 and  yellow,  and  red.  The  latter  is  the  most  valuable;  found  only  in 
 the  East  Indies,  Emerald,  bright  green.  20,  Sardonyx— Xhe  onyx 
 kind,  which  is  of  a  dark  horny  colour ;  but  if,  on  either  side,  there  is  a 
 plate  of  reddish  colour,  it  has  the  name  of  sardonyx.  Sardius,  blood- 
 red,  Chrysolyte,  the  gold  stone;  blood-green,  with  a  cast  of  yellow. 
 A  species  of  topaz.  Beryl,  a  pellucid  gem,  bluish  green.  Topaz,  a 
 pale  dead  green,  with  a  mixture  of  yellow.  A  variety  of  the  sapphire. 
 Chrysoprasus,  a  variety  of  chrysolyte,  having  a  bluish  hue.  Jacinth, 
 dead  red,  with  a  mixture  of  yellow.  Amethyst,  generally  purple  or 
 violet.  The  twelve  named  here  are  nearly  the  same  stones  with  tho.se 
 on  the  high  priest's  breast-iilate,  ^Exod.  xxviii.  17,  &c.J — A.  Clarke. 
 
The  blessed  state  of 
 
 REVELATION,  XXII. 
 
 the  servants  of  God. 
 
 cverj'  several  gate  was  of  one  pearl :  °  and  tlie 
 street  of  tlie  city  wua  pure  gold,  as  it  were 
 transparent  glass. 
 
 '22  '  And  1  saw  no  temple  therein :  for  the 
 Lord  God  Almighty  and  the  Lamb  are  tlie 
 temple  of  it. 
 
 2:3  ^  And  the  city  had  no  need  of  the  sun, 
 neither  of  tlie  moon,  to  shine  in  it:  for  the 
 glory  of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  ti- 
 the light  thereof. 
 
 24  ''  And  the  nations  of  them  which  are  saved 
 shall  walk,  in  the  light  of  it :  and  the  kings  of 
 the  earth  do  bring  their  glory  and  lionour  into 
 it. 
 
 25  '  And  the  gates  of  it  shall  not  be  shut  at 
 all  by  day :  for  '■  there  shall  be  no  night  there. 
 
 2G  'And  tliey  shall  bring  the  glory  and  honour 
 of  the  nations  into  it. 
 
 27  And  '"  there  shall  in  no  wise  enter  into  it 
 any  thing  that  defileth,  neither  tchatsoeoer 
 woiketh  abomination,  or  mahetli  a  lie  :  but 
 they  which  are  written  in  the  Lamb's  "  book 
 of  life. 
 
 CHAP.  XXII. 
 
 I  Tlie  river  of  the  water  of  life.  2  Tlie  tree  of  life.  5 
 Thetightof  tlie  cili/ of  God  is  himself.  9  The  ant/cl 
 win  not  be  tvorshippeit.  IS  N'Hliinij  may  be  added  to 
 the  word  of  God,  nor  taken  therefrom, 
 
 A  ND  he  sliewed  me  °  a  pure  river  of  water 
 ■*  of  life,  clear  as  crystal,  proceeding  out  of 
 the  throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb. 
 
 2  ''  In  the  midst  of  the  street  of  it,  and  on 
 either  side  of  the  river,  icas  there  '  the  tree  of 
 life,  which  bare  twelve  manner  of  fruits,  and 
 yielded  her  fruit  every  mouth  :  and  the  leaves 
 of  the  tree  were  ''  for  the  healiu"  of  the  nations.  I 
 
 a  F.iek  47  1 
 ZuLil.  14.  S 
 
 b  Ezek.  47. 
 ch   21. 
 
 c  Gen.  2   9. 
 cb.  i.  7. 
 
 A.  D.  96. 
 
 A.  D.  96. 
 
 «  ch.  11.  -2. 
 
 e  Zech.  II. 
 
 II 
 
 /  Ezek.  48. 
 
 /Jolin  4.83 
 
 3r> 
 
 S  .Mat.  6   S. 
 
 1  Cor.  13. 
 
 42.  1  Julm 
 
 3.2. 
 
 1  Is.  2t.  53 
 
 h  ch   S.  12. 
 
 &  6D  ly,  20 
 
 ch,  2^.  5. 
 
 .■ch,21    23, 
 
 ver.  II 
 
 k  Ps,  3C    9. 
 
 &51.  11, 
 
 I  Dan.  7.  27. 
 
 Us.  60. 3,  5, 
 
 Rnm.  5.  1/ 
 
 II.  &6G.  12. 
 
 2  Tn..  2.12. 
 
 Tob.  13,  11. 
 
 ch    3    21. 
 
 m  ch.  I'J    9. 
 
 K:  21.  S. 
 
 'jcb.  1.  1. 
 
 <  la.  60.  II. 
 
 r.  ch   3.  1 1 . 
 
 fi  Is.  60.  20. 
 
 TCC.    10,    12, 
 
 Zech   U.  7 
 c!i.  22.  5. 
 
 /•  ch.  1    3 
 
 I  »er.  21. 
 
 •11  Is.  33.  8. 
 &  52,  1    It 
 
 q  Cll.   19    10 
 
 60.  21    Joel 
 
 :!-  17.  ch 
 
 22    1 1,  IS. 
 
 .poll.  A.  3. 
 ch.  3.  ,S.  & 
 
 r  Cll.  19.  10. 
 
 13,  8,  &  20. 
 
 t  Dan.  9.  26 
 &  \->.  4,  9. 
 cll.  10.  -1- 
 
 /ch.  I    3. 
 
 (  E2et.3.27. 
 Dan  \2.  lU. 
 2  Tm).3.ia 
 
 X  ver.  i. 
 
 I  Is.  4U    10. 
 
 &62    II. 
 3  Rom.  2.  6, 
 
 &  14.  13. 
 
 ch.  20.  12. 
 
 fbut 
 be  ill 
 
 3  And  *"  tiiere  sliall  be  no  more  curse 
 the  throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb  sha 
 it ;  and  his  servants  shall  serve  him  : 
 
 4  And  ^  they  shall  see  his  face;  and  ''his 
 name  shall  be  in  their  foreheads. 
 
 5  'And  there  shall  be  no  night  there;  and 
 they  need  no  candle,  neither  light  of  the  sun  ; 
 for  ''the  Lord  God  giveth  them  light:  'and 
 they  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever. 
 
 6  And  he  said  unto  me,  '"  Tiiese  sayings  a?e 
 faithful  and  true  :  and  the  Lord  God  of  the 
 holy  prophets  "sent  his  angel  to  sliew  unto 
 his  servants  the  things  which  must  shortly  be 
 done. 
 
 7  °  Behold,  I  come  quickly  :  ^  blessed  is  he 
 that  keepeth  the  sayings  of  the  prophecy  of 
 this  book. 
 
 8  And  I  John  saw  these  things,  and  heard 
 (hem.  And  when  I  had  heard  and  seen,  ''I 
 fell  down  to  worship  before  the  feet  of  the 
 angel  which  shewed  me  these  things. 
 
 9  Then  saith  he  unto  me,  'See  thou  do  it 
 not:  for  I  am  thy  fellowservant,  and  of  thy 
 brethren  the  prophets,  and  of  them  whicli 
 keep  the  sayings  of  this  book  :  worship  God. 
 
 10  ^  And  he  saith  unto  me,  Seal  not  the  say- 
 ings of  the  prophecy  of  this  book  :  *  for  the 
 time  is  at  hand. 
 
 H  "He  that  is  unjust,  let  him  be  unjust 
 still:  and  he  which  is  filthy,  let  him  be  filthy 
 still :  and  he  that  is  righteous,  let  him  be 
 righteous  still :  and  he  that  is  holy,  let  him  be 
 Voly  still. 
 
 1*2  "  And,  behold,  I  come  quickly  ;  and  ^niy 
 reward  is  with  me,  ^  to  give  every  man  accord- 
 ing as  his  work  shall  be. 
 
 22,  23.  No  temple  ffierein—'  no  temple,  nor  stm,  nor  moou,'  denotes, 
 that  there  will  be  no  need  of  tho:se  means  of  grace,  the  ordinances  of 
 public  worship.  What  we  now  receive  mediately,  we  shall  thin  re- 
 ceive immediately,  24.  Nutin/is — wftfk  hi  the  light  of  it,  may  allude 
 to  the  interest  which  surromiding^  nations  take  in  a  metropolitan  city ; 
 and  denotes,  that  tlie  saved,  who  have  been  gathered  from  all  nations, 
 will  rejoice  ui  the  honour  that  Godwin  have  bestoweil  upon  his  chinch. 
 — A.  Fuller.  And  thr  king.t,  ^c— an  allusion  to  Isa.  Lk.  3,  and  shews 
 the  perfect  sati^^Iaction  and  joy  of  all  persons,  of  every  rank  and 
 quality,  hi  this  happy  state,  wbere  evcrj^tbing  that  can  contribute  to  it 
 shall  be  collected  together,  and  severally  contribute  to  complete  the 
 public  happiness.  y.i.  The  gtrtcs— shall  not  be  shut,  signifymg-,  there 
 will  be  no  danger  or  fear  of  an  enemy. — Lowvian.  Ko  night — see  on 
 chap.  xxii.  5. 
 
 Chap.  XXII.  —  I .  And  he  shewed  me,  §'c.— the  first  five  verses  aie  a 
 contbuiation  of  the  former  chapter.  A  pure  rirer,  '  the  river  and  tree 
 of  life'  remind  us  of  Paradise  restored  and  improved.  A  river  Ilnwing 
 throufrn  the  midst  of  the  streets,  and  trees  growing  on  either  side,  are 
 wonderfully  pleasing  objects,  especially  in  hot  climates. — Bp.  A'cu-ton. 
 Comp.  Ezek.  xlvii.  12,  and  Gen.  ii.  g.  *  Water'  is  here  a  very  proper 
 representation  of  the  enjoyment  of  all  things,  both  for  the  support  and 
 pleasure  of  life. — Loiim.  2.  The  tree  of  life,  which  bare,  ffc. — a  tree, 
 the  definite  article  is  not  ui  the  original.  There  were  three  trees ;  one 
 in  the  street,  and  on  each  side  of  the  river. — Greenjivld.  This  tree  was 
 evidently  not  an  individual,  but  a  species.— A'cw/i/coi/.  There  is  doubt- 
 less an  allusion  m  these  verses  to  Ezek.  xlvii.  1  —  12.  Both  EzekicI  and 
 John  make  mention  of  a  city— of  a  river — of  trees  growing  upon  the 
 banks  of  it,  and  of  the  fruit  thereof  being  for  meat,  and  the  leaf  for 
 medicine.  Ezekiel's  waters  flowed  from  the  temple  near  the  altar ; 
 tho'^e  of  John  out  of  the  throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb.  The  city  i.s 
 doubtless  the  same  ui  both,  but  represented  at  diflerent  times.  Eze- 
 kiel's city  had  a  temple— that  of  John,  none.  The  first,  therefore,  de- 
 sci-ibes  the  church  in  her  latter-day  glor>' ;  the  last,  in  a  state  of  per- 
 fection, which  answers  to  the  promise  in  chap.  ii.  7. — .4.  Fuller. 
 Twelve  manner  of  fruits,  fyc.  signify  the  permanency  and  variety  of 
 delights  there.  —  Doddr.  For  the  healing— this  rendering  seems  to 
 imply  that  the  inhabitants  will  be  still  subject  to  disea.=e.  The  original 
 ■word  signifies  •  to  serve,'  as  well  as  '  to  heal,*  and  may  not  the  passage 
 
 be  rendered,  'for  the  "service"  of  the  nations' ?—W(7.  'For  the  heal- 
 ing,' is  for  the  continuing  of  their  health,  not  the  restormg  it,  for  no 
 Bickness  is  there. —Weslei/.  Though  these  fruits  are  generally  ex- 
 plained allefTorically  for  fruits  of  holy  enjoyments.  Sec,  yet  if  we  aie  to 
 have  material  bodies,  tliough  higlily  purified  ;  and  if  we  are  to  uiliabit 
 a  material  world,  of  which  there  seems  no  question ;  if  oui'  Lord  him- 
 self ate  with  his  disciples  after  his  resurrection,  we  should  be  afraid  to 
 say  that  these  promises  in  ?io  degree  admit  of  a  literal  interpretation ; 
 though  some  think  that  our  Lord's  body  did  not  fully  attain  its  glorified 
 state  till  the  hour  of  his  ascension.—  Wil.  3.  No  marc  curse,  as  there 
 was  in  the  first  Paradise.- So  Pt/le.  His  servants  shall  serve  him— it  is 
 always  esteemed  a  high  honour  to  wait  upon  monarchs,  and  so  it  ha.s 
 been  considered  from  ancient  time  in  the  east.  Is  not  this  the  allu- 
 sion ?  And  it  implies  that  to  tliis  there  shall  be  no  interruption  nor 
 termmation.— £</.  4.  His   name— in   their  fore?it;uds—peiha.ps   this 
 
 may  not  so  much  allude  to  the  marks  of  devotees  on  their  foreheads, 
 shewing  the  deity  they  worshipped,  as  to  the  inscription  of  '  Holiness 
 to  Jehovah,'  written  on  the  mitre  of  the  high  priest  j  and  so  it  natu- 
 rally leads  us  to  reflect  upon  that  intimate  approach  to  the  blessed  God 
 with  which  all  these  happy  souls  shall  be  honoured.- i>y(/rfr.  5.  No 
 
 night,  •  night  and  darkness,'  in  the  stj-le  of  prophecy,  signify  often 
 '  trouble  and  affliction.'  *  Light,'  on  the  contrary-,  expresses  prosperity 
 and  joy.  '  In  this  state  of  perfect  happiness,  no  trouble  shall  be  mLxc'd 
 with  their  peace  and  joy.'— Loicm.  7.  Behold,  I  come,  §^e.— the  angel 
 sometimes  speaks  hi  his  o\ni  person,  and  sometimes  ui  the  person  and 
 character  of  Christ,  wiioae  ambassador  and  representative  he  was.— 
 Bp.  Newton,  as  Duuhuz.  Here  is  exhibited  a  sort  of  drama,  and  Chiist 
 himself  now  speaks.— H'«y;/e,  so  Pt/le.  Many  of  the  following  words, 
 and  especially  in  ver.  12,  prove  that  our  Lord  is  here  meant.— J3ofWr. 
 Words  may  be  here  supplied,  *  Behold,  (saith  Jesus.)  1  come  quickly.' 
 —So  Abp.  Newc.  The  general  meaning  is  determmatc  enough,  tlia*^ 
 these  revelations  were  really  from  Christ  himself,  and  that  he  had  un- 
 dertaken to  see  them  fulfilled.— Xou-m.  9.  See  thou  do  it  not— see 
 chap.  xL\.  10.  10.  Seal  not,  as  Daniel  was  to  do,  (Dan.  xii.  1,  9.)  Th^ 
 time  is  at  hand,  that  is,  some  of  the  particulars  were  soon  to  be  accom- 
 plished.—B;j.  Newton.  l\.  He  th,i(  is  unjust,  ^c— thismeans,  '  what 
 every  one  now  is  he  shall  be  unchangeably,  for  misery  or  happuiess,  to 
 all  eternity. '—Gui/se.     Filthy,  includes  all  kinds  of  vice,  hut  has  special 
 
 Reflections  on"  Ch.^p.  XXI.  —  This  chapter  calls  our 
 thoughts  to  heaven — L  Heaven  is  a  happy  place.  How  can  it 
 be  otherwise,  for  the  presence  of  God  is  there,  and  sorrow  is 
 absent  there. 
 
 IL  Heaven  is  a  holy  place.  It  must  be  so,  or  a  holy  God 
 w  ould  not  dwell  in  it.  It  must  be  so,  or  sorrow  would  not  be 
 absent,  for  sorrow  is  connected  wiih  sin.  It  must  be  so,  for 
 13G0 
 
 unholy  churaciers  of  every  description  are  prevented  eternally 
 from  enteruig  into  it. 
 
 '  In  thy  fair  bonk  of  life  and  grace 
 May  I  but  find  my  name 
 Recorded  in  some  humble  place, 
 Beneath  ray  Lord,  Uic  Lamb.'  w 
 
 8    M 
 
Nothing  may  he  added  to^  or 
 
 REVELATION,  XXII. 
 
 taken  frorny  the  word  of  God. 
 
 13  "^  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  begimiing 
 and  the  end,  the  first  and  the  last. 
 
 14  ^Blessed  are  they  that  do  his  command- 
 ments, that  tliey  may  have  right  *"  to  the  tree 
 of  life,  ''and  may  enter  in  through  the  gates 
 into  tiie  city. 
 
 15  For  ^  without  are  ''dogs,  and  sorcerers, 
 and  whoremongers,  and  murderers,  and  idola- 
 ters, and  whosoever  loveth  and  maketh  a  iie. 
 
 16^1  Jesus  have  sent  mine  angel  to  testify 
 unto  you  these  things  in  the  churches.  ^  I  am 
 the  root  and  the  offspring  of  David,  and  '  the 
 bright  and  morning  star. 
 
 17  And  the  Spirit  and  ^  the  bride  say,  Come. 
 And  let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come.  •  And 
 let  him  that  is  athirst  come.      And  whosoever 
 
 VZ.  ch.  I.  K, 
 II.  &■-*!.  0. 
 b  Dun.Vl.  12. 
 
 1  John  3.24. 
 c  ver.  2. 
 
 ch.  2.  7. 
 
 dch.21.27. 
 
 elCor  G.D,in. 
 Gal  .5. 19,20, 
 21.  Col.  3.6. 
 ch,  9,  20, 
 21.  &  21.  8. 
 
 /^  Phil  3,  2. 
 
 g  ch.  LI. 
 
 A  ch.  5.  5. 
 
 i  Nu.24.  17. 
 Zcch.  6.  12- 
 
 2  ret.  I.  19 
 ch.  2.  2S. 
 
 Ach.  21.2,9 
 I  U    55    I. 
 
 n  Deut.  '1. 
 2.  &  12    S2. 
 Prov.3U.6, 
 
 n  Ex-  S2.  S3. 
 
 Ps.  69.  2S. 
 
 ch.  S.  5.  & 
 
 13.8. 
 11  Or,  from 
 
 the  tree  of 
 
 iife. 
 och.  21.2, 
 p  ver.  12. 
 q  John  21. 
 
 23. 
 T  2  Tim.  *.  8. 
 s  Horn.  IG. 
 
 20,  U. 
 
 •2  Tbes.  3. 
 
 13. 
 
 will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely, 
 
 18  For  I  testify  unto  every  man  tliat  heareth 
 the  words  of  the  prophecy  of  tliis  book,  "'  II 
 any  man  shall  add  unto  these  things,  God  shall 
 add  unto  him  the  plagues  that  are  written  in 
 this  book  : 
 
 19  And  if  any  man  shall  take  away  from  the 
 words  of  the  book  of  this  prophecy,  "  God 
 shall  take  away  his  part  ||  out  of  the  book  of 
 life,  and  out  of  "  the  holy  city,  and  from  the 
 things  which  are  written  in  this  hook. 
 
 20  He  which  testifieth  these  things  saith, 
 ^Surely  I  come  quickly  ;  ''Amen.  "■  Even  so, 
 come,  Lord  Jesus. 
 
 21  *The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  Z^e 
 with  you  all.     Amen. 
 
 respect  to  the  sin  of  idolatry. — Daubuz.  13.  I  am  Alpha,  Sfc. — see 
 chap.  i.  &,  note.  14.  Rii^Iit,  that  is,  '  privilege.'— Porff/r.  15.  With- 
 fiut  are  (fog's— dogs  in  the  east  are  generally  left  to  range  the  streets 
 at  large,  c.vcept  they  are  wanted  to  guard  any  particular  premises,  and 
 then  they  aie  chained  up  outside  the  door  they  are  to  guard.— IfV/. 
 See  Phil.  iii.  2.  '  Dogs'  here  mean  such  persons  as  arc  comparable  to 
 them  for  their  filthiness,  &.c.—Giil.  l6.  Mine  anffel  to  testify,  *  my 
 beloved  disciple  and  apostle  John,  as  my  messenger.'  I  am  the  root, 
 fyc,  '  both  the  root,  whence  he  had  a  beginning,  according  to  my  di\i- 
 nity,  and  the  branch  that  issued  from  David,  according  to  my  human 
 nature.'- i?p.  Hail.  The  bris^ht  and  7/wrninfr  star,  giving  light  to  the 
 world,  after  a  long  night  of  darkness  and  superstition  ;  and  to  those 
 who  love  such  light,  a  certain  prelude  and  earnest  of  increasing 
 knowledge  and  glory  till  perfect  day.— H'oorfA.  Christ's  rismg  up  in 
 his  incarnation  introduced  the  gospel  day  ;  his  rising  in  power  intro- 
 duceth  the  millenial  day  ;  his  rising  in  the  saving  influences  of  his 
 Spirit,  introduceth  the  spiritual  day  of  grace  and  comfort;  and  liis  ap- 
 
 pearance to  judge  the  world  will  introduce  the  eternal  day  of  light, 
 purity,   and  joy. — J.Brown.  I?.  And  the  Spirit  and  the  bride  say. 
 
 Come- this  is  the  response  made  to  the  promise  of  Christ,  '  I  come 
 quickly,'  (ver.  12.) — Daubuz.  Hearing  Christ  say  that  he  should  'come 
 quickly,'  they  express  an  affectionate  desire  after  his  coming.  By  the 
 Spirit  may  be  meant,  '  the  .spirit  of  God  in  the  hcaits  of  his  people.' — 
 Gill.  '  The  Holy  Spirit  in  the  hearts  of  believers.'  Thf  bride,  the  whole 
 catholic  church —.S'.  Clarke.  *  The  Spirit  of  inspiration  and  of  pro- 
 phecy, and  the  bride  to  which  1  am  espoused,  my  church,  unite  in  the 
 kind  invitation  to  men,  saying,  "  Come,"  '  Sic.—noothr.  '  The  Spirit,' 
 by  the  sacred  word,  and  by  his  convictions  and  influence  in  the  sin- 
 ner's conscience,  says,  '  Come  to  Christ  for  salvation.'  '  The  bride,' 
 or  the  whole  church,  miUtant  and  triumphant,  says, '  Come,'  and  share 
 our  fehcity. — Scott.  TaAe— the  word  KanfiavnTu},  which  we  render 
 '  take,'  does  often  signify  '  receive  ;'  and  the  word  ioipeai',  '  freely,'  is 
 as  much  as  '  gratis,'  which  impUes  the  freedom  of  the  gift,  and  seems 
 to  refer  to  Isa.  Iv.  l.—Doddr. 
 
 Refi.ections  on  Ch.\p.  XXII — I.  Hoiv  soon  must  we  enter 
 upon  the  eternal  state!  It  rapidly  approaches.  If  it  be  so 
 with  respect  to  all  the  generations  of  men,  it  is  much  more  so 
 with  respect  to  ourselves.  Some  ages  may  yet  pass  away 
 before  the  predictions  here  recorded  are  finally  accomplished, 
 but,  with  us,  the  Judge  indeed  standelh  at  the  door.  Are  we 
 prepared  to  meet  the  Lord  at  his  coming  ? 
 
 II.  Jlow  kind  are  the  invitations  of  the  Spirit  and  the  church 
 pressimj  us  to  partake  of  eternal  blessinijs  I  Shall  we  turn  a  deaf 
 ear  to  "them  1  These  blessings  are  free  ;  they,  and  they  only, 
 are  adapted  to  feast  the  soul.  Let  us  receive  tbera,  and  be  for 
 ever  blest.  Let  us  keep  the  commandments  of  God,  that  we 
 may  have  a  right  to  the  tree  of  life.  Let  us  believe  on  his 
 Son,  and  love  bis  people,  for  these  are  bis  great  command- 
 ments, and  to  tbose  who  love  him  none  of  his  holy  command- 
 ments are  grievous. 
 
 III.  How  immovably  Jixed  is  the  destiny  of  all  who  have  passed 
 into  eternity  f  What  tLey  are  while  they  hve,  they  are  likely 
 to  be  when  they  die  ;  and  as  they  die,  so  will  they  find  their 
 eternal  destiny  to  be.  There  is  no  repentance  in  the  grave, — 
 there  is  no  passing  the  great  gulf  that  bounds  the  two  worlds 
 of  eternily. 
 
 IV.  The  only  sure  guide  to  eternity  is  the  Book  op  God. 
 This  Book,  of  which  the  Apocalypse  is  but  the  conclusion  of 
 a  connected  series  of  sacred  truths.  *  In  this  hook  is  set  be- 
 fore us  the  cbaracter  of  God,  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer's 
 kingdom,  the  real  state  of  the  church  and  of  the  world.  It 
 describes  not  only  what  exists  in  the  present  world,  but  re- 
 veals a  world  to  come.  Life  and  immortality  are  brought  to 
 light  by  the  gospel.  It  is  a  book  full  of  eternal  truth  and  love  ; 
 it  is  God's  mind  ;  it  is  man's  instructor.'  Especially  let  us 
 with  reverential  fear  remember  the  warning  here  given  with 
 respect  to  this  prophecy, '  that  no  man  presume  to  add  anytbing 
 to  it,  or  take  anytbing  from  it.'  *  This,'  says  Jiishop  Newton, 
 '  ought  to  be  seriously  considered  by  all  visionaries  and  enthu- 
 siasts on  the  one  band,  who  boast  tbeir  own  inventions  as 
 divine  revelations,  and  by  all  sceptics  and  infidels  on  the 
 other,  who  depreciate  the  value  and  authority  of  these  pre- 
 dictions.' 
 
 To  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit,  the  One  God  revealed  in 
 this  inspired  volume,  be  honour  and  glory,  *  through  all  the 
 successive  generations  of  the  age  of  ages.*  (Epb,  iii.  21.) 
 Amen. 
 
 THE    END    OF    THE    COMME.VTAHV. 
 
 1370 
 
INDEX 
 
 PRINCIPAL  PASSAGES  IN  THE  OLD   AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 AARON  meets  Moses  at  Horeb,  Exod.  4. 2/  ;— 
 
 is  sent  with  Moses  into  Egypt,  4.  15,  16; — 
 
 declares  God's  message  to  Pharaoh,  4.  30  ; 
 
 5.  1 ; — Aaron  and  Hur,  24.  13  ; — Aaron  and 
 
 his  sons  set  apart  for  the  priest's  otRce,  28. 
 
 1,  &c. ;  40. 13  ; — Consecrated,  Lev.  8. 1,  &c. ; 
 
 — his  rod  buds.  Num.  17.2,  &c.; — dies,  20.28. 
 ABADDON,  Rev.  9.  11. 
 
 ABANA,  a  river  of  Damascus,  2  Kings  5.  12. 
 ABBA,  Mark  M.  36;  Rom.  8.  15;  Gal.  4.  6. 
 ABDON  judges  Israel,  Judg.  12.  13. 
 ABEDNEGO,  Dan.  1.  7;  2.  49;  3.  10,  &C. 
 ABEL  killed  by  Cain,  Gen.  4.  8;— his  blood 
 
 speakirtff,  Heb.  12.  24. 
 ABIAH,  Rehoboam's  son,  1  Chron.  3.  10;— 
 
 called  Abiam,  1  Kings  14.  3. 
 ABI  ATI!  AR  escaped  from  Saul,  I  Sam.  22. 20  ; 
 
 — lost  the  high  priesthood,  was  succeeded  by 
 
 Zadok,  1  Kings  2.  35. 
 ABIGAIL,  1  Sam.  25.  14,  kc. 
 ABIHU  consumed  with  fire.  Lev.  10.  1,  &c.  ; 
 
 Num.  3.  4. 
 ABIJAH,  or  ABIJAM,  1  Kings  14.  31 ;  2Chr. 
 
 13.  1,  Sic. 
 ABIMELECH,  king  of  Gerar,  takes  Abraham's 
 
 wife,  Gen.  20.  2  ; — another  takes  Isaac's,  26. 
 
 7  ; — the  son  of  Gideon,  Judg.  9. 1 ; — dies,  54. 
 ABIRAM,  Num.  16.  1,  Kic. 
 ABISHAG  cherishes  Darid,  1  Kings  1.4;— 
 
 Adonijah  asketh  for  his  wife,  2.  21. 
 ABNER,  his  men  fight  with  those  of  David, 
 
 2  Sam.  2.  12  ;— kills  Asahel,  23  ; — revolts  to 
 
 David,  3.  6 ;— killed  by  Joab,  27. 
 ABOMINATION    OF    DESOLATION,  Matt. 
 
 24.  15;  Mark  13. 14;  Luke21.20;  Dan.  g.  27. 
 ABRAHAM,  his  call,  &c..  Gen.  12.  1,  7;  13. 
 
 14;   15.  1,3;   17-  1  ;  18.  1,  \0;  21.  12;  22.  15; 
 
 — leaves  bis  country,  12.10 ; — separates  from 
 Lot,  13.  5; — rescues  him,  14.  14; — name 
 changed,  17.  5  ; — entertains  tliree  angels,  18. 
 
 1 ,  &c. ; — intercedes  for  Sodom,  23  ;^marries 
 Hagar,  16.  3; — Ishmael  bom,  4; — Abraham 
 in  Gerar,  20.  1  ; — denies  his  wife,  2 ; — treaty 
 with  Abimelech,  21.  20; — prepares  to  sacri- 
 fice Isaac,  22.  1,  &c. ; — treats  for  the  cave  of 
 Machpelah,  23.  3;  —  sends  his  servant  to 
 Padan  Aram,  24,  2 ; — his  sons  by  Keturah, 
 
 25.  1,  &c. ; — his  age  and  bmial,  7  ; — he  re- 
 joiced to  see  Christ,  John  S.  56; — his  faith 
 was  imputed  for  righteousness,  Rom.  4.  1 ; 
 — he  was  justified  by  works,  James  2.  21 . 
 
 ABSALOM  slays  ius  brother  Amnon,  2  Sam. 
 13. 23 ; — files,  37 ; — recalled  by  Joab's  policy, 
 14.21  ; — his  beauty,  &c.,  25  ;~brought  to  his 
 father,  33  ;— rebels,  15.  1,  &c. ; — his  defeat 
 and  death,  18.  9. 
 
 ABSENT  from  the  Lord,  while  m  body,  2  Cor. 
 5.6. 
 
 ACHAN  stoned.  Josh.  7.  22. 
 
 ADAH,  the  father  of  pastoral  life.  Gen.  4.  20. 
 
 ADAM  created.  Gen.  1 .  27  ; — driven  from  Eden, 
 3.  24; — his  age,  5.  3; — his  descendants, 
 1  Chr.  1.  1,  &c. ; — all  dead  in  him,  1  Cor.  15. 
 22 ; — Christ  the  second  Adam,  45  ; — Adam, 
 his  6g\ixe,  Rom.  5.  12,  14 ;  1  Cor.  15.  21,  22. 
 
 ADONIBEZEK,  Judg.  1.  4. 
 
 ADONIJAH,   1  Kings  1.  5;  — put  to  death, 
 
 2.  13. 
 
 ADOPTION,  Isa.  5S.  5;  Jolm  I.  12;  Rom.  R. 
 14;  2  Cor.  6.  18;  Gal.  3.  26 ;  4.  6;  Eph.  1.5; 
 I  John,  3.  I ;  Rev.  11.  7. 
 1371 
 
 ADUI.LAM,  cave  of,  1  Sam.  22.  1  ;  2  Sam.  23. 
 
 13;  1  Chron.  11.  15. 
 ADULTERY  forbidden,  E.TOd.  20.  14;  Lev.  18. 
 
 20  ;  Dcut.  5. 18  ;— the  punishment  of  it.  Lev. 
 
 20.  10;  Dent.  22.  22;— will  be  punished  by 
 
 God,  Jer.  5.  7,  8,  9 ;  7.  9,  15,  16,  20;  Ezek. 
 
 22.  11,   13,   14,   15;  Mai.  3.  5;  I    Cor.  6.  9; 
 
 Heb.  13.  4  ;— why  we  ought  to  flee  from  it, 
 
 Pro.  6.  24,  &c. ;— motives  to  avoid  it,  Pro.  5. 
 
 15;  6.  32. 
 
 ADVOCATE,  Jesus  our  advocate,  Rom.  8. 34  ; 
 Heb.  7.  25  ;  9.  24  ;  1  Jolm  2.1. 
 
 AFFLICTIONS  of  the  Israelites  from  the 
 Egyptians,  Exod.  6.  9;— to  be  expected.  Job 
 5.  6,  7;  14.  1  ;  Eccles.  7.  14:  John  16.  33; 
 
 1  Thes.  3. 3  ;— the  fruit  of  sin.  Pro.  1 9.  3  ;  22. 
 8;    Lam.   3.  39;   Hos.  10.  13;  —  promised, 
 
 2  Sam.  7.  14  ;  Ps.  89.  30,  &c. ;  Pro.  3.  12;— 
 mirigated.  Lam.  3.  31—33  ;— supports  under, 
 
 Ps.  34  ;    41.3;    140.  12  ;    145.    14  ;   2   Cor.  12. 
 
 8; — deUverance  from,  promised.  Job  5.  U  ; 
 
 Ps.  30.  5;   91.  15;   1  Cor.  10.  13;  2  Pet.  2.9; 
 
 deliverance  from,  experienced,  2  Sam.  22. 17 ; 
 
 Ps.  30.  11;  34.  19,  20;   146.   8  ;   Is.   9.   4  ;  25. 
 
 3;  Acts  7. 10;  2  'Tim.  3.  11 ; — advantages  of, 
 2  Chron.  33.  12,  13;  Job  36.  8—10;  Ps.  55. 
 19;  78.34,  35;  94.  12,  13;  119.  67,  71;  Is. 
 26.  8,  9,  16;  48.  10;  Lam.  3.  19—21  ;  27.  '28; 
 Hos.  5.  15;  Heb.  12.  11  ; -especially  benefi- 
 cial in  the  trial  of  faith,  Dcut.  8. 5  ;  2  Chron. 
 
 33.  11  ;  Job  5.  17;  36.  8;  Ps.  73.  34;  104.12; 
 119.  75  ;  Prov.  3.  11  ;  Eccles.  7.  3;  Jer.  2. 
 30;  Zeph.  3.7;  Rom.  5.  3;  Heb.  12.  5;— 
 ad\ice  to  the  afflicted,  Deut.  8.  5  ;  Job  5.17; 
 
 34.  31,  32;  Prov.  3.  11  ;  Mic.  6.  9;  Heb.  12. 
 5,  6—8. 
 
 AGABUS,  his  predictions.  Acts  11.  28;  21.  10. 
 
 AGAG,  1  Sam.  15.  9,  32. 
 
 AGE  should  be  respected.  Lev.  19.  32 ;  1  Tim. 
 
 5.  1  ; — when  a  crown  of  glory,  Prov.  16.  31  ; 
 
 —its  infirmities,  Eccles.  12.  I. 
 AGRIPPA,  Acts  26. 
 A6UR,  Pro.  30.  I,  &c. 
 AH.\B.  1  Kings  16.  20,  21,  22. 
 AHASUERUS,  Est.  1.  1,  &c. 
 AHAZ.  2  Kings  16.  1;  2  Chron.  28.  1,  &c. ;  Is. 
 
 7.  1,  &c. 
 AHAZIAH,  2  Kings  8.  24;  2  Chron.  22.  1  ;— 
 
 slain  by  Jehu,  2  Chron.  22.  9. 
 
 kitig  of  Ifirwl,  succeeds  Ahab,  1 
 
 Kings  22.  40 ; — consults  Beelzebub,  &c.,  2 
 
 Kings  1.2. 
 AHIJAH,  the  prophet,  1  Kings  11.  29;  14.  5. 
 AHITHOPHEL,  2  Sam.  16.  12  ;  l6.  23  ;  17.  1  ; 
 
 — hangs  liimself,  23. 
 AI  taken  and  biu-ned.  Josh.  8. 
 ALEXANDER  addresses  the  people  at  Ephesus, 
 
 Acts  19.  33;— Paul's  adversary,  1  Tim.  1.20; 
 
 2  Tim.  4.  14. 
 the  Great,  pretUctions  respecting, 
 
 Dan.  8.  5,  21  ;   10.  20;   11.  3. 
 
 ALLEGORYofHagarandSarah,  Gal.4.22,  23. 
 ALMS-GIVING,  Deut.  15.  7;  Job  20.  19;  22. 
 
 7;  31.  16;   Ps.  41.  1  ;  112.  9;  ProV.  3.  27;  14. 
 
 21 ;  19.  17;  '20.  6;  21.  13;  22.9;  28.  27;  Isa. 
 
 58.  7;   Ezek.    16.  49;   18.  12;   Matt.  6.  1  ;  25. 
 
 35,  40;  Mark  12.  43;  Luke  3. 11;  6.  48:  11. 
 
 41  ;  14.  14;  Acts  11.29;  Rom.  12.8,13;  1  Cor. 
 
 16.2;  2  Cor.  8. 11,12;  9.1,7;  Gal'.  6. 10;  Eph. 
 
 4.  28;  2  Thes.  3.  10;  1  Tim.  6.  18,  19;  Hcb. 
 
 6.  10;  13.  16:  1  Pet.  4.  11  ;  1  Johns.  17. 
 
 ALTAR,  how  to  make,  Ex.  20.  24;  Deut.  27. 
 5; — built  by  Noah,  Gen.  8.  20  ;— 0/  burnt- 
 ojfei'ing,  Ex.  27.  1,  &c. ;  38.  1  ; — of  incense, 
 Ex.  30.  1 ;  37.  25; — offerings  at  its  dedica- 
 tion, Num.  7.  10; — of  brass,  in  the  temple, 
 2  Cliron.  4.  1 ; — set  up  after  the  captivity, 
 Ezras.  1. 
 
 ALTAR,  built  by  theReubenUes,  &c., Josh. 22. 10. 
 
 ALTARS  erected  by  Abraham,  Gen.  12.  7,  8; 
 22.  9;  26.  25;  33.20;   35.  1 ,  &C. ;— by  Moses, 
 
 on  the  defeat  of  Amalek,  Exod.  17.  15. 
 AMALEKITES,  Ex.  17.  8 ;  Deut.  25. 17 ;  1  Sam. 
 
 30.  1  ;   14.  48,  15.  7. 
 AMASA,  captain  of  Absalom's  host,  2  Sam.  17. 
 
 25  ; — of  David's  host,  19. 13 ; — slain  by  Joab, 
 
 20.  4. 
 AMAZIAH,  2  Kings  12.  21;  2  Chron.  25.  1; 
 
 2  Kings  14.  7,  12,  19;  2  Chron.  25.  27. 
 AMEN,  an  affirmation.  Num.  5.  22  ;  Deut.  27. 
 
 15;  1  Kings  1.  36;  1  Chron.  16.  36;  Neh.  5. 
 
 13  ;  8.  6; — promises  amen  in  Christ,  2  Cor. 
 
 1.  20  ;— Christ  the  Amen,  Rev.  3.  14. 
 AMMON,  his  birth.  Gen.  19.  38. 
 AMMONITES,  Deut.  2.  19;  23.  3;  Judges  10. 
 
 7;  11.  32;  2  Sam.  10.  14;  12.  26;  2  Chron. 
 
 27.  5;   Ezek.  21.   28;   25.  1  ;  Jer.   49.  1,   6;— 
 
 God's  judgments  upon  them,  Amos  1.  13; 
 
 Zeph.  2.  8. 
 AMNON,  David's  son,  2  Sam.  13.  14; — slain 
 
 by  Absalom,  25. 
 AMON,  2  Kings  21.  19;  2  Chron.  33.  20;— 
 
 murdered.  24  ;  2  Kings  21.  23. 
 AMORITES,  Gen.  15.  16;  48.  22;  Dcut.  20. 
 
 17;  Jos.  3.  10;   10.  12;  Judg.  11.  23;  1  Sam. 
 
 7.  14;  Amos  2.  9. 
 AMRAM,  the  father  of  Aaron,  &c.,  Ex.  6.  20; 
 
 1  Chron.  6.  3. 
 
 ANAKIMS,  Deut.  2.  10;  9-2;  Josh.  U.  22. 
 ANANIAS  ami  SAPPHIRA,  Acts  5.  1,  &c. 
 ANDREW,  the  apostle,  John  1.  40;— called. 
 
 Matt.  4.  18. 
 ANGEL  of  the  Lord,  Gen.  22.  11 ;  24.  7;  48. 
 
 16;   Exod.  23.   20,  23;   32.   34;   33.  2;  Num. 
 
 20.  16;  Judg.  13.  19;— and  Hagar,  Gen.  16. 
 9; — and  Abraham,  22.  11;  —  and  Balaam, 
 Num.  22.23,  31 ; — and  Gideon.  Judg.  6. 12  ; — 
 and  Manoah's  wife,  13.  3 ;— and  David,  2 
 Sam.  24.  17; — and  Joshua  the  priest,  Zech. 
 3.  5;— and  Joseph,  Matt.  1.20;  2.  13,  19;— 
 and  Zacharias,   Luke   1.   11 ;  — destroying, 
 
 2  Sam.  24.  16;  I  Cliron.  21.  15,  17;  — and 
 Ehjah,  1  Kings  19.  5  ;— with  Daniel,  3.  28  ; 
 6.  22  ;— Gabriel,  Luke  1.19 ;— and  shepherds, 
 Luke  2.  10  ;— and  Peter,  Acts  5.19:12.8  ;— 
 flying.  Rev.  8. 13  ;  14.  6;— in  the  sun,  19.  7. 
 
 ANGELS  at  Sodom,  Gen.  19.  1  ; — minister  to 
 Christ,  Matt.  4.  11;  Mark  1.  13;— attend 
 Chiist  at  judgment.  Matt.  25.  31  ;  Mark  8. 
 38;  Luke  9.  26; — rejoice  at  conversion  of 
 sinners,  Luke  1 5. 10 ;— at  the  sepulchre,  John 
 20.  12. 
 
 ANGER  should  be  repressed,  Ps.  37.  8;  Prov. 
 16.  32;  17.  14;  Eph.  4.  26,  31;  Col.  3.  8; 
 James  I.  19;— dangerous.  Job  5.  2;  Prov. 
 15.  1,  18;  17.  14;  19.  19;  22.  24;  25.8,  28; 
 26.21  ;  29.  22;  30.  33;  Matt.  5.  22;  —  how 
 to  soften  it,  Prov.  15.  1;  16.24;21.14;  25. 
 15  ;   Eccl.  10.  4  ;   Matt.  5.  25. 
 
 ,  instances  of  it.  Gen.  4.5;  39.  13 ;  34. 
 
 27;  49.6;  Num.  20.  10;  '22.  27;  I  Sam.  20. 
 30;Ps.l06.  33;Jonah4. 1  ;  Luke  4.  20  ;  15.  29. 
 
INDEX  TO  THE   PRINCIPAL  PASSAGES 
 
 AXNA,  Luke  2.  36. 
 
 A  POINTED,  Saul  anointed  king,  1  Sam.  9.16; 
 
 10.  1  ;— and  David.  1  Sam.  16.  13 ;  2  Sam.  2. 
 
 4;  5.  3; —  and  Solomon,  1   Kings  1.  39;— 
 
 Christ  the  anointed  of  God,  Luke  4.  IS ;  Acts 
 
 10.  38  ;— anointed  by  a  woman,  Lnke  7.  37  ; 
 
 —by  Mar}',  John  12.3  ;— by  another  woman. 
 
 Matt.  20.  6. 
 ■.NTI-CHRIST  predicted,  2  Thes.  2.  3;  1  Tim. 
 
 1.  1,  ^c. ;— come,  1  John  2.  18. 
 ■  .\TIOCH.  converts  there,  Acts  u.  20. 
 WTIPAS,  Rev.  2.  13. 
 \NXIETY,  to  be  avoided.  Matt.  6.  25 ;  13.  22  ; 
 
 Luke  12.  22  ;  John  0.  27 ;  1  Cor.  /.  32  ;  Phil. 
 
 4.  6;  1  Tim.  6.  8. 
 \POLLOS,  Acts  IS.  24. 
 .  I'OSTASY,  Jer.  17.  13;  Ezek.  18.  24,  26;  33. 
 
 12,  13,  18;  Hos.  7.  13;  Matt.  12.  43;  13.21  ; 
 John  6. 60,  66;  1  Tim.  1.  19;  4.  1  ;  5.  12  ;  Heb. 
 6.  4—6;   10.  26—29;  2  Pet.  2.  20. 
 
 .\POSTLES  appointed.  Matt.  10.  1 ;  Mark  3. 
 13;  Luke  6.  13 ;— commissioned,  Matt.  10. 
 1,  &c.;  Mark  Ifi.  15;— sent.  Matt.  10.  5; 
 Mark  6.  7  ;  Luke  9.  1  ;— their  authority,  S:c., 
 Matt.  10.  20,40;  18.  18;  John  14.12;  2  Cor. 
 
 5.  20;  1  Thes.  2.  13,  48 ;  — witnesses  for 
 Christ,  Acts  1 .  22 ;— their  sufferings,  1  Cor. 
 4.  9. 
 
 'QUILA,  Acts.  19.  1,  18. 
 
 ARARAT,  Gen.  8.  4. 
 
 .vUCHELAl'S,  Matt.  2.  23. 
 
 :RK  of  Noah,  Gen.  6.  4. 
 
 nfthe  cofriiant,  Exod.  25.   10;  37.    1  ;— 
 
 carried  to  Jordan,  Josh.  3. 15  ;— taken,  1  Sam. 
 4.  II ;— and  Dagon,  5.  3  ;— restored,  6. 10  ; — 
 at  Kirjath-jearim,  7.  1  ;— and  Uzzah,  2  Sam. 
 
 6.  I,  Ike. ;— and  Obed-cdom,  10  :— brought  to 
 Jerusalem,  15;— brought  to  the  temple,  2 
 Chron.  5.  2. 
 
 .-.RMAGEUDON,  Rev.  16.  16. 
 
 ARMOl'R  of  the  Christian,  E;*.  6.  13,  &c. 
 
 MITAXERXES.  Ezra  4.  17  :  7-  H. 
 
 .iSA,  1  Kings  15.  8;  2  Chron.  14.  1  ;  15.  P;  16. 
 2 ;  1  Kings  15.  16 ;— his  death,  23  ;  2  Chron. 
 16.  13. 
 
 '  SAHEL  slain  by  Abner,  2  Sam.  2.  18. 
 
 aSHER,  Josh.  19.  24;  1  ehr.  7-  30. 
 
 \SHES,  Esther  4.  1  ;  Job  42.  6;  Jonah  3.  6; 
 Matt.  11.  21. 
 
 '.SKELON  taken,  Judg.  1.  IB. 
 
 -iSS,  wild.  Job  39.  5. 
 
 .\SSYR1ANS,  their  conquest  of  Syria  predicted. 
 Is.  8.  4,  &c. ;  10.  5,  S,c.;— to  be  punished,  12. 
 26;  14.24;  30.  31;  3 1 .  8 ;— their  glory  and 
 ruin,  Ezek.  31.3;  Mic.  5.  6 ;  Zeph.  2.13. 
 
 ATHALIA  destroys  the  seed  royal,  2  Chron. 
 22.  10  ;— slain,  23.  15  ;  2  Kings  11.  15. 
 
 .ATHENS,  Paul  preaches  at.  Acts  17.  22. 
 
 .VrONEMENT,  aimual  dnv  of.  Lev.  23.  26  ;— 
 sacrifices  on  it.  Num.  29.  7 ;— Christ  an  atone- 
 ment. Is.  53.  4  ;  Matt.  20.  23  ;  2  Cor.  5.  21  ; 
 Gal.  3.  13;  Tit.  2.  14;  Heb.  9.  28  ;  1  Pet.  2. 
 24;  3.  18;   I  John  2.  2;  4.  10;  Rom.  5.  11. 
 
 AZARIAH,  2  Kings  11.  21  ;— becomes  a  leper, 
 15.  5; — dies,  7. 
 
 BAAL'S  prophets  slsun,  1  Kings  18.40  ;  2  Kings 
 10.  18. 
 
 BAASHA,  I  Kings  15.  28 ;— his  death,  6. 
 
 JSjVBEL  built,  &C.,  Gen.  1 1 .  1,  &c. 
 
 BABES  in  Christ,  1  Cor.  3.  1  ;  1  Pet.  2.  2. 
 
 iJABYLON,  ambassadors  from,  to  Hczekiah, 
 2  Kings  20.  12;  2  Chr.  32.  31  ;— its  destruc- 
 tion predicted.  Is.  13.1,  &c.;  14.4;  47. 1  ;21. 
 
 2:   46.  1  J  Jer.  25.  12;  50.9,18,  35;  51.  1,  &C. 
 
 '■ ,  mystical.  Rev.  14.  8;  18.  2;  16. 
 
 19;   17.  5;   18.  1,  &C. 
 
 liABYLONISH  captivity  foretold,  2  Kings  20. 
 
 17  ;  Is.  39.  6 ;— takes  place,  2  Kings  25,  11 ; 
 
 2  Chron.  36.  20 ;  Jer.  39.  5  ;— return  from  it, 
 
 Ezra  1 .  5,  &c. ;— number  that  retui-ned,  2.1; 
 
 Neh.  7.  5,  &c. 
 BACKSLIDING,  cautions  against  it,  Ps.  85. 
 
 8  ;  1  Cor.  10.  12  ;  Col.  1 .  23  ;  Heb.  3.  12,  13 ; 
 
 12.  15;— e\ils  of,  Prov.  14. 14;  Jer.  2.  17,19; 
 
 13.25;   14.  10;  Hos.  6.  4  ;  8.3;   11.7;  Mark 
 
 14.17;  Luke  8. 13  ;  Gal.  5.  7— 10 ;— folly  and 
 absiurdity  thereof,  Jer.  2.  5 ;  12.  13,  31 ;  Mic. 
 6.  3;  Gal.  3.  1  ;  2  Pet.  I.  9  ;  2.  20,  22;  — 
 threatenings  against  backsliders,  Dent.  32. 
 
 18-20;   Is.   1.4;  Jer.   8.4,5;   Rev.   2.   4;- 
 
 instances  of,  Deut.  32.  15;  Ps.  106.  13;  2 
 Chron.  12.  1;  Gal.  1.  6,  7;  I  Tim.  1.  19;  6. 
 21 ;  2  Tira.  1 .  15  ;  4.10  ; — recovery  from,  Ps. 
 
 23.  3;  Is.  57.  IS;  Jer.  3.  12,  14,  21,  22;  Hos, 
 14.  4  ;   Rev.  2.  5. 
 
 BALAAM  applied  to  to  curse  Israel,  Num.  22. 
 
 1 ; — liis  ass  speaks,  28  ; — his  prophecies,  23. 
 
 18,  &c.;  24;— slain,   31.  8;  Josh.   13.  22;— 
 
 bis  doctrine.  Rev.  2.  14. 
 ii.iLANCES  shoiUd  he  just.  Lev.  19.  36. 
 1372 
 
 B-APTISM,  institution  of.  Matt.  28.  19 ;  Acts 
 10.  46—43;  Eph.  4.  5;— instances  of.  Acts 
 8.  12,  13,  36,  38;  9-  18;  16.  14,  15,  33;  18.8; 
 
 —the  duty  and  privilege  connected,  Mark 
 16.  16;  .\cts  22.  16;  Rom.  C.  3,  4;  Gal.  3. 
 27 ;  Col.  2.12;  1  Pct.  3.21 ;— Christ  baptized, 
 Matt.  3.  13—15;  Mark  1.  9;— Christ  bap- 
 tizing, John  3.  22  ;  4. 1,  2  ;— John  baptizing. 
 Matt.  3.  5,  6  ;  Mark  1.4,  5  ;  John  3.  23,  24  ; 
 Acts  18.  25  ;— baptism  repeated,  19.3,  4,  5  ; 
 —spiritual  baptism,  Matt.  3.  11.  12  ;  Mark  1. 
 8  ;  Acts  1.  5  ;— metaphorical  baptism.  Matt. 
 
 20.   22,   23;   M.>rk   10.  33.   39j   Luke   12.   SO; 
 
 1  Cor.  10.  I,  2:  12.  13. 
 BARABB.^S  released.  Matt.  2".  I5  ;  Mark,  15. 
 
 6  ;  Luke  23.  IS  ;  John  18.  40. 
 BARAK,  .Tudg.  4.  6. 
 BARNABAS,   Acts  4.36;    11.22;    25;    13.2; 
 
 15.  39;  Gal.  2.  13. 
 BARTlMEUS,Matt.  20.  29;  Mark  10.  46. 
 BARZILLAI,  2  Sam.  17.  27;  19.34. 
 BATHSHEBA,  2  Sam.  11.3,  4,  26;    1  Kings 
 
 2.  13. 
 
 BEAR  killed  by  David,  1  Sam.  17.  34. 
 
 BE-\RD,  of  David's  ambassadors  shaven,  2 
 Sam.  10.  4. 
 
 BEAST  with  seven  heads  and  ten  horns.  Rev. 
 13.  1 ; — image  of,  15. 
 
 BEAT;TY,/fmri/t,Gen.  29.16;  17;  Job  13.  IS- 
 IS; 1  Sam.  25.  3;  2  S.-im.  14.27;  Jer.  0.2,3; 
 Esth.  2.7;  15.  16. 
 
 ,  titale.  Gen.  39. 6 ;  Exod.  2.2;  Heb.  1 1 . 
 
 23;  1  Sam.  9.  2;  17.42;  2  Sam.  14.25;  IKings 
 1.6. 
 
 ,  snares   of.  Gen.  6.  2;   12.  11—15; 
 
 2  Sam.  11.  2;  Prov.  II.  22. 
 ,  spiritualized,  Ps.  45.  11  ;  Sol.  Song 
 
 5,  6;  4.  3,  7;  5.  9,  10;  16;  6.  I;  7.  fi- 
 
 BED  of  Og,  Dent.  3.11 
 
 BEHEMOTH  described.  Job  40.  15. 
 
 BEL,  or  BAAL.  Is.  40.  1. 
 
 BELSHAZZAR,  Dan.  5.  1,  &c. ;— his  death, 
 30. 
 
 BENAIAH,  2  Sam.  23.  20  ;  1  Kings  2.  35. 
 
 BENHADAD,  1  Kings  20.  1 ,  &c.,  20,  29,  33  ; 
 2  Kings  13,  24. 
 
 BENJAMIN,  Gen.  35.  18;  43.  15;— his  de- 
 scendants, 1  Chr.  7.  6 ;— his  sons  and  chief 
 men,  8.  1. 
 
 BENJAMITES,  Josh.18.11 ;  nearly  extirpated, 
 Judg.  20.  26,  Ific;  21.  16. 
 
 BEREA,  .Acts  17.  10. 
 
 BERNICE,  Acts  25.  13. 
 
 BESTIALITY,  Lev.  18.  23;— its  punishment, 
 20.  15;  Ex.  22.  19. 
 
 BETHEL,  Gen.  28.  19;— conquered,  Judg.  1. 
 
 BETHSHEMESH.  1  Sam.  6.  19. 
 
 BEZ.ALEEL  and  Aholiab  appointed  to  make 
 the  tabernacle,  Ex.  31.2;  35.  30. 
 
 BILBAO'S  answers  to  Job,  Job  8.  1 ;  18.  1  ; 
 25.  1. 
 
 BIRTHRIGHT,  its  privilege.  Dent.  21.  17;— 
 Esau's  sold.  Gen.  25.  31 ;  —  Manassch's 
 transferred  to  Ephraim,  48.  17; — Reuben's 
 forfeited,  49.  3 ;  1  Chr.  5.  1 . 
 
 BISHOPS,  Acts  20.  28  ;  1  Tim.  3.1;  5.  1  ; 
 2  Tim.  4.  1  ;  Tit.  1 .  5  ;  1  Pet.  5.1. 
 
 BLASPHEMER  put  to  death.  Lev.  24.  23. 
 
 BLASPHEMY'  punishable  with  death,  Lev.  24. 
 15,  16,  23 ; — of  Sennacherib,  2  Kings  18.  17  ; 
 2  Clu.  32.  9;  Is.  36.  1,  A:c. ;— of  the  Phari- 
 sees, Matt.  9.  34  ;  12.  24  ;  Mark  3.  22  ;  Luke 
 11.  15  ;  John  10.  20  ;— against  tlie  Holy  Spi- 
 rit, Matt.  12.  31  ;  Mark  3.  2S;  Luke  12.  10, 
 
 BLAST  on  Sennacherib,  2  Kings  ig.  7;  Is. 
 37.7. 
 
 BLESSING,  the  form  of  it,  Nmn.  6.  22 ;— at 
 the  removal  of  the  Ark,  10.  33. 
 
 BLIND  not  to  be  misled,  Lev.  19.  14  ;— cursed 
 is  he  that  does  it,  Deut.  27.  18  ;— two  blind 
 men,  Matt.  9.  27—32;  Mark  10.  46;  Lvike 
 IS.  35;— man  healed,  Mark  8.  22,  23;  John 
 9.  0,  &c.;— guides.  Matt.  15.  14. 
 
 BLINDNESS  inflicted  on  the  Sodomites.  Gen. 
 19.  II ; — on  the  Syrians,  2  Kings  6.  18; — on 
 Paul,  Acts,  9.  8;— on  Elynia.s,  13.  II;— of 
 heart,  Ps.  69.  23;  Is.  6,  9,  10;  59.  10;  John 
 12.40;  Matt.  13.  14,  15;  Mark4.  11;  Luke 
 8.  10;  Acts  28.  26:   Rom,  1.21  ;   II.  7,8,  10- 
 
 BLOOD  not  to  be  eaten.  Gen.  9. 4  ;  Lev.  3. 1 7  ; 
 7.  26;  17.  10,  14;  19.  '26;  Ezek. 33. 25;  Acts 
 
 15.  29. 
 
 of  Christ,  redemption  through  it,  Eph, 
 
 1.7;  Col.  1.14;  1  Pet.  1.13;  Rev.  5.  9  ;— 
 sanctification  through  it,  Heb.  10.  29;  — 
 cleanses  from  sin,  1  John  I.  7 ;  Rev.  1.  5. 
 
 BOANERGES.  Maik  3.  17. 
 
 BONES,  dn/,  Ezek.  37.  I,  ftc. 
 
 BOOK,  seiiled,  Rev.  5. 1 ;— open.  10. 2 ;— eaten, 
 I      10. 10. 
 
 BREAST-PLATE  of  the  high  priest,  Ex.  28. 
 
 15;  39.  8. 
 BRETHREN,  to  forgive  each  other.  Matt.  6. 
 
 23,  24;  18.  21,  22; — to  bear  one  anotlier's 
 
 burdens,  and  admonish  each  other.  Gal.  6. 
 
 2 ;  2  Thess.  3.13—15 ;— to  Confess  their  faults, 
 
 and  pray  for  each  other.  Jam.  5.    16;  — 
 
 to  love  each  other,  Rom.  12.  10 ;  1  Thess. 
 
 4.9;  Heb.  13-9; — how  to  prevent  anger  and 
 
 hatred  between.  Matt.  18.  15. 
 BIFRIAL,  of  Sarah,  Gen.  23. 19 ;— of  Abraham, 
 
 25.  8,  9; — of  Jacob.  50.  7,  &c. ;— of  Moscs, 
 
 Deut,  34.  6;— of  Sanniel,  I  Sam.  25.  1 ;— of 
 
 Saul  and  his  sons,  31.  13;  of  Asahel,2  Sam. 
 
 2.  32;— of  Abner,  3.  32;— of  Christ,  Matt. 
 
 27.  59,  60  ;— of  Stephen,  Acts  H.  2. 
 BURNT-OFFERINGS,  rules  concealing  them. 
 
 Lev.  1.  1,  &c.;  6.  9;— daily,  Ex.  29.  38. 
 BUSY-BODIES,  Pro.  20.  3  ;   26.  I7  ;    1  Thess. 
 
 4.11;    2Thess.  3.  11;     ITim.  6.  13;     1  Pet. 
 
 4.  13. 
 
 CAIAPHAS,  John  1 1 .  49 ;  1 8. 1 4 ;  Matt.  20. 57  ; 
 
 Mark  14.  53;  Luke  22.  54;  John  18.  14. 
 CAIN,  Gen.  4.  8;  1  John  3. 12  :  Jurte  11. 
 CALEB,  Num.  13.30;    14.  6;    Deut.  1.  36;— 
 
 obtains  Hebron,  Josh.  14.  6;   15.  13; — his 
 
 posterity.  1  Chr.  2.  18  ;  4.  15. 
 ,  the  son  of  Hur,  his  descendants, 
 
 1  Chr.  2.  50. 
 
 CALF,  golden,  Ex.  32.  1,  Sic. 
 
 CALVARA',  Matt.  27.  33;  Mark  15.  22;  Luke 
 
 23.  33  ;  John  19.  17. 
 CALVES   of    Jeroboam,   1  Kings  12.  28,  32; 
 
 2  Kings  10.  29;  2  Chron.  11.  15;  13.  8. 
 CjVNA,  Jesus's  first  miracle  there,  John  2.1, 
 
 CANAAN  cursed.  Gen.  9.  25. 
 
 ,  the  land  of,  promised  to  Abraham, 
 
 Gen.  12.  7  ;— its  boundary,  Ex.  23. 31 ;  Num. 
 34.  1;  Jo.sh.  1.  3; — conquered  by  Joshua, 
 11.  16; — its  kings,  12. 9;  the  names  of  those 
 wlio  were  to  divide  it,  Nimi.  34.  16; — how 
 to  be  divided,  26.  52  ; — divided  by  lot,  Josh. 
 14.  1,  &c. ;— its  ruined  cities  to  be  rebuilt.  Is. 
 
 49.  19;  51.  3;  52.  9;   54.  3;  61.  4;  Ezck.  36. 
 
 33;— its  boundary,  47.  13;— its  division  by 
 lot,  48,  1. 
 C.ANAjVNITES,  idolatrous,  to  be  extirpated, 
 Ex.  23.  31  ;  34.  12 ;  Num.  33.  50  ;    Deut.  20. 
 16;— not  completely  conquered  by  Joshua, 
 
 16.  10;  17.  12;  Judg.  1.  27,  &c.;  2.  20 ;  3.  1, 
 &C. 
 
 CANDLESTICK,  in  the  tabernacle,  Ex.  25. 31 ; 
 37.  17; — vision  of,  Zcch.  4.  1 ;— golden  can- 
 dlesticks made  by  Solomou,  2  Chron.  4.  7j 
 —vision  of.  Rev.  1.  12,  20. 
 
 CAPTIVES,  female,  how  to  he  treated,  Deut. 
 
 21.  10. 
 
 CAPTIA'ITA',  of  Israel,  predicted,  Amos  5.  1 ; 
 
 7.  11  ;— of  Jvidah,  Jer.  13.  19;  20.  4;  25.  28; 
 
 — their  treatment  in  it,  Ps.  137; — psalm  on 
 
 tlieir  return  from  it,  Ps.  136  ;  Is.  26. 
 CAPERNAUM,  Matt,  4,  13;  John  2.  12. 
 CAPTIVITIES  of  Israel.    See  Israelites. 
 CARE,  tormenting.  Matt.  6.25,31 — 34;  Lnke 
 
 12.  22,  29  ;— reproved,  10.  39 — 12  ;  12.  28,  30 ; 
 
 — argiunents  against.  Matt.  6.  30,  31 ;  Luke 
 
 12.  23  —  27,  31  ;    Rom.   8.  32;  1  Tim.  4.  8; 
 
 1  Pet.  5.  7  ;  2  Pet.  I.  3. 
 CARNAL  MIND,  Rom.  8.  7, 
 CARPENTERS  shewn  in  vision  to  Zechariah, 
 
 Zech.  1.  20. 
 CATECHISING,  enforced.  Gen.  18,  19;  Deut. 
 
 4.  9;  6.  0—9;  11.  19;  Ps.  78.  5;  Eph,  6.4. 
 CAVES,  Gen.  19.  30;  Josh.  10.  16;  1  Sam,  13. 
 
 6;   22.  1;  1  Kings    18.  4,  13;    19.  9;    Heb. 
 
 11.  38. 
 
 CEDAR,  2  Sam.  7.  2;  1  Kings  4.  33;  Ps.  so. 
 10;  92.  12;  Amos  2,  9 ;— used  to  build  the 
 temple,  1  Kings  6,  15  ;  5.  6. 
 
 CHALDEANS  appointed  to  punish  the  Israel- 
 ites, Hab.  1.  6; — to  be  punished  for  their 
 craelty,  2.  5,  Sic. 
 
 CH.4MP10N,  1  Sam.  17.  4,  51. 
 
 CH.\RGE  of  Moses  to  Joshua,  Deut.  31 .  7  ;— 
 of  God  to  Joshua,  1 .  2 ; — of  Joshua  to  the 
 people,  22.  1 ;  23.  2;— of  David  to  Solomon, 
 1  Kings  2.  1 ;  1  Chr.  22.  6 ;— of  Jehoshaphat 
 to  the  judges,  2  Clu".  19.  6,  9; — of  Jesus  to 
 theapostles.  Matt.  10.1, &c.,— to  the  seventy, 
 Luke  10.  I ;— to  Peter,  John  21. 15  ;— to  the 
 apostles  before  his  ascension.  Matt.  28.  16; 
 Mark  16. 15  ;— of  Paul  to  the  elders  of  Ephe- 
 sus.  Acts  20.  17,  &c. 
 
 CHARITY  enforced,  Ex.  23.  4 ;  Lev.  19.  IS; 
 Deut.  15.  7;  22.  1  ;  Job  31.  16.  S:c. ;  Pro.  24. 
 17;  25.  21  ;  Eccles.  11.  1  ;  Matt.  7.  12;  -22. 
 39;  Jam.  2.  8. 
 
 CHASTENING  of  God's  people,  Job  5.  17;  Ps. 
 94.   12;    118.  18;     Pro.  3.   11;    Jer.  31.    18; 
 
IN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 Ilcb.  12.  5,  6,  7,  in,  11  i  Rev.3. 19;— of  cliil- 
 
 ilren,  Deut.  8.  5  ;  Prov.  13.  24  ;  19.  18  ;  Hcb. 
 
 12.  7. 
 
 CHASTITY  enforced,  1  Thess.  4.3;  Col.  3.  5  ; 
 
 — of  Josei)h,  Gen .  39. 7. 
 CHEDORI..\OMER,  Gen.  14.  10;  15. 
 CHERUBIMS  for  the  ark,  E.k.  25.  17;  37.6. 
 for  the  temple,   2  Chr.  3.  11;— 
 
 seen  in  \ision  by  Ezekiel,  Ezek.  1.4;  10.8; 
 
 11.  ■.>■'. 
 CHILDREN  to  he  instmcted,  Gen.  18.  19; 
 
 Deut.  4.  9;    6.6;    11.  19;    Ps.  73.  5 ;    Eph. 
 
 6.  4. 
 ,  their  duties  to  their  parents  de- 
 scribed and  enforced,  Exod.  20.  12  ;  21.  15  ; 
 
 Lev.  19. 3  ;  Deut. 5. 16 ;  27. 16 ;  Pro.  1 .  3 ;  6. 20 ; 
 
 13.  1;  16.  i,  20;  19.  26;  23.  22;  23.  24  ;  30. 
 1";  Ezek.  22.  7;  Luke  2.  51  ;  Eph.  6.  I,  2,  3; 
 
 Col.  3.  20  ;— death  to  be  intlieted  on  the  re- 
 bellious, E.xod.  21.  15  ;  Lev.20.9l  Deut.21. 
 
 15,  &c. ;— brought  to  Christ,  Matt.  19.  14; 
 Mark  in.  11 ;  Luke  18.  fi ;— oflferin?  them  to 
 idols  forbidden,  Deut.  12.  30,  31 ;  IS.  10, 
 &c. ;   Lev.  2n.  2,  &e. : — practised,   2  Kinjjs 
 
 16.  .1 : — puDi-shed,  2  Kings  17.  7; — of  God, 
 predestinated  to  adoption,  Ephes.  1.5:  Gal. 
 3.  26;  John  1.  12.  17  ;— heirs  of  God,  Rom. 
 8.  17  ;— not  known  to  the  world,  1  John  3  1. 
 
 ,  on  good  children.  Pro.  10.  1  ;    15. 
 
 20  ;  23.  24  :  27-  1 1  ;  29.  3. 
 ,  on  wicked  children,  Pro.  10.  I,  17, 
 
 21,  25;   19.  13;  2S.  7;  29.  15. 
 
 CHRIST,  John's  testimony  re.spectini^,  &c., 
 John  1 .  23,  25,  27,  29—34,  36 ;— his  descent. 
 Matt.  1.1,  &c. ;  Luke  3,  23,  &c. : — recognised 
 as  David's  son.  Matt.  12.  23;  15.  22;  21.  9; 
 Mark  12.  35,  &c. ;  Acts  13. 22  ;  Rom.  1.3;— 
 his  names,  titles,  and  characters,  Num.  24. 
 
 17;  Deut.  18.  15;  Job  19.  25;  Is.  7.  14;  9.  6; 
 59.  20  :  Jer.  30.  9  ;  33.  I6 ;  Ezek.  34.  23  ;  37. 
 24;  Hos.  3.  5;  Mic.  5.  2;  Zech.  3.  8;  6.  12; 
 11.  16;  Matt.  1.  23;  2.  2;  6.  23;  3.  3;  3.  17; 
 8.29;  8.20;S.27:  21. 9 ;  Mark  11.  3 ;    Luke 
 
 I.  6,  32,  33,  35,  78,  2.  11;  4.  34;  24.  19; 
 John  1.  1,  8.  14,  13,  20,  29,  36,  41,  49, 
 51;  8.  12;  9.5;  10.  11;  12.35;  Acts  3.  14, 
 15;  5.  31  ;  7.  35,  52;  22.  14;  Rom.  9.  5  ;  1 1 
 26;  1  Cor.  2.8;  8.  C;  2  Cor.  4.  4;  Col.  1.  16; 
 1  Tim.  2.  5  ;  Heb.  1.  2,  10;  5.  1,  &c. ;   12.  24  ; 
 
 13.  20  ;  1  Pet.  2.  4,  5  ;  1  John  2.  1  ;  Rev.  1.  5, 
 8,   17;  3.   7,    14;   4.  II  ;  5.   5,   6 ;    I7.  14;    ig. 
 
 II,  13,    16;   22.  13,    16. 
 
 ■ ,  his  eternity,  John  1 .  1 , 3  ;  1 7.  5  ;  Col 
 
 1.  17  ;  Heb.  13.  8;— his  equality  with  his  fa 
 ther.  Matt.  28.  IS;  Johns. 23;  16.15;  17. 
 10;  Phil.  2.  6;  Col.  1.  16;  2.  9;— of  one  sub- 
 stance, John  10.  30,  38  ;  12.45;  17.11,29; 
 14.9 ; — his  inferiority  in  his  humanity,  John 
 
 14.  28  ; — one  with  his  disciples,  John  17.  21 ; 
 Heb.  2.  ll,&c. 
 
 ,  perfect  man.  Matt.  4.  2;   8.  24;  26. 
 
 38;  John  1.  14;  4.  6;   11.  35;    12.  27;   Ig.  28; 
 
 Phil.  2.  7;  Heb.  2.  14;— without  sin,  John 
 8.  46;  2  Cor.  5.  21;  Hcb.  4.  15;  7.  26;  1  Pet. 
 
 2.  22 ;  1  John  3.  5. 
 
 ,  perfect  God.     I.  So  called,  Is.  9.  6; 
 
 Matt.  1.23;  John  1.1;  Rom.  9.  5;  Col.  2. 
 9  ;  1  Tim.  3.  16;  Heb.  3.  4  ;  1  John  3.  16;— 
 2.  Pnrdmiini;  .tins,  Matt.  9.  2  ;  Luke  5.  20  ; 
 7. 48 ; — 3.  TTurhiiit;  miracles  in  his  own  njtme, 
 John  3.  2;  5.  36;  10.  25,  38;  14.  10; — 4. 
 Knowing  the  thoughts.  Matt.  9.  4;  12.25; 
 Mark  2.  8;  Luke  5!  22;  6.  6  ;  9.  47;  11.  17; 
 John  2.  24;  0.  61  ;  2i.  17;— 5.  Rai.nng  him- 
 self from  the  dead,  John  2.  19;  10.  17; — 6. 
 Profoising  and  sending  the  Holy  Spirit,  John 
 14.  26 ;  15.  26 ;  Acts  i.  5  ;  2.4  ;— 7.  Possess- 
 ing the  attriljutes  of  creation,  omnipotence, 
 and  omniscience,  ^c.  Col.  1.  16;  Heb.  1.2; 
 Phil.  3.  21  ;  1  Cor.  4.  5;~icorshipi>edasGQd,  [ 
 Hcb.  1.  6;  Rev.  5.  12—14.  p 
 
 was  the  predicted  Messiah,  Luke  24. 
 
 27;  John    1.   45;    4.   25;   5.   39,  46  ;     11.   2?; 
 
 Acts  26. 22 ; — came  fi-om  heaven,  John  3.  13, 
 31  ;  6.  38,  50;  16. 2S  ;— was  incarnate.  Matt. 
 1.  18;  Luke  1.  35; — died  for  our  sins.  Is. 
 53.?;  Dan.  g.  26;  Matt.  20.23;  Rom.  4.25; 
 5.  6;  1  Cor.  15.  3;  Gal.  1.  4;  Eph.  5.  2; 
 Heb.  9.  28 ;— abolished  death,  2  Tim.  1.  10; 
 — rose  apain  for  our  ju.stification,  Luke  24. 1, 
 
 46,47;  Acts  2.  24;  3.15:4.10;  5.  30;  10. 
 40;  17.  31  ;  Rom.  10.  9;  1  Cor.  6.  14;  15.3, 
 4  ;  1  Thess.  1.10:  Hcb.  13.  20  ;  1  Pet.  3.  18  ; 
 — ascended,  Mark  16.  19  ;  Luke  24.  51 ;  Acts 
 1.  2.  9  ;  Eph.  4.  8 ;  1  Tun.  3. 16 ;— session  of, 
 Mark  16.  19;  Acts  7.  56;  Eph.  1.20;  Col.  3. 
 
 1  :   Heb.  1.  3;  8.  1;     10.12;    12.2;    1  Pet.  3. 
 
 22  ; — endowed  with  all  power,  Matt.  28.  18 ; 
 Eph.  1.  20. 
 
 \vill  come  again  to  judge  the  world, 
 
 1373 
 
 Acts  1.  11;  1  Thess.  4.  16;  2  Tim.  4.  1  ;— 
 will  reject  the  workers  of  iniquity.  Matt.  7. 
 21 ; — his  mediatorial  reign  will  end,  1  Cur. 
 
 15.24. 
 
 CHRISTis  our  pattern.  Matt.  11.  29;  John 
 13.  15;  Phil.  2.  5;  1  Pet.  1.  15;  2.21  ;  1  John 
 2.6. 
 
 was  trusted  in  by  Abraham  and  the 
 
 Patriarchs,  John  8.  56;  Heb.  11.  I,  8ic. 
 
 not  to  be  denied.  Matt.  10.  33 ;  Mark 
 
 8.  38;  Luke  9.  26;  12.  9;  Rom.  1.  16;  2  Tim. 
 2.  12  ;  1  John  2.  23.  See  article,  Divinity  of 
 Christ. 
 
 CHRISTIANS,  the  name  originated  at  Antioch, 
 Acts  1 1 .  26. 
 
 CHURCH,  founded  on  Christ,  Matt.  16.  18;— 
 its  increase.  Acts  2.  47 ; — persecuted,  Acts 
 8.  1;  Gal.  1.  13;  Phil.  3.  6;— in  a  huvtse, 
 Rom.  16.  5;  ICor.  16. 19;  Col.  4. 15  ;— Christ 
 its   head,   Eph.  1.  22;    5.  23;    Col.  1.  18,  24  ; 
 
 — subject  to  Christ,  Eph.  5.  24; — loved  by 
 Christ,  25  ; — its  future  perfection  of,  27 ; — its 
 discipline.  Matt.  18.  15,  16,  17. 
 CIRCUMCISION  instituted,  Gen.  17.  10;— 
 penalty  for  omission.  Gen.  17. 14  ;  Ezek.  28. 
 10 ;— in.stances  of.  Gen.  17.  23,  &c. ;  34.  24  ; 
 Exod.  4.  25;  Josh.  5.  2; — spiritual  circum- 
 cision, Deut.  10.  16;  30.  6;  Jer.  4.  4  ;  Rom. 
 
 2.  28,  29 ;  Col.  2.  1 1 ;— a  dissension  about  it. 
 Acts  15.  1,  &c. ; — decree  concerning  it,  29; 
 — not  to  be  submitted  to  by  the  Gentile  con- 
 verts. Gal.  5.  2 ; — Abralianl  justified  without 
 it,  Rom.  4.  10. 
 
 CIRCUMSPECTION  enforced,  Matt.  24.  42; 
 
 Rom.  12.  17;  2  Cor.  8.  21  j  Eph.  5.  15;  Phil. 
 
 4.8;    IThess.  4.  12;    5.6;    1  Pet.  2.  12  ;    3. 
 
 16. 
 CITIES  of  Refuge,  Num.  35.  6  ;   Deut.  4.  41  ; 
 
 19.  1  ;  Josh.  20.  1,  &c. 
 CLAUDIUS,  Acts  18.  2. 
 CLEOPAS,  Luke  24.  18;  Jolm  19.  25. 
 CLOtJD,  pillai-  of,  Ex.  14.  19;  Num.  9.  15. 
 COLLECTIONS,  Acts  11.29;    1  Cor.  16.  1; 
 
 2  Cor.  S.  1  ;  9.  1,  &c. ;  Rom.  15.  26. 
 CO.MFORT,  Dent.  31.  6;  1  Sam. 30.  1,6;  John 
 
 16.  33;   2  Cor.  1.  3,  4. 
 COMFORTER,  .lohn  14.  16;  15.26;   16.17. 
 COMING  OF  CHRIST,  his  first  predicted, 
 
 Mai.  3.  1,  2;— his  second,  4.  1,  2,  3;    Zeph. 
 
 1.  14,  15,  16;  Matt.  16.  17;  24.  2/,  30,  31, 
 37,38;     Luke  17.24;    26.27;    21.27;    Acts 
 
 I.  11  ;    1  Tliess.  4.  16;  2Thess.  2.  1  ;    2  Pet. 
 
 3.  10  ;   Rev.  3.  3  ; — waited  for  by  believers, 
 
 1  Cor.   1.  7;    Heb.  9.  28; — why  delayed, 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  9. 
 
 COM.MANDMENTS   given,   Ex.   20.    I,   &c. ; 
 
 Deut.    5.   6,  itc. ;— perpetual.   Matt.   5.    17; 
 
 Mark  10.  17;   Luke  IS.IH; — keeping  them 
 
 not  a  condition  of  life.  Matt.  19.  17;  Mark 
 
 10.  19;  Luke  18.  20;— a  sign  of  loving  God, 
 
 John  5.  3. 
 COMMIT^ION  with  God,  Ps.  42.  8  ;   John  14. 
 
 21—2.1 ;  1  John  1.  3,  6;  Rev.  3.  20. 
 COMPANIONS,  evil  ones,  Ps.  1.  1  ;  26.  4;  Pro. 
 
 1.  10;   2.   12;  4.  14,  15;  12.  11  ;  13.  20;  14.  7; 
 
 19.  27;  22.  24;  28.  7,  19;  29.  24;    Rom.  1. 
 
 32;   1  Cor.5.9!    15.33;    2  Cor.  6.   14;   Eph. 
 
 5.  7- 
 COMPLAINT,  Psalms  of,  3.  6.  7.  10.  12.  13. 
 
 14.  17.  22.  32.  35.  36.33.  39.41.42.  43. .14.  51. 
 
 53.  55.  56.  57.  59.  60.74.  77.  79.80.83.88.94. 
 
 102.  109.  120.  129.  130.  140.  142.  143. 
 
 CONCEALMENT  of  crimes,  the  guilt  of  it, 
 Ps.  50.  18;  Pro.  29.  24:  2John  U. 
 
 CONCEIT,  Job  37.24;  Pro.  3.  7;  U.  16;  26. 
 12;  Is.  5.  21  ;  Rom.  12.  16. 
 
 CONCUPISCEN'CE  (inordinate  affection)  cen- 
 sured, Ex.  20.    17;    Gal.  5.  16;    CoL  3.  5; 
 
 1  Thes.  4.  5;  1  Pet.  2.  11. 
 CONFESSION  of  Christ,  Matt.  10.  32;  Mark 
 
 8.  38;  Luke  9.  26;  12.  8;  Rom.  10.  9  i  2  Tim. 
 
 1.  8;  2.  12;   Heb.  4.  14;   1  John  2.  23;   4.  15. 
 of  God,    Exod.    9.    27;     18.    11; 
 
 2  Kings  5.  15. 
 
 /oGorf,  Jiidg.  10.  10,  15;  1  Chron. 
 
 21.  8;   Ezr.   9.  5;   Neh.    1.  6;  Job  7.  20;   Ps. 
 
 32.  5;  38.  18;  41.  4;  51.  3  ;  69.  5;  II9.  67, 
 176;  Pro.  28.  13;  Jer.  3.  13;  Dan.  9.  5,  20; 
 1  John  1 .  8,  9. 
 
 to  one  another.  Lev.  5.  5  ;  Num. 
 
 5.  7;   Matt.   3.   6;    Mark    1.   6;  ActS    19.  IS; 
 
 James  5.16 ;— pubUe,  Ezra  9.  6,  15  ;  Neh.  9. 
 
 33,  34;  Ps.  106.  6;  Is.  59.  12,  13;  Jer.  3.25; 
 14.  7,  20  ;  Lam.  3.  42  ;  Dan.  9.  5,  8,  10. 
 
 CONJUGAL  duties  of  husbands,  Prov.  5.  15 
 —19;  Eccl.  9.  9;  1  Cor.  7.29,  33;  Eph.  5. 
 28;  Col.  3.  19;  1  Pet.  3.  7 ;— of  wives,  Ps. 
 45.  10;  Col.  3.  18;  1  Pet.  3.  1,  2,  5,  6  ;  Tit. 
 
 2.  4,  5. 
 
 CONSCIENCE  common  to  all,  Pro.  20.  27 ; 
 
 Rom.  2. 14, 16; — a  weak  one  to  be  respected, 
 Rom.  14.  2  ;  1  Cor.  8.  12; — reproving.  Gen. 
 42.  21  :  1  Sam.  24.  5,  6;  2  Sam.  24.  10:  12. 
 
 13;   Pro.  14.  14;   28.  1  ;  Matt.  27.  3;   John  8. 
 
 7,  9;  Acts  2.  37;  24.  25  ;— tender,  2  Kings 
 
 22.  11—13;  15.  16,  18— 20 ;— peaceful,  justi- 
 fying, and  pure.  Job  27.  5,  6;  Acts  24.  16; 
 
 33.  1  ;  Rom.  9.  1  ;  2  Cor.  1.  12  ;  4.  2  ;  5.  11  ; 
 1  Tim.  3.  9;  2  Tim.  1.3;  Hcb.  10.  1;  3.  22; 
 
 1  John  3.  18— 22;— free,  1  Cor.  10.  25—29, 
 32  ;  8.7  ;— scared,  1  Tim.  1.3. 
 
 CONSIDERATION  enforced,  Deut.  4.  39}  32. 
 
 29;  Ps.  77-6;  II9.  59;  Pro.  15.  28;  22.  3; 
 
 Is.  1.  3;  Ezek.  18.  28:  Hag.  1.  5,  7;  Luke 
 
 14.  28;  1  Tim.  4.  15:  2  Tim.  2.  7. 
 CONTENTMENT  enforced.  Pro.  30. 8,  9 ;  Heb. 
 I      13.  5;  1  Tim.  6.  6;  1  Cor.  7.  20;— examples 
 
 of  it.  Gen.  33.  9;  2  Sam.  19.  35;  2  Kings  4. 
 
 13;  of  Paul,  Phil.  4.  11. 
 CONTRITION  for  sin.     See  Sin. 
 CONTROVERSIES  to  be  avoided,  1  Tim.  1. 
 
 4;  6.  4,  20;  2  Tim.  2.  16;  Tit.  3.  9. 
 CONVERSATION,  religious,  recommended, 
 
 Deut.  6.  7;  H-  19;  Ps.  35.  28;  37.  30;  40. 
 
 10;   71.  22;  7?.  12;   105.  2;  Pro.  10.  31  ;  Mai. 
 
 3.  16;  Matt.  12.  35;  Eph.  4.  29;  Col.  3.  16; 
 
 4.  6;   1  Tliess.  4.  18;  5.  11. 
 
 with  the  profligate  to  be  avoided. 
 
 Matt.   12.  36;    Eph.  4.  29;  5.  3;  CoL  3.  8; 
 
 2  Pet.  2.  7. 
 
 CONVERSION  of  sinners.  Matt.  18.  14  ;  Luke 
 
 15.7,  10;  Ezek.  18.  27;  Luke  15.  13,  fcQ.; 
 
 Dan.  12.  3  ;  1  Tim.  4.  16;  James  5. 19. 
 ,  its  signs,  Is.  1.  16;  Joel  2.  13; 
 
 James  4.  8. 
 CORINTH,  Paul  preaches  there,  Acts  18.  1. 
 CORNELIUS,  Acts  10.  1,  &c. 
 CORRUPTION  of  human  natiu-e,  Job  '  i    '  : 
 
 Ps.  51.  5;  John  3.  6;  Rom.  3.  23;  &. 
 
 17;  Eph.  2.  1,  &c. ;  Col.  2.  13. 
 ,  various  appellations  given  tt 
 
 John  3.  G  ;  Rom.  6.  ^ ;  8.  5,  7  ;  1  Cor.  2. 1 
 
 Gal.  5.  17;  Eph.  4.  17;  Col.  3.5,  9;  1  Thess 
 
 4.  5. 
 
 COVENANT,  of  God  with  Noah,  Gen.  9.  12  ; 
 — with  Abraham,  17.  4,  10;  —  of  Abraham 
 with  the  Hittites,  23.  3,  Sic. ;— of  Isaac  and 
 Abimelech,  2d.  31  ; — of  Jacob  and  Laban,  31 . 
 44  ;  of  Joshua  and  the  people,  Josh.  24.  25  ; 
 — made  by  Josiah,  2  Kings  23.  3; — of  the 
 Jews  after  their  return  from  Babylon,  Neh. 
 10. 1,  &c. ;— a  new  one  to  supersede  the  Mo- 
 saic, Jer.  31.31;  32.  37 ;  Heb.  8.6;  10.  16. 
 
 ,  ancient  forms  of  making.  Gen. 
 
 23.  3,  Ike;  Jer.  34.  15,  13. 
 COVETOUSNESS  forbidden,  Ex.  20. 17  ;  Deut. 
 
 5.  21  ;  Rom.  7.  9;  13.  9;— rcproved.  Pro.  15. 
 27;  23.  5;  Matt.  6.  19,  25—27;  Luke  12.  15; 
 I  Cor.  6.  10;  Eph.  5.  5;  Col.  3.  5;  1  Tim.  6. 
 9;  Heb.  13.5;  1  John  2.  15;— condemned. 
 Is.  .57.  17;  Jer.  6.  12,  13;  Mic.  2.  I,  2;  Hah. 
 2.  9,  11  ;  Rom.  1.  18,  29;  1  Cor.  6.  9,  10: 
 Eph.  5.  3,  6;  —  of  Achan,  Josh.  7.  21  ; — of 
 Gehazi,  2  Kings  5.  20 ;— of  Balaam,  Num. 
 22.  17,  21  :  2  Pet.  2.  15;  Jude  11;— of  Ahab, 
 1  Kings  21.  22 ;— of  Judas  Iscariot,  Matt. 
 26.  14;  — of  Ananias  and  Sapphira,  Acts 
 5.  I,  &c. 
 
 CREATION  of  the  world  God's  work,  Gen.  1. 
 
 1  ;  2.  4;  Ps.  24.  2  ;  33.  6;  102.  25;  104,  5; 
 Pro.  3.  19;  Is.  37.  16;  10.  12,  21,  22,  26;  44. 
 24;  45.  7,  18;  43.  13;  51.  16;  Jer.  10.  12: 
 33.  2  ;  51.  15  ;  Amos  9.  6; — creation  of  man 
 God's  work.  Gen.  1.  26,  27  ;  2.  7;  5.  1  ;  Job 
 33.  4;  Prov.  20.  12;   Is.  42.  5;  45.  12;   64.  8; 
 
 Jer.  27.  5;  Zech.  12.  1; — inferences  from 
 creation,  2  Kings  19. 15  ;  Job  35.  10:  Ps.  121. 
 
 2;  124.  8;  136.  5,  6;  146.  5,  6;  Is.  51.  13  ; 
 Amos  5.8;  Acts  4  .  24  ;  Rom.  1 .  20  ;  Hcb.  3. 
 4;    11.3;   Rev.  4.  11  ;   14.  7. 
 
 CREDITORS,  their  duty,  Deut.  15.  2;  Matt. 
 
 18.  23. 
 
 CROSS  to  be  borne  for  Christ,  Matt.  10.  38; 
 
 16.  24  ;   Mark  3.  31 ;   Lukc  9.  23  ;   14.  27. 
 CRET.\NS,  Tit.  1.  12. 
 CRUELTY  forbidden,  Gen.  49.  5,  &c. ;  Deut. 
 
 25.3;   Pro.  11.   17;    12.    10;   Ezck.    IS.    18;— 
 
 of  Simeon  and  Levi,  Gen.  34.  25;  49.  5; — of 
 Pharaoh,  Ex.  1.  U  ; — tif  Adonibezek,  Judg. 
 1.  7  ; — of  Menaliem,  2  Kings  15.  16  ;— of  Je- 
 horam,  2  Chr.  21.  4; — of  Herod  the  Great, 
 Matt.  2.  16. 
 
 CURIOSITY  in  vain  speculations  censured, 
 1  Tim.  1.4;  Tit.  3.  9. 
 
 CURSE  of  the  earth,  &c.,  after  the  fall.  Gen.  3. 
 14; — of  Cain,  4.  11  ; — of  Canaan,  9.  25; — ol 
 the  Israelites,  if  disobedient,  Lev.  26.  14; 
 Deut.  28.  15,  9iC. : — to  be  pronounced  from 
 mount  Ebal,  27.  13 ;  Josh.  8.  34  ;— not  to 
 ctuse  the  deaf.  Lev.  19,  14  ; — remarkable  in- 
 
INDEX  TO  THE   PRINCIPAL  PASSAGES 
 
 stances  of  cursint:,  2  King^  2.  23 ;  Ps.  ing. 
 6,  &c. ;  Jer.  1/.  18; — Christ  made  a  curse  for 
 us,  Gal.  3.  13. 
 CYRUS,  2  Chron.  36.22;  Ezra  1.1;  la.  44.28; 
 45.  I. 
 
 DAGON,  1  Sam.  5.3. 
 
 DANCING,  on  solemn  occasions,  and  in  reli- 
 gious worship,  Ex.  15.  20;  32.  19 ;  2  Sam.  6. 
 14;  Ps.  149.  3;    150.  4. 
 
 ,  an  expression  of  joy,  Jud^.  9.  34  ; 
 
 1  Sam.  18.  6;  29.  5;  Jer.  31.  4;  Matt.  14.  6. 
 
 DANIEL  carried  captive,  Dan.  1. 6 ;— interprets 
 Nebuchadnezzar's  dreams,  2.  1,  &c. ;  4.  I; 
 — the  writing  on  the  wall,  5. 25  ; — made  chief 
 of  the  presidents  by  Darius,  6,  l ; — cast  into 
 the  den  of  lions,  J  6  ;— his  vision  of  the  foiu* 
 beasts,  7.  l,  Sec. ; — of  the  ram  and  he-ffoat, 
 8. ; — his  prophecy  of  the  seventy  weeks,  9. 
 24. 
 
 DANITES  robMicah,  Jud^.  18. 14,  &c. ;— their 
 inheritance,  Josh.  19.  40; — conquer  Laish, 
 Judg.  18.  27  ; — set  up  an  idol  there,  30. 
 
 DARIUS,  theMedf,  reigns  in  Babylon,  Dan.  5. 
 31 ; — his  decree  in  lionour  of  the  God  of  Da- 
 niel, 6.  26. 
 
 ,  king  ofPrrsia,  renews  the  decree  of 
 
 Cyrus  in  favour  of  the  Jews,  Ezr.  6.  I . 
 
 DARKNESS,  in  Eerypt,  Ex.10.  21 ;— at  the  cru- 
 cifixion of  Jesus,  Luke  23.  44. 
 
 DATHAN  07«/ABIRAM.  Num.  16.  I,  &c. 
 
 DAVID,  lus  genealog-y,  Ruth  4.  18;  1  Chron. 
 2.  15  J  Matt.  1.  5,  fi';  Luke  3.  3i,  32;— con- 
 stituted kinjr  over  Israel,  1  Sam.  13.  U; 
 anointed  by  Samuel,  1  Sara.  16.  1,  &c.  ;— 
 rf^ys  Goliath,  1 7.  38,  &c.  ; — marries  Michal, 
 
 1  a.  22,  ^:c. ;— goes  to  Samuel,  IQ.  18  ;— part- 
 ft?  of  him  and  Jonathan,  20.  42  ; — takes  the 
 
 ^allowed bread,  21.  l,&c. ;— atGath,  13  ;— at 
 ^dullam,22. 1  ; — rescues  Keilali,  23.1,  &c. ; — 
 at  Engedi,  29  :— cuts  off  Saul's  skirt,  24.  I, 
 Kc. ;— and  Nabal,  25.  2,  &c. , — marries  Abi- 
 gail, 39;— spares  Saul  at  Hachilah,  26.  4  ;— 
 at  Gath,  27.  3  ;— dismissed  by  Achish,  29.  6  ; 
 — rescues  plunder  from  Amalekitcs,  30.  18; 
 — laments  over  Saul  and  Jonathan,  2  Sam. 
 
 I.  17  J— made  king:  at  Hebron,  2.  1  ;  1  Chr. 
 
 II.  1; — sons  bom  to  him,  2  Sam.  3.2; — 
 moiUTis  for  Abner,  3.  31 ; — who  joined  him 
 atZiklag,  I  Chr.  12.  i;  — at  Hebron,  23:— 
 made  king  of  all  Israel,  2  Sam.  5.  1  ;— takes 
 Zion  from  the  Jebusitcs,  6  ; — sons  born  to 
 liim  at  Jerusalem,  i:i;— defeats  the  Philis- 
 tines, 2  Sam.  5.  17,  22;  8.  I  ;  1  Chr.  14.  3; 
 18.  I  ; — brings  the  ark  from  Kirjath-jearim, 
 
 2  Sam.  6.  1 ;  I  Chr.  13.  i ;— proposes  to  build 
 a  temple,  2  Sam.  7.  2;  I  Chr.  17.  I  ; — his 
 prayer  and  thanksgiving,  1  Chr.  18.  lO; — 
 conquers  the  Moabites,  2  Sam.  8.  2  ; — the 
 Syrians,  9;  10.  6,  16;  1  Chr.  18.  3,  ti;— the 
 Edomitcs,  2  Sam.  H.  14  ;  1  Chr.  18.  13;— the 
 Ammonites.  2  Sam.  10.  6  ;  12.  26 ;  I  Chr.  20. 
 I ;— takes  Rabbah  by  Joab.  20.  1  ;— sends  for 
 Mephibosheth,  2  Sam.  9.  1 ; — sends  ambas- 
 sadors to  Hanim,  1  Chr.  19.  1 ;— the  friend- 
 ship of  Hiram  for  him,  14. 1  ; — his  wives  and 
 children,  3 ;— brings  the  ark  from  Obcd- 
 edoni's  house,  1  Chr.  15.  25 ;— his  adultery, 
 2  Sam.  11.4  ;— marries  Bathsheba,  II.  2(5 ; — 
 reproved  by  Nathan,  12.  1 ;— repents,  13;— 
 flees  from  Absalom,  15.  13;  —  mourns  his 
 death,  18.  33;— cursed  by  Shimci,  16.  5;— 
 pardons  him,  19-  18;  —  his  ofticers,  20.  23; 
 !  Chr.  13.  14;— more  wai-s  with  the  Philis- 
 lines,  2  Sam.  21.  15,  18,  A-c. ;— his  valiant 
 men,  23.  8;— his  psalm  of  thanksgiving  on 
 reTio\ing  the  ark,  I  Chr.  1 6.  7.  &c. ;— after 
 his  victories,  22 ;— numbers  the  people,  24. 
 I  ;  1  Chr.  21. 1 ;— buys  threshing  floor,  2  Sam. 
 24.  18;  1  Chr.  21.  18; — his  preparations  for 
 building  temple,  1  Chr.  22.  1 ; — cherished  by 
 Abishag,  1  Kings  1.  I,  &c. — charge  to  Solo- 
 mon,   1    Kings  2.  1  ;   1  Chr.  22.  6;   2fl.  9,  20; 
 
 — makes  Solomon  king,  23. 1  j — appoints  the 
 ser\ices  of  the  Levites,  &c.,  24,  ^:c. ; — la.st 
 words,  2  Sam.  23.  1 ;— appoints  twelve  cap- 
 tains for  every  month,  1  Chr.  27.  I ; — Ids 
 death,  29.  28  ;— his  de-^cendants,  3.  1. 
 
 DE.\CONS,  sei^en,  appointed.  Acts  6.  5  ; — their 
 ((vialifications,  1  Tim.  3.  8,  12. 
 
 DEAD,  raijteif,  the  widow  of  Zarcphath's  son, 
 1  Kings  17.  22;— the  Shunamitc's  son,  2 
 Kings  4.  35  ;— a  man  by  the  bones  of  Elisha, 
 13.  21 ; — the  widow's  son  at  Nain  by  Jesus, 
 Lidce  7.  15;— the  daughter  of  Jainis,  Matt.  9- 
 25;  Marks.  42;  Luke8.55; — Lazarus,  Jolm 
 11.44  ;— Tabitha  by  Peter,  Acts  9. 40 ;— Euty- 
 chus  by  Paul,  20.  12. 
 
 DEAF,  not  to  be  cursed,  Lev.  19.  14  ;— healed, 
 Mark  ?•  32 ;  <i.  25. 
 1374 
 
 DEATH,  foretold.  Gen.  2. 16, 17  ;— its  entrance 
 into  the  world,  Gen.  3. 17, 19;  Rom.  5.  12; 
 I  Cor.  15.  22  ;— the  wages  of  sin,  Rom.  6.  16, 
 23 ;  James  1.15  ; — of  Adam  and  his  posteritj' 
 to  Noah,  Gen.  5.  5  ;— of  Noah,  9-29; — of 
 Abraham,  25.  8  ; — of  Sarah,  23. 2  ; — of  Isaac, 
 35 .  29 ;— of  Jacob,  49. 33  ;— of  Joseph  and  his 
 brethren,  Exod.  1.  6; — of  Aaron,  Num.20.  28; 
 33.  38;  Deut.  10.  6;  32.  50; — of  Moses,  34.  5  ; 
 — of  Joshua,  Josh.  24.  29;— of  Gideon,  Judg. 
 
 8.  32;— of  Jephthah,  Judg.  12.  7  ;— of  Sam- 
 son, Judg.  15.  30 ; — of  Saul  and  his  children, 
 
 1  Sam.  31.  6;— of  David,  1  Kings  2.  10  ;— of 
 Solomon,  l  Kings  u.  43; — certain,  Job  14. 
 
 5;   21.   13;   Ps.   49-    19;  89.  48;   Ecc.  8.  8  ;  9- 
 
 6 ;  1 J .  8 ; — none  exempted  from  it,  Num.  24. 
 
 23;  Job  21.  32,  33;  Judg.  2.  10;  Ps.  22.  29) 
 89.  48;  Eccl.  1.  4;  4.  15  ;  6.  6;  8.  8  ;  Zech. 
 1.5;  Heb.  7.  23  ;— to  be  frequently  thought 
 of,  Ps.  39.  4  ;  90.  12; — Christians  have  hope 
 in  it,  2  Cor.  5.  1 ,  Sec. ; — of  Christ,  the  way  of 
 reconciliation.  Col.  1.  20,  21,22; — saves  us 
 from  death,  Rom.  5.  6,  7,  &c. ;— swallowed 
 up  in  \ictor>-,  Hos.  13.  14;  1  Cor.  15.  54, 
 57;  Heb.  2.  14,  15;— a  sleep  to  the  faithful, 
 Deut.  31.  16;  Matt.  9.  24;  27.  52;  John  11. 
 11—13;  Acts?.  60;  13.  36;  I  Cor.  7-  39;  11. 
 30;  1  Thcss.  4.  13;— the  second,  Rev.  2.  11 ; 
 10.  14;  21.  8;— when  to  be  inflicted  as  a 
 punishment,  Gen.  9.  6;  Exod.  21.  12, 16,  17; 
 
 22.  18,  19,  20,   29;  31.    14  ;  35.  2;   Lev.  20.  2, 
 
 9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14,  15,  17,13.  19,  21,  2";  21. 
 9;  24.  17j    Deut.  13.  6;    22.  22,  23;     24.  7, 
 
 14;  Num.  1.  51;  3.  10,  33;  15.30,  35;  18. 
 22;  Deut.  13.  5,  6;  17.5,  12;  18.  20;  I9.  I6, 
 21;  24.  7;  1  Kings  21.  10;  Matt.  l.i.  4;— 
 advantages  of  it.  Job  3.  17—19:  '7.16;  Ps. 
 
 116.  15;  Prov.  u.  8;  Is.  5?.  1;  Rom.  6.  7; 
 
 14.  8,  13. 
 
 DEBORAH,  Rebokah's  nurse,  dies,  Gen.  35. 8. 
 ,  t/ie  prophetess,  encourages  Barak 
 
 to  fight  the  Canaanites,  Judg.  4.  4;  —  her 
 
 song,  5.  1,  itc. 
 DEBTS  to  be  punctually  paid,  Ps.  37.  21  ;  Pr. 
 
 3.  27,  2S  ;— the  contracting  of  them  to  be 
 avoided,  Rom.  13.  8; — to  be  forgiven  to 
 those  who  are  not  able  to  pay.  Matt.  ti.  12 ; 
 18.  27,  35. 
 
 DEDICATION  of  the  tabernacle,  Ex.  40.  9, 
 34;— of  the  temple,  1  Kings  8.  I,  &c. ;— of 
 the  wall  of  Jerusalem,  Neh.  12.  27. 
 
 DELAYS  in  spiritual  matters,  Ecc.  12.  1  ;  Is. 
 55.6;    Luke  II.  6I  ;  John  12.  35 ;    2  Cor.  6. 
 
 2  ;  Heb.  3.  13  ;  Jamcs  4.  13. 
 DELILAH,  Judij.  16.  4,  Ike. 
 DEMETRIUS,  Acts  ig.  24. 
 
 the  eider,  his  good  report,  3  John 
 
 12. 
 DEMONS,   sacrifices  must  not  be  made  to 
 
 them,  Lev.  17.  7. 
 DESIRE,   inordinate,   forbidden,  Ex.  20.   17; 
 
 Deut.  5.  21. 
 DESPAIR,  Gen. 4.  13;  Num.  17- 12, 13 ;  Job  17- 
 
 15;   Ps.77.  7— 9;   Is.  22.   12,    13;  Jer.  2.  25; 
 
 8.  20;   18.  12;   Lam.  3.  18;  5.  22. 
 DEVIL,  his   various  names.   Gen.   3.   4,  13; 
 
 1  Chr.  21.  1  :  Job  1.6;  Matt.  4.   10;   12.  24; 
 
 13.  !9,  38  ;   Mark  3.  22.  SiC. ;  John  H.  4-1  ;    12. 
 
 31;    14.   30;    l6.    11;    I7.   15;  2  Cor.  4.  4  ;    11. 
 
 3;    Eph.   2.   2;    1    Thcss.   3.  5  ;    1    Pet.   5.  8; 
 
 1  John  2.  13;  3.  8;   Rev.  9.  11  ;   12.  7,  9,  10; 
 
 13.  14;  19.  19,  20;  20.  2,  3 ;— his  malignant 
 diligence.  Job.  1.7;  2.  2;  Matt.  13. 19;  l  Pet. 
 5. 8 ;— should  be  watched  and  resisted,  Matt. 
 13.  19;  2  Cor.  11.3;  Eph.  4.  27;  6.  10,  11; 
 2Tim.2.26;  James  4. 7;  1  Pet.  5. 9;  iJohn 
 
 2.  13. 
 DEVILS,   their  origin,  2  Pet.  2.  4;  Jude  6; 
 Rev.  12.  7— 9;— number,  Matt.  5.  9;  Lukes. 
 30;— power.  Rev.  16.  14; — worship  of,  Lev. 
 17.  7;  Deut.  32.  17;  2  Chron.  II.  15;  Matt. 
 
 4.  8—10;  1  Cor.  10.  19—21;  Rev.  9-  '20 ;  13. 
 4; — final  doom  of  devils,  Luke  10,  17,  18; 
 John  12.  31;  14.  30;  16.  11;  Rom.  16.  20; 
 Col.  2.  15;  1  John  3.  8;  Rev.  12.  1-2,  13. 
 
 DIAL  of  Ahaz,  2  Kings  20.  1 1  ;  Is.  38.  8. 
 DILIGENCE,  recommended.  Pro.  6.  6;  10.  4; 
 12.  24;    13.  4;  22.   29;   2'^.  23;   Rom.   12.  11; 
 
 2Thess.  3.  II. 
 
 ■ in  spiritual  concerns,  John  6. 
 
 27;  Acts  24.  16;  1  Cor.  15.  58;  Gal.  6.  9; 
 Phil.   3.  14;    2  Thcss.  3.    13;    Heb.  6.  12; 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  14. 
 
 DINAH,  Gen.  30.  21 ;  34.  2. 
 
 DIONYSIUS,  Acts  17.  34. 
 
 DIOTREPHES.  3  John  9- 
 
 DISCIPLES  of  Christ,  three  thousand  become 
 so  at  the  discour'^e  of  Peter.  Acts  2.  41 ; — in- 
 creased to  five  thousand  men,  4.  4;— many 
 thousands  in  Jerusalem,  21.  20. 
 
 DISSENSION    In    Christian    churches  to  be 
 
 avoided,  1  Cor.  1.  10;  3.  3. 
 DISSIMULATION  censured,  Pro.  10.  18;  Gal. 
 
 2.  11. 
 DISTRUSTofGod'spromises,blam cable.  Gen. 
 
 18.    12;  2   Kings  7.  2;  Luke   1.   20;    12.  29; 
 1  Tim.  2.  8. 
 DIVINATION  forbidden.  Lev.  19.26,31;  Deut. 
 
 18.  10  ;— practised  by  the  Israelites,  2  Kings 
 17-  17; — by  Nebuchadnezzar,  Ezek.  21.21; 
 — dissuasives  from  it,  Jer.  27.  9 ;  29.  8. 
 
 DIVINITY  OF  CHRIST,  prophetical  descrip- 
 tion, Ps.  45.  6,  7 ;  HO.  1 ;  Is.  9.  6 ;  Jer.  23. 
 6  ;  Zech,  13.  7; — Christ  is  God,  John  l.  i,  2: 
 
 20.  28;  Acts  20.  28;  Rom.  9-  5;  I  Cor.  8.  12; 
 1  Tim.  3.  16;  Tit.  1.  3;  Heb.  1.  8;  1  Johns. 
 20  ;— predicted  as  Son  of  God,  Ps.  2.  7, 12  ;— 
 Son  of  God,  Mark  1.  1;  g.  7 ;  Eph.  3.14,15; 
 Heb.  3.  5,  6;  5.  5,  8;  1  John  4.  15;  5.  5  ;— 
 one  and  equal  with  the  Father,  John  5.  21 ; 
 10.  30;  12.  44,  45;  14.  7>  «.  9,  H  ;  15.  23,  24; 
 1  John  2. 23 ;— image  of  God,  Plul.  2. 6;  Col. 
 1.  15;  2.  9;— Christ  is  Lord,  Man.  12.  8; 
 Mark  2.  28;  Luke  6.  46;  John  13.  13;  Acts 
 10.  36;  1  Cor.  2.  8;  Philip.  2.  11  ;  l  Tim.  6. 
 14,  15;  Heb.  2.  3;  Rcv.  I7.  14;  19.  I6;— 
 Christ's  eternity,  1  Tim.  6.  16;  Heb.  1.  11, 
 12;  13.  8;  Rev.  1.  17,  18;  22.  13;— Omni- 
 presence,  Matt.   18.20;   2S.  20;  John  3.  13; 
 
 — Omniscience,  John  2.  24,  25;  16.  30;  21. 
 17;  Rev.  2.  19; — instance  of  Omniscience, 
 John  1.  48,  &c. ; — of  his  knowing  thoughts. 
 Matt.  12.  25;  Mark  2.  8;  Luke  6.  8;  9.  47; 
 20.    23;    John    5.    42;     Rev.    2.    23 ;— Christ 
 
 Creator,  John  l.  3,  10;  Col.  1.  16;  Heb.  1. 
 10 ;  Rev.  3.  14  :— presen-er,  Col.  1.1?;  Heb. 
 
 1.  3; — pre-existence,  John  6.  62;  8.  56,  &c.; 
 
 13.  3;  16.  28;  17.  5,  24 ;— not  mere  man, 
 John  6.  46;  Gal.  l.  12; — superior  to  angels, 
 Eph.  1.  21 ;  Heb.  1.  4,  5 ; — worship  of,  pre- 
 dicted, Ps.72. 15, 17  ; — commands  to  worship 
 him,  John  B.  23;  Phil.  2.  10;  Heb.  1.6;— 
 instances  of  worshin  paid  to  liim  on  earth, 
 Matt.  2.  II  ;  9-  18;    15.  25;  20.  20,  21  ;   Mark 
 
 14.  33;   Luke  24.  52;   Gal.  1.5;  2  Pet.  3.  18; 
 
 — worshipped  in  heaven.  Rev.  6. 8 — 10, 12, 13; 
 7.9,  10;— prayed  to,  Luke  17.  5;  23.  42;— 
 the  source  of  blessings.  Gal.  l.  3;  2  Thess. 
 
 2.  16,  17;  Gal.  6,  18;  Tit.  l.  4;  2  John  3  ;— 
 forgives  sins,  Mark  2.  5 — 7 ;  Luke  5.  20,  21  ; 
 Luke  7. 47— 49;— gives  the  Holy  Spirit,  Luke 
 24.  49;  John  16.  7,  14 ;— blessings  bestowed 
 by  Christ,  John  8.  .35,  36;  14.  27;  2  Cor.  1. 
 
 19,  20;  Rev.  2.  26,  27;  3.  7 ;— Christ  gives 
 heaven,  Luke  23.  43;  John  14.  2,  3. 
 
 DIVORCES,  law  respecring  them,  Deut.  24. 1 ; 
 Matt.  5.  32;  ig.  9;— forbidden.  Matt.  5.  32, 
 Luke  16.  18. 
 
 DOCTRINES,  false,  not  to  be  received,  Matt. 
 16  6;  Gal.  1.  8;  1  John  4.  l;  l  Thess.  5. 
 21. 
 
 DOEG,  1  Sam.  21.  7;  22.  17;— psalms  occa- 
 sioned by  his  malice,  Ps.  52.  and  120;— a 
 prayer  to  be  delivered  from  him,  Ps.  140. 
 
 DORCAS,  Acts  9.  36. 
 
 DREAMS,  irtsi^iijicnnt,  Eccles.  5.  3.  7; — stipcr- 
 naturtil,  to  Abimeleeh,  Gen.  20.  3;— to  Jacob, 
 28.  12;  31.  1 ;— to  Laban,  21.24;— to  Joseph, 
 3/-  5,  9  ;~-to  Solomon,  1  Kings  3.  5  ;— to  Jo- 
 seph the  husband  of  Marj-,  Matt.  1.  20;  a. 
 13,  1!);— to  the  wise  men  from  the  east,  2. 
 12 ;— to  the  wife  of  Pilate,  27.  19 ;— to  Peter, 
 Acts.  10.  10. 
 
 prophetical,  interpreted  of  Pharaoh's 
 
 butler  and  baker.  Gen.  40.  5  ;— of  Pharaoh, 
 41.  I ;— of  a  Midianite,  Judg.  7-  13;— of  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar, Dan.  2.  1,  &c. ;  4.  1; — o( 
 Daniel.  7.  I,  15;  8.  1. 
 
 DROUGHT,  1  Kings  !"■  1- 
 
 DRUNKARD,  to  be  stoned,  Deut.  21.  20,  21 
 — condemned,  Amos  6.  1,  6;  Nah.  l.  10, 
 
 Hab.   2.   15;  Matt.  24.  43—50;   Luke  12.  45; 
 
 1  Cor.  6.  q,  10;  Gal.  5.  19,  21. 
 DRUNKENNESS  censured,  Pro.  20.  I ;  33. 31 ; 
 
 Is.  5.  II,  22;  28.  7,  8;  L\ike  21.  34  ;  Rom.  13. 
 
 13;  1  Cor.  5.  11 ;  Eph,  5.  18;  1  Thess.  5.  7  ; 
 
 1  Pet.  4.  3. 
 leads  to  other  vices,  Pro.  23. 
 
 31—33;    Is.   5.    n,    &C. ;  28.  7;  Hos.   4.   11; 
 
 Hab.  2. 5  ;— to  povertj'.  Pro.  23. 21 ;— destroys 
 health,  23.  29,  30; — the  cause  of  quarrels, 
 i/i.; — excludes  from  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
 Matt.  24. 49;  Luke  12.45;  lCor.6.10;  Gal. 
 6.  21;— of  Noah,  Gen.  9.  21 ;— of  Nabal,  I 
 Sam.  25.  36;  of  Elah,  1  Kings  16.  9;— of 
 Benhadad,  20. 16,  19»  20 ;— cautions  against, 
 Rom.  13.  13  ;  Eph.  5.  18  ;  1  Thess.  5.  7,  8. 
 DUMB  prr.tnns   ciured.    Matt.  9.  32;    12.  22; 
 
 Mark  7.  32;  Luke  11.  14. 
 ,  DUTIES,  to  fear  God,  Exod.  20. 20 ;  Deut.  8. 6 ; 
 
IN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 1  Sam.  12.24;  I  Kings  8.40;  2  Kings  I?.  3i), 
 39;  I  Chron.  l().  30;  2  Chron.  6.  31  ;  Ps.33. 
 S  ;  7Q.  7;  8g.  7  ;  99-  l  ;  Is.  8.  13  ;  Jer.  5.  2-i  ; 
 Luke  12.  4,6;  Heb.  12.  28 ;— to  lovc  God, 
 Deut.  6.  5;  10.  12;  II.  1  ;  Jos,  22.  5;  23.11  ; 
 Ps.  18.  1;  31.  23;  Matt.  22.  37,  38;  Mark  12. 
 30,  33,  31 ;  1  John  5.  3  ;— to  wait  Upon  God, 
 Ps.  27.  14;  62.  5.;  Is.  17-  7;  30.  18;— to 
 obey  Gnd,  Lev.  18.  4,  5;  19-  3/;  20.  22;  22. 
 31  ;    Deut.   4.  40;   5.  33;   6.    17;   7-    11;   9-  M 
 
 10.  13;    11.  32;    13.  4;   2S.  l(i;   27.  10;   3U.  8; 
 
 Ps.  ug.  4;  Jer.  li.  7;  Ezek.  20.  19;  John 
 14. 15  ;— to  meditate,  Ps.  4.  4;— to  be  watch- 
 ful, Amos  4.  12  ;  Matt.  24.  42,  43,  44  ;  25.  13  ; 
 26.40;  Mark  13.  34—37;  Luke  12.  35— 3S; 
 21.  34,  35;  1  Cor.  16.  13;  Rev.  3.  2,  3,  15;— 
 to  watch  and  prav,  Matt.  26.  41 ;  Mark  13. 
 33;    14.  3:*;   Luke  21.  36;   22.  46;    1  Pct.  4.;. 
 
 EAGLE  described,  Job  39.  27. 
 
 EARTH,  creatioa  of.  Gen.  1. 1,  &c. ;— to  be  de- 
 stroyed by  fixe,  2  Pet.  3.  10  ; — a  new  one  to 
 be  made,  Rev.  21.  1. 
 
 EARTHQUAKE,  when  Elyah  was  at  mount 
 Sinai,  1  Kings  I9. 1 1 ; — in  the  time  of  Uzziah, 
 Aiu.  1.1;  Zech.  14.  5  ;— at  the  cruciftxiun  of 
 Jesus,  Matt.  27.  54 ; — at  the  resurrection  of 
 Jesus,  28.  2. 
 
 EUAL,  curses  to  be  pronounced  from  it,  Deut. 
 27.  14. 
 
 ECONOMY  enforced,  Prov.  24.27;  V-  23; 
 John  6.  12. 
 
 EDIFICATION,  muhial,  tobeconsixlted,  Rom. 
 14.  19;  15.  2;  1  Cor.  14.  12,  26  j  1  Thess.  5. 
 11  ;    Heb.  10.  24. 
 
 EDOMITES  refuse  the  Israelites  a  passag-e 
 through  their  country,  Num.  20. 1 4 ;  Deut.  2. 
 4  ; — when  to  be  admitted  into  the  congrega- 
 tiou,  23.  8 ;— conquered  by  David,  2  Sam.  8. 
 14  ;— revolt  from  Jehoram,  2  Kings  8.  20  ; 
 
 2  Chr.  21.  8;— to  be  conquered,  Jer.  49.  7; 
 Ezek.  25.  13;  35.  1,  &c. ;— judgments  upon 
 them.  Am.  1.11;  Obadiah  1,  &c. 
 
 EGLON,  Judg.  3.  15. 
 
 EGYPT,  prophecy  that  Abraham's  posterity 
 should  be  slaves  there.  Gen.  15.  13;  —  its 
 plagues:  blood,  Ex.  7.  19;  — frogs,  8.  5  ;— 
 lice,  16 ;— flies,  20 ;— murrain,  9- 1 ;— boils,  S  ; 
 —hail,  13;— locusts,  10.  3;— darkness,  12;- 
 death  of  the  first-born,  12.  29; — destruction 
 ot  army  of,  14.  2">  ;~a  hymn  on  the  exodus 
 of  the  Israelites,  Exod.  15  ;  Ps.  114  ;— its  ruin 
 predicted,  Is.  19.  I,  &c. ; — its  futiu-e  revival, 
 18,  &c. ; — to  be  conquered  by  the  Assyrians, 
 20.  1 ; — the  Israelites  threatened  for  trusting 
 in  it,  30.  1 ;  31.  1 ; — its  ruin  again  predicted, 
 Jer.  44.  30;  46.  1; — its  desolation  during 
 forty  years,  Ezek.  29.  8; — given  to  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar as  a  reward,  17  ;  32. 11 ; — its  de- 
 solation, 30. 1 ;  31.  1»  18 ;— lameutation  over 
 it,  32.  1,  &c. 
 
 EHUD,  Judg.  3.  15. 
 
 ELAH,  1  Kings  16.  6,  10. 
 
 ELDERS,  serenty,  appninted  by  Moses,  Nimi. 
 
 11.  16;— a  title  assiuned  by  the  apostles, 
 1  Pet.  5.  1 ;  2  John  1  ;  3  John  1 ;— given  to 
 the  governors  of  Christian  churches.  Acts  1 1 . 
 30;  14.23;  l.'i.4.  6;  I6.  4  ;  20.  17;  1  Tim.  3. 
 1;  5.  1,  19;    Tit.  1.  5;   1  Pet.  5.  1. 
 
 ELECT,  spoken  of  Christ,  Is.  42.  1 ;  Matt.  12. 
 18;— of  good  angels,  1  Tim.  5.  21 ;— of  the 
 IsraeUtes,  Is.6.^».9,  22; — of  such  as  are  chosen 
 of  God  in  Christ  to  eternal  life.  Tit.  1.1;— 
 their  security,  Rom.  8.  28,  30,  33  ;  2  Tim.  2. 
 10,  18,  19;  iO.  15  ;  1  Sam.  12.  22;  2  Sam.  7. 
 23,  24;    H05.  1.  10. 
 
 ELECTION,    an  act  of  distinguishing  love, 
 
 Deut.  7.  8  ;  Is.  55.  5  ;  65.  1  ;  Hos.  2.  23  ; 
 Rom.  9.  11,  12,  16;  10.  20;  11.2,  4—8,  29,  30, 
 33,  34,  36;  15.21  ;  I  Cor.  1.  9,  26—31;  Eph. 
 1.3—7;  9-  U,  12:  2  Thess.2. 13,  14:  2  Tim. 
 
 1.  8— 10;— eternal.  Jer.  31.  3:  Hos.  14.  4; 
 Zech.  2.  10,  11;  John  6.  37,  39,  64,  65;  lo. 
 16,  26,  27 ;   17.  2,  6,  9 ;  Eph.  1.  4  ;   2  Thess. 
 
 2.  13;— abiding,  Rom.  9.  11;  2  Tim.  2.  19; 
 —personal,  Matt.  20.23;  2  Tim.  2.  19;— in 
 Christ,  Eph.  1.  4  ;— to  holiness  and  salvation, 
 Eph.  1.  4  ;    1  Thess.  5.  9  ;   1  Pet.  2.  8—10. 
 
 ELI  reproves  Hannah,  while  praying,  1  Sam. 
 1.12; — the  sins  of  liis  sons,  2.12; — a  pro- 
 phecy against  his  house,  27 ; — his  sons  slain, 
 4.  11 ;— his  death,  18. 
 
 ELIJAH  foreteUs  a  drought,  1  Kings  17.  1  ;— 
 fed  by  ravens,  6 ; — visits  a  widow  at  Zare- 
 phath,  9  ; — raises  her  son  to  life,  22 ; — sent  to 
 meet  Ahab,  l  Kings  IS.  1 ;— contends  with 
 the  prophets  of  Baal,  21 ; — brings  rain,  45  ;— 
 threatened  by  Jezebel,  and  goes  to  Horeb,  19. 
 9  ;— sends  to  anoint  Jehu,  16 ;— calls  Elisha, 
 19; — denounces  judgments  against  Ahab  ami 
 1373 
 
 Jezcbei,  21.  17; — reproves  Ahaziali  for  con- 
 sulting Baalzebub,  2  Kings  1 .  4  ;— brini^  tire 
 from  lieaven  on  his  soldiers,  10.  12; — (ii\iiles 
 the  river  Jordan,  2.  8 ; — ascentts  to  heaven  in 
 a  chariot  of  lire,  1 1 ; — promised  to  return  be- 
 fore the  great  day,  Mai.  4.  5. 
 
 ELISHA  called  to  be  a  prophet,  1  Kings  19.  19, 
 20;— divides  the  waters  of  Jordan,  2  Kings  2. 
 14  ; — restores  the  unwholesome  water  at  Je- 
 richo, 21  ; — mocked  by  young  men,  who  are 
 killed  by  bears,  24  ;  —  procures  water  for 
 the  army  of  Jehoshaphat,  3.  20; — multiplies 
 the  widow's  oil,  4.  I ; — procures  a  son  for  the 
 Shunammite,  14;  —  raises  him  to  life,  32; 
 — cures  tlie  deadly  pottage  at  Gilgal,  38 ; — 
 feeds  an  hundred  men  with  twenty  loaves, 
 42; — cures  Naaman  of  leprosy,  6. 14  ; — causes 
 iron  tr)  swim,  6. 6 ; — discloses  the  counsels  of 
 the  king  of  Syria,  8  ; — an  army  sent  to  seize 
 him  smitten  with  blindness,  1 3  ; — promises 
 plenty  in  a  siege  of  .Samaria,  7.  l ;— prophe- 
 sies to  Hazael  at  Damascus,  K.  7  ; — sends  to 
 anoint  Jehu  king  of  Israel,  9.  1 ; — foretells 
 Joash's  three  victories,  13.  14; — \vTites  to 
 Jehoram,  2  Chr.  21.  12; — dies,  2  Kings  13. 
 20  ; — a  dead  man  comes  to  life  on  being  cast 
 into  his  sepulchre,  21. 
 
 ELIZABETH,  Luke  1.  5. 
 
 ELYMAS,  Acts  13.  11. 
 
 EMBALMING,  Gen.  50.  2,  26;  2  Chr.  16.  14  ; 
 John  19.  39. 
 
 EMBASSIES,  Gen.  32.  3;  Num.  20.  14;  Judg. 
 11.  12;  2  Sam.  10.  2;  Is.  36.  2. 
 
 EMMAUS,  Luke  24.  13. 
 
 EMIMS,  Deut.  2.  10. 
 
 ENCHANTMENTS  not  to  be  used,  Lev.  19.  26. 
 
 ENDOR,  the  witch  of,  1  Sam.  2B.  7. 
 
 ENEAS  cured.  Acts  y.  33. 
 
 ENEMIES,  their  misfortunes  not  to  be  rejoiced 
 at,Job31.29;  Ps.35.13;  Pro.  24. 17;— good 
 to  be  done  for  their  evil,  Pro.  25.  21 ;  Matt. 
 
 5.  44  ;   Luke  6.  27,  35  ;   Rom.  12.  1 4,  20. 
 ENOCH  translated,  Gen.  5.  24  ;  Heb.  11.5. 
 ENVY  condemned.  Job  5.2;  Ps.  37. 1 ;  Pro.  3. 
 
 31;   14.   30;  23.    17;   24.    19;   27.  4;   Rom.  13. 
 
 13;  1  Cor.  3.  3;  GaJ.  5.  21 ;  James  3.  14;  5. 
 
 9  ;  1  Pet.  2.1. 
 ,  examples  of.  Gen.  4.  5;  26.  14;  30.  1 ; 
 
 37.4,11;  Num.  16.  1,  &c. ;  1  Sam.  18.  8; 
 
 Esth.  5.  9. 
 EPAPHRODITUS,  Phil.  2.  25. 
 EPHOD  described,  Ex.  28.6;  39.  2;— its  robe, 
 
 22. 
 
 EPHRAIM  bom.  Gen.  41.  52 ;— preferred  to 
 Manasseh,  48.  19; — his  descendants,  1  Chr. 
 7.  20,  28  ; — liis  sons  defeated  by  the  men  of 
 Gath.  21. 
 
 EPHESUS,  Paul  preaches  there.  Acts  19.  1, 
 Sic; — a  tumult  there,  23,  &c. ;  —  Christ's 
 message  to  the  chiuch  there.  Rev.  2.  1,  &-c. 
 
 ESAU  bom.  Gen.  25.  25  ;— sells  his  birthright, 
 33  ;  meets  Jacob,  33. 1,  &c. ;— his  wives  and 
 descendants,  36.  1,  &c.  ;  1  Chr.  1.  35. 
 
 ESTHER  obtains  favour  of  Ahasuerus,  Esth. 
 2.  15  ; — made  queen,  17  ; — appoints  a  fast,  4. 
 15; — invites  Haman  to  a  feast,  4.8; — asks 
 her  own  life  and  tliat  of  her  people,  7.  3 ; — 
 accuses  Haman,  5. 
 
 EUPHRATES,  a  river  m  Eden,  Gen.  2.  14  ;— 
 a  boundary  of  the  country  possessed  by  the 
 Israelites,  15.  18;  Deut.  11.  24  ;  Josh.  1.  4  ; 
 2  Sam.  8.  3  ; — a  girdle  hidden  near  it  a  t>'pe 
 of  the  captivity,  Jer.  13.  1  ;— four  angels 
 loosed  from  it,  Rev.  9.  14  ; — the  sixth  angel 
 pours  his  vial  into  it,  16.  12. 
 
 EUTYCHUS,  Acts  20.  9. 
 
 EVA.^GELISTS,  an  order  in  the  Christian 
 church,  Philip  so  called.  Acts  21.  8; — ap- 
 pointed by  Christ,  Eph.  4.  11 ; — their  duty, 
 12;  2  Tim.  4.  5. 
 
 EXAMINATION,  self,  Ps.  4.  4;  77.  6;  119. 
 !<9;  Lara.  3.  40;  Matt.  7.3;  1  Cor.  11.28; 
 2  Cor.  13.  5;  Gal.  6.  4. 
 
 EXjVMPLE,  good,  to  he  set.  Matt.  5.  13—16; 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  12;— to  be  followed.  Pro.  2.  20; 
 Luke  10.  37;  John  8.  39;  13.  14,  15;  1  Cor. 
 
 4.    16;    11.1;     PhU.    3.    17;    1  ThCSS.  1.7;    3. 
 
 9;  Heb.  6.  12;  James  5.  10;— bad  to  be 
 avoided,  Lev.  18.  2,  3;  20.  23  ;  Deut.  18.  9; 
 
 2  Chron.  30.  7  ;  Is.  8.  u  ;  Ezek.  20. 18  ;  Zech. 
 
 1.4;  Matt.   23.  1—3;    1  Cor.    10.   6;   Eph.   4. 
 
 17;  2  Pet.  2.  6;  Jude  7. 
 EXAMPLE  OF  CHRIST,  Matt.  11.  29;  John 
 13.  15,  34;   Rom.  15.  5;   Phil.   2.   5;    Heb.   3. 
 1  ;    12.2;    1  Pet.  2.21;    1  John  2.  6. 
 
 EXCOMMUNICATION  among  the  IsraeUtes, 
 cases  stated.  Gen.  17.  14;  E.\.  12.15,  19;  30. 
 33,  38  ;  Lev.  7.  20,  25  ;  17.  9,  10,  14  ;  22.  3 ; 
 23.  29;  Num.  19.  13,  20. 
 
 ,   Christian,    Matt.  18. 
 
 17;    1  Cor.  5.  4;    16.  22;  2  Cor.  2.  2;   Gal.  1. 
 
 8  ;  2  Thess.  3.  14  ;  1  Tim.  1.  20. 
 EXORCISTS,  Acts  19.  13. 
 EXPERIENCE,  the  benefit  of  it,  Ecc.  1.  16; 
 
 2.  1,  &c. ;  Rom.  5.  4. 
 EXPIATION,  annual.  Lev.  16.  29. 
 EXTERMINATIONS  in  war.  Num.  21.  35; 
 
 Deut.  2.  32,  &c.  ;  3.  3,  6;  Josh.  6.  21  ;  8.  21, 
 26;  10.  28—40;  11.8,  10—14;  1  Sam.  27.  8, 
 9;  1  Kings  11.  15,  16. 
 
 EZEKIEL,  liis  first  vision,  Ezek.  1.  1,  &c.;— 
 his  commission,  2.  1  ; — eats  a  roll,  3. 1,  &c. ; 
 — encouraged,  4  ; — foretells  ^he  taking  of  Je- 
 rusalem, 4.  1 ; — carried  to  Jerusalem  in  a 
 vision,  8.  1  ; — brouglit  back  a;<ain,  1 1.  24  ; — 
 removes  his  dwelUng,  as  a  t>'pe  of  the  ap- 
 proaching captivit>',  12.  1  ;— ordered  not  to 
 inoiun  for  the  death  of  his  wife,  24.  15  ; — his 
 duty  as  a  watchman,  33.  1,  ^c. 
 
 EZRA  goes  to  Jerusalem,  Ezr.  7.  1 ; — keeps  a 
 fast,  21  ;  Neh.  9.  1  ; — his  prayer  and  confes- 
 sion, Ezr.  9.  5 ;— reforms  the  illegal  mar- 
 riages, 10.  1,  &c. 
 
 FABLES  (of  the  gnostics)  not  to  be  regarded, 
 1  'fim.  1.  4;  4.  7;  6.  20:  2  Tim.  2.  14;  Tit. 
 1.  14. 
 
 FAITH  in  God,  our  duty,  2  Ctaon.  20.  20  ;  Job 
 
 35.  14,  15  ;  Ps.  37.  3,  5  ;  55.  22  ;  62.  8  ;  115. 
 9— 11  ;   Prov.  3.  5  ;    16.  3  ;   Is.  26.   4;   50.  10; 
 
 Markll.22;  Rom.  14.22,23;  1  Cor.  2.5; 
 Heb.  11.  1,  2,  6;— instances  of.  Job  13.  15; 
 
 Ps.    II.  1  ;   13.  5;    18.    18;  22.   4  ;  31.  14;  40. 
 
 3  ;  52.  8  ;  2  Cnr.  5.  7  ; — comfort  and  security 
 
 of,  1  Sam.  30.  6;   Ps.  18.  30;  27.  13;   34.  22; 
 
 36.  7  ;  37.  40  ;  40.  4  ;  84.  12  ;  91 .  9,  10  ;  1 16. 
 10;  125.  1;  Is.  26.  3;  57.  13;  Jer.  17.  7,  8; 
 Luke  1.  45. 
 
 n  Christ,  Mark  1.  15:  16.  16;  John 
 
 1.  12  ;  3.  15  ;  5.  24  ;  8.  24  ;  ActS  13.  39  ;  16. 
 31  ;  Rnm.  1.  16;  3.  26:  U.  20;  1  Cor.  1.21  ; 
 Eph.  6.  16;  Heb.  10.  39;  John  5.  4;  Rev.  21. 
 8 ; — hiferences  from  the  doctrine  of  faith, 
 
 Rom.  3.  31  ;  4.  14;  6.  14,  15;   8.  33;  2  Cor.  4. 
 
 13  ;  Gal.  3.  2—4, 23  ;  James  2.20  ;— contrasted 
 with  unbelief,  John  3.  18,  36;  1  John  5.  9, 
 10. 
 FALL  and  recovery  of  man,  his  primaeval  dig- 
 nity, Gen.  1.  26,  27;  2.  7;  Ps.8.  6  ;— his  fall. 
 Gen.  3.  17;  6.  5  ;  8.  21  ;  Ps.  14.  3;  Jet.  17. 
 9  ;— corruption  of  his  nature.  Job  14.4;  Ps. 
 51.  5;  John  3.  6;  Rom.  3.  23;  Gal.  6.  17; 
 Eph.  2.  1,  &c. ;— restored  by  Christ,  1  Cor. 
 
 15.  49;   Eph.  5.  27;   Phil.  3.21  ;  Col.  3.  4,10; 
 
 Heb.  2.  10;  2  Pet.  1.  4;  1  John  3.  2. 
 FALSE  Christs,  Matt.  24.  4,  5,  23—26;  Mark 
 13.5,6,   21—23;   Luke  17.  23;   21.8. 
 
 prophets  and  infidel  teachers,  fore- 
 
 told, Matt.  24.  11,  24;  Acts  20.  29;    1  Tim.  4. 
 
 1 :  2  Pet.  2.1;  3.3 ;— their  motives,  charac- 
 ter,   and    pernicious    tendency  described, 
 
 1  Tim.  1.7;  4.  2;  2  Tim.  3.  2—5,  13. 
 FAME,  the  vanity  of  it,  Ps.  49.  11  ;  Eccl.  1. 
 
 1 1  ;  2.  16  ; — not  to  be  preferred  to  the  praise 
 of  God,  John  12.43;  1  Thess.  2.  6. 
 FAMINES,   Gen.   12.   10;  41.66;  Ruth  1.  1; 
 
 2  Sam.  21.  1,  &c. ;  1  Kings  17.  1 ;  2Kines  6. 
 25;  Jer.  14.  1 ;  Am.  8.  11. 
 
 FASTING,  of  Moses,  Exod.  24.  18;  Deut.  9.  9, 
 18  ;— of  Daniel,  Dan.  10.  2  ;— of  Esther,  Esth. 
 
 4.15  ;— of  Jesus,   Matt.  4.2;  Lukc  4.  2  ;— of 
 
 the  Ninevites,  Jonah  3.  5  ;— a  duty  of  Chris- 
 tians, Matt.  9.  14,  15;  Mark  2.  20;  Luke  5. 
 35 ;  2  Cor.  6.  5  ; — the  kind  that  pleases  God, 
 Is.  58.  3,  &c. ;  Joel  2.12;  Zech.  7.  9  ;  Matt. 
 6.  17; — united  with  prayer,  Ps.  35.  13^  Dan. 
 9.  3;  1  Cor.  7.  5. 
 
 FASTS,  several  annual  ones  instituted,  Zech. 
 7.3,  &c.;  8.  19;  —  orders  for  proclEuming, 
 Joel  1.  14;  2.  15. 
 
 FEAR  of  God  enforced,  Exod.  20.  20 ;  Deut.  8. 
 6;  1  Sam.  12.  24;  1  Kings  8.  40;  2  Kings  17. 
 36,  39;  1  Chron.  16.  30;  2  Chron.  6.  31 ;  Ps. 
 33.  8 ;  76.  7  ;  89.  7  ;  99-  1  ;  Is.  8.  13 ;  Jer.  5. 
 22;  Luke  12.  4,  5;  Heb.  12.28  ; — promises  to 
 those  that  fear  him,  Deut.  6.  2,  24 ;  Ps.  25. 
 12—14;  34.9,10;  103.11;  115.13;  128.1; 
 Prov.  3.  7,  8;  9.  10,  II  ;  14.  26,27;  16.  6;  19. 
 
 23  ;  Is.  33.  6  ;  Luke  1 .  50 ;— instances  of.  Gen. 
 
 42.   18;    Exod.   9.   20;    Job    13.    11;    23.   15; 
 
 1  Kings  18.  3;  Ezr.  9.  4;  Ps.  119. 120;  Jonah 
 
 1.9;  Hab.  3.  16. 
 ,  the  effect  of  guilt.  Gen.  3.  8 ;  4. 14  j  32. 
 
 7;  Acts  16.  38;  24.  25;  James  2.  ig. 
 of  man,  the  bounds  of  it,  Deut.  7.  17, 
 
 &C. ;  Ps.  56.  4;  118.6;  Pro.  29.  25;  Is.  8.  12; 
 51.7;  Matt.  10.  26 ;  Heb.  13.6;  1  Pet.  3.  14. 
 FEASTS  kept,  Gen.  21.  8  ;  26.  30  ;  29.  22;  40. 
 20  ;  Judg.  14.10;  1  Sam.  25.  2,  36 ;  2  Sam. 
 3.  20;  I  Kings  3.  15;  8.  65;   12.  32;  Dan.  5. 
 
INDEX  TO  THE  PRINCIPAL  PASSAGES 
 
 I ;  Est.  1.5;  2.19;  Mark  6.  21  ;  John  2.  1  ; 
 Matt.  9.  9  ;— by  Levi,  Luke  5.  29. 
 
 FELIX,  Acts  23.  Xt ;  24.  lu,  25,  2/. 
 FESTIVALS  of  the  Israelites,  Ex.  23.  U;  Ji. 
 
 22  ;  Lev.  23.  1,  &c.  1  Deut.  16.  1,  &c. 
 FESTUS,  Acts  25.  7,  1 1 ;  26.  I,  &c. 
 FIRE/rom  Heaiten,  Gen.  19.24  ;  !5.  17;  Lev. 
 
 n    24-   Ex.q.23;  Num.    11.  1,   &C.;    16.   .i5; 
 
 Lev.lO.  2;"jU(lff.  6.  21;  13.19;  1  Kmgsls. 
 
 38 ;  2  Clir.  7-  1  ;  2  Kings  1.  10,  12 
 FIRST-BORN  not  to  be  disinherited,  Deut.  21 . 
 
 15 — of  the  Israelites  clamied  by  God,  E\. 
 
 13.  2;— and  also  of  their  catUe,  11 ;  Deut. 
 
 15   19  ;— to  be  ransomed,  Ex.  34.  20. 
 
 fruits.  Ex.  22.  29  ;  23.  19  ;  34.  26  ;-the 
 
 oflerings  at  the  presentation  of  them,  ^unl. 
 28.  26;— the  confession  to  be  made  at  the 
 time,  Deut.  26.  1 ,  S;c. 
 FISHES,  miraculous  draught  of  them  at  the 
 caU  of  Peter,  Luke  5 .  6  ;-one  of  them  caught 
 to  pay  Uie  tribute  for  Jesus  and  Peter,  Matt. 
 
 FOOLISH  talkinpr,  Job  38.  2;  42.  3;  Prov.  10. 
 13.  14  ;   Eccl.  10.  13. 
 
 FORBEARANCE  recommended.  Matt.  18.20; 
 1  Cor.  13.  4,  ;  ;  Eph.  4.  2  ;  Col.  3. 12 ;  1  Ihebs. 
 
 '  of  God  to  men,  Ps.  60.  2!  ; 
 
 Eccl.  8.  11  ;  Rom.  2.  4  ;  2  Pet.  3.  9.  15. 
 
 FOREKNOWLEDGE  of  God  asserted.  Gen. 
 18.  18;  1  Kings  22.  22  J  Rom.  8.  29  ;  2  Tim. 
 1.9;  1  Pet.  1.2,20. 
 
 FORGETFULNESS  o/God  and  our  duty,  dan- 
 gerous, Deut.  4.9;  6.  12;  8,  U  ;  2  Kings  1?. 
 3S;Ps.  41.  17,  20;  Pro.  3.  1 ;  James  1.25. 
 
 of  favours  censured,  Eccl. 
 
 9.  15  ;— of  Pharaoh's  butler  to  Joseph,  Gen. 
 
 40.  23;  41.  9-  j   i     ^   j 
 
 FORGIVENESS  of  sins  proimscd  *;/  God  on 
 repenUnce,  Ex.  34.  6;  2  Chron.  7-  13;  Ps. 
 32.  1;  103.3:  130.4;  Pro.  28.13;  Is  I.  18; 
 55.7;  Jcr.  31.  34;  Dan.  9-  9,  24;  Mark  1. 
 4  ;  Luke  1.  77  ;  3-  3  ;  S''-  •""  >  ''^"^  2-  ^"a  ^ 
 31;  8.22,   10.43;   13.  .38  ;   Hom.   3.  2o  ;   Col. 
 
 1.14;  Heb.  8.  12;  James  5.  15;  1  John  2. 
 12  — to  be  sought  with  the  whole  heart, 
 Deut.  4.  20;  1  Chr.  29.  9;  Vs.  119.  2;  Jer.  29. 
 13:  1  Thess.  5.  17.    See  Pardon. 
 
 __J . of  injuries,  Pro.  19. 11  ;  Matt. 
 
 6  15-  18.  21  ;  Mark  11.25;  Luke  6.  36 ;  17. 
 
 4  ;  Eph.  4.  32  ;  Col.  3.13;  Jaiues  2.  13. 
 FORNICATION  forbidden.  Pro.  31.  3;  1  Cor. 
 
 10.  S;  6.  13,  15— IS;— a  capital  crune.  Gen. 
 38  24-  Lev.  21.9;  Num.  25.  7,  8  ;  Deut.  22. 
 21;— fatal  consequences  of,  in  poverty.  Pro. 
 
 5  g  10-6  26 ;  29.  3  ;— in  loss  of  health  and 
 liVc.'pro.  2.  18,  19  ;  5.  11-14  ;  7-  26  ;-m  re- 
 putation, Gen.  34.  23;  Job  24.  17;-m  the 
 soul's  .safety,  Pro.  5.  4,  5;  7.  27;  9.  18; 
 Eccl  7.  26 ;  Eph.  5.  5,  6 ;— temptaUons  to. 
 Gen.  39.  11,  12;  Pro.  5.  3;  23.  28j-tobe 
 avoided.  Pro.  2.  l6  ;  5.  8 ;  6.  24  ;  7-  6-9  i  24. 
 
 FRI NGES  07!  garments,  laws  concerning  them. 
 Num.  15.  37  ;  Deut.  22.  12.        „    .    .  .      . 
 
 FinURE  stall'  mentioned,  or  alluded  to,  in 
 tlie  Old  Testament,  Job  21 .  30 ;  19.  25  ;  Ps.  9. 
 17;  16.  11  ;   17.  15;   Pro.  14.32;   Eccl.  3.  17; 
 
 ll.'g;  Dan.  12.23;— no  marriages  in  it,  Luke 
 no.  31 ;— our  bodies  changed  in  it,  1  Cor.  15. 
 42,  51,  &c. ;— the  happiness  of  it.  Rev.  7.  15; 
 
 21. 
 
 GABRIEL,  Dan.  8.  16;  9.  22  ;  Luke  1.  19,  26. 
 GALLIC,  Acts  IS.  12,  17. 
 GAMALIEL.  Acts  5.  34  ;— Paul's  tutor,  22.  3. 
 GATE,  strait  and  bruad.  Matt.  7-  13. 
 GAZA,  Juclg.  1.  18.  ,    ,      ,  k 
 
 GEDALIAII  made  governor  of  the  Jews  who 
 
 were  left  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  Jer.  40.  /  ;— 
 
 murdered,  41. 2.  .     ,  .    ,_     j       a 
 
 GEHAZI  made  a  leper  for  his  falsehood  and 
 
 deceit,  2  Kings  5.  27.  ,   _,  ,.    »i.  ■ 
 
 GENEALOGIES,  of  Israel  and  Judah,  their 
 
 origin,  1  Chr.  9.  1,  &c.  ;-of  David,  Ruth  4. 
 
 16;— of  Jesus,  Matt.  1.  1,  «:c.i  Luke  3.  23, 
 
 hic. 
 
 GENTILES,  their  heathen  state,  Rom.  1.  21  ; 
 
 2.   14;    1  Cor.   1>.  2;   Eph.  2.    1,  12;  4.  17;- 
 
 intimations  of  their  admission  to  the  bless- 
 ings of  the  gospel.  Is.  60.  2;  Jer.  16.  19; 
 Joel  2.  32 ;  Zeph.  3.9;  Luke  2. 32 ;  3. 6  ;  24. 
 47 ;  John  10.16;  Acts  10. 15;— Gentile  church 
 foretold,  Ps.  2.  8,  9 ;  22.  27  ;  6m.  31  ;  Is.  2  2, 
 
 3;  42.  1,  4;  49-  5—9;  51.  5;  52.  15;  55.  5; 
 62.  2,  3:  65.  1  ;  H05.  1.  10;  2.  23;  Amos  9. 
 11;  Mic.  4.  1,  2;  Zech.  9.  10;  Mai.  1.  11; 
 Matt.  8.  11  ;  12.  21;  Luke  13.  29,  30;  Rev. 
 11.  15 ;— prophecies  respecting  them  ex- 
 plained. Matt.  12.  17,  18;  Acts  13.  46,  47; 
 1376 
 
 15.13-17;  Rom.  9.  6-9,  25,  26  ;  10.19.20; 
 15.  9—12,  21  ;  Gal.  3.  14;  Eph.  3.  5,  6;  Heb. 
 4  8  11  39, 40  ;— ministry  appointed  for  them, 
 Act^  1.  8;  9.  15;  22.  21;  26.  16-18 ;  Ron,. 
 
 1.  5,  13—15;  15.  16;  2  Cor.  3.  6;  Eph.  3.  1, 
 
 2,  7,  8  ;  Col.  1.  25-27  ;  4.  H  ;  1  Tim.  2.  7  : 
 "  Tim.  1.11;  Rev.  14.  6  ;— ministry  success- 
 ful. Acts  9.  31  ;  12.24;  13.49;  14.27,  2S;  15. 
 ■til"-  17.4,  12,  33,34;  21.  19;  Rom.  10. 
 18-' 15.  18-20;  Gal.  2.  7-9;  Eph.  2.  17; 
 Col.  1.6;  2  Tim.  4.  17  ;-should  respect  the 
 Jewish  converts,  Rom.  11.  IS. 
 
 GERIZIM  and  Ebal,  blessings  and  curses  to 
 be  pronounced  from  them,  Deut.  27.  11  ; 
 Josh.  8.  33.  ,  ,     ,  ■       T    1  „ 
 
 GHOST,  Holy,  Christ  conceived  by  liim,  Luke 
 1 .  31,  35  :— baptized  with.  Matt.  3.  11 ;— dis- 
 possessed deviLs  by  him,  12.28;  Luke  11.20; 
 —his  coming  prophesied  by  Joel,  2.  28,  -9  ; 
 -witnessed  of  Christ,  1  Pet.  1.  U  ;-inspu-ed 
 the  prophets,  2  Pet.  1.  21  ;— proniKed  to  the 
 apostles,  Luke  24.  49  ;  John  14.  16,  26  ;  Acts 
 1.  8  ;— sent  to  them,  2.  4  ;  see  also  John  20. 
 22,  23 ;— love  proceeds  from  him,  Rom.  5. 
 6;'l  John  4.  13;— sanctifies,  1  Pet.  '.  2;— 
 comforts,  John  14.  16,  17,  26  ;-strengthens, 
 Acts  2.  S;  2  Tim.  1.  7;— seals,  Eph.  1.  13;  4. 
 30  ;— is  our  earnest,  2  Cor.  1 .  22  ;  Eph.  I  ■  I-"  1 
 — witnesses  our  adoption,  Rom.  8.  15,  10 ; 
 we  are  his  temples,  1  Cor.  6.  19;-h;s  gilts, 
 1  Cur  l"  4  11 ;— he  reproves  the  world,  John 
 16.  8  ;-sin  against,  Matt.  12.  31,  32  ;  Mark 
 3.  29;  — given  to  Christ  without  measure, 
 John '1.  16;  3.  31;  Heb.  1.9. 
 GHOST  of  Samuel,  appearance  of,  1  Sam.  28. 
 
 GI  IntS  Gen.  6.  4  ;  Num.  13.  33  ;  Deut.  2. 10  ; 
 3.  11  ;  1  Sam.  17.4;  2  Sam.  21.  16;  1  Chr. 
 
 gTbEONITES,  Josh.  9.  3;  2  Sam.  21.  1. 
 
 GIDEON,  Judg.  6.  1,  S:c. 
 
 GI FTS,  spiritual,  niles  concerning  the  exercise 
 of  them,  1  Cor.  12.  1,  Hic. , -inferior  to  cha- 
 rity, 13.  I,  &c.;— and  to  preachmg,  14.  1, 
 
 GILGAL,  the  Israelites  circumcised  tliere. 
 Josh.  6.  2;— a  place  of  idolatrous  worship, 
 Am.  4.  4;  5.  5. 
 
 GLEANINGS,  Lev.  19.9;  23.  22  ;-rules  re- 
 specting, Deut.  24.  20. 
 
 GLUTTONY  censured,  Deut.  21.  20;  Fro.  .!J. 
 1,20;  25.  16;   1  Pet.  4.  3. 
 
 GOATS  mVrf,  described.  Job  39.  1  ;— represent 
 tlie  wicked  at  the  day  of  judgment.  Matt. 
 
 25.  33.  ,       T^      ,.    c 
 
 GOD,  a  spirit,  John4.24  ;— one  only,  Deut.  6. 
 4;  Ps.  66.  10;  Jer.  10.  10;  1  Cor.  8.  5,  6; 
 Gal  3.  20;— perfect,  Exod.  15.  7;  Ps.  145. 
 12;'Matt.  5.  48;- eternal,  Deut.  33.  27; 
 1  ■Tim.  6.  16;  Rev.  4.  9 ;  — unchangeable, 
 Exod.  13.  14,  15  ;  Mai.  3.5,  6  ;  Heb.  13.  8  ; 
 James  1.  1"  ;— uncorruptible,  Rom.  1.  23;— 
 omnipresent,  1  Kings  8.  27  ;  Ps.  "9.  7-10  ; 
 -his  knowledge,  1  Sam.  2.  3;  Job  36  4; 
 Ps  139.2.  12;  147.  5;  Matt.  6.  18;  Heb.  4. 
 12-  1  John  3.  20;— his  wisdom.  Job  9.  4;  36. 
 6;'P5.  92.  6;ls.  28.  29;  1  Cor.  3.  19,20; 
 1  Tim.  1.  17;— liis  power.  Gen.  17.  1 ;  Job  9. 
 
 4-37    23-  42.  2;  Ps.  35.  10;  62.  11;  68.  35; 
 
 Is'  "6  4  -'40.  29;  Heb.  1.  3;  2  Cor.  12.  9  ;— 
 his  goodness,  2  Chr.  16.  9;  Job  36^  7;  Pj- 
 
 33  5-  5->  1-  100.  5;  103.  13;  119.  68;  1J5. 
 g.'je'r.  9.  24;  Rom.  15.  5,  33  ;  2  Cor.  1.  3; 
 jines  1.  6  ;-his  mercy,  E.xod.  34.  6 ;  Ps.  86. 
 15:  100.5;  Lam.  3.22;  Dan.  9-  9;  Joel  2. 
 13;  2  Pet.  3.  9  :— his  justice,  Ps.  9.  8  ;  U./; 
 llg.  112,  16O;  129.  4;  Is.  45.21  ;  Jer.  9.24; 
 Acts  17  31  ;— his  truth  and  faithfulness.  Is. 
 65  16;  2Cor.  1.  18,  20;  Heb.  10. 23;  11.11; 
 "Pet  3  9-  Rev.  15.  3  ;— his  holiness,  Exod. 
 Ts.  11;  Lev.  19.2;  iSam.  2.  2;  ls.6.  3;43. 
 
 15-  Rev  15.  4;— he  is  incomprehensible. 
 Job  36.  26  ;  37.  23  ;  Ps.  36.  6  ;  145.  3  ;  Is.  45. 
 
 15;  Rom.  11.  33;  1  Tim.  6.  16. 
 GODS,  great  men  so  called,  Exod.  22.  28 ;  Ps. 
 
 82.  1  ;  138.  1  ;  John  10.  34  ;  1  Cor.  8.  5. 
 ,  heathen  ones.  Num.  25.  3  ;  Judg.  2. 13  ; 
 
 8.  33;  16.  23;  1  Kings  u.  5,  7.  33;  2  Kmgs 
 
 1  2:  17.  30,  31;  19.  37;  Is.  46.1;  Ezek.  8, 
 
 14  ;  Amos  5.  26  ;  Acts  7- -13  ;   14.12;   19.24. 
 
 GOG  and  MAGOG,  Ezek.  38.  39  ;  Rev   20.  8. 
 
 GOLIATH  slain  by  David,  1  Sam.  17-  49. 
 
 GOOD  WORKS.     See  Works 
 
 GOSPEL,  its  blessings,  Rom.  1.  16;  '  cor.  1. 
 18;  Eph.  2.  1,  &c.;  IPet.  1.  ';*<;•;- "'^ 
 mighty  efficacy,  Rom.  1. 8-11,  16:  Cor.  2. 
 1-4,  13  ;  15.  1-4  ;  Col.  1.  9  ;  Eph.  1.15, 10  ;- 
 superior  to  the  law,  John  1.  17;2  Cor.  3.7; 
 -danger  of  rejecting  it,  Mark  16.  16  ;  Luke 
 
 10.161    John   3.36;   12.   43;   Heb.  2.  3;   10. 
 
 28;  12.  25;  — to  whom  hidden,  2  Cor.  4.  3, 
 4  ;-^no  otlier  to  be  preached,  Gal.  1.8,9;  — 
 prouagatinn  of  it,  Mark  4.  30 ;  John  12.  32  ; 
 Acts  2.  41  ;   4.4;  6.  7;  12.  24;  13.  19  ;  19.20; 
 
 1  Cor.  16.  9. 
 GRACE  of  God  essential  to  the  performance 
 
 of  good  works,  1  Kings  8.  58;  Ps.  119.  32; 
 143  10-  John  0  44;  Rom.  8.8;  1  Cor.  3.0; 
 10  3-  15.  10;  Phil.  2.  13;  Heb.  13.  21:  — 
 freely  offered,  John  1.  12;  Tit.  2.  11  ;  2  Pet. 
 3  9  .'—will  be  increased  to  those  who  desire 
 it.  Matt.  13.  12;  Luke  8.  IS;  John  15.  2  ;— 
 shoiUd be  eainostly  sought  in  prayer,  Prov. 
 
 2  3  4-  Heb.  4.  16;  James  1.  5;  — increase 
 of.  in  the  soul,  Ps.  138.8;  Prov.4.  18;  Hos. 
 6  2,  3;  John  15.  8;  2  Cor.  3.  IS;  Phihp.  1. 
 9,  11 ;  1  Thess.  4.  1 ;  2 Thess.  1.3)2  Pet.  1. 
 
 GR\PES  brought  from  the  land  of  Canaan  by 
 the  spies.  Num.  13.  23  ;— an  emblem  for  the 
 histruction  of  the  IsraeUtes,  Ezek.  18.  1,  &c. 
 
 GRASSHOPPERS,  Amos  7.  1. 
 
 GRAVITY  recommended,  1  Tim.  3.  4  ;  Tit.  2. 
 
 GRIEF,  inward.  Job  6.  2,  3 ;  7-  ".  12;  23.2; 
 Ps.  38.  17;  Prov.  18.  14;  Is.  59.11  ;  Jer.  b. 
 18'  10  19  ;  45,  2,3;— for  the  loss  of  friends  al- 
 lovtabie  ■  in  Abraham  for  the  death  of  Sarah, 
 Gen  23.  2  :— Joseph  for  the  death  of  his  fa- 
 ther 50  1  &c. ;— David  for  Saul  and  Jona- 
 than, 2  Sam.  1.11 ;— for  Abner,  3. 31  ;— Jesus 
 at  the  death  of  Lazarus,  John  1 1 .  35  ;— Paid 
 for  the  sickness  of  Epaphroditus,  Phil.  2.27. 
 
 should  not  be  immoderate,  2  Sam.  12. 
 
 20  ■  fcor.  7.  30 ;  1  Thess.  4. 13 ;— contrasted 
 with  joy,  Prov.  15.  15  ;  17.  22  ;  25. 20  ;  Ecclcs. 
 7.  2 — t;  James  4.  9.  »,.      ,  t 
 
 GROVES  not  to  he  planted  near  the  place  of 
 the  national  worship,  Deut.  IS.  21. 
 
 HABAKKUK,  his  prayer,  Hab.  3. 
 
 HABITS  not  easily  changed,  Prov.  22.  6;  Jer. 
 
 HAGAR  and  Abraham,  Gen.  16.2;— and  Sa- 
 rah, 6;  21.  10;— allegorical  notice  ol,  Gal. 
 
 HAGGAI  and  Zechariah  promote  the  rebuild- 
 ing of  the  temple,  Ezra  5.  1,  &c. 
 
 HAIL,  in  the  plagues  of  Egypt,  Exod  9.  24  ;- 
 in  the  defeat  of  the  Cauaamtes,  Josh.  10.  11 . 
 
 HAM,  Gen.  9.  22;  — his  descendants,  10.  6; 
 1  Chron.  1.  8. 
 
 HAMAN,  Esth.  3.  2,  (tc.  .,..,„ 
 
 HAMOR.  his  application  to  Jacob,  and  his  de- 
 struction. Gen.  34.  6,  26. 
 
 H  ANANI,  the  prophet,  reproves  Asa,  2  Chron. 
 
 HANANIAH,  the  false  prophet,  Jer.  23.  1,  fcc. 
 
 HAND  of  Moses,  leprous,  Exod.  4.  6  ;—ot  Je- 
 roboam, withered,  1  Kings  13.  4. 
 
 withered,  restored  by  Jesus,  Matt.  12. 
 
 10 ;  Mark  3.  2  ;  Luke  6.  6.        ,     „  ,  . 
 
 -  writing  on  the  waU,  seen  by  Belshazzar, 
 
 HANDS,'  imposition  of,  in  blessmg.  Gen.  48. 
 14-  Matt.  19.  15;— in  dedicating  sacrifices, 
 E.\'od.  29.  10;  Lev.  1.  4;  — in  ordamuig  to 
 offices,  Num.  8.  10  ;  '27.  18;  Deut.  34. 9;  Acts 
 
 6.  6;    1  Tim.  4.   14;   5.   22;   2  Tim.   1.   0  ;-!» 
 
 miraculous  cures,  Mark  6.5;  10.  18;  Luke 
 6.40;  13.13;  Acts  9. 17  ;  28.  8  ;-in  unpart- 
 ing  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spurit,  8.  17  ;  19.  0. 
 
 HANGING,  all  infamous  death.  Num.  25.  4; 
 Deut  "21.  22;  Gal.  3.  13; -of  Pharaoh's 
 baker.  Gen.  40.  19  ;-of  those  who  jouied  m 
 the  worship  of  Baal-peor,  Num.  25.  4;-ol 
 the  five  kings  by  Joshua,  Josh.  10.  20;-ol 
 Saul's  sons,  2  Sam.  21.  8;-of  Hanian  and 
 his  sons,  Eb-th.  7.  10;  9-  14. 
 
 HANNAH,  1  Sam.  1.  5,  &c. 
 
 HARLOT,  to  be  mamed  with,  Hos.  1.  2. 
 
 HVTRED  to  be  guarded  agamst.  Lev.  19.  J7; 
 Prov.  10.  12,  IS;  26.24;  1  Jolm  2.  9 ;  3.  15; 
 
 HAZAEL,  2Kings8.  7.  13,  15;  10.  32;  12.  17; 
 
 ]3   2*'  — his  death,  13.  24. 
 HE.\D  of  his  church,  Christ  so,  Eph.  1 .  22,  23 ; 
 
 4    15-  Col.  1.  18;  2.  10. 
 HEARING,  to  be  profitable,  Deut.  4.  9.  10 ; 
 
 Matt.  7.  24;   Rom.  2.  13;   Heb,  2.1;   12.25; 
 
 Jajnes  1 .  22. 
 HEART,  linder  the  direction  of  God,  1  Kmp, 
 
 8  58-  Ps.  51.10;  119.36;  141.  4;  Jer^  32. 
 40 ;  Gal.  4. 6  ;  2Thess.  3. 5  ;-deceitfiU,  Prorv. 
 28.  26;  Jer.  17.  9;  1  Cor.  8.  2:  Gal.  6.  3  j- 
 its  hardness  to  be  guarded  against,  1  Sam. 
 6  6-  Prov.  28.  14;  Marks.  17;  Acts  19.  9; 
 Rom  •>..  5  ;-instances  of  judicial  hardness, 
 ExS.  4.  21 ;  7.  13  ;  9.  12 ;  Deut.  2.  30  ;  Josh. 
 11.  20;  Ps.  81.  12;  Rom.  1.  24. 
 
IN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 HEATHENISM,  its  wretched  state,  Rom.  1 .  20, 
 
 21,  S.C.  ;  Col.  1.  l;)-,  Eph  2.  1,  kc. 
 HEAVEN,  the  place  of  departed  saints,  2  King:s 
 
 2.  1,  11;  Luke  2.  15;   Eph.  3.    15;   Col.  1.  5; 
 
 1  Pet.  1 .  4  ;— its  felicit}-,  Ps.  l6, 1 1 ;  Dan.  12. 
 3;  Matt.  5.  12;  i3.  J3 ;  Luke  12.  43;  John 
 12.  26;   17.  21;    1  Cor.  2.  9;  13.  12;    1  Pet.  1. 
 
 4  ;  Rev.  11.  13  ; — degrees  of  happiness  in  it. 
 Matt.  Ifi.  27;  Luke  19.  17;  John  U.2;  1  Cor. 
 15.  41 ;  2  Cor.  9.  6; — Who  will  be  admitted 
 into  it.  Matt.  5.  3,  12  ;  John  3.  15  ;  Rom.  2. 
 7  ;  1  Tim.  6,  19  ; — who  will  be  excluded  from 
 it.  Matt.  7.  21 ;  Luke  13.  27  ;  1  Cor.  6.  9;  Gal. 
 
 5.  21,  Ike. 
 
 HEIFER,  rfrf,  the  use  of  its  ashes,  Num.  19. 1, 
 
 &c. 
 HEIRS  of  God,  Christians  so  called,  Rom.  8. 
 
 17;  Gal.  4.  7;  Eph.  3.  6;  Tit.  3.  7;  Heb.  6. 
 
 17  ;  James  2.  5. 
 HELL  means  great  sorrows  and  afflictions,  Ps. 
 
 18.  5;  116.  3;  Matt.  11.  23 ;— the  grave,  or 
 thestateof  thedead,  Ps.  16. 10;  Prov.23. 14; 
 27. 20;  Acts  2.27;  Rev.  20. 13;— the  place  aji- 
 pointed  for  the  future  punishment  of  wicketl 
 spirits  and  men,  Ps.  9.  17;  Prov.  15.  24; 
 Matt.  5.29;  10.28;  23.33;  Mark  9.43;  Luke 
 12.  5  ;  16.  23  ;  2  Pet.  2.  4  ;— the  horrors  and 
 punishments  of  it  set  forth.  Matt.  13. 42 ;  18. 
 
 9;  25.  30;  Jude  13;  Rev.  14.  10;    19.  20;   20. 
 
 10,  14  ;  21.  8  ; — degrees  of  suffering  there  ac- 
 cording to  the  deiTees  of  guilt.  Matt.  1 1 .  22  ; 
 23.  14;  Luke  12.  47,  48; — its  torments  eter- 
 nal. Dan.  12.  2;  Matt.  3'.  12;  25.46;  Maik  9. 
 41 ;  Luke  16.  26  ;  Jude  13. 
 
 HEKOD,  tlie  Great,  slays  the  infants.  Matt.  2. 
 16. 
 
 ,  t/ie  Telrfircfi,  kills  John  the  Baptist, 
 
 Matt.  14.3;  Mark  6.  17;  Luke  9.7,  9  ;— hears 
 of  the  lame  of  Jesus,  Matt.  14.  1  ; — designs 
 to  kill  him,  Luke  13.  31;  —  exaoiines  liim, 
 23.  6. 
 
 ,  Af^rippa,  puts  to  death  the  apostle 
 
 James,  Acts  12.  1 ; — his  death,  20. 
 
 HEZEKIAH  succeeds  Ahaz,  2  Kmgs  16.20; 
 
 2  Chr.  28.  27;  —  conquers  the  Philistines, 
 2  Kings  18.  8; — Sennacherib  wars  against 
 him,  13;  2  Chr.  32.  1;  Is.  36.  1,  &c. ;— re- 
 ceives ambassadors  from  Babylon,  2  Kings 
 20. 12 ;  Is.  39. 1 ; — Cleanses  the  temple,  2  Chr. 
 29. 3  ; — proclaims  a  solemn  fast,  30. 1  ; — sick, 
 but  recovers,  2  Kings  20.  I,  &c. ;  Is.  38.  1, 
 &c. ; — dies,  2  Kings  20.  21. 
 
 HIGH  PRIEST,  his  robes,  Exod.  28. 39  ;— how 
 he  raust  enter  the  holy  of  holies.  Lev.  16.  1, 
 &c. ; — succession  after  the  captivity,  Neh.  12. 
 10. 
 
 HIRAM,  king  of  Tyre,  2  Sam.  5.  11 ;  1  Kings 
 
 6.  1 ;  9-  14;  2  Chr.  2.  II. 
 
 ,  or  Hurani,  sent  from  TyTC  to  assist 
 
 in  the  building  of  the  temple,  &c.,  1  Kings  7. 
 13  ; — and  the  furniture  of  it,  15,  &c. 
 
 HOIiAB,  Num.  10.  29. 
 
 HOLINESS,  the  necessity  of  it.  Lev.  11.  44; 
 
 19.  2;  Ps.  4.  3;  Rum.  6.  19;  12.  1  ;  13.  12; 
 2  Cor.  7.  1  ;  Eph.  1.  4;  4.24;  Phil.  1.27;  Col. 
 I.  10;  1  Thess.  2.  12;  Heb.  12.  14;  1  Pet.  1. 
 15;  2  Pet.  3.  11  ;  — a  motive  to  it  from  the 
 holiness  (.f  God,  Lev.  11.  44. 
 
 HOLY  GHOST.     See  Ghost. 
 
 things,  Isacrilices)  to  be  eaten  in  the 
 
 sanctuary,  Deut.  12.  17,  20,  26;  Lev.  10.  12. 
 
 HONESTY  enjoined.  Lev.  19.  13,  35  :  Deut.  25. 
 13;  Prov.  11.1;  20.10,23;  23.8;  Jer.  17.  II; 
 Hos.  12.  7 ;  Mio.  6.  8,  11 ;  Mark  10.  19. 
 
 HOPE  of  eternal  life  founded  on  the  pro- 
 mises and  merits  of  Christ,  Col.  1 .  27  ;  1  Thess. 
 1.3;  2  Thess.  2.  16;  Tit.  1.  2;— said  to  be 
 saved  by  it,  Rom.  8.  24  ;— rejoicing  in  it,  12. 
 12;— a  motive  to  virtue,  15.4,  13;  Heb.  3. 
 6;  1  Pet.  1.  13. 
 
 HOREB,  God's  covenant  with  the  Israelites 
 there,  Deut.  5.  1,  &c. 
 
 HORSE  described.  Job  39. 19,  he. 
 
 HOSHEA  succeeds  Pekah,  2  Kings  15.  30;— 
 conquercf*  by  Shalmaneser,  17.  3,  &c. 
 
 HOSPITALITY  recommended,  Rom.  12.13; 
 1  Tim.  3.  2;  Tit.  1.  8;  Heb.  13.2;  1  Pet.  4.9. 
 
 of  Abraham  to  the  angels.  Gen. 
 
 18.  3,  &c. ;— of  Lot  to  the  angels,  I9.  2  ;— of 
 Laban  to  Abraham's  servant,  24.  31 ; — of 
 Jethro  ti>  Moses,  Exod.  2.  20 ;— of  an  old 
 man  at  Gibeah  to  a  Levite,  Judg.  19. 15;— of 
 Job,  Job  31.  32;  — of  Lvdia  to  Paul  and 
 Silas,  Acts  16.  15  ;— of  the  people  at  Mclita, 
 28.  2. 
 
 HOUSES  of  ivory.  Cant.  7.  4 ;  1  Kings  22.  39 ; 
 Amos  3.  15. 
 
 HOUSEHOLD  GODS,  Gen.  31.  30;  35.  2,  4; 
 Judg.  17.  3-5,  12;  IB.  16—20,  22—24,  .10, 
 31. 
 
 1.377 
 
 HULDAH  predicts  the  destruction  of  Jerusa- 
 lem, 2  Kinis  22.  IS  ;  2  Chr.  34.  23. 
 
 HUMILITY  enforced,  Rom.  13.  3 ;  Eph.  5.  21  ; 
 Philip.  2.  3;  4.  10;  1  Pet.  5.  6 ;— its  advan- 
 tages. Job  22.  29;  Ps.  69.  32  ;  ProV.    15.  33  ; 
 
 22.  4  ;  1  Kings  21.  29  ;  2  Cliron,  34.  27. 
 ,  fjnmples  of  it,  in  Elijah,  1  Kings 
 
 19.  4; — Daniel,  Dan.  2.  30  ;— the  Psalmist, 
 Ps.  131.  1  ;— John  the  Baptist.  Luke  3.  16;— 
 Peter,  Acts  3.  12 ;  10.  26  ;— Paul  and  Barna- 
 bas, 14.  IS;— Paul,  1  Cor.  15.9;  2  Cor.  12. 
 11  ;  Eph.  3.  8;  1  Tim.  1.  15. 
 
 HUSBANDS,  their  duty.  Gen.  2. 24  ;  Prov.  5.15, 
 13;  Mai.  2.  14,  15;  1  Cor.  7.  3 ;  Eph.  5.  25  ; 
 Col.  3.  19;  1  Pet.  3.  7. 
 
 HUSHAI,  2  Sam.  IS.  32  ;  17.  7- 
 
 HYMNS,  or  psalms,  recommended.  Acts  16. 
 25;  Matt.  20.  30;  Eph.  5. 19;  Col.  3. 16 ;  Jamcs 
 
 5.  13. 
 
 H YMENEUS  and  Alexander,  1  Tim.  1 .  20. 
 HYPOCRISY,  mstances  of,  Isa.  58.  2;  Jer.  3. 
 10,  11  ;   42.   20;   Ezek.   33.  30,  31  ;   Matt.   23. 
 
 28;  Mark  7.  6;— absurdity  of,  Matt.  23.  23, 
 
 24;  Luke  16.  13;  Rom.  2.  20—23;  Gal.  2.18; 
 
 Tit.  1.  IS;— penalties  of.  Job  8.  13,  14;  13. 
 
 16;  20.  4— 7;  27.  8  1  36.  13,  14;  Ps.  50.  16,  17; 
 Is.  9.  17;  33.  1,  14,  Matt.  23.  14,  25,  27. 
 
 ICHABOD,  1  Sam.  4.  21. 
 
 IDLENESS  described,  Prov.  18.  9 ;  19.  24  ;  21. 
 
 25,  26  ;  22.  1 3  ;  24 .  30—32  ;  26.  1 3—1 8 ;  Eccles. 
 
 10.  18;— reproved,  Prov.  6.  6—10;  10.  4,  5; 
 12.  II,  24,  27;  13.  4,  23;  15.19;  23.  19;— bad 
 effects  of  it,  Prov.  6.  11 ;  10.  26  ;  19.  15  ;  20. 
 4  ;  23.  21 ;  24.  33,  34  ; — contrasted  with  dili- 
 gence, Prov.  10.  4,  5;  12.  11,  24,  2/  ;  13.  4, 
 23;  15.  19;  28.  19. 
 IDOL.\TRY  prohibited,  Exod.  20. 4, 22  ;  22. 20  ; 
 
 23.  13,  24;    Lev.  26.  1  ;   Deut.   4.   IS;    11.  16; 
 
 17.  2;   IS.  9;  27.  15;   Ps.  97-  7;  Jer.  2.  9; 
 
 1  Cor.  10.  14  ;  1  John  5.  21  ;  Rev.  21.  S;  22. 
 16;— its  folly,  1  Kings  13.27;  Ps.  115.4;  135. 
 15;    Is.   44.  9;    46.    1;    Jer.   2.   26;    10.   3  ;— 
 
 punishment  of  it,  Deut.  13.  9;  17.  2 — the 
 Canaanites  extirpated  for  it,  Deut.  12.29; 
 —  the  monimients  of  it  to  be  destroyed, 
 
 Exod.   23.  24  ;   34.  13  ;    Deut.   7.  5,   25  ;    12.  1, 
 
 ^c,  29; — all  communication  with  idolators 
 forbidden,  Deut.  5.  1,  &c. 
 
 ,  t.rujiiples  of  it,  of  the  Israelites  in 
 
 the  golden  calf,  Exod.  32.1,  &c. ;— in  the  wor- 
 ship of  Baal-peor,  Num.  25. 1,  &c. ; — after  the 
 death  of  Joshua,  Judg.  2.  12;  3.  7;  —  after 
 the  death  of  Gideon,  8.  33 ;— by  the  Danites, 
 18.30; — of  Solomon,  1  Kings  11.4  : — by  Jero- 
 boam, 12.  28  ; — in  the  reign  of  Ahab,  18.  22  ; 
 — of  Ahaz,  2  Kings  16.  3;— of  the  Samaritans, 
 17.  29  ;— of  Amaziah,  2  Chr.  25.  14  ;— of  Ma- 
 nasseh,  33.  2. 
 
 ,  covetousness  so  called.  Col.  3.  s. 
 
 IDOLS  and  images,  not  to  be  worshipped,  Ex. 
 
 20.  2— S,  23;  34.  12,  1";  Lev.  17.7;  I9.  4;  26. 
 1  ;  Num.  33.  51,  52  ;  Deut.  6.  14,  15;  4.  IS- 
 IS, 23,  25;  11.  16,  17;  12.  2,  3,  30,  31  ;  16.  21, 
 22;  Josh.  23.  7,  16;  24.  14,  23;  Ps.  81.  9,  10; 
 Ezek.  6.  9;  Hos.  13.  2,  3 ;  1  Cor.  10.7,  14,  19, 
 20  ; — their  despicable  character,  and  the  folly 
 and  criminality  of  worshipping  them,  Deut. 
 
 4.  23;  27.  15;  1  KingS  21.26;  2  Kings  21.21  ; 
 Ps.  96.  5;  97-  7;  lis.  3—9;  135.  15,  &C. ;  Is. 
 40.  18—20,25;  41.7,  23,  24,  29;  44.  9—20; 
 45.  16,  20;  Jer.  2.  11,  26—28;  3.  6,  8,  9;  7. 
 17,  18;  10.  3—5;  11.  12.  13,  8—11,  14,  15;  16. 
 19,  20;  44.  15-22;  Ezek.  6.  6,  9,  13;  14.  3— 
 7;  16.  36,  &C.;  23.  30;  Hos.  4.  12,  13,  17;  8. 
 4—7;  13.  2,  3  ;  Zech.  10.  2;  Mai.  2.  11  ;  1  Cor. 
 
 8.  4 — 6  ; — meat  offered  as  sacrifice  to  them 
 not  to  be  eaten  by  Christians,  except  in  par- 
 ticular cases,  1  Cor.  8. 1 ;  10. 14,  &c.  25.  See 
 Household  Gods, 
 
 IGNORANCE,  sins  of.  Lev.  5.  1 ;— sacrifices 
 for  them.  Num.  15.  22  ;  Lev.  4.  1. 
 
 ,  voluntani,  censured,  John  3. 
 
 19;2Pet.  3.  5. 
 
 ,  invohmtarif,  excusable,  John 
 
 9.  41  ;  Rom.  14.  1  ;   15.  I  i    1  Cor.  8.  9;   9.  22; 
 
 1  Tim.  1.13  ;— but  not  excusable  when  there 
 are  the  means  of  information,  John  3.19;  5. 
 
 40;  .Acts  17.  11,  30;  2  Pet.  3.  5. 
 IMMANUEL,  Is.  7.  14  ;  S.  S;  Matt.  1.  23. 
 I.MMORTALITY  ascribed  to  God,  1  Tim.  1. 
 
 17:  6.  16 ;— brought  to  light  by  the  gospel, 
 
 2  Tim.  1.  10. 
 
 I.MPENITENCE,  Prov.  21 .  29 ;  Jer.  8.  6 ;  44.  9, 
 
 10;  Matt.  II.  20  —  22;  Luke  in.  13;  13.  3, 
 5  ;  Rom.  2.5;  2  Cor,  12.  21  ;  Rev.  2.  21 ;  9. 
 21. 
 
 IMPORTUNITY  in  prayer,  the  prevalence 
 thereof.  Gen.  32.  6;  Luke  11.  5;  18.  1.  See 
 Prayer, 
 
 IMPRECATIONS,  remarkable  ones.  Job  3.  3  ; 
 
 Ps.  28.  4;  59.  5,  13;    143.  12;  Jer.  13.  21;   20. 
 
 12,  14;  Lam.  3.  64. 
 INCENSE  for  the  sanctuary,  Exod.  30.  34. 
 INCEST  forbidden.  Lev.  18.  1,  &c. ;   20.  17; 
 
 Deut.  22.  30;  27.  20;  Ezek.  22.  11  ;  Am.  2.7. 
 ,  cases  of  it,  of  Lot,  Gen.  19.  33; — of 
 
 Reuben,  35.  22; — of  Judah,  38.  IS; — of  Am- 
 
 nou,  2  Sam.  13.  l,S:c.; — of  Absalom,  16.  21; 
 
 —of  Herod,  Mark  6.  17. 
 INCREDULITY  of  the  apostles,  and  especially 
 
 of  Thomas,  Matt.  2S.  17  ;  Mark  16.  11,  &c. : 
 
 Luke  24.  11 ;  Jo*in  20.  24. 
 INDUSTRY  recommended,  Prov.  6.  6;  10.  4  ; 
 
 12.  24:  13.  4;  21.  5;  22.  29;  27.  33. 
 
 INFIRMITIES,  imavoidable,  allowance  to  be 
 made  lor  them,  Job  14.  4;  Ps.  78.  39;  103. 
 14;  Matt.  7.  3;  Uom.  7.  14;  14.2;  IS.  1 ;  Gal. 
 
 5.  17;  6.  1  ;  Heb.  4.  15. 
 INGR.vriTUDE  censured,  Ps.  7. 4  ;  106. 7,  &c.; 
 
 Pro.  17.  13;  Jer.  3.  5  ;  2  Tim.  3.  2  ;— of  Pha- 
 raoh's butler  to  Joseph,  Gen.  40.23;— of  the 
 IsraeUtes  to  the  family  of  Gideon,  Judg.  8. 
 34;— of  Saul  to  David,  1  Sam.  16.  6,  &c. 
 
 INHERITANCE,  the  laws  of  it  in  case  of 
 daughters,  Num.  27.  I  ;  36.  1. 
 
 INSPIRATION,  instances  of.  Gen.  41.  39; 
 1  Kings  12.  22;  2  Chron.  15.  1;  29.  36;  30. 
 12;  John  6.  45;  Acts  2.  16 — 18;  6.  10;  8.  29; 
 II.  24. 
 
 INSTABILITY  censured,  1  Kings  13.21 ;  Hos. 
 
 6.  4  ;  Eph.  4.14;  Col.  1 .  23  ;  James  I .  d. 
 INSTINCT  in  animals.  Job  6.  5  ;  37.  7,  8 ;  39. 
 
 13—17;   Ps.    104.   20 — 22;    Prov.   30.   21,   25; 
 Lam.  4.  3. 
 INSTRUCTION  to  be  regarded,  Prov.  1.8;  4. 
 
 13;  5.  12;  6.  23;  8.  33;  12.  1,  5;  13.  18;  15.5, 
 31,  32  ;  19.  20  ;  23.  12  ;  Jer.  32.  33. 
 
 INTERCESSION  of  Christ  for  us,  Rom.  8.  34 ; 
 Heb.  7.  25;  1  John  2.  1. 
 
 —  of  .'Abraham  for  Sodom,  Gen. 
 
 18.  23 ; — of  Lot  for  Zoar,  19.  18  ; — of  Moses 
 for  the  people,  Exod.  32.  11  ;  Num.  u.  17; 
 Deut.  9. 18,26; — to  be  made  by  us  for  others, 
 
 1  Tim.  2.  1. 
 
 IRONY,  or  sarcasm,  examples  of.  Lev.  26.  34, 
 
 35;  2  Sam.   6.  20;    1    KiugS   18.  27;    2ti.   25; 
 
 2  Kings  18.  23  ;  Job  26.  2, 3  ;  Mark  7.9;  1  Cor. 
 2.6. 
 
 IS.AAC  promised  to  Abraham,  Gen.  17.  16;  18. 
 10  ; — born,  21.1  ;— the  covenant  and  blessing 
 confirmed  to  liim,  17.  19;  21.  3,  U; — con- 
 veys it  to  Jacob,  27.  29 ; — God  appears  to 
 him,  26.  2,  24  ;— he  dies,  35.  29. 
 
 IS.\IAH  sees  the  glory  of  God,  Is.  6.  1 ; — re- 
 ceives his  commission,  9. 
 
 ISHBOSHETH  made  king  byAbner,  2  Sam,  2. 
 s  ; — murdered,  4.  2. 
 
 ISHMAEL  born,  Gen.  16.  15;  —  prophecies 
 concerning  him,  11;  17.  20;  —  saved  from 
 dying  of  thirst,  21.  19; — Ids  descendants,  25. 
 12;  1  Chr.  1.  29. 
 
 ,  another  of  that  name,  conspires 
 
 against  Gedahah,  Jer.  40.  14,  &c. 
 
 ISRAEL,  a  name  given  to  Jacob,  Gen.  32.  28. 
 
 ISR.^ELITES,  their  sojourning  in  Egypt  fore- 
 told. Gen.  15.  13;  46.  2— 4;"Acts  7.  6 ;— en- 
 trance into  Egypt,  Gen.  46.  5,  &c..  26,  &c. ; 
 Exod.  1.1,  &c.;  2.  23,  &c.;  3.7,9;  6.  5;  Acts 
 
 7.  14,  15; — in  Egypt,  Gen.  50.  22;  Exod.  12. 
 40,  41  ;— sufferings  there,  1.  8,  &c. ;  6.  9; 
 Deut.  4.  20  ;  5.  6  ;  26.  6,  7  ;  1  Kings  8. 51  ;  Neh. 
 9.  9;  Is.  52.  4;  Acts  7.  18,  19,  34;— deliver- 
 ance promised.  Gen.  15.  14 ;  Exod.  3.  ",  16, 
 17;  6.  1,  6;  II.  1  ;  Acts  7.  7; — Moses  and 
 Aaron  commis.sioned  to  deliver  them,  Exod. 
 
 3.  10,  &c. ; — Moses  demands  their  liberty,  5. 
 1,  «ie. ;  7.  16;  8.  29;  10.  3,  &c. ;— they  leave 
 Egypt,  12.  31,  S;c. ;  Ps.  105.  37;  Acts  7.  36; 
 
 13.  17; — wonderful  deliverance,   Exod.  14. 
 
 23;    19.  4;   Dent.  4.  34  ;   26.8;  Jash.   24.   17; 
 
 2  Sam.  7.  23;  1  Chron.  17.  21;  Ps.  77.  15; 
 136.  11,   12;  Mic.  7.  15;— why  delivered, 
 
 E.XOd.  29.  46;  Lev.  22.  32,  &C. ;  25.  38;  26. 
 13;   Num.    15.   41;   Is.  43.  3,  4  ;  Ezck.   20.  9, 
 
 10  ; — remembrance  of  deliverance  perpetu- 
 ated, Deut.  6. 20,  &c. ; — routes  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, E.\0d.  13.  20;  15.27;  16,1;  I9.  1,2; 
 Num.  10.  11  —  13;   11.  35;    12.  16;  20.  22;  21. 
 
 4,  10—13,  18—20;  22.  1  ;  Deut.  1.  6,  8;  2. 
 1—4,  13;  3.  29;  10.  6,7;  .'osh.  3.  1,  2;  4.19; 
 
 — sius  in  the  wilderness.  Num.  32.  13.  15 ; 
 
 Ps.  106.21-27;   Exod.  20.  13;    1  Cor.  10.  S; 
 
 Heb.  3.  16; — mercies  there,  Exod.  15.13; 
 Ps.  77.  20;  78.  52;  136.  16;  Jer.  31.2:  Ezek. 
 20.  17  ;  -^mos  2.  10  ;  Acts  13.  18  ;— theu-  fatal 
 provocations.  Num.  14.  23,  2^,  31,  32;  Deut. 
 1.31 — 10; — tiieir  punislmien  in  the  wilder- 
 ness, Deut.  2.  14,  15  ;  Josh,  i  6;  Jude  5  ;  — 
 commission  to  possess  Canaan,  Deut.  10.  II ; 
 8   N 
 
INDEX  TO  THE   PRINCIPAL   PASSAGES 
 
 Josh.  1.  1,  2; — possession  griven,  Josh.  21. 
 
 43—45:23.  1 — I;  Jndgr.  2.  6  ;  21.  21  ;— expel 
 the  aborigrines,  Josh.  12.  7.8;  24.  8  ;  Ps.  78. 
 55;  Neh.  9.  24,  25;  Acts  1.3.  19 ;— remnant 
 of  Canaanites  which  they  left  unexpelled. 
 Josh.  13.  13;  Jud^.  1.21,2b,  31—33;  3.  1—3; 
 
 Ps.  106.  34,  35  ;— their  population  promised, 
 
 Gen.  13.  Id;  15.  4,  itc.  ;  17.  2.  4.  6;  22.  13— 
 17  ;  26.  4,  24  ;   3'..    11;   48.   4  ;   Heb.  6.    14  ;— 
 
 — promise  of  population  fulfilled.  Gen.  47- 
 
 27;  Exod.  I.  7.  12;  Num.  22.  5;  Deut.  1.  10, 
 11  ;  10.  22;  1  Kings  4.  20;  I  Chron.  5.  23,  24  ; 
 Acts  7.  17; — their  nxunber.  Num.  1.  44 — »6; 
 2.  32 ;  26.  51 ;— number  on  return  from  cap- 
 tivity, Ezra  2.  64 — 69  ; — promises  of  future 
 increase,  2  Kings  19.  30.  31  ;  Is.  27.  6;  60. 
 
 22;  Jer.  30.  19—22;  Ezek.  36.  10,  II,  37,  38; 
 — their  division  into  twelve  tribes,  Gen.  49. 
 28;    Ezek.  48.   1—7.  23 — 27 ;  — a  separate 
 
 people,  Exod.  23.  32,  33;  33.  I6;  34.  12; 
 Num.  23.  9  ;  Josh.  23.  7 ;  l  Kings  8.  53  ;  Jer. 
 33.  9  ; — their  wickedness.  Num.  14. 11  ;  Deut. 
 9  6  ;  2  Kmgs  17.  13,  14,  19.  21  ;  2  Chron.  36. 
 14;  Jer.  2.  7;  5.  II  ;  32.  30;  51.  5;  EzCk.  5. 
 6;  II.  12; — their  puni-shments  threatened. 
 Num.  14.  12;  Ezek.  5.  7.  8,  17;  Amos  2.  4; 
 Micah  1.5,  6;  7.  13 ;— inflicted,  Ps.  78.  59. 
 
 60 ;  2  Kings  14.  26,  27;  23.  26;  Is.  3.  8;  Jer. 
 32.23;  Ezek.  36.  18,  19;— their  distressing 
 wars,  Judg.  3.  12—14  ;  4.  2  ;  6.  l  ;  10.  8  :  13. 
 1;  1  Sam.  12.  9;  Ps.  106.  40 — 12;  2  Kings 
 10.  32,  33  ;    13.  3  ;  15.  37  ;  17-  20  ;   Is.  42.  22— 
 
 25;  Jer.  2.  14 — 16; — their  capti\it>-  foretold, 
 
 Deut.  28.  48;  Jer.  13,  19;  15.  2—5,  14;  17.4; 
 24.8.9;  Ezek.  12.  15;  22.  15,  16;— by  whom 
 to  be  made  captives,  2  Kings  20.  17  ;  Is.  39. 
 6;  Jer.  32.  4,   5;   34.    1—3;   38.    1-3;   Ezek. 
 
 12.  13  ;— duration  of  their  capti\it>',  Jer  25. 
 n,  12;  29.  10,  11;— captivities,  2  Kings  15. 
 
 29;   17.   5,  6.   22,   23;   18.  9—12;  24.  14—16; 
 
 (samecaptivity,  Jer.29.  2, 3;)  2  Kings  25.4— 
 r,  II,  18—21 ;  (same,  i  Chron.  6. 15;)  Jer.  39. 
 9;  52.  15.  24,25;  2  Cliron.  28. 5  ;— their  State 
 in  captiWty.  Lev.  26.  33,  38  ;  Esth.  2.  5.  6 ; 
 Lam.  1.3;  Ezek.  11.  15,  16;  39-23,  24;  Hos. 
 8.  8  ;  Amos  9-  4  ;  Zcch.  7. 14  :~their  destruc- 
 tion foretold,  2  Kings  21.  11-13;  Jer.  9.  iG; 
 15.  3;  24.  10;  25.  8,  9;  44.  27;  Ezek.  5.  12, 
 14,  15  ;  6.  7  ;  Hos.  5.  9  ; — accomplishment  of 
 their  destruction,  2  Kings  24.  1,2;— a  rem- 
 nant of  them  to  be  spared,  Jer.  4.  27;  5.  18; 
 
 30.   11;   44.  28;  46.   28;   Ezek.  6.  8;   14.  22, 
 
 23;  Amos  9.  8,  9;  Zech.  13.  8;— the  return 
 from  captivity  foretold,  Jer.  12.  14,  15;  ifi. 
 
 14,  15;  24.  5,  6;  29-  14;  30.  3,  10;  32.  36,37; 
 33.7;   46.  27;   Ezek.  20.   38;  Zech.   10.  6;— 
 
 their  increased  population.  Is.  49. 19,  21 ;  54. 
 
 2,  3;  Jer.  23.  3;   32.  15;  33.  12,  13;  Ezek.  36. 
 
 .33.  34;  Amos  9.  14;  Mic.  4.6— 8;  Zcch.  10.8, 
 
 9;  14.  10,  n  ;— their  future  luiitv,  Is.  11. 13; 
 
 Ezek.  37.  18—20.22;  Zech.  12.  7;— their  fu- 
 
 tin-e  sanctity,  Jer.  3.  17;  Ezek.  II.  18;  20. 
 
 41;    Obad.    17;    Zeph.   3.  9,  10,    17;— their 
 
 great  domination,  Is.  il.  14;  41.  11,  14;  60, 
 
 10,    12,    14  i  Jer.   30.    16,   20;    Ezek.   28.   24; 
 
 Obad.  18;  Zeph.  3.  15;  Zech.  p.  13;  12.  6; 
 
 14.  13,  14; — their  incrca»::ed  dignit>'.  Is.  49. 
 
 18;  60.  10;  61.  9;  Jer.  30.  17;  Zeph.  3.  20; 
 
 Mai.  3.  2;— their  stabilit>-,  2  Chron.  33.  8; 
 
 Is.  61.  7;  Jer.  31.  28;  32.  41  ;  Ezek.  28.  25, 
 
 26;  38.  8;  Amos  9.  15  ;  Zech.  2.  4.  5 ;— their 
 
 final  dispersion  foretold,  Matt.  23.38,  39; 
 
 Luke  21.  20—24;  23.  28— 30 ;— Gentiles  to 
 
 succeed.     See  Gpntilea. 
 ISSACHAR,  his  inheritance,  Jo.sh.  I9.  17;— 
 
 his  descendants,  1  Chr.  7.  1. 
 ISSUES  of  men,  how  cleansed,  Lev.  15.  2,  &c. ; 
 
 — of  women,  19. 
 
 JABEZ.  his  prayer.  1  Chr.  4.  9. 
 
 JABESH-GILEAD  destroyed  for  not  joining 
 thelsraelites  in  tlie  war  with  the  tribe  of  Ben- 
 jamin, Judg.  21. 10  ;— threatened  by  the  Am- 
 monites, 1  Sam  n.  1  ;— delivered  by  Saul, 
 4  ;— the  inhabitants  bury  the  bttdies  of  Saul 
 and  Jonathan,  31.  Il  ;  1  Chr.  10.  il  ;— Da\'id 
 commends  them  for  it,  2  Sam.  2.  5. 
 
 JABIN  defeated,  Josh.  II.  I.itc. 
 
 JACOB  born.  Gen.  25.  26;  —  buys  his  bro- 
 ther's birthright,  33 ;— gets  his  blessing,  27. 
 23 ;— goes  to  Padan-aram,  28.  5  ;— his  vision 
 at  Bethel,  11;— marries  Leah  and  Rachel, 
 29.  23,  28 :— leaves  Padan-aram,  31.  17;— 
 his  interview  with  Laban,  25  ;^us  vision  at 
 Mahanaim,  32.  1 ; — wrestles  with  an  angel, 
 24  ;— meets  his  brother,  .33.  I,  &c. ;— dwells 
 at  Slierliem,  18;— his  name  changed  to  Is- 
 rael, Zh.  9  ;— sends  to  Egypt  for  com,  42.  3  ;— 
 goes  thither,  46.  5  ;— God  appears  to  Ixim  at 
 Beersheba,  2 ;— presented  tu  Pharaoh,  47.  7 ; 
 1378 
 
 — his  age,  9.  28  ; — blesses  the  son  of  Joseph, 
 48.  15  ;  —  predicts  the  futiu-e  destiny  of  all 
 his  sons,  49-  l.&c ;— dies,  33 ;— great  mourn- 
 ing for  him,  so.  7  :— his  family  in  Egypt,  Ex. 
 1. 1  ;— his  descendants,  1  Chr.  2.  I,  ifcc. 
 
 JAEL,Judg.  4.  IS. 
 
 JAIR,  Judg.  10.  3. 
 
 JAMES,  the  brother  of  John,  called  to  attend 
 Jesus,  Matt.  4.  21 ;— his  zeal  reproved.  Luke 
 9.  54  ;— liis  request  to  sit  at  the  right  hand 
 of  Jesus,  Matt.  20.  20;  Mark  10.  35;— put 
 to  death  by  Herod  Agrippa,  Acts  12.  2. 
 
 ' ,  the  brother  of  Jesus,  an  apostle,  Matt. 
 
 13.  55;  Gal.  1.  19;— Jesus  appears  to  him 
 after  his  resurrection,  1  Cor.  15.  7; — ad- 
 dresses the  apostles  about  the  discipleship 
 of  the  Gentiles,  Acts  I5.  13. 
 
 J.\NNES  and  J.\MBRES,  2  Tim.  3.  8. 
 
 JAPHETH,  his  descendants,  Gen.  10.  2  ;  1  Chr. 
 1.  5. 
 
 JAILER  of  Phihppi,  Acts  Ifi.  33. 
 
 JEALOUSY,  its  violence,  Pr.  6.  34  ;  Cant.  8. 
 6;_the  trial  of  it,  Num.  5.  11 ;— its  image 
 shewn  to  Ezekiel,  Ezek.  8.  5. 
 
 JEHOASH,  !Joash,}king  of  Judah,  chief  events 
 of  his  reign,  2  Kings  11.  12;  12.20 ;  2Chr. 
 
 23.  1,  &C.  ;  24.21,  25. 
 JEHOAHAZ,  king  of  Judah,  chief  events  of 
 
 his  reign,  2  Kings  23.  31,  33;  2  Chr.  36. 1,4; 
 
 Jer.  22.  10. 
 ,  king  of  Israel,  2  Kings  10.  35  ; 
 
 — lus  death,  13.  9. 
 JEHOIADA,   the  high  priest,    saves    Joash, 
 
 2  Chr.  23.  1 ;— anoints  him  king,  2  Kings  11. 
 
 12;— restores  the  worship  of  God,  2  Chr. 
 
 23.  16;— his  death,  24.  15. 
 JEHOIAKIM,  king  of  Judah,  chief  events  of  his 
 
 reign,  2 Kings  23.  34  ;  24.  1.  6;  2  Chr.  36.  4, 
 6;  Dan.  1.  I  ;  Jer.  22.  19. 
 JEHOIACHIN,  (Coniah  or  Jeconiah,)  king  of 
 Judah,  chief  events  of  his   reign,  2  Kmgs 
 
 24.  6,  12  ;   25.   27;   2  Chr.  36.  8,  10;  Jer.  22. 
 
 25; 
 
 .  31. 
 
 JEHORAM  succeeds  Jehoshaphat,   1  Kings 
 
 22.  50  ;  2  Kings  8.  I6,  24  ;  2  Chr.2].  1,8,  12, 
 
 16; — receives  a  prophet's  letter,  12,  ly. 
 
 kinf;  of  Israel,  chief  events  of  his 
 
 reign,  2  Kings.  1.  17;  3.  6;  9-  11 
 
 JEHOSHAPHAT,  king  of  Judah,  chief  events 
 of  his  reign,  l  Kings  15.  24  ;  22.  2,  48,  50  ; 
 2  Kings  3.  7;  2  Chr.  17.  1,  12;  IS.  l;  19.2; 
 20.3,  22,  35;  21.  I. 
 
 JEHU,  king  o'^  Israel,  chief  events  of  liis  reign, 
 2  icings  9.  6,  24  ;  10.  I,  IS,  35;— kills  Joram, 
 king  of  Judah,  in  the  field  of  Naboth,  24  ;— 
 kills  the  sons  of  Ahab,  10. 1  ; — and  forty-two 
 priests  of  Baal,  18  ;— dies,  35. 
 
 JEPHTH.\  dehvers  Israel,  Jud.  II.  1,  &c.  ;— 
 his  vow,  29  ; — the  Ephraimites  quarrel  with 
 him,  12.  1; — his  death,  7; — liis  faith,  Heb. 
 11.32. 
 
 JEREMIAH,  his  commission,  Jer.  1.  4  ;— la- 
 ments over  Josiah,  2  Chr.  35.  25  ;— directed 
 to  prophesy  in  the  gates  of  Jenisalem,  Jer. 
 17.  19; — advises  the  king  to  submit  to  Ne- 
 buchadnezzar, 21.8; — foretels  the  seventy 
 years'  captivitv',  25.  9 ;— apprehended.  26.  K; 
 — acquitted,  16; — writes  to  the  captives  at 
 Babylon,  29.  I ; — foretels  the  fate  of  two 
 lying  prophets,  20  ; — and  of  Sheraaiah,  30 ; — 
 imprisoned  by  Zedekiali,;i2. 1 ;— purchases  a 
 field,  6 ; — Baruch  writes  his  prophecies,  36.  I , 
 32 ; — he  foretels  the  return  of  the  Chaldeans, 
 37.  6; — he  is  imprisoned,  14;— in  the  dim- 
 geon,  38.  6 ;— favoured  by  Zedckiah,  14; — 
 by  Nebuchadnezzar,  39.  II  ; — goes  to  Geda- 
 liah,  40.  6  ;— foretels  Nebuchadnezzar's  con- 
 quest of  Egypt,  43.  8  ; — the  destruction  of 
 his  countrymen  in  Egypt,  44.  II  ; — gives  his 
 prophecy  to  Seraiah,  51.  59; — complains  of 
 the  desolations  of  his  country.  Lam.  1. 18, 
 
 JERICHO,  taken  by  Joshua,  Josh.  6.  20 ;— re- 
 built by  Hiel,  I  Kings  16.  34. 
 
 JEROBOAM,  king  of  Israel,  chief  events  of 
 his  reign,  1  Kings  IJ.  26,  29;  12.  12,  28; 
 13.  1  ;   14.  20. 
 
 JEROBOAM  II.  succeeds  Joash,  2  Kmgs  13. 
 13;  14.  16;— dies,  29. 
 
 JERU.SALEM  taken,  Judg.  1.  8;  — recovered 
 by  the  Jebusites,  21  ; — by  David,  2  Sam.  5. 
 6;  1  Chr.  II.  4; — expostulated  with,  and 
 threatened  for  its  crimes,  Jer.  1.  15  ;  2.  2,  3, 
 4.  19;  5.  6—9;  10.  17,  ^c- ;  H.  I,  &c. ; 
 Ezek.  21 ;  22.  1,  &c. :— taken  by  Nebuchad- 
 nezzar, 2  Kings  25.  4;  2  Chr.  36.  17;  Jer. 
 39.  1  ;  52.  4,  &c.  ;— burned,  52.  12;— its  de- 
 solation  lamented.  Lam.  I,  .'fee. ;— its  capti- 
 vity represented  by  a  figure.  Ezek.  4.1;  5. 
 1  ; — to  be  rebuilt,  Jer.  31.  38 ;— built  after 
 the  captivity,  Neh.  3.  I,  ike. ;  4.  1,  &c. ; — 
 
 its  walls  finished,  6. 15 ;— its  inhabitants  cho- 
 sen by  lot,  11.  1,  &c. ;— the  dedication  of  its 
 walls,  12.  27 ;— its  futiue  state,  Ezek.  48.  30  ; 
 — its  new  name,  35. 
 
 JESSE,  his  descendants.  1  Chr.  2.  1  J. 
 
 JESUS,  meaning  Joshua,  Acts  7.  45  ;  Heb.  4.9. 
 
 ,  the  same  with  Christ,  or  the  Mfssiafi, 
 
 John  I.  41  ;  4.  25;    6.  69 ;  20.  31;  Acts  17.  3  ; 
 
 18.  5.  28.     See  nu-ist. 
 
 JESTING  not  to  be  improperly  used,  Pr.  26. 
 
 18;    Eph.  5.  4. 
 
 JETHRO  meets  Moses  in  the  wilderness,  Ex. 
 13.  1 ; — his  advice  to  him,  13. 
 
 JEWS,  their  great  privileges,  Deut.  4.  33;  7. 
 6  ;  1  Chr.  17.  21  ;  Rom.  3.  l  ;  9-4  ;— their 
 rejection  and  dispersion  foretold,  Lev.  26. 
 33;  Deut.  4.  27;  28.  64;  Dan.  12.  7;  Hos.  9. 
 17; — in  danger  from  Hainan,  Esth.  3.  8; — 
 allowed  to  defend  and  avenge  themselves, 
 8.7;  9,5,15;  —  some  receive  the  gospel, 
 Matt.    15.   24;    Acts,  1.  15;    2.  41,   42;  4.  4; 
 
 5.  13,  14;     6.  7;    14.    1  ;   15.    1,   2;     19.  10;— 
 
 their  prejudices,  John  7.  35;  Acts  II.  l,  3; 
 21 .  20 — 22  ; — they  generally  reject  the  gospel. 
 
 Acts  13.  40,  41  ;  18.  5,  6;  28.  25,  27—29;— 
 restoration  desired,  Rom.  9- 3,  4;  10.1;— 
 ultimate  conversion  foretold,  Rom.  II.  1, 
 23—28  ;  2  Cor.  3.  12~l6.     See  Israelites. 
 
 JEZEBEL,  queen  of  Ahab,  king  of  Israel,  chief 
 events  other  life,  l  Kings  16.  31 ;  19.  1 ;  21. 
 5;  2  Kings  9.  33. 
 
 JEZREEL,  a  name  significative  of  a  future 
 event,  Hos.  1.  4. 
 
 JOAB,  the  general  of  David,  chief  events  of 
 his  life,  2  Sam.  2.  13  ;  8.  16  ;  20.  23  ;  2  Sam. 
 3.  27  ;  19.  1  ;  20.  10  ;   1  Kings  2.  28. 
 
 JOASH,  king  of  Judah,  chief  events  of  his 
 reign,  2  Chr.  24.  1,4,  20,  23,  25. 
 
 ,  ki>i^  of  Israel,  chief  events  of  his 
 
 reign,  2  Kings  13.  9,  15,  25;  14.  12} — dies, 
 16;  13.  13. 
 
 JOB,  his  character  and  wealth.  Job  I.  l,  &c.  ;— 
 his  losses,  13,  &c. ;— his  personal  sufterings, 
 2.  7; — his  three  friends,  11;— they  are  re- 
 proved by  God,  42.  7  ;— Job  prays  for  them, 
 8,  9  ;— he  curses  his  day,  3. 1 ,  ^e. ;— submits 
 to  God,  and  is  restored,  40,  3  ;  42.  1 ;— his 
 hope  of  a  resurrection,  19.  25  ;— the  divine 
 testimony  in  his  favour,  Ezek.  14.  14. 
 
 JOH ANAN  uiforms  Gedaliah  of  Ishmael's  con- 
 spiracy, Jer.  40.  13;— goes  to  Egypt  and 
 takes  Jeremiah  with  him,  43.  1. 
 
 JOHN,  ihe  Baptist,  particulars  of  his  Ufe, 
 Luke  1.57;  Matt.  3.  4  ;  John  1.15,19;  3. 
 27;  Matt.  3.  II  ;  Mark  I.  7  ;  Matt.  3.  I  ; 
 Mark  I.  1  ;  Luke  3.  3,  19;  Matt.  14. 1 ;  Mark 
 
 6.  14;  Lukeg.  7. 
 
 JOHN,  the  .-l/)/..s^/e.  called  by  Jesus,  Matt.  4. 
 21 ;— leans  on  the  bosom  of  Jesus,  13.  23 ; — 
 receives  his  mother  after  the  crucifixion,  1 9. 
 25  ;~his  attestation  to  the  divinity  and  hu- 
 manity of  Clu-ist,  John  I.  1,  &c. ;  1  John  1. 
 1 :— banished  to  Patmos,  Rev.  1 .  9. 
 
 JONAH  flees,  Jon.  1.  3  ;— swallowed  by  a  fish. 
 17  ; — his  prayer,  2.  1 ; — preaches  to  the  Ni- 
 nevites,  3.  2; — h^  sorrow  for  their  repent- 
 ance. 4.  I. 
 
 JONATHAN,  a  priest  to  the  idolatrous  Dan- 
 ites,  Judg.  IS.  30. 
 
 ,  the  son  of  Saul,  puts  a  garrison  of 
 
 the  Philistines  to  flight,  1  Sam.  14.  13;— in 
 danger  from  his  father's  rash  vow,  39  ;  — 
 his  friendship  for  David,  18.  1  ; — informs 
 David  of  his  father's  designs  against  him, 
 
 19.  1;— makes   a  covenant  with  him,  20. 
 
 1  ;  —  takes  leave  of  him,  35 ;  —  comforts 
 him  at  Ziph,  23. 14  ;— slain.  31.2;— his  death 
 lamented  by  David, 2 Sam.  I.  il,  17- 
 
 JORDAN  divided  and  passed  over  by  the  Is- 
 raelites, Josh.  3.  1,  &c. ;  4.  II;— by  Elija-h, 
 
 2  Kings  2.  8  ; — by  Elisha,  14. 
 
 JOSEPH,  principal  events  relating  to  him, 
 Gen.  30.  24;  37.  5,  &C.,  28  ;  .39-  I,  20;  40.  12; 
 41.  14,  41,  50;  42.  9;  43.  I6;  45.  1,  &C. ;  46. 
 29:  47.  7,  20;  48.  1  ;  50.  26;   Ex.  13.  19. 
 
 JOSHUA  and  Caleb's  account  of  Canaan, Num. 
 14.6. 
 
 appointed  to  succeed  Moses,  Num. 
 
 27.  1 S ; — encouraged  by  him,  Deut.  31.7  ; — 
 God  gives  him  a  charge,  14  ;— succeeds  Mo- 
 ses, 34.  9;  Josh.  1.  1;  —  his  instructions, 
 8;— an  angel  appears  to  him,  5,  13; — God 
 encourages  him,  8.  l ; — writes  the  law  on 
 stones,  32; — conquers  Canaan,  II.  16; — his 
 inheritance,  19.  49;— his  farewell  exhorta- 
 tion, 23.  1 ;  24.  1,  &c. ;— his  age  and  death, 
 
 2.1.  2q. 
 
 -,  the  high  priest,  a  tj-pe  in  the  pro- 
 
 phecy of  Zechai'iah,  Zech.  3.  3. 
 JOSIAH,  king  of  Judah,  chief  events  of  his 
 
IN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 reign,  2  Kings  21.  24,  29;  22.  3,  29;  2  Chr. 
 
 33.  25  ;  34.  8,  14  ;   35.  1,  23,  25. 
 
 JOTHAM'S  parable,  Judg.  9-  7 ;— Ms  impre- 
 cation fulfilled,  56. 
 
 ,  king  of  Judah,  events  of  his  reign, 
 
 2  Kings  15.7,  38  ;    2  Clir.  2?.  1,  5 ;— dies,  9. 
 
 JOURNEYS  of  the  Israelites,  Ex.  12.  37  ;  13. 
 20;  14.  2;  15.  2.3,  27;  16.  1;  17.1;  Num.33. 
 1,  &C. 
 
 JOY,  when  to  be  manifested,  Luke,  5.  33;  10. 
 20;  Rom.  12.  12;   2  Cnr.  13.  11 ;  Phil.  1.4, 
 
 18;   5.  4;    1  Thess.  4.  l6. 
 
 JUBILEE  ordered.  Lev.  25.  8. 
 
 JUDAH,  principal  events  relating  to  him, 
 Gen.  38.  1,  &c. ;  1  Chr.  2.  3  ;  44.  18. 
 
 JUDAIZING  in  the  Gentile  Christians,  cen- 
 sured. Gal.  3.  1  ;  5.  1  ;  6.  12  ;  Col.  2.  8,  l6. 
 
 JUDAS,  called  Lebbeiis  and  Thaddeiis,  or  bro- 
 ther of  Jesus,  Matt.  10.3;  Mark  3.  18 ;  6. 3  ; 
 Luke  6.  l6;  Acts  1.  13;— his  question  to 
 Jesus,  John  15.  22. 
 
 Iscariot  censures  Mary  for  anointing 
 
 Jesus,  John  12.4; — his  treachery  foretold, 
 Matt.  26.  21;  Mark  14.  18;  Luke  22.21; 
 John  6.  71 ;  13.  21  ;~agrees  ^vith  the  Phari- 
 sees, Matt.  26.  14;  Mark  14.  10;  Luke  22.  3; 
 — betrays  Jesus  in  the  garden.  Matt.  26.  47; 
 Mark  14.43;  Luke  22.  47;  John  18.  3; — 
 hangs  himself.  Matt.  27.  3  ;  Acts  1.18. 
 
 ,  of  Galilee,  his  insurrection.  Acts  5.  37. 
 
 ,  or  Bnrsnbas,  commended,  Acts  15.22,32. 
 
 JUDGMENT,  lust,  foretold  and  certified,  Eccl. 
 12.  14 ;  Matt.  25.  31,  &c. ;  Luke  10.  14  ;  Acts 
 17.31;  Heb.  9.27;  Jude  14,  15;  Rev.  20. 
 12 ; — described.  Is.  34.  4  ;  Dan.  7. 10  ;  Joel  2. 
 
 30.31;     Matt.    16.  27;     24.  29,   31;     26.   6l ; 
 
 Luke  21.  25—28;  Acts  1.  11 ;  2. 19,20;  1  Cor. 
 
 15.    52;   Heb.    12.    27;     2  Pet.   3.   7,    10—12; 
 
 Rev.  6.  12 — 14; — its  suddenness,   Phihp.  4. 
 
 6;  I  Thess.  3.  13;  4.  l6;  5.  2—4;  2  Tliess.  2. 
 
 1.  2 ;  1  Pet.  4.  5 ;  Rev.  1 .  7  ;— its  impartiality, 
 Rom.  2.  3,  6;  Eph.  6.  8;  Col.  3.25;  Rev.  11. 
 IS ; — its  awfulness.  Rev.  6.  l6,  17  ; — its  final 
 decision.  Matt.  13.  49;  25.32; — to  be  ad- 
 ministered by  Christ,  Matt.  16.  27;  25.  31 ; 
 
 John  5.  22,  27;  Acts  10.  42;  17.  31  ;   Rom.  2. 
 
 16;  2  Cor.  5.  10 ;  2  Tim.  4.  1 ;— the  apostles 
 to  be  judges  with  him.  Matt.  19.  28 ;  Luke 
 
 22.  30  ;  1  Cor.  6.  3. 
 
 JUDGMENTS  of  God  right,  though  unsearch- 
 able, Ps.  19.  9;  36.  6;  119.39,  75,  137;  Rom. 
 
 2.  2;   11.  33;  Rev.  16.  7. 
 of  men,  rash,  censured,  Matt. 
 
 7-  I ;  Luke  6.  37  ;   13.  11,  &c.;   Rom.  2.  1 ; 
 
 14.  3;  1  Cor.  4.  5;  Jamcs  4.  II. 
 JUSTICE  of  God,  Gen.  13.  25;  Deut.  32.  4; 
 
 2  Chr.  19.  7;  Job  8.  3;    Ps.  145.  17;  Jer.  9. 
 
 24;    32.  18;  Dan.  9.  14;  EEek.  18.  25;    Rev. 
 
 15.3;  19-  1,  2. 
 ref/uired  of  man,  Deut.  16.  20  ;  Jer. 
 
 20.  3;  Matt.  7.  12  ;    Luke  6.  31  ;  Rom.  13.  7; 
 
 Phil.  4.  8  ;  Is.  66.  1 ;  Ezek.  45.  9 ;  Mic.  6.  8. 
 JUSTIFICATION  not  to  be  attained  by  the 
 
 law.  Acts  13.  39;  Rom.  3.  20;  8.  3;  Gal.  2. 
 
 16;  3.  11  ;  Heb.  7.  19; — nor  by  any  of  our 
 
 works,  Job  9.  2  ;  25.  4  ;   Ps.  130.  3  ;  143.  2  ;— 
 
 is  given  unto  us  by  the  grace  of  God,  Rom. 
 
 3.  24;    4.  4;    11.5;    Eph.  2.  8;     2  Tim.  1.9; 
 
 Tit.  3.  5;— through  the  merits  and  blood  of 
 Christ,  Acts  13.  38;  Rom.  5.  9,  19  ;  1  Cor.  1. 
 30;— by  faith.  Gen.  15.  6;   Rom.  3.  22;  4. 
 
 3,  16,  22;    5.  1  ;   Gal.  2.  I6;    3.  6—9,  II,  24; 
 
 Eph.  2.  8;  Heb.  10.  38)  u.  7  ;  James  2.  23. 
 JUSTUS,  Acts  18.  7. 
 
 KADESH,  Deut.  1.  46. 
 
 KEDAR,  Ps.  120.  5  ;  Jer.  49.  29. 
 
 K.EN1TES,  Judg,  1.  16. 
 
 KETURAH,  her  descendants.  Gen.  25.  1—6; 
 
 1  Chr.  1,  32. 
 KEYS  of  heaven,  Matt.  16.  19;  18.  18;  John 
 
 20.  23. 
 KID,  not  to  be  seethed  in  its  mother's  milk, 
 
 Ex.  23.  19;  34.  26;  Deut.  14.21. 
 KINGDOM  of  God,  or  of  Heaven,  announced 
 by  Daniel,  Dan.  2.  44 ;  7.  9,  22 ;— by  John 
 the  Baptist,  and  by  Jesus,  Matt.  3.  2  ;  4.  17; 
 10.  7;  12.  23;  Mark  1.  15;  Luke  10.  9.  11  ; 
 17.  20;— a  subject  for  prayer.  Matt.  6.  10; 
 Luke  11.  2;— to  be  sought  for.  Matt.  6.  33; 
 Luke  12.  31  ; — the  quaUfications  lor  it.  Matt. 
 7.  21 ;  Mark  9.  37 ;  Luke  9.  62  ;  13.  24  ;  John 
 3.  3  ;  .Kc^s,  14.  22  ;  Rom.  14.1/;  1  Cor.  6.  9 ; 
 
 15.  50;  2  Thess.  1.4.  5. 
 
 KINGLY  office  of  Christ,  Ps.  2.6;45.  1,3—6; 
 
 Is.  32.  1,  2;  Dan.  7.  13,  14;  Luke  1.  32,  33; 
 
 1  Cor.  15.  25. 
 KIRJ-ATH-JEARIM  and  the  ark,  1  Sam.  7.  1. 
 KNEELING  in  pravcr,  Ps.  22.  29;  95.  6;  gg. 
 
 5;  Rom.  14.  11  ;  Eph.  3.  11;  Phil.  2.  10. 
 
 1379 
 
 KNEELING,  examples  of  it,  1  Kings  8.  64 ; 
 2  Chi-.  6.  13  ;— of  Ezra,  Ezra,  9.  5  ;  Dan,  6. 
 10;  Luke  22.  41  i  Acts?.  60  ;  9.40;  20.36; 
 21.  5. 
 
 KNOWLEDGE  of  God,  wherein  it  consists, 
 
 1  John  2.  3;  3.  6;  4.  6. 
 
 ,  the  measure  of  oiu"  obedience, 
 
 and  by  which  we  must  be  judged.  Num.  15. 
 30;  Deut.  17.  12;  Luke  12.  47;  John  15.  22; 
 Rom.  1.  21  ;  2.  21  ;  Jam.  4,  17 ; — ought  to  be 
 communicated,  Deut.  6.  6;  Ps.  78.  4;  119. 
 
 13  ;    Matt.  5.   14  ;    10.   27  ;    1  Cor.  12.  7,  &c. ; 
 
 1  Pet.  4.  10; — the  occasion  of  vanity,  1  Cor. 
 8.  1. 
 
 ,  worldly,  of  little  value,  1  Cor. 
 
 1.  19;  3.  19;  2  Cor.  I.  12,  &c. 
 KORAH,  his  rebellion.  Num.  16.  1,  &o. 
 
 LABAN  receives  Abraham's  sen-ant.  Gen.  24. 
 29; — his  reception  of  Jacob,  29.  13; — over- 
 takes him,  31.  25  ; — parts  from  him,  55. 
 
 LAMB,  the  paschal,  a  type  of  Clu-ist,  Ex.  12. 
 5,  46  ;  Lev.  9.  3  ;  23.  12;  John  19.  36  ;  1  Pet. 
 1.19 ; — Christ  so  called,  John  1 .  29, 36 ;  Rev. 
 5.  6;  13.  8; — on  mount  Zion,  Rev.  14.  1  ; — 
 overcomes  the  seven  kings,  17.  4  ; — his  wife, 
 21.9; — offered  for  Aaron  and  the  people. 
 Lev,  9.  3  ;— in  the  daily  sacrifice.  Num.  28.  3, 
 
 LAME  ciu-ed.  Matt.  U.  5  ;  Acts  3.  2;  14.8. 
 
 L.-VMPS  in  the  tabernacle,  Num.  8.  1. 
 
 LANDMARKS,  Deut.  19.14;  27-17;  Pr.  22. 
 28. 
 
 LANGUAGES  confounded  at  Babel,  Gen.  1 1 . 
 
 I ,  &c, ; — gift  of,  at  the  day  of  Pentecnst, 
 Acts  2.  4  ; — conferred  by  the  apostles,  3.  17  ; 
 — on  CorneUus,  10.46; — by  Paul  at  Ephe- 
 sus,  19.  6; — one  among  many  gifts  of  the 
 same  Spnit,  1  Cor.  12.  10. 
 
 LAODICEA,  Rev.  3.  14. 
 
 LASCIVIOUSNESS  censured,   Rom.  13.  13; 
 
 2Cor.  12.  21;    Gal.  5,  19;    Eph.  4.  19;    5.3; 
 
 Col.  3.  5;   1  Pet,  4.  3. 
 
 LAST  TIMES,  their  degeneracy,  2  Tim.  3.  1. 
 LAUGHTER,  immoderate,  its  folly,  Pr,  14,  13; 
 
 Eccl.  2.2;  7.  3,  6;  Jam.  4.  9; — sometimes 
 
 innocent,  Eccl.  3.  4;— of  Sarah,  reproved, 
 
 Gen.  18.  13. 
 LAVER  for  the  tabernacle,  Ex.  30,  17 ;  38.  8  ; 
 
 — ten  lavers  for  tlie  temple,  1  Kings  7.  33 ; 
 
 2  Chr,  4.6. 
 
 LAW  of  Moses  promulgated,  Ex.  20.  1 ;  Deut. 
 5.  6; — to  be  recited  every  seventh  year,  31. 
 9  ; — to  be  studied  and  kept  in  remembrance, 
 
 II.  IS; — intelhgible  and  accessible,  30.  11  ; 
 —a  book  of  it  dehvered  to  the  Lentes,  31. 
 24  ; — to  be  written  on  stones,  27.  1 ; — so- 
 lemnly read  after  the  captivity,  Neh.  8.  1. 
 
 ,  the  ceremonial,  abolished  by  Clnnlst,  Acts 
 
 15.  24  ;  Gal.  3.24;  4.3;  5. 1 ;— is  subservient 
 to  CluTstianity,  Gal,  3.  24 ;  4.  1,  &c. 
 
 ,  the  moral,  not  abolished  by  Christ,  Matt, 
 
 5.  17  ; — has  no  power  to  condemn  behevers, 
 Rom.  7.1;  8.1 ; — when  it  is  good,  1  Tim. 
 1.  8. 
 
 LAWFUL,  things  that  are  so,  not  always  ex- 
 pedient, Matt.  17.  25;  1  Cor.  6.  12;  10.  23. 
 LAWSUITS  to  be  avoided.  Matt,  5.  40;  1  Cor. 
 
 6.  1. 
 
 LAZARUS  raised,  John  11,  41. 
 
 LEBBEUS,  or  Thaddeus,  the  same  with  Judas, 
 the  apostle.  Matt.  10.3;  Mark  3.  18;— the 
 brother  of  Jesus,  6.  3;  Luke  6.  16;  Acts  1. 
 13. 
 
 LEMUEL,  Pr,  31.  1,  &c. 
 
 LENDING  recommended,  Deut.  15.  7;  Ps.  37. 
 26;  112.5;  Matt.  5. 42;  Luke  6.  35;— the 
 house  not  to  be  entered  to  recover  a  thmg 
 lent,  Deut,  24.  10. 
 
 LEPROSY'  to  be  judged  by  the  priest,  Deut. 
 24.  8  ; — laws  concerning  it.  Lev.  13.  1,  &c. ; 
 —how  cleansed,  14,  1,  &c, ;— in  a  garment, 
 13,  47  ;— in  a  house,  14.  33  ; — how  cleansed, 
 48  ; — of  Moses's  hand,  Ex.  4. 6  ; — of  Miriam, 
 Num.  12.  10  ;— of  Naaman,  2  Kings,  5.  1 ; — 
 of  Gehazi,  27  ;— of  Uzziah,  2  Chr.  26.  £0  ;— 
 cured  by  Jesus,  Matt.  8.  2;  Mark  1.  40; 
 Luke  5.  12;  17,  12. 
 
 LETTERS  from  David  to  Joab,  2  Sam.  11.  14; 
 — from  Jezebel  to  the  people  against  Naboth, 
 1  Kings  21.  9; — from  the  kingofSyria  tothe 
 king  of  Israel,  2  Kings  5.  6; — from  Jehu  to 
 the  Samaritans,  10. 1  ;— from  Elisha  to  Jero. 
 boam,  2  Chr.  21. 12; — from  Sennacherib  to 
 Hezekiah.  2  Kings  19.  10,  14;  Is.  37.  4,  14; 
 — from  Bi^hlam,  &c.  to  Artaxerxes,  Ezra  4. 
 7  ;— from  Tatnai  to  Darius,  5. 6 ;— from  San- 
 ballat  to  Nehcmiah,  Neh.  6.  5  ;— from  Nclie- 
 miah  to  Sanballat,  6.  8 ;— from  Jeremiah  to 
 the  captives  at  Babylon,  Jer.  29.  1  ; — from 
 the  apostles  to  the  church  at  .\ntioch.  Acts 
 
 15.  23; — from  Claudius  Lysias  to  Felix.  2.1. 
 
 25. 
 
 LEVI,  the  tribe  of,  separated  from  the  rest  for 
 the  ser\-ice  of  the  sanctuary.  Dent.  10.  8. 
 
 ,  his  descendants,  I  Chr.  6.  1. 
 
 LEVIATII.\N,  Job  41.  1,  &c. 
 
 LEVITES  accepted  instead  of  the  first-bom, 
 Num.3.  12,  40; — numbered,  15; — again  in 
 the  land  of  Moab,  26.  57  ; — their  chai'ge,  18. 
 1 ; — the  offices  of  the  several  families,  3.  23, 
 &c, ;  4.  I,  ^-c; — their  age  in  ser\ice,  4.  3  ;  8 
 23 ;— consecrated,  Num.  8.  5  ; — their  inherit- 
 ance, Deut,  18, 1  ; — their  portion  of  meat,  6  ; 
 — not  to  be  deserted  when  poor,  12.  19; — 
 cities  given  to  them.  Num.  35,  1  ;  Josh,  21. 
 2,  &c. ; — their  genealogies  and  offices,  1  Chr. 
 9.  14; — the  services  appointed  them  by  Da- 
 vid, 23.  24 ;— their  charge  of  the  treasur}-, 
 
 26.  20  ;— their  charge  in  future  time,  Ezek. 
 44.  10. 
 
 LIBERTY,  spiritual,  Ps,  II9.  45;  John  8.  32— 
 34;  Rom,  6.  16—22;  2  Cor.  3.  17;  Gal.  5.  13; 
 
 1  Pet,  2.  16 ;  2  Pet.  2.  19. 
 
 LIFE,  the  value  of  it,  Ps.  49.  8;  Matt.  16.  26; 
 Mark  8.  36  ;  Luke  g.  25  ;— its  brevity,  Job  7. 
 
 6,  7;  9.  25,  26;   10.  20;  14.  1—3;   16.  22;   Ps. 
 
 39.  5  ;  2  Tim.  4.  6;— its  uncertainty.  Gen.  27. 
 
 2  ;  Deut.  28.  66 ;  Ps.119,109;  Prov.  27.  1 ; 
 James  4.  1 3 — 1 6 ;— its  frailty  :  1  Chr.  29.  15; 
 
 Job  6.  12  1  13.12;  17.1;  Ps.'gO.  4—6,  9,  10  ; 
 103,  14—16;    144,  4;    Eccl.  12.  6,  7  ;  1  Pet.  1. 
 
 24 ; — inferences  from  life's  frailty,  A-c,  Job 
 
 4.  17—21;   7.  17,   18;   Ps.  89.  47;   144.  3;   Is. 
 
 2.  22 ; — improvement  made  of  life's  fraalty, 
 &c..  Num.  23.  10;  Deut.  32.  29;  Ps.  90.  12; 
 1  Cor.  7.  30,   31  ;    2  Cor.  4.    16;    Eph.   5.  15; 
 
 Col.  4.  6  ;  Heb.  13.  14  ;— full  of  trouble  and 
 vanity.  Job  5.  7;  14.  1  ;  Eccl.  1.  2;  12,  8. 
 
 ,  long,  promised  as  the  reward  of  virtue, 
 
 Ex.  20.  12  ;  Deut.  5.  33  ;  6.  2 ;  Pr.  3.  2,  16  ; 
 9.  11 ;  10.  27;  —  not  to  be  preferred  to  our 
 duty.  Matt.  10.39;  16.25;  Mark  8.35;  Luke 
 
 9.24;  17.  33;  John  12.  25. 
 
 ,  eternal,  through  Christ,  John  3.  15, 
 
 36;  4.  14;  6.  40;  10.  28;  17.  2;  2  Tun.  1.  10; 
 1  John  4.  9;  5.  11. 
 
 LIGHT,  created.  Gen.  1.  3  ;— shining  on  Paul, 
 Acts  26.  13;— Christ  so  called,  John  1.  9;  8. 
 
 12;  9,  5;  12.35,46. 
 
 LIGHTNING  consumes  the  sacrifices.  Lev.  9. 
 24;  1  Kings  18.  38;  2  Chr,  7.  1 ;— destroys 
 the  enemies  of  David,  2  Sam.  22.  15 ;  Ps.  18. 
 14;— directed  by  God,  Job  23.  26;  37.  3;  38. 
 25;  Ps.  144.  6. 
 
 LION,  slain  by  Samson,  Judg.  14.  5,  18;— by 
 David,    I  Sam.   17,   34 ;— killed  a   prophet, 
 
 1  Kings  13. 24 ; — killed  one  who  did  not  obey 
 a  prophet,  1  Kings  20,  36. 
 
 LOAVES,    a  great  number  fed    by  twenty, 
 
 2  Kings  4.  42;— 5000  fed  by  five.  Matt.  14. 
 15; — 1000  fed  by  seven,  15.  32. 
 
 LOCUSTS,  the  plague  of,  Ex.  10.  4. 
 ,  terrible  judgments  of,  Joel  1.  1, 
 
 &c,  ;2.  1,  kc. 
 LOQUACITY  reproved,  Pr.  10.  8,  19;  12.  16; 
 
 29.  11  ;  Eccl,  5.  3;  10.  14. 
 LORD'S  dai/  observed.  Acts  20.  7 ;  1  Cor.  16. 2  ; 
 
 Rev.  1.  10. 
 supper  instituted.  Matt,  26,  26  ;  Mark 
 
 14.22;   Luke  22.  19;  Acts  2.  42;    1  Cor.  10. 
 
 16  ;  —  the  requisites  to  proper  receiving, 
 
 1  Cor.  11.  28 ;  —  the  disorders  committed 
 therem,  1  Cor.  11,  17;— the  danger  of  un- 
 worthy receiving,  1  Cor,  11.  29. 
 
 prayer.   Matt.   6.   9 — 13;    Luke   11. 
 
 2—4. 
 
 LOT  accompanies  Abraham,  Gen.  12.  5  ; — ^re- 
 sides in  Sodom,  13.  10; — rescued  from  its 
 destruction,  19.  1,  &c, ; — has  sons  by  his 
 daughters,  Gen,  19,  31  ; — vexed  with  theso- 
 ciet)'  of  the  wicked,  2  Pet,  2.7. 
 
 LOTS  disposed  of  by  God,  Pro.  16.  33 ;— cast 
 for  the  scapegoat,  Lev.  16.  8; — to  divide 
 Canaan,  Num.  26,  55  ;— cast  by  Saul,  1  Sam. 
 14.  40; — for  the  garments  of  Jesus,  Matt. 
 
 27.  35 ; — for  the  choice  of  an  apostle.  Acts  1. 
 26, 
 
 LOVE  of  God  to  man.  John  3.16;  Rom.  5.  8  j 
 
 2  Thess,  2.  16;  1  John  3.  1,  16;  4.  9;— to 
 God,  a  duty,  Deut.  6.  5;  10.  12;  11.  1  ;  Josh. 
 22.  5;   23.  11  ;   Ps,  31.  23;   Matt.   22.   37,   38; 
 
 Mark  12.  30  ;  33.  34  ;   1  John  5.  3  ;— its  ad- 
 vantages, Deut,  30.  20  ;  Ps.  91.  14  ;  145.  20  : 
 1  Cor.  8.  3  ; — how  to  be  expressed,  1  John  2. 
 5;  4,  21  ;  5.  3. 
 between  Christ  and  his  church.  Cant. 
 
 1.2,  3,  7,  8,  13,  15,  16  ;  2.  2—6,  14,  10 ;  3. 
 1—4;  4.  7—10,  12,  16;   5.  2,  6,   8,    10,  16;    6. 
 
 3,  4,  9,  10;  7.  10;  8.  6;  Matt.  25.  40,  44,  45, 
 Mark  9.  41,42;  Luke  12.  4;  John  10.  11,  u, 
 
INDEX  TO  THE  PRINCIPAL  PASSAGES 
 
 15.5,  9,  11— U;  IS.  1,  22,  27;  Rom.  8.  35  ; 
 Eph.  5.  2,  23,  25—27.  29,  30  ;  Rev.  1.5:— 
 to  Chri.st,  John  21.  13,  &-C. ;  2  Cor.  5.  14; 
 PhU.  1.  23;  3.  7,  8;  1  Pet.  1.  7,  S;  2.  7 ;— our 
 duty  to  love  him.  Matt.  10.37;  John  15.  9; 
 1  Cor.  16.  22. 
 LOVE,  brotherly.  Lev.  19.  18;  Matt.  22.  39; 
 John  13.34;  15.  12.  17j  Rom.  12.9,  10;  13- 
 8;  1  Cor.  13.  I;  Gal.  5.  6,  13;  6.2;  Col.  3. 
 14:    1  Thess.   3.  12;   4.   9;   Eph.  5.  !;   2.  32; 
 
 Plul.  2.  1 ;  I  Tim.  1.5;  Heb.  13.  I ;  James  2. 
 
 8;  1  Pet.  1.  22  ;  3.  3;  4.  8;    1  John  2.  9;    3. 
 
 10,  23;  4.  7,  11,  20:  2  John  5. 
 ,  the  law  of  the  ffospel,  John  13.  31 ;  15. 
 
 12,  17;  Gal.  6.  2;  1  .lohn  3.23;  4.  21. 
 — . ofmtr  country,  in  Nehemiah,  Neh.  2.3; 
 
 —in  David,   PS.  25.  22;   51.  IS;    122.  6;   124. 
 
 I ;  126.  1  ;  1.37.  5 ;— in  Paul,  Rom.  10.  1. 
 ofthewurtd,  dangerous.  Matt.  fi.  24  ;  13. 
 
 22;  19.  22;  1  Tim.  0.  9;  2  Tim.  4.  10;  James 
 
 1.  27;  4.  4;  1  John  2.  15. 
 LUKEWARMNE.SS  censured,  1  Kings  18.  20  ; 
 
 Matt.  8.  21  i  Luke  9.  29  ;  Acts  26.  29;  Rev. 
 
 3.  15. 
 LUNATICS  cureil.  Matt.  4.  24  ;  1?.  15,  5;c. 
 LUSTS  of  the  llcsh  to  be  repressed,  Matt.  5. 
 
 2Q;  15.  19;  Ron.  8.  13;  1  Cor.  9.  27;  Gal.  5. 
 
 lb,  19;  Col.  3.  5;    1  Pet.  2.  11. 
 .unnatural,   Rom.    1.   26;  Eph.  5.  12; 
 
 1  Thess.  4.  5. 
 LYDIA,  converted.  Acts  16.  14. 
 LYING,  forbidden.  Lev.  19.11;  Prov.  24.  23 ; 
 
 Eph.  4.  25  ;  Col.  3.  9;— general  practice  of, 
 
 PS.  50.  19;  62.  3;  55.20,  21  ;  62.  4;  119.  69; 
 144.  8  ;  Is.  30.  9  ;  Jer.  ?.  8  ;  9.  3,  6  ;  Mic.  6.  12  ; 
 — paiticular  instances  of.  Gen.  4.9;  18.  15  ; 
 
 26.7;  27.  18—20,24;  1  Sara.  21.  1,2;  27. 
 10-12;  2  Kings  5.  21,  22;    Matt.  26.  60,  70  ; 
 
 Mark  14.67— 70;  Luke  22.56—60;  John 
 19.  17,  2.5—27;  Acts  5.  7,  8 :— remarks  on, 
 
 Ps.119.l63;  144.11;  Prov.  10.13;  11.9; 
 13.5;     17.4;    Is.  63.  8;    Zeph.  3.  13  ;    Rom. 
 
 3.  7,  S;— hateful  to  God,  Prov.  6.  16,  17;  12. 
 
 22 ;— penalties  of.  Gen.  27.  12;   Ps.  63.  11 ; 
 
 120.3,4;  Prov.   12.  19,  22;  20.   17;  Jer.  9. 
 
 8,  9;   50.  36;   Acts  5.  9. 
 LYSIA.S,  Acts  21.  31  :  23.  23,  26,  33. 
 LYSTRA,  Acts  14.  U. 
 
 MAGICIANS,  sent  for  to  interpret  Pharaoh's 
 
 dreams.  Gen.  41.  8 ;— oppose  Moses,  Ex.  7. 
 
 11,  22  ;  8.  7  }— confounded,  18  ;— of  Babylon 
 
 sent  for  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  Dan.  2.  2. 
 MAGISTRATES,  to  be  respected,  Ex.  22.  29  ; 
 
 Deut.  1".  8,  &c. ;  Acts  23. 5  ;— heathen,  to  be 
 
 obeyed  by  Christians,  Rom.  13.  1,3;  Tit.  3. 
 
 1 ;  1  Pet.  2.  13; — not  a  terror  to  the  good, 
 
 but  to  the  evil,  4.  7. 
 MAIMED  person/t  cured.  Matt.  15.  31. 
 MALICE  forbidden.  Gen.  34.  7,  25  ;  37.  5,  18  ; 
 
 Pro.  17.  5;  24.17;  20.  24;  Mark  6. 17;  1  Cor. 
 
 5.  8;  14.  20;  Eph.  4.  31;  Col.  3.  6;  Tit.  3.  3; 
 
 1  Pet.  2.  1,  16. 
 of  Cain  to  Abel,  Gen.  4.  8 ;— of  Esau 
 
 to  Jacob,  27.  41  ;— of  Saul  to  David,  1  Sam. 
 
 19.  10  ;— of  Joab  to  .Abner,  2  Sam.  3.  2"  ; — 
 
 of  Haman  to  Mordecai,  Esth.  3.  6;— of  the 
 
 scribes  and  Pharisees  to  Jesus,  Mark  11.  18, 
 
 &c. 
 MAMMON,  or  riches,  not  to  be  made  a  chief 
 
 object  of  pmsuit.  Matt.  0.  24  ;  Luke  16.  9, 13. 
 M.VNASSEH,   his  inheritance.   Josh.  13.  29; 
 
 17.  1  ;— his  descendants,  1  Chr.  7.  14 ;— the 
 
 chief  men  of  the  half  tribe,  5.  23 ; — conquered 
 
 by  Pul,  king  of  Assyria,  26. 
 ,  bing  of  Juddh,  particular  events 
 
 of  his  reign,  2  Kings  21.  1 ;   2  Chr.  33.  1,  U, 
 
 13,  20, 
 MANNA,   Exod.  16.  11,  31  ;  Num.  11.  7i   Ps. 
 
 78.  24  ; — hidden,  promised.  Rev.  2.  17. 
 MANOAH,  Jndg.  13.  2. 
 MAN-SLAUGH  lEB,    Exod.    21.    18;    Num. 
 
 35.  22  ;  Deut.  19.4;  Josh.  20.  I . 
 MAN-STEALING,  E-xod.  21.  16;  Deut.  24.  7. 
 MARAH,  Exod.  15.  23. 
 MARK,  particulai-s  respecting  llim,  Acts  12. 
 
 25;  15.  38. 
 
 M.\RRIAGE,  the  human  race  formed  for  it. 
 Gen.  5.2;  Matt.  19.  4  ;  Mark  10.  6 ;— insti- 
 tuted. Gen.  2.  21— 2;l;    Matt.  19.  6;    Mark 
 
 10.  7,  8;— indissoluble.  Matt.  19.  5:  Rom. 
 7.  2,  3  ;  1  Cor.  6. 16  ;  Eph.  5. 31  ;— prohibited 
 marriages.  Lev.  13.6—19;  Deut.  7.  3,  4 ; 
 Ezra  10.  1  ;  Neh.  13.  23  •,— lawful  for  Chris- 
 tians, 1  Cor.  7.  38;  ITim.  5.  14;  Ileb.  13.4; 
 -and  for  miiusters,  1  Cor.  9.  5 ;— not  allow- 
 able with  unbelievers,  Deut.  7 .  3,  4  ;  1  Kings 
 
 11.  1—4;  21.  25;  2  Cor.  6.  14- 16;  — not 
 advisable  in  times  of  persecution,  1  Cor. 
 7.  1,  7i  26  ;— none  in  heaven,  Matt.  22.  30  ; 
 
 1380 
 
 Mark  12.25;  Luke  20.  35  ;— attended  with 
 feasting.  Gen.  29.  22  ;  Matt.  22.  3  ;  John  2. 
 1 ;— the  happiness  of  a  suitable  one.  Pro.  12. 
 4;  18.22;  19.14;  31.10,  &c. ;— the  misery 
 of  an  unsuitable  one.  Pro.  12.4;  19.  13;  21. 
 
 9,  19;  25.  24  ;  27.  15. 
 
 MARTHA,  the  sister  of  Lazarus,  particulars 
 respecting  her,  Luke  10.  38;  John  11.  I,  20; 
 
 MARTYRDOM  of  Stephen,  Acts7.  57;  — of 
 James,  12.2;— ofthe  ancients, Heb.  11.13,36. 
 
 MARY,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  particulars  re- 
 specting her.  Matt.  1.18;  12.46;  Mark  3. 
 31;    Luke  1.26;    8.  19;    John  19.  25;   Acts 
 
 1.  14. 
 Magdalen.  Matt.  28.  1.  9;  Mark  16.  1, 
 
 9;  Luke  8.  2;  John  20.  14. 
 ,  tlwsister  of  Lazarus.  Matt.  26. 7 ;  Mark 
 
 14.  3;  Luke  10.  39;  John  12.  3. 
 ,  the  wife  ofCleophiis.  Mark  15.  40 ;  Jolm 
 
 19.25. 
 ,  the  mother  of  John  and  Mark,  Acts  12. 
 
 12. 
 MASTERS,  their  dut>-.  Gen.  18.  19;  Exod.  20. 
 
 10;   Lev.  ig.  12;  25.  43,  46,  53;   Deut.24.14, 
 
 15;    Josh.  24.  15;     Job  31.  13;    Jer.   22.    13; 
 
 Mai.  3.  5 ;  Matt.  8.  5  ;  Luke  7.  2 ;  Acts  10.2; 
 
 Col.  4.  1 ;  Eph.  6.  9  i  James  5.  4. 
 MATTHEW,  his  call.  Matt.  9.  9i  Mark  2.  14; 
 
 Luke  5.  27. 
 MATTHIAS  chosen.  Acts  1.  26. 
 ME-\T-OFFERING,  Lev.  2.  1;  6,   11;   Num. 
 
 15.  1. 
 MEATS,   Lev.  11.   1;   Deut.  14.  3,  &c. ;  Acts 
 
 15.  29  ;  Rom.  14.  2,  6,  1  I,  20  ;  1  Cor.  8.  8, 
 10:   10.  25;   Col.  2.  IS;    1  Tim.  4.  3. 
 
 MEDES,  Is.  21.  2. 
 
 MEDIATOR,  1  Sam.  2.25;  Job  9.  33  ;   ITim. 
 
 2.  5;  Heb.  S.  6:  9.  15;  12.  24. 
 MEDITATION,  Gen.  24.  63;    Ps.  1.2;  4.  4; 
 
 77.   12;   107.   43;     119-    15.  78,  97.   148;    143. 
 5;  Prov.  4.26. 
 MEEKNESS,  Gal.  5.  22,  23;  6.  1  ;   Eph.  4.  1, 
 2  ;  5.9;   1  Tim.  6.   1 1  ;  2  Tim.  2.  25  ;    Eph. 
 5.  9;- benefits  of  it,  Ps.  25.  8;  37.  11  ;  147. 
 
 6  ;    149.  4  ;    Prov.  3.  34  ;   Isa.  57.   15;  66.  2  ; 
 
 Matt. 5. 5;  11.29;  Col.  3.  12;  James  3.  13  ; 
 
 —examples  of  it.  Gen.  13.  8;  Num.  12.  3; 
 
 1  Kings  22.  21 ;  Jer.  26.  14  ;— in  Christ,  Isa. 
 
 53.  7  ;    Matt.  11.  29  :  John  8.  19,  &c. 
 MELCHIZEDEC,  Gen.  14.  18;  Heb.  6.  6;   7. 
 
 1,  2,  15. 
 MELITA,  Paul  sliipwrecked  there.  Acts  23.  1, 
 
 &c. 
 MENAHEM,  king  of  Israel,  2  Kings  15.  14  ;— 
 
 dies,  22. 
 MEPHIBOSHETH,   2  Sam.  9.  1;   16.  I;   19. 
 
 24. 
 
 MERCY  of  God,  Exod.  20.  6;  34.  6;  2  Sam. 
 
 24.  14;  Ps.  .57.  10;  86.  5;  100.  5;  103.  8;  119. 
 
 64;  Isa.  1.  18;  Eph.  2.  4;    1  Pet.  1.3. 
 MFRCY',  the  duty  of  man,  Prov.  3.  3 ;  Zech. 
 
 7.  9  ;   Luke  6.  36  ;   10.  30,  &c.  ;     Rom.  12.  8  ; 
 
 Col.  3.  12 ;  James  i.  17 ;— the  reward  of  it, 
 
 Ps.  37.  26;    112.  4,  &C.;    Prov.  3.  4  ;   11.  17; 
 
 16.  6;  21.  21  ;  Isa.  58.  6;    Matt.  5.  7;    Luke 
 
 6.  35;  James  2.  13. 
 MICAH,  his  images,  Judg.  17. 1,  &c.;— robbed, 
 
 18.  18;— Micahthe  prophet,  Jer. 26. 18;  Mic. 
 
 I.  1. 
 MICHAEL,  Dan.  10.  13;  12. 1;— Judeg;  Rev. 
 
 12.  7. 
 MICHAL,  particulars  respecting  her,  1  Sam. 
 
 18.  20;  19.   12;  26.44;  2  Sam.  3.  13;  6.  16, 
 
 20. 
 MIDIANITES   to  be  vexed  for  enticmg  the 
 
 Israelites  to  the  worship  of  Baal-peor,  Num. 
 
 25.  17  ;— defeated,  31.  1  ;— oft'eruig  alter  the 
 
 victory  over  them.  Num.  31.  48;— oppress 
 
 the  Israelites,  Judg.  6.1;  —  conquered  by 
 
 Gideon,  7.  16;  8.  17,  28. 
 MILETUS.  Paul's  address  there.  Acts  20.  18. 
 MINISTERS,   duties  of,   in  various  circum- 
 stances,  Matt.  23.  3  ;  Rom.    2.    21  ;  12.  7  , 
 
 1  Cor.   4.  2;     6.   3,  4  ;     9.    16,    19;     10.    33; 
 
 2 Cor.  6.3,4;  Gal.  6.  1  ;  PhU.  1.20;  Col.  4. 
 4;  1  Thess.  2.  2;  10;  U;  2 Thess.  3.  7; 
 ITim.  3.  3;  4.6,  13;  5.  17,  20  ;  6.  11  ;2Tim. 
 
 2  4,  24,  25;  4.  2;  Tit.  1.?,  13;  2.  7.  15; 
 Heb.  13.    17  ;     1  Pet.  5.  2,  3  ;    2  Pet.  1.12;- 
 
 Christian,  in  what  light  to  be  considered, 
 1  Cor.  4.  1  ;  2  Cor.  5. 20 ;  6. 1 ;— to  have  a  re- 
 gular calling.  John  10. 1  ;  Acts  26.  16  ;  I  Tim. 
 4  14-  Tit.  1.  5;  —  respect  due  to  them, 
 Matt.'lO.  40;  Luke  10.  16;    John   13.  20; 
 
 1  Cor.  16.  10,  16;  Phil. 2.  29;  lThess.4.B; 
 5.  12;  1  Tim.  5.  17;  Heb.  13.  7,  1/;— main- 
 tenance due  to  them.  Matt.  10.10;  Luke  10. 
 7 ;    1  Cor.  9.  7 ;   Gal.  6.  6 ;  1  Thess.  2.  6 ; 
 
 2  Thess.  3.  9;  1  Tim.  5.  18  :  2Tim.  2.  6. 
 
 MIRIAM,  particulars  respecting  her,  Exod. 
 
 15.  20;  Num.  12.  14  :  2U.  1. 
 MIRTH,    unseasonable,   reproved,   Prnv.    H. 
 
 13;  25.   20;    Eccl.   2.    1  ;     7.  2 ;— sometimes 
 
 allowable,  Eccl.  3.  4. 
 MITRE,  Ex.28.  36;  39.30. 
 MOAB  bora.  Gen.  19.  37. 
 MOABITES,    partictilars    respecting    them, 
 
 Deut.  23.  3;  2  Sam.  8.  2  ;  2  Kings  I.I;  3. 
 
 24,27;    Isa.  15.  1,   &C. ;     16.  1  ;     Jer.   48.    1; 
 
 Ezek.  25. 8 ;  Amos  2. 1 ;  Zeph.  2.8;  Jer.  43.47. 
 MODER.^TION,  1  Cor   7.  29,  31  ;  Philip.  4.  5. 
 MODESTY,  Eph.  5.  3,  4  ;  1  Tim.  2.  9. 
 MOLOCH,  Lev.  18.  21 ;  20.  2. 
 MONEY,  1  Tim.  6.  10. 
 MOON  stood  still.  Josh.  10.  12  ;— an  object  of 
 
 idolatrous  worship,  Deut.  17.  3;  Job  31.  26; 
 
 Jer.  44.  17. 
 MORDECAI,  events  relating  to  him,  Esth.  2. 
 
 5,  21  ;   4.  1  ;  6.  6;  8.  1,  15;  10.  3. 
 MORTIFICATION,   Eccl.   7-  2;  Mark  8.34; 
 
 1  Cor.  9.  25  ;  Gal.  6.  14  ;  Col.  3.  5. 
 MOSES  born,  Exod.  2.  2  ;— saved  by  Pha- 
 raoh's danghter,  5  ;  —  slays  an  Egj-ptian, 
 12;— flees  to  Midian,  15;— God  appears  to 
 him  in  the  bush,  3.  2— in  Midian,  4.  19; — 
 returns  to  Egypt,  20  ; — circumcises  his  son, 
 25 ; — meets  Aaron,  27 : — his  rod  turned  into 
 a  serpent  before  Pharaoh.  10  ; — his  song,  15. 
 I,  &c. ;— goes  up  to  Mount  Sinai,  24.  1 ; — 
 builds  an  altar,  4 ;— fasts  forty  days,  18;— 
 sees  the  glory  of  God,  34.  5  ;— a  second  time 
 fasts  fort)'  days,  28  ;— his  face  shines,  29  ;— 
 complains  of  his  charge.  Num.  11.  10; — 
 smites  the  rock,  20. 7  ;— his  farewell  address 
 to  the  Israelites,  Deut.  1. 1,  S:c. ;— his  warn- 
 ing concerning  their  future  disobedience, 
 31.  29;— his  song,  32;— blesses  the  tribes, 
 33 ; — not  permitted  to  cross  the  Jordan,  3. 
 26 ; — views  the  land  of  Canaan  from  Mount 
 Nebo,  34. 1 ;— dies,  5 ;— his  age,  7 ;— character, 
 10  ;— his  prayer,  Ps.po  ;— the  Israelites  rcprc. 
 seuted  as  being  baptized  to  him,l  Cor.  10.1. 
 MOURNING  for  Jacob.Gcn.  50. 3;— for. \aron. 
 Num.  20.  29  ;— for  Moses,  Deut.  34.8;— of 
 David  for  ids  child,  2  Sam.  12.  16;— ol  the 
 king  of  Israel  for  the  famine  ui  Samaria, 
 2  Kiugs  6.  30  ;— of  David  for  Saul  and  Jona- 
 than, 2  Sam.  1.  1 1  ;— for  Abner,  3.  31 ;— for 
 Absalom,  18.  33.  S:c. ;— for  his  friend,  Ps. 
 35.  13;— of  the  Israelites  after  the  ilestruc- 
 tion  of  Jerusalem,  Lam.  2.  10  ;— of  Darius  on 
 the  condemnation  of  Daniel,  Dan.  6.  18. 
 for  sin  the  evidence  of  repent- 
 ance, Ps.  33.  6;  51.2;  Matt.  5.  4;  1  Cor.  5. 
 2  ;  James  4.  9. 
 MULTITUDE  not  lo  be  followed  to  do  evil, 
 
 Exod.  23.  2  ;  Matt.  7.  13- 
 MURDER  forbidden,  Exod.  20.  13;  Deut.  5. 
 I7;_punishable  with  death.  Gen.  9.  6; — 
 laws  relating  to  it.  Num.  35.  30;  Lev. '24. 17; 
 —of  ."Vbel,  Gen.  4.  8 ;— of  Gideon's  sons, 
 Judg.  9.  5,  24  ;— of  Abner,  2  Sam.  3.  27 ;— of 
 Amasa,  20.  8  ;— of  Baasha,  1  Kings  16.  9;— 
 of  Naboth,  21.  8  ;— of  Zechariah,  2  Chr.  24. 
 21  ;— of  Zechariah,  Uijig  of  Israel,  2  Kings  15. 
 10  : — of  Anion,  21.  23. 
 MURMURING,  I  Cor.  10.  10;  PhU.  2.  14; 
 Jude  16;— of  the  Israelites  in  Egypt,  Exod. 
 5.20;  14.11  ;— at  Marah,  15.  23  ;— at  Sin,  for 
 want  of  bread,  16.  2  ;— for  water,  17.  2;— at 
 Taberah,  Nmn.  11.  1 ;— at  the  report  of  the 
 spies,  14.  1 ;— after  the  death  of  Korah,  &c., 
 16.  41  ;— loathing  manna,  &c.,  21.  5. 
 MUSIC,  vocal,  1  Sam.  18.  7  ;  Ps.  81.  1 ;  98.  4  ; 
 
 lChr.15.22;  25.7;  Neh.11.23;  12.23, 
 29,42,45,46;  1  Cor.  14.  15;— singmg  psalms 
 and  hymns,  I  Chr.  16.  7;  Ps.  106.  2;  Matt. 
 26.  30;  Mark  14.  26;  Eph.  5.  19;  Col.  3.  16; 
 James  5.  13. 
 
 MUSICAL  instnimentfi  invented,  Gen.  4.  21  ; — 
 regulated  for  the  national  worship  by  David, 
 1  Chr.  16.  42  ;  2  Clu-.  29.  25  ;-to  be  used  in 
 praising  God,  Ps.  33.  2;  81.  2;  92.  3 ;  108. 
 2 ;  150.  3  ;— their  effect  on  Saul,  1  Sam.  16. 
 14,  23  ;— many  of  them  used  in  Babylon  ia 
 idolatrous  worship,  Dan.  3.  5,  10,  15. 
 
 MYSTERY,  meanuig  the  calling  of  the  Gen- 
 tiles, Eph.  3.3;  Col.  1.  26. 
 
 .'MYSTERIES  not  to  be  too  curiously  pryed 
 into,  Deut.  29.  29;  Acts  1.  7  ;  1  Pet.  1.12. 
 
 NAAMAN,  2  Kings  5.  14. 
 
 NABAL,  parHculars  respecting  him,  1  Sam.  25. 
 
 NABOTH  murdered  by  the  contrivance  of  Je- 
 zebel, 1  Kings  21.  1,  S:c. 
 
 NADAB  and  Mihu  slain.  Lev.  10.  1,  &c. 
 
 ,  hhig  of  Israel,  particulars  of  his  reign, 
 
 1  Kings  14>->0;  15.27. 
 
IN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 NAHASH,  the  Ammonite,  I  Sam.  U.  1 ;— de- 
 feated, 11. 
 NAHOR,  Gen.  22.  20. 
 NAME,  value  of  a  {jood  one,  Prov.  15.  30j  22. 
 
 1  ;  Eccl.  7.  1  ;— how  to  be  obtained,  Ps.  112. 
 6;  Prov.  10.  7. 
 
 . of  God  to  be  reverenced,  Exod.  20.  7  i 
 
 Lev.  19.  12  ;  Ps.  lU.  9;  Matt.  6.  g. 
 
 of  Jrsu.s  to  be  reverenced,  Phil.  2.  10  ; — 
 
 prayer  ti>  be  made  in  it,  John  14.  13  ;  Ifi.  23  ; 
 Rom.  1.8;  Eph.  5.  20;  Col.  3.  17;  Heb.  13. 
 
 15  ;   1  Pet.  2.5. 
 
 NAMES  given  for  special  reasons,  of  Noah, 
 Gen.  5.  29;— of  Abraham,  17-  5  ;— of  Sarah, 
 15;— of  Isaac,  19;  21.  6;— of  Jacob's  sons, 
 29.  33,  &e. :— of  Maher-shalal-hash-baz,  Is. 
 8.  1  ;  Lo-nihamah,  Hos.  1.6  ;— ofthe  Baptist, 
 Luke  I.  7.  i;i;— of  Jesus,  Matt.  1.  21. 
 
 NAOMI,  Ruth  l.fi. 
 
 NAPHTALI,  his  inheritance,  Josh.  19.  32j— 
 his  descendants,  1  Chr.  7.  13. 
 
 NATHAN,  the  prophet,  2  Sam.  7.  3  ;  12. 1. 
 
 NATHANIEL,  John  1.  45. 
 
 NAZARITES,  Num.  6.  2,  Xc. 
 
 NEBUCHADNEZZAR,  remarkable  events  of 
 his  reign,  2  Chr.  36.  (},   tO;   Ezek.  21.  19; 
 
 2  Chr.  313.  19;  Dan.  2.  1,  ('\;c. ;  3.  1,  ike.  -,  4. 
 5;  2.  47;  3.  '2S;  4.  37;  4.  30,  33,  35 ;— pre- 
 diction of  his  conquests,  Jer.  27.  6. 
 
 NEHEMIAH,  chief  events  in  his  life,  Neh.  1. 
 
 1,  5,  &c.;  2.  I,  9,  17;  5.  6. 
 NEIGHBOUR  to  be  loved,  Lev.  19.  18  ;  Matt. 
 
 22.  39  ;  Mark  12.  33  ;  James  2.  8. 
 NEW  creature.  2  Cor.  5.  17;    Col.  3.  9,  U  ; 
 
 Eph.  4.  22—21;    2  Pet.  1.  4. 
 
 monnj;,  Nmn.  28.  1 1. 
 
 NICODEMUS,  John  3.  1  ;   7-  50;   ig.  39. 
 
 NICOLAITANS,  Rev.  2.  0,  15. 
 
 NIMROD,  Geii.  10.  8. 
 
 NINEVEH,  particulars  respecting,  Nah.  1(2; 
 
 3;  Jon.  3.  3,  10. 
 NOAH,  particulars  respecting  him,  Gen.  5.28  ; 
 
 6.  8;  7-  1  ;  H-  1  ;  9.  21,  28;  10.  1  ;  Ezek.  14.  14. 
 NUPTIAL  entertainments.  Gen.  29.22;  Judg. 
 
 14.  10,  11 ;  Matt.  9.  14,  15;  John  2.  1,  2. 
 
 OATHS,  to  be  stiictlj'  performed,  Num.  30.  2; 
 Ps.  15.  4  ;  Matt.5.33;— false  ones  condemned, 
 Lev.  6.  3;  19.12;  Jer.  7.  9  J  Ezek.  17.  15; 
 Zech.  5,  4  ;  8.  17  ;   Mai.  3.  5. 
 
 ,  light  ones  not  to  be  taken,  Exod.  20. 
 
 7  ;  Lev.  19.  12  ;  Zech.  5,  3 ;  Matt.  5.  34  ;  23. 
 10;  James  5.  12. 
 
 taken  by  lifting  up  the  hand  to  God, 
 
 Gen.  14.  22; — putting  tbe  hand  under  the 
 thigh,  24.  2;  47.  29;— by  tlie  name  of  God, 
 Deut.  6.  13. 
 
 ,  e.r>twp!es,  of  God,  to  Abraham,  Gen. 
 
 22.  16;  Heb.  6.  13  ;— against  Amalek,  Exod. 
 17.  16; — against  Moses,  Deut  4.  21  ;— against 
 the  house  ot  Eli,  1  Sam.  3.  14  ;— to  David, 
 2  Sam.  3.9;  Ps.  89.  35;  110.  4  ;— against  the 
 Israelites,  95.  11  ;  — against  the  Assp-ians, 
 Isa.  14.24; — for  the  restoration  of  Israel, 
 54.  9;  O2.  8;  — against  the  Jews  going  to 
 Egypt,  Jer.  41.  -jG. 
 
 imposed  on  Abraham's  ser\'ant,  Gen. 
 
 24.  3  ;— on  Joseph  by  Jacob,  47.  31  ;  50.  5  ;— 
 on  the  Israelites  by  Joseph,  50.  25. 
 
 required  in  case  of  a  pledge,  Exod.  22, 
 
 11  ; — of  a  wife  suspected  of  adultei-y,  Num. 
 5.  21  ; — ofthe  spies  of  Rahwb,  Jos^h.  2.  U  ;— 
 mentioned  in  the  prayer  of  Solomon,  1  Kings 
 8.  31  ; — in  favour  of  Joash,  by  the  high  priest, 
 2  Kings  11.  4; — of  the  priests  and  LevJtes, 
 by  Ezra,  Ezra  10.  5  ;  — by  Nehemiah,  Neh. 
 5.  12; — of  the  people,  10.  29; — of  Jesus,  by 
 the  high  priest.  Matt.  26.  63. 
 
 talccn  voluiiturilp  by  Isaac  and  Abi- 
 
 melech,  Gen.  21.  31  ;— by  Jacob  to  Laban, 
 Gen.  31.  53; — by  Moses,  Josh.  14.  9; — by 
 David  and  Jonathan,  1  Sam.  20.  42 ;— by 
 Saul  to  the  witch  of  Endor,  28. 10  ;— by  Da\id, 
 Ps.  132.  2; — ;or  rather  appeals)  by  Paul, 
 Rom.  1.  9  ;  2  Cor.  l.  18,  23;    11.  31  ;  Gal.  I. 
 
 20  ;   I  Thess.  2.  5,  10. 
 ,   rash  ones,  by  Esau  to  Jacob,  Gen. 
 
 25.  33  ; — by  the  Israehtes  to  the  Gibeonites, 
 Josh.  9.  19;— by  Jephthah,  Judg.  11.30;— 
 (or  adjuration)  by  the  high  priest  to  Jesus, 
 Matt.  2'i.  (j.i ;— by  the  IsraeUtes  in  Mizpeh, 
 21.  1  ;— by  Saul,  1  Sam.  14.  24,  39.  44 ;— by 
 Herod  to  the  daughter  of  Herodias,  Matt. 
 14.  7,  9. 
 
 OBADIAH,  1  Kings  IS.  3,  7. 
 OBED-EDOM,  2  Sam.  6.  10 ;  1  Chr.  13.  14. 
 OBEDIENCE,  the  rewards  of  it,  Lev.  25.  18 ; 
 
 26.  3,  &c.  ;   Dent.  11.  13,  22  ;   28.   I,  ScC;    30. 
 
 I,  S:c. ;— with  threatenings  in  case  of  disobe- 
 dience, Deut.  8.  1,  ^c;  29.  g,  &c.;  — must 
 
 be  universal,  2  Cor.  7.  1  ;  James  2.  10, 11 ; — 
 better  than  sacrifice,  1  Sam.  15.  22;  Ps.  50. 
 8  ;  51.  IG;  Pro.  15.  8  ;  Isa.  1.  11,  &c. ;  Jer. 
 7.  21  ;  Hos.  6.  6;  Amos  5.  22;  Mic.  6.6; 
 Matt.  9.  13;  12.  7. 
 
 OFFENCES  to  be  avoided.  Matt.  5,  29;  18.  7, 
 ,■^0.;— not  to  be  given,  1  Cor.  8.  9;  9- 19, 'tc; 
 10.  32; — how  to  behave  when  they  occur, 
 Pro.  25.  9;  Matt.  18.  15. 
 
 OFFERINGS  to  be  according  to  ability,  1  Chr. 
 29.  13,  ftc;  Ezras.  69;  Mark  12.43;  2Cor. 
 H.  12  ;  I  Tim.  6.  17  ;— for  the  tabernacle,  Ex. 
 35.  4,  See. ;— for  its  dedication,  Num.  7.  1  ;— 
 of  David  for  the  temple,  1  Chr.  29.  2.  Sec.  ;— 
 ofthe  primitive  Christians,  Acts  4.  34, 
 
 of  sacrijices  to  be  without  blem- 
 ish. Lev.  22.  21. 
 
 of  the  wicked,   an  abomination. 
 
 Pro.  15.8;  21.  27;  Isa.  1.  13. 
 
 OG,  Num.  21.  33;  Deut.  3.  1  ;  31.4;  Josh.  2. 
 10;  13.  31  ;  1  Kings  4.  19. 
 
 OIL,  for  the  use  of  the  sanctuaiy,  Exod.  27. 
 20  ;  Lev.  24.  1 ;— for  anointing,  Exod.  30.  22  ; 
 37.  29  ; — of  the  widow,  not  failing,  l  Kings 
 17.  14  ;— multiphed  2  Kings  4.  4  ;— used  as  a 
 medicine,  Luke  10.  31 ;— applied  to  the  sick, 
 James  5.  1 4. 
 
 OLD  age  to  be  respected,  Lev.  19.  32;  1  Tim. 
 5.  1 ; — what  renders  it  valuable  and  vener- 
 able, Pro.  20.  29  ;— the  infirmities  of  it,  Ecci. 
 12.  1,  &c. ;— the  duty  reqiured  of  it,  Tit.  2.  2. 
 
 of  the  antediluvians.  Gen.  5.  l,  &c. ; 
 
 — of  Abraham,  25.  7  ; — of  Isaac,  35.  20  ; — of 
 Jacob,  47.  28  ; — of  Joseph,  50.26  ; — of  Moses, 
 Deut.  34.  7  ;— of  Caleb,  Josh.  14.  10. 
 
 OMNIPOTENCE  of  Gnd.      1 
 
 OMNIPRESENCE  of  God.    f-See  God. 
 
 OMNISCIENCE  of  God.       J 
 
 OMRI,  king  of  Israel,  account  of  his  reign, 
 
 1  Kings  Ifi.  21,  24,  28. 
 ONE.SIMUS,  Pliilem.  10;  Col.  4.  9. 
 ONESIPHORl'S,  2  Tim.  I.  16. 
 OPPOSERS,  liowto  treat  them,   Luke  9.  54 ; 
 
 2  Thess.  3.  14  ;  2  Tim.  2.  24. 
 OPPRESSION  forbidden,  Exod.  22.  21 ;  Ps.  12. 
 
 5;  Pro.  22.  16,  22;   Jer.  22.  1?;  Ezek.  22.  29; 
 Mic.  2.  2  ;   Zech.  7-  10  ;   Mai.  3.  5. 
 ORDINATION,  Mark  3.  14;   Acts  1.22;  6.3; 
 1  Tim.  4.  14;  5.  22;  2  Tim.  2.  2;  Tit.  1.5;— 
 
 not  to  be  lieedlessiy  given.  Acts  6.  3  ;  I  Tim. 
 
 3.  10;   5.  22. 
 ORN.VMENTS  given  by  Abraham's  servant  to 
 
 Rebekah,    Gen.   24.   22  ;— ear-riugs,   35.   4  ; 
 
 Exod.  32.  2; — of  Solomon's  bride,  Cant.   1. 
 
 10  ;— used  by  the  Israelitish  women,  Isa.  3. 
 
 IS,  &c. ;— remarks  on  them,  1  Pet.  3.  3,  &c. 
 ORPHANS,  charge  concernhig  them,    Exod. 
 
 22.  22;   Deut.  10.  18;  24.  17;  2?.  19;   Job  22. 
 
 9;  31.  17;  Pro.  23.  10;  Isa.  1.  17,  23;  James 
 
 1.  27;— protected  of  God,  Ps.  10.  14,  18;   68. 
 
 5  ;  146.  9;  Pi'o.  23.  11. 
 OSTENTATION  to  be  avoided.   Pro.  25,  14; 
 
 27.  2;  Matt.  6.  1. 
 OSTRICH  described.  Job  39.  13. 
 OTHNIEL,  Judg.  1.  II  ;  3.  9. 
 OX,  that  gores,  the  law  concerning  it,  Exod. 
 
 21.  28,  33  ;— of  an  enemy  to  be  restored,  23. 
 
 4  ;  Deut.  22.  1  ; — that  treads  the  corn  not  to 
 
 be  muzzled,  Deut.  25.  4;  1  Cor.  10.  9. 
 
 PALSIES  cured.  Matt.  4.  24  ;  8.  6 ;  9-  2 ;  Luke 
 5.  18:  Acts  8.  7;  9.  33. 
 
 PARADISE  of  Adam,  Gen.  2.  8. 
 
 promised  to  the  penitent  thief, 
 
 Luke  23.  33  ;— Paul  caught  up  to,  2  Cor.  12. 
 4  ;— the  tree  of  life  in  it.  Rev.  2.  7. 
 
 PARABLE,  Jotham's,  Judg.  g.  7;— Nathan's, 
 2Sam.  12. 1  ; — brothers  striving,!  4.  1;— ofthe 
 prisoner  of  war,  I  Kings  20.  39 ;— of  tlie  this- 
 tle, 2  Kings  14.  9;— of  the  fruitless  vineyard, 
 Isa.  5.  1 ;— eagles  and  vine,  Ezek.  17.  3; — 
 j      lioness,  19.  1. 
 
 PARABLES,  Christ's  ;  house  on  rock  anu  sand, 
 Matt.  7.  24  ;— unclean  spirit.  Matt.  12.  !,  3; 
 Luke  11.24  ;— sower.  Matt.  13.3;  Mark  4.  3  ; 
 Luke  8.  5;  — tares.  Matt.  13.  24; — grain  of 
 mustard-seed,  13.  31  ;  Maik  4.  30  ;  Luke  13. 
 13;— leaven.  Matt.  13.  33;  Luke  13.20;— 
 hidden  treasure,  Matt.  1 3. 44  ;— pearl  of  price, 
 Matt.  13.  45  ;— net.  Matt.  13.  47;— unmerci- 
 ful servant,  18.  23; — labourers,  20.  l  ;— two 
 sons,  21.  28; — wicked  husbandmen,  33; 
 Mark  12.  1  ;  Luke  20.  9; — marriage  feast. 
 Matt.  22.  I;  Luke  14.  16; — wedding  gar- 
 ment. Matt.  22.  II; — ten  virgins,  25.  1  ;— 
 — talents,  14; — seed  springing  up,  Mark  4. 
 26  ;— creditor  and  debtors,  Luke  7.  41;— good 
 Samaritan,  10.30  ;--richfool,  12.  13;— baiTen 
 fig-tree, 13.6  ;— lost  sheep,  15.4  ;— lost  money, 
 8;— prtidigal,  11 ;— unjubt  stewai'd,  id.  1  ;— 
 
 Lazarus,  19;— servant  returning  from  the 
 field,  17.  7;— importvmate widow, 18.1;— Pha- 
 risee and  publican.  18.10;— ten  pounds  19.11. 
 PARABLES,  remarks  on,  Prov,  26.  7.  9- 
 PARDON  promised,  Ps.  65.  3;  130.4,  8;  Is.  1. 
 18;  43.  25;  Jer.  33.  8;  50.20;  MlC.  7-  '9; 
 Luke  24.  47;  Acts  5.  31;  Heb.  8.  12;  10.  17, 
 1 8 ;— instances  of,  Num.  14.  30;  Ps.  65.  2, 
 3;   99.  8;   103.  12;   Is.  45.  22;    1  Tim.    1.  U; 
 
 1  John  2.  12;— felicity  of,  i's.  32.  1,2;  13.33. 
 21;   38.  17;   40.  1,  2  ;   Rom.  4.  7,  **■ 
 
 PARENTS  to  be  honoured,  Exod.  20.  12;  2i. 
 
 15,  17;  Lev.  20.  9;  Deut.  5.  16;  Prov.  20.20; 
 
 Eph.  6.  2. 
 ,  their  duty,  1  Sam.  3.  13 ;  Ps.  78.  5  ; 
 
 Prov.  13.   24;    19-  18;   22.  6,    15;  23.    13,    14; 
 
 29.  15,  17;  Joel   1.  3;   2  CoF.  12,  14;  Eph.  6. 
 
 4;   Col.  3.  21  ;    1  Tim.  5.  8. 
 ^  ea-um/Ve.s,  of  Abraham,  Gen.  18.19; 
 
 —of  David,  I  Clu-.  23.  9 ;— of  Job,  Job  1.5; 
 
 —of  Lemuel,  Prov.  31.1  ;— of  the  parents  of 
 
 Timothv,  2  Tim.  1.  5;  3.  15. 
 PARRICIDE  punishable  with  death,  Exod.  21. 
 
 l5;— bythe  sons  of  Sennacherib,  2  Kings  19. 
 
 PARTIALITY   to  be  avoided,   Matt.  22.  16; 
 
 Jam.  2.  J,  (( ;  Judc  16. 
 PASSOVER  instituted,  Exod.  13.3,43;  13.  5; 
 
 — rules  concerning  it,  Lev.  23.  4  ;  Num.  9. 
 
 1 ;  Deut.  16.  1  ;— offerings  on  it.  Num.  28. 
 
 16;— observed  by  Hezekiah,  2  Chr.  30.  l  :— 
 
 by  Josiah,  35.  1  ;— after  the  captivity,  Ezra 
 
 6.  19;— Chriejt  compared  to  it,  I  Cor.  5.  7- 
 PATIENCE  recommended.  Job  2.  10;  Ps.  37. 
 
 1,7;   Prov.  3.  11  ;   24.  10;   Ecclcs.  7-  8;  Mic. 
 
 7.  7,  9;  Luke  21.  19;  Rom.  12.  12;  1  Thess. 
 5.  14;  Heb.  10.  30;  12.  1,  ^C. ;  Jam.  1.  3;  5. 
 7;  1  Pet.  2.  19;  2  Pet.  1.  6. 
 
 of  Moses.  Num.  12.  3;— of  Job,  Job 
 
 1.  20 ;— of  David,  Ps.  40.  i  ;— of  the  Thessa- 
 loniaus,  l  Thess.  l.  3 ;— of  the  religious  in 
 former  times,  Heb.  10.  34  ;— of  Christ,  Is.  53. 
 7;  1  Pet.  2.  23. 
 
 PAUL  persecutes  Stephen,  Acts  8.  1;  — the 
 church,  9.  1 ;— struck  blind,  3;  22.6  ;  26. 13; 
 —baptized,  9. 18 ;— escapes  at  Damascus,  23  ; 
 
 2  Cor.  11.  33;— goes  to  Antioch,  Acts  12.25; 
 — appointed  to  preach  to  the  Gentiles,  13.  I  ; 
 — goes  to  Cyprus,  4  ; — stnkes  Elymas  bliud, 
 8 ; — comes  to  Antioch,  in  Pisidia,  1 1 ; — at 
 Iconium,  51 ;— at  Lystia,  14.  8;— at  Derbe, 
 20  ;— returns  to  Antioch,  26 ;— sent  to  Jeru- 
 salem about  circumcision,  15.  2;— circum- 
 cises Timothy,  16.  1  ;--sails  from  Troas  to 
 Macedonia,  11;  — at  Pliiiippi,  14;  — impri- 
 soned, 23;  — released  by  miracle,  26;  —  at 
 The^salonica,  17.  1;  — at  Berea.  10;— at 
 Athens,  I5;— at  Cnrintb,  18.  1  ;— atEphesus, 
 19;— returns  to  Antioch,  22;— his  third  pro- 
 gress, 23  ;— passes  through  Galatia,  iO. ; — to 
 Ephesus,  19.  1  ;  — goes  to  Macedonia,  20.  1 ; 
 —in  Greece,  2;— at  Troas,  6;— raises  Euty- 
 chus  to  life,  12  ;— addresses  the  elders  of  the 
 chinch  of  Ephesus  at  Miletus,  1  s  ;  —at  Cesa- 
 rea,  21.  8  ;— at  Jerusalem,  17  ;— apijrehended, 
 33; — addresses  the  people,  22.  1,  &c. ;— be- 
 fore the  Sanhedrim,  23.  1 ;— sent  toCesarea, 
 12,  33;— before  FelLx,  24.  1,  &c.;— belore 
 Drusilla,  24  ;— before  Festus,  25.  8,  10;— be- 
 fore Agrippa,  26. 1,  &c. ;— sails  for  Rome,  2;. 
 1  ;— shipwrecked  atMelita, 28.  1  ;— at  Rome, 
 16  ;— addresses  the  Jews  there,  17;— conti- 
 nues there  two  years,  31. 
 
 ,  his  revelations,  2  Cor.  I2.  J,  &e. ;  Gal. 
 
 2.  2;— his  sufferings,  2  Cor.  U.  23;  Phil.  1. 
 13;— Ms  advantages  as  a  Jew,  3.  4  ;— leaves 
 his  cloke  and  parcliments  ut  Troas,  2  Tim. 
 4.  13. 
 
 PEACE  to  be  cvUtivated,  Ps.  31.  14;  133.1; 
 Prov.  3.  30;  15.  17,  17.  1,  14,  17;  20.  3;  25. 
 8;  Zech.  8.  19;  Mark  9.  50;  Rom.  12.  18; 
 14.  19;  2  Cor.  13.  11;  1  Thess.  5.  13;  Heb. 
 12.  14  1  2  Tim.  2.  22;  I  Pet.  3.  11  ;  James  3. 
 18  i— how,  Prov.  15.  1  ;  25.  9,  15;  Col.  3.  13; 
 
 1  Thess.  4.  II. 
 
 beqvieathed  by  Jesus,  John  14.  2/ ;— of 
 
 God,  Phil.  4.  7  ;— future,  among  nations,  Is. 
 
 2.  4  ;  Hos.  2.  18;  Mic.  4.  3. 
 PEACE-MAKERS,  their  blessedness,  Matt.  5. 
 
 9-.  James  3.  18. 
 PEACE-OFFKRINGS,  rules  concernhig  them. 
 
 Lev.  3.  1,  &c. ;  7.  1!  ;— the  priest's  portion 
 
 of  them,  28. 
 PEACOCK,  Job  39.  13. 
 PEKAH,   2   Kings    15.   25;    Is.  7.  1 ;  — slain, 
 
 2  Kings  15.  30. 
 
 PEKAHIAH,  2  Kings  15.  22 ;— slain,  25. 
 PENITENT,  promises  to,  Deut.  30.  1—5  ;  Jer. 
 31.  20;  Ezek,  18.  21,  &c. ;  33.  19;  Luke  15- ?• 
 PENTECOST  to  be   observed,    Lev.  23.   15; 
 
INDEX  TO  THE  PRINCIPAL  PASSAGES 
 
 Deut.  l(i.  9; — t*ie  descent  of  the  Sjiirit  upon 
 it.  Acts  2.  1.  Jkc. 
 
 PEOPLE,  tlieir  duty  to  God's  ministers,  ordi- 
 nary and  extraordinary.  Dent.  12.  19;  u. 
 27j  18.  6;  2  Chr.  36. 16;  Matt.  10.  IJ  ;  Luke 
 10.  16  i  1  Cor.  4.  1  ;  9.  14  ;  Gal.  6.  6  ;  1  Thess. 
 4.  8;  5.  12;  1  Tim.  5.  17;  Heb.  13.7,  17. 
 
 PERGAMOS,  Rev.  2.  12. 
 
 PERJURY  forbidden,  E.\od.  20.  16  :  Lev.  6.  3 ; 
 19.   12;   Deut.  5.  20;  Zech.  5.  4;  8'  17;  ll"im. 
 
 1.10  ;— of  Zedekiali  against  Nebuchadnezzar, 
 2  Chr.  36.  13. 
 PERSECCTION,  how  to  behave  under  it. 
 Matt.  6.  44  ;  10.  22  ;  Rom.  12.  14;  1  Cor.  4. 
 12;  2  Cor.  12.  10;  1  Pet.  4.  19;— the  reward 
 of  it.  Matt.  5.  10;  16.  25;  Mark  8.  35;  Luke 
 9.  24;  1  Pet.  4.  14;  Jam.  1.  2;  Rev.  6.  9;  7. 
 
 13. 
 
 PERSE\t:ranCE,  the  duty  enjoined,  Deut. 
 4.  9,  10;  Josh.  23.  6;  1  Sam.  12.  21  ;  John 
 15.    9;  Acts   11.  23;   13.    43;    1    Cor.    15.   58; 
 
 Phil.  4.  1 ;  2  Thess. 3.  13;  Col.2.6,  7:  2Tim. 
 1.  14;  3.  14;  Heb.  4.  1;  2  Pet.  3.  1?;  2  John 
 8;  Rev.  2.  24,  25,  22.  1 1 ;  — promises  re- 
 specting perseverance,  1  Sam.  12.  22 ;  Ps.  12. 
 7  j  94.  14;  Is.  54.  10;  John  10.  27—29;  1  Cor. 
 1.  8,  9;  Phil.  1.6;  2  Thess.  3.  3;  Rev.  3.12; 
 — confidence  thereof,  Rom.  8. 35,  &c. ;  2  Tim. 
 
 1.  12;  4.  13;  Heb.  10.  39;  1  Pet.  1.  5;— be. 
 refits  of,  Matt.  24.  13;  Luke  22.  28.  29; 
 John  8.  31  ;  15.  10;  1  Cor.  15.  1  ;  Gal.  6.  9; 
 Heb.  3.  14;  1  John  2.  24;  Rev.  3.  21;  21.  7. 
 
 PETER,  attends  Jesus,  Matt.  4.  14;  Luke  5. 
 II ;  John  1.  41 ; — rebukes  him.  Matt.  16.  22  ; 
 Maik  8.  32 ;— acknowledges  him  to  he  the 
 Messiah,  Matt.  16.  16 ;  John  6.  63 ;— denies 
 him.  Matt.  26.  69;  Mark  14.  69;  Luke  22. 
 54 ;  John  18.  15,  )tc.  25 ;— secs  him  after  his 
 resurrection,  Luke  24.  34  ;  1  Cor.  15.  5  :— his 
 speech  to  the  Jews  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
 Acts  2.  14; — cures  a  lame  man,  3.  1 ;  im- 
 prisoned with  John,  4.  3 ; — cures  performed 
 by  him,  5.  15; — imprisoned,  and  released  by 
 an  angel,  13,  19;— speaks  boldly  before  the 
 magistrates,  29 ;— communicates  the  Spirit 
 to  the  Samaritans,  8.  17  ;— coufoimds  Simon 
 Magus,  20; — cures  Eneas,  9.  33;— raises 
 Dorcas,  36;— converts  Cornelius,  10.  34; — 
 defends  himself  about  preaching  to  the  Gen- 
 tiles, 11.  2; — imprisoned  by  Herod,  and  de- 
 livered by  an  angel,  12.3,  &c.;— opposed  by 
 Paul.  Gal.  2.11  ;— his  testimony  to  the  trans- 
 figuration of  Jesus,  2  Pet.  1.  18;— commends 
 Paul's  epistles,  3.  15. 
 
 PHARAOH,  king  of  Eg)-pt,  takes  Sarah  from 
 Abraham,  Gen.  12. 15; — restores  her,  20. 
 
 ■ H.,  his  dream,  Gen.  41.  1,  &c. 
 
 III.,  his  obstinacy  foretold,  E.\od. 
 
 3.  19; — drowned  m  the  Red  Sea,  14.  23. 
 
 IV.,  his  daughter  married  to  Solo- 
 mon, 1  Kings  3.  1 ;— a  house  built  for  her, 
 7.  8;  2  Cor.  8.  11. 
 
 PHARAOH-NECHOH  carries  Jehoahaz  cap. 
 five  to  Egypt,  2  Kings  23.  33  ;^foretold  not 
 to  return,  Jer.  22.  10 ;— his  defeat  foretold, 
 Ezek.  17.  17; — to  be  punished  for  his 
 treachery  to  Israel,  29.  I  ;  30.  21. 
 
 PHARISEES  severely  censured.  Matt.  5.  20; 
 
 15.  3,  &c.;  16.  6,  12;  23.  1,  '23,  .33;  Mark  8. 
 15  ;   Luke  11.  38,  42;    12.  1  ;   16.  14  ;  18.  9. 
 
 PHENICE,  converts  there.  Acts  11.  19. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA,  Rev.  3.  7. 
 
 PHILIP,  the  iipvstle,  attends  Jesus,  Jolm  1. 
 43  ; — Jesus  questions  him  about  the  loaves, 
 6.  5;— he  desires  to  see  the  Father,  14.  8. 
 
 ,  the  deftcun,  preaches  to  the  .Sama- 
 ritans, Acts  8.  5;— to  the  eunuch,  26;— 
 carried  to  Azotus,  40;— receives  Paul,  21.  8. 
 
 PHILIPPI,  Paul  preaches  there,  Acts  Ifi.  12. 
 
 PHILISTINES.  cun(iuered  by  Shamgar,  Judg. 
 3.  31 ;— oppress  the  Israehtes.  16.  7;  13.  I; 
 — take  the  ark,  1  Sam.  4.  1 ,  &c. ;— put  it  in 
 the  temple  of  Dagon,  5.  1 ; — suffer  on  ac- 
 count of  it,  .3,  8,  10;— send  it  back.  6.  10;— 
 defeated,  7.  9;— defeated  by  Saul,  14.20,  31  ; 
 —  by  David,  2  Sara.  5.  17,  22 ;— distress  Je- 
 horam,  2  Chr.  21.  16;  — tlieir  destruction 
 foretold,  Jcr.  47.  I  ;  Ezek.  25.  15;  Amos  1. 
 6;  Zeph.  2.  4;  Zech.  q.  5. 
 
 PHILOSOPHY,  heathen,  its  folly,  1  Cor.  1.19; 
 
 2.  6  ;    Col.  2.  8. 
 
 PHINEHAS,    the  sm  of  Eleanor,  kills  Zimri 
 
 and  Cuzbi,  Num.  25.  6  ;  Ps.  106.  30. 
 ,   the  son  of  Eli,   his  guilt   and 
 
 death,    1   Sam.  1.3;  2.  12,   22,   34;  3.  13;  4. 
 
 11. 
 PHY'GELLUS  and  Hermogenes,  2  Tim.  1.  15. 
 PILATE,  Matt.  27.  11 ;  Mark  15.  1 ;  Luke  23. 
 
 1 ;  John  18.  28. 
 PILLAR  erected  bv  I-aeob  at  BcUlcl,  Gen.  28. 
 13SJ 
 
 18;— at  the  grave  of  Rachel.  35.  20 ;— by 
 Joshua,  24.  26 ;— by  Absalom,  2  Sam.  18. 18; 
 —  two  pillars  in  the  teiuple  of  Solomon, 
 
 1  Kings  7.  15;  2  Chr.  3.  17. 
 
 PILL.\R  and  cloud,  Exod.  13.  21,  22;  14.  19, 
 20;  33.9;  40.35—38,  43;  Num.  9.  15—23; 
 10.  34;    14.  10;   I6.  42,43;   Ps.  78.  14;   99.  7; 
 
 Neh.  9.  12,  19. 
 PLAGUE  intUcted  on  Pharaoh,  on  account  of 
 
 Sarah,  Gen.  12.  17  ;— on  the  Israelites  in  the 
 
 wilderness,  Num.  14.  37;  16.  46;  25.9; — for 
 
 David's  numbering  the  people,  a  Sam,  24. 
 
 15. 
 PLAGUES  of  Egypt. 
 
 PLEDGES,  laws  "concerning,  Deut.  24.  10. 
 POLYG.\MY  disapproved.  Gen.  2.  24;  Matt. 
 
 19.  4;  Mark  lu.  6;  Rom.  7.  3 ;  1  Cor.  7.  2. 
 POLYTHEISM  forbidden,  Exod.  20.  2;  Is.  43. 
 
 10;  44.  8;   Hos.  13.  4. 
 
 POOR  among  us,  and  why,  Deut.  15.  4,  5,  II ; 
 Matt.  26.  11;— objects  of  charity.  Lev.  25. 
 35;  Deut.  15.  7;  Ps.  41.  1;  Prov.  19.  17; 
 
 2  Cor.  8.  7,  9;  9.  1;— reward  of  relieving. 
 Matt.  25.  40  ;  Luke  16.  9 ;— we  ought  to  help 
 them  cheerfully.  Rum.  12.  8;  2  Cor.  9.  7;— 
 the  liberality  of  the  Macedonian  Christians 
 towards  them,  Rom.  15.  26 ;— must  be  re- 
 lieved, not  oppressed,  Prov.  22.  2,  7,  g,  16, 
 22  ;— the  poor  often  rich  in  faith,  James  2.  5  ; 
 — these  better  than  the  wicked  rich,  Prov. 
 28.  6 ;  Ps.  37. 16,  17,  &c. ;— these  receive  the 
 gospel.  Matt.  11.  5. 
 
 POTTER,  a  tjTe  of  the  sovereign  power  of 
 
 God,  Jer.  18.  2;  Rom.  g.  21. 
 POVERTY',  its  inconvenience   and   danger, 
 
 Prov.  14.  20;  18.23;  ig.  4,  7;  30.  9  i  Eccles. 
 
 9.  15 ;— produced  by  vice,  Prov.  6.  11;  10. 
 
 4  ;   13.  4  ;  19.   15  ;  20.  13  ;  23.  21  ;  28.  I9. 
 POWER,  all,  ffieen  to  Christ,  Matt.  1 1 .  27  ;  29. 
 
 13;  John    3.  35;  Eph.    1.   20;   I    Pct.  3.   22; 
 
 Rev.  I.  1. 
 PRAISE  of  God  required,  1  Chr.  16.  8,  9,  23, 
 
 24.  28,  29;  Ps.  9.  11;  29.  1,  2;  47.  I,  6;  66. 
 1,  2,  8;  68.  32;  96.  7,  8;  100.  I,  2;  105.  1; 
 107.  8;  147.  7;  Neh.  9.  5  ;  Eph.  5.  20  ;— why 
 God  should  be  praised,  Ps.  5.  1 )  ;  33.  1  ;  60. 
 
 23;  54.  6;  63.  3;  67.  3—7;  71.  15;  89.  1,  2; 
 135.  3;   147.  1  ;  2  Cor.  4.  15;   1   Thess.  5.  18; 
 
 — mutual  exhortation  to  praise,  Ps.  34.  3; 
 95.  1,  2;  107.  21,  31  ;  I46.  1  ;  Jer.  51.  10;— 
 saints  especially  should  and  do  praise  God, 
 
 Ps.  22.  23;  30.  4  ;    113.  1  ;  118.  2—4;    135.19, 
 
 20;  14c.  13;  14?.  12  ;—angcls  should  and  do 
 praise  God,  Ps.  103.  20,  21 ;  148.  1,  2;  Ezek. 
 3. 12  ;  Luke  2. 13 ; — praise  resolved  on,  Judg. 
 
 5.  3;  Ps.  7.  17;  9.  1,  2;  34.  2;  51.  15;  56. 
 10;  57.7,   8;  .19.    17;  71.    14.   22;    109.  1—3; 
 
 118.  28;  119.  7.  171  ;  145.5,  6 ;— praise  given 
 to  God,  1  Chron.  29.  10,  13;  Ps.  8.  9;  21. 
 13;  41.  13;  48.  1  ;  57.  5,  11  ;  72.  ig;  S9.  52; 
 103.  1,  22;   108.   5;   Luke   1.  46,  47;  2.  14;— 
 
 praise  especially  for  God's  goodness,  Exod. 
 
 15.  2;   Ps.    106.    1,   2;    115.  1  ;   118.   I,  14  ;   Is. 
 
 25.  g ; — for  the  works  of  Providence,  2  Sam. 
 
 22.  47;  Ps.  8.  1  ;  10.  46;  48.  10;  68.  34,  35; 
 72.  18;    150.  2;   Is.    12.  4,  5  ;  25.    1  ;   Dan.   2. 
 
 20,  21 ;  4.  37;— for  Christ,  Luke  1.  68— 70; 
 
 1  Cor.  15.  57;  2  Cor.  2.  14;  g.  15;  Eph.  1.3; 
 Col.  1.  12,  13  ;  1  Pet.  1.  3;  Rev.  1.  6,  6;— for 
 prayers  heard,  Ps.  28.  6;  66.  20  ;  116.1,2; 
 118^  21 ;  Dan.  2.  19,  23;— for  daUy  mercies, 
 
 Ps.  13.  6;  35.27,28;  68.  19;  103.  2;   U6.  12, 
 
 13;  119.  65;  139.  17.  18;— for  Special  deli- 
 verances, Ps.  30.  3  ;  31.  7,  8  ;  Is.  12.  1  ;  Jer. 
 20.  13,  Lam.  3.  58; — for  relative  blessings. 
 Gen.  24.27;  Exod.  18.  10;  1    Kings  8.  15; 
 
 2  Chron.  6.  4 ;  Rom.  1 .  8  ;— for  public  bene- 
 fits, 1  Kings  8.  56  ;  Ps.  98.  3  ;  Is.  63.  7  ;  Ezra 
 7.  27,  28 ;  Joel  2.  26 ; — for  protection,  Judg. 
 5.  11,  12;  2  Sam.  22.  18;  Ps.  13.  17;  31.  21; 
 55.  16;  154.  6;  140.7;  144.  2;  Luke  I.  71;— 
 for  victory  over  enemies,  l*s.  18.  47;  48.  49; 
 30.  1  ;  44.  7;  66.  3 ;  71.   23,   '24  ;   75.  1  ;  98.  1, 
 
 2 ;  1 30.  24  ; — for  the  destruction  of  enemies, 
 Exod.  15.  6,  7 ;  Judg.  5.  2  ;  2  Sam.  22.  40, 
 41 ;  Ps.  136.  17 — 20; — in  public  worship,  Ps. 
 
 9.  14;  26.  12;  3.'i.  18;  68.  26;  Hg.  5;  107.  32; 
 109.  30;  111.1;  134.  1, 2;  135.  1, 2  ;  149.  1  ; 
 Neh.  U.  17;— daily,  Ps.  44.  8;  59-  16;  71-8; 
 92.  1,  2;  96.  2;  113.  3;  119.  62,  164;  145.  2; 
 — diu-ing  life,  Ps.  63.  4;  104.33;  146.  2  ;— 
 uninterruptedly,  perpetually,  and  eternallv, 
 1  Chron.  16.  36 ;  Ps.  30.  12 ;  63.  4  ;  75.  g ;  79. 
 13;  86.  12;  104.  33;  I06.  48  ;  1 13.  2;  115.  18  ; 
 145.  1,  4,21  ;  146. 2;— universal,  1  Chron.  16. 
 31  ;  Ps.  t6.  4;   6g.  34;   g6.  I  ;    117.  I  ;    133.   4, 
 
 6;   150.  6;  — on  earth,  2  Sam.  22.  SO;  Ps. 
 
 57.  g  ;  96.  3  ;    135.  21  ;  139.  1  ;   Is.  42.  10—12  ; 
 
 —in  heaven,  Ps.  150.  1 ;  Rev. 7. 11,  12;  ig.  1. 
 See  Doxologies. 
 
 PRAISE  of  men,  no  proper  principle  of  action. 
 Matt.  6.  1  ;  Gal.  5.  26 :  Phil.  2.  3. 
 
 PRAYER  enforced,  2  Chron.  16.  11  ;  Ps.  105. 
 4  ;  Is.  55.  6 ;  Luke  13.1;  Phil.  4.6;  Col.  4.2; 
 
 I  Thess.  5.  17 ; — promises  to  hear  prayer, 
 Deut.  4.  2g,  30;  2  Chron.  7.  U;  Ps.  .32.  6; 
 
 50.  15;    145.    ig;    Is.   30.    19;   45.  IQ;  65.  24; 
 
 Jer.  29.  12;  33.  3;  Joel  2.  17,  18;  Matt.  7.  7, 
 
 I I  ;  Luke  1 1 .  9,  10 ;  1  Tim.  2.  8. 
 
 ,  ejamples  of  it.    Gen.  '20.  17  ;   24.  12  ; 
 
 32.  9—12,  24—26,  28;  33.  4;  Exod.  8.  12,  13; 
 g.  33;  10.  18;  32.  11,  31  ;  33.  12;  Num.  12. 
 13;  14.  13;  Deut.  3.  23  ;  Josh.  7.  5—9;  Judg. 
 
 13.  8,  9;  15.  18,  19;  16.  28;  1  .Sam.  I.  lU;  12. 
 23;  2  Sam.  7.  18;  1  Kings  8.  22  ;  2  Kings  19. 
 15  ;  20.  2 ;  1    Chr.  2g.  10  ;  2  Chr.  6.  12  ;  14.  1 1  ; 
 
 20.6;  33. 12;  Dan.  9.  3;  Jon.  2.  1,  &c.;  Hab. 
 
 3.  1,  &c. ;  Ezra  9.  6;  Neh.  9.  5;  Esth.  4.  16; 
 Amos  7.  2,  5  ;  Matt.  26.  39 ;  Luke  6.  12 ;  23. 
 24;  John  II.  41  ;  I7.  1,  &c. ;  Acts  1.  24;  7. 
 60 ;  10.  1  ;  12.  5;  Rom.  9 ;  10.  1  ;  15.30  ;  2  Cor. 
 
 1.  11  ;  Eph.  I.  16;  6.  18;  Col.  4.  3;  1  Thess. 
 5.  25;  2  Thess.  3.  1  ;  Heb.  13.  18;  Matt.  5.44; 
 
 — Lord's  prayer.  Matt.  6.  9,  &c. ;  Luke  11. 
 
 2,  &c. ;— prayers  heaid.  Gen.  ig.  21 ;  2  Sam. 
 
 22.  7  ;  Neh.  9-  27  ;  Ps.  3.  4  ;  6.  8,  g  ;  21 .  2  ;  22. 
 5,  24  ;  30.  2  ;  31 .  22  ;  34.  4,  &c.,  15,  1 7  ;  40.  1  ; 
 66.  19;  77.  1  ;  81.  7;  107.  13;  138.  3;  Lam.  3. 
 56 ;  James  5. 17, 18  ;— why  not  heard,  Ps.  66. 
 18;  Prov.  1.  24—28)  Is.  59.  2;  Mic.  3.  4, 
 John  9.  31 ;  James  4.  3. 
 PRAYERS  for  mercy  in  general,  Ps.  4.  I  ;  27. 
 7;  85.  7;  86.  16,  17;  lig.  58,  76,  77;  Hab.  3. 
 2;— for  the  pardon  of  sin.  Job  7.  21 ;  Ps.  25. 
 
 7,  11,  18;39.  8;  51.  1,  2,  7—9,  14 ;— for  di- 
 vine help,  Ps.  22.  19;  30.  10;  38.21;  71.  12; 
 119.  173;— for  speedy  deliverance,  Ps.  31.  2; 
 
 40.  17;  44.  23;   70.  5;    102.  2;  141.  1  ;   143.  6, 
 
 7  ;  Lam.  5.  20,  21 ; — for  divine  examination. 
 Job  13.  23;  Ps.  26.  2;  139.  23.  24  ;— for  di- 
 vine illumination,  Exod.  33.  12,  13  ;  Job  42. 
 4  ;  Ps.  5.  8  ;  25.  4,  5 ;  27.  1 1  ;  119.  26,  27,  33, 
 34,  64,  66,  68,  73,  108,  I'24,  125;  143. 10;— for 
 sanctifying  grace,  Ps.  ig.  12,  13  ;  25.  20,  21 ; 
 
 51.  10—13;  80.  18  ;  86.  11  ;  119.  5.  8,  29,  35— 
 37,  40,  43,  44,  90,  88,  133,  156,  159,  175;    120. 
 
 2;  141.  3,  4  ;— for  Spiritual  stability,  Ps.  17. 
 
 S;  40.  11  ;  68.  28;  71.  3;  119.  10,  38.  1 16,  117; 
 
 .  Acts  4.  29,  30 ;— for  divine  manifestations, 
 
 Ps.  31.  16;  80.  3,  7,  ig;  86.4  ;  119.  r23,  1.35; 
 
 — for  prosperity  in  aftairs.  Gen.  24. 12  ;  1  Chr. 
 
 4.  10;  Ps.  90.  13—17;  118.  25;  Neh.  1.  11  ;— 
 in  affliction.  Ps.  6.  6;  22.  11  ;  25.  16,  17;  31. 
 9;  57.  1  ;  69.  17,  29;  86.  1  ;  88.  14—16;  ug. 
 25,  28,  107,  153  ;  143.  1 1  ;— in  sickness,  Ps.  6. 
 1—4;  13.  3;  38.  1,  2;  39.  10,  13;  77.  2;  99.  2, 
 3;  Jer.  10.24;  17.  14  ;— in  imminent  danger, 
 Ps.  69.  1,2.  14,  35;  130.  1,  2;  144.7;— in  age 
 and  death,  Ps.  31 .  5  ;  39.  4  ;  71 .  g. 
 
 PRE.VCllING  .called /jrf»/>/;r.svl7)^)  more  useful 
 than  the  display  of  spiritualgilts,  1  Cor.  14. 1. 
 
 PREDICTIONS  respecting  Christ  in  the  New 
 Testament,  ifor  those  in  the  Old,  see  Pro- 
 phecies; :  that  things  would  be  as  he  said. 
 Matt.  21.  1—3;  26.  18;  Mark  11.2;  11.  IS- 
 IS ;  Luke  19.  30,  31  ;— that  he  would  be  be- 
 trayed. Matt.  17.  22;  20.  18;  26.  2,  21,  46; 
 Mark  10.  33  ;  14.  18,  '20  ;  Luke  9.  44  ;  22.  21  ; 
 Jolm  6.  70,  71;  13.  10.  11,  18,  21,  26;  — for- 
 saken by  his  disciples.  Matt.  26.  31  ;  Mark 
 
 14.  27;  John  16.  32;  18.  8,  9  ;— denied  by 
 Peter,  Matt.  26.  34;  Mark  14.  30;  Luke  22. 
 31—34;  John  13.  38;— should  suffer.  Matt. 
 
 16.  21  ;  17.  22,  23  ;  20.  18,  19  ;  Mark  8.  31  ;  9. 
 31;  10.33,  34;  Luke  9.  '22;  13.  31—33;— 
 should  suffer  in  Jerusalem,  Matt  16.  21 ;  20. 
 18  ;  Luke  9.  31  ;  13.  31,  33  ;  18.  31  ;— and  by 
 the  chief  priests.  Matt.  16.  21 ;  17.  12;  Mark 
 
 8.  31 ;  10.  33  ;  Luke  9.  22  ;— also  by  the  Gen- 
 tiles, Matt.  20. 18,  19;  Mark  10.  33;  Luke  18. 
 31,  32;— that  he  should  be  mocked,  Mark  9. 
 12;  10.  34;— crucified,  Matt. '20.19;  John  3. 
 14;  8.28;  12.  32 ;— rise  again.  Matt.  27.  62, 
 63  ;  Mark  3.  31 ;  10.  34  ;  Luke  9.  22  ;  John  2. 
 19,  21  ;  10.  17;  —  appear  again  to  his  dis- 
 ciples. Matt.  14.  26;  26.  32;  28.10;  Mark  14. 
 28;  16.  7;  John  16.  16,  22;  —  his  ascension 
 predicted,  John  6.  62;  7.  33;  14.  19;  16.  28; 
 
 17.  13;— also  descent  of  the  Spirit  after  the 
 resurrection.  Matt.  10.  20;  Luke  11.  13;  12. 
 
 12;  24.  49;  John7.  3g;  14.  16,  17,  '26;  15.26; 
 
 1 6.  7—1 5  ;  20.  22  ;  Acts  1.8. 
 PRE-EXISTENCE  of  Christ,  John  6.  61,  62 ;  8. 
 
 56—58;   13.  3;  16.28;   17.5,24;    1  Pet.  3.  19, 
 
 20. 
 PRESENTS  given,  Gen.  20. 14  ;  24.  22,  53;  32. 
 
 13;  43.  11  ;   45.  22;  1  Sam.  16.20;  I7.  18;  18. 
 
 4;  1  Kings  10.  10;  2  Kings  5.  5;  Matt.  2.  II. 
 PRESERVATION  from  God,  Gen.  43.  15  ;  Job 
 
 10.  12,  13;  12.  10;  33.  18;  Fs.  23.  6,  6;  36.6; 
 
IN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 48.  14  i  66.  9  ;  73.  23  i  go    1  ;  104. 2S,  30  1  121 . 
 
 3—5,  7,  8;  Is.  id.  3,  1  ;  Acts  17.  a.'i. 
 PRESUMPTION  renroved,  or  punished,  Ps. 
 
 19.  13  i  Prov.  27. 1  i  Luke  !2. 18;  Jam.  4.13; 
 
 Rev.  18.  7- 
 ,  irins  nf,  peculiarly  heinous. 
 
 Num.  15.  30;   Deut.    17.  12;   Ps.    IB.    13;   S9. 
 
 6  ;  Matt.  18.  17  ;  Luke  12.  4/  ;  Jam.  4.  17. 
 PRIDE,  forbidden,  Prov.  21.  4;  Jer.   13.   15; 
 Mark  9.  35  ;  12.  38,  39 ;  Luke  20. 45, 46  ;  John 
 .^.  44  ;— instances  of,  Prov.  30.  13  ;  Is.  16.  6 ; 
 Jer.  48.  29,  30  ;  Dan.  4.  23—30 ;  5.  22 ;  Hos. 
 
 7.  10  ;  Luke  9.  46  ;  22.  21  ;   Mark  9.  33,  34  ;— 
 
 penalty  of,  Ps.  101.  5;  119.  21 ;  Prov.  16.  5; 
 
 Is.  10.  12,  13;    13.  11  ;   Jer.  48.  42;   Ezek.  28. 
 
 6,  7;  Hos.  5.  5  ;— degraded,  Prov.  16.  18 ;  Is. 
 
 2.  11  —  17;  14.  12—15;  23.  9;  24.  4;  Jer.  13. 
 9;  50.  31,  32  ;   Dan.  5.   20;   Mic.  2.  3  ;   Zeph. 
 
 3.  11 ;  Matt.  23.  11 ;  Luke  1.  54 ;— contrasted 
 with  humility,  Ps.  136.  6;  Prov.  3.  34;   11. 
 
 2;  13.  10;  I6.  19;  IS.  12;  25.  6,  7;  29.  23; 
 Matt. 23.  12;  Luke  14.  11  ;  James  4.  6;  1  Pet. 
 5.  6. 
 
 PRIESTS  to  be  of  the  family  of  Aaron,  Exod. 
 28.  1,  &c. ; — their  consecration,  29.  1,  &c. ; 
 — their  offerinfjs  at  that  time.  Lev.  6.  19  ; — 
 their  f^arments,  Exod.  28.  2,  40;  39.  1,  27, 
 K'C. ; — forbidden  to  drink  wine  during  their 
 ministration.  Lev.  10.  8;— their  portion  of 
 the  sacrifices.  Num.  8.  9;  Deut.  18.  3 ;— the 
 heave-offering  out  of  it,  Num.  18.  25  ; — their 
 mourning.  Lev.  21.  1 ;— their  marriages,  13  ; 
 — to  be  without  blemish,  1 7  ; — when  they 
 must  abstain  from  holy  things,  22.  1 ; — their 
 genealogies,  1  Chr.  9.  10. 
 
 PROFANE  authors  quoted,  Esth.  10.  2;  Acts 
 17.  28;  Tit.  1.  12. 
 
 PROMISES  of  God  to  be  depended  upon,  Num. 
 
 23.  19;  Deut.  7.  9;  Ps.89.  3,34;  105.8;  Luke 
 1.45  ;  Jam.  1. 17; — general,  to  the  righteous, 
 
 Ps.  58.  11  ;  84.  11  ;  Prov.  12.  2;  13.9;  21.21; 
 Is.  3.   10;   1    Cor.  3.   21,   22;    1    Tim.    4.   8;  — 
 
 general,  of  temporal  benefits,  Ps.  34.  9,  10  ; 
 Matt.  6.  33;  Phil.  4.  9; — particular,  of  food 
 and  raiment,  Ps.  37.  3;  132.  15;  147.  14; 
 Prov.  13.  25  ;  Is.  65.  13  ;  Joel  2.  26  ;  Matt.  6. 
 25,  30  ; — of  safety  under  the  divine  protec- 
 tion, Deut.  30.  12;  Ps.  34.  20;  91-1.4,10; 
 121.  5,  &c.;  125.  2;  Prov.  1.33;  3.23;18. 
 10;  Is.  4.  5,  6;  23.  16;  27.  3;  Zech.  2.  5  ;— of 
 peace,  Ps.  29-  1 1  ;  1 19.  65  ;  125.  5  ;  Is.  32.  18  ; 
 —direction,  Ps.  37.23;  Prov.  3.  6;  Is.  42.  16; 
 —of  honour,  Deut. 28.  13;  Ps.  91. 14,  15  ;  111. 
 6;  Prov.  4.  8  ;  10.  7;  22.  4  ;  John  12.  26  ;  Rev. 
 3.  9 ; — of  success  and  prosperity.  Job  11. 15  ; 
 
 22.  28;   Ps-  I.  3;  37.  5;  128.  2;   Is.  65.  21,22; 
 
 — to  whatsoever  appertauis  to  the  righteous, 
 
 Exod.  23.  25;   Deut.  26.  II  ;   28.  3,    &c.  ;— to 
 
 the  cliildren  of  the  righteous,  Deut.  4.  40 ; 
 Ps.  37.  25;  102.  28;  112.  2 ;— to  the  family 
 of  the  righteous.  Job  5.  24  ;  8.  6;  Ps.  128.  3, 
 &c. ;  Prov.  3.33;  12.  7;  14. 11  ;— in  reference 
 to  the  trials  of  life.  Job  5.  29;  Ps.  30.  5;  31. 
 
 23;  34.  19;  37.  24,  39 ;  41.  1  ;  46.  1—3;  55. 
 22;  67.  13;  91.  10;  112.  4  ;  126.  5,  6;  136.  23; 
 145.  14;  Prov.  11.  8;  12.  13,  21  ;  24.  16;  Is. 
 27.  8;   60.  10;  Jcr.  29-  11;  30.  11  ;  31.  12,  13; 
 
 Lam.  3.  31,  he;  Nah.  1.  7;  Matt.  11.  28; 
 John  16.  33; — in  reference  to  sickness,  &c,, 
 Ps.  41.  3;  91.  3;  1  Tim.  2.  15;  — to  old  age. 
 Is.  46.  4; — to  the  needy,  Is.  41.  17;  —  to 
 the  oppressed,  Ps.  109.  31  ;  —  to  the  calum- 
 niated, 31.  21  ;  37.  6;  57.  4  ;  Is.  51.  7  1 
 Matt.  5.  11  :  Heb.  11.  26 ;— to  the  poor,  Ps. 
 9.  19;  68.  13;  69.  13  ;  72.  12,  13;  102.  18;  10?. 
 
 41;  113.  7;  132.  15;— to  the  orphan  and 
 widow,  Jer.  49.  11  ;  — general  promises  of 
 spiritual  blessings,  Ps.  25.  10, 14  ;— of  justifi- 
 cation and  pardon,  Is.  45.  25  ;  53.  11 ;  Rom. 
 5.19;  Exod.  34.  7  ;  Ps.  80.  8  ;  Is.  43.  25  ;  Jer. 
 31.  34;  Matt.  12.  31,  32;   Heb.  8.  12;    10.  17; 
 
 — of  pardon  for  the  most  atrocious  sins.  Is. 
 I.  18;  Jer.  33.  8; — for  apostates,  Jer.  3.  12, 
 22  ;  Hos.  14.  4  ;— of  pardon  through  Christ, 
 Zech.  13.  1;  Matt.  I.  21;  Acts  13.  38;— of 
 adoption,  2  Cor.  6.  18;— of  hearing  prayer, 
 
 Ps.  60.  15;  91.  15;  145.  19;  Is.  30.  19;  65.24; 
 Jer.  29.  12;  Zech.  13.  9;  Matt.  7.";  21.  22; 
 John  14.  13  ;  15.  7;  16.  23,  24  ;  James  5.  15  ; 
 — of  sanctif>'ing  grace,  Ps.  84.  12  ; — of  con- 
 verting and  particular  grace,  Ps.  1 10. 3  ;  Jer. 
 
 24.  7;  32.  39;  50.  4;   Ezek.  11.  19;  36.  26;— 
 
 of  wisdom,  &c.,  Ps.  25.  8 ;  32.  8  ;  Prov.  2.6; 
 
 Is.  2.  3;  29.  18;  32.  3;  35.  8;  42.  7;  52.  6;  58. 
 II  ;  Jer.  31.  34  ;  Hos.  6.3;  Luke  21. 15;  John 
 
 7.  17;  James  I.  5 ;— of  the  means  of  grace, 
 
 Is.  30.  20;  41.   18;  49.  3  ;  56.  7 ;  62.  6;  Jer.  3. 
 
 15;  Ezek.  34. 15; — of  ablessing  on  ordinances, 
 
 Ps.  92.  14;   Is.  12.3;   60.7;   Matt.    18.20;— 
 
 of  strength,  corn-age,  and  resolution,  Ps.  31. 
 1383 
 
 24  ;   Is.  40.  29  ;  42.  9  ;  Zech.  12.  8  ;— of  grace 
 
 in  old  age,  &c.,  Ps.  1.  3 ;  92.  12,  14 ;  Prov.  4. 
 18;  Jer.  31.12;  Hos.  14.  6;  Mai.  4.  2 ;— of 
 persevering  grace,  Prov.  10. 25  ;  John  10.  28  ; 
 1  Cor-  1.8;  Pliil.  1.6;  2  Thess.  3.  9  1  2  Pet. 
 1.10  ; — of  sanctified  affliction,  Is.  27.  9  ;  Kos. 
 2.  6,  7 ;  Zech.  13.  y  ; — of  an  interest  in  God 
 as  oiu-  God,  Gen.  17.7;  Lev.  26.  12 ;  Ps.  48. 
 14  ;  Is.  41.  10;  54.  5  ;  Jer.  30.   22;   Ezek.   34. 
 
 24;  2  Cor.  6.  18;  Heb.  8.  10,  11,  lO;  Rev. 
 21.3; — of  God's  presence,  Exod.  33.  14; 
 Deut.  31.  6;  2  Chrou.  15.  2;  Is.  62.  4;  Ezek. 
 34.  30;  Joel2.  27;— of  his  love,  Deut.  7.  13; 
 Ps.  146.  8;  Prov.  15.  9;  Is-  62.  5;  Jer.  31. 
 3;  32.  41  ;  Hos.  14.  4;  John  16.  27;  Rom. 
 
 9.  25  ;— of  his  mercy,  Exod.  33.  19  ;  Deut.  4. 
 
 31  ;   Ps.  103.  17  ;   Is.   30.   18;   60.  10;  Jer.  31. 
 
 20; — of  his  aid  and  care,  Deut.  32.  11,  12; 
 
 33.  29;   Ps.  38.   18;   Is.  40.  11  ;  41.  3,  10;  46. 
 
 3;  Hos.  13.  9;  1  Pet.  5.  7  ; — of  his  covenant 
 fidelity.  Is.  55.  3;  Hos.  2.  19,  20; — of  the 
 perpetuity  of  his  faithfuhiess.  Lev.  26.  11  ; 
 
 Ps.  94.  14;  Is.  42.  I6;  44.21;  49.  14—16; 
 55.  9;  Jer.  32.  40;  lleb.  13.  5;— of  the  Holy 
 .Spirit,  Prov.  1.  23;  Is.  32.  15;  59.  21 ;  Ezek. 
 36.  27  ;  Luke  11.  13;  John  4.  10,  11;  7.  38; 
 14.  16,  17;  16,  13;— of  the  Spirit's  aid  in 
 prayer,  Zech.  12. 10 ; — of  peace  of  conscience 
 and  the  consolation  of  hope.  Ps.  85.  8 ;  Prov. 
 
 14.  14  ;  Is.  12.  1  ;  32.  17  ;  54.  7,  8  ;  57.  9,  18  ; 
 66.  11  ;  Jer.  6.  16;  John  14.  18; — of  joy  in 
 God,  Neh.  8.  10;  Job  22.  26;  Ps.  64.  10;  63. 
 3;  89.  15;  97.  4;  126.  6,  6;  Is.  61.  11  ;  55. 
 12;   61.  7;  65.  14  ;  John   15.   11  ;   16.  22  ;— of 
 
 support  in  death,  Prov.  14.  32;  Is.  25.8; 
 Hos-  13. 14  ; — of  deliverance  from  hell,  Prov. 
 
 10.  2;   15.  24;   Is.  45.  17;  John  3.  15;   8.   5i  ; 
 
 Rev.  20.  6; — of  fehcity  after  death.  Job  3. 
 17;  Is.  57.  2;  Rev.  14.  13  ;— of  a  glorious 
 resurrection.  Is.  26.  19;  Dan.  12.  2;  Luke 
 20.  35,  30  ;  John  5.  28  ;  6.  39  ;  1 1 .  25 ;  Rom. 
 8.  11  ;  1  Cor.  15.  21,  &c. ;  1  ThesS.  4.  14;— 
 of  eternal  felicity  m  heaven,  Ps.  49.  14  ;  John 
 14.  2;  17.  22,  24  ;  Rom.  2.  7  ;  5.  17;  Heb.  4. 
 9;  2  Pet.  3.  13;   Rev.  2.10;  3.  4 ;   7.  15,  Sic  ; 
 
 — of  deliverance  from  all  sorrow  in  heaven. 
 Is.  9.  20;  Jude  24  ;  Rev.  21.  4;— of  the  glory 
 of  heaven,  Dan.  12.  4;  Matt.  13.  43;  Rom. 
 8.  18;  2  Cor.  4.  17 ;— of  eternal  hfe.  Matt. 
 25.  46  ;  John  6.  47  ;  1  John  2.  25  ;— encou- 
 raging confidence  in  Christ,  Is.  18.  16;  45. 
 22;  Mart.  11.  28;  Mark  9.  23;  John  3.  16, 
 
 18,  36;  6.  35,  37;  12.  46;  Acts  10.  43;  16. 
 31  ;  Rom.  g.  33;  Gal.  3.  7.  9;  1  Pet.  2.  6;— 
 to  those  who  confess  Christ,  Matt.  10.  33; 
 Rom.  10.  9; — to  those  who  repent,  2  Chron. 
 
 7.  14  ;  30.  9  ;  Ps.  37.  24  ;  ProV.  1 .  23  ;  Is.  55. 
 7;  Jer.  4.  14;  18.  8;  26.  3,  13;  Ezek.  18.21, 
 &C.  ;  33.  14,  &C. ;  Joel  2.  12;  Zech.  I.  3; 
 Acts  2.  38  ;  3.19  ; — to  those  who  mourn  for 
 national  iniquity,  Ezek.  9.  4; — to  those  pe- 
 nitent in  affliction,  Deut.  4.  30,  &c. ;  30.  2, 
 3,  8;  Hos.  6.  I ;— to  thosc  who  confess  their 
 sins.  Lev.  26.  40,  &c. ;  Prov.  28.  13  ;  Jer.  3. 
 12 ;  1  John  1 .  9  ; — to  the  obedient,  Exod.  19. 
 
 6;  Lev.  25.  18;  Deut.  4.  1  ;  6.  3  ;  7.  12 ;  1 1. 
 27;  13.  17,  18;  29-9;  13.  15,  &C.  ;  32.  46, 
 &c. ;  1  Kings  2.  3 ;  1  Chron.  22.  12,  &c. ; 
 2  Chron.  15.7;  Ps.  25.  10;  50.23;  106.3;  119. 
 
 1,  2,  6;  Prov.  29.18;  Is.  1.19;  50.  10;  Jer.  7. 
 
 23  ;  Matt.  5.  19  ;  7.  21  ;  12.  50  ;  John  7.  17;  8. 
 
 5  ;  13.  17 ;  James  1 .  25  ;  1  John  2.  17  ;  3.  22  ; 
 Rev.  22. 14 ;— to  the  sincere  and  upright,  P.s. 
 
 125.  4;   Prov.  2.  7,  21  ;   8-    17;    Rom.    14.  22; 
 
 —to  those  who  love  God,  Exod.  20. 6 ;  Deut. 
 
 7.  9;  Ps.  91.  14;  145.  20;  John  14.21  ;  Rom. 
 
 8.  28;  James  1. 12;  2.  5  ;~to  those  who  trust 
 
 in  God,  Ps.  2.  12;  18.  30;  34.  22;  37.  3,  40; 
 40.4;  125.  1;  ProV.  16.  3;  28.  25;  29.  25; 
 Is.  25.  9;  30.  18;  49.  23;  Jer.  17.  7,  8;  Lam. 
 3.  25  ;  Nah.  1.  7  ;  1  Pet.  5.  7  ;— to  those  who 
 fear  God,  Ps.  25.  14;  85.  9;  103.  11  ;  115.13  ; 
 
 128.  1  ;    147.  11  ;   Prov.  14.  27;   Eccles.  8.  12  ; 
 
 Mai.  4.2;  Luke  1.50;  Acts  10.35;— to  those 
 who  honour  God,  1  Sam.  2.  30 ;— to  those 
 who  pray.  Job  22.  21  ;  33.  26;  Ps.  145.  Is  ; 
 Jer.  23.  3 ;  Ezek.  36.  37 ;  Joel  2.  32 ;  Rom. 
 10.  12;  James.  4.  8; — to  those  who  seek 
 God,  Deut.  4.  29;  1  Chron.  28.  9;  2  Chron. 
 
 15.2;  Job  8.  5,  6  ;  Ps.  69.  32  ;  Js.  45.  19 ;  Jer. 
 29.  18;   Lam.  3.   25;    AmoS   5.    4  ;— to  those 
 
 who  engage  in  secret  prayer,  Matt.  6.  6; — 
 to  those  who  desire  grace,  Ps.  81 .  10 ;  Is.  55. 
 I  ;  Matt.  5.  6;  John  7-  37,  38;  Rev.  21.  6;  22. 
 17; — to  those  who  reverence  God's  word, 
 
 Ps.  112.  1  ;  Prov.  8.  36  ;  Is.  55.  2,  3  ;  66.  21  ; 
 Mark  4.  24;  Rev.  I.  3  ;— -encouraging  medi- 
 tation. Josh.  I.  8;  Ps.  1.  2,  3;  37.  31  ;  103. 
 17,  18;— to  the  vigilant,  Luke  12.  37;  Rev. 
 16.  15 ; — to  those  who  associate  with  the 
 
 righteous,  Ps.  1.  1;  13.20;  FrOv.  9.  6,  27. 
 17  ;  2  Cor.  6.  17  ; — to  those  who  keep  holy 
 the  sabbath,  Is.  58.  13;  Ezek.  20.  20;— to 
 those  who  are  obedient  to  parents,  Prov.  1 . 
 8;  6.  20; — encouraging  instruction,  ^tc.  for 
 the  young,  Deut.  11.  19  ;  Prov.  22.  6;  29.  17; 
 — to  faithful  servants.  Prov.  17.  2;  Col.  3. 
 22,  24;— to  faithful  ministers,  Dan.  9.  3;  Is. 
 
 32.  29;  Jer.  15.  19,  28;  21.  7,  19;  Matt.  23. 
 20;  Luke  12.  42,  43;  John  4.  36;  1  Pet.  5. 
 2— 4;— to  the  benevolent,  Deut.  15.  10;  Ps. 
 38.  25,  26;  41.  1,  &c. ;  112.9;  Prov.  11.24, 
 25,  27;  14.  21  ;  19.  17;  22.  9;  28.  8 ;  Ecclcs. 
 11.1,2;  Is.  32.  8;  58.7—11;  Matt.  10.  42; 
 25.  34 — 10;  Mark  10.  21  ;  Luke  6.  38;  11.  41  ; 
 12.  33;  14.  13,  14;  16.  9;  2  Cor.  9.6,  8,  10;— 
 encouraging  pardon  of  injuries,  Prov.  20.  22 ; 
 25.  21  ;  Matt.  5.  44,  45;   6.  14  ;   Mark   11.  25; 
 
 Luke  6.  35,  37  ; — to  those  who  cherish  holi- 
 ness, Ps.  73.  1;  Matt.  5.  8;  —  encouraging 
 
 diligence,  Prov.  10.  24  ;  12.  24,  27  ;  13.  4;  28. 
 
 19;  —  encouraging  integrity,  Deut.  16.  20; 
 25.  15;  Ps.  15.  5;  21.  3;  Prov.  11.  1  ;  Is.  23. 
 15;  66.  I.  2;  Ezek.  18.  5,  7—9  ;— to  the  con- 
 trite and  humble.  Job  22. 29 ;  Ps.  4. 12 ;  22. 26; 
 
 25.9:  34.  18;  37.  U  ;  51.17;  138.  6;  147.  3,  6; 
 149.  4;  Pro.  22.  4;  Isa.  11.  4;  29.  19;  57.  15; 
 66.  2 ;  Matt.  5.  3—5  ;  23.  4  ;  James  4.  6 ;— to 
 those  who  are  persecuted  for  righteousness' 
 sake.  Matt.  5. 10—12;  10.39;  19.29;  Rom.  8. 
 
 17;2Tiin.  2.12;Hcb.  10.35;  1  Pet.  4.  12—14; 
 
 — encourages  patience  and  submission,  Lam. 
 
 3.  31  ;  Heb.  10.  35,  36;  James  1.  4,  12;  4.  10; 
 
 6.  7,  8  ;  1  Pet.  5.  6;— encouraging  persever- 
 ance.   Matt.  10.22;    John   8.   31,   32;    15.7; 
 
 2  John  V;  Rev.  2.  7,  10,  26—28;  3.  5,  12. 
 21 ;  21 .  7  ; — of  the  increase  of  the  church,  Ps. 
 
 2.  8,  9;  22.  27,  28;  67.  7i  72.  U,  17,  19;  s6. 
 
 9;  102.  15,  16;  no.  3;  Isa.  2.  2,  3 ;  11.10; 
 19.  21,  24,  25;  23.  18;  27.  6;  40.  3—5;    42.  1, 
 
 4,  6.  7;  45.  23,  24;  49.  6,  12,  18,  20;  51.  4,  5. 
 16;  52.  10;  53.  10—12;  54.  1—3;  55.  4,  5; 
 59.  19,  20;  60.  3,  8,  9;  65.  17;  66.8,9,  18-20, 
 23;  Dan.  2.  44;  7,  13,  14,  27;  Amos9.  11,  12; 
 Zech.  2.  10,  11;  6.  15;  8.  21—23;  14.9;  Mai. 
 
 I.  11  ;  Matt.  8.  11  ;  24.  14 ;  John  12.  32;  Rev. 
 
 II.  15  ; — of  the  glory  of  the  chiu*ch,  Ps.  45. 
 
 13;  48.  2,  12,  13;  87.  3;  Isa.  46.  13;  54.  II, 
 12;  60.  1,  2,  13,  15,  19;  62.  2,  3;   Rev.  21.  10, 
 
 II  ;seever.  18,21 — 26; — oflightand wisdom, 
 and  the  means  of  grace,  Isa.  25.  6,  7  ;  29.  18, 
 
 24;  41.18,19;  see35.6— 8;  53.7,8;  54.13;  Dan. 
 
 12.  4  ; — of  the  purity,  holiness,  and  righteous- 
 ness of  the  church,  Ps.72.6;  85.  10,  11,  13; 
 Isa.  4.  3,  4;  32.  15;  33.5,6  ;  45.  8  ;  58.  11  ;  60. 
 21  ;  Zech.  14.  20  ;  Mai.  3.  3,  4  ;  Rev.  19.8;— 
 of  peace,  love,  and  union  in  the  church,  Ps. 
 
 72.  3,  7;  Isa.  2.  4;  11.  6—9,  13;  John  17. 
 20—23  ;  Epll.  4.  16 ; — of  the  Submission  and 
 destruction  of  the  enemies  of  the  church,  Ps. 
 
 11.  4;  110.  2,  5,  6;   Isa.  27.  1  ;   41.  11,  12;   49. 
 
 24,  25  ;  59.  19  ;  60.  14 ;— of  the  destruction  of 
 antichrist,  2  Thess.  2.  8;  see  Dan.  7.  25.  26 ; 
 Rev.  14.9,  10  ; — of  the  submission  of  kind's 
 to  Christ's  kingdom,  Isa.  49.  7—23 ;  52.  1  .^, ; 
 60.3,  10,11, 16;— of  the  security,  tranquillity, 
 and  prosperity  of  the  church,  Ps.  102.  13, 14, 
 
 16;  Isa.  4.  5,  6;  27.  2,  3;  33.  20—22;  51.  3; 
 64.  14,  15,  17;    65.  19;  66.   10,    11,  &C.  ;    Jer. 
 
 33.  7;  Dan.  7.  29; — of  the  perpetuity  of  the 
 church,  Isa.  59.  21 ;  66.  22  ;  Jer.  31.  35;  Dan. 
 
 7.  14;  Matt.  28.  20;— of  the  Conversion  and 
 restoration  of  the  Jews,  Jer.  30.  9,  10;  31. 
 
 1,  4,  10;  32.  41;  33.  7.  8,  (tc. ;  Ezek.  16.  6n, 
 &C. ;  20.  34,  &c.  ;  34.  23,  24,  &c.  ;  36.  24  ;  37. 
 25;  Hos.  1.  10,  11  ;  3.  4,  6  ;  Joel  3.  1,  2,  20; 
 Amos  9.  14,  15;  Mic.  2.  12,  &C.;  5.  3,  &c. ; 
 Zech.  2.  10,  12;  10.  6,  Jtc. ;  12.  10;  Luke  21. 
 24;  Rom.  11.  26;— that  God  will  accomplish 
 his  promises,  Deut.  7.  9 ;  Num.  23.  19  ;  Josh. 
 
 23.  14;  Ps.  18.  30;  89.34;  105-8;  119-  89,90, 
 160;  Isa.  25.  1  ;  46.  11. 
 
 PROMISES  pleaded.  Gen.  32.  12;  Neh.  I.  8— 
 10;  9.32;  2  Chr.  6.  16,  17  ;  Ps.  119.  49,  169, 
 170  ;  Jer.  14.  21. 
 
 PROMOTION,  of  Joseph,  Gen.  39.  1,  &c.  ;  41. 
 39; — of  Moses,  Exod.  3.  1,  10; — of  David, 
 2  Sam.  2.  4  ;  5.  1  ;— of  Mephibosheth,  2  Sam. 
 9.  1,  &c. ; — of  Jehu,  king  of  Israel,  2  Kings 
 9-  2  ; — of  Nehemiah,  Neh.  1.11  ; — of  Haman, 
 Esth.  3.  1 ;  — of  Mordccai,  Esth.  6.  10,  11  ;— 
 of  Daniel,  2.  48  ;— of  Shadrach,  &c.,  3.  30, 
 
 PROPHECY,  a  sure  word,  2  Pet.  1.  19  ;— not 
 always  understood  by  the  prophets,  20. 
 
 PROPHECIES  concerning  Christ  and  his  king- 
 dom :  (if  his  lifi^,  riciitli,  ri'nurrection,  and  as- 
 ct'Hsion— tliat  a  Messiah  should  come.  Gen. 
 
 3.  15;  12.3  ;  22.  IH  ;  26.  4;  28.  14  ;  Ps.  72.  17; 
 Isa.  40.  5, 9, 10  ;  Hag.  2.  7  ; — when  he  should 
 come,  Gen.  49.  lO;  Hag.  2.  6—9;  Dan.  0.24, 
 
INDEX  TO  THE   PRINCIPAL   PASSAGES 
 
 25;  Mai.  3.  I  ;— that  he  should  be  God  and 
 man,  Ps.  2.  7  ;  9.  6  ;  110.  1  ;  Mic.  5.  2  ;— from 
 whom  he  was  to  be  descended  :  from  the  first 
 woman,  Gen.  3.  15;— from  Abraham,  Gen. 
 
 12.  3;  IS.  18;— from  Isaac,  Gen.  20.4;  — 
 Jacob,  Gen.  28.  14;— Judah,  Gen.  49.  10  — 
 Jesse,  Isa.  U.  1  ;— David,  Ps.  1;12.  11  ;  89.  4, 
 27;  Isa.  7.  13,  14;  9.7;  Jcr.  -JJ.  5;  33.20, 
 21  ;— that  he  should  be  oorn  of  a  \'irgin,  Isa. 
 7  14;  Jer.  31.22  ;— where  he  was  to  be  born, 
 Mic.  5.  2  ; — respecting  bis  forerunner,  Mai. 
 
 3.  1  ;  Isa.  40.  3 ;  Loke  1.17  ;— that  he  was  to 
 be  a  prophet,  Deut.  18.  15,  18;— tliat  Ije 
 should  begnn  to  preach  in  Galilee,  Isa.  9.  1, 
 2 ; — that  he  should  confirm  his  doctrine  by 
 miracles,  Isa.  29.  18 ;  3-'.  3,  4 ;  33.  5,  6 ;  42.  7 ; 
 — how  he  should  ent£r  Jerusalem,  Zech.  9. 
 9 ;— that  he  should  be  poor,  betrayed,  sold, 
 the  price,  Sec,  Isa.  53.  3  ;  Ps.  41.  9  ;  5,').  12— 
 14;  Zech.  11.12,  13;— that  he  should  sufitr 
 pain  and  death  for  the  sins  of  the  world,  Ps. 
 
 22.  14,  15;    Isa.  I.  6;    53.  5,   8,  12;— that    he 
 
 should  be  cruelly  mocked  and  derided,  Ps. 
 22.7.  8  ;  12. 13  ; — that  vinef;:ar  and  gall  should 
 be  offered  to  him,  and  lots  cast  for  his  ves- 
 ture, Ps.  69.  21  ;  22.  IS;— that  not  a  bone 
 should  be  broken,  but  he  should  be  pierced, 
 Ps,  34.  20  ;  Zech.  12.  10  ;— that  he  should  die 
 with  malefactors,  but  be  buried  honourably, 
 Isa.  53.  9,  12  ;— that  he  should  rise  from  the 
 dead  and  ascend  into  heaven,  Ps.  16.  9,  10; 
 68.  18;  Isa.  53.  10  ;~-that  he  should  send 
 the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Comforter,  Ps.  68.  is; 
 Joel  2.  28; — of  his  olftr''s—A  prophet,  Deut. 
 18.  15,  18,  19;  also— .Vets  3.22;  /.  37  ;— a 
 teacher,  Isa.  1.  4;  .il.  13 ;  61.  1  ;  Ps.  78.  2  ;— 
 to  instruct  and  enlighten,  Isa.  9.  2;— to  be 
 the  Christ  or  anointed  of  God,  Isa.  61.1; 
 Dan.  9.  24,  25;   Ps.  2.  2;   89.  20,  51  ;   132.  17; 
 
 — a  priest,  Ps.  110.  4  ;  cited  in  Heb.  5.  6  ;  7. 
 21 ;  Zech.  6.  13  ; — to  be  a  sacrifice,  &c  ,  Gen. 
 J.  16;  Isa.  53.  6;  10.  12;  Dan.  9.  24  ;— to  bc 
 a  Saviour,  Isa.  59.  20 ;  62.  1 1  ; — to  he  a  Me- 
 diator, Ps.  so.  17;  no.  1;  Isa.  8.  14;  Dan. 
 9.  17,  19;— to  be  an  intercessor,  Isa.  53.  12; 
 —to  be  a  Shepherd,  Isa.  40.  ll  ;  Ezek.  34. 
 23;  37.  24;— to  be  a  King,  Ps.  2.  6;  132.  11  ; 
 Isa.  9.  6;  32.  1  ;  55.  4;  Zech.  6.  13;  9.  9  ;  Jer. 
 
 23.  5,6;  30.  9  ;  Ezek.  34.  23.  24  ;  37.  24,  25  ; 
 Hos.  3.  5  ;  Mic.  5.  2  ;— to  hc  above  all  others 
 and  Head  of  the  church,  Ps.  89.  27,  3fi  ;  Dan. 
 7.  13,  14,  27;  2.  44  ;— to  be  exalted  especially 
 after  his  sufferings  and  resurrection,  Ps.  2. 
 6 — 8  ;  s.  5  ;  Isa.  53.  10, 12  ;  —that  there  is  sal- 
 vation only  in  Chiist,  Ps.  118.  22;  Isa.  28. 
 16  ;  45.  21  ;  53.  11;  59.  20  ;  ZeCh.  13.1;  Mai. 
 
 4.  2;  Mark  12.  10;  see  also  Rom.  11.  26; — 
 of  the  necessitj'  of  believin;?  in  Christ,  and 
 the  danger  of  rejecting  him,  Num.  15.  30, 31  ; 
 Deut.  18.  15,  19;  Ps.  2.  12.  See  Predic- 
 tions. 
 
 PROPHECIES  concerning  others  fulfilled: 
 Abraham's  posterity,  Gen.  15.  13  ; — Isaac, 
 Gen. IS.  10;  21.  1  ;— Joseph,  37.5;  42.6;— the 
 builder  of  Jericho,  Josh.  6.  26;  1  Kings  16. 
 34  ;— Eli's  sons,  1  Sam.  2.  34  ;  4.  II  ;— Saul, 
 
 1  Sam.  28.  19;  31.  2 ;— Josiah,  1  Kings  13.  2; 
 
 2  Kings  23.  15  ;— death  of  a  prophet,  1  Kings 
 
 13.  22,  30; — house  of  Jeroboam,  1  Kings  14. 
 10;  15.  29;— death  of  his  son,  14.  12,  17;— 
 house  of  Baasha,  16.  3,  11  ;— great  drought, 
 17.  1  ;  18.  41  ;— invasion  of  the  king  of  S>Tia, 
 
 20.  22,  26  ; — revenge  of  the  deatli  of  Naboth, 
 
 21.  19;     22.    38;  — house  of  Ahab,    21.   21; 
 
 2  Kings  10.  11  ;  — Jezebel,  1  Kings  21.23; 
 2  Kings  9.  36  ; — water  to  supply  an  army,  3. 
 
 17,  20 ; — plenty  in  a  siege  of  Samaria,  7.  1, 
 18  ; — of  the  death  of  the  unbelieving  lord,  7. 
 2,  20; — reign  of  the  sons  of  Jehu,  10.  30;  15. 
 12; — destruction  of  the  king  of  Assyria,  19. 
 7,35,37;— Babylonish  captivity, '20. 17;  24. 13. 
 
 of  Christ,    Matt.  12.  40  ;    17.  22  ; 
 
 20.  18,  23  ;  24.  2,  10  ;  26.  21,  32,  34  ;  Mark  9. 
 31  ;  10.  32,  39;  13.  2;  14.  18;  27.  30;  16.  17; 
 Luke  9.  22;  13.  33;  19.  31  ;  19.  43:  21.  6;  22. 
 
 21.  31  ;  John  2.  19;  6.  7O;  11.  23;  12.  '23;    13. 
 
 18,  38;  14.  16,  26;  15.  26;  16.  2,  32;  21.  18; 
 Acts  1.  5,  8. 
 
 PROPHESY,  by  Eldad  and  Medad,  Num.  U. 
 26  ;— by  Jahaziel,  2  Chr.  20. 14  ;— by  Balaam, 
 Niun.  23.  7,  18;  24.  15;— by  Nathan,  1  Chr. 
 17.  15. 
 
 PROPHET,  the  great  one  promised,  Deut.  IS. 
 15  ; — a  false  one  distinguished,  18 — 22  ; — one 
 sent  to  Eli,  1  Sam.  2.  27  ; — anciently  called 
 seer,  1  Sara.  9.  9  ; — called  man  of  God,  I  Kings 
 13.  1  ;— Gad  sent  to  David,  2  Sam.  24.  12  ;— 
 old  prophet  of  Bethel.  1  Kings  13.  11  ;— dis- 
 obedient, slain, 24  ;— EUsha  called,  19.  Ifi.  19; 
 — one  sent  to  Ahab,  20.  13,  14  ;— Zcdekiali, 
 1384 
 
 the  false  prophet,  22.  II  ; — Micaiah  opposes 
 Zedekiah.  19,  &c. ;  2  Chr.  is.  22  ;— Elijah  as- 
 cends to  heaven,  2  Kings  2.  11; — Agabus, 
 Acts  11.  28. 
 PROPHETS,  hid  by  Obadiah,  1  Kings  18.  3,  4  ; 
 —  Elijah    complains   that    they    are    slain, 
 
 1  Kings    19.    10  ;  —  Baal's    prophets   slain, 
 
 2  icings  1 0.  25  ;— Ij-ing  ones  complained  of, 
 Jer.  14.  13  ;  23.  9;— reproved.  Ezek.  13.  1  ; — 
 and  predicted.  Matt.  7.  15;  24.  11,21;  Acts 
 20.  29 ;  1  Tim.  4.  1  ;  2  Pet.  2.  1  ;  3.  3  ;— pro- 
 phesied of  Christ,  1  Pet.  1.  10. 
 
 PROPHETESSES,  Miriam,  Exod.  15. 20  ;— De- 
 borah, Judg.  4.  4:— Huldah,  2  Kings  22.  14  ;— 
 Noadiah,  Neh.  6.  14  ; — Anna,  Luke  2.  36; — 
 the  daughters  of  Philip,  Acts  21.  9. 
 
 PROSPERITY,  or  Aduersitij,  no  evidence  of 
 tlie  favour  or  displeasure  of  God,  Job  12.  6  ; 
 
 20.  4;  21.  7,  IS;  Ps.  17.  10;  73.  3,  13;  92.  7; 
 Eccl.  8.  14;  9.2;  Jer.  12.  1  ;  Hab.  1.  16;  Mai. 
 
 3.  14;  Matt.  5.  45;  Luke  13.  1  ;  16.  19;  John 
 
 9.  2 ;  Acts  28.  4  ; — advantages  and  evils  of, 
 vv-ill  be  adjusted  hereafter,  Ps.  37.  1 ;  Eccl.  5. 
 8;  8.  12;  Jer.  5.  29;  Luke  16.25  ;  Rom.  8.  18; 
 —its  dangers,  Deut.  6.  10  ;  Pro.  1 .  32  ;  30.  8  ; 
 Luke  6.  24;  12.  16;  James  5.  1; — of  the 
 wicked  not  to  be  envied.  Job  12.6;  20.  5 ; 
 
 21.  7,  18:  Ps.  37.  1  ;  73.  1,  18;  92.  7  J  Eccl.  8. 
 12  ;  Jer.  12.  1,  &c. :  Luke  16. 19. 
 
 PROVIDENCE  0/ Gurf  asserted,  E.xod.  21.  13; 
 
 Job  1.  12;  2.  6;  5.  6;  23.  14  ;  Ps.  65.  9  ;  75.  6 ; 
 105.14;  113.7;  1'27.  1  ;  147.6;  Pro.  16.  9, 
 23;  19.  21  ;  20.  24;  21.  30;  Eccl.  9.  1.  11  ;  Jcr. 
 
 10.  23  ;  Matt.  6.  26 ;  10.  29 ;  John  3.  27. 
 PRUDENCE  recommended,  Pro.  12.  16,  23  ; 
 
 13.  16;  14.  8;  15.  5;  19.  11  ;  22.  3;  27.  U,12; 
 Matt.  10.  16  ;  James  3.  13. 
 PS.VLMS,  exhorting  to  practical  piet)-,  Ps.  1 . 
 
 4.  II.  19.  24.  32.   37.  41.  49.   81.  84.  95.    II9. 
 
 125  : — on  the  character  of  the  righteous  an<l 
 the  wicked,  Ps.  7.  10.  12.  14.  15.  36.  52.  53. 
 58.73.32.   101.    112.    125.    128.   131.    133;— on 
 
 prayer  in  general,  Ps.  4.  5.  26. 28.  71.  86.  110. 
 123.  132.  141.  144;— in  distress,  Ps.  13.  17. 
 
 22.  25.  31.  35.  38.  40.43.  51.  55.  59.  Oo.  61.  611. 
 70.  74.  80.  83.  88.  94.    120.   123.    137.  140.  142. 
 
 143 ;— confession  and  repentance,  Ps.  6,  39. 
 41.  42.  51.  74.  77.  79.  85.  102;— expressive  of 
 confidence  in  God,  Ps.  3.  12.  16.  23.  2y.  44. 
 46.  .56.  57.61.62.71.77.  91.  121.  127.  130.  138; 
 — celebrating  God's  perfections.  Ps.  8.  19. 29. 
 33.  50.  65.  68.  76.  93.  96.  97.  99.  104.  107.  113. 
 
 114.  135. 136. 139. 147; — of  praise  and  thanks- 
 giving, Ps.  9. 18.  ■20.23. 30. 34. 40.  47. 48.  63.  66. 
 67.  75.  76.  87.  92.  9S.  100.  103.  103.  111.  115. 
 116.  117.  118.  122.  124.  126.  129.  131.  145.  146. 
 148.  119.  ISO :— historical.  Ps.  78.  89.  105. 
 106.  135.  136;— prophetical  of  Christ,  Ps.  2. 
 21.  22.  45.  72.  109.  110. 
 
 PUBLICANS,  Matt.  g.  II ;  Matt.  21.  31 ;  Luke 
 
 18.  13;  19.  2,  7. 
 
 PUBLIUS,  Paul  cures  his  father.  Acts  28.  8. 
 PUL,  kmg  of  Assvria,  2  Kings  15.  19 ;  1  Chr. 
 
 5.26. 
 PUNISHMENT  of  the  wicked.  Job  15.  20;  18. 
 
 5;  20.  4;    27.  13; — without  hope.  Job  8.  13; 
 
 Ps.  112.  10;  Pro.  10.28;  1 1.  7  ;— eternal.  Isa. 
 
 66.24;    Dan.  12.2;    Matt.  18.8;    25.41,46; 
 
 Mark  3.  29;  9.  43;  Luke  3.  17;  2Thess.  1.9; 
 
 Jude  7  ; — in  proportion  to  guilt,  Matt.  11.22, 
 
 &c. ;  23.   14  ;   Luke  12.  47  ;— examples  of. 
 
 Gen.  4.  II  ;    38.  7;    I  Sam.  2.  31  ;   4.  II,  18  ; 
 
 2  Kings  5.  27;    19.  35,  37  ;    Acts  1.  18;    5.  1  ; 
 
 12.  23;  13.  II. 
 PURCHASES,   the  manner  of  making  them, 
 
 Gen.  23.3;  Ruth  4.  7;  Jer.  32.  7,  41. 
 PURIM,  Esth.  9.  20. 
 PURITY  of  heart  necessary.  Josh.  24.   14  ; 
 
 I  Sam.  16.  7;   1  Chr. '28.  9 ;  29.  17;  Ps.  7.  8; 
 
 24.  4;  51.  6;    73.  1  ;    119.  80;    125.  4;    Pro.  4. 
 
 23.  26;  24.  9;  Matt.  5.  8;  Luke  8.  15  ;  11.39  ; 
 Rom.  2.  29  :  1  Tim.  1 .  5  ;  2  Tim.  2.  22  ;  Jam. 
 4.  8  ; — the  evidence  of  its  being  pure.  Ps.  15. 
 4  ;  Matt.  12.  35  ;  15.18;  Luke  6.  45  ;  James 
 
 3.  II. 
 
 QUAILS,  Exod.  16.  12;  Num.  11.31. 
 QUARRELS  to  be  avoided.  Pro.  3.  30  ;  17.  14  ; 
 
 20.  3;  25.  8;  Col.  3.  13 ;— whence  they  arise, 
 
 James  4.  1. 
 
 RAB-SHAKEH,  2  Kings  18.  19. 
 
 RACHEL,  Gen.  29.  1,  28;  30.  23;  35.  18;— re- 
 presented as  mourning  for  her  children,  Jer. 
 31.  15. 
 
 RAHAB,  Josh.  2.1;  6.  25  ;— tlie  wife  of  Sal- 
 mon, Matt.  1.  5  ; — saved  by  her  faith,  Heb. 
 
 11.  31  ;— by  works,  James  2.  25. 
 RAILING  to  be  avoided,  1  Cor.  5.  II  ;  I  Pet. 
 
 3.9;  2  Pet.  2.  II ;  Jude  9. 
 
 RANSOM,  Christ,  Matt.  20.  28  ;  1  Tim.  2.  6. 
 R.\PE.   laws   respecting,   Deut.  22.  25,  —  in- 
 stances of,  Juilg.  19.  25  ;  21.  19  ;    2  Sam.  13. 
 
 1.  S:c. 
 
 RASH.VESS   censured,   Ps.  31.  22;    1 16.    10; 
 
 Pro.  14.  29;  Isa.  32.  4  ;  Acts  19.  36. 
 REASON  to  be  employed  in  religion.  Isa.  I . 
 
 IS;  5.  3;  Luke  12.  57;   1  Cor.  10.  15;  II.  13; 
 
 1  Pet.  3.  15; — not  a  sufficient  guide.  Deut. 
 
 12.8;    Pro.  3.  5;    14.    12;    Horn.    I.  'i'2,  SiC. , 
 
 1  Cor.  2.  I, 
 REBEKAH.  Gen.  24.  15,  45  ;  25.  24  ;  27.  I.&c. 
 REBELLIONS,   Num.    12.  I  :    16.    I  ;   2  Sam. 
 
 15.    1:1  Kings   16.9:    2  Kings  19.   37 ;— of 
 
 Israel  enumerated  and  deplored,  Ezra  9. 5  ; 
 
 Neh.  g.  7  :  Ezek.  20.  5. 
 RECONCI  LI.VnON  of  God  and  man  by  Christ. 
 
 Rom.  5.  10;  2  Cor.  5.  18;  Eph.  2.  16;  Col.  1. 
 
 20  : — with  an  offended  brother.  Matt.  5.  23  ; 
 
 Rom.  12.  18. 
 REUE.MPTION,  0/   lri,id.   Lev.   25.   23 ;  —  of 
 
 houses,  29  ; — of  Israelitish  slaves,  47  ; — of 
 
 the  Jews  from  captivity,  Neh.  5.  8. 
 from  tiin  tmd  death  hij  Christ, 
 
 1  Cor.  1 .  30  ;    Gal.  3.  1 3  ;    Eph.  1.7';    Col.  I . 
 
 14:  Heb.  9.  12  ;  1  Pet.  1.  13;  Rev.  5.9. 
 RED  sea,  passage  of  Israelites  through  it,  Ex. 
 
 14.  21. 
 REFORM.\TION,  Job  11.  14,  15;  Isa.  1.16; 
 
 55.7;    Jer.  7.  3;    IS.  II  ; '25.  5  ;  26.  13  ;  36.  7  J 
 
 Ezek.  33.  14  —  16;  Matt.  3.  8. 
 REFUGE,  cities  of.  Num.  35.  6;  Deut.  4.  41  ; 
 
 19.  1  ;  Josh.  20.  1,  Ike 
 REGENER-\T10N,  or  a  change  of  heart  and 
 
 life,  necessary,  John  1 .  13:3.3;  Rom.  12.  2; 
 
 2Cor.4.  16;  5.17;  Gal.  6.  15;  Eph.  4.  22; 
 Col.  3.  8  ;  I  Pet.  1 .  23  :  I  John  a.  9  ;  5.  4.  18  ; 
 — represented  bv  baptism,  John  3.  5  ;  Rom. 
 
 6.  1 ;  Col.  2.  12  ,'  Tit.  3.  5  ;— applied  to  the 
 resurrection.  Matt.   19.  23;    Rom.  8.  11; 
 
 1  Cor.  15   42. 
 
 REHOBO.\M,  his  history,  see  1  Kings  12.  1  ; 
 
 2  Chr.  10.  1,  16;  1  Kings  I'i.  16; '2  Chr.  II.  1, 
 IS  ;  12.  I,  16;  1  Kings  14.  31. 
 
 REJECTION, or  abandonment, byGod,  for  im- 
 penitence. Ps.  81.  12;  Pro.  I. '29:  Matt.  7. 
 23;  Mark  16.  Hi;  John  3.  18;  Acts  7.42; 
 Rom.  1.  24 ;  2  Thess.  2.  1 1  :  Rev.  3.  16. 
 
 REJOICING,  on  what  ace-  unts  allowable. 
 Lev.  23.  40;  Deut.  16.  14  ;  Psa.  67.  12  ;  105. 
 3;    Pro.   29.   2;    Acts  5.41  ;     Rom.    12.    15; 
 
 1  Thess.  5.  16;  1  Pet.  4.  13. 
 RELAPSING  into  tin  dangerous.  Matt.  12. 43  ; 
 
 John  5.  14  ;  Heb.  6.  4  ;  2  Pet.  2.  20. 
 RELEASE,  yeal-  of,  Exod.  21.  2;   Deut.  15.  1  ; 
 31.  10;  Jer.  34.  14. 
 
 REPENTANCE  described.  Jer.  50.  4  ;  Ezek.  6. 
 
 9,  10:  16.  63;  20.  43;  36.  31,  32;    2  Cor.  7.  9, 
 
 10  ;— enforced,  2  Chr.  30. 6 ;  Isa.  31.6:  Ezek. 
 
 18.  30;  Hos.  6.  1  ;  14.  I  ;  Zech.  1.  2,  3;  Matt. 
 
 4.  17;  9.  13,  Mark  1.  15;  Luke  6.  12;  Acts 
 3.19;  17.  30  ;  20.  21 ;— necessary,  I  Kings  8. 
 
 47;  Ps.  7.  12;  Ezek.  13.  30;  Luke  13.  3;  15. 
 7  :    -24.  47  :  .\Cts  2.  33  ;  3.  19  ;    17-  30  ;  26.  20  ; 
 
 2  Pet.  3.  9;— wherein  it  consists,  1  Kings  8. 
 47;  Ps.  51.  17;  119.  59;  Ezek.  18.  21  ;  36.  31  ; 
 Hos.  14.1;  Joel  2.  12 ;— motives  to  it,  I  Sam. 
 
 7.  3:  Neh.  1.9:  Job  22.  23;  Ps.  32.  5;  Isa.  1. 
 16;  Jer.  4.  1 ;  Ezek.  33.  II  ;  Zech.  1.3;  Rev. 
 
 2.  5  ; — if  genuine,  will  obtam  pardon.  Lev. 
 26.  40  ;  Deut.  4.  29  ;  30.  1,  3  ;  Pro.  2S.  13  ;  Isa. 
 
 65.  6,  7;  Jer.  18.  8;  36.  3;  Ezek.  18.  21;  36. 
 
 31 ;  Acts  2.  3S ; — danger  of  delaying  it,  Ps. 
 
 18.  41  ;  119.  60;  Pro.  I.  23;  29.  1  ;  Isa.  55.  6j 
 Jer.  7.  Ifi  ;  U,  11;  14.  10;  Ezek.  3.  IS;  Mic. 
 
 3.  4  ;  Zech.  7.  13  ;  Matt.  25.  10  ;  Luke  12.  20  : 
 
 19.  44  ;  Acts  3.  23  :    Rom.  13.  1 2  ;  2  Cor.  6.  2  ; 
 
 Heb.  3.  7,  13  ;  12.  17;  Rev.  2.  22  ;— preached 
 
 by  John  the  Baptist,  Matt.  3.2;  Mark  1 .  4  ; 
 
 Luke  3. 3  ;— by  Jesus,  Matt.  4.1/:  Mark  1.5. 
 REPHIDIM,  water  brought  from  a  rock  there, 
 
 Exod.  17.  6. 
 REPROACHES,  how  tn  be  borne,  Matt.  5.  II ; 
 
 I  Cor.  4.  12;  1  Pet.  4.  4. 
 REPROB.\TION  threatened  to,  aiul  denounced 
 
 against  some  sorts  of  persons,  Ps.  81.  12; 
 
 Pro.  1.  29,  Matt.  23.  37;  Acts  7. 42;  Rom.  1. 
 
 24:  2  Thess.  2.  II  ;  Rev.  3.  16. 
 REPROOF,  how  to  be  given.  Lev.  19.  17  ;  Pro. 
 
 9.  8  ;  24.  25  ;  27-  5  ;    1  Thess.  5.14;    2  Tliess. 
 
 3.  15  ;  1  Tim.  5.  1,  20  ; — how  to  be  received. 
 
 Pro.  10.  17:    12.1;    13.  IS;    15.. ^,  10,  31;  19. 
 
 20  ;  27.  5  ;  28.  23  ;  29.  I  ;  Eccl.  7.1. 
 REPUTATION,   Pro-  22.  1  ;  Eccl.  7.  1 ;    10.  I  ; 
 
 Luke  6.  26;  2  Cor.  S.  21;  3  John  12. 
 RESIGNATION,   instances   of,    Lev.   10.  3; 
 
 I  .Sam.  3.  IS  ;  2  Sam.  15.  26 ;  Ps.  39.  9 ;  2  Kings 
 
 20.  19:  Job  1.  20;  Luke  1.  38;  Matt.  26. 
 42  ;  Mark  14.  36  ;  Luke  22.  42  ;  John  18.  II  ; 
 Phil.  4.  II ;— recommended ,  James  4.  10. 
 
IN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 RESPECT,  how  and  when  to  be  shewn.  Pro. 
 
 25.  6;  Luke  U.  10;   Rom.  12.  10;  Phil.  2.  3; 
 
 I  Pet.  2.  17;  3.  8. 
 RESTITUTION  far  injuries  enjoined,   Exod. 
 
 22.  5  ;   Lev.  6.  4  ;  Num.  6.  7  ;    1  Sam.  12.  3  ; 
 
 Ezek.  33.  1.5;  Luke  ig.  8. 
 RESTORATION  of  Israel  foretold,  Isa.  1.  26; 
 
 4,  2,  &C.  ;  14.  1  ;  27.  9;  29.  18;  30.  18;  32.  15; 
 44.  22;  54.  6,  kc.  :  60.  I,  8:0.;  Jer.  31.  18,31; 
 SO.  4  ;  Ezck.  11.  19;   16.  60 ;   36.  26;  Zeph.  3. 
 
 13  ;  Zech.  12.  10  ;  13.  1,  &C. ;  also  frora  their 
 present  dispersion,  Isa.  11.  11,  &c. ;    14.  1, 
 
 &C. ;  18.  2,  &C. ;  27.12;  49.  9,  &C. ;  51.11; 
 65.  9;  66.  8;  Jer.  12.  14;  16.  H;  23.  1,  8;  30. 
 
 1,  &C.,  31  ;  32.  36;  33.  14.  20;  46.  27;  Ezek. 
 6.  8;  11.  16;  12.  22;  16.  60  ;  20.  33;  23.  24  ; 
 29.  21 :  36.  1.  &c.,  3?  ;  Dan.  12.  1. 
 
 RESURRECTION,  Job's  hope  of  it,  Job  19.  25  ; 
 — David's, Ps. 16. 10  ;— of  the  dry  bones,  Ezck. 
 37.  1,  8:c. ;— mentioned  to  Darnel.  Dan.  12. 
 
 2.  13;— preached  by  Jesus,  Matt.  17.  23; 
 22.31;  John  5.  21,  28;— his  own  foretold. 
 Matt.  12.  40;    16.   21;    Mark   9.  31;    14.   -28; 
 
 John  2.  19 ;— Paul's  account  of,  1  Cor^  15.  1, 
 &C. :  1  Thcss.  3.  13  ;— the  first,  1  Cor.  15.  23  ; 
 
 1  Thess.  4.  16;  Rev.  20.  5. 
 REVELATION,  different  modes  of  it.  Gen.  3. 
 
 9;  4.  9;  6.  13;   15.  1  ;  31.  24;  40.  8;  Exod.  3. 
 
 2  ;  28.  26  ;  1  Sam.  28.  6 ;  Dan.  2.19;  Joel  3. 
 23;  Matt.  10.  19;  Luke  1.  11,  26,  67 ;  2.26; 
 Acts  2.  1 ;  9.  4  ;  1  Cor.  14.  30  ;— all  Sciipture 
 is  given  by  revelation  from  God,  2  Tim.  3. 
 16;  1  Pet.  1.  11  ;  2  Pet.  1.  21. 
 
 REVENGE  to  be  refrained  from.  Lev.  19.  18; 
 
 Pro.  20.  22  ;  24.  29  ;  Matt.  5.  39  ;  Rom.  12.  I9  ; 
 
 1  Thess.  5.  15;  1  Pet.  3.  9. 
 
 REVILING  forbidden.  Matt.  5.  22  ;   1  Cor.  6. 
 
 10  ;  1  Pet.  2.  23 ;  3.  9  ;  2  Pet.  2.  1 1  ;  Jude  9. 
 
 REWARDS,  great,  promised  to  the  righteous, 
 
 Deut.  28.  1,  &C. ;  Ps.  1.  1,  &C.  ;  50.  23  ;  84. 
 12;  112.  1  ;    Pro.  3.  33;    10.6,17;    12.2,28; 
 
 Isa.  3.  10 ;  43.  IS  ; — of  a  temporal  nature,  Ps. 
 
 37.  29;   Pro.  2.  21  ;   3.  2,  7,  16;    10.  3,  30;   13. 
 
 25  :  22.  4 ;  Isa.  33.  1 5  ; — compared  to  crowns 
 and  kingtloms.  Matt.  25.34;  Luke  12.32; 
 22.  29  ;  2  Tira.  2.  12 ;  4.  8  ;  Heb.  12.  28 ;  Jam. 
 
 1.  12;  1  Pet.  I.  4;  5.4;  Rev.  2.  10;  3.  U. 
 
 REZIN,  king  of  S)-ria,  2  Kings  15.  37;  16.  5; 
 
 Isa.  7. 1. 
 REZON,  of  Damascus,  1  Kings  II.  23. 
 RICH  persons,  Qen.  13.  2;  24.  1,  35 ;  Job  1.3; 
 
 2  Chr.  9.  27;— contrasted  with  poor,  Ps.  37. 
 
 16;  Pro.  10.  15;  13.  7,  8;  14.  20;  15.  16;  16. 
 S;  18.  23  ;    19.  1,  4,  22;  28.  6,  1 1  ;  EccL  4.  6; 
 
 Mark  12.  41 — 44;  Luke  ig.  25,  26;  James  2. 
 6,7. 
 RICHES,  not  to  be  sought,  Pro.  23.  4  ;  Matt.  6. 
 19—21 ;— the  gift  of  Providence.  Deut.  8.  IS  ; 
 
 Job  22.  25;  42.  12;   Pro.  10.  22;  Dan.  U.  43; 
 
 — ill  acquired,  Jos.  7.  21  ;  Pro.  10.  2,  3  ;  20. 
 21  ;  21.  6;  28.  20;  Jer.  17-  11 ;  Hab.  2.  6; 
 Luke  16.  11  ; — often  cause  forgetfulness  of 
 God,  Deut.  6.  10—12;  8.  11— 14  ;— danger  of, 
 to  the  soul,  Matt.  13.22;  19.25;  Marks. 
 
 36,  37;  10.  21—26;  Luke  6.  24,  25;  9-  25;  12. 
 34;  14.  33;  18.  23—26;  James  5.  I— 3;— cri- 
 minal confidence  in.  Job  31.  24,  25  ;  Ps.  62. 
 10;  Pro.  II.  28;  IS.  11 ;  Mark  10.  24;  1  Tim. 
 6.  17; — ostentation  of,  Deut.  8.  17;  Isa.  39. 
 2 — 1 ; — vanity  of,  Eccl.  6. 1, 2  ; — unsatisfying 
 nature  of.  Pro.  15.  6;  Eccl.  5.  10,  11  ; — are 
 fugitive.  Job  20.  15,  28,  29;  27.  16,  17;  19. 
 
 23;  Ps.  17.  14;  39.6;  Pro.  23.  5  ;  28.  22  ;  Eccl. 
 
 2.  18,  19  ;  5.  13,  14  ;— if  well  used,  a  blessing. 
 Pro.  14.  20;  19,  4;  22.  7;  Eccl.  7.  12;  Luke 
 16.  9;  1  Tim.  6.  19. 
 
 RIDDLE,  Samson's,  Judg.  14.  12. 
 RIGHTEOUS  described,  Ps.  112.  6;  Pro.  12. 
 
 10;   13.  5;  21.  12;  Matt.  12.35;  John  I.47. 
 
 and  wicked  compared,  Ps.  1.  37. 
 
 49.  58.  73;  Pro.  4.  16;  14.  9;  28.  1,  &C. ;   Isa. 
 
 3.  10; — have  the  same  fate  in  this  world. 
 Eccl.  7.  15 ;  8. 14  ;  9.  2  ,— their  happiness  and 
 privileges,  Ps.  37.  23;  Pro.  12.  2;  13.  22  ;  14. 
 
 U  ;  28.  5  ;   Isa.  33.  15  ;  Rom.  2.  10  ;  5.  7  ;   10. 
 
 5,  6;  2Cor.  3.  18;  Eph.  2.  19;  Col.  1.  12;  3. 
 4;  Heb.  12.  14:  1  John  3.  2;  Rev.  2.7,  11,  17, 
 26,  28;  3.  5,  12,  21 ;  22.  14;— to  be  remem- 
 bered with  respect,  Ps.  112.  6;  Pro.  10.7; 
 — to  be  blessed  in  their  posterity,  E.'tod.  25. 
 
 6,  6;  Deut.  4.  40;  12.  25;  Ps.  37.26;  103.  17; 
 Pro.  11.  21  ;  12.  7;  14.  26;  20.  7;  Luke  1.  50; 
 
 —to  inherit  eternal  life,  Dan.  12.2  ;  Luke  18. 
 30  ;  John  3.  15 ;  4.  14  ;  Rom.  2.  7  ;  1  Tim.  6. 
 19;  Tit.  1.2;  1  John  2.  25;  Jude  21. 
 RIGHTEOUSNESS  for  justification,  Ps.71.  16; 
 Isa.  1.  27;  45.  24,  25  ;  Rom.  3.  22,  28;  4.  5, 
 6,  13;  10,  .3—8;  Phil.  3.  9. 
 
 ROD,  of  Moses,  Exod.  4.  3;  7.  10;— of  Aaron 
 budded,  Nmn.  17.  1,  &c. 
 1385 
 
 ROLL,  fiying,  in  a  vision  of  Zechaxiah,  Zech. 
 
 3.  I. 
 
 RUTH  accompanies  her  mother  from  the  land 
 of  Moab  to  Bethlcliem,  Ruth  1.  16;— gleans 
 in  the  fields  of  Boaz,  2.  1 ,  &c. ; — claims  the 
 right  of  relationship  to  liim,  3.  8;— married 
 to  him,  4.  10. 
 
 SABBATH  appointed.  Gen.  2.  2 ;— charge  to 
 
 kcepit,  E.Kod.  16.  23;  20.8,10;  23.12;  31. 
 12;      34.     21;     35.    2;      Lcv.    23.    3;      Deut. 
 
 5.  12;  Jer.  17.  21 ;— a  breaker  of  it  stoned, 
 15.  32;— how  to  be  kept,  Neh.  10.  31 ;  Isa. 
 58.  13;  Ezek.  20.  12; — the  superstitious  ob- 
 ser^'ance  of  it  censured,  Matt.  12.  1,  11; 
 Mark  2.  23,  27  ;  Luke  13.  15  ;  John  7.  23. 
 
 SABBATICAL  year,  E.-lod.  23.  10  ;  Lev.  25.  1  ; 
 Deut.  15.  1. 
 
 SACKCLOTH  used  in  mourning.  Gen.  37.  34  ; 
 Job  16.  15;  John  3.  5. 
 
 SACRIFICE  of  Christ,  Eph.  5.  2;  Heb.  9.  25, 
 26;  10.  14;— foretold,  Ps.  40. 6— 8;  Dan.  9. 27. 
 
 SACRIFICES,  their  antiquity  before  the  law. 
 Gen.  4.  3— 7;  31.  54;  E-\od.  18.  12;  Num. 
 22.  40;  23.  1,  2,  3,  6 ;  14.  29.  30;— laws  re- 
 specting. Lev.  7.  37,  33  ;  Num.  28.  2  ;  29.  39  ; 
 Ps.  4.  5;  107.  22;  118.  27 ;— for  pardon.  Lev. 
 
 4.  31,35;  6.  13;  Num.  15. 25.  26 ;— of  thanks- 
 giving. Lev.  22.  29 ; — for  morning  and  even- 
 ing. Num.  2S.  3; — of  the  meat  and  drink 
 offerings,  ]  5.  1  ;— on  the  Sabbath,  28. 9  ; — on 
 the  new  moons,  11 ; — at  the  passover,  16, 
 &c. ; — on  the  ofiering  of  first  firuits,  26 ; — 
 abrogated,  Heb.  9. 9. 10  ;— contrasted,  1  Sam. 
 
 15.  22;   ps.  69.  30,  31  ;  Pro.  21.  3;  HOS.  6.  6  ; 
 
 Matt.  12.  7  ; — metaphorical  sacrifices,  Ps.  51. 
 
 17;  Rom.  12.  1  ;  Heb.  13.  10,  15,  16. 
 SACRILEGE  forbidden  and  censured.  Pro.  20. 
 
 25;  Mai.  3.  8;  Rom.  2.  22. 
 SADDUCEES  reproved.  Matt.  22.  23;— their 
 
 opinions.  Acts  23.  8. 
 SALT  to  be  used  with  every  burnt  offering. 
 
 Lev.  2.13 ; — Christians  compared  to  it.  Matt. 
 
 5.  13;  Mark  9- •19;  Luke  14.  34. 
 SALVATION  from  God  only,  Ps.  98.  1—3; 
 
 Isa.  46.  13;  49.  6,  9;  54.  1,  2;  59-  16,  20;  63, 
 4,  5;  Jer.  23.  5,  6;  Hos.  13.  9;  Luke  1.  63— 
 72;  2.  30—32;  John  3.  16,  17;  Acts  5.  31  ; 
 13.   46,    47;    2  Cor.   5.    IS;    2  Tim.   1.    8—10; 
 
 Tit.  3.  4,  5;  1  John  4.  9,  10,  14;— through 
 Christ,  Matt.  18.  U  ;  Luke  2.  10—12;  14.25, 
 
 26,  28,  30—32  ;  19.  8—10  ;  John  3.  14,  15,  17  ; 
 Acts  4.  10—12,  27  ;  5.  30,  3!  ;  15.  1 1  ;  Phil.  3. 
 20  ;  I  Tira.  1 .  15  ;  2  Tim.  2.  10  ;  Hcb.  5.  5,  9  ; 
 7.  24,  25;  1  John  4.  9.  14. 
 
 SAMARIA  built,  1  Kings  16.  24 ;— famine  there, 
 2  Kings  6.  24 ; — taken  by  the  Assyrians,  18. 9- 
 
 SAMARITANS  oppose  the  rebuilding  of  the 
 temple,  Ezra  4,  1 ; — their  enmity  to  the  Jews, 
 John  4.  9  ;  Luke  9.  53. 
 
 SAMSON  born,  Judg.  13.  24. 
 
 SAMUEL  born,  1  Sam.  1 .  20  ;— devoted  to  God, 
 24  ;  —  persuades  the  Israelites  to  abandon 
 idolatry   at  Mizpeh,   7.   3 ;  —  anoints   Saul, 
 
 1  Sam.  10.  1 ;— reproves  Saul,  13.  11  ;  15.  12, 
 &c. ; — deserts  him,  35; — anouits  David,  16. 
 11,  K'C. ;— dies,  25.  1 ;— appears  to  Saul  after 
 his  death,  23.  9,  &c. 
 
 SANBALLAT,  Neh.  6.  1,  &c. 
 SANCTIFlC.vnON  by  Christ,   1  Cor.  6.  20 ; 
 
 Eph.  2.  4—6;    1  Tliess.  5.  9,  10;   Tit.  2.  14; 
 
 Heb.  9.  13,  14;  10.  10. 
 SARAH,  Gen.  U.29;  12.5  ;— her  name  changed 
 
 from  Sarai,   17.   15 ;— her  death,    23.  2;— 
 
 buried,  19. 
 SARDIS,  Rev.  3.  1. 
 SATAN,  the  detail,  earnestly  labours  after  man's 
 
 destruction,  1  Pet.  5.  8; — may  be  conquered 
 
 if  properly  resisted,  Eph.  4.  27;  6.  10,  11  ; 
 
 2  Tun.  2.  26  ;  James  4.7:1  Pet.  5.  9 ;  1  John 
 2.  13  ;  —  his  suggestions  to  be  carefully 
 guarded  against.  Matt.  13.  19;  2  Cor.  11.3; 
 Eph.  6.  11;  —  hispires  evil  thoughts,  and 
 draws  men  into  sin.  Gen.  3.  1 ;  1  Chr.  21.  1 ; 
 Luke  22.  3 ;  Acts  5.  3  ;  2  Cor.  2. 1 1  ; — Ills  sug- 
 gestions are  always  contrary  to  the  word  of 
 God,  or  to  faith,  or  to  charity.  Matt.  4.  2,  6, 
 9  ;  1  John  3.  8,  10 ; — can  do  nothing  without 
 God's  permission,  i  Kings  22.  22  ;  Job  1.12; 
 2.6;  Matt.  8.  31  ;  2  Thess.  2.  1 1  ; — appears  in 
 the  presence  of  God,  Job  1.6;  2.1  ; — tempts 
 David  to  number  Israel,  1  Clir.  21.  1 ; — op- 
 poses Joshua  the  high  priest,  Zech.  3.  1  ;— 
 tempts  Jesus,  Matt.  4.  1  ;  Mark  1.  13;  Luke 
 4.2 ; — the  prince  of  the  demons.  Matt.  9. 34  ; — 
 Judas  so  called,  John  6. 70  ; — Peter  so  called, 
 Mark  8.  33 ;  —  seen  by  Jesus  as  lightnuig 
 falling  from  heaven,  Luke  10.  18  ; — his  syna- 
 gogue. Rev.  2.  9; — bound  for  a  tliousand 
 years,  20.  2. 
 
 SAUL  sent  to  find  his  father's  asses,  1  Sam.  g. 
 1; — prophesies,  10.9; — chosen  king,  I"; — 
 delivers  the  inhabitants  of  Jabesh-gilead,  11. 
 11 ; — defeats  the  Philistines,  14.  20  ;— makes 
 a  rash  vow,  1 1.  24  ; — sacrifices  without  wait- 
 ing for  Samuel,  13.8 ; — deserted  by  Samuel . 
 15.  35; — sends  for  Da\id,  16.  ig; — endea- 
 vours to  kill  him,  18.  10;  19.  10,  11  ; — pro- 
 phesies, 19.  22;— pursues  David,  22.  6; — or. 
 ders  the  execution  of  the  priests  of  Nob,  22. 
 11  ; — skirt  cut  oft'  in  the  cave,  24.  4,  &c. ; — 
 spared  at  Hacliilah,  26. 4 ; — consults  a  witch. 
 
 28.  7;— slain,  31.  2;  1  Chr.  10.  2;  — seven 
 of  his  sons  put  to  death  by  the  Gibeonites, 
 2  Sam.  21.  8;— buried  by  David,  12;  —  his 
 descendants,  1  Chr.  s.  33  ;9.  39. 
 
 SCAPE.GOAT.  Lev.  16.  20. 
 
 SCHISM,    1  Cor.   1.   10;    3.3;    11.18;    12.25; 
 
 2  Cor.  13.  II. 
 SCHISMATICS  censured,  Rom.  l6.  17;  1  Cor. 
 
 1.  10;  3.  3;    11.  18;  14.  33;  Gal.  5.20;  Phil. 
 
 2.  2;  4.  2;  2  Thess.  3.  6,  14. 
 SCOFFERS,  Ps.  1.  1  ;   Pro.  3.  34  ;    9.  7;    13.  1  , 
 
 14.  6;  Isa.  29.  20;  2  Pet.  3.  3. 
 SCORNERS,  Pro.  1 .  22  ;  3.  34  ;  9.  7,  12 ;  13.  1  ; 
 14.  6;  15.  12;  ig.29;  21.24;  24.  9  ;  29.  8  ;  ISa. 
 
 29.  20.    See  Scoffers. 
 
 SCOURGING,  Lev.  ig.  20;  Deut.  25.  2;  Matt. 
 10.  17;  27.  26;  Acts  5.  40;  22.  24;  2  Cor.  11. 
 24,  25. 
 
 SCRIPTURES,  their  divine  origin,  2  Kings  21. 
 10  ;  Ps.  139.  2  ;  1  Cor.  14.  06.  37 ;  1  Thess.  2. 
 1 8  ;  2  Pet.  1 .  20,  21  ;— OUT  light,  Ps.  1 1 9.  1 05  ; 
 
 Pro.  6.  23;  2  Pet.  1.  19;- then-  purity,  Ps. 
 12.  6;  119.  140;  Pro.  30.  5;  John  15.  3;  Rom. 
 7.  12;— their  veracity-,  2  Sam.  22.  31  ;  Ps.  19. 
 9;  119.  128,  138,  142,  151,  16O;  Eccl.  12.  10; 
 Lukel.  1— 4;  24.44;  John  17.17;  21.24; 
 2  Cor.  1.  13;  Rev.  21.5  ;— then:  power,  Deut. 
 
 32.  2;  Ps.  ug.  7,  96;  Isa.  65.  10,  11  ;  Jer.  23. 
 
 29;   Mark  4.  20;    2  Cor.    7.    8;    10.    g  —  11  ; 
 
 Heb.  4. 12;— then:  duration,  Ps.  119. 144, 152  ; 
 Isa.  40.  8;  Matt.  5.  17,  18  ;  Luke  16.  17;  21. 
 33  ;  1  Pet.  1 .  25 ;— why  rejected,  Isa.  8.  20  ;— 
 to  be  searched,  John  5.  39 ;  Acts  17.11  ; — to 
 be  taught  in  families,  Deut.  6.  7;  32.  46; — 
 prayer  to  understand,  Ps.  119.  12,  18; — be- 
 nefits of  understanding,  Matt.  13.  51,52; 
 Mark  12.24; — to  be  remembered,  Ps.  119. 
 55,  56;  Heb.  2.  1  i  2  Pet.  3.  1,2;  Jude  17;— 
 to  be  meditated  upon,  Deut.  6.  6  ;   11.18; 
 
 Josh.  1.  8;   Ps.  1.  2,  3;    119.  15,  95,  97,    148; 
 
 — to  be  observed  in  practice,  Deut.  4.  1 ;  5. 
 
 1,  31  ;    6.  1  ;    12.  1,  28;    Ps.  105.  45;    119.    17, 
 
 101,  102,  129;  Pro.  5.  7;  James  I.  22;  Rev. 
 1 .  3  ; — advantages  to  be  derived  from  them, 
 
 Ps.  17.  4;  19.  8,  10,  11  ;  ug.  9,  14,  24,  50,  72, 
 81,  82,  92,  93,  98,  99,  100,  103,  104,  111,  130, 
 143,  162;  Pro.  1.  2—4;  Jer.  15.  16;  John  20. 
 31  ;  Acts  15.  31  ;   Rom.  10.  17;  15.  4;  2  Tim. 
 
 3.  15—17;  James  1.21;  1  John  1.  4;  2.  14;- 
 
 privilege  of  enjoying,  Deut.  4.  6,  8;  30.  11, 
 
 12,  13  ;  Ps.  147.  19,  20  ;  Rom.  3.  1,2. 
 
 SEA,  motteit,  in  the  temple,   1  Kings  7-  23 ; 
 
 2  Chr.  4.  2. 
 SEALING,  the  antiquity  and  use  of  it.  Gen. 
 
 33.  18;  Exod.  '28.  11  ;  1  Kings  21.  8;  Neh.  g. 
 3S;  Esth.  3.  12;  Dan.  6.  17;  Matt.  27.66. 
 
 SE.\LS,  seven,  opened.  Rev.  6.  I. 
 
 SECRET  acliunsvMX  be  discovered,  Eccl.  12. 
 
 14;  Matt.  10.26;  Lukes.  17;  12.2;  1  Cor.  4.  5. 
 SECRETS  not  to  be  revealed.  Pro.  17.  9;  25. 
 
 9 ;  Mic.  7.  5  ; — Samson's  beti'ayed,  Judg.  16. 
 
 5,  13. 
 SEDITION,  Gal.  5.  20. 
 
 SEDUCERS  not  to  be  regarded.  Pro.  26.  10 ; 
 
 Matt.  5.  19;  23.  15;  24.  4,  1 1  ;  2  Tim.  3.  13. 
 
 SELF-DENIAL,  a  Christian  duty.  Matt.  16.  24  ; 
 
 Mark  8.  34  ;  Luke  9.  23. 
 SELF-INTEREST  to  be  disregarded,  1  Cor.  10. 
 
 24;  Pliil.  2.  21;  2  Tim.  4.   10;— of  Nabal, 
 
 I  Sam.  25.  10. 
 SELLING,  frauds  to  be  avoided  in  it.  Lev.  19. 
 
 13,  36;  25.  14;  Pro.  11.  1  ;  16.  1 1  ;  20.  10,  23. 
 
 SENNACHERIB  invades  Judah,  2  Kmgs  18. 
 13 ;  2  Clu:.  32.  1  ;  Isa.  36.  1  ;— his  army  de- 
 stroyed, 2  KuigS   19.  35  ;    2  Chr.  32.  21  ;    Isa. 
 
 37.  36 ;— himself  slain,  37  :  2  Kings  ig.  37. 
 SENSUALITY  censured,  Amos  6.  4  ;    Luke  16. 
 
 19,  &c. :  1  Cor.  15.  32;  James  6.  5. 
 SERPENT  deceives  Eve,  Gen.  3. 1 ;— fiery  ones. 
 
 Num.  21.4,  &c. ; — brazen  one,  8  ; — abused  to 
 
 supersMtion,  2  Kings  18.  4  ;— the  erection  of 
 
 it  typical,  John  3.  14. 
 SERVANTS,  laws  respecting,  Exod.  21.  2,  26, 
 
 &C.  ;  25.  40;  Deut.  23.  15;  24.  14  ;  — du- 
 ties of,  Eph.  6.  5—7;  Col.  3.  22—24;    1  Tim. 
 
 6.  1,  2;    Tit.   2.   9,    10;    I  Pet.  2.    18—20  ;— 
 
 good  servants.  Gen.  39.  2,  &c.  j  Pro.  17.  2, 18  j 
 Matt.  24.  45—47. 
 80 
 
INDEX  TO  THE  PRINCIPAL  PASSAGES 
 
 SEVENTY  elders  appointed  to  relieve  Moses, 
 
 Exod.  18.35  ;  Nmn.  11.  16;— called  up  to  the 
 
 moimt,  Exod.  24.  1 . 
 disciples  sent  out  by  Jesus,  Luke  10. 
 
 I ;— their  return,  17. 
 weeks,  Daniel's  prophecy  of,  Dan.  9. 
 
 14. 
 SEXE.S  to  be  distinguished  by  their  dress, 
 
 Deut.  2-2.  5. 
 SHADR.\CH,  Meshech,  and  Abednego,  Dan, 
 
 3.  3,  &c. 
 SHALLUM,  2  Kings  KS.  10;— slain,  14. 
 SHAMGAR,  Judg.  3.31. 
 SH.WING,  a  rite  of  purification.  Lev.  14.  8; 
 
 — by  the  Nazarites,   Niun.  6.  0 ; — by  Paul, 
 
 Acts  18.  IS;  21.  24  ;— a  token  of  humiliation, 
 
 Job   I.  20 ;— forbidden  with   respect  to  the 
 
 comers  of  the  beard,  Lev.  19.  2; ;  21.  5 ;- 
 
 — of  David's  ambassadors  by  Hanun,  2  Sara. 
 
 10.  4  ; — a  disgrace  to  a  woman,  1  Cor.  11.6; 
 
 — castoraary  with  tbeEg>-ptians,  Gen.41. 14. 
 SfFEBA,  iiueen  of,  1  Kings  10.1;  Matt.  13.  42. 
 rebels  against  David,  2  Sam.  20. 1  ;— 
 
 slain,  22. 
 SHECHEM  debauches  the  daughter  of  Jacob. 
 
 Gen.  34.  2  ;— murdered  by  Simeon  and  Levi, 
 
 25. 
 SHEM,  his  age.  Gen.  11.10 ;— his  descendants, 
 
 10.  21  ;  1  Chr.  1.  17. 
 
 SHEPHERDS,  representing  prophets,  reproved 
 for  their  negligence,  Ezek.  34.  1,  &c. ;  Zech. 
 
 11.  3,  15;  13.7. 
 SHEWBREAD,  Lev.  24.  5. 
 
 SHILOH,    the  tabernacle  iLxed  there,  Jo.sh. 
 
 18.  1. 
 
 SH IMEI  cui-ses  Da\id,  2  Sam.  16.5  ;— pardoned, 
 
 19.  18; — put  to  death  by  Solomon,  1  Kings 
 3.  46. 
 
 SHOE  taken  otTwhen  a  roan  refuses  to  take 
 
 his  brother's  wife,  Deut.  25.  9 ; — and  as  a 
 
 sign  of  purchase,  Ruth  4.  7. 
 SHUN.\MITE  wiiman,  her  son  raised  to  life  by 
 
 Ehsha,  2  Kings  4.  32;— brought  to  the  king, 
 
 8.  1. 
 SICK  to  be  visited,  2  Kmgs  8.  29;  Job  2.  11 ; 
 
 Matt.  25.  36;  2  Tim.  1.  16;  James  1.  27. 
 SICKNESS,  why  pennittcd,  Deut.  28.  32;  Job 
 
 2.  7,  &c.  ;  5.  17;  Ps.  94.  12;  Jolm  9.  3;  11.  4; 
 
 1  Cor.  1 1 .  30  ;— how  to  behave  under  it,  Gen. 
 50.  24  ;  2  Kings  20.  1  ;  James  5.  14. 
 
 SIDON,  its  destruction  foretold,  Ezek.  28.  20. 
 
 SIHON,  king  of  the  Amorites,  conquered, 
 Num.  21.  21,  &c. ;  Deut.  2.  2fi. 
 
 SILAS  exhorts  the  Christians  at  Antioch,  Acts 
 15.  32; — accompanies  Paul  in  his  progress, 
 40: — imprisoned  with  him  at  Philippi,  l6.  19. 
 
 SIMEON  and  Levi  murder  the  Shechcmites, 
 Gen.  34.25; — detained  in  Egypt,  42.  24; — 
 his  inheritance.  Josh.  19.  1  ;— his  descend- 
 ants, 1  Chr.  4.  24  ;— his  tribe  conquers  Gedor 
 and  the  Amalekites,  39. 
 
 SIMON  .U«^«.v,at  Samaria,  converted  byPhilip, 
 Acts  8.  9,  13;— desires  to  purchase  the  gilt 
 of  the  Holy  Spirit,  18. 
 
 SIN,  what  it  is,  Rom.  3.  20  ;  7.  7,  13;  1  John 
 3.4;  5.  17;  James2.  10;— confession  of,  Ex. 
 32.  31  ;  Lev.  16.  21  ;  26.  40.  42;  Num.  5.6,7; 
 
 Deut.  9.  16,  18-20;  Josh.  7.  19;  2  Sam.  12. 
 13;  24.  10;  1  Kings  21.27,29;  2  Kings  22. 11, 
 ^3,  19  ;  Ezra  9.  5,  &c. ;  Nch.  1.  6,  7;  9.  16, 
 
 &C.  ;  Job  7.  20 ;  9.  2,  3 ;  33.  27,  28  ;  40.  3,  4 ; 
 PS.32.5;  38.18;  51.3—5;  IO6.  6  ;  130.3; 
 Isa.  59.  12,  13;  64.  5— 7;  Jer.  14.  7,  20;  Lam. 
 1.  18,20;  3.42;  5.  16;  Dan.  9.  3— 6,  15;  Matt. 
 
 26.75;  Luke  15.  19,  19,  21  ;— exhortations, 
 cautions,  and  warnings  against  it,  Exod.  23. 
 
 2;  Job  28.  23;  Ps.  4.4;  34.14;  37.27;  46. 
 19;  85.6;  97-10;  Pro.  1.10— 17;  3.7;  4. 
 14— 16;  8.  13;  13.  6;  14.  9;  I6.  34  ;  JCr.  2.  I9  ; 
 
 5.  25,  26;  Ezek.  18.  30,  31  ;  33.  11,  14—16,18, 
 
 19;  Amos  5.  14,  15;  Zech.  1.4;  Matt.  5.28— 
 
 30;    John   5.  14  ;    8.  4,  11,   34;    9-  31  ;   Rom. 
 
 6.  1,  2,  6,  1 1—13,  15  ;  8.  13  ;  12.  9,  17,  21  ;  13. 
 
 12—14;  16.  19;  1  Cor.  6.  9, 10,  13,  IS;  10.6— 
 
 10,  14;  15.  34,56;  2  Cor.  7.  1  ;  Gal.  5.  13,  16, 
 19—21;  Eph.4.  26— 28;  5.  3,  5,  7,  11,  18; 
 Col.  3.  5,  6,  8  ;    1  Thess.  4.  3,  4,  7 ;    5.  6,   22  ; 
 
 2  Tim.  2.  19,   22;   Tit.  2.  11,    12;   Heb.  3.  13; 
 
 12.  1  ;  13.  4;  James  1.  21,  27;  4.  8;  1  Pet  3 
 10—12  ;  4.  3  ;  2  Pet.  3.11;  1  John  2.  1  ;  3.  3, 
 6,  8;  Jude  23. 
 
 ,  presumptuous,  the  danger  of  it.  Num.  15 
 
 30;  Ps.  19.  13;  59.  5;  Luke  12.  47;  Rom.  1. 
 32;  Heb.  10.  26. 
 
 against  the  Holti  Spirit,  &.C.  unpardonal.'le. 
 
 Matt.  12.  31  ;  Mark  3.  28 ;  Lukc  12.  10 ;  Heb. 
 6.4;  10.26;  1  Johns.  6. 
 
 SINAI,  the  Israelites  come  thither,  Exod.  19. 
 1 ; — the  ten  commandments  delivered  from 
 it,  20.  I,  &c. ;  Deut.  5.  4,  &c. ;— represents 
 1 380 
 
 the  law.  Gal.  4.  24 ;— the  terrors  of  it  not 
 aflecting  Christians,  Heb.  12.  18,  Ike. 
 SINCERITY  requu-ed.  Josh.  24.  14  ;  1  Sam.  13. 
 24;  16.  7;  1  Chr.  28.9;  29.  17;   Ps.  32.2;  73. 
 
 1;  Matt.  5.8;  Rom.  12.  9;  Phil.  1.10;CoL  3. 
 SINGING  in  divine  worship,  1  Chr.  6.32;  13. 
 
 S  ;   Neh.  12.  28  ;   Matt.  26.  30  ;  Acts  16.  25  ;— 
 
 recommended,  Ps.  95.  1 ;  96.  1 ;  98;   100.  1  ; 
 
 1  Cor.  14.  15,  &c.;    Eph.   6.    19;    Col.   3.   16; 
 
 James  5.  13. 
 SISERA  kiUed  by  Jael,  Judg.  4.  18,  &c. 
 SLANDER  censured,   Exod.  23.  1  ;  Deut.   22. 
 
 13;  Ps.  15.  3;  50.  19,  20;  64.  3;    101.  5;  Pro. 
 
 10.  13;    Rom.  1.  30;  2  Cor.  12.  20;  Tit.  3.  2; 
 
 James  4.11. 
 SLAVE  threatened.  Dent.  23.  63;  Joel  3.  8  ;— 
 its  trade,  Exod.  21.  1,  2;  Lev.  25.  44—46; — 
 arguments   against,  E.xod.  21.16;   Lev.  25. 
 42  ;  Deut.  24.  7  ;    1  Kings  9.  22 ;  Joel  3.  3—7  ; 
 
 Amos  2.  6,  7 ;  8.  6;  Neh.  5.  8 ;— instances  of. 
 Gen.  37.  26—28,  36;  29.  1  ;  Ps.  105.  17  ;  Acts 
 7-9;  Ezek.  27. 13  ; — laws  respecting,  in  cases 
 of  injury,  Exod.  21.  20,  26,  27,  32  ;— redemp- 
 tion from.  Lev.  25.  47—53  ;  Isa.  52.  3  ;  Jer. 
 34.  8,  II,  14 — 17; — manumission  from,  Deut. 
 15.  12—15,  18  ; — of  families,  Exod.  21.  3,  4  ; 
 —voluntary,  E.xod.  21.  5,  6 ;  Deut.  15.  16,  17. 
 SLEEP  not  to  be  indulged  too  much,  Pro.  6. 
 
 4,  9;  20.  13;  23.  21  ;  24.  33. 
 SMYRNA,  Rev.  2.  8. 
 SOBRIETY,  or  a  decent  Christian  conduct, 
 
 1  Thess.  5.  6,  8 ;  Tit.  2.  2,  4,  6 ;   1  Pet.   1.13; 
 
 4.  7;  5.  8. 
 SODOM  destroyed.  Gen.  19.  24. 
 SODOMY  forbidden,   and  laws  to  punish   it. 
 
 Lev.  18.22;  20.  13;  Dcut.  23.  17;  Rom.  1.27; 
 
 1  Cor.  6.  9;  1  Tim.  1.  10. 
 
 SON,  a  disobedient  one  to  be  stoned,  Deut.  21 . 
 18 ; — not  to  be  punished  for  the  sin  of  his  fa- 
 ther, Ezek.  19.  2,  S.C 
 
 SOLO.MON,  made  king,  1  Kings  1.  38;  I  Chr. 
 23.  1  ;  29.  22  ;— sacrifices  at  Gibeon,  2  Chr.  1 . 
 3 ;  1  Kings  3.  4  ; — chooscs  wisdom  in  prefer, 
 ence  to  riches,  ^c,  5  ;  2  Chr.  1 .  7 ;— his  judg- 
 ment, 1  Kings  3.  16;— iiis  power  and  wealth, 
 
 2  Chr.  1.  13;— his  gold,  8. 13;  1  Kings  10. 23; 
 —his  ivory  throne,  17;  I  lungs  10.  18;— his 
 magnificence.  10.  23 ;  2  Cte.  9.  20,  &c. ;— his 
 science,  1  Kings  4.  29 ;— congratulated  by 
 Hiram,  5.  1  ;— builds  the  temple,  1  Kings  ('. 
 
 1.  S:c. ;  2  Chr.  2.  1  ;  3.  1,  &c.  ;— his  prayer,  li. 
 12;  1  Kings  8.  22;— God  appears  to  him,  atid 
 gives  him  a  solemn  warning,  7.  12;  1  King^ 
 6.  1 1 ; — his  covenant  with  him,  9.  1  ; — his 
 other  buildings.  2  Chr.  8.  I  ;— his  own  house, 
 
 I  Kings  7.  1  ; — builds  the  house  of  Lebanon 
 for  Pharaoh's  daughter,  1  Kings  7.  8 ;— ajj- 
 points  the  com'ses  of  the  priests,  2  Chr.  8.14; 
 —sends  ships  to  Ophir,  17;  9.  21,&c.;  IKing.s 
 9.  26 ;— receives  the  queen  of  Sheba,  2  Chr. 
 9-  1  ;  1  Kings  10.  1  ;  —  gives  some  cities  to 
 Hiram,  9.  1 1  ; — his  wives  and  concubines, 
 11.1 ;— his  idolatry,  4  ;— threatened  for  it,  9 ; 
 — his  acts  and  death,  41 ;  2  Chr.  9.  29. 
 
 SONGS,  spiritual,  recommended,  Eph.  5.  19; 
 Col.  3.  16;  James  5.  13;— of  Moses,  Exod. 
 15.  1,  &c. ;  Deut.  32.  1,  &c. ;— of  the  Israel- 
 ites on  finding  water.  Num.  21.  17 ; — of  De- 
 borah, Judg.  5.  1,  &c. ;— of  Hannah,  1  Sam. 
 
 2.  1,  &c. ;— of  David,  1  Sam.  22.  I,  &c. ;— of 
 Marv,  Luke  1.  46;— of  Zacharias,  1.  68. 
 
 SOWER,  the  parable  of  the.  Matt.  13.  3. 
 SPEECH,  the  proper  government  of  it,  Ps.  34. 
 
 II  ;    Pro.  4.  24;    15.  4;    17.  20;    18.  6,   7,   21  ; 
 
 Eccl.  10.  12,  13;  Matt.  12.  36;  James  1.  26; 
 
 3.  2 ;  1  Pet.  3.  10  ;— not  to  be  profane,  Eph. 
 
 4.  29;  5.3;  Col.  3.  8;— not  ha-sty  or  pas- 
 sionate. Pro.  13.  13 ;  Matt.  5.  22 ;  Tit.  3.  2  ;— 
 not  trifling.  Pro.  10.  10,  19;  13.  2;- should 
 be  edifying,  Eph.  4.  29;  Col.  4.  6;   1  Thess. 
 
 5.  11; — the  benefit  of  it  when  sea.sonabIe, 
 
 Pro.  12.  25;  15.  23;  16.  24;  25.  11,  15. 
 
 SPIES,  Num.  13.  2;  14.  36;  Deut.  1.  22;  Josh. 
 
 2.  1,  &c. 
 SPIRIT  o/f?orf  to  be  poured  upon  all,  Joel  2. 
 
 28 ; — descends  upon  the  apostles,  &c.,  -Acts 
 
 2.  1,  &c. ;— the  works  of  it.  Gal.  5.  22. 
 STABILITY  recommended,  Ps.  17.  4  ;  Pro.  24. 
 
 21  ;  Matt.  7.  21  ;   Mark  13.  13  ;    1  Cor.  15.  58  ; 
 
 Eph.  4.  14;    IThess.  5.  21;    Heb.  10.  23;   13. 
 
 9  ;  James  1 .  fi. 
 STEALING  forbidden,  Exod.  20.  15;  Lev.  19. 
 
 11;    Ps.    50.    18;    Zech.   5.    4;    Matt.    15.    19; 
 
 I  Cor.  6.  10;  Eph.  4.  28;  1  Pet.  4.  15. 
 STEPHEN,  tlie  deacon.   Acts  6.  5  ;— accused, 
 
 I I  ;— defends  himself,  7.  1 ,  &c. ;— stoned, 
 59. 
 
 STONES  taken  out  of  the  river  Jordan,  as  a 
 memorial   of  the  Israelites  having  passed 
 
 through  it.  Josh.  4.  1,  &c. ;-  the  law  written 
 on  stone,  8.  32. 
 
 STONES,  precious,  in  the  ephod,  Exod.  2s.  17, 
 &c. ;— in  the  new  Jerusalem,  Rev.  21 .  19. 
 
 STORMS,  remarkable,  and  judicial :  in  Sodom, 
 Gen.  19.  24  ;— in  Eg\pt,  Exod.  9. 23  ;— in  the 
 battle  against  the  live  kings.  Josh.  10.  11. 
 
 STRANGLED  animals  not  to  be  eaten,  Acts 
 15.  20. 
 
 STRATAGEMS  practised  at  the  takmg  of  Ai, 
 Josh.  8.  3,  &c. ;— of  the  Gibconites,  9. 2,  &c. : 
 — by  Gideon.  Judg.  7.16  ; — practised  agauist 
 Gibeah,  Judg.  20.  29;— of  Michal,  to  save 
 David.  1  Sam.  19.  13;— of  David  among  the 
 Philistines,  21.  12;- by  Jehu  to  decoy  the 
 priests  of  Baal,  2  Kings  10.  18. 
 
 STRENGTH  and  stature,  remarkable  instances 
 of:  in   Samson,  Judg.   14.  IxC; — of  Saul, 
 
 1  Sam.  9.  2  ;— of  Ishbi-benob,  2  Sam.  21. 16; 
 —of  a  brother  of  GoUath,  19  •  —  David's 
 mighty  men,  1  Chr.  11.  10,  &c. 
 
 STRll-'E,  evils  of,  Prov.  17.  19;  26.  17;  30.  33; 
 Mark  3.  24,  25;  Luke  11.  17;  Gal.  5.  15;— 
 refiections  on,  Prov.  10.  12;  15.  18;  20.  3; 
 
 26.  21  ;  28.  25. 
 
 STRIPES,  not  to  exceed  forty.  Dent.  2:-..  1. 
 SUBMISSION  to  the  will  of  God,  1  Sam.  3.18; 
 
 Job  1.  21  ;   2.  10;   Ps.  39.  9;    Matt.  26.  42; 
 
 Maik  14.  36;  Luke  22.  42;  Acts  21.  14. 
 to  spiritual  guides,  1  Cor.  16. 
 
 16;  Heb.  13.  7,  17;— to  rulers,  Rom.  13.  1, 
 
 &C. ;  Tit.  3.  1  ;  1  Pet.  2.  13,  SfC. 
 
 ,  in  some  niea.sure,  to  all  men, 
 
 Rom.  12.  10;   Eph.   5.  21  ;   Pllil.  2.  3  ;   1  Pet. 
 
 5.  5. 
 SUBTLETY  of  the  serpent.  Gen.  3.  1  ;— of  Re- 
 
 bekah,  27.  6 ;— of  Laban,  29. 23 , — of  Rachel, 
 
 31.  34 ;— of  Joseph,  42.  7. 
 SUFFERINGS,  how  to  be  borne,  2  Cor.  1.  4  ; 
 
 4.  8,  16;  Jam.  1.  12;    1  Pet.  2.  19;  3.   14;  4. 
 
 12.  &c. 
 
 SUN  and  moon  created.  Gen.  1.14  ; — described, 
 Ps.  19.  5: — not  to  be  worshipped,  Deut.  I. 
 19;  17.3;  Job  31.26;  Ezek.  8.16,  18;— stood 
 still.  Josh.  10.  12;— went  back,  2  Khigs  20. 
 9  ;— darkened,  Luke  23.  44  ;— outshone  by  a 
 greater  brightness.  Acts  26.  13. 
 
 SUPERSTITION  censiu-ed,  Ecclcs.  U.  4  ;  Jer. 
 
 10.  2  ;  Jon.  2.  s  ;  Mark  7.  3  ;  Gal.  4.  10. 
 SURETYSHIP,  the  danger  of  it,  Prov.  6.  1  ; 
 
 11.  15;  17.  18;  20.  16;  27.  13. 
 
 SWEARING,  profane,  forbidden.  Matt.  5.  34  ; 
 
 James  5.  12. 
 SWIFTNESS,  instances  of  it  in  Saul  and  Jo. 
 
 nathan,  2  Sam.  1.  23  ;— Asahel,  2.  18;— Alii- 
 
 maaz,  18.  23  ;- the  Gadites,  1  Chr.  12.  8. 
 SW'INE   possessed  by  demons,  Matt.  8.  30; 
 
 Mark  5.  11  ;  Luke  3.  32. 
 SYMP.\THY  recommended,   Eccles.  7.  2,  4  ; 
 
 Rom.  12.  15;  1  Cor.  12.  26;  Gal.  6.  2;  Heb. 
 
 13.  3;  1  Pet.  3.  8. 
 
 SYRIA  conquered  by  David,  2  Sam.  8.  3,  6 ; 
 10.  6,  16;— its  king  distresses  Ahaz,  2  Chr. 
 28.  5 ; — to  be  conquered  by  the  Assyrians, 
 Is.  9.  4  ;— God's  judgments  upon  it,  Amos 
 
 1.  2. 
 
 SYRO.PHCENICIAN  woman,  her  great  faith, 
 Mark  7.  25,  &c. 
 
 TABERNACLE  ordered  to  be  built,  Exod.  25. 
 2 ;— its  furniture.  Sec,  26.  27.  36.  38  ;— oftcr- 
 ings  for  it  in  gold  and  silver,  38.  21.  &-c.  ;— 
 set  up,  40.  1 ;— anointed,  9  ; — a  cloud  covers 
 it,  34  ;— the  offerings  at  its  dedication,  Num. 
 7.  1,  &c. 
 
 TABERNACLES,  feast  of.  Lev.  23.  33;  Deut. 
 16.13  ;— offerings  on  it.  Num.  29.  12,  &c.  ;— 
 kept  after  the  captivity,  Neh.  8.  16; — to  be 
 obser^'ed  by  all  nations  in  futinre  time,  Zech. 
 
 14.  16. 
 
 TABITHA  raised  from  the  dead.  Acts  9.  36, 
 X:c. 
 
 TABLES  of  stone,  containing  the  ten  com- 
 mandments, Exod.  31.  IS;  Deut.  10.  1; — 
 broken,  Exod.  32.  19; — renewed,  :M.  1. 
 
 TAMAR  with  child  by  Judah,  Gen.  38.  27. 
 
 ,  the  daughter  of  Dojcid,  ravished  by 
 
 Amnon,  2  Sam.  13.  1,  &c. 
 
 TATNAI  obstructs  the  rebiulding  of  the  temple, 
 Ezra  5.  3  ; — writes  to  Darius.  6. 
 
 TEACHERS,  false,  foretold.  Matt.  24.  II,  24  ; 
 Acts  20.  29 ;  1  Tim.  4.1:2  Pet.  2.  1 ;  1  John 
 
 2.  18;  Jude  17; — their  character  described. 
 Matt  7.15;  24.4;  Rom.  16.17;  2  Cor.  n. 
 13;  Gal.  1.  7;  Col.  2.  8,  18;  1  Tim.  1.  7;  4. 
 
 2  ;  6.  3  ;  2  Tim.  3.  2—5,  13  ;  Phil.  3.2;  Heb. 
 13.  9;  2  Pet.  2.  1,  &c. 
 
 TEMPERANCE  recommended,  Prov.  23.  I  ; 
 1  Cor.  9.  25  ;  Gal.  5.  23  ;  Eph.  5.  1 8  ;  Tit.  1 .  8 ; 
 2.  2;  2  Pet.  1.  6. 
 
IN  THE  OLD  AND  NP;W  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 TEMPLE  proposed  to  be  built  by  David,  i  Chr. 
 
 17.  1 ; — liis  preparations  for  it,  22.  3-, — "built 
 by  Sciomon,  1  Kings  li.  1,  \c. ;— the  dedi- 
 cation of  it,  s.  1 ; — repaii'ed  by  Joash,  2  Kings 
 12.  4; — burned  by  the  Chaldeans,  25.  9; 
 2  chr.  3(5.  19  ;— the  foundation  of  a  new,  laid 
 after  the  captivity,  Ezra  3.  8 ;— finished,  6. 
 !.'»;— the  dedication  and  feast  on  the  occa- 
 sion, Iti  ; — the  treasure  in  it  weighed,  8.  33 ; 
 — the  chambers  in  it  cleansed,  Neh.  13.95 — 
 its  glory  to  exceed  that  of  the  former.  Hag. 
 2.  9 ; — a  future  one  described  in  vision  to 
 Ezekiel,  Ezek.  40 ; — in  the  vision  of  John, 
 measured,  Rev.  11.1. 
 
 TEMPTATION  of  Jesus,  Matt.  4.  1  ;  Mark  1. 
 
 13;  Luke  4.  1. 
 TEMPTATIONS,  whence  they  arise.  Jam.  1. 
 
 13; — to  be  guarded  against.  Matt.  6.  13  ;  26, 
 
 41 ;  Eph.  6.  10,  &c. ;  1  Pet.  5.  9. 
 TEMPTING  of  God  censured,  Exod.  1?.  2,  7; 
 
 Deut.  6.  16;  Ps.  rs.  19;    95.9;    Is.  7-  12; 
 
 Matt.  4.  7;  1  Cor.  10.  9- 
 TEKAPHIM,  Gen.  31.  34;  Judg.  17.5;  18.  14; 
 
 1  Sam.  19.  13. 
 TERTULLUS  accuses  Paul,  Acts  24.  I. 
 THANKSGIVING  a  duty,  Deut.  8.  10;  Ps.  51. 
 
 14  ;  69.  30  ;  92.  1  ;   139.  14  ;    147.  1  ;  Is.  25.  1, 
 
 &C. ;  Col.  3.  17;  1  Thess.  5.  18;  1  Tim.  4.  4; 
 
 Heb.  13.  15;  1  Pet.  2.  9,  Ike. 
 THEtT  forbidden,  Exod.  20.  15;  Lev.  19.  11, 
 
 13;  Dent.  5.  19;  Eph.  4.  28;  Tit.  2,  9,  10;— 
 
 reproved,  Ps.  50.  18;  Jer.  7.  7,  9,  10;  Rom. 
 
 2.  21 ;— to  be  punished,  Hos.  4.  2,  3;  1  Cor. 
 
 6.  9,  10. 
 THOMAS,  called  Didumvs,  one  of  the  twelve. 
 
 Matt.  10.  3  ; — his  obser^'ation  on  the  sickness 
 
 of  Lazarus,  John  11.  IC;— asks  the  way  to 
 
 the  Father,  14.5  ;— his  disbelief  of  the  resiu-- 
 
 rection  of  Jesus,  20.  24,  2/; — sees  Jesus  at 
 
 the  sea  of  Galilee,  21.  2. 
 THREATENINGS  against  hardened  sinners, 
 
 E.xod.  .32.  9,  10;  Lev.  26.  23—25;  Num.  15. 
 
 30,  31  ;  Job  20.  27 ;   Prov.  28.  14  ;  29.  1  ;  Is.  5. 
 
 20;  Jer.  19.  15;  42.  21,  22;  Rom.  1.  18;  Rev. 
 
 18.  5. 
 
 THUNDERS,  remarkable,  m  the  plagues  of 
 Egypt,  Exod  9.  23;  Ps.  78.  48;— at  mount 
 Sinai,  Exod.  19.  Ifi;  20.  18;— at  the  defeat  of 
 the  Philistuies,  1  Sam.  ~.  10; — swen  in  the 
 \ision  of  John,  Rev.  10.  3. 
 
 T1IY.4.TIRA,  Rev.  2.  16. 
 
 TIGLATH-PILESER  invades  Israel,  2  Ivijigs 
 15.  29. 
 
 TIME  to  be  improved,  Eccles.  12.  1 ;  Matt.  5. 
 25;  Luke  19.  42;  John  9.  4;  12.35;  Rum.  13. 
 11 ;  2  Cor.  6.  2;  Gal.  6.  9;  Eph.  s.  16;  CoL4. 
 5; — for  several  pvu-poses,  Eccles.  3.  1. 
 
 TIMOTHY  circumcised,  j\cts  16.  3 ;— sent  by 
 Paul  to  Philippi,  Phil.  2. 19  ; — his  mother  and 
 grandmother  commended,  2  Tim.  1.  5. 
 
 TITUS  left  in  Crete,  Tit.  1.  5  ;  — not  circum- 
 cised. Gal.  2.  3  ; — his  affection  for  the  Co- 
 rinthian Christians,  2  Cor.  7.  13 ;  8.  16. 
 
 TOBIAH  concerned  with  the  enemies  of  the 
 Jews,  Neh.  4.  7,  t'^c. 
 
 TONGUE,  the  importance  of  governing  it,  Ps. 
 39.  1;  Jam.  3.  2,  &c. ;  —  dttulite,  censured, 
 1  Tim.  3.  8. 
 
 TONGUES,  confusion  of,  at  Babcl,  Gen.  11. 
 I,  &c. ; — gift  of,  foretold,  Mark  lli.  17; — con- 
 ferred. Acts  2.  4  ;  10.  46  ;  19.  6 ;— nol  to  be 
 exercised  in  public  worship,  1  Cor.  14.  2. 
 
 TRADITIONS  not  to  be  much  reganled.  Matt. 
 
 15.  1,  8:c. ;  Mark  7.  1.  &C. ;  Col.  2,  8  ;  Tit.  1. 
 
 14. 
 TRANSFIGURATION  0/ Jesus,  Matt.   17.2; 
 
 Mark  9.  2  ;  Luke  9.  28  ;  2  Pet.  1.18. 
 TRANSLATION  of  Enoch,  Gen.  5.  24;  — of 
 
 Elijah,  2  Kings  2.  1,  &c. 
 TREACHERY    of    Simeon   and   Levi  to   the 
 
 Shechemites,  Gen.  34.  13;— of  Ziba,  2  Sam. 
 
 16.  1,  SiC, ;— of  IshmacI  to  Gedaliah,  Jer.  40. 
 
 13;  41.  5. 
 TREASON  of  Absalom,  2  Sam.  15.  1 ;  IS.  9;— 
 of  Sheba,  20. 1 ,  22  ;— of  Adonijah,  1  Kings  1 . 
 5;  2.  13,  23;— of  Baasha,  15.  27;  16.  1;— at 
 Tirzah,  16.9,  18;— of  Athaliah,  2  Kings  11. 
 
 1,  14;— of  Shallum,  l.'i.  10,  14. 
 TREATIES  of  Jacob  and  Laban,  Gen.  31.  44  ; 
 
 — of  the  Gibeonites  with  the  Israelites,  Josh. 
 9.  15,  19. 
 TREE  of  life.  Gen.  2.  9 ;  3. 22  ;-  of  knowledge, 
 
 2.  17;  3.  3. 
 
 TREES,  fruit,  not  to  be  cut  down  in  war, 
 Deut.  20.  19. 
 
 TRESPASS  offering,  rules  concerning  it,  Lev. 
 /•  1- 
 
 TRIBES  blessed  by  Jacob,  Gen.  49.  1,  X:c.  ;— 
 by  Moses,  Deut.  33.  I,  &c. ;— their  bound- 
 aries, Josh.  13.  15;  15.  l,&c.;— the  numbers 
 
 I3a7 
 
 and  orders  of  them,  Num.  I.  1 ;  26.  1,  &c. ; 
 
 — twelve  princes  of  them  under  Da\id,  1  Chr. 
 
 27.  16. 
 TRIBUTE  and  taxes  to  be  paid.  Matt.  17.  27; 
 
 22.  21 ;  Luke  20.  22 ;  Rom.  13.  6. 
 TROAS,  Paul  preaches  and  raises  Eutychus  to 
 
 life  there.  Acts  20.  6,  12. 
 TRUMPETS,  thek  use,  Num.  10.  1. 
 ■ ,  feast  of.  Lev.  23.  23  ;— offerings 
 
 on  it.  Num.  29.  1. 
 ,  seven,  in  the  vision  of  Jolm,  Rev. 
 
 TRUST  in  Gad,  Job  35.  14 ;  33.  41  ;  Ps.  22.  4 ; 
 31.  19;  37.  3,  5;  56.  3;  62.  8;  91.  2;  104.  27; 
 115.9;  118.  8;  125.  1;  147.  9;  Prov.  3.  5;  16. 
 20  ;  28.  25  ;  29.  25  ;  30.  5  ;  Is.  26.  4  ;  50.  10  ; 
 Jer.  17.  5,  7;  39.  18;  Mark  11.  22;  1  Pet.  5. 
 '■ 
 
 ,   declarations   of  it,    by    Hezekiah, 
 
 2  Kings  18.5;— by  Asa,  2  Chr.  14.  11;— by 
 David,  Ps.  3.  6;  27.  3  i  57.  1  ;  61.  4;  — by 
 Isaiah,  Is.  12.  2;— by  Paul,  2  Tim.  1.  12;  4. 
 18. 
 
 in   ant/thing    besides   God  censured. 
 
 Job  31.  24;  Ps.  33.16;  44.6;  49.6;  52.  7;  62. 
 10;  118.  8;  146.  3;  Is.  30.  1  ;  31.  1  ;  Jer.  17. 
 5  ;  1  Tim.  6.  17. 
 
 TYCHICUS  sent  by  Paul  to  Ephesus,  Eph.  6. 
 2!  ; — sent  by  Paul  to  Colosse,  Col.  4.  7. 
 
 TYRE,  its  destruction  foretold.  Is.  23.  1,  &c. ; 
 — tlireatened  for  insulting  Jerusalem,  Ezek. 
 26. 1 ; — to  be  conquered  by  Nebuchadnezzar, 
 7;— its  great  commerce,  27.  I,  &c. ;  —  its 
 ruin,  2fi. 
 
 TY'THE,  vowed  to  God  by  Jacob,  Gen.  28.  22 ; 
 given  by  Abraham  to  Melchizedek,  14.20  ; — 
 the  laws  concerning  it.  Lev.  27.  32;  Num. 
 18.  26;  Deut.  12.  6. 
 
 of  the  third  year,  Deut.  14.  28;— to  be 
 
 eaten  at  the  place  of  public  concourse,  22 ; 
 — dedication  to  be  made  at  the  presentation 
 of  it,  26.  12. 
 
 to  be  conscientiously  paid  when  due, 
 
 Deut.  14.  22;  Neh.  10.  37;  13.  10;  Mai.  3.  8; 
 Matt.  23.  23. 
 
 UNBELIEF,  causes  of,  Jolm  5.  44 ;  2  Cor.  4. 
 4;  Eph.  2.  2;  2  Thess.  2.  12;— consequences 
 of,  Num.  20.  12;  Ps.88.22;  Matt.  24.  11,  12; 
 2Tim.  3.  2— 5;    Hcb.  3.  18,  19;  4.  6;    2   Pet. 
 
 2. 12  ; — danger  of,  Mark  16.  16  ;  Luke  12.  46 ; 
 John  8.  24;  Rom.  1.  28;  2  Tim.  2.  12;— in- 
 stances of,  Exod.  4.  1 ;  9.  21 ;  Num.  11.  21  — 
 
 23;  Ps.  52.  7;  78.  32;  I06.  24;  Matt.  13.  58; 
 Acts  12.  44  ;  28.  24  ;    Rom.  10.  16  ;   Heb.  4.  2. 
 
 UNBELIEVERS,  Christians  should  not  marry 
 with  them,  2  Cor.  6.  14,  15,  19;  — to  be 
 shunned,  Rom.  16.  17;  1  Tim.  6.  5;  Phil.  3. 
 2;  2  Thess.  3.  6,  14; — how  to  be  distin- 
 guished, 1  Thess.  5.  21  ;  1  John  4.  1—3;— 
 threatenings  of  God  against,  Prov,  3.  34  ; 
 19.  29;  Jer.  14.  15;  23.32  ; — obstinate,  their 
 final  doom,  Mark  16.  16;  Luke  12.  46;  Heb. 
 
 3.  19;   4.  1  ;  Rev.  19.  20;  20.  10;  21.  8. 
 
 UNCLEAN  persons  to  be  removed  from  the 
 camp,  Num.  5. 1  ; — meats  that  were  so.  Lev. 
 
 11.  1,  IkC;  Deut.  14.  3,  &c. ; — what  is  so 
 under  the  gospel.  Matt.  23.  27  ;  Rom.  6.  19 ; 
 
 2  Cor.  12.  21  ;  Eph.  4.  19;  6.  3,  5;  Col.  3.  6; 
 
 1  Thess.  4.  7;  2  Pet.  2.  10. 
 UNION  of  Christ  with  the  church,  lahn  14.20; 
 
 15.  1,2;  Rom.   12.  4,  6;    1  Cor.  12.  12,  27; 
 
 Eph.  1.   9,  10;  4.  16;  5.  29,  30;  Heb.  2.  11— 
 
 13. 
 UNITY  of  lielieiters,  John  10.  16,  17,  21,  &c. ; 
 
 Rom.  12.  5,  16;  15.  5;  1  Cor.  1.  10;  10.  17; 
 
 12.  13;  16.  1  ;  2  Cor.  8.  1;  9.  1,  &C. ;  13.  11  ; 
 Gal.  3.28;  Eph.  1.  10;  2.  19;  4.  3,  13;  5.  23, 
 30;  PhU.  1.  27;  2.  2;  4.  2  ;  Col.  1.  18,  24  ; 
 I   Pet.  3.8. 
 
 URIAH,  the  Hittite,  2  Sam.  11.  7,  24. 
 URIM  mid  Thummim,  Exod.  28.  30. 
 USURY,  laws   against  it,  Exod.  22.  25 ;   Lev 
 
 25.  36;  Deut.  23.  19; — censured,  Prov.  28. 
 
 8;  Ezek.  18.8,  13,  17;  22.  I2;~maybe  taken 
 
 of  strangers,  Deut.  23.  20. 
 UZZAH  smitten,  1  Chr.  13.  9- 
 UZZIAH  (Azariall!,  2  Kings  15.  1  ;  2  Chr.  26 
 
 I  ; — invades  the  priest's  office,  16; — becomes 
 
 leprous,  19;  2  Kings  15.  5; — earthquake  in 
 
 his  reign,  Zech.  14.  5. 
 
 VANITY'  of  all  things,  Eccles.  1 .  I ,  &c. 
 VESSELS,  sacred,  used  in  Bclshazzar's  feast, 
 
 Dan.  5.  2; — restored,  Ezra  I.  7. 
 VIALS,  sei'en,  Rev.  15.  1  ;  16.  ),  &c. 
 VICES,  various,  specified.  Matt.  13.  19,  Sc. ; 
 
 Mark  7.  21;  Rom.  1.  19,  &c. ;  1  Cor.6.9; 
 
 Gal.  6.  19.  &c. ;  2  Tim.  3.  2;  Tit.  3.  3 ;  1  Pet. 
 
 2.  1  ;   4.  3,  15;  Rev.  21.  8. 
 
 VICTORY   from  God,    1   Sam.  17.47;  Ps.  33. 
 
 16;  46.  9;  6».    12;  76.6;    108.  13;    144.   10; 
 
 Eccles.  9.11. 
 VIRTUES,  various,  specified,  Ps.  15.  2,  Sc. ; 
 
 Gal.  5.  22;  1  Tim.  6.  11;  2  Pet.  1.  5. 
 VISIONS,  or  appearance  of  God  to  man :  to 
 
 Adam,  Gen.  2.  16;  3.  8;  4.  9;  6.  13;  —to 
 
 Abraham,  12.  1 ;  13.  14  ;  15.  1  ;  i;.  1 ;  18.  1, 
 
 &c. ;  20.  3  ;  22.  1,  1 1 ;— to  Hagar,  16.  7  :  21 . 
 
 17;— to  Jacob  23.  12  ;    32.  I,  24  ;  35.  ],  9  ;  46. 
 
 2  ;— to  Laban,  31.  24  ;— to  Moses,  Exod.  3. 2  ; 
 —to  Balaam,  Num.  22.  31  ; — to  Joshua,  Josh. 
 5.  13;— to  Gideon,  Judg.  6.  12;— to  Daniel, 
 Dan.  3.  I  ;— to  Joseph,  Matt.  I.  20  ;  2.  19. 
 VOWS  to  be  kept,  Num.  30.  1,  A:c. ;  Lev.  27. 
 
 1  ;  Deut.  23.  21  ;  Ps.  50.  J4;  56.  12;  66.  13; 
 76.  11;  116.  18;  Eccles.  5.  4  ;  Jer.  35.  6. 
 
 of  a  person.  Lev.  27.  2  ;— of  a  beast,  9  ; 
 
 — of  a  house,  14; — of  afield.  16; — of  Jacob, 
 Gen.  28.  20 ;— of  Jephtha.  Judg.  11.  30,  35  ; 
 — of  the  Israelites  against  the  P.enjamites, 
 
 21.  1,  &c. ;— of  the  Rechabites,  Jer.  35.  6  ;— 
 of  the  Israelites  for  the  destruction  of  the 
 Canaanites,  Num.  21.2;— of  Hannah  con- 
 cerning Samuel,  1  Sam.  1.  11  ;  — of  David, 
 Ps.  132.  2. 
 
 WANTONNESS,  Rom.  13.  13;  Jam.  5. 5;  2  Pet. 
 
 2.  18. 
 
 WAR  reprobated,  1  Chr.  22.  8  ;  Is.  26.  21 ;  Ezek. 
 
 35.  5,  6  ;  Hab.  2.  10  ;  Matt.  26.  52  ;  Rev.  13. 
 
 1 0  ;— deprecated,  Ps.  68.  30;  120.6,7;  J40. 
 1,2;  James  4.1,2  ; — exterminations  in.  See 
 Exterminations, 
 
 WASHING,  the  superstition  of  the  Jews  with 
 respect  to  it,  Mark  7.  3  ;  Luke  11.  37. 
 
 WATCHFULNESS,  a  duty.  Matt.  24.42;  25. 
 13;  Maik  13.  37  ;  Luke  12.  35;  21.36;  I  Cor. 
 
 10.  12;  16.  3;  Eph.  5.  15;  I  ThCSS.  5.  6; 
 1  Pet.  5.  6;  Rev.  3.  2;  16.  15. 
 WATER  turned  into  blood,  Exod.  ?.  19;— 
 made  to  appear  as  blood,  2  Kuigs  3.  22; — 
 bitter  made  sweet,  Exod.  15.23; — turned 
 into  wine,  John  2.  3;— brought  out  of  a 
 ruck,  Exod.  17.  6;  Num.  20.  7  ;— miracu- 
 lously brought  to  supply  an  army,  2  Kings 
 
 3.  20; — divided  and  made  to  stand  on  a 
 heap,  Exod.  14.  21 ;  Josh.  3.  13:  2  Kings  2. 
 8,  14 ;— supports  -jon.  6.  6 ; — Jesus  walks  on 
 it.  Matt.  14.  25  ;  Mark  6.  48  ;  John  6. 12  ;— of 
 jealousy.  Num.  5.  17,  itc. ;— of  purification. 
 19.  1,  *ic. ;— of  life.  Rev.  22.  1. 
 
 WEAK  in  faith,  how  to  be  treated,  Rom.  14. 
 
 1  ;  15.  1  ;  1  Cor.  8.  7;  9.  22;  1  Thess.  5.  14. 
 WEEPING  of  Hagar,   Gen.  21.  16;— of  Esau, 
 
 27.  38  ; — of  Esau  and  Jacob,  33.  4  ; — of  Jacob, 
 
 29.  11;   37.  35  ;— of  Joseph,    42.   24  ;    43.  30  ; 
 
 45.  2,  14  ;  46.  29 ;  50.  1 ;— of  the  daughter-in- 
 law  of  Naomi,   Ruth  1.  9,  14;— of  Elisha, 
 
 2  Kings  8.  11  ;— of  Hezekiah,  20.  3  ;— of  the 
 old  Jews,  Ezra  3.  13  ;— of  the  disciples,  Mark 
 
 16.  10;— of  Jesus,  John  11.  35  ;  Luke  19.  41  ; 
 —of  Peter,  Matt.  26.  75  ;  Mark  14.  72 ;  Luke 
 
 22.  62  ; — of  the  elders  of  Ephesus,  Acts  20.  37. 
 WEIGHTS  to  be  just.  Lev.  19.  35;  Deut.  2.7. 
 
 13;   Prov.    11.1;   16.    11;    20.    10,   23;   Ezek. 
 
 45.  10:  MiC.  6.  10. 
 WHORE  described,  Prov.  2.  16  ;  5.  3  ;  7.  5  ;  9. 
 
 13. 
 ,  the  great  mystical  one,  judged,  Rev. 
 
 17.  1;  19-2. 
 
 WICKED  characterized.  Job  24.  2  ;  Ps.  10.  3  ; 
 
 36.  1  ;  37.  21  :  50.  17;  68.  3  ;  Prov.  2.  12;  4. 
 16;  6.  12;  16.  27  :  21.  10;  24.  2;  Is.  69.  3; 
 Ezek.  18.  10;  2.'.  6;  Rom.  I.  29;  3. 11,  8;c. ; 
 — compared  to  despicable  things,  Ps.  1.4; 
 .58.  4  ;  59.  6  ;  Is.  67.  20 ;  Jer.  6.  30  ;  Ezek.  2. 
 6;  Hos.  13.  3;  Matt.  7.  6,  26;  — not  to  be 
 envied,  Ps.  37.  1 ;  73.  2;  Prov.  23.  17;  24.  1, 
 19;  Jer.  12.  1. 
 
 WIDOW  of  Zarephath,  oil  muItipUed,  &c., 
 1  liings  17.  8,  &c. ; — of  Nain,  her  son  raised 
 to  life,  Luke  7.  12  ; — and  her  mite,  Mark  12. 
 
 42. 
 
 WIDOWS,  the  care  of  Providence,  Deut.  10. 
 18;  Ps.68.5;  145.9;  Prov.  15.25;  Jer.  49. 
 
 1 1  ; — objects  of  charity,  Exod.  22.  22  ;  Deut. 
 24.  17;  27.  19  ;  Job  22.  9;  Is.  1.  17,  23;  Jer. 
 
 7.  6 ;  1  Tim.  5.3;  Jam.  1 .  27. 
 
 WINE  intoxicates  Noah,  Gen.  g.  21;  —  the 
 proper  use  of  it,  Judg.  9.  13;  Ps.  104.  15; 
 Prov.  31.  6;  Eccles.  10.  19;  1  Tim.  5.  23. 
 
 WISDOM,  the  place  of  it.  Job  28.  12,  tic.;— 
 the  true,  described,  Deut.  4.  6  ;  Job  28.  28; 
 
 Ps.  111.  10;   Prov.  9.    10;  28.   7;  Jer.  9.  24; 
 
 Mat.  7.  24  ;  Jam.  3.  13,  17  :— the  advantage 
 of  gaining  it.  Job  28.  12,  ^c. :  Prov.  3.  13 ; 
 
 8.  11;  16.16;  24.  3,  14 ;  Ezek.  ".11;  12. 
 U  ;— better  than  folly,  Eccles.  2.  13;  7.  19; 
 
 9.  13;— the  way  to  obtaui  it,  1  Kings  3.  9; 
 
INDEX  TO  THE  PRINCIPAL  PASSAGES  IN  THE  OLD  AND  NEW  TESTAMENTS. 
 
 Ps.  U9.  98;  Prov.  1.  1,  &c. ;  Ecclcs.  2.  2( 
 Dan.  2.  21,  &c. ;  Jam.  1.  .5  ; — per.iotiijied,  Pr. 
 1 ; — a  spurious  and  deceitful  kind,  Jer.  8.  9 
 9.  23;  1  Cor.  1.  19;  2  Cor.  1.12;  Jam.  3.15 
 — marks  of  it  in  God's  works,  Ps.  lti4. 1,24 
 136,  5;  Prov.  3.  19;  Jer.  10.  12 ;— creatures 
 accounted  wise,  Prov.  (i.  6;  30.  24. 
 WISE  imd skilful  men,  Exod.  3 1 . 2,  &c.  ;  2  Sam, 
 
 16.  20,  &c. ;  1  Kings  4.  30,  31  ;  7.  13 ;  Ezek. 
 28.3. 
 
 WITCHCRAFT,  laws  against  it,  Exod.  22. 
 Lev.  20.  6,  27;— strictly  forbidden,  19.  26, 
 31;  20.6;  Deut.  18.  10;  14.  20 ;— practised 
 Num.  24.  1 ;  1  Sam.  28.  7 ;  2  Kings  9. 22 ;  21 
 1,  6;  23.  24;  1  Chron.  10.  13;  2  Chron.  33 
 
 6;   Is.  2.  6;  47.  12,  13;   Dan.  2.   2,   10;  4.  7 
 
 5.  7;  Mic.  5.  12;  Acts  8.  9;  13.  6—10;  16 
 16—18;  19.  13—16;  18.  9 ;— threatened  of 
 God,  Mic.  5.  12 :  Mai.  3.  5 ;  Gai.  5.  19,  20 
 Rev.  21.  S;  22.  15. 
 WITNESS, /oyse,  laws  against  it.  Exod.  23.  1 
 Deut.  19.  16,  &c.;— strictly  forbidden,  Exod 
 20.  16;  Prov.  6.  16,  19;  19.  5,  9.  28;  21.  28 
 25.  IS. 
 
 WITNESSES  not  to  be  fewer  than  two,  Num 
 
 35.   30;   Deut.    17.   6;   19.    16;  Matt.   18.   16 
 
 2  Cor.  13.  1;  1  Tim.  5.  19. 
 
 ,  two,  that  prophesy,  Rev.  u.  3, 
 
 &c. 
 
 WIVES,  their  duty.  Gen.  3.  16;  Eph.  5.  22 
 Col.  3.  18  ;  Tit.  2.  5  ;  1  Pet.  3.  1. 
 
 WOMAN  formed.  Gen.  2.  21  ; — a  virtuous  one, 
 Prov.  31.  10,  &c. ; — the  mischief  of  a  wicked 
 one,  Eccles.  7.  26 ; — one  clothed  with  the 
 sun.  Rev.  12.  1  ;^<jne  sitting  upon  a  beast, 
 
 17.  3. 
 
 WOMEN,  immodest,  punished,  Deut. 25. 11  ; — 
 how  they  should  behave  in  public  worship, 
 1  Cor.  11.5,  Ike.;  14.  34;  1  Tim.  2.  11;— 
 dut5^  of  ai^ed.  Tit.  2.  3;— of  young,  2.4; 
 1  Tim.  5.  ii. 
 
 ,  wise  ones,  Deborah,  Judg.  4.  4,  &c. ; 
 
 Abigail,  1  Sam.  25.  3,  14,  &c. ;— the  woman 
 that  interceded  for  Absalom,  2  Sam.  14.  2, 
 &e. ; — one  that  advised  the  surrender  of 
 Sheba  to  Joab,  2  Sam.  20.  16;— the  queen  of 
 Babylon,  Dan.  5.  10. 
 
 ,  pious  ones,  Elizabeth,  Luke  1 .  6  : — 
 
 Mary,  27 ;  —  Mary  Magdalene,  and  others 
 
 that  attended  Jesus,  Mark  15.  40 ;  Luke  8. 
 
 2 ;— Martha  and  Mary,  John  11.5 ;— Dorcas, 
 
 Acts  9.  36 ;— Lydia,  16. 14  ;— Priscilla,  18.  26. 
 WOMEN,  wicUed  ones,  Jezebel,  1  Kings  21.  7, 
 
 &c.  25  ;— Athaliah,  2  Kings  11.1. 
 WORKS  of  God,  great  and  unsearchable,  Job 
 
 5.9;  37.  r.;  Ps.  89.  5,  &c. ;  104.   1;  Eccles. 
 
 8.  17;  Jer.  10.  12;— lead  to  their  author,  Ps. 
 
 19.  1  ;  75.  1  ;    145.  10;   Acts   14.    17;   Rom.  1. 
 
 19. 
 
 of  men,  they  are  to  be  judged  by 
 
 them.  Job  34.  11  ;  Ps.  62.  12;  Prov.  24.  12; 
 Is.  3.  10;  Jer.  17.10;  32.  19;  Ezek.  7.  8,27; 
 24.  14;  Matt.  16.27;  Rom.  2.  6;  2  Cor.  5. 
 
 10;   1  Pet.  I.  17;   Rev.  2.23;  20.  12;  22.  12. 
 
 ,  good,  arise   from  good  principles. 
 
 Matt.  7.  17;  Jam.  2.  14,  &c. ;  3.  13;— neces- 
 sity of,  Deut.  6.  25  ;  Ps.  15.  2,  &c. ;  Ezek.  20. 
 11;  Amos  5.  14;  Mic.  6.  8;  Matt.  5.  16; 
 Luke  8.  21;  John  13.  17;  15.  14;  Rom.  2. 
 13;  10.  15;  2  Cor.  9.8;  Eph.  2.  10;  Col.  1. 
 10;  1  Tim.  2.  10;  2  Tim.  2.  21;  3.  17;  Tit.  2. 
 14;  3.  8,  14;  Heb.  6.  10;  13.  16,  21  ;  James  2. 
 14,  17,  26;  Rev.  22.  14. 
 
 will  not  justify,  Rom.  3.  20  ;  4.  2  ;  1 1 . 
 
 6;  Gal.  2.  16;  Eph.  2.  8,9. 
 
 WORLD,  not  to  be  conformed  to  it,  Rom.  12. 
 2;  Gal.  6.  14;  Jam.  I.  27;  4.  4;  1  John  2. 
 
 15;  5.  4. 
 
 WORSHIP  to  be  paid  to  God  only,  Exod.  30. 
 
 14;   Matt.  4.  10;  Luko  4.  8;  Acts  10.25;  14. 
 13,  &c.;  Rev.  19.  10;  22.  8. 
 ,  pultlic,  required,  Deut.  26.  10,  11  ; 
 
 2  Kings  17.  36  ;  Ps.  22.  22,  25  ;  35.  18  ;  95.  6  ; 
 107.  32;  116.  14;  122.  1,  4;  Matt.  13.  20: 
 Acts  1.  14;  10.  33;  Heb.  10.25  ;— decency  to 
 be  obser^^ed  in  it,  Eccles.  5.  1  ;  Joel  2.  15. 
 WRATH  o/God  on  impenitent  sinners,  Exod. 
 22.24;  Ezra  9. 22;  Luke  21.  23  ;  John  3.  36; 
 Rom.  1.  18;  2.  5,  8;  Eph.  5.  C. 
 
 YOKE  of  Christ,  easy.  Matt.  11.  30;  Rom.  12. 
 
 1  ;  1  John  5.  3. 
 YOUNG  persons,  their  duty.  Lev.  19.  32  ;  Prov. 
 1.8:  Eccles.  12.  I  ;  Is.  3.  5;  Lam.  3.  27;  Tit. 
 
 2.  6;   I  Pet.  5.  5. 
 
 ,    examples   of  good   ones : 
 
 Obadiah,  1  Kings  IS.  12;— Josiah,  2  Chr.  34. 
 3 ;— Jesu:;,  Luke  2.  42 ;— Timothy,  2  Tim.  3. 
 
 15; — bad  ones:  Er,  the  son  of  Jndah,  Gen. 
 38.  ";— the  sons  of  Eli,  1  Sam.  2.  12  ;  3.  13, 
 22 ; — Absalom,  2  Sam.  15.  2.  &c. ;— those  that 
 mocked  Elisha,  2  Kings  2.  23. 
 
 ZACCHEUS,  Luke  19.  6. 
 
 ZACHARIAH  succeeds  Jeroboam  II.,  2  Kings 
 14.  29;— slain,  15.  10. 
 
 ZACHARIAS  slain  in  the  temple,  2  Chr.  24.  20  ; 
 Matt.  23.  35. 
 
 ,  the  /other  of  John  the  Baptist, 
 
 his  character,  Luke  1 .  6 ; — his  vision,  1 1 ; — 
 his  prophecy,  67. 
 
 ZADOK  and  Abiathar  accompany  David  in  his 
 flight  from  Absalom,  2  Sam.  15.  24  ;— putin 
 the  place  of  Abiathar  as  liigh  priest,  1  Kings 
 2.  35; — anouits  Solomon,  1.  39; — his  de- 
 scendants to  be  high  priests  in  future  time, 
 Ezek.  44.  15. 
 
 ZEAL  commended.  Num.  25.  11;  2  Chr.  31. 
 21 ;  Eccles.  9.  10  ;  Matt.  5.  6;  1  Cor.  16.  13  ; 
 Gal.  4.  13;  Jude3;  Rev.  3.  19. 
 
 ,  excessive,  its  bad  effects.  Matt.  10.  35; 
 
 Luke  21.  16;  John  16.  2; — improper,  re- 
 proved, Luke  9.  55  ;  Rom.  10.  2. 
 
 ZEDEKIAH  succeeds  Jehoiachin,  2  Kings  24. 
 17;  2  Chr.  36.  10;  — rebels  against  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar,  13;  Jer.  51.  1; — his  captivity 
 foretold,  34.  1 ;  37.  17;  Ezek.  12.  8;  21.  25; 
 — sends  for  Jeremiah,  Jer.  21.  1;  —  taken, 
 and  his  eyes  put  out,  2  Kings  25. 4,  &c. ;  Jer. 
 
 39.4;  52.  8. 
 ,    the    false    prophet,    reproved, 
 
 1  Kings  22.  11,  24. 
 ZELOPHEHAD,  his  daughters.  Num.  27.  1  i 
 
 36.  10. 
 ZERAH,  the  Ethiopian,  defeated  by  Asa,  2  Chr. 
 
 14.  9. 
 ZERUBBABEL,  Ezras.  2;  Hag.  1.  12. 
 ZIUA,  2  Sam.  16.  1  ;  19.  24. 
 ZIMRI,  1  Kings  16.  10;— bumsliimself,  18. 
 ZIN,  wilderness  of.  Num.  20.  1. 
 ZION  taken  by  David,  2  Sam.  5.  6;  1  Chr.  11. 
 
 4; — the  citizens  of  it  described,  Ps.  15.  1, 
 
 &c. ;— its  glory,  Ps.  87.;— its  lamentation. 
 
 Lam.  4. 1 ;  5.  &c;— its  glory  in  future  time, 
 
 Is.  2.  3  •   Mic.  4.  2. 
 
 ZOPHAr',  his  speeches,  Job  1 1.  1 ;  20.  1. 
 
 JS88 
 
INDEX 
 
 SOME    OF    THE    PRINCIPAL   NOTES. 
 
 Aaron's  rod,  Exod.  7.  12;  budding,  Num. 
 
 17.  8. 
 Abba,  Mark  14.  36  ;  Rom.  8.  15. 
 Abaua,  2  Kings  :..  12. 
 Abarim,  mouutaiiis  of,  Num.  27.  13. 
 Abimelecb,  meaning  of  the  word,  Gen.  26. 
 
 26;  Lev.  19.  31. 
 Absalom's  pillar,  2  Sam.  18.  18 
 Aceldama,  Acts  1.  19. 
 Achaia,  Acts  18.  12  ;  2  Cor.  9-  2. 
 Adam,  Gen.  I.  26. 
 Adder,  deaf,  Ps.  58.  4. 
 
 Adutten,',  ancient  punishment  of,  Ezek.23.  25. 
 Adummin,  situation  of,  Josh.  15.  ". 
 Ahasuerus,  Ezra  4.  6. 
 Ahasuenis,  the  same  as  Xerxes  Longimanus, 
 
 Esth.  1.1. 
 Aijeleth  Shahar,  meaning  of,  Ps.  22,  title. 
 Ajah,  or  Aiah,    the   same  in  the  original, 
 
 1  Chron.  l.  40. 
 
 Alaraoth,  meaning-  of,  Ps.  46,  title. 
 
 Alexander  the  Great,  Dan.  8.  5,  6. 
 
 Almiig-trees,  I  Kings  10.  11. 
 
 Aloes,  Ps.  45.  8. 
 
 Alphabetical  Psalms.  25.— 34.— 37.— Ill, note 
 
 on,  Introd.— 112.— lig.— 145. 
 Al-taschith,  meaning  of,  Ps.  57.  59,  title. 
 Amen,  meaning:;  ol.  Num.  5.  22. 
 Anathema  Maran-atha,  meaning  of,  I  Cor. 
 
 16.  22. 
 Angel  sent  before  Israel,  'Exod.  23.  20. 
 Angel,  with  a  rainbow,  Rev.  10.  l. 
 Angels'  food,  Ps.  78.  25. 
 Angels,  of  little  ones,  opinions  on.  Matt.  18. 
 
 10. 
 Animals  worshipped  by  the  Egyptians,  Exod. 
 
 9.3. 
 Anise,  properly  dill.  Matt.  23.  23. 
 Anomting,  Exod.  30.  25 ;  Jas.  5.  14  j  Mark  6. 
 
 13. 
 Ant,  economy  of,  Prov.  6.  8. 
 Antiochus  Epiphanes,  predictions  concerning 
 
 him,  Dan.  U.  21,  &c. 
 Antiochus    Theus,    predictions    respecting, 
 
 DaJi.  11.6. 
 Antiochus  the  Great,  predictions  respecting, 
 
 Daii.  11.  10,  &c. 
 Apostle,  meaning  of,  Rom.  1.  l. 
 Apparel,  exchange  of  between  the  sexes,  why 
 
 prohibited,  Deut.  22.  5. 
 Apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver  illustrated, 
 
 Prov.  25.  II. 
 
 Appointed  time,  to  what  it  alludes,  Job  14. 14. 
 
 Arabs,  eagerness  with  which  they  lie  in  wait 
 
 for  travellers,  Gen.  3.  2.  « 
 
 Arabs,  their  retreats  into  the  deserts,  Jer. 
 
 49.8. 
 Ararat,  Gen.  8.  4. 
 Archelaus,  Matt.  2.  22. 
 Archers,  noise  of,  Judges  5.  11. 
 Arctunis,  Job  9-  9- 
 Ariel,  Isa.  29.  1. 
 Ark,  Exod.  25.  10. 
 
 Ark,  dimensions  of  Noah's,  Gen.  6.  15. 
 Armour,  l  Sam.  17.  6. 
 Arrow,    shootuig    of,  a  symbolical    action, 
 
 2  Kings  13.  17. 
 Arrows,  Ps.  76.  3 ;  Job  6.  4. 
 Arrows,  divination  by,  Ezek.  21.  £1. 
 Arrows,  termed  the  sons  of  the  quiver,  liam. 
 
 3.  13. 
 Artaxerxes,  Ezra  7.  1 . 
 Artaxerxes,  Longimanus,  Ezra  6.  14. 
 1389 
 
 Artillery,  its  meaning  in  1  Sam.  20.  40, 
 Ass,  wild,  description  of,  Job  39.  5. 
 Asses,  white,  Judges  5.  10. 
 Atad,  threshing  floor  of,  situation  of,  Gen. 
 50.  10. 
 
 Baaliai,  Judges  2.  II. 
 
 Babel,  Gen.  11.  9. 
 
 Babel,  tower  of,  Gen.  II.  8. 
 
 Babylon,  description  of,  Isa.  13.  19;  21.  I. 
 
 Babylonian  monarchy,  Dan.  2.  32. 
 
 Babylonish  garment,  what,  Josh.  7.  21. 
 
 Baca,  valley  of,  Ps.  84.  6. 
 
 Bags,  money  sealed  in,  2  Kings  12.  10. 
 
 Bakmg,  Lev.  26.  26. 
 
 Baptism  for  the  dead,  1  Cor.  15.  29. 
 
 Baptisms  explained,  Heb.  6.  2. 
 
 Basket  and  store,  Deut.  28.  6. 
 
 Bastard,  Deut.  23.  2. 
 
 Bear,  2  Sam.  17.  8. 
 
 Beasts,  fighting  with,  1  Cor.  15.  32. 
 
 Bed's  head,  Gen.  47.  31. 
 
 Bedstead,  of  Og,  Deut.  3.  11. 
 
 Bees,  formidable  enemies,  Deut.  1.  44. 
 
 Beetle,  Lev.  U.  22. 
 
 Behemoth,  or  hippopotamus,  description  of, 
 
 Job  40.  15. 
 Bel,  Isa.  46.  1. 
 
 Bethphage,  situation  of,  Matt.  21.  1. 
 Birth  of  Christ,  date  of.  Matt.  1.  18. 
 Bittern,  Isa.  14.  23. 
 Blast,  2  Kings  19-  7- 
 Blind    and  lame,  the  meaning  of,  2  Sam. 
 
 5.6. 
 Blood,  eating  of.  Gen.  9.  4;  Lev.  17.  10  j  Acts 
 
 15.  20. 
 Blood,  miracle  of  turning  the  Nile  Into,  ex- 
 plained, Exod.  7.  17. 
 Blotting  out,  Exod.  32.  32. 
 Boar,  wild,  Ps.  80.  13. 
 Body,  keeping  under,  1  Cor.  9.  27. 
 Body  of  Moses,  dispute  respecting,  Judeg. 
 Boil,  Exod.  9.  y. 
 Boils,  sore,  Job  2.  7. 
 Bones,  scattered,  Ps.  141.  7- 
 Book  of  the  generations,  meaning  of,  Matt. 
 
 1.  1. 
 Book  of  life,  Rev.  3.  5. 
 Booth,  Jonah  4.  5. 
 
 Borrowing  of  the  Egyptians,  Exod.  3.  22. 
 Bosom,  lying  hi,  what,  John  13.  23. 
 Bosses  of  bucklers,  Job  15.  26. 
 Botch.  Deut.  2S.  27. 
 Bottle  in  the  smoke,  illustration  of,  Ps.  lig. 
 
 S3. 
 Bottles,  anciently  of  skin,  and  capable  of 
 
 mending.  Josh.  9.  4. 
 Bow  dovm,  moaning  of,  Isa.  51.  23. 
 Bracelets,  Gen.  24.  22. 
 Branch,  putting  to  the  nose,  an  idolatrous 
 
 rite,  Ezek.  8.  17- 
 Bread  cast  on  the  waters,  Eccles.  11.  l. 
 Breastplate  of  high  priest,  Exod.  28.  15. 
 Breastplate  of  wanior,  I  Thess.  5.  8. 
 Bricks,  ancient,  Gen.  11.3. 
 Buildings  of  ttmple,  Matt.  24.  1. 
 Bull,  an  emblem,  Ps.22.  12. 
 Bull  of  Jiashan,  ibid. 
 Burden  of  prophets,  Isa.  13.  1. 
 Burglary,  mode  of,  in  the  East,  Job  24.  16. 
 Burning,  punishment  of.  Lev.  20.  14. 
 I    Burning  of  dead  bodies,  2  Cliron.  16.  14. 
 '   Burnt- offerings,  Gen.  8.  20;  Exod.  24.  5. 
 
 Cab,  capacit>'  of,  2  Kings  6.  25. 
 
 Caesar,  Augustus,  Luke  2.  1. 
 
 CaUed,  many,  but  few  chosen,  allusion  of  tl.c 
 
 phrase,  Matt.  20.  16. 
 Camel's  hair  raiment,  Matt.  3.  4. 
 Canaan,  a  good  land,  Deut.  6.  7. 
 Candle,  or  lamp,  Job  21.  17, 
 Candlestick,  Exod.  25.  31. 
 Caravans,  or  companies,  Gen.  37.  25. 
 Casting  dust,  in  the  East,  2  Sam.  I6.  13. 
 Caterpillars,  probable  meaning  of  word  so 
 
 rendered,  Ps.  78.  46. 
 Caiils,  Isa.  3.  18. 
 Caves  used  as  places  of  retreat.  Josh.  10.  16 ; 
 
 Judg.  6.  2;  1  Sam.  24.  3. 
 Cedar  wood.  Lev.  14.  4. 
 Centurion,  Matt.  8.  5. 
 Chamois,  the  word  probably  means  a  species 
 
 of  goat  or  deer,  Deut.  14.  5. 
 Chariots  of  iron,  Josh.  I?-  16;  Isa.  21. 7. 
 Charity,  proper  signification  of,  1  Cor.  13.  I. 
 Chaste  Virgin,  the  allusion,  2  Cor.  11.2. 
 Cherubim,  Exod.  25.  18. 
 Christ,  meaning  of  word.  Matt.  1.  1. 
 Circumcision,  Gen.  17.  11. 
 Cities  of  refuge,  Num.  35.  6. 
 Closet  for  devotion,  Matt.  6.  6. 
 Clothes,  rending.  Gen.  37.  34. 
 Coat  of  many  colours.  Gen.  3/.  3. 
 Cocks,  crowing  in  the  East,   Matt.  26.  34  : 
 
 John  13.  38. 
 Community  of  goods,  Acts  2.  44. 
 Compelling  to  go  a  mile.  Matt.  5.  41. 
 Concubines,  Gen.  25.  6. 
 Coney,  Lev.  11.5. 
 Consecration,  Exod.  28.  41 ;  29.  7. 
 Consider  him,  to  what  it  alludes,  Heb.  12.  3. 
 Cor,  capacity'  of,  l  Kings  4.  22. 
 Corban,  meanmg  of,  Matt.  15.  5. 
 Cord  loosing,  meaimig  of,  Job  30.  U. 
 Cords  of  vanity,  Isa.  5.  18. 
 Comer-stone,  Isa.  26.  16. 
 Covenant,  Gen.  9.  9. 
 Covenant  of  salt,  Lev.  2. 13. 
 Covering  the  feet,  Judg.  3.  24. 
 Covering  the  face,  2  Sam.  19.  4  ;  Esth.  7.  3. 
 Creature,  Rom.  8.  19. 
 Crisping-pins.  Isa.  3.  22. 
 Crown,  Rev.  3.  11. 
 Cummin,  Isa.  28.25. 
 Cup,  ancient,  Gen.  44.  2. 
 Cup,  portion  of,  Ps.  11.6. 
 Cup  of  malediction,  Ps.  75.  8. 
 Cursing  a  day.  Job  3.  8. 
 Custom,  receipt  of,  Matt.  9-  9- 
 Cutting  off  garments,  2  Sam.  10.  4 
 Cuttings  in  the  flesh,  Lev.  19.  28. 
 
 Dagon,  Judg.  16.  23. 
 Damascus,  description  of,  Acts  9.  2. 
 Dancing,  Matt.  14.  6. 
 Darkness,  outer,  Matt.  22.  13. 
 Day-spring,  Luke  1.  78. 
 Dead  Sea,  Gen.  19.  25. 
 Deaf-adder,  Ps.  58.  4. 
 Decapolis,  account  of.  Matt.  4.  25. 
 Deep,  its  meaning,  Luke  8.  31. 
 Degrees,  song  of,  what  it  means,  Ps.  123,  title. 
 Dens  and  caves,  Judg.  6.  2. 
 Desert  of  Zin,  Num.  20.  1. 
 Devils,  import  of  the  word  rendered,  Lc.  17.  7. 
 Devils,  persons  possessed,  opinions  on,  Matt. 
 4.  24. 
 
INDEX  TO  SOME  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  NOTES. 
 
 Dial  of  Ahfxz.  2  Kins,-s  20.  11. 
 
 Piaiia  of  Ephesus,  temple  of,  Acts  ig.  27. 
 
 Die  in  the  Lord,  Rev.  i-i.  13. 
 
 Digging  tlirovigh  houses,  Job  24.  l6. 
 
 Dippiug  the  bread  iii  the  dish.  Matt.  26.  23. 
 
 Do^,  price  of,  its  meaning:,  Deut.  23.  18. 
 
 Do^s,  disliked  in  the  Ea-t,  Ps.  .=ii)-  6. 
 
 Dogs,  emblems  of  odious  characters.  Matt.  6. 
 
 Dove's  dungr,  as  an  article  of  food,  what, 
 
 2  Kings  6.  25. 
 Double  portion,  2  King's  2.  9. 
 Dragons,  Deut.  32.  33. 
 Dragons,  place  of,  Ps.  4  J.  19. 
 Drink. offerings  of  blood,  Ps.  \Q.  4. 
 Drink-offerings  of  wine,   poured  out  In  the 
 
 East,  Jer.  44.  17- 
 Dromedaries,  Esth.  8.  Ifi. 
 Dumah,  Isa.  21.  1 1. 
 Dust,  casting  off,  in  the  air,  import  of  the 
 
 action,  2  Sam.  l6'.  13. 
 
 Eagle,  Lev.  11.  13. 
 
 Eagles,  emblems  of  the  Roman  armies,  Matt. 
 
 24.  28- 
 Earring,  Gen  24.  4". 
 Earthen  vessels,  2  Cor.  4.  7. 
 East  wind,  its  dr>'ing  property,  Hab.  i,  9. 
 Eg>T)t,  reproach  of.  Josh.  5.  9. 
 Egyptiajis,  idolatry  of,  Exod.  g.  3. 
 Egyptians,  cruel  rites  of,  Exod.  9.  8. 
 Elam,  Isa.  21.  2. 
 Elect  Lady,  2  John  1. 
 Elephantiasis,  Deut.  28.  2". 
 Embalming,  Gen.  50.  2. 
 Emerods,  2  Sam.  5.  6. 
 Enchantments,  meaning  of,  E\od.  7.  1 1 . 
 End  of  the  world,  meaning  of  phrase.  Matt. 
 
 24.  3. 
 Enlightened  once,  Heb.  6.  4. 
 Ephod,  E.vod.  25.  7 ;  2S.  6. 
 Esau  found  no  place  for  repentance,  meaning 
 
 of,  Heb.  12.  17. 
 Euroclydon,  wind,  what.  Acts  27.  14. 
 
 •  Every  high  thing.'  the  allusion,  2  Cor.  10.  5. 
 Exalting  the  gate,  Prov.  17.  19. 
 E.\perience,  Rom.  5.  4. 
 
 Faith,  counted  for  righteousness,  Rom.  4.  3. 
 
 Falling  away,  Heb.  G.  6. 
 
 Fallow-deer,   jirobably    means    the    buffalo, 
 
 Deut.  14.  5. 
 Familiar  spirits,  Lev.  19  31 ;  1  Sam.  2S.  7. 
 Fat  as  grease,  Ps.  UQ.  70. 
 Feast  of  dedication,  John  10.  22. 
 Feast  of  trumpets,  design  of.  Lev.  23.  24. 
 Feast  of  tabernacles.  Lev.  23.  34. 
 Feet,  washed,  Gen.  18.  4. 
 Feet,  covering  of,  Judg.  3.  21. 
 Feet,  uncovering  of,  Ruth  3.  4. 
 Fellowship,  1  John  1.  3. 
 Fier>'  dart-s,  Epb,  6.  16. 
 Kery  furnace,  Deut.  4.  20. 
 Fiery  serpents.  Num.  21.  6  ;  Deut.  8.  15. 
 Fire,  to  be  salted  with,  Mark  ji.  49. 
 Fire,  walking  ttirough,  Isa.  43.  2. 
 Firstborn.  Exod.  12.  29. 
 First-fruits,  Deut.  26.  2. 
 Hshers,  Matt.  4.  19. 
 Flics,  swarms  of,  conjectures  respecting,  Ex. 
 
 8.  21  ;   Ps-  78.  4.5. 
 '  Follow  peace,'  to  what  it  alludes,  Heb. 12, 14 
 Fool,  answers  to,  Prov.  26   4. 
 Foot,  irrigation  of  land  by,  Deut.  II.  10. 
 Footmen,  Jer.  12.  5. 
 Footstool,  Ps.  110.  I. 
 Forty  stripes,  Deut.  25.  3. 
 
 *  Fought  a  good  fight,'  2  Tim.  4.  7. 
 I'ountam,  sealed.  Cant.  4.12. 
 I'oxes,  or  jackals,  Judg.  1.5.  4. 
 
 tYinges,  form  and  use  of.  Num.  15.  38 ;  Deut. 
 
 22.  10. 
 Frogs,  Exod.  8.  3. 
 i'rosts  in  the  East,  Job  35.  10. 
 
 (lARsiENTs,  cutting  off,  2  Sam.  10.  4. 
 Gamients,  paid  m  tribute.  2  Chron.  9.  24. 
 Garments,  parted  at  execution,  Matt.  27.  35. 
 Gate,  Ps.  127.  5. 
 Gate,  exalting  the,  Prov.  17.  ig. 
 Gate,  beautiful,  Acts  3.  2. 
 Gideon's  trumpets,  Heb.  11.  32. 
 Gifts,  received,  Ps.  6n    i>%. 
 Gifts,  nccessan-  in  the  East,  Prov.  18.  IG. 
 Girdmg  sword.  Ps.  45.  3. 
 Girdles.  Jer.  13.  i. 
 Gittith.  Ps  8,  title. 
 Gnat,  straining  at,  Matt.  23.  24. 
 Gods,  E-Xod.  22.  28. 
 
 Gog  and  Magog,  opinions  respecting,  Ezek. 
 38.2. 
 
 i;if)0 
 
 Golgotha,  Matt.  27.  33- 
 
 Gopher-wood,  Gen.  G.  11. 
 
 (Jnurd,  of  Jonah,  Jon.  4.  6. 
 
 Grain. treasure,  Jer.  41.  b. 
 
 Grapes,  wild,  Isa.  5.  4. 
 
 tJrave,  Ps.  6.  5. 
 
 Graven-image,  Exod.  20.  4. 
 
 Greaves,  1  Sam.  17.  6. 
 
 Grecian,  or  Macedonian,  empire,  Dan   2.  39. 
 
 Grecians,  John  12.  20  ;  Acts  6.  1. 
 
 Greetings,  in  markets,  Matt.  23.  7. 
 
 Grinding,  Matt.  24.  41. 
 
 Haiut,  Esau  bom.  Gen.  2.'>.  25. 
 
 Halting,  1  Kings  18.  21. 
 
 Hand-breadth  described,  Ps.  3y.  5. 
 
 Hanging,  Deut.  21.  22. 
 
 Hare,  Lev.  11.6. 
 
 Harlot,  opinions  on.  Judges  11.  I. 
 
 Harlot's  attire  in  East,  Prov.  7.  10. 
 
 Harnessed,  import  of  word,  Ex.  13.  18. 
 
 Harp,  ancient,  Ps.  33.  2. 
 
 Heap  of  stones,  2  Sam   IS.  17. 
 
 Heaven,  up  to,  Deut.  1.  28. 
 
 Heavens,  Ps.  19.  1. 
 
 Heavenly  gift,  tasted,  Heb.  6.  4. 
 
 Hell,  meaning  of  the  word,  Ps.  iG,  lo. 
 
 Hem  of  garment.  Matt   9.20. 
 
 Hen  gathering  chickens.  Matt.  23.  37. 
 
 Herodians,  account  of.  Matt.  22.  16. 
 
 Hidden  manna.  Rev.  2.  17. 
 
 Hiding  the  hand  in  the  bosom,  Prov.  19.  24. 
 
 High  places.  Lev.  26.  30. 
 
 Hip  and  thigh.  Judges  15.  8. 
 
 Hissing,  Isa.  7.  IS. 
 
 Holy  kiss,  Rom.  I6.  I6. 
 
 Holy  Ghost,  sin  against.  Matt.  12.  31  ;  Mark 
 
 3.  29;  Lulce  12.  10. 
 Hollow  place  in  jaw-bone  used  by  Samson, 
 
 Judges  15.  ly. 
 Honey  and  butter.  Job  20.  1 7. 
 Horn,  an  emblen'.,  Job  16.  15. 
 Horn,  little,  opinions  on,  Dan,  8.  9. 
 Horn  of  salvation,  Luke  1.  6y. 
 Horns  of  altar,  Ex.  2".  2. 
 Horns  of  aJtai",  a  refuge,  1  Kings  1.  50. 
 Honiet,  Ex.  23.  28. 
 
 Horses,  sumptuously  arrayed,  Zech.  1 1.  20. 
 Hospitality,  eastern.  Job  22.  7. 
 Housebreaking  hi  the  East,  Matt.  6.  ly. 
 Hou.setop,  Matt.  24.  17. 
 Hypocrites,  Matt.  6.  2. 
 
 Ini.E  word,  Matt.  12.  SG. 
 
 Idolatry,  of  Eg>prians,  Ex.  9.  3. 
 
 Idols,  Lev.  26.  1. 
 
 Idols,  clothing  of,  Jer.  10.  g. 
 
 Idols,  exhortation  to  keep  from,  I  John  5.21. 
 
 Idols,  feasts.  1  Cor.  H.  1. 
 
 Idols,  pollurion  of.  Acts  15.  20. 
 
 Idumea,  description  of,  Jer.  49.  iG. 
 
 Image,  Christ  of  Gad,  the  allusion,  Heb.  1.  3. 
 
 Images,  Lev.  26.  30. 
 
 Incense,  burning  of,  Ex.  30.  1. 
 
 Irrigation  in  the  East,  Job  28.  25;  Ps.  1.3; 
 
 Prov.  21.  1. 
 Ivory  palaces,  Ps.  45.  9. 
 
 Jashkr,  book  of,  Josh.  10.  13. 
 
 Jaw-bone  used  by  Samson,  hollow  place  in. 
 Judges  15.  19. 
 
 Jeduthun,  Ps.  39,  title. 
 
 Jephthah's  vow.  Judges  11.  30. 
 
 Jerusalem,  history  of.  Josh.  10.  1. 
 
 Jerusalem,  represented  on  coin  as  a  mourn- 
 ing woman,  Lam,  1.1. 
 
 Jesting,  Epb.  5.  4. 
 
 Jesus,  meaning  of.  Matt,  1.  21. 
 
 Jewels,  Gen.  24.  63. 
 
 Jews,  sufferings  of,  Deut,  28.  68. 
 
 Jews,  their  return  to  their  own  land,  opinions 
 on,  Deut.  30.  5. 
 
 Jewish  day,  division  of,  Ps.  :>6.  17. 
 
 Jordan,  water  of,  Josh.  3.  13. 
 
 Judgments,  Lev.  26.  15. 
 
 Juniper,  denotes  broom,  Job  30.  4. 
 
 Kerchikp,  import  of  the  term,  Ezek.  13.  18, 
 Key,  on  shoulder,  I-a.  22.  22. 
 Keys  of  the  kingdom.  Matt.  iG.  19. 
 Kid,  seething  of,  Ex.  23.  I9. 
 Kiss,  holy,  Rom.  IG.  16. 
 
 La.ijentatioxs,  Gen.  50.  10. 
 Landmarks,  Deut.  ig.  il. 
 Lap,  shaking  of,  significant,  Neh.  5.  13. 
 Leannoth,  Ps.  US,  title. 
 Lebanon,  1  Kings  5.  6. 
 
 Legion,  number  of  men  which  composed  it, 
 Maik  5.  9. 
 
 Leprosy,  Lev.  13.  3. 
 
 Leprosy  in  houses,  accoimtof.  Lev.  13.  34,  &c. 
 
 Leviathan,  or  crocodile,  description  of,  Job 
 
 41.  1;  Isa.  27.  1. 
 Libertines,  Acts  6.  g. 
 Lice,  conjectures  respecting,  Ex.  8,  iG. 
 Lilt  up  the  head,  meaning  of,  Gen.  40.  13. 
 Light,  term  for  posteritj',  1  Kings  U,  36. 
 Light,  in  travelling,  Ps.  lip.  loa. 
 Light  affliction,  2  Cor.  4.17. 
 Line,  to  stretch  out  one  over  a  place,  unport 
 
 of,  2  Kings  21.  13. 
 Lines,  meaning  of,  Ps.  16.  6. 
 Linen  breeches,  why  worn  by  priests,  Exod. 
 
 28.  42. 
 Linen  yam,  various  senses  given  to  the  word 
 
 so  rendered,  1  Khigs  10.  2S,  29. 
 Lion,  Job  4.  ll. 
 
 Little  horn,  opinions  on,  Dan.  8.  9. 
 Lively  oracles.  Acts  7.  38. 
 Locust,  description  of,  Ex,  10.  4. 
 Locusts,  what  are  meant,  Rev-  9.  3. 
 Looking-glasses,  Ex.  38.  8. 
 Loosed  the  pains  of  death.  Acts  2.  24. 
 Lot,  cast  into  the  cap,  Prov.  16.  33. 
 
 Magog,  probably  the  Scythians,  Gen,  10.  2. 
 
 &lahalath,  meaning  of,  Ps.  53,  title. 
 
 Man  of  Sin,  2  Thess.  2.  3. 
 
 Mandrakes,  Gen.  30.  14. 
 
 Manger,  Luke  2,  7. 
 
 Manna,  remarks  on.  Ex.  16,  15,  35. 
 
 Market-place,  standing  idle  in.  Matt.  20.  6. 
 
 Markets,  greetings  in.  Matt.  23,  7. 
 
 Marks  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  Gal.  6.  17. 
 
 Marriage  ceremonies,  Matt.  25.  1. 
 
 Masters  of  assemblies,  Eccles.  12.  11. 
 
 Measure  of  floiu-,  1  Kings  4.  22. 
 
 Measures,  word  so  rendered  baths,  Lu.  16.  6. 
 
 Meat-offering,  Lev.  2.  1. 
 
 Media,  Isa.  21.  2. 
 
 Mcdes  and  Persians,  empire  of,  Dan.  2.  39. 
 
 Melcliizedek,  conjectures   respecting.    Gen. 
 14.  18. 
 
 Melchizedek,  further  remarks  on,  Heb.  7.  I . 
 
 Mclita,  or  Malta,  description  of,  Acts  28.  I . 
 
 Mercy-seat,  Ex.  25.  17. 
 
 Mercy-scat,  its  signification,  Ex.  25.  20. 
 
 Messes  sent  to  guests,  Gen.  43.  34. 
 
 Mezuzoth,  Deut.  6.  9. 
 
 Mice,  the  golden,  1  Sam.  6.  5. 
 
 Michtam,  import  of,  Ps.  !6,  title. 
 
 Millstones,  description  and  necessity  of,  Deut. 
 24.  6. 
 
 Millstone,  punishment  of  criminals  by  drown- 
 ing with  one  round  the  neck,  Matt.  18.  6. 
 
 Miracle,  remarks  on,  Ex.  14.  25. 
 
 Mi.ved  wine.  Ps.  75-  8;  Prov.  23,  30. 
 
 Mi'lten  sea.  1  Kings  7.  23. 
 
 Money  changers.  Matt.  21.  12, 
 
 Mnon,  smiting,  Ps.  121.  6. 
 
 Moriah,  the  m<junt  described.  Gen.  22.  2, 
 
 Moses,  dispute  respecting  his  body,  Jude  9. 
 
 Mote,  meaning  of  word  so  rendered,  Matt. 
 I  7-  3- 
 
 Moth,  Job27.  18. 
 
 Momitain  of  God,  Ex.  3.  I. 
 I    Mountains  of  prey,  Ps.  7G.  4. 
 
 Mourners  in  the  East,  Job  2.  13. 
 I    Mourning  women  employed  in  the  East,  Jer. 
 
 9.  17. 
 1    Murrain,  Ex.  9.  3. 
 
 Muth-labben,  Ps.  9,  title. 
 
 MuzzUng  ox,  Deut.  25.  4. 
 
 Mysteries  of  the  kingdom,  Matt.  13.  n . 
 
 NakkonESS,  Ex.  20.  2fi  ;   32.  25. 
 
 Naked  captives.  Is.  20.  4. 
 
 Naked  and  opened,  the  allusion,  Heb.  4.  13. 
 
 Nazarites,  Num.  G.  2. 
 
 Necromancer,  Deut.  18.  10, 
 
 Nehiloth,  Ps.  5,  tiUe. 
 
 Ncrgal,  account  of,  2  Kings  17.  30. 
 
 Net,  Job  18.  8. 
 
 Nethinims,  1  Chron.  9.  2, 
 
 New  heaven  and  new  earth,  opinions   on. 
 
 Rev.  21.  I. 
 Nile  water.  Ex.  7.  17,  18. 
 Nile  reverenced  bv  the  Egyptians,  Ex.  7-  20. 
 Number  of  the  beast.  Rev.  13.  18, 
 Nurse,  Gen.  24.  59. 
 
 Ointment,  precious.  Matt.  26.  7- 
 
 Old  prophet,    opuiions  respecting,    1    Kuigs 
 
 13.  11. 
 Once  enlightened,  Heb.  6.  4. 
 Onyx  stones,  Ex.  25.  7. 
 Opiiir,  where  situated,  1  Kings  9,  28. 
 Ordained,  Acts  14.  23. 
 Ordinances,  the  sort  meant.  Col,  2.  20. 
 
INDEX  TO  SOME  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  NOTES. 
 
 Organ,  a  kind  of  pipe,  Job  21.  12. 
 
 Ospray,  Lev.  11.  13. 
 
 Ossifrage.  Lev.  ii.  13. 
 
 Outer  darkness,  Matt.  22.  13. 
 
 Owl,  Lev.  11.  16. 
 
 Ox,  muzzling  of,  Deut.  25.  4. 
 
 O.x-goad,  Judges  3.  31. 
 
 Painting  the  face,  2  Kings  9-  30;  Jer.  4.  30. 
 i'arable.  import  of  the  tenn,  Num.  2:i.  /. 
 Paj-ing  the  nails,  Deut.  21.  12. 
 Parting  garments  at  execution,  Matt.  27.  35. 
 Partridge,  Arab  mode  of  hunting,  1  Sam.  26. 
 
 20. 
 Paschal  lamb,  Es.  12.  2". 
 Passover,  Ex.  12.  11. 
 Paul,  his  person  described,  2  Cor.  10.  1. 
 Pavilion,  I  Kings  20.  12  ;  Ps.  2'.  5. 
 Peace-offerings,  Ex.  24.  5;  Lev.  3.  1. 
 Pentecost,  Acts  2.  l. 
 Pharisees,  origin  of  nmne.  Matt.  3.  7. 
 Plxilosophy,  what  sort  condemned.  Col.  2.  8. 
 Phylacteries,  Ex.  13.  y;  Deut.  6.  8;  Matt. 
 
 23.  5. 
 
 Pillar  of  salt,  Gen.  19.  26. 
 
 Pillar  in  the  temple.  Rev.  3.  12. 
 
 Pillows,  or  cushions,   used  to  support  the 
 
 arms  in  the  East,  Ezck.  i:i.  18. 
 Pumacle  of  the  temple,  Matt.  4.  5. 
 Pleiades,  Job  g.9- 
 Plucking  off  shoe,  Ruth  4.  7. 
 Pollutions  of  idols,  Acts  15.  20. 
 Portion  of  their  cup,  Ps.  11.6. 
 Posts,  runners  or  couriers,  2  Chron.  30.  6 ; 
 
 Esth.  3.  13. 
 Posts,  swiftness  of.  Job  9.  25. 
 Pots,  lying-  among,  Ps.  6S.  13. 
 Potter's  field.  Matt.  27-  7- 
 Pouring  out  drink-offerings  m  the  East,  Jer. 
 
 44.  17- 
 Powder  and  dust  of  land,  Deut.  28.  24. 
 Pmver,  hours  of.  Acts  3.  1. 
 Prize  of  high  calling,  Phil.  3.  14. 
 Propitiation.  Rom.  3.  25  j  1  John  2.  2. 
 Proselytes,  Acts  lo.  2. 
 Proseuches,  or  oratories  of  the  Jews,   Isa. 
 
 57.  6. 
 Prove,  to,  a  metaphor  taken  from  the  melting 
 
 or  refining  of  metals,  2  Cor.  13.  5. 
 Proverbs.  Prov.  1.1. 
 Psalterj',  description  of,  Ps.  33.  2. 
 Publican,  explanation  of  the  office  of,  Luke 
 
 3.  12. 
 PubUcan,  chief,  what,  Luke  ig.  2. 
 Punishment  by  precipitation,  2  Kings  9.  33. 
 Pur,  and  Purim,  meaning  of  the  word,  Esth. 
 
 9.  24. 
 
 Quails,  Ex.  16.  13;  Num.  11.31. 
 Queen  of  heaven,  the  moon  so  denominated 
 and  worshipped,  Jer.  7.  18. 
 
 Rabbi,  meaning  of,  Matt.  23.  ~. 
 
 Raca,  signification  of,  Matt.  5.  22. 
 
 Rahab,  Ps.  SJ.  4. 
 
 Raiment,  waxed  not  old,  Deut.  6.  4. 
 
 Rain,  in  the  East,  Matt.  7-  25. 
 
 RaiJi,  first  and  latter,  Deut.  11.  14. 
 
 Rainbow,  Gen.  9.  13. 
 
 Ramah,  Jer.  ."il.  15. 
 
 Ramathaim-Zophim,  description  of,    1   Sam. 
 
 1.  1. 
 Ransom,  Ex.  30.  12 ;  Matt.  20.  28. 
 Ravens  feeding  Elijah,  1  Kings  17.  I. 
 Receipt  of  custom.  Matt,  9.  9. 
 Red  heifer.  Num.  19.  2. 
 Retlemption,  Rom.  3.  24. 
 Refuge,  cities  of.  Num.  35.  6 ;  Josh.  20.  7. 
 Reins,  Ps.  7.  9. 
 
 Remission  of  sins.  Matt.  26.  28. 
 Rending  clothes.  Gen.  37.  34. 
 Reproach  of  Egypt,  Josh.  5.  9. 
 Reprobates,  Tit.  1.  16;  2  Cor.  13.  5. 
 Revelation  of  God's  will,  how  made,  Gen. 
 
 15.  I. 
 Riddles,  Judg.  14.  12. 
 Righteousness,  Rom.  3.  21  ;  2  Cor.  5.  21. 
 Righteousness  of  God,  Rom.  1.  17. 
 Rimmon,  rock,  Judg.  20.  47. 
 Ring  and  signet,  Gen.  41.  42;  Esth.  3.  12. 
 Robbers,  Matt.  21.  13. 
 Rock  at  Rephidim,  Ex.  17.  6. 
 Rock,  shadow  of,  peculiarly  refreshing,  Isa. 
 
 32.  2. 
 Rocks,  dwelling  in,  Jer.  49.  16. 
 Rod,  passing  under,  meaning  of,  Lev.  2".  32. 
 Rod  of  the  wicked,  Ps.  125.  3. 
 Rolls,  ancient,  Isa.  8.  1. 
 Roof,  uncovering,  Mark  2.  4. 
 Rooms,  uppermost.  Matt.  23.  G. 
 
 1391 
 
 Root  of  bitterness,  Ilcb.  12.  15. 
 
 Rounding  the  corners  of  the  head,  Lev.  19. 27. 
 
 Sabeans,  who  they  were.  Job  I.  15. 
 
 Sabeans,  their  worship,  Deut.  4.  I9. 
 
 Sack,  Gen.  42.  27. 
 
 Sackcloth.  Gen.  37.  33. 
 
 Sadducees,  origin  of  name.  Matt.  3.  7- 
 
 Salt,  covenant  of.  Lev.  2.  13. 
 
 Salt,  pillar  of.  Gen.  19.  26. 
 
 Salt,  sowing  with.  Judges  9.  45. 
 
 Salt,  to  be  salted  with,  meaning  of,  Mark  9-49. 
 
 Salt,  when  insipid.  Matt.  5.  13. 
 
 Samiel,  or  hot  wind.  Gen.  8.  l. 
 
 Samuel,  appearance  of,  considered,  I  Sam. 
 
 28.  12. 
 Sanctify,  import  of,  Ex.  13.  1. 
 Sanctuary,  Ex.  25.  8. 
 Sandal,  description  of,  Matt.  10.  10. 
 Scorpions,  Luke  11.  12. 
 Scorpions,  iron  thorns,  1  Kings  12.  11. 
 Scourging,  a  cruel  pmiishment,  Matt.  27.  26. 
 Scribes,  Matt.  15.  1. 
 Scythians  CoL  3.  11. 
 Sea,  brazen,  size  of,  1  Kings  ".  26. 
 Sealing  the  stone.  Matt.  27.  66. 
 Seals  and  rings,  Esth.  3.  12. 
 Second  death.  Rev.  2.  11. 
 Secret  of  the  Lord,  Ps.  25.  14. 
 Seething  a  kid,  Ex.  23.  19. 
 Selah,  conjectured  meanings  of,  Ps.  3.  3. 
 Sepulchres,  whited.  Matt.  23.  27. 
 Seraphim,  Isa.  6.  2. 
 Serjjent,  Gen.  3.1. 
 Sen^ents,  remarks  on  those  produced  by  the 
 
 Egyptian  magicians,  Exod.  7. 1 1. 
 Servants  in  the  East,  looking  at  masters' 
 
 signs.  Ps    123.  2. 
 Seven,  a  number  of  perfection,  Lev.  4.  17. 
 Seven  thunders.  Rev.  in.  5. 
 Seven  seals,  Rev.  5.  1,  &c. 
 Seven  vials.  Rev.  15.  7  ;  iG. 
 Seventy  weeks,  Dan.  9.  27. 
 Shadow  of  good  things  to  come,  Heb.  10.  l . 
 Sharon,  situation  and  description  of,  1  Chron. 
 
 5.  16. 
 Shaving  the  head  of  female  captive,  Deut. 
 
 21.  12. 
 Sheba,  1  Kings  10.  1. 
 
 Sheep  and  goats,  sepai"atuig,  Matt.  25.  32. 
 Sheepfold.  John  10.  1. 
 Shekel,  value  of.  Gen.  23.  15. 
 Shepherds,    an   abomination   to  Eg>'ptians, 
 
 Gen.  43-  32. 
 Shew-bread,  Ex.  25.  30. 
 Shibboleth,  meaning  of,  and  pronunciation. 
 
 Judges  12.  6. 
 Shield  of  faith,  what,  Eph.  6.  16. 
 Shiggaion,  Ps.  7.  title. 
 Ships  of  Tarshish,  1  Kings  22.  49. 
 Sliittira-wood,  Ex.  25.  5. 
 Shoe,  plucking  off,  and  giving  it,  a  sign  of 
 
 purchase,  Ruth  4.  7. 
 Shoe,  castmg  off,  Ps.  60.  8. 
 Shoes,  iron  and  brass,  Deut.  33.  25. 
 Shoes  distuiguished  from  sandals.  Matt. 10. 10. 
 Shoshannim,  import  of,  Ps.  45,  title. 
 Shoulders,  carried  on,  Isa.  49.  22. 
 Shushan-eduth,  meaning  of,  Ps.  60,  title. 
 Silence  in  heaven.  Rev.  8.  1. 
 Sm  against  the  Holy  Ghost,   Matt.   12.  31  ; 
 
 Marks.  29;  Luke  12.  10. 
 Sin,  not  unto  death,  and  mito  death,  l  John 
 
 5.  16. 
 Simoom,  or  east  wind.  Jub  15.  2. 
 Simoom,   description  of  its  terrible  effects, 
 
 2  Kings  19-  35. 
 Sin-offering,  Ex.  29.  14. 
 Sm,  how  not  committed,  1  John  4.  9- 
 Sincere,  meaning  of  the  word  so  rendered, 
 
 Phil.  I.  10. 
 Sittmg,  modes  of,  in  the  East,  Isa.  52,  2. 
 Skin  for  skin,  meanijig  of.  Job  2.  4. 
 Skirts,  discovering  of,  Nah.  3.  5. 
 Slaves,  punishment  of.  Exod.  5.  14. 
 Sleep  with  the  fathers,  meaning  of  the  phrase, 
 
 Deut.  31.  16. 
 Slaves,  female,  the  patrimony  of  a  wife,  Gen. 
 
 16.  2. 
 Sling,  account  of.  Judges  20.  16. 
 Sling,  importance  of,  1  Sam.  17.  49. 
 Smiths,  carried  away  by  conquerors,  I  Sam. 
 
 13.  19. 
 Smoke,  Kev.  9.  2. 
 
 Snare,  or  toil,  description  of.  Job  IS.  8. 
 Sockets  in  the  tabernacle  described,  Ex.  26. 
 
 19. 
 Solomon,  opinions  respecting  him,  l  Kings 
 
 II.  43. 
 Solomon's  provision    l  Kings  4.  22. 
 
 Son  of  God,  meaning  of,  Matt,  27.  54. 
 
 Sons  of  God,  Gen.  6.  2. 
 
 Song   of    songs,   meaning  of,   title  note  to 
 
 Solomon's  Song. 
 Sop,  John  13.  26. 
 Sorrows  of  death,  Ps.  18.  4. 
 Sound  of  priest's  bell,  Ex.  28.  35. 
 South,  scripture  use  of  the  word.  Gen.  13.  1 . 
 Sowing  in  tears,  Ps.  I26.  5. 
 Span,  length  of,  Ps.  39.  5. 
 Spectacle,  how  apostles  made  one,  l  Cor.  4.  9. 
 Spies,  account  of  eastern.  Gen.  42.  9. 
 Spirit  of  divination.  Acts  16-  16. 
 Spu-its  in  prison.  1  Peter  3.  19. 
 Spitting  in  the  face.  Num.  12.  14:  Matt.  26. 
 
 67. 
 Spitting  before  a  person  expressive  of  detes- 
 tation, Deut   25.  9. 
 Spittle,  to  swallow,  a  proverbial  expression, 
 
 illustrated.  Job  7.  19. 
 Spot  of  Gud's  eliildren,  Deut.  32.  5. 
 Sprinkling  the  nations,  Isa.  52.  15. 
 Standing  in  the  market-place  idle,  Matt.  20. 0. 
 Star  of  a  god,  Amos  5.  26. 
 Star  in  the  East,  Matt.  2.  2. 
 Star  falling  from  heaven,  Rev.  9.  1. 
 Statutes,  Lev.  26.  3. 
 Stiff-necked,  Ex.  32.  9. 
 Stocks,  Acts  id.  24. 
 Stone,  with  seven  eyes,  Zech.  3.  9. 
 Stone,   burdensome,   custom   it  alludes    to, 
 
 Zech.  12.  3. 
 Stones,  erection  of,  as  a  memorial,  usual  in 
 
 the  East,  Gen.  2S.  IB. 
 Stones,  heaps  of,  the  ancient  mode  of  burial, 
 
 2  Sam.  18.  17. 
 Stones,  in  league  with.  Job  6.  23. 
 Stones,   immense   size    nf,    used  in  ancient 
 
 buildings,  l  Kings  7.  10. 
 Stones,  smooth,  worshipped  by  the  heathen, 
 
 Isa.  57.  6. 
 Stoning,  Ex.  19.  13;  Deut.  21.  21;  Matt.  21. 
 
 44- 
 
 Stork,  Lev.  11.  19;  Ps.  104.  17. 
 
 Strauiing  at  a  gnat,  Matt.  23.  24. 
 
 Strangled  things,  Acts  15.  20. 
 
 Straw  for  making  bricks,  E.\.  5.  7. 
 
 Striving,  Col.  2.  29. 
 
 Striving  against  sin,  to  what  it  alludes,  Heb. 
 12.  4. 
 
 Stuff,  import  of  the  term,  1  Sam.  10.  22. 
 
 Sun  and  moon,  their  size,  Gen.  1.  I6. 
 
 Sun  and  moon,  what  symbols  of,  Isa.  24.  23. 
 
 Swaddling-clothes,  Luke  2.  7. 
 
 Swan,  Lev.  11.  18. 
 
 Swelling  of  Jordan,  a  metaphor,  Jer.  12.  5. 
 
 Sword,  girding,  Ps.  40.  3. 
 
 Swords,  beating  of,  into  ploughshares,  illus- 
 tration of,  Isa.  2.  4. 
 
 Sycamine  tree,  probably  tlie  same  as  the 
 sycamore,  Luke  17.  6. 
 
 Sycamore  tree,  description  of,  1  Chron.  27. 28. 
 
 Sycamore,  value  of,  to  the  Egyptians,  Ps.  7s. 
 47. 
 
 Synagogues,  Matt.  4.  23. 
 
 Tabervacle,  meaning  of  the  term,  applied 
 
 to  the  body,  2  Cor.  5.  1. 
 Tabernacles,  or  tents,  Job  11.  14. 
 Tabitha,  meaning  of.  Acts  9.  36. 
 Table,  eastern  posture  at,  Luke  7.  38, 
 Tachcs,  meaning  of,  Ex.  26.  6. 
 Tadmor,  1  Kings  9-  18 ;  2  Chron.  8.  4. 
 Talent  of  gold,  Ex.  25.  39. 
 Talent  of  silver,  Ex.  38.  24  ;  Matt.  18.  24. 
 Tares,  properly  darnel.  Matt.  13.  25. 
 Tai-tak,  2  Kings  18.  31. 
 Taskmasters,  Exod.  5.  6. 
 Tasted  of  heavenly  gift,  Heb.  6.  4. 
 Tax,  Roman,  Luke  2.  1 . 
 Temple,  buildings  of,  Matt.  24.  1. 
 Temple,  second,  magnitude  and  beauty  of 
 
 the  stones  \vith  which  it  was  built.  Malt. 
 
 24.  1. 
 Temple,  adorned  and  enriched  with   gifts, 
 
 Luke  21.  5. 
 Temple,  total  demoHtion  of  by  Titus,  Matt. 
 
 24.  2. 
 Tempt,  meaning  of  the  word.  Gen.  22.  I . 
 Ten  horns,  what  emblems  of,  Dan,  7.  7. 
 Teraphim,  I  Sam.  19.  13. 
 Testimony,  Ex.  25.  16. 
 Thieves,  Matt.  21.  13. 
 Thorn  in  the  flesh,  2  Cor.  12.  7. 
 Thorns,  crown  of,  what,  Matt.  27.  29. 
 Thousand  years.  Rev.  20.  2. 
 Three  that  bear  record,  1  John  5.  7. 
 Threshold,  those  whn  leap  on,  who,  Zeph.  1 . 9. 
 Tlireshing,  account  uf  the  eastern  modes  of, 
 
 Isa.  2B.  ■^7- 
 
INDEX  TO  SOME  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  NOTES. 
 
 Threshing-floors,  Gen.  50.  10;  2  Sam  21.  ifl. 
 
 Tiles  and  bricks,  used  as  tablets,  tzck.  4.  I. 
 
 Time,  times,  &c.,  meaning  of,  Dan.  7-  25, 
 
 Time  no  longer,  Rev.  10.  6. 
 
 Tires,  Isa.  3.  18. 
 
 Tirzah.  2  Kings  15.  14. 
 
 Title  on  the  cross,  John  19-  19- 
 
 Tophet,  2  Kings  23.  10. 
 
 Tormentors,  Matt.  18.  34. 
 
 Tower  of  the  watchmen,  2  Kings  i;.  9;  Matt. 
 
 21.  33. 
 Treasure -cities,  Ex.  1.  10. 
 Trench,  import  of  word  so  rendered,  1  .Sam. 
 
 26.  5. 
 Tribute -money,  what.  Matt.  17.  21. 
 Triumph,  cause  to,  au  allusion  to  triumphal 
 
 processions,  2  Cor.  2.  11. 
 Two  witnesses.  Rev.  11.3. 
 Tyre,  capture  of,  Isa.  23.  l  ;  Zech.  g.  4. 
 
 Uncovering  the  feet,  Ruth  3.  -l. 
 
 Uncovering  himself,  2  Sam.  7.  20. 
 
 Uncovering  the  roof.  Mark  2.  4. 
 
 Unicom,  Num.23.  22. 
 
 Unstable,  Gen.  49.  4. 
 
 Uppermost  rooms,  Matt.  23.  6. 
 
 Urim  and  Thummim,  Ex.  28.  3U  ;  Tlciit.  33.  8. 
 
 Uz,  land  of,  where  situated,  Job  l.  1 . 
 
 Vail,  Ruth  3.  15. 
 Vain  repetitions,  Matt.  6.  7- 
 Valleys,  Uterally  exalted,  Isa.  40.  4. 
 Vanity,  meaning  of  the  wurd,  Fs.  (>>.  9- 
 
 Vanity  of  vanities,  Eccles.  1 .  2. 
 
 Veil  of  the  temple,  Matt.  27.  51. 
 
 Villages,  moving  ones,  Fs.  If).  8. 
 
 Vinegar  used  with  bread  in  the  East,  Ruth  2. 
 
 14. 
 Vineyards,  Judges  21.  20. 
 Visiting  sin  upon  children,  Ex.  20.  5. 
 Vows,  laws  of,  Lev.  27.  2. 
 
 Wait,  meaning  of,  Ps.65.  1. 
 
 Wall  of  fire,  Zech.  2.  5. 
 
 Ward,  1  Chron.  25.  S. 
 
 Washpot,  Ps.  60.  8. 
 
 Washmg  the  feet,  Gen.  18.  1. 
 
 Washing  hands  and  feet  of  priests,  Ex.  30.  19. 
 
 Watches,  night  division  of,  Matt.  14.  25. 
 
 Water,  drawing  of.  Gen.  21.  II. 
 
 Waterpots  anciently    used,    description  of, 
 
 John  2.  6. 
 Watering  with  the  foot.  Deut.  11.  10. 
 Waters  of  a  full  cup,  explained,  Ps.  73.  10. 
 Waters  of  separation,  explained.  Num.  19.  g. 
 Wave- oflTe ring,  account  of,  Ex.  29.  27. 
 Wedding  garment,  Matt.  22.  11, 
 Weighing  in  the  balances,  Dan.  5.  27. 
 Wells,  openini?  of,  Num.  21.  IS. 
 Wells  without  water,  2  Peter  2.  17. 
 Whirlwinil,   terrible  cflccts  of,  in  the   East, 
 
 Job  1.  19;  37.  9. 
 WTiite  asses.  Judges  5.  in. 
 Wliite  clothing.  Rev.  3.  4. 
 White  stone.  Rev.  2.  17. 
 Wliited  sepulchres,  Matt.  23,  27. 
 
 Whoring,  import  of,  Lev.  17.  7. 
 
 Wild  grapes,  Isa.  5.  4. 
 
 Wild  man,  Ishmael,  Gen.  16.  12. 
 
 Wilderness,  Deut.  H2.  10. 
 
 Wine  bottles.  Josh.  9.  i. 
 
 Wine  mLxed,  what,  Ps.  75.  8j  Prov.  23.  30. 
 
 Wine-press,  Isa.  5.  2. 
 
 Winnowing  in  the  East,  Ruth  3.  2. 
 
 Wise  men  from  the  East,  Matt.  2.  1 . 
 
 Witch,  Ex.  22.  18. 
 
 Witnesses,  cloud  of,  Hcb.  12.  1. 
 
 Wizard,  Deut.  18.  10. 
 
 Wolf  dwelhng  with  the  lamb,  import  of,  Isa. 
 
 11.6. 
 Woman  clothed  with  the  smi,  Rev.  12.  1. 
 Woman,  used  as  au  honourable  appellation, 
 
 John  2.4. 
 Woman,  a  sinner,  who  she  was,  Luke  8.  37. 
 Wood-oflFering,  Neh.  10.  34. 
 Wood,  sold,  Lam.  5.  4. 
 Word,  John  1.  1. 
 World,  all  the,  Luke  2.  1. 
 World,  end  of,  meaning  of  phrase.  Matt.  24.  3. 
 Worm  of  Jonah,  Jon.  4.  7. 
 Worm  that  dioth  not,  Mark  9.  46. 
 Worship,  Matt.  2.2. 
 
 Wounds  in  the  house  of  friends,  Zech.  13.  G. 
 WrestUng  of  Jacob,  witli  wliom,  Gen.  32.  24. 
 Writing,  ancient  mode  of.  Job  19.  24 ;  Jcr. 
 
 17.  1. 
 Written  in  heaven,  Hcb.  12.  23. 
 
 ZiN,  desert  of,  Num.  20.  I. 
 
 INDEX 
 
 THE    PRINCirAL    HEBREW    WORDS. 
 
 ni3s 
 
 Lev.  .\LV.  31. 
 
 nii'in 
 
 Job,  vi.  10. 
 
 \rrh 
 
 DIN 
 
 Gcn.i.  2S. 
 
 Nan 
 
 Job,  V.  24. 
 
 ti) 
 
 mri'  >:n« 
 
 Gen.  XV.  8. 
 
 nuisn 
 
 Gen.  xxix.  14;  Ps.li.2. 
 
 nsra'; 
 
 n-ns  ra«  n'n« 
 
 Exod.  iii.  U. 
 
 •nrn 
 
 Ps.  xlix.  4. 
 
 mm 
 
 niN 
 
 Job,  V.  24. 
 
 D"n 
 
 Gen.  ii.  7. 
 
 Dhia 
 
 2  Kings,  xix.  29- 
 
 'riE'^rr 
 
 Job,  xiv.  14. 
 
 ]2b  mo 
 
 T!»n  ni'M 
 
 Ps.  xxii.,  title. 
 
 mnn 
 
 Hag.  ii-  7. 
 
 >isra 
 
 nnmn  bN 
 
 Ps.  Ivii.,  title. 
 
 □'®i:in 
 
 Exotl.  xiii.  18. 
 
 Dmo 
 
 D^rnti 
 
 Gen.  i.  1  ;  iii.  5. 
 
 riNcn 
 
 Lev.  xvi.  21. 
 
 nVno 
 
 pN 
 
 Matt.  vi.  13. 
 
 ■yon 
 
 Ps.  v.  ,1. 
 
 □i-IDO 
 
 •iBi:« 
 
 Ps.  viu.  4. 
 
 npn 
 
 Lev.  xxvi.  S;  Ps.  cxix.  5. 
 
 jnvja 
 
 D1EC« 
 
 Ps. IX.  I. 
 
 m 
 
 Ezek.  v.  1. 
 
 impa 
 
 n3i« 
 
 Hos.  xiii.  S. 
 
 nycT 
 
 Ps.  XX.  3. 
 
 *712T3 
 
 Ps.  x.xxvii.  9;  Ixi.  2. 
 Job,  xl.  l.l. 
 
 Deut.  vi.  4. 
 
 \D2 
 
 Job,  XV.  2 ;  Ps.  xxxi.  9. 
 
 msii-  nin' 
 
 Ps.  xxiv.  10. 
 
 niy33 
 
 teiv 
 
 Hos.  i.  4. 
 
 TT3 
 
 WIJ 
 
 Gen.  ix.  9. 
 
 Job,  i,  5. 
 
 V 
 
 Isa.  V.  2. 
 
 my™ 
 
 Job,  xix.  25. 
 
 nsT 
 
 Ps.  xix.  9. 
 
 ■am 
 
 DU 
 
 Joel,  i.  -1. 
 
 nn' 
 
 Job,  XXX.   1 1 . 
 
 h'id: 
 
 nnj 
 
 Ps.  viii..  title. 
 
 D-to 
 
 1  Sam.  X.  22  ;  XX.  40. 
 
 d'';d3 
 
 y-i 
 
 Jonah,  i.  17. 
 
 ^^:3 
 
 Ps.  xxxiii.  2. 
 
 «d: 
 
 rtT 
 
 Gen.  xix.  6. 
 
 mB3 
 
 Exod.  XXV.  20. 
 
 rtlD 
 
 bin 
 
 Ps.  Ixii.  9. 
 
 d'eh'; 
 
 Exod.  vii.  1 1 . 
 
 1E1D 
 
 Gen.  xvii.  1. 
 Ps.  x\-iii.  ■!. 
 
 □TIN  Drt 
 
 d':d  am 
 
 Ps.  Ixxviil.  25. 
 Exod.  XXV.  30. 
 
 •SO 
 
 1392 
 
 Job,  xli.  1. 
 Job,  V.  13. 
 Ps.  iv.,  title. 
 Ps.  Ixxxviii.,  title. 
 Job,  V.  17. 
 Ps.  ix.,  title. 
 Lev.  xxiii.  2. 
 Ps.  xix.  13. 
 Ps.  Ihi.,  title. 
 Ps.  xvii.,  title. 
 Ps.  cxix.  6. 
 Exod.  XXV.  8. 
 Nu. .xxiii.  7  ;  Prov. 
 Ps.  xL\.  9;  cxix.  7 
 Ps.  xxxiii.  2. 
 Ps.  iv.,  title. 
 Num.  vi.  2. 
 Ps.  v.,  title. 
 Gen.  iii.  1- 
 Prov.  v.  20. 
 Gen.  vi.  3. 
 Ps.  xvi.  10;  Ivi.  6. 
 Judg.  xii.  6. 
 Ezra,  vii.  6. 
 Jer.  XXX.  2. 
 Pk.  xix.  7  ;  cxix.  2 
 
INDEX  TO  THE  PRINCIPAL  HEBREW  WORDS. 
 
 ■jib        Matt.  xi.  29. 
 
 ni3W 
 
 icy 
 
 nnD 
 pis 
 
 Heb.  u.  5. 
 Lev.  xvi.  21. 
 Lev.  i.  10. 
 Ps.  xlvi.,  title. 
 2  Cor.  i.  22. 
 
 1  Kings,  xvii.  4. 
 Job, ix.  9. 
 
 Ps.  xLx.  8;  c.'iix.4. 
 
 Lev.  xvi.  21  i  Ps.  11.  2. 
 
 Gen.  xix.  6. 
 
 Job,  xiv.  14. 
 
 Ps.  cxix.  142. 
 
 nnbs 
 •cm 
 
 'DIET 
 IDM 
 ;v.iiB 
 
 Prov.  xix.  24. 
 Job,  XV.  1. 
 Exod.  xiii.  I. 
 Matt,  xxiii.  7- 
 Ps.  xlv.  1 . 
 Ps.  xxiii.  I. 
 Ps.  Lxxvi.  3. 
 Ps.  vi.  5. 
 E.xod.  iii.  22. 
 Gen.  xlix.  10. 
 Judg.  xii.'6. 
 Gen.  vii.  2. 
 Ps.  vii.,  atle. 
 
 D'COIB 
 □'HDllJ 
 
 □'31D-0 
 
 nnlin 
 min 
 FlD3n 
 
 Ps.  Ix.,  title. 
 
 Ps.  cxx.,  title. 
 
 Deut.  xxxi.  16. 
 
 Lev.  iii.  1. 
 
 Lev.  xvii.  7. 
 
 Lev.  xxvi.  15. 
 
 Ps.  Lxviii.  13. 
 
 Exod.  XXV.  4. 
 
 Ps.  xlv.,  title. 
 
 Matt.  i.  1. 
 
 Ps.  i.  2}  xix.  7;  cxix.  I. 
 
 Job,  xiv.  14. 
 
 1  Sam.  xix.  13. 
 
 INDEX 
 
 THE     PRINCIPAL     GREEK     WORDS. 
 
 a/3yff(rop,  Luke,  vUi.  31. 
 o7a7rn,  1  Cor.  xiii.  1. 
 
 oTiafe.i',  Heb.  X.  29. 
 a-ftacTfiov,  Heb.  xii.  14. 
 aymvi^Ofx^vo?.  I  CoT.  IX.  25. 
 
 aSioKpiToc,  Jam.  iii.  !"• 
 
 adiKta,  Rom.  i.  29. 
 
 adoKijuoc,  1  Cor.  ix.  27  ;  2  Cor.  xiii.  S. 
 
 atXHaXunt^ovrei:,  2  Cor.  X.  5. 
 atvi-/na-ri,  1  Cor.  xiil.  12. 
 
 anavBtav,  Mat.  xxvii.  29. 
 aKpoytaviacov,  Eph.  ii.  20. 
 ujuapafTOV,  1  Pet.  1.  4. 
 a/iapTOjXoc,  Gal.  ii.  15. 
 nfi<}fievvvaiv.  Mat.  vi.  30. 
 afaflfwpwi/,  Acts,  XVii.  23. 
 ai'a\o7«rci<T0e,  Heb.  xii.  3. 
 avapo0oi'O(r,  1  Tim.  i.  9. 
 avcTafco-^a.,  Acts,  XXil.  24. 
 acei^i/lc  2  Tim.  i-  16. 
 avofiot?,  1  Tim.  i.  9. 
 ovuTTOTaKTOir,  1  Tim.  1.  9- 
 afre/3t<ri,  1  Tim.  i.  9- 
 avTe\a/3£To,  Luke,  i.  54. 
 ai-TiXPtJTor,  1  John,  ii.  15. 
 
 aTrrJYfaxo,  Matt.  XXVii.  5. 
 
 a7TnX7>iKOTnT,  Eph.  iv.  19- 
 
 airaypatpeaSai,  Luke,  1.  II. 
 uTTOKapaioKia,  Rom.  viii.  19. 
 aTCoXoyta,  1  Cof.  ix.  3. 
 aTToXuTpwo-if,  Rom.  iii.  24. 
 aTiopovfj-evoi,  2  Cor.  IV.  8. 
 anoaraaia,  2  Thess.  ii.  3. 
 appa/Btiiv,  2  Cor.  i.  22. 
 apTOC,  1  Cor.  X.  1". 
 apx»,  Rev.  iii.  14. 
 apxuf'jv  Trie  C'^nr,  Acts,  iii.  l.'i. 
 
 aaOeveta^,  Rom.  viii.  26. 
 aiTTTOfSor,  Rom.  i.  31. 
 acojTia,  Eph.  V.  18. 
 owXf],  John,  X.  1. 
 
 atpemr  rai.  a/na|.T.Si.,  Matt.  xxvi.  28  ;  see  also 
 John,  XX.  23. 
 
 /3ao-aHCTTatc,  Matt.  Xviii.  34. 
 
 /3e^.iXo.i,  1  Tim.i.  9. 
 
 /Si^Xor,  Matt.  i.  1. 
 
 fiXaaipnixcu,  Matt.  XT.  19. 
 
 /3\£irn)v  YiriiaiKa,  Matt.  V.  28. 
 
 YOfiouc,  Matt.  XXV.  10. 
 
 ie-iviiva<rftna,  Heb.  V.  14;  see  also  lit.  11  i 
 
 and  Rom.  i.  21. 
 "yeveCTCtiir,  Matt,  l.  1 . 
 ■tvapi^oiitf,  2  Cor.  viii.  1. 
 
 ypafifiaTef;,  Luke,  Xi.  45. 
 i€iai&at[invi;iTT£pov^,  Acts,  Xvii.  22. 
 iiafio\ix.  Matt.  iv.  24. 
 l„a\e-ioll(iVOIi,  Acts,  xxiv.  25. 
 },aL\o-iiiril0i,  Matt.  XV.  19. 
 iiafMept^otievai  y'Sutaaat,  Acts,  ii.  3. 
 diavoi-ft^iv,  Acts,  xvii.  3. 
 iiatcticiu  Gal.  iii.  19. 
 a<aa«Kci\ot,  Rom.  xii.  7. 
 
 aiCO-Tpu/i/lcva,  Acts,  XX.  30. 
 
 iitinottciv.  Matt.  iv.  II. 
 i.niropei,  Luke,  ix.  7- 
 SiKaioiru«ii,  Rom.  iii.  21. 
 itnaioauvn  ©eow,  Rom.  i.  17- 
 i,uiiere,  1  Cor.  xiv.  1 ;  Heb.  xii.  14. 
 iiuKoixevot,  2  Cor.  iv.  9. 
 ioKinaie-'i,  2  Cor.  xiii.  5. 
 3oK(/Lif)v,  Rom.  V.  4. 
 ioXot,  Rom.  1.  29. 
 
 iovXayaiyi^,  1  Cor.  ix.  27. 
 
 5ouAor,  Rom.  i.  1. 
 
 5paXM>l,  Luke,  XV.  8. 
 
 iumiiiv,  1  Cor.  ii.  4;  Acts,  vi.  8. 
 e/3uirKaȣ,  Gal.  iii.  1. 
 c^KPQTfiai',  2  Pet.  i.  6. 
 
 eAiKpiKeic,  Phil.  i.  10. 
 
 £«ean/3er»«oi,  Mark,  xiv.  33. 
 
 eKKMci',  Eph.  iii.  13. 
 
 cKKCXi'Tai,  Rom.  v.  5. 
 
 EXXnves-,  Jolm,  xii.  20;  Acts,  vi.  I. 
 
 eXuTpiuSiiTe,  1  Pet.  i.  13. 
 
 evivfjia  70^0",  Matt.  xxil.  II. 
 
 SMTra.x^il,  Matt.  ii.  16. 
 
 ei-ox^n,  Heb.  xii.  15. 
 
 ((afopatlolicuiyi,  EpheS.  V.  16. 
 €|ou(Tiav,  1  Cor.  ix.  4. 
 Sira7tovt^ojuat,  Jude,  3. 
 ewiSai-aTioi,  1  Cor.  iv.  9. 
 c7rippi>//avTef,  1  Pet.  V.  7. 
 e7riffKiivwo"fi,  2  Cor.  xu.  9. 
 CTTiffKOjrof,  Acts,  XX.  28. 
 £7r.i7Tp«i(iaTe,  Acts,  iii.  19. 
 effttruffTafftv,  2  Cor.  XI.  28. 
 €Kre/3eiu,  Acts,  iii.  12. 
 euTpoireXiu,  Ephes.  V.  4. 
 e^ei'ptTac  KaKcui',  Rom.  X.  30. 
 etppovovv,  1  Cor.  xiii.  II. 
 
 ecoc  ai/  TTavra  ^evtlTat,  Matt.  V.  16. 
 
 fifai'm.  Matt.  xiii.  25. 
 
 imvas,  Matt.  X.  9. 
 
 0eov  viot.  Matt.  xiv.  33  ;  xxvii.  54. 
 
 (JiluaKpoft,  Matt.  ii.  11. 
 
 Bpifi,  Luke,  vii.  33. 
 
 iSiuToi,  Acts,  iv.  13. 
 
 IXao-Ttipioi',  Rom.  iii.  26. 
 
 i|iaT(ov,  Matt.  vi.  40, 
 ■  ura,  Matt.  V.  18. 
 Ka/luXoi,,  Matt.  xix.  24. 
 KiiraXaMne,  James.  iV.  II. 
 
 8  r 
 
INDEX  TO  THE  PRINCIPAL  GREEK  WORDS. 
 
 KaTaKpif)f]i7eTaii  Mark,  xvi,  l6. 
 Kara\a\oi,  Rom.  i.  30. 
 HQTaAu/ia,  Luke,  ii.  7- 
 KaraXverai,  Matt.  V.  I?- 
 KarapTifetv,  2  Cor.  xiii.  9. 
 KaTevvftjaav,  Acts,  il.  S". 
 tampTifffxeva,  Rom.  i.\.  22. 
 KaTOiKovvT€t,  Acts,  U.  S. 
 Karowrpt^ofxevot,  2  CoT.  iii.  18. 
 KeKaXvfifievov,  2  Cor.  iv.  3. 
 KevTpa,  Acts,  ix.  5. 
 Kilpiifaf,  1  Cor.  ix.  2/. 
 Knpi'^i'<3^cv,  2  Cor.  iv,  6. 
 
 KTjpvffaav,  Matt.  iil.  I. 
 KKriToa,  Rom.  i.  1. 
 xXtvwv,  Acts,  V.  15. 
 Koivtovta,  2  Cor.  vi.  14. 
 
 KoXAuyJtffTQt,  Matt.  xxi.  12. 
 
 icopySai-ov,  Matt.  XV.  6. 
 
 KotTfiot,  John,  xvii.  6. 
 
 Ko0tyouc,  Matt.  XV.  37. 
 
 K^*'jre3ci,  Matt,  xxiii.  5. 
 
 icpiMo,  1  Cor.  xi.  29. 
 
 hptvuj,  Heb.  X.  3i>. 
 
 KpiTFjf,  Acts,  xxiv.  10. 
 
 xTffi^,  Rom.  viii.  19- 
 
 Kw/3epni(Tefr,  !  Cor.  xii.  28. 
 
 Ku^ovc,  Matt.  XV.  31. 
 
 \a\eik',  1  Cor.  xiv.  34. 
 
 XriarZv^  Matt.  XXi.  13;   XXVii.  38. 
 
 \u71a,  Rom.  iii.  2. 
 
 Kufta  Cmvtq,  Acts,  vii.  38. 
 
 XofiConai,  Rom.  viii.  18. 
 
 Xoyiafjiovi  naOaipom'Ttv,  2  Cor.  X.  4. 
 
 \070v,  John,  i.  I  ;  Acts,  i.  l ;  Rom.  ix.  29. 
 
 Xvxvov,  Matt.  V.  15. 
 XvTpov,  Matt.  XX.  28. 
 fla^ot,  Matt.  ii.  1. 
 fiaOnTevtrare,  Matt.  XXViii.  I9. 
 fiaitpodvfift,  1  Cor.  xiii.  4. 
 fxeyaXweiv,  Luke,  i.  46. 
 fitdvetv,  1  Cor.  xi.  21. 
 /ifo^iTfic,  1  Tim.  ii.  5. 
 ^fiavofirc.  Matt.  iii.  2. 
 ^«TDx»?,  2  Cor.  \'i.  14. 
 >ii/i»)Tai,  1  Cor.  xi.  I. 
 tio^iXaXov,  Mark,  viii.  32. 
 
 aoiiov.  Matt.  V.  15. 
 
 fivXov  oviKOi,  Matt,  xviii.  6. 
 
 fivpov.  Matt.  xxvi.  7. 
 
 fivampta.  Matt.  xiii.  11. 
 
 ^wpe,  Matt.  V.  22. 
 
 vrj^oKTer,  1  Pet.  i.  13. 
 
 vofiiKot,  Matt.  xxii.  35;  Luke,  xi.  45. 
 
 otKiat,  Matt,  xxiii.  14. 
 
 o^ov.  Matt,  xxvii.  34. 
 
 ojrAa,  Rom.  Vi.  13. 
 
 owraatai,  2  Cor.  xii.  1. 
 
 optaOfvro?,  Rom.  i.  4. 
 
 oxXoi  ouTOf,  John,  vii.  4g. 
 
 o\iftaviov,  Luke,  iii.  14. 
 
 vatiayiD-jovf,  1  Cor.  iv.  15;   Gai.  iii.  24. 
 
 Traif,  Acts,  iv.  2". 
 
 vavotrXta,  Ephes.  vi.  U. 
 
 wapayeit  1  Cor.  vii.  31 ;  1  John.  ii.  17- 
 
 iraf^aiuxrei  fie,  John,  Xiii.  21. 
 vapaKaXwf,  Rom.  xii.  8. 
 napaKXt\tr<i,  Acts,  iv.  36. 
 xapaXoyt^onevot,  James,  i.  22. 
 w€ipa^ovTtv,  Matt.  xvi.  1. 
 retpa^tov.  Matt.  iv.  3. 
 ntpieiroiavaTO,  Acts,  XX,  28. 
 irepiKaBapfxaTa,  1  Cor.  iv.  13. 
 Trepii^nMOf  I  ^or.  iv.  13. 
 jTCTpor,  Matt.  xvi.  18. 
 witiwpaaOai,  Acts,  xwiii.  6. 
 wXeovefm,  Rom.  i.  29. 
 
 w€Vfia  itvOtavot,  Acts,  xvi.  16. 
 
 TTovnpia,  Rom.  i.  29. 
 
 fl-p€<r^yf,  Phil.  g. 
 
 Trpocfpaipn,  Gal.  iii.  I. 
 
 TTpocTKOTrri,  2  Cor.  vi,  3. 
 
 TTpooKfi'iiCTai,' to  worship.'  Matt.ii.2;  Heb.i.fi. 
 
 TTpaataTToXri^ta,  Rom.  li.   II, 
 
 •nraionev,  James,  iii.  2. 
 
 WvXtova,  Acts,  X.  17* 
 
 f'fina  apyov,  Matt.  xii.  36, 
 
 traXevBnvai,  2  Thess.  ii.  2;  Acts,  xvii.  13. 
 
 (TtArjumfeTai,  Matt.  xvii.  15. 
 
 trKavdaXt^€Tat,  Matt.  xUi.  21 ;  see  also  John, 
 
 xvi.  1, 
 ffKaviaXov,  Matt.  xi.  6. 
 aKnvovs,  2  Cor.  V.  1. 
 oKoireiv,  Rom.  xvi.  1". 
 aKoirovvjiiiVt  2  Cor.  iv.  18. 
 anv^aXuf  PhiL  iii.  8. 
 
 (TTTetpa,  Acts,  X.  I. 
 trirtXa6et,  Jude,  12, 
 aiTVptiai,  Matt.  XV.  37. 
 araTtjpa,  Matt.  xvii.  27. 
 areyei,  1  Cor.  xiii.  7. 
 o■Tel'Ox^i)pol'^^e^'0^,  2  Cor.  iv,  8. 
 ffT^Te,  Epbes.  vi.  14. 
 OTparrjyotr,  Acts,  xvi.  20. 
 avfKaTeil/n'p'<^ffri,  ACtS,  i.  26, 
 
 ov^tiTttv,  Luke,  xxiv.  15. 
 avfjLiroffiov,  Mark,  vi.  30. 
 ffwayiaytt,  James,  ii.  2. 
 trvvuvTiXafx^aveTai,  Rom.  viii.  S6, 
 avptKXeiaiv,  Gal.  iii.  22. 
 
 (ri'VTp(t|(atT(t,  Mark.  .\iv.  3. 
 avfTpo(pot,  Acts,  xiii.  1. 
 avpMv,  Acts,  viii.  3. 
 TuM'tfoi-i  Matt.  vi.  6. 
 
 rapuoafadu),  John,  xiv.  1. 
 TCKKia,  John,  xiii.  33  ;  1  John,  i 
 Tc.Xn  ntnvptiiufva,  Ephes.  vi.  16. 
 Tc\ov  {ftt  TtXof),  John,  xiii.  1 ;  F 
 ifXtavtov,  Matt.  ix.  g. 
 TepuTo,  Acts,  ii.  19. 
 TpaTTtfcTui,  Matt.  XXV.  27. 
 Tpex'ii  2  Thess.  iii.  1. 
 TpoxKic  op&ai,  Heb.  xii.  13. 
 Tv-ttut,  1  Cor.  X.  6. 
 
 rvnov  diiaxnvj  Rom.  vi.  1/. 
 
 vfih,  Titus,  ii.  8. 
 I'dpiai,  John,  ii,  6. 
 vTiepviKuinevt  Rom.  viii.  37. 
 
 iiitepittpiaaevotiatf  2  Cor.  vii,  4. 
 i'n'OKpiTai,  Matt.  vi.  2. 
 vTTUJTrmCw,  1  Cor.  ix.  27, 
 
 tpapt^aii^Kav,  Rev.  IX.  21. 
 ^uTut),  Luke,  ii.  7. 
 <fipovip.oi,  Matt.  xxv.  3. 
 ^povpov^ivoi,  1  Pet.  i.  5. 
 ipvXaaacaOe,  2  Pet.  iii.  I7. 
 XopaKTnpt  Heb.  i.  3. 
 Xe»poTOkf|tf  Ji-Tet,  Acts,  xiv.  23. 
 XtTWf'j,  Matt.  v.  40. 
 XptfiaTiffat,  Acts,  xi.  26. 
 
 xpofot,  Rev.  X.  6. 
 
 Xpovovi-Kaipot/t,  Acts,  i.  7- 
 i/ziCupto-Tai,  Rom.  i.  29. 
 4iiM}fttuv,  John,  .\iii.  26. 
 
 1394 
 
LIST 
 
 or 
 
 PRINCIPAL  AUTHORS   QUOTED   IN   THIS   WORK. 
 
 WRITEUS  OF  THE  ESTABLISHED  CHURCHES, 
 
 Those  marked  thus  ][  are  of  the  Scotch  Kirk,  and  those  marked  *  are  Laymen.    The  date  under  •  Works  Quoted'  is  that  of  their  publication. 
 
 Name.  Abbreviation. 
 
 AitethMTy.BpRockester 
 
 Balguy.J 
 
 Berriman,  Dr Ber 
 
 Bevendge,Bp. St. Asaph  Beo 
 
 Bickersteth,  E 
 
 Biscoe,  R Bisc 
 
 Blackwall,  A Blackw 
 
 Blayney,  Dr Bta 
 
 Bowyer 
 
 Brightman,  T Brightm  ... 
 
 Bryant,  Jacob*  
 
 "BxiW,  B p.  St.  David's 
 
 Burder,  S 
 
 Burkitt,  W Bur 
 
 Bloomfield,  Dr Bloomf. 
 
 Brerewood,  E Brere 
 
 Campbell,  Dr.  ||    Campb. 
 
 Chandler,  Bp. Durham, 
 
 Chardin,  Sir  J.  C* Char... 
 
 Clarke.  S Clarke 
 
 Cox,  Robt 
 
 Cumberland,  Bishop  \ 
 
 of  Peterborough        S    ■•■■••■•• 
 
 Daubuz,  C 
 
 De  Courcy,  R 
 
 Dimock,  H Dim.    . . 
 
 Durell,  Dr 
 
 Edwards,  Dr 
 
 Elsley Els 
 
 Fell,  Bp.  fjjford 
 
 Graves,  Dr 
 
 Gray,  Bp.  Bristol , 
 
 Green,  W 
 
 Hales.  Dr 
 
 Hall,  Bp.  Norwich 
 
 Hammond,  Dr Ham 
 
 Hare,  Bp.  Chichester , 
 
 Heath,  T.*    ..    
 
 Hewlett,  J Hew 
 
 Hodgrson,  Dr Hodg 
 
 Holden,  G 
 
 Holden,  L 
 
 Home,  Bp.  Norwich , 
 
 Home,  T.  H H.  Home 
 
 Horsley,  Bp.  St.  Asaph    Hors 
 
 Himter,H.|( 
 
 Jones,  W.  (of  Nayland)  , 
 
 Jortin,  Dr. Jor 
 
 Keith,  Dr.l!    
 
 Kennicott,  Dr Ken 
 
 K\(i(\eT,Bp.Bath^Wells 
 
 Lee,  Professor 
 
 Leigh,  E.* , 
 
 Leighton,  Abp.Glasgow 
 
 Works  Quoted.  Died 
 
 Sermons,  &c 1732 
 
 Sermons 1 748 
 
 Sermons 1750 
 
 Sermons 1707 
 
 On  Prophecy,  1837 
 
 Sermons  on  Acts 1748 
 
 Sacred  Classics 1 730 
 
 Tr.  Jer.  and  Zech 180 1 
 
 Conjectures  on  N.  T 1777 
 
 On  Revelation 1607 
 
 On  Plagues  of  Egypt 1804 
 
 Sermons,  &c 1709 
 
 Oriental  Customs,  &c   ...    1&36 
 
 On  New  Testament 1703 
 
 Recensio  Synoptica,  1826 
 On  the  Weight  and  Value 
 
 of  Ancient  Coins I6l3 
 
 On  the  Gospels 1 796 
 
 Defence  of  CJiristianity  ..    1750 
 
 Quoted  in  Harmer   1713 
 
 Sermons  &Paraph.ofGosp.  1729 
 Horse  Roraanae,  1823 
 /  EssayonJewishMeasures 
 
 \     and  Weights,  &c 1718 
 
 On  Revelations 1740 
 
 Christ  Crucified 1803 
 
 On  Psalms 1810 
 
 On  Job,  Psalms,  &c 1775 
 
 On  Psalms 1785 
 
 Annot.  on  the  Four  Gosp. 
 
 and  Acts,  1833 
 Paraph,  of  Paul's  Epistles    16S6 
 On  Pentateuch,  I8O7.  1815. 
 Key  to  Old  Testament,  1790 
 
 On  Psalms 1 794 
 
 Chronology,  I8O9 
 
 Contemplations,  &c 1656 
 
 On  Psalms  and  New  Test.  i6(jo 
 
 Notes  on  Psalms 1740 
 
 New  Version  of  Job 1/55 
 
 On  Bible,  I8I6 
 
 On  Prov.,  Eccles..  Cant.  .  IS05 
 On  Prov.  and  Eccles.,  I8I9 
 On  Isaiah,  &c.,  1776 
 
 On  Psalros,  &c 1792 
 
 Crit.  Introd.  tu  Script.,  1834 
 Sermons  ;  Tr.  of  Hos.,  &c.  I8O6 
 
 Sacred  Biography 1802 
 
 Sermons  on  Trinity,  &c...    1801 
 
 Sermons ; . . . .    1770 
 
 On  Prophecy,  &c.,  1833 
 
 Remarks  on  Old  Test 1783 
 
 On  Pentateuch,  Job,  &€..    1703 
 On  Revelations,  1837 
 
 Critica  Sacra I671 
 
 On  1  Peter 1684 
 
 Mer. 
 
 Name.  Abbreviation. 
 
 Lightfoot,  Dr Light/. 
 
 Locke,  J.* 
 
 Lowth,  W Preb.  Lou'th 
 
 Lowth,  Pp.  London   ..    Lowth 
 
 Mackuight,  Dr.ll Ulackn 
 
 Mann,  lip.  Cork 
 
 Mant,  Dr. i>o»7i§-Connor 
 
 M'Caul,  D.D ,. 
 
 Mede,  J 
 
 Merrick,  J 
 
 Mudge,  Z 
 
 i^ewcoine,Abp. Armagh  Newe. .. 
 
 Newton,  Sir  I.* 
 
 Newton,  Bp.  Bristol . .    New.  . . 
 
 Parkhurst,  J Par.    .. 
 
 Patrick,  5p.  £/j/ Pat.    .. 
 
 Pearce,  Bp.  Rochester    
 
 Pearson,  Bp.  Chester 
 
 Percy,  Bp.  Dromore 
 
 Peters,  C 
 
 Pococke,  Dr Poc.    . . 
 
 Porteus,  Bp.  London. .    Por.    . . 
 
 Potter,  Abp .Canterbury 
 
 Prideaux,  Dr Prid.  . . 
 
 Pyle,  T 
 
 Ritchie  II      Rite 
 
 Robinson,  T 
 
 Scott,  T 
 
 ^^c\iet,  Abp. Canterbury 
 
 Sherlock,  Bp.  London 
 
 Shuckford,  Dr Shuck/. 
 
 Slade,  J 
 
 Speticer,  J 
 
 Stackhouse,  T Stuck... 
 
 Stanhope,  Dr Stanh  . . 
 
 Stock,  £/>.  A"(7/a/a 
 
 Street,  S 
 
 Sumner,  Bp.  Chester 
 
 Taylor,  Dr 
 
 Tenison,  Abp.  Canferb.  Ten.    .. 
 
 Til\otson,  Abp. Canterb.   Til 
 
 Townsend,  G Tou'?is. 
 
 Toplady,  A.  M 
 
 Travell,  F.  T 
 
 Tiicker,  Dean 
 
 LTsher,  Abp.  Armagh 
 
 Warburton,S/>G/o«£-e5.   Warb... 
 
 Waterland,  Dr Waterl. 
 
 Watson,  Dr.,  Llandaff.  Wat.    . . 
 
 Wells,  Dr 
 
 Whitby,  Dr 
 
 Wilson, B/).Sorfor§-i»/an 
 
 Wintle,  T 
 
 Woodhouse,  Dr Woodh. 
 
 Works  Quoted.  Died 
 
 Observ.  on  Books  of  Bible,  1675 
 
 Paraph,  on  S.  Paul's  Epis.  1704 
 
 Com.  on  Prophetic  Books,  1732 
 
 Translation  of  Isaiah,  &c.  1787 
 
 On  the  Epistles 1 800 
 
 Notes  on  Gospels,  &c.    . .  1788 
 
 Bible,  with  Notes 
 
 Tr.  of  Kimchi  on  Zechariah, 
 
 with  Notes,  I837. 
 
 On  Revelations.  &c 1662 
 
 On  Psalms 1 768 
 
 On  Psalms   17G9 
 
 On  Ezek.  Minor  Proph.&c.  1790 
 
 OnProph.ofDan.&S.Johu,  1726 
 
 On  Prophecies 1 782 
 
 Lexicon 1 7(17 
 
 Com.  on  Hist.  Books,  fic.  1707 
 
 Com.  on  Gospels,  &c 1774 
 
 On  Creed    lti«6 
 
 Sol.Song.New  v., with  Ann.  1  s  1 1 
 
 On  Job 1774 
 
 On  Hosea,  &c 1691 
 
 Semions  and  Lectures    ..  I8O8 
 
 Antiti-  of  Greece,  &c 1/47 
 
 Connexion  of  O.  &  N.  T..  I724 
 
 Paraphrases   1715 
 
 On  Romans,  1831 
 
 Scripture  Characters   ....  1813 
 
 Commentary  on  Bible.. ..  1821 
 
 Sermons,  &c 1 768 
 
 On  Prophecies,  &c 1761 
 
 Connexion  of  Sacred  and 
 
 Profane  History    1 754 
 
 Annot.  on  the  Epistles,  1836 
 DeLegibusHebrieorum.&c.  I695 
 
 History  of  Bible    1752 
 
 On  Epistles  and  Gospels..  1728 
 
 Translation  of  Job   1805 
 
 On  Psalms 1790 
 
 On  Luke,  1832 
 lUus.  of  Bible,  1838 
 
 On  Idolatry    1715 
 
 Sermons 1694 
 
 Harmony  ofO.&N.T.,  182? 
 
 Sermons,  &c 1 778 
 
 Paraphr.&Notes  on  Psalms  1808 
 
 Sermons,  &c , 1799 
 
 Annalsof  Old  &NewTest.  I6.'j6 
 
 Divine  Legation,  &c 1779 
 
 Scrii)ture  Vindicated,  &c..  1740 
 
 Apology  for  the  Bible  ....  1 8 1 6 
 
 Scripture  Geography,  &c..  1730 
 
 Paraphrase  of  New  Test..  1725 
 
 Bible,  with  Notes 17.')5 
 
 Translation  of  Daniel  ....  1814 
 On  Revelations,  1828 
 
 DISSENTING  WRITERS. 
 
 Those  marked  thus  *  ai-e  ejected  Nonconformists  ;  thus  t  are  Scotch  Dissenters  of  various  denominations  ;  those  thus  t  are  English  Baptdsts; 
 those  thus  §  are  Wesleyans;  those  thus  ||  English  Presbyterians;  those  thus  **  dissenting  Laymen.    The  rest  are  mostly  Independents. 
 
 Ains worth,  H. 
 Baxter,  R*  .. 
 Benson,  Dr.||    . 
 
 Benson,  J.§ 
 
 Boothroyd,  Dr.   .. . 
 
 Brown,  J-t  
 
 Caryl,  J.* 
 
 Clarke,  Dr.  Adam  k 
 
 Ai7is. 
 Ba.r. 
 
 Bens.  . . 
 Boothr. 
 
 On  Pentateuch,  &c 
 
 On  New  Testament 
 
 Paraphrase  and  Notes  on 
 
 the  Epistles    
 
 Com.  on  O.  &  N.  T.,  1835 
 Improved  Version  of  Bible, 
 
 Bible,  with  Notes 
 
 On  Job    
 
 1629 
 1691 
 
 Davidson,  D.t    
 
 Dick,  Dr.  t    
 
 Doddridge,  Dr 
 
 Ewing,  Greville  t    
 
 Fuller,  A.t    
 
 Geddes,  Dr.  {Catholic) 
 
 GiU,  Dr.  I 
 
 Good,  Dr-t  [M.D.)**.. 
 
 Greenfield,  W.** 
 
 Grcenhill,  W.  *  
 
 Gumal,  W 
 
 1763 
 
 1836 
 1787 
 1673 
 
 ^Clarke.  *}CommentaJ7  on  Bible.. ..    1834 
 Dav. 
 
 Doddr. 
 Ew.... 
 Ful 
 
 Green/. 
 
 Greenh. 
 Gur.    .. 
 
 Guyse,  Dr 
 
 Ilaldcuie,  R.t  . .   .  , 
 
 Harmer,  T 
 
 Henry,  Matthew.. 
 Hutclieson,  G.  t  .. 
 
 Jackson,  A.*  
 
 139j 
 
 Hald. 
 Har. 
 Hen. 
 Hutc. 
 
 Pocket  Com.  on  N.  T.,  1834 
 On  Acts,  1822 
 Expos.  &  Paraphr.  of  N.T. 
 Greek  and  Enghsh  Lex... 
 
 On  Genesis  and  Rev 
 
 Translation  of  Bible    .... 
 
 Exposition  of  Bible 
 
 New  Trans,  of  Job,  Sic. . . 
 Comprehensive  Bible,  1826 
 On  Ezekiel,  l658 
 The  Christian  In  Complete 
 
 Armour,  1658 
 Paraphrase  on  New  Test.. 
 
 On  Romans    
 
 Observations  on  Scripture 
 
 Exposition  of  Bible    
 
 Minor  Propheti.  Ifi55 
 On  Isaiah    
 
 1751 
 1827 
 
 1815 
 1802 
 1771 
 1827 
 
 1761 
 1836 
 1/88 
 1714 
 
 Jenkyn.W.* On  Jude I685 
 
 Jennings,  Dr Jewish  Antiquities   1762 
 
 Jones,  J .  II Greek  Lexicon,  1 823 
 
 Jones,  W.  t On  Revelations,  1830 
 
 Keyworth,  T Keyw Pocket  Expos,  of  New  T. 
 
 Lardner,  Dr.  I| Credibility  of  Gosp.  Hist. .  1768 
 
 Lawson,  Dr.t   On  Esther,  I8O9 
 
 Leland,  J View  of  Deistical  Writers    1766 
 
 Lowman,  — Lowm On  Revelations 1/52 
 
 Macculloch,  R.t Murcul On  Isaiah,  1794 
 
 Manton,  Dr.  * On  James  and  Jude,  A:c.  .  I677 
 
 M'Lean,  A.t Paraphr.  &  Notes  on  Heb.  1820 
 
 Morison,  Dr Mor On  PsaJms,  1832 
 
 Morrison,  Dr Morr Lect.  on  Pliilipp.,  at  Macao 
 
 Owen,  Dr.  John  * On  Hebrews 1 683 
 
 Poole,  Matt.* Annotations,  &c 1679 
 
 Roberts,  J.  §    Rob Oriental  Illustrations,  1835 
 
 Scott,  Thomas Scott On  Job     1775 
 
 Smith,  J.  P.,  Dr Testimony  to  Messiah,  J  821 
 
 Sutclifte,  —  5   Sut Com.  on  O.^N.  Test.,  1836 
 
 Tuylor,  C.**    Frag.  toCalmet'sDict.,]8il 
 
 Trapp,  John On  Pentateuch, Evang.  &c.  I647 
 
 Ward,  W.t    View  of  the  Hist.  &c.  of  the 
 
 Hindoos 1924 
 
 Watts,  Dr Works 174s 
 
 Watson,  R.  § On  Matt., Mark, Luke. i^c, 1833 
 
 Wfslcv.  J.  i., Notes  on  Old  &  N.  Test...    179I 
 
 '         1-.  I.**    WH.  Cottage  Bible,  1827 
 
FOREIGN  WRITERS. 
 
 Fathers  of  the  Cliurch  marked  {/.) ;  Jewish  Rabbics  marked  (r.) ;  French  Catholics  (f.c.) ;  French  Protestants  if. p.)  j  German  (g.)  j  Dutch  (d.)  j 
 
 Italian  (i.) ;  Spanish  {s.) ;  American  Divines  {u.  s.) 
 
 Name.  Abhremn 
 
 Aharbinel,  R.  I.  {r.}. .-   Abarb. 
 
 Augustine,  (f.) , 
 
 Barnes,  A.  {«•  «•) 
 
 Beza.  T.  (/.  p.).... 
 Bochart,  —  if.  p.)  , 
 
 Buxtorff,  J.  ig,) 
 
 Calmct.  Father,  (J.  c.) 
 Calvin,  J.  if.p.). 
 CappeUus,  L.  if.p.)  .. 
 
 Boch. 
 
 Buxt. 
 Cal... 
 Cain. 
 Cap. 
 
 Carpz 
 
 Chri/s. 
 Cocc. 
 
 Carpzovius,  or     \ 
 Carpzov,  G.      /  '* ' 
 
 Chrysostom,  — 
 
 CocceiuB,  J 
 
 Dathe.  J.  A.  [?.) 
 
 Desveux,  A.  V 
 
 Diodati.  fi.) 
 
 Doederlein,  J.  C.  (g.). 
 
 Estius,  W Est.. 
 
 Gejer,  Martin,  (g.) Gej.. 
 
 Gesenius,  G.  ig.) 
 Glassius,  S.  (g.)  .. 
 Griesbach,  —  . . . . 
 
 Gesen.. 
 
 Glass. . 
 
 Grotius.orGroot,  Hugo  Grot.  . 
 
 Harris.T.  M.,Dr.  (w.s.)  
 
 Herodotus  (Gr.  Hist.)     Herod, 
 
 Hodge,  C.  iv.  s.) 
 
 Houhigant,I'r\lher,(/.c.}  Houb. 
 
 Jarchi,  R.  S.  (r.)...,..  Jar 
 
 Jerome  (/.) 
 
 Josephus,  F Jnx 
 
 Junius,  F.  f^O Jan.... 
 
 Kimchi,  D.  (r.)  ... 
 
 Koppc,  G.  B.  (g.) 
 
 '-■■     i  ■ 
 
 . .    Kimc. 
 
 Works  Quoted.  Died 
 
 On  Pentateuch 
 
 Comm 604 
 
 On  the  Four  Gospels  and  Acts 
 Annot.  ad  Novum  Test.  . .    1605 
 
 Geographia  Sacra,  &c 166" 
 
 Hebrew  Lexicon 1629 
 
 Com.  on  Bib.  Diet. of  ditto,  1/57 
 
 Commentaries    1 56 1 
 
 Critica  Sacra 1658 
 
 Crilica  Sacra 
 
 Expositio  in  Novum  J.C.T. 
 
 Com.  in  Sacras  Scripturas 
 
 Libri  Veteris  Test.,  kc. 
 
 OnEcclesiaste5,Lond.,1762 
 
 Annotations,  &c l652 
 
 Scholia  in  Libros  Veteris 
 
 Test"amenti  Poeticos 
 Com.  in  Epistolas,  1679 
 Cora,  on  several  books  of 
 
 Old  Testament IGSI 
 
 ,   Hebrew  Lexicon 
 
 Philologia  Sacra,  1725 
 ,    Com<-Criticus   in  Textum 
 
 G^KCum  Novi Test. ,1811, 1812 
 Annot.  ad  Vctus  et  Novum 
 
 Testamcntum 1678 
 
 Scripture  Natural  History 
 
 ,    ofeTlomans,  183? 
 
 ,  Not^e  Criticae     I"83 
 
 Commentary  on  Bible 1180 
 
 .   Comm. 
 
 ,   Jewish  Antitiuities,  &c. 
 
 Joint  Translator  of  Scrip- 
 ture willi  Tremellins..  .,    1604 
 
 Com.  on  Old  Testament 
 
 Annot.  ad  Novum  Test. 
 
 Name. 
 
 Abbreviation. 
 Kuiri 
 
 Woj-ks  Quoted. 
 
 Died 
 
 Kuinoel,  C.  T.  ig.) 
 
 Li.cke,  J.  (g.) 
 
 Luther,  Martin,   (?■.) 
 
 Maimonides,  M.  (r.)  . .    Maim.. 
 
 Martin.  D.  f/.  p.l Mar.  . 
 
 Michaelis,  J.  D.  (g.)  .,   Mich.  , 
 Montanus,  B.  A.  {s.) ..   Mont. 
 
 Ostervald.J.F.fSu'iss;?.)  Ost.. 
 Pagninus,  S.  (i.) Pag. 
 
 Piscator,  J.  F.  (g-.) Fisc.    . . . 
 
 RosenmiUIer,E.P.C.(g'.)  Hnscnm. 
 
 Saurin,  J.  (f.  p.) Sau.    . . . 
 
 Scheutzer,  or  \    r.„,  ^..j„ 
 
 Scheuitzer,  J.  (^.)  )   Scheutz.. 
 Sclileasner,  J.  P.  (g.). .   ScMcus. . 
 
 Schultens,  A.  C^.) 
 
 Spanheim 
 
 Steiger,  W 
 
 Stuart,  Moses,  {u.t 
 Theodoret  (f.) .... 
 
 Trem. . 
 
 Com.  in  Epist.  ad  HebrKos. 
 
 On  Epistles  of  John,  ISj" 
 
 Com.  on  Gen.  Rom.  Gal. &c.  1S46 
 
 Moreh     Nevochim,     or 
 Teacher  of  the  Perplexed  1 201 
 
 On  New  Testament 1721 
 
 Com. on  Laws  of  Moses, ^c. 
 
 Biblia  Latina  Pagniui,  Re- 
 cognita     ISR4 
 
 Reflections  on  Bible 1747 
 
 Vet.  ac  Novi  Testamenti 
 nova  translatio 1 528 
 
 Com.on  Old  and  New  Test.   1546 
 
 Scholia  in  Vetus  Test. 
 
 Discours  Historiques   ....    1730 
 
 Physica  Sacra 
 
 Novum  Lex.  in  New  Test. 
 
 On  Job 
 
 Introduc.ad  Geograpluam 
 
 Sacram 
 Expos,  of  1  Peter,  1S36 
 OnRomans&Hebrews,l836 
 Explanationes     in     Pauli 
 
 Epistolas  Oranes 
 On  Romans 
 
 r  Traus.of  Hebrew  Bible  & 
 \     Syiiac  Test,  into  Latin  1580 
 
 Tlioluck,  F.  A.  O.  (g.) 
 TremeUius,  E.iChris- 1 
 tian  Jew) J 
 
 '^F^O-l'p.r^'™'!'}  ^"' Observ.  on  the  Scriptures  1517 
 
 Vitringar,  or  Vitrin 
 
 ga,  (of  Friesland, 
 
 Vcnema,  H 
 
 Vorstius,  J.  ig.) Vorst.. . 
 
 Wetstein,J.J.(aSwiss'l 
 
 by  birth,  but  Pro-  \  Wets.  .. 
 
 fessor  in  Holland)  J 
 
 Xenophon,(Gr. //(«(.)..  Xenopk 
 
 in-  \ 
 
 Vitr. 
 
 OnIsaiah,&c 1722 
 
 Nov.  Test.  Gr 1754 
 
 De  Heb.  Novi  Test.  Com..    17/8 
 
 Com.  on  Psalms,  Jcr.,  &c.  1754 
 
 EiJiToR,  is  abbreviated  Kd. 
 
 EvANOELiCAi,  Synopsis,  Ls  abbreviated  Kxnin.  Siinop. 
 
 Pictorial  Bible,  is  abbreviated  Pict.  Bib. 
 
 Rkformbu's  Bible,  is  abbreviated  Eef.  Bib. 
 
 Sbptuaoixt,  is  abbreviated  Sept.— The  old  Greek  version  of  tb.e  Old 
 Testament  So  called  from  being  the  work  of  seventy-two  inter- 
 preters. Ptolo.Tiy  Phdadelphus,  having  a  fine  library  at  Alexan- 
 dria,  wished  to  enrich  it  with  the  laws,  &c.,  of  the  Jews,  and  this 
 work  was  finished  by  .six  elders  of  each  tribe. 
 
 Talmud,  is  abbreviated  Tnfm.— Two  Jewish  works  bear  this  name. 
 The  one  called  the  Talmud  nf  Jeru'-alem,  and  the  other  of  Baby- 
 lon They  consist  of  the  Misbna.  which  is  the  text,  and  the  Ge- 
 mara,  '  completion,'  or  commentary.  The  Mishna  comprehends 
 the  laws,  institutions,  and  rules  of  life,  which,  besides  the  ancient 
 Hebrew  Scrii)tures,  the  .lews  thought  themselves  bound  to  ob- 
 serve. It  was  composed  at  the  close  of  the  second  century.  The 
 Talmud  of  Babylon  is  most  in  use,  having  the  additions  to  the 
 Mishna,  &c.,  made  by  the  Babylonish  doctors  in  the  sixth  or 
 seventh  century. 
 
 Tarcum,  is  abbreviated  Targ. — This  is  a  paraphrase  on  the  Scriptures 
 in  the  Chaldee  language,  which  was  more  familiar  to  the  Jews 
 afrer  their  captivitj'  in  Babylon  tlian  the  pure  Hebrew.  The  Targum 
 of  Jkrusalem  consists  of  fragments  on  the  Pentateuch.  That  of 
 Jonathan  is  complete,  aa.c.  30.  Thatof  Juskpii,  on  the  Hagio- 
 grapha,  or  holy  writings,  consisting  of  the  Psalms,  Proverbs,  Job, 
 Canticles.  Ruth.  Lamentations,  Ecclesiastes,  Esther,  Daniel,  Ezra, 
 Nchemiah,  Chronicles.  That  of  ONKi-:Los,on  the  books  of  Moses 
 only.     It  is  short,  and  the  most  esteemed. 
 
 Svriac,  is  abbrevi,i.ted  Si/r. — A  very  close  version  of  the  original, 
 valuable  to  critics,  completed  about  tlie  close  of  the  first  centur>*. 
 
 Vi/LGATK,  is  abbreviated  Vitlg. — A  very  aneient  Latin  translation  of 
 the  Bible  ;  the  only  one  acknowledged  by  the  church  of  Rome. 
 
 Arabic,  is  abbreviated  Arab.— An  Arabic  version  of  the  Old  Test. 
 
 Exniopic,  is  abbreviated  Efhiop. — Or  Abyssinian  Version,  made  about 
 the  tenth  century.  Most  of  the  ancient  versions  contain  only  a 
 few  books  each  of  the  Scriptures. 
 
 KEY  TO  NAiMES  OF  AUTHORS  QUOTED  IN  THE  REFLECTIONS. 
 
 Dr.  Boothroyd h. 
 
 Rev.  J.  Brown,  Haddington br. 
 
 Dr.  Doddridge d. 
 
 GreenhiU gr. 
 
 Dr.  Gill gi. 
 
 Dr.  Guyse    g. 
 
 Matthew  Henry h. 
 
 Bp.  Home ho. 
 
 Rev.  George  Hutcheson hu. 
 
 Rev.  R.  Macculloch mac. 
 
 Rev.  T.  Scott s. 
 
 Dr.  Manton m. 
 
 Dr.  Morison  (in  the  Psalms) ra. 
 
 Rev.  J.  Sutclifte su. 
 
 Dr.  Watts    w. 
 
 Dr.  Young y. 
 
 Upwards  of  a  hundred  other  names  are  introduced  into  the  Notes,  but  as  they  are  mostly  given  at  length,  and  are  not  often  quoted,  it  is 
 
 unnecessary  to  swell  the  above  list. 
 
 MAPS. 
 
 Map  of  the  World opposite  page  1 1 
 
 Travels  of  the  t:hildren  of  Israel  from  Egypt  to  Canaan 188 
 
 Canaan,  or  the  I  loly  Laud 247 
 
 The  Dominions  and  Conquests  of  David  and  Solomon     377 
 
 Palestine  during  the  Captivity   •       S'*^ 
 
 The  Holy  Land  in  the  tune  of  Christ , 989 
 
 Joxurneys  of  St.  Paul 1157 
 
 printed    nV   T.  C.  SATILL,    ST.  martin's   lank,    CHAKINO    cross,    LONDON. 
 
ii^tjTTC     44fl      10O-rTrr> 
 
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